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CORNELL 

UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 


Cornell  University  Library 


olin.anx 


^' 


XI 


Cornell  University 
Library 


The  original  of  this  book  is  in 
the  Cornell  University  Library. 

There  are  no  known  copyright  restrictions  in 
the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032193504 


HISTORY 


OF 


s 


EE  Ai  m§  WK, 


MICHIGAN, 


WITH 


Illustrations  and  Biographical  Sketches 


OF  THEIR 


PROMINENT  MEN  AND  PIONEERS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

D.  W.   ENSIGN    &   CO. 
188  0. 


-P^ 


PRESS    OF  J.   B.   LIPPINCOTT   A    CO.,  PHILADELPHIA. 


PREFACE. 


This  History  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties  has  been  preparer!  witii  the  intention  to  make  it 
as  coniplete  and  accurate  as  possible;  to  produce  a  truthful  and  exhaustive  narrative  of  events  of  im- 
portance or  general  interest  which  have  occurred  within  the  present  boundaries  of  these  two  counties 
from  the  period  of  their  occupation  by  the  aborigines  down  to  the  present  time ;  to  embody  all  obtainable 
facts,  but  to  exclude  from  the  narrative  everything  of  doubtful  authenticity,  confining  it  as  closely  as 
practicable  to  the  limits  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton,  and  referring  to  no  outside  matters  except  such  as 
could  not  properly  be  omitted  because  of  .their  close  connection  with  the  history  of  the  region  which  is 
especially  under  notice. 

The  work  is  divided  into  three  parts.  The  first  part,  embracing  twenty  chapters,  is  devoted  to 
matters  common  to  both  counties,  viz.,  a  short  account  of  the  occupation  of  their  territory  by  the  native 
Indians  as  far  back  as  tradition  reaches;  the  operations  of  white  traders  among  the  red  men  through  all 
this  region  ;  the  several  Indian  cessions  of  land  covering  the  territory  now  forming  Shiawassee  and  Clinton; 
internal  improvements,  including  a  mention  of  Territorial  roads,  State  roads,  and  railways  traversing  the 
two  counties,  and  of  the  several  projects  formed  in  early  years  for  improving  the  navigation  of  the  Shia- 
wassee, Maple,  and  Looking-GIass  Rivers ;  military  history,  principally  referring  to  the  services  performed 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  by  a  large  number  of  Michigan  regiments,  all  or  nearly  all  of  which  contained 
soldiers  from  both  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Counties.  Next  after  these  general  chapters  is  given  a  separate 
history  of  Shiawassee  County,  its  citi'es,  Owosso  andCorunna,  and  each  of  its  townships;  and  this  part  is 
followed  by  a  similar  separate  history  of  Clinton  County,  its  principal  village,  and  the  several  towns. 

The  township  histories  are  largely  made  up  of  accounts  of  pioneer  settlers,  the  work  which  they 
performed  and  the  privations  which  they  endured  while  transforming  the  wilderness  into  fruitful  fields. 
In  this  connection  it  is  proper  to  say  that  if  errors  are  discovered  (as  it  is  nearly  certain  there  will 
be)  in  the  orthography  of  some  of  the  family  names  of  the  early  and  later  residents  of  Shiawassee  and 
Clinton,  it  is  largely  to  be  attributed  to  the  fact  that  the  names  have  been  found  spelled  differently 
(and  sometimes  in  as  many  as  three  or  four  different  ways)  in  the  county,  township,  church,  and  society 
records,  and  that  even  members  of  the  same  family  are  not  infrequently  found  to  vary  in  the  orthog- 
raphy of  their  surname.  Under  such  circumstances  it  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  matter  of  surprise  if 
the  writers  of  the  county  and  township  histories,  often  finding  themselves  wholly  at  a  loss  to  know 
which  manner  of  spelling  to  adopt,  have  sometimes  made  the  mistake  of  choosing  the  wrong  one. 

The  historical  material  for  the  work  has  been  gathered  partly  from  county,  township,  and  society 
records,  and  to  some  extent  from  old  newspaper  files,  but  principally  from  conversations  with  the  oldest 
residents  and  best-informed  people,  of  whom  a  very  large  number  in  each  county  have  been  called  on 
and  consulted;  and  all,  with  hardly  an  exception,  have  fully  and  freely — to  the  extent  of  their  ability 
imparted  the  information  sought.     The  pioneers  and  other  citizens  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties 


PREFACE. 


who  have  thus  furnished  information  are  so  numerous  that  it  is  impracticable  to  give  them  the  separate 
individual  mention  which  they  are  entitled  to  receive,  but  grateful  thanks  are  tendered  to  each  and  all  for 
the  assistance  which  they  have  so  obligingly  extended.  The  writer  also  desires  especially  to  express  his 
acknowledgments  to  the  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  several  newspapers,  the  county  and  township  officers, 
the  pastors  and  leading  members  of  the  churches,  and  the  gentlemen  of  the  legal  and  medical  professions 
of  the  two  counties,  for  favors  and  courtesies  received  from  them  in  the  preparation  of  the  work. 

F.  E. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  August  14,  1880. 


CONTENTS. 


SZISTOE/IO-A-Xj. 


HISTOET    OF    SHIAWASSEE    AND    CLINTON 
OOUNTIES. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.— 'Indian  History  of  the  two  Counties 9 

II. — Indian  Treaties  and  Cessions  of  Lands^  and  Indian  Emi- 
gration           17 

III. — Internal  Improvements 25 

IV. — Military  Record 39 

v.— Third  Infantry 43 

VI.— Fifth  Infantry 45 

VII.— Eighth  Infantry 53 

VIII.— Ninth  Infantry 60 

IX.— Tenth  Infantry 63 

X. — Fourteenth  Infantry 68 

XI.— Tvfenty-third  Infantry 75 

XII. — Twenty-seventh  Infantry 85 

XIII. — Twenty-ninth   and  Thirtieth  Infantry  and  First  En- 
gineers and  Mechanics 88 

XIV. — First  and  Second  Cavalry 93 

XV.— Third  Cavalry 97 

XVI.— Fourth  Cavalry 99 

XVII.— Fifth  Cavalry 102 

XVIII.— Sixth  Cavalry lOB 

XIX.— Tenth  Cavalry 108 

XX. — Other  Soldiers  from  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties      .  Ill 


SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

XXI. — Location,  Topography,  and  Mineral  Resources      .        .  116 

XXII. — Civil  Changes,  Early  Settlements          ....  118 
XXIII. — Organization    of   the    County;    Courts    and    Other 

Matters 121 

XXIV. — County-sites  and  County  Property       ....  126 
XXV.— The  Press,  The  Professions,  Civil  List  .        .        .        .130 
XXVI. — County  Societies,  Agriculture,  Manufactures,  Popula- 
tion         138 

XXVII.— City  of  Owosso 144 

XXVIII.— City  of  Corunna 165 

XXIX.— Antrim  Township 177 

XXX.— Bennington  Township 386 

XXXI.— Burns                 " 198 


OHArTEE  pAoE 

XXXII. — Caledonia  Township 211 

XXXIII.— Fairfield  " 220 

XXXIV.— Hazelton  " 226 

XXXV.— Middlebury  " 238 

XXXVI.— New  Haven  " 248 

XXXVII.— Owosso  " 259 

XXXVIII.— Perry  " 265 

XXXIX.— Rush  " 272 

XL. — Shiawassee  " 279 

XLI.— Sciota  " 291 

XLII. — Vernon  " 300 

XLIII.— Venice  " 314 

XLIV.— WoodhuU  " 322 


CLINTON    COUNTY. 

XLV. — Boundaries,  Topography,  Mineral  Resources  .         .  331 

XLVI.— Changes  of  Civil  Jurisdiction 334 

XLVII. — Early  Settlements,  County  Organization,  Courts,  and 

other  County  Matters 336 

XLVIII.— The  Professions,  Press,  Civil  List     .         .         .         .345 
XLIX. — County  Societies,  Agriculture,  Manufactures,  Popula- 
tion         353 

L.— Village  of  St.  Johns 363 

LI. — Bingham  Township 379 

LII.— Bath  " 386 

LIII.— Bengal         " 393 

LIV.— DeWitt       "  403 

LV.— Dallas  " 414 

LVI. — Duplain       " 422 

LVII.— Eagle         "  436 

LV  III.— Essex        "  443 

LIX.— Greenbush  " 458 

LX. — Lebanon        "  469 

LXL— Ovid  "  478 

LXII.— Olive         "  491 

LXIII.— Riley       "  497 

LXIV.— Victor       "  509 

LXV.— Watertown  Township 519 

LXVI.— Westphalia  Township 533 


bioc3-E/-a-I'h:ioj^Xj. 


BenjOimin  0.  Williams 
Hon.  Amos  Gould 
Elisha  Salisbury 
Hon.  Josiah  Turner    . 
William  M.  Kilpatriok 
D.  M.  Estey 
James  M.  Guile  . 
Ezra  L.  Mason    , 
John  0.  Adams  . 
I.  S.  A.  Wright  . 


PAGE 
158 

160 
161 
162 
163 
163 
164 
165 
183 
184 

PAGE 

Walter  Wright 184 

Calvin  M.  Fuller 185 

Nathaniel  Durfee 185 

Allen  Beard 185 

Benjamin  F.  Howard 186 

Isaac  Gale 194 

Newoomb  Mitchell 195 

Samuel  Nichols 196 

John  Innes 197 

Jonathan  M.  Hartwell 198 


CONTENTS. 


:BXOG-TtJ^FJE3:XGJi^T^. 


Truman  W.  Rowly 
Roger  Haviland  . 
Robert  Fox 
Isaac  S.  Barnura 
Nicholas  Braden 
Amos  Foster 
Thomas  P.  Green 
W.  W.  Smith       . 
Thomas  R.  Young 
Ephraim  F.  Bennett 
George  B.  Munson 
Ithial  L.  MuDSon 
John  Judd  . 
W.  W.  Warner     . 
Jesse  Rhoades 
John  Boman 
George  W.  Slooum 
George  H.  Warren 
Leonard  F.  Kingsley 
James  Kenney     , 
William  Tubbs     . 
Horace  C.  Main  . 
Jacob  Weidman  . 
Phineas  Burch     . 
Wellmnn  Hart     . 
Daniel  Young 
H.  B.  Cram 
Isaac  M.  Banks  . 
A.  P.  Greenman  and  Wife 
William  Newberry 
John  Whaley 

Mrs.  Nellie  P.  McClintock 
Willard  Ryan      . 

R.  Reed 

Henry  Jennings  Van  Akin 

James  Van  Akin 

Nathan  M.  Smith 

Hon.  F.  G.  Bailey 

Alonzo  H.  Owens 

Andrew  J.  Van  Ripi 

Francis  F.  Mann 

John  P.  Shaft      . 

Hon.  Oliver  Lyman  Spaulding 

John  H.  Fedewa 

Robert  M.  Steel  . 

John  Hicks 

John  R.  Hale 


PAGE 

.  207 

.  208 

.  208 

.  208 

.  209 

209 

.  210 

.  210 

.  219 

.  226 

.  225 

.  226 

.  234 

.   ..  2.S6 

.  237 

.  237 

.  244 

.  245 

.  246 

facing  246 

.  247 

.  248 

.  266 

.  257 

.  257 

.  258 

.  259 

facing  280 

"    284 

.  290 

.  290 

.  300 

.  300 

facing  306 

.  312 

.  313 

.  313 

.  321 

.  321 

.  329 

.  330 

facing  330 

.  377 

.  377 

.  378 

.  378 

.  385 

PAGE 

John  Avery 

Daniel  Ridenour '^® 

James  N.  Smith ^''^ 

Benjamin  F.  Young ^''^ 

George  Allen *^'' 

George  F.  Dutton ^^^ 

Daniel  Dutton *^^ 

E.  V.  Chase facing  433 

William  Tillotson ^^^ 

George  R.  Doty 434 

Lyman  Cobb ^^^ 

Comfort  Ranney ^^^ 

Willis  Leach ^^^ 

David  Clark 4*2 

George  W.  MoCrumb 442 

Mrs.  Sally  Hawley  Beers 443 

William  A.  Hewitt 466 

Solomon  P.  Creasinger 456 

0.  F.  Peck 457 

Nathan  R.  Lowe 457 

Capt.  David  S.  French 467 

David  Levy 468 

William  T.  and  Robert  E.  Davies 468 

Charles  Sessions           .,....••.  477 

Ezekiel  De  Camp 489 

B.  M.  Shopard 490 

Dr.  Solon  C.  King 491 

Augustus  Gillett 497 

John  W.  Outcalt 497 

Lyman  Hungerford 5"'' 

Philip  P.  Peek 608 

Jonathan  Owen facing  508 

John  C.  Brunson 516 

William  S.  Parker 517 

Mrs.  Sarah  Parker 517 

Epson  Parker 517 

C.  R.  McKee 518 

Ainsworth  Reed  ,........■  518 

James  Upton       ..........  618 

Chas.  Edward  Hollister 519 

George  Gall ...  628 

Eliel  Ingersoll 529 

Wm.  F.  Dutton 630 

George  W.  Kinney       ....                  ....  531 

Stephen  Hill 532 

Frank  Noeker 541 


ILLTJSTKyJ^TIOlTS. 


State  Capitol  Building facing  title 

Mm)S  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties .         .         .        facing         i 

Portrait  of  Okemos      .         .                 ... 
Shiawassee  Court-House 


facing 


15 
116 


CITY    OF    OWOSSO. 


Eetey  Manufacturing  Company's  Works  and  Office,  between  150,  151 
Portrait  of  Benjamin  0.  Williams 

"  Alfred  L.  Williams    . 

Residence  of  Benjamin  0.  Williams 
Portrait  of  Hon.  Amos  Gould  (steel) 

"  Elisha  Salisbury 

"  Hon.  Josiah  Turner  . 


facing 


158 
168 
158 
160 
161 
162 


PAGE 

Portrait  of  William  M.  Kilpatrick 163 

"  James  M.  Guile         .         .         .         .         .         .         .164 

"  EzralTj.  Mason 165 

ANTRIM    TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  B.  F.  Howard facing    178 

"            C.  M.  Fuller "180 

"  with  portraits  of  Nathaniel  Durfce  and  Wife     "         183 

Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  C.  Adams           .         .  .         .183 

"           Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.  S.  A.  Wright         .        .  .        .184 

Residence  of  Walter  Wright facing    184 

Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walter  Wright  ...  "         184 

Residence  of  Allen  Beard "         185 

Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  Beard       ...  "         185 


CONTENTS. 


IL31.TJSTK/^TI03<rS. 


BENNINGTON    TOWNSHIP 

Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Hartwell 
Residence  of  J.  M.  Hartwell 
Portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Gale  . 

"  Samuel  Nichols  and  Wife 

"  Lyman  Hickey  and  Wife 

Residence  of  Lyman  Hlokey 

"  Newoomb  Mitchell 

Portraits  of  Newoomb  Mitchell  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  John  Innes 


BURNS    TOWNSHIP 


:d) 


Residence  of  Roger  Haviland    . 
Portraits  of  Roger  Haviland  and  Wife 
Residence  of  Thomas  P.  Green  . 
Portraits  of  Thomas  P.  Green  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  Mrs.  Thomas  P.  Green  (deceasei 
Residence  of  Isaac  S.  Barnum    . 
Portraits  of  Isaac  S.  Barnum  and  Wife 
Residence  of  Amos  Poster  . 
Portraits  of  Amos  Foster  and  Wife     . 
Portrait  of  Truman  W.  Rowly    . 
Residence  of  Robert  Fox    . 
Portraits  of  Robert  Fox  and  Wife 
Residence  of  Nicholas  Braden    . 
Portraits  of  Nicholas  Braden  and  Wife 
Residence  of  William  W.  Smith 
Portraits  of  William  W.  Smith  and  Wife 


CALEDONIA    TOWNSHIP 

Residence  of  Thomas  R.  Young 

Portraits  of  Thomas  R.  Young  and  Wife    . 


PAGE 

facing  188 

"  188 

facing  194 

.  196 

.  196 

facing  196 

"  197 

"  197 

.  197 


facing  200 

"  200 

"  202 

"  202 

"  202 

"  204 

"  204 

207 

"  207 

.  207 

facing  208 

"  208 

"  209 

"  209 

210 

"  210 


facing     219 
.     219 


FAIRFIEtD    TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  B.  F.  and  B.  R.  Bennett 

"  Ithial  L.  Munson   .         ,         .         .         . 

"  G.  B.  Munson        .        .        .        .        . 

HAZELTON    TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  John  Roman  . 
Portraits  of  John  Judd  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  Mrs.  Matilda  Judd  (deceased) 
Portraits  of  W.  W.  Warner  and  Wife 
"  Jesse  Rhoades  and  Wife 


MIDDLEBURY   TOWNSHIP 

Residence  of  George  H.  Warren 
Portraits  of  Geoi-ge  H.  Warren  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  George  W.  Slocumb  . 
"  Leonard  F.  Kingsley 
Portraits  of  James  Keuney  and  Wife 
Residence  of  Horace  0.  Main  . 
Portrait  of  William  Tubbs  . 


NEW  HAVEN   TOWNSHIP 

Residence  of  Jacob  Weidman     . 
Portraits  of  Jacob  Weidman  and  Wife 
Residence  of  Wellman  W.  Hart . 
Portraits  of  Phineas  Burch  and  Wife 

"  Daniel  Young  and  Wife  . 

"  H.  B.  Cram  and  Wife 


SHIAWASSEE    TOWNSHIP 

Residence  of  John  Whaloy 

Portrait  of  Isaac  M.  Banks 

Portraits  of  A.  P.  Greenman  and  Wife 

Residence  of  William  Newberry 

Portraits  of  William  Newberry  and  Wife 


facing    220 

"        222 

224 


facing  232 

.  235 

.  236 

.  236 

.  237 


facing  242 

"  242 

.  245 

.  246 

facing  246 

"  247 

.  247 


facing  256 

"  256 

"  257 

.  257 

.  258 

.  269 


facing    279 

280 

"         284 

"         290 

290 


SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP. 

PAOE 

Residence  of  Willard  Ryon facing     294 

Portraits  of  Willard  Ryon  and  Wife  ....  "294 

Residence  of  Mrs.  Nellie  P.  McClintook     ...  "        298 

Portrait  of  Mrs.  Nellie  P.  MoClintock         ...  "         298 

"            Miss  Alta  B.  McClintock        ...  "         298 

VERNON   TOWNSHIP. 

Portrait  of  R.  Reed facing     306 

Residence  of  N.  M.  Smith "         313 

Portrait  of  Henry  J.  Van  Akin 313 


VENICE    TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  Alonzo  H.  Owens  .  .  .  between  318,  319 
Portraits  of  Alonzo  H.  Owens  and  Wife  .  .  "  318,  319 
Portrait  of  Hon.  F.  G.  Bailey 321 


WOODHULL    TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  Andrew  J.  Van  Riper    . 
Portraits  of  Andrew  J.  Van  Riper  and  Wife 

"           Francis  F.  Mann  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  John  P.  Shaft 


facing  329 

.  329 

.  330 

facing  330 


CXjXlSTTOlsr   COTJIsTTY. 

Clinton  County  Court-House facing     331 

Geological  Map  of  the  Lower  Peninsula     ...  "        332 

ST.  JOHNS. 

Portrait  of  John  Swegels 364 

"  0.  L.  Spaulding facing    370 

Residence  of  Richard  Moore "         372 

J.  Hicks "374 

"  R.  M.  Steel "376 

"  J.  H.  Fedewa "377 

BINGHAM   TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  John  Avery facing     382 

Portraits  of  John  Avery  and  Wife      ....  "         382 

Residence  of  Daniel  Ridenour "         384 

"            J.  R.  Hale "385 

BATH   TOWNSHIP. 

Portrait  of  James  N.  Smith 392 

BENGAL   TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  Benjamin  F.  Young       ....        facing    402 

DE   WITT   TOWNSHIP. 

Portraits  of  George  Allen  and  Wife 414 

DALLAS   TOWNSHIP. 

Portraits  of  George  F.  Dutton  and  Wife 421 

"  Daniel  Dutton  and  Wife 422 

DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 

Portrait  of  E.  V.  Chase facing  433 

Portraits  of  William  Tillotson  and  Wife 433 

"  George  R.  Doty  and  Wife 434 

Portrait  of  Charles  R.  Doty 434 

Hotel  and  Farm  Property  of  George  R.  Doty    .        .        facing  434 

Portraits  of  Lyman  Cobb  and  Wife 436 

Portrait  of  Comfort  Ranney 436 

"         Willis  Leach *36 


CONTENTS. 


IXjXjTJSTI2.^TI03srS. 


EAGLE    TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  George  W.  MoCromb     . 
Portraits  of  George  W.  MoCrumb  and  Wife 
Sesideoce  of  Oliver  Doty   . 
Portraits  of  Oliver  Doty  and  Wife 
Residence  of  George  Gall   . 
"  David  Clark  . 

Portrait  of  Sally  H.  Beers . 

ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 

Portrait  of  0.  F.  Peck 
Residence  of  0.  F.  Peck     . 
Portraits  of  William  A.  Hewitt  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  Solomon  P.  Creasingcr    . 
"  Nathan  R.  Lowe      . 

GREENBUSH  TOWNSHIP. 

Park  House,  D.  S.  French  proprietor 

Portrait  of  David  Levy 

Residences  of  William  T.  and  R.  B.  Davies 
Portraits  of  William  T.  and  R.  E.  Davies  . 


LEBANON  TOWNSHIP. 

Portraits  of  Charles  Sessions  and  Wife 


OLIVE  TOWNSHIP. 


PAGE 

facing  438 

"  438 

"  440 

"  440 
442 

"  442 

.  443 


facing  446 

"  446 

.  455 

.  456 

.  457 


facing  467 

.  468 

facing  468 

"  468 


477 


OVID  TOWNSHIP. 


Ovid  Carriage- Works  .... 

Residence  of  Ezekiel  De  Camp  . 
Portraits  of  Ezekiel  De  Camp  and  Wife     . 

"  B.  M.  Shepard  and  Wife 

Portrait   of  Mrs.  Matilda  Shepard  (deceased) 

"  Dr.  Solon  C.  King  . 


facing  486 

"  489 

"  489 

.  490 

.  490 

.  491 


Residence  of  Augustas  Gillett    .... 
"  John  W.  Outcalt    .... 

Portraits  of  John  W.  and  William  Outcalt 

RILEY   TOWNSHIP. 

Portrait  of  Lyman  Hungerford  .... 
"  Philip  P.  Peck  .... 

Portraits  of  Jonathan  Owen  and  Wife  . 


PAGE 

facing  496 
"  497 
"         497 


.     507 

.     508 

facing    508 


VICTOR   TOWNSHIP. 

Residence  of  Ainsworth  Reed     . 
Portraits  of  Ainsworth  Reed  and  Wife 
Residence  of  James  Upton 
Portraits  of  James  Upton  and  Wife   . 
Residence  of  Epson  Parker 
Portraits  of  Epson  Parker  and  Wife  . 
Residence  of  Charles  E.  Hollister 

"  Mrs.  Sarah  Parker 

Portrait  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Parker  . 
Portraits  of  John  C.  Branson  and  Wife 
Residence  of  John  C.  Brunson    . 

"  William  S.  Parker 

Portraits  of  William  S.  Parker  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  0.  R.  McKee     . 
Residence  of  Mrs.  Mary  A.  McKee    . 

WATERTOWN    TOWNSHIP 

Portraits  of  Eliel  Ingersoll  and  Wife 
Residence  of  William  F.  Dntton 
Portraits  of  William  F.  Dutton  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  George  W.  Kinney   . 

"  Stephen  Hill      . 

Residence  of  Frank  Noeker 
Portraits  of  Frank  Noeker  and  Wife  . 


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HISTORY 


OF 


SHIAWASSEE  Al  CLITON  COITIES,  IICHIM 


BY   PKANKLIN  ELLIS, 


CHAPTER   L 

INDIAN  HISTOBY  OF   THE   T"WO  OOtJlfTIES. 

Forests,  Rivers,  and  Indian  Mounds — Tradition  of  Sauk  Occupancy 
and  Expulsion — Cliippewa  Occupation — Early  Indian  Traders — 
Indian  Villages,  Fields,  and  Agriculture — Their  Peculiar  Super- 
stitions— The  Chief  Okemos — Character  of  the  Indians  of  this 
Region — Fearful  Ravages  of  Smallpox  among  them  in  1837. 

A  SECTION  of  country  lying  in  the  form  of  a  parallelo- 
gram, about  forty-six  miles  in  length  due  east  and  west, 
and  twenty-four  miles  wide  from  south  to  north,  through 
which  the  principal  meridian  of  the  State  passes,  one  mile 
east  of  the  centre,  and  of  which  the  south  boundary  is 
parallel  to,  and  twenty-four  miles  north  of,  the  base  line ; — 
this  is  the  modern  geographical  description  of  the  territory 
embraced  in  the  counties  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton.  But 
many  years  ago,  before  the  surveyor's  transit  or  compass  had 
marked  the  course  of  a  meridian  or  a  base  line  across  the 
peninsula,  this  same  territory  could  not  have  been  described 
much  more  correctly  than  as  a  wilderness  tract,  extending 
from  the  Grand  River  north  and  east,  embracing  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  valleys  of  the  Wabwaysin  (Looking-Glass) 
and  Du  Plain*  Rivers  to  their  heads ;  as  also  the  valley 
of  the  Shiawassee  River,  from  the  point  where  its  two  prin- 
cipal branches  mingle  their  waters,  down  the  course  of  the 
main  stream  for  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  distance  to  the 
place  where  it  enters  the  Saginaw.  This  was  a  country  of 
dense  forests  and  timbered  openings,  occasionally  inter- 
spersed with  small  prairies,f  tamarack  swamps,  apd  marshes 
covered  with  coarse,  rank  grass  ;  and  it  was  well  watered  by 
the  streams  above  mentioned,  and  their  tributaries.  Its 
only  human  inhabitants  at  that  time  were  the  native  In- 
dians, and  it  is  with  these  people  that  its  history  com- 
mences ;  though  the  existence  here  of  numerous  earthen 
mounds  (which  were  of  unknown  origin,  and  wholly  unlike 

*  The  name  given  by  the  early  French  traders  to  the  stream  now 
known  as  the  Maple  River. 

t  The  field-notes  of  the  original  surveys  of  Clinton  and  Shiawassee 
Counties,  by  deputy  United  States  surveyors,  mention  "prairies" 
and  "prairie  lands,"  found  in  a,  majority  of  the  townships  of  both 
counties. 

2 


anything  known  to  have  been  constructed  by  those  to  whom 
we  apply  the  term  aborigines)  has  induced  the  belief  that 
they  were  the  works  of  a  people  who  were  superior  to  the 
Indians,  and  the  predecessors  of  the  latter  in  their  occupa- 
tion of  the  country. 

These  mounds  were  generally  circular  or  oval  in  form, 
from  ten  to  forty  feet  in  diameter,  and  two  to  six  feet  in 
height.  They  were  found  in  various  parts  of  both  coun- 
ties, but  the  largest  number  in  any  one  locality  were  found 
in  the  valley  of  the  Maple  River,  in  the  northeast  part  of 
Clinton  County.J  That  they  were  built  for  purposes  of 
sepulture  is  made  more  than  probable,  from  the  fact  that  all 
or  nearly  all  which  were  examined  were  found  to  contain 
human  bones.  An  exception  to  this,  however,  was  a  mound 
discovered  on  the  bank  of  the  Shiawassee  River,  near  New- 
burg,  in  Shiawassee  County.§  This  was  nearly  circular  in 
form,  and  consisted  of  a  parapet  inclosing  an  interior  space. 
It  was  surrounded  by  a  ditch,  and  had  an  opening  or  gate- 
way facing  the  east,  with  detached  mounds  fronting  this 
entrance.  It  has  been  supposed,  from  the  peculiar  construc- 
tion of  this  work,  that  it  was  built  for  purposes  of  defense. 
But  what  were  the  objects  for  which  the  mounds  were  built, 
or  who  were  the  people  who  erected  them,  are  mere  topics 
of  speculation.  History  has  but  to  record  the  bare  fact  of 
their  existence,  before  passing  to  the  meagre  annals  of  the 
native  tribes  who  were  found  in  occupation  of  the  country. 

All  that  is  or  can  be  known  of  the  history  of  the  Indians 
who  once  inhabited  the  interior  region  now  included  in  the 
counties  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  may  be  easily  and 
briefly  told,  for  it  is  all,  or  nearly  all,  embraced  in  a  period 
which  is  within  the  recollection  of  settlers  who  are  yet 
living  and  in  full  possession  of  all  their  faculties. 

When  this  wilderness  region  was  first  penetrated  by  white 
explorers  they  found  it  occupied  by  bands  of  the  Saginaw 
tribe  of  the  Ojibwa  or  Chippewa  nation,  mixed  with  a  few 
Ottawas  and  still  fewer  Pottawattamies,  which  latter  two 
had  perhaps  become  allied  by  marriage  or  otherwise  with 

J  An  account  of  this  group  of  mounds  will  be  found  in  the  history 
of  Ovid  and  Duplain  townships  in  this  work. 

^  Described  by  B.  0.  Williams,  Esq.,  who  visited  it  in  the  year 
1829. 

9 


10 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  dominant  Chippewas.  The  last  named,  however,  have 
always  been  mentioned  in  Indian  history,  and  recognized  by 
the  United  States  Government  in  all  treaties,  as  the  original 
owners  of  the  country  bordering  the  Saginaw  River  and 
its  tributaries,  and  of  the  great  wilderness  stretching  away 
thence  northwestwardly  towards  the  Straits  of  Mackinac. 
The  Indians  inhabiting  the  valley  of  the  Shiawassee  River 
were  known  to  the  early  traders  and  settlers  as  the  Shia- 
wassee bands  of  the  Saginaws,  and  these  were  the  same 
people  who  also  occupied  the  country  along  the  Looking- 
Glass,  the  Maple,  and  the  Red  Cedar  Rivers,  though  the 
several  bands  were  not  infrequently  designated  by  the  names 
of  the  streams  on  which  their  villages  or  camps  were  located. 
All  of  them,  however  (except  the  Ottawas  and  few  Potta- 
wattamies  who  were  found  among  them  as  before  men- 
tioned), were  from  the  same  parent  stock,  and  members  of 
the  same  tribe  or  nation, — the  Saginaw  Chippewas. 

But  if  we  may  believe  their  own  traditions,  the  Chippe- 
was had  not  always  been  masters  of  these  forests  and  rivers, 
nor  did  their  occupancy  extend  back  to  years  beyond  the 
memory  of  their  ancestors.     The  story  told  by  their  old 
men  (and  which  is  -to  some  extent  supported  by  authentic 
history)  was  to  the  effect  that,  ages  before,  in  the  days  of 
their  great-grandfathers,  all  the  hunting-grounds  bordering 
the  streams  which  find  their  outlet  in  Saginaw  Bay,  and  all 
the  forests  and  openings   extending  thence  west   to   the 
Grand  River,  were  held  and  inhabited  by  the  Sauks,  a  pow- 
erful and  warlike  people,  who  not  only  felt  entirely  able  to 
keep  their  own  country,  but  who  were  often  in  the  habit  of 
making  bloody  forays  ioto  the  territory  of  other  tribes,  who 
consequently  hated  them,  and  longed  to  exterminate,  or  at 
least  to  expel  them  from  the  region  which  they  regarded  as 
an  Indian  paradise,  abounding  as  it  did  with  fish,  deer, 
beaver,  and  almost  every  kind  of  game.     This  desire  to 
subjugate  or  destroy  the  powerful  Sauks  and  to  seize  their 
teeming  hunting-grounds,  burned  nowhere  more  intensely 
than  in  the  breasts  of  the  Chippewa  warriors,  whose  home 
at  that  time  was  far  away  at  the  north.     But  they  dreaded 
the  prowess  of  their  enemies  too  much  to  venture  an  attack, 
and  this  consideration  held  them  in  check  for  many  years, 
though  their  hatred  constantly  increased  and  their  wish  to 
possess  the  Sauk  country  became  so  ardent  as  to  well-nigh 
overcome  their  fears. 

At  last  their  ambitious  desires  could  be  controlled  no 
longer,  and  they  resolved  at  all  hazards  to  attempt  the 
enterprise  which  they  had  so  long  meditated.  For  this 
purpose  they  held  council  with  the  Ottawas  of  the  north 
(whose  country  was  contiguous  to  their  own),  and  dispatched 
messengers  to  the  southern  branch  of  the  Ottawas  (who 
then  occupied  what  is  now  Southeastern  Michigan)  asking 
them  both  to  join  in  a  war  of  invasion.  Their  proposition  was 
favorably  received,  a  league  was  formed,  and  the  confeder- 
ated bands  set  out  speedily  and  secretly  on  their  bloody 
expedition,  which  was  destined  to  result  in  their  complete 
triumph. 

The  invaders  entered  the  country  of  the  Sauks  in  two 
columns  ;  one,  composed  of  the  southern  Ottawas,  marching 
from  the  southeast  through  the  forests  to  the  bend  of  Flint 
River,  where  Flint  City  now  stands,  while  the  northern 
confederates   moved  in  canoes   from   Mackinac,  paddling 


down  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Huron,  and  boldly  crossmg 
Saginaw  Bay  by  night,  landed  in  two  detachments,  marched 
stealthily  up  along  the  shore  of  the  river,  and  at  the  proper 
moment  and  at  a  preconcerted  signal  fell  like  a  thunder- 
bolt on  the  principal  village  of  the  Sauks  at  or  near  the 
present  site  of  Saginaw  City.  "  No  precaution,"  says  Mr. 
Pox,  in  his  history  of  Saginaw,  "  had  been  taken  by  the 
Sauks  to  guard  against  danger,  for  none  had  been  antici- 
pated. The  night  wind  sighed  through  the  dark  pine-tops 
in  mournful  cadence,  and  the  gentle  spirit-bird  hovered  over 
the  sleeper  with  its  low,  gushing  death-chant ;  but  its  warn- 
ing notes  were  unheard,  and  still  the  sleeper  slumbered  on. 
Suddenly  a  wild,  unearthly  yell  broke  fearfully  upon  the 
ear  of  night,  and  awoke  a  thousand  echoes.  Aroused  by  it 
the  Sauks  sprang  to  their  feet,  but  were  met  by  the  fierce 
Chippewas,  who  commenced  an  indiscriminate  slaughter. 
Some  were  tomahawked,  some  leaped  into  the  Saginaw  and 
were  drowned,  while  a  few  escaped  to  impart  the  death  news 
to  their  brethren."  Those  who  escaped,  and  others  from 
neighboring  villages  which  had  not  yet  been  attacked,  fled 
in  their  canoes  to  a  small  island  in  the  Saginaw,  where  they 
believed  themselves  safe, — at  least  for  a  time, — ^for  their 
foes  had  no  canoes  in  the  river.  But  in  this  they  were 
mistaken,  for  the  ice  was  rapidly  forming,  and  on  the 
following  day  or  night  it  had  become  strong  enough  to 
permit  the  passage  of  the  pursuing  Chippewas,  who  there- 
upon crossed  to  the  island  and  renewed  the  attack  with  such 
energy  and  ferocity  that  of  all  the  Sauk  refugees  who  had 
taken  shelter  there  not  a  single  man  was  left  alive,  and  only 
about  a  dozen  women  were  spared.  The  place,  in  after- 
years,  became  known  a'S  "  Skull  Island,"  from  the  great 
number  of  skulls*  and  other  human  bones  which  were 
found  in  its  soil. 

After  completing  their  bloody  work  on  the  island,  the 
Chippewa  and  Ottawa  warriors  moved  rapidly  up  the  river 
to  the  confluence  of  the  Flint  and  Shiawassee  Rivers,  where 
they  met  the  victorious  band  of  southern  Ottawas,  who  had 
destroyed  the  villages  on  the  Flint  and  massacred  nearly 
all  the  inhabitants,  the  few  survivors  retreating  in  terror 
towards  their  principal  villages  on  the  Saginaw,  where  they 
vainly  hoped  to  find  safety  from  their  enemies.  These 
panic-stricken  fugitives  now  turned  and  fled  up  the  valley 
of  the  Shiawassee,  where  they  were  relentlessly  pursued  by 
the  invaders,  and  here  the  result  was  the  same  as  it  had 
been  on  the  Saginaw  and  Flint.  All  the  villages  on  the 
Shiawassee  were  given  over  to  destruction  and  massacre ; 
the  Sauks  were  completely  overthrown  and  almost  exter- 
minated, only  a  miserable  remnant  escaping  westward 
through  the  dense  forests  to  the  Grand  River,  and  down 
that  stream  to  Lake  Michigan. 

The  Chippewa  and  Ottawa  warriors  were  now  absolute 
masters  of  the  Sauk  country,  but  they  did  not  immediately 
remove  their  settlements  here.  The  conquered  territory 
was  for  a  long  time  held  as  a  hunting-ground,  which  was 
roamed  over  in  common  by  the  bands  of  the  two  tribes. 


*  Ephraim  S.  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Flint  (brother  of  B.  0.  Williams, 
Esq.,  of  Owosso),  who  was  located  at  Saginaw  for  several  years  in  the 
fur  trade,  says  this  tradition  is  probably  well  founded,  for  he  has 
often  visited  the  island  in  question,  and  has  seen  many  mouldering 
skulls  exhumed  there. 


INDIAN   HISTORY   OF  THE  TWO  COUNTIES. 


11 


But  when  they  found  that  some  of  their  young  bmves  who 
entered  these  forests  disappeared  and  were  never  again  seen 
or  heard  of,  their  superstitious  fears  were  awakened,  and 
they  came  to  the  firm  belief  that  the  eddies  of  the  streams 
and  the  dark  recesses  of  the  woods  were  infested  by  evil 
spirits, — the  ghosts  of  the  murdered  Sauks, — who  had  come 
back  to  their  old  domain,  and  were  thus  mysteriously  wreak- 
ing vengeance  on  their  destroyers.  The  dread  inspired  by 
this  belief  and  the  strange  disappearance  of  their  young 
men  became  at  last  so  strong  that  they  entirely  abandoned 
the  country,  and  for  years  afterwards  no  Chippewa  or  Ottawa 
hunter  braved  the  terrors  of  the  "  haunted  hunting-grounds." 
But  after  many  moons  (no  one  can  say  how  many)  they 
ventured  back,  though  still  in  dread  and  fear,  and  finally 
in  favored  spots  there  sprang  up  many  villages  of  the  Chip- 
pewas,*  while  their  bark  canoes  sped  swiftly  over  the  bright 
waters  of  the  lakes  and  streams.  And  this  (the  tradition 
says)  was  the  manner  in  which  the  tribe  that  became 
known  as  the  Saginaw-Chippewa  acquired  and  occupied  the 
domain  which  the  Sauk  chiefs  and  warriors  had  once  called 
their  own. 

The  Chippewas  of  the  Lower  Peninsula  possessed  all  the 
fierce  and  sanguinary  characteristics  of  their  northern  kin- 
dred. From  the  time  when  England  wrested  the  lake 
country  from  the  possession  of  the  French  this  tribe  was 
distinguished  for  its  aggressive  disposition,  cruelty,  and 
treachery ;  and  during  the  almost  continuous  Indian  wars 
and  conspiracies  of  the  succeeding  half  century  its  chiefs 
showed  a  spirit  as  turbulent  and  untamable  as  that  of  the 
parent  nation, — the  Ojibwas  of  Lake  Superior.  The  story 
of  their  ravages  is  found  in  all  the  annals  of  Indian  hostili- 
ties. They  were  prominent  actors  in  the  Pontiac  war 
of  1763 ;  in  the  Indian  alliance  against  America  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution ;  in  the  savage  rising  which  was  quelled 
by  "  Mad  Anthony"  Wayne  a  few  years  later ;  and  they 
were  among  the  most  energetic  and  efficient  allies  of  Te- 
cumseh  in  his  prolonged  warfare  against  the  United  States. 
They  did  bloody  work  at  the  Raisin,  at  Sandusky,  and  on 
many  other  fields,  and  finally  they  fought  with  fierce  des- 
peration in  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  Oct.  5,  1813.  But 
that  day  extinguished  forever  the  warlike  spirit  of  the 
Chippewas,  for  then  and  there  ''  the  hopes  of  the  red  man 
perished."  Their  total  defeat  in  that  battle,  and  the  death 
of  Tecumseh,  annihilated  all  possibility  of  successful  resist- 
ance to  the  government,  and  all  hope  of  holding  their  hunt- 
ing-grounds against  the  advance  of  settlement  and  civiliza- 
tion. So  the  Saginaws,  like  other  Michigan  tribes,  sued  for 
peace,  gave  hostages  for  their  future  good  conduct,  received 
a  pardon  (which  they  scarcely  expected)  for  their  past 
offenses,  and  retired  to  their  villages — sullen  and  dejected, 
but  thoroughly  subjugated — and  never  again  made  war 
against  white  men.  Nearly  twenty  years  afterwards,  the 
Wisconsin  chief,  Black  Hawk,  sent  emissaries  among  them 
to  distribute  "  war-quills"  and  invite  them  to  join  his 
bands  in  a  new  war,  but  they  made  reply  that  the  Chippe- 


*  It  does  not  appear  that  the  Ottawas  ever  came  to  this  section  of 
country  in  any  considerable  numbers,  but  many  of  that  tribe  emigrated 
from  their  northern  lands  (on  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  north 
of  Grand  Traverse  Bay)  and  settled  in  the  southeast,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lake  St.  Clair,  and  the  Detroit,  St.  Clair,  and  Huron  Rivers. 


was  would  not  again  raise  the  hatchet  against  the  pale- 
faces, who  were  masters  of  the  land,  and  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  Great  Spirit. 

The  earliest  knowledge  of  the  Indians,  as  they  existed 
in  their  native  wilderness,  was  gained  by  white  men  who 
went  among  them  for  purposes  of  trade, — the  most  impor- 
tant branch  of  which  was  the  purchase  of  furs.  Of  these 
traders,  the  first  of  whom  any  account  is  found,  as  being 
located  in  the  country  of  the  Saginaw-Chippewas,  was  a 
Frenchman  named  Bolieu  (called  by  the  Indians,  Kase- 
gans)  ;  and  soon  after  him  there  came  another  of  the  same 
nationality,  named  Trembld  (since  corrupted  to  Trombley), 
who  established  himself  at  Saginaw.  The  date  of  Bolieu's 
coming  is  not  exactly  known,  but  it  is  certain  that  h"e  was 
trading  with  the  Saginaws  before  the  commencement  of 
the  present  century.  He  married  a  full-blood  Indian 
woman, f  a  sister  or  near  relative  of  Neome,  head-chief  of 
the  Pewonigo  band  of  Indians,  who  lived  at  Pewonigowink, 
on  the  Flint  River.  He  (Bolieu)  prosecuted  his  trading 
business  with  the  Indians  living  on  the  Flint  and  Shiawas- 
see, and,  without  doubt,  with  those  on  the  Looking-Glass 
and  Maple  Rivers  also.  It  is  not  known  where  his  post 
was  located,  but  there  is  strong  probability  that  it  was  on 
the  Shiawassee  River  at  the  Big  Rapids  (Owosso),  near  the 
present  residence  of  B.  0.  Williams,  Esq.,  for  at  that  place 
there  are  still  in  existence  portions  of  two  ancient  chimneys 
and  some  other  ruins  which  Mr.  Williams  (than  whom  no 
person  in  Michigan  is  more  competent  to  judge)  pronounces 
to  be  the  remains  of  an  old  trading-post.  This  opinion  is 
strengthened  by  the  fact  that  at  the  same  place  there  are 
still  to  be  seen  pits  in  the  earth,  evidently  made  for  the 
burying  of  canoes.J  As  it  is  certain  that  this  place  was 
not  occupied  by  any  of  the  later  traders,  it  seems  highly 
probable  that  it  was  the  post  of  Bolieu,  the  pioneer  trader 
among  the  Saginaws.  If  so,  the  buildings  must  have  been 
erected  nearly  or  quite  as  early  as  the  commencement  of 
this  century. 

Two  of  the  earliest  traders  who  followed  Bolieu  and 
Tremble  into  the  Saginaw  country  were  Jacob  Smith 
(named  by  the  Indians  Wahbesins)  and  Conrad  Ten  Eyck, 
who  established  at  Saginaw  before  the  opening  of  the  war 
of  1812-15.  Both  of  these  men  found  it  necessary  to 
abandon  their  posts  during  the  continuance  of  that  war, 
but  returned  to  Saginaw  at  the  close  of  hostilities.  In  the 
fall  of  1819,  Smith  removed  his  trading-post  to  the  Grand 
Traverse  of  the  Flint  River  (where  Flint  City  now  stands), 
and  remained  there  in  trade  till  his  death,  in  the  spring  of 
1825.  He  was  of  German  parentage  or  descent,  and  a 
native  of  Quebec,  Canada.  Two  of  his  daughters  (Mrs. 
C.  S.  Payne  and  Mrs.  T.  B.  W.  Stockton)  are  still  living  at 
Flint,  and  another  daughter  became  the  wife  of  Gen.  John 
Garland,  United  States  Army.  His  son,  Albert  J.  Smith, 
is,  or  was  recently,  living  in  South  America. 

f  A  daughter  of  theirs,  Angfilique  Bolieu  (whose  Indian  name  was 
Tawoumegogua),  was  sent  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  to '  Betroit, 
where  she  received  a  tolerable  education.  She  married  a  Frenchman 
named  Coutant,  and  after  his  death  she  became  the  wife  of  Jean 
Baptiste  St.  Aubin,  of  Detroit. 

{  The  Indians  (and  the  traders,  who  learned  the  custom  from  them) 
were  in  the  habit  of  burying  their  canoes  in  winter,  to  prevent  them 
from  being  ruined  by  the  frost. 


12 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Louis  Campau  commenced  in  the  Indian  trade  at  Sagi- 
naw in  1815.  He  remained  there  many  years,  but  finally 
removed  to  Grand  Rapids,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  and  died  highly  respected.  Antoine  Campau,  a 
brother  of  Louis,  also  located  at  Saginaw  in  1815  or  1816. 
John  B.  Cushway,*  Gen.  Riley,  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y., 
and  Whitmore  Knaggs  came  to  this  Indian  country  as 
traders  not  long  afterwards,  as  did  also  Baptists  Cochios, 
who  established  his  post  on  the  Flint.  All  these  traders 
dealt  with  the  Indians  inhabiting  the  valleys  of  the  Shia- 
wassee, Looking-Glass,  and  Maple  Rivers,  but  only  Cushway, 
Campau,  and  Knaggs  located  trading-houses  in  this  region. 
It  was  in  or  about  1820"j'  that  Whitmore  Knaggs  came  to 
open  his  post  at  the  "  crossing  of  the  Shiawassee," — that  is, 
the  place  where  several  trails  crossed  that  river,  on  the  In- 
dian reservation  of  Kechewondaugoning,J  or  "  Big  Salt 
Lick."  The  name  given  to  the  place  by  the  French  (very 
probably  by  old  Bolieu  himself)  was  "  Grand  Saline." 
The  white  settlers  afterwards  called  it  "  the  Knaggs  place," 
for  the  old  trader  by  whom  it  was  established,  and  his  son, 
who  was  its  last  occupant  as  a  trader.  The  post  was  situ- 
ated on  the  river,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  present 
township  of  Burns. 

In  1820  the  nearest  trading-posts  to  Knaggs'  on  the  south 
and  west  were  that  of  the  two  Godfroys  (father  and  son), 
located  on  the.  Huron,  at  the  present  site  of  Ypsilanti,  and 
that  of  Rix  Robinson  "  at  the  Thornapple  and  on  Grand 
River,  above  and  below."  These  merchants,  as  well  as 
those  at  Saginaw,  divided  the  trade  with  Knaggs  to  some 
extent,  but  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  latter  took  the 
lion's  share  among  the  Indians  living  within  his  range. 
Not  long  after  the  time  mentioned,  a  Frenchman  named 
Battise  (correctly  Baptiste)  opened  a  post  on  the  upper 
waters  of  the  Grand  River,  in  the  present  county  of  Jack- 
son, and  this  became  a  somewhat  popular  trading-place, 
even  for  some  of  the  Indians  living  as  far  north  as  the 
territory  of  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Counties. 

Whitmore  Knaggs  was  succeeded,  about  1824,  by  a 
man  named  Grant,  who  continued  in  the  trade  for  a  time, 
but  became  so  unpopular  with  the  Indians  that  they  finally 
drove  him  from  their  country. 

The  successor  of  Grant  in  the  Indian  trade  on  the  Shia- 
wassee was  Richard  Godfrey,  who  reopened  the  post  at 
Kechewondaugoning  in  1828.  In  the  spring  of  1829  this 
post  was  visited  by  the  brothers  Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin 
0.  Williams,  who  were  then  making  a  tour  of  exploration 
with  a  view  to  permanent  settlement,  they  being  probably 
the  first  white  men  who  visited  Shiawassee  County  with 
that  intention.     The  Godfrey  trading-post,  as  it  existed  at 

*  Cushway  was  called  by  the  Indians  Pewabicorzo,  or  "the  iron- 
shod,"  because  he  wore  heavily-nailed  boots. 

t  A  list  of  the  licensed  traders  in  Michigan  in  that  year  places 
Knaggs'  post  "on  the  river  Shiawassee,  at  the  Indian  Eeservation." 

J  This  tract  of  three  thousand  acres  was  reserved  to  the  Indians  of 
the  Shiawassee  bands,  in  the  treaty  concluded  by  Gen.  Cass  at  Sagi- 
naw, Sept.  24,  1819.  The  name  of  this  reservation  is  spelled  in  the 
treaty  Ketchewaundaugenink,  which  is  perhaps  as  nearly  correct  as 
any  other  manner  of  spelling, — the  orthography  of  Indian  names 
being  at  best  a  matter  of  taste  or  caprice.  It  was  located  in  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  present  township  of  Burns  and  southwest 
corner  of  Vernon,  and  comprised  also  small  parts  of  Shiawassee  and 
Antrim. 


that  time,  is  described  by  B.  0.  Williams  as  a  rude  log 
house  and  stable,  with  bark. roof,  and  then  in  charge  of 
John  B.  Cushway,  as  Godfrey's  agent.  The  post  was  con- 
tinued by  Godfrey's  successors,  Antoine  Beaubien  and 
John  Knaggs,  until  about  1839. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  Maple  River,  at  the  site  of  the 
present  village  of  Maple  Rapids,  a  trading-pest  was  opened 
as  early  as  1826,  but  whether  the  first  trader  there  was 
John  B.  Cushway  or  George  Campau  is  a  matter  of  some 
doubt.  It  is  certain  that  it  bore  the  name  of  the  first-named 
proprietor  in  1837,  for  on  the  17th  of  March  in  that  year 
the  Legislature  passed  an  act  laying  out  a  State  road  "  from 
the  seat  of  justice  in  Eaton  County  to  Cush way's  trading- 
pest  on  Maple  River  in  the  county  of  Clinton."  Mr.  James 
Sowle,  of  Essex,  is  of  the  opinion,  however,  that  Cushway 
carried  on  the  trading-station  before  Campau,  which  latter 
seems  to  have  been  the  one  recollected  by  old  residents 
as  the  first  proprietor.  He  was  a  brother  of  Louis  and  An- 
toine Campau,  and  was  known  to  the  Indians  as  Waugoosh, 
or  "  the  Red  Fox."  His  successor  in  trade  at  the  post  on 
the  Maple  was  John  Johnson,  who  became  a  permanent 
resident,  and  died  there  since  1875.  Mr.  Campau  is  (or 
was  very  recently)  living  at  Grand  Rapids.  The  Cushway 
or  Campau  trading-station,  with  the  Genereau  post,  on  the 
river  below,  in  Ionia  County,  took  a  large  part  of  the  trade 
of  the  Indians  living  on  the  Maple  and  Looking-Glass 
Rivers,  but  there  was  also  for  a  time  a  post  on  the  Grand 
River,  in  Ionia  County,  kept  by  Gilbert  W.  Prentiss  and 
one  or  two  associates,  who  (it  was  said)  were  also  engaged 
in  counterfeiting,  and  were  driven  away  from  their  post  by 
the  Indians,  on  whom  they  had  passed  some  of  their  spuri- 
ous coin.  The  same  fate  also  befell  them  at  a  trading- 
station  which  they  opened  in  1834,  in  Cehoctah  township, 
on  the  north  border  of  Livingston  County,  adjoining  Shia- 
wassee. 

The  Williams  trading-post,  which  secured  a  very  large 
business  among  the  Indians  of  this  section  of  country,  and 
which  is  particularly  noticeable  from  the  fact  that  the  two 
young  men  who  opened  it  became  permanent  residents  and 
very  prominent  citizens  of  Shiawassee  County,  was  estab- 
lished in  August,  1831,  by  Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin  0. 
Williams,  for  Rufus  W.  Stevens  and  Elisha  Beach,  of  Pon- 
tiac.  The  location  of  this  trading-station  was  a  very  little 
north  of  the  north  line  of  the  Kechewondaugoning  reser- 
vation, at  the  point  where  the  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron 
Railroad  crosses  the  Shiawassee  River,  on  or  very  near  the 
dividing  line  between  the  townships  of  Shiawassee  and 
Vernon.  To  this  station  there  were  brought  fuiB  collected 
within  the  present  counties  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton,  as 
well  as  in  adjoining  counties  to  the  south  and  eaat.  Their 
trade  within  the  limits  of  Clinton,  however,  was  much  less 
than  in  Shiawassee,  as  much  of  the  Indian  trade  in  the 
former  county  was  secured  by  Genereau,  at  the  post  on  the 
Grand  River,  and  by  Campau,  at  his  station  at  Maple 
Rapids. 

In  1832  the  brothers  Williams  became  agents  for  the 
American  Fur  Company,  and  continued  as  such  until  1836 
when  they  began  trading  on   their  own  account,  and  re- 
mained until  1837,  when   the  post  was  vacated  and  the 
business  abandoned,  the  Indians  having  been  in  that  year 


INDIAN   HISTORY  OF  THE  TWO  COUNTIES. 


13 


so  greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  and  so  much  scattered  and 
demoralized  by  the  ravages  of  a  fatal  pestilence  among 
them,  that  their  trade  was  no  longer  of  any  value.  The 
owners  of  the  trading-station  then  removed  to  Owosso, 
where  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams  yet  resides.  He  still  speaks  the 
Chippewa  language  almost  as  fluently  as  English.  He  un- 
questionably knows  more  of  the  Indian  history  of  this 
region  than  any  other  person,  and  it  is  principally  on  in- 
formation furnished  by  him  that  this  account  of  the  Indians 
of  these  two  counties  is  based. 

In  1 830  the  Indian  villages  or  settlements  on  the  Shia- 
wassee River  were  those  of  Kechewondaugoning,  on  the 
reservation  of  the  same  name,  and  Shigemasking  (meaning 
"  soft-maple  place"),  near  Shiawasseetown.  The  former 
was  the  summer  residence  of  Wasso,  the  principal  chief  of 
the  Shiawassee  bands.  These  were  the  only  villages  on 
the  river  within  the  boundaries  of  Shiawassee  County. 
Below,  on  the  same  stream,  but  a  few  miles  north  of  the 
county  line,  was  the  Chippewa  village  of  Che-as-sin-ning  or 
*'  Big  Rock,"  at  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Chesaning. 
This  was  a  much  larger  village  than  either  of  those  pre- 
viously mentioned.  Its  people  were  under  the  chief  Sher- 
manito,  who  died  in  1836  and  was  succeeded  in  the  chief- 
ship  by  Nokchikaming. 

On  the  south  branch  of  the  Shiawassee,  in  Livingston 
County,  near  its  northern  border,  was  a  very  small  settle- 
ment of  Indians  at  Assineboinaing  ("  Rocky  Place"). 
This  had  in  earlier  years  borne  the  name  of  Nabobish, 
which  was  then  also  the  name  of  its  chief.  His  succe.«sor 
was  old  Portabeek,  who  is  yet  recollected  by  residents  of 
that  part  of  Livingston  County.  This  settlement  or  village 
was  entirely  abandoned  by  the  Indians  about  1830.  Away 
to  the  eastward,  and  nearly  on  the  boundary  between  Gene- 
see and  Oakland  Counties,  was  the  village  of  Kopenicorn- 
ing,  situated  by  a  small  lake,  which  is  yet  known  by  the 
same  name.  This  was  a  village  of  the  "  Fisher  tribe"  of 
Saginaws,  of  whom  a  few  are  still  living  in  Genesee 
County. 

On  the  Looking-Glass  River,  in  what  is  now  the  town- 
ship of  Antrim,  there  had  been  an  Indian  village  of  con- 
siderable size,  but  this  had  been  abandoned  prior  to  1831. 
Farther  down  the  stream,  on  its  northern  ba-rik,  just  above 
the  place  which  is  now  the  village  of  De  Witt  in  Clinton 
County,  there  was  still  in  existence  at  that  time  the  Chip- 
pewa village  of  Wabwahnahseepee,  of  which  the  chiefs 
were  Wahbaskonoquay,  or  "  Whitelocks,"  and  his  son, 
Canorbway.  This  village  was  broken  up  soon  afterwards, 
and  there  are  now  few,  if  any,  of  even  the  oldest  settlers 
in  Clinton  County  who  have  any  recollection  of  the  exist- 
ence of  an  Indian  village  at  this  place,  though  the  place 
continuecj  to  be  for  many  years  a  favorite  ground  for  the 
temporary  camps  of  wandering  parties  of  the  Chippewa 
bands.  This  was  a  well-known  place  to  the  early  white 
settlers,  who  called  it  the  "Indian  Green."  Some  four 
miles  above  this,  but  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  at 
Lowry  Plains,  there  was  another  large  and  much  frequented 
camp-ground,  and  still  others  were  found  at  difierent  places 
up  the  stream,  in  both  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Counties. 

On  the  south  bank  of  the  stream  which  the  early  French 


traders  called  La  Riviere  du  Plain,  but  which  the  English- 
speaking  settlers  named  Maple  River,  was  the  village  of  the 
chief  Makitoquet,  located  on  what  is  now  to  be  described 
as  the  northwest  part  of  section  3,  township  of  Essex. 
This  settlement  remained  and  prospered  (as  much  as  any 
Indian  village  can  ever  be  said  to  prosper)  for  a  considera- 
ble time  after  the  coming  of  the  first  white  settlers.  There 
were  also  villages  of  Makitoquet's  people  farther  down  the 
river,  in  the  present  township  of  Lebanon  (on  section  14 
and  at  one  or  two  other  points),  but  these  were  not  as  an- 
cient as  the  one  first  mentioned ;  and  they  were,  in  fact, 
more  like  camps  than  permanent  villages,  but  were  always 
fully  occupied  during  the  sugaring  season.  The  sub-chief, 
Wintagowish,  was  a  kind  of  lieutenant  to  Makitoquet. 
The  latter  became  a  land-owner  (having  purchased  land 
from  government)  in  Lebanon  in  1837. 

Passing  from  Makitoquet's  village  down  the  Maple  River 
to  a  point  at  or  very  near  where  the  present  village  of  Muir 
stands,  there  would  have  been  found  at  that  time  a  settle- 
ment of  Chippewas,  mixed  with  Ottawas,  all  under  the 
authority  of  a  chief  named  Cocoose.  The  name  of  this 
chief  was  also  the  name  of  the  village.  West  of  this,  on 
the  Grand  River,  at  the  place  which  is  now  Lowell,  Kent 
Co.,  was  the  chief  Kewagooshcum's  village,  also  composed 
of  Ottawas  and  Chippewas.  Many  miles  farther  up  the 
Grand  River,  on  its  west  bank,  in  the  present  township  of 
Danby,  Ionia  Co.,  and  near  the  west  border  of  Clinton 
County,  was  the  village  of  Pe-shimnecon  (Apple  Place), 
which  was  under  the  authority  of  the  chiefs  Dayomek  and 
Kekonosoway,  the  latter  of  whom  was  stabbed  to  death  by 
one  of  his  own  braves  in  a  drunken  brawl.  This  village, 
unlike  most  of  the  others  named,  continued  to  be  held  by 
the  Indians  as  a  place  of  residence  until  within  recent 
years. 

A  few  miles  south  of  the  southern  boundary  of  Clinton 
County  were  settlements  of  the  people  known  as  Red  Cedar 
Indians,  though  they  belonged  to  the  Shiawassee  bands  of 
the  Saginaws.  Their  principal  chief  was  the  veteran 
Okemos,  and  next  to  him  in  authority  were  Manitocorb- 
way  and  Shingwauk,  of  the  first  two  of  whom  further  men- 
tion will  be  made. 

"  The  various  bands,"  says  Mr.  Williams,  "  all  belonged 
to  the  Chippewa  or  Saginaw  tribe.  We  found  them  scat- 
tered over  this  vast  primitive  forest,  each  band  known  by 
its  locality  or  chief.  They  subsisted  principally  by  hunting, 
though  all  had  summer  residences,  where  they  raised  min- 
dor-min  (corn),  potatoes,  turnips,  beans,  and  sometimes 
squashes,  pumpkins,  and  melons." 

At  or  near  all  their  villages,  on  the  Maple,  the  Looking- 
Glass,  and  the  Shiawassee,  there  were  corn-fields,  which  they 
planted  year  after  year  with  the  same  crops.  The  largest 
of  the  corn-fields  in  all  this  region  were  those  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Shermanito's  village  on  the  Shiawassee,  now  Ches- 
aning, Saginaw  Co.,  a  little  north  of  the  Shiawassee  County 
line.  Fields  of  considerable  extent  were  situated  midway 
between  Vernon  and  Shiawassee  Town.  Smaller  ones  were 
found  near  the  villages  and  camping-grounds  on  the  Look- 
ing-Glass, the  Grand,  and  Maple  Rivers,  as  also  at  Keche- 
wondaugoning, on  the  Shiawassee.  At  the  latter  place 
there  was  a  small  Indian  orchard  of  stunted  and  uncared- 


14 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


for  apple-trees,  and  similar  ones  were  found  at  several 
places  in  both  counties.  The  Indians  carried  on  their  agri- 
culture in  a  careless,  slovenly,  and  superficial  way.  Of 
course  they  were  ignorant  of  the  use  of  plows,  and  the  few 
implements  which  they  had  were  of  the  rudest  and  most 
primitive  kind.  They  had  plenty  of  poor  and  scrawny 
ponies,  but  these  were  wholly  uncared  for,  and  were  never 
made  use  of  except  for  riding.  From  lack  of  care,  and  the 
planting  of  the  same  fields  for  many  years  in  succession, 
these  had  become  overgrown  with  grass,  weeds,  and  sumach- 
bushes,  so  that  the  crops  obtained  were  very  meagre,  and 
but  for  the  almost  boundless  stores  of  food  furnished  by  the 
streams  and  forests,  the  people  must  have  been  constantly 
in  a  state  bordering  on  famine. 

It  was  their  custom  during  the  autumn  to  move  from 
the  vicinity  of  their  fields,  proceeding  up  towards  the  heads 
of  the  streams,  making  halts  at  intervals  of  six  or  eight 
miles,  and  camping  for  a  considerable  time  at  each  halting- 
place  for  purposes  of  hunting  and  fishing.  Upon  the 
approach  of  winter  they  floated  back  in  their  canoes  (car- 
rying them  round  rapids  and  obstructions),  and  betook 
themselves  to  their  winter  quarters  in  comparatively  shel- 
tered places  within  the  shelter  of  the  denser  forests.  From 
there  the  young  men  went  out  to  the  winter  hunting-  and 
trapping-grounds,  through  which  they  roamed  till  the  ap- 
proach of  spring,  when  all,  men,  women,  and  children,  en- 
gaged in  sugar-making  until  the  sap  ceased  to  flow :  and 
after  this  process  was  finished  they  again  moved  to  their 
corn-fields,  and  having  planted  and  harvested,  and  fished 
and  hunted  up  to  the  head-waters  of  the  streams  during  the 
summer  and  autumn,  they  again  returned  to  their  forest 
camps  or  villages  to  pass  the  winter  as  before. 

The  manufacture  of  sugar  was  one  of  the  principal  In- 
dian industries,  if  the  term  industry  can  be  properly  applied 
to  anything  existing  in  an  Indian  community.  They  pro- 
duced large  quantities  of  this  article,  and  of  as  good  quality 
as  b  made  by  white  people.  Having  completed  its  manu- 
facture for  the  year,  they  packed  it  in  mokoks  (vessels  or 
packages  neatly  made  of  birch-bark)  and  buried  it  in  the 
ground,  where  it  was  kept  in  good  condition  for  future  use 
or  sale.  Their  sugar- making  resources  were,  of  course,  al- 
most unlimited,  for  noble  groves  of  maple  abounded  every- 
where. There  were  extensive  ones  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Big  Rapids  of  the  Shiawassee,  and  many  others  of  perhaps 
equal  extent  along  the  valleys  of  the  Maple,  the  Looking- 
Glass,  and  other  streams  ;  and,  in  fact,  through  nearly  every 
part  of  the  territory  of  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Counties. 

The  Chippewas,  like  all  other  Indians,  were  extremely 
superstitious  ;  indeed,  they  appeared  to  be  more  marked  in 
this  peculiarity  than  were  most  of  the  other  tribes.  It  has 
already  been  mentioned  that  the  ancestors  of  the  later  Sagi- 
naw Chippewas  imagined  that  the  country  which  they  had 
wrested  from  the  conquered  Sauks  was  haunted  by  the 
spirits  of  those  whom  they  had  slain,  and  that  it  was  only 
after  the  lapse  of  years  that  their  terrors  became  allayed 
sufficiently  to  permit  them  to  occupy  the  "  haunted  hunt- 
ing-grounds." But  the  superstition  still  remained,  and,  in 
fact,  it  was  never  entirely  dispelled.  Long  after  the  valleys 
of  the  Saginaw,  the  Shiawassee,  and   the   Maple   became 


studded  with  white  settlements,  the  simple  Indians  still 
believed  that  mysterious  Sauks  were  lingering  in  the  forests 
and  along  the  margins  of  their  streams  for  purposes  of 
vengeance ;  that  munesous,  or  bad  spirits,  in  the  form  of 
Sauk  warriors,  were  hovering  around  their  villages  and 
camps,  and  on  the  flanks  of  their  hunting-parties,  prevent- 
ing them  from  being  successful  in  the  chase,  and  bringing 
ill  fortune  and  discomfiture  in  a  hundred  ways.  So  great 
was  their  dread  that  when  (as  was  frequently  the  case)  they 
became  possessed  of  the  idea  that  the  munesous  were  in 
their  immediate  vicinity,  they  would  fly,  as  if  for  their 
lives,  abandoning  everything, — wigwams,  fish,  game,  and 
peltry, — and  no  amount  of  ridicule  from  the  whites  could 
convince  them  of  their  folly,  or  induce  them  to  stay  and 
face  the  imaginary  danger.  "  Sometimes,  during  sugar- 
making,"  said  Mr.  Truman  B.  Fox,  of  Saginaw,  "they 
would  be  seized  with  a  sudden  panic,  and  leave  everything, 
— their  kettles  of  sap  boiling,  their  mokoks  of  sugar  stand- 
ing in  their  camps,  and  their  ponies  tethered  in  the  woods, 
— and  flee  helter-skelter  to  their  canoes,  as  though  pursued 
by  the  Evil  One.  In  answer  to  the  question  asked  in  re- 
gard to  the  cause  of  their  panic,  the  invariable  answer  was 
a  shake  of  the  head,  and  a  mournftil  '  an-do-gwane'  (don't 
know)."  Some  of  the  northern  Indian  bands,  whose  country 
joined  that  of  the  Saginaw  Chippewas,  played  upon  their 
weak  superstition,  and  derived  profit  from  it  by  lurking 
around  their  villages  or  camps,  frightening  them  into  flight, 
and  then  appropriating  the  property  which  they  had  aban- 
doned. A  few  shreds  of  wool  from  their  blankets  left  stick- 
ing on  thorns  or  dead  brushwood,  hideous  figures  drawn  with 
coal  upon  the  trunks  of  trees,  or  marked  on  the  groundin 
the  vicinity  of  their  lodges,  was  sure  to  produce  this  result, 
by  indicating  the  presence  of  the  dreaded  munesous.  Often 
the  Indians  would  become  impressed  with  the  idea  that 
these  bad  spirits  had  bewitched  their  firearms,  so  that  they 
could  kill  no  game.  "  I  have  had  them  come  to  me,"  says 
Mr.  Ephraim  S.  Williams,  of  Flint,  "  from  places  miles 
distant,  bringing  their  rifles  to  me,  asking  me  to  examine 
and  resight  them,  declaring  that  the  sights  had  been  removed 
(and  in  most  cases  they  had,  but  it  was  by  themselves  in 
their  fright).  I  have  often,  and  in  fact  always  did  when 
applied  to,  resighted  and  tried  them  until  they  would  shoot 
correctly,  and  then  they  would  go  away  cheerfully.  I 
would  tell  them  they  must  keep  them  where  the  munesous 
could  not  find  them.  At  other  times,  having  a  little  bad 
luck  in  trapping  or  hunting,  they  became  excited,  and  would 
say  that  game  had  been  over  and  in  their  traps,  and  that 
they  could  not  catch  anything.  I  have  known  them  to  go 
so  far  as  to  insist  that  a  beaver  or  an  otter  had  been  in 
their  traps  and  got  out ;  that  their  traps  were  bewitched  or 
spell-bound,  and  their  rifles  charmed  by  the  munesous,  so 
that  they  could  not  catch  or  kill  anything.  Then  they 
must  give  a  great  feast,  and  have  the  medicine  man  or  con- 
jurer ;  and  through  his  wise  and  dark  performances  the 
charm  is  removed  and  all  is  well,  and  traps  and  rifles  do 
their  duty  again.  These  things  have  been  handed  down 
for  generations." 

A  very  singular  superstitious  rite  was  performed  annually 
by  the  Shiawassee  Indians  at  a  place  called  Pindatongoing 
(meaning  the  place  where  the  spirit  of  sound  or  echo  lives) 


INDIAN   HISTORY  OP  THE  TWO   COUNTIES. 


15 


about  two  miles  above  Newburg,  on  the  Shiawassee  River, 
where  the  stream  was  deep  and  eddying.     The  ceremony 
at  this  place  was  witnessed  in  1831  by  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams, 
of  Owosso,  who  thus  describes  it :    "  Some  of  the  old  In- 
dians every  year,  in  fall  or  summer,  offered  up  a  sacrifice 
to  the  spirit  of  the  river  at  that  place.     They  dressed  a 
puppy  or  dog  in  a  fantastic  manner  by  decorating  it  with 
various  colored  ribbons,  scarlet  cloth,  beads,  or  wampum 
tied  around  it ;  also  a  piece  of  tobacco  and  vermilion  paint 
around  its  neck  (their  own  faces  blackened),  and  after  burn- 
ing, by  the  river-side,  meat,  corn,  tobacco,  and  sometimes 
whisky  offerings,  would,  with  many  muttered  adjurations 
and   addresses    to   the 
spirit,  and   waving    of 
hands,  holding  the  pup, 
cast  him  into  the  river, 
and    then     appear    to 
listen  and  watch,  in  a 
mournful   attitude,   its 
struggles     as     it    was 
borne  by  the  current 
down  into  a  deep  hole 
in   the   river    at    that 
place,   the   bottom    of 
which     at    that    time 
could  not  be  discovered 
without    very    careful 
inspection.       I    could 
never  learn  the  origin 
of  the  legend  they  then 
had,    that    the    spirit 
had   dived   down   into 
the  earth  through  that 
deep  hole,  but  they  be- 
lieved that  by  a  pro- 
pitiatory yearly  offering 
their  luck  in  hunting 
and  fishing  on  the  river 
would  be  bettered  and 
their  health  preserved." 
Once   a    year,   soon 
after      sugar  -  making, 
nearly  all  the  Indians 
of  the  interior  repaired 
to  Kepayshowink  (the 

great  camping-ground),  OKEMOS. 

which  was  at  the  place 

where  Saginaw  City  now  stands.  They  went  there  for  the 
purpose  of  engaging  in  a  grand  jubilee  of  one  or  two  weeks' 
duration,  engaging  in  dances,  games,  and  feats  of  strength  ; 
and  as  they  were  usually  able  to  obtain  liquor  there,  these 
gatherings  often  brought  about  quarrels  and  deadly  fighting. 
"  If  an  injury  had  been  done  to  one  party  by  another  it 
was  generally  settled  here,  either  with  property,  such  as 
arms,  ponies,  or  blankets,  or  by  the  price  of  life.  If  the 
injury  had  been  one  of  an  exceedingly  aggravated  nature, 
a  life  was  demanded,  and  stoically  and  unflinchingly  yielded 
up  by  the  doomed  party."  Many  an  inveterate  Indian  feud 
reached  a  bloody  termination  on  the  "great  camping- 
ground"  at  Saginaw. 


Although  the  Red  Cedar  band,  of  which  Okemos*  was 
the  leader,  had  its  settlements  several  miles  south  of  Shi- 
awassee and  Clinton  Counties,  yet  a  brief  mention  of  the 
old  chief  is  not  out  of  place  in  the  history  of  these 
counties,  for  it  was  in  one  of  them  that  he  first  saw  the 
light,  and  in  the  other  that  he  died ;  and  the  territory  of 
both  of  them  was  roamed  over  as  a  hunting-ground  for 
many  years  by  him  and  his  followers  in  common  with  the 
bands  whose  villages  and  fields  were  within  its  boundaries. 
Okemos  was  born  at  or  near  the  Grand  Saline,  in  what 
is  now  Shiawassee  County,  at  a  date  which  is  not  precisely 
known,  but  which  has  been  placed  by  some  historians  at 

about  1788.  That  this 
date  is  nearly  the  correct 
one  seems  not  improb- 
able, for  reasons  which 
will  presently  be  given. 
He  was  of  Saginaw 
Chippewa  stock,  his 
people  having  been  of 
the  Shiawassee  bands 
of  that  tribe.  It  has 
been  said  by  some  that 
he  was  the  nephew  of 
the  great  Pontiac,  but 
there  is  little  reason  to 
believe  that  such  was 
the  case,  though  it  is 
not  strange  that  he 
should,  in  the  spirit  of 
genuine  Indian  boast- 
fulness,  be  more  than 
willing  to  favor  the  idea 
that  he  sustained  that 
relation  to  the  redoubt- 
able Ottawa  chieftain. 

How  and  where  the 
earlier  years  of  Okemos 
were     passed     is    not 
known.     His  first  ap- 
pearance as  a  warrior 
was    at    Sandusky  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and 
his     participation     in 
that  fight  was  the  prin- 
cipal event  of  all  his 
life.      On    that    occa- 
sionf  eighteen  young  Chippewa  braves,  among  whom  were 
Okemos  and  his  cousin  Manitocorbway,  and  who  were  serv- 
ing as  scouts  on  the  side  of  the  British,  had  come  in  from 
the  river  Raisin,  and  were  crouching  in  ambush  not  far  from 


»  Okemos,  or  Ogemaw,  meant,  in  the  Chippewa  language,  "Little 
Chief,"  and  Che-ogemaw,  "  Big  Chief."  Whether  the  name  "  Little 
Chief,"  as  applied  to  this  Indian,  had  reference  to  his  small  stature 
(as  he  was  very  short)  or  to  the  extent  of  his  power  and  authority  as 
a  chief,  does  not  appear. 

t  The  account  here  given  of  the  participation  of  Okemos  and  his 
cousin  Manitocorbway  in  the  fight  at  Sandusky  is  written  from  facts 
furnished  by  B.  0.  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Owosso,  who  had  a  minute 
account  of  it  from  the  two  chiefs  themselves,  with  both  of  whom  he 
was  well  acquainted. 


16 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  fort  of  Sandusky,  waiting  to  surprise  the  Ariierican 
supply-wagons  or  any  small  detachment  that  might  pass 
their  lurking-place.  Suddenly  there  appeared  a  body  of 
twenty  American  cavalrymen  approaching  them  directly  in 
front.  The  red  warriors  promptly  made  their  plans,  which 
was  to  wait  till  they  could  count  the  buttons  on  the  coats 
of  the  troopers,  then  to  deliver  their  fire  and  close  on  them 
with  the  tomahawk,  fully  expecting  that  in  the  disorder 
produced  by  their  volley  they  would  be  able  to  kill  most  of 
them  and  take  many  scalps.  But  they  had  reckoned  with- 
out their  host.  When  the  flash  of  their  guns  disclosed 
their  place  of  concealment  the  cavalrymen  instantly  charged 
through  the  cover  upon  them,  sabre  in  hand.  Almost  at 
the  same  instant  a  bugle-blast  echoed  through  the  woods, 
and  a  few  moments  later  a  much  larger  body  of  horsemen, 
warned  of  the  presence  of  an  enemy  by  the  firing,  came 
up  at  a  gallop  to  the  help  of  their  friends.  The  Indians,  en- 
tirely surrounded,  were  cut  down  to  a  man,  and,  gashed  and 
pierced  by  sabre-thrusts,  were  all  left  on  the  field  for  dead. 
Most  of  them  were  so,  but  life  was  not  quite  extinct  in 
Okemos  and  Manitocorbway,  though  both  were  wholly  in- 
sensible, and  remained  so  for  many  hours.  At  last  Okemos 
returned  to  consciousness,  and  found  that  his  cousin  was 
also  living  and  conscious.  Together  these  two  managed 
to  crawl  to  a  small  stream  near  by,  where  they  refreshed 
themselves  by  drinking,  and  washing  off'  the  clotted  blood, 
and  then,  crawling,  rolling,  dragging  themselves  painfully 
and  slowly  along  the  ground,  they  at  last  reached  the  river, 
found  a  canoe,  succeeded  in  getting  into  it,  pushed  off  into 
the  stream,  and  relapsed  to  a  state  of  insensibility,  in  which 
condition  they  were  not  long  afterwards  discovered  and 
rescued  by  Indians  of  their  own  or  a  friendly  band.  When 
at  last  they  again  returned  to  consciousness  they  were  sur- 
prised at  finding  themselves  in  charge  of  squaws,  who  were 
faithfully  and  tenderly  nursing-  them.  Finally,  both  recov- 
ered, but  Okemos  never  wholly  regained  his  former  vigor, 
and  Manitocorbway  was  little  better  than  a  cripple  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Each  had  been  gashed  with  a 
dozen  wounds;  the  skulls  of  both  had  been  cloven,  and 
they  carried  the"  broad,  deep  marks  of  the  sabre-cuts  to 
their  graves. 

Okemos  was  but  a  common  warrior  in  the  fight  at  San- 
dusky, but  for  the  high  qualities  and  endurance  which  he 
showed  at  that  time  he  was  made  a  chief,  and  became  the 
leader  of  the  Red  Cedar  band  of  Shiawassee  Chippewas. 
He  obtained,  through  the  intercession  of  Col.  Godfrey,  a 
pardon  from  the  government  for  the  part  which  he  had 
taken  in  favor  of  the  British,  and  he  never  again  fought 
against  the  Americans.  The  same  was  the  case  with  his 
kinsman,  Manitocorbway. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Okemos  made  a  permanent 
settlement  with  his  band  on  the  banks  of  the  Cedar  River, 
in  Ingham  County,  a  few  miles  east  of  Lansing.  There 
were  the  villages  of  Okemos,  Manitocorbway,  and  Shing- 
wauk, — the  latter  two  being  also  chiefs.  Their  settlements 
were  all  located  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  village  and 
railroad  station  of  Okemos,  and  there  the  band  remained 
till  finally  broken  up  and  scattered. 

Through  all  his  life  Okemos  was  (almost  as  a  matter  of 
course)  addicted  to  the  liberal  use  of  ardent  spirits,  and  in 


his  later  years  (notably  from  the  time  when  his  band  be- 
came broken  up  and  himself  little  more  than  a  wanderer) 
this  habit  grew  stronger  upon  him,  yet  he  never  forgot  his 
dignity.  He  was  always  exceedingly  proud  of  his  chief- 
ship,  and  of  his  (real  or  pretended)  relationship  to  the 
great  Pontiac,  and  he  was  always  hoastful  of  his  exploits. 
But  he  sometimes  found  himself  in  a  position  where  neither 
his  rank  nor  his  vaunted  prowess  could  shield  him  from 
deserved  punishment.  Upon  one  such  occasion,  in  the 
year  1832,  he  appeared  at  the  Williams  trading-post  on 
the  Shiawassee,  and,  backed  by  twelve  or  fifteen  braves  of 
his  band,  demanded  whisky.  B.  0.  Williams,  who  was 
then  present  and  in  charge,  replied  that  he  had  no  liquor. 
"  I  have  money  and  will  pay,"  said  Okemos.  "  You  had 
plenty  of  whisky  yesterday,  and  I  will  have  it.  You  re- 
fuse because  you  are  afraid  to  sell  it  to  me !"  "  It  is  true," 
said  the  proprietor,  "  that  I  had  whisky  yesterday,  but  I 
have  not  now,  and  if  I  had,  you  should  not  have  it.  And 
if  you  think  I  am  afraid,  look  right  in  my  eye  and  see  if 
you  can  discover  fear  there."  The  chief  became  enraged, 
and  ordered  his  men  to  enter  the  trading-house  and  roll 
out  a.barrel  of  whisky,  saying  that  he  himself  would  knock 
in  the  head.  "  Go  in  if  you  wish  to,"  said  Williams,  care- 
lessly, "my  door  is  always  open  I"  But  the  braves  were 
discreet,  and  did  not  move  in  obedience  to  their  chiefs 
order.  Then  Okemos  grew  doubly  furious,  but  in  an  in- 
stant Mr.  Williams  sprang  upon  him,  seized  him  by  the 
throat  and  face  with  so  powerful  a  grip  that  the  blood 
spirted ;  he  snatched  the  chief's  knife  from  his  belt  and 
ordered  him  to  hand  over  his  tomahawk,  which  he  did 
without  unnecessary  delay.  He  was  then  ordered  to  leave 
the  place  instantly,  and  never,  as  he  valued  his  safety,  to 
be  seen  at  the  trading-house  again.  Disarmed,  cowed,  and 
completely  humbled,  he- obeyed  at  once,  and  moved  rapidly 
away  followed  by  his  braves,  who  had  stood  passively  by 
without  attempting  to  interfere  in  his  behalf  during  the 
scene  above  described. 

Some  time  afterwards  Mr.  Williams  visited  the  settle- 
ments of  the  Red  Cedars  for  purposes  of  trade,  and  made 
his  headquarters  at  the  village  of  Manitocorbway,  whom 
he  held  in  high  esteem  as  an  honest,  peaceable,  and  straight- 
forward Indian.  While  there  a  messenger  came  to  him 
from  Okemos, — whose  village  was  not  far  ofi^, — ^requesting 
him  to  come  there  and  trade  with  him.  He  had  not.  in- 
tended to  go  to  Okemos'  village,  and  was  not  disposed  to  do 
so  even  upon  this  invitation  ;  but  at  the  earnest  solicitation 
of  his  friend  Manitocorbway  he  finally  went,  and  was  re- 
ceived by  Okemos  with  marked  deference  and  respect. 
The  chief  had  previously  dealt  at  Baptiste's  trading-post, 
on  Grand  River,  below  Jacksonburgh,  but  from  this  time 
all  his  trade  was  taken  to  the  Williams  station  on  the 
Shiawassee.  This  incident  illustrates  that  Indian  trait  of 
character  which  invariably  led  them  to  give  their  warmest 
friendship  and  admiration  to  those  who  had  boldly  defied  and 
chastised  them,  instead  of  allowing  themselves  to  be  brow- 
beaten by  their  threats  and  insolence. 

After  the  breaking  up  of  his  band  on  the  Cedar,  Okemos 
had  never  any  permanent  place  of  residence.  It  is  said 
that  he  then  resigned  his  chiefship  to  his  son,*  and  this 

'  This  son,  John  Okemos,  is  now  a  farmer  in  Montcalm  Co.    Mich 


INDIAN  TREATIES  AND   CESSIONS   OP  LANDS. 


17 


may  be  true,  but  if  there  was  such  a  pretended  "  resigna- 
tion" it  was  wholly  nominal  and  without  effect,  for  he  had 
ceased  to  have  a  following,  and  therefore  had  no  real  chief- 
ship  to  resign.  It  has  also  been  stated  that  in  his  latter 
years  he  degenerated  into  a  vagabond,  a  common  drunkard, 
and  a  beggar,  but  this  is  wholly  incorrect.  He  was  cer- 
tainly fond  of  liquor,  and  occasionally  became  intoxicated, 
but  never  grossly  or  helplessly  so,  nor  was  it  a  common  prac- 
tice with  him.  Neither  was  he  a  beggar;  for,  though 
small  presents  were  often  bestowed  upon  him,  it  was  never 
done  on  account  of  solicitation  on  his  part.  That  he  was 
regarded  with  a  considerable  degree  of  respect  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  he  was  not  infrequently  entertained  as  a  guest 
at  the  houses  of  people  who  had  known  him  in  his  more 
pro.sperous  days.  This  was  done  by  citizens  of  Lansing, 
Corunna,  and  Owosso  ;  among  the  latter  being  tlie  brothers 
A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  the  two  earliest  white  acquaint- 
ances of  the  chief  in  all  this  region. 

Okemos  died  on  the  4th  of  December,  1858,  at  his  camp 
on  the  Looking-GIass  Eiver,  in  Clinton  County,  above  the 
village  of  De  Witt.  His  remains — dressed  in  the  blanket 
coat  and  Indian  leggins  which  he  had  worn  in  life — were 
laid  in  a  rough  board  coffin,  in  which  were  also  placed  his 
pipe-hatchet,  buckhorn-handled  knife,  tobacco,  and  some 
provisions  ;  and  thus  equipped  for  the  journey  to  the  happy 
hunting-grounds,  he  was  carried  to  the  old  village  of  Pe- 
shimnecon,  in  Ionia  County,  and  there  interred  in  an  ancient 
Indian  burial-ground  near  the  banks  of  the  Grand  River. 

The  age  of  Okemos  is  not  known.  Some  writers  have 
made  the  loose  assertion  (similar  to  those  which  are  fre- 
quently made  in  reference  to  aged  Indian  chiefs)  that  he 
was  a  centenarian  at  the  time  of  his  death,  while  others 
have  reduced  the  figure  to  between  eighty  and  eighty-five 
years.  In  one  account  of  him  his  birth  is  placed  in  the 
year  1788,  as  before  mentioned.  Mr.  B.  O.  Williams  was 
told  by  both  Okemos  and  Manitocorbway  that  the  Sandusky 
fight  was  the  first  in  which  they  had  ever  been  engaged, 
apd  that  both  of  them  were  at  that  time  young  and  inex- 
perienced warriors.  This,  with  the  fact  that  until  the  end 
of  his  life  Okemos  was  lithe  in  body  and  elastic  in  step, 
showing  none  of  the  signs  of  extreme  old  age,  renders  it 
probable  that  the  year  mentioned  was  nearly  the  correct 
date  of  his  birth,*  which  would  give  him  the  age  of  seventy 
years  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Of  the  character  of  the  Indians  of  this  region,  and  their 
melancholy  fate,  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams  says,  "  They  were 
hospitable,  honest,  and  friendly,  although  always  reserved 
until  well  acquainted ;  never  obtrusive  unless  under  the 
influence  of  their  most  deadly  enemy,  intoxicating  drink. 
None  of  these  spoke  a  word  of  English,  and  they  evinced 
no  desire  to  learn  it.  ...  I  believe  they  were  as  virtuous 
and  guileless  a  people  as  I  have  ever  lived  among,  previous 
to  their  great  destruction  in  1834  by  the  cholera,  and  again 
their  almost  extermination  during  the  summer  of  1837  by 

*  This  would  make  Okemos  about  twenty-five  years  old  at  the  time 
of  the  Sandusky  fight;  and,  from  the  statement  which  both  he  and 
Manitocorbway  made  to  Mr.  Williams,  it  is  almost  certain  that  his 
age  could  not  have  been  more  than  that  (and  was  most  probably  a  few 
years  loss)  at  the  time  of  the  fight. 

3 


the  (to  them)  most  dreaded  disease,  smallpox,  which  was 
brought  to  Chesaning  from  Saginaw, — they  fully  believin" 
that  one  of  the  Saginaw  Indians  had  been  purposely  inoc- 
ulated by  a  doctor  there,  the  belief  arising  from  the  fact 
that  an  Indian  had  been  vaccinated  by  the  doctor,  probably 
after  his  exposure  to  the  disease,  and  the  man  died  of  small- 
pox. The  Indians  always  dreaded  vaccination  from  fear 
and  suspicion  of  the  operation. 

"  The  Asiatic  cholera  of  1832  did  not  reach  the  interior 
of  Michigan,  but  in  1834  it  seemed  to  be  all  over  the 
country,  and  was  certainly  atmospheric,  as  it  attacked  In- 
dians along  the  Shiawassee  and  other  rivers,  producing  con- 
vulsions, cramps,  and  death  after  a  few  hours.  This  began 
to  break  up  the  Indians  at  their  various  villages.  The  white 
settlements  becoming  general,  and  many  persons  selling 
them  whisky  (then  easily  purchased  at  the  distilleries  fqr 
twenty-five  cents  per  gallon),  soon  told  fearfully  on  them. 
When  the  smallpox  broke  out  in  1837  they  fled  to  the 
woods  by  families,  but  not  until  some  one  of  the  family 
broke  out  with  the  disease  and  died.  Thus  whole  villages 
and  bands  were  decimated,  and  during  the  summer  and  fall 
many  were  left  without  a  burial  at  the  camps  in  the  woods, 
and  were  devoured  by  wolves.  I  visited  the  village  of  Che- 
as-sin-ning — now  Chesaning — and  saw  in  the  summer-camps 
several  bodies  partially  covered  up,  and  not  a  living  soul 
could  I  find,  except  one  old  squaw,  who  was  convalescent. 
Most  of  the  adults  attacked  died,  but  it  is  a  remarkable 
fact  that  no  white  person  ever  took  the  disease  from  them,f 
although  in  many  instances  the  poor,  emaciated  creatures 
visited  white  families  while  covered  with  pustules.  Thus 
passed  away  those  once  proud  owners  of  the  land,  leaving 
a  sickly,  depressed,  and  eventually  a  begging,  debased  rem- 
nant of  a  race  that  a  few  years  before  scorned  a  mean  act, 
and  among  whom  a  theft  was  scarcely  ever  known.  I  do 
not  think  I  possess  any  morbid  sentimentality  for  Indians. 
I  simply  wish  to  represent  them  as  we  found  them.  What 
they  are  now  is  easily  seen  by  the  few  wretched  specimens 
around  us." 


CHAPTER   IL 

IBTDIAN    TBEATIES    AND    CESSIONS    OF    LANDS— 
USTDIAN  EMIGEATION. 

Treaties  of  1V95  and  1807 — Cession  of  Territory  East  of  the  Prin- 
cipal Meridian- — Treaty  of  Springwells  in  1815 — Treaty  of  Saginaw 
(1819)  and  Cession  of  Lands  West  of  the  Meridian — Indian  Reser- 
vations— ^Plans  for  Indian  Emigration — Removal  of  Pottawattamie 
Refugees. 

It  is  a  principle  which  has  been  recognized  by  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  from  the  time  of  its  formation, 
that  the  Indians  had  possessory  rights  in  the  lands  which 
they  occupied,  but  that  those  rights  could  pass  from  them 
only  to  the  government,  and  that  this  could  only  be  done 
by  their  own  voluntary  act  in  public  and  open  council  held 

I  It  is  a  singular  fact,  also,  that  although  the  disease  was  so  exceed- 
ingly fatal  to  the  Indians  on  the  Shiawassee,  and  in  less  degree  to 
those  in  the  valley  of  the  Looking-Grlass,  it  was  not  communicated  to 
the  Maple  River  Indians  at  all,  and  they  remained  wholly  unharmed 
by  it. 


18 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWxiSSEE   AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


by  an  accredited  agent  or  commissioner  of  the  United  States, 
■with  the  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  tribes  interested.  And 
this  principle  and  method  have  always  been  observed  by 
the  government  in  treaties  held  with  Indians  for  the  pur- 
chase of  their  territory. 

The  treaty  by  which  the  first  cession  was  made  of  Indian 
lands  now  in  the  State  of  Michigan  was  concluded  on  the 
3d  of  August,  1795,  at  Greenville,  Ohio,  by  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne,  for  the  United  States,  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Chip- 
pewa, Ottawa,  Pottawattamie,  and  other  tribes,  who  there 
ceded  to  the  United  States  "  the  post  of  Detroit  and  all  the 
lands  to  the  north,  the  west,  and  the  south  of  it  of  which 
the  Indian  title  has  been  extinguished  by  gifts  or  grants  to 
the  French  or  English  governments,  and  so  much  more 
land  to  be  annexed  to  the  district  of  Detroit  as  shall  be 
comprehended  between  the  river  Rosine  (Raisin)  on  the 
south,  Lake  St.  Clair  on  the  north,  and  a  line,  the  general 
course  of  which  shall  be  six  miles  distant  from  the  west  end 
of  Lake  Erie  and  Detroit  River,"  with  several  other  tracts, 
among  which  were  the  post  of  Michilimackinac  and  lands 
adjixcent,  and  the  island  of  Bois  Blanc  ;  mentioned  as  being 
an  extra  and  voluntary  gift  of  the  Chippewa  nation. 

On  the  part  of  the  government  it  was  expressly  stipu- 
lated that  "  the  United  States  relinquish  their  claims  to  all 
other  Indian  lands  northw.ard  of  the  river  Ohio,  eastward  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  westward  and  southward  of  the  great 
lakes  and  the  waters  uniting  them,  according  to  the  bound- 
ary line  agreed  on  between  the  United  States  and  the 
King  of  Great  Britain  in  the  peace  made  between  them  in 
the  year  1783."  This  the  government  did  in  consideration 
of  the  peace  established  by  the  treaty,  and  of  the  cessions 
made  by  the  Indians,  as  well  as  "  to  manifest  the  liberality 
of  the  United  States  as  the  means  of  making  the  peace 
strong  and  perpetual."  It  was  also  declared  in  the  treaty 
that  '•  the  Indian  tribes  who  have  a  right  to  those  lands  are 
quietly  to  enjoy  them ;  hunting,  planting,  and  dwelling 
thereon  so  long  as  they  please,  without  any  molestation 
from  the  United  States ;  but  when  these  tribes  or  any  of 
them  shall  be  disposed  to  sell  their  lands  or  any  part  of 
them,  they  are  to  be  sold  only  to  the  United  States ;  and 
until  such  sale  the  United  States  will  protect  the  said  Indian 
tribes  in  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  their  lands  against  all 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  against  all  other  white 
persons  who  intrude  upon  the  same."  This  treaty  left  the 
Indians  still,  in  possession  of  all  JNlichigan  except  the  six- 
mile  strip  along  the  Detroit  River,  the  island  of  Bois  Blanc, 
Michilimackinac,  and  a  few  small  tracts  in  actual  possession 
of  white  occupants  (principally  French  settlers)  outside  the 
six-mile  strip. 

All  the  southeastern  part  of  Michigan  (including  four- 
fifths  of  the  present  county  of  Shiawassee)  was  ceded  to 
the  United  States  by  the  terms  of  a  treaty  concluded  at 
Detroit,  Nov.  17, 1807,  "  by  William  Hull,  Governor  of  the 
Territory  of  Michigan,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and 
sole  commissioner  of  the  United  States  to  conclude  and  si^n 
a  treaty  or  treaties  with  the  several  nations  of  Indians  north- 
west of  the  river  Ohio,  on  the  one  part,  and  the  sachems, 
chiefs,  and  warriors  of  the  Ottoway,  Chippcway,  Wyandotte, 


and  Pottawattamie  nations  of  Indians  on  the  other  part." 
The  territory  here  ceded  was  described  in  the  treaty  as  "  be- 
ginning at  the  mouth  of  the  Miami  River  of  the  Lakes  (the 
Maumee),  and  running  thence  up  the  middle  thereof  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Auglaize  River ;  thence  due  north 
until  it  intersects  a  parallel  of  latitude  to  be  drawn  from 
the  outlet  of  Lake  Huron,  which  forms  the  river  Sinclair ; 
thence  running  northeast  on  the  course  that  may  be  found 
will  lead  in  a  direct  line  to  White  Rock  in  Lake  Huron ; 
thence  due  east  until  it  intersects  the  boundary-line  between 
the  United  States  and  Upper  Canada  in  said  lake ;  then 
southwardly,  following  the  said  boundary-line  down  said 
lake,  through  the  river  Sinclair,  Lake  St.  Clair,  and  the 
river  Detroit  into  Lake  Erie,  to  a  point  due  east  of  the 
aforesaid  Miami  River  ;  thence  west  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning." In  payment  for  this  immense  tract  of  land,  the 
Indians  were  to  receive  from  the  government — -in  money, 
goods,  agricultural  implements,  or  domestic  animals,  at  the 
discretion  of  Gen.  Hull — the  sum  of  three  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents  each 
to  the  Chippewa  and  Ottawa  tribes,  and  one-half  that  sum 
each  to  the  Wyandottes  and  Pottawattamies ;  with  an 
annuity  of  two  thousand  dollars  each  to  the  Chippewas 
and  Ottawas,  and  one  thousand  dollars  each  to  the  other 
tribes.  The  Chippewas  and  Ottawas  were  also  to  be  fur- 
nished each  with  a  blacksmith  for  the  period  of  ten  years  ; 
the  former  to  reside  at  Saginaw  and  the  latter  at  the  Indian 
settlement  on  the  Maumee,  "  to  do  such  work  for  the  said 
nations  as  shall  be  most  useful  to  them." 

The  line  forming  the  western  boundary  of  the  tract 
ceded  by  this  treaty,  viz.,  the  line  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Auglaize,  and  running  "  thence  due  north  until  it 
intersects  a  parallel  of  latitude  to  be  drawn  from  the  outlet 
of  Lake  Huron,"  was  known  fur  many  years  after  as  the 
"  Indian  Boundary-Line,"  and  this,  prolonged  northward  to 
the  east  end  of  Bois  Blanc  Island,  in  the  Straits  of  Macki- 
nac, was  identical,  or  very  nearly  so,  with  the  line  afterwards 
adopted  by  the  United  States  surveyors  as  the  principal 
meridian  of  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan,  which  is  the 
dividing-line  between  the  counties  of  Clinton  and  Shiawas- 
see. The  territory  which  the  Indians  ceded  at  the  Detroit 
treaty  embraced  all  of  Michigan  lying  east  of  this  line  as 
far  north  as  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township  of  Sciota 
in  Shiawassee  County,  and  south  of  a  line  drawn  from 
thence  northeast  to  Lake  Huron;  thus  including  all  of 
Shiawassee  County  except  the  township  of  Fairfield  and 
parts  of  the  townships  of  Middlebury,  Owosso,  Rush,  and 
New  Haven.  Over  all  of  the  ceded  territory  until  sold  to 
settlers  the  Indians  had  the  right  reserved  to  hunt  and  fish 
at  will  during  good  behavior. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812-15  a  treaty  was  held 
at  Springwells,  near  Detroit,  by  Gen.  William  H.  Harrison, 
Gen.  McArthur,  and  John  Graham,  on  behalf  of  the  gov- 
ernment, with  the  chiefs  of  the  Chippewa,  Ottawa,  and 
Pottawattamie  tribes,  for  purposes  of  conciliation,  and  to 
restore  to  these  Indians  the  rights  which  by  their  hostility 
to  the  United  States  during  the  then  late  war  they  were 
considered  to  have  justly  forfeited,  and  which  they  them- 
selves scarcely  expected  to  be  allowed  to  retain.  The 
treaty,   which   was    made    and    concluded    on  the  8th    of 


INDIAN  TREATIES   AND   CESSIONS  OF  LANDS. 


19 


September,  1815,  declared  that  "  the  United  States  give 
peace  to  the  Chippewa,  Ottawa,  and  Pottawattamie  tribes. 
They  also  agree  to  restore  to  the  said  Chippewa,  Ottawa, 
and  Pottawattamie  tribes  all  their  possessions,  rights,  and 
privileges  which  they  enjoyed  or  were  entitled  to  in  the 
year  1811,  prior  to  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain;  and 
"  the  said  tribes  upon  their  part  agree  to  place  themselves 
under  the  protection  of  the  United  States,  and  of  no  other 
power  whatsoever."  Previous  treaties  and  cessions  were 
also  confirmed  and  ratified. 

The  treaty  by  which  the  Indian  owners  ceded  to  the 
United  States  a  large  scope  of  territory  including  all  the 
present  county  of  Clinton  and  all  that  part  of  Shiawassee 
not  embraced  in  the  Detroit  cession  of  1807,  was  held  at 
Saginaw,  in  Septeinber,  1819,  by  Gen.  Lewis  Cass,  Gov- 
ernor of  Michigan  and  ex-officio  Indian  commissioner,  with 
the  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  Chippewa  tribe  of  the  lower 
peninsula.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812-15  the 
attention  of  West-bound  emigrants  from  the  old  States  began 
to  be  strongly  directed  towards  Michigan  Territory,  and  it 
became  evident  to  the  clear  mind  of  Governor  Cass  that, 
broad  as  was  the  domain  acquired  by  the  treaties  of  1795 
and  1807,  it  would  soon  be  found  too  narrow  to  receive  the 
immigration  which  had  already  begun  to  spread  westward 
and  northward  from  Detroit.  He  therefore  at  once  set 
about  the  task  of  securing  further  cessions  from  the  na- 
tives, and  having  laid  bis  plans  before  the  government, 
and  received  its  sanction  with  authority  to  proceed  in  the 
matter,  he  convened  the  chiefs  in  council,  .as  above  men- 
tioned. 

The  Governor,  accompanied  by  quite  a  numerous  retinue, 
composed  of  his  secretaries,  Robert  A.  Forsyth  (who  was 
also  acting  commissioner),  John  L.  Leib,  and  D.  G.  Whit- 
ney, with  several  other  persons,  set  out  from  Detroit  on 
horseback  on  the  7th  of  September,  and  proceeding  north- 
westwardly through  the  woods  and  openings  by  way  of 
Royal  Oak,  Pontiac,  Silver  Lake,  Grand  Blanc,  and  the 
Grand  Traverse  of  the  Flint  River  (now  Flint  City),  ar- 
rived at  the  Saginaw  treaty-ground  on  the  10th.  Two 
small  vessels, — a  sloop  and  a  schooner, — which  had  left 
Detroit  a  few  days  before,  had  already  arrived,  and  lay 
moored  in  the  river.  They  were  laden  with  subsistence 
stores,  silver  coin  to  be  used  in  payment  for  the  lands  ex- 
pected to  be  ceded,  and  goods  intended  for  Indian  presents; 
and.  they  brought  also  a  company  of  the  Third  United 
States  Infantry,  under  command  of  Capt.  C.  L.  Cass  (a 
brother  of  the  Governor),  who  had  disembarked  his  com- 
mand, and  encamped  it  on  the  bank  of  the  stream.  The 
presence  of  these  troops  was  thought  to  be  necessary,  in 
view  of  the  possibility  of  an  attempt  at  violence  by  some 
of  the  bands. 

On  his  arrival.  Gen.  Cass  found  a  large  number  of  In- 
dians assembled,  but  yet  the  attendance  was  not  as  numer- 
ous as  he  had  expected.  Having  found,  upon  inquiry,  that 
a  number  of  the  more  remote  bands  were  unrepresented, 
he  dispatched  runners  to  the  villages  on  the  Huron  (now 
Cass),  Flint,  Shiawassee,  Mishtegayock,  Maple,  and  Titta- 
bawassee  Rivers,  to  give  further  notification  to  the  chiefs, 
and  to  urge  them   to   come  in  and  join  in  the  council. 


This  pressing  invitation  had  the  desired  effect,  and  nearly 
all  the  absentee  chiefs  and  warriors,  with  their  squaws  and 
pappooses,  made  haste  to  join  their  red  brethren  at  the 
rendezvous. 

When  all  had  come  in,  and  the  preparations  were  com- 
plete, the  council  was  opened,  in  a  large  house  (or  more 
properly  a  bower,  as  its  covering  was  composed  principally 
of  the  branches  of  trees)  which  had  been  built  for  the 
occasion,  on  the  bank  of  the  Saginaw,  by  Louis  Campau, 
the  trader,  by  direction  of  Gen.  Cass.  All  around  this 
structure,  and  crowding  closely  up  to  the  line  which  they 
were  not  allowed  to  enter,  were  squaws  and  pappooses  from 
every  band  of  the  Saginaw  Chippewa  tribe,  eager  to  look 
upon  the  ceremonies  which  were  little  less  than  mysterious 
to  them.  Next  in  their  front — and  inside  the  leafy 
"  council-house" — were  the  young  men  and  warriors, 
while  within  their  circle,  seated  on  the  trunks  of  trees 
which  had  been  placed  there  for  that  purpose,  were  the 
chiefs  and  sagamores,  those  of  highest  rank  being  clustered 
round  a  low  platform  of  hewn  logs,  on  which  were  seated 
Gen.  Cass,  his  secretaries, — Forsyth,  Leib,  and  Whitney, 
— Capt.  Cass  and  Lieut.  John  Peacock,  of  the  Third  In- 
fantry, Capt.  Chester  Root,  of  the  United  States  Artillery, 
Whitmore  Kuaggs  (Indian  trader,  sub-agent,  and  principal 
interpreter),  and  some  others.  Other  interpreters  present 
were  Louis  Beaufait,  John  Hurson,  William  Tuckey,  and 
Henry  Connor,  who  was  known  among  the  Indians  as 
Wabaskindebay,  or  "  White  Hair."  Among  the  traders 
who  made  themselves  oflScious  on  the  occasion  were  Louis 
and  Antoine  Campau,  Jacob  Smith,  and  Archibald  Lyons, 
who  was  afterwards  drowned  in  the  Tittabawassee  while  in 
the  employ  of  G.  D.  and  E.  S.  Williams  at  their  station 
near  where  Midland  City  now  stands. 

Gen.  Cass  opened  the  council  by  an  address  to  the  In- 
dians, delivered  through  his  interpreters.  He  told  them 
that  the  Great  Father  (the  President)  earnestly  desired 
to  preserve  and  perpetuate  the  peace  which  had  been  estab- 
lished between  their  tribes  and  the  government ;  that  he 
had  the  welfare  of  his  red  children  at  heart,  and  wished  to 
see  them  gradually  change  their  mode  of  life  by  depending 
more  on  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  and  less  on  hunting 
and  fishing,  which  would  grow  more  and  more  precarious 
year  by  year  because  the  advance  of  white  immigration 
was  moving  resistlessly  towards  them,  and  in  a  little  time 
their  streams  would  become  less  prolific,  and  their  game 
would  be  driven  to  more  remote  hunting-grounds;  He 
explained  to  them  that  the  government,  wishing  to  pur- 
chase their  lands  for  the  use  of  white  settlers,  would  pay 
them  a  generous  price ;  and  that  other  lands,  ample  in 
extent,  and  as  fertile  as  these,  would  be  set  apart  for  the 
perpetual  use  of  themselves  and  their  children. 

The  original  object  of  Gen.  Cass  was  not  only  to  induce 
the  Chippewas  to  cede  their  lands,  but  also  to  obtain  from 
them  an  agreement  to  remove  from  the  peninsula  and  locate 
themselves  on  tracts  to  be  selected  for  them  west  of  Lake 
Michigan,  or  perhaps  beyond  the  Mississippi.  This  object 
was  made  apparent  by  the  tenor  of  his  opening  speech,  and 
it  roused  the  opposition  and  resentment  of  the  chiefs  to 
such  a  degree  as  to  threaten  a  suspension  of  all  negotiations. 
The  first  Indian  who  spoke  in  reply  to  the  Governor  was 


20 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Kishkawko*  the  principal  chief  of  the  Saginaws.  He 
spoke  in  a  violent  and  angry  manner  against  the  cession  of 
any  of  their  lands,  and  advised  the  breaking  up  of  the 
council.  He  was,  however,  considerably  under  the  influ- 
ence of  liquor  at  the  time,  and  on  this  account  his  harangue 
had  less  effect  than  that  of  Ogeinawkeketo  (a  name  mean- 
ing "  chief  speaker"),  who  immediately  followed  Kishkawko 
in  a  speech  which  was  far  less  violent,  but  quite  as  uncom- 
promising in  its  opposition  to  the  objects  of  Gen.  Cass. 
Mishenanonequet  and  other  chiefs  spoke  in  nearly  the  same 
vein,  and  when  the  council  was  ended  for  the  day  the  pros- 
pect of  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty  was  far  from  favorable. 
At  the  close.  Gen.  Cass,  after  having  told  the  chiefs  in  a 
friendly  manner  to  go  to  their  wigwams  "  and  smoke  and 
talk  the  matter  over  together,"  retired  with  his  secretaries 
to  their  quarters  in  a  state  of  disappointment  and  great 
anxiety  in  view  of  the  not  improbable  failure  of  the  nego- 
tiations. There  was  one  favorable  circumstance,  however : 
the  chief,  Kishkawko,  had  reached  a  state  of  helpless  in- 
toxication, and  he  remained  in  that  condition  for  the  follow- 
ing eight  or  ten  days,  not  again  making  his  appearance 
until  all  the  terms  of  the  treaty  had  been  agreed  on. 

The  Indians  had  retired  sullen  and  almost  rebellious,  and 
no  other  session  of  the  council  was  held  for  several  days. 
But  during  that  time  powerful  influences  in  favor  of  the 
treaty  had  been  brought  to  bear  on  them  by  Jacob  Smith 
and  other  traders,  who  wished,  for  private  reasons  of  their 
own,  to  see  the  sale  consummated.  The  trader  Smith,  in 
particular,  was  high  in  favor  with  old  Neome  and  a  great 
number  of  the  other  chiefs,  and  his  influence  over  them 
was  great.  He  was  favorable  to  the  cession,  because  in  it 
he  expected  to  (and  eventually  did)  secure  a  number  of 
choice  reservations  of  land  for  his  children.     Archibald 


*  Kishkawko  was  not  u,  Chippewa,  hut  a  member  of  one  of  the 
Canadian  tribes,  who  came  to  Saginaw  and  bj  some  means  was  ena- 
bled to  usurp  the  power  and  place  of  principal  chief.  He  was  de- 
scribed as  "a  miserable  tyrant  and  a  villainous  coward."  Mr.  Tru- 
man B.  Fox,  in  his  mention  of  Kishkawko,  says:  ''The  early  settlers 
of  Oakland  County  were  very  much  annoyed  by  this  villain  and  his 
cowardly  band  as  they  passed  through  that  section  of  the  country  on 
their  way  to  Maiden  to  receive  their  annual  presents  from  the  British 
government.  Kishkawko  was  in  the  habit  of  traveling  with  thirty  or 
forty  scoundrels,  whom  he  called  his  warriors,  and  taking  advantage 
of  the  sparsencss  of  the  settlements  would  levy  contributions  upon 
the  poor  settlers.  If  his  demands  were  not  readily  complied  with  he 
would  take  what  he  wanted  by  force,  such  as  cattle,  hogs,  etc.,  thus 
subjecting  the  poor  settlers  to  great  suffering  and  continual  fear. 
Upon  one  occasion,  after  his  arrival  at  Detroit,  which  happened  a 
few  days  before  payment,  his  men  being  very  hungry,  he  applied  to 
some  of  the  authorities  for  food,  'for,'  said  he,  'unless  ray  young 
men  get  something  to  eat  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  restrain  them 
from  robbing  the  settlers  along  the  route.'  'Sir,'  returned  Gen. 
Cass,  'if  your  young  men  commit  any  depredations  upon  the  settlers 
I  will  send  my  young  men  to  punish  them.'  Notwithstanding  this 
intimation  depredations  were  occasionally  committed  upon  the  set- 
tlers with  impunity.  Kishkawko  at  length  came  to  his  end  in  a  man- 
ner strikingly  in  keeping  with  his  wicked  and  cowardly  career.  One 
day,  while  encamped  at  a  place  a  little  above  Detroit,  known  as  Chaine 
Farm,  he  got  into  a  drunken  row  and  killed  an  Indian.  He  was 
arrested  by  the  proper  authorities  and  imprisoned  in  the  old  Detroit 
jail,  where  he  remained  several  months.  Feeling  assured  from  his 
past  conduct  that  he  need  expect  no  mercy  or  lenity  from  the  hands 
of  those  he  had  so  often  outraged,  and  that  his  death  was  certain  he 
anticipated  the  law  by  taking  poison,  supposed  to  have  been  provided 
bim  by  his  squaws." 


Lyons  was  another  who  expected  (and  received)  a  similar 
favor  for  his  half-breed  daughter  Elizabeth.  Several  other 
traders  (among  whom  a  principal  one  was  Louis  Campau) 
stood  well  in  the  confidence  of  the  Chippewas,  and  all  these 
exerted  their  powers  of  persuasion  to  induce  the  Indians  to 
make  the  treaty,  in  the  hope  of  receiving  certain  arrearages 
due  them  out  of  the  silver  coin  which  would  be  paid  in 
consideration  of  the  cession. 

Gen.  Cass,  although  he  was  Governor  of  Michigan  and 
commissioner  of  Indian  affairs,  and  was  backed  by  the 
military  force  of  the  United  States,  did  not  wield  one-half 
the  power  over  the  savages  which  was  exercised  by  these 
traders ;  but  the  latter  used  theirs  so  effectually  that  at  the 
end  of  a  few  days  they  had  nearly  overcome  the  opposition. 
Having  accomplished  this  result  they  notified  Gen.  Cass 
(who  had  all  the  while  been  aware  of  the  means  that  were 
being  employed),  and  he  thereupoii  reconvened  the  chiefs 
and  warriors  in  the  council-house. 

At  this  second  council  there  was  still  a  considerable 
amount  of  discussion  among  the  chiefs,  but  as  the  principal 
difficulty  had  already  been  surmounted  by  the  arguments 
and  persuasions  of  the  traders,  the  scenes  of  the  previous 
meeting  were  not  re-enacted  here.  All  the  circumstances  were 
now  favorable  for  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty.  The  most  de- 
termined opponent,  Kishkawko,  was  absent  (not  having  yet 
recovered  from  his  debauch),  and  the  chief  speaker,  Oge- 
mawkeketo,  had  been  won  over  by  the  traders.  Gen.  Cass, 
having  found  that  the  Indians  were  bitterly  hostile  to  the 
plan  for  removing  them  beyond  Lake  Michigan,  and  that 
if  the  measure  was  insisted  on  it  would  most  probably  re- 
sult in  the  failure  of  the  treaty,  had  ceased  to  press  the 
proposition,  and  substituted  for  it  the  plan  of  granting 
tribal  and  individual  reservations  within  the  tract  to  be 
ceded.  These  circumstances  had  wrought  such  a  favorable 
change  in  the  feelings  of  the  chiefs  that  the  parties  had 
little  difficulty  in  agreeing  on  the  terms  of  a  treaty,  which 
was  virtually  concluded  at  this  sitting ;  all  that  remained  to 
be  done  being  to  engross  it  in  due  form,  and  to  affix  to  it 
the  signatures  of  the  commissioner,  the  chiefs,  and  the  wit- 
nesses. 

On  the  following  day  (September  24th)  the  third  and 
last  session  of  the  council  was  held,  and  the  treaty  was 
formally  signed.  The  Indian  attendance  was  much  larger 
at  this  than  at  either  of  the  previous  councils,  being  esti- 
mated at  fully  two  thousand  chiefs  and  warriors ;  while  a 
still  greater  number  of  women  and  children  were  crowded 
together  on  the  outskirts  of  the  assemblage.  The  ceremony 
of  signing  the  treaty  was  made  as  imposing  as  possible. 
The  first  name  written  upon  the  document  was,  of  course, 
that  of  Lewis  Cass,  United  States  Indian  commissioner, 
and  this  was  followed  by  the  totems  of  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  Chippewa  and  Ottawaf  chiefs.  Old  Kishkawko 
had  finally  come  out  of  his  prolonged  trance,  and  was 
present— somewhat  sullen,  but  very  quiet  and  dignified— 


t  Only  a  very  few  Ottawas,  however,  were  included  among  the 
chiefs  who  signed  the  Saginaw  treaty.  The  Ottawas  were  regarded 
as  the  owners  of  a  small  part  (the  southwestern  portion)  of  the  lands 
ceded  by  this  treaty ;  but  they  had  no  proprietorship  in  the  eastern 
part,  which  (including  the  two  counties  to  which  this  history  has  ref- 
erence) was  embraced  in  the  domain  of  the  Chippewas. 


INDIAN  TREATIES  AND  CESSIONS   OP  LANDS. 


21 


and  afiBxed  his  mark  to  the  treaty  with  those  of  the  other 
chiefs.  The  execution  of  the  treaty  was  witnessed  by 
Acting  Commissioner  R.  A.  Forsyth  ;  the  Governor's  sec- 
retaries, Leib  and  "Whitney;  Capts.  Cass  and  Root  and 
Lieut.  Peacock ;  Gabriel  Godfroy,  sub  agent ;  tlie  inter- 
preters Knaggs,  Beaufait,  Hurson,  and  Tuckey;  John 
Hill,  army  contractor ;  Henry  I.  Hunt,  Barney  Campau, 
William  Keith,  V.  S.  Ryley,  J.  Whipple,  A.  E.  Lacock, 
John  Smyth,  B.  Head,  Richard  Smyth,  Louis  Dequindre, 
and  Conrad  Ten  Eyck. 

After  the  signing,  a  large  table  was  spread  before  the 
commissioner,  and  on  this  table  were  placed  great  piles  of 
silver  half  dollars,  which,  under  the  direction  of  Gen.  Cass, 
were  to  be  paid  out  to  the  representatives  of  the  several 
bands.  This  part  of  the  ceremony  was  watched  with  great 
interest  by  both  chiefs  and  traders,  but  for  somewhat  differ- 
ent reasons.  Many  of  the  chiefs  were  indebted  in  consider- 
able sums  to  the  trader  Louis  Campau,  who  had  received 
their  promise  that  when  the  payment  was  made  to  them  his 
claim  should  be  liquidated,  at  least  to  the  amount  of  fifteen 
hundred  dollars.  He  had  already  notified  Gen,  Cass  of  this 
agreement,  and  was  now  anxiously  waiting,  hoping  to  re- 
ceive the  money  from  the  commissioner  without  having  it 
pass  through  Indian  hands  at  all.  But  three  of  the  other 
traders  present  were  not  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  having 
so  considerable  a  part  of  the  Indians'  money  appropriated 
to  the  payment  of  their  old  debts.  One  of  these  three  was 
Jacob  Smith,  who  at  once  set  about  the  task  of  persuading 
the  wily  and  treacherous  Kishkawko  and  some  of  the  other 
chiefs  to  demand  that  the  entire  sum  due  them  should  be 
paid  to  the  Indians,  to  be  applied  by  them  as  they  saw'fit. 
This  diplomacy  was  so  entirely  successful  that  when  the 
commissioner  explained  to  the  chiefs  that  Campau  was  ex- 
pecting to  receive  his  dues,  and  asked  if  they  consented  to 
the  arrangement,  they  replied  that  they  were  his  children, 
under  his  protection,  and  expected  that  he  would  pay  the 
money  into  their  hands.  The  general  could  not  disregard 
their  expressed  wishes  in  this  particular,  and  he  therefore 
directed  that  the  money  be  paid  to  them,  which  was  accord- 
ingly done  by  the  secretaries,  much  to  the  disgust  of  Cam- 
pau, who,  seeing  that  his  money  was  lost,  and  believing 
Smith  to  be  the  cause  of  his  discomfiture,  leaped  from  the 
platform  where  he  had  been  standing,  and  struck  the  latter 
two  stunning  blows  in  the  face.  Quick  as  lightning  Smith 
turned  on  his  assailant,  but  Henry  Connor  and  Louis  Beau- 
fait interposed  between  the  belligerents  and  stopped  the 
■  fight. 

After  tlie  payments  had  been  made.  Gen.  Cass  ordered 
five  barrels  of  government  whisky  to  be  opened,  and  the 
liquor  to  be  dealt  out  to  the  Indians.  Upon  seeing  this, 
Campau,  still  filled  with  wrath  at  the  treatment  he  had 
received,  and  blaming  the  general  almost  as  much  as  Smith 
for  it,  ordered  up  ten  barrels  of  his  own  whisky,  knocked 
in  the  heads,  and  posted  two  men  with  dippers  to  supply 
the  Indians  as  they  came  up.  Of  course  the  scene  of  in- 
toxication that  ensued  was  indescribable.  At  about  ten 
o'clock,  the  Governor,  having  become  thoroughly  alarmed  at 
the  infernal  orgies  that  surrounded  the  trading-house  in 
which  lie  was  quartered,  sent  his  private  secretary,  Forsyth, 
with  orders  to  Campau  to  shut  off  the  supply  of  liquor; 


but  the  trader  only  deigned  the  grim  reply,  "  Gen.  Cass 
commenced  it  himself."  Then  a  platoon  of  Capt.  Cass' 
company  was  detailed  to  guard  the  store-house.  Soon  after 
they  had  been  posted,  a  new  arrival  of  Indians  demanded 
whisky,  and,  upon  being  refused  and  held  at  bay,  rushed  on 
the  guard  to  force  an  entrance,  during  which  attempt  one 
of  them  received  a  bayonet  wound  in  the  leg.  In  an  instant 
the  war-whoop  was  sounded,  and  in  a  few  minutes  more 
swarms  of  savages,  infuriated  with  liquor,  and  tomahawk  in 
hand,  came  rushing  towards  the  store.  "  Stop  the  liquor, 
Louis !"  screamed  the  Governor  of  Michigan  Territory,  as 
he  stood  in  the  door  of  his  quarters  with  a  night-cap  on 
his  head.  "  We  shall  all  be  murdered  !  Stop  the  liquor,  I 
say !"  "  Certainement,  mon  gln^ral,"  replied  Campau, 
"  but  you  begun  it,  and  you  allowed  Smith  to  rob  me.  I'll 
keep  you  safe,  but  remember  you  commenced  it,  mon  g6n- 
6ral."  He  appeared  to  think  that  the  satisfaction  of  thor- 
oughly frightening  Gen.  Cass  for  having  allowed  Jacob 
Smith  to  rob  him,  as  he  said,  was  cheaply  enough  purchased 
by  the  expenditure  of  ten  barrels  of  whisky.  "  I  lost  my 
whisky  and  my  money,"  he  afterwards  remarked,  "  but  I 
had  good  revenge  on  Cass." 

By  the  combined  efforts  of  the  interpreters  and  traders 
the  Indians  were  at  length  pacified,  and  they  retired  to 
their  wigwams  to  sleep  off  the  effects  of  their  intoxication. 
After  they  had  entirely  recovered  from  their  debauch  they 
became  perfectly  friendly  and  tractable,  and  even  after  the 
commissioner  and  his  staff  of  a.ssistants  had  departed  for 
Detroit,  they  sent  the  orator-chief,  W^ashmenondequet,  to 
overtake  him,  and  express  to.  him  their  pleasure  and  satis- 
faction at  the  result  of  the  council. 

By  the  terms  of  this  treaty,  the  Indians  ceded  to  the 
United  States  an  area  of  territory  estimated  at  about  six 
millions  of  acres;  on  consideration  of  which  cession,  the 
government  agreed  to  pay  to  the  Chippewa  nation  annually, 
forever,  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  in  silver  coin,  and, 
also,  that  all  annuities  to  be  paid  them  in  pursuance  of  the 
stipulations  of  previous  treaties  should  thereafter  be  paid 
in  silver.  The  terms  of  the  treaty  of  Greenville  (in  1795), 
giving  the  Indians  the  right  to  hunt  and  fish  at  will  upon 
the  ceded  lands,  so  long  as  they  remained  the  property  of 
the  United  States,  were  applied  to  this  treaty.  They  were 
also  to  be  permitted  to  make  sugar  wherever  they  chose 
upon  the  same  lands  and  during  the  same  period,  but  with- 
out any  unnecessary  waste  of  the  trees.  The  boundaries 
of  the  cession,  as  described  in  the  treaty,  were  as  follows : 
"  Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  present  Indian  boundary  line 
(id^tical  with  the  principal  meridian  of  the  State)  which 
runs  due  north  from  the  mouth  of  the  great  Auglaize  River, 
six  miles  south  of  the  place  where  the  base  line,  so-called, 
intersects  the  same ;  thence  west  sixty  miles ;  thence  in  a 
direct  line  to  the  head  of  Thunder  Bay  River ;  thence  down 
the  same,  following  the  courses  thereof,  to  the  mouth ; 
thence  northeast  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  United 
States  and  the  British  province  of  Upper  Canada ;  thence 
with  the  same  to  the  line  established  by  the  treaty  of  De- 
troit in  the  year  1807 ;  and  thence  with  said  line  to  the 
place  of  beginning.'' 

This  immense  tract  joined  the  cession  of  1807  along  the 
line  of  the  principal  meridian,  and  extended  thence  west- 


22 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ward  to  a  point  about  three  miles  northeast  of  the  site  of 
the  village  of  Kalamazoo.  From  this  point,  the  western 
boundary  of  the  cession  was  an  unsurveyed  line  extending 
northeasterly  through  the  present  counties  of  Kalamazoo, 
Barry,  Ionia,  Montcalm,  Isabella,  Clare,  Roscommon,  and 
Crawford  to  Montmorency,  embracing  all  the  country  be- 
tween the  diagonal  line  mentioned  and  Lake  Huron  ;*  thus 
including,  of  course,  the  entire  territory  of  Clinton  County, 
and  all  of  Shiawassee  which  had  not  been  covered  by  the 
cession  of  1807. 

Within  the  boundaries  of  the  great  tract  conveyed  to  the 
government  by  the  treaty  of  Saginaw  a  number  of  tribal 
and  individual  reservations  were  made,  viz. :  A  tract  of 
8000  acres,  including  an  Indian  village,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Au  Sable  ;  2000  acres  on  the  Mesaquisk  ;  6000  acres, 
to  include  an  Indian  village,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Kaw- 
kawling ;  640  acres  on  the  same  river,  "  for  the  use  of  the 
children  of  Bowkowtonden  ;"  9640  acres,  in  three  tracts, 
on  the  Huron  (Cass)  River ;  an  island  in  Saginaw  Bay ; 
a  tract  of  2000  acres  "  where  Nabobish  formerly  stood ;" 
1000  acres  "near  the  island  in  Saginaw  River;"  2000 
acres  "at  the  mouth  of  Point  Augrais  River;''  10,000 
acres  at  Big  Rock,  on  the  Shiawassee,  and  "  3000  acres  on 
the  Shiawassee  River  at  a  place  called  Ketchewandauge- 
nink;"  6000  acres  at  Little  Forks,  on  the  Tetabawasink 
(Tittabawassee)  River,  and  6000  acres,  near  the  same 
stream,  "  at  Blackbird's  town ;"  40,000  acres  "  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Saginaw  River,  to  be  hereafter  located  ;'' 
"  one  tract  of  5760  acres  upon  the  Flint  River,  to  include 
Reaume's  (Neome's)  village  and  a  place  called  Kishkaw- 
bawee ;''  individual  reservations  on  the  Saginaw  River  to 
"  the  Crow''  a  Cliippewa  chief,  and  to  throe  half  breed  sons 
of  Gen.  Riley ;  also  eleven  individual  reservations  of  640 
acres  each,  at  the  Grand  Traverse  of  the  Flint  River,  em- 
bracing the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Flint ;  five  of  the 
reservations  last  named  being  granted  for  the  use  of  the 
five  children  of  Jacob  Smith  the  trader,  whose  influence 
with  the  Indians  (exerted  principally  in  view  of  the  secur- 
ing of  these  same  tracts)  was  largely  instrumental  in  gain- 
ing the  Indians'  consent  to  the  treaty,  and  without  which 
it  could  hardly  have  been  made. 

The  ten-thousand-aore  reservation  "at  Big  Rock  on  the 
Shiawassee  River''  was  located  a  short  distance  north  of 
the  boundary  of  Shiawassee  County,  in  Saginaw,  at  the 
present  village  of  Chesaning,  which  took  its  name  from  the 
old  Indian  village  of  Che-as-sin-ning  (Big  Rock),  which 
was  included  in  the  reservation. 

The  tract  of  two  thousand  acres  to  be  located  "  where 
Nabobish  formerly  stood"  was  never  laid  out,  but  was 
merged  in  the  forty-thousand-acre  reservation  "  to  be  here- 
after located"  on  the  west  side  of  the  Saginaw.  The  old 
village  of  Nabobish  (so  called  for  the  chief  of  the  same 
name,  who  died  before   1830)  was   the  place  which  was 


*■  The  Indian  title  to  all  that  part  of  the  Lower  Peninsula  which 
romained  in  possession  of  the  Indians  after  the  conclusion  of  the 
Saginaw  treaty  was  extinguished  by  the  treaties  of  Chicago  (Aug.  29, 
1821)  and  Washington  (March  28,  1886).  By  the  former  the  Indians 
ceded  the  southwest  part  of  the  State  as  far  north  as  Grand  Elver; 
and  by  the  Latter,  ^11  the  remainder  of  the  peninsula  (except  a  few 
reservations)  which  hud  not  been  included  in  previous  cessions. 


known  among  the  later  Indians  as  Assineboiuing,  situated 
on  the  south  branch  of  the  Shiawassee,  in  what  is  now  the 
township  of  Cohoctah,  in  the  county  of  Livingston.  The 
reason  why  the  Nabobish  reservation  was  never  surveyed 
and  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  Indians  in  accordance  with 
the  terms  of  the  treaty  is  not  known,  but  the  fact  that  it 
was  never  done  caused  great  dissatisfaction  among  them  ; 
and  during  all  the  years  of  their  stay  in  this  region  they 
never  ceased  to  refer  to  it  in  bitter  terms,  as  an  act  of  bad 
faith  on  the  part  of  the  government.  The  tract  of  three 
thousand  acres  reserved  "  on  the  Shiawassee  River,  at  a  place 
called  Ketchewandaugenink,"  was  the  "  Grand  Saline"  or 
"  Big  Lick"  reservation,  embracing  lands  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  present  township  of  Burns,  Shiawassee  Co., 
and  also  extending  into  the  adjoining  townships  of  Antrim, 
Shiawassee,  and  Vernon.  This  was  the  only  reservation 
ever  laid  out  for  Indians  within  the  territory  of  Shiawassee 
and  Clinton  Counties. 

Neither  the  reservation  of  Kechewondaugoning  nor  that 
which  was  promised  at  Nabobish  was,  strictly  speaking, 
within  the  scope  of  the  Saginaw  treaty,  nor  within  the  tract 
there  ceded  ;  for,  as  has  already  been  stated,  the  cession  of 
1807  included  within  its  boundaries — -as  described  in  the 
treaty  of  Detroit — a  territory  which,  extending  northward 
as  far  as  the  centre  of  the  west  line  of  Shiawassee,  and  run- 
ning thence  northeasterly  to  White  Rock  on  Lake  Huron, 
covered  all  of  that  county  except  the  northwest  corner, — 
about  one-sixth  part  of  its  area.  But  the  Indians  did  not 
so  understand  it.  They  had  no  means  of  knowing  where 
thffdescribed  lines  would  fall,  and  they  supposed  that  the 
northern  boundary  of  that  cession  would  pass  to  the  south- 
ward of  the  head-waters  of  the  Shiawassee  River,  while  in 
fact  it  crossed  that  stream  within  the  present  boundary  of 
Saginaw  County.  The  fact,  however,  that  they  believed 
themselves  to  be  still  possessors  of  the  Shiawassee  A^alley  is 
proof  that  they  never  intended  to  include  it  in  the  lands 
ceded  by  the  treaty  of  1807.  Whether  Gen.  Cass  knew 
that  this  region  was  comprehended  within  the  limits  of  that 
cssslon — or,  indeed,  whether  the  northern  boundary  de- 
scribed by  the  treaty  of  Detroit  was  ever  accurately  run — 
does  not  appear  ;  but  if  the  commissioner  was  aware  of  the 
fact,  he  did  not,  and  could  not,  insist  on  the  right  of  the 
government  to  the  lands  which  the  Indians  believed  to  be 
still  their  own,  for  by  so  doing  he  would  probably  have 
enraged  them  to  such  an  extent  that  the  treaty  of  Saginaw 
could  not  have  been  concluded. 

PLANS  FOR  INDIAN  EMIGRATION. 
It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  one  of  the  principal 
objects  of  Gen.  Cass  in  convening  the  treaty-council  at 
Saginaw  in  September,  1819,  was  to  procure  from  the  In- 
dians an  agreement  that  they  would  gradually  emigrate  from 
their  old  hunting-grounds  in  Michigan  and  remove  beyond 
the  Mississippi  River,  or  at  least  to  the  country  lying  to  the 
westward  of  Lake  Michigan ;  but  in  this  the  commissioner 
was  disappointed,  as  we  have  seen.  This  repulse,  however, 
did  not  cause  the  government  to  abandon  its  cherished  idea, 
and,  finally,  after  many  long  years  of  persuasion,  the  minds 
of  the  red  men  seemed  to  have  become  fully  prepared  to 


INDIAN  EMIGRATION. 


23 


entertain  the  proposition  for  ultimate  removal  to  the  new 
countries  of  the  far  West.  Finally,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1837,  Henry  E.  Schoolcraft,  Indian  commissioner, 
met  the  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  Chippewas  in  council 
at  Detroit,  where,  on  the  14th  of  January  in  that  year,  a 
treaty  was  concluded  by  which  the  tribe  ceded  to  the  United 
States  all  the  reservations,  except  those  granted  to  individ- 
uals, under  the  Saginaw  treaty  of  1819,  but  retained  the 
right  to  continue  for  five  years  in  undisturbed  occupation 
of  their  tracts  on  the  Augrais  Eiver,  and  on  the  Mushowusk 
River  west  of  the  Saginaw ;  no  white  man  to  settle  or  en- 
croach on  those  tracts  under  penalty  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars. The  United  States  agreed  to  furnish  a  farmer  and 
blacksmith  for  the  tribe  as  before,  and  to  continue  the  dona- 
tions of  cattle  and  farming  utensils.  The  lands  embraced 
in  the  ceded  reservations  were  to  be  surveyed  by  the  United 
States  and  placed  in  the  market  with  the  other  public  lands 
as  soon  as  practicable,  and  the  amount  due  the  Indians  from 
this  source  to  be  invested  by  the  President  in  some  public 
stock,  the  interest  to  be  paid  annually  to  the  tribe  in  the 
same  manner  as  their  annuities  were  paid  ;  and  if,  at  the  end 
of  twenty  years,  the  Indians  should  wish  the  said  stock  to 
be  sold  and  the  proceeds  divided  among  the  tribe,  it  might 
be  done  with  the  consent  of  the  President  and  Senate. 

But  the  most  important  part  of  this  treaty  was  that  in 
which  the  Chippewas  agreed  to  remove  from  the  State  of 
Michigan  as  soon  as  a  proper  location  for  them  could  be  ob- 
tained, ibr  which  purpose  a  deputation  was  to  be  sent  to 
view  the  country  occupied  by  kindred  tribes  west  of  Lake 
Superior;  "  and  if  an  arrangement  for  their  future  and  per- 
manent residence  can  be  made  there  which  shall  be  satis- 
factory to  them  and  the  government,  they  shall  be  permitted 
to  form  a  reunion  with  such  tribes  and  remove  thereto.  If 
such  an  arrangement  cannot  be  efifected  the  government  of 
the  United  States  will  use  its  influence  to  obtain  such 
location  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  as  the  legislation  of 
Congress  may  indicate."  An  amendment  was  made  to  the 
terms  of  this  treaty  by  a  new  treaty  made  by  Mr.  School- 
craft with  the  Chippewa  chiefs  at  Flint  River,  Dec.  20, 
1837,  by  which  the  United  States  agreed  to  reserve  a 
location  for  the  tribe  "  on  the  head-waters  of  the  Osage 
River,  in  the  country  visited  by  a  delegation  of  the  said 
tribe  during  the  present  year;  to  be  of  proper  extent  agree- 
ably, to  their  numbers,  embracing  a  due  proportion  of 
wood  and  water,  and  lying  contiguous  to  tribes  of  kindred 
language ;"  the  meaning  and  intent  of  this  being  to  abro- 
gate that  article  of  the  treaty  of  Detroit  which  entitled 
them  to  lands  in  the  country  lying  west  of  Lake  Superior. 
It  was  provided  by  the  treaty  that  the  sum  of  fifty  cents  for 
each  acre  of  Indian  reservation  land  sold  by  the  United 
States  should  be  reserved  ''as  an  indemnification  for  the 
location  to  be  furnished  for  their  future  permanent  resi- 
dence, and  to  constitute  a  fund  for  emigrating  thereto." 

Immediately  after  the  treaty  of  Flint  Eiver,  Commis- 
sioner Schoolcraft  called  another  council,  to  be  held  at  Sagi- 
naw, the  reasons  for  which  cbnvention  were  set  forth  to  be 
that  "  the  chiefs  of  the  bands  have  represented  that  combi- 
nations of  purchasers  may  be  formed  at  the  sale  of  their 
lands  [meaning  the  reservation  lands  relinquished  by  the 
treaty  of  Detroit,  Jan.  14,  1837],  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 


ing down  the  price  thereof,  both  at  the  public  and  private 
sales,  whereby  the  proceeds  would  be  greatly  diminished ; 
and  such  a  procedure  would  defeat  some  of  the  primary 
objects  of  the  cession  of  the  lands  to  the  United  States,  and 
thereby  originate  difliculties  to  their  early  removal  and  ex- 
patriation to  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi."  The 
council  was  held  and  a  treaty  made,  in  which  it  was  pro- 
vided that  the  reservation  lands  ceded  by  the  treaty  of 
1837  should  be  offered  for  sale  by  proclamation  of  the 
President,  and  that  the  sales  should  be  conducted  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  sales  of  other  government  lands,  which, 
together  with  other  guarantees  and  safeguards  to  protect 
the  Indians  from  being  wronged  in  the  sale  of  their  reser- 
vations, had  the  effect  to  quiet  their  apprehensions.  This 
treaty  was  concluded  Jan.  23,  1838. 

The  time  set  for  the  final  evacuation  of  the  Michigan 
peninsula  by  the  Saginaw  Chippewas  was  January,  1842, 
or  five  years  from  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  of  Detroit, 
in  which  they  gave  their  assent  to  the  project  of  emigra- 
tion, and  relinquished  their  reservations,  except  those  on 
Mushowusk  and  Augrais  Rivers,  which  last  two  they  were 
to  hold  until  the  expiration  of  the  five  years  of  grace.  But 
the  plans  of  the  government  looking  to  the  removal  of  the 
Chippewas  from  Michigan  were  never  carried  into  effect. 
Long  before  the  time  agreed  on  for  their  departure  they 
had  bitterly  repented  of  their  promise  to  remove  to  the 
lands  in  the  far  West,  and  they  prayed  *the  Great  Father 
that  they  might  be  allowed  to  remain  on  almost  any  terms, 
and  to  die  in  the  land  of  their  birth.  Probably,  however, 
this  had  less  effect  in  averting  their  doom  of  expatriation 
than  the  fact  that,  in  the  mean  time,  they  had  been  almost 
exterminated  by  the  ravages  of  the  smallpox,  which  left 
but  a  feeble  remnant  of  their  once  numerous  tribe.  The 
bands  were  broken  up,  and  the  few  miserable  and  dejected 
ones  who  survived  the  scourge  became  too  widely  scattered 
to  be  easily  gathered  together  for  banishment.  Some  of 
them,  in  dread  of  being  removed  West,  preferred  to  cross 
into  Canada, — and  did  so.  Others  (and  the  greater  pro- 
portion) weift  northward  into  what  was  then  the  wilderness. 
These,  or  their  children,  are  some  of  them  now  living  on 
the  reservation  in  Isabella  County ;  a  few  yet  remain  in 
Saginaw,  Gratiot,  and  other  counties  towards  the  north  ; 
but  very  few,  if  any  of  them,  are  now  residents  of  Shia- 
wassee or  Clinton. 

EEMOVAL  OF  POTTAWATTAMIE  REFUGEES. 

The  policy  of  the  United  States  government  in  reference 
to  the  Pottawattamie  tribe  was  the  same  which  was  pur- 
sued towards  the  Chippewas,  except  that  with  the  former 
the  plan  of  emigration  was  carried  out  to  the  end,  and 
most  of  the  people  of  that  tribe  were  ultimately  removed 
beyond  the  Mississippi.  The  Pottawattamies,  by  various 
treaties,  from  1821  to  1828,  had  ceded  their  country  to  the 
government,  but,  like  the  Chippewas,  they  had  retained 
several  reservations.  In  September,  1833,  however,  they 
ceded  these  reservations  to  the  United  States,  and  at  the 
same  time  agreed  to  evacuate  and  remove  from  their  lands 
within  three  years.  They  were  not  removed  promptly  at 
the  expiration  of  the  time  agreed  on,  but  in  the  autumn  of 
1838  a  large  number  of  them  were  collected  on  the  St. 


24 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Joseph  River  (by  some  persons  who  had  taken  the  contract 
from  government  to  remove  them)  and  were  sent  West,  es- 
corted by  United  States  troops.  Many,  however,  had  left 
their  villages  and  hidden  themselves  to  avoid  being  taken, 
and  quite  a  number  who  started,  escaped  from  the  troops 
and  returned.  In  1839  the  process  was  repeated,  and  many 
Indians  were  collected  through  all  the  country  from  the  St. 
Joseph  eastward  to  the  Huron.  But  even  after  this  second 
attempt,  a  large  number  of  Pottawattamies  (amounting  in 
all  to  several  hundreds)  had  evaded  the  vigilance  of  the 
contractors,  and  remained  behind.  In  1840  it  was  under- 
stood that  a  very  determined  effort  would  be  made  to  collect 
all  the  lingerers  and  remove  them,  but  the  dejected  fugitives 
were  equally  determined  to  avoid  capture,  if  possible,  and 
a  body  of  them  numbering  about  two  hundred  men,  women, 
and  children,  with  their  old  chief  Muckemoot,  fled  for 
safety  to  the  northern  part  of  Shiawassee  County. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  (1840)  Gen.  Hugh 
Brady*  arrived  at  the  village  of  Owosso  under  orders  to 
use  the  troops  at  his  command  in  capturing  the  Pottawat- 
tamie band,  who  were  supposed  to  be  lurking  in  the  woods 
and  swamps  to  the  northward.  This  duty  of  hunting  down 
the  poor  wretches  and  forcing  them  into  exile  was  very 
distasteful  to  the  gallant  old  soldier,  but  his  orders  left  him 
no  choice.  His  troops  were  to  be  used  to  assist  the  con- 
tractors in  collecting  and  guarding  the  Indians,  ^nd  after- 
wards in  escorting  them  on  their  weary  way  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

Observation  and  inquiry  soon  revealed  the  fact  that  the 
fugitives  were  a  few  miles  north  of  Owosso,  engaged  in 
picking  cranberries  on  the  marshes  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Shiawassee  River.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the 
Indians  became  aware  of  the  presence  of  Gen.  Brady,  and, 
of  course,  knew  too  well  the  nature  of  his  errand.  Upon 
this  the  old  chief,  Muckemoot,  started  eastward  with  two 
or  three  followers,  and  passed  swiftly  on  through  Genesee 
and  Oakland  Counties,  heading  for  Canada,  and  fully  re- 
solved never  to  be  taken  alive.  The  companions  of  Mucke- 
moot had  firearms,  but  the  chief  himself  Imd  only  his 
bow  and  a  quiver  of  arrows  at  his  back,  with  knife  and 
tomahawk  in  belt. 

^■'  Hugh  Brady  was  born  in  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  in  the  year 
1768.  He  entered  the  United  States  army  as  ensign  in  1792,  and 
served  with  great  credit  under  *'  Mad  Anthony"  Wayne  in  the  Indian 
campaigns  which  followed.  He  was  made  lieutenant  in  February, 
179i,  and  captain  in  1799.  In  the  reduction  of  the  army,  which  was 
made  soon  afterwards,  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  but  was 
restored  with  his  former  rank  in  1808  by  President  Jefferson.  He 
fought  with  great  bravery  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  severely 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  where,  as  Gen.  Scott  said  in  his 
report  of  the  engagement,  ^'  Old  Brady  showed  himself  in  a  sheet  of 
fire."  The  Hon.  George  C.  Bates  says  of  him  :  *'  Again  and  again 
he  faced  death  on  the  battle-fields  of  Chippewa,  Queenstown,  Niagara, 
and  Lundy's  Lane,  amidst  such  slaughter  as  was  never  seen  on  any 
previous  battle-field  of  our  country.  He  was  colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
second  Foot  Corps,  which  crossed  bayonets  with  Col.  Basden,  of  the 
British  Twenty-first.  Ho  was  so  diffident,  so  modest,  so  brave,  that 
any  mention  of  his  gallant  exploits  in  his  presence  would  drive  him 
from  the  circle  of  conversation.  But  whenever  duty  called  him  to 
action  he  went  calmly,  resolutely  to  it.  Not  only  was  Gen.  Brady  a 
true  soldier,  but  in  all  the  broadest  aspects  of  the  word  he  was  an 
accomplished  American  gentleman."  His  death  occurred  at  Detroit 
in  1851,  the  result  of  his  being  thrown  from  his  carriage  by  a  pair  of 
frightened  horses. 


When  their  flight  became  known  a  party  of  three  or 
four  white  men  set  out  on  horseback  from  Owosso  in  pur- 
suit. The  chief  and  his  men  had  kept  to  the  woods  for 
many  miles,  but  before  reaching  Pontiac  they  took  the 
road  and  pressed  on  with  all  speed  towards  Auburn.  Near 
that  place  the  pursuing  party  (having  heard  of  the  Indians 
several  miles  back)  overtook  and  passed  them  without 
awakening  their  suspicions.  Keeping  on  for  a  considerable 
distance  the  white  men  finally  halted,  and  when  the  savages 
came  up,  demanded  their  surrender.  Old  Muckemoot,  see- 
ing that  he  was  entrapped,  made  an  involuntary  movement 
of  defense,  but  recovered  himself  in  an  instant  (probably 
realizing  the  hopelessness  of  resistance  with  bow  and  arrow 
while  covered  by  the  firearms  of  his  opponents),  and  he 
coolly  demanded  to  know  what  they  wanted,  and  why  they 
interfered  with  him  on  his  peaceful  journey.  "  Who  are 
you?"  said  the  white  man  whom  he  addressed.  "I  am 
Ogemawkeketo,  the  Saginaw  chief.  Why  am  I  molested  ?" 
"  No,"  said  the  white  man,  "  I  have  known  Ogemawkeketo 
for  many  years.  You  are  not  he.  You  are  Muckemoot, 
the  Pottawattamie  chief,  and  you  must  go  with  me."  Then 
the  old  Indian  saw  that  further  dissimulation  was  as  vain 
as  resistance.  His  countenance  fell,  and  he  answered  very 
sadly,  and  yet  proudly,  "Yes,  it  is  true;  I  am  the  great 
chief  of  the  Pottawattamies,  and  it  is  well  for  you  that 
you  came  on  me  unawares,  for  otherwise  Muckemoot  could 
never  have  been  taken  I  I  would  fight  you  now,  but  it  is 
too  late  I  I  will  surrender  !  It  is  very  hard,  but  I  will  go 
with  you  !" 

The  other  Indians,  following  the  lead  of  their  chief,  sur- 
rendered peaceably,  and  all  were  taken  to  Owosso.  After 
the  capture  of  Muckemoot  and  his  followers  the  main 
body  of  Pottawattamies  did  not  make  much  effort  to  escape, 
and  they  were  finally  all  (or  very  nearly  all)  taken  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  cranberry  marshes,  in  the  present  township 
of  Rush.  They  were  brought  into  Owosso  in  squads  at 
different  times,  and  these,  as  they  arrived.  Were  placed 
under  guard.  Some  of  them  were  quartered  in  a  wooden 
building  which  had  been  erected  for  a  hotel,  but  more  in 
the  Log  Cabin  which  had  been  erected  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Main  and  Washington  Streets  as  a  rendezvous 
for  the  supporters  of  Harrison  and  Tyler  in  the  Presiden- 
tial campaign  of  that  year.  They  were  kept  in  those 
buildings  for  a  considerable  time,  until  all  who  could  be 
found  had  been  brought  in.  Then  a  number  of  four-horse 
wagons  were  brought  to  the  place,  and  into  them  were 
loaded  the  women  and  children,  with  their  few  utensils  and 
other  movable  articles.  Some  of  ihe  Indian  men  were 
allowed  transportation  in  the  wagons,  some  rode  on  ponies, 
and  many  were  obliged  to  travel  on  foot.  Formed  in  this 
manner,  and  closely  guarded  by  troops  in  front  and  rear, 
the  mournful  procession  of  Pottawattamies  moved  out  on 
the  road,  and  sadly  took  their  way  to  the  place  of  their 
exile  beyond  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi. 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS. 


CHAPTER    III. 

INTEBBTAL    IMPROVEMENTS. 

Laying  out  and  Construction  of  Early  Roads  in  the  two  Counties — 
Maple  River  Navigation  Projects — Navigation  of  tiie  Shiawassee — 
Northern  Railroad  and  Northern  Wagon-Road — Detroit  and  Shia- 
wassee Railroad  Company — Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee 
Railway — Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad — Detroit,  Lan- 
sing and  Northern  Railroad — Port  Huron  Railroad  Project — Chi- 
cago and  Lake  Huron  Railroad  Line— Other  Projected  Railroads. 

Wherevee  immigrants  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  estab- 
lish themselves  as  pioneers  in  wild  interior  regions,  the 
opening  of  routes  of  travel  between  their  isolated  settle- 
ments and  the  nearest  civilized  communities  is  one  of  the 
first  labors  which  they  are  called  on  to  perform.  In  many 
cases,  when  the  country  is  heavily  timbered  (as  was  the 
case  through  the  greater  part  of  the  counties  of  Clinton 
and  Shiawassee),  this  is  a  heavy  task,  and  one  which  the 
pioneer  is  sometjimes  obliged  to  attend  to  before  he  can 
transport  his  family  and  their  movables  to  the  place  which 
he  has  chosen  for  a  home.  If  his  location  has  been  selected 
in  a  country  of  openings,  he  still  has  some  labor  to  perform 
in  clearing  a  path  through  thickets  which  arc  occasionally 
found  barring  the  way,  or'  in  filling  wot  places  with  brush- 
wood to  allow  the  passage  of  his  team  ;  and  even  if  he  is 
migrating  on  foot,  without  the  convenience  of  either  wagon 
or  animals,  he  will  sometimes  find  it  necessary  to  fell  a  tree 
or  two  across  a  water-course,  to  serve  as  a  foot-bridge  for 
his  wife  and  children,  with  their  scanty  stock  of  household 
goods.  And  whether  the  work  be  light  or  heavy,  the 
opening  of  these  rude  tracks  to  pioneer  settlements  is  road- 
making, — the  first  step  in  the  direction  of  public  internal 
improvements  in  all  now  countries  which  are  remote  from 
navigable  waters. 

The  earliest  highways  in  the  section  of  country  to  which 
this  history  has  reference  were  the  Indian  trails,  several  of 
which  were  found  traversing  the  territory  of  Clinton  and 
Shiawassee  Counties  at  the  time  when  the  first  settlers 
came  here.  The  most  important  of  these  was  the  one 
known  as  the  "  Grand  River  trail,"  which,  leaving  that 
river  at  the  mouth  of  the  Looking-Glass,  passed  up  the 
last-named  stream  on  its  northern  side  through  Clinton 
County  to  what  are  now  the  villages  of  De  Witt  and 
Laingsburg,  and  thence  through  Shiawassee  County  south 
of  the  village  of  Hartwellville  to  a  point  where  an  ancient 
Indian  village  was  situated  on  the  Looking-Glass  in  the 
present  township  of  Antrim.  There  it  forked,  and  the 
more  southerly  branch  (known  as  the  Red  Cedar  trail) 
passed  south  to  the  Cedar  River  in  Livingston  County,  but 
the  main  Grand  River  trail  continued  eastward,  crossed 
the  Shiawassee  River  where  the  present  hamlet  of  Burns 
stands,  bore  away  southeast  to  Byron,  and  thence  across 
the  southwest  corner  of  Genesee  County  and  the  northeast 
corner  of  Livingston  into  and  through  Oakland  County  to 
Pontiac  and  Detroit. 

The  "Saginaw  trail"  passed  from  the  great  Indian  camp- 
ground at  Saginaw,  up  the  Saginaw  and  Shiawassee  Rivers 
to  the  "  great  crossing"  of  the  latter  stream,  where  it  joined 
the  Grand  River  trail.  The  Saginaw  and  Grand  River 
trail,  passing  up  the  valley  of  the  Bad  River  in  Saginaw 
4 


County,  crossed  to  the  great  bend  of  the  Maple  River  in 
Gratiot  County,  and  thence  passed  down  the  latter  stream 
through  Clinton  County  to  Genereau's  trading-post  on 
Grand  River.  Another  trail  left  the  one  last  mentioned  at 
the  great  bend  of  the  Maple  and  passed  southeastwardly 
up  that  river,  through  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  .Counties,  to 
join  the  Grand  River  trail  at  the  crossing  of  the  Shiawas- 
see. Almost  directly  through  the  centre  of  Clinton  County 
a  trail  led  southeastwardly  from  Maple  Rapids  to  Scott's 
(De  Witt  village),  where  it  crossed  the  Grand  River  trail 
and  the  Looking-Glass  River,  and  thence  passed  to  the 
Grand  River  in  Ingham  County.  Besides  the  trails  al- 
ready mentioned,  there  *vere  a  number  of  others  of  less 
importance  which  traversed  the  territory  of  Clinton  and 
Shiawassee  Counties,  and  some  of  these  were  selected  as 
the  routes  of  early  roads  to  the  pioneer  settlements. 

When  Richard  Godfrey  came  to  establish  his  trad- 
ing-post at  the  great  crossing  of  the  Shiawassee  in  1828, 
he  brought  his  goods  from  Oakland  County  by  way  of  the 
Indian  village  of  Kopenicorning  and  across  the  south  part 
of  Genesee  County  to  his  destination.  The  wagon  in  which 
these  goods  were  transported  was  without  doubt  the  first 
vehicle,  as  the  route  over  which  it  came  was  the  first  road 
(if  the  rude  wagon-track  through  the  woods  could  be  consid- 
ered as  such)  which  entered  or  existed  within  any  part  of 
the  territory  of  these  two  counties.  In  the  year  1833 
a  road  was  cut  through  the  woods  over  very  nearly  the 
same  route  from  Kopenicorning  (in  the  extrpme  northwest 
corner  of  Oakland  County)  to  the  Williams  trading-post  of 
the  Shiawassee,  this  being  done  mainly  by  the  proprietors 
of  that  post,  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  assisted  by  the 
few  pioneer  settlers  who  had  then  located  themselves  on  or 
in  the  neighborhood  of  its  line. 

The  principal  one  of  all  the  early  roads  in  these  counties 
was  that  known  as  the  "  Pontiac  and  Grand  River  road," 
which  ran  from  Pontiac  to  Ionia,  and,  of  course,  traversed 
the  entire  breadth  of  both  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties. 
It  ran  from  Pontiac  westward  through  Oakland,  and  passed 
"  Hillman's  Tavern"  in  the  township  of  Tyrone,  Livingston 
Co ,  whence  its  route  was  by  way  of  Byron,  Burns,  Fre- 
mont, Hartwellville,  and  Laingsburg,  in  Shiawassee  Co., 
and  De  Witt  and  Wacousta,  in  Clinton,  to  Portland  and 
Lyons,  in  Ionia.  The  pioneer  travelers  over  this  road  (or  at 
least  the  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  part  of  it)  were  members 
of  a  party  of  colonists  who  were  brought  from  the  State  of 
New  York  by  Judge  Samuel  W.  Dexter,  to  settle  on  lands 
which  had  been  purchased  by  him  in  Ionia  County.  This 
party  of  immigrants,  numbering  sixty-three  persons,  came 
from  the  east,  through  Oakland  County,  and  arrived  at  the 
Shiawassee  River  in  the  early  part  of  May,  1833.  There 
were  six  or  seven  families  of  them,  besides  several  single 
persons,  all  traveling  with  wagons,  containing  their  movable 
property,  and  having  with  them  oxen,  cows,  and  swine.  Ar- 
riving at  the  Grand  Saline,  where  Antoine  Beaubien  had  a 
trading-post,  their  leader  (Judge  Dexter)  asked  that  trader 
to  pilot  and  assist  them  to  their  destination  on  the  Grand 
River,  but  as  he  refused  to  undertake  it,  the  judge  then 
applied  to  B.  0.  Williams,  of  the  trading  firm  located  be- 
low on  the  river.    He  was  then  engaged  in  his  spring  farm- 


26 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ing,  and  was  unwilling  to  leave  it,  but  finally  acceded  to 
Judge  Dexter's  proposal  and  started  out  to  guide  the  party 
on  their  way  through  the  wilJerness  fiom  the  Sliiawassee 
to  the  Grand  Eiver.  The  account  which  he  gives  of  that 
pioneering  journey  is  this :  "  Having  in  vain  tried  to  get 
Beaubien  to  pilot  them,  Messrs.  Dexter,  Yeomans,*  and 
Winsor  came  to  us  for  help.  I  left  our  planting,  taking 
my  blankets  and  small  tent,  and  in  six  days  landed  them  at 
Ionia,  looking  out  the  route,  and  directing  where  the  road 
was  to  be.  This  was  the  first  real  colonizing  party  we  had 
ever  seen, — myself  having  never  been  farther  than  De  Witt 
(the  Indian  village).  I  then  induced  Macketapenace 
(Blackbird),  a  son  of  Kishkawkof  the  usurping  chief  of  all 
the  Saginaws,  to  pilot  us  past  Muskrat  Creek,  and  from 
there  proceeded  with  the  party.  At  that  point,  a  son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dexter,  a  child  of  about  two  years  old,  died 
of  scarlet  fever.  We  buried  the  child  by  torch-  and  candle- 
•  light,  in  a  box  improvised  by  the  party.  .  .  .  The  road  we 
opened  was  next  year  followed  by  others,  and  was  substan- 
tially the  present  Grand  River  road  through  Shiawassee  and 
Clinton  Counties,  and  was  traveled  for  many  years  after." 
Mr.  Williams  is  correct  in  saying  that  the  route  traveled  by 
him  with  the  party  of  Ionia  colonists  was  nearly  the  same 
as  that  of  the  Pontiac  and  Grand  River  road,  east  of  De 
Witt,  but  west  of  that  place  it  was  entirely  different,  as  it  ran 
thence  northwestwardly  through  the  present  townships  of 
Riley,  Bengal,  and  Dallas,  and  down  the  south  side  of  Stony 
Creek  to  Ionia  County.  It  was  on  section  31  of  Bengal — 
on  the  farm  q{  Judge  Cortland  Hill — that  the  child  of 
Judge  Dexter  was  buried,  as  narrated  by  Mr.  Williams. 
The  route  opened  by  this  party  between  De  Witt  and  Lyons 
became  known  as  the  "  Dexter  trail,"  and  was  cut  out  and 
traveled  for  a  number  of  years,  but  a  large  part  of  it  was 
afterwards  closed  and  taken  into  the  farms  through  which 
it  passed. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1844,  the  Governor  approved  "  an 
act  to  establish  and  improve  the  Pontiac  and  Grand  River 
road,"  over  the  route  which  has  already  been  described. 
In  1845  an  amendatory  act  was  passed  (approved  March 
12th),  which  provided  "  that  Philip  S.  Prisbee,  Elkanah 
Parker,  and  Daniel  Donclson  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  examine  any  part  of  the  Pontiac 
and  Grand  River  road,  and  to  make  alterations  of  route 
according  to  their  judgment ;"  and  by  the  same  act,  Robert 
Toan,  of  the  county  of  Ionia ;  Loyal  Palmer,  of  Clinton  ; 
Jonathan  M.  Hartwell,  of  Shiawassee ;  Samuel  N.  Warren, 
of  Genesee ;  and  Archibald  Phillips,  of  Oakland  County, 
were  "  appointed  special  commissioners,  each  for  the  county 
in  which  he  resides,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  direct  and 
superintend  the  performance  of  all  labor  which  by  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act,  or  the  act  to  which  this  is  amendatory, 
are  to  be  performed  on  said  road,  and  to  expend  all  monies 
which  may  accrue  to  said  road  by  the  provisions  of  said 
acts."  Under  the  provisions  of  these,  and  acts  passed  in 
subsequent  years  appropriating  non-resident  taxes,  and  by 
labor  applied  by  the  highway  officers  of  the  several  town- 
ships traversed  by  it,  the  road  was  gradually  worked  and 
made  passable  in  its  entire  length,  though  it  was  not  until 


*  Erastm  Yeoman?,  afterwards  a  prominent  citizen  of  loniii.  County. 


July,  1854,  that  it  was  declared  opened  through  Clinton 
County.  It  has  been  an  important  thoroughfare  to  these 
two  counties  (though  much  less  so  now  than  formerly),  and 
it  is  still  known  and  mentioned  by  its  ancient  name, — the 
Pontiac  and  Grand  River  road. 

The  Detroit  and  Grand  River  road — more  generally 
known  in  the  counties  through  which  it  passes  as  the 
"  Grand  Eiver  Turnpike" — was  established  by  act  of  Con- 
gress, passed  on  the  4th  of  July,  1832  (Michigan  being 
then  a  Territory),  directing  the  President  to  appoint  three 
commissioners  "  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Detroit,  through 
Sciawassee  County,f  to  the  mouth  of  the  Grand  River," 
for  military  and  other  purposes.  The  road  was  accordingly 
"  laid  out,"  and  the  sum  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
was  expended  by  the  government  in  the  years  1833  and  1834 
in  working  the  eastern  part  of  the  road  ten  miles  out  from 
Detroit.  A  further  appropriation  of  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  was  made  by  Congress,  March  3,  1835,  and  this 
amount  was  expended  in  1835-36  in  clearing  the  road  one 
hundred  feet  wide  through  the  timbered  land,  and  in  con- 
structing bridges  on  its  line  across  the  Rush,  Huron,  Shia- 
wassee (south  branch),  and  Cedar  Rivers.  This  was  the 
last  work  done  on  the  Grand  River  road  by  the  general 
government,  as  Michigan  had  ceased  to  be  a  Territory  and 
became  a  sovereign  State.  A  grant  of  five  thousand  acres 
of  land  was,  however,  obtained  from  the  United  States  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Grand  River  and  Saginaw  roads,  of  which 
grant  this  road  received  its  proportion. 

After  the  United  States  ceased  making  appropriations 
for  the  Grand  River  road  very  little  was  done  on  it  for  a 
time.  The  State,  however,  took  up  the  work  soon  after, 
and  the  construction  of  the  road  was  continued  by  State  ap- 
propriations from  time  to  time,  one  of  these  being  made  by 
an  act  approved  April  2,  1841,  which  provided  that  five 
thousand  dollars  be  expended  on  the  construction  of  this 
road,  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Internal  Im- 
provement ;  this  sum  being  taken  from  the  sixty  thousand 
dollars  which  remained  unexpended  of  the  appropriations 
previously  granted  for  the  Northern  Wagon-Road,J  which 
project  had  at  that  time  been  virtually  abandoned.  By 
these  appropriations,  and  by  the  expenditure  of  local  high- 
way taxes  upon  it,  the  Grand  River  Turnpike  was  finally 
made  an  excellent  road,  which  for  many  years  accommodated 
a  vast  amount  of  travel.  So  great  was  the  traffic  upon  it 
at  one  period  prior  to  the  opening  of  the  railroads  through 
the  section  tributary  to  it  that  the  vehicles  passing  over  it 
—heavy  wagons,  light  carriages,  and  stage-coaches — formed 
an  almost  continuous  procession.  With  the  opening  of  the 
Detroit  and  Milwaukee,  and  Detroit,  Lansing  and  Northern 
Railroads  this  great  travel  suddenly  ceased,  and  the  former 
glory  of  the  Grand  River  Turnpike  departed.  ■  The  route 
of  the  turnpike,  being  entirely  south  of  the  present  territory 


t  Shiawassee  County  at  that  time  extended  south  as  far  as  the  centre 
of  the  present  county  of  Livingston. 

t  The  Northern  Wagon-Eoad,  of  which  the  route  lay  through  the 
whole  breadth  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties,  and  for  which  the 
Legislature  made  an  appropriation  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  in  1841, 
will  be  found  mentioned  in  succeeding  pages  in  connection  with  the 
account  of  the  old  "  Northern  Railroad." 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS. 


27 


of  Shiawassee,  enters  Clinton  County  at  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  township  of  Watertown,  and  passes  northwestwardly 
through  that  and  the  township  of  Eagle  into  Ionia  County. 

The  first  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  at  its  ses- 
sion of  1835-36,  provided  for  the  layiog  out  and  establish- 
ment of  a  large  number  of  State  roads,  and  among  them 
were  a  number  of  which  the  routes  were  partially  within 
the  counties  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton.  These  were  au- 
thorized by  act  approved  March  26,  1836,  as  follows : 

1.  "  A  State  road  from  Pontiac,  in  the  county  of  Oak- 
land, on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route  to  the  village  of 
Brooklyn,  in  the  county  of  Clinton,  and  thence  to  the  seat 
of  justice  in  said  county."  Jonathan  P.  Stratton,  William 
C.  Rumsey,  and  Enos  Leek  were  appointed  by  the  act 
"  commissioners  to  lay  out  and  establish  the  same." 

2.  A  State  road  "  from  the  village  of  Pontiac,  in  the 
county  of  Oakland,  by  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route,  to 
terminate  at  the  county-seat  of  Ionia."  The  commissioners 
appointed  to  lay  out  and  establish  this  road  were  Alfred  L. 
Williams,  William  Terry,  and  Erastus  Yeomans.  The 
route  of  this  road  crossed  the  entire  width  of  the  counties 
of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton/ 

3.  "  A  State  road  from  Jacksonburgh,  in  the  county  of 
Jackson,  through  the  centres  (as  nearly  as  may  be)  of  the 
counties  of  Ingham  and  Shiawassee,  to  Saginaw,  in  the 
coiinty  of  Saginaw."  Commissioners,  Daniel  Coleman, 
David  Scott,  and  William  R.  Thompson. 

4.  A  State  road  from  Pontiac,  in  Oakland  County,  to  be 
laid  out  "on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route  until  it  inter- 
sects the  Grand  River  at  the  mouth  of  the  Looking-Glass 
River,  passing  the  White  Lake  (Oakland  County)  settle- 
ment, Alfred  Williams'  on  the  Shiawassee  River,  and  the 
county-seat  of  Clinton  County."  The  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  'lay  out  and  establish"  this^road  were  Alfred 
L.  Williams,  Jonathan  F.  Stratton,  and  David  Scott. 

5.  State  road  to  be  laid  out  running  "from  the  village 
of  Pontiac,  in  Oakland  County,  to  Mapes  and  Bursley's 
mills,  on  Ore  Creek,  in  township  3  north,  of  range  6  east, 
and  thence  to  the  centre  of  Shiawassee  County."  To  lay 
out  and  establish  this  road  John  S.  Webber,  Samuel  Mapes, 
and  George  Buckley  were  appointed  commissioners.  The 
act  authorizing  the  above-mentioned  roads  was  declared  to 
be  inoperative  and  void  after  Dec.  31,  1839,  as  to  such  of 
them  as  should  not  at  that  time  have  been  laid  out  and 
established. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  four  of  the  five  roads  above  men- 
tioned were  to  have  their  eastern  termini  at  Pontiac.  As 
it  is  certain  that  the  public  good  could  not  have  required 
so  many  highways  running  through  these  counties  to  that 
point,  it  might  seem  strange  that  the  Legislature  should 
have  authorized  all  of  them,  but  for  the  fact  that  it  was 
expressly  provided  in  the  law  that  all  State  roads  so  author- 
ized were  to  be  under  the  care  of  the  commissioners  of 
highways  for  the  several  townships  through  which  they 
were  to  pass,  and  "  subject  to  be  by  them  opened  and  kept 
in  repair  in  the  same  manner  as  township  roads  may  be  by 
them  opened  and  kept  in  repair."  It  was  also  provided 
that  "  in  laying  out  and  establishing  the  roads,  or  any  of 
the  roads  named,  the  State  shall  not  be  liable  for  the  ex- 


penses or  damages  incurred  thereby."  Therefore,  as  the 
laying  out  of  these  roads  brought  no  expense  to  the  State, 
it  was  the  policy  of  the  Legislature  to  grant  such  as  were 
asked  for  by  interested  parties,  though  without  any  expec- 
tation that  all  would  be  actually  built. 

The  second  Legislature  of  the  State,  at  its  regular  session 
in  1837,  passed  an  act  (approved  March  17th)  which  author- 
ized the  laying  out  of  State  roads  to  cross  the  territory  of 
Clinton  or  Shiawassee  County,  or  both,  as  follows : 

1.  A  road  "  from  Byron,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee, 
to  Shiawassee  town,  so  called,  in  town  6  north,  of  range  3 
east,  and  from  thence  to  Leach's  Place  in  section  10,  of 
town  6  north,  of  range  1  east,  and  from  thence  by  the  most 
direct  and  eligible  route  to  the  village  of  Lyons  in  the 
county  of  Ionia."  The  commissioners  appointed  to  lay  out 
this  road  were  Francis  J.  Prevost,  Archibald  Purdy,  and 
Henry  Leach. 

2.  "  A  State  road  at  or  near  Farmington  City,  so  called, 
in  the  county  of  Oakland,  running  by  the  head  of  Walled 
Lake  to  Byron,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,"  with  Erie 
Prince,  Isaac  Wixom,  and  John  Thomas  as  commissioners 
to  lay  out  the  same. 

3.  A  road  "  commencing  at  the  village  of  Marshall,  in 
the  county  of  Calhoun,  and  from  thence  to  Saginaw  City, 
so  called,  in  the  county  of  Saginaw.''  The  route  of  this 
road  must  necessarily  pass  through  the  county  of  Shia- 
wassee. The  commissioners  to  locate  and  establish  it  were 
Sidney  S.  Alcott,  Cyrus  Hewett,  and  Charles  T.  Gorham. 

4.  A  road  "from  the  seat  of  justice  in  Eaton  County, 
to  Cushway's  trading-point,  on  Maple  River,  in  the  county 
of  Clinton,  on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route."  The 
commissioners  appointed  were  William  Wheaton,  Stephen 
B.  Rogers,  and  Philander  R.  How. 

5.  A  road  "  from  De  Witt,  in  Clinton  County,  to  Pe- 
Shimnecon,  in  the  county  of  Ionia;"  for  the  location  of 
which  Sylvester  Scott,  Alexander  Chapel,  and  Philander 
R.  How  were  appointed  commissioners. 

6.  Truman  H.  Lyon,  A.  F.  Bell,  and  John  McKelvey 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  out  and  establish  a 
State  road  "  from  the  village  of  Pontiac,  in  the  county  of 
Oakland,  by  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Lyons  in  the  county  of  Ionia." 

In  1838  (by  act  approved  March  9th)  the  Legislature 
authorized  the  establishment  of  a  State  road  "  from  the 
Rochester  Colony,  in  Clinton  County,  thence  on  the  most 
direct  and  eligible  route  to  the  county-seat  of  Ionia,''  and 
appointed  Lyman  Webster,  Lockwood  Yates,  and  Cyrus 
Lovell  commissioners  for  that  purpose.  In  the  following 
year  (by  act  approved  April  18th)  Samuel  Barker,  Charles 
Baldwin,  and  John  Ferdon  were  appointed  commissioners 
"  to  lay  out  and  establish  a  State  road,  commencing  at  the 
village  of  Owosso  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  and  running 
thence  on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route  by  the  way  of 
Rochester  Colony,  so  called,  to  a  certain  point  of  intersec- 
tion with  a  State  road  running  from  Ionia  to  the  Rochester 
Colony,  at  or  near  the  dwelling-house  of  Hiram  Benedict, 
in  township  8  north,  of  range  3  west." 

An  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  4,  1840,  ap- 
pointed Joseph  P.  Roberts,  ApoUos  Dewey,  and  Elias  Corn- 
stock  commissioners  "  to  lay  out  and  establish  a  State  road  , 


28 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


commencing  at  the  village  of  Mason,  in  the  county  of 
Ingham,  thence  in  a  northerly  direction  to  the  village  of 
Owosso,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  and  to  file  the  survey 
of  so  much  of  said  road  in  the  ofiBce  of  each  township  clerk 
[in  any  township]  through  which  the  road  shall  pass  as 
shall  be  laid  out  in  each  township."  And  by  another  sec- 
tion of  the  same  act  Daniel  Ball,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  and 
Alpheus  F.  Williams  were  made  commissioners  to  lay  out 
and  establish  another  State  road  (a  northern  continuation 
of  that  above  mentioned)  "  commencing  at  the  village  of 
Owosso,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  running  from  thence 
in  a  northerly  direction  on  the  most  practicable  route  to 
Saginaw  City,  in  the  county  of  Saginaw,  and  to  file  the 
survey  of  so  much  of  said  road  in  the  ofiBce  of  each  town- 
ship clerk  [in  any  township]  through  which  the  said  road 
shall  pass  as  shall  be  laid  out  in  each  township." 

For  several  years  after  1840  the  Legislature  authorized 
very  few  State  roads  to  be  laid  out  through  Shiawassee  or 
Clinton  County.  The  popular  excitement  in  that  direction 
had  in  a  great  measure  expended  itself  during  the  first  three 
years  succeeding  the  organization  of  the  State,  and  not  one- 
half  the  roads  authorized  by  the  Legislature  in  those  years 
had  been  built,  or  even  located.  Railroad  schemes,  too,  had 
already  begun  to  attract  public  attention,  and  a  few  years 
later  projects  for  the  construction  of  plank-roads  became  so 
popular  that  many  persons  believed  that  this  kind  of  high- 
way was  destined  to  come  into  universal  use,  and  to  super- 
sede the  common  road.  These,  and  other  causes,  had  the 
effect  to  divert  attention  from  the  opening  of  new  State 
roads  during  a  number  of  years  preceding  the  removal  of 
the  State  capital  to  Lansing,  but  the  accomplishment  of 
that  removal,  in  1847,  caused  the  people,  particularly  those 
of  Shiawassee,  Clinton,  and  other  neighboring  counties,  to 
desire  more  and  better  roads,  to  afford  access  to  the  new 
seat  of  government.  Among  the  numerous  State  roads 
authorized  at  the  next  succeeding  session  of  the  Legislature 
(in  1848)  were  several  to  be  laid  out  within  Shiawassee  and 
Clinton  Counties,  viz. : 

1.  Alexander  McArthur,  Jonathan  M.  Hartwell,  and 
Luke  H.  Parsons  were  appointed  (by  act  approved  April  1, 
1848)  commissioners  "to  lay  out  a  State  road  from  the 
village  of  Flint,  in  the  county  of  Genesee,  by  the  way  of 
the  village  of  Corunna,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  to  the 
capital  of  this  State,  or  to  such  other  point,  touching  any 
road  leading  to  the  capital,  as  the  said  commissioners,  or  a 
majority  of  them,  may  deem  proper." 

2.  A  State  road  was  authorized,  to  run  "  from  the  vil- 
lage of  Michigan,  in  the  county  of  Ingham,  on  the  most 
direct  and  eligible  route  by  the  way  of  Owosso,  in  the 
county  of  Shiawassee,  and  Northampton  and  the  forks  of 
Bad  River,  in  the  county  of  Saginaw,  to  the  city  of 
Saginaw."  The  commissioners  appointed  to  lay  out  and 
establish  this  road  were  William  Smith,  Alfred  L.  Wil- 
liams, and  Daniel  Gould. 

3.  Harvey  T.  Lee,  John  Thomson,  and  James  M.  Cum- 
mings  were  appointed  commissioners  "  to  lay  out  and  estab- 
lish a  State  road  on  the  most  eligible  route  from  the  village 
of  Byron,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  to  the  capital  of 
this  State." 

4.  A  northeastern  extension  of  the  last-named  road  was 


authorized  by  the  appointment  of  Hartford  Cargill, 
Ephraim  Fletcher,  and  George  C.  Holmes  as  commissioners 
"  to  lay  out  and  establish  a  public  State  road  from  Flint  vil- 
lage, in  the  county  of  Genesee,  through  the  township  of 
Gaines ;  thence  on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route  to 
Byron,  in  the  county,  of  Shiawassee,  intersecting  the  State 
road  at  that  place." 

5.  James  Seymour,  Alexander  McArthur,  and  Luke  H. 
Parsons  were  appointed  commissioners  with  authority  "  to 
lay  out  and  establish  a  State  road  from  the  village  of 
Corunna,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  on  the  most  eligible 
route  to  the  village  of  Flushing,  in  the  county  of  Genesee." 
And  by  the  same  act,  J.  B.  Bloss,  Simon  Z.  Kinyon,  and 
Isaac  Castle  were  made  commissioners  to  lay  out  and  estab- 
lish a  State  road  from  Corunna  "  to  a  point  at  or  near 
where  the  present  traveled  road,  leading  from  said  village 
of  Corunna  to  Shiawasseetown,  touches  the  Shiawassee 
River." 

An  act  approved  March  31,  1848,  appropriated  six 
thousand  acres  of  internal  improvement  lands  "  for  the  pur- 
pose of  improving  certain  roads  in  the  county  of  Clinton,  as 
follows,  viz. :  three  thousand  acres  thereof  upon  a  road  to 
be  laid  out  from  the  village  of  De  Witt  to  the  village  of 
Mapleton,  in  the  township  of  Duplain,  crossing  the  line  of 
the  Northern  Railroad  at  or  near  the  residence  of  Stephen 
W.  Downer ;  also  one  thousand  acres  thereof  for  laying 
out  and  improving  a  branch  of  said  last-mentioned  road, 
commencing  at  a  point  where  it  intersects  the  Northern 
Railroad  line,  and  running  thence  to  the  northeast  corner 
of  section  25,  in  the  township  of  Essex ;  and  from  thence 
on  the  most  eligible  route  to  a  point  at  or  near  the 
centre  of  the  township  of  Greenbush,  in  said  county  of 
Clinton  ;  and  also  two  thousand  acres  of  said  land  for 
laying  out  and  improving  a  road  from  the  village  of  De 
Witt  through  the  German  settlement  in  Westphalia  to 
Lyons,  in  tho  county  of  Ionia ;  said  appropriation  to  be 
expended  within  the  limits  of  the  county  of  Clinton."  An 
act  passed  at  the  same  session  (approved  March  21,  1848) 
appropriated  seven  thousand  acres  of  internal  improvement 
lands  in  the  lower  peninsula  "  for  the  purpose  of  opening 
and  improving  the  road  leading  from  Corunna,  in  the 
county  of  Shiawassee,  to  a  point  at  or  near  the  forks  of 
Bad  River,  in  the  county  of  Saginaw." 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  in  reference  to  the  roads  au- 
thorized by  the  Legislature,  as  above  mentioned,  that  the 
"  laying  out"  of  roads  in  that  manner  (particularly  in  the 
earlier  years)  was  by  no  means  equivalent  to  opening  and 
making  them  ready  for  travel ;  that  some  of  them  so  au- 
thorized were  never  opened  at  all ;  and  that  in  nearly  every 
case  a  long  time  (sometimes  a  number  of  years)  intervened 
between  the  time  when  a  State  road  was  laid  out  by  the 
commissioners  and  the  time  when  it  was  actually  worked, 
opened,  and  made  passable  for  vehicles. 

There  have  been  a  number  of  State  roads  laid  out  in 
Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Counties  later  than  those  mentioned 
above.  It  is  impracticable  to  notice  in  detail  the  laying 
out  and  construction  of  all  these,  but  it  is  proper  to  men- 
tion the  Shiawassee  and  Saginaw,  and  the  Clinton  and 
Gratiot  State  roads,  as  among  the  most  important  north-and- 
south  thoroughfares  of  these  counties.    The  first  mentioned 


INTERNAL   IMPROVEMENTS. 


29 


was  laid  out  from  Owosso  to  St.  Charles  in  1861,  and  was 
worked  through  in  18G2  to  1864  by  Philip  Mickle,  con- 
tractor. The  project  of  planking  this  road  between  Chesa- 
ning  and  Owosso  was  started,  and  a  short  distance  was 
planked  in  1865  (the  first  plank  being  laid  April  27th  of  that 
year  at  Chesaning),  but  the  planking  was  not  extended 
into  Shiawassee  County. 

The  fine  thoroughfare  passing  northward  through  the 
village  of  St.  John's,  and  thence  into  Gratiot  County,  is  a 
part  of  the  line  authorized  by  act  of  Feb.  12,  1859,  which 
provide^  for  the  laying  out  of  a  State  road  "  from  Port  Hu- 
ron, in  St.  Clair  County,  to  Bay  City  ;  thence  westerly  to  the 
meridian  township  line  between  ranges  2  and  3  west ;  thence 
southerly  to  St.  John's,  in  Clinton  County  ;  to  be  known  as 
the  Port  Huron,  Bay  City  and  Clinton  road."  The  sec- 
tion passing  through  the  north  part  of  Clinton  into  Gratiot, 
however,  has  usually  been  known  as  the  St.  John's  and 
Gratiot  road.  This  section  was  built  by  Christopher  C. 
Darling,  of  Lansing,  in  1859  and  1860,  but  has  since  been 
improved  at  great  expense  by  the  townships  of  Bingham 
and  Greenbush,  so  that  it  is  now  one  of  the  best  highways 
in  the  county  or  State. 

PLANK-ROADS. 

Projects  for  the  construction  of  plank-roads  began  to 
come  into  general  favor  in  Michigan  about  the  year  1847, 
and  it  was  in  that  year  that  the  first  two  of  these  companies 
whose  proposed  route  lay  across  any  part  of  the  territory  of 
Shiawassee  or  Clinton  County  were  formed,  as  follows : 

The  Pontiac  and  Corunna  Plank-Road  Company — in- 
corporated by  act  approved  March  17,  1847 — was  "em- 
powered and  authorized  to  survey  and  lay  out  a  road  com- 
mencing at  the  village  of  Pontiac,  and  running  thence 
northwesterly  through  the  village  of  Byron  and  the  village 
of  Shiawassee  to  the  village  of  Corunna,  in  the  county  of 
Shiawassee,  .  .  .  and  to  construct  and  keep  in  repair  a 
plank  or  macadamized  road  on  the  route  so  established  from 
the  village  of  Pontiac  to  the  village  of  Corunna."  Horace 
C.  Thurber,  J.  W.  Crandall,  Jairah  Hillman,  George  C. 
Holmes,  J.  B.  Bloss,  Seth  Beach,  and  William  Axford 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  receive  subscriptions  to 
the  capital  stock,  which  was  authorized  to  the  amount  of 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

The  Portland  and  Shiawassee  Plank-Road  Company  was 
incorporated  at  the  same  time  as  the  above.  This  company 
was  authorized  "  to  survey  and  lay  out,  on  the  line  of  any 
existing  highway,  or  elsewhere,  a  road  commencing  at  the 
village  of  Portland  and  running  thence  easterly  to  some 
eligible  point  on  the  Pontiac  and  Corunna  Plank-Road." 
Commissioners  appointed,  Peter  Laing,  David  Sturgis,  and 
Harvey  Hunter.  Capital  authorized,  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  The  object  of  these  two  companies  was 
to  plank  the  Pontiac  and  Grand  River  Road  from  Pontiac 
to  Portland. 

After  1847,  and  before  the  enactment  of  the  general 
plank-road  law,  the  Legislature  incorporated  the  following- 
named  companies,  each  of  which  proposed  to  build  plank- 
roads  through  some  part  of  Shiawassee  or  Clinton  County, 

viz. : 

The  Clinton  and  Bad  River  Plank-Road  Company,  in- 


corporated April  3,  1848.  Route,  "from  the  village  of 
De  Witt,  in  the  county  of  Clinton,  on  the  most  eligible 
route  to  the  forks  of  Bad  River,  in  the  county  of  Saginaw." 
Commissioners,  J.  W.  Turner,  Daniel  Ferguson,  Stephen 
W.  Downer,  Chandler  W.  Coy,  and  Robert  E.  Graver. 
Capital,  seventy-five  thousand  dollars. 

The  Portland  and  Michigan  Plank-Road  Company,  in- 
corporated April  3,  1848.  To  build  a  plank-road  from 
Portland,  Ionia  Co.,  to  the  town  of  Mijhigan  (now  Lan- 
sing), Ingham  Co.  Commissioners,  William  F.  Jennison, 
A.  Newman,  and  Hezekiah  Smith.  Capital,  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  An  amendatory  act,  approved  March  8,  1851, 
empowered  this  company  to  enter  upon  and  use  the  De- 
troit and  Grand  River  turnpike  between  Lansing  and  Port- 
land. 

The  Owosso  and  Bad  River  Plank-Road  Company.  In- 
corporated April  3,  1848,  to  build  a  road  from  the  village 
of  Owosso  to  the  forks  of  Bad  River,  in  Saginaw  County. 
Commissioners,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  Amos  Gould,  and 
John  B.  Barnes.     Capital,  forty  thousand  dollars. 

The  Michigan  and  De  Witt  Plank-Road  Company.  In- 
corporated April  3, 1848.  Proposed  route,  "  from  the  town 
of  Michigan,  in  the  county  of  Ingham,  to  the  village  of 
De  Witt,  in  the  county  of  Clinton."  Capital,  ten  thousand 
dollars.  Commissioners,  James  Seymour,  Siloam  S.  Carter, 
J.  W.  Turner,  George  T.  Clark,  and  David  Ferguson. 

The  Corunna  and  Saginaw  Plank-Road  Company.  In- 
corporated April  3,  1848,  "  to  lay  out,  establish,  and  con- 
struct a  plank-road  from  Corunna,  in  the  county  of  Shia- 
wassee, to  Saginaw,  in  the  county  of  Saginaw,  or  to  such 
intermediate  point  as  the  stockholders  of  said  company 
shall  determine."  Capital,  fifty  thousand  dollars  (after- 
wards increased  to  seventy  thousand  dollars).  Commis- 
sioners, Isaac  Castle,  Alexander  MoArthur,  Ransom  W. 
Hawley,  Luke  H.  Parsons,  Ebonezer  C.  Kimberly,  and 
Samuel  W.  Cooper.  To  these  were  afterwards  added 
Gardner  D.  Williams,  James  Fraser,  Charles  S.  Kimberly, 
and  David  Eaton. 

The  Howell  and  Byron  Plank-Road  Company.  Incor- 
porated March  25,  1850,  to  construct  a  plank-road  from 
Howell,  Livingston  Co.,  to  Byron,  Shiawassee  Co.  Capital, 
thirty  thousand  dollars.  Commissioners,  Josiah  Turner, 
George  W.  Lee,  B.  W.  Dennis,  F.  J.  Prevost,  and  Noah 
Ramsdell. 

None  of  the  above-mentioned  companies  built  their  pro- 
posed roads,  or  any  part  of  them,  within  these  two  counties, 
and  the  only  reason  why  they  have  been  noticed  here  is  to 
show  how  general  was  the  plank-road  mania  here,  as  in 
other  portions  of  the  State,  and  also  to  show  what  were  the 
several  projects  of  this  kind,  and  who  were  their  originators. 

MAPLE  EIVEE  NAVIGATION  PROJECTS. 
In  the  first  half  of  the  present  century,  before  the  days 
of  railroad  communication,  the  people  of  Michigan,  like 
those  of  other  States,  were  disposed  to  place  an  extrava- 
gantly high  estimate  oa  the  importance  and  value  of  their 
rivers  for  purposes  of  navigation,  and  to  favor  bold  and 
often  visionary  projects  for  the  improvement  of  the  streams, 
in  the  expectation  (which  was  seldom  if  ever  realized)  of 
securing  great  advantages  from  the   utilization  of  these 


30 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


water-ways.  Such  projects  were  conceived  and  their  pro- 
secution commenced  with  regard  to  the  principal  rivers  of 
Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Counties, — the  Shiawassee,  Grand, 
and  Maple,  and  the  improvement  of  the  latter  two  was  em- 
braced in  the  internal  improvement  system  (more  fully 
noticed  in  succeeding  pages)  which  was  adopted  by  the 
State  at  the  regular  session  of  its  second  Legislature  in 
1837. 

In  that  year  an  act  was  passed  (approved  March  20th) 
which  provided :  '■  Section  5. — That  the  sum  of  twenty 
thousand  dollars  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated 
out  of  any  moneys  which  shall  come  into  the  treasury  to 
the  credit  of  the  internal  improvement  fund,  for  the  fol- 
lowing surveys,  to  be  made  under  the  direction  of  the  board 
of  commissioners  :  for  the  survey  of  a  canal  or  for  a  canal 
part  of  the  way  and  railroad  the  balance  of  the  route,  com- 
mencing at  or  near  Mount  Clemens,  on  the  Clinton  River, 
to  terminate  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  Kalamazoo  River ; 
and  for  the  survey  of  a  canal  route  to  unite  the  waters  of 
the  Saginaw  River  with  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Maple 
or  Grand  Rivers',  and  for  the  purchase  of  surveyors'  and 
other  instruments ;  and  for  the  survey  of  the  St.  Joseph, 
Kalamazoo,  and  Grand  Rivers,  with  a  view  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  same  by  slack-water  navigation."  Section  7 
of  the  same  act  provided :  "  That  the  sum  of  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of 
any  moneys  which  shall  come  into  the  treasury  to  the 
credit  of  the  said  internal  improvement  fund,  to  be  applied 
to  the  construction  of  a  canal  to  unite  the  waters  of  the 
Saginaw  with  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Grand  or  Muple 
Rivers,  if  said  board  of  commissioners  shall  decide  that  it 
is  practicable  to  construct  a  canal  on  said  route." 

Under  the  authority  conferred  by  this  act  the  board  of 
internal  improvement  caused  a  survey  to  be  made  by  Tracy 
McCracken,  Esq.,  chief  engineer  of  the  Saginaw  and  Maple 
Rivers  Canal,  and  this  survey  resulted  in  the  location  and 
adoption  of  a  route  running  from  the  forks  of  the  Bad 
River  (a  navigable  tributary  of  the  Saginaw),  in  Saginaw 
County,  westward  to  the  Maple  River,  at  its  "  Big  Bend," 
in  Gratiot  County.  The  report  of  the  survey  was  regarded  as 
exceedingly  favorable,  showing  the  existence  of  a  remarkable 
valley  or  depression,  extending  westward  from  the  waters 
of  the  Saginaw  to  those  of  the  Maple ;  that  these  waters, 
flowing  in  opposite  directions,  were  only  three  miles  distant 
from  each  other  at  one  point,  and  that  between  them  the 
highest  elevation  necessary  to  be  crossed  was  only  seventy- 
two  feet  above  Lake  Michigan.  It  was  along  this  valley 
and  across  this  low  summit  that  the  engineer  located  the 
route  of  the  canal,  which,  with  certain  slack-water  improve- 
ments to  be  made  to  the  east  and  west  of  it,  on  the  Bad, 
the  Maple,  and  the  Grand  Rivers,  was  to  open  a  line  of 
uninterrupted  navigation  between  Lake  Michigan  and  Sag- 
inaw Bay,  and  to  bring  prospe'rity  to  all  the  country  conti"- 
uous  to  it. 

Contracts  were  let  for  the  grubbing  and  clearing  of  the 
route  and  for  the  excavations  upon  a  five-mile  section  on 
the  most  difficult  portion  of  it ;  the  last-named  contract 
being  taken  by  Norman  Little,  of  Saginaw.  Another  part 
of  this  work  was  taken  by  Alpheus  Williams.  Work  was 
commenced  in  1838,  and  was  continued  with  more- or  less 


\i<ror  until  July  of  the  following  year,  when  it  was  sus- 
pended. The  immediate  cause  of  the  suspension  is  made 
apparent  by  the  following  extract  from  the  official  report  of 
Rix  Robinson,  president  of  the  State  board  of  internal 
improvement,  dated  Nov.  30,  1839.  He  says  :  "  Early  in 
the  season  Norman  Little,  Esq.,  the  principal  contractor  on 
this  work,  expressed  to  me  his  incapacity  to  proceed  with 
the  work  in  case  the  State  should  fail  to  pay  his  estimate 
for  labor  monthly,  and  punctually  according  to  the  tenor  of 
his  contract.  There  being  no  possible  means  for  me  to 
obtain  sufficient  funds  for  that  purpose,  the  work  Jias  ac- 
cordingly been  abandoned  by  him.  The  chief  engineer,  Mr. 
McCracken,  in  his  report  for  1839,  said :  "  It  was  not  to 
be  expected  that  the  contractor  for  this  work,  which,  from 
its  position,  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  to  execute,  would 
be  able  or  willing  to  prosecute  it  without  prompt  payment 
on  the  part  of  the  State,  which,  failing  to  meet  its  engage- 
ment in  the  payment  of  the  monthly  estimates,  was  averred 
by  the  contractor  as  the  cause  of  the  work  being  aban- 
doned. This  occurred  some  time  in  June  last  [1839]  ; 
since  then  nothing  has  been  done  towards  the  construction 
of  the  work.  .  .  .  Most  of  the  work  required  upon  one 
section  of  the  canal,  together  with  the  greater  part  of  the 
clearing  and  grubbing  of  the  line  under  contract,  has  been 
completed.  There  is  now  upon  the  line  several  thousand 
feet  of  plank  and  timber  intended  for  the  locks  and  dams. 
A  great  portion  of  the  timber  is  framed,  and  will,  from  its 
present  exposed  condition ,  decay  very  rapidly." 

The  suspension  of  work  by  the  contractora  in  July,  1839, 
proved  to  be  a  final  abandonment  of  the  construction  of  the 
canal  as  a  State  work.  The  timbers  mentioned  by  the  chief 
engineer  as  having  been  intended  for  the  construction  of 
locks  and  dams  remained  to  rot  on  the  ground,  and  the 
remnants  of  some  of  them  have  been  visible  in  recent 
years  in  the  town  of  Chapin,  Saginaw  Co.  (a  few  miles 
from  the  northeast  corner  of  Clinton  County),  having  been 
left  to  decay  in  the  place  where  they  were  framed  more 
than  forty  years  ago. 

The  sums  expended  on  the  Saginaw  and  Maple  River 
Canal  (and  which  were,  of  course,  a  total  loss  to  the  State) 
were  as  follows  :  In  the  year  1838,  $6271.12  ;  in  the  year 
1839,  $15,985.69;  total,  $22,256.81. 

Ten  years  after  the  abandonment  of  this  canal  project  by 
the  State,  the  Legislature  of  Michigan  (by  act  approved 
March  30,  1819)  incorporated  Gardner  D.  Williams,  James 
Frazier,  and  D.  J.  Johnson,  of  Saginaw  City  ;  Adam  L. 
Roof,  of  Ionia  County ;  Rix  Robinson,  of  Kent ;  D.  H. 
Fitzhugh,  John  F.  Mackie,  and  Charles  Yates,  of  New 
York  City,  as  the  "  Saginaw  and  Grand  River  Canal  Com- 
pany," with  authority  "  to  enter  upon  the  canal  commenced 
by  the  State,  as  their  property,  at  the  forks  of  the  Bad 
River,  and  upon  lands  on  either  side  and  through  which 
the  said  canal  may  pass,  to  the  bend  of  Maple  River,  a 
tributary  of  Grand  River,  and  as  far  on  that  river  as  may 
be  thought  proper  ;  to  construct  a  tow-path,  and  concen- 
trate the  water  for  canal  use,  and  to  dig,  construct,  or  ex- 
cavate the  earth  ;  to  erect  or  set  up  any  dams,  locks,  waste- 
weirs,  sluices,  feeders,  or  any  other  device  whatsoever  to 
render  the  same  navigable  with  boats,  barges,  or  other 
craft."     The  company  was  also  empowered  to  make  such 


INTERNAL   IMPROVEMENTS. 


31 


improvements  on  the  Bad,  Maple,  and  Grand  Rivers  as 
might  be  necessary  to  carry  out  the  objects  for  which  it  was 
incorporated.  The  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  placed 
at  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  its  charter  was  to 
continue  for  a  term  of  sixty  years.  The  revival  of  the 
project  reawakened  hopes  that  the  Maple  River  was  at  last 
to  become  part  of  a  navigable  water-way  between  the  two 
great  lakes  ;  but  no  work  on  the  canal  was  ever  done  by 
the  company,  and  finally  the  enterprise  was  definitely 
abandoned,  never  to  be  again  revived. 

At  the  present  time  a  small  steamboat,  named  the  ''  May 
Queen,"  is  running  on  the  river  from  Maple  Rapids  to 
Bridgeville,  Gratiot  Co. ;  this  part  of  the  stream  being 
deepened  and  made  navigable  for  craft  of  that  size,  by  the 
dam  at  the  Rapids,  which  sets  the  water  back  for  many 
miles. 

At  about  the  same  time  when  the  Maple  River  improve- 
ments were  in  agitation,  a  project  was  started  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  canal  along  the  Looking-Glass  River  between 
De  Witt  and  Wacousta,  but  the  work  was  never  accom- 
plished, or  even  actual^  commenced. 

NAVIGATION  ON  THE  SHIAWASSEE. 
The  improvement  of  the  Shiawassee  River,  so  as  to  form 
a  slack-water  navigation  from  the  Big  Rapids  of  that  stream 
northward  to  the  Saginaw,  was  a  project  which  had  been  con- 
templated by  the  founders  of  Owosso  from  the  time  when 
the  first  settlements  were  made  at  that  place.  Between 
them  and  the  outside  world  there  were  no  roads  practicable 
for  heavy  transportation,  and  the  obstacles  to  the  construction 
of  such  for  a  distance  of  more  than  fifty  miles  (to  Pontiac) 
were  at  that  early  day  regarded  as  almost  insurmountable. 
It  seemed  to  them,  therefore,  that  their  settlement  must 
continue  in  its  isolated  condition,  and  that  very  little  im- 
provement as  a  village  could  be  expected  until  they  could 
secure  communication  with  Saginaw  by  making  the  river 
beatable.  These  were  the  considerations  which  gave  birth 
to  the  idea  of  improving  the  Shiawassee,  and  but  a  short 
time  elapsed  before  they  moved  towards  the  execution  of 
the  plan  by  procuring  the  necessary  authority  from  the 
Legislature. 

The  "  Owosso  and  Saginaw  Navigation  Company"  was 
incorporated  by  act  approved  March  21,  1837.  By  this 
act  Daniel  Ball,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  Benjamin  0.  Wil- 
liams, Lewis  Findley,  William  Gage,  Gardner  D.  Williams, 
Norman  Little,  Samuel  G.  Watson,  Ephraim  S.  Williams, 
Elias  Comstock,  Alexander  Hilton,  and  Perry  G.  Gardner 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  receive  subscriptions  to 
the  capital  stock,  which  was  authorized  to  the  amount  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  company  thus  incor- 
porated was  empowered  "  to  enter  upon  the  river  Shiawas- 
see, and  upon  the  lands  on  either  side,  and  to  use  the  rocks, 
stones,  gravel,  or  earth  which  may  be  found  thereon  in  the 
construction  of  their  works,  first  giving  notice  to  the  owners 
or  occupiers  of  the  land ;  and  to  form  and  make,  erect  and 
set  up  any  dams,  locks,  or  any  other  device  whatsoever 
which  they  shall  think  most  fit  and  convenient  to  make  a 
complete  slack-water  navigation  between  the  points  herein 
menlioncd,  to  wit :  from  the  village  of  Owosso,  situate  on  the 


Shiawassee  River,  to  and  down  said  river  to  a  point  where 
the  Flint  River  intersects  the  Shiawassee ;  and  the  locks  for 
the  purposes  of  passing  steamboats,  barges,  and  other  craft 
up  and  down  said  river  shall  be  of  sufficient  width  and 
length  to  admit  a  safe  and  easy  passage  for  steamboats, 
barges,  and  other  craft,  up  as  well  as  down  said  river." 

The  company  (in  which  Daniel  Ball*  was  the  leading 
man,  and  Sanford  M.  Green  a  prominent  member)  com- 
menced the  work  in  1837,  and  continued  it  during  that 
and  the  following  season,  expending  several  thousand  dol- 
lars on  the  river  in  removing  fallen  timber,  driftwood-, 
and  other  obstructions  (principally  between  Chesaning  and 
the  mouth  of  Bad  River),  erecting  dams,  and  constructing 
tow-paths  above  Chesaning.  The  river  was  thus  made  nav- 
igable for  flat-bottomed  boats  or  scows,  several  of  which 
were  built  with  foot-boards  at  each  side,  on  which  men 
walked  forward  and  aft  in  "  poling''  the  craft  up  the  stream. 
This  poling  process  was  employed  on  that  part  of  the  river 
which  is  below  Chesaning,  but  above  that  place  horses  were 
used.  At  some  points  the  tow-path  was  made  on  the  east 
side  of  the  stream,  and  at  others  on  the  west  (for  the  sake 
of  economy  in  its  construction),  the  horses  being  crossed  on 
the  boat  from  one  side  of  the  river  to  the  other  as  occasion 
required.  Larger  boats  were  afterwards  used  for  floating 
produce  down  the  river  from  Owosso.  One  "  Darham" 
boat,  built  at  that  place  by  Ebenezer  Gould  and  others, 
carried  a  cargo  of  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour  from 
Owosso  to  Saginaw. 

The  company  was  reincorporated  under  the  same  name  by 
act  approved  May  15,  1846,  Amos  Gould,  Alfred  L.  Wil- 
liams, Benjamin  0.  Williams,  Elias  Comstock,  Ebenezer  C. 
Kimberly,  Lemuel  Castle,  Isaac  Jjale,  George  W.  Slocum, 
George  Chapman,  Edward  L.  Ament,  Anson  B.  Chipman, 
and  John  B.  Barnes  being  appointed  commissioners  to  re- 
ceive subscriptions  to  the  stock,  which  was  authorized  to 
the  amount  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  In  addition 
to  the  powers  granted  by  the  incorporating  act  of  1837,  the 
company  was  now  authorized  "  to  construct  a  canal  from 
some  point  on  said  river  Shiawassee  to  such  point  on  Bad 
River  as  they  may  hereafter  determine  upon,  and  to  make 
such  improvements  on  said  Bad  River  as  will  render  the 
same  navigable."  After  this  reincorporation  there  were 
some  further  improvements  made  on  the  river  by  the  con- 
struction of  a  lock  at  Chesaning,  the  building  of  several 
weir-dams,  and  in  other  ways ;  but  the  company  never 
availed  itself  of  the  authority  conferred  to  build  the  canal 
between  the  Bad  and  Shiawassee  Rivers.  Boats  continued 
to  be  run  on  the  river  at  favorable  stages  of  water  for  some 
years,  and  in  fact  this  navigation  was  never  wholly  aban- 
doned until  the  opening  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad  superseded  this  unreliable  and  unsatisfactory 
means  of  transportation.  It  was  then  entirely  discontinued, 
after  having  been  used  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  for  some 
fifteen  years,  during  which  time  it  is  doubtful  whether  its 
advantages  ever  compensated  for  the  outlay  incurred  in  the 
improvement  of  the  river. 


*  Mr.  Ball  had  previously  been  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Genesee 
River,  in  New  York,  and  it  was  he  who  originated  the  idea  of  secur- 
ing navigation  bj  the  Shiawassee  Kiver, 


32 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


NORTHERN  RAILROAD  AND  NORTHERN  WAGON- 
ROAD. 

Very  soon  after  Michigan  emerged  from  the  condition  of 
a  Territory  to  assume  that  of  a  sovereign  State,  and  even 
before  its  admission  as  a  member  of  the  Federal  Union, 
measures  were  originated  having  for  their  object  the  adop- 
tion by  the  State  of  a  comprehensive  system  of  public 
improvements ;  and,  in  pursuance  of  this  plan,  the  Legis- 
lature at  the  session  of  1837  passed  an  act  (approved 
March  20th  in  that  year)  "  to  provide  for  the  construction 
of  certain  works  of  internal  improvement,  and  for  other 
purposes,"  by  which  the  board  of  commissioners  of  internal 
improvements  in  the  State  was  authorized  and  directed, 
"  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  cause  surveys  to  be  made  for  three 
several  railroad  routes  across  the  peninsula  of  Michigan ; 
the  first  of  said  routes  to  commence  at  Detroit,  in  the 
county  of  Wayne,  and  to  terminate  at  the  mouth  of  the 
St.  Joseph  River,  ia  the  county  of  Berrien,  to  be  denomi- 
nated the  Central  Railroad.  The  second  of  said  routes  to 
commence  at  the  navigable  waters  of  the  river  Raisin,  pass- 
ing through  the  village  of  Monroe,  in  the  county  of  Mon- 
roe, to  terminate  at  New  Buffalo,  in  Berrien  County,  and 
to  be  denominated  the  Southern  Railroad.  The  third  of 
said  routes  to  commence  at  Palmer,  or  at  or  near  the  mouth 
of  Black  River,  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  and  to  terminate 
at  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Grand  River,  in  the  county 
of  Kent,  or  on  Lake  Michigan,  in  the  county  of  Ottawa, 
to  be  denominated  the  Northern  Railroad  ;  which  roads 
shall  be  located  on  the  most  eligible  and  direct  routes  be- 
tween the  termini  above  mentioned."  It  was  provided  by 
the  same  act,  "  That  the  sum  of  five  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  be  and,  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated, 
to  be  taken  from  any  moneys  which  shall  hereafter  come 
into  the  treasury  of  this  State  to  the  credit  of  the  fund  for 
internal  improvement,  for  the  survey  and  making  of  the 
three  railroads  mentioned  in  the  first  section  of  this  act,  as 
follows  :  for  the  Southern  Railroad,  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars ;  for  the  Central  Railroad,  the  sum  of  four 
Imndred  thousand  dollars ;  and  for  the  Northern  Railroad, 
the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.'' 

The  State  Board  of  Internal  Improvement,  acting  under 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  caused  the  surveys  to  be  made 
without  unnecessary  delay.  The  routes  thus  surveyed  for 
the  "  Central  Railroad"  and  the  "  Southern  Railroad"  were 
(excepting  the  western  portion)  substantially  the  same  as 
those  of  the  Michigan  Central  and  Michigan  Southern 
roads  of  the  present.  The  '■  Northern  Railroad"  route  was 
surveyed  and  located  to  run  from  the  St.  Clair  River  by 
way  of  Lapeer  and  Flint  River  village  (now  Flint  City), 
nearly  due  west,  to  the  Big  Rapids  of  the  Shiawassee  (now 
the  city  of  Owosso)  ;  thence  through  Owosso  and  M'ddle- 
bury  townships,  in  Shiawassee  County,  and  westwardly  in 
the  same  tier  of  townships  through  Clinton  County  (pass- 
ing through  the  southern  part  of  the  present  corporation 
limits  of  St.  John's)  to  Lyons,  in  Ionia  County,  and  from 
there  westward  to  Lake  Michigan,  at  the  mouth  of  Grand 
River,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  and  one  miles.  This  was 
of  course,  the  first  survey  made  for  railroad  purposes 
through  any  part  of  Clinton  or  Shiawassee  Counties.  The 
work  was  done  by  Tracy  McCracken,  chief  engineer. of  the 


road,  and  his  assistants,  under  supervision  of  Commissioner 
James  B.  Hunt,  who  had  been  placed  in  charge  of  the 
survey  by  the  Board  of  Internal  Improvement. 

In  1838  contracts  were  let  for  clearing  and  grubbing 
that  portion  of  the  line  between  its  eastern  terminus  and 
Lyons,  Ionia  Co.,  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty 
miles.  The  contract  for  the  section  extending  from  Lyons 
to  the  line  between  ranges  2  and  3  east  (near  the  cen- 
tre of  Shiawassee  County)  was  awarded  to  A.  L.  and 
B.  0.  Williams,  of  Owosso.  The  section  joining  this,  and 
extending  eastward  across  the  remainder  of  Shiawassee 
County,  was  taken  by  A.  H.  Beach  &  Co.,  of  Flint.  The 
next  section  eastward  was  awarded  to  Gen.  Charles  C.  Has- 
eall,  of  Flint.  Twenty  miles  of  the  section  east  of  Lyons 
was  sublet  by  the  Williams  brothers  to  Messrs.  Moore  & 
Kipp  at  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  mile.  The 
specifications  required  the  grubbing  of  a  central  strip 
twenty  feet  wide,  and  the  clearing  of  a  breadth  of  twenty 
feet  on  either  side  of  this  strip.  Outside  these  clearings, 
on  both  sides,  "  slashings"  were  to  be  made,  each  twenty 
feet  in  width,  making  a  total  breadth  of  one  hundred  feet. 
The  work  of  clearing  the  route  wa|  commenced  in  the  fall 
of  1838,  and  by  the  1st  of  September  following  it  was 
completed  in  all  the  sections  between  Lyons  and  Port 
Huion,  except  about  three  miles  in  Shiawassee  County  east 
of  Owosso,  and  seventeen  miles  east  of  Lapeer. 

Contracts  for  grading  some  parts  of  the  line  were  made 
in  the  fall  of  1838,  among  these  being  that  of  a  ten-mile 
section  eastward  from  Lyons  to  B.  0.  Williams  and  Daniel 
Ball,  of  Owosso.  The  work  of  grading  was  commenced 
on  the  contracted  sections  in  January,  1839,  and  was  pros- 
ecuted till  the  following  July.  "  The  contractors  then 
stated,"  said  the  chief  engineer,  in  his  report  dated  Dee.  7, 
1839,  "  that  unless  they  were  paid  punctually  they  could 
not  proceed  with  their  work.  I  then  informed  them,  in 
accordance  with  uiy  instructions,  that  if  they  continued 
the  work  their  estimates  would,  as  usual,  be  made  monthly, 
but  that  it  was  probable  that  they  would  only  be  paid 
in  treasury  orders,  which  would  be  payable  out  of  any 
moneys  received  into  the  treasury  to  the  credit  of  the 
internal  improvement  fund.  The  contracts  for  grading 
were  then  abandoned  immediately,  but  those  for  clearing 
and  grubbing,  which  were  not  then  finished,  have 
since  been  completed."  In  regard  to  those  contracts  for 
grubbing  and  clearing  the  chief  engineer  said :  "  It  may 
not  be  improper  for  me  to  state  that  it  is  probable  that 
many  of  the  contracts  upon  this  road  were  let  to  those  who 
considered  that  they  were  to  be  benefited  by  its  speedy 
completion,  and,  in  consequence,  bid  so  low  that  they  have 
lost  money  in  the  prosecution  of  the  works  assigned  them." 
This  remark  of  the  engineer  was  probably  as  applicable  to 
the  grading  contracts  as  to  those  made  for  clearing  the 
line.  It  is  certain  at  all  events  that  those  who  took  the 
latter  class  of  contracts  found  them  to  be  decidedly  unprofit- 
able. 

The  last  of  the  appropriations  by  the  Legislature  for  the 
construction  of  the  Northern  Railroad  was  one  of  forty 
thousand  dollars,  made  by  act  approved  April  20,  1839, 
making  the  total  amount  appropriated  for  the  enterprise 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.     Of  this  there  was 


INTERNAL   IMPROVEMENTS. 


33 


expended  upon  the  line  in  surveys,  clearing,  and  construc- 
tion the  following  amounts,  viz. : 

In  18.37 $8,226.25 

"  18.38 12,772.44 

"  1839 39,122.09 

Total ; $60,120.78 

The  figures  given  above*  show  that  at  the  close  of  oper- 
ations in  1839  there  remained  of  the  amount  of  appropria- 
tions made  for  this  northern  line  of  railroad  an  unexpended 
balance  of  eighty-nine  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  dollars  and  twenty-two  cents.  In  view  of  this  fact,  it 
might  at  first  be  regarded  as  strange  that,  with  this  very 
considerable  balance  remaining,  the  work  should  have  been 
so  suddenly  brought  to  a  close,  but  it  must  be  remembered 
that  the  figures  indicating  the  unexpended  balance  did  not 
represent  a  corresponding  amount  of  ready  cash  on  hand 
and  immediately  available.  The  extract  given  above  from 
the  chief  engineer's  report  fully  explains  the  reason  why 
the  contractors  abandoned  their  jobs  in  the  summer  of 
1839  ;  and  it  only  remains  to  say  that  the  construction  of 
the  Northern  Railroad,  being  suspended  at  that  time,  was 
never  resumed. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  all  legislative  aid  to  the 
northern  line  of  railway  ceased  with  the  appropriation  made 
in  April,  1839.  Soon  after  this,  the  financial  embarrass- 
ments of  the  State  caused  a  feeling  to  spring  up  among 
the  people  and  their  representatives  that  the  adoption  of  so 
extensive  a  plan  of  internal  improvements  had  been  pre- 
mature, to  say  the  least,  and  the  result  of  this  growing 
sentiment  was  the  restriction  of  appropriations  to  such 
works  as  did,  or  could  easily  be  made  to,  return  the  inter- 
est on  their  cost.  Accordingly,  further  aid  was  withheld, 
except  to  the  central  and  southern  lines  (then  in  partial 
operation),  and  finally,  in  1841,  all  idea  of  the  construction 
of  the  "  Northern  Railroad"  as  a  State  work  was  abandoned, 
and  the  Legislature  passed  "  an  act  relative  to  the  appro- 
priation upon  the  Northern  Railroad"  (approved  April  2d 
in  that  jear),  which  recited  in  its  preamble  that  "  it  is 
thought  impolitic  under  the  present  embarrassments  of  the 
State  to  make  at  present  further  expenditures  on  said  road 
for  the  purpose  of  a  railroad ;"  that  "  a  large  amount  has 
been  expended  in  chopping,  grubbing,  and  clearing  said 
road,  which,  if  left  in  its  present  condition,  can  be  of  no 
interest  to  the  people  of  the  north ;"  and  that  "  it  is  the 
united  wish  and  request  of  the  people  in  the  vicinity  of 
said  road  that  the  same  should  for  the  present  be  con- 
verted into  a  turnpike-  or  wagon-road,  and  thus  open  an 
important  thoroughfare  through  the  centre  of  the  tier  of 
counties  through  which  the  said  road  passes,  and  thereby 
render  the  money  heretofore  expended  on  said  road  avail- 
able to  the  best  interests  (under  existing  circumstances)  of 
the  people  in  the  northern  section  of  the  State."  It  was 
therefore  enacted  that  the  commissioners  of  internal  im- 
provement be  directed  to  expend  thirty  thousand  dollars 
of  the  unexpended  balance  of  the  moneys  which  had  been 
appropriated  for  the  Northern  Railroad  "for  bridging,  clear- 

»  Taken  from  the  official  report  of  Rix  Robinson,  L.  S.  Humphrey, 
and  William  E.  Thompson  (composing  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
of  Internal  Improvements)  to  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  dated 
Dee.  1,  1839. 

5 


ing,  and  grading  said  road,  or  so  much  of  it  as  the  said 
commissioners  shall  judge  will  be  most  beneficial  to  the 
inhabitants  and  public  in  the  section  of  country  through 
which  the  same  passes,  so  as  to  make  a  good  passable  wagon- 
road." 

In  March,  1843,  an  act  was  passed  "  to  authorize  the 
construction  of  a  Wagon-Road  on  the  line  of  the  Northern 
Railroad,"  and  ordering  the  application  and  appropriation, 
for  that  purpose,  of  all  the  non-resident  highway  taxes  for 
a  distance  of  three  miles  on  either  side  of  the  line,  to  be 
expended  under  the  superintendence  of  a  special  commis- 
sioner to  be  appointed  for  each  of  the  counties  of  St.  Clair, 
Lapeer,  Genesee,  Shiawassee,  Clinton,  and  Ionia.  The  act 
was  repealed  in  1846,  but  in  the  following  year  another  act 
was  passed  (approved  April  3,  1848)  "  to  provide  for  the 
construction  and  improvement  of  the  Northern  Wagon- 
Road  from  Port  Huron,  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  through 
the  counties  of  Lapeer  and  Genesee  to  Corunna,  in  the 
county  of  Shiawassee,"  and  appropriating  "  twenty  thou- 
sand acres  of  internal  improvement  lands"  for  the  purpose. 
To  carry  its  provisions  into  efiect  the  Governor  of  the  State 
was  authorized  to  appoint  a  special  commissioner,  and  he 
did  so  appoint  to  that  position  the  Hon.  Alvin  N.  Hart,  of 
Lapeer.  Still  another  act  was  passed  in  1849  appointing 
Lewis  S.  Tyler,  Albert  Miller,  and  Henry  Hunt  as  com- 
missioners, "  with  power  to  relocate,  upon  the  most  eligible 
ground,  the  Northern  Wagon-Road  from  the  village  of 
Flint,  in  the  county  of  Genasee,  to  the  village  of  Corunna, 
in  the  county  of  Shiawassee." 

The  result  of  all  the  laws  passed  and  appropriations  made 
for  the  construction  of  the  Northern  Railroad  and  Northern 
Wagon-Road  was  the  clearing  of  the  route  of  the  former 
as  before  mentioned,  and  the  grading  or  partial  grading  of 
parts  of  that  route  (but  principally  east  of  Owosso)  into 
an  indifferent  wagon-road,  which  never  prov^ed  to  be  of 
much  practical  advantage  to  Shiawassee  County,  and  still 
less  to  Clinton. 

DETROIT   AND  SHIAWASSEE    KAILKOAD    COM- 
PANY. 

The  Detroit  and  Shiawassee  Railroad  Company  was  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  22, 
1837,  under  the  provisions  of  \?lnch  Marshall  J.  Bacon, 
Silas  Titus,  Elijah  F.  Cook,  Thomas  Curtis,  Alfred  A. 
Dwight,  Robert  Warden,  Jr.,  and  Ely  Barnard  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  receive  subscriptions  to  the  'capital 
stock,  the  amount  of  which  was  placed  at  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  The  company  so  created  was  author- 
ized and  empowered  "  to  construct  a  railroad  with  a  single 
or  double  track  from  Detroit,  in  the  county  of  Wayne, 
through  Farmington,  in  the  county  of  Oakland,  Kensing- 
ton, in  the  township  of  Lyon,  Byron,  in  the  county  of 
Shiawassee,  to  Shiawassee  village,  in  said  county  of  Shia- 
wassee ;  with  power  to  transport,  take,  and  carry  persons 
and  property  upon  the  same  by  the  power  and  force  of 
steam  or  animals,  or  of  any  mechanical  or  other  power,  or 
combination  of  them."  The  company  was  required  by  its 
charter  to  commence  the  construction  of  its  line  within 
one  year ;  to  finish  and  put  in  operation  twenty-five  miles 
of  road  within  three  years;  and  to  complete  the  whole  dis- 


34 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


tanoe  within  six  years  from  the  date  of  incorporation,  under 
penalty  of  forfeiture  of  charter.  A  change  of  route  was 
authorized  by  act  approved  April  6,  1838,  but  no  part  of 
the  line  was  ever  built ;  few,  if  any,  subscriptions  to  the 
stock  were  procured,  and  the  company,  having  eflFected  only 
a  temporary  organization,  ceased  to  exist  by  non-compliance 
with  the  conditions  under  which  it  was  created.  The  in- 
corporation of  this  company  being  a  matter  of  very  little 
importance  is  mentioned  here  only  because  its  charter  was 
the  first  which  was  granted  by  the  Legislature  authorizing 
the  construction  of  a  railway  in  any  part  of  the  territory 
which  now  composes  the  counties  of  Shiawassee  and 
Clinton. 

DETKOIT,   GRAND   HAVEN  AND  MILWAUKEE 
EAILWAY. 

The  line  now  known  as  the  Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and 
Milwaukee  Railway  was  the  first  which  was  built  and  com- 
pleted to  any  point  within  the  boundaries  of  the  counties 
of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton ;  and  it  was  also  over  the  eastern 
link  of  this  line  (the  old  Detroit  and  Pontiac  road,  which 
was  in  operation  many  years  before  the  locomotive  reached 
the  waters  of  the  Shiawassee  River)  that  the  inhabitants 
of  these  counties  enjoyed  their  earliest  railway  facilities,  by 
means  of  stage  lines  which  ran  from  Lyons,  by  way  of  De 
Witt,  Laingsburg,  an3  other  points  in  Shiawassee,  Genesee, 
and  Oakland  Counties,  eastward  to  the  successive  termini 
of  the  railroad, — first  at  Royal  Oak,  then  at  Birmingham, 
and  finally  at  Pontiac.  For  this  reason  it  seems  proper  to 
make  brief  mention  here  of  the  building  and  opening  of 
the  Pontiac  Road,  for  though  it  was  purely  an  Oakland 
County  enterprise,  yet  it  was  one  in  which  the  people  of 
Shiawassee  and  Clinton  were  interested, — first,  because  its 
connecting  stage  lines  gave  them  communication  over  it, 
and  afterwards  because  by  its  extension  it  became  a  part  of 
the  grand  through  line  which  passes  through  these  coun- 
ties to  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee. 

The  Detroit  and  Pontiac  Railroad  project  was  agitated 
in  Oakland  as  early  as  the  spring  of  1830,  and  an  act  in- 
corporating the  "  Pontiac  and  Detroit  Railway  Company" 
was  passed  by  the  Legislative  Council  of  the  Territory,  and 
approved  by  Gov.  Cass,  on  the  31st  of  July  in  the  year 
named,  this  being  the  first  railway  company  ever  chartered 
in  Michigan.  The  corporators  were  John  P.  Helfenstein, 
Gideon  0.  Whittemore,  William  P.  Mosely,  AVilliam 
Thompson,  Hervey  Parke,  "  and  such  other  persons  as 
shall  associate  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  good  and  suffi- 
cient railway  from  Pontiac  to  the  city  of  Detroit,"  the 
stock  of  the  company  to  consist  of  one  thousand  shares,  at 
one  hundred  dollars  each.  This  company,  however,  found 
the  project  to  be  too  heavy  for  the  means  which  they  could 
command,  and  their  charter  became  void  by  reason  of  their 
failure  to  comply  with  its  conditions. 

A  second  company  was  formed,  and  an  act  granting  a 
new  charter  was  passed  by  the  Territorial  Legislature,  and 
approved  by  the  Governor,  March  7,  1834.  Under  this 
act,  William  Draper,  Daniel  Le  Roy,  David  Stanard,  John- 
son Niles,  Seneca  Newberry,  Elisha  Beach,  Benj.  Phelps, 
Joseph  Niles,  Jr.,  and  Augustus  C.  Stevens  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  receive  subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  "  The 


Detroit  and  Pontiac  Railroad  Company,"  the  amount  of 
which  was  fixed  at  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Tho  work  was 
to  be  commenced  within  two  years  from  the  passage  of  the 
act,  and  completed  within  six  years,  the  charter  to  be  for- 
feited by  failure  to  comply  with  these  conditions.  The 
principal  stockholders  were  Alfred  Williams,  and  Sherman 
Stevens,  of  Pontiac,  who  were  also  managers  of  the  affairs 
of  the  company.  Operations  were  soon  commenced,  but 
very  slow  progress  was  made  in  the  construction  of  the 
road,  and  it  was  not  until  the  fall  of  1838  that  a  track 
(which  even  then  was  composed  of  wooden  rails  for  a  part 
of  the  distance)  was  completed  as  far  as  Royal  Oak,  and 
trains  made  up  of  cars  of  the  most  inferior  description  were 
run  from  Detroit  to  that  point  by  horse-power.  In  the  fall 
of  1 839  the  road  was  extended  so  that  the  trains  ran  to 
Birmingham,  and  steam  was  introduced  as  a  motive-power 
for  their  propulsion.  ,  At  that  time  (September,  1839)  the 
Pontiac  papers  contained  the  advertisement  of  Henry  J. 
Buckley,  agent  and  conductor,  informing  the  public  that 
the  trains  were  then  running  two  trips  a  day  between  De- 
troit and  Birmingham,  and  making  connection  at  the  latter 
place  with  a  daily  line  of  "  post-coaches"  for  Pontiac  and 
Flint,  and  a  semi-weekly  line  for  Lyons  on  the  Grand 
River,  by  way  of  Byron,  De  Witt,  and  other  points  in 
Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties. 

In  1840,  the  company  being  heavily  in  debt  and  without 
means  of  payment,  the  road  was  sold  at  sheriff's  sale,  and 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Dean  Richmond,  of  Buffalo,  and 
other  capitalists  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Then  followed 
another  period  of  delay  and  discouragement,  but  finally,  in 
September,  1844,  the  road  was  opened  to  Pontiac,  which 
for  more  than  ten  years  continued  to  be  the  western  ter- 
minus, and  the  point  of  connection  with  the  stage-lines  run- 
ning to  Flint,  Saginaw,  and  the  Grand  River. 

In  the  earlier  years  of  its  operation,  this  road  was  made 
the  subject  of  unmeasured  ridicule  on  account  of  the  poverty 
of  the  company,  the  rough  and  superficial  manner  in  which 
the  line  was  constructed,  the  poor  quality  of  its  carriages 
and  machinery,  and  the  exceedingly  slow  and  irregular  time 
made  by  the  trains  between  Pontiac  and  Detroit. .  From 
an  article  which  appeared  in  the  Detroit  Post  a  few  years 
since,  containing  some  reminiscences  of  pioneer  railway 
travel,  the  following — having  reference  to  the  Pontiac  line 
— is  extracted:  "The  trains  would  frequently  stop  be- 
tween way  stations  at  a  signal  from  some  farmer  who 
wished  to  ask  a  few  questions,  or  to  take  passage.  An 
old  lady  denizen  of  a  farm-house,  with  spectacles  of  a  primi- 
tive manufacture  placed  high  upon  her  forehead,  came 
running  out  to  the  train,  waving  her  bandanna.  Her  signal 
being  heeded,  the  train  was  brought  to  a  stop,  and  her 
inquiry  of  the  conductor  was,  if  a  certain  lawyer  named 
Drake  was  on  board.  After  receiving  a  negative  answer,  a 
short  conversation  was  kept  up  before  the  train  started  on 
Its  journey.  It  was  no  uncommon  occurrence  for  the  en- 
gineer, who  kept  his  shot-gun  with  him,  to  bring  down 
game  from  his  engine,  shut  off  steam,  and  send  his  fireman 
after  the  fruits  of  his  marksmanship.  The  road  being  laid 
with  strap-rail,  one  of  the  duties  of  the  conductor  was  to 
keep  a  hammer  for  the  purpose  of  spiking  down  '  snake-heads' 
whenever  they  were  seen  from  the  cab  of  the  engineer." 


INTERNAL   IMPROVEMENTS. 


35 


An  old  resident  of  Shiawassee  County  has  said  to  the 
writer,  that  he  recognizes  this  as  a  truthful  description  of 
the  operation  of  the  Pontiac  road  in  the  year  1841,  and 
there  are  no  doubt  many  others  who  have  similar  recollec- 
tions of  their  travel  upon  it  at  about  the  same  period. 

After  a  few  years  of  operation  with  the  primitive  and 
unsafe  "  strap -rail,"  the  line  was  leased  for  ten  years  to 
Gurdon  Williams,  but  the  lease  was  purchased  or  relin- 
quished before  its  expiration,  and  the  road  came  into  the 
possession  of  a  company,  of  which  H.  N.  Walker,  Esq., 
was  made  the  president.  Under  his  administration  a  suffi- 
cient amount  of  money  was  raised  on  the  bonds  of  the  road 
to  relay  the  track  with  solid  T  rails  and  to  make  other 
improvements  necessary  to  put  the  road  in  condition  for 
business. 

Immediately  after  the  completion  of  the  road  from  De- 
troit to  Pontiac  a  project  was  formed  to  build  a  railroad 
from  that  village  westward  through  Shiawassee,  Clinton, 
and  other  counties  to  Lake  Michigan  at  the  mouth  of  Grand 
River,  to  connect  at  that  point  with  steamers  for  Milwaukee 
and  other  lake  ports.  This  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the 
"  Oakland  and  Ottawa  Railroad  Company,"  and  its  incor- 
poration by  act  of  Legislature  approved  April  3,  1848. 
The  persons  appointed  as  commissioners  to  receive  sub- 
scriptions to  the  capital  stock  (which  was  fixed  at  two  mil- 
lion five  hundred  thousand  dollars)  were  Gurdon  Williams, 
Edward  A.  Brush,  H.  C.  Thurbor,  Alfred  Williams,  Bow- 
man W.  Dennis,  John  Hamilton,  C.  P.  Bush,  W.  A.  Rich- 
mond, and  Charles  Shepard.    The  company  was  empowered 
by  the  act  "  to  construct  a  railroad  with  a  double  or  single 
track  from  the  village  of  Pontiac,  in  the  county  of  Oakland, 
to  Lake  Michigan,  in  the  county  of  Ottawa,  pa.ssing  it 
through  the  most  desirable  and  eligible  route,  by  the  way 
of  Fentonville,"  qnd  was  required  to  begin  its  construction 
within  five  years  and  to  complete  it  within  fifteen  years 
from  the  passage  of  the  act.     In  1850  an  act  was  passed 
(approved  March  20th),  providing  "  That  the  Detroit  and 
Pontiac  Railroad  Company  be  and  they  are  hereby  author- 
ized to  extend  said  railroad  so  as  to  connect  with  the  Oak- 
land and  Ottawa  Railroad  when  constructed,  thus  forming  a 
continuous  line  of  railroad  through  the  village  of  Pontiac." 
The  construction  of  the  Oakland  and  Ottawa  road  was 
commenced  in  1852,  and  in  the  following  year   H.  N. 
Walker  (who  was  a  leading  spirit  in  this  as  well  as  in  the 
Pontiac  road)  purchased  in  England  twenty-six  hundred 
tons  of  iron,  which  was  estimated  to  be  sufficient  to  lay  the 
track  through  to  Fentonville.     On  the  13th  of  February, 
1855,  the  Governor  approved  "An  act  to  authorize  the 
consolidation  of  the  Detroit  and  Pontiac  and  the  Oakland 
and  Ottawa  Railroad  Companies,  so  as  to  form  a  continuous 
line  from  Detroit  to  Lake  Michigan,  under  the  name  of 
the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railway*  Company."    By  this 
act   the  name  of  the  Detroit  and   Pontiac  was  changed' 
to  that  of  "  The  Detroit  and  Milwaukee   Railway  Com- 
pany," which  was  empowered  to  increase  its  capital  stock 
to  an  amount  not  exceeding  ten  millions  of  dollars ;  and  it 
was  provided  that  "  the  said  company  is  hereby  authorized, 
*  The  name  was  changed  to  "'Detroit  and  Milvpaukee  Railroad 
Company"  in  IStiO. 


for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  continuous  line,  to  purchase 
all  the  property,  rights,  and  franchises  of  the  Oakland  and 
Ottawa  Railroad  Company  upon  such  terms  as  shall  be 
mutually  agreed  upon  ;  and  the  stockholders  of  the  said 
Oakland  and  Ottawa  Railroad  Company  shall,  in  case  of  sale, 
become  stockholders  of  the  said  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Rail- 
way Company,  in  such  proportions  as  may  be  agreed  upon 
in  the  terms  of  sale ;  and  the  said  Oakland  and  Ottawa  Rail- 
road Company  shall  thereupon  become  merged  in  the  said 
Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railway  Company." 

Under  the  authority  so  conferred  the  two  companies  were 
consolidated,  and  the  Oakland  and  Ottawa  became  the  De- 
troit and  Milwaukee  line.  The  work  of  construction  west 
of  Pontiac  had  proceeded  but  slowly  during  the  three  years 
succeeding  its  commencement,  but  as  the  new  company  had 
negotiated  a  loan  in  Europe  to  the  amount  of  one  million 
two  hundred. and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  it  was  now  pushed 
more  vigorously,  so  that  in  October,  1855,  the  road  was 
opened  to  Fentonville,  where  stage  "connections  were  made 
for  Grand  River,  and  for  Flint  and  Saginaw.  In  the  fol- 
lowing spring  the  locomotive  entered  Shiawassee  County  for 
the  first  time,  and  on  the  1st  of  July,  1856,  the  road  was  for- 
mally opened  to  Owosso,  where  the  arrival  of  the  pioneer 
train  was  hailed  with  demonstrations  of  almost  unbounded 
delight  and  exultation.  The  same  enthusiasm  greeted  the 
opening  of  the  road  to  St.  John's  on  the  16th  of  January 
following.  Well  might  the  people  of  Clinton  and  Shia- 
wassee congratulate  themselves  as  they  saw  the  first,  trains 
speeding  westward,  for  their  coming  was  an  event  which 
lifted  the  ban  of  isolation  from  these  counties,  and  more 
than  doubled  the  value  of  their  domain. 

Between  St.  John's  and  Ionia  the  work  was  prosecuted 
with  vigor,  and  the  road  was  completed  to  the  last-named 
place  in  September,  1857.  Finally,  on  the  22d  of  Novem- 
ber, 1858,  the  line  was  opened  to  its  terminus  at  Grand 
Haven,  and  the  locomotive  traversed  the  entire  peninsula 
from  Detroit  River  to  Lake  Michigan. 

The  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  road,  although  a  very  great 
benefit  to  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties,  proved  a  bad 
investment  for  its  original  stockholders.  The  foreclosure  of 
the  bondholders'  mortgage  in  18G0  placed  the  road  in  the 
hands  of  a  receiver,  and  it  remained  in  this  condition  until 
Oct.  19,  1878,  when  it  became  the  "  Detroit,  Grand  Haven 
and  Milwaukee  Railway,"  by  passing  into  the  possession  of 
a  company  of  that  name,  organized  in  the  interest  of  the 
Great  Western  Railway  of  Canada.  It  is  still  owned  and 
controlled  by  that  company. 

The  road  enters  Shiawassee  County  in  the  township  of 
Vernon,  and  passes  thence  northwestward  into  Caledonia. 
Then,  turning  to  a  nearly  due  west  course,  it  crosses  the 
remainder  of  Shiawassee  County  and  all  of  Clinton  through 
the  third  tier  of  townships  north  of  the  south  line  of  the 
counties.  The  stations  on  the  line  within  these  counties 
are  Vernon,  Corunna,  and  Owosso,  in  Shiawassee,  and 
Ovid,  Shcpardsville,  St.  John's,  and  Fowler,  in  Clinton. 

JACKSON,   LANSING  AND   SAGINAW  KAIL- 
EOAD. 

The  first  link  in  the  present  important  line  known  as  the 
Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad  was  built  as  part 


36 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


of  a  proposed  line  to  run  from  Araboy,  near  the  south  line 
of  the  State,  to  Traverse  Bay  on  Lake  Michigan.     The 
Amboy,  Lansing   and   Traverse   Bay  Railroad  Company 
became  incorporated  in  1857  for  the  purpose  of  construct- 
ing the  line  above  mentioned,  and  in  the  expectation  of 
receiving  in  aid  of  such  construction  certain  lands  granted 
by  an  act  of  Congress  approved  June  3,  185G.     The  act 
referred  to  provided  "  that  there  be,  and  hereby  is,  granted 
to  the  State  of  Michigan— to  aid  in  the  construction  of 
railroads  from  Little  Bay  de  Noquet  to  Marquette,  and 
thence  to  Ontonagon,  and  from  the  tvfo  last-named  places 
to  the  Wisconsin  State  line  ;  also  from  Amboy,  by  Hillsdale 
and  Lansing,  and  from  Grand  Rapids  to  some  point  on  or 
near  Traverse   Bay;    also  from   Grand   Haven   and   Pfere 
Marquette  to  Flint,  and  thence   to  Port   Huron — every 
alternate  section  of  land,  designated  by  odd  numbers,  for 
six  sections  in  vfidth,  on  each  side  of  each  of  said  roads." 
Where  such  odd-numbered  sections  had  already  been  sold 
by  the  United  States,  or  pre-empted,  then  the  deficiency  to 
be  made  good  by  selections  of  a  like  number  of  alternate 
sections  of  land  owned  by  the  government  outside  of  the 
six  tiers  of  sections  ;  but  in  no  case  to  be  farther  than  fif- 
teen miles  from  the  lines  of  the  proposed  roads.     By  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  approved  Feb.  14, 1857, 
the  State  accepted  this  grant  of  lands  from   the  United 
States,  with  the  terms  and  conditions  imposed. 

The  route  on  which  it  was  originally  proposed  to  build 
the  road  from  Amboy  to  its  Lake  Michigan  terminus  was 
by  way  of  Hillsdale  and  Lansing,  and  from  the  latter  point 
northwestwardly  to  Traverse  Bay,  leaving  Owosso  and 
Saginaw  far  to  the  east  of  its  route ;  but  the  influence  of 
these  two  cities  was  exerted  to  change  the  route  and  bring 
the  road  to  their  own  borders.  This  wAS  accomplished, 
though  at  great  danger  of  losing  the  land-grant,  a  strong 
effort  being  made  to  deprive  the  company  of  its  benefit,  on 
the  ground  that  it  had  never  been  the  intention  of  Congress 
to  give  lands  in  aid  of  roads  built  on  routes  unnecessarily 
circuitous,  as  this  was  claimed  to  be.  One  of  the  Lansing 
newspapers,  in  ridiculing  the  alleged  crookedness  of  the 
line,  named  it  in  derision  the  "  Bamshorn  Railroad,"  a  term 
which  clung  to  it  (almost  entirely  superseding  its  legitimate 
title),  and  has  not  yet  been  forgotten. 

Among  the  men  who  were  most  influential  in  promoting 
the  success  of  the  Amboy,  Lansing  and  Traverse  Bay  road, 
and  who  were  especially  prominent  in  its  board  of  directors, 
were  Judge  Amos  Gould  and  Alfred  L.  Williams,  of  Owosso ; 
George  C.  Monroe,  of  Jonesville ;  and  Alvin  N.  Hart,  of 
Lansing.  The  construction  of  the  road  was  commenced  in 
1857  on  the  section  between  Lansing  and  Owosso;  and 
though  there  ensued  many  delays  and  discouragements  to 
the  friends  of  the  enterprise,  the  obstacles  were  finally 
80  far  overcome  that  the  road  between  Lansing  and  Owosso 
was  completed  and  opened  for  travel  and  traffic  about  Nov. 
20,  1862.  The  Owosso  Press  of  Jan.  10,  1863,  said, 
"  The  rush  over  the  Ramshorn  road  to  Lansing  this  week 
has  been  like  the  rush  to  a  newly-discovered  gold-mine." 
The  business  of  the  road  seems  to  have  been  considerable 
from  the  first,  but  it  was  far  from  being  sufficient  to  render 
it  profitable  to  the  stockholders,  and  in  1864,  under  pres- 
sure of  financial  difficulties,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  a 


receiver, — the  Hon.  C.  C.  Trowbridge, — who  held  posses- 
sion about  two  years,  operating  it  through  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  that  road  fur- 
nishing the  rolling-stock.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1866  it  was  sold  with  all  its  franchises  to  the  Jackson, 
Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad  Company,  which  was  or- 
ganized as  the  Jackson  and  Lansing  Railroad  Company, 
Feb.  23,  1864,  and  changed  its  name  to  that  of  Jackson, 
Lansing  and  Saginaw,  Feb.  24,  1865.  It  opened  its  road 
for  business  from  Jackson  to  Lansing  in  June,  1866,  and 
through  the  whole  distance, — Jackson  to  Owosso, — in- 
cluding the  purchased  road,  in  January,  1867. 

The  Amboy,  Lansing  and  Traverse  Bay  Company,  after 
opening  its  road  to  Owosso,  in  1862,  continued  the  work 
of  construction  on  the  section  of  the  road  between  Owosso 
and  Saginaw,  and  a  considerable  amount  of  grading  was 
done  before  their  financial  difficulties  compelled  suspension. 
The  work  was  continued  by  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Sagi- 
naw Company  immediately  aftej;  the  purchase,  and  was 
pushed  with  such  vigor  that  the  road  was  opened  through 
Saginaw  and  Bay  City  in  the  same  year.  The  railway 
line  thus  opened,  affording  communication  with  important 
points  north  and  south,  was  and  has  continued  to  be  an 
important  one  to  the  interests  of  Shiawassee  County,  though 
much  less  so  to  those  of  Clinton.  The  road  is  now  operated 
by  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company.  Its  route 
lies  through  De  Witt,  Bath,  and  Victor  townships,  in 
Clinton  County,  and  Sciota,  Bennington,  Owosso,  and 
Rush,  in  Shiawassee.  At  Owosso  City  it  crosses  and  con- 
nects with  the  Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad. 

DETROIT,  LANSING  AND  NOBTHERN  RAILROAD. 

The  railroad  line  now  known  as  the  Detroit,  Lansing 
and  Northern,  which  crosses  a  corner  of  the  southwestern- 
most  township  of  Clinton  County,  was  formed  by  a  con- 
solidation of  the  Detroit  and  Howell,  the  Howell  and  Lan- 
sing, and  the  Ionia  and  Lansing  Railroads.  The  last-named 
road  (which  included  all  of  the  Detroit,  Lansing  and 
Northern  line  that  is  within  Clinton  County)  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  for  travel  between  Ionia  and  Lansing  in 
December,  1869.  The  Detroit  and  Howell  and  the  How- 
ell and  Lansing  Companies  (the  titles  of  which  indicate 
their  respective  routes)  were  consolidated  in  April,  1870. 

In  September  next  following  the  consolidation  the  fran- 
chises were  conveyed  to  James  F.  Joy  and  other  capitalists 
composing  the  "  Detroit,  Lansing  and  Northern  Railroad 
Company,"  to  which  the  Ionia  and  Lansing  Railroad  was 
soon  after  conveyed  by  consolidation.  The  road  between 
Detroit  and  Lansing  was  completed  about  Aug.  10,  1871, 
and  on  the  22d  of  the  same  month  the  officers  of  the  com- 
pany opened  the  line  from  Detroit  to  its  (then)  northern 
terminus  at  Kay  wood  Station,  five  miles  north  of  Green- 
ville, Montcalm  Co.,  the  road  having  been  completed  from 
Ionia  to  the  last-named  point  in  September,  1870.  It  was 
completed  in  August,  1871,  to  Howard  City,  where  it  forms 
a  connection  with  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad. 
This  point  continued  to  be  its  terminus  for  several  years. 
In  1877  the  name  was  changed  from  Detroit,  Lansing  and 
Lake  Michigan,  to  Detroit,  Lansing  and  Northern  Railroad, 


INTERNAL   IMPROVEMENTS. 


37 


as  it  is  at  present.  It  has  been  extended  from  Howard 
City  to  Big  Rapids,  Mecosta  Co.,  and  was  opened  for  trafiBo 
to  the  last-named  point  May  31,  1880.  The  road  passes 
through  Clinton  County  for  a  distance  of  about  twelve  iniles, 
and  three  of  its  stations — those  of  Eagle,  Delta,  and  In- 
gersoU's — are  located  in  the  townships  of  Eagle  and  Water- 
town. 

THE   PORT    HURON    RAILROAD   PROJECT. 

Soon  after  the  abandonment  of  the  old  "  Northern  Rail- 
road" by  the  State, — which  has  been  mentioned  in  pre- 
ceding pages, — the  project  was  taken  up  by  an  association 
of  individuals  who  were,  by  act  of  Legislature  approved 
Jan.  30, 1847,*  incorporated  as  "  the  Port  Huron  and  Lake 
Michigan  Railroad  Company,"  with  authority  "  to  construct 
a  railroad  with  a  double  or  single  track  from  Port  Huron, 
in  St.  Clair  County,  running  westerly  until  it  shall  intersect 
Lake  Michigan  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  Grand  River,  with 
power  to  take,  transport,  and  carry  property  and  persons 
upon  the  said  railroad,  or  any  part  thereof  herein  author- 
ized to  be  constructed,  by  the  power  and  force  of  steam  or 
of  animals,  or  of  any  mechanical  or  other  power,  or  of  any 
combination  of  £hem  which  the  said  company  may  choose 
to  use  or  apply."  John  Wells,  Alvin  N.  Hart,  Charles  C. 
Hascall,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  Jesse  P.  Turner,  Ira  Porter, 
Edmund  B.  Bostwick,  and  Thomas  W.  White  were  ap- 
pointed charter  commissioners  to  receive  subscriptions  to 
the  capital  stock,  which  was  authorized  to  the  amount  of 
two  millions  of  dollars.  The  company  was  required  to  com- 
mence its  road  in  five  years,  and  to  complete  it  in  fifteen 
years,  from  the  passage  of  the  act.  And  the  State  relin- 
quished to  the  company  all  her  rights  and  privileges  in  the 
line  of  the  Northern  road  wherever  the  company  might 
wish  to  construct  its  road  over  that  route.  In  alluding  to 
this  relinquishment  by  the  State,  the  directors  of  the  com- 
pany (in  a  statement  published  for  the  purpose  of  influen- 
cing subscriptions  to  the  stock)  said  that  "  instead  of  pay- 
ing the  State  for  what  it  has  done  towards  the  construction 
of  the  road,  the  company  have  a  donation  of  all  that  one 
hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  and  twenty 
thousand  acres  of  land,  have  accomplished." 

It  was,  in  efiect,  a  revival,  by  a  private  company,  of  the 
Northern  Railroad  scheme,  which  had  been  commenced  and 
abandoned  by  the  State ;  and  its  proposed  route,  east  of 
Ionia  County,  was  to  be  the  same  as  that  which  had  been 
grubbed  and  cleared  in  1838-39  for  the  old  road.  Of 
course,  the  resuscitation  of  the  scheme,  and  the  prospect 
that  after  all  a  railroad  would  be  built  through  Shiawassee 
and  Clinton  Counties  (the  Oakland  and  Ottawa  company 
not  having  then  been  chartered),  was  very  cheering  to  the 
people  living  on  or  contiguous  to  the  route,  but  the  hopes 
thus  raised  were  destined  never  to  be  realized. 

During  a  long  series  of  years  great  efforts  were  made  by 
the  promoters  to  secure  funds  for  the  construction  of  the 
road,  and  many  changes  were  made  in  the  management  of 

*  The  Legislature  had  passed  an  act  of  incorporation  of  the  same 
company  in  1846,  but  it  had  been  vetoed  by  Governor  Feloh  on  the 
ground  that  it  might  defeat  the  sale  of  the  Southern  and  Central  roads, 
negotiations  for  their  purchase  from  the  State  being  then  in  progress. 
This  sale  having  been  effected,  and  the  objection  thus  removed,  the 
incorporating  act  was  approved  in  1847,  as  stated. 


the  company,  but  all  to  no  effect ;  the  accomplishment  of 
the  object  so  earnestly  desired  seemed  as  remote  as  ever. 
In  1855,  Mr.  N.  P.  Stewart,  of  Detroit,  procured  the  or- 
ganization of  a  new  company,  under  the  general  railroad 
law,  called  the  "  Port  Huron  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  Com- 
pany," to  build  a  railway  line  from  Port  Huron  to  Grand 
Haven,  there  to  connect  with  steamers  for  Milwaukee.  The 
survey  of  the  route  was  made  without  delay,  the  right  of 
way  obtained,  and  for  a  time  the  work  of  construction  was 
pushed  most  vigorously.  A  dock  was  built  at  Port  Huronj 
some  twenty  miles  of  grading  was  done,  and  about  a  mile 
of  track  was  laid  at  the  Port  Huron  end  of  the  line,  so  that 
the  people  living  in  the  counties  traversed  by  the  route 
(who  oared  chiefly  for  the  success  of  the  project,  with  but 
little  regard  as  to  which  company  should  build  the  road) 
began  to  feel  sure  that  at  last  their  hopes  were  to  be  real- 
ized. But  they  were  again  to  be  disappointed,  for,  about 
the  time  that  the  work  had  progressed  to  the  stage  above 
mentioned,  Mr.  Stewart  procured — or  at  least  assented  to — 
the  passage  of  an  act  of  Legislature  consolidating  this  with 
the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  road  at  Owosso ;  and  from  that 
time,  work  on  the  eastern  portion  of  the  road  was  sus- 
pended, and  the  means  raised  for  its  construction  were  used 
on  the  last-named  road  west  of  Owosso.  This  help  to  the 
Detroit  and  Milwaukee  road  pushed  that  line  westward 
through  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties,  but  it  prostrated 
all  hope  of  the  building  of  the  additional  line  to  Port 
Huron. 

To  follow  the  history  of  the  hopes,  disappointments,  and 
delays  in  the  building  of  the  Port  Huron  and  Lake  Michi- 
gan road  is  unnecessary,  for  it  has  little  reference  to  these 
counties.  It  is  sufiicient  to  mention  that,  under  a  reor- 
ganization of  the  company,  work  was  resumed  near  Port 
Huron  in  March,  18B6,  and  that  after  nearly  six  years 
more  of  disaster  and  delay  the  road  was,  on  the  13th  of 
December,  1871,  opened  for  travel  from  Port  Huron  to  the 
city  of  Flint,  beyond  which  point,  westward  on  the  original 
route  to  Owosso,  nothing  has  since  been  done.  A  con- 
siderable part  of  the  route,  however,  had  previously  been 
graded  between  Flint  and  Owosso,  several  miles  -of  this 
grading  being  in  Shiawassee  County. 

CHICAGO  AND  LAKE   HURON   RAILROAD  LINE. 

The  "  Chicago  and  Northeastern  Railroad  Company"  was 
incorporated  under  the  general  law  by  the  filing  of  articles 
of  association  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Aug.  12, 
1874,  the  object  of  its  formation  being  the  construction  of 
a  railroad  from  Lansing  to  Flint,  to  connect  at  the  former 
city  with  the  Peninsular  Railway  and  at  Flint  with  the 
Port  Huron  Railroad,  and  with  these  to  form  a  through 
line  from  Chicago  to  the  city  of  Port  Huron. 

The  preliminary  work  on  the  Chicago  and  Nortlieastern 
road  was  commenced  in  November,  1874,  and  it  was  pushed 
with  vigor  during  1875  and  1876,  so  that  at  the  close  of 
the  latter  year  the  road  was  nearly  ready  for  traffic.  It 
was  formally  opened  about  the  1st  of  February,  1877,  and 
was  operated  as  a  part  of  the  "  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron" 
line,  which  enjoyed  a  very  heavy  business  (particularly  in 
freighting)  until  the  early  part  of  1879,  when  it  was  broken 
up  by  the  Chicago  and  Northeastern  link  being  purchased 


38 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


by  an  Eastern  capitalist  (understood  to  be  William  H.  Van- 
derbilt,  or  parties  in  his  interest),  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
stroying a  formidable  competitor  to  other  through  lines 
under  his  control.  This  was  for  a  time  a  severe  blow  to 
the  Grand  Trunk  Railway,  as  it  destroyed  its  Chicago  con- 
nection, and  measures  were  at  once  taken  by  that  company 
to  supply  the  place  of  the  Chicago  and  Northeastern  link 
by  a  new  road  from  Flint  to  Lansing  by  way  of  Owosso. 
A  survey  of  the  route  (or  rather  a  resurvey  of  the  original 
route  of  the  Port  Huron  and  Lake  Michigan  road  between 
Flint  and  Owosso)  was  made  in  April,  1879,  and  this  re- 
sulted so  favorably  that  in  July  of  that  year  Mr.  Charles 
B.  Peck,  general  manager  of  the  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron, 
advertised  for  bids  for  the  immediate  construction  of  the 
road,  full-tied,  with  stone  and  iron  bridges  and  steel  rails. 
It  seemed  then  as  if  the  old  project  of  a  railroad  from 
Shiawassee  County  direct  to  Flint  and  Port  Huron — a  pro- 
ject which,  as  the  Northern  Railroad  and  afterwards  as 
the  Port  Huron  and  Lake  Michigan  Railroad,  had  been 
agitated,  but  held  in  abeyance  for  more  than  forty  years — 
was  destined  at  last  to  be  realized ;  but  the  hopes  of  the 
people  in  this  direction  were  destined  to  be  again  disap- 
pointed, for  the  Grand  Trunk  Company  afterwards  suc- 
ceeded in  regaining  possession  of  the  Chicago  and  North- 
eastern link  between  Flint  and  Lansing,  which  is  still  owned 
and  operated  by  that  company  as  a  part  of  their  through 
line  to  Chicago.  The  road,  entering  Shiawassee  County  at 
its  southwestern  corner,  passes  in  a  northeasterly  direction 
diagonally  through  the  townships  of  Woodhull,  Perry,  An- 
trim, Shiawassee,  and  Vernon,  from  which  last-named  town- 
ship it  crosses  the  county-line  into  Genesee. 

OTHER  PROJECTED  RAILROAD  LINES. 
In  August,  1869,  the  Owosso  and  Big  Rapids  Railroad 
Company  was  incorporated  under  the  general  railroad  law, 
having  for  its  object  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from 
Owosso  to  Big  Rapids,  Mecosta  Co.,  this  being  intended 
as  a  northern  connection  of  the  Toledo,  Ann  Arbor  and 
Northern  Railroad,  which  was  incorporated  in  the  same 
year,  designing  to  build  a  road  from  Toledo  by  way  of  Ann 
Arbor,  Howell,  and  Oak  Grove,  in  Livingston  County,  to 
Owosso.  Nothing  was  accomplished  by  this  company  (the 
Owosso  and  Big  Rapids),  and  in  1871  it  was  changed  in 
name  and  object,  becoming  incorporated  as  the  Owosso  and 
Northwestern  Railroad  Company,  with  T.  D.  Dewey  as 
president,  Gilbert  R.  Lyon  secretary,  and  E.  A.  Todd  as 
treasurer,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  road  from  Owosso 
to  Frankfort,  Benzie  Co.,  on  Lake  Michigan.  Work  was 
commenced  on  the  line,  and  a  great  part  of  the  necessary 
grading  was  done  on  a  section  of  about  thirty  miles  in 
length,  from  Owosso  to  Pine  River,  in  Gratiot  County. 
This  was  done  prior  to  the  financial  revulsion  of  1873,  but 
the  panic  of  that  year  caused  a  suspension  of  operations, 
and  no  progress  has  since  been  made  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  enterprise.  Its  promoters,  however,  believe  that  the 
road  is  destined  to  be  completed,  and  to  prove  successful. 

The  subject  of  railroad  communication  from  St.  John's 
village  southward  began  to  be  agitated  in  1864,  upon  the 
incorporation  of  the  Jackson  and  Lansing  Railroad  Com- 


pany, which,  as  was  understood,  contemplated  not  only  the 
building  of  a  road  from  Jackson  to  Lansing,  but  also  the 
securing  of  a  northern  connection  tlirough  the  counties  of 
Clinton,  Gratiot,  and  Isabella.  The  route,  if  so  extended, 
would  almost  necessarily  pass  through  St.  John's,  and  so 
great  was  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  this  part  of  Clin- 
ton County  that  such  a  result  would  surely  be  reached  that 
one  of  the  papers  of  the  village,  in  its  issue  of  June  3, 1864, 
announced,  in  reference  to  this  project,  that"  the  enterprise 
is  now  a  fixed  fact."  The  opinion,  however,  proved  to  be 
unfounded,  for  in  the  following,  year  the  Jackson  and 
Lansing  became  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  Rail- 
road Company,  and  changed  the  proposed  route  of  its  road 
to  conform  to  its  change  of  name  and  title.  The  old 
"  Ramshorn"  road  to  Owosso  was  purchased,  and  became  a 
part  of  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  line,  and  St. 
John's  had  no  longer  anything  to  hope  for  from  that  com- 
pany. 

The  Lansing,  St.  John's  and  Mackinac  Railroad  Company 
(having  for  its  object  "  the  construction  of  a  road  from 
Lansing  northward  through  the  villages  of  De  Witt,  St. 
John's,  Ithaca,  Alina,  St.  Louis,  and  Salt  River  to  Mount 
Pleasant,  Isabella  Co.,  and  thence  north  to  a  junction  with 
the  Flint  and  P6re  Marquette  Railroad,"  and  eventually  to 
Mackinac)  was  incorporated  about  May  1,  1869,  its  officers 
being  R.  M.  Steel,  President ;  I.  A.  Fancher,  Vice-Presi- 
dent ;  Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  Secretary  ;  and  S.  S.  Walker, 
Treasurer.  In  aid  of  the  construction  of  this  road  the 
townships  of  De  Witt,  Olive,  Bingham,  and  Greenbush,  in 
Clinton  County,  voted  an  aggregate  sum  of  eighty-five 
thousand  dollars,  and  deposited  their  bonds  to  that  amount 
in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  under  Act  No.  45, 
of  the  Laws  of  Michigan  for  1869.  But  this  act  was  de- 
clared unconstitutional  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State; 
and  upon  this  announcement  the  townships  took  the  neces- 
sary measures  to  recall  and  cancel  their  bonds.  ■  In  conse- 
quence of  this  the  company  proceeded  no  further  towards 
the  construction  of  the  road,  and  became  to  all  intents  and 
purposes  dead.  The  survey  of  the  route  of  the  road  be- 
tween Lansing  and  St.  John's  had  been  made  in  November, 
1869,  and  it.  was  continued  northward  from  St.  John's,  but 
beyond  these  preliminary  surveys  the  company  did  no 
work  upon  the  line. 

Upon  the  collapse  of  the  Lansing,  St.  John's  and  Macki- 
nac Railroad  the  Gratiot  and  Isabella  County  promoters  of 
that  enterprise  transferred  their  support  to  the  Owosso  and 
Big  Rapids  and  Saginaw  and  St.  Louis  Railroad  projects, 
which  were  then  being  agitated.  This  withdrawal  of  sup- 
port, however,  did  not  wholly  discourage  the  people  of  St. 
John's  from  making  a  further  attempt,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1871  the  Lansing  and  St.  John's  Railroad  Company  was 
incorporated  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  railroad  between 
the  two  points  named  in  its  title.  The  corporators  resident 
in  St.  John's  were  Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  Alvah  H.  Walker, 
Henry  M.  Perrin,  Porter  K.  Perrin,  John  Hicks,  Charles 
Kipp,  0.  W.  Munger,  R.  M.  Steel,  Samuel  S.  Walker, 
Randolph  Strickland,  M.  Heavenrich,  George  W.  Em- 
mons. The  officers  of  the  company  were  R.  M.  Steel, 
President;  H.  M.  Perrin,  Treasurer;  0.  W.  Munger, 
Secretary ;  0.  L.  Spaulding,  Charles  Kipp,  and  P.  K.  Per- 


MILITARY   RECORD   OF  SHIAWASSER   AND   CLINTON. 


39 


rin,  Executive  Committee.  The  sum  of  sixty  thousand 
dollars  was  raised  by  subscriptions  to  the  stock,  and  the 
company  proceeded  to  make  the  preliminary  surveys ;  but 
the  monetary  panic  of  1873  caused  a  suspension  of  opera- 
tions, and  nothing  has  been  done  towards  grading  the  road- 
bed. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

MILITARY  KECORD  OF  SHIAW^ASSEE  AND  CLIN- 
TON. 

The  Mexican  War — The  First  Michigan  Regiment — Record  of  the 
two  Counties  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion — The  Second  Infantry — 
Bull  Run  Campaign — Peninsula  Campaign — Battles  of  Williams- 
burg and  Fair  Oaks — The  Seven  Days'  Fight — Campaign  under 
Gen.  Pope — Fredericksburg — Campaigns  in  Kentucky  and  Missis- 
sippi— In  East  Tennessee — Veteran  Re-enlisttnent — Campaign  of 
the  Wilderness — In  Front  of  Petersburg — Fall  of  Petersburg — 
Muster  Out,  and  Return  Home, 

Neither  Shiawassee  nor  Clinton  County  has  any  mili- 
tary history  dating  farther  back  than  the  commencement  of 
the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  "  Black  Hawk  War,"  about  fourteen 
years  before  that  time,  the  entire  territory  of  these  coun- 
ties was  but  a  wilderness,  containing  less  than  ten  white 
inhabitants ;  and  its  condition  was  nearly  the  same  when, 
three  years  later,  the  quarrel  known  as  the  "  Toledo  War" 
caused  the  mustering  of  a  considerable  number  of  troops, 
which  were  furnished  by  the  older  counties  of  the  State. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican  war  the  circumstances 
were  different.  The  total  population  of  these  two  counties 
had  increased  to  nearly  nine  thousand,  and  included  about 
thirteen  hundred  men  liable  to  do  military  duty,  but  still 
there  were  not  many  who  were  in  a  condition  which  made 
it  possible  for  them  to  leave  their  families  and  farms  to  be- 
come soldiers.  Of  these  a  few  volunteered  in  the  Michigan 
Regiment  (and  some  probably  in  other  commands),  and 
served  honorably  through  the  war.  A  part  of  the  names 
of  those  who  so  volunteered  have  been  found,  and  are  given 
in  this  chapter. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1846,  was  issued  the  requisition 
of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  calling  upon  the 
several  States  for  troops  to  serve  in  the  war  with  Mexico ; 
and  under  this  requisition  the  "  First  Michigan  Volunteer  In- 
fantry Regiment"  was  organized  and  placed  under  command 
of  Col.  T.  B.  W.  Stockton.  Company  C  of  that  regiment 
was  raised  and  commanded  by  Capt.  A.  H.  Hanscom,  of 
Pontiae,  assisted  by  his  first  lieutenant,  Thomas  H.  Hunt, 
and  second  lieutenants  (for  it  had  two  of  that  grade)  C.  0. 
Conant  and  A.  P.  Hanscom.  It  was  made  up  of  men  of 
whom  a  few  were  enlisted  at  Detroit,  but  by  far  the  greater 
part  at  Pontiao  and  other  points  in  Oakland  County,  at 
Brighton  in  Livingston  County,  and  at  Corunna  and  other 
places  in  Shiawassee  County ;  recruited  in  November  and 
December,  1846.  From  the  roll  of  the  company,  as  mus- 
tered at  the  Detroit  Barracks,  Dec.  22, 1846,  are  taken  the 
names  of  those  who  enlisted  in  Shiawassee  County,  as  fol- 
lows: 


Charles  Baker,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

Timothy  W.  Brown,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

Charles  Curl,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

James  Culbert,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

Charles  Harpe,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

J.  Jingall,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

Lewis  Lyons,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

William  H.  Lovejoy,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

Andrew  H.  Letts,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

Elisha  A.  Morgan,  enlisted  at  Corunna. 

William  R.  Chapman,  enlisted  at  Owosso. 

H.  P.  Murray,  enlisted  at  Owosso. 

Levi  Prangley,  enlisted  at  Caledonia. 

Daniel  Phelps,  enlisted  at  Caledonia. 

Nathan  M.  Smith,  enlisted  at  Caledonia. 

Matthias  Sehermerhom,  enlisted  at  Caledonia. 

Bartley  Siegel,  enlisted  at  Caledonia. 

George  W.  Ormsby,  enlisted  at  Burns. 

Joseph  B.  Stone,  enlisted  at  Burns. 

The  First  Michigan  Regiment  was  rendezvoused  at 
Detroit,  where  it  was  mustered  on  the  22d  of  December, 
and  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month  (before  its  ranks  were 
full)  it  left  for  the  seat  of  war  to  move  by  way  of  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  Cincinnati,  and  New  Orleans.  Arriving  at 
Cincinnati  it  was  embarked  on  the  steamer  "  Andrew  Jack- 
son," and  arrived  in  New  Orleans  ten  days  later.  After  a 
stay  of  about  one  week,  during  which  time  it  was  encamped 
on  Gen.  Jackson's  battle-ground  of  1815,  it  took  passage 
for  Vera  Cruz,  and  arrived  at  that  city  about  the  middle  of 
January,  1847.  It  remained  encamped  outside  the  walls 
of  Vera  Cruz  for  about  three  weeks,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  it  moved  with  other  forces,  amounting  in  all  to  two 
thousand  men,  under  command  of  Gen.  Bankhead,  to  the 
city  of  Cordova,  in  the  interior.  A  second  detachment, 
under  Lieut.-Col.  (afterwards  general)  A.  S.  Williams,  had 
left  Detroit  some  time  after  the  departure  of  the  main  body 
of  the  regiment ;  and  this  detachment  now  came  up  and 
joined  the  command  at  Cordova.  Col.  Stockton,  of  the 
First  Michigan,  was  made  military  governor  of  the  city, 
and  remained  there  in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  While  there  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  gar- 
rison duty  and  occasional  skirmishes  with  guerrillas  while 
acting  as  guard  to  supply-triiins,  but  did  not  participate  in 
any  general  engagement,  though  it  suffered  severely  from 
sickness  among  the  men.  It  was  ordered  home  in  May, 
1848,  and  in  due  time  reached  Detroit,  where  it  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  July  18th  in  that  year. 

The  Fifteenth  United  States  Infantry,  which  served  in 
Mexico  in  the  division  of  Gen.  Gideon  J.  Pillow,  and 
fought  in  some  of  the  principal  battles,  contained  a  large 
number  of  volunteers  from  this  part  of  Michigan,  and  is 
said  to  have  included  a  few  from  Shiawassee  and  Clinton 
Counties,  but  the  names  of  these  cannot  be  given  here,  for 
the  reason  that  the  muster-rolls  of  the  regiment  are  not 
accessible. 

The  Mexican  war,  however,  was  but  a  trivial  matter  when 
compared  with  that  mighty  struggle — the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion— which  opened  some  fifteen  years  later,  and  it  is 
with  the  commencement  of  that  great  conflict  that  the  real 
military  history  of  these  counties  begins.     When  on  the 


40 


HISTORY   OP  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


13th  of  April,  1861,  the  tremendous  news  ran  through  the 
wires  of  the  telegraph  that  a  United  States  fort  had  struck 
its  colors  to  a  band  of  armed  insurgents,  and  when,  two 
days  later,  the  President  of  the  republic  called  on  the  States 
to  furnish  a  great  army  of  volunteers  to  preserve  the  life 
of  the  nation,  there  was  no  State  which  responded  with 
more  alacrity  than  Michigan,  and  there  were  none  of  the 
counties  in  the  Beautiful  Peninsula  in  which  the  fires  of 
patriotism  flamed  up  more  promptly  or  burned  more 
brightly  than  in  Clinton  and  Shiawassee.  Five  days  after 
the  issuance  of  the  President's  call,  and  just  one  week  after 
the  day  when  the  rebel  flag  supplanted  the  stripes  and  stars 
above  the  brown  ramparts  of  Sumter,  an  impromptu  mass- 
meeting  (the  largest  which  had  ever  convened  in  Shiawassee 
County)  was  held  at  Owosso,  to  take  measures  for  sustain- 
ing the  government  in  its  time  of  peril.  The  Hon.  Amos 
Gould  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Judge  Josiah  Turner, 
B.  0.  Williams,  and  T.  D.  Dowey  were  made  vice-presi- 
dents of  the  meeting.  Resolutions  were  presented  and 
adopted  by  the  meeting  without  a  dissenting  voice,  calling 
upon  every  man  to  ignore  and  bury  all  party  difierences  and 
prejudices,  and  to  devote  life,  fortune,  and  sacred  honor  to 
the  support  of  the  government  and  the  preservation  of  the 
Union. 

A  meeting  similar  in  purpose,  and  equally  large  and  en- 
thusiastic, bad  been  held  on  the  previous  evening  (Friday, 
April  19,  1861),  at  Clinton  Hall,  in  the  village  of  St. 
John's.  James  W.  Ransom  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  draft  resolutions.  This  committee, 
composed  of  Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  Randolph  Strickland, 
W.  H.  Moote,  Joab  Baker,  Henry  Walbridge,  H.  C.  Hodge, 
and  H.  S.  Gibbons,  reported  resolutions  nearly  identical 
with  those  passed  at  the  Owosso  meeting,  and  these  were 
adopted  unanimously,  and  with  great  enthusiasm.  At  this, 
as  at  the  Owosso  gathering,  arrangements  were  made  for 
holding  another  meeting  a  few  days  later,  and  at  these  sub- 
sequent meetings  measures  were  taken  to  promote  the 
raising  of  companies  of  volunteers  in  the  two  counties,  and 
resolutions  were  passed  pledging  support  (if  needed)  to  the 
families  of  soldiers  absent  in  the  army. 

These  meetings  at  St.  John's  and  Owosso  were  supple- 
mented by  others,  held  in  many  of  the  townships  of  both 
counties,  and  at  all  these  the  same  patriotic  spirit  was  mani- 
fested. Enlistments  commenced  immediately.  Men  left  the 
farm,  the  store,  and  the  workshop  to  volunteer  in  their  coun- 
try's service.  Many  of  these,  unwilling  to  wait  for  the 
organization  of  companies  in  their  own  county,  went  to 
other  places  to  enlist,  and  before  the  1st  of  May  a  few  men 
from  both  counties  had  left  for  Detroit,  Lansing,  and  Grand 
Rapids,  to  place  their  names  on  the  rolls  of  companies  or- 
ganizing there.  By  that  time,  however,  recruiting  had  com- 
menced both  in  Clinton  and  Shiawassee,  and  on  the  4th  of 
May  the  papers  announced  that  Capt.  Richard  Baylis  had 
made  good  progress  towards  enlisting  a  company  at  St. 
John's  and  Ovid,  and  that  a  company  recruited  at  Owosso 
and  Corunna  was  already  full,  and  had  been  accepted  by 
the  military  authorities  of  the  State. 

From  that  time,  during  four  years  of  war  and  terror,  the 
counties  of  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  responded  well  and 
promptly  to  the  numerous  calls  for  volunteers,  and  furnished 


for  the  several  armies  fully  three  thousand  men,*  who  served 
in  more  than  fifty  regiments, — infantry,  cavalry,  artillery, 
and  engineers.  Several  of  these  regiments,  most  notice- 
able for  the  number  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  County 
men  included  among  their  members,  are  especially  men- 
tioned in  succeeding  pages  in  historical  sketches  of  their 
organization  and  services  in  the  great  war  for  the  union. 

SECOND  INFANTRY. 

When,  at  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  President  Lincoln 
called  on  the  several  loyal  States  for  an  army  of  seventy- 
five  thousand  men  to  sustain  the  power  of  the  government 
against  a  rebellion  which  had  unexpectedly  proved  formid- 
able, Governor  Blair,  of  Michigan,  responded  by  issuing 
his  proclamation  calling  for  twenty  companies  out  of  the 
uniformed  volunteer  force  of  the  State,  with  field  and  staff 
officers,  to  compose  two  regiments  of  infantry,  to  be  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  the  President  if  required.  The  War 
Department  had  placed  the  quota  of  Michigan  at  one  full 
regiment,  but  the  Governor  very  wisely  concluded — and 
the  people  of  Michigan  concurred  in  the  opinion — that  a 
second  regiment  should  be  made  ready  for  service  if  it 
should  be  needed,  as  he  believed  it  would  be.  Four  days 
after  the  Governor's  call  (April  19th)  the  State's  quota 
was  filled,  and  her  first  regiment  ready  for  muster  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States,*  fully  equipped  with  arms, 
ammunition,  and  clothing,  awaiting  only  the  orders  of  the 
War  Department,  and  on  the  13th  of  May  it  left  Detroit 
for  Washington,  being  the  first  regiment  to  arrive  at  the 
capital  from  any  point  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 

The  Governor's  call  for  twenty  companies  had  been 
promptly  and  fully  responded  to ;  and  so,  after  making  up 
the  First  Regiment,  there  still  remained  ten  companies 
which,  having  failed  to  secure  places  in  the  First,  were 
ready  and  anxious  to  be  organized  as  the  Second  Regiment 
of  Michigan.  Nine  of  the  companies  composing  this  regi- 
ment contained  men  from  Clinton  and  Shiawassee,  though 
none  of  them  were  principally,  or  even  largely,  made  up  of 
volunteers  from  these  counties. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1861,  the  Second  Regiment  was 
announced  to  be  full,  and  on  the  25th  it  was  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  for  three  years  by  Lieut. -Col.  E. 
Backus,  U.S.A.     The  field-officers  of  the  regiment  were 


*  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  were  credited  in  the  adjutant-genoral'a 
office  for  about  three  thousand  four  hundred  men  furnished  to  the 
government,  but  this  is  considerably  above  the  number  of  those  who 
actually  served  in  the  army  from  these  counties.  This  discrepancy  is 
to  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  of  the  large  number  who  re-enlisted 
as  veteriins  each  man  was  counted  twice,  and  that  each  man  who 
paid  commutation  money  in  lieu  of  personal  service  was  counted  as  a 
soldier  furnished  by  the  county,  though  never  actually  in  the  service. 
A  few  men  also  volunteered  in  the  naval  service,  and  these  went  to 
swell  the  aggregate  credit. 

In  regard  to  the  lists  given  in  these  pages  of  officers  and  men  from 
these  counties  serving  in  the  several  regiments,  it  is  proper  to  say 
that  great  care  has  been  taken  in  transcribing  them  from  the  rolls  in 
the  adjutant-general's  office,  and  in  verifying  them,  when  practicable, 
by  surviving  members  of  the  regiments  to  which  they  have  reference. 
If,  notwithstanding  this,  they  are  found  (as  they  doubtless  will  he,  to 
some  extent)  incomplete,  it  should  be  remembered  that  it  is  on  ac- 
count of  the  neglect  of  officers  whose  duty  it  was  to  return  full  and 
complete  records  with  the  muster-out  rolls  filed  in  the  adjutant-gen- 
eral's office. 


MILITARY  RECORD  OP  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON. 


41 


Israel  B.  Richardson,  colonel ;  Henry  L.  Chipraan,  lieu- 
tenant-colonel;  Adolphus  W.  Williams,  major.  In  the 
afternoon  of  Thursday,  June  6th,  the  Second  Regiment, 
one  thousand  and  twenty  strong,  emharked  on  three  steamers 
(one  side-wheel  and  two  propellers),  and  at  eight  o'clock 
P.M.  left  Detroit  for  Cleveland,  arriving  there  the  following 
morning.  From  Cleveland  it  proceeded  by  railway,  via 
Pittsburgh,  Harrisburg,  and  Baltimore,  to  Washington, 
reaching  the  capital  on  the  10th. 

The  regiment  made  a  stay  of  several  weeks  in  the  District 
of  Columbia,  its  camp  being  named  "  Camp  Winfield  Scott." 
It  was  brigaded  with  the  Third  Michigan,  First  Massachu- 
setts, and  Twelfth  New  York,  the  brigade-commander 
being  Col.  Richardson,  of  the  Second  Michigan.  When 
Gen.  McDowell  made  his  forward  movement  towards  Ma- 
nassas, this  brigade  moved  with  the  army  into  Virginia,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  fight  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  July  18th, 
and  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Sunday,  July  21st.  In  the 
panic  and  disorder  which  ended  that  disastrous  day  the 
Second  Regiment  behaved  with  great  steadiness,  covering 
the  retreat  of  the  brigade  towards  Washington,  for  which 
it  was  warmly  complimented  by  the  heroic  Richardson. 

After  Bull  Run  the  regiment  was  encamped  for  some 
weeks  near  Arlington,  and  later  in  the  season  at  Fort  Lyon, 
Va.,  where  it  remained  during  the  fall.  About  December 
20th,  substantial  and  comfortable  winter  quarters  wore  con- 
structed at  "  Camp  Michigan,"  three  miles  from  Alexandria, 
On  the  Acotink  Road.  While  this  camp  was  in  process  of 
construction  an  officer  wrote  that  "  Cabins  are  growing  up 
on  every  side,  adorned  with  doors  and  windows,  procured 
by  a  process  called  '  cramping,'  which  is  somewhere  on  the 
debatable  ground  between  buying  and  stealing.''  Here 
the  regiment  remained  until  March,  1862,  when  it  moved 
with  its  brigade  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  and  thence,  up  the  Peninsula,  to  Yorktown  and 
Williamsburg,  at  which  latter  place  it  took  active  part  in 
the  severe  engagement  of  Monday,  May  5th,  sustaining  a 
loss  of  fifty-five  killed  and  wounded. 

From  Williamsburg  the  Second  moved,  with  the  army, 
up  the  Peninsula  to  and  across  the  Chickahominy,  and 
fought  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  May  31  and  June  1, 
1862.  Its  loss  in  that  engagement  was  fifty-seven  killed 
and  wounded,  though  only  seven  of  the  companies  were 
engaged. 

In  the  retreat  (or  "  change  of  base,"  as  it  has  sometimes 
been  called)  from  the  York  River  Railroad  to  James  River, 
the  regiment  fought  at  Glendale  (or  Charles  City  Cross- 
Roads),  June  30th,  and  at  Malvern  Hill,  July  1st.  From 
the  latter  field  it  retired  with  the  army,  and  moved  to  Har- 
rison's Landing,  on  the  James,  where  it  remained  until  the 
general  evacuation  of  that  position,  August  15th,  when  it 
marched  down  the  Peninsula,  and  was  moved  thence,  by 
way  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Potomac  River,  with  other 
troops,  to  the  assistance  of  the  imperiled  army  of  Gen.  Pope 
in  the  valley  of  the  Rappahannock,  during  which  campaign 
it  took  part  in  the  fights  of  August  28th,  29th,  30th,  and 
in  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  September  1st. 

At  Fredericksburg  the  Second  was  n.ot  actively  engaged. 
It  crossed  the  Rappahannock  on  the  12th  of  December,  but 
in  the  great  battle  of  the  next  day  was  held  in  reserve,  and. 
6 


sustained  only  a  loss  of  one- killed  and  one  wounded  by  the 
enemy's  shells,  but  was,  with  the  Eighth  Michigan,  among 
the  last  of  the  regiments  of  the  army  to  recross  to  the  north 
side  of  the  river  on  the  16th. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1863,  the  regiment  moved  to 
Newport  News,  Va  ,  and  on  the  19th  of  March  took  its  route 
to  Baltimore,  and  thence,  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail- 
road and  steamers  on  the  Ohio  River,  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
with  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  of  which  it  was  a  part.  The 
corps  remained  in  Kentucky  during  the  months  of  April 
and  May,  and  in  June  was  moved  to  Mississippi  to  reinforce 
the  army  of  Gen.  Grant,  near  Vicksburg.  The  Second  went 
into  camp  at  Milldale,  near  Vicksburg,  on  the  17th,  and 
a  few  days  later  was  stationed  at  Flower  Dale  Church.  On 
the  4th  of  July,  the  day  of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  the 
regiment  left  Flower  Dale,  and  moved  east  towards  the  cap- 
ital of  Mississippi,  to  take  part  in  the  operations  against 
the  rebel  army  of  Gen.  Johnston.  It  arrived  in  front  of 
Jackson  in  the  evening  of  the  10th,  and  on  the  11th  ad- 
vanced in  skirmish  line  on  the  enemy's  rifle-pits,  which  were 
taken  and  held  for  a  time.  Superior  numbers,  however, 
compelled  the  Second  to  retire  from  the  position,  with  a  loss 
of  eleven  killed,  forty-five  wounded,  and  five  taken  prison- 
ers. On  the  13th  and  14th  of  July  the  regiment  was  again 
slightly  engaged.  On  the  17th  and  18th  it  was  engaged  in 
destroying  the  Memphis  and  New  Orleans  Railroad,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Jackson  and  Madison,  and  then  moved  through 
Jackson  (which  had  been  evacuated  by  the  enemy)  back  to 
Milldale,  where  it  remained  till  August  5th,  when  it  marched 
to  the  river,  and  thence  moved  with  the  Ninth  Corps,  by 
way  of  Cincinnati,  to  Kentucky,  and  encamped  at  Crah 
Orchard  Springs,  in  that  State,  on  the  30th  of  August. 
Here  it  remained  twelve  days,  and  September  10th  broke 
camp  and  took  the  road  for  Cumberland  Gap  and  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  reaching  the  latter  place  September  26th.  It 
moved  from  the  vicinity  of  Knoxville,  October  8th,  and  was 
slightly  engaged  at  Blue  ^Springs  on  the  10th.  On  the 
20th  it  was  again  at  Knoxville,  but  immediately  afterwards 
moved  to  Loudon,  and  thence  to  Lenoir,  Tenn.,  where,  on 
the  8th  of  November,  its  men  commenced  building  winter 
quarters.  The  strength  of  the  regiment  at  that  time  was 
reported  at  five  hundred  and  three,  present  and  absent. 

The  anticipation  of  passing  the  winter  at  Lenoir  was  soon 
dispelled  by  the  intelligence  that  the  enemy,  under  Gen. 
Longstreet,  was  moving  up  the  valley  of  the  Tennessee  in 
heavy  force,  evidently  having  Knoxville  as  his  objective 
point.  On  the  14th  of  November,  the  Second  Regiment 
with  its  division  (the  First  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps)  was^ 
ordered  out  to  meet  and  repel  Longstreet,  who  was  reported 
to  be  crossing  the  Tennessee,  below  Loudon.  He  was  found 
in  force  near  HuflF's  Ferry,  on  the  Holston,  and  the  division 
fell  back  to  Lenoir.  Here  a  line  of  battle  was  formed,  but 
on  the  enemy  coming  up,  the  retreat  towards  Knoxville  was 
resumed,  the  Second  Regiment,  with  its  brigade,  forming 
the  rear-guard.  On  the  16th  it  again  stood  in  line  at  Camp- 
bell's Station  to  resist  the  advance  of  Longstreet,-  who  was 
pressing  up  with  great  vigor.  A  sharp  engagement  ensued,' 
in  which  the  Second  lost  thirty-one  in  killed  and  wounded; 
The  position  was  stubbornly  held  till  dark,  when  the  retreat 
was  resumed,  and  the  regiment  reached  Knoxville  at  five. 


42 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHiaAN. 


o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  17th,  after  a  march  of  nearly 
thirty  miles  through  mud  and  rain,  and  a  battle  of  several 
hours'  duration,  all  without  rest  or  food.  It  took  position 
on  a  hill  below  the  city,  at  Fort  Saunders,  where  rifle  pits 
were  constructed,  and  where  the  regiment  remained  during 
the  siege  which  followed.  On  the  19th  and  20th  it  was 
slightly  engaged,  and  on  the  24th,  under  orders  to  attack 
a  line  of  rifle-pits,  it  advanced  under  command  of  Maj.  By- 
ington,  moving  several  hundred  yards  across  an  open  plain 
swept  by  a  front  and  flank  fire  of  musketry  and  canister. 
The  line  was  carried,  but  could  not  be  held  ;  the  attacking 
force  was  dislodged  and  compelled  to  retire,  with  a  loss  to 
the  Second  Regiment  of  eighty-one  killed  and  wounded ; 
this  being  very  nearly  one-half  its  whole  number  who  were 
in  the  fight.  Among  the  killed  was  Adj.  William  Noble, 
and  Maj.  Byington  was  mortally  wounded. 

In  the  morning  of  Sunday,  Nov.  29,  1863,  a  force  of 
the  enemy,  consisting  of  two  veteran  Georgia  brigades  of 
McLaws'  division,  made  a  furious  and  persistent  assault  on 
Fort  Saunders,  but  were  repelled,  and  finally  driven  back 
in  disorder,  with  a  loss  of  eight  hundred  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners,  and  three  stands  of  colors.  With  the  force 
inside  the  fort  during  this  assault  were  Companies  A,  F,  Q, 
and  H,  of  the  Second  Michigan.  Their  loss,  however,  was 
inconsiderable,  being  only  five  killed  and  wounded.  From 
that  time  the  regiment  saw  no  fighting  at  this  place  other 
than  slight  skirmishes,  and  on  Friday  night,  December  4th, 
the  enemy  withdrew  from  before  Knoxville,  after  a  siege  of 
eighteen  days'  duration. 

The  Second  marched  from  Knoxville,  December  8th, 
and  moved  to  Rutledge.  On  the  16th  it  moved  to  Blain's 
Cross-Roads,  which  was  its  last  march  in  1863.  During 
-the  year  that  was  then  about  closing  the  regiment  had 
moved  a  distance  of  more  than  two  thousand  five  hundred 
miles.  It  remained  at  Blain's  for  about  a  month,  during 
which  time  it  was  "  veteranized,"  the  number  re-enlistins 
as  veterans  being  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight.  About 
the  middle  of  January,  1864,  it  moved  to  Strawberry 
Plains,  thence  to  Knoxville,  and  to  Erie  Station,  remaining 
at  the  latter  place  until  February  4th,  when  it  moved  under 
orders  to  proceed  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  reached  there 
twenty  days  later.  Here  the  veteran  furlough  was  given 
to  those  who  had  re-enlisted,  and  Mount  Clemens  was 
made  the  place  of  rendezvous.  At  this  place  the  regiment 
received  orders,  on  the  4th  of  April,  to  proceed  to  An- 
napolis, Md.,  to  rejoin  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  which  had, 
in  the  mean  time,  moved  from  Tennessee  to  Virginia  to 
reinforce  the  Arn)y  of  the  Potomac.  The  regiment  left 
Annapolis  on  the  22d,  proceeded  to  AVashington,  and 
thence  into  Virginia,  where,  on  the  5th  of  May,  it  crossed 
the  Rapidan  and  joined  the  army,  which  was  then  moving 
into  the  Wilderness.  For  six  weeks  following  this  time 
the  Second  was,  with  its  companion  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
so  constantly  employed  in  march,  skirmish,  or  battle,  that 
it  is  hardly  practicable  to  follow  the  intricacies  of  the 
movements ;  but  the  following  statement  of  casualties  during 
that  time  shows  where  and  how  it  fought.  The  statement 
which  includes  only  the  killed  and  wounded  (and  not  the 
missing),  is  taken  from  the  report  of  the  regimental  sur- 
geon, Richard  S.  Vickcry,  viz. : 


In   the    Wilderness   battle,   May   6th,   killed  and 

wounded 38 

At  Spottsjlvania  Court-House,  May  12th,  killed  and 

wounded 11 

At  0.x  Ford,  North  Anna,  May  24th,  killed 1 

Skirmish  of  May  27th 1 

Pamunkey  River,  May  31st 2 

Skirmii^h,  June  1st 5 

Skirmish,  June  2d 2 

Battle  of  Bethesda  Church,  June  3d 38 

Cold  Harbor  and  other  actions,  from  June  4th  to 

June  10th 9 

The  regiment  crossed  to  the  south  side  of  the  James 
River  on  the  15th,  reached  the  enemy's  works  in  front  of 
Petersburg  on  the  16th,  and  took  part  in  the  attacks  of 
the  next  two  days  with  the  following  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded,  viz. : 

In  bottle  of  June  17th 91 

In  battle  of  June  18th 83 

Recruits  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  or  more  had 
joined  the  regiment  since  the  veteran  re-enlistment, — other- 
wise such  losses  would  have  been  impossible. 

On  the  30th  of  July  the  Second  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ment which  followed  the  explosion  of  the  mine,  and  sus- 
tained a  loss  of  twenty  killed  and  wounded  and  thirty-seven 
missing.  Having  moved  with  the  Ninth  Corps  to  the 
Weldon  Railroad,  it  there  took  part  in  repelling  the  ene- 
my's assault  on  our  lines,  August  19th,  losing  one  killed 
and  two  wounded.  On  the  30th  it  crossed  the  Wcldou 
Railroad,  and  moving  towards.the  enemy's  right  flank,  par- 
ticipated in  the  engagement  of  that  date  at  Poplar  Grove 
Church,  losing  seven  wounded  and  twelve  missing.  It  was 
then  encamped  for  about  a  month  at  Peebles'  Farm,  but 
moved,  October  27th,  in  the  advance  on  Boydton  Plank- 
Road,  losing  seven  wounded  in  that  afiair.  It  then  re- 
mained at  Peebles',  engaged  in  picket  duty  and  fortifying, 
till  November  29th,  when  it  moved  to  a  point  about  ten 
miles  farther  to  the  right,  on  the  City  Point  and  Peters- 
burg Railroad,  and  there  remained  in  the  trenches  during 
the  winter.  On  the  25th  of  March  it  fought  at  Fort 
Steadman,  and  sustained  severe  loss.  It  again  lost  slightly 
at  the  capture  of  Petersburg,  April  3d.  It  then  moved  to 
the  South  Side  Railroad,  eighteen  miles  from  Petersburg, 
and  remained  nearly  two  weeks,  but  in  the  mean  time  the 
army  of  Lee  had  surrendered,  and  the  fighting  days  of  the 
regiment  were  past.  It  moved  to  City  Point,  and  embark- 
ing there  on  the  18th,  was  transported  to  Alexandria,  Va., 
from  whence  it  moved  to  a  camp  at  Tenallytown,  Md.  On 
the  27th  of  May  it  was  detached  for  duty  in  Washington 
City,  and  remained  there  for  about  two  months.  On  the 
29th  of  July  (having  on  the  previous  day  been  mustered 
out  of  the  service)  it  left  by  railroad  for  Michigan,  and  on 
the  1st  of  August  it  reached  Detroit,  and  was  soon  after 
paid  and  disbanded,  after  four  years  and  a  quarter  of  hon- 
orable service. 

OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  SECOND  INFANTRY  FROM  CLINTON 

COUNTY. 

Field  and  Slaff. 

M^j.  Porter  K.  Perrin,  St.  John's ;  com.  April  1, 1864 ;  disch.  for  disability.  Not. 

23,  1864. 

Company  A. 
2(1  Lieut.  Jos.  Berry,  Dnplain  ;  com.  April  1,  1864 ;  taken  pris.  July  30, 1864; 

died  in  rel>el  prison,  1865. 
Geo.  C.  Bell,  mustered  out. 

Reason  Craven,  Duplain  ;  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Oct.  30, 1864. 
Luke  B.  Hicks,  mustered  out. 
Miner  Hicks,  mustered  out. 


THIRD   INFANTRY. 


43 


Company  B. 

iHt  Lieut.  Alex.  Bichards,  St.  John's ;  com.  April  25, 1865;  muat.  out  July  28, 

18G5. 

Company  C. 

Mortimer  Doyer,  died  of  disease  at  Wliite  Hall,  Pa.,  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Sidney  C,  Johnson,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 
Wm.  J.  Rogers,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 

Company  E. 

2d  Lieut.  James  H.  Welliogs,  De  Witt;  com.  Aprill,  1864;  diach.  Dec.  28,1864. 

Abram  F.  Kimball,  must,  out  Aug.  9, 1865. 

John  F.  Munaon.  must,  out  July  11, 1865. 

Geo.  Passmore,  muat.  out  July  28,  1865. 

Wm.  Schuler,  missing  in  action. 

Asa  Tillotson,  died  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  Aug.  1,  1864. 

Gmwpany  F. 
Jas.  M.  Birmingham,  Duplain  ;  mustered  out. 

Company  Gl 
Jerome  L.  Curtis,  died  pf  wounds  at  Washington,  April  10, 1865. 
Daniel  C.  Pierce,  died  of  wounds,  June  17, 1864. 
Wm.  B.  Parker,  must,  out  May  15, 1865. 

Company  H. 
Silaa  S.  Babcock,  died  in  div.  hosp.,  March  19, 1865. 
Geo.  B.  Morse,  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  July  3,  1864. 
Smith  H.  Stanton,  died  in  action  near  Petersburg,  June  17, 1864. 
Ichabod  I.  Towne,  died  in  Washington,  D.  0.,  Nov.  11, 1864. 
Abram  White,  must,  out,  Juue  22, 1865. 
John  H.  Williams,  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 

Company  L 
Emory  Yance,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  July  21, 1864. 

Company  K. 
2d  Lieut.  OrUndo  S.  Perkins,  St.  John's ;  com.  April  19, 1861 ;  sergt.  27tb  Inf. ; 

disch.  Dec.  28, 1864. 
Barzillai  (Toats,  died  at  Philadelphia  of  wounds,  July  30, 1864. 
Sanford  Mayes,  muat.  out  July  20, 1865. 
Caleb  Hall,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 
Enoch  Hand,  must,  out  Oct.  10, 1865, 

Isaac  V.  Jones,  Bengal ;  died  in  bosp.  9th  Army  Corps,  July  1, 1861. 
Matbew  Moore,  died  of  wounds  in  1864. 
Corp.  E.  Teeta,  Greenbush. 

SOLDIEES  OF  THE  SECOND  INFANTRY  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

Company  G. 
Andrew  Alien,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Orren  C.  Chapman,  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  17,  1864. 
Frank  Collins,  must,  out  July  31, 1865. 
SHnford  Hadden,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  18, 18G4. 
George  W.  Keyes,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 
James  D.  Milla,  died  of  disease  at  Waahington,  D.  C,  July  21, 1864. 

Company  F. 
Dennis  Birmingham,  disch.  for  disability.  May  12,  1362. 

/  Company  K. 

Charles  0.  Loynes,  disch.  by  order,  June  3,  1865. 


CHAPTER    v. 


THIKD    INFABTTRY. 


Organization  of  the  Regiment  at  Grand  Kapids — Battle  of  Bull  Run 
— Peninsula  Campaign — Seven  Days'  Battles — Fredericksburg, 
ClianoellorsTille,  and  Gettysburg — Service  in  New  York — Mine  Run 

;The  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania — Cold  Harbor — The  New  Third 

Infantry — Service  in  Tennessee,  Alabama,  and  Texas. 

The  Third  Michigan  Infantry  was  recruited  in  the 
month  of  May,  1861,  and  had  its  rendezvous  and  camp  of 
instruction  at  Grand  Rapids.  Clinton  and  Shiawassee, 
Counties  furnished  to  this  regiment  about  seventy  men, 
who  were  distributed  among  six  of  its  companies,  the 
larger  number  being  found  in  Company  G-.  Most  of  the 
Shiawassee  men  in  the  Third  were  originally  members  of 


the  "  IngersoU  Rifles,"  which  was  raised  by  Capt.  Quack- 
enbush  for  the  Fifth,  but  were  transferred  to  this  regiment 
on  accouQt  of  the  "  Rifles"  being  filled  to  considerably  more 
than  the  maximum  strength. 

The  Third  Regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service,  one  thousand  and  forty-two  strong  (officers 
and  enlisted  men),  on  the  10th  of  June,  1861,  under  Col. 
D.  McConnell.  Three  days  later  it  left  Grand  Rapids  and 
proceeded  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  it  arrived  on  Sun- 
day, the  16th,  and  moved  to  the  Chain  Bridge,  where  it 
encamped  at  "  Camp  McConnell."  It  was  soon  after 
assigned  to  the  brigade  commanded  by  Col.  Israel  B. 
Richardson,  and  first  met  the  enemy  at  Blaekbum's  Ford, 
Va.,  on  the  18th  of  July.  On  the  21st  the  regiment, 
with  its  brigade,  was  engaged  in  that  famed  conflict,  the 
first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  In  the  disaster  of  that  day  the 
Michigan  regiments  proved  themselves  to  be  among  the 
bravest  and  most  steadfast  of  the  troops  engaged.  The 
army  commander.  Gen.  McDowell,  said,  in  his  report,  that 
"  Richardson's  troops  were  the  last  to  leave  the  field,"  and 
the  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune  who  was  pres- 
ent at  the  battle  wrote  to  that  journal  an  account  of  the 
fight,  in  which  he  said,  "I  was  told  that  a  few  regiments, 
besides  the  three  faithful  ones  of  Blenker's  brigade,  had 
come  in  in  fair  order,  and  that  they  were  the  Second  and 
Third  Michigan  and  the  Massachusetts  First,  of  Richard- 
son's brigade."  When  the  defeated  and  disorganized' Union 
army  fell  back  on  Washington,  this  brigade  served  as  rear- 
guard. It  maintained  its  position  at  Centreville  Heights 
until  the  morning  of  July  22d,  and  when  all  detachments 
and  stragglers  had  passed  to  the  rear,  it  deliberately  took 
up  the  line  of  march  to  Washington,  where  it  arrived  in 
good  order.  Immediately  afterwards  the  brigade  was 
assigned  to  the  duty  of  guarding  the  position  at  Bailey's 
Cross-Roads,  «ind  picketing  other  highways  leading  to 
Alexandria  and  Washington  from  the  South.  After  assist- 
ing in  the  construction  of  the  defenses  of  Washington,  the 
Third  went  into  winter  quarters  near  Alexandria,  Va.,  and 
remained  there  until  March,  1862,  when  it  moved  with 
McClellan's  army  to  the  Peninsula. 

At  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  fought  on  the  5th  of  May, 
1862,  Berry's  brigade*  of  Kearney's  division  moved  to  the 
front  through  mud  and  rain,  at  double-quick,  formed  line 
under  fire,  and  immediately  charging  a  superior  force  of 
the  enemy,  recaptured  a  lost  position  and  artillery,  and  did 
not  stop  until  the  enemy  was  dislodged  and  beaten  back  from 
his  position.  In  regard  to  this  fight,  a  New  "York  Tribune 
correspondent  said :  "By  confessions  of  rebel  prisoners,  eight 
hundred  of  Berry's  men,  mostly  of  Michigan  regiments,  drove 
back  sixteen  hundred  of  the  enemy.''  At  Fair  Oaks,  on  the 
31st  of  May,  the  Third  particularly  distinguished  itself, 
losing  thirty  men  killed,  one  hundred  and  twenty-four 
wounded,  and  fifteen  missing.  Among  the  wounded  was 
its  commander,  Col.  Stephen  G.  Champlin.  The  Prince  de 
Joinville,  an  eye-witness  of  this  battle,  said :  "  As  at  Wil- 
liamsburg, Kearney  comes  to  re-establish  the  fight.  Berry's 
brigade  of  this  division,  composed  of  Michigan  regiments 


*  Composed  of  the  Second,  Third,  and  Fifth  Michigan,  and  Thirty- 
Seventh  New  York  regiments. 


44 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEK  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


and  an  Irish  battalion,  advances  firm  as  a  wall  into  the 
midst  of  the  disordered  mass  which  wanders  over  the  battle- 
field, and  does  more  by  its  example  than  the  most  powerful 
reinforcement." 

The  Third  was  engaged  at  Savage  Station  and  Peach 
Orchard,  June  29,  1862  ;  Glendale  (or  Charles  City  Cross- 
Koads),  June  30th;  Malvern  Hill,  July  1st ;  and  Grove- 
ton  (or  Second  Bull  Run),  Aug.  29,  1862.  In  the  latter 
battle  it  lost  twenty  men  killed,  besides  a  large  number 
wounded  and  missing.  Proceeding  from  Edwards'  Ferry, 
Md.,  via  Warrenton  and  Falmouth,  Va.,  to  Fredericks- 
burg, Va.,  the  regiment  was  engaged  at  the  latter  place 
Dec.  13,  1862,  losing  nine  men  wounded.  At  Chancel- 
lorsville,  on  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  May,  1863,  it  sustained 
a  loss  of  sixty-three  men  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

On  the  11th  of  June  the  regiment  began  a  toilsome 
march  via  Centreville,  Va.,  Edwards'  Ferry,  and  Frederick 
City,  Md.,  to  Gettysburg.  The  roads  were  dusty,  the  heat 
intense,  and  the  men  suffered  terribly.  At  Gettysburg,  on 
the  2d  and  3d  days  of  July,  1863,  the  Third  fought 
bravely,  sustaining  a  loss  of  forty-one  men,  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing.  Having  followed  the  enemy  to  Williamsport, 
it  marched  thence  to  Harper's  Ferry,  crossed  the  Potomac 
at  Berlin,  and  moved  forward  to  Manassas  Gap.  On  the 
17th  of  August,  1863,  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Alex- 
andria, Va.,  and  from  there  to  New  York  City,  whither  it 
had  been  ordered  to  aid  in  the  preservation  of  the  public 
peace  and  in  keeping  down  a  mob  during  the  then  pending 
dralt.  Remaining  there  a  few  days,  it  proceeded  up  the 
Hudson  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  it  was  stationed  two  weeks. 
It  then  returned  to  its  brigade  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
arriving  at  Culpeper,  Va.,  Sept.  17,  1863. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1863,  the  regiment  took  part 
in  the  Mine  Run  campaign,  engaging  the  enemy  on  the 
27th  at  Locust  Grove,  and  on  the  30th  gt  Mine  Run. 
With  the  army  it  returned  to  Brandy  Station  December  2d, 
having  lost  during  the  movement  thirty-one  men  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  One  hundred  and  eighty  members 
of  the  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans  Dec.  23,  1863. 
They  received  a  thirty  days'  furlough,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time  returned  to  their  command. 

From  December,  1863,  until  the  beginning  of  May,  1864, 
was  a  season  of  inactivity.  On  the  4th  of  the  latter 
month  the  Third  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Ely's  Ford,  ad- 
vanced to  Chancellersville,  and  during  the  three  following 
days  was  in  the  midst  of  the  terrific  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, sustainiag  a  heavy  loss.  It  was  also  engaged  at 
Todd's  Tavern  on  the  8th  and  at  Spottsylvania  on  the  12th, 
where  it  participated  in  the  successful  charge  of  the  Second 
Army  Corps.  At  the  North  Anna  River  it  again  encoun- 
tered the  enemy.  May  23d  and  24th.  The  Pamunkey 
River  was  crossed  on  the  27th,  and  the  advance  continued 
towards  Cold  Harbor.  During  this  month  of  continuous 
fighting  the  regiment  sustained  a  loss  of  thirty-one  men 
killed,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  wounded,  and  twenty-nine 
missing. 

At  Cold  Harbor,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1864,  the  regiment, 
with  the  exception  of  the  re-enlisted  men  and  such  as  had 
joined  since  the  original  organization,  and  certain  desig- 
nated officers,  was  ordered  home  for  the  purpose  of  bein" 


discharged.  The  remaining  officers  and  men — some  three 
hundred  and  fifty  in  number — were  formed  into  a  battalion 
of  four  companies,  and  attached  to  the  Fifth  Jlichigan  In- 
fantry. The  order  consolidating  these  regiments  was  con- 
firmed by  the  War  Department  June  13th,  and  on  the  20th 
day  of  June,  1864,  the  old  Third,  which  had  been  one  of 
the  first  to  take  the  field  in  defense  of  the  government,  was 
formally  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service. 

THE   NEW  THIRD   INFANTRY. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  1864,  the  President  issued  his  proc- 
lamation calling  upon  the  loyal  States  for  five  hundred  thou- 
sand more  men.  Volunteers  from  the  several  States  were  to 
be  accepted  for  one,  two,  and  three  years,  as  they  elected. 
Michigan's  quota  under  this  call  was  more  than  eighteen 
thousand,  of  which  twelve  thousand  had  to  be  recruited  or 
drafted.  Governor  Blair  determined  to  raise  six  new  regi- 
ments of  infantry,  viz.,  the  Third,  Fourth,  Twenty-eighth, 
Twenty-ninth,  Thirtieth,  and  Thirty-first,  or  one  in  each 
Congressional  district,  and  in  pursuance  of  this  plan,  issued 
his  proclamation  on  the  21st  of  July,  1864.  On  the  29th 
of  the  same  month  orders  were  issued  to  reorganize  the 
Third  Infantry,  and  to  Col.  Moses  B.  Houghton  (formerly 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  old  organization)  was  intrusted 
the  charge  of  raising  the  new  regiment.  Grand  Rapids  was 
named  its  place  of  rendezvous,  and  the  Fourth  District  its 
field  for  recruiting. 

The  exigencies  of  the  service  did  not  permit  the  com- 
plete organization  of  all  these  regiments  before  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  impending  draft  (Sept.  5,  1864),  and  seven 
companies,  which  had  been  raised  for  the  Thirtieth  at 
Pontiao,  were  distributed  between  the  Third  and  Fourth, 
four  companies  going  to  the  former  and  three  to  the  latter, 
and  the  organization  of  the  Thirtieth  was  abandoned.  The 
Third,  thus  reinforced,  completed  its  organization  at  once 
(October  1.5th),  and,  being  mustered  in  with  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy-nine  officers  and  men,  left  camp  for  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  Oct.  20,  1864,  going  thence  to  Decatur,  Ala. 
It  remained  at  Decatur — having  meanwhile  a  skirmish  with 
the  enemy  at  that  point — until  November  25th,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  and  ordered  to  duty  at 
Fortress  Rosecrans. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  while  Gen.  Milroy  was  engaged 
at  the  Cedars  with  the  principal  part  of  Forrest's  rebel  com- 
mand, Faulkner's  rebel  brigade  of  mounted  infantry  made 
a  dash  on  the  picket-line  at  Murfreesboro',  drove  in  the 
guard,  and  gained  possession  of  the  town.  After  a  spirited 
engagement  of  an  hour's  duration,  four  companies  of  the 
Third,  together  with  an  equal  number  of  companies  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Eighty-firet  Ohio,  with  a  section  of  ar- 
tillery, repulsed  the  rebels  and  pursued  them  two  miles. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Murfreesboro'  and  its  vicinity 
until  Jan.  1.6, 1865,  when  it  was  moved  to  Huntsville,  Ala., 
and  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Army  Corps.  On  the  31st  of 
January  it  was  ordered  to  Eastport,  Miss.,  and  proceeded 
as  far  as  Nashville,  Tenn.,  when,  the  order  being  counter- 
manded, it  returned  to  Huntsville,  remaining  there  until  the 
middle  of  March.  With  its  brigade  it  then  marched  to 
East  Tennessee,  occupying  successively  positions  at  New 
Market,  Bull  Gap,  and  Jonesboro',  where  it  was  employed 


FIFTH   INFANTRY. 


45 


in  pursuing,  capturing,  and  driving  off  the  numerous  guer- 
rilla bands  infesting  that  region.  The  Third  was  ordered  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  on  the  20th  of  March,  arrived  there  the 
28th,  and  on  the  15th  of  June,  1865,  with  its  corps,  pro- 
ceeded by  rail  from  Nashville  to  Johnsville,  Tenn. ;  thence 
by  steamers  down  the  Tennessee,  Ohio,  and  Mississippi 
Rivers  to  New  Orleans,  arriving  on  the  5th  of  July.  After 
a  short  delay  the  regiment  proceeded  in  vessels  to  Indian- 
ola,  Texas,  and  thence  it  marched  to  Green  Lake.  On  the 
12th  of  September  it  started  out  for  Western  Texas,  and, 
after  a  fatiguing  march  of  fourteen  days'  duration,  it 
reached  San  Antonio.  During  the  following  winter  two 
companies  were  on  duty  at  Gonzales.  Early  in  the  spring 
of  1866  the  entire  regiment  was  ordered  to  Victoria,  Texas, 
and  was  there  mustered  out  of  the  service,  May  26,  1866. 
Marching  to  Indianola,  it  took  steamers  to  New  Orleans, 
going  thence  via  the  Mississippi  River  to  Cairo,  111.,  whence 
it  was  transported  by  railway  to  Detroit,  Mich.  It  arrived 
there  June  10,  1866,  and  was  soon  after  discharged. 

SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY  SOLDIEES  IN  THE  THIKD   INFANTRY. 
Company  B. 
John  N.  Foster,  died  of  diseaBe,  June  15, 1862. 
Bichard  Herrington.disch.  for  disability,  April  1, 1862. 
Aaron  Herriugton,  disch.  for  disability,  March  11, 1863. 
Benben  Hopliins,  disch.  for  disability,  March  30, 1863. 
Theron  Janes,  veteran,  enl.  Deo.  23, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Mortimer  Marlthiim,  died  in  action  at  Fair  Oaks,  May  31, 1862. 
Lyman  McCarty,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  9, 1861. 
Ezra  Ransom,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  1, 1862. 

Company  C. 
William  Choatea,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Blair,  Va.,  July  1, 1861. 
Christian  Foster,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  10, 1861. 
Henry  Reubelman,  veteran,  onl.  Dec.  21, 1863.  * 

Abijah  Southard,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 
Casper  Thener,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  21, 1863. 

Company  D. 
Willard  McKay,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  8, 1861. 

Company  F, 
James  Gunnegal,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1864. 

Company  G. 
Charles  T.  Goodell,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24,  1863;  died  in  action  at  Wilderness, 

Va.,  May  6, 1864. 
Eben  D.  Jackson,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  10, 1862. 
Patriclc  Kilboy,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  24, 1801. 
Francis  Maguire,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  21, 1861. 
Lemuel  Smith,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Charles  Shaft,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863 ;  must,  out  Aug.  23, 1865. 
John  Shaft,  veteran,  enl.  Deo.  24, 1863;  died  June  22, 1864. 
James  Trimmer,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  6, 1862. 
Arthur  Walkins,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863;  must,  out  July  6, 1865. 
Philo  H.  Wier,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24,  1863;  died  June  16, 1864. 

SOLDIEES   IN   THE   THIRD,  FROM   CLINTON   COUNTY. 
Company  B. 
Burnett  Hopkins,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Lewis  Rogers,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Bbenezer  Sweet,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Francis  Brinnick,  died  in  Andersonville  prison  pen,  July  12, 1864. 
Herman  Hardenburgh,  missing  in  action,  June  30, 1862. 
Alexander  Parks,  trana.  to  5th  Mich.  Inf.;  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  3, 1864. 

Company  X>. 

Jerome  Briggs,  missing  in  action. 

Clinton  Corey,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863  ;  trana.  to  6th  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out 

July  5,1-65. 
Edgar  Green,  disch.  for  disability,  May,  1862. 
Amos  W.  Gillott,  died  in  Virginia,  Sept.  20, 1862. 
William  H.  Hicka,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  24, 1863. 
Philander  J.  Myers,  disch.  to  enl.  in  regular  army,  Jan.  18, 1863. 
Webster  Morris,  Ovid. 
James  Reynolds,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 


Charles  Vosburg,  disch.  for  disability.  May  20, 1863. 
Elbridge  Wellington,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  5, 1861. 

Company  F. 
Asa  B.  Daniels,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Elijah  Fish,  died  in  action  at  Groveton  (Bull  Run),  Aug.  29, 1862. 
Warren  Stone,  trans,  to  5th  Mich  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  5,  .865. 
Charles  B.  Sands,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf.;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Chauncey  D.  Webster,  trans. to  5th  Mich.  Inf.;  must,  out  July  5,  1865. 

Compamy  G. 
Sergt.  George  M.  Cook,  Eagle ;  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  10, 1863. 
Corp.  John  Blanchard,  died  in  action  at  Seven  Pines,  May  31, 1862. 
Corp,  Case  B.  Wickham,died  in  action  at  Seven  Pines,  May  31, 1862. 
Mus.  Dewitt  C.  Forman.  pro.  to  principal  nius. 

Augustus  Billings,  died  at  Douglas  Hospital  of  wounds,  June  17, 1862. 
Joshua  R.  Benson,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863 ;  trans,  to  5th  Inf. ;  must,  out  July 

,5, 1865. 
John  Bissell,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
William  Clark,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24,  1863 ;  trans,  to  6th  Inf, ;  must,  out  July 

6,  1865. 
George  W.  Davis,  veteran,  enl,  Dec,  24, 1863  ;  trans,  to  5th  Inf. ;  must,  out  July 

5, 1865. 
William  H,  Davis,  veteran,  enl,  Dec,  24,  1863;  died  in  action  at  Wilderness, 

May  6, 18'  4, 
Charles  Gaskiil,  died  in  action  at  Seven  Pines,  May  31, 1862, 
Calvin  D,  Holmes,  died  of  wounds.  May  18, 18G4. 
Andrew  J.  Heth,  disch.  for  disability,  March  18, 1863. 
Henry  W.  McRoberts,  died  of  disease  at  Fort  Monroe,  March  23, 1862. 
Moses  F.  Newman,  trans,  to  5tb  Mich,  Inf.;  must,  out  July  5, 1865, 
Henry  J.  Patterson,  veteian,  enl.  Deo.  24, 1863;  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf.;  umst, 

out  July  5, 1865. 
Charles  H,  Rose,  disch.  for  disability.  May  25, 1862. 
Chauncey  Strickland,  died  of  disease  at  Grand  Rapids,  June  13, 1861, 
Harrison  Sickles,  died  of  disease  in  Virginia,  March  24, 1862. 

Company  K, 
Wallace  W.  Wade,  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1802. 

Company  C  {new  Third). 
Corp.  Benjamin  F.  Fuller,  Westphalia;  enl.  Sept,  3,  1864;  died  of  disease  in 

Texas,  Nov,  6, 1865. 
Samuel  F.  Cranson,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
John  Gallagher,  must,  out  Sept,  25, 1865, 
John  J,  Langdon,  must,  out  June  14, 1866. 
Jason  S.  Meishon,  must,  out  May  26, 1866. 

Spencer  H.  Northrop,  died  of  disease  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Aug.  9, 1866. 
George  Rich,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Feb.  28, 1865. 
William  S.  Stiles,  died  of  disease  in  Texas,  Dec.  7, 1865. 
Prescott  Vernon,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

FIFTH  INFAWTBY. 

Organization  at  Fort  Wayne — Winter  Quarters  in  Virginia — Battles 
of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  and  Charles  City  Cross-Roada — 
Second  Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and  Gettys- 
burg— Mine  Run — Veteran  Re-enlistment — ^Tho  Wilderness  Cam- 
paign—Consolidation of  the  Third  and  Fifth— Spring  Campaign 
of  1865— Close  of  Service. 

One  of  the  companies  of  the  Fifth  Infantry  was  raised 
wholly  in  Shiawassee  County,  and  two  others  contained 
a  number  of  men  from  that  county  and  Clinton.  The 
Shiawassee  company — originally  known  as  the  "  IngersoU 
Rifles" — was  the  first  one  raised  in  the  county  for  actual 
service,  its  formation  having  been  commenced  in  the  latter 
part  of  April,  1861.  On  the4thof  May  following  its  strength 
had  been  raised  to  seventy-four,  rank  and  file  (as  was  an- 
nounced in  the  Shiawassee  American  of  that  date),  and  not 
long  afterwards  its  ranks  were  filled  to  about  twenty  men  more 
than  the  maximum  number.  This  excess  of  men  afterwards 
joined  the  Third  Infantry  at  Grand  Rapids.  The  com- 
manding officer  of  the"  Rifles"  was  Capt.  Louis  B.  Quack- 
enbush,  who  had  been  principally  instrumental  in  recruiting 


46 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


the  company.  The  other  two  original  commissioned  officers 
were  First  Lieut.  William  Waken.shaw,  and  Second  Lieut. 
William  K.  Tillotson,  both  of  whom  had  been  active  in 
procuring  enlistments. 

Several  weeks  passed  after  the  company  was  full  before 
it  was  definitely  assigned  to  its  regiment.  This  period  was 
passed  in  perfecting  its  organization,  drill,  and  discipline, 
and  on  the  10th  of  August  the  "  IngersoU  Rifles"  left 
Owosso  one  hundred  and  ten  strong,  and  proceeded  to  the 
regimental  rendezvous  at  Fort  Wayne,  Detroit,  where  it 
lost  its  recruiting  name,  and  was  designated  as  Company 
"  H"  of  the  Fifth  Michigan  Infantry.  The  regiment  hav- 
ing completed  its  organization  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  on  the  28th  of  August,  1861,  with  a  total 
strength  of  about  nine  hundred  officers  and  men,  under 
command  of  Col.  Henry  D.  Terry. 

On  the  11th  of  September,  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  men  of  the  Fifth  Regiment  broke  camp  at  the 
Fort  Wayne  rendezvous,  packed  their  knapsacks,  and  pre- 
pared for  their'  departure  to  the  front.  It  was  a  momentous 
business,  and  nearly  all  the  day  was  consumed  in  the  prepa- 
rations which  in  their  later  days  of  campaigning  they 
learned  to  accomplish  in  a  half-hour.  At  a  little  before 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  several  companies  were 
marched  to  the  parade-ground  of  the  fort,  and  there  formed 
in  line  for  the  reception  of  a  flag, — the  gift  of  Messrs.  F. 
Buhl,  Newland  &  Co.,  of  Detroit, — which  was  about  to  be 
presented  to  the  regiment.  There  were  many  spectators 
present,  consisting  of  citizens  of  Detroit  and  friends  and 
relatives  of  the  departing  soldiers,  who  had  come  to  say 
good-by, — many  of  them  for  the  last  time.  The  crowd 
was  kept  back  by  the  unceasing  labor  of  guards  stationed 
along  the  line.  When  the  swaying  to  and  fro  of  the  people 
in  the  vain  effort  of  each  one  to  stand  in  front  of  the  others 
had  ceased.  Marshal  Whiting,  with  Mr.  Frederick  Buhl  on 
one  side  and  Alderman  Backus  on  the  other,  stepped  for- 
ward bearing  the  colors.  Approaching  to  within  a  few 
paces  of  Col.  Terry,  Mr.  Backus  made  a  few  well-timed 
remarks  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Buhl,  which  were  responded  to 
by  Col.  Terry  in  an  appropriate  manner.  The  flag,  which 
was  of  heavy  silk,  fringed  with  gold  and  surmounted  by  a 
gilded  eagle,  was  handed  to  Sergt.  Asa  A.  Rouse,  of  "  E" 
company,  who  had  been  designated  as  the  color-bearer  of  the 
regiment.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony  the  companies 
were  marched  back  to  the  camp-ground  for  supper ;  a  few 
final  preparations  were  made,  and  between  seven  and  eight 
o'clock  the  command  was  marched  to  the  river  and  em- 
barked for  Cleveland,  en  route  for  the  national  capital.  The 
journey  of  the  regiment  from  Detroit  to  Washington  was 
described  in  a  letter  written  by  an  officer  of  the  regiment, 
from  which  account  the  following  extracts  are  given  : 

"  We  embarked  on  Wednesday  evening,  September  11th, 
on  the  steamer  '  Ocean,'  for  Cleveland.  Our  journey 
was  pleasant  but  rapid.  As  the  shrill  whistle  of  the 
steamer  gave  the  signal  for  our  departure,  the  most  intense 
excitement  prevailed,  and  when  she  swung  round  from  her 
moorings  cheer  after  cheer  rose  from  the  decks,  for  our 
country  and  her  flag,  our  homes  and  the  dear  ones  left  be- 
hind us,  and  was  returned  with  the  same  spirit  ana  enthu- 
siasm by  the  numerous  crowd  that  thrpnged  the  wharves  to 


witness  our  departure.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing we  arrived  at  Cleveland,  where  we  were  detained  till 
nine  o'clock,  and  then  took  the  cars  for  Pittsburgh.  As 
the  bell  rang  to  warn  us  of  our  departure,  crowds  of  people 
gathered  round  the  cars  to  bid  the  Wolverine  boys  good- 
by.  Nor  was  Cleveland  behind  in  giving  us  a  warm  re- 
ception. The  whole  line  as  far  as  Pittsburgh  was  crowded 
with  people  of  all  grades,  from  the  aged  grandparent  to  the 
lisping  child,  to  see  us  pass.  At  nine  o'clock  the.  same 
evening  we  arrived  at  Pittsburgh,  where  wc  took  supper, 
changed  cars,  and  resumed  our  way  for  Washington  by  the 
way  of  Harrisburg.  We  arrived  in  the  latter  place  be- 
tween two  and  three  o'clock  the  next  morning.  There  we 
were  numbered  off'  and  stowed  away  in  cattle-cars  of  the 
most  old  and  dilapidated  kind,  and  in  this  wretched  way 
we  proceeded  to  Baltimore,  where  we  were  again  furnished 
with  good  coaches.  We  arrived  in  Washington  on  Sunday 
morning,  somewhat  fatigued  from  our  long  journey.  We 
remained  there  till  night,  when  we  received  orders  to 
march, — to  what  place  we  did  not  know.  We  were  soon 
prepared  for  the  journey,  and  after  a  march  of  some  three 
or  four  miles  we  arrived  at  Meridian  Hill,  where  we  learned 
we  were  to  encamp." 

Meridian  Hill  is  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  city  of 
Washington,  and  at  this  place  the  Fifth  remained  until  the 
morning  of  Wednesday,  September  18th,  just  one  week 
from  the  day  of  departure  from  Detroit.  It  then  broke 
camp  and  marched  down  through  the  city  to  the  arsenal, 
where  the  men  were  furnished  with  indifferent  Springfield 
muskets.  Thence  the  regiment  moved  across  the  Long 
Bridge  into  Virgrnia  and  out  to  Arlington,  where  it  bi- 
vouacked for  the  night,  and  on  the  following  day  marched 
about  two  miles  farther  from  the  river  to  Hunter's  Chapel, 
where  it  halted  and  pitched  a  camp,  named  Camp  Richard- 
son, in  honor  of  Col.  Richardson,  to  whose  brigade  (of 
Heintzelman's  division)  it  had  been  assigned  for  duty.  On 
the  22d  a  part  of  the  regiment  was  placed  on  picket  some 
two  miles  farther  to  the  front.  This  was  the  first  time  the 
men  of  the  Fifth  stood  in  front  of  the  enemy,  and  here  it 
was  that  they  first  heard  the  crack  of  hostile  rifles. 

On  Saturday  the  28th  of  September,  six  companies  of 
the  regiment  moved  to  Munson's  Hill,  Va.  The  remainder 
of  the  regiment  came  up  immediately  afterwards,  and  to 
Col.  Terry's  command  is  due  the  credit  of  first  occupying 
this  position  in  the  front  where  an  attack  was  hourly  looked 
for,  though  none  was  made.  At  this  place  the  regiment 
was  without  tents,  and  constantly  engaged  on  fatigue  duty, 
felling  timber,  and,  with  the  Thirty-seventh  New  York, 
constructing  substantial  earthworks  on  the  hill.  On  the 
12th  of  October  the  Fifth  moved  to  Hunter's  Creek,  two 
miles  south  of  Alexandria,  and  the  men  were  put  on  similar 
duty  in  the  construction  of  Fort  Lyon,  and  remained  so 
occupied  at  that  place  for  about  two  months. 

In  the  early  part  of  December  the  regiment  moved  about 
three  miles  farther  down  the  Potomac,  to  "  Camp  Michi- 
gan," where  the  men  were  supplied  with  Sibley  tents,  and 
set  about  preparing  winter  quarters.  The  enemy  was  in 
their  front,  though  not  in  much  force,  and  the  regiment 
remained  here  in  comparative  comfort  through  the  winter 
of  1861-62,  and  until  the  general  movement  of  the  Army 


FIFTH   INFANTRY. 


47 


of  the.  Potomac,  in  March.  The  first  of  the  operations  of 
that  campaign  was  a  feint  made  by  nearly  the  whole  army 
in  the  direction  of  Manassas,  which  was  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  the  transportation  of  the  immense  host  down  the 
Potomac  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The  Fifth  embarked  at  Al- 
exandria, and  moved  with  the  army  to  the  Virginia  Penin- 
sula, when,  on  the  4th  of  April,  1862,  it  marched  with  its 
division  towards  Yorktown,  arriving  in  front  of  that  strong- 
hold on  the  following  day. 

The  Fifth,  as  a  part  of  the  investing  force,  remained  in 
front  of  Yorktown  until  Sunday,  the  4th  of  May,  when  the 
Union  army  was  electrified  by  the  announcement  that  the 
hostile  works  had  been  evacuated  during  the  previous  night, 
and  that  the  enemy  was  retiring  towards  Richmond.  The 
forces  of  Gen.  McClellan  were  at  once  put  in  motion  to 
pursue,  and  the  Fifth  Michigan,  with  its  brigade,  moved 
from  camp  on  through  the  evacuated  intrenchments  at  about 
three  o'clock  p.m.,  taking  the  road  towards  Williamsburg, 
but  bivouacking  for  the  night  a  short  distance  beyond  York- 
town.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Monday,  the  5th, 
the  men  were  turned  out  in  the  pouring  rain  to  prepare  for 
marching ;  but  the  regiment  did  not  move  until  about  ten 
A.M.  Then  forward  over  the  almost  bottomless  roads, 
which  were  clogged  and  blockaded  by  artillery,  cavalry,  and 
army  wagons,  the  men  of  the  Fifth  pressed  on  towards  the 
field  where  the  battle  had  been  in  progress  since  the  early 
morning.  For  hours  they  struggled  on  through  the  mud 
and  rain,  and  as  they  approached  Williamsburg  the  thun- 
der of  artillery  and  the  continuous  roar  of  volleys  told  too 
plainly  of  the  work  on  which  they  were  about  to  enter. 
Order  after  order  came  from  the  front  to  hurry  up  the 
brigade,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  the  Fifth 
stood  in  line  of  battle,  about  five  hundred  strong,  in  front 
of  the  enemy's  position,  the  Thirty-seventh  New  York 
joining  its  line,  the  Third  Michigan  being  in  support  of  a 
battery,  and  the  Second  Michigan  being  held  in  reserve. 
These  four  regiments  formed  the  Third  (Berry's)  brigade, 
of  Gen.  Phil.  Kearney's  division. 

It  was  not  until  between  three  and  four  o'clock  that  the 
Fifth  delivered  its  first  fire,  but  from  that  time  it  was  kept 
up  without  intermission  till  nearly  dark.  The  ammunition 
being  then  nearly  exhausted,  the  order  was  given  to  charge 
with  the  bayonet.  It  was  obeyed  with  alacrity.  The  reg- 
iment charged,  carried  the  rifle-pits  in  its  front,  and  occu- 
pied them  through  the  night.  The  rain  ceased  and  the 
sky  cleared  during  the  night,  and  the  morning  of  the  6th  of 
May  opened  bright  and  beautiful ;  but  the  enemy  had  retreat- 
ed, and  was  then  some  miles  away  on  the  road  to  Richmond. 

Williamsburg  was  the  first  battle-field  of  the  Fifth 
Michigan,  and  a  wild  initiation  it  was.  The  regiment  went 
in  with  about  five  hundred  men,  and  out  of  this  force  its 
loss  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  in  killed  and  wounded. 
The  heroism  of  the  Fiflh  and  its  companion  regiments  of 
the  brigade  in  this  battle  is  attested  by  the  following  order 
of  Gen.  Berry,  the  brigade  commander,  viz. : 

"SPECIAL   ORDER. 

"  HEADQUAHTEnS   THIRD    BRIGADE,    KeAHNEy's   DiYISION, 

"  Willi AMSBnBG  Battle-Field,  May  8,  1862. 

"  The  commander  of  the  brigade  takes  great  pleasure  in 
makin"  this  official  communication  to  his  command :  That 


they  by  heroic  fortitude  on  Monday  last,  by  making  a 
forced  march  through  mud  and  rain,  each  vying  with  the 
other  to  see  who  could  most  cheerfully  stand  the  hardships 
the  time  called  for,  making  thereby  a  march  that  others 
shrank  from ;  coming  into  a  fight  at  double-quick,  made 
doubtful  to  our  side  by  the  overwhelming  mass  of  the 
enemy  poured  upon  our  centre ;  by  a  rapid  deploy  and 
quick  formation,  and  by  coolness,  precision,  and  energy 
beat  back  the  enemy,  recapturing  our  lost  position  and 
artillery,  and  also  by  a  heroic  charge  took  a  stronghold  of 
the  enemy,  and  thereby  dislodged  him  and  drove  him  on 
the  plain  beyond  his  well-chosen  position,  have  done  them- 
selves great  honor,  have  honored  the  States  of  Michigan 
and  New  York,  and  have  won  a  name  in  history  that  the 
most  ambitious  might  be  proud  of. 

"  R.  G.  Berry, 
"  Brig.-Gen.  commanding  Third  Brigade." 

In  the  advance  from  Williamsburg  the  Fifth  moved  with 
its  brigade  up  to  and  across  the  Chickahominy,  and  took 
its  place  in  the  lines  confronting  Richmond.  Again,  on 
the  31st  of  May,  it  fought  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  and 
again  it  suffered  terribly ;  its  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
being  one  hundred  and  forty-nine  out  of  about  three  hun- 
dred men  who  entered  the  fight, — this  being  proportion- 
ately much  greater  than  its  loss  at  Williamsburg.  Among 
the  killed  of  the  Fifth  at  Fair  Oaks  was  Capt.  Louis  B. 
Quackenbush,  commanding  the  Shiawassee  company. 

During  the  "Seven  Days'"  battles  which  accompanied 
the  "  change  of  base,"  or  more  properly  the  retreat,  of  the 
army  from  the  Chickahominy  to  the  James,  the  Fifth 
Michigan  fought  bravely  at  Charles  City  Cross-Roads, 
losing  thirty-three  killed  and  wounded  and  eighteen  miss- 
ing. It  was  also  engaged  at  Malvern  Hill,  July  1st,  with 
slight  loss.  After  the  evacuation  of  Harrison's  Landing 
the  regiment  was  moved  with  its  command  and  other 
troops  up  the  Potomac,  and  thence  to  the  succor  of  the  . 
sorely-pressed  Array  of  Virginia  under  Gen.  Pope.  In 
this  duty  it  was  engaged,  but  without  severe  loss,  at 
Manassas,  August  30th,  and  at  Chantilly  (where  the  gal- 
lant Kearney  fell)  on  the  2d  of  September.  Later  in  the 
fall,  when  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  its  new  com- 
mander. Gen.  Burnside,  marched  towards  Fredericksburg, 
the  Fifth  Michigan,  as  part  of  the  force,  marched  from 
Leesburg,  Va.,  on  the  1st  of  November,  moved  down  the 
Rappahannock,  and  encamped  on  the  left  bank  of  that 
stream  near  Falmouth. 

When  the  operations  were  comraenced  against  the  strong 
position  of  the  enemy  on  the  heights  of  Fredericksburg,  the 
regiment  crossed  the  Rappahannock  with  the  attacking  col- 
umn on  the  12th  of  December,  and  took  gallant  part  in  the 
disastrous  battle  of  the  following  day,  in  which  it  lost  its 
commanding  ofiicer,  Lieut.-Col.  John  GiUuly.  The  story  how 
the  men  of  the  Fifth  fought  on  that  bloody  day  is  briefly 
told  in  the  official  report  of  Maj.  Sherlock,  who  assumed 
command  when  his  superior  officer  fell.     It  is  as  follows : 

"Headquarters  Fifth  Michigan  Volunteers, 
"  Bivouac  on  the  Battle-Field,  Deo.  15,  1862. 

"  Capt.  Wilson,  A.  A.  A.  Gen. 

"  Sir, — In  accordance  with  a  circular  from  headquarters, 
I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 


4S 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLIxNTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


which  this  regiment  sustained  in  the  action  of  the  13th 
instant.  The  regiment,  under  command  of  Lieut.-Col. 
John  Gilluly,  came  upon  the  field  at  half-past  one  o'clock, 
and  after  shifting  from  place  to  place,  occupying  different 
positions,  constantly  exposed  to  a  furious  fire  of  shot  and 
shell,  was  at  length  detailed  to  support  Randolph's  Battery, 
which  was  in  rather  a  precarious  situation,  on  account  of 
the  falling  back  of  some  regiments  thrown  out  in  front  of 
it.  At  this  juncture  the  regiment  was  ordered  forward,  and 
opened  an  effective  fire  upon  the  enemy,  who  were  sheltered 
by  a  brush  fence,  and  after  a  brisk  conflict  drove  them  to 
the  woods.  Lieut.-Col.  Gilluly  fell  mortally  wounded 
while  cheering  on  the  men,  and  I  assumed  command. 
The  regiment  remained  on  the  scene  of  action  till  evening, 
when  the  First  New  York  relieved  us,  and  we  retired  in 
perfect  order,  carrying  with  us  our  dead  and  wounded. 
The  regiment  numbered  two  hundred  and  seventy-two,  rank 
and  file,  and  our  loss  is  nine  killed  and  seventy-four  wounded. 
The  officers  and  men  behaved  nobly  throughout  the  short 
but  sharp  conflict,  and  it  would  be  an  act  of  injustice  to  par- 
ticularize where  all  demeaned  themselves  so  well ;  yet  I  can- 
not forbear  mentioning  Color-Sergt.  Bergher,  who  stood  up 
bravely,  waving  the  colors  defiantly  in  the  face  of  the  foe. 
"  I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  R.  T.  Sherlock, 
"  Major  Commanding  Fifth  Michigan  Infantry." 

On  the  15th  of  December  the  regiment  recro.ssed  the 
river  from  the  battle-field,  and  returned  to  its  old  camp  at 
Falmouth.  In  January  it  took  part  in  the  historic  "  Mud 
March"  up  the  Rappahannock  to  Banks'  Ford,  and  on  the 
abandonment  of  that  expedition  returned  again  to  its  camp, 
where  it  passed  the  remainder  of  the  winter.  On  the  1st 
of  January,  1863,  it  numbered  less  than  seventy  men  fit 
for  duty,  but  this  number  was  soon  after  increased  by  re- 
cruitment and  returns  from  hospital. 

On  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign,  under  the  new 
commander  of  the  army, — Gen.  Hooker, — the  Fifth  moved 
up  the  Rappahannock,  crossed  the  river  on  the  1st  of  May, 
was  engaged  at  the  Cedars  on  the  2d,  and  took  part  in  the 
great  battle  of  Chancellorsville  on  the  3d,  where  it  again 
lost  its  commanding  officer,  Lieut.-Col.  Sherlock,  killed  in 
action.  The  losses  of  the  regiment  in  the  engagement  of 
the  2d  and  3d  were  fifty  killed  and  wounded  and  thirty-one 
missing.  On  the  6th  of  May  it  recrossed  the  river  to  its 
north  bank,  and  marching  twenty-eight  miles  in  twelve 
hours,  reoccupied  its  winter  quarters  at  Falmouth. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  the  Con- 
federate commander  marched  northward  with  the  intention 
of  invading  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  and  as  soon  as  the 
object  of  this  movement  became  apparent  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  was  put  in  motion  to  intercept  him.  On  the  11th 
of  June  the  Fifth  Michigan  moved  northward  with  the 
column,  and  in  that  day  marched  eighteen  miles  in  seven 
hours.  On  the  following  day  the  same  distance  was  made, 
through  intolerable  heat  and  dust,  in  six  hours.  The 
inarch  was  exceedingly  rapid  and  laborious  through  all  the 
distance.  On  the  25th  of  June  the  regiment  marched 
twenty-eight  miles  in  eleven  hours,  though  the  day  was  ex- 
cessively sultry.     In   the  evening  of  the  1st  of  July  it 


bivouacked  at  Emmettsburg,  Md.,  within  six  hours'. march 
of  the  field  of  Gettysburg. 

The  regiment  with  its  brigade  left  Emmettsburg  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  2d,  and  marched  with  the 
greatest  possible  rapidity  to  Gettysburg,  where  it  arrived  at 
ten  o'clock  A.M.,  having  made  the  last  ten  miles  of  the  dis- 
tance in  three  hours.  The  regiment  was  placed  in  position 
on  the  field  near  the  left  centre  of  the  line,  where  it  re- 
mained till  about  two  o'clock,  when  the  brigade  was  moved 
to  the  front.  Between  three  and  four  o'clock  three  com- 
panies— A,  B,  and  H — of  the  Fifth,  under  Capts.  Waken- 
shaw  and  Generous,  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and 
moved  forward  across  a  ravine,  up  a  steep,  rooky  hillside, 
and  through  an  open  wood  to  the  edge  of  a  wheat-field ; 
the  remainder  of  the  regiment  moving  up  over  the  same 
ground  to  a  position  partly  sheltered  behind  trees  and 
rocks.  Soon  a  battery  opened  on  them  directly  in  front, 
but  soon  changed  position  about  one  hundred  rods  farther 
to  the  left  and  again  opened,  but  soon  ceased  firing,  when 
a  heavy  body  of  Confederate  infantry  moved  out  in  close 
column  from  the  cover  of  the  woods,  and  charged  furi- 
ously with  the  peculiar  rebel  yell.  They  were  received 
with  a  fire  which  drove  back  their  first  line,  but  they  re- 
formed and  again  charged  with  greater  desperation  than 
before.  Simultaneously  the  enemy  charged  also  on  the 
centre  and  drove  it  back,  thus  exposing  that  part  of  the 
line  in  which  was  the  Fifth  Michigan  to  a  murderous  cross- 
fire and  the  danger  of  being  assaulted  in  flank.  This  cir- 
cumstance, with  the  furious  charge  in  front,  compelled  the 
regiment  and  its  brigade  to  fall  back  for  nearly  half  a  mile, 
which  they  did  in  good  order,  and  fighting  over  every  rod 
of  the  lost  ground.  Soon  after  this  the  regiment  was  re- 
lieved by  another,  and  was  not  again  engaged,  though  the 
battle  continued  till  darkness  closed  the  carnage  of  the  day. 
The  Fifth  had  been  engaged  less  than  one  hour,  but  in  that 
brief  time  it  had  lost  one  hundred  and  five  men  killed  and 
wounded,  and  five  missing.  On  the  4th  of  July  it  was 
held  in  reserve  and  not  engaged,  except  slightly  in  skirm- 
ishing. In  the  evening  of  that  day  the  Confederate  retreat 
commenced. 

The  regiment  moved  from  Gettysburg  with  other  troops 
in  pursuit  of  the  retiring  enemy  to  Williamsport,  on  the 
upper  Potomac,  and  afterwards,  the  pursuit  having  been 
abandoned,  marched  down  the  river  to  Berlin,  crossed  from 
that  point  into  Virginia,  and  moved  by  way  of  Manassas 
Gap  to  a  beautiful  camp  at  Fauquier  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  where  and  in  that  locality  it  remained  until  the 
16th  of  August,  when  orders  were  received  for  the  Fifth 
and  Third  Michigan  Regiments  to  report  at  Alexandria, 
Va.  The  movement  ordered  was  a  mysterious  one,  and  all 
kinds  of  surmises  were  indulged  in  by  officers  and  men  as 
to  their  probable  ultimate  destination. 

The  Fifth  Regiment  embarked  at  Alexandria,  August 
22d,  on  board  the  ocean  steamer  "  Baltic,''  which  had  also 
on  board  four  other  regiments  of  the  "  Ohio  brigade,"  to 
which  the  Fifth  was  at  that  time  temporarily  attached.  The 
ship  moved  down  the  Potomac  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
23d,  but  had  only  proceeded  as  far  as  Matthias  Point  when 
she  grounded  on  a  sand-bar,  and  remained  fast  in  that  position 
for  four  days.     By  removing  the  anchor,  three  hundred 


FIFTH  INFANTRY. 


49 


tons  of  coal,  and  two  regiments,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
five  tug-boats,  she  at  last  got  afloat  and  moved  down  the 
river  and  through  Chesapeake  Bay  to  the  ocean,  where  she 
turned  northward  towards  her  destination  (which  was  the 
city  of  New  York),  and  arrived  there  on  the  30th.  The 
troops,  which  had  been  sent  here  to  assist  in  quelling  the 
draft  riots,  if  necessary,  were  disembarked  on  Governor's 
Island.  The  Third  Michigan  had  preceded  the  Fifth  by 
another  vessel,  and  these  two  regiments  were  now  ordered 
to  proceed  up  the  Hudson  lliver  to  Troy.  They  embarked 
on  river  steamers,  reaching  Troy  the  next  morning.  They 
were  first  quartered  at  the  armory,  a  day  or  two  later  at 
the  court-house,  and  finally,  on  the  5th  of  September,  they 
were  removed  to  the  Fair-Grounds.  The  Trojans  were 
very  much  surprised  at  seeing  two  Michigan  regiments  in 
their  streets,  but  they  received  them  most  hospitably,  so 
that  the  men  of  the  Fifth  counted  their  stay  at  Troy  among 
the  most  pleasant  of  all  their  war  experiences.  No  duty  be- 
yond that  of  the  camp  and  the  drill-ground  was  required 
of  the  regiment  during  its  sojourn  at  Troy,  and  the  neces- 
sity for  its  presence  there  having  passed  it  left  on  Sunday 
evening,  September  13th,  for  New  York  by  steamer,  and 
arriving  there  in  the  following  morning,  left  immediately 
by  railroad  for  Washington  under  orders  to  rejoin  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  It  arrived  at  Washington  in  the  night  of 
September  15th,  and  three  days  later  proceeded  to  Alex- 
andria, whence,  alter  a  stop  of  one  day,  it  was  moved  to 
Fairfax  Station,  and  from  there  to  the  camp  of  its  old  bri- 
gade, between  that  place  and  Culpeper.  The  brigade  was 
the  Third  of  the  First  Division,  Third  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

On  the  17th  of  November  the  regiment  moved  to  the 
Rappahannock  River,  crossed  at  Kelly's  Ford,  and  soon 
after  moved  to  near  Brandy  Station,  occupying  a  deserted 
camp  of  the  enemy.  On  the  26th  it  crossed  the  Rapidan 
with  the  forces  which  were  moving  to  Mine  Run.  Taking 
part  in  that  expedition,  it  was  engaged  at  Locust  Grove  on 
the  27th,  and  there  lost  several  killed  and  wounded.  It 
reached  the  front  of  the  enemy's  works  at  Mine  Run,  where 
for  thirty-six  hours  it  remained  in  support  of  a  battery. 
From  Mine  Run  the  Fifth  fell  back  with  the  army,  and 
again  occupied  its  camp  at  Brandy  Station,  which  became 
its  winter  quarters  until  the  28th,  when  (the  requisite  num- 
ber of  re-enlistments  having  been  obtained)  it  left  for 
Michigan  on  veteran  furlough.  It  arrived  on  the  4th  of 
January  at  Detroit,  which  was  designated  as  the  rendez- 
vous, and  then  its  members  entered  upon  a  brief  period  of 
freedom  and  enjoyment  with  their  families  and  friends. 

Having  been  considerably  augmented  by  recruiting 
during  its  stay  in  Michigan,  the  Fifth  Regiment,  composed 
of  veterans  and  recruits,  left  Detroit  on  the  10th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  and  proceeding  by  way  of  Washington,  reached 
Brandy  Station  in  the  evening  of  the  17th,  and  marched 
four  miles  northwest  to  camp,  and  took  position  with  its  old 
command  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  the  latter  part 
of  March  a  general  order  was  issued  dissolving  the  First 
and  Third  Corps,  and  consolidating  their  troops  with  those 
of  the  Second,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  Corps.  The  First  and 
Second  Divisions  of  the  Third  Corps  were  transferred  to  the 
Second  Corps,  and  made  to  constitute  its  Third  Division. 
7 


The  Third  Division  of  the  old  corps  was  transferred  to  the 
Sixth  Corps.*  "  Thus,"  wrote  a  member  of  the  Fifth 
Regiment, — A.  K.  Sweet,  of  Detroit, — "  was  wiped  out  of 
existence  the  gallant  old  Third  Corps,  with  which  our  for- 
tunes had  been  so  long  associated,  and  of  which  we  formed 
a  part.  Its  glorious  name,  which  we  in  some  small  degree 
had  helped  to  make  illustrious,  and  in  which  we  justly  felt 
a  soldier's  pride,  became  one  of  the  things  that  were.  The 
corps  had  long  been  a  mere  skeleton  of  its  former  self 
The  old  Third  Division  had  been  consolidated  with  the 
First  and  Second  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, and  a  new  division  of  ten  thousand  fresh  troops, 
under  command  of  Gen.  French,  added.  The  old  com- 
manders of  heroic  fame,  whom  the  men  had  learned  to 
love  and  respect,  had  gone,  and  a  stranger  filled  the  place 
of  command  made  glorious  by  Heintzelman  and  Hooker. 
Still  the  glorious  associations  that  clustered  around  the 
name  gave  it  a  tender  place  in  our  hearts,  and  when  at  last 
its  death-knell  struck,  and  the  men  so  long  associated  in  a 
common  history  of  the  toil  and  triumph  separated  to  their 
various  destinations,  many  a  brave  fellow  felt  a  twinge  of 
sorrow  and  pain  like  that  which  pierces  the  heart  as  we 
stand  at  the  grave  of  a  friend,  and  the  cold  clods  of  the 
valley  close  over  the  dear  face  and  shut  it  from  our  sight 
forever.  .  .  . 

"  On  the  31st  of  March  we  broke  camp  and  marched  to 
the  south  side  of  the  railroad  in  the  vicinity  of  Brandy 
Station,  and  took  up  our  new  quarters  in  the  Second 
Brigade,  Third  Division,  and  Second  Corps.  The  men 
were  allowed  to  retain  the  diamond  badge, — a  deference  to 
their  feelings  which  was  thankfully  appreciated.  The  sense 
of  pain  and  disgrace  slowly  passed  away  as  we  became 
better  acquainted  with  our  new  companions  in  arms,  for 
they  were  as  fine  a  corps  of  men  as  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac or  any  other  in  the  world  could  boast,  and  we  were 
now  under  command  of  a  general  of  brilliant  abilities  and 
most  intrepid  bravery,  Gen.  W.  S.  Hancock.  Gen.  D.  B. 
Birney,  our  old  brigade  and  division  commander,  was  in 
command  of  the  division.  We  soon  began  to  feel  at  home 
in  our  new  relations,  and  with  the  old  red  diamond  to  re- 
mind us  of  the  glorious  past,  we  were  soon  ready  as  ever  to 
do  and  dare  for  the  honor  of  the  old  flag  and  the  success  of 
the  common  cause. 

"...  Towards  the  last  of  April  nature  had  begun  to 
spread  her  rich  garniture  of  green  over  hill  and  plain,  and 
soft  gales  from  Southland  fanned  us  with  the  first  delicious 
breath  of  spring.  The  warm  sunshine,  as  May  approached, 
soon  dried  up  the  mud  from  the  spring  rains,  and  the  roads 
were  once  more  in  a  condition  for  the  movement  of  army 
trains.  On  every  hand  the  sure  indications  of  an  early 
opening  of  field  operations  were  apparent.  A  few  days  of 
bustle  and  preparation  and  the  last  finishing  touches  were 
complete.  A  week  of  comparative  quiet  followed,  like  the 
lull  that  precedes  the  bursting  of  the  storm,  and  then,  on  the 
evening  of  the  3d  of  May,  the  first  move  in  what  will  go  down 
to  history  as  the  great  campaign  of  the  war  commenced.  No 
drum-beat  or  bugle-note  sounds  a  warning,  but  silently  as 


*  The  Fifth  Regiment  at  this  time  was  only  three  hundred  and 
ninety  strong,  including  twenty-four  sick. 


50 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


spectres  in  a  dream,  regiments,  brigades,  and  divisions  leave 
their  camps  and  fall  into  line.  Already  the  vanguard  is  on 
the  march,  and  the  dull  tramp,  tramp,  comes  from  out  the 
darkness  mingled  with  the  low  rumbling  of  artillery  and 
baggage  trains.  The  camp-fires,  as  they  light  up  the  scene 
with  their  fitful  glare,  reveal  the  faces  of  the  men  as  they 
stand  leaning  on  their  guns  awaiting  their  turn  to  fall  into 
the  line  of  march.  They  have  little  time  to  wait,  for  every- 
thing moves  with  clock-like  precision,  and  the  long  lines 
follow  each  other  in  quick  succession  and  disappear  in  the 
darkness,  until  at  last  what  was  a  few  hours  before  a  vast 
city  of  snowy  tents,  with  streets  thronging  with  busy  life, 
is  now  one  vast  tenantless  expanse  of  smouldering  camp- 
fires,  over  which  broods  the  midnight  stillness,  unbroken 
save  by  the  echoes  that  come  fainter  and  fainter  from  the 
distant  footsteps  of  the  receding  hosts. 

"  The  morning  finds  us  still  on  the  march  and  nearing 
the  Rapidan,  which  we  cross  without  opposition  at  Ely's 
Ford,  about  nine  A.M.  We  rest  half  an  hour  on  the  heights 
beyond,  from  which  we  enjoy  a  fine  view  of  the  surround- 
ing country, — a  picturesque  succession  of  hill  and  plain, 
with  its  distant  background  of  mountains  against  the  west- 
ern horizon. 

"  The  men,  having  marched  all  night  with  only  a  short 
respite  at  sunrise  for  cofl"ee  and  '  hard  tack,'  began  to  feel 
the  need  of  rest  and  sleep.  But  the  march  is  soon  re- 
sumed and  pushed  forward  at  a  rapid  pace.  The  weather 
is  uncommonly  hot  for  the  time  of  year,  and  the  narrow 
forest-roads,  walled  in  on  either  side  by  a  dense  under- 
growth, afforded  scarce  a  breath  of  cooling  air.  It  was  the 
first  march  of  the  season,  and  the  men  had  not  become 
hardened  to  fatigue  by  exposure.  But  tired,  sleepy,  and 
footsore,  we  hobbled  on  as  best  we  could  until  about  two 
P.M  ,  when  we  arrived  on  the  old  battle-ground  of  Chaucel- 
lorsville  and  halted  for  the  rest  of  the  day. 

"  How  familiar  looks  every  object  around  !  There  is  the 
old  Chancellorsville  House,  where  Gen.  Hooker  had  his 
headquarters.  But  only  the  roofless,  blackened  walls  re- 
main ;  the  rest  was  destroyed  by  fire  during  the  battle. 
Farther  on  is  the  little  country  cemetery,  with  its  white 
fence  and  the  white  farm-house  standing  near,  around 
which  raged  the  fiercest  tide  of  battle  on  that  lovely  Sab- 
bath morning  in  May.  There  is  the  field  hard  by  where 
the  regiment  lay  for  two  hours  or  more  the  target  for  a 
rebel  battery.  Just  across  that  low  swale,  a  little  to  the 
left,  is  the  open  field  where  that  battery  stood,  and  on 
which,  the  night  before,  Birney's  division  formed  for  the 
midnight  charge;  and  there,  too,  is  the  thick  hedge  of 
cedars  bordering  the  field,  through  which  we  tore  our  way 
to  the  charge,  making  night  hideous  with  yell  and  whoop 
and  wild  uproar,  as  if  Pandemonium  had  turned  loose  all 
its  fiends  at  once. 

"  There  is  the  old  rifle-pit  along  the  edge  of  the  swale 
still  standing,  and  the  narrow  belt  of  open  timber  between 
it  and  the  plank-road,  where  the  regiment  rallied  after  the 
uproar  had  subsided,  and,  in  blissful  ignorance  of  our  im- 
minent danger,  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  sleep. 
And  here  on  the  same  ground  and  almost  the  identical  spot 
we  again  bivouac  for  the  night." 

The  men  of  the  Fifth  had  started  on  the  campaign  each 


carrying  five  days'  rations,  and  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition. 
In  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  May  the  regiment  left  its 
bivouac  at  Chancellorsville,  and  moved  on  the  road  leadino* 
to  Orange  Court-House.  The  enemy  was  met,  and  a  des- 
perate battle  ensued.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  regi- 
ment was  again  engaged,  making  a  successful  charge  on  the 
rebel  works,  capturing  a  stand  of  colors  and  thirteen  hun- 
dred prisoners,  and  suffering  in  this,  as  in  the  fight  of  the 
previous  day,  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  By  the 
loss  of  Col.  Pulford  and  Maj.  Matthews  (both  severely 
wounded  in  the  fight  of  the  5th  of  May,  the  command  of 
the  regiment  had  devolved  on  Capt.  Wakenshaw.  In  the 
battle  of  the  6th  he  also  fell,  severely  wounded,  losing  his 
right  arm. 

The  Fifth  was  again  engaged  with  the  enemy  on  the  8th 
of  May,  and  lay  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire  until  noon  of 
the  10th.  It  fought  again  on  the  11th,  and  (with  the  rem- 
nant of  the  Third  Michigan,  which  was  acting  with  it) 
took  part  in  the  charge  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court-House  on  the  12th.  In  this  charge  it  cap- 
tured two  stands  of  the  rebel  colors,  and  was  highly  com- 
plimented for  gallant  conduct  both  by  Gen.  Hancock  and 
Gen.  Meade. 

From  Spottaylvania  it  moved  forward  by  forced  marches, 
and,  on  the  23d  of  May,  took  part  in  the  assault  of  the 
works  on  the  north  bank  of  the  North  Anna  River,  at 
Jericho  Bridge ;  the  regiment  carried  them,  captured  a 
number  of  prisoners,  and  drove  the  rebel  force  across  the 
river.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  24th  the  regiment  crossed 
the  river  under  a  very  heavy  artillery  fire,  and  again  drove 
the  enemy  from  his  position.  On  the  27th  it  recrossed  the 
North  Anna  and  marched  to  the  Pamunkey  River,  which 
it  crossed  the  same  day.  From  the  28lh  to  the  31st  of 
May  the  wearied  and  hungry  men  worked  day  and  night 
throwing  up  fortifications,  and  on  the  latter  date  the  regi- 
ment took  part  in  a  charge  upon  a  line  of  works,  which 
they  gallantly  carried.  Marching  from  the  Pamunkey.  it 
reached  Cold  Harbor  on  the  5th  of  June,  and  immediately 
commenced  the  erection  of  earthworks.  It  remained  here 
a  week,  and  during  that  time  the  Third  Michigan  Infantry 
(having  become  reduced  to  a  mere  skeleton,  and  the  term 
of  service  of  a  large  part  of  its  men  having  expired)  was 
consolidated  with  the  Fifth  under  the  following  field-order 
of  the  corps  commander,  viz. : 

"Headquarters  Secoxd  Army  Corps, 

„       .  ,   „  "June  10,  1864. 

"  k>pecial  Orders. 

(Extract.) 

"  The  term  of  service  of  the  Third  Michigan  Volunteers 
having  expired,  that  regiment,  with  the  exception  of  re- 
enlisted  men  or  such  as  have  joined  since  date  of  original 
organization,  and.  such  oflicers  as  are  hereafler  designated 
to  be  retained,  will  at  once  proceed  to  Michigan,  and  report 
to  the  Superintendent  of  Recruiting  for  that  State,  for  the 
purpose  of  being  discharged.  Descriptive  lists  must  accom.- 
pany  all  men  sent  home.  The  remaining  officers  and  men 
of  the  regiment  will  be  formed  into  a  battalion  of  four  com- 
panies, to  be  attached  to  the  Fifth  Michigan  Veteran  Vol- 
unteers, which  regiment  will  be  at  once  consolidated  into 
six  companies, — and  all  officers  not  hereinafter  designated 


FIFTH  INFANTRY. 


51 


to  be  retained  will  be  mustered  out  of  service.    The  follow- 
ing officers  will  be  retained  in  the  above  organization  : 

"  Third  Michigan  Regiment. — Colonel  B.  R.  Pierce, 
Captain  Simon  Brennan,  Captain  Daniel  S.  Root,  Captain 
Thomas  Tate,  Lieutenant  Daniel  Converse,  Lieutenant  John 
F.  McGrinley,  First  Lieutenant  Jerome  B.  Ten  Eyck,  First 
Lieutenant  Charles  A.  Price. 

"  Fifth  Michigan  Regiment. — Major  S.  S.  Matthews, 
Surgeon  Henry  F.  Lyster,  Assistant  Surgeon  P.  B.  Ross, 
Adjutant  George  W.  Waldron,  Regimental  Quartermaster 
Hudson  B.  Blackman,  Captain  William  Wakenshaw,  Cap- 
tain Charles  M.  Gregory,  Captain  James  W.  Colville,  Cap- 
tain Amos  A.  Rouse,  Captain  Edgar  H.  Shook,  Captain 
James  0.  GunsoUy,  First  Lieutenant  Walter  Knox,  First 
Lieutenant  John  Braden,  First  Lieutenant  Andrew  Ham- 
lin, Second  Lieutenant  George  B.  Dudley,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant S.  S.  Lyon. 

"  This  order  is  subject  to  the  approval  of  higher  au- 
thority. 

"By  command  of  Major-General  Hancock. 

(Signed)  "  Francis  A.  Walker, 

"  Assistant  Adjutant-  General." 

The  order  was  confirmed  by  the  War  Department  on  the 
13th  of  June. 

The  Fifth  left  Cold  Harbor  June  12th,  crossed  the 
Chickahominy  at  Long  Bridge  on  the  same  day,  reached 
Harrison's  Landing  on  the  13th,  crossed  the  James  River 
on  the  14th,  and  arrived  in  front  of  Petersburg  late  in  the 
night  of  the  15th.  On  the  following  day,  towards  evening, 
it  was  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  carried  the  assaulted 
line  of  works. 

During  all  the  memorable  but  monotonous  siege  of  Peters- 
burg, from  the  time  when  the  regiment  reached  the  front  of 
that  stronghold  until  the  close  of  the  great  drama  of  the 
Rebellion,  the  service  of  the  Fifth  Michigan  embraced  a 
series  of  movements,  changes  of  position,  labors  on  fortifi- 
cations, picket  and  railroad  duty,  life  in.  the  trenches, 
marchings,  skirmishes,  and  battles,  which  it  would  be  too 
tedious  to  follow  or  to  enumerate.  In  its  assaults  upon  the 
works  in  front  of  Petersburg,  during  the  campaign  of  1864, 
its  loss  was  fifteen  killed,  fifty-two  wounded,  and  nineteen 
•missing,— total,  eighty-six.  It  fought  at  Deep  Bottom, 
July  27th,  28th,  with  a  loss  of  twelve  wounded,  and  at 
Boydton  Plank-Road,  October  27th,  losing  nine  killed, 
fifty-two  wounded,  and  forty-three  missing.  It  was  also 
engaged  at  Strawberry  Plains,  August  14th  to  17th,  and  at 
Poplar  Spring  Church  on  the  30th  of  September.  During 
the  year  following  the  commencement  of  the  Mine  Run  ex- 
pedition, in  November,  1863,  the  total  loss  of  the  regiment, 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  was  five  hundred  and  forty- 
nine. 

From  October,  1864,  to  the  middle  of  January,  1865 
the  Fifth  occupied  Fort  Davis,  in  the  front  line  of  works 
at  Petersburg.  On  the  15th  of  January  it  formed  a  part 
of  the  force  with  which  Gen.  Warren  made  his  raid  south- 
ward to  the  Weldon  Railroad ;  and  after  its  return  from 
that  expedition  was  posted  for  about  two  weeks  at  Hum- 
phrey's Station,  and  then  moved  back  to  the  front  of 
Petersburg,  and  remained  there  until  the  25th  of  March, 


when  it  moved  with  other  forces  to  Hatcher's  Run,  and 
took  part  in  the  assault  on  the  works  at  that  place,  sustain- 
ing the  weight  of  a  heavy  engagement  for  four  hours.  In 
the  final  assault  on  Petersburg  the  Fifth  took  part,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  to  plant  its  colors  on  the  cap- 
tured works.  On  the  6th  of  April  the  regiment  with  its 
brigade  attacked  the  retreating  enemy  at  Sailor's  Creek, 
and  captured  a  stand  of  colors  and  a  large  number  of  pris- 
oners. The  enemy  being  followed  closely  by  the  brigade 
on  the  7th  and  8th  of  April,  the  Fifth  Regiment,  acting 
as  flankers  and  skirmishers,  became  engaged  at  New  Store, 
but  with  slight  loss.  And  finally,  on  the  9th,  it  was  present 
in  the  front,  in  line  of  battle,  at  the  surrender  of  the  Con- 
federate army  by  Gen.  Lee.  It  lay  at  Clover  Hill,  near 
the  place  of  surrender,  until  the  13th,  when  it  moved  back 
to  Burkeville,  and  on  the  1st  of  May  started  on  the  march 
to  Washington  by  way  of  Richmond. 

The  regiment  took  its  place  in  the  great  review  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  at  Washington,  May  23d,  and  re- 
mained in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  until  June  10th,  when 
it  left  for  the  West,  proceeding  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  to  Parkersburg,  W.  Va.,  and  thence  by  steamer 
on  the  Ohio  to  Louisville,  which  place  it  reached  on  the 
14th.  Moving  to  Jeffersonville,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Ohio,  it  remained  there  until  July  4th,  when  it  was  nius- 
ered  out  of  the  service  as  a  regiment,  and  on  the  6th  left 
by  railroad  for  Detroit,  where  it  arrived  on  the  8th,  and 
where,  on  the  17th  of  July,  1865,  the  men  of  the  Fighting 
Fifth  received  their  pay  and  discharge. 

OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  FIFTH  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNT?. 

Field  and  Staff. 
iBt  Lieut,  and  Q.M.  William  II.  Alien,  Byron  ;  com.  Aug.  28, 186-1 ;  bvt.  capt. 

U.  S.  VolB  ,  April  9,  1865,  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during 

recent  campaigns  terminating  in  tlie  surrender  of  the  rebel  army  under 

Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee;"  must,  out  July  6, 1866. 
Non-CommuBUmed  Slaff. 
Hosp.  Steward  William  H.  Allen,  Eyron  ;  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  10, 1863  ;  pro.  to  2d 

lieut.  Co.  D,  June  10,  1864. 
Com.-Sorgt.  Geo.  A.  Winans,  Middlebury ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  Co  H,  June  10, 1804. 

Company  A. 
Samuel  M.  Atkins,  died  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  May  5, 1862. 
Edward  Burgoy no,  disoli.  for  disability,  Dec.  4, 1864. 
David  Hines,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  16, 1863. 
John  Little,  veteran  ;  enl.  Dec.  16, 1803. 
Isaac  Lovfjoy,  veteran  ;  must,  out  July  21,  1865. 

Company  S.  * 

Abraham  Vandemark,  must,  out  July  6, 1865. 

Company  C. 
John  W.  Cook,  must,  out  May  24, 1865. 

Company  D. 
Capt.  James  0.  Gunsolly,  Owosso,  com.  June  25, 1863  ;  disch.  at  end  of  service, 

Oct.  15, 1864. 
2d  Lieut.  William  H.  Allen,  Byron ;  com.  June  10, 1864 ;  pro.  Ist  lieut.  and  q.m. 
Edgar  Calkins,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  May  27, 1863. 
Anthony  Clees,  disch.  by  order.  May  11, 1866. 
Charles  Condon,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  20, 1862. 
John  Holcomli,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  27, 1864. 
Hiram  Johnson,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  19, 1863. 
David  Johnson,  must,  out  June  15, 1865. 
Patrick  Keveny,  must,  out  June  15, 1865. 
William  Kintera,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  27, 1864. 
Sylvester  Neariiig,  died  of  disease  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  Nov.  22, 1862. 
Asahel  Rust,  disch.  Aug.  9, 1802. 
James  M.  Shippey,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  27, 1864. 

Company  F. 
Joseph  H.  Bennett,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  30, 1861. 
Andrew  Bliss,  disch.  for  disability,  April  11, 1802. 


52 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Ashley  B.  Clark,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  21, 1862. 

Robert  Campbell,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  15, 1862. 

Thomaa  Eglin,  died  of  wounds,  July  14, 1862. 

Daniel  Hurley,  diach.  for  disability,  July,  18G2. 

BradFord  F.  Smith,  died  of  disease,  Oct.  18, 1861. 

WlHiam  K.  Whitney,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Michigan,  Feb.  24,  1862. 

Cornpany  G. 
Otis  B.  Fuller,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 

Company  H. 
Capt,  Louis  B.  Quackenbush,  Owosso;  com.  June  19,  1861 ;  killed  in  battle  of 

Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31, 1862;  buried  in  Seven  Pines  National  Cemetery, 

Va. 
Capt.  William  Wakenshaw,  Owosso;  com.  June  1,  1862;  let  lieut.,  June  19, 

1861 :  wounded  May  6, 1864 ;  capt.  in  Yet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  7, 1864. 
Ist  Lieut.  Wm.  K.  Tillotson,  Owoaso;  com.  June  1,  1862;  2d  lient.,  June  19, 

1861 ;  wounded  at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  May  o,  1862 ;  disch.  for  services  in 

Vet.  Res.  G>rps,  June  30, 1863. 
l8t  Lieut.  James  0.  Guusolly,  Owosso;  com.  July  12,1862;  2d  lieut.,  June  1, 

1862  (sergt.) ;  pro.  to  capt.,  Co.  D. 
1st  Liout  Geo.  A.  Winans,  Middlebury ;  com.  June  10, 1864 ;  pro.  to  capt.  and 

must,  out,  July  5, 1865. 
1st  Lieut.  David  B.  Wyker,  Owosso ;  com.  June  29, 1863 ;  2d  lieut.,  June  1, 1862 ; 

died  in  action  at  Germania  Ford,  Nov,  27, 1863. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Shontz,  Byron ;  com.  Nov.  7, 1864 ;  2d  lieut.,  Oct.  1, 1864 ;  must. 

out  July  5, 1865. 
Sergt.  Hiram  L.  Chapman,  enl.  Aug.  28,  1861;  disch.  for  disability,  April  10, 

1862. 
Sergt.  Morton  Gregory,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  disch.  fur  disability,  Dec.  10, 1861. 
Sergt.  David  B.  Wyker,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut,  June  17, 1862  ;  Ist 

lieut.,  Juno  29, 1863  ;  killed  at  Germania  Ford,  Nov.  27, 1863. 
Sergt.  John  Shontz,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 

Sergt.  Lucien  A.  Chase,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  April  14, 1862. 
Sergt.  Washington  Howard,  enl.  Aug.  28,1861;  died  of  disease,  Feb.  22,1862. 
Corp.  William  Bowles,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps;  disch,  Aug.  27, 

1864. 
Corp.  James  0.  Gunsolly,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Corp.  Orpheus  B.  Church,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  disch,  for  disability. 
Corp.  Alpha  A.  Carr,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability. 
Corp.  George  A.  Winans,  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  pro.  to  com.-sergt. 
Corp.  Charles  Ormsby,  died  of  disease  at  Fortress  Monroe,  April  10, 1862. 
Witgoner  Jerome  Trim,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  18, 1862. 
John  C.  Adams,  disch,  for  disability,  July  22, 1862, 
Chauncey  W.  Anible,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  30, 1862. 
Wm.  H.  Borst,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  27, 1862. 
John  Beebe,  veteran,  died  June  16, 1864. 

Augustus  Breekell,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Pitcher,  Dec.  27 ,  1862. 
Franklin  S.  Church,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Jan.  11, 1862. 
Charles  H.  Collier,  died  of  wounds,  May  8, 1864. 
Jeremiah  Cassidy,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15, 1864. 
William  Cummings,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863;  diach.  by  order,  June  3, 1865. 
Levi  Clark,  veterau,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863  ;  disch.  fur  disability,  Jan.  15, 1865. 
Egbert  Campbell,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 18G5. 
Alfred  B.  Ciane,  veteran,  pnl.  Dec.  15, 1863;  must,  out,  July  5, 1865. 
Charles  Colman,  must,  out  May  30, 1865. 
Marcius  S.  Crawford,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1862. 
Thomas  M.  Clay,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1862. 
John  W.  Close,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1862. 

Benjamin  C.  Cook,  disch.  for  disability  by  reason  of  wounds,  Oct.  8,1862. 
John  Q.  A.  Cook,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  4, 1862. 
James  Carmody,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  24, 1862. 
Isaac  Felter,  wounded  at  battle  of  Wildernows. 
Amos  Finch,  disch.  for  disability,  Slay  11, 1862. 
Clark  Fineout,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Dwight  D.  Gibbs,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1862. 
Wm.  H.  Harrington,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1863. 
Melvin  Houghtelin,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  22, 1862. 
Martin  N.  Halstead,  died  in  action  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31, 1862. 
Myron  E.  Halstead,  died  in  action  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31, 1862. 
Allen  Herrington,  died  of  wounds,  May  27, 1864. 
William  H.  Herrington,  wounded  in  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 
Michael  Helms,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1863. 
William  F.  Herring,  died  May  3, 1863. 
Christopher  Haynes,  killed  in  battle  of  Wilderness. 
William  A.  Hall,  veteran,  eiil.  Dec.  15, 1863;  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  Va., 

May  5, 1864. 
Oscar  F.  Halstead,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863;  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  21, 1864. 
Henry  Herrick,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order,  Feb.  4, 1865. 
George  W,  Harris,  veteran,  enl.  Dec,  15, 1863  ;  must,  out  July  1 0, 1865, 
Stephen  M.  Hammond,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863;  muat.  out  July  5, 1865. 
Benjamin  Hoag,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 18ti5. 
Richard  Haley,  must,  out  May  31, 1865. 
Ebenezer  M.  Isham,  diach.  at  (nd  of  service,  Aug.  27, 1864. 
Joel  M.  Jackson,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct,  2, 1865. 
Jefferson  Kinney,  disch.  for  disability,  May  22, 1864. 
Henry  A.  Keyes,  disch.  for  disability. 
John  K.  Kelly,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 


John  D.  Keye.q,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

John  V.  Lindsay,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863  ;  must,  out  July  5, 1805. 

Isaac  Lovejoy,  wounded  at  battle  of  Wilderness,  May,  1864. 

Thomas  Lawrence,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  20, 1862. 

Edgar  M.  Leonard,  disch.  for  disability  (loss  of  arm  at  Gettysburg),  Oct.  14, 

1863. 
Daniel  Martindale,  disch.  for  disability,  July  22, 1862. 
Orlando  Mataon,  killed  at  Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13, 1862. 
William  F.  McDivit,  disch.  for  disability,  May  1, 1862. 
Lyman  McCarthy,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  5, 1862. 
Peter  McLean,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  25, 1862, 
Alexander  McDivit,  died  of  disesise  at  Yorktowu,  Va..  May  6, 1862. 
Edward  McNeal,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  July  25, 1862. 
Thomas  Murlin,  died  of  disea.se  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Oct.  28, 1862. 
Amos  Moore,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  died  of  disease  near  Petersburg,  Va., 

Oct.  22, 1864. 
Jacob  Manshaw,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863;  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  21, 1804. 
Merriman  Morehouse,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  died  of  Qisease  at  Salisbury, 

N.  C,  April  27, 1863. 
Milton  Mattoon,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
William  Murlin,  must,  out  May  31, 1865. 
William  Munshawee,  must,  out  May  25, 1865. 

Herman  T.  Newman,  veterau,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Theodore  Odell,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863  ;  disch.  for  disability,  May  23, 1865. 
Andrew  J.  Patterson,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  10, 1861. 
John  M.  Rubs,  wounded  at  battle  of  Wilderness,  May,  1864. 
James  N.  Peck,  died  of  disease,  Feb.  8, 1862. 

William  H.  H,  Shulters,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Nov.  6, 1862. 
Charles  C.  Scott,  died  of  disease,  April  12, 1862. 
Abram  K.  Sweet,  must,  out  May  31, 1865. 

George  A.  Shelley,  wounded  at  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May,  1864. 
Samuel  A.  SutlierUnd,  disch.  for  disability.  May  25, 1865. 
Oren  S.  Skinner,  disch.  for  disability. 
James  Shulters,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  11, 1862. 
William  Taylor,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct,  8, 1862. 

Howard  Worthington,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Michigan,  Feb.  24, 1862. 
John  Weis,  died  of  disease,  Jan.  18, 1863, 
Marcus  Wakeman,  died  of  wounds,  April  25, 1865, 
Patrick  Waters,  pro.  to  sergt.;  wounded  at  Wilderness,  May,  1864;  veteran, 

eul.  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  FIFTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  C. 
Frederick  L.  Buell,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Chandler  Ferguson,  disch.  for  disability,  June  20, 1862. 
David  Goodrich,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  Sept.  25, 1861, 
Wm.  H.  Goodrich,  must,  out  July  5, 1865, 
Vfilorous  Green,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  19, 1863. 
Ortun  B.  Green,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Jan.  16, 1864. 
Morritt  Howe,  died  in  battle  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31, 1862. 
Clinton  McMurtry,  St.  John's. 

Jos.  Moi'ton,  St.  Juhn^s;  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  10, 1862. 
Alvin  McGowaii,  disch,  for  disability,  Aug.  27, 1862. 
Edwin  Peny,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug,  28, 1865, 
Uiiah  G.  Tucker,  died  in  action  at  Williamsburg,  May  5, 1862. 
Jubn  S.  Weatlierwax,  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  May  5, 1864. 
Geo.  E.  Webb,  Olive  ;  disch.  for  disability,  March  18, 1863. 
Nathaniel  D.  Wickbam,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  28,  1864. 

Company  D. 
Elisha  A.  Elwood,  must,  out  May  13,1865. 
Edwin  Forman,  disch.  for  disability,  June  20, 1862. 
James  A.  Fornian,  disch.  for  disability,  March  19, 1863. 
David  Frost,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Michigan,  Dec.  27, 1861. 
John  D.  Ingall^,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  15, 1863;  must,  out  July  5, 1805. 
Ira  P.  Jones,  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  6, 1862. 
Samuel  Lee,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  7, 1863. 
Charles  B.  Laud,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Alson  H.  Reed,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  9, 1862. 
William  Reed,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  27, 1865. 
Peleg  Sweet,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  8, 1863. 
Robert  K.  Smith,  must,  out  May  13, 1865. 

Nathaniel  S.  Wells,  veteran,  enl,  Dec.  15, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Henry  C.  Williams,  disch.  by  order. 
Daniel  G.  Wade,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  5, 1864. 

Company  F. 
Ist  Lieut.  Joshua  R.  Benson,  Riley ;  com.  Nov.  9, 1864, 2d  liout. ;  Sept.  18, 1864, 
sergt. ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Russell  N.  Bagley,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  13, 1863, 
Almeron  Daniels,  disch.  for  disability,  May  31, 1865, 
Daniel  L.  Harrington,  died  of  disease,  Feb.  28,  1862. 
Nathan  S.  Ross,  died  in  action  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31, 1862. 

Cojr^ani/  I. 
Alexander  Parks,  disch,  for  disability,  Sept.  3, 1864. 


EIGHTH   INFANTRY. 


53 


CHAPTER    VII. 


EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 


Organization  of  the  Eighth  at  Camp  Anderson— The  Port  Royal  Ex- 
pedition— Battles  of  Port  Royal  Ferry  and  Wilmington  Island- 
Terrible  Conflict  at  Seceesionville — Campaign  under  Gen.  Pope — 
South  Mountain,  Antietam,  and  Fredericksburg — Campaigns  in 
Kentucky,  Mississippi,  and  East  Tennessee — Veteran  Re  enlist- 
ment and  Return  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — The  Wilderness 
and  Petersburg — The  Eighth  leads  the  Union  Column  into  the 
City — End  of  Service  and  Muster  Out. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  of  Michigan  Infantry  was  or- 
ganized in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1861  by  Col.  William 
M.  Fenton,  who  became  its  commander,  and  led  it  bravely 
on  many  bloody  fields.  One  company  of  this  regiment  was 
composed  principally  of  Clinton  County  men,  and  another 
was  in  the  same  manner  distinctively  a  Shiawassee  com- 
pany. Volunteers  from  these  counties  were  also  found  in 
the  ranks  of  five  of  its  other  companies. 

The  Clinton  company  contained  the  earliest  enlistments 
that  were  made  in  that  county,  dating  as  early  as  May  1st, 
when  Captain  Richard  Baylis  commenced  recruiting  for 
a  company  to  join  the  Second  Infantry.  It  was  called 
the  "  Clinton  Rangers,"  and  was  filled  in  about  two  weeks, 
but  was  after  all  too  late  for  acceptance  in  the  Second, 
and  this  fact  caused  the  announcement  to  be  made,  on  the 
17th  of  May,  that  "  the  Clinton  Rangers  are  hereby  dis- 
banded.'' Afterwards,  however,  most  of  the  "  Rangers" 
volunteered  in  other  companies,  principally  in  the  "  St. 
John's  Union  Guard,"  which  was  organized  at  Clinton 
Hall,  St.  John's,  June  22d,  by  the  enrollment  of  fifty  names 
of  volunteers,  and  the  choice  of  the  following  ofiicers  of 
the  company,  viz. :  Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  Captain ;  W.  H. 
Paine,  First  Lieutenant;  Charles  F.  Smith,  Second  Lieu- 
tenant ;  William  T.  Magoffin,  W.  Ely  Lewis,  J.  W.  Brad- 
nor,  N.  T.  Jones,  and  A.  B.  Nourse,  Sergeants;  and  An- 
thony Cook,  Luther  Pratt,  Edwin  Hewett,  and  Aaron  B. 
Taylor,  Corporals.  A  "  board  of  directors"  was  also  chosen, 
composed  of  Charles  Kipp,  Henry  Walbridge,  Timothy 
Baker,  Stephen  J.  Wright,  and  William  Sickels.  The 
company  met  for  drill  under  these  ofiicers,  but  was  soon 
afterwards  reorganized  as  the  "  St.  John's  Volunteers,"  un- 
der Capt.  Gilbert  E.  Pratt  and  1st  Lieut.  W.  Ely  Lewis, 
and  having  been  augmented  by  a  number  of  volunteers 
from  Gratiot  County,  was  assigned  to  duty  with  the  Eighth 
Infantry,  and  designated  as  Company  B  of  that  regiment. 

The  Shiawassee  County  company  of  the  Eighth  was  re- 
cruited and  organized  in  August,  1861,  under  Capt.  J.  L. 
Quackenbush,  of  Owosso,  and  1st  Lieut.  Albert  Bainbridge, 
of  Byron,  in  the  expectation  that  it  would  be  joined  to  the 
Ninth  or  Tenth  Regiment.  It  was,  however,  assigned  to 
duty  with  the  Eighth,  and  designated  in  the  organization 
of  that  regiment  as  Company  I. 

The  Eighth  Infantry  was  rendezvoused  at  "  Camp  An- 
derson," Grand  Rapids,  on  the  21st  of  August.  There  it 
remained  for  four  weeks,  engaged  in  drill,  organization,  and 
the  filling  of  its  ranks  to  the  maximum  number.  On  the 
18th  of  September  it  moved  to  Detroit,  and  thence  to  a 
camp  at  Fort  Wayne,  below  the  city,  where,  on  the  23d,  it 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three  years 
by  Capt.  H.  R.  Mizner,  U.S.A.,  its  strength  when  mus- 


tered being  nine  hundred.  Its  field-officers,  besides  Col. 
Fenton,  were  Lieut. -Col.  Frank  Graves  and  Maj.  Amasa 
B..  Watson. 

Orders  for  the  departure  of  the  regiment  were  received 
on  the  26th  of  September,  and  on  Friday  (the  27th)  it 
embarked  on  the  steamers  "  Ocean''  and  "  May  Queen,"  and 
moved  down  the  river  and  lake,  arriving  at  Cleveland  the 
following  morning.  From  there  it  moved  by  railroad 
through  Pittsburgh,  Harrisburg,  and  Baltimore  to  Wash- 
ington, where  it  arrived  on  the  30th,  and  encamped  on 
Meridian  Hill,  its  camp  being  named  "  Camp  Williams." 
In  due  time  the  men  received  arms  and  equipments,  and  on 
the  9th  of  October  the  regiment  moved  to  Annapolis,  Md., 
and  there  occupied  the  grounds  of  the  Naval  Academy. 
On  the  19th  of  October  it  was  ordered  to  embark  on  board 
the  ocean-steamer  "  Vanderbilt,"  then  lying  at  Annapolis. 
It  was  evidently  bound  on  some  distant  expedition,  but  its 
destination  and  object  were  unknown,  and  were  matters  of 
endless  surmise  and  speculation  among  the  officers  and  men 
during  the  passage  down  the  Chesapeake.  On  the  "  Van- 
derbilt" with  the  Eighth  was  the  Seventy-ninth  New  York 
Regiment,  called  the  "  Highlanders,"  and  neither  regiment 
appeared  to  be  very  favorably  impressed  with  the  appearance 
or  presence  of  the  other.  One  who  was  present  on  board  the 
ship  at  that  time  wrote  afterwards  concerning  this,  as  follows : 
"  The  men  of  the  Eighth  Michigan  and  Seventy-ninth  New 
York  looked  distrustfully  on  each  other.  The  ship  was 
rather  uncomfortably  crowded,  having  eighteen  hundred 
persons  on  board,  and  every  effort  to  obtain  better  storage 
by  one  party  was  jealously  watched  by  the  other.  The 
Eighth  regarded  the  Seventy-ninth  as  a  sot  of  foreigners 
and  sots,  and  the  latter  regarded  our  men  as  a  lot  of  un- 
drilled  bushwhackers,  tinged  with-  verdancy."  How  long 
this  state  of  feeling  continued  does  not  appear,  but  it  is 
certain  that  there  was  afterwards  developed  between  them  a 
friendship  which  became  absolute  affection, — so  strong  and 
marked  that  it  was  proverbial  among  the  different  commands 
of  the  army  where, the  two  regiments  were  known. 

Upon  their  arrival  at  Fortress  Monroe  they  found  the 
roadstead  crowded  with  a  fieet  made  up  of  war-steamers  and 
transports  filled  with  troops.  This  fleet,  including  the 
"  Vanderbilt,"  went  to  sea  in  the  morning  of  October  29ih, 
and  the  sight  was  grand  and  inspiriting.  For  a  time  the 
winds  favored  and  the  sea  was  comparatively  smooth,  but 
afterwards  a  heavy  gale  came  on  in  which  the  vessels  were 
scattered,  and  three  or  four  of  them  were  lost.  During 
this  time  the  troops  suffered  greatly  from  sea-sickness  and 
overcrowding  on  the  transports.  The  fleet  had  sailed  under 
sealed  orders,  and  its  destination  was  aS  yet  unknown  ex- 
cept to  the  naval  and  military  commanders.  At  last  the 
storm  abated,  the  vessels  one  by  one  returned  within  sig- 
naling distance  of  each  other,  and  the  low  shores  of  South 
Carolina  became  visible  on  the  starboard  hand.  Six  days 
(which  seemed  as  many  weeks)  from  the  time  of  its  de- 
parture from  Fortress  Monroe  the  fleet  arrived  off'  Hilton 
Head,  S.  C,  Nov.  4,  1861.  The  object  of  the  expedition 
was  now  apparent,  and,  with  a  smoother  sea  and  an  enemy 
almost  in  sight,  sea-sickness  and  dejection  gave  place  to 
buoyant  spirits  and  eager  enthusiasm. 

The  fleet  was  composed  of  fourteen  armed  vessels,  twenty- 


54 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


two  first-class  steamers,  twelve  smaller  steamers,  and  twenty- 
six  sailing-vessels.  The  commander  of  the  fleet  was  Com- 
modore (afterward  Admiral)  S.  F.  Dupont,  whose  flag-ship 
was  the  splendid  steam-frigate  "  Wabash."  The  land  forces 
consisted  of  thirteen  regiments  of  volunteers,  in  three 
brigades, — in  all,  about  eleven  thousand  men, — under  com- 
mand of  Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman.  The  Second  Brigade,  com- 
posed of  the  Fiftieth  and  One  Hundredth  Pennsylvania, 
Eighth  Michigan,  and  Seventy-ninth  New  York,  was  under 
command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Isaac  I.  Stevens. 

The  channel  connecting  Port  Royal  harbor  with  the  sea 
was  guarded  on  either  side  by  a  strong  rebel  fortification. 
These  were  known  as  Forts  Walker  and  Beauregard,  and 
the  reduction  of  these,  by  the  navy,  was  the  first  work  to 
be  done.  For  three  days  after  their  arrival  the  vessels  re- 
mained in  quiet,  below,  as  the  weather  was  not  considered 
suflSciently  favorable  for  operations;  but  on  the  7th  the 
"  Wabash"  set  her  signal  for  battle,  and  advanced  to  the 
attack,  followed  by  the  other  armed  ships  in  their  proper 
order.  They  moved  in  a  circular  line,  up,  past  one  fort, 
and  down,  past  the  other,  delivering  their  tremendous 
broadsides  into  each  as  they  came  abreast  of  it.  With  the 
fire  from  the  ships,  and  the  responses  from  the  forts,  it  was 
almost  a  continuous  volley  of  artillery,  which  shook  the 
earth  and  made  the  very  waters  tremble.  But  at  length 
the  fire  of  the  forts  began  to  slacken,  their  replies  grew 
more  and  more  feeble,  and  finally  the  stars  and  bars  above 
their  ramparts  gave  place  to  the  white  flag.  A  little  later 
the  standard  of  the  Union  floated  above  the  captured  works 
on  both  sides  of  the  channel. 

On  the  following  day  the  Eighth  landed  at  Hilton  Head, 
and  occupied  Fort  Walker.  On  the  17th  of  December,  it 
moved  to  Beaufort,  a  place  of  surpassing  beauty,  where 
many  of  the  wealthy  people  of  Charleston  had,  in  the  old 
days  of  peace,  made  their  summer  residences.  It  was  now 
found  deserted  by  nearly  all  its  inhabitants  except  negroes. 
The  camp  at  this  place  was  made  in  a  grove  of  magnificent 
live-oaks,  on  the  public  square,  which  was  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  stately  mansions.  Except  on  account  of  the 
losses  sustained  by  the  Eighth  in  the  vicinity  of  Beaufort, 
the  stay  of  the  regiment  at  this  place  was  among  the  most 
pleasing  of  all  its  experiences  during  its  term  of  service. 
On  the  18th,  Companies  A  and  F,  of  the  Eighth,  were 
sent  on  a  reconnoiteriug  expedition  to  the  mainland,  across 
Coosaw  River,  and  while  engaged  in  this  service,  David 
Burns  Foote,  of  Capt.  Guild's  company,  was  killed  by  the 
enemy ;  he  being  the  first  man  of  the  regiment  who  fell 
in  his  country's  service.  The  Eighth,  during  the  time  it 
was  stationed  at  Beaufort,  was  engaged  in  other  reconnois- 
sances,  and  in  picket  duty;  and  detachments  occupied 
Grey's  Hill,  Ladies'  Island,  Pinckney's  Island,  Brickyard 
Point,  and  some  of  the  neighboring  plantations. 

The  first  battle  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  was 
that  of  Coosaw  River,  or  Port  Royal  Ferry,  Jan.  1,  1862. 
An  official  report  by  Col.  Fenton  to  Gen.  Stevens,  embracing 
an  account  of  that  engagement,  is  here  given : 

"Headquarters  Eighth  Michigan  Regiment, 

"Maislasd,  Port  Koyal  Ferky,  Jan.  1,  1862. 

"  Brig.-Gen.  Stevens  :  Sir,— I  have  the  honor  to  re- 
port that  in  compliance  with  your  order  this- regiment  was 


safely  landed  at  the  Adams  House  on  the  mainland,  having 
effected  the  crossing  in  flatboats  from  Brickyard  Point, 
Port  Royal  Island,  and  took  up  its  line  of  march  towards 
the  enemy's  battery  at  this  place  at  one  o'clock  p.m.  On 
our  approach  towards  the  ferry  we  were  ordered  to  attack 
(as  skirmishers)  a  masked  battery  which  opened  fire  on  us 
from  the  right.  I  immediately  detached  the  first  two  and 
tenth  companies,  and  directed  their  march  to  the  left  and 
front  on  the  battery,  which  was  followed  by  four  additional 
companies  to  the  right  and  front.  The  fire  of  the  battery 
with  shells  continued  on  our  lines  until  the  skirmishers 
reached  the  right,  when  it  was  turned  on  them,  and  on 
their  approach  right,  left,  and  fuont  to  within  fifty  to  one 
hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  position,  a  fire  of  musketry 
was  opened  upon  them.  The  force  of  the  enemy,  as  well 
as  the  battery,  was  concealed  to  a  considerable  extent  by 
trees,  brush,  and  underwood,  but  appeared  to  consist  of  two 
mounted  howitzers,  suppoi'ted  by  a  regiment  or  more  of  in- 
fantry and  some  cavalry.  The  skirmishers  were  measurably 
protected  by  underbrush  and  furrows,  and  continued  their 
fire  upon  the  enemy,  which  was  returned  by  volleys  of  mus- 
ketry and  shells  from  the  battery.  Our  fire  was  well  di- 
rected, and  seemed  to  be  efiective.  One  mounted  officer 
who  seemed  to  be  very  active,  was  seen  to  fall  from  his 
horse,  at  which  the  troops  on  the  enemy's  right  were 
thrown  into  confusion.  Their  position  seemed  to  be 
changing  to  the  rear,  and  as  our  skirmishers  were  called 
off  and  the  regiment  formed  in  line  the  enemy's  fire  ceased. 
The  regiment  was  then  marched  to  its  position  in  line  of 
battle  in  rear  of  the  fort  at  this  point. 

"  Lieut.-Col.  Graves  led  the  left  and  Maj.  Watson  the 
right  of  the  skirmishers.  The  major,  in  leading  on  the 
line,  received  a  severe  fiesh  wound  in  the  leg.  I  have  to 
report  that  officers  and  men  behaved  with  admirable  bravery 
and  coolness.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  from  the  well-directed 
fire  of  our  skirmishers  cannot  bo  less  than  forty.  Our  loss 
is  seven  wounded,  two  missing.  A  list  is  appended.  I  have 
the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"Wm.  M.  Fenton, 
"  Col.  Eighth  Michigan  Regiment." 

Of  the  three  companies  which  made  the  attack,  Capt. 
Pratt's  company  ("  B,"  known  in  the  regiment  as  the 
"  Clinton  Boys")  had  the  right  of  the  line.  The  left  of 
this  company  was  joined  by  the  right  of  "  A"  company, 
and  the  left  of  the  line  was  held  by  Company  K.  The 
affair  of  Port  Royal  Ferry,  although  not  a  great  battle, 
was  extremely  trying  to  the  qualities  of  raw  troops,  as 
they  then  were,  but  they  went  through  it  with  the  same 
cool  and  admirable  bravery  which  they  afterwards  exhibited 
on  many  bloodier  fields.  Capt.  Pratt's  company  sustained 
no  loss  in  killed,  but  it  had  a  number  wounded,  among 
whom  were  James  Dodge,  L.  L.  Warner,  Henry  0.  Brown, 
Frederick  Miller,  and  Amos  Wetherby,  acting  orderly- 
sergeant. 

During  the  months  of  January,  February,  and  March 
the  regiment  was  employed  in  drill  and  picket  duty,  but 
always  ready  to  respond  to  marching  orders,  which  were 
constantly  expected,  and  were  finally  received  on  the  9th 
of  April,  when  the  Eighth  left  Beaufort  and  moved  to 


EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 


55 


Tybee  Island,  Ga.,  where  it  was  reported  to  Gen.  Q.  A. 
Gillmore,  commanding  the  operations  against  Savannah.  It 
was  present  (but  not  engaged)  at  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Pulaski,  on  the  10th  and  11th,  as  also  at  the  surrender  of 
that  formidable  work. 

On  the  16th  of  April  seven  companies  of  the  regiment, 
each  about  forty  strong,  and  including  the  Clinton  and 
Shiawassee  companies, — B  and  I, — were  detailed,  with 
a  detachment  of  Hhode  Island  artillery,  as  an  escort 
to  Lieut.  C.  H.  Wilson,  chief  of  the  topographical  engi- 
neers, Department  of  the  South,  to  make  a  reconnoissance 
of  Wilmington  Island,  with  a  view  to  the  erection  of  forti- 
fications upon  it  if  found  practicable.  The  force  was  em- 
barked on  the  steamer  "  Honduras,"  and  moved  to  the 
place  designated,  where  it  landed  and  proceeded  to  the 
execution  of  the  duty  assigned.  This  resulted  in  an  en- 
gagement with  a  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  the  13th 
Georgia,  "  Oglethorpe  Light  Infantry,"  and  the  "  Altamaha 
Scouts,"  in  all  about  eight  hundred  strong.  A  detailed 
account  of  this  movement  and  battle  is  given  in  Col.  Fen- 
ton's  official  report,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

"Headquarters  Eighth  Eegiment  Mich.  Vols. 
"On  board  the  Bteamer  '  Honduras,'  off  Wilmington  Island, 
Ga.,- April  16,  1862,— eleven  p.m. 

"  Lieut.  W.  L.  M.  Burger,  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General. 

"  Sir, — I  have  the  honor  to  report,  for  the  information 
of  the  general  commanding,  that  in  compliance  with  Special 
Orders  No.  41,  I  embarked  with  seven  companies  of  the 
Eighth  Michigan  Regiment,  as  an  escort  to  Lieut.  C.  H. 
Wilson,  Topographical  Engineer,  on  a  reconnoissance  off 
Wilmington  Island.  Two  companies  were  landed  at  Scri- 
ven's  plantation  under  command  of  Capt.  Pratt,  with  orders 
from  Lieut,  Wilson  to  skirt  Turner's  Creek.  The  other 
five  companies  were  landed  at  Gibson's  plantation.  Two 
of  those  companies  were  ordered  to  skirt  Turner's  Creek. 
A  third  was  to  take  the  road  to  the  right,  towards  the  ferry 
at  Canan's  Bluff,  to  protect  the  boat  party  up  Oatland 
Creek.  Owing  to  the  small  number  of  boats,  and  the  dis- 
tance from  the  steamer,  which  was  aground,  some  delay 
occurred  in  the  disembarkation.  I  directed  Lieut.-Col. 
Graves  to  follow  with  the  second  company  to  skirt  Turner's 
Creek  ;  but  he  by  misdirection  took  the  road  to  the  right, 
towards  Canan's  Bluff,  and  on  landing  with  the  remaining 
companies,  I  received  information  from  him  that  the  enemy 
were  in  force  at  Flatwood's  plantation,  and  to  the  left  of 
the  road.  This  made  the  reconnoissance  with  boats  unsafe, 
and  I  ordered  the  companies  all  in  and  stationed  the  re- 
maining companies  to  guard  against  an  attack  at  our  land- 
ing, and  sent  out  strong  pickets  on  both  roads.  I  believe 
the  advance  of  the  company  to  the  right,  instead  of  along 
Turner's  Creek,  saved  my  command,  as  it  sooner  enabled 
me  to  post  the  men  to  advantage,  and  take  a  position  from 
which  the  enemy's  approach  could  be  observed.  The  enemy 
appeared  to  be  the  Georgia  Thirteenth,  about  eight  hundred 
strong,  armed  with  Enfield  rifles.  As  they  approached, 
about  four  p.m.,  with  a  strong  body  of  skirmishers  in  the 
skirt  of  woods  below  the  road,  the  companies  to  the  right 
and  left  of  the  road,  in  accordance  with  my  instructions, 


opened  fire.  I  immediately  sounded  the  charge  for  an  ad- 
vance of  the  companies  in  the  rear  of  the  first  line ;  but 
the  first  line  misunderstanding  the  signal,  fell  back  to  the 
next  company.  A  constant  and  effective  fire  was  kept  up 
on  both  sides  from  the  cover  of  the  trees  and  bushes. 
Lieut.  Wilson,  who  had  returned  with  the  boat's  party, 
here  proved  of  great  service  to  me,  and  took  a  party,  at 
my  request,  to  the  left.  I  ordered  a  company  to  the  right, 
to  flank  the  enemy.  Both  operations  were  successful,  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  enemy  retreated  in  confusion,  leaving 
several  dead  on  the  field,  and  followed  by  our  men  with 
loud  cheers.  It  being  now  about  sunset,  I  recalled  our 
troops,  and  giving  to  Lieut.  Wilson  the  command  of  pickets 
stationed  to  guard  against  surprise,  formed  the  companies 
into  line  as  originally  posted,  sent  the  dead  and  wounded 
in  boats  to  the  ship,  and  gradually  and  very  quietly,  under 
cover  of  darkness,  withdrawing  the  men,  sent  them  on 
board  as  fast  as  our  limited  transportation  would  allow. 
At  the  last  trip  of  the  boat  I  embarked,  accompanied  by 
Lieut.  Wilson,  Lieut.-Col.  Graves,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  command,  at  about  ten  o'clock  p.m.,  and  immediately 
brought  on  board  the  two  companies  left  at  Scriven's  plan- 
tation. After  the  enemy  retreated  we  were  unmolested. 
It  is  due  to  the  ofiicers  and  men  of  the  command  to  say 
that  generally  they  behaved  with  cool  and  intrepid  courage. 
Adj.  Pratt  fell  dead  near  my  side,  gallantly  fighting,  musket 
in  hand,  and  cheering  on  the  men.  Our  loss,  I  regret  to 
say,  was  comparatively  large, — ten  killed  and  thirty-five 
wounded,  out  of  a  command  of  three  hundred  men. 
Among  the  wounded  was  Acting  Lieut.  Badger,  of  Com- 
pany C,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  advanced  picket,  and 
exhibited  undaunted  courage.  He,  with  one  of  his  men, 
was  taken  prisoner.  Both  escaped  and  were  brought  in 
when  the  enemy  retreated.  The  captain  of  the  '  Honduras' 
is  deserving  of  great  credit  for  his  kind  attention  to  the 
wounded,  and  he  afforded  us  every  facility  for  the  comfort 
of  officers  and  men  in  his  power.  I  respectfully  refer  you 
to  Lieut.  Wilson's  report,  which  I  have  seen,  which  con- 
tains some  facts  not  embraced  in  this  report ;  among  others, 
in  relation  to  the  men  detailed  in  charge  of  the  field  piece 
on  board  ship,  who  were  vigilant  and  attentive.  Herewith 
I  transmit  a  list  of  casualties. 

"  I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
"  William  M.  Fenton,  Col.  Commanding." 

The  part  of  Lieut.  Wilson's  report  to  which  Col.  Fenton 
alluded  as  having  reference  to  the  detachment  in  charge  of 
the  field-piece  was  as  follows :  "  Lieut.  Caldwell  and  sixteen 
men  of  the  Rhode  Island  volunteers,  with  one  light  six- 
pounder,  were  left  in  charge  of  the  steamer.  The  gun 
could  not  be  handled  on  account  of  the  inability  of  the 
boat  to  lie  alongside  the  landing.  .  .  .  After  holding  the 
ground  for  three  hours  the  entire  force  was  quietly  em- 
barked without  further  accident,  though  it  must  be  con- 
fessed that  had  the  enemy  renewed  his  attack  while  we 
were  embarking  we  should  have  suffered  great  loss.  Our 
five  small  boats  could  not  move  more  than  fifty  men  every 
thirty  minutes,  and  the  steamer  lay  in  such  a  position  that 
the  six-pounder  could  not  be  brought  to  bear  without  jeop- 
ardizing the  lives  of  our  own  people." 


56 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTOxV  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


From  Wilmington  Island  the  command  returned  to  Beau- 
fort, and  the  first  knowledge  which  Gen.  Stevens  had  of 
the  battle  of  the  16th  was  conveyed  by  the  arrival  of  the 
dead  and  wounded  from  that  field.  The  dead  were  buried 
with  all  military  honors,  the  entire  brigade  attending  their 
funeral. 

During  the  month  of  May  the  Eighth  was  engaged  on 
picket  duty  and  other  similar  .service,  on  Port  Royal  Island. 
On  the  2d  of  June  it  moved  thence  to  Stono  River,  S.  C, 
to  relieve  the  Twenty-eighth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  on 
picket  on  James  Island,  where  the  Eighth  arrived  on  the 
day  following  its  departure  from  Port  Royal.  Here  it  was 
attached  to  the  First  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division, 
under  Gen.  Stevens ;  the  brigade  being  placed  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Penton,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Graves  succeeding  to 
the  command  of  the  regiment. 

The  battle  of  James  Island  (or  Secessionville,  as  it  is 
frequently  called)  was  fought  on  the  16th  of  June.  In  it 
the  Eighth  Michigan  took  a  more  prominent  part,  and  suf- 
fered more  severely,  than  any  other  regiment,  and  its  losses 
here  were,  taking  everything  into  consideration,  more  ter- 
rible than  it  sustained  on  any  other  field  during  its  long 
and  honorable  career.  Secessionville,  the  scene  of  the 
battle,  was  described  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Wilson,  surgeon  of  the 
Eighth  Regiment,  as  "  a  village  composed  of  a  few  houses 
whose  owners  have  seceded  from  them,  situated  on  a  narrow 
neck  of  land  jutting  into  the  stream  on  the  east' side  of 
James  Island,  skirted  by  tidal  marshes  and  swamps  on 
either  side,  and  difficult  of  approach,  except  from  the 
westward,  where  is  a  rebel  fort  which  commands  this 
entrance."  The  fort  was  a  formidable  earthwork,  with  a 
parapet  nine  feet  in  height,  surrounded  by  a  broad  ditch 
seven  feet  deep,  and  protected  by  a  broad  and  almost  im- 
penetrable abatis.  The  neck  of  dry  land  over  which  (alone) 
it  was  approachable  was  barely  two  hundred  yards  in  width, 
and  every  inch  of  it  could  be  swept  at  close  range  by  can- 
ister from  the  six  heavy  guns  of  the  fort  and  by  musketry 
from  its  defenders.  And  it  was  over  such  ground,  and  to 
the  assault  of  such  a  work,  that  the  troops  of  Stevens' 
division  moved  forward  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of 
that  bloody  and  eventful  16th  of  June,  1862. 

The  attacking  column  was  composed  of  Col.  Fenton's 
and  Col.  Leasure's  brigades,  the  former  composed  of  the 
Eighth  Michigan,  Seventh  Connecticut,  and  Twenty-eighth 
Massachusetts  Regiments,  and  .the  latter  of  the  Forty-sixth 
and  Seventy-ninth  New  York  and  One  Hundredth  Penn- 
sylvania, with  four  batteries  of  artillery, — in  all  thirty- 
three  hundred  and  thirty-seven  men.  The  followirig  account 
of  the  battle  was  written  by  the  correspondent  of  the  New 
York  Tribune,  then  at  James'  Island,  and  published  in  that 
paper  immediately  after  the  fight : 

"The  advanced  regiments  were  the  Eighth  Michigan, 
the  Seventy-ninth  New  York,  and  the  Seventh  Connecticut. 
There  is  some  confusion  as  to  the  order  in  which  these 
regiments  came  up  to  the  fort ;  it  seems,  however,  from  the 
best  information  within  reach  that  the  glorious  but  unfor- 
tunate Eighth  Michigan  was  the  first  there,  led  by  its  gal- 
lant Lieut.-Col.  Graves.  The  immediate  assault  upon  the 
fort  was  not  successful,  and  the  cause  of  its  failure,  as  is 


usual  in  such  cases,  is  difficult  to  determine.  .  .  .  It  appears, 
from  the  statements  of  some  of  the  officers  and  men  in  these 
regiments,  that  about  one-half  mile  from  the  fort  there  was 
a  narrow  pass  through  a  hedge,  and  the  men  were  compelled 
to  pass  through,  a  very  few  abreast,  thus  delaying  their 
advance.  The  Eighth  Michigan  got  through  and  pushed 
on  with  great  vigor  up  to  the  fort,  which  they  assaulted 
with  a  shout.  They  were  met  with  a  murderous  fire  from 
the  fort  in  front,  and  from  flanking  batteries.  A  few  of 
these  brave  men  overcame  all  dangers  and  difficulties^  and 
rushing  over  the  dead  bodies  of  their  slaughtered  comrades, 
actually  climbed  into  the  fort;  but  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  maintain  their  ground  there  against  the  fearful 
odds  which  opposed  them,  the  men  who  should  have  sup- 
ported them  being  delayed  in  passing  through  the  hedge. 

"  The  Eighth  was  obliged  to  fall  back  as  the  Seventy- 
ninth  New  York  came  up,  led  by  the  brave  Col.  Morrison, 
who  mounted  the  walls  of  the  fort  and  discharged  all  the 
barrels  of  his  revolver  in  the  very  faces  of  the  enemy. 
Wounded  in  the  head,  and  unsupported, 'he  was  obliged  to 
retreat.  About  as  far  behind  the  Seventy-ninth  as  that 
regiment  was  behind  the  Eighth  Michigan  came  the  Seventh 
Connecticut,  which  made  a  spasmodic  and  almost  indepen- 
dent effort  against  the  fort,  but  was  obliged  to  fall  back. 
Thus  the  brave  regiments  which  were  intended  to  act  in 
concert  as  the  advance  went  into  the  fight  one  at  a  time, 
one  repulsed  and  falling  back  as  the  other  came  up,  thus 
creating  confusion,  and  rendering  abortive  the  charge  on 
the  fort  at  this  time. 

"  The  Eighth  Michigan  has  been  most  unfortunate.  For- 
ward in  every  skirmish  and  battle,  always  in  the  advance, 
it  has  lost  a  considerable  number  of  its  officers,  and  can  now 
scarcely  .number  three  hundred  men.  All  these  regiments 
fought  well,  and  piled  their  dead  around  the  fort ;  but  it 
was  a  terrible  sacrifice  and  a  vain  one. 

"  The  first,  as  has  been  said,  to  reach  the  fort  were  the 
Michigan  Eighth,  and  New  York  Seventy-ninth.  This  was 
not  the  natural  order,  but  the  Seventy-ninth,  hearing  the 
cheers  of  the  Eighth,  ran  past  the  other  regiments  and 
joined  the  Eighth  as  it  reached  the  works.  Both  regiments 
suffered  terribly  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy  as  they  ap- 
proached,— the  Eighth  from  grape  and  canister,  the  Sev- 
enty-ninth from  musketry,  as  the  nature  of  their  wounds 
show.  Badly  shattered,  and  wholly  exhausted  from  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  on  the  double-quick,  many  fell  powerless 
on  reaching  the  works ;  while  a  few,  in  sufficiently  good 
condition,  mounted  the  parapet,  from  which  the  enemy  had 
been  driven  by  our  sharp  and  effective  fire,  and  called  upon 
the  others  to  follow  them. 

"  At  about  nine  o'clock,  which  seemed  to  be  the  crisis  of 
the  battle,  and  when  the  generals  seemed  to  be  consulting 
whether  they  should  again  advance  upon  the  fort,  or  retire, 
the  gunboats  decided  the  question  by  opening  a  heavy  can- 
nonade in  our  rear,  which,  instead  of  telling  upon  the 
rebels,  threw  their  shot  and  shell  into  our  own  ranks.  This 
must  have  resulted  from  ignorance  on  their  part  as  to  our 
precise  position,  owing  to  the  rapid  changes  upon  the  field, 
and  in  the  intervening  timber.  The  shells  fell  and  buret 
in  the  very  midst  of  our  men, — several  exploding  near 
the  commanding  general  and  his  staff.     The  effect  of  this 


EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 


57 


unfortunate  mistake  was  an  order  for  the  troops  to  retire, 
which  they  did  in  perfect  order,  taking  position  on  the  old 
picket-line." 

In  the  Scottish  American  newspaper ,^of  New  York,  there 
appeared,  a  few  days  after  the  battle,  a  communication  from 
an  officer  of  the  Seventy-ninth  Highlanders,  in  which  the 
gallantry  of  the  Eighth  at  Secessionville  is  thus  noticed : 
"I  should  mention  that  the  Eighth  Michigan,  small  in 
number,  but  every  man  a  hero,  had  been  repulsed  from  the 
fort,  with  terrible  loss,  just  as  we  advanced.  The  Michigan 
men  could  not  have  numhered  four  hundred  when  they  ad- 
vanced;  when  they  retired  they  had  one  hundred  and 
ninety  killed  and  wounded.  One  company  alone  lost,  I  un- 
derstand, no  less  than  ninety-eight  men.  The  ordeal  through 
which  they  had  passed  the  Seventy-ninth  were  now  experi- 
encing. Shot  down  by  unseen  enemies,  and  without  having 
an  opportunity  of  returning  the  fire  with  any  effect,  the 
men  got  discouraged,  but  remained  stubbornly  on  the 
ground  until  the  order  was  given  to  retire, — an  order,  let 
me  say,  which  was  only  rendered  necessary  by  the  shameful 
fact  that,  notwithstanding  the  strong  force  within  support- 
ing distance,  no  support  came.  The  fort  was  ours  had  we 
received  assistance,  but  it  is  a  fact  that  cannot  be  gainsaid 
that  every  man  who  fell  around  its  ramparts  belonged  to  the 
Eighth  Michigan  and  the  Seventy-ninth  New  York, — the 
two  weakest  regiments,  in  point  of  numbers,  in  the  whole 
force  under  command  of  Gen.  Benhani." 

The  Eighth  Regiment  went  into  the  fight  with  a  total 
strength  of  five  hundred  and  thirty-four  officers  and  men, 
and  its  loss  in  the  assault  was,  according  to  the  surgeon's 
report,  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  killed  and  wounded 
and  thirty-seven  missing ;  this  being  more  than  one-third 
of  the  number  engaged.  The  first  report  of  its  loss  made 
it  somewhat  greater  than  this.  Gen.  Stevens,  in  his 
"  General  Order  No.  26,"  dated  James  Island,  S.  C,  June 
18,  1862,  mentioned  the  heroism  of  the  Eighth  Michigan, 
as  follows :  "  Parties  from  the  leading  regiments  of  the  two 
brigades,  the  Eighth  Michigan  and  Seventy-ninth  High- 
landers, mounted  and  were  shot  down  on  the  parapet,  offi- 
cers and  men.  These  two  regiments  especially  covered 
themselves  with  glory,  and  their  fearful  casualties  show  the 
hot  work  in  which  they  were  engaged.  Two-fifths  of  the 
Eighth  Michigan  and  nearly  one-quarter  of  the  Seventy- 
ninth  Highlanders  were  down,  either  killed  or  wounded, 
and  all  the  renTaining  regiments  had  a  large  number  of 
casualties.  ...  In  congratulating  his  comrades  on  their 
heroic  valor  and  constancy  on  that  terrible  field,  the 
commanding  general  of  the  division  has  not  words  to  ex- 
press his  and  your  grief  at  the  sacrifice  that  has  been 
made.  Our  best  and  truest  men  now  sleep  the  sleep  that 
knows  no  waking.  Their  dead  bodies  lie  on  the  enemy's 
parapet." 

Gen.  Stevens'  command  evacuated  James  Island  on  the 
5th  of  July,  the  -Eighth  Regiment  being  the  last  to  leave, 
as  it  had  been  the  first  in  the  advance.  Moving  to  Hilton 
Head,  it  embarked  there  July  13th,  with  the  Seventy-ninth 
New  York,  Twenty-eighth  Massachusetts,  Seventh  Con- 
necticut, and  other  regiments  for  Fortress  Monroe,  where 
they  arrived  on  the  16th,  and  landed  at  Newport  News  on 
the  following  day.  They  knew  they  were  destined  to  rein- 
8 


force  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  after  its  disasters  in  the 
Seven  Days'  fight,  and  they  did  not  like  the  change,  for 
they  preferred  to  remain  in  the  South,  where  their  laurels 
had  been  won.  The  Eighth  remained  three  weeks  in  camp 
at  Newport  News,  and  during  this  time  Col.  Fenton  left  for 
Michigan  to  obtain  recruits,  and  Lieut.-Col.  Graves  was 
left  in  command  of  the  regiment.  The  command  left  this 
camp  August  4th,  and  moving  to  the  Rappahannock 
River,  took  part  in  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Pope,  fighting  at 
second  Bull  Run,  August  29th  and  30th,  and  at  Chantilly, 
September  1st,  losing  considerably  in  both  engagements. 
Soon  after,  it  moved  with  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  (to 
which  it  had  been  attached)  into  Maryland.  It  fought  at 
South  Mountain,  September  14th,  losing  thirteen,  wounded, 
and  was  again  engaged  in  the  great  battle  of  Antietam, 
September  17th.  Early  in  that  day  it  formed  in  line  on 
the  right  with  its  brigade,  but  about  noon,  when  the  battle 
became  general,  it  was  ordered  to  the  left,  and  took  posses- 
sion near  the  historic  Stone  Bridge.  "  A  more  terrific  fire 
than  we  here  met  with,"  wrote  an  officer  of  the  regiment, 
"  it  has  not  been  my  lot  to  witness.  It  equaled,  if  it  did 
not  exceed,  that  of  James  Island.  At  first  our  men  gained 
ground  and  drove  the  enemy  half  a  mile,  but  the  battery 
that  covered  our  advance  and  answered  to  the  enemy's  in 
front  getting  out  of  ammunition,  together  with  the  arrival 
of  a  fresh  rebel  brigade  from  Harper's  Ferry,  flanking  our 
position  and  bringing  our  men  under  a  cross-fire,  changed 
the  fortunes  of  the  day  in  their  favor,  and  when  night 
closed  upon  the  scene  of  carnage  the  enemy  reoccupied  the 
ground  wrested  from  them  at  such  fearful  sacrifice  in  the 
afternoon."  The  bridge,  however,  was  not  retaken  by  the 
enemy,  and,  although  the  Union  forces  had  been  driven 
back  here  on  the  left,  the  advantage  remained  with  them 
on  other  parts  of  the  field.  The  battle  was  not  renewed  to 
any  extent  on  the  following  day,  and  the  enemy,  while 
keeping  up  the  appearance  of  a  strong  line  in  front,  re- 
treated from  his  position  to  the  Potomac,  preparatory  to 
crossing  back  into  Virginia. 

The  loss  of  the  Eighth  at  Antietam  was  twenty-seven 
killed  and  wounded, — a  less  which  appears  quite  severe 
when  it  is  remembered  that  the  regiment  went  into  action 
with  considerably  less  than  two  hundred  men,  having  been 
reduced  not  only  by  its  terrible  losses  in  previous  battles, 
but  also  by  discharges  ;  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men  being  discharged  from  the  Eighth  in  the  year  1862, 
of  whom  just  one  hundred  enlisted  in  the  regular  army. 
The  places  of  these  were  being  filled  to  some  extent  by  re- 
cruits, of  whom  a  number  joined  the  regiment  the  day 
before  Antietam  ;  and  it  was  said  of  them  that,  although 
they  had  never  before  heard  a  hostile  gun,  they  endured 
the  terrible  initiation  of  that  day  with  almost  the  steadiness 
of  veterans. 

For  about  a  month  after  the  battle  the  regiment  re- 
mained in  Maryland,  a  short  time  in  the  vicinity  of  An- 
tietam, and  a  longer  time  in  Pleasant  Valley.  On  the  26th 
of  October  it  marched  to  Weverton,  and  thence  to  Ber- 
lin, Md.,  where  it  crossed  the  Potomac  on  pontoons  into 
Virginia.  It  passed  through  Lovettsville,  Waterford, 
Slack's  Mills,  Rectortown,  and  Salem,  to  Waterloo,  where, 
on  the  11th  of  November,  it  received  the  announcement  of 


58 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Gen.  Burnside's  promotion  to  the  cotnmaud  of  the  army. 
On  the  15th  it  was  at  Sulphur  Springs,  and  moved  thence, 
by  way  of  Fayetteville  and  Bealton  Station,  to  a  camp 
about  ten  miles  east  of  the  latter  place,  where  was  read  the 
order  forming  the  "right  grand  division"  of  the  army,  by 
uniting  the  Second  and  Ninth  Corps,  under  command  of 
Gen.  E.  v.  Sumner.  On  the  18th  the  regiment  marched, 
leading  the  brigade,  to  Falmouth,  opposite  Fredericksburg, 
where  the  army  was  rapidly  concentrating.  Here  it  re- 
mained (a  part  of  it  acting  as  provost-guard  of  the  division) 
until  the  12th  of  December,  when  it  crossed  the  Rappa- 
hannock to  Fredericksburg,  but  was  not  engaged  in  the 
great  battle  of  the  13th.  It  recrossed  on  the  15th,  and  re- 
mained at  Falmouth  until  Feb.  13,  1863,  when  it  moved 
with  the  Ninth  Corps  (which  had  been  detached  from  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac)  to  Newport  News,  Va.,  and  there 
camped,  evidently  waiting  orders  for  a  further  movement, 
which  the  officers  and  men  hoped  might  take  them  back  to 
the  department  of  the  South. 

On  the  20th  of  March  the  Eighth  Regiment,  being  again 
under  marching  orders,  embarked  at  Newport  News,  on  the 
steamer  "Georgia,"  preparatory  to  the  commencement  of  the 
long  series  of  movements  and  marches  in  the  Southwest 
which  afterwards  gave  it  the  name  of  "  the  wandering  regi- 
ment of  Michigan."  It  left  Newport  News  on  the  21st, 
arrived  at  Baltimore  on  the  22d,  and  proceeded  thence  by 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  to  Parkersburg,  W.  Va., 
reaching  there  on  the  24th,  and  embarking  on  the  steamer 
"  Majestic"  for  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  it  arrived  at  noon  on 
Thursday  the  26th.  At  that  time  it  was  brigaded  with  the 
Second,  Seventeenth,  and  Twentieth  Michigan  Regiments, 
under  Brig.-Gen.  Orlando  M.  Poe  (formerly  colonel  of  the 
Second),  as  brigade  commander ;  this  being  the  First 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Ninth  Army  Corps.  This  corps 
(then  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio)  had  for  its  im- 
mediate mission  in  Kentucky  to  observe  and  hold  in  check 
the  forces  of  the  guerrilla  chief,  John  Morgan,  who,  at 
that  time,  seemed  to  be  omnipresent  in  all  that  region,  and 
whose  movements  were  giving  the  government  no  little 
trouble  and  alarm. 

The  Eighth  moved  by  railroad  from  Louisville  on  the 
28th,  proceeded  to  Lebanon,  Ky.,  and  remained  stationed 
there  and  at  Green  River  Ford,  Ky.,  for  some  weeks. 
While  the  command  lay  at  Lebanon  there  was  issued  the 
first  number  of  a  paper  entitled  The  Wolverine,  which  was 
announced  as  "  published  by  members  of  the  Eighth  Michi- 
gan Infantry,  and  will  be  issued  as  often  as  circumstances 
will  permit."  How  many  numbers  of  this  journal  were 
ever  published  is  not  known. 

About  the  1st  of  June  the  Ninth  Corps,  which  had  been 
scattered  in  detachments  at  various  points  in  Kentucky, 
was  ordered  to  move  to  Mississippi  to  reinforce  the  army  of 
Gen.  Grant,  then  operating  against  Vicksburg.  The  Eighth 
Regiment  moved  with  the  corps,  going  to  Cairo,  111.,  by 
rail,  and  then  embarking  on  boats  on  the  Mississippi  River, 
was  transported  to  Haynes'  Bluff,  Miss.  From  there  it 
moved  to  Milldale,  Miss.,  and  remained  there  and  at  Flower 
Dale  Church,  near  Vicksburg,  until  the  operations  against 
that  stronghold  ended  in  its  capitulation,  July  4th.  Then 
it  moved  with  the  corps  towards  .Jackson,  Miss.,  in  pursuit 


of  the  army  of  Johnston,  who  had  been  hovering  in  Gen. 
Grant's  rear,  attempting  to  raise  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
In  the  several  engagements  which  occurred  from  the  10th 
to  the  16th  of  Julj^  the  Eighth  participated,  but  suffered 
little  loss  ;  and  after  the  evacuation  of  Jackson,  on  the  16th, 
it  returned  to  its  former  camp  at  Milldale,  remaining  there 
till  August  6th,  when  it  again  took  boat  on  the  Mississippi 
and  moved  north  with  the  corps.  It  reached  Memphis  in 
the  night  of  the  11th,  and  passed  on  to  Cairo  and  thence 
to  Cincinnati,  where  it  arrived  on  the  18th,  and,  crossing 
the  river,  camped  at  Covington,  Ky.  From  Covington  it 
moved  by  way  of  Nicholasville  to  Crab  Orchard,  Ky., 
reaching  there  August  27th,  and  remaining  there  in  camp 
two  weeks.  On  the  10th  of  September  it  was  again  on 
the  march,  and  moved  by  way  of  Cumberland  Gap  to  Knos- 
ville,  Tenn.,  reaching  there  on  the  26th. 

The  Eighth  was  slightly  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Blue 
Springs,  October  10th,  and,  after  considerable  marching  and 
countermarching,  went  into  camp,  October  29th,  at  Lenoir 
Station,  where  it  remained  until  November  14th.  It  was 
then,  with  its  division,  ordered  to  Huff's  Ferry,  on  the 
Holston  River,  to  check  the  advance  of  Longstreet,  who 
was  reported  moving  up  from  Georgia  towards  Knoxville. 
He  was  found  in  strong  force,  and  the  Union  troops  retired 
before  him,  and  passing  back  through  Lenoir,  continued 
the  retreat  to  Knoxville.  Being  hard  pressed,  however,  a 
stand  was  made  at  Campbell's  Station  on  the  16th,  and  a 
battle  ensued,  lasting  from  about  one  p.m.  until  dark,  and 
resulting  in  a  loss  to  the  Eighth  of  eleven  wounded.  Du- 
ring the  night  the  retreat  was  continued,  and  the  regiment 
reached  Knoxville  in  the  morning  of  the  17th,  after  an 
almost  continuous  march  of  two  days  and  three  nights,  in- 
eluding  a  battle  of  several  hours'  duration,  moving  over  the 
worst  of  roads  though  mud  and  rain,  and  with  less  than 
quarter  rations. 

Then  followed  the  siege  of  Knoxville  by  Longstreet, 
which  continued  eighteen  days,  during  all  of  which  time 
the  regiment  occupied  the  front  line  of  works.  On  Sunday, 
November  29th,  two  veteran  Georgia  brigades,  belonging  to 
McLaws'  rebel  division,  made  a  furious  assault  on  Fort 
Saunders  (one  of  the  works  in  the  line  of  fortifications  in- 
closing Knoxville),  and  were  repulsed  and  driven  back  with 
a  loss  of  nearly  eight  hundred  men,  the  Eighth  Michigan 
being  one  of  the  regiments  which  received  and  repelled  the 
assault. 

In  the  night  of  the  4th  and  5th  of  December  the  enemy 
withdrew  from  Knoxville.  The  Eighth  took  part  in  the 
pursuit,  but  with  no  results,  and  on  the  16th  it  encamped 
at  Blain's  Cross-Roads.  This  proved  to  be  the  last  camp 
which  it  occupied  for  any  considerable  length  of  time  in 
Tennessee.  It  remained  here  about  three  weeks,  during 
which  time  three  hundred  of  its  members  re-enlisted  as 
veterans.  On  the  8th  of  January,  1864,  the  veteranized 
command,  under  orders  to  report  at  Detroit,  left  its  camp 
and  took  the  road  across  the  Cumberland  Mountains  for  the 
railroad  at  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  nearly  two  hundred  miles  dis- 
tant. It  reached  that  place  in  ten  days,  having  made  an 
average  of  nearly  twenty  miles  a  day,  over  miserable  roads, 
and  through  the  ice  and  snow  of  the  mountain  passes. 
From  Nicholasville  the  men  went  by  rail  to  Detroit,  reach- 


EIGHTH   INPANTEY. 


59 


ing  there  January  25th.  At  the  end  of  their  furlough, 
March  8th,  they  left  for  the  front,  and  proceeded  to  Annap- 
olis, Md.,  where  they  rejoined  the  Ninth  Corps,  which  had 
in  the  mean  time  been  ordered  from  Tennessee,  to  reinforce 
the  Array  of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  23d  of  April  the  Eighth  moved  by  way  of  Wash- 
ington across  the  Potomac  to  Warrenton  Junction.  When 
the  spring  campaign  opened  it  moved  (May  4th)  with  the 
army,  crossed  the  Kapidan  on  the  5th,  and  on  the  following 
day  was  hotly  engaged  in  the  Wilderness,  losing  ninety-nine 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  On  the  12th  it  took 
part  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  intrenchments  at  Spott- 
sylvania  Court-House,  losing  forty-nine  officers  and  men  in 
the  bloody  work  of  that  day.  During  the  fight  the  corps 
commander.  Gen.  Burnside,  rode  up,  and  called  out  to  the 
regiment,  "  Boys,  you  must  support  this  battery  and  hold 
the  hill  at  all  hazards,  for  it  is  the  key  to  our  safety !"  A 
moment  later  he  inquired  what  regiment  it  was,  and  Col. 
Ely  informed  him.  "  Ah,"  returned  the  general,  "  the 
Eighth  Michigan  !  I  know  you.  You'll  hold  it !"  and 
rode  away. 

The  regiment  crossed  the  Pamunkey  River  May  28th, 
and  moved  towdrds  Bethesda  Church,  where,  in  the  battle 
of  June  3d,- it  gallantly  charged  and  carried  the  enemy's 
rifle-pits,  sustaining  a  loss  of  fifty-nine  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing.  On  the  12th  it  was  encamped  near  Mechanics- 
ville,  Va.  The  next  day  it  crossed  the  Chickahominy,  and 
on  the  14th  crossed  the  James  River,  from  which  point  it 
moved  by  a  forced  march  to  the  front  of  Petersburg,  ar- 
riving there  in  the  evening  of  the  16th.  On  the  17th  and 
18th  it  took  part  in  the  attacks  on  the  enemy's  works,  losing 
forty-nine  killed  and  wounded.  For  six  weeks  after  that 
time  it  was  constantly  employed  on  the  fortifications,  under 
fire.  In  the  fight  at  the  "  Crater,"  July  30th,  it  was  en- 
gaged, losing  thirteen  killed  and  wounded.  Soon  after  it 
moved  to  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  fought  there  in  the 
action  of  August  19th,  losing  thirty  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing.  It  was  again  engaged,  with  but  slight  loss, 
on  the  21st ;  and  on  the  30th  it  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Poplar  Grove  Church,  losing  eight  wounded. 

The  Eighth  remained  near  Peebles'  farm  engaged  in  for- 
tifying and  picket  duty  till  November. 29th,  when  it  moved 
again  to  a  position  before  Petersburg.    The  strength  of  the 
regiment  at  that  time  was  only  about  three  hundred  men 
fit  for  duty.     It  assisted  in  repulsing  the  enemy  in  his  at- 
tack on  Fort  Steadman,  March  25,  18()5,  and  on  the  2d 
of  April  it  was  engaged  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Mahon,  as- 
sisting in  carrying  the  work,  and  being  the  first  regiment  to 
place  its  colors  on  the  hostile  ramparts.     The  next  day  it 
marched  into  Petersburg.     After  this  it  was  employed  on 
guard  duty  on  the  South  Side  Railroad  till  the  20th,  when 
it  marched  to  City  Point,  and  on  the  following  day  em- 
barked on  transports  and  proceeded  to  Alexandria,   Va., 
from  which  place  it  moved  to  Tenallytown  on  the  26th.     It 
moved  into  the  city  of  Washington  May  9th,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  guard  and  patrol  duty  until  July  30,  1865, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service.    It  left  Washington 
on  the  1st  of  August,  and  on  the  3d  arrived  at  Detroit, 
where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded,  and  the  survivors  of 
the  "  Wandering  Regiment  of  Michigan"  returned  to  their 


homes.  During  its  existence  the  Eighth  Regiment  had 
moved  more  than  seven  thousand  miles  by  land  and  by  sea ; 
more  than  nineteen  hundred  men  had  marched  in  its  ranks, 
and  it  had  been  engaged  in  thirty-seven  battles  and  skir- 
mishes in  seven  diff'erent  States  of  the  Union. 

OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  EIGHTH  FBOM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 

Company  B. 

Capt.  Wm.  Ely  Lewis,  St.  John's ;  com.  April  1, 1862  ;  1st  lieut.,  Aug.  1, 1861 ; 

pro.  to  maj.  March  12, 1863;  iiillecl  in  action  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3, 

1864. 

Capt.  Robt.  G.  Hutchinson,  St.  John's ;  com.  March  13, 1863 ;  1st  lieut..  May  14, 

1862 ;  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Jan.  2,  1865. 
Capt.  James  P.  Dodge,  St.  Jolm's;  com.  Jan.  2, 1805;  1st  lieut.,  Co.  G,  Oct.  27, 

1864;  must,  out  July  30,  1865. 
2d  Lieut.  Sauil.  A.  Baldwin,  Watertown  ;  com.  July  5, 1864 ;  pro.  to  capt.,  Co. 

E,  Nov.  9, 1864. 
Sergt  Jas.  Travis,  St.  John's;  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  2, 1861. 
Sergt  Chaa.  F.  Smith,  St.  John's:  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  K,  May  14, 1862. 
Sergt.  Jas.  P.  Dodge,  St.  John's;  veteran,  eul.  Dec.  29, 1863;  pro.  to  2d  lieut., 

July  5,  1864. 
Corp.  Wm.  H.  Smith,  St.  John's  ;  eul.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  29, 1862. 
Corp.  Chas.  F.  Valleau,  St.  John's;  eul.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;  died  of  diseaaa  at  Wash- 
ington, Oct.  20, 1861. 
Corp.  M.  J.  Morton,  St.  John's;  enl.  Aug.l5,lS6l ;  died  of  disease  in  Mississippi, 

July  30,  1863. 
Corp.  Tompkins  Dunlap,  St.  John's ;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1861;  disch.  for  disability, 

March  3, 1863. 
Wagoner  Moses  Brown,  St.  John's;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1861;  disch.  at  end  of  service, 

Sept.  22,  1864. 
Joshua  Aldricb,  disch.  to  enl.  in  regular  army,  Oct.  28, 1862. 
John  Austin,  disch.  Oct.  31, 1862. 
Benj.  F.  Brown,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  29, 1862. 
Frederick  Burke,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  2, 1861. 
Chas.  E.  Blauchard,  died  of  disease,  April  9, 1862. 
Albert  M.  Bennett,  died  of  disease  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  March  21, 1863. 
Darroll  Brewer,  died  of  disease  at  Lebanon,  Ky.,  April  19,  1863. 
Clark  C.  Brewer,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  Feb.  17, 1864. 
Henry  A.  Brown,  died  in  battle  at  Sputtsylvania,  May  12,  1864. 
Henry  0.  Brown,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  9, 1863. 
Wm.  H.  Brown,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22,  1864. 
Marshall  Bachelder,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22,  1864. 
John  K.  Brooks,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863;  must,  out  July  5, 186S. 
Saiiford  Baker,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order,  June  13, 1865. 
Hansom  A.  Brooks,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  17, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  June  20, 1865. 
Sheldon  Crowell,  died  in  action  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17, 1862. 
Wm.  A.  Button,  died  in  action  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3,  1864. 
Henry  W.  Davenport,  died  ot  disease  at  Washington,  March  30, 1863. 
Enoch  Doty,  disch.  Feb.  19, 1863. 
Franklin  Doty,  disch.  for  disability,  April  11,  1863. 
Don  A.  Duty,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Saml.  Dillingliam,  trans,  to  Vet.  Ees.  Corps;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 

1804. 
Lcroy  M.  Dodge,  died  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  10,  1862. 
Jeremiah  Dooling,  must,  out  July  30,  1865.  ' 

David  Forest,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863;  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  17,  1864. 
Marchus  M.  Face,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
Hiram  Gardner,  Greeubush ;  died  of  disease  at  Port  Eoyal,  Nov.  17, 1861. 
Willett  S.  Green,  died  of  disease  at  Millikeii's  Bend,  La ,  June  22, 1863. 
Francis  F.  Gleason,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1803 ;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Wm.  J.  Hildreth,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 

Morris  H.  Hill,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863  ;  disch.  by  order,  June  13*  1865. 
Wm.  J.  Hanimoud,  disch.  by  order,  June  9, 1865. 
Jumes  M.  Himes,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  March  27, 1864. 
Lester  E.  Jewett,  disch.  to  enl.  in  regular  army,  Oct.  27, 1862. 
Chas.  Kelly,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  9, 1862. 
Wm.  Kelly,  died  in  action  at  Blue  Springs,  Tenn.,  Oct.  10, 1863. 
John  J.  Kniifin,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863 ;  must  out  July  30, 1865. 
Enos  H.  Kimmel,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Geo.  W.  Lewis,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  April  9, 1864. 
Jolin  M.  Look,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
Joseph  Miller,  disch.  to  enl.  in  regular  army,  Oct.  29, 1862. 
Miles  Mansfield,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  24, 1862. 
Saml.  McVeigh,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  25, 1802. 
Horace  Mosier,  disch.  by  order,  June  15, 1865. 
Frederick  Miller,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
Geo.  McVeigli,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1862. 
Harrod  Morton,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1862. 
David  Mayhew,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863;  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 

March  7, 1804. 
James  Morrison,  must,  out  July  30, 1861. 
Charles  Mysett,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Charles  Marsted,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Charles  Otis,  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 


60 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Andrew  Post,  disch.  for  djealiility,  Aug.  20, 1862. 

Darina  Pictell,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  16, 1863. 

Chiis.  D.  Putnam,  disch.  at  end  of  Bervice,  Oct.  19, 1864, 

James  L.  Patterson,  disch.  by  order,  June  5, 18C5. 

Wm.  S.  Seaver,  disch.  by  order,  April  12, 1865. 

Wm.  H.  Sage,  disch.  by  order,  June  1, 1865. 

Wm.  H.  Smith,  disliarged  Oct.  31, 1862. 

Andrew  J.  Smith,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  29, 1862. 

Joseph  Silvers,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  15, 1863. 

Frederick  Schwarz,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 

George  P.  Steadman,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 

Samuel  Strickland,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  15, 1861. 

"Wm.  J.  Strickland,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1862. 

Myron  Ti-acy,  died  of  disease,  April  26, 1862. 

John  D.  Thomas,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1862. 

Homer  Terwilliger,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863 ;  didcb.  by  order,  June  13, 1865. 

Amos  Weatherly,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863  ;  must,  out  July  30, 1865, 

Compawj  C. 
Capt.  Chas.  F.  Smith,  St.  John's ;  com.  May  27, 1863 ;  di^ch.  at  end  of  service, 

Oct  18, 1864. 
Ist  Lieut.  Simon  McLaughlin,  St.  John*8 ;  com.  Sept.  28, 1864 ;  must,  out  July 

30, 1865. 
Darius  C.  Wait,  died  of  disease  at  Deaufort,  8.  C,  Dec.  28, 1861. 
Ephraim  Brown,  St.  John's. 

Company  E. 
Capt.  Samuel  A.  Baldwin,  Watertown ;  com.  Nov.  9, 1864,  2d  lieut.  Co.  B ,  sergt. 

Co.  E;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Ist  Lieut.  Timothy  L.  Baldwin,  Watertown  ;  com.  April  25, 1865,  sergt.  Co,  E; 

must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Thos.  T.  Davenport,  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  May  6, 1864. 
Kenneth  F.  Morse,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Coi-pa,  Jan.  15,  1864. 
Marcus  L.  McCrum,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 

Comipany  G. 
1st  Lieut.  Jas.  P.  Dodge,  St.  John's ;  com.  Oct.  1, 1864 ;  2d  lieut.,  July  5,  18G4; 
pro.  capt.  and  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 

Company  U. 
Luther  J.  Winter,  disch.  by  order,  June  1, 1865, 

Company  I. 

Chas.  Hildreth,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  9, 1862.  . 

Company  K. 

1st  Lient.  Chas.  F.  Smith, St.  John's;  com.  Nov.  1, 1862;  2d  lieut.  May  14,1862; 
pro.  capt.  Co.  C. 

OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  EIGHTH  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

Company  A. 
Elisha  Bird,  died  of  wounds,  Oct.  23, 1864. 

John  Minchin,  died  in  actiun  at  Weldon  Railroad,  Va.,  Aug.  19, 1864. 
Albert  Marten,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Charles  Brott,  disch.  for  disability,  April  27,  1865. 

Company  F. 
Ist  Lient.  Oscar  P.  Hendee,  Curunna ;  com.  April  25,  1865;  2d  lieut.  May  6 

1864;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
William  S.  Close,  disch.  for  promotion  in  29th,  Nov.  17, 1864. 
Joseph  L.  Hoyt,  died  of  disease  at  Wasbington,  D.  C. 
Edwin  Wliitney,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Melancthon  E.  Whitney,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Smith  Doubleday,  died  near  :?eter»burg,  Va.,  June  25, 1864, 
Company  H. 

let  Lieut.  John  R.  Dougherty,  Shiawassee;  com.  April  25, 1861 ;  must,  out  July 

30,1865. 

Company  I. 

Capt.  Jay  L.  Quackenbush,  OwoB.so ;  com.  Sept.  5, 1861 ;  resigned  March  3, 1862. 

1st  Lieut.  Albert  Bainbrid^e,  Byron  ;  com.  Sept.  5, 1861;  resigned  April  7,1862. 

1st  Lieut^  Bartley  Siegel,  Shiawassee;  com.  May  1, 1863;  must,  out  July  30 
1865.  ' 

Sergt.  Wm.  R.  Smith,  Owosso;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  April  21 
1863.  *  ' 

Sergt.  Bartley  Siegel,  enl.  Sept.  10, 1861  j  .veteran,  Feb.  IT,  '63 ;  pro.  to  Ist  lieut. 

Sergt,  Johu  I.  Knoop,  Byron  ;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability  April  21 
1863.  '  ' 

Sergt.  Cyrus  H  Roys,  Byron ;  enl.  Sept.  10, 1861 ;  died  of  disease  at  Washing- 
ton, Feb.  16, 1863. 

Corp.  Geo.  W.  Love,  Owoaso;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1861 ;  disch.  Oct.  22, 1862, 

Corp.  Edwin  Ayres,  Owosso;  eul.  Sept.  16,  1861;  died  in  action  in  Georgia 
April  16, 1862.  ' 

Corp.  D.  H.Williams,  Vernon;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1861;  disch.  for  disability  Sept  28 
1862.  »      F  •      , 


Musn.  Judson  A.  Clough,  Shiawassee;   enl.  Sept.  2,  1861;   dlscU.  at  end  of 

service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
Joseph  Ames,  ditich.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
David  N.  Arthur,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  15, 1864. 

Alonzo  Batchelder,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29,  1863;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
John  K.  Bunting,  disch.  for  disability,  April  10, 1862. 
Henry  Brown,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  18, 1861. 
James  W.  Bronson,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  20, 1863, 
Albert  Bittner,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22,1864. 
Frederick  T,  Bently,  died  near  Petersburg,  Va,,  July  31, 18G4. 
Peter  F.  Camus,  disch.  Feb.  3, 1863. 
George  F.  Camus,  died  of  wounds,  June  20, 1862. 
Samuel  B,  Corsons,  died  of  disease  at  Hilton  Head,  S,  C,  Nov.  17, 1861: 
Horace  L  Clark,  died  of  disease  at  Crab  Orchard,  Aug.  30, 1863. 
Thomas  F.  Clark,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Oscar  I.  Card,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  13, 1862. 
Wm.  H.  Carr,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  13,  1862. 
Philip  W.  Colman,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct,  15, 1862. 
Wm,  H.  H.  Chase,  di.'ich.  for  disability,  Marcli  6, 1863, 
Benjamin  Dutcher,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb,  13, 1862. 
William  Demond,  disch.  to  enlist  in  regular  service,  Oct.  27, 1862. 
diaries  Desuness,  disch.  by  order. 
Martin  Decker,  veteran,  enl,  Dec.  29, 1863 ;  died  of  disciise  in  Michigan,  March 

17, 1864. 
Gridson  M.  Dutcher,  died  of  disease  at  Newport  News,  March  7, 1863. 
John  W.  Eckman,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb,  13, 1862. 
Charles  Freeman,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  9, 1862. 
William  Freeman,  died  of  disease,  Oct.  21, 1801. 
Royal  D.  Hendee,  missing  in  action  at  James  Island,  July  16, 1862. 
Oscar  P.  Hendee,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863. 
Henry  House,  must,  out  July  30, 1805, 
Jacob  Hubbard,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  13, 1862. 
Reuben  Hydom,  discli.  for  disability,  June  29, 186;i. 
George  W.  Jewel],  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  19, 1862, 
Adonijah  Jewell,  disch.  to  enlist  in  regular  service. 
Frederick  Kurrle,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1861, 
Jacob  M.  Klingingsmith,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  9, 1861. 
Francis  S.  Lum,  disch,  for  disability,  Oct.  29, 1862. 
Wm,  W.  Lemunyon,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863. 
John  B.  MathewBon,  disch.  at  end  <if  service,  Feb.  6, 1865. 
Henry  McClellen,  disch.  to  enlist  in  regular  service.  Sept,  22, 1862. 
Asro  Miller,  died  of  disease  at  Clark's  Plantation,  Miss.,  July  21, 1863. 
George  W.  McComb,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29,  1863 ;  died  near  Petersburg,  Vs., 

Aug.  21,  186-1. 
Alpheus  Ott,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29,1863  ;  dfsch.  for  disability,  Feb.  7,1865. 
Edward  Ogden,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
John  W.  Prandle,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  19, 1864. 
George  W.  Porter,  dl>ch.  for  disability,  Feb.  22, 1862. 
Wm.  R.  Punches,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  March  29, 1864. 
Walter  S.  Ryness,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1803 ;  disch.  by  order,  July  28, 1865. 
John  Sliourtz,  veteran,  eul.  Dec.  29, 1863;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Hiram  Spear,  vctemn,enl.  Dec.  29, 1803;  must,  out  July  30, 1805. 
Bartley  Seigel,  veteian,  enl.  Feb.  17, 1864;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
William  Sbiesler,  died  of  wuunds,Sept.  7, 1862. 
Benjamin  0.  Simons,  disch,  Feb.  15,  1862. 
Dewitt  Titus,  disch,  for  disability,  Sept.  1, 1862. 
William  Turner,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  15, 1862. 
Wm.  U.  Wood,  disch.  for  diuability,  Sept.  28, 1862. 
Francis  Whitmore,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
Benjamin  L.  Washbourne,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  July  16, 1862. 
Simon  Wolf,  veteran,  enl.  Doc.  29, 1863;  died  at  Hanover  Town,  Va,  May  31 

180-1. 
Charles  W.  Young,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 

Company  K. 
John  Emery,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

NIlfTH   INPANTBY. 

Organization  of  the  Ninth— Serriee  in  Kentucky— Battle  and  Dis- 
aster at  Murfrecsboro'-High  Opinion  of  the  Ninth  expressed  by 
Gen.  Thomas— Assignment  of  the  Regiment  to  Duty  at  Army 
Headquarters— Veteran  Rc-enlistment-The  Regiment  on  Duty  at 
Atlanta,  Chattanooga,  and  NashTille— Muster  Out  and  Diseharg*. 

The  Ninth  Infantry  Regiment  of  Michigan  was  raised 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  in  the  early  au- 
tumn of  the  year  1861.  Its  rendezvous  was  at  Fort  Wayne, 
Detroit,  where  its  organization  was  perfected,  under  the 


NINTH   INFANTRY. 


61 


following  officers :  William  W.  Duffield,  Colonel ;  John  G. 
Parkhurst,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Dorus  M.  Fox,  Major;  En- 
nis  Church,  Surgeon  ;  Cyrus  Smith,  Assistant  Surgeon ; 
James  G.  Portman,  Chaplain  ;  Henry  M.  DuflSeld,  Adju- 
tant; Charles  H.  Irwin,  Quartermaster. - 

In  the  ranks  of  the  Ninth  during  its  term  of  service 
were  more  than  one  hundred  men  from  Shiawassee,  and 
some  from  Clinton  County.  Those  from  Shiawassee  were 
principally  in  Capt.  George  K.  Newcombe's  company, 
which  was  raised  by  him  in  August,  1861,  and  was  known 
during  the  period  of  its  enlistment  as  the  "  Fremont 
Guard."  In  the  organization  of  the  regiment  this  com- 
pany was  designed  as  Company  F. 

The  regiment,  having  been  armed  with  weapons  of  an 
inferior  class,  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
for  three  years,  by  Capt.  II.  R.  Mizner,  United  States  army, 
at  the  rendezvous,  October  23  and  25,  1861,  and  on  the 
last-named  day  left  Detroit  for  the  seat  of  war  in  the  South- 
west, being  the  first  regiment  from  Michigan  which  entered 
the  field  in  the  Western  departments.  It  reached  Jefier- 
sonville,  Ind.,  on  the  27th,  and  on  the  following  day  was 
moved  by  steamboat  to  Salt  River,  Ky.  It  was  soon  after 
engaged  in  the  construction  of  a  defensive  work  on  Mul- 
draugh's  Hill,  and  made  its  winter  quarters  in  that  vicinity. 
During  their  stay  at  that  place  the  men  of  the  Ninth  were 
terribly  afflicted  with  measles  and  other  disorders,  as  many 
as  four  hundred  having  been  on  the  sick-list  at  one  time. 

Immediately  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson,  the  regi- 
ment was  moved  by  transports  from  Salt  River  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  whcrff  it  remained  for  some  weeks  ;  then  moved  to 
Murfreesboro',  and  was  posted  there  from  April  to  July,  as 
one  of  the  chain  of  detachments  which  were  placed  to 
guard  the  reat  and  communications  of  Gen.  0.  M.  Mitchell, 
in  his  advance  on  Huntsville,  Ala.  During  that  time  it 
formed  part  of  the  force  with  which  Gen.  Negley  made  a 
demonstration  against  Chattanooga,  reaching  the  north  bank 
of  the  Tennessee  River,  opposite  the  town.  After  that 
expedition  it  was  again  stationed  at  Murfreesboro'  and  vi- 
cinity, and  on  the  13th  of  July  the  six  companies  which 
were  at  that  place  (the  other  four,  under  command  of  Maj. 
Fox,  being  at  Tullahoma)  were  attacked  by  a  body  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  three  thousand  five  hundred  strong,  under 
Gen.  N.  B.  Forrest.  Of  this  battalion  of  the  Ninth  at 
Murfreesboro'  one  company  (B)  forty-two  strong,  under 
First  Lieut.  Wright,  was  quartered  in  the  court-house,  and 
five  companies  were  camped  in  a  body  in  the  northeastern 
outskirts  of  the  village  on  the  Liberty  turnpike, — all  under 
command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Parkhurst.  Col.  Duffield  was  pres- 
ent, but  not  on  duty,  he  having  arrived  in  the  evening  of 
the  11th,  in  company  with  Gen.  Crittenden,  on  business 
connected  with  the  formation  of  a  new  brigade,  of  which 
Col.  Duffield  was  to  have  the  command.  The  Third  Min- 
nesota Infantry  Regiment  (nine  companies,  four  hundred 
and  fifty  strong)  was  encamped  on  the  bank  of  Stone  River, 
less  than  two  miles  to  the  northwest  of  the  town,  and  with 
it  was  Hewett's  (First  Kentucky)  Battery  of  four  guns. 

Forrest's  attack  on  the  camp  of  Lieut.-Col.  Parkhurst's 
battalion  was  made  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Sun- 
day, the  13th  of  July.  He  had  evidently  expected  that  it 
would  be  a  surprise,  but  such  did  not  prove  to  be  the  case. 


Col.  Parkhurst  had  been  warned  of  their  approach,  for 
the  noise  made  by  fourteen  thousand  hoofs  sounding  on  the 
hard  macadamized  roads  was  so  great  that  the  alarm  was 
given  before  the  head  of  the  rebel  column  reached  the 
picket  line,  a  mile  out  of  the  town,  so  that,  although  they 
came  in  at  full  speed,  the  Union  force  was  prepared  to 
give  them  a  very  warm  reception.  The  result  was  that 
the  first  attack  was  successfully  repelled,  with  considerable 
loss  to  the  enemy,  who  then  withdrew  and  proceeded  to 
attack  the  company  occupying  the  court-house.  Upon  the 
withdrawal  of  the  enemy  from  his  front,  Lieut.-Col.  Park- 
hurst at  once  dispatched  a,messenger  to  the  colonel  of  the 
Third  Minnesota,  at  Stone  River,  informing  him  of  the 
situation,  and  asTting  him  to  come  to  his  (Parkhurst's)  as- 
sistance. With  this  request  the  officer  in  question,  for 
what  doubtless  seemed  to  him  good  reasons,  declined  to 
comply.  It  was  believed  that  he  might  have  done  so  with 
good  prospects  of  success,  he  having  a  comparatively  large 
force,  including  an  efficient  battery.  Certainly  any  attempt 
of  Col.  Parkhurst — with  his  little  force  of  less  than  three 
hundred  men,  including  the  company  in  the  court-house, 
and  with  no  artillery — to  effect  a  junction  with  the  Minne- 
sotians,  in  the  face  of  such  an  overwhelming  body  of  the 
enemy,  would  have  been  almost  fool-hardy. 

At  the  court-house  the  attacking  party  met  a  very  warm 
reception  from  the  defending  garrison,  who  held  them  at 
bay  for  two  long  hours,  and  only  yielded  when  they  found 
such  a  course  inevitable,  the  enemy  having  gained  posses- 
sion of  the  lower  story  of  the  building  and  set  fire  to  it  to 
compel  the  surrender.  Immediately  after  their  capture 
they  were  sent  to  the  rear,  in  the  direction  of  McMinuville, 
without  an  hour's  delay,  for  the  rebel  commander  believed 
that  his  work  might  at  any  moment  be  interrupted  by 
Union  reinforcements  from  either  or  all  of  the  several  de- 
tachments posted  at  different  points  in  the  vicinity  ;  a  very 
natural  supposition,  which  might  easily  have  been  verified. 

From  the  siege  of  the  court-house  the  enemy  returned 
to  the  attack  of  Col.  Parkhurst's  position,  which,  during 
the  brief  cessation  of  hostilities,  had  been  strengthened  by 
such  slight  defenses  as  the  men  had  been  able  to  construct 
in  the  short  time,  and  with  the  insufficient  means  and  ma- 
terials at  their  command.  Slight  as  they  were  they  af- 
forded some  shelter  to  the  defending  force,  who,  though 
outnumbered  more  than  ten  to  one  by  their  assailants, 
fought  with  the  most  determined  and  persistent  bravery 
until  past  noon,  when,  as  it  became  evident  that  they  need 
look  no  longer  for  succor,  and  that  further  resistance  was 
useless,  their  leader  submitted  to  the  inevitable  and  sur- 
rendered. During  the  eight  hours  through  which  they  had 
stood  at  bay  their  loss  had  been  thirteen  killed  and  eighty- 
seven  wounded.  The  enemy  admitted  that  his  own  loss 
in  killed  alone  had  been  thirty-five,  and  there  is  little  doubt 
that  it  was  much  beyond  this  figure.  Among  the  captured 
officers  were  Lieut.-Col.  Parkhurst  and  Capt.  Mansfield. 
The  first  was  marched  away  by  the  victorious  rebels.  Capt. 
Mansfield  being  unable  to  endure  the  march  was  left  be- 
hind, paroled,  as  was  also  Col.  Duffield,  who  had  been  badly 
wounded  during  the  fight.  His  companion  in  his  unfor- 
tunate visit  to  the  post — Gen.  Crittenden — had  also  been 
captured  at  the  hotel  in  the  village,  and  was  taken  away 


62 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON    COUxNTIBS,   MICHIGAN. 


with  the  other  prisoners,  to  whose  numbers  was  also  added 
the  Minnesota  regiment  before  mentioned,  and  the  men  and 
officers  of  Hewett's  Battery. 

At  McMinnville,  Forrest  paroled  the  enlisted  men  whom 
he  had  captured,  and  they  returned  to  Nashville,  whence 
they  were  sent  to  Camp  Chase.  He,  however,  retained  the 
officers  and  took  them  to  Knoxville.  From  there  they 
were  sent  to  Atlanta,  then  to  Madison,  Ga.,  where  they  re- 
mained for  a  considerable  time,  then  to  Columbia,  S.  C,  to 
Salisbury,  N.  C,  and  finally  to  Libby  Prison,  at  Richmond, 
where  they  were  eventually  paroled.  Col.  Parkhurst  was 
exchanged  in  December,  1862.,  In  the  mean  time  the 
portion  of  the  regiment  which  had  escaped  capture  at 
Murfreesboro'  had  been  engaged  againsf  the  enemy  at 
Tyree  Springs,  Tenn.,  and  at  Munfbrdsville,  Ky.,  about  the 
time  of  Gen.  Buell's  advance  from  Louisville  to  Perryville 
and  Bowling  Green. 

On  the  2-ith  of  December,  1862,  Lieut.-Col  Parkhurst, 
then  in  command  of  the  Ninth  (Col.  Duffield  was  perma- 
nently disabled  by  the  wounds  received  at  Murfreesboro', 
and  resigned  less  than  two  months  after  that  time),  reported 
for  duty  at  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Thomas,  near  Nash- 
ville, and  was  assigned  to  duty  as  provost-marshal ;  his 
regiment  (reorganized  and  with  ranks  refilled  by  the  ex- 
changed- prisoners)  being  detailed  as  provost-guard  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps.  The  remark  was  made  by  Gen.  Thomas, 
on  the  issuance  of  the  order  assigning  it  to  that  duty,  that 
he  had  fully  acquainted  himself  with  the  history  of  the 
part  taken  by  the  regiment  in  its  defense  of  the  post  of 
Murfreesboro'  against  Forrest,  and  that  just  such  a  regi- 
ment was  what  he  needed  at  his  headquarters. 

The  duty  to  which  the  Ninth  was  thus  assigned  was 
performed  by  the  regiment  from  that  time  until  the  expi- 
ration of  its  term  of  service.  For  the  manner  in  which  it 
performed  the  duties  devolving  on  it  at  the  battles  of  Stone 
River  and  Chickamauga  (particularly  the  former),  Col. 
Parkhurst  and  the  regiment  were  warmly  complimented  by 
Gen.  Thomas.  When  that  general  assumed  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  after  Chickamauga, 
Col.  Parkhurst  (who  received  his  promotion  to  the  colonelcy 
Feb.  6,  1863)  was  made  provost-marslial-general  of  the  de- 
partment, and  the  Ninth  became  provost-guard  at  army 
headquarters.  In  December,  1863,  the  regiment,  to  the 
number  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine,  re-enlisted  as  a 
veteran  organization,  received  a  veteran  furlough,  and  re- 
turned to  Michigan  in  a  body,  arriving  at  Coldwater  in 
January,  1864.  At  the  expiration  of  its  furlough,  re- 
assembling at  the  same  place,  it  left  on  the  20th  of  Feb- 
ruary for  the  front,  with  its  ranks  filled  to  about  five 
hundred  men.  At  Chattanooga  it  returned  to  duty  at 
headquarters,  and  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1864  partici- 
pated in  all  the  operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land in  Georgia  and  Tennessee.  It  entered  Atlanta  on  its 
evacuation  by  the  enemy,  and  was  there  engaged  in  pi'ovost 
duty  till  November  1st,  when  it  returned  to  Chattanooga. 
During  October  sixty-nine  members  were  discharged  by 
expiration  of  their  term  of  service,  but  as  a  large  number 
of  recruits  had  been  received  during  the  year,  the  regiment, 
on  the  1st  of  November,  1864,  numbered  eight  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  enlisted   men.     It  remained   in   Chatta- 


nooga until  the  27th  of  March,  1865,  when  it  was  moved 
to  Nashville.  There  it  stayed  on  duty  at  headquarters  and 
as  "uard  at  the  military  prison  until  the  15th  of  September, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowin"  day  left  fou  Michigan.  It  arrived  at  Jackson  oq 
the  19th  of  September,  and  one  week  later  the  men  were 
paid  off  and  disbanded. 

SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  SOLDIBKS  IN  THE  NINTH  INFANTRY. 
NonrCammisswned  BUiJf. 
Sergt.-Maj.  Wm.  K.  SelloD,  Owosso  ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  G. 
Q.M.-Ser6t.  Arthur  B.  Hathaway,  Owosbo;  pro.  to  2i  lleut.  Co.  K. 

Cfmypawj  A. 
Delos  Hourd,  dJBch.  by  order,  June  2-i,  1865. 

Company  B. 
James  B.  Cummings,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  May  28, 1865. 
Marsliall  F.  Frericli,  disch.  by  order,  July  24, 1864. 

Company  D. 
John  Miller,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  10, 1806. 
James  N.  Place,  disch.  by  order,  June  20, 1865. 
Wilson  D.  Smith,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  30,  1865. 

Company  E. 
Hiram  B.  Andrews,  disch.  by  order,  May  16, 18C5. 
John  K.  Holt,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  17, 1866. 
Martin  Judtl,  niudt.  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Bansom  B.  Rhodes,  disch.  by  order,  June  20, 1865. 

Company  F. 

Capt.  Geo.  K.  Newcombe,  Owosso,  com.  Oct.  12, 1861 ;  pro.  to  maj.  of  7th  Cav., 

Dec.  10,  1802. 
William  W.  lirown,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  26, 1865. 
William  H.  Babcock,  disch.  for  disaliility,  Oct.  1, 1863. 
John  Colby,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7,  1863;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1806. 
Steiihen  A.  Crane,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7,  1863  ;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
George  Cordray,  veteran,  enl.  Nov.  3, 1863;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 
Justus  Collmru,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 

Jacob  H.  DoolitUe,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  July  18, 1862. 
James  Drown,  died  of  disease  at  West  Point,  Ky.,  Nov.  26, 1862. 
Lntber  Drown,  disch.  April  17,  1S62. 

Francis  Denning,  veteian,  enl.  Nov.  3, 1863 ;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Adam  Dubeck,  veteran,  enl,  Dec,  7, 1863;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1805. 
John  Doney,  veteran,  enl,  Dec.  7, 1863;  must,  out  Sept,  15, 1865. 
Sullivan  Fay,  veteran,  Dec.  7, 1803  ;  must,  out  Sept.  16,  1865. 
Henry  T.  Fish,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn,,  April  13, 1866. 
Samuel  H,  Gnihani,  disch,  for  disability,  Feb.  28,  1862. 
Edward  Graliam,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  28, 1862. 
Isaac  Gould,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863;  must,  ont  Sept.  15,1865. 
Frederick  Ghutekunst,  must,  out  Sept,  15, 186.5. 
Beubeu  Harvey,  veteran,  enl .  Dec.  7, 1803 ;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 
Lyman  Hammond,  must,  out  Sept.  15,  1865. 
George  Holland,  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 

Cyrus  Hill,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn,,  July  7, 1862. 
Edward  Hagernutn,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Oct,  21, 1862. 
Edward  Jones,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863 ;  must,  out  Sept.  15,  1865. 
Bartlett  Johnson,  must,  out  Sept.  15,  1865. 
Morris  Jackson,  must,  out  Sept.  16,  1865. 
James  E.  Jackson,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  14, 1862. 
George  W.  Knight,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
John  Lampman,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  28, 1862. 
Alfred  Lefevre,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  27, 1865. 

Herrick  Lefevre,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863;  must,  out  Sept,  15, 1865. 
Alexander  Morris,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863  ;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 
Edward  McCann,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863 ;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 
Frederick  Moore,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863. 

Frederick  Newman,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863 ;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
George  W.  Phillips,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  30, 1862. 
Joseph  H.  Bhodes,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
Henry  Rein,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct,  14, 1864. 
William  U,  Rhodes,  died  of  disease  at  Corunna,  Mich.,  Feb.  27, 1864. 
Edwin  W.  Bobinson,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  July  7, 1862, 
George  A.  Stickler,  accidentally  drowned  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Jan.  18, 1866. 
Archer  Simonds,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1803 ;  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  29, 1865. 
Bodolph  M,  Stickler,  veteran,  enl,  Dec,  7, 1803 ;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Obadiah  Smith,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863 ;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 
Philip  Schwable,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
Michael  Strahel,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
Herman  Scbmitgal,  must,  out  Sept,  16, 1865. 


TENTH   INFANTKY. 


63 


Simeon  Spanlding,  imiBt.  out  Sept.  15, 18G5. 

George  Scougal,  inuet.  out  Sept.  lo,  18G5. 

■William  P.  Treadway,  veteimi,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1P63  ;  must,  out  Sept  15,  1806. 

Ira  M.  Ware,  veteran,  enl.  Kdv.  28, 18G3 ;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865, 

Isaac  Wetter,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7,  1863 ;  must,  tut  S*-pt.  15, 1865. 

Cljauncey  D.  Wliitman,  veteran,  enl.  Kov.  11. 1863;  disch.  for  disability,  April 

17,1864. 
Darius  Watkins,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  28, 1862. 
Bicliard  WHllace,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  14, 1864. 
l>aniel  D.  Wise,  died  of  diseaee  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  March  14, 1863. 

Company  G. 
2d  Lieut.  William  R.  Sellon,  Owosso;  com.  Feb.  8, 1862;  pro.  to  Ist  lleut.,  Co.  I. 
Horace  0.  Curtis,  must,  out  Sept.  15,  1865. 
James  Crandall,  muBt.  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
George  Holland,  muKt.  out  Sept.  15, 1866, 
John  Miller,  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1866. 
Eli  R.  Rood,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 

Company  H. 
Levi  A.  Bronson,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Andrew  Curtis,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
Thaddeus  Huff,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Joseph  HufT,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Alexander  Montgomery,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Apiil  9, 18G4. 
John  O'Conner,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Willis  Palmer,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  March  23, 1863. 
Patrick  Quinn,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Ist  Lient.  William  R.  Sellon,  Owosso;  com.  Sept.  23,1862;  pro.  to  lieut.-col.  of 

102d  U.  S.  Col.  Troops,  Aug.  17, 1863. 
Joseph  Brown,  must,  out  Sept,  15, 1865. 
Jeremiah  Coif,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Chailes  H.  Coif,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  11,1866. 
Ira  A,  Johnson,  disch,  by  order,  Sept.  11, 1865. 
Michael  Punches,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 

Company  K. 
2d  Lieut.  Arthur  B.  Hathaway,  Owosso ;  com.  Oct.  14, 1864 ;  must,  out  Sept.  15, 

1865. 
David  M.  Arthur,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Leroy  Chapin,  disch.  for  dieabilify,  Sept.  18, 1863. 
Cornelius  Coraon,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1,1863;  must,  out  Sept,  15, 

1863. 
Eli  F.  Evans,  disch.  for  promotion,  Dec.  14, 1864, 
William  P.  Horton,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  July  10, 1866. 
George  A,  Harrington,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  May,  1861. 
Charles  P.  Jones,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
Daniel  McCoUura,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
William  G.  Rouse,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
Chauncey  0.  Rouse,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Samuel  B,  Reed,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
Albert  Snow,  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 
Franklin  Scougall,  must,  out  Sept,  15, 1865. 
William  Shattuck,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866, 
Allen  Slater,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1863. 
John  Sabine,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky. 
James  B.  Sanderson,  discb.  for  disability,  June  22, 1863. 
Luther  Truesdale,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  28, 1865. 
Alexander  Yanwormer,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  6, 1863. 
Abel  Yanwormer,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  9, 1863. 
Elthaner  Yanwoimer,  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 

Company  L. 
Orlando  Harrington,  disch.  for  disability,  April  9, 1863. 


CLINTON  COUNTY  MEN  IN  THE  NINTH. 

Company  D. 
Wilbert  Thompson,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Peter  Bertram,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  14, 1864. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

TENTH    INFABTTRT. 

The  Tenth  Organized  at  Flint — Campaigns  and  Marehes  in  Missis- 
sippi, Tennessee,  and  Alabama — Pursuit  of  Longstreet  in  East 
Tennessee — Winter  Quarters  in  Georgia — Battle  at  Buzzard's  Roost 
— Veteran  Re-enlistment — Atlanta  Campaign — March  to  the  Sea — 
Carolina  Campaign — March  to  Washington — -The  Grand  Review- 
Muster  Out. 

In  the  composition  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  there  were 
several  companies  which  contained  men  from  Shiawassee 
and  Clinton  Counties ;  but  the  greatest  number  of  these 
were  found  in  the  ranks  of  "  A"  company,  which  was 
largely  recruited  at  Byron  (the  home  of  its  commanding 
oflBcer)  and  Corunna,  and  was  made  up  almost  entirely  of 
volunteers  from  Shiawassee  and  the  northern  part  of  Liv- 
ingston County.  The  name  by  which  this  company  was 
known  while  being  recruited  and  before  receiving  its  desig- 
nating letter  in  the  regiment  was  that  of  "  The  Byron 
Guard  ;"  its  captain  and  first  lieutenant  being  respectively 
Henry  S.  Burnett,  of  Byron,  and  Robert  F.  Gulick,  of 
Corunna. 

The  "  Byron  Guard"'  was  raised  in  the  fall-  of  1861, 
under  authority  received  by  Capt.  Burnett  from  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Michigan,  dated  October  4th  in  that  year.  On  the 
28th  of  the  same  month  it  had  reached  the  minimum  num- 
ber of  men,  and  on  the  2d  of  November  the  captain  re- 
ceived orders  to  report  with  his  company  at  Flint,  the 
rendezvous  of  the  Tenth  Infantry,  to  which  regiment  it 
had  been  assigned.  It  reached  Flint  November  5th,  eighty- 
six  strong,  and  was  the  second  company  to  report  at  the 
rendezvous,  the  company  known  as  the  "  Saginaw  Rangers" 
having  reached  there  three  days  earlier.  In  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  regiment,  however,  the  "  Byron  Guard"  re- 
ceived the  first  letter,  and  the  "  Rangers"  were  designated 
as  Company  B.  The  last  of  the  ten  companies  reported 
at  Flint  on  the  26th  of  December,  and  by  the  20th  of  Jan- 
uary all  had  been  filled  and  the  organization  of  the  regi- 
ment was  perfected. 

The  camp  of  instruction  at  Flint  was  named  "  Camp 
Thomson,"  in  honor  of  Col.  Edward  H.  Thomson,  of  that 
city,  president  of  the  State  Military  Board.  At  this  camp, 
on  the  5th  of  February,  1862,  the  Tenth  Infantry  was  re- 
viewed by  Governor  Blair,  and  on  that  and  the  following 
day  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  by  Col. 
Wright,  U.S.A.  The  Tenth  was  now  an  organized  regi- 
ment in  the  service  of  the  government,  under  the  following 
field-oflScers,  viz. :  Colonel,  Charles  M.  Lum ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  Christopher  J.  Dickerson ;  Major,  James  J.  Scarritt. 
The  ceremony  of  presentation  of  a  national  flag  to  the 
regiment  was  performed  on  Friday,  the  11th  of  April,  at 
the  camp  of  instruction. 

The  regiment,  nine  hundred  and  ninety-seven  strong, 
took  its  departure  from  Camp  Thomson  on  Tuesday,  the 
22d  of  April,  its  first  destination  being  known  to  be  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  There  was  then  no  railroad  from  Flint  to  the 
line  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  road,  and  therefore  the 
men  were  moved  to  Holly  Station  on  wagons  and  other 
vehicles  furnished  by  patriotic  citizens.  This  first  stage  of 
their  long  journey  was  accomplished  in  a  snow-storm,  which 


64 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


gave  additional  sadness  to  partings,  some  of  which  proved  to 
be  final.  At  Holly,  after  abundant  feasting,  the  command 
took  the  train  for  Detroit,  and  after  marching  through  the 
city  to  the  Michigan  Central  depot,  escorted  by  the  "  Lyon 
Guard"  and  Detroit  "Light  Guard,"  embarked  on  a  train 
consisting  of  twenty-three  passenger  and  five  freight  cars, 
drawn  by  two  locomotives,  and  at  a  little  before  midnight 
left  for  the  West.  Michigan  City  was  reached  at  two 
o'clock  P.M.  on  Wednesday,  and  at  six  p.m.  on  Thursday 
the  regiment  was  at  East  St.  Louis.  On  the  following  day 
it  embarked  on  the  steamer  "  Gladiator,"  and  at  four  p.m. 
on  Friday  moved  down  the  Mississippi.  Cairo  was  reached, 
and  during  the  short  stop  which  was  made  there  the  most 
sensational  rumors  were  circulated  :  that  desperate  fighting 
'was  then  in  progress  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  on  the  Tennes- 
see (the  known  destination  of  the  regiment)  ;  that  the  river 
at  Paducah  was  filled  with  dead  floating  down  from  the  bat- 
tle-field above ;  and  many  other  stories  of  similar  import. 
But  the  "  Gladiator"  moved  on  up  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee 
OD  Saturday  afternoon,  passed  Fort  Henry  on  Sunday,  and 
on  Monday  night  reached  Pittsburg  Landing,  but  was  or- 
dered to  proceed  four  miles  farther  up  the  Tennessee  to 
Hamburg,  which  place  was  reached  on  Tuesday,  the  27th, 
just  one  week  after  the  departure  from  Cump  Thomson. 
Here  the  regiment  was  disembarked  on  the  28th,  and  on 
the  29th  was  assigned  to  duty  in  Col.  James  D.  Morgan's 
brigade,  Payne's  division,  left  wing  Army  of  Mississippi. 
On  its  first  advent  among  the  veterans  of  Shiloh  the  regi- 
ment received  the  usual  attentions  which  old  soldiers  pay  to 
fresh  troops,  such  as  sneering  allusions  to  the  cleanness  of 
uniforms  and  the  size  of  knapsacks,  with  frequent  appli- 
cations of  the  epithets  "  paper-collar  soldiers,"  "band-box 
regiment,"  and  many  similar  compliments  ;  but  all  this  was 
given  and  received  in  good-humor,  for  all  knew  that  a  few 
days  of  marching  would  lighten  the  knapsacks  and  remedy 
the  objectionable  brightness  of  uniforms,  and  after  the  first 
action  all  would  be  old  soldiers  together. 

The  first  march  of  the  regiment  in  the  enemy's  country 
was  made  on  the  29th,  when  it  moved  up  about  five  miles 
and  bivouacked  for  the  night  in  the  woods.  On  the  1st  of 
May  it  again  advanced  towards  Farmington,  Miss.,  and  re- 
mained in  the  vicinity  of  that  village  until  the  enemy's 
evacuation  of  Corinth,  May  30th.  During  this  time  it  was 
several  times  slightly  engaged  in  skirmishing,  but  sustained 
no  loss  except  on  the  26th,  when  the  adjutant,  Lieut.  Syl- 
vester D.  Cowles,  was  instantly  killed  by  the  bullet  of  a 
sharpshooter  while  on  picket. 

The  entire  summer  of  1862  was  passed  by  the  regiment 
in  marching,  camping,  picketing,  and  similar  duties  in  the 
north  part  of  the  States  of  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  but 
without  any  notable  event  (more  than  an  occasional  skirmish) 
occurring  in  its  experience.  On  the  1st  of  June  it  was  at 
Kienzi,  Miss.,  and  from  the  2d  to  the  11th  was  at  Boone- 
ville  and  in  its  vicinity.  About  June  15th  it  encamped  at 
Big  Springs,  six  miles  from  Corinth,  and  remained  there 
five  weeks.  At  this  place  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  was 
held,  and  the  stay  at  this  camp  was  regarded  by  all  as  among 
the  most  agreeable  of  all  the  regiment's  sojournings  during 
the  war.  On  the  27th  of  July  the  headquarters  of  the 
regiment  were  at  Camp  Leighton,  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  but  the 


several  companies  were  posted  at  difierent  places  for  a  dis- 
tance of  twenty  miles  along  the. Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad,  engaged  in  guarding  that  line.  Lieut.-Col.  Dick- 
erson,  who  was  at  Town  Creek,  Ala.,  with  a  part  of  the 
re"-iment,  evacuated  that  place  in  haste  in  the  night  of  the 
31st  on  account  of  the  (reported)  advance  of  a  heavy  force 
of  the  enemy.  The  camp  was  reoccupied  the  next  day,  as 
the  enemy  (if  there  had  been  any  in  the  vicinity)  had 
moved  in  another  direction. 

The  headquarters  of  the  regiment  remained  at  Camp 
Leighton  until  September  1st,  when  it  received  orders  to 
move  towards  Nashville,  and  on  the  following  day  it  crossed 
the  Tennessee  River  and  moved  northward.  The  march 
(the  line  of  which  lay  through  Rogersville,  Athens,  Elkton, 
Pulaski,  Lynnvi'lle,  Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  and  Franklin) 
occupied  nine  days,  and  in  the  evening  of  September  11th 
the  regiment  with  its  brtgade  reached  a  point  two  miles 
south  of  Nashville.  There  it  remained  until  the  15th,  when 
it  moved  through  the  city  and  encamped  in  the  suburbs. 

For  nearly  two  months  the  force  of  which  the  Tenth 
Regiment  was  a  part  (consisting  of  the  divisions  of  Gens. 
Palmer  and  Negley)  remained  at  Nashville  without  com- 
munications, surrounded  by  the  forces  of  the  Confederate 
Gen.  Breckinridge,  and  compelled  to  live  by  foraging  on 
the  neighboring  country,  crowding  back  the  enemy  every 
time  that  parties  were  sent  out  from  Nashville  for  this  pur- 
pose. But  finally,  on  the  6th  of  November,  the  advance 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  (moving  southward  from 
Kentucky  under  Gen.  Rosecrans,  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel 
Gen.  Bragg)  reached  Edgefield,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Cumberland,  opposite  Nashville ;  thus  opening  communi- 
cation with  the  Ohio  River  for  the  force  which  had  so  long 
been  beleaguered  in  Nashville. 

The  army  of  Rosecrans  remained  encamped  around  Nash- 
ville until  the  2Gth  of  December,  when  it  moved  forward 
towards  Murfreesboro',  on  the  campaign  which  culminated 
in  the  great  battle  of  Stone  River,  December  31st,  and 
January  1st  and  2d.     The  Tenth  Michigan  did  not  take 
part  in  this  forward  movement,  but  remained  nearly  seven 
months  after  that  time  at  Nashville,  engaged  in  provost, 
grand  guard,  and  fatigue  duty,  and  in  protecting  communi- 
cation  between    Nashville   and   Murfreesboro'   and  other 
points.     Upon  one  occasion,  Jan.  3,  1863,  two  companies 
(one  of  them  being  Capt.  Burnett's),  while  guarding  a  train 
between  Nashville  and  Murfreesboro',  were  attacked  by  a 
large  guerrilla  force  of  the  enemy,  but  repulsed  them,  taking 
fifteen  prisoners  and  killing  an  equal  number  without  loss 
to  themselves.     Again,  April  10,  1863,  a  force  of  forty- 
four  men  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  having  been  sent  under 
command  of  Lieut.  F.  W.  Vanderberg  to  guard  a  railway- 
train,  were  attacked  by  a  body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  in 
ambush  at  Antioch  Station,  three  miles  north  of  Lavergne, 
the  train  having  been  stopped  for  some  cause  ^when  the 
attack  was  made.    Lieut.  Vanderberg  fell  mortally  wounded 
at  the  first  or  second  fire,  and  five  of  his  men  were  killed, 
ten  wounded,  and  three  taken  prisoners,  making  a  total  loss 
of  nineteen,  or  two-fifths  of  the  force  engaged.    This  (with 
the  exception  of  the  loss  of  its  adjutant,  killed  on  picket 
in  Mississippi)  was  the  first  loss  inflicted  on  the  regiment 
in  action  by  the  enemy. 


TENTH   INFANTRY. 


65 


The  men  and  oflScers  of  the  Tenth  had  begun  to  regard 
Nashville  as  their  permanent  camping-place,  and  some  of 
them  had  formed  such  strong  attachments  there  that  when, 
on  the  19th  of  July,  orders  were  received  to  move  south- 
ward, they  were  welcomed  with  very  little  of  the  enthusiasm 
which  similar  orders  would  have  produced  a  few  months 
earlier.  But  the  regiment  moved  in  the  morning  of  the 
20th,  and  reached  Murfreesboro'  at  noon  of  the  21st.  Here 
it  remained  on  picket  and  guard  duty  till  August  19th,  when 
it  again  marched  southward. 

The  history  of  the  regiment  during  the  four  months 
next  succeeding  its  departure  from  Murfreesboro'  is  that  of 
an  almost  continuous  march  through  the  States  of  Tennes- 
see, Alabama,  and  Georgia.  It  passed  south  through  Poster- 
ville,  Shelbyville,  Farmington  (Tenn.),  and  Lewisburg  to 
Columbia  ;  remained  there  on  provost  duty  from  the  23d 
"to  the  26th  of  August;  moved  on  through  Pulaski  and 
Lynnville  to  Athens,  Ala. ;  remained  there  from  August 
29th  to  September  1st ;  thence  passed  through  Huntsville, 
Brownsville,  on  Flint  Eiver,  Ala.,  Larkinville,  Scottsboro', 
and  Bellefonte  to  Stevenson,  Ala.,  remaining  at  the  last- 
named  place  on  provost  duty  from  the  7th  to  the  21st  of 
September ;  moved  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  remained  there  till 
October  1st;  moved  at  midnight,  through  dense  darkness  and 
fathomless  mud,  on  the  road  to  Jasper,  Tenn. ;  passed  that 
place  and  moved  to  Anderson's  Cross- Roads ;  remained 
there  picketing  from  the  3d  to  the  18th  of  October; 
moved  to  Dallas,  Tenn.,  thirteen  miles  above  Chattan6oga, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee  River ;  remained  there 
three  days  within  hearing  of  the  cannonading  between  the 
hostile  armies  at  Chattanooga;  moved  again  October  24th, 
passed  through  Washington,  Tenn.,  and  arrived  on  the 
26th  at  Smith's  Ferry  over  the  Tennessee,  fifty-five  miles 
above  Chattanooga.  There  the  regiment  remained  for 
nearly  four  weeks,  during  which  time  the  men  had  con- 
structed comfortable  quarters  with  fireplaces  and  other 
conveniences,  believing  that  this  would  be  their  camping- 
place  for  the  winter,  which  was  then  approaching.  But  on 
the  20th  of  November  marching  orders  came,  and  on 
Saturday,  the  21st,  the  Tenth  Michigan  was  again  on  the 
march.  In  the  evening  of  the  22d  it  was  once  more 
within  hearing  of  the  cannonade  from  the  batteries  on 
Lookout  Mountain,  and  on  the  23d  it  reached  Camp  Cald- 
well, on  the  right  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  four  miles  above 
Chattanooga.  , 

On  the  following  day  the  Tenth  crossed  to  the  south  side 
of  the  river  and  stood  iu  line  during  the  progress  of  the 
great  conflicts  at  Lookout  and  Mission  Ridge,  but  was  not 
engaged  in  either  of  those  battles.  Soon  after  midnight, 
in  the  morning  of  the  26th,  it  moved  up  the  -Tennessee, 
crossed  Chickamauga  Creek  on  a  pontoon-bridge,  and 
marched  up  the  right  hank  of  that  stream,  where  a  part  of 
the  brigade  met  a  small  force  6f  the  retreating  enemy,  and 
a  skirmish  ensued  in  which  one  man  of  the  regiment  was 
slightly  wounded  by  a  spent  ball.  The  enemy's  evacuated 
works  at  Chickamauga  Station  were  occupied  on  the  same 
day,  the  Tenth  being  the  first  to  enter  the  works.  On  the 
27th  the  regiment  entered  Georgia  for  the  first  time,  pass- 
ing through  Grayville  and  camping  near  Ringgold.  On 
the  28th  orders  were  received  to  march  in  pursuit  of  Long- 
9 


street,  who  was  known  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Knoxville. 
Under  these  oiders  the  regiment  marched  with  its  brigade 
on  the  29th,  and  continued  to  move  rapidly  up  the  valley 
of-  the  Tennessee  until  December  6th,  when  it  had  reached 
a  point  some  fifteen  miles  above  Loudon,  where  the  intelli- 
gence was  received  that  Longstreet  had  withdrawn  from 
Knoxville  and  retreated  into  Virginia.  Then  the  column 
was  ordered  to  return  to  Chattanooga.  The  Tenth  passed 
through  Madisonville  to*  Columbus,  Tenn.  (remaining  at 
the  latter  place  from  the  9th  to  the  15th  of  December, 
during  which  time  the  bridge  across  the  Hiawassee  River 
was  constructed,  and  on  the  18th  reached  its  old  camp,  four 
miles  above  Chattanooga.  Here  it  remained  till  the  26th 
when  It  moved  to  near  Rossville,  Ga.,  and  prepared  to  go 
into  winter  quarters  after  a  marching  campaign  of  more 
than  four  months'  duration.  The  men  had  come  in  from 
the  East  Tennessee  march  worn  out,  famished,  and  tattered, 
many  of  them  having  no  shoes,  having  been  compelled  to 
cut  up  their  ragged  blankets  into  wrappings  for  their  feet. 
No  men  ever  stood  more  in  need  of  rest  and  recuperation. 

At  the  Rossville  camp  the  men  built  tight  and  comfort- 
able log  cabins,  each  containing  a  fireplace,  and  in  these 
(when  not  out  on  picket  duty)  the  two  remaining  months 
of  winter  were  spent  in  a  very  agreeable  manner.  Prepara- 
tions were  made  for  mustering  as  veterans,  and  nearly  all 
the  companies  had  the  requisite  three-fourths  of  their  num- 
ber re-enlisted,  when,  in  the  evening  of  February  3d,  the 
regiment  was  ordered  out  on  picket  to  Chickamauga  Sta- 
tion, eight  miles  away.  It  remained  out  till  the  14th,  when 
it  was  marched  back  to  camp,  and  the  veteran  muster  was 
completed  on  the  16th,  three  hundred  and  eighty. men 
signing  the  veteran  enlistment  for  three  years,  dating  from 
February  6th.  The  number  of  veterans  was  afterwards  in- 
creased to  over  four  hundred.  The  re-enlistment  and  mus- 
ter being  perfected,  the  men  were  waiting  impatiently  for 
the  veteran  furlough  (which  some  of  them  were  destined 
never  to  receive),  when,  in  the  morning  of  February  23d, 
the  regiment  had  orders  to  march  immediately,  with  three 
days'  rations  and  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition.  The  men 
could  hardly  believe  that  they  were  again  to  march  to  the 
front  before  making  the  long-anticipated  visit  to  their 
homes,  but  they  fell  in  without  much  audible  complaint, 
and  marched  away  on  the  road  which  was  to  lead  them  to 
their  first  battlefield.  The  regiment  moved  to  within  a 
mile  of  Ringgold,  and  camped  for  the  night.  In  the  morn- 
ing of  the  24th  it  moved  to  a  point  between  that  town 
and  Tunnel  Hill,  where  "the  brigade  joined  the  forces 
which  had  moved  out  from  Chattanooga  to  make  a  reoon- 
noissance  in  force  of  the  enemy's  positions  in  the  direction 
of  Dalton  and  Lafayette,  Ga.  The  enemy  were  flanked 
out  of  their  works  at  Tunnel  Hill,  and  retired  towards 
Dalton.  The  Tenth  (with  other  commands)  folldwed  in 
pursuit,  and  at  about  five  o'clock  p.m.  arrived  at  Buzzard's 
Roost, — a  rocky  stronghold  of  the  rebels,  situated  in  a  pass 
of  the  mountains  known  as  Kenyon's  Gap, — three  miles 
from  Dalton.  The  works  were  in  the  rear  of  Rocky-Face 
Ridge,  and  fully  commanded  the  gap.  Some  skirmishing 
was  done  in  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  24th,  and 
the  regiment  took  position  for  the  night  between  two  spurs 
of  Rocky-Face  Ridge. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTOX   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


On  the  25th  the  early  part  of  the  day  was  consumed  in 
skirmishing,  but  about  two  o'clock  P.M.  the  Tenth,  with 
the  Sixtieth  Illinois,  was  ordered  forward  in  line  over  the 
ridges  to  attack  the  enemy  and  carry  his  position  if  possible. 
They  moved  forward  gallantly  into  a  very  hot  artillery  and 
musketry  fire  from  greatly  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy. 
They  remained  under  this  terrible  enfilading  fire  for  about 
forty  minutes,  and  did  what  men  could  do  to  carry  the 
position,  but  were  at  last  forced  back  by  superior  numbers, 
and  at  the  end  of  one  hour  and  ten  minutes  the  regiment 
reoccupied  the  position  from  which  it  had  advanced  to  the 
charn-e.  In  this  brief  time  it  had  lost  forty-nine  killed  and 
wounded  and  seventeen  missing,  among  the  latter  being 
Lieut.-Col.  Dickorson,  who  was  wounded  and  made  prisoner 
by  the  enemy. 

A  characteristic  account  of  the  battle  given  by  a  rebel 
paper  (the  Atlanta  Register  of  Feb.  29,  1864)  was  as  fol- 
lows :  "  On  Thursday,  the  25th,  the  enemy  commenced, 
about  nine  A.M.,  to  skirmish  with  our  pickets  and  sharp- 
shooters. At  one  P.M.  the  Federal  general,  Morgan,  ad- 
vanced on  our  right  centre  to  force  the  gap.  They  were 
gallantly  met  by  Reynolds'  brigade,  of  Stevenson's  division, 
Clayton's  brigade,  of  Walker's  division,  and  Stavall's  bri- 
gade, of  Stewart's  division,  when  a  lively  fight  took  place. 
The  enemy  made  three  desperate  assaults  to  take  the  gap, 
and  were  repulsed  each  time  with  great  slaughter,  being 
enfiladed  at  the  same  time  by  our  artillery.  We  captured 
some  twenty  prisoners,  among  them  Lieut.-Col.  C.  J.  Dick- 
erson,  of  the  Tenth  Michigan,  which  regiment  alone  lost 
two  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and  wounded.  That  night  the 
enemy  fell  back  behind  their  intrenchments, — some  three 
or  four  miles  from  our  front  line, — and  a  portion  of  their 
forces  moved  over  to  our  left,  and  succeeded  in  taking  a 
gap  leading  to  the  Lafayette  road,  through  Sugar  Valley, 
three  miles  south  of  Dalton." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  while  this  account  made  the  loss 
of  the  Tenth  more  than  five  times  what  it  really  was  in 
killed  and  wounded,  it  admits  that  the  two  regiments  which 
formed  the  Union  attacking  column  encountered  a  rebel 
force  of  three  brigades  in  a  strongly-fortified  position.  In 
fact,  neither  the  Tenth  nor  the  Sixtieth  Illinois  had  all  its 
strength  present  in  the  fight, — only  eight  companies  of 
each,  making  a  total  of  about  nine  hundred  men,  being 
engaged. 

On  the  2Cth  the  regiment  with  its  brigade  was  relieved, 
and  marched  to  Ringgold,  from  whieli  place  it  returned  to 
camp  at  Rossville  on  the  27th.  '  About  the  5th  of  March 
the  veterans  of  the  Tenth  left  the  Rossville  camp  and 
moved  to  Chattanooga  en  route  for  Michigan,  and  arrived 
at  Detroit  on  the  11th.  There  they  received  the  veteran 
furlough,  with  orders  to  rea.ssemble  at  its  expiration  at  the 
rendezvous,  the  city  of  Flint.  Upon  reassembling  they 
remained  in  Flint  for  some  days, — a  visit  which  was  long 
remembered  by  both  soldiers  and  citizens.  The  veterans 
and  recruits  left  Flint  on  the  20th  of  April,  and  moved  by 
way  of  Fentonville  to  Detroit,  thence  by  way  of  Kalamazoo 
and  Lafayette  to  Jefiersonville,  Ind.,  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
Nashville,  arriving  at  the  latter  city  April  24th.  They  left 
Nashville  on  the  27th,  and  marched  to  Chattanooga,  where 
they  arrived  on  the  11th  of  May,  and  on  the  12th  marched 


to  their  old  winter  quarters  at  Rossville,  which  were  found 
undisturbed  and  in  good  condition.  On  the  13th  they 
marched  in  search  of  the  brigade  (which  had  moved  for- 
ward with  the  army  May  2d),  and  overtooTc  it  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  16th,  marching  nineteen  miles  farther  the  same 
day  with  Gen.  JeflF.  C.  Davis'  division,  which  was  moving 
towards  Rome.  On  the  17th  the  regiment  took  part  in 
the  fight  at  Oostenaula  River  and  in  the  capture  of  Rome 
on  the  following  day,  both  without  loss.  Then  followed  a 
series  of  marches  and  manoeuvres  by  which  the  Tenth 
moved  to  Dallas,  to  Ackworth,  Ga.,  and  by  way  of  Lost 
Mountain  to  Kenesaw,  where,  in  the  assault  of  the  27th 
of  June,  it  formed  part  of  the  reserve  of  the  charging 
column.  Its  losses  during  June  were  fourteen  killed  and 
wounded. 

The  enemy  having  evacuated  his  works  at  Kenesaw,  the 
Tenth  took  part  in  the  pursuit,  marching  on  the  3d  of ' 
July,  and,  having  crossed  the  Chattahoochee  River,  it 
advanced  on  the  19th  to  Durant's  Mill,  on  Peachtree 
Creek,  and  took  part  in  the  actions  of  that  and  the  follow- 
ing day,  losing  twenty-three  killed  and  wounded.  Through 
the  remainder  of  July  and  nearly  all  of  August  it  lay  in  the 
lines  of  investment  before  Atlanta.  August  30th  it  moved 
with  a  reconnoitcring  column  to  Jonesboro',  and  took  part 
in  the  battle  at  that  place  on  the  1st  of  September,  charging 
across  an  open  field  on  the  enemy's  works,  and  losing  thirty 
killed  and  forty-seven  wounded,  among  the  former  being 
the  commanding  ofiicer  of  the  regiment,  Maj.  Burnett. 
It  was  claimed  for  the  Tenth  that  in  this  action  it  took 
more  prisoners  than  the  number  of  men  which  it  carried 
into  the  fight.  For  its  conduct  on  this  occasion  it  was 
complimented  by  Gens.  Thomas,  Davis,  and  Morgan,  the 
corps,  division,  and  brigade  commanders. 

On  the  second  day  following  the  battle  of  Jonesboro' 
the  Tenth  moved  back  to  the  front  of  Atlanta,  and  re- 
mained there  until  and  after  the  capture  of  that  -city.  On 
the  28th  of  September  the  brigade  moved  northward  by 
railroad  to  Chattanooga,  and  thence  by  way  of  Bridgeport 
and  Stevenson  to  Florence,  Ala.,  the  object  being  to  expel 
the  enemy's  cavalry  from  the  country  north  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River.  In  this  the  forces  were  but  partially  success- 
ful, and  after  a  stay  of  about  ten  days  they  were  moved 
back  to  Chattanooga,  where  a  halt  was  made  for  several 
days.  The  Tenth  with  its  brigade  then  moved  up  the 
» Chattooga  and  Broomtown  valleys  to  Rome,  Ga.,  where  it 
joined  its  corps  (the  Fourteenth),  which  was  moving  into 
Alabama  in  pursuit  of  the  Confederate  army  under  Gen. 
Hood.  It  moved  across  the  mountain  to  Gaylesville,  Ala., 
where  it  remained  only  one  day  and  then  returned  to  Rome. 
From  that  point  it  moved  rapidly  to  Etowah  and  Carters- 
ville,  Ga.,  and  thence  south  along  the  Atlanta  Railroad, 
destroying  the  track  and  telegraph  in  its  march,  the  object 
being  to  cut  all  communication  with  Atlanta,  preparatory 
to  Gen.  Sherman's  bold  march  across  Georgia  to  the  At- 
lantic. When  the  Tenth  Regiment  with  its  brigade  ap- 
proached Atlanta  in  the  afternoon  of  the  15th  of  November 
the  city  was  on  fire  from  end  to  end,  it  being  the  object 
of  the  Union  general  to  destroy  everything  in  it  (except 
dwelling-houses)  which  could  be  of  service  to  the  enemy 
after  the  departure  of  the  army.     During  the  adternoon 


TENTH   INFANTEY. 


67 


and  evening  of  the  ]5tb,  shoes,  clothing,  and  rations  were 
issued  to  the  troops,  and  everything  was  made  ready  for  the 
forward  maroh  in  the  following  morning. 

At  noon  on  the  16th  of  November,  the  Tenth  Michigan 
— forming  a  part  of  the  First  Brigade,  Second  Division  of 
the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps — moved  out  with  its  com- 
panion regiments  (the  Fourteenth  Michigan,  the  Sixteenth 
and  Sixtieth  Illinois,  and  the  Seventeenth  New  York,  all 
under  Col.  Robert  F.  Smith,  as  brigade  commander),  and 
took  the  road  to  Stone  Mountain,  Ga.,  near  which  place  it 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  march  was  resumed  on  the 
17th,  and  was  continued  without  intermission,  except  the 
necessary  halts,  until  the  evening  of  the  21st,  when  the 
command  encamped  several  miles  from  Milledgeville,  and 
remained  quiet  there  during  the  following  day.  On  the 
23d  the  regiment  resumed  the  march',  and  on  the  24th  it 
passed  through  Milledgeville.  It  reached  Louisville,  the 
county-seat  of  Jefferson  County,  on  the  28th,  and  camped 
there  for  three  days,  engaged  in  foraging  and  picket  duty. 
Again,  on  the  1st  of  December,  it  moved  forward,  and, 
crossing  the  Savannah  and  Charleston  Railroad  on  the  10th, 
arrived  in  front  of  Savannah  (four  and  a  half  miles  distant 
from  .the  city)  in  the  morning  of  the  11th.  Ten  days 
later  Savannah  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy  and  immedi- 
ately occupied  by  the  forces  of  Gen.  Sherman. 

After  a  month's  stay  in  Savannah,  the  Fourteenth  Corps, 
including  the  Tenth  Regiment,  left  the  city  (on  the  20th  of 
January,  1865)  for  the  march  through  the  Carolinas.  The 
crossing  of  the  Savannah  River  was  made  at  Sister's  Ferry, 
on  the  5th  of  February.  The  Tenth  remained  here  two 
days  before  moving  north,  and  while  here  (February  6th) 
the  non-veterans  of  the  organization  were  mustered  out  of 
the  service,  just  three  years  having  expired  since  the  com- 
pletion of  the  original  muster  at  Camp  Thomson. 

The  regiment  reached  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  March  11th, 
and  was  there  slightly  engaged  in  a  skirmish  with  the 
enemy.  On  the  12th  it  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  River,  skir- 
mishing at  Averysboro',  and  on  the  16th  was  again  engaged 
at  the  same  place,  losing  three  men  killed.  Moving  in  ad- 
vance of  the  corps  on  the  18th,  six  companies  being  de- 
ployed as  skirmishers,  they  struck  the  enemy  about  noon, 
and  a  lively  skirmish  ensued.  The  regiment  was  ordered 
to  take  pcsition  at  the  junction  of  the  Smithfield  and 
Goldsboro'  roads,  and  during  the  night  it  was  attacked,  but 
repulsed  the  enemy,  and  held  its  position  until  relieved  by- 
troops  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  on  the  19th,  when  it  moved 
and  formed  on  the  right  of  the  second  line  of  battle  at  Ben- 
tonville.  About  four  p.m.  the  enemy  moved  up  in  heavy 
masses,'  and  charged  the  first  line,  but  was  repulsed.  Then 
the  Tenth  with  its  brigade  moved  forward  to  the  first  line, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  enemy  was  discovered  coming  in 
on  the  lefb  flank.  The  line  was  at  once  changed  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  works,  and,  after  pouring  a  volley  into 
the  ranks  of  the  rebels,  they  were  charged  and  driven  with 
the  bayonet,  many  prisoners  and  arms  being  taken.  On 
the  20th  the  regiment  skirmished  during  the  entire  day 
and  nio-ht,  and  on  the  21st  moved  towards  Goldsboro', 
reaching  there  on  the  23d.  Moving  from  Goldsboro', 
it  reached  Smithfield  April  10th  and  Raleigh  April  13th. 
From  Raleigh  it  moved  to  Avery's  Ferry,  forty-five  miles 


above  Fayetteville,  and  lay  there  from  the  15th  to  the  21st 
of  April,  when  it  moved  to  Holly  Springs,  on  the  road  to 
Raleigh.  On  the  28th  it  was  at  Morseville,  N.  C,  and  there 
received  the  announcement  that  its  campaigning  was  over 
and  the  war  ended  by  the  surrender  of  Johnston.  In  its 
passage  through  the  two  Carolinas  the  regiment  had  sus- 
tained a  loss  of  fifteen,  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

Moving  north  on  the  30th  of  April,  the  Tenth  arrived 
at  Richmond,  Va.,  May  7th,  and  remained  there  till  the 
10th,  when  it  marched  on  towards  Washington,  reaching 
there  about  the  16th.  It  took  part  in  the  grand  review  of 
Gen.  Sherman's  army  at  the  capital  on  the  24th.  It  moved 
on  the  13th  of  June,  and  proceeded  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
where  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  July  19th,  and 
ordered  to  Michigan.  It  reached  Jackson  on  the  22d,  and 
was  paid  off  and  discharged  Aug.  1,  1865. 

The  length  and  severity  of  this  regiment's  marches 
during  its  term  of  service  were  remarkable.  It  is  shown 
that  during  1862  and  1863  its  foot-marches  aggregated 
sixteen  hundred  miles;  that  its  marches  in  1864  amounted 
to  thirteen  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles,  and  those  in 
1865  to  six  hundred  and  twenty  miles, — a  total  of  three 
thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety-five  miles ;  this  being 
exclusive  of  the  distances  accomplished  by  railroad  and 
steamer.  There  were  few,  if  any,  regiments  in  the  service 
whose  marching  record  surpassed  this.  The  brigade  to 
which  the  Tenth  was  attached  during  the  period  of  its  re- 
markable marchings  through  Tennessee,  Georgia,  and  Ala- 
bama was  quite  generally  known  among  the  men  of  the 
Southwestern  army  as  "  Morgan's  brigade  of  Davis'  foot- 
cavalry,"  the  division  being  that  commanded  by  Gen.  Jeff. 
C.  Davis. 

MEMBERS  0¥  THE  TENTH  INFANTEY  FKOM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

Field  mid  Staff. 
Maj.  Henry  S.  Burnett,  Byron;  com.  Nov.  IG,  1863;  died  in  action  at  Jones- 
boro',  Qa.,  Sept.  1, 1864. 

Non-CommisBioned  Staff. 
Q.  M.-Sergt.  George  A.  AUen,  Byrou ;  en).  Oct.  20, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  0. 

Compant/  A. 
Capt.  H.  S.  Burnett,  Byron  ;  com.  Oct.  4, 1861 ;  pro.  to  major. 
Oapt.  Samuel  S.  Tower,  Byron;  com.  May  20,  1865;  Ist  lieut.,  Feb.  24,1866; 

sergeant;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
1st  Lieut.  Robert  F.  Gulick,  Coronna;  com.  Oct.  4,  '61 ;  resigned  May  23,  '62. 
Sergt.  Jay  J.  Parkhurat,  Byron  ;  enl.  Oct.  24, 1861 ;  died  in  Mississippi,  July  30, 

1862. 
Sergt.  William  B.  Pratt,  Byron;  enl.  Oct.  18,  1861 ;  veteran,  Feb.  6, 1864;  pro. 

to  2d  lieut.  Co.  D. 
Sergt.  Charles  Bice,  Byron ;  enl.  Oct.  12, 1801 ;  veteran,  Feb.  6, 1864 ;  must,  out 

July  19, 1865. 
Sergt.  Delos  Jewell,  Byron. 
Corp.  John  J.  Campbell,  Byron ;  enl.  Oct.  9, 1861 ;  died  of  disease  at  home,  July 

30,  1862. 
Corp.  Marcus  P.  Andrews,  Vernon;  enl.  Oct.  19,  1861;  veteran,  Feb.  6,1864; 

died  of  disease  in  hospital. 
Musician  William  W.  Barker,  Newburgh ;  enl.  Oct^  18, 1861 ;  died  at  Cincin- 
nati, 0.,  June  27,  1862. 
Musn.  Riley  W.  Litchfield,  Corunna;   enl.  Jau.  14,  1862;  trans,  to  brigade 

band. 
Wagoner  Henry  H.  Keyea,  Byron  ;  disch.  for  disability,  July  9, 1862. 
Robert  Agnew,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  2, 1863. 

William  Brown,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864  ;  disch.  by  order,  May  3, 1866. 
Jonas  W.  Botsford,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Miner  E.  Blake,  corporal ;  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Henry  Baird,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Martin  Brayton,  disch.  Oct.  11, 1862. 
Henry  Brown,  must,  out  July  19, 1866. 

Horace  S.  Calkins,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  0, 1864;  corporal ;  must,  out  July  19,  '65. 
Albert  Campbell,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864;  trans,  to  U.  S.Kng.,Sept.25,  1864. 
Silas  Crawl'oid,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 


68 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Jacob  Croup,  discli.  for  disability,  Feb.  1],  1862. 

Philip  Cbamberlain,  disch.  Aug.  5, 1862. 

David  0.  Calkins,  disch.  for  d'sability,  June24, 1862. 

George  CoflBn,  disch,  for  disability,  Aug.  25,  1862. 

Alfred  Cronkite,  died  of  disease  at  Farmington,  Miss.,  July  5, 1862. 

Sheldon  Dickson,  died  of  disease  at  Farmington,  Miss.,  July  22, 1862. 

Luman  Harris,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  23, 1862. 

Ezekiel  Jewell,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

Thurlow  L.  Millard,  died  of  disease  on  board  steamer  "Empress,"  Mississippi 

River,  May  17, 1862. 
Albert  Martin,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  5, 1862. 
William  J.  Mosely,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  24,  1862. 
Corp.  George  E.  Mills,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6,  1864;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Orlando  Mills,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Henry  Miller,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6,1864;  must,  out  July  19,1865. 
Charles  Newman,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  2, 18G2. 

George  A.  Parker,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1804;  discli.  for  disability,  July  22,1805. 
Thomas  J.  Pettis,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  6, 1865. 
William  J.  Parks,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

Abram  Reigle,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Philip  Richardson,  died  at  regt.  hosp.,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  13, 1863. 
Israel  D.  Russell,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  6, 1865. 
Corp.  Auren  Roys,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  6, 1865. 
Corp.  Lemuel  J.  Sniedley,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  6, 1804. 
Allen  Stephens,  disch.  for  disability,  July  17, 1862. 
Charles  F.  Stewart,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  liO,  1862. 
Ira  I.  Sweet,  disharged  Jan.  14, 1863. 

George  Stroud,  died  of  disease  at  Farmington,  Mich.,  May  30, 1862. 
Edwin  R.  Scully,  died  of  disease  at  Peach-Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  July  20, 1864. 
William  J.  Tower,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  June  12, 1865. 
Judd  Vincent,  died  near  Goldsboro',  N.  C,  March  23, 1805. 
Edgar  D.  Welch,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Peter  Wooliver,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  June  13, 1865. 
Gideon  Whiting,  discharged. 
John  Walworth. 

Company  B. 
Ist  Lieut.  Wm.  Pratt,  Byron  ;  com.  May  20, 1865 ;  2d  lieut.  Co.  D,  May  8, 1865; 

must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

Company  C. 
2d  Lieut.  Goo.  A.  Allen,  Byron  ;  com.  March  31, 1863 ;  disch.  at  end  of  service, 

Feb.  6, 1865, 
James  M.  Gillett,  died  of  disease  at  Smithes  Ferry,  Dec.  2, 1863. 
Edgar  E.  Grilly,  veteran,  eni.  Feb.  6, 1864. 

Frank  Muiiger,  died  of  disease  at  Farmington,  Mich.,  July  11, 1862. 
Henry  Ostrander,  died  of  disease  at  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  Aug.  22, 1862. 
Alvah  Remington,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  6, 1865. 
Daniel  Spear,  diM:h.  for  disability,  Sept.  5, 1862. 
William  E.  Spnigue,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Mus.  Philip  Goodwin,  Shiawassee;  enl.  Jan.  14,  1862;   disch.  for  disability, 

March  4, 1863. 
George  R.  Knapp,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  5, 1805. 

Company  H. 
Nalhan  Findlay,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Albert  Hill,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  3, 1863. 
John  Marshall,  disch.  by  order,  June  26, 1865. 
John  W.  M.  Parks,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

Company  I. 
William  B.  Gillett,  disch.  for  disability,  July  24, 1862. 
David  W.  Gillett,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  10, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Capt.  Wm.  B.  Walker,  Owosso;  com.  May  8, 1865;  Ist  lieut.  Nov.  8,  1864;  2d 
lieut.  Co.  B,  July  20, 1864;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  TENTH  INFANTRY  FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 

CoTnpany  B. 
Warren  Chatfield,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Sylvester  Hall,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Martiu  B.  Payne,  disch.  by  order,  June  12, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Jas.  P.  Salisbuiy,  disch.  by  order,  June  29, 1865. 


CHAPTER    X. 

rOUKTEBNTH    IMTANTRT. 

Organization  at  Ypsilanti — Campaigns  in  Mississippi  and  Alabama — 
Marcli  to  Nashville— Service  at  Franklin  and  Columbia — Veteran 
Re-enlistment — Atlanta  Campaign — March  to  the  Sea  and  through 
the  Carolinas — Battles  of  Averysboro'  and  Bentonville — March  to 
Washington — Muster  Out  at  Louisville,  Ky. 

The  volunteers  from  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties 
who  served  in  the  ranks  of  the  Fourteenth  Infantry  were 
principally  found  in  Companies  D,  E,  and  K,  though  a  con- 
siderable number  were  scattered  through  several  other 
companies.  The  two  counties  were  about  equally  repre- 
sented in  "  D"  company,  which  received  its  first  enlistment 
Oct.  11,  1861,  and  attained  minimum  strength  December 
12th.  The  original  first  and  second  lieutenants  of  this 
company  were,  respectively,  Gilman  McClintock  and  Cyrus 
F.  Jackson,,  of  Owosso. 

Company  E  was  chiefly  made  up  of  Shiawassee  County 
volunteers.  The  date  of  the  first  enlistment  in  this  com- 
pany is  Nov.  4,  1861,  and  it  attained  the  minimum 
strength  December  30th  in  the  same  year.  Of  its  original 
ofiicers.  First  Lieut.  C.  C.  Goodale  and  Second  Lieut. 
Daniel  Wait  were  residents  of  Owosso  at  the  time  of  its 
organization.  It  contained  a  small  number  of  men  from 
Clinton  County. 

In  Company  K  there  were  a  few  men  from  Shiawas- 
see County,  but  it  was  principally  composed  of  Clinton 
County  volunteers,  recruited  by  John  Kelly  and  Charles 
B.  Rose,  of  Westphalia,  and  N.  T.  Jones,  of  Grcenbush. 
Capt.  Kelly  became  the  company  commander,  and  Kose 
was  made  first  lieutenant,  though  in  the  recruiting  of  the 
company  Mr.  Jones  had  been  named  as  its  second  officer. 
One  of  the  county  papers,  dated  Nov.  21,  1861,  mentioned 
the  recruiting  of  Capt.  Kelly's  company,  as  follows:  "An 
artillery  company  is  being  raised  by  Capt.  John  Kelly,  of 
Westphalia,  to  be  attached  to  Col.  Sinclair's  [Fourteenth 
Infantry]  regiment.  The  name  of  this  company  is  '  Kelly's 
Clinton  Dragoons.'  "  This  raising  of  an  artillery  company, 
designated  as  dragoons,  to  form  a  part  of  an  infantry  regi- 
ment, is  mentioned  in  this  connection  as  being  a  rather  re- 
markable military  event. 

The  name  of  the  company  was  changed  soon  afterwards, 
and  it  became  known  as  the  "  Clinton  Rangers."  The  first 
enlistment  in  it  was  made  on  the  7th  of  November;  the 
company  attained  the  minimum  strength  on  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1862,  and  on  the  3d  of  the  same  month  it  was  re- 
moved to  Ypsilanti,  the  regimental  rendezvous.  The  two 
other  companies  previously  mentioned  reached  the  camp 
of  instruction  at  about  the  same  time,  and  the  three  soon 
after  received  their  designating  letters — D,  E,  and  K,  in 
the  Fourteenth  Infantry. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
on  the  13th  of  February,  under  command  of  Col.  Robert 
P.  Sinclair,  with  Robert  W.  Davis  as  lieutenant-colonel, 
and  M.  W.  Quaekenbush,  of  Owosso,  as  major.  Two 
months  more  were  spent  in  perfecting  its  organization  and 
drill,  and,  after  the  presentation  of  a  stand  of  colors  at  the 
camp  of  instruction,  the  command,  nine  hundred  and 
twenty-five  strong,  moved  from  Ypsilanti  on  the  17th  of 


FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY. 


69 


April,  and  proceeded  to  the  theatre  of  war  in  the  South- 
west, reaching  Pittsburg  Landing,  on  the  Tennessee  River, 
about  two  weeks  after  the  great  battle  of  Shiloh  had  been 
fought  at  that  point.  Passing  on  to  Hamburgh  Landing, 
four  miles  farther  up  the  river,  the  command  was  disem- 
barked, and  a  few  days  later  was  assigned  to  duty  as  a  part 
of  Col.  James  D.  Morgan's  brigade,  in  the  Army  of  the 
Mississippi.  This  brigade  included  the  Tenth  and  Sixteenth 
Illinois  and  the  Fourteenth  Michigan.  The  Tenth  Michigan 
and  the  Sixtieth  Illinois  were  added  soon  afterwards,  and 
the  brigade,  as  thjjs  composed,  remained  together  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  during  the  continuation  of  their  terms  of 
service. 

About  the  1st  of  May  the  command  moved  forward  to- 
wards Corinth,  Miss.,  at  which  point  the  enemy  had  made  a 
stand  and  thrown  up  intrenchments.  This  march  was  a  very 
laborious  one,  for  the  weather  was  excessively  hot,  and  the 
Fourteenth  was  employed  in  guarding  and  moving  to  the 
front  several  siege-guns,  each  of  which  was  drawn  by  twelve 
yokes  of  oxen,  floundering  through  the  almost  bottomless 
mud  of  the  Mississippi  swamps.  The  men  were  continually 
engaged  in  extricating  the  ponderous  guns  from  the  slough  ; 
in  corduroying  the  roads,  often  in  the  face  of  the  enemy's 
skirmishers ;  and  always  throwing  up  temporary  works  of 
defense  before  bivouacking  for  the  night.  Several  weeks 
were  spent  in  this  way  before  the  Fourteenth  arrived  in 
front  of  Corinth,  but,  excepting  some  slight  skirmishing, 
the  regiment  did  not  take  part  in  the  operations  by  which 
the  enemy  was  forced  to  retire  from  his  stronghold. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  the  Fourteenth  spent 
the  remainder  of  the  summer  in  marching,  skirmishing, 
picketing,  and  guarding  railroads  through  Northern  Missis- 
sippi and  Alabama ;  camping  for  a  considerable  time  at 
Farmington,  at  Big  Springs,  Miss.,  and  for  a  longer  period  at 
Tuscumbia,  Ala.  At  this  place  Lieut.  Wait,  of  "  E"  Com- 
pany, was  left  in  hospital  prostrated  by  sickness  brought 
on  by  the  hardships  of  the  service,  and  from  which  he  has 
never  fully  recovered. 

About  the  last  of  August  it  was  announced  that  the 
command  was  to  move  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  on  the  1st 
of  September  the  detachments  of  the  regiment  concen- 
trated at  the  military  ferry  on  the  Tennessee  River  and 
awaited  orders  to  move.  The  orders  were  received  on  the 
following  day,  and  the  command  moved  northward  with  its 
brigade.  The  march  occupied  nine  days,  during  which  the 
regiment  passed  through  Rogersville,  Athens,  Elkton, 
Pulaski,  Lynnville,  Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  and  Franklin, 
and  in  the  evening  of  the  11th  bivouacked  two  miles  from 
Nashville.  Here  it  remained  on  picket  duty  for  a  few  days, 
and  then  moved  through  the  city  to  a  camp  on  high  ground, 
near  Fort  Negley. 

The  la^)or  demanded  of  the  regiment  during  its  stay  at 
Nashville  was  severe,  consisting  of  work  on  the  extensive 
fortifications  which  had  been  laid  out  by  Gen.  Negley,  the 
commandant  of  the  post,  besides  constant  picketing  and 
guarding  of  forage-parties,  which  were  continually  sent  out 
into  the  surrounding  country,  this  being  the  only  means  of 
subsisting  the  forces  in  Nashville,  as  all  communication 
with  the  city,  by  rail  or  river,  was  destroyed.  This  state 
of  affairs  continued  for  about  two  months,  Nashville  being 


held  by  the  divisions  of  Negley  and  Palmer,  but  out  of 
communication  with  the  outside  world,  and  surrounded 
on  every  side  by  troops  of  the  enemy,  principally  cavalry. 
The  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  however,  having  defeated 
the  army  of  Bragg  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  was  marching  south- 
ward from  Bowling  Green,  under  Gen.  Rosecrans,  to  the 
relief  of  the  beleaguered  force,  and  on  the  6th  of  November 
his  advance-guard  reached  the  river  at  Edgefield,  opposite 
Nashville.  In  the  early  morning  of  the  day  preceding  that 
of  Rosecrans'  arrival  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  had  at- 
tacked the  positions  of  the  troops  in  Nashville,  and  the 
Fourteenth  was  quite  sharply  engaged  with  the  other  forces 
in  repelling  them.  Maj.  Quackenbush,  who  was  then  in 
command  of  the  regiment,  had  his  horse  shot  under  him 
(though  not  killed)  in  the  fight.  This  occasion  was  the 
first  on  which  the  Fourteenth  had  ever  delivered  their  fire 
on  a  battle-field. 

The  arrival  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Nash- 
ville opened  railroad  communication  from  the  Ohio  River 
to  Mitchelville,  thirty-five  miks  north  of  Nashville,  and 
soon  after  it  was  opened  to  the  city.  This  gave  relief  in 
the  matter  of  rations  to  the  troops  who  had  been  so  long 
imprisoned  there,  and  lightened  the  forage  and  picket  duty, 
but  the  labor  on  the  defensive  works  of  the  town  was  still 
continued,  and  a  great  amount  of  work  was  to  be  done  in 
repairing  roads  and  bridges  for  the  advance  of  the  amiy 
southward. 

In  the  movements  preliminary  to  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans  on  Murfreesboro',  the  division  of  Gen.  Palmer 
(in  which  was  the  Fourteenth  Michigan)  was  the  first 
pushed  to  the  front  on  the  line  of  Stone  River  near  the 
"  Hermitage,"  the  former  residence  of  Andrew  Jackson. 
It  remained  at  this  point  facing  the  enemy  for  about  eight 
days,  when  on  the  general  advance  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  (December  26th),  it  was  moved  back  to  Nash- 
ville by  order  of  the  commanding  general,  who,  as  he  said, 
wished  to  have  that  important  place  held  by  some  of  his 
most  trusty  and  reliable  troops.  Five  days  after  the  ad- 
vance of  the  main  body  of  the  army  it  was  fiercely  engaged 
with  the  enemy  at  Stone  River  in  front  of  Murfreesboro', 
and  the  conflict  raged  with  great  fury  and  with  little  in- 
termission until  the  evening  of  the  2d  of  January,  at 
which  time  the  Fourteenth  Michigan  received  orders  to 
move  up  with  all  speed  to  Stone  River.  In  obedience  to 
this  order  it  was  marched  all  night  through  thick  darkness 
and  pouring  rain,  and  in  the  morning  it  had  reached  the 
field,  twenty-seven  miles  from  the  camp  which  it  had  left 
in  the  preceding  evening.  But  as  the  enemy  had  already 
retreated,  and  there  was  no  more  fighting  to  be  done  on 
that  line,  the  regiment  did  not  participate  in  the  memorable 
battle  which  secured  to  Gen.  Rosecrans  the  possession  of 
Middle  Tennessee. 

During  the  month  of  March,  1863,  the  Fourteenth  was 
stationed  for  a  few  days  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  in  April  it 
was  ordered  out  with  its  brigade  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Brentwood,  to  hold  the  railway  line  between  Nashville  and 
Franklin.  The  brigade  was  at  this  time  attached  to  the 
Reserve  Corps,  commanded  by  Gen.  Gordon  Granger.  Hav- 
ing returned  to  its  camp  at  Nashville,  the  regiment  was 
detached  from  its  brigade  on  the  2d  or  3d  of  July,  and 


70 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ordered  to  Franklin.  Early  in  September  the  command 
was  transformed  into  a  corps  of  mounted  infantry,  and 
eight  of  its  companies,  with  a  section  of  artillery,  were 
moved  to  Columbia,  Tenn.  From  that  time,  for  a  period 
of  eight  months,  Columbia  and  Franklin  and  the  railroad 
line  connecting  the  two  places  were  held  by  the  men  of  the 
Fourteenth,  who,  with  their  cavalry  equipment  and  Spencer 
rifles,  performed  excellent  service  in  clearing  the  surrojinding 
country  of  guerrillas.  They  also  constructed  a  railway-bridge 
across  the  Duck  River,  and  erected  formidable  fortifications 
at  Columbia. 

In  the  first  part  of  January,  1864,  the  regiment  re-en- 
listed as  veterans,  and  on  the  21st  of  February  five  com- 
panies— C,  F,  G,  I,  and  K — left  Columbia  for  Michigan  on 
veteran  furlough,  at  the  expiration  of  which  they  returned 
to  their  post  in  Tennessee.  The  remainder  of  the  regiment 
then  spent  a  thirty  days'  furlough  in  Michigan,  and  return- 
ing, rejoined  their  comrades  in  the  field  about  the  middle 
of  May.  On  the  21st  of  that  month  the  regiment  received 
orders  to  move  from  Columbia  and  join  the  army  of  Gen. 
Sherman  in  Georgia.  How  the  people  of  Columbia  received 
the  announcement  that  the  Fourteenth  was  to  leave  their 
town,  is  shown  by  the  following  communication  from  a 
Columbia  correspondent  to  the  Nasliville  Union,  and  pub- 
lished in  that  journal  on  the  day  of  the  regiment's  de- 
parture : 

"  News  having  reached  Columbia  that  the  Fourteenth 
Michigan  Veteran  Volunteers,  which  has  been  stationed 
here  since  September  last,  was  ordered  off,  a  meeting  of  the 
citizens  was  convened  at  the  court-house,  and  a  series  of 
resolutions  adopted  which  do  credit  alike  to  the  citizens  and 
soldiers.  The  honorable  and  consistent  and  liberal  policy 
of  the  Fourteenth  Michigan  has  merited  and  won  the  es- 
teem and  applause  of  all  true  lovers  of  their  country,  and 
their  sudden  removal  from  our  midst  has  brought  fear  and 
mourning  to  all  classes  of  the  community.  They  have 
driven  guerrillas  and  thieves  from  this  country  clear  to  the 
Tennessee  River,  and  have  done  more  to  create  a  feeling  of 
respect  and  veneration  for  the  old  government  than  ten 
thousand  bayonets  and  proclamations  could  have  done. 
They  strengthened  the  hopeful,  confirmed  the  faith  of  the 
true,  won  back  the  erring  and  terrified,  and  subdued  the 
defiant.  They  fought  bravely,  often  desperately,  captured 
many  prisoners,  and  disarmed  opposition  with  gentlemanly 
kindness  and  courtesy.  Ever  mindful  of  their  mission, 
they  treated  the  people  as  feeling  human  beings,  and  not 
as  brutes.  They  will  be  long  and  affectionately  remembered 
by  our  people. 

"The  chairman  of  the  meeting,  Joshua  B.  Frierson, 
Esq.,  accompanied  by  the  committee  and  a  large  delegation 
of  citizens,  entered  the  Union  Bank  oflBce  (post  headquarters), 
explained  in  a  few  feeling  sentences  to  Maj.  Fitzgibbon 
(who  had  been  in  command  since  Col.  Mizner  went  home 
on  furlough  nearly  a  month  ago)  and  read  to  him  a  series 
of  resolutions  adopted  by  the  meeting,  highly  flattering  to 
the  oflScers  and  men  of  the  regiment.  The  resolutions 
were  replied  to  by  the  major  in  an  eloquent  and  feeling 
manner  which  drew  tears  from  many  eyes  long  unused  to 
weep."  ' 

In  compliance  with  the  order  the  regiment  left  Columbia 


and  moved  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.  ;  thence  up  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Tennessee  River,  by  Lookout  Mountain,  to 
Dallas,  Ga.,  where  it  rejoined  its  old  brigade,  which  was 
then  attached  to  the  division  of  Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis.  From 
Dallas  it  moved  by  way  of  Ackworth,  Ga.,  to  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  where  the  brigade  participated  in  the  battle  of 
the  27th  of  June.  The  gallant  part  taken  in  this  battle 
by  the  division  of  which  the  Fourteenth  was  a  part  is 
mentioned  in  the  "  Annual  Cyclopaedia,  1864,"  as  follows: 
"  For  the  second,  and  more  important  attack,  portions  of 
Gen,  Newton's  divfsion  of  the  Fourth^orps  and  Gen. 
Davis'  division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps  were  selected. 
At  a  given  signal  the  troops  rushed  forward  with  buoyant 
courage,  charged  up  the  face  of  the  mountain  amidst  a 
murderous  fire  from  a  powerful  battery  on  the  summit, 
and  through  two  lines  of  abatis,  carried  a  line  of  rifle-pits 
beyond,  and  reached  the  works.  The  colors  of  several  of 
the  regiments  were  planted  before  the  latter,  and  some  of 
the  men  succeeded  in  mounting  the  ramparts ;  but  the 
death  of  Gens.  Wagner  and  Harker  and  the  wounding  of 
Gen.  McCook,  the  destructive  fire  of  both  musketry  and 
artillery,  and  the  difficulty  of  deploying  such  long  columns 
under  such  fire,  rendered  it  necessary  to  recall  the  men. 
Gen.  Newton's  troops  returned  to  their  original  line,  while 
Gen.  Davis'  Second  Brigade  threw  up  works  between  those 
they  had  carried  and  the  main  line  of  the  enemy,  and  there 
remained." 

On  the  evacuation  of  the  rebel  works  at  Kenesaw  the 
Fourteenth  moved  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  coming  up 
with  him  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chattahoochee  River, 
assaulted  and  carried  his  first  and  second  line  of  rifle-pits 
on  the  5th  and  6th  of  July,  capturing  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  prisoners,  and  sustaining  a  loss  of  forty-four  in  killed 
and  wounded.  It  then  crossed  the  Chattahoochee  and  took 
part  in  the  operations  in  front  of  Atlanta,  where,  on  the  7th 
of  August,  the  Fourteenth  sustained  a  loss  of  thirty-five 
killed  and  wounded  in  an  assault  which  resulted  in  the 
carrying  of  two  lines  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  the  capture 
of  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  On  the  30th  of  August 
it  moved  with  its  division  towards  Jonesboro',  and  was  hotly 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  September  1st  at  that  place,  losing 
thirty  killed  and  wounded,  and  doing  its  part  in  carrying  a 
strong  line  of  works.  After  the  battle  at  Jonesboro'  the 
regiment  returned  to  the  front  of  Atlanta. 

On  the  28th  of  September  the  Fourteenth  left  Atlanta 
and  moved  by  rail  to  Chattanooga,  Stevenson,  Huntsville, 
Athens,  and  Florence,  Ala.,  tearing  up  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad.  For  several  days  it  was  in  pursuit  of 
Wheeler's  and  Forrest's  cavalry,  but  did  not  overtake  them. 
On  the  13th  of  October  the  regiment  moved  by  rail,  back 
to  Chattanooga,  where  it  remained  five  days,  and  on  the 
18th  again  took  the  road,  moving  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mills, 
Ga.,  to  Lafayette,  to  Summerville,  up  Duck  Creek,  through 
Broomtown  Valley,  Alpine,  and  Rome,  Ga.,  across  the 
mountains  into  Alabama,  to  Gaylesville  (October  20th),  and 
then  back  to  Rome,  where  it  was  in  camp  November  Ist, 
On  the  9th  it  was  at  Etowah,  Ga.,  and  on  the  13th  at  Car- 
tersville,  where,  at  six  o'clock  A.M.  on  that  day,  the  force 
"  bade  good-by  to  the  cracker  line,  and  to  all  communica- 
tions, and  plunged  into  the  Confederacy  with  four  days' 


FOURTEENTH   INFANTRY. 


71 


rations,  marching  south  and  tearing  up  the  railroad  as  it 
moved."  On  the  13th  it  made  sixteen  miles,  on  the  14th 
twenty-four  miles,  and  on  the  15th  thirteen  miles,  burning 
the  bridge  over  the  Chattahoochee,  and  reaching  Atlanta  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day. 

"  As  we  approached  Atlanta,"  wrote  an  ofiScer  of  the 
brigade,  "a  huge  column  of  black  smoke  was  seen,  and 
soon  we  found  the  railroad  depots  and  buildings,  with  the 
foundries  and  manufactories,  a  burning  mass."  When  night 
closed  in  the  whole  heavens  were  illuminated  by  the  glare 
of  the  conflagration,  and  the  innumerable  camp-fires  of  the 
Union  hosts  which  lay  encircling  the  conquered  city,  busy 
with  their  final  preparations  for  the  storied  March  to  the 
Sea. 

The  troops,  as  they  arrived  at  Atlanta,  were  immediately 
ordered  to  draw  clothing  and  rations,  and  to  make  the  last 
preparations  for  departure  from  the  base  of  supplies,  and  in 
these  preparations  they  were  employed  during  a  great  part 
of  the  night.  "  All  the  troops,"  said  Gen.  Sherman,  in  his 
report  of  the  Georgia  campaign,  "  were  provided  with  good 
wagon-trains  loaded  with  ammunition  and  supplies,  approx- 
imating twenty  days'  bread,  forty  days'  sugar  and  coffee, 
a  double  allowance  of  salt  for  forty  days,  and  beef-cattle 
equal  to  forty  days'  supplies.  The  wagons  were  also  sup- 
plied with  about  three  days'  forage  in  grain.  All  were  in- 
structed by  a  judicious  system  of  foraging  to  maintain  this 
order  of  things  as  long  as  possible,  living  chiefly  if  not 
solely  upon  the  country,  which  I  knew  to  abound  in  corn, 
sweet  potatoes,  and  meats." 

The  forces  composing  the  great  army  which  Sherman 
had  concentrated  here  for  the  mysterious  expedition,  who.se 
destination  was  then  only  a  matter  of  conjecture,  were  com- 
posed of  four  corps  d'armee, — the  Seventeenth  (a  consoli- 
dation of  the  old  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth)  and  the 
Fifteenth  forming  his  right  wing,  and  the  Fourteenth  and 
Twentieth  forming  the  left  wing  of  his  grand  army  of 
invasion.  In  that  army  the  position  of  the  Fourteenth 
Michigan  was  with  the  First  Brigade,  Second  Division  of 
the  Fourteenth  Corps.  The  other  regiments  of  the  brigade 
were  the  Tenth  Michigan,  the  Sixteenth  and  Sixtieth  Illi- 
nois, and  the  Seventeenth  New  York,  all  under  Col.  Robert 
F.  Smith  as  brigade  commander. 

The  right  wing  was  the  first  to  move  out ;  then  came  the 
Twentieth  Corps,  and  lastly  the  Fourteenth,  and  with  this- 
corps  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  marched  away  at  noon  on  the 
16th  of  November.  A  distance  of  eleven  miles  was  made 
during  the  afternoon,  and  at  night  the  brigade  bivouacked 
near  the  celebrated  Stone  Mountain,  a  round-topped  knob 
of  solid  limestone  about  one  mile  in  diameter  at  the  base, 
and  rising  bare  and  gray  from  the  level  plain  to  a  height  of 
about  thirteen  hundred  feet.  From  this  halting-place  the 
regiment  set  out  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  17th, 
and,  with  fine  weather  and  a  good  road,  made  a  march  of 
fifteen  miles,  passing  through  the  decaying  settlements  of 
Lassonia  and  Conyers'  Station.  On  the  18th  the  Yellow 
and  Alcova  Rivers,  tributaries  of  the  Ocmulgee,  were 
crossed  on  pontoons,  and  the  tired  men  of  the  Fourteenth 
lighted  their  bivouac  fires  in  the  vicinity  of  Covington,  the 
selt  of  justice  of  Newton  County.  During  this  day  they  had 
marched  as  train-guard,  and  made  a  distance  of  ten  miles. 


In  the  morning  of  the  19th  they  resumed  their  journey 
at  six  o'clock,  in  a  drizzling  rain,  and  at  night  found  them- 
selves twenty  miles  from  Covington,  and  twice  that  distance 
from  each  of  the  towns  of  Macon  and  Milledgeville.  The 
evening  of  the  20th  saw  them  encamped  three  miles  from 
Eatonton  and  fifteen  from  Milledgeville.  Here  the  dull 
boom  of  distant  artillery  was  heard,  this  being  the  first 
hostile  sound  which  they  had  heard  since  their  departure 
from  Atlanta.  Their  march  of  the  21st  was  commenced  at 
ten  A.M.  and  was  continued  until  three  P.M.,  at  which  time 
twelve  miles  had  been  accomplished,  and  they  went  into 
camp  for  the  night. 

Here  they  remained  in  rest  during  the  following  day, 
and  here  the  order  of  Gen.  Sherman  was  read  to  them 
giving  the  liberty  to  forage  on  the  country,  and  to  appro- 
priate anything  necessary  for  the  sustenance  of  man  or 
beast.  "  These  orders  [said  a  letter  written  by  an  officer 
of  the  brigade]  were  generally  lived  up  to,  and  often  ex- 
ceeded. The  citizens,  on  hearing  of  our  approach,  took 
everything  of  value  to  the  woods  and  swamps  and  covered 
them  with  brush,  or  buried  them  in  the  ground.  But  the 
'  Yanks'  were  not  long  in  discovering  this,  and  but  little 
is  presumed  to  have  escaped  their  notice.  Sweet  potatoes, 
meal,  flour,  various  kinds  of  liquor,  tobacco,  silk,  and  even 
coin  were  thus  unearthed  from  their  hiding-places,  and 
many  a  frolic  was  had  by  the  blue-coats  at  the  Confederates' 
expense. 

"  It  was  truly  amusing  to  go  ahead  of  the  army  proper 
and  see  the  foragers'  proceedings.  They  were  as  good  as 
skirmishers  and  advance-guards,  and  often  were  the  only 
ones  we  had.  They  never  failed  to  rout  the  rebels  when- 
ever and  wherever  found.  Citizens  could  tell  our  approach 
long  before  the  army  came  along,  by  the  popping  of  guns, 
squealing  of  hogs,  and  the  noises  of  various  farm  fowls. 
Nothing  escaped  the  foragers'  notice,  and  but  little  that  was 
serviceable  to.  us  eluded  their  grasp.  When  they  came  to 
a  plantation  they  generally  separated  into  small  squads, 
each  squad  hunting  for  some  special  thing.  As  if  taught 
by  instinct  that  we  meant  them  harm,  all  animals  and  fowls 
tried  to  secrete  themselves  or  get  out  of  reach  of  us.  Hogs, 
sheep,  and  cattle  would  take  to  the  woods,  fowls  to  the 
outbuilcTings,  and  turkeys  to  the  trees.  But  it  was  all 
of  no  avail.  The  enterprising  and  persistent  Yankees, 
prompted  by  hunger  and  the  thoughts  of  a  savory  dish, 
were  sure  to  hunt  them  out  and  bring  them  to.  We  had 
orders  not  to  fire  our  guns  to  procure  food,  but  that  order 
was  only  partially  lived  up  to.  Any  animal  which  we  could 
not  corner  and  catch  we  shot;  and  when  the  fowls  took  to 
the  trees  or  the  tops  of  buildings  the  Enfield  rifle  was  sure 
to  bring  them  down.  Often  would  the  fat  turkeys  take 
shelter  in  the  trees,  and  cry  quit,  quit !  but  there  was  no 
quit.  Occasionally  the  foragers  would  find  a  lot  of  tobacco, 
honey,  or  sorghum  molasses.  Then  there  was  a  rush  and 
scramble.  To  many,  a  swarm  of  bees  was  no  more  an  im- 
pediment to  the  getting  of  the  honey  than  if  they  had  been 
so  many  blue  flies.  A  crowd  of  soldiers  might  be  seen 
around  a  barrel  of  molasses,  the  head  knocked  in,  and  they 
with  their  cups  filling  their  canteens,  coffee-pots,  little  pails, 
and  every  available  kind  of  vessel  that  would  hold  the  sweet 
fluid.     At  all  hours  of  the  day  they  might  be  seen  coming 


72 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


in  and  taking  their  places  in  the  ranks,  with  face,  hands, 
and  clothes  besmeared  with  molasses  and  honey.  To  see 
them,  one  might  think  they  would  stick  to  the  Union,  or 
to  anything  else ;  and  they  would,  too.  Such  was  foraging 
in  Georgia,  and  even  more  than  can  be  described  with  the 
pen.     Imagination  must  supply  the  rest." 

In  the  morning  of  November  23d,  at  six  o'clock,  the 
regiment  was  again  on  the  road,  and  marched  leisurely  to 
within  two  miles  of  Milledgeville,  where  it  rested  for  the 
night.  About  noon  of  the  24th  it  passed  through  Milledge- 
ville, and  at  night  the  men  built  their  fires  eight  miles  be- 
yond the  town.  Here  the  foragers  brought  in  a  ton  and  a 
half  of  captured  flour  found  secreted  in  a  swamp.  On  the 
25th  a  distance  of  eleven  miles  was  made,  and  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  26th  the  brigade  reached  Sandersville,  the 
county-seat  of  Washington  County.  The  marches  of  the 
27th  and  28th  brought  the  regiment  to  a  camping-place 
one  mile  south  of  Louisville,  the  county-seat  of  Jefferson, 
where  it  remained  for  three  days  picketing  and  foraging. 

In  the  first  five  days  of  December  the  men  of  the  Four- 
teenth marched  sixty-three  miles,  and  camped  on  the  night 
of  the  5th  at  Briar  Creek,  sixty  miles  from  Savannah. 
During  the  6th  and  7th  they  made  thirty-six  miles,  though 
continually  impeded  by  timber  felled  across  the  road  and 
bridges  destroyed  by  the  enemy.  They  had  now  entered 
the  marshy  country  lying  along  the  south  side  of  the 
Savannah  River.  Their  march  of  the  8th  was  uneventful, 
but  on  the  9th  they  came  upon  a  hostile  battery  of  three 
guns,  so  posted  as  to  command  a  road  or  causeway  over 
which  they  were  compelled  to  pass  through  one  of  the 
swamps  which  were  numerous  in  that  region.  The  Second 
Illinois  Battery  was  ordered  into  position,  and  soon  cleared 
the  road,  but  with  the  loss  of  one  of  its  lieutcnauts  killed. 
The  rebel  battery  on  its  retreat  encountered  the  Twentieth 
Army  Corps,  and  was  captured.  On  the  10th  the  regi- 
ment with  its  brigade  moved  southward  to  the  crossing  of 
the  Savannah  and  Charleston  Railroad,  and  went  on  picket 
in  that  vicinity.  In  the  morning  of  the  following  day 
they  marched  nine  miles  south,  and  took  position  in  the 
Union  line  of  investment  four  and  a  half  miles  from 
Savannah, — one  line  being  formed  to  face  the  cily,  and 
another  facing  towards  the  country  through  which  they 
had  just  passed.  They  had  completed  a  distance  of  nine 
hundred  and  forty  miles,  marched  since  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  now  sat  down  to  the  siege  of  Savannah. 

The  city  was  defended  by  fifteen  thousand  to  twenty 
thousand  men  behind  exceedingly  strong  fortifications,  and 
the  artillery-fire  under  which  the  Fourteenth  in  common 
with  other  regiments  lay  was  unintermitting  day  and  night. 
On  the  14th  news  was  received  of  the  capture  and  occupa- 
tion of  Fort  McAllister,  south  of  the  city.  The  first  mail 
received  by  the  regiment  in  a  period  of  six  weeks  came  to 
it  here  on  the  17th.  Finally,  in  the  night  of  December 
20th-21st,  the  enemy  evacuated  the  city,  and  on  the  21st 
the  troops  marched  in. 

The  Fourteenth  remained  a  little  more  than  four  weeks 
in  Savannah,  and  it  was  whispered  about  among  the  men 
that  the  division  to  which  it  belonged  would  be  designated 
as  the  one  to  hold  and  garrison  the  city  when  the  army 


should  move  north.  This  hope  was  soon  crushed  by  the 
arrival  of  Gen.  Grover's  division  and  its  assignment  to  the 
coveted  duty,  and  there  were  many  and  loud  murmurs  of 
dissatisfaction  at  the  result,  but  these  were  of  no  avail,  and 
the  men  of  the  Fourteenth,  in  common  with  those  of  other 
commands  in  the  division,  bore  their  disappointment  as  best 
they  could,  and  prepared  for  the  long  and  laborious  march 
through  the  Carolinas. 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1865,  the  regiment  moved  out 
from  Savannah,  and  took  its  way  with  the  army  up  the 
ri^ht  bank  of  the  Savannah  River,  bound  north.  It 
reached  Sister's  Ferry,  on  the  Savannah,  January  28th, 
and  remained  there  until  the  night  of  Sunday,  February 
5th,  when,  with  the  other  troops  of  the  command,  it 
crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the  river.  "  Shouts  and  wild 
hurrahs  rent  the  welkin  as  the  feet  of  each  successive  regi- 
ment touched  the  soil  of  Carolina," — so  wrote  an  oflBcer 
who  was  present  at  this  memorable  crossing. 

The  regiment,  after  a  two  days'  halt  here,  moved  northward 
on  the  8th,  and  passed  through  South  Carolina  without 
the  occurrence  of  any  especially  notable  event  in  its  own 
immediate  experience.  The  march  through  this  State  was 
much  the  same  as  it  had  been  through  Georgia,  excepting 
that  here  the  foragers  found  a  less  productive  field,  and  the 
track  of  the  army  was  marked  by  a  far  more  general  de- 
struction of  property  than  in  Georgia,  nearly  all  the  build- 
ings being  burned,  and  only  the  tall,  naked  chimney-stacks 
being  left  standing  ;  while  all  along  the  western  and  north- 
western horizon  great  columns  of  smoke  by  day,  and  the 
red  glow  of  conflagration  by  night,  told  how  the  cavalry  of 
Kilpalrick  were  wreaking  their  treasured  vengeance  {gainst 
the  Palmetto  State. 

The  command  marched  through  South  Carolina  by  way- 
of  Barnwell  Court-House,  AVilliston,  and  Lexington  to  the 
vicinity  of  Columbia,  the  State  capital,  thence  west  of  that 
city  to  and  up  the  right  bank  of  the  Catawba  River  to 
Rocky  Mount  (where  six  days  were  spent  in  effecting  the 
crossing  of  Davis'  division),  and  on  from  that  point  by  a 
forced  march  to  the  Great  Pedee  River,  whore  a  junction 
was  formed  with  the  main  body  of  the  army.  Entering 
North  Carolina  a  short  distance  above  Cheraw,  it  reached 
Fayetteville  on  the  11th  of  March,  and  on  the  following 
day  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  River,  the  brigade  of  which  the 
Fourteenth  was  a  part  being  the  first  of  all  the  army  to  pass 
that  stream.  After  this  crossing,  the  brigade  skirmished 
with  the  enemy  continually  until  the  16th,  when  the  Con- 
federate forces  stood  for  battle  at  Averysboro'.  In  the  en- 
gagement which  followed,  the  Fourteenth  Michigan  took  a 
leading  part,  advancing  on  the  enemy's  works  with  the 
greatest  bravery  and  carrying  the  first  line,  losing  twenty- 
two  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  taking  a  considerable 
number  of  prisoners,  though  failing  to  dislodge  the  foe 
from  his  second  line  of  defense.  The  position  thus  gained 
was  held  through  the  night,  and  in  the  morning  it  was 
found  that  the  Confederate  works  had  been  abandoned.  A 
vigorous  pursuit  ensued,  in  which  heavy  skirmishing  was 
kept  up  with  very  little  intermission  until  the  19th  of 
March,  when  the  enemy  again  stood  for  battle  at  Benton- 
ville.  The  Confederate  force  at  this  point  numbered  be- 
tween forty  and  fifty  thousand  men,  under  one  of  the  ablest 


FOURTEENTH   INFANTRY. 


73 


of  their  commanders,— Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston.  The 
position  which  he  had  chosen  was  a  very  strong  one,  being 
formidably  fortified  and  difficult  of  assault  by  reason  of  a 
large  swamp  in  its  front.  He  did  not,  however,  await  an 
attack,  but  took  the  initiative,  charging  five  times  with  the 
greatest  fury  on  tlie  temporary  works  of  the  Union  troops. 
At  the  last  charge  the  men  of  the  Fourteenth  Michigan 
(which  held  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  line)  and  the 
Sixteenth  Illinois,  which  joined  it  on  the  left,  leaped  over 
their  parapet  and  made  a  counter-charge  with  such  desper- 
ation that  they  captured  thirty-two  officers  (including  one 
general),  two  hundred  privates,  six  hundred  stand  of  arms, 
and  the  regimental  colors  of  the  Fortieth  North  Carolina. 
But  while  this  was  being  done  a  force  of  the  enemy  had 
gained  their  rear,  occupied  their  works,  and  planted  their 
colors  upon  them.  Upon  seeing  this  they  promptly  faced 
to  the  rear,  and  charged  back  upon  the  works  which  they 
had  themselves  erected.  A  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued,  in 
which  the  Confederates  lost  heavily,  and  were  driven  from 
the  position  in  disorder,  leaving  more  than  one  hundred 
and  thirty  prisoners  and  the  colors  of  the  Fifty-fourth 
Virginia  in  the  hands  of  the  Unionists. 

This  closed  the  day's  fighting  on  this  part  of  the  line, 
but  at  about  ten  o'clock  on  the  following  morninsr  the 
Fourteenth  Michigan  and  Sixteenth  Illinois  were  again 
ordered  forward  to  attack  the  hostile  position.  They  ad- 
vanced at  double-quick,  carried  the  work  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  took  one  hundred  prisoners,  and  drove  the  foe 
before  them  for  nearly  a  mile.  Here  they  were  met  by  two 
fresh  brigades  of  rebels,  with  a  full  battery,  but  notwith- 
standing these  overwhelming  odds  the  Michigan  and  Illi- 
nois men  charged  unhesitatingly  and  captured  the  battery. 
The  enemy,  however,  rallied,  and,  being  so  greatly  superior 
in  number,  recaptured  the  battery,  and  forced  the  two  Union 
regiments  to  retire  a  short  distance,  where  they  threw  up  a 
light  defense,  and  held  it  through  the  day  and  night,  this 
being  nearly  a  mile  in  advance  of  all  other  Northern  troops. 
During  the  night  the  enemy  retreated  from  his  position, 
and  on  the  following  day  the  army  of  Gen.  Sherman  took 
up  its  line  of  march  for  Goldsboro '.  The  Fourteenth  Regi- 
ment reached  that  place  on  the  23d  of  March,  and  remained 
there  in  camp  until  April  10th,  when  it  moved  on  the  road 
to  Raleigh,  and  kept  up  an  almost  continuous  skirmish  with 
the  rebel  forces  until  it  arrived  at  that  city.  From  there  it 
moved,  on  the  13th,  to  the  Cape  Fear  River,  at  Avon's 
Ferry,  where  the  cheering  news  of  Johnston's  surrender 
was  received.  The  fighting  days  of  the  regiment  were  now 
over,  and  on  the  30th  of  April  it  moved  northward  on  the 
road  to  Virginia  and  Washington.  Proceeding  by  way  of 
Burkeville,  Chesterfield,  and  Amelia  Court-House,  it  reached 
Manchester  (on  the  south  side  of  the  James  Eiver,  opposite 
Richmond)  on  the  7th  of  May.  After  a  halt  of  two  days 
it  moved  across  the  river,  through  the  Confederate  capital, 
and  pressed  rapidly  on  towards  the  Potomac,  where  it 
arrived  about  the  15th  of  May,  and  went  into  camp  at 
Arlington  Heights.  On  the  24th  it  took  its  place  in  the 
grand  review  of  Sherman's  army  at  Washington.  About 
three  weeks  later  it  left  the  capital,  and  was  moved  by  rail 
and  river  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  it  was  mustered  out  on 
the  18th  of  July.  From  Louisville  it  was  ordered  to  Jack- 
10 


son,  Mich.,  and  arrived  there  on  the  21st.  Eight  days 
afterwards  the  men  of  the  Fourteenth  received  their  pay 
and  were  discharged  from  the  service. 

SOLDIERS  TEOM   SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  IN  THE  FOUKTEENTH. 

Field  and  SUtf. 

Lieut.-Col.  M.  W.  Quackenbush,  Owobso  ;  com.  Nov.  11 ,  18G2 ;  jnaj.  Nov.  1, 1861  • 

resigned  March  25, 1863. 
Chap.  Thomas  B.  Dooley,  Corunna ;  com.  Feb.  11, 1862 ;  resigned  April  29, 1864. 

Non-Ciymmvmoned  SUiff. 
Q.M.-Sergt.  Henry  0.  Jewell,  Vernon  ;  enl.  Jan.  24, 1861 ;  veteran  Jan.  14, 1864; 

must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Com.-Sergt.  Addison  Bartlett,  ShiawaRsee ;  pro.  2d  lieut.  Co.  B,  Deo.  18, 1864. 

Company  A . 

1st  Lieut.  Marshall  Kyte,  Owosso ;  com.  March  14, 1805  ;  sergt.  Co.  K ;  must,  out 

July  18, 1865. 
John  Groom,  disch.  Aug.  6, 1862. 
Abel  Hill,  must,  out  July  18,  1865. 

Company  B. 

2d  Lieut.  Addison  Bartlett,  Sliiawassee ;  com.  Dec.  18,1864;  com.-sergt.;  res. 
April  9, 1866. 

Company  D, 

1st  Lieut.  Gillman  McClintocli,  Owosso  ;  com.  Nov.  18, 1861 ;  res,  July  3, 1862. 
iBt  Lieut.  Cyrus  F.  Jackson,  Owosso ;  com.  July  4, 1862 ;  2d  lieut.  Nov.  18, 1861 ; 

res.  Aug.  2,  1864;  maj.  IStli  U.  S.  Col.  Troops. 
Charles  H.  Allen,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  4, 1864, 
William  H,  Adams,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  4, 1864. 
Armead  Botsford,  must,  out  July  18, 18G5. 
Benjalnin  E.  Crandall,  disch.  Oct.  30, 1862. 

John  H.  Hays,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  4, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Jolin  Hoy,  nmst.  out  July  18, 1865. 

Henry  King,  vetenin,  enl,  Jan,  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Walter  Laing,  died  of  disease  at  Evansville,  Ind.,  Sept.  16, 1862. 
Charles  McCaithy,  disch,  for  disability,  July  17,  1802, 
Aaron  Martin,  disch,  for  disability,  June  18, 1803, 
Orman  Millard,  died  of  disease,  Middleburg,  Mich. 
William  C.  McFarren,  veteran,  Jan.  4,  1804. 
David  McCai-ty,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864. 
William  Price,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Feb,  2, 1865. 
John  Kichmonds,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  15, 1804. 
Sidney  Suiith,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  13, 181)3. 
Peter  Skutt,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Francis  Summer,  veteran,  Jan,  4, 1864, 

William  H,  Shaffer,  veteran,  Jan,  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Edwin  R,  Scutt,  veteran,  Jan,  4, 1864, 

Company  E. 
Capt.  Edward  S.  Simonds,  Shiawassee  ;  com.  July  7,1805;  2d  lieut.  Sept.  1,  1864; 

sergt. ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
iBt  Lieut.  C.  C.  Goodale,  Owosso;  com.  Nov.  1861;  res,  March  30, 1863. 
2d  Lieut.  Daniel  Wait,  Owosso;  com,  Nov,  18, 1861;  res,  Feb,  4,  1863, 
Sergt.  Edward  S.  Simonds,  Owosso;  enl.  Kov.  6,  1861;  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864; 

pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Sergt.  Henry  Deming,  Scioto  ;  enl.  Dec.  4, 1861. 

Sergt.  Evan  Boberts,  Antrim  ;  enl.  Nov.  28,  1861  ;  disch.  Jan.  22, 1863. 
Corp.  Lasello  C.  Brewer,  Owosso;  enl.  Dec.  2,  1801 ;  disch.  at  end  of  service, 

Marcli  14, 1866. 
Corp.  Robert  C.  Kyle,  Owosso ;  enl.  Dec.  21, 1801 ;  disch.  July  15, 1862. 
Corp.  BeijJ.  F.  Stevens,  Owosso ;  enl.  Dec.  21, 1861 ;  disch.  Feb.  10, 1803. 
John  Q.  Adams,  disch.  Dec.  30, 1802. 
Edwiu  Botsford,  disch.  Jan.  6, 1863. 
Ebenezer  Brewer,  disch.  for  disability,  July  10, 1862. 
Benjamin  Bagley,  disch.  Nov.  21, 1802, 
Jacob  Bnrlcli,  disch,  Oct.  17, 1862. 

John  H.  Barnes,  disch.  for  promotion  in  23d  Kegt,  Aug.  11, 1862. 
Jacob  Byerly,  died  of  disease,  Aug.  21,  1862. 

Leonard  Black,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1804 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Malhew  Coif,  disch.  Oct.  10,  1862. 
George  Clarli,  discli.  for  disability,  April  17, 1862. 
Levinus  Coif,  disch.  for  disability,  July  15,  1862. 
Marcus  Coif,  disch.  for  disability,  July  25, 1863. 
Ezra  Dibble,  disch.  for  disability,  July  8, 1863. 
Byron  A.  Dunn,  disch.  for  disability,  July  8, 1863. 
Samuel  C.  Decker,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
William  B.  Dunbar,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1805. 
Jacob  De  Forest,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864. 

Jesse  Fleming,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
John  Folf,  died  of  disease  at  Aiidersonville,  Ga. 
William  Goff,  disch  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
Jotbam  Hunt,  disch.  for  promotion.  May  17, 1863. 
Charles  S.  Harris,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  18, 1862. 
Nathauiel  Hyde,  disch.  for  disability,  July  22, 1862. 
W  Hill,  died  of  disease  at  luka.  Miss.,  Sept.  5, 1862. 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Welles  J.  Haynes,  veteran,  March  31, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Albert  C.  .lohnson,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  18, 186.'). 

Valois  H.  Morse,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Thomas  Hunger,  veteran,  March  31, 1864. 

Norman  McLenithan,  disch.  March  10, 1863. 

Peter  McNelly,  disch.  for  disability,  July  1, 1862. 

Husten  Maliew,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 

Nathan  Monroe,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 

William  B.  Monroe,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 

Mason  Phelps,  diach.  Sept.  16, 18G2. 

Israel  Parshall,  disch.  Jan.  4, 1863. 

Ira  A.  PoUey,  died  at  Columbia,  Tenn.,  Nov.  18, 1863. 

William  Steen,  died  of  disease  at  Owosso,  Mich.,  June  16, 1862. 

John  Seevoord,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Nov.  26, 1862. 

Daniel  D.  See,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  15, 1862. 

George  Swimen,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  10, 18C2. 

John  W.  Simpson,  disch,  for  disability,  July  25, 1863. 

William  Sargent,  disch.  for  disability,  June  16, 1863. 

George  W.  Smith,  disch.  Sept.  14, 1862. 

Edward  Sanford,  disch.  Nov.  18, 1862. 

Allen  Templer,  disch.  April  20, 1863. 

Charles  Terwilligor,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  3, 1803. 

Dor  Tillotson,  veteran,  Jan. 4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

William  Wiers,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  10,  186'!. 

Everett  Woodbury,  discli.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  10, 1863. 

Company  H. 
Owen  Miller,  disch.  to  enl.  in  regular  service. 

Company  I. 
Azariah  Jitcb,  disch.  Aug.  22, 1862. 
Caleb  Hall,  disch.  Aug.  2, 1862. 

Company  E.  , 

Sergt.  Thomas  Crane,  Owosso,  enl.  Dec.  7, 1861 ;  died  of  wounds  at  Nashville, 

Tenn.,  Nov.  9, 1862. 
John  Buck,  disch.  March  18, 1863. 

James  E.  Crane,  died  of  disease  at  luka.  Miss.,  Oct.  21,1862. 
Allen  Davis,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  10, 1862. 
John  G.  Dellamater,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864, 
Peter  Garrison,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864. 

Joseph  Guyer,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
William  Garrison,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  13, 1865. 
Kichard  Odcll,  disch. 

William  D.  Piatt,  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  18, 1866. 
Andrew  Scott,  disch.  Aug.  29,  1864. 

Oliver  B.  Van  Doran,  veteran,  Jan.  4,  1864  ;  disch.  by  order,  July  20, 1866. 
John  W.  Wester,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  17, 1862. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  IN   THE  FOURTEENTH. 
Company  A, 
Ira  Armstrong',  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
Nelson  Brown,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  28, 1862. 
William  Hotaling,  disch.  Aug.  20, 1862. 

Olney  H.  Richmond,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  hy  order,  July  20, 1865. 
William  W.  Thayer,  veteran,  enl,  Jan.  4, 1864;  died  in  action  at  Bentonviile, 

N.  C,  March  19,  1865. 
Perry  Watkins,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  15, 1863. 

Company  C. 
James  Barrett,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  3, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Francis  Hinton,  died  of  disease  at  Cincinuati,  Ohio,  June  25, 1862. 

Company  D. 
1st  Lieut.  Sylvanus  Bachelder,  Bath ;  com,  March  14, 1865 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 

Dec.  29, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1866. 
Sergt.  Sylvanus  Bachelder,  Bath ;  enl.  Nov.  30, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  4, 1864 ;  pro. 

to  2d  lieut. 
Corp.  Tlieron  Wcad,  Eagle;  enl.  Dec.  3,  1861;  disch.  Aug.  27, 1862. 
George  Barnum,  disch.  March  26, 1863. 
Benj.  Lyman,  disch.  for  disability,  June  18, 1863. 
John  A.  Bixl.y,  disch.  Oct.  13,1862. 
Ezra  Benjamin,  disch.  by  order,  June  13, 1865. 
Jonathan  Burke,  died  of  disease  at  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  Jan.  19, 1862. 
Samuel  Carl,  disch.  for  disability,  April  16, 1862. 
George  S.  Culver,  disch.  by  order,  May  20, 1865. 
Stephen  B.  Crane,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  April  6,  1866. 
William  H.  Clark,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  April  11, 1865. 
Jacob  S.  Clark,  veteran,  enl,  Jan.  4,  1864 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865, 
Jared  De  Bar,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
William  W.  Fenton,  diach.  July  24, 1862. 
George  W.  Howe,  disch.  Feb.  10, 1863. 
Napoleon  B.  Howe,  disch.  Oct.  8,1862. 

Hanford  U.  Hawley,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  April  11, 1865, 
Jonathan  Henderson,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  4, 1864. 
John  B.  Morgan,  veteran,  enl.  .Tan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18,  I860. 
Samuel  McKibbin,  died  of  disease  at  Yiwilanti,  April  16, 1862. 


Levi  Morgan,  died  of  disease  in  New  York  harbor,  April  16, 1866. 

Henry  W.  Newsom,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1866. 

Ji>hn  Sinclair,  disch  for  disability,  April  16, 1862. 

John  E.  Sweet,  disch.  Dec.  19, 1862. 

Judson  Smith,  disch. 

Wiiford  N.  Scadin,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1805. 

Andrew  Seckenger,  died  of  disease  at  Farmington,  Miss.,  Aug.  2, 1862. 

Ansel  Stevens,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Deo.  19, 1862. 

William  Showerman,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4,  1861;  died  in  action  at  Atlanta,  Ga,, 

Aug.  7, 1864. 
Alfred  Sprague,  must,  out  Jnly  18, 1865, 
Harlan  P,  Towner,  must,  out  Jnly  18, 1865. 

William  P.  Trembly,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1805. 
Herman  V.  Trombly,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  July  26, 1806. 
Bichard  Thorp,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  18, 1865. 
Samuel  Tnlman,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  II,  1866. 
Joshua  Tliuma,  died  of  disease  at  Big  Springs,  Miss,,  Juno  26, 1802. 

Company  E. 
2d  Lieut.  William  H.  Shiffer,  St.  John's,  com.  July  7, 1866;  must,  out  July  18, 

1866. 
Oliver  D,  Beebe,  disch.  Sept,  14, 1862. 

Hezokiah  Marcy,  died  of  disease  near  Farmington,  Miss.,  July  17, 1862. 
William  A.  Marsh,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1804. 

Company  F, 
Corp.  Ferdinand  Platte,  Westphalia;  enl.  Oct.  14,1861 ;  re-enl.  as  veteran,  Jan, 

4, 1861;  must,  out  July  IS,  1866. 
Anthony  Arnst,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
Henry  Amerheim,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
Francis  Blondy,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
John  Baker,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  hy  order,  July  19,  1806. 
Peter  Fox,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1806. 
Sibres  Miller,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  16,  1862. 
Peter  Pung,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865, 
Henry  Bochal,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  6,  1864;   died  in  action  in  North  Carolina, 

Maijch  19, 1865. 
Peter  Siindy,  died  of  disease  in  Mississippi,  Ang.  20, 1802. 
Timotliy  Serge,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res,  Corps,  Jan,  10, 1865, 
Jacob  Stenkle,  must,  out  July  18, 1865, 
Anthony  Wertz,  disch,  for  disability,  July  10,  1802, 
Anthony  Wehr,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  discb.  July  19, 1866. 

Company  H. 
Henry  Myers,  disch.  Oct.  1, 1862. 

Company  K. 

Capt.  John  Kelly,  Westphalia;  com.  Nov.  18, 1861 ;  res.  June  4, 1863. 

Ist  Lieut.  Chas.  B.  Hose,  Westphalia ;  com.  Nov.  18,  1861  j  died  of  disease  at 
Farmington,  Miss.,  June  11, 1862. 

Corp.  Edward  Brass,  Duplain  ;  enl.  Dec.  13, 1861 ;  died  of  disease  at  Farming- 
ton,  Mis<.,  July  18,  1802. 

Corp.  David  Luomis,  Victor ;  enl.  Nov.  8, 1861 ;  disch.  April  24, 1863. 

Corp.  Samuel  Kinney,  Greenbush;  enl.  Dec.  13,  1861;  veteran,  Jan.  4,  1864; 
absent  on  furlough  on  muster  out. 

Corp.  Martin  C.  Myers,  Eagle  ;  enl.  Dec.  31,  1861 ;  veteran,  Jan,  4,  1804 ;  died 
in  action  in  Georgia,  July  6, 1864, 

Sergt,  John  Sly,  Bengal;  enl.  Nov,  19,1861;  veteran,  Jan.  4,  1864;  must,  out 
July  18, 1865. 

Wallace  Anthony,  disch.  Dec.  9, 1862. 

Talman  Beardsley,  disch,  for  disability,  July  1, 1862. 

Wm.  H.  Barnes,  died  of  disease  in  Ohio,  Jan.  31, 1806. 

Edwin  Baldwin,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Samuel  S.  Bennett,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Fredk.  Carpenter,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1866. 

Jacob  Cook,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Michael  Cook,  must,  out  July  18,1865. 

Charles  Calkins,  discb.  for  disability,  July  23, 1862. 

Jacob  L.  Doud,  died  of  disease,  May  29, 1862. 

Franklin  Fish,  died  of  disease,  March  25, 1862. 

Zurlel  Fish,  disch.  for  disability,  March  1, 1802. 

John  Fisler,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  by  order.  May  16, 1806. 

Daander  Ferris,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  1, 1866. 

Jasper  Harrington,  disch,  for  disability,  July  24, 1862. 

Kichard  Jones,  discb.  for  disability,  July  1, 1802. 

Robert  M.  Jones,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1866. 

Marshall  T.  Kyte,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4,  1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

David  Loomis,  discb.  April  24, 1803. 

Mathias  Miller,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

John  Morolf,  must,  out  July  18, 1866. 

Henry  Murphy,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 18«5. 

Jeptha  Owen,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  8, 1862. 

Oscar  Peck,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  16, 1862. 

Homer  Parks,  disch.  for  disability,  July  10, 1862. 

Orrin  Parks,  discb.  Jan.  8,1863. 

Wm.  H.  Parks,  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Aug.  6, 1802. 

Albert  Passagf,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4,  1864;  died  in  action  in  Georgia,  July  6, 
1865. 


TWENTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 


75 


Alphens  Passage,  discli.  for  disability,  March  22, 1805. 

Thos.  RicLmond,  died  of  d'Sease,  Marcli  12, 1802. 

Chas.  Bobinson,  died  of  disease  at  Big  Springs,  Miss..  July  16, 1802. 

Edward  Kaby,  veteran,  eiil.  Jan.  4, 1804;  niuit.  out  July  18, 1865. 

ThoB.  Shaw,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864 ;  died  in  action  at  Jonesboro',  Ga.,  Sept. 

1,1864. 
Henry  Shiffer,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1804;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  B. 
Caleb  Silvers,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1804;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Richard  Silvers,  disch.  for  disability,  July  15, 1862. 
John  Shook,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  9, 1864 ;  disch.  by  order,  July  29, 1865. 
John  Spears,  disch.  Dec.  4, 1862. 

Belton  Soper,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
Nicliolas  Scbernish,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
Jerry  Sullivan,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  July  17, 1862. 
John  Sly,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Moses  R.  Tuttle,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864 ;  died  on  the  field,  July  5, 1864. 
Marvin  Thomas,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Henry  H.  Tillapaugh,  veteran,  enl.  .Ian.  4, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  18,  1865. 
Thos.  Ulrich,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Oct.  19, 1862. 
David  B.  Wheeler,  disch.  for  disability,  July  10, 1862. 
Chas.  S.  Wise,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  July  26, 1865. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

T"WEIfTY-THIKD  IWFANTKY. 

Rendezvous  and  Organization  at  East  Saginaw — Service  in  Kentucky 
and  Ohio — March  to  East  Tennessee  and  Campaign  in  that  Section 
— The  Georgia  Campaign — Pursuit  of  Hood — ^Battles  of  Columbia, 
Franklin,  and  Nashville — Transfer  to  the  East  and  Service  in  North 
Carolina — End  of  the  War  and  Return  Home. 

The  Twenty-third  Regriment  was  made  up  of  men  from 
the  counties  composing  the  Sixth  Congressional  District, 
and  was  raised  and  organized  in  the  summer  of  1862  under 
the  President's  call  for  volunteers,  issued  on  the  2d  of 
July,  immediately  after  the  close  of  the  Seven  Days'  bat- 
tles on  the  Virginia  peninsula.  The  regimental  rendezvous 
was  established  at  East  Saginaw,  and  D.  H.  Jerome,  Esq., 
was  designated  as  commandant  of  the  camp  of  instruction 
and  organization. 

In  this  regiment  the  county  of  Clinton  was  represented 
by  one  full  company  under  command  of  Capt.  (now  General) 
O.  L.  Spaulding,  and  another  company  (under  Capt.  Henry 
Walbridge)  of  which  very  nearly  all  the  members  were  from 
Clinton. 

Shiawassee  County  furnished  for  the  Twenty-third  a  full 
company  under  command  of  Capt.  John  Carland,*  of 
Corunna,  and  besides  the  above-mentioned  companies  sev- 
eral others  of  the  regiment  contained  men  from  Shiawassee 
and  Clinton  Counties. 

The  headquarters  of  both  the  Clinton  companies  were 
at  the  village  of  St.  John's.  The  first  enlistment  in  Capt. 
'Spaulding's  company  was  made  on  the  15th  of  July,  and 
on  the  6th  of  August  it  had  attained  the  minimum  strength 
necessary  for  muster.  Soon  afterwards  it  was  reported  at 
the  Bast  Saginaw  rendezvous,  and  was  incorporated  in  the 
regiment  as  Company  A,  with  William  Sickles  as  its  first 
and  James  Travis  as  second  lieutenant. 

Capt.  Spaulding  had  been  assisted  in  the  recruiting  of 
his  company  by  Henry  Walbridge,  with  the  expectation 
that  the  latter  would  be  made  its  first  lieutenant,  but  when 
it  became  apparent  that  many  more  than  enough  men  to 


•  Capt.  Carland  was  afterwards  major  of  the  regiment,  and  is  now 
an  officer  in  the  Sixth  United  States  Infantry. 


fill  one  company  could  be  obtained  here  he  commenced  the 
formation  of  a  second  company,  which  was  filled  without 
much  difficulty,  and  he  became  its  captain,  with  Stephen 
J.  Wright  as  first  and  Alonzo  0.  Hunt  as  second  lieu- 
tenant. This  company  was  designated  as  G  company  of 
the  Twenty-third. 

The  Shiawassee  company  was  recruited  by  Capt.  Carland, 
1st  Lieut.  Benjamin  F. .Briscoe,  and  2d  Lieut.  Marvin 
Miller,  who  were  its  original  officers.  In  the  organization 
of  the  Twenty-third  this  became  Company  H.  The  regi- 
ment was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the 
13th  of  September,  1862,  with  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  officers  and  men  under  command  of  Col.  Marshall  W. 
Chapin.  The  regimental  surgeon  was  Dr.  Louis  Fasquelle, 
of  St.  John's. 

When  the  Twenty-third  Regiment  left  East  Saginaw  for 
the  theatre  of  war  it  moved  by  detachments.  The  first  of 
these — composed  of  Companies  C,  H,  and  K — broke  camp 
in  the  morning  of  September  17th,  and  were  transported  on 
the  cars  of  the  Flint  and  P6re  Marquette  Railway  to  Mount 
Morris,  which  was  then  the  southern  terminus  of  the  road ; 
and  thence  were  moved  across  the  country,  by  way  of  Flint, 
to  the  Detroit  and  IMilwaukee  Railroad,  over  which  they 
proceeded  by  train  to  Detroit.  On  the  following  day  the 
remaining  companies  left  the  rendezvous,  and  moved  by  the 
same  route  to  Detroit,  where  they  arrived  in  the  evening, 
and  all  were  hospitably  entertained  by  the  patiiotic  citizens. 
With  but  little  delay  the  ten  companies  were  embarked  on 
steamers,  which  landed  them  at  Cleveland  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  weather  being  rainy  and  dismal,  and  the  condition 
of  the  men  anything  but  comfortable.  From  Cleveland, 
the  regiment  moved  by  rail  across  the  State  of  Ohio  to 
Cincinnati,  whence,  after  a  stop  of  some  hours,  it  again 
proceeded  by  railroad,  and  on  Sunday  morning,  September 
21st,  reached  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Ohio  River,  opposite  Louisville,  Ky.  In  the  afternoon  of 
the  same  day  the  command  moved  to  "  Camp  Gilbert," 
near  by,  and  that  night,  for  the  first  time,  the  tired  men  of 
the  Twenty-third  slept  upon  the  soldier's  bed, — the  bosom 
of  mother  earth. 

The  city  of  Louisville  was  at  that  time  in  a  panic-stricken 
condition  on  account  of  the  reported  approach  of  the  rebel 
general  S.  B.  Buckner,  with  a  strong  Confederate  force. 
In  consequence  of  this,  many  people  were  leaving  their 
homes  in  the  city  and  crossing  to  the  north  side  of  the 
river.  Large  quantities  of  government  stores  were  also 
being  transferred  to  the  Indiana  side,  by  order  of  the  gen- 
eral then  in  command  at  Louisville.  The  Twenty-third 
was  placed  on  duty,  guarding  the  public  property  and  ferry 
landings  at  Jeffersonville,  and  remained  so  employed  for 
two  days  and  nights,  at  the  end  of  which  time  it  crossed 
the  river  and  camped  in  the  southwestern  suburbs  of  Louis- 
ville.  Here  the  situation  of  the  men  was  not  the  most 
comfortable,  and  it  was  made  worse  by  their  almost  com- 
plete ignorance  of  the  methods  by  which  veteran  soldiers 
manage  to  force  something  like  comfort  out  of  the  most 
unfavorable  surroundings.  A  few  hours  later  they  were 
ordered  to  move  to  another  camping-place,  and  while  on 
their  way  thither  they  passed  a  brigaide  or  division  of  the 
army  of  Gen.  Buell,  which  had  then  just  entered  the  city 


76 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHiaAN. 


afler  a  fatiguing  forced  march  from  Nashville  in  pursuit  of 
the  Southern  army  under  Gen.  Bragg.  As  the  Twenty- 
third  marched  past  the  dusty  and  battle-scarred  veterans  .of 
Shiloh,  Farmington,  and  luiia,  the  latter  indulged  (as  vet- 
erans are  apt  to  do)  in  many  a  sneer  at  the  expense  of  the 
fresh  troops,  few  of  whom  had  yet  heard  the  whistle  of  a 
hostile  bullet.  An  officer  of  the  Twenty-third*  says  of  this 
incident :  "  Tiie  contrast  of  their  dirty,  tattered,  and  torn 
garments  with  our  men  was  a  matter  of  much  comment. 
We  were  surprised  that  they  jeeringly  hinted  at  our  green- 
ness and  inferiority,  which  a  few  months'  experience  in 
marches  and  on  battle-fields  would  change.  In  time  we 
learned  that  they  had  not  been  mistaken  in  their  estimate 
of  our  relative  merits  as  soldiers." 

The  camp  to  which  the  regiment  was  moved  at  this  time 
will  be  well  recollected  by  those  who  occupied  it  as  "  the 
brick-yard  camp,"  a  dreary  and  comfortless  place,  where  the 
command  remained  without  tents  or  other  shelter  until  the 
afternoon  of  the  3d  of  October,  when  the  Thirty-eighth 
Brigade  (Array  of  the  Ohio),  composed  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Second  and  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Ohio, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Illinois,  and  Twenty-third 
Michigan,  all  under  uommand  of  Gren.  Dumont,  marched 
away  from  Louisville,  on  the  road  to  Shelby ville,  Ky.  The 
weather  was  very  hot,  the  road  dusty,  water  almost  impos- 
sible to  obtain,  and  the  men,  not  having  yet  learned  the 
meaning  of  "  light  marching  order,"  were  overloaded  with 
the  cumbrous  outfits  which  they  brought  from  home  ;  so 
that  when,  late  at  night,  they  halted  on  the  bank  of  a  muddy 
stream  known  as  "  Floyd's  Fork,"  the  exhausted  and  foot- 
sore troops  were  glad  enough  to  lie  down  upon  the  ground, 
with  no  shelter  but  their  blankets,  and  no  thought  but  that 
of  rest  from  the  fatigues  of  this,  their  first  severe  march. 
Late  the  next  morning  they  arose  stifi'  and  sore  in  every 
joint,  and  soaked  with  the  rain  which  was  still  falling. 
Coffee  was  made  from  the  muddy  water  of  the  stream,  in 
which  hundreds  of  mules  were  stamping  and  wallowing. 
The  rations  were  neither  very  good  nor  plentiful,  but  these 
were  on  this  occasion  supplemented  by  supplies  taken  from 
a  mansion  which  stood  near  by,  and  from  which  the  occu- 
pants had  fled  on  the  approach  of  the  troops.  "  The  sol- 
diers, impressed  with  the  idea  that  all  food,  raiment,  and 
other  movables  found  in  the  enemy's  country  belonged  to 
Uncle  Sam's  elect,  proceeded  to  ransack  the  premises, 
bringing  off  meat,  meal,  vegetables,  sauces,  honey,  jellies, 
preserves,  and  some  pretty  good  stock  for  the  stable, — a 
portion  of  which  we  recognized  the  next  spring  grazing  in 
Michigan." 

From  Floyd's  Fork  the  regiment  moved  early  in  the  follow- 
ing morning  towards  Shelby  ville,  which  was  reached  the  same 
evening,  and  the  Twenty-third  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  village.  Here  the  brigade  remained  until  the  morning 
of  October  9th,  when  it  moved  through  the  village  and  on 
towards  Frankfort,  arriving  in  the  neighborhood  of  that 
town  the  same  night,  the  advance-guard  of  the  force  having 
already  entered  the  city  after  a  skirmish  with  the  cavalry 
of  the  enemy,  who  had  succeeded  in  destroying  the  fine 


»  Ciipt.  W.  A.  Lewis,  of  the  Twenty-third,  from  whom  all  the  <jno- 
tations  ia  this  sketch  (unless  otherwise  noted)  are  made. 


bridge  of  the  Lexington  and  Frankfort  Railroad,  and  had 
attempted  the  destruction  of  the  turnpike-bridge,  but  had 
been  driven  away  before  accomplishing  it. 

Laro-e  numbers  of  negroes  had  fallen  in  with  the  column 
on  its  march  from  Louisville  to  Frankfort.  Some  of  these 
had  engaged  as  servants  to  the  officers,  but  the  greater  part 
of  them  were  following  the  troops  without  any  definite  ob- 
ject that  was  apparent.  So  numerous  were  the  dusky 
crowds  that  "  there  were  found  among  them  the  names  or 
lineal  descendants  of  every  prominent  general  in  the  rebel 
army."  A  considerable  number  of  Kentucky  horses  had 
also  "  fallen  in"  on  the  line  of  march,  and  were  being  ridden 
by  officers  and  privates;  but  "on  arrival  at  Frankfort  there 
came  for  these  a  host  of  claimants,  and  the  day  was  one  of 
reckoning  for  those  in  whose  possession  they  were  found." 
A  court-martial  was  instituted,  and  held  a  protracted  session 
at  Frankfort.  "  It  must  have  made  sad  havoc  among  the 
Wolverines  but  for  the  fact  that  our  fighting  companion, 
Capt.  Walbridge,  who  rode  the  best  captured  steed  into  the 
town  on  that  eventful  morning  (October  10th),  was  the 
honored  judge-advocate  in  the  court." 

With  the  exception  of  an  expedition  in  pursuit  of  the 
guerrilla  chief,  John  Morgan,  the  Twenty-third  remained  at 
Frankfort  thirteen  days.  It  was  at  this  time  under  com- 
mand of  Maj.  B.  F.  Fisher,  the  colonel  being  in  command 
of  the  brigade,  and  Lieut.-Col.  Pratt  being  absent.  It  was 
while  the  regiment  laid  at  this  place  that  the  death  oc- 
curred of  Lieut.  John  Earle,  of  "  E"  company,  on  Sunday, 
Oct.  19,  ]  862.  His  remains  were  sent  home  to  Michigan  in 
charge  of  Sergt.  Lyons,  and  at  about  the  same  time  the  regi- 
ment received  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  Capt.  Norville, 
of  fever,  at  Saginaw  City,  October  3d. 

At  a  little  past  midnight  on  the  morning  of  the  day  of 
Lieut.  Earle's  death,  the  men  of  the  Twenty-third  were 
startled  from  their  sleep  by  the  thrilling  sound  of  the  "  long 
roll,"  and  at  one  o'clock  a.m.  they  were  marching  rapidly 
away  in  pursuit  of  the  redoubtable  Morgan,  who  was  re- 
ported to  be  at  Lawrenceburg.  Two  companies  of  the 
regiment,  however  (G  and  K),  were  left  as  guard  at 
Frankfurt.  Tiio  pursuing  column  was,  almost  as  a  matter 
of  course,  a  little  too  late  to  overtake  the  main  body  of 
Morgan's  force,  but  succeeded  in  capturing  a  few  men  and 
horses  belonging  to  his  rear-guard,  and  with  these  trophies 
the  command  returned  the  same  evening  to  the  camp  at 
Frankfort,  having  marched  twenty-six  miles  under  the 
usual  disadvantages  of  choking  dust  and  great  scarcity  of 
water. 

The  regiment  took  its  final  departure  from  Frankfort  late 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  21st  of  October,  and  encamped  that 
night  in  an  oak  grove,  a  few  miles  down  the  road  towards 
Lawrenceburg.  On  the  following  day  it  passed  through 
that  town,  and  made  its  camp  for  the  night  at  Big  Spring, 
some  miles  farther  on.  The  weather  had  suddenly  grown 
cold,  and  many  of  the  men  suffered  for  need  of  the  blankets, 
which  had  been  foolishly  thrown  away  as  incumbrances  in 
the  heat  and  dust  of  previous  marches.  In  the  morning 
of  the  23d  the  Kentucky  hills  and  vales  were  white  with 
hoar  frost.  The  regiment  was  early  in  line,  and  during 
this  day's  march  passed  through  Harrodsburg.  Here  the 
men  were  not  permitted  to  make  a  free  exploration  of  the 


TWENTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 


town,  on  account  of  their  rather  damagin;;  record  as  indis- 
criminate foragers.  About  noon  of  the  24th  they  passed 
through  the  little  village  of  Perryville,  in  the  outskirts  of 
which  the  armies  of  Buell  and  Bragg  had  fought  the  battle 
of  Chaplin  Hills,  sixteen  days  before,  many  of  the  Union 
and  Confederate  wounded  from  that  engagement  being  still 
in  the  village,  and  in  the  farm-house  hospitals  of  the  vi- 
cinity. That  night  the  weary  men  of  the  Twenty-third 
made  their  bivouac  on  the  banks  of  an  abundant  and  toler- 
ably clear  stream  of  water,  called  the  Rolling  Fork.  In 
the  march  of  the  following  day,  this  stream  was  crossed 
and  recrossed  many  times  in  its  meanderings,  and  late  in 
the  day  the  regiment  reached  the  little  half-burned  village 
of  Bradfordsville.  The  latter  part  of  the  day's  march  had 
been  made  in  a  cold,  drenching  rain,  which,  as  night  fell, 
turned  to  snow,  and  on  the  following  morning  (Sunday, 
October  26th)  the  Arctic  covering  lay  six  inches  deep  over 
the  ground.  This  was  considered  a  remarkable  event  for 
that  latitude,  and  it  brought  remembrances  of  their  Northern 
homes  to  the  minds  of  many  whose  eyes  would  never  again 
look  upon  the  whitened  expanse  of  the  Michigan  hills  and 
valleys.  During  all  that  Sabbath  day  the  tired  men  en- 
joyed a  season  of  rest  and  recreation  around  their  comforta- 
ble camp  fires,  and  while  they  rested  the  snow  disappeared, 
so  that  their  march  of  the  following  day  was  over  bare 
roads,  but  free  from  tormenting  dust.  In  the  evening  of 
the  27th  the  brigade  arrived  at  New  Market,  Ky.,  where 
several  commands  of  the  rear-guard  of  Buell's  army  were 
found  encamped,  and  where  the  Twenty-third  and  its  com- 
panion regiments  also  went  into  camp  and  remained  for 
eight  days,  engaged  in  recuperation,  drill,  and  the  prepara- 
tion of  muster-rolls,  to  be  used  upon  a  pay-day  which  all 
hoped  might  come  in  the  near  future. 

The  Twenty-third  again  moved  forward  with  its  brigade 
on  the  4th  of  November,  and  on  the  following  day  it  passed 
through  Munfordsville,  where  a  Union  force  of  ten  thousand 
men  lay  encamped.  On  the  6th  it  reached  Dripping  Springs, 
where  it  remained  one  day,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  8th 
arrived  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  a  town  which  "  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  having  been  visited  by  pestilence,  famine,  and 
the  besom  of  destruction,"  as  was  remarked  by  some  of  the 
officers  of  the  Twenty-third.  "  A  large  rebel  force  had 
wintered  there,  and  remained  until  driven  out  by  the  Union 
forces  under  Gen.  Mitchell,  and  they  had  made  of  the 
whole  visible  creation  one  common  camping-ground."  This 
place  was  destined  to  be  the  home  of  the  regiment  for  a 
period  of  more  than  six  months.  Its  camp  (which  was 
afterwards  transformed  into  substantial  and  comfortable 
winter  quarters)  was  pitched  near  the  magnificent  railroad- 
bridge  crossing  the  Big  Barren  River,  and  the  guarding  of 
this  bridge  formed  a  part  of  the  duty  of  the  regiment  during 
the  winter  of  1862-63  ;  its  other  duties  being  camp  rou- 
tine, drill,  picket,  provost,  and  railway  guard,  and  the  con- 
voying of  railroad  trains  of  stores  over  the  road  from 
Bowling  Green  to  Nashville.  While  here  the  Twenty- 
third,  with  its  brigade,  formed  part  of  the  Tenth  Division 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  they  were  successively 
under  command  of  Gens.  Granger,  Manson,  and  Judah,  as 
commandants  of  the  post  during  the  six  months  that  they 
remained  here. 


Many  notable  events — some  pleasant,  some  painful,  and 
others  ludicrous — occurred  in  the  history  of  the  regiment 
during  its  long  stay  at  Bowling  Green.  Near  the  town  was 
a  pleasure-ground,  many  acres  in  extent,  with  a  magnificent 
spring  of  clear  cold  water  i  n  its  centre.  This  seems  to  have 
been  a  favorite  resort  for  both  citizens  and  soldiers,  and  we 
are  told  that  "  here,  upon  many  a  happy  occasion,  the  beauty 
and  the  chivalry  of  Bowling  Green,  and  many  inveterate 
Yankees,  assembled  to  enjoy  the  scene  of  unequaled  hilarity 
and  mirth."  It  was  several  times  the  case  that  snow  fell  to 
a  sufficient  depth  for  sleighing,  and  those  opportunities  for 
pleasures  were  improved  to  the  utmost.  Private  entertain- 
ments, too,  were  sometimes  given  by  the  citizens,  and 
"  there  were,  in  several  instances,  strong  indications  of  at- 
tachments between  some  of  the  boys  in  blue  and  the  fair 
damsels  of  Bowling  Green.  .  .  .  These  were  oases  in  the 
dreary  Sahara  of  the  war."  On  the  morning  of  the  mo- 
mentous 1st  of  January,  1863,  the  artillery  on  College  Hill 
fired  a  salute,  which  was  afterwards  changed  to  target  prac- 
tice ;  and  during  a  part  of  the  time  of  its  continuance  the 
camp  of  the  Twenty-third  Michigan  seems  to  have  been  the 
target,  for  several  solid  shots  were  thrown  into  it,  doing  some 
damage  to  quarters,  and  creating  no  little  consternation. 
This  was  the  first  time  the  regiment  had  been  actually  under 
fire. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1863,  occurred  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tressing events  in  the  experience  of  the  regiment  at  Bow- 
ling Green.  This  was  the  sudden  death  of  Lieut.-CoL 
Pratt.  He  had  mounted  a  powerful  and  restive  horse,  but 
was  scarcely  seated  in  the  saddle  when  the  fiery  animal 
plunged  and  reared  so  violently  as  to  fall  backwards  upon 
the  colonel,  crushing  and  killing  him  instantly.  He  was  a 
good  and  popular  officer,  and  was  sincerely  mourned  by  the 
men  and  officers  of  the  regiment. 

Upon  the  death  of  Lieut.-Col.  Pratt,  Maj.  0.  L.  Spauld- 
ing  (who  had  been  advanced  to  that  rank  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  resignation  of  Maj.  B.  F.  Fisher,  February 
3d)  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
third,  dating  from  the  day  of  the  gallant  Pratt's  death; 
From  that  time  until  the  close  of  the  war  Col.  Spaulding 
was  almost  constantly  in  command  of  the  regiment. 

When  spring  had  fairly  opened,  it  began  to  be  rumored 
that  the  troops  occupying  Bowling  Green  would  soon  be 
moved  from  there  and  enter  active  service.  The  men  of 
the  Twenty  third  Michigan  did  not  regret  this  probability 
of  a  change,  for  although  their  experience  there  had  been 
in  some  respects  as  pleasant  as  any  which  soldiers  in  time 
of  war  have  a  right  to  expect,  yet  they  had  been  terribly 
reduced  in  numbers  by  sickness  while  there,  and  it  was  be- 
lieved that  this  evil  would  be  aggravated  by  the  coming  of 
warm  weather.  Besides,  they  had  grown  tired  of  the  mo- 
notonous duty  which  they  were  called  on  to  perform  here, 
and  were,  as  soldiers  almost  always  are,  inclined  to  wish  for 
a  change.  About  the  20th  of  May  orders  were  received  to 
make  all  preparations  for  a  movement,  and  to  hold  the  com- 
mands in  readiness  for  the  march ;  and  on  the  29th  of  the 
same  month  the  regiment  broke  camp,  and  moved  with  its 
brigade  on  the  road  to  Glasgow,  Ky.,  which  point  was 
reached  on  the  30th,  and  here  the  Twenty-third  remained 
until  the  13th  of  June,  when  it  was  ordered  in  pursuit  of  a 


78 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


force  of  guerrillas,  said  to  be  at  Randolph,  about  twelve  miles 
distant.  Almost  as  a  matter  of  course  nothing  resulted 
from  this  expedition,  and  the  regiment  retul-ned  to  Glasgow 
on  the  16th,  after  a  most  severe  and  exhausting  march. 
On  the  22d  it  again  moved,  with  Manson's  brigade,  to 
Scottsville ;  thence,  on  the  26th,  to  Tompkinsville ;  and, 
July  4th,  back  to  Glasgow.  Here,  however,  it  made  little 
stay,  but  marched  out  (now  in  full  pursuit  of  John  Mor- 
gan) to  Munfordsville,  reaching  there  July  7th,  then  to 
Elizabethtown  and  Louisville  by  rail,  reaching  the  latter 
city  on  the  11th.  Morgan  was  now  reported  across  the 
Ohio  River,  in  Indiana.  The  Twenty-third,  as  part  of  the 
command  of  Gen.  Judah,  crossed  to  New  Albany,  Ind.,  but, 
making  little  stop  there,  proceeded  to  JefFersonville,  and 
thence  up  the  river  by  steamer,  passing  Madison,  Ind.,  on 
the  12th,  and  reaching  Cincinnati  in  the  evening  of  the 
13th  ;  its  brigade  being  the  first  to  reach  that  city.  From 
Cincinnati  the  fleet  (on  which  was  the  Twenty-third,  with 
the  other  regiments  under  command  of  Gen.  Judah)  passed 
up  the  river  to  Maysville,  Concord,  and  Portsmouth,  Ohio, 
at  which  latter  place  they  remained  until  July  20th,  when 
they  returned  to  Cincinnati,  and  disembarked  the  troops. 
From  there  the  Twenty-third  Regiment,  under  command 
of  Lieut.-Col.  Spaulding, — and  unaccompanied  by  any  other 
troops, — was  transported  by  railroad  to  Chillicothe,  and 
thence  to  Hamden  Junction,  where  it  encamped  for  a  few 
days.  Within  the  camp-ground  of  the  regiment  at  this 
place  there  remained  a  rude  rostrum,  from  which,  on  a 
previous  occasion,  the  notorious  Vallandigham  had  set  forth 
his  peculiar  views  to  the  population  of  Southern  Ohio.  But 
now  the  same  rostrum  was  occupied  by  the  chaplain  of  the 
Twenty-third,  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Smart,  who  most  eloquently 
"  consecrated  it  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  while  the  regiment 
made  the  welkin  ring  with  shouts  for  liberty  and  the 
Union." 

The  pursuit  of  Morgan  had  now  ceased,  for  the  forces  of 
that  daring  leader  had  already  been  driven  from  Ohio,  ex- 
cept such  as  had  been  destroyed  or  captured.  The  regi- 
ment soon  after  this  returned  to  Cincinnati,  and  after  a 
short  delay  moved  (under  orders  delivered  by  Gen.  Burn- 
side  in  person  to  Col.  Spaulding)  across  the  Ohio  to  Cov- 
ington, and  thence  by  rail  to  Paris,  Ky.,  where  Lieut.-Col. 
Young,  with  two  companies  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Eighteenth  Ohio,  was  threatened  by  a  superior  force  of 
Confederate  cavalry,  commanded  by  the  rebel  general 
Pegram.  The  Twenty-third  reached  Paris  on  the  29th  of 
July,  just  at  the  close  of  a  brisk  fight,  which  had  been 
brought  on  by  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  Pegram  to  destroy 
an  important  railway-bridge  at  that  point.  The  opportune 
arrival  of  the  Twenty  third  prevented  any  further  attempt 
by  the  enemy  to  burn  the  bridge,  and  doubtless  also  saved 
the  force  of  Lieut.-Col.  Young  from  a  second  attack  and 
not  improbable  capture.  The  conduct  of  the  regiment  in 
this  affair  was  most  creditable  to  its  commander,  LieUt.-Col. 
Spaulding,  and  to  all  the  oflBcers  and  men  under  him. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Paris  until  the  4th  of  August, 
when  it  moved,  by  way  of  Lexington  and  Louisville,  to 
Lebanon,  Ky.,  and  thence  to  New  Market,  where  it  arrived 
on  the  8th  of  August,  and  was  incorporated  with  the 
Second   Brigade,   Second   Division,  of  the   Twenty-third 


Army  Corps,  then  organizing  at  that  point.  In  thb  or- 
ganization Col.  Chapin  commanded  the  brigade  (composed 
of  the  Twenty-third  Michigan,  the  One  Hundred  and  Elev- 
enth Ohio,  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois,  and  the 
Thirteenth  Kentucky),  and  the  Twenty-third  remained 
under  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Spaulding. 

Marching  orders  were  received  on  the  1 6th  of  August 
and  at  two  p.m.  on  the  following  day  the  regiment,  with  its 
division,  moved  out  and  took  up  the  long  and  wearisome 
march  for  East  Tennessee.  The  camp  of  that  night  was 
only  seven  miles  out  from  New  Market,  on  Owl  Creek 
where  the  command  rested  during  all  of  the  following  day 
and  night,  but  moved  forward  again  at  daybreak  in  the 
morning  of  the  19th,  and  camped  that  night  on  Green 
River.  The  march  was  resumed  on  the  following  morning, 
and  two  days  later  (August  22d)  the  regiment  forded  the 
Cumberland  River  and  began  to  ascend  the  foot-hills  of 
the  Cumberland  Mountains.  In  the  evening  of  the  25th 
it  made  its  camp  at  Jamestown,  the  county-seat  of  Fentress 
Co.,  Tenn. 

On  the  30th  the  command  reached  Montgomery,  Tenn., 
where  were  Gens,  Burnside  and  Hartsuff,  with  the  main 
body  of  the  army,  commanded  by  the  former  officer.  In 
passing  through  this  little  settlement  "  an  enthusiastic  old 
lady  harangued  the  corps  upon  the  glory  of  its  mission, 
alternately  weeping  and  shouting,  invokiag  the  blessings 
of  heaven  upon  the  troops,  and  pouring  out  volleys  of 
anathemas  upon  the  enemies  of  the  country." 

On  the  ]  st  of  September  the  men  of  the  Twenty-third, 
having  passed  the  gorges  of  the  mountains,  descended  their 
southeastern  slope  to  the  valley  of  the  Tennessee,  and  camped 
late  at  night  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Clinch  River,  a  trib- 
utary of  the  larger  stream.  Fording  the  Clinch  in  the 
forenoon  of  the  2d  of  September,  the  corps  marched  for- 
ward and  passed  through  Kingston,  a  considerable  town  of 
East  Tennessee,  near  which  the  waters  of  the  Clinch  join 
those  of  the  Holston  and  form  the  Tennessee  River.  The 
camp  of  the  Twenty-third  was  pitched  for  the  night  about 
two  miles  beyond  Kingston.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning 
of  the  3d  the  troops  were  in  line  ready  for  the  march,  and 
then,  for  eight  long  weary  hours,  the  Twenty-third  Michi- 
gan and  its  companion  regiments  of  the  brigade  waited  for 
the  order  to  move.  At  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  the 
brigade  was  formed  in  square  four  lines  deep,  and  while 
standing  in  that  formation  was  addressed  by  its  commander. 
Gen.  White,  who  read  a  dispatch  just  received  from  Gen. 
Burnside,  announcing  the  capture  of  Knoxville  by  the  Union 
forces.  Gen.  White  then  congratulated  his  command,  and 
called  on  Col.  Chapin  of  the  Twenty-third  for  a  speech. 
The  colonel  responded  in  an  address,  which  being  brief  and 
comprehensive  is  given  here  entire.  He  said,  "  Boys,  the 
general  calls  on  me  to  make  a  speech.  You  know  that  I 
am  not  much  of  a  speaker,  and  all  I  have  to  say  is,  that 
you've  done  d d  well !     Keep  on  doing  so  !" 

Long  and  loud  acclamations  greeted  this  vigorous  ha- 
rangue ;  then  the  brigade  resumed  its  previous  formation, 
and,  after  another  tedious  delay,  moved  out  on  the  road  to 
Loudon,  which  was  reached  early  in  the  afternoon  of  Fri- 
day, September  4th.  The  enemy  had  hastily  evacuated  all 
the  strong  works  which  they  had  built  at  this  place,  but 


TWENTr-THIRD  INFANTRY. 


79 


had  succeeded  in  destroying  the  great  and  important  rail- 
road-bridge across  the  river.  Here  the  brigade  remained 
for  about  ten  days. 

Daring  the  latter  part  of  the  march  across  the  mountains 
supplies  had  become  so  much  reduced  that  rations  of  corn, 
in  the  ear,  were  issued  to  some  of  the  troops,  and  after  their 
arrival  at  Loudon  this  situation  of  affairs  was  but  little  im- 
proved until  Tuesday,  the  8th  of  September,  when  the  first 
railroad-traim  reached  the  town  from  Knoxville,  and  was 
hailed  with  wild  delight  by  the  weary  and  hungry  soldiers. 
Before  this,  however,  their  necessities  had  been  partially 
relieved  by  repairing  and  putting  in  running  order  a  grist- 
mill which  the  enemy  had  dismantled  before  his  evacuation. 
The  advance  of  the  wagon-trains  also  came  up  at  about  the 
same  time  that  the  railroad  was  opened  for  use. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  September  15th  the  men 
of  the  Twenty-third  were  roused  from  their  slumbers  to 
prepare  for  a  march,  and  one  hour  later  they  were  moving 
on  the  road  to  Knoxville,  twenty-eight  miles  distant.  This 
march  was  performed  with  all  possible  speed,  and  late  in  the 
afternoon  the  regiment  bivouacked  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  capital  of  East  Tennessee.  The  next  morning  it  entered 
the  city,  but  soon  after  proceeded  by  rail  to  Morristown,  a 
distance  of  about  forty  miles.  Only  a  short  stay  was  made 
here,  and  on  the  19th  it  returned  to  Knoxville,  and  went 
into  camp  at  the  railroad  depot.  The  next  day  was  the  Sab- 
bath, and  here,  for  the  first  time  in  months,  the  ears  of  the 
men  were  greeted  by  the  sound  of  church-bells,  and  they 
passed  the  day  in  rest  and  quiet,  little  dreaming  of  the  furi- 
ous battle  that  was  then  raging  away  to  the  southward,  upon 
the  field  of  Chickamauga,  or  of  the  rout  and  disaster  to  the 
Union  arms  which  that  day's  sunset  was  to  witness. 

At  four  o'clock  Monday  morning  the  brigade  took  the 
road  towards  Loudon,  and  arrived  thci-e  the  same  night. 
Here  the  regiment  occupied  a  pleasant  and  elevated  camp 
in  a  chestnut  grove,  and  remained  stationed  at  Loudon  for 
about  five  weeks,  engaged  in  picket  duty  and  scouting,  and 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  time  frequently  ordered  into 
line  of  battle,  and  continually  harassed  by  reports  of  the 
near  approach  of  the  enemy  under  Longstreet,  who  had 
been  detached  from  the  army  of  Bragg  in  Georgia,  and  was 
pressing  northward  with  a  heavy  force  towards  Knoxville. 

This  advance  of  Longstreet  decided  Gen.  Burnside  to 
retire  his  forces  from  Loudon,  and  on  the  28th  of  October 
the  place  was  evacuated  ;  the  Twenty-third  Michigan  being 
the  last  regiment  to  cross  the  pontoon-bridge,  which  was 
then  immediately  swung  to  the  shore,  and  the  boats  loaded 
upon  cars  and  sent  to  Knoxville.  All  this  being  accom- 
plished, the  army  moved  to  Lenoir,  Tenn.,  and  camped  be- 
yond the  town,  the  line  of  encampment  extending  many 
miles.  The  same  night  the  camp-fires  of  the  enemy  blazed 
upon  the  hills  of  Loudon,  which  the  Union  forces  had  just 
evacuated. 

At  the  new  camp  on  the  Lenoir  road  the  regiment  re- 
mained until  the  12th  of  November,  when  it  moved  with 
the  army  back  to  Huff's  Ferry,  where  a  heavy  engagement 
ensued,  in  which  Col.  Chapin's  brigade  (the  Second  of  the 
Second  Division,  Twenty-third  Army  Corps)  moved  to  the 
attack  on  the  double-quick,  and,  after  a  severe  fight  against 


overwhelming  odds,  drove  the  rebels  back  for  more  than 
three  miles.  The  enemy's  force  (consisting  of  three  of 
Longstreet's  veteran  regiments)  took  up  an  apparently  im- 
pregnable position  on  a  hill ;  but  the  Second  Brigade 
(Chapin's)  charged  the  works  promptly,  and  with  such 
effect  that  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  the  hill  was  cleared 
and  the  enemy  in  disorderly  retreat. 

The  next  day  after  the  battle  the  army  retreated  to 
Lenoir,  the  Second  Brigade  holding  the  most  exposed  po- 
sition in  the  column,  that  of  rear-guard,  to  cover  the  re- 
treat. At  Lenoir  the  camp  equipage  and  transportation 
was  destroyed,  the  teams  turned  over  to  the  several  bat- 
teries, and  in  the  following  morning  the  army  continued  its 
rapid  march  towards  Knoxville.  On  the  16th  the  retreat- 
ing column  was  overtaken  by  the  pursuing  forces  of  Long- 
street  at  Campbell's  Station,  where  a  severe  battle  was 
fought,  resulting  in  the  repulse  of  the  enemy  and  the  re- 
tirement of  the  Union  force  in  good  order,  but  with  a  loss 
to  the  Twenty-third  Regiment  of  thirty-one  killed  and 
wounded.  The  part  which  this  regiment  and  its  brigade 
took  in  the  engagement  was  mentioned  in  the  Journal  of 
Louisville,  Ky.,  by  a  correspondent  writing  from  the  field, 
as  follows : 

"  One  brigade  of  the  Ninth  Corps  was  in  advance,  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade  of  the  Twenty-third  Corps  in  the  centre,  and  one 
brigade  of  the  Ninth  Corps  as  rear-guard.  The  skirmish- 
ing was  begun  by  the  Ninth  Corps  forming  in  the  rear  of 
Gen.  White's  command,  which  formed  in  line  to  protect 
the  stock,  etc.,  as  it  passed  to  the  rear,  and  to  cover  the 
retreat  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  which  was  the  rear-guard,  and 
was  to  file  past  it.  Again  was  the  Second  Brigade  in  posi- 
tion where  it  must  receive  the  shock  of  battle,  and  mu.st 
sustain  more  or  less  the  honors  already  won.  The  arrange- 
ments for  battle  had  hardly  been  completed  before  the 
cavalry  came  in  from  the  front,  followed  by  the  infantry  of 
the  Ninth  Corps,  and  two  heavy  lines  of  the  enemy  emerged 
from  the  woods  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  front.  Each 
line  consisted  of  a  division,  and  the  men  were  dressed  al- 
most wholly  in  the  United  States  uniform,  which  at  first 
deceived  us.  Their  first  line  advanced  to  within  eight 
hundred  yards  of  Gen.  White's  front  before  that  officer 
gave  the  order  to  fire.  Henshaw's  and  the  Twenty-fourth 
Indiana  Batteries  then  opened  on  them  with  shell,  but 
they  moved  steadily  forward,  closing  up  as  their  lines  would 
be  broken  by  this  terrible  fire,  until  within  three  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  of  our  main  line,  when  the  batteries  men- 
tioned opened  on  them  with  canister,  and  four  batteries  in 
the  rear  and  right  and  left  of  Gen.  White  opened  on  their 
rear  lino  with  shell.  This  was  more  than  they  could  stand. 
Their  front  line  broke  and  ran  back  some  distance,  where 
they  reformed  and  deployed  right  and  left,  and  engaged  the 
Thirteenth  Kentucky  and  Twenty-third  Michigan  on  the 
right,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Ohio  and  the 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois  on  the  left,  which  were 
supported  by  Gen.  Ferrero's  command  of  the  Ninth  Corps. 
This  unequal  contest  went  on  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  The 
only  advantage  over  them  so  far  was  in  artillery,  they  not 
having  any  in  position  yet.  It  seemed  to  be  their  object 
to  crush  the  inferior  force  opposing  them  with  their  heavy 
force  of  infantry.    The  men  were  too  stubborn  ;  they  would 


80 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


not  yield  an  inch,  but  frequently  drove  the  rebels  from  their 
position  and  held  their  ground.  Finding  thoy  could  not 
move  them  with  the  force  already  employed,  the  rebels 
moved  forward  another  line  of  infantry  as  heavy  as  either 
of  the  first  two,  and  placed  in  position  three  batteries. 
Their  guns  were  heavier  and  of  longer  range  than  those  of 
the  Second  Brigade,  and  were  posted  so  as  to  command  Gen. 
White's  position,  while  his  guns  could  not  answer  their  fire. 
They  got  the  range  of  these  guns  at  once,  and  killed  and 
wounded  several  gunners  and  disabled  several  horses,  when 
Gen.  White  ordered  them  back  to  the  position  occupied  by 
those  in  the  rear,  the  infantry  holding  the  position  covered 
by  the  artillery  on  the  hill.  An  artillery  fight  then  began, 
which  continued  nearly  two  hours  till  it  was  growing  dark, 
and  the  order  was  given  for  our  troops  to  fall  back  to  re- 
sume the  march  to  Knoxville." 

The  Twenty-third  with  its  brigade  arrived  at  Knoxville 
a  little  before  daylight  in  the  morning  of  the  17th,  after  a 
march  of  twenty-eight  miles  without  rest  or  food,  and 
having  fought  for  five  hours,  losing  thirty-one  killed  and 
wounded,  and  eight  missing.  Then  followed  the  memor- 
able siege  of  the  city,  which  continued  until  the  5th  of 
December,  when  the  enemy  retreated.  In  the  operations 
of  this  siege  the  regiment  took  active  and  creditable  part, 
and  on  the  withdrawal  of  the  forces  of  Longstreet  it  joined 
in  the  pursuit,  though  no  important  results  were  secured. 
The  enemy  having  passed  beyond  reach,  the  regiment 
camped  at  Blain's  Cross-Eoads,  December  13th,  and  re- 
mained until  the  25th,  when  it  was  moved  to  Strawberry 
Plains.  From  the  commencement  of  the  retreat  to  Knox- 
ville until  its  arrival  at  the  Plains  the  situation  and  con- 
dition of  the  regiment  had  been  deplorable,  for  many  of 
its  men  had  been  without  blankets,  shoes,  or  overcoats,  and 
in  this  condition  (being  almost  entirely  without  tents)  they 
had  been  compelled  to  sleep  in  unsheltered  bivouac  in  the 
storms  and  cold  of  the  inclement  season,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  subsist  on  quarter  rations  of  meal,  eked  out  by 
such  meagre  supplies  as  could  be  foraged  i'rom  the  country. 
The  command  remained  at  Strawberry  Plains  about  four 
weeks,  engaged  upon  the  construction  of  fortifications,  and 
on  the  21st  of  January,  1864,  marched  to  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville,  where  it  was  employed  in  picket  and  outpost 
duty  until  the  middle  of  February,  having  during  that 
time  three  quite  sharp  afl'airs  with  the  enemy's  cavalry 
(January  14th,  22d,  and  27th),  in  the  last  of  which  seven 
men  were  taken  prisoners  and  one  mortally  wounded.  From 
this  time  until  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  it  was 
chiefly  engaged  in  scouting,  picket,  and  outpost  duty,  in 
which  it  was  moved  to  several  different  points,  among 
which  were  Strawberry  Plains,  New  Market,  Morristown, 
and  Mossy  Creek,  at  which  last-named  place  it  lay  encamped 
on  the  25th  of  April,  1864. 

At  this  time  orders  were  received  for  the  troops  in  East 
Tennessee  to  move  at  once,  to  join  the  forces  of  Gen. 
Sherman  in  the  forward  movement  which  afterwards  be- 
came known  as  the  campaign  of  Atlanta.  Under  these 
orders  tbe  Twenty-third  with  its  companion  regiments  left 
Mos.sy  Creek  on  the  26th  of  April  and  marched  to  Charles- 
ton, Tenn,,  from  which  place  it  moved  out  on  the  2d  of 
May  and  took  the  road  to  Georgia.     In  this  campaign  the 


regiment,  under  command  of  Col.  Spaulding,  was  still  a 
part  of  the  Second  Brigade  (then  under  Gen.  Hascall)  of 
the  Second  (Judah's)  Division  of  the  Twenty-third  Army 
Corps.  Passing  down  the  valley  of  the  Tennessee,  and 
thence  up  Chickamauga  Creek,  it  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Tunnel  Hill  on  the  7th,  and  confronted  the  enemy  at 
Rocky-Face  Ridge,  Ga.,  on  the  8th  of  May,  opening  the 
fight  on  that  day  by  advancing  in  skirmish-line,  and  taking 
possession  of  a  commanding  crest  in  front  of  the  hostile 
works.  In  the  advance  from  Rocky-Face  the  regiment 
with  its  brigade  passed  through  Snake  Creek  Gap,  arrived 
in  front  of  Resaca  on  the  13th,  and  on  the  following  day 
took  a  gallant  part  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  strong 
works  at  that  place.  The  result  of  this  attack  was  a 
repulse  of  the  attacking  column  and  severe  loss  to  the 
Twenty-third  Michigan.  The  commanding  oflScer  of  the 
regiment  (Col.  Spaulding),  in  his  report  of  this  engage- 
ment, said :  "The  assaulting  column  was  formed  in  three 
lines ;  this  regiment  being  in  the  second  line,  advancing 
over  an  open  field,  within  easy  rifle-shot  of  the  enemy's 
position,  under  a  terrible  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery. 
The  regiment  in  advance  of  the  Twenty-third' broke  and 
was  driven  back,  and  the  one  in  the  rear  followed  them. 
We  moved  forward  until  we  reached  a  deep  creek  which 
it  was  impossible  to  cross,  and  held  our  position  until 
ordered  back.  In  this  advance  the  regiment  lost  sixty-two 
killed  or  wounded.  Lieut.  William  C.  Stewart  was  among 
the  killed."  All  this  severe  loss  (out  of  a  total  of  not 
more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  muskets  which  the  regi- 
ment took  into  the  fight)  was  sustained  during  only  a  few 
minutes  of  most  desperate  fighting. 

Resaca  was  one  of  the  most  memorable  among  the  many 
bloody  battles  in  which  the  Twenty-third  showed  conspicu- 
ous gallantry.  Gen.  John  Robertson,  Adjutant-General  of 
Michigan,  says  of  it,  "  Although  this  reliable  and  model 
regiment  acquitted  itself  with  much  celebrity  in  every  en- 
counter with  the  enemy  in  which  it  was  engaged,  Campbell's 
Station,  Resaca,  Franklin,  and  Nashville  will  always  be  rec- 
ognized as  prominent  among  its  many  hard-fought  battles; 
and  the  memories  of  those  fields,  on  which  so  much  patri- 
otism and  daring  courage  were  evinced,  will  last  while  a 
soldier  of  that  noble  regiment  lives." 

The  enemy,  though  successful  in  repelling  the  assault  on 
his  works  at  Resaca,  evacuated  his  position  there  and  moved 
to  the  Etowah  River,,  where  his  rear-guard  was  overtaken 
and  slightly  engaged  by  the  Union  pursuing  force,  of  which 
the  Twenty-third  Michigan  formed  a  part.  From  this  point 
the  regiment  moved  on  to  Dallas  and  took  a  position  in  front 
of  the  rebel  works  at  that  place,  where  it  remained  from  the 
27th  of  May  until  the  1st  of  June,  and  during  this  time 
was  almost  constantly  engaged  day  and  night  in  skirmish- 
ing with  the  advanced  lines  of  the  enemy.  Again  the  rebel 
forces  evacuated  their  strong  position  and  moved  south 
towards  Atlanta,  the  Union  troops  pressing  on  in  close  and 
constant  pursuit,  in  which  service  the  Twenty-third  Regi- 
ment participated,  and  took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Lost 
Mountain,  Ga.,  and  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  at  the  crossing 
of  the  Chattahoochee  River  at  Isham's  Ford,  on  the  8th  of 
July.  It  had  been  given  out  by  the  enemy  that  a  most 
determined  stand  would  be  made  on  the  line  of  this  river, 


TWENTYT-THIRD   INFANTRy. 


81 


and  it  was  expected  that  the  crossing  at  tliis  place  must  be 
a  bloody  one.  Gen.  Schofield  had  decided  to  attempt  the 
passage  of  the  river  at  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  Sth,  and  his  plan  was  carried  out  successfully,  and, 
contrary  to  expectation,  without  loss.  From  an  account  of 
this  crossing,  found  in  Moore's  "  Rebellion  Record,"  and 
written  by  an  ofiScer  who  was  present,  the  following  extract 
is  made : 

"On  the  morning  of  the  Sth  the  Twenty-third  Corps  broke 
camp  at  an  early  hour,  and  directed  its  march  eastward, 
aiming  to  strike  the  river  at  Isham's  Ford,  eight  miles 
above  the  railroad-bridge.  Headquarters  moved  out  in  ad- 
vance, and  riding  at  a  rapid  pace  with  an  old  man,  a  resi- 
dent of  the  country,  as  a  guide,  we  emerged  suddenly  from 
the  thick  forest  out  upon  the  brink  of  the  river  bluffs.  .  .  . 
Moving  a  little  farther  down  the  bluff,  a  close  reconnois- 
sance  with  the  glasses  discovered  on  top  of  the  opposite 
hill,  just  in  the  edge  of  a  newly-harvested  wheat-field,  a 
single  twelve-pound  brass  howitzer  with  a  few  gunners 
walking  about  it,  and  close  down  to  the  river's  edge  half  a 
dozen  rebel  sharpshooters  squatted  under  a  large  tree,  just 
opposite  the  ford.  The  river  here  is  about  four  hundred 
feet  wide,  and  from  crest  to  crest  of  the  hills  on  either  side 
of  the  river,  between  which  the  carinon  must  play,  was 
about  a  third  of  a  mile.  .  .  .  Meantime,  and  until  late  in 
the  afternoon,  the  troops  were  slowly  getting  into  shape, 
and  the  lumbering  pontoon-trains  were  coming  up  and  park- 
ing on  the  hill,  ready  to  go  down  into  the  valley  when 
needed.  A  little  before  four.  Gen.  Schofield  sent  orders  to 
Gen.  Cox  to  have  his  skirmish  line  in  readiness,  and  at  that 
hour  pass  it  rapidly  across  a  few  rods  of  corn-field  which 
lay  between  the  hill  and  the  river,  and  if  they  drew  the 
rebel  fire,  to  open  with  his  cannon  and  silence  it. 

"  As  the  hour  approached,  a  small  party  of  spectators 
posted  themselves  half-way  down  the  hillside,  a  mile  below 
the  ford,  and  with  glasses  thrust  out  from  behind  convenient 
trees  and  fences,  eagerly  awaited  the  spectacle.  The  cap- 
tain of  the  rebel  gun  could  be  clearly  seen  on  the  distant 
hill,  seeking  comfort  as  best  he  could  (it  was  the  hottest 
day  of  the  year),  and  reading  a  January  number  of  the 
Chattanooga  Rebel.  The  gun  had  been  drawn  back  to 
conceal  it  a  little,  and  a  sentinel  sat  on  the  brink  of  the 
hill  to  observe  our  movements  and  give  notice  to  the  gun- 
ners to  bring  forward  the  piece.  The  sharpshooters  also 
could  be  seen,  glaring  intently  out  of  their  cover  upon  the 
opposite  opening  in  the  willows  where  the  ford  was  ap- 
proached. 

"  Our  skirmish  line  was  composed  of  about  two  hundred 
men  from  several  regiments ;  and  a  volunteer  detachment 
of  two  hundred  men  from  the  Twenty-third  and  Twenty- 
fifth  Michigan,  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Ohio,  and 
other  regiments,  which  had  in  their  ranks  many  old  Lake 
Erie  sailors,  were  assigned  to  the  use  of  the  oars  in  the 
pontoons  which  were  to  carry  over  the  first  companies. 

"  At  half-past  four  o'clock  the  little  squad  of  skirmishers 
issued  out  of  the  woods  which  had  concealed  them  perfectly, 
rushed  rapidly  across  the  corn-field,  and  when  they  came 
close  in  the  rear  of  the  willows  they  began  pouring  a  sharp 
fire  upon  the  rebel  gun  on  the  hill,  and  kept  it  up  without 
cessation.  The  sentinel  was  seen  to  leap  up  hastily  and 
11 


run  to  the  rear,  the  gunners  trundled  out  their  gun  in  plain 
sight,  and  the  sergeant  stoops  to  sight  it.  But  it  is  in  vain, 
the  bullets  whistle  so  thick  about  his  ears  that,  after  dodg- 
ing a  few  moments  from  one  side  to  the  other,  he  gives  up 
in  despair,  the  lanyard  is  pulled,  the  shot  plunges  harmless 
in  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  the  rebel  gunners  all  incon- 
tinently take  to  their  heels  and  disappear  in  the  woods.  .  .  . 
Suddenly  a  pontoon-boat  filled  with  blue-coats  is  seen  Hear- 
ing the  opposite  shore,  then  another,  and  another.  As  the 
first  boat  touches  land,  Captain  Daniels,  whose  eye  is  riveted 
to  his  glass,  shouts,  '  They  hold  up  their  hands  !  they  drop 
their  guns !  they  run  down  the  bank !'  The  shells  have 
cut  off  their  retreat ;  there  is  no  other  resource,  and  they 
come  running  down  to  the  boats  with  uplifted  hands  in 
token  of  surrender. 

"  Soon  the  pontoons  had  ferried  over  several  regiments, 
who  formed  in  line  of  battle  at  once  on  the  top  of  the  hill, 
but  found  no  enemy.  Soon  after  the  troops  began  to  cross 
the  corps  below  began  to  open  a  lively  cannonade,  doubtless 
with  a  view  of  attracting  the  enemy's  attention  away  from 
us.  Detached  as  this  corps  is,  so  far  away  from  the  others, 
I  am  unable  to-  learn  whether  they  have  yet  crossed  over 
any  forces  or  not ;  but  if  I  am  not  greatly  mistaken,  the 
Twenty-third  Corps  has  crossed  the  first  regiment  of  the 
army.  True,  they  did  not  encounter  strong  forces  in  their 
front ;  but  none  could  tell  what  they  would  find,  and  the 
gallantry  of  the  men  who  rushed  forward  to  man  the  pon- 
toons in  the  face  of  these  uncertainties,  and  those  who  ran 
up  the  hill  with  no  others  yet  over  to  support  them,  when 
they  might  be  met  by  a  deadly  fire  from  behind  some 
screen,  is  worthy  of  all  praise.  When  men  are  compelled 
thus  to  go  upon  suspense,  and  charge,  it  may  be,  upon  lurk- 
ing volleys  which  shall  leave  no  one  of  them  to  return,  it 
requires  a  stouter  heart  than  to  dash  forward  amid  the  roar 
and  rattle  of  arms,  to  meet  a  foe  whom  they  can  see.  I 
have  not  known  a  more  dramatic,  brilliant,  and  at  the  same 
time  bloodless  episode  in  the  whole  campaign  than  was  en- 
acted to-day  by  the  corps  of  Gen.  Schofield."  Among  the 
troops  to  whose  bravery  at  the  passage  of  the  Chattahoochee 
the  above  tribute  was  paid,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
regiments  was  the  Twenty-third  Michigan,  whose  men  vol- 
unteered to  form  a  part  of  the  forlorn  hope  which  crossed 
on  the  pontoon-boats.  Unexpectedly,  the  regiment  suffered 
no  loss  in  killed,  but  its  record  of  gallantry  at  the  Chatta- 
hoochee was  as  bright  as  at  Campbell's  Station  or  Resaca. 

Arriving  in  front  of  Atlanta,  the  Twenty-third  took  part 
in  the  operations  of  the  army  which  resulted  in  the  capture 
of  that  stronghold.  It  was  afterwards  posted  at  Decatur, 
Ga.,  from  which  place,  on  the  3d  of  October,  it  moved  north- 
ward in  pursuit  of  the  Confederate  Gen.  Hood,  who  was 
then  marching  his  army  towards  Nashville.  While  engaged 
in  this  service,  the  regiment  marched  with  its  division  (it 
was  still  in  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division  of  the 
Twenty;third  Army  Corps)  to  Marietta,  New  Hope  Church, 
Big  Shanty,  AUatoona,  Cartersville,  Kingston,  and  Rome, 
Ga.,  and  from  the  last-named  place,  through  Snake  Creek 
Gap,  to  Summerville,  Tenn.,  and  Cedar  Bluff,  Ala.,  and 
thence  back  to  Rome,  where  it  remained  a  short  time,  and 
early  in  November  again  moved  through  Alabama  into 
Tennessee,  and  was  stationed  at  Johnsonville,  employed  in 


82 


HISTOllY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


garrison  duty  and  the  construction  of  defensive  works  until 
the  24th.  It  was  then  moved  by  rail  to  Columbia,  Tenn., 
where  it  arrived  on  the  25th,  while  a  heavy  skirmish, 
amounting  to  almost  a  general  engagement,  was  in  progress 
near  that  place  between  the  armies  of  Thomas  and  Hood. 
A  part  of  the  regiment  was  immediately  advanced  upon 
the  skirmish  line,  while  the  remainder  of  the  command 
went  into  position.  At  midnight  it  was  withdrawn  and 
ordered  to  the  line  of  Duck  Eiver,  where  it  lay  on  the 
south  side  of  the  stream,  throwing  up  defenses  and  fre- 
quently skirmishing  with  the  enemy ;  being  constantly  on 
duty  day  and  night  until  near  daylight  in  the  morning  of 
the  28th,  when  it  retired  across  the  river  to  the  north 
bank,  where  it  held  position,  and  keeping  up  an  almost  con- 
tinual skirmish  with  Hood's  advance  till  noon  of  the  29th, 
when  it  fell  back  with  the  army  to  the  vicinity  of  Spring 
Hill,  Tenn.,  about  ten  miles  north  of  Duck  River.  Here, 
at  about  dark  on  the  same  day,  the  enemy  was  found  in 
force  occupying  the  road.  An  attack  was  made,  and  after 
a  short  fight  the  Confederates  were  driven  from  their  posi- 
tion. The  Union  forces  then  resumed^  the  march  to 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  arriving  there  in  the  morning  of  the 
30th,  immediately  took  position  and  commenced  throwing 
up  temporary  defenses,  which  was  continued  through  the 
day.  At  about  sunset  the  forces  of  Hood,  moving  in  four 
strong  lines,  assaulted  the  position  most  furiously,  but  were 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  The  attack  was  several  times 
renewed,  but  without  success  to  the  enemy.  Finally  at 
about  ten  o'clock  p.m.  the  Confederate  forces,  concentrating 
all  their  energies  in  a  supreme  effort  to  carry  the  defenses, 
made  their  final,  and  by  far  their  most  desperate  assault, 
charging  up  to  and  over  the  parapet,  and  planting  their 
yolors  on  the  work  in  front  of  the  Twenty-third  Michigan. 
But  beyond  that  limit  they  did  not  go,  for  Col.  Spaulding's 
men  gave  them  the  bayonet,  in  a  counter-charge  which  is 
described  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  effective  in  the 
entire  history  of  the  war.  It  was  a  short,  but  very  desper- 
ate hand-to-hand  struggle,  in  which  the  Michigan  men 
gallantly  held  their  position  against  the  furious  assault  of 
the  Confederates. 

Immediately  after  this  successful  repulse  of  the  enemy, 
the  Twenty-third  with  the  other  Union  troops  withdrew, 
and  crossing  the  river,  moved  on  the  road  to  Nashville,  ar- 
riving there  at  two  p.m.  on  December  1st,  having  marched 
fifty  miles  in  forty-eight  hours,  five  hours  of  which  time 
had  been  passed  under  fire  in  the  desperate  battle  of 
Franklin.  During  the  week  which  had  elapsed  since  the 
arrival  of  the  Twenty-third  at  Columbia  the  men  had  suf- 
fered severely  from  scarcity  of  provisions,  and  in  the  last 
two  days  of  the  movement  had  subsisted  on  less  than  quar- 
ter rations. 

The  regiment  lay  within  the  works  of  Nashville  for  two 
weeks,  and  then  in  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  December 
it  moved  out  with  its  division  and  the  other  commands 
under  Gen.  Thomas  to  attack  the  Confederate  army,  which 
had  in  the  mean  time  concentrated  in  their  front  just  south 
of  the  city.  In  the  great  battles  of  the  15th  and  16th  of 
December,  which  resulted  in  the  defeat  and  complete  rout 
of  Hood's  army,  the  Twenty-third  took  an  active  part, 
and  was  conspicuous  for  steadiness  and  bravery  during  those 


two  days  of  carnage.  On  the  first  day  of  the  battle,  "  Col. 
Spaulding,  with  his  regiment,  then  in  the  brigade  of  Col. 
Moore,  made  a  most  daring  and  dashing  charge  on  a  posi- 
tion occupied  by  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  infantry,  posted 
behind  a  heavy  stone  wall  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  which  it 
carried  in  most  brilliant  style,  capturing  more  prisoners  than 
there  were  men  in  the  line  of  the  regiment.  The  flag-staff 
was  shot  in  two  and  the  color-sergeant  severely  wounded, 
but  before  the  colors  fell  to  the  ground  they  were  grasped 
by  the  corporal  of  the  color-guard  and  gallantly  carried  to 
the  front.  On  the  17th  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  com- 
menced, and  during  the  first  three  days  of  the  march  the 
rain  fell  in  torrents,  the  mud  being  fully  six  inches  deep, 
which,  with  the  swollen  stream,  rendered  progress  ex- 
tremely difiicult  and  tedious.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
until  Columbia  was  reached,  where  a  halt  was  made  and 
the  movement  ended."* 

Soon  after  this  utter  rout  of  Hood's  army  and  its  expul- 
sion from  Tennessee,  the  Twenty-third  Army  Corps  received 
orders  to  move  east  to  the  city  of  Washington,  and  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1865,  the  Twenty-third  Michigan,  as  part 
of  this  corps,  left  Columbia  and  took  up  its  line  of  march 
for  Clifton,  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant,  on  the 
Tennessee  River,  at  which  point  it  arrived  on  the  8th  of 
the  month.  On  the  16th  it  embarked  at  that  place,  and 
proceeded  thence  by  steamer,  on  the  Tennessee  and  Ohio 
Rivers,  to  Cincinnati,  where  it  arrived  on  the  22d,  and  im- 
mediately left  there  by  railroad  for  Washington.  Reaching 
that  city  on  the  29th,  it  went  into  camp  at  "  Camp  Stone- 
man,"  D.  C.,  and  remained  there  until  the  9lh  of  Feb- 
ruary. At  that  time  the  regiment  moved  to  Alexandria, 
Va.,  where,  on  the  11th,  it  embarked  with  its  corps  on 
transports  bound  for  Smithville,  N.  C.,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Cape  Fear  River,  and  reached  that  point  of  destination 
after  a  pa.ssage  of  four  days.  On  the  17th  it  moved  with 
the  other  forces  against  Fort  Anderson,  taking  position  be- 
fore it  on  the  18th,  and  commencing  the  work  of  intrench- 
ing, under  a  furious  artillery  and  musketry  fire.  Upon  the 
capitulation  of  the  fort  and  its  occupation  by  the  Union 
forces  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  February,  the  Twen- 
ty-third Michigan  Infantry  was  the  first  regiment  to  enter 
the  captured  work.  The  regiment  was  again  engaged  at 
Town  Creek,  N.  C,  on  the  20th,  taking  three  hundred  and 
fifty  prisoners  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  In  the  morning 
of  the  23d  the  Union  force  crossed  the  Cape  Fear  River  to 
its  north  bank,  and  found  that  the  city  of  Wilmington  had 
been  evacuated  by  the  enemy  during  the  previous  night. 
The  corps  moved  up  the  coast  on  the  6th  of  "March,  and 
reached  Kinston,  N.  C,  just  at  the  close  of  the  severe  en- 
gagement at  that  place.  In  this  movement  the  Twenty- 
third  marched  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  in  six 
days,  and  during  the  last  twenty-four  hours  moved  con- 
stantly without  halting,  except  long  enough  to  draw  rations 
and  to  issue  thirty  additional  rounds  of  ammunition  to  the 
men. 

The  corps  left  Kinston  March  20th,  and  on  the  22d 
reached  and  occupied  Goldsboro',  where,  on  the  following 
day,  the  advance  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army  made  its  appear- 


*  Gen.  Kobertson's  Reports. 


TWENTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 


83 


ance,  coming  in  from  the  south.  The  Twenty-third  Regi- 
ment was  then  ordered  back  ten  miles  to  Mosely  Hall,  to 
guard  the  railroad  at  that  point  while  the  army  was  receiv- 
ing-its supplies.  On  the  9th  of  April  the  regiment  moved 
with  the  army  on  the  road  to  Raleigh,  which  was  occupied 
by  the  advance  on  the  13th,  the  Twenty-third  Michigan 
entering  the  city  on  the  following  day  and  receiving  the 
welcome  news  of  Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox.  The 
regiment  remained  at  Raleigh  until  after  the  war  had  been 
closed  by  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  army  under 
Johnston.  Its  fighting  days  were  over,  but  its  men  had 
yet  to  experience  a  little  more  of  the  fatigues  of  marching. 
On  the  3d  of  May  it  moved  on  the  road,  by  way  of  Chapel 
Hill,  to  Greensboro',  ninety  miles  distant,  and  reached  that 
town  on  the  7th.  Two  days  later  it  left  by  rail  for  Salis- 
bury, N.  C,  and  remained  there  until  the  28th  of  June, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  All  that  now  re- 
mained of  military  life  to  the  men  of  the  Twenty-third  was 
the  homeward  journey  to  Michigan,  and  their  final  pay- 
ment and  discharge.  They  were  transported  by  railroad 
through  Danville  and  Petersburg  to  City  Point,  Va.,and 
thence  by  steamer  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  they  again  took 
railway  transportation  for  the  West,  and  arrived  at  Detroit 
July  7,  1865.  On  the  20th  of  the  same  month  they  were 
paid  and  disbanded,  and  each  went  his  way  to  resume  the 
vocations  of  civil  life. 


OFrlCEBS    AND    MEN    OF    THE    TWENTY-THIRD    INFANTRY   FEOM 
CLINTON  COUNTY. 

FieU  and  Staf. 
Col.  Oliver  Ii.  Spaulding,  St.  John's;  com.  April  16,  1864;  lieul.-eol.  April. 6, 

1863;  DiBJ.  Feb.  13,  1863;  capt.  Co.  A;  bvt.  biig.-gen.  U.  S.  Vols.,  June 

26, 1865,  "  for  faithful  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war." 
Surg.  Louis  Fasquelle,  St.  John's;  com.  Aug.  23, 1862  ;  res.  Nov.  26, 1862. 
Asst.  Surg.  Jos.  H.  Bachelor,  St.  John's;  com.  Nov.  25, 1864;  hospital  steward; 

must,  out  June  28, 1S65. 
Q.M.  Charles  Fowler,  St.  John's;  com.  June  20, 1864 ;  Ist  lient.,  Co.  C;  must,  out 

June  28, 1865. 

Noti-CommuBtoned  Staff. 

Sergt.-Maj.  Charles  Fowler,  St.  John's ;  pro.  to  2d  lient.,  Co.  C. 

Q.M.-Sergt.  .loel  H.  Cranson, St.  John's;  trans,  to  28th  Mich.  Inf.,  June  28, 1865. 

Q.M.-Sergt.  Edwin  A.  Forman,  De  Witt;  pro.  to  2d  lent.,  Co.  E. 

Hosp.  Stew.  Ahram  L.  Casterline,  De  Witt. 

Company  A. 
Capt.  0.  L.  Spaulding,  St.  John's ;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862  ;  pro.  to  maj.,  Feb.  13, 1863. 
Ist  Lieut.  William  Sickles,  St.  John's;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862;  res.  Dec.  22, 1862. 
Ist  Lieut.  James  Travies,  St.  John's;  com.  Dec.  22, 1862;  2d  lieut.,  Aug.  1, 1862; 

died  of  disease,  Jan.  26, 18G3.  . 
iBt  Lie.nt.  Edwin  A.  Forman,  De  Witt;  com.  Aug.  15,  1864;  must,  out  June  28, 

1865. 
2d  Lieut.  Michael  Lafflin,  St.  John's  ;  com.  Nov.  12,  18G4  ;  must,  out  June  28, 

1865. 
Sergt.  Cliarles  S.  Fowler.  St.  John's ;  enl.  July  22, 1862 ;  pro.  to  sergt.-maj. 
Sergt.  Elbridge  G.  Wellington,  Bengal;  enl.  July  18, 1862;  pro.  to  2d  lient.,  Co. 

B,  Feb.  26,  1863. 
Sergt.  Edwin  A.  Forman,  St.  John's;  enl.  Aug.  1, 1862;  pro.  to  2d  lieut,  Co.  B, 

April  16, 1864. 
Sergt.  John  T.  Cobb,  Duplain;  enl.  July  23,  1862;  died  of  disease  at  Bowling 

Green,  Ky. 
Sergt.  Zelotes  Avery,  Bingham;  enl.  Aug.  6,  1862;  died  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 

Fob.  22, 1863. 
Sergt.  Isaac  N.  Cochran,  Watertown ;  enl.  July  31, 1862 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. ;  must. 

out  June  28, 1865. 
Corp.  Samuel  W.  Taylor,  St.  John's ;  enl.  July  28, 1862 ;  died  of  disease  at  Knox- 

Tille,  April  21,1864. 
Corp.  Kirby  Thompson,  Greeubush;  enl.  July  24,  1862;  must,  out  May  27, 

1865. 
Corp.  Lyman  N.  Barber,  Greenbush ;  enl.  July  23, 1862 ;  on  detached  service  at 

must.  out. 
Corp  Michael  Kochford,  Essex ;  enl.  July  26, 1862 ;  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 
Corp.  Michael  J.  Murphy,  Essex;  enl.  Aug.  6,  1862  ;  must,  out  by  order,  June 

17, 1865. 
Corp.  Michael  LafBin,  St.  John's ;  enl.  July  19, 1862 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 


Corp.  Albert  Bovee,  St.  John's ;  enl.  July  30, 1862;  must,  out  by  order,  June  17, 

1865. 
Mus.  Albert  B.  Niles,  Watertown ;  enl.  Aug.  4, 1862 ;  died  of  disease  at  Knox- 

viUe,  Tenn.,  July  24, 1864. 
Mus.  Theodore  B.  Birmingham,  Duplain;  enl.  July  22,  1862;  appointed  chief 

mus.,  March  1, 1865. 
Wag.  George  Mowatt,  St.  John's ;  enl.  July  21, 1862  ;  must,  out  May  31, 1865. 
Horace  W.  Avery,  diach.  for  disability,  Nov.  10, 1862. 
John  A.  Annis,  disch.  for  disability,  April  26, 1863. 
J.  A.  T.  Amerman,  disch,  for  disability,  April  26, 1863. 
Ervin  H.  Amerman,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Aug.  7, 1864, 
Lyman  Aldridge,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Charles  T.  Andrews,  must,  out  June  28, 1865, 
Robert  Anderson,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Seymour  Barrows,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
John  S.  Brubaker,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Sylvester  Brown,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Moses  Brown,  disch.  for  disabilit}',  March  25, 1863. 
Robert  Burnett,  Duplain ;  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1863. 
William  Bannister,  died  of  disease  at  Newbern,  N.  C,  April  6, 1865. 
James  V.  Carr,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  24, 1802. 
Roderick  D.  Carrier,  disch.  for  disability.  Dec's,  1862. 
Irving  Carrier,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  25, 1863. 
Nelson  Capron,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  8, 1863. 
Jos.  N.  Cochran,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Samuel  Oocliran,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Hiram  CoiTman,  mast,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Charles  Cook,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Marvin  B.  Dimon,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
.John  H.  Davidson,  (lied  of  disease, 

Rodney  Eldridgp,  killed  on  foraging  expedition,  Decatur,  Ala. 
William  W.  Emery,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Eli  W.  Foglesang,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Loren  R.  Flint,  died  of  di3e:ise  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  March  31, 1803. 
Chas.  M.  Ferdon,  disch.  for  disability,  Foli.  3, 1863. 
Jas.  J.  Forman,  disch.  for  disability,  April  15, 1863. 
Bartlett  B.  Hill,  died  of  disease  at  Marietta.  Ga.,  Oct.  20, 1804. 
Wra.  W.  Hammond,  died  of  disease,  April  16,  1864. 
Milo  H.  Hewitt,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Tlieo.  Hoyt,  must,  out  June  28, 1S65. 
I.evi  Halsinger,  must  out  June  28, 1865. 
Robt.  D.  Heron,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
John  Ilensell,  trans,  to  28th  Inf. ;  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 
Lafayette  Kergan,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Jas.  Larkin,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Jos.  G.  Lamb,  must,  out  June  28, 1866. 
John  H.  Lowell,  must,  out  June  28,  1865. 
Benj.  Land,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Richard  C.  Lewis,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Burney  B.  Martin,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Sanford  S.  Messenger,  trans,  to  28th  Mich.  Inf. 

Alex.  McCraig,  trans,  to  28th  Inf.;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  14, 1865. 
John  McOraig,  trans,  to  28th  Inf. ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  14, 1866. 
Wayne  E.  Moore,  must,  out  June  28, 1866. 
Geo.  W.  Myers,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Geo.  Myer,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Wm.  Miller,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Wm.  W.  Morton,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  April  14, 1864. 
John  H.  Owen,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  1,  1862. 
Gilbert  Odell,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  7, 1862. 
James  Odell,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Leander  L.  Quo,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Thos.  Parris,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Sidney  D.  Parks,  traus.  to  28th  Inf.;  must,  out  June  19, 1865. 
Wm.  H.  Pennington,  trans,  to  28th  Inf.;  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Peter  Reed,  discli.  for  disability,  Nov.  17, 1863. 
Guy  8.  Saul,  disch.  for  disability,  April  13, 1863. 
Wm.  M.  Spangle,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  25, 18G3. 
David  Smith,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov.  11, 1862. 
Chas.  Strickland,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov.  9, 1862. 
Reuben  Spade,  died  of  wounds,  Jan.  21, 1864. 
Merritt  Seaton,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  April  4, 1864. 
Wesley  Spragne,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Geo.  Titus,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Henry  M.  Taylor,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  March  19, 1863. 
Joseph  Vernia,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  March  3, 1863. 
Cornelius  Van  Sickle,  must,  out  June  28, 1866. 
Jay  H.  Van  Deusen,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Theo.  J.  Wagner,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Ossian  D.  Wheeler,  must,  out  June  28, 1865 . 
Jaa.  B.  Woodard,  trans,  to  28th  Inf. ;  must,  out  Nov.  9, 1865. 
Calvin  P.  Weller,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  March  1,  1863. 
Delso  W.  Warner,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Feb.  13, 1863. 
Franklin  Warner,  died  of  disease  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  March  1, 1864. 
Emery  N.  Warner,  died  in  action  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  14, 1864. 
Fred  Willard,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  July  14, 1864. 
Benj.  Young,  trans,  to  28th  Mich.  Inf.;  must,  out  June  6, 1866. 


84 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Company  B. 
2d  Lieut.  Elbridge  G.  Wellington,  Bengal;  com.  Feb.  26,  1863;  Sflrgt.  Co.  A ; 

resigned  Aug.  ]9, 1864. 
2d  Lieut.  Edwin  A.  Fomian,  Do  Witt ;  com.  April  16, 1864 ;  pro. to  1st  lieut.  Co.  A. ' 
John  Bhinstall,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  14, 18G5. 
Jacob  Bartniff,  must,  out  May  22,  1865. 
Joseph  Hofner,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Owen  McGonegal,  trans,  to  28tb  Inf. 

Compawj  C. 
Capt,  George R,  Long,  St.  John's;  com.  Nov.  30, 1864;  muBt.  out  June  25, 1865. 
lat  Lieut.  Charles  Fowler;  com.  Dec.  25, 1803;  2d  lieut.,  Dec.  17, 1862;  pro.  to 

q.-m. 
John  J.  Oakley,  mnst.  out  July  10, 1865. 
John  Kamsey,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
John  W.  Wilson,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Sept.  21, 18G4. 

Cknnpany  E. 
Ist  Lieut.  George  R.  Long,  St.  John's  ;  com.  Feb.  24, 1864  ;  pro.  to  capt.  Co.  C. 
George  W.  Anderson,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pun,  Dec.  27, 1864. 
Charles  Rcssaw,  must,  out  June  28,1865. 
John  Shafrer,muBt.  out  May  30, 1865.' 

Company  F. 
Henry  Barnes,  trans,  to  28th  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  Aug.  3, 1P65. 
Jesse  Newsom,  trans,  to  28th  Mich.  Inf.;  must,  out  Sept.  13, 1SG5. 

Company  G. 
Capt.  Heury  Walbridge,  St.  John's;  com.  Aug.  1,1862;  resigned  Jan.  3, 1864. 
Ist  Lieut.  Stephen  J.  Wright,  St.  Johu's ;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862 ;  resigned  Feb.  6, 

1863. 
2d  Lieut.  Alonzo  O.Hunt, St.  John's;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862;  resigned  Dec.  29, 1862. 
2d  Lieut.  Mason  S.  Alexander,  De  Witt;  com.  Oct.  6, 1864;  must,  out  June  28, 

1865. 
Sergt.John  G.  Cronkite,  Riley  ;  enl.  Aug.  11, 1862;  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  13, 

1864. 
Sergt.  George  R.  Long,  St.  John's;  enl.  Aug.  22, 1862;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  I. 
Sergt.  Beuj.  C.  Macomber,  Eagle;  enl.  Aug.  18, 1862;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps,  Jan. 

15, 1864. 
Corp.  Elliott  Shattuck,  Eagle;  enl.  Aug.  18,  1862;  on  detached  service  since 

Aug.  17, 1863. 
Corp.  Pembroke  S.  Buck,  Bengal;  enl.  Aug.  11, 1862  ;  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Corp.  George  G.  Bush,  Bingham ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  disch.  for  disability,  April 

2, 1863. 
Corp.  Gilbert  W.Smith,  De  Witt;  enl.  Aug.  20, 1862;  must,  out  June  28, 1865, 
Corp.  Daniel  L.  Kelly,  De  Witt;  enl.  Aug.  13, 1862;  died  in  Richmond  prison, 

Feb.  15,  1864. 
Corp.  Harry  C.  Nutting,  Riley ;  enl.  Aug.  1 2, 1862 ;  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 

Feb.  1,1863. 
Corp.  George  W.  Pray,  St.  John's;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862;  must,  out  June  16, 1865. 
Wagoner  Asa  W.  Williams,  Lebanon;  enl.  Aug.  13, 1862;  died  in  Kentucky, 

Nov..  17, 1862. 
Abijah  Arnolt,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  June  0, 1863. 
Paul  A.  Averill,  disch.  for  disability,  April  28, 1863. 
Albert  Benjamin,  disch.  for  dis:ibility,  Apnl  2, 1865. 
Oliver  Blizzard,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Feb.  15, 1865. 
Henry  H.  Bond,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  12, 1864. 
Francis  Brown,  trans,  to  28th  Inf.;  mustered  out. 
Joshua  Brown,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Sidney  J.  Bliss,  mnst.  out  May  31, 1865. 
Henry  N.  Blakeslee,  must,  out  May  30, 1865, 
Edward  Chase,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
John  F.  Carpenter,  must,  out  June  28,.  1865. 
George  H.  Crego,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Lorenzo  D.  Cbadwick,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
John  P,  Caster,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Freeman  N.  Carr,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Lewis  H.  Carpenter,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov.  7  1862. 
John  Culp,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Dec.  16, 1862. 
Beuj.  Cildwell,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Sept.  17,1864. 
Charles  M.  Cronkite,  died  of  disease  at  Cincinnati,  0.,  Jan.  16, 18ti3. 
Andrew  T.  Chapman,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  13, 1864. 
Ezra  Dansmore,  disch.  for  disability,  April  28,18&3. 
Abram  Delong,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
A.  V.  Dickinson,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Samuel  Evan?,  must,  out  June  28, 1865, 
Uriah  Fritts,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  15, 1863. 
William  0.  Ferguson,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb,  10, 1863. 
William  R.  treeman,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  12, 1863. 
Ezra  Glass,  died  of  wounds  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  14  1864. 
Lewis  Groesbeck,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Walter  W.  Qortliy,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
DeloB  Hayes,  died  of  wounds  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  July  14  1864. 
Chas.  W.  Hiuman,  disch.  for  disability, 
Nathan  B.  Jones,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  7, 1863. 
Geo.  G.  Kniffln,  died  of  disease  at  Cincinnaii,  Ohio,  Jan.  17, 1863. 
John  D.  Knapp,  died  pf  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  March  18, 1863. 
John  Lewis,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Jan.  22  1863 


Wm.  L.  Miller,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1863. 

Wm.  L.  Nichols,  died  of  disease  at  Frankfort,  Ky.,  Dec.  17, 1862. 

John  Neal,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec,  7, 1862. 

John  M.  Newsome,  died  of  disease  nt  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Not.  23, 1862. 

Daniel  Newsome,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Jan.  4,1863.       , 

Jesse  C.  Owen,  disch.  for  disability,  March  26, 1863. 

John  Redmond,  disch.  for  disability,  April  2, 1863. 

peter  Russell,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  April  6, 1864, 

John  Reed,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Andrew  Robb,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Myron  Sherman,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Stephen  W.  B.  Temple,  Duplain  ;  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

L.  H.  Treat. 

Davis  Thurston,  died  of  disease  at  Frankfort,  Ky.,  Nov.  22, 1802. 

Edward  L.  Tinklepaugh,  died  of  diseaae  nt  Lebanon,  Ky.,  Nov.  3, 1862. 

Clark  A,  Vredenburgh,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  30, 1882. 

Frank  Vredenburgh,  must,  out  June  28, 1865, 

Wm.  G.  Vanburgh,  must,  out  Aug.  3,1865. 

Shnbjiel  Vincent,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Dec.  1, 1863. 

Milo  White,  trans,  to  28th  Inf.;  must,  out  April  4, 1866. 

Asa  M.  Williams,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  1862. 

Thos.  J.  Winters,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Jan.  24, 1863. 

Alex.  Watson,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Feb.  7, 1863. 

Ciiaa.  G.  Wright,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  April  1, 1863. 

Jared  Wright,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  9, 1863. 

Henry  West,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Company  H. 
Henry  L.  Porter,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Edward  Rose,  muft.  out  July  24, 1865. 
Danl.  Steele,  died  of  disease  at  Brooke's  Station,  Va.,  Dec.  2, 1862. 

Compawj  I. 
2d  Lieut,  Geo.  R.  Long,  St.  John*B;  com.  Feb.  13, 1863;  sergt.;  pro.  to  Ist  lieut., 

Co.E. 
Anthony  Newman,  trans,  to  28th  Inf. 
Henry  Yager,  trans,  to  28Lh  Inf. ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  14, 1865. 

Company  K. 
John  W.  Drake,  trans,  to  28th  Inf. ;  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 
Hiram  Murphy,  trans,  to  28th  Inf. 

OFFICERS   AND    MEN   OF    THE    TWENTY-THIRD    INFANTRY    FROM 
SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY, 

Field  and  Staff. 
Maj.  John  Garland,  Caledonia ;  com.  Dec.  29, 1864,  capt.,  Co,  H  ;  must,  out  June 

28, 1865. 

Company  A. 

James  Gay,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

David  R.  Nicholson,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  18, 1865. 

Edwin  A.  Walter,  must,  out  Juno  16, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Alfred  M.  Bennett,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Abel  D.  Livermore,  mnst.  out  July  24, 1865. 
Moses  A.  Norris,  must,  out  May  15, 1865. 

Company  D. 
Albert  Guyer,  must,  out  June  6, 1866. 

Company  E. 
2d  Lieut.  James  H.  Anderson,  Caledonia;  com. March  11,1864;  pro. to  1st  Hent., 

Co.  I,  Oct.  6, 1864 ;  trans,  to  28th  Mich,  Inf. ;  must,  out  June  6, 1866. 
Daniel  R.  Munger,  disch.  for  wounds. 

Company  G. 

Capt.  Benj.  F.  Briscoe,  Corunna ;  com.  Feb.  24, 18C4 ;  Ist  lient.  Co.  H  ;  must,  out 

Jan.  8,1866. 
Sergt.  Alonzo  H.  Crandall,  Shiawassee,  Aug.  14, 1862 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  P. 
Samuel  Goron,  must,  out  July  13, 1865. 

Truman  Husted,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Chase,  Ky.,  May  15, 1864. 
Oi-son  Post,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  16, 18C2. 
Daniel  S.  Post,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
James  St.  John,  disch.  for  disability,  April  2, 1863. 
William  Sterling,  died  of  wounds,  June  24, 1864. 
Edward  A.  Vining,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Jan.  20, 186.3. 

Company  H. 
Capt.  John  Garland,  Corunna ;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862 ;  pro.  to  major. 
IstLieut.  Benj,  F.Briscoe,  Coninna;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862;  pro.  to  capt,  Co,  G, 
2d  Lieut.  Marion  Miller,  Caledonia;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862;  re8.J&ec.  17, 1862. 
2d  Lieut.  Calviu  Smith,  Caledonia;  com.  Oct,  6, 1864. 
Sergt.  Wm.  H.  Jones,  Caledonia;  e»L  July  26, 1802;  disch.  for  disability,  Feb. 

12, 1863. 
Sergt.  James  H.  Anderson,  Caledonia;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1862;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co,  B. 
Sergt.  Caleb  Mead,  Caledonia;  enl.  Aug.  6, 1862;  must  out  June  28, 1865, 


TWENTY-SEVENTH   INFANTRY. 


85 


Sorgt.  Isaac  H.  Post,  Antrim;  trans,  to  Invalid  Corps. 

Sergt.  Lutlier Santell,  Venice;  trans,  to  Inialid  Corps. 

Corp.  Andrew  S.  Parsons,  Perry ;  enl.  Aug.  9,  18C2 ;  must.  out. 

Corp.  Diivid  West,  Caledonia;  enl.  Aug. 7, 1802;  must.  out. 

Corp.  E.  L.  M.  Ford,  Caledonia  ;  enl.  Aug.  5, 1862  ;  died  of  wounds  at  Knoxville 

Feb.  18,  ISM. 
Corp.  Jason  S.  ■Wiltse,  Burns;  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862;  discL.  for  pro.  in  U  S  Col 

Art.,  Aug.  11, 1864. 
Corp    Ossian  W.  Oooa.  Bennington ;  enl.  Aug.  13, 1862 ;  discb.  for  disability 

May  15,186:1. 
Corp.  George  Dippy,  Antrim;  died  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  May  IB,  1864. 
Coi-p.  Charles  F.  Beard,  Antrim;  died  in  action  at  Campbell's  Station,  Tenn 

Nov.  16,  1863. 
Corp.  John  M.  Calkins,  Venice  ;  enl.  Ang.  l.'i,  1862 ;  diech.  by  order,  May  29, 1866. 
Corp.WilliamH.Baker,  Burns;  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862;  discb.  fordisability  Feb  20 

1863.  '        '     ' 

Corp.  Charles  E.  Smith,  Perry  ;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1862 ;  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Oct 

8, 1863. 
Oliver  M.  Able,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1863. 
Uriah  Arnold,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 
Israel  G.  Atkins,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
William  D.  Bailey,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Alvah  B.  Beach,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
James  Boutee,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Orestus  Biake,  must,  out  Juno  5, 1866. 
Archibald  Brown,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky. 
George  L.  Bailey,  died  of  disease  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  July  16, 1862. 
Samuel  Brown,  died  of  disease  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  June  2;-!,  1804. 
Ebenezer  Ball,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 
Cyrus  Brigbam,  trans,  to  Vet.  Has.  Corps,  Dec.  15, 1863. 
Chauncey  W.  Barnes,  trans,  to  Mississippi  Marine  Brigade. 
William  C.  Baker,  discb.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1863. 
George  Bentley,  disch.  for  disabilitj-,  Dec.  10, 1862. 
Henry  P.  Calkins,  disch.  for  disability,  April  13, 1863." 
Sidney  Coy,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8, 1862. 
William  H.  Coburn,  died  of  disease, 

Daniel  J,  Clough,  died  in  action  at  Town  Creek,  N.  C,  Feb.  20, 1865. 
Asa  F.  Chalker,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Calvin  H.  Card,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Samuel  Conklin,  must,  out  Jun~e  28, 1865. 
Nelson  K.  Calkins,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
George  Ceraven,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Charles  Dean,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Dickerson,  must,  out  June  28, 1805. 
John  L.  Dippy,  died  at  Stone  Mountain,  Ga.,  Sept.  25, 1864. 
Willett  C.  Day,  died  of  disease  at  Frankfort,  Ky.,  Oct.  10,  1862. 
Charles  P.  Day,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1863. 
Benjamin  Defrics,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  22,  1863. 
Alfred  Dunham,  disch.  by  order.  Jan.  5, 1865. 
Henry  B.  Dibble,  disch,  for  wounds,  Sept.  29, 1864. 
Daniel  P.  Eldridge,  must,  out  June  5, 1865, 
Frank  Garabrand,  must,  out  June  28, 1805. 

Francis  A.  Hall,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Jan.  29, 1863. 
Jerome  E.  Harris,  died  of  disease  at  Corunua,  Mich.,  May  21, 1865. 
Merritt  S.  Harding,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Coi-ps ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
George  Lytle,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Apiil  15, 1864. 
Samuel  A.  Lytle,  discb.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  13,  1866, 
Perrin  S.  LInge,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  20, 1862. 
Chester  W.  Lynds,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  31, 1862. 
Edos  p.  Melvin,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  April  1, 1863. 
Philander  Murray,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  May  20, 1864. 
Marmon  Moore,  died  of  disease  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  Sept.  21, 1864. 
George  N.  Macomber,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Coips,  Dec,  15, 1863. 
James  W.  McKnight,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Frederick  S.  Mitts,  must,  out  June  23,  1865. 
Julius  W.  Piper,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Francis  Purdy,  must,  out  June  28, 1805. 
John  F.  Piper,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
William  Plaae,  trans,  to  28th  Begt. 
George  F.  Prentiss,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  4, 1862. 
Mosely  W,  Potter,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  20, 1803. 
James  J,  Peacock,  disch,  by  order,  Dec,  17, 1864, 
William  H.  Beam,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Dec.  1, 1863. 
David  M.  Richardson,  must,  out  May  31, 1805. 
Charles  0.  Russell,  must,  out  June  28, 1865, 
George  P.  Seal,  must,  out  June  27, 1865. 
Frederick  Stickney,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Thomas  Shaw,  must,  out  June  28, 1866. 
Godfrey  Shaoulz,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
John  B.  Swan,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
William  H.  Stickney,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Hubert  L,  ShurtlefF,  died  of  disease  at  Frankfort,  Ky,,  Oct.  29, 1862. 
Guy  J.  Scofleld,  died  of  disease  at  Cincinnati,  0.,  Dec.  20, 1862, 
George  H.  Spaulding,  missing  at  Campbell's  Station,  Tenn.,  Nov,  16, 1863, 
Charles  P.  Stevens,  trans,  to  Mississippi  Marine  Brigade, 
William  H.  Shaw,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  15, 1862, 
Orlando  Titus,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky,,  April  6, 1863, 


Edward  A.  Thompson,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Austin  Trowbridge,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Paul  Traynon,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Edgar  L.  Tyler,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15, 1864. 

William  D.  Voohies,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Dec.  15, 1863. 

Horace  Wakeman,  died  of  disease  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

John  Walters,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Charles  P.  Williams,  must,  out  June  14, 1865. 

William  J.  Warren,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Alonzo  Wallace,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Charles  Wilkesou,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 

Comj/any  K. 
Walton  Mitchell,  missing  In  action  near  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  29, 1804. 
Monroe  Wolvey,  most,  out  May  30, 1805. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH   INFANTEY. 

Organization  at  Tpsilanti — Services  in  Kentucky  and  Mississippi — 
Campaign  in  East  Tennessee — Battles  at  Huff's  Ferry  and  Camp- 
bell's Station — Transfer  to  Army  of  the  Potomac — Tho  Wilderness 
Campaign — Operations  at  Petersburg — Assault  and  Capture  of  Fort 
Mahon — Close  of  Service. 

Recruiting  for  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  was  com- 
menced in  1862,  and  its  first  rendezvous  was  established  at 
Port  Huron,  Another  regiment,  to  be  designated  as  the 
Twenty-eighth,  was  commenced  not  long  afterwards,  with 
a  rendezvous  at  Ypsilanti,  Both  these  filled  very  slowly, 
and  the  exigencies  of  the  service  demanded  their  consolida- 
tion. An  order  was  accordingly  issued,  directing  the  nu- 
cleus at  Port  Huron  to  break  camp  and  proceed  to  the  ren- 
dezvous of  the  Twenty-eighth  at  Ypsilanti,  where  the  two 
commands  were  consolidated  as  the  Twenty-seventh  Infan- 
try, under  command  of  Col,  Dorus  M.  Fox,  The  other 
field-oflficers  of  the  regiment  were  Liuut,-Col,  John  H, 
Richardson  and  Major  William  B,  Wright, 

Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Counties  were  represented  by  a 
few  men  in  "  A,"  "  B,"  "  C,"  "  E,"  and  "  H"  companies, 
and  by  a  larger  number  in  the  "  Independent  Company  of 
Sharpshooters,"  which  was  attached  to  the  Twenty-seventh  ; 
but  the  greatest  number  was  found  in  Company  I,  which 
was  principally  made  up  of  volunteers  from  Clinton,  and 
was  on  this  account  usually  mentioned  in  the  regiment  as 
the  Clinton  company.  Its  officers  were  Capt.  Abner  B, 
Wood  and  First  Lieut,  Porter  K,  Perrin,*  of  St.  John's, 
and  Second  Lieut.  John  Q,  Patterson,  of  Ovid,  All  its 
original  non-commissioned  officers  were  of  Clinton  County. 
This  company,  however,  was  not  organized  until  several 
months  after  the  regiment  took  the  field,  and  therefore  took 
no  active  part  in  its  earlier  campaigns. 

On  the  12th  of  April  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment — 
then  composed  of  only  eight  companies — ^left  Ypsilanti  and 
proceeded,  by  way  of  Cincinnati,  to  Kentucky,  where  it  be- 
came a  part  of  the  Ninth  Army  Corps.  In  the  following 
June  it  was  moved  to  Mississippi  and  took  part  in  the  ad- 
vance against  Jackson,  as  well  as  in  some  of  the  other 
movements  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign.  In  August  it  re- 
turned with  the  Ninth  Corps  to  Kentucky,  and  on  the  10th 
of  September  received  orders  to  move  with  that  corps  to 

*  Afterwards  promoted  to  captain  of  the  Sharpshooters,  and  to  major 
of  the  Second  Infantry. 


86 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Cumberland  Gap,  where  it  arrived  about  ten  days  later. 
Thence  it  moved  on  to  Knoxville,  and  reached  there  on  the 
26th.  From  Knoxville  it  moved  to  Lenoir  Station,  and 
remained  encamped  there  several  weeks.  On  the  14th  of 
November  it  moved  with  its  division  to  HuflF's  Ferry,  Tenn., 
where  a  brisk  fight  ensued  with  the  advance  of  Longstreet's 
army.  From  this  place  it  moved  back  through  Lenoir  on 
the  retreat  to  Knoxville.  At  Campbell's  Station  the  column 
was  overtaken  by  the  enemy,  who  attacked  vigorously,  and 
a  battle  of  several  hours'  duration  was  fought,  in  which  the 
Twenty-seventh  lost  eleven  killed  and  wounded  and  ten 
missing.  After  this  engagement  the  retreat  was  continued, 
and  the  regiment  reached  Knoxville  on  the  following  day. 
Then  followed  the  siege  of  Knoxville  by  Longstreet,  during 
which  the  regiment  occupied  a  position  at  Fort  Saunders, 
and  participated  in  the  repulse  of  the  enemy's  furious  as- 
sault on  that  work,  on  the  29th  of  November.  It  marched 
with  other  troops  in  pursuit  of  Longstreet,  when  that  gen- 
eral withdrew  from  Knoxville,  and  was  afterwards  encamped 
successively  at  Rutledge,  Blain's  Cross-Roads,  and  Mossy 
Creek,  at  which  latter  place  it  was  joined  by  the  company 
(I)  from  Clinton  and  Shiawassee,  another  company  (K) 
and  a  number  of  recruits,  numbering  in  all  three  hundred 
and  sixty-two  men. 

Immediately  after  this  accession  to  its  numbers  orders 
were  received  for  the  Twenty-seventh,  with  its  corps,  to  pro- 
ceed east  to  reinforce  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Under 
these  orders  the  regiment  left  Mossy  Creek  on  the  17th  of 
March,  and  moved  by  way  of  Knoxville  and  Hall's  Gap  to 
Nicholasville,  Ky.,  making  the  march  over  horrible  roads 
and  through  the  ice  and  snow  of  the  mountains  in  fourteen 
days.  From  Nicholasville  it  moved  by  railroad  to  Annapo- 
lis, Md.,  arriving  there  on  the  5th  of  April.  At  that  place 
it  was  joined  by  the  company  of  Sharpshooters,  which  con- 
tained a  considerable  number  of  men  from  Clinton  and 
Shiawassee  Counties,  under  Capt.  P.  K.  Perrin. 

From  Annapolis  the  regiment  moved,  on  the  23d  of 
April,  to  Washington  and  thence  to  Warrenton  Junction, 
Va.,  where  it  took  its  place  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
as  part  of  the  First  Brigade,  Third  Division  of  the  Ninth 
Army  Corps.  On  the  5th  of  May  it  crossed  the  Rapidan 
and  moved  into  the  Wilderness,  where  it  fought  in  the 
battle  of  the  following  day,  and  sustained  a  loss  of  eighty- 
nine  killed  and  wounded. 

At  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania,  May  12th,  the  regiment 
was  again  engaged,  and  fought  most  gallantly,  charging  up 
a  hill  to  the  assault  of  a  strong  earthwork.  The  attack 
failed,  but  the  regiment  unflinchingly  held  its  ground, 
though  almost  entirely  unsupported  on  the  left,  and  exposed 
to  a  raking  fire  of  musketry  from  this  direction,  as  well  as 
to  the  storm  of  shell  and  canister  from  the  fort.  While  in 
this  terrible  situation  the  regiment  joining  it  on  the  ri^ht 
was  withdrawn,  thus  leaving  both  flanks  exposed  to  the  fire 
of  the  enemy.  But  the  orders  given  to  its  commanding 
ofiScer  were  not  to  fall  back  an  inch,  and  these  orders  were 
obeyed,  even  after  the  last  round  of  ammunition  had  been 
expended,  and  until  the  friendly  shadows  of  night  ended 
the  work  of  death.  In  this  battle  the  loss  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  was  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  killed  and 
wounded  and  only  twelve  missing. 


In  the  movement  from  Spottsylvania  to  the  North  Anna 
^River  the  regiment  was  engaged  (though  not  heavily)  on 
the  24th  and  25th  of  May.  On  the  3d  of  June  it  took 
part  in  the  battle  at  Bethesda  Church,  losing  seventy-six  in 
killed  and  wounded,  among  the  latter  being  the  heroic  Maj. 
Moody,  whose  wound  proved  fatal.  The  regiment  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  but  sustained  no 
considerable  loss.  From  this  place  it  moved  rapidly  to  the 
James  River,  which  it  crossed  at  Wilcox's  Landing,  It 
ariived  in  front  of  Petersburg  on  the  16th  of  June,  and 
charged  with  its  brigade  on  the  enemy's  works  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  sustaining  heavy  loss.  The  loss  of  the  regi- 
ment during  the  month  of  June,  exclusive  of  the  loss  at 
Bethesda  Church  on  the  3d,  was  ninety-four  killed  and 
wounded. 

From  this  time  the  Twenty-seventh  was  on  duty  in  the 
investing  lines  round  Petersburg  until  its  final  evacuation 
by  the  forces  of  Lee,  but  its  changes  of  position  were  too 
numerous  to  mention  in  detail.  It  took  part  in  the  opera- 
tions at  the  springing  of  the  mine  on  the  30th  of  July 
and  lost  severely,  among  its  wounded  being  the  command- 
ing oflSccr, — Col.  Wright.  During  the  month  of  July  the 
regiment  lost  one  hundred  and  twelve  in  killed  and  wounded. 
It  fought  in  the  engagements  at  the  Weldon  Railroad,  on 
the  19th  and  20th  of  August,  but  with  a  loss  of  only  seven 
teen  killed  and  wounded.  Again,  on  the  30th  of  Septem- 
tember,  it  took  part  in  the  fight  at  Poplar  Grove  Church, 
with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  nine  wounded. 

The  regiment  remained  near  this  place  for  two  months, 
but  returned  to  the  trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg  on  the 
29th  of  November,  and  remained  there  engaged  in  severe 
and  constant  duty  until  the  2d  of  April,  1865.  Before 
daybreak  on  that  day  it  advanced  to  the  attack  of  Fort 
Mahon,  which  was  one  of  the  strongest  of  the  defenses  of 
Petersburg.  The  assault  was  successful ;  the  men  of  the 
Twenty-seventh  charged  on  the  double-quick,  passed  the 
ditch,  mounted  the  parapet,  and  planted  the  regimental 
colors  upon  it.  The  fortification  thus  taken  was  not  the 
entire  work  which  was  known  as  Fort  Mahon,  but  its  east- 
ern wing.  The  number  of  men  of  the  Twenty-seventh  who 
made  this  assault  was  only  one  hundred  and  twenty-three, 
but  they  took  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  prisoners  and  six 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  regiment  held  the  captured  work 
during  the  day  against  repeated  attempts  of  the  enemy  to 
retake  it.  Petersburg  was  evacuated  by  the  forces  of  Lee 
during  the  succeeding  night,  and  the  Twenty-seventh  entered 
the  city  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  3d. 

The  assault  and  capture  of  Fort  Mahon  was  perhaps  the 
most  brilliant  exploit  in  all  the  bright  record  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh,  as  it  was  also  nearly  the  last  of  its  experience  in 
the  field  of  war.  It  moved  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating 
columns  of  Lee,  but  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  followed 
a  few  days  later,  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  no 
longer  an  armed  foe  to  oppose  it.  The  Twenty-seventh 
was  soon  after  moved  to  Washington,  where  it  took  part  in 
the  great  review  of  the  army  on  the  23d  of  May.  It  was 
encamped  at  Tenallytown,  D.  C,  from  that  time  until  July 
26,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  Three 
days  later  the  men  had  reached  Detroit,  on  the  way  to  their 
homes. 


TWENTY-SEVENTH   INFANTRY. 


87 


CLINTON  COUNTV  MEN  IN  THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH. 
Company  A. 
Jamea  Brown,  disch.  for  disiiliilily,  May  9, 1865. 
Franklin  Doty,  discli.  for  disability,  Jan.  6, 1865. 
Elias  Myers,  must,  out  June  2, 1866. 

Lnyton  Richmond,  died  of  disease  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  19, 1864. 
Eicliard  E.  Snow,  disch.  for  disability,  March  7, 1866. 
James  H.  Woodruff,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  29, 1864. 
George  A.  Whitman,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
William  Whitman,  died  of  wounds  at  York,  Pa.,  Nov.  7, 1864. 

Company  B. 
James  C.  Howell,  must,  out  of  Vet.  Kes.  Coi-ps,  Aug.  9, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Robert  Daniels,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  February,  1866. 

Company  H. 
William  C.  Blodgett,  must,  out  June  9, 1866. 
Henry  Copenhtiver,  must,  out  .lune  8, 1865. 
George  W.  Christopher,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
John  J.  Christoplier,  must,  out  July  17, 1865. 
Albert  Loth,  must,  out  July  7, 1865. 
James  Matteson,  must,  out  May  29, 1865. 
Eufus  W.  Partridge,  must,  out  May  27, 1865. 
Joseph  Tabor,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  12, 1865. 
Frank  Webb,  must,  out  July  20, 1866. 
Benjamin  F.  Yeomans,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Capt.  Abner  B.  Wood,  Jr.,  St.  John's;  com.  Deo.  20, 1803;  resigned  Nov.  12,  '64. 
Ist  Lieut.  Porter  K.  Perrin,  St.  John's ;  com.  Dec.  20, 1863 ;  pro.  to  capt.,  1st  Ind. 

Co.  S.  S.,  Feb.  29, 1804;  pro.  to  maj,,  2d  Michigan  Inf.,  April  1, 1864. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Q.  Patterson,  Ovid;  com.  Dec    20,1863;  disch.  for  disability 

April  28, 1865 ;  pro.  to  Ist  lieut.  Co.  C,  May  5, 1864 ;  wounded  in  action 

June  18  and  Dec.  7, 1864. 
Sergt.  Nelson  Fitch,  Ovid ;  enl.  Nov.  30, 1883 ;  disch.  for  wounds. 
Sergt.  Joseph  Berry,  Victor;  enl.  Nov.  30,  1803;  disch.;  pro.  to  2d  Vet.  Vol. 

Inf.,  July  1, 1864. 
Sergt.  Daniel  R.  Ditts,  Ovid;  enl.  Dec.  1, 1863 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  12, 1864. 
Sergt.  George  Simpson,  Ovid  ;  enl.  Nov.  30, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Sergt.  William  H.  Hicks,  Bingham ;  enl.  Dec.  9, 1863 ;  died  of  wounds  received 

at  Cold  Harbor,  June  3,  1864 
Sergt.  Orlando  S.  Perkins,  St.  John's ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  K,  27th  Inf.,  April 

19, 1864. 
Corp.  Cyrus  Stout,  Essex ;  enl.  Dec.  12, 1863;  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 
Corp.  William  D.  Hodge,  Ovid ;  enl.  Nov.  26, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order,  May  3, 1865. 
Corp.  Cornelius  M.  Letts,  Ovid  ;  enl.  Nov.  24, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order.  May  3, 1865. 
Corp.  John  S.  King,  Victor ;  enl,  Nov.  30,  1863 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  10,  '64. 
Corp.  .Jacob  Parsage,  Victor;  enl.  Dec.  1,  '63;  disch.  for  disability,  April  20,  '65. 
Corp.  John  W.  Outcult,  Olive ;  enl  Dec.  24,  '63 ;  disch.  for  disability,  April  18,  '65. 
Corp.  Jacob  Gibbard,  Victor;  enl.  Dec.  1,  '63 ;  disch.  for  disability,  March  6,  '65. 
Mus.  George  F.  Besley,  Bingham;  enl.  Dec.  19, 1863;  died  of  disease  at  Wash- 
ington, Aug.  16, 1864. 
Abram  Bacr,  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 
John  Briggs,  must,  out  June  6, 1865. 
Joseph  Bynns,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 

Frederick  R.  Butler,  St.  John's ;  must,  out  from  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Aug.  3, 1865. 
Nelson  Cadeon,  must,  out  May  23, 1865. 
John  Carpenter,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
John  Duucklee,  must,  out  June  7, 1865. 

Jabez  S.  Dennison,  must,  out  Feb.  7, 1865,  for  wounds  received  June  3, 1864. 
William  S.  Decker,  St.  .lohn's ;  must,  out  May  12,  1866. 
Nathaniel  Doak,  died  of  disease  at  Petersburg,  Jan.  7, 1864. 
Joseph  N.  Ellicott,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Joseph  Fields,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Arlington  L.  Fields,  must,  out  July  26, 1865.  • 

John  Flynn,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Ebenezer  B.  Fuller,  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 
Milau  Gleason,  Duplain,  must,  out  June  15, 1865. 
John  E.  Gleason,  Duplain,  must,  out  May  23, 1866. 
Lewis  Garland,  died  of  wounds  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  4, 1864. 
Clark  Gray,  died  of  wounds  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3, 1864. 
Merrihew  Green,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va. 
Cleon  Green,  died  of  disease  at  3d  Div.  Hosp.,  Aug.  10, 1864. 
Hivilla  H.  Hames,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
John  A.  Hillaker,  must,  ont  from  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  7, 1866. 
Charles  F.  Hathaway,  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 
Hiram  M.  Hughes,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Henry  H.  Isbell,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
John  B.  Jackway,  Duplain,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Alonzo  Le  Baron,  must,  out  from  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Aug.  2, 1866. 
George  P.  Mattoon,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
W.  L.  Maasey,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Oct.  11, 1864. 
D.  P.  Miner,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1864. 
Henry  S.  Marshall,  Greenbush,  disch.  for  wounds,  Dec.  16, 1864. 
James  E.  Owen,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 


John  E.  Polton,  must,  out  July  26,  1865. 

Joseph  Y.  Perkins,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 

Henry  Putnam,  Victor,  disch.  for  wounds,  Jan.  31, 1865. 

George  W.  Pruden,  disch.  Feb.  18, 1865. 

George  W.  Steele,  disch.  Nov.  12, 1864. 

Silas  B.  Southworth,  disch  for  wounds,  Jan.  28, 1865. 

Joseph  Silvers,  must,  out  July  26,  1865. 

Uriah  Smith,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 

Sidney  Smith,  must,  out  Aug.  4, 1865. 

Adin  0.  Skinner,  Bengal,  died  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  May  12, 1864. 

S.  B.  Strickland,  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  June  1, 1864. 

Henry  G.  Thompson,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  4, 1865. 

James  Tonse,  must,  out  May  15, 1865. 

Hart  li.  Upton,  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 

Alvin  B.  Wansey,  must,  out  May  23,  1863. 

Lulher  W.  Wetherbee,  must,  out  June  9,  1865. 

Palmer  M.  Wilbur,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 

Alvan  E.  Wells,  disch.  for  disability,  July  21, 1864. 

G.  H.  Whitney,  died  of  disease  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  17, 1864. 

D.  F.  Whitney,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  Oct.  11, 1864. 

William  E.  Wing,  died  in  action  before  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  2, 1865. 

Robert  Youngs,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1864. 


First  Independmt  Company  Shnrpahootera,  attached  to  the  Twenty-seventh  Infantry. 
Capt.  Porter  K.  Perrin, St.  John's,  com.  Feb.  29, 1864;  pro.  to  maj. 2d  luf.,  April 

1,  1864. 
Arotus  H.  Allen,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 

Charles  Bigelow,  Ovid,  died  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  May  12, 1864. 
Enos  Carey,  died  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Va  ,  June  18, 1864. 
James  H.  Hathaway,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Richard  M.  Johnson,  must,  out  Aug.  5, 1865. 
Henry  Leonard,  must,  out  July  20,  1865. 
George  M.  Lyon,  must,  out  May  5, 1865. 
George  A.  Lanin,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
William  S.  Le  Clerc,  died  near  Petersburg,  Jan.  25, 1865. 
George  McDowell,  died  of  wounds  at  Washington. 
John  M.  Myer,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
John  A.  Matthews,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Ambrose  Murtaugti,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
James  H,  Worden,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Horace  B.  Whetstone,  must,  out  May  23,  1865. 
William  H.  Whetstone,  must,  out  May  23, 1865. 

SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY  MEN  IN  THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH. 
Company  C. 
Walter  E.  Norton,  must,  out  Aug.  4, 1865,  from  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

Company  E. 
Henry  Van  VIoit,  disch.  for  disability,  Deo.  23, 1864. 

Company  H. 
Charles  D.  Beach,  must,  out  June  17, 1865, 

Company  I, 
Corp.  Charles  Van  Deusen,  Fairfield ;  enl.  Deo.  1, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  26,  '65. 
E.  Andrews,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  13, 1864. 
WjUiam  Brown,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Charles  Cole,  must,  out  May  19, 1805. 
Reuben  Davis,  must,  out  July  29, 1865. 

Samuel  Davis,  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  D.  C,  June  1, 1864. 
Thadeus  Graves,  died  of  disease  at  City  Point,  Va.,  July  11, 1864. 
Samuel  E.  Isbell,  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 

Jackson  N.  Voorhees,  died  of  wounds  at  Alexandria,  Va ,  June  28, 1864. 
Truman  A.  Van  Deusen,  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  May  6, 1864. 

First  Indepemlent  Company  of  SharpshooterB^  attached  to  Ttaeniy^aevmth  Infantry, 

Herman  Ford,  must,  out  May  23, 1865.  > 

Charles  H.  Hammond,  died  of  disease,  July  15, 1864. 

J.  J.  Kenney,  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Aaron  Munsel,  must,  out  Aug.  5, 1865.  * 

John  W.  Parker,  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 

Horace  Tibbetts,  must,  out  Aug.  8, 1866, 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

TWENTT-NINTH  AND   THIRTIETH  INFANTKY, 
AND  FIRST  ENGINEERS    AND  MECHANICS. 

Organiziition  of  the  Twenty-ninth  at  Snginaw— Campaign  in  Tennessee 
—Fights  at  Deeatur,  Murfreesboro',  and  Winsted  Church — Railroad 
Duty— Muster  Out— The  Thirtieth  Infantry— Service  in  Michigan 

Engineers  and  Mechanics— Rendezvous  at  Marshall— Its  varied 

Services  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and  Alabama — Fight 
.it  Lavergne — Services  in  Georgia— March  to  the  Sea  and  through 
the  Carolinas— Garrison  Duty  at  Nashville  in  1865— Muster  Out  and 
Disbandment. 

TWENTY-NINTH  INFANTRY. 
More  than  one  hundred  men  of  Shiawassee  and  Clinton 
Counties — oflScers  and  private  soldiers — served  with  the 
Twenty-ninth  Infantry  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  one 
of  its  companies  (E)  being  raised  almost  entirely  in  Shia- 
wassee County,  under  Capt.  A.  J.  Patterson  and  First 
Lieut.  Sidney  G.  Main,  of  Owosso,  and  Second  Lieut. 
AVilliani  F.  Close,  of  Byron.  This  regiment  was  organized 
at  Saginaw  in  the  autumn  of  1864,  its  muster  into  the 
United  States  service  under  Col.  Thomas  M.  Taylor  being 
completed  on  the  3d  of  October  in  that  year.  Three  days 
later  it  left  the  rendezvous  for  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  it 
arrived  October  12th,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Decatur, 
Ala.,  reaching  there  on  the  26th.  On  the  day  of  its  ar- 
rival at  Decatur  that  place  was  attacked  by  the  army  of  the 
Confederate  Gen.  Hood,  and  the  Twenty-ninth  was  ordered 
to  move  to  the  front  and  occupy  a  line  of  rifle-pits  and  a 
small  defensive  work.  In  obedience  to  the  order  the  regi- 
ment moved  forward  bravely  and  steadily,  though  under  a 
severe  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry,  and  held  the  position 
until  dark,  notwithstanding  that  the  enemy  made  several  de- 
termined efforts  to  carry  it.  The  Confederate  force  during 
this  day's  fight  had  outnumbered  the  Union  troops  nearly 
ten  to  one,  but  during  the  night  the  latter  received  rein- 
forcements, and  on  the  following  day  a  little  advantage  was 
gained  in  the  driving  in  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  and  a 
slight  advance  of  the  right  of  the  Union  line.  Before 
daylight  in  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  Confederates 
made  an  attack,  driving  in  our  pickets  and  advancing  their 
line  considerably.  This  line  they  held  against  a  strong  at- 
tempt to  dislodge  them  in  the  early  morning,  but  they 
were  afterwards  driven  back  by  a  part  of  the  Eighteenth 
Michigan,  who  took  over  one  hundred  prisoners  in  the 
affair.  Later  in  the  day  a  general  engagement  was  brought 
on,  the  enemy  assaulting  with  great  determination,  but  the 
Union  forces  had  by  this  time  been  increased  to  about  five 
thousand  men,  and  they  were  able  to  hold  their  ground 
and  inflict  severe  loss  on  the  assaulters.  In  the  morning  of 
the  29th  it  was  found  that  the  main  force  of  the  enemy 
had  been  withdrawn,  and  only  a  rear-guard  was  left  in  the 
rifle-pits.  This  rear-guard  was  driven  out  from  the  pits 
during  the  afternoon,  and  thus  the  defense  of  the  place  was 
made  entirely  successful.  The  part  taken  by  the  Twenty- 
ninth  in  the  fight  at  Decatur  was  highly  creditable  to  the 
regiment,  and  more  particularly  so  because  its  men  were 
then  fresh  from  the  camp  of  instruction,  and  had  never 
before  smelled  the  smoke  of  battle.  The  adjutant-general 
of  Michigan  in  his  report  of  this  affair  says :  "  The  ex- 
emplary conduct,  the  vigorous  and  splendid  fighting  of  Col. 


Taylor's  regiment  and  his  officers,  although  less  than  a 
month  in  the  field,  could  scarcely  have  been  excelled  by 
long-tried  veterans." 

The  Twenty-ninth,  after  this  battle,  garrisoned  Decatur 
until  the  24th  of  November,  when  it  marched  to  Murfrees- 
boro', and  reaching  there  on  the  26th  composed  a  part  of 
the  defending  force  at  that  point  during  the  siege  of  Nash- 
ville and  Murfreesboro'  by  Hood,  being  engaged  with  a  part 
of  the  enemy's  forces  at  Overall  Creek,  December  7th.  ^ 
Having  been  sent  out  to  escort  a  railway-train  on  the  13th, 
it  was  attacked  at  Winsted  Church  by  a  superior  force  of 
the  enemy, — infantry  and  artillery, — and  in  the  severe 
action  which  ensued  it  sustained  a  loss  of  seventeen  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  track  was  relaid  under 
a  brisk  fire,  and  the  regiment  brought  the  train  safely  back 
to  Murfreesboro'  by  hand,  the  locomotive  having  been  dis- 
abled by  a  shell.  On  the  15th  and  16th  it  was  attacked 
by  two  brigades  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  on  the  Shelbyville 
turnpike,  south  of  Murfreesboro',  while  guarding  a  forage- 
train,  and  was  again  slightly  engaged  at  Nolansville  on  the 
17th.  On  the  27th  it  moved  by  rail  to  Anderson,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  duty  of  guarding  the  Nashville  and  Chat- 
tanooga Railroad.  It  remained  on  this  duty  till  July,  1865, 
when  it  moved  to  Decherd,  Tenn.,  and  thence  to  Murfrees- 
boro', arriving  there  on  the  19th.  It  was  employed  there 
on  garrison  duty  till  September  6th,  when  it  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service,  and  on  the  8th  left  Tennessee  for  Michi- 
gan, and  was  disbanded  at  Detroit  about  the  13th  of  Sep- 
tember. 

SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  MEN  IN  TUB  TWENTV-NINTH. 
Compani/  A. 
David  M.  Black,  must,  out  Sept. 6, 1865. 
Charles  A.  Fiinda,  must,  out  Sept.  6,  1865. 
Thomas  Graham,  must,  out  May  22, 1865. 
Jasper  Johu.4on,  must,  out  Sept.  6,  1865. 
Janies  C,  Luce,  luust.  out  Sept.  6,  1865. 
Jacob  Layer,  must  out  Sept.  6,  1865. 
William  U.  Ormsbeo,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
David  Strubie,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Robert  McFarland,  must  out  Sept.  6,1865. 
Kbenezer  Thusgoud,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Gapt.  And.  J.  Patterson,  Owosso  ;  com.  July  29, 1864  ;  must,  out  Si'pt.  16, 1866. 
Ist  Lieut,  Sidney  G.  Main,  Owosso;   com.  July  29,  1864;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 

1865. 
2d  Lieut.  Wm.  F.  Close,  Byron  ;  com.  July  29, 1864 ;  pro.  to  Ist  lieut.  Co.  K. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Q.  Adams,  Owosso;  must,  out  as  sergt.,  Sept.  6,  1865. 
Sergt.  A.  M.  Parmeuter,  Veruon  ;  eul.  Sept.  2, 1864 ;  must,  out  Sept.  6,  1866. 
Sergt.  J.  C.  Woodman,  Shiawassee ;  enl.  Aug.  25, 1864 ;  must,  out  Sept.  6,  1866. 
Sergt.  Chas.  C.  Eowell,  Bennington,  enl.  Aug.  26, 1S64 ;  must,  out  May  16, 1866. 
Sergt.  Cyrenus  Thomas,  Owosso  ;  enl.  Aug.  16, 1864*  must,  out  Sept.  10, 1865. 
Sergt.  Orrin  Drown,  Owosso;  enl.  Aug.  16,  1864;  died  in  action  at  Shelbyville 

Pike,  Tenn.,  Dec.  15, 1864. 
Sergt.  PhilclusWaldron,  Bennington  ;  enl.  Aug.  22, 1864;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
Sergt.  Geo.  F.  Brownell,  Bennington;  cnL  Aug.  20, 1864;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Sergt.  Wm.  G.  Merrill,  Burns ;   enl.  Aug.  27, 1864 ;  disch.  for  disability,  April 

19, 1865. 
Sergt.  Iheo.  Creque,  Shiawassee,  enl.  Aug.  22, 1864 ;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Sergt.  Wm.  J.  Wiswell,  Bennington;  eul.  Aug.  19,  1864;  disch.  for  disability, 

June  7, 1865. 
Sergt.  Edward  H.  Jones,  Antrim ;  enl.  Sept.  4, 1864;  must  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
Corp.  James  M.  Freeman,  WoodhuU;  eul.  Aug.  29,  1864;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 

1865. 
Corp.  John  Hutfrnan,  WoodhuU ;  eul.  Aug.  29, 1864 ;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
Con>.  Eichard  Cbenell,  WoodhuU;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1804;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
John  M.  Arthur,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  13, 1864. 
William  M.  Batchclor,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1885. 
Nathan  Borem,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
David  Brown,  must,  out  May  30, 1865. 
William  W.  Bennett,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 


THIRTIETH   INFANTRY. 


89 


William  Buddn,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Thomas  Cyrenus,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1805. 

Jerfmiab  Careon,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Benjamin  Codweil,  muBt.  out  Sept.  6, 1805. 

Leonard  Grouse,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1805. 

Christopher  Cook,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 186B. 

George  E.  Cole,  diod  of  disease  at  CoWan,  Tenn.,  April  17, 1865. 

David  W.  Dunn,  must,  out  June  7, 1866. 

John  A.  Drew,  must,  out  June  27, 1865. 

David  Dwight,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Ladocli  Gillett,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 

Bichard  German,  must,  out  Sept.  0, 1865, 

William  P.  Barer,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

John  W.  Ragerman,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Charles  B.  Harris,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

George  Hoag,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

William  B.  Hendee,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Kewell  Kellogg,  must,  out  Sept.  6. 1865. 

Cliarles  N.  Kilridge,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

John  Klingensmith,  must,  out  June  7, 1865. 

William  H.  Lavery,  must,  out  July  18, 1866. 

Weston  W.  Lataunyon,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Henry  L.  Lamunyon,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

George  Lindner,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Oscar  M.  Morse,  niust.  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Jacob  Mason,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Enos  Osgood,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  April  9, 1865. 

Charles  E.  Perkins,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 

Austine  Phillips,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Hiram  Plainer,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1365. 

Leroy  Regua,  must,  out  May  22, 1865. 

William  Sanderson,  must,  out  Sept.  6,  1865. 

Sherman  Stevenson,  disch.  for  disability.  May  31, 1865. 

Andrew  Vandusen,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

John  E.  Watson,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Seth  N.  Walter,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Stephen  L.  Woliver,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Edward  D.  Wooleot,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  1, 1864. 

Dennis  Watkins,  disch.  for  disability,  March  7, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Godfrey  Armaugher,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
George  Aldrich,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Noah  G.  Berg,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Thomas  Graham,  must,  out  May  5, 1866. 
Jacob  Muffly,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
David  Martindale,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
David  Muffly,  disch.  for  disability,  June  3, 1866. 

Cortvpany  H. 
Isaac  Oassada,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Charles  Hempsted,  must,  out  Scpt.'0, 1866. 
Alonzo  Hunt,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Charles  Long,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1805. 
Leonard  Robinson,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
William  E.  Vanpatten,  must,  out  May  30, 1865. 
Eli  Woodward,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Company  K, 
Ist  Lieut.  William  F.  Close,  Byron ;  com.  July  '7, 1865,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  E ;  must. 

out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Vorden  H.  Worden,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 


SOLDIERS  OF   THE   TWENTY-NINTH   FROM   CLINTON  COUNTF. 

•    Company  O. 
William  Oilman,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Coimpawjf  E. 
Salem  S.  Puffer,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Silenus  A.  Simons,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Ellis  Buckingham,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
James  L.  Covel,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  26, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Sergt.  R.  A.  Burch,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
Sfergt.  Joseph  Lathrop,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Henry  C.  Atwell,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Charles  Hooker,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Francis  M.  Haynes,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
Alexander  Hovey,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1866. 
Albert  Martin,  must,  out  May  23, 1866. 
Edward  N.  Pierco,  must,  out  Sept.  26, 1865. 
Clinton  W.  Rose,  disch.  for  disability,  March  22, 1865. 

12 


Albert  C.  Vredenburgh,  must,  out  Sept.  26, 1865. 
John  S.  Wright,  must,  out  Sept.  20, 1805. 

Company  K. 
Philo  Chappell,  must,  out  Aug.  9, 1805. 

THIRTIETH  INFANTRY. 

On  account  of  the  numerous  attempts  made  by  the  Con- 
federates to  organize  in  Canada  plundering  raids  against 
our  Northern  border,  authority  was  given  by  the  War  De- 
partment to  the  Governor  of  Michigan,  in  the  autumn  of 
1864,  to  raise  a  regiment  of  infantry  for  one  year's  service, 
and  especially  designed  to  guard  the  Michigan  frontier. 
Its  formation,  under  the  name  of  the  Thirtieth  Michigan 
Infantry,  was  begun  at  Jackson  in  NovemJ)er,  1864,  and 
completed  at  Detroit  on  the  9th  of  January,  1865.  To 
this  regiment  Shiawassee  and  Clinton  Counties  furnished  a 
total  number  of  men  equal  to  about  three-fourths  of  a  com- 
pany, the  greater  part  of  whom  served  in  the  ranks  of 
Company  K. 

When  the  organization  was  completed  the  regiment  was 
stationed  in  companies  at  various  points,  one  company  being 
placed  at  Fort  Gratiot,  one  at  St.  Clair,  one  at  Wyandotte, 
one  at  Jackson,  one  at  Penton,  three  at  Detroit  Barracks, 
and  one  on  duty  in.  the  city.  But  the  speedy  collapse  of 
the  Rebellion  put  an  end  to  Canadian  raids,  and  the  regi- 
ment had  no  active  service  to  perform.  It  remained  on 
duty  until  the  30th  of  June,  1865,  and  was  then  mustered 
out. 

SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY  MEN  IN  THE   THIRTIETH. 
Field  and  Staff. 
1st  Lieut,  and  Adj.  Jerome  W.  Turner,  Owosso;  com.  Nov.  28,  1804;  resigned 
Apiil  7, 1805. 

Company  C. 

Corp.  James  A.  Hoy t,  Bush  ;  enl.  Nov.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Company  F, 
Jerome  R.  Fairbanks,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
James  Rummer,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Johnson  Taylor,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Charles  W.  Williams,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Alfred  B.  Williams,  must,  out  June  30, 1866. 

Company  I. 
John  F.  Cartwright,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Corp.  Ora  C.  Waugh,  Owosso ;  enl.  Deo.  16,  1864 ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Corp.  Robert  Upton,  Owosso ;  enl.  Dec.  7, 1864;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Corp.  Oscar  Bailey,  Owosso;  enl.  Dec.  2, 1864;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Corp.  Elnathan  Beebe,  Caledonia;  enl.  Dec.  29, 1864 ;  musr.  out  June  30, 1865. 
Leonard  Alger,  died  of  disease  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  March  28, 1805. 
Leander  A.  Bush,  died  of  disease  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  Feb.  14, 1806. 
Robert  F.  Buck,  must,  out  Juue  30, 1805. 
Henry  Boslaw,  must,  out  June  30, 1805. 
Edward  Bright,  must,  out  June  30, 1805. 
Ebenezer  Childs,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  Crane,  must,  out  June  30, 1805. 
Andrew  Case,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
T.  Fancheon,  must,  out  June  30, 1806. 
John  Gannon,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Lyman  E.  Hill,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
George  Johnson,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Robert  Smith,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Charles  N.  Wetmore,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  MEN  IN  THE  THIRTIETH. 
Company  F, 
Elijah  E.  Baldwin,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
George  E.  Bliss,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Henry  P.  Cutter,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  W.  Day,  must,  out  Juue  30,  1865. 
Andrew  Jones,  must,  out  June  30,  1806. 
Albert  Jones,  must,  out  June  30, 1805. 
Wm.  B.  Owen,  must,  out  June  30, 1«6S. 


90 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Company  K. 
Sergt.  Silaa  E.  Losey,  Bingham  ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Sergt.  Albert' H.  B.  Fitch,  Bingham  ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865, 
Corp.  Charles  K.  Blakesleo,  must,  out  June  30, 18G5. 
Corp.  John  G.  Hathawaj',  Bingham  ;  died  of  disease  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  May  29, 

1865. 
Horace  Avei-y,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Henry  H.  Burdick,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  Chandler,  must,  out  Jan.  9, 1865. 
John  Edwards,  must,  out  June  30,1865. 
Herbert  Estes,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  Hetherington,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Franklin  Hickox,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Nelson  Lorenberg,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
■William  Lorenberg,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Porter  Pratt,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Scott  Starkweather,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  W.  Spaulding,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
George  W.  Shuttes,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Clark  Schram,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Charles  Sherwood,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Charles  Travis,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
M.  Vanfliet,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Wm.  R.  Wilson,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

FIEST  ENGINEERS   AND   MECHANICS. 

The  Micliigan  regiment  of  Engineers  and  Mechanics 
was  recruited  and  organized  by  Col.  William'  P.  Innes  (its 
commanding  officer)  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1861. 
It  was  the  intention,  in  raising  this  regiment,  that  it  should 
be  largely  composed  of  men  skilled  in  mechanical  trades, 
and  that  upon  entering  the  field  they  should  be  principally 
employed  in  the  work  with  which  they  wore  acquainted, 
a  great  amount  of  which  is  always  required  in  the  opera- 
tions and  movements  of  large  armies.  This  implied'prom- 
ise,  made  to  the  men  at  the  time  of  the  enlistment,  was 
measurably  carried  out,  though  they  were  always  expected 
to  enact  the  part  of  fighting-men  upon  occaision  ;  and  for 
this  purpose  they  were  regularly  armed  and  accoutred  as 
infantry.  It  can  be  said  of  them  with  truth  that  they 
always  proved  themselves  as  brave  and  steadfast  in  battle 
as  they  were  skillful  and  efficient  in  their  own  peculiar  field 
of  labor,  though  it  was  'in  the  latter  that  their  services 
were  by  far  the  more  valuable  to  the  government. 

The  Engineers  and  Mechanics  organization  was  composed 
of  men  from  almost  every  county  in  the  central  and  southern 
part  of  the  peninsula,  the  counties  of  Clinton  and  Shiawassee 
being  represented  in  nearly  all  its  companies,  but  most 
numerously  in  Company  E.  The  regiment  was  rendezvoused 
at  Marshall,  and  was  there  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  by  Capt.  H.  E.  Mizner,  U.S.A.,  October 
28  to  December  6,  1861,  and  on  the  21st  of  the  latter 
month  left  Marshall,  one  thousand  and  thirty  stronc,  for 
Louisville,  Ky.  On  account  of  the  peculiar  nature  of  the 
service  required  of  .them,  they  were  employed  in  detach- 
ments, and  thus  it  would  be  impracticable  to  trace  them 
through  all  their  numerous  marchings  and  labors.  One  of 
the  detachments  was  under  Gen.  0.  M.  Mitchell  in  his  ad- 
vance on  Bowling  Green,  and  among  the  first  Union  troops 
to  enter  the  town  aft«r  its  evacuation  by  the  enemy.  After 
the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  opened  Tennessee  to  the 
Union  forces,  the  Engineers  and  Mechanics  were  speedily 
at  work  in  that  State  repairing  bridges  and  railroads  and 
opening  lines  of  communication.  For  eight  weeks  imme- 
diately following  the  battle  of  Shiloh  they  were  engaged 
in  constructing  steamboat  landings,  wharves,  and  ware- 
bouses,  and  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1862  they 


were  chiefly  employed  in  the  repair  or  reopening  of  the 
railroads  between  Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  Nashville  and 
Columbia,  Corinth  and  Decatur,  Huntsville  and  Stevenson, 
and  Memphis  and  Corinth,  and  twice  assisted  in  reopening 
the  road  between  Louisville  and  Nashville.  In  the  month 
of  June,  1862,  alone,  they  built  seven  bridges  on  the  Mem- 
phis and  Charleston  Railroad,  each  from  eighty-four  to 
three  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  length — in  the  aggregate 
nearly  three  thousand  feet — and  from  twelve  to  sixty  feet 
in  height. 

Serious  difficulties  existed  in  the  regiment  during  the 
first  months  of  its  service,  owing  to  a  misunderstanding  as 
to  the  pay  the  men  were  to  receive,  it  having  been  found 
after  their  organization  that  there  was  no  law  by  which 
they  could  receive  the  pay  expected.  This  trouble  was 
finally  remedied  by  an  act  of  Congress,  which  act  also  pro- 
posed to  increase  the  regiment's  strength  from  ten  to  twelve 
companies  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  each,  forming 
three  battalions,  each  commanded  by  a  major.  Half  the 
men,  as  artificers,  drew  seventeen  dollars  per  month,  and 
the  others  thirteen  dollars  per  month. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1862,  the  regiment  was  en- 
camped at  Edgefield,  Tenn.,  when  the  alterations  and  cas- 
ualties to  that  date  aggregated  as  follows  :  Died  of  disease, 
seventy-five;  died  of  wounds  received  inaction,  two;  killed 
in  action,  one ;  wounded  in  action,  seventeen ;  discharged, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-four ;  taken  prisoners,  fifteen  ;  de- 
serted, twenty ;  recruits  received,  sixty-seven.  Until  June, 
1863,  the  regiment  was  stationed  at  Edgefield  and  Mill 
Creek,  near  Nashville,  at  Lavergne,  Murfreesboro',  and 
Smyrna,  and  at  a  point  near  Nashville  on  the  Tennessee 
and  Alabama  Railroad.  During  this  time  the  regiment 
built  nine  bridges,  besides  a  number  of  magazines  and  build- 
ings for  commissary,  quartermaster,  and  ordnance  stores, 
and  also  repaired  and  relaid  a  large  amount  of  railroad  track. 
While  at  Lavergne,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  a  part 
of  the  regiment  was  attacked  by  two  brigades  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  under  Gens.  Wheeler  and  Wharton,  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  but  succeeded  in  defeating  them  with  serious 
loss. 

On  the  29th  of  June  the  regiment  moved  south  from 
Murfreesboro',  and  during  the  two  succeeding  months  was 
engaged  repairing  and  opening  the  railroad  from  Mur- 
freesboro', Tenn.,  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.  Of  five  bridges 
completed  in  July,  the  one  over  Elk  River  was  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty  feet  in  length ;  that  over  Duck  River,  three 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long.  During  September  and  Oc- 
tober detached  companies  were  employed  in  building  an 
immense  bridge  over  the  Tennessee  River  at  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  constructing  commissary  buildings  at  Stevenson,  Ala., 
and  building  and  repairing  bridges,  etc.,  on  the  lines  of  the 
Nashville  and  Chattanooga  and  the  Nashville  and  North- 
western Railroads  ;  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment  being 
at  Elk  River  Bridge,  Tenn.  The  alterations  and  casual- 
ties for  the  year,  to  Nov.  1,  1863,  were :  Died  in  action  or 
of  wounds,  six  ;  died  of  disease,  fifty-eight ;  discharged  for 
disability,  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine;  discharged  for 
other  causes,  fourteen ;  deserted,  twenty-seven ;  officers 
resigned,  ten ;  joined  as  recruits,  three  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-two ;  aggregate  strength,  nine  hundred  and  sixty-five. 


FIRST   ENGINEERS   AND   MECHANICS. 


91 


In  the  months  of  November  and  December,  1863,  and 
January  and  February,  1864,  the  regiment  was  engaged  in 
building  trestle-work  and  bridges  on  the  line  of  the  Nash- 
ville and  Northwestern  Railroad,  and  in  the  construction  of 
store-houses  and  other  buildings  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
and  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  for  the  quartermaster,  ordnance,  and 
other  departments  of  the  army.  At  the  same  time  one 
battalion  was  engaged  at  Chattanooga  in  refitting  saw-mills, 
where  it  continued  during  the  months  of  March,  April,  and 
May,  employed  in  running  saw-mills,  getting  out  railroad- 
ties,  building  hospital  accommodations,  and  working  on  the 
defenses. 

Detachments  from  the  other  battalions  •  were  engaged 
erecting  blockhouses  on  the  lines  of  the  Tennessee  and  Ala- 
bama, the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  and  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroads.  Two  companies  were  at  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  building  artillery  block-houses.  Two  companies  were 
at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  completing  its  defenses,  while  another 
battalion  was  stationed  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad,  building  block-houses  at  various  points  between 
Decatur  and  Stevenson.  The  major  portion  of  the  regi- 
ment was  finally  concentrated  upon  the  line  of  the  Atlantic 
and  Western  Railroad  during  the  summer  months  of  1864, 
where  it  built  and  repaired  railroads,  block-houses,  etc.  The 
task  allotted  to  this  regiment  during  the  campaign  of 
Sherman's  army,  in  1864,  was  one  of  great  magnitude, 
and  most  nobly  did  its  members  fulfill  their  duty.  But  for 
such  men  as  composed  the  Michigan  Engineers  and  Me- 
chanics, and  the  rapidity  with  which  they  repaired  the  rail- 
road right  up  to  the  enemy's  skirmish  line,*  the  more  than 
one  hundred  thousand  Union  soldiers  in  front  would  many 
times  have  been  compelled  to  go  without  their  rations. 

At  the  close  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  headquarters  of 
the  regiment  were  established  in  the  latter  city.  The  al- 
terations and  casualties  for  the  year  were  reported  as  fol- 
lows :  Died  of  disease,  one  hundred  and  twelve ;  trans- 
ferred, thirty-six ;  discharged  for  disability,  etc.,  fifty ; 
re-enlisted  as  veterans,  one  hundred  and  forty-eight. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1864,  the  original  term  of  the 
regiment  expired,  and  such  officers  as  desired  to  leave  the 
service  were  mustered  out,  as  were  also  the  enlisted  men 
whose  terms  had  expired.  The  re-enlisted  veterans,  together 
with  the  recruits  who  had  joined  the  regiment,  enabled  it 
to  maintain  its  organization  entire  and  nearly  its  full 
strength. 

From  the  1st  to  the  15th  of  November,  1864,  the  regi- 
ment, with  the  exception  of  Companies  L  and  M,  was 
stationed  at  Atlanta,  Gra.,  being  employed  in  constructing 
defenses,  destroying  rebel  works,  depots,  rolling-mills,  foun- 


»  As  Johnston's  army  fell  back  from  one  chosen  position  to  another 
before  the  fieioo  attacks  and  flank  movements  of  Sherman's  veterans, 
the  railroad  was  invariably  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  and  in  a  man- 
ner, too,  that  would  seem  to  require  days  to  repair  it.  It  must  have 
been  a  matter  of  great  surprise  and  chagrin  to  the  Confederates  when, 
as  was  often  the  case  in  the  course  of  a  very  few  hours  after  the  de- 
struction of  a  road,  »  locomotive  bearing  the  legend  "  United  States 
Military  Railroad,"  driven  by  a  greasy  Northern  mechanic,  would 
dash  up  almost  in  their  very  midst,  saluting  them  with  several  short, 
sharp  whistles,  and  then  a  prolonged  scream  of  defiance.  The  salute, 
however,  as  well  as  the  cheers  from  the  "  Yanks,"  usually,  and  very 
quickly  too,  received  a  response  in  the  shape  of  shells  from  a  rebel 
b:ittery. 


dries,  gas-works,  and  other  rebel  property,  and  in  tearing 
up  and  rendering  useless  the  various  railroad  tracks  in  the 
vicinity.  After  the  complete  destruction  of  Atlanta,")"  the 
regiment  set  out  on  the  morning  of  November  16th  with 
the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  as  part  of  the  engineer  force 
of  Gen.  Sherman's  army,  going  to  Sandersville,  Ga.,  and 
thence  with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps  to  Horse  Creek, 
where  it  received  orders  to  join  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps, 
with  which  it  continued  on  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  reaching  there 
Dec.  10,  1864.  During  this  march  the  regiment  was 
required  to  keep  pace  with  the  movements  of  the  army, 
traveling  over  twenty  miles  a  day,  and  meanwhile  was  en- 
gaged tearing  up  railroad  tracks,  twisting  rails,  destroying 
bridges,  repairing  and  making  roads,  building  and  repairing 
wagon-bridges,  etc.  On  the  10th  and  11th  of  December 
the  regiment  built  a  dam  across  the  Ogechee  Canal  under 
the  fire  of  rebel  batteries. 

From  that  time  until  after  the  evacuation  of  Savannah 
by  the  enemy,  the  regiment  was  constantly  at  work  tearing 
up  railroad  track  and  destroying  the  rails  of  the  several 
railroads  leading  out  of  the  city,  and  in  constructing  long 
stretches  of  corduroy-road  for  the  passage  of  army-trains. 
On  the  23d  of  December  it  moved  into  the  city,  and  five 
days  later  commenced  work  on  the  fortifications  laid  out  by 
direction  of  Gen.  Sherman.  These  works,  constructed  by 
and  under  the  supervision  of  this  regiment,  were  over  two 
miles  in  length,  and  included  several  strong  battery  posi- 
tions and  lunettes.  The  regiment  was  again  put  in  motion  . 
on  the  3d  of  January,  1 865,  marching  to  Pooler  Station, 
converting  the  railroad  into  a  wagon-road,  and  then  return- 
ing to  Savannah. 

It  embarked  on  board  transports  for  Beaufort,  S.  C,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1865,  and  on  the  31st  started  with  the  victorious 
army  on  its  march  to  Goldsboro',  N.  C.  It  moved  with 
the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  to  Banbury,  S.  C,  thence  with 
the  Twentieth  Army  Corps  to  Columbia,  S.  C,  thence  with 
the  Seventeenth  Corps  to  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  and  thence 
with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps  to  Goldsboro',  N.  C,  where 
it  arrived  March  23,  1865.  It  is  estimated  that  during 
this  campaign,  besides  making  and  repairing  a  great  distance 
of  corduroy-road,  the  regiment  destroyed  and  twisted  the 
rails  of  thirty  miles  of  railroad  track  and  built  eight  or  ten 
important  bridges  and  crossings.  At  Edisto  the  bridge  was 
constructed  under  fire  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  At 
Hughes'  Creek  and  at  Little  and  Big  Lynch  Creeks  the 
bridges  and  approaches  were  built  at  night.  At  the  last- 
named  stream  the  men  worked  in  water  waist-deep.  A 
foot-crossing  was  made  there  in  one  night  nearly  a  mile  in 
length,  and  the  next  day. the  space  was  corduroyed  for  the 
heavy  army-trains  and  artillery  to  pass  over.  The  regiment 
destroyed  factories  and  rebel  army-supplies  at  Columbia, 
rebel  ordnance  and  stores  at  Cheraw,  and  the  old  United 
States  arsenal  at  Fayetteville,  N.  C. 

Companies  L  and  M,  which  had  been  detached  from  the 
regiment  early  in  the  summer  of  1864  and  placed  upon  the 
defenses  at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  having  completed  those  works, 
which  consisted  of  a  system  of  eight  block-houses,  were 
retained  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.    They  assisted  to 


j-  Afternoon  and  night  of  Nov.  15, 1864. 


92 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


fortify  and  defend  the  line  of  the  Nashville  and  Chatta- 
nooga Railroad  for  some  weeks,  and  on  the  28th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1864,  were  moved  to  Elk  River  Bridge.  For  some 
time  after  that,  when  not  interrupted  by  Hood's  rebel  army, 
they  were  engaged  in  building  block-houses  between  that 
bridge  and  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.  During  the  most  of  the 
month  of  December  a  portion  of  the  Engineers  and  Me- 
chanics was  engaged  in  completing  and  repairing  Fort 
Rosecrans,  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  while  the  rebels,  under 
Hood,  were  investing  Nashville. 

A  detachment,  consisting  of  Company  L  of  this  regi- 
ment, with  several  companies  of  an  Illinois  regiment,  which 
had  been  sent  out  to  bring  through  from  Stevenson,  Ala., 
a  railroad-train  of  supplies,  was  captured  Dec.  15,  1864, 
after  several  hours'  hard  fighting. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1865,  Companies  L  and  M  left 
Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  to  rejoin  their  regiment,  and  pro- 
ceeding by  rail,  via  Louisville,  Indianapolis,  Crestline,  Pitts- 
burgh, and  Philadelphia,  to  New  York ;  they  then  took 
steamer  to  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  thence  by  rail  to  Newbern,  and 
finally  joined  their  comrades  at  Goldsboro',  N.  C,  March  25, 
1865. 

Gen.  Sherman's  army  began  its  last  campaign  April  10, 
18G.'i.  By  breaking  camp  at  Goldsboro'  and  moving 
rapidly  to  the  northward,  Johnston's  fleeing  forces  were 
pursued  to,  through,  and  beyond  Raleigh.  The  Engineers 
and  Mechanics  marched  with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps, 
but  proceeded  no  farther  than  Raleigh,  where  they  remained 
until  after  Johnston's  surrender.*  On  the  30th  of  April  the 
regiment  moved  out  on  its  homeward  march  with  the  Sev- 
enteenth Army  Corps.  It  Crossed  the  Roanoke  River  at 
Monroe,  and  passing  through  the  cities  of  Petersburg, 
Richmond  and  Alexandria,  Va.,  arrived  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  during  the  latter  part  of  May,  1865.  It  partici- 
pated in  the  grand  review  of  two  hundred  thousand  veteran 
soldiers  held  at  the  nation's  capital,  May  23  and  24,  1865, 
and  then  went  into  camp  near  Georgetown,  D.  C.  Early 
in  June  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
thence  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  it  was  employed  upon 
the  defenses  until  September  22d,  when  it  was  mustered  out 
of  the  United  States  service.  It  arrived  at  the  designated 
rendezvous,  Jackson,  Mich.,  September  25th,  and  on  the 
1st  day  of  October,  1865,  was  paid  ofi"  and  disbanded. 

The  battles  and  skirmishes  which  by  general  ordei-s  it 
was  entitled  to  have  inscribed  upon  its  colors  were  those 
of  Mill  Springs,  Ky.,  Jan.  19,  1862;  Farmington,  Miss., 
May  9,  1862;  siege  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  10  to  31, 
1862 ;  Perryville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8,  1862  ;  Lavergne,  Tenn., 
Jan.  1,  1863;  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Oct.  6,  1863;  siege  of 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22  to  Sept.  2,  1864 ;  Savannah,  Ga., 
Dec.  11  to  23, 1864 ;  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19, 1865. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  MEN  IN  THE  ENGINEEES. 
Company  E, 
Stebbins  C.  Bliss,  diach.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 
Francis  A.  Coats,  trans,  to  Vet.  Ees.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1803. 
JIarcua  A.  Case,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Uartin  Fisher,  mnst.  out  Sept.  22, 1885. 
Jolin  Grier,  most,  out  Sept  22, 1865. 
S.  C.  Hutchinson,  discb.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864, 


*  April  26,  1865. 


Jan]os  Kelly,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Jackson  Kelly,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Saml.  S.  KentHeld,  died  of  disease  at  Bridgeport,  Ala. 

Hervey  Lyon,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Clias,  P.  Lyon,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Arnold  L,  Lake,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 

Nathan  Fenny,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 

Luther  B,  Pratt,  discli,  fur  disability,  Nov,  29, 1862, 

Hull  L,  Prudden,  disch,  by  order,  Aug,  25, 1866, 

Merritt  Randolph,  disch.  by  order,  June  2, 1862. 

Joel  T.  Smith,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865, 

Emanuel  Sumner,  died  of  disease  at  Bridgoport,  Aa,,  March  23, 1864. 

Hiram  H,  Starr,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Oct,  31, 1864, 

Frederick  Tuttle,  disch,  for  disability.  May  18, 1863. 

Company  G. 
David  Scott,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes,  Corps,  Jan.  1, 1865. 

Company  L, 
Danl,  Baughn,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 

John  Crawford,  died  of  disease  at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  Oct.  27, 1864. 
Wm,  H,  Hewitt,  died  of  wonnds  at  Muifreesboro',  Jan,  13, 1865. 
Peter  W.  Prudden,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
John  Vanoise,  disch.  by  order,  July  3, 1865. 

Company  M. 

Oscar  F,  Bristol,  disch,  by  order,  July  21, 1865, 

Saml,  Crawford,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Peter  Duffs,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Hiram  Hilliker,  must,  out  Sept.  22,  1865. 

Chas.  Randolph,  disch.  by  order,  May  22, 1865. 

SLirtin  Sutphen,  disch,  by  order,  Sept.  27, 1865. 

Oven  Sebring,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 

Sylvester  Sebring,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1866. 

Saml.  T.  Simpson,  disch.  for  disability,  April  23, 1865. 

Danl.  J.  Wilkinson,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY  MEN   IN   THE   ENGINEEES. 
Company  B, 
Nathan  Colby,  disch.  by  order,  .Tune  6, 1865. 
Alexander  Kellas,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1866. 

Company  C. 
Newell  E,  Cady,  disch,  by  order,  July  11, 1865. 
Andrew  Kinney,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  D. 
2d  Lieut,  Herman  W,  Perkins,  Corunna;  com,  Nov,  3, 1864   mast,  out  Sept.  22, 

1865. 
Daniel  F.  Case,  disch.  for  disability,  June  1, 1862. 

Company  E. 
Isaiah  Slayter,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 
William  B,  Staner,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 

Company  F. 
William  E,  Delbridge,  discb,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Company  G. 
2d  Lieut,  Rodney  Mann,  Owosso  ;  com,  April  12  ,1862 ;  pro,  to  let  lieut. 
John  Berkley,  disch,  by  order,  June  6,  1865, 
Joseph  Gest,  discli,  by  order,  June  6, 1866, 
William  Stone,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Charles  W,  Smith,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 

Company  H. 
Harrison  Hackett,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1A65. 

Company  /, 
Oliver  Hopkins,  discb.  for  disability,  JaB,  14, 1864. 
James  H,  Marble,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  24, 1863. 

Company  K. 
Charles  E.  BoweU,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866, 

Ckympany  M, 
Lewis  M,  Dickinson,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 


FIRST  AND  SECOND  CAVALRY. 


93 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

FIRST  AND  SBOOND  OAVALBY. 

The  First  Cavalry  in  Virginia  in  1862 — Campaigning  in  1863 — 
Raids  and  other  Movements  in  1864  and  1865 — Organization  of  the 
Second  Cavalry  at  firand  Rapids — Campaigning  in  Missouri,  Mis- 
sissippi, Kentucky,  and  Tennessee  in  1862  and  1863 — Re-enlist- 
ment— Campaigns  of  Atlanta  and  Nashville — Raidings  in  1865 — 
Muster  Out. 

The  First  Michigan  Cavalry  Regiment  was  organized  in 
the  summer  of  1861,  at  Camp  Lyon,  Detroit,  which  was 
designated  as  the  regimental  rendezvous.  One  company  of 
the  regiment  was  chiefly  made  up  of  volunteers  from  Clin- 
ton and  Shiawassee  Counties.  This  company,  originally 
styled  the  "  Constitutional  Guard,"  was  recruited  by  Capt. 
Josiah  B.  Park,  of  Ovid,  and  First  Lieut.  Thurlow  W. 
Lusk,  of  Duplain,  under  whom  it  was  mustered  and  saw 
its  first  service.  The  recruiting  headquarters  were  at  Ovid, 
and  the  company  was  raised  to  a  strength  of  sixty-four  men 
in  three  days  from  the  date  of  its  first  enlistment.*  It  left 
Ovid  about  the  1st  of  August,  was  reported  at  the  regi- 
mental rendezvous,  and  designated  in  the  organization  as 
D  Company  of  the  First  Cavalry. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser- 
vice September  13,  1861,  eleven  liundred  and  forty-four 
strong,  under  command  of  Col.  T.  F.  Brodhead,  and  on 
the  29th  of  the  same  month  Companies  A,  D,  E,  and  M 
embarked  on  the  steamer  "  May  Queen,"  and  Companies 
H,  I,  K,  and  L  on  the  "  Ocean,"  for  Cleveland,  on  their 
way  to  Washington  and  the  seat  of  war.  They  reached 
Washington  on  the  2d  of  October,  and  were  soon  after 
joined  by  C,  F,  and  G  Companies,  which  had  been  left  be- 
hind in  charge  of  the  horses.  About  the  20th  of  November 
the  regiment  moved  to  Frederick,  Md.,  where  it  remained 
in  camp,  two  miles  from  the  city,  during  the  winter. 

Upon  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  of  1862  the 
First  became  actively  employed  on  the  Upper  Potomac  and 
in  the  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains.  On  the  23d 
of  March  it  took  part  in  the  battle  at  Winchester,  and  won 
honorable  mention  for  its  bravery  and  efficiency  in  covering 
the  retreat  of  Gen.  Banks'  forces  from  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  being  almost  continuously  under  fire  while  engaged 
in  that  service.  Afterwards  it  took  part  in  the  actions  at 
Middletown  (March  25th),  at  Strasburg  (March  27th), 
Harrisonburg  (April  2d),  Winchester  (second  battle.  May 
2'J:th),  Orange  Court-House  (July  16th),  Cedar  Mouptain 
(August  9th),  and  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
August  30th,  in  which  last-named  engagement  its  com- 
manding officer.  Col.  Brodhead,  was  mortally  wounded. 
The  losses  of  the  regiment  in  that  battle  were  twenty  killed 
and  wounded,  seven  prisoners,  and  one  hundred  and  six 
missinn-.  From  that  time  until  November  1st  ten  more 
had  died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  and  sixty  of  disease. 

During  the  month  of  November,  and  through  the  follow- 
ing winter  and  spripg,  the  regiment  was  employed  in  grand 
guard  duty  along  the  line  of  the  Potomac  River,  in  Vir- 
ginia, from  Leesburg  (the  locality  of  the  battle  of  Ball's 
Bluff  in  1861),  on  the  northwest,  to  the  mouth  of  Occo- 


«  This  statement  is  from  the  local  newspapers  of  that  time. 


quan  Creek,  below  Mount  Vernon.  This  duty,  besides 
being  of  the  most  arduous  and  laborious  kind,  was  one 
which  required  the  exercise  of  constant  and  almost  sleep- 
less vigilance  in  guarding  against  the  inroads  and  attacks 
of  the  bold  and  enterprising  guerrilla  bands  of  Mosby  and 
Stuart ;  but  so  well  did  the  men  of  the  First  Michigan 
keep  their  guard  against  surprises,  that  though  two  cavalry 
regiments  of  other  States  lost  each  about  two  hundred  men 
while  engaged  in  the  sanje  duty,  during  the  same  time,  this 
regiment  lost  only  about  thirty  men.  When  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  under  the  famous  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  made  a  raid 
along  the  Union  lines,  in  February,  1863,  a  detachment  of 
the  First  was  sent  out  to  observe  their  movements,  and 
finding  them  on  the  Occoquan,  at  once  engaged  them,  and 
drove  them  back  in  confusion.  They,  however,  rallied  on 
learning  the  weakness  of  the  attacking  party,  and  in  turn 
charged  vigorously,  and  compelled  the  Union  force  to  re- 
tire ;  yfhicli  they  did,  however,  in  good  order,  and  con- 
stantly fighting,  over  a  distance  of  several  miles,  inflicting 
quite  heavy  loss  on  the  raiders. 

When  Gen.  Lee  invaded  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  in 
June,  1863,  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  marched  north- 
ward to  meet  him,  the  First  Michigan  moved  with  the 
other  cavalry  regiments  (June  27th)  on  the  campaign  of 
Gettysburg,  and  during  fifteen  days  fought  in  sixteen  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes,  being  almost  constantly  in  the  saddle. 
At  Gettysburg,  on  the  3d  of  July,  it  met  and  charged  three 
regiments  of  Confederate  cavalry,  composing  the  "  Hampton 
Legion,"  and  in  six  minutes  put  the  rebel  force  to  flight ; 
but  in  this  engagement  it  lost  eighty  enlisted  men  and 
eleven  officers  out  of  the  three  hundred  who  went  into  the 
fight.  Gen.  Custer,  in  his  report  of  the  operations  of  the 
cavalry  at  Gettysburg,  said  of  this  fight :  "  Arriving  within 
a  few  yards  of  the  enemy's  column  a  charge  was  ordered, 
and  with  a  yell  that  sprea4  terror  before  them,  the  First 
Michigan  Cavalry,  led  by  Col.  Town,  rode  upon  the  front 
rank  of  the  enemy,  sabering  all  who  came  within  reach. 
For  a  moment,  but  only  a  moment,  that  long  heavy  column 
stood  its  ground ;  then,  unable  to  withstand  the  impetu- 
osity of  the  attack,  it  gaye  way  into  a  disorderly  rout, 
leaving  vast  numbers  of  their  dead  and  wounded  in  our 
possession,  while  the  First,  being  masters  of  the  field,  had 
the  proud  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  much-vaunted  chivalry, 
led  by  their  favorite  commander,  seek  safety  in  headlong 
flight.  I  cannot  find  language  to  express  my  high  appre- 
ciation of  the  gallantry  and  daring  displayed  by  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry.  They  advanced 
to  the  charge  of  a  vastly  superior  force  with  as  much  order 
and  precision  as  if  going  upon  parade;,  and  I  challenge  the 
annals  of  warfare  to  produce  a  more  brilliant  or  successful 
charge  of  cavalry  than  the  one  just  recounted." 

On  the  following  day  the  regiment  was  again  engaged  at 
Fairfield  Gap.  The  following  extract  is  from  the  report  of 
that  fight  made  by  Col.  C.  H.  Town,  commanding  the  First : 
"  We  moved  early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July  to 
Emmettsburg,  thence  to  Monterey.  Before  reaching  the 
latter  place  the  enemy  was  discovered  in  force  upon  the 
hills  to  the  right  of  the  road.  The  regiment,  being  in  ad- 
vance of  the  column,  was  sent  on  a  road  leading  to  Fair- 
field Gap.     The  enemy  having  possession  of  the  gap,  a 


94 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


chiirge  was  made  by  one  squadron,  which,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  regiment  deployed  as  skirmishers,  was 
successful  in  driving  the  enemy  from  the  gap.  The  regi- 
ment hold  the  position  until  the  entire  column  had  passed, 
though  the  enemy  made  desperate  eiforts  with  superior 
numbers  to  drive  us  out.'' 

During  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  from  Gettysburg  to 
the  Potomac  the  men  of  the  First  were  almost  constantly 
in  the  saddle  and  frequently  engaged.  On  the  6th  of  July 
it  supported  a  battery  under  heavy  fire,  but  fortunately 
sustained  no  loss.  It  took  part  in  the  actions  at  Boonsboro', 
Hagerstown,  and  Williamsport ;  and  at  Falling  Waters,  Va., 
on  the  14th  of  July,  it  was  heavily  engaged,  capturing  five 
hundred  prisoners  and  the  colors  of  the  Fortieth  and  Forty- 
seventh  Virginia  Infantry. 

In  September,  1863,  the  War  Department  authorized  the 
consolidation  of  the  twelve  companies  of  the  regiment  into 
eight,  and  the  raising  of  a  new  battalion  of  four  companies. 
These  were  speedily  raised,  and  were  mustered  into  service 
at  Mount  Clemens,  in  December,  1863.  This  battalion  went 
to  Camp  Stoneman,  near  Washington,  in  December,  1863, 
and  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1864.  Meanwhile, 
the  two  old  battalions  re-enlisted,  came  home  on  veteran 
furlough,  and  joined  the  new  levies  at  Camp  Stoneman. 

The  three  battalions  went  to  the  front  together,  and  in 
the  latter  part  of  March,  1864,  joined  Gen.  Sheridan's 
cavalry  corps  at  Culpeper,  Va.,  being  still  a  part  of  the 
Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade.  The  regiment  did  excellent 
work  in  the  arduous  campaigns  of  May  and  June,  1864, 
one  of  its  most  brilliant  engagements  being  that  at  Yellow 
Tavern,  Va.,  on  the  11th  of  May.  The  splendid  charge 
of  the  First  on  that  occasion  is  mentioned  in  Gen.  Custer's 
report  of  the  movement,  as  follows :  "  From  a  personal 
examination  of  the  ground  I  discovered  that  a  successful 
charge  might  be  made  upon  the  battery  of  the  enemy  by 
keeping  well  to  the  right.  With  this  intention,  I  formed 
the  First  Michigan  Cavalry  in  column  of  squadrons  under 
cover  of  the  woods.  At  the  same  time  I  directed  Col. 
Alger  and  Maj.  Kidd  to  move  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Michi- 
gan Cavalry  forward  and  occupy  the  attention  of  the  enemy 
on  the  left,  Heaton's  battery  to  engage  them  in  the  front, 
while  the  First  charged  the  battery  on  the  flank.  The  bugle 
sounded  the  advance,  and  the  throe  regiments  moved  forward. 
As  soon  as  the  First  Michigan  moved  from  the  cover  of  the 
woods  the  enemy  divined  our  intention,  and  opened  a  brisk 
fire  from  his  artillery  with  shell  and  canister.  Before  the 
battery  of  the  enemy  could  be  reached  there  were  five  fences 
to  be  opened  and  a  bridge  to  cross,  over  which  it  was  im- 
possible to  pass  more  than  three  at  one  time,  the  intervening 
ground  being  within  close  range  of  the  enemy's  battery. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  these  obstacles,  the  First  Michigan, 
Lieut.- Col.  Stagg  commanding,  advanced  boldly  to  the 
charge,  and  when  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  battery 
charged  it  with  a  yell  which  spread  terror  before  them. 
Two  pieces  of  cannon,  two  limbers  filled  with  ammunition, 
and  a  large  number  of  prisoners  were  among  the  results  of 
this  charge.  .  .  .  Lieut.-Col.  Stagg,  who  commanded  the 
First  Michigan  in  the  charge,  with  the  officers  and  men  of 
his  command,  deserve  great  credit  for  the  daring  manner 
in  which  the  rebel  battery  was  taken." 


The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Hanovertown,  on  the  27th 
of  May,  and  at  Hawes'  Shop  on  the  28th,  where  fifteen  of 
its  members  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  at  Old  Church 
on  the  30th,  where  fifteen  were  killed  and  wounded.  On  the 
31st  of  May  and  1st  of  June  it  was  engaged,  together  with 
other  cavalry  regiments,  at  Cold  Harbor,  where  it  fought, 
dismounted,  in  advance  of  the  infantry,  having  eighteen 
men  killed  and  wounded.  It  shared  the  fortunes  of  the 
brigade  throughout  the  summer,  having  fifty-one  men  killed 
and  wounded  at  Trevillian  Station  (where  six  commissioned 
officers  were  killed),  eleven  killed  and  wounded  at  Front 
Royal,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  thirty-two  at  Manchester, 
and  twenty-seven  at  Cedar  Creek.  During  the  six  months 
closing  on  the  1st  of  November,  1864,  the  regiment  had 
eighty-two  men  killed  or  mortally  wounded  in  action,  and 
one  hundred  and  two  less  seriously  wounded,  while  only 
thirty  three  died  of  disease. 

After  being  in  quarters  with  the  brigade  near  Winchester 
through  the  winter,  the  First  went  with  it  in  Sheridan's 
great  raid  in  March,  1865,  and  was  warmly  engaged  in  the 
closing'  scenes  of  the  Rebellion.  A  most  gallant  charge 
made  by  the  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks  is  men- 
tioned as  follows :  "  The  next  morning  we  moved  forward, 
passing  over  the  ground  from  which  we  had  been  driven  the 
day  before.  Our  brigade  being  in  advance,  we  soon  came  upon 
the  enemy,  strongly  posted  behind  a  large  swamp,  through 
which  it  was  impossible  to  penetrate.  Moving  to  the  right, 
the  enemy's  cavalry  appeared  in  our  front,  and  was  driven 
to  his  main  line  of  works,  occupied  by  Kershaw's  division. 
In  the  afternoon  the  regiment  participated  in  the  final 
charge  and  capture  of  these  works,  taking  many  prisoners 
and  pursuing  the  flying  enemy  until  long  after  dark." 

This  battle  was  immediately  followed  by  the  surrender  of 
the  Confederate  army  under  Gen.  Lee,  and  soon  after  this 
the  regiment  moved  into  the  edge  of  North  Carolina,  then 
returned  to  Washington,  and  immediately  after  the  review 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1865,  was 
sent  by  rail  and  steamer  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  whence 
it  was  ordered  across  the  Plains.  There  was  much  dissatis- 
faction, but  most  of  the  regiment  set  out  on  the  march, 
reaching  Camp  Collins,  at  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
on  the  26th  of  July.  Its  headquarters  remained  there 
until  about  the  1st  of  November,  when  it  was  removed  to 
Fort  Bridger.  There  it  was  consolidated  with  those  men 
of  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry  who  had  the 
longest  time  to  serve,  forming  an  organization  known  as 
the  First  Michigan  Veteran  Cavalry.  After  the  consolida- 
tion eight  companies  were  sent  to  Camp  Douglas,  near  Salt 
Lake  City,  while  four  remained  at  Fort  Bridger.  The 
regiment  garrisoned  those  two  stations  until  the  10th  of 
March,  1866,  when  it  was  mustered  out,  paid  ofi',  and  dis- 
banded. The  men  were  given  their  choice, — to  be  dis- 
banded in  Utah  then,  or  to  remain  till  June  and  then  be 
marched  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  without  horses  or  tents.  All 
but  about  seventy  made  the  former  choice.  The  commuta- 
tion paid  them  in  lieu  of  transportation,  however,  was  not 
enough  to  carry  them  home,  and  on  representation  of  the 
injustice  to  Congress,  that  body  voted  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars  to  each  member  of  the  regiment,  minus 
the  amount  already  paid'  as  commutation   money.     This 


FIKST  AND  SECOND  CAVALEY. 


95 


gave  each  member  about  two  hundred  and  ten  dollars  extra, 
which  was  duly  paid  them  by  the  government. 

SOLDIBnS  OP  THE  PIKST  CAVALRY  FROM  CLINTON  COONTT. 

Field  and  Staff. 

Maj.  Thurlow  W.  Lusk,  Duplain  ;  com.  Oct.  25, 1864;  must,  out  Nov.  28, 1865. 

Non- Commissioned  Staff, 

Q.M.-Sergt.  Samuel  L.  Bra'is,  Ovid;  veteran,  enl.  Deo.  21, 186:1;  pro.  to  1st  lieut 

Co.  G. 
Q.M.-Sergt.  C.  V.  Carrier,  Ovid ;  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  21, 1863 ;  died  of  disease  at 

Alexandria. 
Q-M.-Sergt.  Edward  D.  Weed,  Duplain;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  2,  1864;  trans   to 

Co.  H. 

Company  C. 
Josepli  Tucker,  disch.  for  disability. 

Comjpanij  D. 

Capt.  Josiah  B.  Park,  Ovid;  com.  Ang.  10, 1861;  pro.  to  maj.  of  4th  Mich.  Cav. 

Aug.  14, 1802.  ' 

Capt.  Tliurlow  W.  Lusk,  Duplain ;  com.  Aug.  1,  1862;  2d  lieut,  Aug.  22, 1861; 

pro.  to  maj.,  Oct.  25, 1864. 
2d  Lieut.  Harry  Marvin,  Ovid  ;  com.  Nov.  12, 1862 ;  must,  out  at  end  of  service, 

Dec.  21,  1864. 
Sergt.  Richard  a.  Tinch,  Ovid ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  died  of  disease  at  Frederick 

Md. 
Sergt.  Mark  B.  Wansor,  Ovid;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Corp.  Henry  S.  Chapman,  Duplain;  enl.  Aug.  12,  1861;  disch.  for  disability, 

June,  1862. 
Corp.  George  G.  Winfield,  Ovid;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1861;  killed  in  skirmish  in  Vir- 
ginia, April  1, 1862. 
Corp.  James  W.  Howd,  Duplain ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862. 
Corp.  John  H.  Faxon,  Duplain ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1802. 
Mus.  E.  V.  Chase,  Duplain  ;  enl.  Aug.  10, 1862;  sergeant;  veteran,  ro-enl.  Jan. 

4, 1864;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  F,  Oct.  25, 1804;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.,  Co.  F,  and 

trans,  to  Co.  M ;  must,  out  Marcli  10, 1866. 
Mus.  S.  L.  Bra«8,  Ovid;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862;  trans,  to  Co.  B. 
Sad.  Henry  L.  HoUiiter,  Duplain;  enl.  Aug.  12,  1862;  veteran,  re-enl.  Jan.  2, 

1804;  must,  out  April  25, 1866. 
Far.  Charles  Chase,  Ovid;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862. 

Far.  Jerome  Bitely,  Ovid ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1802 ;  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Wag.  Almon  Bennett,  Duplain  ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862. 
Byron  Aldrich,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  June  9, 1805. 
James  Bennett,  veteran,  eul.  Nov.  16, 180:1;  must,  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 
Albert  Bradley,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1804. 
John  Bromley,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  2, 1864. 
Oliver  CrosH,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  5, 1862. 
Ebenezer  Cowles,  disch.  for  disability,  January,  1802. 
Evan  Davis,  missing  in  action,  Feb.  26,  1863. 
S.  R.  Dewstoe,  Duplain  ;  disch.  for  dinability,  Feb.  13, 1863. 
Daniel  R  Dilts,  disch.  for  disability,  June,  1862. 

John  Dilts,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  23, 1804;  must,  out  by  order,  July  15, 1805. 
Morris  Dilts,  veteran,  enl.  March  3, 1864  ;  must,  out  Aug.  7, 1866. 
George  W.  Davis,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Francis  M.  Davis,  Duplain ;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4,  1864 ;  must,  out  March  10, 

1866. 
John  Hibbard,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  March  10,1866. 
John  W.  Hawkins,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  14, 1862. 
George  E.  Ilolltster,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  26, 1861. 
Jacob  House,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  May  12,  1866. 
George  R.  Jameson,  Ovid;  died  of  disease  iu  Virginia,  April  29,  1862. 
Morgan  L.  Leach,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  14, 1862. 

And.  J.  Linman,  Duplain ;  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Nov.  9, 1861. 
And.  J.  Mead,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  Dec.  23, 1862. 
Bernard  Oberlo,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  March  10, 1860. 
Silas  S.  Perry,  Duplain ;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  8, 1800. 
James  F.  Ross,  disch.  for  disability,  June  30, 1862. 

William  A.  Simmons,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  21, 1863;  must,  out  July  11, 1805. 
William  Sweet,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  4, 1864;  disch.  by  order.  May  3, 1805. 
William  D.  Scott,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  25, 1861. 
Charles  0pton,  must,  out  Dec.  7, 1865. 

Josiah  D.  Van  Berger,  veteran,  enl  Nov.  16, 1863 ;  must,  out  Jan.  16, 1866. 
Albert  Wataon,  disch.  for  disability,  June  30, 1862. 
Allen  D.  Watkins,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  9, 1862. 
Charles  J.  Young,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  26, 1801. 
Daniel  C.Young,  disch.  by  order,  Juue  9, 1865. 

Company  S. 
Edward  Hindman,  must,  out  March  26, 1866. 
Chailes  0.  Hier,  must,  out  June  30, 1866. 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE*  FIRST  CAVALRY  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

Company  O. 
Charles  Bogue,  veteran,  enl.  March  3, 1864 ;  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
George  L.  Foster,  disoh.  at  end  of  service,  Aug  22, 1864. 


William  D.  Jewell,  veteran,  enl.  Deo.  21, 1863. 

Joseph  Naracon,  missing  in  action  at  Fail-field  Gap,  July  4,  1863. 

Company  D. 
1st  Seigt.  Frank  Shepherd,  Owosso;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1861;  disch.  June,  1862. 
Corp.  George  P.  Guilford,  Owosso;  enl.  Aug.  12,  1861;  veteran,  Jan.  4,  1864; 

disch.  for  disability,  July  IT,  1865. 
Corp.  Joseph  0.  Hathaway,  Middlebury ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1861. 
Lemuel  W.  Bogue,  died  of  disease  at  Canip  Jlucker,  Nov.  6, 1861. 
John  Brooks,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  7, 1862. 

Bradley  B.  Bennett,  veteran,  enl.  March  3, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  July  11, 1865. 
Henry  N.  Curtis,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  2,  1864;  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Jacob  Color,  veteran,  eul.  Jan.  2, 1864;  must,  out  March  10,1806. 
William  Hankinson,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  23, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  10, 1805. 
William  Hyatt,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  2, 1804;  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Egbert  Maton,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  2, 1864. 
Henry  C.  McCarty,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  24. 1861. 
Charles  W.  Moslier,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  2, 1862. 
Willard  Ryan,  disch.  for  disability,  June  30, 1862. 
Samuel  H  Smith,  disch.  for  disability,  June  30, 1862. 
Aaron  L.  Tubbs,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Rucker,  Nov.  9, 1861. 

Company  F. 
Gustavus  Brenner,  must,  out  March  25, 1866. 

Company  G. 
William  Everest,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Alvah  C.  Laing,  discli.  by  order,  June  3, 1805. 
William  Mabeen,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Alexander  Mabeen,  must,  out  March  10,  1866. 

SECOND   CAVALEY. 

The  Second  Cavalry  Regiment  was  organized  in  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1861,  by  Hon.  P.  W.  Kellogg, 
and  for  this  reason  was  generally  known  during  the  period 
of  'its  recruitment  as  "  Kellogg's  First  Cavalry."*  It  con- 
tained between  fifty  and  sixty  men  from  Clinton  and  Shia- 
wassee Counties,  these  being  scattered  through  all  the 
companies.  The  regimental  rendezvous  and  camp  of  in- 
struction was  located  at  Grand  Rapids. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser- 
vice on  the  2d  of  October,  1861,  and  on  the  14th  of  Novem- 
ber following  it  left  Grand  Rapids  for  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where 
it  remained  till  March,  1862.  It  then  moved  to  New 
Madrid,  Mo.,  where  it  took  part  in  the  military  operations 
against  that  place,  and  afterwards  at  Island  No.  10.  In 
May,  1862,  it  moved  to  Corinth,  Miss.,  and  was  occupied 
throughout  the  summer  in  cavalry  duty  in  Northern  Mis- 
sissippi and  Western  Tennessee.  Its  colonel  was  then 
Philip  H.  Sheridan,  now  lieutenant-general,  who  had  re- 
cently been  detailed  from  duty  as  a  captain  in  the  regular 
army  to  receive  the  colonelcy  lately  vacated  by  the  promo- 
tion of  Gen.  Gordon  Granger.  Col.  Sheridan  commanded 
the  brigade  consisting  of  the  Second  Michigan,  Second 
Iowa,  and  Seventh  Kansas  Cavalry,  and  at  its  head  made 
numerous  excursions  through  the  country  around  Corinth, 
to  keep  down  guerrillas  and  learn  the  movements  of  the 
enemy. 

Early  in  the  autumn,  however,  Col.  Sheridan  was  made  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers  and  transferred  to  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  about  the  same  time  the  Second 
Cavalry  was  sent  to  Kentucky.  In  December,  1862,  and 
January,  1863,  it  was  engaged  in  a  movement  into  East 
Tennesfsee,  the  men  being  in  the  saddle  twenty-two  days 
and  taking  part  in  several  sharp  skirmishes.  Soon  after- 
wards it  moved  into  Middle  Tennessee,  and  for  several 

^  Called  the  First  because  Mr.  Kellogg  soon  after  commenced  the 
organization  of  other  cavalry  regiments,  ' 


96 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAAVASSEB  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


months  its  headquarters  were  at  or  near  Murfreesboro', 
while  it  was  almost  constantly  engaged  in  scoutings  and 
raids  through  that  region. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1863,  it  had  a  sharp  encounter 
with  a  large  rebel  force  under  Gen.  N.  B.  Forrest,  killing 
and  wounding  many  and  capturing  fifty-two  prisoners. 
The  Second  had  seven  men  killed  and  wounded.  On  the 
4th  of  June  it  had  another  brisk  skirmish  between  Frank- 
lin and  Triune,  five  of  its  men  being  killed  and  wounded. 
When  the  army  advanced  from  Murfreesboro'  in  June, 
1863,  the  Second  accompanied  it  in  the  cavalry  division, 
driving  the  enemy  from  Shelbyville,  Middletown,  and  other 
points.  In  the  autumn  it  was  engaged  in  scouting  around 
Chattanooga,  at  one  time  being  part  of  a  force  which  chased 
Gen.  Wheeler's  cavalry  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  miles 
in  six  days  (October  3d  to  8th  inclusive).  In  November 
it  marched  into  East  Tennessee,  and  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber it  participated  in  an  attack  on  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  having  ten  men  killed  and 
wounded.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1864,  the  Second 
with  other  forces  attacked  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry  on 
Pigeon  River,  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery  and 
seventy-five  prisoners,  and  having  eleven  of  its  own  men 
wounded. 

Three  hundred  and  twenty-eight  of  the  men  re-enlisted 
as  veterans,  and  in  April  went  home  on  veteran  furlough. 
The  rest  of  the  regiment  accompanied  Gen.  Sherman  in 
his  Atlanta  campaign,  having  several  sharp  skirmishes  wiih 
the  enemy,  but  ordered  back"  from  Lost  Mountain  to  Frank- 
lin, Tenn.,  were  rejoined  by  the  veterans  in  July.  During 
the  summer  and  autumn  it  was  busily  engaged  in  marching 
through  Middle  Tennessee,  fighting  with  the  horsemen  of 
Forrest  and  other  rebel  generals. 

On  the  5th  of  November,  1864,  the  regiment  was  at- 
tacked at  Shoal  Creek,  Ala.,  by  a  large  Confederate  force 
(a  part  of  Hood's  army,  then  advancing  against  Nashville), 
and  was  forced  back  with  heavy  loss.  It  steadily  fell  back, 
skirmishing  almost  constantly  with  the  enemy,  and  at 
Franklin,  on  the  30th  of  November,  it  resisted  his  ad- 
vance all  day,  having  eighteen  officers  and  men  killed  and 
wounded. 

After  Hood's  defeat  before  Nashville,  the  Second  pressed 
hard  on  his  rear,  and  at  Richland  Creek,  on  the  24th  of 
December,  charged  repeatedly,  driving  the  foe  sixteen 
miles,  and  having  seven  men  killed  and  wounded.  After 
Hood's  final  retreat  from  the  State  the  regiment  remained 
mostly  in  Middle  Tennessee  until  March  11, 1865,  when  it 
set  out  on  a  long  raid  through  Northern  Alabama  to  Tusca- 
loosa, thence  through  Talladega  to  Macon,  Ga.,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  1st  day  of  May,  1865. 

After  remaining  in  Georgia,  on  garrison  duty,  until  the 
17th  of  August,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  and  sent 
home,  arriving  at  Jackson  on  the  25th  of  August,  where 
it  was  disbanded. 

SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  SOLDIEKS  IN  THE  SECOND  CAVALKT. 
Conypany  B. 

David  Bamnm,  died  in  action  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  Dec.  24, 1863. 

Henry  Badder,  inuet.  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 

Abel^Ctonson,  must,  out  May  30, 1865. 

Holland  Hart,  died  in  action  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  Dec.  24, 1863. 


John  JacUson,  must,  out  Sept.  14, 1865. 

James  H.  Lyman,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864  ;  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  6,  1806. 

Comparty  C, 
Dean  Cntler,  must,  out  Aug.  14, 1805. 
James  A.  I'arr,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1805. 

Company  D. 
John  Hicks,  trans,  to  Vet.  Ees.  Corps,  April  30, 1864. 
"Warren  L.  Woolman,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 

Company  E. 
John  Bowman,  inust.  but  JUne  21, 1865. 
Thomas  Connor,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1805. 
James  I.  May,  must,  out  Aug.  17,  1865. 
Joseph  MoBher,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  19, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Charles  Bradford,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  March  21, 1865. 
Andrew  Call,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
George  Hilma,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Alonzo  Mattison,  must,  out  June  21, 1865. 
Sidney  M.  Slielley,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 

Company  G. 
John  Codger,  trans,  to  U.  S.  navy,  April,  1864. 
William  Jiicobs,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  2, 1802. 
George  Jewctt,  disch.  for  disability,  April  14, 1863. 

Daniel  E.  Lemonyon,  died  of  disease  on  steamer  "  Woodford,"  April  19, 1862. 
George  Lttflin,  died  of  disease  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  Juno  22, 1865. 
Charles  Lemonyon,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1804 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Archibald  McHenry,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 

Company  H. 
Andrew  Kinney,  died  of  disease  at  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.,  Dec.  26, 1862. 
Emmett  Mullelt,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Silas  Newman ,  must,  out  Ang.  17, 1805. 
Owen  otto,  must,  ont  Aug.  17, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Sergt.  Abrnm  Jones,  Byron. 
James  C.  Graham,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Martin  Spencer,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
George  Shultz,  must,  out  Ang.  17, 1865. 

Company  L. 
Azariali  Martin,  mnst.  ont  Juno  3, 1865. 
Lyman  S.  Thrasher,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Charles  Yanalstin. 

Company  M. 

Harry  D.  Wardwell,  mnst.  ont  June  3, 1865. 
Henry  Wilson,  disch.  by  oi'der,  Aug.  25, 1865. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  IN  THE  SECONt)  OAVALKY. 
Contpany  A. 
Johnson  L.  SutlilT,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  II,  1865. 

Company  C. 
Henry  P.  Adams,  St.John's;  veteran,  enl.  Jau.  5, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1805. 
Wm.  H.  Buck,  must,  out  Ang.  30,  1865, 
Christian  Ilizer,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  July  13, 1864. 
Almon  Kelly,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Robt.  G.  Mason,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  22, 1864. 
Leroy  B,  Stowell,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  20, 1862, 
Benj.  F.  Tifft,  must,  out  July  20, 1865. 

Company  D. 
MuB.  Jas.  A.  Stevenson,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  must,  out  Atlg.  17, 1865. 
Levi  8.  Blakely,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Teon.,  June  26, 1862. 

Company  E. 
Saml.  n.  Barton,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Jacob  Blakely,  must,  out  Juiib  30, 1865. 
John  D.  Moon,  died  of  disease  at  Ri«nzi,  Miss.,  Aog.  1, 1862. 

Company  F, 
Jeremiah  Blackman,  must,  out  Ang.  17, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Jeremiah  Mahoney,  must,  out  Jnne  30, 1865. 

Con^amj/Jit. 
Sergt.  Henry  H.  Walker,  pro.  to  Ist  lieut.  and  q.-m. 
Charles  M.  Duke,  disch.  for  disability,  June  15, 1865. 


THIRD  CAVALRY. 


97 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THIBD    CATALKY. 

Rendezvous  of  the  Third  at  Grand  Rapids— Winter  Quarters  in 
Missouri — Campaigns  of  1862 — Marching  and  Fighting  in  Missis- 
sippi and  Tennessee  in  1863 — Ke-enlistment— Campaign  in  Ar- 
kansas—At Mobile — Services  in  Texas  till  the  Close  of  the  War. 

The  Third  Cavalry  Regiment  of  Michigan  was  recruited 
and  organized  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1861,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  at  its  rendezvous,  Grand 
Rapids,  on  the  1st  of  November  of  that  year.  Its  total 
strength  was  eleven  hundred  and  sixty-three  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  under  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  R.  H.  Gr. 
Minty.  One  of  the  companies  of  this  regiment  (Company 
B)  was  made  up  of  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  men,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  soldiers  from  these  counties  served 
in  eight  of  the  other  companies. 

The  regiment  left  its  rendezvous  Nov.  28, 1861,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.,  where  Col.  John  K.  Miz- 
ner  soon  after  assumed  command.  It  remained  at  St.  Louis 
until  early  in  the  spring  of  1862,  when  it  joined  Gen.  John 
Pope's  "Army  of  the  Mississippi,"  and  actively  participated 
in  the  operations  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  rebel 
strongholds  Island  No.  10  and  New  Madrid.  With  Gen. 
Pope's  army  it  then  proceeded  by  way  of  the  Mississippi, 
Ohio,  and  Tennessee  Rivers,  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  where 
it  arrived  soon  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  advance  of  Gen.  Halleck's  army  upon  Corinth, 
Miss.  Immediately  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  by 
Beauregard,  the  Third  was  ordered  to  Booneville,  Miss.,  to 
ascertain  the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy.  While 
in  the  performance  of  this  duty  a  small  detachment  of  the 
regiment  was  sent  out  in  advance,  under  one  of  the  captains. 
It  ran  upon  a  rebel  force  of  all  arms,  drove  them  from  their 
position,  halted,  and  bivouacked  for  the  niglit.  The  fol- 
lowing morning,  while  eating  breakfast,  a  Union  scout  dis- 
covered the  enemy  in  the  vicinity.  The  men  left  their 
breakfast  half  eaten,  mounted,  and  hurried  forward.  They 
soon  found  a  small  body  of  rebel  cavalry,  who  fled  before 
them.  The  Union  horsemen  advanced  at  a  rapid  pace, 
and  soon  came  upon  an  entire  regiment  of  rebel  cavalry 
drawn  up  to  dispute  their  further  progress.  There  was  no 
time  for  consideration.  If  the  little  command  liad  then 
retreated,  it  would  have  been  attacked  and  crushed  by  the 
el.ited  Confederates.  The  commanding  officer  knew  it  was 
essential  for  cavalry  to  get  the  advantage  of  its  own  mo- 
mentum in  a  combat,  and  accordingly  shouted  the  order  to 
charge.  The  detachment  dashed  forward  at  the  top  of  its 
speed,  burst  through  the  Confederate  lines,  and  then  turned 
and  charged  back.  Tlie  enemy  were  so  demoralized  by 
these  movements  that  no  attempt  was  made  to  follow.  How 
many  of  the  foe  were  killed  and  wounded  was  not  known, 
but  it  was  certain  that  at  least  eleven  were  dismounted,  for 
that  number  of  their  horses  accompanied  the  Union  force 
on  its  returning  charge.  After  retreating  a  short  distance, 
the  commander  halted  and  sent  a  dispatch  to  camp.  About 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  he  was  relieved  by  the  Second 
Michigan  Cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Philip  H. 
Sheridan.  The  latter  drove  back  the  enemy  four  or.  five 
miles,  and  then  rejoined  the  main  array. 
13 


The  regiment  was  actively  engaged  in  the  usual  cavalry 
duty  of  picketing  and  scouting  throughout  the  whole  sea- 
son. Through  the  month  of  August  it  was  at  Tuscumbia 
and  Russellville,  Ala.  On  the  approach  of  Price's  rebel 
cavalry  it  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Corinth.  At  luka. 
Miss.,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1862,  while  in  command 
of  Capt.  L.  G.  Wilcox, — Col.  Mizner  being  chief  of  cav- 
alry,— the  regiment  was  actively  engaged,  and  was  specially 
mentioned  in  Gen.  Rosecrans'  report  of  that  battle.  When 
Price  and  his  defeated  rebel  army  retired  from  the  field 
the  Third  hung  on  Ws  flanks  and  rear  for  many  miles,  be- 
coming several  times  hotly  engaged,  and  causing  him  re- 
peatedly to  form  line  of  battle  to  check  the  Union  advance. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  ending  Nov.  1,  1862,  the  regi- 
ment had  lost  one  hundred  and  four  men  who  died  of  dis- 
ease, seven  killed  in  action,  forty-five  wounded  in  action, 
and  fifty-nine  taken  prisoners.  Its  battles  and  skirmishes 
to  that  date  were  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  13, 1862  ;  siege 
of  Island  No.  10,  Mo.,  March  14th  to  April  7th  ;  Farm- 
ington.  Miss  ,  May  5th  ;  siege  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  10th 
to  31st ;  Spangler's  Mills,  Miss.,  July  26th  ;  Bay  Springs, 
Miss.,  September  10th;  luka.  Miss.,  September  19th; 
Corinth,  Miss.,  October  3d  and  4th ;  and  Hatchie,  Miss., 
October  6th.  It  advanced  with  Gen.  Grant's  army  into 
Mississippi  in  November  and  December,  1862,  and  engaged 
the  enemy  at  Holly  Springs,  November  7th  ;  at  Hudson- 
ville,  November  14th,  where  it  captured  an  entire  rebel 
company  ;  at  Lumkin's  Mill,  November  29th  ;  and  at  Ox- 
ford, December  2d  ;  and  shared  in  the  defeat  of  the  Union 
cavalry  at  Cofieeville,  December  5th. 

The  Third  passed  the  winter  in  Northern  Mississippi, 
and  in  1863  was  again  employed  in  that  State  and  West- 
ern Tennessee  in  almost  continuous  marching,  fighting,  and 
raiding,  in  the  arduous  service  of  driving  out  the  numer- 
ous bands  of  guerrillas  which  infested  Western  Tennessee 
and  Northern  Mississippi,  and  repelling  the  incursions  of 
Confederate  forces  from  other  quarters,  its  camp  being 
most  of  the  time  at  Corinth,  Miss.  It  fought  at  Clifton 
on  the  20th  of  February ;  at  Panola,  Miss.,  on  the  20th 
of  July;  at  Byhalia,  Miss.,  on  the  12th  of  October;  at 
Wyatt's  Ford,  Miss.,  on  the  13th  of  October.  At  Gre- 
nada, Miss.,  also,  on  the  14th  of  August,  the  Third  led 
the  Union  advance,  and,  after  a  vigorous  fight,  drove 
back  the  enemy,  captured  the  town,  and  destroyed  more 
than  sixty  locomotives  and  four  hundred  cars,  gathered 
there  by  the  Confederate  authorities.  By  the  1st  of  No- 
vember in  that  year  it  had  taken  an  additional  number  of 
prisoners,  sufficient  to  make  the  whole  number  captured  by 
it  since  its  commencement  of  service  two  thousand  one 
hundred,  of  whom  about  fifty  were  officers.  "  During  the 
year  (from  Jan.  1  to  Nov.  1,  1863)  the  regiment  marched 
a  distance  of  ten  thousand  eight  hundred  miles,  exclusive 
of  marches  by  separate  companies  and  detachments."  Ac- 
companying the  Third  in  its  movements  was  a  light  bat- 
tery of  twelve-pound  howitzers. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1864,  the  regiment  arrived  at 
La  Grange,  Tenn.,  wher^  it  prepared  winter  quarters,  and 
where,  during  January,, nearly  six  hundred  of  its  mem- 
bers re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and  received  the  usual  furlough, 
— to  rendezvous  at  Kalamazoo.     From  that  place   they 


98 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


moved,  with  their  numbers  hirgely  augmented  by  recruits, 
to  St.  Louis,  where  they  remained  about  two  months  on 
provost  duty  in  the  city,  while  awaiting  the  arrival  of  new 
horses  and  equipments.  Still  dismounted,  the  regiment 
moved  May  18th,  and  proceeded  to  Arkansas,  there  joining 
the  army  of  Gen.  Steele.  It  was  mounted  and  armed  with 
the  Spencer  repeating  carbine  on  the  1st  of  August,  and 
from  that  time  until  winter,  was  engaged  in  scouting  and 
outpost  duty  in  that  State.  Its  winter  quarters  were  at 
Brownsville  Station,  on  the  Memphis  and  Little  Rock  Rail- 
road. At  this  place  the  men  built  such  line  appearing 
quarters  and  stables,  that  it  was  called  Michigan  City,  in- 
stead of  Brownsville. 

The  regiment  was  transferred  (March  14,  18G5)  from 
Arkansas  to  the  Military  Division  of  West  Mississippi, 
under  Gen.  Canby,  to  move  with  the  forces  designed  to 
operate  against  Mobile.  In  this  service — as  a  part  of  the 
First  Brigade,  First  Division,  Seventh  Army  Corps — it 
moved  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence  to  its  objective  point. 
Mobile.  After  the  fall  of  that  city  the  regiment  was  em- 
ployed on  outpost  duty  till  after  the  surrender  of  Lee  and 
Johnston,  and  was  then  detailed  as  the  escort  of  Gen. 
Canby,  on  the  occasion  of  his  receiving  the  surrender  of 
the  Confederate  Gen.  Taylor  and  his  army.  It  moved 
across  the  country  from  Mobile  to  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana, 
arriving  there  May  22,  1865.  On  Sheridan's  assuming 
command  of  the  Division  of  the  Southwest,  the  Third  was 
ordered  to  join  troops  designed  for  Texas,  and  left  Baton 
Rouge  June  10th,  moving  by  way  of  Shreveport,  and  across 
Texas  to  San  Antonio,  where  it  remained,  employed  in  gar- 
rison duty,  scouting  expeditions  for  the  pi'otection  of  the 
frontier,  and  other  similar  duty  till  Feb.  15,  1866,  when  it 
was  dismounted  and  mustered  out  of  service.  The  men 
returned,  via  Victoria,  Indianola,  New  Orleans,  and  Cairo, 
Illinois,  to  Jackson,  Michigan,  and  there  received  their  final 
payment,  March  15,  1866. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  THIBD  CAVALKY  TKOM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  B. 

1st  Lieut.  William  T.  Magoffin,  St.  John's;  com.  Sept.  7, 1861;  resigned  March 

29,  1862. 
Ist  Liout.  Daniel  T.  Wellington,  St.  John's;  com.  Oct.  3, 1864,  as  2dlieut. ;  pro. 

to  capt.  Co.  H,  Dec.  7, 1864. 
Q.M.-Sergt.  Erajjuius  D,  Tripp,  St.  John's;  disch.  for  disability,  July  24, 1862. 
Ci-M.-Sergt  llorace  S.  Green,  St.  John's;  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Marcli  3 

1862. 
Q.M.-Sergt.  Enos  B.  Bailey,  St.  John's  ;  disch.  for  pro.  in  11th  Cav.,  Oct.  1, 1863. 
Corp.  D.  T.  Wellington,  St.  John's;  enl.  Oct.  14,1861;  veteran,  Jan.  19,  1864; 

pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Corp.  Jacob  P.  Sleight,  Bath  ;  disch.  for  pro.  in  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Corp,  Hiram  Stelfy,  St.  John's ;  enl.  Oct,  19, 1861 ;  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866, 
Corp,  Phineas  B.  Freeman,  St,  John's ;  enl,  Aug,  ai,  1861 ;  disch,  for  disability, 

Feb,  7, 1863, 
Musician  James  Gunner,  St,  John's;  enl,  Sept.  4,  1861;  trans,  from  N,  C,  S. 

(sergt.);  disch,  for  disability,  Jan.  2, 1863, 
Musician  Charles  H,  Eaton,  St,  John's;  enl,  Sept.  17,  1861;  veteran,  Jan,  19 

1864;  Corp,;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866, 
Amos  T,  Ayers,  disch,  for  disability,  Jan,  27, 1862. 
Henry  Alward,  mus.t,  out  Feb,  12,  1866, 
Theo,  Ashley,  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866, 
John  Bollon,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Lyster  K,  Bond,  must,  out  Feb,  12,  1866. 
John  A,  Brown,  must,  out  Feb,  12,  1866, 
Gaines  Brown,  disch,  for  disability,  Feb,  6,  L862, 
Samuel  Brubaker,  disch,  for  disability,  July  19, 1862, 
Abram  Brubaker,  veteran,  enl,  Jan.  19, 1864 ;  must,  out  Oct,  9  1865. 
William  H.  Baker,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  5, 18G6, 
Euos  Bachelder,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark,,  July  16, 1864, 
Charles  E.  Bottom,  died  of  disease  in  Texas,  July  24, 1865, 
W.iUiam  U,  H,  Cook,  died  of  disease  at  New  Madrid,  Mo,,  March  24  1862, 


Wallace  J,  Cronkhite,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  30, 1862. 

John  I.  Cable,  died  of  disease  at  Shreveport,  La.,  July  6, 1865. 

Lawrence  Croy,  disch.  for  disability,  July  2, 1861. 

Theo.  W.  Curtis,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Leonard  Coffman,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  19, 1864;  must,  out  Oct,  9, 1865. 

Aaron  Cantrell,  must,  out  June  2, 1865. 

Perry  Cantrell,  must,  out  May  18, 1865. 

Theo.  Dowd,  disch.  for  disability,  June  4, 1862. 

Anson  B.'Doyen,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  19, 1864  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9, 18G5. 

Abram  Eagles,  veteran,  enl,  Jan.  19,  1864;  must,  out  Oct,  9, 1865. 

William  Eagles,  veteran,  enl  Jan,  19, 1864  ;  must,  out  Oct.  9, 1865. 

Charles  H.  Eaton,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864  ;  corp. ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Michael  N.  Freer,  must,  out  Oct.  9, 1865. 

Leonard  G.  Fry,  must,  ont  March  17, 1866. 

Arthur  L.  Gunn,  Victor;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Oct.  9, 1865. 

Charles  A.  Gunn,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 

Oliver  D.  Gillson,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Oct,  24, 1864, 

Stephen  D.  Gillson,  must,  out  Fob.  12, 1866, 

Horace  S.  Green,  Olive;  died  of  disease  at  St,  Louis,  Mo.,  March  2, 1802. 

Wm,  Hulse,  Greenbush ;  died  of  disease  at  St,  Louis,  Mo,,  Feb,  7, 1862, 

Miles  Hall,  Victor;  died  of  diseaseatSt,  Louis,  Mo,,  Jan.31, 1862. 

Hiram  A,  Hillaker,  disch,  for  disability,  Juno  21, 1862. 

John  A.  Hillaker,  Dnplain ;  disch,  for  disability,  June  21, 1862. 

Geo.  Handbley,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

John  B.  Jeffreys,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Henry  B.  Johns,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Myron  A.  Kniffen,  died  of  disease  at  Jackson,  Oct,  7, 1862. 

Thomas  Lester,  must,  out  Aug,  11, 1865, 

Elijah  Mudge,  must,  out  Sept,  19, 1865, 

James  L,  Miller,  veteran,  Jan,  19, 18G4  ;  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866. 

Daniel  Miller,  disch,  fur  disability,  Sept,  20, 1862, 

Wm,  H,  Martin,  died  of  disease  in  Tennessee,  Juno  1, 1862, 

Ezra  Nelson,  vetei'an,  enl,  Jan.  19, 1864;  disch  for  disability,  Nov.  18, 1864. 

Daniel  G.  Owen,  veteian,  enl.  Jan,  19, 1864;  must,  out  Sept,  4, 1865, 

Jackson  Page,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  19, 1864;  must,  out  Fob,  12, 1860, 

Albert  F,  Palmer,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  19, 1864 ;  died  of  disease  in  Arkansas,  Aug, 

29,  1864, 
Charles  H,  Ehcinbotham,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
William  J.  Badsdale,  must,  ont  June  2, 1865, 

James  H,  Bobinson,  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  July  26, 1804, 
Owen  Stephens,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  19, 1864, 
Samuel  Shaw,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  19, 1864, 
Jacob  Smith,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  19, 1864 ;  died  of  disease  at  Baton  Bouge,  June 

25, 1865, 
David  D,  Sowles,  died  of  disease  at  San  Antonio,  Aug,  26, 1865. 
James  Terry,  must,  out  June  2, 1865. 
John  H.  Tripp,  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866. 
Daniel  Vail,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

William  Vail,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark.,  July  12, 1864. 
Wm.  L,  Van  Dyke,  disch.  for  disability,  July  16, 1862. 
James  A.  Woodruff,  disch.  for  disability,  July  23, 1862, 
Warren  E.  Wilton,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866. 
Henry  C.  Young,  Olive  ;  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  2, 1862, 

Omipany  D. 
Abram  Hane,  died  of  disease  at  Grand  Bapids,  Dec.  1, 1861. 
David  H,  Payne,  disch,  for  disability,  Aug.  1, 1862. 

Company  JE. 
Peter  Clark,  must,  ont  Feb,  12, 1866, 
Albert  B.  Gi-egory,  must,  out  Feb,  12,  1806, 
Edwin  Hewitt,  must,  ont  Feb,  12, 1866, 
Charles  A,  Sloan,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
James  M,  Warren,  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866, 

Company  H. 
Capt,  D,  T.  Wellington,  St,  John's;  com.  Dee.  7, 1864;  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1806, 
Wm,  A,  Foster,  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866, 

Company  L. 
Charles  W,  Hildreth,  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866, 
Bobt.  G,  Temple,  must,  out  Dec,  9, 1865. 

Company  M, 
Francis  M,  Gillette,  must,  ont  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Francis  M,  Jones,  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866, 
Lafayette  Van  Vliet,  must,  out  Dec,  30, 1865, 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  THIBD  CAVALBY  FEOM  SHIAVITASSEE  COUNTY. 

Company  B.  * 

Sergt,  James  H,  Lyman,  Shiawassee ;  enl.  Sept  14, 1801 ;  veteran,  re-enl.  Jan, 

19, 1864;  pro,  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  E. 
Corp.  Wilson  Wright,  Vernon ;  enl,  Sept.  10, 1861 ;  died  of  disease  at  St.  Lonia, 

Jan.  22, 1862. 
Corp,  John  C,  Woodman,  Corunna;  enl.  Sept,  4, 1861 ;  disch,  for  disability. 
John  Bair,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark,,  Aug.  21, 1804. 
William  H,  Cole,  died  in  action  at  Coffeeville,  Miss,,  Dec,  5, 1862. 


FOURTH    CAVALRY. 


99 


Thomas  E.  Carey,  veteran,  onl.  Jan.  19,  ISIil;  disoh.  f.jr  (ii8a,1iility,NoT.l8,  1864. 

Rnswell  E.  Illckey,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1866. 

Loren  Harrington,  veteran,  cnl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  June  19,  1865. 

Robert  Lawrence,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

George  C.  McCoy,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Jan.  28, 1862. 

Iver  Roberts,  died  in  action  at  Coffeevillo,  Miss.,  Dec.  5, 1862. 

diaries  P.  Tillson,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  8,  1864. 

Hiram  T.  Youngs,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1861;  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1866^ 

Compamj  D. 
William  M.  Case,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864 ;  must,  out  June  2, 1865. 

Companjf  E. 
2d  Lieut.  J.  H.  Lyman,  Shiawassee;  com.  July  4, 1865 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Frank  Payne,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Company  F. 
Orange  Storey,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Nov.  28, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Silas  H.  Alliton,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 18C4;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
J.  G.  Bentley,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  7, 1862. 
David  R.  Carrier,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  ont  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Harrison  H.  Carson,  veteran,  eul.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12,  L866. 
Silas  W.  Currier,  veteran,  enl.  .Tan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  June  2, 1865. 
Peter  Dnmond,  disch.  for  disability,  July  21, 1862. 
Frederick  Delano,  disch.  at  end  of  service.  Aug.  13, 1865. 
Oliver  C.  Gaylard,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  11, 1862. 
John  J.  Gumee, disch.  for  disability,  July  1, 1862. 
George  W.  Haiiford,  disch.  for  disability,  June  11, 1862. 
Harvey  J.  Hopkins,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Nov.  3, 1865. 
Joseph  B.  Miller,  died  of  disease  at  New  Madrid,  Mo. 
Austin  Miller,  ditd  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Jan.  7, 1862. 
Ellis  Ott,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1866. 

Russell  Rynesf,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Thomas  J.  Smedley,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 186 1 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Valentine  Shaeppala,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Seymour  Shipman,  disch.  fur  promotion.  1862. 
Roswell  Shipman,  died  of  disease  at  St.  LouU,  Mo.,  Jan.  25, 1862. 
Asa  D.  Whitney,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Company  H. 
AdolphuB  Campbell,  must,  out  Sept.  21, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Charles  Campbell,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
John  E.  Herrick,  died  at  La  Grange,  June  20, 1863. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


FOURTH    CAVALKY. 


Orgaoization  of  the  Regiment — Movement  to  the  Front — Operations 
against  Guerrillas  in  Kentucky— Fight  at  Franklin,  Tenn.— Ad- 
vance with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  1863 — The  Georgia 
Campaign  of  1864 — Fight  at  Lattimore's  Mill— Pursuit  of  Gen. 
Hood— Raid  through  Alabama  in  the  Spring  of  1865— Capture  of 
Jefferson  Davis  by  the  Fourth  Cavalry, 

The  renowned  Fourth  Regiment  of  Michigan  Cavalry 
was  recruited  and  organized  in  the  summer  of  1862,  the 
city  of  Detroit  being  its  place  of  rendezvous.  Clinton  and 
Shiawassee  Counties  were  represented  in  eleven  of  its  twelve 
companies,  but  most  numerously  in  Company  B,  which  was 
principally  composed  of  men  from  these  counties.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
on  the  29th  of  August,  1862,  with  eleven  hundred  and 
eio'hty-six  enlisted  men,  and  the  usual  complement  of  offi- 
cers. The  commanding  officer  of  the  regiment  was  Col. 
Robert  H.  G.  Minty,  previously  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Third  Cavalry. 

The  regiment  left  Detroit  for  the  seat  of  war,  in  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  26th  of  September ;  being  hurried  forward 
without  preliminary  drill,  on  account  of  Gen.  Buell's  retro- 
grade movement  towards  the  Ohio  River,  and  the  Confed- 


erate  Gen.  Bragg's  advance  northward,  with  the  supposed 
intention  of  crossing  that  stream.  The  Fourth  proceeded 
from  Detroit  to  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  where  it  received  arms, 
and  made  other  preparations  for  crossing  the  Ohio  into 
Kentucky.  In  the  mean  time,  Bragg  had  abandoned  his 
plan  (if  he  ever  entertained  one)  of  invading  Ohio,  and  had 
turned  the  head  of  his  column  southward,  pursued  in  turn 
by  Buell.  The  regiment  crossed  the  Ohio  on  the  10th  of 
October,  and  pressed  on  with  all  speed  to  join  the  army  of 
Buell,  leaving  tents  and  baggage  behind.  It  was  soon  en- 
gaged in  the  pursuit  of  the  guerrilla,  John  H.  Morgan,  and 
overtaking  him  at  Stanford,  Ky.,  led  the  column  which  at- 
tacked his  forces  at  that  place,  October  14th,  defeating  and 
pursuing  them  to  Crab  Orchard  Springs.  It  also  led  in 
the  attack  on  Lebanon,  Ky.,  November  9th;  five  hundred 
and  forty-three  of  its  men  pushing  in  Morgan's  pickets  at  a 
gallop,  entering  the  town  two  miles  in  advance  of  the  in- 
fantry, and  driving  out  the  guerrilla  leader  and  his  force  of 
seven  hundred  and  sixty  men. 

Arriving  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  it  made  a  short  stay  at 
that  city,  and  on  the.  13th  of  December  marched  to  Frank- 
lin, Tenn.,  attacked  and  drove  out  a  rebel  force  thirteen 
hundred  strong,  capturing  their  colors  and  a  considerable 
number  of  prisoners.  On  the  26th  of  December  it  moved 
with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  its  advance  on 
Murfreesboro',  fighting  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  at  La- 
vergne,  and  taking  part  in  the  great  battle  of  Stone  River, 
December  31st,  when  it  charged  the  enemy  three  times, 
each  time  driving  a  brigade  of  Confederate  cavalry  from  the 
field.  The  Fourth  was  the  first  regiment  to  enter  Murfrees- 
boro', in  the  morning  of  Jan.  3,  1863  ;  and  from  the  9th  to 
the  19th  of  that  month  it  took  part  in  an  important  cavalry 
expedition,  which  drove  Forrest's,  Wheeler's,  and  Whar- 
ton's cavalry  beyond  the  Harpeth  River.  During  the 
month  of  February  the  regiment  was  constantly  on  the 
move,  and  captured  one  hundred  and  forty-five  prisoners, 
including  two  colonels  and  a  number  of  commissioned  offi- 
cers of  other  grades. 

On  the  22d  of  May  following,  this  regiment  with  two 
companies  of  United  States  cavalry  charged  into  the  camp 
of  the  Eighth  Confederate,  First  Alabama,  and  Second 
Georgia  Cavalry,  and  after  a  sharp  engagement  routed  them, 
taking  fifty-five  prisoners  and  destroying  their  camp.  The 
colors  of  the  Alabama  regiment  were  also  captured  by  the 
Fourth  Michigan,  and  are  now  in  the  office  of  the  Adjutant- 
General  of  the  State. 

Again,  at  Shelbyville,  Tenn.,  June  27, 1863,  the  Fourth, 
as  a  part  of  the  brigade  of  Col.  Minty,  assaulted  an  in- 
trenched position  held  by  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  and  how  the  regiment  did  its  work  on  that  occa- 
sion is  told  in  the  official  report  of  Col.  Minty,  as  follows : 
"  At  Shelbyville  I  found  myself,  with  a  force  of  fifteen 
hundred  men,  in  front  of  formidable  breastworks,  with^an 
abatis  of  over  one-fourth  of  a  mile  in  width  in  front  of 
them,  behind  which  Gens,  t Wheeler  and  Martin  had  an 
opposing  force  of  four  thousand  men  an3^three  pieces  of 
artillery"  I  detached  the  Fourth  Michigan,  in  command 
of  Maj.  Mix,  well  to  the  right,  with  orders  to  force  their 
way  through  the  abatis  and  assault  the  works,  and  if  suc- 
cessful to  turn  to  the  left  and  sweep  up  the  intrenchments, 


100 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


promising  that  so  soon  as  I  heard  their  rifles  speaking  I 
would  make  the  direct  assault  on  the  Murfreesboro'  and 
Shelbyville  pike.  They  did  their  work  so  well  that  as  I 
entered  the  works  on  the  main  road.they  joined  me  from 
the  right,  having  carried  the  works  and  taken  prisoners 
from  six  different  regiments.  The  fruits  of  that  day's 
work  were  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  six  hun- 
dred prisoners,  while  over  two  hundred  dead  bodies  were 
afterwards  taken  out  of  Duck  River,  into  which  I  had 
driven  Wheeler  and  his  entire  command." 

The  fight  at  Shelbyville  was  delivered  during  the  move- 
ment of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  from  Murfreesboro' 
to  the  Tennessee  River.  Through  all  that  movement  the 
Fourtli  Cavalry  was  nearly  always  in  the  advance,  and  was 
repeatedly  engaged  with  the  enemy.  In  these  fights  and 
skirmishes  it  was  always  successful  until  it  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Chattanooga,  where  it  was  several  times  re- 
pulsed. On  the  18th  of  September — the  day  before  the 
opening  of  the  great  battle  of  Chickamauga — it  took  part 
in  a  severe  fight  with  a  greatly  superior  force  of  tlie  enemy's 
cavalry  near.,  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mills,  Ga.,  in  which  the 
Union  cavalry  was  compelled  to  retreat,  but  so  stubborn  was 
the  fighting  on  that  occasion  that  the  brigade  commander. 
Col.  Minty,  said  in  his  report  that  "  with  less  than  one 
thousand  men  the  old  First  Brigade  disputed  the  advance 
of  seven  thousand  from  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  until 
five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  during  that  time  fell  back 
only  five  miles." 

The  next  day,  September  19th,  the  regiment  fired  the 
first  shots  in  the  disastrous  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and 
subsequently  protected  the  left  and  rear  of  Rosecrans'  army 
and  the  trains  moving  to  Chattanooga.  On  the  20th,  while 
assisting  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  the  shattered 
Union  forces  could  retire  from  the  field,  Minty's  brigade 
attacked  and  defeated  Scott's  rebel  brigade  of  cavalry  and 
mounted  infantry,  driving  it  back  across  the  creek.  The 
regiment  bivouacked  on  the  ground  it  had  held,  but  the 
next  day  was  compelled  to  share  in  the  general  retreat. 

On  the  30th  of  September  it  was  driven  by  Wheeler's 
rebel  cavalry  near  Cotton's  Ferry,  on  the  Tennessee ;  but 
from  the  1st  to  the  3d  of  October  the  tables  were  turned, 
and  the  Fourth  had  the  pleasure  of  following  its  late  pur- 
suers with  ardor  and  success.     By  the  1st  of  November, 

1863,  the  sei-vice  of  the  regintent  had  been  so  severe  that 
only  three  hundred  of  the  men  were  mounted.  This  bat- 
talion was  actively  engaged  on  picket  and  scout  duty  in 
Southeastern  Tennessee  and  Northern  Georgia  and  Ala- 
bama throughout  the  winter  ;  the  number  of  mounted  men 
being  reduced  by  the  latter  part  of  March,  1864,  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight.  Meanwhile,  the  dismounted 
men  had  been  employed  in  various  duties  in  the  same  lo- 
cality, and  also  in  Middle  Tennessee. 

The  regiment,  except  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
mounted  men,  set  out  for  Nashville  on  the  28th  of  March, 

1864,  where  the  men  received  new  horses  and  equipments, 
and  were  armed  with  Spencer  carbines.  On  the  14th  of 
April,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  F.  W.  Mix,  the  regi- 
ment joined  the  Second  Cavalry  Division  at  Columbia, 
Tenn.  Thence  it  advanced  with  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  men  into  Georgia,  where  the  cavalry  began  its  arduous 


and  dangerous  service  in  co-operation  with  Gen.  Sherman's 
army,  which  was  then  advancing  on  Atlanta.  In  this 
campaign  its  hardest  conflict  was  at  Lattiniorc's  Mill,  on 
Noonday  Creek,  where  it  took  part  in  one  of  the  most  bril- 
liant achievements  of  the  war.  A  small  detachment  of  the 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  had  crossed  the  creek,  and 
becoming  hotly  engaged  with  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy, 
Capt.  P)-itchard,  with  two  battalions  of  the  Fourth  Michi- 
gan, was  ordered  across  to  its  support.  This  force  had  scarcely 
reached  the  position  assigned  it  when  a  whole  rebel  division 
eight  times  their  own  number,  swept  down  upon  the  Penn- 
sylvania and  Michigan  men,  with  the  evident  purpose  of 
driving  them  back  across  the  creek.  They  did  not,  how- 
ever, propose  to  go  immediately,  so,  dismounting  and  avail- 
ing themselves  of  the  protection  afforded  by  the  inequali- 
ties of  the  ground,  they  met  their  assailants  with  terrific  and 
continuous  volleys  from  their  Spencer  carbines.  Again  and 
again  did  the  rebels  bear  down  upon  them,  making  desper- 
ate efforts  to  destroy  the  little  force  of  Unionists,  but  being 
as  often  repulsed.  At  length,  after  holding  their  ground 
against  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy  for  more  than 
two  hours,  they  retired  slowly  and  in  good  order  at  the 
command  of  Col.  Minty. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  published  in  the 
Memphis  Appeal,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,*  June  25,  18G4,  gives 
the  rebel  version  of  this  fight,  and  shows  very  plainly  the 
gallantry  of  Minty's  brigade  and  the  immense  preponder- 
ance of  the  rebel  force  : 

"  On  the  20th  instant  two  divisions,  Kelly's  and  Martin's, 
and  one  brigade,  Williams',  of  our  cavalry,  went  round  to 
the  left  flank  and  rear  of  Sherman's  army, — it  was  said  to 
capture  a  brigade  of  Yankee  cavalry  situated  at  McAfee's. 
We  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  right  place,  where  the 
enemy,  Minty's  brigade,  was  vigorously  attacked  by  Williams' 
and  a  portion  of  Anderson's  brigade.  After  a  sharp  conflict 
the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  field,  Hannon's  brigade 
having  come  up  and  attacked  them  on  the  flank.  The 
Yankees  fought  desperately  and  fell  back  slowly,  with  what 
loss  we  are  unable  to  ascertain,  as  they  carried  off  their 
wounded  and  most  of  their  dead.  To  one  who  was  an 
eye-witness,  but  not  an  adept  in  the  '  art  of  war,'  it  seemed 
very  strange  that  the  whole  Yankee  force  was  not  sur- 
rounded and  captured.  Dibrell's  brigade  was  drawn  up 
a  few  hundred  yards  from  and  in  full  view  of  the  battle- 
ground, with  Martin's  whole  division  immediately  in  the 
rear.  This  is  one  of  the  best  fighting  brigades  the  Yan- 
kees have,  and  to  have  captured  or  routed  it  would  have 
added  a  bright  feather  to  the  plume  of  the  successful 
hero  accomplishing  the  feat.  After  he  (Minty)  had  been 
driven  from  his  first  position,  Martin's  whole  division  was 
brought  up,  and  lost  several  men  of  Allen's  brigade.  Brig.- 
Gen.  Allen  had  his  horse  shot.  The  Eighth  Confederate 
and  Fifth  Georgia,  of  Anderson's  brigade,  lost  several  killed 
and  wounded.  Williams'  Kentucky  brigade  also  lost  sev- 
eral good  soldiers.'" 

Col.  Minty,  in  his  report,  after  quoting  this  statement, 
added: 


«  The   Memphis  Appeal  was  published   at  half  a  dozen  different 
places,  to  which  it  was  successively  driven  by  the  victorious  Unionists. 


FOURTH   CAVALRY. 


101 


"  According  to  the  above,  there  was  the  following  rebel 
force  in  the  field  :  Kelly's  and  Martin's  divisions,  consisting 
of  the  brigades  of  Anderson,  six  regiments;  Hannon's,  five 
regiments ;  Allen's,  five  regiments ;  and  Johnson's,  five 
regiments ;  and  the  independent  brigades  of  Williams  and 
Dibreli,  composed  of  five  regiments  each ;  say  in  all,  thirty- 
one  regiments,  of  which  the  Fifth  Georgia  numbered  over 
eight  hundred.  The  entire  force  I  had  engaged  was,  of  the 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  one  hundred  and  seventy  men,  and 
of  the  Fourth  Michigan  two  hundred  and  eighty-three ;  in 
all,  four  hundred  and  fifty-three.  These  few  men  held  their 
ground  against  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy  for  over 
two  hours,  and  when  I  ordered  thom  to  fall  back,  they  re- 
tired slowly,  in  good  order.  I  beg  to  call  the  attention  of 
the  general  commanding  to  the  heavy  loss  sustained  by  this 
small  force.  In  a  loss  of  over  twelve  per  cent.,  the  very 
small  proportion  reported  missing  shows  how  steadily  and 
stubbornly  they  fought." 

In  a  note  appended  to  this  report  Col.  Minty  said : 
"  My  loss  in  this  engagement  was  two  ofiScers  and  sixty- 
five  men.  The  Marietta  (Ga.)  papers  acknowledge  a  loss 
of  ninety-four  killed  and  three  hundred  and  fifty-one 
wounded.  Two  battalions  of  the  Fourth  Michigan  repulsed 
three  sabre  charges  made  by  the  Eighth  Confederate  and 
Fifth  Georgia,  numbering  over  one  thousand  men,  and  one 
battalion  led  by  Capt.  Hathaway  repulsed  a  charge  made 
by  Williams'  Kentucky  brigade  by  a  counter-charge." 

Of  the  two  hundred  and  eighty-three  officers  and  men 
of  the  Fourth  engaged  at  Lattimore's  Mill,  thirty-seven  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  three  were  reported  missing. 

After  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  the  mounted  men  of  the 
regiment  followed  Hood's  army  northward  nearly  to  the 
Tennessee  Riyer,  harassing  his  rear  and  taking  many  prison- 
ers. By  this  time  only  about  one  hundred  of  their  horses 
remained  fit  for  service.  These  were  turned  over  to  another 
command,  and  the  Fourth,  dismounted,  concentrated  at 
Nashville  in  October.  It  was  remounted  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  by  the  last  of  January,  1865,  was  back  in  Ala- 
bama, on  duty  near  Gravelly  Springs,  where  it  remained  till 
the  12th  of  March,  when  it  joined  with  other  regiments 
(all  under  command  of  Gen.  Wilson)  in  a  long  raid  through 
Alabama,  swimming  rivers,  building  corduroy  roads,  fighting 
the  rebel  cavalry  Gen.  Forrest,  and  finally  capturing  the 
city  of  Selma,  Ala.,  which  was  defended  by  at  least  seven 
thousand  of  Forrest's  men,  behind  very  strong  fortifications. 
At  one  point  fifteen  hundred  dismounted  cavalrymen,  of 
which  those  of  the  Fourth  formed  a  part,  charged  strong 
intrenohments,  and  captured  them  in  twenty  minutes,  hav- 
ing had  three  hundred  and  twenty-four  men  killed  and 
wo'unded.  This  was  on  the  2d  of  April.  On  the  20th, 
after  numerous  adventures,  the  command  reached  Macon, 
Ga.,  where  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  Lee  was  the  signal 
to  cease  fighting. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  had  won  an  enviable  reputation 
for  gallantry  and*  steadfastness  on  the  field  of  battle,  but  it 
was  destined  to  gain  still  another  title  to  renown  by  the  cap- 
ture of  Jefferson  Davis,  the  '■  President"  of  the  now  dead 
Confederacy,— the  figure-head  of  the  "  Lost  Cause."  While 
the  regiment  lay  at  Macon,  Ga.,  it  became  known  that 
the  arch-rebel  and  his  suite  were  fleeing  through  Central 


Georgia  in  the  hope  of  escaping  from  the  country  ;  and  on 
the  7th  of  May  the  Fourth  Michigan,  four  hundred  and 
forty  strong,  under  Lieut. -Col.  Pritchard,  left  Macon  for  the 
purpose  of  capturing  the  rebel  chief  and  his  party.    Having 
struck  the  trail  of  the  fugitives  at  Abbeville  on  the  9th  of 
May,  Col.  Pritchard  selected  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  of 
his  best-mounted  officers  and  men,  and  moved  rapidly  by  a 
circuitous  route  to  intercept  them.     At  Irwinsville,  at  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  May,  the  colonel 
learned  that  a  train,  which  probably  belonged  to  Davis,  was 
encamped  a  mile  and  a  half  distant.     Moving  out  into  the 
vicinity  of  the  camp,  he  sent  Lieut.  Purinton,  with  twenty- 
five  men,  to  wait  on  the  other  side  of  it.   At  daybreak  Col. 
Pritchard  and  his  men  advanced  silently,  and  without  being 
observed,  to  within  a  few  rods  of  the  camp,  then  dashed 
forward  and  secured  the  whole  camp  before  the  astonished 
inmates  could  grasp  their  weapons,  or  even  fairly  arouse 
themselves    from    their  slumbers.      A  chain   of   mounted 
guards  was  immediately  placed  around  the  camp,  and  dis- 
mounted sentries  were  stationed  at  the  tents  and  wagons. 
The  result  was,  that  this  detachment  of  the  Fourth  Michi- 
gan  Cavalry  captured    Davis,  dressed  partially  in  female 
attire,  and  that  Col.  Pritchard,  with  twenty-five  officers  and 
men  of  the  regiment  detailed  as  a  special  escort,  took  their 
prisoner  to  Washington,  whence  he  was  transferred  to  the 
casemates  of  Fortress  Monroe. 

Soon  after  this  event  the  regiment  marched  tp  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  on  the  1st 
of  July,  and  nine  days  afterwards  it  was  disbanded  at  De- 
troit. Ninety-four  battles  and  skirmishes  are  inscribed  on 
the  record  of  the  Fourth  Cavalry  of  Michigan,  and  every 
one  in  the  bright  list  is  an  addition  to  its  fame. 

CLINTON  COCNTT  SOLDIERS  IN  THE  FOURTH  CAVALBY. 

Field  and  Staff, 

Liont.-Col.  Josiah  B.Park,  Ovid;  com.  Feb".  18, 1863 ;  maj.  Aug.  U,  1862;  ra- 

signed  Nov.  26, 186t. 

C(ympany  A. 

2d  Lieut.  Hiram  D.  Treat,  St.  John's;  com.  Nov.  24,  1864;  sergt.;  must,  out 

July  1, 1865. 
Luther  W.  Holmes,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps. 
Geo.  W.  Niles,  disch.  for  disability. 

Company  B. 

1st  Lieut.  Julius  M.  Carter,  Ovid;  com.  Dec.  24, 1862;  2d  lient.  Aug.  13, 1862  ; 
wounded  in  action  at  Kingston.  Ga.,  May  18,  1804;  pro.  ciipt.  Co.  M; 
brevet  maj.  U.  S.  Vols.,  March  13, 1866,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  ser- 
vices in  action  at  Kingston,  Ga.;  disch.  for  disability.  May  17, 1866. 

Sergt.  Henry  A.  Potter,  Ovid ;  enl.  July  28,  1862;  pro.  2d  lient.  Co.  E,  Feb. 
16, 1863. 

Sergt.  John  N.  Gilbert,  Ovid;  enl.  July  28,1862;  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  9, 
1803. 

Sergt.  Edward  Watson,  Duplain ;  enl.  July  19,  1862;  died  of  disease  at  Bow- 
ling Green,  Ky.,  Nov.  10, 1862. 

Sergt.  Conrad  VVresler,  Duplain;  enl.  July  28,  1862;  died  of  disease  at  Mur- 
freesboro',  Tenn.,  March  23, 1863. 

Sergt.  Lorenzo  J.  Southworth,  Ovid;  enl.  July  28, 1862 ;  pro.  2d  lient.  Co.  H, 
Deo.  10, 1864. 

Corp.  Jos.  M.  Harrison,  Bingham;  enl.  July  28, 1862;  died  of  disease  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  Dec.  26, 1862. 

Corp.  Theo.  H.  Gleason,  Duplain  ;  enl.  July  18, 1862  ;  died  of  disease  at  Stan- 
ford, Ky.,  Oct.  28, 1862. 

Corp.  Vfm.  W.  Hammond,  Ovid  ;  enl.  July  28, 1862 ;  died  of  disease  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  Nov.  29, 1863. 

Franklin  Aldrioh,  disch.  for  disability,  March  23, 1863. 

John  Adams,  must,  out  Ju'y  1, 1865. 

Wm.  Bavi,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Nelson  H.  Beebe,  Duplain ;  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps,  July  1, 1863. 

Geo.  H.  Bennett,  must,  out  July  1,  II166. 

John  W.  Bradner,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Wm.  W.  Crow,  must,  out  July  1, 1866. 

Lewis  T.  Coon,  died  of  disease  at  Murfrccsboro',  Tenn.,  March  2, 1863. 


102 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


R.  F.  Dayne,  died  of  disease  at  Stanford,  Ky. 

Wm.  U.  Eggleston,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Levi  Flshbeck,  discli.  by  order,  June  9, 18G5. 

Andrew  K.  Fenion,  discli.  for  disability,  Nov.  5, 1863. 

Tlios.  H.  Goodrich,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Philip  Hall,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  2, 1863. 

E.  M.  Heacox,  diacli.  for  disability,  July  25, 1864. 

Samuel  Hempstead,  Duplam  ;  di.-tch.  for  disability,  Dec.  15, 1863. 

Franklin  S.  Jones,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Herman  D.  Knowles,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro',  May  10, 1863. 

Hermaa  H.  Lounsbory,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro'. 

Geo.  McClintuck,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  April  29, 1863. 

John  Morrisey,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Feb.  15, 1861. 

Guy  C.  Mclntyre,  tians.  to  \et.  R-s.  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 

FninkliQ  Oldrich,  disch.  fur  disability,  Jan.  18, 1864. 

Asa  Pound,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1,  1863. 

Henry  Ryan,  died  of  disease  at  Na^hville,TelIn. 

Charles  H.  Smith,  died  of  disease  at  Nashvitle,  Tenn. 

Norman  Smith,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.,  April  3, 1863. 

Samuel  E.  Simpson,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Jos.  E.  Seaver,  Duplain  ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

John  F.  Sheiburii,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Chas.  A.  Stai  kweather,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Lewis  H.  Wilcox,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

William  H.  Wood,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Company  D. 
John  S.  Harvey,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Company  E. 
2d  Lieut.  Henry  A.  Potter,  Ovid;  com.  Feb.  16,1863;  pro.  1st  lieut.  Co. H, March 
31,  1863. 

Company  S. 

Capt.  H.  A.  Potter,  Ovid ;  com.  Aug.  1, 1864  ;  Ist  lieut.  March  31,  1863 ;  must. 

out  July  1, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  L.  T.  Southworth,  Ovid ;  com.  Dec.  10, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Company  M. 
0 ipt.  J.  M.  Carter,  Ovid;  com.  July  9,  1864;  Ist  lieut.;  disch.  for  disability, 
May  17, 1865. 

SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  IN  THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY. 

Company  A, 
Timothy  Hill,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 
Edward  Ryno,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Company  B. 
1st  Lieut.  Chauncoy  F.  Shepherd,  Owosso;  com.  Aug.  13,1862;  res.  Dec.  24, '62. 
William  Armidon,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Erastus  W.  Blair,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
B:ixter  B.  Bennett,  must,  out  July  1,  1865, 
Abel  A.  Bradley,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Albert  Babcock,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Albert  R.  Bradley,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Daniel  F.  Blair,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 
Henry  J.  Bearce,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  18, 1862, 
George  A.  Chase,  must,  out  July  1,  1865. 

Charles  Dean,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  10, 1863. 
Cyrus  Dean,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1863. 
Benjamin  Dutcher,  disch.  by  order,  July  25, 1865. 
Welton  D.  Fox,  disch.  for  disability.  May  11, 1863. 
C.  S.  Fox,  died  of  disease  at  Mumfurdsville,  Ky. 
L.  W,  Harrington,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Ira  Johnson,  disch.  for  disability,  March  5, 1863. 
George  Jacobs,  must,  out  July  1, 1866. 
Charles  F.  Parker,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Jacob  I.  Powell,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
William  P.  Stedman,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Theodore  Sanford,  disch.  for  disability,  July  30, 1864. 
John  D.  Smith,  disch.  for  disability,  March  5, 1863. 
Darias  Watkins,  disch.  for  disability,  July  14, 1862. 
William  Weswell,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  6, 1863. 

Company  G. 
Ebenczer  Brewer,  must,  out  Sept.  2, 1865, 
Thomas  Brewer,  disch.  by  order,  June  26, 1865. 
Thaddeus  M.  Carr,  disch.  for  disability,  April  14, 1863. 
Edwin  L.  Howe,  disch.  for  disability,  March  19, 1563. 
Patrick  Sweeney,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  16, 1863. 
H.  H.  Stewart,  didch.  for  disability,  April  14, 186:^. 
Emery  T.  Warle,  must,  out  Aug.  lo,  1865; 

Company  E. 

1st  Lieut.  Joshua  W.  Mann,  Owosso ;  com.  Aug.  13, 1862 ;  pro.  capt,  Co.  M,  March 

31, 1863.  ' 
Homer  A.  Bristol,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky,,  April  15, 1863, 
Edgar  P.  Byerly,  disch.  by  order,  Dec,  22, 1863. 
George  A.  BuUard,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 


Silas  Bullard,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Dewitt  C.  Carr,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Stephen  G.  Fuller,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn,,  Dec.  15, 1802. 

David  B.  Green,  mu.^t,  out  July  1, 18G5. 

L.  R.  McUmber,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  July  14, 1863. 

John  Nelson,  disch,  by  order,  June  14, 1865, 

George  M.  Rose,  disch.  by  order,  July  24, 1865. 

Anson  L.  Simons,  disch,  for  disability,  Jan.  19, 1863. 

Thomas  L,  Spafford,  died  of  disease  at  Bardstown,  Ky.,  Oct.  10,  1862. 

John  G.  Stevens,  must,  out  July  1, 1863. 

William  0.  Stiff,  must,  out  July  1, 1863. 

George  A,  Underbill,  mast,  out  July  1, 1863. 

Company  F. 
Gilbert  M.  Hemingway,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 
James  St.  John,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Company  S. 
Albert  Spinks,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Company  I. 
William  S.  Howard,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  30, 1864. 
George  W.  Titus,  trans,  to  Vet,  Res,  Corps,  Jan.  10, 1864. 

Company  K. 
George  Sumner,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  2, 1865. 
George  W,  Willets,  died  of  disease  at  Gallatin,  Tenn,,  Jan.  24, 1865. 

Company  L. 
Stillman  W,  Green,  must,  out  Aug.  15,1865. 

Company  M. 
Capt.  J.  W.  Mann,  Owcso ;  com.  March  31, 1863 ;  res.  Aug.  1, 1864. 
Jacob  Spotta,  Owosso,  must,  out  Aug,  15, 1865. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

FIFTH    CAVALKT. 

Rendezvous  at  Detroit — Winter  Quarters  near  Washington — Cam- 
paign of  Gettysburg,  and  in  Virginia  in  1863 — Winter  Quarters  at 
Stevensburg — Campaigns  of  1864  and  Spring  of  I860 — Service  in 
Nortli  Carolina — Transfer  to  Fort  Leavenworth  and  the  Plains — 
Muster  Out  and  Disbanclment. 

Early  in  1862  authority  was  given  by  the  War  De- 
partment to  Joseph  T.  Copeland  (then  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  First  Cavalry),  William  D.  Mann,  and  Richard  Baylis 
to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry  in  Michigan  ;  and  in  August 
of  the  same  year  this  authority  was  confirmed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State.  Upon  receiving  the  Governor's  sanc- 
tion, Col.  Copeland  established  his  rendezvous  at  Detroit, 
and  in  the  exceedingly  short  period  of  two  weeks  from  that 
time  the  ranks  were  filled  sufficiently  for  muster.  While 
being  recruited  and  organized,  and  until  it  received  its  des- 
ignating number,  the  regiment  was  known  as  "  Copeland's 
Mounted  Rifles." 

The  counties  of  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  were  represen- 
ted by  men  iu  nine  companies  of  this  regiment,  but  most 
numerously  in  Company  G,  of  which  the  original  com- 
missioned officers  were  Capt.  William  T.  Magoffin,  of  St. 
John's,  First  Lieut.  George  W.  Townsend,  of  Green- 
bush,  and  Second  Lieut.  John  Gunderman,  of  Essex ; 
while  its  ranks  were  principally  filled  by  volunteers  from 
Clinton  County.  One  of  the  original  field-officers  of  the 
regiment — Maj.  Ebenezer  Gould — was  of  Owosso,  Shia- 
wassee Co.,  and  he  was  afterwards  promoted  through  the 
intermediate  grade  to  that  of  colonel.  The  adjutant  of  the 
Fifth  was  Richard  Baylis,  of  Ovid,  Clinton  Co.  He  had 
previously  (immediately  after  the  close  of  the  Mexican 
war)  been  a  non-commissioned  officer  in  a  cavalry  company 
in  the  United  States  regulars,  and  with  that  command  had 


FIFTH    CAVALRY.  ' 


103 


seen  three  years  of  Indian  service  in  Texas  and  New 
Mexico,  having  been  twice  wounded,  and  discharged  from 
the  service  on  that  account. 

The  officers  and  men  of  "  Copeland's  Mounted  Rifles" 
were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the  30th 
of  August,  1862,  as  the  Fifth  Cavalry  Regiment  of  Mich- 
igan, under  command  of  Col.  Copeland. 

For  about  three  months  after  muster,  the  Fifth  remained 
at  the  headquarters  waiting  for  arms,  and  at  the  time  of 
its  departure — December  4th — the  men  had  been  but  par- 
tially armed,  though  fully  equipped.  From  Detroit  the 
command  moved  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  remained  at 
"  Camp  Copeland,"  on  East  Capitol  Hill  in  that  city,  through 
the  winter.  In  the  spring  of  18fi3,  after  being  fully  armed, 
it  was  attached  to  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  Third  Divi- 
sion of  the  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac.  This 
brigade  became  known  and  widely  famed  as  the  Michigan 
Cavalry  Brigade.  It  was  commanded  successively  by  Gens. 
Kilpatrick  and  Custer,  and  gained  the  highest  reputation  of 
any  cavalry  brigade  in  the  service. 

Moving  from  Washington  in  February,  1863,  the  regi- 
ment crossed  the  Potomac,  and  was  encamped  for  more 
than  two  months  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  where  it  was 
visited  by  the  Governor  of  Michigan.  Its  duty  while  en- 
camped here  was  arduous,  and  it  was  several  times  en- 
gaged in  skirmishing,  but  without  much  loss,  until  the 
opening  of  the  campaign  of  Gettysburg.  It  moved  north- 
ward on  that  campaign  on  the  27th  of  June,  and  on  the 
2d  of  July  was  sharply  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Hun- 
terstown,  Pa.  On  the  3d  it  was  moved,  with  the  brigade, 
to  the  York  turnpike  road  (leading  to  Gettysburg),  where 
it  was  dismounted  and  placed  in  position  in  front  of  the 
centre  and  left  of  the  brigade  line.  The  enemy  advanced 
soon  after  noon,  and  how  he  was  met  by  the  men  of  the 
Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry  is  told  in  Gen.  Custer's  official 
report  of  the  engagement,  as  follows:  "The  enemy  was 
soon  after  reported  to  be  advancing  on  my  front.  The  de- 
tachment sent  to  the  Oxford  road  was  driven  in,  and  at  the 
same  time  the  enemy's  line  of  skirmishers,  consisting  of 
dismounted  cavalry,  appeared  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge  of 
hills  on  my  front.  The  line  extended  beyond  my  left.  To 
repel  their  advance  I  ordered  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry 
to  a  more  advanced  position,  with  instructions  to  maintain 
their  ground  H  all  hazards.  Col.  Alger,  commanding  the 
Fifth,  assisted  by  Majs.  Trowbridge  and  Terry,  of  the  same 
rcnment,  made  such  admirable  disposition  of  their  men  be- 
hind fences  and  other  defenses  as  enabled  them  to  success- 
fully repel  the  repeated  advance  of  a  greatly  superior  force. 
I  attributed  their  success  in  a  great  measure  to  the  fact 
that  this  regiment  is  armed  with  the  Spencer  repeating 
rifle,  wliich  in  the  hands  of  brave,  determined  men,  like 
those  composing  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry,  is,  in  my 
estimation,  the  most  effective  firearm  that  our  cavalry  can 
adopt.  Col.  Alger  held  his  ground  until  his  men  had  ex- 
hausted their  ammunition,  when  he  was  compelled  to  fall 
back  on  the  main  body.  The  beginning  of  this  movement 
was  the  signal  for  the  enemy  to  charge,  which  they  did 
with  two  regiments,  mounted  and  dismounted."  Then 
follows  the  account  of  a  counter-charge  made  by  the  Seventh 
Michigan  Cavalry,  in  which  the  latter  was  compelled  to  re- 


tire, pursued  by  twice  their  number  of  the  enemy ;  but 
"  by  this  time  Col.  Alger,  of  the  Fifth,  having  succeeded  in 
remounting  a  considerable  portion  of  his  regiment,  gallantly 
advanced  to  the  assistance  of  the  Seventh,  whose  further 
pursuit  by  the  enemy  he  checked."  This  was  the  last 
fighting  done  by  the  Fifth  during  that  day.  The  brigade 
held  possession  of  the  field  until  dark,  and  then  returned  to 
its  camping-place  of  the  previous  night.  On  the  following 
day  it  was  engaged  at  Monterey,  Md.,  and  in  the  pursuit 
of  the  enemy  to  the  Potomac  it  fought  at  Cavetown,  Md., 
July  5th ;  Smithtown,  Md.,  July  6th ;  Boonsboro',  Md., 
July  6th ;  Hagerstown,  Md.,  July  7th ;  Williamsport, 
Md.,  July  7th ;  Boonsboro'  (2d),  July  8th  ;  Hagerstown 
(2d),  July  10th;  Williamsport,  July  10th;  and  Falling 
Waters,  July  14th.  It  is  impracticable  to  give  a  detailed 
account  of  the  almost  innumerable  marches  and  constantly 
chancinar  movements  and  counter-movements  which  suc- 
ceeded  during  that  eventful  year.  It  is  sufficient  to  men- 
tion that  having  crossed  the  Potomac,  soon  after  the  fight 
at  Falling  Waters,  the  regiment  took  part  in  the  following- 
named  engagements,  viz.  :  Snicker's  Gap,  Va.,  July  19th  ; 
Kelly's  Ford, Va.,  September  13th;  Culpeper  Court-House, 
Va.,  September  14th  ;  Raccoon  Ford,  Va.,  September  16th  ; 
White's  Ford,  September  21st ;  Jack's  Shop,  Va.,  Septem- 
ber 26th  ;  Jumes  City,  Va.,  October  12th  ;  Brandy  Station, 
Va.,  October  13th  ;  Buckland's  Mills,  Va.,  October  19th; 
Stevensburg,  Va.,  November  19th ;  and  Morton's  Ford, 
Va.,  Nov.  26,  1863.  Sixty-four  men  were  killed  and 
wounded  during  the  year  1863,  besides  one  hundred  and 
twenty-one  reported  missing  in  action,  many  of  whom  were 
killed.  Other  reports  of  alterations  and  casualties  show 
that  from  the  time  the  regiment  was  organized  until  the 
close  of  1863  forty  men  died  of  disease,  sixty-eight  were 
discharged  for  disability,  twenty-one  by  sentence  of  general 
court-martial,  fifteen  by  order,  two  for  promotion,  twenty 
officers  resigned ;  one  officer  was  dismissed,  and  the  total 
number  of  recruits  received  was  thirteen.  During  the 
winter  of  1863-64  the  Fifth  had  its  quarters  at  Stevens- 
burg, Va.,  and  was  employed  mostly  on  picket  duty  along 
the  Rapidan. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February,  1 864,  it  took  part  in  the 
raid  made  by  the  cavalry  under  Kilpatrick  to  the  outer  de- 
fenses of  Richmond.  The  main  body  of  the  regiment 
crossed  the  Rapidan,  marched  thence  by  way  of  Spottsyl- 
vania  and  Beaver  Dam  Station  to  Hungary  Station,  and 
moved  down  the  Brook  turnpike  to  within  five  miles  of  the 
city  of  Richmond.  Being  attacked  on  the  2d  of  March  by 
a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  the  Union  cavalry  was  com- 
pelled to  fall  back  on  Gen.  Butler's  forces,  stationed  at  New 
Kent  Court-House.  A  detachment  of  the  regiment  had 
also  accompanied  the  forces  commanded  by  the  gallant  Col. 
Ulric  Dahlgren.  They  moved  down  the  James  River  to 
within  five  miles  of  the  rebel  capital.  The  detachment  of 
the  Fifth  being  in  front,  charged  the  enemy's  works,  and 
captured  his  first  line  of  fortifications.  Following  up  its 
advantage,  Dahlgren's  command  pushed  back  the  enemy 
from  one  line  to  another,  until  a  point  was  reached  within 
two  miles  of  the  city,  when  it  was  found  impossible  to  ad- 
vance farther  with  so  small  a  force.  Meanwhile  the  rebels 
were  gathering  from  all   points,  and  in  the  endeavor  to 


104 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND   CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


extricate  itself  from  its  perilous  position  the  detachment  of 
the  Fifth  became  separated  in  the  night  (which  was  rainy 
and  very  dark)  from  the  main  portion  of  Dahlgren's  com- 
mand. On  the  following  day  this  detachment  cut  its  way 
through  a  strong  rebel  force  posted  at  Old  Church,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  rejoining  the  regiment  near  White  House  Land- 
ing. At  Yorktown,  Va.,  on  the  11th  of  March,  the  regi- 
ment embarked  on  board  transports  for  Alexandria,  whence 
it  marched  to  Stevensburg,  arriving  there  on  the  18th  of 
April,  1864.  Here  a  reorganization  of  the  cavalry  forces, 
under  Gen.  Sheridan's  command,  took  place,  and  the  Mich- 
igan Cavalry  Brigade  was  thenceforth  known  as  the  First 
Brigade  of  the  First  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

On  the  5th  of  May  the  brigade,  commanded  by  the  fiery 
Custer,  again  crossed  the  Rapidan,  and  soon  became  engaged 
in  the  great  battle  of  the  Wilderness ;  fighting  mounted,  the 
first  three  days,  against  the  forces  led  by  the  renowned  rebel 
cavalry  leader,  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  On  the  9th  of  May 
the  cavalry  corps  set  out,  under  Gen.  Sheridan,  on  hi.s  great 
raid  towards  Richmond.  Three  divisions,  numbering  full 
twelve  thousand  men,  turned  their  horses'  heads  to  the  south- 
ward ;  the  blue-coated  column,  as  it  marched  by  fours,  ex- 
tending eleven  miles  along  the  road,  from  front  to  rear.  On 
the  route  they  overtook  a  large  body  of  Union  soldiers,  who 
had  been  taken  prisoners  at  Spottsylvania,  released  them,  and 
captured  the  rebel  guard.  Toward  evening,  the  same  day, 
the  Michigan  brigade,  followed  closely  by  the  rest  of  the 
column,  dashed  into  the  rebel  depot  at  Beaver  Dam  Station, 
scattering,  almost  in  an  instant,  the  force  stationed  for  its 
defense.  All  night  long  the  men  were  busy  destroying  the 
immense  amount  of  rebel  supplies  accumulated  at  Beaver 
Dam,  worth  millions  of  dollars,  consisting  of  three  long 
railroad-trains,  with  locomotives,  stores  of  goods  of  vari- 
ous kinds,  and  one  hundred  loaded  army-wagons,  the  flames 
from  which  rose  in  lurid  columns  through  the  darkness  amid 
the  cheers  of  the  exultant  soldiers. 

At  daybreak  the  next  morning  the  command  moved 
forward,  and  after  tearing  up  the  railroad-track  at  Negro 
Foot  Station  it  reached  "  Yellow  Tavern,''  ten  miles  from 
Richmond,  on  the  11th  of  May.  There  Gen.  Stuart  had 
assembled  a  large  force  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  a  severe  battle 
ensued.  The  Fifth  Cavalry  fought  dismounted,  and  charged 
the  enemy's  position  under  a  heavy  fire ;  routing  him  after 
a  most  stubborn  resistance.  The  rebels  lost  heavily  in  this 
engagement,  including  their  commanding  officer,  Gen.  J. 
E.  B.  Stuart,  who  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  private  of 
this  regiment.  Having  defeated  all  the  forces  opposed  to 
it,  the  Union  column  pursued  its  way  "  on  to  Richmond" 
unmolested. 

The  next  dsry  the  command  arrived  within  a  mile  and  a 
half  of  Richmond,  but  found  fortifications  in  front,  on 
which  cavalry  could  make  no  impression.  Gen.  Sheridan 
then  turned  his  course  towards  the  Chickahominy  at  Meadow 
Bridge.  The  rebels  had  destroyed  the  bridge,  and  a  large 
force  of  .them  disputed  his  further  progress.  The  ap- 
proaches to  the  stream  led  through  a  swamp,  along  which 
not  more  than  four  men  could  ride  abreast,  and  a  well- 
posted  battery  on  the  opposite  side  cut  down  the  head  of 
the  Union  column,  completely  checking  its  advance.     The 


leadin''  brigade  vainly  endeavored  to  force  a  passage.     The 
next  one  likewise  failed. 

Gen.  Sheridan  then  sent  for  Custer  and  his  Michigan 
brigade,  which  at  once  hastened  to  the  front.  There  the 
youthful  general  dismounted  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Michigan, 
and  sent  them  forward  into  the  swamp  as  flanking-parties, 
while  with  drawn  sabres  the  First  and  Seventh  Michigan 
breathlessly  awaited  the  order  to  charge.  The  dismounted 
men  drove  the  enemy  from  their  first  position,  advanced 
through  water  waist>deep  to  the  railroad-bridge,  crossed  it 
on  the  ties,  and  then  plied  their  Spencer  rifles  on  the  rebel 
cannoniers  with  such  effect  that  the  latter  were  obliged  to 
turn  their  guns  on  these  assailants  to  prevent  being  entirely 
enfiladed.  The  moment  they  did  so  Custer  gave  the  order 
"  Charge !"  and  the  two  mounted  regiments,  with  brandished 
sabres  and  ringing  cheers,  dashed  forward  at  the  top  of 
their  horses'  speed.  The  rebels  had  barely  time  to  limber 
their  guns  and  retreat ;  leaving  the  road  again  open  for  the 
advance  of  the  whole  corps.  The  command  then  proceeded, 
via  Malvern  Hill,  Hanover  Court-House,  White  House, 
Aylett's  and  Concord  Church,  to  Chesterfield  Station, 
where  it  joined  the  main  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  28th  of  May  the  regiment  was  hotly  engaged 
near  Hawes'  Shop,  where  it  aided  in  driving  the  enemy 
from  their  position  after  a  desperate  hand-to-hand  fight. 
The  loss  of  the  regiment  in  this  action  was  very  severe. 
Moving  to  Old  Church  Tavern  on  the  30th,  it  was  engaged 
with  its  brigade  in  the  routing  of  Young's  rebel  cavalry. 
On  the  31st  of  May  and  1st  of  June  it  was  engaged,  to- 
gether with  other  cavalry  regiments,  at  Cold  Harbor,  where 
it  fought  dismounted  in  advance  of  the  infantry,  and, 
although  losing  heavily,  succeeded  in  capturing  many 
prisoners. 

The  Michigan  brigade  soon  after  set  out  under  Gen. 
Sheridan  to  join  Gen.  Hunter,  who  was  moving  from  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  to  Lynchburg.  On  the  11th  of  June 
the  command  met  at  Trevillian  Station  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy,  both  infantry  and  cavalry.  During  that  day  and 
the  next  there  ensued  one  of  the  severest  cavalry  fights  of 
the  war,  the  Union  cavalry  mostly  fighting  dismounted. 
The  Michigan  brigade  did  most  of  the  fighting  the  first 
day,  and  lost  heavily.  The  brigade  battery  was  three  times 
captured  by  the  enemy,  and  as  many  times  recaptured  by 
the  determined  efforts  of  the  Michigan  men.  The  rebels 
were  finally  driven  from  the  field  and  pursued  several  miles ; 
six  hundred  prisoners,  fifteen  hundred  horses,  one  stand  of 
colors,  six  caissons,  forty  ambulances,  and  fifty  wagons 
being  captured  by  the  victorious  Unionists.  In  this  action 
Adjt.  Richard  Baylis  was  severely  wounded.  He  had  pre- 
viously been  thanked  in  general  orders  by  Gen.  Custer, 
"  for  remarkable  gallantry  in  transmitting  and  executing 
orders  on  the  field"  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  also 
by  the  same  general  for  similar  gallant  services  in  the  series 
of  engagements  which  occurred  in  the  month  of  October, 
1863.  And  now,  "  for  gallant  services  at  Trevillian  Sta- 
tion," he  was  brevetted  captain.  Afterwards  he  was 
brevetted  major  and  lieutenant-colonel  "  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  during  the  war." 

Moving  from  Trevillian  Station  in  the  direction  of  Louisa 
Court-House,  the  regiment  encountered  a  column  of  the 


FIFTH   CAVALRY. 


105 


enemy,  but  cut  its  way  through  with  considerable  loss  in 
prisoners.  Gen.  Hunter  had  failed  to  make  the  passage  of  the 
mountains.  Gen.  Sheridan,  in  consequence,  then  marched 
his  troops  to  White  House  Landing,  and  soon  after  joined 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  south  of  Petersburg.  After 
serving  on  picket  and  scout  duty  in  front  of  Richmond  and 
Petersburg  during  the  month  of  July,  1864,  the  Michigan 
brigade  was  taken  on  transports  to  Washington,  D.  C,  early 
in  August,  and  thence  marched  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 
Here  it  followed  Custer  in  many  a  desperate  charge,  fully 
sustaining  its  old  renown.  At  Middletown  the  Fifth  Cav- 
alry was  attacked  by  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy,  but  re- 
pulsed them,  capturing  sixty-five  prisoners.  Again,  on  the 
19th  of  August,  while  a  squadron  of  the  regiment  were 
scouting  to  the  front,  they  were  attacked  by  a  greatly  supe- 
rior force  of  the  enemy,  under  the  guerrilla  leader  Mosby, 
and  being  overpowered  were  driven  into  camp  with  a  loss 
of  sixteen  men  killed.  It  was  also  engaged  at  Front  Royal, 
August  16th;  Leetown,  August  25th;  at  Shepardstown, 
August  25th ;  Smithfield,  August  28th ;  Berryville,  Sep- 
tember 3d;  Opequan  Creek,  September  19th,  where  the 
Michigan  brigade  utterly  routed  the  enemy's  cavalry  and 
broke  their  infantry  lines,  capturing  two  battle-flags  and 
four  hundred  prisoners;  Winchester,  September  19th; 
Luray,  September  2ith ;  Woodstock,  October  9th ;  and 
Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19,  1864,  where  Custer's  command 
charged  the  enemy's  'main  line,  driving  it  back  in  confu- 
sion and  capturing  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  During 
the  year  ending  Nov.  1,  1864,  the  regiment  had  seventy- 
six  men  killed,  one  hundred  and  seventeen  wounded  in 
action,  fourteen  missing  in  action,  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  taken  prisoners ;  two  hundred  and  nine  recruits  joined 
the  regiment,  while  but  thirty-three  men  died  of  disease 
and  but  two  desertions  were  reported. 

The  Michigan  brigade  went  into  winter  quarters  near 
Winchester,  Va.,  in  December,  1864,  and  remained  until 
the  latter  part  of  February,  1865.  On  the  27th  it  broke 
camp,  and  with  the  cavalry  corps  commanded  by  Gen.  Sher- 
idan started  on  a  long  and  rapid  march  up  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley,  past  Staunton,  over  the  mountains,  and  down 
the  James  River  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  com- 
mand met  with  but  little  opposition,  dispersed  all  forces  op- 
posed to  it,  destroyed  much  property  on  the  line  of  the 
Lynchburg  and  Gordonsville  Railroad,  locks,  mills,  and 
aqueducts  on  the  James  River  Canal,  and  on  the  19th  of 
March  joined  the  forces  assembled  to  give  the  last  blow  to 
Lee's  rebel  army. 

On  the  30th  and  31st  days  of  March  and  1st  of  April, 
1865,  the  Michigan  brigade  was  warmly  engaged  at  Five 
Forks.     During  these  three  days  of  battle  it  was  in  the 
advance,  and  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  armies, — 
fighting  dismounted, — and  finally  succeeded,  with  the  rest 
of  Sheridan's  corps,  in  capturing  the  enemy's  line  of  de- 
fense and  several  thousand  prisoners.     From  this  time  until 
the  surrender  of  Lee,  at  Appomattox,  April  9,  1865,  it 
was  constantly  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  being  in  the 
advance,  the  flag  of  truce  to  negotiate  the  surrender  was 
sent  through  its  lines.     After  the  surrender  of  Lee  the 
regiment  moved  with  the  cavalry  corps  to  Petersburg,  Va. 
Soon  after  it  made  an  incursion,  with  other  forces,  into 
14 


North  Carolina ;  thence  it  marched  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
participated  in  the  review  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
May  23, 1865,  and  immediately  afterwards,  with  the  Michi- 
gan Cavalry  Brigade,  was  ordered  to  the  Western  frontier. 
The  Fifth  was  sent  by  rail  and  steamboat  to  Fort  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  where  the  men  having  two  years  or  more  to 
serve  were  transferred  to  the  First  and  Seventh  Michigan 
Cavalry  regiments.  On  the  22d  of  June,  the  regiment,  as 
an  organization,  was  mustered  out  of  service,  and  returned 
to  Detroit,  where  it  arrived  July  1 ,  1865. 

FIFTH  CAVALBY  SOLDIERS  FBOM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
FUld  (mi  Staff. 

1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt.  Richard  Baylis,  Ovid ;  com.  Sept.  25, 1862 ;  wounded  in  ac- 
tion at  Trevillian  Station ;  pro.  to  brevet  capt.,  for  gallant  services  at 
Trevillian  Station  j  to  brevet  maj.  and  lieut.-col.,  March  13, 1886,  for  gal- 
lant and  meritorious  services  during  the  war. 

Chaplain  John  Guiiderman,  Essex ;  com.  Oct.  9,  18G3  ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  B, 
Nov.25, 1862  ;  must,  out  June  22, 1805. 

Compani/  A. 
Frank  R.  Simmons,  trans,  to  7th  Cav.  and  1st  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 

Company  E. 
James  G.  Sickles,  trans,  to  1st  Michigan  Cav. 

Company  F. 
Ilansfui'd  Comstock,  disch.  for  disability,  June  22,  X8G3. 
Company  G. 

Capt.  William  T.  Magoffin,  St.  Juhn'x;    com.  Aug.  14, 1862;  res.  Aug.  1, 1864; 

pro.  to  brevet  maj.  U.  S.  Vols.  March  13, 1865,  fur  gallant  and  meritorious 

servicer  during  the  war. 
Ist  Lieut.  George  W.  Townsend,  Greenbush  ;  com.  Nov.  26, 1862  ;  pro.  to  2d 

lieut.  Aug.  16, 1862 ;  pro.  to  capt.  Co.  I. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Gunderman,  lilssex;  com.  Nov.  25,  1862;  pro.  to  chaplain. 
Q  M.-Sergt.  N.  S.  Hammond,  Essex ;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1862;    died  in  action  at 

Brandy  Station,  Va.,  Oct.  12, 1863. 
Com.-Sergt.  William  W.  Humiston,  Bengal ;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862 ;  must,  out  June 

22, 1865. 
Sergt.  Charles  I.  Young,  Essex ;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862;  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Sergt.  Benj.  Hawes,  Essex  ;  enl.  Aug.  17, 1862;  died  of  diaeaso  at  Annapolis, 

Md.,  Deo.  12, 1804. 
Sergt.  John  Corn  well,  St.  John's  ;  enl.  Aug.  19, 1862;  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Sergt.  George  B.  Wixom,  Olive  ;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862 ;  died  at  Washington,  March 

26,  1804. 
Sergt.  Cliauncey  Morton,  Greenbush ;  died  in  rebel  prison  at  Blchmond,  Ya., 

Dec.  13, 1803. 
Corp.  Sylvester  P.  Bailey,  Farrier;  must,  out  June  22,  1805. 
Coi-p.  Aaron  D.  Lyon,  Essex  ;  died  in  AndersonvlUo  prison-pen,  July  21, 1864. 
Corp.  Andrew  J.  Taylor,  Essex  ;  enl.  Aug.  1 5, 1862 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  13, 

1803. 
Corp.  Martin   Blackford,  Greenbush  ;  enl.  Aug.  18,  1862  ;  must,  out  June  22, 

1865. 
Gabriel  Anderson,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Marcus  Bentley,  disch.  by  order.  May  30, 1865, 
Samuel  Coleman,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Aug.  5,  1863. 
James  Cronk,died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Aug.  3, 1804. 
John  F.  Cunnell,  trans,  to  1st  Cav. 
James  A.  Chapman,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Loren  D.  Chapman,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Daniel  Ferguson,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
George  E.  Godfrey,  must,  out  June  22, 1805. 
James  Griffith,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Daniel  Gunderman,  disch.  for  disability,  June  1, 1864.  ' 
Edward  A.  Gunderman,  disch.  for  disability,  March  5, 1863. 
Levi  Gibbs,  died  of  wounds,  Aug.  8, 1863. 
Daniel  Handy,  disch.  for  disability,  March  1, 1864. 
William  H.  Hewitt,  disch.  Oct.  24,  1862. 

John  J.  Henderson,  died  of  disease  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  May  29, 1863. 
John  K.  Hammond,  died  in  rebel  prison,  Richmond,  Va.,  March  15, 1864. 
Simon  H.  Hawes,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1863. 
William  L.  Havens,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
B.  H.  Hanes,  must.  »ut  June  22, 1865. 
George  C.  Hooker,  discli.  by  order,  July  8, 1865, 
Oliver  P.  IngersoU.  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Alanson  Mathews,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Samuel  B.  McPherson,  must,  out  Juno  22, 1805. 
James  P.  Minard,  must,  out  June  22, 1805. 
Joseph  M.  McPherson,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  Aug.  5, 1863, 


106 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Albert  S.  NorriB,  diei  in  rebel  prison,  Richmond,  Ya.,  March  5, 1864.  ^ 

Iliraro  Nest  el,  disch.for  disability,  Oct.  1, 1862. 

William  S.Parker,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 

Jacob  Bedner,  died  of  disease  at  Brandy  Station.  Va.,  March  9, 1S64. 

Nathaniel  Russell,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  December,  1864. 

Adam  Russell,  disch.  by  order,  July  7, 18G5, 

Walter  F.  Reeves,  trans,  to  1st  Micb.  Cav. 

Horace  A.  Soule,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  2, 1862. 

El-win  M.  Spinner,  died  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3, 1863. 

Hiram  Sturgis,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15, 1864. 

William  Sheriff,  died  of  disease  at  Philadelphia,  I'a.,  Sept.  3, 1864. 

William  T.  Smith,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  18, 1863. 

George  H.  Soule,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 

Albert  H.  Vredenburgh,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15, 1864. 

Lyman  Van  Sickle,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Aug.  31, 1864. 

Jnmes  H.  Washington,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  March  20, 1865. 

Alonzo  Wheeler,  died  of  disease  at  Frederick,  Md.,  Nov.  17, 18G4. 

Carlos  A.  Webster,  trans,  to  1st  Michigan  Cav. 

Miles  D.  Webster,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 

Martin  Weaver,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 

Henry  F.  Warren,  mTist.  out  by  order,  July  7, 1865. 

George  Young,  must,  out  by  order,  June  19, 1865. 

Company  M. 
Hugh  Jamison,  died  in  action  at  Trevillian  Station,  June  11, 1864. 

Company  I. 
Capt.  George  W.  TownsendjGreenbusb;  com.Nov.  2,1863  ;  disch.  for  disability, 
July  15, 1864. 

FIFTH  CAVALRY  SOLDIERS  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

Field  and  Staff. 
Col.  Ebenezer  Gould,  Owosso;  com.   Sept.  21,  18G4;  lieut.-col.  Dec.  31,1862; 
maji  Sept.  2, 1862  ;  wounded  in  action  at  Hagerstown,  Md.,  July  13, 1863 ; 
disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  10, 1864. 

Non-CommissUmed  Staff. 
Sei^t.-Maj.  CharI<}B  Y.  Osburn,  Owosso;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  H,  Aug.  18, 1863. 

Corr^any  D. 
Thomas  G.  Ingersoll,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Dec.  2, 1862. 

Company  F. 
John  Bemis,  diech.by  order.  May  17, 1865. 
Sanford  Bemis,  discll.  by  order,  May  3, 1865. 
William  D.  Ingersoll,  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  I. 

Company  G. 
2d  Lieut. Emery  L.  Brewer,  Owosso;  com.  Feb.  27, 1864;  wounded  in  action  at 

Hawes'  Sbup,  Va.,  Mny  28, 1864;  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1864. 
A.  H.  Clark,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  6, 1864. 

Thomas  Johnson,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Aug.  4, 1864. 
Patrick  Mitchell,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 

Company  H. 

Capt.  C.  Y.  Osburn,  Owosso;  com.  Aug. 9, 1864;  1st  lieut., Nov. 2, 1863;  2d  lieut., 
Aug.  18, 1863;  sergt.-maj.;  wounded  in  action  at  Uawcs*  Shop,Va.,  May 
28,1864;  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  28,  1864;  brevet  capt,  U.  S,  Vols,,  - 
March  13, 1865,  "for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war." 

Oliver  C.  Hullister,  died  of  disease  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Sept.  4, 1864. 

Robert  Purdy,  died  in  action  at  Trevillian  Station,  Va.,  June  11. 1864. 

Company  I. 
2d  Lieut.  William  D.  Ingersoll,  Owosso;  com.  Oct. 28, 1864;  wounded  in  action 
at  Five  Forks,  Va.;  resigned,  1865. 

Company  K. 
Sergt.  Emory  L.  Brewer,  Owosso ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  G. 
Emory  L.  Brewer,  disch.  for  promotion,  Nov.  25, 1863. 
Andrew  1.  Bemis,  missing  in  action  at  Annon  Church,  Va.,  May  28, 1864. 
Adam  Dell,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
Charles  Edwards,  must,  out  July  17, 1865. 
William  Edwards,  disch.  by  order,  June  19, 1865. 
Anson  Howe,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  31,  1864. 
Milton  Hodge,  died  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  Oct.  12, 1863. 
George  B.  Lynds,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  21, 1862. 
Juliel  W.  Monroe,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
George  W,  Morse,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
OrvilJe  Ogden,  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  Feb.  25, 1865. 
Roweli  P.  Root,  died  of  disease  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  Va.,  June  17, 1863. 
Milan  S,  Warren,  died  at  Newby's  Roads,  July  24, 1803. 
Orlando  F.  Wilkinson,  must,  out  June  19, 1865. 
Allen  I.  Williams,  discli.  by  order,  May  16, 1865. 

Cwiipany  M. 
Junes  H.  McGowan,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  4, 1862. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

SIXTH  CAVALBY. 

Organization  and  Departure  from  Miohignn — Assignment  to  Duty  in 
the  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac — Its  Campaigning  in  1863 
— Winter  Quarters  at  Stevensburg — The  Richmond  Raid — Continu- 
ous Campaigning  in  1864— Campaign  of  1865 — General  Pieliett's 
Opinion  of  a  Charge  made  by  the  Sixth — Movement  to  North  Car- 
olina— Return  to  Washington  and  Participation  in  the  Grand  Re- 
view— Transfer  to  Fort  Leavenworth — Service  on  the  Plains — 
Muster  Out  and  Discharge. 

The  Sixth  Cavalry  (one  of  the  regiments  composing  the 
famed  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade,  which  won  imperishable 
laurels  under  the  gallant  Custer)  contained  Clinton  and 
Shiawassee  soldiers  in  six  of  its  companies,  these  being 
principally  found  in  Companies  D  and  G.  The  first-named 
of  these  companies  entered  the  service  under  command  of 
Capt.  David  G.  Koyce,  of  Burns,  Shiawassee  Co.,  and 
the  other  had  for  its  original  first  lieutenant,  Harrison  N. 
Throop,  of  Owosso.  The  regiment  was  recruited  in  the 
fall  of  1862,  under  authority  given  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment, and  the  Governor  of  Michigan,  to  the  Hon.  F.  W. 
Kellogg.  Its  rendezvous  was  at  Grand  Kapids,  where  it 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  George  Gray,  on  the  13th  of  October  in  that 
year,  it  having  on  its  rolls  twelve  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
oflBcers  and  enlisted  men. 

Mounted  and  equipped,  but  not  armed,  it  left  the  regi- 
mental rendezvous  on  the  10th  of  December  following,  and 
proceeded  to  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia,  where  it  was  soon  as- 
signed to  the  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade,  in  the  Third  Divis- 
ion of  the  Cavalry  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  the 
early  part  of  1 863  it  was  encamped  for  a  considerable  time 
at  Fairfax  Conrt-House,  and  saw  some  service  in  February 
and  March,  but  was  not  engaged  in  any  notable  actions 
with  the  enemy  until  the  time  when  the  rebel  army  of  Gen. 
Lee  moved  northward  after  the  battle  of  Chancellorsvillc. 
In  that  campaign  it  fought  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  June  30, 
1863  ;  at  Hunterstown  and  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  Monterey, 
Cavetown,  Smithtown,  Boonsboro',  Hagerstown,  Williams- 
port,  and  Falling  Waters,  Md.,  in  July.  At  Gettysburg 
and  Falling  Waters  it  was  particularly  distinguished.  In 
reference  to  its  part  in  the  latter  engagement  the  corre- 
spondent of  the  New  York  Times  said  in  that  journal : 
"  The  Sixth  Michigan  Cavalry  was  in  the  advance.  They 
did  not  wait  for  orders,  but  a  squadron  composed  of  Com- 
panies D  and  G,  under  Captains  Royce  and  Throop,  were 
deployed  as  skirmishers,  while  Companies  B  and  F,  led  by 
Major  Weaver,  made  the  charge.  The  line  of  skirmishers 
was  forced  back  several  times,  but  the  men  rallied  promptly, 
and  finally  drove  the  enemy  behind  their  works.  A  charge 
was  then  made,  the  squadron  passing  between  the  earth- 
works. So  sudden  and  spirited  was  the  dash,  and  so  de- 
moralized were  the  enemy,  that  the  first  brigade  surren- 
dered without  firing  a  shot.  The  charging  column  moved 
directly  on  and  engaged  the  second  brigade,  when  the  bri- 
gade that  had  surrendered  seized  their  arms,  and  then  com- 
menced a  fearful  struggle.  Of  the  one  hundred  who  made 
this  charge,  only  thirty  escaped  uninjured.  Seven  of  their 
horses  lay  dead  within  the  enemy's  works.  Twelve  hun- 
dred prisoners  were  here  captured,  and  the  ground  was 


SIXTH   OAVALRY. 


107 


strewn  with  dead  and  wounded  rebels.  Among  the  killed 
was  Maj.-Gen.  Pettigrew,  of  South  Carolina."  The  two 
companies  particularly  mentioned  in  this  account  were 
those  whose  ranks  were  principally  filled  with  Shiawassee 
County  men,  and  Capt.  Royce,  commanding  Company  D, 
died  there,  as  a  brave  soldier  would  wish  to  die,  in  the 
thunder  and  smoke  of  the  charge. 

Crossing  the  Potomac  into  Virginia  after  the  battle  of 
Falling  Waters,  the  regiment  was  engaged  with  the  enemy 
at  Snicker's  Gap,  July  19th;  Kelly's  Ford,  September 
13th;  Culpeper  Court-House,  September  14th;  Raccoon 
Ford,  September  16th;  White's  Ford,  September  21st; 
Jack's  Shop,  September  26th  ;  James  City,  October-  12th  ; 
Brandy  Station,  October  13th  ;  Buckland's  Mills,  October 
19th ;  Stevensburg,  November  19th ;  and  Morton's  Ford, 
November  26th.  From  the  latter  date  it  remained  in 
winter  quarters  at  Stevensburg  until  the  28th  of  February, 
186 1,  when  it  joined  the  cavalry  column  of  Kilpatrick,  on 
his  great  raid  to  the  vicinity  of  Richmond.  Returning 
from  that  expedition  to  camp  at  Stevensburg,  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  First  Cavalry  Division,  and  soon  after  moved 
camp  to  Culpeper. 

Companies  I  and  M,  which  had  been  operating  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  during  the  year  1863,  rejoined  the 
regiment  on  the  3d  of  May,  1864,  and  two  days  later  the 
command  moved  across  the  Rapidan  and  into  the  Wilder- 
ness. It  was  engaged,  and  fought  bravely,  near  Chancel- 
lorsville.  May  6th,  and  skirmished  on  the  7th  and  8th. 
On  the  morning  of  the  9th  it  moved  with  Gen.  Sheridan's 
command  on  the  raid  to  the  rear  of  the  Confederate  army, 
holding  the  advance.  From  this  time  its  history  is  one  of 
almost  continuous  movement,  which  may  be  summed  up 
by  the  enumeration  of  the  fights  and  skirmishes  in  which 
it  took  part,  as  follows:  Beaver  Dam,  Va.,  May  9th; 
Yellow  Tavern,  May  10th  and  11th;  Meadow  Bridge, 
May  12th;  Hanover  Court-House,  Va.,  May  27th;  Hawes' 
Shop,  May  28th  ;  Baltimore  Cross-Roads,  May  29th  ;  Cold 
Harbor,  May  30th  and  June  1st;  Trevillian  Station,  June 
11th  and  12th ;  and  Cold  Harbor,  July  21st. 

Early  in  August  the  Michigan  brigade,  with  others  of 
Sheridan's  command,  was  transferred  to  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  where  the  Sixth  took  active  part  in  all  the  skir- 
mishes, battles,  marches,  and  counter-marches  that  occurred 
■  during  this  part  of  the  operations  in  the  Valley, — a  cam- 
paign which  had  made  the  names  of  Sheridan,  Winchester, 
and  Cedar  Creek  famous  for  all  time.  The  principal  actions 
in  which  the  Sixth  participated  in  the  valley  were  those 
of  Front  Royal,  Leetown,  Smithfield,  Opequan  Creek,  Win- 
chester, Luray,  Port  Republic,  Mount  Crawford,  Fisher's 
Hill,  Woodstock,  and  Cedar  Creek.  In  December,  1864, 
it  went  into  winter  quarters  near  Winchester.  Its  total 
list  of  killed  to  November  1st  amounted  to  fifty-five,  while 
forty-four  of  its  members  had  died  of  disease. 

During  the  last  days  of  February,  1865,  the  regiment 
began  its  final  Virginia  campaign.  After  a  long  and  event- 
ful march  under  Sheridan,  during  which  it  helped  to  defeat 
the  rebel  Gen.  Rosser  at  Louisa  Court-House,  to  break  up 
the  Lynchburg  and  Gordonsville  Railroad,  and  to  destroy 
the  looks,  aqueducts,  and  mills  on  the  James  River  Canal, 
it  reached  White  House  Landing  on  the  19th  of  March, 


moved  thence  to  and  across  the  James  River,  and  joined 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  final 
battles  of  the  war,  being  engaged  at  Five  Forks,  Va.,  March 
30th,  31st,  and  April  1st;  at  Southside  Railroad,  April 
2d;  Duck  Pond  Mills,  April  4th;  Sailor's  Creek,  April 
6th ;  and  Appomattox,  April  9th.  In  one  of  these  en- 
gagements the  rebel  general  Pickett  was  captured,  and  he 
afterwards  spoke  of  the  charge  of  the  Sixth  on  that  occa- 
sion as  "  the  bravest  charge  he  had  ever  seen." 

After  Lee's  surrender  the  regiment  moved  to  Petersburg, 
thence  to  North  Carolina,  and  then  north  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  where  it  marched  in  the  great  review  of  May  23d. 
Immediately  after  it  was  ordered  West,  and  moved  with 
the  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade,  via  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  and  the  Ohio,  Mississippi,  and  Missouri  Rivers, 
to  Fort  Leavenworth.  There  it  received  orders  to  move 
over  the  Plains,  westward,  on  duty  in  the  Indian  country. 
The  officers  and  men  were  greatly  disgusted  at  this,  but 
they  would  not  soil  their  noble  record  by  disobedience,  and 
so  they  moved  unhesitatingly  to  the  performance  of  the  dis- 
agreeable duty,  on  which  they  remained  till  the  17th  of 
September,  1865,  when  the  men  of  the  regiment  whose 
term  did  not  expire  before  Feb.  1,  1866,  were  consolidated 
with  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
command  was  ordered  back  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  where  it 
was  mustered  out  of  service,  Nov.  24, 1865.  Returning  to 
Michigan,  it  arrived  at  Jackson,  November  30th,  and  was 
there  disbanded. 

SIXTH  OAVALEY  SOLDIERS  FROM   SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
FiM,  and  Stag. 
As3t.  Surg.  Jaa.  Sleetli,  Byron ;  com.  March  1, 1863  ;  must,  out  Nov.  7, 1865. 

Company  A. 
Freeling  Potter,  must,  out  July  11, 1865. 

Company  D. 
Capt.  David  G.  Boyce,  Burns ;  com.  Oct.  13,  1862 ;  died  in  tuition  at  Falling 

Waters,  Va.,  July  14, 1863. 
Com.  Sergt.  Henry  M!.  BiUiuga,  Burns ;  enl.  Sept.  4, 1862 ;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps, 

Jan.  1, 1864. 
Sergt.  Saml.  C.  Smith,  Caledonia ;  enl,  Sept.  1,  1862 ;  disch.  by  order,  June  9, 

1866. 
Sergt.  Alonzo  Ferguson,  New  Baven  ;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1862;  must,  out  from  Inv. 

Corps,  Sept.  4, 1865. 
Corp.  Chas.  Simpson,  Eurus ;  enl.  Sept,  5, 1862 ;  disch.  for  pro.  in  11th  Cav.,  Oct. 

22, 1863. 
Corp.  Wm.  U.  Dailey,  Burns;  enl.  Sept.  9,  1862;  died  in  action  in  Virginia, 

May  28,  1861. 
Mus.  Wm.  H.  Bust,  Burns ;  enl.  Sept.  3, 1862 ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Mus.  And,  J.  Williams,  Burns ;  enl.  Sept.  26, 1862 ;  must,  out  from  Inv.  Corps, 

July  19, 1866. 
Wagoner  Jas.  W.  Itathbone,  Caledonia ;  enl.  Sept.  8, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  12, 

1806. 
Orin  B.  Arnold,  disch.  for  disability.  May  24, 1863. 
George  W.  Aldrlch,  disch.  for  disability,  July  28, 1863. 
Jacob  H.  Alliton,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1866. 
David  0.  Austin,  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 
Peter  Bough  ton,  must,  out  March  25, 1866. 
Ezra  D.  Barnes,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
George  W.  Boteford,  must,  out  Aug.  8, 1865. 

Augustus  M.  Barnes,  Supposed  lost  on  steamer  "Sultana,"  April  28, 1865. 
Alexander  Crawford,  must,  out  March  25, 1866. 
Henry  Cole,  must,  out  Nov.  2^,  1865. 
David  Campbell,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Henry  W.  Cramer,  must,  out  Dec.  12,  1865. 

Gilbert  Dutcher,  died  of  disease  at  Kichmond  prison,  Va.,  Feb.  12, 1864. 
Edwin  J.  Emery,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Ferdinand  Enler,  must,  put  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Alva  F.  Ewlngj  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
John  H.  Green,  must,  out  July  10,  1865. 
Philander  Gleason,  must,  out  March  27, 1866. 
George  K.  Harris,  mnst.  out  March  25, 1866. 
Hartford  Harding,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 


108 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


George  Hopkins,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Jacob  Haist,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1S65. 

Horace  Hart,  died  of  wounds  at  Hanover,  Va.,  July  3,1863. 

Ira  C.  Hardirtg,  died  in  action  at  Summorville  Ford,  Va.,  Sept.  16, 1863. 

James  M.  Hath,  discli.  for  disability,  July  1'2, 1865. 

John  Judd,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps,  July,  1864. 

L.  F.  Jumes,  died  of  wounds  at  Htiwes'  Shop,  Va.,  May  28, 1864. 

Edwin  Judd,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

W.  K.  Kendall,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Aug.  4, 1864. 

Albert  Lyon,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  July,  1864. 

D.  S.  Munger,  disch.  for  pro.,  Feb.  17, 1«64. 

Thomas  Murray,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Albert  Otis,  died  in  action  at  Falling  Waters,  Md.,  July  14, 1863. 

Truman  Osgood,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  22, 1863. 

Samuel  E.  Pitts,  disch.  for  disability,  June  1, 1863. 

Abraham  Polly,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  5, 1864. 

William  E.  Parker,  must,  out  May  31, 1865. 

Allen  W.  Rhodes,  died  of  disease  at  Richmond  prison,  Va.,  Nov.  20,  1863. 

Siimuel  Sherbourne,  died  of  disease  at  Richmond  prison,  Va.,  April  12, 1864. 

Ananias  Stafford,  died  in  action  at  Hawes'  Shop^  Va.,  May  28, 1864. 

Jacob  Sciler,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Martin  Simpson,  must,  out  Nov,  24, 1865. 

Edward  Simpson,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

William  H.  Shaft,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Joseph  Shaffer,  missing  iu  action. 

John  Van  Dyke,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville,  6a.,  June  20, 1864. 

Tiffany  S.  Wright,  must,  out  Mfiy  24, 18G5. 

Dennis  C.  Welch,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Jan.  1, 1864. 

Company  E. 
George  Bennett,  disch.  for  disability. 

Company  F, 
George  Dutcher,  died  of  wounds  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Oct.  2, 1863. 

Company  G. 
Ist  Lieut.  Harrison  N.  Throop,  Owosso  ;  com.  Oct.  U,  1862;  pro.  to  ciipt.,  Co.  K, 

March  13, 1863. 
Q.M.-Sergt.  Norton  Gregory,  Owosso ;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862 ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 

1865. 
Com.  Sergt.  Geo.  B.  W.  Ingersoll,  Owosso ;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862 ;  killed  in  action 

in  Virginia,  Aug.  28, 1864. 
Sergt.  Isaac  F.  Parkhurst,  New  Haven  ;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862 ;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps, 

Nov.  15,  1863. 
Sergt.  Danl,  1.  Wyker,  Owosso  j  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862;  died  of  disease  at  Annapo- 
lis, Dec.  9, 1864. 
Sergt.  John  B.  Kay,  Woodhull;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1862 ;  taken  pris.  at  Brandy  Sta- 
tion, Va.,  Oct.  11,  1863. 
Corp.  Wm.  M.  Linsley,  New  Haveu  ;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862  ;  disch.  from  Inv.  Corps, 

July  19, 1865. 
Corp.  Jas.  N.  Smith,  Owosso;  enl.  Sept,  3, 18C2;  mustered  out. 
Corp.  George  H.  Wyman,  Owosso;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862  ;  died  in  hospital,  March 

28,  1863, 
Teamster  Jacob  Pettit,  Owosso ;  enl.  Aug.  30,  1862 ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Farrier  Andrew  P,  Gulp,  Scioto;  enl  Aug.  30, 1862;  died  of  disease,  Nov.  4, 1863. 
Farrier  L.  I.  Eckler,  Bennington ;  enl.  Sept.2,  J86:i;  taken  piisoner;  must,  out 

by  order,  June  12, 1865. 
Joshua  Austin,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D,  C,  March  10, 1863. 
John  Allen,  died  of  disease  at  Riclimond,  Va.,  Sept.  24, 1864, 
Artemu^  W.  Angel,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865, 
Jamt'S  Bull,  must,  out  Jnne  5, 1865. 

John  Covel,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga.,  April  17, 1864. 
Arthur  Colyer,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  21, 1863. 
George  Dutcher,  died  of  disea.se  nt  Summerville  Ford,  Va.,  September,  1863. 
Seih  Dutcher,  died  of  disease  at  Owosso,  Mich.,  Nov.  12, 1864. 
Isaac  Deniiston,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D,  C,  June  20, 1864. 
John  Deniiston,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
George  Edwards,  must,  out  March  10,  1866, 
Avery  D.  French,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1863. 
Henry  H,  Train,  trans,  to  Ist  Cav. 
Albert  N.  Train,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Samuel  Gmham,  must,  out  Aug,  17, 1865. 

Lewis  E.  Galusha,  died  in  action  at  Falling  Waters,  Md.,  July  14  1863. 
John  B.  Graham,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  28, 1865. 
Henry  Herst,  must,  out  July  5, 1865, 
George  W.  Judd,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  July  1, 1863. 
John  H.  Moon,  died  of  disease  at  Audersouville  prison,  Nov.  12  1864. 
Jesse  Monroe,  disch.  July  10, 1865. 
Abraham  Ott,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Peter  I.  Putnam,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15, 1864. 
John  E.  Potter,  died  of  disease  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  Va.,  April  1  1863. 
John  P.  Ream,  died  of  disease  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  Va.,  April  3  1863. 
Oliver  H.  Rathboue,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  March  15  1863. 
John  P.  lUy,  missing  in  action. 
Almond  N.  Stephens,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
George  Stickler,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Samuel  J.  Southworth,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 


James  Vanderhoof,  died  of  disease  at  Andei'sonville  prison,  Ga.,  April  23, 1865. 
Christian  Wolenhuigh,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1S65. 
William  F.  Williams,  nnist.  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Orange  Williams,  disch.  for  disability,  June  11, 1864. 

Company  H. 
Capt.  Henry  L.  Wise,  Caledonia;   com,  Oct.  13, 18G2;  pro.  to  maj.  in  11th  Cav. 

Aug.  31, 1863. 

Company  K. 

Capt.  H.  N.  Throop,  Owosso  ;  com.  March  16, 1863  ;  resigned  July  10, 1864. 


SIXTH  CAVALRY  SOLDIERS  FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  D. 
Chas.  Ferrir,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Chas.  E.  Haviland,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Com,  Sei-gt.  Amos  T,  Ayers,  Bingham  ;    euI.'Oct.  13, 1862;  disch.  for  pro.,  Oct. 

13, 1863. 
Sergt.  Marvin  D.  Avery,  Bingham  ;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1862 ;  killed  in  action  at  Tre- 

villian  Station,  June  11, 1864. 
Corp.  Benj.  B.  Tucker,  Duplain ;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1862 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  28, 

1863, 
Mns.  John  A.  Gates, Bingham;  enl.  Oct.  8,1862;  disch.  by  order,  March  6,1865. 
Marion  Case,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Geo.  I.  Goodale,  died  in  rebel  prison,  Richmond,  Va.,  Jan.  12, 1864. 
Henry  M.  Harrison, died  in  action  at  High  Ridge,  Va.,  April  6, 1865. 
Samuel  Hoyle,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  14, 1865. 
Chas.  O.  Haire,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Edwin  C.  Hinman,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Martin  Lerg,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Gershom  W.  Mattoon,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Wm.  T.  Martin,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  25, 1864. 
And.  J.  Miller,  tians.  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb,  15, 1864, 
Moses  C.  Nestel,  trans,  to  Vet,  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15, 1864, 
Hiram  J.  Saterlee,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Sept.  3, 1864, 
Lewis  H,  Yeomand,  died  in  action  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  Oct,  13, 1863, 

Company  G. 
Mu8.  John  C.  Taylor,  Bingham;    enl,  Sept.  17,  1862;    must,  out  Nov.  24, 18G5. 
David  Camp,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  19, 1864. 
Allen  Dryer,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Wm.  Finley,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  10, 1864. 
Jag.  McDaniels,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Henry  Sprague,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Geo.  W,  Taylor,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1863. 

Company  H. 
James  Reynolds,  must,  out  June  13, 1865. 
Winchester  R.  Rice,  must,  out  July  10, 1862. 


CHAPTEE    XIX. 

TBITTH    CAVALRy. 

Organization  of  the  Tenth— Its  Advance  into  Kentucky— Movement 
thence  to  Knoxvillo,  Tenn.— Arduous  Service  in  East  Tennessee, 
Virginia,  and  North  Carolina— Unsuccessful  Pursuit  of  ■Teffcraon 
Davis — Disbandment  of  the  Tenth. 

Company  P  of  the  Tenth  Cavalry  was  largely  made  up 
of  Shiawassee  County  men,  recruited  in  that  county  by 
Capt.  Chauncey  F.  Shepherd,  of  Owosso,  who  had  pre^ 
viously  served  in  both  the  First  and  Fourth  Cavalry  Regi- 
ments. 

Company  H  was  raised  in  Shiawassee  County  by  Capt. 
Peter  N.  Cook,  of  Antrim,  who  was  its  original  command- 
ing officer.  Prior  to  Sept.  1, 1863,  he  had  recruited  sixty 
men  for  this  company,  and  had  reported  with  them  at  the 
rendezvous.  The  remainder  were  recruited  soon  after, — 
nearly  all  of  them  being  from  Shiawassee  County. 

Company  I  was  almost  entirely  composed  of  Clinton 
County  men,  largely  recruited  by  First  Lieut.  Enos  B. 
Bailey  and  Second  Lieut.  George  M.  Farnham,  who  were 
original  officers  of  the  company. 


TENTH  CAVALRY. 


109 


The  rendezvous  of  the  Tenth  was  at  Grand  Rapids, 
where  it  was  organized  and  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  with  nine  hundred  and  twelve  officers  and 
men,  and  with  Col.  Thaddeus  Foote  as  its  commanding 
officer.  On  the  1st  of  December,  1863,  it  left  its  rendez- 
vous and  was  transported  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  whence,  on 
the  13th,  it  moved  to  Camp  Nelson.  From  that  camp  it  was 
moved,  on  the  25th  of  January,  1864,  to  Burnside  Point, 
from  which  place  it  marched,  on  the  29th  of  February,  for 
Knoxville,  East  Tenn.  It  was  engaged,  though  with  but 
little  loss,  at  Bean's  Gap,  March  26th,  and  at  Rheatown, 
April  24th  ;  but  a  more  severe  fight  was  had  on  the  25th 
at  Carter's  Station,  near  Jonesboro',  Tenn.,  when  the  Tenth, 
with  the  Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  were  sent  to  destroy  a 
railroad-bridge  across  the  Watauga  River.  At  Carter's 
the  Tenth  and  Third  attacked  the  enemy  within  his  earth- 
works. The  Tenth  fought  dismounted,  charging  at  a 
"  double-quick"  over  the  outer  rampart  through  a  galling 
fire  into  the  main  bastion,  driving  the  enemy  out  com- 
pletely, to  seek  protection  in  a  rocky  gorge.  The  fight 
lasted  from  two  P.M.  until  dark,  and  resulted  in  ,a  loss  to 
the  Tenth  Regiment  of  seventeen,  killed  and  wounded. 

The  operations  of  the  regiment  during  the  months  of 
May  and  Juno  embraced  little  that  was  out  of  the  usual 
monotonous  round  of  cavalry  duty,  excepting  that  a  detach- 
ment, one  hundred  and  sixty  strong,  while  engaged  on  a 
reconnoissance  to  Bull's  Gap  and  Greenville,  encountered  a 
superior  force  of  the  enemy,  attacked  and  routed  them  with 
severe  loss,  capturing  twenty-six  prisoners  and  a  number  of 
horses  and  mules. 

On  the  23d  of  July  the  Tenth  took  part  in  an  attack 
made  on  a  rebel  brigade  at  Blue  Springs,  Tenn.,  driving 
the  Confederates  from  their  position  in  disorder.  In  this 
the  loss  of  the  regiment  was  six  wounded.  It  returned  to 
Strawberry  Plains  on  the  31st.  On  the  4th  of  September 
the  regiment  attacked  the  forces  of  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan 
at  Greenville,  routed  them,  took  a  large  number  of  prison- 
ers, and  killed  the  guerrilla  chief:  During  the  remainder 
of  that  month  the  men  of  the  Tenth  were  continually  in 
the  saddle,  in  pursuit  of  Wheeler's  and  other  rebel  cavalry, 
and  frequently  overtaking  and  fighting  them,  though  not 
taking  part  in  any  general  battle.  In  all  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober it  was  engaged  in  picket  duty  and  scouting. 

At  the  end  of  October  the  regiment  was  posted  at  Straw- 
berry Plains,  and  remained  there  for  more  than  a  month 
engaged  in  camp  duty,  scouting,  and  erecting  defensive 
works.  While  there  it  was  attacked  (November  14th)  by 
a  force  of  rebel  cavalry,  with  artillery,  under  command  of 
Gen.  Breckinridge.  This  attack  was  commenced  by  the 
artillery  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  Holston  River,  and 
the  cavalry  force  at  the  same  time  threatened  the  position 
from  the  rear.  The  fight,  which  was  a  prolonged  skirmish, 
with  almost  continual  artillery  firing  from  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  was  kept  up  for  a  number  of  days,  but  the 
enemy  was  decisively  repulsed  on  the  24th,  and  withdrew 
from  the  field.  On  the  6  th  of  December  the  regiment 
marched  under  orders  to  Knoxville,  and  thence  soon  after- 
wards to  Saltville,  Va.,  where  it  assisted  in  destroying  the 
Confederate  salt-works  at  that  place,  having  been  engaged 
at  Kingsport,  December  12th,  at  Bristol,  December  14th, 


and  at  Saltville,  December  20th.  After  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  purpose  for  which  the  force  was  sent  out,  it 
returned  to  Knoxville,  having  had  a  smart  skirmish  at 
Chucky  Bend  on  the  10th  of  January,  1865. 

The  Tenth  remained  at  Knoxville  until  the  latter  part 
of  March,  when  it  marched  with  its  brigade  to  the  north- 
ern part  of  East  Tennessee,  and  soon  afterwards  joined  an 
expedition  to  North  Carolina  under  Gen.  Stoneman.  In 
this  incursion  it  fought  the  enemy  at  Brabson's  Mills, 
March  25th,  and  at  Booneville  on  the  27th.  Turning 
thence  northward  by  way  of  Wilkesborough,  it  penetrated 
to  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Railroad  at  Christiansburgh, 
Montgomery  Co.,  Va.,  reaching  that  place  on  the  5th  of 
April,  and  then  taking  part  in  the  destruction  of  nearly 
one  hundred  miles  of  that  railway  line.  Then  it  moved 
to  Henry  Court-House,  ninety-five  miles  away,  and  made 
that  distance  in  a  little  less  than  twenty-four  hours.  At 
that  place,  on  the  8th  of  April,  it  was  attacked  by  a  heavy 
rebel  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  but  successfully  held 
its  ground  with  only  a  slight  loss.  On  the  9ih  of  April 
(the  day  of  Lee's  surrender)  the  Tenth  with  its  companion 
regiments  left  Henry  Court-House,  moved  south,  destroy- 
ing the  railroad  line,  fighting  at  Abbott's  Creek  and  High 
Point  on  the  10th,  capturing  the  town  of  Salisbury  and 
with  it  an  immense  amount  of  stores,  and  then,  passing 
down  the  Catawba  River,  engaged  in  the  business  of  pick- 
ing up  bands  of  rebel  cavalry,  who  had  heard  of  the  sur- 
render of  Lee  and  were  endeavoring  to  make  their  escape 
to  their  homes.  A  few  more  skirmishes  (among  which 
was  one  at  Statesville  on  the  14th  and  another  at  Newton 
on  the  17th  of  April)  finished  the  fighting  of  the  Tenth 
Cavalry.  News  of  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army  was 
received  soon  after,  and  then  the  regiment  was  sent  on  an 
expedition  having  for  its  object  the  capture  of  Jefferson 
Davis ;  but  in  this  it  was  forestalled  by  the  Fourth  Cav- 
alry. When  it  was  found  that  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel 
chief  would  be  fruitless,  the  regiment  was  ordered  west- 
ward, and  passing  by  way  of  Stevenson,  Ala.,  into  Ten- 
nessee, it  remained  on  duty  in  that  State  until  the  11th  of 
November,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Mem- 
phis, and  thence  proceeded  directly  to  Michigan,  arriving 
in  Jackson  on  the  15th  of  the  same  month.  A  little  later 
the  men  received  their  final  payment  and  dispersed  to 
their  homes. 

TENTH  OAVALBV  SOLDIERS  FROM   SHIAWASSEE  COUNTr. 
Fidd  and  Staf. 
Miij.  P.  N.  Cook,  Antrim  ;  pro.  from  capt.  Co.  H ;  must,  out  Feb.  11, 1865. 
Chaplain  Henry  Cherry,  Owoaso  ;  com.  Dec.  3, 1863  ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Non-Gommissioned  Staff. 
Sergt.-Maj.  L.  T.  Rounswell,  Caledonia;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Chief  Mus.  John  L.  Wild,  Caledonia ;  enl.  Sept.  10, 1863 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  F. 

Company  A, 
Capt.  Myron  A.  Converse,  Corunna ;  com.  Jan.  5, 1865  j  1st  lieut.,  April  1, 1864 ; 

must,  out  Nov.  II,  1865. 
iBt  Lieut.  John  R.  Bennett,  Shiawassee ;  com.  Sept.  2, 1865  ;  2d  lieut.,  Co.  H. 

Company  D, 
A.  F.  Carlton,  discli.  by  order,  June  17, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Capt.  Chauncey  F.  Shepherd,  Owosso ;  com.  June  6, 1863 ;  resigned  for  disabil- 
ity, Feb.  25, 1864. 
l8t  Lieut.  Wm.  E.  Cummins,  Corunna ;  com.  July  25, 1863  j  pro.  to  capt,  Co.  I. 


no 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON   COUNTIES,   MICHIGAN. 


Ist  Lieut.  JohD  L,  Wild,  Corunna;  com.  Jan.  1, 1865;  2d  lieut.,  April  1, 1864  ; 

must,  tiut  Nov.  11, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  M.  A.  Converse,  Corunna ;  com.  July  25, 1863 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.,  Co.  A. 
Q  M.-Sergt.  L.  S.  Rounswell,  Caledonia;  npp.  sergt.-maj.  Sept.  18, 1865. 
Com.^ergt.  Wilson  M.  Burk,  Owosso;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  Lucien  A.  Cbase,  Owosso;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  G. 
Sergt.  Jiinies  E.  Conklin,  Owosso;  died  of  disease  in  Kentucky,  Feb.  11, 1864. 
Sergt.  Eber  D.  Jackson,  Caledonia ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Sergt.  Albert  K.  McBride,  Caledonia;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Sergt.  Perry  Swain,  Vernon  ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Sergt.  Christian  Prine,  Perry;  must,  out  Nov.  20, 1865. 
Sergt.  Joel  M.  Jackson,  Caledonia;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 
Corp.  John  Parsons,  Perry;  must,  out  Nov.  24,  1865. 

Corp.  Edward  S.  Treadway,  Perry  ;  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Aug.  1, 1864. 
Corp.  Lewis  T.  Putnam,  Vernon  ;  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  1, 1865. 
Corp.  Daniel  Morehouse,  Middlebury  ;  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  0/orps. 
Farrier  David  W.  Palmer,  Caledonia;  died  of  disease  at  Grand  Bapids,  Not.  18, 

1863. 
Mus.  Eliaha  P.  Tew,  Caledonia;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Saddler  Abner  Sejirs,  Burns ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Wagoner  Albert  A.  B;irnes,  Caledonia;  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  25, 1864. 
Henry  E.  Angus,  discli.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1864. 
Alon  Beckley,  missing  at  High  Point,  N.  C,  April  25, 1865. 
Robert  H.  Barton,  must,  out  June  13, 1865. 
Charles  M.  Calkins,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Daniel  Conklin,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Oscar  F.  Card,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Edward  R.  Clifford,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Feb.  13, 1864. 
Hiram  Clark,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  March,  1865. 
Charles  Conklin,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  19, 1864. 
Levi  Eldridge,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Charles  D.  Foster,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Wm.  E.  Forney,  died  of  disease  at  Grand  Bapids,  Mich.,  Nov,  18, 1863. 
Elialia  C.  Gleason,  must,  out  Nov.  H,  1865. 
William  Gleason,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 
George  Howe,  must,  out  May  27, 1865. 
George  W.  Harrie,  must,  out  Nov.  22, 1865. 
Eeubon  J.  Holmes,  must,  out  Nov.  II,  1865, 
Andrew  J.  Hovey,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Willard  S.  Hawthorn,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1805. 
Hiram  Halleck,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Peter  Hamlin,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Andrew  Hart,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Feb.  3, 1864. 
AlbertE.  Huntley,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Feb.  1, 1864. 
Samuel  Holcomb,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Feb.  9, 1864. 
Henry  Howe,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky,,  March  1, 1865. 
Friend  D.  Jackson,  died  of  disease  atCorunna,  Mich,,  Nov.  12,  1863. 

Company  F. 
Carpenter  Jacobs,  died  of  disease  at  Somerset,  Ky.,  Feb.  13, 1864, 
Lambert  Johnson,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  1865. 
David  Kinyon,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Daniel  L.  Kinyon,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  1865. 
Charles  Kiuney,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  18G5. 

Daniel  Kief,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  9, 1864. 
Otis  Lamunyon,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  1865. 
James  Mole,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  1865. 
Henry  C.  McCarty,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Jerry  M.  Mallery,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tonn.,  Feb.  2, 1865. 
Alvin  Owen,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 18ii5. 
Daniel  Owen,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Edward  Pu:nam,  must,  out  Nov.  II,  1865. 
Frank  Putnam,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 
John  N.  Pratt,  must,  out  Nov.  27,  If  65. 
George  F.  Prior,  must,  out  May  11, 1865. 

George  R.  Simms,  died  of  diseaae  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Dec.  28, 1863. 
John  Snow,  died  of  disease  at  Owosso,  Mich.,  Nov.  24, 1863. 
William  Thomas,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  April  23, 1864, 
Philip  Thomas,  must,  out  June  9, 1865. 
John  D.  Thomas,  must,  out  Nov,  11, 1865. 
William  B.  Walcott,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  20, 1864. 
John  Woodruff,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  March  1,  1805, 

Company  G. 

2d  Lieut.  Lucien  A.  Chase,  Owosso ;  enl.  Feb.  18, 1865  ;  must,  out  Nov,  11  1865, 

Levi  Hall,  must,  out  Nov,  11, 1865. 

James  H.  Morgan,  died  of  disease  at  Lenoir,  Tenn.,  June  5, 1865, 

Company  H. 
Capt.  Peter  N.  Cook,  Antrim  :  com.  Aug.  26, 1863 ;  pro.  to  major,  Feb,  18, 1865. 
Capt.  Edgar  P.  Byerly,  Owosso;  com.  Feb.  18, 1865  ;  Ist  lieut.,  July  25,  1863; 

must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  J.  Q.  A.  Cook,  Antrim  ;  com.  July  25, 1863 ;  resigned  April  12, 1864, 
2d  Lieut.  John  R.  Bennett,  Shiawassee  ;  com.  Feb.  18,  1865 ;  sergt. ;  pro,  to  Ist 

lietit.,  Co.  A. 
Sergt.  John  L.  Banks,  Shiawassee ;  disch,  by  order,  Aug.  3, 1865, 
Sergt.  Lewis  Decker,  Antrim ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  Aaron  Herrick,  Shiawassee ;  trans,  to  Inv,  Corps,  June  16  1864. 


Sergt.  David  F.  Tyler,  Perry;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1805. 

Sergt.  Jacob  N.  Decker,  Antrim;  died  of  wounds  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  May  24 
1864.  '  ' 

Sergt.  Samuel  B.  R^venaugh,  Shiawassee  ;  disch.  for  disability.  May  31  1865. 

Sergt  Robert  D.  Adams,  Antrim;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Corp.  Samuel  H.  Graham,  Woodhull ;  must,  out  Nov,  11, 1865, 

Coi"p.  Wm.  H.  Bachelder,  Antrim  ;  died  of  disease  in  Kentucky,  March  25  1864 

Corp.  John  N.  Baker,  Antrim  ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Corp.  Stephen  D,  Stedman,  Perry  ;  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Oct,  31 
1864. 

Corp.  Piatt  S.  Pelton,  Shiawassee  ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 

Corp.  And.  Bliss,  Burns  ;  must,  out  Nov.  11,1865. 

Corp.  Chaa.  F.  Coles,  Shiawassee,  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  17, 1865. 

Mus.  Gideon  Whitman,  Corp.,  Burns ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 

Mus.  Samuel  H.  Bennett,  Antrim;  died  of  diseaae  in  Kentucky,  Feb.  24-  1864, 

Saddler  Geo.  Hart,  Shiawassee ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 

George  Bentley,  died  of  di^ieaae  at  Camp  Nelson,  Feb,  27, 1864. 

Francis  M,  Baker,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  April  5, 1864. 

William  Battishill,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  June  10, 1864. 

William  R.  Bugbee,  died  of  disease  at  Somerset,  Ky.,  Feb,  27, 1864. 

John  R,  Bennett,  diach.  for  promotion,  May  29, 1865. 

E.  E.  Barnes,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Walter  Brown,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  1865. 

Hector  E.  Bentley,  mu.st.  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
John  S.  Babeock,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Edgar  Cole,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

George  W.  Coif,  must,  out  Nov.  22, 1865. 

Andrew  Crowell,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Samuel  W.  Carr,  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  Sept.  12, 1865. 

L.  A.  Decker,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga.,  April  24, 1864. 

Peter  Dumbud,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Benjamin  Dufreze,  must,  out  Nov.  22, 1865. 

George  P.  Dean,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Samuel  H.  Graham,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1805. 

Hale  P.  Goodwin,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  27, 1865, 

Daniel  B.  Herrington,  must,  out  May  19, 1865. 

Truman  W.  Hemingway,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 

Reuben  C.  Hutchings,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Hlrani  Johnson,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Sylvester  Ketchum,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  May  1, 1864. 

Alfred  Lamunyan,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

John  B.  Lucas,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  1865. 

John  C.  Levy,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Robert  Lyons,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Arthur  Mead,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

George  F.  Merrill,  must,  out  May  19,  1865. 

William  F.  McDivit,  disch.  by  order,  Feb.  4, 1865. 

Loren  D.  Pock,  died  of  disease  at  Grand  R  ipids,  Mich.,  Nov.  18, 1863. 

Martin  Pierce,  died  of  diseaae  at  Andersonville,  Ga. 

Thomas  Ratigan,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville,  Ga. 

Samuel  Robinson,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville,  Ga, 

Willirtm  A.  Bich.irddon,  must,  out  Nov.  14, 1865. 

John  W.  Simpson,  died  of  wounds  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  May  7, 1864. 

William  H.  Sbaw,  disch.  for  disability,  June  23,  1864. 

Hiram  W.  Stevens,  disch.  by  order,  May  1, 1865. 

Almon  M.  Sandford,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 

William  O.  Sherburne,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Allen  Scott,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 18G5. 

Allen  H.  Terberry,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

William  Vaughn,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  May  2, 1864. 

Frederick  Wolf,  d.sch.  by  order,  June  30,  1865. 

Company  I. 
Capt.Wm.  E.  Cummings,  Oorunna;  com.  Jan.  7,1865;  must,  out  Nov.  U,  1865. 
Melvin  Hauglitland,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  M. 
William  M.  Decker,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
George  W.  Hickox,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

William  Roberts,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  July  24, 1864, 
Charlea  Thomas,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865, 

TENTH  CAVALRY  SOLDIERS  FROM   CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Field  and  Stqff. 
Maj.  Harvey  B.  Light,  Eureka;  com.  Jan.  6, 1865 ;  must,  out  Nov,  11, 1866. 

Company  B. 

Ist  Lieut.  Nelson  Robinson,  Jr.,  Eureka;  com.  Aug,  3, 1865;  must,  out  Nov,  11, 

1865. 
John  Hodges,  must,  out  Nov,  11, 1865. 
Homer  Parkes,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Tompkins  Parkes,  must  out  Nov,  11, 1865. 
Albert  Van  Alstine,  died  of  diseaae  at  Somerset,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 1864, 

Company  D. 
Allen  Hicks,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 


OTHER  SOLDIERS   FROM   SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON. 


Ill 


Comparty  E. 
Capt.  Harvey  B.  Light,  Eureka;  com.  July  25,  1803;  pro.  to  maj..  Jan.  6,  1866. 
2d  Lieut.  Nelson  K    Kobineon,  Eureka ;  q.m.-seigt. ;  pro.  to  iBt  lieut.  Co.  B, 

Aug.  S,  1865. 
Mu8.  John  B.  Lackey,  Kiley;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Farrier  Alfred  V.  Boosa,  Eureka  ;  muat.  out  Nov.ll,  1865. 
Wagoner  Levi  Spnuldinp,  Eureka;  disch.  for  disability,  April  26, 1864. 
John  M.  Benjamin,  disih.  by  order,  Sept.  6, 1865. 
James  0.  Chart,,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Jan.  17, 1864. 
John  Porter,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  F, 
Sergt.  Tillman  Beardslee,  Ovid;  must,  out  May  17, 1865. 
Coe  S.  Swegles,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  20, 1865. 
John  Sinclair,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Sergt.  Oscar  E.  GroTer,  Eagle;  died  of  disease  at  Purdy,  Tenn.,  Oct.  23, 1865. 
Corp.  Azro  M.  Bates,  Eagle;  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  10, 1864. 
John  Brown,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Daniel  Ackley,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Capt.  Enos  B.Bailey,  St.  John's;  com.  Jan.  22,  1864;  1st  lieut.  July  25, 1863; 

must,  out  Jan.  7, 1865. 
Ist  Lieut.  George  M.  Fnrnham,  St.  John's ;  com.  Jan.  22, 1864 ;  2d  lieut.  July  25, 

1863;  pro.  to  capt.  Co.  K. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Spears,  Riley ;  com.  Oct.  19, 1865 ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Q.M.-Sergt.  Josepli  S.  Tucker,  Kiley  ;  disch.  for  disability.  Tune  1, 1865. 
Com.-Sergt.  Oscar  Chase,  Bingham;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  Daniel  C.  Tucker,  Riley ;  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
Sergt.  Willaid  N.  Daggett,  Greenbush ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  Lyman  J.  Daniels,  Watertown  ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  Charles  H.  Rose,  Watertown ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  Samnel  S.  Lee,  Do  Witt ;  sick  and  absent,  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  James  M.  Shultcrs,  Bingham  ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Q.M.-Sergt.  William  Adams,  Greenbush  ;  must,  out  Nov.  18, 1865. 
Corp.  Eugene  B.  Ketchnm,  Bingham ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Corp.  William  J.  Esler,  Eagle ;  must,  out  Oct.  23, 1865. 
Corp.  Emmett  Kirby,  Greenbush  ;  must,  out  May  26, 1865. 
Corp.  Charles  0.  Cohen,  Lebanon ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Sergt.  John  Spears,  Riley;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  1. 
Sergt.  Frank  H.  Eossman,  Watertown  ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Mus.  Orlo  W.  Berniingham,  Duplain  ;  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  11, 1805. 
Mus.  Fred.  Brown,  Westphalia ;  died  of  disease  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Nov. 

13, 1863. 
Saddler  Paul  J.  Averill,  Olive ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Farrier  Abram  Bennett,  Westphalia;  disch.  for  disability.  May  23, 1864. 
Farrier  Geo.  W.  Baker,  Greenbush ;  died  of  disease  in  Kentucky,  Feb.  11, 1804. 
Teamster  Richard  Cook,  Olive  ;  must,  out  Nov.  10, 1865. 
Oliver  Babcock,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  March  31, 1864. 
Edwin  Burrows,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  24, 1804. 
Joseph  L.  Brink,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nel^n,  Ky.,  Jan.  7, 1804. 
Charles  Bacon,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Feb.  21, 1864. 
Stephen  H.  Baker,  missing  in  action. 

William  T.  Blizzard,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  May  20, 1864. 
Andiew  Bailey,  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps. 
John  Brown,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
James  Brown,  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  3, 1863. 
Edwin  Bushnell,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Abram  (,'ook,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
William  Coverstone,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Linus  Densmore,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Jan.  20, 1864. 
Chauncey  Ferris,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Alonzo  Force,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
John  W.  Force,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
laiac  Grant,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Isaac  H.  Harrington,  must,  out  Oct.  20, 1865. 
Charles  J.  Hoople,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1805. 
George  J.  Huggett,  drowned  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  12, 1865. 
Daniel  S.  Hathaway,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Feb.  1,  1804. 
Godfrey  Kline,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  July  13, 1804. 
Ljman  W.  Kimball,  died  of  disease  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Oct.  2, 1863. 
Myron  J.  Lattimore,  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  Feb.  26, 1864. 
James  A.  Laughlin,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  6, 1803. 
Gould  E.  Mathews,  disch.  by  order,  June  19, 1805. 
B.  B.  Owen,  must,  out  May  12, 1865. 
Alexander  Parka,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Lorenzo  D.  Philips,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  1, 1804. 
W.  W.  Stiles,  died  of  disease  at  Somerset,  Ky.,  Feb.  28, 1864. 
Alvin  Sears,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  May  4, 1864. 
Warreu  Stiles,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Nov.  6, 1864. 
Edmond  H.  Sitts,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Jackson  A.  Sanborn,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  I860. 
B.  Frank.  Sanborn,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 


John  W.  Stanswoll,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Emery  B.  Smith,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1866. 

Jesse  E.  Stone,  sergt.,  Duplain ;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Lafayette  A.  Townson,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Oct.  4, 1864. 

Zenas  J.  Thomas,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  6, 1864. 

Denison  Van  Vliet,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  25, 1865. 

Samuel  Whitlock,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Feb,  11, 1804. 

Elliott  Wright,  died  of  disease  in  Tennessee,  .Juno  11, 1864. 

Anthony  Winans,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1866. 

Charles  Williams,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

William  Wells,  must,  out  Nov.ll,  1865. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

OTHEK  SOLDIEBS  FBOM  SHIA"WASSEE  AND 
CLINTOM'   COUNTIES. 

Representation  of  the  Two  Counties  in  Twenty-five  Infantry  and 
Cavalry  Kegiments,  and  Eleven  Michigan  Batteries. 

Besides  the  regiments  of  which  histoi-ical  sketches  have 
already  been  given,  there  were  many  others  containing  Clin- 
ton and  Shiawassee  County  soldiers,  whose  record  is  equally 
honorable,  though  they  served  in  regiments  in  which  these 
counties  were  less  numerously  represented.  Of  the  oflBcers 
and  enlisted  men  who  served  in  these  regiments  lists  (made 
from  the  official  records  in  the  adjutant-general's  office) 
are  given  in  this  chapter. 

SOLDIERS  or  THE  FIRST  INFANTRY. 

CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  F. 
Alpheus  Bixby,  disch.  for  disability.  May  12, 1864. 

Company  H. 
Andrew  J.  Briggs,  veteran,  Dec.  26, 1863. 
Alvalma  L.  Dickinson,  disch.  by  order,  June  10, 1805. 
James  B.  Marsh,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  30, 1864. 

Company  I. 
David  W.  Zacharias,  must,  out  July  9, 1865. 

SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
Company  H. 
George  W.  Laking,  disch.  for  disability. 

FOURTH   IKFANTRY. 

SOLDIERS  FKOM  CLINTON  COUNTV. 
Company  K, 
James  G.  Abbott,  died  of  disease  in  New  York,  June,  1862. 
Strgt.  Ezra  Brown,  Duplain,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  28,  1864. 
Alonzo  Force,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  16, 1862 
Colwell  Martin,  disch.  for  disability,  Not.  1, 1862. 
Orrin  E.  Perry,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  28, 1864. 

Company  I  {New  Fourth). 
Hiram  A.  Barber,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  8, 1866. 
Zoar  H.  Bates,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  8, 1866. 
Harvey  Cook,  died  of  disease  iu  Texas,  Oct.  22, 1865. 
William  A.  Dietz,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  8, 1866. 
Giles  Hill,  died  of  disease  in  Texas,  Nov.  6, 1865. 
Charles  V.  Lewis,  died  of  distase  in  Texas,  Nov.  4, 1865. 
Washington  Lewis,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  8, 1866. 
Albert  H.  Miller,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  8, 1866. 
John  D.  Sherman,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  8, 1866. 

SOLDIEKS  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
CoMpany  K, 
Thomas  Sherry,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  28, 1864. 

Company  E  (New  Fourth). 
George  Bradison,  must,  out  May  26, 1866. 

Company  C. 
James  Dftvis,  roust,  out  Feb.  26, 1866. 


112 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AiND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


SIXTH   INPANTKT. 

MEN  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
Company  A. 
Solomon  Henry,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  2, 1865. 
Seymour  Lyon,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

SEVENTH   INFANTRY. 

MEN   FKOM  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY. 
Company  B. 
Gilbert  A.  Frazier,  diach.  Jan.  20, 1862. 
Oscar  S.  Jewett,  trans,  to  Yet.  Res.  Corps,  March  15, 1864. 
Ansel  James,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Benton,  Md.,  Nov.  16, 1861. 
Cad.  S.  Pelton,  missing  in  retreat  from  Fair  Oaks. 
Caleb  B.  Pelton,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  9, 1864. 

Chmpany  F. 
Benj.  F.  Green,  disch.  for  disability,  June  6, 1862. 
Henry  S.  McCarry,  disch.  for  di8al.ility,May3, 1862. 
Jacob  D.  Snyder,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  10, 1862. 
Wellington  Stark,  disch.  for  disability,  June  23, 1862. 
William  Stone,  died  of  disease  at  Point  Lookout,  Md.,  Jan.  1,  1863, 
John  D.  Walker,  disch.  for  promotion,  Aug.  4, 1862. 
William  White,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  5, 1861. 

MEN  FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  G. 
Thomas  Stevens,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

Company  M. 
■  Charles  Hale,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  17, 1862. 

ELEVENTH   INFANTRY  (NEW). 
MEN  FROM   SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
Company  B. 
George  W.  White,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  3,  I860. 

Company  H. 
John  Brt-ndel,  must,  out  Sept.  16,1865. 

TWELFTH   INFANTRY. 

MEN  FROM   CLINTON   COUNTY. 
Company  B. 
Birdsley  Morse,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 

Company  C. 
Geo.  Oliver,  disch.  by  order,  June  17, 1865. 
Valororous  Oliver,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 

Company  D. 
Wilson  M.  Holmes,  disch.  by  order,  May  28, 1865. 

Company  F. 
David  Whalin,  died  cf  disease  in  Arkansas,  Aug.  17, 1863. 

Company  G. 
Edward  C.  Hinman,  disch.  Aug.  18, 1862. 
Albert  A.  Sheiman,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  26, 1862. 

Company  K. 
A.  J.  Austin,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  20, 1863. 
J.  B.  Moss,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  20, 1863. 

THIRTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  VOLUNTEERS. 
Company  B. 
James  Anderson,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
Lewis  C.  Gardner,  disch.  by  order,  June  16, 1865. 
Alson  P.  Kinney,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

Company  C. 
George  C.  Baker,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Company  D. 
Sergt.  Michael  Miller,  Westphalia ;  enl.  Nov.  12, 1861;  disch.  at  end  of  service 

Jan.  16, 1865.  * 

Michael  Bechtold,  disch.  for  disability,  July  21, 1863. 
Gerritt  S.  Finn,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  died  of  disease  in  Georgia  Feb  28 

1865.  *         *     ' 

Lorenzo  Hance,  disch.  for  disability,  May  1, 1862. 
Hiram  S.  Miller,  disrh.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  17, 1865. 
Anson  J.  Rammer,  diach.  for  disability,  Feb.  Zi,  1863. 
Frank  Wiler,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  15. 1802. 
Mathias  Webber,  disch.  on  order,  June  20, 1865. 


Company  F. 

Sergt.  Walter  Delong,  Lebanon;  enl.  Oct.  5,1861 ;  diod  in  actional  Stone  Elver 

Tenn.,  Dec.  29,1862. 
William  G.  Annis,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 
Silas  H.  Catlin,  veteran,  onl.  Feb.  10,1864;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  July  18  '65. 
David  R.  Corey,  disch.  for  disability,  March  8, 1863. 
Nathan  Evant,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  10, 1862. 
Frederick  Fifield,  died  at  home. 
George  W.  Hewitt,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Webster  Lawrence,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
William  McRoberts,  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Horace  McRoberts,  died  of  disease  at  Kalamazoo,  Feb.  9, 1862. 
Laureston  B,  Myers,  disch.  for  disability. 
Phinney  B.  Millard,  disch.  for  disabilily. 
William  M,  Payne,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
Reuben  Place,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Joseph  Randolph,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  10, 1862. 
Sylvester  Stoddard,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
Orrin  A.  Smith,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Dec.  20, 1862. 
James  D.  Sowle,  missing  in  action. 
Silas  Tripp,  died  of  disease,  July  21, 1862. 
David  Tripp,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  19, 1863. 

Company  G. 
John  Hoover,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 


Walter  Weaver,  died  in  action  at  Stone  River,  Tenn,,  Dec.  31, 1862. 

Company  K. 
Edward  Everett,  must,  out  July  18,  1865. 
Tobias  Egner,  discharged  July  20, 1864. 
Clark  S.  Green,  discharged  Sept.  5, 1862, 

FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
Lewis  Whitman,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  15, 1864. 

FIFTEENTH   INFANTRY. 

SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY    MEN. 

Company  A. 
James  Delaney,  disch.  by  order,  May  30, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Richard  Haines,  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 

Company  O. 
Nelson  Cengart,  mn'»t.  out  Aug.  13,1865, 
William  S.  Corwin,  disch,  for  disability,  July  28, 1863, 

Company  F. 
Corp.  Richard  Ralph,  Corunna ;  enl.  Jan.  5, 1862 ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan. 

28, 1865. 
Reuben  Cudney,  disch.  for  disability,  July  24, 1862, 
Benjiimin  F.  Dunlap,  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
John  S.  Skelton,  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1805. 

Company  I. 
1st  Lieut.  Henry  F.  Wallace,  Corunna;  com.  Jan.  1, 1862;  wounded  at  battle  of 

Shiloh,  April  6,1862;  thanked  by  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  special  orders  for 

gallantry  and  efficiency  at  the  siege  of  Corinth;  disch.  for  disability, 

Sept.  1, 1862. 
2dLieut.  John  Edwards,  Corunna;  com.  Jan.  1, 1862;  res.  April  17,1863. 
Sergt.  James  Brown,  Coritnna;  enl.  Dec,  29, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  12, 

1862. 
Cotp.  John  A,  Wallace,  Corunna;  enl.  Dec.  20,  1861;  veteran,  Feb.  14,  1864; 

absent  on  furlough  at  muster  out. 
Henry  H.  Barnes,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  14, 1864 ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865, 
John  Crow,  died  of  disease  at  Big  Black  River,  Miss.,  Aug.  14, 1863. 
Wallace  Dibble,  died  in  action  at  Shiloh,  Tenn.,  April  6, 1862. 
Tliomas  Donahue,  disch.  fur  disability,  March  31, 1863. 
Alonzo  Johnson,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  10, 1863. 
Heniy  Punches,  disch,  for  disability,  Nov,  6, 1862. 
James  Penfold,  died  of  disease  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Samuel  B.  Revunaugh,  disch,  for  disability,  Aug.  29, 1862. 
Warren  J.  Woolman,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  10, 1863. 
Thomas  Yerton,  died  of  disease  in  Tennessee,  June  1, 1862. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  MEN. 
Company  C. 
Joseph  Humeston,  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  March  3, 1865. 

Company  G, 
Ezra  B.  Dietz,  disch.  by  order,  May  30, 1865. 

CoTnpany  I. 
Charles  Minke,  disch,  by  order.  May  30, 1865. 
Robert  Wyman,  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 


OTHER   SOLDIERS   FROM    SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON. 


113 


Company  K. 
■William  H.  Koe,  disch.  at  end  of  soivice,  Not.  17, 1866. 
Sainiiel  A.  Smith,  died  of  disease  in  Mississippi,  Aug.  C,  1863. 
Christian  Taylor,  disch.  by  order.  May  30, 1865. 

SIXTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  MEN. 
Company  B. 
William  II.  C.  Hall,  must,  ont  Jnly  8, 1865. 
Henry  F.  Monroe,  must,  out  July  8, 1865, 

Company  D. 
Daniel  Boaa,  died  of  wounds  at  Alexandria,  Ya.,  Oct.  27, 1864. 

Company  F. 
Thomas  Catlin,  disch.  by  order,  May  3, 1865. 

Company  H. 
George  Broom,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863. 
Mathew  Crowter,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863;  died  of  wounds,  near  Petersburg, 

Va.,  June  21, 1864. 
George  W.  Erray,  died  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2, 1863. 
Nicholas  Fitzpatrick,  died  of  disease  at  Hall's  Ilill,  Va.,  Nov.  14,  1862. 
Alfred  E.  Trazier,  disch.  by  order,  Dec.  15, 1861. 
David  Gordon,  disch.  by  order,  July  13, 1865. 
Warren  Hatben,  died  of  wounds,  1862. 
Hiram  Johnson,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  27, 1864. 
Sanford  G.  Morton,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  7, 1864. 
Nathaniel  B.  Overton,  died  in  action  at  Gaines'  Hill,  June  27, 1862. 
Adoniram  J.  Payne,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Oct.  2, 1861. 
Charles  J.  Perry,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  13, 1863. 
Jesse  Parmenter,  wagouer,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Feb. 

20, 1865. 
leander  A.  Vandusen,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  7, 1864. 
William  H.  Wilkinson,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  25, 1862. 

Company  K, 
Joseph  G.  Scott,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  0. 
Isaac  H.  Scott,  died  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2, 1863. 
Bradley  S.  Whitney,  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 

First  Independent  Company. 
Jacob  F.  Wagner,  must,  out  July  8, 1866. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  MEN. 

Company  B. 
Lloyd  G.  Stever,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Company  F. 
John  G.  Daker,  died  of  disease  in  Virginia,  Oct.  21, 1861. 
Jeremiah  Walker,  died  of  disease  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  Nov.  20, 1862. 

Company  G. 
David  Clark,  disch.  by  order,  May  20, 1866. 

Compsmy  H. 
1st  Lient.  Daniel  Lyon,  St.  John's ;  com.  Sept.  27,  1864;  sergt.  Ang.  15,  1861; 

veteran,  enl.  Dec. 24, 1863;  wounded  at  Hatcher's  Bun,  Va.,  Feb.  6,1865; 

disch.  for  disability.  May  15, 1865. 
Sergt.  Lafayette  L.  Trask,  St.  John's;  enl.  Ang.  13, 1861;  disch.  for  disability, 

Jan.  3, 1863. 
Corp.  John  T.  Newell,  St.  John's  ;  enl.  Sept.  1, 1861 ;  died  in  action  at  Gaines' 

Mill,  June  27, 1862. 
Corp.  Theodore  L.  Everest,  St.  John's ;  enl.  Aug.  16, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability, 

Sept.  17, 1862. 
Abram  Bigelow,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  21, 1862. 
Carlos  Bellnws,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863  ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
John  J.  Partello,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  7, 1864. 
Joseph  Van  Vechten,  died  in  action  at  Bull  Eun,  Aug.  30, 1862. 
David  Wainwright,  discharged. 

SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

FEOM  CLINTON. 

Company  H. 
Dclos  W.  Vanderberg,  died  in  action  at  South  Mountain,  Md.,  Sept.  14, 1862. 
Noah  Wilkes,  must,  out  June  3, 1866. 

Company  K. 
Walter  Love,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio. 
William  Merritt,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  4, 1864. 

FEOM  SHIAWASSEE. 
Company  F, 
Sylvester  Everts,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  23, 1863. 
William  Jordan,  died  in  action  at  Aniiotam,  Md.,  Sept.  17, 1862. 

15 


EIGHTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

FEOM    SHIAWASSEE. 
Company  D. 
Smith  Bntterfield,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  20, 186 1. 
Orlando  E.  Sheldon,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 
Williams  L.  Walters,  must,  out  May  16, 1865. 

FEOM  CLINTON. 
Company  F. 
Capt.  Sheridan  F.  Hill,  Eagle;  com.  capt.,  Co.  G,  March  27,  1866;  1st  lieut., 
Co.  F,  July  27, 1862;  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 

NINETEENTH  INFANTRY. 

FEOM  CLINTON. 
Company  J). 
Leonard  Caswell,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

TWENTIETH  INFANTRY. 

FEOM  CLINTON. 
Company  B. 
John  J.  Beadle,  trans,  to  2d  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  6, 1865. 
Wilbur  G.  Hibbard,  trans,  to  2d  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  28, 1866. 

FEOM    SHIAWASSEE. 
Aaron  Blanchard,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 

TWENTY-FIRST   INFANTRY. 

FEOM  CLINTON. 

Company  A. 
Sergt.  James  J.  May,  Eiley ;  enl.  Aug.  1, 1862 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  24,  '62. 

Company  D. 
Amos  M.  Delta,  must,  out  June  8, 1866. 

Company  G. 

Mus.  Henry  M.  Lewis,  De  Witt;  enl.  Aug.  16,  1862;  must,  out  of  Inv.  Corps, 

June  26, 1865. 

Company  I. 

James  C.  Van  Liew,  trans,  to  14th  Mich.  Inf.;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Myron  J.  Stewart,  trans,  to  14th  Mich.  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Company  K. 

George  D.  Barker,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro'. 

Jonathan  Catlin,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  9, 1863. 

Geo.  W.  Glaasbrook,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Bradley,  Jan.  31, 1863. 

Calvin  Merwin,  died  of  disease  at  sea. 

Cliarles  Eosencrans,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  12, 1863. 

Malcolm  Sherwood,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  24, 1863. 

Calvin  Terwilliger,  disch.  for  disability. 

TWENTY-SECOND   INFANTRY. 

FEOM  CLINTON. 
Company  D, 
Milton  A.  Farmer,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Aug.  1, 1864. 
Kichard  F.  Masters,  trans,  to  2d  Mich.  Inf.;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

FEOM    SHIAWASSEE. 
Company  A, 
Andrew  Fillinger,  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 
Henry  Fillinger,  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 

TWENTY-FOURTH   INFANTRY. 

FEOM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 

Company  A. 
Charles  Willard,  died  in  rebel  prison. 

Company  F. 
Joseph  Coryell,  died  in  action  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Va.,  April  29, 1863. 
James  Hubbard,  died  in  action  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  1, 1863. 

Company  S. 
Dewitt  C.  Bntterfield,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  21, 1863. 
Aimon  S.  Cook,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Myron  Demaix  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  of  wounds,  Dec.  9, 1863. 
Morris  Hoople,  missing  in  action. 

Leander  E.  Hoople,  disch.  for  disability,  March  30, 1865. 
V.  E.  W.  Lemm,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  28, 1864. 
William  Morgan,  died  of  disease  at  Belle  Plain,  Feb.  24, 1863. 
Nathaniel  Moon,  died  of  wounds  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Aug.  4, 1864. 
Ira  F.  Pearaall,  disch.  for  disability,  April  11, 1863. 


114 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  AND  CLINTON  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


WilHam  F.  Reed,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  25, 1863. 

Micholtis  Baby,  missing  in  action. 

Joseph  Shank,  must,  out  May  24, 1865. 

Andrew  J.  Stevens,  mnst.  out  June  30, 1865. 

John  Steele,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Charles  Stickles,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  15, 1862. 

Samuel  Steele,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  26, 1862. 

Charles  W.  Thomas,  disch.  for  disability,  April  30, 1863. 

Company  I. 
Mathew  Black,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Theodore  Hiller,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Job  Sexton,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Homer  Watson,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Company  K. 
William  Morse,  must,  out  June  30, 1865, 

FKOM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

Company  D. 
Orrin  Dodge,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Oowpany  E. 
Manley  M.  Boington,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Jerome  B.  Frasier,  must,  out  June  30,1865. 
Lewis  Metcalf,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Company  G. 
James  V^.  Goodfellow,  disch.  for  disability,  June  3, 1865. 
Orville  C.  Simonson,  died  of  wounds,  June  18, 1864. 
William  H.  Van  Otter,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  20, 1862. 

Company  K. 
Henry  L.  McCarthy,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Dexter  B.  Proper,  must,  out  June  30, 1805. 

BeoruUs. 
James  Ackley,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Samuel  A.  Hubbard,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Edward  Leeland,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
David  B.  Shannon,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

TWENTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY. 
FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

NonrGommimoned  Stajf. 
Priuc.  Mue.  George  G.  Harris,  Antrim ;  enl.  Aug.  6, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  4,  *65. 

Company  B. 
James  M.  Clements,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Willis  E.  Brown,  must,  out  Sept.  10, 1865,  from  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 
John  L.  Bennett,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 
Cliarles  Bennett,  must,  out  June  4, 1865, 
Ashley  C.  Elder,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 

FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 

Non- Commissioned  Staff. 
Hosp.-Stew.  Zadock  B.  Freeman,  Bath  ;  pro.  to  asst.  surg. 

Company  D, 
George  Hawkins,  must,  out  June  27, 1865. 
Andrew  Silvornail,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  20, 1863. 
Sergt.  William  D.  Towner,  died  of  disease  at  Jackson,  Mich,,  Sept.  27, 1862. 

Compantf  S. 
Napoleon  Delong,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Feb.  15, 1863. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 

Company  B. 
Ist  Lieut.  Eli  F.  Evans,  Vernon ;  com.  Nov.  26, 1864  ;  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Company  E. 
Samuel  A.  Luther,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  13, 1866. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 
MEN  FROM  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
Battery  A. 
let  Lieut.  Hezekiah  E.  Burchard,  Ovid;  com.  March  6, 1865;  2d  lieut.  Sept.  6, 

1864  (sergt) ;  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 
Alexander  Robertson,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 

BaUery  E. 
Caleb  G.  Powell,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865, 
James  H.  Redson,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 


Battery  S. 
Henry  C.  Grant,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  March  15, 1864. 
Isaac  P.  Place,  must,  out  July  22, 1865. 

Thirteenth  BattetT,. 
George  D,  Ensign,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Hcman  Frisk,  must,  out  July  1, 1866. 
Julius  Frisk,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Freeland,  disch.  by  order,  May  6, 1865. 
Edward  Judd,  must,  out  July  1,  1865. 
Robert  Lapworth,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
William  J.  Ottoway,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Asa  B.  Sheldon,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

MEN  FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Battery  A. 
Geo.  Butterfleld,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 
Chas.  W.  Eaton,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 
August  Rochol,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  AprillO,  1864, 
Danl.  C.  Warren,  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 

BaUery  D. 
Wagoner  Saml.  Fowler,  Bath ;  enl.  Oct.  26, 1861 ;  died  of  wounds  at  Hoover's 
Gap,  Tenn.,  June  26, 1863. 

Battery  E. 
Marvin  Albright,  disch.  for  disability,  July  27, 1862. 
Chas.  M.  Chadwick,  diacli.  to  enl.  in  regular  army,  Nov.  27, 1862. 
Oliver  Cunningham,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
G.  H.  Groom,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Ralph  W.  Holley,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865, 
Wm.  R.  Newman,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Wm.  H.  Rheinbotham,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 

BaUery  Q. 
Hiram  Miller, 
Geo.  H.  Van  Tyne. 

BaUery  I. 
Wm.  A.  Ingraharo,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  Oct.  12, 1864. 
Janathan  Miller,  must,  out  by  order,  June  23, 1865. 

Battery  L. 
Joseph  Miller,  disch.  by  order.  May  15, 1865. 

BaOeryM. 
Silas  H.  Jones,  must,  out  Aug.  1, 1865. 
Silas  Watson,  must,  out  Aug.  1, 1865. 

THIRTEENTH   MICHIGAN   BATTERY. 
FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
John  C.  Clark,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Wm.  E.  Clark,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Oliver  P.  Morgan,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

FOURTEENTH   MICHIGAN  BATTERY. 

FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
GotUeb  Carche,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Hem"y  Geer,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

SEVENTH  CAVALRY. 

SOLDIERS  FROM   SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY. 
Field  and  Staff. 
Maj.  George  K.  Newcombe,  Owosao;  com.  Dec.  10, 1862;  wounded  in  action  at 
Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863;  resigned  Oct.  13, 1863. 

Company  G. 
Capt.  Joseph  I,  Newman,  Owosao ;  com.  July  31, 1864 ;  disch.  tor  disability,  Feb, 

27, 1865. 
Jacob  Russell,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1865. 

Company  E. 
William  H.  Palmer,  trans,  to  1st  Cav,,  Nov.  17, 1865, 

Company  0. 
1st  Lieut.  Joseph  I.  Newman,  Owosso  ;  com.  Oct.  15, 1862;  pro.  to  capt.  Oo.O, 
Sergt.  John  8-  Gates,  Owosso ;  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1865, 
Corp.  Alanson  J,  McCann,  Perry ;  disch.  by  order,  June  2, 1865. 
Corp.  Irwin  Bennett,  Perry ;  missing  in  action,  Oct.  19, 1863. 
Teamster  Norman  Van  Alstino,  Sciota;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 
Farrier  Wm.  Bartholomew,  Owosso;  must,  out  at  end  of  service,  Dec.  28, 1866. 
Wagoner  Leonard  L.  Howe,  Owosso;  must,  out  at  end  of  service,  Dec,  28, 1865. 
Jeremiah  Ackley,  trans,  to  Vet.  Rea,  Corps,  May  15, 1864. 
Amos  Finch,  must,  out  Dec.  28, 1865. 
William  Gillson,  must,  out  Doc.  28, 1865. 
Jei-man  H.  Johnson,  died  of  disease  at  Andersouville  prison,  Ga.,  Aug.  4, 1864. 


OTHER  SOLDIERS   FROM   SHIAWASSEE   AND   CLINTON. 


115 


Howard  A.  Tibbetts,  died  of  disease  at  Fairfax,  Va.,  Juno  25, 1863. 
Henry  Weatherbee,  trans,  to  Vet.  Ees.  Corps. 

Company  H. 
Oliver  D.  Decker,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  30, 1863. 

SOLDIEKS  mOM   CLINTON  COUNTY. 

Cornpany  A. 
Charles  E.  Dusson,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Sergt.  James  Anderson,  Hureka;  disch.  Aug.  20, 1863. 

Company  E, 
Elisha  J.  Hlgbee,  died  of  disease  at  Winchester,  Ya.,  Deo.  10, 1864. 
Almon  H.  Isham,'mu8t.  out  July  17, 1865. 
Amos  Towman,  must,  out  Sept.  11, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Henry  Cook,  trans,  to  1st  Midi.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Bodney  W.  Choat,  must,  out  July  17, 1865, 
Calvin  E.  Green,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1865. 
Chester  C.  Hildreth,  must,  out  July  17, 1865. 
John  Kirkland,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
James  Monroe,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich,  Cav,,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Sidney  Staunton,  trans,  to  1st  Mich,  Cav,,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Perry  Shepherd,  must,  out  July  17, 1865. 

Company  M. 
Emery  Bowen,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav,,  Nov,  17, 1865. 
Josiah  Cobb,  disch,  for  disability,  Oct,  3, 1863, 
Benjamin  R,  Tinkle,  must,  out  Dec,  8, 1865. 
W,  H,  Hanuuond,  disch,  for  disability,  Nov,  6, 1863, 
John  0.  Meyer,  missing  in  action  at  Buckland  Mills,  Va.,  Oct,  19, 1863. 
Joseph  E.  Stickles,  trans,  to  let  Mich,  Cav,,  Nov,  17, 1865. 

EIGHTH  CAVALRY. 

MEN  EBOM  SHIAWASSEE, 

Company  A, 
James  H,  Williard,  must,  out  June  13, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Charles  li.  Young,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  L. 
Simon  Hanse,  disch,  for  disability,  Sept.  15, 1863, 
Charles  Williams,  died  of  disease  on  board  transport "  Baltic,"  Doc.  30, 1864. 

NINTH  CAVALRY. 

FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Asst.  Surg.  Morgan  L.  Leach,  Duplain  j  com.  Nov.  3, 1862 ;  resigned  for  disability, 
July  15, 1864. 

ELEVENTH  CAVALRY.     . 

FROM  SHIAWASSEE. 

Field  and  Staff. 

Maj.  Henry  L.  Wise,  Corunna;  com.  Aug,  31, 1863;  must,  out  Aug,  10, 1865. 

Non-Commiasioned  Staff. 

Hosp,  Stew,  Owen  Blanchard,  Sciota;  trans,  to  N,  C.  S.,  8th  Mich.  Cav,,  July 

20, 1865. 

Company  B. 

Capt.  Charles  Simpson,  Owosso;  com.  Feb.  1,  1864;  1st  lieut.  Aug.  1,  1863; 

must,  out  Aug,  10, 186.5, 
Sorgt.  Walter  C.  Dewitt,  Middlebury ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Sergt.  Earl  S,  Hall,  Owosso  ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Sergt.  Theo.  T.  Dewitt,  Middlebury ;  trans,  to  8th  Oav. 
Sergt,  Walter  Belgan,  Sciota ;  disch,  by  order,  June  12, 1865. 
Far.  Elisha  Koed,  Bennington ;  must,  out  July  16, 1865. 
Far.  Charles  D.  Stimson,  Middlebury ;  must,  out  June  12, 1865. 
Charles  H,  Culver,  must,  out  Oct,  2, 1865. 
Charles  D.  Hunt,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

George  N.  Hathaway,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  Jan,  23, 1864, 
Harvey  C.  Sumner,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Oliver  Sisco,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Edgar  Bruno,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky,,  Feb.  7, 1864. 
M.  0,  Doty,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  Feb.  7, 1864. 
Levi  B.  Smedley,  disch.  by  order,  July  13, 1866. 

Company  D. 
Henry  C.  Woodward,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  July,  1864. 

Company  F. 
Sidney  S.  Morse,  died  of  disease  at  Lexiugton,  Ky. 


Company  M. 
A,  Furgeson,  disch,  by  order,  Feb.  2, 1865, 
William  Grant,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  B. 

Sergt.  Ralph  H.  HoUister,  Victor;  trans,  to  8th  Mich.  Oav. ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 

1865, 
Sergt,  Charles  Valentine,  Victor  ;  trans,  to  8th  Mich,  Oav.;  must,  out  Sept,  22, 

1865, 
Mus.  John  F,  Stortz,  De  Witt ;  trans,  to  8th  Mich,  Cav, ;  must, out  June  16, 1865, 
John  0,  Aldrich,  trans,  to  8th  Mich.  Cav. ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
George  S,  Bartlett,  trans,  to  8th  Mich,  Cav, ;  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865, 
John  T.  Craig,  trans,  to  8th  Mich,  Cav. 

James  P.  Cross,  trans,  to  8th  Mich,  Cav, ;  must,  out  Oct,  7, 1865. 
Elijah  Carman,  trans,  to  8th  Mich,  Cav. ;  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1866, 
Charles  M,  Doty,  tians.  to  8th  Mich.  Cav. ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
James  Price,  disch.  by  order,  July  16, 1866. 
'  John  Parker,  disch.  for  disability,  June  24, 1865. 
Edward  Strickland,  trans,  to  8th  Mich,  Cav,;  must,  out  Sept  22, 1865. 
Oliver  M.  Munzey,  trans,  to  8th  Mich.  Cav. ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  K, 
Sergt,  Henry  P,  Clark,  De  Witt ;  trans,  to  8th  Mich.  Cav, ;  disch,  for  promotion, 
Charles  H,  Reynolds,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky,,  Sept.  16, 1864. 

Company  L. 
Newberry  Eddy,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  July  19, 1864, 
Moses  F,  Hamliu,  disch.  for  disability,  June  5, 1865, 

FIRST  MICHIGAN  SHARPSHOOTERS. 

MEN  FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 

Company  E. 
Asher  Le  Baron,  died  of  disease  at  Chicago,  111.,  Jan,  20, 1863. 

Company  I. 
Wm.  Dellenbaugh,  missing  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  July  30, 1864. 
Henry  A.  Howe,  died  of  disease  at  Chicago,  111,,  Nov.  24, 1863. 
Horace  Martin,  died  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Va.,June  17,1864. 
Ira  Martin,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md,,  Jan,  13, 1865. 
Daniel  H.  Spicer,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  Oct.  4, 1864. 
Charles  Sutherland,  missing  in  action  near  Petersburg,  June  17, 1864. 

FIRST  MICHIGAN  (ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SECOND 
UNITED  STATES)   COLORED   INFANTRY. 

FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  C, 
1st  Lieut.  Edward  Cahill,  St.  John's ;  com.  Jan.  19, 1864 ;  pro.  capt,  Co,  D. 
2d  Lieut,  Jacob  F,  Sleight,  Bath;  com,  Dec,  23, 1864;  must,  out  Sept,  30, 1865, 
Jasper  Mofiatt,  must,  out  Sept,  30, 1865. 

Company  D. 
Capt.  Edward  Cahill,  St.  Ji  hn's  ;  com,  Jan,  16, 1865 ;  must,  out  Sept,  30, 1865, 
let  Lient,  Wm.  E.  Sleight,  Bath  ;  com.  May  6, 1864;  2d  lieut.  Jan.  20,  1864; 
must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 

FROM   SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY. 

Field  and  Staff. 

Lieut.-Col.  Wm,  R,  Sellon,  Owosso ;  com,  Aug.  17, 1863  ;  1st  lient.  9th  Infantry. 

Company  C 
John  Thompson,  must,  out  Sept,  30, 1865. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  UNITED  STATES  SHARP- 
SHOOTERS. 

FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  C. 
David  H.  Kellogg,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  April  10, 1862. 
Henry  E.  Spears,  died  of  disease  at  Yorktown,  Va,,  Oct.  10, 1862. 

SECOND   REGIMENT  UNITED  STATES  SHARP- 
SHOOTERS. 

FROM  CLINTON  COUNTY. 
Company  B. 
Ellis  W.  Hagei*ty,  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  May  6, 1864. 
John  H.  Thompson,  died  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Sept.  9, 1864. 
Richard  Warfle,  died  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  May  11, 1864. 

TWENTIETH   INDIANA  BATTERY. 

John  Burgoyne,  Woodhull,  Shiawassee  Co.;  veteran. 


SHIAWASSEE     COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

LOCATION,     TOPOGBAPHS",    AND    MIlfEBAIi    EB- 
SOUKCES. 

Boundaries,  Surface,  Soil,  and  Streams— Qoologieal  Formation— Re- 
sults of  Explorations  for  Coal  and  Salt— Tlie  State  Geologist's 
Opinion  relative  to  Coal-Mining  in  Michigan. 

Shiawassee,  which  is  one  of  the  counties  in  the  fourth 
tier, — counting  northward  from  the  southern  line  of  the 
State, — has  for  its  western  boundary  the  principal  meridian 
(which  is  the  division-line  between  this  and  Clinton  County), 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Saginaw,  east  by  Genesee, 
and  south  by  Livingston  and  Ingham,  the  last-named  three 
counties  having  been  formed  in  part  from  its  original  terri- 
tory. It  is  now  one  of  the  smallest  counties  in  the  State, 
for  although  it  contains  the  same  number  of  townships 
(sixteen)  which  are  embraced  in  each  one  of  several  other 
counties,  the  western  range  of  townships  in  this  has  only 
about  two-thirds  the  usual  width;  this  being  the  result 
of  a  mistake  or  miscalculation  in  the  making  of  the  original 
surveys. 

This  county  is  properly  regarded  as  among  the  best  in 
Michigan  in  regard  to  the  productive  quality  of  its  soil 
and  its  adaptation  to  the  purposes  of  agriculture.  The 
surface,  which  can  nowhere  be  termed  hilly,  is  generally 
rolling,  though  in  many  parts  of  the  county  there  are  found 
quite  extensive  tracts  of  comparatively  level  country,  which 
in  the  original  field-notes  of  the  government  surveyors  are 
frequently  mentioned  and  described  as  •'  prairie-lands." 

The  principal  waters  of  the  county  are  the  Shiawassee, 
Maple,  and  Looking-GIass  Rivers,  and  their  tributary 
streams.  The  Shiawassee  is  formed  of  an  eastern  and  a 
southern  branch,  which,  taking  their  rise  in  the  lakes  of 
Oakland,  Livingston,  and  Genesee  Counties,  join  their 
waters  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Shiawassee ;  from  which 
point  the  main  stream  flows  in  a  general  northwesterly 
and  northerly  course  through  nearly  the  entire  length  of 
the  county,  crosses  its  northern  boundary  nearly  at  the  cen- 
tre of  it,  and  thence  flows  northward  through  Saginaw 
County  into  the  Saginaw  River.  The  Shiawassee  River, 
in  traversing  this  county,  passes  the  cities  of  Owosso  and 
Corunna  and  the  villages  of  Vernon,  Shiawassee,  and 
Byron. 

The  Maple  River,  taking  its  rise  in  the  central  and 
southern  parts  of  the  county,  flows  thence  in  a  northwest- 
erly direction  into  Clinton.  The  sources  of  the  Looking- 
GIass  River  are  in  the  northwest  part  of  Livingston  County 
and  the  extreme  southern  part  of  Shiawassee.  Its  course 
through  this  county  is  first  nearly  north,  and  afterwards 
generally  west,  to  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  west 
boundary-line  into  Clinton  County.  Neither  the  Looking- 
116 


Glass  nor  the  Maple  become  streams  of  much  size  or  im- 
portance until  after  they  pass  out  of  Shiawassee  County. 

The  northeast  part  of  the  county  is  watered  by  the  head 
streams  of  the  Misteauguay  River,  which  flows  northward 
into  Saginaw  County  and  enters  the  Flint  River  five  miles 
above  its  mouth. 

Of  the  geology  of  Shiawassee  County  there  is  little  to 
be  said,  more  than  to  mention  the  efibrts  which  have  been 
made  here  from  time  to  time  for  the  discovery  of  coal 
veins  and  salt  springs,  and  to  notice  the  results  of  those 
explorations. 

The  second  Legislature  of  Michigan,  at  its  regular  ses- 
sion in  1837,  passed  an  act  (approved  February  23d  in  that 
year)  which  provided  "  that  the  Governor  is  hereby  au- 
thorized and  directed  to  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  ad- 
vice and  consent  of  the  Senate  to  appoint,  a  competent 
person,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  an  accurate  and 
complete  geological  survey  of  this  State,  which  shall  be 
accompanied  with  proper  maps  and  diagrams,  and  furnish  a 
full  and  scientific  description  of  its  rocks,  soils,  and  minerals, 
and  of  its  botanical  and  geological  productions,  together 
with  specimens  of  the  same."  Under  this  act  the  Governor 
appointed  as  State  geologist,  to  take  charge  of  the  survey, 
Dr.  Dougla.ss  Houghton,  who  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
set  out  with  three  assistants  and  made  a  cursory  explora- 
tion of  Shiawassee  County  and  the  contiguous  country,  the 
object  of  the  visit  being  to  examine  the  outcroppings  of 
bituminous  eoal  and  the  salt  springs  which  were  reported 
to  exist  in  this  region.  The  party  left  Detroit  by  wagon 
conveyance,  and  proceeded  to  Byron  and  thence  to  Co- 
runna and  other  points  below  on  the  river.  One  of  the 
assistants  of  Dr.  Houghton  in  that  expedition  was  Bela 
Hubbard,  Esq.,  of  Wayne  County,  who  writes  in  reference 
to  the  examination  then  made  in  Shiawassee  County  as  fol- 
lows :  "  In  the  early  part  of  the  season,  during  the  progress 
of  the  geological  survey,  beds  of  bituminous  coal  had  been 
discovered  in  the  bank  of  Grand  River,  in  Ingham  and 
Eaton  Counties ;  and  the  rocks  met  with  through  the  cen- 
tral part  of  Shiawassee  (belonging  to  the  coal-measures) 
gave  hope  of  finding  an  outcrop  here.  Prospecting  was  ac- 
cordingly commenced  by  us  at  Corunna,  but,  with  the 
slender  means  at  command,  did  not  prove  successful.  Yet 
sufficient  was  determined  from  the  character  and  dip  of  the 
rocks  and  other  indications  to  warrant  a  recommendation 
to  the  settlers  to  continue  the  investigation."  This  recom- 
mendation  of  Dr.  Houghton  caused  considerable  search  and 
several  excavations  to  be  made,  resulting,  in  1839,  in  the 
discovery  of  a  thin  vein  of  coal,  from  which  small  amounts 
continued  to  be  taken  annually  until  the  formation,  many 
years  later,  of  a  company  to  work  the  vein.    An  account  of 


w^fm^ss^^^^f^'s^msfs. 


COURT  HOUSE,     CORUNNA    SHIAWASSEE. Co.  MICH. 


LOCATION,  TOPOGRAPHY,  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES. 


117 


the  working  of  the  mines  in  the  vicinity  of  Corunna  is 
given  in  the  separate  history  of  the  township  of  Caledonia. 

Of  the  geological  formation  in  the  Corunna  region  Prof. 
Rominger,*  State  geologist,  says : 

"  The  hottom  of  the  Shiawassee  Valley  near  Corunna  is 
all  formed  of  rock-heds  of  the  coal-measures  where  the 
erosions  of  the  drift  period  have  not  destroyed  them  and 
filled  their  places  with  debris.  The  upper  sand-rock  of  the 
formation  is  in  many  places  entirely  swept  away,  and  the 
shale-beds  below  lie  denuded  to  the  surface.  The  two 
mines  opened  at  Corunna,  a  mile  or  two  east  of  the  village 
[city],  have  begun  their  shafts  in  the  shale-beds ;  one  of 
them,  the  more  northerly  situated,  was  abandoned  at  the 
time  of  my  visit.  The  other,  located  within  a  short,  semi- 
circular bend  of  the  river,  was  worked.  In  the  oblique 
drift  leading  to  the  bottom  of  the  mine  the  following 
section  is  offered : 

Drift 9  feet. 

Shale,  dark,  partly  black '. 30    " 

Sandstone 4    " 

Black,  slaty    shales,  containing   Hngula  and 

discina,  besides  compressed  lamelli  branches  6    " 

Coal 1  foot. 

Fire-clay 4  feet. 

Black,  slaty  shales,  as  above 8    " 

Coal,  from 3to4    " 

Fire-clay 4    " 

Black  shales 4    " 

Arenaceous  shales  continue  to  the  bottom,  which  is  eighty 
feet  below  the  surface.  The  fire-clay  seams  are  usually 
arenaceous,  and  contain  stems  of  stigmaria.  The  shale- 
beds  contain  centicular  concretions  of  kidney-ore  in  the 
non-decomposed  condition  of  gray  amorphous  carbonate  of 
protoxide  of  iron ;  seams  and  nodules  of  iron  pyrites  are 
also  found  dispersed  throughout  the  whole  formation.  In 
the  coal-seam  the  pyrites  are  concentrated  into  a  band  of  a 
few  inches  in  thickness.  The  coal  is  of  bituminous  qual- 
ity, of  the  same  character  as  the  Jackson  coal.  Not  far 
off,  west  from  the  mine,  the  shale  formation  is  found  cov- 
ered by  the  upper  coarse-grained  sand-rock,  inclosing  stems 
of  calamites.  The  visible  thickness  of  the  rock  is  about 
fifteen  feet,  but  it  is  probably  thicker  if  it  could  be  seen 
better  exposed.  Other  outcrops  of  the  sandstone  are  to  be 
found  in  the  river-bed  four  miles  above  Corunna." 

Coal  was  found  outcropping  in  the  bank  of  the  Shia- 
wassee Kiver  at  Owosso,  and  in  1857  or  1858  a  shaft  was 
sunk  for  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  Company  at 
this  place  on  land  of  Judge  Comstock.  Prof  Eominger 
notices  this  operation,  and  mentions  the  coal  formation  in 
that  vicinity  as  follows :  "  The  next  disclosures  of  the  coal- 
measures  [he  having  previously  mentioned  those  of  Ingham 
County]  we  find  on  Shiawassee  River,  near  Owosso  and 
Corunna,  in  both  of  which  places  coal-mines  are  opened. 
The  shaft  of  the  Owosso  mine  is  close  to  the  river,  within 
the  village  limits.  It  begins  in  a  blue  shale  with  coaly 
vegetable  remains,  under  which  a  coal-bed  of  fifteen  inches 
is  found  resting  on  fire-clay  six  feet  in  thickness;  then 
another  coal-seam,  likewise  of  fifteen  inches,  succeeds.  The 
bottom  part  of  the  shaft,  which  is  forty  feet  deep,  is  formed 
by  shales  and  fire-clay ;  the  fire-clay  is'partly  of  a  hard, 
sandy  nature,  and  contains  numerous  stems  and  leaves  of 

*  Geological  Survey  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  1876. 


Stigmaria  ficoides.  The  coal  is  of  a  rich  bituminous  qual- 
ity and  tolerably  free  from  sulphur,  but  the  seams  are  too 
thin  to  be  profitably  mined.  .  .  .  Several  companies  have 
tried  to  work  it,  but  gave  it  up  after  a  short  time  as  not 
returning  enough  to  cover  the  expense."  He  then  gives 
the  record  of  a  boring  three  hundred  and  seven  feet  in 
depth,  put  down  near  the  railroad  at  Owosso,  and  in  which 
a  vein  of  coal  was  found  at  a  depth  of  about  one  hundred 
and  eighty  feet,  but  this  was  so  thin  as  to  be  worthless. 

"  The  coal-measures,''  says  Professor  Rominger,  "  are  fre- 
quently noticed  in  the  bed  of  the  Shiawassee  below  Owosso, 
as  far  down  as  St.  Charles.  A  locality  of  particular  interest 
is  near  the  mouth  of  Six-Mile  Creek,  six  miles  north  of 
Owosso.  In  the  bluffs  of  the  Shiawassee  River  we  observe 
the  lower  part  formed  of  blue  shales,  with  seams  of  sand- 
rock  and  abundant  concretions  of  kidney  ore ;  the  top  is 
drift,  with  a  considerable  intermixture  of  angular  debris 
from  the  underlying  strata.  Under  the  shale,  emerging  a 
few  feet  above  the  water  and  partly  submerged,  are  layers 
of  a  black,  shaly  lime-rock,  visible  in  a  thickness  of  four  or 
five  feet,  containing  numerous  fossils,  partly  in  calcified 
partly  in  pyritous  condition.  .  .  .  The  same  limestone  is 
seen  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off  in  the  bed  of  Six-Mile  Creek  ;  its 
ledges  are  there  more  even, — bedded  flagstones, — less  shaly 
than  those  seen  in  the  Shiawassee  River.  Close  under  the 
lime-rock  is  a  fifteen-inch  bed  of  coal,  quantities  of  which 
have  been  taken  from  the  river-bed  when  the  water  is  very 
low.  The  coal  reposes  on  a  soft,  plastic  clay  of  greenish- 
white  color,  which  incloses  stems  of  stigmaria  and  large, 
calcareous,  nodular  masses  of  cone-in-cone  structure.  Stems 
of  stigmaria  are  also  found  in  the  upper  shales  of  the  bluffs 
and  in  the  geodes  ;  when  split  open,  fronds  of  ferns  are  some- 
times found,  but  their  occurrence  is  rare.  A  few  steps  from 
the  mouth  of  Six-Mile  Creek  some  parties  made  an  experi- 
mental shaft  about  thirty  feet  deep,  and  from  that  point 
drilled  to  one  hundred  feet  below  the  surface.  From  the 
material  thrown  out  of  the  shaft,  I  see  that  shales  of 
various  colors,  with  seams  of  sand-rock  and  conglomerate, 
besides  an  abundance  of  kidney-ore,  compose  the  surface- 
layers  as  far  as  the  shaft  went.  Mr.  Ott,  thj  owner  of  the 
land,  informed  me  that  four  beds  of  coal,  amounting  in  all 
to  eleven  feet,  were  found  in  the  boring.  .  .  .  The  record 
in  itself  is  somewhat  doubtful,  and  the  hesitation  to  take  it 
as  a  true  representation  of  facts  is  increased  by  the  subse- 
quent act  of  the  discoverers  of  so  rich  coal  deposits  (eleven 
feet  within  a  vertical  thickness  of  twenty  feet  of  strata). 
Mr.  Ott  ends  his  story  by  saying  that  the  men,  after  they  had 
reached  the  depth  of  one  hundred  feet,  left  the  place  not  to 
return  again." 

Borings  have  been  made  from  time  to  time  in  various 
parts  of  the  county,  some  having  for  their  object  the  ob- 
taining of  brine  for  the  manufacture  of  salt,  some  for  the 
discovery  of  coal  veins,  and  some  having  both  these  ends 
in  view ;  but  none  of  these  have,  so  far  as  ascertained,  re- 
paid the  outlay.  One  of  the  most  notable  of  these  was  a 
hole  sunk  to  the  depth  of  one  thousand  and  one  feet  on 
Section  5  of  the  township  of  Owosso  (several  miles  north- 
west of  the  city),  by  Mr.  George  Collier  for  the  proprietor. 
The  record  of  this  boring  gives  the  following  as  the  strata 
passed  through  : 


118 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Drift : 121  feet. 

Shale 20  " 

Coal 4  " 

Shale 54  " 

Hard  rook 15  " 

Shale 33  '| 

Sand-rock 220  *' 

Limestone 3  " 

Soft  shale 20  " 

Sandstone  (with  brine) 77  " 

Blue  and  red  shales 434  " 

In  1859  a  boring  was  •made  by  a  company  of  Pennsyl- 
vania men  on  section  23  of  the  township  of  Caledonia, 
one  and  a  quarter  miles  northeast  of  Corunna.  A  depth 
of  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four  feet  was  reached,  and 
the  following  is  the  record  of  the  strata  passed  : 

Drift 30  feet. 

Shales  and  slate-rock 60    " 

Coal 1  foot. 

Sand-rock  and  shales 285  feet. 

Thin  alternate  strata  of  rock  and  iron  ore,.,....  28    *' 

Shales  and  sand- rock 330    " 

Weak  brine  struck  at  this  depth. 

Porous  sand -rock 140    *' 

A  great  number  of  other  borings  in  various  parts  of  the 
county  might  be  mentioned  and  statements  given  of  the 
strata  through  which  they  passed-;  but  these  would  be 
neither  valuable  nor  interesting.  They  are  but  records  of 
failure,  so  far  as  their  disclosure  of  any  valuable  mineral 
deposits  is  concerned.  This  is  unquestionably  true  in  re- 
gard to  all  borings  and  excavations  yet  made  in  Shiawassee 
County,  unless  the  mining  operations  at  Corunna  are  to  be 
regarded  as  an  exception,  which  is,  to  say  the  least,  ex- 
tremely doubtful.  That  a  similar  opinion  is  entertained  by 
so  eminent  a  geologist  as  Professor  Rominger,  in  regard  to 
explorations  and  experimental  excavations,  not  only  in  this 
county,  but  in  the  entire  lower  peninsula,  is  made  clear  by 
his  summing  up  on  this  subject,  as  follows : 

"  The  benefit  to  the  commonwealth  of  a  geological  in- 
vestigation consists  not  only  in  adding  discoveries  of  new 
stores  of  minerals  to  those  already  known,  but  to  a  much 
greater  extent,  I  think,  in  causing  to  be  fairly  understood 
the  uselessness  of  explorations  for  certain  minerals  in  places 
whore  they  do  not  exist.  Thousands  and  thousands  of 
dollars  have  been  spent  in  this  way,  which  could  have  been 
saved  to  their  owners  if  they  had  had  a  clear  comprehen- 
sion of  the  structure  of  the  earth's  crust  which  they  ex- 
plored, or  had  asked  advice  of  some  one  better  informed 
than  themselves.  .  .  . 

"  The  coal-fields  of  Michigan,  supposed  to  cover  a  space 
of  eight  thousand  square  miles,  are  up  to  the  present  day 
of  very  inferior  importance  in  the  economy  of  the  State. 
Only  four  mines  are  in  actual  operation,  and  these  are 
worked  with  but  a  small  force  of  men.  Searching  for  the 
causes  of  this  neglect  of  apparently  so  great  stores  of 
wealth  buried  beneath  our  feet,  we  find  one  of  them  in  the 
imperfect  exposure  of  the  rock-beds,  which,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  those  in  a  few  limited  districts,  are  all  deeply 
covered  by  drift  deposits.  This  would  be  no  serious  im- 
pediment if  the  coal  seams  were  spread  in  a  continuous 
sheet  over  the  surface  of  a  certain  horizon ;  we  could  then 
without  much  risk  go  down  and  uncover  them;  but  all 
coal  deposits  are  confined  originally  to  certain  limited  basins, 
and  if  we  consider  that  the  coal  series,  as  the  youngest  of 
the  stratified  rock-beds  on  the  peninsula,  has  been  without 


protection,  by  later  deposits  exposed  to  the  vicissitudes  of 
untold  ages,  we  must  expect  to  find  a  large  proportion  of 
the  deposits  destroyed  and  swept  oflF;  in  particular,  during 
the  drift  epoch  the  coal  formation  must  have  suffered  im- 
mense destruction  from  the  moving  glacier  masses.  The 
direct  proof  of  this  is  furnished  by  the  large  quantity  of 
dihris  of  the  coal-measures  mixed  with  the  drift  material ; 
but  the  drift  action  has  not  only  destroyed  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  coal  formation,  but  has  at  the  same  time  filled 
up  the  eroded  gaps  with  loose  drift  material,  hiding  the  ex- 
tent of  destruction  from  observation,  and  thus  rendering 
our  mining  operations  always  hazardous  in  a  deeply  drift- 
covered  region,  because  we  have  no  means  whereby  to  know 
how  much  of  the  supposed  underlying  rock-strata  has  es- 
caped destruction.  .  .  .  This  loose,  porous  mass  of  rfeim,  in 
proper  comminution  to  make  a  soil,  and  being  composed  of 
every  variety  of  mineral  substance  necessary  for  the  suste- 
nance of  vegetable  life,  formed  the  destiny  of  this  strip  of 
land  ;  it  makes  it  an  agricultural  country.  No  great  min- 
.  oral  wealth  is  hidden  here  under  our  feet  which  we  could 
have  reached  through  the  gaps,  so  it  were  better  they  were 
closed  and  leveled,  to  enable  us  to  harvest  golden  ears  of 
wheat  and  corn  from  their  surface,  than  that  we  should 
enter  shadowy  subterranean  passages  in  search  of  wealth, 
endangering  our  lives,  and  without  any  certainty  of  success 
in  the  end." 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

CIVIL  CHANGES-BAKLT  SBTTLBMEITTS. 

The  several  Counties  which  have  included  the  Territory  of  Shiawassee 
— Erection  of  Shiawassee  County — Reduction  of  its  Territory — 
Settlements  in  the  County  from  1831  to  1836. 

The  first  of  the  counties  of  Michigan,  as  also  the  first 
which  was  laid  out  to  contain  any  part  of  the  territory 
afterwards  included  in  Shiawassee,  was  the  county  of 
Wayne.  This  county  was  first  laid  out,  or  rather  pro- 
claimed, by  the  executive  of  the  Northwest  Territory, 
Aug.  18,  1796,  to  embrace  all  of  lower  Michigan  and  por- 
tions of  Indiana  and  Ohio.  But  although  Wayne,  as  thus 
laid  out,  contained  a  considerable  number  of  inhabitants  and 
sent  its  representative  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Territory  at  Chillicothe,  its  white  population  was  nearly  all 
clustered  at  its  county-seat,  Detroit,  and  along  or  near  the 
waters  of  its  southeastern  border,  and  its  jurisdiction — 
scarcely  extending  a  half-dozen  miles  back  from  the  lakes 
and  navigable  streams — had  no  existence  in  all  the  vast 
wilderness  of  the  interior.  The  county  was  again  "laid 
out,''  this  time  with  a  greatly  reduced  area  and  with  more 
definite  limits,  by  proclamation  of  Governor  Cass,  dated 
Nov.  21,  1815.  It  was  then  made  to  include  all  "that 
part  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan  to  which  the  Indian 
title  has  been  extinguished,"  thus  embracing  all  of  the 
lower  peninsula  lying  east  of  the  principal  meridian  as  far 
north  as  a  point  due  west  from  the  outlet  of  Lake  Huron, 
and  thence  northeasterly  in  a  right  line  to  White  llock,  in 
the  present  county  of  Sanilac.  Within  the  boundaries  of 
this  great  tract  was  included  all  the  present  territory  of 


CIVIL  CHANGES. 


119 


Shiawassee  County,  except  a  small  portion  (about  one-sixth 
of  its  area)  in  the  northwest  corner. 

An  executive  proclamation,  dated  Jan.  15, 1818,  erected 
the  new  county  of  Macomb,  with  boundaries  described  as 
follows :  "  Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  township 
No.  1,  north  of  the  base-line  (so-called);  thence  along 
the  Indian  boundary-line,  north,  to  the  angle  formed  by 
the  intersection  of  the  line  running  to  White  Rock,  upon 
Lake  Huron ;  thence  with  the  last-mentioned  line  to  the 
boundary-line  between  the  United  States  and  the  British 
Province  of  Upper  Canada;  thence  on  said  line  south- 
wardly to  a  point  in  Lake  St.  Clair  due  east  from  the  place 
of  beginning ;  thence  due  west  to  the  eastern  extremity  of 
the  said  base-line,  and  with  the  same  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning." This  embraced  all  the  lands  north  of  the  base-line 
which  had  previously  been  included  in  the  county  of 
Wayne.  But  in  the  Governor's  subsequent  definition  and 
establishment  of  the  boundaries  of  the  new  county,  it  was 
made  to  extend  westward  only  as  far  as  the  line  between  the 
eleventh  and  twelfth  ranges  east  of  the  meridian,  so  that 
the  territory  between  that  line  and  the  meridian  was  not 
included  in  Macomb  County  proper,  but  was  attached  to  it 
in  the  same  manner  that  Shiawassee  County  was  afterwards 
attached  successively  to  Oakland  and  Genesee. 

One  year  after  the  erection  of  Macomb  a  large  part  of 
the  territory  which  had  been  attached  to  that  county  was 
set  off  to  form  the  new  county  of  Oakland,  which  was 
erected  by  proclamation  of  Governor  Cass,  Jan.  12,  1819, 
its  boundaries  being  described  as  follows :  "  Beginning  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  township  No.  1,  in  range  No.  11, 
north  of  the  base-line ;  thence  north  to  the  northeastern 
corner  of  township  No.  6  in  the  same  range ;  thence  west 
to  the  Indian  boundary-line  [the  principal  meridian] ; 
thence  south  to  the  base-line ;  thence  east  to  the  place  of 
beginning,"  thus  including  the  south  half  of  the  present 
county  of  Shiawassee.  It  is  shown  in  the  preamble  to  the 
Governor's  proclamation  that  this  erection  of  Oakland 
County  was  considered  to  be  in  advance  of  the  require- 
ments of  its  people,  but  in  view  of  a  probable  increase  of 
population  sufficient  to  demand  it  in  the  near  future.  The 
proclamation  was  not,  therefore,  made  immediately  oper- 
ative, but  was  to  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after 
Dec.  31,  1822.  Nearly  three  years  before  that  time,  how- 
ever, the  people  of  Oakland  petitioned  the  Governor,  re- 
questing that  their  county  should  be  organized,  and  this 
was  accordingly  done  by  executive  proclamation  dated 
March  28,  1820.  At  that  time,  and  for  some  two  years 
afterwards,  the  lands  which  now  form  the  south  half  of 
Shiawassee  County  were  included  as  a  part  of  Oakland ; 
about  two-thirds  of  the  north  half  still  remained  attached 
to  Macomb,  and  a  fraction  in  the  northwest  corner — being 
included  in  the  lands  then  recently  ceded  by  the  Indians 
in  the  treaty  of  Saginaw — were  not  within  the  limits  of 
any  county. 

Shiawassee  was  erected  a  separate  county  by  proclamation 
of  Governor  Cass,  dated  Sept.  10,  1822,  its  boundaries, 
as  defined  in  that  document,  being  as  follows :  "  Beginning 
on  the  principal  meridian,  where  the  line  between  the 
eighth  and  ninth  townships  north  of  the  base-line  inter- 
sects   the   same,   and  running  thence   south  to  the  line 


between  the  second  and  third  townships  north  of  the  base- 
line ;  thence  east  to  the  line  between  the  sixth  and  seventh 
ranges  east  of  the  principal  meridian  ;  thence  north  to  the 
line  between  townships  numbered  eight  and  nine  north  of 
the  base-line ;  thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning."  The 
same  proclamation  which  thus  erected  the  county  of  Shia- 
wassee provided  also  for  the  erection  of  Saginaw,  Sanilac, 
and  Lapeer,  and  attached  all  these  four  counties  to  Oak- 
land, from  which  a  large  proportion  of  their  territory  had 
been  taken.  This  attachment  of  Shiawassee  to  Oakland 
continued  in  force  for  nearly  fourteen  years. 

At  its  erection,  in  1822,  Shiawassee  County  embraced,  in 
addition  to  its  present  area,  the  northeast  quarter  (four 
townships)  of  Ingham  County,  the  north  half  (eight  town- 
ships) of  Livingston  County,  and  eight  townships  (the 
same  which  are  now  Argentine,  Fenton,  Mundy,  Gaines, 
Clayton,  Flint,  Mount  Morris,  and  Flushing)  in  the  county 
of  Genesee.  The  erection  of  Ingham  County  (Oct.  29, 
1829),  of  Livingston  County  (March  21,  1833),  and  of 
Genesee  County  (March  28, 1835),  cut  off  those  portions  of 
the  original  territory  of  Shiawassee  (in  all,  a  strip  of  two 
townships  in  width  from  its  entire  eastern  and  southern  bor- 
ders), and  reduced  the  county  to  its  present  limits.  The 
organization  of  the  county  of  Genesee  was  effected  by  act 
of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  8,  1836;  and  it  was 
by  the  same  act  provided  "  that  the  county  of  Shiawassee 
be  and  the  same  is  hereby  attached  to  the  county  of  Gene- 
see, for  judicial  purposes,  until  otherwise  directed  by  the 
Legislature."  The  act  took  effect  on  the  first  Monday  in 
April  of  the  same  year,  and  from  that  time  until  Shiawassee 
was  organized  as  a  county — in  1837 — it  remained  so  attached 
to  Genesee.  It  had  also  been  made  a  part  of  the  town- 
ship of  Grand  Blanc,  Genesee  Co.,  by  the  operation  of  an 
act  approved  March  26,  1835,  which  provided  "  that  the 
county  of  Shiawassee  shall  be  attached  to  and  comprise  a 
part  of  the  township  of  Grand  Blanc,  for  the  purposes  of 
township  government."  This  township  jurisdiction  con- 
tinued until  March  23,  1836,  when  the  Governor  approved 
an  act  which  provided  "  that  the  county  of  Shiawassee  be 
and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate 
township  by  the  name  of  Shiawassee.  .  .  ."  This  town- 
.ship  continued  to  embrace  all  the  territory  of  the  county 
until  March  11,  1837,  when  an  act  was  approved  providing 
that  "  all  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Shiawassee  known 
as  townships  7  and  8  north,  of  ranges  1,  2,  3,  and  4 
east,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized 
into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Owosso."  And 
by  other  sections  of  the  same  act,  township  No.  5  north 
in  range  4  east,  was  erected  as  the  township  of  Burns ; 
and  township  No.  6  north,  in  the  same  range,  was  set  off,  to 
be  organized  as  the  township  of  Vernon.  These  were  the 
only  townships  erected  in  the  cdunty  prior  to  its  organiza- 
tion, so  that  at  that  time  its  territory  was  subdivided  as 
follows :  Owosso  township  comprehended  within  its  limits 
the  entire  north  half  of  the  county  ;  the  townships  of 
Burns  and  Vernon  embraced,  respectively,  the  same  terri- 
tory as  at  present ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  county that 

part  which  is  now  included  in  the  townships  of  Antrim, 
Shiawassee,  Bennington,  Sciota,  Woodhull,  and  Perry — 
formed  the  township  of  Shiawassee,  which  had  been  re- 


120 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


duced  to  three-eighths  of  its  original  dimensions  by  the 
laying  out  of  Owosso,  Burns,  and  Vernon. 

The  above  account  exhibits  the  changes  of  jurisdiction 
through  which  the  territory  of  Shiawassee  County  had 
passed  prior  to  its  separate  organization,  in  1837,  as  also  the 
several  township  subdivisions  which  existed  within  it  at 

that  time. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  settlements  which  had  been  made  in  the  county 
prior  to  its  organization  were  numerous,  but  liad  been  made 
chiefly  during  the  last  year  of  the  period  under  considera- 
tion. The  first  white  settlers  within  the  county  were  the 
brothers  Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin  0.  Williams;  for  although 
Whitmore  Knaggs  had  located  here  about  1820,  Mr.  Grant 
a  few  years  later,  and  Richard  Godfrey  in  1828,  yet  these 
were  in  no  sense  settlers,  but  merely  transient  traders,  who 
came  to  deal  with  the  Indians  so  long — and  only  so  long — 
as  the  traffic  continued  to  prosper.  But  the  case  was  dif- 
ferent with  the  brothers  Williams,  who  came  from  their 
home  in  Oakland  County  in  April,  1829,  to  prospect  in 
Shiawassee,  with  the  full  intention  of  becoming  settlers 
here.  "  We  concluded,"  says  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams,*  "  when 
we  became  of  age  we  would  settle  in  this  new  and  beautiful 
virgin  forest ;"  and  they  carried  out  this  intention  in  August, 
1831,  when  they  came  to  the  county,  and  located  on  lands 
entered  by  Alfred  L.  Williams  (Benjamin  0.  being  then 
still  a  minor)  on  the  Shiawassee,  adjoining  the  north  line  of 
the  Kechewondaugoning  reservation.  And  although  they 
were  at  first  traders,  they  soon  began  to  cultivate  land,  and 
becoming  in  every  sense  settlers,  remained  for  nearly  a  half 
century  the  seniors  among  the  residents  of  Shiawassee 
County,  as  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams  is  at  the  present  time.")" 

About  two  years  after  the  Williams  brothers  came,  the 
second  settlement  in  Shiawassee  was  made  by  John  I.  Tin- 
kelpaugh,  who  brought  his  family  and  located  on  section 
24,  of  township  6  north,  of  range  3  east,  in  May,  1833. 
He  had  previously  cleared  a  small  part  of  his  land  on  the 
river-bottom  and  planted  it,  this  being  the  first  land  plowed 
in  the  county.  Mr.  Tinkelpaugh  afterwards  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Greenbush  township,  Clinton  Co.,  and  died  there 
in  the  fall  of  1879.  He  was  a  brother  of  Captain  Edward 
Tinkelpaugh,  of  New  York,  the  commander  at  difierent. 
times  of  the  "  North  Star,"  "  South  America,"  and  other 
ocean  steamers  running  from  that  port. 

Other  settlers  who  came  in  the  same  year  were  Hosea 
Baker,  his  son,  Ambrose  Baker,  and  his  son-in-law,  Aaron 
Swain,  all  of  whom  settled  in  the  same  township,  and 
Henry  Leach  and  Jacob  Wilkinson,  in  township  6,  of 
range  4. 

The  settlements  made  in  the  county  in  1834  were  but 
few,  though  entries  of  land  and  preparations  for  permanent 
occupancy  were  numerous.  In  1835,  however,  the  number 
of  actual  settlers  was  considerably  increased,  and  their  set- 
tlements were  extended  northward  and  westward  into  the 
township  which  is  now  Caledonia,  and  to  the  Big  Rapids  of 
the  Shiawassee,  now  Owosso.  Among  those  who  came  in 
and  made  permanent  location  in  the  two  years  named  were 


*  Michigan  Pioneer  Collections,  vol.  ii.  p.  477. 
t  Mr.  A.  L.  Williams,  after  a,  residence  of  many  years  in  Owosso, 
removed  to  Virginia,  where  he  is  now  living. 


Isaac  M.  Banks  (in  town  6,  range  3),  John  Swain  (in 
Caledonia),  Samuel  N.  Whitcomb,  Josiah  Pierce,  and  Jamas 
Rutan  (in  Vernon),  Zachariah  R.  Webb  (in  the  township 
now  Venice),  and  Louis  Findley,  Kilburn  Bedell,  David 
Van  Wormer,  John  D.  Overton,  and  Henry  S.  Smith,  at 
the  Rapids.  Overton  and  Van  Wormer  came  as  tenants  of 
Judge  Elias  Comstock,  who  had  purchased  land  at  the 
Rapids,  and  had  made  some  improvements  in  1835,  in 
preparation  for  permanent  settlement  there.  In  the  same 
manner,  Henry  S.  Smith  (who  had  previously  made  a 
temporary  halt  near  Shiawasseetown)  moved  to  the  new 
settlement  at  the  Rapids,  and  occupied  a  log  house  erected 
for  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams. 

In  this  year  (1835)  the  first  settlement  in  the  southeast 
corner  township  (now  Burns)  was  made  by  Dyer  Rathburn, 
from  New  York  State.  Naturally  it  would  seem  that  this 
part  of  the  county  should  have  been  the  first  settled,  for 
not  only  was  it  nearest  to  the  older  settlements  in  the 
counties  south  and  east,  and  was  traversed  by  the  old 
thoroughfare  from  Pontiac  to  the  Grand  River,  but  it  con- 
tained the  county-site  (as  then  established),  and  the  region 
contiguous  to  the  confluence  of  the  east  and  south  branches 
of  the  Shiawassee  was  one  of  great  natural  advantages. 
The  reason  why  these  causes  did  not  induce  the  first  set- 
tlers in  the  county  to  locate  in  this  township  was  undoubt- 
edly because  the  lands  in  the  most  favored  localities  had 
been  secured  many  years  before  by  Judge  Dexter,  and  were 
held  by  him  for  purposes  of  speculation. 

The  year  1836  saw  the  greatest  influx  of  immigrants 
into  Shiawassee,  as  was  also  the  case  in  most  other  counties 
of  the  lower  peninsula.     In  that  year  settlements  spread 
through  the  county  with  great  rapidity,  particularly  along 
the  line  of  the  Grand  River  road  (or  trail)  and  contiguous 
country.     The  list  of  those  who  came  in  as  settlers  during 
that  season  is  too  numerous  to  be  given  at  length,  but  men- 
tion may  be  made  of  a  few  in  several  of  the  townships  em- 
bracing difl'erent  sections  of  the  county.     In  the  southeast 
corner  township  there  came  among  the  settlers  of  that  year 
Maj.  Francis  J.  Prevost,  Robert  Crawford,  John  Burgess, 
Wallace  Goodin,  John  B.  Barnum,  P.  L.  Smith,  and  S.  S. 
Derby,  several  of  whom  were  members  of  the  Byron  Com- 
pany.    Passing  westward  in  the  townships  of  the  same 
tier,  there  were  among  the  settlers  of  1836,  Allen  Beard, 
Lyman  Melvin,  Peter  Cook,  Alanson  Ailing,  and  others  (in 
Antrim)  ;  Josiah  Purdy  (in  Perry)  and  Josephus  and  John 
WoodhuU,  in  the  township  which  was  afterwards  named  for 
them.     Peter  Laing  came  in  the  same  year,  and  founded 
the  village  of  Laingsburg,  in  what  is  now  the  township  of 
Sciota,  and  Samuel  Carpenter,  Mason  Phelps,  and  Milton 
Phelps  also  made  settlements  in  the  same  township.    Ben- 
nington received  its  first  settlers  in  the  persons  of  Samuel 
Nichols  and  his  unmarried  brother  James,  who  had  entered 
their  lands  in  the  previous  year,  and  came  to  locate  perma- 
nently in  the  spring  of  1836.     In  the  fall  of  that  year 
Jordan  Holoomb  and  Aaron  Hutchins  came  to  the  same 
township,  and  Lemuel  Castle  and  several  others  came  there 
on  prospecting  tours,  and  made  preparation  for  settlement 
in  the  following  spring.      In  1836,  William  Newberry, 
Ephraim  Wright,  William  M.  Warren,  and  many  others 
located  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Shiawassee.    John 


OKGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


121 


Smedley,  Noah  Bovier,  William  K.  Keed,  and  Joseph  Par- 
menter  were  among  the  immigrants  of  this  year  in  Vernon, 
Capt.  John  ^Davids  in  Caledonia  (on  the  present  site  of 
the  city  of  Corunna),  and  Judge  Comstock  at  Owosso. 
Settlements  were  also  made  in  the  same  year  in  Middle- 
bury,  on  the  west  border  of  the  county,  by  Obed  Hatha- 
way, George  W.  Slocum,  and  some  others,  and  in  New 
Haven  by  Horace  Hart  and  Richard  Freeman.  The  other 
townships  of  the  northern  tier  remained  unsettled  until 
a  later  date. 

The  above  brief  mention  of  a  very  few  of  the  pioneers 
of  Shiawassee  is  made  here  merely  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  the  manner  in  which  the  settlements  spread  from 
the  point  where  they  commenced,  on  the  Shiawassee  River, 
to  other  points  of  the  county.  More  extended  and  detailed 
accounts  of  the  early  settlements  and  settlers  will  be  given 
in  the  separate  histories  of  the  several  townships. 

The  rapid  immigration  of  1836  brought  with  it  a  fever 
of  speculation  in  wild  lands.  It  was  not  long  before  hun- 
dreds of  speculators  from  the  East  were  swarming  here, 
eager  to  select  and  purchase  the  best  tracts  of  government 
land,  and  this,  of  course,  resulted  unfavorably  for  the  prog- 
ress of  the  county.  Numerous  projects  of  "improvement" 
were  conceived  and  villages  were  started,  which  apparently 
prospered  for  a  time,  but  some  of  which  afterwards  decayed, 
and  went  down  as  rapidly  as  they  had  sprung  into  existence, 
and  by  the  close  of  the  year  1837  the  prospect  of  material 
progress  in  Shiawassee  County  began  to  assume  a  less  rose- 
ate hue  than  it  had  worn  only  a  short  time  before.  The 
situation  of  affairs  at  that  time  at  some  of  the  principal 
points  in  the  county,  was  noticed  by  Bela  Hubbard,  Esq. 
(who  made  a  tour  through  this  section  in  the  fall  of  1837, 
as  an  assistant  of  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton  in  his  geological 
explorations),  as  follows  : 

"  Byron,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Shiawassee  County, 
was  the  termination  of  our  wagon  journey.  The  name 
had  long  occupied  a  prominent  place  on  all  the  old  maps  of 
Michigan, — at  that  time  a  decade  was  antiquity, — and  held 
out  to  the  new-comer  the  promise  of  a  large  and  thriving 
village.  The  reality  was  disappointing.  It  possessed,  all 
told,  but  a  mill  and  two  houses.  At  Byron  we  exchanged 
our  wagon  for  a  canoe,  and  commenced  a  descent  of  Shia- 
wassee River. 

"  From  Byron  to  Owosso,  about  twenty  miles  direct  (but 
many  more  by  the  course  of  the  stream),  our  way  lay  mostly 
through  lands  more  heavily  timbered,  but  varied  with  open- 
ings and  occasional  plains.  Through  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try roads  had  been  opened  and  settlements  had  made  rapid 
progress.  .  .  .  Shiawasseetown  at  this  time  contained  a 
dozen  log  cabins  and  as  many  frames  unfinished.  One  of 
these  was  of  quite  a  superior  construction,  and  indicative  of 
the  era  of  speculation  through  which  the  country  had  passed. 
It  was  three  stories  in  height  and  designed  for  a  hotel.  The 
whole  village  was  under  mortgage  and  was  advertised  to  be 
sold  at  public  vendue. 

"  Corunna,  the  county-seat,  we  found  to  consist  of  one 
log  house,  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  occupied 
by  a  Mr.  Davids,  who  a  year  before,  and  soon  after  the  organ- 
ization of  the  county,  had  made  an  entry  here.  A  steam- 
mill  was  in  process  of  erection.  About  twenty  acres  of  land 
16 


had  been  cleared  and  planted,  and  never  did  crystal  stream 
lave  a  more  fertile  soil. 

"  Three  miles  below  was  '  located'  the  village  of  Owosso, 
already  a  thriving  settlement,  containing  a  dozen  log  build- 
ings, one  frame  one,  and  a  saw-mill.  With  the  exception  of 
a  few  scattered  settlers  upon  the  plains  south  of  the  line  of 
the  present  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railway,  such  consti- 
tuted the  entire  white  population  of  Shiawassee  County." 

The  real  and  personal  valuation  of  the  several  townships 
of  the  county,  at  a  period  ten  years  later  (1847),  is  given 
below,  as  showing  the  progress  which  had  been  made  in  Shi- 
awassee County  during  that  time  by  settlement  and  improve- 
ment, viz. : 

Antrim  township $31,7.39 

Barns  township , 39,254 

Bennington  township 33,911 

C.iledonia  township 51,748 

Middlebury  township 18,810 

New  Haven  township  (two  survey  township's) 27,768.50 

Owosso  township  (two  survey  townships) 46,598 

Perry  township 32,003 

Sciota  township 19,747 

Shiawassee  township 46,304 

Venice  township 20,169 

Vernon  township 31,322 

WoodhuU  township 20,402 

Total  of  county $419,755.50 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

OKGAWIZATIOIM    OP    THE    COTJITTT— COTJBTS   AWD 
OTHEK  MATTERS. 

Shiawassee  organized  by  Act  of  Legislature — First  Election— Subdi- 
vision of  the  County  into  Townships — The  Board  of  Supervisors — 
Wolf  Kecord — Establishment  of  Courts  in  Shiawassee  County  and 
their  Early  Proceedings. 

The  organization  of  the  county  was  effected  under  au- 
thority of  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  13, 
1837,  which  provided  "  That  the  county  of  Shiawassee  be, 
and  the  same  is,  hereby  organized  for  county  purposes ; 
and.  the  inhabitants  thereof  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights 
and  privileges  to  which,  by  law,  the  inhabitants  of  other 
counties  of  this  State,  organized  since  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution,  are  entitled."  Under  this  act  a  special  election 
was  held  in  May,  1837,  resulting  in  the  election  of  Levi 
Rowe  as  Sheriff,  Andrew  Parsons  as  County  Clerk,  Josiah 
Pierce  as  Treasurer,  James  Rutan  and  Alfred  L.  Wil- 
liams as  Associate  Judges,  Elias  Comstock  as  Judge  of 
Probate,  and  Daniel  Gould  as  County  Surveyor.  Sanford 
M.  Green  was  made  prosecuting  attorney  by  appointment. 
By  this  election  the  organization  of  Shiawassee  County 
was  made  complete. 

At  that  time  the  county  embraced  the  townships  of 
Shiawassee,  Owosso,  Burns,  and  Vernon,  as  has  already 
been  mentioned.  The  next  subdivision  was  made  by  an  act 
approved  March  6,  1838,  which  erected  survey-township 
No.  5  north,  of  range  3  east,  into  the  township  of  Antrim 
(its  territory  being  the  same  then  as  at  present),  and  sur- 
vey-townships Nos.  5  and  6  north,  of  range  No.  2  east, 
into  the  township  of  Bennington,  which  thus  included, 
in  addition  to  its  own  present  territory,  that  of  the  town- 
ship of  Perry, 


122 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


By  act  approved  April  2,  1838,  the  township  of  Wood- 
hull  was  erected,  to  comprise  "  all  that  portion  of  the 
county  of  Shiawassee  designated  by  the  United  States  sur- 
vey as  townships  Nos.  5  and  6  north,  of  range  No.  1  east," 
so  including  the  present  towns  of  WoodhuU  and  Sciota. 
By  the  erection  of  WoodhuU  the  territory  of  the  old 
township  of  Shiawassee  was  diminished  to  its  present  size. 
The  first  reduction  of  the  original  area  of  Owosso  town- 
ship was  made  by  an  act  (approved  March  21, 1839)  which 
erected  survey-townships  Nos.  7  and  8  north,  of  range 
No.  1  east,  into  the  separate  township  of  Middlebury. 
The  same  act  also  took  from  the  territory  of  Owosso  sur- 
vey-township 7  north,  of  range  4  east  (the  same  which  is 
now  Venice),  and  attached  it  to  the  township  of  Vernon. 
On  the  following  day  (March  22,  1839)  the  Governor 
approved  an  act  in  which  k  was  provided  that  "  All  that 
part  of  the  county  of  Shiawassee  designated  by  the  United 
States  survey  as  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  No.  3 
east,  which  lies  east  of  the  west  line  of  sections  Nos.  5,  8, 
17,  20,  29,  and  31,*  in  said  township,  be,  and  the  same 
is,  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into  a  township  by  the 
name  of  Caledonia;  and  the  first  township-meeting  shall 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Alexander  McArthur  in  said  town- 
ship." 

The  reduction  of  Bennington  township  to  its  present  size 
was  effected  by  the  passage  of  an  act  (approved  March  15, 
1841)  which  provided  that  "  all  that  part  of  the  county  of 
Shiawassee  designated  by  the  United  States  survey  as  town- 
ship No.  5  north,  of  range  No.  2  east,  be,  and  the  same  is, 
hereby  set  off  and  organized  as  a  separate  township  by  the 
name  of  Perry."  The  size  of  this  town  has  remained  un- 
changed to  the  present  time. 

New  Haven  township  was  erected  by  act  of  March  20, 
1841,  to  comprise  survey-townships  numbered  8,  in  ranges  3 
and  4  east.  These  were  taken  from  Owosso  township,  and 
are  the  same  which  now  form  the  towns  of  New  Haven 
and  Hazelton. 

The  township  of  Sciota  was  formed  by  act  approved 
Feb.  16,  1842,  to  include  survey-township  6  north,  of 
range  1  east.  This  being  taken  from  the  original  territory 
of  WoodhuU  reduced  the  latter  township  to  its  present  size. 
An  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  March  9,  1843,  pro- 
vided that  "  All  that  part  of  the  county  of  Shiawassee  desig- 
nated by  the  United  States  survey  as  township  No.  7  north, 
of  range  No.  4  east,  formerly  belonging  to  the  township  of 
Owosso,  but  now  to  the  township  of  Vernon,  be,  and  the 
same  is,  hereby  set  off  and  organized  as  a  separate  township 
by  the  name  of  Venice,  and  the  first  township-meeting 
thereof  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Neely  Sawtell."  This 
was  the  same  territory  which,  by  act  of  March  21,  1839, 
had  been  taken  from  Owosso  and  attached  to  Vernon, 
which  latter  township  was  consequently  reduced  to  its  orig- 
inal and  present  size  by  the  erection  of  Vernon,  as  above 
mentioned. 


*  It  will  be  seen  that  in  this  erection  of  Caledonia  upon  the  terri- 
tory of  survey-township  7  north,  of  range  3  east,  sections  Nos.  6, 1, 18, 
19,  and  30  were  not  included,  but  remained  a  part  of  the  township  of 
Owosso.  By  an  act  approved  Feb.  16,  1842,  however,  these  sections 
were  taken  from  Owosso  and  annexed  to  Caledonia,  thus  making  its 
limits  coextensive  with  those  of  the  survey-township. 


Hazelton  township,  embracing  town  No.  8  north,  in 
range  4  east,  of  the  United  States  survey,  was  erected  by 
act  of  March  25,  1850.  It  was  taken  from  J^ew  Haven, 
and  its  erection  left  the  latter  township  with  its  present 
boundaries. 

The  last  township  taken  from  the  territory  of  Owosso 
was  that  of  Rush,  which  was  laid  out  and  organized  under 
the  provisions  of  an  act  approved  March  28,  1850.  By 
the  erection  of  Rush  (comprising  survey-township  8  north, 
of  range  2  east)  the  area  of  Owosso  was  reduced  to  a  single 
one  of  the  eight  survey-townships  which  it  originally  em- 
braced. 

The  youngest  township  in  the  county  is  that  of  Fair- 
field, which  was  erected  with  its  present  territory  by  action 
of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  on  the  4th  of  January,  1854. 

BOAKD   OP  SUPEEVISOES— COUNTY   COMMIS- 
SIONERS. 

The  township  of  Shiawassee,  organized  on  the  23d  of 
March,  1836,  comprised  the  entire  territory  of  Shiawassee 
County,  as  before  noticed.  The  first  township-meeting  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Hosea  Baker,  who  was  elected  super- 
visor' for  that  year,  and  represented  the  township  in  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Genesee  County,  to  which  this 
county  was  attached.  The  townships  entitled  to  a  repre- 
sentation at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county,  in 
1837,  were  Shiawassee,  Owosso,  Burns,  and  Vernon,  and 
De  Witt  and  Watertown,  of  Clinton  County,  which  was 
then  attached  to,  and  composed  a  part  of,  Shiawassee. 

No  record  is  preserved  of  a  meeting  of  the  board  in  the 
fall  of  1837,  but  the  fact  that  such  meeting  was  held  is 
proved  by  the  action  of  the  board  at  the  session  of 
October,  1838,  when  that  body  rescinded  a  resolution 
"  passed  in  October  last,"  in  reference  to  wolf-bounties.  At 
that  session,  which  commenced  on  Tuesday,  Oct.  2,  1838, 
at  the  place  known  as  the  Shiawassee  Exchange,  situated 
on  the  Shiawassee  River,  Lemuel  Castle  was  chosen  chair- 
man, and  Francis  J.  Prevost  clerk  pro  tern.  At  the  close 
of  that  meeting  the  board  adjourned  to  meet  the  next  day 
at  the  hotel  at  Shiawasseetown,  kept  by  Lucius  W.  Beach. 
The  supervisors  present  were  Lemuel  Castle,  of  Benning- 
ton ;  Elias  Comstock,  of  Owosso  ;  H.  B.  Flint,  of  Antrim  ; 
Francis  J.  Prevost,  of  Burns ;  Thomas  Beal,  of  Shiawas- 
see ;  James  Rutan,  of  Vernon ;  Jonathan  WoodhuU,  of 
WoodhuU,  Shiawassee  Co. ;  and  Hiram  Benedict,  of  Wan- 
daugon,  Calvin  Marvin,  of  Watertown,  and  Welcome  J. 
Partelo,  of  De  Witt,  Clinton  Co.f  The  first  business  was 
the  examination  of  wolf-certificates,  and  twenty-five  of  these 
were  audited,  covering  an  amount  of  three  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars,  without  names  attached,  but  designated 
by  numbers. 

The  townships  of  Owosso,  Burns,  Shiawassee,  Water- 
town,  and  the  village  of  Mapleton  (the  last  two  in  Clinton 
County)  had  made  requests  to  the  supervisors  for  money 
to  buUd  bridges.  After  considerable  discussion  it  was  de- 
cided to  levy  the  tax  for  the  erection  of  the  bridges,  upon 
the  county  instead  of  the  several  townships.     The  amount 

f  The  townships  of  Bennington  and  Antrim  were  organised  in 
March,  1838,  and  WoodhuU  in  April  of  the  same  year.  Wandaugon 
(now  Lebanon),  Clinton  Co.,  was  organized  also  in  March,  1838. 


ORGANIZATION   OF   THE   COUNTY. 


123 


to  each  and  the  location  of  the  bridges  are  here  given ; 
Owosso  (at  the  village),  three  hundred  dollars;  Burns 
(near  John  Knaggs),  two  hundred  dollars ;  Shiawassee, 
fifty  dollars ;  De  Witt  (Looking-Glass  River,  near  Welcome 
J.  Partelo),  one  hundred  dollars ;  Watertown  (Looking- 
Glass  River  on  town  line  between  ranges  3  and  4),  one 
hundred  dollars ;  W^andaugon  (Heywood  Creek  on  State 
road),  one  hundred  dollars ;  Mapleton  (on  Maple  River), 
one  hundred  dollars. 

The  committee  on  equalization  of  assessment  rolls  re- 
ported that  "  the  assessment  appears  to  be  equal."  The 
aKsresate  amount  of  the  several  towns  was  as  follows : 


1838. 


Owosso $297,681 

De  Witt 297,087 

Burns 66,643 

Walertown 194,350 

WoodhuU 81,025 


Bennington $96,224 

Vernon 66,856 

Sliiawassee 66,037 

Antrim 64,096 

Wandaugon 186,028 


It  was  resolved  that  the  sum  of  $2076  be  levie.d  upon  the 
county  as  a  State  tax,  and  the  sum  of  $4924  for  county 
purposes.  Elias  Comstock  and  James  Rutan  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  apportion  the  amount  upon  the  several 
towns,  which  was  reported  as  follows  : 


Owosso 

De  Witt 

Watertown.... 

Burns 

WoodhuU 

Bennington... 

Vernon 

Sliiawassee.... 

Antrim 

Wandaugon .. 


Assessment, 

$290,681.00 

297,087.00 

194,350.00 

66,643.00 

81,025.00 

96,224.00 

66,866.00 

66,037.00 

64,096.00 

186,028.00 


State  and 
County  Tax. 

$1430.00 
1470.00 
954.20 
.323.20 
393.00 
471.90 
322.00 
299.10 
306.20 
915.60 


Town  Tax.  Poor  Tax.  Total  Tax. 

$283.60      $1714.00 

212.50       $60.00       1733.00 

30.00 

26.00 

50.00 


217.80 
138.80 
160.00 
128.10 
210.00 
456.90 
142.80 


50.00 


1202.00 
487.00 
603.00 
600.00 
532.00 
926.00 
448.00 


157.50   1073.00 


$1,409,026.00  $6885.10  $2170.90  $205.00  $9318.00 

The  board  was  in  session  several  days,  closing  on  the  6th 
of  October. 

By  the  provisions  of  a  law  passed  by  the  Legislature 
in  1838,  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
were  transferred  to  a  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  to  be 
composed  of  three  members.  The  first  election  of  County 
Commissioners  was  held  early  in  November.  The  Board  of 
Canvassers  met  on  the  13th  of  the  samemonth,  and  was 
composed  as  follows  : 

Antrim,  Allen  Beard. 

Bennington,  Ira  B.  Howard. 

Burns,  Francis  J.  Prevost. 

Owosso,  Elias  Comstock. 

Shiawassee,  Peter  Turner. 

WoodhuU,  Peter  Laing. 

De  Witt,  Ephraim  H.  Utley. 

Watertown,  Charles  R.  Spicer. 

The  canvasser  who  represented  Wandaugon  was  not 
present,  and  the  canvass  proceeded  without  him. 

The  three  county  commissioners  elected  were  Lemuel 
Castle,  Ransom  W.  Holley,  and  Ephraim  H.  Utley.  The 
board  met  and  organized  on  the  20th  of  November,  1838, 
in  Shiawasseetown,  at  the  hotel  of  Lucius  W.  Beach. 
Lemuel  Castle  was  chosen  chairman. 

After  organization  wolf-certificates  were  audited  to  the 
amount  of  $100.84,  but  little  other  business  was  brought 
before  them.  The  board  convened  at  Corunna  on  the  8th  of 
July,  1839,  and  on  September  23d  of  the  same  year  at  the 


Shiawassee  Exchange ;  the  latter  meeting  being  held  for  the 
purpose  of  adjusting  accounts  between  Clinton  and  Shia- 
wassee Counties,  the  former  having  been  organized  March 
12,  1839.  An  agreement  giving  a  balance  of  $202.91  to 
Shiawassee  County  was  signed  by  Lemuel  Castle,  R.  W. 
Holley,  L.  Rowe,  Commissioners  of  Shiawassee  County ; 
E.  H.  Uiley,  Calvin  Marvin,  Commissioners  of  Clinton 
County ;  and  John  Gould,  Treasurer  of  Clinton  County. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  in  the  same  year,  the  commis- 
sioners convened  at  Corunna,  and  accepted  a  block  of  land 
three  hundred  feet  square  donated  by  the  County-Seat 
Company,  designated  on  the  recorded  plat  of  Corunna  as 
the  "  public  square." 

Dec.  31,  1839,  a  statement  of  the  appropriations  for 
1838  and  1839  was  made,  viz. : 

1838 

For  bridges .' $1000.00 

Bounties  on  wolf-scalps 117.50 

Expenses  of  county  canvass 86.02 

Sheriff's  fees 186.76 

Expenses  of  criminal  prosecutions 52.55 

County  clerk's  fees 97.37 

Expenses  of  circuit  court 7.75 

Contingent  expenses  of  Clinton  and  Shiawas- 
see Counties 479.88 


Total $2009.81 

1839. 

For  bounties  on  wolf-sealps $49.00 

Criminal  prosecutions 49.91 

Expenses  of  circuit  court 23.25 

Sherirsfees 58.13 

Prosecuting  attorney's  salary 150.00 

County  clerk's  fees 127.33 

Contingent  expenses  of  county 212.70 

County  building 345.00 

Total $1015..S2 

The  business  of  the  county  was  transacted  by  the  com- 
missioners until  the  office  was  abolished  by  act  of  Legisla- 
ture, approved  Feb.  10, 1842.  The  powers  which  had  been 
exercised  by  the  commissioners  were  then  resumed  by  the 
supervisors  of  the  county. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  convened  at  the  court-house  in 
the  village  of  Corunna  on  the  4th  of  July,  1842,  when  the 
following-named  members  were  present:  M.  B.  Martin, 
David  Bush,  Jr.,  Sanford  M.  Green,  Lyman  Bennett,  Lem- 
uel Castle,  R.  W.  Holley,  Andrew  Parsons,  John  Palmer, 
Allen  Smith,  John  K.  Tyler,  John  WoodhuU,  and  Hum- 
phrey Wheeler.  This  was  the  first  meeting  held  by  the 
board  under  the  law  of  1842,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
present  the  supervisors  have  continued  to  exercise  their 
functions  as  financial  managers  of  the  county. 

WOLF   KECOKD. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  for  the 
destruction  of  wolves  Dec.  28,  1837,  and  Feb.  9,  1838, 
another  act  was  adopted.  The  last  section,  repealing  the 
act  of  the  previous  December,  provided  "  That  every  per- 
son, being  an  inhabitant  of  this  State,  as  well  Indians  as 
others,  who  shall  kill  a  full-grown  wolf,  or  wolf's  whelp 
under  the  age  of  three  months,  in  any  organized  township, 
shall  be  entitled  to  a  bounty  of  $8  for  each  full-grown  wolf, 
and  $4  for  each  wolf's  whelp  ;"  the  person  claiming  such 
bounty  to  take  either  the  wolf  or  the  head  thereof,  with  the 
ears  and  skin  entire  thereon,  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
make  oath  before  him  as  to  the  facts  and  circumstances  of 


124 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


the  killing.  It  was  thereupon  the  dflty  of  the  justice,  if 
satisfied  with  the  statement,  to  certify  the  same  and  burn 
the  ears  and  scalp  of  such  wolf  The  certificate,  in  turn, 
was  to  be  presented,  with  the  affidavit,  to  a  supervisor  or 
commissioner  within  fifteen  days,  and  if  by  either  of  them 
found  to  be  correct,  it  was  to  be  presented  to  the  next 
county  board,  and  if  then  found  all  right  by  that  body,  the 
bounty  was  to  be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  county  treas- 
ury, one-half  of  which  was  to  be  charged  over  to  and 
paid  out  of  the  State  treasury.  By  one  provision  of  the 
act  a  Board  of  Supervisors,  or  of  Commissioners,  had  "  au- 
thority to  award  and  allow,  at  the  expense  of  their  respec- 
tive counties,  such  other  and  further  bounties  for  the  de- 
struction of  wolves  and  panthers  as  they  might  deem 
proper."  This  act,  approved  Feb.  9,  1838,  was  "  to  remain 
in  force  three  years  and  no  longer,"  although  the  law  was 
afterwards  extended  to  Feb.  10,  1844,  and  the  records 
show  bounties  paid  for  that  purpose  several  years  after  that 
time. 

The  first  business  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the 
county  at  the  session  commencing  Oct.  2,  1838,  was  the 
examination  of  wolf-certificates.  An  additional  bounty  of 
91  appears  to  have  been  added  to  the  State  bounty,  making 
the  bounty  for  wolves  $9  and  whelps  $5,  as  the  first  items, 
appended,  show : 

"  The  board  then  voted,  to  allow  a  bounty  of  $9  each  on 
five  wolves,  killed  as  described  in  certificate  No.  1,  $45. 

"  Also  on  three  wolves,  $9  each,  as  described  in  certifi- 
cate No.  2,  $27. 

"Also  on  two  wolves,  $9  each,  as  described  in  certificate 
No.  3,  $18. 

"  Also  on  one  wolf  [whelp],  $5,  as  described  in  certifi- 
cate No.  4,  $5." 

Twenty-five  certificates  were  examined  and  allowed  in  the 
same  manner  as  above,  embracing  a  total  of  twenty-six 
wolves  and  eleven  whelps.  On  the  4th  of  October,  the 
third  day  of  the  session,  the  board  rescinded  a  resolution 
"  that  was  passed  in  October  last,"  allowing  a  county 
bounty  of  $5  for  the  destruction  of  wolves.  No  attention 
seems  to  have  been  paid  to  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Su- 
pervisors of  the  year  previous  in  the  examination  of  the 
twenty-five  certificates,  but  they  evidently  considered  it  of 
sufficient  importance  to  rescind  it.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
county  commissioners  on  the  18th  of  November  (the  month 
following),  1838,  the  State  bounty  only  was  allowed.  They 
also  recorded  the  names  of  those  to  whom  bounties  were 
granted.  Below  are  given  the  names  of  persons,  date  of  cer- 
tificate, and  amount  of  bounty  allowed  from  that  time. 

Nov.  20, 1838.— Hiram  Stowell,*  $8 ;  Silas  W.  Rose,  $8. 

Jan.  7,  1839.— Rufus  C.  Rathbone,  $16  ;  Enoch  Willis, 
$16;  George  Nichols,  $8;  Benjamin  Morton,  $4.  The 
last  is  a  further  allowance  on  wolf-certificate  No.  21  in  the 
twenty-five  certificates  passed  in  October,  1838. 

March  4,  1839. — Morris  Cushman,  $8;  Lewis  Hart, 
$4.50  (whelps). 

July  17,  1839.— Allen  Baird,  $5. 

Sept.  20,  1839.— George  Campau,  $32. 


*  Mr.  Stowell  and  several  others  in  the  list  were  residents  of  Clin- 
ton County,  which  was  then  a  part  of  Shiawassee. 


Nov.  20,  1839.— Rufus  C.  Rathbone,  $44. 

Jan.  10,  1842.— Ezra  L.  Mason,  $10  ;  Albert  B.  Mason, 
$8;  William  Sladden,  $8. 

Feb.  24,  1842.— John  F.  Swain,  $10;  Ezra  L.  Mason, 
$10. 

March  28,  1842.— A.  McArthur,  $10 ;  Jesse  Whitford, 
$8. 

Dec.  21, 1843.— Jacob  Esty,  $13  ;  Ambrose  Baker,  $13 ; 
Wellman  Castle,  $26;  George  W.  Slocum,  $13;  Robert 
G.  McKee,  $13  ;  George  Rowell,  $13 ;  Jesse  Whitford,  $13. 

Nov.  12,  1844.— Clark  D.  Castle,  $13;  Hiram  Haight, 
$16;  Amasa  Rowell,  $13;  George  Bibbins,  $13;  Nicholas 
Woolman,  $13;  Apollos  Dewey,  $26. 

Jan.  4,  1845.— Joel  B.  Goss,  $6;  William  Placeway, 
$13;  Marvin  Secord,  $13. 

Oct.  16,  1845.— Joel  A.  Hart,  $30;  Nathaniel  Kimball, 
$15;  Apollos  Dewey,  $15;  E.  P.  Mason,  $13;  Ambrose 
Baker,  $13;  Hiram  Haight,  $13;  Rial  B.  Chase,  $15. 

Oct.  15,  1846.— Ezra  L.  Mason,  $45 ;  Daniel  D.  Slo- 
cum, $15. 

Wolf-certificates  were  granted  for  several  years,  the  last 
account  on  the  records  being  Jan.  5, 1869,  when  Mr.  Rush 
presented  a  claim  for  a  bounty  for  killing  a  wolf  in  favor  of 
B.  W.  Steer,  and  moved  that  the  same  be  allowed.  The 
certificate,  however,  was  referred  back  to  claimant  for  fur- 
ther proof,  and  as  it  is  not  again  brought  up  it  is  fair  to 
presume  it  was  not  again  presented. 

ESTABLISHMENT  OF    COURTS   IN    SHIAWASSEE 
COUNTY. 

By  the  act  under  which  Shiawassee  County  was  organ- 
ized it  was  provided  that  "  The  Circuit  Court  of  the  county 
of  Shiawassee  shall  be  held  at  the  county-seat  if  practica- 
ble, and  if  not,  at  such  other  place  as  the  sheriff  of  said 
county  shall  provide  until  county  buildings  shall  be  erected. 

"  The  county  of  Shiawassee  shall  belong  to  the  second 
judicial  circuit,  and  the  terms  of  the  Circuit  Court  shall 
commence  on  the  first  Monday  of  June  and  December  in 
each  year." 

The  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Courtf  of  Shiawassee 
County  was,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  above 
act,  held  at  the  office  of  the  county  clerk  on  the  4th  day  of 
December,  1837.  There  were  present  the  Hon.  Alfred  L. 
Williams  and  the  Hon.  James  Rutan,  associate  judges. 
No  circuit  judge  was  present.  Levi  Rowe  was  appointed 
crier  for  the  term.  The  sheriff  was  ordered  to  appoint 
four  constables  to  attend  during  the  term,  and  he  appointed 
Noah  Bovier  and  Mason  Phelps  (only  two),  and  they  and 
Aaron  Swain,  the  under-sheriff',  were  ordered  to  attend. 

Application  was  then  made  by  Sanford  M.  Green  (now 
circuit  judge  of  the  eighteenth  judicial  circuit)  to  be  ad- 
mitted as  an  attorney  and  counselor-at-law.  After  exam- 
ination he  was  admitted.  There  being  no  prosecuting 
attorney  in  the  county,  the  court  appointed  Mr.  Green  to 
act  in  that  capacity  for  the  term.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  grand  jurors  in  attendance  at  that  term : 
Daniel  Ball,  Daniel  Gould,  Horace  Hart,  Robert  Crawford, 

t  This  slietch  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Shiawassee  County  is  fur- 
nished by  the  Hon.  Josiah  Turner,  judge  of  the  seventh  judicial 
circuit. 


FIRST   COURTS. 


125 


Thomas  P.  Green,  Elisha  Brewster,  Stephen  Post,  Samuel 
Brown,  M.  Bradley  Martin,  Ira  B.  Howard,  Ephraim 
Wright,  Cornelius  W.  Miller,  James  Van  Aukin,  Joseph 
Parmeter,  Josiah  Pierce,  John  Smedley,  Samuel  W.  Hard- 
ing, and  S.  N.  Whitcomb.  Daniel  Ball  was  appointed 
foreman.  A  few  of  these  gentlemen  are  still  living  in  the 
county,  honored  and  respected  by  all,  but  the  large  majority 
of  them  are  believed  to  be  dead.  The  grand  jury  found 
one  indictment,  charging  a  man  with  peijury,  and  they  were 
then  discharged. 

The  records  show  the  following  entry :  "  John  Knaggs 
vs.  Phillis,  his  wife.  On  motion  of  Sanford  M.  Green, 
counsel  for  said  Knaggs,  the  court  ordered  that  said  Knaggs 
have  leave  to  present  a  petition  for  a  divorce  from  Phillie, 
his  said  wife,  at  the  next  term  of  the  court ;  and  that  said 
Knaggs  shall  cause  a  written  notice  to  be  served  upon  his 
said  wife  at  least  thirty  days  before  the  said  term  of  the 
court  of  his  intention  to  present  such  petition  and  of  the 
hearing  thereof." 

This  was  the  first  proceeding  in  the  county  to  obtain  a 
divorce,  and  it  would  be  a  novel  way  to  get  a  party  into 
court  at  this  day. 

The  court  adjourned  on  the  second  day  of  its  session. 
The  next  term  of  the  court  was  held  on  the  4th  day  of 
June,  1838,  by  Hon.  James  Rutan,  one  of  the  associate 
judges.  The  grand  jury  were  impannelled,  but  soon  re- 
ported to  the  court  that  they  had  no  business  before  them, 
and  the  court  at  once  adjourned  without  day,  no  other 
business  having  been  transacted. 

The  next  term  commenced  on  the  25th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1838,  and  was  held  by  the  associate  judge,  the  circuit 
judge  not  being  present. 

The  first  petit  jury  ever  summoned  in  the  county  was 
present  at  this  term,  and  their  names  were  as  follows: 
Harvey  Harmon,  David  T.  Tyler,  Stephen  Post,  Samuel 
W.  Harding,  Francis  F.  Mann,  John  Smedley,  William  P. 
Laing,  George  Harrington,  John  B.  Clark,  Ichabod  Knee- 
land,  Eli  Shattuck,  Calvin  Sweet,  Rufus  Collier,  Nicholas 
P.  Harder,  Samuel  N.  Whitcomb^  Samuel  Millard,  and 
Ephraim  Wright,  very  few  of  whom  are  now  living.  The 
grand  jury  at  this  term  found  five  bills  of  indictment,  but 
no  further  business  was  transacted.  The  next  term  of  the 
court  was  held  on  the  7th  day  of  May,  1839,  when  the 
Hon.  Charles  W.  Whipple,*  circuit  judge,  and  Hon.  James 
Rutan,  associate  judge,  presided.  This  was  the  first  term 
in  the  county  at  which  a  circuit  judge  was  present.  At 
this  term  George  W.  Wisner  and  Alfred  H.  Hanscomb 
were  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  were  for  many  years  there- 
after distinguished  lawyers  at  Pontiac.  Both  are  now 
dead.  The  first  trial  ever  had  in  this  court  was  at  this 
term.  It  was  a  criminal  case,  and  the  jury  did  not  agree. 
At  the  May  term,  1840,  the  case  of  Robert  Crawford  vs. 
Liberty  Lyman  was  tried  by  a  jury,  and  a  verdict  was  ren- 


»  Judge  Whipple  was 


born  in  New  York,  and  removed  with  his 


father  to  Detroit  when  a  boy.  He  was  educated  at  West  Point.  He 
was  several  times  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  in  1836  and 
1837  was  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  In  1838  he  was 
appointed  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  office  he  held  for 
many  vears.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1850.  "He  was  a  man  of  great  dignity  and  an  eminent  jurist.  He 
died  Oct.  25,  185fi 


dered  for  the  pkintifiF  for  f  17.55  damages,  being  the  first 
civil  case  ever  tried  in  this  court.  At  this  term  the  late  Gov- 
ernor Moses  Wisner  made  application  for  admission  to  the 
bar,  and  the  court  appointed  as  examining  committee  Wil- 
liam L.  Mosely,  Edward  H.  Thomson,  and  Artemas  Thayer, 
and  after  examination  Mr.  Wisner  was  admitted. 

On  the  3d  day  of  May,  1843,  a  term  was  held,  at  which 
the  Hon.  George  Morrell,  then  chief  justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  presided. 

The  next  circuit  judge  of  the  county  was  the  Hon.  Ed- 
ward Mundy,  who  held  his  first  term  commencing  on  the 
2d  day  of  August,  1848,  and  his  last  term  was  held  in 
June,  1850. 

Judge  Mundy  was  among  the  earlier  emigrants  to  the 
Territory  of  Michigan.  He  was  the  first  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor of  the  State,  under  the  first  State  constitution,  in 
1835  and  1836,  and  again  held  the  same  office  from  1837 
to  1840.  In  1847  he  was  appointed  attorney-general, 
which  office  he  held  until  1848,  when  he  was  appointed  a 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  from"1844  to  1848  he 
was  a  regent  of  the  State  University.    He  died  in  1851. 

The  nest  circuit  judge  of  the  county  was  the  Hon. 
Sanford  M.  Green,  who  held  his  first  term  in  the  county  in 
May,  1852,  and  continued  to  so  preside  until  May,  1857, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Judge  Josiah  Turner,  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

Judge  Green  was  born  May  30, 1807,  in  Grafton,  N.  Y., 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  New  York  in  1832  ;  re- 
moved to  Michigan  in  1837  and  settled  in  Owosso ;  elected 
to  the  State  Senate  in  1842  ;  appointed  commissioner  to 
revise  the  statutes  in  1844,  and  reported  to  the  Legislature 
of  1846  ;  elected  to  the  Senate  again  in  the  fall  of  1845, 
and  served  two  years ;  was  appointed  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  by  Governor  Ransom  in  1848,  and  held  that  office 
until  May,  1857,  and  was  chief  justice  two  years  of  that 
time.  From  Jan.  1, 1858,  to  April,  1867,  and  from  June, 
1872.  to  the  present  time  he  has  held  the  office  of  circuit 
judge, — now  of  the  Eighteenth  Judicial  Circuit. 

PKOBATE   COURT. 

The  first  session  of  this  court  of  which  any  record  is  ex- 
tant was  held  at  the  village  of  Owosso,  Feb.  13, 1838,  Elias 
Comstock,  probate  judge,  presiding.  The  first  proceedings 
were  "  in  the  matter  of  the  estate  of  Samuel  Carpenter, 
deceased."  Application  was  made  by  Alvin  S.  McDowell 
for  letters  of  administration  upon  the  above  estate,  which 
were  granted  upon  giving  bond  in  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars,  the  bond  being  signed  by  A.  S.  Mc- 
Dowell, William  Phelps,  and  John  Runciman.  John  Hill, 
Jordan  Holcomb,  and  Aaron  Hutchins  were  appointed  ap- 
praisers of  the  property,  with  orders  to  report  on  the  10  th 
of  March,  1838. 

On  the  same  day  application  was  made  by  Isaac  Thomp- 
son of  Ionia  County,  for  letters  of  administration  on  the 
estate  of  Daniel  Barker,  of  the  county  of  Clinton.  Bond 
was  given  in  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars,  and  signed 
by  Isaac  Thompson,  Frederick  Hall,  and  Joseph  Letanker. 
The  appraisers  were  Nathan  Benjamin,  Thaddeus  0.  War- 
ren, and  Silas  Crippen.  The  first  will  (that  of  Orrin  Perry) 
was  offered  for  probate  on  the  12th  of  June,  1838,  bearing 


126 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


date  April  30th  of  th^  same  year.  Elizabeth  Perry  was 
appointed  executrix,  and  Washington  Z.  Blanchard  and 
Horace  B.  Flint  executors.  Letters  were  issued  April  25, 
1839,  to  Kalph  Williams  as  guardian  of  Violetta  Car- 
penter, a  minor  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  and  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Carpenter.  Lewis  Lindley  was  ap- 
pointed, April  1,  1839,  guardian  of  Lucinda  Phidelia  Be- 
dell, a  minor,  daughter  of  Kilburn  Bedell.  The  will  of 
Moses  Kimball,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Shiawassee 
Company,  was  presented  for  probate.  It  was  dated  Nor- 
wich, Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  18,  1837,  and  recorded  in 
the  county  of  Shiawassee  in  1838,  as  part  of  the  property 
mentioned  in  the  will  was  in  this  county. 

Judge  Comstook  served  as  probate  judge  until  1841, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Ira  B.  Howard,  whose  first  busi- 
ness was  the  division  of  the  estate  of  Samuel  Carpenter. 

COUNTY  COURT. 
The  county  courts  which  had  existed  in  Michigan  prior 
to  April,  1833,  were  abolished  by  law  at  that  time,  but 
were  re-established  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1846. 
Under  the  law  last  named  the  first  session  of  the  county 
court  of  Shiawassee  was  held  at  Corunna  on  the  5th  of 
April,  1847,  Judge  Robert  R.  Thompson  presiding. 
During  the  continuance  of  the  county  court  Judge  Thomp- 
son presided  until  June  3,  1851,  from  which  time  A.  B. 
Chipman,  the  Second  Judge,  presided  till  the  end  of  the 
year,  when,  by  a  limitation  embodied  in  the  constitution  of 
1850,  the  county  courts  ceased  to  exist,  and  their  business 
was  transferred  to  the  circuit  courts. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

COUNTY-SITES    AND    COTJNTT    PEOPBKTY. 

Establishment  aDd  Vacation  of  the  County-Site  at  Byron — Location 
of  the  Seat  of  .Tustice  at  Corunna — Erection  of  Court-House  and 
Jail — Fire-Proof  Offices — Poor-House  and  Poor-Farm. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1824,  the  Governor  of  Michigan 
Territory  approved  an  act  providing  for  the  appointment 
of  commissioners  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  Shiawassee 
County.  Under  this  act  James  McCloskey,  Frederick  A. 
Sprague,  and  William  Meldrum  were  appointed  such  com- 
missioners, and  were  instructed  to  report  their  action  to  the 
Legislative  Council  at  its  next  session.  They  proceeded  to 
perform  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  duly  made  report  to 
the  council,  in  accordance  with  their  instructions,  that  they 
had  selected  the  village  of  Byron,  and  had  there  established 
the  county- site.  Shiawassee  County  then  embraced,  in  ad- 
dition to  its  present  territory,  eight  townships  that  now 
belong  to  Genesee  County,  eight  townships  that  are  now 
included  in  Livingston,  and  four  townships  of  the  present 
territory  of  Ingham  County, — in  all  twenty  townships, 
forming  a  belt  two  townships  wide,  along  and  outside  of 
the  entire  south  and  east  border  of  this  county  as  it  now 
stands.  So  the  county-site  determined  on  by  the  commis- 
sioners was  then  near  the  territorial  centre  of  the  county ; 
but,  in  addition  to  the  fact  of  its  geographical  position,  it 
was  said  that  the  influence  of  Judge  Samuel  W.  Dexter  of 


Washtenaw  County,  was  potent  in  securing  the  selection  of 
that  site,  which  was  probably  the  fact ;  for  it  is  certain  that 
he  was  then  the  proprietor  of  a  large  amount  of  land  at 
that  place,  that  the  site  was  established  on  a  part  of  his 
tract,  and  that  the  expenses  of  location  were  paid  by  him 
from  his  private  means.  It  is  proper  to  mention,  however, 
that  this  payment  by  him  was  in  conformity  with  the  pro- 
visions of  the  law  directing  the  appointment  of  the  com- 
missioners, which  required  that  they  should  receive  their 
compensation  (two  dollars  per  day  for  time  necessarily 
employed)  from  the  proprietor  of  the  land  on  which  they 
should  decide  to  locate  the  county-site. 

But  the  erection  of  Ingham  County  in  1829,  of  Living- 
ston in  1833,  and  of  Genesee  in  1835,  reduced  Shiawassee 
to  its  present  limits,  leaving  Byron,  the  county-site,  within 
one  mile  of  its  eastern,  and  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of 
its  southern  boundary,  making  apparent  the  necessity  for 
the  selection  of  a  new  seat  of  justice  nearer  the  centre 
of  the  reduced  territory  of  the  county.  This  caused  the 
passage  by  the  Legislature  of  "  An  act  to  vacate  the  seat 
of  justice  of  Shiawassee  County''  (approved  February  26, 
1836),  embodying  the  following  preamble  and  provisions, 
viz.  :  " 

"  Whereas,  the  county  of  Shiawassee  has  been  so  divided 
since  the  seat  of  justice  was  established  therein  as  to  leave 
the  same  in  the  southeast  corner  of  said  county  and  within 
one  mile  of  the  east  line  thereof;  and  whereas  no  public 
buildings  or  improvements  have  as  yet  been  erected  or  made 
at  said  seat  of  justice;  therefore, 

"  Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  that  the  seat  of 
justice  for  the  county  of  Shiawassee  as  now  established  be 
and  the  same  is  hereby  vacated,  any  law  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding." 

The  county-site  being  thus  vacated,  the  Governor  (under 
a  law  then  in  force  authorizing  him  to  appoint  commissioners 
to  establish  county-sites  in  counties  having  none)  appointed 
John  Greenfield  and  Col.  Garry  Spencer,  of  Detroit,  and 
Samuel  Axford,  of  Macomb  County,  as  commissioners  to 
locate  a  county-site  for  Shiawassee.  This  appointment  was 
made  on  the  12th  of  March,  1836,  and  on  the  1st  of  April 
of  the  same  year  the  commissioners'  report  was  filed  locating 
the  county-site  on  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  28,  in  township  7  north,  of  range  3  east, — the 
present  site  of  Corunna.  Proclamation  was  issued  by  the 
Governor  confirming  the  location  on  the  1st  of  July,  1836. 

The  commissioners  while  examining  the  diflFereut  bear 
tions  made  their  headquarters  at  the  Exchange  (the  Williams 
trading-post).  They  were  accompanied  by  the  Hon.  Jacob 
M.  Howard,  B.  0.  Williams,  and  others.  Three  days  were 
spent  in  examining  the  different  locations,  visiting  the  Big 
Rapids  (Owosso)  and  other  points,  and  after  consultation, 
decided  upon  the  present  site.  The  organizing  act  provided 
that  the  courts  should  be  held  in  such  place  as  the  sheriff 
of  the  county  should  select,  and  the  first  court  was  held  at 
the  place  known  as  the  Shiawassee  Exchange,  in  the  school- 
house,  on  the  4th  day  of  December,  1837.  The  October 
term  of  1838  was  held  at  the  house  of  Lucius  W.  Beach, 
atShiawasseetown,  and  adjournment  was  made  to  November 
of  the  same  year,  at  the  "  Exchange."    For  some  reason  not 


COUNTY-SITES  AND  COUNTY  PEOPERTY. 


127 


given  in  the  records,  this  court  was  held  at  Owosso  on  the 
date  mentioned,  at  rooms  over  the  store  of  Gould,  Fish  & 
Co.,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Washington  and  Exchange 
Streets. 

Section  6  of  act  No.  62,  approved  March  25,  1840,  pro- 
vides that  "  the  Circuit  Court  shall  be  held  at  Shiawassee- 
town  in  said  county."  An  act  supplementary  to  this  (ap- 
proved April  1st,  five  days  later),  provides  that  the  act  passed 
March  25,  1840,  "  shall  in  no  wise  affect  or  alter  the  loca- 
tion of  the  county-site  of  said  county,  nor  shall  the  same 
be  construed  as  vacating  or  changing  the  same,  but  shall 
be  considered  only  as  authorizing  the  courts  for  said  county 
to  be  held  in  the  village  of  Shiawasseetown,  until  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  present  county-site,  or  the  county  commis- 
sioners of  said  county,  shall  furnish  a  suitable  building  at 
said  county-site  for  the  accommodation  of  said  courts,  to 
be  approved  by  the  county  commissioners  or  a  majority  of 
them." 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1839,  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers unanimously  agreed  to  accept  of  a  block  of  land  three 
hundred  feet  square  in  the  village  of  Corunna,  designated 
on  the  recorded  plat  of  that  village  as  the  "  Public  Square," 
which  was  offered  by  the  County-Seat  Company  as  a  dona- 
tion to  the  county  of  Shiawassee.  A  contract  was  made 
by  Stephen  Hawkins  with  the  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
the  erection  and  completion  of  a  building  on  the  public 
square  for  county  ofiSces.  The  sum  to  be  paid  for  buildings 
was  $382.50.  The  office  building  was  about  twenty  by 
thirty  feet  in  size,  situated  near  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
square,  and  built  of  wood.  It  was  moved  across  the  street 
in  1846,  and  is  now  used  as  a  market.  In  the  latter  part 
of  1839  a  building  belonging  to  the  County-Seat  Company 
was  rented  by  the  county  commissioners  for  their  sessions, 
and  for  purposes  of  holding  court.  In  April  of  the  next 
year  the  following  letter  was  sent  to  the  commissioners  : 

"  COKUNNA,  April  17,  1840. 

"  To  THE  Hon.  CouNTr  Commissioners  : 

"  Gentlemen, — The  proprietors  of  the  county-seat  of  Shia- 
wassee County  do  hereby  tender  to  the  said  commissioners, 
for  the  use  of  the  county,  the  building  heretofore  used  by 
the  county  commissioners  for  county  purposes,  and  which 
was  engaged  by  them  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  for  said  county. 

"  The  said  building  is  thirty-six  feet  in  length  and  twenty 
feet  in  width,  and  will  be  furnished  by  the  said  proprietors, 
fitted  up  with  convenient  and  comfortable  seats  afad  a 
proper  desk  for  the  judges.  It  is  now  lathed  and  plastered, 
and  fires  will  be  kept  up  in  said  building  during  the  session 
of  the  court. 

"  The  house  now  occupied  by  Alexander  McArthur  will 
be  occupied  during  the  season  of  the  ensuing  term  of  the 
Circuit  Court  as  a  tavern,  and  extensive  accommodations  and 
supplies  will  be  provided,  sufficient  for  all  the  persons  who 
may  be  in  attendance  on  said  court.  Stables  accommodat- 
ing upward  of  fifty  horses  will  be  prepared,  and  an  abund- 
ance of  provender  is  already  provided.  All  of  which  is 
respectfully  submitted. 

(Signed)  "A.  McArthur, 

'■^ Agent  for  the  ■proprietors  of  the  present  county- 
seat  of  Shiawassee  County." 


The  building  spoken  of  in  the  above  letter  was  situated 
on  the  corner  of  Eraser  Street  and  Shiawassee  Avenue, 
where  Preston  &  Wheeler's  store  now  stands.  The  sum 
paid  by  the  commissioners  for  the  use  of  the  room  for  the 
courts  was  $30  per  annum.  The  house  was  a  wooden 
building,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  Shiawassee  Avenue, 
and  occupied  the  site  where  now  stands  the  drug-store  of  Kil- 
burn  &  Shattuck.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  several  years  later. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners  on  the  24th 
of  February,  1842,  the  subject  of  raising  money  for  the 
erection  of  a  court-house  and  jail  was  brought  up  and  dis- 
cussed. It  was  decided  to  present  the  question  to  the  peo- 
ple at  the  next  annual  town-meeting,  which  was  done,  and 
the  proposition  to  loan  the  sum  of  $4000  for  that  purpose 
was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1842,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  met 
and  resumed  the  functions  which  had  for  three  years  previ- 
ously been  vested  in  the  county  commissioners.  After  organ- 
ization a  committee  was  appointed  to  examine  the  title  of 
the  county  to  the  parcel  of  land  donated  to  the  county,  and 
known  and  designated  as  the  "  Public  Square." 

Mr.  Castle,  one  of  the  committee,  reported  an  abstract  of 
title,  and  stated  that  he  saw  no  evidence  of  fraud  and  con- 
sidered the  title  good,  but  did  not  concur  with  the  opinions 
expressed  by  Sanford  M.  Green,  Esq.  Mr.  Green  presented 
the  following  report  as  containing  his  individual  opinions 
and  views  in  relation  to  such  title,  though  drawn  up  in 
form  as  the  report  of  the  committee  : 

"  To  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  County 
OF  Shiawassee  ; 

"  The  committee  appointed  by  this  Board  at  its  last  ses- 
sion to  examine  the  title  of  this  county  to  a  tract  or  parcel 
of  land  described  as  the  '  Public  Square,'  in  the  village  of 
Corunna,  respectfully  submit  the  following  report :  That  we 
have  performed  the  duty  imposed  upon  us  by  a  careful 
examination  of  the  records  in  the  office  of  the  register  of 
deeds  of  said  county  relating  to  said  parcel  of  land,  assisted 
by  the  register  of  deeds  and  by  A.  McArthur,  Esq.,  who 
was  present  with  us  at  the  examination  of  the  records,  and 
gave  us  all  the  explanation  and  information  in  relation  to 
said  title  which  the  nature  of  the  case  seemed  to  require  or 
admit  of,  and  we  herewith  submit  a  brief  abstract  of  said 
title  as  it  appears  of  record. 

"  In  tracing  the  title  by  the  description  contained  in  the 
deed  presented  by  the  board  at  its  July  session,  the  first  in- 
quiry that  seemed  to  arise  was.  Where  is  the  village  of  Co- 
runna, in  which  the  '  Public  Square'  in  question  is  located  ? 
For  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  this  part  we  very  naturally 
applied  ourselves  to  the  recorded  map  or  plat  of  said  village, 
from  which  we  had  a  right  to  suppose  we  should  be  able  to 
learn  the  precise  location.  On  an  examination  of  the  map, 
however,  we  find  no  description  of  the  section,  township,  or 
range  in  which  it  is  located,  nor  any  description  of  the 
'  Public  Square'  by  its  boundaries,  courses,  and  extent, 
nor  any  designation  of  the  uses  or  purposes  to  which  it  is 
devoted,  excepting  what  appears  from  the  indorsement  on 
the  face  of  the  square  itself;  and  this  designation  being  gen- 
eral, without  limitation,  if  it  amounts  to  anything,  sets  apart 
and  devotes  said  square  to  the  general  use  of  the  public. 


128 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


and  we  find  that  the  public,  as  defined  by  Mr.  Walker  and 
others,  means  '  the  general  body  of  a  nation  ;'  and  this  defi- 
nition we  believe  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  common  and 
correct  use  and  application  of  the  term  when  used  without 
limitation,  as  in  this  case.    Hence  it  would  seem  to  follow  as  a 
necessary  consequence  that,  if  this  map  amounts  to  anything 
in  legal  contemplation,  it  vests  in  the  County  of  Shiawassee 
the  fee  of  this  parcel  of  land  in  trust  to  and  for  the  general 
and  common  uses  and  purposes  of  the  great  body  of  the 
people  of  this  great  nation,  and  for  no  other  use  or  purpose 
whatever.     This  map  appears  to  have  been  indorsed  upon 
the  face  of  it  with  the  names  of  three  individuals  as  trus- 
tees, but  of  whom,  or  of  what,  does  not  appear  by  that  map, 
nor  are  their  names  either  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the 
map,  after   the  manner  of  a  signature,  or  attached  to  or 
connected  with  any  statement  in  relation  to  the  said  map. 
In  order  to  pursue  the  examination  of  the  title,  it  became 
necessary  that  we   should  seek  information  of  the  where- 
abouts of  the  town  of  Corunna  out  of  the  records.   Accord- 
ingly, we  inquired  of  Mr.  McArthur,  and  were  verbally  in- 
formed by  him  that  Corunna  was  located  upon  the  west 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  town  7  north, 
range  3  east,  and  that  Col.  Andrew  Mack  was  the  original 
purchaser  of  said  lot  from  the  United  States ;  and  upon  the 
examination  of  a  schedule  in  the  register's  office,  it  appears 
that  said  lot  was  purchased  by  him,  but  we  find  no  patent 
to  him  from  the  United  States  for  this  land,  of  record.    The 
first  deed  of  the  lot  upon  the  record  is  a  deed  from  Col. 
Mack  and  wife  to  A.  McArthur  of  an    individual  fourth 
part  of  it. 

"  The  rest  is  a  trust-deed  executed  by  Messrs.  Mack  and 
McArthur  and  their  wives  to  Chauncey  Hurlbut,  A.  D. 
Fraser,  and  John  Norton,  Jr.,  purporting  to  vest  in  them 
the  legal  estate,  but  no  interest  in  the  fee  of  the  land,  in 
trust  for  the  benefit  of  a  company  or  copartnership  firm 
styled  the  Shiawassee  County-Seat  Company,  under  certain 
articles  of  association  which  are  recorded  with  said  trust- 
deed.  These  trustees  were  vested  with  power  to  make  con- 
veyances upon  the  requL-sition  of  the  directors  of  the  com- 
pany, which  requisitions  are  not  required  to  be  recorded ; 
and  in  case  either  or  all  of  said  trustees  should  resign,  or  ne- 
glect or  refuse  to  act  conformably  to  the  requirements  of 
the  directors  of  this  private  company,  their  trusteeship  and 
all  powers  vested  in  them  by  the  deed  of  trust  was  abso- 
lutely to  cease  and  be  at  an  end,  without  any  record 
thereof,  or  any  declaration  to  that  efi"ect  by  the  directors. 
They  were  also  to  exercise  their  powers  subject  to  and  in 
conformity  with  the  original  articles  of  association,  and  such 
alterations  or  amendments  as  might  at  any  time  be  made 
thereto  in  the  manner  therein  specified  ;  none  of  which  al- 
terations or  amendments  are  required  to  be  made  a  matter 
of  record.  The  directors  of  said  company  are  also  subject  to 
change  by  election,  resignation,  etc.,  so  that  there  is  not  re- 
quired to  be  any  record  evidence  of  any  change  that  may 
hereafter  take  place  in  the  trusteeship,  directory,  or  funda- 
mental organization  and  constitution  of  the  company  itself. 
"It  appears,  also,  that  while  trustees  are  thus  appointed 
for  the  benefit  of  the  individuals  composing  this  company, 
and  a  legal  title  is  vested  in  the  trustees  to  their  use,  yet  by 
the  articles  of  association  the  individuals  of  said  company 


are  expressly  declared  to  have  no  interest  in  the  lands  so 
conveyed  in  trust,  but  the  scrip,  by  the  ownership  of  which 
they  became  members  of  the  association,  is  declared  to  be 
personal  property,  and  is  transferable  from  hand  to  hand, 
like  negotiable  paper.  The  trust-deed  covers  other  lands 
than  these  upon  which  the  village  is  said  to  be  located,  and 
provision  is  made  for  the  purchase  of  more  to  be  contracted 
in  the  same  manner,  and  the  trustees  are  authorized  to  lay 
out  a  town  upon  the  lands  referred  to  in  the  deed  without 
specifying  on  what  part  or  parcel  of  the  same. 

"  From  the  foregoing  statement  it  appears  perfectly  obvi- 
ous that  within  a  few  days  or  weeks  after  the  execution  of 
the  trust-deed  the  powers  of  the  trustees  may  have  ceased. 
The  directors  of  the  company  may  have  resigned,  and  the 
character  of  the  association  may  have  been  entirely  changed, 
while  the  records  cannot  afford  us  any  light  or  evidence  in 
regard  to  it.     Subsequent  to  the  recording  of  the  map,  we 
find  a  quit-claim  deed  to  the  county,  executed  by  an  indi- 
vidual as  trustee,  purporting  to  convey  the  interest  of  such 
individual  as  trustee  to  the  county  commissioners  for  the 
uses  of  the  county,  covering  the  '  Public  Square.'      But 
whether  the  grantor  was  the  trustee  of  the  proprietors  or  of 
the  company,  or  had  any  power  to  make  such  deed  at  the 
time  it  was  executed,  we  have  no  means  of  knowing.    The 
deed  now  tendered  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  purports  to 
be  executed  by  the  trustees  of  the  Shiawassee  County-Seat 
Company,  but  the  same  difficulties  are  ibund  in  this  deed 
that  attached  to  the  former  deed, — the  warrants,  being  made 
in  behalf  of  men  who  have  no  interest  in  the  land,  and  who 
have  no  title  of  record,  and  are  constantly  changing,  can  be 
of  no  value.     Moreover,  we  cannot  sec  what  right  any  indi- 
vidual can  have  to  convey  this  '  Public  Square,'  as  trustees 
or  otherwise,  after  it  has  once  been  devoted  by  the  record- 
ing of  the  map  to  the  whole  body  of  the  people  at  large 
without  any  designation  of  its  particular  uses.     It  is  proper 
to  observe  that  there  are  papers  placed  upon  the  records 
purporting  to  detail  some  of  the  proceedings  of  this  com- 
pany and  its  directors,  etc.,  but  they  are  not  placed  there 
pursuant  to  any  provisions  of  the  articles  of  association, 
nor  in  virtue  of  any  legal  or  judicial  sanction,  and  cannot, 
therefore,  be  any  evidence  to  us  of  the  facts  they  purport  to 
detail.     Some  of  them  are  neither  fully  acknowledged  nor 
properly  witnessed,  and  we  are  unable  to  understand  by 
what  authority  they  are  made  an  incumbrance  upon  the 
records  of  this  county,  especially  of  our  records  of  deeds. 

"  No  one,  we  think,  can  fail  to  have  perceived  in  the  de- 
tails of  these  transactions  that  a  wide  door  has  been  opened 
for  the  practice  of  stupendous  frauds  without  leaving  any 
trace  of  them  upon  the  records.  That  such  frauds  have 
been  practiced  by  this  company  we  do  not  undertake  to  say 
nor  to  intimate ;  but  that  an  association  could  be  got  up  in 
a  manner  more  peculiarly  calculated  to  admit  of  the  com- 
mission of  ruinous  frauds  upon  the  community,  were  they 
inclined  to  do  so,  with  a  strong  probability  of  escaping  the 
just  consequences,  we  cannot  well  imagine.  When  the 
title  to  land  is  involved,  and  such  land  may  bear  but  a  very 
small  value  compared  with  the  improvements  that  may  be 
made  on  it,  we  think  the  record  ought  to  show  the  title 
perfect,  and  that  the  honesty  and  integrity  of  no  man  or 
set  of  men,  whatever  their  reputation  may  be,  ought  ever  to 


COUNTY-SITES  AND  COUNTY  PROPERTY. 


129 


be  trusted,  nor  do  we  think  that  any  honest  man  ouo-ht 
ever  to  exact  it." 

It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  any  action  was  taken, 
either  then  or  afterwards,  as  a  result  of  this  opinion  of 
Mr.  Green. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1847,  rooms  were  rented  of  E. 
J.  Van  Buren  for  three  years,  at  thirty  dollars  per  year, 
for  county  offices.  These  were  in  a  building  north  of  the 
Bacon  block.  In  April  of  the  same  year  the  board  ordered 
the  Judge  of  Probate  to  hold  his  courts  in  the  office  of  the 
Register  of  Deeds.  In  the  month  of  April,  1850,  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  resolved  "  that  it  is  expedient  at  this 
time  to  take  the  necessary  steps  for  the  erection  of  a  court- 
house at  the  present  couaty-site  of  our  county."  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed,  consisting  of  Supervisors  Parsons, 
HoUey,  Harder,  and  Cummins.  A  report  was  submitted 
the  next  day,  substantially  as  follows :  A  building  was  to 
be  erected,  forty  by  sixty  feet  in  dimensions,  two  stories 
high  ;  the  upper  part  to  be  a  court-room  and  two  jury- 
rooms  ;  the  lower  part  to  be  divided  in  the  centre  length- 
wise by  a  hall  eight  feet  wide ;  the  sides  to  be  divided  into 
six  rooms,  two  of  which  are  to  be  fitted  up  for  a  jail,  the 
others  for  accommodation  of  county  officers  and  a  grand- 
jury  room.  The  walls  to  be  brick,  the  lower  story  sixteen 
inches  thick,  upper  wall  twelve  inches  thick.  The  com- 
mittee expressed  the  opinion  that  the  building  could  be 
erected  for  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  Resolutions 
were  offered  and  adopted  arranging  for  raising  the  amount 
necessary  and  for  the  erection  of  a  court-house.  R.  "W. 
HoUey,  L.  H.  Parsons,  and  Z.  Bunce  were  appointed  a 
building  committee  and  authorized  to  receive  plans,  adver- 
tise for  proposals,  make  contracts,  and  superintend  the  erec- 
tion of  the  court-house.  The  contract  was  let  to  George 
0.  Bachman,  to  be  completed  on  the  1st  of  November, 
1851.  The  Board  of  Supervisors,  at  the  January  session 
in  1852,  adopted  a  resolution  "  that  the  chairman  of  the 
Board  notify  the  present  owners  of  the  court-house  here- 
tofore occupied  by  the  county  that  they  have  no  further 
use  for  the  same."  This  building  was  purchased  soon  after 
by  the  Baptist  Church,  and  occupied  by  them  as  a  house  of 
worship.  It  is  now  removed  a  little  south  of  its  former 
location,  on  the  corner  of  Eraser  and  Woodworth  Streets, 
and  is  used  as  a  parsonage  by  the  society.  The  present 
court-house  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  sherifi'  on  the  6th 
of  January,  1854,  and  the  next  day  the  building  com- 
mittee was  discharged. 

The  first  official  action  taken  in  reference  to  the  erection 
of  a  fire-proof  office  building  for  the  county  was  the  intro- 
duction in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolution,  July  9,  1865,  viz. : 

"  Whereas,  The  county  offices  now  occupied  by  the 
County  Register  and  Treasurer  are  too  small  and  inconve- 
nient for  said  offices,  and  also  unsafe  for  the  records  of  said 
offices,  it  is  desirable  and  proper  that  suitable  offices  be 
erected,  detached  from  the  court-house ;  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  the  building  committee  be  and  is  hereby 
instructed  to  cause  the  erection  of  two  fire-proof  offices  for 
said  offices  in  the  court-house  yard,  south  of  the  court- 
17 


house,  at  such  point  as  the  committee  may  designate.  And 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  committee  to  procure  a  suitable 
design  for  said  offices,  and  let  the  contract  for  the  building 
of  the  same  as  they  may  deem  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
county.  That,  for  the  purpose  of  accomplishing  the  above 
object,  said  committee  are  hereby  authorized  and  empow- 
ered to  borrow,  not  to  exceed  three  thousand  dollars,  pay- 
able in  not  less  than  two  or  over  five  years  from  date,  and 
to  issue  bonds  of  the  county  for  the  same,  said  bonds  to  be 
countersigned  by  the  clerk  and  sealed  with  the  seal  of  the 
office." 

The  resolution  was  adopted  on  the  next  day.  The  build- 
ing was  erected  in  the  court-house  yard,  south  of  the  court- 
house, and  is  the  same  which  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Register  of  Deeds  and  the  Treasurer.  The  office  of  the 
county  clerk  is  in  the  second  story  of  the  court-house. 
The  Judge  of  Probate  occupies  an  office  in  the  lower  story. 

POOK-HOUSE   AND   POOU-FARM. 

The  first  action  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  in  refer- 
ence to  the  county  poor  was  taken  on  January  9th,  1839, 
when  Sanford  M.  Green,  Isaac  Castle,  and  Hiram  Stowell 
were  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  poor  of  the  county, 
their  terms  of  office  commencing  January  7th  of  that  year. 
Nothing  further  appears  of  record  until  Dec.  24,  1841, 
when  the  distinction  between  town  and  county  poor  was 
abolished,  and  the  poor  became  a  county  charge.  The  sum 
of  two  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  from  the  incidental 
fund  for  their  support.  On  the  24th  of  February,  1842, 
the  superintendents  of  the  poor  were  authorized  and  directed 
by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  to  purchase  a  farm,  not  to 
exceed  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  to  be  used  as  a 
poor-farm,  "  and  to  make  such  improvements,  by  the  erection 
of  buildings  upon  the  farm,  as  the  necessity  of  the  case  may 
warrant."  No  action  having  been  taken  by  the  superintend- 
ents during  the  spring,  the  board,  at  a  meeting  July  6th 
of  that  year,  suspended  the  resolution  relating  to  the  pur- 
chase of  a  poor-farm  until  further  action.  On  the  21st  of 
December,  1843,  a  committee  previously  appointed  to  con- 
fer as  to  the  best  methods  of  supporting  the  poor  of  the 
county  submitted  the  following  report,  which  was  adopted : 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  matter  of  sup- 
porting the  poor  in  this  county  report  that  it  appears,  by 
the  superintendents  of  the  poor,  the  amount  expended  for 
their  support  for  the  last  year  is  three  hundred  and  fifteen 
dollars.  Your  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  at  present 
no  means  can  be  provided  which  will  enable  the  county  to 
support  the  paupers  therein  with  less  expense  than  they 
have  been  supported  for  the  last  year.  Considering  the  num- 
ber of  paupers  who  have  had  assistance  from  the  county, 
it  shall  be  divided  into  districts  so  as  to  accommodate  the 
paupers  in  procuring  physicians  employed  in  each  district 
by  the  year  or  otherwise,  as  the  superintendents  shall  think 
proper.  The  plan  of  dividing  the  county  into  districts 
your  committee  recommend,  as  follows :  Burns,  Vernon, 
Antrim,  and  Shiawassee,  1st  District ;  Caledonia,  Venice, 
and  New  Haven,  2d  District ;  Owosso,  Bennington,  Sciota, 
and  Middlebury,  3d  District;  Perry  and  WoodhuU,  4th 
District."  At  this  meeting  three  hundred  dollars  was  ap- 
propriated for  the  use  of  the  poor.     There  is  no  further 


130 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


record  of  importance  until  Jan.  21,  1846,  when  seven  hun- 
dred and  seventy  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  same 
purpose. 

On  the  7th  of  January,  1847,  the  superintendents  of  the 
poor  were  directed  by  the  supervisors  to  purchase  a  farm, 
not  to  exceed  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  and  to 
erect  suitable  buildings  thereon,  for  which  purpose  the  sum 
of  two  thousand  dollars  was  to  be  raised  by  tax,  one-quarter 
of  the  amount  in  1848,  one-quarter  in  1849,  and  the  bal- 
ance in  1850.  On  the  13th  of  October,  1847,  eighty  acres 
of  land  (the  south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
32,  Caledonia)  was  purchased  for  a  county  farm. 

At  the  October  session  of  the  next  year  it  was  resolved 
to  raise  a  county  tax  of  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-seven  dollars  and  seventy  cents  (including  five  hun- 
dred dollars  appropriated)  for  the  purchasing  and  fitting  up 
of  the  poor-farm. 

At  the  June  session  of  the  supervisors,  in  1858,  the 
committee  on  public  buildings  reported  the  dwelling  on 
the  poor-farm  as  being  in  a  very  unsuitable  condition  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  poor.  After  careful  examina- 
tion, fifteen  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  erec- 
tion of  buildings  convenient  for  the  purpose.  These  build- 
ings— completed  in  January,  1859 — are  the  same  which  are 
still  in  use. 

By  the  last  report  of  the  superintendents  of  the  poor 
(for  the  year  ending  Sept.  1,  1879)  it  is  shown  that  the 
expenses  on  the  farm  for  that  year  were  $2060.39 ;  that 
there  was  expended  for  support  of  insane  persons  at  Detroit, 
Pontiac,  and  Kalamazoo,  11854.62 ;  that  the  value  of  pro- 
ducts raised  on  the  farm  was  $1059.97  (estimated)  ;  that 
the  number  of  persons  receiving  support  at  the  county- 
house  was  32. 


CHAPTEE    XXV. 

THE  PHESS-THE  PKOFESSIONS— CIVIL  LIST. 

Newspapers  in  the  County- — The  Legal  Profession — Early  Lawyers — 
The  Present  Bar  of  Shiawassee — The  Medical  Profession — Early 
Physicians — Shiawassee  County  Medical  Association — Homoeo- 
pathy— Shiawassee  Civil  List. 

The  result  of  much  patient  inquiry  and  research  is 
the  disclosure  of  the  fact  that  there  is  probably  no  person 
now  living  in  Shiawassee  County  who  is  able  to  give  with 
anything  like  certainty  the  date  of  the  establishment  of 
the  pioneer  newspaper  of  the  county,  or  its  early  changes 
of  proprietorship.  It  has,  however,  been  ascertained  be- 
yond reasonable  doubt  that  the  first  public  journal  in  Shia- 
wassee was  published  at  Owosso  by  Edward  L.  Amcnt; 
that  this  journal  was  in  existence  in  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1839,  and  that  its  name  was  the  Shiawassee  Express 
and  Clinton  Advocate,  having  a  circulation  in  both  Shia- 
wassee and  Clinton, — the  latter  county  being  at  that  time 
still  attached  to  and  a  part  of  the  former. 

The  Owosso  Argus  was  also  established  by  E.  L.  Ament 
in  1841.  Dr.  C.  P.  Parkill,  of  Owosso,  who  was  in  early 
life  a  printer  by  trade,  recollects  that  in  that  year  he 
worked  on  the  Argus  in  Owosso,  and  that  Mr.  Ament 


was  then  its  proprietor.  A  proof  of  the  existence  at 
that  time  of  both  the  papers  above  mentioned  is  found 
in  the  record  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  under  date  of 
June  22,  1841,  at  which  time  it  was  by  the  board  "Re- 
solved that  the  foregoing  preamble  be  published  in  the 
Owosso  Argus,  and  Shiawassee  Express  and  Clinton  Advo- 
cate." But  on  the  other  hand,  a  copy  of  the  Owosso  Argm, 
dated  Sept.  20, 1848,  and  which  has  been  examined  by  the 
writer,  bears  the  number  47,  of  Volume  V.,  which  would 
place  the  first  issue  of  the  paper  at  about  Nov.  1,  1843. 
Yet  it  is  proved  to  have  been  in  existence  at  least  two  years 
before  that  time,  both  by  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Parkill  and 
by  the  record  of  the  supervisors.  This  being  the  case, 
the  facts  only  are  given  as  above,  without  any  attempt  to 
account  for  the  apparent  contradiction.  Nor  can  anything 
further  be  stated  as  to  the  continuance  of  the  Shiawassee 
Express  and  Clinton  Avocate  after  the  date  at  which  it  is 
found  mentioned  in  the  record  above  referred  to. 

The  Argus,  however,  continued  to  be  published  at  Owosso 
by  Mr.  Ament  until  his  death  in  December,  1847,  when  it 
was  published  by  Ephraim  H.  Gould,  who  was  a  son  of 
Daniel  Gould,  of  Owosso,  and  who  had  previously  been  a 
compositor  on  the  paper  under  the  proprietorship  of  Mr. 
Ament.  In  the  summer  of  1848,  Mr.  Gould  was  suc- 
ceeded as  publisher  of  the  Argus  by  M.  H.  Clark,  who 
changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to  that  of  Owosso  Argm 
and  Shiawassee  Democrat.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1849,  he  removed  the  paper  to  Corunna,  and  continued  to 
publish  it  there  as  the  Shiawassee  Democrat,  until  1856, 
when  he  removed  to  Omaha,  Neb. 

The  Owosso  American  was  commenced  in  the  summer  of 
1854  by  C.  C.  &  O.  R.  Goodell,  the  oflSce  of  publication 
being  in  the  south  part  of  the  National  Hotel  at  Owosso. 
In  the  following  year  the  paper  was  sold  to  Charles  E.  Shat- 
tuok,  who  remained  its  proprietor  until  the  winter  of  1856- 
57,  when  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  Ephraim  H. 
Gould,  from  whom  in  1858  it  was  purchased  by  John  N. 
IngersoU,  who  changed  its  name  to  that  of  Owosso  Amer- 
ican and  Peninsular  State  Times,  and  continued  its  pub- 
lication under  that  title  at  Owosso  till  May,  1862,  when 
Mr.  IngersoU  removed  it  to  Corunna,  and  having  merged 
in  it  the  Corunna  Democrat,  which  he  had  purchased  a 
short  time  before,  changed  its  name  to  that  of  the  Shia- 
wassee American,  under  which  name  it  is  still  published. 
After  its  removal  to  Corunna  it  was  increased  in  size  from 
a  seven-column  to  a  nine-column  folio.  Mr.  IngersoU  con- 
tinued to  be  its  sole  proprietor  until  May  26,  1880,  when 
Mr.  George  W.  Owen,  the  publisher  of  the  Shiawassee 
Republican,  merged  his  paper  in  the  American,  and  became 
a  partner  with  Mr.  IngersoU  in  the  publication  of  the  latter. 
The  American  is  Republican  in  its  politics. 

The  Owosso  Press  (a  six-column  folio)  was  commenced 
in  1862  by  Hanchett  &  Lyon,  its  first  number  being  issued 
on  the  20th  of  September  of  that  year.  It  was  purchased 
on  the  9th  of  September,  1863,  by  Green  &  Lee,  who  in- 
creased its  size  to  an  eight-column  folio,  and  published  it 
until  Jan.  1,  1867,  when  it  was  purchased  by  J.  H.  Cham- 
pion &  Co.,  who  are  still  its  proprietors  and  publishers. 
The  paper  is  Democratic  in  politics.  Since  January,  1871, 
its  office  of  publication  has  been  in  a  brick  block  owned 


THE   PROFESSIONS. 


131 


by  Champion  &  Co.,  and  situated  on  Washington  Street, 
Owosso. 

The  Owosso  Crusader,  an  eight-column  folio,  was  started 
by  Abner  B.  Wood  at  Owosso  in  1870.  It  was  published 
by  Mr.  Wood  till  1873,  when  it  was  sold  to  Charles  L. 
Fuller,  who  in  1875  removed  it  to  Gaylord,  Otsego  Co., 
Mich.,  where  it  is  still  in  existence  as  the  Otsego  County 
Herald. 

The  New  Era  was  established  at  Owosso,  May  5,  1873, 
by  a  company  consisting  of  A.  B.  Wood,  J.  Stedman,  and 
A.  M.  Bannister.  The  paper  was  for  a  time  the  organ  of 
the  State  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  reached  a 
circulation  of  nearly  three  thousand.  In  1875,  A.  B.  Wood 
became  sole  proprietor,  and  two  years  later  removed  it  to 
the  county-seat,  where  in  June,  1877,  its  name  was  changed 
to  that  of  Shiawassee  County  Atlas,  as  it  is  at  present.  It 
is  a  five-column  quarto,  "  National"  in  politics,  edited  by 
Abner  B.  Wood,  and  published  by  the  "  Atlas  Publishing 
Company." 

The  Shiawassee  Republican  was  started  at  Owosso,  Feb. 
21,  1878,  under  the  fanciful  name  of  Odd  Change,  by 
Perkins  &  Gregory.  Some  changes  of  proprietorship  suc- 
ceeded, and  in  April,  1879,  the  paper  was  purchased  by 
George  W.  Owen,  was  enlarged,  and  its  name  changed  to 
the  one  first  mentioned.  On  the  26th  of  May,  1880,  it 
was  consolidated  with  the  Shiawassee  American,  under  the 
name  of  the  latter. 

At  Corunna  the  first  newpaper  was  the  Shiawassee 
Democrat,  which  was  started  in  the  fall  of  1841  by  Wil- 
liam B.  Sherwood,  and  was  continued  by  him  until  the 
spring  of  1843,  when  the  paper  was  discontinued,  and  the 
press  and  material  were  removed  to  Flint,  Genesee  Co.,  and 
there  used  by  Mr.  Sherwood  in  the  publication  of  the 
Genesee  County  Democrat.* 

The  Corunna  Democrat  was  a  later  paper  published  at 
the  county-seat,  but  the  date  of  its  first  issue  cannot  be 
given.  It  was  purchased  by  John  N.  IngersoU,  and  merged 
with  the  Shiawassee  American,  as  before  mentioned. 

The  Corunna  Weekly  Courier  was  established  Oct.  1, 
1859,  by  William  B.  Pulis,  editor  and  proprietor.  It  was 
not  long-lived. 

The  Corumia  Journal  was  first  issued  by  0.  A.  Gould 
&  Co.,  in  February,  1860.  It  expired  Aug.  29,  1861, 
under  the  proprietorship  of  Jones  &  Ford.  The  other 
papers  which  have  existed  at  Corunna  are  those  which 
are  now  published  there,  the  American  and  the  Atlas, 
and  both  these,  having  been  commenced  at  Owosso,  have 
already  been  noticed  with  the  papers  of  that  city. 

In  the  towns  along  the  western  borders  of  the  county  the 
first  newspaper  published  was  the  Laingsburg  Recorder, 
started  by  E.  L.  W.  Baker,  in  August,  1870.  It  continued 
for  about  one  year,  and  then  ceased  to  exist. 

The  Laingsburg  Herald  was  commenced  soon  after  the 
paper  last  mentioned.     Its  editor  and  proprietor  was  Mr. 

*  About  five  years  later,  the  name  was  revived  by  M.  H.  Clark,  and 
was  by  him  added  to  the  title  of  his  paper,  the  Owoeto  Argua.  After- 
wards Mr.  Clark  (as  before  mentioned)  removed  his  paperto  Corunna, 
dropped  the  first  part  of  its  name,  and  published  it  as  the  Shiawassee 
American  till  1856. 


Judevine,  who  sold  to  Charles  Wilcox.  At  the  end  of 
about  two  years  from  its  commencement  the  paper  was 
discontinued. 

The  Laingsburg  News  was  first  issued  on  the  2d  of  No- 
vember, 1877,  by  J.  C.  Stone,  by  whom  it  is  still  published. 

The  Laingsburg  Leader,  a  seven-column  folio,  was  es- 
tablished at  Laingsburg  village,  in  June,  1880,  by  W.  C. 
Walters,  who  has  continued  as  its  proprietor  to  the  present 
time. 

The  Vernon  Herald,  a  seven-column  folio,  was  first  is- 
sued at  Vernon  village.  May  7,  1878,  by  a  stock  company, 
with  A.  L.  Chandler  as  editor  and  manager.  It  is  now 
owned  and  published  by  Lucius  E.  Gould. 

The  Bancroft  Bulletin,  a  six-column  paper,  published  at 
Bancroft  village,  and  the  Morrice  Times,  published  in  Perry 
township,  are  both  edited  by  William  Secord.  The  former 
was  first  issued  in  August,  1879,  and  the  latter  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year. 

THE   LEGAL  PKOFESSION. 
EARLY  LAWYERS  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

The  first  attorney  who  practiced  his  profession  in  Shia- 
wassee County  was  Sanford  M.  Green,  who  came  from  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  at  Owosso  in  1837,  being 
connected  with  the  water-power  and  improvement  company, 
of  which  Daniel  Ball  was  the  head.  He  had  previously 
been  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
York,  and  was  admitted  in  this  county  soon  after  his  arrival. 
In  1841  he  became  associated  in  business  at  Owosso  with  Mr. 
Smith,  a  lawyer  who  had  come  here  from  Ann  Arbor,  and 
who  returned  to  that  place  not  long  afterwards.  Mr.  Green 
was  appointed  prosecuting  attorney  of  Shiawassee  County 
in  1837,  and  held  the  office  till  1842,  when  he  was  elected 
to  the  State  Senate.  In  1843  he  removed  to  Pontiac,  and 
did  not  again  return  to  this  county  as  a  place  of  residence. 
He  was  afterwards  twice  re-elected  to  the  Senate.  In  1844 
he  was  appointed  commissioner  to  revise  the  statutes  of 
Michigan,  and  reported  to  the  Legislature  of  1846.  He 
served  on  the  Supreme  Bench  of  Michigan  from  1848  to 
1857  ;  as  circuit  judge  from  Jan.  1,  1858,  to  April,  1867  ; 
and  again  from  June,  1872,  to  the  present  time.  He  is 
now  judge  of  the  Eighteenth  Judicial  Circuit,  residing  at 
Bay  City.  He  is  the  author  of  "  Green's  Practice,"  which 
is  in  general  use  by  the  profession  in  the  State. 

Andrew  Parsons,  a  native  of  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
afterwards  a  resident  of  Mexico,  Oswego  Co.,  in  that  State, 
emigrated  from  the  latter  place  to  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  in 
1835,  and  removed  in  the  following  year  to  Shiawassee.  He 
was  active  in  his  efforts  to  procure  the  establishment  of  the 
county-site  at  Corunna,  and  after  it  was  so  established,  and 
the  business  of  the  county  was  removed  to  that  place,  he,  with 
his  brother  Luke  H.  Parsons  (who  had  previously  resided 
in  Washtenaw  County),  located  in  Corunna  and  commenced 
business  under  the  firm-name  of  "  L.  H.  &  A.  Parsons, 
Attorneys-at-Law."  From  that  time  Andrew  Parsons  con- 
tinued to  be  a  resident  of  Corunna  until  his  death.  He 
was  the  first  clerk  of  Shiawassee  County,  was  subsequently 
register  of  deeds  for  eight  years,  and  also  held  the  office  of 
prosecuting  attorney.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate 
in  1846,  was  regent  of  the  University  in  1852-54,  and  was 


132 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


elected  Lieutenant-Governor  in  1852.  On  tlie  resignation  of 
Governor  Robert  McClelland,  to  accept  a  place  in  the  cabinet 
of  President  Pierce  in  1852,  Mr.  Parsons  became  Governor, 
was  inaugurated  March  8, 1853,  and  served  during  the  re- 
mainder of  Governor  McClelland's  term.  In  November, 
1854,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, and  having  served  during  the  winter  session  of  1855, 
returned  to  Corunna,  and  died  there  in  June  of  the  same 
year.  Mr.  Parsons  showed  himself  to  be  a  man  of  decided 
ability  in  the  office  of  acting-Governor,  as  well  as  in  the 
numerous  other  positions  which  he  filled ;  but  he  was  not 
regarded  as  among  the  most  conspicuous  members  of  the 
bar  of  the  county. 

Luke  H.  Parsons,  brother  of  Andrew  Parsons,  and  also 
a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  emigrated  to  Ann  Ar- 
bor, Mich.,  in  or  about  1835,  and  was  there  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  removed  to  Corunna,  Shiawassee  Co.,  about  1839, 
and  entered  on  the  practice  of  the  law  in  that  village  with 
his  brother  Andrew,  as  above  mentioned.  He  was  elected 
register  of  deeds  in  November,  1846,  judge  of  probate 
in  1848,  prosecuting  attorney  in  1852,  and  regent  of  the 
University  in  1857.  He  continued  in  practice  at  Corunna, 
and  was  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  county  until  his 
death  at  that  place  in  1862. 

Amos  Gould,  a  native  of  Aurelius,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
a  law-student  with  the  Hon.  William  H.  Seward  and  Theo- 
dore Spencer,  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  practiced  law  in  that  place 
until  1843,  when  he  removed  to  Michigan,  and  located  at 
Owosso  in  the  following  year.  He  purchased  the  mill  prop- 
erty of  Daniel  Ball,  and  carried  on  the  business  until  the 
property  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1848.  Meanwhile  (in 
1845)  he  had  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Owosso, 
and  he  continued  it  most  successfully  for  twenty  years ;  re- 
tiring from  its  active  prosecution  in  1865,  to  attend  to  his 
extensive  property  interests.  He  was  elected  judge  of  pro- 
bate in  1844,  and  held  the  office  during  the  full  term  ;  he 
was  supervisor  of  Owosso  continuously  from  1845  to  1850  ; 
was  prosecuting  attorney  of  Shiawassee  County  for  two 
years,  and  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1852.  Judge 
Gould  occupies  a  high  place  among  the  early  lawyers  of 
the  county,  and  has  been  distinguished  and  successful 
through  all  the  years  of  his  practice. 

William  F.  Mosely  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Ohio, 
and  in  1825  emigrated  from  that  State  to  Oakland  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  practiced  his  profession,  and  filled  the 
offices  of  prosecuting  attorney  and  probate  judge.  From 
Pontiac  he  removed  to  Fentonville,  and  in  1840  became 
prosecuting  attorney  of  Genesee  County.  About  1842  he 
came  to  Shiawassee  County,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  doing 
something,  however,  as  a  lawyer.  Subsequently  he  located 
in  the  village  of  Newburg,  and  gave  his  attention  to  the 
business  of  his  profession.  He  was  a  master  in  chancery, 
and  several  times  filled  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  of 
Shiawassee  County,  both  by  appointment  and  election.  He 
enjoyed  quite  an  extensive  practice  in  this  county.  He  was 
a  man  of  good  ability,  witty  and  quick  at  repartee,  but  not 
remarkably  strong  in  argument,  and  somewhat  lacking  in 
confidence.     He  died  in  1860. 

David  Bush,  Jr.,  settled  at  Shiawasseetown  as  a  mer- 
chant prior  to  1840.     He  afterwards  studied  law,  and  was 


admitted  to  the  bar,  but  never  took  high  rank  as  a  lawyer. 
He  was  elected  county  commissioner  in  1840,  and  hold 
some  towniship  offices,  among  which  were  those  of  justice 
of  the  peace  and  supervisor. 

George  0.  Bachman  practiced  law  in  Corunna  for  a  few 
years,  but  afterwards  became  an  Episcopalian  clergyman, 
and  having  filled  the  sacred  office  at  Adrian  and  other 
places  returned  to  Corunna,  and  was  rector  of  the  church 
of  his  denomination  there  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

John  P.  Richardson  (a  brother  of  Lieutenant-Governor 
0.  D.  Richardson,  of  Pontiac)  came  to  Corunna  as  a  law- 
yer about  1850.  He  was  a  good  counselor,  well  read  in 
the  law,  but  lacked  confidence  in  his  own  powers,  though 
he  enjoyed  a  fair  amount  of  business,  and  performed  it  to 
the  satisfaction  of  his  clients.  After  a  residence  of  a  few 
years  here  he  removed  to  Omaha,  Neb. 

Ebenezer  Gould,  a  brother  of  Judge  Amos  Gould,  settled 
in  Owosso  in  1837,  and  soon  afterwards  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, milling,  and  other  pursuits.  He  commenced 
reading  law  in  1846,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851, 
when  he  became  associated  in  business  with  his  brother, 
Hon.  Amos  Gould.  He  continued  in  active  practice  in 
Owosso  until  1875,  with  the  exception  of  his  term  of  ser- 
vice in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  in  which  he  served  hon- 
orably with  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry  Regiment,  and 
became  its  colonel.  In  1866  he  was  elected  prosecuting 
attorney  of  the  county.  He  died  at  Owosso,  Sept.  7,  1877. 
"  As  a  lawyer  he  was  dignified,  deliberate,  and  painstaking, 
acting  with  the  greatest  fidelity  to  his  clients,  and  to  every 
interest  in  his  charge.  In  social  life  he  was  a  kind,  sym- 
pathizing neighbor,  and  a  genial  friend."  Although  he 
had  but  a  common  education,  he  had  a  strong  legal  mind, 
and  became  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  bar  of  the 
county. 

S.  Titus  Parsons,  a  brother  of  Andrew  and  Luke  H. 
Parsons,  studied  law  in  their  office  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Shiawassee  County  bar  in  May,  1854  (having  previously 
been  admitted  in  Mexico,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.).  He  located 
in  Corunna,  and  remained  in  practice  there  for  more  than 
twenty  years.  He  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  in  1856, 
re-elected  in  1858,  and  again  elected  in  1872.  He  was  a 
representative  in  the  Legislature  for  the  terms  of  1863-64 
and  1867-68,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1867.  In  1877  he  removed  to  De- 
troit, where  he  is  still  in  practice. 

Hugh  McCurdy,  who  had  reached  a  prominent  position 
among  the  members  of  the  Oakland  County  bar  prior  to  1855, 
removed  in  that  year  to  Corunna,  where  he  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  appointed 
prosecuting  attorney  in  the  first  year  of  his  residence  in 
Corunna;  was  elected  judge  of  probate  in  1860,  State 
senator  in  1864,  and  has  since  that  time  again  filled  the 
office  of  prosecuting  attorney.  He  has  ;  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Corunna  until  the  present  time, 
and  is  now  the  leading  member  of  the  bar  of  Shiawassee 
County. 

Spencer  B.  Raynale,  a  son  of  the  veteran  physician.  Dr. 
Ebenezer  Raynale,  of  Birmingham,  Oakland  Co.,  entered 
the  law-office  of  Hugh  McCurdy  as  a  student,  and,  on  his 
admission  to  the  bar,  became  associated  with  Mr.  McCurdy 


THE   PROFESSIONS. 


133 


in  business.  He  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  in  No- 
vember, 1860.  In  1865  he  became  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Corunna,  and  continued  in  that  position 
until  Jan.  1,  1871,  when  he  resigned,  to  take  the  office  of 
prosecuting  attorney,  to  which  he  had  been  elected  in  the 
previous  November.  From  that  time  he  continued  to  prac- 
tice at  the  Shiawassee  County  bar  until  prostrated  by  the 
sickness  which  ended  in  his  death,  Sept.  26,  1874. 

J.  T.  Miller  was  admitted  to  the  bar  oi»  Shiawassee 
County  in  October,  1856,  but  never  practiced  extensively. 
He  afterwards  removed  to  Detroit. 

0.  T.  B.  Williams  was  admitted  in  1852.  He  filled 
some  public  offices,  but  is  not  to  be  mentioned  or  regarded 
as  among  the  prominent  members  of  the  bar  of  Shiawassee. 
The  foregoing  mention  of  early  lawyers  is  intended  to 
include  those  who  commenced  practice  in  this  county  dur- 
ing the  first  twenty  years  of  its  organization.  Most  of 
those  of  later  date  will  be  found  named  in  the  following 
list,  which  is  taken  from  the  attorneys'  roll  of  the  county. 
The  roll,  however  (and  consequently  this  list),  is  known  to 
be  incomplete. 

Amos  Gould,  admitted  Nov.  9,  1843. 
R.  D.  Johnston,  admitted  May  20,  1857. 
Jay  L.  Quackenbush,  admitted  May  20,  1857. 

George  K.  Newcombe,  admitted  April  13,  1858. 

Gilbert  R.  Lyon,  admitted  April  13,  1858. 

Ebenezer  Gould,  admitted  Sept.  12,  1851. 

S.  Titus  Parsons,  admitted  May,  1854.' 

0.  T.  B.  Williams,  admitted  December,  1852. 

J.  T.  Miller,  admitted  Oct.  2,  1856. 

H.  M.  Newcombe,  admitted  Aug.  25,  1858. 

James  Heath,  admitted  Feb.  8, 1859. 

Albert  S.  Wheadon,  admitted  Feb.  7,  1860. 

Amos  M.  Kellogg,  admitted  Feb.  11,  1860. 

Edward  R.  Davis,  admitted  May  1,  1860. 

John  Carland,  admitted  Feb.  5,  1861. 

Curtis  J.  Gale,  admitted  Feb.  5,  1861. 

Frank  Allen,  admitted  Feb.  8,  1861. 

David  A.  Elliot,  admitted  Feb.  4,  1862. 

Benjamin  F.  Bush,  admitted  Aug.  7,  1862. 

James  M.  Goodell,  admitted  Sept.  8,  1863. 

Alphonso  J.  Southard,  admitted  April  5,  1865. 

Hiram  L.  Chipman,  admitted  Oct.  4,  1865. 

G.  H.  Weeden,  admitted  April  19,  1867. 

A.  Judson  Loomis,  admitted  Aug.  5, 1868. 

H.  H.  Pulver,  admitted  Feb.  5,  1869. 

Lucius  E.  Gould,  admitted  May  4,  1871. 

J.  E.  Graham,  admitted  Sept.  12,  1871. 

Theron  B.  Pray,  admitted  Feb.  6,  1872. 

H.  C.  Hoyt,  admitted  May  8,  1872. 

Wm.  E.  Cummin,  admitted  Sept.  10,  1872. 

Alex.  McKercher,  admitted  Sept.  10,  1872. 

Almon  C.  Brown,  admitted  Sept.  10,  1873. 

Peter  N.  Cook,  admitted  May  6,  1874. 

Friend  Davis,  admitted  Feb.  9,  1875. 

Samuel  W.  Baker,  admitted  Feb.  1,  1876. 

Joseph  B.  Wilkins,  admitted  Feb.  3,  1876. 

William  M.  Kilpatrick,  admitted  May,  1807. 

John  D.  Bennett,  admitted  Dec.  14,  1869. 

James  M.  Pulver,  admitted  May  5,  1870. 


Selden  S.  Miner,  admitted  Jan.  17,  1878. 
T.  P.  Hackleman,  admitted  May  7,  1878. 
Stearns  F.  Smith,  admitted  May  10,  1878. 
Charles  C.  Houpt,  admitted  April  16,  1877. 
Glen  D.  Young,  admitted  Jan.  3,  1880. 
Frank  A.  Rogers,  admitted  May  11, 1880. 
Following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  Shiawassee 
County  bar  at  the  present  time — 1880  : 


CORUNNA. 

Hugh  McCurdy. 
James  M.  Goodell. 
Curtis  J.  Gale. 
J.  D.  Bennett. 
Wm.  E.  Cummin. 
Almon  C.  Brown. 
Peter  N.  Cook. 
Albert  R.  McBride. 
Levi  J.  Hamilton. 
Wm.  A.  Fraser. 
Glen  D.  Young. 

VERNON. 

Alex.  McKercher. 
Mathew  Bush. 

BYRON. 

James  Sleeth. 


OWOSSO. 

Amos  Gould. 
Gilbert  R.  Lyon. 
Wm.  M.  Kilpatrick. 
Jerome  W.  Turner. 
Lucius  E.  Gould. 
E.  R.  Hutchins. 
Stearns  F.  Smith. 

LAINGSBURG. 

.  J.  M.  Pulver. 
J.  B.  Wilkins. 
H.  H.  Pulver. 

MIDDLEBURY. 

Samuel  W.  Baker. 

BANCROFT. 
M.  V.  B.  Wixom. 


THE   MEDICAL  PKOEESSION   IN   SHIAWASSEE 
COUNTY. 

EARLY   PHYSICIANS. 

The  earliest  settlers  of  Shiawassee  County  who  needed 
medical  attendance  before  any  physician  had  settled  in  the 
county  were  dependent  upon  Dr.  Cyrus  Baldwin,  of  Grand 
Blano,  and  Dr.  Samuel  W.  Pattison,  of  Dibbleville  (now 
Fentonville).  The  former  came  from  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  the  spring  of  1833,  and  located  at  Grand  Blanc,  and 
soon  obtained  an  extensive  practice  over  a  wide  range  of 
country,  and  four  years  later  removed  to  Atlas,  in  the  same 
county,  where  he  practiced  for  a  number  of  years.  One  of 
his  eariiest  visits  (if  not  the  first)  to  Shiawassee  County 
was  in  the  spring  of  1836,  when  he  was  called  to  Owosso 
to  attend  the  sickness  of  David  Wormer. 

Dr.  S.  W.  Pattison  came  to  this  State  on  an  exploring 
expedition  in  the  summer  of  1835,  and  traveled  through 
parts  of  Shiawassee,  Clinton,  Ionia,  and  Barry  Counties, 
and  finally  settled  at  Fentonville,  Genesee  Co.,  that  place 
being  a  central  point  where  several  Indian  trails  came, 
too-ether.  From  this  point  his  ride  extended  in  all  direc- 
tions, often  following  Indian  trails  or  guided  through  tim- 
bered openings  by  blazed  trees.  He  relates  two  instances 
of  visits  that  extended  into  Shiawassee  County,  which  are 
here  quoted :  "  Quite  late  in  the  afternoon  a  message  came 
for  me  to  go  to  Esq.  Crawford's,  in  Byron,  Shiawassee  Co., 
sixteen  miles  ofi^,  and  that  I  would  have  to  leave  my  horse 
two  and  a  half  miles  short  of  Mr.  Crawford's,  as*  there 
was  no  bridge  across  the  Shiawassee.  I  used  all  dili- 
gence, leaving  my  horse  in  good  hands  at  the  river,  and 
crossed  on  trees  fallen  in  and  across  the  stream.  It  was 
in  November,  1836,  and  my  path  was  an  Indian  trail  lead- 


134 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


ing  through  oak-openings  and  through  what  is  now  Byron 
village,  but  at  this  time  not  a  house,  only  one,  a  Mr.  Jen- 
nings', between  the  crossing  and  Mr.  Crawford's.  It  soon 
began  to  snow,  and  darkness  almost  like  Egypt  hid  every 
object,  my  only  guide  being  the  Indian  trail,  and  the  snow 
soon  covering  that,  so  that  I  had  to  find  it  by  kicking 
away  the  snow,  and  to  add  to  my  perplexity  there  were  two 
trails  from  the  river,  meeting  in  perhaps  half  or  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile,  and  when  I  came  to  the  junction  I  was 
bewildered  and  took  the  upper  trail  back  to  the  river.  I 
now  had  to  retrace  my  weary  steps,  and  finally  reached  Mr. 
Jennings',  expecting  he  would  guide  me,  but  he  was  on  the 
bed  sick,  and  his  wife  with  the  sick  family  half  a  mile 
farther ;  I  undertook  it,  and  soon  found  myself  back,  and 
Mr.  Jennings,  sick  as  he  was,  guided  me  till  I  could  see 
the  light  of  Mr.  Crawford's  house,  where  I  was  joyfully 
received,  as  I  was  needed.  Had  I  lost  the  trail  so  well 
worn  by  Indian  feet  I  had  no  guide  many  miles  north, — not 
a  house, — and  I  should  probably  have  wandered  in  vain 
for  a  shelter. 

"  In  the  month  of  October*  I  received  a  message  from 
Judge  A.  L.  Williams,  of  Owosso,  to  make  him  a  profes- 
sional visit, — distance  thirty  miles,  and  twenty-five  miles 
from  Flint,  where  the  board  [supervisors  of  Genesee 
County]  were  to  meet  next  day,  at  nine  o'clock  A.M.  The 
twenty-five  miles  was  through  an  unbroken  wilderness, 
much  of  the  distance  heavy  timber,  and  the  traveler  was 
guided  only  by  blazed  trees.  I  fouod  Mr.  Williams  very 
sick  with  malarial  fever,  and  assuming  a  somewhat  typhoid 
type,  and  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  remain  with  him  until  two 
o'clock  the  next  day,  when  I  left,  with  that  noble  man  John 
Swain  for  a  guide,  well  supplied  with  fireworks  and  blank- 
ets in  case  we  had  to  lie  out  overnight,  as  the  nights  had 
become  cold  and  frosty." 

Soon  after  this  Dr.  Pattison  removed  from  Fentonville  to 
Owosso.  Of  the  reasons  which  induced  him  to  make  this 
change  he  says,  "  The  original  plan  of  the  Northern  Eail- 
road  from  Port  Huron  through  Flint,  Owosso,  etc.,  to  the 
mouth  of  Grand  River  left  Fentonville  without  a  thorough- 
fare. This,  with  the  unsettled  state  of  society,  and  its 
being  the  outside  of  the  county,  led  me  to  make  the  change, 
which,  however,  I  did  with  great  reluctance,  having  formed 
a  wide  acquaintance  north,  south,  east,  and  west,  through 
good  roads  for  a  new  country.  Again,  in  Owosso  were 
several  prominent  businessmen, — A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams, 
that  prince  of  pioneers,  Dan  Ball,  who  afterwards  went  to 
Grand  Rapids,  Judge  Elias  Comstock,  Sanford  M.  Green, 
A.  B.  Chipman,  John  Swain,  Mr.  Martin,  the  Goulds,  Par- 
kills,  etc.,  men  of  whom  any  community  might  justly  be 
proud.  Also  near  by  and  in  full  sympathy  at  that  time 
with  Owosso  were  the  brothers  Andrew  and  Luke  Parsons, 
promising  young  lawyers,  the  first  of  whom  afterwards  was 
elected  Lieutenant-Governor.  All  seemed  anxious  that  I 
should  become  a  citizen  among  them,  and  made  me  quite  a 
pecuniary  consideration,  not  only  in  an  eligible  building  site, 
but  assisting  in  building  a  fair  dwelling  for  that  day.  And 
so  the  change  was  made,  leaving  the  place  where  I  had 
buried  my  beloved  mother  and  my  invalid  daughter,  so  that 


*  The  visit  here  mentioned  was  made  in  the  year  1838. 


to  this  day  I  have  an  abiding  sympathy  not  only  for  the 
place,  but  for  the  people  who  so  kindly  treated  us  in  our 
aflSiction.  Both  of  these  places  have  become  flourishing 
and  prosperous  villages,  and  have  railroads  leading  through 
them  ;  both  have  suffered  depressions.  Owosso  failed  to  get 
the  county-seat,  and  the  Port  Huron  road  was  abandoned 
for  years.  To  make  the  matter  worse,  that  financier,  Dan- 
iel Ball,  became  discouraged,  and  removed  with  his  capital 
to  Grand  R«(|)ids  ;  Judge  Sanford  M.  Green  went  to  Pon- 
tiac,  and  several  others  followed  his  example.;  and  Owosso, 
with  its  beautiful  location,  splendid  water-power,  and  enter- 
prising citizens,  was  shut  in  on  every  side  but  one  by  heavy- 
timbered  lands  and  bad  roads,  making  it  absolutely  neces- 
sary for  a  physician  to  ride  on  horseback,  which  I  had  done 
for  several  years,  making  long  and  painful  rides,  until  it 
brought  on  a  difiSculty  which  unfitted  me  for  doing  business 
that  way.  I  must  either  abandon  my  life's  work  or  go 
where  I  could  ride  in  a  carriage.  I  did  the  latter,  and  came 
to  Ypsilanti  in  the  spring  of  1845." 

The  quotations  given  above  are  from  an  article  furnished 
to  the  Washtenaw  Pioneer  Society  in  1878  by  Dr.  S. 
W.  Pattison,  who  still  resides  in  Ypsilanti  in  his  eighty- 
fifth  year.  He  lived,  when  in  Owosso,  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Washington  and  Mason  Streets,  and  his  office  was 
in  a  part  of  the  house.  He  was  a  careful,  thoughtful 
practitioner,  and  met  with  a  fair  share  of  success. 

The  first  physician  to  reside  in  the  county  was  Dr.  Jo- 
seph P.  Roberts,  who  came  from  New  York  (where  he  had 
practiced  several  years)  to  the  township  now  known  as 
Perry,  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  settled  near  the  present  depot 
of  the  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron  Railroad.  He  located  land, 
built  a  log  house,  and  was  called  to  attend  a  patient  the 
first  night  of  its  occupancy  by  Deacon  Austin,  who  is  still 
living.  Dr.  Roberts  died  in  the  winter  of  1844-45.  His 
time  was  not  wholly  given  to  his  profession,  but  he  only 
practiced  in  cases  of  emergency  near  home,  devoting  his 
time  principally  to  farming. 

In  1837,  Dr.  Washington  Z.  Blanchard  was  at  Shiawas- 
seetown  and  kept  the  hotel  at  that  place.  Concerning  him 
as  a  physician  but  little  has  been  ascertained.  He  did  not 
remain  long,  and  is  said  to  have  removed  to  Lyons,  Ionia 
Co.,  Mich. 

Dr.  Peter  Laing  was  a  physician  prior  to  his  emigration 
to  this  State.  He  located  the  land  on  which  Laingsburg 
stands,  and  built  there  a  hotel  late  in  1836.  He  did  not 
practice  after  coming  to  this  county  except  in  cases  of 
emergency. 

Dr.  Abner  Sears  came  to  Byron  about  1838,  and  remained 
a  few  years. 

Dr.  C.  P.  Parkin,  a  native  of  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  emi- 
grated to  Michigan  when  nineteen  years  old,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1841  came  to  Owosso.  He  was  a  printer  by  trade, 
and  worked  for  one  year  on  the  Owosso  Argus,  then  pub- 
lished by  E.  L.  Ament,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  Exchange  Streets.  He  was  employed  as  a 
teacher  in  Shiawassee  and  surrounding  towns  for  a  short 
time,  and  in  the  spring  of  1843  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  S.  W.  Pattison,  in  Owosso.  He  re- 
mained with  Dr.  Pattison  until  the  removal  of  the  latter 
from  the  town,  when  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Barnes, 


CIVIL  LIST. 


135 


completed  his  studies  in  two  years,  and  graduated  at  Wil- 
loughby  Medical  College,  in  Ohio,  in  1846.  He  returned 
to  the  county  and  practiced  in  Bennington  twenty  years. 
In  1868  he  removed  to  Owosso,  gave  up  practice,  and  opened 
a  drug-store,  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  business.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1857. 

Dr. Pierce  left  the  city  of  Philadelphia  and  emi- 
grated to  Michigan  in  1842.  He  located  at  Corunna, 
where  he  was  the  first  physician.  He  was  very  learned 
and  methodical,  but  not  a  successful  practitioner,  and  after 
about  five  years  returned  to  Philadelphia,  weary  of  the 
toil  attendant  upon  country  practice. 

Dr.  William  Weir  was  an  early  resident  of  Shiawassee- 
town,  and  was,  from  1840  to  1850,  the  leading  physioan 
in  the  county.  He  was  not  a  graduate  of  any  college,  but 
was  a  close  student  and  had  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
medicine  as  known  in  those  days.  He  removed  to  Albion 
later,  and  while  on  his  way  to  this  county  on  a  visit,  died 
at  a  hotel  on  the  route. 

Dr.  Nicholas  P.  Harder  was  a  physician  who'  located  at 
Newburg,  and  lived  at  that  place  following  his  profession. 
He  practiced  a  few  years  at  Corunna  and  returned  to  New- 
burg, where  he  remained  until  his  death.  He  was  elected 
county  treasurer  and  supervisor  of  his  township. 

Dr.  John  B.  Barnes,  a  native  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  graduated 
at  Williamstown  College,  in  that  State,  and  practiced  at  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.  In  1842  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  com- 
menced practice  at  Owosso,  where  he  still  lives.  He  was 
foremost  in  this  section ,  in  the  anti-slavery  struggle,  a 
director  of  the  "  underground  railroad,"  and  intimately 
acquainted  with  Garrison,  Phillips,  and  others  of  the  anti- 
slavery  leaders  of  that  day. 

Dr.  E.  M.  Bacon,  a  former  resident  of  Albion,  N.  Y., 
and  a  graduate  of  Geneva  Medical  College,  emigrated  to 
Michigan  and  located  in  Corunna  in  1846.  Dr.  Bacon 
very  early  acquired  a  large  practice,  and  experienced  all 
the  hardships  of  the  pioneer  physician,  finding  long  rides 
on  horseback  a  necessity  of  the  undeveloped  condition  of 
the  country.  He  removed  temporarily  to  California  in 
search  of  health,  but  returned  and  died  in  Corunna  in 
1869.  His  early  death  was  doubtless  hastened  by  ex- 
cessive application  to  the  requirements  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Freeman  McClintock  and  Dr.  L.  D.  Jones,  from 
Ohio,  came  to  Laingsburg,  in  this  county,  in  the  spring  of 
1846,  and  commenced  practice,  but  returned  to  Ohio  in 
the  autumn  of  that  year.  Dr.  McClintock  again  visited 
Laingsburg  in  1847  and  resumed  practice ;  he  remained 
until  1851,  when  he  removed  to  California,  but  in  1856 
returned.  From  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  He  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  D.  North, 
of  Washtenaw  County,  who  practiced  for  three  years,  and 
returned  to  Ann  Arbor.  His  practice  was  taken  in  1862 
by  Dr.  E.  B.  Ward,  who  is  still  the  leading  physician  of 
the  township. 

"  After  the  railroad  was  completed  through  the  county, 
doctors  swarmed  in  like  the  locusts  of  Egypt."  This  is 
the  remark  of  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  of  the  county, 
and  it  is  the  reason  why  it  is  thought  impracticable  to 
notice  here  in  detail  the  physicians  of  later  date  than  those 
who  have  already  been  mentioned. 


SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION. 
In  December,  1879,  several  physicians  united  in  a  call 
to  the  physicians  of  the  county  to  convene  at  Owosso  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  county  medical  society.  The 
meeting  was  held,  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  same  place 
in  January,  1880,  at  which  time  Dr.  Jabez  Perkins  was 
elected  President ;  Dr.  A.  J.  Bruce,  Vice-President ;  Dr. 
L.  M.  Goodrich,  Secretary ;  and  Dr.  W.  C.  Hume,  Treas- 
urer. Meetings  are  now  held  at  Owosso  every  three  months. 
The  members  of  the  society  at  present  are  Jabez  Perkins, 
C.  McCormick,  and  Charles  A.  Osborne,  of  Owosso ;  A.  G. 
Bruce,  L.  M.  Goodrich,  and  C.  F.  Armstrong,  of  Corunna ; 
W.  C.  Hume,  Bennington  ;  D.  C.  Holley,  Vernon ;  G.  0. 
Austin,  Perry  ;  E.  B.  Ward,  Laingsburg  ;  W.  B.  Fox  and 
Harvey,  Bancroft ;  Tock,  Lothrop. 

HOMCEOPATHY. 

The  first  physicians  of  this  school  who  came  to  this 
county  were  Dr.  John  D.  Kergan  and  Dr.  F.  B.  Smith, 
who  entered  into  partnership  in  Corunna,  about  1868.  In 
1871  the  latter  moved  to  Owosso.  Dr.  Kergan  was  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Victoria  College,  in  Canada,  as  an  allopathist. 
In  1870  he  was  clerk  of  the  State  society,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy.  He  removed 
to  Newburg,  remained  there  about  a  year,  and  in  1878  to 
Detroit,  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 

Alexander  McNeale,  a  native  of  Canada,  came  in  1870 
to  Corunna,  where  he  practiced  about  two  and  a  half  years, 
and  removed  to  New  Albany,  Ind. 

Dr.  B.  F.  Knapp  came  to  Byron  about  1874,  and  is  still 
there.  Dr.  John  Babbington,  a  native  of  Canada,  came  to 
Corunna  in  1876,  studied  with  Dr.  Kergan,  graduated  at 
the  Chicago  Homoeopathic  Medical  College,  and  commenced 
practice  in  Corunna  in  1876.  Dr. Knapp,  now  of  Ban- 
croft, came  to  that  place  in  1877,  and  is  now  in  practice 
there.  Dr.  Alexander  R.  Ball  came  from  Canada  to  Co- 
runna in  1878,  and  commenced  practice.  He  graduated  at 
the  Western  Homoeopathic  College,  Ohio,  in  1862,  and 
practiced  in  Mason  and  Marshall  in  this  State  before  coming 
to  this  county.  Dr.  A.  H.  Annis  is  a  practicing  physician 
in  Hazolton.     He  commenced  practice  about  1878. 

SHIAWASSEE  CIVIL  LIST. 
This  list  embraces  the  names  of  residents  of  Shiawassee 
County  who  have  held  important  civil  ofiSces  in  the  State 
or  national  government,  and  also  of  principal  officers  of  the 
county  since  its  organization. 

LIBUTBNANT-GOVBENOR  OF  MICHIGAN. 
Andrew  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  2, 1852  ;  term  commenced 
January,  1853;    inaugurated  acting-Governor,  March  8, 
1853;  served  to  Jan.  1,  1855. 

STATE   SENATORS. 

Sanford  M.  Green,  elected  November,  1842 ;  re-elected  in 
1844. 

Andrew  Parsons,  elected  in  November,  1845  ;  term  com- 
menced on  Jan.  1,  1846;  re-elected  in  1847. 

Amos  Gould,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

John  N.  Ingersoll,  elected  November,  1860. 

Hugh  McCurdy,  elected  November,  1865. 


136 


HISTOEY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Jerome  W.  Turner,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
James  M.  Goodell,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 
Lorison  J.  Taylor,  elected  November,  1876. 

REPRESENTATIVES  IN  THE  LEGISLATURE. 

Robert  G.  McKee,  elected  November,  1838. 

Lemuel  Castle,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1839 ;  re-elected 
November,  1840. 

Francis  J.  Prevost,  elected  Nov.  7  and  8,  1842. 

Robert  R.  Thompson,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844. 

Mortimer  B.  Martin,  elected  Nov.  2,  1847. 

Herman  C.  Noble,  elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 

Ebenezer  C.  Kimberly,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Nicholas  Gulick,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

Andrew  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

Dr.  Charles  P.  Parkill,  elected  November,  1856. 

Sullivan  R.  Kelsey,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  6,  1860. 

Paul  C.  Sprague,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 

S.  Titus  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 

William  P.  Laing,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Nathan  G.  Phillips,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

S.  Titus  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Charles  Locke,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

John  N.  Ingersoll,  elected  Nov.  3, 1868. 

Edgar  B.  Ward,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

William  D.  Garrison,  elected  Nov.  8,  1870. 

Charles  Y.  Osborne,  elected  Nov.  8,  1870. 

Frederick  G.  Bailey,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  3,  1874. 

Benjamin  Walker,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 

Lorison  J.  Taylor,  elected  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  death 
of  Benjamin  Walker  ;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 

Rasselas  Reed,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876  ;  re-elected  Nov.  5, 
1878. 

Derwin  W.  Sharts,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  5,  1878. 

MEMBERS   OP   CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTIONS. 

Francis  J.  Prevost,  elected  Nov.  6,  1849,  convention  of 
1850,  convened  at  Lansing,  June  3d. 

Josiah  Turner,  S.  Titus  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866, 
convention  of  1867,  convened  at  Lansing,  May  15th.    • 

SUPREME  COURT  JUDGES. 

Sanford  M.  Green,  appointed  in  1848,  served  until 
1857. 

Josiah  Turner,  appointed  by  Governor  Bingham,  May  9, 
1857,  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  S.  M.  Green  ; 
held  till  January,  1858. 

CIRCUIT   COURT  JUDGES. 

Sanford  M.  Green,  elected  April,  1852  ;  term  commenced 
May,  1852. 

Josiah  Turner,  elected  April,  1857;  term  commenced 
May,  1857;  re-elected  three  times  and  still  holds  the  office. 

REGENTS  OF   THE   UNIVERSITY   OF  MICHIGAN. 
Andrew  Parsons,  1852  to  1854. 
Luke  H.  Parsons,  elected  April  16,  1857. 


ASSOCIATE   JUDGES. 
A.  L.  Williams,  elected  November,  1837. 
James  Rutan,  elected  November,  1837. 
Elias  Comstook,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 
Joseph  P.  Roberts,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 
Isaac  Castle,  elected  Nov.  6  and  7,  1844. 
Jonathan  M.  Hartwell,  elected  Nov.  6  and  7,  1844. 
George  W.  Slocum,  elected  Nov.  14,  1848. 
James  Cummin,  elected  Nov.  14,  1848. 

COUNTY   .lUDGB. 

Robert  R.  Thompson,  elected  ■  Nov.  3,  1846 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  5,  1850. 

SECOND   JUDGES. 
Isaac  Gale,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 
Anson  B.  Chipman,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

CIRCUIT   COURT   COMMISSIONERS. 

Ebenezer  Gould,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
7,  1854. 

Samuel  T.  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

George  K.  Newcombe,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858. 

Gilbert  R.  Lyon,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
4,  1862. 

Henry  M.  Newcombe,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

James  M.  Goodell,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Hiram  L.  Chipman,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

R.  Bonner  Wyles,  elected  November,  1870. 

Lucius  E.  Gould,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872  ;  re-elected  Nov. 
10,  1874. 

Curtis  J.  Gale,  elected  Nov.  10,  1874. 

James  G.  Miller,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

Lucius  E.  Gould,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

Seldon  S.  Miner,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

JUDGES   OF   PROBATE. 
Elias  Comstock,  elected  November,  1837. 
Ira  B.  Howard,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 
Amos  Gould,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844. 
Luke  H.  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  14,  1848. 
Robert  R.  Thompson,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 
John  B.  Barnes,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 
Hugh  McCurdy,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 
Sullivan  R.  Kelsey,  elected  Nov.   8,   1864 ;    re-elected 
Nov.  3,  1868  ;  Nov.  5, 1872,  and  Nov.  7,  1876. 

SHERIFFS. 

Levi  Rowe,  elected  May,  1837. 

Elisha  Brewster,  elected  November,  1838 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 

David  Bush,  elected  Nov.  7  and  8,  1842. 

Elisha  Brewster,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  3,  1846. 

Alonzo  Howard,  elected  Nov.  14,  1848 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
5, 1850. 

John  M.  Fitch,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852  ;  re-elected  Nov.  7, 
1854. 

William  P.  Laing,  elected  Nov.  4, 1856 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
2,  1858. 

Jonah  Fuller,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860 ;  re-elected  Nov.  4, 
1862. 


CIVIL  LIST. 


137 


Seymour  Shipman,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 
David  Parker,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866;  re-elected  Nov.  3, 
1868. 

George  A.  Winans,  elected  November,  1870. 
Benjamin  B.  Swain,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 
Andrew  G.  Kelso,  elected  Nov.  10,  1874. 
William  J.  Lewis,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 
Clark  D.  Smith,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY   CLERKS. 

Andrew  Parsons,  elected  May,  1837. 

Ira  B.  Howard,  elected  November,  1838. 

John  K.  Smith,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 

Joseph  Purdy,  elected  Nov.  7  and  8,  1842  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  4  and  5,  1844,  and  Nov.  3,  1846. 

Ebenezer  F.  Wade,  elected  April  7,  1848,  to  fill  vacancy 
caused  by  death  of  Joseph  Purdy  ;  re-elected  Nov.  4, 1848 ; 
Nov.  5,  1850. 

Elias  Comstock,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

Cortes  Pond,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

Elias  Comstock,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
2,  1858. 

George  C.  Holmes,  elected  Nov.  6, 1860  ;  re-elected  Nov. 

4,  1862  ;  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Philip  W.  Coleman,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866.  . 

John  E.  Grahain,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868 ;  re-elected 
November,  1870  ;  Nov.  5,  1872. 

Almon  C.  Brown,  elected  Nov.  10,  1874  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  7,  1876. 

Newton  Baldwin,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY    REGISTERS. 

No  record  of  Register  in  1837  or  1838. 
John  M.  Gilbert,  elected  November,  1838. 
Andrew  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840;  re-elected 
Nov.  7  and  8,  1842,  and  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844. 
Luke  H.  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 
James  E.  Chaffee,  elected  Nov.  14, 1848 ;  re-elected  Nov. 

5,  1850. 

Owen  Corcoran,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852 ;  re-elected  Nov. 

7,  1854. 

George  W.  Goodell,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

Chauncey  S.  Converse,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  6,  1860,  and  Nov.  4,  1862. 

William  Oakes,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Charles  Holman,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866;  re-elected  No- 
vember, 1868;  November,  1870;  November,  1872;  No- 
vember, 1874  ;  November,  1876 ;  and  November,  1878. 

COUNTY   TftEASURERS. 

Josiah  Pierce,  elected  May,  1837  ;  re-elected  November, 

1838. 

Isaac  Castle,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  7  and  8,  1842. 

Alfred  L.  Williams,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844. 

Nicholas  P.  Harder,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 

Archibald  Purdy,  elected  Nov.  14,  1848. 

James  Cummin,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
2,  1852 ;  Nov.  7,  1854. 

Ransom  W.  Holley,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 
18 


Pliny  S.  Lyman,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
6,  1860  ;  Nov.  4,  1862. 

James  Cummin,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  re-elected  Nov. 

6,  1866;  Nov.  3,  1868;  November,  1870. 

Matthias  L.  Stewart,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  10,  1874 ;  Nov.  7,  1876 ;  and  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 
Lemuel  Castle,  Ransom  W.  Holley,  Ephraim  H.  Utley, 
elected  November,  1838. 

Levi  Rowe,  elected  April  29,  1839. 
David  Bush,  Jr.,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1839. 
Peter  Cook,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 
Francis  J.  Prevost,  elected  April  5,  1841. 
Archibald  Purdy,  elected  Nov.  1  and  2,  1841. 

COUNTY   SUPERINTENDENT   OF  SCHOOLS. 
Ezekiel  J.  Cook,  elected  April,  1870  ;  re-elected  April 

7,  1873. 

COUNTY  SURVEYORS. 

No  record  of  Surveyor  in  1837-38. 

Daniel  Gould,  elected  November,  1838. 

Philander  T.  Maine,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 

Nelson  Ferry,  elected  Nov.  7  and  8,  1842;  re-elected 
Nov.  7  and  8,  1842;  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844. 
•    Andrew  Huggins,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846  ;  re-elected  Nov. 
14,  1848;  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Josiah  B.  Parker,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

Andrew  Huggins,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

Monroe  Holley,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

Ezra  L.  Mason,  elected  Nov.  2, 1858  ;  re-elected  Nov.  6, 
1860 ;  Nov.  4,  1862  ;  Nov.  8,  1864,  and  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Horace  C.  Maine,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

Ezra  L.  Mason,  elected  November,  1870. 

Abner  B.  Wood,  Jr.,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  10,  1874. 

Lyman  Mason,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876 ;  re-elected  Nov.  5, 
1878. 

PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS.* 

Sanford  M.  Green,  appointed  1837,  1838,  1839,  1840, 
and  1841. 

J.  C.  Smith,  appointed  1842-43. 

William  F.  Mosely,  appointed  1844. 

Andrew  Parsons,  appointed  1845^6. 

William  F.  Mosely,  appointed  1847-48. 

Amos  Gould,  appointed  1849. 

Richard  B.  Hall,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Luke  H.  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

William  F.  Mosely,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

S.  Titus  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
2,  1858. 

Spencer  B.  Raynole,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 

Benton  Hanchett,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 

James  M.  Goodell,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Ebenezer  Gould,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

James  M.  Goodell,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

Spencer  B.  Raynole,  elected  November,  1870. 

*  Prosecuting  Attorneys  were  appointed  by  the  Governor  until  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1850,  when  the  office  became 
elective. 


138 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


S.  Titus  Parsons,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 
Hugh  McCurdy,  elected  Nov.  10,  1874. 
William  M.  Kilpatrick,  elected  Nov.  7, 1876  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  5,  1878. 

CORONERS. 

David  H.  Tyler,  elected  November,  1838. 

Ephraim  H.  Utley,  elected  November,  1838. 

John  WoodhuU,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  7  and  8,  1842. 

Lyman  Melvin,  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840. 

Henry  Leach,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844. 

George  Harrington,  elected  Nov.  4  and  5,  1844. 

Horace  B.  Flint,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 

Eliphalet  B.  Tooker,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 

Aaron  Swain,  elected  Nov.  14,  1848. 

Henry  Leach,  elected  Nov.  14,  1848. 

George  Harrington,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Levi  Rowe,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Humphrey  Wheeler,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

Joseph  Howe,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

Humphrey  Wheeler,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

Palmer  C.  Card,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

William  H.  Eddy,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

David  Ingersoll,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

Jonah  Fuller,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858. 

Eli  D.  Gregory,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858. 

Enoch  Eddy,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 

James  Garrison,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 

George  L.  Hitchcock,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 

James  Garrison,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 

Garry  Tuttle,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Tolman  Warren,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

S.  M.  Marshall,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
3,  1868. 

Mills  Tuttle,  elected  November,  1866 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
3,  1868. 

H.  M.  Marshall,  elected  November,  1870. 

George  T.  Swimm,  elected  November,  1870. 

Benjamin  F.  Taylor,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  10,  1874. 

Wells  B.  Fox,  elected  Nov.  5,1872;  re-elected  Nov.  10, 
1874. 

John  L.  Miller,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

Ezra  M.  Harvey,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

John  L.  Miller,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 


CHAPTER    XXVL 

COXJirTY  SOCIETIES— AGEIOtriiTUEE— MANTJFAC- 
TUKES— POPTJIiATIOlf. 

Old  Settlers'  Society  of  Shiawassee  County — Shiawassee  County  Fire 
Insurance  Company — Shiawassee  County  Agricultural  Association — 
Agriculture  of  the  County — Manufacturing  Statistics — Population. 

OLD  SETTLEBS'  SOCIETY  OP  SHIAWASSEE 

COUNTY. 
Early  in  February,  1873,  a  call  was  issued  through  the 
county  newspapers  for  the  holding  of  a  meeting  to  form  a 
pioneer  society  in  Shiawassee,  similar  in  its  objects  to  so- 


cieties of  the  kind  existing  in  many  other  counties  of  the 
State.     The  tenor  of  this  call  was  as  follows : 

"  Desiring  to  perpetuate  the  history  of  Shiawassee  County, 
and  the  personal  reminiscences  of  its  early  days,  as  well  as 
to  foster  a  social  feeling  among  the  pioneers,  we  respectfully 
invite  such  of  the  present  residents  of  the  county  as  had 
settled  in  Michigan  previous  to  Jan.  1,  1845,  to  meet  with 
us  at  the  court-house,  in  Corunna,  on  the  22d  inst.,  at 
one  o'clock  p.m.,  to  form  an  old  settlers'  society  for  the 
county. 

"  Isaac  Gale.  Alex.  McArthur. 

S.  R.  Kelsey.  Wm.  Frain. 

J.  H.  Hartwell.  S.  B.  Bugbee. 

F.  P.  Guilford.  Allen  Beard. 

G.  G.  Doan.  James  Cummin. 
John  0.  Henkley.  John  Spaulding. 
S.  Hawkins.  Roger  Haviland." 
Jonah  Fuller. 

Pursuant  to  this  call  a  large  number  of  old  settlers  con- 
vened at  the  court-house  in  Corunna,  and  organized  by 
choice  of  the  Hon.  Isaac  Gale,  of  Bennington,  as  chairman, 
and  John  N.  Ingersoll  as  secretary.  S.  R.  Kelsey,  J.  N. 
Ingersoll,  and  William  Newberry  were  appointed  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which  was  prepared,  presented,  and  adopted, 
naming  the  association  the  "  Old  Settlers'  Society  of  Shia- 
wassee County,"  and  setting  forth  that  "  the  objects  of  the 
society  are  to  cultivate  social  relations,  and  to  collect  and 
preserve  biographical  sketches,  statistics,  and  historical  facts 
and  reminiscences  which  arc  fast  fading  from  memory." 

The  annual  meetings  of  the  society  are  held  at  the  court- 
house in  Corunna.  Picnics  have  been  held  during  the 
summer  months  at  the  following  places  : 

Caruthers'  Grove,  near  North  Newburg,  June  13,  1873; 
Hawkins'  Grove,  Caledonia,  June  20,  1874;  Grove  near 
Pitts  Corners,  Bennington,  June  26,  1875  ;  Hawkins' 
Grove,  Aug.  19,  1876;  Caruthers'  Grove,  Aug.  11,  1877; 
Gates'  Grove,  near  Owosso,  Aug.  17,  1878 ;  Court-House, 
Corunna,  June  14,  1880.  At  these  meetings  addresses 
are  made  by  speakers  from  different  parts  of  the  county, 
essays  are  also  read,  all  bearing  on  the  early  settlement  and 
incidents  connected  with  it. 

The  roll  of  the  society  shows  the  names  of  its  members, 
their  place  of  residence,  and  place  and  date  of  birth,  as 
follows : 
Ebenezer  F.  Wade,  Burns  ;  Massachusetts,  1810 ;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  August,  1843. 
John  N.  Ingersoll,  Corunna  ;  Massachusetts,  1817  ;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  1837. 
John  R.  Barnes,  Owosso;   Massachusetts,  1807;   settled 

in  Michigan  Sept.  7,  1842. 
Samuel  W.  Cooper,  Corunna ;  New  York,  1812  ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  May,  1842. 
James  Renney,  Middlebury ;  New  York,  1800 ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  April,  1845. 
Anson  B.  Chipman,  Owosso ;  Vermont,  1812 ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  January,  1837. 
Jonah  Fuller,  Corunna ;  Massachusetts,  1820 ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  1835. 
Henry  W.  Becker,  Caledonia ;  New  York,  1818 ;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  1836. 


COUNTY  SOCIETIES. 


139 


William  Newberry,  Shiawassee  ;  New  York,  1812  ;  settled 

in  Michigan  July  2,  1836. 
Sullivan  R.  Kelsey,  Byron ;    Vermont,  1805  ;   settled  in 

Michigan  in  December,  1842. 
Isaac   Gale,  Bennington ;    New  York,  1808 ;    settled   in 

Michigan  in  April,  1840. 
John  Innes,  Bennington  ;  Scotland,  1815  ;  settled  in  Mich- 
igan in  August,  1836. 
Roger  Haviland,  Burns;  Ireland,  1812  ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  February,  1840. 
George  W.  Slocum,  Middlebury ;  New  York,  1810  ;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  January,  1838. 
C.  S.  Johnson,  Corunna;  Massachusetts,  1804;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  November,  1838. 
William  G.  Smith,  Woodhull;  New  York,  1804;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  April,  1842. 
A.  H.  Owens,  Venice ;  New  York,  1823 ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  July,  1835. 
J.  S.  Simonson,  Shiawassee ;  New  York,  1820 ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  October,  1845. 
James    Cummin,  Shiawassee;   Ireland,  1814;   settled   in 

Michigan  in  December,  1840. 
N.  G.  Phillips,  Shiawassee  ;  Connecticut,  1825  ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  April,  1838. 
William  Morris,  Perry;  Scotland,  1801 ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  August,  1836. 
Joseph  Parmenter,  Shiawassee  ;  Vermont,  1810  ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  September,  1835. 
H.  J.  Van  Aukin. 
Henry  Wiltsie,  Corunna;    New  York,  1812;    settled   in 

Michigan  in  October,  1838. 
J.  M.  Van  Aukin,  Vernon ;   New  York,  1820 ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  1843. 
S.  B.  Bugbee,  Bennington ;  New  York,  1811  ;   settled  in 

Michigan  in  October,  1837. 
Archibald  Purdy,  Bennington ;  New  York,  1811 ;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  November,  1836. 
George  Rowell,  Bennington  ;  New  York,  1828  ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  March,  1841. 
I.  M.  Chipman,   Owosso;   New  York,  1817;   settled   in 

Michigan  in  1840. 
T.  H.  Lemon,  Shiawassee ;   New  York,  1816  ;   settled  in 

Michigan  in  1843. 
Cortes  Pond,  Corunna;  New  York,  1812  ;  settled  in  Mich- 
igan in  1842. 
H.  S.  Allen,  New  York,  1818 ;  settled  in  Michigan  in  1832. 
Andrew  Huggins,  Corunna;  Massachusetts,  1817;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  1839. 
Benjamin  Hulick,  New  York,  1825 ;  settled  in  Michigan 

in  1845. 
E.  Gould,  Owosso;  New  York,  1818;  settled  in  Michigan 

in  1837. 

John  Spalding,  Perry;  New  York,  1814;  settled  in  Mich- 
igan in  1840. 

J.  R.  Thompson,  Caledonia;  New  York,  1809;  settled  in 
Michigan  in  May,  1833. 

Reuben  Place,  Shiawassee  ;  New  York,  1814 ;  settled  in 
Michigan  in  1835. 

Allen  Beard,  Antrim  ;  New  York,  1810  ;  settled  in  Michi- 
sjan  in  1836. 


C.  C.  Rowell,  Owosso  ;  New  York,  1835  ;  settled  in  Mich- 
igan in  1841. 
J.  M.  Fitch,  Corunna;  1832. 

E.  W.  Wallis,  Perry ;  New  York,  1818  ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  1844. 
A.  Van  Aukin,  Shiawassee ;  New  York,  1814 ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  1835. 
Hiram  Davis,  Shiawassee ;  New  York,  1813 ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  1837. 
J.  W.  Dewey,  Owosso  ;  New  York,  1818 ;  settled  in  Mich- 
igan in  1827. 
L.  H.  Chappen,   Bennington ;    New   Hampshire,   1797  ; 

settled  in  Michigan  in  1844. 
C.  S.   Cronkhite,  Venice;  New  York,  1818;   settled  in 

Michigan  in  1844. 
I.  W.  Rush,  Owosso ;  New  York,  1822  ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  1840. 
L.  Hopkins,  Owosso ;  New  York,  1826 ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  1836. 
J.  G.  Marsh,  Woodhull ;  Maine,  1830 ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  1837. 
John  A.  Mason,  Perry;  Michigan,  1841. 
James  H.  Hartwell,  Shiawassee;  New  York,  1824. 
B.  0.  Williams,  Owosso  ;  Massachusetts,  1810  ;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  1815. 
Freeman  McClintock,  Laingsburg ;  New  Hampshire,  1811 ; 

settled  in  Michigan  in  1846. 
Almon  B.  Clark,  Bennington;  Michigan,  1837. 
Phineas  Burch,  New  Haven ;  Canada,  1814. 
Thomas  R.  Young,  Caledonia  ;  Connecticut,  1812 ;  settled 

in  Michigan  in  1839. 
M.  L.  Stevens,  Perry  ;  New  York,  1820  ;  settled  in  Mich- 
igan in  March,  1847. 
J.  B.  Wheeler,    Corunna ;   New   York,  1829 ;   settled  in 

Michigan  in  March,  1838. 
Charles  Wilkinson,  Venice;  New  York,  1813;  settled  in 

Michigan  in  1834. 
Schuyler  Ferris,  Caledonia;  New  York,  1818. 
G.  M.  Roberts,  Caledonia ;  New  York,  1813. 
S.  A.  Yerkes,  Bennington  ;  Michigan,  1827. 
Mrs.  Susan  A.  Burgess. 
Elnathan  Brown,  Venice  ;  New  York ;  settled  in  Michigan 

in  1837. 
B.  M.  Waterman,  Caledonia ;  Vermont ;  settled  in  Michi- 
gan in  1839. 

HONORAKY  MEMBEES. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Bacon.  Mrs.  B.  Allen. 

Mrs.  Lucius  Beach.  Mrs.  Marietta  Gale. 

Mrs.  H.  H.  Johnson.  Mrs.  Julietta  Rowell. 

Mrs.  Manning  Hathaway.  Mrs.  Anna  Olcott. 

Mrs.  N.  P.  Harder.  Mrs.  Marie  E.  Cronkhite. 

Mrs.  James  Cummin.  Mrs.  Rosina  Simonson. 

Mrs.  E.  F.  Wade.  Mrs.  Lorinda  Williams. 

Mrs.  Catherine  Haviland.  Mrs.  J.  B.  Wheeler. 

Mrs.  Susan  Spaulding.  Mrs.  Margaret  Innes. 

Mrs.  Caroline  A.  Parsons.  Mrs.  Ruth  Phelps. 

Mrs.  Emmeline  R.  Wallis.  Mrs.  Eunice  Cooper. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  society  from 
its  formation  to  the  present  time : 


140 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1873.— President,  Isaac  Gale  ;  Vice-Presidents,  A.  B.  Chip- 
man,  William  Newberry  ;  Secretary,  E.  F.  Wade ; 
Treasurer,  8.  R.  Kelsey. 

1874.— President,  John  Spaulding;  Vice-Presidents,  A.  B. 
Chipman,  William  Newberry ;  Secretary,  E.  F. 
Wade ;  Treasurer,  S.  R.  Kelsey. 

1875.— President,  A.  B.  Chipman ;  Vice-Presidents,  G. 
W.  Slocum,  Roger  Haviland ;  Secretary,  E.  F. 
Wade ;  Treasurer,  S.  R.  Kelsey. 

1876.— President,  George  W.  Slocum;  Vice-Presidents, 
William  Newberry,  Ebenezer  Gould  ;  Secretary, 
Ebenezer  F.  Wade ;  Treasurer,  S.  R.  Kelsey. 

1877. — President,  George  W.  Slocum;  Vice-Presidents, 
William  Newberry,  Roger  Haviland ;  Secretary, 
James  B.  Wheeler ;  Treasurer,  E.  F.  Wade. 

1878. — President,  Roger  Haviland;  Vice-Presidents,  B. 
0.  Williams,  A.  B.  Clark ;  Secretary,  James  B. 
Wheeler ;  Treasurer,  E.  F.  Wade. 

1879. President,  William   Newberry;    Vice-Presidents, 

Roger  Haviland,  B.  0.  Williams;  Secretary, 
Cortes  Pond  ;  Treasurer,  E.  F.  Wade. 

1880. — President,  William  Newberry;  Vice-President, 
Roger  Haviland  ;  Secretary,  Cortes  Pond ;  Treas- 
urer, E.  F.  Wade. 

SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY  MUTUAL  FIRE  INSU- 
EANCE   COMPANY. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1861,  Enoch  Eddy,  G.  Sugden, 
Ezra  D.  Barnes,  N.  G.  Philips,  E.  Cook,  Isaac  Gale,  Nor- 
man Green,  Enos  Merrill,  Benjamin  Walker,  and  William 
Newberry,  all  residents  of  Shiawassee  County,  associated 
themselves  together  as  an  incorporated  company  for  the 
transaction  of  insurance  business  under  the  above  title. 
The  articles  of  association  limited  the  territory  to  Shia- 
wassee County,  and  restricted  the  insurance  to  dwellings, 
barns,  and  out-buildings  upon  farms,  "  together  with  house- 
hold furniture,  farm  implements,  stock,  and  grain  which 
may  be  therein  or  on  the  premises,"  against  loss  by  fire  or 
lightning. 

The  organization  was  not  perfected  until  the  spring  of 
1862,  when  Enoch  Eddy  was  elected  President;  Cortes 
Pond,  Secretary ;  and  W.  G.  Smith,  Treasurer.  On  the 
3d  day  of  May  of  that  year  Cortes  Pond  commenced  taking 
applications  for  policies. 

In  1867  the  company  had  three  hundred  and  forty -six 
outstanding  policies,  with  an  assessment  that  year  of  four- 
teen hundred  and  twenty-three  dollars  and  forty-four  cents 
and  expenses  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  dollars  and 
fifteen  cents. 

The  company  has  steadily  increased  in  usefulness,  and 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  community,  and  on  the  31st 
of  December,  1879,  it  had  fifteen  hundred  and  fifty-five 
outstanding  policies,  covering  a  total  risk  of  two  million 
eight  hundred  and  twelve  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty- 
six  dollars. 

The  total  resources  are  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
five  dollars  and  ninety-four  cents,  and  total  liabilities  four 
hundred  and  fifty-five  dollars  and  fifty-nine  cents.  The 
amount  paid  for  losses  during  the  year  (of  which  two  thou- 
sand three  hundred  dollars  occurred  in  prior  years)  was  five 


thousand  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars  and  seventy-three 
cents.  Amount  of  salaries  and  fees  one  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  dollars  and  ninety-six  cents.  But  two  as- 
sessments have  been  made  during  the  year. 

The  present  ofiScers  are  Roger  Haviland,  President; 
Fred.  J.  Bailey,  Vice-President ;  Ezra  Mason,  Secretary ; 
Jefferson  D.  Leland,  Treasurer ;  R.  Haviland,  E.  Mason, 
and  E.  S.  Burnett,  Directors. 

SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY  AGKICULTUEAL  ASSO- 
CIATION. 
No  records  have  been  found  of  the  organization  or  pro- 
ceedings of  the  old  Shiawassee  County  Agricultural  Society, 
but  a  few  facts  have  been  gleaned  from  the  papers  of  that 
day,  and  from  the  secretary's  reports  to  the  State  Society. 
The  Shiawassee  Society  was  formed  in  1850,  and  held  its 
first  fair  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  at  the  village  of  Corunna, 
on  grounds  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  prepared 
by  the  citizens  of  that  place.  In  1854  the  fifth  annual 
fair  was  held  on  the  11th  and  12th  of  October.  The  offi- 
cers were  Robert  R.  Thompson,  President ;  P.  S.  Lyman, 
Secretary ;  James  Cummin,  Treasurer ;  Ezekiel  Cook,  M. 
B.  Martin,  Isaac  Gale,  M.  H.  Clark,  Daniel  Lyon,  Execu- 
tive Committee.  There  were  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  entries.  The  amount  received  for  membership  tickets 
and  visitors  was  eighty-one  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents. 
The  number  of  entries  made  at  the  fair  of  September,  1855, 
were  five  hundred  and  twenty;  receipts  for  membership 
and  single  tickets  was  one  hundred  and  forty-six  dollars  and 
twenty-seven  cents.  The  fair  in  1858  was  held  at  Corunna. 
The  officers  of  that  year  were  Isaac  Gale,  President ;  P.  S. 
Lyman,  Secretary ;  Charles  E.  Kimberly,  Treasurer. 

No  further  information  can  be  gained  of  any  meetings 
of  the  old  society,  and  it  appears  to  have  become  inop- 
erative, as  on  the  16th  of  March,  1860,  a  new  society 
was  formed,  and  articles  of  association  were  adopted  and 
signed  by  the  following-named  persons,  viz. :   Isaac  Gale, 
George  Sugden,  James  Lawlcr,  A.  H.  Byerly,  B.  0.  Wil- 
liams, George  W.  Slocum,  Benjamin  Walker,  Benjamin  W. 
Davis,  p]dward  F.  H.  McKay,  John  W.  Dewey,  Enoch 
Eddy,  and  an  organization  under  the  name  and  style  of  the 
Shiawassee  County  Agricultural  Association  was  perfected 
by  the   choice  of  the  following  persons  as  first  officers: 
Isaac  Gale,  President ;  B.  W.  Davis,  Secretary  ;  Adam  W. 
Byerly,  Treasurer ;  J.  W.  Dewey,  George  W.  Slocum,  B. 
F.  H.  McKay,  Enoch  Eddy,  and  Geo.  B.  Sugden,  Direc- 
tors.    A  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  was  held  at 
Gould's  Hall,  Owosso,  on  the  23d  of  March,  1860,  at 
which  time  by-laws  were  adopted.     At  a  later  meeting,  in 
June  of  the  same  year,  it  was  resolved  that  the  fair  be 
held  at  Owosso  for  a  term  of  five  years,  on  condition  that 
the  citizens  of  Owosso  provide  not  less  than  six  acres  for 
the  use  of  the  association  (to  be  surrounded  with  a  tight 
board  fence),  build  necessary  buildings  and  sheds,  dig  a 
well  to  be  provided  with  a  pump,  and  grade  a  carriage- 
drive  and  track,  two  rods  wide  at  least  and  eighty  rods  in 
circumference,  the  same  to  be  provided  without  any  expense 
to  the  association.     Seven  hundred  dollars  was  subscribed 
for  the  purpose,  and  the  lease  was  afterwards  extended  to 
ten  years,  and  a  permanent  building  erected  at  an  expense  of 


AGRICULTURE. 


141 


one  thousand  dollars.  The  first  fair  of  the  association  was 
held  on  the  17th,  18th,  and  19th  of  September,  1860,  on 
the  ground  prepared  by  the  citizens  of  Owosso,  situated 
on  Hickory  Street. 

The  total  receipts  were  $303.50.  The  annual  fairs  con- 
tinued to  be  held  at  the  same  place  until  1880.  In  1866 
five  hundred  dollars  was  expended  in  extending  the  track, 
the  citizens  of  Owosso  contributing  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  and  the  association  the  balance.  At  a  meeting  held 
April  17,  1877,  it  was  decided  to  purchase  thirty  acres  of 
land,  known  as  the  Eggleston  tract,  at  one  hundred  dollars 
per  acre,  and  two  small  lots  of  land  containing  about  one  acre. 
In  the  spring  of  1880  the  buildings  on  the  old  grounds  were 
removed  to  the  new  and  repaired.  One  acre  of  ground,  on 
which  a  dwelling-house  is  located,  was  purchased  for  five 
hundred  dollars ;  this  will  be  occupied  by  a  tenant  who 
will  have  charge  of  the  grounds.  A  floral  hall  will  be 
erected  in  the  summer  of  1880,  a  half-mile  track  is  now 
being  graded,  and  the  first  fair  of  the  association  on  the 
new  grounds  will  be  held  in  the  fall  of  1880. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  since  the  orgamza- 
tion  of  the  association  : 

Presidents. — 1861,  Benjamin  Walker;  1862,  Isaac  Cas- 
tle ;  1863,  Geo.  L.  Hitchcock ;  1864,  John  W.  Dewey ; 
1865,  Ezra  D.  Barnes;  no  record  for  1866;  1867-68, 
Isaac  Gale;  1869,  A.  H.  Byerly ;  1870,  S.  A.  Yerkcs ; 
1871,  Wm.  Newberry;  1872-73,  Wm.  Rideout;  1874, 
John  W.  Dewey;  1875-76,  C.  Hibbard ;  1877-80,  John 
W.  Dewey. 

Secretaries. — 1861-62,  George  L.  Hitchcock;  1863, 
Henry  B.  Gregory ;  1864,  George  L.  Hitchcock ;  1865, 
A.  G.  Young ;  no  record  for  1866 ;  1867,  George  P. 
Moses;  1868,  N.  McBain ;  1869,  George  P.  Moses; 
1870-73,  C.  A.  Osborne;  1874,  Emory  L.  Brewer;  1875 
-78,  Newton  Baldwin  ;  1879-80,  J.  A.  Armstrong. 

^Veaswrers.— 1861-62,  E.  D.  Gregory;  1863-65,  New- 
ton H.  Robinson;  no  record  for  1866;  1867-69,  A.  G. 
Kelso  ;  1870-73,  A.  B.  Chipman  ;  1874,  Amos  G.  Young  ; 
1875-76,  A.  B.  Chipman ;  1877-80,  C.  A.  Osborne. 

AGRICULTURE   OF   THE   COUNTY. 
In  the  history  of  its  agriculture  Shiawassee  differs  very 
little  from  nearly  all  the  counties  of  the  Peninsula.     The 
first  care  of  the  farmers  who  came  to  till  the  virgin  soil 
was,  of  course,  to  provide  subsistence  for  their  families  ;  and 
so  the  first  crops  which  they  planted  or  sowed  in  the  open- 
ings, or  in  their  small  clearings  in  the  timber,  were  only 
such  as  were  required  for  this  purpose,  and  chief  among 
these  was  wheat.     Potatoes  and  other  esculents  were  pro- 
vided for,  but  the  article  of  prime  necessity  was  wheat,  and 
to  it  a  great  proportion  of  the  tilled  area  was  devoted.    The 
abundant  crops  which  they  obtained  soon  relieved  their  ne- 
cessities, and  placed  them   beyond  the  reach  of  possible 
want ;  and  then,  from  the  surplus  of  their  crops,  they  began 
to  realize  a  revenue  in  money,  though  the  very  redundancy 
of  the  yield  of  wheat  in  this  and  adjoining  sections  of 
country  brought  the  price  so  low  at  times  that  the  remu- 
neration for  the  labor  of  raising,  harvesting   and   hand- 
thrashing,  and  transporting  the  grain  to  a  distant  market 
seemed  discouragingly  small.    The  experience  of  later  years, 


however,  has  shown  that  the  immigrant  farmers  of  the  early 
days  were  not  far  from  right  in  their  estimate  of  the  im- 
portance of  wheat  culture  upon  such  a  soil  as  this,  where 
its  constantly  increasing  and  almost  uniformly  successful 
cultivation  has  been  the  foundation  of  so  large  a  proportion 
of  the  agricultural  wealth  and  prosperity.  After  the  first 
struggle  with  poverty  was  over,  and  particularly  after  in- 
creased and  improved  means  of  transportation  were  secured, 
the  wheat-fields  gradually  increased  in  size  and  in  profita- 
ble returns  per  acre ;  and  though  other  grains  are  and  have 
always  been  produced  quite  extensively,  yet  it  is  wheat 
more  than  any  other  product  of  the  soil  that  has  brought 
comfort  and  wealth  to  the  farmers  of  the  county. 

The  raising  of  cattle  and  sheep  has  been  carried  on  to  a 
considerable  extent,  but  it  has  never  assumed  as  great  im- 
portance here  as  in  some  other  parts  of  the  State,  nor  has 
as  much  been  done  here  in  the  extensive  and  general  intro- 
duction of  improved  breeds.  In  the  report  of  the  secretary 
of  the  Shiawassee  Agricultural  Society  for  1854  it  is  stated 
that  a  full-blood  Devon  bull  was  introduced  into  the  county 
as  early  as  1837,  by  L.  Lyman,  of  Shiawassee  township ; 
that  in  1839,  Ezekiel  Cook,  of  Bennington,  brought  in  a 
Devon  and  a  Durham  bull  from  Ohio  ;  and  that  in  1841, 
Alexander  McArthur,  of  Corunna,  was  the  owner  of  a  bull 
of  imported  stock,  but  that  the  animal  had  died  in  the  se- 
vere winter  of  1842-43.  A  Durham  bull  was  also  sent 
from  Oakland  County  to  Shiawassee  by  James  B.  Hunt. 
In  1851,  Deacon  Cook,  of  Bennington,  brought  in  a  fine 
young  Durham  bull  from  the  herd  of  Mr.  Brooks,  of  Oak- 
land County,  and  a  Durham  cow  from  the  Wadsworth 
herd,  of  Geneseo,  N.  Y.  (purchased  from  Mr.  Uhle,  of  Ypsi- 
lanti)  ;  and  J.  H.  Howe,  now  of  Owosso,  received  a  Durham 
bull  from  the  same  famous  herd.  At  about  the  same  time 
several  pure-blood  bulls  and  cows  were  brought  to  the  county 
by  Isaac  Castle  of  Shiawassee ;  Thomas  B.  Green,  of 
Burns ;  Abner  L.  Gilbert,  of  Caledonia ;  and  Stimson  and 
Dewey,  of  Owosso.  Among  these  were  Durhams,  Ayr- 
shires,  and  one  or  two  of  the  Holderness  breed.  Prom  the 
animals  above  mentioned  came  much  of  the  improved  stock 
of  the  county. 

The  same  report  from  which  the  foregoing  facts  are  gath- 
ered mentions  that  in  1854  a  flock  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Spanish  Merino  sheep  was  purchased  in  the  county. 
At  the  fair  of  the  agricultural  society  of  the  county  in  that 
year  Durham  cattle  were  exhibited  by  C.  S.  Johnson,  of 
Caledonia,  and  H.  Johnson,  of  Venice ;  Devons,  by  Isaac 
Castle  and  C.  S.  Johnson;  Ayrshires,  by  Isaac  Castle  and 
L.  C.  Eddy ;  Merino  sheep,  by  Isaac  Gale,  J.  M.  Hart- 
well,  and  J.  W.  Brewer;  Spanish  and  French  Merinos,  by 
Luke  H.  Parsons  and  J.  W.  Brewer,-^the  last-named  gen- 
tleman exhibiting  a  very  fine  imported  ewe  from  the  flock 
of  A.  S.  Patterson,  of  Newark,  N.  J. 

The  introduction  of  pure-blood  sheep  into  the  county 
dates  from  about  1852  (though  some  grades  had  been 
brought  here  before  1840),  and  by  reference  to  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  agricultural  society  it  is  found  that  the 
credit  of  being  the  pioneers  in  the  introduction  of  Merino 
and  Saxony  sheep  into  the  county  is  given  to  Isaac  Gale 
and  J.  M.  Hartwell,  of  Bennington  ;  L.  Lyman,  of  Shia- 
wassee ;  R.  W.  Holly,  of  Vernon ;  and  R.  Burdick,  of  By- 


142 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


ron.     There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  others  besides  these 

gentlemen  might  with  propriety  be  added  to  the  list.  Since 
the  introduction  of  pure-bloods  was  commenced,  as  above 

mentioned,  the  improvement  in  sheep-breeding  has  spread 
gradually,  but  so  generally  that  it  would  be  invidious  as 
well  as  impracticable  to  attempt  to  follow  its   progress 

through  the  county.     The  same  may  also  be  said  of  the 

general  increase  of  improved  breeds  of  cattle,  both  pure- 
bloods  and  grades. 

The  development  of  the  agricultural  interests  of  Shia- 
wassee County  is  shown  (perhaps  more  clearly  than  could 
be  done  in  any  other  way)  by  the  statistics  given  below, 
having  reference  to  this  county.  They  are  taken  from  the 
census  returns  of  the  years  indicated,  viz. : 

1840. 

Number  of  neat  cattle  in  the  county 2,143 

**          sheep  in  the  county 375 

"          swine     "          "       3,807 

Tons  of  hay  cut  in  the  preceding  year 502 

Bushels  of  wheat  produced  (harvest  of  1839) 19,584 

"         Indian  corn  produced  (harvest  of  1839) 13,772 

"         oats  produced  (harvest  of  1839) 10,937 

"         barley     "                    "             206 

"         potatoes"                    "             23,007 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  (1839) 683 

Pounds  of  inaple-sugar  made  (1840) 25,933 

Value  of  the  products  of  the  dairy  (1839) $2,147 

1850. 

Whole  number  of  occupied  farms 746 

Cash  value  of  occupied  farms $734,965 

Number  of  acres  improved 31,203 

"          neat  cattle 5,148 

"          sheep  kept  in  the  county ; 7,087 

"          swine          "              "       3,262 

Total  value  of  livestock $13.^,739 

Bushels  of  wheat  produced  (harvest  of  1849) 61,834 

rye              "                      "               650 

"           Indian  corn  (harvest  of  1849) 66,505 

"          oats                     "                "     32,705 

"          barley                  "                "     289 

"          buckwheat          "                "     6,284 

"          potatoes              "                "     26,475 

Value  of  orchard  products  (1849) $1,041 

Tons  of  hay  produced              "     7,136 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  in  1860 21,738 

"          maple-sugar  made  (1850) 61,157 

"          butter  made  (June,  1849,  to  June,  1850) 110,823 

"          cheese    "                "                       "        16,400 

1854. 

Number  of  acres  improved  land 30,043 

Whole  number  neat  cattle 6,735 

"           "        swine 4,760 

"          "        sheep 8,472 

Pounds  of  wool  shenred  (preceding  year) 21,364 

"           pork  marketed      "             "     81,495 

Acres  of  wheat  harvested        "            "     6,111 

Bushels        "            "                "            "     74,171 

Acres  of  corn           "                "            "     4,111 

Bushels  of  corn       "                "            "     64,947 

"          all  other  kinds  of  grain  (preceding  year)....  26,381 

"          potatoes  raised  (preceding  year) 33,629 

Tons  of  hay  cut                              "            "     10,655 

Pounds  of  butter  made                  "            "     132,612' 

"           cheese  made                  "            "     16,062' 

"          maple-sugar  manufactured  (1854) 43,787 

1860. 

Whole  number  of  occupied  farms  in  the  county 892 

"           "              acres  improved 43,727 

Total  cash  value  of  farms $1,957,834 

Number  of  neat  cattle  kept  in  county 8,427 

"          swine            "              "      6,156 

"          sheep            "              "      19,379 

Total  value  of  live  stock $326,724 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  in  preceding  year 46  770 

Bushels  of  wheat  harvested  preceding  year 101,101 

rye.            "                  "            "    6,773 

"          Indian  corn  harvested  preceding  year 93,467 

"           oiits                    "                  "            "    43,071 

"          barley                "                  "            "    3^329 


Bushels  of  buckwheat  harvested  preceding  year 2,830 

"           potatoes  raised  preceding  year 54,190 

Value  of  orchard  products $8,976 

Tons  of  hay  cut  in  preceding  year 12,679 

Pounds  of  butter  made  preceding  year 251,011 

"           cheese     "               "             "    18,682 

"          maple-sugar  made  preceding  year 96,723 

1864. 

Number  of  acres  improved  in  the  county 64,913 

"         neat  cattle  kept  in  the  county 11,527 

"         sheep  over  six  months  old 43,187 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  in  preceding  year 134,188 

"          pork  marketed         "            "    332,172 

Acres  of  wheat  harvested           "             "    14,950 

Bushels  of  wheat     "                   "             "     109,301 

Acres  of  corn            "                  "             "    6,428 

Bushels  of  corn        "                   "             "    129,670 

"          all  other  grains  harvested  in  preceding  year.  76,236 

"          potatoes  raised  in  preceding  year 58,628 

Tons  of  hay  cut  in  preceding  year 21,847 

Pounds  of  butter  made  in  preceding  year 336,134 

"           cheese    "                   "             "    27,^29 

"          maple-sugar  made  in  preceding  year 95,666 

1870. 

Number  of  acres  improved  In  county 111,390 

Value  of  farms  in  county $8,12.^,000 

"        all  live  stock $1,181,149 

NuQiber  of  sheep  kept 46,536 

Pounds  of  wool  shorn 192,612 

Number  of  milch-cows 5,864 

Pounds  of  butter  made  in  preceding  year 491,696 

Bushels  of  wheat  harvested  in  preceding  year 484,687 

"          Indian  corn     "              "             "    262,861 

"           oats                  "               "             "    202,510 

"           barley              "              "             "    17,341 

"          buckwheat       "               "             "    9,947 

"          potatoes  raised  in  preceding  year 240,162 

Tons  of  hay  cut  in  preceding  year 32,464 

Pounds  of  maple-sugar  made  (1870) 32,999 

1874. 

Total  acres  of  improved  land 118,781 

Number  of  farms 2,813 

Average  area  of  farms  (acres) 86^ 

Number  of  neat  cattle  kept 18,920 

"          swine  over  six  months  old 8,132 

Pounds  of  pork  marketed  in  preceding  year 793,646 

Whole  number  of  sheep  kept 43,403 

Number  of  sheep  sheared  in  preceding  year 41,680 

Pounds  of  wool           "                   "             "    186,277 

Acres  of  wheat  harvested              **             "    30,641 

Bushels        "            "                     "             "    463,412 

Acres  of  corn           "                      "             "    10,760 

Bushels      "              "                      "             "    391,745 

"       of  all  other  grains  harvested  in  preceding  year,  356,432 

'*       of  potatoes  raised  in  preceding  year 110,286 

Tons  of  hay  cut  in  preceding  year 29,667 

Pounds  of  butter  made  in  preceding  year 743,363 

"          cheese      "                 "             "    34,380 

"          maple-sugar  made  in  1874 67,356 

Bushels  of  apples  raised  in  preceding  year 114,811 

Value  of  fruit  and  garden  vegetables $60,470 

Number  of  acres  in  all  kinds  of  fruits 6,966 

WHEAT   CROP   OF  1877   BY   TOWNSHIPS. 

Bushels. 

Antrim 60,667 

Bennington 77,351 

Burns 71,343 

Caledonia 42,416 

Fairfield 26,448 

Hazelton 41,046 

Middlebury 62,344 

New  Haven 36,595 

Owosso 47,614 

Owosso  City 3,275 

Perry 60,420 

Rush 33,518 

Sciota  (not  returned) 

Shiawassee 77,172 

Venice 38,495 

Vernon 63,061 

Woodhull 46,947 

Total  of  county 778,712 

In  that  year  Shiawassee  County  stood  at  the  head  of  all 
the  counties  in  the  southern  four  tiers  (comprising  the  best 


MANUFACTURES— POPULATION. 


143 


agricultural  portion  of  the  State)  in  the  average  yield  of 
wheat  per  acre  of  the  area  harvested. 


MANUFACTURING  STATISTICS. 

Though  Shiawassee  cannot  be  termed  a  manufacturing 
county,  yet  it  contains  a  considerable  number  of  manufac- 
turing establishments,  and  these  will  be  found  fully  noticed 
in  the  histories  of  the  cities  and  townships  in  which  they 
are  situated.  In  this  place,  however,  we  give  a  series  of 
manufacturing  statistics  relating  in  their  aggregate  to  the 
whole  county.  They  are  compiled  from  the  census  reports 
for  the  years  named,  extending  from  1840  to  1874,  the  re- 
turns for  the  present  year  (1880)  not  having  yet  been 
made. 

The  earliest  report  containing  manufacturing  statistics 
for  the  county  of  Shiawassee  is  that  of  1840,  which  shows 
as  follows : 

Number  of  saw-mills  in  the  county 8 

"          flouring-mills  in  the  county 1 

Barrels  of  flour  manufactured  in  1839 800 

Total  amount  of  capital  invested  in  manufactures $46,873 

Value  of  home-made  manufactures  (1839) $1,000 

By  subsequent  census  returns  the  following  statistics  of 
manufactures  in  the  county  are  shown  for  the  years  indi- 
cated, viz. : 

1850. 

Number  of  flouring-mills 5 

Capital  invested  in  flouring-mills $31,000 

Barrels  of  flour  manufactured  preceding  year 11,700 

Value  of  product $36,400 

Number  of  saw-mills  (water,  6;  steam,  1) 7 

Capital  invested  in  lumber  manufacture $10,500 

Annual  product  of  lumber  (feet) 1,500,000 

Value  of  product $9,990 

Aggregate  amount  of  capital  invested  in  all  kinds  of 

manufactures  (flour-mills  and  saw-mills  included) $71,075 

Number  of  hands  employed  in  all  manufactures 75 

Aggregate  value  of  annual  product  of  all  kinds  of  man- 
ufactures in  the  county $110,474 

1854. 

Number  of  flouring-mills  reported 3 

Capital  invested  in  flouring-mills $23,000 

Barrels  of  flour  made  in  the  preceding  year 5f884 

Value  of  flour  manufactured         "             "    $29,681.75 

Number  of  hands  employedin  flour-mills 8 

"         saw-mills  operated  in  the  county  (steam,  1 ; 

water,  4)  5 

Number  of  feet  of  lumber  sawed  in  preceding  year 1,300,000 

Value  of  lumber  product  in  preceding  year $0,950 

Amount  of  capital  invested  in  lumber  manufacture $9,200 

Number  of  persons  employed         "                 "           11 

Amount  of  capital  employed  in  all  other  kinds  of  man- 
ufacturing   $9,850 

Value  of  products  of  same  in  preceding  year $4,500 

Number  of  persons  employed  in  same IS 

18*64. 

Number  of  flour-mills  reported 5 

"          runs  of  stones 12 

Amount  of  capital  invested  in  flouring-mills $48,000 

Barrels  of  flour  made  in  the  preceding  year 19,926 

Value            "                "                "            "   $110,245 

Number  of  persons  employed  in  flour-mills 12 

"  saw-milla  operated  in  the  county  (steam,  5; 

water,  7) ^  .    ^^ 

Capital  invested  in  lumber  manufacture $26,200 

Feet  of  lumber  sawed  in  preceding  year 1,105,000 

Value  of            "                     "             "   $1M80 

Number  of  hands  employed  in  lumber  manufacture 36 

Number  of  manufactories  other  than  saw-mills  and  flour- 
mills  (steam,  3;  water,  8) 11 

Number  of  persons  employed  in  same 120 

Amount  of  capital  invested  in  same $49,850 

Value  of  products  of  same  in  preceding  year $65,630 

Coal-mines  operated  in  county 1 

Pounds  of  coal  produced  in  preceding  year. 2,400,000 

Value  of  product  at  mine $3,600 

Amountof  capital  invested $1,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 5 


1874. 

Number  of  flouring-mills  in  county  (steam,  2 ;  water,  6)  8 

"           runs  of  stones  in  operation 22 

Barrels  of  flour  made  in  the  previous  year 42,450 

Value                 "               "                     "         $284^800 

Capital  invested  in  flouring-mills $184,600 

Number  of  persons  employed  in  flouring-mills 26 

"            saw-mills  in  the  county  (steam,  7;  water,  9)  16 

Feet  of  lumber  sawed  in  preceding  year 11,550,000 

Value                "                                 "         $120,500 

Capital  invested  in  lumber-manufacture $71,600 

Persons  employed  in           *'                      73 

Number   of  wood-working*   manufactories   (steam,  5j 

water,  1) 6 

Capital  invested  in  same $33,200 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $44,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 24 

"           iron-workingf  manufactories 4 

Capital  invested  in  same $25,700 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $47,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 26 

'*            musical-instrument  manufactories 1 

Capital  employed  in  same $3,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $3,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 4 

"           wagon-,  carriage-,  and  sleigh- manufactories  2 

Capital  invested  in  same $6,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $13,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 11 

"           furniture- and  chair-factories 4 

Capital  invested  in  same $51,200 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $121,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 76 

*'           stave- and  heading-factories 3 

Capital  invested  in  same $12,800 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $12,500 

Number  of  persons  employed 29 

"           barrel-,  keg-,  pail-,  and  tub-factories 1 

Capital  invested  in  same $1,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $3,000 

Number  of  persons  employed -5 

'*           tanneries  reported 1 

Capital  invested  in  same $20,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $50,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 22 

"           saddle-,    harness-,   and    trunk-factories   re- 
ported   1 

Capital  invested  in  same $2,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $4,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 3 

"           breweries  reported  in  county 2 

Capital  invested  in  same $1.3,000 

Viilue  of  product  in  preceding  year $16,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 7 

"           paper-mills 1 

Capital  invested  in  same $20,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $14,130 

Number  of  persons  employed 14 

*'           boot- and  shoe-factories 1 

Capital  invested  in  same $4,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $20,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 15 

"           pot- and  pearl-ash  factories 1 

Capital  invested  in  same $500 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $3,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 2 

"           brick- and  tile-manufactories 2 

Capital  invested  in  game $4,500 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $12,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 24 

"           stone- and  mavble-works 2 

Capital  invested  in  same $2,500 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $11,000 

Number  of  hands  employed 8 

Total  number  of  manufacturing  establishments  (includ- 
ing saw-mills  and  grist-mills)  reported  in  the  county 

for  the  year  1873 68 

Persons  employed  in  same 364 

Capital  invested $464,500 

Value  of  product  for  the  year $805,930 

Coal-mines  operated  (1874) 2 

Capital  invested $168,549 

Men  employed 41 

Value  of  product  at  mines $39,000 

POPULATION   OP   THE  COUNTY. 
The  total  population  of  Shiawassee  County  in  the  year 

1837,  as  shown  by  the  census  returns  of  that  year,  was 

*  Including  in  this  class  planing-  and  turning-mills,  and   sash  -, 
door-,  blind,  and  spoke-factories, 
f  This  class  includes  foundries,  machine-shops,  and  boiler-works. 


lU 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1184;  in  1840,  2103;  and  in  1845  it  was  3010.  The 
population  at  several  later  periods,  from  1850  to  1874,  in- 
clusive, is  given  by  townships  in  the  following  table  : 

1850.  1854. 

Antrim 282  41.S 

Bennington 60  660 

Burns 717  949 

Caledonia 500  905 

Corunna     (Village    and 

City) 

Fairfield 74 

HazeJton 26  72 

Middlebury 132  229 

New  Haven 150*  174 

Owosso 392  621 

Owosso  (City) 

Perry 313  445 

Rush 126 

Scioto 191  297 

Shiawassee 810  917 

Vernon 674  790 

Venice 186  409 

Woodhull 250  338 

Total  of  County 5233       7419    12,898    13,465    20,858    21,773 


1860. 

1864. 

1870. 

1874. 

646 

727 

992 

985 

895 

1,005 

1,424 

1,490 

1,065 

1,173 

1,557 

1,498 

1,203 

1,664 

891 

1,008 

864 

1,408 

1,345 

346 

352 

632 

643 

350 

389 

822 

1,134 

616 

605 

1,018 

969 

448 

522 

999 

1,148 

573 

589 

1,058 

1,050 

1,169 

1,346 

2,065 

2,448 

670 

693 

1,058 

1,016 

346 

397 

683 

774 

499 

538 

1,270 

1,312 

1,146 

1,168 

1,422 

1,336 

1,100 

1,144 

1,797 

1,785 

575 

569 

986 

1,076 

387 

584 

776 

756 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 
CITY   OF   OWOSSO.f 

The  Location  of  the  City  and  i(8  Advantages — Early  History,  Settle- 
ment, etc. — City  Incorporation  and  Organization — First  City  As- 
sessment— List  of  City  Officers — ^Fire  Department  and  Water  Supply 
— Mills  and  Manufucturing^Educational — Secret  Benevolent  Asso- 
ciations— Other  Associations  —Religious. 

The  city  of  Owosso,|  the  most  important  commercial 
and  manufacturing  point  in  Shiawassee  County,  is  situated 
on  the  Shiawassee§  River,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Detroit 
and  Milwaukee  and  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw 
Railroads.  From  the  junction  of  these  roads  it  is  seventy- 
nine  miles  to  Detroit,  seventy-eight  to  Grand  Rapids,  thirty- 
seven  to  Saginaw,  twenty-seven  to  Lansing,  and  three  miles 
to  Corunna,  the  county-seat. 

Its  beautiful  and  healthful  location,  great  natural  advan- 
tages, together  with  its  superior  railroad  facilities,  render  it 
one  of  the  most  desirable  dwelling-places  in  Central  Michi- 
gan. Lying  mainly  within  the  township  of  Owosso,  its 
corporate  limits  extend  eastward  into  that  of  Caledonia,  em- 
bracing a  total  area  of  four  square  miles.  "  The  Shiawassee 
enters  the  city  from  the  east,  thence  flowing  over  its  rocky 
bed  rapidly  to  the  northward,  until  the  west  line  of  section 
13  is  crossed,  it  then  turns  sharply  to  the  north  and  con- 
tinues in  that  direction  beyond  the  northern  limits. 

*  Including  Rush. 

t  By  John  S.  Schenck. 

J  According  to  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams,  this  name  was  derived  from  that 
of  "  Wasso,"  the  principal  chief  of  the  Shiawassee  band  of  Chippewas, 
who,  prior  to  the  first  occupation  of  the  county  by  the  whites,  and  for 
several  years  subsequently,  lived  near  Shiawasseetown;  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  township,  in  1837,  the  letter  0  was  prefixed  to 
the  chief's  name,  and  the  same  adopted  as  the  name  of  the  new  town- 
ship. The  hamlet  in  its  midst,  as  yet  without  a  cognomen  other  than 
that  of  "  The  Rapids,"  or  the  "  village  of  Shiawassee  Rapids,"  also, 
very  naturally,  assumed  the  same  name.  Originally  the  word  was 
spelled  0 wasso,  but,  by  common — perhaps  improper — usage,  it  has  in 
recent  years  obtained  its  present  orthographical  style. 

J  Chippewa  term  for  "straight  running  river." 


Owosso  of  to-day  contains  about  three  thousand  inhabi- 
tants, and  with  its  river  and  race,  the  substantial  iron 
bridges  spanning  them,  the  mineral  springs,  the  inequalities 
of  the  surface,  adorned  with  elegant  residences  and  well- 
kept  lawns,  the  regularly  laid  out  residence-streets,  shaded 
with  luxuriant  native  forest-frees,  the  streets  of  trafiBc, 
lined  with  impo.sing  brick  structures,  the  whirr  of  wheels 
in  the  manufactories,  the  whistling  of  locomotives  and 
the  rumble  of  freighted  trains,  the  dome  of  a  handsome 
school  building,  and  the  spires  of  numerous  church  edifices 
surmounting  all,  combine  to  form  a  picture  at  once  satisfac- 
tory and  pleasing,  to  make  the  little  city  appear — what  it 
really  is — busy  and  beautiful,  the  home  of  many  citizens 
of  thrift  and  culture. 

EAELY  HISTORY,  SETTLEMENTS,  Etc. 

The  reader  will  observe  by  referring  to  the  history  of 
Owosso  township  that  during  the  year  1823  Deputy  United 
States  Surveyors  Joseph  Wampler  and  William  Brookfield, 
working  separately  and  accompanied  by  their  respective  as- 
sistants, ran  out  the  township  and  sectional  lines  prevailing  at 
the  present  time,  and  that  ii-om  their  meagre  field-notes  we 
obtain  the  earliest  authentic  information  concerning  the  oc- 
cupancy of  this  immediate  vicinity  by  the  English-speaking 
whites.  Meanwhile,  ten  years  had  elapsed  since  the  original 
survey.  No  settler's  rude  cabin  or  stumpy  fields  as  yet  de- 
faced nature's  landscape,  and,  save  occasional  visits  from  the 
half-breed  French  and  Indian  coureurs-de-hois  (forest-run- 
ners), Wasso's  band  of  Chippewas  and  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
forest  were  the  only  occupants  of  this  portion  of  the  Shia- 
wassee Valley. 

The  time  last  mentioned  brings  us  to  the  spring  or  early 
summer  of  1833, — a  time  when  Benjamin  0.  Williams,  in 
pursuing  his  journey  to  Saginaw,  via  the  broad  Indian  trail 
which  followed  the  course  of  the  Shiawassee,  passed  this 
way  in  company  with  the  Chippewa  chief,  E8h-ton-e-quet,|| 
or  "Little  Bear."  Mr.  Williams  and  his  guide  journeyed 
on  Indian  ponies,  and  as  they  came  out  on  the  open  plain 
which  skirted  the  right  bank  of  the  river  at  the  Che-boc-wa- 
ting,  or  "  Big  Rapids,"  the  sight  unfolded  to  them  was  most 
pleasing.  A  halt  was  made  on  the  high  ground  near  the 
present  school-building,  where  a  better  and  more  extended 
view  was  obtained.  They  saw  here  magnificent  water- 
power  privileges,  beautiful  rose-willow  plains  extending 
to  a  considerable  distance  back  from  the  east  bank  of  the 
river,  while  on  the  opposite  side  was  a  wooded  tract  of  dense, 
heavy  timber, — the  place,  in  fact,  described  by  William 
Brookfield  in  1823,  in  these  words :  "  Plains  or  oak-openings. 
Land  first-rate.  Good  soil.  No  large  timber.  It  was  long 
ago  burnt  off.  Undergrowth  white  and  prickly  ash,  poplar, 
thorns,  and  briars  ;  all  in  abundance." 

After  surveying  the  beauties  of  nature  for  a  few  moments, 
Mr.  Williams  turned  to  his  companion  and  remarked, 
"  What  a  fine  farm  could  be  made  here !" 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  chief;  and  then,  giving  further  ex- 
pression to  his  thoughts  and  the  knowledge  that  the  white 
men  were  steadily  encroaching  upon  the  hunting-grounds  of 
his  people,  continued,  "  Not  many  more  moons  will 


He  was  aljo  known  by  the  French  as  Monoousin,  or  "  My  Cousin." 


CITY  OF  OWOSSO. 


115 


over  my  white  brother's  head  ere  the  pale-faces  will  have 
mills,  a  town,  and  cultivated  fields  here." 

Fully  determined  to  possess  himself  of  a  portion,  at  least, 
of  this  fair  domain,  the  journey  was  resumed  towards  Sagi- 
naw.    Upon  his  return  to  their   trading-post,  "  The  Ex- 
change," Mr.  Williams  acquainted  his  brother,  Alfred  L. 
"Williams,  of  his  discovery,  and  urged  that  they  purchase, 
with  what  available  cash  they  had,  lands  at  the  "  Big  Rap- 
ids."   Deferring  to  his  elder  brother's  judgment,  and  accom- 
panied by  him,  B.  0.  Williams  again  visited  this  region  the 
same  summer,  when  the  brothers  concluded  to  locate  lands 
here,  recognizing  its  value  for  mill-sites,  and  strongly  sus- 
pecting that  it  would  be  a  central  point  in  a  new  county. 
Acting  upon  this  determination,  Alfred  L.  Williams  pro- 
ceeded to  Detroit,  and  on  the  2d  of  August,  1833,  the  first 
land  in  the  surveyed  township  transferred  to  individual  own- 
ership was  entered  in  the  names  of  Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin 
0.  Williams,  being  a  portion  of  section  24.     Their  means 
of  obtaining  ready  cash  at  that  time  were  very  limited,  and 
their  purchase  did  not  cover  as  much  territory  as  they  de- 
sired.    Therefore,  when  more  money  was  obtained,  addi- 
tional lots  were  purchased  on  section  13,  November  13th  of 
the  same  year,  in  all  about  two  hundred  acres. 

From  the  date  last  mentioned  until  the  summer  of  1835 
no  other  purchases  were  made  in  this  vicinity  or  township. 
The  Messrs.  Williams  had  made  no  improvements,  and 
"  land-lookers''  had  not  penetrated  the  wilderness  thus  far. 
However,  in  June,  1835,  Elias  Comstock  and  Lewis  Find- 
ley,  from  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  entered  lands  situated  upon 
section  13  (the  former  upon  section  2-1  also).  In -July, 
1835,  the  Messrs.  Williams  entered  additional  land  upon 
the  same  section,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year  Abel 
Millington,  of  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Trumbull  Cary,  of 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Peter  A.  Coudrey,  of  New  York  City, 
and  Elias  Comstock  and  Seth  Beach,  of  Oakland  Co.,  Mich., 
entered  lands  situated  upon  sections  13,  14,  23,  and  24,  all 
within  or  near  the  present  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of 
Owosso. 

Early  in  July,  1835,  the  first  settlement  in  the  northern 
half  of  Shiawassee  County  was  commenced  at  the  "  Big 
Rapids  of  the  Shiawassee,"  the  locality  now  known  as  the 
city  of  Owosso,  by  people  from  Oakland  County.  The 
movement  was  inaugurated  by  Elias  Comstock,  Lewis  Find- 
ley,  and  Kilburn  Bedell  (a  son-in-law  of  Findley),  who 
having  purchased  lands  here  in  June  of  the  same  year, 
were  desirous  of  beginning  immediate  improvements  upon 
them.  Therefore  a  party,  consisting  of  Elias  Comstock, 
Lewis  Findley,  Kilburn  Bedell  and  wife,  John  D.  Overton, 
his  wife  and  one  child,  and  David  Van  Wormer,  with  his 
wife  and  one  child,  left  Pontiac  in  the  first  days  of  July, 
1835,  and  began  their  journey  to  this  point.  Their  house- 
hold effects  and  their  women  and  children  were  mounted 
upon  two  wagons,  drawn  by  two  ox-teams  ;  two  or  three 
cows  were  also  brought  along.  July  4th  was  celebrated  by 
cutting  out  roads.  An  Indian  trail  was  followed  mainly, 
but  frequently  it  was  diverged  from  and  a  route  of  their 
own  cut  out,  in  the  endeavor  to  keep  upon  dry  ground  and 
the  most  direct  course. 

Upon  their  arrival,  Mr.  Findley  immediately  built  a  log 
cabin  and  settled  on  the  east  part  of  the  northwest  frac- 
19 


tional  quarter  of  section  13.  His  son-in-law,  Mr.  Bedell, 
located- a  short  distance  north,  on  section  12,  while  the 
Messrs.  Overton  and  Van  Wormer,  who  were  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Comstock,  erected  and  occupied  a  double  log  house, 
which  stood  near  the  river  (the  lot  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Hon.  Jerome  W.  Turner),  the  latter  being  the  first  build-  ^ 
ing  erected  within  the  limits  of  the  city  proper.  After  his 
tenants  were  comfortably  housed  and  cared  for,  Mr.  Com- 
stock returned  to  Pontiac,  where  he  passed  the  succeeding 
winter. 

During  the  fall  of  1835  another  settler  arrived  at  "The 
Rapids,"  in  the  person  of  Henry  S.  Smith.     He  was  a 
blacksmith    by  trade,  the  second  settler   in    the  county 
(John  I.  Tinkelpaugh  having  been  the  first),  and  first  lo- 
cated just   below  Shiawasseetown   in   the   fall   of   1832, 
where,  associated  with  a  Mr.  Cooley,  and  possessing  a  few 
goods  and  a  barrel  of  whisky,  he  endeavored  to  establish 
an   Indian   trading-post.      His   wife,  a  delicate,   nervous 
woman,  and  five  children  joined  him  in  1833.     The  ven- 
ture at  Shiawasseetown  did  not  succeed  very  well,  however, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1835  he  was  induced  by  Alfred  L.  Wil- 
liams to  remove  and  take  up  his  residence  at  the  "  Big 
Rapids  of  the  Shiawassee."     A  log  cabin  was  erected  on 
land  now  known  as  block  24,  east  side  of  the  race,  and 
when  occupied  by  himself  and  family  he  became  the  first 
settler  on  the  site  of  the  original  village  plat.     The  early 
settlers  remember  him  as  a  genial,  liberal,  and  good  fellow, 
who  had  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 
He  brought  the  first  plow  into  the  county.    He  was  elected 
as  the  first  collector,  and  also  one  of  the  highway  commis- 
sioners in  1837 ;  was  re-elected  to  the  same  oflBces  in  1838, 
and  in  1839  or '40  removed  with  Daniel  Ball  to  Chesaning, 
thence  to  Grand  Rapids,  where  it  is  believed  he  still  resides. 
Of  the  settlers  before  mentioned  we  will  here  add  that 
Lewis  Findley  opened  the  first  farm  in  the  township.     He 
became  the  first  supervisor  of  Owosso  in  1837,  and  again 
filled  the  same  position  in  1841.      After  continuing  as  a 
resident  of  this  township  for  a  number  of  years,  he  finally 
removed  to  Six-Mile  Creek.     His  son-in-law,  Kilburn  Be- 
dell, was  the  first  one  in  the  settlement  to  depart  from  the 
cares   and   troubles  of  this  life.     Apparently  in   perfect 
health,  early  in  March,  1836,  he  proceeded  to  visit  the 
"  Exchange"  for  the  purpose  of  transacting  some  business. 
Returning,  he  arrived  at  a  point  near  the  Byerly  farm,  when 
he  became  seriously  ill.     People  at  the  Van  Wormer  and 
Overton  cabin  were  notified  of  his  condition.   They  at  once 
hastened  to  his  assistance,  placed  him  upon  a  hand-sled, 
and  brought  him  to  the  cabin,  where  all  the  appliances  and 
remedies  at  hand  were  used  for  his  restoration.     But  they 
were  of  no  avail.     He  died  the  same  evening,  and  on  the 
following  day  was  buried  on  his  own  land,  near  the  banks 
of  the  Shiawassee.     Mr.  Comstock,  who  was  then  present 
in  the  settlement,  made  the  cofiin  from   cherry  lumber 
which  Mr.  Bedell  had  brought  in  to  manufacture  into  tables. 
Messrs.  Van  Wormer  and  Overton  continued  as  residents 
here  but  two  or  three  years. 

Hon.  Elias  Comstock,  who  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  this  community  since  1835,  was 
born  at  New  London,  Conn.,  Dec.  18,  1799.  His  father, 
Rev.  Elkanah  Comstock,  was  a  Baptist  clergyman,  and  re- 


146 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


moving  from  Connecticut  to  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  about  1802, 
was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  the  town  of  Berne 
until  1807.  He  then  removed  to  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
serving  as  pastor  of  churches  in  the  towns  of  Scipio  and 
Owosco,  N.  Y.,  until  the  fall  of  1824,  when,  with  his 
family,  he  emigrated  to  Michigan.  He  settled  at  Pontiac, 
and  became  the  first  pastor  of  the  first  Baptist  Church  in 
the  Territory.  His  son,  Elias  Comstock,  received  the  ad- 
vantages afibrded  in  the  common  schools  of  New  York 
State,  and  finally  completed  his  studies  under  the  tuition 
of  Mr.  Ellis,  at  Skaneateles,  N.  Y.  From  his  eighteenth 
year  until  his  removal  to  Michigan,  May,  1823,  he  was 
occupied  as  a  teacher  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Detroit  as  assistant  to 
John  Farmer,  then  principal  of  the  Detroit  Academy.  He 
next  taught  school  in  Pontiac,  which  then  contained  less 
than  a  dozen  families.  In  1824  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  at  Stony  Creek,  Oakland  Co.  The  following 
year  he  returned  to  Pontiac,  where  he  became  the  suc- 
cessor of  John  J.  Jermain,  the  first  merchant  of  that 
place.  He  was  appointed  clerk  of  Oakland  County  by 
Governor  Cass  in  1827,  and  soon  after,  by  the  same 
authority,  became  justice  of  the  peace,  continuing  to  hold 
both  oflBces  for  eight  years.  While  filling  the  positions  of 
clerk  and  justice  he  also  found  time  to  clear  and  cultivate 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  is  now  wholly  within  the  limits 
of  the  city  of  Pontiac. 

Having  sold  his  possessions  in  Pontiac  in  1835,  he  then 
located  land*  on  the  Shiawassee  River,  now  a  part  of  the 
city  of  Owosso.  Like  others,  he  located  his  land  with  the 
idea  that  Owosso  was  to  be  the  county-seat ;  but  the  inter- 
ests of  Detroit  land-owners  prevailed,  and  Corunna  was 
established.  By  the  settlement  of  Messrs.  Overton  and 
Van  Wormer  many  improvements  had  been  made  upon 
his  purchase.  A  dwelling-house  had  been  erected  for  him 
by  Henry  S.  Smith,  and  in  pursuance  of  his  plans,  on  the 
15th  of  May,  1836,  he  settled  his  family  at  "  The  Rapids," 
completing  the  journey  from  the  "  Exchange"  in  a  canoe. 
Holding  an  appointment  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Oakland 
County,  and  as  this  region  was  then  attached  to  that  county 
for  all  judicial  purposes,  he  became  the  first  resident  justice, 
and  the  succeeding  year  (1837)  was  elected  to  the  same 
position  in  the  new  township  of  Owosso.  During  the  years 
1838,  '39,  and  '40  he  served  as  supervisor.  lu  subsequent 
years  he  has  served  as  judge  of  probate,  county  judge,  asso- 
ciate judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  in  1852,  1856,  and 
1858  he  was  chosen  county  clerk  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
Although  more  than  fourscore  years  of  age,  yet  in  apparent 
good  health  and  honored  by  all  who  know  him.  Judge 
Comstock  still  resides  in  the  beautiful  little  city  he  assisted 
to  found  forty-five  years  ago. 

In  the  autumn  of  1835  and  the  winter  succeedins, 
Messrs.  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams  became  active  in  the  pre- 
liminary work  necessary  for  the  establishment  of  a  village 
on  their  purchase.  The  veteran  surveyor  Hervey  Parke, 
of  Pontiac,  came  up  and  platted  the  village  of  Shiawassee 
RapidSjf  on  lands  resting  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river. 


»  See  list  of  land-entries,  history  of  Owosso  township. 
f  Maps  of  this  plat  hare  not  been  preserved. 


A  petition  praying  for  the. right  to  dam  the  Shiawassee 
River  received  favorable  consideration  at  the  hands  of  the 
Territorial  legislative  body  then  in  session,  and  by  an  act 
approved  March  28,  1836,  Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin  0. 
Williams,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  were  authorized  to  build 
a  dam  across  the  Shiawassee  River  four  feet  in  height,  at 
a  place  known  and  described  as  "  The  Rapids,"  on  section 
24,  in  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  No.  2  east.  The 
act  further  specified,  "  They  shall  also  build  a  good  and 
sufficient  lock,  not  less  than  seventy-five  feet  in  length  and 
sixteen  feet  in  width,  for  the  passage  of  boats,  canoes,  rafts, 
and  other  water-craft." 

Early  in  1836  a  bargain  was  completed  between  the 
Messrs.  Williams  and  Daniel  Ball  &  Co.,  whereby  the 
latter  became  the  owners  of  one-third  of  the  village  plat, 
besides  the  water-power  and  the  land  lying  between  the 
proposed  mill-race  and  river.  Silas  and  Daniel  Ball  also 
purchased  of  the  general  government  in  March,  1836,  lands 
situated  upon  sections  24,  25,  and  36.  Daniel  Ball  was  a 
practical  millwright,  an  energetic  business  man,  and,  in  pur- 
suance of  his  project  to  establish  mills  and  to  assist  in 
building  up  a  village,  arrived  here  from  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
early  in  the  autumn  of  1836,  with  a  number  of  families, 
people  frequently  spoken  of  as  "  Ball's  colonists."  Among 
them  were  Rufus  Collier,  Simon  Howell,  John  B.  Griswold, 
William  B.  Hopkins,  Henry  Crooks,  Daniel  Fletcher,  Mr. 
Sweet,  John  Lute,  Mr.  Hilton,  Mr.  Siegel,J  who  had 
served  with  the  First  Napoleon,  and  perhaps  others  whose 
names  are  not  remembered. 

Machinery  for  Ball's  saw-mill,  and  the  greater  portion  of 
the  goods  belonging  to  this  party  of  settlers,  had  been 
shipped  to  Saginaw,  from  whence  it  was  proposed  to  bring 
them  up  the  Shiawassee  on  canoes,  rafts,  etc.  But  on  the 
6th  of  October  a  heavy  and  unseasonable  snow-storm  came 
on,  which,  falling  upon  trees  yet  clothed  in  their  summer 
verdure,  caused  many  of  them  to  bend  and  fall  into  the 
stream,  thus  rendering  navigation  impossible  until  cleared 
away.  In  the  long  delay  which  ensued  before  getting 
their  household  articles  considerable  privation  and  hardship 
was  experienced.  Cabins  were  first  erected,  and  after  the 
various  families  were  comfortably  quartered  therein,  work 
was  commenced  on  the  mill-race.  The  latter,  the  dam,  and 
a  saw-mill  were  completed  sometime  during  the  year  1837. 
Mr.  Ball  occupied  the  log  cabin  built  by  Henry  S.  Smith 
in  1835  for  a  store,  and  it  is  believed  became  the  first 
postmaster  at  about  the  same  time. 

During  the  spring  of  1837,  Alfred  L.  Williams  moved 
from  the  "Exchange"  to  the  village  and  establishpd  the 
store  known  at  that  time  as  "  Williams'  trading-post." 
His  brother,  B.  0.  Williams,  did  not  permanently  settle 
here  until  the  following  year.  The  log  dwelling-house  first 
occupied  by  A.  L.  Williams  stood  just  in  front  of  Dr. 
Barnes'  present  residence.  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams  relates 
that  the  mosquitoes  and  gnats  were  terribly  annoying  dur- 
ing those  days.  Smudges  of  rotten  wood  were  kindled  each 
night,  and  pans  of  the  same  smoking  material  carried  into 
the  rooms.     One  night,  when  the  Williams  brothers  and 


i  His  wife  received  the  credit  of  having  given  birth  to  the  first 
child  (.John  Siegel)  born  in  the  township. 


CITY  OF  OWOSSO. 


147 


two  or  three  workmen  were  occupying  the  building,  the 
busy  insects  were  more  than  usually  on  the  alert;  the 
"  smudge"  seemed  to  have  no  effect  on  them  whatever.  In 
sheer  desperation,  Alfred  L.  Williams  arose  and  threw  a 
handful  of  red  pepper  in  the  fire.  Nearly  suffocated,  the 
inmates  ran  to  open  air  for  their  lives.  The  mosquitoes, 
however,  were  quieted  for  that  night. 

The  year  1837  throughout  was  an  eventful  one  in  the 
history  of  Owosso.  It  witnessed  the  formation  of  the  town- 
ship ;  the  completion  of  the  race ;  an  increased  number  of 
settlers,  in  the  persons  of  Daniel  Gould,  who  became  the 
first  county  surveyor,  Austin  Griffis,  Ebenezer  Gould,  an 
early  merchant  and  lawyer,  and  afterwards  known  to  fame 
as  colonel  of  the  "  Fighting  Fifth"  Michigan  Cavalry,  Anson 
B.,  William,  and  Isaac  M.  Chipman,  Sanford  M.  Green, 
George  Parkill,  and  others ;  and  the  survey  and  location  of 
the  Northern  Railroad,*  which,  in  passing  from  Port  Hu- 
ron, through  Lapeer,  Flint,  Corunna,  Owosso,  Lyons,  Ionia, 
and  Grand  Rapids  to  Lake  Michigan,  was  to  become  one  of 
the  most  important  internal  improvements  ever  adopted  by 
any  State. 

At  this  time,  too  (1837),  the  citizens  of  Owosso  began 
looking  about  them  for  some  means  of  conveying  goods  to 
and  from  their  settlement  •  other  than  by  the  miserable, 
deep-rutted  wagon-roads  leading  to  Pontiac,  Detroit,  and 
Ann  Arbor,  and  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  ap- 
proved March  21,  1837,  the  Owosso  and  Saginaw  Naviga- 
tion Companyf  was  incorporated,  and  Daniel  Ball,  Alfred 
L.  Williams,  Benjamin  O.  Williams,  Lewis  Findley,  Wil- 
liam Gage,  Gardner  D.  Williams,  Norman  Little,  Samuel 
G.  Watson,  Ephraim  S.  Williams,  Elias  Comstock,  Alex- 
ander Hilton,  and  Perry  G.  Gardener  were  named  as  cor- 
porators. .  Their  purpose  was  to  make  navigable  the  waters 
of  the  Shiawassee  River  between  the  two  points  named  in 
the  title  of  the  act.  The  capital  stock  was  to  be  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  divided  into  shares  of  twenty-five 
dollars  each.  Besides  those  mentioned,  other  inhabitants 
of  Owosso  aided  in  finding  means  for  pushing  the  work, — 
notably  Ebenezer  Gould  and  David  D.  Fish. 

This  company  went  forward  and  expended  several  thou- 
sand-dollars and  worked  for  two  years  in  removing  ob- 
structions of  drift-wood  and  fallen  timber,  principally  be- 
tween Chesaning  and  Bad  River.  Tow-paths,  stone  dams, 
and  the  many  other  expedients  necessary  to  render  the  river 
navigable  to  Saginaw  were  adopted.  Messrs.  Daniel  Ball 
and  Sanford  M.  Green  worked  in  the  water  beside  their 
men  from  daylight  till  dark,  meanwhile  tormented  by  mos- 
quitoes- continuously.      One  of  their  foremen,  John  B. 


»  In  1838-39  much  of  this  proposed  line  was  cleared  and  grubbed 
out,  and  considerable  grading  was  done  at  various  points  along  the 
line.  But  the  scheme  was  abandoned  in  the  latter  year,  and  except 
where  it  has  since  been  used  as  the  "  Northern  Wagon-Koad"  the 
money  thus'cxpended  by  the  State  was  thrown  away. 

f  Another  company  under  the  same  name  was  empowered  by  an 
aot  of  the  Legislature,  approved  May  15,  1846,  to  continue  the  work 
in  the  endeavor  to  render  navigable  the  Shiawassee.  Those  named  in 
the  act  as  commissioners  were  Amos  Gould,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  Ben- 
jamin 0.  Williams,  Elias  Comstock,  Ebenezer  C.  Kimberly,  Lemuel 
Castle,  Isaac  Gale,  George  W.  Slooumb,  Edward  L.  Ament,  Anson  B. 
Chipman,  and  John  B.  Barnes.  But  after  some  further  expenditure 
of  time  and  material  the  project  was  abandoned. 


Griswold,  also  greatly  aided  their  efforts.  At  that  time,  to 
fail  in  this  work  was  thought  fatal  to  the  success  of  set- 
tling the  country,  as  the  expense  of  hauling  over  the  terri- 
ble wagon-roads  was  ruinous  to  business  men.  The  com- 
pany finally  succeeded  in  rendering  the  river  navigable  for 
flat-bottomed  boats,  and  one  Durham  boat  was  built  by 
Ebenezer  Gould  and  others,  which  was  capable  of  carrying 
and  did  carry  over  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour  at  one 
cargo  from  Owosso  to  Saginaw.  Mr.  B .  0.  Williams,  from 
whose  published  pioneer  recollections  we  have  gathered  the 
information  concerning  the  navigation  of  the  Siiiawassee, 
says  that  several  scows  were  first  built,  with  foot-  or  run- 
ning-boards at  each  side  for  the  boatmen  to  pole  the  boat 
up  the  river.  From  Chesaning  a  horse  was  used  for  tow- 
ing, occasionally  jumping  the  horse  upon  the  bow  of  the 
boat  to  cross  him  over  the  river  when  the  opposite  bank 
afforded  better  facilities. 

In  1838,  Messrs.  Ebenezer  Gould  and  David  D.  Fish 
established  themselves  as  merchants  in  the  village.  They 
were  really  the  first,  if  we  except  the  small  stock  kept  by 
Daniel  Ball  for  the  accommodation  mainly  of  his  workmen, 
and  the  goods  brought  here  by  A.  L.  Williams  from  his 
trading-post,  "  The  Exchange." 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1838,  the  land  now  known  as 
the  original  platj  of  the  village  of  Owosso  was  surveyed 
and  mapped  by  Daniel  Gould,  surveyor,  at  the  instance  of 
Alfred  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  proprietors.  An  explana- 
tory note  of  the  surveyor  says,  "  This  plat  includes  the  fol- 
lowing parcels  of  land:  the  northeast  fraction  of  the 
northeast  fractional  quarter  of  fractional  section  24;  the 
southeast  fractional  quarter  of  fractional  section  No.  13,  in 
township  7  north,  range  2  east ;  and  the  west  part  of  the 
southwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  No.  18,  in  township 
No.  7  north,  of  range  No.  3  east." 

Grounds  set  aside  for  public  uses  were  "  Fayette  Square" 
and  the  "  burying-ground."  The  streets,  as  shown  by  the 
original  map,  ran  north  and  south,  east  and  west.  Those 
running  east  and  west  are  North,  Oliver,  Williams,  Mason, 
Exchange,  Main,  and  Comstock.  Those  running  north  and 
south.  Mulberry,  Pine,  Adams,  Water,  Ball,  Washington, 
Park,  Saginaw,  and  Hickory.  All  are  four  rods  wide  ex- 
cept Washington  and  Main  Streets,  and  Exchange  Street 
as  far  west  as  Water,  which  are  six  rods  in  width. 

Dr.  S.  W.  Pattison,  the  first  practicing  physician  to  re- 
side in  the  county,  came  from  Fentonville,  Genesee  Co., 
and  settled  in  Owosso  in  1839.  Dr.  Joseph  P.  Roberts 
had  previously  settled  in  the  territory  now  known  as  Perry 
township,  but  he  devoted  all  his  energies  to  farming.  He 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  there,  and  possessed  a  well- 
cultivated  mind.  Before  Dr.  Pattison  came  to  Owosso,  the 
early  settlers,  in  cases  of  dire  emergency,  sent  to  Fenton- 
ville, to  Grand  Blanc,  and  to  Flint  for  physicians.  For  the 
treatment  of  ordinary  cases  of  fevers,  fever  and  ague,  etc., 

J  Additions  to  the  original  plat  have  been  made  by  Louisa  A.  Gould's 
subdivision  of  out-lots  1  and  4,  June  30, 1856;  S.  K.  Barnes,  July, 
1856 ;  Alfred  L.  Williams,  Oct.  22, 1856 ;  Lucy  L.  Comstock,  Aug.  16, 
1857;  LouisaMerell,  Aug.l8, 1857;  Williams  &  Lyon,  October,  1857 ; 
Charles  L.  Goodhue,  Jan.  9,  1860 ;  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams'  subdi- 
vision of  out-lots  6  and  7,  June  30,  1864 ;  Jennett  H.  Kelly,  Sept.  3, 
1866;  Erastus  Barnes,  June  4  and  5,  1868;  Mary  A.  Chipman,  May 
25,  1869;  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  Sept.  13,  1872. 


148 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


many  of  the  pioneers  were  provided  with  lancets  and  common 
medicines,  and  in  their  use  became  quite  expert.  Particu- 
larly was  this  the  case  with  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams,  who  during 
the  early  years  preceding  the  settlement  of  physicians 
treated  many  patients  successfully. 

In  1839  the  township  voted  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  bridge  across  the  river  at  the 
Washington  Street  crossing,  and  during  the  same  year 
Messrs.  Ball,  Green  &  Co.  erected  the  first  grist-mill.  This 
was  a  great  acquisition  to  this  portion  of  the  country,  as 
previously  no  grist-mills  were  nearer  than  the  "  Thread 
Mill"  in  Flint.  Other  business  enterprises,  such  as  wool- 
carding  and  cloth-dressing  mills,  an  iron-furnace,  and  various 
small  mechanical  shops,  soon  followed,  and  the  village 
slowly  yet  steadily  gained  in  importance  and  population. 

It  would  be  a  matter  of  impossibility  at  this  time  to  follow 
in  close  chronological  order  the  further  history  of  Owosso, 
so  far  as  relates  to  the  names  of  inhabitants,  the  precise 
date  of  their  settlement,  and  the  gradual  development  of 
business  interests.  It  will  not  be  attempted  therefore, 
other  than  to  give  the  names  of  resident  tax-payers  at  two  or 
three  difierent  intervals  of  time. 

In  1844  the  tax-paying  residents  of  the  village  of 
Owosso,  alphabetically  arranged,  were 


Ament,  Edward  L.,  news- 
paper publisher. 

Ament,  Winfield  S.,  black- 
smith. 

Barnes,  John  B.,  physician. 

Barnes,  Erastus. 

Becker,  H.  W. 

Comstock,  Elias. 

Comstock  &  Pattison,  mer- 
chants. 

Chipman,  Anson  B. 

Chipman,  I.  M. 

Comstock,  Luther. 

Collier,  Bufus. 

Collier,  Orrin. 

Carr,  William   A.,  cabinet- 


Chipman,  William. 

Crooks,  Henry. 

Casper,  Felix,  wool-carding, 
etc. 

Conrad,  Justus. 

Fletcher,  Daniel,  wagon- 
maker. 

Foot,  Philip. 

Goodhue,  Charles  L.,  mer- 
chant. 

Goodhue,  J.  M. 

Griffis,  Austin,  saw-mill. 

Griffis  &  Whitcomb. 

Griffis,  Alanson,  cooper. 

Graham,  J.  N.,  physician. 

Gould,  Daniel,  surveyor. 


Gould,  Daniel,  &  Co.,  fur- 
nace. 

Gould,  Amos,  attorney  and 
owner  of  grist-mill. 

Gould,  Amos,  and  others, 
water-power,  and  all  the 
land  between  the  mill- 
race  and  river,  about  fif- 
teen acres. 

George,  Oscar. 

Hardy,  Seth,  clergyman. 

Howell,  Simon. 

Moses,  Charles  M. 

McGilvra,  Daniel. 

Morton,  Benoni. 

Pattison,  Samuel  W.,  phy- 
sician. 

Perkins,  Sprague,  brick- 
maker. 

Parkill,  George,  carpenter. 

Phillips,  John  G. 

Parkill,  Charles  P.,  an  early 
teacher. 

Roberts,  J.  P. 

Smith,  L.  v.,  carpenter. 

Simons,  William. 

Tyler,  David  F.,  blacksmith. 

Tillotson,  Matthew  N.,  mer- 
chant. 

Williams,  Alfred  L. 

Williams,  Benjamin  0. 

Whitcomb,  Samuel  H. 

Whitlock,  Joseph. 


Additional  residents  mentioned  in  1850  were  James  M. 
Williams,  William  H.  Keytes,  David  IngersoU,  Dr.  Charles 
T.  Disbrow,  David  W.  Wheeler,  Ebenezer  Gould,  Samuel 
Wallace,  Ira  Merell,  Robert  G.  Martin,  Arthur  Keytes, 
Dwight  Dimmick,  Jesse  H.  Quackenbush,  Lucius  G. 
Hammond,  George  L.  Hall,  George  Jones,  Alexander 
Clagherty,  William  R.  Chipman,  Thomas  D.  Dewey,  Ran- 
dolph L.  Stewart,  Joseph  Hedges  &  Co.  (woolen-mills), 
Merrill  H.  Clark,  D.  Stewart  &  Co.,  George  W.  Collier, 
William  Smith,  and  Ezekiel  W.  Stickney. 

CITY  INCORPORATION   AND  ORGANIZATION. 

By  the  completion  of  a  portion  of  the  lines  of  the  Detroit 
and  Milwaukee  Railroad  in  1856,  and  the  Amboy,  Lansing 
and  Traverse  Bay  road  in  1862,  and  the  activity  created  in 
consequence  of  Owosso  becoming  a  railroad  junction,  the 
people  concluded  that  for  their  better  government  a  city 
charter  was  necessary.  The  village  then  contained  about 
one  thousand  inhabitants,  and  in  accordance  with  their 
wishes,  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature  approved  Feb.  15, 
1859,  the  city  of  Owosso  was  created. 

Extracts  from  that  act  describe  its  original  and  present 
boundaries,  etc.,  as  follows  : 

"  That  so  much  of  the  townships  of  Owosso  and  Cale- 
donia, in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  as  are  included  in  the 
following  territory,  to  wit:  Sections  13  and  24,  and  the 
east  half  of  sections  14  and  23  in  township  7,  north  of 
range  No.  2  east,  and  also  the  west  half  of  sections  18  and 
19  in  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  No.  3  east,  being  in 
the  county  of  Shiawassee,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off 
from  the  said  townships  of  Owosso  and  Caledonia  and  de- 
clared to  be  a  city,  by  the  name  of  '  the  City  of  Owosso,' 
by  which  name  it  shall  hereafter  be  known." 

The  city  was  divided  into  four  wards,  whose  boundaries 
were  defined  as  follows :  The  First  Ward  to  include  that  por- 
tion lying  north  of  the  centre  of  Main  Street  and  west  of 
Washington  Street.  The  Second  Ward  all  that  portion 
lying  north  of  the  centre  of  Main  Street  and  east  of  the 
centre  of  Washington  Street.  The  Third  Ward  all  that  por- 
tion lying  south  of  the  centre  of  Main  Street  and  east  of 
the  centre  of  Washington  Street ;  while  the  Fourth  Ward 
embraced  all  that  portion  lying  south  of  the  centre  of  Main 
Street  and  west  of  the  centre  of  Washington  Street. 

After  arranging  for  the  election  and  appointment  of 
officers,  designating  their  duties,  and  the  enactment  of 
various  laws  for  the  government  of  the  city,  it  was  further 
ordered  that  the  first  election  under  the  charter  should  be 
held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1859.  The  polling- 
places  designated  were  "  In  the  First  Ward,  at  the  inn  kept 
by  Jacob  Aberle ;  in  the  Second  Ward,  at  the  inn  kept  by 
Alfred  Stewart ;  in  the  Third  Ward,  at  the  store  now  kept 
by  William  Goff ;  in  the  Fourth  Ward,  at  the  inn  kept  by 
S.  J.  Harding." 

FIRST  CHARTER  ELECTION. 
Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  foregoing  act,  the  elec- 
tors assembled  at  their  respective  polling-places  on  Monday, 
April  4,  1859,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  city  officers,  and 
as  a  result  the  following-named  officers  were  declared  elected : 
Amos  Gould,  Mayor ;  John  N.  IngersoU,  Clerk  ;  Daniel 


CITY   OF  OWOSSO. 


149 


Lyon,  Treasurer ;  E.  W.  Barnes,  Supervisor  of  the  First 
District ;  Blisha  Leach,  Supervisor  of  the  Second  District ; 
Charles  M.  Moses,  Charles  L.  Goodhue,  Aldermen  of  the 
First  Ward;  Daniel  L.  Thorpe,  Thomas  D.  Dewey,  Alder- 
men of  the  Second  Ward  ;  John  Gutekunst,  George  K. 
Black,  Aldermen  of  the  Third  Ward ;  Stillman  J.  Harding, 
Eli  D.  Gregory,  Aldermen  of  the  Fourth  Ward  ;  Ira  Mer- 
ell.  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  Second  District ;  George 
K.  Newcombe,  Amos  M.  Kellogg,  School  Inspectors ;  Daniel 
Wait,  M.  W.  Quackenbush,  Directors  of  the  Poor;  Robert 
Hodgkins,  of  the  First  District,  and  Ephraim  Gould,  of  the 
Second  District,  Constables. 

PIEST   CITY   ASSESSMENT. 

In  June,  1859,  the  first  assessment  was  made  on  the 
people  residing  within  the  city's  corporate  limits,  and  their 
names,*  arranged  alphabetically,  were : 


Amnet,  W.  S. 
Andrews,  H.  S. 
Andrus,  W.  H. 
Aberle,  Jacob. 

Ayers, . 

Alraandinger,  J.  D. 
Beckel  &  Co. 
Byerly,  Adam  H. 
Bradley,  H.  H. 
Bennett,  J.  S. 
Brooks,  Daniel. 
Bush,  Frank. 
Bush,  G.  &  B. 
Burnham,  W.  D. 
Burpee,  M.  W. 
Bagg,  H.  C. 
Bagg,  C.  C. 

Bagg,  J.  H. 

Barnes,  Erastus. 

Brynell,  H.  D. 

Barnes,  Mrs.  S.  K. 

Babeock,  Wm.  F. 

Baldwin,  George. 

Black,  Geo.  R. 

Bellinger,  A.  D. 

Barnes,  E.  W. 

Beebe,  A.  M. 

Beebe,  Charles  M. 

Barnum,  Mrs.  J.  A. 

Burgess,  F.  W. 

Comstock,  Elias. 

Comstock,  L.  R. 

Case,  William. 

Cobb,  D.  J. 

Chipman,  A.  B. 

Cbipman,  M. 

Collier,  Geo.  W. 

Collier,  Mrs.  R. 

Collier,  C.  H. 


Clark,  Robert. 
Chamberlin,  Levi. 
Chapel,  G.  W. 
Corbin,  Mrs.  W. 
Chipman,  Wm.  R. 
Caille,  Joseph. 
Carr,  W.  A. 
Colar,  Jacob. 
Colt,  Mrs.  M. 
Cornelius,  J.  W. 
Dewey  &  Stewart. 
Dewey,  T.  D. 
Davis,  Lewis  B. 
Dimmick,  D. 
Decker,  S.  C. 
Fletcher,  William. 
Gutekunst,  John. 
Guile,  J.  W. 
Gilbert,  Thomas. 

Gute,  Fred. 

Goodburn,  E. 
Gregory,  E.  D. 

Gould,  L.  A. 

Gould,  Amos. 

Gould  &  Co. 

Gould,  Mrs.  I.  H. 

Gould,  D. 

Gould  &  Todd. 

Goodhue,  C.  L. 

Goodhue,  S.  H. 

Howell,  Simon. 

Hurgenhaus,  H. 

Hedges,  Joseph. 

Hughes,  Geo. 

Hodgkins,  Robert. 

Hakes,  S.  W. 

Horton,  J. 

Harding,  Stillman  J. 

Holman,  Charles. 


»  These  names  are  copied  from  the  roll.    If  any  are  misspelled  the 
errors  must  be  attributed  to  the  assessor. 


Heartstuff,"!"  John.  Robinson,  W.  E. 

Hitchcock  &  Bro.  Randall,  A.  M. 

Howard,  Charles.  Randall,  E.  P. 

Harmon  &  Retan.  Russell,  John. 

Howe,  E.  L.  Retan,  B.  L. 

IngersoU,  D.  Rice,  John. 

Ingersoll,  Wm.  Rushton,  Mrs.  J. 

IngersoU,  Jno.  N.  Reynus,  Russell. 

Josenhauns,  G.  Stewart,  John. 

Knill,  Henry.  Stewart,  M.  L. 

Kellogg,  Amos  M.  Smith,  E. 

Kingsland,  Geo.  Smith  &  Yates. 

Keytes,  Wm.  H.  Shattuck,  Charles. 

Kelly,  John.  Secord,  M. 

Kitredge,  Frank.  Sly,  Wm. 

Lyon,  W.  J.  Struber,  L. 

Leach,  Elisha.  Spencer,  Laura. 

Lamunion,  Abel.  Stewart,  A. 

Lyon,  Daniel.  Simmons,  C.  B. 

Lyon,  Joel.  Smith,  Wm. 

Lewis,  Hiram  L.  StiUwelJ,  Mrs.  M. 

Laubcngayer,  Jno.  F.  Stewart,  R.  L. 

Laubengayer,  J.  B.  Sherman,  Mrs.  Louisa. 

Mullen,  D.  J.  Taylor,  Benj.  P. 

Moss,  Morris.  To'dd,  Edwin  A. 

McBain,  Newton.  Thorpe,  Daniel  L. 

Murray,  John.  Van  Doren,  J.  B. 

Miller,  A.  Van  Doren,  J.  D. 

Miller,  John  F.  Weeks,  D. 

Mann,  J.  W.  Whitman,  E.  A. 

Merell,  Ira.  Whalen,  Mrs.  Sarah. 

Mann  &  Gould.  Williams,  A.  L. 

Moses,  Charles  M.  Williams,  B.  D. 

Morris,  W.  M.  Williams  &  Bro. 

Newcomb,  Geo.  K.  Wait,  Daniel. 

Osborn,  L.  E.  Williams,  A.  L.  (agent). 

Phillipson,  C.  Williams  &  Co. 

Pangburn,  J.  White,  E.  E. 

Post,  A.  White,  E.  E.  &  Bro. 

Perry,  J.  B.  Young,  James  H. 

Parsons,  H.  Young,  Russell. 

Palmer,  J.  C.  Yates,  Joseph. 

Quackenbush,  M.  W. 

The  total  amount  of  tax  levied  in  that  year  was 
$3984.11,  applied  to  the  following  purposes  : 

State $257.99 

County 382.12 

City 990-00 

School  district 2148.25 

"       library 25.00 

Howard  Street  grading 95.00 

Highways ^•6' 

Collectors'  commissions 80.08 

$3984.11 

Since  its  incorporation,  and  especially  during  the  last 
decade,  many  and  important  improvements  have  been  made. 
Streets  have  been  filled  and  graded,  miles  of  side-walks  laid, 
a  fire  department  created,  and  the  many  other  details  neces- 
sary to  the  health  and  comfort  of  its  citizens  have  been 
attended  to  by  efficient  municipal  authorities. 

t  Probably  Hartsuff. 


150 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Matters  pertaining  to  its  present  manufacturing  and 
banking  interests,  churches,  secret  associations,  etc.,  will  be 
found  upon  other  pages. 

LIST   OF  CITY   OFFICERS. 

The  following  lists  show  the  names  of  mayors,  clerks, 
treasurers,  supervisors,  justices  of  the  peace,  and  aldermen 
elected  during  the  years  from  1860  to  1880,  inclusive: 

Mayors.  Clerks.  Treasurers. 

1860.  Amos  Gould.  John  N.  Ingersoll.     Anson  E.  Chipman. 

1861.  Adam  H.  Byerly.  And'w  J.  Patterson.  "  " 

1862.  Benj.  0.  Williams.  "  "  "  " 

1863.  Charles  M.  Moses.  "  ".  "  " 
1864.-  Josiah  Turner. 

1865.  " 

1866.  John  B.  Barnes. 

1867.  Anson  B.  Chipman.  And'w  J.  Patterson 

1868.  Thomas  D.  Dewey.  "  " 

1869.  Benj.  F.  Taylor.  "  " 

1870.  Edwin  A.  Todd.  "  " 

1871.  Eli  D.  Gregory.  Henry  W.  Parker. 

1872.  David  Gould.  Jones  S.  Davis. 

1873.  "  "  "  " 

1874.  "  "  Newton  Baldwin. 

1875.  Wm.  M.  Kilpatrick.         "  " 

1876.  And'w  J.  Patterson.  George  Colt. 

1877.  James  Osburn.  "  "  " 

1878.  "  "  Tliomas  V.  Perkins.         "  ' 

1879.  Jerome  W.  Turner.  "  "  George  Colt. 

1880.  Wm.  A.  Woodard.      George  W.  Loring.     '      "         " 


H.  L.  Stewart.®  Stillman  J.  Harding. 

Charles  Y.  Osburn.  "  " 

Henry  B.  Gregory.     Andrew  G.  Kelso. 


H.  B.  Gates. 
Henry  C.  Knill. 
H.  B.  Gates. 


Newton  Baldwin. 


ALDERMEN. 


18C0. 
1861. 
1862. 
1803. 
1864. 
1866. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1809. 

1870. 
1871. 

1872. 
1873. 
1874. 

1876. 
1870. 

1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 


First  Ward. 
E.  L.  Stewart. 
Chos.  M.  Moses. 
Gilbert  R.  Lyon. 
John  Stewart. 
Eii  D.  Gregory. 
1.  M.  Chipman. 
Edwin  N.  Knapp. 
1.  M.  Chipman. 
Cephas  W.  Clapp. 
James  0;jburn. 

Geo.  B.  Hughes. 
Erastus  E.  White. 
John  W.  Thorn. 
James  Osburn. 
George  Fauth. 
W.  H.  Andrus. 

Geo,  Carpenter. 
Chas.  A.  Osburn. 

Nath.  A.  Finch. 
Edwin  A.  Todd. 
Fred.  Osburn. 
Thomas  Nelan. 


Second  Ward. 
Tlios.  D.  Dewey. 
Newton  Baldwin. 
Daniel  Lyon. 
Joseph  J.  Austin. 
Eobt.  W.  Durkee. 
Benj.  F.  Taylor. 
G.  L.  Hitchcock. 
M.  A,  Gregory.f 
George  R,  Black. 
Geo.  W.  Loring. 
Arthur  McHardy. 
Chas.  P.  Parker. 
C.  W.  Hastings. 


Third  Ward. 
R.  0.  Beckwith. 
John  Gutekunst. 
E.  C.  Beckwith. 
John  Gutekunst. 
Wm.  S.  Boerem. 
John  Gutekunst. 
Darius  Elwell. 
John  Gute. 
Edgar  P.  Byerly. 
H.H.  Waters. 

Edgar  P.  Byerly. 
B.  C.  Beckwith. 


Benj.  8.  Eutan.      L.  C.  Brewer. 
Henry  B  Gregory.  John  Gute. 
Benj.  S.  Eutan.  "         " 

C.  A.  Baldwin.       Geo.  W.  Chapel. 
Geo.  W.  Loring.    J.  F.  Wilder- 

muth. 
Arthur  McHardy.  Geo,  W.  Chapel. 
Oscar  Wells.  Edgar  P.  Byerly, 

Chas.  Lawrence.    W,  J,  Westlake. 
Oscar  Wells,  F.  Wildermutb. 


SUPERVISORS. 
First  District.  Second  District. 

1860.  Benjamin  W.  Davis.  M.  W.  Quackenbush. 

1861.  Benj.  0.  Williams.         "  " 

1862.  Ebenezer  Gould.         Charles  A.  Baldwin. 

1863.  George  P.  Moses.  "  " 

1864.  Geo.  L.  Hitchcock.  "  " 

1865.  "  " 


Fourth  Ward. 
Eli  D.  Gregory. 
Daniel  Wait. 
Jos.  J.  Newman. 
J.  B,  Van  Doren, 
Edwin  L.  Howe. 
Benj.  F,  Eobbius. 
M.  Hansnian. 
James  F.  Yeats. 
Leonard  L.  Howe. 
N.  H.  Welcher. 

William  Lewis. 
Leonard  L.  Howe. 

D.  L.  Densmore, 
Leonard  L.  Howe. 
A.  J.  Patterson. 
Eli  D.  Gregory. 
James  F.  Yeats. 
Wm.J.  Miller. 

J.  F.  Wolverton. 
Eli  D.  Gregory. 
James  F.  Yeats. 
Elliott  V.  Smith. 


At  Largo. 


1866.  Ebenezer  Gould. 

1867.  Ezekiel  Salisbury. 

1868.  Isaac  S.  Bockee. 

1869.  "  " 

1870.  David  Gould. 

1871.  "         " 


Charles  B.  Shattuck. 
it  it 

J.  L.  Quackenbush. 
Adam  H.  Byerly. 


Charles  Y.  Osburn. 


*  Henry  B.  Gregory  appointed  to  fill  vacancy,  May  16,  1864. 
t  George  W.  Loring  elected  to  fill  vacancy,  April  20,  1868. 


First  District.  Second  District.  At  Large. 

1872.  Ezekiel  Salisbury.      Adam  H.  Byerly.  John  H.  Champion. 

1873.  "  "  "  "  Wm.  M.  Kilpatrick. 

1874.  "  "  "  " 

1876.        "  "  "  "  Gilbert  R.  Lyon. 

1876.  Tim.  M.  Templeton.  Henry  W.  Parker.  Wm.  M.  Kilpatrick. 

1877.  "  "         Chas.  A.  Baldwin.  Adam  II.  Byerly. 

1878.  Leonard  L.  Howe.  "  "  "  " 

1879.  Nathaniel  A.  Finch.         "  "  Stearns  F.  Smith. 

1880.  "  "  "  "  "  " 

JUSTICES  OP   THE  PEACE. 


First  District. 
1861.  Eliae  Corastook. 
1865.  John  B.  Van  Doren. 
1869.  Hiram  L.  Chipman. 
1873.  John  B.  Van  Doren. 
1877.  Lawrence  Van  Dusen. 


Second  District. 
1863.  IraMerell. 
1867.     "         "■ 
1871.  Benjamin  F.  Taylor. 
1875.  "  " 

1879.  "  " 


FIEE   DEPAKTMENT  A2SID  WATER  SUPPLY. 

Prior  to  the  autumn  of  1871  the  city  possessed  no  fire 
apparatus  of  any  description,  although  the  Common  Council 
had  voted  upon  the  matter  frequently.  During  the  time 
mentioned,  however,  fifty  leather  fire-buckets  and  some 
eight  or  ten  ladders  were  procured.  In  the  spring  of  1870 
a  hook-and-ladder  truck  and  eight  Babcock  fire-extinguish- 
ers were  purchased.  A  fire  company — of  which  Frederick 
Wildermuth  was  foreman — was  organized  at  about  the  same 
time.  But  the  real  organization  of  Owosso's  fire  department 
did  not  take  place  until  1876. 

In  February  of  that  year  a  Silsby  steam  fire-engine  was 
purchased,  and  in  April  following  city  fire  department 
ofiicers  were  elected.  Centennial  Engine  Company,  Defi- 
ance Hose  Company,  No.  1,  Reliance  Hose  Company,  No.  2, 
and  Phoenix  Hook-and-Ladder  Company  were  regularly 
organized  during  the  same  year. 

Following  are  lists  of  city  and  company  fire  department 
officers  for  the  years  of  1876  to  1880,  inclusive : 

CitT/,  1876. — ThomasD.  Dewey,  Chief  Engineer;  James 
Osburn,  First  Assistant ;  Henry  B.  Gregory,  Second  Assist- 
ant ;  Moses  Keytes,  Treasurer ;  Newton  McBain,  Secretary. 

1877-79. — Thomas  D.  Dewey,  Chief  Engineer;  James 
Calkins,  First  Assistant ;  John  D.  Evens,  Second  Assist- 
ant. 

1880.— Nathaniel  A.  Finch,  Chief  Engineer ;  Henry  A. 
Woodard,  First  Assistant ;  William  Douglass,  Second  As- 
sistant ;  Warren  A.  Woodard,  Secretary ;  Moses  Keytes, 
Treasurer. 

Centennial  Engine  Company,  No.  .  .  .  :  1876. — A.  E. 
McCullom,J  Foreman;  George  W.  Collier,  Assistant  Fore- 
man ;  L.  A.  Hamblin,  Secretary  ;  H.  B.  Gates,  Treasurer ; 
Walter  A.  Osborn,  Engineer ;  George  W.  Collier,  Assistant 
Engineer. 

1877. — George  W.  Collier,  Foreman  ;  Moses  Keytes, 
Assistant  Foreman  ;  Walter  A.  Osborn,  Engineer. 

1878-79. — Moses  Keytes,  Foreman  ;  Warren  A.  Wood- 
ard, Assistant  Foreman  ;  Walter  A.  Osborn,-  Engineer. 

1880. — Moses  Keytes,  Foreman  ;  Warren  A.  Woodard, 
Assistant  Foreman  ;  George  B.  Hughes,  Treasurer ;  George 
W.  Loring,  Secretary  ;  Walter  A.  Osborn,  Engineer ;  Frank 

%  McCullom  resigned  in  May,  1876,  when  George  W.  Collier  was 
elected  foreman  and  Charles  A.  Baldwin  assistant  foreman. 


la 
§1 

a: 
^^ 


CITY   OF  OWOSSO. 


151 


Cherry,  Assistant   Engineer;    Charles   Owen  and   Frank 
Cherry,  Firemen. 

Phoenix  Hoolc-and- Ladder  Company :  1876. — J.  Fred. 
Wildermuth,  Foreman  ;  Charles  W.  Matthews,  Assistant 
Foreman ;  John  F.  Wolverton,  Secretary ;  J.  Fred.  Wil- 
dermuth, Treasurer.  These  officers  have  served  continu- 
ously to  the  present  time. 

Defiance  Hose  Company,  No.  1 :  1876-78. — Albert  Chip- 
man,  Foreman  ;  D.  Dwight,  Assistant  Foreman  ;  George  H. 
Bedford,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

1879-80 D.  Dwight,  Foreman  ;  D.  A.  Barnum,  As- 
sistant Foreman  ;  George  H.  Bedford,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer. 

Reliance  Hose  Company:  1876-79. — Nathaniel  A. 
Finch,  Foreman  ;  John  S.  Hoyt,  Assistant  Foreman  ;  Isaac 
S.  Cooper,  Secretary ;  George  Smith,  Treasurer. 

1880. — Thomas  J.  Horsman,  Foreman ;  John  S.  Hoyt, 
Assistant  Foreman  ;  Isaac  S.  Cooper,  Secretary  ;  and  Fred- 
erick Osburn,  Treasurer. 

The  city  fire  apparatus,  including  two  thousand  feet  of 
hose,  is  in  good  condition,  and  its  water-supply,  in  case  of 
need,  is  derived  from  the  river  and  mill-race,  also  from  two 
capacious  cisterns  where  a  large  quantity  is  stored.  Water 
for  drinking  and  culinary  uses  is  obtained  from  wells. 

MILLS  AND  MANUFACTURING. 
Among  the  manufacturing  interests  which  once  had  an 
existence  in  Owosso,  but  have  now  passed  away,  was  that 
carried  on  in  the  pioneer  saw-mill  erected  by  Daniel  Ball 
&  Co.,  in  1837  ;  the  grist-mill  built  by  Ball,  Green  &  Co., 
in  1839,  which  burned  ten  years  later;  Felix  Casper's 
vrool-carding  and  cloth-dressing  works,  established  some 
time  between  1840  and  1844,  in  a  building  now  forming 
part  of  Woodard's  furniture-manufactory  and  planing-mills ; 
the  woolen-mill  which  burned  in  1867  ;  and  the  building 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  "  Owosso  Woolen  Manufac- 
turing Company,"  which  was  built  in  1867,  and  burned 
in  1873.  These  mills  all  deserve  a  place  in  history,  and 
some  of  them  have  been  alluded  to  on  previous  pages. 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  to-day  are  represented  as 
follows:  The  flouring-mill  of  Messrs.  Dewey  ■&  Stewart 
was  established  by  them  in  1850.  It  stands  near  the  foot 
of  the  mill-race,  below  and  on  the  opposite  side  from  the 
site  of  the  old  grist-mill.  It  hegan  operations  with  two 
run  of  stones.  Gradual  additions  have  been  made  to  its 
capacity  until  it  now  has  six  run  of  stones,  and  will  flour 
sixty  bushels  of  wheat  per  hour.  Power  is  derived  from 
both  water  and  steam.  They  have  in  connection,  also,  a 
saw-  and  feed-mill,  which  is  carried  on  in  a  building  erected 
in  1863  as  a  saw-  and  plaster-mill. 

Messrs.  Fletcher  &  Koberts'  grist-mill  was  built  in  1871, 
the  present  owners  always  having  had  a  controlling  interest. 
Steam-power  is  used,  and  the  work— chiefly  custom— is  per- 
formed by  two  run  of  stones. 

L.  B.  Woodard's  sash-,  blind-,  and  door-manufactory,  in 
connection  with  his  lumber-yard,  has  been  operated  by  him 
since  1866.  Previously  it  had  been  controlled  by  the 
Messrs.  White  Brothers,  who  flrst  established  the  business. 
Thirty  men  are  employed,  and  his  annual  sales  are  from 
fifty  thousand  dollars  to  seventy- five  thousand  dollars. 


The  Owosso  Foundry  and  Machine-Shop  of  Messrs. 
Yeats  &  Osborn  came  into  their  possession  in  1876.  This 
is  the  site  of  the  original  furnace  or  foundry  established  by 
Daniel  Gould  &  Co.  previous  to  1844.  Meanwhile  it  has 
been  owned,  enlarged,  and  occupied  by  many  parties.  The 
business  of  the  present  consists  in  general  repairing  and  the 
manufacture  of  pumps,  plows,  and  various  agricultural  im- 
plements. Seven  men  are  steadily  employed,  and  power  is 
derived  from  the  Shiawassee  River. 

The  Shiawassee  Iron- Works  were  established  by  Ran- 
dolph L.  Stewart  about  1865.  The  present  firm,  Messrs. 
Howell,  Cossitt  &  Bateman,  came  into  possession  in  1869. 
Their  business  is  general  repairing,  the  manufacture  of  en- 
gines and  agricultural  implements.  From  five  to  ten  men 
are  employed.  The  building  occupied  is  the  one  formerly 
used  by  Russell  Young  as  a  sash-,  door-,  and  blind-manu- 
factory. 

George  W.  Oakes'  sash-,-  door-,  and  blind-manufactory  was 
established  by  himself,  July  1, 1879.  He  employs  six  men. 
The  Union  Mattress  Company,  which  manufactures  ex- 
celsior, husk,  hair,  and  moss  mattresses,  was  established  in 
June,  1879.  Seven  men  and  women  are  given  employment. 
The  Owosso  Handle-Factory,  now  controlled  by  Mason 
Wood  &  Co.,  was  established  by  Mason  Wood  and  Charles 
Osborn  in  1872.  They  continued  the  business  about  six 
months,  when  finding  that  with  their  facilities  they  could 
not  successfully  compete  with  others,  operations  were  dis- 
continued. Mr.  Wood  improved  the  lathes  in  use,  and 
a^ain  successfully  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds 
of  handles  of  irregular  forms.'  He  has  since  had  several 
partners.  In  the  fall  of  1879,  David  Gould  assumed  an 
interest,  and  under  the  present  firm-name  eight  men  are 
employed,  and  the  most  complete  wood-turning  lathes  in 
operation  in  the  United  States  are  daily  turning  out  scores 
of  perfect  hickory  handles.  Axe-handles  are  a  specialty, 
and  their  goods  find  ready  sale  in  the  various  States  from 
Maine  to  Texas. 

The  Estey  Manufacturing  Company,  composed  of  Jacob 
Estey,  of  Brattleboro',  Vt.,  D.  M.  Estey,  and  Charles  E. 
Rigley,  of  Owosso,  Mich.,  was  incorporated  as  such  Feb.  3, 
1879,  and  the  actual  stock  paid  in  at  that  date  was  fifty- 
three  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.     This  busi- 
ness was  first  established  in  1868  by  D.  M.  Estey,  who 
controlled  it  until  the  formation  of  the  present  company. 
A  factory  for  the  manufacture   of   common  bedsteads,  a 
saw-mill,  store,  and  village-lots  are  owned  at  West  Haven, 
in  New  Haven  township, — a  village  which  has  sprung  up 
since  the  projection  of  this  enterprise.     In  Owosso  City 
are  situated  the  ofiices  and  warerooms  of  the  company. 
Here  also  are  manufactured  ash  and  walnut  chamber-suits, 
eleo-ant  in  design  and  finish,  under  contract  by  the  Messrs. 
White  Bros.     Eighty  men  receive  direct  employment  by 
the  operations  of  this  firm,  and  their  manufactures,  the  sales 
of  which  amount  to  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  yearly,  are 
shipped   to   various   points   extending   from  Vermont   to 
Missouri. 

The  Woodward  Brothers'  furniture-manufactory  has 
been  controlled  by  them  since  Aug.  1,  1866.  The  first 
edifice  on  the  site  of  their  buildings  was  the  woolen-mill, 
built  as  early  as  1844,  and  for  a  number  of  years  carried 


152 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


on  by  Felix  Casper  and  others.  In  1855  it  was  changed 
into  a  manufactory  of  furniture,  sash,  doors,  and  blinds, 
and  operated  principally,  we  believe,  by  the  Messrs.  White 
Bros. 

The  Messrs.  Woodards  have  thirty  men  in  their  employ. 
Their  manufactures  consist  of  medium  and  fine  grades  of 
furniture,  done  in  ash  and  walnut,  and  their  sales  aggre- 
gate twenty  thousand  to  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  yearly. 

John  Gute  established  the  first  brewery  in  the  county 
in  Owosso  in  1855,  and  at  first  made  present-use  ale. 
During  the  past  fifteen  years  attention  has  been  chiefly 
devoted  to  the  brewing  of  lager  beer.  The  Owosso  City 
Brewery  has  a  capacity  of  two  thousand  barrels  per  annum, 
and  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  Albert  Gute. 

BANKING. 

Under  the  name  of  D.  Gould  &  Co.  and  the  manage- 
ment of  Amos  Gould,  banking  business  was  first  com- 
menced in  Owosso  in  1854  on  the  corner  now  occupied 
by  the  First .  National  Bank  building.  The  present 
building  was  erected  in  1857,  and  in  1865  the  busi- 
ness of  exchange  and  brokerage  was  merged  into  that 
of  the  First  National  Bank.  The  latter  bank  organized 
with  a  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  It  was  afterwards 
increased  to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  but  has  since 
been  decreased  to  its  present  capital  of  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars. Upon  its  organization,  Amos  Gould  was  elected 
President,  Thomas  D.  Dewey  Vice-President,  and  Adam 
H.  Byerly  Cashier.  Messrs  Gould  and  Dewey  still  occupy 
the  same  positions,  but  the  cashier's  desk  has  since  been 
filled  by  Orville  Goodhue,  George  P.  Moses,  and  Charles 
E.  Hershey ;  by  the  latter  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Moses  in 
November,  1875. 

Mr.  M.  L.  Stewart  established  his  present  bank  of  ex- 
change and  brokerage  in  1869.  He  came  to  Owosso  first 
in  1860,  and  engaged  in  merchandising.  His  present  busi- 
ness house  was  erected  in  1869,  when,  in  consequence  of 
losing  his  hearing,  he  relinquished  trade  and  engaged  in 
banking.  From  a  small  beginning  he  has,  by  the  exercise 
of  industry  and  economy  and  a  strict  attention  to  the  minor 
details  of  his  business  afiairs,  attained  his  present  financial 
success. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Samuel  N.  Warren,  who  ofliciated  as  clerk  at  the  first 
township  election  in  1837,  and  was  elected  as  one  of  the 
assessors  at  the  same  meeting,  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
village,  in  the  winter  of  1837-38.  This  was  a  private 
scliool,  and  its  sessions  were  held  in  an  unoccupied  log 
house  which  stood  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  brick 
planing-miil. 

Prior  to  this,  however,  some  action  had  been  taken  by 
school  inspectors  and  the  school  director,  as  will  be  shown 
by  the  following  extracts  from  the  records  :  "  At  a  meeting 
of  the  inspectors  of  primary  schools  of  the  township  of 
Owosso,  held  at  the  office  of  the  township  clerk,  Tuesday, 
Aug.  8, 1837,  Alfred  L.  Williams  and  Elias  Comstock  were 
present.  Elias  Comstock  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  board, 
whereupon  it  was  concluded  to  set  off  sections  11,  12,  13, 
14,  23,  24,  25,  26,  in  township  7  north,  of  range  No.  2 
east,  and  sections  7,  8,  17,  18,  19,  and  30,  in  township  7 


north,  of  range  No.  3  east,  as  school  district  No.  1,  and  the 
first  school  meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  store  of  A. 
L.  &  B.  0.  Williams,  in  the  village  of  Owosso,  on  the  22d 
day  of  August,  1837,  at  four  P.M." 

The  meeting  was  held,  and  Benjamin  0.  Williams  elected 
director.  On  the  2d  of  October,  1837,  he  rendered  his 
annual  report,  as  follows  : 

"To  THE  Township  Board  op  School  Inspectors: 
"  Gentlemen, — I  hereby  transmit  you  a  report  of  the 
condition  of  schools  in  district  No.  1,  oT  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  be  the  director,  to  wit:  The  whole  number  of 
children  in  my  district  between  the  ages  of  five  and  seven- 
teen years  is  thirty. 

"  There  has  been  no  school  taught  in  the  district,  and  no 
moneys  have  been  received  by  me.  The  district  has  voted 
to  raise  the  following  sums  for  school  purposes,  viz. :  five 
hundred  dollars  for  building  a  school-house,  seventy-five 
dollars  for  the  purchase  of  a  school  library-case,  and  ten 
dollars  for  the  purchase  of  books.  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
gentlemen, 

"  Your  obd't  serv't, 

"B.  0.  Williams." 

Although  the  first  school  building  was  not  erected  until 
about  the  year  1840  or  1841,  the  leading  citizens  have 
always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  educational  matters,  and 
the  excellence  of  Owosso's  schools  has  ever  been  pro- 
verbial. 

The  old  school  building,  since  repaired  and  enlarged,  is 
now  used  as  a  house  of  worship  by  the  German  Lutherans. 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  March  11, 
1846,  the  Owosso  Literary  Institute  was  incorporated, 
Messrs.  Elias  Comstock,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  Benjamin  0. 
Williams,  Amos  Gould,  Charles  L.  Goodhue,  Anson  B. 
Chipman,  and  John  B.  Barnes  being  named  as  corpora- 
tors. They  were  authorized  to  employ  capital  to  the 
amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  "  to  have  power  to 
establish  and  continue  in  the  township  of  Owosso  an  insti- 
tution of  learning  for  the  instruction  of  persons  in  the 
various  branches  of  literature,  and  the  arts  and  sciences." 

However,  nothing  further  was  heard  of  the  institute, 
and  the  youth  of  Owosso  continued  to  pore  over  the  volumes 
issued  by  Brown,  Kirkham,  Morse,  Adams,  Olney,  Web- 
ster, Sanders,  and  others  in  the  old  structure  until  1858, 
when  a  portion  of  the  present  handsome  edifice  was  com- 
pleted. This  was  an  occasion  of  great  rejoicing  among 
parents  and  pupils,  and  the  event  was  noticed  by  a  local 
paper  of  date  Oct.  23,  1858,  in  the  following  words: 

"OPENING  OF  THE  OWOSSO  UNION  SCHOOL. 

"  This  institution  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  pupils 
on  Thursday  last,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  the 
friends  of  education,  who  have  by  their  untiring  efforts 
successfully  carried  forward  the  enterprise  to  its  final  com- 
pletion. 

"  The  building  is  of  the  most  substantial  character,  being 
constructed  of  brick,  and  beautifully  finished  with  the  oak 
of  the  country.  It  is  divided  into  three  principal  apart- 
ments, two  recitatiou-rooms,  besides  large  and  commodious 


CITY  OF   OWOSSO. 


153 


reception- halls,  and  will  accommodate  some  two  hundred 
scholars. 

"  The  school  will  consist  of  three  grades,  the  primary, 
intermediate,  and  the  upper  departments,  where  the  higher 
English  branches  will  be  taught,  also  the  languages  ;  music, 
both  vocal  and  instrumental,  with  its  charming  influence, 
will  not  be  wanting,  the  board  having  secured  the  services 
of  a  competent  teacher  for  that  department. 

"  The  grounds  located  for  school  purposes  are  situated 
upon  the  right  bank  of  the  beautiful  Shiawassee,  a  little 
north  and  west  of  the  village,  and  embrace  about  four 
acres,  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  pristine  oak,  in  the 
centre  of  which  is  located  the  school  building. 

"  At  an  early  hour  on  Thursday  morning  the  large  upper 
room  in  the  building  was  filled  with  parents  and  children 
of  the  district.  The  proper  officer  of  the  district  called 
the  meeting  to  order,  after  which  prayer  was  offered  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Goodale,  of  this  place.  At  the  request  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  the  parents  and  children  were  ad- 
dressed by  Mr.  Kellogg,  late  of  the  Albany  Normal  School, 
Rev.  John  M.  Gregory,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor, 
Hon.  Amos  Gould,  and  Hon.  A.  L.  Williams,  of  this  place. 
The  district  is  gfeatly  indebted  to  the  latter  gentleman  for 
material  aid  and  valuable  services  in  urging  to  completion 
this  praiseworthy  enterprise. 

"  The  remarks  of  all  the  gentlemen  were  timely  and 
fitting  the  occasion,  calling  up  pleasant  reminiscences  of  the 
past  and  opening  up  to  the  youthful  mind  bright  prospects 
in  the  future. 

"  Mr.  Winchell,  the  principal  of  the  school,  in  behalf  of 
himself  and  associate  teachers,  expressed  his  sense  of  obli- 
gation to  the  board,  and  to  the  gentlemen  who  had  addressed 
the  meeting,  for  the  kind  greeting  and  warm  and  generous 
manner  in  which  they  had  been  received  by  the  friends  of 
education  in  Owosso,  pledging  himself  that  no  effort  should 
be  wanting  on  their  part  to  fully  meet  the  hopes  and  ex- 
pectations of  the  friends  of  the  school. 

"  Our  slight  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Winchell  prompts  us 
to  believe  that  the  board  made  a  wise  choice  in  selecting 
him  for  principal  of  the  institution. 

"  We  understand  that  the  school  is  rapidly  filling  up, 
and  that  large  numbers  of  applications  for  admission  have 
been  received  from  those  residing  out  of  the  district ;  and 
we  doubt  not  that  before  the  close  of  the  first  term  the 
teachers  will  be  straitened  for  room,  and  that  an  extra 
primary  department  will  have  to  be  opened  in  some  other 
section  of  the  village." 

A  few  years  subsequently  the  building  just  mentioned 
was  enlarged  to  its  present  proportions,  and  in  still  later 
years  other  frame  school-houses  have  followed,  which  are 
situated  in  the  various  wards.  As  showing  the  present 
condition  of  schools,  we  subjoin  the  following  statistics, 
gathered  from  the  annual  report  for  the  year  ending  Sept. 
1, 1879: 

Number  of  children  of  school  age  residing  in  the  , 

city 805 

"  "        attending  school  during  the 

year 729 

"             brick  houses 2 

"             frame  houses 3 

"             sittings 800 

Value  of  school  property $60,000 

20 


Men  teachers  employed 4 

Women  "  "  ]2 

Paid  men  teachers $1,536 

"    women  teachers $:i,172 

Total  resources  for  the  year $12,258.59 

Bonded  indebtedness $24,000 

The  present  Board  of  Education  consists  of  Messrs.  B. 
0.  Williams,  David  Parker,  Gilbert  R.  Lyon,  Eugene  R. 
Hutchins,  Joseph  H.  Howe,  and  0.  Smith. 

SECRET  BENEVOLENT  ASSOCIATIONS.  . 
OWOSSO  LODGE,  No.  81,  F.  AND  A.  M. 

This  lodge  held  its  first  communication  May  2,  1855, 
under  a  dispensation  granted  by  George  C.  Monroe,  Grand 
Master  of  the  State  of  Michigan. 

The  officers  first  installed  were  Myndert  W.  Quacken- 
bush,  W.  M. ;  Alfred  L.  Williams,  S.  W. ;  Benjamin  0. 
Williams,  J.  W. ;  Warren  Ladd,  S.  D. ;  and  Horace  Hart, 
J.  D. 

A  charter  was  granted  Jan.  10,  1856,  and  on  the  same 
date  the  following  officers  were  installed:  Myndert  W 
Quackenbush,  W.  M. ;  Alfred  L.  Williams,  S.  W. ;  Ben 
jamin  0.  Williams,  J.  W. ;  Randolph  L.  Stewart,  Treas- 
urer; Charles  C.  Goodall,  Secretary;  Elisha  Leach,  S.  D. 
John  B.  Barnes,  J.  D. ;  and  William  J.  Lyon,  Tiler. 

Subsequent  presiding  officers  have  been  Elisha  Leach 
from  Dec.  27,  1856,  to  Dec.  27,  1859 ;  M.  W.  Quacken 
bush,  Dec.  27,  1859,  to  Dec.  27,  1861 ;  Elisha  Leach, 
Dec.  27,  1861,  to  Dec.  27,  1862;  Eli  D.  Gregory,  Dec 
27,  1862,  to  Dec.  27,  1863;  Henry  C.  Knill,  Dec.  27 
1863,  to  Dec.  27,  1867  ;  Benjamin  0.  Williams,  Dec.  27 
1867,  to  Deo.  27,  1868 ;  Henry  C.  Knill,  Dec.  27,  1868 
to  Dec.  27,  1869 ;  Eli  D.  Gregory,  Dec.  27,  1869,  to  Dec, 
27,  1871 ;  Henry  C.  Knill,  Dec.  27,  1871,  to  Dec.  27 
1872 ;  Eli  D.  Gregory,  Dec.  27,  1872,  to  June  24,  1874 
Jabez  Perkins,  June  24,  1874,  to  June  24,  1875 ;  Wil- 
liam J.  Lyon,  June  24,  1875,  to  Dec.  27,  1877 ;  Walter 
A.  Osborn,  Dec.  27,  1877,  to  Dec.  27,  1879. 

The  present  officers,  who  were  installed  Dec.  27,  1879, 
are  Charles  H.  Cossitt,  W.  M. ;  Thomas  Nelan,  S.  W. ; 
Grenville  S.  Beardsley,  J.  W. ;  Joseph  Manning,  Treasurer ; 
Benjamin  F.  Taylor,  Secretary ;  Bndress  M.  Shafer,  S.  D. ; 
George  H.  Bedford,  J.  D. ;  John  T.  Wolverton,  Tiler; 
Rev.  Levi  B.  Stimson,  Chaplain;  Charles  W.  Parker, 
Jacob  S.  Lewis,  Stewards ;  James  Calkins,  William  J. 
Westlake,  and  E.  R.  Hutchins,  Prudential  Committee. 

The  lodge  includes  one  hundred  members  at  the  present 
time,  and  regular  communications  are  held  Wednesday 
evenings  on  or  before  the  full  moon. 


OWOSSO  CHAPTER,  No.  89,  E.  A.  M., 
began  work  under  a  dispensation  granted  early  in  the  year 
1873.  The  first  officers,  viz.,  Myndert  W.  Quackenbush, 
M.  E.  H.  P. ;  Anson  B.  Chipman,  King ;  Joseph  Man- 
ning, Scribe ;  George  B.  Hughes,  C.  H. ;  Franklin  B. 
Smith,  P.  S. ;  Richard  Chipman,  R.  A.  C. ;  Henry  W. 
Parker,  Treasurer;  Newton  Baldwin,  Recorder;  Newell  H. 
Welcher,  M.  3d  V. ;  Martin  Hausman,  M.  2d  V. ;  John 
Rogers,  M.  1st  V. ;  and  Ezekiel  Salisbury,  Guard,  were 
installed  April  22,  1873. 

A  charter  was  granted  Jan.  24,  1874,  and  on  the  17th 
of  February  of  the  same  year  the  following  officers  were  in- 


154 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY.  MICHIGAN. 


stalled :  M.  W.  Quackenbush,  M.  E.  H.  P. ;  Anson  B.  Chip- 
man,  King;  Joseph  Manning,  Scribe;  George  B.  Hughes, 
C.  H. ;  Franklin  B.  Smith,  P.  S. ;  Richard  Chipman,  R.  A. 
S. ;  Ezekiel  Salisbury,  Treasurer;  Newton  Baldwin,  Re- 
corder ;  Newell  H.  Welcher,  M.  3d  V. ;  John  D.  Evens, 
M.  2d  V. ;  John  Rogers,  M.  1st  V. ;  Justin  H.  Wells, 
Guard. 

Other  presiding  officers  have  been  Anson  B.  Chipman, 
from  December,  1874,  to  December,  1876  ;  Charles  A.  Os- 
born,  December,  1876,  to  December,  1878 ;  Franklin  B. 
Smith,  December,  1878,  to  December,  1879. 

The  present  officers  are  Martin  C.  Dawes,  M.  E.  H.  P. ; 
Samuel  Lamfrom,  King  ;  Moses  Mix,  Scribe ;  George  B. 
Hughes,  C.  H. ;  Thomas  Nelan,  P.  S. ;  Charles  H.  Cossitt, 
R.  A.  C. ;  Joseph  Manning,  Treasurer ;  Benjamin  F.  Tay- 
lor, Recorder;  Walter  A.  Osborn,  M.  3d  V.;  George  H. 
Bedford,  M.  2d  V. ;  Bernhard  Rose,  M.  1st  V. ;  John  T. 
Wolverton,  Guard  ;  Rev.  Levi  B.  Stimson,  Chaplain  ;  Wil- 
liam J.  Westlake  and  George  R.  Black,  Stewards.  The 
chapter  has  a  total  of  fifty-eight  members.  Regular  convo- 
cations are  held  on  the  first  Friday  in  each  month. 

OWOSSO   LODGE,  No.  88,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

This  lodge  was  instituted  Jan.  23,  1865,  by  Special 
Deputy  B.  W.  Davis.  Among  the  charter  members  were 
Josiah  Turner,  William  R.  Chipman,  Henry  Barnum, 
Lewis  Swartz,  F.  P.  Guilford,  E.  Van  Houten,  Henry  M. 
Newcombe,  and  P.  M.  Rowell. 

The  first  officers  installed  were  Josiah  Turner,  N.  G. ; 
William  R.  Chipman,  V.  G. ;  Henry  M.  Newcombe,  R.  S. ; 
P.  M.  Rowell,  P.  S. ;  and  F.  P.  Guilford,  Treasurer. 

Judge  Turner  was  Te-elected  N.  G.  for  the  last  half  of 
1865.  Subsequent  presiding  officers  of  the  lodge  have 
been  Amos  G.  Young  and  Henry  M.  Newcombe,  in  1866 ; 
Morris  Osbum,  Amos  G.  Young,  1867 ;  Col.  Gould,  N.  H. 
Robinson,  1868;  H.  H.  Pulver,  J.  W.  Zimmerman,  1869; 
N.  H.  Robinson,  John  H.  Champion,  1870;  D.  H.  Wil- 
son, E.  R.  Brown,  1871 ;  Thomas  Nelan,  James  F.  Yeats, 
1872 ;  Bert  Wicking,  Hugh  Douglass,  1873 ;  George  W. 
Loring,  Jacob  Aberlee,  1874 ;  T.  M.  Templeton,  W.  Mat- 
lock, 1875;  Archibald  Robertson,  Oscar  Wells,  1876; 
George  R.  Black,  H.  W.  Martin,  1877 ;  C.  A.  Watkins, 
John  W.  Thorn,  1878 ;  C.  C.  Gregory  and  William  M. 
Kilpatrick,  1879. 

The  present  officers  (June,  1880)  are  S.  F.  Smith,  N.  G. ; 
Mason  Wood,  V.  G. ;  Archibald  Robertson,  R.  S. ;  George 
W.  Loring,  P.  S. ;  and  Moses  Keytes,  Treasurer.  Number 
of  present  members  in  good  standing,  forty-three.  The 
lodge  held  its  meetings  in  the  Williams  Block  until  July 
1, 1873,  when  a  removal  was  made  to  the  elegant  and  com- 
modious rooms  at  present  occupied.  Regular  meetings  are 
held  every  Friday  evening. 

ORIENTAL    ENCAMPMENT,  No.  59,  I.  0.  0.  F., 

was  instituted  Sept.  4, 1873,  by  A.  Ferguson,  M.  W.  G.  P., 
the  charter  members  being  George  W.  Loring,  Thomas  Ne- 
lan, George  R.  Black,  Archibald  Robertson,  Jacob  Aber- 
lee, Morris  Osburn,  Hugh  Douglass,  A.  Barkley,  William 
R.  Chipman,  and  Jacob  Upwright. 

The  officers  first  installed  were  George  W.  Loring,  C.  P.  • 


George  R.  Black,  H.  P.;  Archibald  Robertson,  8.  W.; 
William  R.  Chipman,  J.  W. ;  Jacob  Aberlee,  Scribe ;  A. 
Barkley,  Treasurer. 

Subsequent  C.  P.'s  have  been  George  R.  Black  and 
Archibald  Robertson,  in  1874 ;  Timothy  M.  Templeton, 
Oscar  Wells,  1875 ;  Charles  W.  Mathews,  John  W. 
Thorn,  1876 ;  Charles  McCormick,  Willoughby  Matlock, 
1877  ;  C.  C.  Gregory,  C.  A.  Watkins,  1878  ;  Benjamin  S. 
Retan  and  H.  W.  Martin,  1879. 

The  officers  for  the  first  term  of  1880  are  Charles  Wil- 
liams, C.  P. ;  Charles  McCormick,  H.  P. ;  William  M. 
Kilpatrick,  S.  W. ;  Archibald  Robertson,  S. ;  Oscar  Wells, 
F.  S. ;  George  W.  Loring,  Treasurer;  Charles  Jackson, 
J.  W. 

The  encampment  embraces  a  total  of  thirty  members  in 
good  standing.  Regular  meetings  are  held  in  Odd- Fellows' 
Hall  on  the  first  and  third  Wednesday  evenings  of  each 
month. 

EQUITY  LODGE,  No.  402,  KNIGHTS  OF  HONOR, 
was  organized  in  Good  Templar  Hall,  city  of  Owosso,  Nov. 
20, 1876.  The  officers  first  installed  were  John  W.  Thorn, 
Past  Dictator  ;  Franklin  B.  Smith,  Dictator  ;  Nathaniel  A. 
Finch,  Vice-Dictator ;  William  J.  Westlake,  Asst.  Dictator ; 
Oscar  Wells,  Chaplain  ;  William  K.  Tillotson,  Guide  ;  Geo. 
C.  Walker,  Reporter ;  Newton  McBain,  Financial  Re- 
porter ;  John  S.  Hoyt,  Treasurer ;  Frank  McCurdy,  Guard- 
ian ;  Chester  J.  Stewart,  Sentinel ;  Nathaniel  A.  Finch, 
William  K.  Tillotson,  John  S.  Hoyt,  Trustees. 

Subsequent  presiding  officers  of  the  lodge  have  been 
John  W.  Thorn  and  Nathaniel  A.  Finch,  in  1877 ;  William 
J.  Westlake,  Oscar  Wells,  1878  ;  Chester  J.  Stewart,  John 
S.  Hoyt,  1879. 

The  present  officers  (June,  1880)  are  John  S.  Hoyt, 
Past  Dictator;  Walter  A.  Osborn,  Dictator;  E.  B.  Ed- 
monds, Vice-Dictator ;  Robert  G.  Marsh,  Asst.  Dictator ; 
Hiram  L.  Lewis,  Reporter ;  Perrin  S.  Crawford,  Financial 
Reporter ;  William  J.  Westlake,  Treasurer ;  Chester  J. 
Stewart,  Guide ;  Alvin  Evans,  Chaplain ;  Oscar  Wells, 
Guardian  ;  G.  Josenhans,  Sentinel ;  John  S.  Hoyt,  John 
W.  Thorn,  Walter  A.  Osburn,  Trustees. 

The  lodge  has  thirty  members  at  the  present  time,  viz, : 
Newton  McBain,  John  S.  Hoyt,  John  W.  Thorn,  Na- 
thaniel A.  Finch,  Willard  F.  Goodhue,  William  J.  West- 
lake,  Chester  J.  Stewart,  Oscar  Wells,  George  R.  Black, 
John  Rogers,  Horace  D.  Lewis,  Henry  J.  Merrill,  Alvin 
Evans,  Amos  G.  Young,  Hiram  L.  Lewis,  Walter  A.  Os- 
born, Albert  Thayer,  John  Gute,  C.  E.  Hershey,  G.  Josen- 
hans, Perrin  S.  Crawford,  B.  B.  Edmonds,  Robert  G. 
Marsh,  Milton  E.  Fisher,  Charles  A.  Norcross,  John  G. 
Saxe,  Samuel  Runyon,  Joseph  B.  Davy,  George  C.  Walker, 
and  George  R.  Hoyt.  Regular  meetings  are  held  in  Good 
Templars'  Hall,  in  the  city  of  Owosso,  on  the  second  and 
fourth  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 

OWOSSO  LODGE,  No.  iS,  A.  0.  U.  W. 

This  lodge  was  organized  June  4,  1878,  in  Odd-Fellows' 
Hall,  city  of  Owosso,  where  the  first  installation  of  officers 
took  place  the  same  date. 

The  officers   elected  were  Welcome  L.  Farnum,  Past 


CITY  OF  OWOSSO. 


155 


Master  Workman  ;  William  M.  Kilpatrick,  Master  Work- 
man ;  C.  McCormick,  General  Foreman  ;  William  N.  Pool, 
Overseer;  L.  L.  Baker,  Recorder;  Charles  E.  Hershey, 
Receiver;  Benj.  S.  Retan,  Financier;  Oscar  Wells,  Guide; 
Thomas  Nelan,  Inside  Watchman ;  John  D.  Evans,  Out- 
side Watchman. 

Those  officers  who  have  since  presided  over  its  meetings 
have  been  C.  McCormick  and  Thomas  Nelan,  in  1879,  and 
Thomas  M.  Wiley,  who  is  the  present  (June,  1880)  Master 
Workman.  Other  officers  of  the  present  time  are  Thomas 
Nelan,  P.  M.  W. ;  Charles  H.  Cossitt,  G.  F. ;  Hiram  L. 
Lewis,  0. ;  J.  W.  Zimmerman,  R. ;  Benjamin  S.  Retan,  F. ; 
John  C.  Dingman,  Receiver ;  Jacob  S.  Lewis,  I.  W. ;  Wel- 
come L.  Farnum,  0.  W. 

Among  its  eighty-one  members  are  Welcome  L.  Farnum, 
Benjamin  S.  Rutan,  John  W.  Thorn,  John  H.  McCall, 
Charles  E.  Hershey,  Frederick  Schmezer,  Charles  H.  Cossitt, 
Joseph  H.  Gillett,  L.  L.  Baker,  John  T.  Wolverton,  Wil- 
liam N.  Pool,  Nathan  D.  Ayres,  C.  McCormick,  James  F. 
Yeats,  William  E.  Copas,  Robert  D.  Crawford,  Hiram  L. 
Lewis,  Charles  H.  Parker,  Hugh  Douglass,  Newton  Bald- 
win, John  D.  Evans,  Harrison  H.  Frain,  Nathaniel  A. 
Pinch,  James  A.  Chapin,  U.  F.  Clapp,  J.  W.  Zimmerman, 
Thomas  Nelan,  Thomas  M.  Wiley,  Geo.  R.  Black,  Horace 
H.  Rogers,  William  M.  Kilpatrick,  William  S.  Hodges, 
Benjamin  F.  Taylor,  Geo.  W.  Ayres,  R.  Lamson,  John  L. 
Miller,  H.  M.  Lindsay,  John  C.  Dingraan,  L.  B.  Holman, 
J.  W.  Likens,  Nathan  W.  Finley,  Wellington  Clark,  C.  S. 
Williams,  Henry  G.  Titcomb,  Jacob  S.  Lewis,  Hiram  E. 
Galusha,  William  Broad,  George  B.  Hughes,  C.  Soderquist, 
George  W.  Owen,  James  A.  French,  W.  F.  Guile,  Samuel 
A.  Pierpont,  Silas  Bailey,  Albert  E.  Hartshorn,  Norman  C. 
Payne,  John  W.  Houck,  A.  Schuknesht,  Michael  Strahl, 
Charles  L.  Bradley,  G.  W.  Dehn,  Michael  Punches,  Frank 
E.  Sheldon,  William  J.  Lewis,  Daniel  Harter,  David  Dwight, 
Harmon  N.  Miller,  Alfred  Drown,  William  H.  Andrus,  A. 
Wicking,  W.  H.  Osborn,  Martin  S.  Post,  John  A.  JVIcKen- 
sie,  E.  W.  Sheldon,  W.  A.  Hitchcock,  Nathaniel  Ball,  W. 
W.  Hart,  Robert  Thompson,  A.  McKensie,  F.  Newman, 
and  L.  A.  Hamlin. 

Their  meetings  are  held  in  Odd-Fellows'  Hall  on  the  first 
and  second  Tuesdays  of  each  month. 

OTHER  ASSOCIATIONS. 
THE  SHIAWASSEE  MUTUAL  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY, 
composed  of  Henry  W.  Parker,  Horace  D.  Lewis,  Isaac  L. 
Peck,  Amos  G.  Young,  William  L.  Van  Tuyl,  Ezekiel 
Salisbury,  Jerome  W.  Turner,  John  S.  Hoyt,  Thomas  C. 
Garner,  Anson  B.  Chipman,  Newton  Baldwin,  Moses  Mix, 
and  Timothy  M.  Templeton,  was  incorporated  in  January, 
1876. 

THE  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY  MUTUAL   BENEFIT  ASSOCIA- 
TION, 

of  which  Henry  W.  Parker,  Horace  D.  Lewis,  Isaac  L. 
Peck,  Amos  G.  Young,  William  L.  Van  Tuyi,  Ezekiel 
Salisbury,  John  S.  Hoyt,  Anson  B.  Chipman,  Newton  Bald- 
win, Edwin  Van  Tuyl,  Hiram  L.  Lewis,  Jr.,  and  Moses 
Mix  were  named  as  corporators,  was  duly  incorporated,  ac- 
cording to  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  Jan.  30, 1878. 


THE  OWOSSO  DRIVING-PARK  ASSOCIATION, 

incorporated  Oct.  20,  1879,  was  organized  by  the  election 
of  Thomas  D.  Dewey,  President ;  Newton  McBain,  Secre- 
tary ;  and  John  Stewart,  Treasurer.  Other  members  were 
Jabez  Perkins,  A.  J.  Patterson,  E.  P.  Byerly,  A.  McHardy, 
J.  F.  Wildermuth,  A.  G.  Kelso,  J.  D.  Evens,  George  P. 
Jenkins,  M.  W.  Willoughby,  0.  Sharpstene,  D.  Wait,  and 
William  Samer. 

Owosso's  Cornet  Band  and  Wesener's  Orches- 
tra are  both  prominent  institutions  of  the  city.  The 
latter  was  organized  by  Hugo  G.  Wesener,  in  November, 
1878,  and  consisted  of  six  members,  namely,  Hugo  G. 
Wesener,  piano  and  leader  ;  August  Wesener,  first  violin ; 
Jasper  Gregory,  flute ;  Gottlieb  Hoppham,  clarionet ;  C.  C. 
Gregory,  cornet ;  and  William  Sharpstene,  trombone. 

The  present  members  of  the  orchestra  are  Hugo  G. 
Wesener,  flute  and  director ;  August  Wesener,  first  violin ; 
Henry  Moore,  second  violin  ;  John  Wesener,  viola ;  Oscar 
Moore,  bass;  Gottlieb  Hoppham,  clarionet;  C.  C.  Gregory, 
cornet ;  and  William  Sharpstene,  trombone.  The  members 
are  in  good  practice  and  render  most  excellent  music,  play- 
ing only  classical  pieces.  They  have  already  given  four 
grand  concerts,  appearing  first  and  second  with  fifteen  per- 
formers, third  and  last  with  twenty-five. 

Of  the  cornet  band  we  have  obtained  no  data,  other  than 
that  J.  H.  Bobbins  has  been  its  leader  for  some  fifteen 
years.  It  has  had  its  ups  and  downs,  but  at  the  present 
time  seems  to  be  highly  proficient  and  harmonious,  and  at 
the  State  band  tournament,  held  at  Flint  in  June,  1880, 
one  of  its  members  won  the  prize  ofiered  for  the  best  trom- 
bone solo. 

RELIGIOUS.* 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH    OF    OWOSSO   (OLD    ORGANIZA- 
TION). 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Owosso  and  its  immediate 
vicinity  were  a  number  of  Baptists.  They  commenced 
holding  religious  services  in  June,  1836,'j"  and  continued 
them  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  for  a  year  more,  the  time 
of  their  meetings  being  occujJied  in  singing  and  prayer  and 
the  reading  of  published  sermons  by  some  one  of  their 
number.  As  brethren  of  other  denominations  came  in 
they  temporarily  united  with  these  people,  and  greatly 
assisted  in  maintaining  religious  worship. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1838,  a  meeting  was  held  at 
the  house  of  Elias  Com'stock  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
a  Baptist  Church.  Elias  Comstock  was  chosen  moderator 
and  Abraham  T.  Wilkinson  clerk.  Rev.  Benjamin  B. 
Brigham  was  also  present  to  assist  them.  After  consulta- 
tion it  was  resolved  to  form  a  church,  to  be  known  as  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Owosso,  whereupon  the  follow- 
ing brethren   and   sisters  presented  church  letters,  viz. : 

*  This  article  includes  brief  historical  sketches  of  all  the  church 
organizations  in  the  city,  except  that  of  the  German  Lutherans,  who 
failed  to  respond,  although  earnestly  requested  to  furnish  data. 

■(■  The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  the  fall  of  1836  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Wilkinson,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  an  early 
resident  of  the  county,  a  pioneer  teacher  also,  and  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Flint.  Rev.  John  Booth,  a  Baptist  pioneer  minister, 
delivered  the  next  sermon  some  time  during  the  year  1837. 


156 


HISTORY    OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Elias  Comstock,  Lucy  Comstock,  Abram  T.  Wilkinson, 
Lucinda  Wilkinson,  Reuben  Griggs,  and  Betsey  Griggs. 

Elder  Brigham,  Elias  Comstock,  and  Reuben  Griggs 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  and  report  a  con- 
stitution, code  of  articles,  and  covenant.  On  the  10th  of 
February,  1838,  Elizabeth  Fletcher,  Hannah  Morton,  and 
John  F.  Swain*  were  received  as  members,  and  in  July  of 
the  same  year  Jacob  Martin  and  Benjamin  Morton.  During 
this  time  Elder  Brigham  preached  occasionally  and  admin- 
istered the  Lord's  Supper. 

Early  in  1839,  Rev.  William  Pattison,  an  aged  minister, 
his  son.  Dr.  Samuel  W.  Pattison,  and  family,  came  here  from 
Fentonville,  and  uniting  with  the  church,  added  much  to 
its  strength.  Father  Pattison  preached  while  sitting  in  his 
chair,  and  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  early  settlers. 
Among  the  members  received  during  that  year  were  Rev. 
William  Pattison,  Samuel  W.  Pattison,  Phoebe  Pattison, 
Charles  Pattison,  Prudentia  Pattison,  Eliza  A.  Peck,  Castle 
Peck,  Rev.  James  R.  Eldridge,  and  Mary  Ann  Eldridge. 

In  1840,  Leonard  Stimpson,  Nancy  Ball,  Roby  Ann 
Murray,  Stephen  Hawkins,  Rawson  White,  Mary  Ann 
White,  John  Kingsley,  Marcina  Perkins,  Charles  Stimp- 
son, John  Vanderhoof,  Daniel  Fletcher,  E.  J.  Van  Buren, 
Barnard  Morton,  Cynthia  Wheeler,  Caroline  Comstock, 
Ann  Sumner,  Mary  Ann  Smith,  Harriet  Young,  Sprague 
Perkins,  Abram  Covert,  Daniel  D.  Fish,  Wealthy  Swain, 
Benj.  0.  Williams,  Alvira  Hawkins,  Ira  Murray,  Rev. 
John  ■  Gilbert,  Elizabeth  Gilbert,  and  Samuel  Whitcomb 
became  members. 

Elias  Comstock  and  Reuben  Griggs  were  first  elected 
deacons  Feb.  10,  1838.  John  F.  Swain  was  elected  clerk 
at  the  same  time.  He  was  succeeded  after  some  time  by 
Dr.  Pattison.  The  early  meetings  were  held  at  the  dwel- 
ling-houses of  Deacon  Comstock  and  John  F.  Swain. 

In  June,  1839,  Rev.  James  R.  Eldridge  became  their 
pastor,  and  continued  until  the  fall  of  1840.  Rev.  John 
Gilbert,  from  Mount  Clemens,  then  became  pastor  for  a 
short  time ;  but  early  in  life  he  was  called  to  join  the 
redeemed  above.  Rev.  Silas  Barnes  succeeded  him,  by 
preaching  at  irregular  interiBils,  until  some  time  in  1843, 
when  this  organization  was  dissolved.  Several  of  its  mem- 
bers then  united  with  the  Maple  River  Church,  where  they 
continued  until  the  formation  of  the  present 

FIRST   BAPTIST    CHURCH    OF    OWOSSO. 

This  church  was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  in  the 
house  of  worship  of  the  Congregational  Society,  Nov.  15, 
1856,  Rev.  S.  Chase,  of  Detroit,  being  present  and  as- 
sisting. 

The  constituent  members  were  Elias  Comstock,  Daniel 
Lyon,  Mrs.  Betsy  Lyon,  Homer  P.  Kimball,  Mrs.  Hannah 
0.  Kimball,  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Pangburn,  Philetus  D.  White, 
Wellington  White,  Erastus  E.  White,  Mrs.  Anna  A.  White, 
Jacob  B.  Perry,  Mrs.  Hannah  Perry,  Reuben  M.  Randall, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Randall,  Mrs.  Phebe  Randall,  William  Hurrell, 

*  He  was  married  to  Wealthy  Irons,  by  Rev.  BeDJamin  B.  Brig- 
ham, Dee.  22,  1837.  Another  early  marriage  was  that  of  Walter  R. 
Seymour  to  Nancy  Ann  Findley,  by  Samuel  N.  Warren,  J.  P.,  July 
2, 18.S7.  These  are  the  earliest  marriages  of  which  we  have  obtained 
any  authentic  data. 


Elisha  Hurrell,  Cyrus  F.  Jackson,  Mrs.  Jessie  Jackson, 
and  Mrs.  Polly  Sawyer. 

Elias  Comstock  and  Daniel  Lyon  were  chosen  deacons, 
and  Erastus  E.  White  clerk;  and  in-May,  1857,  the  church 
was  received  into  the  Shiawassee  Baptist  Association.  On 
the  23d  of  August  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church.  Rev.  A.  E.  Mather,  of  Pontiac,  delivered 
a  sermon,  after  which  he  baptized  two  candidates,  and  the 
church  for  the  first  time  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper. 

In  March,  1858,  Gould's  Hall  was  secured  as  a  place  for 
holding  religious  meetings,  and  in  April  following  Rev. 
Joel  Lyon  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  a  position  which  he 
accepted,  commencing  his  labors  May  1,  1858.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1859,  the  members  voted  to  build  a  house  of  worship, 
not  to  cost  over  six  hundred  dollars.  This  building  was 
built  on  lands  leased  from  Deacon  Daniel  Lyon,  and  was 
twenty-four  by  fifty  feet  in  dimensions.  It  was  dedicated 
Oct.  9,  1860.  Elders  George  W.  Harris  and  John  Booth 
were  present  and  assisted  in  the  dedicatory  ceremonies.  In 
April,  1861,  Rev.  Joel  Lyon  resigned,  and  in  September  fol- 
lowing Rev.  A.  M.  Hunt  assumed  the  pastorate.  He  re- 
signed Jan.  1, 1863.  John  H.  Osborn,  a  lay  preacher,  then 
supplied  until  March,  1864,  when  Rev.  John  Booth  settled 
as  pastor.  Aaron  Hinckley  was  chosen  deacon  in  December, 
1865.  Mr.  Booth  resigned  in  February,  1866,  and  on  the 
1st  of  June,  1866,  Rev.  William  R.  Northrup  came,  re- 
maining one  year.  The  church  was  then  supplied  by  Revs. 
J.  Moxam  and  H.  A.  Rose  until  May,  1869,  when  Rev. 
B.  J.  Boynton  settled  as  pastor.  He  remained  until  hia 
death,  which  occurred  in  August,  1870. 

In  November,  1869,  the  lot  occupied  by  the  present 
church  edifice  was  purchased,  and  in  September,  1870,  the 
church  building  was  removed  upon  it.  Rev.  C.  E.  Hul- 
burt  began  his  labors  in  April,  1871,  and  remained  until 
June,  1873.  Rev.  Joel  Lyon  then  supplied  until  March 
1,  1874,  when  Rev.  Welcome  L.  Farnum,  the  present 
pastor,  settled. 

The  present  church  edifice,  a  brick  structure  forty  by 
seventy  feet,  was  commenced  in  May,  1875,  and  dedicated 
May  17,  1877.  It  has  sittings  for  four  hundred  people, 
and  cost  ten  thousand  dollars.  Present  membership  of 
the  church,  two  hundred  and  sixty-three.  The  Sabbath- 
school  connected  with  it  was  organized  in  1860.  Welling- 
ton White  and  Gilbert  L.  Osborn  were  chosen  deacons  in 
December,  1877.  They  with  Elias  Comstock  compose  the 
present  diaconate  officers.  The  present  clerk,  Erastus  E. 
White,  has  served  in  that  capacity  since  the  organization 
of  the  church,  in  1856. 

THE   FIRST   OONGRESATIONAL   CHURCH   OF  OWOSSO 
was  organized  Jan.  18,  1853.    The  first  meeting,  and  other  _ 
subsequent  ones  until  the  building  of  their  church  edifice, 
was  held  in  the  school-house,  the  building  now  occupied  by 
the  German  Lutherans. 

Among  the  early  members  were  Amos  Gould,  Charles 
L.  Goodhue,  Anson  B.  Chipman,  D.  Lyon  Thorpe,  Erastus 
Barnes,  John  B.  Barnes,  B.  W.  Davis,  and  Alfred  L.  Wil- 
liams. The  first  board  of  trustees  was  composed  of  Amos 
Gould,  Charles  L.  Goodhue,  D.  Lyon  Thorpe,  Anson  B. 
Chipman,  and  Erastus  Barnes.     Rev.  0.  M.  Goodale  was 


CITY  OF  OWOSSO. 


157 


chosen  chairman  of  the  second  meeting  of  the  society,  but 
whether  he  was  the  first  pastor  the  records  do  not  show. 

A  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1854-55.  Kev.  A.  H. 
Fletcher  became  pastor  in  1858,  and  served  during  the 
succeeding  year.  Other  pastors  were  James  R.  Griffis  in 
1860  ;  A.  Sanderson,  1862 ;  Henry  Cherry,  1863 ;  John 
Patchin,  1864  to  1868  inclusive;  Charles  H.  Bissell,  1869- 
70;  D.  W.  Sharts,  1871  to  1874  inclusive;  D.  A.  More- 
house, 1875 ;  Rev.  L.  0.  Lee,  July,  1875,  to  May,  1880. 

In  the  summer  of  1871  tlie  work  of  enlarging  the 
church  building  was  completed,  and  it  was  then  reded- 
icated.  The  society  now  numbers  two  hundred  and 
eighteen  members. 

CHRIST   CHURCH  (PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL)  OP  OWOSSO. 

This  parish  was  organized  under  the  ministrations  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  B.  Dooley  and  the  Rev.  Henry  Banwell,  May 
10,  1858.  For  some  two  years  previously,  however,  Revs. 
Messrs.  Dooley,  Banwell,  and  Brown,  representing  the  Pon- 
tiac,  Lansing,  and  Flint  Churches,  had  visited  the  people 
here,  and  held  occasional  services  in  the  school-house  and 
in  a  public  hall. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  church  edifice  was  laid  Sept.  26, 
1859,  and  the  building  was  consecrated  by  the  bishop  of 
the  diocese  Nov.  18,  1871.  The  structure  is  of  brick, 
with  tower,  spire,  nave,  and  chancel.  Its  dimensions  are 
eighty  by  thirty-six  feet,  and  its  interior  decorations  are 
most  beautiful.  Complete,  it  cost  ten  thousand  dollars. 
Not  the  least  among  the  attractions  of  this  handsome  edifice 
is  a  sweet-toned  bell  of  two  thousand  pounds  from  the 
foundry  of  Meneeley  &  Kimberly,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  bearing 
the  following  inscription : 

"D.  0.  M. 

1879. 

Christ  Church  Owosso. 

S  S  Harris  Bishop 

L  B  Stimson  Rector 

Et  Spiritus  Bt  Spousa 

Bicunt  Veni." 

Since  its  organization  the  following  clergymen  have  of- 
ficiated as  rectors  of  the  parish  :  Revs.  Henry  Banwell, 
Thomas  B.  Dooley,  Augustus  Bush,  George  A.  Whitney, 
and  Levi  B.  Stinson. 

ST.  PAUL'S  (ROMAN  CATHOLIC)  CHURCH 

was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1871,  the  original  members 
being  Peter  Connelly,  Michael  Dwyer,  John  Connelly, 
John  Murphy,  John  Wade,  Patrick  Downey,  William 
Dwyer,  Michael  Grady,  Michael  Howard,  Phil  Kavauagh, 
Frank  Hurst,  Charles  Hagan,  Martin  Clary,  Lawrence 
Doyle,  Michael  Rourke,  Thomas  Grady,  Jerry  King, 
Michael  Carmody,  Joseph  Constein,  Patrick  Rourke,  Wil- 
liam Cook,  Patrick  Carmody,  James  Laffin,  John  Tracey, 
Tim  Conroy,  Michael  Toole,  John  Hogan,  Richard  Haley, 
Patrick  Cavanaugh,  Daniel  Sweeney,  William  Tracy,  Mrs. 
John  Huntington,  Edward  Marony,  John  Holleran,  James 
McCarty,  Mrs.  William  Ellis,  Richard  Grace,  Maurice 
Mack,  Philip  Butler,  James  Evans,  David  Burns,  John 
O'Neil,  Michael  Doyle,  Patrick  Hamberry,  William  Marrah, 
James  Tobin,  Patrick  Gorman,  John  Haley,  Patrick  Koyn, 
Richard  Walsh,  and  Michael  Keyes. 


Their  church  edifice  was  commenced  in  1872,  and  roofed 
in  December,  1874.  It  is  of  brick,  as  yet  unfinished, 
costing  so  far  over  twenty-three  thousand  dollars,  and  has 
sittings  at  the  present  time  for  five  hundred  people.  One 
hundred  and  nine  families  constitute  the  present  member- 
ship. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Kraemer  served  as  pastor  until  the  spring  of 
1877,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent. 
Rev.  James  Wheeler. 

THE  FIRST  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

of  Owosso  was  organized  about  the  year  1856.  Its  records 
are  meagre,  and  not  much  can  be  learned  from  them  con- 
cerning the  history  of  this  organization.  Their  first  house 
of  worship  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Lutherans. 
A  second  church  edifice  was  built  in  1865  at  a  cost  of 
nearly  five  thousand  dollars.  It  has  about  three  hundred 
sittings.  Among  those  who  have  served  as  pastors  have 
been  Revs.  Seth  Reed,  James  T.  Hankinson,  J.  C.  Coch- 
rane, James  Venning,  Elijah  H.  Piloher,  J.  S.  Joslin, 
T.  Wilkinson,  D.  Whitely,  W.  J.  Clack,  H.  Hodlekiss, 
C.  R.  Kellerman,  and  W.  H.  Osborne. 

SALEM'S  (GERMAN)  CHURCH  OP  OWOSSO, 

of  the  Evangelical  Association,  was  organized  by  the  Rev. 
John  M.  Houk,  April  22,  1862.  The  first  services  were 
held  in  the  dining-room  of  the  building  now  known  as  the 
Exchange  Hotel,  of  which,  at  that  time,  Jacob  Aberly  was 
proprietor,  and  among  the  original  members  were  Christian 
Moesner,  Frederick  Gutekunst,  Frederick  Launstein,  John 
Miller,  Christian  Kurrle,  Frederick  Kurrle,  John  Storrer, 
Michael  Strehl,  Philip  Schnabel,  Hermann  Schmidgall,  and 
Mrs.  Caroline  Moore. 

In  the  year  1864,  under  the  management  of  Rev.  John 
Meek,  a  house  of  worship,  with  sittings  for  two  hundred 
people,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  twelve  hundred  dollars. 

The  work  of  building  up  a  church  here  commenced, 
however,  in  1858,  when  the  Ohio  Conference  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association  sent  as  missionaries  to  this  region  the 
Revs.  Frederick  Zeller  and  Christopher  Roehm. 

Mr.  Houk  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Meek,  and  he  in 
turn  by  Mr.  Houk  again.  Subsequent  pastors  have  been 
Revs.  C.  Ude,  two  years ;  Christopher  Roehm,  two  years ; 
J.  M.  Fuchs,  two  years ;  S.  Henne,  two  years ;  John  Orth, 
one  year ;  Frederick  Schweizer,  two  years ;  and  Lewis 
Brumm,  the  present  incumbent. 

Meantime,  churches  of  this  denomination  have  been  es- 
tablished in  the  townships  of  New  Haven  and  Bennington. 
In  1875  each  of  them  erected  houses  of  worship,  and  in 
1877  the  church  in  Chesaning,  Saginaw  Co., — which  is 
also  in  this  district, — erected  a  church  edifice.  Two  hun- 
dred members  of  this  denomination  now  reside  in  the 
county  of  Shiawassee. 

Rev.  John  M.  Houk,  who  has  served  as  the  presiding 
elder  of  this  district  for  the  past  seven  years,  relates  that 
nineteen  years  ago  he  traveled  through  six  diflFerent  coun- 
ties to  preach  to  the  Germans.  Then  they  were  poor,  and 
but  few  in  numbers ;  now  they  are  wealthy,  and  greatly 
multiplied. 


158 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


BIOGEAPHIOAL     SKETCHES. 


ALFRED    L.    WILLIAMS. 


BENJAMIN    0.    WILLIAMS. 


BENJAMIN  0.  WILLIAMS. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  biographical 
sketch,  and  his  brother,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  were  the  first 
two  white  settlers  in  Shiawassee  County,  forty-nine  years 
ago ;  and  both  have  been  residents  in,  and  among  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Owosso,  for  a  period  of  forty-three 
years, — with  the  exception  of  temporary  absences  in  the 
prosecution  of  their  extended  business  enterprises  elsewhere. 
Their  father,  Maj.  Oliver  Williams,  was  also  a  well-known 
and  universally  respected  citizen  of  Michigan  (a  resident  of 
Detroit  and  of  Oakland  County)  for  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century. 

In  the  year  1638,  Robert  Williams  emigrated  from  Wales 
to  America,  and  settled  in  Roxbury,  Mass.  For  more  than 
two  hundred  years  his  descendants  lived  in  that  place,  from 
which  most  of  the  families  of  the  name  in  this  country 
have  sprung.  Oliver  Williams,  one  of  the  sixth  generation 
from  his  ancestor,  Robert,  was  born  in  Roxbury,  on  the  27th 
of  August,  1774.  He  was  early  apprenticed,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  hatter,  which  business  he  carried  on  at  Con- 
cord, Mass.,  for  several  years.  In  1796  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Lee,  a  native  of  Concord  (born  July  11,  1777),  and 
continued  to  live  in  that  town  until  1808,  when  he  came  to 
Michigan,  and  established  a  general  mercantile  business  in 
connection  with  the  fur  trade,  making  his  headquarters  at 
Detroit.  He  purchased  his  goods  in  Boston,  Mass.,  carried 
them  in  covered  wagons  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  transported 
them  thence  by  water  carriage  on  Lake  Erie  to  Detroit, 
generally  making  two  trips  in  a  year  to  and  from  Boston, 
and  traveling  on  horseback  between  that  city  and  Buffalo. 
During  the  year  1811  his  purchases  of  goods  in  Boston 
amounted  to  more  than  sixty-four  thousand  dollars. 


In  the  winter  of  1810-11,  Maj.  Williams  had  built,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Rouge  River,  a  large  sloop,  which  he 
named  "  Friends  Good  Will,"  designed  to  be  used  for  the 
transportation  of  goods  upon  the  lakes,  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  business.  In  the  summer  of  1812  the  sloop  (with 
Maj.  Williams  on  board  as  supercargo)  visited  the  port  of 
Michilimackinae,  where  she  was  chartered  by  the  United 
States  authorities  to  transport  military  supplies  thence  to 
Fort  Dearborn,  Chicago,  and  to  bring  back  furs  and  other 
merchandise  from  the  government  factor  there  to  Detroit. 
Before  the  return  of  the  vessel  to  Michilimackinae  that 
post  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  upon  her 
entrance  into  the  harbor  on  her  way  back  to  Detroit  she  was 
seized  by  the  British  commandant  as  a  prize  of  war.  Maj. 
Williams  was  made  a  prisoner,  but  was  paroled  and  sent  to 
Detroit,  and  was  there  when  the  town  was  afterwards  dis- 
gracefully surrendered  by  Gen.  Hull.  The  sloop  "  Friends 
Good  Will"  was  renamed  by  her  British  captors  the  "  Little 
Belt,"  and  being  armed  with  a  battery  of  three  guns,  took 
part  in  the  naval  battle  of  Lake  Erie,  in  1813.  There  she 
was  recaptured  by  Commodore  Perry,  and  in  the  following 
winter  was  destroyed  by  fire  at  Buffalo. 

In  the  fall  of  1815,  Maj.  Williams  removed  his  family, 
consisting  of  his  wife  and  nine  children, — six  sons  and 
three  daughters, — to  Detroit.  They  traveled  in  a  carriage 
and  a  four-horse  covered  wagon  from  Concord,  Mass.,  to 
Buffalo,  taking  passage  at  the  latter  place  on  the  schooner 
"  Mink"  for  Detroit,  where  they  arrived  on  the  5th  of 
November,  and  where  the  family  made  their  home  for  about 
four  years. 

Maj.  Williams  had  lost  very  heavily  by  the  capture  of 
his  vessel  and  other  disasters  during  the  war  of  1812-15, 
and  finding  it  impossible  to  obtain  reimbursement  from  the 


r 


I 


5 


lXi,tU.J-^ 


CITY  OP  0W0S80. 


159 


United  States,  or  in  any  manner  to  recover  the  property 
lost,  determined  to  leave  Detroit  and  become  a  farmer. 
Having  that  object  in  view,  he  purchased,  in  1818,  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Waterford  township,  Oakland 
Co.,  a  short  distance  northwest  of  Pontiac,  and  to  this  tract 
he  removed  his  family  in  1819.  Here,  upon  the  homestead 
which  became  widely  known  as  the  "Silver  Lake  farm,"  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  quiet  and  in  enjoyment 
of  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  numerous  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. His  death  occurred  on  the  7th  of  October, 
1834,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

The  children  of  Maj.  Oliver  and  Mrs.  Mary  Williams 
were  fourteen  in  number,  twelve  of  them  being  born  in 
Massachusetts  and  two  in  Detroit.  Of  the  latter,  one  died 
in  infancy,  and  of  the  former,  four  died  young.  Those  who 
lived  to  maturity  were  the  following,  viz. : 

1.  Ephraim  S.  WilUams,  born  at  Concord,  Mass.,  Feb. 
7,  1802.  He  was  an  early  settler  in  Saginaw  County,  and 
is  now  living  in  the  city  of  Flint,  Genesee  Co. 

2.  Gardner  D.  Williams,  born  in  Concord,  Sept.  9, 1804. 
He  was  an  early  settler  at  Saginaw,  and  died  there  in 
1858. 

3.  Caroline  Lee  Williams,  born  at  Concord,  Feb.  11, 
1806.  Married  Rufus  W.  Stevens,  of  Grand  Blanc,  Gene- 
see Co.,  and  lived  there  and  at  the  city  of  Flint.  She  died 
in  1850. 

4.  Mary  Ann  Williams,  born  at  Concord,  May  9,  1807. 
Married  Schuyler  Hodges,  of  Pontiac,  Oakland  Co.,  and  is 
still  residing  there. 

5.  Alfred  L.  Williams,  born  at  Concord,  July  18,  1808. 
Settled  in  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1831.  His  residence 
is  at  Owosso,  though  temporarily  living  in  Virginia,  in 
charge  of  a  railroad  enterprise. 

6.  Benjamin  Oliver  Williams,  born  in  Concord,  Nov.  18, 
1810.  Settled  in  Shiawassee  County  in  1831.  Came  to 
Owosso  in  1837,  and  still  resides  there. 

7.  Alpheus  F.  Williams,  born  in  Concord,  Nov.  12, 
1812.  An  early  settler  in  Saginaw.  Removed  to  Califor- 
nia, and  now  resides  at  Oakland  in  that  State. 

8.  Harriet  L.  Williams,  born  at  Concord,  Mass.,  Feb.  10, 
1814.  Married  George  W.  Rodgers,  at  Pontiac,  Oakland 
Co.,  and  now  resides  in  California. 

9.  James  Monroe  Williams,  born  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  on 
the  day  (Aug.  14,  1817)  when  his  excellency  James  Mon- 
roe, President  of  the  United  States,  arrived  in  that  city. 
Maj.  Oliver  Williams  was  marshal  of  the  day  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  public  reception  of  the  President,  and  named  his 
infant  son  in  honor  of  the  city's  distinguished  guest.  James 
M.  Williams  is  now  living  in  Santa  Rosa,  Cal. 

Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin  0.  Williams  were,  as  has  been 
mentioned,  the  first  two  settlers  in  Shiawassee  County.  In 
August,  1831,  they  set  out  from  Pontiac  with  two  assist- 
ants and  a  double  team  loaded  with  goods,  and  passing 
throuo-h  the  intervening  wilderness,  came  to  the  Shiawassee 
River  at  the  point  where  that  stream  is  now  crossed  by  the 
Chicago  and  Lake  Huron  Railroad,  and  where  A.  L.  Wil- 
liams had  entered  an  eighty- acre  tract  of  government  land. 
Here  they  opened  a  trading-post,  and  soon  after  built  the 
building  which  later  became  known  as  the  « Shiawassee 
Exchange,"  a  double  house  one  and  a  half  stories  high, 


used  as  a  dwelling  and  store-house  and  afterwards  as  a 
tavern. 

In  July  or  August,  1833,  the  brothers  Williams  pur- 
chased lands  at  Che-boc-wa-ting,  or  the  Big  Rapids  of  the 
Shiawassee  (Owosso),  this  being  the  first  purchase  of  lands 
in  the  north  half  of  the  county.  In  1835  the  younger 
brother,  B.  0.  Williams,  established  a  mercantile  business 
at  Pontiac,  and  remained  there  two  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  B.  0.  Williams,  with  his  elder 
brother,  Gardner  D.  Williams,  of  Saginaw,  went  to  the  city 
of  Washington  in  charge  of  a  party  of  tMrteen  Saginaw- 
Chippewa  chiefs  for  the  purpose  of  concluding  a  treaty  by 
which  the  Indians  should  sell  to  the  United  States  the 
tribal  reservations .  granted  them  by  the  treaty  of  Saginaw 
in  1819.  This  negotiation  was  ultimately  successful.  The 
deputation  remained  about  three  weeks  in  Washington, 
and  the  whole  journey  consumed  about  two  months, — the 
means  of  traveling  at  that  time  being  by  stage  and  canal. 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  B.  0.  Williams  returned  from 
Pontiac  to  Shiawassee  County,  and  with  his  brother,  A.  L., 
located  permanently  on  their  lands  at  Owosso,  where  they 
at  once  commenced  extending  and  adding  to  the  improve- 
ments which  had  been  begun  there  under  their  direction 
in  the  fall  of  1835.  In  this  removal  from  their  old  trad- 
ing-post above,  on  the  Shiawassee,  they  retained  the  "  Shia- 
wassee Exchange"  property,  but  this  they  sold  the  next 
year  to  the  American  Fur  Company. 

In  1838,  B.  0.  Williams  married  Miss  Sophia  A.  Smith, 
of  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.  His  first  dwelling-house  was 
erected  in  Owosso,  near  the  present  residence  of  A.  L. 
Williams.  He  afterwards  built  a  house  on  the  lot  adjoin- 
ing Judge  Gould's.  The  residence  which  he  now  occupies 
was  built  in  or  about  1869. 

A  contract  for  grubbing  and  clearing  about  forty  miles 
of  the  line  of  the  old  "Northern  Railroad"  (from  the 
centre  of  Shiawassee  County  westward  to  Lyons,  Ionia 
Co.)  was  taken  by  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  at  1248.50 
per  mile,  and  one-half  of  the  distance  was  sub-let  by  them 
to  Messrs.  Kipp  and  Moore,  of  Ionia.  The  work  was  com- 
menced in  November,  1838,  and  was  completed  in  the 
summer  of  1839,  but  resulted  in  loss  to  the  contractors. 
In  1839,  B.  0.  Williams  and  Daniel  Ball  took  the  contract 
to  grade  ten  miles  of  the  same  road,  eastward  from  Lyons, 
but  only  a  part  of  this  work  was  completed  before  the 
definite  failure  and  abandonment  of  the  project  by  the 
State. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  California  gold 
excitement,  the  brothers  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams  re- 
solved to  try  the  experiment  of  mining  on  the  Pacific  slope, 
and  in  the  year  1850  they  migrated  thither,  took  up  a 
claim  in  Nevada  County,  and  commenced  operations.  They 
named  their  claim  "Pontiac  Hill,"  and  theirs  were  the  ^ 
first  hill-diggings  opened  in  California.  The  history  of 
Nevada  Co.,  Cal.,  gives  to  them  the  credit  of  finishing 
the  first  water-race  for  gold-washing  in  the  county.  It  ran 
from  Nevada  City  to  Rough  and  Ready.  Gold  was  found 
within  thirty  feet  of  where  they  commenced  work,  and  ten 
feet  below  the  surface  they  took  out  a  ten-quart  pan  of 
earth  which  yielded  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  penny- 
weights of  gold.     They  remained  at  this  place  for  two 


160 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


years,  then  sold  their  claim  and  returned  to  Owosso.  In 
May,  1852,  they  again  went  to  California — sending  a  party 
of  men  with  horses  by  the  overland  route — and  purchased 
a  water-right  in  Sierra  County,  which  they  worked  suc- 
cessfully, and  on  which  over  half  a  million  dollars  has 
since  been  expended.  Accompanying  them  were  their 
brothers,  Alpheus  F.  and  James  M.  Williams,  who  re- 
mained in  charge  of  the  mining  operations  while  the  elder 
two  returned  to  Michigan. 

In  1863-64,  B.  0.  Williams  accompanied  Col.  Hayden, 
of  Ohio,  on  a  tbur  for  the  discovery  and  working  of  gold 
and  silver  mines  in  Honduras,  Central  America.  They 
made  a  very  thorough  exploration  of  the  region  in  question, 
but  no  extensive  operations  resulted  from  the  discoveries 
made. 

Alfred  L.  Williams  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
project  of  the  Amboy,  Lansing  and  Traverse  Bay  Railroad, 
which  was  chartered  in  1857.  He  became  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  company,  and  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  ob- 
taining for  the  road  its  proportion  of  the  lands  granted  to 
the  State  of  Michigan  in  aid  of  railroads  by  act  of  Con- 
gress passed  in  1856.  Mr.  Williams  continued  to  be  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the  management  of  this 
railroad  until  its  sale,  in  1864.  In  1876  he,  with  several 
associates,  obtained  from  the  State  of  Virginia  a  grant 
giving  them  the  use  of  the  tow-path  of  the  James  River 
Canal  as  a  bed  for  a  railway  to  run  from  the  city  of  Rich- 
mond westwardly  to  Clifton  Forge,  in  Allegany  County, 
there  to  intersect  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Railroad  at  the 
latter  point.  The  enterprise  is  a  most  promising  one,  and 
Mr.  Williams  is  now  in  Virginia  engaged  in  its  prosecution. 

Benjamin  0.  Williams  has  always  acted  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  from  the  casting  of  his  first  vote,  in  1832,  until 
the  present  time.  He  has  frequently  served  the  party  as 
delegate  to  State  conventions  and  in  other  similar  ways, 
but  has  never  had  any  political  aspirations.  He  has  held 
the  oflBces  of  justice  of  the  peace,  mayor  of  the  city  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  has  been  elected  to 
a  number  of  minor  positions,  but  he  has  never  held  an 
office  which  was  the  result  of  his  own  seeking.  His  family 
have  resided  in  Owosso  from  1838  until  the  present  time. 
He  has  three  children  living,  viz. :  James  A.  and  Charles 
S.,  who  are  engaged  in  business  at  Owosso,  and  Benjamin 
0.,  Jr.,  who  is  freight-agent  of  the  Great  Western  Railroad 
at  Detroit. 


HON.  AMOS   GOULD. 


The  life-work  of  few  men  illustrates  more  graphically 
a  series  of  struggles  and  triumphs  than  does  that  of  Judge 
Amos  Gould,  of  Owosso.  An  honored  and  successful  coun- 
selor, a  faithful  and  industrious  practitioner,  he  has  ever 
maintained  that  reputation  for  fidelity  to  duty  which  is  the 
general  characteristic  of  the  American  lawyer.  His  ac- 
quirements were  not  attained  as  light  and  idle  pastimes. 
Each  advance  step  was  taken  after  due  deliberation,  and  was 
then  laboriously  maintained.     Years  added  to  his  strength. 


and  untiring  industry  greatly  increased  his  stock  of  knowl- 
edge, until  in  the  full  and  complete  man  we  scarcely  discern 
the  feeble  beginning. 

The  knowledge  of  Mr.  Gould's  ancestry  begins  with  his 
grandfather,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Gould,  of  Killingly  (Windham 
Co.),  Conn.  He  was  a  young  married  man  of  good  repute, 
by  occupation  a  farmer,  who  attained  the  rank  of  captain  of 
militia  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  later  removed  to 
Granville,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  purchased  a  large 
farm,  which  he  improved  and  lived  upon  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  about  1808.  Mrs.  Gould,  his  wife,  was  a 
Miss  Robbins,  of  Connecticut,  and  became  the  mother  of 
eighteen  children,  who  were  at  one  time  all  residing  under 
the  parental  roof.  The  father  of  Amos  Gould,  after  his 
marriage,  about  the  year  1805,  to  Miss  Polly  Simmons, 
removed  from  Granville  to  the  old  town  of  Aur_elius,  south 
of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  where  their  son  Amos  was  born,  Dec. 
3,  1808.  The  father  there  purchased  a  farm  and  began 
the  work  of  clearing,  to  which  he  devoted  himself  with 
vigor  until  called  again  to  the  early  home  to  participate  in 
the  settlement  of  the  estate  of  his  parent.  In  1813  he  re- 
turned to  his  pui'chase  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Amos  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  those  early  days,  and 
recalls  distinctly  the  war  of  1812.  On  their  return  from 
the  East  troops  were  seen  encamped  along  the  Mohawk 
River.  Farther  west,  in  Onondaga  County,  the  camp-fires 
were  burning,  and  a  regiment  of  cavalry  overtook  the  emi- 
grants on  the  route  to  their  home,  and  having  divided, 
rode  swiftly  past  and  disappeared  in  the  distance. 

The  son  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  assisting 
in  the  labors  of  the  husbandman,  and  devoting  the  winter 
to  such  study  as  was  afibrded  by  the  public  school  of  the 
neighborhood. 

From  the  age  of  ten  years  Amos  developed  a  fondness 
for  reading,  and  eagerly  availed  himself  of  such  material  as 
was  afforded  by  the  ladies'  library  established  in  the  vi- 
cinity. One  or  two  private  collections  were  also  accessible 
to  him. 

In  1824  an  opportunity  occurred  of  enjoying  the  supe- 
rior advantages  of  a  school  in  Auburn,  where  the  languages 
were  taught,  and  where  he  added  greatly  to  the  limited 
knowledge  of  Latin  he  had  previously  acquired.  This  con- 
tinued with  interruptions  for  two  years,  after  which  the 
academy  at  Aurora,  Cayuga  Co.,  opened  its  doors  to  him, 
and  in  1827  he  entered  the  sophomore  class  at  Hamilton 
College,  Clinton,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Gould  pursued  his  studies  until  an  unfortunate  cir- 
cumstance caused  the  temporary  suspension  of  the  institu- 
tion, when,  lacking  means  to  enter  another  seat  of  learning, 
he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.  He  also  en- 
tered at  this  time  the  office  of  William  H.  Seward  as  a 
student  of  law. 

Later  he  became  associated  with  Theodore  Spencer,  son 
of  Chief  Justice  Spencer,  of  New  York,  and  received  as 
clerk  a  compensation  which  materially  aided  him  in  his 
early  struggles.  His  admission  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme 
Court  and  the  Court  of  Chancery  of  New  York  occurred  in 
the  fall  of  1832. 

He  soon  after  opened  an  office,  and  at  once  found  himself 
in  rivalry  with  the  leading  talent  of  Western  New  York, 


.«' 


CITY   OF  OWOSSO. 


161 


including  Judge  F.  J.  Jewett,  of  Skaneateles,  James  K. 
Lawrence,  Judge  B.  D.  Noxon,  of  Syracuse,  and  other 
noted  lawyers.  He  ultimately  formed  a  copartnership  with 
George  Rathbun  and  continued  it  several  years,  the  firm 
having  enjoyed  an  extensive  practice  throughout  the 
State. 

The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  1840,  and  Mr.  Gould, 
having  become  involved  and  rendered  liable  for  debts  of 
his  brother  and  brother-in-law,  who  were  merchants  in 
Owosso,  Mich.,  and  unsuccessful  in  business,  concluded  to 
go  to  that  place,  and,  if  possible,  close  up  the  matter  by  the 
payment  of  the  debts.  He  was  also  influenced  by  a  desire 
to  enjoy  a  change  of  climate,  and  thereby  regain  his  health, 
which  was  much  impaired  by  close  application  to  profes- 
sional duties.  He  therefore  made  Owosso  his  residence  in 
1843,  and  has  remained  there  since  that  time.  Two  years 
later  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Shia- 
wassee and  adjoining  counties,  and  engaged  actively  in  its 
duties  until  the  year  1865,  when  he  surrendered  its  cares 
and  profits  to  his  brother  and  former  partner,  Col.  B. 
Gould,  for  whom  he  had  retained  the  business  during  his 
service  inthe  army.  While  in  practice  in  New  York  Mr. 
Gould  was  appointed  master  in  chancery  by  his  friend  Wil- 
liam H.  Seward,  then  Governor  of  the  State,  and  later 
made  by  Chancellor  Walworth  injunction  master  for  the 
Seventh  Judicial  Circuit,  the  courts  having  been  held  at 
"Auburn,  N.  Y.  These  offices  he  held  till  his  removal  to 
Michigan.  In  the  fall  of  1 844  he  was  elected  probate  judge 
for  Shiawassee  County,  and  in  the  year  1852  to  the  Senate 
of  the  State  of  Michigan.  He  was  also  prosecuting  attor- 
ney of  the  county,  and  was  supervisor  of  the  township  of 
Owosso  from  1844  to  1850.  Mr.  Gould  has,  since  the 
Rebellion,  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
ever  made  principle  a  stronger  motive  than  party  in  the 
casting  of  his  ballot.  He  has  even  been  induced  to  change 
his  relations  with  one  great  party  when  its  platform  and 
measures  did  not  accord  with  his  views  of  right.  The 
State  election  of  1855  found  him  a  candidate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  for  the  office  of  attorney-general,  but  when  cir- 
cumstances arising  from  the  late  war  witnessed  the  with- 
drawal of  many  of  the  strongest  supporters  of  the  party, 
Mr.  Gould  was  among  them.  He  organized,  in  1865,  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Owosso,  and  has  been  since  that 
time  its  president,  owning  a  majority  of  the  stock.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  the  superintendence  of  his  large  farm  of 
twelve  hundred  acres,  and  the  management  of  extensive 
land  and  lumber  speculations,  which,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  seventy-two  years,  make  him  still  an  active  man,  and 
one  immersed  in  business  enterprises. 

He  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Owosso,  and  was  one  of  its  early  founders.  Mr. 
Gould's  spacious  residence  is  filled  with  the  genial  mem- 
bers of  a  happy  family  circle.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
united  in  1841,  was  Miss  Louisa  Peck,  of  New  York 
State.  They  are  the  well-beloved  parents  of  five  grown 
sons  and  daughters,  whose  delight  it  is  to  comfort  their  de- 
clining years. 
21 


EZEKIBL   SALISBURY. 

Ezekiel  Salisbury  is  a  native  of  that  old  historic  spot 
which  so  many  eminent  men  of  the  present  and  past  gen- 
eration claim  as  their  natal  place,  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  born  in  the  year  1812.  Until  he  was  fifteen  years 
of  age  his  time  was  principally  occupied  in  school.  Then 
he  went  to  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  apprenticed  himself  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  which  had  been  the  vocation  of 
his  father,  John  Salisbury.  Upon  reaching  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  began  the  business  for  himself  in  his  native 


EZEKIEL    SALISBURY. 

county.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  removed  to  Oakland 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  government  land,  and  at  the  same  time  opened  a  black- 
smith-shop. Bight  years  after,  he  sold  out  his  interest, 
came  to  Bennington,  Shiawassee  Co.,  bought  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  wild  land  and  began  clearing  it 
up.  At  the  same  time  he  again  opened  a  blacksmith- 
shop. 

Mrs.  Salisbury  was,  previous  to  her  marriage  with  Mr. 
Salisbury,  a  Miss  Martha  Stedman,  also  a  native  of  Johns- 
town, N.  Y.  They  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  four  are  living.  To  each  they  have  given  a  farm, 
and  all  are  industrious,  successful  citizens.  Mr.  Salisbury 
was  justice  of  the  peace  in  Bennington  two  terms,  also 
road  commissioner. 

In  1870,  after  giving  up  all  active  duties  and  leaving  his 
lands  with  his  children,  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Owosso, 
and  settled  down  to  a  quiet  life  there  and  a  rest  from  the 
labor  which  he  had  so  steadily  pursued  for  over  forty  years. 
But  full  quiet  has  not  been  allowed  him,  for  since  coming 
to  Owosso  he  has  acted  as  supervisor  of  that  city  five 
years. 

For  twenty-five  years  Mr.  Salisbury  has  been  an  active 
Christian  and  zealous  worker  in  the  church. 


162 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


HON.  JOSIAH  TURNER, 

JUDGE  OF  THE   SEVENTH   JUDICIAL   CIRCtTIT. 


This  distinguished  gentleman  was  born  on  the  1st  day  of 
September,  a.d.  1811,  in  the  old  patriotic  township  of  New 
Haven,  Addison  Co.,  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  received 
his  academical  education  at  the  famous  schools  of  Middle- 
bury  and  St.  Albans,  immediately  after  which  he  entered 
his  name  and  commenced  his  legal  studies  in  the  office  of 
his  uncle,  Hon.  Bates  Turner,  formerly  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  that  State.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  the  fall  of  1833,  and  opened  his  office  in  the  village 
of  West  Berkshire.  In  January,  1835,  he  married  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Ellsworth,  of  Berkshire,  Vt.,  and  in  1,840 
followed  the  great  tidal  wave  of  emigration  to  this  State,  and 
settled  at  Howell,  the  county-seat  of  Livingston  County, 
where  he  at  once  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Two  years  after  taking  up  his  new  residence  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  county,  and  held  the  office  for  six  years, 
and  also  held  in  rapid  succession  the  honorable  positions  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  township  clerk,  and  master  in  chancery. 

Upon  the  establishment  of  the  county-court  system,  in 
1846,  he  was  elected  judge  of  Livingston  County,  and  held 
the  position  with  great  credit  to  himself  until  the  change 
was  made  in  the  judiciary  of  the  State  by  the  adoption,  in 
1850,  of  the  new  constitution. 

At  the  general  State  election,  in  1856,  he  was  elected 
judge  of  probate  for  the  same  county.  His  personal  popu- 
larity was  such,  added  to  his  professional  character,  that 
notwithstanding  the  Democratic  party  held  a  very  large  ma- 
jority in  the  county  he  was  triumphantly  elected,  although 
running  on  the  opposition  (Republican)  ticket. 

In  May,  1857,  he  was  appointed,  by  the  well-deserved 
favor  of  his  old  friend.  Governor  Kinsley  S.  Bingham,  to 
fill  a  vacancy  on  the  Supreme  Court  bench,  and  in  the  same 
year  was  elected  circuit  judge  for  the  Seventh  Judicial  Cir- 
cuit for  the  term  of  six  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
he  was  again  nominated  and  elected,  and  re-elected  in  1869, 


and  with  increasing  satisfaction  to  the  profession  and  to  the 
public  he  was  again,  and  for  the  fourth  period,  in  1875,  re- 
elected without  any  opposition,  thus  making,  if  he  lives  to 
the  end  of  his  present  term,  a  continuous  occupancy  of  a 
judicial  position  for  twenty-four  years  and  nine  months. 

Judge  Turner  has  held  the  circuit  court  in  forty  counties 
of  this  State,  and  in  every  circuit  but  one. 

In  1860,  with  the  view  of  getting  nearer  the  centre  of 
his  circuit.  Judge  Turner  changed  his  residence  to  Owosso, 
in  the  county  of  Shiawassee.  Here  he  served  the  muni- 
cipality of  that  city  as  mayor  in  1864,  and  was  again  chosen 
in  the  following  year. 

At  the  Constitutional  Convention  held  at  Lansing,  in 
1867,  he  was  elected  for  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  and  be- 
came at  once  an  active  and  valuable  member,  serving  on  the 
committee  of  the  judiciary,  and  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  schedule. 

Throughout  the  whole  period  of  his  public  and  judicial 
life,  from  its  very  commencement  up  to  the  present  period, 
Judge  Turner  has  been  distinguished  by  patience  and  in- 
dustry and  a  determination  to  do  what  is  right  whenever 
and  wherever  that  could  be  known,  and  it  is  this  principle 
which  has  won  for  those  who  administer  the  law  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  people. 

To  the  members  of  the  bar,  whether  old  or  new  practi- 
tioners, he  has  ever  exhibited  a  kindliness  of  disposition,  an 
unwavering  courtesy  of  demeanor,  and  a  display  of  charac- 
teristics which  so  happily  become  a  judge,  whether  sitting 
in  equity,  at  nisi  prim,  or  in  the  performance  of  professional  i 
duties  in  chambers.  The  fiimily  of  Judge  Turner  consisted 
of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz. :  Hon. 
Jerome  W.  Turner,  of  Owosso,  State  senater  from  1868  to 
1870,  and  afterwards  mayor  of  that  prosperous  and  enter- 
prising city ;  Lucia,  the  wife  of  Hon.  H.  M.  Newcomb,  of 
Ludington ;  and  Miss  Nellie  Turner. 


CITY  OF  0W0S80. 


163 


WILLIAM   MAKVIN  KILPATEICK. 


William  Marvin  Kilpatrick  is  a  native  of  Middlesex, 
Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born  Dec.  25,  1840.  He 
was  the  youngest  of  the  five  sons  of  Jesse  and  Catharine 
(Seaman)  Kilpatrick,  the  father  being  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent  and  the  mother  a  native  of  Maryland. 

His  early  experiences  in  life  were  such  as  are  incidental 
to  a  farmer's  son,  and  although  fond  of  all  out-door  sports, 
his  natural  inclinations  were  of  a  studious  character.  He 
read  with  delight  all  the  books  to  which  he  had  access,  and 
at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  resolved  to  study  law  and  follow 
through  life  that  profession. 

His  boyhood  home  was  one  of  strict  discipline,  and  to 
this  and  his  early  religious  training  he  doubtless  owes  much 
of  his  success  in  life.     Having  obtained  his  primary  edu- 
cation at  Middlesex,  he  took  an  academic  course  at  Rush- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  entered  Genesee  Seminary, 
where  he  remained  three  terms ;  then  for  a  short  time 
taught  school  in  Illinois,  and  entering  the  law  department 
at  Ann  Arbor  University,  graduated  in  the  class  of  '66. 
He  then  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  seeking  admission  to  a 
law-office  there  in  order  to  gain  a  further  knowledge  of  the 
profession.     Being  unsuccessful  in  this  endeavor,  he  came 
to  Owosso  and  entered  the  office  of  G.  R.  Lyon,  where  he 
remained  until  1867,  when  he  began  the  active  practice  of 
law  and  soon  had  a  large  practice.     In  1869  he  was  ap- 
pointed city  attorney;  in  1873  was  elected  supervisor  at 
large  for  the  city  of  Owosso,  which  position  he  retained 
until  the  spring  of   1875,  when  he  was  elected  mayor,, 
serving  one  term  and  declining  a  nomination  for  the  second, 
which  was  immediately  tendered  him.     In  1876  he  was 
again  elected  supervisor  at  large,  and  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  to  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  for  Shia- 


wassee County ;  re-elected  in  1878,  and  which  position  he 
still  holds. 

Politically,  Mr.  Kilpatrick  is  a  zealous  Republican,  and 
in  1865  did  efficient  work  on  the  stump.  He  was  also  in  the 
same  year  a  member  of  the  State  convention.  In  1874  he 
was  elected  chairman  of  the  Republican  county  committee, 
which  position  he  still  retains.  He  was  elected  to  the  State 
convention  in  1880,  and  by  that  convention  was  made  a 
member  of  the  State  central  committee. 

Mr.  Kilpatrick  married,  Dec.  31,  1869,  Mary,  daughter 
of  B.  0.  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Owosso.  Her  death  occurred 
the  following  year,  and  on  June  10,  1873,  he  married 
Emma,  daughter  of  A.  L.  Williams,  and  a  cousin  of  his 
former  wife.  By  this  marriage  he  has  had  three  children  : 
William  D.,  born  April  3,  1874;  Mary,  born  in  January, 
1876;  and  Florence  May,  born  March  12, 1879. 

Few  men  in  Shiawassee  County  enjoy  the  respsct  and 
confidence  of  the  people  to  as  great  an  extent  as  Mr.  Kil- 
patrick. United  to  a  genial  and  kind  disposition,  his  fine 
abilities,  high  character,  and  conscientious  work  mark  the 
true  jurist. 


D.    M.   ESTEY. 


Mr.  D.  M.  Bstey,  the  gentlemanly  president  of  the  Estey 
Manufacturing  Company,  was  born  in  Hillsdale,  N.  H.,  in 
1842.  When  he  was  four  years  of  age  his  parents  removed 
to  Massachusetts,  and  thence  to  Vermont.  At  an  early 
age  (when  about  fourteen)  he  engaged  in  lumbering  and 
farming,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  had  accumulated  one 
hundred  and  sixty  dollars  in  cash,  with  which  he  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  incurring  in  ad- 


164 


HISTOEY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


ditioD  an  indebtedness  of  nearly  six  thousand  dollars.  This 
he  paid,  acquiring  a  large  sum  of  money  besides  from  this 
venture,  which  he  considers  one  of  his  most  successful 
business  achievements. 

Soon  after  this  he  went  into  the  army,  where  he  remained 
six  months.  Keturning  to  Vermont,  he  soon  after  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  furniture,  continuing  in  that 
business  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  he 
came  to  West  Haven,  Shiawassee  Co.,  and  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  the  enterprise  which  has  since  attained  the  propor- 
tions of  the  large  establishment  seen  in  the  accompanying 
cuts.  Mr.  Estey  found  the  original  manufactory  at  West 
Haven  inadequate  to  supply  the  increasing  demands  of  his 
business,  and,  being  industrious  and  determined  to  succeed, 
he  erected  the  finishing-factory.at  Owosso,  a  large  two-story 
building  or  warehouse,  to  which  extensive  additions  are 
being  made  the  present  summer. 

Feb.  1,  1879,  he  formed  a  stock  company,  known  as  the 
Estey  Manufacturing  Company,  which  consists  of  himself, 
Charles  E.  Rigley,  and  the  Hon.  Jacob  Estey,  so  noted  for 
the  excellent  organs  manufactured  by  him. 


Mr.  Rigley  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  thirty-two  years  of  age, 
and  first  became  connected  with  Mr.  Estey  in  Detroit,  in 
1870,  as  an  expert  ornamental  finisher.  In  1872  he  be- 
came bookkeeper,  then  a  partner  with  Mr.  Estey,  and  is  at 
present  vice-president  and  secretary  of  the  stock  company. 
He  has  patented  a  method  of  imitating  French  walnut, 
which  cannot  be  distinguished  from  the  natural  wood. 
They  have  also  a  newly-invented  machine  in  the  dry-house 
for  drying  lumber. 

From  forty  to  fifty  men  are  employed  continually  at 
West  Haven,  and  two  million  feet  of  lumber  kept  con- 
stantly in  stock  for  manufacturing  purposes.  Their  ma- 
chinery is  all  lately  improved  and  the  best  in  the  market. 
They  also  own  the  best  water-power  on  Shiawassee  River, 
and  large  tracts  of  land  near  the  factory,  which  they  culti- 
vate as  soon  as  the  timber  is  removed. 

Their  furniture  is  manufactured  at  West  Haven  and  sent 
tofOwosso  for  finishing,  while  their  sales  extend  all  over  the 
Union.  Owosso  is  justly  proud  of  this  establishment,  and 
of  the  men  who  have  so  energetically  and  successfully  pushed 
the  work  to  its  present  magnitude  and  prosperity. 


JAMES   M.  GUILE. 


James  M.  Guile  was  born  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1818. 
The  death  of  his  father  occurring  when  he  was  an  infant, 
his  mother  removed  with  him,  her  only  child,  to  Worcester, 
Mass.,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  James  was  about 
twenty-one  years  old.  During  this  time  he  attended  school 
in  the  winter  season,  and  worked  on  a  farm  the  remainder 
of  the  year.  After  attaining  that  age  he  started  for  New 
York  on  foot,  stopping  at  different  towns  en  route,  working 
at  watch-repairing  to  replenish  his  exchequer,  and  arriving 
in  that  city  with  but  a  few  dollars  in  his  pocket. 

After  spending  some  ten  years  in  a  jewelry  establishment 


there  he  came  to  Detroit  and  remained  about  eleven  years, 
engaging  in  the  same  business  for  himself.  In  1857  he 
came  to  Owosso  and  opened  a  jewelry  store,  which  business 
he  continued  until  his  death,  April  8,  1880. 

Mr.  Guile  first  married  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Weeks,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1848.  William  F.,  the  only  living  child  of  this  union, 
was  born  in  Detroit,  Feb.  21,  1851.  Mrs.  GuDe  died  in 
1853.  May  3,  1855,  he  married  Miss  Lizzie  F.  Holman, 
of  Romeo,  Macomb  Co.,  Mich.  To  them  were  born  three 
children, — Kate  Isadore,  born  May  7, 1857 ;  Grace  Minerva, 
born  Jan.  8,  1859  ;  and  James  Arthur,  born  July  31, 1860. 


CITY  OP   CORUNNA. 


165 


Mr.  GuUe  was  in  politics  a  staunch  Kepublican.  In 
religion,  for  thirty-five  years  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  for  several  years  a  deacon  in  that 
church  ;  an  earnest  Christian,  thoroughly  honest  and  con- 
scjentious,  of  a  retiring  disposition,  he  enjoyed  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
widely-known  and  valuable  citizens  of  Shiawassee  County, 
of  which  he  was  a  resident  twenty-four  years. 


EZRA   L.    MASON. 

Until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old  Ezra  L.  Mason  lived 
on  a  farm  with  his  parents  in  the  vicinity  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  17,  1813.  He  received  a 
common-school  education,  such  as  nearly  all  farmers'  boys 
of  that  section  received  in  those  days. 

In  1835  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Wheeler,  a  native  of 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1836  came  to  Owosso,  Mich., 
which  was  then  on  the  verge  of  civilization,  and  located  wild  . 


EZBA   L.    MASON. 

land  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  home.  He  returned  to 
Rochester  the  same  year,  where  he  remained  until  1839 ; 
then  came  back  to  Owosso  and  began  the  cleaving  of  his  land 
and  the  fulfillment  of  his  plan  for  a  permanent  abiding- 
place,  becoming  one  of  Owosso's  pioneers  and  most  esteemed 
and  substantial  citizens.  He  has  followed  farming  and  sur- 
veying all  his  life ;  was  county  surveyor  for  several  years, 
which  position  he  filled  with  ability  and  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all.  He  has  also  held  the  office  of  supervisor  of  Owosso 
township  for  eight  years,  besides  those  of  highway  commis- 
sioner and  school  director,  all  of  which  offices  he  has  filled 
with  fidelity,  economy,  and  an  eye  solely  to  the  greatest 
good  of  the  greatest  number.  He  has  through  life  been  a 
Christian  not  only  by  precept  but  also  by  example. 

Mr.  Mason  has  been  twice  married,  having  by  his  first 
wife  seven  children,  of  whom  six  are  still  living.  Mrs. 
Harriet  Mason  died  April  4, 1848,  and  in  1849  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  W.  Whaley,  a  most  estimable  lady,  who,  with 
her  husband,  we  hope  may  for  many  years  survive  as  a 
pioneer  of  Owosso. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 
CITY   OF   CORUNNA.* 

Location — Original  Land-Entries — Settlement,  Settlers,  and  Progress 
— Incorporation  of  the  Village  and  List  of  Village  Officers — Incor- 
poration of  the  City  of  Corunna— List  of  City  Officers — Manufac- 
turing Industries — Banking — Fire  Department — Schools — Church 
History — Corunna  Cemetery — Secret  Orders. 

The  city  of  Corunna,  the  county-seat  of  Shiawassee,  em- 
braces within  its  boundaries  (as  established  by  the  legis- 
lative act  which  erected  it  a  city)  an  area  of  four  square 
miles  of  territory  lying  nearly  in  the  form  of  a  square,  of 
which  the  southwest  corner  is  a  little  more  than  a  mile 
north  and  east  of  the  geographical  centre  of  the  county. 
It  is  wholly  within  the  original  limits  of  the  township  of 
Caledonia,  being  described  by  law  as  covering  all  of  sections 
21  and  28  in  that  township,  with  the  east  half  of  sections  20 
and  29,  and  the  west  half  of  sections  22  and  27.  The  Shia- 
wassee River  passes  through  it  a  little  north  of  its  centre, 
flowing  from  east  to  west,  and  furnishing  excellent  water- 
power,  which  has  been  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  place 
until  the  present  time  a  useful  auxiliary  in  promoting  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  village  and  city.  The  Detroit, 
Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee  Railway  passes  through  the 
southern  part  of  Corunna,-  connecting  the  city  with  the 
commercial  metropolis  of  the  State  on  the  east,  and  with 
Lake  Michigan  on  the  west,  affording  excellent  facilities  for 
the  shipment  of  the  produce  of  adjacent  portions  of  the 
county. 

OBIGIlSfAL  LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  names  of  the  original  purchasers  from  the  United 
States  of  the  lands  embraced  within  the  present  limits  of 
the  city,  and  the  dates  of  their  respective  purchases,  are 
given  below : 

ON  SECTION  TWENTY. 

That  portion  of  the  southeast  quarter  south  of  the  Shia- 
wassee River,  by  Augustus  Randolph,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Mich., 
Sept.  26,  1835. 

The  north  part  of  the  southeast  fractional  quarter  north 
of  the  above  river,  by  Trumbull  Cary,  of  Genesee  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Oct.  21,  1835.  The  northeast  quarter,  by  Silas  and 
Daniel  Ball,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1835. 

SECTION  TWENTY-ONE. 

South  fraction,  and  east  part  of  southwest  fractional 
quarter,  Trumbull  Cary,  Nov.  2,  1835.  Northwest  part  of 
the  southwest  fractional  quarter  and  north  part  of  the  south- 
east fractional  quarter,  Elias  Comstock  and  Seth  Beach, 
Oakland  County,  Nov.  19, 1835.  The  south  portion  of  the 
southeast-  fractional  quarter,  William  C.  Baldwin,  Dec.  14, 
1835.  The  west  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  and  the 
east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter,  S.  P.  Germain,  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  April  1,  1836.  The  east  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter,  Nathaniel  Prouty,  Wayne  County,  April  1,  1836. 
The  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter,  Thomas  T.  Owen 
Wayne  County,  April  2,  1836. 

-»  By  B.  0.  Wagner. 


166 


HISTOEY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUiNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SECTION  TWENTY-TWO. 
That  part  of  the  southeast  quarter  lying  south  of  the 
river,  Ira  A.  Blossom  and  E.  D.  Efner,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  9,  1835.  The  east  part  of  the  northeast  fractional 
quarter,  Alexander  D.  Eraser,  James  Davidson,  and  Alex- 
ander McArthur,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  10,  1836.  The 
west  part  of  the  northeast  fractional  quarter,  James  A. 
Van  Dyck  and  H.  McClure,  Wayne  Co.,  Feb.  13,  1836. 

SECTION   TWENTY-SEVEN. 
The  northwest  quarter,  Ira  A.  Blossom  and  E.  D.  Efner, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  9,  1835.     The  southwest  quarter, 
Elon  Farnsworth,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  29,  1836. 

SECTION  TWENTY-EIGHT. 

The  north  fraction,  Jonathan  Kearsley,  Detroit,  Sept. 
16,  1832.  The  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter,  Ninion 
Clark,  Shiawassee  County,  Sept.  26,  1835.  The  west  part 
of  the  northeast  fractional  quarter  and  the  east  part  of  the 
northwest  fractional  quarter,  Andrew  Mack,  Wayne  Co., 
Mich.,  Jan.  27,  1836.  The  east  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  and  the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter,  same 
party.  The  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter,  Henry 
Raymond,  Feb.  10,  1836.  The  east  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter,  Horace  H.  Comstock,  Kalamazoo,  Feb.  13,  1836. 
The  north  part  of  the  northwest  fractional  quarter,  James 
Bowman,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  March  14,  1836. 

SECTION  TWENTY-NINE. 

The  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter,  Ninion 
Clark,  Sept.  26,  1835.  The  east  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter,  Joseph  Pitcairn,  New  York  City,  Feb.  20,  1836. 
The  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter.  Lot  Clark  and 
Stephen  Warren,  New  York,  February,  1836.  The  west 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  and  the  southeast  quarter  of 
the  southeast  quarter,  Elon  Farnsworth,  March  26,  1836. 

SETTLEMENT,    SETTLERS,    AND     PROGEESS    OF 
COEUNNA. 

The  first  settlements  in  Corunna  were  promoted,  and  its 
original  plat  as  a  village  was  laid  out,  by  an  association  of 
proprietors  of  the  land  on  which  it  was  located.  This  associ- 
ation, known  as  "The  Shiawassee  County- Seat  Company, 
was  composed  of  Andrew  Mack,  J.  C.  Schwarz,  Alexander 
McArthur,  John  McDonnell,  S.  B.  Mizner,  and  Horace  H. 
Comstock.  The  articles  of  association,  in  which  it  was  sot 
forth  that  the  object  of  the  company  was  to  secure  the 
permanent  establishment  of  the  county-seat  at  Corunna, 
and  to  promote  the  growth  and  settlement  of  a  village  at 
that  place,  were  signed  by  these  proprietors  on  the  6th  of 
August,  1836.  None  of  them  were  residents  of  the  town- 
ship or  county  at  that  time,  and  it  was  not  until  about  two 
years  later  that  one  of  their  number — Alexander  Mc- 
Arthur, Esq. — removed  here  as  the  agent  of  the  company, 
to  take  charge  of  its  affairs  and  advance  its  interests. 

Upon  the  formation  of  the  County-Seat  Company,  Capt. 
John  Davids  was  appointed  its  agent.  He  removed  to  the 
place  late  in  the  year  1836,  and  erected  for  his  principals  a 
log  house — the  first  building  in  Corunna — which  stood  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  on  what  is  now  designated  as  block 
7  of   McArthur,  Castle,  and   Hurlburt's  Addition.     The 


present  owner  of  the  property  is  Andrew  Huggins,  exten- 
sively known  through  the  county  as  a  skillful  engineer  and 
surveyor.  The  ruins  of  the  old  cellar  may  still  be  seen 
adjoining  the  home  of  Mr.  Huggins. 

It  is  diflScult  to  obtain  authentic  information  regarding 
the  progress  of  the  new  settlement  during  the  years  1837 
and  1838,  the  only  survivor  of  that  early  period  finding  it 
fmpossible  to  recall  the  events  of  more  than  forty  years  ago. 

The  first  plat  of  the  village  of  Corunna,  embracing  one 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  and  seven  one-hundredths  acres, 
and  described  as  the  west  part  of  the  northeast  fractional 
quarter  and  the  east  part  of  the  northwest  fractional 
quarter  of  section  28,  was  platted  June  2,  1837,  by  A.  D. 
Eraser,  John  Norton,  and  Chauncey  Hurlburt,  as  trustees 
for  the  Shiawassee  County-Seat  Company.  The  plat  was 
recorded  Feb.  5,  1840.  The  several  additions  which  have 
since  been  made  to  the  village  plat  from  time  to  time  will 
be  mentioned  in  succeeding  pages. 

Capt.  Davids,  the  company's  first  agent,  was  originally 
from  the  village  of  Niagara,  in  Canada,  and  had  removed 
to  Detroit,  where  he  resided  when  employed  by  the  County- 
Seat  Company  to  superintend  their  improvements.  He  re- 
mained but  a  year  in  charge  of  the  company's  interests,  and 
then  retired  to  the  farm  of  John  F.  Swain,  in  Caledonia 
township,  embracing  seventy  acres  on  section  25,  where 
he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death  in  1869, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years.  In  Canada  he  had 
been  the  keeper  of  a  public-house,  and  an  accidental  cir- 
cumstance brought  him  in  contact  with  Morgan,  of  anti- 
Masonic  fame.  Together  they  projected  the  idea  of  an  ex- 
posS  of  the  secrets  of  Masonry,  and  it  is  said  that  the  work 
was  written  in  the  house  of  Capt.  Davids.  The  latter  gen- 
tleman repaired  with  the  manuscript  to  New  York,  and 
ordered  the  publication  of  an  edition  embracing  twenty 
thousand  copies,  involving  all  his  means.  He  later  removed 
to  Fort  Erie,  N.  Y.,  and  it  is  stated  that  he  narrowly 
escaped  the  fate  which  overtook  his  coadjutor  Morgan, 
though  the  basis  of  this  statement  is  not  known.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Detroit  with  a  view  to  recuperating  his 
lost  fortune. 

Capt.  Davids  was  succeeded  in  his  management  of  the 
company's  interests  by  Joel  L.  Ancrim,  a  civil  engineer. 
His  official  career  was  likewise  brief.  After  a  residence  of 
less  than  a  year  he  departed  ostensibly  on  a  business  tour, 
leaving  his  implements  with  Mr.  McArthur,  and  never 
returned.  Whether  he  was  the  victim  of  foul  play,  or  had 
determined  to  abandon  a  residence  not  congenial  to  him,  is 
unknown. 

Alexander  McArthur,  one  of  the  members  of  the  com- 
pany, now  determined  to  remove  to  the  county-seat  and 
personally  supervise  the  interests  of  the  company.  In  the 
year  1838  he  left  Detroit,  his  former  residence,  and  became 
permanently  identified  with  the  locality  as  a  resident,  hav- 
ing moved  into  the  house  built  and  vacated  by  Capt.  Davids. 
In  that  year  he  erected  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  a 
saw-mill,  which  at  that  early  date  cut  most  of  the  timber 
used  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  aided  materially  in  the 
building  of  the  village.  Other  houses  were  built,  and  set- 
tlers slowly  found  their  way  to  the  spot,  having  been 
attracted  by  its  promising  future  as  depicted  in  glowing 


CITY  OP   CORUNNA. 


167 


colors  by  the  various  members  of  the  company.  In  1838, 
Stephen  Hawkins  came  from  Pontiac,  where  he  had  for 
three  years  been  a  resident  (having  removed  in  1835  from 
Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.).  He  entered  upon  section  26, 
in  Caledonia,  ninety-seven  acres  of  land.  By  trade  a 
carpenter  and  joiner,  he  with  his  partner  built  many  of  the 
earliest  frame  houses  in  Owosso,  where  he  for  a  brief  time 
resided.  Mr.  Hawkins  was  for  several  years  a  settler  in 
Corunna,  but  ultimately  removed  to  the  farm  which  he 
entered  and  where  he  still  resides. 

Abram  Garrabrant  came  at  about  the  same  period,  and 
engaged  in  various  occupations  which  afiForded  him  a  liveli- 
hood. He  was  an  eccentric  individual  and  the  object  of 
many  jokes  among  his  fellows,  though  his  kindly  nature 
precluded  their  being  of  a  very  practical  form.  Mr.  Garra- 
brant was  not,  however,  without  means,  having  had  a  farm 
of  considerable  size  within  the  present  city  limits. 

The  company  offered  a  plat  of  land  designated  as  the 
publib  square  to  be  used  for  county  purposes,  and  a  contract 
was  made  with  Stephen  Hawkins  for  the  erection  of  a 
building,  in  October  of  the  same  year,  to  be  devoted  to  the 
uses  of  the  county  officers.  This  building  not" being  of 
sufficient  proportions  to  afford  conveniences  for  the  sessions 
of  the  court,  they  were  for  a  while  continued  at  Shiawasse- 
town,  where  they  had  previously  been  held. 

S.  Z.  Kinyon  emigrated  from  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to 
the  city  of  Flint  in  1836,  and  entered  land  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  In  April,  1839,  he  was  attracted  by  the  enter- 
prise exhibited  by  the  Shiawassee  County-Seat  Company, 
and  made  Corunna  his  residence.  He  had  meanwhile,  in 
connection  with  A.  H.  Beach,  obtained  a  contract  for  the 
construction  of  a  portion  of  the  Northern  Railroad  which 
had  been  projected  by  the  State.  The  project  was,  how- 
ever, abandoned,  and  the  firm  were  heavy  losers.  A  suit 
was  brought  and  judgment  for  the  recovery  of  a  portion  of 
the  amount  obtained.  Mr.  Kinyon  on  his  arrival  was  em- 
ployed in  the  saw-mill  erected  by  the  company,  and  met 
with  a  serious  accident  which  for  a  while  disabled  him. 
He  afterwards  engaged  with  A.  H.  Beach  in  the  erection 
of  a  hotel  known  as  the  "  Corunna  House,"  which  is  still 
standing  on  Shiawassee  Avenue,  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
river.  They  were  proprietors  for  a  while,  and  then  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  other  parties,  among  whom  was 
S.  W.  Cooper.  Mr.  Kinyon  was  married  in  1841  to  Miss 
Cynthia  M.  Day,  of  Corunna,  and  on  this  occasion  were 
held  the  first  marriage  festivities  in  the  village.  The  ear- 
liest death  had  occurred  three  years  previously,  an  em- 
ployee of  the  company  having  died  in  1838.  The  first 
birth  occurred  in  1839.  It  was  that  of  a  child  of  E.  J. 
Van  Buren. 

Both  Isaac  and  Lemuel  Castle  were  among  the  early  ar- 
rivals, and  were  both  actively  engaged  in  business  enter- 
prises. A  brick  store  was  erected  in  1840  by  Alexander 
McArthur,  who  employed  Dorus  Morton,  the  first  mason 
and  bricklayer,  to  construct  the  building.  It  was  located 
on  the  site  of  the  store  of  Joseph  Hulick,  and  a  stock  of 
goods  was  placed  in  it  by  McArthur,  Castle  &  Cook.  They 
were  succeeded  by  Harlow  Beach,  who  came  from  Pontiac 
in  1841  and  engaged  in  various  mercantile  enterprises 
with  Mr.  McArthur.     He  remained  a  resident  until  his 


death  in  1856,  and  contributed  much  to  the  growth  of 
Corunna.  For  a  while  Mr.  Beach  was  absorbed  in  the  care 
of  the  farm  he  purchased  within  the  city  limits,  though 
not  entirely  confined  to  this  occupation.  His  brother,  Seth 
Beach,  came  at  the  same  time  and  was  also  much  inter- 
ested in  the  advancement  of  the  village. 

E.  C.  Kimberley,  whose  name  is  inseparably  linked  with 
land  speculations  in  the  county  and  elsewhere,  removed 
from  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  in  1840,  as  the  agent  of  Trumbull 
Cary,  an  extensive  land-holder.  Mr.  Kimberley  located  in 
the  village  and  devoted  himself  to  the  care  of  the  large  in- 
vestments made  by  his  relative,  and  remained  in  Corunna 
until  his  death.  Robert  McLaughlin  came  at  nearly  the 
same  time,  and  became  one  of  the  active  business  men  of 
that  day,  remaining  in  the  village  of  his  adoption  until  his 
decease  some  years  later. 

In  1842  a  school-house  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
present  pretentious  building,  and  Mr.  Nelson  Ferry  exer- 
cised an  imperious  discipline  over  the  little  ones  of  the 
place.  A  school  had  been  held  previous  to  this  in  one  of 
the  county  buildings  used  as  the  register's  office. 

Joseph  Clement  arrived  in  1842,  and  opened  a  black- 
smith-shop (the  company  having  offered  him  inducements 
to  settle,  in  the  erection  of  a  building),  wherein  he  plied 
his  trade.  The  same  year  or  soon  after,  Messrs.  McArthur 
and  Hoag  succeeded  to  the  general  business  of  Harlow 
Beach,  and  conducted  a  thriving  trade. 

Andrew  and  Luke  H.  Parsons  came  from  Oswego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1835,  and  after  a  brief  residence  in  Ann  Arbor 
removed  to  Corunna,  having  purchased  large  tracts  of  land 
in  the  county,  a  portion  of  which  was  located  within  the 
present  city  limits.  Both  were  members  of  the  legal  pro- 
fession, in  which  they  engaged  on  their  arrival.  Andrew 
was  the  first  county  clerk  of  Shiawassee  County,  and  was 
later  elected  Lieutenant-Governor.  The  Governor  having 
been  appointed  to  a  place  in  the  cabinet  of  President  Pierce, 
Mr.  Parsons  filled  acceptably  the  unexpired  term  as  Gov- 
ernor. Luke  H.  Parsons  also  held  many  important  county 
offices.  The  former  died  in  1855,  and  the  latter  in  1862. 
Another  brother,  S.  Titus  Parsons,  now  resides  in  Detroit. 

E.  J.  Van  Buren  came  soon  after  and  embarked  exten- 
sively in  commercial  pursuits.  A  brick  structure  erected 
by  Messrs.  Morton  &  Smith  was  rented  by  him,  and  used 
as  a  store.  This  building,  still  standing  on  Shiawassee 
Avenue,  is  the  first  one  of  brick  located  south  of  the  river. 

In  1843  a  frame  building  of  considerable  proportions 
was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Woodworth  and  Fraser  Streets, 
for  the  holding  of  the  sessions  of  the  court.  This  edifice 
was  in  use  until  the  present  more  spacious  quarters  were 
provided.  It  is  now  owned  by  the  Baptist  denomination, 
and  occupied  as  a  house  of  worship. 

Clement  Johnson,  a  former  resident  of  Oneida  County, 
located  in  Owosso  in  1837,  and  four  years  later  removed  to 
Corunna,  where  he  purchased  his  present  tract  of  eighty 
acres  within  the  city  boundaries.  He  first  occupied  a  log 
cabin  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  later  erected  for  his 
family  a  comfortable  dwelling.  Mr.  Johnson  cleared  eighteen 
acres  in  the  first  year.  The  early  wheat  crops  were  so 
bountiful  as  to  render  prices  by  no  means  commensurate 


168 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


with  the  labor  of  cultivating,  and  the  grain  was  turned  to 
more  profitable  account  for  the  feeding  of  stock.  Mj-.  and 
Mrs.  Johnson  experienced  all  the  hardships  of  the  pioneer's 
life,  and  are  now  enjoying  the  results  of  an  industrious 
career. 

Dorus  Morton  and  Gerry  Tattle  were  both  among  the 
arrivals  of  1841,  the  former  having  purchased  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  adjacent  to  the  village.  He  was  the  earliest 
mason,  and  was  constantly  employed  at  the  work  of  his 
trade.  Mr.  Tuttle  later  removed  to  another  part  of  the 
township  of  Caledonia,  but  now  lives  within  the  city  limits. 
S.  W.  Cooper  (as  narrated  by  himself)  came  to  Corunna 
an  adventurer,  in  1842,  having  learned  the  trade  of  a  mill- 
wright. He  was  on  his  arrival  employed  to  superintend 
the  erection  of  a  saw-mill  owned  by  Alexander  McArthur 
and  Robert  Thompson.  In  1843,  McArthur  &  Castle  built 
a  flouring-mill,  the  construction  of  which  was  given  to  Mr. 
Cooper. 

Seth  Beach  built  a  foundry  and  engaged  Mr.  Cooper  to 
supervise  the  mechanical  portion  of  the  work.  He  was 
also  for  a  limited  period  one  of  the  landlords  of  the  Co- 
runna House,  and  has  from  that  time  been  a  resident  of  the 
city,  and  actively  engaged  in  its  business  enterprises. 

Corunna  had  now  taken  its  place  among  the  foremost  of 
the  villages  of  the  county,  while  its  prestige  as  the  county- 
seat  had  greatly  enhanced  its  growth  and  promoted  its 
business  activity. 

The  earliest  religious  services  were  conducted  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Patterson,  of  Owosso,  who  in  his  advanced  years  occa- 
sionally preached  in  Corunna.  Rev.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  the 
first  resident  clergyman,  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Bap- 
tist faith  and  a  gentleman  of  much  culture.  On  his  arrival 
in  1842  he  became  an  inmate  of  Mr.  S.  Z.  Kinyon's  home. 
He  subsequently  removed  to  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  died. 

Seneca  H.  Petteys,  an  early  resident  of  Corunna  and  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  was  also  an  exhorter,  and  held  frequent 
religious  services  in  the  village. 

Henry  and  A.  M.  Jennings  were  the  earliest  brickmakers. 
They  emigrated  from  Canada  to  the  village,  where  they 
established  a  brickyard  east  of  the  school-house.  During 
the  years  1846  and  1847  a  fatal  epidemic  prevailed.  Which 
included  the  brothers  Jennings  among  its  victims. 

John  M.  Fraser  was  originally  a  resident  of  New  York 
State,  and  first  removed  to  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.  In  1845 
he  chose  a  home  in  Corunna,  and  purchased  a  farm  within 
the  present  city  limits.  There  was  then  a  population  of 
several  hundred  in  the  village,  and  the  several  mills  in  full 
operation,  together  with  two  hotels,  gave  the  place  an  ap- 
pearance of  decided  business  activity.  Mr.  Fraser  in 
1865  relinquished  his  farming  pursuits,  but  still  retained 
his  residence  in  the  village. 

E.  F.  Wade,  an  early  pioneer  in  Burns,  removed  in  1848 
to  Corunna,  having  been  elected  county  clerk  and  made  com- 
missioner of  the  State  to  superintend  the  construction  of  the 
State  road  from  Corunna  to  St.  Charles,  in  Saginaw  County. 
Later  he  engaged  in  the  shoe  and  leather  trade,  for  which 
purpose  he,  in  1850,  erected  a  store.  In  1875  this  build- 
ing, standing  on  Shiawassee  Avenue,  was  superseded  by  a 
substantial  brick  structure.  Mr.  Wade  is  still  one  of 
Corunna's  most  enterprising  citizens. 


John  Derr  came  in  the  same  year  and  made  Corunna  his 
home,  where  he  lived  until  his  recent  death  in  advanced 
years. 

G.  0.  Bachman  arrived  a  year  later  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law.  He  afterwards  studied  theology  and  be- 
came rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  the  city.  His 
death  occurred  in  Corunna  some  years  since. 

Among  the  representatives  of  the  medical  profession, 
Dr.  Pierce,  a  Philadelphian,  settled  in  the  city,  then  a  vil- 
lage, in  1842,  and  engaged  actively  in  the  labors  of  his 
profession.  He  remained  until  1850,  when  he  returned  to 
his  native  State. 

Dr.  Wear,  of  Shiaivasseetown,  was  also,  frequently  called 
to  the  village  in  a  professional  capacity.  Dr.  E.  M.  Bacon, 
formerly  of  Albion,  N.  Y.,  was  a  pioneer  of  1846,  and 
engaged  at  once  in  active  practice,  having  been  the  second 
resident  physician  of  the  village.  Dr.  Bacon  was  a  gentle- 
man of  professional  skill,  and  enjoyed  a  reputation  which 
brought  him  a  laborious  professional  career  and  occasioned 
much  sorrow  at  his  death,  in  1869.  Dr.  Harder,  of  New- 
burg,  followed  him,  and  after  a  residence  of  several  years 
returned' to  his  former  home. 

James  Cummin  was  an  early  settler  in  the  township  of 
Perry,  where  he  came  in  1839.  In  1850,  having  been 
elected  county  treasurer,  he  removed  to  Corunna  and  held 
the  office  for  six,  and  again  for  eight,  consecutive  years. 
Mr.  Cummin  purchased  later  one  hundred  acres  within  the 
city  limits,  where  he  now  resides,  and  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  milling  pursuits. 

Morris  Jackson  came  to  Shiawassee  in  1835,  and  to 
Corunna  in  1849,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  wagon- 
maker  and  carpenter  and  joiner.  He  is  favorably  known 
as  an  early  musician,  and  supplied  music  for  many  of  the 
pioneer  gatherings  of  a  social  character. 

James  B.  Wheeler,  who  represents  one  of  the  earliest 
families  in  the  township  of  New  Haven,  came  to  the  city  in 
1 850,  where  he  engaged  in  business  pursuits.  Two  years 
later  he  followed  the  fortunes  of  other  pioneers  to  California, 
and  on  his  return  made  Corunna  his  permanent  residence. 
He  has  been  for  some  years  engaged  in  banking,  but  is  now 
occupied  in  the  superintendence  of  his  extensive  farm  within 
the  city  limits. 

Hiram  Smith,  a  former  resident  of  Mexico,  N.  Y.,  located 
in  the  village  one  year  previous  to  the  coming  of  Mr. 
Wheeler,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  botanic  med- 
icines. In  1855  he  became  one  of  the  landlords  of  the 
place,  and  conducted  the  business  for  a  period  of  two  years, 
when  the  hotel  was  consumed  by  fire.  It  was  rebuilt,  and 
a  second  time  burned.  Mr.  Smith  retained  his  residence 
in  Corunna  until  his  death,  in  1879.  His  son,  Clark  D. 
Smith,  is  now  sherifi'  of  the  county. 

Hugh  McCurdy  removed  from  Oakland  County  to 
Corunna  in  1855,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  of 
which  profession  he  had  been  one  of  th6  leading  represent- 
atives at  his  former  residence.  In  the  year  of  his  arrival 
he  was  appointed  prosecuting  attorney,  and  has  been  since 
elected  to  the  same  office.  In  1860  he  filled  the  position 
of  probate  judge  of  the  county,  and  four  years  later  was 
elected  State  senator  for  the  counties  of  Shiawassee  and  Liv- 
ingston.    Mr.  McCurdy  has  since  been  engrossed  with  the 


CITY  OF  CORUNNA. 


169 


arduous  labors  of  his  profession,  and  is  still  an  active  prac- 
titioner. He  has,  however,  found  leisure  to  devote  to  the 
public  interests  of  the  city,  and  has  been  the  leading  spirit 
in  the  organization  of  the  various  Masonic  bodies  in  Corunna, 
having  been  honored  with  the  highest  State  offices  in  the 
gift  of  the  fraternity. 

Curtis  J.  Gale  came  from  Ingham  County  in  1846,  and 
made  the  county-seat  his  home,  having,  previous  to  his 
emigration  to  Michigan,  resided  in  New  York  City.  He 
engaged  in  active  business  pursuits,  and  was  in  1859  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  has  held  for  successive 
years  since  that  date.  He  was  also  for  six  years  postmaster 
of  the  city,  and  has  filled  other  important  offices.  He  is 
still  one  of  the  justices  in  Corunna. 

ADDITION'S  TO  THE  VILLAGE  PLAT  OP  CORUNNA. 

Since  the  laying  out  of  the  original  plat  of  the  village  of 
Corunna,  in  June,  1837,  several  additions  were  laid  out  and 
recorded,  as  follows : 

McArthur,  Castle  &  Hurlburfs  Addition,  surveyed  for 
the  above  proprietors  by  Nelson  Ferry,  Aug.  17, 18^3,  and 
recorded  Dec.  8,  1843. 

Gary's  Addition,  surveyed  for  Trumbull  Cary  and  Dorus 
Morton  by  Nelson  Ferry,  Oct.  5  and  6, 1843,  and  recorded 
Aug.  23,  1844. 

McLouffhlin's  Addition,  surveyed  by  Andrew  Huggins, 
December,  1860,  for  Robert  McLoughlin,  and  recorded  on 
the  21st  of  the  same  month. 

McArthur's  Addition,  made  by  Alexander  McArthur, 
Jan.  18,  1862,  and  recorded  May  2,  1864. 

C.  S.  Converse's  Addition,  surveyed  by  Ezra  Mason,  Deo. 
10,  1866,  and  recorded  Aug.  15,  1867. 

INCORPORATION  OP  THE  VILLAGE. 

Corunna  was  made  an  incorporated  village  iu  1858  by 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Shiawassee  County,  the  follow- 
ing transcript  from  the  records  of  that  board  showing  its 
official  action  in  the  matter :  "  At  a  regular  session  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  convened 
and  held  at  the  court-house  in  Corunna,  in  said  county, 
commencing  on  Monday,  the  11th  day  of  October,  a.d. 
1858,  in  the  matter  of  the  petition  of  E.  C.  Moore,  E.  L. 
Lyman,  John  Kinney,  John  Goulden,  William  Farrell,  H. 
Pettibone,  John  Key,  Jonas  Fuller,  J.  A.  Fowler,  Dorus 
Morton,  James  Anderson,  S.  Titus  Parsons,  James  Litch- 
field, R.  M.  Force,  D.  Bush,  J.  C.  Clement,  A.  H.  Beach, 
J.  Hildreth,  H.  H.  Frost,  Joseph  Shuttleworth,  J.  N. 
Lemon,  John  C.  Kingsley,  and  others  for  an  order  incor- 
porating the  territory  hereinafter  described  as  a  village  by 
the  name  of  Corunna,  said  territory  being  known,  bounded, 
and  described  as  follows,  to  wit :  Commencing  at  the  sec- 
tion-line running  north  and  south  between  sections  28  and 
29  where  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  crosses  said 
line,  running  north  to  section-corners  of  20,  21,  28,  and 
29  •  thence  north  on  section-line  between  sections  20  and 
21  to  the  line  of  the  Port  Huron  and  Milwaukee  Railroad ; 
thence  easterly  on  the  south  side  of  said  Port  Huron  and 
Milwaukee  Railroad  line  to  where  the  section-line  of  sec- 
tion 21  and  22  crosses  said  railroad ;  thence  south  to  sec- 
tion-corners 21,  22,  27,  and  28;  thence  south  on  section- 
22 


line  between  27  and  28  to  the  north  line  of  the  Detroit 
and  Milwaukee  Railway;  thence  westerly  along  said  railway 
to  the  place  of  beginning ;  said  land  and  territory  being 
situate  in  the  township  No.  7  north  of  range  No.  3  east,  in 
the  county  of  Shiawassee  and  State  of  Michigan.  The 
board,  after  hearing  the  parties  and  being  satisfied  that  all 
the  requirements  of  an  act  entitled  '  An  act  for  the  incor- 
poration of  villages,  approved  Feb.  17,  1857,'  have  been 
complied  with,  and  that  said  territory,  hereinbefore  de- 
scribed, contains  the  population  required  by  said  act  to 
entitle  the  same  to  be  incorporated  as  a  village,  therefore 
it  is  ordered  and  declared  by  the  said  Board  of  Supervisors 
(a  quorum  being  present)  that  such  territory  hereinbefore 
described  shall  be  and  henceforth  is  an  incorporated  village 
by  the  name  of  the  village  of  Corunna.  And  it  is  also 
ordered  that  Edmund  Green,  Eli  C.  Moore,  and  E.  F. 
Wade  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  inspectors  of 
election  to  hold  the  first  election  required  by  said  act  afore- 
said, which  election  is  hereby  appointed  to  be  held  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  December,  1858,  at  or  in  the  three-story 
building  situate  in  said  territory,  in  a  part  of  which  build- 
ing the  post-office  is  now  kept." 

LIST  OF  VILLAGE  OFFICERS. 

Following  is  a  list  of  officers  of  the  village  of  Corunna 
from  its  incorporation  to  the  time  of  its  organization  as  a 
city,  with  the  years  of  their  election,  viz. : 

1858.— President,  A.  McArthur;  Clerk,  0.  T.  B.  Wil- 
liams ;  Trustees,  E.  F.  Wade,  A.  A.  Belden,  C. 
W.  Coe,  George  Wilcox,  P.  S.  Lyman,  Daniel 
Bush. 

1859.— President,  A.  McArthur;  Clerk,  0.  T.  B.  Wil- 
liams; Trustees,  E.  F.  Wade,  A.  A.  Belden, 
Jonah  Fuller,  M.  H.  Clark,  E.  C.  Moore,  Hugh 
McCurdy. 

I860.— President,  A.  McArthur;  Clerk,  D.  F.  Alsdorf; 
Trustees,  J.  M.  Thayer,  Morris  Jackson,  A.  A. 
Belden,  G.  Wilcox,  C.  S.  Convers. 

1861.— President,  P.  S.  Lyman;  Clerk,  D.  F.  Alsdorf; 
Trustees,  J.  E.  Bush,  J.  E.  Chaffee,  J.  M.  Sils- 
bee,  S.  Pettibone,  Robert  McLoughlin,  C.  S. 
Convers. 

1862.— President,  P.  S.  Lyman;  Clerk,  D.  S.  Alsdorf; 
Trustees,  Robert  McLoughlin,  G.  W.  Goodell, 
James  Litchfield,  T.  S.  Martin,  H.  A.  Crane. 

1863.— President,  Joseph  M.  Thayer;  Clerk,  Robert  F. 
Gulick;  Trustees,  E.  F.  Wade,  Daniel  Bush, 
James  B.  Wheeler,  Sheldon  Keith,  A.  A.  Bel- 
den, I.  E.  Hathaway  ;  Treasurer,  J.  E.  Willis ; 
Assessor,  J.  M.  Fitch. 

1864.— President,  James  S.  Convers  ;  Clerk,  E.  P.  Gregory ; 
Trustees,  E.  C.  Moore,  James  E.  Bush,  Joseph 
Anderson,  Seth  Pettibone,  George  W.  Goodell, 
James  Litchfield  ;  Treasurer,  H.  A.  Crane ;  As- 
sessor, George  Wilcox. 

1865.— President,  A.  McArthur  ;  Clerk,  David  F.  Alsdorf; 
Trustees,  D.  B.  Wilcox,  Joseph  M.  Thayer, 
Daniel  Bush  ;  Treasurer,  James  B.  Wheeler ;  As- 
sessor, Seth  Pettibone. 


170 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1866.— President,  A.  MoArthur;  Clerk,  Theodore  W. 
Ferry ;  Trustees,  James  B.  Wheeler,  Joseph 
Hulick,  James  Anderson  ;  Treasurer,  James  E. 
Bush  ;  Assessor,  David  W.  Wheeler. 

1867. — President,  Spencer  B.  llaynale ;  Clerk,  David  F. 
Alsdorf;  Trustees,  Daniel  Bush,  Erwia  M. 
Bacon,  Theodore  W.  Ferry ;  Treasurer,  Eli  C. 
Moore ;  Assessor,  Robert  McLoughlih. 

1868. — President,  James  Cummin  ;  Clerk,  David  F.  Als- 
dorf; Trustees,  Homer  Wilcox,  Michael  Corland, 
Albert  C.  Gage ;  Treasurer,  Lorenzo  D.  Phelps ; 
Assessor,  Curtis  J.  Gale. 

INCOEPOEATION  OF  THE  CITY  OF  COKUNNA. 

The  Legislature  of  Michigan  at  its  session  of  1869 
passed  "  an  act  to  incorporate  the  city  of  Corunna,"  which 
was  approved  on  the  12th  of  March  in  that  year,  and 
which  provides,  "  That  so  much  of  the  township  of  Cale- 
donia, in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  as  is  included  in  the 
following  territory,  to  wit :  the  east  half  of  sections  twenty 
and  twenty-nine,  the  west  half  of  sections  twenty-two  and 
twenty-seven,  and  all  of  sections  twenty-one  and  twenty- 
eight,  in  township  seven  north,  of  range  three  east,  being 
in  Shiawassee  County  and  State  of  Michigan,  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  set  oiF  from  the  said  township  of  Caledonia 
and  declared  to  be  a  city  by  the  name  of  the  city  of  Co- 
runna, by  which  name  it  shall  be  hereafter  known." 

The  corporate  limits  of  the  city  as  thus  established  by 
the  act  embrace  an  area  of  four  square  miles,  lying  in  the 
form  of  a  square,  as  before  mentioned.  Since  that  time 
there  have  been  laid  out  and  recorded  the  following  plats, 
viz. : 

S.  B.  Thomas'  DMsion  of  the  City  of  Corunna. — Sur- 
veyed October,  1871,  by  Andrew  Huggins,  and  recorded 
Oct.  18,  1871. 

McArthur  and  Cummin's  Addition. — Surveyed  for 
Alexander  McArthur  and  William  E.  Cummin,  October, 
1872,  by  A.  Huggins,  and  recorded  Feb.  19,  1873. 

LIST  OF  CITY  OFFICERS. 

The  names  of  officers  of  the  city  of  Corunna  from  its 
organization  to  the  present  time,  with  the  years  of  their 
election,  are  given  below,  viz. : 

1869. — Mayor,  Alexander  McArthur ;  Recorder,  Spencer 
B.  llaynule ;  Clerk,  William  Oaks ;  Treasurer, 
Morris  Ormsby  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  John  N. 
Ingcrsoll,  Curtis  J.  Gale;  Constables,  Clark  D. 
Smith,  Marvin  Miller. 

1870.— Mayor,  Alexander  McArthur;  Aldermen,  S.  R. 
Kelsey,  Harvey  Cregen,  Daniel  Bush  ;  Treasurer, 
Morris  Ormsby ;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  William 
Oaks ;  Supervisors :  First  Ward,  John  N.  Inger- 
soll ;  Second  Ward,  Alexander  Cummin  ;  Third 
Ward,  R.  R.  Harper;  Constables,  Charles  G. 
Gage,  Samuel  A.  Fisli. 

1871. — Mayor,  John  N.  Ingersoll ;  Aldermen,  Joseph 
Greer,  D.  W.  Wheeler,  Orton  Williams,  George 
W.  Harris;  Clerk,  R.  B.  Wiles;  Treasurer, 
Morris  Ormsby  ;  Supervisors :  First  Ward,  Hugh 


McCurdy ;  Second  Ward,  Alexander  Cummin ; 
Third  Ward,  James  M.  GoodcU  ;  Constables,  A. 
A.  Frain,  J.  J.  Peacock. 

1872. — Mayor,  John  N.  Ingersoll ;  Aldermen,  Seth  Petti- 
bone,  Joseph  N.  Lemon,  Horace  Peacock  ;  Treas- 
urer, Clark  D.  Smith  ;  Supervisors  :  First  Ward, 
Hugh  McCurdy  ;  Second  Ward,  Alexander  Cum- 
min ;  Third  Ward,  James  M.  Pettibone ;  Con- 
stables, George  Mason,  Jr.,  Samuel  A.  Fish. 

1873. — Mayor,  John  N.  Ingersoll ;  Clerk,  Orton  Williams ; 
Aldermen,  A.  T.  Nichols,  Peter  Reynolds,  George 
W.  Harris ;  Recorder,  Philip  W.  Coleman ;  Treas- 
urer, Clark  D.  Smith  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  C. 
J.  Hale,  E.  F.  Wade  ;  Supervisors :  First  Ward, 
Hugh  McCurdy  ;  Second  Ward,  Alexander  Cum- 
min; Third  Ward,  James  M.  Goodell ;  Consta- 
ble, Samuel  A.  Fish. 

1874. — Mayor,  James  M.  Goodell ;  Recorder,  R.  R.  Harper 
Aldermen,  Isaac  E.  Hathaway,  Josiah  Creque, 
Horace  Peacock ;  Treasurer,  Frank  T.  Howlett 
Supervisors ;  First  Ward,  John  N.  Ingersoll 
Second  Ward,  Morris  Ormsby ;  Third  Ward,  G, 
W.  Goodell;  Constables,  Charles  L.  Bradley 
Peter  D.  Rauke. 

1875. — Mayor,  Curtis   J.  Gale ;    Clerk,  Frank  Peacock 
Aldermen,  Joseph  N.  Lemon,  Benjamin  C.  Miner, 

A.  R.  McBride,  George  W.  Harris ;  Treasurer. 
Frank  P.  Howlett;    Supervisors:  First  Ward 
Michael  Garland  ;  Second  Ward,  L.  H.  Wilcox 
Third  Ward,  George  W.  Goodell ;  Constables, 
Marvin  Miller,  Albert  Frain. 

1876.— Mayor,  Clark  D.  Smith ;  Clerk,  Frank  Peacock 
Aldermen,  A.  T.  Nichols,  Louis  Etshman,  Horace 
Peacock ;  Treasurer,  W.  R.  Chapell ;  Supervisors, 
First  Ward,  Peter  N.  Cook ;  Second  Ward,  L 
H.  Wilcox;  Third  Ward,  George  W.Harris 
Constables,  A.  A.  Frain,  Charles  Avery. 

1877. — Mayor,  Sullivan  R.  Kelsey ;  Clerk,  Frank  Peacock 
Aldermen,  John  D.  Bennett,  Benjamin  C.  Miner. 
Albert  Gage ;  Treasurer,  W.  R.  Chapell ;  Super 
visors :  First  Ward,  Hugh  McCurdy ;  Second 
Ward,  L.  H.  Wilcox;  Third  Ward,  James  B. 
Wheeler;  Constables,  Thomas  Agnew,  A.  A 
Frain. 

1878.— Mayor,  John  D.  Kergan  ;  Clerk,  Frank  Peacock  ; 
Aldermen :  First  Ward,  Isaac  E.  Hathaway ; 
Second  Ward,  Jethro  Shont ;  Third  Ward,  Hor- 
ace Peacock ;  Treasurer,  F.  M.  Kilbourn_;  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  Romeyn  B.  Murray ;  Super- 
visors:  First  Ward,  Hugh  McCurdy;  Second 
Ward,  Lewis  H.  Wilcox ;  Third  Ward,  James 

B.  Wheeler ;  Constables,  Thomas  Agnew,  William 
E.  Chaffee. 

1879. — Mayor,  John  N.  Ingersoll ;  Clerk,  Frank  Peacock  ; 
Aldermen,  John  H.  Sliick,  Richard  A.  Patton, 
Harvey  B.  Young ;  Treasurer,  Frederick  B.  Kil- 
bourn ;  Supervisors :  First  Ward,  Hugh  Mc- 
Curdy ;  Second  Ward,  A.  R.  McBride ;  Third 
Ward,  James  B.  Wheeler ;  Constables,  Thomas 
Agi.cw,  William  E.  Chaffee. 


CITY  OF  CORUNNA. 


171 


1880.— Mayor,  Hugh  McCurdy;  Clerk,  Frank  Peacock; 
Aldermen,  Joseph  N.  Lemon,  Albert  Himes, 
Albert  Gage ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Knight ;  Super- 
visors: First  Ward,  Peter  N.  Cook;  Second 
Ward,  A.  E.  McBride;  Third  Ward,  W.  R. 
Chapell ;  Constables,  Thomas  Agnew,  William 
E.  Chaffee. 

MANUFACTURING   INDUSTEIES. 

Mc Arthur  s  Saw-Mill. — In  1841,  Alexander  McArthur, 
Sr.,  erected  a  dam  on  the  Shiawassee  River,  and  soon  after 
a  saw-mill  which  derived  its  power  from  that  stream,  upon 
whose  bank  it  was  located.  The  mill  was  equipped  with  a 
large  and  cumbersome  sash-saw,  which  did  duty  for  many 
years,  and  was  replaced  by  a  circular  saw  in  1866.  The 
mill,  now  owned  and  operated  by  A.  McArthur,  Jr.,  manu- 
factures both  hard  and  soft  wood,  and  ordinarily  employs 
four  men  in  various  departments  of  the  work.  It  has  a 
capacity  of  four  thousand  feet  per  day.  The  market  for 
the  lumber  sawed  is  found  principally  in  Detroit,  though 
large  orders  are  frequently  received  from  neighboring  towns. 
This  mill  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county. 

Steam  Saw-Mill  of  McLaren  &  Wren. — This  mill, 
which  was  built  in  1876,  is  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
manufacture  of  hard-wood  lumber,  and  depends  for  its  sup- 
plies upon  the  adjacent  country.  It  has  both  an  upright 
and  a  circular  saw,  which  are  propelled  by  power  furnished 
by  a  steam-engine  of  twenty-horse  power.  The  average 
product  of  the  mill  is  three  thousand  feet  per  day,  though 
this  can  be  greatly  increased  as  necessity  requires.  The 
Michigan  Car  Company,  located  at  Detroit,  are  the  sole 
customers,  and  consume  all  that  the  mill  produces.  Five 
men  are  employed  about  the  establishment,  and  the  business 
is  managed  by  G.  W.  Wren,  the  senior  partner  giving  but 
little  attention  to  its  details. 

Flouriiig-Mill  of  J.  D.  Bennett.— 1\\is  flouring-mill  was 
built  by  S.  W.  Cooper  in  1843  and  1844  for  McArthur 
&  Castle,  with  all  the  machinery  in  use  at  that  early  date, 
and  three  run  of  four-and-a-half-feet  buhr-stones.  The  firm 
later  became  McArthur  &  Litchfield,  and  E.  Green  pur- 
chased of  them,  selling  in  1860  to  Daniel  Bush,  from  whom 
the  present  proprietor  purchased  the  property  in  1876. 
Mr.  Bennett  thoroughly  remodeled  the  mill,  which  is  run 
by  water-power  from  the  Shiawassee  River,  and  placed  in 
it  new  machinery  for  manufacturing  flour  by  the  patent 
process.  He  also  added  another  run  of  stones.  The 
capacity  of  the  mill  is  now  one  hundred  barrels  per  day, 
which  can  be  increased  as  necessity  requires.  The  grain 
is  bought  of  the  neighboring  farmers,  who  deliver  it  at  the 
mill.  The  market  for  the  flour  manufactured  is  found  in 
Michigan  and  the  Eastern  States. 

Foundry  of  D.  0.  Reynolds.— This  establishment  was 
built  and  first  operated  many  years  since  by  Pettibone 
Brothers.  After  successive  changes  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Messrs.  Lyman  &  Allen,  of  whom  it  was  pur- 
chased by  the  present  proprietor.  It  is  furnished  with 
steam-power  derived  from  an  engine  of  twelve-horse  power, 
and  includes  in  its  list  of  wares  manufactured  plows,  land- 
rollers,  fanning-mills,  feed-cutters,  corn-shellers,  milk-safes, 
and  all  varieties  of  castings.     A  market  is  found  for  these 


articles  throughout  the  county  and  in'  other  portions  of  the 
State. 

Woolen-Mills  of  Amsden  &  Weeden. — The  woolen-mills 
located  in  the  city  of  Corunna  were  established  as  early  as 
1844  by  Pliny  Lyman,  and  owned  by  him  until  1872,  when 
the  present  firm  became  the  purchasers.  They  are  built 
upon  the  Shiawassee  lliver,  which  supplies  the  necessary 
power  by  which  they  are  operated.  Mr.  Lyman  placed  in 
the  mills  two  looms  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  spindles, 
with  which  cloths  of  common  grade  were  manufactured. 
Messrs.  Amsden  &  Weeden  have  added  another  fancy  loom, 
two  hundred  additional  spindles,  a  thirty-spindle  twister,  a 
twenty-four-inch  condenser,  and  a  picker,  and  have  also 
extended  the  buildings.  The  wool  consumed  is  purchased 
in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  manufactured  into  cassimeres, 
flannels,  stocking-yarn,  and  horse-blankets,  for  which  a  home 
demand  establishes  a  profitable  market. 

Planing-Mill  and  Handle- Factory  of  Messrs.  Salmon  & 
Wilson. — This  mill  was  erected  by  Joseph  Thayer  in  1866, 
on  the  corner  of  McArthur  and  Brady  Streets,  and  was 
purchased  of  him  by  the  present  owners  in  1871.  It  is 
fully  equipped  with  the  usual  machinery  of  a  planing-mill, 
as  well  as  the  necessary  apparatus  for  turning  and  finishing 
broom-handles.  Of  the  latter  two  hundred  thousand  per 
year  are  manufactured,  a  large  proportion  of  which  are 
shipped  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  Messrs.  Salmon  & 
Wilson  also  manufacture  milk-safes,  clothes-bars,  and  land- 
rollers,  and  find  a  ready  home  market  for  all  these  wares. 
The  material  used  in  their  establishment  is  principally  found 
in  adjacent  parts  of  the  county. 

Corunna  Spolee- Factory. — This  factory  was  established 
in  1867  by  S.  H.  &  E.  Hall,  who  manufactured  spokes  ex- 
clusively. They  sold  in  1869  to  J.  Greer  &  Company,  and 
the  present  firm  of  S.  D.  Wiley  &  Company  became  owners 
in  1873.  The  factory  is  run  by  steam,  a  forty-five  horse- 
power engine  being  used  for  the  purpose.  The  principal 
article  of  manufacture  is  spokes,  though  whiffletrees  and 
neck-yokes  are  also  made.  Twenty-one  men  are  employed 
and  twenty-five  hundred  spokes  per  day  are  produced,  though 
the  present  active  demand  necessitates  the  employment  of  a 
set  of  night  hands.  The  material  is  furnished  by  timber 
owners  in  the  neighboring  townships,  who  deliver  the  tim- 
ber at  the  factory,  for  which  cash  is  received.  The  build- 
ing used  by  the  firm  is  a  spacious  one  of  brick,  formerly 
built  by  the  Corunna  Car  Company,  and  purchased  by 
Messrs.  S.  D.  Wiley  &  Co.  The  market  for  the  spokes  is 
found  principally  in  Detroit  and  Grand  Rapids. 

Wagon-Shops. — J.  M.  Lemon  and  A.  &  E.  H.  Gale 
are  manufacturers  of  wagons,  and  do  a  good  business  both 
in  this  line  and  in  general  repairing. 

Charcoal  Kilns. — The  charcoal  kins  of  the  Union  Iron 
Company  of  Detroit  are  located  within  the  corporation 
limits,  and  were  constructed  since  1870.  Each  kiln  con- 
tains thirty  thousand  bricks,  and  was  built  at  a  cost  of  from 
three  hundred  to  four  hundred  dollars.  The  kilns  con- 
sume six  thousand  cords  of  wood  per  year,  each  one  having 
a  capacity  of  forty  cords.  Each  cord  returns  a  product  of 
forty-five  bushels  of  charcoal,  which  makes  a  gross  return 
of  eighteen  hundred  bushels  to  the  kiln.  Four  days  is 
the  time  required  for  burning  a  kiln  when  filled  with  dry. 


172 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


wood,  two  days  more  l)eing  allowed  for  green  wood.  Five 
days  more  are  required  to  smother  the  fire  and  to  render 
the  material  ready  to  withdraw  from  the  kilns.  All  woods 
but  basswood  and  poplar  are  made  available.  Royal  A. 
Jenny  is  the  acting  agent  of  the  company,  and  Thomas  E. 
Green  the  manager  of  the  works. 

BANKING. 
THE  FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK, 
the  only  one  in  Corunna,  was  established  in  1865,  with  a 
capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Its  first  officers  were 
Hugh  McCurdy,  President,  and  S.  B.  Raynale,  Cashier. 
The  banking-house  in  which  business  is  transacted  is  a 
spacious  building  located  on  Shiawassee  Avenue  and  owned 
by  the  bank.  Its  present  officers  are  Roger  Haviland, 
President ;  A.  McArthur,  Vice-President ;  A.  T.  Nichols, 
Cashier ;  J.  D.  Leland,  Assistant  Cashier.  Directors,  A. 
McArthur,  W.  D.  Garrison,  A.  T.  Nichols,  Wm.  McKel- 
lops,  J.  D.  Leland,  Roger  Haviland. 

FIKE  DEPARTMENT. 
CORUNNA   HOOK-AND-LADDER  COMPANY,   No.  1. 

The  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  Corunna  Hook-and- 
Ladder  Company  were  adopted,  and  the  company  organized, 
April  12,  1876,  with  the  following  names  upon  its  roll : 
Almon  C.  Brown,  Wm.  H.  Cole,  C.  H.  Shuttleworth,  E. 
M.  Wheeler,  A.  S.  Parsons,  Frank  Millard,  Andrew  Jack- 
son, R.  B.  Ford,  E.  Huntington,  Wm.  F.  Fowler,  L.  H. 
Wilcox,  J.  E.  Philips,  G.  W.  Bachman,  G.  B.  Tuttle,  A. 
F.  Peacock,  R.  J.  Pond,  Fred  Keith,  F.  B.  Hewlett,  Ed. 
Chaffee,  Geo.  A.  Shuttleworth,  Fred  Seeley,  H.  B.  Headley, 
F.  C.  Gale,  Frank  Shuttleworth,  Frank  Fuller,  Levi  Seeley, 
John  Hiltabiddle,  Frank  Hoover,  Ed  Shuttleworth,  M.  F. 
Bradley,  Andrew  Seeley. 

With  the  approval  of  the  mayor  and  Common  Council 
the  by-laws  and  constitution  were  submitted  and  were 
formally  adopted.  The  following  officers  were  then 
elected:  Almon  C.  Brown,  Foreman;  Wm.  H.  Cole, 
First  Assistant;  C.  H.  Shuttleworth,  Second  Assistant; 
E.  M.  Wheeler,  Secretary  ;  Andrew  S.  Parsons,  Treasurer ; 
Frank  Millard,  Andrew  Jackson,  Stewards. 

A  vote  had  been  passed  by  the  Council  on  the  5th  of 
April,  1875,  appropriating  eight  hundred  dollars  for  the 
purchase  of  all  the  equipments  necessary  to  a  complete 
hook-and-ladder  apparatus,  and  an  order  was  at  once  given 
for  their  manufacture,  which  was  completed  at  the  date  of 
the  company's  organization. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  1876,  by  the  vote  of  the  Council, 
one  hundred  and  ninety  dollars  was  devoted  to  the  purchase 
of  uniforms,  which  were  at  a  later  date  purchased.  Thus 
the  Corunna  Hook-and-Ladder  Company  was  formally  or- 
ganized and  thoroughly  equipped,  and  has  proved  itself  on 
subsequent  occasions  admirably  adapted  to  the  purposes  of 
its  organization. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  year  1878: 
Frank  Hoover,  Foreman ;  Alanson  C.  Brown,  First  As- 
sistant; H.  B.  Hadley,  Second  Assistant;  T.  B.  Wil- 
loughby.  Secretary ;  L.  H.  Wilcox,  Treasurer. 

For  1879,  M.  F.  Bradley,  Foreman;  Wm.  Linsley, 
First  Assistant  Foreman  ;  F.  A.  Millard,  Second  Assistant 


Foreman  ;  Fred  Goddard,  Secretary  ;  L.  U.  Wilcox,  Treas- 
urer; Ed  Shuttleworth,  Steward. 

No  fires  of  consequence  have  occurred  since  the  organi- 
zation of  the  company,  though  on  occasions  where  its  mem- 
bers have  been  summoned  for  duty  a  zeal  and  ambition  has 
been  manifested  which  has  evinced  the  excellence  of  its 
working  force. 

SCHOOLS   OF   COEUNNA. 

The  records  of  the  public  schools  of  the  city  are  not  suf- 
ficiently well  preserved  to  afford  a  connected  history  of  the 
progress  of  its  educational  interests.  There  are  no  minutes 
existing  of  an  earlier  date  than  1854.  For  the  years  prior 
to  that,  the  recollection  of  residents  is  wholly  depended  upon 
for  such  meagre  facts  as  are  given. 

The  earliest  school  was  taught  by  Uriah  Dubois,  in  1840, 
in  a  log  cabin  within  the  village  limits.  It  was  a  private 
enterprise,  and  was  patronized  by  the  very  few  families  who 
were  then  settlers  and  had  children.  In  1841  a  school  was 
opened  in  a  building  used  for  county  purposes,  then  stand- 
ing on  the  west  side  of  the  main  street,  on  the  site  at 
present  occupied  by  the  market  of  William  Cole.  The 
teachers  who  taught  in  succession  were  Miss  Susan  Whit- 
comb,  Miss  Julia  Van  Auken,  and  Miss  Mary  Ann  Mc- 
Arthur. The  latter  also  taught  a  private  school  at  the 
residence  of  her  father.  Luke  H.  Parsons  and  Richard 
Parsons  were  also  teachers  in  1841. 

In  1842  the  district  erected  a  substantial  building  on  the 
spacious  ground  devoted  to  school  purposes,  which  was  occu- 
pied until  the  growing  demands  of  the  village  made  more 
commodious  quarters  indispensable,  and  which  is  still  stand- 
ing.    The  first  term  in  this  building  was  opened  by  Nelson 
Ferry,  whose  family  resided  in  Venice,  and  who  became  a 
resident  of  Corunna  in  his  official  capacity  as  teacher.   The 
later  instructors  from  that  time  to  the  present  are  given 
with  the  date  of  their  teaching  in  Corunna,  so  far  as  it  is 
possible  to  obtain  them,  viz. : 
1841. — Monroe  Hawley. 
1842.— Rev.  John  Gilbert. 
1843— Miss  Sarah  Potter,  Miss  Drusilla  Cook.* 
1844. — Miss  Julia  Hammond. 
1846-47.— Mr.  M.  P.  Wilson. 
1848— Miss  Phelps. 
1849. — Mr.  Sylvester  Lyman. 
1850.— Mr.  G.  G.  Doane. 
1851.— Mr.  Edward  A.  Sheldon. 
1852.— Miss  Sylvia  Guilford. 

1853-54.— Rev.  S.  P.  Barker,  Miss  Cornelia  A.  Phelps. 
1855.— Mr.  G.  G.  Doane,  Mrs.  G.  G.  Doane,  Miss  Ma- 

riette  Thompson. 
1856-58.— Mr.  G.  M.  Reynolds,!  Mrs.  G.  M.  Reynolds, 
Miss  Mary  Wade. 


*  Mies  Cook  was  a  lady  of  established  reputation  as  a  teacher,  and 
found  her  services  much  in  demand.  The  ordinary  compensation  at 
that  period  was  the  sum  of  one  dollar  per  week,  with  the  privilege  of 
"  boarding  round."  Miss  Cook,  whose  presence  was  the  cause  of  some 
competition  in  the  various  districts,  was  secured  by  Corunna  at  the 
unprecedented  salary  of  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  week,  with 
board. 

t  Under  the  successful  principalship  of  Mr.  Reynolds  the  school 
was  graded. 


CITY  OF  CORUNNA. 


173 


1857.— Mr. 


Sweet,  Mr.  Silas  Wood,  Miss  Webb,  Miss 


Truesdell. 
1858. — Mr.  Marcus  Haynes,  Miss  Haynes. 
1859. — Miss  Pingrey,  Miss  Harriet  Hawkins. 
1859-1869.— Mr.  Thomas  C.  Garner. 
I860.— Miss  Charlotte  Hendricks,  Miss  R.  Bradley,  Miss 

Hildreth. 
1861.— Miss  H.  Southard,  Mrs.  C.  Smith. 
1862.— Miss  Ida  Bigelow. 
1864. — Miss  Julia  Lemon,  Miss  Alvina  P.  Wheeler,  Mrs. 

Frank  Rowe,  Miss  Etta  Parsons. 
1865. — Mrs.  Andrew  Jackson. 
1866.— Miss  Amelia  Goodell. 
1868.— Mr.  R.  Banner  Wyles,  Mr.  Ashley,  Miss  Stowell, 

Mrs.  W.  Jackson. 
1869. — Mr.  C.  Van  Doren,  Miss  Kate  Brearly,  Miss  Myra 

Bartlett,  Miss  Nellie  Gillett,  Miss  Bachman,  Mr. 

S.  W.  Baker. 
1871-72.— Mr.  H.  C.  Baggerly,  Miss   Humphrey,  Miss 

Armstrong,    Miss  White,    Miss   Dawson,    Miss 

Mary  Thayer,  Miss  Hannah. 
1 872. — Miss  Kellogg,  Miss  Ferry,  Miss  Hall. 
1873. — Miss  Clara  E.  Wall,  Miss  Burrows,  Miss  Fall,  Mr. 

Fred.  D.  Parsons. 
1874. — Miss  Rutherford,  Miss  H.  P.  Yakely,  Miss  Coun- 
tryman, Miss  Reid,  Miss  Cooper. 
1875. — Mrs.  Agnes  Van  Auken,  Miss  Nancy  McGaw,  Miss 

Brands,  Miss  Arvilla   Spaulding,   Miss   Nettie 

Knight. 
1875-79.— Miss  Josephine  Wall. 
1876-80.— Prof.  Joseph    McGrath,  Miss  C.    Parmenter, 

Miss  Hattie  Curtis. 
1876-79.— Miss  Josephine  Wall,  Miss  Ella  Kyle. 
1876.— Miss  Sarah  Wiltse. 
1878. — Miss  Hattie  Harris. 
1879. — Mr.    George   A.   Wright,   Miss   Nethaway,    Miss 

Emma  McGaw,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Holt,  Miss  Linda 

Fowkes,  J.  William  Myers. 

Before  1851  no  building  other  than  the  one-story  frame 
structure  already  described  (and  now  used  as  a  dwelling) 
had  been  erected  for  school  purposes.  A  short  time  prior- 
to  the  annual  school  meeting  of  that  year,  a  few  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  the  village  (Andrew  Parsons,  E.  F. 
Wade,  L.  H.  Parsons,  G.  0.  Bachman,  and  others),  deem- 
ing the  old  building  inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  large 
number  of  resident  pupils,  suggested  to  the  school  board 
the  propriety  of  erecting  a  more  commodious  edifice.  A 
resolution  was,  in  accordance  with  this  suggestion,  oifered 
with  a  view  to  raising  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  for 
the  purpose,  which  met  with  strong  opposition,  and  was  voted 
down  by  a  discouraging  majority.  A  similar  resolution 
specifying  the  sum  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
shared  the  same  fate.  The  amount  was  reduced  to  three 
thousand  dollars,  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
two  thousand  dollars  successively,  and  met  with  equal  op- 
position. The  hour  of  midnight  had  nearly  arrived,  and 
the  advocates  of  the  measure,  weary  and  disappointed  by 
the  powerful  and  persistent  array  of  foes  against  the  enter- 
prise, were  about  to  abandon  it.     At  this  juncture  one  of 


the  strongest  opponents  offered  a  resolution  devoting  the 
sum  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  to  the  purpose. 
On  consultation  it  was  decided  by  the  friends  of  the  measure 
to  accept  this  amount,  depending  upon  subsequent  appro- 
priations to  liquidate  the  entire  cost  of  building.  A  con- 
tract was  at  once  let  for  labor  and  material  sufficient  to 
cover  the  appropriation,  and  ultimately  an  additional  sum 
was  voted  to  complete  the  structure,  which  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  four  thousand  dollars,  and  is  still  in  use  as  a  part 
of  the  main  building. 

In  1866  the  wants  of  the  public  school  of  Corunna  had 
so  greatly  increased  that  the  brick  edifice  of  1851  afforded 
but  meagre  accommodations  for  the  number  of  scholars 
wishing  to  attend  school.  As  a  consequence  the  present 
commodious  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  the  city  having  issued  bonds  to  meet  the 
indebtedness.  This,  with  the  additional  space  afforded  by 
the  former  structure  still  in  use,  admirably  answers  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  erected.  The  school,  under  the 
efficient  superintendence  of  Prof  Joseph  McGrath  and  his 
able  corps  of  assistants,  has  attained  a  high  reputation 
throughout  the  State.  In  the  high  school  four  courses  of 
study  are  prescribed,  requiring  four  years  for  completion. 
The  graduates  in  the  classical  and  scientific  courses  are 
admitted  to  the  State  University  at  Ann  Arbor  without  a 
preliminary  examination,  which  may  be  regarded  as  a  recog- 
nition of  the  thoroughness  with  which  these  departments 
are  conducted.  The  present  school  board  is  composed  of 
the  following  gentlemen  :  D.  W.  Shattuck,  President ;  A. 
R.  McBride,  Secretary ;  D.  N.  Preston,  Treasurer ;  P.  N. 
Cook,  Charles  Jackson,  Marcus  Wilcox. 

CHURCH    HISTORY. 
THE  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CIIDRCH. 

In  an  early  day  Corunna  was  upon  the  northern  border 
of  what  was  called  the  Shiawassee  Circuit.  As  early  as 
1837  or  1838  the  Revs!  Washington  Jackson  and  Isaac 
Bennett  (the  latter  of  whom  is  still  living)  were  preachers 
on  that  circuit.  At  this  time  occasional  Methodist  preach- 
inf  was  given  at  Corunna,  though  a  society  was  not  formed 
nntil  1839  or  1840.  The  house  of  Alexander  MoArthur 
was  the  stopping-place  for  the  Methodist  ministers,  as  indeed 
it  was  for  ministers  of  all  denominations. 

The  first  class  formed  was  very  small,  consisting  of  John 
K.  Smith,  L.  M.  Partridge  and  his  wife.  Mr.  Smith  was 
the  first  class-leader,  and  for  many  years  was  a  very  useful 
man.  Mr.  Partridge,  who  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Fraser, 
now  living  in  Corunna,  was  a  local  elder,  and  was  very 
useful  in  this  new  country,  preaching  in  the  surrounding 
neighborhoods  as  soon  as  a  few  families  would  assemble, 
attending  their  funerals  and  weddings  over  a  large  tract  of 
country.  He  lived  in  a  frame  house  which  stood  near  Mr. 
Hulick's  present  store.  He  died  April  23,  1845,  the  first 
■  death  in  the  little  society.  The  few  settlers  who  knew  him 
cherished  his  memory  with  much  interest.  In  the  same 
year  Mrs.  Fraser,  Mr.  Partridge's  daughter,  came  to  the 
place  and  soon  after  united  with  the  class,  of  which  she 
still  remains  a  member.  In  this  year  also  Mr.  Luke  H. 
Parsons  and  wife  joined  the  society.  Mr.  Parsons  became 
a  useful  and  prominent  member  and  a  local  preacher,  and 


174 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


did  much  to  stiengtlien  the  society.  He  died  April  19, 
1862,  beloved  by  all.  In  July,  1844,  Mrs.  Mary  Lyman, 
now  Mrs.  David  Hewlett,  came  to  this  place  one  week  after 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Lyman  in  Ann  Arbor.  She  brought 
her  letter  and  immediately  joined  the  society,  and  has  ever 
since  been  a  faithful  and  active  member.  Among  the  very 
early  and  zealous  members  besides  those  already  mentioned 
were  Truman  Fox,  a  Mr.  Piper  and  wife,  John  Kelly  and 
wife  (who  still  live  a  few  miles  north  of  Coruiina),  Reuben 
Emory  (who  afterwards  became  a  preacher,  and  who  died 
several  years  ago),  Mr.  Freeman  and  wife,  and  a  Mrs. 
Harriet  Beach. 

The  old  frame  court-house  which  was  built  in  1843 
became  the  place  of  worship  of  all  denominations  until 
their  churches  were  built.  Previous  to  its  erection  service 
and  prayer-meetings  were  held  in  the  old  frame  school-house 
which  now  stands  on  Main  Street.  Until  their  churches 
were  built,  the  Methodists  and  Presbyterians  worshiped 
together,  and  had  a  Union  Sunday-school. 

Washington  Jackson  and  Isaac  Bennett  were  succeeded 
on  the  Shiawassee  Circuit  in  1839  by  A.  Flemming.  In 
1840,  F.  Brittan  and  S.  C.  Stringham  were  appointed  to 
the  circuit,  both  of  whom  are  still  living.  They  probably 
had  regular  appointments  at  Corunna.  In  1842,  John 
Cosart,  since  deceased,  succeeded.  In  1843,  Riley  C.  Craw- 
ford and  Wm.  F.  Cowles ;  and  in  1844,  R.  C.  Crawford  and 
F.  A.  Blades  were  on  the  circuit.  The  first  two  named  are 
yet  doing  efficient  ministerial  work ;  the  latter  sustains  a 
superannuated  relation  to  the  Detroit  Conference,  and  holds 
a  government  office  in  Detroit.  At  that  time  the  Shiawassee 
Circuit  was  so  largo  as  to  affijrd  abundant  exercise  to  the 
preachers.  It  embraced  the  following  places,  at  each  of 
which  service  was  held  once  in  two  weeks :  Shiawassee- 
town,  Corunna,  Owosso,  Bynn,  Vernon,  North  Vernon, 
Venice,  Argentine,  Deerfield,  Boutwells,  Boyd  School- 
House,  Conway,  Antrim,  Perry,  Austin  School-House, 
Kellogg's  School-House,  Benniiigton,  Florence,  Green's 
School-House,  and  Newburg.  From  1845  to  1855  the 
following  were  some  of  the  ministei-s  upon  the  circuit  of 
which  Corunna  formed  a  part,  though  not  in  the  order  here 
given,  viz. :  Westlake,  Allen,  Levington,  Whitcomb; 
Hemenway,  Arnold,  Johnson. 

For  some  years  Owosso  and  Corunna  were  taken  from  the 
Shiawassee  Circuit  and  were  constituted  a  separate  charge, 
and  in  1857  the  two  places  were  separated,  since  which 
time  each  place  has  constituted  a  charge.  From  1855  to 
the  present  the  ministerial  appointments  have  been  in  the 
following  order :  J.  M.  Arnold  0.  Whitmore,  L.  C.  York, 
E.  E.  Caster,  A.  J.  Bigelow,  I.  W.  Donelson,  I.  Crawford, 
J.  Shank,  J.  Wesley,  L.  J.  Whitcomb,  F.  W.  May,  A.  J. 
Richards,  J.  Kilpatrick,  B.  S.  Taylor,  W.  W.  Hicks,  J. 
W.  Campbell,  S.  Reed.  The  present  church  edifice  in 
Corunna  was  begun  about  the  year  1848  or  1849,  but  was 
not  at  once  completed.     The  parsonage  was  built  in  1863. 

The  foregoing  sketch  by  the  pastor  is  as  complete  as  the 
limited  time  at  command  enabled  him  to  make  it. 

PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

A  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  church  of  this 
denomination  was  hold  in  the  school-house  in   Corunna, 


April  27,  1844,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Seth  Hardy, 
and  the  following  individuals  enrolled  their  names  as  its 
first  members :  Harlow  Beach,  Nelson  Ferry,  Alexander 
McArthur,  James  Cummin,  Lyman  B.  Gilbert,  Ira  B. 
Howard,  Seth  Beach,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Beach,  Mrs.  N. 
Daniels,  Mrs.  Turza  McArthur,  Mrs.  Emma  Howard,  Mrs. 
Roxanna  Thompson,  Mrs.  H.  Daniels,  Miss  Margaret  Mc- 
Arthur, Miss  Anna  M.  Ferry,  and  Miss  Frances  Ann 
Ferry.  Nelson  Ferry  was  chosen  clerk.  Soon  after  the 
organization,  Lyman  B.  Gilbert,  Harlow  Beach,  and  Nelson 
Ferry  were  elected  ruling  members. 

The  pastors  in  succession  have  been  the  Revs.  William 

Smith, Swan,  Alanson  Schofield,  E.  Gregory,  J.  W. 

McGregor,  J.  R.  Stevenson   (who  filled  two  pastorates), 

J.  W.  Phelps, Kellogg,  aiid  T.  D.  Bartholomew,  who 

is  the  present  clergyman  in  charge.  Of  the  original  mem- 
bership of  seventeen,  but  one — Mr.  Alexander  McArthur 
— survives.  The  present  church-roll  numbers  sixty  names 
upon  the  list. 

The  court-house  aiforded  a  convenient  place  of  worship 
until  1866,  when  the  present  substantial  brick  edifice  was 
erected.  Connected  with  the  church  is  a  large  and  pros- 
perous Sabbath-school,  in  which  many  of  the  church  mem- 
bers are  active  workers.  The  present  session  embraces 
the  following  gentlemen  :  Elders — Charles  Holman,  S.  D. 
Cooper,  R.  B.  Murray,  D.  N.  Preston,  J.  R.  Curtis. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  society  connected  with  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Corunna  was  organized  in  1854,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Gamble,  and  with  the  following  constituent 
members :  William  Weeden  and  wife,  Hiram  Smith  and 
wife,  Jessie  L.  Smith,  Jeannettc  N.  Smith,  and  Joseph 
Gamble  and  wife.  Of  the  original  members  the  only  sur- 
vivors are  Elder  Gamble  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Smith.  The 
first  services  were  held  in  the  old  court-house,  which  was 
purchased  by  the  society  and  fitted  for  purposes  of  worship. 

The  early  records  of  the  church  have  been  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  no  minutes  of  a  date  prior  to  1867  are  obtainable. 
The  pastors  in  succession  since  that  time  have  been  Rev. 
B.  H.  Shepard,  1867  ;  Rev.  H.  A.  Rose,  1868;  Rev.  B.  J. 
Boynton,  1869 ;  P.  D.  Clarke  (as  supply),  1870  ;  Rev. 
George  Wesselius,  1871;  Rev.  E.  R.  Clarke,  1873;  D. 
Pettit  (as  supply),  1878  ;  Rev.  E.  E.  Baylis,  1879  ;  Rev. 
George  Atchison,  1880.  A  new  church  edifice  is  now  in 
process  of  erection  on  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Fraser  and 
Woodbridge  Streets,  owned  by  the  society.  Connected 
with  the  church  is  a  flourishing  Sabbath-school,  of  which 
Dr.  Goodrich  is  superintendent. 

ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

A  church  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith  was  first  organized 
in  1860  under  the  pastorate  of  Father  Van  Panne),  who 
remained  the  resident  pastor  until  1862.  During  his  min- 
istry a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  the  debt  upon  which 
was  speedily  liquidated.  He  was  succeeded  by  Father 
Bolte,  who  remained  four  years,  and  was  followed  by 
Father  Behrings  in  1867.  His  ministrations  continued 
but  one  year,  after  which  Father  Record  was  delegated  to 
the  chureh  in  Corunna.     Father  Kramer  came  in  1870, 


CITY   OF   CORUNNA. 


175 


and  remained  seven  years.  The  present  pastor,  who  began 
his  labors  in  1870,  is  Father  Wheeler,  who  resides  in 
Owosso,  but  holds  a  semi-monthly  service  in  Corunna.  A 
Sabbath-school  is  connected  with  the  church,  held  after 
each  service,  at  which  the  children  are  instructed  in  the 
catechism  by  the  pastor.  The  present  trustees  are  Jere- 
miah Collins,  Dennis  Corcoran. 

THE  TJNIVERSALIST  CHUKCH. 

The  organization  of  the  Uuiversalist  Society  of  Corunna 
was  effected  at  the  court-house,  April  9, 18G5 ;  and  on  the 
27th  of  the  same  month  a  board  of  trustees  was  elected, 
of  which  E.  F.  Wade  was  chosen  moderator  and  Cortes 
Pond  clerk.  The  Rev.  C.  W.  Knickerbocker  was  the 
pastor  who  visited  the  charge  each  month,  and  held  services 
on  Wednesday  and  Thursday  evenings.  He  devoted  himself 
with  much  vigor  to  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  which 
was  completed  April,  1872,  and  formally  dedicated  soon  after. 
The  succeeding  pastor  was  Rev.  Asa  Countryman,  who  was 
installed  in  1872,  and  during  the  year  the  church  was  for- 
mally organized,  with  about  twenty  members.  On  the  22d 
of  March,  1874,  the  pastor  having  tendered  his  resignation, 
the  Rev.  Amos  Crane  was  called,  and  conducted  services 
regularly  every  Sabbath,  during  which  time  the  society 
grew  steadily  in  numbers  and  influence.  The  pastor  was 
ultimately  called  to  a  more  extended  field  of  labor,  and  the 
church  is  now  without  a  stated  supply,  though  services 
have  been  regularly  maintained  by  the  lay  members. 
Clergymen  of  the  denomination  also  occasionally  supply 
the  pulpit,  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Getchell  and  Rev.  S.  F.  Gibb 
having  been  among  the  number.  The  strength  of  the 
society  has  been  somewhat  impaired  by  the  removal  of 
several  influential  members,  who,  by  their  means  and 
influence,  aided  greatly  in  its  advancement.  The  large  and 
burdensome  debt,  which  has  been  a  source  of  great  anxiety 
to  the  congregation,  was  entirely  liquidated  in  December, 
1879,  and  an  effort  is  about  being  made  to  secure  the 
presence  of  a  settled  pastor.  A  flourishing  Sunday-school 
was  early  established,  and  now  has  sixty  members  upon  its 
rolls,  J.  D.  Leland  being  the  superintendent.  Teachers' 
meetings  are  held  each  Saturday  evening. 

ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH  OF  CORUNNA  (EPISCOPAL). 

In  the  summer  of  1862,  Mrs.  E.  G.  Kimberly,  Mrs. 
Sophia  Crane,  Mrs.  R.  Piper,  Miss  Ruth  Phelps,  and  Miss 
Cordelia  Haskell  met  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Has- 
kell, and  formed  a  Ladies'  Episcopal  Society  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  funds  to  employ  a  minister,  and  also  to  found  a 
church  in  the  village.      They  struggled  on  with  success, 
slow  but  sure,  until  March,  186'4,  when  the  services  of  Rev. 
Thomas  B.  Dooley,  of  Owosso,  were  secured  to  conduct  the 
services  for  one  year  on  the  second  and  fourth  Sundays  of 
each  month,  at  the  court-house  in  Corunna.     On  the  12th 
day  of  January,  1865,  a  meeting  of  the  society  was  held 
at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Lockwood  for  the.  purpose  of  or- 
ganizing a  church.     At  this  time  articles  of  agreement 
were  drawn  proposing  and  agreeing  to  organize  a  church  to 
be  called  St.   Paul's  Church  of  the  village  of  Corunna. 
These  articles  were  signed  by  H.  A.  Crane,  J.  H.  Haskell, 
Edward  Rose,  J.  N.  Lemon,  John  Ivey,  William  Ivey, 


J.  Hedges,  A.  M.  Smith,  and  John  N.  Ingersoll,  and  were 
recorded  in  the  clerk's  office  of  Shiawassee  County,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1865. 

At  the  same  date  a  call  was  drawn  and  signed  by  H.  A. 
Crane,  J.  H.  Haskell,  William  Ivey,  and  John  N.  Ingersoll 
for  the  holding  of  the  first  annual  meeting  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  on  Friday,  Jan.  27,  1865,  to  perfect  the  organiza- 
tion. At  that  time  a  declaration  of  assent  to  the  articles 
of  agreement  was  drawn  and  signed  by  H.  A.  Crane,  J. 
H.  Haskell,  Edward  Rose,  J.  N.  Ingersoll,  J.  N.  Lemon, 
John  Ivey,  William  Ivey,  J.  Hedges,  A.  M.  Smith,  J. 
Hulick,  L.  D.  Phelps,  and  Robert  Piper.  The  church 
then  elected  the  following  vestrymen :  J.  H.  Haskell,  H. 
A.  Crane,  J.  Hulick,  J.  N.  Ingersoll,  L.  D.  Phelts,  John 
Ivey,  and  A.  M.  Smith,  which  having  been  done,  St.  Paul's 
Church  of  Corunna  was  then  and  there  declared  by  Rev. 
Thomas  B.  Dooley  to  be  duly  formed. 

Rev.  George  0.  Bachman  became  rector  of  the  church 
in  November,  1866,  and  under  his  excellent  supervision  the 
society  prospered  greatly.  A  considerable  number  con- 
nected themselves  with  the  society,  and  in  1867  its  mem- 
bers felt  encouraged  to  undertake  the  erection  of  a  house  of 
worship.  The  work  of  excavating  was  begun  June  21, 
1867.  The  material  was  designed  to  be  brick.  It  was  to 
be  cruciform  in  shape,  dimensions  of  nave  to  be  twenty- 
.  seven  and  a  half  by  fifty-five  feet,  the  choir  and  robing- 
room  to  be  thirty-eight  feet,  the  building  to  be  surmounted 
by  a  tower.  The  foundation  was  laid  and  a  large  part  of 
the  material  on  the  ground  when  Rev.  Mr.  Bachman  was 
removed  by  death  and  the  further  progress  of  the  work 
ended.  Services  were,  however,  continued  by  Revs.  Henry 
H.  Bonnell  and  Whitney,  of  Owosso,  Bloodgood,  of  Corunna, 
and  Levi  Stimson,  of  Owosso,  until  the  year  1879.  Since 
that  time  they  have  been  conducted  by  George  D.  Wright. 
The  society  are  still  sanguine  of  their  success  in  completing 
a  house  of  worship. 

A    FREE    METHODIST   CHURCH 

exists  in  Corunna,  but  no  facts  have  been  ascertained  on 
which  to  base  a  historical  sketch  of  it. 

THE  CORUNNA  CEMETERY. 

The  original  plat  of  the  cemetery  at  Corunna  was  con- 
veyed by  Joseph  Purdy  and  wife  to  the  board  of  health  of 
Caledonia  by  deed,  bearing  date  Nov.  22, 1847.  The  deed 
shows  substantially  that,  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  the  parties  above  named  bargained  and  sold  to 
the  parties  in  trust  for  the  township  of  Caledonia,  forever 
to  be  used  as  a  burial-ground,  the  following  described  parcel 
of  land  situated  in  said  township  of  Caledonia,  being  a  part 
of  the  centre  third  of  the  west  part  of  the  north  part  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  21  of  said  township,  commencing 
at  a  point  on  the  east  line  of  said  centre  one-third  of  said 
part  of  said  fractional  section  where  the  south  line  of 
Pine  Street  in  Gary's  addition  to  the  village  of  Corunna 
extended  in  a  straight  line  would  intersect  said  point ;  run- 
ning thence  west  on  the  south  line  of  said  street  so  ex- 
tended, four  chains  ;  thence  south  parallel  with  the  east  line 
of  said  lot  or  centre  one-third,  five  chains ;  thence  east 
parallel  with  the  said  street  so  extended,  four  chains ;  thence 


176 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


north  on  the  east  line  one-third  five  chains  to  the  place  of 
beginning,  containing  two  acres  of  land. 

An  addition  was  surveyed  by  Andrew  Hugging  in  Octo- 
ber, 1869,  which  is  sixty-two  feet  east  and  west,  and  two 
hundred  and  forty-eight  feet  north  and  south,  and  contains 
thirty-five  one-hundredths  of  an  acre  of  hind. 

A  second  addition  was  purchased  of  M.  C.  Bachman, 
Oct.  1,  1878,  described  as  commencing  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  land  used  as  a  cemetery,  situated  on  section 
21  in  the  city  of  Corunna;  thence  running  west  ninety- 
eight  feet ;  thence  south  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  feet  on 
a  line  parallel  with  the  west  line  of  said  cemetery  lot ; 
thence  east  ninety-eight  feet  to  said  west  line  of  the  ceme- 
tery lot ;  thence  north  on  said  west  line  of  cemetery  lot 
two  hundred  and  sixty-six  feet  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  Corunna  cemetery  is  now  under  the  control  of  the 
Common  Council  of  the  city,  and  the  lots  are  disposed  of 
by  the  clerk  of  the  Council.  The  spot  has  picturesque  sur- 
roundings, and  is  adorned  with  many  attractive  memorial 
tablets,  but  is  still  susceptible  of  much  improvement. 

SECEET   OKDERS. 
CORUNNA  LODGE,  No.  115,  P.  AND  A.  M. 

The  date  of  organization  of  the  Corunna  Lodge  takes 
precedence  of  that  of  any  similar  institution  in  the  city, 
the  charter  having  been  gi-anted  Jan.  14, 1859,  after  which 
the  following  oflScials  were  chosen :  Hugh  McCurdy,  W.  M. ; 
John  M.  Pitch,  S.  W. ;  Eli  C.  Moore,  J.  W. ;  Ebenezer 
F.  Wade,  Treasurer ;  Austin  A.  Belden,  Secretary ;  Samuel 
C.  Smith,  S.  D. ;  George  W.  Goodell,  J.  D. ;  Daniel  Bush, 
Spencer  B.  Raynale,  Stewards ;  William  Rollo,  Tiler. 

Its  regular  communications  are  held  at  the  following 
dates;  January  27th,  February  24th,  March  23d,  April 
20th,  May  18th,  June  22d,  June  24th,  July  20th,  August 
17th,  September  14th,  October  12th,  November  16th,  De- 
cember 14th,  December  27th. 

Its  present  officers  are  A.  C.  Brown,  W.  M. ;  J.  M. 
Goodell,  S.  W.;  J.  E.  Keith,  J.  W. ;  A.  T.  Nichols,  Treas- 
urer; F.  Betts,  Secretary;  C.  M.  Peacock,  S.  D. ;  H.  B. 
Hadley,  J.  D. ;  W.  M.  Carleton,  Tiler ;  J.  Appleton,  S.  H. 
McCurdy,  Stewards. 

CORUNNA  COMMAXDERT,  No.  21,  K.  T. 

A  dispensation  was  granted  April  7,  1868,  to  Hugh 
McCurdy  as  Commander,  C.  C.  Goodale  as  Generalissimo, 
and  Daniel  Bush  as  Captain-General;  and  the  Corunna 
Commandery  received  its  charter  June  3d  of  the  same 
year.  Its  charter  officers  were  H.  McCurdy,  E.  C. ;  Seth 
Pottibone,  Gen. ;  0.  L.  Spauldiog,  C.  G. ;  T.  C.  Gamer, 
Prelate ;  C.  E.  Shattuck,  S.  W. ;  C.  J.  Gale,  J.  W. ;  E.' 
C.  Moore,  Treasurer ;  S.  B.  Raynale,  Recorder. 

The  commandery  has  a  membership  of  forty-five,  and  is 
in  a  prosperous  condition.  Its  present  officers  are  Hu<'h 
McCurdy,  E.  C. ;  A.  T.  Nichols,  Gen. ;  C.  J.  Gale,  C.  G. ; 
Seth  Pettibone,  Prelate ;  Michael  Carland,  S.  W. ;  E.  Rose, 
J.  W. ;  D.  T.  Kincaid,  Treasurer ;  J.  D.  Leland,  Recorder. 

CORUNNA  COUNCIL,  No.  38,  K.  S.  M. 
The  charter  of  the  Corunna  Council  bears  date  February 
19,  1874,  its  charter  membera  having  been  Hugh  Mc- 


Curdy, Spencer  B.  Raynale,  Jefferson  D.  Leland,  Joseph 
N.  Lemon,  F.  P.  Howlett,  E.  Rose,  J.  Anderson,  L.  D. 
Phelps,  W.  D.  Garrison,  A.  Garrison,  C.  J.  Gale,  and  C. 
D.  Smith. 

Its  first  officers  were  Hugh  McCurdy,  T.  I.  M. ;  S.  B. 
Raynale,  D.  M. ;  J.  D.  Leland,  P.  C.  W. ;  A.  T.  Nichols, 
Treasurer ;  J.  D.  Leland,  Recorder.  The  present  officers 
are  Hugh  McCurdy,  T.  I.  M. ;  James  Anderson,  D.  M. ; 
Almon  C.  Brown,  P.  C.  W. ;  Albert  T.  Nichols,  Treasurer ; 
Jeff.  D.  Leland,  Recorder ;  Joseph  N.  Lemon,  C.  of  G. ; 
Henry  W.  Parker,  C.  of  C. ;  Willard  M.  Carleton,  Sentinel. 

The  meetings  of  the  council  are  held  on  the  third 
Thursday  of  each  month,  in  an  elegantly  appointed  hall, 
owned  and  fitted  by  the  various  lodges  of  the  city. 

CORUNNA   CHAPTER,  No.  33,  R.  A.  M., 

was  organized  Feb.  18,  1864,  with  the  following  officers: 
Hugh  McCurdy,  H.  P.;  J.  S.  Hewett,  King;  G.  D. 
Phelps,  Scribe ;  C.  S.  Converse,  R.  A.  C. ;  J.  Irland,  P. 
S. ;  E.  F.  Wade,  3d  V. ;  D.  Bush,  2d  V. ;  J.  M.  Thayer, 
G.  M.,  1st  v.,  and  Treasurer;  S.  B.  Raynale,  C.  H.,  Sec- 
retary. 

The  present  officers  are  J.  D.  Leland,  M.  E.  H.  P. ;  W. 
Eames,  E.  K. ;  C.  D.  Smith,  E.  S. ;  C.  M.  Peacock,  C.  of 
H. ;  A.  C.  Brown,  P.  S. ;  J.  A.  Keith,  R.  A.  C. :  A.  T. 
Nichols,  Treasurer ;  F.  Betts,  Secretary ;  G.  W.  Goodell, 
3d  V. ;  A.  G.  Bruce,  2d  V. ;  J.  M.  Goodell,  1st  V. ;  W.  M. 
Carleton,  Guard. 

Its  regular  convocations  are  held  on  the  first  Thursday  of 
each  month. 

LODGE   No.  363,  I.  0.  OF   G.  T. 

The  charter  under  which  this  lodge  was  organized  was 
granted  April  18,  1866,  the  charter  members  being  I. 
Shank,  G.  C.  Holmes,  A.  J.  Eraser,  J.  M.  Goodell,  J.  W. 
Turner,  A.  M.  Pond,  A.  M.  Fraser,  H.  P.  Lawrence,  S.  A. 
Lawrence,  R.  J.  Pond,  R.  E.  Kelsey,  M.  Ackley,  William 
Cochran,  Nancy  Cochran,  Cortes  Pond,  E.  B.  Pond,  John 
Farrar,  Paul  Harmon,  George  Sloan,  Julius  Piper,  James 
Slater,  J.  G.  Bryan,  Henry  Spaulding,  William  Lucas,  J. 
W.  Hagerman,  A.  M.  Smith,  and  G.  H.  Weeden.  The 
lodge,  which  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  embraces  a  mem- 
bership of  one  hundred,  and  holds  its  meetings  in  the 
Phoenix  Block.  Its  present  officers  are  Dr.  L.  M.  Good- 
rich, W.  C. ;  Miss  Jennie  Hathaway,  W.  V. ;  Rev.  Seth 
Reed,  Chaplain;  Lyman  Brandt,  Lodge  Deputy;  Fred. 
Goddard,  Secretary ;  Mrs.  M.  Allen,  Treasurer. 

SHIAWASSEE   LODGE,  No.  407,  KNIGHTS   OF  HONOR. 

This  lodge  was  organized  Dec.  9,  1876,  with  sixteen 
members  and  the  following-named  charter  officers :  Peter 
N.  Cook,  D. ;  Michael  Carland,  Vice-D. ;  Almon  C.  Brown, 
Asst.  D. ;  Lewis  H.  Wilcox,  Reporter;  L.  D.  Phelps, 
Treasurer ;  A.  T.  Nichols,  Chaplain. 

Its  present  pfficers  are  J.  M.  McGrath,  D.  ;  Michael 
Reidy,  Vice-D. ;  William  H.  Cole,  Asst.  D. ;  L.  H.  Wil- 
cox, Reporter ;  A.  C.  Brown,  Financial  Reporter ;  J.  D. 
Leland,  Treasurer ;  A.  T.  Nichols,  Chaplain. 

The  convocations  of  the  Shiawassee  Lodge  are  held  in  a 
hall  fitted  for  their  use  in  the  Phcenix  Block,  on  the  first 


ANTRIM  TOWNSHlI'. 


177 


and  third  Wednesday  evenings  of  each  month.     The  pres- 
ent membership  is  twenty-six. 

CORUNNA   LODGE,  No.  34,  A.   0.  OF   U.   W. 

The  order  of  United  Workmen  was  first  instituted  in 
Corunna  in  1878,  the  lodge  having  been  organized  on  the 
19th  day  of  June  of  that  year,  with  the  following  charter 
officers :  Almon  C.  Brown,  M.  W. ;  C.  T.  Armstrong,  Re- 
corder; Charles  Jackson,  Financier.  Its  present  officers 
are  George  R.  Hoyt,  M.  W. ;  Samuel  A.  Fish,  Recorder ; 
S.  G.  Blake,  Financier.  The  lodge  holds  its  convocations 
on  the  second  and  fourth  Wednesdays  of  each  month  in 
Odd-Fellows'  Hall,  in  the  Phoenix  Block,  and  has  thirty- 
nine  names  upon  its  membership  roll. 

CORUNNA    COUNCIL,  No.  5,  EOYAL  TEMPLARS    OF   TEM- 
PERANCE. 

The  Council  of  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance  was  or- 
ganized Feb.  21,  1879,  its  charter  officers  being  George  W. 
McLain,  S.  C.  ;  R.  A.  Patton,  V.  C. ;  A.  G.  Bruce,  P.  0. ; 
Rev.  J.  W.  Campbell,  Chaplain ;  W.  A.  Knight,  Secre- 
tary; F.  M.  Kilburn,  Treasurer;  C.  A.  Youngs,  Herald; 
J.  Creque,  Guard ;  W.  C.  Carleton,  Sentinel. 

Its  present  officers  are  A.  G.  Bruce,  S.  C. ;  W.  A.  Knight, 
V.  C. ;  G.  W.  McLain,  P.  C;  Nancy  Allen,  Chaplain  ;  J. 
Showt,  Secretary ;  L.  Brandt,  Treasurer ;  C.  A.  Young, 
Herald ;  Lottie  E.  Knight,  Guard ;  R.  E.  Kelsey,  Sentinel. 

The  lodge  holds  its  meetings  in  Phcenix  Hall,  and  includes 
the  names  of  forty-one  male  and  thirty-two  female  members. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
ANTRIM    TOWNSHIP.* 

Early  Settlements  and  Settlers — Roads— Post-Offioes — Resident  Tax- 
payers in  184-1 — Erection  and.Organization  of  Antrim — List  of 
Township  Officers — Schools  of  Antrim— Churches— ^Cemetery — War 
Record — Societies. 

The  township  known  in  its  civil  organization  as  Antrim 
is  designated  in  the  United  States  survey  as  town  5  north, 
of  range  3  east,  of  the  principal  meridian.  The  surface, 
like  that  of  other  townships  in  the  same  tier,  is  compara- 
tively level,  and  in  many  parts  wet  and  swampy.  It  con- 
tains, however,  several  ranges  of  higher  lands,  though 
these  cannot  be  termed  hills.  One  of  these  elevations 
more  distinctly  marked  than  the  rest,  and  yet  hardly  no- 
ticeable in  its  altitude  above  the  surrounding  country,  forms 
a  water-shed  which  divides  the  township  into  two  distinct 
parts.  The  eastern  part  of  the  township  is  drained  by  the 
branches  of  the  Shiawassee,  and  the  central  and  western 
part  by  those  of  the  Looking-Glass  River.  The  small 
branches  of  these  streams,  assisted  by  artificial  means,  ren- 
der the  township  comparatively  free  from  waste  land.  The 
soil  is  good,  and  the  township  is  noted  for  the  production 
of  wheat. 


»  By  tt.  A.  MoAlpine. 


EAELY  SETTLEMENTS  AND  SETTLERS. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May,  1836,  Allen  Beard  and  Lyman 
Melvin,  two  young  men  from  New  York,  came  to  Michi- 
gan. Leaving  their  families  on  Lodi  Plains,  Washtenaw 
Co.,  they  followed  an  Indian  trail  northward,  and  finally 
reached  the  log  cabin  of  Dyer  Rathburn,  in  Burns  town- 
ship. Being  informed  that  up  to  that  time  no  explorers 
had  entered  land  or  passed  from  that  trail  to  the  westward, 
they  left  the  line  usually  traveled  by  land-seekers,  and 
made  their  way  through  swamps  and  over  creeks,  across 
which  they  were  often  compelled  to  fell  trees,  and  finally 
came  to  a  large  and  comparatively  level  tract  on  section  19, 
a  place  which  would  usually  be  described  as  oak-openings. 
Here,  upon  an  Indian  mound,  in  the  midst  of  luxuriant 
vegetation  and  bright  flowers,  they  sat  down  to  rest  and 
refresh  themselves ;  and  it  is  related  that  Melvin,  who  was 
especially  charmed  by  the  beauty  of  the  surroundings,  re- 
marked that  if  he  lived  in  Michigan  he  wished  to  live  there, 
and  if  he  died  he  wished  to  be  buried  there, — words  which 
were  subsequently  often  repeated  by  him.  After  noting 
the  description  of  the  land,  they  returned  to  Detroit,  where, 
on  June  1, 1836,  Allen  Beard  entered  the  west  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter,  and  Lyman  Melvin. entered  the  west 
half  of  the  same  quarter  of  section  19. 

On  the  8th  of  July  of  the  same  summer  they  returned 
with  three  yoke  of  oxen,  a  wagon,  a  small  outfit  of  farming- 
implements,  and  cooking-utensils.  They  built  a  small  hut 
of  bark  peeled  from  the  bodies  of  black-ash  trees.  The 
bark  was  cut  in  long  lengths,  pressed  out  flat,  and  then 
leaned  against  a  pole  of  a  tent.  Marsh  hay  well  dried 
served  a  good  purpose  as  bedding.  After  thus  providing 
for  their  immediate  wants  they  began  to  plow  a  piece  of 
ground  for  wheat.  There  being  few  trees  and  but  little 
fallen  timber  in  the  way,  they  soon  prepared  a  field  of  con- 
siderable extent,  and  then  returned  to  Lodi,  where  they  re- 
mained during  harvest.  In  the  fall  they  came  again  to 
Antrim,  and  subsequently  brought  their  families.  While 
sowing  wheat  in  the  same  autumn  they  were  one  day  sur- 
prised to  hear  a  cow-bell  in  the  timber  north  of  their  house. 
Upon  looking  for  neighbors  they  found  the  families  of 
Peter  Cook  and  Alanson  Ailing  living  in  a  cabin  on  section 
17.  Both  these  families  had  come  into  the  township  about 
the  same  time.  Mr.  Cook  located  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  17  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  18.  Mr.  Ailing 
entered  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  18  and  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  7.  After  building  a  cabin  on  the 
land  owned  by  Mr.  Cook,  he  and  Mr.  Ailing  went  to  Chn- 
ton,  Mich.,  and  persuaded  Charles  Locke  to  return  with 
them.  Mr.  Ailing  sold  him  eighty  acres  of  land,  agreeing 
to  take  pay  in  work.  It  is  believed  that  Mr.  Locke's  son, 
born  soon  afterwards,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the 
township.  Mr.  Locke  is  still  living  in  Perry.  Mr.  Cook, 
after  living  in  Antrim  many  years,  removed  to  Corunna, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  where  his 
widow  is  still  living. 

Four  brothers  named  Harmon  were  early  settlers  in  An- 
trim. Almon  Harmon  came  to  the  township  in  the  fall  of 
1836,  with  a  wife  and  two  children.  He  located  the  south- 
west quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  20,  now 
owned  by  J.  C;-  Adams.    He  built  a  good  log  house  on  the 


23 


178 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


site  now  occupied  by  the  house  of  Mr.  Adams,  the  best  in 
the  township  up  to  that  time.  Mr.  Harmon  remained  but 
a  few  years. 

Horace  B.  Flint  reached  the  township  about  the  same 
time  as  Almon  Harmon,  and  bought  forty  acres  of  Mr. 
Ailing  on  section  7,  the  same  now  owned  by  E.  Goodburn. 
Of  the  family  which  Jie  brought,  but  one  is  now  living. 

Harvey  Harmon  came  in  the  winter  of  1836-37,  and 
settled  on  section  28,  having  also  bought  land  on  section 
29.     He  remained  but  a  few  years. 

Chauncey  Harmon  and  Daniel  Harmon  came  in  1839. 
Daniel  located  the  land  on  which  the  saw-mill  now  owned 
by  Isaac  Wright  stands.  On  this  site  he  built  the  first 
saw-mill  in  Antrim,  in  1840.  In  1848  he  sold  to 
Thomas  Munger,  who,  after  running  it  but  a  short  time, 
sold  it  to  Walter  and  I.  S.  A.  Wright.  Chauncey  Har- 
mon bought  the  land  now  owned  by  Chauncey  Case,  being 
forty  acres  on  section  29. 

On  June  2,  1836,  Mortimer  B.  Martin,  with  a  friend 
named  Townsend,  came  to  the  northeastern  corner  of  the 
township  of  Antrim.  He,  too,  followed  the  usual  line  of 
travel,  coming  first  to  the  house  of  Dyer  Rathburn,  whence 
he  went  north,  striking  the  Shiawassee  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knaggs'  trading-post.  From  this  place  Mr.  Martin  went 
to  the  hill  on  which  his  residence  now  stands,  and  although 
up  to  that  time  he  had  scarcely  thought  of  farming,  he  was 
so  delighted  with  the  scene  that  he  at  once  determined  to 
locate  a  tract,  which  he  did  on  the  6th  of  July,  1836. 
Mr.  Townsend  was  not  so  enthusiastic  and  did  not  pur- 
chase. Mr.  Martin  was  the  first  settler  in  the  northeastern 
quarter  of  the  township. 

John  Ward  came  to  Antrim  May  2,  1837,  and  settled 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  7,  taking  up  forty  acres. 
His  family  consisted  of  a  wife  and  eight  children.  Mrs. 
Ward  died  in  December,  1839.  Hers  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  first  death  in  the  township.  Lyman  Melvin 
died  in  1850,  and  was  buried  in  the  mound  just  in  the  rear 
of  the  orchard  on  his  farm,  to  which  we  have  already 
alluded.  His  wife  married  again  and  went  to  California. 
The  farm  is  now  owned  by  A.  Dippy,  also  an  early  settler. 

Allen  Beard  lives  on  the  farm  he  located  more  than 
forty-four  years  ago.  His  first  wife  has  been  dead  many 
years.  Nathaniel  Durfee,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  An- 
trim, is  still  living.  His  settlement  is  referred  to  in  the 
biography  which  will  be  seen  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

The  nearest  post-office  through  which  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  Antrim  received  their  mail  was  at  Howell,  twenty- 
five  miles  distant.  When  the  office  was  established  at 
Shiawasseetown  it  made  it  much  more  convenient,  as  the 
settlers  could  then  get  their  mail  and  "  go  to  mill"  at  the 
same  time.  The  most  embarrassing  feature  of  the  case 
was  the  difficulty  at  times  of  getting  the  necessary  twenty- 
five  cents  to  pay  the  postage  on  a  letter.  The  next  office 
was  established  at  Hartwell. 

The  first  post-office  located  in  Antrim  was  established  in 
1849,  and  opened  at  the  house  of  John  Near,  who  was 
the  postmaster.'  When  he  resigned,  Allen  Beard  was 
appointed.  The  name  was  then  changed  from  Antrim  to 
Glass  River,  and  Joseph  Blinson  succeeded-  to  the  office, 


after   whom    the   present   incumbent,  J.   C.  Adams,  was 
appointed. 

The  first  road  opened  in  Antrim  was  the  north-and-south 
road  which  passes  through  the  western  tier  of  sections.  It 
was  located  in  the  fall  of  1839,  as  was  also  the  road  leading 
east,  connecting  with  a  road  established  the  year  before  in 
Burns,  running  to  Byron.  These  roads  were  the  main 
lines  of  travel  for  many  years.  But  when  Owosso  and  Co- 
runna  grew  to  be  of  importance  trade  and  travel  gradually 
shifted  to  that  quarter. 

The  mill  used  by  the  settlers  in  an  early  day  was  situated 
at  Shiawasseetown.  The  farmers  from  the  southwestern 
part  of  Antrim  usually  went  with  a  yoke  of  cattle,  and  if 
the  roads  were  favorable,  could  make  the  trip  in  two  days. 
Before  this  mill  was  built  they  traded  in  Detroit  or  Ann 
Arbor. 

Although  the  lands  of  the  entire  township  were  taken  up 
soon  after  the  first  entry  was  made  (with  the  exception  of  a 
few  tracts  at  that  time  considered  worthless),  there  were 
but  few  permanent  settlers,  and  these  were  in  the  western 
and  southwestern  parts.  In  these  localities  were  all  those 
(with  one  exception)  to  whom  we  have  referred,  who  came 
in  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1836. 

From  the  assessment-roll  of  the  township  for  1841,  given 
below,  it  will  be  noticed  that  there  was  but  one  taxable  in- 
habitant east  of  a  line  drawn  north  and  south  through  the 
centre  of  the  township.  At  this  time  large  tracts  of  land 
were  held  by  speculators,  and  some  of  it  was  retained  by 
them  for  many  years.  There  is  now,  however,  but  little 
non-resident  land  in  the  township. 

RESIDENT  TAX-PAYEES   IN   1841. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  resident  tax-payers  in  Antrim 
in  1841,  as  shown  by  the  assessment-roll  of  that  year, 
signed  by  Harvey  Harmon,  assessor.  All  of  these,  with 
two  exceptions,  were  assessed  on  personal  property : 


Names.  SectioDS. 

Mortimer  B.  Martin 1,  12 

Alanson  Ailing 7,  18 

John  Ward , 7 

William  Ward 7 

Charles  Locke 7 

S.S.Sheldon 4 

Horace  B.  Flint 1 

Peter  Cook 18,  17 

Harvey  Harmon 29,  28 

Joshua  S.  Saddler 29 

Lyman  Melvin 19 

Hiram  Van  Natter 19 

George  Abbott 20 

Daniel  B.  Harmon 21 

James  Colborn 32 

Sylvester  Colborn 32 

Amos  Colborn .32 

Gruy  Lyons 30 

Allen  Beard 19,30 

Chelcy  Tupper 28 

Nicholas  Walbarer 25,26 

Totals 


Value  of 

Person  al 

icres, 

Eeal  Property. 

Property 

640 

$2,560.00 

$90.75 

200 

696.50 

62.00 

80 

280.00 

40.00 

160 

560.00 

40.00 

80 

280.00 

40.00 

160 

560.00 

106.00 

40 

160.00 

68.00 

320 

-        1,120.00 

52.00 

120 

420.00 

67.00 

40 

140.00 

10.00 

80 

400.00 

92.00 

80 

280.00 

160 

560.00 

65.00 

200 

800.00 

104.00 

40 

140.00 

40 

140.00 

30.00 

80 

280.00 

40.00 

120 

360.00 

40.00 

160 

800.00 

104.00 

80 

280.00 

67.00 

80 

240.00 

56.00 

$11,056.50 

$1163.75 

ZAT 

ION    OF  ANTEIM. 

ERECTION  AND   ORGANIZATION 

Antrim  was  taken  from  the  territory  of  Shiawassee  town- 
ship (of  which  it  had  previously  been  a  part)  and  erected 
a  separate  civil  township  by  act  of  the  Legislature  approved 


^v  - 


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Co 


I 


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3 


Ik 

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4 


t 


ANTRIM  TOWNSHIP. 


179 


March  6,  1838.  The  act  provided  that  the  first  township 
election  should  be  held  at  the  house  of  Almon  S.  Harmon, 
and  in  pursuance  of  this  provision  it  was  held  at  the  place 
designated  on  the  2d  of  April,  1838.  Noyes  P.  Chapman 
was  chosen  moderator,  Almon  S.  Harmon  clerk,  and  Alan- 
son  Ailing  and  Charles  Locke  assistant  judges  of  election. 
As  is  usually  the  case  at  the  first  election  in  a  township, 
the  number  present  was  so  limited  that  nearly  every  voter 
received  one  or  more  offices.  The  number  in  this  case  was 
twelve,  their  names  being  as  follows :  Almon  S.  Harmon, 
Noyes  P.  Chapman,  Alanson  Ailing,  Charles  Locke,  John 
"Ward,  Philander  T.  Main,  Horace  B.  Flint,  Allen  Beard, 
Lyman  Melvin.  Hiram  Van  Natter,  Harvey  Harmon,  and 
Peter  Cook. 

A  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Lyman 
Melvin  on  the  8th  of  June  of  the  same  year,  at  which 
meeting  another  full  list  of  officers  were  elected,  none  of 
those  elected  at  the  first  election  having  qualified.  We 
therefore  give  the  results  in  the  following  list,  the  names  of 
the  officers  chosen  at  the  election  of  June  8th  as  the  actual 
township  officers  for  1838.  The  list  here  given  includes 
the  names  of  the  principal  officers  of  Antrim  township 
from  1837  to  1880  inclusive,  viz. : 

1838.— Supervisor,  Thomas  B.  Flint;  Clerk,  Charles 
Locke;  Assessors,  John  Ward,  Allen  Beard, 
Henry  Harmon ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Horace  B.  Flint,  Lyman  Melvin,  Henry  Har- 
mon ;  Collector,  Lyman  Melvin ;  Constables, 
Charles  Locke,  Lyman  Melvin,  Hiram  Van 
Natter;  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Peter  Cook, 
Chauncey  Harmon. 
1839. — Supervisor,  Ichabond  Kneeland ;  Town  Clerk, 
Charles  Locke;  Treasurer,  Harvey  Harmon; 
Justices,  John  Ward,  John  Culver;  Highway 
Commissioners,  Isaac  Colborn,  Simon  S.  Shel- 
don, David  B.  Harmon ;  Assessors,  Hiram  Van 
Natter,  John  Ward ;  School  Inspectors,  Allen 
Beard,  Chauncey  Harmon;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  Peter  Cook,  Hiram  Van  Natter;  Con- 
stables, Nicholas  Walbarer,  Amos  Colborn. 
1840. — Supervisor,  Harvey  Harmon ;  Clerk,  Charles 
Locke ;  Assessors,  Di  B.  Harmon,  Allen  Beard ; 
School  Inspectors,  John  C.  Culver,  Charles 
Locke;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  John 
Ward,  Alanson  Ailing,  D.  B.  Harmon  ;  Treas- 
urer, Lyman  Melvin ;  Collector,  Chauncey  Har- 
mon ;  Constables,  Lyman  Melvin,  Lewis  Ward, 
Chauncey  Harmon,  G.  Merrill ;  Justice,  M.  B. 
Martin. 

1841. Supervisor,  Harvey  Harmon;  Clerk,  Peter  Cook; 

Treasurer,  Horace  B.  Flint ;  Commissioners  of 
Highways,  Hiram  Van  Natter,  Mortimer  B. 
Martin,  Amos  Colborn;  Justices,  Horace  B. 
Flint,  M.  B.  Martin ;  Constables,  Guy  Lyons, 
Isaac  Colborn,  Lyman  Melvin,  Hiram  Van 
Natter. 
1842.— Supervisor,  Mortimer  B.  Martin;  Clerk,  Charles 
Locke;  Treasurer,  Nathaniel  Durfee;  Justices, 
Mortimer  B.  Martin,  Henry  Hill;  Commis- 
sioners of  Highways,  Guy  Lyons,  Samuel  Bal- 


com,  Simon  S.  Sheldon  ;  Constables,  Guy  Lyons, 
Don  C.  Griswold,  Stafford  Hill. 
1843. — Supervisor,   Mortimer   B.   Martin ;    Clerk,   Peter 
Cook ;    Treasurer,    Lyman    Melvin ;     Commis- 
sioners of  Highways,  Peter  Cook,  Samuel  Bal- 
com,  Charles  Locke ;  Justice,  Nathaniel  Durfee  ; 
Constables,    D.    B.    Harmon,   Samuel    Balcom, 
Hiram  Van  Natter,  Guy  Lyons. 
1844. — Supervisor,  Mortimer   B.    Martin  ;    Clerk,   John 
Hill ;  Treasurer,  Guy  Lyons  ;  Justice,  Lyman 
Melvin ;    Highway  Commissioners,  D.  B.  Har- 
mon, Samuel  Balcom,  John  Dippy ;  Constables, 
Alanson   Ailing,  James   Colborn,    Hiram  Van 
Natter. 
1845.— Supervisor,  Timothy  M.  Fuller;  Clerk,  John  Hill; 
Treasurer,  Samuel  Balcom  ;  Justice,  Peter  Cook  ; 
Highway  Commissioners,  John  Dippy,  Alanson 
Ailing,  Nicholas  Walbarer;    Constables,  Jabez 
Cook,  Martin  H.  Smith,  Timothy  R.  Bennett, 
D.  D.  Sias. 
1846.— Supervisor,   T.    M.    Fuller;    Clerk,   John    Hill; 
Treasurer,   Samuel   Balcom ;    Justices,    H.    B. 
Flint,  James   Beal ;    Commissioners  of   High-  ■ 
ways,  John  Dippy,  T.  R.  Bennett,  M.  H.  Smith  ; 
Constables,  Sylvanus  Sias,  S.  V.  Sherlock. 
1847.— Supervisor,  H.  B.  Flint ;  Clerk,  John  Hill ;  Treas- 
urer,   Samuel    Balcom ;    Justice,    Ichabod    W. 
Munger;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  George 
W.  Lamb,  Guy  Lyons,  Hiram  G.  Heminway ; 
Constables,  A.  M.  Grosvenor,  George  S.  Lamb, 
Sylvanus  Sias. 
1848.— Supervisor,  B.  Gould;  Clerk,  Timothy  M.  Fuller; 
Treasurer,  John   Near ;   Justices,  Peter  Cook, 
William    H.    Eddy ;    Highway   Commissioner, 
Harvey  G.  Thomas;    Constables,   William   H. 
Blake,  Ely  Stone,  George  8.  Lamb. 

1849 Supervisor,  Mortimer  B.  Martin ;  Clerk,  John  W. 

Wright;    Treasurer,   John   Near;    Justice,  E. 
Gould;    Commissioners  of  Highways,  Stephen 
V.  Sherlock,  Timothy  R.  Bennett;  Constables, 
Augustus  M.  Grosvenor,  T.  Monger,  William 
Rust. 
1850.— Supervisor,  Peter  Cook ;  Clerk,  Timothy  M.  Ful- 
ler ;  Treasurer,  John  Near ;   Justices,  Stephen 
V.  Sherlock,  Evan  Roberts ;    Commissioner  of 
Highways,    John    Ward ;    Constables,    Thomas 
Carlton,  Francis  McCormick,  Otis  B.  Fuller. 
1851.— Supervisor,  I.  S.  A.  Wright ;  Clerk,  T.  M.  Fuller ; 
Treasurer,  John  Near;  Justice,  Horace  Flint; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Peter  Cook ;  Constables, 
Andrew  Shields,  Benjamin  Eddy,  H.  F.  Sher- 
lock, Ely  Stone. 
1852.— Supervisor,  M.  Martin  ;  Clerk,  I.  S.  A.  Wright ; 
Treasurer,  H.  B.  Flint ;  Justices,  D.  Summers, 
A.  Rust ;  Highway  Commissioners,  T.  R.  Ben- 
nett, R.  Carr ;  Constables,  Calvin  Flint,  William 
Blake. 
1853.— Supervisor,  L.  M.  Martin  ;  Clerk,  I.  S.  A.  Wright ; 
Treasurer,  H.  B.  Flint ;  Justices,  Asahel  Rust, 
D.  Summers ;  Highway  Commissioners,  T.  R. 


180 


HI8T0KY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Bennett,    Robert    Carr;     Constables,    William 
Blake,  Calvin  Flint,  B.  Colborn,  John  Dippy. 

1854.— Supervisor,  M.  B.  Martin;  Clerk,  Timothy  M. 
Fuller  ;  Treasurer,  John  Near  ;  Justices,  Eman- 
uel M.  Young,  Stephen  V.  Sherlock  ;  Highway 
Commissioners,  David  Waters,  Robert  Carr; 
Constables,  John  Near,  William  B.  Wells,  Solo- 
mon H.  Hoard. 

1855. — Supervisor,  Mortimer  B.  Martin  ;  Clerk,  T.  M. 
Fuller ;  Treasurer,  John  Near ;  Justice,  I.  S. 
A.  Wright ;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  Wil- 
liam B.  Wills,  Warren  C.  Harris ;  Constables, 
John  Near,  Guy  Lyons,  Alanson  Ailing,  Wil- 
liam B.  Welch. 

1856.— Supervisor,  M.  B.  Martin;  Clerk,  Timothy  M. 
Fuller ;  Treasurer,  John  Near ;  Justices,  Calvin 
Howard,  Allen  Beard ;  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, Solomon  H.  Hoard;  Constables,  William 
H.  Blake,  Stephen  V.  Sherlock,  Worthington 
Howard,  John  Walters. 

1857. — Supervisor,  M.  B.  Martin;  Clerk,  Timothy  M. 
Fuller ;  Treasurer,  John  Near  ;  Justice,  Liberty 
Lyman  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Ransom  More- 
house ;  Constables,  James  T.  Morgan,  Byron 
Beard,  William  Ailing. 

1858.— Supervisor,  M.  B.  Martin;  Clerk,  Timothy  M. 
Fuller ;  Treasurer,  John  Near ;  Justices,  Evan 
Roberts,  James  E.  Carr ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, John  Ward ;  Constables,  John  Moody, 
Charles  Tilson,  Byjon  Beard,  Samuel  W.  Carr. 

1859. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold ;  Clerk,  T.  M.  Ful- 
ler ;  Treasurer,  John  Near ;  Justices,  Peter 
Cook,  Guy  Lyons ;  Commissioners,  Anson  Red- 
son,  James  Case ;  Constables,  John  Moody, 
Samuel  W.  Carr,  David  Waters,  John  Dippy. 

1860. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold;  Clerk,  W.  H.  Eddy; 
Treasurer,  William  F.  Miller ;  Justices,  Walter 
Wright,  David  Parker ;  Commissioners  of  High- 
ways, Elias  Haggerty,  Byron  Beard ;  Constables, 
Gilbert  Hemingway,  James  Peck,  A.  H.  Fuller, 
Byron  Beard. 

1861. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold;  Clerk,  Worthington 
Howard ;  Treasurer,  William  F.  Miller ;  Justice, 
Guy  Lyons  ;  Commissioner  of  Highways,  James 
Case ;  Constables,  James  W.  Fuller,  James  H. 
Hood,  William  W.  Morgan,  Gilbert  Heming- 
way. 

1862. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold ;  Clerk,  Calvin  How- 
ard ;  Treasurer,  William  F.  Miller;  Justice, 
Horace  Simpson  ;  Commissioners  of  Highways, 
E.  Burlingame,  J.  H.  Hood ;  Constables, 
George  Dippy,  J.  H.  Hood,  P.  M.  Shelp, 
James  Fuller. 

1863. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold;  Clerk,  William  H. 
Eddy ;  Treasurer,  William  F.  Miller ;  Justices, 
David  Parker,  Jesse  J.  Bennett ;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, Jacob  T.  Miller;  Constables,  J.  C. 
Adams,  P.  M.  Cook,  C.  M.  Fuller,  George 
Bliss. 
1864. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold ;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burt- 


nett;   Treasurer,   William   F.    Miller;   Justice, 
Walter  Wright;    Commissioners  of  Highways, 
J.  T.  Morgan,  J.  C.  Adams ;  Constables,  J.  C. 
Adams,  Stewart  Krisler,  A.  M.  Lyons,  P.  M, 
Shelp. 
1865.— Supervisor,   P.   Parker;    Clerk,  T.   F.   Burtnett; 
Treasurer,    William    F.    Miller;   Justice,    Guy 
Lyons ;     Commissioner    of    Highways,    Jacob 
Heath ;  Constable,  J.  C.  Adams. 
1866. — Supervisor,  David  Parker  ;  Clerk,  Thomas  F.  Burt- 
nett ;   Treasurer,    William   F.   Miller ;   Justice, 
Ransom    Morehouse;    Commissioner   of  High- 
ways, Calvin  Howard ;  Constables,  John  Dippy, 
George  A.  Parker,  A.  R.  Carr,  W.  S.  Scribner; 
School  Inspector,  W.  H.  Adams. 
1867. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burt- 
nett ;  Treasurer,  William  F.  Miller ;  School  In- 
spector, William  H.  Fleming;  Justices,  Alfred 
P.  Sutterby,  Evan  Roberts ;  Commissioners  of 
Highways,  Byron  Beard,  Andrew  Love;    Con- 
stables, John  Dippy,  M.  Lyons,  William  Saul, 
Jr.,  Austin  Trowbridge. 
1868. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold  ;  Clerk,  Joseph  Blin- 
ston ;    Treasurer,   John    Williamson ;   Justices, 
Allen  Beard,  W.  Wright,  P.  N.  Cook  ;  School 
Inspector,   John    B.    Howe;    Commissioner  of 
Highways,  Thomas  Gallagher;  Constables,  Sam- 
uel  Morey,    Morton    Bennett,   Lewis    Decker, 
David  L.  Edsall. 
1869. — Supervisor,  Lafayette  Arnold ;  Clerk,  Joseph  Blin- 
ston ;  Treasurer,  James  T.  Morgan ;   Justices, 
Mortimer  B.   Martin,  John  B.  Howe;  School 
Inspector,  Lewis  Decker ;  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, Lewis  M.  Baldwin  ;  Constables,  Stephen 
Ward,  Delos  Williamson,  George  Bliss,  Parley 
M.  Shelp. 
1870. — Supervisor,    Lafayette    Arnold;    Clerk,    Thomas 
Burtnett ;   Treasurer,  James  T.  Morgan ;  Jus- 
tices, John  Dippy,  Chauiicey  Case;  School  In- 
spector, Alpha  A.  Carr ;  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, George  G.  Harris  ;  Constables,  Parley  M. 
Shelp,  Lucius  Slocum,  Milo  Hovey,  Edgar  Dur- 
fee. 
1871.— Supervisor,  P.  H.  Gallagher;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burt- 
nett ;  Treasurer,  J.  T.  Morgan  ;  Justices,  A.  P. 
Sutterby,  Andrew  J.  Rounds,  John  B.  Howe ; 
School  Inspectors,  T.  N.  Blinston,  W.  S.  Hunt- 
ington ;    Commissioner  of    Highways,  Thomas 
Gallagher;    Constables,  Hiram  Skinner,  P.  M. 
Shelp,  George  Bliss,  Morton  Bennett. 
1872.— Supervisor,  John  Q.  A.  Cook;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burt- 
nett ;    Treasurer,  James   T.  Morgan ;    Justice, 
S.  .H.    Hoard;    Commissioner    of    Highways, 
Isaac  Shotwell ;  School  Inspector,  Eben  Bliss ; 
Constables,  Alpha  A.  Carr,  Volney  Allen,  Whit- 
ney S.  Jacobs,  Lafayette  McDivit ;  Drain  Com- 
missioner, George  Graham. 
1873. — Supervisor,  John  Q.  A.  Cook ;  Clerk,  Thomas  F. 
Burtnett ;  Treasurer,  W.  H.   Adams ;  Justices, 
Thomas  A.  Lawrie,  Evan  Roberts ;  Commissioner 


5 

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ANTRIM  TOWNSHIP. 


181 


of  Highways,  Frank  McDivit ;  Drain  Commis- 
sioner, George  Graham  ;  School  Inspectors,  J.  C. 
Adams,  J.  E.  Wright ;  Constables,  Joseph  Ag- 
new,  Volney  Ailing,  Cory  don  M.  Miller,  L.  C. 
Dorn. 

1874.— Supervisor,  J.  Q.  A.  Cook ;  Clerk,  T.  P.  Burtnett ; 
Treasurer,  W.  H.  Adams ;  Justice,  J.  C.  Adams; 
Commissioners  of  Highways,  William  Buff, 
Jacob  T.  Miller  ;  Drain  Commissioner,  William 
F.  Miller;  Constables,  Volney  Ailing,  Jerome 
B.  Trim,  Jonathan  Wood,  Joseph  Agnew. 

1875 — Supervisor,  J.  Q.  A.  Cook;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burtnett; 
Treasurer,  W.  H.  Adams;  Justices,  Walter 
Wright,  Moses  W.  Fuller;  Commissioner  of 
Highways,  I.  Shotwell;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  J.  E.  Wright ;  School  Inspector,  J.  T. 
Morgan  ;  Drain  Commissioner,  J.  C.  Adams ; 
Constables,  Andrew  Love,  Eichard  Harding, 
John  Dippy,  Stephen  D.  Taaket. 

1876.— Supervisor,  J.  Q.  A.  Cook;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burtnett; 
Treasurer,  W.  H.  Adams ;  Justice,  Evan  Rob- 
erts ;  Commissioner  of  Highways,  Mills  L. 
Parker ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  J.  E. 
Wright ;  Drain  Commissioner,  John  C.  Adams ; 
School  Inspector,  James  T.  Morgan  ;  Constables, 
Joseph  Agnew,  Heman  Hagerty,  E.  0.  Brown, 
John  Dippy. 

1877. — Supervisor,  James  L.  Jared ;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burt- 
nett ;  Treasurer,  W.  H.  Adams ;  Justice,  Thos. 
A.  Lawrie ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  J.  E. 
Wright ;  School  Inspector,  J.  T.  Morgan  ;  Com- 
missioner of  Highways,  Wells  B.  Fox ;  Consta- 
bles, Lafayette  McDivit,  Volney  Ailing,  Willis 
Ellsworth,  Stephen  D.  Tasket. 

1878.— Supervisor,  J.  Q.  A.  Cook  ;  Clerk,  T.  F.  Burtnett ; 
Treasurer,  W.  H.  Adams ;  Justice,  Austin 
Trowbridge ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Moses 
W.  Fuller ;  Commissioner  of  Highways,  J.  T. 
Morgan ;  School  Inspector,  Alonzo  Dippy ; 
Drain  Commissioner,  Lewis  J.  Grant;  Consta- 
bles, Albert  B.  Miller,  Volney  Ailing,  Wilder 
Main,  Lafayette  McDivit. 

1879. — Supervisor,  Isaac  Shotwell ;  Clerk,  John  C.  Adams; 
Treasurer,  W.  H.  Adams ;  Justices,  Walter 
Wright,  Volney  Ailing;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  J.  E.  Wright;  School  Inspector,  Ro- 
mauzo  T.  Stone ;  Highway  Commissioner,  James 
J.  Atherton ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Alonzo  Dip- 
py; Constables,  Albert  B.  Miller,  Smith  D. 
Morgan,  Francis  Wright,  Henry  Ailing. 

1880. — Supervisor,  Isaac  Shotwell ;  Clerk,  J.  C.  Adams ; 
Treasurer,  Walter  Wright ;  Justices,  William  S. 
Huntington ;  Commissioner  of  Highways,  George 
W.  Harris ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Alonzo  Dippy ; 
Superintendent  of  Schools,  J.  E.  Wright ;  School 
Inspector,  Albert  B.  Miller;  Constables,  Smith 
D.  Morgan,  Stephen  D.  Tasket,  Henry  Ailing, 
Calvin  M.  Fuller. 


SCHOOLS   OF   ANTRIM. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1837,  when  town  5  north, 
range  3  east,  now  Antrim,  was  yet  attached  to  Shiawassee 
township,  the  school  inspectors  of  that  town  met  and  divided 
it  into  school  districts. 

Sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  to  form  district 
No.  1. 

Sections  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  34,  35,  36,  to  form  dis- 
trict No.  2. 

Sections  4, 5,  6,  7,  8,  9, 16, 17, 18,  to  form  district  No.  3. 

Sections  19,  20,  21,  28,  30,  31,  32,  33,  to  form  district 
No.  4. 

But  it  appears  that  the  school  districts  were  not  organ- 
ized until  the  fall  of  1839,  as  will  be  shown  hereafter. 

The  history  of  the  schools  of  Antrim  commences  prop- 
erly in  the  late  fall  of  1838.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
summer  of  that  year,  John  Stiles,  a  young  man  from  New 
Jersey,  came  to  Antrim  to  visit  his  uncle,  John  Ward,  who, 
as  has  been  said,  reached  the  township  the  year  previous. 
The  young  man  having  signified  his  willingness  to  remain, 
an  informal  meeting  was  called,  and  it  was  determined  to 
employ  him  to  teach  a  three  months'  school  in  the  log  cabin 
built  by  Horace  B.  Flint,  Mr.  Flint,  in  the  mean  time,  hav- 
ing built  another  log  house,  and  a  rather  commodious  one 
for  those  days. 

The  attendance  in  this  school,  though  somewhat  irregular, 
owing  to  the  great  distance  many  had  to  come,  was  from  ten 
to  twelve.  Among  the  number  were  Levi  and  Lyman  Kel- 
logg, from  Bennington.  Mr.  Stiles  received  thirty-six  dol- 
lars for  his  three  months'  services. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  school-board  of  Antrim  took 
place  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1839,  at  which  time  John 
Culver  was  chosen  moderator  and  Thomas  Locke  clerk. 
On  the  19th  of  the  same  month  the  board  again  met  and 
divided  the  township  into  four  equal  school  districts.  The 
northeast  quarter  of  the  township  was  set  off  as  district  No. 
1,  the  northwest  quarter  as  No.  2,  the  southwest  quarter  as 
No.  3,  and  the  southeast  quarter  as  No.  4. 

A  notice  of  a  school-meeting  in  district  No.  2  was  given, 
and  the  meeting  was  held  on  the  evening  of  the  29th  of 
April,  1839.  This  was  probably  the  first  regularly  organ- 
ized school-meeting  held  in  the  township.  Horace  B.  Flint 
was  chosen  moderator,  John  Ward  director,  Charles  Locke 
assessor.  It  was  decided  by  vote  to  select  a  site  and  raise 
two  hundred  dollars  for  a  school  building.  The  site  deter- 
mined upon  was  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  18,  being  the  same  site  now  occupied  by 
the  school-house  in  district  No.  3. 

On  May  29,  1839,  Alanson  Ailing,  "  in  consideration  of 
twenty-five  cents,  duly  paid,"  leased  one-half  an  acre  of  the 
above-described  land  to  the  district.  A  log  school-house  was 
soon  after  erected,  and  Miss  Polly  A.  Harmon  was  employed 
as  teacher  at  one  dollar  per  week.  Intellect  seems  to  have 
been  at  a  discount  and  muscle  at  a  premium  in  those  days. 
The  next  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Lucretia  Purdy.  In 
a  few  years  the  school-house  was  moved  one-half  mile 
south.  It  was  subsequently  destroyed  by  fire,  since  which 
time  two  school-houses  have  been  built  on  the  old  site  se- 
lected at  the  first  school-meeting  in  the  district. 

The  next  school  district  organized  was  in  the  Durfee 


182 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


neighborhood,  or  in  what  was  originally  district  No.  4. 
But  the  division  of  the  township  into  four  districts  was 
not  of  long  duration.  The  boundary-lines  of  school  dis- 
tricts, always  more  or  less  unstable,  have  been  especially  so 
in  Antrim,  and  to  trace  out  the  various  changes  would  fill 
a  volume. 

School  district  No.  1  was  formed  with  nearly  its  present 
boundaries  in  1848.  The  first  meeting  was  called  at  the 
house  of  Stephen  Sherlock.  That  gentleman,  John  Near, 
and  W.  H.  Eddy  were  chosen  officers  for  the  district.  Mr. 
Eddy  took  the  contract  for  building  the  school-house,  which 
was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1849.  It  stood  where  the 
Methodist  church  now  stands.  In  the  spring  of  1850  it 
was  removed  to  a  different  site  by  the  combined  power  of 
eighteen  yokes  of  oxen.  It  was  used  a  number  of  years, 
but  finally  took  fire  and  was  destroyed.  The  one  now  in 
use  was  built  on  the  same  site  in  1861.  It  cost  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars.  W.  H.  Eddy  taught  the  first  school 
in  the  old  building.  Philander  Munger  was  the  first  teacher 
in  the  new  house. 

On  the  3d  day  of  September,  1853,  the  school  inspectors 
formed  district  No.  2.  The  warrant  calling  the  first  school- 
meeting  was  directed  to  G.  R.  Bennett,  notifying  him  to 
call  a  meeting  of  the  electors  of  his  district  at  his  house  on 
the  26th  day  of  September,  1853.  At  this  meeting  T.  R. 
Bennett  was  chosen  moderator,  J.  A.  Guthrie  director,  and 
Daniel  Waite  assessor.  It  was  then  resolved  to  build  a  log 
school-house  in  time  to  have  a  three  months'  term  of  school 
that  winter.  The  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  seventy- 
five  dollars.  In  1863  the  log  school-house  was  burned,  and 
another  was  built  on  the  same  site  at  a  cost  of  six  hundred 
dollars,  which  was  used  until  1880.  The  one  now  building 
will  cost  one  thousand  dollars.  Ruth  R.  Converse  taught 
the  first  school  in  the  district,  and  received  thirteen  dollars 
for  the  thirteen  weeks'  term.     The  attendance  was  eight. 

School  district  No.  3  has  already  been  noticed ;  it  is  the 
oldest  district  in  the  township,  and  was  formerly  No.  2. 

CHUKCHBS. 

THE  FIRST  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OP  ANTRIM 

was  organized  while  David  Burns  was  presiding  elder  of 
this  circuit,  about  the  year  1850.  David  Thomas  was  the 
minister  in  charge.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  D.  Adams,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Calvin  Howard,  and  Walter  Wright  formed  the 
class,  and  David  D.  Adams  was  chosen  leader.  The  meet- 
ings of  the  society  were  held  in  the  school-house,  which 
stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  their  church  building. 

On  Nov.  14,  1874,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference, held  at  the  school-house  in  district  No.  1,  W.  E. 
Biglow  being  the  presiding  elder  and  George  Stowe 
preacher  in  charge,  it  was  resolved  to  appoint  a  board  of 
trustees.  The  persons  appointed  were  as  follows :  Walter 
Wright,  D.  D.  Adams,  J.  T.  Miller,  Andrew  Love,  I.  S. 
A.  Wright,  J.  C.  Adams,  Calvin  Howard,  W.  H.  Adams, 
James  T.  Morgan.  On  November  17th  the  same  year,  at 
a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  George  Stowe  was  elected  chair- 
man of  the  board,  J.  C.  Adams  secretary,  and  Andrew 
Love  treasurer.  The  board  resolved  to  take  active  meas- 
ures to  build  a  church.  It  was  decided  that  the  edifice 
should  be  thirty-six  by  fifty-four  feet,  with  a  vestibule,  a 


belfry  twelve  feet  square,  and  a  spire  eighty-five  feet  in 
height.  The  site  was  also  selected.  The  programme  made 
out  in  this  meeting  was  carried  out  in  every  particular. 
The  site  determined  upon  was  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  21.  At  the 
next  meeting  a  building  committee  was  appointed  as  fol- 
lows: Walter  Wright,  Andrew  Love,  and  James  Morgan, 
The  church  was  constructed  as  specified  above,  and  when 
completed  cost  two  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  It  is 
worthy  of  remark  that  the  members  of  the  board  of  trustees 
paid  seventeen  hundred  dollars  of  that  sum.  The  church 
was  dedicated  while  George  Stowe  was  pastor,  Feb.  20, 
1876,  by  Rev.  G.  B.  Joslyn.  The  membership  at  the 
present  time  is  fifty-six. 

CBMBTERy. 

The  cemetery  near  the  centre  of  section  19  was  pur- 
chased of  Allen  Beard  in  the  summer  of  1842.  On  the 
4th  of  June  of  that  year  the  town  board  authorized  Hor- 
ace B.  Flint  to  purchase  a  half-acre  and  pay  fifteen  dollars 
for  the  same,  which  was  dona  soon  after.  The  first  inter- 
ment within  it  was  that  of  a  Mr.  Lake,  who  was  killed 
while  helping  to  raise  a  building  for  Lewis  Ward,  in  Perry. 
There  was  at  that  time  no  cemetery  in  the  township  of 
Perry. 

WAE  EECOED. 

Antrim  sent  six  men  to  the  Mexican  war,  of  whom  but 
two  returned.  For  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  this  township 
furnished,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  soldiers.  Many  of  these  were  credited  to  the 
State  at  large  or  to  other  townships.  Their  record,  there- 
fore, cannot  be  fully  given.  Their  names  are  found  on  the 
rolls  of  a  majority  of  the  regiments  from  the  State.  Some 
were  killed  in  battle,  some  were  wounded;  many  died  of 
disease  and  the  hardships  incident  to  soldiers'  life,  and  some 
died  miserably  in  rebel  prisons.  Among  those  who  were 
killed  in  battle  were  Charles  F.  Beard,  John  L.  Dippy, 
Jacob  N.  Decker,  William  Shaw,  and  Ailing  Herrington. 
The  first  one  wounded  from  the  township  was  J.  C.  Adams, 
who  received  a  shot  in  the  face,  by  which  he  lost  an  eye, 
the  hearing  of  one  ear,  and  was  othervrise  badly  mutilated. 
Leander  Brown  also  lost  an  eye,  and  his  brother  Willis  lost 
an  arm.     There  were  many  others  wounded  less  severely. 

SOCIETIES. 
GLASS  RIVER  LODGE,  No.  223,  I.  0.  0.  ¥., 

was  instituted  by  P.  G.  M.  B.  W.  Dennis,  April  9,  1874, 
with  the  following  charter  members  :  Amos  Colborn,  T.  A. 
Lawrie,  James  V.  Avery,  James  B.  Wright,  George 
Graham,  John  Dippy,  James  F.  Colborn,  James  T.  Mor- 
gan, P.  P.  Booth,  V.  C.  Bawlie. 

The  officers  elected  at  the  first  meeting  were  T.  A.  Law- 
rie, N.  G. ;  John  Dippy,  V.  G. ;  J.  E.  Wright,  R.  S. ; 
James  F.  Colborn,  P.  S. ;  Amos  Colborn,  Treasurer; 
James  V.  Avery,  W. 

After  organizing,  the  lodge  proceeded  to  initiate  sixteen 
new  members,  whose  names  were  added  to  the  roll,  as  fol- 
lows: J.  Blinston,  Walter  M.  Wright,  Alonzo  Dippy,  George 
Bliss,  J.  C.  Adams,  P.  P.  Chambers,  Andrew  Love,  Jona- 
than Wood,  I.  S.  A.  Wright,  Chauncey  Case,  J.  A.  Fish, 


Residmncb OF  NATHANIEL  DURFEE,   Antrim  Jp.       Shiawassee   Co.    Mi 


CM 


ANTRIM  TOWNSHIP. 


183 


L.  M.  Baldwin,  T.  Jarad,  Charles  Avery,  S.  D.  Tasket, 
William  Gallup. 

In  the  month  of  March  next  preceding  the  organization 
of  this  lodge  the  persons  who  afterwards  became  its  charter 
members  met  and  resolved  to  build  a  hall  in  anticipation  of 
the  organization.     Under  this  resolution  a  building  was 


erected  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars.  The  lower  part 
of  the  building  is  finished  as  a  store-room,  but  at  present  is 
not  occupied  as  such.  The  upper  story  is  fitted  up  in  neat 
style  for  the  use  of  the  lodge,  which  holds  its  meetings  in  it. 
The  present  membership  of  the  Glass  Eiver  Lodge  is  fifty- 
seven. 


BIOGEAPHIOAL    SKETCHES. 


MR.   JOHN   C.    ADAMS. 


MES.   JOHN   0.    ADAMS, 


JOHN  C.  ADAMS. 


The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  natives 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  where  also  he  was  born,  in 
Canadice,  Ontario  Co.,  Sept.  13,  1837.  His  father,  David 
D.  Adams,  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Montgomery  Co.,  Aug. 
23,  1806.  His  mother,  Angeline  (Howard)  Adams,  was 
born  in  Livonia,  Livingston  Co.,  March  24,  1814. 

They  were  married  Dec.  11,  1833.  David  D.  Adams 
followed  the  trade  of  a  stone-mason.  He  had  visited 
Michigan  in  1842,  and  purchased  the  land  upon  which  he 
has  lived  since  making  this  State  his  home.  A  log  house 
was  completed  in  due  time,  and  he,  with  his  family,  moved 
into  it  Jan.  28,  1848.  The  death  of  his  wife,  the  mother 
of  John  C.  Adams,  occurred  Oct.  21,  1856. 

John  C.  remained  at  home,  working  for  his  father  until 
his  twenty-first  year,  when  he  contracted  to  work  for  him 
by  the  year  for  a  term  of  two  years,  at  ten  dollars  per 
month.  He  then  attended  school  nine  months  at  Lodi 
Academy.     On  Aug.  9,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 


Fifth  Michigan  Infantry,  and  was  discharged  July  22, 
1862,  having  received  a  severe  gun-shot  wound  on  the  5th 
of  May,  1862,  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  Va.,  to  which 
reference  is  made  in  the  township  history  of  Antrim.  After 
returning  home  and  recovering  somewhat  from  his  injury, 
he  worked  the  old  farm  for  a  share  of  the  products.  On 
the  28th  of  March,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Anna  M. 
Hutchinson,  the  daughter  of  George  Hutchinson,  of  Cuy- 
ahoga Co.,  Ohio.  She  died  Feb.  4,  1866.  On  the  22d 
of  December,  1870,  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  (Krupp)  Dodge, 
widow  of  Henry  F.  Dodge,  who  had  died  May  28,  1867. 
Mrs.  Adams  was  born  in  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  12, 
1837. 

Mr.  Adams  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  has  been 
township  clerk  for  several  successive  terms,  and  has  also 
been  elected  to  minor  offices  from  time  to  time,  all  of  which 
he  has  filled  with  ability  and  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
township  of  Antrim. 


184 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


MR.    I.   S.   A.   WRIGHT. 


MRS.    I.    S.    A.    WRIGHT. 


I.  S.  A.  WRIGHT. 


I.  S.  A.  Wright  claims  for  his  birthplace  one  of  the 
most  romantic  counties  of  the  Empire  State, — Greene 
County, — one-half  of  the  territory  of  which  is  a  plain, 
nearly  level  with  the  sea,  and  the  other  half 'mountains, 
rising  up  from  the  lower  section  of  the  county  like  a  wall, 
with  their  summits  among  the  clouds.  Here  Mr.  Wright 
was  born,  April  18,  1822,  and  was  the  fifth  in  a  family  of 
twelve  children.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. He  remained  with  them,  working  at  the  cooper 
trade  after  he  had  attained  sufficient  age,  until  about  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  which  occurred  on  the  10th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1848,  marrying  Miss  Betsey  Bliss,  also  a  native  of 
New  York,  where  she  was  born  March  19,  1828.  Her 
father  was  one  of  Michigan's  early  settlers.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wright  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  viz. ;  James  E., 
born  Aug.  9,  1850  ;  Mary  E.,  born  June  26,  1852  ;  Cyn- 
thia K.,  born  April  24,  1854,  died  June  24th  of  the  same 


year ;  Francis,  born  Feb.  14,  1856 ;  Wilbur  C,  born  Jan. 
23,  1859 ;  John  S.,  born  May  24,  1861 ;  Hattie,  born 
Oct.  9,  1863  ;  and  Clark  B.,  born  Jan.  4, 1866,  died  Nov. 
6,  1866.  These  children  were  nearly  all  natives  of  this 
township,  as  Mr.  Wright  moved  here,  with  his  wife,  in 
1852,  purchasing  from  his  brother  a  one-half  interest  in 
his  milling  property,  whitih  he  still  retains.  Mrs.  Wright 
died  on  the  12th  of  January,  1866,  and  on  the  16th  of 
June,  1869,  Mr.  Wright  married  Miss  Josephine  Blinshaw, 
a  native  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  Sept.  25,  1848.  To  this 
marriage  there  have  been  given  three  children, — Maggie, 
born  July  21,  1871  ;  Gracie,  born  Dec.  25,  1878 ;  and  one 
between  these  whose  name  we  have  been  unable  to  obtain. 
Mr.  Wright,  besides  his  milling,  has  large  landed  inter- 
ests in  Antrim,  owning  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ninety 
acres.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  frequently 
been  called  upon  to  fill  some  of  the  various  township  offices. 


WALTER   WRIGHT. 

Walter  Wright  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  4, 
1824,  and  was  the  sixth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children. 
His  father,  James  Wright,  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Oct.  22,  1787;  died  September,  1871.  His  mother, 
Cynthia  (Clark)  Wright,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  May  12, 
1794;  died  September,  1851.  The  family  moved  to  On- 
ondaga County  when  Walter  was  but  one  year  old.  Pre- 
vious to  their  coming  to  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1836, 
Waker  worked  at  farming  and  at  the  cooper  trade.  After 
continuing  at  this  trade  two  years  he  bought  a  piece  of 
land  in  Livingston  County,  which  he  held  one  year,  and 
then  came  to  Antrim  with  his  brother  and  bought  the  mill 


property.  They  carried  on  the  lumber  business  in  An- 
trim until  1856.  About  1851  Walter  went  to  California, 
where  he  remained  four  years.  During  this  time  he  en- 
gaged in  mining,  with  the  exception  of  eighteen  months, 
when  he  carried  on  the  lumber  business  extensively.  This 
proved  financially  very  successful,  but  through  misplaced 
confidence  he  lost  all,  having  scarcely  enough  left  to  pay  the 
expense  of  returning  to  Antrim  in  1855.  Upon  reaching 
home  the  interests  in  the  milling  property  were  divided, 
Walter  taking  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  and  his 
brother  retaining  the  mill  and  power.  In  July,  1858,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  B.  Miller,  who 
was  born  in  Oakland  County,  April  17, 1835.  Her  father 
came  to  0iis  county  in  1856.     The  children  of  Mr.  and 


I 


•J 


ANTKIM  TOWNSHIP. 


185 


Mrs.  Walter  Wright  are  five  in  number,  viz. :  Alice  and 
Ella,  born  Oct.  16,  1859;  Myron,  born  July  21,  1867  ; 
John  L.,  born  May  11, 1870  ;  Millie,  born  July  14, 1878. 
Ella  lived  but  five  months.  Mr.  and  iMrs.  Wright  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Antrim, 
and  are  among  its  most  influential  and  respected  members. 


CALVIN   M.  FULLER. 

Timothy  M.  Fuller,  the  father  of  Calvin  M.  Fuller,  was 
born  in  Genesee  Co.,N.  Y.,  Dec.  17, 1797,  and  his  mother, 
Alvira  (Blake)  Fuller,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1809.  The 
family  came  to  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1836,  and  lived 
there  until  1842,  when  they  came  to  Antrim  township  and 
bought  an  unimproved  farm  on  section  23.  Mrs.  Alvira 
Fuller  died  March  22,  1867,  and  her  husband,  Timothy 
M.  Fuller,  died  June  18,  1870.  Mr.  Fuller  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  universally  esteemed  as  a  neighbor 
and  a  citizen. 

He  was  an  e£5cient  clerk  of  the  township,  having  been 
elected  to  fill  that  position  nine  years,  as  is  shown  by  the 
records  of  the  township.  His  son,  Calvin  M.  Fuller,  from 
whom  we  obtained  the  dates  above  given  and  who  has 
caused  the  insertion  of  this  brief  mention  of  his  parents, 
was  born  in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April  28,  1840.  He  was 
the  fourth  in  a  family  of  six  children. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1863,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Howard,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  May  27,  1843,  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1 848,  as  the  sketch  of  her  father's 
family  inserted  in  this  work  will  show. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Fuller  have  been  born  four 
children :  Cary  A.,  born  June  4,  1865 ;  Minnie  E.,  born 
Feb.  25,  1868;  Mary,  born  March  28,  1873;  Wealthy, 
born  Jan.  25,  1878,  and  died  Sept.  25,  1879. 

C.  M.  Fuller  bought  the  farm  of  his  father  in  1867  ;  he 
has  since  sold  forty  acres  and*  erected  new  buildings. 


NATHANIEL  DURPEB. 

Stephen  Durfee  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  April  4, 
1776,  and  his  wife  Mary  (Allen)  Durfee  in  Dover,  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1778.  They  were  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  were  among  the  earliest  and  most 
respected  settlers  and  farmers,  of  Palmyra,  Wayne  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  Nathaniel  was  born  Jan.  19,  1811.  Here  he 
passed  his  childhood  and  youth,  and  on  the  9th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1837,  married  Miss  Martha  Carr,  also  a  native  of  Pal- 
myra, born  July  16,  1817.  Her  father,  David  Carr,  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  born  July  2,  1793,  and  her  mother, 
Rebecca  (Evans)   Carr,  of  Pennsylvania,   born  Feb.   12, 

1794. 

After  his  marriage,  Nathaniel  rented  his  father's,  farm 
and  worked  it  for  three  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  he  came  to  Michigan,  reaching  Antrim  Jan.  11, 1841. 
He  had  been  to  this  township  three  years  previously,  and 
located  the  farm  upon  which  he  settled  and  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  reside. 
24 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Durfee  no  children  have  been  born, 
but  they  have  brought  up  two,  adopting  one  at  the  age  of 
three  years  and  the  other  when  but  five  weeks  old. 

Mr.  Durfee's  parents  never  came  to  Michigan,  but  Mrs. 
Durfee's  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Carr,  came  and  lived 
with  them  until  their  deaths,  which  took  place  as  follows, 
viz.:  David  Carr  in  July,  1860;  Rebecca  Carr,  Sept.  6, 
1867. 

Politically,  Mr.  Durfee  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party,  of  which  he  has  often  been  a  successful  candidate  for 
minor  offices. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Durfee  have  been  industrious  and  frugal 
citizens,  and  after  years  of  toil  enjoy  a  well-earned  com- 
petency and  the  respect  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 


ALLEN    BEARD. 


Allen  Beard  was  born  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  11, 
1810.  His  father,  Jesse  Beard,  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
born  Feb.  8, 1787,  and  his  death  occurred  March  21, 1864. 
His  mother,  Martha  (Blake)  Beard,  was  born  in  Saratoga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,vAug.  9,  1790.  Allen  ^remained  with  his  pa- 
rents until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  mar- 
ried, March  10,  1831,  Miss  Hannah  Arnet,  who  was  born 
Sept.  2,  1810. 

Mr.  Beard,  the  first  year  after  his  marriage,  worked  land 
''  on  shares."  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  sold  his 
interest  or  bargain,  and  had  remaining  three  hundred  dol- 
lars. It  was  just  at  the  time  when  the  tide  of  emigration 
westward  had  set  in.  He,  with  a  team  and  wagon  bear- 
ing his  family,  came  to  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio.  Here  he 
remained  eighteen  months  and  worked  a  farm,  but  not 
being  successful,  came  on  to  Michigan,  reaching  Lodi, 
Washtenaw  Co.,  April  25,  1836,  and  on  May  28th  came 
to  the  farm  where  he  still  resides.  He  was  accompanied  to 
the  township  by  his  brother-in-law,  Lyman  Melvin,  who 
located  a  farm  adjoining  the  one  entered  by  Mr.  Beard. 
Having  previously  traded  his  horses  for  three  yoke  of  oxen, 
Mr.  Beard  sold  one  yoke,  in  order  to  pay  for  his  first  eighty 
acres  of  land,  but  found  that  he  still  lacked  four  dollars  of 
the  necessary  amount.  He  then  hauled  a  load  of  goods 
from  Detroit  to  Romeo,  for  which  he  received  sixteen  dol- 
lars, and  another  to  Ann  Arbor,  receiving  for  this  twenty- 
four  dollars.  After  this  he  removed  to  his  land  in  Antrim 
township.  During  the  winter  of  1836-37  he  built  a  house, 
and  moved  into  it  in  April,  1837,  previous  to  that  time 
having  resided  in  a  house  built  by  his  brother-in-law  and 
himself  On  Aug.  26,  1843,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Beard,  died.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Martha  B.,  born  April  1,  1832;  Byron,  born  Dec. 
1,  1835;  Charies  F.,  born  Sept.  21,  1838;  Marietta  A., 
born  April  23,  1841.  Charles  F.  was  killed  in  battle  at 
Campbell's  Station,  Tenn.,  Nov.  12,  1863. 

After  a  lapse  of  five  years  from  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  Mr.  Beard  married  Miss  Charlotte  Thompson,  who 
was  born  April  13,  1828.  To  this  marriage  were  born 
eight  children,  as  follows,  viz. :  Allen,  born  Nov.  13,  1848; 
died  Dec.  13,  1855.     Joshua,  born  April  14,  1850 ;  died 


186 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUiNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Dec.  5,  1855.  Walter,  born  Sept.  10,  1851 ;  died  Sept.  13, 
1858.  Alvira,  born  Jan.  12,  1854;  died  Oct.  21,  1858. 
John  C.  Abraham  L.,  born  April  16, 1860.  Sarah  Etta, 
born  Feb.  8,  1864.     George  W.,  born  Nov.  28,  1867. 

Mr.  Beard  was  formerly  a  Whig  in  politics,  subsequently 
became  a  Republican,  but  is  now  a  Democrat.  He  has 
added  to  the  eighty  acres  which  he  first  purchased  until  he 
is  now  the  possessor  of  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  farms 
in  the  township,  consisting  of  five  hundred  and  eighty-five 
acres. 


BENJAMIN   F.  HOWARD. 

The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  the 
first  settler  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  Calvin  Howard, 
the  father  of  Benjamin  F.,  was  born  Nov.  25, 1804.  Ben- 
jamin F.  was  also  a  native  of  the  same  county,  born  Nov. 
17,  1839.  His  mother,  Sarah  (Cory)  Howard,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Rhode  Island,  where  she  was  born  in  1811.  In 
1848  they  removed  to  Michigan,  living  the  first  winter 
with  the  family  of  D.  D.  Adams.  The  following  year  Mr. 
Howard  bought  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  22,  upon 
which  there  was  a  small  log  cabin  and  a  little  clearing. 
This  now  belongs  to  Benjamin  F.  He  afterwards  bought 
eighty  acres  across  the  road,  where  Calvin  I.  Howard  now 
lives.  Benjamin  worked  for  his  father  until  the  death  of 
the  latter,  which  occurred  in  April,  1863.  His  wife,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Howard,  survived  him  four  years,  or  until  March, 
1867,  when  her  death  occurred.  Benjamin  F.  Howard 
followed  school-teaching  successfully  for  several  years,  but 
is  now  a  farmer.  Jan.  17,  1869,  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah 
E.  (Williston)  Marcy,  the  widow  of  James  H.  Marcy,  who 
with  their  little  son  was  drowned  in  the  river  at  Grand 
Haven,  Nov.  9, 1867.  Mrs.  Howard's  parents  were  both 
of  New  England  birth, — her  father  a  native  of  Springfield, 
Mass.,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  17,  1808,  and  her  mother 
of  Rhode  Island,  born  on  May  10th  of  the  same  year. 
The  death  of  each  occurred  in  1863, — Mrs.  Williston  on 
the  20th  of  November,  and  Mr.  Williston  on  the  9th  of 
December.     Mrs.  Howard  was  born  May  18,  1841. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  F.  Howard  have  been  born  two 
children:  Lida  E.,  born  Jan.  20,  1874,  and  Nina,  born 
Feb.  23,  1879. 

Mr.  Howard  has  added  to  the  original  forty  acres  until 
he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  one  hundred  of 
which  is  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 

In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  Republican,  as  was  also  his 
father,  Calvin  Howard. 

In  religion  both  himself  and  wife  are  zealous  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  although  young 
in  years  they  have  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  are 
highly  esteemed  by  the  community  in  which  they  live. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 
BENNINGTON    TOWNSHIP.* 

Description,  Surveys,  and  Land-Entries — Early  Settlements — Resi- 
dent Tax-payers  of  1844  —  Civil  and  Political  —  Educational — 
Kellgious. 

DESCRIPTION,   SUEVEYS,    AND    LAND-ENTRIES. 

Bennington  is  one  of  the  interior  divisions  of  Shiawassee 
County,  situated  southwest  of  its  geographical  centre.  In 
the  field-notes  of  the  original  survey  it  was  designated 
township  No.  6  north,  of  range  No.  2  east.  Owosso  town- 
ship joins  it  on  the  north,  Shiawassee  on  the  east.  Perry  on 
the  south,  and  Sciota  on  the  west. 

It  has  a  beautiful  undulating  surface,  and  all  the  varieties 
of  soil  common  to  Michigan  townships,  viz.,  alternate  belts 
or  strips  of  clay  and  sand  loam  and  alluvial  deposits, — a 
soil  that  is  particularly  well  adapted  to  grazing  and  the 
culture  of  corn,  fruits,  and  the  cereals. 

Originally,  timbered  openings,  about  one  mile  in  width, 
extended  from  east  to  west  through  its  centre.  To  the 
north  and  south  of  these  openings  were  heavy  forests  of 
beech,  maple,  oak,  ash,  elm,  and  other  varieties  of  deciduous 
trees. 

The  township  has  no  lake  surface.  It  is  drained  by  the 
Maple  and  Looking-Glass  Rivers.  The  former  intersects 
sections  1,  2,  and  3.  The  latter  in  its  flow  to  the  westward 
crosses  the  southern  part.  Both  are  sluggish  streams, 
afibrd  no  mill -privileges,  and  are  bordered  by  many  acres  of 
swamp-lands. 

The  people  are  chiefly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  in  the  amount  of  lands  under  cultivation,  farm  products, 
and  live  stock,  Bennington  stands  in  the  front  rank  among 
Shiawassee  County  townships. 

Railway,  express,  and  mail  facilities  are  afibrded  at  Ben- 
nington, a  station  on  the  line  of  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and 
Saginaw  Railroad,  which  crosses  diagonally  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  township.  Pittsburg  and  Hartwellville  are 
also  post-office  stations. 

ORIGINAL   SURVEYS. 

The  first  surveying-party  to  enter  the  trackless  and  as 
yet  unknown  wilds  of  the  present  township  of  Bennington 
was  led  by  Joseph  Wampler,  a  deputy  United  States  sur- 
veyor, who,  in  accordance  with  instructions,  ran  out  the 
northern,  western,  and  southern  boundary-lines  in  February, 
1823.  The  eastern  line  was  blazed  by  John  MuUett,  July 
16th  and  17th  of  the  same  year. 

The  task  of  subdividing  the  territory  designated  as  town- 
ship No.  6  north,  of  range  No.  2  east,  was  commenced  by 
Joseph  Wampler,  April  22,  1826,  and  completed  on  the 
30th  of  the  same  month.  Numerous  surveying-parties 
were  then  engaged  mapping  the  lands  in  the  Detroit  land 
district,  pursuant  to  contracts  and  instructions  received 
from  Edward  Tiffin,  surveyor-general  of  the  United  States. 

The  surveyors  were  directed  to  enter  upon  their  field- 
books  remarks  concerning  the  nature  of  the  surface,  soil, 
timber,  etc., — instructions  which  were  so  fully  carried  out 

»  By  John  S.  Schenck. 


BENNINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


187 


by  some  of  his  subordinates  that  Gen.  TiflSn  supposed  the 
lands  in  the  Detroit  district  almost  worthless  for  agricultural 
purposes,  and  was  induced  to  make  the  unfavorable  report 
concerning  them  which  he  did. 

In  his  haste,  however,  to  perform  his  work  as  rapidly  as 
possible, — in  eight  or  nine  days,  during  which  time  he  must 
have  traveled  at  least  one  hundred  and  forty  miles, — Mr. 
Wampler  did  not  wait  to  append  voluminous  remarks  re- 
garding the  township's  natural  features  ;  barely  enough  to  in- 
dicate it  as  a  rolling,  generally  heavily-timbered,  fertile 
tract ;  and  therefore,  at  its  birth,  the  township  escaped  the 
condemnation  laid  upon  others  equally  as  good,  yet  where 
the  deputy  surveyors  were  occasionally  mired  in  swamps 
and  morasses. 

FIRST  AND  OTHER   EARLY    LAND-ENTRIES. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1835,  Samuel  Nichols,  of  Chautau- 
qua Co.,  N.  Y.,  Israel  Parsons  and  Benjamin  L.  Powers, 
of  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  made  the  first  purchase  of  public 
lands  in  the  township,  and  all  located  upon  section  24.  Du- 
ring October  of  the  same  year,  Trumbull  Cary,  of  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  Abel  Millington,  of  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich., 
entered  many  tracts  situated  upon  various  sections.  The 
Castles  and  Davises,  from  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  also  made 
some  purchases  in  this  township  in  1835,  but  it  was  not 
until  the  year  1836,  and  the  two  or  three  years  immediately 
succeeding,  that  anything  like  a  general  transfer  was  made 
from  the  general  government  to  individuals. 

Although  a  few  of  the  original  purchasers  became  actual 
settlers,  a  large  majority  were  speculators,  men  who  are  en- 
titled to  no  credit  whatever  in  what  relates  to  the  develop- 
ment and  subsequent  history  of  the  township.  Be  that  as 
it  may,  the  following  list  embraces  the  names  and  other  data 
of  those  who  purchased  from  the  general  government,  lands 
situated  in  the  present  township  of  Bennington. 

Section  1. 
George  W.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1836. 
Daniel  Goodwin,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
George  W.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  February,  1836. 
Benjamin  B.  Morris,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  April,  1836. 

Section  2. 
Daniel  Goodwin,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
George  W.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Nelson  Waugh,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  October,  1836. 

Section  3. 
Lemuel  Castle,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  November,  1835. 
Meroy  Castle,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1835. 
Lemuel  Castle,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  December,  1835. 
Ira  C.  Alger,  Wayne  Co.,  Mioh.,  June,  1836. 

Section  4, 
Betsy  Davis,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1835. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Abner  Davis,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
John  N.  Watson,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1836. 
Rodolphus  Dewey,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  November,  1836. 
Davici  Johnson,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1836. 
Benjamin  Davis,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1836. 

Section  6. 
Silas  A.  Yerkes,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1855. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
David  Johnson,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1836. 


Isaac  S.  Taylor,  Oakland  Co., 
George  W.  Williams,  Oakland 
Lemuel  Castle,  Shiawassee  Co 
Hiram  Davis,  Shiawassee  Co., 
Joseph  Peters,  Washtenaw  Co. 
William  Yerkes,  Oakland  Co., 
Willard  M.  Norris,  Shiawassee 


Mich.,  November,  1836. 
Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1837. 
.,  Mich.,  November,  1837. 

Mich.,  November,  1838. 
,  Mich.,  January,  1843. 
Mich.,  December,  1849. 

Co.,  Mioh.,  March,  1854. 


Section  6. 
Daniel  Goodwin,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
Delos  W.  Gould,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1836. 
Abner  W.  Blackman,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1836. 
Milo  Harington,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1839. 
Albert  Fitch,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1839. 
David  Alger,  Shiawassee  Co., Mioh.,  February,  1840. 
Charles  B.  Haight,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1854. 

Section  7. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Daniel  Fuller,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
John  Pitts,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1839. 
Hiram  S.  Goodwin,  land-warrant,  January,  1853. 
Willard  M.  Norris,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1854. 
John  Cleaver,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1854. 

Section  8. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Daniel  Fuller,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  9. 
John  L.  Eastman,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
William  Yerkes,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
Bliphalet  Lewis,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 

Section  10. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Albert  Clark,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1836. 
Isaac  Hemraingway,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Joseph  Peters,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1843. 
Abner  Coif,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  August,  1850, 

Section  11. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 

Section  12. 
Halsey  Sanford,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Archibald  Purdy,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 

Section  13. 
Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1835. 
John  L.  Eastman,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Ebenezer  Conklin,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  14. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1835. 
Satterlee  &  West,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  April,  1836. 
David  Perry  and  Philip  Worth,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  May,  1836. 
Remembrance  Root,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  June,  1836. 
Hiram  A.  Caswell,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  15. 
Joseph  Purdy,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836. 
Ebenezer  Conklin,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
John  Champion,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
William  Coif,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Ebenezer  Conklin,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Ira  Merell,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  16. 
School  lands. 

Section  17. 
L.  Bates,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Abner  Rice,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  September,  1836. 


188 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Dai  id  Perry,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  September,  1836. 
Henry  Bc.-irdslee,  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.,  November,  1838. 

Section  18. 

William  Burritt,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  18.S6. 
Lyman  Bates,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
Daniel  Phelps,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1840 
William  W.  Burgess,  land -warrant,  January,  1853. 
George  J.  W.  Hill,  Genesee  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1855. 

Section  19. 

Daniel  Fuller,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
James  Scott,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September,  1836. 
David  Perry,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  September,  1836. 
Harrison  S.  Bugbee,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y,,  June,  1837. 
Andrew  Marlatt,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1837. 
Alexander  McKinnoy,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1853. 

Section  20. 

Israel  Parshall,  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Joseph  Skinner,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Abraham  Hickey,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September,  1836. 
Luther  James,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  October,  1836. 
Lemuel  Cone,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1836. 
Lemuel  Cone,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1841, 

Section  21. 

Harriet  W.  Strong,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1836. 
Nelson  Reynolds,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
Aaron  Hutchings,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Amasa  Bugbee,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Major  Rice,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  September,  1836. 
E.  Toby,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1836. 
Joseph  Skinner,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1837. 
John  Rice,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1839. 
Civilian  Morse,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1847. 
Asa  Castle,  land-warrant,  September,  1851. 
Aden  Mitchell,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1853. 
Lanson  B.  Stevens,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1855. 

Section  22. 

Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1835. 
Harriet  W.  Strong,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1836. 
Seymour  Norton,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
John  Champion,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  23. 

Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  20,  1835. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  20,  1835. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836. 
Theodore  Champion,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  24. 

Samuel  Nichols,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  25,  1835. 
Israel  Parsons,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  25, 1835. 
Benjamin  L.  Powers,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  26,  1836. 
Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  20,  1836. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  20, 1835. 

Section  25. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich,,  Oct.  20,  1835. 
William  Howard,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
William  Stevens,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1836. 

Section  26. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mieh.,  Oct.  20,  1835. 
Abel  Millington,  Waehtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  May  28,»  1836. 
Marcus  Culver,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837. 
Samuel  B.  Bugbee,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1837. 
Reuben  Place,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1855. 


»  So  says  the  record,  but  it  is  probably  a  mistake. 


Section  27. 

Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  20,  1836. 
William  L.  Strong,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1836. 
Samuel  Pitts,  Jr.,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
William  Page,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836. 
John  Champion,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  28. 

William  L.  Strong,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1836. 
Moses  Pitts,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
Jordan  Holcomb,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
Henry  Hatchings,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
C.  C.  Hutchings,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
Aaron  Hutchings,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
Ebenezer  Reynolds,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 

Section  29. 

Albert  R.  and  Amos  Dow,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
Friend  Burt,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Charles  W.  Middiok. 

Section  30. 

John  Dickinson,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
Theodore  Champion,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Section  31. 

John  Dickinson,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
Theodore  Champion,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Henry  Beardslee,  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.,  November,  1838. 
John  Terrebury,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1838. 

Section  32. 
Elon  Farnsworth,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1836. 

Section  33. 

Moses  Pitts,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
C.  Hutchings,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
John  Terrebury,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1836. 
Lyman  Stevens,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1836. 
Samuel  Pitts,  Jr.,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837. 
Alfred  Culver,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837. 
Abncr  Reid,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1837. 
John  Pitts,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1837. 
Safford  Pitts,  land-warrant,  April,  1863. 

Section  34. 

Samuel  Pitts,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 

Linus  M.  Miner,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 

John  Terrebury,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1836. 

Jarvis  Leonard,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 

Marcus  Culver,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837. 

Section  35. 

Mathew  C.  Patterson,  New  York  City,  July,  1836. 
George  R.  Albro,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1836. 
Morrison  Beardslee,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837. 

Section  36. 

Samuel  Kellogg,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
William  Howard,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
George  R.  Albro,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1836. 

EAKLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

It  is  conceded  by  those  best  conversant  with  the  facte 
that  Samuel  Nichols  was  the  first  settler  in  that  part  of 
Shiawassee  township  now  known  as  Bennington.  Chautau- 
qua Co.,  N.  Y.,  was  his  former  place  of  residence,  and  on 
the  25th  day  of  June,  1835,  by  the  purchase  of  the  west 
half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  24,  he  became  the 
first  individual  owner  of  lands  in  the  wilderness  township. 


^)jff< 


J.  M.HARTWELL. 


mfJ.M.  HARTWELL. 


ResiOENceoF  J.  M.  HARTWELL  ^  BENNiNOTOhj,MicH. 


BENNINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


189 


Messrs.  Parsons  and  Powers,  of  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  also 
purchased  lands  upon  the  same  section  the  same  day. 
Whether  they  visited  the  Territory  together,  or  but  one  of 
them  and  he  bought  for  the  others,  is  now  unknown,  in  the 
absence  of  either  mentioned. 

However  that  may  be,  wc  find  that  early  in  the  spring 
of  1836,  accompanied  by  his  family  and  his  unmarried 
brother  James,  Samuel  Nichols  effeoted  a  settlement  upon 
his  purchase.  His  dwelling  was  an  unpretentious  log 
cabin,  and  being  situated  near  what  afterwards  became  the 
well-known  Grand  River  road,  he  kept  an  open  house  or 
tavern,  furnishing  such  entertainment  for  man  and  beast  as 
was  usually  to  be  found  in  Michigan  country  hostelries 
from  thirty-five  to  forty-five  years  ago.  His  house  also 
gained  prominence  as  the  place  where  was  held  the  first 
township-meeting.  Otherwise  Mr.  Nichols  was  an  ordinary 
sort  of  person,  and  does  not  seem  to  have  been  conspicuous 
in  the  further  history  of  the  township. 

His  brother  James,  by  his  marriage*  to  the  rather 
elderly  maiden.  Miss  Thankful  Y.  Copeland  (a  ceremony 
which  was  performed  by  Samuel  Pitts,  Jr.,  J.  P.,  Jan.  26, 
1839),  created  considerable  fund  for  gossip  and  amusement, 
but  doubtless  he  was  afterwards  thankful,  for  the  chron- 
icler of  "  ye  olden  time"  saith  that  she  made  a  most  excel- 
lent wife  and  housekeeper. 

In  May,  1836,  Aaron  Hutchings  and  Jordan  Holcombif 
from  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  bought  lands  situated  upon  sec- 
tion 28,  and,  removing  here,  occupied  the  same  early  in  the 
fall  of  that  year.  Soon  after  his  settlement,  Mr.  Hutchings 
purchased  more  land  upon  section  21.  A  quiet,  unosten- 
tatious citizen,  he  still  resides  in  the  township. 

During  the  year  1837  quite  a  number  of  families  set- 
tled. They  were  from  Vermont  and  New  York  States 
principally,  yet  several  had  first  settled  in  the  counties  of 
Oakland  and  Washtenaw  before  coming  here.  Among 
them  were  James  Bugbee,  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who 
settled  in  Oakland  County  in  1836,  and  from  thence  re- 
moved to  the  premises  now  owned  by  Erastus  Burnett  in 
the  spring  of  1837,  where  he  resided  for  a  number  of  years ; 
Joseph  Skinner,  from  Oakland  County,  who  purchased 
land  situated  upon  section  20  in  September,  1846,  and 
upon  section  21  in  June,  1837  ;  Samuel  Kellogg,  the  first 
blacksmith,  who  came  in  from  Washtenaw  County  and 
settled  upon  section  36 ;  the  Howards,  Ira  B.,  Smith, 
Jerry,  William,  and  John  A.,  who  also  came  from 
Washtenaw  and  settled  on  section  36 ;  and  Samuel  Pitts, 
Jr.,  from  Oakland  County,  who  located  land  upon  sec- 
tions 27  and  33  in  April,  1836.  Samuel  Moses  and 
John  Pitts  also  purchased  land  in  the  same  vicinity  at 
about  the  same  time,  and  from  this  family  the  little  vil- 
lage of  Pittsburg  derives  its  name.  David  Johnson,  who 
located  lands  upon  sections  4  and  5  in  June,  1836,  also 
came  here  from  Oakland  County  in  1837. 

In  May  and  June,  1837,  the  brothers  Samuel  B.  and 
Harrison  S.  Bugbee,  from  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  arrived 

*  Other  early  marriages  wore  those  of  John  A.  Howard  to  Margaret 
easier,  of  Shiawassee  township,  Sept.  29,  1839,  and  of  Harrison  S. 
Bugbee  to  Miss  Amanda  Rice,  by  Lucius  Beach,  J.  P.,  Feb.  8,  1840. 

+  The  first  birth  in  the  township  occurred  in  his  family  in  the  fall 
of  1836. 


in  Michigan.  From  Flint  they  proceeded  on  foot  westward 
along  the  blazed  line  of  the  proposed  Northern  Railroad 
to  the  vicinity  of  township  6  north,  of  range  No.  2  east. 
After  making  choice  of  locations  they  returned  to  Flint, 
only  to  find  that  some  one  had  preceded  them,  and  the 
lands  of  their  first  choice  were  already  entered.  This 
necessitated  a  second  return  journey,  which  resulted  in  the 
selection  and  purchase — June  8,  1837 — of  the  fine  farms 
they  at  present  occupy.  Mr.  S.  B.  Bugbee  recalls  the  fact 
that  at  that  time  not  a  house  or  an  acre  of  cFeared  land 
was  to  be  seen  between  the  cities  of  Flint  and  Corunna, 
and  that  where  the  Shiawassee  County  court-house  now 
stands  was  a  swamp.  Returning  to  the  State  of  New 
York,  final  preparations  were  made  for  the  removal  to 
Michigan,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  October,  1837,  accom- 
panied by  their  father,  Salmon  Bugbee,  and  their  sisters 
Viletta  and  Martha,  and  the  wife  and  son  of  Samuel  B., 
the  Bugbees  became  permanent  residents. 

Previous  to  his  settlement  in  Michigan,  the  father  of  the 
family  had  resided  in  the  counties  of  Monroe,  Cayuga, 
Niagara,  and  Cattaraugus,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  and  probably  was  the  first  of  his  craft  to  settle  in 
the  township.  The  sons  were  very  proficient  in  beating, 
'  the  drum.  They  brought  their  instruments  with  them, 
and,  assisted  by  Lewis  Ward,  of  Perry,  and  others  as  fifers, 
furnished  music  for  fourteen  successive  Fourth  of  July 
celebrations. 

Bennington  in  1837-38  would  have  been  a  good  field 
for  one  possessed  of  the  powers  attributed  to  Saint  Patrick, 
for  Mr.  S.  B.  Bugbee  relates  that  he  killed  forty  rattle 
and  other  snakes  in  taking  a  stroll  over  his  newly-acquired 
premises.  Bears,  too,  came  close  up  to  the  settlers'  dwell- 
ings and  looked  in  upon  their  occupants. 

From  the  autumn  of  1837  to  April  1,  1838,  others 
afterwards  prominent  in  the  history  of  Bennington  became 
residents.  One  of  them  was  Lemuel  Castle.  He  was  brother- 
in-law  of  Apollos  Dewey  (an  early  settler  of  Owosso  town- 
ship), one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  Oakland  County, 
and  one  of  the  first  to  purchase  of  the  government,  land  in 
this  township.  He  settled  in  Oakland  in  1821,  and  what 
was  soon  afterwards  Bennington  township  in  1837.  He 
became  the  first  supervisor  of  Bennington  in  April,  1838, 
and  served  in  the  same  capacity  for  five  subsequent  years. 
He  was  also  the  first  treasurer,  and  one  of  the  first  justices 
of  the  peace,  serving  as  such  several  years.  He  was  the 
largest  land-owner  of  Bennington,  and  a  highly-respected 
citizen.     Several  members  of  his  family  still  reside  here. 

Nelson  Waugh,  one  of  Bennington's  most  worthy  citi- 
zens, still  resides  upon  the  land  purchased  by  him  from  the 
general  government  in  October,  1836.  He  also  came  here 
from  Oakland  County,  and  was  the  second  man  to  poll  his 
vote  at  the  first  township-meeting  of  this  township. 

Archibald  Purdy,  from  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  purchased 
a  large  portion  of  section  12  in  May,  1836,  and  settled  in 
Bennington  at  the  same  time  as  did  Mr.  Waugh.  He  was 
an  early  and  efficient  township  officer,  and  enjoyed  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  his  townsmen. 

Abner  Rice,  from  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  bought  lands  situ- 
ated upon  section  17  in  September,  1836.  He  became  a 
resident  prior  to  April,  1838. 


190 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


William  Coif,  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  settled  upon 
sectioa  15,  and  John  Terrebury,  from  Washtenaw  Co., 
Mich.,  who  settled  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  township, 
were  both  domiciled  in  the  town  early  in  the  spring  of 
1838.  Marcellus  Harris,  Peter  Harder,  and  Hiram  Davis 
also  participated  in  the  first  township-meeting. 

Jonathan  M.  Hartwell,  a  former  resident  of  Norwich, 
Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  came  to  Bennington  first  in  June, 
1838,  traveling  via  the  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie.  At 
Huron,  Olfio,  he  purchased  a  yoke  of  steers.  These  and  a 
wagon  were  shipped  to  Detroit,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  the 
latter  city  a  supply  of  provisions,  etc.,  was  loaded  in,  and 
the  journey  resumed  towards  Bennington.  Upon  reaching 
his  newly  purchased  homestead  he  cleared  ten  acres  of 
land  opposite  his  present  residence,  partly  constructed  a  log 
dwelling,  and  then  returned  to  Norwich,  N.  Y.,  all  of  which 
was  accomplished  in  six  weeks.  Accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  five  children,  and  traveling  the  same  route,  he  again 
arrived  in  the  township  on  the  20th  of  November,  1838. 
They  encountered  a  terrific  five  days'  gale  on  Lake  Erie 
and  hardly  expected  to  escape  drowning,  a  fate  which  befell 
so  many  in  emigrating  to  Michigan. 

A  large  portion  of  Mr.  Hartwell's  land  was  included  in 
the  timber-openings  before  mentioned ;  this  enabled  him  to 
place  under  cultivation  many  acres  from  the  beginning,  and 
in  1 839  he  broke  and  sowed  to  wheat  forty  acres.  He  used 
three  yoke  of  cattle,  and  Samuel  Kellogg  was  the  black- 
smith who  sharpened  his  plow-irons. 

During  the  same  year  he  also  opened  his  house  to  the 
traveling  public  as  a  place  of  entertainment,  the  small 
taverns  of  Nichols  and  Phillips  in  the  same  neighborhood 
hardly  sufficing  to  supply  the  wants  of  those  who  journeyed 
over  the  Grand  River  road.  Mr.  Hartwell  claims  to  have 
built  the  first  framed  barn  in  the  township,  and  believes 
that  Deacon  Cook  built  the  first  framed  house.  About 
1847  or  1848  Mr.  Hartwell  attempted  to  build  a  commo- 
dious stone  dwelling.  The  walls  were  up,  and  the  workmen 
were  just  beginning  to  place  into  position  the  rafters,  when 
the  whole  fell  with  a  crash.  Fortunately,  none  were  se- 
verely injured,  although  two  of  his  sons  and  two  or  three 
hired  workmen  were  on  top  of  the  structure  at  the  time. 
This  disaster,  caused  by  the  inefficiency  of  the  master  me- 
chanic, involved  a  loss  of  about  ,one  thousand  dollars.  But 
happy  over  the  fact  that  no  loss  of  life  had  occurred,  Mr. 
Hartwell  cleared  away  the  dibris,  and  immediately  began 
the  fionstruction  of  his  present  residence. 

The  Hartwellville  post-office,  J.  M.  Hartwell,  postmaster, 
was  established  about  1844,  and  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  weeks  it  has  since  remained  under  the  control  of  him  or 
his  family.  This  point  has  also  been  the  seat  of  quite  an 
extensive  mercantile  trade.  The  business  was  first  estab- 
lished by  Giles  Tucker.  Mr.  Hartwell  and  his  sons  suc- 
ceeded him,  and  continued  it  for  some  seven  or  eight  years. 

Hon.  Isaac  Gale,  a  native  of  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  settled 
in  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1830,  and  in  Bennington  in 
1840.  He  soon  after  became  one  of  its  most  prominent 
citizens.  He  has  since  served  four  years  as  county  judge, 
sixteen  years  as  supervisor,  and  thirty-five  years  as  justice 
of  the  peace.  His  home  and  surroundings  are  not  sur- 
passed in  the  county. 


Other  early  citizens,  whose  names  are  mentioned  in  the 
following  list  of  residents  of  1844  and  in  lists  of  township 
officers,  etc.,  are  equally  worthy  of  an  extended  notice,  but 
it  is  found  impossible  to  do  so  in  consequence  of  deaths  and 
removals.  Their  work  bears  silent  testimony  to  their  worth, 
however.  All  have  added  their  mite  to  the  grand  aggre- 
gate which  makes  Bennington  of  to-day  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  prosperous  townships  in  the  county,  and  their 
memory  should  be  kept  green  in  the  hearts  of  their  pos- 
terity and  successors  for  many  generations  to  come. 

RESIDENT   TAX-PAYERS   OF   1844. 

Acres. 

Asher  AVhitmore,  section  1 120 

Archibald  C.  Cooper,  sections  1,  3 371 

Ezelsiel  Cooli,  sections  1,  6 368 

Nelson  Waugh,  section  2 80 

Lemuel  Castle,  sections  3,  4 860 

Asa  L.  Kelly,  section  4 160 

John  Pitts,  section  4 80 

Denison  S.  Bugbee,  section  4 80 

Lawrence  Cummings,  section  4 80. 

Rodolphus  Dewey,  section  4 80 

Waterman  Perkins,  section  5 114 

Asa  Castle,  section  5 80 

Chester  Kemp,  section  5 114 

Jonas  Cook,  section  5 78 

David  Alger,  section  6 40 

Robert  Sevier,  section  6 240 

Joseph  Peters,  section  10 40 

Nancy  Hayward,  section  11 160 

Owen  Oakes,  section  11 160 

Lawrence  Seagle,  section  12 160 

Archibald  Purdy,  section  12 320 

William  Hall,  section  14 80 

Itoswell  Root,  section  14 160 

Isaac  dale,  sections  14,  23,  25 440 

Cortes  Pond,  sections  14,  23,  26 200 

Hiram  Coif,  section  I'd 40 

James  Stewart,  section  15 160 

William  Coif,  section  15 40 

Zerah  Sperry,  section  17 120 

Luther  Sperry,  section  17 40 

David  Perry,  sections  17,  19 160 

Daniel  Phelps,  sections  18,  21 80 

Jeremiah  Phelps,  section  18 80 

Amasa  Bugbee,  section  19 80 

Harrison  S.  Bugbee,  section  19 94 

John  Spear,  section  19 120 

Jonathan  M.  Hartwell,  sections  19,  24 268 

Sylvanus  Rice,  section  20 80 

Otis  Hicks,  sections  20,  21,  29 200 

Abraham  Hickey,  section  20 80 

James  Bugbee,  section  21 40 

Aaron  Hatchings,  sections,  21,  28 160  - 

Levi  H.  Chaffin,  sections  22,27 160 

Thomas  Johnson,  section  2.3 80 

Solomon  Frain,  section  23 80 

Ralph  Williams,  section  23 40 

Cyrus  Miller,  sections  23,  3.3 267 

Samuel  Nichols,  section  24  (west  one-half,  south- 
west one-quarter) 80 

William  Frain,  section  25 160 

Silas  L.  Parks,  section  25 80 

Artemas  Howard,  section  25 40 

Eaton  Dewey,  section  26 60 

J.  D.  Dewey,  section  26 80 

Parley  M.  Rowell,  sections  26,  34 120 

Silas  Howe,  section  26 20 

Samuel  B.  Bugbee,  section  26 80 

David  Johnson,  sections  27,  28,  34 200 

Moses  Pitts,  section  28,  33 120 

Court  Hntcbings,  section  28 160 

Salmon  Bugbee,  section  29 40 

John  Harmon,  section  30 80 

Ohilson  Sanford,  sections  30,  31,  36 324 

John  Terrebury,  sections  31,  33,  34 140 

Charles  Terrebury,  sections  31,  33 60 

Henry  Beardslee,  section  31 196 

Ebeuezer  Brown,  section  32 640 

Amasa  Rowell,  section  33 83 

Lyman  Stevens,  section  33 40 

Alanson  Horton,  section  35 80 

George  Alexander,  section  36 , 10 

Ira  B.  Howard,  section  36 '. 80 

Jerry  Howard,  section  36 80 

Jchn  A.  Howard,  section  36 120 

Samuel  Kellogg,  section  36 105 


BENNINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


191 


Acres. 

Lyman  Eellogg,  Bectlon  36 40 

Levi  Kellogg,  section  36 40 

William  Honard,  section  36 160 

David  Johnson,  Jr.,  personal. 
John  M.  Fitch,  personal. 
Horace  Howe,  personal. 

CIVIL  AND   POLITICAL. 

Benningtou,  including  Perry,  was  formed  from  Shia- 
wassee. An  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  March 
6,  1838,  provides  that : 

"  All  that  part  of  the  county  of  Shiawassee  designated 
by  the  United  States  survey  as  townships  Nos.  5  and  6 
north,  of  range  No.  2  east,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
off  and  organized  as  a  separate,  township  by  the  name  of 
Bennington,*  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Nichols  in  said  township." 

Pursuant  to  the  act  of  organization,  Marcellus  Harris, 
Nelson  Waugh,  Jerry  Howard,  George  N.  Jewett,f  Peter 
Harder,  Hiram  Davis,  William  Randall,  Archibald  Purdy, 
Abner  Rice,  Samuel  Pitts,  Jr.,  John  Pitts,  Samuel  B.  Bug- 
bee,  Lyman  Stevens,f  Smith  Howard,  Josiah  Purdy,-|" 
Phineas  Austin,!  William  Golf,  Jordan  Holcomb,  William 
Lemon,f  William  Howard,  David  Johnson,  John  Terre- 
bury,  Samuel  Kellogg,  William  T.  Stevens,f  James  Nichols, 
Samuel  Nichols,  John  A.  Howard,  Lemuel  Castle,  Ira  B. 
Howard,  Joseph  P.  Roberts,f  and  Harrison  S.  Bugbee, 
thirty-one  electors  in  all,  assembled  at  the  house  of  Samuel 
Nichols,  April  2, 1838,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  the  first 
board  of  township  oflScers. 

The  meeting  was  organized  by  choosing  Lemuel  Castle 
moderator,  and  Joseph  P.  Roberts  clerk.  Ira  B.  Howard, 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  administered  the  required  oath  to 
Messrs.  Castle  and  Roberts,  and  also  took  his  seat  as  one  of 
the  inspectors  of  the  election.  At  the  close  of  the  pro- 
ceedings the  following  officers  were  declared  elected :  Lemuel 
Castle,  Supervisor;  Ira  B.  Howard,  Township  Clerk;  Samuel 
Pitts,  Jr.,  Nelson  Waugh,  Joseph  P.  Roberts,  Assessors ; 
Samuel  B.  Bugbee,  Collector;  Samuel  Nichols,  Samuel  Kel- 
logg, Directors  of  the  Poor;  Joseph  P.  Roberts,  Jerry 
Howard,  Archibald  Purdy,  Highway  Commissioners ;  Joel 
North,  Joseph  P.  Roberts,  Lemuel  Castle,  Inspectors  of 
Schools  ;  Ira  B.  Howard,  Joseph  P.  Roberts,  Lemuel  Castle, 
Samuel  Pitts,  Jr.,  Justices  of  the  Peace ;  Samuel  B.  Bug- 
bee, Hiram  Davis,  Horace  Mann,  Constables. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  resolved,  "  That  the  ballots  be 
presented  on  one  piece  of  paper.  That  a  bounty  of  two 
dollars  be  paid  for  each  wolf  killed  in  the  township  by  an 
inhabitant  of  said  township.  That  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars 
be  raised  to  pay  wolf-bounties.  That  the  highway  commis- 
sioners divide  the  township  into  road  districts,  and  appoint 
overseers.  That  the  supervisor  report  on  the  financial 
affairs  of  the  township  at  the  next  annual  township-meet- 
ing." 

The  total  accounts  audited  and  allowed  March  19, 1839, 
amounted  to  ninety-one  dollars,  of  which  Archibald  Purdy 
received  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents ;  Samuel  Pitts,  Jr.,  six 

*  Name  derived  from  Bennington,  Vt.,  the  native  State  of  several 
of  the  early  settlers. 

■(■  Then  residents  of  the  territory  now  known  as  Perry  township, 
which  wa«  set  off  as  a  separate  township  in  1841. 


dollars ;  Ira  B.  Howard,  twelve  dollars ;  Jerry  Howard, 
sixteen  dollars ;  Lemuel  Castle,  nine  dollars ;  and  Joseph 
P.  Roberts,  thirty-seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 

That  the  separation  from  the  old  township  of  Shiawassee 
was  not  effected  amicably,  the  following  copy  of  an  old 
document  will  show.  It  bears  no  date,  however,  but  was 
written,  probably,  in  1839  or  1840 :  "  The  report  of  the 
township  board  of  the  town  of  Bennington  to  the  electors 
of  said  town,  respecting  the  claims  of  the  town  'of  Shia- 
wassee, respectfully  showeth  :  That  in  March  last  the  town- 
ship board  of  the  town  of  Shiawassee  presented  a  gross 
account  against  the  town  of  Bennington  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  two  dollars,  which  your  board  did  not  feel  author- 
ized to  allow,  and  requested  of  them  a  bill  of  items,  which 
they  have  presented,  purporting  to  be  the  expenses  of  the 
town  of  Shiawassee  from  March  1,  1837,  to  April  1, 1838, 
embracing  a  period  while  this  town,  together  with  Antrim 
and  Woodhull,  were  connected  with  the  town  of  Shia- 
wassee. As  the  town  of  Bennington  embraces  one-third  of 
the  territory,  they  claim  of  us  one-third  of  the  amount  of 
their  expenses,  which  your  board  do  not  think  them  in  jus- 
tice entitled  to,  and  as  they  threaten  a  prosecution  if  it  is 
not  allowed,  we  therefore  submit  the  case  to  you,  to  say  by 
vote  whether  we  shall  allow  it  or  not,  or  any  part  thereof, 
and  if  any,  how  much,  after  giving  you  a  statement  of 
their  accounts. 

"  In  the  first  place  they  present  their  bills  for  laying  high- 
ways to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and 
eighty-one  and  a  half  cents,  which  we  find  laid  almost 
wholly  in  their  own  town,  very  little  in  ours,  and  no  legal 
record  of  a  great  share  of  what  was  laid,  as  charged  in 
their  bills.  In  the  next  place  their  school  inspectors'  bill 
amounts  to  thirteen  dollars  and  sixty-two  and  a  half  cents, 
which  we  think  we  have  no  concern  with,  as  the  business 
was  all  done  in  their  own  town.  Next,  an  assessor's  bill 
of  nine  dollars,  and  the  bills  of  the  town  board,  town 
clerk,  and  highway  commissioners  for  making  out  road 
warrants,  non-resident  returns,  etc.,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of 
four  hundred  and  thirty-eight  dollars  and  twenty-one  cents. 
In  addition  to  which  they  present  us  a  list  of  orders  on 
Shiawassee  township  without  the  corresponding  accounts, 
bearing  date  Sept.  2(i,  1837,  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  dollars  and  forty-three  cents.  Also  a  list 
of  orders  bearing  date  Jan.  1,  1838,  to  the  amount  of 
seventy-five  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents ;  in  all,  six  hun- 
dred and  eighty-eight  dollars  and  eightyTuine  cents. 

"  There  was  in  1837  two  hundred  dollars  raised  in  the 
town  of  Shiawassee  for  contingent  expenses,  of  which  we 
have  paid  one-third,  reducing  the  sum  called  for  to  four 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  dollars  and  eighty-nine  cents. 
They  now  call  upon  us  to  pay  one-third  of  the  latter 
amount,  which  is  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  dollars  and 
ninety-six  cents.  We  therefore  submit  the  matter  to  the 
electors  of  Bennington,  whether  we  shall  allow  it  or  any 
part  thereof,  feeling  that  this  course  will  be  more  satisfac- 
tory to  all  concerned." 

The  grand  and  petit  jurors  selected  in  1839  were  Ezekiel 
Cook,  Moses  Pitts,  Jonathan  Kemp,  Aaron  Hutohings, 
William  Coif,  David  Perry,  James  McCarty,  Harrison  S. 
Bugbee,  Jordan  Holcomb,  Phineas  Austin,  Jonathan  M. 


192 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Hartwell,  James  Launsbury,  Samuel  Pitts,  Jr.,  Levi  Har- 
mon, John  A.  Howard,  Josiah  Purdy,  Samuel  Kellogg, 
Joseph  P.  Roberts,  Cyrus  Miller,  Nelson  Waugh,  Hiram 
Davis,  John  B.  Burr,  Bethuel  Haywood,  Thompson  Hart- 
well,  William  Howard,  Jerry  Howard,  John  Terrebury, 
David  Johnson,  Amasa  Bugbee,  Major  Rice,  Joseph  Skin- 
ner, William  Lemon,  Jesse  Whitford,  Lewis  H.  Launsbury, 
George  Reed,  Levi  Launsbury,  and  William  Harmon.  A 
list  which  comprised  very  nearly  all  the  voters  in  the 
township. 

In  1842,  William  Coif,  David  Johnson,  and  P.  M. 
Rowell  each  received  five  dollars,  the  township  bounty  for 
killing  bears. 

Subsequent  township  officers  elected  annually  from  1839 
to  1880,  inclusive,  are  shown  in  the  following  list.  But 
where  vacancies  and  appointments  have  occurred  by  reason 
of  not  qualifying,  resignations,  and  death,  they  do  not 
appear. 


Supervisora. 

1839.  Lemuel  Castle. 

1840.  "  " 

1841.  "  " 

1842.  "  "      . 

1843.  "  " 

1844.  Isaac  Gale. 

1845.  "         " 

1846.  Joseph  Howe. 

1847.  Isaac  Gale. 

1848.  "         " 

1849.  "         " 

1850.  "         " 

1851.  Cortes  Pond. 

1852.  Isaac  Gale. 

1853.  Archibald  Purdy. 

1854.  "  " 
1865.           "              " 

1856.  Isaac  Gale. 

1857.  " 

1858.  "    " 

1859.  "    " 

1860.  " 
1861. 
1862. 

1863.  "    " 

1864.  "    " 

1865.  "    " 

1866.  James  H.  Hartwell. 

1867.  "       " 

1868.  "       " 

1869.  Norman  C,  Payne. 

1870.  Almon  B.  Clark. 

1871.  Norman  C.  Payne. 

1872.  Peter  H.  Smith. 

1873.  Norman  C.  Payne. 

1874.  Peter  H.  Smith. 
1876.         " 

1876.  John  C.  Lanckton. 

1877.  "  " 

1878.  "  " 

1879.  "  " 

1880.  "  " 


Township  Clerks.  Treasurers. 

Ira  B.  Howard.  Lemuel  Castle. 
Jona.  M.  Hartwell.  "  " 

Ira  B.  Howard.  "  " 

"  "  Joseph  Purdy. 

Jona.  M.  Hartwell.  Samuel  Kellogg. 
Cortes  Pond.  "  " 


Philander  T.  Maine. 


Pbilo  Newell. 


Cortes  Pond. 
Isaac  Gale. 


Henry  Kuthruflf. 
Cortes  Pond. 

it  IC 

Charles  P.  Parkill. 

James  A.  Chapin. 
it  it 

Norman  C.  Payne. 

James  A.  Chapin. 

it  It 

Edwin  R.  Myers. 
ii  It 

Chester  J.  Stuart. 


Francis  G.  Morriee. 


Lemuel  C.  Cooper. 


Cephas  Stuart. 

ti  (. 

((  ti 

George  Goodwin. 

it  t( 

tt  tt 

Joseph  H.  Howe. 

tt  tt 

Silas  Howe. 
tt         tt 

Rollin  Pond. 

tl  tt 

ii  ti 

tt  tl 

ti  (t 

William  Hammond. 


Enoch  Eddy,  Jr. 
Peter  H.  Smith. 

tt        tt 

Francis  G.  Morrioe. 


Lemuel  C.  Cooper. 
tt  ti 

James  A.  Chapin. 


Norman  C.  Payne. 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 


1839.  Samuel  Pitts,  Jr. 

1840.  Lemuel  Castle. 

1841.  Isaac  Gale. 
Ebenezer  Brown. 

1842.  Ira  B.  Howard. 
Cortes  Pond. 

1843.  Ebenezer  Brown. 


1843.  Archibald  Purdy. 

1844.  Lemuel  Castle. 

1845.  Isaac  Gale. 

1846.  Archibald  Purdy. 

1847.  Civilian  Morse. 

1848.  Asa  Castle. 

1849.  Isaac  Gale. 


1860. 
1861. 
1852. 
1853. 

1854. 
1856. 

1856. 

1857. 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 

1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 


1839. 


Ezekiel  Cook. 
Ralph  Williams. 
Lemuel  Castle. 
Isaac  Gale. 
Ezekiel  Salisbury. 
Ezekiel  Cook. 
Ralph  Williams. 
Ezekiel  Cook. 
Ezekiel  Salisbury. 
Archibald  Purdy. 
Isaac  Gale. 
Archibald  Purdy. 
Ralph  Williams. 
Abner  A.  Davis. 
Isaac  Gale. 
Newcomb  Mitchell. 
Archibald  Purdy. 
Sylvester  Dean. 
Abner  A.  Davis. 
Isaac  Gale. 


1866.  Norman  C.  Payne. 

1867.  Newcomb  Mitchell. 

1868.  John  Storer. 
Peter  H.  Smith. 

1869.  Isaac  Gale. 

1870.  Norman  C.  Payne. 

1871.  No  record. 

1872.  George  Rowell. 

1873.  Henry  C.  Howard. 
Norman  C.  Payne. 
Isaac  Gale. 
Norman  C.  Payne. 
George  Rowell. 
Hyland  E.  Greenman. 
Henry  C.  Howard. 
Freeman  N.  Waugh. 

1878.  Freeman  N.  Waugh. 

1879.  Samuel  B.  Bugbee. 

1880.  John  Walsh. 


1874. 
1875. 


1876. 


1877. 


HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 


1840. 


1842. 


1843. 


Joseph  P.  Roberts. 

Archibald  Purdy. 

Samuel  Kellogg. 

Samuel  Pitts,  Jr. 

Samuel  Kellogg. 

Archibald  Purdy. 
1841.  Ebenezer  Brown. 

Ira  B.  Howard.- 

Carlton  Sawyer. 

Archibald  Purdy. 

Denison  S.  Bugbee. 

Ebenezer  Brown. 

Samuel  B.  Bugbee. 

Ebenezer  Brown. 

Denison  S.  Bugbee. 
1844.  Samuel  B.  Bugbee. 

Denison  S.  Bugbee. 

Cyrus  Miller. 

Samuel  B.  Bugbee. 

Cyrus  Miller. 

James  Stuart. 

Cyrus  Miller. 

Samuel  B.  Bugbee. 

Ezekiel  Salisbury. 

1847.  X!yrus  Miller. 
Samuel  B.  Bugbee. 
Ezekiel  Salisbury. 

1848.  Ezekiel  Salisbury. 
Henry  Beardslee. 

1849.  Jonathan  W.  Brewer. 

1850.  Samuel  B.  Bugbee. 
Levi  H.  Chaffin. 

1851.  Levi  H.  Chaffin. 

1852.  Nelson  Waugh. 


1846. 


1846. 


1853. 
1854. 

1856. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1859. 

1860. 
1861. 

1862. 
1863. 

1864. 

1866. 

1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 


1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876- 
1880. 


Waterman  Perkins. 
Levi  H.  Chaffin. 
Silas  A.  Yerkes. 
Nelson  Waugh. 
Horace  S.  Goodwin. 
William  Frain. 
Benjamin  Davis. 
Abner  A.  Davis. 
Horace  S.  Goodwin. 
William  Frain. 
Horace  Howe. 
John  Wire. 
Philo  Newell. 
George  W.  Hunt. 
James  H.  Byerly. 
John  A.  Vanderhoof. 
Carlton  Rood. 
A.  B.  Clark. 
Alva  Bemis. 
D.  D.  Williams. 
John  A.  Vanderhoof. 
John  Innes. 
Howard  D.  Thompson. 
Sila«  A.  Yerkes. 
William  Lewis. 
Joseph  0.  Hathaway. 
Francis  G.  Morriee. 
Cornelius  A.  Vanderhoof. 
William  Lewis. 
Levi  H.  Chaffin. 
Cornelius  Hibbard. 
79.  Levi  H.  Chaffin. 
Enoch  Eddy,  Jr. 


EDUCATIONAL. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1837,  while  township  No. 
6  north,  of  range  2  east,  still  formed  part  of  Shiawassee 
township,  Levi  Rowe,  W.  Z.  Blanchard,  and  Robert  Stew- 
art, school  inspectors  of  the  latter  township,  divided  the 
former  into  four  equal  school  districts,  designating  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  township,  district  No.  1 ;  the  south- 
east quarter,  district  No.  2  ;  the  northwest  quarter,  district 
No.  3 ;  and  the  southwest  quarter,  district  No.  4. 

With  scarcely  more  than  half  a  dozen  families  in  the 
whole  township,  it  is  hardly  probable  that  anything  more 
was  done  concerning  schools  while  Bennington  formed  part 
of  Shiawassee. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  Bennington,  on  the  11th 


BENNINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


193 


of  April,  1838,  the  first  board  of  school  inspectors  met  at 
the  township  clerk's  office,  and  organized  by  choosing  Joel 
North,  chairman.  On  the  27th  of  the  same  month  five 
school  districts  were  ordered  organized,  and  their  bounda- 
ries described.  But  it  does  not  appear  by  the  records,  nor 
have  we  learned  that  any  schools  were  taught  in  1838.  In 
1839  the  electors  voted  to  raise  by  tax  fifty  dollars  for  the 
support  of  primary  schools.  The  moneys  received  for  school 
purposes  in  1840  amounted  to  forty-three  dollars  and  fifty 
cents,  of  which  twenty-five  dollars  was  voted  from  the  town- 
ship treasury,  and  eighteen  dollars  and  fifty  cents  from  the 
county  treasury.     This  was  applied  as  follows : 


District. 
No.  1.. 


olars. 

Amount. 

18 

$16.65 

29 

26.73 

In  1841  the  schools  seemed  in  a  more  flourishing  condi- 
tion, and  the  school  moneys  were  apportioned  as  here  shown. 

District.  Scholars.    Amount. 

No.  1 26  $17.25 

"  2 35  23.22 

"  4 15  9.95 

"  5 8  5.30 

"  6 18  11.94 

"  7 11  7.30 

Among  the  early  teachers  were  William  C.  E.  Patterson, 
Louisa  Pitts,  Diantha  F.  Chaffin,  M.  L.  Whitford,  Sarah 
Edson,  and  Clarissa  Pond,  in  1843.  Mary  J.  Stewart, 
Mary  Hicks,  Diantha  P.  Chaffin,  Leroy  Stephens,  George 
Reynolds,  and  Francis  Terry,  1844.  George  Reynolds, 
Mary  Stuart,  Sarah  J.  McOmber,  Diantha  F.  Chaffin,  Har- 
riet Castle,  Margaret  L.  Wilson,  Lovica  Pitts,  Samantha 
Chaffin,  Julia  Van  Auken,  Drusilla  D.  Cook,  and  Safibrd 
Pitts,  1845.  Sarah  J.  McOmber,  Elvira  Howard,  Saman- 
tha Chaffin,  Armina  Pitts,  Margaret  L.  Wilson,  Drusilla 
D.  Cook,  Saffiard  Pitts,  George  M.  Reynolds,  1846.  Delia 
M.  Castle,  Isadore  E.  Parkill,  Sabrina  A.  Castle,  Diantha 
F.  Chaffin,  Jabez  S.  Cook,  J.  H.  Hartwell,  Emily  Ham- 
mond, 1847.  Elvira  M.  Howard,  Miss  Pratt,  Drusilla  D. 
Cook,  Safford  Pitts,  Charles  H.  Collins,  Byron  HoUister, 
1848.  Sarah  Stuart,  Miss  T.  Parker,  Helen  M.  Brewer, 
Frances  IngersoU,  Diantha  F.  Chaffin,  Juliet  Gale,  W.  J. 
Chatham,  I.  W.  McEwen,  Samantha  Chaffin,  Amanda  Guil- 
ford, Sylvia  Guilford,  Clara  K.  IngersoU,  1849.  Miss  Dun- 
ning, Amanda  Rowell,  Sarah  B.  Stuart,  Safford  Pitts,  Phi- 
lander T.  Maine,  1850.  Mary  Ann  Hill,  Miss  Salisbury, 
Miss  0.  Miller,  Helen  M.  Brewer,  Miss  IngersoU,  Constan- 
tino Yerkes,  1851. 

Following   have   been  "the  apportionments  of  primary- 
school  funds  for  various  years  : 


District. 

1848. 

Scholars. 

Amount 

No    1 

36 
26 
61 
35 

$11.51 

"    2.... 

8.31 

"    3 

19.46 

B.  and  P 

Fractional  District  No.  1.. 

11.18 

District. 

1850. 

Scholars. 

Amount. 

No    1 

33 
43 
48 
24 
46 
27 

$11.22 

"    2 

14.62 

"    3 

16.32 

"    4 

8.16 

B.  and  P. 

B.  and  S. 

Fractional  District  No.  1.. 
Fractional  District  No.  I;.. 

16.64 
9.18 

25 

1860. 

District.                                                          Scholars.  Amount. 

No.  1 80  $36.80 

"     2 34  15.84 

"     3 ; 46  21.16 

"     i 41  18.86 

"     5 45  20.70 

B.  and  P.  Fractional  District  No.  1...        43  19.74 

1870. 

District.                      ■                                       Scholars.  Amount. 

No.  1 80  $38  78 

"     2 36  17.24 

"     3 64  30.64 

"     i 51  24.42 

"     5 87  41.65 

"     6 40  19.15 

B.  and  P.  Fractional  District  No.  1...        32  15.32 

The  following  statistics  are  gathered  .from  the  school  in- 
spectors' report  for  year  ending  Sept.  1,  1879  : 

Number  of  whole  districts 6 

"             fractional  districts 1 

"  children  of  school  age  residing  in 

the  township 444 

Number  of  children  attending  school  daring 

the  year 352 

Number  of  frame  school-houses 7 

"  sittings •        442 

Value  of  school  property $4375.00 

Number  of  men  teachers  employed 7 

"             women  teachers  employed 8 

Paid  men  teachers $549.27 

Paid  women  teachers 364.00 

Total  resources  for  the  year 2066.80 


EELIGIOUS. 

THE  FIRST  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OF  BEN- 
NINGTON, 

whose  church  edifice  is  situated  in  the  village  of  Benning- 
ton Station,  was  organized  about  the  year  1869,  when  Rev. 
John  Maywood  came  here  as  the  preacher  in  charge  of  the 
Bennington  Circuit.  Previously  the  members  of  this 
denomination  living  here  had  been  included  in  the  Owosso 
Circuit. 

The  early  meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house ;  but 
very  soon  after  this  became  a  regular  appointment  the 
building  of  a  house  of  worship  was  agitated,  and  the  mat- 
ter received  such  favorable  consideration  that  the  present 
structure  was  commenced  in  1869,  completed  and  dedicated 
in  February,  187 1-,  at  a  cost,  including  bell,  organ,  etc.,  of 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars. 

Among  the  early  members  were  ApoUos  Dewey,  Mr. 
Halstead  and  wife.  Nelson  Waugh  and  wif^,  Orra  Waugh 
and  wife,  William  and  Nellie  Waugh.  But  a  short  time 
subsequently,  James  Byerly  and  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Thorpe, 
Mrs.  William  Byerly,  Mrs.  Juliet  Rowell,  and  others  joined 
the  organization. 

The  Sabbath-school  antedates  the  church  by  about  one 
year,  Mr.  Gould,  a  superannuated  minister,  assisted  by 
James  Byerly  and  Mrs.  Juliet  Rowell,  having  established  a 
Sabbath-school  in  the  school-house  in  June,  1868.  The 
schools  have  had  an  uninterrupted  continuance  to  the  pres- 
ent, and  have  ever  formed  one  of  the  prominent  features  of 
this  church.  To  Mrs.  Rowell,  who,  during  the  superintend- 
ency  of  Messrs.  Gould  and  Byerly,  assumed  full  charge 
in  the  absence  of  either,  great  credit  is  due  for  the  success 
which  has  hitherto  attended  their  sessions. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wilkinson  succeeded  Mr.  Maywood.  Other 
pastors  have  been  Revs.  Whitley,  Clack,  Thompson,  Laing, 


194 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


and  Frederick  Strong,  the  latter  being  the  present  incum- 
bent. Number  of  present  members,  sixty.  In  this  charge 
is  included  the  Newbur?;  class ;  also  one  at  Pittsburg  of 
forty  members. 

EMMANUEL  CHUKCH  OF  THE  EVANGELICAL  ASSOCIA- 
TION IN  BENNINGTON. 
The  members  of  this  church  erected  a  house  of  worship 
in  ISTiJ,  and  the  society  was  incorporated  June  26,  1876. 
Those  named  as  corporators  were  Gottlieb  Eeuss,  Henry 
Wentz,  Christian  Berrick,  Henry  Merkler,  John  Hortman, 
Michael  Bower,  Frederick  Schuknecht,  Jacob  Schmidtgall, 
Christian   Kock,   Frederick  Hinspader,  Simon  Salisbury,  ' 
George  Merkler.  F.  Klein,    John  Crutts,  and  C.  Crutts. 
This  church  belongs  to  the  district  of  which  Rev.  John  : 
M.  Houk   is   presiding  elder,   and  includes   churches   at  i 
Offosso,  Bennington,  New  Haven,  and  Chesaning. 

THE  PITTSBURG  CHURCH   OE  BENNINGTON, 
of  which  Joseph  Place,  Mary  M.  Place,  Mary  J.  Gardner,  ; 
Sarah  Hutchings,  Hiram  Pierson,  B.  C.  Chittenden,  and  ' 
Josephine  Chittenden  were  named  as  members,  was  incor- 
porated April  2,  1877.     At  a  meeting  held  in  the  school-  i 
house    in    Pittsburg,  May   15,  1877,    Rev.  M.  Hayden 
chairman,  Joseph  Place,  D.  P.  Austin,  and  Albert  Gillett 
were  elected  trustees.     This  church  has  erected  a  house  of  < 
worship  in  the  small  village  of  Pittsburg,  which  structure  ; 
is    also  occupied  by  the    Pittsburg  Methodist  Episcopal  i 
class. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


ISAAC  GALE. 

Isaac  Gale  was  born  at  Berne,  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
4th  of  December,  1808.  His  parents  were  Roger  and 
Anna  (Sherburne)  Gale.  The  Gale  family  came  to  America 
some  time  in  the  seventeenth  century  and  settled  in  the 
Eastern  States.  The  Sherburne  family  were  originally  from 
Germany,  emigrating  from  that  country  to  England  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  and  from  the  latter  country  to  America 
at  a  somewhat  later  date. 

The  young  man  remained  at  home,  working  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  in  the 
mean  time  availing  himself  of  such  means  of  education  as 
were  afforded  by  the  ordinary  district  schools  of  the  day. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  manhood,  and  after  careful  con- 
sideration, he  determined  to  follow,  as  the  principal  avoca- 
tion of  his  life,  the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  considering  it 
the  most  independent,  and  the  safest  and  surest  road  to  a 
reasonable  competence,  and  one  that  would  afford  the  most 
ample  time  for  reading  and  contemplation,  as  well  as  a  safe 
asylum  from  the  cares  and  perplexities  of  ordinary  business 
pursuits. 

With  this  determination  he  bravely  pushed  out  alone, 
without  an  acquaintance  or  companion,  and  came  to  the 
then  wilderness  and  Territory  of  Michigan ;  traveling  by 


the  Erie  Canal  to  Lake  Erie,  and  thence  by  the  steamer 
"  Niagara,"  commanded  by  the  famous  seaman,  Captain 
Blake, — eccentric  and  rough,  but  as  kind  of  heart  as  a 
woman.  On  the  15th  day  of  May,  1830,  he  landed  at  De- 
troit, then  but  an  inferior  frontier  village.  From  there  he 
went  to  Superior  township,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Washte- 
naw County,  near  Ypsilanti,  where  he  commenced  improving 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  timbered  land ;  cleared  a 
few  acres,  which  he  planted  with  wheat,  and  returned  to 
New  York,  where,  on  the  4th  day  of  September,  1831,  he 
married  Miss  M.  A.  Wilbur,  and  came  back  to  his  farm  in 
Washtenaw  County,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
April,  1840. 

Miss  Wilbur  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Lydia  Shelden 
Wilbur,  of  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  where  she  was  born 
September  4,  1813. 

During  his  stay  upon  his  new  farm  Mr.  Gale  made  many 
improvements,  and  also  served  the  people  as  township  clerk 
and  school  inspector.  Previous  to  1840  he  exchanged  his 
farm  for  a  larger  tract  of  new  land  in  Bennington,  Shiawassee 
County,  to  which  he  removed  in  April,  1840,  and  where  he 
has  continued  to  reside  to  the  present  time.  His  property 
has  grown  till  it  embraces  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
the  greater  portion  of  which  is  well  improved,  and  on  which 
are  good  buildings  and  the  necessary  conveniences  of  a 
well-conducted  farm. 

After  many  years  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  Mr. 
Gale  can  look  back  with  satisfaction  and  truly  say,  "  If  I 
were  again  young,  with  the  experience  and  observation  I 
have  had,  I  should  certainly  choose  the  same  occupation." 

In  addition  to  his  labors  upon  the  farm,  Mr.  Gale  has 
been  called  to  officiate  in  another  sphere  as  a  servant  of 
the  people,  and  as  a  prominent  business  man  in  various 
positions.  In  the  spring  of  1841  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  which  he  has  held  for  a  period 
of  thirty-six  years,  a  fact  of  itself  sufficient  to  prove  his 
character  and  standing.  He  has  also  held  the  office  of 
supervisor  of  the  township  for  fifteen  years,  and  served  four 
years  as  second  judge  of  the  county  court  before  that 
tribunal  was  superseded  by  the  Circuit  Court.  He  was  an 
industrious  student,  and  upon  his  election  as  justice  began 
a  systematic  study  of  statute  and  common  law  by  utilizing 
the  long  winter  evenings,  rainy  days,  and  other  leisure  time. 
In  the  early  days  of  Michigan  an  extensive  business,  both 
civil  and  criminal,  came  before  the  justices  of  the  peace. 
Mr.  Gale  remembers  with  gratitude  the  timely  advice  and 
valuable  assistance  tendered  him  by  the  late  Governor 
Parsons,  and  Hon.  Amos  Gould,  of  Owosso,  both  then 
practicing  before  the  justices'  courts.  In  his  capacity  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  Mr.  Gale  considered  it  his  duty  to 
advise  a  settlement  of  all  difficulties  without  litigation  if 
it  were  possible. 

During  a  period  of  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  bank- 
ing business  at  Corunna,  under  the  firm-name  of  J.  B. 
Wheeler  &  Co.  The  firm  did  a  private  business,  in  which 
they  were  reasonably  successful.  At  the  end  of  ten  years 
they  sold  the  business  to  other  parties  who  have  since  closed 
it  up. 

Mr.  Gale  has  also  been  a  prominent  railroad  man.  In 
connection  with  W.  L.  Bancroft  and  others,  commencing 


ISAAC     GALE 


M^f  /SAAC    GALE 


BENNINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


195 


about  1868-70,  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  construction 
of  a  road  from  Port  Huron  to  Lansing.  Between  Port 
Huron  and  Flint  this  road  was  known  as  the  Port  Huron 
and  Lake  Michigan  road,  and  between  Flint  and  Lansing 
as  the  Chicago  and  Northeastern  road.  These  now  form 
a  part  of  the  Chicago  and  Grand  Trunk  line.  He  was  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  company,  and  worked  through  the 
trying  times  when  the  company,  like  many  others,  was  poor, 
and  the  work  progressed  very  slowly.  When  this  road  and 
the  one  building  at  the  same  time  between  Lansing  and 
South  Bend,  Ind,,  were  consolidated  under  the  name  of  the 
Chicago  and  Lake  Huron  Bailroad,  he  was  elected  a  direc- 
tor in  the  new  company.  When  the  Chicago  and  North- 
eastern Company  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
structing the  link  lying  between  Lansing  and  Flint,  Mr. 
Gale  resigned  his  position,  and  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
vice-president  of  the  last-named  company,  which  position 
he  occupied  until  the  final  sale  of  the  entire  line  to  the 
Canada  Grand  Trunk  Company,  in  September,  1879. 

Mr.  Gale  spent  a  considerable  portion  of  twelve  years  in 
the  interests  of  the  various  segments  of  what  now  consti- 
tute a  great  international  line  of  railway,  during  which 
period  the  profits  and  losses  about  balanced  each  other, 
leaving  to  him  as  the  only  valuable  acquisition  an  extensive 
experience  and  the  knowledge  gained  by  contact  with  an 
able  and  energetic  class  of  business  men,  of  whom  he  con- 
siders Hon.  W.  L.  Bancroft,  of  Port  Huron,  the  prominent 
representative,  and  the  one  to  whom,  above  all  others,  the 
credit  is  due  for  pushing  to  completion  a  great  and  valuable 
line  of  railway. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  is  now  living  with  his  wife 
on  his  farm,  which  is  managed  by  his  son  ;  and  his  conclu- 
sion, after  a  busy  life,  is  that,  were  he  to  commence  anew, 
he  would  set  aside  all  business  except  that  pertaining  to  the 
occupation  of  farming,  and  bend  all  his  energies  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil  and  its  kindred  pursuits.  He  con- 
siders a  sand  bank  more  valuable  to  the  farmer  than  any 
other,  and  has  come  to  the  conclusion  that  "  Short-horn" 
and  "  Alderney  stock"  is  much  better  than  railway  stock 
as  an  investment. 

Politically  Mr.  Gale  favored  the  election  of  John  Quincy 
Adams  in  1828.  During  the  existence  of  the  Whig  party 
he  was  a  strong  advocate  of  its  principles,  and  on  the  for- 
mation of  the  present  Republican  party,  in  1854,  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  the  Democracy,  with  which  party  he 
has  since  affiliated.  He  believes  it  the  duty  of  all  Ameri- 
can citizens  to  abide  by  and  faithfully  carry  out  every 
provision  of  the  constitution  until  annulled  or  amended, 
not  only  by  act  of  the  general  government,  but  by  every 
State  in  the  Union. 

In  religious  opinion  and  belief  Mr.  Gale  has  been  a 
member  and  supporter  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  a 
period  of  thirty-six  years.  He  claims  to  be  free  from  sec- 
tarian or  bigoted  views  and  feelings,  and  totally  ignores  the 
doctrines  of  election  and  reprobation  as  taught  by  John 
Calvin  and  his  followers. 


NEWCOMB   MITCHELL. 

Among  the  prominent  farmers  and  early  settlers  of  Ben- 
nington the  subject  of  this  biography  is  entitled  to  special 
mention.  Although  he  is  not  a  pioneer  he  has  done  much 
pioneer  work.  He  has  perfected  a  valuable  record,  and 
demonstrated  his  general  worth  as  a  citizen.  He  was  born 
in  Bennington,  Vt.,  Sept.  21,  1821.  He  was  the  son  of 
Newcomb  and  Polly  (Hone)  Mitchell,  who  reared  a  family 
of  eleven  children, — six  boys  and  five  girls. 

The  elder  Mitchell  was  a  blacksmith,  a  sturdy,  industrious 
man,  but  devoid  of  the  faculty  of  money-getting,  and  his 
children  were  deprived  of  educational  advantages,  and  their 
learning  was  obtained  more  from  the  bitter  school  of  ex- 
perience than  from  books.  When  Newcomb,  Jr.,  was  a 
babe  the  family  removed  to  New  York,  where  his  father 
followed  his  vocation,  changing  his  residence  from  Syracuse, 
where  he  first  located,  to  Lyons,  and  from  there  to  Wyo- 
ming County.  In  1844  he  removed  to  Michigan,  and  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Salem,  Washtenaw  Co.  He  returned  to 
the  State  of  New  York,  however,  and  died  near  Attica,  at  an 
advanced  age.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  Newcomb  was 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources.  He  first  obtained  employ- 
ment on  a  farm  at  a  sixpence  a  day.  His  boyhood  days 
were  devoid  of  pleasure,  and  toil  and  privation  seemed  his  lot ; 
but  by  reason  of  his  surroundings  he  developed  in  youth 
many  traits  of  character  that  might  otherwise  have  remained 
dormant,  and  which  have  had  an  influence  upon  his  future. 
He  worked  as  a  farm-laborer  until  he  was  twenty  years  of 
age,  when  he  went  to  Buffiilo  and  apprenticed  himself  to 
the  trade  of  a  mason,  which  avocation  he  followed  many 
years.  In  1844  he  came  to  Michigan,  where  his  brother 
Calvin,  now  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Washtenaw 
County,  had  settled  the  year  previous  in  the  town  of  Salem. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  the  two  brothers  made  a  trip  of  obser- 
vation to  Wisconsin.  Upon  their  return  Newcomb  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Salem,  which  he  afterwards  sold. 

In  the  fall  of  1847  he  came  to  Lansing  and  engaged  in 
the  grocery  trade.  This  venture,  owing  to  the  perfidy  of 
his  partner,  proved  disastrous.  In  the  winter  of  1849 
he  came  to  Bennington,  and  the  following  summer  built 
the  octagonal  school  building  near  Corunna.  1852  found 
him  in  the  employ  of  the  Michigan  Central  Eailroad.  In 
1852  he  returned  to  Bennington,  and  the  following  year 
commenced  the  improvement  of  his  farm,  which  he  had 
purchased  in  1846.  Here  he  has  since  resided,  and  to  the 
original  purchase  of  eighty  acres  has  added  one  hundred 
and  ninety  acres.  The  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  town- 
ship, and  his  commodious  buildings  and  finely-cultivated 
fields  attest  his  thrift  and  success.  In  1866,  Mr.  Mitchell 
married  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  Dyer  Phelps,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  town  of  Shiawassee.  She  was  born 
in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Christmas-day,  1835.  Eight  children 
have  been  born  to  them, — three  boys  and  five  girls. 

Mr.  Mitchell  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man.  Starting  in 
life  with  only  his  strong  pair  of  hands  and  a  robust  consti- 
tution, he  has  attained  success  in  all  departments  of  life. 

In  his  political  and  religious  affiliations  he  is  a  Bepublican 
and  a  Methodist,  and  among  the  representative  men  of 
Bennington  he  occupies  a  foremost  position. 


196 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SAMUEL  NICHOLS. 


Pioneer  biographies  are  usually 
devoid  of  romantic  incidents  and 
startling  events,  but  are  always 
replete  with  recitals  of  hardships 
and  privations  that  to  the  present 
generation  sound  more  like  fiction 
than  fact.  Many  lessons  of  in- 
dustry, indomitable  perseverance, 
and  rigid  economy  can  be  gleaned 
from  them ;  and  while  all  are  of 
historical  importance,  special  in- 
terest is  felt  in  the  life  of  that 
adventurous  individual  who  made 
the  first  permanent  settlement. 
To  Samuel  Nichols  belongs  the 
honor  not  only  of  being  the  first 
white  settler,  but  of  building  the 


MKS.    LYMAN   HICKEY. 

first  house,  felling  the  first  tree, 
and  plowing  the  first  ftirrow  within 
the  present  limits  of  the  town  of 
Bennington.  He  was  bom  in  the 
town  of  Hinsdale,  Vt.,  in  1804. 
But  little  is  known  of  his  early 
history  further  than  that  he  was 
left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  four 
years,  and  was  reared  by  a  gentle- 
man by  the  name  of  Philander 
Glover,  in  whose  family  he  lived 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  a^e. 
He  then  started  in  life  as  a  farm- 
laborer  ;  was  industrious  and  ener- 
getic, and,  by  carefully  husbanding 
his  earnings,  acquired  a  sum  suf- 
ficient to  purchase  a  home  of  his 


own.  In  1832  he  bought  a  new 
farm  near  Jamestown,  N.  Y.,  on 
which  he  remained  four  years 
when  he  sold  his  property  and 
came  to  Bennington,  where  he 
made  the  first  purchase  of  govern- 
ment land  in  the  township  as  at 
present  organized,  it  being  the 
southwest  quarter  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  24,  town- 
ship 6  north,  range  2  east.  Upon 
this  farm  he  resided  until  his  de- 
cease, which  occurred  March  30, 
1869,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of 
his  age. 

In  1831  he  married  Miss  Mi- 
randa Kathan.     She  was  also  a 


SAMUEL    NICHOLS. 


MRS.    SAMUEL   NICHOLS. 


LYMAN    HICKEY. 

native  of  Vermont,  and  was  born 
in  1808.  Although  advanced  in 
years,  her  recollections  of  the 
early  days  are  still  vivid,  and  she 
recalls  many  incidents  in  her  pio- 
neer life  that  prove  conclusively 
that  she  was  possessed  of  perse- 
verance, energy,  and  remarkable 
fortitude,  and  that  she  is  worthy 
of  a  conspicuous  position  among 
the  pioneer  women  of  Shiawassee 
County.  She  has  been  the  mother 
of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  Of  the  four  others, 
two  only  are  living,  Samuel  and 
Mary  M.  The  latter  was  married, 
in  1858,  to  L.  Hickey,  who  was 


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BENNINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


197 


born  in  Genesee  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1824.  His  father  came 
to  Michigan  with  his  family  in  1824,  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Commerce,  Oakland  Co.,  where  Lemuel  resided 
until  1840,  when  he  came  to  Bennington,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  is  also  a  pioneer,  having  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  town  for  forty  years.  He  is  the  owner  of  the 
Nichols  farm,  on  which  he  resides,  a  view  of  which  appears 
on  another  page. 


JOHN  INNES. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  brief  notice  is  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Shiawassee,  and  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Peterhead,  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland,  July  7,  1815. 
His  father,  also  named  John,  was  born  in  the  parish  of 
Mathlick.  He  was  a  manufacturer  of  linen  and  cotton  goods, 
but  in  the  later  part  of  his  life,  owing  to  ill  health,  became 
a  farmer.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Frasier,  and  reared  a 
family  of  four  children, — two  boys  and  two  girls, — John 
being  the  eldest.  In  1825  he  removed  from  Peterhead  to 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  leased  a  farm  of  Lord  Aber- 
deen, on  which  he  remained  until  his  decease,  which  oc- 
curred at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He  was 
an  upright,  honorable  man,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him.  John  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he 
W^s  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  attended  a  parochial  school, 
and  obtained  a  good  education. 

Peterhead,  the  place  of  his  birth,  is  a  seaport  town,  and 
the  most  easterly  city  in  Scotland,  and  the  dream  of  his 
boyhood  days  was  "  a  life  on  the  ocean  wave,"  and  he  deter- 
mined to  follow  the  sea  as  the  principal  avocation  of  his 
life,  but  his  plans  were  opposed  by  his  parents,  and  he  de- 
cided to  come  to  America.  June  18,  1836,  he  bade  good- 
by  to  friends  and  relatives,  and  after  a  tedious  voyage  of 
seven  weeks  arrived  in  New  York.  He  immediately 
started  for  the  West,  and  first  stopped  at  Huron,  Ohio, 
where  he  found  an  organization  known  as  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, having  for  its  object  the  development  of  lands  in 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Shiawassee,  Shiawassee  Co.  He 
engaged  himself  to  this  company,  and  with  others  started 
for  Michigan.  They  arrived  at  Detroit  in  August,  1836, 
and  the  journey  from  that  point  to  their  destination  was  a 
tedious  one.  From  Fenton  there  was  nothing  but  an  In- 
dian trail,  and  one  week  was  consumed  in  their  journey 
from  that  place  to  Shiawasseetown.  He  remained  in  the 
employ  of  this  company  until  the  autumn  of  1837,  and 
during  that  time  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the  first 
saw-mill,  grist-mill,  and  bridge  within  the  present  limits  of 
the  county. 

This  enterprise  proved  unsuccessful  both  to  the  company 
and  Mr.  Innes,  and  in  the  fall  of  1837  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  then  started  on  an 
extended  trip  through  the  Southern  States,  stopping  at 
Natchez,  Vicksburg,  New  Orleans,  and   other  important 

towns. 

In  June,  1838,  he  went  into  the  northern  part  of  Wis- 
consin, where  he  engaged  i-n  lumbering  until  the  fall  of 
1840,  when  he  again  went  South  with  the  intention  of 
making  it  his  home.     He  remained,  however,  but  four  years, 


during  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  rafting  lumber,  cord- 
wood,  and  pickets  to  the  New  Orleans  market.  On  his 
return  North  he  stopped  in  the  town  of  Perry,  where  he 
met  his  destiny  in  the  person  of  Miss  Orissa  Howard, 
whom  he  married  in  April,  1845.  Shortly  after  his  mar- 
riage he  leased  a  large  farm  at  East  Plains,  Ionia  Co.,  and 
commenced  farming.     About  one  month  after  his  marriage 


JOHN   INNES. 

Mrs.  Innes  died,  and  in  the  January  following  he  was 
again  married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Dean,  who  died  thirteen 
months  after.  Just  previous  to  the  death  of  his  wife  he 
had  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Bennington,  to 
which  he  subsequently  added  eighty  acres  more,  and  upon 
which  he  resided  until  his  removal  to  Owosso  in  1880.  In 
October,  1849,  Mr.  Innes  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret 
Yeats.  She  is  a  Scotch  lady,  and  was  born  in  the  parish  of 
New  Deer,  Aberdeenshire,  Sept.  8,  1828.  When  she  was 
ten  years  of  age  the  family  came  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they. resided  until 
1841,  when  they  emigrated  to  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Innes  have  been  blessed  with  three  daughters,  all 
of  whom  are  living. 

In  his  religions  belief  Mr.  Innes  is  a  Presbyterian.  He 
is  a  man  of  positive  character,  tenacious  of  his  opinions, 
which  are  formed  by  mature  deliberation  and  investigatiour 
He  believes  that  ''an  honest  man  is  the  noblest  work  of 
God,"  and  his  practice  is  in  accordance  with  his  belief,  and 
wherever  he  is  known  his  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his 
bond.  In  his  domestic  relations  he  is  a  kind  husband  and 
an  indulgent  father.  In  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men 
he  is  dignified  and  courteous,  and  possessed  of  much  suavity 
of  manner.  His  life  has  been  an  eventftil  one,  and  the 
early  part  was  one  of  rough  experiences  and  replete  with 
hardship  and  privations ;  but  notwithstanding  the  obstacles 
that  beset  his  path  his  life  has  been  a  success,  and  now  in 
the  evening  of  his  days,  with  his  family  around  him  and 


198 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


knowing  that  he  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all,  and 
that  his  success  in  all  departments  of  life  is  due  wholly  to 
his  own  efforts,  he  feels  that  he  has  been  rewarded. 


JONATHAN  M.  HAETWELL. 

This  venerable  pioneer  was  born  in  Norwich,  Chenango 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  29,  1801.  His  father,  Bbenezer  Hart- 
well,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  County,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Chenango  County.  He  married  Rachel 
Mead,  and  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children, — six  boys  and 
six  girls.  His  father,  Oliver  Hartwell,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  served  during  its  continuance,  par- 
ticipating in  many  decisive  battles.  He  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-seven  years. 

Bbenezer  Hartwell,  or  Deacon  Hartwell,  as  he  was 
familiarly  known,  was  an  energetic  and  successful  farmer, 
and  a  man  of  undoubted  integrity.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  was  closely  identified 
with  the  history  of  Norwich  and  Chenango  County.  His 
wife  was  one  of  those  good  women  of  the  olden  time ;  she 
spun  and  wove,  and  reared  her  children  to  habits  of  indus- 
try and  thrift.     She  died  in  Bennington  in  1845. 

Jonathan,  as  was  the  custom  in  those  days,  acknowledged 
obligation  to  his  father  in  his  labor  until  he  attained  his 
majority ;  he  acquired  such  an  education  as  the  district 
■  school  of  that  day  afforded.  In  1822  he  married  Miss 
Eliza,  daughter  of  Laban  Crandall.  She  was  a  native  of 
Dutchess  County,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
Nov.  4,  1806.  In  his  youth  Mr.  Hartwell  evinced  much 
enterprise  and  energy,  and  shortly  after  his  marriage  he 
purchased  sixty  acres  of  land  near  his  father's  farm,  in- 
curring an  indebtedness  of  one  thousand  dollars  for  the 
same.  He  remained  upon  this  farm  ten  years,  making  sub- 
stantial improvements  and  freeing  himself  from  debt.  In 
1832  he  sold  his  farm  and  engaged  in  trade  in  North  Nor- 
wich. Merchandising  proved  an  uncongenial  occupation, 
and  he  resolved  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  then  Territory 
of  Michigan.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  in  company  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Horace  Green,  he  came  to  Michigan 
on  a  tour  of  observation  ;  he  was  favorably  impressed  with 
the  soil  and  natural  advantages,  and  decided  to  make 
this  State  his  home.  He  returned  East,  and  the  following 
year  (1838)  again  came  to  Michigan,  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  section  24.  He  cleared,  fenced,  and  plowed  ten 
acres,  built  a  log  house,  and  went  back  to  the  State  of  New 
York,  where  he  closed  up  his  business,  and  November  10th 
of  that  year  started  for  Michigan  with  his  family,  which 
consisted  of  his  wife  and  five  children.  He  brought  with 
him  a  stock  of  boots  and  leather,  which  found  a  ready  sale 
among  the  settlers.  The  following  summer  he  broke  forty 
acres.  He  entered  into  the  improvement  of  his  farm  with 
his  usual  energy,  and  the  third  year  after  his  arrival  sowed 
one  hundred  acres  of  wheat.  In  1849  he  established  a 
store  near  his  present  residence,  and  for  a  long  time  did  an 
extensive  business.  He  also  kept  a  house  of  entertainment 
for  many  years,  and  the  "  Hartwell  Tavern"  was  known  far 
and  wide. 


Mr.  Hartwell's  record  as  a  citizen  and  neighbor  is  an 
enviable  one.    His  word,  whether  given  in  a  business  trans- 
action or  in  ordinary  conversation,  is  as  good  as  his  bond ; 
he  has  never  sought  political  honors ;  his  aim  in  life  has 
been  to  accumulate  a  competency  and  to  win  an  unspotted 
reputation,  and  well  has  he  succeeded.     Socially  he  is  genial 
and  courteous,  winning  the  regard  and  esteem  of  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact.    We  should  prove  recreant  to 
our  duty  did  we  not  speak  of  the  many  virtues  of  his  noble 
'  wife,  who  shared  the  hardships  of  early  days,  and  to  whose 
\  thrift,  industry,  and  sage  counsel  he  attributes  much  of 
;  his  success  ;  her  portrait,  so  full  of  character,  in  connection 
with  his  own  and  a  view  of  the  old  home,  may  be  seen 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 
BURNS   TOWNSHIP.* 

Boundaries  and  Natural  Features.^Settlement  of  the  Township- 
Schools — Early  Roads— Civil  History  of  the  Township — Byron  Vil- 
lage— Church  History — Societies  and  Orders. 

Burns,  the  southeast  corner  township  of  Shiawassee 
County,  described  as  town  5  north,  of  range  4  west,  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Vernon,  on  the  east  by  Genesee 
County,  on  the  south  by  Livingston  County,  and  on  the 
west  by  Antrim.  The  surface,  though  in  places  level,  and 
inclined  to  be  wet  and  swampy,  is  generally  undulating, 
and  is  well  drained  by  the  Shiawassee  and  its  branches,  as 
well  as  by  several  large  artificial  water-ways.  The  stream 
usually  known  as  the  East  Branch  unites  with  the  Shiawas- 
see River  at  Byron  village,  forming  an  excellent  water-power 
at  that  village.  There  are  two  small  lakes  in  the  township, 
both  of  which  have  small  outlets  that  unite  and  flow  into 
the  river.  The  soil  is  very  fertile,  and  the  township  is 
justly  considered  one  of  the  best  in  Shiawassee  County. 
Until  September,  1850,  parts  of  sections  5,  7,  and  8,  and 
all  of  section  6,  were  held  as  an  Indian  reservation ,1  but  at 
that  time  it  was  opened  for  settlement. 

SETTLEMENT  OF   THE  TOWNSHIP. 

Although  Whitmore  Knaggs  came  to  what  is  now  the 
township  of  Burns  and  opened  a  trading-station  here  as 
early  as  the  year  1820,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  traders 
Grant,  Godfrey,  and  John  Knaggs,  the  last  mentioned  of 
whom  (a  son  of  Whitmore  Knaggs)  commenced  trade  on 
the  Indian  reservation  in  or  about  1832,  the  actual  settle- 
ment of  the  township  by  immigrant  farmers  intending  to 
become  permanent  residents  did  not  begin  until  1835.  In 
the  summer  of  that  year  (in  July  as  near  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained) Dyer  Rathburn,  with  a  wife  and  seven  children, 
reached  the  township,  and  located  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  20.  With  the  help  of  Rufiis,  his  eldest  son,  then 
about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  immediately  built  a  log 

*  By  G.  A.  McAlpine. 

f  The  reservation  of  Eechevrondaugoning,  granted  to  the  Shiawas- 
see Chippewas  in  the  Saginaw  treaty  of  September,  1819. 


BURNS  TOWNSHIP. 


199 


cabin  dwelling,  which,  after  the  settlement  of  the  township 
fairly  commenced,  was  used  also  as  a  tavern. 

Mr.  Rathburn  seems  to  have  had  some  idea  of  the  diffi- 
culties to  be  encountered,  for  he  came  well  prepared  to 
meet  them.     He  brought  two  yokes  of  oxen  and  a  span  of 
horses,  with  wagons,  farming  implements,  and  household 
goods.     In  the  fall  he  sow-ed  a  small  piece  of  wheat,  and  in 
the  spring  planted  corn.     For  nearly  a  year  the  family  lived  i 
in  solitude,  with  no  neighbors  but  Indians,  many  hundreds  , 
of  whom  at  times  passed  along  the  trail  east  of  the  cabin  ' 
on  their  way  southeast  to  the  Detroit  River,  and  on  their 
return  thence  to  their  homes  and  hunting-grounds  in  the  . 
northwest. 

The  first  knowledge  the  family  had  of  other  settlers  ' 
'  being   in  the   township  was   brought  about  accidentally. 
Some  members  of  the  family  being  in  the  woods  at  a  con-  • 
siderable  distance  from  home  heard  the  cackling  of  chickens 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Shiawassee  River,  and  on  search-  i 
ing  for  new-comers  they  found  the  family  of  Robert  Craw-  i 
ford  comfortably  located  in  a  cabin,  near  the  north  bank  of  j 
the  river,  on  section  15.     Mr.  Crawford  came  to  Oakland 
Co.,  Mich.,  in  1826,  from  Canada,  having  gone  there  from  i 
New  York  in  1820.     He  cariie  to  Burns  in  March,  1836,  ! 
and  located  as  above  stated.     As  soon  as  his  cabin  was  J 
completed,  Joseph  Leonard  (his  son-in-law)  and  wife  came  ; 
to  the  new  home  of  her  father.     Her  younger  brother  and  l 
sister  came  at  the  same  time,  and  the  rest  of  the  family  . 
came  in  June. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  Adelaide  i 
Crawford,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Crawford,  - 
the  date  of  her  birth  teing  Nov.  2,  1836.    Wallace  Goodin,  ; 
who  with  F.  J.  Prevost  was  striving  to  make  a  city  of  the 
village  of  Byron,  deeded  this  child  (in  commemoration  of 
the  event)  two  lots  now  owned  by  Nicholas  Gulick.     She 
subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Rev.    Mr.  Sprague,  a 
Methodist  minister,  and  now  lives  in  Galesburg,  Kalamazoo 
Co.,  Mich.     Robert  Crawford  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years.     His  wife  died  in  January,  1880,  aged 
eighty-one. 

The  next  settler  was  John  Burgess,  who  located  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  23.     He  brought  a  wife  and 
one  daughter,  named  Lauretta.    After  building  a  log  house  i 
he  sold  to  Capt.  John  Laurie,  and  then  located  a  part  of  ! 
the  farm  now  owned  by  William  Chaffee.     Mrs.  Burgess 
died  soon  after,  and  was  buried  on  this  farm.     Her  coffin 
was  made  of  walnut  boards  taken  from  the  floor  of  John 
B.  Barnum's  cabin,  and  was  nailed  together  and  polished 
with   beeswax.      Her   remains   have    not   been   removed,   ' 
though  the  plow  has  passed  over  them  many  times,  and  no 
trace  of  her  grave  is  now  visible. 

John  B.  Barnum,  who,  on  June  22,  1836,  settled  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  28,  was  probably  the  next 
settler  in  Burns.  He-  built  a  log  house  on  this  farm,  and 
after  the  expiration  of  a  year  and  a  half  he  traded  it  to 
William  Baulch  for  part  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 26.  The  farm  first  entered  by  Mr.  Barnum  is  now 
owned  by  S.  S.  Wiltsie,  who  purchased  it  in  1843.  Mr. 
Barnum  built  on  his  new  farm  a  house  and  barn,  which 
are  still  standing.  His  family  at  the  time  of  settlement 
consisted  of  a  wife  and  four  children,  and  a  half-brother, 


familiarly  known  in  the  early  days  as  Uncle  Tommy.  John 
B.  Barnum  died  Feb.  5,  1865.  His  wife,  Urena,  died  May 
24,  1848.  His  second  wife  died  in  February,  1880.  His 
son,  Isaac  S.  Barnum,  married  Amelia,  the  daughter  of 
Robert  Crawford.  They  live  on  section  26,  near  the  site 
of  the  old  homestead. 

Peter  Kanouse  came  to  Burns  with  his  family  in  the 
summer  of  1836.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  brought  a 
kit  of  tools  with  him.  He  settled  on  the  south  line  of 
section  27,  built  a  cabin,  and  was  ready  for  business,  for 
which  he  did  not  long  have  to  wait,  as  the  township  filled 
up  very  rapidly  from  this  time  on.  His  was  the  first  black- 
smith-shop in  the  township.  The  next  was  started  at  Byron 
by  Joseph  Layton.  The  same  month  Ezra  D.  Barnes, 
from  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  settled  on  section  27.  He  brought 
a  wife  and  two  boys,  one  of  whom  was  killed  by  falling 
from  a  fence.     Mr.  Barnes  died  in  1876. 

Thomas  P.  Green  reached  Burns  township  in  August, 
1836,  after  a  trip  of  twenty-one  days.  He  stopped  in 
Livingston  County,  where  he  met  D.  F.  Rockwell,  who 
had  located  land  on  sections  32,  33.  Of  him  Mr.  Green 
bought  one  hundred  acres,  where  he  still  lives,  being  one 
of  the  few  survivors  of  those  who  came  to  the  township  in 
1836.  Mr.  Green  helped  locate  many  of  the  first  roads 
in  the  south  part  of  the  county.  The  Indians  called  him 
"  Che-Shemokeman,"  meaning  big  white  man.  At  the 
same  time  that  he  purchased  his  land.  Bright  L.  Clement, 
then  a  young  man,  bought  sixty  acres  in  the  same  locality. 

In  September,  Amos  Foster,  with  his  wife,  came  to  the  • 
township,  and  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
22.  Mr.  Foster  had  been  liere  and  located  forty  acres 
of  this  quarter  in  the  May  previous.  He  also  bought 
eighty  acres  for  William  Chaffee.  During  the  summer  of 
1836  Mr.  Foster  acted  as  guide  to  the  numerous  land- 
seekers  who  at  that  time  began  to  flock  into  the  township. 
He  then  returned  and  brought  his  wife  as  stated.  He 
built  a  log  cabin  on  his  farm,  in  which  Andrew  Huggins 
is  supposed  to  have  taught  the  first  school  in  the  township 
in  the  winter  of  1838-39,  while  Mr.  Poster  and  wife  were 
absent  on  a  trip  to  the  East.  Mr.  Foster  afterwards  sold 
the  forty  acres  on  section  22,  and  bought  eighty  acres  on 
section  20,  now  owned  by  George  Rogers,  who  purchased 
it  in  1846.  He  afterwards  purchased  the  land  on  the 
school  section  now  owned  by  Albert  Rowley. 

Among  the  names  of  the  early  settlers  of  Burns  that 
of  Nicholas  Braden  should  be  included,  who  reached  the 
township  in  1836.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  but  left 
home  when  a  mere  youth,  and  finally,  after  residing  in 
England  and  in  New  York,  settled  in  the  woods  of  Michi- 
gan. He  bought  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32,  and 
built  a  log  cabin,  where  he  lived  alone  for  eighteen  months 
and  shook  with  the  ague  the  greater  part  of  the  time. 
One  day,  while  lying  sick  on  his  bed,  an  Indian  came  and 
sat  down  on  a  log  near  the  house.  Mr.  Braden,  hearing 
the  dogs  bark,  looked  through  the  window,  when  the  Indian 
opened  the  conversation  with  the  single  word — "  Sick  ?"  Mr. 
Braden  replied  that  he  was.  "  No  squaw  ?"  said  the  Indian. 
Mr.  Braden  replied  he  had  none.  This  to  the  Indian 
seemed  to  be  the  very  extremity  of  misfortune,  and  he 
went  away,  groaning  in  sympathy  for  the  sick  man. 


200 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Aaron  Wellman  reached  Burns  probably  in  1836, 
although  there  is  a  difference  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the 
exact  date.  He  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  on  sections 
10  and  14,  part  of  which  he  sold  to  Ramah  Cole,  it  being 
the  same  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Jason  Cole.  Aaron 
Wellman  died  in  1851. 

Ramah  Cole,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  came  to 
Burns  in  1837. 

Gideon  Drake  and  Oliver  Wolcott  were  also  pioneers  of 
Burns  who  settled  in  1837. 

Daniel  Kitson  was  the  next  settler  north  of  the  river. 
He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  remained  at  the  house 
of  Aaron  Wellman  until  his  cabin  was  completed  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  11.  The  southeast  quarter  of 
section  2  was  entered  by  Roger  Haviland  in  1838,  but  he 
did  not  settle  permanently  in  the  township  until  1840. 
After  locating  his  land  he  returned  to  the  south  part  of  the 
State,  and  worked  in  various  places  until  1839,  when  he 
returned  to  Burns,  and  built  a  cabin  on  his  land.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Haviland  are  now  the  only  couple  living  north  of  the 
river  in  Burns  township  who  came  in  1840.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Isaac  Barnum  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos  Foster  are  the 
oldest  residents  south  of  the  river. 

J.  J.  Gaylord  was  the  first  settler  on  the  Indian  reserva- 
tion.    He  was  followed  soon  after  by  J.  E.  Martenus. 

William  Walworth  reached  the  township  about  1840. 
Robert  Fox  was  also  a  pioneer.     Among  those  of  a  more 
recent  date,  but  still  old  settlers,  are  to  be  mentioned  S.  R. 
.  Swick  and  W.  W.  Smith. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  probably  that  of 
the  daughter  of  Robert  Crawford,  which  occurred  in  the 
winter  or  early  spring  of  1837.  She  was  the  first  per- 
son buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Byron.*  There  could  have 
been  but  few  days,  or  weeks  at  most,  between  the  death  re- 
ferred to  and  that. of  the  son  of  F.  J.  Prevost,  which  is 
spoken  of  in  the  history  of  Byron. 

It  is  difficult  to  decide  who  the  contracting  parties  were 
in  the  first  marriage.  The  most  authentic  accounts  point 
to  a  double  wedding  which  took  place  on  the  17th  day  of 
December,  1840,  at  which  time  Elder  Brigham  united  in 
marriage  Jacob  Kanouse  to  Miss  Mabel  Drake,  and  John 
P.  Drake  to  Miss  Agnes  Kanouse. 

SCHOOLS. 
The  first  school  in  the  township  of  Burns  was  held  in 
the  unoccupied  log  cabin  built  by  Amos  Foster,  near  the 
road  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 22.  This  school  was  taught  in  the  winter  of  1838-39 
by  Andrew  Huggins,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Corunna. 
During  the  following  summer  several  schools  were  taught 
in  the  township,  although  no  school  district  was  regularly 
organized  until  1843.  It  is  held  by  some  that  a  lady,  who 
afterwards  married  a  Mr.  McColin  of  Fentonville,  taught 
the  first  school  in  Byron  in  the  summer  of  1838.  School 
was  taught  at  an  early  day  also  in  the  log  house  built  by 
Robert  Crawford  near  the  river.  When  the  road  was 
established  in  1837,  Mr.  Crawford  put  up  a  more  preten- 

*  Up  to  this  time  a  large  band  of  Indians  had  occnpied  this  site, 
but  when  this  took  place  they  removed  their  entire  village  to  the 
ground  east  of  the  river  where  the  upper  iron  bridge  now  stands. 


tious  dwelling,  after  which  his  cabin  was  used  both  as  a 
church  and  school-room.  The  next  school  was  taught  by 
Miss  Jane  Duncan,  in  a  log  house  which  stood  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  20.  This  was  in  1840.  Several 
terms  of  school  had  already  been  taught  just  across  the 
line  in  Livingston  County,  which  gave  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  township  better  school  facilities. 

Schools  were  held  in  the  cabins  above  referred  to  or  in 
other  private  dwellings  until  the  regular  organization  of  the 
several  districts,  which  occurred  as  has  been  stated.  Though 
the  town  board  of  school  inspectors  met  in  the  spring  of 
1840  and  divided  the  entire  township  into  school  districts, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Indian  Reservation,  the  schools, 
nevertheless,  seem  to  have  gone  on  in  the  same  old  way. 
There  is  no  record  of  the  first  school-meetings  in  the  older- 
districts.  This  is  noticeably  the  case  in  district  No.  5,  the 
oldest  district  in  the  township.  The  records  reach  but  a 
few  years  back,  and  these  are  imperfect  and  unsatisfactory. 

In  1842  the  board  met  and  apportioned  the  primary- 
school  money  as  follows:  District  No.  3,  Byron  district, 
received  $8.64;  district  No.  5,  Chaffee  district,  received 
$6.72 ;  district  No.  4,  Green  district,  received  $2.88. 

It  will  be  observed  that  these  districts  were  numbered  as 
at  present,  and,  although  they  are  now  somewhat  smaller, 
they  have  not  been  materially  changed  sitice  first  organized 
in  1840. 

The  first  call  for  a  school-meeting  north  of  the  river  was 
addressed  to  Robert  Crawford  under  date  of  Nov.  14, 
1842.  This  was  to  have  been  held  at  his  house,  but  as 
Mr.  Crawford  did  not  live  in  district  No.  1,  for  the  benefit 
of  which  the  school-meeting  was  to  have  been  held,  the 
place  of  meeting  was  changed.  On  the  6th  of  May,  1843, 
the  school  board,  seeming  not  to  have  forgotten  the  disre- 
gard paid  to  former  instructions,  addressed  Robert  Craw- 
ford as  follows :  "  Mr.  Robert  Crawford,  you  are  hereby 
commanded  to  notify  every  qualified  voter  in  the  above 
district  (No.  2),  either  personally  or  by  leaving  a  written 
notice  at  his  residence,  that  a  school-meeting  will  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Ramah  Cole,  on  the  18th  inst.,  at  one  o'clock 
P.M."  It,  no  doubt,  required  considerable  effort  to  notify 
every  voter  in  the  above  district,  and  perhaps  equally  as 
much  to  leave  a  written  notice  at  his  residence. 

The  next  action  of  the  board  was  "  to  examine  A.  Hug- 
gins  and  Sarah  E.  Stoddard,  candidates  for  teaching,"  both 
of  whom  received  certificates.  The  board  then  directed 
Mr.  Henry  Wiltsie  to  call  a  school-meeting  in  district  No. 
6  (now  No.  10),  at  the  house  of  Dyer  Rathbum,  on  the 
18th  of  May,  1843. 

In  district  No.  2  a  log  school-house  was  built  soon  afl«r 
the  meeting  called  by  the  letter  addressed  to  Robert  Craw- 
ford. It  was  used  until  1856,  when  the  one  now  standing 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  10  was  built. 

In  district  No.  1  the  first  school-meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Edward  Peck,  April  24, 1847.  R.  Haviland  was 
appointed  chairman,  and  the  following  district  officers  were 
elected :  R.  Haviland,  Director ;  Edward  Peck,  Assessor ; 
Daniel  Kitson,  Moderator.  The  next  year  the  same  per- 
sons were  re-elected. 

At  a  school-meeting  on  the  25th  of  September,  1848,  a 
motion  was  carried  to  raise  seventy-five  dollars  to  build  a 


ResioeNCE  OF  fiOGEH  HAV/LAND,    Burns  Shiawi\ssbe,Co.Mwh. 


BURNS  TOWNSHIP. 


201 


log  school-house,  which  was  completed  the  next  year.  This 
one  was  used  until  1870.  The  new  one  was  then  erected, 
and  cost  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Miss  Marinda 
Bradley  taught  the  first  school  in  the  log  house.  Miss 
Acintha  Wellman  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  frame  build- 
ing. 

District  No.  8  was  organized  about  the  year  1854,  being 
formed  from  other  districts.  The  first  school-meeting  was 
held  in  a  cabin  built  some  years  previous  for  school  pur- 
poses. S.  S.  Tower  was  chosen  director,  and  John  B.  Bar- 
num  assessor.  The  room  was  then  repaired,  and  Athenia 
Morse  engaged  as  teacher.  Several  terms  of  private  school 
had  already  been  taught  in  the  district  by  Miss  Eliza 
Tower.  The  next  teacher  was  Miss  Candace  Burgess,  during 
whose  term  the  building  took  fire  and  was  destroyed.  An- 
other log  house  was  built  on  the  same  site  soon  after.  This 
was  used  until  1870,  when  it  was  removed  and  another 
erected  in  its  stead,  at  a  cost  of  eight  hundred  dollars. 

The  following  tables  may  be  of  interest  as  showing  the 
apportionment  of  the  primary-school  fund  for  the  years 
1860  and  1879 : 

I860. 


Districts. 
No.    1.. 
"      2.. 


10., 


Number  of  Scholars.    Amount. 

21  $10.58 

51  25.73 

97  48.96 

65  32.79 

20  10.08 

41  20.68 

27  13.61 

20  10.08 


1879. 


Districte. 
No.    1.. 


3.. 
5.. 
7.. 
8.. 
10.. 


Number  of  Scholars. 

40 

61 

147 


44 
47 
27 


Amount. 

$26.72 
40.76 
98.22 
26.06 
29.40 
31.40 
18.10 


The  following  table  shows  the  total  amount  of  money 
expended  in  each  school  district  in  the  township  for  the 
year  1879: 

Districts.  Amount. 

No.    1  (fractional) $262.36 

<i      1  ^  159.56 

«      2 127.48 

«      3 802.74 

«      4 100.17 

«      5 216.58 

,<      7 134.73 

53.96 


8.. 
10., 


163.14 


EAELY  ROADS. 
May  18,  1837,  the  minutes  of  the  road  from  Genesee 
County  entering  Burns  just  south  of  the  East  Branch  of  the 
Shiawassee  River  were  entered  on  the  records  of  the  town- 
ship. It  was  located  a  few  days  previous,  as  was  also  the 
river  road,  leading  northwest  from  Byron,  which  was  really 
a  continuation  of  the  survey  which  established  the  former 
road.  In  the  same  month  the  road  leading  north  from 
Livingston  County,  passing  the  residence  of  Thomas  P. 
Green,  on  section  32,  to. the  northwest  corner  of  the  town- 
ship, 4as  established.  On  the  9th  of  August  the  east-and- 
west  road,  passing  the  Moss  Hotel  and  the  Chaff-ee  school- 
house,  was  established.  Then  the  one  passing  the  school- 
house' in  district  No.  8  and  the  residence  of  Isaac  S.  Bar- 
26 


num  was  located.  These  roads  were  laid  out  by  Thomas 
P.  Green,  Wallace  Goodin,  and  Rufus  C.  Rathburn,  com- 
missioners of  highways.  In  1840  the  State  road  from 
Byron  to  Owosso  was  established. 

CIVIL    HISTORY   OP    THE   TOWNSHIP. 

Burns  was  set  ofi'  from  the  territory  of  the  old  township 
of  Shiawassee,  and  was  erected  a  separate  civil  township 
with  its  present  name  and  limits  by  act  of  the  Legislature 
of  Michigan,  approved  March  11, 1837,  which  also  directed 
the  first  meeting  of  the  electors  of  the  newly-formed  town- 
ship to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Francis  J.  Prevost.  Under 
this  provision  of  the  act  the  first  meeting  was  held  at  the 
office  of  the  Byron  Company  (which  was  in  the  house  of 
Maj.  Prevost),  on  the  3d  of  April,  1837,  on  which  occasion 
there  were  present  the  following-named  electors :  Ezra  D. 
Barnes,  Thomas  P.  Green,  Amos  Poster,  Peter  Kanouse, 
Rufus  C.  Rathburn,  Francis  J.  Prevost,  Robert  Crawford, 
John  Burgess,  Wallace  Goodin,  Alonzo  Woods. 

All  the  voters  who  attended  this  meeting  received  one  or 
more  offices.  Francis  J.  Prevost  was  elected  to  four,  Thomas 
P.  Green  and  Ezra  D.  Barnes  each  to  three,  while  several 
received  two  offices  each. 

In  1838  it  was  resolved  to  pay  W.  Jackson  fifty  dollars 
for  building  a  bridge  across  the  Shiawassee  River.  This 
was  the  first  bridge  constructed  by  the  township,  and 
crossed  the  river  on  the  Reservation,  near  the  cabin  of 
John  Knaggs.  It  was  very  unstable,  and  lasted  but  a  few 
years. 

April  3,  1843,  the  township  voted  to  raise  one  hundred 
dollars  to  bridge  the  river  at  Byron.  This  bridge  was  on 
the  road  leading  west  from  the  village,  and  stood  near  the 
place  where  the  present  one  stands,  below  the  Byron  Hotel. 
It  also  was  a  very  frail  structure.  The  upper  iron  bridge 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  eleven  hundred  dollars.  The  wood 
bridge  now  spanning  the  river  in  the  west  part  of  the  vil- 
lage is  to  be  replaced  immediately  by  an  iron  one,  to  cost 
sixte'en  hundred  dollars. 

The  following  table  shows  the  total  amount  of  tax  levied 
for  various  purposes  for  the  years  1860,  187Q,  and  1879, 
not  including  school  tax  : 

1860. 

State  tax f2l2.22 

County  tax 116»-18 

Township  tax JlJi 

Highway  tax „„l,'iZ 

Total  tax  levied  for  all  purposes 2826.87 

1870. 

State  tax $1395.14 

County  tax 1*61.00 

Rejected  tax 36.46 

Ditch  tax f9-79 

Township  tax „    n 

By  highway  commissioner 500.00 

Delinquent  highway  tax 62.19 

Total  for  all  purposes 6535.39 

1879. 

State  tax ^^It^'ll 

County  tax 1271.02 

Contingent  tax 300.00 

Highway  tax  200.00 

Bridge  tax  »66-6" 

Total  tax  levied  for  all  purposes 6095.92 

The  following  is  a  list   of  township  officers  from  its 
organization  to  1880  inclusive : 


202 


HISTOKY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SUPEKVISORS. 


1837.  Ezra  D.  Barnes. 

1838.  Francis  J.  Prevost. 

1839.  E.  D.  Barnes. 

1840.  Francis  J.  Prevost. 

1841.  Ezra  D.  Barnes. 
1842-44.  John  K.  Tyler. 
1845.  S.  R.  Kelsey. 
1846-48.  Nicholas  Guliok. 
1849.  Bowman  W.  Dennis. 
1860-51.  S.  R.  Kelsey. 
1852-53.  Roger  Haviland. 
1854-58.  Sullivan  R.  Kelsey. 
1859.  Jabez  Close. 


TOWN 

1837.  Francis  J.  Prevost, 

1838.  Amos  C.  Foster. 

1839.  Pierpont  L.  Smith. 

1840.  R.  C.  Crawford. 
1841-42.  Henry  Rowland. 
1843-44.  H.  White. 

1845.  W.  W.  Kelsey. 

1846.  Holden  White. 
1847-48.  Francis  G.  Lee. 

1849.  George  C.  Holmes. 

1850.  H.  L.  Drake. 
1861-52.  George  B.  Runyan. 
1853.  William  S.  Joslin. 
1864-66.  David  G.  Royce. 


1860.  S.  R.  Kelsey. 
1861-63.  Jabez  Close. 
1864-65.  Amos  Foster. 
1866-67.  Nelson  S.  Van  Tuyl. 
1868.  Charles  L.  Allen. 
1869-70.  Roger  Haviland. 

1871.  A.  Judson  Cole. 

1872.  Roger  Haviland. 
1873-76.  Theodore  M.  Buler. 
1876-77.  Norman  K.  Potter. 

1878.  Theodore  M.  Euler. 

1879.  Charles  H.  Lemon. 

1880.  Norman  K.  Potter. 


CLERKS. 

1866.  G.  B.  Runyan. 
1867-68.  George  C.  Holme 
1869.  David  Dickson. 
1860.  Hiram  Webster. 
1861-65.  Nicholas  Gulick. 

1866.  E.  B.  Welch. 

1867.  Frank  Karrer. 

1868.  William  F.  Close. 

1869.  Henry  M.  Billings. 

1870.  Norman  P.  Leiand. 

1871.  B.  A.  Sheldon. 

1872.  Nicholas  Gulick. 
1873-80.  Gilbert  S.  Lewis. 


TREASURERS. 


1839-40.  Ramah  Cole. 
1841.  Henry  Wiltsie. 
1842-44.  W.  H.  Chaffee. 
1846.  H.  White. 

1846.  Henry  Rowland. 

1847.  Roger  Haviland. 
1848-49.  Joseph  H.  Wendell. 
1850-51.  Roger  Haviland. 

1852.  Edward  Peck. 

1853.  Robert  Fox. 


1837- 


1839. 
1840. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1845. 
1846. 
1847. 

1848. 
1849. 
1850. 

1851. 

1862. 

1853. 
1864. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857. 
1858. 
1859. 


JUSTICES 
-38.  Ezra  D.  Barnes. 

Francis  J.  Prevost. 

Thomas  P.  Green. 

Robert  Crawford. 

John  K.  Tyler. 

Thomas  P.  Green. 

Ramah  Cole. 

Francis  J.  Prevost. 
John  K.  Tyler. 
Nicholas  Gulick. 
S.  R.  Kelsey. 
Edward  Peck. 
Oliver  E.  Wolcott. 
John  P.  Drake. 
Nicholas  Gulick. 
Sullivan  R.  Kelsey. 
Robert  Crawford. 
John  P.  Drake. 
Harvey  T.  Lee. 
Nicholas  Gulick. 
Oliver  Wolcott. 
Jabez  Close. 
Horace  B.  Southard. 
John  Davis. 
Nicholas  Gulick. 
Jabez  Close. 
J.  M.  Gorham. 
Thomson  H.  Reeves. 


1864.  William  Drake. 
1866-56.  Edward  Peck. 
1857-60.  J.  P.  Gale. 
1861-66.  Isaac  S.  Barnum. 
1867-70.  A.  Judson  Cole. 
1871.  Henry  Croope. 
1872-77.  John  Kitson. 
1878-79.  George  H.  Eddy. 
1880.  H.  L.  Cook. 


OF  THE   PEACE. 

1859.  Manning  Hathaway.  * 

1860.  Nicholas  Gulick. 
Edmund  Kanouse. 

1861.  William  Chaffee. 

1862.  Hiram  Webster. 
Oliver  B.  Wolcott. 

1863.  Thompson  H.  Reeves. 

1864.  Nicholas  Guliok. 
1866.  John  P.  Davis. 

1866.  Henry  S.  Ridman. 

1867.  James  Sleeth. 

1868.  Nelson  S.  Van  Tuyl. 

1869.  John  P.  Davis. 

1870.  Nicholas  Guliok. 

1871.  James  Sleeth. 
George  A.  Parker. 

1872.  George  A.  Parker. 
S.  R.  Middleworth. 

1873.  Henry  S.  Redmond. 
1874-76.  Nicholas  Gulick. 
1876.  0.  E.  Wolcott. 

1876.  Warren  Clough. 

1877.  Frank  Karrer. 
Charles  Drum. 

1878.  Oliver  E.  Wolcott. 

1879.  Luther  Pratt. 

1880.  Alexander  Orr. 


COMMISSIONERS  OF  HIGHWAYS. 

1848.  William  H.  Chaffee. 
1849-50.  Edward  Peck. 

1851.  Truman  W.  Rowley. 

1852.  Benjamin  Welch. 
1863.  Thomas  Culbert. 

1854.  Manning  Hathaway. 

1855.  Benjamin  Welch. 
Edward  Foster. 

1856.  Jacob  V.  Brown. 
John  P.  Drake. 
Roger  Haviland. 

1867.  J.  J.  Gaylord. 

1858.  Edward  Ernich. 

1859.  Jonathan  P.  Gale. 

1860.  John  G.  Gaylord. 

1861.  Benjamin  Hulitt. 

1862.  Isaac  S.  Barnum. 

1863.  John  E.  Martenis. 

1864.  Truman  W.  Rowly. 
1866.  Henry  S.  Redman. 

1866.  D.  Buler. 

1867.  Ira  Merlin. 

1868.  Henry  Croope. 

1869.  S.  K.  Swiok. 

1870.  Richard  Wellman. 

1871.  George  S.  Devore. 

1872.  N.  K.  Potter. 

1873.  George  G.  Foster. 

1874.  George  S.  Devore. 

1875.  N.  K.  Potter. 
1876-77.  George  Eddy. 
1878-79.  Orlando  Lee. 
1880.  Perry  Hadsall. 

INSPECTORS. 

1862.  Andrew  Huggins. 
1853.  Edward  A.  Sheldon. 
1864.  Jabez  Close, 

1855,  Oscar  P.  Green. 

1856.  0.  B.  Wolcott. 
1867.  James  Sleeth. 

1858.  Judson  Cole. 

1859.  William  R.  Sellon. 

1860.  William  H.  Chaffee. 

1861.  Andrew  Huggins. 

1862.  William  B.  Chaffee. 

1863.  Amos  Foster. 

1864.  William  H.  Chaffee, 

1865.  Charles  E.  Jacobs. 

1866.  William  F.  Close. 

1867.  J.  L.  Cook, 

1868.  William  Merlin. 

1869.  Edwin  A.  Sheldon. 

1870.  William  H.  Chaffee. 

1871.  Charles  Lancton. 

1872.  E.  S.  Burnett. 

1873.  Seward  Chaffee, 

1874.  E.  S.  Burnett. 
1876-76.  Seward  Chaffee. 

1877.  A.  D.  Thompson. 

1878.  Elmer  F.  Joslin. 

1879.  George  Foster. 

1880.  L.  W.  Barnes. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF  SCHOOLS. 
1876-76.  E.  M.  Plunket.  1878.  Edward  M.  Plunket. 

1877.  William  C.  Randall.  1879-80.  William  C.  Randall. 


1837.  Thomas  P.  Green. 

Wallace  Goodwin. 

Rufus  C.  Rathburn. 

1838.  Ramah  Cole. 

Aaron  Wellman. 

John  Barnum. 

1839.  Robert  Crawford. 

John  K.  Tyler. 

Peter  Kanouse. 

1840.  Seymour  Goodale. 

John  K.  Tyler. 

1841 

.  John  K.  Tyler. 

Ezra  D.  Barnes. 

Roger  Haviland. 

1845 

.  Edward  Peck. 

Ezra  P.  Barnes. 

David  Sherwood. 

1843 

,  John  Burgess. 

C.  D.  Fox. 

Edward  Peck. 

1844 

.  Robert  Crawford. 

John  G.  Drake. 

William  C.  Richards. 

1845 

.  John  P.  Drake. 

Roger  Haviland. 

Edward  Peck. 

1846 

.  William  H.  Chaffee. 

Edward  Foster. 

Benjamin  Welch. 

1847 

.  Allen  Davis. 

William  H.  Chaffee. 

Benjamin  Welch, 

1848 

Roger  Haviland. 

1837 

SCHO( 
Ezra  D.  Barnes. 

Francis  J.  Prevost. 

Wallace  Goodwin. 

1838 

Gideon  Drake. 

0.  B.  Wolcott. 

Robert  Crawford. 

1839. 

Francis  J.  Prevost. 

G.  A.  Brown. 

Allen  Davis. 

1840. 

G.  A.  Brown. 

Ezra  D.  Barnes. 

Francis  J.  Prevost. 

1841. 

Abner  Sears. 

John  G.  Tyler. 

Abner  C.  Botsford. 

1842. 

William  H.  Chaffee. 

Thomas  P.  Green. 

Francis  J.  Prevost. 

1843. 

Abner  Sears. 

William  H.  Chaffee. 

1844. 

Nicholas  Gulick. 

1846, 

Abner  Sears. 

1846. 

Nicholas  Gulick. 

1847. 

Abner  Sears. 

1848. 

Nathaniel  Turner. 

1849. 

William  II.  Chaffee. 

1860. 

William  H.  Eddy. 

1851. 

Oliver  E.  Wolcott. 

1837.  Thomas  P.  Green. 
Robert  Crawford. 
Amos  Foster, 


ASSESSORS. 

1838.  Robert  Crawford. 
John  Burgess. 
Thomas  P.  Green. 


BUBN8  TOWNSHIP. 


203 


1839.  Thomas  P.  Green. 
Robert  Crawford. 
John  Burgees. 

1840.  Robert  Crawford. 
Martin  Loreland. 
Abner  C,  Botsford. 

1841.  Rufus  Rathburn. 
Thomas  P.  Green. 
Edward  Peek. 


1842.  Roger  Haviland. 

Ezra  D.  Barnes. 
1845.  John  Burgess. 

Sanford  Smith. 

1848.  Roger  Haviland. 
William  H.  Chaffee. 

1849.  David  Sherwood. 
Edward  Kanouse. 


CONSTABLES. 


1837.  John  Burgess. 
Edmund  Foster. 
Alonzo  Wood. 

1838.  T.  Nichols. 
John  Burgess. 
Nelson  Costou. 

1839.  T.  Nichols. 
John  G.  Tyler. 
John  Burgess. 

1840.  John  Bm-gess. 
Nelson  Coston. 
Tilly  Nichols. 

1841.  Tilly  Nichols. 
John  G.  Tyler. 
John  Burgess. 

1842.  William  R.  Knapp. 
John  G.  Tyler. 
John  W.  Williams. 

1843.  Timothy  Tyler. 
Robert  Pox. 
Jarvis  White. 
Nelson  Coston. 

1844.  Timothy  Tyler. 
Robert  Fox. 
D.  L.  Reading. 

1845.  D.  L.  Reading. 
Robert  Fox. 
Wm.  L.  M.  Butler. 
Benjamin  Welch. 

1846.  F.  G.  Lee. 
N.  P.  Merrill. 
I.  0.  Gillett. 
I.  A.  Guthrie. 

1847.  Chaunoey  Barber. 
James  Botsford. 
A.  P.  Barnum. 

T.  Tyler. 

1848.  Jarvis  White. 
Nathan  P.  Merrill. 
Robert  Fox. 
Abijah  P.  Barnum. 

1849.  James  L.  Middlesworth. 
James  M.  Blake. 
Robert  Fox. 

N.  P.  Merrill. 

1850.  Robert  Fox. 
Truman  W.  Rowley. 
Henry  H.  Bradley. 
Edward  Foster. 

1851.  Robert  Fox. 
Jonathan  P.  Gale. 
Isaac  Crawford. 

1852.  Robert  Fox. 

H.  B.  Treadwell. 
Samuel  Hunt. 
Isaac  Crawford. 

1853.  Robert  Fox. 

G.  B.  Whitney. 
Leslie  Alden. 
Henry  A.  Bradley. 

1854.  Lester  Alden. 
Myron  A.  Carpenter. 
W.  G.  Merrill. 
Thomas  Trumbull. 


1855.  Charles  West. 

A.  F.  Westcott. 
Oliver  Woloott. 
Olin  S.  Spring. 

1856.  Nathaniel  Murdiok. 

B.  H.  C.  Howe. 
Robert  Fox. 
Leslie  Alden. 

1857.  Frank  Karrer. 
D.  0.  Burdiok. 
Alonzo  Denton. 

1858.  Frank  Karrer. 
George  Van  Tuyl. 
Oliver  C.  Wolcott. 
Robert  Fox. 

1859.  Frank  Karrer. 
0.  C.  Wolcott. 
Martin  L.  Davis. 
James  T.  Ketchledge. 

1860.  James  T.  Ketchledge. 
Robert  Fox. 

S.  Swick. 
M.  L.  Davis. 

1861.  A.  J.  Rowley. 
J.  Parkhurst. 
M.  Cooly. 

A.  H.  Clark. 

1862.  A.  J.  Williams. 
Leslie  Alden. 
Myron  Corn. 

A.  J.  Rowley. 

1863.  George  Foster. 
George  Rogers. 
Lester  Alden. 
Myron  A.  Carpenter. 

1864.  John  L.  Wilkins. 
Robert  Fox. 
Myron  A.  Carpenter. 
Frank  Karrer. 

1865.  William  A.  Vansickles, 
Reuben  H.  Wiltsie. 

B.  J.  Green. 
Truman  Van  Tuyl. 

1866.  B.  F.  Green. 

P.  M.  Van  Tnyl- 
Reuben  H.  Wiltsie. 
John  Kitson. 

1867.  Reuben  Wiltsie. 
Frank  Van  T«y'- 
Adam  S.  Betterly. 
John  Badger. 

1868.  E.  N.  Fisher.- 
Melvin  Haughtin. 
Francis  Van  Tuyl. 
Albert  Martin. 

1869.  Nathaniel  T.  Murdiok. 
Edward  Burlingame. 
William  J.  Tower. 
William  R.  Vansickles. 

1870.  Daniel  Lewis. 
Benjamin  F.  Green. 
Rufus  Rood. 
George  C.  Wolcott. 

1871.  Oliver  Campbell. 


1871.  Albert  M.  Drumm. 
Charles  Swan. 
Martin  Comstock. 

1872.  A.  S.  Betterly. 
Rufus  Rood. 

W.  P.  Parsons. 
0.  Campbell. 
187J.  John  A.  Olmstead. 
H.  N.  Lewis. 
Lester  Newman. 
A.  S.  Betterly. 

1874.  S.  Steele. 

A.  S.  Betterly. 
Charles  H.  Smith. 
Lester  Newman. 

1875.  William  Boiee. 
William  Nelson. 
A.  S.  Betterly. 
Lorenzo  Barnes. 

1876.  William  Boice. 


1876.  Albert  Rowley. 
Frank  Karrer. 
Mathew  Walworth. 

1877.  Charles  W.  Parker. 
A.  S.  Betterly. 

A.  W.  Campbell. 
Alexander  Orr. 

1878.  Milton  Coykendall. 
David  M.  Tilman. 
Walter  Wadley. 
Anson  Redson. 

1879:  Milton  Coykendall. 

John  D.  Williams,  Jr. 

Walter  Wadley. 

Talcott  Tyler. 
1880.  David  M.  Tillman. 

Walter  S.  Pratt. 

A.  S.  Betterly. 

Alfred  Bigelow. 


BYEON  VILLAGE. 

The  corporation  of  the  village  of  Byron  comprises  the 
adjacent  quarters  of  sections  13,  14,  23,  and  24.  This 
territory  was  located  by  Judge  Samuel  W.  Dexter,  July 
13,  1824.  The  patent  conveying  the  same  to  him  is  dated 
October  20th  of  the  same  year.  Judge  Dexter  came  from 
Massachusetts  and  settled  in  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  at  a 
very  early  day,  the  township  of  Dexter  in  that  county 
being  named  in  his  honor. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1836,  Judge  Dexter  sold  the  lands 
above  referred  to  to  his  brother-in-law,  Maj.  F.  J.  Prevost, 
C.  Smith,  P.  L.  Smith,  and  S.  S.  Derby,  who  formed  an 
association  usually  known  as  the  Byron  Company.  On 
the  28th  of  August  of  the  same  year  Wallace  Groodin  be- 
came one  of  the  firm  by  purchasing  a  one-fifth  interest  in 
the  undivided  lands  of  the  company.  The  village  of  Byron 
was  immediately  platted  and  recorded  April  28,  1837. 
The  moving  spirit  of  the  enterprise  was  Maj.  F.  J.  Pre- 
vost. He  came  from  New  York  to  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich., 
where  he  married  the  daughter  of  Judge  Boyden,  a  pio- 
neer of  that  county,  afler  whom  the  locality  known  as 
Boyden's  Plains  was  named.  Maj.  Prevost  lived  in  Wash- 
tenaw County  a  few  years  and  then  came  to  Byron,  bring- 
ing his  wife  and  three  children,  in  the  summer  of  1836. 
He  employed  men  to  build  a  log  house  on  the  company's 
land,  now  owned  by  George  Buel.  His  family  lived  here 
until  the  fall  of  1837,  when  they  moved  into  the  house 
now  occupied  by  William  Kuss.  This  house  was  erected  on 
the  site  where  Jabez  Close's  residence  stands,  from  which 
place  it  was  removed. 

Major  Prevost  and  his  wife  lived  in  Byron  until  April, 
1850,  when,  accompanied  by  Augustus,  their  eldest  son, 
they  went  to  California,  where  Maj.  Prevost  died.  His 
eldest  daughter  married  Capt.  David  Eoyce,  who  was  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Falling  Waters,  Va.  She  afterwards  mar- 
ried Mr.  Fairbanks,  and  now  lives  in  Nebraska.  In  the 
cemetery  near  the  bank  of  the  river  stands  a  small  monu- 
ment raised  in  memory  of  Theodore  H.,  the  son  of  F.  J. 
and  M.  A.  Prevost,  who  died  March  17,  1837.  It  records 
the  first  death  in  the  village  of  Byron.  The  name  of  a 
sister,  who  died  many  years  after,  is  also  engraven  upon  it. 

C.  Smith,  another  member  of  the  Byron  Company,  came 
to  the  new  village,  but  afler  remaining  a  short  time  re- 


204 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


turned  to  Washtenaw  County.  P.  L.  Smith  brought  his 
family  to  Byron,  and  after  remaining  a  few  months  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Livingston  County.  Of  S.  S.  Derby 
but  little  is  known.  His  visits  were  infrequent  and  of 
short  duration.  He  would,  as  it  were,  look  in  on  the  little 
village  struggling  for  existence,  and  with  a  shake  of  the 
head  would  soon  depart. 

Wallace  Goodin  came  to  Byron  in  the  summer  of  1836, 
and,  next  to  Maj.  Prevost,  was  the  life  of  the  enterprise. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Angeline  Smiley  about  the  year 
1845.  Her  people  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in 
the  vicinity  of  Newburg.  Mr.  Goodin  lived  in  Byron 
until  1847,  when  he  disposed  of  his  property  and  went  to 
Massachusetts,  where  he  died. 

As  soon  as  fairly  organized  the  Byron  Company  began 
to  build  a  dam  across  the  East  Branch  of  the  Shiawas.see 
River,  the  village  being  located  at  the  union  of  these 
streams.  This  dam  broke  away  many  times,  causing  the 
necessary  outlay  of  considerable  money.  It  was  first  com- 
pleted late  in  the  fall  of  1836.  The  company  also  built  a 
log  house  intended  for  a  boarding-house  for  their  employees. 
It  was  the  first  building  in  the  village,  and  was  completed  the 
latter  part  of  September,  1836.  It  stood  on  the  hill  above 
the  grist-mill,  and  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of 
E.  A.  Sheldon.  It  was  occupied  by  M.  Mosier  and  wife, 
who  had  been  engaged  to  board  the  company's  men.  When 
the  saw-mill  was  completed,  Mr.  Mosier  took  charge  of  it. 
But  he  soon  became  dissatisfied,  and  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily to  St.  Joseph  County.  When  Mr.  Mosier  left,  the 
building  was  occupied  by  Seth  Saddler,  to  whom  the  com- 
pany gave  it,  on  condition  that  when  he  went  away  "  he 
should  leave  a  landlord."  It  was  afterwards  occupied  by  a 
Mr.  McLain  and  then  by  a  Mr.  Haddin,  neither  of  whom 
remained  long  in  Byron.  In  January,  1837,  Joseph  Lay- 
ton,  a  blacksmith,  came  to  the  village.  Maj.  Prevost  had 
previously  visited  him  at  his  home  in  Washtenaw  County, 
and  persuaded  him  to  come  and  look  the  situation  over. 
The  company  oflfered  to  give  him  two  lots  in  a  good  loca- 
tion and  lumber  for  a  shop,  as  an  inducement  to  him  to 
locate  with  them.  Mr.  Layton  accepted  the  proposition, 
and  in  the  month  of  May  following  brought  his  wife  and 
five  children  to  Byron.  He  built  the  first  framed  building 
in  the  vDlage.  It  stood  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  directly 
north  of  the  dwelling  now  known  as  the  mill-house.  Many 
years  afterwards  it  was  moved  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  where 
it  still  stands,  occupied  by  Dr.  F.  E.  Sleeth.  Mr.  Layton 
also  built  the  first  blacksmith-shop  in  the  village.  It  stood 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  where 
the  mill-house  now  stands.  When  Mr.  Haddin  wished  to 
leave  Byron,  Mr.  Layton  bought  the  log  hotel  from  him, 
and  occupied  it,  but  also  continued  to  run  the  blacksmith- 
shop,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  July  of  1840. 
Mrs.  Layton  was  subsequently  married  to  a  Mr.  Woods, 
and  she  is  still  living  in  a  house  which  occupies  the  site  of 
an  Indian  camp  near  the  upper  iron  bridge  across  the 
Shiawassee  River.  Of  the  five  children  but  two  are  living, 
one  near  Omaha,  Neb.,  and  the  other  in  Huron  Co.,  Mich! 

We  have  thus  mentioned  the  founders  and  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Byron  in  a  cursory  glance.  Prom  this  time  its 
history  will  be  arranged  under  proper  headings.     The  vil- 


lage did  not  grow  as  rapidly  as  its  founders  had  expected. 
When  Judge  Dexter  entered  the  land  in  1824  it  was  be- 
lieved that  a  county-seat  must  be  located  somewhere  in  this 
vicinity,  but  the  erection  of  new  counties  from  the  territory 
of  Shiawassee  ruined  the  prospects  of  the  projected  village. 
To  use  the  expression  of  an  old  settler,  Byron  "  was  t"  one 
side,"  and  its  excellent  water-power  and  the  splendid  farm- 
ing country  surrounding  it  could  not  overbalance  this  dis- 
advantage. After  three  years  of  hard  work  and  much  ap- 
parently useless  effort,  the  Byron  Company  was  poorer  in 
money  and  less  courageous  in  spirit  than  when — at  its  com- 
mencement with  the  plat  of  Byron — it  saw  in  imagination 
a  prosperous  and  thriving  village.  In  1840  Byron  con- 
tained but  five  families.  The  first  step  that  tended  to 
make  life  more  tolerable  was  the  establishment  of  a  post- 
ofiSce,  with  a  weekly  mail.  A  letter  from  New  York  cost 
twenty-five  cents.  Maj.  Prevost  was  the  first  postmaster, 
and  opened  the  oflSce  in  a  little  frame  building  which  stood 
on  the  east  side  of  Main  or  Saginaw  Street,  nearly  on  the 
site  of  Owen's  Knapp's  cabinet-shop.  Prior  to  1840  the 
mail  was  brought  from  Holly,  but  not  at  regular  intervals. 
From  the  establishment  of  the  office,  in  the  early  spring  of 
that  year,  until  about  the  1st  of  June  the  mail  was  carried 
on  horseback.  At  this  time  a  stage-line  was  established 
from  Pontiac  to  Ionia,  by  which  the  mail  was  brought  to 
Byron.  The  stage-line  was  not,  however,  a  success  finan- 
cially, and  was  soon  taken  from  the  road.  The  mail  was 
then  carried  as  before.  In  1845  another  stage  line  was  es- 
tablished over  the  same  route,  which  proved  a  success,  and 
which  continued  to  nin  until  the  completion  of  the  railroad 
to  the  east.  Maj.  Prevost  was  succeeded  as  postmaster 
by  Holden  White,  who  came  to  Byron  in  1842.  Mr.  White 
opened  the  first  general  store  in  the  village  soon  afterwards. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  postmasters  of  Byron, 
in  the  order  of  their  appointment,  as  near  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained :  Francis  J.  Prevost,  Holden  White,  George  C. 
Holmes,  Nicholas  Gulick,  G.  G.  Royce,  C.  Lemon,  P.  B. 
Sleeth. 

Dr.  Abner  Sears  was  the  first  physician  who  located  in 
Byron.  He  came  to  the  village  in  1838  or  1839,  and 
died  in  a  few  years.  Dr.  Henry  Rowland  came  in  1841. 
He  was  subsequently  married  to  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Crawford,  and  practiced  his  profession  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  about  the  year  1850.  Drs.  Guthrie,  Web- 
ster, Sleeth,  Austin,  Fox,  Colwell,  Stevens,  Knapp,  and 
Seymour  are  among  the  physicians  practicing  in  Byron  in 
subsequent  years. 

Several  attorneys  have  resided  in  Byron  from  time  to 
time,  the  first  of  whom  was  probably  Corydon  Lee.  The 
profession  is  now  represented  by  James  Sleeth. 

Mills. — In  1842  a  partnership  was  entered  into  in  Byron 
by  Bowman  W.  Dennis  and  Sullivan  R.  Kelsey,  under 
the  firm-name  of  Dennis  &  Kelsey.  These  gentlemen 
were  a  most  valuable  addition  to  the  business  element 
of  the  village,  and  their  energy  began  at  once  to  infuse 
new  life  into  the  little  settlement.  They  purchased  the 
mill-privileges  of  the  Byron  Company,  and  immediately 
begao  operations.     The  saw-mill  was  moved  from  the  east 


5 

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I 


I 


BURNS  TOWNSHIP. 


205 


end  of  the  dam  to  the  place  where  the  one  now  stands,  and 
was  repaired  and  improved.  The  road,  which  before  had 
run  along  the  top  of  the  dam,  much  to  the  terror  of  trav- 
elers, was  now  changed  to  near  the  line  of  the  present  one, 
and  some  time  afterwards  necessary  bridges  were  con- 
structed. The  firm  also  opened  a  store,  the  second  one  in 
the  village  of  Byron.  Bat  the  crowning  achievement  was 
the  completion  of  the  flouring-mill,  the  first  and  only  one 
built  in  Byron.  It  was  completed  in  1843.  The  firm 
continued  to  do  business  until  about  the  year  1858.  The 
interest  of  Mr.  Dennis  was  then  purchased  by  Owen  Good- 
speed.  The  Hon.  S.  R.  Kelsey  is  now  living  in  Corunna, 
and  is  filling  the  ofiice  of  Judge  of  Prpbate.  The  saw- 
mill referred  to  above  took  fire  and  was  destroyed.  The 
one  now  standing  was  built  by  Royce  &  Lemon. 

A  building  was  erected  by  F.  J.  Prevost  at  the  waste- 
gate  south  of  the  flouring-mill  for  a  carding-mill.  It  was 
also  burned,  and  another  was  built  in  the  same  place,  which 
was,  however,  discontinued  in  a  few  years,  and  converted 
into  a  plaster-mill,  which  was  not  a  success,  and  was  soon 
left  to  go  to  decay. 

In  1856,  Solon  Stone  built  a  dam  across  the  Shiawassee 
River,  in  the  northwest  part  of  Burns  township,  and  soon 
after  completed  a  saw-mill.  He  sold  it  to  I.  A.  Roberts, 
who  some  years  after  tore  it  down  and  built  a  new  one. 
Mr.  Roberts  in  18Y4  built  the  large  flouring-mills  at  the 
same  place.  A  village  has  been  platted  here  by  Mr.  J.  J. 
Gaylord,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  recorded. 

Hotels. — The  first  public-house  in  Byron  was  the  log 
building  intended  as  a  boarding-house  for  the  mill-hands. 
When  Mr.  Saddler  took  possession  of  this  cabin  he  hung 
out  the  sign  "  Cottage  Inn,"  which  continued  to  attract  at- 
tention until  1847,  when  it  was  taken  down  by  Mrs.  Lay- 
ton,  who  had  kept  the  hotel  from  the  death  of  her  husband 
to  that  time. 

About  the  year  1841,  Wallace  Goodin  built  a  small 
frame  building,  which  he  named  the  "  Byron  Hotel," — a 
name  which  has  descended  to  the  hotel  now  standing  on  the 
same  site.  Mr.  Goodin  sold  it  to  Freeborn  Joslin,  and  it 
was  subsequently  purchased  and  enlarged  by  Harvey  Lee. 
At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  June,  1848, 
it  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  it  was  totally  destroyed. 
Two  young  men,  named  J.  D.  Williams  and  E.  L.  Buck- 
ingham, narrowly  escaped  death  by  jumping  from  an  upper 
window.  It  was  the  largest  hotel  at  that  time  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Lee  built  another  on  the  same  site,  which  has  since 
been  improved.  The  Eagle  Hotel  was  built  in  1860,  by 
F.  W.  Downer, 

Early  Stores. — As  has  been  stated,  Holden  White  started 
the  first  store  in  the  village  of  Byron  in  1842.  The  build- 
ing stood  on  the  site  of  the  house  now  occupied  by  Dr. 
Knapp.  In  1845,  Mr.  White  built  the  large  house  oppo- 
site the  Byron  Hotel  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Wilson,  and 
opened  a  large  stock  of  goods.  He  only  continued  in  busi- 
ness, however,  in  Byron  until  1846,  when  he  again  went 
East  and  remained  there.  Nicholas  Gulick  came  to  Byron 
in  1843,  and  was  employed  by  Holden  White  as  clerk  in 
his  store.  Mr.  Gulick  subsequently  bought  a  small  stock 
of  goods  from  George  C.  Holmes,  who  started  a  store  in 
Byron  in  1845.     Mr.  Gulick  is  still  in  the  business,  and  is 


now  the  only  one  left  of  those  who  had  settled  in  the  village 
up  to  1843. 

The  business  interests  of  Byron  are  at  present  represented 
by  a  number  of  fine  general  stores,  two  firms  dealing  in 
agricultural  implements,  several  wagon-  and  blacksmith- 
shops,  two  hotels,  and  the  usual  accompaniment  of  smaller 
business  places. 

Schools  of  Byron. — The  first  school  in  Byron  was  taught 
by  a  young  lady  in  a  little  log  cabin  that  stood  near  the 
place  where  the  Odd-Fellows'  Hall  now  stands.  This  young 
teacher  (whose  name  has  not  been  ascertained)  subsequently 
married  a  Mr.  McCoUum  and  moved  to  Fentonville. 

The  next  school  was  taught  in  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Dr.  F.  E.  Sleeth,  before  referred  to.  The  first  regular 
school-meeting  called  in  the  village  was  held  at  the  Byron 
Hotel  on  the  6th  day  of  December,  1843.  There  had, 
however,  been  a  number  of  terms  of  school  taught  in  the 
village  besides  those  mentioned  above,  previous  to  this  time. 
At  this  meeting  Freeborn  Joslin,  was  chosen  moderator, 
Joseph  H.  Wendell  director,  and  Holden  White  assessor. 
Dr.  Abner  Sears  acted  as  chairman.  It  was  resolved  to 
have  three  months'  school  in  the  winter,  and  four  months' 
school  in  the  summer.  William  Chafiee  was  employed  to 
teach  the  school,  which  was  soon  after  commenced.  By 
resolution  of  the  school  board,  each  scholar  was  required  to 
furnish  a  one-half  cord  of  wood. 

The  first  school-house  was  erected  in  Byron  in  1845, 
and  cost  two  hundred  dollars.  It  stood  on  lots  5  and  6, 
block  3.  The  union-school  building  was  built  in  1865, 
and  cost  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  The  primary- 
school  building  cost  about  eight  hundred  dollars. 

The  report  for  the  year  1879  shows  the  number  of 
scholars  of  school  age  in  the  district  to  have  been  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven,  and  the  total  amount  of  money  ex- 
pended eight  hundred  and  two  dollars  and  seventy-four  cents. 
Village  Incorporation. — The  village  of  Byron  was  in- 
corporated April  1,  1873.  The  first  election  was  held  on 
the  8th  of  the  same  month  in  Welch  &  Leland's  hall.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  village  from 
its  organization  to  1880 : 

1873. — President,  Charles  H.  Lemon  ;  Recorder,  James 
Sleeth  ■;  Assessor,  Jabez  Close ;  Marshal,  D.  M. 
Tallman  ;  Trustees,  Chauncey  Wells,  Wellman 
F.  Close,  Orlando  Lee,  A.  B.  Welch,  Adam 
Betterly,  Isaac  Barnum. 
1874. — President,  Charles  Lemon  ;  Recorder,  Charles  M. 
Fuller ;  Assessor,  Jabez  Close ;  Treasurer,  Owen 
Knapp ;  Trustees,  E.  B.  Welch,  Jacob  Boice, 
Perry  Hadsall,  H.  D.  Cook,  F.  E.  Welch,  E.  B. 
Newman. 
1875. — President,  George  Goff;  Recorder,  F.  Karrer; 
Treasurer,  0.  Knapp  ;  Assessor,  0.  H.  Lemon ; 
Marshal,  J.  A.  Olmstead ;  Trustees,  F.  W. 
Downer,  E.  B.  Newman,  Perry  Hadsall,  F.  M. 
Van  Tuyl,  William  Caldwell,  Jacob  Boice. 
1876. — President,  George  Goff;  Recorder,  Frank  Karrer; 
Assessor,  Charles  H.  Lemon ;  Treasurer,  0.  S. 
Fuller ;  Marshal,  William  Boice ;  Trustees,  Perry 
Hadsall,  Mark  Boice,  H.  S.  Cook,  William  Cald- 
well, E.  B.  Welch,  James  Anderson. 


206 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1877.— President,  Perry  Hadsall;  Recorder,  Frank  Karrer; 
Marshal,  Albert  W.  Campbell ;  Assessor,  Jabez 
Close;  Treasurer,  Edward  S.  Fuller;  Trustees, 
Byron  8.  Knapp,  Joseph  M.  Royce,  Orlando 
Lee,  Hiram  Webster,  Byron  Rosseter,  Oliver 
Campbell. 

1878.— President,  H.  L.  Cook ;  Recorder,  F.  E.  Welch  ; 
Treasurer,  0.  S.  Fuller ;  Assessor,  Jabez  Close ; 
Marshal,  E.  H.  Fisher ;  Trustees,  E.  B.  Welch, 
Orlando  Lee,  A.  S.  Betterly,  E.  B.  Newman, 
John  E.  Martinis,  Mark  Boice. 

1879.— President,  H.  L.  Cook  ;  Recorder,  F.  E.  Welch  ; 
Assessor,  Jabez  Close;  Treasurer,  C.  M.  Puller; 
Marshal,  William  Butcher;  Trustees,  Orlando 
Lee,  John  Martinis,  Mark  Boice,  E.  B.  New- 
man, E.  B.  Welch,  Gr.  S.  Lewis. 

1880. — President,  Orlando  Lee;  Recorder,  W.  H.  Bige- 
low ;  Treasurer,  E.  A.  Sheldon  ;  Assessor,  F.  E. 
Welch;  Marshal,  F.  G.  Lynde;  Trustees,  P. 
Gale,  John  E.  Martinis,  Jacob  Boice,  Gilbert 
Lewis,  Joseph  M.  Royce,  H.  L.  Cook. 

CHURCH  HISTOKY. 

The  first  regularly  organized  society  in  Byron  was  that 
of  the  Christian  Church.  Occasionally,  during  the  years 
1838-39,  several  families  living  in  Burns  and  Argentine 
held  religious  meetings,  usually  led  by  William  Cummings, 
an  authorized  exhorter.  These  families  had  been  connected 
with  this  church  in  the  East  before  coming  to  Michigan. 

In  1840,  Rev.  John  Cannon,  a  resident  of  Romeo,  Mich., 
came  to  Byron  and  began  a  series  of  meetings,  which  was 
attended  with  considerable  success,  and  which  resulted  in 
the  organization  mentioned  above.  These  meetings  were 
conducted  in  an  unoccupied  dwelling  on  the  hill  on  the 
west  side  of  Saginaw  Street,  and  occasionally  at  the  house 
of  Maj.  Prevost.  Mr.  Cannon  was  followed  by  Rev.  Stephen 
Winans,  who  remained  one  year.  The  society  built  a 
church  in  1842-43,  but  there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  as 
to  who  was  the  minister  in  charge  at  that  time.  The 
growth  of  the  society  was  gradual  until  one  of  its  members 
joined  a  secret  order  in  1849,  and  the  society  having  pre- 
viously voted  to  ordain  him  as  a  minister  then  refused,  and 
in  consequence  of  this  several  prominent  members  withdrew. 
The  society  gradually  declined  until  1855-56,  when  meet- 
ings were  entirely  discontinued,  and  since  that  time  the 
society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  occupied 
the  building  erected  by  the  Society  of  Christians. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHUECH. 

Although  this  society  was  not  the  first  regularly  organ- 
ized in  the  town  of  Burns,  it  is  probable  that  religious  meet- 
ings were  held  by  its  ministers  at  a  very  early  day.  The 
church  record,  from  which  are  taken  many  of  the  following 
facts,  does  not  give  the  names  of  the  first  class,  nor  does  it 
give  the  date  of  its  organization. 

In  1836  the  Rev.  Washington  Jackson  made  a  circuit 
of  the  new  settlements  in  this  vicinity,  preaching  wherever 
and  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself  He  organ- 
ized the  Shiawassee  mission,  embraced  in  the  Flint  River 
district,  with  the   Rev.  A.  P.  Shaw  as   presiding  elder. 


The  Shiawassee  mission  at  that  time  embraced  an  area  of 
country  extending  from  Pentonville  on  the  east  to  the 
Rochester  Colony  on  the  west,  and  thence  south  to  the 
boundary  of  the  Ann  Arbor  district,  making  a  circuit  of 
more  than  one  hundred  miles  to  be  traveled  once  in  four 
weeks.  The  Rev.  Isaac  Bennett  succeeded  Rev.  Washing- 
ton Jackson  in  1837-38.  He  organized  the  class  in  Gaines. 
The  Rev.  Abram  Billings  was  appointed  presiding  elder, 
and  Flaviel  Britton  to  the  charge  of  the  mission.  The 
latter  was  reappointed  in  1840,  with  S.  P.  Springham  to 
assist  him.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  ministers 
who  traveled  the  circuit  from  1840  to  1850 :  Revs.  John 
Cosart,  Riley  C.  Crawford,  W.  F.  Cowles,  G.  T.  Heimway, 
J.  Boynton,  E.  Westlake,  A.  Allen. 

In  1844  the  mission  embraced  twenty-two  appointments, 
and  Rev.  E.  Westlake  made  the  circuit  alone.  The  Byron 
circuit  proper  was  not  formed  till  1853. 

Since  occupying  their  present  place  of  worship  the  so- 
ciety has  enlarged  and  repaired  the  building. 

PKBSBTTBRIAN    CHURCH. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Byron  was  organized 
by  the  Rev.  Seth  Hardy,  June  24,  1845,  at  which  time  the 
following-named  persons  presented  testimonials  of  dismissal 
and  recommendations  from  other  churches,  and  desired  to 
be  organized  into  a  church  :  Joseph  H.  Wendell,  Phoebe  W. 
Wendell,  Eliza  Wendell,  Nancy  Hathaway,  Peter  Kanouse, 
G.  B.  Runyon  and  wife,  Samuel  Lovejoy,  Mary  B.  Lovejoy, 
Emily  Kelsey,  Sarah  C.  Kanouse,  Joseph  Royce,  Sally  Royce. 

After  adopting  the  name  for  the  society,  Joseph  Royce 
and  Joseph  Wendell  were  elected  elders.  The  first  motion 
made  after  completing  the  organization  was  to  the  efiFect 
that  the  members  should  neither  use  nor  traffic  in  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  which  was  unanimously  carried.  In  the 
afternoon  Arthur  B.  Hathaway  was  baptized,  after  which 
the  Rev.  Seth  Hardy  administered  the  sacrament. 

The  meetings  of  the  society  were  usually  held  in  the  old 
school-house  until  the  church  edifice  was  built,  in  1858,  at 
a  cost  of  two  thousand  dollars.  It  was  dedicated  in  1859, 
Rev.  Chauncey  Osborn  officiating. 

The  society  is  now  free  from  debt  and  numbers  thirty- 
eight  members. 

BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

In  the  winter  of  1838-39,  Elder  Brigham,  who  had 
preached  occasionally  in  the  previous  year  in  the  township, 
organized  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Burns.  The  following, 
so  far  as  ascertained,  composed  the  society :  Deacon  Sanford 
and  wife,  Deacon  Ramah  Cole  and  wife,  John  Barnum  and 
wife,  Michael  Thatcher  and  wife,  Mrs.  Samuel  Leonard, 
Mrs.  Aaron  Wellman,  Mrs.  Beard,  and  Mrs.  Botsford, 
whose  husband  joined  soon  afterwards.  In  the  spring  of 
1839  a  protracted  meeting  was  held,  which  resulted  in  the 
conversion  of  nine  persons,  all  of  whom  joined  the  church, 
These  meetings  were  held  in  a  log  cabin  built  by  Edward 
Foster,  which  stood  on  the  south  part  of  section  22.  Al- 
though receiving  much  encouragement  at  the  start,  the  so- 
ciety lost  its  influence  and  declined,  and  was  finally  disorgan- 
ized. It  was  again  revived  and  reorganized  by  Elder  Peck 
and  some  of  the  substantial  members  of  the  former  associa- 
tion.    The  meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house  which 


Residence  OF  AMOS  FOSTBR .  Burns  Tp.  Shiawassee.Co.Mich. 


BUKNS  TOWNSHIP. 


207 


stood  on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  20,  across  the  road 
from  the  residence  of  G.  Morse.  In  about  ten  years  from 
the  time  of  its  reorganization  it  was  again  broken  up. 

BAPTIST   CHURCH   OF   BYRON. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1866,  the  friends  of  the  Baptist 
Church  met,  agreeably  to  notice,  at  the  "  Green  School- 
House,"  as  follows :  Jacob  Kanouse,  Henry  Wiltsie,  Thomas 
F.  Shelton,  Daniel  Wiltsie,  Mabel  Kanouse,  Lorilla  Kanouse, 
Eliza  Shelton,  Elder  William  White,  T.  H.  Shelton.  The 
result  of  the  meeting  was  the  organization  of  "  A  religious 
association  to  be  known  as  the  Baptist  Conference  of  Burns 
and  Cohoctah."  The  association  formed  at  this  meeting 
was  the  germ  of  the  society  now  in  active  operation  in 
Burns  and  the  village  of  Byron. 

On  Aug.  31,  1872,  at  the  covenant-meeting  of  the 
society,  it  was  resolved  "  to  build  a  place  of  worship  the 
coming  fall."  Committees  to  select  a  site  and  solicit  sub- 
scriptions were  then  appointed.  J.  Kanouse,  Isaac  S.  Bar- 
num,  and  J.  D.  Williams,  Jr.,  were  appointed  on  the  latter, 
and  J.  Kanouse,  A.  J.  Cole,  J.  Close,  Noah  Joslin,  H.  L. 
Cook  on  the  former.  The  edifice  was  completed  at  a  cost 
of  three  thousand  ^loUars,  and  was  dedicated  Nov.  30, 1873. 
The  church  now  numbers  ninety  members. 

SOCIETIES  AND  OKDBES. 
BYRON  LODGE,  No.  43,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

A  dispensation  was  granted  by  the  Most  Worthy  Grand 
Master  Benjamin  FoUett,  on  the  2d  day  of  July,  1849,  to 
B.  W.  Dennis,  F.  J.  Frevost,  George  C.  Holmes,  Isaac  K. 
Middlesworth,  C.  C.  Mills,  W.  W.  Wixom,  J.  8.  Curtis, 
James  Botsford,  William  S.  Joslin,  and  J.  M.  Van  Alstine, 
and  on  the  9th  day  of  August  following  District  Deputy 
Grand  Master  Charles  D.  Little,  assisted  by  the  Worthy 
Grand  Marshal  George  H.  Hazelton,  instituted  "Byron 
Lodge,  No.  43, 1.  0.  0.  F."  The  following  were  the  first 
elective  officers  :  Francis  J.  Prevost,  Noble  Grand  ;  Bow- 
man W.  Dennis,  Vice-Grand  ;  George  H.  Holmes,  Secre- 
ary ;  J.  M.  Van  Alstine,  Treasurer.  Three  candidates  were 
initiated  the  same  evening,  making  a  membership  of  thir- 
teen. Byron  Lodge,  No.  43,  has  initiated  since  its  organ- 
ization three  hundred  and  ninety-three  candidates. 

In  1865  articles  of  association  were  entered  into  by  B. 
W.  Dennis,  C.  H.  Lemon,  Owen  Knapp,  Frank  Karrer, 
and  H.  L.  Cook,  who  became  incorporated  as  "  Byron 
Lodge,  No.  43,  I.  Q.  0.  F.,"  according  to  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  approved  March  15,  1865. 

The  lodge  now  has  a  membership  of  eighty-one  in  good 
standing,  who  rank  among  the  best  citizens  of  Burns.  If 
owns  its  building,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  three 
thousand  dollars.  It  is  twenty-four  by  seventy  feet.  The 
first  story  is  used  as  a  store,  and  is  the  source  of  a  good 
revenue  to  the  lodge.  The  hall,  which  is  in  the  second 
story,  is  twenty-four  by  forty  feet,  and  has  two  commo- 
dious anterooms  and  an  encampment-room  attached. 

BYRON  ENCAMPMENT,  No.  15,  I.  0.  0.  ¥., 
was  instituted  at  Byron,  June  9, 1864,  by  Grand  Patriarch 
Cummins,  assisted  by  P.  G.  P.  Charles  Hunt.    The   fol- 
lowing named   were  the  charter  members,   viz. :   B.  W. 


Dennis,  C.  H.  Lemon,  Frank  Karrer,  A.  Crippin,  Matthias 
Cummins,  Henry  Croop,  and  A.  H.  Clark.  Of  the  charter 
members  of  Byron  Lodge,  No.  43,  Isaac  K.  Middlesworth 
is  the  only  one  now  remaining ;  and  of  the  Encampment, 
C.  H.  Lemon,  Frank  Karrer,  and  Matthias  Cummins  only 
remain. 

The  above  historical  sketch  of  the  Byron  Lodge  and 
Encampment  was  kindly  famished  by  F.  E.  Welch,  Esq., 
for  which  courtesy  he  has  the  thanks  of  the  writer. 

BYRON  LODGE,  No.  80,  F.  AND  A.  M. 
The  charter  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State 
of  Michigan  anthorizing  the  organization  of  Byron  Lodge, 
No.  80,  F.  and  A.  M.,  is  dated  Jan.  10,  1856.  The 
lodge  in  Byron  now  has  a  membership  of  fifty-six.  It  has 
a  commodious  hall,  comfortably  furnished,  and  owns  the 
building.  The  names  of  the  officers  are  Theodore  Euler, 
W.  M.  ;  Orlando  Lee,  S.  W. ;  Kobert  Fox,  J.  W. ;  George 
Cosgro,  Secretary. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


TKUMAN  W.  KOWLY. 

Truman  W.  Rowly  was  born -in  Connecticut,  Aug.  12, 
1820.  He  was  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  six  children. 
His  father,  Isaac,  and  his  mother,  Content  (Risley)  Rowly, 


TRUMAN   W.   ROWLY. 

were  also  natives  of  Connecticut.  His  father  being  a  sea- 
captain,  Truman  remained  at  home  until  twenty-six  years 
old,  devoting  the  most  of  his  time  and  attention  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  family,  and  working  in  a  saw-mill  and  at  farm- 
ing, adding  materially  to  their  comfort.  With  his  parents 
he  came  to  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  then  to  Washtenaw 
Co.,  Mich. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Jane 


208 


HISTOEY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Voorbis,  daughter  of  James  N.  and  Martha  (Swartout) 
Voorhis,  who  came  to  Michigan  in  1830.  They  were  for- 
merly residents  of  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  their  daughter 
Jane  was  born,  Nov.  25,  1821.  She  was  the  third  in  a 
family  of  eight  children. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Truman  Kowly 
have  been  born  seven  children,  viz. :  A.  J.,  born  Nov.  23, 
1847 ;  Mary,  born  March  5,  1850 ;  James  E.,  born  Dec. 
6,  1852;  Alva  A.,  born  May  6,  1855  ;  Martha,  born  Nov. 
3,  1857,  died  the  same  day ;  William,  born  born  July  10, 
1860  ;  Frederick  J.,  born  Nov.  10,  1862.  All  live  in  Shi- 
awassee County  with  the  exception  of  two. 

Truman  Kowly  came  to  Burns  in  1847,  and  purchased 
the  farm  where  the  family  now  lives.  Here  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  3,  1870.  Mrs. 
Rowly,  who  has  caused  this  brief  sketch  and  a  portrait  of 
her  husband  to  be  inserted  in  this  work  as  a  tribute  of  re- 
spect to  his  memory,  is  still  living  with  her  son  Albert  in 
the  old  home. 


ROGER   HAVILAND. 

Roger  Haviland  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Ireland,  Dec. 
12,  1812.  Bernard  Haviland,  his  brother,  was  born  in  the 
same  place,  Feb.  2,  1808.  Both,  when  of  sufficient  age, 
were  apprenticed  to  a  shoemaker,  and  served  seven  years  at 
that  trade.  In  1832,  Bernard  landed  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
and  went  to  work  at  his  trade.  The  year  following  Roger 
left  the  old  home  of  his  parents  (for  they,  too,  were  born  and 
brought  up  in  the  same  town)  and  came  to  America,  reach- 
ing Philadelphia  Oct.  25,  1833,  and  the  two  brothers  con- 
tinued diligently  to  attend  to  business  until  the  next  year, 
when  they  moved  to  Canada,  where  they  remained  two 
years.  In  April,  1836,  Bernard  came  to  Michigan  and 
bought  land  in  Washtenaw  County,  and  in  July  Roger  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  new  settlement.  In  the  fall,  having  sold 
their  land  in  Washtenaw  County,  they  came  to  Burns,  and 
located  part  of  section  2.  They  then  went  back  to  Wash- 
tenaw County,  Roger  working  at  his  trade  until  1839, 
when  he  returned  to  Burns  and  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  his  residence.  He  then  broke  and  sowed 
five  acres  of  wheat.  On  Feb.  16,  1837,  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Perry,  who  was  third  in  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, and  born  in  Wilton,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  April  21, 
1821.  Her  parents,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ireland, 
moved  to  Michigan  in  1832,  and  settled  in  Scio,  Washtenaw 
Co.  Roger  Haviland,  with  his  wife,  moved  to  Burns,  Feb. 
9,  1840,  and  occupied  the  cabin  already  spoken  of  Ber- 
nard came  to  the  township  soon  after.  The  brothers  worked 
together  and  accumulated  a  large  property.  Upon  the  death 
of  Bernard,  which  occurred  May  27,  1864,  from  consump- 
tion, Roger  inherited  his  property.  Bernard,  though  not 
a  member  of  any  religious  denomination,  died  in  perfect 
faith  of  a  better  life.  His  plain  and  unostentatious  ways, 
his  kindly  disposition,  coupled  with  sterling  honesty,  won 
the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  No  children 
have  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haviland,  but  five 
orphan  children  have  borne  their  name  by  adoption  and 
grown  to  maturity  loving  and  honoring  them.  Mr.  Roger 
Haviland  has  filled  all  the  more  important  offices  in  the 


township,  as  is  indicated  by  the  records  given  in  the  history 
of  this  county.  He  has  large  business  interests  in  Corunna, 
being  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  place, 
and  is  also  president  of  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  Shiawassee  County.  We  might  add  to  this  brief 
sketch  many  encomiums  on  the  life  and  character  of  Mr. 
Haviland  which  would  be  heartily  endorsed  by  his  many 
acquaintances  and  friends,  but  we  feel  assured  that  his  un- 
assuming nature  and  sterling  common  sense  will  be  better 
pleased  with  this  plain  statement  of  facts. 


ROBERT   FOX. 


The  parents  of  Robert  Pox,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
were  both  natives  of  New  York.  His  father,  Chauncy  D. 
Fox,  was  born  June  14,  1793,  and  his  mother,  Rebecca 
(Lenox)  Pox,  Aug.  17, 1795.  Robert,  who  was  the  second 
in  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  was  born  in  Ontario  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Oct.  16,  1816.  On  the  4th  of  June,  1842,  after 
a  long  and  tedious  journey,  the  family  reached  Burns 
township,  and  the  father  bought  a  part  of  section  14. 
Aug.  1,  1858,  Robert  married  Mary  C.  Webster,  who 
died  March  9,  1860.  On  the  25th  of  October,  1863,  he 
married  Miss  Celia  Rathbun,  whose  family  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Burns,  and  are  spoken  of  in  the  history  of 
that  township.  She  was"  born  in  Shiawassee  township, 
Shiawassee  Co.,  Oct.  18,  1846.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fox  are  three  in  number,  viz. :  Ida  Belle,  born  Jan. 
1,1865;  Monroe,  born  July  12,  1867;  Robert  R.,  born 
April  13,  1870.  Mr.  Fox  bought  the  land  where  he  now 
lives  in  1873,  and  having  sold  the  place  where  he  had  re- 
sided, on  section  26,  moved  to  it  in  1878.  Though  his  ad- 
vantages for  schooling  were  very  limited,  Mr.  Pox,  by  the 
judicious  selection  of  reading-matter,  became  much  better 
informed  than  could  have  been  expected,  considering  the 
many  discouraging  circumstances  which  surrounded  'him. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  often  been  elected  to 
the  various  township  offices  by  his  party.  In  religion  he 
is  liberal  in  his  views,  maintaining  that  each  man  has  a 
right  to  his  own  candid  conviction.  Mr.  Fox's  mother 
died  March  5,  1849 ;  his  father,  July  29,  1871. 


ISAAC   S.   BARNUM. 

Isaac  S.  Barnum,  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren,— three  sons  and  two  daughters, — was  born  in  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  17, 1827.  His  father,  John  B.  Barnum, 
was  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  28,  1798.  His 
mother,  Urana  (Sutherland)  Barnum,  was  also  born  in 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  were  married  about  the  year 
1818,  and  lived  in  New  York  until  1836,  when  they  came 
to  Michigan,  and  settled  in  Burns  township,  Shiawassee 
Co. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age  Isaac,  who  up  to  this 
time  had  remained  at  home,  began  taking  contracts  to 
"  break  land"  for  new  settlers  in  that  vicinity.  He  followed 
this  occupation  for  three  years.     His  father  in  the  mean 


ffes/OEAfce  OF  ROBERT  FOX,  Bunus.  SntAWASsee  Co-  Mich. 


BURNS  TOWNSHIP. 


209 


time  having  helped  him  to  forty  acres  of  land,  he  purchased 
an  additional  forty  acres  adjoining.  But  he  was  not  yet 
satisfied.  In  1852  he  hazarded  his  little  store  of  hard- 
earned  means,  and  started  for  California.  The  trip  from 
New  York  City  to  San  Francisco,  via  Cape  Horn,  extended 
over  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  days.  The  ves- 
sel stopped  twelve  days  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  and 
twelve  days  at  Valparaiso,  Chili,  giving  the  passengers  (of 
whom,  when  leaving  New  York,  there  were  three  hundred 
and  twelve)  a  fine  opportunity  to  see  those  cities  and  the 
surrounding  country.  Thirteen  passengers  died  of  yellow 
fever  on  the  voyage,  and  were  buried  at  sea.  Upon  reach- 
ing California  Mr.  Barnum  turned  his  attention  to  mining, 
which  he  followed  the  first  year  of  his  stay.  The  second 
year  he  secured  a  good  salaried  position,  which  he  retained 
until  his  return  home,  when  he  found  that  he  had  realized 
by  his  venture  two  thousand  dollars  clear  of  all  expenses. 
On  his  return  trip  he  came  via  the  Nicaragua  route,  the 
journey  occupying  twenty-six  days. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1855,  Mr.  Barnum  married 
Amelia,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Sarah  Crawford,  pioneers 
in  the  township  of  Burns. 

Robert  Crawford  was  born  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March 
17,  1794.  Sarah,  his  wife,  was  born  Aug.  14, 1798,  and 
died  Jan.  18,  1880.     Mr.  Crawford  is  still  living. 

Mrs.  John  B.  Barnum  died  May  24,  1848,  and  her 
husband  Feb.  5,  1865.  Abiger  P.  Barnum,  eldest  son  of 
John  B.  and  Urana  Barnum,  died  and  was  buried  at  sea. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Barnum  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Ella,  born  April  19,  1858;  Nellie  May, 
Jan.  6,  1867  ;  Osmond  S.,  born  April  17,  1875,  died  Feb. 
26,  1877. 

Mr.  Barnum's  farm  now  consists  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty-two  and  a  half  acres  of  land  in  one  of  the  most  fer- 
tile and  highly  cultivated  portions  of  the  township.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  his  religious  belief  is 
liberal.     Mrs.  Barnum  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  Barnum  remarks,  with  satisfaction,  that  although 
fifty-two  years  of  age,  and  having  been  actively  engaged  in 
business  with  nearly  all  classes  of  men  since  he  first  com- 
menced breaking  land,  he  has  never  been  compelled  to  go  to 
law,  either  in  his  own  defense  or  in  the  prosecution  of  others, 
and  has  never  invested  but  one  dollar  in  legal  advice. 


NICHOLAS   BRADEN. 

Nicholas  Braden  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  in  February,  1808,  being  the  ninth  in  a  family 
of  ten  children.  He  remained  at  home,  working  for  his 
father,  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  borrowed  a 
small  sum  of  money  and  went  to  England,  where  he  found 
employment  in  a  sugar-refioing  establishment.  He  re- 
mained there  two  years,  paying  close  attention  to  business 
and  exercising  the  strictest  economy,  by  which  means  he 
saved  sufficient  money  to  pay  his  fare  to  New  York  City, 
where  he  arrived  in  1827,  with  only  half  a  crown  remain- 
ing of  his  two  years'  earnings.  He  soon  secured  a  position 
in  a  sugar-house,  which  he  retained  for  two  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  he  went  into  the  grocery  busi- 
27 


ness.  He  followed  this  occupation  until  1836,  when  he 
sold  out,  came  to  Michigan,  and  bought  a  farm,  being  a 
portion  of  the  one  now  occupied  by  him.  After  going  to 
New  York  and  settling  his  business  affairs,  he  came  back 
to  Michigan,  built  a  log  cabin,  and  began  the  work  of 
clearing  the  forest  around  him.  He  lived  alone  in  this 
cabin  about  eighteen  months,  when  he  married  Miss  Ka- 
trina  Lahring,  who  was  also  born  in  Germany.  By  this 
union  four  children  were  born,  but  one  of  whom  is  now 
living, — Eliza,  born  Dec.  29,  1841. 

Mrs.  Braden  died  May  11,  1844,  and  Mr.  Braden  mar- 
ried, as  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Deborah  (Clayton)  Minor, 
the  widow  of  Raymond  Minor,  who  died  in  Oakland 
County,  April  9,  1844.  Their  only  living  child  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Traverse  County.  Mrs.  Deborah  Braden  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  Jan.  12,  1819. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Braden  have  been  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  for  more  than  thirty  years.  To  them 
have  been  born  the  following  children :  Emma  A.,  born 
June  4,  1846;  Luther  J.,  born  Aug.  24,  1848;  Franklin 
A.,  born  Feb.  2,  1851;  Ruth  E.,  born  Jan.  22,  1854; 
and  Henrietta,  born  Oct.  5,  1856. 

Mr.  Braden  reached  New  York  City  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, without  money  or  friends,  unacquainted  alike  with 
the  language  and  the  customs  of  the  people.  He  now 
owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  acres. 

He  has  been  successful  in  business,  and  as  a  neighbor 
and  a  citizen  deserves  honorable  mention  among  the  self- 
made  men  and  pioneers  of  his  county. 


AMOS  POSTER. 


Amos  Foster  was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  26, 
1811.  His  mother,  Elizabeth  (Lowrie)  Foster,  was  a  native 
of  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  his  father  of.  Washington 
County,  same  State.  After  the  death  of  his  father;  Amos 
being  next  to  the  eldest  child  was  at  an  early  age  called 
upon  to  assist  in  providing  for  and  sharing  in  the  care  of 
a  large  family.  He  remained  at  home,  therefore,  until  in 
his  twenty-fourth  year.  On  the  12th  of  March,  1836,  he 
married  Miss  Ordelia,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Otse  Rath- 
bun,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  the  latter 
of  New  York.  Miss  Ordelia  was  born  in  Onondaga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  June  9,  1820.  In  the  mean  time  the  mother  of 
Amos  had  married  William  Palmer,  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  Mr.  Foster,  with  his  young  wife 
(she  being  then  scarcely  sixteen  years  of  age),  came  to 
Michigan.  Leaving  her  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State, 
Amos  proceeded  at  once  to  the  frontier,  and  after  much 
difficulty  succeeded  in  finding,  in  the  southern  part  of  Burns 
township,  a  distant  relative  of  his  wife  named  Dias  Rath- 
bun.  Here  he  purchased  forty  acres  in  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  22.  After  acting  as  guide  for  several 
new-comers  in  the  township  he  returned  to  his  wife,  and  in 
the  September  following  they  came  to  Burns. 

He  built  a  log  cabin  on  his  property,  in  which  he  taught 
school  the  two  winters  following,  this  being  the  first  school 
in  the  township.  During  the  summers  he  worked  on  the 
land  he  had  purchased.     At  the  expiration  of  two  years. 


210 


HISTOEY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


on  account  of  sickness,  he  sold  his  property  and  moved 
with  his  family  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained,  spending 
much  of  his  time  in  the  school-room,  until  1862,  when  he 
returned  to  Michigan  and  purchased  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  are  the  only  couple  now 
living  in  Burns  who  were  married  and  residing  here  as 
early  as  1836.  They  have  been  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children :  Lauretta,  born  May  23,  1837 ;  George  L., 
born  Sept.  20,  1838;  Thomas,  born  Oct.  6,  1850;  Mark 
v.,  born  July  17,  1854;  Carrie,  born  June  27,  1856. 
Thomas  and  Carrie  died  in  infancy,  and  Mark  V.,  June  3, 
1879. 


THOMAS   P.  GKEEN. 

Thomas  P.  Green  was  horn  in  the  State  of  Connecticut 
in  August,  1805.  The  family  moved  to  Burlington  town- 
ship, Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  about  the  year  1807.  Thomas 
remained  at  home  until  sixteen  years  of  age.  From  that 
time  until  in  his  twenty-first  year  he  worked  by  the  month 
during  the  summer,  and  taught  school  several  terms.  He 
then  went  to  work  in  a  general  store.  On  the  25th  of 
March,  1829,  he  married  Ann  Sprague,  who  was  born  in 
Richfield,  Otsego  Co.,  May  7,  1807.  He  and  his  wife 
remained  in  Burlington  and  Eichfield  until  1832,  when 
they  moved  to  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  resided 
most  of  the  time  until  1836,  when  they  moved  to  Michi- 
gan, first  stopping  in  Livingston  County.  The  same  sum- 
mer, however,  Mr.  Green  came  to  Burns  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  land.  After  building  a  small  cabin  he  broke  six 
acres  of  ground,  which  he  put  under  cultivation  the  next 
spring.  After  several  years  Mr.  Green  erected  a  larger  and 
more  commodious  house,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire ; 
after  which  the  present  residence  was  built. 

For  many  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  lived  happily  to- 
gether, enjoying  the  fruits  of  the  labors  and  sacrifices  of 
earlier  years.     Her  death  occurred  Oct.  1,  1875. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  but  one  child  was  born,  Oscar 
P.,  Feb.  19,  1830.  He  died  Sept.  12,  1855,  having  pre- 
viously married  a  daughter  of  Garret  Morse,  who  was  an 
early  settler  of  Burns  township. 

On  March  15, 1876,  Mr.  Green  married  Elizabeth  Mon- 
roe, the  widow  of  Angus  Monroe,  who  came  to  Michigan 
in  1854.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monroe — three 
in  number — reside  in  Michigan.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Green 
was  bom  May  5,  1828. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Green  settled  in  Burns  township  it  was 

necessary  for  him  to  go  three  miles  beyond  Brighton a 

distance  of  thirty  miles  from  his  residence — to  mill ;  and 
the  nearest  post-office  was  at  Howell,  fifteen  miles  away. 

At  the  first  town-meeting  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  assessor,  and  a  commissioner  of  highways;  in  the 
exercise  of  the  duties  of  which  latter  office  he  assisted  in 
locating  some  of  the  earliest  roads  in  the  township. 

In  politics  Mr.  Green  is  a  Republican.  Although  a 
member  of  no  denomination  he  is  liberal  in  his  religious 
views.  His  first  wife  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Church, 
but  his  present  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
denomination. 


The  hospitality  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  is  well  known 
among  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  They 
live  in  a  pleasant  home  in  the  midst  of  comfortable  sur- 
roundings, the  reward  of  patient  toil  and  economy  in  earlier 
years. 


W.  W.  SMITH. 


On  the  18th  of  June,  1815,  in  Leicester,  England,  was 
born  W.  W.  Smith,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Pool)  Smith,  and  the  eighth  in  a  family 
of  fifteen  children. 

His  father  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  following  that  oc- 
cupation until  1823,  when  with  his  family  he  sailed  for 
America,  locating  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.  Here  he  resided  till 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  December,  1876,  having 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years, 
ten  months,  and  fifteen  days.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 

Mr.  Smith  remained  at  home  till  twenty-six  years  of 
age,  and  on  the  lOoh  of  January,  1843,  married  Rebecca 
Woodin,  who  was  born  in  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  3, 1821; 
She  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  eight  children. 

Her  father,  Robert  Woodin,  was  a  native  of  England, 
and.  her  mother,  Mary  (Moline)  Woodin,  was  born  in  Ire- 
land. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  moved  to  Warren  Co.,  Pa., 
where  they  remained  and  engaged  in  farming  for  three  years, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  time,  in  1848,  they  came  to 
Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land, 
for  which  they  paid  six  hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Smith  im- 
mediately began  to  clear  his  new  farm.  Four  years  of 
energy  and  industry  had  placed  it  in  such  a  condition  that 
he  was  ofl"ered  sixteen  hundred  dollars  for  it,  which  he  ac- 
cepted, and  then  came  to  Burns  and  bought  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  choice  land.  Of  this  but  fifty  acres 
were  cleared.  Mr.  Smith  has  since  added  to  his  farm  until 
he  now  owns  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  of  which  are  under  good  cultivation.  Of 
the  family  of  fifteen  children  but  two  remain  besides  Mr. 
Smith,  a  brother  and  a  sister,  the  latter  being  seventy-seven 
years  old. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  staunch  Democrat  until  the  formation 
of  the  National  party,  since  which  time  he  has  adopted 
many  principles  advocated  in  their  platform.  He  is  opposed 
to  monopolies  of  every  description,  and  especially  disap- 
proves legislation  in  their  behalf 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  lived  to  acquire  a  fine  property, 
and  to  see  several  of  their  children  married  and  comfortably 
located  near  them.  They  have  been  the  parents  of  the 
following  chirdren,  viz.:  Mary  Jane,  born  Nov.  11,  1843; 
George  M.,  born  April  15,  1845 ;  Charles  H.,  born  Nov. 
2,  1849,  died  Jan.  22,  1878 ;  Robert  J.,  born  Oct.  30, 
1855  ;  William  B.,  born  Oct.  17, 1857,  died  Sept.  5,  1858 ; 
Willis  Winfield,  born  Dec.  27, 1859;  John  F.,  born  March 
23,  1862. 


M»f  W.  W.  ^M/TH . 


Residence  of  l/V^  W.  SMITH.  Buhns  Tp.  ShiawassbeCo.  Mich. 


CALEDONIA  TOWNSHIP. 


211 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 
CALEDONIA    TOWNSHIP.* 

Looation  and  Natural  Features — Original  Land-Entries — Early  Set- 
tlers and  Settlements — Township  Organization  and  Civil  List — • 
Early  Roads — Schools — Coal-Mining. 

The  township  of  Caledonia  may  be  justly  regarded  as 
one  of  the  two  most  important  townships  of  Shiawassee 
County,  because,  while  its  territory  is  composed  of  lands 
second  to  none  in  fertility  and  productiveness,  it  numbers 
among  its  natural  resources  a  valuable  vein  of  excellent 
coal,  and  it  includes  within  its  original  boundaries  the  city 
of  Corunna,  the  county-seat  of  Shiawassee.  On  section 
20  are  located  the  coal-beds,  which  continually  develop  new 
resources  as  their  wealth  of  material  is  explored.  Section 
32  is  the  site  of  the  county  farm,  which,  by  careful  culti- 
vation, has  been  rendered  one  of  the  most  productive  pieces 
of  land  to  be  found  within  the  township  limits. 

Caledonia  is  designated  as  township  number  7  north, 
of  range  3  east,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  New 
Haven,  south  by  Shiawassee,  east  by  Venice,  and  west  by 
Owosso.  The  township  contains  no  lakes  of  any  consider- 
able size.  A  portion  of  the  territory  is  watered  by  the 
Shiawassee  Eiver  and  several  small  tributaries,  which  pour 
their  waters  into  the  larger  stream.  This  river,  which 
affords  an  excellent  water-power,  enters  the  township  near 
the  southeast  corner,  on  section  36,  and  flowing  in  a  gen- 
eral northwesterly  course  through  the  township  and  the 
city  of  Corunna,  passes  out  through  section  19  of  Caledo- 
nia and  enters  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Owosso. 

The  surface  of  the  township  is  generally  undulating, 
though  in  some  parts  nearly  level,  presenting  few  obstacles 
to  the  operations  of  the  husbandman.  The  soil  is  gen- 
erally of  good  quality,  and  produces  abundant  crops.  In 
the  northern  part  of  the  township  the  soil  is  considerably 
intermixed  with  clay,  but  it  becomes  more  sandy  as  the 
southern  boundary  is  approached.  A  rich  muck  is  found 
along  the  river,  and  this  is  very  productive.  The  timber 
found  growing  in  the  township  is  principally  beech,  elm, 
maple,  basSwood,  and  hickory,  very  little  pine  being  found 
here.  The  Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee  Railway 
passes  through  the  southern  portion  of  Caledonia,  and  has 
a  depot  at  Corunna.  A  branch  of  this  road  extends  to 
the  coal-beds  on  section  23. 

ORIGINAL   LAND-BNTKIES. 
The  lands  embraced  in  the  township  of  Caledonia  were 
entered  from  the  government  or  purchased  of  the  State  of 
Michigan  by  the  following  persons : 

SECTION  1. 

Acres. 

S.  M.  Root  (State),  1849 311.05 

P.  J.  Kinney,  ]849 18?-12 

T.  L.  Woodworth,  1849 80 

Z.V.Spencer,  1860 40 

S.  M.  Root,  1849 « 

Henry  Wilcox,  1849 40 

SECTION  2. 

Thomas  R.  Young  (State),  1839 120 

G.  W.  Peo-k,  "        1849 207.91 

»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


Acres. 

Eli  Bush  (State),  1849 160 

A.  P.  Frary,         "         1848 40 

David  Wesoott,    "        1849 160 

SECTION  3. 

D.  P.  Sturdevant,  1836 107.62 

D.  P.  Congdon,  1836 80 

W.R.Seymour,  1836 80 

Wm.  Lyman,  1838 240 

Theodore  Champion,  1838 „ 186.97 

SECTION  4. 

D.  P.  Sturdevant,  1836 106.71 

D.  P.  Congdon,  1836 80 

W.  R.  Seymour,  1836 160 

Lulie  Hoagland,  1836 160 

L.  H.  Parsons  (State) 188.30 

SECTION  5. 

Cyrus  Backus,  1837 '. 80 

S.  M.  Root  (State),  1849 271 

C.W.Butler,  "        1849 113.19 

Henry  Dwight  (State),  1846 160 

William  Caywood,  "       1856 80 

SECTION  6. 

J.  and  S.  D.  Beers,  1836 160 

J.  Kearsley,  1836 140.46 

Robert  Stewart,  1836 10L66 

.J.  B.  Smith,  1836 113.28 

Harvey  Backus,  1837 80 

David  Gould,  1854 160 

SECTION  7. 

J.  andS.  D.  Beers,  1836 160 

J.  L.  Stevens,  1836 141.28 

George  Dickenson,  1836 160 

B.  W.  Farnum,  1836 160 

SECTION  8. 

G.  E.  Peck,  1836 80 

J.  D.  Overton,  1836 240 

B.  W.  Farnum,  1836 320 

SECTION  9. 

Horace  Perry,  1836 80 

A.  Newcomb,  1836 80 

Alexander  Hilton,  1836 80 

Allen  Cadwell,  1836 160 

Joel  Smith,  1836 160 

S.H.Phelps,   1838 4 

B.  Freeman,  1839 40 

SECTION  10. 

Aaron  Seymour,  1836 80 

T.  Peck,  1836 80 

Edwin  Peck,  1836 80 

Silas  Warner,  1837 160 

R.  P.  Coddington,  1837 80 

L.  H.  Parsons  (State),  1849 80 

SECTION  11. 

T.  R.  Young 320 

L.  H.  Parsons  (State),  1850 240 

J.  A.  Clark,  1848 40 

S.  M.  Boot,  1849 40 

SECTION  12. 

James  Van  Aukin,  1839 80 

T.  R.  Young,  1839 80 

C.  S.  Kimberley  (State),  1854 160 

A.  E.  Babcock,  1854 80 

Ethan  Doane  (State),  1862 40 

Jesse  Bradford,  "      1860 40 

John  Newton,     "      1868 40 

S.  T.Parsons,     "      1868 40 

SECTION  13. 
F.  G.  Maoy,  1836 320 

D.  D.  Linge,  1854 40 

D.  Fraser;  1854 40 

John  Newton  (State),  1868 40 

Daniel  Fraser,  1858 80 

A.  P.  Brewer,  1868 120 

SECTION  14. 

F.  G.  Mafiy,  1836 480 

A.  B.  Witherbee,  1864 120 

J.  A.  Thompson  (State),  1866 40 


212 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SECTION  16. 

Acres. 

S.  A.  Pettus,  1836 160 

Thomas  Crouch,  1836 320 

F.  G.  Maoy,  1836 160 

SECTION  16. 

Dorus  Morton  (State),  1854 „ 80 

B.Stewart,  "       1854 40 

Joseph  Laucron,     "       1863 40 

S.  W.Cooper,         "       1854 40 

A.Stewart,  "       1851 40 

Fanny  Hamilton,   "       1853 40 

Edward  Green,        "       1847 80 

Louisa  Cooper,        "       1848 40 

A.M.Green,  "       1853 80 

S.W.Cooper,  "       1853 40 

J.M.Thayer,  "       1859 80 

H.S.Stewart,  "       1846 40 

SECTION  17. 

S.  and  D.  Ball,  1836 160 

J.  and  S.  D.  Beers 480 

SECTION  18. 

A.  L.  andB.  0.  Williams,  1836 72.56 

Kimberleys,  1835 80 

Henry  Dwight,  1836 80 

J.  Kearsley,  1836 152.68 

Schuyler  Hodges,  1836 80 

F.  G.  Macy,  1836 160 

SECTION  19. 

Jos.  Parmley,  1836 207.40 

A.  Kellogg,  1835 81.83 

P.  A.  Coudrey,  1835 71.40 

S.  Hodges,  1836 80 

J.  Pitcairn,  1836 80 

Clark  and  Ware,  1836 80 

SECTION  20. 

A.  Randolph,  1836 244.07 

Trumbull  Cary,  1836 64.52 

Comstook  and  Beach,  1835 146.99 

S.  and  D.  Ball,  1835 160 

SECTION  21. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 97.26 

Comstock  and  Beach,  1835 120.87 

W.  C.  Baldwin,  1836 78 

S.  P.  Germain,  1836 160 

N.  Prouty,  1836 80 

T.  J.  Owen,  1836 80 

SECTION  22. 

Blossom  and  Efner,  1836 207.96 

A.  D.  Eraser  &  Co.,  1836 116.25 

L.  B.  Migner,  1836 49.40 

Van  Dyke  and  McClure,  1836 95.09 

Benjamin  Lebreton,  1836 80 

A.  Abbott,  1836 80 

SECTION  23. 

J.  Kearsley,  1822 11.17 

J.  Greenfield,  1836 62.88 

A.  D.  Eraser  &  Co.,  1836 80.07 

J.  and  S.  D.  Beers,  1836 160 

Luther  Smith,  1836 160 

F.  G.  Macy,  1836 160 


SECTION  24. 


Entries  not  found. 


SECTION  25. 

J.  P.  Swain,  1834 32.07 

H.  B.  Brown,  1836 118.32 

A.  McArthur*  Co.,  1836 160 

Anthony  Ten  Eyek,  1836 so 

E.  W.Doane,  1836 80 

S.  C.  Holden,  1836.„ 80 

SECTION  26. 

S.  Hawkins,  1835 97.48 

Cornelius  Bergen,  1836 154!l2 

Charles  Jackson,  1836 '  170  83 

Sila*  Ball,  1836 '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 16o' 

J.  and  S.  D.  Beers,  1836 .'.....'....."!!"  40 


SECTION  27. 

Acres. 

Blossom  and  Efner,  1836 320 

E.  Farnsworth,  1836 320 

SECTION  28. 

J.  Kearsley 80 

N.  Clark 80 

Andrew  Mack,  1836 317.77 

Henry  Raymond,  1836 80 

H.  H.  Comstock,  1836 80 

James  Bowman,  1836 80 

SECTION  29. 

N.  Clark,  1835 40 

Joseph  Pitcairn,  1836 80 

Clark  and  Warren,  1836 80 

B.  Farnsworth,  1836 280 

William  Gage,  1836 160 

SECTION  30. 

William  Gage,  1836 150.24 

S.  and  D.  Ball,  1836 400 

Mary  Williams,  1836 68.48 

SECTION  31. 

B.  F.  Lamed,  1836 77 

Henry  Bush,  1836 150.92 

James  Valentine,  1836 160 

Samuel  Warren,  1836 40 

Ellis  Doty,  1836 80 

Desnoyers  and  Whipple,  1836 80 

J.  A.  Van  Dyke,  1836 40 

SECTION  32. 

C.  Blake,  1836 160 

G.  C.  and  H.  F.  Lieb,  1836 240 

D.  J.  Campau,  1836 80 

Nathaniel  Prouty,  1836 160 

SECTION  33. 

James  Churchman,  1836 320 

G.  C.  and  H.J.  Lieb,  1836 320 

SECTION  34. 

Hartford  Cargill,  1836 160 

E.  Farnsworth,  1836 160 

G.  C.  and  H.  F.  Lieb,  1836 160 

S.  P.  German,  1836 160 

SECTION  35. 

J.  P.  Clark,  1836 80 

S.  W.  Harding,  1836 160 

Hartford  Cargill,  1836 160 

J.  L.  Barton,  1836 80 

J.  and  S.  D.  Beers,  1836 80 

W.  W.  Whitney  and  Eber  Crawford,  1836 80 

SECTION  36. 

J.  P.  Swain,  1834 40 

Philo  Rockwell,  1836 .'.'...  160 

Patrick  and  Hitchcock,  1836 54.42 

H.  H.  Brown,  1836 4]  58 

J.  P.  Clark,  1836 40 

Chesley  Blake,  1836 131.79 

J.  and  S.  D.  Beers,  1836 80 

S.  C.  Holden,  1836 80 

EARLY  SETTLERS   AND  SETTLEMEMTS. 

But  few  of  the  original  pioneers  of  Caledonia  remain. 
Many  have  died,  while  others  years  since  removed  to  adja- 
cent portions  of  the  county,  or  found  homes  in  other  counties 
or  States.  The  names  and  faces  of  most  of  these  indi- 
viduals have  passed  from  the  recollection  of  the  survivors, 
and  very  few  facts  of  a  reliable  and  interesting  character 
are  obtainable,  which  may  account  for  the  barrenness  of 
material  regarding  the  township's  early  history. 

The  earliest  settler  within  the  township  of  Caledonia  was 
John  Swain,  who  removed  from  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
located  upon  thirty-two  acres  on  section  25.  He  entered 
this  land  in  1834,  and  erected  a  log  house  upon  it  probably 


CALEDONIA  TOWNSHIP. 


213 


in  the  same  year.  Mr.  Swain  was  for  a  while  a  resident  at 
the  Williams  trading-post  in  Shiawassee  township,  and 
while  there  did  something  towards  clearing  the  land  and 
rendering  it  habitable.  He  was  by  occupation  a  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  also  filled  the  sacred  office  of  preacher  at  a 
very  early  date.  The  first  religious  services  in  the  town- 
ship were  conducted  by  him,  and  the  latter  years  of  his 
life  were  entirely  devoted  to  the  duties  of  an  evangelist. 
Mrs.  Swain's  death  occurred  in  1836.  She  was  buried  on 
the  farm,  and  the  funeral  services  were  the  earliest  held  in 
Caledonia.  The  first  birth  in  the  township  occurred  in  the 
family  of  Mr.  Swain  in  the  same  year.  At  a  later  period 
Mr.  Swain  purchased  a  farm  in  Vernon  township,  upon 
which  he  died,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  about  thirty 
years  since. 

The  farm  which  had  been  partially  cleared  by  Swain,  the 
first  settler,  was  purchased  by  Capt.  John  Davids,  the  ear- 
liest agent  of  the  Shiawassee  County-Seat  Company,  who, 
after  relinquishing  his  official  duties  in  Corunna,  removed 
to  the  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  next  settler  was  Philo  Rockwell,  who  removed  from 
Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1835  entered  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  36  in  Caledonia.  At  this  date  John 
Swain  was  the  only  resident  of  the  township.  Mr.  Rock- 
well returned  to  the  East,  and  in  1837  came  again  to 
Michigan  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  log  house  and  mak- 
ing a  preliminary  clearing  upon  his  land.  He  found  dur- 
ing this  interval  a  welcome  to  the  household  of  William 
Black,  of  Shiawassee  township,  and  a  year  later  his  family 
removed  to  their  Western  home.  Capt.  Davids  had  mean- 
while purchased  the  Swain  farm  and  become  a  resident  of 
the  township,  and  two  other  settlers,  whose  names  are  not 
recollected,  had  arrived.  Mr.  Rockwell,  in  addition  to  the 
clearing  already  efiected,  improved  five  acres  and  sowed 
wheat,  which  yielded  a  bountiful  crop.  Many  Indians 
passed  the  house  on  their  way  to  the  Williams  trading-post, 
and  occasionally  shelter  was  afforded  them  for  the  night. 
They  were  generally  laden  with  supplies,  which  were  ex- 
changed with  the  traders  for  wares  in  use  among  the  In- 
dians. Other  settlers  followed  Mr.  Rockwell,  though  for 
years  much  of  the  land  of  Caledonia  remained  uncleared. 
In  1855  his  log  cabin  gave  place  to  a  substantial  frame 
house,  which  is  still  occupied  as  the  family  residence. 

Thomas  R.  Young  left  the  Empire  State  in  1838,  and 
located  in  Lapeer  County.  In  the  following  year  he  entered 
a  tract  of  land  on  sections  1,  2,  11,  and  12  of  Caledonia, 
embracing  six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  retained  two 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  this  purchase  on  section  11, 
upon  which  he  settled,  and  sold  the  remainder.  The  land 
immediately  near  him  was  entirely  uncleared,  and  a  pil- 
grimage of  two  miles  was  necessary  to  visit  the  house  of 
the  nearest  neighbor.  Mr.  Young  remained  with  Joel  B. 
G-oss,  in  the  township  of  Venice,  while  erecting  the  log 
house,  to  which  he  soon  after  removed.  Six  acres  were 
cleared  the  first  year,  and  later  improvements  made  as 
opportunity  offered.  Much  inconvenience  was  experienced 
from  the  frequent  visits  of  wolves  and  bears,  who  made 
serious  inroads  upon  the  sheep-folds  and  rendered  constant 
watchfulness  a  necessity.  Soon  after  Mr.  Young's  arrival 
there  came  in  as  settlers  William  Lemon,  Gerry  Tuttle,  and 


Auburn  Stuart,  whose  location  made  them  his  near  neigh- 
bors. The  log  house  erected  in  1839  gave  place  in  1867 
to  the  comfortable  frame  residence  which  Mr.  Young  at 
present  occupies.  Mrs.  Young,  whose  pioneer  recollections 
are  very  vivid,  is  the  daughter  of  Horace  Hart,  the  earliest 
settler  within  the  township  of  New  Haven.  ^ 

In  point  of  chronological  order,  the  arrival  of  William  H. 
Jewett  should  antedate  that  of  Thomas  R.  Young,  the 
former  having  located  eighty  acres  upon  section  4  as  early 
as  1838.  It  is  probable  that  the  land  was  bought  from 
speculators,  as  no  record  of  a  purchase  by  Mr.  Jewett  from 
the  government  is  found.  He  proceeded  at  once  to  the 
erection  of  a  log  house  and  to  the  clearing  of  his  farm, 
which  was  little  else  than  a  wilderness  on  his  arrival.  Upon 
this  land  he  remained  for  many  years,  but  ultimately  re- 
moved to  New  Haven,  where  he  died. 

At  his  house  in  Caledonia,  in  February,  1841,  there  was 
celebrated  the  earliest  marriage  service  in  the  township, — 
that  of  Lewis  Hart,  of  New  Haven,  to  Miss  Cordelia  Sey- 
mour. Early  religious  gatherings  also  occurred  at  the  same 
place,  and  these  were  generally  conducted  by  Seneca  Pettis. 
Robert  McBride  was  a  native  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and 
when  a  lad  removed  to  Canada.  In  1836  he  became  a  pio- 
neer in  Michigan,  having  chosen  a  residence  in  Detroit, 
where  he  remained  two  years  and  engaged  in  wagon- 
making.  In  1838  he  removed  to  Shiawassee  County,  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres  on  section  36,  which  was 
later  inereased  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  It  was 
uncleared,  and  Mr.  McBride  found  the  usual  labor  of  the 
pioneer  awaiting  him.  He  spent  the  closing  years  of  his 
life  on  this  farm,  and  died  in  the  year  1879.  His  sons  are 
the  present  occupants. 

The  family  consisting  of  W.  R.  Seymour  and  his  two  sons, 
George  R.  and  Walter,  were  pioneers  of  1839,  the  former 
having  entered  land  on  sections  3  and  4  as  early  as  1836. 
Upon  this  land  they  settled,  and  at  once  became  prominent 
in  advancing  the  interests  of  the  township.  They  exercised 
a  generous  hospitality  to  all  new-comers,  and  by  their  uni- 
form kindly  bearing  won  the  esteem  of  the  community. 
George  R.  died  on  the  homestead,  and  his  widow  subse- 
quently made  the  township  of  Vernon  her  residence. 
Walter  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death. 

Ninion  Clark  in  1835  located  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  sections  28  and  29,  which  is  now  occupied  by  Wil- 
liam Ames,  and  upon  which  he  found  a  home  in  1839. 
Mr.  Clark  began  at  once  the  improvement  of  his  land, 
upon  which  he  expended  much  labor,  but  meanwhile  found 
leisure  to  devote  to  public  interests.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  first  board  of  highway  commissioners,  and  with  his  col- 
leagues laid  out  many  of  the  early  roads  of  the  township. 
He  removed  from  Caledonia  to  Shiawassee,  and  later  to 
Vernon,  where  he  died. 

Don  C.  Griswold  purchased  of  parties  who  had  bought 
for  purposes  of  speculation  a  farm  on  section  20,  south  of 
the  Shiawassee  River,  now  occupied  by  D.  B.  Reed.  This 
and  was  rapidly  cleared  under  his  energetic  management, 
and  converted  into  productive  fields.  Mr.  Griswold  was 
an  active  partisan  in  political  campaigns  of  an  early  day, 
and  was  clothed  with  judicial  honors  as  one  of  the   first 


214 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


justices  of  the  peace.  He  later  removed  from  Caledonia, 
and  is  since  deceased. 

Abram  Garrabrant,  a  pioneer  from  New  Jersey,  ar- 
rived in  1839,  and  purchased  forty  acres  on  section  29,  to 
which  he  at  once  removed.  He  devoted  much  labor  to 
the  clearing  and  cultivating  of  this  land,  and  converted  it 
into  one  of  the  most  productive  farms  in  the  township. 
He  resided  upon  it  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Ten- 
nessee and  died  there. 

Ammon  Blain,  from  New  York  State,  also  came  in  1839, 
and  selected  a  tract  of  land  embracing  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  20,  formerly  occupied  by  a  Mr. 
Dunning.  Upon  this  he  erected  a  temporary  shelter  and 
began  the  work  of  improvement.  His  progress  was  suf- 
ficiently rapid  to  satisfy  the  most  ambitious  pioneer,  but 
he  was  attracted  by  a  more  eligible  farm  in  Oakland  County, 
to  which  he  soon  after  removed. 

Benjamin  M.  Waterman  was  a  former  resident  of  Niag- 
ara Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  whence  he  came  to  Michigan  in  1840, 
and  located  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  4  in  Caledonia, 
purchased  of  David  Potter,  of  New  York.  The  latter 
gentleman  had  effected  no  improvement  on  the  land,  and 
Mr.  Waterman  found  it  necessary  at  once  to  erect  a  log 
house  and  clear  a  tract  sufficiently  extensive  to  afford  a 
crop  of  wheat  for  future  subsistence.  His  family  were 
meanwhile  welcomed  to  the  residence  of  their  neighbor, 
Mr.  Seymour,  and  remained  there  for  two  months.  After 
a  residence  of  some  years  upon  his  farm,  Mr.  Waterman 
removed  to  his  present  residence  on  the  same  section.  Co- 
runna  at  this  time  afforded  a  fair  market,  though  much  of 
the  milling  was  done  at  Pontiac  and  Owosso.  Religious 
services  were  held  at  the  school-house  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, which  was  erected  in  1842,  and  to  which  the  settlers 
went  with  ox-teams.  Mr.  Waterman  is  still  a  resident  of 
the  township. 

Norman  L.  Jennings  was  a  resident  of  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  became  a  settler  in  this  county  in  1836,  and  four  years 
later  removed  to  the  township  of  Caledonia,  where  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  on  section  31. 
No  clearing  had  been  effected  upon  this  land,  which  was 
still  in  its  primitive  condition.  Mr.  Jennings  found  shelter 
in  a  hut  that  had  been  erected  south  of  his  land,  and  in 
this  he  lived  for  gome  months  the  solitary  life  of  a  bach- 
elor. On  completing  his  own  house  he  removed  to  it,  and 
in  1841  brought  a  wife  as  mistress  of  the  establishment. 
Emanuel  Young  was  then  the  nearest  neighbor,  who  was 
located  on  the  same  section,  but  Stephen  McCoy  followed 
soon  after.  Indians  were  occasional  visitors,  and  supplied 
game  and  fish  in  abundance,  for  which  other  commodities 
were  given  in  exchange.  Owosso  was  the  most  accessible 
village,  and  there  they  purchased  their  household  supplies. 
Mr.  Jennings  still  resides  upon  his  purchase. 

Robert  R.  Thompson,  previously  a  resident  of  Washte- 
naw County,  came  in  the  following  year,  and  located  upon 
a  farm  in  section  25.  He  was  engaged  with  Alexander 
McArthur  in  the  saw-mill,  and  also  embarked  in  commer- 
cial ventures  in  the  village.  He  afterwards  sold  and  re- 
moved to  Saginaw,  where  he  died. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  resident  and  non-resident  tax- 
payers in  the  township  of  Caledonia  for  the  year  1840 : 


N.  L.  Prouty. 

Eraser,  McArthur  &   Hul- 

bert. 
A.  McArthur. 
McArthur  &  Hulbert. 
I.  A.  Blosum   and    E.    D. 

Efner. 
J.  &  S.  D.  Beers. 
Luther  Smith. 
Jonathan  Kearsley. 
Elon  Farnsworth. 
Electa  M.  Dean. 
Samuel  C.  Holden. 
M.  Reynolds. 
Cornelius  Burger. 
Silas  Ball. 
Charles  Jackson. 
Henry  Raymond. 
Joseph  Pitcairn. 
Wm.  Gage. 
James  A.  Van  Dyke. 
Elias  Doty. 


Desnoyers  &  Whipple. 
Henry  Rush. 
Carlton  Sawyer. 
Chelsey  Blake. 
G.  C.  &  F.  Leib. 
County-Seat  Company. 
Stephen  Hawkins. 
D.  P.  Sturdevant. 

Bishop. 

George  B.  Peck. 
John  Dorelan. 
Joel  Smith. 
Allen  Cadwell. 
Alex.  Hilton. 
Horace  Perry. 
Asahel  Newcomb. 
Philo  Peck. 

Phelps. 

Francis  G.  Macy. 
Comstock  &  Beach. 
S.  &  D.  Ball. 
Silvenas  German. 


S.  N.  Warren,  formerly  of  Oakland  County,  became 
owner  in  1841  of  the  farm  now  occupied  by  C.  Flint  on 
section  31,  which  he  cleared  and  cultivated.  Mr.  Warren 
was  known  as  a  skillful  farmer  and  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
who  manifested  a  lively  interest  in  the  advancement  of  the 
township.  He  remained  for  many  years  in  Caledonia,  but 
ultimately  removed  to  the  city  of  Flint,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. 

Auburn  Stewart  came  to  the  township  from  Ypsilanti  in 
1841,  and  purchased  sixty  acres  on  section  3.  Upon  this 
land  he  built  a  log  house  and  made  some  improvement,  but 
soon  after  sold  to  S.  W.  Cooper.  He  then  removed  to  a 
farm  on  section  16,  and  later  to  the  village  of  Corunna. 

William  Lemon  came  from  Livingston  County  in  1842, 
and  located  in  this  township  on  section  3.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  a  time,  but  afterwards  lived  in  Co- 
runna, and  eventually  removed  to  the  West  and  died  there. 

Arthur  Huntley  formerly  resided  near  Detroit,  and  in 
1845  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  3,  Caledonia, 
upon  which  he  has  since  lived.  After  clearing  a  small 
tract  he  built  a  log  house,  meanwhile  having  found  a  home 
with  his  neighbor,  M.  Jewett.  In  the  first  year  after  his 
arrival  a  serious  calamity  befell  the  family  in  a  conflagrar 
tion  which  swept  away  their  household  effects  and  con- 
sumed a  little  child  in  the  flames.  The  kindness  of  friends 
in  Detroit  soon  supplied  the  loss  of  furniture,  with  which 
they  recommenced  their  pioneer  life.  They  still  reside  on 
the  same  farm. 

Samuel  Young,  a  brother  of  Thomas  R.,  removed  from 
Lapeer  County  in  1847  and  settled  on  forty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 12,  upon  which  the  usual  labor  incident  to  clearing 
was  bestowed.  The  log  house  he  erected  was  later  super- 
seded by  a  frame  one  of  more  extended  proportions,  in 
which  he  still  resides. 

John  Kelly,  formerly  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  purchased  in 
1846,  and  in  the  following  year  became  a  resident  on,  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section   9,  formerly 


CALEDONIA   TOWNSHIP. 


215 


owned  by  George  Kirkland,  of  Ohio.  Joseph  Kelly  took 
sixty  acres  of  this  land,  upon  which  he  early  erected  a  log 
house,  and  thus  afforded  his  brother  a  welcome  on  his 
arrival,  and  during  the  interval  required  for  clearing  and 
building.  Mr.  Kelly  cleared  but  three  acres  the  first  year, 
but  has  since  that  time  made  rapid  progress,  and  has  now  a 
well-cultivated  farm  and  a  spacious  residence  as  the  reward 
of  his  labor.     Joseph  Kelly  died  at  his  home  in  1875. 

Philo  H.  Currier,  a  pioneer  from  Ohio,  located  upon 
eighty  acres  on  section  9  in  1850,  which  he  fouijd  little 
else  than  a  vast  forest  on  his  arrival.  He  found  in  John 
Kelly  a  hospitable  neighbor  while  building  a  cabin.  He 
early  planted  an  orchard,  which  afforded  an  ample  supply 
of  fruit  when  apples  were  so  rare  as  to  be  regarded  a  lux- 
ury. Mr.  Currier  died  on  the  homestead  in  1867.  Mrs. 
Currier's  residence  is  now  with  her  son  in  the  township. 

John  Brands  came  from  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1845. 
He  remained  for  a  while  in  Corunna,  engaged  in  daily 
labor,  but  in  1852  became  the  owner  of  his  present  farm 
of  ninety  acres  on  section  26.  His  father,  David  Brands, 
had  two  years  before  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  section  25,  upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death  in 
1865.  Mr.  Brands  at  once  built  the  usual  primitive  abode 
of  logs,  which  in  1864  was  displaced  by  a  more  substantial 
frame  residence, — his  present  home.  His  land  is  now 
cleared  and  much  of  it  highly  improved. 

0.  B.  Townsend  was  a  pioneer  of  1836  from  Ontario 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  having  first  selected  Ingham  County  as  a  loca- 
tion. He  was  led  to  a  favorable  opinion  of  the  lands  in 
Shiawassee  County,  and  in  1854  selected  one  hundred 
acres  on  section  7,  in  Caledonia,  as  a  home,  upon  which  he 
at  once  located.  Half  of  this  had  already  been  cleared  by 
Elijah  Moak,  whose  father  formerly  owned  it  and  built  a 
log  house  upon  it.  The  immediate  neighborhood  was  en- 
tirely unimproved  and  destitute  of  roads.  Mr.  Townsend 
obtained  a  contract  and  cut  the  road  running  from  his  farm 
to  Owosso,  as  he  did  also  other  highways  adjacent  to  his 
farm.  His  present  spacious  residence  was  built  in  1858, 
which  was  much  superior  to  most  of  the  dwellings  of  that 
day.  His  ownership  of  a  saw-mill  and  pinery  in  Mont- 
calm County  enabled  him  to  build  of  excellent  material 
and  at  reduced  cost.  Mr.  Townsend  still  occupies  the  farm 
he  originally  purchased  in  the  township. 

J.  A.  Thompson  emigrated  from  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1857,  and  located  upon  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  14,  which  he  has  since  increased  to  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres.  Though  central  in  point  of  location, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  for  a  time  comparatively  isolated,  from 
the  fact  that  much  of  the  adjacent  land  was  held  by  specu- 
lators who  saw  prospective  fortunes  in  the  coal  and  oil  to  be 
developed  upon  them.  There  was  at  this  time  no  road 
from  Corunna,  the  way  being  opened  from  that  point  with 
the  axe,  as  Mr.  Thompson  sought  his  purchase.  Four 
months  were  spent  with  a  settler  named  Moe,  who  re- 
sided upon  the  southwest  corner  of  the  same  section. 
Meanwhile  a  log  house  had  been  built  and  a  considerable 
clearing  effected.  His  time  at  first  was  spent  in  chopping 
and  clearing,  for  which  he  obtained  extensive  contracts. 
The  second  year  twelve  acres  of  his  own  land  was  improved, 
and  the  family,  for  whom  he  returned  to  the  East,  comfort- 


ably established  in  their  Western  home.  In  1879,  Mr. 
Thompson  erected  his  present  imposing  residence,  which  is 
one  of  the  most  attractive  in  Caledonia. 

Other  settlers  arrived  at  a  later  date,  and,  though  active 
in  developing  the  interests  of  the  township,  may  not,  strictly 
speaking,  be  entitled  to  mention  among  the  number  of  its 
pioneers. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION   AND   CIVIL   LIST. 

The  township  of  Caledonia  was  formerly  a  portion  of  the 
township  of  Owosso,  and  was  separately  organized  by  the 
following  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  March  22, 
1839: 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  State  of  Michigan,  that  all  that  part  of  the 
county  of  Shiawassee  designated  by  the  United  States 
survey  as  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  No.  3  east, 
which  lies  east  of  the  west  line  of  sections  Nos.  5,  8,  17, 
20,  29,  and  31,  in  said  township,  be  arid  the  same  is  hereby 
set  off  and  organized  into  a  township  by  the  name  of  Cale- 
donia, and  the  first  township-meeting  thereof  shall  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Alexander  McArthur  in  said  township." 
This  left  sections  6,  7,  18, 19,  and  30  in  township  7  north, 
of  range  3  east,  attached  to  Owosso.  After  much  oppo- 
sition these  were  embraced  in  Caledonia  by  an  act  of  the 
State  Legislature,  approved  Feb.  16,  1842.  By  the  incor- 
poration of  the  city  of  Owosso  the  west  half  of  sections  18 
and  19  were  made  a  part  of  that  city,  leaving  Caledonia  as 
it  at  preseqt  exists. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  electors  of  the  township  of  Cale- 
donia was  held,  pursuant  to  public  notice,  on  the  29th  day 
of  April,  1839,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  township  officers. 
Alexander  McArthur  was  chosen  Moderator;  Samuel  N. 
Warren,  David  Warren,  Stephen  Hawkins,  and  Henry  L. 
Bangs,  Inspectors  of  Election ;  and  Don  C.  Griswold  and 
David  Lester,  Clerks.  The  following  officers  were  declared 
elected :  Supervisor,  Alexander  McArthur ;  Township  Clerk, 
Samuel  N.  Warren;  Treasurer,  Samuel  N.  Warren;  As- 
sessors, D.  P.  Congdon,  Alexander  McArthur,  W.  R.  Sey- 
mour; School  Inspectors,  S.  N.  Warren,  John  Davids, 
Alexander  McArthur;  Highway  Commissioners,  Stephen 
Hawkins,  Ninion  Clark,  John  Davids;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Samuel  N.  Warren,  Alexander  McArthur,  John 
Davids,  Don  C.  Griswold ;  Constable  and  Collector,  Ninion 
Clark. 

The  names  of  the  officers  of  the  township  from  that  time 
to  the  present  are  given  in  the  following  list : 


SUPERVISORS. 


1840.  Alexander  McArthur. 

1841.  A.  H.  Beach. 
1842-46.  Andrew  Parsons. 
1847-48.  Luke  H.  Parsons. 
1849.  Andrew  Parsons. 
1850-51.  Luke  H.  Parsons. 
1852.  Andrew  Parsons. 
1863.  L.  H.  Parsons. 
1854^56.  Edward  Green. 
18^7.  James  Cummin. 
1858.  Edward  Green. 


1859-64.   Hugh  JfeCurdy. 
1866.  Pliny  S.  Lyman. 
1866.  Hugh  McCurdy. 
186?.  William  Oaks. 
1868.  William  D.  Holt. 
1869-73.  John  M.  Fitch. 
1874-75.  James  A.  Thompson. 
1876.  D.  B.  Reed. 
1877-78.  Charles  Wren. 

1879.  Jason  W.  Sanders. 

1880.  Horace  W.  Bigelow. 


216 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


TOWNSHIP   CLERKS. 


1840.  S.  H.  Petteys. 
1841-42.  John  E.  Smith. 
1843-46.  Nelson  Ferry. 
1847-48.  P.  S.  Lyman. 
1849.  George  W.  Harris. 
1850-54.  Pliny  S.  Lyman. 

1855.  E.  P.  Wade. 

1856.  J.  B.  Wheeler. 
1867.  E.  C.  Moore. 

1858.  Cortes  Pond. 

1859.  W.  Goodell. 


1860-62.  George  Wilcox. 

1863.  J.  W.  Turner. 

1864.  P.  W.  Coleman. 

1865.  Alexander  Cummin. 

1866.  James  Anderson. 

1867.  Theodore  W.  Ferry. 

1868.  J.  H.  Anderson. 
1869-70.  Burt  Saddleson. 
1871-72.  H.  I.  Newell. 
1873-78.  J.  B.  Eveleth. 
1879-80.  William  Parker.. 


TREASURERS. 


1840.  A.  M.  Jennings. 

1841.  Stephen  Hawkins. 

1842.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

1843.  Henry  Jennings. 

1844.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 
1845-46.  Henry  Jennings. 
1847-48.  Thomas  S.  Morton. 
1849-52.  Alfred  Bartlett. 
1853-54.  I.  M.  Thayer. 
1855.  Thomas  S.  Morton. 
1856-58.  Morris  Jackson. 
1859.  Thomas  Lyons. 


1860-62.  John  M.  Fitch. 
1863.  Robert  C.  Kyle. 
1864^65.  L.  W.  Gaffney. 

1866.  John  M.  Fitch. 

1867.  John  L.  Wild. 

1868.  Morris  Ormsby. 
1869-72.  William  West. 
1873.  Isaac  0.  Derr. 
1874-76.  Charles  Wren. 
1877-79.  B.  a.  Hawkins. 
1880.  N.  B.  Aiken. 


SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 


1840. 


1841. 


1842. 


1843. 

1844. 
1845. 

1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851, 
1852. 

1853, 
1854 
1855, 
1856 
1857, 
1858 


A.  H.  Beach. 
S.  H.  Petteys. 
William  H.  Jewett. 
R.  R.  Thompson. 
S.  N.  Warren. 
S.  H.  Petteys. 
L.  H.  Parsons. 
W.  H.  Beach. 
S.  N.  Warren. 
L.  H.  Parsons. 
S.  H.  Petteys. 
John  Gilbert. 
Joseph  Pnrdy. 
L.  H.  Parsons. 
Joseph  Pardy. 
M.  P.  Willson. 
J.  M.  Luther. 
L.  H.  Parsons. 
0.  T.  B.  Williams. 
J.  P.  Richardson. 
G.  0.  Bachman. 
L.  H.  Parsons. 
,  James  Cummin. 
L.  H.  Parsons. 
S.  T.  Parsons. 
,  E.  A.  Morley. 
,  0.  T.  B.  Williams. 
,  R.  B.  Wyles. 


JUSTICES 

1840.  S.  H.  Petteys. 
Alexander  McArthur. 

1841.  William  H.  Jewett. 

1842.  R.  R.  Thompson. 
L.  H.  Parsons. 

1843.  R.  R.  Thompson. 
B.  M.  Waterman. 

1844.  Harlow  Beach. 

1845.  B.  M.  Waterman. 

1846.  L.  H.  Parsons. 
Joseph  Purdy. 

1847.  C.  C.  Beatty. 

1848.  Isaac  Castle. 

1849.  Eli  Stewart. 

1850.  A.  McArthur. 

1851.  William  H.  Beach. 


1859.  L.  C.  York. 
Robert  Duncan. 

1860.  Robert  Duncan. 
F.  W.  Warren. 

1861.  T.  C.  Gamer. 
J.  W.  Tijrner. 

1862.  J.  W.  Turner. 

1863.  J.  M.  Goodell. 
T.  C.  Gamer.  . 

1864.  B.  P.  Gregory. 

1865.  L.  D.  Phelps. 
T.  C.  Garner. 

1866.  Joseph  W.  Manning. 
1887.  T.  C.  Garner. 

W.  D.  Holt. 

1868.  E.  C.  Moore. 

1869.  W.  A.  Maynard. 
B.  R.  Parsons. 

1870.  W.  A.  Maynard. 

1871.  George  B.  Fitch. 

1872.  John  Brandt. 

1873.  John  Kelly. 

1874.  William  Hinman. 

1875.  John  Brands. 
1876-77.  C.  B.  Pelton. 
1878-79.  Lyman  Brandt. 
1880.  J.  A.  Thompson. 


OF  THE  PEACE. 

1852.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

1853.  R.  N.  Thompson. 
Eli  Stewart. 

1854.  Alexander  McArthur. 

1855.  Richard  P.  Clark. 

1856.  B.  Stewart. 
E.  F.  Wade. 

1857.  T.  C.  Carr. 

1858.  A.  McArthur. 
H.  J.  Newell. 

1859.  C.  J.  Gale. 

1860.  John  Corland. 

1861.  H.J.  Newell. 

1862.  B.  F.  Wade. 

1863.  C.  J.  Gale. 
Alexander  McArthur. 


1864.  Alexander  McArthur. 

1872.  P.  S.  Aokerson. 

1865.  H.  J.  Newell. 

1873.  J.  B.  Bveleth. 

1866.  J.  N.  Ingersoll. 

Schuyler  Ferris. 

G.  W.  Harris. 

1874.  Duane  Cooper. 

1867.  C.  J.  Gale. 

I.  0.  Derr. 

1868.  G.N.Roberts. 

1875.  C.Mead. 

1869.  W.  A.  Maynard. 

C.  H.  Powell. 

B.  R.  Parsons. 

1876.  N.  B.  Aiken. 

H.  J.  Newell. 

1877.  J.  A.  Thompson. 

1870.  W.  A.  Maynard. 

1878.  A.  B.  Stedman. 

A.  A.  Barry. 

1879.  Hugh  Parker. 

1871.  Calvin  Flint. 

James  McBride. 

1872.  D.  B.  Reed. 

1880.  J.  B.  Bveleth. 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 

ft 
1840.  William  H.  Jewett. 

1856.  H.  J.  Newell. 

John  Davids. 

H.  B.  Flint. 

Henry  Jennings. 

1857.  T.  R.  Young. 

1841.  A.  Blain. 

H.  J.  Newell. 

Abram  Garrabrant. 

1858.  J.  M.  Thayer. 

William  H.  Jewett. 

T.  R.  Young. 

1842.  A.  Blain. 

1859.  R.  McLaughlin. 

W.  H.  Jewett. 

J.  R.  Thompson. 

Oliver  Fraser. 

1860.  J.  A.  Thompson. 

1843.  A.  Blain. 

1861.  J.  R.  Thompson. 

C.  S.  Johnson. 

1862.  Milo  Stewart. 

John  Pope. 

1863.  Charles  Rhodes. 

1844.  W.  H.  Jewett. 

1864.  H.  B.  Young. 

Stephen  Hawkins. 

Robert  Lyon. 

A.  Blain. 

1865.  Joseph  Kelly. 

1845.  B.  M.  Waterman. 

1866.  Samuel  West. 

C.  S.  Johnson. 

1867.  Robert  McBride. 

John  Davids. 

Enos  Merrill. 

1846.  William  Lemon. 

1868.  Horace  Peacock. 

C.  R.  Gilbert. 

1869.  Isaac  Sutton. 

B.  C.  Kimberley. 

John  Kelly. 

1847.  C.  S.  Johnson. 

18^0.  Enos  Merrill. 

W.  H.  Jewett. 

1871.  John  Kelly. 

C.  R.  Gilbert. 

1872.  George  T.  Sanders. 

1848.  C.  R.  Gilbert. 

1873.  C.  H.  Powell. 

1849.  B.  M.  Bacon. 

1874.  John  Kelly. 

1850.  C.  S.  Johnson. 

C.  B.  Pelton. 

1851.  D.  Morton. 

1875.  P.  S.  Ackerson. 

1862.  B.  M.  Waterman. 

1876.  W.  J.  Hinman. 

Philo  Rockwell. 

1877.  N.  L.  Jennings. 

1853.  G.W.  Haines. 

1878.  William  Packer. 

1854.  Philo  Rockwell. 

1879.  Daniel  Manger. 

1855.  B.  C.  Kimberley. 

1880.  Joel  C.  Potter. 

DIRECTORS 

OF   THE   POOR. 

1840-41.  S.  N.  Warren. 

1849-50    S.  W.  Cooper. 

Alexander  McArthur. 

1851.  Harlow  Beach. 

1842.  Stephen  Hawkins. 

C.  S.  Johnson. 

Robert  Lyon. 

1852.  S.  W.  Cooper. 

1843.  Harlow  Beach. 

Harlow  Beach. 

J.  B.  Ho«rard. 

1853.  Hiram  Smith. 

1844.  S.  W.  Cooper. 

G.  W.  Wait. 

J.  B.  Howard. 

1854^56.  B.  McLaughlin. 

1845.  R.  R.  Thompson. 

James  Cummin. 

Seth  Beach. 

1856.  James  Cummin. 

1846.  L.  B.  Gilbert. 

A.  H.  Beach. 

Seth  Beach. 

1857.  C.  S.  Johnson. 

1847.  H.  Beach. 

R.  P.  Clark. 

8.  Perkins. 

1858.  James  Cummin. 

1848.  J.  M.  Fraser. 

A.  H.  Beach. 

George  W.  Haines. 

1859.  Cranston  Belden. 

1849-50.  J.  M.  Fraser. 

S.  W.  Cooper. 

ASSESSORS. 

1840.  W.  R.  Seymour. 

1841.  W.  R.  Thompson. 

G.  J.  Van  Buren. 

R.  R.  Thompson. 

Philo  Rockwell. 

1842.  B.  M.  Waterman. 

1841.  S.  N.  Warren. 

C.  3.  Johnson. 

CALEDONIA  TOWNSHIP. 


217 


1839.  Ninion  Clark. 


COLLBCTOBS. 

1840-41.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 


SUPERINTENDENT   OF   SCHOOLS. 
1875-80.  Duane  C.  Cooper. 

DKAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 


1872.  John  Kelly. 

1873.  Jonas  HoenBbell. 

1874.  Charles  Doane. 

1875.  C.  B.  Pelton. 


1876.  Theron  Stevens. 
1877-78.  C.  H.  Raymond. 

1879.  Orvill  Grant. 

1880.  Darwin  Shavalier. 


CONSTABLES. 

1840.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

1858.  J.  A.  Fowler. 

1841.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

Lyman  Newell. 

(t.  R.  Seymour. 

1859.  J.  L.  Smith. 

John  Ackley. 

J.  C.  Preston. 

1842.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

Jonah  Fuller. 

Henry  Jennings. 

H.  B.  Young. 

Abram  Garrabrant. 

1860.  J.  L.  Smith. 

1843.  J.  E.  Corwin. 

W.  R.  Witherell. 

Henry  Jennings. 

C.  II.  Brown. 

Orsamus  Doty. 

M.  Miller. 

1844.  Henry  Jennings. 

1861.  H.  M.  Rowefer. 

S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

J.  L.  Smith. 

0.  Doty. 

L.  W.  Gaffney. 

1845.  S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

M.  Miller. 

Henry  Jennings. 

1862.  L.  W.  Gaffney. 

0.  Doty. 

W.  K.  Witherell. 

1846.  John  Redson. 

M.  Miller. 

0.  Doty. 

Samuel  Stickney. 

S.  Z.  Kinyon. 

1863.  J.  R.  Corwin. 

1847.  T.  S.  Morton. 

Isaac  Derr. 

J.  E.  Chaffee. 

H.  A.  Huntington. 

0.  Doty. 

Edwin  Hawkins. 

John  Nedson. 

1864.  David  Beatty. 

1848.  T.  S.  Morton. 

J.  B.  Armstrong. 

J.  R.  Cummin. 

B.  M.  Bailey. 

G.  W.  Wait. 

Joshua  Morton. 

G.  Tuttle. 

1865.  L.  W.  Gaffney. 

1849.  L.  C.  Eddy. 

H.  H.  Bartlett. 

Brooklyn  Stewart. 

J.  L.  Smith. 

A.  C.  Kimberley. 

J.  B.  Bush. 

1850.  John  Redson. 

1866.  George  Badgen. 

L.  C.  Eddy. 

Jonah  Fuller. 

B.  Stewart. 

Solomon  Blake. 

D.  Martin. 

J.  L.  Smith. 

1851.  William  Lemon. 

1867.  S.  G.  Blake. 

L.  C.  Eddy. 

Calvin  Smith. 

G.  Tuttle. 

C.  D.  Smith. 

E.  W.  Stiokney. 

W.  H.  Ream. 

1852.  L.  C.  Eddy. 

1868.  M.  Miller. 

John  Redson. 

Calvin  Smith. 

Nelson  Hiokey, 

George  Badgen. 

1853.  Darld  W.  Palmer, 

Clark  Smith. 

John  Redson. 

1869.  C.  D.  Smith. 

L.  C.  Eddy. 

John  Vedder. 

John  Dwight.      . 

William  Stewart. 

1854.  James  R.  Cummin 

Jackson  Shore. 

D.  W.  Palmer. 

1870.  A.G.Young. 

Lewis  Lyon. 

Frederick  Young. 

L.  C.  Eddy. 

James  Barry. 

1855.  T.  S.  Morton. 

J.  W.  Curtis. 

D.  Morton. 

1871.  John  Miller. 

J.  L.  Smith. 

James  McBride. 

D.  W.  Palmer. 

William  Derr. 

1856.  C.  MoArthur. 

Charles  Lamonion. 

J.  L.  Smith. 

1872.  B.  H.  Vail. 

^   D.  R.  Corwin. 

Albert  Young. 

W.  D.  Ingersoll. 

J.  Hoenshell. 

1857.  R.  M.  Ford. 

J.  A.  Fitch. 

1858.  R.  M.  Ford. 

1873.  Edward  Lamoreaux. 

D.  W.  Palmer. 

C.  C.  Kelly. 

28 

1873.  Frederick  Young. 
Albert  Young. 

1874.  Richard  Goward. 
Frederick  Young. 
Charles  H.  Raymond. 
A.  H.  Innes. 

1876.  S.  Mead. 

H.  Humphrey. 
Theron  Stevens. 
Frederick  Young. 

1876.  B.  Conoly. 
Frank  Kingsbury. 
A.  H.  Innes. 
F.  Young. 

1877.  F.  Kingsbury. 


1877.  G.  W.  McClellan. 

E.  Conoly. 

F.  Young. 

1878.  B.  Conoly. 

F.  Kingsbury. 

B.  J.  Almendinger. 

Charles  Edwards. 

1879.  John  Jenkins. 
William  Boyd. 
Isaac  0.  Derr. 
Theron  Stevens. 

1880.  6.  W.  Kelley. 
John  Brands. 
George  W.  McClellan. 


EAELY   ROADS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  highway  commissioners  of  the  town- 
ship of  Caledonia,  held  the  16th  day  of  May,  1839,  Ninion 
Clark,  John  Davids,  and  Stephen  Hawkins,  forming  the 
board  of  commissioners  above  mentioned,  divided  the  town- 
ship into  the  following  road  districts : 

District  No.  1,  embracing  sections  Nos.  14,  15,  17,  20, 
21,  22,  27,  28,  29,  31,  32,  33,  34,  35. 

District  No.  2,  embracing  sections  Nos.  13,  23,  24,  25, 
26,  36. 

District  No.  3,  containing  sections  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  8, 
9,  10,  11,  12. 

The  first  recorded  road  is  known  as  a  road  from  Corunna 
to  Warren's  and  Capt.  Davids',  and  is  described  as  a  high- 
way "  commencing  at  the  south  line  of  toTvnship  No.  7 
north,  of  range  3  east,  at  the  corners  of  sections  35  and 
36,  and  running  thence  north  on  section  line  one  hundred 
and  sixteen  chains  and  twenty-five  links  to  the  south  bank 
of  the  Shiawassee  River ;  thence  west  northwest  along  the 
bank  of  said  river  and  fifty  links  therefrom,  sixteen  chains 
and  forty  links  to  the  quarter  line  of  section  26 ;  thence 
west  on  said  quarter  line  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  chains 
and  thirty-three  links  to  the  centre  of  the  highway  running 
from  the  village  of  Corunna  to  Shiawasseetown." 

The  following  road,  surveyed  at  the  same  date,  began  on 
the  south  line  of  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  3  east, 
sixty  links  west  of  the  corners  of  sections  31  and  32,  and 
ran  thence  north  thirty  degrees,  east  sixty-three  chains  and 
fifty  links  ;  thence  north  sixty-five  degrees,  east  seventy-two 
chains  and  sixty-five  links ;  thence  north  thirty-seven  chains 
and  eighty-one  links  to  or  near  the  south  line  of  the  plat 
of  the  village  of  Corunna,  in  said  town.  These  highways 
were  surveyed  by  Daniel  Gould,  May  28  and  29,  1839. 

The  road  from  Capt.  Davids'  to  Shiawasseetown  was 
surveyed  Jan.  8,  1840.  Beginning  at  the  corners  of  sec- 
tions 25  and  36,  in  township  7  north,  of  range  3  east,  on 
the  east  line  of  said  township,  and  running  thence  west  on 
said  section  line  eighteen  chains  and  ninety  links ;  thence 
north  fifty-five  degrees,  west  fifty-nine  chains  and  twenty- 
five  links ;  thence  east  twenty -four  chains  and  fifty  links  to 
a  stake  standing  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Shiawassee  River, 
on  the  line  of  a  road  running  east  from  Corunna,  on  the 
quarter  line  to  said  stake.  In  June  of  the  same  year  a 
road  was  surveyed  by  Nelson  Ferry,  running  north  of 
Corunna^  and  the  following  August  a  highway  was  opened 
on  the  south  line  of  the  township  of  Caledonia,-which  was 
recorded  on  the  15th  day  of  the  same  month. 


218 


HISTOEY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SCHOOLS. 
No  very  definite  information  is  obtainable  regarding  the 
early  schools  of  the  township.  A  school  was  opened  in 
Corunna  some  time  before  the  erection  of  a  school  building 
in  the  township,  and  those  settlers  who  removed  to  Caledonia 
then  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  education  afforded  in  the 
village.  The  earliest  school-house  was  erected  in  the  year 
1842,  and  a  school  opened  in  it  by  Miss  Brasilia  Cook,  who 
for  a  number  of  terms  instructed  the  youth  of  the  township. 
Her  successor  is  not  remembered.  The  present  school  ter- 
ritory of  Caledonia  is  divided  into  four  whole  and  two  frac- 
tional districts.  The  following-named  gentlemen,  compose 
the  board  of  directors :  Walter  Smalley,  Albert  Youngs, 
Jonas  Hornshell,  Erwin  Eveleth,  John  Brands,  Samuel 
Kirby.  The  number  of  scholars  in  attendance  is  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-three,  of  whom  seventeen  are  non-residents. 
They  are  under  charge  of  two  male  and  eleven  female  teach- 
ers, who  receive  iu  salaries  a  sum  total  of  nine  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  dollars.  The  value  of  school  property  in  the 
township  is  six  thousand  four  hundred  dollars,  which  em- 
braces one  brick  and  five  frame  buildings. 

COAL-MINING. 

In  1837  a  geological  survey  of  the  State  was  authorized, 
and  Dr.  Douglas  Houghton  was  placed  in  charge  of  it. 
During  the  progress  of  the  survey  Corunna  was  visited,  at 
that  time  consisting  of  one  log  house  occupied  by  John 
Davids.  The  examination  made  by  the  corps  along  the  Shi- 
awassee River  satisfied  them  that  the  character  and  dip  of 
the  rock  indicated  the  presence  of  coal ;  but  none  was  dis- 
covered at  that  time.  Two  years  later,  in  1839,  Alexander 
McArthur  discovered  coal  on  his  land  on  the  bank  of  Coal 
Creek,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22,  about  half  a 
mile  west  of  where  the  present  coal-beds  are  being  worked. 
It  was  at  first  taken  out  in  small  quantities,  and  as  it  became 
known  that  coal  could  be  obtained,  purchasers  (mostly  black- 
smiths) came  from  long  distances,  and  trade  increased  to 
quite  an  extent.  It  was  delivered  on  the  wagons  of  pur- 
chasers for  ten  cents  per  bushel. 

It  was  not,  however,  till  many  years  after  that  any  organ- 
ized efibrt  was  made  to  mine  coal  to  any  extent.  About 
1864,  B.  Brisco,  master  mechanic  of  the  Detroit  and  Mil- 
waukee Railroad,  assisted  Mr.  McArthur  in  making  exami- 
nations of  the  coal  deposits.  Parties  in  New  York  City  be- 
came interested  in  the  discoveries  and  it  was  decided  to  organ- 
ize a  company  for  the  purpose  of  mining  coal,  to  be  known  as 
the  McArthur  Mining  Company,  with  a  capital  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  On  the  22d  day  of  April,  1865, 
Mr.  McArthur  sold  to  the  company  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  on  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  and 
the  west  half  of  the  west  part  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  22.  The  parties  interested  were  Alexander  McAr- 
thur, of  Coranna ;  Dr.  G.  M.  Peck,  Samuel  Dafikham,  and 
Edward  W.  Lockwood,  of  New  York  City.  Dr.  Peck  was 
chosen  president,  A.  McArthur  local  agent.  A  large  amount 
of  money  was  expended  in  the  erection  of  engine-rooms,  coal- 
houses,  offices,  and  tramways.  In  addition  to  machinery  and 
buildings  at  the  mines,  an  extensive  wharf  was  built  on  the 
Detroit  River,  sheds  and  other  buUdings  were  erected,  and 


an  agency  established  in  the  city  of  Detroit.  The  cost  of 
transportation  was  great  from  the  coal-beds  to  the  depot,  and 
in  the  latter  part  of  1866,  labor  was  suspended  and  the  com- 
pany dissolved. 

The  Briar  Hill  Iron  and  Coal  Company  of  Ohio,  in  1869 
and  1870,  sent  out  to  this  county  Charles  Gilbert,  a  practi- 
cal geologist,  to  examine  the  coal  region.  He  began  at  once 
the  labor  of  testing  for  coal.  Fifty-six  test-holes  were  drilled 
and  deposits  of  coal  were  found  in  forty-six  of  them.  On 
the  1st  day  of  April,  1871,  Henry  P.  Gilbert  purchased  of 
Chauncey  Hurlburt  the  land  on  which  these  tests  were  made, 
62^^  acres  on  the  west  part  of  the  southwest  fractional 
quarter  of  section  23.  In  the  December  following  he  sold 
an  interest  to  George  F.  Perkins,  John  Stambaugh,  of 
Akron,  Ohio,  and  George  Todd,  of  Youngstown,  Ohio.  In 
the  following  year  (1872)  they  opened  a  slope  and  began 
the  work  of  mining,  and  operated  for  about  a  year,  but  not 
being  successful  the  work  was  abandoned,  the  company  hav- 
ing expended  ninety  thousand  dollars  in  various  efforts. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1873,  the  Corunna  Coal  Com- 
pany was  organized  for  mining  coal,  fire-clay,  and  other 
ores  or  minerals,  with  a  capital  stock  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  forty  thousand  dollars  paid  in.  The 
corporators  were  George  F.  Perkins,  of  Akron,  Ohio; 
George  Todd,  Youngstown,  Ohio ;  Henry  P.  Gilbert  and 
Harry  R.  Gilbert,  of  Corunna,  with  an  office  at  Youngs- 
town and  Corunna.  On  the  5th  of  December,  1874,  the 
lands  previously  worked  on  section  23  were  purchased  by 
the  Corunna  Coal  Company,  who  have  since  leased  lands 
adjoining.  In  1877  the  company  were  induced  (after  a 
thorough  investigation,  which  assured  them  that  large 
fields  of  coal  yet  existed  on  their  purchase)  to  open  a  new 
shaft  seventy-five  feet  in  length.  They  were  rewarded  in 
discovering  a  rich  vein  of  the  mineral  from  two  feet  three 
inches  to  three  feet  nine  inches  in  thickness.  The  necesr 
sary  works  for  mining  and  shipping  were  completed  in 
June,  1877,  and  the  company  at  once  began  their  labors. 
This  branch  of  industry  having  been  unfamiliar  to  the 
workmen  of  the  neighborhood,  much  difficulty  was  at 
first  experienced  in  obtaining  miners  who  were  skilled  in 
their  occupation.  This  obstacle  was  finally  obviated  by 
employing  nearly  one  hundred  laborers  from  Ohio,  who  are 
constantly  engaged  in  various  departments  of  the  work.  Of 
this  number  seventy-five  are  skilled  miners. 

From  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  tons  are  mined  daily, 
though  the  maximum  quantity  is  rarely  reached  during  the 
summer  season.  The  coal  was  originally  hauled  from  the 
mines  to  the  depot  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad, 
a  distance  of  two  and  a  half  miles.  This  difficulty  was 
obviated  by  the  construction,  in  1872,  of  a  branch  road 
from  Corunna  to  the  present  base  of  operations,  which  ma- 
terially decreases  the  labor  and  expense.  The  stockholdefB 
of  the  Corunna  Coal  Company  are  George  Todd,  George 
F.  Perkins,  Thomas  Strathers,  John  Stambaugh,  H.  P. 
Gilbert.  The  officers  are  George  Todd,  President ;  Todd 
Kincaid,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


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219 


BIOGEAPHIOAL     SKETCH. 


THOMAS   R.    YOUNG. 


MRS.    THOMAS  R.   TOUNQ. 


THOMAS  R.   YOUNG. 


Mr.  Young  is  descended  from  New  England  stock,  his 
father,  who  early  acquired  the  sturdy  calling  of  a  black- 
smith, having  been  a  native  of  Connecticut,  as  was  also 
his  mother,  formerly  Miss  Nancy  Crane.  Thomas  B,.,  the 
seventh  of  an  interesting  family  of  eight  children,  was  born 
in  Hampton,  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  Sept.  26,  1815,  and 
became  a  resident  of  the  Empire  State  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen years.  Ten  years  later  found  the  family  pioneers  to 
Michigan,  where  they  chose  a  location  in  Lapeer  County. 
In  1846  the  family  circle  was  afflicted  by  the  irreparable 
loss  of  the  wife  and  mother,  whom  the  father  survived  but 
six  years,  having  during  the  interval  improved  a  tract  of 
land  in  Lapeer  County  and  followed  farming  pursuits. 

Thomas  B.,.  on  taking  leave  of  his  home,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  found  ready  employment  in  New  York  State,  a 
portion  of  the  time  being  engaged  on  the  Erie  Canal. 
When  twenty  years  of  age  he  was  influenced  by  the  charms 
of  a  seafaring  life  to  become  a  sailor,  and  joined  the  crew 
of  the  ship  "  Rambler,"  which  sailed  from  Nantucket  on  a 
three  years'  cruise.  Mr.  Young's  share  of  the  proceeds  of 
the  return  cargo  was  three  hundred  dollars,  with  which  he 
made  a  pleasure  trip,  and  then  repaired  to  his  father's  home 
in  Michigan.  In  the  spring  of  1839  he  entered  the  farm 
upon  which  he  at  present  resides,  together  with  other  land 
embracing  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  After  becoming 
weary  of  the'  solitary  life  of  a  bachelor  he  married,  Feb. 
21,  1841,  Miss  Nancy  M.  Hart,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
New  York  State,  Aug.  17, 1823,  and  whose  father  brought 


her  when  an  infant  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  the  wilds 
of  New  Haven  township.  Mr.  Hart  died  in  1867,  having 
survived  his  wife  nearly  forty  years.  Mrs.  Young  is  now 
the  only  living  representative  of  a  family  of  eight  children. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young,  a  sketch  of  whose  home  ap- 
pears on  an  adjoining  page,  were  born  seven  children  in  the 
following  order:  William,  born  Dec.  20,  1841,  died  April 
21,  1843;  Albert,  born  Feb.  13,  1843;  Lucinda,  born 
Dec.  2,  1845;  Melinda,  born  Aug.  28,  1847;  Sarah  M., 
born  Aug.  20,  1849,  died  Oct.  15,  1872 ;  Mary  L,  born 
July  8,  1851 ;  Delia  A.,  born  Sept.  13,  1853,  died  March 
19,  1866.  All  the  surviving  children  are  married  and  es- 
tablished in  comfortable  homes  adjacent  to  the  family  resi- 
dence. 

Mr.  Young's  present  farm  includes  two  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  which,  in  the  high  degree  of  cultivation  it  has  at- 
tained, well  attests  the  industry  and  enterprise  of  its  owner. 

The  political  preferences  of  Mr.  Young  have  led  him  to 
associate  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  held  minor 
township  offices,  though  not  an  aspirant  for  political  honors. 
He  has  been  since  his  residence  in  Caledonia  actively  inter- 
ested in  educational  matters,  and  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
the  earliest  school  building  of  the  district.  He  is  inclined 
to  liberalism  in  his  religious  views,  though  not  dogmatic  in 
the  assertion  of  his  opinions. 

As  a  striking  example  of  the  self-made  man,  Mr.  Thomas 
R.  Young  is  one  of  the  finest  types  that  Shiawassee  County 
affords. 


220 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 
FAIRFIELD   TOWNSHIP.* 

Location,  Natural  and  Artificial  Features— Settlement  of  Fairfield— 
Tax-payers  of  1854-55— Township  Organization  and  Civil  List — 
Voters  ,of  1859— Highways— Schools— Religious— Fairfield  in  the 
Rebellion — Fatal  Accidents. 

This  township  (the  youngest  in  the  county),  lying  upon 
the  meridian  line  and  occupying  the  northwestern  corner  of 
Shiawassee  County,  is  but  a  fractional  town,  containing 
twenty-four  full  sections  and  six  fractional  sections,  equal 
in  the  aggregate  to  twenty-five  full  sections.  The  township 
boundaries  are  the  Saginaw  County  line  on  the  north,  Mid- 
dlebury  township  on  the  south.  Rush  township  on  the  east, 
and  the  Clinton  County  line  on  the  west. 

When  Fairfield  received  its  first  settlers  it  was  heavily  and 
densely  timbered  in  every  portion,  except  along  the  northern 
border,  where  there  was  a  strip  of  pine  woods.  There  was, 
moreover,  considerable  swamp  land,  and  of  this  there  is  yet 
an  abundance,  although  much  has  been  reclaimed  and  more 
will  be,  rapidly,  according  to  present  indications.  There  is 
a  swamp  tract  of  perhaps  a  thousand  acres  in  the  north, 
that  touches  sections  2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  and  11,  and  one  reach- 
ing from  section  13  towards  the  southwest,  as  far  as-  the 
centre  of  section  22,  and  containing  something  like  seven 
hundred  acres.  There  are  other  pieces  of  swamp,  but  they 
amount  in  the  aggregate  to  nothing  important.  Extended 
town-ditches  have  latterly  worked  most  excellent  results  in 
clearing  up  these  waste  lands,  which  must  ultimately,  and 
speedily,  too,  become  valuable  to  the  husbandman.  A 
singular  topographical  feature  of  the  country  may  be 
further  remarked  in  the  presence  of  a  ridge,  or  "  divide," 
which,  extending  north  and  south  through  the  town,  from 
section  2  to  section  35,  causes  the  water-courses  of  the 
town  to  flow  both  eastward  and  westward. 

Fairfield  is  distinguished  as  a  town  that  has  never  con- 
tained either  church  building,  post-office,  store,  mill,  or 
mechanical  industry,  or  yet  permitted  the  sale  of  alcoholic 
liquors  within  its  borders.  It  is  now  and  has  ever  been  a 
purely  agricultural  region,  and  is  esteemed  among  the  most 
productive  in  the  county.  The  surface  is  quite  level  and 
is  dotted  in  numerous  localities  with  cold-water  springs, 
wherefore  it  was  sought,  upon  the  organization  of  the  town, 
to  bestow  upon  it  the  name  of  Cold  Spring. 

Fairfield  enjoyed  in  1869  the  anticipation  of  railway 
transportation  conveniences  at  home,  for  in  that  year  the 
town  voted  bonds  to  the  amount  of  six  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars  in  aid  of  the  Owosso  and  Big  Rapids  Railway. 
The  line  was  graded  partially  through  the  town,  but  the  en- 
terprise failed,  and  to-day  remains  in  the  unfinished  condi- 
tion in  which  it  was  then  left.  As  the  bonds  were  to  be 
donated  only  upon  the  completion  of  the  road,  the  town 
was,  of  course,  not  called  upon  to  make  the  payment. 

SETTLEMENT  OF  FAIRFIELD. 
Previous  to  1850  the  town  now  known  as  Fairfield  was 
untenanted  by  settlers,  although  settlements  south  and  west 
of  it  were  made  as  early  as  1836.     Why  immigrants  held 


*  By  David  Schwartz. 


aloof  SO  long  cannot  be  explained,  except  upon  the  general 
supposition  that  as  it  was  one  of  the  extreme  northern 
towns  in  the  county  it  was  compelled  to  await  the  settle- 
ment of  towns  in  more  southerly  localities.  Even  when 
the  tide  of  pioneering  did  set  in  towards  the  town  it  rolled 
sluggishly  at  first,  and  failed  to  show  much  volume  until 
1854.  A  majority  of  Fairfield's  early  settlers  came  from 
Ohio,  and  indeed  a  large  proportion  of  the  later  ones  came 
from  that  State. 

The  place  now  occupied  by  S.  G.  G.  Main  on  section  35 
is  the  locality  of  the  first  white  settlement  effected  in  Fair- 
field. Lewis  Lockwood  was  the  settler,  and  the  spring  of 
1850  the  date  of.  his  coming.  At  that  date  there  were,  of 
course,  white  settlements  close  at  hand  in  neighboring  town- 
ships, yet  it  was  no  slight  task  to  penetrate  single-handed 
into  the  then  dense  forest  that  covered  town  8.  Lock- 
wood  was,  however,  a  sturdy  pioneer,  and  bravely  held  his 
way  through  all  obstacles,  although  he  and  his  family  ex- 
perienced in  no  small  degree  the  hardships  of  an  almost 
isolated  existence  in  the  woods.  Lockwood  was  the  solitary 
settler  until  the  fall  of  that  year,  when  Aaron  S.  Braley 
entered  the  town  and  moved  to  the  northeastern  corner 
upon  section  2,  fur  from  the  locations  of  other  white  men 
and  deep  into'  a  lonely  stretch  of  wilderness.  Braley  ex- 
perienced with  his  family  a  sharper  taste  of  hardships  and 
privations  than  fell  to  the  lot  of  Lockwood,  since  he  was 
farther  removed  from  neighbors,  and  in  times  of  emergency 
had  to  go  farther  and  pass  over  more  difficulties  in  the 
journeys  to  localities  of  civilization  for  supplies  or  assist- 
ance. His  and  Lockwood's  were  for  some  little  time  the 
only  resident  families  in  the  town,  and  upon  one  occasion 
Lockwood  said  to  him,  "  Braley,  you  and  I  own  the  whole 
of  this  town :  you  are  the  only  one  north  of  the  swamp 
and  I  the  only  one  south  of  it."  Of  the  Lockwoods  none 
are  now  in  Fairfield ;  of  the  Braleys  the  widow  and  her  son 
Alonzo  still  remain.  Mrs.  Lockwood's  daughter,  Henriettaj 
born  1851,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  town,  and 
Mrs.  Lockwood,  who  died  in  1854,  the  first  white  person 
who  died  in  Fairfield.     Her  husband  died  in  1858. 

The  third  settler  was  James  B.  Rouse,  who  came  in  1851, 
and  occupied  upon  section  11a  place  still  the  home  of  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Cramer,  whom  he  left  his  widow.  Rouse  cut  out 
his  road  from  Hiram  Bennett's  in  Duplain  to  section  11,  a 
distance  of  two  miles  and  a  half,  and  had  for  a  time  upon 
his  farm  in  the  woods  a  sadly  lonesome  time.  He  was  poor, 
and  made  shift  to  get  along  only  by  tedious  struggles  and 
much  comfortless  denial.  Mrs.  Cramer  relates  that  she 
pa.ssed  through  a  very  tedious  experience  in  encountering 
the  cares  and  vexations  of  pioneer  life.  Carrying  water 
from  a  place  a  mile  away  from  her  home  was  among  the 
many  familiar  examples  of  life  in  the  woods,  while  howling 
wolves  awakened  frequent  fears  and  tested  her  resolute 
spirit  to  the  utmost. 

Referring  to  Braley  once  more,  and  the  sorry  time  he 
met  in  his  efforts  to  pick  up  a  livelihood,  it  is  recalled  that 
he  was  often  compelled  to  make  a  journey  on  foot  of  twenty 
miles  to  St.  Charles,  where  he  got  a  chance  to  work  for  a 
supply  of  flour  or  other  provisions,  and  when  he  had  earned 
the  provisions  he  had  to  bring  them  upon  his  back  to  the 
home  where  he  had  been  compelled  to  leave  his  wife  and 


^ 


FAIRFIELD  TOWNSHIP. 


221 


little  ones  to  tremble  in  their  loneliness  while  he  toiled  for 
something  to  keep  the  wolf  of  starvation  from  the  door. 
They  were  frequently  so  poorly  off  for  something  to  eat  that 
on  more  than  one  occasion  they  subsisted  on  nothing  but 
such  nutritious  roots  as  they  could  find  in  the  woods. 

THE   MUNSON   SETTLEMENT. 

In  the  spring  of  1853,  George  B.  Munson  made  a  loca- 
tion in  Fairfield  upon  section  32,  where  he  still  resides.  At 
that  time  the  population  of  the  town  included  just  six  other 
families.     They  were  the  families  of  A.  S.  Braley,  on  sec- 
tion 2  ;  Lewis  Loekwood,  on  section  35  ;  James  Rouse,  on 
section  11  ;  Henry  Higgins,  on  section  17  ;  Moses  Wool, 
on  section  8  ;  and  Henry  Wool,  on  section  8.   In  the  spring 
of  1853  came  Alfred  Veltman,  John  Myers,  and  Henry 
Stebbins,  and  in  the  autumn  following,  Abadillah  Borden 
and  Uriah  Squires.     The  road  passir  g  now  eastward  from 
Mr.  Munson's  place  was  then  simply  underbrushed  for  three 
miles,  but  was  not  in  a  condition  passable  for  wagons.   The 
Meridian  road  was  not  opened  until  about  two  years  after, 
and  this,  as  well  as  many  other  highways,  was  constructed 
through  the  medium  of  "  road-bees,"  at  which,  on  each 
Saturday,  the  settlers  would  gather  en  masse  and  work  to- 
gether to  improve  the  means  for  getting  out  of  and  into 
town.      Urged   on  by  their  great  desire  to  see  the  work 
pushed  ahead  rapidly  they  performed  effective  service,  and 
the  result  was  that  ere  long  they  had  all  the  roads  they 
wanted,  and  moderately  good  ones  at  that.     Of  the  settlers 
mentioned  as  having  been  in  the  town  when  George  B. 
Munson    came   in,  he  is  the  only  one    now  permanently 
residing  in  it,  although  Henry  Wool  owns  a  farm  in  the 
town,  and  resides  occasionally  upon  it. 

Mr.  Munson  brought  with  him  a  pair  of  horses,  and  it  is 
his  recollection  that  there  was  at  that  time  no  other  horse- 
team  in  the  town,  nor  had  there  been  but  one,  which  the 
Wool  family  brought  in  and  traded  off  directly  after  they 
came.  Horse-teams  w'ere  so  scarce,  indeed,  as  late  as  1862, 
that  when  in  that  year  Roe  G.  Van  Deusen  made  the  town 
assessment  he  found  but  three  horse-teams  and  not  more 
than  fifty  sheep. 

In  1854  settlers  began  to  come  in  quite  rapidly.  Alfred 
Veltman,  who  has  been  mentioned  as  a  settler  in  1853,  came 
to  the  town  in  1851,  put  up  a  cabin  on  section  35,  made  a 
clearing,  and  put  in  a  crop.  He  kept  bachelor's  hall  on  his 
place  two  yea»,  and  then  going  East  for  his  family,  came 
back  in  1853  and  made  a  permanent  settlement.  Upon  that 
place  now  lives  Mrs.  Sophia  Culver,  who  was  Mr.  Veltman 's 
widow.  Among  the  settlers  in  1854  were  E.  F.  Bennett, 
Oscar  Darling,  Dory  Castle,  and  later  Ira  Allen,  the  Brain- 
ards,  Perkins,  Moses  Leavitt,  C.  J.  Austin,  Charles  Wait, 
Wm.  Peck,  I.  L.  Munson,  C.  G.  Munson,  John  W.  Curtis, 
Orrin  Wetherbee,  Merrick  Rockwell,  Ralph  Van  Deusen, 
E.  J.  Herrington,  and  B.  W.  Darling.  Ralph  Van  Deusen 
came  in  1854  from  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  1856  he  was 
joined  by  his  brother,  Roe  G.  Van  Deusen,  who  came  and 
stopped  in  town  through  that  summer,  working  at  his  trade 
as  carpenter.  In  1859  he  made  a  permanent  settlement 
upon  the  place  he  now  occupies. 

Elder  Ira  Allen,  now  on  section  17,  located  in  Duplain 
in  1852,  and  in  1856  moved  to  his  present  home,  which 


was  first  settled  by  Henry  Higgins.  Elder  Allen  began  to 
preach  Baptist  sermons  shortly  after  his  location  in  Fair- 
field, and  for  the  past  sixteen  years  has  been  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Elsie.  Upon  the  Meridian  line  in  Fair- 
field in  1856,  when  Allen  located,  the  residents  were  Ralph 
Van  Deusen,  Merrick  Rockwell,  E.  J.  Harrington  (who 
built  the  first  framed  house  in  the  town),  John  W.  Curtis 
(who  had  bought  out  Henry  Wool),  George  B.  Munson, 
Charles  Wait,  David  Bates,  and  Moses  Wool. 

Concerning  B.  W.  Darling,  one  of  the  settlers  of  1854, 
there  is  related  a  story  of  his  ready  wit  in  an  emergency 
and  how  he  tricked  a  would-be  trickster.     "  Buck"  Dar- 
ling, as  he  was  known,  was  one  of  the  town  constables,  and 
was  one  day  commissioned  verbally  to  procure  the  arrest  of 
one  Seely,  who,  it  appears,  had  received  an  advance  of 
money  upon  a  contract  to  build  a  school-house,  and  who 
was  understood  to  be  contemplating  a  hurried  departure 
from   the  town  instead  of  a  fulfillment  of  his  contract. 
When  Darling  received   orders  for  Seely 's  arrest  he  felt 
sure  that  if  he  delayed  long  enough  to  procure  a  warrant 
in  the  regular  way  Seely  would  be  off  and  out  of  sight, 
since  report  had  it  that  he  was  even  then  making  ready  for 
flight,  and  was  perhaps  that  moment  on  the  wing.     In  the 
emergency  the  sight  of  a  "  road-warrant"  lying  near  him 
gave  Darling  a  sudden  inspiration,  and  seizing  the  road- 
warrant  as  if  his  salvation  rested  within  it,  he  made  off 
post-haste  after  Seely.     As  luck  would  have  it  he  over- 
haule'd  the  latter  as  he  was  upon  the  eve  of  taking  a  hasty 
leave  of  absence,  and  presenting  his  document  so  that  only 
the  word  "  warrant"  appeared  to  view,  said,  "  Seely,  you 
can't  go  just  now ;  I've  a  warrant  for  you,  and  I  rather  guess 
you'll  have  to  go  with  me."    Seely  looked  at  the  "  warrant" 
as  Darling  held  it  before  him,  and  felt  inclined  to  rebel  at 
an  adverse  fate  that  thus  left  him  in  the  lurch,  but  he  never 
questioned  the  genuineness  of  the  document  upon  which  he 
was  captured,  and  so  marched  away  with  his  captor.     The 
upshot  of  the  affair  was  that  to  avoid  a  prosecution  he 
made  a  settlement  of  the  matter  at  issue,  and  received  his 
liberty.     Not  until  then  was  he  informed  of  the  trick  that 
had  been  played  upon  him,  and  it  is  said  that  upon  learn- 
ing it  he  became  one  of  the  most  disgusted  men  ever  heard 
of  in  Shiawassee  County. 

E.  F.  Bennett,  conspicuously  identified  with  town  affairs 
for  twenty-five  years,  came  to  the  township  in  1854,  directly 
after  Uri  Squires>  who  located  in  the  fall  of  1853.  An 
underbrushed  road  was  the  only  highway  which  Bennett 
could  use  when  he  moved  in,  but  6hat  condition  of  things 
he,  with  Squires  and  others,  soon  improved  by  introducing 
"  road-bees"  and  getting  roads  into  such  shape  that  travel 
thereon  was  fairly  easy. 

E.  S.  Hambleton  came  from  Ohio  in  May,  1855,  to  land 
upon  section  28,  which  was  even  then  a  wilderness.  His 
nearest  neighbor  was  Dory  C.  Castle,  who  lived  a  half-mile 
to  the  westward.  East  the  neighborhood  was  a  swampy 
and  heavily-wooded  region.  William  Oaks,  brother-in-law 
to  Hambleton  (subsequently  county  register  of  deeds  and 
Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd-Fellows  of  the  State),  soon  came  in  and 
located  upon  a  farm  adjoining  Hambleton's  on  the.  east. 


222 


HISTOEY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


C.  D.  Searl,  also  a  brother-in-law  to  Hambleton,  came  with 
the  latter,  and  still  lives  west  of  the  Hambleton  place. 

W.  H.  Dunham  came  with  his  son,  W.  C.  Dunham,  in 
1861,  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
15.  The  son  made  his  settlement  in  1861,  but  the  elder 
Dunham  deferred  his  permanent  establishment  until  1862. 
Upon  the  quarter  section  taken  by  the  Dunhams  there  had 
not  been  a  stick  cut  up  to  1861.  North,  on  section  10, 
was  Asa  Burbank,  who  occupied  the  place  soon  afterwards 
bought  by  Andrew  Williams,  with  whom,  in  1865,  came 
to  the  town  also  his  nephew,  Thomas  Williams,  now  living 
on  section  15.  On  section  3,  in  1861,  were  Enos  Gay  and 
James  Corp,  and  on  section  1  was  W.  L.  Arnold,  upon  the 
place  settled  earlier  by  Edward  Smith. 

Among  the  later  settlers  in  Fairfield  other  than  such  as 
have  already  been  mentioned  may  be  noted  the  names  of 
William  Warner,  William  Peck,  Eli  Chamberlain,  Chester 
Fox,  H.  W.  Fuller,  S.  G.  Main,  C.  B.  Loyens,  J.  B. 
White,  and  E.  W.  Washburn. 


THE  TAX-PAYEES   OP   1854. 

Fairfield's  first  assessment-roll,  made  out  for  the  year 
1854,  presented  the  following  names  of  resident  tax-payers, 
with  the  number  of  acres  owned  by  each  : 

Acres. 

George  B.  Manson,  sections  29,  32 121 

Henry  Stebbins,  sections  33,  28 160 

John  A.  Borden,  section  28 40 

Uri  Squires,  section  33 : 120 

E.  F.  Bennett,  sections  28,  33,  34 120 

Moses  Leavitt,  section  24 160 

Alfred  Veltman,  section  35 160 

Lewis  Lockwood,  section  35 80 

Henry  Higgins,  section  17 54 

James  Rouse,  section  11 100 

Moses  Wool,  sections  8,9 80 

Aaron  Braley,  section  2 40 

Number  of  acres  assessed 10,138 

Value  of  real  estate $29,694 

"  personal  estate 1,525 

THE  RESIDENT  TAX-PAYERS  OP  1855. 

Acres. 

A.  S.  Braley,  section  2 40 

Moses  Wool,  sections  8,  9 80 

James  E.  Bouse,  section  11 100 

H.  Higgins,  section  17 53 

Oscar  Darling,  section  21 80 

Samuel  Garrison,  section  24 80 

John  Crillam,  section  24 80 

Moses  Learitt,  section  24 160 

Levi  Mosher,  section  24 40 

D.  S.  Buffington,  section  24 40 

Warren  Wetherbee,  section  26 80 

P.  F.  Balfoni;,  section  26 :  40 

B.  W.  Darling,  section  27 100 

E.  F.  Bennett,  sections  28,  .33,  34 120 

D.  A.  Castle,  section  28 160 

J.  A.  Borden,  section  20 80 

William  Walrath,  section  28 40 

William  Peck,  section  28 40 

G.  B.  Munson,  sections  29,  32 120 

Henry  Stebbins,  section  33 160 

Charles  Wait,  sections  32,  33 71 

Uri  Squires,  section  33 120 

A.  Veltman,  section  35 160 

L.  Lockwood,  section  35 120 

J.  M.  Gifford,  section  23 80 

Silas  Sowle,  section  34 40 


THE   TREASURER'S  REPORT  POR   1864. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  town  treasurer,  dated  Nov. 
20,  1854,  presented  the  following : 


Dr. 
To $64448 

Cr. 

Return  of  delinquent  taxes $353.53 

Town  orders 52.27 

Collecting  fee 7.64 

Balance  in  treasury 131.04 

$544.48 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Town  8  north,  in  range  1  east,  was  a  portion  of  the 
township  of  Middlebury  until  Jan.  4,  1854,  when  it  was 
set  off  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  and  given  separate 
jurisdiction  under  the  name  of  Fairfield.  The  name  of 
Brunswick  was  sent  in,  among  others,  to  the  supervisors  as 
one  desired  by  many  residents  of  the  town,  for  it  was  from 
Brunswick,  Ohio,  that  a  majority  of  the  town's  early  set 
tiers  came.  For  some  reason  of  their  own,  however,  the 
supervisors  put  aside  all  the  names  sent  in  and  adopted  the 
one  now  borne  by  the  town. 

The  first  town-meeting  was  held  April  3,  1854,  in  the 
house  of  Henry  Stebbins,  and  even  at  that  comparatively 
late  date  Fairfield  was  so  thinly  populated  that  but  twelve 
votes  were  cast,  and  as  there  was  necessarily  but  one  ticket 
in  the  field — the  town  being  Democratic-=-the  election  was 
quickly  and  easily  brought  to  a  conclusion. 

The  result  of  the  election  is  given  below  : 


Officers. 


Candidates. 


Votes. 


Highway  Commissioners 


Supervisor .' J.  A.  Borden* 12 

Clerk Henry  Stebbins* 12 

Treasurer Henry  Higgins* 12 

..Lewis  Lockwood* 9 

..Uri  Squires* 7 

,.  James  E.  Rouse* 7 

.Henry  Higgins 6 

,.G.  B.  Munson 6 

..Uri  Squires  (one  year)* 12 

Justices  of  the  Peace   ^  Alfred  Veltman  (two  years)*. 12 

..G.  B.  Munson  (three  years)* 12 

,.A.  S.  Braley  (four  years)* 12 

.John  A.  Myers* 5 

Constables  i  James  Hall*. 11 

(. J.  E.  Rouse* 6 

( Alfred  Veltman  (one  year)* 12 

School  Inspectors  i  Uri  Squires  (two  years)* 7 

(. John  A.  Borden 5 

Henry  Stebbins* 11 

Alfred  Veltman* 6 

John  A.  Myers*.. ..I! 6 

One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  were  voted  for  highways 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  contingent 
expenses.  The  pathmasters  were  A.  S.  Braley  for  district 
No.  1,  J.  A.  Myers  for  district  No.  2,  and  Uri  Squires  for 
district  No.  3.  Subjoined  is  a  list  of  the  persons  chosen 
annually  from  1855  to  1880  to  serve  as  supervisor,  clerk, 
treasurer,  and  justice  of  the  peace: 


Tear 

Supervisors. 

Clerks. 

Treasurers. 

Justices. 

18S5. 

J.  A.  Borden. 

G.  B.  Munson. 

H.  Higgins. 

A.  S.  Braley. 

1866. 

((         (( 

"          " 

"          " 

P.  Balfour. 

1867. 

Ira  Allen. 

E.  S.  Hambleton. 

D.  8.  Bartlett. 

E.  F.  Bennett. 

1868. 

*'        " 

"            " 

<.          » 

J.  W.  Curtis. 

1869. 

William  Oakes. 

C.  D.  Searl. 

G.  W.  Bates. 

G.  W.  Bates. 

1860. 

£.  S.  Hambleton. 

" 

i<         11 

William  Oakes. 

1861. 

Wm.  Armour. 

"        " 

William  Oakes. 

E.  Q.  Van  Densen. 

1862. 

E.G.VanDeusen 

Obas.  Burleson. 

((           (( 

E.  V.  Bennett. 

1363. 

"          " 

0.  D.  Searl. 

«              u 

Daniel  Butts. 

1864. 

"          " 

"        " 

B.  F.  Miller. 

0.  G.  Munson. 

1866. 

0.  D.  Searl. 

B.  F.  Bennett. 

C.G.  Munson. 

C.  G.  Wait 

1866. 

"       " 

A.  K.  Bennett. 

J.  A.  Borden. 

B.G.  Van  Deusen, 

1867. 

B.  G.  Van  Deusen 

"           " 

C.  Eddy. 

E.  F.  Bennett 

*  Elected. 

FAIRFIELD  TOWNSHIP. 


223 


Year.      Supervisors. 

Clerks. 

Treasurers. 

Justices. 

1868.  0.  Eddy. 

S.  a.  Main. 

G.  B.  Munson. 

L.  Church. 

1869.   "      " 

0.  Butts. 

W.  Warner. 

C.  Munson. 

1870.  C.  D.  Searl. 

V.  F.  Bobbins. 

E.  V.  Bennett. 

H.W.  Fuller. 

1871.  B.G.VanDeusen 

<(           t( 

«          <t 

E.G. Van  Deusen 

1872.      " 

B.  H.  Van  Deusen 

"           " 

B.  F.  Bennett. 

1873.  P.  Scott. 

0.  Eddy. 

E.  W.  Washburn 

.1           II 

1874.  E.  W.  Washburn 

"     " 

G.  B.  Munson. 

F.  Cushman. 

1876.      " 

"     " 

William  Warner 

E.  F.  Bennett. 

1876.      " 

"     " 

G.  B.  Munson. 

F.  Cushman. 

1877.      " 

IC         u 

A.  H.  Dunham. 

C.  B.  Loyens. 

1878.      " 

"     " 

((                      IE 

E.  G.  Van  Deusen 

1879.  P.  Scott. 

J.  Colby. 

G.  B.  Munson. 

0.  D.  Searl. 

1880.  B.  W.  Washburn 

B.  G.  Van  Deusen 

.     "          " 

M.S.  Hambleton. 

Although  the  first  supervisor,  J.  A.  Borden,  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat, the  town  has  been  Republican  in  politics  each  year 
since  1855,  with  the  exception  of  1873  and  1879. 

THE   VOTERS   OP   1857. 

Thirty-two  votes  were  cast  in  1857,  as  follows  :  Almoa 
Batchelor,  Liva  Mosher,  D.  S.  Bartlett,'  Chauncey  Searl, 
Clement  Netheway,  A.  S.  Braley,  E.  F.  Bennett,  J.  W. 
White,  B.  W.  Darling,  John  Wetherbee,  M.  M.  Perkins, 
E.  S.  Hambleton,  Oscar  Darling,  Alfred  Veltman,  G.  W. 
Bates,  E.  H.  Harrington,  Moses  Wool,  J.  W.  Curtis,  A.  K. 
Bennett,  G.  B.  Munson,  S.  A.  Mosher,  Edwin  Curtis,  Mer- 
rick Rockwell,  Ira  Allen,  Henry  Stebbins,  Warren  Austin, 
R.  H.  Van  Deusen,  Uri  Squires,  J.  E.  Rouse,  Ichabod  Chase, 
William  Oakes,  Warren  Wetherbee,  John  A.  Borden. 

THE  VOTEES  OF   1859. 

The  list  of  voters  first  registered  in  1859  under  the  reg- 
istry law  contained  the  following  names :  C.  J.  Austin,  Ira 
Allen,  Warren   Austin,  A.  J.  Burleson,  A.  L.  Batchelor, 

D.  8.  Bartlett,  A.  S.  Braley,  E.  F.  Bennett,  A.  K.  Bennett, 
Geo.  W.  Bates,  John  A.  Borden,  Wm.  Brainard,  Lyman 
Brainard,  P.  F.  Balfour,  A.  T.  Burbank,  E.  M.  Curtis,  Icha- 
bod Chase,  E.  B.  Chamberlain,  Henry  Ferris,  John  Gillam, 
J.  M.  Gififord,  Enos  Gay,  P.  F.  Garrison,  Jesse  Garrison, 

E.  S.  Hambleton,  E.  H.  Harrington,  E.  B.  Harrington, 
C.  D.  Loyens,  C.  B.  Loyens,  Geo.  B.  Munson,  I.  L.  Mun- 
son, Liva  Mosher,  Wm.  Oakes,  Wm.  Peck,  A.  E.  Rock- 
well, James  Rouse,  Merrick  Rockwell,  Uri  Squires,  C.  D. 
Searl,  R.  H.  Van  Deusen,  Alfred  Veltman,  Moses  Wood, 
Charles  G.  Wait,  John  Wetherbee,  William  Warner. 

HIGHWAYS. 
At  the  first  town-meeting,  April  3,  1854,  the  town  was 
divided  into  three  road  districts  as  follows :  No.  1  to  em- 
brace the  north  half  of  the  town ;  No.  2  to  include  six 
sections  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  town ;  No.  3 
to  include  six  sections  and  the  three  fractional  sections 
in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  town.  July  21,  1854, 
a  petition  for  a  road  from  a  point  between  sections  20 
and  29,  and  running  east  to  the  east  line  of  the  town, 
was  signed  by  Henry  Higgins,  James  E.  Rouse,  Henry 
Stebbins,  John  A.  Borden,  George  B.  Munson,  E.  F. 
Bennett,  Uri  Squires,  Lewis  Lockwood,  Moses  Leavitt, 
Warren  Wetherbee,  and  I.  L.  Munson.  August  14  and 
15  1854,  a  road  was  laid  out,  beginning  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  25,  and  passing  on  section  lines 
westward  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  29  on  the 
meridian  line.     Jan.  15,  1855,  a  road  was  laid  out  from 


the  southwest  corner  of  section  25  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  section.  Feb.  22,  1855,  a  petition  for  a  road 
from  the  southeast  corner  of  section  36  northward  on  the 
town  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  1  was  signed 
by  Cornelius  J.  Austin,  Lewis  Lockwood,  J.  M.  Gifford, 
P.  T.  Balfour,  D.  S.  Buffington,  J.  A.  Borden,  Henry 
Stebbins,  John  Gillam,  Alfred  Veltman,  Samuel  I.  Garri- 
son, Moses  Leavitt,  E.  F.  Bennett,  and  Uri  Squires. 

March  28,  1855,  roads  were  laid  as  follows  :  One  begin- 
ning at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  25,  and  running 
thence  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the  section  ;  one  begin- 
ning at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  35,  and  running  on 
section  lines  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  23,  thence 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  21,  and  north  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  fractional  section  17.  May  5, 1855,  a 
road  was  laid  beginning  at  the  west  quarter  post  of  section 
24,  and  running  thence  to  the  east  quarter  post  of  said  sec- 
tion. March  24,  1855,  a  road  beginning  at  the  quarter 
post  on  the  line  between  sections  23  and  24,  and  running 
thence  eastward  to  the  town-line ;  one,  June  30,  1855,  be- 
ginning between  sections  5  and  8,  and  running  thence  east- 
ward to  the  town-line;  and  one,  Jan.  5,  1856,  from  the 
quarter  post  between  sections  27  and  34  south,  on  the 
quarter  line  of  section  27. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  in  Fairfield  was  taught  by  Elizabeth 
Borden  in  1855.  She  began  the  term  in  Henry  Stebbins' 
house,  and  finished  it  in  the  school-house  built  that  year. 
In  Miss  Borden's  school  there  were  twelve  scholars,  and 
among  them  was  but  one  boy,  Edwin  R.,  son  of  E.  F. 
Bennett.  Presumably,  therefore,  Edwin  was  at  that  time 
the  only  male  scholar  in  Fairfield.  In  1856  school-houses 
in  districts  2  and  3  were  built.  Henry  Higgins  took  the 
contract  for  building  the  house  in  district  No.  3  for  seventy- 
five  dollars,  and  then  bargained  with  some  of  the  residents 
in  the  district  to  put  on  additional  work,  they  to  furnish 
the  lumber.  He  soon  concluded  he  had  made  a  profitless 
contract,  and  induced  R.  G.  Van  Deusen  for  a  bonus  of 
one  thousand  feet  of  lumber  to  take  it  off  his  hands. 

The  annual  school  report  for  1857  showed  as  follows : 

District.  Children.  Attendance.         Months  Teachers' 

Taught.      Pay. 

No.  1 34        26        6J       $68 

"  2 32        27        6         50 

"  3 24        19        6         44 

1868. 

No.  1 26  28  a  $41 

"  2 26  28  5i  45.25 

"  3 22  20  4i  40.84 

"  4 20  17  3i  33 

District  No.  1,  organized  Nov.  7,  1854,  was  bounded 
north  by  sections  15,  16,  and  17,  west  by  the  meridian 
line,  south  by  the  town-line,  and  east  by  sections  35,  26, 
and  23.  No.  2,  organized  the  same  day,  was  bounded 
north  by  sections  13  and  14,  west  by  sections  22,  27,  and 
34,  south  by  the  town-line,  and  east  by  the  town-line.  No. 
3  was  formed  Nov.  3,  1855,  and  commenced  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  fractional  section  17,  running  thence  east  to 
section  14,  north  on  section  lines  to  the  north  town-line, 
thence  west  to  the  meridian  line,  and  thence  south  to  the 


224 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


place  of  beginning.  No.  4  was  organized  June  22,  1858, 
by  dividing  district  No.  1  on  the  quarter  line  east  and  west 
through  sections  27,  28,  and  29.  No  5  was  formed  Jan. 
17,  1860,  and  No.  6  in  October,  1865. 

Dec.  15,  1855,  rules  for  the  government  of  the  town 
library  were  adogted  as  follows : 

1.  For  a  grease  spot  on  a  book  a  fine  of  twelve  and  a 
half  cents.     If  more  than  one,  in  the  same  ratio. 

2.  A  torn  leaf,  if  not  torn  bad,  ten  cents. 

3.  Torn-out  leaf,  twenty-five  cents. 

4.  If  more  than  one  torn  out,  the  price  of  the  book. 

5.  Corner  of  leaf  turned  over,  six  cents. 

6.  Ink  spots  and  pencil  marks,  each  six  cents. 

7.  A  broken  or  torn-off  cover,  fifty  cents. 

TEACHERS. 

To  1860  certificates  were  issued  to  teachers  as  follows : 

March  17,  1855.— Harriet  E.  Borden  and  Sarah  A. 
Leckenby. 

Dec.  7,  1855.— Ellen  C.  Beebe. 

May  16,  1857. — Lydia  D.  Linman. 

June  6,  1857 Harriet  E.  Borden. 

Nov.  7,  1857 Henry  C.  Ferris,  Miss  Miriam  Wool. 

Dec.  23,  1857.— John  Wool. 

April  5,  1858. — Sarah  Ann  Ferris. 

April  10,  1858.— Sophia  Burleson. 

April  10,  1858.— Adelia  M.  Smith. 

June  12,  1858.— Miss  Marilla  Netheway. 

Nov.  6, 1858.— William  H.  Sexton. 

Nov.  20,  1858.— Harriet  Crow,  Loren  Shelby. 

April  9,  1859. — Nancy  Burleson,  Amanda  Peck. 

May  14,  1859. — Lydia  Rockwell,  Harriet  B.  Borden. 

November,  1860. — Elizabeth  Hobbs,  Nelson  Olmstead, 
Violetta  Chase. 

The  annual  school  report  for  1879  gave  the  following 
details : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  5;  fractional,  1) 6 

Number  of  children  of  school  age 291 

Average  attendance 243 

Value  of  school  property $3000 

Teachers'  wages $851 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  A.  Southwell,  B.  W. 
Grates,  Charles  Dunham,  C.  D.  Searl,  E.  D.  Loyens,  and 
R.  G.  Van  Deusen. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  Fairfield  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  funeral  discourse  upon  the  death  of  Mrs.  Lewis 
Lockwood,  delivered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Macomber,  in  the  winter 
of  1854.  In  the  following  spring  he  preached  a  sermon  to 
the  settlers  at  the  house  of  E.  F.  Bennett,  notice  of  such 
intention  having  been  given  previously  by  personal  commu- 
nication with  the  settlers  in  all  cases  available.  Mr.  Ma- 
comber preached  but  one  more  sermon  in  the  town,  and 
that,  too,  at  Mr.  Bennett's  house,  and  upon  both  occa- 
sions is  said  to  have  had  deeply  interested  if  not  large  con- 
gregations. About  that  time  Rev.  Mr.  Angell,  a  Prot- 
estant Methodist  preacher,  held  Services  occasionally.  There 
was  Methodist  preaching  in  school  district  No.  1  very  soon 
after  the  school-house  was  built,  in  1855,  and  there  a  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  class  was  organized  after  a  brief  delay.    The 


class  did  not,  however,  flourish  as  well  as  it  was  hoped  it 
might,  and  although  it  made  a  good  effort  for  vigorous  life 
the  effort  was  unavailing.  After  a  brief  but  uncertain  ex- 
istence it  expired. 

Fairfield  has  never  been  nor  is  it  now  prolific  in  religious 
organizations,  and  as  to  church  edifices  there  have  been 
none  erected  in  the  town.  A  reason  for  all  this  is  found 
in  the  statement  that  the  township  is  so  small  that  the 
residents  of  any  part  of  it  find  it  convenient  to  reach  houses 
of  worship  in  adjoining  townships,  and  thus,  for  the  uncer- 
tainties which  attend  upon  the  lives  of  religious  societies  in 
small  communities,  they  exchange  a  membership  with  sub- 
stantially-established organizations  and  an  assured  system 
of  public  religious  services. 

A  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CLASS, 
organized  at  the.  Leavitt  school-house,  about  1869,  has 
since  then  maintained  worship  with  more  or  less  regularity 
in  the  same  locality.  There  are  now  about  fourteen  mem- 
bers, who  assemble  once  each  fortnight  for  public  services, 
conducted  at  the  present  time  by  Rev.  Mr.  Church,  of 
Mungerville.  Sunday-school  exercises  are  held  weekly 
under  the  direction  of  Ezra  Latimer,  superintendent. 

A  UNITED  BRETHREN  CLASS 
was  formed  in  the  Hambleton  school-house,  in  1878,  by 
Elders  Kinnon  and  Weller,  with  a  membership  of  six. 
The  class  is  now  on  the  Saginaw  Circuit,  in  charge  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Bunday,  has  preaching  once  every  two  weeks,  and  is 
led  by  William  Brainard. 

FAIKFIELD   IN   THE   REBELLION. 

Although  organized  only  in  1854,  Fairfield  was,  never- 
theless, able  to  furnish  no  inconsiderable  number  of  soldiers 
for  the  national  army  during  the  Rebellion  of  1861-65. 
The  military  enrollment  of  the  town  at  the  close  of  the 
war  was  but  forty,  and  precisely  that  number  of  men  en- 
tered the  service  from  Fairfield.  Of  these  forty  not  one 
was  drafted,  and  in  the  contemplation  of  that  circumstance 
Fairfield's  citizens  are  justly  proud.  Ten  of  the  forty  lost 
their  lives  in  the  service,  but  of  the  ten  only  three  were 
killed  in  action.  The  aggregate  expenditure  for  war  boun- 
ties reached  the  sum  of  four  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars, 
of  which  two  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars  was  raised  by 
private  subscription.  For  the  Volunteers'  Family  Relief 
Fund  the  county  supervisors  appropriated  for  Fairfield, 
during  the  four  years  ending  with  1864,  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  three  hundred  and  ninety  dollars  and  ninety-two 
cents. 

FATAL   ACCIDENTS. 

Present  recollection  recalls  but  two  fatal  accidents  to 
citizens  of  the  town  within  its  limits.  The  first  was  Henry 
Rockwell,  who,  while  at  work  upon  a  highway  in  1855, 
was  struck  by  the  falling  limb  of  a  tree  and  almost  in- 
stantly killed. 

On  the  night  of  Dec.  7,  1878,  two  young  men,  named 
Charles  Caul  and  Peter  Keyser,  were  out  hunting  rabbits 
by  moonlight,  when  by  some  mischance  Caul's  gun  was 
accidentally  discharged,  and  Keyser  being  directly  in  its 


f'l^' 


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Rbsiobnce  OF  GB.MUNSONg  Fairfield  Mich. 


FAIRFIELD  TOWNSHIP. 


:225 


range  was  shot  and  killed.  Caul  was  taken  into  custody 
upon  the  charge  of  murder,  and  taken  for  examination 
before  Roe  G.  Van  Deusen,  Esq.  There  was  considerable 
local  interest  over  the  affair,  and  the  examination  was 
attended  by  a  good  many  people.  There  was,  however, 
no  testimony  to  show  that  Keyser's  death  was  the  result  of 
anything  but  accident,  and  the  discbarge  of  Caul  ended 
the  matter. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


EPHRAIM   F.  BENNETT. 

Oliver  R.  Bennett  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  from 
whence  he  with  his  father  moved  into  the  State  of  New 
York  about  1808,  and  settled  near  Canandaigua.  The 
breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812  fired  the  patriotism  of 
young  Bennett,  and  he  enlisted  and  was  with  the  American 
army  at  Buffalo  when  that  city  was  burned.  His  regiment 
was  soon  after  discharged,  when  he  again  enlisted  and  served 
during  the  remainder  of  the  war  under  Gen.  Harrison. 
After  the  war  he  went  to  Shelby,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  and  his  brother  John  bought  a  piece  of  new  land  of 
Gen.  Wadsworth.  It  was  thirty  miles  from  any  inhabit- 
ants, in  the  midst  of  a  dense  wilderness.  Nothing  daunted, 
they  built  a  shanty  on  their  lot  and  for  a  time  kept  bachelors' 
hall  while  they  cleared  and  improved  their  land.  In  182C 
they  sold  out  and  again  wended  their  way  westward,  set- 
tling in  Brunswick,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  which  was  then  very 
new.  Here  Oliver  resided  until  his  death  in  August,  1863. 
Ephraim  P.,  son  of  Oliver,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Shelby 
above  named  Feb.  12,  1817.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
home-farm  in  Medina,  which  he  and  his  brothers  cleared. 
Arrived  at  his  majority  he  bought  a  small  piece  of  land, 
upon  which  he  made  his  home  while  he  worked  at  the  shoe- 
maker's trade.  This  trade  not  agreeing  with  his  health  he 
abandoned  it  and  worked  at  whatever  he  could  get  to  do 
until  1854,  when  he  sold  his  place  and  started  for  Michigan, 
where  land  was  plenty,  cheap,  and  of  an  excellent  quality. 
He  purchased  from  the  government  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  heavily-timbered  land  in  the  town  of  Fairfield, 
Shiawassee  Co.  Buying  and  settling  upon  his  land  ex- 
hausted all  his  means,  and  for  a  few  years  he  and  his  family 
experienced  many  privations.  They  owned  no  stock,  their 
oxen  being  their  only  wealth  save  their  land.  For  two 
years  they  had  no  cow  and  their  living  was  of  the  plainest 
kind,  often  consisting  of  corn-meal  made  by  drawing  an  ear 
of  corn  across  a  carpenter's  plane.  Butter,  milk,  and  meat 
were  luxuries  seldom  seen  by  them,  "  but,"  says  Mr.  Ben- 
nett, "  we  had  appetites  to  fit  our  food."  With  energy  and 
perseverance  Mr.  Bennett  plied  the  axe,  and  soon  fields  of 
waving  grain  took  the  place  of  the  wilderness  and  better 
days  dawned  upon  the  family.  In  all  the  ups  and  downs 
of  pioneer  life  Mrs.  Bennett  has  shown  herself  equal  to  the 
occasion,  doing  mpre  than  her  share  and  proving  such  a 
pioneer  wife  and  mother  as  the  times  and  surroundings 
demanded.  With  Mrs.  George  Munson  she  dispensed  the 
homely  but  welcome  fare  of  a  frontier  home,  never  so  happy 
as  when  doing  some  generous  act.  They  now  possess  a  well- 
29 


improved  farm  with  a  fine  house  and  outbuildings,  all  the 
result  of  hard  work  and  close  economy.  In  early  life  Mr. 
Bennett  was  a  Democrat,  but  since  1840  has  been  an  earnest 
Republican.  He  has  filled  acceptably  most  of  the  town- 
ship offices.  For  forty-eight  years  he  and  his  wife  have 
been  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  On  the 
22d  of  May,  1842,  he  married  Miss  Catherine  W.  Squires, 
daughter  of  Morris  and  Rhoda  (Wells)  Squires,  and  born 
in  Shelby,  Aug.  17,  1823.  Her  family  were  among  the 
early  settlers  in  Shelby,  and  in  1 848  moved  to  Brunswick, 
where  Mr.  Squires  lived  until  his  death.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bennett  have  been  born  two  children,  Rhoda  E.,  Aug.  22, 
1846,  and  Edward  R.,  June  23,  1849.  Edward  R.  still 
remains  with  his  parents  and  conducts  the  farm.  He,  too, 
is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  been  for  several  years  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


GEORGE   B.  MUNSON. 

The  oldest  settler  now  living  in  the  town  of  Fairfield  is 
George  B.  Munson,  who  was  the  seventh  settler  in  the 
town,  and  is  the  only  one  left  of  the  seven.     He  came  into 
the  town  in  the  spring  of  1853,  with  his  wife  and  child, 
having   moved   from    Brunswick,  Medina   Co.,  Ohio,  by 
wagon,  being  twenty-one  days  on  the  road,  nineteen  of 
which  were  rainy.     There  were  no  roads  to  or  near  his 
property,  and  Mr.  Munson  was  obliged  to  underbrush  the 
way  to  his  farm.     The  day  before  reaching  Elsie  was  occu- 
pied in  removing  trees  which  had  blown  down  in  a  terrible 
wind-storm  of  the  previous  day,  one  large  tree  falling  across 
the  road  but  a  few  moments  after  they  had  passed.     He 
did  not  have  money  enough  to  pay  for  his  land,  and  in 
order  to  raise  the  balance  both  himself  and  wife  worked 
out,  he  on  the  farm,  his  wife  in  the  house,  cooking  and 
performing  the  duties  rendered  necessary  by  a  large  force  of 
workmen.     As  soon  as  they  had  built  a  log  house  they 
moved  into  it,  and  Mr.  Munson  at  once  commenced  to  clear 
his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  was  heavy 
timber-land.    But  only  a  portion  of  his  time  could  be  spent 
on  his  land,  as  money  had  to  be  earned  to  keep  the  wolf 
from  the  door.     To  do  this  he  cleared  land  for  others  more 
fortunate  than  himself,  clearing  in  all  more  than  fifty  acres 
besides  his  own.    The  season  of  the  hard  frost  was  a  severe 
one  for  them,  as  it  cut  off  their  crops,  and  for  a  long  time 
their  food  consisted  of  bread  and  tea;  butter,  meat,  and 
potatoes  being  luxuries  beyond  their  reach.     Mrs.  Munson 
says  the  best  meal  of  her  life  was  one  prepared  after  Mr. 
Munson  had  been  to  Owosso  and  purchased,  with  money 
sent  him  by  his  brother,  some  pork,  butter,  and  groceries. 
Their  latch-string  in  those  days  was  always  out,  and  Mrs. 
Munson  was  noted  for  her  hospitality.     By  dint  of  hard 
labor  in  and  out  of  the  house,  they  have  now  a  well-im- 
proved farm,  with  good  and  comfortable  buildings.     Al- 
though a  Democrat,  Mr.  Munson  has  held  nearly  all  the 
offices  in  his  township,  which  is  strongly  Republican,  he 
having  been  one  of  the  first  highway  commissioners,  and 
since  then  treasurer  for  eight  terms,  clerk  one  term,  also 
school  inspector  and  justice  of  the  peace ;  to  all  of  which 
offices  he  has  been  elected  by  his  iellow-townsmen  regard- 


226 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


less  of  politics,  they  knowing  his  worth  as  a  citizen  of  un- 
blemished character  and  of  warm  and  generous  impulses. 
Mr.  Munson  was  born  in  the  town  of  Guilford,  Medina  Co., 
Ohio,  Aug.  10,  1824.  His  father,  Jacob  Munson,  was 
born  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  Feb.  16,  1798.  He  was  a 
carpenter,  acquiring  his  trade  in  Canandaigua,  N.  Y. 
When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  married  Postreme 
Reeves,  who  was  born  in  Mount  Holly,  N.  J.,  July  6, 
1797.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 
which  was  then  new.  In  1824  he  moved  to  the  town  of 
Brunswick,  where  he  cleared  a  farm,  and  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  Nov.  13,  1859  ;  his  wife  died  July 
15,  1875.  George  married,  Aug.  8,  1847,  Miss  Zelinda 
Peck,  who  was  born  in  Mattewan,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  29,  1827.  She  was  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza 
Jane  (Wilson)  Peck.  Mr.  Peck  was  born  Nov.  27,  1802, 
and  his  wife  April  7,  1805.  He  was  a  machinist,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  until  compelled  to  stop  by  reason  of  old 
age.  He  was  an  early  settler  in  Fairfield,  and  built  the 
first  school-house  in  that  town.  There  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Munson  five  children,  viz. :  Almira, 
J-une  30,  1848;  William  Henry,  Nov.  27,  1850  (died 
March  28,  1852)  ;  Charles  B.,  March  30,  1855 ;  Edward 
R.,  Jan.  14,  1863 ;  and  Emma  E.,  Feb.  7,  1866. 


ITHIAL  L.  MUNSON. 

Of  the  early  settlers  who  came  into  Fairfield  there  are 
none  who  have  been  more  successful  or  who  have  done 
more  to  advance  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  township 
than  Ithial  L.  Munson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
was  born  in  Canandaigua,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  8, 
1819.  When  he  was  five  years  old  his  father  moved  to 
Brunswick,  Ohio,  where  Ithial  grew  to  manhood,  thus 
early  becoming  acquainted  with  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions of  a  life  in  the  wilderness.  His  education  was  such 
as  could  be  obtained  by  a  few  terms'  attendance  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  a  new  country.  Mr.  Munson  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
when  his  health  being  poor  for  a  number  of  years,  he  was 
unable  to  make  a  start  in  life  until  after  he  was  thirty.  He 
then  for  a  number  of  years  worked  at  the  carpenter  and 
joiner's  trade  in  Cleveland,  Canada,  and  in  Illinois.  In  the 
fall  of  1853  he  purchased  from  the  government  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  heavily-timbered  land  in  the  town 
of  Fairfield,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  but  did  not  go  to  it 
until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  made  a  final  settlement 
on  his  farm.  At  that  time  he  had  caused  to  be  cleared 
five  acres,  and  had  cut  the  timber  from  forty  acres  addi- 
tional. The  new  farm,  purchased  in  1853,  has  now  be- 
come one  of  the  finest  in  the  township,  and  consists  at  this 
time  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  of  which  two 
hundred  and  thirty  are  under  improvement ;  it  also  con- 
tains a  fine  house,  large  barns,  and  is  well  fenced  and  culti- 
vated. In  1877,  Mr.  Munson  bought  of  William  Armond 
a  fine  thoroughbred  short-horn,  called  the  "  Duplane  Lad," 
and  has  since  raised  some  fine  cattle,  with  which  his  farm 
is  well  stocked.     Mr.  Munson  also  keeps  a  fine  flock  of 


well-bred  sheep,  believing  that  in  mixed  farming  the  great- 
est success  is  to  be  obtained. 

Among  his  neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen  he  stands 
high  as  a  man  of  sound  business  capacities  and  of  sterling 
integrity.  In  politics,  Mr.  Munson  was  originally  a  Whig, 
and  has  affiliated  with  the  Republicans  since  the  formation 
of  that  party,  but  is  not  a  politician.  On  the  10th  of 
June,  1860,  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Munson,  the  widow 
of  his  cousin,  Ithial  J.  Munson.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Frank  Carse,  and  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  June 
24,  1831.  There  have  been  born  to  them  three  children, 
namely,  L.  L.,  born  March  15,  1861 ;  James  J.,  Aug.  20, 
1863  ;  and  Emily  A.,  Oct.  7, 1866. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 
HAZELTON   TOWNSHIP.* 

Origin  of  Name — Natural  Features — Original  Land-Purchasea — Set- 
tlements— The  Earliest  Highways — Schools — Hazelton  Grange — 
Lothrop  Village — Hazeltonrille — Judd's  Corners. 

Much  of  the  land  embraced  in  the  township  of  Hazelton 
was  owned  by  Porter  Hazelton,  of  Genesee  County,  to 
whom  it  was  transferred  by  the  State  in  1849,  in  payment 
for  services  performed  in  the  construction  of  a  bridge  across 
the  Flint  River.  His  brothers,  George  H.,  Homer,  and 
Edward,  were  engaged  with  him  in  the  enterprise,  and  be- 
came part  owners  of  the  lands  in  Shiawassee  County,  as  did 
Ezekiel  R.  Ewing,  also  of  Genesee  County,  another  partner 
in  the  work.  Mr.  Hazelton  ofiered  many  inducements  to 
settlers,  and  ultimately  disposed  of  his  property  in  the 
township,  which  was,  in  deference  to  his  connection  with 
its  early  history,  named  Hazelton. 

In  geographical  position  it  may  be  described  as  the  ex- 
treme northeast  township  of  the  county,  lying  south  of 
Saginaw  County,  and  bounded  on  the  east  by  Genesee 
County,  west  by  the  township  of  New  Haven,  and  having 
the  township  of  Venice  on  its  southern  line. 

The  surface  of  Hazelton  is  generally  level,  presenting  few 
elevations.  An  exception  to  this  is  found,  however,  in  the 
south  and  east,  where  rolling  ground  is  occasionally  met, 
though  there  are  no  abrupt  declivities.  Numerous  streams 
water  the  township  and  afford  variety  to  the  landscape. 
Chief  among  these  is  the  Misteauguay  Creek,  which  rises 
in  Venice  and  entering  this  township  on  section  35  flows 
in  a  general  northward  course,  and  leaves  again  at  section  1. 
Numerous  small  tributaries  feed  this  main  stream,  which 
affords  an  excellent  power  for  milling  purposes.  Onion 
Creek  makes  its  entry  on  section  33,  and,  flowing  north, 
pours  its  waters  into  the  Misteauguay,  as  does  also  Porter 
Creek,  which  rises  in  the  southwest  corner  and  flows  north 
and  northeast,  ending  its  course  on  section  11.  In  the 
northwest  is  a  stream  formerly  known  as  Dutcher  Creek, 
which  passes  into  Saginaw  County  through  section  3  of 
Hazelton. 

The  soil  of  Hazelton  embraces  in  its  composition  sand, 

*  By  B.  0.  Wagner. 


HAZELTON   TOWNSHIP. 


227 


gravel,  clay,  and  muck  The  northwest  portion  has  a  clay 
subsoil  with  a  sand  and  grawUy  surface.  More  clay  abounds 
in  the  centre,  while  in  the  south  and  east  is  a  sandy  soil 
of  excellent  quality.  Bat  a  small  proportion  of  the  swamps, 
which  were  at  an  early  day  an  obstacle  to  the  farmer,  now 
remain  as  such.  An  excellent  system  of  drainage  has  con- 
verted them  into  some  of  the  best  soil  to  be  found  in  the 
township.  In  the  north  and  northwest,  however,  there  is 
still  apparent  a  belt  of  swampy  land,  from  eighty  to  one 
hundred  rods  wide,  which  is  being  rapidly  drained. 

Beech,  maple,  elm,  and  basswood  are  the  prevailing 
timbers,  though  other  woods  are  occasionally  found. 

Wheat  and  corn  find  here  a  congenial  soil,  and  produce 
an  average  crop  equal  to  that  of  other  portions  of  the 
township.  The  last  census  gives  the  number  of  acres  de- 
voted to  wheat  in  1873  as  eight  hundred  and  three,  which 
produced  a  yield  of  thirteen  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifteen  bushels,  while  five  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  of 
corn  yielded  a  harvest  of  fourteen  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  twenty-three  bushels.  Hay  is  usually  a  prolific  crop. 
The  later  development  of  the  township  will  of  course 
greatly  enhance  the  above  returns. 

OEIGINAL  LAND-PUKCHASES. 

The  lands  of  Haiselton  were  entered  from  the  general 
government,  or  purchased  of  the  State  by  the  following 
persons : 

SECTION  1. 

Acres.' 

E.  B.  Strong,  1836 111.09 

John  Casilear,  1836 160 

E.  L.  Walton,  1836 160 

J.  H.  Coddington,  1836 80 

J.  D.  Emerson,  1836 58.26 

T.  M.  Laine,  1836 80 

H.  L,  Strong,  1837 58.26 

SECTION  2. 

P.  F.  Ewer,  1836 160 

H.  Rexford,  1836 187.28 

J.  L.  Larzalier,  1836 160 

N.  Haywood,  1836 186.96 

SECTION  3. 

James  Butler,  1836 80 

David  Lee,  1836 80 

George  MoDougall,  1836 80 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 240 

George  Fleming,  1842 106 

L.  A.Teber,1842 103.36 

SECTION  4. 

James  Parsons,  1836 320 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 160 

John  Collins,  1854 101.51 

Martin  Welch,  1854 101.35 

SECTION  5. 
Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 682.48 

SECTION  6. 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 417.43 

Harvey  Adams,  1854 207.60 

G.  M.  Hemingway,  1854 160 

SECTION  7. 
Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 735.68 

SECTION  8. 

L.  C.  Russell,  1857 160 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 480 


SECTION  9. 

Acres. 

B.  F.  Town,  1836 80 

Porter  Hazelton,  1849 560 

SECTION   10. 

James  Butler,  1836 80 

John  Starkweather,  1836 80 

Edward  Jerome,  1836 80 

J.  M.  Fitch,  1837 80 

Porter  Hazelton,  1849 320 

SECTION  11. 
Isaac  Hill,  1836 640 

SECTION  12. 

Horace  Foote,  1836 120 

M.  B.  Brown,  1836 160 

Jonathan  Turgan,  1837 160 

Harry  Brotberton,  1837 80 

Samuel  Hubbell,  1837 40 

E.  H.  Hazelton,  1854 80 

SECTION  13. 

B.  R.  Ewing  (State),  1850 640 

SECTION  14. 
Garret  D,  Wall,  1836 640 

SECTION  15. 

Gardus  Dunlap,  1836 160 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 480 

SECTION  16. 

J.  S.  Knibs  (State),  1865 40 

J.  H.  Savage  (State),  1865 40 

E.  C.  Gulick  (State),  1857 80 

W.  H.  Crawford  (State),  1854 80 

C.  R.  Speers  (State),  1854 80 

S.  C.  Christian  (State),  1867 40 

D.  C.  Burpee  (State),  1867 40 

SECTION  17. 

E.  Conkling,  1836 240 

L.  C.  Russell,  1837 160 

J.  G.  M.  Fisk,  1837.. 160 

Henry  Skutt,  1837 80 

SECTION  18. 

Stephen  Fisk,  1836 120 

E.  Staeey,  1837 200 

Daniel  Beebe,  1837 40 

Joseph  Peck,  1837 80 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 168.72 

SECTION   19. 

Philo  Curtis,  1836 160 

C.  H.  Godspeed,  1854 80 

J.  D.  Wright,  1854 209.80 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 80 

James  Grant  (State),  1851-52 211.44 

SECTION  20. 

James  Grant  (State),  1849 240 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 400 

SECTION  21. 

William  T.  Latta,  1854 40 

Lorenzo  Brigham,  1854 120 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 160 

James  Grant  (State),  1849 320 

SECTION  22. 

James  Wadsworth,  1836 160 

D.  R.  Prindle,  1836 80 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 400 

SECTION  23. 

James  Wadsworth,  1836 240 

Almon  Whitney,  1836 80 


228 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Acres. 

Gardus  Dunlap,  1836 160 

Paul  Spoflford,  1836 160 

SECTION  24. 

Joseph  Vallett,  1836 160 

David  Trombley,  1836 160 

E.  R.  Bwing  (State),  1860 320 

SECTION  25. 

Samuel  Goddard,  1836 80 

Azel  Noyes,  1836 160 

G.  N.  Chapplin,  1836 160 

David  Trombley,  1836 160 

E.  R.  Ewing  (State),  1850 80 

SECTION  26. 

James  Wadswortb,  1836 160 

0.  M.  Nourse,  1836 160 

E.  R.  Ewing,  1850 320 

SECTION  27. 

T.  L.  L.  Brent,  1836 320 

John  P.  Bliss,  1836  320 

SECTION  28. 

John  Robbins,  1836 320 

James  Grant  (State),  1849 320 

SECTION  29. 

E.  H.  Hazelton,  1854 160 

James  Grant  (State),  1849 320 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 480 

SECTION  30. 

H.  C.  Riggs,  1853 80 

C.  H.  Goodspeed,  1854 80 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 687.92 

SECTION  31. 

Alfred  Allen,  1834 80 

M.  C.  Cole,  1834 160 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1858 514.28 

SECTION  32. 

E.  H.  Hazelton,  1854 160 

A.  P.  Greenman,  1854 160 

William  B.  C.  Gillett,  1854 80 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 160 

James  Grant  (State),  1849 80 

SECTION  33. 

John  Martin,  1836 80 

John  Robbins,  1836 80 

J.  F.  Russell,  1836 320 

Porter  Hazelton,  1849  160 

SECTION  34. 

Colby  Chew,  1836 , 160 

Robert  R.  Howell,  1836 160 

Weed  and  Howell,  1836 80 

John  Martin,  1836 160 

E.  H.  Hazelton,  1854 80 

SECTION  35. 

James  Wadswortb,  1836 160 

D.  R.  Prindle,1836 \     80 

S.  A.  Goddard,  1836 80 

E.  H.  Bmsh,  1836 ".'"  go 

James  Weed,  1836 80 

E.  R.  Ewing,  1849-50 120 

H.  W.  Felt,  1849 ."  40 

SECTION  36. 

S.  A.  Goddard,  1836 160 

J.  L.  Larzalere,  1836 160 

J.  T.  Van  Vleek,  1836 !!!.........!"!!!!!!  80 

Edwin  Jerome,  1836 gO 

M.  Mallowery,  1836 gn 

John  Weii8,i836 ..............!!!!!!!!!!!"!!  go 


SETTLEMENTS. 

The  year  1848  saw  the  first  settlements  made  within  the 
limits  of  Hazelton.  Stanton  S.  Latham  and  Eli  E.  Fowles, 
who  were  relatives,  came  from  Genesee  Co.,  Mich.,  and  lo- 
cated upon  eighty  acres  on  section  27.  They  at  once  built 
a  cabin  and  began  a  small  clearing,  but  made  no  very  de- 
cided improvement.  Their  limited  quarters  afforded  shel- 
ter to  the  settlers  who  followed,  and  the  hospitality  extended 
by  these  early  pioneers  was  in  no  wise  governed  by  the 
dimensions  of  their  primitive  home.  In  the  family  of  Mr. 
Latham  was  born  the  first  child  in  the  township,  in  the  year 
following  their  arrival.  In  his  home  also  occurred  the 
earliest  death, — that  of  Mrs.  Latham,  in  1852.  Four  weeks 
later  he  was  married  to  his  second  wife  by  Charles  Wilkin- 
son, then  justice  of  the  peace,  in  Venice.  This  was  the 
earliest  marriage  in  Hazelton.  At  the  house  of  Mr.  Latham 
occurred  the  first  township-meeting,  in  1850,  at  which  time 
the  list  of  voters  embraced  the  following  names :  Stanton 
S.  Latham,  Salmon  Mclntire,  J.  C.  Smith,  Ethan  Lord, 
Eli  E.  Fowles,  John  Willis,  Orrin  Black,  Otis  Burpee,  the 
latter  of  whom  is  the  only  one  of  this  number  still  a  resi- 
dent of  the  township. 

Mr.  Latham  ultimately  removed  to  the  West  and  became 
an  emigrant  to  the  wilds  of  Oregon. 

John  Willis  was  a  pioneer  of  1849.  Porter  Hazelton 
had  given  forty  acres  each  to  Messrs.  J.  C.  Smith,  John 
Willis,  Salmon  Mclntire,  and  J.  L.  Eichardson,  under 
agreement  to  effect  certain  improvements  within  a  specified 
time  and  also  to  purchase  an  additional  forty  acres,  to  be 
paid  for  as  they  were  able.  Mr.  Willis  located  upon  eighty 
acres  on  section  22,  which  he  immediately  began  clearing, 
having  remained  at  the  house,  or  rather  shanty,  of  Mr. 
Latham  while  erecting  a  habitation  upon  his  own  land.  He 
soon  had  a  very  considerable  tract  cleared,  which  was  sown 
with  corn  and  wheat,  and  presented  something  of  the  aspect 
of  a  cultivated  farm.  He,  however,  wearied  of  the  labo- 
rious monotony  of  a  settler's  life,  and  he  removed  to  Mis- 
souri in  1858.  Mr.  Willis  was  chosen  as  the  first  super- 
visor of  Hazelton,  and  filled  successive  offices  during  his 
brief  residence  in  the  township. 

Salmon  Mclntire,  formerly  of  Ohio,  was  a  companion 
in  his  settlement  with  John  Willis,  in  1849,  and  located 
upon  the  farm  now  occupied  by  F.  F.  Brewer,  on  section 
15,  where  he  had  eighty  acres  secured  under  contract  from 
Porter  Hazelton.  He  lived  at  the  cabin  of  Stanton  S. 
Latham  while  erecting  a  log  house.  He  devoted  some 
years  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  and  on  his  removal, 
some  years  after,  removed  to  Grand  Traverse,  where  he 
became  a  resident. 

Otis  Burpee  removed,  in  1849,  from  Genesee  Co.,  Mich., 
to  the  township,  where  he  located  upon  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 10.  Half  of  this  had  been  given  him  by  George  H. 
Hazelton,  while  the  remainder  was  purchased  of  him  and 
paid  for  on  possession  having  been  given.  This  was  en- 
tirely unimproved.  He  started  with  horses  and  wagon  from 
Genesee  County  and  pursued  an  Indian  trail  as  the  only 
guide.  There  were  no  roads,  and  the  axe  was  an  indispen- 
sable implement  in  his  progress.  For  three  nights  he  found 
no  habitation,  and  was  obliged  to  camp  out,  improvising 
such  shelter  as  was  possible.     Mr.  Burpee  erected  a  cabin 


HAZELTON  TOWNSHIP. 


229 


of  logs  and  cleared  a  few  acres,  but  made  no  decided  prog- 
ress until  four  years  later.  Latham  and  Fowles  were  the 
only  settlers  who  had  made  inroads  upon  the  vast  forest  of 
the  township,  while  Messrs.  Willis  and  Mclntire  had  built 
their  cabins,  but  were  still  domiciled  with  the  former  settlers. 
Mr.  Burpee  soon  began  the  work  of  improvement,  which 
eventually  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  his  land  into  a  pro- 
ductive farm.  Ethan  D.  Lord  came  at  the  same  time,  and 
chose  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  15, 
upon  which  he  began  the  labor  of  clearing.  Not  long  after- 
wards he  moved  to  Genesee  County. 

J.  L.  Richardson  arrived  the  following  year,  having  had 
eighty  acres  under  the  Hazelton  contract,  which  he  selected 
upon  section  22.  This  land  rapidly  improved  under  the 
industry  manifested  by  Mr.  Richardson,  who  erected  a 
comfortable  house  and  did  much  during  his  official  career 
as  highway  commissioner  in  1850  to  make  various  portions 
of  the  township  accessible  by  the  laying  out  of  highways. 
He  was  prominent  in  public  enterprises  connected  with  the 
township  and  filled  many  offices  of  importance. 

J.  C.  Smith,  another  of  the  parties  whose  advent  is 
associated  with  the  Hazelton  contracts,  arrived  in  1850 
and  became  a  settler  on  the  east  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  27.  His  first  work  was  the  erection  of 
a  shelter  for  his  family,  after  which  he  began  chopping. 
Mr.  Smith  remained  several  years,  and  as  a  result  of  his 
energy  left  twenty  acres  of  improved  land.  He  ultimately 
found  a  more  attractive  home  in  Wisconsin. 

The  farm  first  occupied  by  John  Willis  was  in  1850 
sold  to  Daniel  L.  Patterson,  who  removed  from  Niagara 
Co*.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  same  year.  A  cabin  had  already  been 
built  by  the  former  owner,  though  Mr.  Patterson,  finding 
this  insufficient  to  meet  his  wants,  at  once  erected  a  more 
spacious  one  adjoining.  He  met  many  obstacles  to  prog- 
ress on  his  way,  and  underbrushed  a  portion  of  the  road 
with  his  jack-knife.  Salmon  Mclntire,  who  had  but  re- 
cently come  in,  was  the  nearest  neighbor.  Mr.  Patterson 
added  much  to  the  clearing  already  made  by  his  prede- 
cessor, and  was  actively  engaged  at  an  early  period  in  lay- 
ing out  and  opening  roads  through  the  township.  He  was 
also  an  early  dispenser  of  justice  in  Hazelton,  and  held  his 
court  within  the  precincts  of  the  log  cabin.  His  death 
occurred  upon  the  farm  in  1859.  His  widow — now  Mrs. 
Levi  McCarn — still  occupies  the  estate  and  the  log  house 
built  by  him. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  resident  tax-payers  in 
the  township  of  Hazelton  for  the  year  1850,  thus  showing 
pretty  nearly  who  had  been  the  settlers  in  the  township 
prior  to  that  time : 

Acres. 

Otis  Burpee,  section  10 80 

Eli  E.  Fowles,  section  27 80 

Stanton  S.  Latham,  sections  27,  23 160 

Ethan  D.  Lord,  section  15 80 

Salmon  Mclntire,  section  15 80 

Abram  Pierson,  section  27... v 80 

J.  L.  Richardson)  section  22 80 

Orin  Smith,  section  22 80 

Almond  Torrey,  section  15 80 

John  Willis,  section  22 80 

Jesse  Rhodes,  a  former  resident  of  Ohio,  became  a 
pioneer  to  the  township  in  1850,  having  purchased  eighty 
acres  on  section  25.     His  progress  was  not  rapid  at  first, 


the  erection  of  a  log  house  having  engaged  his  attention  on 
arrival.  Later  much  of  the  land  was  cleared  and  afforded  a 
bountiful  yield  of  grain.  John  Willis,  one-half  mile  west, 
had  already  settled  and  effected  a  small  clearing.  Deer  and 
wolves  were  among  the  visitors  to  the  cabin,  and  the  In- 
dian in  his  hunting  expeditions  occasionally  craved  a  wel- 
come and  a  place  before  the  blazing  hearth  for  the  night. 
The  township  was  at  first  slow  in  its  progress,  but  later  years 
have  made  a  perceptible  difference  in  its  population.  Mr. 
Rhodes'  death  occurred  in  1869.  Two  sons.  Ransom  and 
Marshall,  are  still  residents  of  the  same  section,  where  they 
have  each  well-cultivated  farms. 

Another  of  the  pioneers  of  1850  was  H.  S.  Allen,  whose 
land  lay  upon  section  1 5  and  embraced  eighty  acres.  Mr. 
Allen  came  from  Grand  Blanc,  Genesee  Co.,  and  was  a 
cabinet-maker  as  well  as  farmer.  He  built  a  house  of  logs 
and  effected  some  improvement,  but  ultimately  removed  to 
Corunna,  and  later  to  Newburg,  in  Shiawassee  township. 

W.  W.  Warner  emigrated  from  Potter  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1852, 
and  located  on  section  34,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  On  a  small  clearing  amid  this  wilderness 
he  built  a  board  shanty,  hauling  the  boards  with  an  ox- 
team  from  Flushing,  where  he  remained  while  building. 
Ten  acres  were  chopped  the  first  year,  a  small  portion  of 
which  was  planted  with  corn.  The  following  year  Mr. 
Warner  built  a  substantial  frame  dwelling,  in  which  he  still 
resides.  Indians  occasionally  visited  the  house  and  brought 
game  and  fish  in  exchange  for  other  supplies.  Early  relig- 
io»s  services  were  held  at  the  houses  of  the  settlers.  Elder 
W.  J.  Kent  having  been  the  first  to  conduct  these  exercises. 
Mr.  Warner  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  development 
of  the  township  and  manifested  much  public  spirit  during 
his  active  career.  He  has  been  for  successive  terms  super- 
visor and  held  other  minor  offices. 

C.  S.  Gillet,  another  early  pioneer,  came  in  1853  (having 
formerly  been  a  resident  of  New  York  State),  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  uncleared  land  on  section  9.  Upon  this  he 
erected  the  customary  log  house  and  began  the  improvement 
of  the  land,  having  four  sons  who  came  with  him  and 
assisted  in  the  labor  of  clearing.  Mr.  Gillet  was  among 
the  early  township  officers  and  held  many  official  positions 
of  responsibility.  He  later  removed  to  and  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Flushing,  his  sons  having  also  gone  from  the 
township. 

John  Bowman  emigrated  from  Germany  in  1850,  and  in 
1855  became  a  pioneer  in  Hazelton.  Section  26  afforded 
him  an  eligible  location,  upon  which  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres.  Henry  St.  John,  then  a  resident 
of  section  35,  extended  him  a  welcome  on  his  arrival.  Mr. 
Bowman  accomplished  but  little  in  the  way  of  improvement, 
his  time  having  been  principally  devoted  to  lumbering.  The 
timber  for  his  first  residence  was  drawn  frotn  Flushing,  two 
hundred  feet  being  regarded  as  a  fair  load  on  account  of 
the  exceedingly  bad  roads.  The  family  supplies  were  car- 
ried from  the  latter  village  upon  his  back  on  Saturday  even- 
ing. He  has  now  reached  a  condition  when  these  depriva- 
tions are  but  recollections  of  the  past.  His  present  spacious 
residence,  built  in  1876,  bears  witness  to  the  success  which 
has  been  the  reward  of  his  industry. 

Jacob  C.  Brown  came  from  Livingston*  Co.,  Mich.,  in 


230 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1855.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 23,  to  which  he  afterwards  added  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 24,  formerly  owned  hy  John  Willis  and  partially  im- 
proved by  him,  after  he  had  removed  from  his  first  purchase. 
His  brother,  James  Brown,  had  preceded  him  and  located 
upon  section  24,  where  he  for  years  resided,  but  ultimately 
removed  to  Grand  Blanc,  having  sold  to  William  Eames. 
The  former  erected  a  house  of  logs,  while  the  yard  was 
partially  inclosed  by  a  maple-tree  which  was  felled  across 
the  front,  and  with  a  gate  at  the  end  did  duty  as  a  fence. 
Mr.  Brown  began  the  labor  of  chopping  and  converted  much 
of  the  land  into  productive  acres.  He  filled  many  town- 
ship offices  and  was  prominent  as  one  of  its  most  energetic 
citizens.  In  1877  he  purchased  a  farm  of  fifty-four  acres 
within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Corunna,  upon  which  he 
now  resides. 

Amos  Lewis  came  from  Flint  in  1856  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  forty  acres  on  section  29,  which  was  uncleared  on 
his  arrival.  John  Decker,  a  near  neighbor,  formerly  of 
Genesee  County,  offered  him  shelter  while  building  a  house. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  Mr.  Lewis  was  a  victim  to  fever  and 
ague,  which  rendered  labor  impossible.  For  that  reason 
little  progress  was  made  during  the  time  immediately  suc- 
ceeding his  arrival.  He  remained  upon  this  farm  until 
1870,  when  the  township  of  Rush  offered  superior  attrac- 
tions, but  later  years  found  him  again  a  resident  of  Hazelton 
on  section  33. 

Elijah  Coons,  a  pioneer  of  the  same  year,  located  upon 
one  hundred  acres  on  section  32,  formerly  the  home  of  John 
Phipps,  who  had  made  some  inroads  upon  the  forest  and 
built  a  cabin,  to  which  Mr.  Coons  removed.  He  was  also 
a  victim  to  the  prevailing  malady  of  the  day — ague — and 
made  little  progress  at  first.  He  is  still  a  resident  of  the 
township. 

George  Jacobs,  a  former  resident  of  the  Green  Mountain 
State,  settled  in  1857,  upon  sixty-five  acres  on  section  7, 
which  on  his  arrival  was  little  else  than  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness. Eli  H.  Day,  who  was  a  pioneer  upon  the  same  sec- 
tion, had  preceded  him  and  was  his  nearest  neighbor. 
With  him  Mr.  Jacobs  found  a  temporary  home  while  erect- 
ing a  log  house,  to  which  settlers  from  various  parts  of  Hazel- 
ton  and  adjoining  townships  came  to  the  raising.  This  house 
was  occupied  without  waiting  for  the  modern  conveniences  of 
doors  and  windows.  R.  J.  Holmes  became  a  resident  of  the 
same  section  soon  after.  Deer  were  abundant  and  afforded 
a  considerable  addition  to  the  family  supplies.  Mr.  Jacobs 
was  a  skillful  marksman,  and  many  of  these  fleet-footed  ani- 
mals fell  victims  to  his  unerring  aim.  He  was  an  early 
highway  commissioner,  and  assisted  in  laying  out  many  of 
the  early  roads  in  the  northwest  portion  of  the  township. 
He  still  resides  upon  his  original  purchase,  which  he  has 
made  into  a  highly-productive  farm. 

B.  Dutcher  preceded  Mr.  Jacobs  by  two  years,  having 
come  from  Livingston  County  and  located  upon  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  6.  On  coming  from  his 
former  home  he  met  many  obstacles  to  progress,  and  for 
some  distance  was  obliged  to  underbrush  the  road  as  he 
came.  J.  A.  Clough,  a  near  neighbor  in  New  Haven,  ex- 
tended his  hospitality  while  erecting  a  log  cabin,  after  which 
he  proceeded  to  the  labor  of  clearing,  and  improved  eigh- 


teen acres  during  the  first  year.  Mr.  Dutcher  was  for 
many  years  somewhat  isolated,  but  few  settlers  having 
chosen  the  northwest  portion  of  the  township  as  a  resi- 
dence. At  the  close  of  the  war,  however,  the  land  was 
rapidly  developed.  Corunna  attracted  Mr.  Dutcher  in 
1877,  and  he  now  resides  there. 

Levi  Morse,  formerly  of  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  came 
to  Hazelton  in  1858,  and  located  upon  eighty  acres  on 
section  30,  which  afforded  a  good  field  for  development. 
His  neighbor  at  the  time  was  Reuben  Chapin,  who  then 
resided  on  the  same  section,  whither  he  had  removed  from 
Canada.  Later  he  moved  to  the  West,  but  returned  again 
to  Chesaning,  in  Saginaw  County.  Mr.  Morse  enjoyed 
Mr.  Chapin's  hospitality  while  erecting  a  home.  The  first 
year  five  acres  were  cleared,  and  from  that  time  on  much 
improvement  was  the  result  of  his  labor,  until  the  farm  he 
early  purchased  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

Emery  Lewis  was  a  pioneer  of  1859,  from  Ingham 
County,  though  originally  from  the  Empire  State.  His 
first  purchase  was  eighty  acres  on  section  29,  which  has 
since  been  increased  to  one  hundred  and  sixty,  with  an 
additional  forty  upon  section  31.  This  site  was  originally 
the  home  of  John  Decker,  who  had  effected  a  partial 
clearing  and  built  a  house  upon  it.  Mr.  Lewis  continued 
these  improvements,  and  ultimately  converted  the  land 
into  a  fruitful  farm,  upon  which  he  now  resides.  His 
present  house  was  built  nine  years  since. 

F.  F.  Brewer  located  upon  the  land  formerly  secured  by 
Salmon  Mclntire,  and  described  as  the  east  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  15,  which  he  purchased  in 
1860,  and  has  greatly  enhanced  in  value.  Mr.  Brewer  is 
a  citizen  of  much  public  spirit,  and  has  been  frequently 
elected  to  important  township  offices. 

L.  H.  Barrett,  a  former  resident  of  Oakland  County, 
located  in  1863  upon  forty  acres  on  section  28,  on  which 
he  still  resides. 

TOWNSHIP   ORGANIZATION  AND  LIST  OF 
OFFICERS. 

The  survey  of  the  township  of  Hazelton  was  made  by 
Joseph  Wampler,  who  was  employed  by  the  government  in 
the  capacity  of  deputy  surveyor,  and  performed  much  labor 
throughout  the  county.  Hazelton  was  formerly  a  portion 
of  the  township  of  New  Haven,  and  was  erected  as  an  in- 
dependent township  by  the  act  of  the  Legislature  (approved 
March  25, 1850)  which  provided  "  That  town  No.  8  north, 
of  range  No.  4  east,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  set  off  from  the  township  of  New  Ha- 
ven and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of 
Hazelton,  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Stanton  S.  Latham,  in  said  township.', 
Under  the  provisions  of  this  act  the  electors  of  the  town- 
ship of  Hazelton  met  at  the  house  of  Stanton  S.  Latham, 
on  the  30th  day  of  April,  1850,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing 
township  officers.  Orrin  Smith  was  appointed  moderator, 
and  E.  D.  Lord  and  John  Willis  inspectors  of  election. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  year :  Super- 
visor, Orrin  Smith ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  L.  Richardson  ; 
Treasurer,  E.  D.  Lord ;  Highway  Commissioners,  Stanton 
S.  Latham,  J.  L.  Richardson,  Otis  Burpee ;  Justices  of 


HAZELTON   TOWNSHIP. 


231 


the  Peace,  Abram  Pearson,  S.  D.  Latham,  John  Willis,  J. 

L.  Richardson  ;  School  Inspectors,  E.  D.  Lord,  Otis  Bur- 
pee ;    Directors  of  Poor,  Abram  Pearson,  E.  E.  Fowls; 

Constable,  E.  E.  Fowls. 

The  township  officers  of  Hazelton  elected  in  succeeding 

years  from  that  time  until  the  present  have  been  as  follows, 

viz. : 

1851. — Supervisor,  Orrin  Smith ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  L. 
Bichardson ;  Highway  Commissioners,  J.  C. 
Smith,  E.  D.  Lord  ;  Justice,  D.  H.  Patterson  ; 
School  Inspectors,  0.  Smith,  E.  D.  Lord :  Direc- 
tors of  Poor,  J.  C.  Smith,  B.  D.  Lord ;  Con- 
stable, B.  B.  Powles. 

1852.— Supervisor,  0.  W.  Smith  ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  L. 
Richardson ;  Treasurer,  John  Willis ;  Justices, 
J.  L.  Richardson,  J.  C.  Smith  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, S.  Mclntire,  E.  E.  Fowles ;  School 
Inspector,  Abram  Pearsons ;  Directors  of  Poor, 
8.  Mclntire,  J.  C.  Smith;  Constable,  Ransom 
Rhodes. 

1853. — Supervisor,  H.  S.  Allen;  Township  Clerk,  J.  L. 
Richardson  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  8.  Mcln- 
tire ;  School  Inspector,  Abram  Pearsons ;  Treas- 
urer, John  Willis. 

1854. — Supervisor,  John  Willis ;  Township  Clerk,  W.  W. 
Warner ;  Treasurer,  J.  L.  Richardson ;  High- 
way Commissioners,  W.  W.  Warner,  A.  Cum- 
mings;  School  Inspector,  A.  W.  Rhodes;  Di- 
rector of  Poor,  A.  B.  Woodcock  ;  Justice,  John 
Willis;  Constable,  A.  B.  Woodcock. 
1855. — Supervisor,  John  Willis;  Township  Clerk,  W.  W. 
Warner ;  Treasurer,  A.  W.  Gillet ;  Justice,  John 
Phipps;  Directors  of  Poor,  E.  Flemmings,  J. 
L.  Richardson ;  Highway  Commissioner,  A.  W. 
Rhodes ;  Constable,  F.  H.  Conklin. 

1856.— Supervisor,  J.  Willis;  Township  Clerk,  F.  H. 
Conklin ;  Treasurer,  A.  W.  Gillet ;  School  In- 
spector, W.  B.  Gillet ;  justice,  W.  C.  Day ; 
Directors  of  Poor,  E.  H.  Sherwood,  A.  W. 
Rhodes;  Highway  Commissioner,  G.  Bennett; 
Constables,  E.  H.  Sherwood,  G.  Bennett. 
1857. — Supervisor,  A.  Pearsons;  Township  Clerk,  F.  H. 
Conklin ;  Treasurer,  J.  D.  Newell ;  Justices,  W. 
W.  Warner,  B.  Dutcher;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, J.  Ferris ;  Constables,  L.  Bentley,  W.  L. 
Emery,  A.  Cummins,  P.  Frazier. 
1858. — Supervisor,  John  WiUis;  Treasurer,  J.  B.  Hol- 
comb ;  Justices,  A.  Pearsons,  John  Willis ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Otis  Burpee ;  Consta- 
ble, S.  S.  Gillett. 
1859. — Supervisor,  Daniel  Torrey;  Township  Clerk,  J.  L. 
Richardson;  Treasurer,  D.  B.  Holcomb;  Jus- 
tices, Daniel  Torrey,  W.  W.  Warner;  School 
Inspector,  George  Jacobs;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, George  Jacobs,  J.  C.  Brown ;  Directors 
of  Poor,  J.  W.  Rickly,  John  Judd  ;  Constables, 
Cyrus  Brigham,  H.  E.  Surges,  M.  A.  Pixley, 
William  Emery. 

I860.— Supervisor,  D.  Torrey;  Township  Clerk,  1.  F. 
Brewer ;  Treasurer,  J.  L.  Richardson  ;  Justices, 


Jacob  Ferris,  W.  C.  Day,  M.  B.  Rhodes ;  High- 
way Commissioner,  L.  Colby,  Jr. ;  Constables, 

C.  P.  Day,  Nathan  Colby,  Amos  Lewis,  W.  W. 
Emery. 

1861.— Supervisor,  J.  C.  Brown;  Township  Clerk,  F.  F. 
Brewer ;  Treasurer,  J.  H.  Brown ;  Justices,  W. 
W.  Warner,  D.  B.  Holcomb,  William  Piper; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Emery  Lewis  ;  School 
Inspectors,  James  King,  L.  L.  Houghton ;  Con- 
stables, W.  Emery,  C.  P.  Day,  Alex.  Kellas,  J. 
Featherby. 

1862.— Supervisor,  F.  F.  Brewer ;  Township  Clerk,  D.  B. 
Holcomb  ;  Justice,  J.  C.  Brown  ;  Treasurer,  F. 
H.  Conklin  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  J.  Aus- 
tin, Nathan  Colby ;  School  Inspector,  Benjamin 
Dunlap ;  Constables,  W.  Eames,  W.  W.  Emery, 
Wm.  Nobles,  W.  Amidon. 

1863. — Supervisor,  F.  F.  Brewer;  Township  Clerk,  Stephen 

D.  Warren  ;  Treasurer,  L.  Benchley ;  Justice,  A. 
W.  Gillet ;  Highway  Commissioner,  C.  8.  Gillet ; 
School  Inspector,  C.  P.  Day  ;  Constables,  W.  W. 
Emery,  8.  D.  Warren,  L.  Benchley,  8.  8.  Gillet. 

1864. — ^Supervisor,  F.  F.  Brewer ;  Township  Clerk,  8.  D. 
Warren  ;  Treasurer,  Loren  Benchley  ;  Justices, 
W.  C.  Day,  Henry  Lewis ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, D.  C.  Pierce,  C.  W.  Smith;  School 
Inspector,  L.  L.  Houghton ;  Constables,  L. 
Brigham,  C.  W.  Smith,  8.  D.  Warren,  William 
Lyon. 

1865. — Supervisor,  W.  W.  Warner  ;  Township  Clerk,  Isaac 
Sutton  ;  Treasurer,  P.  Benchley  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, E.  Coons,  John  King,  Jr.,  D.  W. 
Gillet ;  School  Inspectors,  Daniel  Torrey,  L.  L. 
Houghton  ;  Constable,  L.  Benchley. 

1866. — Supervisor,  F.  F.  Brewer ;  Township  Clerk,  L.  H. 
Barrett;  Treasurer,  L.  Benchley;  Justices,  J. 

C.  Brown,  D.  W.  Eames;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, S.  8.  Puffer ;  School  Inspectors,  Wm. 
Eames,  A.  Kell ;  Constables,  W.  W.  Emery,  C. 
W.  Smith. 

1867. — Supervisor,  S.  8.  Bush  ;  Township  Clerk,  L.  H. 
Barrett ;  Treasurer,  Wm.  Eames  ;  Justices,  0. 
Hathaway,  L.  H.  Barrett ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, J.  Austin ;  Constables,  0.  Butterfield, 
Sullivan  Fay,  H.  Frazier,  A.  Featherby. 

1868. — Supervisor,  F.  F.  Brewer  ;  Township  Clerk,  L.  H. 
Barrett ;  Treasurer,  Wm.  Eames ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  Gilbert  Heminway ;  Justices, 
George  Jacobs,  Philip  Holland,  John  Feath- 
erby ;  School  Inspectors,  Wm.  Eames,  B.  M. 
Judd ;  Constables,  William  Emery,  Jackson 
Barrett. 

1869.— Supervisor,  F.  H.  Brewer ;  Township  Clerk,  Cal- 
vin  Rich  ;    Treasurer,  Wm.   Eames  ;   Justices, 

D.  B.  Holcomb,  Wilson  West;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, C.  W.  Smith,  E.  S.  Jones ;  School 
Inspector,  Wm.  Eames ;  Constables,  L.  H.  Bar- 
rett, F.  F.  Brewer,  L.  Brigham,  Patrick  Murphy. 

1870. — Supervisor,  W.  W.  Warner;  Township  Clerk,  L. 
H.  Barrett;   Treasurer,  John  King;   Justices, 


232 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


W.  W.  Warner,  Almon  Brown  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, E.  H.  Jones ;  Constables,  0.  Carpen- 
ter, F.  F.  Brewer,  B.  F.  Austin. 
1871.— Supervisor,  F.  F.  Brewer;  Township  Clerk,  A.  C. 
Brown  ;  Treasurer,  John  King ;  Justice,  A. 
Houghton  ;  School  Inspector,  William  Barnes ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Levi  Morse ;  Constables, 
A.  J.  Featherby,  Charles  Lowrie,  0.  Carpenter, 
Wm.  Emery. 

1872. — Supervisor,  W.  W.  Warner ;  Township  Clerk,  B. 
F.  Dunlap;  Treasurer,  John  King;  Justice,  J. 
C.  Brown  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  C.  C.  Law- 
son,  George  Cronk  ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Eras- 
tus  Call ;  Constables,  Thomas  Lawton,  W.  W. 
Emery,  R.  J.  Holmes,  George  Welsh. 

1873. — Supervisor,  W.  W.  Warner ;  Township  Clerk,  B. 
F.  Dunlap ;  Treasurer,  John  King ;  Justice, 
Caleb  Lawson  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  George 
Cronk ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Erastus  Call ; 
Constables,  L.  Brigham,  A.  Dutcher,  W.  W. 
Emery,  R.  Davis. 

1874. — Supervisor,  L.  H.  Barrett ;  Township  Clerk,  Wm. 
Stage ;  Treasurer,  John  King ;  Justices,  W.  W. 
Warner,  H.  A.  Fenner ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, Levi  Morse ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Daniel 
Cameron ;  School  Inspector,  F.  F.  Brewer ; 
Constables,  W.  W.  Emery,  S.  Lyons,  Isaac 
Lewis,  J.  L.  Delbridge. 

1875. — Supervisor,  L.  H.  Barrett;  Township  Clerk,  F. 
I.  Richardson  ;  Treasurer,  William  Fames ;  Su- 
perintendent of  Schools,  H.  A.  Fenner ;  School 
Inspector,  F.  F.  Brewer;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, Nathan  Colby;  Justice,  Wm.  Emery; 
Drain  Commissioner,  Hiram  Monroe ;  Consta- 
bles, Samuel  Lyons,  A.  0.  Bush,  C.  W.  Thorp. 

1876.— Supervisor,  L.  H.  Barrett ;  Township  Clerk,  F.  I. 
Richardson  ;  Treasurer,  Wm.  Eames ;  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  H.  A.  Fenner;  School  In- 
spector, F.  F.  Brewer ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
N.  Colby;  Justice,  Carlos  Burbanks;  Consta- 
bles, A.  0.  Bush,  William  Emery,  0.  Brown, 
Wallace  Purse. 

1877.— Supervisor,  L.  H.  Barrett ;  Township  Clerk,  F.  I. 
Richardson  ;  Treasurer,  F.  F.  Brewer ;  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  H.  A.  Fenner ;  School  In- 
spector, F.  F.  Brewer ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
W.  H.  Lyons ;  Justices,  W.  Decatur,  John  Far- 
rar ;  Constables,  F.  Featherby,  W.  W.  Emery, 
C.  M.  Braddock,  Peter  Brown. 

1878.— Supervisor,  L.  H.  Barrett ;  Township  Clerk,  P.  I. 
Richardson  ;  Treasurer,  F.  F.  Brewer ;  Justices, 
C.  K.  Runnells,  Alanson  Kimble;  Highway 
Commissioner,  Erastus  Call ;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  H.  C.  Fenner;  School  Inspector,  F.  F. 
Brewer ;  Drain  Commissioner,  James  Garrison  ; 
Constables,  F.  Featherby,  Aaron  Hartshorn, 
Peter  Jones,  E.  R.  Munson. 
1879.— Supervisor,  F.  I.  Richardson  ;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
P.  Niles;  Treasurer,  C.  K.  Runnells;  School 
Inspector,  L.   H.    Barrett;    Superintendent   of 


Schools,  H.  A.  Fenner  ;  Drain  Commissioner 
James  Fee;  Highway  Commissioner,  E.  Call; 
Constables,  J.  S.  Thompson,  A.  M.  Brown,  E. 
D.  Babcock,  Robert  Easton. 
1880. — Supervisor,  F.  I.  Richardson  ;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
P.  Niles ;  Treasurer,  C.  K.  Runnells ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  Ambrose  Austin  ;  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  0.  W.  Took  ;  Drain  Commissioner, 
James  Fee;  Justice,  J.  R.  Farr;  School  In- 
spector, W.  E.  Jacobs  ;  Constables,  John  Sharp, 
A.  Brown,  Aaron  Hartshorn. 

THE  EARLIEST  HIGHWAYS. 
For  some  years  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  township 
very  few  highways  had  been  surveyed,  and  the  earliest  set-, 
tiers  met  with  many  obstacles  to  necessary  travel.  The 
first  recorded  road  was  surveyed  when  Hazelton  was  still  a 
part  of  New  Haven.  As  no  date  is  given  it  is  impossible 
to  give  the  time  of  survey,  though  the  commissioners  who 
directed  the  work  were  Walter  R.  Seymour,  Richard  Free- 
man, and  Cyrenus  Clark.  It  is  described  as  "  beginning  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  8,  township  8  north,  of 
range  4  ea.st,  and  running  thence  north  eighty-seven  and 
three-quarter  degrees  east  on  section-line  eighty  chains  and 
fifty  links;  thence  north  eighty-seven  and  three-quarter 
degrees  east  on  section-line  seventy-eight  chains  thirteen 
links  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  9 ;  thence  north 
eighty-seven  and  three-quarter  degrees  east  two  hundred 
and  thirty-eight  chains  fifty  links  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  12,  on  the  county-line." 

Another  road  began  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  9, 
and  ran  thence  by  a  great  number  of  recorded  courses  and 
distances  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  34,  in  township 
8  north,  of  range  4  east. 

Later  roads  were  surveyed  as  settlers  became  more  numer- 
ous. Excellent  highways,  which  are  maintained  at  a  con- 
siderable cost  to  the  township,  now  traverse  every  portion 
of  its  territory. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  township  was,  soon  after  its  organization,  divided 
into  districts,  whose  boundaries  were  enlarged  or  diminished 
as  circumstances  demanded.  The  earliest  school  in  Hazel- 
ton  was  taught  in  the  year  1851,  by  Mrs.  Daniel  L.  Pat- 
terson, in  a  log  cabin  standing  upon  the  farm  of  her  husband, 
on  section  22,  which  was  built  by  John  Willis.  It  was 
embraced  within  the  boundaries  of  district  No.  1,  and  the 
succeeding  teacher  was  Miss  Mary  Gillet,  now  Mrs.  Nathan 
Colby.  The  earliest  school  in  the  Judd  neighborhood  was 
taught  by  Miss  Jane  Judd,  now  Mrs.  John  Bowman,  in 
1854,  in  a  log  school-house  built  the  same  year  on  sec- 
tion 34. 

The  present  territory  of  Hazelton  is  divided  into  seven 
whole,  and  two  fractional,  districts.  The  board  of  directors 
is  composed  of  the  following  gentlemen :  John  A.  Fitch, 
L.  H.  Barrett,  G.  Garner,  Enoch  Wing,  Batus  Snyder,  F. 
J.  Richardson,  I.  8.  Jones,  D.  Beatty,  J.  C.  Bronson. 

The  number  of  children  receiving  instruction  is  four 
hundred  and  forty-eight,  of  whom  twenty-eight  are  non- 
residents. They  are  under  the  direction  of  eight  male  and 
nine  female   teachers.     The  value  of  school  property  in 


r 
I 


I,'  II' >.  ')"ii)  III!  mil 


'i 


HAZELTON  TOWNSHIP. 


233 


Hazelton  is  four  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars,  which  in- 
cludes one  log  and  eight  frame  school-houses. 

CHURCH  HISTORY. 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
The  first  class  of  this  denomination  was  organized  Feb. 
21,  1858,  under  the  direction  of  Eev.  S.  W.  Wooster,  it 
having  been  at  that  time  a  part  of  the  Owosso  district. 
Its  members  were  John  Judd,  Loren  Bensley,  Matilda 
Judd,  Jane  Bensley,  Mary  Kellogg,  Julius  Kellogg,  John 
Bowman,  Elisha  Coons,  Hepsah  Coons,  Jane  Bowman, 
Moses  A.  Pixley,  John  Judd,  Jr.,  Edward  Judd,  Lorenzo 
Brigham,  John  Meeker,  Betsey  Meeker.  The  Eev.  S.  W. 
Wooster,  after  having  organized  the  class,  left  it  in  charge 
of  Rev.  Jesse  Bradford,  now  of  Grand  Rapids,  who  was 
the  active  pastor  for  a  period  of  five  years,  Loren  Bensley 
having  been  the  first  class-leader.  In  1859  it  was  reorgan- 
ized and  became  a  part  of  the  Corunna  Circuit.  Rev.  L. 
H.  York  succeeded  to  the  pastorate  in  1859,  and  D.  W. 
Hammond  acted  as  supply.  Since  that  time  the  clergymen 
in  succession  have  been  as  follows :  1860,  Rev.  Samuel 
Wilkinson;  1861,  Rev.  J.  H.  Corn  alia ;  1863,  Rev. 
Thomas  Wakelin  ;  from  1864  to  1867,  supplies;  1867, 
Rev.  A.  A.  Allen;  1869,  Rev.  Joel  B.  Goss ;  1872,  Rev. 
A.  Whitcomb;  1873,  Rev.  Thomas  Wakelin;  1875,  Rev. 
D.  M.  Van  Deusen  ;  1878,  Rev.  D.  M.  Ward ;  1879,  Rev. 
Edward  Steer. 

The  present  commodious  church  edifice  was  erected  in 
1871,  and  dedicated  in  October,  1874.  Its  debt  of  sixteen 
hundred  dollars  is  entirely  liquidated,  and  a  parsonage  has 
also  been  purchased  by  the  society.  A  Sabbath-school 
numbering  sixty  scholars  is  connected  with  the  church,  of 
which  the  pastor  is  superintendent. 

PROTESTANT   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

Very  few  facts  regarding  this  church  are  at  command. 
The  class  was  organized  many  years  since  and  religious 
services  held  at  the  Gillet  school-house.  An  effort  was 
made  to  erect  a  house  of  worship,  which  was  so  far  suc- 
cessful tbat  in  1879  ground  was  chosen  at  Lothrop,  and  the 
building  proceeded  toward  completion,  when  some  unfor- 
tunate circumstances  caused  a  temporary  suspension  of  the 
work.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Snyder.  The 
trustees  are  Aaron  Hoxie,  Isaac  Wood,  and  Leonard  Hoff- 
ner. 

The  building  committee  is  composed  of  John  Frame, 
Isaac  Wood,  Robert  Craig. 

SEVENTH-DAY  ADVENTISTS. 
The  society  of  this  denomination  was  organized  in  1873, 
under  the  direction  of  Elders  Van  Horn  and  Lane,  meetings 
having  at  first  been  held  in  Flushing,  and  later  in  the 
school-house  on  section  34,  in  Hazelton.  Various  preachers 
have  since  that  time  supplied  the  pulpit.  The  society, 
which  has  grown  more  flourishing  as  it  advanced  in  years, 
is  now  erecting  a  house  of  worship  on  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  26. 

HAZELTON    GRANGE,   No.  606. 
This  grange  was-  organized  in  1875,  with  thirty-three 
members,  the  following  having  been  its  first  officers :  Daniel 
30 


Cameron,  M. ;  L.  H.  Barrett,  Secretary ;  John  Bowman, 
Treasurer ;  F.  I.  Richardson,  Lecturer ;  Edward  Judd, 
Chaplain.  The  present  ofiicers  are  L.  H.  Barrett,  M. ; 
Frank  Twitchell,  Secretary ;  John  Towle,  Treasurer ;  A.  0. 
Bush,  Lecturer;  Edward  Judd,  Chaplain.  A  spacious 
hall  is  owned  by  the  organization,  which  also  has  a  flourish- 
ing supply  department,  of  which  Edward  Judd  is  pur- 
chasing-agent. Fifty  names  are  enrolled  upon  its  member- 
ship list. 

LOTHROP   VILLAGE. 

The  following  description  of  the  plat  of  the  village  of 
Lothrop  is  recorded ;  "  Commencing  at  a  point  on  the 
section-line  between  sections  two  and  eleven,  township 
eight  north,  of  range  four  east,  said  point  being  eight 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  feet  east  of  the  corner  of  sections 
two,  three,  ten,  and  eleven,  thence  north  parallel  with  the 
west  line  of  section  two  four  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet, 
thence  west  fifty-five  feet,  thence  north  parallel  with  said 
section-line  three  hundred  and  ninety-six  feet,  thence  west 
parallel  with  the  south  line  of  section  two  seven  hundred 
and  seventy-four  feet,  thence  west  parallel  with  the  south 
line  of  section  three  eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine  feet, 
thence  south  parallel  with  the  east  line  of  section  three 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine  feet,  thence  south  parallel 
with  the  east  line  of  section  ten  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine  feet,  thence  east  parallel  with  the  north  line  of  section 
ten  eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine  feet,  thence  east  parallel 
with  the  north  line  of  section  eleven  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  feet,  thence  north  parallel  with  the  west  line  of 
section  eleven  eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine  feet,  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  Blocks  3,  4,  5,  and  6  belong  to  N. 
Colby;  blocks  9,  10,  15,  and  16,  to  Gideon  Silverthorne ; 
blocks  1  and  2  are  reserved  for  Messrs.  Runnells  and  Craig; 
and  the  remainder  of  the  blocks  and  lots  belong  to  P.  Berry. 
Surveyed  October  15th,  16th,  17th,  and  18th,  by  Lyman 
Mason,  C.  E." 

A  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  upon  a 
portion  of  which  the  village  of  Lothrop  is  built,  was  en- 
tered in  1836  by  James  Butler,  of  New  York.  This 
included  eighty  acres  each  on  sections  3  and  10,  the  latter 
of  which  was  purchased  in  1855  by  A.  W.  Gillet  and  a 
man  named  Luce.  In  1858,  Nathan  and  Levi  Colby  set- 
tled upon  section  10,  and  the  former  brother,  in  1865, 
purchased  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
3,  upon  which  he  built  a  residence.  Gideon  Silverthorne 
came  in  1871,  and  also  erected  a  dwelling.  The  same  year 
Alexander  Bailey  came  from  Oakland  County  and  built  a 
store,  in  which  he  placed  a  small  stock  of  goods  and  began 
his  career  as  the  pioneer  merchant.  Francis  Berry  arrived 
in  1875,  and  purchased  the  Gillet  property,  which  he  im- 
proved in  various  ways.  He  also  established  himself  as  a 
merchant,  but  later  sold  to  C.  K.  Runnells  and  resumed  his 
former  calling,  that  of  a  clergyman.  Mr.  Runnells  also — 
in  connection  with  his  partner — built  the  grist-mill,  and 
Mr.Colby  constructed  a  blacksmith-shop,  which  was  leased 
to  N.  Fenner.  Mr.  Berry,  in  1878,  erected  a  spacious 
store,  which  is  now  occupied  by  Messrs.  Niles  &  Co.,  who 
conduct  an  extensive  business  in  general  merchandising. 
In  1879,  Mr.  Colby  built  a  hotel  of  considerable  propor- 


234 


HISTOKY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


tions,and  Andrew  Krebs  a  harness-shop,  and  later  a  second 

shop. 

The  business  interests  of  the  place  may  be  summed  up 

as  follows  : 

A.  N.  Niles  &  Co.  and  C.  K.  Rnnnells,  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, etc. 

John  Hart,  groceries  and  clothing. 

A.  Krebs,  harness,  etc. 

David  Krebs,  shoe-shop. 

William  Hill,  blacksmith-shop. 

N.  Fenner,  blacksmith-shop. 

W.  H.  Reid,  blacksmith-shop. 

E.  P.  Beam,  wagon-shop. 

John  Sharp,  restaurant  and  livery-stable. 

James  Berry,  harness-shop. 

Runnells  &  Craig,  saw-  and  grist-mills. 

N.  Colby,  hotel. 

Dr.  0.  W.  Took  is  the  active  physician  and  surgeon  of 
the  place,  and  C.  K.  Runnells  the  postmaster. 

By  order  of  the  Post-Office  Department  the  office  has 
been  changed  to  New  Lotbrop,  though  no  change  of  a 
corresponding  nature  has  been  recorded  with  regard  to  the 
name  of  the  village. 

Flouring-Mill  and  Saw-Mill. — The  flouring-mill  of  Run- 
nells &  Craig,  which  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
most  complete  in  the  county  in  all  its  appointments,  was 
constructed  by  the  present  proprietors  in  1877.  It  is  pro- 
pelled by  an  engine  of  thirty-five  horse-power,  and  has 
three  run  of  stones.  It  is  devoted  exclusively  to  custom- 
work,  and  has  a  capacity  for  grinding  one  hundred  bushels 
of  wheat  and  two  hundred  bushels  of  corn  per  day.  The 
average  custom-work  done  per  day  is  eighty  bushels,  though 
at  times  this  is  greatly  increased.  The  most  approved 
modern  machinery  for  manufacturing  flour  by  the  patent 
process  has  been  introduced. 

The  saw-mill  owned  by  the  same  firm  is  also  propelled 
by  steam.  It  has  an  upright  saw  and  an  edger,  and  has  a 
capacity  for  sawing  five  thousand  feet  of  hard  timber  per 
day.     The  market  is  found  in  Owosso  and  East  Saginaw. 

HAZELTONVILLE. 

A  portion  of  the  land  upon  which  the  village  of  Hazel- 
tonville  is  located  was  originally  entered  by  G-en.  James 
Wadsworth,  of  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  in  1836,  eighty  acres  of 
which  was  purchased  by  Eliakim  Wood  of  the  Wadsworth 
estate.  That  part  which  borders  on  section  14  was  for- 
merly in  possession  of  Hiram  A.  Fenner,  while  that  on  22 
— also  a  part  of  the  Wadsworth  purchase — was  subse- 
quently controlled  by  H.  J.  Patterson.  In  the  year  1872, 
Erastus  Call  and  B.  F.  Dunlap  each  erected  a  store,  the 
former  having  also  built  a  house  and  a  cooper-shop.  His 
residence  was  brief,  the  same  year  having  witnessed  both 
his  arrival  and  departure.  During  the  year  1874,  Almond 
Kimball  erected  a  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  on  the  Misteau- 
guay  Creek,  the  power  having  been  supplied  by  the  stream 
upon  which  it  is  located.  The  latter  was  furnished '  with 
two  run  of  stones  and  was  devoted  exclusively  to  custom - 
work.  Dean  Hartshorn  had  arrived  some  time  before  and 
opened  a  blacksmith-shop,  which  monopolized  most  of  the 
work   of  the   neighborhood.     Soon   aft«r,   Lewis   Elliott 


opened  a  similar  shop,  and  shared  the  patronage  with  his 
predecessor.  Several  houses  had  meanwhile  been  erected, 
and  in  1878  another  blacksmith-  and  wagon-shop  was 
opened.  In  1879,  Dana  Bros,  built  a  store,  which  was 
filled  with  a  stock  of  goods  adapted  to  the  wants  of  their 
country  trade  ;  and  Thomas  Ackerson  and  Benjamin  San- 
born each  established  a  wagon-shop.  John  Thompson  also 
opened  a  boot-  and  shoe-shop,  the  only  one  in  the  place. 

The  Post-Office  Department  has  established  here  an 
office,  known  as  Hazelton,  of  which  William  Gage  is  post- 
master. There  is  no  hotel  in  the  hamlet,  but  travelers  are 
entertained  at  the  house  of  B.  F.  Dunlap. 

JUDD'S   COBNEES. 

This  point  in  the  township  was  first  settled  by  John 
Judd,  who  came  from  Connecticut  to  Genesee  County  in 
1836,  and  removed  to  Hazelton  in  1853.  He  purchased  of 
the  Hazelton  brothers  four  hundred  acres  of  land  on  sections 
33  and  34  in  the  township,  and  section  3  in  Venice.  He 
settled  at  once  on  this  land,  erected  a  cabin,  and  cleared  ten 
acres.  The  following  year  fourteen  acres  were  added  to  the 
former  improvement  and  much  of  it  sown  with  wheat, 
though  the  exceeding  richness  of  the  ground  rendered  the 
crop  a  poor  one.  Leeks  were  prolific  in  their  growth,  and 
the  most  formidable  antagonist  with  which  the  settler  con- 
tended. 

In  1854  a  school-house  was  erected  on  section  34,  in 
which  Miss  Jane  Judd  was  the  earliest  teacher.  George 
Pangborn  bought  a  portion  of  section  34,  upon  which  he 
soon  after  made  a  small  clearing.  It  was  not  until  many 
years  later,  that  any  actual  growth  was  apparent  at  the  Cor- 
ners. 

In  1877  a  blacksmith-shop  was  opened  by  A.  Babcock, 
and  H.  A.  Brickwell  built  a  saw-mill.  In  1879  a  spacious 
store  was  erected  by  Wellington  Cameron,  who  placed  in  it 
a  general  stock  of  goods.  His  health  failed  soon  afterwards 
and  the  business  was  assumed  by  John  Judd,  who  now 
conducts  the  store.  The  saw-mill  is  at  present  operated 
by  John  Fitch  &  Son,  and  a  shoe-shop  has  also  been 
•  opened  at  the  Corners.  Dr.  C.  J.  Annis  is  the  physician 
and  surgeon  of  the  neighborhood. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  the  Grangers' 
hall  are  both  located  at  Judd's  Corners.  A  post-office  was 
established  in  1879,  with  E.  D.  Babcock  as  postmaster. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JOHN  JUDD. 

The  genealogy  of  the  Judd  family  traces  their  ancestry 
back  to  the  puritanical  times  of  1633-34.  Thomas  Judd 
emigrated  to  this  country,  and  settled  at  Cambridge,  Mass., 
being  eight  generations  removed  from  the  present  subject 
of  this  sketch.  John  Judd,  the  father,  married  Abigail 
Palmer,  a  descendant  of  Governor  Carver,  first  Governor  of 
the  State  of  Massachusetts.  John  Judd,  the  present,  was 
the  eldest  of  a  family  of  seven  cjiildren,  and  born  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  June  15, 1809,  where  he  continued  until  about 


HAZELTON  TOWNSHIP. 


235 


MKS.    MATILDA   JXIDD,  DEO  D. 


MRS.    JOHN   JDDD. 


twenty-one  years  of  age,  following  the  occupation  of  cooper. 
In  that  capacity  he  shipped  aboard  an  outward-bound  whaler, 
and  for  three  years  followed  the  sea,  visiting  the  Portuguese 
island  St.  Helena,  the  burial-place  of  Napoleon,  doubled 
Cape  Good  Hope,  and  fished  in  the  Straits  of  Mozambique 
and  Madagascar,  visited  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  was  twice 
shipwrecked,  barely  escaping  a  watery  grave.  He  turned  his 
face  homeward,  and  on  his  arrival,  July  27,  1834,  married 
Matilda  Leach, — whose  parents  were  Thomas  and  Temper- 
ance Leach,  descendants  of  the  old  Puritanical  emigrants  of 
that  name  who  settled  at  Norwich,  Conn., — and  without  the 
tour  which  is  considered  so  essential  to  the  happiness  of 
the  newly  wedded  they  immediately  started  a  home  at 
Hartford,  Conn.,  where  they  resided  until  1836,  when  a 
colony  of  the  Methodist  Church  was  organized  for  emigra- 
tion. Michigan  was  chosen  as  the  future  home.  D.  L. 
Belden  was  appointed  agent,  and  came  to  Michigan,  visited 
several  localities,  finally  decided  to  locate  in  Genesee  County, 
and  purchased  nineteen  hundred  acres  in  the  town  of  Rich- 
field. As  the  time  for  departure  drew  near  one  after  another 
gave  notice  of  their  abandoning  the  enterprise,  preferring 
the  comforts  of-a  home  by  name  instead  of  one  in  reality 
in  a  new  and  unimproved  country.  At  the  day  appointed 
but  two,  D.  L.  Belden  and  John  Judd  and  family,  departed, 
and,  after  the  usual  fatigue  and  hardships  incident  to  a 
journey  overland  and  by  lake,  they  arrived  at  their  destina- 
tion fatigued  and  sore,  but  not  disheartened.  Mr.  Judd 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  Mr.  Belden,  to  be  paid  for  in 
work,  and  for  a  period  of  five  years  the  struggle  to  meet 
his  payments,  improve  his  land,  and  maintain  his  constantly- 
increasing  family  continued,  when  he  was  obliged  to  ex- 


change his  improved  farm  for  wild  land,  necessitated  by 
the  non-payment  of  county  orders,  which  he  had  received 
in  payment  for  contract  highway  work.  A  journey  half 
across  the  continent  and  we  find  them  at  Norwich,  Conn. 
Broken  and  despondent,  they  turned  back  to  seek  rest. 
Five  years  later,  with  renewed  strength  and  energy,  they 
returned  to  begin  anew  the  pioneer  life,  their  past  experi- 
ence being  turned  to  good  account.  Mr.  Judd  invested 
their  accumulations  in  merchandise,  and  connecting  with 
it  the  manufacturing  of  black  salts  and  potash,  he  was 
enabled  to  carry  forward  improvements  more  rapidly  and 
with  less  physical  labor  to  himself.  In  1854  an  exchange 
was  made  for  four  hundred  acres  in  Hazelton  township, 
Shiawassee  Co.,  and  for  a  third  time  he  began  the  subduing 
of  the  wilderness.  Since  that  time  improvements  have  gone 
rapidly  forward,  resulting  in  a  finely-improved  farm-home. 
Not  alone  have  men  subdued  the  wilderness,  but  by  their 
side  come  her  upon  whom  no  purer,  holier  appellation  than 
that  of  wife  can  be  bestowed.  Sundering  the  ties  that  bind 
them  to  home  and  its  hallowed  influences,  they  go  forth  to 
do  and  endure  for  the  sake  of  those  who  call  them  wife 
and  mother.  Such  a  one  was  Mrs.  Judd,  and  when  home 
comforts  were  provided,  and  while  carefully  instructing  her 
own  in  the  path  of  rectitude  and  virtue,  she  found  time 
and  opportunity  to  aid  others.  Originally  she  was  a  Con- 
gregationalist,  but  finding  the  majority  of  new-comers 
favoring  Methodism  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judd  united  their  efibrts 
in  building  up  the  cause,  and  to-day  all  join  in  acknowledg- 
ing the  present  advancement  in  church  interest  largely  due 
to  their  efforts.  On  April  18,  1869,  Mrs.  Judd  passed 
away,  aged  sixty-six,  having  lived  to  see  her  family  of  five 


236 


HISTORY  OP   SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


children  grown  to  men  and  women,  and  all  within  the  ark 
of  safety  for  which  end  she  had  so  untiringly  labored. 
Thomas,  born  April  30,  1835,  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  resides 
at  Macosta,  Mo. ;  Jane  M.,  horn  Sept.  19,  1838,  at  Rich- 
field, Genesee  Co.,  Mich.,  wife  of  John  Roman ;  Edwin  and 
Edward,  horn  Sept.  1,  1840,  at  Richfield,  each  reside  upon 
part  of  the  old  homestead ;  John,  born  Dec.  14,  1841,  at 
Norwich,  Conn.,  also  resides  on  part  of  the  old  homestead. 
All  the  male  members  of  the  family  served  during  the 
Rebellion  for  a  period  of  three  years  each.  Edwin  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg,  John  was  wounded  at  Pall- 


ing Waters,  and  Thomas  at  Murfreesboro',  Tenn.     All 
lived  to  return  home. 

In  1879,  Mr.  Judd  married  Mrs.  Nanoy  Reed,  who 
resided  in  Montrose  township,  Genesee  Co.,  ai^  active  mem- 
ber of  society  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  an  early  pioneer,  and  together  they  are  journeying 
down  the  hill  of  life,  surrounded  by  many  friends.  Mrs. 
Nancy  Judd  was  born  in  1816  in  Lockport,  Niagara  Co., 
N.  Y.  Her  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Perry.  She  was 
previously  married  to  Willard  Pettie,  and  reared  a  large 
family,  now  all  grown  to  man  and  womanhood. 


MRS.    W.    W.    WARNER. 


W.    W.    WARNER. 


W.  W.  WARNER. 


The  family  of  Mr.  Warner  dates  back  to  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  English  colonies.  In  this  country  his  grand- 
father, Samuel  Warner,  resided  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  follow- 
ing the  occupation  of  miller,  and  was  the  father  of  five 
children.  William  H.,  a  son,  was  born  July  5,  1762, 
followed  his  father's  occupation  until  of  age,  when  he  came 
as  far  West  as  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  found  employment 
at  farming.  Sept.  7, 1819,  he  married  Polly  Gill,  by  whom 
he  had  four  children.  Five  years  after  this  marriage  they 
removed  to  Potter  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  spent  the  residue 
of  their  lives.  W.  W.  Warner,  whose  portrait  appears  in 
this  work,  was  born  Aug.  11,  1824,  at  the  first  home,  and 
after  his  boyhood  days  followed  the  occupation  of  millwright 
carpenter,  and  joiner.  In  1850  he  married  Snsan  Latta, 
a  native  of  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  whose  family  had  removed 
to  Potter  Co.,  Pa.,  as  early  as  1836.  In  the  fall  of  1852 
he  with  his  family  journeyed  West  and  located  upon  his 
present  farm  in  Hazelton,  then  a  wilderness,  with  but 
eight  families  residing  in  the  township.  From  Flushing, 
Genesee  Co.,  nothing  but  an  Indian  trail  marked  the  way. 


Turning  from  this,  they  cut  a  passage  for  the  ox-team  which 
he  had  hired  to  haul  material  for  a  shanty ;  this  completed 
he  returned  to  Flushing,  where  Mrs.  Warner  had  tarried, 
and  on  Nov.  24, 1852,  built  their  first  fire  upon  their  hearth, 
which  has  ever  during  the  pioneer  life  burned  bright  in 
welcome  to  others  seeking  a  home  in  the  wilderness.  But 
years  have  passed,  and  by  their  industry  the  forests  have 
disappeared  and  blooming  orchards  and  smiling  fields  of 
grain  are  the  results.  Years  of  hard  labor  are  recalled  by 
many  pleasant  recollections  and  few  regrets.  To  Mr.  War- 
ner is  attributed  having  sunk  the  first  well  and  erected  the 
second  frame  house  in  town.  Not  only  in  his  own  interests 
has  he  been  a  faithful  worker,  but  at  the  first  town-meeting 
was  elected  to  office,  served  as  supervisor,  and  nearly  all  the 
years  of  his  residence  in  the  township  has  held  some  office 
of  public  trust  with  honor  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his 
townsmen.  Their  family  consists  of  two  sons,  William  L., 
bom  Aug.  10,  1854 ;  George  W.,  born  Feb.  8,  1859,  who 
studiously  endeavor  to  assume  the  burden  of  labor  endured 
by  their  parents  to  rear  them  to  manhood. 


HAZELTON  TOWNSHIP. 


237 


JESSE    RHOADES. 


MRS.  JESSE   RHOADES. 


JESSE   KHOADES. 


In  the  early  settlement  of  Shiawassee  County  came 
Jesse  Rhoades  and  wife.  A  year  previous  he  had  pur- 
chased of  R.  Ewings  (a  brother  of  Mrs.  Rhoades,  residing 
in  Flushing),  eighty  acres  on  section  25,  Hazelton  township. 
The  facilities  for  obtaining  the  early  history  of  the  family  are 
very  meagre.  They  were  natives  of  Vermont,  removed  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  sojourned  for  a  time,  then  with  the  tide  of 
emigration  came  West  to  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  thence  to  their 
purchase  as  above,  in  the  fall  of  1 852.  The  family  consisted 
of  nine  children.  The  eldest,  Allen,  had  married  previous 
to  his  coming,  locating  on  section  26,  where  he  lived  until 
1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixth  Michigan  Cavalry, 
participated  ii^  many  engagements,  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
died  in  a  rebel  prison  ;  Clark,  resides  in  Hazelton  ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  John  Harle,  of  Flushing,  Genesee  Co. ;  Ransom, 
proprietor  of  the  homestead  ;  Marshal,  resides  in  Hazelton  ; 
Harriet,  wife  of  J.  St.  Johns,  resides  in  Clayton,  Genesee 
Co. ;  Martha,  wife  of  J.  Gillett,  of  Saginaw ;  Haskall,  re- 


moved to  Missouri,  and  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  United 
States  Army,  and  was  killed  in  battle ;  Asa,  when  last  heard 
from,  was  in  California.  Mr.  Rhoades  being  in  feeble  health, 
the  management  of  affairs  devolved  upon  Ransom,  and  to 
him  is  due  the  peace  and  comfort  of  their  declining  days. 
The  father  died  in  the  fall  of  1868.  The  mother  survived 
to  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-four,  departing  this  life  March 
24,  1876. 

Ransom,  having  the  care  of  his  aged  parents  resting 
upon  him,  did  not  enlist  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, but  feeling  it  his  duty  upon  the  last  call  of  1864,  en- 
listed in  the  Ninth  Michigan  Infantry,  and  served  till  the 
close  of  the  war.  Soon  after  his  return  he  married  Miss 
Almira  Sharp,  whose  parents  lived  in  Hazelton.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them.  In  politics  Mr.  Rhoades  is  a 
Democrat,  but  is  not  a  politician.  In  his  domestic  rela- 
tions he  is  a  good  husband,  father,  and  friend,  and  in  every 
sense  a  worthy  citizen. 


JOHN  ROMAN. 


John  Roman  was  born  April  18,  1831,  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  and  traces  his  ancestry  among  the  wealthy  rep- 
resentative people  of  their  time,  and  is  the  only  member  of 
that  family  who  has  adopted  this  country  as  a  home,  except- 
ing a  nephew,  Godfritz  Happ,  who  accompanied  Mr.  Bow- 
man on  his  return  to  America  from  a  visit  to  his  native 
land.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  German  Rebellion,  in 
1848,  Mr.  Boman  was  drafted  to  serve  in  King  Lud wig's 
army  of  Bavaria  for  a  period  of  six  years.  Soon  after 
joining  the  command  to  which  he  was  assigned,  the  entire 
regiment  forsook  the  king's  cause  and  joined  the  revolu- 
tionists. After  a  brief  struggle  they  were  compelled  to 
seek  safety  in  another  land.  Still  following  the  fortunes  of 
his  leaders,  Hecker,  Carl  Schurz,  Sigel,  and  others  more 
prominently  known  in  this  country,  he  came  to  America, 


arriving  in  New  York,  Aug.  1, 1850,  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land,  with  only  one  dollar,  one-half  the  sum  of  his  available 
possession.  He  came  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  he  succeeded 
in  finding  employment  at  four  dollars  per  month,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  vicinity  for  a  period  of  four  years,  when  with 
his  accumulated  wages  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his 
present  property. 

The  following  year  he  came  to  Michigan,  working  at 
lumbering  and  also  making  sonde  small  improvements 
upon  his  farm.  On  Jijjy  19,  1857,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
M.  Judd,  the  history  of  whose  family  is  given  in  this  work. 
Together  they  began  the  labor  of  subduing  the  forest  and 
establishing  a  home.  We  need  not  comment  upon  their 
success  further  than  by -calling  attention  to  the  view  of  their 
home  presented  in  this  work.     In  politics  Mr.  Bowman 


238 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


was  Democratic,  but  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebelhon 
enlisted  in  the  Second  Michigan  Cavalry,  participating  in 
several  small  engagements,  and  was  discharged  with  the 
regiment,  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  party  and  principle 
that  had  so  successfully  closed  the  struggle  should  be  sus- 
tained, and  when  elections  occur  a  straight  ticket  can  be 
counted  upon  from  him. 

Mr.  Boman  is  not  a  church  member,  but  favors  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society,  of  which  Mrs.  Boman  is  a 
member,  and  has  been  since  her  girlhood  days.  Together 
they  have  contributed  largely  to  the  building  up  and  sus- 
taining that  institution  in  their  vicinity.  The  family  con- 
sists of  six  children,— Louisa  and  Alice,  dying  in  inlaucy  ; 
Matilda,  born  Oct.  2,  1858,  wife  of  A.  Campbell,  and  re- 
sides in  Saginaw  ;  Charles,  born  Sept.  23,  1867 ;  Ida  A., 
born  April  9,  1869 ;  Jamie,  born  Dec.  8,  1877. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 
MIDDLEBURY   TOWNSHIP.* 

Description — The  Pioneers  of  Middlebury — Additions  to  the  Settle- 
ment— Township  Organization  and  List  of  OflBccrs — Township 
Roads — Mail  Service  in  Middlebury  —  Burial-places  —  Religious 
History  of  the  Township — Schools — Middlebury  Cheese-Factory. 

The  township  of  Middlebury,  lying  upon  the  western 
border  of  Shiawassee  County,  contains  but  twenty-four  full 
sections  and  six  fractional  sections.  Fairfield  township 
bounds  it  on  the  north,  Sciota  on  the  south,  Owosso  on 
the  east,  and  the  Clinton  County  line  on  the  west. 

Middlebury  has  always  been  entirely  an  agricultural 
town,  and  as  such  ranks  high.  The  soil  is  very  produc- 
tive, and  the  gently-rolling  surface  of  the  country,  liberally 
embellished  with  fine  farms  and  elegant  farm-houses,  is 
very  attractive.  Indeed,  especial  emphasis  may  justly  be 
laid  upon  the  subject  of  the  homes  of  Middlebury,  for 
they  are  upon  every  hand  charming  pictures  in  the  land- 
scape, adorned  in  many  cases  at  great  expense  and  with 
refined  taste. 

Six  schools  provide  for  the  educational  wants  of  the 
community ;  but  in  the  matter  of  churches  the  supply  is 
confined  to  one  church  edifice,  although  that  fact  bespeaks 
by  no  means  a  lack  of  religious  privileges,  since  places  of 
public  worship  are  conveniently  at  hand  in  adjacent  towns. 

THE  PIONEERS  OF  MIDDLEBURY. 

In  June,  1837,  a  pioneer  family  of  six  persons,  com- 
prising Obed  Hathaway,  his  wife,  and  four  children,  travel- 
ing in  a  lumber-wagon  drawn  by  oxen,  reached  the  house 
of  Henry  Leach,  in  Sciota,  and  bargaining  with  him  to 
mark  a  road  for  them  through  the  woods  to  section  21 
in  the  next  town  north,  pushed  on.  Hathaway,  a  New 
Yorker,  had  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  that  town  in  1836, 
and  was  going  now  with  his  family  to  make  a  settlement. 
No  white  man  had  preceded  him  into  the  territory  whither 


»  By  David  Schwartz. 


he  was  bound,  and  he  proposed  accordingly  to  make  his 
home  in  the  wide  stretch  of  forest, — a  solitary  settler  in 
a  howling  wilderness. 

Mr.  Leach  went  forward  and  "  blazed"  the  route,  and 
the  elder  Hathaway  followed,  cutting  out  the  road  for  his 
team.  A  trip  of  five  miles  brqught  them  to  their  destina- 
tion, and  then  their  pioneer  work  began  at  once.  Until  he 
could  build  a  cabin,  Hathaway  lodged  his  family  in  the 
wagon  four  weeks.  When  they  came  to  the  town  they 
brought  provisions  enough  to  last  them,  as  they  supposed, 
until  harvest.  The  supply  gave  out,  however,  before  that 
time,  and  Hathaway  set  out  to  obtain  a  fresh  supply,  in- 
tending moreover  to  stop  awhile  elsewhere  and  work  long 
enough  to  earn  what  money  would  be  required  for  the 
purchase.  He  was  absent  six  weeks,  and  during  that  time 
the  folks  at  home  rested  their  hopes  upon  a  larder  so  lean 
that  salt  and  dry  bread  was  their  principal  diet  for  more 
than  four  weeks. 

The  Hathaways  struggled  on  as  best  they  could  until 
the  approach  of  winter,  when  (no  other  settlers  having 
come  to  town)  they  concluded  to  return  to  Washtenaw 
County  and  stop  there  until  spring,  since  in  their  new 
home  there  was  no  chance  to  winter  their  cattle,  and  al- 
most as  poor  a  chance  to  winter  themselves  without  serious 
discomfort,  if  not  distress.  Returning  from  Washtenaw 
County  in  the  spring  of  1838  they  found  the  Slocums  on 
section  35,  where  they  had  been  since  the  preceding  Jan- 
uary. When  the  Hathaways  left  the  town  the  fall  before 
they  had  put  by  a  good  supply  of  vegetables,  so  that  when 
they  came  back  in  the  spring  of  1838  they  counted  upon 
finding  a  good  stock  of  provisions  to  start  on.  Unhappily 
for  their  calculations,  some  person  or  persons  had  raided  the 
cabin  and  carried  off  everything  to  be  found  in  the  way 
of  eatables.  The  little  they  had  brought  with  them  of 
food  soon  disappeared,  and  for  weeks  they  lived  on  pota- 
toes and  leeks. 

The  Slocums,  to  whom  reference  has  been  made,  were,  as 
remarked,  the  second  family  to  settle  in  the  town.  George 
W.  Slocum  came  from  New  York  to  Michigan  in  1836  in 
search  of  land,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  located  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  35  in  town  7  north, 
range  1  east.  This  was  the  first  land-entry  in  that  town, 
and  in  the  same  year — the  year  of  the  great  emigration  to 
Michigan — was  followed  by  numerous  others.  Upon  en- 
tering the  land,  Slocum  went  into  Oakland  County  and  there 
awaited  the  coming  from  New  York  of  his  father  and 
family,  and  in  that  county  they  remained  until  the  closing 
days  of  1837,  when  it  was  decided  to  make  a  start  for  the 
new  land-purchase  in  town  7,  with  a  view  to  a  permanent 
location. 

On  the  way  they  stopped  at  Leach's,  in  Sciota  township, 
and  while  the  women  folks  made  shift  to  live  there  the  elder 
Slocum  and  his  sons  George,  Daniel,  and  John  went  over 
into  Middlebury  and  put  up  a  cabin,  walking  back  and  forth 
from  Leach's  each  night  and  morning.  It  took  them  two 
weeks  to  get  the  cabin  up,  and  then  it  boasted  neither  door 
nor  window ;  but  time  and  needs  were  pressing,  and  as  it 
was  they  moved  into  it.  Their  first  night  in  that  primitive 
structure  was  anything  but  a  peaceful  one,  for  wolves,  at- 
tracted by  the  presence  of  human  beings,  gathered  in  packs 


MIDDLBBURY  TOWNSHIP. 


239 


about  the  shanty  and  howled  through  all  the  night,  much 
to  the  terror  of  the  womea,  who  were  morally  certain  the 
vile  beasts  would  tear  through  the  blanketed  openings  and 
devour  every  member  of  the  family. 

When  the  Slocums  came  to  make  their  home  in  the 
woods  there  was  no  other  family  in  the  town  now  known 
as  Middlebury,  although  the  Hathaways  had  been  in,  and 
came  back  again  directly  afterwards.  Of  course,  there 
were  no  roads  in  the  Slocum  neighborhood ;  but  roads  were 
a  vital  necessity,  especially  in  such  a  heavily-timbered  coun- 
try, and  among  their  first  labors  after  housing  the  family 
the  Slocums  cut  out  a  thoroughfare.  During  the  first  year 
of  their  residence  in  the  town  they  underbrushed  a  road 
from  Leach's  to  their  place,  another  one  three  miles  east- 
ward from  the  latter  point,  and  still  another  four  miles 
towards  the  northwest  to  the  Hathaway  settlement. 

No  more  fortunate  in  that  particular  than  the  Hathaways 
(who,  when  they  first  came,  had  to  journey  eighteen  miles 
to  mill  and  make  a  two  days'  trip  of  it),  the  Slocums  could 
find  no  mill  conveniences  nearer  than  the  Rochester  colony, 
which,  although  by  no  means  so  far  distant  in  a  straight  line, 
required  a  twenty-mile  jaunt  over  a  zigzag  course  through 
the  woods  to  reach,  and  forty-eight  hours  to  do  it  in.  The 
woods  were  full  of  bears,  wolves,  and  deer,  and  bear  hunts 
were  as  common  as  the  ravages  made  by  the  bears  them- 
selves upon  the  small  stock  of  the  settlers.  Small  pigs 
were  the  morsels  towards  which  their  inclination  turned 
constantly.  To  preserve  the  inmates  of  pig-pens  from  the 
bears  at  night  fires  were  built  in  the  pens,  and  sometimes, 
indeed,  bed-sheets  were  fastened  over  the  pen  as  a  protest 
against  the  raids  of  the  aggressive  hog-stealers.  One  night 
Daniel  Slocum  was  awakened  from  his  slumbers  by  the  cry 
of  a  hog,  and  knowing  at  once  that  a  bear  was  at  work  in 
the  pen,  he  sprang  out  of  bed,  snatched  a  gun,  and  in  his 
bare  feet  ran  over  the  frozen  ground  towards  the  pen  just  in 
time  to  see  an  immense  bear  leap  over  a  rail-fence  with 
a  pig  in  his  paws.  When  Bruin  saw  Daniel  and  the  gun 
he  dropped  the  pig  and  ran  away  so  rapidly  that  the  bullet 
missed  him,  and  although  Daniel  and  George  (his  brother) 
searched  long  and  faithfully,  they  found  no  dead  or  disabled 
bear. 

George  Slocum  went  out  one  morning  before  breakfast 
to  hunt  the  cows,  and  straying  from  the  beaten  path  came 
suddenly  upon  two  bears.  They,  startfed  quite  as  much  as 
he,  climbled  up  a  tree  as  quickly  as  they  could,  and  he, 
hastening  home  for  a  gun  and  a  companion,  returned  with 
both  speedily,  but  the  bears  had  meanwhile  left  the  tree 
and  disappeared,  and  although  the  youths  hunted  for  hours 
they  found  them  not.  Daniel  Slocum  remembers  distinctly 
that  when  he  went  to  school  in  Sciota,  to  0.  B.  Westcott, 
he  was  more  than  once  followed  by  wolves  all  the  way  from 
home  to  school. 

As  an  illustration  of  what  "  going  for  a  doctor"  meant  in 
those  days,  it  may  be  recorded  that  when  a  physician  was 
suddenly  needed  in  Nathan  Herrick's  household,  George 
Slocum  was  aroused  at  night  and  charged  with  the  mission 
of  riding  horseback  eleven  miles  to  Owosso  for  the  man  of 
medicine.  The  night  was  dark,  and  the  road  was  exceed- 
ingly uncertain,  since  it  passed  chiefly  through  the  forest. 
Frequently  young  George  would  ride  full  tilt  against  the 


low  branch  of  a  tree,  and  in  a  twinkling  would  be  swept 
from  his  saddle ;  but  although  he  was  unhorsed  in  that 
way  a  dozen  times  during  the  journey,  and  was  much  dis- 
couraged by  darkness  and  rough  riding,  he  reached  Owosso 
eventually,  and  in  due  season  returned  in  triumph  with  the 
doctor. 

As  regards  the  lack  of  roadways,  Mr.  Slocum  relates 
how,  in  the  spring  of  1838,  he  agreed  to  make  a  trip  with 
the  Palmers  to  Owosso.  They  footed  it  through  the  woods, 
and  finding  Maple  River  very  high,  met  with  much  diffi- 
culty in  crossing  it ;  but  they  were  not  the  ones  to  let  a 
river,  big  or  little,  stop  them,  and  they  got  over,  of  course, 
and  so  on  to  Owosso.  Coming  back  they  had  better  luck 
in  following  the  line  of  the  surveyed  Northern  Railroad. 
This  railway  was  never  pushed  to  completion,  but  the  road 
route  was  gladly  used  as  a  highway  by  the  pioneers.  Get- 
ting to  market  at  Pontiac  or  Detroit  was  no  slight  under- 
taking, and  then  to  consume  a  week  over  rough  roads  or 
no  roads  at  all,  to  sell  wheat  at  forty  or  fifty  cents,  to  take 
half  the  proceed.s  in  trade,  and  to  get  home  again  with  but 
little  to  show  as  the  yield  of  the  week's  struggle,  was  among 
some  of  the  disheartening  features  of  pioneer  existence. 

ADDITIONS  TO   THE   SETTLEMENT. 

Following  upon  the  return  of  the  Hathaways,  in  the 
spring  of  1838,  the  infant  settlement  received  accessions  in 
the  families  of  John  and  William  Palmer,  who  located  re- 
spectively on  sections  21  and  22.  In  the  same  spring 
Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  made  a  settlement  upon  the  northeastern 
quarter  of  section  34 ;  Elijah  Potter,  a  bachelor,  and  his 
brother  Silas  (with  family),  on  section  25.  The  Palmers 
came  from  Middlebury,  N.  Y.,  and  when  the  town  (now 
Middlebury,  Mich.)  was  to  be  named  they  had  the  honor 
of  christening  it,  just  as  their  father,  who  migrated  from 
Middlebury,  Vt.,  to  New  York  State,  named  Middlebury, 
N.  Y.  Moses  Clark  was  a  Baptist,  and  used  once  in  awhile 
to  preach  sermons  to  the  settlers.  His  father,  who  joined 
him  some  years  afterwards,  was  likewise  a  preacher,  and  in 
that  office  performed  industrious  and  effective  service. 

Adam  J.  Coons  was  one  of  the  early  comers,  and  at- 
tempted to  make  a  settlement  on  section  26.  He  began 
to  feel  lonesome  directly,  and  went  over  then  to  section 
28,  where  he  squatted  and  said  he  would  stay  because  in 
that  neighborhood  there  were  people,  while  on  his  place  in 
section  26  he  was  too  far  from  human  beings.  Coons  was 
noted  for  his  disinclination  to  work,  and  would  not  lift  a 
hand  in  labor  unless  absolutely  forced  to  choose  between 
working  and  starving.  His  invariable  excuse  for  idleness 
was  that  he  owned  but  one  suit  of  clothes,  and  that  he 
couldn't  affijrd  to  ruin  them  by  working  in  them.  Coons 
was  regarded,  moreover,  as  by  no  means  a  brave  man. 
When  he  heard  of  the  burfflng  of  Glass'  house,  north  of 
Duplain,  and  the  loss  therein  of  Glass'  wife  and  children, 
he  made  up  his  mind  that  rascally  Indians  had  burned  the 
building  and  murdered  the  inmates.  Acting  upon  this 
idea,  he  resolved  that  no  Indians  should  murder  him  with- 
out having  at  least  to  fight  for  it,  and  when  he  went  to  bed 
carried  also  each  night  an  axe  with  him.  A  settler's  wife, 
in  discussing  the  subject  with  Coons'  wife,  gave  it  as  her 


2.10 


HISTOEY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


opinion  that  the  inaD  was  a  terrible  coward,  and  added, 
wittily,  "  Mary,  you  made  a  big  mistake  when  you  treed 
that  Coon." 

The  northern  half  of  the  township  was  allowed  to  re- 
main undisturbed  until  the  year  1839,  when  James  Mc- 
Carty,  with  his  son  John,— both  having  families,^ventured 
to  section  3.  William  McCane  and  John  Taylor  followed 
him  thither  a  few  years  later,  but  Taylor  returned  about  as 
quickly  as  he  had  come,  while  McCane,  after  chopping  about 
eight  acres  on  section  4,  retired  in  a  condition  of  high  dis- 
gust with  the  pioneer  business,  and  declared  afterwards  that 
the  wolves  were  so  thick  in  the  infernal  country  that  no 
white  man  could  stop  there. 

In  that  quarter  settlements  progressed  slowly  until  1860, 
when  a  strong  tide  of  emigration  set  that  way,  and 
although  then  the  country  thereabout  was  generally  wild, 
it  became  within  a  short  space  an  open  farming  region.  In 
1860,  when  Samuel  Eaton  (one  of  the  pioneers  of  Oakland 
County)  came  to  section  4,  in  Middlebury,  there  had  been 
very  little  done  in  that  vicinity  in  the  way  of  clearing  land. 
He  occupied  a  farm  (now  owned  by  his  son,  A.  M.  Eaton) 
upon  which  not  a  stick  had  been  cut  except  upon  the  few 
acres  cleared  years  before  by  McCane,  but  that  patch  was 
then  choked  with  a  second  growth  of  timber.  Brazil  Mar- 
vin had  come  to  section  9  in  1856,  cleared  the  first  year 
one  hundred  acres,  and  put  it  all  into  wheat.  He  paid  five 
dollars  per  acre  for  four  lots  of  eighty  acres  each,  and  in 
something  like  ten  years  afterwards  sold  the  major  portion 
of  the  land  at  one  hundred  dollars  an  acre. 

Lyman  Hikox  was  among  the  early  comers  to  section  3. 
In  1856,  D.  W.  Kelley  came  to  settle  on  section  4.  H.  C. 
Main  lived  then  on  section  1,  but  between  his  house  and 
Kelley's  the  country  was  all  woods,  although  the  next  year 
D.  L.  Dodder  came  to  section  10,  and  about  then,  too,  into 
the  northeast  corner  came  the  Munsils,  the  Reeds,  Eddys, 
and  others. 

In  1843,  Roswell  and  Nathan  Herrick  settled  near  the 
Slocums,  and  in  1852  Nathan  moved  to  a  place  on  section 
28.  In  that  portion  of  the  town  William  Rideout  had  been 
living  upon  section  27  since  1844,  and  in  that  year,  upon 
his  entrance,  Rideout  found  John  Flanagan  on  section  22, 
A.  J.  Coons  on  section  28,  and  Hathaway  on  2l.  Directly 
afterwards  James  Kenney  came  in  and  put  up  his  cabin  on 
section  22,  and  to  section  21,  on  the  day  of  Rideout's 
arrival,  came  William  Badgerow.  Rideout  found  on  his 
land  a  number  of  Indian  graves,  and  although  nearly  all 
have  been  plowed  over  there  may  yet  be  discovered  in  a 
piece  of  his  woods  a  few  mounds  containing  bones. 

Middlebury's  pioneer  blacksmith,  and  one  of  its  early 
carpenters,  was  B.  F.  Tobey,  who  came  to  Michigan  in 
1835,  and  worked  ten  years  after  that  at  millwrighting. 
In  1848  he  settled  upon  wild  land  in  Middlebury,  and 
opened  a  blacksAith's  shop.  In  1849,  Tobey  assisted  in 
the  erection  of  a  school-house  on  section  23.  Middlebury 
had  no  saw-mill  then,  nor  until  some  years  afterwards,  when 
Cook  &  Kline  built  one  on  section  16,  so  that  for  lumber 
the  builder  in  Middlebury  was  compelled  to  go  to  Owosso 
until  some  time  after  the  year  1850.  Tobey's  neighbors 
on  the  east  he  found  to  be  James  Kenney  on  section  22, 
Garrison  Lounsberry  on  sestion  23,  and  Bushrod  Warren 


on  the  place  in  section  23  occupied  in  1856  by  L.  P.  Kings- 
ley,  the  present  owner.  Two  years  previous  to  the  coming 
of  Kingsley,  Dennis  Hammond  made  a  settlement  upon  a 
piece  of  wild  land  in  section  20,  and  on  section  36  Jere- 
miah Howard  made  a  clearing,  where  he  died  in  1869. 
In  that  neighborhood,  in  1854,  about  the  only  other  resi- 
dents were  William  Hathaway,  the  Slocums,  A.  Sherman, 
and  Dexter  Proper.  In  1854,  also,  Levi  Hyde  cut  out  a 
road  for  two  miles  to  reach  a  place  in  section  14,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  since  that  time.  North  of  him  the 
town  was  a  forest.  Over  at  Clark's  Corners  Perry  Clark 
had  cleared  two  or  three  acres,  and  west  of  him  was  Amos 
Hilburn,  who  soon  sold  out  ta  H.  P.  Thompson.  About 
the  time  of  Hyde's  arrival  Sanford  Mack  located  on  sec- 
tion 11,  and  Henry  Ackerman  on  section  14,  while  in  the 
following  spring  H.  C.  Main  and  David  Smith  penetrated 
the  wilderness  upon  section  1,  and  W.  A.  Barnes  came  to 
section  16.  When,  in  1856,  L.  F.  Kingsley  first  occupied 
his  present  home  on  section  23,  his  neighbors  on  the  east 
were  M.  Wooden,  RoUin  Warren,  and  Charles  Stimson  ;  on 
the  west,  John  Webster,  Daniel  and  Robert  Durkee ;  on 
the  south,  Daniel  Bearce;  and  north,  Levi  Hyde  and 
Stephen  Eddy.  Henry  McGowan  was  in  section  13  upon 
a  place  owned  soon  afterwards  by  Charles  Rose,  and  now 
occupied  by  his  son,  J.  W.  Rose. 

In  1848,  when  George  H.  and  D.  L.  Warren  came  to 
the  places  they  now  occupy  in  section  33,  the  town-line 
road  at  that  point  had  been  chopped  out  but  not  cleared. 
East  of  them  on  the  town-line  L.  Z.  St«phenson  made  a 
settlement,  in  1854,  on  section  34,  where  Charles  Lock- 
wood  had  already  chopped  twenty  acres.  Over  on  section 
27,  where  he  now  lives,  William  Tubbs,  of  Oakland  County, 
made  a  location  in  1847  ;  north  of  him  J.  Marshall  settled 
in  1854,  G.  W.  Babcock  (a  blacksmith)  in  1857,  and 
west,  at  later  dates,  P.  S.  Ledyard  and  J.  Smith. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Middlebury  was  Joseph, 
son  of  Obed  Hathaway.  His  birth  occurred  June,  1838, 
and  since  then  his  home  has  been  in  Michigan,  his  resi- 
dence at  present  being  in  Bennington  township.  The  set- 
tlement was  not  visited  with  death  until  August,  1843, 
when  Silas  Potter  died  and  was  buried  on  his  farm.  Wil- 
liam Palmer  died  also  at  about  that  time,  and  was  buried 
in  the  town  cemetery.  As  to  the  first  marriage  in  the  town 
it  is  difficult  to  fix  it  definitely.  Careful  investigation  has 
simply  afforded  the  information  that  the  marriages  of  Tru- 
man White  to  a  sister  of  William  Rideout,  and  Jeremiah 
Baker  to  a  sister  of  Nathan  Herrick,  were  among  the 
earliest,  perhaps  the  first  two. 

Upon  the  assessment-roll  of  1839,  which  gives  the  total 
assessed  value  of  the  township  at  forty-seven  thousand  two 
hundred  and  one  dollars,  the  resident  tax-payers,  with 
amount  of  lands  they  owned,  are  thus  given : 

Acres. 

Obed  Hathaway,  section  21 80 

John  Palmer,  section  21 80 

William  Palmer,  section  27 120 

Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  section  34 80 

Silas  Potter,  section  25 80 

Elijah  Potter,  section  25 .', 160 

George  W.  Sloonm,  section  35 160 

The  assessment-roll  for  1842  shows  the  following: 


MIDDLEBUKY  TOWNSHIP. 


241 


Acres. 

George  W.  Slocum,  section  35 80 

John  Slocum,  section  35 80 

Silas  Potter,  section  25 120 

Elijah  Potter,  section  25 80 

A.  J.  Coons,  section  26 160 

William  Palmer,  sections  22,  27 120 

Obed  Hathaway,  section  21 80 

James  McCarty,  section  3 80 

John  McCarty,  section  3 80 

John  Palmer,  section  21 80 

The  militia-roll  of  1843,  recording  the  names  of  all  the 
white  male  inhabitants  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
forty-five,  bears  the  names  of  Nathan  Herrick,  D.  D.  Slo- 
cum, John  Slocum,  Jr.,  George  W.  Slocum,  Elijah  Potter, 
John  McCarty,  Thomas  M.  Jenkins,  Obed  Hathaway,  and 
Adam  J.  Coons. 

In  1839  the  jurors  drawn  were  Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  and 
John  Palmer;  in  1840,  William  Palmer  and  A.  J.  Coons. 
In  1845,  John  McCarty  and  Koswell  Herrick  were  on  the 
list  of  petit  jurors,  and  Nathan  Herrick  and  Elijah  Potter 
grand  jurors. 

TOWNSHIP   ORGANIZATION   AND   LIST  OP 
OFFICERS. 

A  legislative  act,  approved  March  21,  1839,  organized 
towns  7  and  8  north,  in  range  1  east,  as  the  township  of 
Middlebury,  the  name  being  bestowed  in  pursuance  of  a 
suggestion  of  William  Palmer,  who  came  to  Michigan  from 
Middlebury,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Jan.  4,  1854,  the 
county  supervisors  set  off  town  8  and  called  it  Fairfield, 
thus  reducing  Middlebury  to  its  present  limits. 

Middlebury's  first  town-meeting  was  held  April  1, 1839, 
at  the  house  of  Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  who  was  chosen  modera- 
tor. William  Palmer,  John  Slocum,  Elijah  Potter,  and 
Silas  Potter  were  chosen  inspectors  of  election.  Seven 
votes  were  cast,  and  naturally,  there  being  but  one  ticket  in 
the  field,  but  little  delay  and  no  trouble  was  occasioned  in 
reaching  a  result.  Indeed,  the  trouble  was  not  to  find 
oflBces  for  men,  but  to  find  men  for  the  offices,  since  the 
latter  so  outnumbered  the  former  that  two,  three,  and  some- 
times four  offices  were  forced  upon  one  individual.  William 
Palmer  was  elected  Supervisor ;  Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  Clerk ; 
John  Slocum,  Treasurer ;  William  Palmer,  John  Slocum, 
and  Elijah  Potter,  Assessors ;  William  Palmer,  Moses  Clark, 
Jr.,  and  John  Palmer,  School  Inspectors ;  William  Palmer 
and  John  Slocum,  Directors  of  the  Poor ;  Silas  Potter,  Con- 
stable and  Collector;  John  Slocum,  Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  and 
John  Palmer,  Highway  Commissioners;  John  Slocum, 
Elijah  Potter,  Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  and  John  Palmer,  Justices 
of  the  Peace ;  William  Palmer,  Overseer  of  Koad  District 
No.  1.  One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was  voted  for  town- 
ship incidental  expenses,  and  the  bonds  of  treasurer  and 
collector  were  placed  at  five  hundred  dollars  each. 

At  a  special  election,  April  28, 1839,  George  W.  Slocum 
was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace  and  commissioner  of  high- 
ways to  fill  vacancies  in  those  offices,  six  votes  being  cast 
on  that  occasion. 

At  a  special  election  for  county  commissioner,  July  15, 
1839,  the  voters  present  numbered  nine,  as  follows :  Henry 
Leach,  John  Slocum,  Elijah  Potter,  Silas  Potter,  Gideon 
Cross,  Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  John  Palmer,  George  W.  Slocum, 
William  Palmer.  At  the  general  election  in  1839  polls 
31 


were  opened  on  two  successive  days  at  the  houses  of  John 
Palmer  and  George  W.  Slocum.  Eight  votes  were  cast  by 
William  Palmer,  Obed  Hathaway,  John  Slocum,  George 
W.  Slocum,  Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  Silas  Potter,  George  Nichols, 
and  Elijah  Potter.  To  inspect  the  election  it  required  five 
men, — Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  John  Slocum,  Elijah  Potter,  Silas 
Potter,  and  George  W.  Slocum,  and  of  their  number  Moses 
Clark,  Jr.,  was  chosen  to  attend  the  county  canvass. 

THE   VOTERS   OF   1842,  1843,  1844,  AND   1845. 

At  the  election  in  1842  the  voters  were  ten,  and  were 
named  William  Palmer,  A.  J.  Coons,  John  Slocum,  Elijah 
Potter,  George  W.  Slocum,  Silas  Potter,  Obed  Hathaway, 
John  Slocum,  John  Palmer,  John  McCarty. 

In  1843  there  were  six, — John  Slocum,  Jr.,  Elijah  Pot- 
ter, Nathan  Herrick,  A.  J.  Coons,  George  W.  Slocum, 
John  McCarty.  In  April,  1844,  the  voters  were  Nathan 
Herrick,  George  W.  Slocum,  William  Palmer,  John  Slocum, 
Elijah  Porter,  Roswell  Herrick,  John  Slocum,  Jr.,  John 
McCarty,  Thomas  M.  Perkins,  Chester  L.  Kemp. 

At  the  general  election  in  November,  1844,  eleven  votes 
were  cast  by  Nathan  Herrick,  John  Slocum,  Nicholas 
Flanagan,  A.  J.  Coons,  Obed  Hathaway,  William  Badge- 
row,  John  Slocum,  Jr.,  Elijah  Potter,  Constantino  Yerkes, 
William  Carpenter,  Roswell  Herrick. 

In  November,  1845,  there  were  twelve,  as  follows :  Nathan 
Herrick,  John  Slocum,  George  W.  Slocum,  Roswell  Her- 
rick, James  McCarty,  Osier  George,  William  Rideout, 
Nicholas  Flanagan,  Jesse  Badgerow,  James  Kenney,  James 
M.  Curtis,  William  Badgerow. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  persons  chosen 
annually  from  1840  to  1880  to  serve  as  supervisor,  clerk, 
treasurer,  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  township : 


Year.       Supervisor. 

Clerk. 

Treasurer. 

Justice. 

1840.  John  Slocum. 

J.  Palmer. 

K.  Potter. 

A.  J.  Coons. 

1841.      " 

WiUiam  Palmer. 

J.  Slocum. 

J.  Palmer. 

1842.  John  Palmer. 

A.  J.  Coons. 

W.  Palmer. 

G.  W.  Slocum. 

1843.  G.  W.  Slocum, 

((        (( 

J.  Slocum. 

B.  Potter. 

1844.      " 

(1        « 

E.  Potter. 

J.  Slocum. 

1845.      " 

W.  Palmer. 

" 

1846.      " 

W.  Kideout. 

N.  Herrick. 

W.  Bideont. 

1847.      " 

J.  Kenney. 

W.  Hideout. 

G.  W.  Slocum. 

1848.      "          " 

N.  Herrick. 

J.  Kenney. 

C.  Simpson. 

1849.      " 

E.W.  Sykes. 

T.  White. 

N.  Herrick. 

1860.  C.  T.  Post. 

J>.  D.  Slocum. 

J.  Kenney. 

G.  B.  Lounsberry. 

1851.  G.  W.  Slocum. 

B.  F.  Tobey. 

B.  F.  Tobey. 

B.  Warren. 

1852.      "          " 

N.  Herrick. 

T.  White. 

J.  M.  Curtis. 

1853.  J.  Kenney. 

J.  Hathaway. 

G.  B.  Lounsberry 

G.  W.  Slocum. 

1864.          " 

" 

((                  u 

J.  Hathaway. 

1865.  H.  Warren. 

N.  Herrick. 

C.  T.  Post. 

B.  Warren. 

1866.  C.  T.  Post. 

W.  A.  Barnes. 

W.  T.  Voorhies. 

H.  Ackermau. 

1857.  6.  W.  Slocum. 

L.  r.  Kingsley. 

D.  1j.  Warren. 

H.  McGowan. 

1868.  r.  S.  Durkee. 

"           " 

B.  Manin. 

J.  Hathaway. 

1859.  J.  Hathaway. 

..           11 

" 

R.  W.  Durkee. 

1860.             " 

H                    t( 

J.  Marshall. 

G.  H.  Warren. 

1861.  J.  Marshall. 

.1                     11 

M.  Wooden. 

B.  Payne. 

1862.  S.  Baton. 

B.  Payne. 

" 

L.  C.  Van  Dyne. 

1863.          " 

M.  Wooden. 

J.  Marshall. 

CD.  Stimson. 

1861.  J.  Marshall. 

L.  J.  Kenney. 

N.  Herrick. 

S.  Eaton. 

1866.  J.  Hathaway. 

L.  F.  Kingsley. 

« 

J.  Marshall. 

1866.             " 

"           " 

0.  Xeach. 

L.  C.  Van  Dyne. 

1867. 

L.  J.  Kenney. 

" 

L.  F.  Kingsley. 

1868.  S.  Eaton. 

"           " 

W.  Hathaway. 

S.  Eaton. 

1869.  J.  Hathaway. 

((            " 

G.  A.  Winans. 

S.  H.  Williams. 

1870.            " 

11           II 

U                 t( 

W.  H.  Vandevero. 

1871. 

<< 

" 

M.  Wooden. 

1872. 

"           " 

II          11 

S.  Eaton. 

1873. 

G.  A.  Huntoon. 

S.  B.  Southworth.  T.  G.  Chaffln. 

1874. 

41                        U 

II           II 

W.  H.  Vandevere 

1875.             " 

((           (1 

E.  G.  Croswell. 

M.  Wooden. 

1876.  H.  P.  Thompson.      "           " 

II          II 

S.  Baton. 

242 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHiaAN. 


Tear.       Supervisor.               Clerk.  Treasurer.               Justice. 

1877.  H.  P.  Thompsott.  G.  A.  Huntoon.  L.  F.  Kingsley.      N.  0.  Garriaou. 

1878.  J.  Hathaway.             "           "  "           "              W.  H.  Vandevere. 

1879.  A.  M.  Eaton.              "           "  D.  M.  Morehouse.  M.  Wooden. 

1880.  "          "                   "           "  "            "            S.  Eaton. 


TOWNSHIP   ROADS. 

The  want  of  public  highways  was  a  serious  difficulty  in 
the  early  days  in  Middlebury,  and  it  was  in  pursuance  of 
a  general  desire  to  further  the  construction  of  township 
roads  that  the  organization  of  the  township  was  urged  at  a 
time  when  there  were  scarcely  a  half-dozen  families  therein. 

Among  the  roads  laid  out  at  an  early  period  the  first 
one  recorded  appears  to  have  been  surveyed  by  Daniel 
Gould,  May  14,  1839.  The  road  commenced  on  the  south 
line  of  section  34,  at  a  point  "  where  the  road  in  the  town  of 
WoodhuU  intersects  said  line,"  and  ran  thence  north  fifteen 
degrees  west  sixty-five  chains ;  thence  north  fifty  chains 
and  fifty  links ;  thence  seventy-three  and  a  half  degrees 
west  five  chains  ;  thence  north  sixty-eight  and  three-quarter 
degrees  west  twenty  chains  twenty-three  links  to  the  west 
line  of  section  27  ;  thence  north  on  said  line  eighty-three 
chains,  thirty-two  links,  to  the  centre  of  the  highway  run- 
ning from  the  village  of  Owosso  to  the  village  of  Mapleton, 
in  the  county  of  Clinton. 

July  8,  1839,  a  road  was  laid  commencing  on  the  merid- 
ian line  between  sections  20  and  29,  running  thence  east 
two  miles  and  ten  chains ;  thence  south  two  miles  to  the 
town-line.  On  the  same  day  a  road  was  laid  out  from  the 
corner-post  of  sections  21,  22,  27,  and  28,  running  due 
south  one  mile;  thence  three  miles  east  to  the  town-line. 
March  24,  1840,  highway  commissioners  George  W. 
Slocum  and  John  Palmer  divided  the  town  into  districts  as 
follows :  District  No.  1  to  contain  sections  1,  2,  11,  12, 
13,  14,  23,  24,  25,  26,  35,  36,  in  town  7,  and  sections  1, 
2,  3,  10,  11,  13,  14,  15,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  and  36,  in 
town  8  ;  No.  2,  to  include  sections  3,  4,  5,  8,  9,  10,  15, 
16,  17,  20,  21,  22,  27,  29,  32,  33,  34,  35,  in  town  7,  and 
sections  4,  5,  8,  9,  16,  17,  20,  21,  27,  28,  29,  32,  33,  34, 
in  town  8.  No.  1  was  ordered  to  build  a  road  from  the 
town-line  north  of  the  quarter  stake  between  sections  34 
and  35  in  town  7,  and  No.  2  to  commence  a  road  at  the 
quarter  stake  and  run  north  as  far  as  Moses  Clark's. 

A  town  road  was  laid  out  Oct.  5,  1839,  commencing  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  town  7,  and  running  west  on  the 
town-line  between  towns  6  and  7  twenty-one  chains,  fifty 
links  west  of  the  southwest  corner  of  section  35,  in  town  7. 
Nov.  18,  1845,  a  road  was  laid  from  a  stake  thirty-one 
chains  and  seventy-four  links  south  of  the  northeast  corner 
of  section  24,  running  thence  south  eighty-five  and  a  half 
degrees  west  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  chains,  nine 
links ;  thence  south  eighty-seven  and  a  half  degrees  west 
one  hundred  and  eighty  chains,  twenty-nine  links,  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  20  on  the  county-line.  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1846,  a  road  beginning  at  a  stake  on  the  MoCarty 
and  Mason  road,  running  thence  north  on  the  section-line 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  chains  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  35. 

June  12, 1840,  a  road  was  laid  out  to  begin  at  a  stake  due 
north  of  Palmer's  Corners,  running  on  the  old  Colony  road 
as  far  as  the  section-line  west  from  said  stake ;  thence  due 


north  on  the  section-line  to  the  corners  of  sections  4,  5,  8, 
9 ;  thence  due  east  one  mile  to  the  corners  of  sections  3, 
4,  9,  and  10.  Jan.  11,  1842,  a  road  was  laid  out  to  begin 
at  the  corners  of  sections  5  and  8,  running  thence  east  on 
the  section-line  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  chains,  ninety- 
one  links ;  thence  south  sixty-five  degrees  east  one  hundred 
and  fifty-four  chains,  fifty  links ;  thence  south  seventy-two 
degrees  east  thirty-six  chains;  thence  north  eighty-eight 
and  a  half  degrees  east  thirteen  chains,  to  the  town-line. 
A  road  was  laid  out  in  March,  1842,  beginning  at  the  north 
quarter-post  of  section  26 ;  thence  south  on  the  quarter- 
line  thirty-eight  chains,  seventy-eight  links ;  thence  north 
eighty-seven  degrees  east  thirty-eight  chains,  sixty-two 
links,  to  the  east  quarter  stake  of  section  26.  A  road, 
April  4,  1842,  commencing  at  a  stake  north  of  Palmer's 
Corners,  on  the  Colony  road,  running  thence  north  on  the 
section-line  to  the  south  corners  of  sections  3  and  4.- 

Oet.  12,  1842,  a  road  was  laid  to  begin  in  the  centre  of 
the  Colony  road  at  a  certain  stake,  running  thence  south 
sixty-four  chains,  eighteen  links,  to  the  section-line  fourteen 
chains,  fifty-seven  links  east  of  the  northwest  corner  of 
section  26. 

The  laying  out  of  certain  early  roads  is  shown  by  the 
following  transcripts  from  the  records  of  the  township : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  majority  of  the  Commissioners  of 
Highways  of  the  Township  of  Middlebury,  Dec.  11,  1846, 
it  was  ordered  and  determined  that  said  Township  be  di- 
vided into  three  road  Districts,  to  be  Numbered  one.  Two, 

6  three,  and  embrace  the  following  lands  (viz.) :  District 
No.  one,  to  be  composed  of  Sec.  No.  25,  26,  28,  29,  32,  33, 
34,  35,  36,  and  the  south  half  of  27  in  T.  7  N.,  of  R.  1  E., 
and  Sec.  No.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  in  Town  8  N., 
of  R.  1  E. 

"  District  No.  Two  to  contain  Sec.  No.  13,  14,  15,  16, 
17,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  and  the  north  half  of  27,  in  Town 

7  N.,  of  R.  1  E.,  and  Sec.  No.  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  20,  in 
Town  8  N.,  of  R.  1  E. 

"  District  No.  Three  to  contain  Sec.  No.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  8, 
9,  10,  11,  12,  in  Town  7  N.,  of  R.  1  E.,  and  Sec.  No.  21, 
22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  32,  33,  34, 35, 36,  in  Town 

8  N.,  of  R.  1  E." 

"  At  A  Meeting  of  the  Majority  of  Highway  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Township  of  Middlebury,  Oct,  21,  1848,  it 
was  ordered  that  A  Road  be  laid  out  or  Public  highway  be 
recorded.  To  wit:  Beginning  at  the  southwest  Corner  of 
Section  Twenty-two,  thence  Running  South  2  degrees  and 
twenty  minutes,  East  79  chains  and  65  links,  thence  South 
39  degrees  West  10  chains,  thence  South  77  degrees  West 
7  chains  and  65  links,  thence  South  21}  Degrees  West  8 
chains,  thence  south  4  degrees  East  14  chains  and  28  links, 
thence  South  85f  Degrees  East  17  chains  and  46  links, 
thence  South  2  degrees  and  20  minutes  East  47  chains  and 
60  links  to  the  Southwest  Corner  of  Section  27,  Town  7 
North,  Range  1  East.  Also  Beginning  at  the  south  qr. 
Post  of  Section  27,  thence  Running  North  2  degrees  and 
20  minutes  West  79  chains  and  forty-seven  links  to  the 
North  qr.  Post  of  Section  27,  in  the  above  Town." 

"  At  a  Meeting  of  a  majority  of  the  Commissioners  of 
Highways  of  the  Township  of  Middlebury,  May  11,  1850, 
it  was  Determined  and   ordered   that  a  public    Highway 


MIDDLEBURY  TOWNSHIP. 


243 


should  be  laid  out,  Commenciag  at  the  North  East  Corner 
of  Section  two,  on  Town  Line,  thence  Running  West  on 
Section  Line  to  the  South  East  corner  of  Section  thirty- 
five,  in  Town  Bight  North,  Range  one  Bast ;  thence  North 
to  the  North  East  corner  of  section  thirty-five,  thence  South 
Eighty-seven  and  half  West  Two  hundred  and  fifty-four 
chains  and  twenty  links  to  the  North  West  corner  of  sec- 
tion thirty-two,  on  the  Meridian  Line,  thence  North  two 
and  half  West  on  said  Line  twenty  chains  and  fifty-six  links 
to  the  South  East  corner  of  section  twenty-four  on  Meridian 
Line  in  Clinton  County.  Also  a  Road  Beginning  at  the 
South  East  corner  of  Section  twenty-four  in  Town  Eight 
North,  of  Range  one  West,  thence  Running  South  two  and 
half  East  twenty  chains  and  fifty-six  Links  to  the  North 
corner  of  Section  thirty-two  on  the  Meridian  Line  in  Shia- 
wassee County,  Middlebury.'' 

MAIL   SERVICE   IN   MIDDLEBURY. 

Middlebury  had  at  one  time  two  post-offices,  but  now  it 
has  none.  In  the  days  of  the  town's  earliest  settlement 
the  people  received  their  letters  at  Laingsburg.  In  1845, 
however,  George  W.  Slocum  succeeded  in  having  the  Middle- 
burgh  post-office  established  in  Middlebury, — named  Mid- 
dleburgh  because  there  was  already  a  Middlebury  post-office 
in  the  State.  Mail  was  received  at  the  office  once  a  week 
over  the  route  between  Owosso  and  Ionia.  Mr.  Slocum 
was  appointed  postmaster,  and  retained  the  office  until  the 
creation  of  the  Ovid  office,  in  1857,  when  Middleburgh 
post-office  was  discontinued. 

Maple  Valley  post-office  was  established  at  Ira  Stimson's 
house  about  1850.  Mr.  Stimson  was  the  postmaster  until 
1854,  when  Horton  Warren  received  the  appointment  and 
moved  the  office  to  his  place,  on  section  21.  He  was  the 
incumbent  until  the  office  was  abolished,  in  1857.  Upon 
the  Warren  place  one  may  see  the  building  used  in  part  as 
a  post-office, — now  a  barn, — and  still  bearing  the  faded 
legend  of  "  Post-Office." 

BURIAL-PLACES. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  1840,  the  town  accepted  from 
Moses  Clark,  Jr.,  one  acre  of  land  on  the  southeast  corner 
of  his  farm,  to  be  devoted  to  the  uses  of  a  burying-ground, 
but  on  the  24th  of  August  following  reconsidered  that 
determination,  and  decided  to  have  two  burying-grounds, — 
No.  1,  to  contain  one  acre  and  to  be  on  Elijah  Potter's 
land'  No.  2,  to  be  on  section  21,  to  contain  one  acre,  and 
to  be  located  on  Obed  Hathaway's  land.  The  chopping, 
clearing,  and  fencing  of  both  grounds  were  to  be  let  at 
auction,  but  for  some  reason  neither  burial-place  was  ever 
laid  out.  Indeed,  no  public  grave-yard  was  laid  out  until 
in  1849,  when  William  Tubbs,  while  visiting  Elder  Clark 
one  day  and  deploring  the  lack  of  school  as  well  as  burying- 
ground,  declared  there  ought  to  be  some  effort  looking  to 
the  securing  of  both  for  the  town.  The  result  was  that 
Tubbs  and  Clark  moved  actively  in  the  matter  and  obtained 
both  school  and  cemetery.  The  latter  was  laid  out  in  sec- 
tion 27,  and  included  a  spot  in  which  there  lay  already 
buried  a  child  of  Osier  George  and  a  daughter  of  John 
McCarty.  That  burial-place  is  the  only  one  the  town  has 
ever  had. 


RELIGIOUS   HISTORY  OP   THE  TOWNSHIP. 

Among  the  early  preachers  in  Middlebury  the  pioneer 
was,  doubtless.  Rev.  Mr.  Whiting,  of  the  Rochester  colony, 
who,  in  the  summer  of  1839,  undertook  to  break  twenty 
acres  of  ground  for  William  Palmer,  and  during  his  stay 
in  Middlebury  preached  Methodist  sermons  in  the  houses  of 
George  Slocum  and  William  Palmer.  Elder  Allen,  a  Free- 
Will  Baptist  minister  of  Duplain,  was  one  of  the  early 
preachers  in  Middlebury,  and  organized  a  church  of  that 
denomination  in  the  town.  Elder  Clark,  father  of  Moses 
Clark,  Jr.,  preached  occasional  Baptist  sermons,  as  did  also 
his  son  Moses.  Residents  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
town  generally  went  into  Sciota  to  attend  public  religious 
worship. 

Occasional  and  irregular  Methodist  preaching  only  was 
held  in  Middlebury  until  about  1860,  when  Rev.  Mr. 
Wright  came  on  and  organized  the  Warren  Methodist 
Episcopal  class  in  a  log  school-house  on  section  34.  The 
organizing   members   of  the   class   numbered   eight,  viz., 

Geo.   H.  Warren,  David   L.  Warren, Balcom,  and 

De   Haven,  with   their  wives,  D.  L.  Warren   being 


chosen  class-leader.     Prom  that  time  on  regular  services 
were  held  once  every  two  weeks. 

In  1872  the  Warren  class  and  Sciota  class  joined  in  the 
erection  of  a  handsome  church  edifice  upon  section  34,  and 
in  it  both  classes  have  since  then  worshiped  together.  D. 
L.  Warren  has  been  leader  of  the  Warren  class  continuously 
since  1860.  John  C.  Putnam  is  the  leader  pf  the  Sciota 
class.  Both  classes  have  a  membership  of  upwards  of  sixty 
and  meet  for  worship  every  Sunday,  the  pastor  being  Rev. 
Mr.  Mcintosh,  in  charge  of  the  Laingsburg  Circuit.  The 
church  trustees  are  George  H.  Warren,  D.  L.  Warren, 
George  W.  Slocum,  James  Van  Dyne,  and  Willard  Ryan. 
The  class-stewards  are  Willard  Ryan,  James  Van  Dyne, 
and  John  Sherman.  The  recording  steward  is  William 
E.  Warren.  The  Sunday-sehool  is  in  charge  of  A.  D.  Sher- 
man, and  has  an  average  attendance  of  sixty  scholars. 

PROTESTANT   METHODISTS. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized  in  the  Mc- 
Carty school-house  about  1860,  by  the  preacher  in  charge 
of  the  Owosso  Circuit.  It  struggled  feebly  for  existence 
during  the  ensuing  ten  years,  and  met  in  various  places 
for  worship.  About  1870  the  class  became  Protestant 
Methodist,  and  since  then  has  met  pretty  regularly  at  the 
Mead  school-house.  It  is  now  on  the  Owosso  Circuit,  in 
charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mills.  It  has  a  small  membership 
and  has  preaching  once  in  two  weeks.  Nelson  Ackerman 
being  class-leader. 

THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST, 
which  worships  now  in  the  school-house  on  section  24,  was 
organized  in  1872  by  John  A.  Maverty  and  Elias  Silas, 
evangelists.  Among  the  members  were  L.  F.  Kingsley, 
Samuel  A.  Merrill,  M.  Wooden,  and  Barney  Banghart, 
with  their  wives.  L.  P.  Kingsley  and  S.  A.  Merrill  were 
chosen  elders,  B.  Banghart  and  M.  Wooden  deacons.  Mr. 
Maverty  preached  once  a  month  for  a  year,  and  then  came 
J.  La  Grange,  W.  A.  Streator,  G.  J.  Massey,  and  Judson 
Brown.     The  church  is  now  without  a  pastor,  but  is  in  ex- 


244 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHiaAN. 


pectation  of  beiug  supplied  soon.  The  membership,  which 
was  at  first  about  thirty,  is  now  somewhat  less.  L.  F. 
Kingsley  and  William  A.  Merrill  are  the  elders,  B.  Vos- 
burg  and  John  De  Witt  the  deacons. 

SCHOOLS. 

Although  the  township  was  organized  in  1839,  there 
was  no  organized  school  district  until  1845,  for  the  very 
good  reason,  doubtless,  that  there  was  no  occasion  therefor, 
since  there  were  in  the  town  at  that  time  scarcely  any  chil- 
dren of  school  age.  District  No.  1  was  organized  May  28, 
1845,  and  included  the  south  half  of  section  3,  the  south 
half  of  section  4,  the  whole  of  sections  9,  10,  15,  16,  21, 
and  22,  and  the  north  halves  of  sections  27  and  28. 

Before  the  organization  of  District  No.  1,  Curtis  Staf- 
ford taught  a  subscription  school  in  1843,  in  an  abandoned 
log  cabin  upon  William  Palmer's  place,  and  in  that  school- 
house  Mary  Doane  taught  a  short  time  after  Stafford  left. 
Although  a  district  was  organized  in  1845,  there  is  no  evi- 
dence to  show  that  a  school-house  was  built  or  district 
school  taught  until  1849.  The  school-house  was  built  by 
William  Rideout  on  section  28,  and  in  it  the  first  school 
was  taught  by  Mary  Sherman,  whose  term  of  service  was 
three  months. 

District  No.  1  seems  from  the  records  to  have  been  re- 
organized in  1849,  and  it  is  likely  that  the  district  had  no 
operative  existence  until  then.  The  reorganization  gave  to 
the  district  sections  27,  28,  29,  32,  33,  the  south  halves  of 
sections  20,  21,  and  22,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
23,  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  26,  and  the  west  half 
of  section  34. 

School  reports  dated  June  10,  1852,  set  forth  that  the 
number  of  scholars  in  district  No.  1  between  the  ages  of 
four  and  eighteen  was  twenty-four,  and  that  Esther  Doane 
had  taught  the  school  three  months  at  the  wages  of  one 
dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  per  week.  In  district  No.  2 
there  were  likewise  twenty-four  scholars,  whose  teacher, 
Achsah  Blood,  received  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  week. 
In  1853,  Sarah  E.  Sykes  taught  twenty-four  scholars  in 
district  No.  2,  and  for  thirteen  weeks  received  one  dollar 
and  fifty  cents  per  week. 

Dec.  5, 1853,  Ann  Brooks  and  Sarah  Salisbury  were  ap- 
pointed to  teach  school  at  two  dollars  per  week.  During 
the  year  1853  the  children  attending  school  in  district  No. 
1  numbered  twenty-three,  and  belonged  to  families  as  fol- 
lows :  William  Rideout,  1 ;  William  Tubbs,  1 ;  G.  Mc- 
Carty,  3 ;  Alanson  Seely,  4 ;  Truman  White,  1 ;  William 
White,  1 ;  Obed  Hathaway,  3 ;  P.  L.  Clark,  3 ;  Sarah  C. 
Sykes,  1  ;  Nathan  Herrick,  3 ;  Stephen  Taylor,  2. 

For  the  year  1854  the  amount  of  school  money  appor- 
tioned to  the  two  school  districts  was  thirty-four  dollars. 
The  annual  report  from  district  No.  1  for  1854  gave  the 
number  of  school-children  as  thirty-four ;  the  number  that 
attended  school,  forty-three ;  the  teachers  as  Ann  Brooks 
and  Harriet  J.  Fitch ;  and  the  list  of  school-books  as  Saun- 
ders' Series  of  Readers,  Birkan's  Grammar,  Smith's  Geog- 
raphy, Mitchell's,  Adams',  and  Thompson's  Arithmetics, 
Elementary  and  Saunders'  Speller. 

The  annual  school  report  for  1879  presented  the  follow- 
ing statistics  of  the  several  districts  of  the  township  : 


Number  of  school  districts  (whole,  S;  fractional,  3)...  6 

Number  of  scholars  of  school  age 271 

Value  of  school  property $3050 

Teachers' wages $765 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  James  Baldwin,  Wil- 
liam T.  Vaughn,  D.  Snyder,  Luther  Ryan,  W.  R.  Hubbell, 
and  G.  W.  Davidson. 

MIDDLBBUKY  CHBBSE-PACTOKY. 
Middlebury  has  had  since  June,  1879,  a  cheese-factory 
that  appears  to  be  a  flourishing  institution.  Ion  McCon- 
nell,  the  owner,  built  it  at  the  time  named,  and  during  the 
first  season  made  ten  thousand  pounds  of  cheese.  The 
yield  was  one  pound  of  cheese  for  nine  and  three-quarters 
pounds  of  milk,  and  according  to  Mr.  McConnell's  estimate 
patrons  of  the  factory  gained  from  thirty  dollars  to  thirty- 
five  dollars  per  cow  during  that  season. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKKTCHES. 


GEORGE  W.  SLOCUM. 
Around  the  name  and  memory  of  the  first  settlers  of  a 
town,  county,  or  State  there  will  always  cling  a  peculiar  in- 
terest, an  interest  felt  for  no  other  class  of  men.  Who  was 
the  first  settler  of  the  town  ?  why  did  he  come  in  here 
alone  ?  what  must  have  been  his  feelings  when  he  knew 
that  for  miles  around  there  was  no  other  white  man  ?  will 
be  the  queries  in  after-years.  Such  a  man  was  George  W. 
Slocum,  who  was  born  in  Manlius,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  11,  1810.  His  father  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  from  whence  he  emigrated,  after  his  marriage,  to 
Manlius,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a  small  farm,  and 
where  George  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  only  a  common- 
school  education.  In  early  life  he  worked  out  by  the 
month,  working  most  of  the  time  for  a  Mr.  Ives,  who  in 
1834  took  a  job  on  the  ship-canal  from  New  Orleans  to 
Lake  Pontchartrain.  He  sent  Mr.  Slocum  to  take  charge 
of  a  gang  of  men,  which  kept  him  about  six  months.  He 
then  returned  to  New  York,  and  in  the  spring  of  1836  he 
started  West  to  look  for  a  home  in  a  new  country.  He 
came  to  Detroit,  and  from  there  went  on  foot  to  Pontiac. 
Arrived  there,  he  was  informed  that  desirable  land  could  be 
had  in  Lapeer  Co.,  Mich.  In  company  with  others  he  at 
once  went  to  that  county,  where  they  made  selections.  He 
then  went  on  foot  to  Detroit  to  enter  his  land,  but  found  that 
some  one  had  got  ahead  of  him.  He  next  selected  some  land 
in  Shiawassee  and  again  went  to  Detroit,  again  to  be  disap- 
pointed,— it  was  just  taken.  Nowise  daunted,  he  again 
made  a  selection, — this  time  in  Owosso  township,  now  Mid- 
dlebury, in  Shiawassee  Co., — this  time  successfully.  There 
had  then  been  no  land  entered  in  Middlebury  township, 
and  there  was  no  white  man  living  within  its  boundaries, 
and  Mr.  Slocum  and  his  father's  family  were  its  first  per- 
manent settlers.  His  nearest  neighbor  east  was  twenty- 
two  miles  away.  He  made  his  entry  June  12,  1836,  it 
being  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  35,  township  7  north, 
of  range  1  east.  After  -entering  his  land  he  returned  to 
Oakland  County,  where  for  a  time  he  worked  by  the  month. 
In  the  summer  of  1837  he  took  a  piece  of  land  to  clear 


MIDDLEBURY  TOWNSHIP. 


245 


GEORGE   W.    SLOCUM. 


and  crop,  getting  five  dollars  per  acre  and  the  first  crop  for 
clearing.  In  the  fall  and  early  winter  he  worked  on  the 
Pontiac  and  Detroit  Railroad.  In  January,  1838,  he  was 
joined  by  his  parents,  and  they  at  once  came  to  the  land 
selected  by  Mr.  Slocum.  A  log  shanty  was  built,  its  roof 
being  of  bark  and  its  floor  of  split  plank,  with  but  one 
window,  which  they  had  brought  from  Pontiac,  and  for 
weeks  with  only  a  blanket  for  a  door,  around  which  the 
wolves  made  night  hideous  by  their  bowlings.  Their 
means  by  this  time  were  all  expended,  and  they  saw  very 
hard  times.  But  by  dint  of  hard  work  and  the  most  rigid 
economy  hunger  was  avoided  until  the  wheat  he  had  sown 
in  Oakland  County  was  harvested,  when  a  team,  wagon,  and 
cow  were  bought,  and  more  prosperous  days  began  to  dawn. 
With  the  energy  and  perseverance  for  which  the  American 
pioneer  is  noted,  Mr.  Slocum  applied  himself  to  clearing 
up  and  improving  his  land,  which  is  now  a  well-arranged 
and  productive  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  while  he  has 
given  his  son  eighty  acres.  A  fine  house,  surrounded  by 
large  and  commodious  outbuildings,  has  taken  the  place  of 
the  log  shanty  first  built,  while  everything  indicates  the 
luxurious  home  of  the  well-to-do  American  farmer. 

On  the  2d  day  of  May,  1849,  Mr.  Slocum  was  joined 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Emily  A.  Holdridge,  daughter  of 
Darius  and  Rebecca  (Bishop)  Holdridge.  She  was  born 
in  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  14,  1824.  Their  children  are 
as  follows :  Cass  H.,  born  April  28,  1851 ;  Mary  A.,  Oct. 
5,  1852;  Ella,  April  3,  1854;  and  George  L.,  Oct.  18, 
1857.  In  politics  Mr.  Slocum  is  a  Democrat  of  the  old 
school,  and  has  been  elected  to  nearly  all  the  oflSces  in  the 
gift  of  his  fellow-townsmen.  At  the  first  town-meeting  he 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  highway  commissioner; 
the  next  year  supervisor,  which  office  he  has  many  times 


held.  He  has  also  been  treasurer  and  clerk,  and  has  been 
postmaster  many  years,  and  has  been  one  term  an  associate 
judge  of  Shiawassee  County, — all  of  which  oflGices  were  filled 
with  ability  and  credit,  making  for  Mr.  Slocum  a  record  of 
which  his  descendants  may  well  be  proud. 


GEORGE  H.  WARREN. 

The  family  of  Warrens  is  of  English  descent,  and  their 
ancestry  is  identical  with  that  of  Gen.  Joseph  Warren  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  The  great-grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  biography  was  an  early  emigrant  from  the  shores  of 
Great  Britain,  though  the  date  of  his  arrival  is  not  a  mat- 
ter of  record.  His  son  Samuel,  the  grandfather  of  George 
H.,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Sept.  18,  1753,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  Rainier,  who  was  born  Dec.  1,  1757. 
This  marriage  occurred  about  the  year  1775,  and  soon 
after  New  Jersey  became  their  home,  during  which  time 
Mr.  Warren  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  sur- 
vived until  his  seventy-ninth  year.  His  wife  lived  to  be 
ninety  years  of  age.  Their  children  were  John,  born  July 
4th,  during  the  year  American  independence  was  declared ; 
William,  whose  birth  occurred  Aug.  9,  1778 ;  Susanna, 
born  Sept.  3,  1780;  Samuel,  Aug.  20,  1782;  Achsah, 
April  24,  1789 ;  Ann,  Dec.  31,  1792 ;  Job,  May  12, 1796 ; 
Gamaliel,  March  14, 1799 ;  Thomas,  Feb.  12,  1802  ;  and 
two  whose  record  is  not  preserved. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  biography  was  William, 
whose  birth  has  been  already  stated,  and  who  was  married 
in  1810  to  Miss  Mary  Horn,  who  was  born  in  Haddonfield 
Camden  Co.,  N.  J.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  her  mother  of  Wales.     They  first  located  in  Newtown 


246 


HISTOEY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Gloucester  Co.,  and  from  thence  removed  to  a  home  ad- 
jacent to  Egg  Harbor,  from  which  place  they  repaired  in 
the  fall  of  1816  to  New  York  State,  and  settled  in  Onta- 
rio County,  their  worldly  possessions  at  this  time  embracing 
the  contents  of  a  one-horse  wagon,  so  moderate  were  their 
circumstances.  Their  son,  George  H.,  was  born  Dec.  1, 
1827,  and  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Michigan  when 
but  three  years  of  age,  locating  three  miles  from  Pontiac, 
Oakland  Co.,  on  a  new  farm  of  eighty  acres.  At  the 
age  of  five  years  he  was  afflicted  by  the  death  of  his  father, 
who  left  a  wife  and  family  of  six  children  in  indigent  cir- 
cumstances. Mrs.  Warren  sought  employment  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Pontiac  as  a  means  of  support,  and  was  a  second 
time  married  to  Joseph  Hathaway,  with  ^hom  the  lad 
George  resided.  They  soon  after  removed  to  Salem,  Wash- 
tenaw Co.,  where  George  remained  until  his  sixteenth 
year,  when  he  found,  employment  as  a  farm-hand,  working 
for  seven  dollars  per  month.  In  March,  1847,  when  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  settled  upon  eighty  acres  of  land  in  the 
township  of  Middlebury,  his  brother  David  locating  upon 
an  adjacent  farm  of  equal  size,  and  with  whom  George 
made  his  home  for  two  years,  his  brother  having  married 
Miss  Mary  IngersoU  in  1847.  At  that  time  Mr.  Warren's 
nearest  neighbor  resided  a  mile  and  a  half  from  his  farm. 
No  permanent  roads  had  yet  been  laid  out,  and  in  order  to 
attend  church  Mr.  Warren  traveled  with  an  ox-team  from 
three  to  five  miles.  The  first  twenty  bushels  of  wheat  sold 
from  the  farm  were  conveyed  by  Mr.  Warren  to  Owosso, 
performing  a  portion  of  the  journey  with  three  yoke  of 
oxen.  Arrived  at  his  destination,  the  wheat  was  disposed 
of  at  the  rate  of  forty-five  cents  per  bushel,  making  the 
total  receipts  nine  dollars,  which  amount  Mr.  Warren  upon 
his  return  divided  equally  with  his  brother  David.  Upon 
the  occasion  of  this  trip  to  Owosso,  Mr.  Warren  carried 
his  lunch  with  him  as  well  as  hay  for  the  use  of  his  oxen. 
The  difficulties  and  privations  of  these  early  pioneers  may 
well  teach  a  lesson  of  contentment  to  those  who  at  the  pres- 
ent day  are  raising  the  cry  of  "  hard  times." 

March  17,  1851,  he  married  Miss  Almira  Thayer,  who 
was  born  March  9,  1831,  in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.  They 
have  four  children  living, — Albert  H.,  born  in  1856,  and 
married  April  17, 1879,  to  Miss  Jennie  Welch,  of  Steuben 
Co.,  N.  Y.  The  birth  of  Elmer  E.  occurred  in  1861. 
Emery  D.  was  born  in  1869,  and  George  F.  in  1874. 
They  are  also  the  parents  of  two  daughters,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Mr.  Warren  is  a  Kepublican  in  politics,  and 
has  served  the  township  in  various  official  positions,  includ- 
ing those  of  justice  of  the  peace,  highway  commissioner, 
and  school  inspector.  * 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  have  been  for  a  period  of  thirty 
years  actively  engaged  in  church  labor. 


LEONAKD  F.   KINGSLEY. 

Among  the  leading  men  of  Middlebury  township  we  find 

the  name  of  Leonard  F.  Kingsley,  who  was  born  in  the 

town  of  Scipio,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  2,  181 1.     When 

he  was  six  years  old  his  father  moved  into  the  town  of 


Gates,  in  what  was  then  the  county  of  Genesee,  now  Mon- 
roe. He  bought  a  large  farm,  which  for  that  time  was  well 
improved.  On  this  farm  the  family  resided  until  three 
years  after  the  death  of  the  elder  Mr.  Kingsley,  which  oc- 
curred in  1818.  The  family  then  moved  on  to  a  farm  near 
Kochester,  then  but  a  small  village.  This  was  the  home  of 
Leonard  until  he  reached  manhood,  although  he  was  there 


LEONARD   r.    KINGSLEY. 

but  little,  as  he  was  obliged  to  work  out  by  the  month  and 
earn  his  own  living.  On  the  26th  day  of  December,  1833, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Candace  Bartlett,  daughter  of  Elli- 
ott and  Waity  (Lewis)  Bartlett.  She  was  born  Dec.  9, 
1810,  in  New  Hampshire.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kings- 
ley  worked  a  farm  one  year.  Then,  in  October,  1835,  they 
came  to  Pontiac,  Mich.,  where  they  had  eighty  acres  of 
wild  land,  on  which  he  made  a  small  improvement ;  then 
traded  it  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Bennington, 
which  he  soon  sold,  and  then  bought  a  farm  near  what  is 
now  the  village  of  Owosso.  After  a  couple  of  years  they 
again  sold  out,  and  returned  to  Rochester,  where  they 
resided  sixteen  years.  During  this  time  Mr.  Kingsley  was 
constable,  deputy  sheriff,  and  collector.  In  1856  they  again 
returned  to  Shiawassee  County  and  settled  in  Middlebury, 
where  they  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  part 
of  which  they  have  improved,  and  on  which  they  still  reside. 
In  politics  Mr.  Kingsley  is  a  stalwart  Bepnblican,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  which  organized  the  Republican 
party  in  New  York.  When  Mr.  Kingsley  came  to  Middle- 
bury the  town  was  and  had  ever  been  Democratic,  but  the 
following  year  gave,  as  it  has  since  done,  a  Republican  ma- 
jority, and  to  Mr.  Kingsley  a  large  share  of  credit  was  ^ven 
for  bringing  it  about.  He  has  for  ten  years  or  more  been 
township  clerk,  also  for  some  time  treasurer.  He  has  been 
a  notary  public  twenty  years,  and  has  done  a  great  deal  of 
conveyancing  and  real  estate  business.  He  has  also  been 
school  inspector,  and  has  many  times  been  requested  to  take 
the  supervisor's  office,  but  refused.  For  forty-five  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Disciples.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kingsley  have  had  but  one  child,  viz.,  Louisa 
Almeda,  born  Oct.  14,  1834;  died  May  26,  1859. 


MRS.  JAMES  KENNEY. 


JAMES  KENNEY. 


JAMES   KENNEY. 


To  record  and  preserve  for  the  coming  generations  the  names 
and  deeds  of  the  hardy  first  settlers  of  Michigan  is  indeed  a 
pleasure.  Coming  as  they  did  from  the  old  and  long-settled 
Eastern  States,  and  plunging  at  once  into  the  almost  unbroken 
wilderness,  with  no  guides  but  Indian  trails  and  the  moss  on 
the  trees,  erecting  and  living  for  years  in  rude  shanties,  clear- 
ing and  improving  the  lands  that  have  since  become  the  beau- 
tiful homes  and  farms  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  they  are 
deserving  of  monuments  which  shall  last  longer  than  those  of 
marble  or  granite.  Among  these  we  record  the  name  of  James 
Kenney,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Northampton,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  21,  1806.  He  is  of  Scotch  descent, 
his  grandfather  on  his  mother's  side  having  been  born  in  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland,  from  whence  he  emigrated  to  New 
York  and  settled  in  Montgomer}'  County.  His  grandfather, 
Theodore  Kenney,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  was  a 
soldier  in  the  patriot  army  during  the  war  for  Independence, 
in  which  he  was  wounded.  Elijah,  the  father  of  James,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
was  married. 

When  James  was  ten  years  old  his  father's  family  moved  to 
the  town  of  Sparta,  in  Livingston  County,  where  his  boyhood 
days  were  passed,  and  where  he  obtained  a  limited  education. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty -six  years  old, 
when  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account.  He  first 
worked  a  j'ear  for  a  Mr.  Purchase,  receiving  the  then  large 
salary  of  two  hundred  dollars  per  year.  Becoming  satisfied 
that  in  an  old  country  a  poor  man  stood  but  a  slight  chance 
of  obtaining  a  position  in  life,  he  in  1835  started  for  Michigan, 
coming  to  Detroit  by  steamer,  and  from  there  on  foot  to  Sagi- 
naw, stopping  in  Flint  long  enough  to  help  raise  the  first 
framed  building  erected  there.  At  that  time  the  only  struct- 
ure marking  the  present  site  of  Saginaw  was  a  hotel  kept  in 
the  old  fort,  and  the  Williams  Brother's  Indian  trading-post. 
On  his  arrival  Mr.  Kenney  found  himself  the  possessor  of 
twenty-two  dollars,  and  with  health,  strength,  and  a  will- 
ingness to  work,  which  have  ever  been  the  foundation  of 
prosperity  and  wealth.  His  first  work  was  clearing  the  land 
where  the  city  of  Saginaw  now  stands.  During  the  first 
two  years  he  worked  at  chopping,  clearing  land,  and  run- 


ning a  scow  on  the  Saginaw  Eiver,  and  whatever  he  could  get 
to  do. 

On  the  16th  day  of  June,  1840,  Mr.  Kenney  married  Miss 
Eosella  Bruno,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Blanchard) 
Bruno.  She  was  born  in  Canada,  sixty  miles  north  of  Mon- 
treal, Aug.  3,  1817.  Her  parents  were  Erench,  and  Mrs. 
Kenney  could  only  speak  that  language  up  to  her  tenth  year, 
when  her  parents  moved  to  Vermont,  from  whence  they  went 
to  Saginaw  in  1836.  There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kenney  the  following  children,  viz. :  Lester  J.,  born  May  23, 
1842;  Susan,  Dec.  20,  1843;  Martha,  May  23,  1852;  and 
Lucy  Ann,  July  18,  1853.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kenney 
bought  a  farm  on  Cass  Eiver,  but  being  unfortunate  in  having 
his  house  burned  was  compelled  to  allow  the  land  to  revert 
to  its  former  owner.  In  the  fall  of  1841  he  was  elected  sheriff 
of  Saginaw  County  on  the  Whig  ticket,  although  that  party 
was  largely  in  the  minority,  he  having  been  the  second  to 
adopt  its  principles.  In  1843  he  was  again  elected,  filling  the 
office  so  satisfactorily  that  when,  after  the  expiration  of  his 
second  term,  he  came  to  Middlebury,  men  of  both  parties 
asked  him  to  stay  and  again  take  the  office  as  soon  as  the  statute 
of  limitation  would  permit.  In  April,  1846,  having  met  with 
financial  losses  through  the  failure  of  others,  he  moved  to  the 
town  of  Middlebury,  where  he  had  previously  purchased  and 
run  in  debt  for  three  lots  of  wild  land  on  section  22.  There 
were  then  but  few  inhabitants  in  the  town,  and  but  two  houses 
between  his  farm  and  Owosso.  In  two  weeks'  time  a  log  house 
was  built,  into  which  the  family  immediately  moved.  The 
old  house  has  been  torn  away,  and  in  its  stead  has  been  erected 
one  of  the  fine  homes  of  Middlebury,  while  the  wilderness 
has  given  place  to  a,  large  and  well-improved  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres.  Mr.  Kenney  did  much  towards  changing  the 
politics  of  his  town,  which  is  now  Republican  by  a  large  ma- 
joritj',  of  which  party  he  is  one  of  the  most  earnest  supporters. 
He  has  held  nearly  all  of  the  town  and  school  offices,  including 
those  of  supervisor,  treasurer,  and  clerk ;  he  has  also  been 
notary  public  several  years ;  and  now  in  the  seventy-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  respected  and  esteemed  by  all,  he  is  passing 
the  even-time  of  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  more  than  a  com- 
petency. 


■^-'••i-H'-  ,^^ 


/iesiDeuce  or  HORACE  C.  MAIN^  Miodlebury,  M/ch. 


MIDDLEBURY  TOWNSHIP. 


247 


WILLIAM    TUBES. 


The  Tubbs  family  is  of  English  origin,  two  brothers, 
Seth  and  Samuel,  having  emigrated  from  England  to  the 
New  World,  and  settled  in  Massachusetts  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary  war.  At  that  time  and  for  many  years  they 
were  the  only  ones  of  the  name  known  to  be  in  this  country. 
They  were  young  unmarried  men,  and  came  to  America  to 
make  for  themselves  a  home.  When  the  war  broke  out 
they  were  married  and  had  families,  but  both  enlisted  and 
served  during  the  war,  Samuel  coming  home  a  colonel. 
Seth  had  previously  served  in  the  French  war,  and  was  with 
Gen.  Wolfe,  at  Quebec,  when  that  general  was  killed.  After 
the  war,  Seth,  of  whose  family  we  shall  write,  returned  to 
his  home  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  His  son,  also  named  Seth,  was  born  in  Massachu- 
setts, from  whence  he  emigrated  in  January,  1800,  to 
Western  New  York,  locating  in  the  town  of  Pitts,  now 
Richmond,  Ontario  Co.,  where  he  bought  fifty  acres  of  wild 
land.  The  country  was  new  and  there  were  then  but  few 
families  in  the  town,  and  they  were  scattered  over  a  large 
scope  of  country.  Wild  animals  were  very  numerous, 
making  it  almost  impossible  for  Mr.  Tubbs  to  keep  sheep 
and  stock.  He  was  very  poor,  but  was  industrious,  and 
soon  made  for  himself  and  family  a  eomfortable  home.  He 
added  to  his  farm  until  at  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of 
a  large  and  valuable  property.  Mr.  Tubbs  was  in  Shays'  Re- 
bellion, acting  with  Shays  in  liberating  prisoners  who  had 
been  for  many  years  in  prison  at  Northampton  for  debt. 
He  was  a  man  respected  by  his  neighbors,  and  ultimately 
became  a  leading  citizen  of  his  town.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  passed  away  in  1858.  His  son  William,  the 
third  of  nine  children,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  June  28,  1800,  on  the  new  farm  in  Ontario  County, 


where  his  father  had  but  recently  settled.     Thus  William 
was  born  and  grew  to  manhood  in  a  new  country  amidst 
the  privations  and  dangers  incident  to  the  lives  of  the 
pioneers  of  that  time.     During  the  war  of  1812  the  news 
reached  them  that  the  British  were  making  a  raid  which 
threatened  Rochester  and  the  surrounding  country.     Wil- 
liam and  his  father  both  volunteered  and  started  for  the 
scene  of  operations,  but  saw  no  active  service,  as  the  alarm 
proved  a  false  one.     During  the  famine  of  1815  and  1816 
they  saw  hard  times  but  never  went  hungry,  as  William's 
father  was  a  mechanic  and  earned  good  wages,  and  could 
buy  when  others  could  not.     William  received  only  a  com- 
mon-school education,  but  was  early  taught  that  work  was 
one  of  the  first  laws  made  for  man's  guidance.    He  remained 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age, 
when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  working  at  the 
cooper's  trade.     In  1838,  wishing  to  get  a  home  in  a  new 
country,  he  came  to  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  and  bought  a  farm 
in  Novi  township  which  was  partly  improved,  and  on  which 
he  and  his  son  lived  and  kept  bachelors'  hall,  he  working 
at  his  trade  while  his  son  worked  on  the  farm.     Mr.  Tubbs 
remained  on  the  Oakland  County  farm  untill  1847,  when 
he  sold  out  and  came  to  Middlebury,  in  Shiawassee  County, 
and  bought  eighty  acres  of  wild  land,  on  which  he  built  a 
loo'  house,  and  with  his  family  commenced  life  in  the  wil- 
derness.    Here  Mr.  Tubbs  has  lived  for  many  years,  and 
now  in  the  even-time  of  life  is  enjoying  the  results  of  a 
long  life*  of  industry  and  economy.     He  has  cleared  and 
improved  a  farm,  and  has  done  his  share  towards  making 
Shiawassee  the  fine  county  it  is  to-day.     In  politics  he  is 
and  has  ever  been  a  Democrat  of  the  Jackson  type,  and  ha8\ 
been  several  times  elected  to  oflSces  in  his  township.     He 


248 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


has  been  justice  of  the  peace  two  terms,  and  highway  com- 
missioner two  terms.  In  February,  1824,  he  was  married 
to  Rebecca  Bray,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Yanger) 
Bray.  There  were  born  to  them  Betsey,  June  1,  1825; 
Ann,  June  1,  1827  ;  Seth  A,  July  28, 1829;  Mary,  Jan. 

13,  1831;  Jerusha,  ;   Martha, 1  Wilham 

B.,  March  3,  1837 ;  James  B.,  June  6,  1840. 

For  his  second  wife  he  married  Catherine  Van  Dyne, 
born  April  29,  1811,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Van 
Dyne.  Their  union  was  blessed  with  one  son,  Samuel  T., 
bom  April  19,  1851.  He  still  remains  on  the  old  farm 
with  his  father,  and  manages  the  business  of  the  family. 
Mrs.  Catherine  Tubbs  died  Feb.  26,  1875. 


HORACE  C.  MAIN. 
Theodore  Main  was  born  in  Rome,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
June  6,  1806.  When  he  was  four  years  old  his  father 
emigrated  to  Clarendon,  Orleans  Co.,  same  State,  where  he 
was  an  early  settler.  Theodore  married  Amanda  M.  Put- 
nam. In  Clarendon  he  lived  until  his  death,  July  13, 
1852,  surviving  his  wife  but  a  month  and  two  days.  His 
son,  Horace  C.  Main,  was  born  in  Clarendon,  Sept.  27, 1834. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  Horace  was  sent  to  the  Brock- 
port  Collegiate  Institute  to  complete  his  education ;  but  he 
only  remained  eighteen  months,  when  he  went  to  Rochester 
and  became  steward  of  the  Eagle  Hotel,  then  a  first-class 
house,  and  in  which  he  remained  until  he  was  of  age.  On 
the  5th  day  of  June,  1854,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Dian- 
tha  S.  Howe,  daughter  of  George  and  Huldah  (Fuller) 
Howe.  She  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt.,  June  5,  1832. 
Her  people  were  early  settlers  in  Palermo,  Oswego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  her  father  and  grandfather  both  died.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Main  have  never  had  children,  but  have  an  adop- 
ted daughter,  Lydia,  who  was  born  Aug.  16,  1867, — one 
loved  by  them  as  though  she  was  their  own.  In  the  fall  of 
1855  Mr.  Main  and  his  wife  came  to  Michigan,  and  settled 
in  Middlebury,  Shiawassee  Co.,  where  he  had  previously 
bought  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  1 . 
The  land  was  in  its  wild  state,  not  a  stick  cut,  and  no  roads 
to  or  near  it.  Game  of  all  kinds  was  plenty,  it  being  noth- 
ing strange  to  see  bears  near  their  house,  while  the  wolves 
were  sometimes  heard  at  night.  Many  of  the  roads  in  their 
part  of  the  county  were  surveyed  and  helped  to  be  cleared 
by  Mr.  Main.  A  log  house  was  built  in  which  they  lived 
thirteen  years,  then  moved  into  their  present  neat  and 
pleasant  home,  a  view  of  which  adorns  another  page  of  this 
work.  Mr.  Main  now  owns  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  land,  of  which  one  hundred  and  five  acres  are  well 
improved.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  filled 
with  credit  to  himself  and  his  county  the  oflBce  of  surveyor, 
and  the  more  difficult  one  of  county  drain  commissioner. 
He  was  deputy  surveyor  many  years,  and  principal  four 
years,  and  commissioner  six  years.  He  has  also  held  town 
offices,  and  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  having  himself  taught  school,  and  served 
fourteen  years  in  succession  as  director  of  his  district.  He 
has  been  for  years  agent  for  the  Davenport  lands,  and  sold 
farms  to  nearly  fifty  persons  in  this  part  of  the  county.    Mr- 


Main  is  highly  spoken  of  by  men  of  both  parties  as  a  man 
of  sterling  worth  and  integrity. 

Sept.  24, 1864,  Mr.  Main  was  drafted  into  the  army,  but 
furnished  a  substitute,  who  served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
NEW    HAVEN   TOWNSHIP.* 

Description — Original  Land-Purchases  —  Settlement  and  Settlers — 
Township  Organization  and  Civil  List — Early  Highways — Schools 
—Church  History— Village  of  West  Haven. 

New  Haven  was  among  the  earliest  of  the  townships 
of  Shiawassee  County  in  point  of  settlement,  and  was 
probably,  in  1837,  the  extreme  northern  limit  of  civiliza- 
tion in  the  valley  of  the  Shiawassee.  It  is  described  in 
the  government  survey  as  township  8_  north,  of  range  3 
east,  and  joins  Saginaw  County  on  the  north,  Caledonia  on 
the  south,  Hazelton  on  the  east,  and  the  township  of  Rush 
on  the  west. 

The  surface  of  New  Haven  is  generally  level,  with  very 
little  rolling  land.  An  exception  to  this  is,  however,  ob- 
served in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  hamlet  of  West 
Haven,  where  some  elevations  vary  the  scene  and  greatly 
enhance  its  picturesque  beauty.  An  extensive  tamarack 
swamp  formerly  existed  in  the  township,  but  careful  drain- 
age has  converted  this  into  the  most  fertile  land  found 
within  its  limits.  The  soil  may  be  generally  described  as 
a  clay  loam  mixed  with  gravel.  To  the  north  and  west 
sand  prevails  to  some  extent,  while  clay  predominates  in 
the  south  and  on  the  eastern  border.  The  former  marshy 
land  in  the  north  and  east  is  now  well  cultivated  and  very 
productive.  The  soil  yields  a  good  quality  of  wheat,  while 
grass  is  always  a  prolific  crop,  and  corn  well  repays  the 
labor  of  the  farmer.  The  report  of  farm  products  for 
1874  gives  the  number  of  acres  of  wheat  harvested  in 
1873  as  ten  hundred  and  fifteen,  which  produced  fifteen 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty  bushels,  while  the  yield 
of  corn  from  five  hundred  and  forty-two  acres  was  seven- 
teen thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-two  bushels.  Of 
other  grains,  nineteen  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  bushels  were  harvested,  and  fifteen  hundred  and  fifty 
tons  of  hay  were  cut.  The  yield  of  latter  years  is  greatly 
in  excess  of  this,  as  a  result  of  the  improvement  of  much 
of  the  land  of  the  township. 

Fruits  find  here  a  congenial  soil,  though  the  apple  is  the 
staple  product  of  the  orchards.  Peaches  are  grown,  as  are 
also  plums  and  cherries,  but  not  in  great  abundance.  The 
prevailing  timber  is  elm,  beech,  maple,  and  oak,  some 
specimens  of  which  attain  an  unusual  size. 

The  Shiawassee  River  flows  through  the  northwest  por- 
tion of  the  township,  and  aflFords  excellent  water-power, 
which  is  utilized  at  West  Haven  for  manufacturing.  Six- 
Mile  Creek,  a  considerable  stream,  enters  the  township  at 
section  33,  and  flowing  northwest  pours  its  waters  into  the 

»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


NEW   HAVEN  TOWNSHIP. 


249 


river  on  section  18.     Another  stream  of  some  magnitude 
waters  the  eastern  border  of  the  township. 

ORIGINAL    LAND-PUBCHASES. 

The  lands  embraced  in  township  No.  8  north  of  range  3 
east  were  entered  from  the  government  or  purchased  from 
the  State  by  the  following  individuals : 

SECTION   1. 
L.  H.  Parsons  (State),  1854, 1865 687.09 

SECTION   2. 

.  C.  S.  Kimberley  (State),  1855 506.69 

Margaret  B.  Kimberley,  1855 87.43 

SECTION   3.  ' 

Hannah  Wade  (State),  1852 84.57 

Alpheus  Oliver  (State),  1849 160 

C.  S.  Kimberley,  1849 87.43 

M.  B.  Kimberley,  1854 160 

B.  W.  Algin,  1864 80 

Albert  Sanson,  1855 80 

SECTION   4. 

Joseph  Barry,  1836 80 

Nelson  Thomas,  1855 76.01 

L.H.  Parsons  (State),  1849 322.26 

C.  S.  Kimberley  (State),  1853 80 

E.  F.  Wade  (State),  1853 40 

S.  W.  Stout  (State),  1851 40 

SECTION   5. 

R.  MoHenry,  1836 80 

McHenry,  Healy,  Smith,  and  Keroheval,  1836 80 

John  L.  Ireland,  1836 399.28 

Gideon  Soott,  1836 78.30 

C.  S.  Kimberley,  1858 40 

Franklin  Clark,  1858 40 

SECTION   6. 

Ladd  and  Little,  1835 161-40 

Cornelius  Bergen,  1836 129.10 

MoHenry,  Keroheval,  Smith,  and  Healy,  1836 234.20 

John  Robins,  1836 ?6.S4 

SECTION   7. 

Cornelius  Bergen,  1836 271.60 

MoHenry,  Keroheval  &  Co.,  1836 322.56. 

SECTION  8. 

MoHenry,  Keroheval  &  Co.,  1836 160 

J.  L.  Ireland,  1836 240 

John  MoQowan,  1836 160 

Wm.  Marshall,  1854 80 

SECTION  9. 

William  Durkee,  Jr.,  1836 80 

William  Washburn,  1836 160 

E.  H.  Marsh,  1836 80 

William  Bloodworth,  1836 80 

George  Judson,  1836 80 

B.  H.  Marsh,  1836 80 

J.  C.  Heminway,  1864 80 

SECTION  10. 

E.  F.  Wade,  1860 320 

L.  H.  Parsons,  1849 320 

SECTION   11. 

Thomas  Durfee,  1837 80 

L.  H.  Parsons  (State),  1849, 1854 400 

C.  S.  Kimberley,  1855 160 

SECTION   12. 

Thomas  Durfee,  1837 240 

C.  S.  Kimberley  (State),  1865 320 

L.  H.  Parsons  (State),  1854 80 

SECTION  13. 

William  Durfee,  18.37 320 

M.  R.  Dimroock,  1864 »0 

•C.  S.  Kimberley  (State),  1866 240 

32 


SECTION  14. 

Acres. 

William  Durfee,  1837 320 

Milton  Sutliff  (State),  1850 320 

SECTION   15. 

William  Durkee,  Jr.,  1836 160 

Marcus  Belden,  1836 160 

H.  B.  Young,  1863 40 

Daniel  Young,  Jr.,  1854 80 

M.  B.  Conklin,1854 40 

C.  Brainard,  1849 160 

SECTION   16. 
School  lands 640 

SECTION   17. 
John  L.  Ireland,  1836 640 

SECTION   18. 
Trumbull  Gary,  1835 605.61 

SECTION   19. 
John  L.  Ireland,  1836 640.25 

SECTION  20. 

Ira  A.  White,  1836 160 

A.L.Williams,  1836 80 

Peter  Reid,  1836 400 

SECTION   21. 

C.  M.  Boutwell,  1836 320 

Peter  Reid,  1836 320 

SECTION   22. 

P.  A.  Palmer,  1836 80 

James  Roberts,  1836 40 

Norman  Burgess,  1836 80 

William  Kellogg,  1836 160 

John  N.  Garner,  1864 40 

E.  P.  Frary,  1864 120 

Mary  B.  Conklin,  1864 120 

SECTION  23. 

Horace  Hart,  1836 160 

C.  S.  Kimberley  (State),  1865 160 

L.  H.  Parsons  (State),  1854 320 

SECTION  24. 

William  Durfee,  1837 80 

Silas  R.  Pierce,  1854 80 

L.H.  Parsons  (State),  1849 320 

C.  H.  Kimberley  (State),  1855 160 

SECTION  25. 

Hezekiah  Rowley,  1837 80 

C.  S.  Kimberley  (State),  1862,  1855 660 

SECTION  26. 

Ira  Walker,  1836 160 

James  Dunton,  1836 80 

David  Davis,  1836 160 

Consider  Arms,  1836 160 

Joel  A.  Hart,  1836 80 

SECTION  27. 

Peter  A.  Palmer,  1836 160 

Ira  Walker,  1836 160 

James  Dunton,  1836 80 

S.  B.  Ansley,  1836 240 

SECTION  28. 

Richard  K.  Oliver,  1836 80 

Peter  Reid,  1836 80 

William  Brannan,  1836 80 

Pell  Teed,  Jr.,  1836 160 

Samuel  Goodham,  1836 200 

Czardus  Clark,  1851 40 

SECTION  29. 

Ira  A.  White,  1836 160 

Margaret  Hardenburgh,  1836 80 

E.  D.  Shellwine,  1836 80 

William  Durkee,  Jr.,  1836 160 

William  Brannan,  1836 120 

William  Durkee,  Jr.,  1836 40 


250 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SECTION  30. 

Acres. 

John  Jones,  1836 gU 

James  Jones,  1836 no  iq 

A.  L.  Williams,  1836 ■■••• Vt-'T 

Lot  Clark  and  Stephen  Warren,  1836 ioo..)i 

SECTION  31. 

E.  R.  Kearsley,  1836 ^7.32 

E.  Jones,  1836 ""  .. 

Daniel  Odell,  18:!6 ^^'•''" 

M.Robinson  (State),  1860 lb" 

SECTION  32. 

George  Fluek,  1836 80 

D.  P.  Sturdevant,  1836 »" 

Benjamin  Cotherin,  1836 129 

William  Durkee,  Jr.,  1836 40 

S.  C.  Hall,  1849 16" 

P.  J.  Kinney,  1849 160 

SECTION  33. 

John  Sturdevant,  1836 80 

Benjamin  Cotherin,  1836 160 

William  Eames,  1836 80 

SECTION  34. 

John  Sturdevant,  1836 80 

William  Eames,  1836 80 

R.C.Hart,  1836 80 

B.  N.  Johnson,  1836 80 

S.  B.  Ansley,  1836 - 40 

James  Vase,  1337 80 

Michael  Gibbons,  1854 120 

Col.  Thomas  Gorton,  1855 40 

Eliza  N.  Clark,  1855 40 

SECTION  35. 

James  Dunton,  1836 40 

Birdsall  N.  Johnson,  1836 80 

Horace  Hart,  1836 160 

Daniel  Prentice,  1837 80 

Alonzo  Barber,  1837 160 

James  Vase,  1837 80 

John  Lingo,  1855 40 

SECTION  36. 

Horace  Hart,  1836 160 

Daniel  Prentice,  1837 80 

Charles  S.  Kimberley,  1855 400 

SETTLEMENT  AND  SETTLERS. 

The  earliest  settler  who  invaded  the  forests  of  New  Haven 
was  Horace  Hart.    Not  a  white  man  had  yet  penetrated  this 
dense  wilderness  with  a  view  to  making  a  permanent  home 
within  its  boundaries.     Mr.  Hart  came  from  Monroe  Co., 
Mich.,  in  1836,  accompanied  by  four  sons, — Lewis,  Robert 
C,  Joel  A.,  and  Joseph  W., — all  of  whom  located  in  the 
township.     He  entered  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  various  sections  of  the  township,  and  gave  each  of 
his  sons  eighty  acres,  retaining  himself  one  hundred  and 
sixty  on  section  35,  upon  which  he  settled.     He  placed  his 
family  on  their  arrival,  in  Owosso,  while  he,  with  his  sons, 
proceeded  to  the  tract  on  the  latter  section  and  built  a 
cabin,  which  one  of  the  sons,  with  his  wife,  occupied  until 
the  family  a  few  months  later  removed  to  it.     Mr.  Hart, 
with  the  abundant  aid  which  his  family  afforded,  made 
rapid  progress  in  the  labor  of  clearing,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  first  year  had  improved  ten  acres,  a  portion  of 
which  was  sown  with  wheat.     He  was  for  some  time  com- 
paratively isolated,  the  nearest  neighbor  being  four  miles 
distant.     At  his  home  was  celebrated  the  earliest  nuptials 
in  New  Haven,  Miss  Nancy  Hart,  his  daughter,  having 
been  united  to  Mr.  Thomas  R.  Young.     In  this  family 
also  occurred  the  first  death,  that  of  his  son  Robert  C,  in 
1848.     Mr.  Hart  himself  survived  to  an  advanced  age,  and 


died  in  1867  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Joseph  W.  Hart,  who 
located  in  the  east  portion  of  the  township,  and  later  on 
section  19,  where  he  improved  the  land  and  remained  until 
his  death  in  1870.  ^he  homestead  is  now  occupied  by  his 
son  William,  who  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  farmers 
in  New  Haven.  Lewis  Hart  lived  upon  the  same  section. 
Joel  A.  Hart  removed  to  Caledonia,  where  he  died  in  1862. 
In  1837  occurred  an  incident  which  for  a  brief  time 
caused  some  consternation  in  the  neighborhood  immediately 
adjacent.  Miss  Nancy  Hart  and  a  younger  sister,  aged  five 
years,  while  strolling  in  the  woods  lost  their  way,  and  from 
Sabbath  morning  until  the  following  evening  no  tra:ce  of 
the  wanderers  could  b^  discovered.  The  settlers  for  miles 
around  joined  in  the  search,  and  they  were  at  last  discov- 
ered two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  paternal  roof,  nearly 
exhausted  with  hunger  and  fright. 

The  second  of  the  earlier  pioneers  who  found  a  home  in 
New  Haven  was  Richard  Freeman,  an  Englishman  by 
birth,  who  came  to  Michigan  very  soon  after  his  arrival 
from  the  shores  of  Great  Britain.  Peter  Reid,  a  resident 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  20,  upon  which  he  placed  Mr.  Freeman, 
who  began  at  once  the  work  of  clearing,  the  township  at 
that  time  being  totally  destitute  of  any  suggestions  of  civ- 
ilization other  than  were  indicated  by  the  small  opening 
made  by  Horace  Hart.  Mr.  Freeman  effected  a  consid- 
erable improvement  upon  this  place,  but  ultimately  removed 
to  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  he  purchased  on 
section  21.  He  afterwards  became  a  resident  of  the  town- 
ship of  Rush,  and  is  now  located  upon  section  30  in  New 
Haven. 

At  the  house  of  Richard  Freeman  was  held  the  earliest 
township-meeting,  the  voters  on  that  occasion  being  Horace 
Hart,  Lewis  Hart,  William  Durkee,  Humphrey  Wheeler, 
Richard  Freeman,  John  Dunlap,  and  Spencer  W.  Stout. 
Mr.  Freeman  has  been  during  his  residence  in  the  town- 
ship active  in  its  interests,  and  is  esteemed  as  a  most  excel- 
lent citizen. 

Humphrey  Wheeler  may  be  mentioned  as  the  third  set- 
tler in  point  of  arrival.     He  had  been  a  former  resident  of 
Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  whence  he  emigrated  to  Oak- 
land County  in  1836,  and  to  New  Haven  in  the  spring  of 
1838.     He  removed  to  and  settled  on  eighty  acres  section 
15,  which  had  been  given  Mrs.  Wheeler  by  her  father. 
A  cabin  twelve  by  sixteen  feet  in  dimensions  was  imme- 
diately constructed,  covered  with   troughs   and  having  a 
floor  made  of  hewn  logs.     The  box  of  a  sled  was  dismem- 
bered and  did  duty  as  a  door  after  some  remodeling.    Durmg 
the  construction  of  this  modest  dwelling  Richard  Freeman 
extended  the  family  a  cordial  hospitality.     The  family  of 
Mr.  Wheeler  were  victims  to  chills  and  fever,  which  pre- 
vented the  accomplishment  of  a  large  clearing  the  first 
year.     At  this  time  a  pilgrimage  of  four  miles  was  neces- 
sary to  procure  water  for  household  use.     Indians  were 
frequent   visitors,  and   bears   caused  much   consternation 
among  the  cattle.     The  following  incident  is  given  by  John 
N.  IngersoU  in  "  Sketches  of  Shiawassee  County :"  "  As 
an  illustration  of  the  trouble  which  the  pioneer  settlers  en- 
countered from  the  close  visits  of  these  '  varmints,'  James 
B.  Wheeler,  Esq.,  relates  to  us  the  fact  that  when  his  father, 


NEW   HAVEN   TOWNSHIP. 


251 


Humphrey  Wheeler,  came  into  the  county,  in  1838,  settling 
in  what  is  now  New  Haven,  lie  drove  with  him  from  Pon- 
tiac  three  good-sized  hogs ;  and  on  the  second  night  after 
his  arrival  the  entire  family  were  roused  from  their  slum- 
bers by  the  excessive  squealing  of  one  of  the  porkers,  and 
on  going  out  to  discover  the  cause  found  a  wolf  in  close 
contact  with  the  hog,  the  latter  evidently  getting  the  worst 
of  it.  The  wolf  made  its  escape  and  the  hog  was  saved, 
only,  however,  to  be  carried  oflF  the  next  night  by  a  bear, — 
the  last  of  his  pigship.  This  same  bear,  a  bold  and  plucky 
fellow,  was  just  afterwards  supposed  to  have  been  captured 
by  baiting  and  a  spring  rifle,  set  for  him  by  the  renowned 
John  Pope.  It  was  on  a  Saturday  night,  and  early  next 
morning  John  was  seen  wending  his  way  to  Corunna,  with 
the  carcass  of  old  Bruin  and  two  significant  jugs,  loaded  on 
a  '  stone  boat,'  drawn  by  oxen  of  '  Pharaoh's  lean  kine.'  " 
In  1855,  Mr.  Wheeler  erected  the  spacious  hotel  familiarly 
known  as  "  Wheeler's  Tavern,"  in  which  he  became  well- 
known  as  the  genial  ho^t  until  his  death,  in  June,  1860. 
He  was  the  earliest  supervisor  of  the  township,  and  filled 
other  important  civil  offices. 

Spencer  W.  Stout  was  a  pioneer  of  1839  from  the  Em- 
pire State,  and  made  a  location  upon  eighty  acres  on  section 
4.  Mr.  Wheeler  received  him  hospitably  on  his  arrival, 
and  entertained  him  until  a  house  could  be  built  upon  his 
land.  He  made  a  small  clearing,  but  finding  the  solitary 
life  of  a  bachelor  monotonous  very  speedily  obtained  the 
consent  of  Miss  Rosanna  Hart  to  become  his  wife.  This 
was  the  second  marriage  in  the  township.  Mr.  Stout  in 
1868  removed  to  Tennessee,  but  later  resumed  his  residence 
in  Michigan. 

John  Dunlap  was  the  earliest  settler  of  the  year  1840, 
when  he  purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  33,  remaining 
at  Owosso  while  making  the  preliminary  improvements 
upon  the  land.  His  progress  was  not  rapid,  but  a  pro- 
ductive clearing  ultimately  took  the  place  of  the  wilderness 
that  greeted  his  arrival.  Mr.  Dunlap  remained  upon  this 
farm  until  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  inspectors 
of  election,  and  filled  other  offices  of  importance. 

William  Durkee,  a  previous  resident  of  Oakland  County, 
was  also  a  pioneer  of  1840.  He  located  upon  two  hundred 
acres  on  section  29,  and  bought  an  additional  forty  on  sec- 
tion 32,  which  had  been  entered  by  him  in  1836.  He  re- 
mained with  Mr.  Wheeler  (whose  brother-in-law  he  was) 
until  a  shelter  for  his  family  was  completed,  and  on  their 
removal  he  at  once  began  clearing.  Mr.  Durkee  made 
some  progress  in  his  improvements,  but  found  the  soil  of 
New  Haven  less  suited  to  his  ideas  than  that  of  Oakland 
County,  to  which  he  returned  in  1850. 

Peter  Keid,  whose  name  has  previously  been  associated 
with  that  of  Richard  Freeman,  was  a  resident  of  New  York 
City,  and  entered  land  in  this  township  in  1836.  He  was 
for  a  while  a  settler,  and  afterwards  came  for  short  periods, 
at  one  time  remaining  for  two  consecutive  years.  He  can- 
not, however,  be  spoken  of  as  a  permanent  resident. 

Roswell  Shipman,  a  pioneer  of  1842,  came  from  Mon- 
roe Co.,  Mich.,  and  located  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  23. 
The  land  was  entirely  unimproved  on  his  arrival.  He 
erected  a  structure  of  logs  to  which  the  family  removed, 
and  Mr.  Shipman  began  the  labor  of  underbrushing  and 


clearing.  He  was  dependent  upon  his  own  exertions,  and 
found  industry  and  perseverance  indispensable  qualities  to 
his  success.  Mr.  Shipman  afterwards  removed  to  Caledonia, 
where  his  death  occurred.  Several  of  his  grandchildren 
are  still  residents  of  New  Haven. 

Czardus  Clark,  a  former  resident  of  Chautauqua  Co., 
N.  Y.,  located  in  1843  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  29, 
which  was  a  dense  forest  with  no  indication  of  civilization 
near.  John  Dunlap  was  living,  and  had  a  small  clearing, 
on  section  33,  to  which  he  and  his  family  were  welcomed 
while  building  a  cabin  of  logs.  Mr.  Clark  found  ready 
employment  in  the  felling  of  trees  and  clearing  of  brush. 
Deer  were  readily  shot  from  the  dooryard  or  supplied  by 
the  Indians,  who  traversed  the  forest  on  fishing  and  hunt- 
ing expeditions.  Wolves  were  also  occasibnal  visitors, 
though  not  so  obtrusive  as  in  other  portions  of  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  Clark  survived  until  1875,  when  he  died  in 
New  Haven.  His  sons,  Lorenzo  and  Ashley  D.,  came  at 
the  same  date,  both  of  whom  located  upon  section  29.  The 
former  is  deceased,  and  the  latter  now  resides  upon  section 
28.  Three  other  sons,  Czardus,  J.  Franklin,  and  Charles 
B.,  are  all  farmers  on  section  28. 

Jesse  B.  Amidon  removed  from  Oakland  County  and 
selected  land  upon  section  21.  John  Dunlap,  a  relative  of 
Mrs.  Amidon,  welcomed  them  on  their  arrival.  There  was 
no  highway  other  than  the  State  road,  and  some  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  reaching  his  purchase.  There  was  not 
a  saw-mill  in  the  tawnship,  Owosso  and  Corunna  being  de- 
pended on  to  supply  the  lumber  for  building  purposes. 
Mr.  Amidon  found  a  journey  of  sixty  miles  to  Pontiac 
necessary  to  obtain  flour  and  other  supplies.  He  did  not 
long  submit  to  these  privations,  but  removed  from  the  town- 
ship. In  1859  he  became  a  resident  of  Hazelton,  his 
present  home. 

Francis  R.  Pease  came  from  New  York  State  to  Living- 
ston County  in  1838,  and  to  New  Haven  in  1843.  He 
first  located  upon  section  18,  and  later  upon  section  21, 
where  he  had  forty  acres,  Mr.  Amidon  having  formerly 
occupied  the  place  and  built  a  log  house  to  which  he  re- 
moved. During  the  winter  of  his  arrival  there  occurred 
the  heaviest  snow-storm  remembered,  which  so  obstructed 
the  roads  as  to  make  travel  very  difficult.  Snow  or  deep 
water  as  a  consequence  of  defective  drainage  covered  the 
highways.  At  the  house  of  Mr.  Pease  very  early  religious 
services  were  held,  being  conducted  by  Elder  Pattison.  Mr. 
Pease  died  in  1856,  and  his  widow  still  occupies  the  home- 
stead. 

Walter  R.  Seymour  removed  from  Caledonia  to  this 
township  in  1842,  and  located  upon  eighty  acres,  entered 
by  Trumbull  Cary,  on  section  18,  later  purchased  by  Lewis 
Finley.  He  built  a  log  house  upon  this  land,  which  was 
improved,  and  occupied  until  his  death.  His  widow  still 
survives,  and  is  the  present  owner  of  the  place.  Mr.  Sey- 
mour was  prominent  in  the  earlier  interests  of  the  township 
and  held  several  town  offices. 

Isaac  W.  Rush  purchased  of  C.  M.  Boutwell  eighty 
acres  on  section  21,  upon  which  he  settled  in  1844.  He 
remained  but  a  brief  time  and  removed  to  New  York  State, 
where  he  died. 

The   names  of  settlers  who  had  come  to  the  township 


252 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


prior  to  1844  are  approximately  shown  by  the  following 
list,  which  embraces  the  resident  tax-payers  in  New  Haven 
for  that  year,  with  the  section  on  which  the  land  is  located 
and  number  of  acres : 

Acres. 

Spencer  W.  Stout,  section  4 80 

Humphrey  Wheeler,  section  15 80 

Walter  R.  Seymour,  section  18 80 

Richard  Freeman,  section  21 ISO 

Isaac  W.  Rush,  section  21 80 

Jesse  B.  Amidon,  section  21 40 

Joseph  W.  Hart,  section  23 80 

RoswcU  Shipman,  section  2.3 80 

William  Durkee,  sections  9,29,  32 360 

Dwight  Dimmock,  section  28 120 

John  Dunlap,  section  33 80 

Lewis  Hart,  section  34 80 

Joel  A.  Hart,  section  26 80 

Horace  Hart,  sections  35,  36 240 

Robert  C.  Hart,  section  36.. .^ 80 

John  B.  Burns,  section  36 240 

Richard  Freeman,  section  20 80 

Peter  Reid,  section  20 80 

Robert  Ireland Personal. 

F.  R.  Pease " 

D.  W.  Wheeler " 

Dwight  Dimmock  came  from  Owosso  to  New  Haven  in 
1844,  and  located  upon  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on 
section  28,  which  is  at  present  occupied  by  C.  B.  Clark. 
He  began  a  clearing  and  improved  a  few  acres,  but  finding 
his  labors  uncongenial,  returned  again  to  his  former  resi- 
dence. 

John  Pope,  a  somewhat  eccentric  character,  came  to 
New  Haven  in  1844,  and  bought  land  on  section  19.  He 
afterwards  removed  to  section  34,  upon  the  Lewis  Hart 
&rm,  and,  after  a  somewhat  migratory  life,  settled  in  Owosso, 
where  he  died,  in  1866. 

Lewis  Finley  purchased,  in  1845,  the  whole  of  section 
18,  which  was  entered  in  1835  by  Trumbull  Gary.  A 
portion  of  this  he  located  upon  and  improved.  On  his 
death  it  was  inherited  by  his  sons  Aaron  and  Nathan, 
who  now  occupy  it.  The  Dumond  family,  consisting  of 
father  and  sons,  made  their  advent  in  1849,  having  been 
former  residents  of  the  State  of  New  York.  They  im- 
proved a  farm  on  section  29.  Some  members  of  the  family 
are.  still  residents  of  the  township. 

Geoi^e  Ott  came  from  New  York  State  to  Monroe 
County  in  1847,  and  purchased  meanwhile,  in  the  town- 
ship of  New  Haven,  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 19.  He  employed  other  parties  to  do  the  clearing, 
and  erected  on  Six-Mile  Creek  the  first  saw-mill  in  the 
township,  which  for  several  years  was  run  profitably.  He 
aflerwards  divided  the  early  purchase  among  his  children 
and  purchased  a  farm  of  ninety  acres  on  section  18,  the  site 
of  his  present  r^idence. 

Daniel  Young,  a  pioneer  from  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  located, 
in  1852,  upon  forty  acres  on  section  15,  which  he  subse- 
quently increased  to  eighty,  and  upon  which  he  erected  a 
substantial  residence.  At  this  date  there  were  no  roads 
intersecting  the  State  road,  and  no  family  had  located 
within  a  distance  of  twenty  miles  north.  Humphrey 
Wheeler — one  mile  distant — was  the  nearest  neighbor. 
He  offered  the  family  hospitality  for  a  period  of  six  weeks, 
while  Mr.  Young  obtained  employment  in  the  harvest 
fields.  He  built  a  house  of  boards,  which  afforded  him  a 
comfortable  home  for  fourteen  years,  after  which  his  pres- 
ent dwelling  was  erected.   Indians  of  the  Fisher  tribe  were 


frequent  visitors.  They  were  great  beggars,  and  did  not 
maintain  the  established  reputation  of  the  race  for  honesty. 
Mr.  Young  has  two  children  residing  in  the  township,  to 
whom  he  gave  each  forty  acres  on  the  same  section. 

Rev.  William  Cochran  removed  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  to 
Washtenaw  County  in  1837,  and  to  the  township  of  New 
Haven  in  1852,  where  he  purchased  of  Warren  Hart  the 
east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  23.  Some 
improvements  had  been  made  on  the  land  and  a  log  house 
erected,  though  few  settlers  had  yet  arrived.  He  devoted 
much  time  to  the  cultivation  of  this  farm,  and  also  became 
familiar  to  the  residents  in  the  exercise  of  his  sacred  call- 
ing, having  been  one  of  the  earliest  preachers  in  New 
Haven.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cochran  now  reside  in  Corunna,  the 
latter  having  been  a  very  early  pioneer  in  Washtenaw  County. 

Phineas  Burch  came  in  1854  from  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  made  a  home  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  16,  upon 
which  there  were  no  improvements.  The  State  road  having 
passed  his  farm  afforded  him  advantages  of  travel  not  en- 
joyed by  many  of  his  neighbors.  He  built  a  log  cabin  on 
his  arrival  and  effected  a  clearing  of  three  acres  the  first 
year.  His  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  however,  occu- 
pied much  of  his  time.  The  farm  is  still  his  home,  which 
by  cultivation  has  been  made  very  productive. 

Chester  Cram,  who  preceded  Mr.  Burch  by  one  year, 
came  from  Oakland  County,  whence  he  removed  from  New 
York  State.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  27,  together  with  an  additional  eighty  which  he 
sold  on  arrival.  On  the  remainder  he  located  and  erected 
a  house  of  logs,  meanwhile  avaUihg  himself  of  the  tem- 
porary abode  offered  by  Roswell  Shipman.  Mr.  Cram 
cleared  ten  acres  the  first  year,  and  continued  improving 
the  land  until  his  death  in  1866.  His  two  sons,  Horace 
and  Levi,  live  upon  sections  27  and  22,  respectively,  and 
with  them  their  mother  alternately  resides. 

James  H.  Desbrough  removed  from  Ann  Arbor  to  New 
Haven  in  1855,  having  come  direct  from  England  to  the 
former  place  in  1852.  He  located  upon  eighty  acres  on 
section  26,  which  was  entirely  uncleared.  He  remained 
with  William  Cochran  while  building  a  temporary  home, 
and  soon  after  had  effected  a  considerable  clearing.  Mr. 
Desbrough  erected  a  substantial  residence  in  1869,  but 
lived  only  one  year  to  enjoy  it.  His  widow  now  occupies 
the  farm. 

S.  H.  and  J.  Alliton  came  with  their  grandfather,  Ros- 
well Shipman,  to  the  township  in  1855.  They  engaged  in 
daily  labor  until  the  opening  of  the  war,  when  they  entered 
the  army.  After  their  terms  of  service  had  expired,  each 
purchased  a  farm  on  section  33.  This  land  was  uncleared, 
but  has  since  been  rendered  by  careful  labor  among  the 
most  valuable  farms  in  New  Haven,  and  upon  each  is 
erected  a  substantial  residence. 

Samuel  P.  Conklin  came  from  Rockland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1857,  and  located  upon  forty  acres  on  section  22.  In  the 
midst  of  the  forest  which  covered  this  land  a  frame  house 
was  standing  that  had  been  erected  by  J.  J.  Grarner,  a 
circuit  preacher,  of  whom  he  purchased  the  property.  In 
1869,  Mr.  Conklin  removed  to  his  present  farm  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  28.  Daniel  Conklin  preceded  him  one 
year,  and  located  upon  section  22,  where  he  still  resides. 


NEW   HAVEN  TOWNSHIP. 


253 


Patrick  Riley  came  from  Flint  to  this  township  in  1857, 
having  purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  24.  He  remained 
with  Jesse  D.  Hanford  on  section  26  while  building,  and 
immediately  after  began  chopping.  A  clearing  of  ten  acres 
was  the  result  of  his  first  year's  labor.  In  the  spring  a  fine 
crop  covered  this  land.  He  has  been  successful  in  his 
farming  pursuits,  and  now  has  two  hundred  acres  on  sec- 
tion 26  and  eighty  on  an  adjoining  section. 

Edward  Murray  came  at  the  same  time  as  his  friend 
Riley,  with  whom  he  remained  until  a  house  had  been 
erected  on  section  25,  where  he  owned  eighty  acres.  He 
still  resides  upon  this  land,  where  he  has  a  well-improved 
farm. 

Michael  Hart,  who  was  formerly  employed  upon  the 
Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  36  in  1860.  It  had  been  for- 
merly occupied  and  some  improvements  had  been  made 
upon  the  land.  He  is  rapidly  cultivating  this  farm,  having 
nearly  half  of  it  now  covered  by  growing  crops. 

Christopher  Roehm  come  to  the  township  in  1861,  and 
remained  for  a  year  at  Six-Mile  Creek,  now  West  Haven. 
He  meanwhile  purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  32,  and 
while  building  upon  it  remained  upon  the  Dunlap  farm. 
He  has  greatly  improved  this  land,  and  still  resides  upon 
it.  His  son,  William  H.,  is  the  present  clerk  of  the 
township. 

Among  other  names  .that  may  with  propriety  be  men- 
tioned on  the  roll  of  pioneers  are  those  of  Oliver  Hopkins, 
John  Desbrough,  H.  W.  Wheeler,  Lewis  Rowe,  P.  B.  Soule, 
John  T.  Shepard,  Willis  Taylor,  Ira  Root,  J.  R.  Knight, 
William  M.  Lindsey,  A.  D.  Whitney,  H.  J.  Hopkins,  and 
0.  C.  Gaylord. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

New  Haven  was  erected  a  separate  civil  township  by  an 
act  of  the  State  Legislature  approved  March  20, 1841,  which 
provided  "  That  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Shiawassee 
designated  as  township  number  eight  north,  of  ranges 
number  three  and  four  east,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of 
New  Haven,  and  the  first  township-meeting  shall  be  held  at 
the  dwelling-house  of  Richard  Freeman  in  said  township." 
The  eastern  half  of  the  township  so  erected  and  described 
was  taken  off  and  erected  into  the  township  of  Hazelton  by 
act  of  March  25,  1850,  thus  reducing  New  Haven  to  its 
present  limits. 

Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  act  erecting  New 
Haven,  the  electors  of  the  township  met  on  the  first  Monday 
in  April,  1841,  at  the  house  of  Richard  Freeman,  for  the 
purpose  of  choosing  township  officers.  Humphrey  Wheeler 
was  chosen  Moderator ;  Horace  Hart,  Joel  A.  Hart,  John 
Dunlap,  and  William  Durkee,  Jr.,  Inspectors  of  Elections ; 
Peter  Reid,  Clerk ;  and  Lewis  Hart,  Assistant  Clerk.  The 
officers  elected  for  the  year  were  Supervisor,  Humphrey 
Wheeler ;  Township  Clerk,  Joel  A.  Hart ;  Treasurer,  Lewis 
Hart;  Assessors,  H.  Wheeler,  William  Durkee,  Horace 
Hart ;  School  Inspectors,  Horace  Hart,  H.  Wheeler,  Peter 
Reid ;  Directors  of  Poor,  Richard  Freeman,  Joel  A.  Hart ; 
Highway  Commissioners,  Peter  Reid,  John  Dunlap ;  Justices 


of  the  Peace,  H.  Hart,  H.  Wheeler,  Peter  Reid,  William 

Durkee ;  Constable,  Robert  C.  Hart. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  civil  officers  elected  in 

the  township  of  New  Haven  from  1843   to  the  present 

time,  viz.  : 

1843. — Supervisor,  Humphrey  Wheeler  ;  Township  Clerk, 
William  Durkee ;  Treasurer,  J.  A.  Hart ;  Asses- 
sors, Horace  Hart,  William  Durkee ;  School 
Inspectors,  H.  Wheeler,  Horace  Hart ;  Highway 
Commissioners,  Walter  Seymour,  H.  Wheeler; 
Justice,  P.  W.  Stout ;  Directors  of  Poor,  Walter 
Seymour,  H.  Wheeler ;  Constables,  J.  W.  Hart, 
J.  B.  Amidon. 

1844. — Supervisor,  Horace  Hart;  Township  Clerk,  Dwight 
Dimmock ;  Treasurer,  J.  B.  Amidon ;  Justice, 
Roswell  Shipman  ;  Assessors,  Lewis  Hart,  P.  R. 
Pease ;  Highway  Commissioners,  I.  W.  Rush, 
W.  Seymour ;  School  Inspector,  Joel  A.  Hart ; 
Director  of  Poor,  Walter  Seymour ;  Constable, 
J.  W.  Hart. 

1845. — Supervisor,  Horace  Hart ;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
Wheeler ;  Assessor,  Lewis  Finley ;  Treasurer, 
Lewis  Hart ;  Director  of  Poor,  S.  W.  Stout ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  F.  R.  Pease;  Justices, 
Lewis  Finley,  Horace  Stout ;  Constables,  J.  W. 
Hart,  D.  W.  Wheeler. 

1846. — Supervisor,  Joel  A.  Hart;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
Wheeler  ;  Justice,  Horace  Hart ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, Richard  Freeman,  J.  A.  Hart;  Di- 
rectors of  Poor,  S.  W.  Stout,  R.  C.  Hart; 
Assessors,  L.  Finley,  Horace  Hart;  School  In- 
spectors, J.  A.  Hart,  Lewis  Finley ;  Constable, 
R.  C.  Hart. 

1847. — Supervisor,  'J.  A.  Hart ;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
Wheeler;  Treasurer,  Lewis  Hart;  Justice,  S. 
W.  Stout ;  Assessors,  Joseph  W.  Hart,  Lewis 
Finley ;  School  Inspector,  Lewis  Finley ;  High- 
way Commissioners,  Horace  Hart,  Richard  Free- 
man ;  Directors  of  Poor,  S.  W.  Stout,  Robert 
C.  Hart ;  Constables,  R.  C.  Hart,  Josiah  Dunlap. 

1848. — Supervisor,  Lewis  Finley ;  Township  Clerk,  H 
Wheeler ;  Treasurer,  D.  W.  Wheeler  ;  Assessor 
Horace  Hart ;  Highway  Commissioner,  W.  R 
Seymour ;  School  Inspector,  Lewis  Finley ;  Di- 
rectors of  Poor,  Lewis  Finley,  J.  W.  Hart 
Constables,  Josiah  Dunlap,  D.  W.  Wheeler. 

1849. — Supervisor,  Czardus  Clark ;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
Wheeler;  Treasurer,  D.  W.  Wheeler;  School 
Inspector,  Czardus  Clark ;  Directors  of  Poor, 
S.  W.  Stout,  F.  R.  Pease;  Assessors,  W.  R. 
Seymour,  H.  Wheeler ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
Czardus  Clark  ;  Justice,  Lewis  Hart;  Constables, 
Josiah  Dunlap,  D.  W.  Wheeler. 

1850. — Supervisor,  Lewis  Hart ;  Township  Clerk,  Horace 
Hart ;  Treasurer,  Peter  Dumond ;  Directors  of 
Poor,  John  Dunlap,  W.  R.  Seymour ;  School 
Inspector,  Levi  Rowe ;  Assessors,  F.  R.  Pease, 
J.  R.  Hart;  Highway  Commissioner,  J.  W. 
Diamond ;  Justices,  W.  V.  Dumond,  F.  R. 
Pease  ;  Constables,  Peter  Dumond,  Peter  Soule. 


254 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1851.— Supervisor,  Lewis  Hart;  Township  Clerk,  Horace 
Hart;  Treasurer,  George  Ott;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, W.  R.  Seymour ;  School  Inspector, 
John  T.  Shepard;  Justice,  John  T.  Shepard; 
Assessor,  Lewis  Rowe ;  Director  of  Poor,  John 
Dunlap;  Constables,  Peter  Dumond,  M.  R. 
Finley. 

1852.— Supervisor,  H.  Wheeler ;  Township  Clerk,  David 
Wheeler;  Treasurer,  George  Ott;  School  In- 
spector, Horace  Hart;  Director  of  Poor,  John 
Dunlap ;  Assessor,  Avery  French  ;  Justices,  F.  R. 
Pease,  P.  B.  Soule;  Highway  Commissioner, 
W.  M.  Linzey ;  Constables,  H.  Dumond,  D.  W. 
Wheeler. 

1853.— Supervisor,  Humphrey  Wheeler;  Township  Clerk, 
Horace  Hart;  Treasurer,  George  Ott;  School 
Inspector,  Daniel  Young;  Director  of  Poor, 
.  John  Dunlap ;  Assessors,  Lewis  Hart,  F.  R. 
Pease ;  Justices,  Lewis  Hart,  William  Cochran  ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  J.  T.  Shepard;  Con- 
stables, E.  H.  Wheeler,  J.  G.  Ott,  Josiah  Dunlap. 

1854. — Supervisor,  Lewis  Hart ;  Township  Clerk,  Horace 
Hart ;  Treasurer,  Seymour  Shipman  ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  W.  R.  Seymour;  Justice,  William 
Cochran  j  School  Inspector,  H.  Wheeler ;  Direc- 
tor of  Poor,  John  Dunlap ;  Constables,  P.  Du- 
mond, P.  B.  Soule,  John  Mansberger ;  Assessor, 
Lewis  Hart. 

1855. — Supervisor,  Phineas  Burch  ;  Township  Clerk, 
Humphrey  Wheeler  ;  Treasurer,  S.  Shipman  ; 
Justices,  A.  B.  Clarke,  Willis  Taylor ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  William  Linzey ;  School  Inspec- 
tor, Daniel  Young,  Jr. ;  Assessor,  H.  Wheeler ; 
Director  of  Poor,  F.  R.  "Pease ;  Constables, 
Joseph  Ott,  P.  Dumond. 

1856. — Supervisor,  P.  Burch ;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
Wheeler ;  Treasurer,  Daniel  Young,  Jr. ;  Justice, 
Ira  Root;  Highway  Commissioner,  Asa  Whit- 
ney ;  School  Inspector,  H.  J.  Hopkins ;  Director 
of  Poor,  William  Cochran. 

1857. — Supervisor, P.  Burch;  Township  Clerk,  H.Wheeler; 
Treasurer,  Daniel  Young,  Jr. ;  Justice,  Lewis 
Hart;  Highway  Commissioner,  Walter  R.  Sey- 
mour ;  School  Inspector,  Daniel  Young,  Jr. ; 
Director  of  Poor,  Czardus  Clark ;  Constables, 
Joseph  Ott,  J.  R.  Knight. 

1858. — Supervisor,  Lewis  Hart;  Township  Clerk,  Sey- 
mour Shipman ;  Treasurer,  Wm.  Shankland 
Justice,  0.  C.  Gaylord ;  School  Inspector,  H.  J 
Hopkins;  Highway  Commissioner,  J.  R.  Knight 
Director  of  Poor,  H.  Wheeler;  Constables 
Warren  Ladd,  L.  M.  Newall,  A.  D.  Whitney 
G.  A.  Wallace. 

1859. — Supervisor,  P.  Burch ;  Township  Clerk,  H.Wheeler 
Treasurer,  A.  D.  Wheeler ;  Justices,  Wm.  Moore 
C.  Clark  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  William  M 
Linzey ;  School  Inspector,  Daniel  Young,  Jr. 
Director  of  Poor,  J.  R.  Knight ;  Constables,  J. 
H.  Wortman,  W.  H.  Shankland,  Patrick  Riley 

I860.— Supervisor,  Phineas  Burch;  Township  Clerk,  H 


1861 
1871. 


1872 


1873. 


1874 


1875 


1876 


1877.' 


1878 


1879 


Wheeler ;  Treasurer,  H.  J.  Hopkins ;  Justice, 
P.  Burch ;  School  Inspectors,  H.  J.  Hopkins, 
0.  C.  Gaylord ;  Constables,  H.  J.  Hopkins, 
Isaiah  Ott. 

■70. — Not  obtainable. 

— Supervisor,  Phineas  Burch  ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  P. 
Parkhurst ;  Treasurer,  J.  P.  Jones ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  W.  Underwood  ;  School  Inspec- 
tor, J.  P.  Jones ;  Constable,  J.  P.  Jones. 

— Supervisor,  A.  D.  Whitney;  Township  Clerk,  S. 
H.  Alliton  ;  Treasurer,  J.  P.  Jones ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  George  Ireland ;  School  Inspector, 
Thomas  Jenkinson. 

, — Supervisor,  A.  D.  Whitney ;  Township  Clerk,  J. 
H.  Alliton  ;  Treasurer,  C.  S.  Dickenson  ;  School 
Inspectors,  R.  H.  Angel,  Thomas  Jenkinson ; 
Drain  Commissioner,  Charles  Houghton  ;  High- 
way Commissioner,  Charles  B.  Linzey ;  Justices, 
M.  H.  Ridley,  Seymour  Hart ;  Constable,  Thos. 
E.  Hanson. 

— Supervisor,  A.  D.  Whitney  ;  Township  Clerk,  S. 
H.  Alliton  ;  Treasurer,  C.  S.  Dickenson  ;  Justice, 
L.  W.  Pray ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Thomas 
Jenkinson  ;  Drain  Commissioner,  A.  E.  Herring- 
ton  ;  School  Inspector,  Thomas  Jenkinson. 

— Supervisor,  A.  D.  Whitney;  Township  Clerk,  S. 
H.  Alliton ;  Treasurer,  C.  S.  Dickenson ;  Jus- 
tices, T.  E.  Hanson,  G.  E.  Hurd ;  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  M.  A.  Taylor;  Drain  Com- 
missioner, Ellis  Ott;  Highway  Commissioner, 
Geo.  Ireland ;  School  Inspector,  Thomas  Jenkin- 
son ;  Constable,  W.  F.  Williams. 

, — Supervisor,  C.  S.  Dickenson ;  Township  Clerk,  S. 
R.  Chamberlain  ;  Treasurer,  Ellis  Ott ;  Justice, 
Chas.  B.  Linzey ;  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
L.  W.  Pray  ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Urius  Smith; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Edward  Gorman ;  School 
Inspector,  M.  H.  Ridley ;  Constables,  W.  P. 
Williams,  R.  H.  Vanhorn,  L.  H.  Smith. 
Supervisor,  C.  S.  Dickenson ;  Township  Clerk, 
Wm.  H.  Ream ;  Treasurer,  S.  H.  Alliton  ;  Jus- 
tice, L.  W.  Pray  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  A. 
D.  Whitney ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  L.  W. 
Pray  ;  School  Inspector,  S.  J.Young ;  Constables, 
W.  F.  Williams,  Van.  V.  E.  Ridley,  William 
Dumond. 

— Supervisor,  C.  S.  Dickenson ;  Township  Clerk,  W. 
H.  Ream ;  Treasurer,  S.  H.  Alliton ;  Justice, 
M.  Hotchkins ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  L.  W. 
Pray  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  A.  D.  Whitney ; 
Drain  Commissioner,  W.  F.  Williams;  School 
Inspector,  J.  W.  Clark  ;  Constables,  D.  M.  Pease, 
S.  H.  Alliton,  Wm.  W.  Hart. 

, — Supervisor.  Nathaniel  Ball ;  Township  Clerk,  W. 
H.  Ream ;  Treasurer,  S.  H.  Alliton  ;  Justice, 
T.  W.  Hinion  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  W.  D. 
Underwood ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  S.  J. 
Young ;  School  Inspector,  J.  W.  Clark ;  Con- 
stables, W.  W.  Hart,  D.  M.  Pease,  Ralph  Wil- 
liams, S.  H.  Alliton. 


NEW   HAVEN  TOWNSHIP. 


255 


1880.— Supervisor,  Nathaniel  Ball ;  Township  Clerk,  W. 
H.  Keam  ;  Treasurer,  W.  C.  Underwood  ;  High- 
way Commissioner,  E.  Penebaker;  Justices, 
Sidney  McCready,  Oliver  Hopson  ;  Drain  Com- 
missioner, J.  W.  Fairbanks;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  S.  J.  Young ;  School  Inspector,  J.  W. 
Clark ;  Constables,  J.  C.  Fox,  T.  E.  Hastings, 
W.  D.  Underwood. 

EARLY  HIGHWAYS. 
The  earliest  highway  in  New  Haven  was  laid  out  by  the 
State,  and  known  as  the  "  State  Road."  It  ran  north  and 
south,  entering  the  township  on  section  33,  and  following  a 
northerly  course  to  section  21,  then  angled  to  the  east,  but 
again  took  a  direct  north  course  on  the  section-line  between 
sections  15,  16,  9, 10,  3,  and  4,  and  passed  out  of  the  town- 
ship. The  date  of  this  survey  is  "hot  a  matter  of  township 
record.  The  earliest  recorded  road  in  New  Haven  began  at 
a  stake  on  the  north  bank  of  Six-Mile  Creek,  in  the  centre 
of  the  road  running  north  through  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  18,  and  pursuing  a  northerly  course,  terminated  at 
a  stake  on  the  north  line  of  the  township,  east  of  the  quar- 
ter post  on  the  south  line  of  section  31.  The  date  of 
survey  is  not  given,  though  jobs  for  clearing  the  route  of 
this  road  were  awarded  August  19,  1843,  by  Humphrey 
Wheeler,  Horace  Hart,  and  Walter  R.  Seymour,  then  com- 
missioners of  highways. 

The  next  recorded  road  was  surveyed  by  Andrew  Hug- 
gins,  June  10,  1847,  and  is  entitled  a  "  Road  from  Dun- 
lap's  west  to  Town  Line."  Beginning  at  the  corners  of 
sections  28,  29,  and  33,  and  running  south  eighty-nine 
degrees  and  fifty -six  minutes  west  on  the  section-line  thirty- 
nine  chains  and  ninety-six  links  to  the  quarter  post  stand- 
ing on  the  south  side  of  section  29  ;  thence  south  eighty- 
nine  degrees  and  fifty  minutes  west  forty  chains  to  the 
corners  of  sections  29,  30,  31,  and  32  ;  thence  south  eighty- 
nine  degrees  and  twenty  minutes  west  thirty-nine  chains 
and  ninety  links  to  the  quarter  post  on  the  south  side 
of  section  30  ;  thence  south  eighty-eight  degrees  fifty-three 
minutes  west  thirty-five  chains  and  five  links  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  section  30. 

The  township  was  originally  divided  into  seven  highway 

districts. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  township,  though  first  settled  in  1836,  was  without 
educational  advantages  until  1843.  Daring  the  year  a 
school-house  of  logs  was  erected  on  land  owned  by  F.  R. 
Pease,  on  the  south  section-line  of  section  21.  Ira  W. 
Rush  was  the  early  teacher  who  taught  the  rudiments  to 
the  rising  youth  of  New  Haven.  The  log  structure  was 
later  superseded  by  a  frame  one,  familiarly  known  as  the 
"  old  red  school-house."  It  still  remains  as  one  of  the  land- 
marks of  the  olden  time,  though  age  has  sadly  impaired  the 
symmetry  of  its  proportions  and  the  brightness  of  its  color 
has  departed.  Early  religious  services  were  held  in  the 
original  log  building  by  Noah  Pettus,  who  divided  with  Elder 
Patterson  the  honor  of  having  been  the  earliest  messenger 
of  gospel  tidings. 

The  territory  of  New  Haven  is  now  divided  into  seven 
whole  and  two  fractional  school-districts,  under  supervision 


of  the  following-named  board  of  directors  :  Uriah  Smith, 
Frederick  Schantz,  George  Ott,  Horace  B.  Cram,  P.  P. 
Beswick,  J.  H.  AUiton,  Cornelius  Knight,  J.  M.  Bishop, 
John  Hanna. 

Three  hundred  and  twenty-five  children  received  instruc- 
tion during  the  past  year,  of  whom  nineteen  were  non-res- 
idents. They  were  under  charge  of  four  male  and  fifteen 
female  teachers.  The  total  value  of  school  property  in  the 
township  is  $5350,  and  its  total  resources  for  the  year  for 
educational  purposes  62953.91,  of  which  $197.28  is  de- 
rived from  the  primary-school  fund. 

CHUKCH   HISTORY. 
WESLBYAN   METHODIST   CHURCH. 

The  first  society  of  this  denomination  was  organized  in 
1851  by  the  Rev.  William  Cochran,  of  Corunna.  After 
a  brief  career'  the  church  was  reorganized  at  the  "  old  red 
school-house"  as  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  winter  of  1871,  Rev.  Mr.  McGee  collected  the 
scattered  members  of  the  former  body,  and  at  the  same 
school-house  formed  another  church.  During  the  season 
another  class  was  organized  at  the  school  building  known  as 
the  Desbrough  school-house.  Rev.  Mr.  McGee  remained 
for  two  ye|rs  as  pastor  of  these  churches  (which  were  and 
are  a  part  of  the  Shiawassee  Circuit),  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Lyon,  who  remained  for  one  year,  when  Rev.  Mr. 
McGee  returned  to  the  charge.  Rev.  William  Waterman 
became  pastor  in  1874,  and  under  his  labors  the  member- 
ship  was  greatly  increased.  In  1875,  Rev.  Harvey  Johnson 
was  called  to  preside  over  the  charge,  and  in  1877  he  or- 
ganized the  Underwood  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  with 
the  following  membership:  Edmund  Underwood,  Mrs. 
Underwood,  Eva  Morse,  Charles  Morse,  Orlando  Morse, 
Mary  E.  Morse,  Squire  Williams,  Daniel  Young,  Catharine 
Young,  Martha  E.  Dutcher,  Robert  Dutcher,  Harvey  John- 
son, Martha  Johnson,  Melissa  J.  Young.  The  present 
class-leader  is  Charies  Morse,  and  the  stewards  are  Edmund 
Underwood,  Orlando  Morse,  and  Robert  Dutcher.  The 
clerk  is  Daniel  Young.  Rev.  L.  B.  Jessop  became  pastor 
in  1877,  and  was  succeeded  in  1879  by  Rev.  William  Daven- 
port, who  still  ministers  to  the  congregation,  and  has  been 
signally  blessed  in  his  labors. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHUECH. 

The  church  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  in 
New  Haven  was  organized  in  April,  1859,  as  a  part  of  the 
Corunna  Circuit,  in  the  Owosso  district.  The  Rev.  L.  C. 
York  was  the  first  pastor.  In  1868  it  was  transferred  to 
the  Chesaning  charge,  while  under  the  ministrations  of  Rev. 
A.  B.  Clough. 

The  pastors  in  succession  since  that  time  have  been  as 
follows:  in  1870,  Rev.  T.  G.  Omans,  who  was  in  1871 
followed  by  Rev.  D..  B.  Miller.  In  1872,  Rev.  A.  Allen 
was  pastor  in  charge,  and  in  1875,  Rev.  C.  P.  Kellerman 
succeeded.  Rev.  J.  W.  Crippin  ministered  to  the  church 
in  1877,  and  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  H.  W.  Hicks,  was 
installed  in  1879.  Services  are  held  in  the  school-house 
semi-monthly,  though  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice  is 
but  a  matter  of  time.  Phineas  Burch  has  been  for  many 
years  class-leader. 


25Q 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


GERMAN  BVANGBLICAL  CHUKCH. 

This  organization  was  formed  in  1860  by  Rev.  Christo- 
pher RoeBtm,  with  a  membership  of  thirty.  Services  had 
been  early  held  at  the  house  of  Frederick  Steiner,  with 
Godfrey  Schontz  as  class-leader.  In  1875  the  society  be- 
came sufiSciently  strong  to  begin  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice,  which  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  twelve  hundred 
dollars,  the  debt  having  been  wholly  liquidated.  The  loca- 
tion of  the  church  building  is  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  19. 

The  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Brumm,  who  resides  in  Owosso, 
the  church  at  New  Haven  being  a  part  of  the  Owosso  Cir- 
cuit. The  trustees  are  Fred  Yenkel,  Christian  Cooley, 
Fred  Kirn,  Jr.,  Godfrey  Schontz. 

CHUECH   OF  THE   DISCIPLES. 

A  society  under  the  discipline  of  the  denomination  above 
mentioned  was  organized  in  1875,  by  Elder  Houghton.  It 
grew  in  numbers  and  influence  during  the  two  succeeding 
years,  and  in  1877  measures  were  taken  for  the  erection  of 
a  house  of  worship,  ground  having  been  secured  for  the 
purpose  on  section  3.  The  building  was  soon  after  com- 
pleted, and  services  are  held  on  each  alternate  Sabbath. 

VILLAGE   OF  WEST  HAVEN.* 

The  village  of  West  Haven  is  described  in  its  survey  as 
situated  on  the  north  part  of  the  northwest  fractional  quar- 
ter of  section  No.  18,  in  township  No.  8  north,  of  raage 
No.  3  east,  and  was  surveyed  Nov.  4,  5,  and  6,  1869,  for 
E.  B.  White  and  D.  M.  Estey,  by  Ezra  Mason.  The  land 
was  originally  entered  from  government  by  Trumbull  Gary, 
in  1835,  and  later  owned  by  Lewis  Finley.  After  some 
transfers  a  portion  of  it  came  into  the  possession  of  George 
Wallace,  who  disposed  of  forty  acres  to  Messrs.  Estey  and 
White,  as  did  also  Seymour  Goodell  a  smaller  tract  which 
he  owned. 

The  water-power  was  first  improved  by  Mr.  Quackenbush, 
who  built  a  dam  upon  Six-Mile  Creek  and  erected  a  saw- 
mill. It  was  run  successfully  for  a  number  of  years,  but 
finally  went  to  decay.  Mr.  E.  B.  White  became  a  resi- 
dent in  1868,  and  io  1869,  D.  M.  Estey  came  and  erected 
upon  the  Shiawassee  River  an  extensive  factory  for  the 
manufacture  of  furniture,  under  the  name  of  the  Estey 
Manufacturing  Company.  This  establishment,  which  by 
its  magnitude  and  the  employment  it  afibrds,  makes  the 
village  a  point  of  some  business  interest,  is  propelled  by 
water-power  furnished  by  the  Shiawassee  River,  and  ob- 
tains its  material  exclusively  from  the  adjacent  country. 
It  is  at  present  chiefly  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  bed- 
steads, of  which  are  produced  twelve  hundred  per  month. 
For  these  a  market  is  found  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Wisconsin, 
Illinois,  Minnesota,  and  the  large  cities  of  the  East.  D. 
M.  Estey  is  president  and  treasurer  of  the  company,  and 
Charles  E.  Rigley  vice-president  and  secretary. 

The  earliest  store  in  West  Haven  was  built  by  Joseph 
Gibbs,  who  placed  in  it  a  stock  of  goods,  but  did  not  long 
remain  a  resident.  He  was  followed  by  Abram  Mott,  who 
erected  a  spacious  store,  which  was  later  purchased  by  Messrs. 
Estey  &  Tooley.  It  was  subsequently  controlled  by  the 
Estey  Manufacturing  Company,  who  are  at  present  proprie- 


tors, and  employ  J.  W.  Angell  as  general  manager  of  their 
mercantile  interests.  He  is  also  the  postmaster  of  West 
Haven.  The  village  contains  a  blacksmith-shop,  which  is 
carried  on  by  Anson  Kimball,  and  a  wagon-shop  owned  by 
Frank  Thill. 

In  point  of  location  West  Haven  has  many  natural  ad- 
vantages. It  possesses  an  excellent  water-power,  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  productive  farming  country,  and  has  one  of 
the  most  picturesque  and  attractive  sites  in  the  county  for 
a  growing  village. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JACOB  WIEDMAN. 

John  and  Mary  (Fry)  Wiedman  were  natives  of  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  and  reared  a  family  of  four  boys  and 
two  girls.  Three  are  residents  of  this  country, — John,  Jr., 
at  Ann  Arbor,  Frederick  in  Pike  Co.,  111.,  and  Jacob,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  Jan.  1,  1834.  His 
earliest  recollections  are  of  stories  told  of  a  land  across 
the  waters  where  each  could  build  up  their  possessions  as 
unlimited  as  their  desires  or  capacity  would  wish.  At  nine- 
teen, after  having  passed  through  their  rigid  school  disci- 
pline, he  borrowed  sufficient  money  of  an  elder  brother  to  pay 
his  passage,  and  set  out  upon  a  voyage  to  the  New  World. 
Most  of  his  fellow-passengers  had  decided  upon  Michigan 
as  their  future  home,  and  from  New  York  City  he  came 
with  them  to  Ann  Arbor.  He  obtained  employment  for 
two  months  at  ten  dollars  per  month  upon  a  farm.  With 
his  first  pay  he  canceled  the  debt  with  his  brother,  and  so 
faithfully  did  he  serve  his  employer  that  he  remained  eight 
years.  During  this  time,  in  1860,  he  purchased  seventy- 
one  acres  on  section  19,  New  Haven  township,  their  present 
home.  On  Feb.  4,  1862,  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Abraham  and  Sally  (Koons)  Steffe,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  removed  to  Ann  Arbor  in  1856,  and  followed 
farming  until  the  family  was  broken  up  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  Stefie,  on  April  5,  1876.  The  mother  now  resides 
with  a  daughter  in  Washtenaw  County.  The  day  follow- 
ing their  marriage,  JaCob  and  wife  set  out  upon  a  journey 
to  their  new  home  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  wagon  to  con- 
vey them  and  their  worldly  effects.  The  first  year  proved 
the  most  discouraging  ever  experienced  by  them.  Their 
only  marketable  commodity  was  wood,  which  Mr.  Wied- 
man cut  and  hauled  to  Owosso,  receiving  six  shillings  in 
store  pay  per  cord.  With  the  following  year  came  a  more 
^  plentiful  harvest.  Each  succeeding  year  has  showered 
upon  them  the  fruits  of  industry  and  frugality.  Their 
children  number  three, — Reuben,  born  in  1862;  Jessie, 
born  Feb.  22, 1865  ;  John,  born  Oct.  1, 1867.  Mr.  Wied- 
man is  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  preferring  to  devote  his 
time  and  energies  to  the  improvement  of  his  possessions 
and  surrounding  himself  and  family  with  the  comforts  of 
life  to  following  the  empty  baubles  of  political  popularity. 


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NEW  HAVEN  TOWNSHIP. 


257 


MRS.  PHINEAS  BUBCH. 


PHINEAS  BURCH. 


PHINBAS  BUKCH. 


Jonathan  and  Polly  (St.  Clair)  Buroh  were  natives  of 
Boyalston,  Vt.,  and  after  uniting  their  destinies  by  mar- 
riage the  first  five  years  were  spent  at  Montreal,  Canada. 
In  1817  they  moved  to  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  purchasing  a 
farm,  where  they  lived  to  see  a  family  of  seven  children  pass 
from  the  parental  home  to  begin  life's  labor  for  themselves. 
Mrs.  Burch'  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two,  for  fifty-four 
years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  thus 
exemplifying  the  many  good  womanly  qualities  possessed 
by  her.  Mr.  Burch  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  with 
his  son,  living  to  the  age  of  eighty-four,  a  consistent 
Christian. 

Phineas  Burch,  a  son,  and  to  whom  this  sketch  has  par- 
ticular reference,  was  born  Aug.  11, 1814.  His  years  of  mi- 
nority were  passed  at  home  on  the  farm.  May  1,  1836,  he 
married  Mary  A.  Brown,  and  engaged  in  farming.  Thus 
life  passed  pleasantly  for  a  period  of  nineteen  years,  when 


death's  summons  came  to  Mrs.  Burch,  and  she  was  laid"  to 
rest,  leaving  a  family  of  six  children.  Three  years  later 
Mr.  Burch  found  consolation,  and  his  children  a  kind  and 
indulgent  parent,  in  Miss  Adaline  Bartholomew.  They 
were  married  March  22,  1854.  The  oflTspring  of  this  mar- 
riage was  one  child.  In  June  following  they  journeyed 
West  to  Shiawassee  County,  settling  upon  section  16  New 
Haven  township,  where  they  have  since  resided.  Mr. 
Burch  has  served  his  township  and  county  in  an  official 
capacity  almost  incessantly  as  supervisor  for  fifteen  consecu- 
tive years,— justice  of  the  peace  until  obliged  to  decline  to 
qualify  on  account  of  failing  health.  Through  all  the  labors 
of  pioneer  life  and  public  duties  Mr.  Burch  has  been  very 
efficiently  aided  by  his  good  wife,  making,  as  he  affirms,  an 
accurate  accountant  as  township  clerk.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  both  have  long  been  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  ' 


WELLMAN  HART. 


Of  the  family  history  of  Wellman  Hart  we  have  the  fol- 
lowing record.     Horace,  with  his  third  wife,  came  from 
Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  to  Shiawassee  County,  and  made  the 
first  settlement  in  the  town  of  New  Haven,  said  location 
being  on  section  36.     Their  family  consisted  of  seven  chil- 
dren, six  by  first  marriage, — Robert,  Joel,  Lewis,  Rosconna, 
Joseph  W.,  and  Nancy, — by  the  second,  Josephine.    In  the 
course  of  human  events  the  surviving  children  had  departed 
the  old  home  to  establish  their  own.     Joseph  W.  located 
eighty  acres  on  section  19,  with  whom  the  parents  lived 
and  passed  their  closing  days.    Horace  Hart  was  born  June 
3, 1785 ;  died  in  March,  1867.    Mrs.  Hart  continued  with 
them  until  Feb.  23, 1874.     Of  their  family  but  one  is  now 
living,  Mrs.  Nancy  Youngs,  of  Caledonia.    Joseph  W.  mar- 
ried Miss  Nancy  Shipman,  of  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  and  to- 
33 


gether  they  pioneered  the  home  which,  with  their  respected 
memories,  was  left  as  an  inheritance  to  a  family  of  nine 
children,  that  had  grown  to  maturity  under  their  parental 
care,  viz. :  Warner,  resides  in  Saginaw ;  Martha  (deceased) ; 
Wilson  W.,  resides  at  Tahama,  Cal. ;  Wellman,  Mrs. 
Miranda  Marshall  (deceased),  William  M.,  and  Bettie,  all 
of  New  Haven  township. 

On  Oct.  7,  1872,  Wellman  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  J.  Camp,  of  the  town  of  Rush.  The  improvements 
so  untiringly  prosecuted  by  his  parents  have  been  continued 
by  them.  To-day  a  beautiful  home,  surrounded  by  many 
conveniences,  is  theirs,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  accompanying 
sketches  of  the  old  home  and  the  new.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  children, — Matilda,  born  Sept.  14, 1873,  and 
Emerald  B.,  born  April  17,  1878. 


258 


HISTOEY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


MRS.  DANIEL  YOUNG. 


DANIEL  YOUNG. 


DANIEL  YOUNG. 


The  Young  family  of  whom  we  have  to  write  descended 
from  Emanuel  Young,  of  Germany,  who  having  received 
the  degree  of  M.D.,  emigrated  to  this  country  about  the 
year  1735,  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine.  Eventually 
we  find  him  located  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  surrounded 
by  a  family  characteristic  of  the  Germans.  The  next  in 
line,  Emanuel  Young,  Jr.,  joined  in  the  struggle  of  1777  for 
independence,  how  well,  the  wounds  received,  by  the  scars 
that  remained  bore  testimony  to  his  dying  day.  At  the  age 
of  eighty-three  he  passed  away,  the  latter  portion  of  his 
life  being  spent  with  his  children  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Daniel  E.  Young,  the  eldest  of  his  family  of  six  children, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  March  16,  1791.  In 
his  twenty-third  year  he  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Martha  Brown,  also  a  native  of  Montgomery  County,  born 
Dec.  18,  1793.  As  was  customary  in  those  days,  both 
labored  to  secure  a  competency,  he  as  a  clothier,  she  as  a 
weaver;  their  final  location  being  at  Skaneateles,  Onon- 
daga Co.,  N.  Y.  Their  family  consisted  of  Maria,  deceased ; 
Halsey,  residing  in  Auburn,  N.  Y. ;  Harvey,  at  Corunna, 
Mich. ;  Edwin,  at  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Daniel  and  Mrs. 
Louisa  Stoner,  at  New  Haven.  Daniel  was  born  at  Skane- 
ateles, June  4, 1827.  Being  of  a  studious  mind,  at  eighteen 
was  qualified  for  school-teaching,  which  he  followed  until 
twenty-three.  March  11, 1850,  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Gurnee,  a  native  of  Rockland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  June  4, 
1827.  The  year  following  he  worked  by  the  month  upon 
a  farm.  In  the  fall  of  1851  came  West,  and  purchased  of 
his  brother  Harvey,  living  in  Genesee  Co.,  Mich.,  forty  acres 
of  wild  land  on  section  15,  New  Haven,  Shiawassee  Co., 
paying  three  dollars  per  acre,  and  returned  home.  May  19, 
1852,  with  his  wife  he  departed  upon  their  journey  westward, 


via  canal  to  Buffalo,  lake  to  Detroit,  arriving  the  evening 
of  the  25th,  jyhere  his  brother  was  waiting  to  convey  them 
to  his  home  in   Davidson,  Genesee  Co.     W.  W.  Young, 
like  most  actual  settlers  in  a  new  country,  was  not  blessed 
with  a  plentiful  supply  of  cash,  and  while  carrying  forward 
the  work  of  erecting  a  home  his  family  must  be  provided 
for.     Leaving  his  family  at  his  brother's,  he  went  in  ad- 
vance to  his  location,  and  began  the  work  of  erecting  a 
house.     On  June  11th  he  removed  his  family  to  a  pioneer 
tavern  near  his  location,  kept  by  Mr.  Wheeler.      July  9th 
he  went  to  Oakland  County,  and  worked  through  harvest. 
With  his  wages  he  was  enabled  to  complete  his  house,  and 
on  August  17th  occupied  their  first  home,  where  they  con- 
tinued  for   fourteen  years,  clearing  and  improving  sum- 
mers, teaching  winters.    In  1876  he  completed  a  commo- 
dious farm-house,  and  other  improvements  in  the  way  of 
farm-buildings  have  followed.     To  his  first  purchase  he  has 
added  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.     Where  the  wilder- 
ness   overshadowed  all  now  smile  green   fields  and  fruit- 
laden  orchards,  emblematical  of  industry  and  prosperity. 
A  due  portion  may  be  attributed  to  the  good  wife,  whose 
watchword  has  ever  been, "  Economy  is  necessary  to  success." 
Their  family  consists  of  three  children, — Sylvester  J.,  born 
Jan.  6, 1851 ;  Mr.i.  Martha  E.  Dutcher,  born  May  27, 1854  ; 
Melissa  I.,  born  Feb.  1, 1863.    Sylvester  and  Martha  when 
of  age  received  forty  acres,  with  a  portion  under  improve- 
ment, adjoining  the  old  home.     Mr.  Young  and  wife  have 
been  church  members  since  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  for 
the  past  three  years  connected  with  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  New  Haven.     They  contributed  liber- 
ally to  secure  a  suitable  church  building,  and  are  con- 
sistent Christians  and  a  worthy  couple  in  every  respect. 


OWOSSO  TOWNSHIP. 


259 


MRS.    H.    B.    ORAM. 


H.  B.  CRAM. 


Chester  Cram  was  born  Feb.  2, 1813,  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y. 
While  yet  a  lad  the  family  removed  to  Chautauqua  County, 
thence  to  Oakland  County.  In  the  spring  of  1834,  Chester, 
then  of  age,  had  accumulated  sufiScient  means  to  purchase 
forty  acres  in  Oxford  township.  He  put  it  under  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  when,  being  desirous  of  securing  more 
land,  he  exchanged  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  wild 
land,  taking  a  deed  for  sixty  acres  and  mortgage  upon  the 
balance,  which  he  failed  to  have  recorded.  The  first  parties, 
finding  the  mortgage  had  not  been  recorded,  sold  the  prop- 
erty and  left  the  country,  thus  depriving  him  of  its  benefits. 
In  the  fall  of  1839  he  took  to  himself  a  wife  in  the  per- 
son of  Miss  Margaret  Eldred,  whose  family  had  removed 
from  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Oakland  County  in  1835.  In 
the  spring  of  1844,  Mr.  Cram  again  exchanged  for  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in  New  Haven  town- 
ship, Shiawassee  Co.,  but  did  not  remove  thereto  until  the 
spring  of  1849,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Aug.  8,  1866,  leaving  a  widow  and 
four  children,— H.  B.  Cram,  born  May  7,  1844,  resides  in 
East  Tennessee ;  H.  B.,  born  Dec.  19,  1852 ;  Leroy,  born 
May  18, 1855  ;  Mrs.  Maria  Hopson,  resides  in  New  Haven. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cram  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  soon 
after  their  marriage,  and  ever  after  lived  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian life.  The  present  proprietor  of  the  old  home,  H.  B. 
Cram,  on  Feb.  7,  1874,  married  Miss  Louisa  Butcher, 
whose  family  had  removed  from  Oakland  County  to  New 
Haven  four  years  previously.  The  newly-wedded  couple 
followed  farming  for  a  short  period  upon  forty  acres  that 
had  been  given  him  by  his  father,  when  a  desire  to  visit 
the  gold  field  on  the  Pacific  coast  led  him  to  rent  his  place, 
establishing  his  wife  with  her  parents.  He  journeyed 
westward,  visiting  many  places  of  interest ;  finally  located 
at  Presoott,  Arizona,  engaging  in  quartz  mining,  which 
proved  the  royal  road  to  success.  Two  years  later  he  re- 
turned home,  having  sold  his  mining  interest.     He  pur- 


H.   B.    CRAM. 

chased  the  heirship  interest  in  the  old  home,  and  vigorously 
set  to  work  making  substantial  improvements.  They  are 
parents  of  two  children, — Edson  B.,  born  Oct.  19,  1879  ; 
Annie  M.,  born  Nov.  15,  1876.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cram  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  good 
standing. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 
OWOSSO    TOWNSHIP.* 

Description  and  Original  Surveys—  First  and  other  Land-Entries — 
Early  Settlements — Civil  and  Political — Educational. 

This  township,  which  originally  embraced  within  its 
limits  the  northern  half  of  Shiawassee  County,  now  occu- 
pies the  territory  designated  in  the  field-notes  of  the  orig- 
inal survey  as  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  No.  2  east. 
It  is  one  of  the  four  interior  divisions  of  the  county,  and 
is  situated  northwest  of  its  geographical  centre. 

Adjoining  township  organizations  are  Rush  on  the  north, 
Caledonia  on  the  east,  Bennington  on  the  south,  and  Mid- 
dlebury  on  the  west. 

The  surface,  although  comparatively  level,  is  suflficiently 
elevated  above  its  water-courses  to  admit  of  good  surface 
drainage,  the  higher  portions  being  found  in  the  eastern 
and  central  parts.  Originally  this  was  a  heavily  timbered 
township,  beech,  maple,  oak,  ash,  cherry,  hickory,  butter- 
nut, black-walnut,  and  the  many  other  varieties  of  deciduous 
trees  common  to  this  climate  predominating.  Pines  of 
small  size  were  found  scattered  over  various  sections,  and 
tamaracks  and  black  ash  in  the  swamps,  of  which  there  are 
many  acres  in  the  northern  and  northwest  sections ;  also 
along  the  margins  of  Maple  River. 

The  Shiawassee  and  Maple  Rivers  are  the  principal  water- 

*  By  John  S.  Sehenck. 


260 


HISTORY   OP   SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


courses.  The  former  enters  the  surveyed  township  near 
the  centre  of  the  east  border,  or  within  the  corporate  limits, 
of  the  city  of  Owosso,  and  thence  sweeping  rapidly  to  the 
northwest,  affording  excellent  water-power  privileges  in  the 
latter  city,  passes  on  in  a  general  northerly  course,  and 
finally  leaves  the  township  by  crossing  the  north  border  of 
section  1.  Maple  River,  in  its  sluggish  flow  to  the  north- 
west, drains  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  inter- 
secting sections  34,  33,  28,  29,  30,  and  19.  Numerous 
springs  and  wells,  whose  waters  are  strongly  impregnated 
with  iron,  are  found  in  various  portions,  and,  as  a  whole, 
Owosso  township  may  be  considered  well  watered. 

Doubtless  coal,  in  large  quantities,  underlies  a  large  por- 
tion of  its  surface,  mines  having  already  been  developed 
in  the  city  of  Owosso,  also  in  the  adjoining  township  of 
Caledonia,  at  Corunna. 

The  people  are  chiefly  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, the  cereals,  dairy  products,  and  wool  being  the 
principal  articles  produced. 

OEIGINAL   SURVEYS. 

The  history  of  Owosso  as  a  township  began  in  the  year 
1823,  when  deputy  United  States  Surveyors  John  MuUett, 
Joseph  Wampler,  and  William  Brookfield,  in  pursuance 
of  contracts,  and  acting  under  instructions  from  Edward 
Tiffin,  Surveyor-Greneral  of  the  United  States,  led  their 
separate  surveying-parties  into  these  wilds  and  began  the 
toilsome  work  of  mapping  out  townships. 

Joseph  Wampler  ran  out  the  township  boundary-lines  in 
the  summer  or  early  autumn  of  1823,  designating  the 
territory  thus  surveyed  township  No.  7  north,  of  range 
No.  2  east,  and  on  Saturday,  November  8th  of  the  same 
year,  William  Brookfield,  with  his  party,  began  the  work 
of  subdivision. 

Mr.  Brookfield  commenced  in  the  southeast  corner,  sec- 
tion 36,  and  thence  continued  north  until  the  eastern  tier 
of  sections  were  completed.  Returning  to  section  35,  he 
again  worked  to  the  northward,  and  thus  repeated  his  move- 
ments until  his  task  of  running  the  sectional  lines  was 
completed  in  the  northwest  corner  on  section  6,  Sunday 
evening,  November  23d.  On  Monday,  the  24th,  he  began 
meandering  the  Shiawassee  River,  commencing  on  the 
north  boundary-line  of  the  township,  and  on  the  left  or 
west  bank  of  the  river ;  thence  up  the  stream.  Arriving 
at  the  eastern  line  of  section  24,  on  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  he  found  that  the  hickory  post  set  by  Mr.  Wam- 
pler on  the  left  bank  of  the  stream  had  been  destroyed  by 
the  Indians.  "For,"  he  remarked,  "it  is  where  their  trail 
crosses  the  river,  and  where  they  have  encamped."  On  the 
succeeding  day  he  crossed  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  and 
moving  down  its  course  to  the  northern  boundary  of  sec- 
tion 1,  finally  completed  the  original  survey  in  all  its 
details  Wednesday,  Nov.  26,  1823. 

In  running  the  sectional  lines,  Mr.  Brookfield  supple- 
mented his  work  by  entering  upon  his  field-book  remarks 
regarding  the  surface,  soil,  water-courses,  swamps,  kinds  of 
timber  growing,  etc.  As  his  opinions  of  Owosso  township 
in  1823  will  be  of  interest  to  those  who  occupy  the  terri- 
tory at  the  present  time, — fifty-seven  years  later, — we  here 
notice  a  few  of  them.     In  running  east,  between  sections 


13  and  24,  and  after  crossing  the  Shiawassee  River,  he 
found  "  plains  or  oak-openings.  Land,  first  rate  ;  good  soil, 
no  large  timber, — it  was  long  ago  burnt  off.  Undergrowth, 
white  and  prickly  ash,  thorns  and  briers ;  all  in  abundance." 

Going  north  between  sections  13  and  14,  the  land  was 
good,  no  timber.  East,  between  sections  12  and  13,  he 
again  crossed  the  Shiawassee,  and  found  "  good  and  princi- 
pally high  land ;  timber  been  burnt  off,  new  growth  of  all 
kinds  springing  up ;  some  thorns,  hazel,  ash,  poplar,  and 
briers."  On  Monday,  ^November  10th,  in  going  north, 
between  sections  11  and  12,  he  adds,  "waded  river  seven 
times  to-day."  Between  sections  26  and  27  was  "  an  In- 
dian sugar- orchard,  and  land  first  rate."  Another  "  fine 
Indian  sugar-orchard"  was  found  on  the  line  between  sec- 
tions 21  and  22.  In  running  north  between  sections  2  and 
3,  November  13th,  he  says,  "Three  miles  from  camp,  and 
just  dark.  All  black-ash  swamp  ;  two  miles  of  such  tim- 
ber." On  reaching  the  north  boundary-line  of  the  town- 
ship, between  sections  3  and  4,  he  noted,  "  I  could  find  a 
tamarack  to  bear  to  every  second  on  the  compass." 

In  accounting  for  the  variation  of  east  and  west  lines, 
especially  west  of  a  north  and  south  line  drawn  through 
the  central  part  of  the  township,  he  said,  after  running 
east  between  sections  28  and  33,  "  The  compass  has  been 
attracted  in  running  this  line."  On  the  succeeding  day,  in 
going  north,  between  sections  32  and  33,  he  adds,  "  Again 
to  see  if  a  mistake  was  not  made  in  the  distance  of  ten 
chains,  and  found  none.  Run  the  easting  also,  and  found  by 
running  from  the  east  boundary  to  the  west,  that  we  made 
the  same  southing  that  we  made  northing.  So  that  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  regular  attraction  affected  the  needle. 
Lost  one  half-day  in  this  to  ascertain  our  corrections." 

Again,  in  running  east  between  sections  16  and  21,  he 
said,  "  There  is  evidently  attraction  of  mineral  in  this 
vicinity;  in  my  northing  I  have  been  drawn  three  chains 
and  seventy-five  links,  and  in  my  easting  three  chains  and 
sixty-four  links."  On  the  line  between  sections  9  and  16 
he  found  a  white  oak  "  fifty  links  in  circumference  seven 
feet  from  the  ground,  sixty  feet  to  the  limbs.  It  is  sound, 
and  we  judged  it  would  make  one  thousand  rails." 

Thirty-two,  in  his  opinion,  for  soil  and  timber,  was  the 
best  section  in  the  township.  Running  north,  between  sec- 
tions 7  and  8,  he  found  time  to  say,  "  Wretched  swamp  1 
Ash,  alder,  tamarack."  But  the  height  of  his  wretched- 
ness was  reached  when  running  the  line  west,  between  sec- 
tions 6  and  7,  for  here  he  ejaculated,  "  Laud  miserable ; 
not  fit  even  for  wolves  to  inhabit." 

PIKST  AND  OTHER  EAELT   LAND-ENTKIES. 

'  The  brothers  Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin  0.  Williams  en- 
tered the  first  land  in  the  township  on  section  24,  being 
the  northeast  fractional  quarter,  and  the  southeast  part  of 
the  northeast  fractional  quarter,  Aug.  2, 1833.  November 
13th  following  they  purchased  on  section  13  the  southeast 
part  of  the  southeast  fractional  quarter,  and  the  west  part 
of  the  southeast  fractional  quarter.  No  other  entries  were 
made  until  the  year  1835,  when  Trumbull  Cary,  William 
Rood,  James  Tillson,  Kilburn  Bedell,  Lewis  Findley,  Elias 
Comstock,  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  Abel  Millington, 
and  a  few  others  bought  land  on  various  sections. 


OWOSSO  TOWNSHIP. 


261 


Following,  however,  is  a  list  of  those  who  purchased 
from  the  general  government  lands  situated  in  this  town- 
,ship : 

SECTION   1. 
Trumbull  Gary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1835. 
Alexander  McFarran,  Wayne  Co.,  Mioh.,  January,  1836. 
Jonathan  Kearsley,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
Van  Dyke  and  McClure,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
Benjamin  L.  Breton,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836. 

SECTION  2. 
William  Rood,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  T.,  October,  1835. 
Cornelius  Bergen,  New  York  City,  January,  1836. 
Sylvanus  P.  Jermain,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
George  Dickinson,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  June,  1836. 
B.  Loveman,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1855. 

SECTION  3. 
State  of  Michigan,  November,  1842. 

SECTION  4. 
Ransom  R.  Belding,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837. 

SECTION  5. 
John  Comstook,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837. 
Joshua  W.  Waterman,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1853. 
Martin  Walron,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  1854. 

SECTION  6. 
Sebra  and  Charles  Howard,  Wayne  Co.,  Mioh.,  April,  1854. 

SECTION  7. 
James  K.  Guernsey,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  8. 
Ezra  L.  Mason,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  December,  1836. 
Martin  S.  Norton,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  December,  1836. 
Raymond  Barnum,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.,  December,  1836. 
Abijah  B.  Dunlap,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  December,  1836. 
Alexander  W.  Shaft,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1861. 
Lucretia  M.  Gailford,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  August,  1862. 
Joshua  W.  Waterman,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1853. 
Albert  B.  Mason,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1864. 

SECTION  9. 
Francis  G.  Macy,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
George  Talbot,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  December,  1836. 
John  McNiel,  Boston,  Mass.,  December,  1836. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  January,  1837. 

SECTION   10. 
James  K.  Guernsey,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  January,  1837. 

SECTION   11. 
James  Tillson,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1835. 
Jared  H.  Randall,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 
JoHn  F.  Bliss,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  8,  1836. 
George  Dickinson,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  12. 
Kilburn  Bedell,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1835. 
William  Rood,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1835. 
Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1836. 
Lewis  Findley,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1836. 
Mathew  Kearsley,  Wayne  Co.,  Mioh.,  February,  1836. 
Henry  Dwight,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  February,  1836. 

SECTION   13. 
Benjamin  0.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  13,  1833. 
A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  13,  1833. 
Lewis  Findley,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June  6,  1836. 
Blias  Comstock,  Oakland  Co.,'  Mich.,  June  18,  1835. 
Lewis  Findley,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  June  20,  1835. 


A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1835. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1835. 
Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1835. 

SECTION  14. 
Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1835. 
Abel  Millington,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1835. 
Atla  E.  Mather,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
Joseph  Pitcairn,  New  York  City,  February,  1836. 
Mary  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836. 
Daniel  D.  Waggoner,  Easton,  Pa.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION   15. 
Mary  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836. 
John  F.  Bliss,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Henry  Miller,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
George  Dickinson,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  June,  1836. 
Samuel  L.  Scott,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION   16. 
School  lands. 

SECTION   17. 

Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  May,  1836. 

John  F.  Bliss,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Henry  Miller,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

James  K.  Guernsey,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION    18. 
Dudley  F.  Scott,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Henry  Miller,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
James  R.  Pulling,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Ebenezer  Conklin,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Dudley  F.  Scott,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION    19. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  May,  1836. 
Ebenezer  Conklin,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Joaiah  B.  Park,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mioh.,  April,  1864. 
Cary  and  Kimberley,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1854. 

SECTION   20. 
John  F.  Bliss,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
George  Dickinson,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  June,  1836. 
Oliver  Atherton,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Ledyard  Frink,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
John  McNiel,  Boston,  Mass.,  December,  1836. 

SECTION   21. 
Jacob  Wilkinson,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
Reuben  Griggs,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
John  F.  Bliss,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Aug.  F.  Rose,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Gideon  Cobb,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Ira  Washburn,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Samuel  S.  Scott,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  22. 
Atla  E.  Mather,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  May,  1836. 
Abraham  T.  Wilkinson,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
David  D.  Wagoner,  Easton,  Pa.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  23. 
Trumbull  Cary,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1836. 
James  G.  Crane,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1836. 
Johnson  Niles,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
Atla  E.  Mather,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836. 
Reuben  Griggs,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
George  Dickinson,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  24. 
A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  2, 1833. 
Elias  Comstock,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June  18,  1836. 
Peter  A.  Coudery,  New  York  City,  October,  1835. 
E.  Comstock  and  Seth  Beach,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  November,  1836. 


262 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Henry  Dwight,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  February,  1836. 
Silas  and  Daniel  Ball,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  T.,  March,  1836. 

SECTION  25. 
Joseph  Piteairu,  New  York  City,  February,  1836. 
Silas  and  Daniel  Ball,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1836. 

SECTION  26. 
Marcus  Culver,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  April,  1836. 
Newbold  Lawrence,  New  Y'ork  City,  May,  1836. 
A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 
Harriet  L.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mieh.,  June,  1836. 
Catherine  Brown,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Ira  Merell,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1854. 
William  Ingersoll,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  185-1. 

SECTION  27. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  April,  1836. 
David  P.  Bunnell,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Ealph  R.  Smith,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
David  D.  Scott,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  28. 
Daniel  Scott,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

James  M.  ,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Beebe  Truesdell,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

Abraham  P.  McCarthy,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1854. 

SECTION  29. 
Abigail  Dewey,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1836. 
Hamlet  Harris,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  April,  1836. 
Aaron  B.  Patterson,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1838. 
Lucius  a.  Hammond,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1840. 
George  Galloway,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1842. 

SECTION  30. 
George  W.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1836. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  April,  1836. 
Daniel  Hand,  Augusta,  Ga.,  April,  1836. 
Calvin  Wickham,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1836. 
Ezra  P.  Blackman,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1836. 
Chaunoey  F.  Shepherd,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836. 
James  Aitkin,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1854. 

SECTION  31. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City  (whole  section),  December,  1836. 

SECTION  32. 
Abijah  Dewey,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1835. 
Hamlet  Harris,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 
Gideon  Lee,  New  York  City,  April,  1836. 
James  B.  Hunt,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  33. 
ApoUos  Dewey,  Jr.,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1835. 
Abijah*  Dewey,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1835. 
Abner  Davis,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1835. 
Charles  C.  Hascall,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1835. 
William  Garrison,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  34. 
Lemuel  Castle,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1835. 
Hiram  A.  Caswell,  Eensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
William  S.  Brown,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Beebe  Truesdell,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
Herman  B,.  Hewlett,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1836. 
George  W.  Williams,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1837. 

SECTION  35. 
Newbold  Lawrence,  New  York  City,  May,  1836. 
William  I.  Hanford,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 


*  Perhaps  Abigail. 


John  Hagaman,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 
B.and  B.  Fisher,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1836. 

SECTION  36. 
Benjamin  F.  Lamed,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836^ 
Silas  and  Daniel  Ball,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1836. 
Newbold  Lawrence,  Now  York  City,  May,  1836. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township  of  Owosso,  outside 
of  the  village,  was  made  by  Reuben  Griggs  and  Abram  T. 
Wilkinson,  in  June,  1836.  They  were  brothers-in-law, 
and  came  from  Henderson,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Griggs'  family  consisted  of  himself,  wife,  and  three  children, 
named  Ezra,  Lucelia,  and  Lucretia,  an  adopted  daughter. 
Mr.  Wilkinson's,  of  himself,  wife,  and  children, — Annette 
and  Alfred.  These  families  traveled  with  their  own  con- 
veyance from  Henderson  to  Oswego.  At  the  latter  place 
the  horses  and  wagon  were  sold,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
journey  to  Detroit  was  accomplished  via  the  Erie  Canal 
and  Lake  Erie.  They  then  hired  a  conveyance  to  take 
them  to  Novi,  in  Oakland  County,  where  they  remained 
about  one  week,  meantime  purchasing  from  the  general 
government  the  lands  in  Owosso  township  upon  which  they 
finally  settled. 

From  Novi  another  man  was  hired  to  bring  them  here, 
and  in  traveling  to  their  wilderness  homes  they  cut  out  the 
first  road  leading  west  from  the  present  city  of  Owosso. 
In  July,  1836,  Mr.  Griggs  hired  an  ox-team  and  returned 
to  Detroit  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  out  his  household 
goods.  The  trip  consumed  one  week's  time.  Both  fami- 
lies occupied  the  same  building  the  first  winter,  and  at 
that  time  their  nearest  neighbors  to  the  westward  were  the 
people  composing  the  "  Rochester  Colony,"  sixteen  miles 
•distant.  During  that  winter  Mr.  Griggs  hired  another  ox- 
team  and  traveled  sixty  miles  in  going  to  and  returning 
from  mill.  Mr.  Wilkinson  died  about  sixteen  years  ago. 
Deacon  Griggs  still  resides  upon  the  land  he  first  began 
improving  in  1836. 

ApoUos  Dewey,  a  native  of  Vermont,  seems  to  have 
been  the  next  settler  in  the  rural  part  of  Owosso  township. 
He  removed  from  Chili,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Bloomfield, 
Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1821,  thus  becoming  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  in  what  was  then  termed  the  interior  of 
Michigan  Territory.  He  purchased  lands  situated  in  the 
southwest  part  of  this  township  in  1835,  but  did  not  settle 
here  until  the  spring  of  1839.  He  soon  became  one  of 
the  most  prominent  and  successful  farmers  in  Owosso. 
Not  given  to  office-holding,  he,  however,  served  as  an  early 
justice  of  the  peace  and  in  various  other  positions  accept- 
ably. 

His  son,  Thomas  D.  Dewey,  now  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent and  active  citizens  in  the  city  of  Owosso,  was  born  in 
Oakland  County  in  1823.  He  began  his  business  career  in 
1841,  by  engaging  as  a  salesman  in  the  store  of  Charles  L. 
Goodhue,  where  he  remained  some  five  years.  In  1846,  with 
John  L.  Goodhue  as  a  partner,  he  began  merchandising  in 
the  village  of  Owosso.  This  copartnership  was  dissolved 
by  the  death  of  Mr.  Goodhue.  In  1850  he  started  his 
present  extensive  milling  interests,  in  connection  with  John 
Stewart.      The   firm  has  been  very  successful. 


OWOSSO  TOWNSHIP. 


263 


their  flouring  and  other  mills,  farming  is  carried  on  on  a 
large  scale,  and  they  are  also  extensively  engaged  in  breed- 
ing fine  horses.  Mr.  Thomas  D.  Dewey  has  filled  many 
positions  in  the  gift  of  the  people.  (See  list  of  township 
city,  and  county  officers.) 

Ezra  L.  Mason,  a  native  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  two  daughters,  his  brother,  Albert 
B.,  and  the  latter's  wife,  arrived  in  Owosso  in  September, 
1839,  settling  upon  lands  on  section  8  which  had  been 
purchased  by  him  in  December,  1836.  He  was  the  first 
settler  in  all  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  township,  and 
does  not  remember  that  any  families  other  than  those 
already  mentioned,  viz.,  Messrs.  Griggs,  Wilkinson,  and 
Dewey,  preceded  him  in  the  township  proper.  The  broth- 
ers built  a  cabin  of  small  poles,  such  as  two  men  could 
handle,  and  this  was  occupied  by  Ezra  L.  for  two  years. 
A  good  substantial  log  house  succeeded  it,  which  in  turn 
gave  place  to  a  commodious  frame  dwelling  in  1854.  An 
early  frame  barn  was  built  by  him  in  1847,  and  possibly 
his  son  Ezra,  whose  birth  occurred  Nov.  9,  1839,  was  the 
first  child  born^ — outside  the  village — in  the  township. 

Mr.  Mason  was  an  experienced  surveyor  and  performed 
much  work  of  that  character  in  the  early  days.  He  is  now 
a  resident  of  the  city  of  Owosso,  and  relates  that  in  1839 
he  paid  thirty-two  dollars  to  have  a  load  of  household 
goods  hauled  from  Detroit  to  his  home  in  Owosso.  Conse- 
quently a  barrel  of  salt  worth  two  dollars  in  Detroit  cost 
him  eight  dollars  when  delivered.  Here,  as  elsewhere  in 
the  wilds  of  Michigan,  bears  were  very  troublesome,  and 
if  the  many  encounters  had  with  them  by  the  Mason  broth- 
ers, Billy  Scott,  Calvin  Hunt,  and  William  Badgerow  could 
be  fully  described,  they  would  form  a  most  amusing  chapter. 

Samuel  Shepard,  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  settled  upon 
the  premises  now  owned  by  his  son,  Francis  M.,  in  the  tall 
of  1840,  and  among  other  settlers  of  that  year  were  Francis 
Mittleberger,  a  tailor,  upon  section  28,  Watermao  Perkins, 
upon  section  32,  and  perhaps  others.  However,  settlements 
were  not  made  very  rapidly,  for  we  find  that  in  1844  tiiose 
named  as  resident  tax-payers  in  the  present  township  were 
the  following : 

Acres. 

William  Berry,*  section  I 80 

William  Badgerow,  sections  14,  15 240 

James  Sogue,  section  25 25 

Apollos  Dewey,  sections  32,  33 400 

John  W.  Dewey,  sections  29,  32 240 

Lewis  Findley,  section  13 160 

Keuben  Griggs,  sections  21,  23 240 

William  B.  Hopkins,  section  II 240 

Abel  Lamunion,  section  21 80 

Francis  Mittleberger,  section  28 160 

Ezra  L.  Ma«on,  sections  8,  17 255 

Albert  B.  Mason,  section  8 40 

Waterman  Perkins,  section  32 80 

Samuel  Shepard,  sections  17,  20 160 

Lewis  Simpson,  section  19 383 

Charles  Stimpson,  sections  14,  23 160 

Ira  Stimpson,  personal 

Abram  T.  Wilkinson,  section  22 160 

Samuel  Wilkinson,  section  28 80 

Horton  Warren,  sections  28,  29 200 

Bushrod  Warren,  section  28 80 

Henry  Hunt 

William  Jackson 

Charles  Stimpson  

The  total  tax  levied  on  the  township  and  village  during 
the  same  year  was  one  thousand  and  twenty-one  dollars  and 

*  The  first  colored  man  to  reside  in  the  township. 


thirty-nine  cents,  and  the  aggregate  valuation  of  real  and 
personal  estate,  including  resident  and  non-resident  lands, 
was  forty-nine  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy-one 
dollars  and  twenty  cents. 

In  1850,  Bradford  Bradley,  Nathaniel  Powell,  Elisha 
B.  Halstead,  Frank  McCarty,  Franklin  P.  Guilford,  Henry 
Crooks,  Malcolm  D.  Bailey,  Chas.  Parker,  Samuel  Wheaton, 
Edward  Wood,  Henry  Ackerman,  Isaac  Secord,  Ezekiel 
Salisbury,  and  William  M.  Norris  were  additional  residents. 
At  this  time,  with  the  village,  Owosso  township  contained 
but  seventy-six  dwelling-houses  and  three  hundred  and 
ninety-two  inhabitants. 

In  1860,  with  that  portion  of  the  surveyed  township 
now  embraced  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city  of 
Owosso  taken  out,  it  had  one  hundred  and  twenty  dwellings 
and  five  hundred  and  .seventy-three  inhabitants.  Accord- 
ing to  the  last  State  enumeration  (1874^  it  then  had  one 
thousand  and  fifty  inhabitants.  With  three  hundred  and 
fifty  voters,  it  has  a  present  population  of  about  seventeen 
hundred. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  township  was  held  as  non- 
resident lands  until  within  a  period  quite  recent.  This 
retarded  population  and  improvements  to  such  a  degree  that 
it  is  still  comparatively  a  new  township,  .'tusceptible  of  great 
changes  for  the  better. 

Owosso,  as  village  and  city,  having  always  been  the  chief 
trading-point  for  its  inhabitants,  the  place  where  were  es- 
tablished the  first  schools,  stores,  mills,  post-ofiSce,  etc.,  no 
other  commercial  centre  has  ever  been  attempted  within  its 
confines.  Mungerville,  a  station  on  the  line  of  the  Detroit- 
and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  is  situated  near  the  west  border  of 
the  township.  Here  was  formed  a  Protestant  Methodist 
church  in  March,  1880,  of  which,  by  the  articles  of  incor- 
poration, Elihu  W.  Mason,  George  T.  Mason,  Myron  Big- 
nail,  William  Wright,  and  Nelson  Ackerman  were  named 
as  trustees.  For  much  else  of  interest  regarding  the  past 
history  of  Owosso  township,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
history  of  Owosso  City. 

CIVIL  AND  POLITICAL. 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  March  11, 
1837,  the  township  of  Owosso  was  formed  from  Shiawa.ssee, 
and  included  the  northern  half  of  the  present  county  of 
Shiawassee.     Section  8  of  said  act  reads  as  follows  : 

"  All  that  portion  of  the  county  of  Shiawassee  known 
as  townships  seven  and  eight  north,  of  ranges  number  one, 
two,  three,  and  four  east,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off 
and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of 
Owosso;  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Ball  in  said  township." 

Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  act  the  electors  of  the  town- 
ship assembled  at  the  house")"  of  Daniel  Ball,  in  the  village 
of  Owosso,  on  Monday,  May  1,  1837,  and  organized  by 
choosing  Joel  North  moderator  and  Samuel  N.  Warren 
clerk,  who,  together  with  Elias  Comstock,  a  justice  of  the 


■f  The  township  election  of  1838  was  held  at  Williams  Bros,  store; 
in  1839,  at  the  office  of  Ball,  Green  &  Co. ;  in  1840,  at  Gould,  Pish  A 
Co.'a  store;  and  in  1841,  at  the  school-house. 


264 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


peace,  constituted  the  inspectors  of  the  election.  After 
these  officers  had  taken  the  required  oath,  on  motion  the 
meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  store  of  Daniel  Ball,  where 
balloting  commenced.  At  its  close,  and  after  the  canvass 
had  been  completed,  the  following  officers  were  declared 
elected :  Lewis  Findley,  Supervisor ;  Alfred  L.  Williams, 
Township  Clerk  ;  Daniel  Ball,  Samuel  N.  Warren,  Abram  T. 
Wilkinson,  Assessors  ;  John  B.  Griswold,  Henry  S.  Smith, 
Jehial  Dunning,  Highway  Commissioners;  Daniel. Ball, 
Elias  Comstock,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  John  Davids,  Justices 
of  the  Peace  ;  Elias  Comstock,  Alfred  L.  Williams,  Samuel 
N.  Warren,  School  Inspectors ;  Henry  S.  Smith,  Jehial 
Dunning,  Abram  T.  Wilkinson,  Constables ;  Henry  S. 
Smith,  Samuel  Wilkinson,  Lewis  Findley,  Poorhiasters. 

At  the  close  of  this  meeting  it  was  "  Resolved,  That 
the  next  annual  township-meeting  be  held  at  the  school- 
house  in  the  village  of  Owosso,  if  there  should  be  one  at 
that  time ;  if  not,  then  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Ball,-  in  said 
village." 

The  highway  commissioners  at  their  first  meeting  divided 
the  township  into  two  road  districts,  described  as  follows  : 
"  The  Second  District  shall  comprise  all  the  land  lying 
south  of  the  River  Shiawassee,  and  east  of  a  north  and 
south  line  drawn  between  sections  nineteen  and  twenty, 
twenty-nine  and  thirty,  and  thirty-one  and  thirty-two  in 
township  number  seven  north,  of  range  number  three  east. 
The  First  District  shall  include  all  the  remaining  lands  of 
the  township.'' 

Caledonia  and  Middlebury  were  formed  as  separate  town- 
ships, in  1839  ;  New  Haven,  in  1841  ;  Venice,  in  1843 ; 
Rush  and  Hazelton,  in  1850  ;  and  Fairfield,  in  1854  ;  and 
all  comprise  territory  which  belonged  to  the  old  township  of 
Owosso  during  the  years  1837-38. 

In  1859  sections  13  and  24,  and  the  east  half  of  sections 
14  and  23,  were  set  off  and  placed  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  city  of  Owosso. 

The  following  is  a  tabulated  statement  of  the  supervisors, 
township  clerks,  treasurers,  highway  commissioners,  and 
justices  of  the  peace  elected*  annually  for  the  years  from 
1838  to  1880  inclusive : 


1838. 
1839. 
1840. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1845. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
1852. 
1853. 
1854. 
1865. 


Supervisors." 
Elias  Comstock. 


Lewis  Eindley. 
Sanford  M.  Green.f 
Alfred  L.  Williams. 
u  u 

AmoB  Gould. 


Township  Clerks. 
Ebenezer  Q-ould. 
Sanford  M.  Green. 
David  D.  Eisli. 
it  li 

Bauiel  Gould. 
David  D.  Fish. 
Cliarles  P.  Parkill. 

Thomas  D.  Dewey. 


Daniel  Lyon. 

David  Ingersoll. 
Alfred  L.  Williams. 


Anson  B.  Chipman. 
Isaac  M.  Chipman. 
Charles  L.  Goodhue. 
Anson  M.  Chipman. 
Joseph  Hedges. 


Treasurers. 

Elias  Comstock. 

Austin  Griffis. 
George  Parkill. 
Daniel  MoGilvra. 


Erastus  Barnes. 
Mathew  N.  Tillotson. 

Dwight  Dimmick. 
Lucius  G.  Hammond. 
Erastus  Barnes. 
William  A.  Carr. 


Jay  L.  Quackenbush.  David  Gould. 


*  All  resignations,  vacancies,  and  appointments  are  not  shown, 
t  Resigned;  A.  L.  Williams  elected  in  November,  1842,  to  fill  va- 
cancy. 


1856. 
1857. 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 


1838. 
1839. 

1840. 
1841, 
1842. 


1843. 

1844. 
1845. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851, 

1862 
1853, 
1864, 
1865, 
1856, 
1857, 

1858, 
1869, 


Supervisors. 
Alfred  L.  Williams. 

A.  B.  Chipman. 
ti  tt 

Ezra  L.  Mason. 


Township  Clerks. 
Jay  L.  Quackenbush. 
Randolph  L.  Stewart. 
Jay  L.  Quackenbush. 
Gilbert  G.  Doane. 
William  H.  C.  Hall. 
tt  tt 

I.  W.  Burke. 
tt  it  It      It 

Francis  M.  Waldron.    "      " 


Treasurers. 
Whitney  A.  Tillotson. 
Charles  M.  Moses. 
Daniel  Lyon. 
George  L.  Hall. 


W.  Love. 


Ira  W.  Rush. 


Ezra  Mason. 


Loren  Hopkins. 

Ezra  Mason. 


0.  F.  Wilkinson. 
H.  C.  McCarthy. 

tt  tt 

tt  tt 

G.  G.  Doane. 

tt  it 

Wm.  P.  Steadman. 
tt  tt 

George  T.  Mason. 


Earl  S.  Hall. 
tt  It 


George  L.  Hall. 

John  S.  Gates. 
tt  tt 

G.  W.  Chase. 

T.  M.  Templeton. 

tt  it 

Elihu  W.  Mason. 

tt  K 

Moses  Mix. 
Andrew  Love. 
tt  tt 

George  T.  Mason. 
tt  (( 

Andrew  Love. 


Elihu  W.  Mason.      P.  M.  Shepard. 


JUSTICES  OF   THE   PEACE. 


Elias  Comstock. 
Daniel  Gould. 
Apollos  Dewey. 
Apollos  Dewey. 
Sanford  M.  Green. 
Apollos  Dewey. 
Ezra  L.  Mason. 
Ebenezer  Gould. 
Anson  B.  Chipman. 
Benjamin  0.  Williams. 
Reuben  Griggs. 
Elias  Comstock. 
Charles  M.  Moses. 
Anson  B.  Chipman. 
Samuel  Shepard. 
Ira  Merell. 
Mathew  N.  Tillotson. 
Joseph  Hedges. 
Thomas  D.  Dewey. 
Josiah  B.  Parks, 
David  Ingersoll. 
Daniel  Lyon. 
Anson  B.  Chipman. 
Josiah  B.  Parks. 
John  F.  Miller. 
Ezra  L.  Mason. 
John  B.  Van  Doren. 
Chauneey  F.  Shepard. 


1869. 

1860. 
1861. 

1862. 

1863. 
1864, 

1865. 
1866. 
1867, 
1868. 
1869. 
1870- 
1872. 
1873. 
1874, 
1875, 
1876, 
1877, 
1878, 


1879, 
1880 


Isaac  G.  Culver. 
Harrison  H.  Carson. 
John  S.  Chase. 
Francis  M.  Waldron. 
Daniel  Brooks. 
Sidney  S.  Morse. 
Philander  Munger. 
Philander  Munger. 
Ira  W.  Rush. 
Lewis  E.  Rice. 
No  record. 
Thomas  J.  Jones. 
T.  M.  Templeton. 
D.  S.  Munger. 
Gilbert  G.  Doane. 
-71.  Erastus  B.  Enapp. 
William  B.  Launstein. 
Orlando  F.  Wilkinson. 
Erastus  B.  Enapp. 
Ira  W.  Rush. 
John  W.  Dewey. 
Orlando  F.  Wilkinson. 
Erastus  B.  Enapp. 
Frank  P.  Guilford. 
Isaac  W.  Burke. 
Charles  W.  Wadsworth. 
William  Price. 


HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 


1838.  Daniel  Gould. 
John  B.  Griswold. 
Henry  S.  Smith. 

1839.  Austin  Griffis. 

1840.  Apollos  Dewey. 
Benjamin  0.  Williams. 
Leonard  F.  Eingsley. 

1841.  Apollos  Dewey. 
Benjamin  0.  Williams. 
Avery  Thomas. 

1842.  Charles  M.  Moses. 

1843.  Sprague  Perkins. 
Avery  Thomas. 
Ezra  L.  Mason. 

1844.  Sprague  Perkins. 
Henry  Rush. 


1844.  Ira  Stimpson. 

1845.  Henry  Rush. 
Lewis  Simpson. 
Apollos  Dewey. 

1846.  David  F.  Tyler. 
Henry  Rush. 
Benjamin  0.  Williams. 

1847.  Ezra  L.  Mason. 
William  B.  Hopkins. 
Daniel  Gould. 

1848.  Apollos  Dewey. 
Austin  Griffis. 
Ezra  L.  Mason. 

1849.  Robert  Ireland. 
Ezra  L.  Mason. 

1850.  Joseph  Whitlook. 


PERRY  TOWNSHIP. 


265 


1851.  William  H.  Keytes.  1862.  Jotn  Wiley. 
Winfleld  S.  Ament.  Edward  B.  Brewer. 

1852.  L.  Mason.  1863.  John  Wiley. 
Samuel  Shepard.  1864.  Ira  W.  Rush. 

1853.  Thomas  D.  Dewey.  1865.  No  record. 

1854.  William  H.  Keytes.  1866.  W.  Davis. 
Horton  Warren.  1867.  F.  M.  Shepard. 

1855.  Josiah  B.  Parks.  1868.  H.  H.  Carson. 
IraMerell.  1869.  Frank  P.  Guilford. 

1856.  Anson  B.  Chipman.  1870.  John  H.  MoCall. 

1857.  William  H.  Keytes.  1871.  T.  M.  Templeton. 
Gilbert  G.  Doane.  1872.  Ira  W.  Kush. 

1858.  M.  W.  Quaokenbush.  1873.  John  H.  McCall. 

1859.  John  S.  Gates.  1874.  Erastus  B.  Knapp. 
Franklin  P.  Guilford.  1875.  William  P.  Steadman. 
Daniel  Brooks.  1876.  William  J.  Lewis. 

1860.  Joseph  I.  Newman.  1877.  William  B.  Launstein. 

1861.  William  C.  Van  Doren.  1878-80.  John  W.  Dewey. 

1862.  Earl  S.  Hall. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

For  matters  pertaining  to  the  first  school  in  the  township 
in  district  No.  1,  see  history  of  city.  School  district  No. 
2,  the  Griggs  and  Wilkinson  neighborhood,  was  organized 
in  1 843.  From  the  fact  that  the  early  school  inspectors' 
reports  have  not  been  preserved,  and  the  failure  of  those 
living  to  remember,  we  cannot  determine  who  taught  the 
first  school  in  the  latter  district.  It  seems  that  but  two 
districts — 1  and  2 — had  an  active  state  of  existence  for 
ten  or  twelve  years  after  the  organization  of  the  township. 
Since  1850  other  districts  have  been  formed,  and  the 
boundaries  of  all  contracted  or  enlarged  at  various  times. 
It  is  impossible  to  follow  or  describe  their  history. 

Among  the  early  teachers  mentioned  as  receiving  cer- 
tificated were  Charles  P.  Parkill,  May  4,  1844  ;  Drusilla 
Cook,  in  1847;  Sarah  Pratt  and  Drusilla  Cook,  1848;  J. 
W.  C.  Blades,  Euphrasia  Parkill,  Clarissa  IngersoU,  Sylvia 
Guilford,  1849  ;  Amanda  Guilford,  Lucretia  Griggs,  1850  ; 
and  Uretta  Chase,  Annette  Wilkinson,  C.  F.  Shepard,  Miss 
R.  Cook,  in  1851. 

A  summary  from  the  school  inspectors'  report  for  the 
year  ending  Sept.  1,  1879,  shows  as  follows: 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  3;  fractional,  3) 6 

"  children  of  school  age  residing  in  the 

township 295 

"  children  attending  school  during  the 

year 256 

"  frame  school-houses 6 

Value  of  school  property $4150 

Number  of  male  teachers  employed 3 

"  female     "  "         8 

Paid  male  teachers $245 

"    female     "       $578.75 

Moneys  received  from  all  sources  during  the  year  $1218.50 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 
PERRY     TOWNSHIP.* 

Location,  Boundaries,  and  Early  Settlement— Township  Organization 
and  List  of  Officers— Schools  of  Perry— Old  Perry  Centre— Village 
of  Morrice — Village  of  Perry. 

The  township  of  Perry,  designated  in  the  United  States 
survey  as  town' 5  north,  of  range  2  west,  is  situated  on  the 
south  border  of  Shiawassee  County,  and  bounded  on  the 


»  By  G.  A.  McAliHue. 


west,  north,  and  east  respectively  by  the  townships  of 
WoodhuU,  Bennington,  and  Antrim. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  township  was  made  by  Josiah 
Purdy  in  the  fall  of  1836,  upon  land  which  had  been  en- 
tered for  him  by  a  Mr.  Howe,  and  described  as  the  west 
half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  13,  and  the  west 
half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  12.  Upon  the 
northern  half  of  this  land  now  stands  the  village  of  Morrice. 
While  Mr.  Purdy  was  building  a  cabin  he  left  his  family  at 
the  house  of  Alanson  Ailing,  in  Antrim.  The  rude  dwel- 
ling which  he  soon  completed,  and  to  which  he  soon  after 
brought  them,  was  the  first  built  by  a  white  man  in  the 
township  of  Perry.  It  stood  just  east  of  the  school-house 
now  in  the  village  of  Morrice.  An  Indian  trail,  which  to 
all  appearances  had  been  used  for  ages  (for  in  places  it  was 
worn  nearly  a  foot  deep),  passed  near  the  door,  and  over  it 
at  times,  in  their  peculiar  single  file,  long  lines  of  Indians 
would  pass.  They  were  at  first  totally  oblivious  to  the 
presence  of  their  new  neighbors,  but  gradually  became 
acquainted,  and  before  leaving  the  township  became  very 
friendly.  They  would  sometimes  stop  during  a  storm,  or 
spend  the  night  with  him.  At  such  times  they  would  sleep 
on  the  floor  of  the  little  front  room,  which  was  often  covered 
with  them.  Without  a  word  of  explanation  they  would 
sometimes  go  away,  leaving  their  guns  standing  in  one 
corner  of  the  room,  and  be  absent  several  weeks  in  succes- 
sion. As  Mr.  Purdy  never  touched  them,  or  allowed  any 
one  to  interfere  with  them,  he  gained  the  entire  confidence  of 
the  Indians.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  Mr.  Purdy  plowed  a 
small  piece  of  ground  for  a  garden,  and  although  in  the 
mean  time  several  other  settlers  had  located  in  Perry,  this, 
it  is  thought,  was  the  first  land  plowed  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Purdy  died  in  1868.  Mrs.  Diantha  Purdy,  his  wife, 
died  in  1866.  The  son,  who  came  with  them  to  Perry,  is 
living  on  the  south  part  of  the  farm  which  his  father  en- 
tered. 

During  the  spring  referred  to  many  new  settlers  made 
their  appearance, — some  to  buy  land  and  remain,  but  most 
of  them  soon  became  discouraged  and  returned  to  the  older 
settlements.  Among  those  who  remained  were  Horace 
Green  and  Joseph  Roberts.  The  latter  was  a  physician, 
the  first  in  the  township.  They  built  a  house  and  lived 
under  the  same  roof  for  three  years.  Mr.  Green  entered 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  15.  He  brought  a  wife 
and  six  children,  some  of  whom  still  remain  in  the  town- 
ship.    He  and  his  wife  are  now  living  in  Kent  Co.,  Mich. 

George  Reed,  Jesse  Whitford,  William  Lemon,  and  Wil- 
liam Morrice  came  to  Perry  about  the  same  time.  Mr. 
Reed,  who  was  a  native  of  England,  located  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  8,  and  with  his  wife  remained  in 
Perry  until  his  death,  which  occurred  a  few  years  since. 

Jesse  Whitford  came  to  Perry  in  the  latter  part  of  1837, 
and  located  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 3.  He  had  a  wife  and  five  children.  His  daughter 
Minerva,  born  in  1838,  is  supppsed  to  have  been  the  first 
white  child  born  in  the  township.  William  Lemon  also 
came  in  1837,  and  located  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
1.  The  next  summer  (1838)  he  married  in  Washtenaw 
County,  and  did  not  remain  long  afterwards  in  Perry. 

In  March,  1837,  William  Morrice,  from  Aberdeenshire, 


34 


266 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Scotland,  located  with  his  family  on  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  2.  His  brothers,  John,  George,  and  Alexander, 
came  to  the  township  the  next  year.  George  located  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  2.  Part  of  this  land  had  been 
entered  by  a  Mr.  Patten.  John  Morrice  located  the  east  half 
of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  2.  He  died  in  1848. 
Alexander  did  not  remain  in  Perry,  but  went  to  Ionia 
County.  The  village  of  Morrice  took  its  name  from  this 
family,  a  number  of  the  members  of  which  are  still  living 
in  the  vicinity.  William  Morrice  died  in  1 873.  His  wife 
is  yet  living. 

Phineas  Austin  came  to  Perry  in  18.37,  having  previously 
entered  the  land  on  section  4,  where  his  son  now  lives. 

Lyman  Bennett  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 5.  Levi  Harmon,  also  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Perry,  located  on  the  south  part  of  section  25.  His  daugh- 
ter Polly  was  married  to  Lewis  Ward  (whose  father  was 
a  pioneer  of  Antrim)  in  September,  1839.  This  is  said 
to  have  been  the  first  marriage  in  the  township.  Ebenezer 
Turner  came  to  Perry  in  1837,  and  bought  part  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  2. 

In  1839,  John  P.  Shaft  located  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  sections  1 9  and  29.  The  village  of  Shaftsburg, 
in  WoodhuU  township,  is  situated  upon  land  which  he  sub- 
sequently purchased  in  that  township. 

In  the  following  year  John  Spaulding,  from  New  York, 
purchased  a  part  of  section  19  ;  after  building  a  house  he 
returned  to  New  York  and  married.  He  then  came  back 
to  Perry.  At  the  first  town-meeting  in  this  township  Mr. 
Spaulding  was  elected  assessor  and  justice  of  the  peace. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION  AND   LIST  OP 
OFFICERS. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  approved  March 
15,  1841,  set  off  survey-township  6  north,  of  range  2  east, 
from  the  territory  of  the  township  of  Bennington,  and 
erected  the  same  into  the  separate  civil  township  of  Perry, 
with  the  provision  that  the  first  township-meeting  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Joseph  P.  Roberts. 

In  accordance  with  the  last-named  provision  of  the  act, 
the  electors  of  the  township  met  at  the  place  designated  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1841,  and  organized  the  meeting  by 
choice  of  Joseph  P.  Roberts  as  moderator,  and  Lyman 
Bennett  as  clerk  for  the  day.  "  A  coffee-pot  and  an  old  tea- 
kettle" were  used  as  ballot  boxes,  and  with  these  the  elec- 
tion proceeded.  The  names  of  the  township  officers  elected 
at  that  first  meeting,  as  well  as  those  who  have  been  elected 
in  subsequent  years  to  the  present  time,  are  given  in  the 
following  list,  viz. : 

1841. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett;  Clerk,  J.  P.  Roberts; 
Treasurer,  Lyman  Bennett;  Assessors,  John 
Spaulding,  J.  P.  Roberts,  Winfield  S.  Ament; 
School  Inspectors,  B.  B.  Brigliam,  J.  P.  Rob- 
erts, Lyman  Bennett ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Levi  Harmon,  J.  P.  Roberts,  Lyman  Bennett ; 
Justices,  J.  P.  Roberts,  Levi  Harmon,  W.  S. 
Ament,  John  Spaulding;  Collector,  Horace 
Green ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  William  F.  Ste- 
vens, Josiah  Purdy  ;  Constables,  John  P.  Shaft, 
William  Harmon,  Horace  Green,  James  Nichols. 


1842. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett ;  Clerk,  W.  S.  Ament; 
Treasurer,  Levi  Harmon ;  Assessors,  John 
Spaulding,  James  Cummin ;  School  Inspectors, 
J.  P.  Roberts,  W.  S.  Ament,  B.  B.  Brigham ; 
Directors  of  the  Poor,  W.  P.  Stevens,  Phineas 
Austin ;  Highway  Commissioners,  J.  P.  Shaft, 
VVilliam  Harmon,  Lyman  Bennett;  Justice, 
Orson  S.  Barker ;  Constables,  J.  P.  Shaft,  Wil- 
liam Harmon,  Horace  Green,  James  Nichols. 

1843. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett;  Clerk,  James  Cum- 
min ;  Treasurer,  Levi  Harmon ;  Justices,  John 
Spaulding,  Phineas  Austin  ;  Assessor,  John 
Spaulding ;  Highway  Commissioners,  John 
Spaulding,  Lyman  Bennett ;  School  Inspectors, 
B.  B.  Brigham,  James  Cummin  ;  Directors  of 
the  Poor,  Phineas  Austin,  Levi  Harmon  ;  Con- 
stables, John  P.  Shaft,  W.  Harmon,  James 
Nichols,  John  Whaley. 

1844. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett ;  Clerk,  James  Cum- 
min ;  Treasurer,  Levi  Harmon  ;  Justice,  Lyman 
Bennett ;  School  Inspector,  James  H.  Mills ; 
Highway  Corfimissioners,  W.  W.  Denio,  Lyman 
Bennett,  John  P.  Shaft;  Consstables,  W.  W. 
Denio,  J.  P.  Shaft,  Horace  Green. 

1845. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett ;  Clerk,  James  Cum- 
min ;  Treasurer,  Levi  Harmon ;  Justice,  Jos. 
P.  Roberts;  Highway  Commissioners,  Levi 
Harmon,  John  Morrice,  Phineas  Austiu; 
School  Inspectors,  Lyman  Bennett,  Oilman 
Warren ;  Constables,  Alanson  Stevens,  James 
Nichols,  John  P.  Shaft,  James  Cummin ;  Di- 
rectors of  the  Poor,  Phineas  Austin,  W.  F. 
Stevens. 

1846. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett ;  Clerk,  John  Spauld- 
ing; Treasurer,  W.  Holmes;  Justices,  James  H. 
Mills,  Charles  Locke,  William  Morrice ;  School 
Inspector,  James  H.  Mills ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, Lyman  Bennett,  Joseph  Macomber; 
Constables,  E.  Whaley,  William  Alsaver,  An- 
drew Turner,  Lewis  Ward. 

1847. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett;  Clerk,  Norman  Green ; 
Treasurer,  P.  Austin  ;  School  Inspector,  Lyman 
Bennett;  Highway  Commissioners,  John  0. 
Hinkley,  William  Morrice;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  Phineas  Austin,  Levi  Harmon;  Justice, 
Charles  Locke;  Constables,  Andrew  Turner, 
Johnson  Treadway. 

1848. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Bennett;  Clerk,  Norman  Green; 
Treasurer,  P.  Austin  ;  Justices,  John  Dunning, 
Lyman  Bennett;  School  Inspectors,  James  Mills, 
L.  M.  Stevens ;  Highway  Commissioners,  John 
Spaulding,  Levi  Harmon;  Constables,  Alanson 
Stevens,  Joseph  Macomber;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  Charles  Locke,  William  Morrice. 

1849. — Supervisor,  James  Cummin ;  Clerk,  Norman  Green; 
Treasurer,  Charles  Locke ;  School  Inspector,  Wil- 
liam Wallace ;  Justices,  William  Morrice,  Ben- 
jamin Walker,  Albert  W.  Rann,  John  Dunning; 
Highway  Commissioners,  William  Morrice,  Phin- 
eas Austin ;  Assessors,  Charles  Locke,  Phineas 


PERRY  TOWNSHIP. 


267 


Austin ;  Constables,  M.  Stevens,  Orin  Blanohard, 
James  Nichols. 
1850. — Supervisor,     James     Cummin;     Clerk,     Norman 
Green ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Locke  ;   School  In- 
spectors, M.  L  Stevens,  W.  P.  Laing;  Highway 
Commissioners,  W.  W.  Clement,  Levi  Harmon  ; 
Justices,  A.  W.  Rann,  John   Dunning;    Con- 
stables,   Andrew    Turner,    Joseph    Macomber, 
Johnson  Treadway,  M.  L.  Stevens ;  Director  of 
the  Poor,  Levi  Harmon. 
1851 . — Supervisor,  John  Spaulding ;  Clerk,  Norman  Green ; 
Treasurer,   Levi   Harmon ;    Highway  Commis- 
sioners, Charles  Locke,  William  Holmes ;  Jus- 
tices, Charles  Locke,  John  'Dunning ;  Constables, 
W.  P.  Laing,  Joseph  Macomber,  Johnson  Tread- 
way,  Alanson  Stevens ;  School  Inspectors,  Wil- 
liam Wallace,  Gillman  Warren  ;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  Horace  Green,  John  Dunning. 
1852. — Supervisor,  John  Spaulding ;  Clerk,  Norman  Green ; 
Treasurer,    W.    P.  Laing;    Justice,    Benjamin 
Walker ;     Highway     Commissioners,     Merrick 
Walker,  Oscar  Green;   School  Inspector,  Wil- 
liam Wallace;   Constables,  Ira  Turner,  Joseph 
Macomber;    Directors   of    the    Poor,    William 
Tryon,  William  Morrice. 
1853.— Supervisor,  John  Spaulding;  Clerk,  Henry  Bridger; 
Treasurer,  Artemas   Howard ;    Highway  Com- 
missioners,  Orin    Blanchard,   John    Dunning; 
Justice,  Alanson  B.  Stevens ;  School  Inspectors, 
Gillman  Warren,  James  H.  Mills;  Constables, 
Ira  Turner,  James  Bridger,  James  H.  Mills,  W. 
H.    Tryon;    Directors   of    the    Poor,   Phineas 
Austin,  Levi  Harmon. 
1854.— Supervisor,  John  Spaulding ;  Clerk,  Henry  Bridger ; 
Treasurer,  Artemas  Howard  ;  Justices,  William 
Morrice,   William  Holmes;  School  Inspectors, 
Giles   Kilbourn,    William   Wallace;    Highway 
Commissioner,  Harry  Huntingdon  ;  Constables, 
Josiah  C.   Holmes,  Albert  W.   Rann,    George 
Tyler,  Johnson  Treadway. 
1855.— Supervisor,  John  Spauldmg ;  Clerk,  Gilman  War- 
ren ;    Treasurer,    Artemas   Howard;    Highway 
Commissioners,  Jldward  Wallace,  Phineas  Aus- 
tin ;  Justices,  John  Dunning,  Alonzo  Spaulding, 
David   F.   Tyler;    Constables,  James    Bridger, 
Artemas    Howard,    Harvey    Roberts,    W.    H. 
Tryon ;  Director  of  the  Poor,  William  Morrice. 
1856.— Supervisor,  Phineas  Austin ;  Clerk,  Owen  Dudley ; 
Treasurer,  Artemas  Howard;   Justices,  W.  P. 
Laing,  Ambrose  W.  Calkins ;   School  Inspector, 
Gillman  Warren  ;  Commissioners  of  Highways, 
James  C.  Denio,  William  Morrice ;  Directors  of 
the  Poor,  William  P.  Laing,  Ambrose  W.  Cal- 
kins; Constables,  Horace  Green,  Joseph  Brown, 
James  C.  Denio,  James  Bridger. 
1857.— Supervisor,  Phineas  Austin;  Clerk,  Orlando  Flint; 
Treasurer,  Justus  Coy ;  Justices,  Charles  Locke, 
Benjamin  Walker,  Orin  Blanchard ;  School  In- 
spectors,  David   Gorton,  W.    Wallace,   Henry 
McKnight;   Highway  Commissioners,  William 


Morrice,  Harry  Huntington  ;  Constables,  Robert 
H.  Titus,  Artemas  Howard,  William  Ciiipman, 
James  C.  Denio  ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  William 
Holmes,  James  Nichols. 
1858. — Supervisor,    Phineas    Austin ;     Clerk,    Benjamin 
Walker ;  Treasurer,  Lorenzo  C.  Watkins ;  Jus- 
tice, Elijah  T.  Smith  ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
Orlando  Flint ;  School  Inspector,  William  Wal- 
lace;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Elijah  T.  Smith, 
Alonzo  Spaulding ;  Constables,  Robert  H.  Titus, 
James  0.  Walker,  Orin  Blanchard,  W.  R.  Chip- 
man. 
1859. — Supervisor,    Benjamin    Walker;    Clerk,    Harvey 
Roberts ;  Treasurer,  Lorenzo  C.  Watkins ;  Jus- 
tice, Orin  Blanchard  ;  School  Inspector,  James 
0.  Walker;    Highway   Commissioner,  William 
Blanchard ;    Directors    of   the    Poor,    William 
Morrice,    Horace    Green ;    Constables,   Horace 
Dunning,  Ananias   Stafford,  David   C.  Austin, 
E.  Whaley. 
I860.— Supervisor,  Benjamin  Walker;  Clerk,  Guy  Toser; 
Treasurer,  Charles  H.  Calkins;  Justices,  John 
Dunning,  Benjamin    Walker;    Highway  Com- 
missioners,  William    Morrice,    John    Cooper; 
School  Inspector,  Horace  Dunning ;  Constables, 
A.  Stafford,  R.  H.  Titus,   James  0.  Walker, 
Horace  Dunning. 
1861. — Supervisor,  Orin  Blanchard  ;  Clerk,  Gilman  War- 
ren ;  Treasurer,  James  H.  Milk ;  Justice,  Charles 
Locke;    School    Inspectors,   William   Wallace, 
Horace  Dunning;  Highway  Commissioner,  Guy 
Toser;   Constables,  George  W.  Tyler,  Ananias 
Stafford,   Samuel   J.   Southworth,    Horace   H. 
Dunning. 
1862. — Supervisor,   Orin  Blanchard;    Clerk,  Charles   P. 
Hill;   Treasurer,   James   H.   Fravor ;    Justice, 
William  P.  Laing;  School  Inspector,  William 
Cooper;    Commissioner  of  Highways,  William 
Blanchard ;  Constables,  John  Green,  A.  S.  Staf- 
ford, Calvin  Locke,  William  Cooper. 
1863. — Supervisor,  Orin  Blanchard;  Clerk,  Charles  Hill ; 
Treasurer,  Jepthali    Cummins;   Justices,   Orin 
Blanchard,  J.  B.  Curtis ;  School  Inspector,  Mil- 
ton Hinkley ;  Highway  Commissioner,  William 
Morrice ;  Constables,  J.  0.  Walker,  A.  S.  Staf- 
ford, David  Austin,  James  McCarn. 
1864.— Supervisor,   Orin    Blanchard;     Clerk,    Benjamin 
Walker;  Treasurer,  J.  Cummin;  Justice,  Ben- 
jamin Walker  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  John 
Cooper ;  School  Inspector,  David  D.  Dunning ; 
Constables;  R.  H.  Titus,  William  Walker,  D. 
F.  P.  Burnett,  Elias  C.  Maxon. 
1865.— Supervisor,  John  Spaulding;  Clerk,  A.  A.  Harper; 
Treasurer,    James    0.    Walker  ;    Justice,    W. 
Beardsley;  School  Inspector,  M.  L.  Hinkley; 
Highway    Commissioner,  William    Blanchard; 
Constables,  J.  0.  Walker,  James  Nichols,  Leon- 
ard C.  Austin,  Martin  Britton. 
1866.— Supervisor,  W.  Beardsley ;  Clerk,  A.  A.  Harper , 
Treasurer,  James  0.  Walker ;  Justices,  Joshua 


268 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Curtis,  J.  Cummin;  School  Inspector,  J).  D. 
Dunning  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  Charles 
Tyler,  Edward  A.  McCarn ;  Constables,  J.  0. 
Walker,  R.  H.  Titus,  Edward  A.  McCarn,  D. 
F.  P.  Burnett. 

1867.— Supervisor,  W.  Beardsley;  Clerk,  A.  A.  Harper; 
Treasurer,  R.  H.  Titus ;  Justices,  Orin  Blanch- 
ard,  David  Virgil ;  School  Inspector,  James  W. 
McKnight ;  Highway  Commissioners,  James  0. 
Walker,  James  McCarn;  Constables,  R.  H. 
Titus,  Horace  Purdy,  M.  L.  Stevens,  Homer 
Dunning. 

1868.— Supervisor,  James  0.  Walker  ;  Clerk,  A.  A.  Har- 
per ;  Treasurer,  D.  D.  Dunning ;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, J.  McCan ;  School  Inspector,  D.  D. 
Dunning;  Justice,  Benjamin  Walker;  Consta- 
bles, D.  D.  Dunning,  R.  H.  Titus,  James  Tyler, 
D.  V.  Bennett. 

1869. — Supervisor,  Orin  Blanchard  ;  Clerk,  Brayton 
Spaulding ;  Treasurer,  R.  H.  Titus ;  Justices, 
David  Virgil,  John  A.  Morrice ;  School  In- 
spector, James  N.  McKnight,  Jr. ;  Highway 
Commissioners,  A.  A.  Bennett,  George  D. 
Burkhart;  Constables,  Robert  H.  Titus,  W. 
Bark,  James  L.  Tyler,  William  Britton. 

1870. — Supervisor,  Orin  Blanchard;  Clerk,  W.  Beards- 
ley  ;  Treasurer,  Amasa  A.  Harper ;  Justice, 
John  A.  Morrice  ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
George  D.  Burkhart;  School  Inspector,  David 
D.  Dunnipg;  Constables,  A.  A.  Harper,  Oliver 
B.  Halleck,  James  L.  Tyler,  George  H.  Smith. 

1871. — Supervisor,  John  Spaulding  ;  Clerk,  Brayton 
Spaulding;  Treasurer,  A.  A.  Harper;  Justice, 
J.  W.  McKnight ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Wil- 
liam Gillio ;  Constables,  Charles  Tyler,  A.  A. 
Harper,  Anderson  Bristol,  Fernando  Blanchard. 

1872. — Supervisor,  J.  D.  Bennett;  Clerk,  A.  J.  McCarn  ; 
Treasurer,  B.  C.  Spaulding ;  Justice,  B.  Walker ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Charles  Tyler ;  School 
Inspector,  D.  D.  Dunning ;  Constables,  Oliver 
M.  Able,  Brayton  C.  Spaulding,  Andrew  Bris- 
tol, Washington  Bush. 

1873. — Supervisor,  John  D.  Bennett;  Clerk,  A.  A.  Har- 
per; Treasurer,  Brayton  C.  Spaulding;  Justice, 
A.  J.  McCarn ;  School  Inspector,  James  0. 
Walker ;  Highway  Commissioner,  George  D. 
Burkhart;  Drain  Commissioner,  Augustus  Wil- 
cox ;  Constables,  Brayton  Spaulding,  Leonard 
Ferris,  George  S.  Peck,  Anson  Bristol. 

1 874. — Supervisor,  A.  A.  Harper ;  Clerk,  James  0.  Wal- 
ker; Treasurer,  Brayton  C.  Spaulding;  Justices, 
John  A.  Morrice,  B.  F.  Grout,  John  W.  Ska- 
don,  Alexander  Spaulding ;  School  Inspector, 
D.  D.  Dunning ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Wil- 
liam Gillio ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Augustus 
Wilcox ;  Constables,  Brayton  C.  Spaulding,  An- 
derson Bristol,  Coburn  Blanchard,  James  0. 
Walker. 

1875 — Supervisor,  A.  A.  Harper;  Clerk,  J.  J.  Walker; 
Treasurer,  B.  C.  Spaulding ;  Justices,  J.  Cum- 


min, Thomas  Sharp ;  School  Superintendent, 
D.  D.  Dunning ;  School  Inspector,  G.  R.  Brandt; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Charles  H.  Calkins; 
Drain  Commissioner,  Augustus  Wilcox;  Con- 
stables, T.  J.  Walker,  Brayton  C.  Spaulding, 
Hopkins  Tryon,  C.  Blanchard. 

1876. — Supervisor,  A.  A.  Harper;  Clerk,  J.  J.  Walker; 
Treasurer,  Brayton  C.  Spaulding;  Justice,  Ben- 
jamin F.  Rann ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  D. 
D.  Dunning;  School  Inspector,  William  Cooper ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Charles  H.  Calkins; 
Drain  Commissioner,  John  Spaulding;  Consta- 
bles, B.  C.  Spaulding,  J.  J.  Walker,  H.  W. 
Cramer,  J.O.  Walker. 

1877. — Supervisor,  A.  A.  Harper ;  Clerk,  Joseph  Walker; 
Treasurer,  B.  C.  Spaulding;  Justice,  B.  F. 
Grout;  School  Superintendent,  G.  R.  Brandt; 
School  Inspector,  D.  D.  Dunning;  Highway 
Commissioner,  C.  C.  Calkins ;  Constables,  B.  C. 
Spaulding,  S.  H.  Davis,  Henry  Beckly,  B.  F. 
Elly. 

1878. — Supervisor,  A.  A.  Harper ;  Clerk,  Charles  F.  Wing ; 
Treasurer,  B.  C.  Spaulding;  Justice,  W.  P. 
Laing ;  Superintendent  Schools,  G.  R.  Brandt ; 
School  Inspector,  David  D.  Dunning;  Highway 
Commissioner,  Charles  H.  Calkins ;  Drain  Com- 
missioner, E.  W.  Wallace ;  Constables,  T.  N. 
Boardman,  B.  C.  Spaulding,  John  T.  Crane,  J. 
J.  Walker. 

1879. — Supervisor,  A.  A.  Harper;  Clerk,  Charles  F.  Wing; 
Treasurer,  T.  M.  Templeton ;  Justices,  J.  Cum- 
min, A.  T.  Bott;  Highway  Commissioner,  H. 
W.  Wallace  ;  Superintendent  Schools,  Robert  D. 
Marble ;  School  Inspector,  D.  D.  Dunning ; 
Drain  Commissioner,  Orin  Blanchard;  Consta- 
bles, Thomas  Johnston,  C.  Blanchard,  A.  D. 
Smith,  J.  J.  Walker. 

1880. — Supervisor,  A.  A.  Harper;  Clerk,  Charles  T. 
Wing;  Treasurer,  Charles  Tyler;  School  In- 
spector, George  R.  Brandt ;  School  Superinten- 
dent, Henry  P.  Halstead ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, William  G.  Morrice ;  Justice,  David  D. 
Dunning ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Homer  B.  Dun- 
ning; Constables,  Thomas  Johnston,  John  C. 
Crane,  Charles  Tyler,  Samuel  E.  Lookingstill. 

As  indicating  the  increase  of  the  population  of  the  town- 
ship the  following  figures  are  given,  showing  the  number 
of  votes  cast  in  Perry  for  supervisor  at  the  end  of  the  sev- 
eral decades  from  the  organization  of  the  township  to  the 
present  time,  viz. : 

Votes. 

1841 28 

1850 50 

1860 137 

1870 144 

1880 348 

The  total  valuation  of  real  estate  and  personal  property, 
according  to  the  assessment-rolls,  was : 

Valuation. 

1841 $63,978 

1860 157,201 

1870 141,070 

1879 188,560 


PEKRY   TOWNSHIP. 


269 


The  total  tax  levied  for  various  purposes  was : 

I860 $2117.93 

1870 3216.77 

1879 3805.75 

In  1879  the  amount  of  tax  raised  for  various  purposes 
was  as  follows : 

State  tax $1080.29 

County  tax 1057.32 

School  tax 1143.30 

Rejected  tax 4.12 

Contingent  tax 200.00 

Highway  and  bridge  tax 75.00 

Cemetery  tax 50.00 

Pound  tax 30.00 

Dog  tax '. 103.00 

Highway  tax 59.27 

Excess  of  roll 3.45 

SCHOOLS  OF  PEKEY. 
Nov.  14,  1837,  the  school  commissioners  of  the  township 
of  Shiawassee  (at  that  time  embracing  what  is  now  Shia- 
wassee, Antrim,  Perry,  WoodhuU,  Bennington,  and  Sciota) 
met  at  the  "  Shiawassee  Exchange'',  to  divide  the  townships 
into  school  districts.  Township  5  north,  range  2  east  (now 
Perry),  was  divided  as  follows  : 

Sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15  to  form  district 
No.  1. 

Sections  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  34,  35,  36  to  form 
district  No.  2. 

Sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  16,  18  to  form  district  No.  3. 
Sections  19,  20,  21,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,33  to. form 
district  No.  4. 

It  is  not  known,  however,  that  any  of  these  districts  ac- 
cording to  this  division  were  regularly  organized  at  this 
time. 

The  first  school  of  which  any  information  has  been  ob- 
tained was  taught  by  Miss  Julia  Green,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  M.  L.  Stevens,  in  the  year  1839.  An  upper  room 
of  her  father's  house  served  as  a  school-room,  where,  during 
twelve  weeks,  she  labored,  witli  from  seven  to  ten  children 
as  pupils.  She  received  six  dollars  from  the  public-school 
fund,  and  it  is  believed  that  (contrary  to  the  custom  of 
those  days)  no  tuition  was  paid  her  in  addition  by  the 
scholars  for  this  service. 

The  same  year  Horace  Green,  her  father,  built  a  small 
log  cabin  for  a  shop.  This  was  secured  by  those  desirous 
of  having  a  school  taught,  and  in  the  following  winter  it 
was  used  for  that  purpose.  It  stood  on  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  15.  The  place  where  it  stood 
is  now  nearly  indicated  by  the  residence  of  Charles  H. 
Calkins.  The  school-house  was  built  by  Deacon  Phincas 
Austin  and  Horace  Green.  James  Andrews  and  Henry 
Smith  were  among  the  first  teachers  in  the  district. 

The  school-house  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship, built  by  Charles  Locke,  and  the  one  in  the  northern 
part,  usually  known  as  the  Austin  school-house,  were  built 
about  the  same  time.  This  was  probably  about  the  year 
1840.  The  one  built  by  Mr.  Locke  stood  on  the  south  end 
of  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  24,  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Brown.  This  was  a  frac- 
tional school  district,  and  was  composed  of  adjoining  parts 
of  the  two  townships.  This  building  was  used  in  that  loca- 
tion until  1846,  when  a  new  school  district  being  formed 
in  that  vicinity  it  was  taken  down  and  moved  into  the  dis- 


trict now  known  as  number  four.  It  was  placed  on  the 
site  occupied  by  the  school-house  now  in  use,  and  was  re- 
paired and  used  a  number  of  years.  Miss  Julia  Green, 
before  referred  to  as  the  first  teacher  in  the  township,  also 
taught  the  first  term  in  this  school-house  before  it  was 
moved. 

The  same  year  Miss  Jane  Shaft  taught  a  private  school 
in  her  father's  house.    She  is  now  living  in  Shaftsburg,  the 
wife  of  Newton  Bacon.     After  several  terms  of  private 
school  taught  by  Miss  Shaft,  Samantha  Norden,  and  Sarah 
Holmes,  school  district  No.  3  was  set  ofi".     This  was  about 
the  year  1843.     The  first  school-meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  John  P.  Shaft,  and  the  district  oflScers  were  then 
elected.      A   vote   decided   on   the  building   of  a   "log 
shanty,  to  be  roofed  with  hollow  basswood  logs."     It  was 
built  on  the  knoll  now  occupied  by  the  house  of  Albert 
Durant.    It  was  afterwards  used  as  a  blacksmith-shop.    The 
first  frame  school-house  in  the  township  was  built  in  this 
district.     It  cost  three  hundred  and  thirty  dollars,  and  is 
still  in  use.      The   first   school-meeting  in  district  No.  4 
was   held  at  the   house  of  John   B.  Stevens,  April   30, 
1846.     Upon  being  called  to  order,  Charles   Locke  was 
appointed  chairman.     District  officers  were  then  elected,  as 
follows :   Josiah  B.  Stevens,  Moderator ;  J.  Hinkley,  As- 
sessor;    Charles  Locke,  Director.     The  site  then  selected 
upon  which  to  build  a  school-house  was  near  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
23.     By  a  subsequent  vote  the  school-house  built  by  Mr. 
Locke,  in  the  southeast  fractional  district,  was  moved  to 
this  site,  as  before  stated.     The  scholars  in  this  district 
were  Stephen  and  Emily  Ward,  George  and  Calvin  Locke, 
Mary  J.  and  Sarah  M.  Stevens,  and  Wesley  and  Milton 
Hinkley. 

On  Deo.  10,  1838,  the  inhabitants  of  thit  portion  of 
the  township  now  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village  of  Morrice 
petitioned  the  school  board  to  be  set  off  as  a  separate  school 
district.  In  compliance  with  this  petition  school  district 
No.  5  was  formed.  The  first  school-meeting  in  this  district 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  F.  Gale,  February  16th 
following.  There  were  then  eighteen  taxable  inhabitants 
in  the  district.  At  this  meeting  Giles  Kilbourn  was  elected 
Moderator ;  B.  H.  Calkins,  Assessor ;  B.  F.  Gale,  Director. 
They  then  voted  to  purchase  one-quarter  of  an  acre  of  land 
from  Josiah  Purdy,  described  as  the  northwest  corner  of 
section  13.  And  "although  this  motion  at  a  subsequent 
meeting  was  rescinded,  it  was  again  passed,  and  after  a 
number  of  meetings  and  votes  pro  and  con,  the  house  was 
finally  erected  in  the  latter  part  of  November,  1862.  Sev- 
eral small  additions  have  been  built  to  this  house,  one  in 

1878  and  another  in  1879.  It  now  has  two  rooms  and 
employs  two  teachers.  The  amount  of  money  received  by 
each  of  the  various  school  districts  for  the  years  1860  and 

1879  is  given  below  : 

I860. 

Di^-t^-i :;•;:::::::::::  1?:56 

"  iZZ^^Z^'Z.'. 92.52 

«  «  i_fractional— (Perry  and  Bennington)  26.70 

({  li  2  "  "  "  53.00 

„         t't  t  "  (Perry  and  Loclie) 28.00 

„  „  g  «  "  "     50.55 

,(  li  2  "  (Perry  and  Antrim) 11.26 

«  A  "  "  "     14-44 


270 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1879. 
District  No.  1 ^220.12 

It  It      o  lUO.OD 

„    I 103.90 

"  5";;;;!"!!!!]!lll!!!l!!!!il «2.68 

ti  «     7    66.11 

"  "     1 fractional — (Perry  and  Bennington)  42.88 

«  ((  2            **                "                        *'  18.88 

u  «     5  '<  (Perry  and  Locke) 69.78 

11  «     g  <<  "  "     47.27 

"  "     6  "  (Perry  and  Antrim) 30.10 

«  (I  8            "           (Perry,   Woodtiull,   and 

Loclie) 26.32 

OLD  PERRY  CENTRE. 

In  1850,  William  P.  Lainj;  came  to  Perry,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  opened  the  first  store  in  the  township.  It  was 
in  a  small  building  which  he  put  up  at  what  now  is  known 
as  Old  Perry  Centre.  The  first  in  this  place,  however,  was 
a  log  cabin  built  by  James  Titus.  Richard  Elliott,  who 
came  from  Lansing  some  time  after,  rented  a  room  of  Mr. 
Laing,  and  opened  a  small  stock  of  dry  goods  and  groce- 
ries. He  soon  after  built  the  large  store  building  now 
standing  vacant  in  the  Old  Centre. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Laing  was  appointed  postmaster,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  filled  several  years.  As  he  became  "  a  little 
shaky"  in  his  views,  however,  Johnson  Treadway  super- 
seded him.  Mr.  Laing  was  subsequently  reappointed,  but 
after  a  time  resigned  in  favor  of  Robert  Titus.  He  was 
followed  by  Dr.  S.  M.  Marshall.  Bradcn  C.  Spaulding  was 
appointed  by  President  Hayes  in  1877,  and  still  fills  the 
position. 

VILLAGE   OF   MOREIOE. 

The  thrifty  village  of  Morrice,  now  having  a  population 
of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty,  was  platted  in  the  fall  of 
1877  by  Isaac  Gale,  who  owned  the  west  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  12.  This  land  was  settled  by  Joshua 
Purdy,  who  is  spoken  of  among  the  pioneers  of  Perry.  At 
the  time  the  Chicago  and  Port  Huron  Railroad  was  com- 
pleted Mr.  Gale  was  vice-president  of  the  company  which 
controlled  it,  which  fact  probably  accounts  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  railroad  depot  at  Morrice. 

The  village  has  a  flouring-mill,  a  stave-  and  heading- 
factory,  two  good  hotels,  one  hardware  and  agricultural 
implement  store,  one  drug-store,  a  general  store,  and  several 
smaller  places  of  business.  The  flouring-mill  was  built  by 
B.  F.  Rann  in  the  fall  of  1877.  It  has  two  run  of  stones. 
The  stave-  and  heading-factory,  which  was  built  by  J.  P. 
Schultz  in  1879,  employs  fourteen  men  and  boys,  and  turns 
out  from  seven  to  nine  thousand  headings  and  six  thousand 
staves  per  day.  The  saw-mill  was  built  by  Henry  Horton 
in  1877.  The  business  men  of  the  town  contributed  six 
hundred  dollars  to  the  proprietor  of  the  flouring-mill,  one 
thousand  dollars  to  Mr.  Schultz,  and  three  hundred  dollars 
to  Henry  Horton,  as  inducements  for  these  gentlemen  to 
establish  their  business  in  Morrice. 

The  Sager  House  was  built  by  C.  W.  Sager  in  1878.  It 
is  a  well-furnished  and  commodious  hotel,  and  is  the  most 
substantially-built  structure  in  the  village.  The  first  store 
was  opened  by  Frederick  Cummins.  The  medical  profession 
is  represented  by  Henry  P.  Halstead  and  George  0.  Austin. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  MORRICE. 

On  Dec.  28,  1839,  some  of  the  friends  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Bennington  met  at  the  house  of  William 


Howard,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  into  a  religious  soci- 
ety. The  Rev.  Mr.  Geishorn,  who  presided  then,  entered 
the  following  names :  William  F.  Stevens,  Abigail  Stevens, 
Smith  Howard,  Rebecca  Howard,  Milan  Glover,  Lydia  M. 
Glover,  Polly  Fitch,  Sarah  Griswold,  John  Morrice,  Mary 
Morrice,  William  Morrice,  George  Morrice,  Archibald 
Purdy,  Caroline  Purdy,  Winfield  S.  Ament. 

The  society  then  adopted  the  name  by  which  it  was  for 
many  years  known,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ben- 
nint^ton.  The  third  resolution  passed  was  to  the  effect 
"  that  this  church  be  organized  upon  the  principle  of  total 
abstinence  from  all  intoxicating  beverages,  except  for  medi- 
cinal purposes."  Archibald  Purdy,  John  Morrice,  and 
Milan  Glover  were  chosen  and  ordained  elders;  W.  P. 
Stevens  was  chosen  deacon. 

The  society  continued  to  hold  meetings  at  the  homes  of 
various  members,  or  after  school-houses  were  built,  in  them. 
When  the  village  of  Morrice  became  a  centre  of  some  busi- 
ness importance,  the  society  voted  to  change  the  name,  and 
build  a  place  of  worship  in  that  village.  The  name  was 
accordingly  changed  to  The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Morrice,  and  its  meeting-house  was  built  in  1878. 

The  Methodist  and  Baptist  societies  of  Morrice  contrib- 
uted liberally  to  the  fund  with  which  the  church  was  built, 
and  these  societies,  therefore,  have  had  the  use  of  it  alter- 
nately since  completion. 

It  -cost  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and  is  one  of 
the  finest  church  buildings  in  the  county.  Rev.  Charles  D. 
Ellis  is  the  minister  now  in  charge  of  the  Presbyterian 
society,  which  numbers  forty-three  members. 

The  Union  Sabbath-school  of  Morrice  is  one  of  the  most 
creditable  and  well  conducted  in  this  county.  In  this  the 
members  and  children  of  the  various  denominations  unite, 
and  the  best  of  feeling  prevails.  J.  V.  R.  Wyckoff,  Jr., 
is  superintendent. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OP   MORRICE. 

The  society  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Morrice  was  organized  at  the  school-house  (then  known  as 
the  Purdy  school-house)  in  April,  1865.  Rev.  J.  R.  Gordon 
had  been  holding  a  series  of  meetings  which  brought  about 
the  formation  of  a  class,  as  above  stated.  The  first  meeting 
called  for  the  purpose  resulted  in  the  names  of  the  following 
persons  being  enrolled  :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  A.  McKnight, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Davis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ely,  and  Mary 
Davis.    The  society  now  meets  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  was  organized  May  11, 1880.  Mrs. 
M.  McKnight  was  elected  President ;  Mrs.  G.  0.  Austin, 
Secretary;  Mrs.  Jennie  Colby,  Corresponding  Secretary. 
The  membership  is  thirty. 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH   OF   MORRICE. 

In  October,  1877,  several  families  which  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  Society  of  Antrim  and  Perry  met 
and  organized  the  Society  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Perry.  Elder  Hayden,  of  Perry,  presided  at  this  meeting. 
The  names  of  those  who  were  present  and  formed  the  so- 
ciety are  as  follows :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horace  Purdy,  Abraham 
Queick  aud  wife  and  daughters,  Anna  and  Eva,  Mr.  and 


PERRY  TOWNSHIP. 


271 


Mrs.  M.  Setterly,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  Ormsby,  Morris 
Ormsby  and  Miss  Etta  Ormsby,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson 
Bristol,  and  Mrs.  Leonard  Ferris.  The  society  now  has 
twenty-three  members. 

FRATERNITIES. 

Several  fraternities,  composed  of  the  citizens  of  Morrice 
and  vicinity,  hold  their  usual  meetings  in  Sagcr's  Hall,  in 
that  village. 

The  charter  granted  to  the  lodge  of  Knights  of  Honor, 
No.  1519,  at  Morrice,  is  dated  Oct.  9,  1879. 

The  grange  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  was  organized 
in  1873.  It  soon  declined  and  surrendered  its  charter,  but 
was  reorganized  July  18, 1879. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars,  No.  53,  was 
organized  Jan.  16,  1878.  The  order  at  this  place  is  now 
in  a  flourishing  condition. 

The  charter  of  the  Juvenile  Templars  bears  date  Jan. 
17,  1879,  with  the  following  names  as  officers:  Jesse  Ball, 
C.  T.;  Etta  Ormsby,  V.  T. ;  Anna  Goodburn,  Rec.  Sec; 
James  "Whaley,  P.  C.  P.;  Altie  Dickinson,  Fin.  Sec; 
Abbie  Litchfield,  T. 

VILLAGE   OF   PERKY. 

The  village  of  Perry  is  situated  upon  land  settled  by 
Horace  Green.  When  the  railroad  was  completed  through 
the  township  the  company  established  the  depot  on  or  near 
a  piece  of  land  belonging  to  Mr.  Isaac  Gale.  A  majority 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  were  much  dissatisfied. 
It  had  been  understood  that  the  station  should  be  located 
where  the  railroad  crossed  the  "  Mason  and  Owosso  State 
road,"  this  location  having  been  decided  upon  by  a  vote  of 
the  people  of  the  township.  With  this  understanding  con- 
siderable contributions  were  made.  Norman  Green,  with  a 
proviso  to  that  efiect,  gave  the  company  one  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  five  acres  of  ground  for  depot  and  yard  purposes. 
After  several  private  meetings  had  been  held  by  some  of 
the  more  prominent  men  in  this  part  of  the  township  it  was 
determined  to  plat  a  village  and  build  up  a  business  at  this 
point.  The  village  was  platted  on  the  land  owned  by  C. 
H.  Calkins  and  William  McKellops.  The  latter  gentleman 
commenced  at  once  to  build  a  mill,  and  other  business 
places  were  opened  in  quick  succession,  a  number  of  build- 
ings being  moved  from  the  old  centre.  Still  the  railroad 
company  would  neither  receive  any  freight  for  this  point 
nor  ship  any  from  it.  The  people  then  petitioned  the 
company,  but  without  avail.  They  next  petitioned  the 
Legislature  of  the  State.  After  various  investigations  and' 
delays,  by  a  special  act  of  Assembly  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  investigate  the  case.  The  report  made,  favored 
the  village,  and  resulted  in  compliance  on  the  part  of  the 
railroad  company.  The  people  then  donated  ties  for  the 
side-track,  and  contributed  money  to  build  the  depot. 

The  business  interests  of  the  village  are  continually  en- 
larging, while  it  is  steadily  increasing  in  population  and 
importance.  There  are  two  large  flouring-mills,  two  general 
stores,  a  hotel,  two  hardware-stores,  two  drug-stores,  two 
harness-shops,  three  blacksmith-  and  wagon-shops.  The 
physicians  now  practicing  medicine  in  Perry  village  are  L. 
M.  Marshall  and  S.  Chapin. 


The  Perry  Brick  Mill  was  built  by  William  McKellops, 
in  1877.  It  has  four  run  of  stones,  and  has  a  capacity  of 
one  hundred  barrels  per  day. 

The  Reliance  Mill  was  built  by  0.  N.  Parshall,  in  1878. 
It  has  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  barrels  of  flour  in  twenty- 
four  hours.  Its  flour  took  the  premium  at  the  Michigan 
State  Fair  of  1879. 

THE   METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH   OF   PERRY. 

The  history  of  this  society  begins  properly  with  the  win- 
ter of  1838-39,  when  Flaviel  Brittan  held  a  series  of  re- 
vival-meetings in  the  house  of  Lyman  Melvin,  in  Antrim 
township.  A  decided  interest  being  manifested  after  the 
continuation  of  these  exercises  during  a  few  weeks,  at  the 
first  meeting  called  for  the  purpose,  a  class  was  formed  com- 
posed of  the  following-named  persons :  Charles  Locke,  Har- 
vey Harmon,  Levi  Harmon  and  wife,  John  Ward  and  wife, 
Josiah  Stevens  and  wife. 

The  society  at  first  hold  its  meetings  in  Antrim  town- 
ship, but  the  place  of  worship  was  subsequently  changed  to 
the  house  of  Josiah  B.  Stevens,  in  Perry  township.  In 
after-years,  when  the  class  in  Antrim  was  formed,  a  part  of 
the  members  residing  in  that  township  withdrew  from  the 
society  in  Perry,  and  united  themselves  with  it. 

When  the  class  was  first  formed  the  territory  now  com- 
prised in  the  Perry  Circuit  was  part  of  what  was  termed 
the  Shiawassee  Mission,  spoken  of  more  fully  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Byron.  In 
1845  the  Bennington  Circuit  was  formed,  which  included 
the  appointments  in  Perry  and  Antrim.  The  first  quar- 
terly conference  of  this  circuit  convened  in  Bennington, 
Nov.  29,  1845.  Horace  Hall  was  the  preacher  in  charge, 
assisted  by  G.  W.  Alexander,  a  local  preacher.  At  one  of 
these  meetings  it  is  recorded  that  M.  L.  Stevens,  of  Perry, 
after  making  some,  remarks  to  the  conference,  ofiiered  the 
following  resolution,  which  was  adopted :  "  Resolved,  that  we 
consider  American  slavery  necessarily  an  evil."  Although 
his  proposition  received  the  approval  of  the  conference,  it 
would  probably  have  been  ignominiously  defeated  had  it 
been  submitted  to  the  people  at  that  time. 

Perry  was  next  included  in  Antrim  Circuit,  which  was 
formed  in  1855.  The  first  quarterly  conference  of  this 
circuit  was  held  at  the  Beard  school-house  in  Antrim,  Oct. 
27,  1855.  The  first  board  of  stewards  was  then  elected 
as  follows,  viz. :  David  D.  Adams,  Seth  Johnson,  Charles 
Locke,  James  C.  Dennis,  John  P.  Shaft,  and  William 
Wright.  In  1857  the  name  of  the  circuit  was  changed 
and  "  Perry  Circuit"  adopted.  Lyman  H.  Dean  was  the 
first  minister  in  charge. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society  for  the  purpose  of  discuss- 
ing the  propriety  of  building  a  church,  Charles  Locke  was 
appointed  chairman  of  a  building  committee.  The  other 
members  were  J.  W.  Brown  and  M.  S.  Hinkley.  The 
building  was  completed  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  eleven  hundred 
dollars.     The  society  has  now  a  membership  of  eighty. 

BAPTIST   CHURCH   OP   PERRY. 

On  May  19,  1838,  the  society  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Bennington  was  formed  at  the  house  of  William  F.  Stevens. 
After  the  township  of  Bennington  was  divided  and  Perry 


272 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


formed,  the  society  reorganized  and  adopted  its  present 
name  and  title.  The  names  enrolled  at  this  meeting  were 
Horace  B.  Flint,  Hannah  Flint,  Phineas  Austin,  Angeline 
Austin,  Jesse  Whitford,  Diantha  Purdy,  Polly  Green, 
Cynthia  Hill.  B.  B.  Brigham  was  the  first  elder  in 
charge.  Cyrus  Barnes,  John  Martin,  and  F.  W.  Colbe 
are  also  among  the  pioneer  preachers  of  this  society.  The 
usual  place  of  meeting  was  the  "  Tamarack  School-house," 
now  known  as  the  "  Austin  School-house,"  until  the  build- 
ing of  their  meeting-house  in  the  village  of  Perry.  At  a 
meeting  held  in  the  "  Green  School-house"  two  committees 
which  bad  been  appointed  reported  to  raise  a  building-fund. 
It  was  then  found  that  the  committee  selected  to  work  in 
the  village  of  Perry  and  vicinity  had  secured  nine  hundred 
dollars.  A  site  for  the  church  was  then  selected  by  a 
ballot,  which  resulted  in  locating  it  where  it  now  stands. 
A  building  committee  was  then  appointed,  composed  of 
Charles  Calkins,  W.  P.  Laing,  H.  A.  Roberts,  to  act  in 
conjunction  with  the  trustees  of  the  church.  The  meeting- 
house was  completed  in  1877  (while  Elder  R.  H.  Hayden 
presided),  and  was  deiiicated  in  December  of  tliat  year. 

M.  H.  De  Witt  is  the  present  pastor,  and  the  society 
now  has  a  membership  of  seventy-two. 

THE   FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH    OF   PERRY 

was  organized  in  December,  1879,  the  Rev.  Leroy  Warren 
ofiiciating.  The  names  of  fifteen  persons  were  placed  on 
the  record  of  the  church  at  the  first  meeting.  The  number 
has  since  been  increased  to  thirty-four. 

The  society  now  meets  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  is  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  James  Verney. 

A  LODGE   OF   THE   L  0.  0.  F. 

was  instituted  at  Perry  by  Past  Grand  Master  B.  W. 
Dennis,  May  13,  1873,  with  the  following-named  persons 
as  charter  members,  viz. :  D.  F.  Burnett,  A.  J.  McCarn, 
J.  W.  Brown,  D.  D.  Dunning,  Eugene  Brown,  W.  S. 
Morrice,  S.  Chapin. 

The  encampment  of  the  order  was  established  here  in 
1875,  since  which  time  the  lodge  has  erected  a  hall  build- 
ing costing  fourteen  hundred  dollars.  The  lower  floor  is 
used  as  a  store-room.  The  hall  is  twenty-two  by  forty-four 
feet,  with  proper  reception-  and  ante-rooms  attached.  In 
less  than  two  years  from  the  time  of  its  organization  the 
society  numbered  sixty  members  in  good  standing,  and  is 
now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

PERRY  LODGE,  F.  AND   A.  M., 

was  instituted  under  a  dispensation  granted  by  Right  Wor- 
shipful Master  John  Finch,  Grand  Master  of  the  State  of 
Michigan.  The  first  meeting  was  held  May  10, 1878.  The 
charter  members  of  the  lodge  were  as  follows :  T.  S.  Wright, 
W.  M. ;  William  Cooper,  S.  W. ;  C.  S.  Stackhouse,  J.  W.  \ 
A.  A.  Harper,  Sec. ;  C.  W.  Halleck,  Act.  Trcas. ;  George 
Gofi',  Act.  S.  D. ;  Joseph  Keene,  J.  D. ;  Thomas  Sharp, 
Tiler ;  Henry  W.  Cramer. 

The  charter  was  granted  to  the  lodge  Jan.  29,  1879. 
The  first  election  under  the  charter  was  held  March  7, 
1880,  when  the  following  persons  were  elected  to  the 
various  offices:   T.  S.  Wright,  W.  M. ;   William    Cooper, 


S.  W. ;  C.  S.  Stackhouse,  J.  W. ;  0.  Halleck,  Treas. ;  A. 
A.  Harper,  Sec. ;  L.  L.  Sutterly,  S.  D. ;  James  0.  Walker, 
J.  D. ;  Thomas  Sharp,  Tiler. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
RUSH    TOWNSHIP.* 

Loealion,  Topogrnphy,  and  Capabilities  of  tho  Township — Original 

Land-Entries — Settlement  of    the    Township — Early  Highways 

Orgtinization  and  Civil  List — Hendersonville — Churches — Schools. 

The  township  of  Rush  is  one  of  the  mo.st  progressive  in 
the  county.  The  earliest  settler  first  broke  its  stubborn 
soil  in  1839,  but  it  was  not  until  1850  that  emigration 
aflFected  materially  its  population  and  development.  Since 
that  time  its  advance  has  been  steady  and  rapid,  and  the 
industry  and  enterprise  of  its  farming  population  are  placing 
it  among  the  foremost  of  the  sixteen  townships  of  Shia- 
wassee County.  It  is  designated  in  the  United  States  sur- 
vey as  township  No.  8  north,  of  range  No.  2  east,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Saginaw  County ;  south,  by 
Owosso ;  east,  by  New  Haven ;  and  west,  by  Fairfield. 
The  soil  of  the  township  may  be  described  as  a  combina- 
tion of  clay  and  sand  and  rich  muck.  Gravel  predomi- 
nates in  the  north  and  northeast,  while  in  other  portions, 
more  especially  on  section  2,  sand  prevails.  A  strong  clay  is 
found  in  the  northwest,  which  presents  some  obstacles  to 
cultivation.  Near  the  centre  is  an  extensive  marsh,  which 
will  prove  the  most  productive  soil  in  Rush  when  thor- 
oughly drained.  The  township  has  already  made  applica- 
tion to  the  State  for  an  appropriation  to  this  end.  The 
soil  is  admirably  adapted  to  wheat  and  corn,  while  grass  is 
usually  a  prolific  crop.  The  agricultural  returns  for  the 
year  1873  give  one  thousand  and  seventy-seven  acres  of 
wheat  as  harvested,  which  produced  fourteen  thousand  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  bushels  of  that  grain,  while  four 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  corn  yielded  a  crop  of  eleven 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety  bushels.  Twelve  hun- 
dred and  fifty^  tons  of  hay  were  cut  in  the  same  year.  Of 
other  cereals  than  wheat,  the  yield  was  fourteen  thousand 
and  forty-three  bushels.  The  prevailing  timber  of  Rush 
is  ash,  beech,  maple,  basswood,  and  elm.  A  limited  quan- 
tity of  black-walnut  and  butternut  has  been  cut,  but  the.se 
woods  are  not  abundant  in  Rush.  A  dense  growth  of 
tamarack  formerly  prevailed,  but  skillful  drainage  has  since 
rendered  the  land  tillable,  and  much  of  the  tamarack  has 
disappeared.  The  dark  waters  of  the  Shiawassee  River 
flow  through  the  southeast  portion  of  the  township,  enter- 
ing at  section  36,  and  following  a  circuitous  course  to  the 
northward.  At  section  13  they  pass  into  the  township  of 
New  Haven. 

The  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  division  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  passes  through  the  east  and 
northeast  sections  of  Rush,  and  has  a  station  at  Henderson. 
This  railway  oiFers  many  advantages  to  farmers  in  the  ship- 
ment of  their  produce. 

*  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


RUSH  TOWNSHIP. 


273 


ORIGINAL   LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  lands  of  Rush  were  entered  from  the  government  or 
purchased  of  the  State  by  the  following  parties  : 

SECTION   1. 

Acres. 

Trumbull  Gary,  1835 152.73 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 320 

A.  J.  Holmes,  1855 66.33 

B.  Collins  (State),  1849 40 

Isaac  Van,     "        1852 40 

SECTION  2. 

Philip  Mickles,  (State),  1849 52.19 

Jos.  Turner,  "  1849 80 

R.L.Blake,  "  1851 160 

P.  C.  Bliss,  "  1848 80 

Z.Perry,  "  1855 80 

M.  B.  HesB,  "  1849 80 

0.  W.  Stower,  "  1849 40 

Ira  A.  Lee,  "  1851 40 

SECTION   3. 

Ed.  Haynes,  1854 160 

J.  B.  Curtis,  1855 40 

C.  W.  Butler  (State),  1855 87.57 

John  Cox,            "         1849 120 

M.  Robinson,      "  

A.Gould,            "        1869 ; 47.25 

David  Weeden,  "                40 

SECTION   4. 

J.  B.  Bums,  1854 160 

J.  R.  Post  (State),  1859 148.43 

S.  B.  Napp,     "  80 

C.  W.  Butler  (State),  1855 51.72 

Dyer  Wood,        "         1850 80 

J.  F.  Childs,       "        1850 80 

George  Hawkins  (State),  1849 80 

SECTION   5. 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 240 

George  Hawkins  (State),  1849 80 

Smith  Wilcox,  "         1852 80 

James  Briggs,  "         1850 80 

Silas  Clark,  "        1849 55.58 

Ed.  Camp,  "         1858 56.97 

SECTION   6. 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 240 

Peter  Montrose,  1854 174.23 

James  Watson  (State) 20.61 

H.B.Young,  "     l**-«" 

SECTION   7. 

Squire  Wood,  1853 225 

F.  W.  Fowler,  1855 *» 

Luther  Marble  (State),  1866 80 

Wm.  Rainey,         "  —  °^-''' 

L.  Fowler,  "  f 

Nelson  Farley,      "  »" 

James  Davids,       "  ■ *J| 

Silas  Clark,  "  °» 

F.W.  Fowler,        "  30-J* 

F.W.  Fowler,       "        1869 30.74 

S.  Runyan,  "  *" 

SECTION   8. 

C.S.  Griffin,  1854 240 

M.  A.  Grimley  (State),  1860 'j» 

S.J.Gilkey,          "         1850 « 

C.  Wesoott,            "        1850 80 

Dyer  Wood,           "        1850 « 

Ralph  Sutliff,        "         I860 « 

John  Russell,        "        1850 80 

SECTION   9. 

Isaac  Van  (State),  1849 1«0 

A.Harter,      "        I860 .• 320 

Jos.  Lockwood  (State),  1850 •*" 

C.  L.  Shepard,       "        1862 40 

M.W.Gardner,    "        I860 « 

Chas.  Wescott,      "        I860 160 

Horton  Wilcox,     "        1850 80 


SECTION  10. 

Acres. 

William  B.  Gilbert  (State),  1851 160 

Edwin  White,  "       1860 80 

William  Hicks,  "       1850 80 

S.W.Crittenden,  "       1860 80 

Edward  Butler,  "       1850 8U 

W.  T.  Gilkey,  "       1849 160 

SECTION  11. 

James  Turner  (State),  1849 160 

C.W.Butler,      -"        1855 80 

N.  G.  Cheesbro,     "        1855 40 

J.  W.  Norris,         "       1855 120 

N.Taylor,  1860 40 

J.  0.  Hardy,  1850 „ 40 

M.  Robinson,  1852 160 

SECTION  12. 

W.M.  Coplin  (State),  1848 160 

A.  W.  Sprague,    "        1848 160 

J.  M.  Tower,         "        1849 80 

M.  Robinson,       "        1850 40 

T.O.Potter,          "        1849 40 

H.  0.  Cheesbro,    "        1850 80 

Henry  Woodard,  •■•        1861 80 

SECTION  13. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1836 151.98 

Cornelius  Bergen,  1836 116.48 

James  Wadsworth,  1836 320 

SECTION  14. 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 80 

J.  B.  Simonson,  1836 160 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 240 

H.  S.  Hayne,  1864 40 

J.  0.  Hardy  (State),  1850 40 

Isaac  Van,         "         1849 40 

Thomas  Matthias  (State),  1848 40 

SECTION  15. 

Samuel   Shuster,  1854 160 

Henry  Bowen  (State),  1849 80 

Clark  Beebe,         "         1849 40 

W.F.Smith,         "         1849 40 

Lloyd  Clark,         "         1849 80 

M.  B.  Hess,  1849 40 

C.  S.  Kimberley,  1855 IBO 

Ezra  Jones,  1857 40 

SECTION  16. 
School  lands. 

SECTION  17. 

C.  S.  Griffin,  1854 80 

J.  J.  Garnee,  1855 80 

G.  F.  Gamber  (State),  1866 80 

Swamp  land 320 

Eli  North  (State) 

SECTION  18. 

Swamp   land 270 

W.  C.  Hawks  (State), 80 

Samuel  Runyan, '•        40 

P.  L.  Skutt,         "        70.85 

J.  D.Richmond 80 

Abraham  Skutt 62.40 

SECTION  19. 

Charles  Howard,  1854 •. 320 

G.  C.  McComb  (State),  1868 80 

Charles  Howard,  1864 205.28 

SECTION  20. 

Charles  Conner  (State) 80 

Swampland,  "      120 

Charles  Angle,        "       1866 40 

Charles  Howard,  1854 320 

J.  J.  Garnee,  1855 80 

SECTION  21. 

L.  p.  Parsons,  1854 160 

Charles  Angle  (State) 40 

H.B.  Young,        "      1869 80 

S.  Goodale,            "      1859 40 

John  Gallagher,    "      1858 40 

Alvin  Ballin,        "      1858 44 


274 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE    COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SECTION  22. 

Acres. 

Ford  and  Patterson,  1852 80 

D.  S.  Centre,  1854 120 

Frnneis  Waldron,  1854 40 

Alvin  Eallin  (State),  1868 40 

D.  S.  Center  (State),  1858 120 

John  Gallagher  (State),  1858 80 

Henry  Pattison  (State);  1853 80 

Charles  S.  Kimherley  (State),  1856 80 

SECTION   23. 

John  B.  Willison,  1849 80 

Trumbull  Gary,  1835 30.10 

C.  Bergan,  1836 186.40 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 80 

John  Parshall,  1836 80     ■ 

Albert  Burrell,  1836 80 

SECTION   24. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 1.86 

C.  Bergan,  1836 (5.40 

Joseph  Pitcairn,  1836 141.40 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 ■. 80 

John  F.  Bliiss,  1836 ...".'....     80 

F.  G.  Maoy,  1836 73.28 

Henry  Rush,  1836 240 

SECTION   25. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 300.29 

Cornelius  Bergan,  1836 ,]\\,     92^90 

McHenry,  Kercheval  and  Healy,  1836............'.!'.!.'.'  260 

SECTION   26. 

I.  B.  Simonson,  1836 gO 

Otis  Judsou 320 

J.  L.  Curry,  1849 ! an 

w.  B.  Gilbert,  1851 !.'.'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  leo 

SECTION  27. 

Thomas  Carmody  (State),  1852 IBO 

Michael  Carmody  (State),  1853 !!!!!.'! go 

"William  Burgess  (State),  1350 !.'!! 120 

James  Grant  (State),  1852 !!!!!! 49 

John  Gallagher  (State),  1858 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  go 

Goodwin  and  Dimmock,  1846 !!!!! 40 

Sandy  Patterson,  1854 gn 

William  King,  1865 !.!!!!!!.'.'!!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!  8o 

SECTION   28. 

Williams  and  MoGilvra,  1846 40 

Charles  Howard,  1854 4,, 

John  Gallagher  (State) ,„., 

Edwin  Ayres,  1858 i,n 

William  Smith,  1858 !'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.!!!!!!!"  40 

SECTION   29. 

John  Gallagher  (State),  1868 09., 

Charles  Howard,  1854. ,2 

Daniel  Trowbridge,  1S54 ,7„ 

A.  T.  Foss,  1884!.. s" 

T.  F.  Sheldon,  1853 .'!!!!!.'.'.'!!!!.'.'.'!!!!!!!!!!!!  so 

SECTION  30. 

Charles  Howard,  1854 ,  ,,  ^„ 

J.  H.  P.^rk,  1854 ^il-^^ 

William  Scott,  1864 ,j,  „„ 

Daniel  Trowbridge,  1854 t^ 

John  Gallagher  (State),  1858 an 

Cyrus  White,  1866 !.'!.'!.'!!!!!!!!.'.'."!""     80 

SECTION   31. 

Cyrus  White  (State),  1866 iBn 

F.  A.  Barber  (State),  1858 4^ 

John  Gallagher  (State;,  1858 iL 

Caleb  Everts,  1854 ,™^„ 

Charles  Howard,  1864.         'l.^^ 

'  60 

SECTION   32. 

John  Gallagher  (State),  1858 .nn 

Benjamin  Craven,  1865.                   "" ,„ 

40 

SECTION   33. 
John  Gallagher  (State),  1868 54^ 


SECTION  34. 

Acres. 

John  Gall.ngher  (State),  1858 ,^20 

J.  V.  Shaft,  1853 !'! 4Q 

C.  W.  Butler  (State),  1868 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!     40 

Jeremiah  Coughlin  (State),  1858 40 

Walter  Love  (State),  1860 .'.'!!!.'!!     80 

Augustus  Brockel  (State),  1860 !!!!    40 

SECTION    35. 

F.  Middleberger,  1836 .320 

Calvin  Rosi',  1836 160 

Theodore  Kobbins,  1854 gy 

Jacob  Newman  (State),  1858 !!!!  go 

SECTION   36. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 297  77 

Cornelius  Bergan,  1836 go 

Alex  McFarren,  1836 108  80 

George  Kittridge,  1836 !."!  m.SO 

SETTLEMENT  OP  THE  TOWJSTrfHTP. 
Though  one  of  the  latest  of  the  townships  of  the  county 
in  its  organization,  Rush  claims  among  its  present  resi- 
dents but  few  survivors  among  the  number  of  those  who 
entered  it  when  a  wilderness,  and  in  its  clearing  and  early 
development  bore  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day.  The 
first  white  settler  within  its  boundaries  was  Ransom  White 
who  arrived  in  18.39,  and  purchased  of  E.  C.  Kimberiy 
(who  controlled  the  land  as  agent  for  Trumbull  Cary,  of 
New  York)  ninety  acres  on  section  26.  He  erected  upon 
it  a  cabin  and  devoted  some  time  to  clearing,  after  which 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Owosso.  He  later  returned  to 
his  purchase,  where  several  years  were  devoted  to  the  labors 
incident  to  pioneer  life.  Mr.  White  was  not,  however, 
successful  in  his  early  agricultural  efforts,  and  allowing  the 
land  to  revert,  he  changed  his  residence  and  chose  a  home 
in  Barry  County. 

The  second  arrival  in  Rush  was  that  of  Avery  Thomas, 
who  came  with  his  family  in  1842.     He  was  a  former  resi- 
dent of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  first  located  in  Oakland 
Co.,  Mich.,  but  having  been  attracted  by  the  superior  ad- 
vantages of  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  soon  after  selected 
a  home  in  Rush.     There  were  no  roads  at  this  time,  and 
as  a  necessity  the  family  of  Mr.  Thomas  embarked  in  scows, 
and  were  floated  down  the  Shiawassee  River  to  their  desti- 
nation.    On  their  arrival  there  were  no  settlers,  Mr.  White 
having  left  for  Owosso.     While  Mr.  Thomas  was  erecting 
a  frame  house  of  spacious  proportions  the  family  were  com- 
fortably quartered  at  Owosso.     This  house  is  still  standing, 
and  was  occupied  until  a  more  pretentious  and  elegant  resi- 
dence was  recently  erected  by  Avery  Thomas,  Jr.,  on  the 
adjacent  ground.     Mrs.  Thomas  died  the  year  after  their 
arrival,  and  hers  was  the  earliest  .death  in  the  township. 
The  domestic  economy  of  the  family  having  been  sadly  de- 
ranged by  the  loss  of  this  wife  and  mother,  Mr.  Thomas 
before  the  year  had  expired  was  married  a  second  time,  to 
Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Sampson,  who  still  survives  and  resides  on 
the  homestead.     This  was  undoubtedly  the  earliest  marriage 
ceremony  performed  in  the  township.      The  question  of 
the  earliest  birth  in  Rush  may  not  be  easily  decided.    It 
is  possible  that  it  was  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Thomas,  though 
the  claims  in  behalf  of  the  household  of  Mr.  Henry  Rush 
are  equally  well  founded. 

The  above-named  gentleman  with  his  family  arrived  in 
1843,  and  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 


BUSH   TOWNSHIP. 


275 


24.  It  was  first  cleared  by  his  son,  Jacob  Rush,  who  re- 
moved to  the  land  soon  after  and  built  a  shelter  of  logs 
which  he  occupied.  His  father  arrived  some  time  later, 
and  for  a  while  made  it  his  residence,  but  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Pennsylvania.  The  closing  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  the  township,  where  he  died,  as  did  also  his  son. 
Through  the  influence  of  friends  the  township  bears  the 
family  name,  though  many  of  the  older  settlers  entered  their 
quiet  protest,  and  regarded  this  mark  of  deference  as  hav- 
ing been  justly  due  the  earliest  pioneer,  Mr.  Ransom  White. 

Robert  Irland  arrived  in  1843,  and  purchased  eighty 
acres,  one-half  of  which  was  upon  section  24  and  the  re- 
mainder in  the  present  township  of  New  Haven.  This 
was  entirely  destitute  of  improvement  on  his  arrival.  There 
were  no  roads  and  Pontiac  was  the  nearest  milling  point, 
involving  a  tedious  journey,  with  the  Indian  trail  as  the 
only  guide.  Mr.  Irland  built  the  usual  house  of  logs, 
which  was  afterwards  supplanted  by  a  more  modern  frame 
dwelling.  He  died  many  years  since,  and  the  widow  and 
a  son  now  occupy  the  farm. 

William  Goss,  formerly  of  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  arrived 
in  the  same  year,  and  settled  upon  one  hundred  acres 
on  section  25.  His  brother,  Samuel  Goss,  purchased  the 
same  number  of  acres  adjacent  to  his  own.  The  latter,  not 
having  been  greatly  impressed  with  the  advantages  of 
Michigan,  returned  again  to  the  Empire  State.  AVilliam 
erected  upon  his  purchase  a  log  cabin,  finding,  meanwhile, 
a  temporary  abiding-place  with  Avery  Thomas.  He  cleared 
ten  acres  the  first  year,  and  continued  his  labors  until  the 
forest  was  transformed  into  a  productive  farm.  Mr.  Goss 
died  in  1863.  Mrs.  Goss  still  survives,  and,  with  her  son, 
occupies  the  land. 

Jonas  Robbins  came  from  New  Jersey  among  the  earliest 
of  the  township  pioneers.  The  .date  of  his  arrival  is  not 
remembered  with  exactness  by  either  himself  or  family. 
He  experienced  some  vicissitudes  during  the  first  years  of 
his  residence  in  the  county,  and  having  been  directed  to 
a  tract  of  land  not  his  own,  was  obliged  to  vacate.  He 
finally  located  upon  eighty  acres  on  sectian  2G,  where  he 
still  resides. 

Walter  Graham  and  Silas  Clark  were  each  pioneers  fiom 
Lenawee  County  to  the  township  of  Rush,  where  they 
located  upon  section  5.  The  former  purchased  eighty 
acres,  while  Mr.  Clark  made  a  clearing  and  built  a  log 
house  upon  forty-one  acres.  Mr.  Graham  also  erected  a 
primitive  abode  of  logs  and  began  the  clearing  of  his  land, 
which,  by  constant  labor,  he  rendered  very  productive. 
Both  are  now  dead,  and  the  properties  have  passed  into  the 
hands  of  other  parties. 

R.  A.  Sutliff  was  another  settler  who  found  the  attrac- 
tions of  Shiawassee  County  superior  to  those  of  Lenawee 
County  and  located  a  farm  of  forty  acres  upon  section  8, 
having,  at  a  later  date,  added  twenty  to  it.  He  found  an 
ample  field  for  the  exercise  of  industry  in  the  unfelled  woods 
which  covered  the  land.  He  made  a  considerable  clearing, 
but  ultimately  removed  to  Saginaw  County.  Benjamin 
Washburn  became  the  subsequent  owner  of  the  land,  and 
■  Levi  Clark  is  its  present  occupant. 

Michael  Rourke  came  from  Massachusetts  to  Rush  in 
1851,  and  purchased  of  William  B.  Hurd,  who  had  already 


been  located  some  time  upon  it,  forty  acres  on  section  2G. 
Upon  this  tract  four  acres  had  been  cleared  and  a  log  house 
built,  to  which  he  removed.  Mr.  llourke  found  still  much 
labor  to  perform,  and  devoted  himself  with  a  will  to  the 
task  before  him.  At  the  expiration  of  the  first  year  eight 
additional  acres  had  been  chopped  and  partially  improved. 
Jonas  Robbins  was  the  nearest  settler,  and  the  township 
had  as  yet  attracted  but  few  individuals  from  the  vast  tide 
of  emigration  then  pouring  into  the  State.  But  seven 
voters  assembled  at  the  pulls  the  previous  spring.  Indians 
frequently  chose  Mr.  Rourke's  land  for  their  camping- 
ground.  Deer  were  abundant,  wolves  made  night  hideous 
with  their  howling,  and  bears  would,  under  cover  of  the 
darkness,  visit  tlie  sheepfold  in  seari;h  of  a  victim.  Mr. 
Rourke  has  greatly  improved  his  farm,  which  now  embraces 
one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres. 

William  Sawyer  came  with  his  father  from  the  shores  of 
England  in  1851,  and  removed  to  Oakland  County.  William 
having,  meanwhile,  earned  sufficient  means,  purchased,  in 
1853,  forty  acres  of  land  upon  section  2,  in  the  township  of 
Rush,  upon  which  the  family  removed.  As  he  was  but 
seventeen  years  of  age,  the  father  was  made  custodian  of 
the  property.  After  a  residence  of  sixteen  years  upon  the 
original  purchase  Mr.  Sawyer  removed  to  section  36, 
where  he  has  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  of  which  two 
hundred  are  improved. 

He  found  'his  land  on  section  2  uncleared,  and  at 
once  set  about  the  erection  of  a  habitation.  While  engaged 
at  this  work  he  camped  in  the  wilderness  a  portion  of  the 
time,  and  labored  the  whole  of  one  night  to  construct  a  roof 
for  the  cabin,  which  had  been  built  some  time  and  was 
greatly  dilapidated.  William  Sawyer,  Sr.,  remained  upon 
the  original  purchase  until  his  death. 

The  venerable  Richard  Freeman,  for  many  years  a  resi- 
dent of  New  Haven,  and  one  of  its  foremost  pioneers, 
became  a  settler  in  Rush  in  1854,  having  purchased  ninety- 
eight  acres  on  section  25,  which  he  improved  and  re- 
mained upon  for  many  years.  He  still  survives,  and  may 
with  propriety  be  considered  a  resident  of  both  New  Ha- 
ven and  Rush,  as  his  time  is  equally  divided  between 
his  children,  with  whom  he  ever  finds  a  cordial  welcome. 
Patrick  Rourke  and  William  Noonan  each  located  upon 
eighty  acres  on  section  26.  This  land  was  in  its  original 
condition  of  forest  and  brush  on  their  arrival,  but  has  been 
by  their  industry  transformed  into  luxuriant  grain-fields. 
They  have  erected  for  themselves  comfortable  houses  upon 
these  farms,  in  which  they  now  reside. 

Curtis  Devoe,  a  former  resident  of  New  York  State, 
was  among  the  pioneers  of  1854,  and  located  upon  eighty 
acres  on  section  12  which  he  found  unimproved  on  his 
arrival,  and  no  roads  to  make  the  land  accessible  from  adja- 
cent points.  He  at  once  erected  a  log  building  and  began 
the  process  of  clearing.  Upon  this  land  he  remained  until 
his  death  in  1877,'when  his  son  Theodore  became  possessor, 
and  now  occupies  the  farm  together  with  the  log  house 
already  built. 

Georfc  Sawyer  came  with  his  father  and  brother  William 
in  1853,  and  succeeded  to  the  original  home  on  section  2, 
which  he  purchased  of  the  latter  in  1871  and  upon  which 
he  now  resides. 


270 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Samuel  Shustor  was  a  former  resident  of  Ohio,  and  in 
1854  became  a  settler  in  Rush,  having  secured  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  15.  He  found  the  land  unim- 
proved, and  was  able  on  his  arrival  to  do  but  little  towards 
clearing,  his  time  having  been  entirely  occupied  in  labor  for 
his  support.  While  building  he  found  a  welcome  to  the 
home  of  Josiah  Isham,  who  then  had  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  23  and  later  returned  to  Ohio.  Mr. 
Shuster  afterwards  increased  the  dimensions  of  his  farm  to 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  upon  which  he  is  erecting  a 
substantial  residence. 

Samuel  Ayres,  who  lived  upon  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  21,  was  also  from  Ohio,  and  a  near  neighbor 
of  Mr.  Shuster,  as  was  William  Hughes,  who  purchased 
eighty-eight  acres  north  of  his  land  on  section  10.  At 
this  date  there  was  but  one  school  building  erected  in  the 
township,  located  on  section  25,  very  limited  educational 
advantages  having  been  enjoyed  by  the  youth  of  Rush  at 
an  early  day. 

Benjamin  Washburn  removed  from  Ingham  County  to 
this  township  in  1854,  and  located  upon  eighty  acres  on 
section  12.  Curtis  Devoe,  who  came  the  same  year,  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  him,  and  the  two  pioneers  materially 
assisted  each  other  in  the  early  labors  of  the  settler.  Mr. 
Washburn  and  his  family  remained  one  night  with  Robert 
Irland,  and  the  following  day  Mr.  Devoe  with  his  team 
brought  their  household  goods  to  his  own  home,  where 
they  remained  until  a  house  was  built.  Mr.  Washburn  was 
advanced  in  years  and  made  little  progress.  He  remained 
upon  the  farm  until  his  death  in  1869,  after  which  Joseph 
HoiFman  became  the  owner.  One  son,  Charles  C.  Wash- 
burn, now  resides  upon  forty  acres  on  section  1. 

Gr.  Whitfield  Drown  became  a  settler  soon  afterwards 
upon  section  36,  where  he  cleared  a  farm,  and  subsequently 
sold  to  John  R.  Bush,  who  remained  for  several  years  and 
disposed  of  the  property  in  18G0  to  G.  W.  Essig,  the 
present  occupant.  The  land  is  well  improved,  and  em- 
braces one  hundred  and  seventeen  acres. 

Among  others  who  became  residents  of  Rush  between 
the  years  1850  and  1855  are  William  Berger,  who  located 
upon  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  27  ;  D.  S. 
Center,  who  purchased  seventy-one  acres  on  section  36,  and 
an  additional  one  hundred  and  twenty  on  section  22 ; 
Patrick  and  Michael  Carmody,  each  having  farms  on  section 
27 ;  Solomon  Horn,  who  owned  eighty  acres  on  section 
26  ;  John  Russell,  residing  upon  sixty  acres  on  section  8 ; 
William  F.  Stearns,  who  became  a  settler  on  section  24 ; 
Daniel  Whitman,  who  cleared  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on 
section  5  ;  William  Scott,  whose  pioneer  experiences  in  the 
township  began  on  section  30,  where  he  had  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres ;  Andrew  Simons,  on  section  25 ;  and 
Samuel  Wood,  on  section  7.  These  settlers  all  performed 
much  of  the  early  labor  incident  to  clearing  the  wilderness 
of  Rush,  and  are  equally  deserving  of  credit. 

The  following  lists  show  the  names  of  the  resident  tax- 
payei-s  in  the  township  of  Rush  in  the  years  1850  and 
1855: 

1850. 

Acres. 

Robert  Irland,  section  24 ■. 40 

Jacob  Kusb,  section  25 33 

Henry  Kusb,  sections  24,  25 220 


Acres. 

Jane  Gross,  section  25 5 

Jonas  Robbins,  sections  26,  36 151 

William  B.  Hurd,  section  26 80 

Avery  Thomas,  section  36 103 

1855. 

Samuel  Ayres,  section  21 160 

William  Berger,  section  27 120 

D.  S.  Center,  sections  36,  22 191 

Patrick  Carmody,  section  27 ,60 

Michael  Carmody,  section  27 80 

Silas  Clark,  section  6 41 

Curtis  Devoe,  section  12 80 

Richard  Freeman,  section  25 98 

Jane  Goss,  section  25 100 

Walter  Graham,  section  5 

Solomon  Horn,  section  26 80 

William  Hughes,  section  10 80 

Josiah  Isham,  sections  23,24 86.80 

Cyrus  Isham,  section  23 56.40 

Robert  Irland,  section  24 40 

John  McClure,  section  35 40 

William  Noonan,  section  26 80 

Jacob  Rush,  section  25 20 

Patrick  Rourke,  section  26 80 

Jonas  Robbins,  section  26 80 

Michael  Rourke,  section  26 160 

John  Russel,  section  8 60 

John  Robinson,  section  2 40 

R.  A.  Sutliff,  section  8 60 

William  Sawyer,  section  2 92.19 

Anson  Simons,  section  25 92.54 

William  Stearns,  sections  24,25 93.12 

Samuel  Shuster,  section  15 160 

William  Scott,  section  30 141 

Avery  Thomas,  section  36 102 

Benjamin  Washburn,  section  12 80 

Samuel  Wood,  section  7 40 

Daniel  Whitman,  section  5 80 

EARLY  HIGHWAYS. 
Roads  were  early  opened  by  the  first  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship to  aflFord  them  means  of  egress  from  their  lands,  but  no 
official  record  of  highways  in  the  township  of  Rush  ap- 
pears earlier  than  1845,  when  Nelson  Ferry,  on  the  23d 
and  24th  of  January  of  that  year,  surveyed  the  following 
road :  "  Commencing  on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  nine- 
teen, township  eight  north,  of  range  three  east,  and  following 
a  northerly  course  to  the  quarter  post  on  the  line  of  section 
one  in  township  eight  north,  of  range  two  east ;  thence  north 
thirty-four  minutes,  east  thirty-nine  chains  and  ninety-two 
links,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township  of  New 
Haven." 

This  road  was  not  officially  recorded  until  Nov.  7,  1850. 
A  road  was  surveyed  in  April,  1850,  by  Ezra  Mason, 
"  beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  twenty-six  in 
township  eight  north,  of  range  two  east ;  thence  running 
west  eighty-eight  degrees,  east,  on  section  line,  sixteen  chains 
and  ninety-two  links;  thence  west  fifty-two  degrees,  east 
three  chains  and  twenty-eight  links ;  thence  west  seventy-four 
and  a  half  degrees,  east  two  chains  and  seventy-seven  links; 
thence  south  nine  and  a  quarter  degrees,  east  two  chains 
and  sixty-three  and  a  half  links ;  thence  west  eighty-nine 
and  a  quarter  degrees,  east  six  chains  and  forty-five  links ; 
thence  south  fifty-seven  and  three-quarter  degrees,  east 
three  chains  and  sixty-eight  links  ;  thence  south  eighty-six 
and  a  half  degrees,  east  four  chains  and  nineteen  links  to  a 
stake  in  the  centre  of  the  highway." 

Jobs  for  the  chopping,  causewaying,  and  ditching  of  the 
above  road  were  let  by  the  commissioners  of  highways, 
May  15,  1850,  on  the  ground  described.  The  successful 
bidders  were  Francis  R.  Pease,  Robert  Irland,  Richard' 
Freeman,  Avery  Thomas,  Thomas  Irland,  and  C.  S.  Kim- 
berly.     Other  roads  followed  as  necessity  demanded  them. 


RUSH  TOWNSHIP. 


277 


ORGANIZATION   AND   CIVIL   LIST. 

The  exterior  lines  of  the  township  of  Rush  were  sur- 
veyed by  Joseph  Wampler,  though  no  official  record  of  the 
date  of  survey  appears.  The  subdivision  lines  were  run  by 
William  Brookfield  in  1823.  The  township  was  erected 
by  act  of  Legislature,  approved  March  28,  1850,  which  de- 
clared "  That  township  eight  north,  of  range  two  east,  in 
the  county  of  Shiawassee,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off 
from  township  seven  north,  of  range  two  east,  in  said  county, 
and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Rush, 
and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the 
house  now  occupied  by  Henry  Rush,  in  said  township." 

Pursuant  to  the  requirement  of  the  organizing  act,  the 
first  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  place  designated,  on 
the  1st  of  April;  1850.  At  the  meeting  Henry  Rush  was 
chosen  moderator,  William  Gross  township  clerk,  and  Robert 
Irland  and  William  B.  Hurd  inspectors  of  election.  The 
officers  elected  for  the  year  were :  Supervisor,  Avery  Thomas ; 
Township  Clerk,  William  Goss  ;  Treasurer,  Robert  Irland  ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  William  Gross,  Avery  Thomas,  Robert 
Irland  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  William  B.  Hurd,  Jonas 
Robbins,  Robert  Irland;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Henry 
Rush,  Richard  Freeman  ;  School  Inspector,  Avery  Thomas; 
Constable,  Jacob  Rush. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  succession  of  township 
officers  annually  elected  in  succeeding  years  to  the  present, 

viz. : 

SUPERVISORS. 


1851.  William  Goss. 
1852-55.  Avery  Thomas. 
1856.  William  Goss. 
1857-58.  James  B.  Crane. 
1859-60.  Thomas  C.  Crane. 

1861.  G.W.Love. 

1862.  E.  P.  Bliss. 
1863-66.  George  W.  Love. 
186f.  R.  F.  Butcher. 
1868.  G.  W.  Love. 

TOWNSHIP   CLERKS. 

1851.  Ebenezer  Whaley. 
1852-53.  William  Goss. 
1854-55.  Jacob  Rush. 
1856-57.  P.  H.  Doolittle. 
1858-59.  B.  P.  Bliss. 
1860.  Avery  Thomas. 
1861-63.  James  A.  Hayt. 

1864.  E.  P.  Bliss. 

1865.  John  Hgnderson. 


1869-70.  John  Henderson. 

1871.  B.  P.  Bliss. 

1872.  Peter  Hendrick. 

1873.  John  Henderson. 

1874.  William  H.  Dean. 

1875.  Charles  Freeman. 

1876.  Alfred  Crane. 

1877.  Charles  Freeman. 
1878-80.  A.  B.  Crane. 


1866.  John  King. 
1867-69.  A.  B.  Allen. 

1870.  Charles  0.  Lapham. 

1871.  A.  B.  Crane. 

1872.  A.  B.  Allen. 
1873-75.  John  Skelton. 
1876-79.  Thomas  Corcoran. 
1880.  Byron  C.  Pierce. 


1851. 
1852. 
1853. 


Robert  Irland. 

Richard  Freeman. 

Anson  Simons. 
1854-56.  Richard  Freeman 
1862.  R.  S.  Haines. 
1865.  John  Freeman. 
1866-67.  R.  S.  Haines. 
1868.  John  Henderson. 


TREASURERS. 

1869-71.  Charles  Freeman. 
1872-73.  William  H.  Dean. 

1874.  Edwin  E.  Bunting. 

1875.  A.  B.  Crane. 

1876.  John  Skelton. 
1877-78.  James  A.  Hayt. 
1879-80.  William  H.  Dean. 


JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 


1851.  Richard  Freeman. 

1852.  J.  V.  Shaft. 

1853.  William  Goss. 

1854.  B.  C.  Sutliff. 

1855.  Richard  Freeman. 
Avery  Thomas. 

1856.  R.  S.  Haines. 

1857.  Thomas  C.  Crane. 


1857.  James  A.  Hoyt. 

1858.  Benjamin  Waihburn. 
Avery  Thomas. 

1859.  Robert  F.  Butcher. 

1860.  James  E.  Crane. 

1861.  James  A.  Hayt. 

1862.  A.  B.  Allen. 
Solomon  Horn. 


1863. 

E.  P.  Bliss. 

1871. 

R.  Freeman. 

1864. 

Solomon  Horn. 

1872. 

John  Goodwin. 

1865. 

John  Henderson. 

Myron  Bignall. 

John  Stack. 

1873. 

William  Caldwell. 

1866. 

George  W.  Love. 

George  D.  Palmer. 

A.  B.  Allen. 

1874. 

M.  W.  Willoughby 

1867. 

W.  M.  Case. 

John  Goodwin. 

William  Cook. 

1875. 

A.  B.  Allen. 

1868 

J.  A.  Hayt. 

1876. 

B.  C.  Pierce. 

John  Henderson. 

Myron  Bignall. 

1869 

0.  A.  Pease. 

1877. 

John  Henderson. 

1870 

William  Caldwell. 

1878. 

M.  F.  Goodhue. 

William  Cook. 

1879 

Myron  Bignall. 

R.  Freeman. 

1880 

A.  L.  Fowler. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 


1851. 

Avery  Thomas. 

1865.  George  W.  Love. 

1852. 

Avery  Thomas. 

1866.  John  Henderson. 

J.  V.  Shaft. 

G.  W.  Love. 

1853. 

William  Goss. 

1867.  James  A.  Hoyt. 

1854. 

Benjamin  Washburn. 

1868.  John  Henderson. 

J.  V.  Shaft. 

1869.  J.  A.  Hayt. 

1855. 

Anson  Simons. 

1871.  Charles  Freeman. 

1866. 

James  E.  Crane. 

John  Henderson. 

1857. 

T.  C.  Crane. 

Charles  Washburn. 

1858. 

John  W.  Thorn. 

1872.  Lorenzo  Hayt. 

1859. 

R.  F.  Dutoher. 

Myron  Bignall. 

T.  C.  Crane. 

1873.  Lorenzo  Hayt. 

1860. 

T.  C.  Crane. 

C.  B.  Bunting. 

1861. 

E.  P.  Bliss. 

1874.  C.  E.  Bunting. 

1862. 

William  Cook. 

A.  B.  Crane. 

1863. 

B.  P.  Bliss. 

1875-76.  James  A.  Hayt. 

1864. 

John  Henderson. 

1877-79.  Byron  C.  Pierce. 

James  A.  Hayt. 

1880.  F.  C.  Pierce. 

HIGHWAY 

COMMISSIONERS. 

1851. 

Jonas  Bobbins. 

1865.  Samuel  Shuster. 

1852. 

William  Goss. 

1866.  Major  Smith. 

1853 

William  Burgess. 

1867.  James  A.  Hayt. 

1854 

Curtis  Devoe. 

William  Sawyer." 

1855 

Samuel  Shuster. 

1868.  Peter  Doolittle. 

1856 

William  Burgess. 

1869.  Peter  Hendrick. 

1857 

Richard  Freeman. 

Orlo  A.  Pease. 

1858 

William  Burgess. 

1871.  Thomas  Carmody. 

1859 

William  W.  Curtiss. 

George  Sawyer. 

1860 

Humphrey  Scott. 

1872.  Perry  Comstock. 

1861 

George  W.  Love. 

1873.  Thomas  Carmody. 

1862 

John  Shuster. 

1874.  George  W.  Webb. 

William  Cook. 

1875-78.  Thomas  Carmody 

1863 

.  AVilliam  Burgess. 

1879.  Hiram  Davis. 

1864 

.  William  Cook. 

1880.  Myron  Bignall. 

DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 


1851.  William  Goss. 

1862.  William  Goss. 

Aden  Jacobs. 

1853.  William  Goss. 
Avery  Thomas. 

1854.  Robert  Irland. 
Avery  Thomas. 


1855.  Richard  Freeman. 
Solomon  Horn. 

1856.  Stephen  D'.  Crane. 
Solomon  Horn. 

1857-68.  Richard  Freeman. 

Joseph  W.  Webber. 
1869.  Robert  Irland. 

Avery  Thomas. 


DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 


1872-74.  Alex.  M.  Skelton. 
1876.  George  Sawyer. 
1876.  John  Goodwin. 


1878.  George  Sawyer. 
1880.  Alex.  M.  Skelton. 


SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS. 


1876-77.  M.  W.  Willoughby. 
G.  D.  Palmer. 


1878-80.  William  Caldwell. 


278 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


CONSTABLES. 

1851. 

J.  Robbins. 

1868. 

Myron  Washburn 

E.  Whaley. 

C.  H.  Alien. 

1852. 

Theo.  Robbins. 

1869. 

Truman  Bailey. 

1853. 

William  Burgess. 

Lorenzo  Hayt. 

Theo.  Robbins. 

John  W.  Hudson. 

1854 

Solomon  Horn. 

E.  Pease. 

John  Robinson. 

1870 

C.  0.  Lapham. 

1855. 

Willinm  A.  Simons. 

Truman  Bailey. 

1856. 

William  A.  Simons. 

E.  Hendricks. 

D.  S.  Center. 

John  King. 

1857. 

William  A.  Simons. 

1871. 

Truman  Bailey. 

John  Russell. 

William  Sawyer. 

1858. 

William  A.  Simons. 

Samuel  Shuster. 

William  Sawyer. 

Jonathan  Betts. 

1859. 

William  A.  Simons. 

1872. 

M.  W.  Drake. 

Cyrel  Drown. 

Truman  Bailey. 

I860. 

Joseph  W.  Webber. 

R.  F.  Dutcher. 

William  W.  Curtis. 

E.  P.  Bliss. 

1861. 

James  Carmody. 

1873 

(No  record). 

George  Irland. 

1874 

John  Stack. 

1862. 

Cyrel  Drown. 

Cyrus  I.sham. 

Riley  Punches. 

C.  0.  Lapham. 

Henry  Shuster. 

1875. 

C.  C.  Washburn. 

1863. 

John  Henderson. 

C.  Carmody. 

John  Stack. 

Truman  Bailey. 

R.  Punches. 

John  Henderson. 

J.  Robbins. 

1876. 

J.  D.  Reiff. 

1864. 

John  Henderson. 

L.  D.  Hayt. 

John  Shuster. 

D.  Henderson. 

William  Cook. 

Henry  Robbins. 

R.  S.  Haines. 

1877. 

Truman  Bailey. 

1865 

Charles  Freeman. 

H.  W.  Horn. 

Patrick  Carmody. 

D.  Henderson. 

James  Carmody. 

John  Carmody. 

Grove  Pratt. 

1878. 

D.  S.  Henderson. 

1866 

Charles  H.  Allen. 

William  Cady. 

James  Carmody. 

T.  Bailey. 

Thomas  Carmody. 

P.  Carmody. 

Charles  Washburn. 

1879 

J.  D.  Keiflf. 

1867 

James  Retan. 

John  Crane. 

James  Carmody. 

A.  Pollard. 

Charles  H.  Allen. 

A.  G.  Peck. 

Martin  Rourke. 

1880 

Charles  Burgess. 

1868 

John  Arnold. 

Samuel  Runyon. 

Truman  Bailey. 

J.  D.  Keiff. 

HENDEKSONVILLE. 

The  ground  upon  which  the  village  of  Hendersonville  is 
located  embraces  the  north  part  of  the  northeast  fractional 
quarter  of  section  23,  and  was  surveyed  April  7  and  8 
1879,  for  A.  Henderson,  by  Ezra  Mason.  The  land  was 
originally  entered  by  Gideon  Lee,  of  New  York  City,  April 
7,  1836.  It  was  by  him  sold  to  Josiah  Isham,  from 
whom  it  was  purchased  by  Andrew  Henderson,  who  came 
from  Ohio  to  this  county  in  1858  and  removed  to  his  pur- 
chase, upon  which  a  log  house  had  been  previously  built  by 
Isham.  Mr.  Henderson  began  the  improvement  of  this 
land,  on  which  very  little  had  been  previously  accomplished 
by  the  previous  occupant,  and  soon  after  built  near  the 
bank  of  the  river  another  and  a  more  commodious  dwellinrr. 
William  Cook  came  soon  after  from  Wayne  Co.  N.  Y. 
and  located  on  forty  acres  adjoining,  on  the  same  section. 
The  first  building  in  the  hamlet  was  erected  by  John  Hen- 
derson, son  of  the  original  purclia.ser  of  the  plat,  in  1868. 
In  it  he  placed  a  stock  of  groceries  and  conducted  the 
business  for  two  weeks,  when  it  was  purchased  by  C.  0. 
Lapham,  formerly  of  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio.  I.  Brierly  after- 
wards   built  a  blacksmith-shop    and    remained    one  year. 


after  which  he  removed  to  the  western  portion  of  the  State. 
John  Henderson  erected  another  store,  which  he  conducted 
for  a  brief  period.  John  D.  Palmer  was  an  arrival  of 
1872.  He  constructed  a  steam  saw-mill  for  Palmer,  Det- 
wiler  &  Co.,  which  was  subsequently  consumed  by  fire, 
when  another  mill  was  erected  double  the  size  of  the  first. 
A  large  building  was  at  the  same  time  devoted  to  the  com- 
forts of  the  laborers  employed  in  the  mill.  The  store 
which  Mr.  Henderson  had  built  was  consumed  by  fire,  but 
another  speedily  replaced  it.  William  Detwiler  arrived 
from  Ohio  in  1874,  and  commenced  the  grocery  trade  on 
an  extensive  scale,  having  now  one  of  the  most  completely 
appointed  stores  in  the  county.  In  1875,  John  Henderson 
erected  a  spacious  hotel,  and  is  now  its  landlord.  Dr.  J.  S. 
Bare  arrived  the  same  year  as  the  first  resident  physician  of 
Hendersonville.  Isaac  Peck  came  soon  after,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  mercantile  enterprise  of  John  Henderson. 
The  business  of  the  village  now  embraces  two  general 
stores,  owned  respectively  by  William  Detwiler  &  Son  and 
Isaac  Peck  (the  latter  of  whom  confines  himself  principally 
to  groceries)  ;  one  wagon-  and  blacksmith-shop,  owned  by  M. 
F.  Goodhue  ;  a  boot-  and  shoe-shop,  kept  by  Charles  Shaw  ; 
and  a  hardware-store. 

Tire  first  post-office  was  established  in  1868,  and  Wil- 
liam Cook  received  the  commission  as  postmaster,  having 
the  office  at  his  residence.  The  present  postmaster  is 
George  N.  Detwiler,  and  the  mail  is  dispensed  from  the  store 
of  Detwiler  &  Son.  Thomas  Corcoran  has  charge  of  the 
public  school  located  at  the  village.  The  Jackson,  Lansing 
and  Saginaw  division  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  has 
a  station  at  Hendersonville,  with  George  N.  Detwiler  as 
station-agent. 

The  Flouring-MUls  of  Geo.  D.  Palmer  were  established 
by  the  proprietor  in  1878,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in 
an  exclusive  custom  trade.  They  have  two  run  of  stones, 
and  are  furnished  with  steam-power  from  an  engine  of  forty- 
five  horse-power.  The  mill  is  equipped  with  the  modern 
improvements  in  machinery  for  manufacturing  flour  of  a 
superior  quality.  The  mills  have  a  capacity  of  four  hun- 
dred bushels  per  day,  and  enjoy  a  large  patronage  from 
residents  of  the  surrounding  country. 

CHURCHES. 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
Preaching  was  early  held  in  the  various  school-houses  of 
the  township,  and  services  were  conducted  first  by  Rev. 
John  Gillam,  and  later  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kellerman  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Crippen.  It  was  not,  however,  until  1879  that  an  or- 
ganization was  efiected  under  Rev.  W.  H.  Hicks.  During 
the  year  a  church  edifice  was  begun,  the  ground  upon 
which  it  stands  being  located  on  the  Henderson  plat.  This 
building,  which,  when  finished,  will  be  complfete  in  all  its 
appointments,  will  cost,  when  ready  for  occupation,  fifteen 
hundred  dollars.  The  building  committee  were  John 
Goodwin,  H.  W.  Hicks,  G.  N.  Detwiler.  A  Sabbath- 
school  is  connected  with  the  church,  in  which  the  Society 
of  the  Disciples  unite  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
About  fifty  scholars  are  enrolled.  Si.  P.  Gardner  is  super- 
intendent. 


W' 


Residence  OP  JOHN  WHALEY.  Shiawassee  Tp.  Shiawassee Co.Mich. 


SHIAWASSEE  TOWNSHIP. 


279 


CHURCH   OF   THE   DISCIPLES. 

This  society  was  organized  in  the  year  1879,  under  the 
auspices  of  Elder  Massey,  the  earliest  meetings  having  been 
held  in  January,  1878,  at  the  school-house  in  Henderson. 
A  series  of  revival-meetings  had  previously  been  held,  on 
which  occasion  twenty-one  persons  were  baptized. 

Elder  Hurd  was  for  several  months  the  pastor  of  the  so- 
ciety. Since  his  departure  the  church  has  been  without 
regular  ministrations,  though  services  are  occasionally  held 
at  the  school-house.  A  pastor  will  doubtless  soon  be  in- 
stalled in  connection  with  the  New  Haven  charge.  The 
trustees  are  William  Dean,  Joseph  Hoffman,  Edward  Bunt- 
ing, John  Lytle.    The  church-roll  embraces  sixty  members. 

The  Society  of  the  United  Brethren  also  have  an  organi- 
zation in  the  township. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  information  obtained  regarding  the  earliest  schools 
of  the  township  is  vague  and  incomplete.  The  fir.st  school- 
house  in  Rush  was  erected  in  the  Goss  neighborhood  on 
section  25,  in  1850,  and  known  as  the  Goss  school-house. 
Miss  Amanda  Shepard  was  an  early  teacher,  but  probably, 
not  the  earliest.  The  second  school-house  was  located  on 
section  6,  and  known  as  the  Washburn  school-house,  hav- 
ing been  built  some  years  later.  The  division  of  the  town- 
ship into  school  territory  embraces  five  whole  and  two  frac- 
tional districts.  The  board  of  directors  is  composed  of  the 
following-named  gentlemen  :  J.  A.  Mayerhoffer,  C.  W. 
Hall,  E.  E.  Banberry,  A.  L.  Fowler,  Humphrey  Scott, 
William  S.  Lewis.  The  corps  of  teachers  embraces  seven 
males  and  six  females.  They  have  under  their  superin- 
tendence three  hundred  and  twenty-three  children,  of 
whom  eleven  are  non-residents.  One  log  and  six  frame 
school-houses  have  been  erected  for  their  use,  a  portion  of 
which  number  are  spacious  and  of  modern  architecture. 


CHAPTER  XL. 
SHIAWASSEE    TOWNSHIP.* 

Location  apd  Natural  Features— Original  Land-Entries— Settlements 
and  Settlers- Township  Organization  and  Civil  List— Early  High- 
ways—Shiawassee  Exchange- Early  Schools-Churoh  History— 
Shiawasseetown— Newburg- Fremont^Village  of  Bancroft. 

The  township  of  Shiawassee,  in  the  priority  of  its  settle- 
ment, takes  precedence  of  all  the  other  townships  of  the 
county.  Its  forests  yielded  to  the  enterprise  of  the  pioneer 
nearly  a  score  of  years  before  some  townships  of  the  county 
of  Shiawassee  were  affected  by  the  presence  of  the  settler, 
and  much  of  the  early  business  enterprise  of  this  portion 
of  the  Territory  was  at  one  time  concentrated  within  its 
limits.  From  the  advent  of  the  earliest  pioneers  within  its 
boundaries  in  1831,  and  the  development  of  its  resources 
which  followed,  until  the  present,  its  progress  has  been 
steady  and  rapid. 

Geographically,  it  may  be  described  as  located  southeast  of 
the  centre  of  the  county,  with  its  northwestern  corner  nearly 
*  By  B.  0.  Wagner. 


on  the  territorial  centre.  It  is  bounded  by  Caledonia  on  the 
north  and  Antrim  on  the  south,  while  Vernon  joins  it  on  the 
east  and  the  township  of  Bennington  bounds  its  western  line. 
Several  small  villages  contribute  to  its  business  activity, 
chief  among  which  is  Bancroft,  in  the  southeast,  whose 
marvelous  growth,  resulting  from  the  opening  of  the  Chi- 
cago and  Northeastern  Railroad,  has  made  the  township  one 
of  the  prominent  centres  of  commercial  activity.  The  Shia- 
wassee River,  entering  at  section  25,  on  the  eastern  side, 
pursues  a  devious  course  to  the  northward,  and  curving 
again  to  the  east  makes  its  exit  at  section  1.  Looking- 
Glass  River  flows  across  the  southwestern  corner,  and 
Maple  River  takes  its  rise  in  a  marsh  north  of  the  centre 
of  the  township,  and  flows  north  and  west,  passing  through 
section  6  into  Bennington.  The  surface  of  the  township  is 
sufficiently  rolling  to  relieve  it  from  monotony  and  to  render 
the  scene  picturesque  and  in  many  localities  exceedingly 
beautiful.  The  soil  may  be  described  as  a  combination  of 
clay,  sand,  and  vegetable  mould.  The  latter  prevails  in  the 
timbered  land  along  the  northern  boundary,  while  sand 
enters  largely  into  the  composition  tff  the  soil  in  the  south. 
Gravel,  though  occasionally  found,  is  not  abundant.  South 
of  the  centre  still  remain  traces  of  marshy  land,  though 
much  of  it  has  been  modified  by  draining.  Wheat,  corn, 
and  oats  are  among  the  staple  products,  the  average  yield 
of  the  former  being  twenty  bushels  to  the  acre,  while  oats 
and  corn  produced  a  crop  of  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre. 

The  prevailing  woods  are  beech,  elm,  maple,  basswood, 
and  black-walnut,  though  the  latter  is  not  abundant.  Oak- 
openings  are  occasionally  seen,  and  invariably  accompanied 
by  sandy  soil.  Pine  prevails  in  certain  localities,  though 
not  properly  included  with  the  prevailing  timber  of  the 
township. 

ORIGINAL  LAND-ENTEIES. 

The  lands  of  Shiawassee  township  were  entered  from  the 
United  States  government  or  purchased  of  the  State  by  the 
following  persons : 

SECTION    1. 

Acres. 

Augustus  Eiggs,  1831 86.76 

B.  D.  Worthing,  1831..: ".8b 

William  Black,  1832 132.75 

George  Kittridge,  1836 206.28 

Peck,  Nimocks  and  Hooker,  1836 /us.lb 

SECTION    2. 

S.  W.  Denton,  1824 3.27 

S.  T.  Cooley,1831 69-12 

B.  D.  Worthing,  1831 '«•*'' 

Joseph  Pltcairn,  1836 »« 

Jerry  HiUman,  1836 204.92 

C.  M.  Van  Doren,  1836 204.52 

L.  B.  Wizner,  1836 ^O 

SECTION    3. 

H.  C.  Walker,  1836 123-8'1 

M.W.Cogswell,  1836 80 

Thomas  Buell,  1836 12^-»« 

Lydia  Hornell,  1836 »» 

W.  G.  Blanchard,  1836 *" 

Silas  Warner,  1837 200 

Swamp-land,  1850 »» 

SECTION   4. 

Henry  Dwight,  1836 123.28 

M.  C.  Patterson,  1836 202.64 

L.  Van  Wormer,  1838 *" 

N.  B.  Overton,  1838 J« 

0.  Van  Wormer,  1838 f> 

J.  and  0.  Mitchell,  1850 »0 


280 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Acres. 

Swamp-land,  1850 200 

0.  C.Moore  (State),  1865 *" 

5.  T.  Parsons  (State),  1868 °« 

0.  B.  West  (State),  1866 *" 

James  Ashton  (State),  1866 *" 

SECTION    5. 

P.  Goldsmith  (State),  1858 40 

6.  W.Williams,  1836 1^" 

O.Cook,  1836 *" 

Iva Davenport,  1836 l^*-^» 

Herman  Camp,  1836 l^f-"* 

Dennis  Kelly,  1836 °" 

N.  B.  Overton,  1839 *" 

J.  and  0.  Mitchell,  1860 8" 

B.  C.  Thorn,  1854 4" 

SECTION    6. 

Isaac  Castle,  1835 240 

G.  W.Williams,  1836 483.76 

SECTION  7. 

Isaac  Castle 80 

Ora  Cook,  1836 233.88 

Ora  Sprague,  1836 233.56 

Myron  Murdock,  1836 80 

SECTION    8. 

Seneca  Reynolds,  1836 ISO 

Ora  Sprague,  1836 240 

Newbold  Lawrence,  1836 240 

SECTION   9. 

Ballard  Ball,  1836 320 

S.  F.  Henry,  1836 320 

SECTION   10. 

N.Taylor,  1835 80 

Electus  Backus,  1835 80 

Samuel  Moore,  1835 240 

E.  K.  Kearsley,  1835 240 

SECTION  11. 

S.  W.  Dexter,  1824 416.82 

E.  Raynale,  1831 107.40 

E.  C.  Matthews,  1833 80.75 

SECTION  12. 

Hosea  Baker,  1833 80 

John  Kent,  1834 40 

Trumbull  Gary,  1835 , 80 

Chesley  Blake,  1836 80 

Lot  Clark  and  Stephen  Warren,  1836 200 

Enoch  Jones,  1836 80 

Martin  Post,  1836 80 

SECTION  13. 

Hosea  Baker,  1833 9.98 

Joseph  Holmes,  1834 62.83 

Ephraim  Wright,  1835 560 

SECTION  14. 

S.  W.  Dexter,  1824 93.92 

Hosea  Baker,  1833,  1834 359.88 

Oliver  Wilson,  1835 160 

SECTION  15. 

N.  Taylor,  1835 80 

Jehial  Parmly,  1835 160 

Trumbull  Gary,  1835 160 

Alvah  Ewers,  1836 80 

E.  A.  Kearsley,  1836 160 

SECTION  16. 

Henry  Goodrich  (State),  1853 240 

Timothy  Clery  (State),  1865 40 

Thomas  E.  Clery  (State),  1865 40 

John  Clery  (State),  1853 40 

Florin  Baker  (State),  1853 40 

J.  F.  Elsworth  (State),  1854 80 

M.  R.  Mead  (State),  1853 40 

W.  B.  Elsworth  (State),  1853 40 

Mary  Jane  Doty  (State),  1853 80 


SECTION  17. 

Acres. 

Milton  Phelps,  1835 80 

B.  Wight,  1835 80 

Isaac  Seoord,  1836 80 

Newbold  Lawrence,  1835 400 

SECTION  18. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 153.16 

B.  Wight,  1836 160 

Isaac  Secord,  1836 80 

Newbold  Lawrence,  1836 233.36 

SECTION  19. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 153.04 

Abel  Millington,  1835 160 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 160 

Peter  Runeiman,  18.35 162.92 

SECTION  20. 

Abel  Millington,  1835 240 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 80 

James  Phelps,  1835 120 

Selden  Phelps,  1835 *» 

Rachel  Town,  1836 80 

Abel  Millington,  1836 80 

SECTION  21. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 320 

Bethuel  Noyes,  1836 80 

A.  and  A.  G.  Dow,  1836 80 

T.  W.  Hosmer,  1836 120 

Horad  Martin,  1836 40 

SECTION  22. 

Orin  Very,  1835 160 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 160 

Alva  Ewers,  1836 320 

SECTION  23. 

Hosea  Baker,  1833 80 

William  Black,  1834 80 

S.S.Seymour,  1835 160 

Consider  Warner,  1836 160 

William  Black,  1835 80 

Hosea  Baker,  1835 40 

Martin  Post,  1836 40 

SECTION  24. 

Hosea  Baker,  1833 92.09 

S.  F.  Durkee,  1833,  1834 167.04 

Abel  Millington,  1835 155.65 

Chesley  Blake,  1836 40 

Charles  W.  Penny,  1836 160 

SECTION  25. 

A.  L.  Williams,  1831 79.55 

Jasper  Parish,  1832 217.69 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 80 

Abel  Millington,  1835 136.78 

L.  B.  Wizner,  1836 80 

SECTION  26. 

A.  J.  D.  and  T.  Beaubein,  1835 40 

Gabriel  Bandi,  1835 40 

Isaac  M.  Banks,  1835 80 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 80 

H.  Eiopelle,  1835 40 

Peter  Godfrey,  1836 40 

Orange  Skinner,  1836 40 

Henry  Hutchins,  1836 40 

Gustavus  Hines,  1836 40 

Thomas  Beall,  1836 20 

SECTION  27. 

William  Black,  1835 40 

Isaac  M.  Banks,  1835 40 

Oren  Very,  1835 40 

Elizabeth  Sidway,  1836 40 

George  Sidway,  1836 80 

Thomas  Curtis,  1837 80 

S.  S.Mathewson  (State),  1858 80 

Stephen  Sargent,      "        1859 40 

J.  D.  Congreve,         "        40 

Hiram  Herrick,         "        40 

John  Herrick,            "        1859 40 


ISAAC   M.   BANKS. 


MRS.   ISAAC   M.   BANKS. 


ISAAC   M.  BANKS. 


Isaac  M.  Banks  is  of  English  descent,  being  a  son 
of  Arthur  Banks,  who  was  born  in  England  in  1756, 
and  who  came  to  America  with  Lord  Admiral  Howe 
during  the  Revolution. 

Arthur  was  a  nephew  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  of 
England,  and  married,  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  Miss 
Sarah  Loomis. 

Isaac  was  born  in  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  27, 
1798,  and  at  the  age  of  eleven  was  apprenticed  to 
John  Hendrick  to  learn  the  coopers'  trade.  When 
fifteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted  as  a  common  sailor 
under  Commodore  Perry,  to  assist  in  the  defense  of 
his  country. 

During  his  early  life,  when  not  engaged  as  before 
stated,  he  was  employed  at  farm  work  during  the 
summer,  and  attended  the  inferior  common  schools 
of  those  days  in  the  winter,  thus  obtaining  his  edu- 
cation. 

He  lived  in  Canada  six  years,  and  then  married 
Miss  Hannah  Herrick,  and  settled  in  Wilson,  Ni- 
agara Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  nine  years,  re- 
moving in  1835  to  Michigan,  and  settling  in  Shia- 
wassee County,  where  he  still  lives.     His  principal 


occupation  has  been  farming,  though  for  nearly 
twenty  years  he  kept  a  hotel. 

Mr.  Banks  was  afflicted  by  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
Aug.  10,  1838,  leaving  him  with  seven  children. 
Nov.  25,  1838,  he  married  Mrs.  Lorena  Shepherd, 
by  which  union  he  became  the  father  of  five  children. 
Of  this  large  family  of  twelve  children  eight  are  still 
living, — all  married.  June  7,  1870,  Mr.  Banks  lost 
his  second  wife,  this  being  the  sixth  time  death  had 
entered  his  home ;  yet  with  head  bowed  in  sorrow, 
and  the  light  seemingly  shut  out  cjf  his  home  and 
heart,  he  submitted  to  the  chastisement,  and  though 
bitter  the  bereavement  could  only  say,  "  Thy  will  be 
done." 

In  politics  Mr.  Banks  is  a  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  has  never  been  connected  with  any 
Christian  church,  and,  though  having  passed  his 
fourscore  years,  is  quite  active,  and  enjoys  the  fruits 
of  his  industrious  early  life.  Respected  by  all  who 
know  him,  with  an  untarnished  reputation,  and  being 
thoroughly  familiar  with  its  early  history,  no  one 
more  fittingly  represents  the  pioneers  of  Shiawassee 
County. 


SHIAWASSEE  TOWNSHIP. 


281 


SECTION    28. 

Acres. 

George  Jones,  1837 80 

George  Sugden  (State),  1858 '.'.'.'."..'...'.".!'.'..'.'. 80 

Martha  P.  Eddy,  "        1868 120 

E.  S.  Tillson,         «        1858 ■."■.'.■.■.■'.■.■.■.■.■.■.■.■,■.'.■."  40 

P.  and  G.  Caruthers,  1859 1211 

C.  W.  Sager,  1866 ".^S^^^"Z7 '.'''.  40 

Thomas  Munger,  1868 40 

Francis  Ackerly  (State),  1858 .".".'. 40 

"    1858 ;.'■■.'.;;;;;;  8o 

SECTION    29. 

James  Phelps,  1836 40 

Samuel  Chappel,  183T ..."!!!!.!!!.".!!  80 

R.  Hopkins,  1847 ...."."!"  80 

Peter  btrobe ...!!!!!!!!!!  160 

Charles  Kimberley,  1854 ,,,,,,  160 

John  Whaley,  1855 !...!.!!!!  120 

SECTION    30. 

M.C.Patterson,  1836 233  92 

D.  R.  Prindel,  1836 .'     72^24 

Peter  Ewers,  1836 240 

R.  Hopkins,  1849 80 

SECTION    31. 

M.C.Patterson,  1836 160 

Peter  Coster,  1837 160 

Alexander  Oliver,  1837 234.08 

John  Lutkins,  1837 73.72 

SECTION    32. 

Peter  Coster,  1836 80 

W.  S.  Hoard,  1837 40 

J.  0.  Hinklej',  1837 120 

George  Jones,  1837 80 

Hiram  Haight,  1839 40 

M.  Glover,  1839 40 

J.  H.  Desiness,  1841 40 

M.  C.  Merrill,  1853 40 

E.  S.  Tillson,  1854 40 

E.  P.  McCollom,  1854 40 

Amos  Bacheldor,  1855 40 

SECTION    33. 

Charles  F.  Coles  (State) 40 

E.  S.  Tillson,            "      1858 ;..  40 

Henry  Wooleven,  1836 80 

William  Hoard,  1837 80 

Austin  Spaulding,  1837 160 

William  Mason,  1854 160 

S.  H.  Hoard,  1854 80 

William  Cochran,  1855 40 

SECTION     34. 

George  Sidway,  1836 160 

Henry  Wooleven,  1836 80 

Thomas  Beall,  1836 160 

Thomas  Curtis,  1837 80 

John  Q.  Adams  (State) 40 

G.W.Graves,  "      40 

John  Reach,  "     1865 40 

SECTION    35. 

Joseph  Varnet,  1836 40 

.     Henry  Hutchings,  1836 160 

Court  Hutchings,  1836 80 

Gnstavus  Hines,  1836 40 

William  M.  Warren,  1836 120 

Peter  Robertson,  1836 80 

Lucius  Beach,  1839 40 

N.  P.  Harder,  1841 40 

Calvin  Sweet,  1854 40 

SECTION    36. 

Trumbull  Gary,  1835 160 

Mason  Phelps,  1835 160 

Joseph  Visger,  1835 »0 

Joseph  Vermett,  1836 40 

M.  B.  Martin,  1836 160 

B.  B.  Brigham,  1836 40 

SETTLEMENTS  AND  SETTLERS. 
The   earliest   settlers   within   the  limits  of  Shiawassee 
township  were  Messrs.  A.  L.  and  B.  0.  Williams,  who 
3(J 


made  a  tour  of  exploration  through  the  county  in  1829, 
and  in  August  of  1831  became  residents  upon  land  on 
section  25,  which  had  been  entered  by  the  former  in  the 
same  year.  This  point  was  subsequently  known  as  the 
Shiawassee  Exchange,  and  was  undoubtedly  the  earliest 
purchase  of  land  with  a  view  to  permanent  settlement. 
The  Williams  brothers  came  through  from  Grand  Blanc, 
Genesee  Co.,  and  were  obliged  to  cut  the  way  for  their  ox- 
teams,  no  roads  at  that  time  having  been  broken.  Their 
wagons  were  laden  with  household  utensils  and  material 
for  building,  which  greatly  facilitated  them  in  working  for 
themselves  a  comfortable  habitation. 

The  brothers  encountered  some  unfriendly  demonstrations 
from  the  Indian  chief  Wasso,  but  soon  established  them- 
selves as  traders,  and  controlled  extensive  business  inter- 
ests in  the  county.  The  advent  of  the  Messrs.  Williams, 
and  their  influence  upon  the  early  development  of  the 
county  of  Shiawassee,  has  already  been  fully  mentioned  in 
the  general  history  of  the  county,  and  in  the  separate 
history  of  the  city  of  Owosso,  which  renders  a  review  of 
their  career  unnecessary  here. 

The  earliest  settler  who  came  for  the  purpose  of  es- 
tablishing permanently  and  exclusively  as  a  farmer  in  the 
township  was  John  I.  Tinkelpaugh,  who  arrived  with  his 
family  in  May,  1833,  and  located  upon  section  24,  on  the 
farm  at  present  owned  by  C.  D.  Chalker.  This  land  was 
not  entered  by  Mr.  Tinkelpaugh,  and  it  is  probable  that 
Hosea  Baker  made  the  original  purchase  and  transferred  it 
to  the  subsequent  owner,  who  had  previously  built  upon  it 
a  log  house  and  made  a  small  clearing.  He  plowed  a  por- 
tion of  the  land  along  the  river-bottom,  and  thus  became  the 
pioneer  in  agricultural  occupations  in  the  county,  no  fur- 
rows having  as  yet  been  upturned  within  its  limits.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tinkelpaugh  afterwards  removed  to  Clinton 
County,  where,  in  a  serene  old  age,  they  enjoyed  the  re- 
sults which  years  of  industry  had  brought.  Mr.  Tinkel- 
paugh died  there  in  the  fall  of  1879. 

Henry  S.  Smith  and  a  partner  named  Cooley  came  in 
the  previous  year,  and  with  a  small  stock  of  marketable 
wares  attempted  the  establishment  of  a  trading-post  below 
Shiawasseetown.  In  June  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Smith 
brought  his  family  to  the  township,  and  for  a  while  pursued 
the  calling  of  a  blacksmith.  Later  he  removed  to  Owosso, 
and  followed  the  same  occupation. 

In  August,  1833,  Hosea  Baker  and  his  soil,  Ambrose 
Baker,  arrived  from  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  having  in  the  pre- 
vious April  come  to  the  county  on  a  prospecting  tour,  and 
entered  land  on  section  14,  upon  which  the  former  settled. 
He  also  purchased  much  land  in  the  township  for  other 
parties.  Mr.  Baker  had  previously  engaged  a  man  to  break 
the  ground  and  assist  in  the  erection  of  a  log  house,  which 
was  constructed  of  basswood  logs,  with  strips  of  elm-bark 
in  lieu  of  shingles.  A  portion  of  the  furniture  of  this 
cabin  was  of  primitive  construction,  especially  the  bedstead, 
which  was  made  of  poles  placed  in  holes  bored  into  the 
logs,  and  supported  at  the  opposite  end  by  posts.  This 
was  listened  with  strips  of  elm-bark,  and  though  primitive 
in  construction,  served  the  purpose  well.  No  roads  made 
the  township  accessible  at  this  early  date,  and  the  Indian 
trail  marked  by  Mazed  trees  affor4ed  the  traveler  but  aq 


•IB2 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


uncertain  guide  through  the  wilderness.  One  of  the 
daughters  of  Mr.  Baicer  brought  apple-seeds  from  the  East 
and  planted  them  here,  which  afterwards  resulted  in  the 
growth  of  the  first  orchard  in  the  township.  Later,  Mr. 
Baker  procured  apple-scions  from  the  East,  and  grafted 
them  upon  stocks  taken  from  the  old  Indian  orchards,  and 
thus  raised  a  superior  quality  of  fruit.  The  ladies  of  the 
family  frequently  chased  the  wolves  from  the  door  with 
brands  of  fire  when  they  became  too  obtrusive,  and  the 
large  bounty  offered  by  the  State  rendered  their  capture  a 
source  of  considerable  profit.  Three  of  these  animals 
caught  in  a  trap  brought  Mr.  Baker  the  sum  of  ninety 
dollars. 

Aaron  Swain,  also  a  Pennsylvanian,  came  with  Mr.  Baker 
in  1833,  and  removed  to  eighty  acres,  adjacent  to  the  farm 
of  the  latter,  on  section  23.  In  his  family  was  born  the 
first  child  in  the  township,  Miss  Julia  Swain. 

Isaac  M.  Banks  came  from  Niagara  County  in  1834, 
and  located  upon  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sections 
26  and  27,  his  log  house  having  been  erected  on  the  latter 
section.  There  were  no  roads  at  this  time,  and  settlers 
were  largely  dependent  upon  the  Indians  for  supplies  of 
food.  The  milling  was  done  at  Pontiac  or  Dexter.  This 
necessitated  a  journey  of  two  or  more  weeks,  and  on  one 
occasion  a  neighbor  was  absent  forty-two  days. 

Orin  Vary  had  preceded  Mr.  Banks  by  two  weeks,  and 
located  upon  section  22.  With  him  he  remained  until  a 
suitable  habitation  was  constructed  upon  his  own  land.  He 
was  followed  by  his  former  neighbors,  Jordan  Holcomb, 
Ninion  Clark,  Orange  Skinner,  and  John  Herrick,  who 
purchased  farms  in  the  township.  In  1853,  Mr.  Banks 
erected  a  spacious  hotel  at  the  hamlet  of  Fremont,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  popular  landlords  of  Shiawassee,  in  which 
occupation  he  continued  until  1870.  He  is  still  the  ven- 
erable and  honored  postmaster  of  the  place,  having  lived  to 
witness  the  sudden  development  and  still  more  rapid  decay 
of  the  village. 

Wilham  Johnson  came  from  Wayne  County  in  1835, 
but  it  was  not  until  1837  that  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  of  E.  C.  Kimberly,  having  previously  been  an  inmate 
of  the  family  of  Ephraim  Wright.  He  soon  after  married 
the  daughter  of  Mr.  Wright,  and  began  the  labor  of 
clearing.  He  made  little  progress  at  first,  but  ultimately 
made  a  well-improved  farm.  Mr.  Johnson  was  one  of  the 
earliest  voters,  and  participated  in  the  organization  of  the 
township. 

William  Newberry  came  to  the  township  from  Ohio  in 
1836.  He  was  by  occupation  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and 
was  employed  by  the  Shiawassee  Company  to  assist  them 
in  building,  having  known  the  various  members  of  the 
company  in  Ohio.  He  labored  in  this  capacity  for  a  year 
or  more  and  then  removed  to  Owosso,  where  the  Messrs. 
Williams  gladly  availed  themselves  of  his  services.  Here 
he  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  first  frame  house  in  the 
village.  In  1839  he  moved  to  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  pur- 
chased of  Ephraim  Wright,  an  early  pioneer  who  had 
located  upon  section  13.  Mr.  Newberry  constructed  a 
frame  house  22  by  28  feet  in  dimensions,  which  was  first 
occupied  by  the  family  in  1840.  He  afterwards  erected  a 
substantial  residence  on  his  farm,  and  considerably  increased 


its  dimensions.  Mr.  Newberry  has  established  a  reputation 
as  one  of  the  most  scientific  farmers  in  the  county,  and 
avails  himself  of  all  the  modern  appliances  for  enhancing 
the  productiveness  and  value  of  his  land.  An  excellent 
system  of  drainage  involving  a  length  of  ten  miles  has  been 
introduced  on  his  farm. 

Ephraim  Wright,  above  alluded  to,  came  early  in  1836, 
and  entered  nearly  the  whole  of  section  13,  upon  which  he 
removed  and  partially  cultivated,  building  upon  it  a  sub- 
stantial house.  Zimri  Finch  also  purchased  a  farm  near 
by,  on  which  he  located,  and  on  which  he  bestowed  much 
hard  labor. 

Isaac  Secord,  a  former  resident  of  Washtenaw  County, 
secured  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  18  in  1836. 
While  building  a  cabin  the  family  made  themselves  com- 
fortable under  a  shelter  of  bark,  it  having  been  the  month 
of  June.  James  Phillips  and  Orin  Vary  were  near  neigh- 
bors. Mr.  Secord's  family  have  since  removed  from  the 
township. 

In  the  fall  of  1836,  William  M.  Warren  left  the  attrac- 
tive city  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  for  the  township  of  Shia- 
wassee, where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  section  35.  Later  he  removed  to  section  36.  The 
country  was  entirely  uncleared,  and  as  there  were  no  bridges 
he  was  obliged  to  ford  the  river  ahead  of  the  teams,  and 
an  infant  child  was  carried  by  him  from  Detroit,  a  distance 
of  sixty  miles,  in  his  arms  or  placed  in  a  handkerchief 
which  was  suspended  from  his  neck.  He  began  the  labor 
of  clearing  at  once,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  year  had 
built  a  log  house  and  improved  eight  acres.  A  pilgrimage 
to  Pontiac  was  made  for  supplies,  and  the  prevailing  prices 
were  such  as  to  appall  the  settler  who  did  not  boast  a 
plethoric  wallet.  Pork  was  sold  at  fifty  dollars  per  barrel, 
while  flour  brought  fifteen  dollars,  and  often  more,  per  bar- 
rel. At  a  later  period  John  Herrick  and  Covert  and 
Henry  Hutchings  were  among  his  near  neighbors.  Mr. 
Warren  still  resides  upon  section  26,  surrounded  by  his 
children,  upon  whom  he  has  liberally  bestowed  the  accu- 
mulations of  years  of  industrious  eff'ort. 

Lucius  Beach,  a  pioneer  from  Norwalk,  Ohio,  came  to 
Shiawasseetown  in  1838,  having,  through  the  influence  of 
his  brother-in-law,  Moses  Kimball,  purchased  an  interest 
in  the  Shiawassee  Company,  for  which  ho  paid  one  thousand 
dollars.  He  became  manager  of  the  mills  and  also  the 
host  of  the  rising  hamlet.  Mr.  Beach,  with  his  attractive 
and  energetic  wife,  rendered  this  the  most  popular  hostelry 
of  the  time.  The  house  was  often  crowded,  and  on  some 
occasions  the  capacity  of  the  building  was  unequal  to  the 
demands  upon  it.  As  many  as  forty  travelers  frequently 
sought  its  hospitality  on  a  single  night.  There  the  Circuit 
Court  of  the  county  first  convened,  and  the  spacious  parlor 
was  early  opened  to  accord  the  youth  of  the  township  op- 
portunities of  education.  Mr.  Beach  afterwards  purchased 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  36,  upon  which  he 
also  erected  another  large  hotel,  of  which  he  was  for  many 
years  the  landlord.  The  homestead  is  now  occupied  by 
N.  Gr.  Phillips,  with  whom  the  widow  of  Mr.  Beach  re- 
sides. 

John  Herrick  came  from  Niagara  County  in  1837,  and 
settled  upon  section  35,  where  he  had  forty  acres.     He 


SHIAWASSEE   TOWNSHIP. 


283 


cleared  and  improved  it,  and  remained  several  years,  after 
which  his  location  was  changed  to  Fremont,  where  eighty 
acres  afforded  him  a  comfortable  home  until  his  death  in 
1877.  Six  children  and  the  widow  are  still  residents  of 
the  township. 

A.  Van  Auken,  one  of  the  most  successful  of  the  agri- 
culturists of  Shiawassee,  emigrated  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
to  Washtenaw  County  in  1835,  and  to  this  township  in 
1839,  when  he  purchased  of  Charles  Penney,  of  Jackson, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sections  24  and  13.  He 
was  in  debt  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  on  his 
arrival,  which  claim  with  close  application  to  the  work 
before  him  was  soon  liquidated.  A  cabin  had  already 
been  built,  which  was  occupied  until  a  more  spacious  log 
structure  could  be  erected,  and  sixteen  acres  yielded  to  the 
labor  devoted  to  their  improvement,  having  been  speedily 
covered  by  growing  crops.  On  one  occasion  Mr.  Van 
Auken  started  for  Pontiac  for  the  purpose  of  disposing  of 
a  pair  of  cattle,  and  having  been  successful  was  obliged  to 
return  on  foot,  a  distance  of  forty-five  miles.  The  roads 
on  this  occasion  were  so  obscure  that  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night  he  could  only  be  guided  by  the  sense  of  touch. 
Wheat  was  at  this  time  often  drawn  to  Ypsilanti,  a  distance, 
of  sixty-eight  miles,  and  brought  but  sixty-five  cents  per 
bushel.  Mr.  Van  Auken  has  now  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  acres  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  One  of  his 
near  neighbors  was  Sidney  Seymour,  who  had  eighty  acres 
on  section  23,  which  he  cleared  and  improved. 

The  clergymen  best  remembered  at  this  time  were  Elders 
Blanchard  and  Brigham,  who  conducted  the  earliest  ser- 
vices at  the  houses  of  the  settlers.  Dr.  Pattison  was  the 
pioneer  physician,  who  practiced  as  early  as  1836.  Next 
came  Dr.  Harder,  who  settled  in  Newbnrg. 

Jordan  Holcomb,  a  former  resident  of  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y., 
became  a  settler  of  Bennington  in  1836,  and  two  years 
later  removed  to  section  35  in  this  township,  where  he 
located  eighty  acres.  On  this  land  he  built  a  log  house, 
which  is  still  occupied  by  him.  With  him  came  Aaron 
and  Henry  Hutchings,  who  shared  with  him  the  humble 
quarters  he  had  prepared  until  a  later  period  enabled  them 
to  better  their  condition.  Mr.  Holcomb  has  converted  his 
land  into  a  productive  farm,  and  is  one  of  the  few  survivors 
among  the  very  early  settlers. 

The  following  list  embodies  all  the  tax-payers  in  the 
township  of  Shiawassee  for  the  year  1840,  with  section  and 
number  of  acres  : 

Acrea. 

J.  S.  Tinkelpaugh,  section  24 75 

Myron  Murdook,  section  7 °^ 

P.  P.  Ewers,  section  30 *?« 

Alexander  Oliver,  section  31 1»* 

M.  C.  Patterson,  section  31 ln« 

John  Duvis,  section  34 •. 1»" 

Peter  Robertson,  section  35 o» 

Joseph  Vannatter,  section  3o *U 

TrambuU  Carj,  section  36  and  elsewhere 80 

Joseph  Visger,  section  12 ab 

Lydia  Hornell,  section  3 o" 

M.  C.  Pattison,  section  4 i^^ 

Henry  Dwight,  section  4 f^* 

Ira  Davenport,  section  5 '■p 

Hinman  Camp,  section  5 ^■"> 

Asa  Spragae,  section  8 

N.  Lawrence,  section  8 - ^*" 

Asa  Sprague,  section  7..-.. ^ 

Charlotte  Henry,  section  9 "" 

Ballard  Ball,  section  9 ^^" 

Samuel  Moore,  section  10 ''*" 


Acres. 

E.  R.  Kearsley,  section  10 240 

E.  Bachus,  section  10 80 

N.  Taylor,  section  10 80 

Morgan  L.  Drake,  section  11 107 

John  Lawrence,  section  36 40 

Jonathan  Mclvin,  section  17 15 

B.  Wright,  sections  17  and  18 , 240 

A.  Millington,  sections  19,  21,  and  elsewhere 240 

B.  Noyes,  section  21 80 

Titus  Hosmer,  section  21 80 

Alvah  Ewers,  section  22 320 

Consider  Warner,  section  23  160 

Joseph  Parish,  section  25 215 

Stevens,  section  22 120 

L.  B.  Misner,  section  25 80 

Peter  Godfrey,  section  26 40 

H.  Riopelle,  section  26 40 

G.Bond,  section  26 40 

D.  R.  Pringle,  section  30 72 

Enoch  Jones,  section  12 80 

Thomas  Curtis,  sections  27  and  34 160 

Spaulding,  section  33 80 

George  Kittridge,  section  1 125 

Allen  Park  and  others,  section  1 125 

Augustus  Boyd,  section  1 87 

Henry  W,  Bllraan,  section  2 125 

B.  Q.  Worthing,  section  2 80 

James  Pitcairn,  section  2 80 

H.  C.  Walker,  section  3 124 

M.  W.  Cogswell,  section  3 80 

Silas  Warner,  section  3 160 

Joseph  Bedford,  section  13 69 

0.  Wilson,  section  14 160 

N.  Taylor,  section  15 80 

Alvah  Ewers,  section  15 80 

N.  Lawrence,  section  17 400 

Chester  Blake,  section  24 40 

C.  W.  Van  Dougan,  section  2 125 

William  Laing,  section  36 80 

Joseph  S.  Jackson 

Elijah  Lansing 

N.  P.  Harder,  section  23 

J.  S.  Harder  came  from  Cayuga,  N.  Y.,  in  1844,  and 
bought  eighty  acres  on  section  22,  which  he  purchased  of 
E.  C.  Kimberly.  A  small  cabin  had  been  erected  and  a 
portion  of  the  land  improved  on  his  arrival,  having  for  a 
brief  time  been  occupied  by  Lester  Wright.  Mr.  Harder 
still  resides  on  the  place,  where  he  has  increased  his  posses- 
sions to  two  hundred  acres,  and  erected  a  substantial  resi- 
dence. 

John  Lemon,  who  had  been  a  former  resident  of  Oak- 
land County,  came  in  1843.  The  boundaries  of  his  farm 
embraced  eighty  acres  of  uncleared  land,  which  was  located 
on  section  15.  His  son  came  the  year  previous  and  made 
such  improvements  as  rendered  the  spot  habitable,  and  was 
followed  by  Mr.  Lemon,  who  resided  upon  it  until  his  death 
in  1849.  It  is  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  John  Lemon,  his 
daughter-in-law. 

D.  N.  Sabin  came  from  Seneca,  N.  Y.,  to  Oakland 
County,  and  moved  to  Shiawassee  township  in  1848,  pur- 
chasing eighty  acres  on  section  10.  John  Lemon  offered 
him  hospitality  while  building,  after  which  the  work  of 
clearing  was  begun  and  five  acres  improved  at  an  early  date. 
His  near  neighbor  was  David  Taylor,  who  located  upon  the 
same  section,  where  he  had  eighty  acres.  The  Indians  who 
were  encamped  in  Burns  occasionally  pas.sed  through,  and 
much  in  the  way  of  barter  was  done  with  them.  Mr.  Sa- 
bin still  resides  upon  the  farm  and  in  the  house  early  con- 
structed by  him. 

C.  D.  Chalker,  a  former  resident  of  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y., 
removed  to  Vernon  in  1836,  and  in  1849,  having  been 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  Baker,  chose  a  home 
for  his  bride  on  section  23,  in  the  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  partially  improved,  of 


284 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY/MICHIGAN. 


Mrs.  Ambrose  Baker.  Newburg  was  already  well  popu- 
lated, and  there  were  few  remaining  evidences  of  the  orig- 
inal primitive  condition  of  the  country.  The  farm  was 
associated  with  many  early  reminiscences,  having  been  the 
first  soil  of  Shiawassee  to  yield  to  the  labor  of  the  settler. 
Mr.  Chalker,  though  a  successful  farmer,  is  largely  engaged 
in  other  business  enterprises.  Mrs.  Chalker,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Hosea  Baker,  has  afforded  by  her  keen  recol- 
lection of  facts  much  valuable  aid  to  the  writer.  Her 
sister.  Miss  Susan  Baker,  was  early  married  to  William 
Black,  though  this  event  cannot  with  truth  be  chronicled 
among  the  early  annals  of  Shiawassee,  as  the  marriage  was 
celebrated  out  of  the  township. 

Mr.  Joseph  Parmenter,  whose  early  history  is  intimately 
connected  with  the  settlement  of  Vernon,  removed  in  the 
■spring  of  1849  to  one  hundred  and  two  acres  on  section  2, 
purchased  of  James  McGuire.  Twenty  acres  of  this  had 
been  cleared  and  a  house  built  upon  it.  John  Wallace,  of 
Livingston  County,  was  a  new  settler  upon  section  2,  as 
were  also  John  O'Niel  and  Michael  Driscoll.  On  the  farm 
of  William  Black,  opposite  that  of  Mr.  Parmenter,  was  an 
old  field  of  the  Indians  which  had  been, abandoned  and  was 
covered  with  a  spontaneous  growth  of  wild  turnips.  Mr. 
Parmenter  often  went  to  Pontiac  for  purposes  of  trade,  as 
also  to  avail  himself  of  the  excellent  mill  there  located. 
He  still  occupies  the  farm  upon  which  he  first  located. 

0.  C.  Moore  became  a  Michigan  pioneer  in  1851,  having 
formerly  resided  in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  located  on  one 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  acres  on  section  10.  Martin  Post 
lived  near  by,  with  whom  shelter  was  found  while  building 
a  house.  He  also  had  other  improvements  made  before  he 
became  a  permanent  resident.  Mr..  Moore  made  rapid 
progress  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  and  in  1867  erected 
his  present  attractive  home, — one  of  the  most  inviting  in 
the  township. 

David  A.  Lindley,  formerly  of  Livingston  County,  first 
located  in  Deerfield,  in  that  county,  and  later  in  Shiawassee, 
where,  in  1852,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  forty  acres 
on  section  9.  William  Hicks,  a  former  occupant,  had 
built  a  house,  to  which  he  removed,  and  also  improved  five 
acres.  Few  highways  other  than  the  State  road  were  found 
in  the  north  portion  of  the  township,  though  Shiawassee 
took  precedence  of  the  other  townships  of  the  county  in 
the  general  aspect  of  civilization  which  pervaded  it.  Mr. 
Lindley  still  retains  his  original  purchase  and  resides 
upon  it. 

William  B.  Ellsworth,  from  Livingston  County,  settled 
in  1854  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  21,  which  were  pur- 
chased of  G.  W.  Whitney.  Upon  this  stood  a  substantial 
frame  house,  and  some  land  had  been  cleared.  Richard 
Jackson  was  one  of  the  nearest  settlers,  and  had  made  con- 
siderable progress  in  the  improvement  of  his  farm.  Mr. 
Ellsworth  now  has  four  hundred  acres,  upon  which  many 
evidences  of  labor  and  care  are  apparent. 

Among  other  foremost  settlers  were  David  Bush,  a  promi- 
nent lawyer  of  Shiawasseetown  and  an  early  supervisor, 
Daniel  Hall,  Avery  Shipman,  Dr.  William  Weir,  William 
Collins,  Milan  Glover,  and  Nicholas  P.  Harder,  of  whom 
the  last-named  two  were  both  early  officers  of  the  town- 
ship. 


TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 
The  exterior  lines  of  township  No.  6  north,  of  range 
No.  3  west,  were  surve/ed  by  John  Mullett  in  1823.  The 
township  was  erected,  to  include  the  entire- county  of 
Shiawassee,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March 
23,  1836.  Od  the  11th  of  March  an  act  of  the  State 
Legislature  was  passed  organizing  the  three  townships 
of  Owosso,  Burns,  and  Vernon,  Owosso  embracing  the 
entire  north  half  of  the  county,  including  townships 
7  and  8  north,  of  ranges  1,  2,  3,  and  4  east,  Vernon 
township  6  north,  of  range  4  east,  and  Burns  township  5 
north,  of  range  4  east,  thus  leaving  Shiawassee  as  townships 
5  and  6  north,  of  ranges  1,  2,  and  3  east.  By  an  act  of  the 
State  Legislature,  approved  March  6,  1838,  township  5 
north,  of  range  3  east,  was  organized  as  Antrim,  and  town- 
ships 5  and  6  north,  of  range  2  east,  as  Bennington.  By 
an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  April  2,  1838,  town- 
ships 5  and  6  north,  of  range  1  east,  became  Woodhull, 
reducing  Shiawassee  to  its  present  liriiits.  By  the  provis- 
ions of  the  act  erecting  the  township,  the  house  of  Hosea 
Baker  was  designated  as  the  place  of  holding  the  first 
township-meeting,  which  was  accordingly  held  there  in 
April,  1 836  ;  but  as  the  earliest  records  of  the  township 
are  missing,  the  result  of  that  first  election  cannot  be 
given,  nor  can"  any  complete  list  of  township  officers  be 
given  prior  to  the  year  1854.  A  partial  list  of  the  super- 
visors is,  however,  appended.  The  first  township-meeting 
having  taken  place  at  the  house  of  Hosea  Baker,  that 
gentleman  was  chosen  supervisor  for  the  years  1836  and 
1837,  and  Thomas  Beal  in  1838.  The  county  commis- 
sioners met  at  the  house  of  Lucius  Beach  from  1839  to 
1842,  during  which  latter  year  David  Bush  was  chosen 
supervisor,  and  re-elected  in  1843,  '44,  and  '45.  Milan 
Glover  was  chosen  in  1846-47,  Aaron  Swain  in  1848, 
and  Nicholas  P.  Harder  in  1849-53.  The  township 
officers  from  that  time  until  the  present  have  been  as  fol- 
lows : 

1854. — Supervisor,  Isaac  Castle;    Township  Clerk,  John 
Lemon  ;  Treasurer,  Josiah  Fuller ;    School  In- 
spector,  G.    M.    Reynolds ;    Director  of  Poor, 
Isaac  Castle ;  Justices,  Alonzo  Howard,  J.  E. 
Chase;    Constables,    Theodore    Barnes,    Collins 
Sargent,  Orson  Post. 
1855. — Supervisor,  Isaac  Castle ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  Q. 
Van  Valkenburg ;  Treasurer,  Theodore  Barnes ; 
Justice,  J.  E.  Chase ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
William  Johnson,  H.   Humphrey ;   School  In- 
spector, J.   Q.  Van  Valkenburg;    Directors  of 
Poor,  J.  Goodspeed,  A.  P.  Grcenman  ;  Consta- 
bles, Theodore  Barnes,  George  Colt. 
1856. — Supervisor,  C.  H.  Leach  ;  Township  Clerk,  John 
S.  Harder ;  Treasurer,  Theodore  Barnes ;  Justice, 

B.  F.  Bush ;  Highway  Commissioner,  G.  N. 
Merrill ;  Directors  of  Poor,  J.  Goodspeed,  Wil- 
liam Newberry  ;  School  Inspector,  T.  F.  Shelton ; 
Constables,  H.  C.  Woodward,  Theodore  Barnes, 

C.  M.  Sargent. 

1857. — Supervisor,  N.  P.  Harder ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  S. 
Harder ;  Treasurer,  Theodore  Barnes ;  Justice, 
Elisha  Brewster ;  School  Inspector,  W.  R.  Sel- 


MRS.    A.    P.    GREENMAN. 


A.   P.   GRBENMAN. 


AUGUSTUS  P.  GREENMAK 


Among  the  early  settlers  in  the  township  of  Shia- 
wassee, Augustus  P.  Greenman  holds  a  conspicuous 
position,  both  by  reason  of  his  early  association  with 
the  county  and  his  deservedly  high  character  as  a 
citizen.  His  father,  Augustus  Greenman,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Rhode  Island,  and  his  mother,  Mary  Ann 
Shepard,  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  Their  son, 
Augustus  P.,  was  born  in  Augusta,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April  9,  1810,  where  the  family  located  at  an  early 
day.  He  was  afflicted  when  quite  young  by  the  loss 
of  his  father,  and  when  he  had  attained  sufficient 
age  assumed  the  management  of  the  farm,  mean- 
while devoting  himself  during  the  winter  to  such  in- 
struction as  was  afforded  by  the  common  schools  of 
the  time.  At  the  age  of  thirty-three  he  purchased 
a  small  farm  at  Alexander,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 


in  1844  bought  land  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  em- 
bracing eighty  acres  in  Genesee  County  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  at  Fremont,  Shiawassee  town- 
ship. ' 

Mr.  Greenman's  health  having  proved  unequal  to 
the  arduous  labor  of  the  farm,  he  went  to  New  York 
and  sought  in  travel  and  change  of  scene  the  benefit 
he  ultimately  received.  Returning  again  to  Mich- 
igan, he  has  since  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  married.  May  23,  1852,  Mrs.  Almira 
Curtis,  daughter  of  Isaac  Holmes,  of  New  York. 
Two  sons  have  been  born  to  them,  both  of  whom 
reside  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Greenman  is  a  Re- 
publican in  his  political  sentiments,  and  in  religion  a 
consistent  member  and  generous  supporter  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 


SHIAWASSEE   TOWNSHIP. 


285 


lam  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  E.  Eddy ;  Direc- 
tors of  Poor,  William  Newberry,  J.  Goodspeed; 
Constables,  H.  C.  Woodward,  William  Hart, 
Thomas  Barnes. 

1858.— Supervisor,  N.  G.  Phillips ;  Township  Clerk,  F.  E. 
Sheldon  ;  Treasurer,  George  N.  Merrill ;  Justice, 
Alonzo  Howard ;  Highway  Commissioner,  E.  E. 
Sheldon  ;  School  Inspector,  John  Lemon  ;  Direc- 
tors of  Poor,  A.  P.  Harder,  J.  L.  Simonson  ; 
Constables,  Theodore  Barnes,  Levi  Morris,  J.  L. 
Banks. 

1859. — Supervisor,  O.  F.  Greenman ;  Township  Clerk,  F. 
E.  Sheldon  ;  Treasurer,  T.  H.  Lemon  ;  Justice, 
J.  E.  Chase ;  Highway  Commissioner,  J.  S. 
Harder;  School  Inspector,  G.  M.  Keynolds ; 
Directors  of  Poor,  William  Newberry,  John  L. 
Simonson ;  Constables,  J.  L.  Banks,  Francis 
Ackley,  Levi  Morris. 

1860. — Supervisor,  George  Sugden ;  Township  Clerk,  F. 

E.  Sheldon  ;  Treasurer,  G.  N.  Merrill ;  Justice, 
Henry  Peace ;  School  Inspector,  William  R.  Sel- 
1am ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Enoch  Eddy ; 
Constables,  M.  C.  Doty,  J.  L.  Banks,  W.  H. 
Hadcock. 

1861. — Supervisor,  George  M.  Reynolds;  Township  Clerk, 

F.  E.  Sheldon  ;  Treasurer,  George  N.  Merrill ; 
School  Inspectors,  George  M.  Reynolds,  Thomas 
L.  Sheldon ;  Commissioner  of  Highways,  E.  E. 
Sheldon  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Elisha  Brewster, 
Alonzo  H.  Crandall ;  Constables,  Henry  C. 
Woodward,  M.  C.  Doty,  E.  W.  Drum. 

1862.— Supervisor,  George  Sugden ;  Township  Clerk, 
Charles  A.  Osborne ;  Treasurer,  George  N.  Mer- 
rill ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Francis  B.  Ackley, 
Ambrose  Baker;  Commissioner  of  Highways, 
John  S.  Harder;  School  Inspectors,  T.  F.  Shel- 
don, F.  E.  Sheldon  ;  Constables,  M.  P.  Gardner, 
Alonzo  Johnson,  Levi  Morris,  James  Vanderhoof. 

1863.— Supervisor,  George  Sugden  ;  Clerk,  C.  A.  Osborne  ; 
Treasurer,  William  Johnson ;  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  William  J.  Mosely ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, J.  L.  Gardner ;  School  Inspector,  G.  M. 
Reynolds;  Constables,  M.  P.  Gardner,  H.  A. 
Hall,  George  Drum,  John  Q.  Adams. 

1864.— Supervisor,  Oscar  F.  Greenman ;  Clerk,  Henry  A. 
Hart;  Treasurer,  William  Johnson;  Highway 
Commissioner,  E.  B.  Sheldon ;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Oscar  C.  Moore,  Perry  Trim;  School 
Inspector,  William  G.  Smith ;  Constables,  B.  F. 
Lemon,  R.  H.  B.  Morris,  E.  Wheeler. 

1865.— Supervisor,  Austin  A.  Baldwin;  Township  Clerk, 
Fordyce  F.  Potter;  Treasurer,  Albert  Bain- 
bridge  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  King  W.  Fentoii, 
Harvey  Adams  ;  School  Inspector,  Frank  Grid- 
ley  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  W.  W.  Bartlett, 
Freeman  Howard  ;  Constables,  Geo.  W.  Warren, 
Theodore  Barnes,  Levi  Morris,  Newton  Linley. 

1866.— Supervisor,  N.  G.  Phillips;  Clerk,  Peter  C.  Caru- 
thers;  Treasurer,  F.  E.  Sheldon;  Justices  of 
Peace,  Harvey  Adams,  W.  G.  Smith  ;  Highway 


Commissioner,  D.  N.  Sabin ;  School  Inspector,  F. 
E.  Sheldon ;  Constables,  Charles  E.  Devins, 
John  L.  Banks,  Levi  Morris,  Truman  See. 

1867.— Supervisor,  E.  E.  Sheldon ;  Clerk,  Peter  C.  Caru- 
thers ;  Treasurer,  F.  E.  Sheldon ;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  William  J.  Mosely,  C.  H.  Powell ;  School 
Inspector,  Frank  Gridley;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, C.  H.  Powell,  E.  Eddy ;  Constables,  David 
Kittle,  R.  H.  B.  Morris,  John  L.  Banks,  Alfred 
Hunt. 

1868.— Supervisor,  B.  E.  Sheldon;  Clerk,  H.  A.  Hart; 
Treasurer,  J.  M.  Gorham  ;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Levi  Morris ;  School  Inspectors,  B.  J.  Cook,  C. 
A.  Osborn ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Hiram 
Davis ;  Constables,  George  Cram,  J.  Q.  Adams, 
R.  H.  B.  Morris. 

1869.— Supervisor,  E.  E.  Sheldon  ;  Township  Clerk,  H.  A. 
Hart ;  Treasurer,  Bruce  Haight ;  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Caleb  H.  Powell;  Highway  Commissioner, 
William  Gunderman  ;  School  Inspectors,  J.  H. 
Hartwell,  F.  B.  Sheldon ;  Constables,  R.  H.  B 
Morris,  David  Kittle,  J.  S.  Matthews. 

1870. — Supervisor,  B.  B.  Sheldon;    Township   Clerk,  H. 

A.  Hart;  Treasurer,  J.  S.  Harder;  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  William  Johnson,  James  H.  Hartwell ; 
Highway  Commissioners,  J.  S.  Alcott,  H.  R. 
Waldron ;  School  Inspector,  Frank  Whelan ; 
Constables,  R.  H.  B.  Morris,  B.  0.  Place,  Wil- 
liam Merlin,  J.  L.  Banks. 

1871.— Supervisor,  B.  E.  Sheldon ;  Clerk,  H.  A.  Hart ; 
Treasurer,  F.  H.  Potter ;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
P.  V.  Brake ;  Highway  Commissioner,  H.  R. 
Waldron ;  School  Inspectors,  F.  B.  Sheldon, 
James  Heath ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Harvey 
Adams ;  Constables,  R.  H.  B.  Morris,  G.  H. 
Crane,  Joseph  L.  Morris,  William  H.  Van 
Otter. 

1872.— Supervisor,  E.  E.  Sheldon;  Clerk,  H.  A.  Hart; 
Treasurer,  F.  H.  Potter ;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
J.  W.  Forsyth  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  Peter 
V.  Brink,  James  Heath  ;  School  Inspectors,  F. 
E.  Sheldon,  Charles  Watson ;  Drain  Commis- 
sioner, William    S.  Hodges ;    Constables,  II.  H. 

B.  Morris,  William  J.  Kent,  Sylvester  Babcock, 
Edwin  Place. 

1873. — Supervisor,  E.  E.  Sheldon ;    Township  Clerk,  H. 

A.  Hart;  Treasurer,  F.  H.  Potter;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  P.  C.  Caruthers ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, F.  B.  Sheldon ;  Drain  Commissioners, 
H.  R.  Waldron,  P.  B.  Reynolds;  Constables, 
H.  S.  Allen,  Charles  Launey,  George  H.  Berrin, 
John  L.  Banks. 

1874. — Supervisor,  C.  S.  Watson  ;  Township  Clerk,  A.  F. 
Litchfield ;  Treasurer,  F.  H.  Potter ;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Charles  Coleman  ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, J.  M.  Harder,  John  Lemon  ;  School  In- 
spectors, P.  E.  Sheldon,  John  W.  Forsyth; 
Drain  Commissioner,  F.  E.  Sheldon  ;  Constables, 

B.  W.  Loomis,  John  L.  Banks,  J.  W.  Morris, 
S.  D.  Griffith. 


286 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1875.— Supervisor,  Charles  S.  Watson ;  Clerk,  A.  F.  Litch- 
field ;  Treasurer,  F.  H.  Potter ;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  0.  C.  Moore,  James  H.  Hartwell ;  High- 
way Commissioner,  0.  C.  Moore;  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  A.  P.  Litchfield;  School 
Inspector,  Frank  Sergeant ;  Drain  Commissioner, 
Samuel  S.  Morris;  Constables,  J.  W.  Morris, 
Dexter  Morris,  Irwin  W.  Loomis,  Aaron  De 
Prize. 

1876. — Supervisor,  Charles  S.  Watson ;   Township  Clerk, 

A.  D.  Topping ;  Treasurer,  Fordyce  H.  Potter ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  William  J.  Mosely,  J.  B. 
Curtis,  John  L.  Banks ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
E.  E.  Sheldon ;  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
Greorge  M.  Reynolds  ;  School  Inspector,  Frank 
Sargent ;  Drain  Commissioner,  J.  L.  Banks ; 
Constables,  William  H.  Van  Otter,  J.  Q.  Adams, 
E.  W.  Drum,  A.  D.  Herrick. 

1877. — Supervisor,  Charles  S.  Watson ;  Clerk,  J.  H.  De 
Hart ;  Treasurer,  P.  H.  Potter ;  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  William  W.  Moore ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, William  Johnson ;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  G.  M.  Reynolds ;  School  Inspector, 
Prank  Sargent ;  Drain  Commissioner,  A.  D. 
Herrick ;  Constables,  S.  P.  Smedley,  Elias 
Brannon,  William  H.  Van  Otter,  Ebenezer 
Drum. 

1878. — Supervisor,  Charles  S.  Watson;  Township  Clerk, 
J.  H.  De  Hart;  Treasurer,  P.  H.  Potter;  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  Peter  C.  Caruthers ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  Seth  E.  Sheldon  ;  Drain  Commis- 
sioner, A.  P.  Greenman  ;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
H.  V.  Manzer ;  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
Charles  S.  Watson ;  School  Inspector,  Frank 
Sargent ;  Constables,  J.  Q.  Adams,  P.  C.  Fer- 
guson, William  H.  Van  Otter,  George  E.  Mills. 

1879.— Supervisor,  C.  S.  Watson ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  H. 
De  Hart;  Treasurer,  P.  H.  Potter;  Justices,  J. 

B.  Curtis,  Albert  D.  Topping;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, E.  0.  Place ;  Drain  Commissioner, 
J.  B.  Curtis ;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  G.  M. 
Reynolds ;  School  Inspector,  P.  Sargent ;  Con- 
stables, George  E.  Mills,  R.  H.  B.  Morris,  Wil- 
liam H.  Van  Otter,  C.  B.  Hoard. 

1880. — Supervisor,  Charles  S.  Watson  ;  Township  Clerk, 
James  J.  Spence;  Treasurer,  Charles  A.  Whe- 
lan ;  Justice,  William  R.  Sutton ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  ¥.  H.  Potter ;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  P.  C.  Greenman ;  School  Inspector, 
Frank  Sargent;  Drain  Commissioner,  Henry 
Williams ;  Constables,  Henry  Herrick,  Leonard 
Morris,  Chauncey  Hoard,  R.  H.  B.  Morris. 

EARLY  HIGHWAYS. 
The  first  road  that  traversed  the  township  was  known  as 
the  Pontiac  and  Grand  River  road.  It  was  the  chief 
thoroughfare  of  the  day,  and  entered  Shiawassee  at  the 
extreme  southeast  corner,  passing  in  an  oblique  line  to  the 
centre  of  section  26 ;  thence  slightly  deviating  from  a 
straight  course,  it  ran  to  the  centre  of  the  east  section-line 


of  section  20 ;  thence  it  pursued  a  westerly  course  with  a 
slight  variation  to  the  south,  and  passed  out  of  the  town- 
ship on  section  19.  The  earliest  recorded  road  is  without 
date,  and  no  mention  is  made  of  the  surveyor.  It  is  de- 
scribed as  beginning  at  the  quarter  stake  on  section  36, 
town  6  south,  of  range  3  east,  and  running  north  eighty- 
seven  degrees  east  forty  chains;  thence  north  three  degrees 
west  fifty-one  chains  and  twenty-five  links ;  thence  north 
twelve  degrees  east  eighteen  chains  twenty-five  links;  thence 
north  fourteen  and  a  half  degrees  east  seven  chains  and 
fifty  links;  thence  north  three  degrees  east  five  chains; 
thence  north  sixteen  and  a  half  degrees  east  and  seventy- 
five  chains  to  its  termination. 

The  second  recorded  road  began  at  the  centre  of  the 
highway  leading  past  N.  W.  Phelps'  on  the  section-line, 
and  pursued  a  northerly  course  to  the  village  of  Shiawassee. 
A  road  was  surveyed  under  the  direction  of  James  Phelps 
and  Ephraim  Wright,  highway  commissioners,  April  12, 
1837,  "  Beginning  on  the  south  line  of  the  village-line  of 
Shiawasseetown  at  the  centre  of  Chestnut  Street;  thence 
running  south  two  and  a  half  degrees  east  thirty-two  chains 
fifty  links ;  thence  north  eighty-seven  and  a  half  degrees 
west  thirty-one  chains  thirty-five  links ;  thence  south  two 
and  a  half  degrees  east  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  chains ; 
thence  south  twenty  and  a  half  degrees  east  twenty-five 
chains  fifty  links  ;  thence  south  fourteen  and  a  half  degrees 
east  fourteen  chains  twenty-five  links ;  thence  south  seven 
and  a  half  degrees  west  thirty  chains  seventy-five  links ; 
thence  north  twenty-three  degrees  east  seven  chains ;  thence 
south  twenty-nine  and  a  half  degrees  east  thirteen  chains 
seventy-five  links ;  thence  running  south  two  and  a  half 
degrees  east  ninety-five  chains  to  the  Red  Cedar  trail." 

THE   SHIAWASSEE  EXCHANGE. 

Soon  after  the  coming  of  the  brothers  A.  L.  and  B.  0. 
Williams  a  double  log  house  was  erected  by  them  on  the 
Shiawassee  River,  on,  or  near  the  east  township  line.  This 
building  was  in  use  as  a  trading-post,  and  in  1835  a 
dwelling  was  attached  twenty  by  fifty  feet  in  dimensions, 
which  was  occupied  by  A.  L.  Williams  and  wife  as  a  resi- 
dence. It  was  in  1837  rented  to  and  later  purchased  by 
Andrew  Parsons  and  Lemuel  Brown  for  a  hotel,  and  was 
so  occupied  by  them  for  several  years,  Levi  Rowe  having 
been  the  landlord,  who  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  others. 
Connected  with  this  house  was  a  frame  barn  built  by  Henry 
Leach,  in  1835,  the  first  in  the  county,  the  lumber  for 
which  was  all  drawn  from  Oakland  County  on  wagons. 
Soon  after  its  first  occupancy  as  a  public-house,  Messrs. 
Morehouse,  Bell,  Toll,  and  others  arrived  from  Ohio,  and 
established  a  banking  enterprise  under  the  title  of  the  "  Ex- 
change Bank  of  Shiawassee."  By  an  act  of  the  State 
Legislature  passed  Dec.  30, 1837,  three  bank  commissioners 
were  appointed,  who  were  to  begin  their  official  duties  on 
the  10th  of  January,  1838,  the  Shiawassee  Exchange 
Bank  having  meanwhile  based  their  business  transactions 
upon  specie  certificates  then  in  use  by  them  to  the  amount 
of  twenty-seven  thousand  dollars.  During  a  visit  by  the 
commissioners  to  the  bank,  and  a  consequent  examination 
of  their  reserve,  a  small  amount  of  paper  and  seven  coppers 
were  discovered,  against  which  were  bills  in  circulation  to 


SHIAWASSEE   TOWNSHIP. 


287 


the  amount  of  twenty-two  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  dollars,  thirty  per  cent,  of  the  capital  stock  having 
been  required  by  law.  It  will  readily  be  seen  that  on  the 
discovery  of  this  fact  the  Exchange  Bank  shared  the  fate 
of  similar  wildcat  enterprises  of  the  day,  and  ceased  to 
exist. 

The  "  bank"  having  had  its  quarters  in  the  building 
erected  by  A.  L.  Williams,  that  became  known  by  the  name 
of  the  bank  itself, — "  Shiawassee  Exchange,"  and  the 
designation  was  also  applied  to  some  extent  to  the  locality 
as  well  as  to  the  house. 

EAELY  SCHOOLS. 

The  earliest  school  in  the  township  and  in  the  county  of 
Shiawassee  was  opened  at  the  tavern  of  Lucius  Beach,  in 
Shiawassetown,  in  December,  1839.  The  county  at  that 
time  offering  no  educational  advantages,  Mrs.  Beach  deter- 
mined to  open  her  house  for  a  school  and  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  Mr.  Wilcox,  later  familiarly  known  as  Judge  Wil- 
cox, who  conducted  the  enterprise  at  a  compensation  of 
forty  dollars  per  month  for  four  months.  The  school  opened 
with  seven  scholars,  four  of  whom  belonged  to  the  family 
of  Mr.  Beach  and  three  to  William  Hart.  The  second  day 
the  number  was  increased  to  twenty-five,  and  the  beginning 
of  the  second  week  enrolled  a  class  of  forty,  many  of  whom 
rode  a  distance  of  several  miles. 

A  very  early  school  was  also  taught  at  the  house  of 
Aaron  Swain,  on  section  28,  by  Miss  Mary  Ann  Post,  and 
it  is  possible  this  may  have  antedated  the  one  already  men- 
tioned, though  no  date  is  given  by  which  the  fact  can  be 
determined. 

The  first  teachers  examined  and  found  qualified  to  teach 
primary  school,  and  who  received  certificates  in  1844,  were 
Miss  Anna  Lyman,  Miss  Esther  L.  Kowe,  Miss  Clarissa 
Pond,  Miss  Julia  Ann  Dorsey,  and  Charles  D.  Parkill. 
In  1845,  William  Lovejoy,  Irene  H.  Beach,  Maria  Wright, 
and  Samantha  Chapin  were  also  candidates. 

The  State  money  of  1841,  as  apportioned  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1842,  by  the  school  inspectors,  was  as  follows : 

District.  Scholars.     Amount. 

No.  1 26  $8.32 

"     2         24  7.68 

"     3     24  7.68 

"    4                 30  9.60 

«     5  "      '             26  8.32 

"     6.'.'.'.".... 36  10.88 

Totals 164  $52.48 

The  library  fund  for  1843  was  divided,  and  books  pur- 
chased as  follows : 

District.  Volume^. 

No.  1 7 

"     2 ° 

"     3 8 

«     4  7 

"  5!!!!!!!!!!"!!!ii'"..! '^ 

"     6 2 

Jacob  S.  Harder  and  William  Kimball  were  school  in- 
spectors at  the  time. 

On  Nov.  14,  1837,  the  school  inspectors  convened  for 
the  purpose  of  dividing  the  township  of  Shiawassee  into 
school  districts,  it  then  having  comprised  township  6  north, 


of  ranges  1,  2,  3  east,  and  townships  5  north,  of  ranges  1, 
2,  3  east.    The  present  Shiawassee  was  divided  as  follows  : 

District  No.  1  embraced  sections  1,  2,  11,  12. 

District  No.  2,  sections  13,  14,  23,  24. 

District  No.  3,  sections  25,  26,  35,  36. 

District  No.  4,  sections  15, 16,  21,  22,  27,  28,  33,  34. 

District  No.  5,  sections  9,  10,  34. 

District  No.  6,  sections  5,  6,  7,  8. 

District  No.  7,  sections  17,  18,  19,  20,  29,  30,  31,  32. 

The  present  school  territory  of  the  township  is  divided 
into  five  whole  and  five  fractional  districts,  over  which  pre- 
side, as  a  board  of  directors,  J.  N.  Morris,  F.  H.  Potter, 
N.  a.  Phillips,  H.  H.  Hart,  Isaac  T.  Gould,  I.  C.  Heath, 
J.  B.  Ellsworth,  Charles  S.  Watson,  W.  S.  Hodges,  Wil- 
liam Hughes. 

Five  hundred  and  twenty-eight  scholars  received  instruc- 
tion during  the  past  year,  of  whom  eleven  were  non-resi- 
dents. Nine  male  and  nineteen  female  teachers  are  em- 
ployed in  the  various  districts.  The  school  property  of 
Shiawassee  includes  two  brick  and  nine  frame  buildings, 
some  of  which  are  of  modern  architecture  and  imposing 
proportions. 

CHUECH   HISTORY. 
THE   FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH 

on  Maple  River  was  organized  July  13,  1839.  Its  con- 
stituent members  were  Deacon  Ezekiel  Cook,  Isaac  Castle, 
Bethuel  Hayward,  John  D.  Overton,  Myron  Murdock, 
Orsinus  Doty,  Barbara  A.  Cook,Neana  Cook,  Ada  Wellman, 
Harriet  Castle,  Anna  Doty,  Louisa  Vanwoemer,  and  Eleanor 
Vanwoemer. 

A  council  of  recognition  met  on  Jan.  22-23,  1840,  and 
extended  the  hand  of  fellowship  to  the  church  on  behalf 
of  the  denomination.     Elders  James  Eldridge,  S.  Barnes, 

John  Martin, White, Delano,  J.  Gamball, 

Call,  George  Reynolds,  E.  E.  Bayliss,  and  George  Atchinson 
have  officiated  as  its  preachers  and  pastors. 

At  first  the  church  held  its  meetings  in  the  school-house 
near  its  present  house  of  worship.  In  the  year  1868  the 
work  of  building  an  edifice  was  undertaken,  and  the  structure 
was  completed  the  following  year  at  a  cost  of  about  two 
thousand  seven  hundred  dollars. 

In  reviewing  the  history  of  the  society  it  is  found  that 
the  summers  and  winters  of  church  experience  have  alter- 
nated with  pretty  uniform  regularity.  Once,  five  years 
after  its  organization,  a  motion  to  dissolve  the  church  was 
made  and  sustained ;  but  at  a  subsequent  meeting  it  was 
rescinded.  Since  that  time  it  has  passed  through  many 
seasons  both  of  spiritual  depression  and  spiritual  elation 
and  fervor. 

Several  of  the  original  standard-bearers  are  deceased; 
others  still  have  removed  to  neighboring  churches.  Only  ■ 
one — Deacon  Ezekiel  Cook — now  remains  a  member.  The 
"rowth  of  the  church  has  been  slow.  Six  years  after  its 
organization  the  number  of  its  membership  rose  to  forty- 
five.  In  1852  it  had  decreased  somewhat ;  in  1863  sixty- 
four  members  were  reported;  in  1870,  seventy-six;  and  in 
1880  it  numbers  ninety-one  upon  its  roll. 

The  members  of  the  church  and  Sabbath-school  sustain 
an  efficient  temperance  organization. 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


NEWBUEG    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

A  class  was  organized  very  early  in  Newburg,  but  the 
date  of  its  formation  has  passed  from  the  recollection  of  the 
present  members.  The  present  church  edifice  was  erected 
in  1865  under  the  ministrations  of  Rev.  Isaac  Crawford, 
meetings  having  previously  been  held  in  the  brick  school- 
house  of  the  hamlet.     The  pastors  in  succession  since  the 

departure  of  Rev.  Mr.  Crawford  have  been  Rev. Shank, 

Rev. Whitcomb,  Rev. May,  Rev.  Charles  Aus- 
tin, Rev. Richards,  Rev. Howard,  Rev.  Pierce, 

j{,ev. Thompson,  Rev. Lang,  and  the  present 

minister  in  charge.  Rev.  Fred.  Strong.  The  trustees  are 
J.  S.  Harder,  J.  L.  Gardner,  P.  C.  Caruthers,  C.  P.  Dev- 
ereaux,  and  William  Johnson. 

A  Sabbath-school,  with  fifty  scholars,  is  maintained, 
which  convenes  each  Sabbath  at  the  church,  John  S. 
Harder  being  the  active  superintendent. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Shiawassee  was  or- 
ganized in  1878,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Mr.  Tedman, 
of  Byron,  who  conducted  services  in  the  hall  of  the  village 
hotel  during  the  winter,  and  in  the  adjoining  grove  when 
the  weather  permitted.  Meetings  had  been  held  the  year 
previous,  but  the  class  was  not  regularly  formed  until  1878, 
Ground  was  early  selected  for  a  church,  and  arrangements 
with  reference  to  the  building  of  a  church  edifice  partially 
perfected,  but  circumstances  intervened  to  arrest  the  further 
progress  of  the  work.  In  the  year  1880  another  site  was 
chosen,  and  measures  are  now  being  taken  for  the  erection 
of  a  building  which  will  cost  two  thousand  dollars  when 
completed.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  R.  C.  Lanning,  of 
Byron,  and  the  board  of  trustees  embraces  the  following 
gentlemen :  Hiram  Elton,  J.  S.  Simonson,  William  War- 
ren, N.  G.  Phillips,  John  Warren,  N.  S.  Van  Tuyl,  Charles 
Drum. 

SEVENTH-DAY  ADVENTIST  CHURCH. 

The  church  of  the  Seventh-Day  Adventists  was  early  or- 
ganized in  the  township  of  Antrim  by  Elders  S.  Lawrence 
and  Corliss,  with  the  following  membership :  J.  B.  Trim, 
Elizabeth  Trim,  M.  Banks,  0.  F.  Olmstead,  Melissa  Olm- 
stead,  Laura  Allison.  Services  were  at  first  held  at  Hag- 
gerty's  school-house,  in  the  township  of  Antrim,  and  con- 
tinued until  1879,  when  a  church  edifice  was  erected  in 
Bancroft,  the  organization  having  been  removed  to  that 
place  the  year  previous.  The  pastors  in  succession  have 
been  Elders  Corliss,  Miller,  Stewart,  Jones,  and  White. 
The  trustees  are  0.  P.  Olmstead,  M.  Banks,  Edgar  Rathbun. 

SHIAWASSEETOWN. 

The  village  of  Shiawasseetown  may  be  said  to  have  been 
.originated  by  Charles  Bacon,  an  adventurer  who  emanated 
from  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  succeeded  so  far  in  inspiring 
confidence  in  the  minds  of  several  of  his  acquaintances  as 
to  induce  them  to  embark  in  the  purchase  of  lands  in 
Shiawassee  townsbip.  A  company  was  formed,  embracing 
the  following  individuals  :  Simeon  B.  Sturgis,  William  D. 
Calvin,  Charles  Bacon,  Moses  Kimball,  Thaddeus  B.  Sturgis, 
and  A.  R.  Hart.  Mr.  Bacon  was  clothed  with  power  for 
the  purchase  of  nearly  .six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  behalf 


of  the  company,  whose  acknowledged  agent  he  was,  and 
for  which  land  he  averred  the  sum  of  seventeen  thousand 
dollars  was  paid.  As  the  largest  shareholder  he  took  the 
lead  in  the  preliminary  labor  of  surveying,  building,  and 
improving,  and  the  dense  forests  soon  yielded  to  the  pro- 
gressive spirit  evinced  by  the  founders  of  the  prospective 
city.  The  survey  of  the  land  was  made  in  1836,  and  re- 
corded in  Oakland  County,  with  which  Shiawassee  was 
early  associated  for  judicial  purposes,  and  an  extensive 
town  was  marked  out,  having  two  public  squares  and  many 
broad  streets,  named  after  the  leading  cities  of  the  Union. 

Marcus  Bump,  Joseph  Jackson,  and  William  Newberry 
came  from  Ohio  in  1836,  and  engaged  in  the  erection  of  a 
saw-mill,  which  was  managed  in  the  company's  behalf  by 
several  parties  in  succession.  A  building  was  next  erected, 
forty  feet  square  and  two  stories  high,  to  be  used  as  a  store. 
It  was  converted,  however,  in  response  to  the  popular  need 
of  the  time,  into  a  tavern,  and  Lucius  Beach  became  the 
popular  landlord,  though  Dr.  W.  Z.  Blanchard  had  been 
its  proprietor  for  a  brief  time  at  an  earlier  date.  A  card- 
ing-mill  was  soon  after  built,  many  smaller  dwellings  sprang 
up,  and  a  store,  which  controlled  an  extensive  trade,  was 
opened  in  a  log  building  erected  for  the  purpose,  and  its 
business  interests  managed  by  Mr.  Bacon.  Elisha  Brew- 
ster, the  second  sheriff  elected  in  the  county,  became  in- 
terested in  the  enterprise  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the 
hamlet.  The  early  courts  were  held  on  two  occasions  at 
Shiawasseetown,  and  justice  was  dispensed  in  the  halls  of 
Lucius  Beach's  tavern.  Mr.  Bacon  was  prodigal  in  his 
patronage,  the  town  seemed  destined  to  a  rapid  growth, 
especially  with  the  chances  for  the  removal  of  the  State 
capital  in  its  favor,  and  the  stockholders  were  sanguine  of 
the  success  of  their  enterprise  when  Mr.  Brewster  deemed 
it  proper  to  summon  Mr.  Moses  Kimball,  one  of  the  in- 
terested parties,  to  the  scene  of  action.  A  subsequent  in- 
vestigation of  the  company's  books  revealed  the  fact  that 
Mr.  Bacon  had  paid  but  seven  thousand  dollars  for  the 
lands  on  which  the  plat  was  located.  Mr.  Kimball  re- 
mained to  settle  the  affairs  of  the  company,  and  after  a 
varied  and  sad  experience  found  himself  a  landed  pro- 
prietor and  owner  of  the  village  and  adjoining  lands,  with 
the  exception  of  eighty  acres  later  known  as  the  Drum 
farm  and  forty  acres  now  in  possession  of  William  New- 
berry, formerly  held  by  Mark  Bump  and  Matthews  re- 
spectively. 

Mr.  Kimball  with  his  family  took  up  his  residence  in 
the  village,  and  his  business  talent  was  devoted  to  the 
restoration  of  confidence  among  the  townspeople  and  the 
development  of  future  enterprise  at  the  place.  In  1837, 
however,  death  cut  short  his  labors,  and  with  his  departure 
ended  the  advancement  of  the  attractive  village  of  Shia- 
wasseetown. The  beautiful  maples  along  its  streets  are 
the  only  remaining  landmarks  of  its  spasmodic  growth  and 
untimely  decadence. 

NEWBUKG. 

Hosea  Baker  having  come  to  the  township  in  1833,  and 
purchased  the  larger  portion  of  the  land  between  Shiawas- 
seetown and  Newburg,  may  be  regarded  as  the  founder  of 
the  hamlet  of  that  name.    He  erected  the  earliest  log  house 


SHIAWASSEE  TOWNSHIP. 


289 


and  likewise  the  first  frame  house,  and  in  1836  built  a 
saw-mill,  which  was  the  pioneer  mill  of  the  county.  To 
the  raising  of  this  mill,  settlers  came  for  a  distance  of 
twenty  miles,  and  were  obliged  to  remain  for  the  night  to 
complete  the  labor.  A  melancholy  accident  occurred  on 
this  occasion  in  the  death  of  an  individual  who  volunteered 
his  assistance;  one  of  the  heavy  timbers  having  fallen  upon 
him.  His  name  is  not  remembered,  though  this  death  is 
recalled  as  the  first  in  the  township. 

The  first  store  in  Newburg  was  erected  by  Ambrose 
Baker,  and  later  a  flouring-mill  was  built  which  was  subse- 
quently burned. 

Benjamin  Lemon  soon  after  built  a  store  and  became  one 
of  the  merchants  of  the  place,  and  a  tavern  was  opened  by 
Mr.  Sheers.  Henry  Smith  was  a  very  early  blacksmith, 
and  for  a  long  period  monopolized  that  business  in  the  vil- 
lage. 

A  post-ofiice  was  established  at  the  hamlet,  with  John 
Grumley  as  postmaster,  though  the  mail  was  not  so  volumi- 
nous as  to  render  his  labors  arduous.  The  present  official 
is  C.  P.  Devereaux. 

The  church  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Conference  was  built  in  1865,  in  which  services  are 
regularly  maintained.  Newburg  seems  to  have  shared 
the  fate  of  its  neighbor  Shiawasseetown  in  the  decay  of  its 
business  enterprise.  Though  not  projected  with  the  same 
pomp  and  circumstancCj-nts  present  condition  is  but  a  rem- 
iniscence of  the  former  early  prosperity  which  it  enjoyed. 

FEEMONT. 

The  hamlet  of  Fremont,  originally  platted  as  the  village 
of  Florence,  was  surveyed  Nov.  24,  1841,  by  Nelson  Ferry 
for  John  W.  Gilbert  and  Isaac  M.  Banks,  and  the  plat  re- 
corded Jan.  6,  1842.  It  may.be  briefly  described  as  situa- 
ted  on  the  Grand  Elver  road,  on  sections  26  and  27.  It 
embraced  sixteen  blocks,  which  contained  one  hundred  and 
twenty  lots  four  rods  by  eight  rods  iu  dimensions,  the 
streets  having  been  four  rods  wide  excepting  outside  streets, 
which  were  two  rods  wide. 

Mercantile  enterprise  was  commenced  soon  after  by  the 
advent  of  two  peddlers,  whose  names  are  not  now  recalled. 
Thay  erected  a  large  store  and  for  two  years  conducted  an 
extensive  business  which  proved  very  lucrative.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  having  desired  to  seek  a  fresh  field 
for  their  enterprise,  the  business  was  sold  to  John  Gilbert, 
who  became  purchaser  of  their  stock  and  the  leading  mer- 
chant of  the  place.  Stores  were  opened  successively  by 
Jeptha  Gorham  and  Henry  Hart,  who  were  also  among  the 
active  business  men  of  the  place. 

The  prospects  of  the  village  were  so  flattering  that  very 
soon  three  taverns  were  erected  by  John  W.  Gilbert,  Jotham 
Goodspeed,  and  Isaac  M.  Banks  respectively,  each  one  of 
whom  became  landlord  of  his  own  house.  William  Herrick, 
Charles  Sidway,  and  George  B.  Whitney  were  blacksmiths, 
Mr.  Sidway  combining  also  the  business  of  a  wagon-maker. 

The  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Kailroad  was  opened  in 
1856,  and  with  its  completion  and  the  consequent  diversion 
of  the  business  of  Fremont  to  other  channels,  the  advance- 
ment and  further  development  of  the  hamlet  was  ended. 
The  village  post-office,  with  the  venerable  Isaac  M.  Banks 
37 


as  postmaster,  is  now  the  only  centre  of  life  and  activity  in 
this  once  promising  locality. 

VILLAGE   OP  BAJSrCROET. 

The  land  upon  which  the  village  of  Bancroft  stands  was 
originaljiy  owned  by  N.  G.  Phillips  and  W.  M.  Warren, 
the  first  plat  having  been  made  by  G.  W.  Warren,  A.  G. 
Warren,  and  N.  G.  Phillips.  This  plat  was  never  recorded, 
and  Mr.  Phillips  subsequently  purchased  the  interest  of  the 
remaining  parties,  and  employed  Andrew  Huggins  to  make 
a  second  plat,  which  was  accomplished  April  28, 1877,  and 
recorded  May  8th  of  the  same  year.  A  subdivision  of  a 
portion  of  this  plat  was  made  March,  1880,  and  recorded 
on  the  18th  day  of  the  same  month. 

The  Hemenway  addition  to  the  village  of  Bancroft  was 
surveyed  March,  1878,  by  Andrew  Huggins  for  Hiram  P. 
Hemenway,  and  recorded  June  24,  1878.  It  may  be  de- 
scribed as  embracing  about  ten  acres  lying  south  of  the 
railroad  and  west  of  the  original  plat. 

The  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron  Railroad,  which  had  been 
previously  projected  and  gave  an  impetus  to  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  village,  was  completed  in  January, 
1877,  and  a  depot  established  at  Bancroft;  but  no  agent 
was  at  first  appointed  to  transact  its  business.  N.  S.  Van 
Tuyl  came  in  April  of  the  same  year,  and  erected  a  frame 
dwelling,  the  first  on  the  plat  (excepting,  perhaps,  two  or 
three  log  huts).  He  embarked  in  lumbering  interests,  and 
was  seriously  inconvenienced  by  the  absence  of  a  railroad 
agent,  which  necessitated  the  payment  of  freight  charges  at 
Flint  or  Durand.  Later,  H.  M.  Billings  acted  as  station 
agent,  and  is  now  also  the  village  postmaster.  Simeon 
Kent  very  soon  after  engaged  in  building,  and  J.  L.  Simon- 
son  and Sweet  each  erected  a  store,  having  engaged 

in  mercantile  pursuits.  At  the  same  time  N.  G.  Phillips 
and  J.  L.  Roberts  advanced  the  interests  of  the  village  by 
the  erection  of  buildings.  Mr.  Phillips  also,  in  1878,  con- 
structed of  brick  a  spacious  and  very  completely  appointed 
hotel,  which  is  one  of  the  most  imposing  edifices  in  the 
place.  The  fall  of  1877  witnessed  the  erection  of  a  saw- 
mill, which  was  followed  by  two  planing-mills,  and  later  a 
flouring-mlU.  A  school-house  of  extended  proportions  was 
erected  in  1879,  in  which  Philo  Dexter  and  Miss  Josie 
Purdy  are  the  instructors. 

The  physicians  of  the  place  are  Drs.  N.  B.  Knapp,  W. 
B.  Fox,  Harvey,  and  Gates. 

Flouring-Mills. — The  present  building  was  originally  con- 
structed by  Thomas  Copeland  as  an  elevator  in  1879,  and 
by  him  converted  in  1880  into  a  fiouring-mill.  A  steam- 
engine  of  thirty-horse  power  is  employed,  which  enables 
the  mill  to  grind  twelve  bushels  of  wheat  and  thirty  bushels 
of  feed  per  hour.  Two  run  of  stones  are  used,  which  are 
principally  engaged  with  custom-work,  though  a  fair  patron- 
ao-e  is  extended  to  the  mill  by  the  merchants  of  the  village. 
Elevator  of  J.  L.  Roherts.—1h\s  enterprise  was  begun 
in  1877,  and  the  building  erected  with  special  reference  to 
loadino-  grain.  A  side-track  has  been  extended  which 
connects  with  the  main  line  of  the  Chicago  and  North- 
eastern Railroad,  enabling  the  proprietor  to  avail  himself 
of  superior  advantages  in  the  shipment  of  grain.      The 


290 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


power  is  furnished  by  horses,  and  affords  a  capacity  of  two 
thousand  bushels  per  day.  Wool  as  well  as  grain  is  exten- 
sively dealt  in,  and  both  commodities  are  largely  shipped. 

Planmg-MiUs. — The  mill  at  present  owned  by  Messrs. 
Jackson  &  Tyler  was  originally  constructed  by  John  Lat- 
son,  and  by  him  sold  to  J.  Atherton,  the  present  firm  hav- 
ing become  owners  in  1880.  The  motive-power  is  supplied 
by  an  engine  of  fifteen-horse  power,  which  affords  the  mill 
a  capacity  of  twenty-five  thousand  feet  of  planing  per 
day,  and  one  thousand  feet  of  moulding  can  be  done  per 
hour.  The  mill,  which  does  custom-work  almost  exclusively, 
depends  largely  upon  the  adjacent  country  for  its  patronage. 
Messrs.  Johnson  &  Symes  also  carry  on  an  extensive  saw- 
ing, planing,  and  moulding  business,  and  find  both  material 
and  market  near. 

Elevator  of  Watson,  Ohert  &  Co. — Xbis  firm  erected  in 
1879  an  extensive  warehouse  and  elevator,  which  has  a 
capacity  of  ten  thousand  bushels  of  grain,  and  is  operated 
by  horse-power.  They  are  also  large  dealers  in  wool,  lum- 
ber, flour,  and  country  produce. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM   NEWBERRY. 

Mr.  Newberry  may  be  regarded  as  a  conspicuous  example 
of  the  successful  and  self-made  man.  Having  been  left 
entirely  dependent  upon  his  own  industry,  he  has  by  saga- 
city, prudence,  and  application  established  himself  as  a 
strong  influence  in  the  community  of  farmers  resident  in 
Shiawassee  County,  and  one  of  the  most  successful  and 
independent  of  their  number.  His  father,  John  New- 
berry, was  a  farmer  in  Warwick,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
married,  in  1811,  Miss  Sallie  Fancher,  who  was  a  native  of 
the  State  of  Connecticut.  Their  son  William,  the  eldest 
in  a  family  of  seven  children,  was  born  April  4,  1812,  in 
Warwick,  N.  Y.,  where  the  family  remained  until  1827, 
when  Ohio  presented  attractions  and  induced  their  removal 
to  Lorain  County,  a  portion  of  the  State  familiarly  known 
as  the  Western  Reserve,  where  Mr.  Newberry,  the  father, 
died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  The  death 
of  Mrs.  Newberry  occurred  in  1876,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-six  years. 

Their  son  William  availed  himself  of  the  limited  advan- 
tages a  district  school  afforded  in  his  early  youth,  and  later, 
when  a  respite  from  labor  permitted,  continued  his  studies. 
In  the  spring  of  1863,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  he 
acquired  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  at  the  village  of 
Huron,  Ohio.  Here  he  was  sought  by  the  agent  of  the 
Shiawassee  County-Seat  Company  and  induced  to  repair  to 
Michigan  to  assist  in  the  building  of  the  prospective  city 
to  be  located  at  Shiawasseetown.  Mr.  Newberry  continued 
to  follow  his  trade  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  in  which 
thorough  knowledge  combined  with  practice  had  made  him 
skillful,  meanwhile  having  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Shiawassee  township  and  obtained  credit  for  the  larger 
portion  of  it.     This  land,  which  was  unimproved,  has  by 


his  energy  been  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  A 
careful  system  of  drainage,  many  miles  in  extent,  has  ren- 
dered it  very  fruitful,  while  the  annual  yield  is  much  in 
advance  of  that  of  other  lands  in  the  county,  and  thereby 
proves  the  wisdom  of  his  judicious  system  of  tillage. 
During  the  period  that  Mr.  Newberry  pursued  his  trade  he 
was  for  a  time  a  resident  of  Owosso,  and  assisted  in  the 
construction  of  the  earliest  buildings  in  that  city. 

After  erecting  a  frame  dwelling  on  his  land,  he  was  in 
1839  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Parmenter,  of  Ver- 
non, whose  birth  occurred  in  Vernon,  Vt.,  July  24,  1814. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  as  follows  :  Sarah,  now 
Mrs.  John  Wilkinson;  Harriet,  now  Mrs.  C.  S.  Pratt, 
whose  husband  was  killed  by  a  painful  accident ;  Elizabeth, 
now  Mrs.  William  S.  Wilkinson ;  Rebecca  A.,  now  Mrs.  C. 
A.  Whelan  ;  James,  who  died  Sept.  3,  1876,  aged  twenty- 
five  years  ;  John  and  David,  who  both  reside  at  home. 

Mr.  Newberry's  farm  now  embraces  two  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  acres,  which  is  cultivated  under  his  immediate 
supervision.  He  is  in  politics  a  strong  Republican,  and 
regards  his  allegiance  as  belonging  to  the  party  with  which 
he  affiliates.  His  vote,  as  a  matter  of  principle,  is  there- 
fore always  Republican.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newberry  are 
worshipers  with  the  Baptist  congregation  of  their  town- 
ship, the  latter  being  an  active  member  of  the  church. 


JOHN  WHALEY. 


The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  is  a  native  of  the  old 
historic  county  of  Saratoga,  where  he  was  born  in  Day 
township,  Aug.  30,  1814,  his  father,  Ebenezer  Whaley, 
being  a  resident  of  that  county  and  a  millwright  by  trade. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Whaley  moved  to  Michigan,  purchasing 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Perry  township.  He  remained 
there  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Shiawassee,  pur- 
chasing the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides  for  one 
shilling  per  acre.  It  consists  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Whaley,  being 
very  much  interested  in  the  impi^vement  of  his  neighbor- 
hood and  township,  gives  much  time  and  money  to  public 
improvements ;  and  was  the  first  man  to  set  on  foot  the 
making  of  roads  and  draining  of  lands  in  his  section  of  the 
county. 

Nov,  30, 1845,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clarissa 
Tenyberry,  also  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  where 
she  was  born  Sept.  12,  1826.  Their  family  consists  of  the 
following-named  children  :  Jerry,  born  Jan.  11, 1847  ;  died 
in  the  hospital  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  20,  1865;  Ca- 
milla, born  Aug.  30,  1848;  John,  born  April  20,  1850; 
Mason,  born  June  3, 1854 ;  Isabella,  born  March  15, 1857 ;. 
Esther,  born  May  9, 1860  ;  Abraham,  born  Dec.  22, 1863 ; 
and  R.  T.,  born  March  11,  1867. 


SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP. 


291 


CHAPTER  XLI. 
SCIOTA   TOWNSHIP.* 

Description,  and  Settlement  of  the  Township-Organization  and  List 
of  Officers  — Early  Township  Roads— Schools  —  The  Village  of 
Laingsburg— Village  Incorporation  and  Officers— Churches— Post- 
Offioes— Bank— Secret  Orders— Tragic  Incidents. 

SciOTA  township,  numbered  town  6  north,  in  range  1 
east,  lies  upon  the  western  border  of  Shiawassee  County, 
and  has  upon  the  north  the  town  of  Middlebury,  upon  the 
south  the  town  of  Woodhull,  upon  the  east  Bennington, 
and  upon  the  west  the  Clinton  County  line. 

Sciota  is  a  prosperous  and  productive  agricultural  town. 
It  contains  many  fine  farms  and  handsome  residences,  and 
is  a  region  of  much  natural  beauty.  There  is  on  the  Jack- 
son, Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad,  which  crosses  the  town- 
ship, a  lively  village  called  Laingsburg,  containing  about 
eight  hundred  people,  and  transacting  a  good  deal  of  busi- 
ness with  a  wide  tract  of  outlying  country.  Churches  and 
schools  are  abundant,  roads  are  more  than  ordinarily  excel- 
lent, and  township  affairs  generally  are  in  a  healthful  con- 
dition. 

SETTLEMENT  OP  THE  TOWNSHIP. 
The  first  settler  in  Sciota  did  not  live  in  the  town  long 
enough  to  make  any  extensive  improvement  or  leave  much 
of  a  mark  as  a  pioneer.  This  was  Samuel  Carpenter,  who 
came  to  the  township  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  upon  sec- 
tion 26  put  up  a  rude  shanty  in  which  he  lived  alone  a  few 
weeks  while  making  a  small  clearing.  During  the  summer 
he  went  to  Detroit  to  get  three  pairs  of  oxen,  preparatory  to 
entering  upon  a  vigorous  campaign  as  a  pioneer  in  Sciota. 
On  the  return  journey  he  fell  from  his  wagon,  ten  miles  or 
so  east  of  his  clearing,  the  wheels  passed  over  him,  and  he 
was  found  dead  upon  the  spot  the  next  day.  This  was  the 
brief  experience  in  the  township,  of  Sciota's  first  settler. 
His  place  in  Sciota  is  now  occupied  by  M.  S.  Beardslee, 
whose  father,  Henry,  located  in  Bennington  in  1839,  and 
lived  there  until  his  death,  and  who  himself  settled  upon 
the  Carpenter  farm  in  1850.  Just  before  Carpenter's 
death.  Dr.  Peter  Laing,  William  Laing,  and  Mason  Phelps 
came  to  the  town  and  founded  Laingsburg  village.  Touch- 
ing that  portion  of  Sciota's  history  the  reader  is  referred  to 
the  history  of  Laingsburg,  on  succeeding  pages.  Mason 
Phelps  and  his  twin  brother,  Milton  A.,  had  lived  in  Wash- 
tenaw County  since  1832, — in  which  year  their  father, 
James  Phelps,  located  there, — and  in  1835  they  located  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  upon  section  26,  in  Sciota,  on 
the  Grand  River  trail.  Mason  Phelps  was  a  son-in-law  of 
Dr.  Laing,  and  after  assisting  the  latter  to  start  the  tavern 
at  Laingsburg,  moved  to  his  place  upon  section  26  in  De- 
cember, 1836.  His  widow  resides  now  in  Laingsburg.  His 
brother  Milton  lives  upon  the  place  which  the  two  brothers 
entered  in  1835. 

Cornelius  Putnam  located  eighty  acres  in  section  3  in  the 
summer  of  1836,  and  with  Ephraim  Pixley  came  to  look  at 
the  land.  They  found  also  Henry  Leach  looking  at  some 
land  he  had  bought  in  the  same  locality.      Putnam  and 

»  By  David  Schwartz. 


Pixley  went  back,  but  Leach  remained  behind  and  rolled 
up  the  body  of  a  log  cabin  on  section  9,  with  the  assistance 
of  Gideon  M.  Cross,  at  that  time  himself  on  a  land-looking 
tour.  Having  put  up  the  house,  Leach  and  Cross  returned 
to  Shiawasseetown,  whence  they  had  come,  and  where  Leach 
had  been  located  some  little  time. 

Meanwhile,  Cornelius  Putnam,  having  gathered  his  family 
and  effects,  was  moving  westward,  and  in  October,  1836, 
landed  in  Sciota  with  a  wife  and  five  children.  He  started 
with  an  ox-team  from  New  York  State,  sailed  from  Buffalo 
to  Detroit  in  the  steamer  "  North  America,"  and  at  Detroit, 
resuming  the  ox-team,  reached  the  place  of  his  expected 
settlement  three  weeks  and  two  days  after  the  start  from 
his  New  York  home.  The  trip  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit 
was  a  hazardous  one.  The  steamer  had  about  five  hundred 
people  aboard,  was  crowded  with  wagons  and  Western  sup- 
plies, and  by  reason  of  rough  weather  put  three  times  into 
port  for  safety.  After  a  tedious  passage  of  eight  days  they 
reached  Detroit.  Barnet  Putnam,  then  a  lad  of  ten,  and 
now  living  on  the  old  farm,  made  the  entire  journey  from 
New  York  to  Sciota  (except  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit)  on 
foot. 

From  Detroit,  Cornelius  Putnam  followed  the  Grand 
River  trail  to  a  point  within  about  six  miles  of  his  place, 
and  then  struck  northward  by  a  blazed-tree  path  to  the 
Leach  place.  There  he  found  the  cabin  which  Leach  and 
Cross  had  rolled  up,  and  into  it  he  placed  his  family.  That 
done,  he  took  an  inventory  of  his  worldly  possessions,  and 
found  that  he  was  ready  to  begin  his  pioneer  life  in 
Michigan  with  an  ox-team  and  wagon,  a  wagon-load  of 
household  goods,  one  peck  of  potatoes,  and  six  cents  in 
money.  His  oldest  child  was  Barnet,  aged  ten,  and  that 
he  had  got  to  face  the  stern  reality  of  his  position  with 
all  the  courage  and  earnestness  he  owned  was  a  proposition 
too  plain  to  be  mistaken.  For  three  weeks  his  family  lived 
in  the  Leach  cabin  without  roof,  floor,  door,  or  window, 
and  then  having  completed  a  bark  shanty  on  his  own  place 
in  section  3,  Putnam  moved  them  into  that.  Young  Bar- 
net  took  upon  himself  what  portion  he  could  of  the  pioneer- 
ing labors,  but  he  could  not  call  to  his  aid  the  philosophy 
tliat  gave  his  parents  courage,  and  full  many  a  time  and 
oft  shed  burning  tears  of  bitter  regret  and  sorrow  over  the 
loss  of  the  comforts  of  the  old  home  in  New  York  State. 
More  than  once,  in  searching  for  the  cows,  would  he  come 
upon  wolf- tracks,  and  tremble  with  fear  lest  the  beasts 
should  devour  him  before  he  could  get  home.  For  nine 
weeks  Mrs.  Putnam  saw  the  face  of  no  white  woman  after 
she  came  to  Sciota,  and  during  a  week  that  her  husband 
was  absent  at  Elijah  Carpenter's,  where  he  was  earning 
provisions  which  he  had  no  money  to  buy,  she  lived  with 
her  children  twenty-four  hours  on  nothing  but  rutabaga 
soup. 

The  year  1839  was  a  year  of  fever  and  ague  infliction, 
and  many  people  coming  to  the  Western  settlements  to 
locate  were  frightened  back  by  the  deplorable  condition  of 
things  caused  by  the  disorder.  Cornelius  Putnam  was  ill 
and  helpless  with  ague  for  nine  months,  and  during  that 
time  Mrs.  Putnam,  besides  the  care  of  her  household,  uii- 
4ertopk  with  her  son  Barpet  (then  ip  his  fourteetitli  year) 


292 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


the  cultivation  of  their  farm,  she  driving  the  oxen  and  he 
holding  the  plow.  During  that  time,  for  a  period  of  six 
weeks,  they  had  no  other  provisions  in  the  house,  and  all 
lived  on  simply  potatoes  and  honey.  During  the  winter 
of  1836-37,  Putnam  set  out  for  Washtenaw  County  to 
procure  some  wheat  and  meat,  and  left  his  family  in  a  cabin 
with  blankets  in  the  places  of  doors  and  windows.  The 
wolves  howled  around  that  lonesome  mother  and  little  ones 
like  demons,  and  brought  the  climax  of  misery  to  them 
when  they  bade  good-by  to  their  protector.  After  he  began 
to  raise  crops  Putnam  used  to  go  to  market  either  to  De- 
troit, where  he  could  get  seventy-five  cents  in  cash  for  his 
wheat,  or  to  Owosso,  where  he  had  to  take  half  "  trade," 
but  most  frequently  he  went  to  Detroit.  For  a  time  he 
had  to  go  to  Pontiac,  a  distance  of  seventy  miles,  to  mill, 
and  took  a  week  or  more  for  the  trip. 

A  few  weeks  after  Cornelius  Putnam  had  got  domiciled 
upon  his  own  place  Henry  Leach  came  with  his  family. 
Leach,  as  already  observed,  had  been  farming  in  Shiawassee- 
town,  and  when  be  came  to  Sciota  he  came  well  supplied 
with  provisions  and  abundant  conveniences  for  prosecuting 
his  work.  Indeed  he  not  only  made  matters  easy  and 
moderately  comfortable  for  himself,  but  out  of  his  abundance 
was  enabled  to  reach  out  a  helping  hand  to  his  neighbors, 
and  thus  materially  lightened  their  trials  and  privations. 
His  settlement  was  made  upon  section  10,  where  S.  N. 
Pierce  now  lives,  and  before  his  place  passed  what  was 
known  as  the  Colony  road,  reaching  from  the  Grand  River 
road  to  the  Rochester  Colony.  There  was  considerable 
travel  on  that  thoroughfare,  and  Leach  entertained  such 
travelers  as  chose  to  ask  for  entertainment,  but  his  favorite 
patrons  were  Indians,  to  whom  he  dispensed  whisky  as 
often  as  they  could  furnish  an  equivalent  in  trade ;  and  from 
this  source  of  revenue  his  profit  was  no  trifle,  although  the 
whisky-drinking  redskins  did  get  villainously  drunk  and 
howl  by  night  and  by  day  while  the  influence  of  intoxica- 
tion remained  upon  them.  Even  in  their  drunken  orgies, 
however,  they  refrained  from  aggressions,  and  confined  their 
mischief  to  frightening  women  and  children.  Leach  moved 
to  California  about  1851,  and  became  a  ranchman.  One 
day  he  was  knocked  from  his  horse  by  the  limb  of  a  tree 
and  killed. 

Simultaneously  with  Leach  came  also  Gideon  M.  Cross, 
who  made  his  home  on  section  9,  in  the  spring  of  1837, 
after  living  until  that  time  with  Henry  Leach.  Cross  was 
by  trade  a  shoemaker,  and  without  delay  prosecuted  his 
shoemaking  labors  whenever  occasion  ofiered.  His  location 
was  on  the  Colony  road,  and  he  kept  a  house  of  entertain- 
ment as  well  as  a  shoemaker's  shop,  by  reason  of  which  two 
departments  of  industry  he  was  enabled  to  gain  money 
enough  to  keep  his  family  from  starving  while  he  cleared 
his  land  and  awaited  his  first  crop. 

The  summer  of  1837  saw  the  marsh  on  the  Lookinc- 

n 

Glass  flats  abundant  with  hay,  and,  like  others,  Leach  and 
Cross  went  over  there  for  a  supply.  They  stopped  there 
four  weeks  consecutively,  and  during  that  period  Mrs.  Cross 
spent  an  unhappy,  lonesome  time.  Her  cabin  was  furnished 
with  blankets  in  the  stead  of  doors  and  windows,  and  wolves 
howled  about  the  place  most  ferociously.     For  four  weeks 


she  saw  but  one  white  person,  and  thankful  enough  she  was 
to  have  her  husband  and  neighbor  back  again. 

During  the  ague  period  of  1839  Mr.  Cross  started  for 
Detroit  to  make  the  last  payment  on  his  land,  and  although 
he  was  more  fit  for  bed  than  for  a  journey  he  had  no  alter- 
native but  to  push  forward,  since  non-payment  would  be 
serious  in  its  results.  Towards  the  first  night  out  he  grew 
so  ill  that  he  could  proceed  no  farther,  but  unfortunately 
failed  at  four  places  where  he  applied  to  find  lodging-room. 
His  fifth  efi'ort  was  at  a  miserable-looking  roadside  hut, 
which  promised  poor  comfort,  but  sickness  and  exhaustion 
had  so  prostrated  him  that  any  shelter  was  welcome.  Push- 
ing open  the  cabin  door  he  cast  a  hasty  glance  within,  and 
thankfully  exclaiming,  "I  know  I  can  stay  here,"  sank 
helpless  upon  the  floor.  Telling  of  the  story  of  his  trip, 
subsequently  to  those  at  home,  he  said,  "  I  knew  I  could 
stay  there,  for  when  I  looked  in  and  saw  how  the  woman  of 
the  house  was  moulding  candles  in  a  coffee-pot  I  said  to 
myself,  '  Surely  people  who  can  make  shift  after  such  a 
fashion  will  provide  a  shelter  for  me,'  and  I  was  right,  too, 
for  they  took  excellent  care  of  me  and  did  me  a  great  deal 
of  good." 

The  first  birth  in  Sciota  was  that  of  Charles,  son  of 
Gideon  M.  Cross,  born  March  5,  1837.  Upon  reaching 
manhood  he  became  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  and  died  in 
Livingston  County  in  1858.  That  infant's  cradle  was  sim- 
ply a  hollowed  log  furnished  vfith  rude  rockers.  In  that 
cradle  he  and  his  sister  (now  Mrs.  A.  D.  Sherman,  born 
May  15,  1839)  were  rocked,  and  when  Ashbel  Thompson, 
during  one.  of  his  annual  visits  to  the  West,  saw  the  babes 
thus  bestowed  he  called  them  infants  in  a  swell-box  cradle. 
Apropos  of  infants,  the  first  female  child  born  in  the  town 
was  Helen,  daughter  of  Mason  Phelps,  born  May  7,  1837, 
and  now  the  wife  of  H.  P.  Dodge,  of  Laingsburg. 

Stories  about  wolves  and  bears  are  of  course  plentiful 
among  those  who  deal  in  recollections  of  life  in  Sciota,  and 
recollection  concerns  itself,  moreover,  with  the  exploits  of 
some  early  settlers  who  were  mighty  hunters.  Henry  Leach 
was  considered  a  wolf-hunter  of  skill,  and  within  a  space 
of  about  four  years  captured  upwards  of  thirty  wolves,  for 
whose  scalps  he  realized  a  handsome  bounty.  Barnet  Put- 
nam achieved  a  wide  notoriety  as  a  bear-hunter,  and  claims 
to  have  killed  no  less  than  nine  during  twenty-two  years  of 
his  residence  in  Sciota,  his  last  victim  having  been  dis- 
patched in  1871.  He  was  a  wonderfully  successful  deer- 
slayer.  During  the  fourteen  years  preceding  1862  he 
slaughtered  fully  five  hundred  with  an  old  reliable  shot-gun, 
having  in  one  autumn  killed  fifty-eight. 

It  was  in  1840  that  the  first  bear  was  seen  by  any  of  the 
members  of  the  Cross  family.  While  Mrs.  Cross  sat 
braiding  hats  one  night  she  saw  Bruin  approaching,  and 
raising  a  sudden  alarm  she  frightened  him  away.  Intelli- 
gence of  the  bear's  appearance  being  conveyed  to  the  neigh- 
bors, they  assembled  the  next  night  to  capture  him,  but 
somehow  his  bearship  was  too  cunning  for  them.  They 
watched  for  him  four  nights,  chased  him  one  night  and  lost 
him,  and  then  giving  up  the  task  of  capturing  him  left  him 
to  roam  at  will.  Mrs.  A.  D.  Sherman  tells  how  when  she 
was  but  seven  years  old  she  and  Ashbel  Thompson  "  treed 


SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP. 


293 


a  bear."  It  was  on  a  day  when  she  was  plodding  through 
the  woods  towards  William  Swarthout's,  when  she  en- 
countered Ashbel  Thompson  hurrying  towards  her  and 
exclaiming  as  soon  as  he  saw  her,  "  Hurry  over  to  Swart- 
hout's and  tell  him  there  are  bears  here."  Frightened,  she 
ran  to  give  the  alarm ;  hunters  quickly  gathered,  and  the 
game  was  captured.  "  That's  the  way,"  she  remarks, 
"  Little  Thompson  and  I  treed  a  bear.'' 

Milton  Phelps  says  it  was  common  enough  at  his  house 
to  have  wolves  come  about  the  doors  at  night,  and  go  as  far 
even  as  to  peer  into-  the  windows  at  the  inmates. 

Among  those  who  came  into  the  Putnam  neighborhood 
in  the  winter  of  1836  were  Franklin  Herrick,  Abram 
Lewis,  and  Daniel  Dennison  to  section  2,  and  S.  B.  Fuller 
to  section  10,  while  early  comers  into  the  Leach  settlement 
included  Allen  Smith  and  Keuben  Rogers.  In  1843, 
Godfrey  Wert,  accompanied  by  his  family,  George  Joslyn, 
his  son-in-law,  and  Stephen  McCarty,  came  to  the  town. 
McCarty  and  Wert  settled  on  the  Grand  River  road,  the 
former  on  section  26  and  the  latter  on  section  27.  Joslyn 
continued  on  to  Ovid.  At  that  time  there  were  in  Sciota, 
on  the  Grand  River  road  and  near  it,  a  number  of  settlers, 

including  Mason  Phelps,  Moses  Wallis, Smith, 

Hill, Sanford,  and  Mitchell  Blood,  the  tavern-keeper. 

In  1845,  John  Scoutten,  of  Ohio,  located  on  a  farm  near 
Laingsburg.  Later,  there  came  to  the  town  Thomas  J. 
Burt,  Almeron  Sherman,  John  N.  Seely,  A.  J.  Beeman, 
Thomas  Simpson,  M.  S.  Beardslee  (a  settler  in  Bennington 
in  1839),  John  Runciman,  P.  B.  Ladue,  F.  Chant,  W.  R. 
Putnam  (an  Ovid  pioneer  in  1840),  S.  T.  Headley,  and 
George  Parker. 

During  the  summer  of  1838  a  smallpox  epidemic  broke 
out  among  the  Chippewa  Indians  who  lingered  about  Sciot* 
and  Victor,  and  many  died,  including  Chippewa,  the  chief, 
and  one  of  his  sons,  named  Jackson.  There  was  great  ter- 
ror and  demoralization  among  the  red-skins  consequent  upon 
the  ravages  of  the  disorder,  and  in  many  cases  patients  were 
left  by  their  fellows  to  die  in  the  woods,  where  their  bodies 
became  food  for  wolves.  Report  has  it  that  despite  the 
fatality  of  the  disease  among  the  Indians  no  wliite  person 
took  it,  although  contact  with  it  was  frequent,  and  report 
goes  even  further  by  saying  the  white  people  were  not 
affected  simply  because  smallpox  cannot  be  transmitted  to 
a  white  person  from  an  Indian. 

Mrs.  Gideon  Cross  obtained  disfavor  among  the  Indians 
because  of  her  earnest  and  emphatic  protests  against  the 
sale  of  whisky  by  Henry  Leach  to  the  natives,  and  the 
latter  sought  by  various  means  to  show  their  dislike  towards 
lier.  While  the  smallpox  was  raging,  a  squaw  carried  into 
Mrs.  Cross'  house  a  papoose  sick  with  the  disease,  and 
placed  it  within  the  cradle  occupied  by  Mrs.  Cross'  babe, 
hoping  that  the  latter  might  be  stricken.  The  scheme  mis- 
carried, and  the  Cross  child,  although  slightly  affected 
afterwa'rds,  was  not  seriously  troubled.  Many  Indians  were 
buried  about  Laingsburg,  and  many  upon  the  place  now 
occupied  by  Ralph  Swarthout,  where  indeed  at  this  day 
several  mounds  are  still  to  be  seen. 

The  first  town  burial-place  was  laid  out  in  1843.     On 


April  3d  of  that  year  the  town  voted  twenty-five  dollars  to 
purchase  an  acre  of  ground  for  a  cemetery  and  to  fence  the 
same  with  a  rail-fence.  April  14,  1849,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  secure  a  burial-ground  for  Laingsburg.  The 
first  person  buried  in  the  town  burial-ground  was  the  wife 
of  Blisha  B.  Smith.  Previous  to  that  Mrs.  Walter  Laing 
died  in  the  town,  but  was  buried  in  Bennington.  The  first 
burial  in  the  town,  however,  was  that  of  Samuel  Carpenter, 
who,  as  has  been  told,  was  killed  while  driving  homeward 
from  Detroit. 

The  progress  which*  had  been  made  in  the  settlement  of 
Sciota  prior  to  1849  is  pretty  clearly  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing list  of  tax-payers  resident  in  the  township  in  that 
year,  viz. : 

RESIDENT  TAX-PATEKvS  IN  1849. 

Names.  Acres. 

Thomas  J.  Burt,  section  22 80 

James  Collins,  section  28 100 

a.  M.  Cross,  section  9 80 

B.  P.  Childs,  section  25 120 

D.  Dennispn,  section  2 80 

Stephen  Finch,  section  28 72 

S.  B.  Fuller,  sections  3,  10 400 

C.  J.  Fester,  section  11 40 

John  Fester,  section  11 40 

M.  B.  Grilly,  section  9 80 

J.  Hill,  Jr.,  section  25 120 

F.  Herrick,  section  2 113 

Henry  Kinney,  section  33 40 

P.  D.  Ladue,  section  27 120 

Henry  Leach,  sections  i),  10 149 

Walter  Laing,  section  28 38 

Peter  Laing,  sections  21,  26,  28,  36 328 

John  Miller,  section  26 60 

Stephen  McCarty,  section  26 60 

Milton  Phelps,  section  26 78 

Silas  Phelps,  sections  26,  27 67 

Cornelius  Putnam,  section  3 80 

Baruet  Putnam,  section  3 40 

Allen  Smith,  section  9 160 

John  Scoutten,  section  28 74 

E.  B.  Smith,  section  21 2 

Kalph  Swarthout,  section  17 93 

Swarthout  and  Reed,  section  17 133 

Ephraim  Trumbull,  section  28 130 

Moses  Wallis,  section  27 23 

Godfrey  Wert,  section  27 120 

Stephen  White,  section  36 40 

Phelps,  Laing  &  Co.,  section  28 3.31 

James  M.  Blood,  section  25 80 

Ashbel  Thompson,  a  Philadelphia  lawyer  and  extensive 
land-owner  in  Michigan,  made  purchases  of  something  like 
fifteen  hundred  acres  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  Sciota 
at  an  early  date.     About  1850  he  concluded  to  make  an 
effort  to  sell  it,  for  up  to  that  time  he  had  neither  sold  any 
of  the  tract,  nor  yet  caused  any  improvement  to  be  made 
upon  it.     Thompson  used  to  come  to  the  Michigan  wilds 
every  summer  for  recreation,  and  made  his  abiding-place  on 
such  occasions  at  the  house  of  William  Swarthout,  in  Ovid 
township.     His  visits  continued  usually  during  the  sum- 
mer season,  and  were  employed  in  forest  rambles  and  hunt- 
ing and  fishing  excursions,  of  which  pastimes  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly fond.     His  visits  began  about  1839,  and  they 
have  been  repeated  yearly  since  that  time  to  the  present, 
with  the  exception  of  but  one  year.     His  temporary  home 
has  been  each  summer  with  the  Swarthouts,  and  more  par- 
ticularly in  the   pioneer  days  was   he  known   for   miles 
•around,  and  always  welcomed  as  a  genial  companion.     To 
distinguish  him  from  another  land-owning  visitor,  William 
Thompson  by  name,  Ashbel   was  designated  as  "Little 


294 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Thompson,"  and  as  Little  Thompson  he  became  engrafted 
upon  the  pioneer  hbtory  of  Sciota  and  neighboring  towns. 
During  his  visit  in  1850  he  resolved  that  to  sell  his  land 
he  must  begin  to  clear  it.  To  this  end  he  determined  lit- 
erally to  clear  it  himself.  He  bought  an  axe  and  attacked 
his  first  tree.  Between  early  morning  and  the  hour  of 
noon  he  managed,  by  dint  of  most  distressing  labor,  to  sub- 
due the  forest  monarch,  but  alas !  the  cost  of  his  victory 
stood  revealed  in  blistered  hands,  almost  total  exhaustion, 
and  a  general  disgust  with  a  woodman's  life.  Satisfied  to 
end  that  experience  then,  he  announced  that  he  had  an  axe 
to  sell,  and  that  he  wanted  no  more  employment  as  a  wood- 
chopper.  Thereupon  he  engaged  Barnet  Putnam  to  clear 
and  break  some  of  the  land  for  him,  and  proceeded  east- 
ward. When  he  came  out  the  next  year  he  found  that 
Swarthout's  bam  contained  a  crop  of  wheat  gathered  from 
the  land  Putnam  had  cleared ;  and  when  Mrs.  Swarthout 
asked  him  what  he  wished  done  with  the  wheat,  he  replied, 
"  Give  it  to  the  first  poor  preacher  who  comes  along."  And 
sure  enough,  the  first  preacher  to  come  along  was  made 
happy  with  the  gift. 

In  1851,  Thompson  sold  four  hundred  acres  on  sections 
4  and  5  to  Charles  Balcom  and  James  Hills,  and  in  1852 
they  came  on  and  occupied  their  purchases.  Theirs  were 
the  pioneer  settlements  in  that  corner  of  the  town,  and  in 
1854  they  were  joined  by  S.  A.  Balcom  and  William  H. 
Stanhope,  who  located  on  section  5.  Following  them  came 
Orrin  Blanchard  to  section  8,  Luther  Ryon  to  section  4, 
Willard  Ryon  to  section  4,  and  Samuel  De  Haven  to  sec- 
tion 3. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION   AND   LIST   OF 
OmCERS. 

Township  6  north,  in  range  1  east,  was  embraced  in  the 
township  of  WoodhuU  until  Feb.  16,  1842,  when  by  act 
of  Legislature  it  was  given  a  separate  organization  and 
named  Sciota,  in  accordance  with  the  request  of  Oliver 
Westcott,  one  of  the  town's  early  settlers.  The  first  town- 
meeting  was  held  at  the  tavern  of  Cyrus  Miller,  in  Laings- 
burg,  April  4,  1842,  when  Mason  Phelps,  William  P. 
Laing,  James  M.  Blood,  and  Henry  Leach  were  Inspectors 
of  Election;  0.  B.  Westcott,  Clerk;  and  Cyrus  Miller, 
Moderator.  One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was  voted  for 
contingent  expenses,  twenty-three  dollars  for  the  support  of 
common  schools,  and  twelve  dollars  for  the  erection  of  a 
pound  "  near  0.  B.  Westcott's."  Twenty-three  votes  were 
cast  at  the  election  of  town  officials,  the  result  being  as 
appended : 

SUPERVISOR. 

Mason  Phelps 20 

A.  Smith* 12 

CLERK. 

0.  B.  Westcott 9 

Henry  Smith* "  j^ 

TREASURER. 

S.  B.  Fuller* : ]2 

William  P.  Laing .."........!.]]!]  10 

ASSESSORS. 

Levi  MoDaniels*..... 21 

C.  Putnam* 12 


»  Elected. 


J.  M.  Blood 5 

F.  Childs i 

Cyrus  Miller 1 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 

Cyrus  Miller 9 

Henry  Leach 11 

A.  0.  Laing 10 

R.  Williams* 12 

G.  M.  Cross* 12 

D.  F.  Randall* 12 

L.  McDaniels 1 

Silas  Phelps 1 

W.  P.  Laing 1 

M.  Phelps 1 

JUSTICES   OF    THE   PEACE. 

R.  W.  Williams* 13 

Cyrus  Miller* 23 

B.  F.  Childs* 12 

A.  Smith* 13 

William  P.  Laing 10 

F.  Childs 7 

A.  Holcomb 9 

S.  M.  Blood 1 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 

0.  B.  Westcott 9 

Henry  Smith* 21 

William  P.  Laing 10 

A.  P.Smith* 15 

S.  B.  Fuller* 12 

0.  B.  Westcott 1 

CONSTABLES. 

M.  Wallis* 10 

D.  F.  Randall* 10 

Henry  Leach 9 

A.  C.  Laing* 10 

Harvey  Randal] 9 

L.  McDaniels* 10 

William  P.  Laing 1 

OVERSEERS   OF   THE   POOR. 

0.  B.  Westcott 9 

Henry  Leach 11 

A.  Smith* 12 

G.  M.  Cross* 12 

S.  Hill 1 


From  1843  to  1880  the  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers, 
and  justices  of  the  peace  elected  annually  have  been  the 
following-named  persons : 


SUPERVISORS. 

IS^.  M.  Phelps'. 

1862-64.  J.  M.  C.  Bennett. 

1844.  William  P.  Laing. 

1865.  G.  J.  McClintook. 

1845-47.  Peter  Laing. 

1866.  H.  Carnahan. 

1848-50.  F.  McClintook. 

1867.  G.  J.  McClintock. 

1851-54.  L.  Smith. 

1868-70.  H.  Carnahan. 

1855.  G.  J.  McClintock. 

1871.  G.  A.  White. 

1856.  H.  Carnahan. 

1872.  M.  Burt. 

1867-58.  F.  McClintook. 

1873.  J.  Lawler. 

1859-60.  H.  Carnahan. 

1874-80.  S.  H.  Manzer. 

1861.  S.  Treat. 

CLERKS. 

1843-44.  H.  Smith. 

1863.  A.  Holmes. 

1845.  P.  McGannis. 

1864.  G.  J.  McClintock. 

1846.  0.  B.  Westcott. 

1865.  M.  Burt. 

1847.  E.  B.  Smith. 

1866.  W.  Levanway. 

1848-50.  L.  Smith. 

1867.  J.  G.  Pope. 

1861.  F.  McClintock. 

1868-70.  J   Crum. 

1852-54.  G.  J.  McClintock 

1871-72.  G.  L.  Gibbs. 

1856.  S.  Treat. 

1873.  G.  D.  Millspaugh. 

1856.  M.  Burt. 

1874.  H.  P.  Dodge. 

1857.  6.  J.  McClintook. 

1875.  A.  F.  Place. 

1858.  M.  Burt. 

1876.  L.  B.  Huntington. 

1859-60.  James  Lawler. 

1877-79.  W.  W.  Levanway 

1861.  M.  Burt. 

1880.  George  S".  Culver. 

1802.  C.  D.  Harmon. 

SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP. 


295 


TREASURERS. 


1843.  William  P.  Laing. 

1844.  M.  Phelps. 

1845.  J.  M.  Blood. 
1846-47.  B.  P.  Cliilds. 

1848.  P.  Laing. 

1849.  E.  B.  Smith. 

1850.  G.  Wert. 

1851.  E.  B.  Smith. 
1852-62.  J.  Runoiman. 


1863-65.  H.  S.  Partridge. 

1866.  J.  Runciman. 

1867.  S.  Treat. 

1868.  S.  H.  Manzor. 
1869-70.  J.  Runoiman. 
1871-75.  P.  Baeon. 
1876.  H.  Rohrbaoher. 
1877-79.  P. Bacon. 
1880.  S.  N.  Pierce. 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 


1843. 
1844. 
1846. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
1852. 
1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857. 
1858. 
1859. 
I860. 
1861. 


A.  Holoomb. 
G.  Wert. 
Allen  Smith. 
S.  B.  Fuller. 
Mason  Phelps. 
J.  Woodhull. 
H.  Leach. 
T.  J.  Burt. 
M.  Wallis. 
C.  Putnam. 
E.  B.  Smith. 
J.  Runciman. 
T.  J.  Burt. 
A.  Sherman. 
H.  S.  Partridge. 
C.  Hills. 
M.  Phelps. 
A.  Sherman. 
J.  M.  C.  Bennett. 


1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 


B.  H.  C.  Howe. 
J.  Runciman. 
B.  J.  Putnam. 
H.  Carnaban. 
D.  D.  Shannon. 
J.  Runciman. 

F.  McClintock. 
J.  Lawler. 

D.  Holly. 
H.  P.  Dodge. 
.1.  Sherman. 
J.  Mabin. 
D.  R.  Holly. 
H.  P.  Dodge. 
B.  J.  Putnam. 
J.  Crum. 

G.  M.  Kinney. 
H.  P.  Dodge. 
J.  D.  Sherman. 


EAELY  TOWNSHIP  ROADS. 

March  15, 1843,  the  town  was  divided  into  five  road  dis- 
tricts, as  follows : 

No.  1  to  embrace  sections  2,  3,  4,  5,  and  the  north  half 
of  section  10.  No.  2  to  include  sections  1,  8,  9, 11, 12, 13, 
14,  15,  and  16,  and  the  south  half  of  section  1 0.  No.  3  in- 
cluded sections  17, 20, 21, 28,  29, 32,  33.  No.  4  included 
section  22,  the  west  half  of  section  23,  the  north  half  of 
26,  sections  27,  34,  and  the  north  half  of  section  35.  No. 
5  embraced  section  24,  the  east  half  of  section  23,  the 
south  half  of  26,  sections  25  and  36,  and  the  south  half  of 
section  35. 

The  annual  report  of  the  highway  commissioners,  made 
April  1,  1843,  presented  the  following  details: 

Whole  amount  of  labor  assessed $405.93 

Days  worked 136.73 

Amount  of  improvements,  eight  miles  cut  out  and  fifty- 
five  rods  of  causeway. 

Amount  of  labor  under  contract,  eighty-five  rods  of  cause- 
way. One  mile  under  contract  of  chopping  and  clearing, 
four  rods  wide. 

The  annual  report  made  April  6, 1844,  had  the  following : 
Number  of  days  worked,  69 ;  number  of  days  worked  and 
not  assessed,  28. 

Amount  of  improvements :  Four  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  rods  cutting  and  clearing  four  rods  wide ;  one  hundred 
and  seventy-six  rods  of  causeway ;  $46.31  worth  of  dig- 
ging, covering  causeway,  and  leveling  down  hills. 

Amount  of  labor  under  contract :  Leveling  down  hills, 
$72.12  ;  amount  of  orders  drawn  on  above,  $227.09  ;  money 
left  last  year,  $96.19  ;  county  orders  in  hands  of  treasurer, 
$75. 


The  annual  report,  March  21,  1849,  was  as  follows: 
Number  of  days  assessed  for  highway  labor  in  1848,  250. 

"  The  whole  amount  of  resident  highway  tax  has  been 
performed  ;  no  money  drawn  by  order  of  the  commissioners ; 
no  commutations.'' 

A  road  was  laid  out  June  7,  1843,  beginning  at  a  point 
where  the  Grand  Kiver  road  iutersects  the  line  between 
sections  20  and  21,  and  running  thence  north  to  a  stake 
28-f'^^  chains  due  north  of  the  southwestern  corner  of  sec- 
tion 21 ;  thence  north  57  chains  to  a  stake  on  the  principal 
meridian.  Dec.  23,  1843,  a  road  was  laid  beginning  at 
the  quarter  post  on  the  east  side  of  section  21,  and  running 
thence  south  on  the  meridian  line  6^^^  chains ;  thence  south 
2^At  chains  ;  thence  north  to  Dr.  Peter  Laing's  sign-post. 

SCHOOLS. 

Sciota's  first  school  was  taught  in  1837  by  the  wife  of 
Cornelius  Putnam  in  her  own  house,  and  contained  as 
pupils  her  own  children  and  the  children  of  Henry  Leach. 
Mrs.  Putnam  had  had  experience  as  a  school-teacher  in 
New  York,  and  was  therefore  happily  enabled  to  undertake 
a  renewal  of  that  experience  in  Michigan  with  an  intelli- 
gent assurance  of  success. 

The  first  board  of  school  inspectors  comprised  Henry 
Smith,  Allen  Smith,  and  8.  B.  Fuller,  but  there  is  no 
record  of  their  proceedings,  for  the  reason,  probably,  that 
they  performed  no  services.  This  view  of  the  case  would 
appear  to  be  correct,  since  the  school  records  certify  that 
School  District  No.  1  was  organized  Sept.  15,  1843,  and 
contained  sections  26,  23,  the  east  half  of  27,  and  the  east 
half  of  22.  That  year  a  log  school-house  was  built  near 
Henry  Leach's  house,  and  in  that  school-house  the  first 
teacher  was  Oliver  B.  Westcott.  District  No.  2  was  formed 
May,  1844,  and  in  that  district  the  first  teacher  was  Mrs. 
M.  A.  Phelps.  District  No.  3  was  organized  May  22, 
1844,  to  include  sections  3,  4,  5,  8,  9,  10,  11,  14,  and  15. 
The  report  of  the  inspectors,  dated  April  1,  1845,  contains 
this :  "  Moneys  received,  $00  ;  moneys  expended,  $00." 
How  the  schools  were  supported  does  not  appear. 

District  No.  4  was  organized  May  28, 1847,  and  included 
the  west  half  of  section  22,  the  west  half  of  27,  the  west 
half  of  34,  and  the  whole  of  sections  20,  21,  28,  29,  and 
33.  June  18,  1850,  the  school  districts  were  reconstructed 
as  follows : 

No.  1.— Sections  20,  21,  28,  29,  32,  and  33  ;  originally 
No.  4. 

No.  2.— Sections  22,  27,  34,  the  west  half  of  23,  the 
west  half  of  26,  and  the  west  half  of  35. 

No.  3.— Sections  3,  4,  5,  8,  9,  10,  11,  14,  and  15. 

No.  4. — East  half  of  section  23,  east  half  of  26,  the  east 
half  of  35,  and  the  whole  of  24,  25,  and  36  ;  originally 
No.  2. 

No.  5  was  organized  in  1853,  and  embraced  the  west  half 
of  section  4,  the  whole  of  5,'  the  north  half  of  8,  and  the 
west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  9. 

TEACHERS. 

From  1845  to  1857  teachers  received  certificates  in 
Sciota  as  follows : 

Dolly  Richards,  May  3,  1845.  .,;• 


296 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Cordelia  Collins,  Margaret  Johnson,  April  10,  1848. 
Frances  Hill,  June  15,  1848. 
Layton  Swarthout,  John  Bninson,  Dec.  5,  1848. 
Elisha  Cook,  Dec.  6,  1849. 
Lounsberry  Swarthout,  Dec.  17,  1849. 
George  W.  States,  Nov.  4,  1850. 
Miss  Achsah  Blood,  April  12,  1851. 
Miss  Armina  Pitts,  April  23,  1851. 
Lewis  Bennett,  Nov.  5,  1853. 
Ann  M.  Aldrich,  April  14,  1855. 
Margaret  I.  Johnson,  Dec.  20,  1855. 
Caroline  Phelps,  Jan.  15,  1856. 
Clarissa  Brewer,  May  24,  1856. 
Miss  C.  Carnahan,  May  23,  1857. 
Miles  Burt,  Nov.  7,  1857. 

The  official  school  report  for  1879  presents  the  following 
details : 

„  ■.^.      ^  X.  .-  AveraKe       Value  of  Teachers* 

DiBt.  Director.         Enumeration.   Attendance.    Property.  Wages. 

1.  M.  Burt 183*  180  $1000  $891 

2.  George  Sherman 36  28  50  93.50 

3.t  J.  D.  Sanderson 29  28  200  169 

5.  F.  Lee 38  31  400  144 

6.  George  Dean 65  63  300  166 

7.  W.  T.  Riddale 22  21  50  84 

8.  C.  Crutts 48  35  60  99 

9.  L.J.  Kemp 12  23  700  98 

THE  VILLAGE   OF   LAINGSBUEG. 

Laingsburg,  a  station  on  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Sagi- 
naw Railroad,  is  a  prosperous  village  of  about  eight  hundred 
people.  Its  manufacturing  interests  are  limited,  but  as  the 
centre  of  trade  for  a  considerable  tract  of  rich  farming 
country  it  carries  on  much  profitable  mercantile  business, 
and  rests  its  prospective  improvement  upon  a  very  sub- 
stantial and  prosperous  present. 

The  village  was  founded  in  1836,  by  Dr.  Peter  Laing, 
but  was  not  platted  until  1860,  after  which  the  construction 
of  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad  gave  the 
town  a  decided  impetus,  and  led  to  its  rapid  development. 

Dr.  Peter  Laing,  formerly  of  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  located 
land  upon  the  present  site  of  Laingsburg  in  the  summer  of 
1836,  and  September  24th  of  that  year  came  to  the  place 
for  a  permanent  location,  in  company  with  his  son  William, 
his  son-in-law.  Mason  Phelps,  and  the  wife  of  the  latter. 
About  thirty  rods  west  of  where  the  Cooper  House  now 
stands  they  put  up  as  a  temporary  habitation  a  brush 
shanty,  in  which  they  lodged,  and  outside  of  which,  at  a 
log-heap  fire,  they  did  their  cooking.  As  quickly  as  the 
work  could  be  accomplished  Mason  Phelps  built  a  lof 
cabin,  and  Peter  Laing  (assisted  by  Mason  Phelps  and 
Barnet  Putnam)  a  log  structure  which  he  intended  for  a 
tavern,  both  buildings  being  just  west  of  the  Cooper  House 
lot.  The  gi-eat  Indian  trail  between  Pontiac  and  Grand 
Rapids  passed  that  way,  and,  as  travel  over  the  route  was 
at  that  time  very  brisk.  Dr.  Laing  wisely  judged  that  a 
tavern  at  that  point  would  be  not  only  a  public  convenience 
but  a  profit  to  its  landlord.  In  that  conclusion  subsequent 
events  proved  Dr.  Laing  to  have  been  correct.  The  volume 
of  travel  increased  materially  with  the  opening  of  the  Grand 
River  road  over  the  route  of  the  trail,  and  for  years  Dr. 


*  Laingsburg. 


t  Fractional. 


Laing's  tavern  was  a  famous   landmark  and   a  place  of 
popular  resort. 

During  the  fall  of  1836  the  rush  of  land-lookers  to 
Michigan  was  like  a  swarm  of  locusts,  and  the  Grand  River 
road  was  alive  with  wayfarers.  Laing's  tavern  was  insuf- 
ficient to  accommodate  the  travelers  who  sought  its  shelter, 
but  about  it  in  the  open  air  around  log-heap  fires  there  was 
always  room,  and  there  scores  of  people  slept  every  night. 
A  story  now  extant  tells  of  a  well-dressed  traveler,  who 
came  to  the  tavern  one  night  and  requested  lodgings.  Dr. 
Laing  took  him  out  to  a  log-heap  fire,  and  pointing  to  the 
sleepers  about  it  said,  "  My  friend,  our  house  is  running 
over  with  people  ;  there  you  see  at  that  fire  plenty  of  extra 
lodgers ;  lie  down  and  make  yourself  comfortable  for  the 
night."  The  traveler  looked  unhappy,  but  determined  to 
make  the  best  of  it ;  he  pulled  off  his  boots,  turned  his  feet 
towards  the  fire,  and  was  directly  snoring  in  concert  with 
about  fifty  others.  In  the  morning  when  the  traveler  woke 
he  failed  to  find  his  boots.  "  Landlord,"  cried  he,  "  some- 
body has  robbed  me  of  my  boots,  and  I  look  to  you  to  re- 
place or  return  them."  "  You  d — d  fool,"  returned  Dr. 
Laing,  "  don't  you  know  better  than  to  leave  your  boots 
outdoors  all  night  in  a  country  like  this?  The  wolves  ate 
your  boots,  and  if  you  don't  get  away  from  here  pretty 
quick  they'll  eat  you,  too."  The  unfortunate  traveler 
could  scarcely  credit  the  story,  but  when  he  presently  dis- 
covered mutilated  remnants  of  his  once  handsome  boots  he 
shudderingly  believed  it,  and  made,  indeed,  all  haste  to  get 
out  of  a  country  where  stopping  at  a  tavern  meant  a  bed 
near  a  log-heap,  and  midnight  visitations  by  wolves. 

Laing's  tavern  was  the  chief  stopping-place  on  the  Grand 
River  road,  in  Sciota,  when  that  road  was  the  principal 
thoroughfare.  It  was,  moreover,  the  town  post-office  loca- 
tion, and  when  a  line  of  stages  was  put  on  the  road,  Laing's 
was  made  a  stage-house.  The  mail  was  carried  over  the 
route  at  first  on  horseback,  later,  as  the  road  got  better,  by 
buggy,  and  still  later  by  the  stages. 

About  1840,  James  M.  Blood  opened  a  temperance  tav- 
ern on  the  Grand  River  road,  about  four  miles  east  of 
Laingsburg,  and  at  the  same  time  Oliver  B.  Westcott  es- 
tablished a  similar  place  of  entertainment  "  on  the  hill,"  in 
what  is  now  Laingsburg  village,  June  3,  1844.  The  town 
board  granted  to  Peter  Laing  a  license  to  keep  tavern  and 
retail  ardent  spirits  on  section  21,  and  charged  him  there- 
for six  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents.  On  the  same  day 
James  M.  Blood  and  0.  B.  Westcott  were  granted  licenses 
to  keep  taverns  for  sixty-two  and  a  half  cents  each.  June 
1, 1848,  J.  W.  Putnam  applied  for  a  license  "  to  keep  pub- 
lic-house, with  the  privilege  to  sell  spirituous  liquors."  The 
town  board  granted  the  license  upon  the  payment  of  six 
dollars,  "  exclusive  of  fees,"  with  the  remark  that  "  a  public- 
house  with  the  above-named  privilege  would  promote  the 
public  good."  Except  at  brief  intervals,  during  which 
Cyrus  Miller  and  others  kept  the  place.  Dr.  Laing  con- 
tinued to  be  the  landlord  of  Laing's  tavern  until  his  death 
in  1865,  after  which  it  was  kept  no  more  as  a  public-house, 
but  was  not  demolished  until  recently. 

The  settlement  at  Laingsburg  moved  onward  at  an  ex- 
ceedingly slow  pace.     Mason  Phelps  changed  his  residence 


SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP. 


in  December, 


297 


1836,  to  his  forest-farm  on  the  Grand  River 
road  and  for  a  few  years  Dr.  Laing  was  the  only  resident 
in  the  prospective  village.  About  18i0,  Oliver  B  West- 
cott  opened  a  tavern  "on  the  hill,"  and  near  there  Cyrus 
and  Henry  Wright  located  land  and  put  up  a  lo-  house 
Meanwhile,  Ephraim  Trumbull  had  made  a  clearing°at  what 
IS  now  known  as  McClintock's  Corners.  In  1841,  Henry 
Smith  came  and  set  up  a  store  near  Westcott's  tavern,  and 
one  GiUilan,  who  afterwards  took  Westcott's  tavern-stand, 
started  a  blacksmith's  shop.  Subsequently,  Moses  Smith 
was  hired  by  Phelps  &  McClintock  to  carry  on  a  smithy. 
Patrick  McGannis,  now  a  merchant  in  Detroit,  built  the 
first  framed  structure  in  Laingsburg  about  1844,  having 
hauled  the  lumber  for  it  from  Lewitt's  mill  in  Bath.  In 
the  spring  of  1846  the  village  contained  the  Laing  tavern 
(then  a  stage-house),  McGannis'  store,  E.  B.  Smith's  store 
(Smith  having  bought  out  his  son  Henry),  and  the  West- 
cott  tavern-stand.  In  that  year  E.  B.  Smith  sold  out  to 
Walter  Laing,  Mason  Phelps,  Freeman  McClintock,  and 
Josephus  Woodhull,  and  moved  his  store  to  the  place  now 
known  as  McClintock's  Corners.  Laing  &  Co.  enlarged 
the  trade,  established  an  ashery  and  blacksmith's  shop,  and 
made  a  considerable  stir  as  merchants.  By  and  by  HoUis- 
ter  &  Kellogg  built  a  grist-  and  saw-mill,  which  was,  how- 
ever, burned  after  being  used  but  one  season.  A  new 
grist-mill  was  built  by  Hosley  &  Holmes  in  1863,  and  in 
1870  the  property  passed  from  White  &  Bartholomew  to 
Place  &  Bros.,  and  in  July,  1879,  to  A.  F.  Place,  the 
present  owner. 

Laingsburg  was  platted  in  1860  (when  it  was  scarcely 
more  than  a  cross-roads  village),  by  Freeman  McClintock 
and  Amos  Gould.  Charles  Weeks  platted  two  additions, 
known  respectively  as  Weeks'  First  and  Second  Additions. 
Dr.  Laing  platted  an  addition,  but  it  was  never  recorded. 
After  the  village  was  laid  out  in  1860,  the  completion  of 
the  railway  caused  it  to  grow  rapidly. 

VILLAGE   INCOEPOEATION. 

During  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1871  an  act  was 
passed  (and  approved  April  8th)  incorporating  the  village 
of  Laingsburg.  There  was  some  objection  to  the  incor- 
poration, but  Dr.  E.  B.  Ward,  representative  in  the  State 
Legislature,  was  determined  to  see  the  act  carried  into 
effect,  and  took  steps  to  have  a  village  election  held.  Just 
then  it  was  discovered  that  the  act  of  incorporation  failed, 
through  some  oversight,  to  designate  inspectors  of  election 
or  a  place  for  holding  said  election.  Robert  G.  McKee, 
thinking  he  had  as  much  right  as  anybody  to  appoint  in- 
spectors and  a  polling-place,  did  so,  and  so  also  did  Ward. 
It  happened  that  McKee's  inspectors  were  sworn  in  first, 
and  they  claimed,  therefore,  under  that  circumstance,  a 
slight  advantage  in  the  matter  of  legality  for  their  election. 
Ward's  inspectors  were  at  first  unmoved  at  this,  and  so 
both  parties  went  on  and  opened  the  polls. 

Although  there  were  but  a  half-dozen  or  so  of  votes  in 
the  McKee  party,  the  Wardites  began  presently  to  fear 
that  McKee's  election  might  be  ultimately  adjudged  the 
legal  one  by  reason  of  precedence  in  the  matter  of  swearing 
in  the  inspectors,  and  so  they,  secure  in  their  overwhelming 
majority,  abandoned  their  election  and  marched  over  to  the 
38 


McKee  polls  to  cast  their  votes,  not  doubting  for  a  moment 
that  they  could  in  that  way  elect  their  ticket.  Much  to 
their  dismay,  however,  no  sooner  had  they  executed  that 
intention  than  the  McKee  inspectors  declared  their  election 
to  be  illegal ;  and  so  not  only  was  there  no  election  but  no 
further  steps  towards  one  that  year,  as  the  Wardites,  seeing 
they  were  hopelessly  beaten,  deferred  further  agitation  o°f 
the  matter. 

But  upon  the  assembling  of  the  next  Legislature  the 
Ward  party  caused  a  new  act  of  incorporation  to  be  passed, 
and  properly  fortified  this  time,  called  the  election  at  the 
American  House,  April  8,  1872.  Upon  that  occasion  H. 
P.  Dodge  and  George  L.  Gibbs,  inspectors  of  election,  con- 
vened at  the  American  House,  and  in  the  absence  of  G.  J. 
McClintock  (the  third  inspector)  chose  Miles  Burt  to  act 
in  his  place.  At  this  stage  the  hotel  landlord  declined  to 
allow  the  election  to  be  held  in  his  house,  and  adjournment 
was  accordingly  made  to  Burt's  Hall.  One  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  votes  were  cast,  with  the  appended  result : 

PRESIDENT. 

Votes. 

IT.  S.  Partridge''-" ,         55 

E.B.Ward 5^ 

D.  Ward .V."       1 

TRUSTEES  {Two  rears). 

L.  W.  Fraine 41 

Daniel  Lebor. 54 

James  MoLeod* 77 

Philo  Baeon® 75 

{One  Year.) 

S.  H.  Manzer 60 

C.  H.  HartwcII*- '  63 

J.  A.  Crippen* 69 

P.  C.  Sprague 59 

CLERK. 

G.  J.  MoCIintook* 59 

H.  P.  Dodge 59 

TREASURER. 

Charles  Weeks 51 

A.  F.  Place* 71 

A.  Place 2 

MARSHAL. 

William  D.Gardner 57 

Henry  Winslow* 65 

William  Gardner 1 

ASSESSOR. 

J.  W.  Seoutten 48 

George  Culon* 78 

After  the  election  it  was  discovered  that  under  the  act 
no  election  could  be  held  save  at  the  American  Hotel,  and 
as  the  election  had  not  been  held  at  that  place,  it  followed 
that  the  officials  had  not  been  legally  elected.  Nevertheless, 
the  officials  qualified  and  had  one  session,  at  which  they 
passed  one  ordinance;  but  after-consideration  seemed  to 
point  so  clearly  to  the  conclusion  that  the  alleged  village 
government  could  have  no  legal  existence  that  the  affair  was 
by  common  consent  abandoned.  At  the  following  Legis- 
lative session  there  was  some  effort  looking  to  a  renewal  of 
the  act,  but  there  had  meanwhile  arisen  a  strong  anti-incor- 
poration party,  and  so  sturdily  did  they  work  against  incor- 
poration that  they  succeeded  in  having  the  act  repealed. 

«  Elected. 


298 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Nothing  further  was  done  in  the  premises  until  the  legis- 
lative session  of  1877,  when,  the  signs  being  propitious, 
Laingsburg  was  reincorporated  (by  act  of  March  9th)  to  in- 
clude "  all  those  tracts  of  land  situate  in  Sciota  township, 
Shiawassee  Co.,  commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  21,  running  thence  west  to 
the  meridian  line ;  thence  south  on  the  meridian  line  three 
hundred  and  twenty  rods ;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28;  thence  north 
three  hundred  and  twenty  rods  to  the  place  of  beginning." 
The  names  of  the  chief  village  oflScers  chosen  from  1877 
to  1880  are  here  given  : 
1877.— President,  H.  S.  Partridge;  Trustees  (for  two  years). 

Miles  Burt,  John  Crum,  R.  G.  McKee  (for  one 

year),  S.  H.  Manzer,  Charles  Weeks,  F.  McClin- 

tock ;  Clerk,  H.  P.  Dodge ;  Treasurer,  Charles 

H.  Fraine  ;  Assessor,  Philo  Bacon. 
1878.— President,  J.  S.  Lord ;  Trustees,  F.  McClintock,  J. 

H.  Bohrabacher,  and  James  Lawler ;  Clerk,  H. 

P.  Dodge ;  Treasurer,  C.  H.  Fraine ;  Assessor, 

S.  H.  Manzer. 
1879.— J.  S.  Lord;  Trustees,  H.  S.  Partridge,  William 

Fraine,   A.   F.   Peace;   Clerk,  H.  P.   Dodge; 

Treasurer,  C.  H.  Fraine ;  Assessor,  Miles  Burt. 
1880. — President,  F.  McClintock;  Trustees,  S.  H.  Manzer, 

Philo  Bacon,  Wm.  J.  Tillotsbn ;  Clerk,  H.  P. 

Dodge;    Treasurer,   C.    H.    Fraine;    Assessor, 

James  Lawler. 

CHUECHES. 
LAINGSBURG   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  settlement  of  Sciota  township  was  less  than  two  years 
advanced  when  the  voice  of  the  Methodist  missionary  was 
heard  in  the  neighborhood  where  Leach  and  Cross  and 
Smith  had  built  their  rude  cabins.  Rev.  Mr.  Blowers 
preached  there  in  1838,  in  the  houses  of  the  settlers,  about 
once  a  month,  and  the  next  year  Rev.  Washington  Jack- 
son, with  another  minister,  made  periodical  visits.  Blowers 
had  organized  a  class  in  1838  consisting  of  six  persons, 
viz. :  John  Slocum  and  wife,  Cornelius  Putnam  and  wife, 
and  Gideon  Cross  and  wife.  In  1839,  Wm.  Palmer,  John 
Palmer,  and  Allen  Smith,  with  their  wives,  joined  the  class, 
Wm.  Palmer  being  the  first  class-leader.  In  that  year,  too, 
Isaac  Bennett,  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  visited 
Sciota  settlement  and  preached  to  the  class.  As  soon  as  a 
district  school-house  was  built  it  was  occupied  by  the  class, 
and  in  that  locality  worship  was  continued  about  twenty 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  class  was  divided,  a  part 
going  to  Blood's  in  Victor,  and  the  residue  to  the  Putnam 
school-house  in  Sciota,  whence  they  were  transferred  to  the 
Middlebury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

There  was  Methodist  Episcopal  preaching  at  Laings- 
burg as  early  as  1842  by  the  Revs.  Bigelow  and  Cole,  and 
after  them  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hall.  The  Sciota  class,  organized 
in  1857,  was  a  point  on  the  Middlebury  Circuit  which  in- 
cluded the  Ovid,  Warren,  Muugerville,  Howard,  Sciota, 
and  Middlebury  classes.  Rev.  Elisha  Wright  was  appointed 
to  the  charge  in  1857,  when  it  contained  fifty-seven  mem- 
bers and  twenty-three  probationers.     When  the  parsonage 


at  Laingsburg  was  completed,  October,  1866,  the  charge 
embraced  one  hundred  members  and  twenty  probationers. 

The  name  of  the  circuit  was  changed  in  1868  to  Laings- 
burg, and  in  1871  the  church  at  Laingsburg  was  built.  The 
pastor  is  Rev.  J.  H.  Mcintosh,  who  preaches  to  the  Laings- 
burg class  every  Sunday.  The  class  membership  is  forty, 
and  the  attendance  at  Sunday-school  (in  charge  of  F. 
Thompson)  thirty.  The  society  trustees  are  Charles  Weeks, 
William  Fraine,  M.  Deitrich,  and  C.  S.  Noyes. 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  OF  LAINGSBURG. 
Elder  Barnes,  who  organized  a  Baptist  Church  in  Wood- 
hull  about  1840,  preached  also  at  Laingsburg,  and  afler 
him  Baptist  worship  was  conducted  with  more  or  less  reg- 
ularity at  the  latter  point  for  some  years  by  Elders  Martin 
and  McLeod.  After  a  time  Baptist  worship  ceased  in  that 
locality,  and  was  not  revived  in  anything  like  a  permanent 
form  until  the  autumn  of  1864.  October  15th  of  that 
year  a  few  Baptists  met  at  the  house  of  J.  M.  McLeod  for 
conference  and  prayer.  After  consultation  it  was  agreed  to 
meet  again  October  29th,  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
forming  a  church,  public  services  having  previously  been 
held  October  16th,  by  Elder  G.  M.  Reynolds.  October  29th 
a  covenant  was  adopted  and  signed  by  Moses  Smith,  William 
Place,  Josephus  WoodhuU,  M.  A.  Phelps,  Charles  R.  Mc- 
Kee, Frances  Phelps,  Catherine  Hudson,  Fanny  McKee, 
Catherine  Carnahan,  and  Mary  A.  McKee.  Josephus 
Woodhull  and  Moses  Smith  were  chosen  deacons,  and 
Charles  R.  McKee  clerk.  The  first  communion  was  held 
March  26,  1865,  and  May  20,  1865,  a  church  society  was 
organized,  with  Moses  T.  Headley,  M.  A.  Phelps,  Josephus 
Woodhull,  Charles  R.  McKee,  Henry  Osterhout,  and  Ma- 
son Phelps  as  trustees.  Directly  after  that  the  society  be- 
gan the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  which  was  not,  however, 
completed  until  1868.  Elder  Reynolds,  who  organized  the 
church,  was  the  first  pastor,  and  preached  some  years,  after 
which  Elder  James  McLeod  entered  upon  the  charge.  The 
present  pastor  is  Elder  Hicks,  of  Bath,  who  preaches  every 
Sunday.  The  deacons  are  C.  L.  Kinney  and  Moses  Smith. 
The  Sunday-school,  which  is  in  charge  of  the  pastor,  has 
an  average  attendance  of  about  thirty  scholars,  while  the 
church  membership  is  fifty. 

FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  Laingsburg,  July  24,  1864,  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Laingsburg  was  organized 
by  the  following-named  thirteen  persons  :  Rev.  James  Ross, 
Mrs.  Frances  Ross,  Isaac  T.  Hollister,  Ellen  C.  HoUister, 
Rev.  George  C.  Fox,  Cynthia  B.  Fox,  Nancy  Clark,  Eme- 
line  Partridge,  Elizabeth  A.  Ward,  Mary  L.  Drake,  Zyipha 
I.  Trowbridge,  Nellie  P.  McClintock,  Phoebe  A.  Hudson. 
Aug.  7,  1864,  at  a  second  meeting,  Rev.  H.  A.  Reed, 
general  agent  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  , 
was  present,  and  after  delivering  an  address  formally  re- 
cognized the  church,  being  assisted  in  council  by  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Victor.  Rev.  G.  C.  Fox  was 
chosen  the  pastor  and  I.  T.  Hollister  the  deacon.  Mr.  Fox 
served  the  church  until  his  death.  May  29,  1866.  His 
successor,  Rev.  William  P.  Mulder,  began  his  labors  in 
July,  1866,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  R.  Stevenson, 


ResiDENCE  OF  M"?  HELLIE'  R  M^CUNTOCK.  UtHesBUBe  Shiawass££  Co  Mich. 


SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP. 


299 


who  took  charge  in  July,  1875.  Rev.  J.  C.  Thompson 
became  the  pastor  in  1877,  and  after  him  came  Rev.  Fayette 
Hurd,  the  present  pastor. 

Since  the  organization  the  church  has  received  eighty- 
five  members,  of  whom  sixty-three  yet  remain.  Meetings 
are  now  held  in  a  fine  church  edifice  at  Laingsburg,  first 
occupied  in  the  fall  of  1871.  The  deacons  are  now  Wil- 
liam Ballentine  and  I.  T.  Hollister;  the  trustees  are  Philo 
Bacon,  Sydney  Manzer,  and  Charles  E.  Hollister.  The 
Sunday-school,  which  has  an  average  attendance  of  seventy, 
is  in  charge  of  Sydney  Manzer. 

LAINGSBUK&  POST-OFEICE. 
The  only  post-office  in  Sciota  is  at  Laingsburg,  although 
there  was  for  a  time,  about  1846,  a  post-office  called  Sciota, 
at  Mitchell  Blood's  tavern  on  the  Grand  River  road.  The 
Laingsburg  post-office  was  established  in  1837  or  1838 
through  the  efibrts  of  Dr.  Peter  Laing,  who  was  appointed 
postmaster.  He  retained  the  office  until  about  1851,  when 
he  gave  way  to  Henry  Smith  and  he  to  Loren  Smith,  who 
caused  the  name  of  the  office  to  be  changed  to  Nebraska. 
That  name  it  retained  through  the  succeeding  administra- 
tions of  E.  B.  Smith  and  Freeman  McClintock,  the  latter 
beginning  in  1857  and  continuing  to  1861.  M.  T.  Headley 
followed  McClintock,  and  during  his  term  the  name  of  the 
office  was  changed  in  1863  back  to  Laingsburg,  which  it 
has  since  retained.  J.  M.  0.  Bennett  was  for  a  short  time 
the  incumbent  after  Headley,  and  after  him  Horace  P. 
Dodge  from  1863  to  1865,  Samuel  Treat  to  1866,  G.  J. 
McClintock  to  1869,  and  Philo  Bacon  from  1869  to  the 
present  time.  The  business  of  the  Laingsburg  post-office 
during  the  three  months  ending  April  1, 1880,  represented- 
sales  of  stamps,  stamped  envelopes,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of 
two  hundred  and  forty-six  dollars  and  forty  cents,  money- 
orders  issued  in  the  sum  of  twelve  hundred  and  ten  dol- 
lars and  sixty  cents,  and  money-orders  paid  to  the  amount 
of  four  hundred  and  fifty-nine  dollars  and  thirty-two  cents. 

LAINGSBURG'S  LAWYERS. 

Laingsburg  has  had  but  three  lawyers.  About  1860,  J. 
M.  Pulver  set  up  in  practice  at  the  village  as  the  pioneer 
lawyer,  and  after  his  departure  came  H.  H.  Pulver.  The 
third  to  be  named  is  J.  B.  Wilkins,  who  has  been  prac- 
ticing in  the  village  since  1877. 

BANK. 
The  Exchange  Bank  of  Laingsburg,  a  private  banking 
corporation  now  doing  business  in  the  village,  was  estab- 
lished by  W.  H.  Card  in  1875,  and  by  him  the  business  is 

still  continued. 

SBCEBT   ORDERS. 

LAINGSBURfi   LODGE,  No.  230,  F.  AND  A.  M., 

was  organized  Jan.  9,  1868,  in  the  second  story  of  M.  T. 

Headley's   store.     The   organizing  members  were   E.  B. 

Ward,  W.  M. ;  J.  M.  Short,  S.  W. ;  G.  J.  McClintock,  J. 

W. ;  M.  T.  Headley,  M.  Burt,  J.  G.  Marsh,  B.  J.  Putnam, 

Rev.  J.  G.  Morgan.     E.  B.  Ward  has  been  Master  of  the 

lodge  every  year  since  1868,  except  for  the  year  1877,  when 

G.  J.  McClintock  served.     The  membership  is  now  fifty. 

The  official  list  is  B.  B.  Ward,  W.  M. ;  H.  P.  Dodge,  S. 


.  W. ;  Philo  Bacon,  J.  W..;  G.  J.  McClintock,  Sec. ;  L.  B. 
Huntington,  Treas. ;  E.  K.  Burke,  S.  D. ;  N.  N.  Phillips, 
J.  D. ;  W.  0.  Furey,  Tiler. 

LAINGSBURG  LODGE,  No.  110,  L  0.  0.  F., 

was  organized  Jan.  17,  1868.  The  charter  members  were 
named  R.  L.  Case,  E,.  Williams,  G.  B.  Pitts,  H.  P.  Martin, 
J.  B.  Case,  W.  H.  Martin,  W.  J.  Armitage,  L.  L.  Tuller, 
J.  W.  Scoutten,  W.  N.  Lewis,  A.  Holmes.  The  lodge  has 
a  membership  of  forty,  and  officers  as  follows  :  William  H. 
Martin,  N.  G. ;  William  Taylor,  V.  G. ;  N.  P.  Phillips,  P. 
Sec. ;  H.  Howe,  Rec.  Sec. ;  L.  B.  Huntington,  Treas. 

LAINGSBURG  GRANGE,  No.  228, 

was  organized  June,  1873,  with  a  membership  of  about 
thirty.  Norman  Tucker  was  chosen  Master,  L.  J.  Taylor, 
Overseer,  and  George  M.  Kinney,  Sec.    In  January,  1874, 

A.  F.  Place  was  chosen  Master,  and  served  four  years. 
The  next  Master  was  F.  M.  Randall,  who,  in  1879,  was 
succeeded  by  D.  D.  Culver.  Culver  resigned,  and  F.  M. 
Randall  was  chosen  in  his  stead.  G.  M.  Kinney  has  been 
the  grange  secretary  continuously  since  the  grange  organ- 
ization. The  grange  has  continued  to  flourish  from  the 
outset,  and  has  now  a  membership  of  sixty.  Weekly 
Saturday  meetings  are  held,  and  upon  these  occasions  in- 
teresting and  profitable  discussions  engage  much  earnest 
attention  at  the  hands  of  the  members.  The  officers  of  the 
grange  are  now  P.  M.  Randall,  M. ;  S.  T.  Headley,  0. ;  A. 
F.  Place,  L. ;  P.  Taylor,  Chaplain ;  George  M.  Kinney, 
Sec. ;  Mrs.  George  M.  Kinney,  Treas. 

SCIOTA   LODGE,  No.  1681,  KNIGHTS   OF   HONOR, 

was  instituted  April  25,  1879,  with  twenty  members,  and 
has  at  present  that  number  increased  by  eight.  The  officers 
for  1880  are  L.  J.  Taylor,  D. ;  V.  A.  James,  V.  D. ;  E. 

B.  Ward,  P.  D. ;  James  Kyte,  A.  D. ;  L.  B.  Huntington, 

Treas.;   D.  D.  Shannon,  F.  R. ;    Rev.  J.  H.  Mcintosh, 

Chaplain. 

BABCOGKS'   MILLS. 

.  One  of  the  most  important  industries  of  the  town  is 
carried  on  at  Babooeks'  steam  saw-mill,  on  the  Jackson, 
Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad,  about  two  miles  east  of 
Laingsburg.  E.  F.  &  N.  Babcock  established  the  mill  in 
1866,  and  directly  afterwards  purchased  tracts  of  timber 
land  aggregating  seven  hundred  acres.  The  mill  employs 
from  ten  to  twenty  men,  has  a  capacity  of  ten  thousand 
feet  daily,  and  is  confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  manu- 
facture of  car  and  railway  timber  for  Eastern  shipment. 

TRAGIC   INCIDENTS. 

The  first  fatal  accident  recorded  in  the  history  of  Sciota 
resulted  in  Francis  Seoutten's  death,  in  1846.  Scoutten 
was  employed  at  the  time  in  breaking  land  for  Allen  Smith. 
Failino-  to  return  from  his  labors  at  the  accustomed  hour, 
he  was  searched  for,  and  was  found  lying  dead  upon  the 
ground  beside  his  team.  How  he  came  to  his  death  was, 
and  has  always  remained,  a  mystery.  In  1856  a  young 
Englishman  was  accidentally  killed  at  a  raising  on  the 
Jones  place,  and  about  1870  a  Canadian,  while  logging  for 
D.  L.  Warren,  was  crushed  by  a  log  and  instantly  killed. 


300 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


In  1872  a  young  man  employed  upon  W.  R.  Putnam's 
farm  committed  suicide  by  throwing  himself  beneath  a 
train  on  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  road.  The 
cause  of  this  suicide  was  never  satisfactorily  understood. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


MRS.  NELLIE  P.  McCLINTOCK. 
Mrs.  Nellie  P.  MeClintock,  daughter  of  Dr.  Peter 
Laing,  the  founder  of  Laingsburg,  and  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  Sciota  township,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wil- 
ton, Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  1,  1824.  Her  mother, 
Mary  (Calkins)  Laing,  was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
1791.  Her  father,  Dr.  Peter  Laing,  was  born  in  Saratoga 
County,  1789,  and  in  1833  joined  the  army  of  pioneers 
who  were  populating  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.  Dr.  Laing 
pursued  the  practice  of  the  medical  -profession  at  Ann 
Arbor  until  1836,  where  Mrs.  Laing  died  in  1835,  when, 
coming  farther  westward,  he  made  a  new  location  in  Sciota 
township,  Shiawassee  Co.,  and  called  into  existence  the 
present  thriving  village  of  Laingsburg.  He  was  a  man  of 
mark,  and  for  many  years  kept  one  of  the  most  famous  of 
roadside  taverns  on  the  Grand  River  road.  He  was,  more- 
over, an  extensive  land-owner,  and  a  man  of  wide  influence 
upon  the  time  and  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 
Nellie,  his  daughter,  came  westward  with  her  father  in 
1833,  and  in  Ann  Arbor  spent  the  ensuing  seven  years  at 
school.  In  1840  she  joined  her  father's  family  at  Laings- 
burg, and  in  1844,  on  the  11th  of  April,  she  was  married 
at  the  house  of  William  Laing,  her  brother,  to  John  Le- 
witt,  of  Woodhull,  where  he  was  among  the  early  settlers, 
having  come  to  America  from  Leicester,  England.  From 
1844  to  1846,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewitt  lived  on  a  farm  in 
Woodhull.  October,  1846,  they  moved  to  Ann  Arbor, 
where  Mr.  Lewitt  was  called  to  take  the  position  of  taxi- 
dermist in  the  University  museum.  While  engaged  in  that 
work,  he  died  Jan.  21,  1847.  Upon  her  husband's  death 
his  widow  returned  to  Laingsburg,  where  in  June,  1851, 
she  was  married  to  Dr.  Freeman  MeClintock.  Leaving  the 
following  November  for  California,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  MeClin- 
tock remained  there  until  1856,  when  they  returned  east- 
ward, and  in  that  year  resumed  their  residence  in  Sciota. 
In  1870,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  MeClintock  agreed  to  a  mutual 
separation,  and  since  that  period  Mrs.  MeClintock  has  been 
living  in  Laingsburg  upon  the  estate  left  her  by  her  first 
husband,  John  Lewitt.  Her  living  children  are  three  in 
number:  Alfred  L.,  born  April  20, 1852,  now  a  resident  of 
Laingsburg ;  Elva  A.,  born  Oct.  21,  1854,  and  now  Mrs. 
Oren  Phelps,  of  California;  Alta  Belle,  born  Sept.  16, 
1862,  and  now  residing  with  her  mother. 


WILLARD  RYON. 


scent,  and  by  trade  a  cooper.  His  mother,  formerly  Miss 
Mahala  Stanhope,  was  a  native  of  Wyoming  County,  New 
York.  At  the  age  of  ten  years,  Willard,  with  his  parents, 
emigrated  to  the  wilds  of  Michigan,  where  a  farm  in 
Calhoun  County  afforded  them  a  home  for  ten  years,  when 
with  their  earnings  they  were  able  to  purchase  a  small 
farm  in  Middlebury.  Willard  meanwhile  sought  employ- 
ment with  his  neighbor,  George  H.  Warren,  with  whom  he 
remained  two  years  and  then  became  an  inmate  of  the  family 
of  Nathan  Herrick.  He  in  1861  enlisted  in  Company  D 
of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  was  taken  prisoner,  paroled, 
and  discharged.  In  the  meanwhile  with  the  proceeds  of  his 
earnings  he  authorized  his  father  to  purchase  for  him  the 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres  which  he  now  occupies.  On  the 
3d  of  July,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Marian  C.  Her- 
rick, daughter  of  Nathan  Herrick,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  Middlebury,  where  her  birth  occurred.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ryon  have  one  child,  Sylva,  born  March  10,  1872.  Their 
home,  represented  in  the  accompanying  sketch,  was  a  score 
of  years  since  wholly  unimproved,  but  has  since,  by  their 
industry,  been  brought  to  a  high  degree  of  cultivation.  In 
politics  Mr.  Ryon  is  a  staunch  Republican.  Both  himself 
and  wife  are  exemplary  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


Willard  Ryon,  the  eldest  in  a  family  embracing  eight 
children,  was  born  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1836.  His 
gither,  also  a  native  of  the  same  county,  was  of  Irish  de- 


CHAPTER    XLIL 
VERNON    TOWNSHIP.* 

Location  and  Topography — Original  Land-Entries — Settlements  and 
Settlers — Township  Organization  and  Civil  List — Early  Highways 
— Early  Schools — Village  of  Durand — Vernon  Village — Church 
History — Greenwood  Cemetery. 

The  township  of  Vernon  lies  on  the  eastern  county-line 
of  Shiawassee  County,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Venice,  south  by  Burns,  east  by  the  county  of  Genesee, 
and  west  by  Shiawassee.  It  was  in  point  of  settlement  the 
second  of  the  townships  of  the  county,  having  been  entered 
by  pioneers  as  early  as  1833.  It  has  other  claims  to  prece- 
dence in  that  its  lands,  which  were  originally  superior  in 
quality,  have  by  careful  and  judicious  tillage  been  brought 
to  an  unusual  degree  of  productiveness,  and  that  within  its 
borders  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  thriving  of  the  vil- 
lages of  the  county. 

The  Shiawassee  River  flows  across  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  township,  and  following  a  tortuous  course  through 
Shiawassee  township,  returns  again  to  Vernon  to  water  sec- 
tions 6  and  7.  It  is  here  fed  by  a  considerable  stream 
which  rises  in  the  south  and  flowing  north  through  the 
centre  of  the  township  diverges  to  the  west  and  joins  the 
river  on  section  7.  Other  smaller  water-courses,  of  no 
special  importance,  are  found  elsewhere  in  the  township. 

The  surface  of  Vernon  is  varied.  A  pleasing  variation 
is  apparent  without  sudden  or  abrupt  changes,  and  the  pre- 
dominance of  level  land  renders  it  easy  of  tillage.  The 
composition  of  the  soil  embraces  clay  and  sandy  loam.  Clay 
prevails  on  the  timbered-  land  and  in  the  openings,  which 

*  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


VERNON  TOWNSHIP. 


301 


are  found  principally  on  the  southern  border.  Sand  is  quite 
generally  distributed  and  is  not  excessive  in  any  locality. 
The  land  is  not  all  drained,  though  great  improvement  has 
been  witnessed  in  this  particular  within  recent  years.  Wheat 
and  corn  are  the  staple  products  of  Vernon,  the  average 
yield  of  the  former  being  at  least  twenty  bushels  to  the 
acre,  though  some  localities  produce  a  crop  greatly  in  excess 
of  this. 

The  prevailing  timber  of  the  township  is  oak,  maple, 
beech,  ash,  and  walnut,  maple  being  especially  thrifty  in  its 
growth  and  prolific  in  its  yield  of  sap.  The  Chicago  and 
Lake  Huron  Railroad  and  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Rail- 
road traverse  the  township,  the  latter  having  a  station  at 
Vernon  and  one  at  Durand.  The  former  road  has  a  station 
at  Durand  only. 

ORIGINAL   LAND-ENTRIES. 

Following  is  a  list  of  those  persons  who  entered  from 
government,  or  purchased  of  the  State,  the  lands  composing 
the  township  of  Vernon  : 

SECTION  1. 

Acres. 

L.  G.  Gordon  and  J.  Cook,  1836 186.24 

Jasper  Parish,  1836 346.63 

Joel  C.Sawyer,  1854 160 

SECTION  2. 

Joseph  L.  Peters,  1836 94.34 

L.  G.  Gordon  and  J.  Cook,  1836 160 

John  Rheinfrank,  1836 80 

Jasper  Parish,  1836 80 

Samuel  B.  Peters,  1836 80 

William  H.  Sessions,  1837 40 

William  S.  Clark,  1839 63 

SECTION  3. 

William  E.  Peters,  1836 160 

John    Cook,  Alexander   MoArthur,  and  Channcey 

Hurlbut,  1836 190.99 

Edwin  B.  Gregory  and  John  Cook,  1836 160 

Joseph  L.  Peters,  1836 190.47 

SECTION  4. 

Ebenezer  Brown  (3d),  1835 80 

Caleb  Curtis,  1835 156.83 

Edwin  B.  Gregory  and  John  Cook,  1836 160 

James  Lawrence,  1836 80 

Sanford  Clark,  1836 80 

Benjamin  Brown,  1836 112.71 

Jasper  Parish,  1836 40 

SECTION  5. 

Jacob  Wilkinson,  183.S iO 

Samuel  N.  Whitcomb,  1835 40 

Charles  Wilkinson,  1835 61.77 

Abraham  0.  Newman,  1835 80 

John  W.  Newman,  1835 240 

SamnelN.  Whitcomb,  1836 59.24 

John  Burtis,  1836 80 

James  Lawrence,  1836 61.77 

James  B.  Scott,  1836 59.24 

SECTION  6. 

Henry  Leach,  1833 95.75 

James  Wilkinson,  1833 178 

Jacob  Wilkinson,  1833 113.70 

Edward  E.  Perry,  1834 88..S4 

Joseph  Parmenter,  1835 64.47 

George  Kittridge,  1836 102.18 

SECTION  7. 

Ohesley  Blake,  1836 •■ f 

Edwin  B.  Gregory  and  John  Cook,  1836 »U 

Enoch  Jams,  1836 «-18 

Royal  H.  Waller,  1836 80 


Acres. 

Sally  Holly,  18.36 40 

William  Barker,  1836 160 

Orson  Barker,  1836 80 

Dexter  Clark,  1839 40 

SECTION  8. 

Ransom  W.  HoIIcy,  1836 160 

Sally  Holley,  1836 40 

Walter  Lawrence,  1836 80 

Almon  Isham,  1836 40 

Jabez  Clark,  1836 40 

Savina  Hopkins,  1836 40 

Sarah  Clark,  1836 80 

William  Garrison,  1836 40 

Mary  B.  Miller,  1836 80 

John  Long  (State),  1859 40 

SECTION  9. 

James  Lawrence,  1836 160 

Walter  Lawrence,  1836 80 

L.  G.  Gordon  and  J.  Cook,  1836 80 

Hervey  Miller,  1836 80 

Asa  F.  Chalker,  1864 80 

J.  B.  Miller  (State),  1868 120 

A.  J.  Van  Osman  (State),  1864 40 

SECTION  10. 

James  Lawrence,  1836 160 

Josiah  F.  Fowler,  1836 120 

Jasper  Parish,  1836 40 

John  Snyder,  1855 80 

James  F.  Vincent  (State) 40 

Luther  Dennison,         "       1859 40 

Cortland  B.  Stebbins,"       1858 40 

Josiah  Brown,  Jr.,       "       1869 80 

Alex.  W.  Jackson,       "       1865 40 

SECTION  11. 

James  Billington,  1836 40 

Jabez  Clark,  1836 80 

Uri  E.  Howell,  1836 40 

Daniel  Curtis,  1836 80 

John  Burns,  1861 160 

Stephen  Loomis,  1851 40 

Caleb  Curtis,  1854 ". 40 

Alpheus  Stiles  (State),  1864 40 

Solomon  Brown,    "        1868 40 

Joel  Vincent,         "        1864 40 

George  Brown,      "        1869 40 

SECTION  12. 

George  Brown  (State),  1869 40 

Jonathan  Stevens,"        1868 40 

William  Brown,    "        1869 40 

Thomas  Hunger,  "        1868 80 

Joseph  Cobb,  1838 40 

Avery  Guest,  1851 160 

James  Larue,  1861 160 

SECTION  13. 

Nicholas  Bouck,  J.  G.  Gebhardt,  and  David  Dietz, 

1836 320 

Elihu  Ward,  1836 80 

B.  W.  Farnham,  1836 240 

SECTION  14. 

Solomon  F.  Cook,  1836 80 

William  J.  Pease,  1836 80 

B.  W.  Farnham,  1836 240 

Ralph  Wright,  1836 160 

Benjamin  Pellagoon,  1852 40 

James  Smith,  1864 40 

SECTION  15. 

Henry  B.  Young  (State),  1869 40 

C.  W.  Miller,  1836 40 

T.  A.  Fowler,  1836 120 

William  Young,  1836 160 

E.  Van  Wormer,  1836 120 

Hiram  Cornish,  1844 40 

B.  P.  Mayward,  1845 40 

James  Davis,  1847 40 

Hiram  Cornish,  1853 40 


302 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SECTION  16. 

Acres. 

School  section ^^^ 

SECTION  17. 

James  Adnms,  1836 80 

Moses  Wolfer,  1836 80 

Reuben  West,  1836 80 

William  K.  Reed,  1836 80 

Isaac  Barker,  1836 240 

Austin  Depue,  1836 40 

James  Collins,  1836 40 

SECTION  18. 

Benjamin  Williams,  1836 120 

Enoch  Jones 120.60 

B.  Y.  Barker 126.32 

J.  Thompson  and  Lyon 200 

SECTION  19. 

Joseph  Baker,  1836 40 

Levi  Frost,  1836 80 

James  Pennell,  1836 80 

E.  P.  Hastings,  1836 46.12 

Enos  Welch,  1836 80 

Joel  Tuttle,  1836 40 

Edmund  Foster,  1836 80 

N.  H.  Johnson,  1836 40 

Levi  Cook,  1836 45.92 

A.  B.  Webster,  1836 40 

SECTION   20. 

Joseph  Heath,  1836 80 

James  Pennell,  1836 80 

James  Adams,  1836 160 

Henry  Van  Wormer,  1836 80 

James  T.  Chittenden,  1836 80 

George  Jasperrood,  1836 80 

Mary  Van  Wormer,  1836 40 

Daniel  Van  Wormer,  1836 40 

SECTION  21. 

Aaron  Swain,  1836 40 

Sylvanus  Ewell,  1836 160 

Alanson  Foster 40 

Samuel  Leonard,  1836 80 

Peter  Desnoyers 80 

George  W,  Armstrong 40 

Benoni  Morton,  1836 40 

Jesse  and  Wettley  Irons 80 

Jasper  Parish 40 

Mary  B.  Miller,  1836 40 

SECTION  22. 

James  A.  Young,  1836 40 

John  D.  Flower,  1836 40 

John  Young,  1836 40 

Joshua  Coomer,  1836 80 

Chauncey  Hammond,  1836 80 

Ralph  Wright,  1836..., 360 

SECTION  23. 

William  Hay,  1836 480 

Ralph  Wright,  1836 160 

SECTION  24. 

William  Thompson,  1836 320 

L.  G.  Gordon  and  J.  Cook,  1836 160 

S.  Bliss  and  S.  Graves,  1836 ,'„  160 

SECTION  25. 

TrumhuU  Gary,  1835 80 

George  Kissam,  1836 80 

William  H.  H.  Sheldon,  1836 80 

Samuel  W.  Harding,  1836 80 

W.  and  J.  Hopkirk,  1836 160 

S.  Bliss  and  S.  Graves,  1836 ]]"  160 

SECTION  26. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 80 

Abel  Millington,  1836 80 

Edward  Chase,  1836 .................'     80 

Martin  M.  Earns,  1836 80 

William  A.  Gilbert,  1836 80 

Beebe  Truesdell,  1836 240 


SECTION   27. 

Acres. 

Noah  Bovier,  1834 40 

Abel  Millington,  1835 80 

Stephen  J.  Durkee,  1836 40 

Sarah  G.  Moore,  1836 80 

Samuel  W.Harding,  1836 80 

William  A.  Gilbert,  1836 80 

L.  G.  Gordon  and  J.  Cook,  1836 160 

James  Horton,  1836 80 

SECTION  28. 

James  Rutan,  1834 40 

Trnmbull  Cary,  1835 80 

Alanson  Foster,  1836 .- 160 

Linus  K.  Minor,  1836 280 

John  R.Martin,  1836 40 

S.  Bliss  and  S.  Graves,  1836 40 

SECTION  29. 

John  Smedley,  1834 40 

Samuel  W.  Harding,  1836 80 

Loren  Baldwin,  1836 80 

Asa  Pierce,  1836 40 

Josiah  Pierce,  1836 40 

S.  Bliss  and  S.  Graves,  1836 280 

John  Shepherd,  1836 80 

SECTION    30. 

Josiah  Pierce,  1833 74.65 

Alfred  L.  and  Benjamin  0.  Williams,  1833 42.63 

William  Black,  1834 76.30 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 80 

Cornelius  W.  Miller,  1836 135.64 

Loren  Baldwin,  1836 160 

SECTION  31. 

Nathaniel  G.  Phillips,  1853 390.78 

Joseph  Grace,  1853 40 

John  A.  Loomis,  1863 80 

Nathaniel  G.  Phillips,  1854 90 

SECTION   32. 

Nathaniel  G.  Phillips,  1853 12.40 

Seth  Frost,  1853 80 

Thomas  Had,  1853 19.20 

Luke  P.  Smedley,  185.3 36 

N.  G.  Phillips,  1863 18.20 

Henry  J.  Cartough,  1853 40 

Jacob  Hiller,  1853 217.30 

Henry  R.  Dean,  1853 120 

James  M.  Devon,  1853 80 

SECTION   33. 

Uriah  Dubois,  1835 .' 80 

John  Rutan,  1836 40 

Samuel  W.  Harding,  1836 80 

Linus  K.  Minor,  1836 160 

S.  Bliss  and  S.  Graves,  1836 280 

SECTION   34. 

Mary  Castle,  1835 160 

Abel  Millington,  1835 80 

Uriah  Dubois,  1838 80 

George  Dowles,  1835 80 

Uriah  Dubois,  1836 40 

Abel  Millington,  1836 160 

Eli  Shattuck,  1847 40 

SECTION   35. 

Trumbull  Cary,  1835 80 

A.  Millington,  1835 80 

Edward  Chase,  1836 80 

Martin  M.  Earns,  1836 80 

Luointhe  Chase,  1836 40 

Randolph  Manning,  1836 80 

William  Merrill,  1836 200 

SECTION   36. 

BlishaP.  Davis,  1836 160 

Trumbull  Cary,  1836 80 

George  Kissam,  1836 80 

Samuel  W.  Harding,  1836 160 

John  Sturdevant,  1836 160 


VERNON  TOWNSHIP. 


303 


SETTLEMENTS   AND  SETTLERS. 

The  year  1833  witnessed  the  advent  of  the  earliest  set- 
tler within  the  present  boundaries  of  Vernon.  Henry 
Leach  came  during  the  summer  of  that  year,  having  aban- 
doned the  attractions  of  the  city  of  Detroit  for  the  life  of 
a  pioneer.  He  entered  about  one  hundred  acres  on  section 
6,  and  began  at  once  the  process  of  underbrushing  and 
clearing.  Tinkelpaugh,  Swain,  Smith,  and  Baker  were 
already  located  in  Shiawassee,  and  it  is  probable  that  with 
one  of  these  families  Mr.  Leach  found  hospitable  shelter 
while  erecting  his  log  cabin.  Not  a  settler  had  yet  broken 
ground  in  Vernon,  and  very  little  land  had  been  entered. 
He  remained  three  years  and  accomplished  an  improvement 
embracing  twenty  acres,  after  which  he  removed  to  Soiota. 
The  isolated  life  he  led  seemed  disturbed  by  the  presence  of 
settlers,  and  their  arrival  became  the  signal  for  his  depar- 
ture. He  ultimately  removed  to  California,  where  his 
death  occurred.  A  daughter,  born  in  1836,  was  the  first 
birth  in  the  township.  A  squatter  named  Lathrop  arrived 
from  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  located  also  upon  section  6 
the  same  year,  where  he  built  a  bark  shanty.  He  assumed 
to  be  a  surveyor,  and  had  with  him  some  evidences  of  the 
statement  in  various  implements  of  the  craft.  He,  how- 
ever, cleared  no  land,  and  manifested  no  energy  either  in 
agricultural  or  professional  labor,  and  soon  after  made  his 
exit. 

Jacob  Wilkinson,  in  1833,  entered  forty  acres  on  section 
6,  and  may  practically  be  regarded  as  the  second  settler  in 
order  of  arrival.  He  found  Leach  occupying  his  rude 
shanty  and  making  progress  in  his  pioneer  labor. 

The  township  was  a  dense  forest,  and  deer,  bears,  and 
wolves  were  the  unmolested  possessors  of  the  soil.  As 
aggressive  as  were  the  latter  animals,  the  most  formidable 
foes  appeared  in  the  mosquitoes  and  gnats,  which  made  life 
a  burden  to  the  invader  of  their  domain. 

In  1835,  Samuel  N.  Whitcomb  left  Oakland  County  and 
entered  a  fractional  eighth  of  section  5,  upon  which  he 
built  a  log  house  and  immediately  commenced  the  labor  of 
chopping.  He  found  Indians  numerous,  and  though  not 
aggressive,  often  annoying  by  the  frequency  of  their  visits. 
Mr.  Whitcomb  remained  for  several  years  in  the  township, 
and  made  much  progress  in  the  improvement  of  his  pos- 
sessions, but  finding  the  picturesque  and  rolling  lands  of 
Livingston  County  more  attractive  than  his  home,  ex- 
changed with  Cyrus  K.  Angel,  and  became  a  resident  of 
the  latter  county.  Mr.  Angel  remained  a  resident  of  the 
township  until  his  death. 

James  Rutan,  who  afterwards  attained  a  judicial  position 
in  the  county,  entered  in  1834  forty  acres  on  section  34, 
and  became  a  settler  in  1835.  He  found  but  few  indica- 
tions of  progress,  and  devoted  himself  to  hard  labor  and 
various  neighborly  acts  to  later  comers  during  the  early 
years  of  his  life.  At  a  subsequent  period  he  became  im- 
mersed in  professional  duties,  which  absorbed  his  time. 

John  Smedley  entered,  in  1834,  forty  acres  on  section 
29,  upon  which  he  located  two  years  later.  He  erected  a 
lo<r  structure  for  his  family,  and  devoted  his  energies  aE 
once  to  the  conversion  of  this  forest  into  a  productive  farm, 
which  he  continued  to  cultivate  and  improve  until  his 
death.     The  homestead  is  now  occupied  by  the  widow  and 


one  son,  while  his  sons,  L.  I.  and  Jefferson  Smedley,  reside 
on  sections  1  and  33,  respectively. 

Josiah  Pierce  entered  about  seventy-five  acres  of  land  on 
section  30  in  1833,  and  an  additional  forty  on  section  29 
in  1836.  He  located  the  same  year  upon  the  latter,  and 
began  his  pioneer  labor  of  chopping,  erecting  a  log  house, 
and  sowing  wheat.  He  soon  after  engaged  in  the  county 
politics,  and  was  choSen  as  the  first  county  treasurer. 

Noah  Bovier  also  arrived  in  1 836,  and  located  east  of 
Mr.  Smedley  on  section  27,  where  he  entered  forty  acres  in 
1834;  but  later  he  removed  to  forty  acres  upon  section  31. 
He  became  involved  in  some  complications  connected  with 
the  administration  of  the  business  of  the  county,  and  did 
not  long  remain  a  resident  in  the  township. 

William  K.  Heed,  formerly  a  resident  of  Tompkins 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  entered  in  1836  eighty  acres  on  section  17, 
which  at  the  date  of  purchase  was  entirely  uncleared. 
With  him  came  six  sons,  who  aided  in  cutting  the  road 
from  the  Shiawassee  Exchange  to  their  land,  which  was  as 
yet  unopened.  On  arriving  at  section  19  the  family  en- 
camped in  the  forest  from  Friday  until  the  following  Mon- 
day, improvising  such  rude  shelter  as  was  possible  with  the 
material  at  hand.  Abram  Rutan  was  then  employed  to 
convey  the  household  wares  on  an  ox-sled  to  their  destina- 
tion. A  hut  of  sheets  and  boughs  was  constructed,  and 
underneath  it  a  bed  was  spread  in  which  all  slumbered 
peacefully.  A  few  days  later  a  log  cabin  was  completed, 
and  soon  after  a  small  clearing  was  effected  and  sown  with 
wheat.  Mr.  Reed  resided  upon  this  farm  until  his  death 
in  March,  1868,  when  his  son,  George  W.,  became  owner  of 
the  homestead.  His  other  sons,  five  in  number,  are  also 
residents  of  Vernon,  Andrew  W.  having  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  17  ;  Abner  G.,  the  same  number  of 
acres  on  section  7  ;  Rasselas,  ninety  on  section  17  ;  William 
J.,  forty  on  section  16  ;  and  John,  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  on  section  7. 

Joseph  Parmenter  emigrated  from  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  purchased  fifty-four  acres  on  section  6  in  1835.  But 
few  settlers  had  arrived,  and  Vernon  was  yet  a  wilderness. 
He  remained  with  William  Black  in  Shiawassee  until  a 
house  was  built,  to  which  the  family  soon  after  removed. 
The  labor  of  chopping  was  at  once  begun,  and  with  the  aid 
of  his  father  Mr.  Parmenter  improved  five  acres  the  first 
year,  which  was  soon  after  covered  with  crops.  He  was 
actively  identified  with  the  interests  of  Vernon  until  1849, 
when  he  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Shiawassee. 

Another  pioneer  from  Oakland  County  was  Jabez  Clark, 
who  arrived  in  1836  and  entered  forty  acres  of  land  on 
section  8.  He  remained  with  William  K.  Reed  while 
erecting  a  home,  after  which  he  proceeded  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  farm  he  had  purchased.  Mr.  Reed  and  Moses 
Wolfen  were  his  nearest  neighbors.  Mr.  Clark  left  the 
township  for  a  short  time,  but  returned  and  remained  for 
years  upon  the  place,  though  his  death  occurred  at  the 
house  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  A.  D.  Herrington. 

Moses  Wolfen,  a  former  resident  of  Tompkins  County, 
in  the  Empire  State,  came  to  the  county  of  Oakland  in 
1834,  and  to  Vernon  in  1836.  He  entered  eighty  acres  on 
section  17,  and  built  a  log  cabin,  finding  a  temporary  abode 
meanwhile  with  John  Reed  on  section  7.    With  the  assist- 


304 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


ance  of  his  son  he  made  an  extensive  improvement  soon 
after  his  arrival,  and  continued  to  reside  upon  the  farm 
until  declining  years  found  him  enjoying  the  protecting 
care  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Reuben  West,  where  he  died  in 
1871.  At  Mr.  Wolfen's  house  occurred  the  earliest  mar- 
riage,— that  of  Moses  Melvine  to  Catharine  Wolfen  in 
1838. 

Henry  Miller  removed  from  Oakland  County  in  1836, 
and  entered  eighty  acres  on  section  9  the  same  year. 
Ephraim  Wright,  of  Shiawassee,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr. 
Miller,  had  preceded  him,  and  with  him  he  found  a  cordial 
greeting  on  his  arrival.  He  did  much  to  make  tlie  farm 
productive,  and  chose  it  as  his  dwelling-place  until  his  later 
removal  to  Durand,  where  he  died. 

Reuben  West,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Moses  Wolfen,  re- 
moved from  Cortland  County  in  1836,  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 17,  where  he  entered  eighty  acres.  He  was  no  excep- 
tion to  his  neighbors  in  the  routine  of  labor  he  pursued, 
having  first  exercised  his  skill  in  the  construction  of  a  house 
of  logs,  and  later  replaced  it  by  a  frame  dwelling  of  more 
extended  proportions.  The  land,  under  his  skillful  manipu- 
tion,  rapidly  became  productive,  and  won  for  Mr.  West  the 
reputation,  which  he  still  enjoys,  of  being  one  of  the  most 
thorough  farmers  in  Vernon. 

Nathaniel  Chalker,  formerly  of  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  pur- 
cha.sed  of  John  Cook  a  farm  entered  by  him  on  section  3. 
This  purchase  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  was  made 
in  1837,  and  the  land  having  been  mortgaged,  necessitated 
a  double  payment  from  Mr.  Chalker.  Two  sons  accompa- 
nied him,  and  the  trio  remained  with  Benjamin  Brown, 
who  had  earlier,  during  the  same  year,  entered  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  acres  on  section  4.  After  the  completion  of 
their  log  structure  and  the  sowing  of  wheat  to  aflFord  sub- 
sistence for  the  following  year,  which  embraced  a  field  of 
five  acres,  their  attention  was  directed  to  the  reception  of 
the  family,  who  arrived  the  following  fall.  Mr.  Chalker 
brought  with  him  cooking-utensils,  and  expected  to  have 
boarded  himself,  but  having  found  a  family  near  by,  aban- 
doned the  project.  Two  sons  of  Mr.  Chalker  still  reside 
in  the  township, — Calvin  C,  who  has  one  hundred  acres  on 
section  1,  and  Chandler  B.,  whose  residence  is  located  upon 
one  hundred  and  six  acres  on  section  3.  The  latter  gentle- 
man has  been  many  times  elected  to  the  office  of  supervisor 
of  Vernon. 

George  Herriogton,  another  emigrant  of  1836,  purchased 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  upon  section  20.  He  was  a  former 
resident  of  the  Empire  State,  and  fully  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  perseverance  peculiar  to  the  pioneers 
of  that  early  day.  This  land  he  cleared  and  cultivated,  and 
resided  upon  it  until  his  death.  The  farm  is  now  occupied 
by  M.  0.  Herrington. 

John  K.  Smith,  a  former  resident  of  Pontiac,  Oakland 
Co.,  arrived  in  this  township  in  February,  1837.  He  lo- 
cated upon  eighty  acres  on  section  25,  and  was  assisted  in 
the  work  of  cleariug  by  his  two  sons,  Nathan  M.  and  B. 
F.  Smith,  the  latter  of  whom  gave  his  life  in  battle  for  the 
cause  of  freedom.  Nathan  M.  is  still  a  resident  of  Vernon, 
where  he  has  eighty  acres  on  section  27.  In  1840  Mr. 
Smith,  having  been  elected  to  the  office  of  county  clerk, 
changed  his  residence  to  Corunna,  and  on  the  expiration  of 


his  term  of  office  removed  to  California,  but  returned  again 
to  the  county-seat,  and  died  in  1861. 

Ezekicl  Van  Wormer  came  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1837,  and  located  upon  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
which  he  had  entered  the  year  previous,  on  section  15, 
the  farm  being  now  occupied  by  M.  V.  Russell.  It  was 
entirely  uncleared  on  his  arrival,  and  during  the  time  re- 
quired to  erect  a  comfortable  habitation  he  remained  at 
the  log  house  of  George  Herrington.  He  cleared  the  land 
and  afterwards  erected  a  second  log  house,  more  capacious 
than  the  first,  in  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1861. 
Two  sons  are  now  residents  of  the  township, — A.  J.  having 
eighty  acres  on  section  16,  and  an  additional  forty  on  sec- 
tion 9,  upon  which  he  has  built  a  substantial  residence. 
The  farm  of  Abel  Van  Wormer  lies  on  sections  11  and  14, 
and  is  well  improved,  with  a  modern  dwelling  upon  it. 

James  Van  Auken  preceded  Mr.  Herrington  by  one 
year,  and  purchased  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  Henry 
Leach,  on  section  6,  together  with  other  lands  adjacent. 
He  made  very  considerable  improvements  on  this  farm, 
upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death.  It  is  now  occupied 
by  his  son,  H.  J.  Van  Auken. 

William  Garrison  removed  from  New  Jersey  to  Oakland 
County  in  1836,  and  to  the  township  of  Vernon  in  the 
spring  of  1838,  purchasing  of  Almon  Isham  forty  acres  on 
section  8.  He  had  previously  entered  (in  1836)  forty 
acres  on  the  same  section.  On  the  former  land  had  been 
erected  a  small  cabin,  and  a  few  acres  bore  some  slight  evi- 
dence of  improvement.  Mr.  Garrison  devoted  his  energies 
entirely  to  farming  pursuits,  and  occupied  the  land  until  his 
death,  in  1858.  Four  sons  accompanied  him  to  Michigan, 
two  of  whom  died  on  the  farm.  The  remaining  two  are 
actively  engaged  in  business  pursuits  in  the  village  of 
Vernon. 

Lewis  Sayre  settled  upon  section  24,  having  left  New 
York  State  in  1839.  The  land  was  on  his  arrival  still  in 
its  original  condition  of  forest.  Mrs.  Sayre  was  equal  to 
her  husband  in  the  ambition  she  evinced,  and  together 
they  cleared  and  cultivated  the  farm.  Their  log  house  was 
afterwards  superseded  by  a  spacious  frame  residence,  which 
is  still  occupied,  and  which,  with  the  competency  that  labor 
has  brought,  they  are  now  able  to  enjoy.  Their  sons, 
Charles  and  Daniel  Sayre,  are  owners  of  the  extensive 
saw-mill  on  section  25,  familiarly  known  to  the  towns- 
people. 

The  earliest  death  in  Vernon,  so  far  as  remembered,  oc- 
curred in  1838,  at  the  house  of  S.  N.  Whitcomb.  It  was 
that  of  a  settler  named  Howell,  who  had  been  engaged  in 
clearing  land  for  Mr.  Whitcomb,  and  had  been  for  many 
weeks  in  feeble  health.  Dr.  Weir,  of  Shiawassee,  and  Dr. 
Pattison,  of  Owosso,  were  the  earliest  physicians  in  Vernon. 
Elder  B.  B.  Brigham,  of  Shiawasseetown,  conducted  the 
first  religious  services. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Sickles  came  to  the  township  and  located 
upon  section  25,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land. 
He  found  no  improvements,  and  the  excellent  farm  later 
owned  was  wholly  the  result  of  his  own  industry.  His 
death  occurred  upon  the  homestead,  which  is  now  occu- 
pied by  his  son  Emery,  while  John  and  James,  the  other 
sons,  have  well-improved  farms  in  the  township. 


VERNON  TOWNSHIP. 


305 


Following  is  a  list  of  the 
in  1840 : 
George  Kissam. 
Trumbull  Gary. 
John  Sturdevant. 
Thomas  Bentley. 
Lorin  Baldwin. 
Gordon  and  Cook. 
Stephen  F.  Drake. 
John  B.  Morton. 
Bliss  and  Graves. 
John  Shepherd. 
Mark  Norris. 
A.  L.  &  B.  0.  Williams. 
William  Sayre. 
Abel  Millington. 
Edward  Chase. 
Cynthia  Chase. 
William  Merrill. 
Daniel  Van  Wormer. 
Chauncey  Hammond. 
Randolph  Manning. 
James  Smith. 
Paul  Spofford. 
Mortimer  Wadhams. 
Henry  Catelazer. 
Augustus  Crane. 
H.  V.  R.  Hawkins. 
John  P.  Clark. 
William  P.  Patrick. 
Saunders  and  Kittredge. 
Lansing  B.  Mizner. 
Clark  and  Warren. 
Z.  B.  Webb. 
Calvin  P.  Austin. 
Henry  C.  Walker. 
Samuel  Wilkinson. 
Daniel  R.  Carpenter. 
Squire  Adams. 
David  Sutton. 
Alpha  Carr. 
Christopher  Colson. 
George  W.  Wells. 
John  Thomas. 
Crane  and  Freeborn. 
Henry  Miller. 
Edward  G.  Faile. 
Charles  West. 
Artemas  Spoor. 
H.  Richardson. 
Walter  Lawrence. 
Enoch  James. 
Dexter  Clark. 
William  Barker. 
Daniel  Curtis. 
James  Billington. 
Nicholas  Bouck. 
B.  W.  Farnow. 
Elias  Ward. 
S.  F.  Cook. 
39 


tax-payers  of  Vernon  township 

William  Pease. 
Theron  A.  Flowers. 
William  Young. 
Isaac  Barker. 
Thompson  &  Lyon. 
Benjamin  Barker. 
E.  P.  Hastings. 
Levi  Cook. 
N.  H.  Johnson. 
William  A.  Beers. 
Enos  Welch. 
M.  Holmes. 
Jasper  Parrish. 
Samuel  E.  Peters. 
John  Reinfraub. 
Joseph  L.  Peters. 
William  E.  Peters. 

Gilbert. 

Cook  &  Gregory. 
John  Burtis. 
John  W.  Newman. 
Daniel  Johnson. 
George  Kittridge. 
Royal  W.  Walker. 
Orson  Barker. 
George  Jasperson. 
George  W.  Armstrong. 
Samuel  Leonard. 
Joshua  Cooman. 
William  J.  Hopwich. 
Herman  Van  Vicht. 
James  H.  Jerome. 
John  Cogan. 
Samuel  A.  Goddard. 
Isaac  Smith. 
Jacob  L.  Larvalien. 
George  Horner. 
Jacob  Woodruff. 
Edward  G.  Faile. 
T.  F.  Burns. 
Charles  Taylor. 
Nathaniel  C.  Peckham. 
Charles  Hillsbury. 
N.  R.  Randolph. 
Jabez  Williams. 
John  A.  Weeks. 
Edwin  Randolph. 
Lester  Catlin. 
C.  C.  Hascall. 
J.  S.  Bagg. 
Rowland  Sprague. 
Lorenzo  Bankman. 
Thomas  Bigfrid. 
David  Halstead. 
Samuel  Meagre. 
John  F.  Bliss. 
David  Halstead. 
Almon  Mack. 


Charles  Taylor. 
Abram  Boekhover. 
Gideon  Lee. 
James  C.  Goodell. 
Lanson  Lacy. 
Benjamin  Dutton,  Jr. 
H.  G.  Bills. 
Frank  Taylor. 


John  F.  Bliss. 
John  B.  Valce. 
Jacob  B.  Reed. 
Louisa  Cronk. 
Benjamin  Bradley. 
Manson  Taber. 
Jacob  B.  Bird. 


William  Lovejoy,  formerly  of  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  settled 
upon  section  27  in  1844,  having  purchased  eighty  acres. 
Marvin  Wilcox,  who  had  preceded  him  and  settled  upon 
section  35,  was  the  nearest  resident.  Samuel  Harding  was 
located  upon  section  34  when  Mr.  Lovejoy  came  to  Vernon 
the  year  previous  on  a  prospecting  tour,  but  died  during 
the  interval  before  returning.  A  brother  of  Mr.  Lovejoy 
occupied  the  place  for  a  year,  and  effected  a  clearing  of  ten 
acres,  after  which  he  removed  to  Ingham  County,  and  its 
purchaser  continued  the  improvements  already  begun.  Tn 
1878  he  removed  to  Durand  and  erected  a  convenient 
dwelling,  which  is  his  present  residence.  Daniel  McCoUom, 
one  of  the  numerous  pioneers  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
arrived  in  1846,  and  purchased  of  the  State  some  years 
later  a  farm  on  section  16,  known  as  school  lands.  He  had 
previously  been  employed  in  various  portions  of  the  town- 
bhip,  and  found  his  services  much  in  demand.  A  log  house 
was  built  and  five  acres  improved  the  first  year,  after  which 
steady  progress  was  made  in  the  clearing  and  cultivating  of 
the  land.  In  1876  a  spacious  residence  was  erected,  which 
is  now  the  family  home. 

Thomas  Smith  came  in  1847,  and  purchased  the  farm  on 
sections  33  and  34  which  had  been  partially  cleared  by 
Samuel  Harding.  He  continued  the  improvements  already 
begun,  and  rendered  the  farm  very  productive.  Mr.  Smith 
is  still  a  resident  of  Vernon,  as  are  also  his  sons,  Albert  and 
M.  S.  Smith,  both  being  located  on  section  34. 

Samuel  Patchel  emigrated  from  New  Jersey  in  1848,  and 
settled  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  9.  William  Grunsley, 
who  had  located  on  the  same  section,  offered  him  hospitality 
while  erecting  the  log  house,  to  which  he  removed  on  its 
completion.  He  chopped  but  little  at  first,  but  ultimately 
cleared  a  productive  farm.  In  1866,  Mr.  Patchel  erected 
his  present  substantial  house  and  abandoned  his  primitive 
abode.  Caleb  Conrad  preceded  Mr.  Patchel,  moving  to  the 
township  from  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  uncleared  land  on  section  5,  upon  which  he 
did  the  first  chopping.  A  log  cabin  was  first  erected, 
which  was  later  replaced  by  a  comfortable  dwelling,  his 
present  home. 

Edward  Holmes,  formerly  of  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  set- 
tled in  1818  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  19,  which  were 
wholly  uncleared.  Roads  had  been  surveyed  but  not  im- 
proved, and  travel  was  much  impeded  by  the  obstruc- 
tions encountered.  Hampton  Bentley  had  already  made  a 
considerable  clearing  on  section  20,  and  was  the  nearest 
settler.  With  him  Mr.  Holmes  remained  while  construct- 
ing a  temporary  abode.  He  cultivated  this  farm,  and  in 
1874  erected  his  present  home.  He  is  still  actively  engaged 
in  farming. 

With  Mr.  Holnies  came  0.  F.  Perry,  who  settled  on  forty 


306 


HISTOKY   OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


acres  on  section  17,  which  was  unimproved.  He  occupied 
this  farm  for  several  years  and  then  removed  to  his  present 
estate  of  eighty  acres  on  section  19. 

Horace  Hovey,  a  pioneer  from  Ohio,  purchased  an  ex- 
tensive tract  of  land  on  section  20  in  1850,  and  resided 
upon  this  land  until  his  death.  His  widow,  now  in  ad- 
vanced years,  occupies  the  family  residence,  her  sons  being 
located  near  her  in  the  township. 

John  Jewell,  formerly  of  Genesee  County,  purchased,  in 

1854,  eighty  acres  on  section  22,  upon  which  a  small  clear- 
ing had  been  made  by  a  settler  named  Hammond,  who  en- 
tered the  land  and  liquidated  the  indebtedness  upon  it  by 
the  sale  of  maple-sugar.  It  was  subsequently  owned  by 
Horace  Pratt,  of  whom  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Jewell. 
He  occupied  the  log  house  and  labored  upon  the  farm  until 
his  death  in  1869,  after  which  it  came  into  the  possession 
of  its  present  owner,  Dr.  J.  M.  Shaw.  Three  sons  of  Mr. 
Jewell  are  residents  of  the  township,  two  of  whom  are  car- 
penters and  the  third  a  wagon-maker  in  Durand,  where  he 
is  a  considerable  owner  of  land  adjacent  to  the  village. 

Peter  Randolph  removed  from  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  in 

1855,  and  purchased  of  William  Hammond  eighty  acres  on 
section  7,  the  latter  having  erected  a  log  house  and  partially 
improved  the  land.  Some  years  later  he  removed  one  mile 
east  on  the  same  section,  where  he  at  present  resides.  His 
son,  H.  W.  Randolph,  has  been  a  resident  of  Vernon  vil- 
lage since  1864.  Many  other  residents  of  Vernon  have 
been  active  in  advancing  its  interests  and  added  greatly  to 
its  development,  but  the  time  of  their  settlement  does  not 
place  them  among  its  pioneers. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION   AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

The  township  of  Vernon  was  originally  embraced  in  the 
township  of  Shiawassee,  and  was  erected  a  separate  town- 
ship by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  (approved  March  11, 
1837),  which  provided  and  declared  "  That  all  that  portion 
of  the  county  of  Shiawassee  designated  in  the  United 
States  survey  as  township  6  north,  of  range  4  east,  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  set  oif  and  organized  as  a  township  by 
the  name  of  Vernon,  and  the  first  township-meeting  shall 
be  held  at  the  house  of  William  H.  Reed." 

Afterwards  Vernon  included  township  7  north,  of  range 
4  east,  which  became  a  part  of  Vernon  March  21,  1839, 
by  legislative  enactment  of  that  date.  In  1843  it  was  de- 
tached and  became  the  township  of  Venice,  reducing  Ver- 
non to  its  present  limits. 

The  first  township-meeting  of  Vernon  was  held,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  provisions  of  the  organizing  act,  at  the 
house  of  William  H.  Reed,  on  the  third  day  of  April, 
1837.  R.  W.  Holley  was  chosen  moderator  and  James  Ru- 
tan  clerk,  and  the  following-named  officers  were  elected  for 
the  year  1837  :  Supervisor,  Ransom  W.  Holley,  Township 
Clerk,  James  Rutan ;  Justices,  R.  W.  Holley,  James  Van 
Auken ;  Highway  Commissioners,  John  Smedley,  R.  W. 
Holley,  C.  W.  Miller;  Assessors,  Noah  Power,  Marvin 
Wilcox,  Joseph  Parmenter;  Collector,  S.  N.  Whitcomb ; 
School  Inspectors,  James  Rutan,  R.  W.  Holley,  James  Van 
Auken ;  Constables,  Noah  Bovier,  8.  N.  Whitcomb. 

During  succeeding  years,  from  1838  to  1880  inclusive, 


the  following-named  township  officers  have  been  elected  in 

Vernon,  viz. : 

SUPERVISORS. 


1838.  James  Rutan. 
1839-40.  John  H.  Smith. 

1841.  George  Herrington. 

1842.  R.  W.  Holley. 

1843.  John  F.  Swain. 
1844-45.  R.W.  Holley. 
1846-48.  JoelB.  Goss. 
1849-53.  R.  W.  Holley. 
1854-55.  J.  S.  Bentley. 
1856.  R.W.  Holley. 


1857-59.  R.  Reed. 

1860.  L.  D.  Jones. 

1861.  R.  Reed. 
1862-68.  L.  D.  Jones. 

1869.  G.  W.  Allison. 

1870.  Chandler  B.  Chalkor. 

1871.  Perry  B.  Swain. 
1872-77.  C.  B.  Chalker. 
1878.  R.  Reed. 
1879-80.  John  Patohell. 


TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 


1838.  C.  B.  Chalker. 
1839-40.  James  Rutan. 

1841.  R.  W.  Holley. 

1842.  Nelson  Ferry. 

1843.  William  Lovejoy. 

1844.  Samuel  Lovejoy. 

1845.  George  B.  Runyan. 

1846.  Sylvanus  Easell. 
1847-48.  William  Lovejoy. 

1849.  L.  D.  Jones. 

1850.  Monroe  Holley. 

1851.  Milo  Herrington. 
1852-54.  R.  Reed. 

1855.  M.S.  Angel. 

1856.  L.  D.  Jones. 
1857-59.  James  Garrison. 
1860.  Michael  Bennett. 


1861.  Horace  F.  Miner. 
1862-63.  A.  P.  Westoott. 

1864.  W.  L.Tilden. 

1865.  A.  McCuroher. 

1866.  W.  S.  Pinney. 

1867.  A.  MoKercher. 

1868.  Milo  Herrington. 

1869.  Charles  Herriman. 
1870-71.  Milo  Herrington. 

1872.  Henry  Clark. 

1873.  William  R.  Campbell. 

1874.  William  Livermore. 

1875.  AmosB.  Bliss. 

1876.  Richard  Holinan. 
1877-78.  W.  H.  Putnam. 
1879-80.  I.  J.  Kellogg. 


TREASURERS. 


1838-40.  R.  W.  Holley. 

1853-54.  Milo  Herrington. 

1841. 

F.  G.  Eggleston. 

1855.  Chester  Herrington. 

1842- 

43.  William  Garrison. 

1856.  George  W.  Goss. 

1844. 

John  Young. 

1857-60.  Henry  T.  Weeden. 

1845. 

John  F.  Swain. 

1861-63.  William  L.  Tilden. 

1846. 

William  Lovejoy. 

1864-65.  Charles  S.  Clark. 

1847. 

Milo  Herrington. 

1866-69.  T.  J.  Winans. 

1848. 

William  Garrison, 

1870.  Peter  Patohell. 

1849- 

50.  Milo  Herrington. 

1871-78.  Charles  P.  Weeden. 

1851- 

52.  William  Garrison. 

1879-80.  M.  H.  Reed. 

HIGHWAY 

COMMISSIONERS. 

1838. 

E.  Brown. 

1847.  James  Baird. 

John  Smedley. 

John  Smedley. 

Samuel  W.  Harding. 

Benjamin  Brown. 

1839. 

John  Youngs. 

1848.  Marvin  Wilcox. 

William  K.  Reed.  - 

1849.  George  Herrington. 

C.  B.  Chalker. 

1850.  James  Scougale. 

1840. 

Noah  Bovier. 

1851.  George  Herrington. 

H.  Herrington. 

1852.  Jacob  Wilkinson. 

Nelson  Ferry. 

1853.  James  Scougale. 

1841. 

Heman  Herrington. 

1854.  George  Herrington. 

Marvin  Wilcox. 

1855.  C.  B.  Chalker. 

Nelson  Ferry. 

1856.  James  Scougale. 

1842. 

Marvin  Wilcox. 

1857.  Marvin  Wilcox. 

Heman  Herrington. 

1858.  John  Reed. 

Daniel  I.  Lipe. 

1859.  Monroe  Holley. 

1843. 

W.  B.  Barker. 

1860.  Ephraim  Andrews. 

H.  Herrington. 

1861.  Charles  S.  Clark. 

Marvin  Wilcox. 

William  D.  Garrison. 

1844. 

C.  B.  Chalker. 

1862.  James  M.  McLean. 

Marvin  Wilcox. 

1863.  Ephraim  Andrews. 

Nicholas  Huff. 

1864.  William  W.  Livermore 

1845. 

Nicholas  Huff. 

1865.  James  McLean. 

William  B.  Barker. 

1866-67.  John  Reed. 

Jacob  Wilkinson. 

1868.  A.  W.  Angel. 

1846 

G.  B.  Runyan. 

1869.  Henry  T.  Weeden. 

William  Lovejoy. 

Charles  Herriman. 

Benjamin  Brown. 

1870.  C.  0.  Chalker. 

William  K.  Reed,  father  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
was  born  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  in  1794,  and  lived  several  years  be- 
yond the  allotted  existence  of  man,  experiencing  all  the  hard- 
ships and  fascinations  of  a  Michigan  pioneer  life ;  and  in  his 
declining  years,  having  escaped  mentally  the  withering  influ- 
ence of  age,  he  brightened  his  fireside  by  many  pleasing 
reminiscences  from  his  own  life.  Among  the  early  memories 
was  the  soldier  life  of  1812,  to  which  he  always  reverted 
with  a  degree  of  pleasure  only  excelled  by  that  of  recalling 
the  day  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Minerva  Woolcot, 
with  whom  he  spent  fifty  years  of  his  life. 

In  1822  or  1823  he  removed  to  Dryden,  Tompkins  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  resided  about  fourteen  years.  In  1836 
we  find  him  and  his  family  en  route  for  Michigan,  traveling 
by  Cayuga  Lake  from  Ithaca,  thence  by  the  Erie  Canal  to 
Bufialo,  where  they  took  a  boat  for  Detroit.  July  25, 
1836,  he  came  to  Shiawassee  County,  and  settled  in  Vernon 
township,  his  early  home  marking  the  place  where  the 
first  meeting  was  held  to  organize  the  township,  and  also 
where  the  first  election  occurred,  in  April,  1837.  His  death 
occurred  in  1868,  his  wife  surviving  him  but  one  year. 

They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  Rasselas 
was  the  sixth,  and  was  born  in  Tompkins  County,  Oct.  18, 
1826.  He  was  a  mere  lad  when  he  accompanied  his  father 
to  the  wilds  of  Michigan,  but  old  enough  to  be  of  great 
service  to  him  on  the  farm  which  he  occupied. 

The  public  schools  which  are  now  so  plentiful  in  the 
State  at  that  time  were  unknown,  and  the  children  of  the 
pioneers,  if  they  received  any  instruction,  obtained  it  at 
their  own  homes.  As  the  population  of  the  country  in- 
creased a  school  was  established,  which  Mr.  Reed  attended 


during  the  winter  months.  Nov.  27,  1854,  he  married 
Eliza,  daughter  of  George  Harrington,  Esq.,  of  Plymouth, 
Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  who  came  to  Shiawassee  County  in 
1838.  Miss  Eliza  not  only  possessed  the  domestic  virtues 
which  make  home  happy,  but  the  other  qualities  and  per- 
sonal attractions  which  ornament  society  and  have  rendered 
Mr.  Eeed  such  assistance  in  his  success  in  life.  They  have 
been  the  parents  of  three  children, — Cassius  S.,  born  Dec. 
16,  1857;  Gordon  S.,  born  June  12,  1862;  and  Nora  L., 
born  Sept.  18,  1865, — all  of  whom  are  now  living  with 
their  parents. 

Mr.  Reed  is  an  enthusiastic  Republican,  and  has  served 
his  party  with  indefatigable  energy.  He  has  held  the 
ofiice  of  clerk  in  his  township,  and  served  repeatedly  as 
supervisor.  In  1877  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  State  Legislature  from  the  first  district 
of  Shiawassee  County,  and  re-elected  in  1879.  During  his 
career  as  a  legislator  he  was  a  member  of  several  very  im- 
portant committees ;  in  his  first  term  serving  on  the  com- 
mittees on  State  Public  School,  Federal  Relations,  and  Roads 
and  Bridges.  In  1879  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  on 
Internal  Improvements,  and  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  the  State  Public  School.  His  efficient  work  in  this  insti- 
tution, we  have  been  told  by  gentlemen  connected  therewith, 
was  very  valuable,  and  his  earnest  labor  in  behalf  of  the 
dependent  children  of  Michigan  will  always  be  remembered. 

Mr.  Reed  is  not  a  member  of  any  religious  denomination, 
but  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Christian '  religion 
and  a  supporter  and  contributor  towards  its  promulgation, 
having  contributed  of  his  means  towards  the  building  of 
three  churches  in  his  own  town. 


VERNON   TOWNSHIP. 


307 


1871.  M.  V.  Russell. 

1872.  William  H.  Easton. 

1873.  James  Sickles. 

1874.  M.  V.  Russell. 

1875.  J.  D.  Jewell. 


1876.  W.  D.  Jewell. 
1877-78.  H.  0.  Jewell. 

1879.  Charles  Huff. 

1880.  Luke  Bentley. 


JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 


1838. 


1839. 
1840. 

1841. 
1842. 

1843. 

1844. 
1845. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 

1852. 
1853. 
1854, 
1855. 
1856. 


R.  W.  Holley. 
Eli  Shattuck. 
F.  G.  Eggleston. 
Eli  Shattuck. 
J.  B.  Clark. 
Nelson  Ferry. 
H.  G.  Eggleston. 
H.  G.  Eggleston. 
"William  Lovejoy. 
John  N.  Huff. 
William  Lovejoy. 
S.  Evell. 
R.  W.  Holley. 
C.  B.  Chalker. 
Beebe  Truesdell. 
Joel  B.  Goss. 
Ebcnezer  Brown. 
W.  B.  Barker. 
Lewis  Say  re. 
James  Baird. 
L.  W.  Lasure. 
C.  B.  Chalker. 
William  Garrison. 
Lewis  Sayre. 
J.  D.  Thacher. 


1857. 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 

1866. 

1867. 

L868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873. 

1874. 

1875. 

1876. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879. 

1880. 


U.  B.  Smith. 
J.  W.  Payne. 
H.  T.  Wheeden. 
Chauncey  Button. 
Henry  Conant. 
C.  B.  Chalker. 
H.  T.  Weeden. 
Lewis  Sayre. 
G.  W.  Pennell. 
No  record. 
H.  T.  Weeden. 
H.  Sherman. 
C.  B   Chalker. 
A.  MoKeroher. 
H.  T.  Weeden. 
A.  F.  Westcott. 
Norman  Bentley. 
C.  P.  Weeden. 
H.  A.  Sayre. 
Charles  Herriman. 
W.  D.  Jewell. 
A.  F.  Westeott. 
S.  A.  Post. 
Charles  Herriman. 


SCHOOL    INSPECTORS. 


1838. 


1839. 


1840. 


1841. 


1842. 


1843, 


1844, 

1845, 
1846, 
1847, 
1848, 
1849, 
1850, 
1851 


C.  Curtis. 
J.  B.  Clark. 
Joseph  Parmenter. 
Hampton  Bentley. 
R.  W.  Holley. 
Jacob  Wilkinson. 
Uriah  Dubois. 
C.  B.  Chalker. 
Nelson  Ferry. 
Nelson  Ferry. 
R.  W.  Holley. 
Uriah  Dubois. 
James  Rutan. 
Nelson  Ferry. 
William  Lovejoy. 
L.  B.  Gilbert. 
R.  W.  Holley. 
William  Lovejoy. 
J.  F.  Swain. 
R.  W.  Holley. 
William  Lovejoy. 
E.  Brown. 
Benjamin  Winans. 
Monroe  Holley. 
William  Lovejoy. 
Major  King. 
Monroe  Holley. 


1852. 

William  Lovejoy. 

David  Smith. 

1863. 

Major  King. 

1854. 

J.  S.  Bentley. 

1855. 

Monroe  Holley. 

1856. 

M.  S.  Angel. 

1857. 

Major  King. 

1858. 

R.  Reed. 

1859. 

J.  D.  Jewell. 

1860. 

.James  Garrison. 

1861. 

C.  H.  Smith. 

1862- 

63.  Desmond  Martin 

1864. 

John  Patohell. 

1865. 

Orland  B.  Cull. 

1867. 

John  Patchell. 

1868. 

J.  Wixon. 

1869. 

John  Patchell. 

1870. 

Benson  Chalker. 

1871. 

William  Jones. 

1872. 

A.  G.  Holmes. 

1873 

J.  J.  Patchell. 

1874. 

William  Putnam. 

1875. 

John  McLean. 

1876 

Peter  Patohell. 

1877 

Albert  Andrews. 

1878 

G.  W.  Sickles. 

1879- 

-80.  C.  S.  Reed. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 


1872.  James  Beard. 

1873.  "William  Jewell. 

1874.  William  D.  Jewell. 

1875.  George  W.  Reed,  Jr. 


1876.  John  Powlison. 
1878.  A.  E.  Andrews. 
1879-80.  George  Leetch. 


SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS. 
1875-76.  A.  G.  Cowles.  1878-80.  S.  C.  Watson. 

1877.  Peter  Patchell. 


EARLY  HIGHWAYS. 
The  earliest  highway  surveyed  in  Vernon  was  known  as 
the  Baldwin  road,  projected  in  the  summer  of  1834,  while 
Vernon  was  still  a  part  of  the  township  of  Shiawassee.  It 
followed  the  south  line  of  the  township,  running  east  and 
west,  and  was  located  one  mile  north  of  the  above  line. 
The  improvement  of  this  road  did  not  immediately  follow 
its  survey.  The  subjoiaed  transcript  from  the  records  of 
the  highway  commissioners  for  the  year  1837  indicates  the 
courses  of  the  highways  of  that  date : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  highways  of  the 
town  of  Vernon,  at  the  house  of  James  Rutan,  in  said 
town,  on  the  3d  day  of  July,  1837,  all  of  the  said  com- 
missioners having  been  duly  notified  to  attend  the  said 
meeting  for  the  purpose  of  deliberating  on  the  subject,  it 
is  ordered  by  the  said  commissioners  that  the  highways  be 
laid  out  and  established  in  the  said  town  of  Vernon  in  the 
following  places,  their  courses  and  distances  having  been 
ascertained  by  actual  survey." 

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  several  highways  so 
laid  out  and  established : 

"  Commencing  at  the  quarter  stake  on  the  west  side  of 
section  27,  thence  south  forty  chains  and  fourteen  links  to 
the  corner  of  sections  27,  28,  33,  34.  One  other  highway 
altered,  commencing  at  the  corners  of  sections  28,  29,  32, 
33,  running  on  section-line  seventy-nine  and  ninety  one-hun- 
dredths  chains  west.  One  other  highway  commencing  at 
the  corner  of  sections  28,  29,  32,  33,  running  two  hundred 
and  forty-one  chains  and  forty-five  links  to  the  section  cor- 
ners of  8,  9,  10,  17. 

"  One  other  highway  commencing  at  the  quarter  stake 
between  sections  6  and  7,  running  thence  east  on  section- 
line  one  hundred  and  nineteen  and  seventy-five  one-hun- 
dredths  chains  to  the  section  corners  of  sections  4,  5,  8,  9. 
"  One  other  highway  commencing  at  the  section  corners 
of  sections  4,  5,  8,  9,  running  thence  north  on  section-line 
to  the  line  of  said  town  on  the  north,  being  eighty-nine 
chains. 

"  One  other  highway  commencing  at  the  town-line  be- 
tween sections  18  and  19,  running  thence  east  on  section- 
line  two  hundred  and  seventy-four  and  ten  one-hundredths 
chains. 

"  One  other  highway  commencing  at  section  corners  of 
sections  19,  20,  29,  30,  running  thence  north  on  section- 
line  three  hundred  and  thirty-four  and  eighty-four  one-hun- 
dredths chains  to  the  line  of  said  town. 

"  One  other  highway  commencing  fifty-six  links  east  of 
quarter  stake  between  sections  6  and  7,  south  seventy-one 
degrees,  west  twenty-nine  chains  and  ninety  links  to  inter- 
sect the  town-line,  eleven  chains  south  of  the  section  cor- 
ners of  sections  6  and  7. 

"  One  other  highway  commencing  at  the  section  corners 
of  sections  4,  5,  8,  9,  running  east  on  section-line  three 
hundred  and  twenty  chains  and  ninety  links  to  intersect 
the  town-line  on  the  east  side  of  said  town  of  Vernon. 

"  One  other  highway  commencing  at  the  section  corners 
of  sections  9,  10,  3,  4,  running  north  eighty-eight  chains 
to  the  town-line  of  said  town  of  Vernon. 

"  One  other  highway  commencing  on  the  town-line  be- 
tween sections  18  and  7,  running  thence  east  on  section- 


308 


HISTORY   OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


line  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  chains  and  ten  links  to 
section  corner  of  section  16. 

"  R.  W.  HOLLET, 
"  C.  W.  Miller, 
"  John  SMEDLEr, 
"  Highway  Commissioners. 
"James  Rutan, 

"  Town  Clerh. 
"  Recorded  Aug.  1,  1837." 

EARLY  SCHOOLS. 
The  board  of  school  inspectors  of  the  township  of  Ver- 
non, consisting  of  J.  B.  Clark,  Caleb  Curtis,  and  Joseph 
Parmenter,  met  April  4,  1844,  for  the  purpose  of  dividing 
the  territory  into  school  districts.  After  consultation  the 
following  division  was  made : 

District  No.  1  to  embrace  sections  1,  2,  and  the  north 
half  of  sections  1 1  and  12. 

District  No.  2,  sections  3,  4,  and  the  north  half  of  sec- 
tions 9  and  10. 

District  No.  3,  sections  5  and  6  and  the  north  half  of 
sections  7  and  8. 

District  No.  4,  sections  17  and  18  and  the  south  half  of 
sections  7  and  8. 

District  No.  5,  sections  15  and  16,  the  south  half  of 
sections  9  and  10,  and  the  north  half  of  sections  21  and  22. 
District  No.  6,  sections  13, 14,  the  north  half  of  sections 
23  and  24,  and  the  south  half  of  sections  11  and  12. 

District  No.  7,  sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35,  and  36,  and 
the  south  half  of  sections  22,  23,  and  24. 

District  No.  8,  sections  28,  34,  33,  and  the  south  half  of 
sections  20  and  21. 

District  No.  9,  section  19  and  the  north  half  of  sec- 
tion 30. 

It  is  probable  that  the  earliest  school  was  opened  in  dis- 
trict No.  3,  but  information  regarding  the  building  of  the 
first  school-house  or  the  teacher  who  early  presided  in  the 
district  is  not  obtainable. 

The  present  school  territory  of  Vernon  is  divided  into  six 
whole  and  three  fractional  districts,  over  which  preside,  as 
a  board  of  directors,  the  following  gentlemen:  George  H. 
Cooper,  George  W.  Reed,  W.  H.  Easton,  Henry  Alchin, 
Peter  Patchell,  James  Scott,  A.  G.  Cowles,  William  Gilmore,' 
and  John  Roper.  Five  hundred  and  eighty-one  scholars 
receive  instruction,  of  whom  thirty-five  are  non-residents. 
They  are  under  charge  of  eight  male  and  eleven  female 
teachers.  There  are  nine  frame  school  buildings  in  the 
various  districts,  some  of  which  are  large,  commodious,  and 
admirably  adapted  for  the  purpose. 

VILLAGE  OP  DUEAND. 
A  portion  of  the  land  on  which  the  village  of  Durand 
was  located  was  originally  entered  by  Mary  Miller  in  1836 
and  subsequently  owned  by  James  and  John  Kenyon.' 
Another  portion  was  entered  by  William  Young  the  same 
year.  Still  another  tract  was  owned  by  Dr.  l"  D  Jones 
and  by  him  sold  to  J.  Delos  Jewell,  who  laid  a  portion  of 
the  ground  into  lots  but  did  not  plat  it.  The  land  entered 
by  Mr.  Young  lay  upon  section  15,  and  after  passing 
through  successive  hands  became  the  property  of  William 


H.  Putnam,  who  had  a  portion  of  it  platted,  a  previous 
plat  having  been  made  by  James  C.  Brand.     A  church  and 
school  building  had  already  been  erected,  and  some  enter- 
prise was  being  manifested.     Mr.  Brand  built  a  saw-mill 
which  was  furnished  with  steam-power,  Mr.  Putnam  havin"' 
been   his  foreman,  and  did  an  extensive  business  in  the 
manufacture  of  staves  and  heading.     In  1876  a  post-oflSce 
was  established,  with  Mr.  Putnam  as  postmaster,  who  named 
the  place  after  Hon.  George  H.  Durand,  of  the  city  of 
Flint.     The  earliest  store  in  the  place  was  built  by  Messrs. 
Putnam  &  Delano,  and  occupied  by  Ira  D.  Kellogg  in 
1876,  after  which  the  firm  became  Kellogg  &  Delano.     A 
hardware-store  was  built  by  Mr.  Putnam,  of  which  he  was 
proprietor,  afler  which  Kellogg  &  Delano  erected  a  building 
for  mercantile  uses.     A.  D.  Bruce  soon  after  erected  a  store 
which  was  rented  by  W.  H.  Bielby,  the  present  postmaster, 
and  two  blacksmith-shops  and  one  wagon-shop  were  also 
opened.     The  pioneers  in  the  drug  and  medicine  business 
were  the  Shaw  Brothers,  who  arrived  in  1878  and  estab- 
lished themselves  in  business.    Messrs.  Davis  &  Herrington 
soon  after  erected  a  building  which  is  now  occupied  by  W. 
H.  Bielby.     The  firm  of  Sayre  Brothers  erected,  at  nearly 
the  same  date,  a  capacious  store,  which  was  afterwards  pur- 
chased by  Messrs.  Putnam  &  Delano,  who  removed  to  the 
site  of  their  present  extensive  business.    In.l878  an  elevator 
was  constructed  by  the  same  firm. 

The  capacity  of  the  extensive  steam  saw  mill  of  J.  C. 
Brand  is  twelve  thousand  feet  of  lumber  and  six  thousand 
staves  per  day.  The  mill  is  propelled  by  an  engine  of  forty- 
horse  power,  and  the  lumber  cut;  is  obtained  in  adjacent 
portions  of  the  county.  The  market  for  the  staves  and 
heading  is  found  in  New  York  and  the  city  of  Pough- 
keepsie.     Detroit  furnishes  a  demand  for  the  lumber. 

Extensive  charcoal  kilns  were  constructed  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  hamlet  by  Hiram  Smith,  of  Flint,  in  1879,  and  are 
managed  by  his  son,  Ely  Smith.  The  capacity  of  each 
kiln  is  fifty  cords,  ten  kilns  having  been  constructed  on  the 
ground  of  the  proprietor.  The  product  is  shipped  to  various 
points  in  the  State. 

The  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron  Railroad  was  completed 
late  in  1876,  and  an  agent  appointed  to  the  depot  at  Durand. 
F.  M.  Pomeroy  first  acted  in  that  capacity,  and  has  been  suc- 
ceeded by  L.  S.  Westrich,  the  present  incumbent. 

A  flourishing  school  is  under  the  direction  of  Miss  Carrie 
Biller.  Two  physicians— Drs.  J.  N.  Shaw  and  A.  G.  Cole 
—reside  here,  and  practice  through  a  wide  extent  of  coun- 
try. The  growth  of  Durand  has  been  not  only  rapid  but 
healthy,  and  its  citizens  predict  for  it  a  future  fully  com- 
mensurate with  its  brief  but  progressive  history. 

VERNON  VILLAGE. 
The  original  plat  of  the  village  of  Vernon  was  surveyed 
and  laid  out  in  the  autumn  of  1856,  embracing  the  south 
part  of  the  southeast  fractional  quarter  of  section  6,  and  the 
north  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  7,  township 
6  north,  of  range  4  east,  the  main  street  of  the  village  run- 
ning on  the  section-line.  This  plat  was,  however,  not  re- 
corded until  Dec.  2,  1866.  Van  Auken's  addition,  de- 
scribed as  north  of  State  Street  and  west  of  Duane  Street, 
was  surveyed  by  Ezra  Mason  in  August,  1865.     Yerkes' 


VEKNON  TOWNSHIP. 


309 


addition  south  of  Vernon  proper,  lying  east  of  Walnut 
Street  and  west  of  Chestnut  Street,  was  platted  August, 
1865.  Van  Auken's  second  addition,  lying  west  of  Van 
Auken's  addition,  was  surveyed  in  the  spring  of  1870. 
Rogers'  addition,  lying  east  of  Yerkes'  addition,  was  plat- 
ted in  the  spring  of  1870. 

Greenwood  Cemetery  was  platted  in  1862  by  the  Green- 
wood Cemetery  Association. 

The  original  plat  of  the  village  of  Vernon  having  been 
lost  or  destroyed,  a  new  plat  embracing  the  various  addi- 
tions was  ordered  by  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  is 
now  on  record  at  the  office  of  the  register  of  Shiawassee 
County. 

As  the  land  within  the  boundaries  of  the  present  village 
of  Vernon  was  the  scene  of  the  earliest  pioneer  labor  in  the 
township,  a  review  of  its  earliest  settlement  would  be  little 
else  than  a  recapitulation  of  the  early  history  of  the  town- 
ship. During  the  summer  of  1833  Henry  Leach  emigrated 
from  Detroit  to  the  attractive  but  unbroken  forest  of  Shia- 
wassee County.  He  found  no  bit  of  land  so  inviting  as  the 
spot  on  section  6  now  covered  by  the  village  of  Vernon, 
and  there  made  his  location  and  remained  three  years,  but 
ultimately  removed  to  Clinton  County.  He  was  followed 
by  a  squatter  named  Lathrop,  and  soon  after  by  Jacob  Wil- 
kinson,— now  familiarly  known  as  Deacon  Wilkinson. — who 
the  same  year  entered  forty  acres  on  section  6,  and  has  for 
a  period  of  nearly  half  a  century  remained  a  resident  of  the 
soil  he  first  broke  in  1833.  Mr.  Wilkinson  has  witnessed 
the  advent  and  departure  of  many  settlers,  the  building  of 
school-houses,  the  erection  of  churches,  and  the  growth  of 
an  enterprising  village  where  before  was  a  dense  forest. 

Joseph  Parmenter  entered  land  on  section  6,  in  1835, 
and  Samuel  N.  Whitcomb  removed  from  Oakland  County  to 
land  on  section  5  in  the  same  year.  The  latter  gentleman 
sold,  a  few  years  later,  to.  Cyrus  W.  Angel,  who  after  sev- 
eral years'  residence  upon  the  farm  removed  in  1847  within 
the  village  limits  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  brick 
store  of  J.  W.  Yerkes,  where  he  died  in  1857. 

In  the  year  1836  James  Van  Auken  (now  spelled  Van 
Akin)  arrived  from  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  purchased  the 
land  entered  by  Henry  Leach  three  years  previous,  where 
he  erected  in  1846  the  first  brick  dwelling  ia  the  county, 
and  occupied  it  as  a  farm  residence  until  his  death  in  1848. 
His  son,  Henry  Jennings  Van  Akin,  now  occupies  the 
homestead,  having  been  prominent  in  the  platting  and  im- 
provement of  the  village. 

R.  W.  HoUey  removed  from  Ovid,  N.  Y.,  to  this  State 
in  1831,  and  in  1831  settled  in  the  present  village,  where 
he  purchased  a  considerable  tract  of  land.  He  was  a  man 
of  much  energy  and  actively  engaged  in  all  enterprises  in- 
volving the  welfare  of  the  village.  At  his  house  was  or- 
ganized the  earliest  Sabbath-school  in  the  township  and 
also  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Vernon.  Mr.  Holley  died 
in  1860.  His  son,  Dr.  D.  C.  Holley,  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Vernon. 

For  a  period  of  years  no  indication  of  the  future  village 
was  apparent.  Commercial  enterprise  first  made  itself  felt 
in  the  hamlet  with  the  advent  of  Milo  Harrington  in  1857. 
The  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  was  completed  the 
previous  year  and  had  established  a  station  at  Vernon,  which 


encouraged  Mr.  Harrington  to  embark  in  business  pursuits 
at  this  point.  He  erected  the  first  store,  and  in  connection 
with  William  D.  Garrison  engaged  in  trade.  Mr.  Harring- 
ton afterwards  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mich.,  where  he  died. 
William  D.  Garrison  was  by  occupation  a  carpenter,  as  was 
also  his  brother  Arthur.  They  built  the  first  frame  dwell- 
ing in  Vernon,  which  was  also  occupied  as  a  shoe-shop. 
They  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  depot  of  the  Detroit 
and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  Arthur  having  subscribed  fifty 
dollars,  which  was  paid  in  labor. 

In  the  year  1858  Messrs.  Bostwick  &  Co.  established  a 
general  store  and  remained  in  business  a  year,  when  their 
interest  was  purchased  by  the  Garrison  brothers.  George 
Vincent  came  at  nearly  the  same  time  from  Byron  and 
opened  the  first  blacksmith-shop  in  a  log  building,  remaining 
in  business  about  one  year,  after  which  he  abandoned  his 
trade,  but  continued  a  resident  of  the  village  uniil  his 
death. 

Hiram  Harrington  was  also  among  the  early  merchants, 
Joseph  W.  Yerkes  having  been  associated  with  him  in 
1864.  The  same  year  A.  F.  Westcott  arrived  and  opened 
the  first  hardware-store  in  the  place,  and  in  the  following 
year  was  appointed  postmaster  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  which 
office  he  still  holds.  His  predecessors  were  Milo  Harring- 
ton, the  earliest  incumbent  of  the  office,  and  his  successor, 
Henry  Conant. 

Thomas  Winans  was  among  the  first  to  embark  in  the 
grocery  business,  and  Dr.  D.  C.  Holley  was  the  pioneer  in 
the  drug  and  medicine  business.  Others  followed  in  vari- 
ous branches  of  trade,  many  of  whom  departed  at  a  later 
period.  The  Messrs.  Garrison  located  on  the  north  side  of 
Main  Street,  where  they  remained  until  1866,  when  a 
frame  building  twenty-two  by  sixty  feet  in  dimensions  and 
two  stories  in  height  was  constructed  on  their  present  site, 
to  which  they  then  removed. 

In  the  spring  of  1872  a  calamity  befell  the  little  village, 
which  had  been  incorporated  the  previous  year,  in  a  disas- 
trous conflagration,  which  in  its  course  swept  the  chief  portion 
of  Main  Street  and  destroyed  twenty-two  buildings,  chiefly 
places  of  business  importance.  Among  the  heaviest  losers 
were  W.  D.  &  A.  Garrison,  Bell  &  Ives,  John  Long,  W. 
M.  Campbell,  C.  P.  Weeden,  Holmes  &  Liverraore,  H. 
Trask,  C.  Harrington,  and  T.  J.  Winans.  None  doubted 
that  this  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary,  a  fact  which  was 
afterwards  proved  by  the  arrest  of  the  culprit  and  his  sub- 
sequent confession,  implicating  parties  who  had  employed 
him.  While  awaiting  trial  the  prisoner  escaped  from  jail, 
and  was  never  after  heard  from. 

This  fire  materially  checked  the  growth  of  the  village, 
and  new  buildings  were  not  immediately  erected  in  place  of 
those  destroyed.  The  Messrs.  Garrison  erected  a  shanty 
for  temporary  occupation,  and  in  the  summer  of  1872  built 
their  present  spacious  brick  store,  embracing  the  most  com- 
plete modern  appliances  for  the  management  of  an  exten- 
sive business.  They  have  in  addition  a  large  warehouse 
and  elevator  for  their  wool  and  grain  trade,  with  a  capacity 
of  ten  thousand  bushels.  A.  W.  Nichols  has  also  a  large 
elevator  in  the  village,  and  B.  H.  Jones  is  the  proprietor  of 
a  foundry,  which  was  established  by  Messrs.  Pinney  & 
Garrison  in  1858,  the  interest  of  the  latter  having  been 


310 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MIOHIGAN. 


purchased  by  Mr.  Jones  in  1865.  Mr.  Pinney  retired  in 
1874,  since  which  time  Mr.  Jones  has  been  exclusive  pro- 
prietor. Plows,  drags,  and  other  agricultural  implements 
are  manufactured,  and  a  general  repairing  business  is  done. 
Connected  with  the  foundry  is  a  steam  planing-mill,  estab- 
lished in  1868,  principally  devoted  to  work  demanded  by 
the  establishment.  A  custom  feed-mill  was  started  in  1876, 
which  has  an  extended  patronage  from  the  country  imme- 
diately adjacent  to  Vernon.  Mr.  Jones  met  with  a  severe 
loss  by  fire  in  1876,  but  at  once  rebuilt. 

John  Hopkins  established  a  carriage-  and  wagon-manu- 
factory in  1871,  and  has  for  years  enjoyed  a  wide  popu- 
larity for  the  excellence  of  his  work.  He  has  a  warehouse 
on  Main  Street,  and  disposes  of  eighty  or  more  vehicles 
per  year.  Seven  workmen  are  employed  in  this  establish- 
ment. Besides  the  establishments  mentioned  there  are  the 
usual  number  of  stores  of  various  kinds,  all  enjoying  a  fair 
degree  of  patronage. 

Vernon  has  always  maintained  a  deservedly  high  reputa- 
tion for  the  skill  of  its  medical  practitioners.  The  present 
physicians  are  Dr.  D.  C.  HoUey,  Dr.  J.  L.  Smith,  and  Dr. 
M.  C.  Sculley,  of  whom  Dr.  Holley  is  the  senior  in  time  of 
arrival. 

E.  W.  Angel  is  the  agent  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad. 

VILLAGE   INCORPORATION   AND    LIST   OP    OFFICERS. 

Vernon  village  became  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature,  approved  March  18,  1871,  which  provided 
"  That  all  that  tract  of  land  situated  in  the  township  of 
Vernon,  in  the  county  of  Shiawassee,  known  and  distin- 
guished as  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 8,  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  5, 
the  southeast  quarter  and  the  east  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  6,  and  the  northeast  quarter  and  the 
east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  7,  in  town- 
ship 6  north,  of  range  4  east,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby 
constituted  a  village  corporate,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of 
the  village  of  Vernon.'' 

The  first  village  election  was  held  at  the  National  Hotel 
in  Vernon  on  the  second  Monday  of  April,  1871.  Thomas 
Winans  and  Joseph  W.  Yerkes  were  chosen  as  judges  of 
the  election,  and  Henry  A.  Bruno  clerk,  and  the  following- 
named  oflBcers  were  elected  for  the  year,  viz., — President 
Russell  E.  Bell;  Trustees,  Ephraim  Jones,  William  Larry; 
Clerk,  William  S.  Pinney;  Marshal,  Benjamin  Chase; 
Treasurer,  Mortimer  D.  Rhodes;  Assessor,  Benjamin  P. 
Warner. 

The  village  oflBcers  elected  annually  from  that  time  to 
the  present  have  been  as  follows: 

1872.— President,  Russell  E.  Bell ;  Clerk,  Alexander  Mc- 
Kercher ;  Trustees,  William  D.  Garrison,  Wil- 
liam W.  Campbell;  Marshal,  A.  J.  Johnson; 
Treasurer,  Arthur  Garrison  ;  Assessor,  Monroe 
Holley. 
1873  -  President,  Daniel  W.  Hammond ;  Clerk,  Alexan- 
der McKercher ;  Trustees,  Ephraim  H.  Jones, 
Charles  P.  Weeden ;  Marshal,  R.  H.  Morris; 
Treasurer,  Arthur  Garrison ;  Assessor,  Monroe 
Holley. 


1874. — President,  James  E.  Bush ;  Clerk,  Henry  Clark  ; 
Marshal,  Charles  Corlett ;  Trustees,  Henry  Cud- 
ney,  William  W.  Livermore ;  Treasurer,  Nathan 
S.' Nichols;  Assessor,  Mortimer  D.  Rhodes. 

1875. — President,  James  E.  Bush;  Clerk,  Henry  Clark; 
Marshal,  Amos' B.  Bliss;  Treasurer,  Daniel 
S.  Post;  Trustees,  Charles  Dorrance,  Hiram 
Brown ;  Assessor,  M.  D.  Rhodes. 

1876.— President,  Silas  M.  Seeds;  Clerk,  Amos  W.  Nichols; 
Marshal,  John  F.  Walter ;  Trustees,  Myron  C. 
Sculley,  Thomas  Loveley ;  Assessor,  M.  D. 
Rhodes. 

1877. — President,  A.  F.  Westcott;  Clerk,  Richard  Holms 
den ;  Marshal,  Stephen  A.  Post ;  Trustees, 
Arthur  Garrison,  Henry  A.  Sager ;  Treasurer, 
Daniel  S.  Post ;  Assessor,  Elisha  Kinsman. 

1878. — President,  A.  P.  Westcott ;  Clerk,  Jacob  L.  Smith 
Marshal,    Calvin   Whitney ;    Treasurer,   Daniel 
S.  Post ;   Trustees,  John  Hopkins,  Charles  S. 
Clark ;  Assessor,  M.  D.  Rhodes. 

1879.- President,  E.  Wesley  Angel ;  Clerk,  A.  F.  West- 
^cott ;  Marshal,  Ephraim  Hart ;  Trustees,  Henry 
A.  Sager,  Thomas  Hanifan  ;  Treasurer,  Charles 
Dorrance ;  Assessor,  Myron  W.  Reed. 

1880. — President,  Arthur  Garrison;  Clerk,  A.  Frank 
Westcott;  Marshal,  E.  Hart;  Trustees,  D.  S. 
Post,  G.  H.  Cooper ;  Treasurer,  C.  A.  Dorrance ; 
Assessor,  M.  D.  Rhodes. 

The  earliest  school  within  the  limits  of  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Vernon  was  opened  in  a  log  house  erected  by 
James  Van  Auken  in  1839,  his  daughter.  Miss  Julia  W. 
Van  Auken,  having  been  the  teacher  for  a  brief  term  of  a 
select  school  patronized  by  the  few  settlers  of  that  early 
date.  The  earliest  school  building  was  erected  in  district 
No.  1,  and  located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  north 
half  of  the  southeast  fractional  quarter  of  section  6,  having 
been  placed  upon  the  farm  of  C.  S.  Pratt.  It  was  built  in 
1840,  and  lay  within  the  bounds  of  the  present  corporation. 
The  teacher  who  earliest  maintained  discipline  within  its 
walls  was  a  young  man  from  Fenton,  Genesee  Co.,  who 
remained  but  six  weeks,  and  finding  little  encouragement 
in  his  work  departed.  The  list  of  pupils  at  that  time  did 
not  exceed  six  in  number.  The  first  regular  school  was 
opened  by  Miss  Frances  A.  Ferry  during  the  summer  of 
1841  in  the  same  log  building,  and  in  the  following  term 
Dr.  Solomon  Everts  became  associated  with  the  district  as 
teacher.  He  remained  during  the  winter  of  1841^2,  and 
was  succeeded  during  the  summer  term  by  Miss  Ferry,  who 
was  a  second  time  employed  as  teacher. 

During  the  winter  of  1844  the  services  of  an  instructor 
of  reputation.  Nelson  K.  Ferry,  Esq.,  were  secured.  Miss 
Ferry  again  assuming  the  charge  of  the  summer  school. 
The  winter  term  of  1845  was  taught  by  Monroe  Holley, 
who  was  succeeded  during  the  summer  by  Miss  Mary  Holley. 
The  year  1846  was  filled  by  the  same  parties  respectively, 
and  D.  C.  Holley  taught  during  the  winter  term  of  1847^8. 
Marcus  S.  Angel  commenced  teaching  here  in  1849,  and 
remained  during  the  winter.  With  this  term  ended  the 
career  of  the  old  log  school-house.     During  the  years  1850 


VERNON   TOWNSHIP. 


311 


and  1851  a  frame  school  building  was  erected  adjoining  the 
site  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  the  first  term  in  it  was  taught 
by  Miss  Lytle,  of  New  York.     She  was  succeeded  during 
the  winter  of  1854  by  Miss  Alsina  Wheeler,"  of  Corunna. 
The  house  was  used  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years,  but 
was  ultimately  removed  and  made  an  appendage  to  the 
present  spacious  edifice,  built  in  1871.    This  was  opened  as 
a  union  and  graded  school  the  same  year,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Mr.   J.  W.  Manning,  with   Miss  Hannah 
Purdy  as  assistant.      The  course  of  study  was  arranged 
with  especial  reference  to  completeness  at  every  stage,  leav- 
ing the  higher  branches  until  the  last,  thus  affording  to 
pupils  who  may  not  be  able  to  complete  the  coarse  the  op- 
portunity of  making  themselves  familiar  with  the  most 
essential  studies. 

Under  the  recent  judicious  management  Vernon  school 
has  attained  a  deservedly  high  rank  among  the  schools  of 
the  county.     The  following  list  embraces  the  teachers  in 
succession  since  1871 : 
1872. — Mr.    W.    A.    Frazier,    Superintendent;    Mrs.    A. 

Chaffee,  Mrs.  Rose  Read,  Assistants. 
1873. — Mr.  S.  T.  Youngs,  Superintendent;  Miss  Ida  Hin- 

del,  Assistant. 
1875. — Mr.  L.  J.  Hamilton,  Superintendent ;  Miss.  Mary 

Crippen,  Miss  Jennie  Starks,  Assistants. 
1876.— Mr.    C.  W.    Soulby,   Superintendent;    Miss   lola 

Tilden,  Miss  Jennie  Starks,  Assistants. 
1877. — Mr.  R.  H.  Goss,  Superintendent ;  Miss  M.  Cole, 

Miss  Holmden,  Assistants. 
1878. — Mr.  A.    L.    Chandler,   Superintendent;   Miss   L. 

Palmenter,  Miss  Cole,  Assistants. 
1879-80. — Mr.  A.  L.  Chandler,  Superintendent;  Miss  L. 
Palmenter,  Miss  Chaffee,  Assistants. 

THE  PKESS  OF  VEENON. 
The  earliest  newspaper  in  Vernon  was  established  by  a 
Mrs.  Crawford  (date  not  known),  and  entitled  the  Vernon 
Chronicle.  The  lady  remained  but  one  year,  and  disposed 
of  the  enterprise  to  Rev.  D.  W.  Hammond,  after  which  the 
stock  of  the  office  was  removed  from  this  place.  After  this 
for  some  years  there  was  no  newspaper  published  in  the 
village,  but  in  1878  Abram  Reeves  began  the  publication 
of  the  Vernon  Telephone,  with  the  motto,  "  Independent  in 
all  things,  neutral  in  nothing."  Its  motto  was,  however, 
unable  to  save  it  from  a  speedy  oblivion.  A  company  was 
then  formed  by  Messrs.  Garrison,  A.  L.  Chandler,  M.  H. 
Read,  E.  W.  Angel,  and  A.  W.  Nichols,  who  began  the 
publication  of  the  Vernon  Herald.  A.  L.  Chandler  soon 
after  purchased  the  enterprise,  and  in  ]  880  disposed  of  the 
paper  to  Lucius  E.  Gould,  of  Owosso,  who  continues  its 
publication  in  Vernon.  Under  his  management  it  has  be- 
come one  of  the  leading  papers  of  the  county,  having  al- 
ready a  subscription  list  of  nearly  five  hundred  names. 

SOCIETIES   AND   ORDERS. 

VERNON  LODGE,  No.  279,  F.  AND  A.  M. 

The  charter  of  the  Vernon  Masonic  Lodge  was  granted 

Feb    11    1870,  and  the  following  were- its  first  officers: 

W.  D.  Garrison,  W.  M. ;  M.  C.  Sculley,  S.  W.;  M.  D. 


Rhodes,  J.  W. ;  A.  Garrison,  Sec. ;  R.  E.  Bell,  Treas. 
The  present  officers  are  S.  E.  Shelden,  M.  W.  ;  Asahel  Owen, 
S.  W.;  David  Smith,  J.  W. ;  E.  W.  Angel,  Sec;  T. 
Harrison,  Treas. 

VERNON  LODGE,  No.  99,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

The  Vernon  Lodge  of  Odd-Fellows  was  organized  May 
29,  1866,  its  first  officers  having  been  A.  Crippen,  N.  G. ; 
H.  E.  Smith,  V.  G. ;  A.  G.  Cameron,  Sec. ;  Milo  Harring- 
ton, P.  S. ;  A.  F.  Westcott,  Treas.  Present  officers :  H. 
A.  Sager,  N.  G. ;  I.  Waters,  V.  G. ;  M.  Bush,  Sec. ;  C.  A. 
Dorrance,  Treas. 

CHARITY   LODGE,   No.  467,   K.   OF   H., 

was  organized  Feb.  14,  1877,  with  the  following  as  its  first 
officers:  A.  F.  Westcott,  Post  Dictator;  C.  P.  Weeden, 
Dictator ;  H.  W.  Randolph,  Vice-Dictator  ;  A.  W.  Nichols, 
Rep. ;  T.  Loveley,  Treasurer.  The  present  officers  are  0. 
Krell,  Dictator;  A.  W.  Nichols,  Vice-Dictator;  H.  W. 
Randolph,  Rep. ;  F.  C.  Brown,  Treasurer. 

SAFEGUARD    LODGE,    No.    18,    R.    T.    OF   T. 

The  lodge  of  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance  was  organ- 
ized Dec.  19,  1879.  Its  first  officers  were  E.  W.  Angell, 
P.  S.  C.  i  J.  H.  De  Hart,  S.  C. ;  A.  Frank  Westcott, 
V.  C. ;  M.  D.  Rhodes,  Secretary ;  H.  B.  McLoughlin, 
F.  S. ;  C.  P.  Weeden,  Treasurer.  Present  officers,  J.  H. 
De  Hart,  P.  S.  C. ;  A.  Frank  Westcott,  S.  C. ;  H.  Clark, 
V.  C. ;  M.  D.  Rhodes,  Secretary ;  H.  B.  McLoughlin, 
F.  S. ;  C.  P.  Weeden,  Treasurer. 

CHURCH   HISTORY. 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

A  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  at  the  house  of 
R.  W.  HoUey  as  early  as  the  spring  of  1837,  services 
having  been  held  at  the  houses  of  Nelson  K.  Ferry,  R.  W. 
HoUey,  and  William  Garrison.  In  1845  the  church  roll 
numbered  thirty-seven  communicants.  In  the  year  1851, 
there  having  been  many  citizens  who  desired  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  Congregational  Church,  the  old  Presbyterian  so- 
ciety was  merged  into  a  church  of  the  above  denomination. 
The  total  membership  at  the  date  of  its  first  formation  is 
not  known,  though  the  female  members  embraced  the  names 
of  Mrs.  Letitia  Spaulding,  Mrs.  Olive  Clark,  Mrs.  Mary 
Garrison,  Mrs.  Wolfen,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  HoUey.  The  little 
flock  continued  to  worship  together  in  the  school-house, 
alternating  with  the  Baptist  society,  until  1863,  when  the 
building  of  a  church  edifice  was  begun,  and  completed  the 
following  year  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  and  eighty-five 
dollars  and  thirty-seven  cents,  as  indicated  by  the  treasurer's 
books. 

Until  1861  they  were  without  a  stated  pastor,  the  con- 
gregation having  been  furnished  with  occasional  supplies, 
among  whom  was  Rev.  Grover  Smith,  who  officiated  at  the 
school-house.  During  the  year  1861,  Rev.  E.  T.  Branch 
became  pastor,  and  continued  his  ministry  until  1868,  when 
Rev.  Warren  F.  Day  succeeded  him,  and  remained  one 
year.  In  1869,  Rev.  H.  H.  Van  Auken  became  pastor, 
and  the  following  year  Rev.  Charles  Barstow  was  installed. 
He  remained  five  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W. 


312 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


M.  Kellogg  in  1876,  whose  ministry  extended  over  a  period 
of  but  one  year,  when  Rev.  Warren  Mooney  filled  the  pul- 
pit during  the  year  1877.  In  1878  the  present  pastor, 
Rev.  E.  W.  Shaw,  was  called  to  preside  over  the  flock. 

Connected  with  the  church  is  a  very  flourishing  Sabbath- 
school,  with  a  list  of  one  hundred  scholars,  of  which  Peter 
Patchel  is  superintendent. 

The  Deacons  of  the  church  are  H.  J.  Van  Auken,  John 
Patchel ;  the  Trustees,  W.  D.  Garrison,  H.  J.  Van  Auken, 
Peter  Patchel,  D.  Martin,  Thomas  McSoren  ;  Clerk,  Peter 
Patchel ;  Treasurer,  H.  W.  Randolph. 

BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

The  facts  at  command  with  reference  to  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Vernon  are  derived  from  one  of  its  oldest  mem- 
bers, who  depends  entirely  upon  his  memory,  and  may  pos- 
sibly be  at  fault  in  some  particulars.  The  church  was  first 
organized  under  Rev.  John  F.  Swain,  who  was  ordained  as 
a  licentiate  in  1844.  He  removed  from  Owosso  in  the 
same  year,  and  filled  a  brief  pastorate  of  six  weeks,  when 
his  death  occurred. 

Among  the  early  members  were  Jacob  Wilkinson,  C.  R. 
Yerkes  and  wife,  Joseph  Parmenter  and  wife,  Charles  Wil- 
kinson and  wife,  Joseph  Yerkes  and  wife,  John  Vincent,  C. 
S.  Pratt  and  wife,  Mrs.  Harrington,  and  Mrs.  Barker.  Ser- 
vices were  first  held  in  a  log  school-house  in  district  No.  1, 
on  the  farm  of  C.  S.  Pratt.  The  death  of  Rev.  John  F. 
Swain  occurred  April  15,  1845.  His  successor  was  the 
Rev.  William  Pack,  who  was  followed  in  his  ministry  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Delano.  Rev.  William  White  next  oflBciated,  and 
a  licentiate.  Rev.  James  Surrine,  succeeded.  He  was  subse- 
quently ordained  and  became  the  pastor.  Rev.  0.  B.  Call 
followed  Mr.  Surrine,  during  whose  ministry  in  1864  a 
house  of  worship  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand 
seven  hundred  dollars.  During  an  interval  succeeding  this 
period  the  congregation  were  without  a  pastor,  and  de- 
pended upon  occasional  supplies,  after  which  Rev.  William 
White  was  recalled.  Rev.  E.  R.  Clark  afterwards  had  the 
care  of  the  flock,  and  remained  during  a  pastorate  of  more 
than  three  years,  after  which  the  present  incumbent.  Rev. 
R.  R.  Coons,  Jr.,  was  installed,  his  ministry  beginning  in 
1877. 

The  church  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen, 
and  is  exceedingly  prosperous.  The  deacons  are  C.  R. 
Yerkes  and  Jacob  Wilkinson.  The  trustees  are  C.  R. 
Yerkes,  Joseph  Parmenter,  Abram  Crippen,  Cheney  But- 
ton, William  Newberry,  and  Jacob  Wilkinson. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

The  records  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  contain 
no  facts  regarding  its  organization  or  subsequent  progress, 
and  its  present  members  have  very  little  information  to 
impart. 

A  class  was  organized  very  early,  and  seems  to  have  been 
connected  for  a  while  with  the  church  In  Venice.  It  was 
not  flourishing,  however,  and  for  want  of  the  elements  of 
growth  and  permanency  was  ultimately  disbanded.  Its 
members  worshiped  with  other  denominations  until  1868, 
when  it  was  reorganized  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Church.     He  was  followed  in  his  ministry  by  Rev.  Mr. 


Sanborn,  after  which  the  Rev.  Charles  Austin  became  pas- 
tor. Under  the  efficient  labors  of  his  successor,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  May  wood,  in  1871  a  spacious  church  edifice  was  begun 
and  completed  ;  the  building  committee  having  been  George 
Goss,  I.  Van  Auken,  and  Charles  Dorrance. 

The  Rev.  D.  W.  Hammond  afterwards  officiated,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  N.  W.  Pierce  in  1872.  Rev.  S.  Bird 
was  installed  in  1873,  and  in  1876  Rev.  J.  G.  Whitcomb 
was  called  to  the  pastorate,  whose  term  of  service  extended 
to  1879,  when  Rev.  William  Taylor,  the  present  pastor, 
assumed  the  charge. 

The  list  of  members  embraces  eighty-four  names.  The 
class-leaders  are  George  Goss  and  Newton  Strong.  A  grow- 
ing Sabbath-school  numbering  seventy-five  scholars  and 
teachers  is  connected  with  the  church,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  Newton  Strong. 

The  present  trustees  are  John  Long,  George  Goss,  John 
Hopkins,  and  Joshua  Curtis. 

GREENWOOD   CEMETERY. 

The  Greenwood  Cemetery  Association  was  organized  in 
March,  1862,  with  John  Read  as  President,  James  Garri- 
son as  Secretary,  and  Henry  Conant  as  Treasurer.  On  the 
21st  of  April  of  that  year  two  and  thirty-five  one-hundredths 
acres  of  land  were  purchased  of  Henry  J.  Van  Auken  for 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  dollars.  Much 
time  and  labor  have  been  expended  in  the  adornment  of  this 
burial-spot,  which  is  ornamented  with  shade-trees,  and  laid 
out  in  walks  that  divide  the  well-kept  lots  and  render  it  an 
attractive  resort,  while  still  maintaining  its  secluded  char- 
acter. It  has  an  especial  interest  from  the  antiquity  of 
some  of  the  memorial-stones  which  mark  the  graves.  Espe- 
cially noticeable  is  that  of  the  earliest  settler  in  Caledonia, 
John  F.  Swain,  whose  life  suddenly  terminated  at  the  be- 
ginning of  a  career  of  ministerial  labor  at  Vernon,  in  the 
year  1845. 

The  association  has  recently  made  an  extension  to  the 
cemetery  plat  in  the  purchase  of  two  acres  of  land  adjoining, 
which  is  being  rapidly  improved  and  beautified. 

The  present  trustees  of  the  Greenwood  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation are  :  President,  John  Read ;  Secretary,  A.  F.  West- 
cott ;  Treasurer,  A.  Garrison. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HENRY  JENNINGS  VAN  AKIN. 

The  representative  of  the  Van  Akin  family  at  present 
residing  in  Vernon  is  Henry  Jennings,  the  fourth  child  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  Van  Akin,  who  was  born  July  13, 
1823,  near  the  village  of  Dublin,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
after  changes  of  residence  with  his  parents  in  his  native 
State  ultimately  removed  to  Vernon,  Mich.  He  assisted  in 
the  clearing  of  the  land  his  father  had  purchased  until 
1846,  when,  a  taste  for  study  having  been  encouraged,  he 
entered  the  preparatory  class  at  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, located  at  Ann  Arbor.  Soon  discovering,  however,  a 
want  of  taste  for  the  Latin  nouns  and  verbs,  he  abandoned 


Rbsidsnce  of  N.  M.  smith,    Vepnon  Tp.  Shiawassee,  Co  Mich. 


VERNON  TOWNSHIP. 


313 


the  classics  for  the  more  active  duties  of  life.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  entered  the  store  of  Osborn  &  Baker,  of  Hud- 
son, Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  and  the  following  year  was  sum- 
moned home  by  the  death  of  his  father. 

He  was,  in  1848,  married  to  Miss  Jane  Lytle,  of  Venice 
township,  whose  death  occurred  in  1850.     Five  years  later 


HENEY   J.    VAN    AKIN. 

he  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Holley, 
daughter  of  11.  W.  Holley,  of  Vernon.  To  them  five 
children  were  born,  the  youngest  of  whom,  Henry  R.,  lived 
to  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  died  May  5,  1880.  Mr. 
Van  Akin  was  again  afflicted  in  the  loss  of  his  second 
wife  in  1875,  and  was  united  to  the  present  Mrs.  Van 
Akin  in  January,  1879,  who  was  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of 
Addison  Stewart,  of  Flint,  Mich.  Mr.  Van  Akin  still  re- 
tains and  lives  upon  the  homestead,  located  upon  the  banks 
of  the  beautiful  Shiawassee  River,  where  cluster  the  most 
tender  memories  of  his  childhood.  Among  his  early  In- 
dian friends  was  Shaco,  a  famous  warrior  who  fought  Mad 
Anthony  Wayne  and  frequently  boasted  the  scalps  he  had 
taken  in  battle.' 

But  two  of  the  large  family  of  eleven  children  of  James 
Van  Akin  survive,  C.  W.  being  a  resident  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, Ohio,  and  Henry  J.,  the  subject  of  this  biography. 


JAMES   VAN  AKIN. 

James,  the  father  of  Henry  Jennings  Van  Akin,  was 
born  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  in  New  Jersey,  in 
1794,  and  was  the  second  son  of  John  and  Margaret  West- 
fall  Van  Akin.  Soon  after  his  birth  the  family  removed  to 
the  township  of  Phelps,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  whence 
he  became  connected  with  the  State  militia,  and  was  for  six 
months  engaged  in  active  service  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  On  the 
40 


4th  of  September,  1817,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Jen- 
nings, of  the  township  of  Rose,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
there  resided  until  1836,  when  he  removed  to  Michigan 
and  located  upon  the  land  now  occupied  by  his  son,  in  the 
township  of  Vernon.  Here  he  erected,  in  1846,  the  earliest 
brick  dwelling  in  the  county,  in  which  he  lived  until  his 
death,  on  the  23d  of  February,  1848.  Mrs.  Van  Akin 
married  a  second  time,  and  survived  until  Feb.  17,  1864. 

Of  his  eight  brothers,  Simeon  and  William  H.  H.  were 
residents  of  Hudson,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. ;  Charles  is  still 
living  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Lawson  and  Dudley  removed 
to  Wayne  Co.,  Mich. ;  Hiram  found  a  home  in  Hudson, 
Mich. ;  and  David  and  George  are  both  deceased,  the 
former  having  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1875,  and  the 
latter  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1870.  The  sister,  Mrs. 
Lucien  Vandemark,  resided,  until  her  death  in  1876,  in 
West  Junius,  N.  Y. 

The  progenitor  of  the  family,  John  Van  Akin,  was  a 
patriot  of  the  Revolution,  and  actively  engaged  in  the 
border-wars  of  New  York,  when  his  foes  were  Tories  and 
Indians.  His  experiences  here  were  fraught  with  terror 
and  danger,  and  the  reminiscences  of  this  early  struggle 
were  rehearsed  with  great  zest  to  his  descendants  in  after- 
years.  He  survived  until  1854,  and  his  wife's  death  oc- 
curred seven  years  later.  The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Van  Akin 
were  of  Holland  descent,  and  emigrated  direct  from  their 
native  shores  to  the  forests  of  America. 


NATHAN   M.  SMITH. 

Nathan  M.  Smith's  father,  John  K.  Smith,  was  born  in 
Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and  came  at  a  very  early  date  to  Michi- 
gan, and  settled  in  Oakland  County.  He  was  elected 
county  clerk  of  Shiawassee  County  in  1840,  and  served  the 
people  acceptably  for  two  years.  He  always  took  a  lively 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  country,  adhering  politically  to 
the  principles  of  the  Whigs. 

He  was  a  very  estimable  citizen,  being  a  man  among 
men,  and  highly  regarded  for  his  simplicity,  probity,  piety, 
and  candor. 

His  son  Nathan  was  born  in  Pontiac,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich., 
Nov.  22,  1827.  He  came  with  his  father  to  Shiawassee 
County  in  1837.  In  the  Republican  party  he  has  always 
been  a  zealous  and  constant  worker. 

When  a  boy  he  attended. a  district  school  in  Oakland 
County,  and  later  was  a  member  of  the  village  school  in 
Corunna.     He  served  one  year  in  the  Mexican  war. 

During  the  year  1847  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Jane 
Horton,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children, — three  boys  and 
four  girls, — all  of  whom  are  living. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  is  an 
earnest  Christian  man,  and  very  energetic  in  all  things  per- 
taining to  the  church. 


314 


HISTORY  OP  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER   XLIII. 
VENICE    TOWNSHIP.* 

Boundaries,  Surface,  Soil,  and  Streams— Land-Entries  in  Venice— Set- 
tlement of  the  Township— Organization  and  Township  Civil  List — 
Early  Township  Roads— Schools— Venice  Grange  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry. 

The  township  of  Venice  is  designated  in  the  United 
States  survey  as  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  4  east, 
and  lies  on  the  eastern  boundary-line  of  the  county.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Hazelton,  south  by  Vernon,  of 
which  it  was  formerly  a  part,  east  by  the  township  of  Clay- 
ton in  Genesee  County,  and  west  by  Caledonia.' 

The  surface  is  in  general  undulating,  though  large  areas 
of  comparatively  level  lands  are  found  in  some  localities  in 
the  township.  The  soil  is  excellent,  being  a  loam,  inter- 
mixed in  some  parts  with  clay,  and  in  other  places  with 
sand  or  gravel.  A  larger  proportion  of  sand  is  found  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  township  than  elsewhere,  and  in 
many  other  parts  the  clayey  loam  is  mixed  to  some  extent 
with  gravel.  Along  the  water-courses  there  is  usually 
found  a  rich  clay  soil,  which  is  very  productive.  In  earlier 
years  there  was  quite  a  large  amount  of  sWampy  land,  but 
much  of  this  has  now,  by  an  excellent  system  of  drainage, 
been  converted  into  fertile  fields. 

Beech  and  maple  are  the  prevailing  woods,  though  oak, 
ash,  black-walnut,  and  hickory  are  also  found,  and  the  tama- 
rack is  the  usual  growth  on  the  swampy  lands.  Rush  Bed 
Creek,  the  principal  stream,,  rises  in  a  marsh  in  the  south 
border  of  the  township,  and  flows  northeast  into  the  town- 
ship of  Hazelton.  A  stream,  formerly  known  as  Stowell 
Creek,  has  its  source  also  in  the  south,  and  flowing  north 
and  east  joins  the  former  creek  in  Hazelton.  Webb  Creek, 
which  meanders  through  the  south  part,  flows  into  the 
Shiawassee  River. 

LAND-ENTRIES  IN  VENICE. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  original  purchases  from  the 
United  States  or  the  State  of  Michigan,  of  land  on  the 
several  sections  in  the  township  of  Venice,  with  the  year 
in  which  such  purchases  were  made : 

SECTION   1. 

John  Coger,  18.36 30 

J.  H.  Jerome,  1836 "....... 80 

S.  A.  Goodard,  1836 "S.  ".........  240 

J.  H.  Jerome,  1836 ]  112  93 

H.  Van  Vechten,  1836 199^77 

SECTION  2. 

Isaac  Smith,  1836 240 

J.  H.  Jerome,  1836 '["  372  96 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 !.'.'..'.....'.'..  I60' 

SECTION   3. 

J.  L.  Larzalere,  1849 377  jq 

•  George  Harnell,  1849 .......'.'.'.... 160 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 '.'..'.'.'.'.".'..'.'.'."...'.'..'...   160 

SECTION    4. 

Porter  Hazelton  (State),  1849 370 

James  Seymour  (State),  1849 200 

Nathaniel  Hodge  (State),  1849 sn 

S.  M.  Root  (State),  1850 "Z."'"'".     40 

*  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


SECTION   5. 

Acres. 

Porter  Hazelton,  1849 271.62 

J.P.Hodge,  1849 80 

Mole  and  Durham,  1849 160 

James  Grant,  1849 191.54 

SECTION   6. 

J.  L.  Woodruff,  1831 191.04 

James  Grant,  1849 160 

S.  M.  Root,  1849 472.47 

SECTION   7. 

J.  B.Gosfl,  1839 120 

J.  Van  Auken,  1839 65.76 

J.  P.  HoUerman,  1839 80 

■T.  Durrin,  1850 40 

0.  F.  Sessions,  1842 40 

John  Layton,  1839 80 

Daniel  Lingo  (State),  1851 132.52 

Henry  Wilcox  (State),  1849 40 

J.  C.  Bailey  (State),  1849 40 

John  Pennington  (StTate),  1851 40 

SECTION   8. 

E.  G.  Faile,  1836 160 

Henry  Hawkins,  1837 160 

V.  R.  Hawkins. 

G.  W.  Priest,  1839 80 

J.  P.  HoUerman,  1839 80 

David  Young  (State),  1848 160 

J.  C.  Bailey  (State),  1851 160 

Henry  Bale,  1850 80 

S.  M.  Root,  1851 80 

Louis  Metcalf,  1850 160 

SECTION   9. 

Charles  Hillsburg,  1836 160 

T.  J.  Burns,  1836 160 

N.  G.  Peckham,  1836 80 

Charles  Taylor,  1836 80 

C.  H.Eoklif,  1837 80 

J.  E.Brown,  1854 80 

SECTION   10. 

A.  R.  Randall,  1836 160 

Gilbert  White  (State),  1850 40 

S.  M.  Root,  1850 120 

SECTION   11. 

J.  H.  Weeks,  1836 160 

Jabez  Williams,  1836 160 

N.  C.  Peckham,  1836 160 

S.  M.  Root,  1850 80 

W.  H.  Hartman,  1850 80 

SECTION    12. 

Edwin  Randall,  1836 320 

Chester  Catlin,  1836 320 

SECTION    13. 

L.  Barkman,  1836 80 

RoUin  Sprague,  1836 240 

C.  C.  Hasoall,  1837 80 

J.  S.  Bagg,  1837 240 

SECTION   14. 

T.  Begford,  1836 ,   160 

David  Halsted,  1836 ""      80 

S.  K.  Stevens,  1836 ...!!!!!."!"""     80 

W.  H.  Hartman  (State),  1850 '    '  "  160 

S.  B.  Printer,  1850 160 

SECTION   15. 

J.F.  Bliss,  1836 ifio 

S.  M.Mege,  1836 '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.  160 

David  Halsted,  1836 ."."  80 

William  Halsted,  1836 80 

L.  D.  Fuller  (State),  1850 ..!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!  160 

SECTION   16. 
State 340 

SECTION   17. 

Abraham  Bockoon,  1836 I6O 

Paul  Spsifford,  1836 '.!.!..!!"!  160 

Almon  Mack,  1836 ..."     go 

Charles  Taylor,  1836 .......'.".'.'.'."  160 

J.  L.  Larzalere,  1837 80 


VENICE  TOWNSHIP. 


315 


SECTION   18. 

Acres. 

A.  Eookoon,  1836 370.96 

Z.  Barber,  1839 80 

Truman  Bunce,  1839 80 

William  Craig,  1851 132.64 

George  Rix,  1850 40 

Henry  Wilcox,  1849 40 

SECTION   19. 

J.  C.  Goodell,  1836 160 

Paul  Spofford,  1836 160 

Gideon  Lee,  1836 213.20 

Henry  Churoli,  1854 216.32 

SECTION  20. 
David  Lee,  1836 160 

A.  Lacy,  1836 240 

J.  C.  Goodell,  1836 80 

B.  Button,  Jr.,  1837 80 

Thomas  Curtis,  1839 40 

Joseph  Yerkes,  1854 40 

SECTION  21. 

J.  F.  Bliss,  1836 160 

Frank  Taylor,  1836 160 

H.  C.  Bills,  1836 160 

David  Lee,  1836 160 

SECTION  22. 

J.  F.  Bliss,  1836 160 

J.  B.  Vallee,  1836 160 

David  Lee,  1836 160 

M.  Waltham,  1837 160 

SECTION  23. 
William  Halsted,  1836 40 

A.  Mack,  1836 160 

David  Lee,  1836 160 

J.  L.  Larzalere,  1837 120 

M.  Ferguson,  1838 40 

C.  S.  Stowell,  1842 40 

Alonzo  Torrey,  1854 SO 

SECTION  24. 
Frank  Taylor,  1836 320 

B.  B.  Bradley,  1836 40 

J.  B.  Reed,  1836 80 

L.  Barkman,  1836 40 

C.  C.  Hasoall,  1836 120 

Louise  Cronk,  1836 M 

SECTION  25. 

B.  B.  Bradley,  1836 80 

M.  Sober,  1836 160 

J.  B.  Reed,  1836 80 

E.G.  Faile,  1836 80 

M.Stewart,  1851 80 

J.  C.  Bailey,  1853 160 

SECTION  26. 

David  Lee,.  1836 160 

Paul  Spofford,  1836 320 

Michael  Ferguson,  1838 »» 

David  S.  James,  1854 80 

SECTION  27. 

James  Smith,  1836 "0 

E.  G.  Faile,  1836 320 

Hill  and  Norton,  1836 l"" 

SECTION  28. 

Paul  Spofford,  1836 160 

Henry  Calclazer,  1837 jo" 

M.  Wadhams,  1837 i»" 

Thomas  Van  Quil,  1838 »" 

H.Richardson,  1838 8" 

SECTION  29. 

Augustus  Crane,  1836 160 

S.  B.  Noble,  1837 ^*" 

M.  W.  Stevens,  18,37........... 80 

H.  and  V.  R.  Hawkins,  1837 "0 

SECTION  30. 

H.  Bigelow,  1836 160 

David  Lee,  1836......... ■.■•■••■ iqqqo 

H.  and  V.  R.  Hawkins,  1837 139-92 

Thomas  Van  Quil,  1838 °" 

J.  M.  Babbitt,  1852 '"" 


SECTION  31. 

Acres. 

Z.  R.  Webb,  1834 145.84 

W.  P.  Patrick,  1836 35 

J.  P.  Clark,  1836 218.21 

Sanders  and  Kittredge,  1836 141.48 

L.  B.  Mizner,  1836 80 

Clark  and  Warren,  1836 80 

SECTION  32. 

D.  R.  Carpenter,  1836 40 

DavidSutton,  1836 80 

Samuel  Wilkinson,  1836 120 

Squire  Adams,  1836 80 

John  Scotford,  1836 80 

H.  C.  Walker,  1836 160 

C.  P.  Austin,  1836 80 

SECTION  33. 

Samuel  Warren,  1836 40 

G.  W.  Wells,  1836 16i 

Benton  Reed,  1837 80 

C.  Colson,  1837 40 

A.W.Jennings,  1837 40 

D.  L  Lipe,  1838 120 

J.  Van  Auken,  1839 40 

John  Layton,  1839 40 

D.  S.  Jones,  1854 80 

SECTION  34. 

John  Thomas,  1836 160 

Paul  Spofford,  1836 160 

James  Ferguson,  1838 160 

C.  T.Jones,  1842 80 

B.  S.  Jones,  1842 .' 40 

A.  W.  Cronkhite,  1849 40 

SECTION  36. 

J.  F.  Freebornand  J.J.  Crane,  1836 320 

M.  Wadhams,  1837 160 

A.  L.  Smith  (State),  1858 40 

G.  W.  Stubbs  (State),  1868 40 

J.  A.  Case  (State),  1864 40 

SECTION  36. 

Orson  Bouch  (State) 40 

Levi  Smith  (State),  1864 40 

6.  W.  Stubbs  (State),  1859 40 

E.  G.  Fail,  1838 80. 

E.  Spoor,  18.37 80 

Charles  West,  1837 80 

Dow  Bogert,  1838 80 

Ira  H.  Butterfield,  1850 160 

SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  TOWISTSHIP. 

The  larger  proportion  of  the  lands  of  Vetiice  were 
entered  by  parties  from  Michigan  and  the  East  for  pur- 
poses of  speculation,  and  it  was  not  until  years  later  that 
the  forests  which  covered  them  were  cleared  and  a  decided 
improvement  in  their  condition  was  witnessed. 

The  earliest  settler  within  the  boundaries  of  Venice  was 
Zachariah  Rogers  Webb,  who  came  from  another  portion 
of  the  county,  and  in  1834  entered  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  acres  on  section  31.  Mr.  Webb  did  not  take 
possession  of  his  land  until  one  year  later,  but  remained  in 
Vernon  and  meanwhile  erected  a  log  house  and  began 
clearinff.  He  was  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments  and  wide 
information,  though  eccentric  to  a  degree.  Many  stories 
are  told  of  his  intercourse  with  the  Indians,  who,  discovering 
the  vein  of  eccentricity  in  the  man,  occasionally  took  ad- 
vantage of  it  to  his  discomfiture.  He  was  an  ardent 
admirer  oi  the  liidian  language,  of  which  he  acquired  some 
knowledge,  but  which  failed  to  prove  of  any  practical 
value.  Mr.  Webb's  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1836, 
after  which  he  removed  from  the  township.  The  land 
passed  into  other  hands,  and  is  now  occupied  by  J.  W.  Clark 
and  Eli  Martin. 


316 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Joel  B.  Goss,  who  in  point  of  arrival  may  be  ranked  as 
the  second  settler,  came  from  the  South  to  Venice  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  having  purchased  land  entered  by  other 
persons.  He  bought  eighty  acres  on  section  32,  upon 
which  he  soon  after  erected  a  log  house  and  began  the  work 
of  improvement.  He  did  not,  however,  remain  sufficiently 
long  to  reap  a  material  benefit  from  this  labor,  but  sold 
and  purchased  the  farm  on  section  7,  which  was  soon  after 
exchanged  for  property  in  Vernon,  where  he  found  a  tem- 
porary home.  He  afterwards  moved  to  Owosso,  but  his 
restless  nature  early  sought  another  change,  and  he  migrated 
to  the  State  of  Arkansas,  where  for  years  he  followed  the 
career  of  an  adventurer,  encountering  many  vicissitudes  in- 
cident to  this  nomadic  life.  His  life  was  a  varied  scene  of 
prosperity  and  misfortune,  and  the  exact  measure  of  either 
which  foil  to  his  lot  it  would  be  difficult  to  determine. 
His  death  occurred  in  Arkansas,  far  from  the  scenes  of 
his  early  pioneer  experiences. 

Hiram  Johnson  came  from  Livingston  County  in  1837, 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  ^n  section  29. 
Upon  this  land  the  work  of  clearing  was  not  yet  begun, 
but  Mr.  Johnson  entered  upon  his  labors  with  a  brave 
heart.  Mr.  Goss  extended  a  welcome  to  his  family,  and 
with  him  they  found  comfortable  quarters  until  a  log  house 
was  prepared  for  their  reception.  To  this  they  removed 
and  Mr.  Johnson  began  the  labor  of  clearing.  He  made 
rapid  progress,  and  was  fast  converting  the  forest  into  a 
productive  farm  when  he  became  dissatisfied  with  his  home 
in  Venice,  and  removed  to  the  city  of  Flint.  The  farm  in 
Venice,  however,  ere  long  claimed  them  again  as  residents, 
until  their  removal  in  1871  to  Caledonia,  their  present 
home.  Mr.  Johnson  was  the  third  settler  in  the  township, 
only  Goss  and  Webb  having  preceded  him.  The  recollec- 
tion of  his  pioneer  days  aflbrds  him  a  pleasing  retrospect. 
He  was  actively  interested  in  the  early  progress  of  the 
township,  and  frequently  an  office-holder.  In  his  family 
occurred  the  earliest  birth  in  Venice,  that  of  his  daughter 
Sarah  in  1838.  The  same  year  witnessed  the  first  death 
in  the  township,  that  of  a  child  of  Joel  B.  Goss. 

William  Piaceway,  a  former  resident  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tain State,  settled  upon  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  30  in  1838,  made  a  preliminary  clearing,  and  built 
a  log  house.     He  remained  four  years,  and  then  exchanged 
his  farm  for  property  owned  by  Andrew  Lytle,  in  Living- 
ston County,  to  which  land  he  removed  in  1845.     Mr. 
Piaceway  was  an  active,  enterprising  citizen,  but  did  not 
remain  sufficiently  long  in  Venice  to  become  identified  with 
its  interests.     John  Webb,  a  pioneer  of  the  same  name 
though  not  related  to  the  earliest  settler,  leased  of  parties 
who  had  previously  entered  the  land  a  farm  on  section  29. 
He  remained  in  the  township  several  years,  and  cultivated 
the  small  portion  he  cleared,  but  made  little  progress  in  his 
farming  pursuits.    At  one  time,  while  hunting  cattle,  he  lost 
his  way,  and  for  three  days  was  not  heard  from.    His  absence 
caused  some  alarm  in  the  community,  and  a  vigorous  search 
was  instituted,  accompanied  by  the  firing  of  guns,  and  other 
signals.     He  finally  wandered  into  Genesee  County,  where 
he  was  discovered,  ragged  and  bruised,  and  so  helpless  from 
fatigue  and  fright  as  to  be  unable  to  give  any  information 
respecting  his  absence. 


Nelson  Ferry,  whose  family  figure  conspicuously  in  the 
early  educational  matters  of  the  township,  was  a  pioneer 
from  the  Buckeye  State  in  1839,  and  located  upon  the  farm 
formerly  owned  by  J.  B.  Goss  on  section  32.     A  log  house 
had  already  been  built  and  a  portion  of  the  land  improved 
which  relieved  Mr.  Ferry  of  the  earlier  labor  of  the  settler. 
He  remained  until  1842,  when  he  removed  to  Caledonia 
having  effected  an  exchange  of  farms  with  Thomas  Mc- 
Laren.    He  died  in   Corunna  in  1846.     Several  of  Mr. 
Ferry's  children  still  reside  in  the  county.     He  was  county 
surveyor  at  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Venice,  and  is 
described  as  a  man  of  marked  ability  in  his  profession. 

Elnathan  Brown,  another  pioneer  from  Ohio,  left  his  na- 
tive State  for  the  township  of  Vernon  in  1837,  and  in  1839 
came  to  Venice,  where  he  purchased  of  E.  C.  Kimberly 
(then  acting  as  agent  for  an  Eastern  company)  seventy-two 
acres  of  land  on  section  30.  This  was  at  the  time  wholly 
unimproved.  Hiram  Johnson,  William  Piaceway,  Joel  B. 
Goss,  and  John  Webb  were  improving  their  land,  while  Z. 
R.  Webb  had  made  his  advent  and  departed.  Mr.  Brown 
erected  a  log  house,  having  meanwhile  shared  with  Mr. 
Piaceway  his  humble  quarters.  He  cleared  five  acres  the 
first  year,  having  bound  himself  to  improve  that  amount 
of  land  and  place  crops  upon  it  each  successive  year.  In 
the  third  year  the  land  was  paid  for,  and  he  was  thus  freed 
from  his  obligation.  Mr.  Brown  was  for  some  years  the 
only  landlord  of  the  township.  His  hotel  having  been 
consumed  by  fire,  his  life  has  since  been  devoted  to 
farming. 

Among  the  most  enterprising  and  well  informed  of  the 
survivors  of  the  early  days  of  the  township's  history  is 
Charles  Wilkinson,  who  came  from  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1834  and  located  in  Oakland  County,  from  whence  he  came 
to  Venice  in  1840.  His  farm  was  the  former  home  of  Joel 
B.  Goss,  and  embraced  eighty  acres  on  section  7.  A  log 
cabin  was  standing  on  his  land  when  he  arrived,  and  there 
were  nine  acres  cleared,  to  which  he  added  seven  additional 
acres  the  following  year.  Truman  Bunco,  who  came  the 
same  season,  was  his  nearest  neighbor.  Indians  were  then 
quite  numerous,  and  often  called  at  the  door  to  effect  an 
exchange  of  venison  and  other  game  for  bread  and  potatoes. 
Cranberries  were  also  an  article  of  traffic  with  them. 

Occasional  religious  services  were  held  at  the  houses  of 
the  settlers,  and  on  such  occasions  many  people  came  to  the 
place  of  worship  with  ox-teams.  Elders  Cosart  and  String- 
ham  officiated  on  these  occasions.  The  former,  who  wm 
one  of  the  earliest  of  the  Michigan  pioneers  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  purchased  a  farm  on  section  31,  to  which 
he  retired  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  busy  life,  his 
death  occurring  in  1876.  George  C.  Wilkinson,  who  now 
resides  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  was  the  first  boy  born 
in  the  township,  1840  being  the  year  of  his  birth. 

Truman  Bunco,  another  pioneer  of  1840,  and  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State,  settled  upon  eighty  acres,  which  he 
entered  in  1839.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Goss  while  build- 
ing  a  cabin,  to  which,  upon  its  completion,  he  at  once  re- 
moved and  began  the  labor  of  clearing.  Mr.  Bunce  after- 
wards went  to  California,  and  after  a  sojourn  of  two  years 
in  the  Golden  State  returned  to  his  former  home  in  Venice, 
but  did  not  long  survive.     He  was  a  citizen  of  influence  in 


VENICE  TOWNSHIP. 


317 


the  township,  took  a  prominent  part  in  its  organization,  and 
was  the  recipient  of  early  official  honors. 

Daniel  I.  Lipe,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the  hardy 
sons  of  the  Mohawk  "Valley,  N.  Y.,  first  emigrated  to 
Grand  Blanc,  Genesee  Co.,  and  in  1838  entered  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  on  section  33  of  Venice.  Soon 
after,  he  purchased  an  additional  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  James  Ferguson,  and  became  a  resident  of  the 
township  in  1840.  Mr.  Lipe  devoted  his  energies  to  the 
work  before  him,  and  found  an  ample  field  of  labor  in  the 
dense  forest  which  covered  the  purchase  he  had  made.  In 
1845  he  had  achieved  much  progress,  and  a  productive 
farm  was  already  the  result  of  his  energy  when  death  sud- 
denly ended  his  labors.  Mrs.  Lipe  removed  to  Genesee 
County,  but  afterwards  returned  to  the  homestead  in 
Venice,  where  she  now  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  F. 
G.  Bailey.  Mr.  Lipe  was  an  important  man  in  the  first 
township-meeting,  and  was  honored  by  his  neighbors  with 
the  position  of  supervisor  on  that  occasion. 

John  Durrin,  previously  of  Ohio,  located  upon  eighty 
acres  on  section  7  in  1841.  The  soil  of  Venice  did  not 
please  him,  and  he  soon  after  departed,  having  made  but 
little  improvement  on  the  land.  In  the  same  year  came 
Palmer  C.  Card  from  the  township  of  Burns  to  Venice, 
and  located  upon  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  now  occu- 
pied by  L.  Sprague.  A  partial  improvement  on  the  land 
had  been  made  by  parties  in  Pontiac,  who  were  the  original 
owners.  Mr.  Card  spent  ten  years  upon  this  farm  (which, 
in  its  highly-cultivated  condition,  bore  witness  to  his  in- 
dustry), and  then  removed  to  section  30,  where  he  remained 
until  his  ultimate  departure  from  Venice  for  another  field 
of  labor. 

During  this  early  period  much  sufi'ering  resulted  from 
the  prevalence  of  malarial  fever,  Venice  having  been  no 
more  favored  than  other  portions  of  the  State  in  this  re- 
gard. The  physician  who  ministered  to  the  wants  of  the 
community  was  Dr.  Harder,  of  Shiawassee  township,  there 
having  been  no  resident  physician  in  Venice  at  that  time. 

Neely  Sawtell,  at  whose  house  the  first  election  for  town- 
ship officers  was  held  and  who  served  in  the  capacity  of 
clerk  on  this  occasion,  removed  from  Oakland  County  in 
1842,  and  located  upon  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  17.  He  found  a  serious  obstacle  to  his  set- 
tlement in  the  depth  of  the  Rush  Bed  Creek,  which  was 
not  bridged  and  could  hot  be  forded.  Having  arrived  in 
the  township  in  the  spring,  the  family  were  obliged  to  re- 
main two  miles  east  of  the  centre  until  July  4th,  when 
the  crossing  of  the  stream  was  made  possible  by  low  water. 
Mr.  Sawtell  had  meanwhile  built  a  cabin  of  boughs,  to 
which  they  removed  and  at  once  began  their  pioneer  labors. 
Truman  Bunco,  whose  log  cabin  was  not  far  distant,  afi'orded 
them  an  opportunity  of  occasionally  paying  a  neighborly 
visit  Mr  Sawtell  remained  in  the  township  until  1866, 
when  he  removed  to  Vernon,  and  died  in  the  foUowing 

^^  Very  graphic  descriptions  are  given  of  the  earliest  town- 
ship-meeting. The  actual  business  of  the  occasion  was 
transacted  in  a  brief  time,  but  the  law  required  the  polls  to 
be  open  until  four  o'clock.  Many  devices  were  employed 
to  kill  the  time,  and  a  hilarious  occasion  was  the  result. 


Three  pioneers  from  Oakland  County  preceded  Mr.  Saw- 
tell by  one  year.  Elihu  Stewart  located  upon  eighty  acres 
on  section  23,  upon  which  he  erected  a  log  house.  This 
he  occupied  for  two  years  while  he  felled  the  forest  and 
made  a  clearing  sufficiently  large  upon  which  to  raise  a  crop 
of  wheat.  At  the  expiration  of  that  period  Oakland 
County  claimed  him  again  as  a  resident. 

James  Dunbar  arrived  in  the  same  year,  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  13.  His  pioneer  experi- 
ence in  Venice  was  confined  simply  to  the  building  of  a 
house,  which  he  soon  after  vacated  and  returned  to  Oakland 
County. 

Daniel  W.  Stowell  had  an  experience  identical  with  that 
of  his  friend  Mr.  Stewart.  He  located  on  section  13,  and 
after  a  sojourn  of  two  years  returned  with  him  to  their 
former  home. 

Andrew  Lytle,  a  former  resident  of  St.  Lawrence  Co., 
N.  Y.,  became  a  pioneer  in  Livingston  County  in  1836, 
and  in. 1844  moved  to  Venice.  He  occupied  the  farm  of 
ninety  acres  vacated  by  Mr.  Placeway  on  section  29,  upon 
which  a  partial  clearing  had  been  made  and  a  primitive 
habitation  built.  His  nearest  neighbor  was  Thomas  Mc- 
Laren, who  still  resides  in  the  township.  Five  years  later 
Mr.  Lytle  built  a  substantial  frame  residence,  which  is  his 
present  home. 

Alonzo  H.  Owens  removed  from  Grand  Blanc  to  the 
township  in  1843,  and  secured  forty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 33,  for  which  he  paid  by  one  year  of  labor.  He 
erected  a  board  shanty,  the  lumber  for  which  was  purchased 
with  lumber-orders,  which  in  view  of  the  scarcity  of  cur- 
rency at  that  time  were  a  legal  tender.  Mr.  Owens  led  the 
solitary  life  of  a  bachelor  for  a  year,  after  which  a  wife 
was  brought  to  his  simple  home.  His  nearest  neighbor 
was  Abram  Jennings,  who  located  upon  the  same  section 
and  died  in  1847.  Before  his  permanent  settlement  Mr. 
Owens  had  cleared  three  acres,  which  he  sowed  with  wheat, 
using  oxen  to  assist  in  the  clearing.  He  sold  his  land  in 
1852  and  selected  what  he  regarded  as  a  more  eligible  site 
on  section  28.  This  was  also  unimproved-at  the  time  of  its 
purchase.  It  has  been  converted  since  that  time  into  a 
highly-productive  farm,  upon  which  he  at  present  resides. 
Mr.  Owens  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  keenly  alive  to 
the  interests  of  the  township. 

The  progress  of  settlements  in  Venice  up  to  the  year 
1844  is  indicated  by  the  following  list  of  resident  tax-payers 
in  the  township,  taken  from  the  assessment-roll  of  that  year, 
viz. : 

A.  M.  Jennings.  Jonathan  Durrin. 

B,  S.  Jones.  Neely  Sawtell. 
P.  C.  Card.  Truman  Bunco. 
William  Placeway.  Charles  K,.  Yerkes. 
B.  J.  Bentley.  Lewis  W.  Covell. 
Thomas  McLaren.  Charles  Wilkinson. 
Alpha  Carr.  G.  W.  Priest. 
Elnathan  Brown.  D.  I.  Lipe. 

Lewis  W.  Covell  settled,  in  1844,  on  section  17,  and 
went  resolutely  to  work  to  clear  and  improve  his  land. 
Afterwards  the  farm  came  into  the  possession  of  Thomas 
Simpson,  who  now  occupies  it. 


318 


HISTOKY  OF  SHIAWASSEE   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Joseph  Card  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  1846,  who  located 
a  home  upon  section  31,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres. 
He  devoted  much  labor  to  its  improvement,  and  remained 
upon  it  until  his  death.  Guy  N.  Roberts  now  resides  upon 
the  estate. 

L.  S.  and  C.  L.  Cronkhite,  former  residents  of  Monroe 
County,  N.  Y.,  were  among  the  arrivals  in  1845,  and  located 
upon  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  22.  B.  S. 
Jones  had  previously  settled  upon  section  29,  and  with  him 
they  found  a  home  while  making  their  purchase  habitable. 
They  found  on  their  arrival  a  vast  uncleared  tract,  which 
has  been  converted  into  the  most  productive  land  in  the 
township.     Both  have  now  fine  farms  on  the  same  section. 

Asahel  Owen,  a  pioneer  of  1848,  located  on  section  31. 
This  land  had  been  previously  occupied  by  a  settler  named 
Carr,  who  had  effected  a  slight  improvement,  to  which  he 
added  on  taking  possession.  A  highly-cultivated  farm  is 
the  result  of  his  labor,  and  upon  it  a  spacious  residence  has 
recently  been  built.  Mr.  Owen  has  frequently  served  as 
supervisor,  and  is  esteemed  as  a  public-spirited  citizen. 

Samuel  Martin,  a  former  resident  of  St.  Lawrence  Co., 
N.  Y.,  removed  to  the  township  of  Venice  in  1850,  and 
ultimately  settled  on  section  1 8.  With  him  came  six  sons, 
five  of  whom  are  now  residents  of  the  township.  Mr.  Mar- 
tin died,  in  1871,  on  the  homestead,  which  is  now  occupied 
by  his  son,  John  L.  Martin. 

John  J.  P.  Gerardy  left  his  native  France  in  1855,  and 
the  same  year  located  in  Venice  upon  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  17,  a  small  portion  of  which 
had  been  cleared,  and  a  log  house  built  upon  it.  Mr.  Ge- 
rardy improved  but  little  the  first  year,  having  become  a 
victim  to  chills  and  fever  immediately  on  his  arrival.  The 
nearest  settler  was  George  Wren,  who  located  in  the  same 
year,  and  died  on  the  farm  he  occupied.  Mr.  Gerardy  now 
has  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  improved,  and  a  substantial 
residence  built  upon  it.  He  is  now  township  clerk,  which 
oflSce  he  has  filled  for  successive  terms. 

Among  other  settlers  who  arrived  in  Venice  between  the 
years  1840  and  1844  are  B.  I.  Bentley,  Charles  R.  Yerkes, 
Alpha  Carr,  G.  W.  Priest,  and  Thomas  McLaren,  each  of 
whom  contributed  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  to  the  pros- 
perity of  the  township. 

ORGANIZATION   AND  TOWNSHIP    CIVIL   LIST. 

The  organization  of  Venice  as  a  separate  township  was 
effected  under  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March 
9,  1843,  which  provided  and  declared,  "That  all  that  por- 
tion of  the  county  of  Shiawassee  designated  by  the  United 
States  survey  as  township  number  seven  north,  of  ran^e 
four  east,  formerly  belonging  to  the  township  of  Owosso, 
but  now  to  the  township  of  Vernon,  be  and  the  same  is 
hereby  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by 
the  name  of  Venice,  and  the  first  township-meeting  shall 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Neely  Sawtell." 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  act,  the  earliest 
township-meeting  of  the  township  of  Venice  was  held  on 
the  first  Monday  in  April,  1843,  at  the  house  of  Neely 
Sawtell.  D.  I.  Lipe  was  chosen  moderator ;  P.  C.  Card 
Truman  Bunce,  and  Joseph  Dunbar  inspectors  of  election  ' 
and  Neely  Sawtell  clerk.   The  officers  for  that  year,  together 


with 
date, 
1843 


1844 


1845 


1846 


1847, 


1848. 


1849. 


1850.— I 


1851.— i 


the  result  of  succeeding  elections,  until  the  present 
are  given  in  the  following  list,  viz. : 
. — Supervisor,  Daniel  I.  Lipe ;  Township  Clerk,  Neely 
Sawtell ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Wilkinson;  Highway 
Commissioners,  Truman  Bunce,  Joseph  Dunbar, 
A.  M.  Jennings  ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Truman 
Bunce,   A.   M.   Jennings ;    Constables,  Charles 
Wilkinson,  William  Placeway. 
-Supervisor,   D.   I.  Lipe ;    Clerk,   Neely   Sawtell ; 
Treasurer,  Charles  Wilkinson  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, A.  M.  Jennings,  B.  S.  Jones,  G.  W. 
Priest ;   School   Inspector,  D.  I.  Lipe ;   Direc- 
tors of  the  Poor,  A.  M.  Jennings,  Truman  Bunce ; 
Constables,  W.  Placeway,  G.  W.  Priest. 
-Supervisor, Truman  Bunce;  Township  Clerk, Neely 
Sawtell ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Wilkinson  ;  High- 
way Commissioners,  G.  W.  Priest,  B.  8.  Jones, 
Blnathan  Brown ;   Justice  of  the  Peace,  John 
Jones ;  School  Inspector,  D.  S.  Jones ;  Directors 
of  the  Poor,  T.  Bunce,  P.  C.  Card ;  Constables, 
A.  A.  Cronkhite,  E.  Brown. 
-Supervisor,  T.  Bunce;  Township  Clerk,  N.  Saw- 
tell ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Wilkinson  ;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  T.  Bunce ;  School  Inspector,  D.  M. 
Lytle  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  C.  L.  Cronk- 
hite, A.  M.  Jennings,  0.  Limbocker  ;  Directors 
of  the  Poor,  T.  Bunce,  P.  C.  Card ;  Constable, 
A.  A.  Cronkhite. 
-Supervisor,  T.  Bunce ;  Township  Clerk,  E.  Holt, 
Jr. ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Wilkinson  ;  Justice,  P. 
C.  Card;    School  Inspectors,    D.  S.  Jones,  E. 
Brown  ;    Directors  of  the  Poor,  0.  Limbocker, 
Andrew  Lytle  ;   Highway  Commissioners,  C.  L. 
Cronkhite,  E.  Brown,  G.  W.  Priest;  Constable, 
A.  A.  Cronkhite. 
Supervisor,  E.  J.  Holt ;  Township  Clerk,  Joseph 
Card  ;    Treasurer,  Stephen  Lytle ;    School  In- 
spectors, D.  S.  Jones,  E.  Brown  ;  Justices,  B. 
H.  Fraser,  D.  S.  Jones ;   Highway  Commission- 
ers, C.  L.  Cronkhite,  E.  Brown,  G.  W.  Priest; 
Directors  of   the  Poor,  H.  Johnson,  0.  Lim- 
bocker;    Constables,    Porter    C.    Card,  A.   A. 
Cronkhite. 
Supervisor,  P.  C.  Card ;  Township  Clerk,  Joseph 
Card ;    Treasurer,  E.  Holt,  Jr. ;    Justice,  Neely 
Sawtell;  Highway  Commissioner,  Andrew  Lytle; 
School  Inspector,  D.  S.  Jones ;  Constables,  H. 
H.  Jennings,  R.  Byington,  E.  Brown. 
Supervisor,    Truman    Bunce;     Township    Clerk, 
Neely  Sawtell ;   Treasurer,   Charles  Wilkinson; 
Justice,  Truman  Bunce ;  Director  of  the  Poor, 
J.  M.  Wells;  Highway   Commissioners,  C.  L. 
Cronkhite,  Riley  Byington;    School  Inspector, 
A.  H.  Owens  ;  Constables,  J.  W.  Card,  H.  Jen- 
nings. 
Supervisor,  Truman  Bunce ;  Township  Clerk,  H. 
H.  Lytle  ;  Treasurer,  Charles  Wilkinson ;  High- 
way Commissioner,  C.  L.  Cronkhite  ;  School  In- 
spector, E.  Brown  ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  R. 
Byington,  0.   Limbocker;    Constables,  J.   W. 


Residence  OF    AlONZO  //.  OWENS.      \ 


ikvtr  Of  Farm  . 


M"^  A^mi^WSHS 


fce  Towns fn p.  ^^hiawassee  County.  Michigan. 


VENICE  TOWNSHIP. 


319 


Card,  G.  W.  Priest,  E.  Johnson,  H.  H.  Jen- 
nings. 

1852. — Supervisor,  Charles  Wilkinson ;  Township  Clerk, 
D.  S.  Jones ;  Justices,  E.  Brown,  D.  S.  Jones ; 
Treasurer,  B.  S.  Jones  ;  Highway  Commission- 
ers, S.  S.  Martin,  J.  Pierce  ;  School  Inspector,  J. 
W.  Card  ;  Constables,  A.  H.  Jennings,  A.  Pierce. 

1853. — Supervisor,  Charles  Wilkinson  ;  Township  Clerk, 
D.  S.  Jones ;  Treasurer,  B.  S.  Jones  ;  Justice, 
Charles  Wilkinson  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  C. 

A.  Cronkhite  ;  School  Inspector,  A.  H.  Owens  ; 
Director  of  Poor,  S.  S.  Martin  ;  Constables,  H. 
H.  Jennings,  J.  W.  Card. 

1854. — Supervisor,  Charles  Wilkinson ;    Township  Clerk, 

D.  S.  Jones  ;  Treasurer,  William  Lindsey ;  Jus- 
tice, S.  S.  Martin ;  School  Inspector,  Benjamin 
Wells ;  Directors  of  Poor,  C.  L.  Cronkhite,  D. 
M.  Lytle ;  Constables,  L.  S.  Wells,  L.  S.  Cronk- 
hite, H.  H.  Jennings. 

1855. — Supervisor,  Charles  Wilkinson  ;   Township  Clerk, 

E.  Brown  ;  Treasurer,  William  Lindsey ;  Justice, 
Palmer  C.  Card;  Highway  Commissioner,  S.  S. 
Martin ;  School  Inspector,  D.  S.  Jones ;  Directors 
of  Poor,  H.  Johnson,  Henry  Church ;  Consta- 
bles, A.  Daniels,  Joseph  Craig,  L.  S.  Wells,  L. 
S.  Cronkhite. 

1856. — Supervisor,  Neely  Sawtell ;  Township  Clerk,  P.  C. 
Card ;  Treasurer,  C.  L.  Cronkhite ;  Justice,  A. 
H.  Owens  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  H.  Blwell ; 
Directors  of  Poor,  R.  H.  Fraser,  J.  W.  Yerkes ; 
School  Inspector,  R.  Byington  ;  Constables,  R. 
Byington,  Amasa  Daniels,  A.  L.  Fraser,  James 
McLaren. 

1857. — No  record. 

1858. — Supervisor,  Charles  Wilkinson ;  Township  Clerk, 
D.  S.  Jones ;  Treasurer,  C.  L.  Cronkhite ;  Jus- 
tice, S.  S.  Martin ;  School  Inspector,  E.  Brown ; 
Directors  of  Poor,  P.  C.  Card,  R.  Byington; 
Highway  Commissioner,  M.  S.  Chapman ;  Con- 
stables, A.  Fosdick,  Joseph  Craig,  L.  S.  John- 
son, J.  M.  Babbitt. 

1859.— Supervisor,  H.  H.  Lytle;  Township  Clerk,  C. 
Yerkes  ;  Treasurer,  William  Lindsey ;  Justices, 
M.  L.  Curtis,  H.  H.  Lytle ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, C.  J.  Young,  H.  Church;  School  In- 
spector, M.  L.  Curtis;  Directors  of  Poor,  T. 
McLaren,  J.  W.  Yerkes;  Constables,  H.  Sawtell, 

B.  F.  Card,  Eli  Johnson,  Charles  Wren. 
I860.— Supervisor,  H.    H.   Lytle;    Township  Clerk,  C. 

Yerkes;  Treasurer,  William  Lindsey;  Justice, 
B.  F.  Card  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  D.  J.  Ken- 
dall ;  School  Inspector,  R.  C.  Satterley ;  Consta- 
bles, L.  S.  Cronkhite,  Andrew  Bliss,  Ira  Harding, 
Eli  Johnson. 
1861.— Supervisor,  H.  H.  Lytle ;  Township  Clerk,  F.  G. 
Bailey  ;  Treasurer,  William  Lindsey ;  School  In- 
spector, C.  Yerkes;  Highway  Commissioner, 
Georo-e  Wren;  Justices,  William  A.  Calkins, 
H.  H.  Lytle ;  Constables,  W.  Leonard,  Ira  Hard- 
ing, A.  Daniels,  Eli  Johnson. 


1862 — Supervisor,  H.  H.  Lytle;  Township  Clerk,  F.  G. 
Bailey ;  Treasurer,  W.  A.  Calkins  ;  Justices,  R. 
C.  Johnson,  C.  Yerkes;  Highway  Commissioners, 

B.  C.  Shipman,  S.  A.  Lytle ;  School  Inspector, 

C.  A.   Cronkhite ;  Constables,  W.  A.  Calkins, 
Eli  Johnson,  E.  Martin,  E.  Johnston. 

1863.— Supervisor,  H.  H.  Lytle ;  Township  Clerk,  R.  B. 
Wyles ;  Treasurer,  W.  A.  Calkins ;  Justices,  C. 
Yerkes,  W.  B.  Hender;  School  Inspectors,  C. 
Yerkes,  A.  F.  Martin ;  Highway  Commissioner, 

D.  J.   Kendall;  Constables,  E.    Johnston,  Eli 
Johnson,  L.  S.  Cronkhite,  Nelson  Heaton. 

1864.— Supervisor,  H.  H.  Lytle ;  Township  Clerk,  A.  H. 
Church ;  Treasurer,  W.  A.  Calkins ;  Justice, 
C.  Wilkinson ;  Highway  Commissioner,  S.  A. 
Lytle ;  School  Inspector,  A.  F.  Martin ;  Con- 
stables, Wi  Johnson,  S.  Cronkhite,  John  Wood, 
David  Calkins. 

1865. — Supervisor,  Asahel  Owen  ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J. 
P.  Gerardy  ;  Treasurer,  Gleason  Young ;  Jus- 
tices, P.  C.  Card,  D.  S.  Lampheer;  Highway 
Commissioners,  M.  S.  Chapin,  Jerome  Sprague, 
N.  Sawtell ;  School  Inspectors,  R.  B.  Wyles,  E. 
Brown  ;  Constables,  Amasa  Daniels,  Peter  Geek, 

E.  Johnston,  Gilbert  Card. 

1866. — Supervisor,  Asahel  Owen  ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J. 
P.  Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  William  Calkins  ;  Jus- 
tice, G.  I.  Young;  School  Inspector,  R.  B. 
Wyles  ;  Highway  Commissioner,  G.  W.  Priest ; 
Constables,  Calvin  Craig,  G.  H.  Card,  Reuben 
Johnson,  Gilbert  Fraser. 

1867— Supervisor,  F.  G.  Bailey;  Township  Clerk,  T. 
Resigue  ;  Treasurer,  W.  A.  Calkins  ;  Justice, 
Charles  Wilkinson ;  School  Inspectors,  A.  P. 
Martin,  C.  Yerkes ;  Highway  Commissioner,  C. 
S.  Wren ;  Constables,  A.  Bliss,  Eli  Johnson, 
William  Leonard,  James  Mott. 

1868. — Supervisor,  Asahel  Owen  ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J.  P. 
Gerardy  ;  Treasurer,  Riley  Byington  ;  Justice, 
E.  Brown ;  School  Inspector,  Hiram  Johnson, 
Jr. ;  Highway  Commissioners,  C.  L.  Cronkhite, 
I.  D.  Hannah ;  Constables,  R.  Johnson,  L.  By- 
ington, Edward  Smith. 

1869. — Supervisor,  Asahel  Owen;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J. 
P.  Gerardy;  Treasurer,  G.  C.  Beebe ;  Justice, 
A.  H.  Owens ;  School  Inspector,  E.  Brown ; 
Highway  Commissioner,-  A.  F.  Martin ;  Consta- 
bles, H.  Humphrey,  J.  W.  Card,  Hiram  John- 
son, Jr.,  Alfred  Fraser. 

1870. — Supervisor,  Asahel  Owen ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J. 
P.  Gerardy  ;  Treasurer,  E.  Brown  ;  Justice,  G.  J. 
Young;  Highway  Commissioner,  I.  D.  Hannah ; 
School  Inspector,  Hiram  Johnson,  Jr.;  Consta- 
bles, H.  Humphrey,  Joseph  Priest,  Samuel 
Schoch,  A.  Stewart. 

1871. — Supervisor,  Alexander  Stewart;  Township  Clerk, 
J.  J.  P.  Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  John  West ;  School 
Inspector  and  Drain  Commissioner,  A.  H. 
Owens;  Highway  Commissioners,  George  Tur- 
ner, A.  M,  Elwellj  Justice,  A.  J.  Augsbury; 


320 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1872.- 


1873.- 


1875.- 


1876.- 


Constables,  H.  Humphrey,  R.  Johnson,  William 
Rollin,  John  Card. 

Supervisor,  Alexander  Stewart;  Township  Clerk, 
J.  J.  P.  Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  B.  Brown ;  School 
Inspector,  Hiram  Johnson,  Jr.  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, C.  E.  Shipman  ;  Drain  Commissioner, 
G.  L.  Cronkhite;  Justice,  E.  Brown;  Consta- 
bles, H.  Johnson,  Jr.,  J.  W.  King,  E.  Leonard, 
Theodore  Niver. 

•Supervisor,  Alexander  Stewart ;  Township  Clerk, 
J.  J.  P.  Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  E.  Brown  ;  School 
Inspector,  James  Twitchell ;  Drain  Commis- 
sioner, C.  L.  Cronkhite;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, C.  L.  Cronkhite ;  Justice,  A.  H.  Owens  ; 
Constable,  John  Card. 
1874. — Supervisor,  Asahel  Owen;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J. 
P.  Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  E.  Brown ;  School  In- 
spector, Hiram  Johnson ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, Ira  Church,  M.  M.  Byington ;  Drain 
Commissioner,  H.  Johnson,  Jr. ;  Justice,  G.  J. 
Youngs;  Constables,  John  Card,  Peter  Geeck. 

Supervisor,  Alexander  Stewart ;  Township  Clerk, 
J.  J.  P.  Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  E.  Brown  ;  Super- 
intendent of  Schools,  G.  T.  Priest ;  School  In- 
spector, James  Twitchell ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, C.  S.  Cronkhite ;  Drain  Commissioner, 
Charles  Ewing  ;  Justice,  A.  J.  Augsbury  ;  Con- 
stables, J.  W.  Card,  J.  L.  Wheelock,  D.  W. 
Cronkhite,  T.  Niver. 

Supervisor,  E.  Brown  ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J.  P. 
Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  M.  M.  Byington ;  Super- 
intendent of  Schools,  G.  T.  Priest;  Inspector  of 
Schools,  James  Twitchell;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, Edwin  Gidley;  Drain  Commissioner, 
George  Wilkinson  ;  Justice,  Alexander  Stewart ; 
Constable,  H.  Humphrey. 

Supervisor,  E.  Brown ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  J.  P. 
Gerardy ;  Treasurer,  M.  M.  Byington  ;  Super- 
intendent of  Schools,  G.  T.  Priest ;  Inspector  of 
Schools,  J.  Twitchell ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
S.  Schoch ;  Drain  Commissioner,  A.  J.  Augsbury. 

-Supervisor,  Ira  C.  Church  ;  Township  Clerk,  P.  G. 
Bailey;  Treasurer,  M.  M.  Byington;  Super- 
intendent of  Schools,  C.  W.  Shipman;  Inspector 
of  Schools,  Lewis  Bugea ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, James  Martin;  Drain  Commissioner, 
Edward  Leonard ;  Justice,  Charles  Wilkinson ; 
Constables,  T.  F.  Niver,  G.  H.  Eraser,  C.  W. 
Shipman. 

Supervisor,  Ira  Church;  Township  Clerk,  F.  G. 
Bailey  ;  Treasurer,  James  Martin  ;  Superintend- 
ent of  Schools,  A.  H.  Owens;  Inspector  of 
Schools,  Lewis  Bugea  ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
William  White ;   Justice,  A.  J.  Augsbury.    • 

Supervisor,  M.  M.  Byington  ;  Township  Clerk,  J. 
J.  P.  Gerardy;  Treasurer,  James  Martin  ;  Super- 
intendent of  Schools,  J.  E.  Lancock ;  Inspector 
of  Schools,  Lewis  Bugea;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, Thomas  Lancock ;  Drain  Commissioner, 
Edward  Leonard  ;  Justice,  Alexander  Stewart.  ' 


1877.— S 


1878.- 


1879 


1880.— g 


EAKLY  TOWNSHIP  ROADS. 
The  earliest  road  that  traversed  the  township  of  Venice 
was  surveyed  by  Nelson  Ferry,  in  June,  1840,  and  began  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  31,  from  whence  it  pursued  a 
northerly  course  to  the  west  quarter  post  of  section  18, 
having  been  two  and  a  half  miles  in  length.  The  second 
road  began  at  the  quarter  post  on  the  west  line  of  section 
32,  and  ran  north  to  the  quarter  post  on  the  west  line  of 
section  29  ;  thence  north  to  a  point  intersecting  a  road  run- 
ning east  and  west  through  sections  7,  8,  9,  and  10.  It 
was  surveyed  Nov.  21,  1840,  by  Nelson  Ferry;  Heman 
Harrington  and  Nelson  Ferry  having  been  highway  com- 
missioners. The  third  road  began  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  20,  and  pursued  a  southerly  course  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  23.  The  survey  was  made 
by  Nelson  Ferry,  on  the  9th,  10th,  and  12th  of  March, 
1841.  A  fourth  road  was  surveyed  at  the  same  date,  be- 
ginning on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  33  and  termi- 
nating at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  4,  its  length  being 

six  miles. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  earliest  school  in  the  township  was  taught  in  the 
year  1840,  at  the  house  of  Nelson  Ferry,  by  his  daughter. 
Miss  Frances  Ferry,  an  addition  having  been  built  to  his 
house  for  the  purpose.  Meanwhile  a  frame  school  build- 
ing, familiarly  known  in  after-years  as  the  "  old  red  school- 
house,"  was  erected  on  section  32,  and  Mr.  Ferry  himself 
presided  as  the  teacher  of  the  district.  Some  time  after- 
wards a  school  was  opened  in  a  barn  belonging  to  Charles 
Wilkinson,  on  section  7,  and  was  taught  by  Miss  Julia 
Card.  The  school-house  in  this  district,  which  was  the 
second  built  in  the  township,  was  erected  in  1850,  the  first 
teacher  having  been  Miss  Celia  Hawkins,  now  Mrs.  James 
B.  Wheeler,  of  Corunna. 

The  present  school  territory  of  the  township  is  divided 
into  eight  whole  districts.  The  present  directors  are  John 
Davids,  George  Chavey,  Lewis  Bugea,  A.  J.  Muzzy,  RoUa 
Turk,  Charles  Shipman,  A.  J.  Augsbury,  and  John  Gauss- 
ley.  The  total  value  of  school  property  in  the  town- 
ship is  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-three  dol- 
lars, which  includes  one  brick,  one  log,  and  six  frame  school 
buildings. 

VENICE  GRANGE,  No.  388,  PATRONS  OF  HUS- 
BANDRY. 

The  Venice  Grange  was  organized  April  13,  1874,  by 
Deputy  C.  M.  Wood,  with  a  charter  membership  of  twenty- 
seven  male  and  twenty-five  female  Patrons.  The  following  ^ 
were  its  first  officers :  Fred  G.  Bailey,  Master ;  A.  H. 
Owens,  Overseer ;  D.  W.  Cronkhite,  Lecturer ;  W.  Bing- 
ham, Steward;  E.  C.  Shipman,  Chaplain;  Alexander 
Stewart,  Treasurer  ;  John  J.  P.  Gerardy,  Secretary.  The 
same  officers  were  re-elected  at  the  next  election.  The 
latest  recorded  officers  are  William  Leonard,  Master  ;  Alex- 
ander Stewart,  Overseer ;  F.  G.  Bailey,  Lecturer ;  M.  M. 
Byington,  Steward  ;  A.  H.  Owens,  Chaplain  ;  C.  L.  Cronk- 
hite, Treasurer ;  Hiram  Re^d,  Secretary. 


VENICE  TOWNSHIP. 


32  J 


BIOGEAPHIOAL   SKETCHES. 


HON.  F.  a.  BAILEY. 


Among  the  names  that  are  prominently  connected  with 
the  development,  progress,  and  welfare  of  Shiawassee  County 
is  that  of  F.  G.  Bailey.      Having  occupied  some  public 
position  the  whole  time  during  the  last  thirty  years  has 
given  him  a  .large  experience,  which  has  contributed  very 
much  to  his  success  and  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the 
public.     He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Bath,  England,  and  at 
the  age  of  four  years  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
parents,  who  first  made  New  "fork  City  their  home  and 
afterwards  removed  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.     When  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Hadley,  Lapeer  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching,  which  was  for  several 
years  his  principal  business.   Ill  health  rendered  an  abandon- 
ment of  his  profession  necessary,  and  he  then  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  Goodrich,  Genesee  Co.,  Mich.,  from 
where  he  removed  to  Shiawassee. County  in  1860,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.     Ill  health  again  rendered  a  change 
necessary,  and  he  removed  to  Keweenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  business.     He  was  afterwards  ap- 
pointed freight  agent  by  the  Central  Mining  Company, 
Eagle  Harbor,  for  whom  he  erected  an  extensive  wharf 
and  warehouses,  and  conducted  the  business  until  1866.   He 
then  returned  to  his  farm  in  Venice.     He  has  served  his 
township  as  supervisor  and  as  clerk  for  several  terms.     He 
was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  State  Grange,  and  is 
vice-president  of  the  Shiawassee  Mutual  Insurance  Company, 
and  also  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Shiawassee  Agricul- 
tural Association.     He  was  elected  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture for  1873,  also  again  for  1875.     He  was  appointed  on 
Committee  on  State  Affairs  and  was  the  acting  chairman 
41 


during  the  latter  part  of  the  session  of  1873,  also  member 
of  Committee  on  Mines  and  Minerals.  He  was  again  ap- 
pointed in  1875  on  Committee  on  State  Aftairs,  also  made 
chairman  of  Committee  on  Education.  He  was  the  intro- 
ducer of  the  bill  by  which  the  three  highway  commissioners 
were  changed  to  one,  securing  more  effective  services  and 
greatly  reducing  the  expense ;  also  offered  an  amendment 
and  secured  its  passage  authorizing  the  purchase  of  State 
bonds  before  maturity  by  the  treasurer,  by  which  the  idle 
millions  in  the  State  treasury  were  used  in  payment  of  State 
bonds  and  relieved  the  people  of  the  payment  of  further 
interest.  In  1876,  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  his  eldest 
son  and  ill  health,  he  refused  to  accept  any  public  position 
that  might  be  tendered  him,  and  since  which  has  retired 
from  active  public  life. 


ALONZO  H.  OWENS. 


Alonzo  H.  Owens  was  born  in  Oneida  County,  State  of 
New  York,  Dec.  5,  1823.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  removed  to  the  Mohawk  Valley,  New 
York,  in  the  year  1800.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  education, 
and  used  his  scholarly  ability  in  teaching,  as  he  was  very 
successful  in  imparting  his  knowledge.  He  continued  in 
the  profession  many  years,  although  his  death  occurred  at 
an  early  age,  when  Alonzo  was  in  his  infancy. 

Mrs.  Owens,  who  was  a  native  of  Montgomery  Co., 
N.  Y.,  married  again  when  her  son  was  three  years  of  ao-e. 
Very  soon  after  this  they  removed  to  Western  New  York, 


322 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


remaining  there  until  Alonzo  was  eleven  years  of  age. 
About  this  time  his  stepfather .  met  with  severe  losses  in 
property  and  emigrated  to  Michigan,  arriving  in  Grand 
Blanc  on  the  1st  of  August,  1835,  where  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  an  almost  unbroken 
wilderness.  Alonzo  passed  his  youth  as  did  the  sons  of 
all  the  early  pioneers,  toiling  early  and  late,  helping  to 
clear  the  land,  hunting  the  cattle,  driving  the  oxen,  etc., 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  his  stepfather 
deeded  his  farm  to  his  eldest  son,  obtaining  a  life-lease  for 
himself  and  wife.  He  was  thus  early  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources.  Many  were  the  obstacles  which  he  con- 
stantly encountered,  but  "  a  brave  soul  is  a  thing  which  all 
things  serve;"  so,  through  great  perseverance,  with  the 
encouragement  of  a  devoted  mother,  he  was  enabled  to 
bear  his  lot  with  great  bravery.  He  was  passionately  fond 
of  reading,  and  spent  his  leisure  time  perusing  historical 
works ;  and  as  agriculture  was  the  calling  he  had  followed 
and  was  still  inclined  to  pursue,  he  was  interested  in  all 
books  pertaining  to  this  subject  and  a  thorough  reader  of 
many  agricultural  periodicals,  the  Albany  Oultivator,  from 
the  beginning  of  his  career  as  a  farmer,  being  always  found 
among  his  daily  readings. 

lie  attended  a  district  school  at  the  then  small  village  of 
Flint,  paying  his  way  by  working  for  his  "board,^during 
the  summer  months  being  employed  on  the  farm.  In 
1843  he  went  to  Venice,  and  for  one  year  was  in  the 
employ  of  Daniel  J.  Lipe,  and  was  remunerated  for  his 
services  by  forty  acres  of  uncleared  land.  In  the  year 
1845  he  took  up  his  abode  with  this  family,  improving  his 
land,  sowing  three  acres  of  wheat,  and  in  the  spring  of  the 
following  year  erected  a  temporary  building,  in  which  be 
lived  by  himself  until  the  spring  of  1847,  when  he  im- 
proved this  rude  structure  by  remodeling  and  building  an 
addition  to  it,  giving  the  house  a  neat  and  pretty  cot- 
tage appearance,  suggestive  of  a  home  with  all  that  name 
implies.  Thereupon  he  made  a  bold  attack  upon  Capt. 
John  Davids,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Corunna,  askino- 
for  his  daughter  in  marriage.  The  proposition  was  ac- 
cepted, the  engagement  short,  and  Miss  Catharine  Davids 
became  Mrs.  Owens  and  graced  the  new  home. 

In  the  year  1851  he  purchased  the  east  half  of  northeast 
quarter  of  section  28,  one  mile  from  his  first  home.  Here 
he  built  a  frame  residence,  and  occupied  it  in  May,  1852, 
where  he  still  resides.  In  January,  1876,  he  purchased 
eighty  additional  acres,  thirty  of  which  were  occupied  by 
the  Rush  Bed  swamp,  which  has  been  thoroughly  drained 
by  a  ditch,  ten  feet  wide  and  four  feet  deep,  running 
through  the  centre,  besides  three  hundred  rods  of  under- 
drains.  His  farm  is  also  well  supplied  with  springs,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  and  most  desirable  in  this  part 
of  the  State,  while  his  residence  and  buildings  are  of  the 
best,  beautifully  located,  with  picturesque  landscape  and 
surroundings. 

Unfortunately,  Mr.  Owens'  wife  soon  after  their  marriage 
became  an  invalid,  and  remained  one  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  in  June,  1856.  On  the  13th  of  May,  1857,  he 
was  united  in  maniage  to  Miss  Nancy  Ann  Crisman,  of 
Rome,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,— Cynthia 
born  June  21,  1858,  and  Crisman  A.,  born  June  9   I862' 


But  again  the  angel  of  death  visited  his  home,  and  on  the 
14th  of  June,  1862,  his  beloved  companion  was  taken  from 
him,  leaving  the  two  little  ones  with  their  father,  the  eldest 
being  four  years  and  the  baby  five  days  old.  This  blow 
was  a  severe  one,  but  persuaded  by  his  friends  he  remained 
on  his  farm,  caring  for  and  keeping  his  little  family  to- 
gether;- but  in  the  early  fall  of  1862  he  had  again  to  drink 
from  sorrow's  cup,  little  Cynthia  leaving  him  to  join  her 
mother,  who  had  gone  before.  Then,  indeed,  the  sunshine 
seemed  to  have  gone  from  his  life,  but  he  gloomily  struggled 
along  its  pathway  until  the  18th  of  November,  1864,  when 
he  was  again  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Lindley,  of  Venice, 
Mich.,  though  a  native  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  On  the  15th 
of  September,  1875,  a  daughter  was  born  to  them  and 
named  Edith. 

Mr.  Owens  is  not  sectarian  in  his  religious  views,  but  a 
believer  in  the  Christian  faith  and  an  active  worker  in  the 
Sabbath-school,  contributing  his  means  and  influence  to  the 
cause.  He  donated  a  beautiful  grove  of  three  acres,  to  be 
used  for  picnics  and  out-door  pleasures. 

In  politics  he  was,  until  the  fall  of  1878,  a  Democrat, 
since  when  he  has  acted  with  the  Nationals.  He  has  never 
sought  office,  but  held  a  number  of  important  positions, 
viz. :  school  inspector,  township  superintendent,  and  justice 
of  the  peace. 

Mr.  Owens'  grandparents  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  during  the  late  Rebellion  he  was  known 
as  a  War  Democrat,  contributing  liberally  to  help  his  town 
fill  her  quota  and  provide  for  the  war-widows.  His  kind 
and  sympathetic  heart  often  took  him  to  visit  the  sick, 
where  he  was  of  great  help  in  caring  for  their  wants; — a 
very  desirable  qualification  for  those  pioneer  days. 


CHAPTER    LXIV. 
WOODHULL    TOWNSHIP.* 

Origin  of  the  Township  Name — Natural  Features — Settlement  and 
Incidents — Township  Organization  and  List  of  Officers — Early 
Schools — Beligious  Societies. 

The  township  of  Woodhull  was  named  in  honor  of  the 
family  of  Joseph  Woodhull,  whose  members  were  its  first 
settlers.  At  the  time  of  its  organization,  it  embraced,  in 
addition  to  its  present  territory,  that  which  is  now  com- 
prised within  the  limits  of  the  township  of  Sciota,  that 
township  having  been  set  off  from  it  Feb.  16,  1842. 

Woodhull  presents  nearly  all  the  diversity  in  natural 
features  peculiar  to  Michigan.  There  are  level  tracts  and 
broken  and  upright  ridges,  and  in  contrast,  considerable 
low  and  swampy  land.  There  are  also  heavily-timbered 
tracts  surrounding  the  more  open  and  scantily-wooded  por- 
tions. In  the  northern  part  the  soil  is  somewhat  heavy, 
while  in  the  southern  part  it  is  light  and  sandy.  The 
Looking-Glass  River  flows  through  the  northern  part,  while 
Vermilion  Creek  waters  the  southern  portions.  The  streams 
afford  good  draining  facilities  for  the  township,  and  need 

*  By  G.  A.  McAlpine. 


WOODHULL  TOWNSHIP. 


323 


only  to  bo  taken  advantage  of  in  order  to  make  valuable 
much  land  at  present  comparatively  worthless. 

SETTLEMENT   AND   INCIDENTS. 

On  the  1st  day  of  November,  1836,  John  and  Josephus 
Woodhull  (brothers)  reached  the  little  log  cabin  then 
known  as  Laing's  tavern.  It  was  probably  the  first  build- 
ing erected  in  the  village  of  Laingsburg.  It  was  a  mere 
shanty  of  logs,  without  floor  other  than  the  ground,  with 
no  chimney  save  a  hole  in  the  roof,  while  stones  set  up  in 
one  corner  served  as  a  fireplace.  Here  having  met  a  pro- 
fessional "  land-looker"  by  the  name  of  Johnson,  they  em- 
ployed him  as  guide.  They  crossed  the  river  on  a  raft, 
south  of  the  place  now  spanned  by  the  bridge,  and  landed 
between  the  "  forks,"  as  the  locality  was  known  in  an  early 
day.  After  taking  the  description  of  certain  portions  of 
sections  5  and  9,  now  in  the  township  of  Woodhull,  the 
brothers  proceeded  with  all  haste  to  Detroit.  But  it  seems 
the  man  whom  they  had  employed  as  a  guide  was  one 
who  in  those  days  was  called  a  "  land-shark,"  but  in  the 
refined  phraseology  of  more  modern  days  would  be  termed 
a  man  of  business  capacity  and  shrewdness.  They  found 
they  had  been  preceded  by  a  gentleman  who  had  pur- 
chased from  the  -  guide  the  minutes  of  the  same  land 
which  they  wished  to  enter.  They  finally  bought  him  off 
for  twenty  dollars,  and  after  waiting  two  days  succeeded  in 
getting  the  duplicates  of  their  land. 

John  Woodhull  entered  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
9.  Josephus  Woodhull  entered  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  section  4,  comprising  the  southeast  quarter  and  the 
east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter.  They  then  returned  to 
the  frontier  with  two  teams  well  loaded  with  provisions, 
and  the  necessary  implements  and  tools  for  building  a  house 
and  commencing  life  in  their  new  home.  On  their  return 
they  were  accompanied  by  William  Hildreth,  a  young  man 
in  the  employ  of  Josephus  Woodhull.  While  these  two 
came  into  the  township  and  built  a  cabin  John  Woodhull 
returned  to  Nankin,  Wayne  Co.,  for  the  rest  of  the  family. 

Josephus  Woodhull  and  William  Hildreth  therefore 
built  the  first  house  in  the  township  of  Woodhull.  The 
work  was  commenced  and  the  first  tree  felled  on  the  2d  day 
of  December,  1836.  The  house  was  built  entirely-  of  logs, 
except  the  door,  which  was  made  of  the  lumber  of  a  dry- 
goods  box  brought  from  the  State  of  New  York.  It  was 
sixteen  by  twenty  feet,  with  a  loft,  which  was  reached  by 
means. of  a  ladder  hung  by  a  hinge,  in  order  that  it  might 
be  raised  up  to  the  ceiling  out  of  the  way.  While  the 
house  was  building,  the  weather  was  exceedingly  disagree- 
able, being  stormy  and  cold,  and  in  addition  to  a  lack  of 
help  this  also  tendeS  to  retard  its  completion.  But  it  was 
finally  finished,  and  a  bright  day  it  was  for  those  who  had 
toiled,  many  days  in  its  construction  (sleeping  through  the 
long  cold  nights  of  the  winter  under  a  wagon)  when  it  was 
ready  for  occupancy.  It  stood  on  the  north  part  of  the 
oast  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  4. 

Between  Christmas  and  New  Year  John  Woodhull  re- 
turned, bringing  his  parents  and  sister,  his  wife  and  three 
children.  The  settlement  at  this  time,  therefore,  consisted 
of  ten  persons. 

The  winter  was  long  and  severe.     The  snow  lay  deep, 


month  after  month,  until  near  the  1st  of  April.  The  feed 
for  the  stock  was  exhausted,  and  they  were  compelled  then 
to  buy  hay  for  six  dollars  per  ton,  which  they  hauled 
twenty-three  miles.  Oats  cost  one  dollar  and  sixty-three 
cents  per  bushel,  potatoes  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents 
per  bushel,  and  pork  twenty-five  cents  per  pound.  In  the 
spring  Josephus  Woodhull  bought  a  load  of  potatoes  of 
Benjamin  Cushing,  who  lived  at  Brighton.  He  planted 
one-half  acre,  and  cultivated  them  during  the  summer  with 
the  greatest  care,  but  owing  to  the  heavy  sward,  which  had 
not  yet  decon)posed,  he  received  but  fifleen  bushels  in  re- 
turn. Joseph  Woodhull,  the  father  of  John  and  Josephus 
Woodhull,  died  during  the  sickly  season  of  1840.  His 
wife  died  in  1859,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  her  age. 
John  Woodhull,  whose  family,  as  stated,  consisted  of  a 
wife  and  three  children,  died  in  1855.  His  wife  went  to 
Wisconsin  with  a  daughter,  who  married  Walter  Stone. 
A  son,  Zenus  S.  Woodhull,  still  lives  in  the  township. 

Joseph  Hildreth,  the  employee  of  Josephus  Woodhull, 
removed  to  Muskegon  after  living  a  number  of  years  in 
this  county.  His  wife,  who  came  to  the  township  in  1838, 
died  in  the  fall  of -that  year.  Hers  was  the  first  death  in 
Woodhull.  She  was  buried  on  the  farm  of  Josephus 
Woodhull.  At  this  place  one-half  acre  of  land  was  after- 
wards set  off  as  a  public  cemetery. 

Josephus  Woodhull  was  a  bachelor,  when  he  came  to 
Michigan.  He  married  Phoebe  Ann  Laing,  whose  parents 
were  among  the  founders  of  Laingsburg. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1837,  Benjamin  Lewitt  and 
Abram  Schermerhorn,  and  their  families,  came  to  Wood- 
hull.  Mr.  Lewitt  purchased  all  of  fractional  section  5  ex- 
cept forty  acres,  and  employed  Mr.  Schermerhorn  to  work 
for  him.  To  him  he  sold  the  east  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  5  soon  afterwards.  In  about  three  years 
after  coming  to  the  township  Mrs.  Lewitt  died,  and  was 
buried  on  the  farm.  Mr.  Lewitt  then  moved  to  Laings- 
burg. In  1840  his  brothers,  John,  Thomas,  and  William, 
with  their  mother  and  two  sisters,  came  in  and  occupied 
this  land.  But  the  old  lady  soon  died,  after  which  Thomas 
and  the  two  sisters  returned  to  England.  Abram  Scher- 
merhorn sold  his  land  to  Joseph  Woodhull  and  moved 
away. 

Philander  T.  Maine,  a  surveyor,  came  to  the  township 
during  this  year,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Viana  Wood- 
hull.  This  was  the  first  marriage  in  the  township.  She 
died  in  a  few  years,  after  which  Mr.  Maine  went  to  Jackson 
County,  where  he  died.  In  the  fall  several  families  located 
across  the  line,  in  Sciota  township,  on  section  32,  Henry 
Buel  and  Oliver  B.  Westcott  being  among  the  number. 
The  latter  was  the  first  town  clerk  and  also  the  first  school- 
teacher in  Woodhull.  In  the  fall  of  1837  (about  the  1st 
of  September),  Josephus  Woodhull  sowed  the  first  wheat 
sown  in  the  township.  The  seed  was  purchased  of  Job 
Cranston,  who  lived  near  Brighton,  Livingston  Co. 

In  the  spring  of  1838,  Francis  F.  Mann,  John  and 
Samuel  Graham,  and  Perry  Parshall,  with  their  families, 
arrived.  Mr.  Mann  first  came  to  the  township  in  October, 
1837,  at  which  time  he  located  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  10,  and  purchased  the  south- 
east quarter   of  section  9.     In   the  following   month   of 


324 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


December,  Mr.  Mann  having  business  in  Ypsilanti,  started 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  grist  of  buckwheat  to  go  to  that 
village.  On  the  way  he  left  his  grain  at  a  mill  in  Ham- 
burg. Livingston  Co.,  expecting  it  to  be  ready  for  him  on 
his  return.  In  the  mean  time  the  mill  was  blocked  with 
ice,  and  he  started  for  the  mills  in  Shiawasseetown,  where 
he  waited  two  nights  and  one  day  for  his  grist.  He  reached , 
home  in  the  evening,  having  been  absent  eight  days.  Jo- 
sephus  WoodhuU  relates  a  similar  circumstance,  in  which 
he,  accompanied  by  his  sister,  with  two  yoke  of  oxen  and 
a  wagon-load  of  provisions,  was  nine  days  in  coming  from 
Nankin,  Wayne  Co.,  to  his  home  in  Woodhull.  Mr.  and. 
Mrs.  Mann  are  the  only  couple  now  living  in  the  township' 
that  came  in  in  the  spring  of  1838.  They  have  never 
moved  from  the  place  of  their  first  settlement  farther  than 
from  the  cabin  into  the  house  which  they  now  occupy. 
Their  daughter,  Mary  0.,  was  one  of  the  first  children  born 
in  the  township.  John  Grraham,  who  had  been  to  Wood- 
hull  in  the  summer  of  1837,  and  cut  hay,  and  later  had 
built  a  house,  returned  again  when  Mr.  Mann  came,  in 
February,  1838.  He  located  six  eighty-acre  lots,  half  of 
which  was  for  his  brother  Samuel,  t^  whom  he  gave  the 
privilege  of  selecting  that  part  which  he  preferred.  He' 
selected  the  land  lying  near  the  lakes,  now  known  as  Gra- 
ham Lakes,  on  section  10,  while  John  took  the  north  part 
of  section  15,  except  the  east  one-half  of  the  northeast 
quarter.  John  Graham  died  in  1875:  His  wife  had  died 
in  1847.  The  daughter  who  came  with  them  married 
Holden  McFarlan  ;  she  died  in  1870. 

Samuel  Graham  came  to  New  York  from  Ireland,  and 
after  traveling  considerably  through  the  United  States  set- 
tled in  Michigan.  He  located*  as  before  stated,  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  section  10.  He  was  a  carpenter, 
and  built  the  first  framed  building  in  the  township  for  Jo- 
sephus  Woodhull.  Mr.  Graham  served  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  His  wife  died  in  1866,  and  the  next  year  he 
moved  to  Lansing,  where  he  still  resides. 

Perry  Parshall  settled  on  section  4  in  March  of  1838. 
He  died  in  1868.  Hfa  wife  had  died  many  years  before. 
His  son  Harrison,  who  was  about  twenty-two  years  of  a^e 
when  he  came  to  the  township,  lived  on  the  old  homestead 
till  his  death. 

Patrick  Corcoran,  with  his  wife  and  children,— John, 
Barney,  Owen,  Bartlett,  Henry,  Fannie,  and  Ann,  from 
Ireland,— came  to  Woodhull  in  the  fall  of  1838.  He  lo- 
cated a  large  tract  of  land  on  sections  32  and  33.  The  pa- 
rents, Bartlett,  and  Fannie  are  dead.  The  homestead  is 
still  occupied  by  the  family. 

William  Hammond  and  Reuben  Place  also  deserve  men- 
tion among  the  pioneers  of  Woodhull.  The  former  reached 
the  township  about  the  year  1840.  His  family  consisted 
of  a  wife  and  one  child.  He  settled  the  west  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  12.  He  remained  some  years, 
but  his  wife  having  died,  he  sold  his  property  and  went  to 
the  northwest  part  of  Michigan.  Reuben  Place  had  con- 
siderable skill  in  wood- work.  He  supplied  the  early  set- 
tlers with  chairs,  more  remarkable  for  their  solidity  than 
beauty.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Bennino^fon  E 
Tooker  settled  on  the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  29,  and  S.  Moon  located  on  section  21 


A  large  portion  of  land  was  held  by  speculators  for  a 
number  of  years,  which  retarded  the  settlement  of  the 
township  considerably.  The  most  of  this  came  into  market 
at  a  later  day,  and  now  there  is  comparatively  little  non- 
resident land.  Among  those  who  owned  considerable  tracts 
are  the  names  of  Bliss  and  Godfrpy. 

The  most  serious  inconvenience  known  to  the  early  set- 
tlers was  the  distance  they  were  compelled  to  travel  for 
their  groceries  and  provisions.  A.  market  :for  produce,  after 
the  home  demand  had  been  supplied,  was  almost  out  of  the 
question.  If  trading  to  any  amount  was  to  be  done,  a  trip 
was  made,  with  cattle,  ta  Ann  Arbor  or  Detroit,  usually 
occupying  from  ten  to  fifteen  days,  according  to  the  condi- 
tion of  the  roads.  Of  their  condition  at  this  late  day  no 
adequate  idea  can  be  given.  They  were  at  times  almost 
impassable,  and  frequently  the  wagon,  and  sometimes  even 
the  oxen,  would  have  to  be  raised  from  the  mud  or  siuk- 
'  holes,  which  were  not  uncommon,  especially  in  the  spring 
of  the  year.  A  serious  want  was  a  blacksmith-shop.  The 
iron  implements  so  necessary  in  clearing  and  subduing  a 
new  country  were  constantly  broken  and  otherwise  rendered 
unfit  for  use.  The  hook  of  a  chain  or  the  point  of  a  plow 
would  alike  have  to  be  carried  eight  or  ten  miles,  a  half- 
day  spent,  or  a  long  tramp  made,  through  the  woods  late  at 
night,  in  order  to  secure  the  necessary  repairs.  But  in  the 
spring  of  1839,  Joseph  us  Woodhull  purchased  a  good  bel- 
lows and  kit  of  tools,  and  opened  a  blacksmith-shop  in  a 
little  log  cabin  on  his  farm.  From  this  time  until  other 
shops  were  established  in  the  villages  near  Woodhull,  this 
shop  did  good  service  to  the  settlers. 

Several  Indian  trails  crossed  the  township ;  the  one  mostly 
used  by  the  Indians  led  east  and  west  through  Antrim, 
Perry,  and  Woodhull  townships  to  Laingsburg.  The  first 
road  established  in  the  town  passed  between  sections  9  and 
16  and  10  and  15.  Another  was  then  established  leading 
also  to  Laingsburg.  The  next  one  led  south  through  the 
western  part  of  the  township.  These  roads  were  established 
in  the  summer  of  1838. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  1840,  the  "sickly  season"'  (as 
the  period  was  known  for  many  years)  commencedj  and  by 
the  middle  of  August  a  majority  of  the  people  in  the  settle- 
ment were  sick  with  bilious  fever.  Ralph  Williams,  who 
lived  in  what  is  now  Sciota  township,  was  the  only  man  in 
the  entire  settlement  who  was  able  to  go  from  house,  to 
house  and  attend  the  sick.  He  was  an  excellent  man  in 
this  regard,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  alleviate  the  suffer- 
ings of  those  around  him. 

TOWNSHIP    ORGANIZATION    AND    LIST    OP 
OFFICERS. 

Woodhull  was  set  off  from  the  old  township  of  Shia- 
wassee, and  erected  a  separate  township,  by  act  of  tlie 
Legislature  approved  April  2,  1 838.  By  this  act  it  was 
provided  and  declared  that  townships  5  and  6  north  of 
range  1  east  be  organized  as  a  separate  township  named 
Woodhull,  and  that  the  first  township-meeting  should  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Peter  Laing.  In  accordance  with 
the  terms  of  this  act  the  first  town-meeting  was  held  at 


WOODHULL  TOWNSHIP. 


325 


the  place  designated,  April  30,  1838.  Henry  Leach  was 
chosen  moderator ;  Oliver  B.  Westcott,  clerk  ;  Benjamin 
Hewitt,  assistant  clerk;  Josephus  and  John  WoodhuU, 
Walter  Laing,  and  John  Graham,  inspectors  of  election. 
The  entire  vote  cast  numbered  twenty-two.  The  names  of 
the  voters  were  as  follows  : 


Henry  Buell. 
Joseph  WoodhuU. 
Josephus  WoodhuU. 
John  WoodhuU. 
Joseph  Hildreth. 
John  Hill,  Jr. 
John  Brindle. 
William  P.  Laing. 
Abraham  Schermerhorn. 
John  Graham. 
Benjamin  Lewitt. 


Cornelius  Putnam. 
Perry  Parshall. 
Lewis  Shippee. 
Harris  Parshall. 
Alvin  S.  McDowell. 
Samuel  Graham. 
Henry  Leach. 
Francis  F.  Mann. 
Samuel  Millard. 
Oliver  B.  Westcott. 
Walter  Laino;. 


The  township  officers   elected  at  this  and  subsequent 

annual  meetings  until  the  present  time  have  been  as  named 

in  the  following  list,  viz. : 

1838. — Supervisor,  John  WoodhuU;  Clerk,  Oliver  B. 
Westcott;  Assessors,  William  P.  Laing,  Cor- 
nelius Putnam;  Collector,  Walter  Laing;  School 
InspectorSj  Oliver  B.  Westcott,  Benjamin  Le- 
witt, John  Graham ;  Directors  of  the  Poor, 
MUton  Phelps,  Alvin  S.  McDowell;  Highway 
Commissioners,  William  P.  Laing,  Henry  Buell, 
Henry  Leach ;  Justices,  Josephus  WoodhuU, 
Peter  Laing,  Henry  Leach,  John  Graham  ;  Con- 
stables, Walter  Laing,  Gideon  M.  Cross. 

1839. — Supervisor,  John  WoodhuU ;  Clerk,  Oliver  B. 
Westcott ;  Assessors,  Francis  F.  Mann,  Philan- 
der T.  Maine,  Walter  Laing;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, Mason  Phelps,  Samuel  Graham, 
Josephus  WoodhuU ;  School  Inspectors,  Oliver 
B.  Westcott,  Josephus  WoodhuU,  Philander  T. 
Maine;  Constables,  W.  P.  Laing,  Gideon  M. 
Cross ;  Collector,  W.  P.  Laing ;  Justice,  Jo- 
sephus WoodhuU  ;  Treasurer,  John  WoodhuU ; 
Poormasters,  Samuel  Graham,  John  Graham. 

1840.— Supervisor,  John  WdodhuU ;  Clerk,  Oliver  B. 
Westcott;  Treasurer,  John  WoodhuU;  As- 
sessors, F.  F.  Mann,  Philander,  T.  Maine,  Cor- 
nelius Putnam;  School  Inspectors,  Oliver  B. 
Westcott,  Josephus  WoodhuU,  P.  T.  Maine; 
Directors  of  the  Poor,  Oliver  B.  Westcott, 
Peter  Laing;  Highway  Commissioners,  Josephus 
WoodhuU,  M.  Phelps,  Allen  Smith;  Justice, 
Allen  Smith;  Collector,  W.  P.  Laing;  Con- 
stables,  W.  P.  Laing,  R.  Williams. 

1841. —Supervisor,  E.  P.  Tooker;  Clerk,  P.  T.  Maine; 
Treasurer,  S.  B.  Fuller ;  Justice,  John  Graham ; 
Assessors,  Franklin  ChUds,  Cornelius  Putnam, 
Francis  F.  Mann ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Mason  Phelps,  Henry  Leach,  Henry  Buell; 
School  Inspectors,  Charles  Place,  Franklin 
Childs,  P.  T.  Maine;  Directors  of  the  Poor, 
Peter  Laing,  G.  M.  Cross;  Constables,  W.  P. 


Laing,  Owen    Corcoran,    F.  F.    Mann,  Smith 
Tooker ;  Collector,  W.  P.  Laing. 

1842. — Supervisor,  John  WoodhuU;  Clerk,  Owen  Cor- 
coran ;  Treasurer,  Josephus  WoodhuU-  Justices, 
Joseph  Hildreth,  John  Corcoran;  Assessors, 
Joseph  Hildreth,  Edward  Bragg;  Highway 
Commissioners,  Josephus  WoodhuU,  Owen  Cor- 
coran, Smith  Tooker;  School  Inspectors,  Jo- 
sephus WoodhuU;  Owen  Corcoran,  .PhUander 
T.  Maine;  Constables,  Smith  Tooker,  F.  F. 
Mann. 

1843. — Supervisor,  P.  T.  Maine ;  Clerk,  Owen  Corcoran ; 
Treasurer,  Eliphalet  Tooker ;  Justice,  Josephus 
WoodhuU;  Highway  Commissioners,  John 
WoodhuU,  Barney  Corcoran,  F.  F.  Mann; 
School  Inspectors,  P.  T.  Maine,  Edward  Bray; 
Assessors,  William  Hammond,  John  Corcoran ; 
Constables,  Smith  Tooker,  Stephen  Finch. 

1844. — Supervisor,  E.  S.  Tooker ;  Clerk,  Owen  Corcoran  ; 
Treasurer,  G.  W.  Hossler ;  Justices,  John  Cor- 
coran, William  Hammond ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, Nathan  Hawlcy,  F. .  F.  Mann,  G.  W. 
Hossler;  School  Inspectors,  G.  N.  Stoddard, 
Edward  Bray  ;  Constable,  Stephen  Finch. 

1845.— Supervisor,  S.  B.  Warner;  Clerk,  P.  T.  Maine; 
Treasurer,  Josephus  WoodhuU  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, James  Warfle,  N.  Stoddard,  John 
Graham ;  Constables,  Stephen  Finch,  0.  G. 
Tooker,  A.  M.  Chadwick,  E.  HoweU ;  School 
Inspector,  Josephus  WoodhuU. 

184G.— Supervisor,  S.  B.  Warner;  Clerk,  P.  T.  Maine; 
Treasurer,  Josephus  WoodhuU  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, Nathan  Hawley,  John  Graham,  R. 
Place ;  School  Inspector,  Sylvanus  Bachelor  ; 
Justice,  G.  N.  Stoddard ;  Constables,  Peter  Shaft, 
A.  M.  Chadwick,  James  E.  Bunnel. 

1847. — Supervisor,  E.  F.  Tooker;  Clerk,  Owen  Corcoran  ; 
Treasurer,  Josephus  WoodhuU ;  Justice,  John 
Thompson ;  Highway  Commissioners,  W.  G. 
Kent,  John  Graham,  Joshua  Marsh ;  School 
Inspector,  Henry  Frederick ;  Constables,  J.  V. 
Shaft,  Henry  Frederick,  Daniel  S.  Sparks,  0.  G. 
Tooker. 

1848. — Supervisor,  John  Thompson  ;  Clerk,  Owen  Cor- 
coran ;  Treasurer,  John  WoodhuU ;  Justices, 
John  Corcoran,  Nicholas  Flanagan;  Highway 
Commissioner,  William  G.  Kent;  School  In- 
spectors, Zetus  WoodhuU,  Francis  ■  F.  Mann  ; 
Constables,  Charles  Marsh,  Zetus  WoodhuU,  G. 
H.  Corcoran,  S.  C.  Goodhue. 

1849. — Supervisor,  John  Thompson;  Clerk,  Owen  Cor- 
coran ;  Treasurer,  David  Tooker ;  Highway 
Commissioner,  Andrew  Van  Riper ;  School  In- 
spector, W.  G.  Kent;  Constables,  Jacob  V. 
Shaft,  Daniel  D.  Searles,  Richard  Warfer,  F. 
F.  Mann. 

1850. — Supervisor,  John  Thompson  ;  Clerk,  Owen  Cor- 
coran ;  Treasurer,  David  G.  Tower ;  Justices, 
David  G.  Tower,  Josephus  WoodhuU;  High- 
way Commissioner,   John    WoodhuU^    School 


326 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Inspector,  F.  F.  Mann ;  Constables,  J.  V.  Shaft, 
Hugh  Oaks,  James  S.  Harper,  George  H.  Cor- 


coran. 


1851.— I 


1852.— 1 


1853.— I 


1854.— I 


1855.— 1 


1856.— 1 


1857.—; 


1858.— I 


1859.-1 


1860,- 


Supervisor,  Josephus  Woodhull ;  Clerk,  Owen  Cor- 
coran ;  Treasurer,  W.  G.  Kent ;  Justice,  John 
Thompson;  Commissioner  of  Highways,  Isaac 
Thompson;  School  Inspector,  Zetus  S.  Wood- 
hull  ;  Constables,  Hugh  Oaks,  K.  Shaw. 

Supervisor,  Josephus  Woodhull ;  Clerk,  Owen  Cor- 
coran ;  Treasurer,  W.  G.  Kent ;  Justices,  Lewis 
T.  Bennett,  John  Corcoran  ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, Andrew  Van  Eiper;  School  Inspector, 
Lewis  T.  Bennett;  Constables,  John  W.  Van 
Wormer,  Eoswell  Shaw,  B.  E.  Crandel,  Alex- 
ander Place. 

Supervisor,  John  Thompson ;  Clerk,  John  G. 
Marsh ;  Treasurer,  W.  G.  Kent ;  Justice,  Isaac 
E.  Everts ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Christopher 
Mowers;  School  Inspector,  Jonathan  Burke; 
Constables,  Bartley  Siegle,  John  W.  Van 
Wormer,  Benjamin  J.  Crandal,  James  S.  Harper. 

Supervisor;  Josephus  Woodhull ;  Clerk,  Joshua 
G.  Marsh  ;  Treasurer,  Andrew  Van  Riper ;  Jus- 
tice, Ira  Burlingame ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
Hugh  Oaks ;  School  Inspectors,  Truman  Willits, 
Lewis  Bennett;  Constables,  P.  Chalker,  Charles 
Gould,  William  Chaucarty,  Solomon  Burlingame. 

Supervisor,  John  Thompson  ;  Clerk,  J.  G.  Marsh  ; 
Treasurer,  Andrew  Van  Riper ;  Justice,  Thomas 
Stevens ;  Highway  Commissioner,  John  W.  Van 
Wormer;  School  Inspector,  James  H.  Burlin- 
game; Constables,  Bartley  Siegle,  Jacob  V. 
Shaft,  Henry  Stevens,  James  H.  Burlingame. 

Supervisor,  John  Thompson  ;  Clerk,  J.  G.  Marsh  ; 
Treasurer,  Andrew  Van  Riper;  Justices,  John 
Thompson,  John  Corcoran  ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, Solomon  Burlingame ;  School  Inspector, 
Francis  F.  Mann;  Constables,  Henry  Stevens, 
Charles  Gould,  James  Burlingame,  Philip 
Chalker. 

Supervisor,  John  Thompson ;  Clerk,  E.  P.  Kay ; 
Treasurer,  P.  P.  Mann  ;  Justice,  James  Graham ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Philo  C.  Leavenworth  ; 
School  Inspector,  Sidney  H.  Munger;  Constables, 
George  Colby,  Charles  JJohrabacher,  Moses  P. 
Marsh,  Isaac  E.  Everts. 

Supervisor,  John  Thompson ;  Clerk,  E.  F.  Kay ; 
Treasurer,  P.  P.  Mann ;  Justice,  William  Hurd ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  G.  M.  Colby;  School 
Inspector,  H.  H.  Hawley;  Constables,  Philip 
Chalker,  Russell  Dyer,  Henry  Stevens,  James 
Harper. 

Supervisor,  J.  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  E.  P.  H.  Kay; 
Treasurer,  P.  P.  Mann ;  Justice,  Thomas  Ste- 
vens; School  Inspectors,  Owen  Corcoran,  S.  H. 
Munger  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  Hugh  Oaks, 
Henry  Stevens;  Constables,  James  Harper, 
Henry  Stevens,  George  M.  Colby,  Charles  Rohra- 
bacher. 

Supervisor,  J.  G-  Marsh  ;  Clerk,  John  Thompson  ; 


Treasurer,  F.  F.  Mann  ;  Justice,  John  Thomp- 
son ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Andrew  Rohra- 
bacher;  School  Inspector,  Sidney  H.  Munger; 
Constables,  Henry  Stevens,  George  M.  Colby, 
Ira  Burlingame,  Charles  Marsh. 

1861. — Supervisor,  J.  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Owen  Corcoran; 
Treasurer,  F.  F.  Mann ;  Justice,  Sidney  H.  Mun- 
ger ;  Highway  Commissioner,  William  Colby ; 
School  Inspector,  Lewis  Bennett;  Constables, 
Patrick  McDowell,  Isaac  Eohrabacher,  Israel 
Parshall. 

1862. — Supervisor,  J.  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Owen  Corcoran; 
Treasurer,  W.  G.  Kent ;  Justices,  Hugh  Oaks, 
Henry  Stevens,  John  J.  Ginteling;  Highway 
Commissioner,  John  W.  Van  Wormer;  School 
Inspector,  8.  H.  Manzer ;  Constables,  G.  M. 
Colby,  Patrick  McDowell,  Jerome  Wright,  Isaac 
Rohrabacher. 

1863. — Supervisor,  J.  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  S.  p.  Manzer; 
Treasurer,  William  Kent;  Justices,  John  Cor- 
coran, William  H.  Force ;  School  Inspector,  J. 
V.  D.  Wyckoff;  Highway  Commissioner,  Pat- 
rick McKeon ;  Constables,  George  M.  Colby, 
Patrick  McDowell,  John  S.  Green,  Abraham  H. 
Everts. 

1864. — Supervisor,  J.  G.  Marsh ;  Clerk,  S.  H.  Manzer ; 
Treasurer,  William  G.  Kent;  Justice,  D.  J. 
Tower ;  Highway  Commissioners,  John  S.  Green, 
Andrew  Rohrabacher ;  School  Inspector,  Joshua 
G.  Marsh;  Constables,  G.  M.  Colby,  Jerome 
Wright,  George  Smith,  John  Siegle. 

1865. — Supervisor,  S.  H.  Manzer;  Clerk,  Owen  Corcoran; 
Treasurer,  William  G.  Kent;  Justices,  Henry 
Stevens,  Lawson  W.  Beardslee  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, Bernard  Bray;  School  Inspector,  St 
H.  Manzer ;  Constables,  J.  M.  Shaft,  George  M. 
Colby,  George  Acker,  Isaac  E.  Everts. 
-Supervisor,  Josephus  Woodhull ;  Clerk,  Zetus  S. 
Woodhull;  Treasurer,  W.  G.  Kent;  Justices, 
Josephus  Woodhull,  James  S.  Harper;  School 
Inspector,  Joshua  G.  Ward ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, Bartley  Siegle ;  Constables,  S.  S.  Green, 
John  M.  Shaft,  John  Siegle,  James  Bray. 
-Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Zetus  S. 
Woodhull;  Treasurer,  James  S.  Harper;  Jus- 
tices, John  Corcoran,  George  M.  Colby,  Charles 
Walker ;  Highway  Commissioner,  William  Col- 
by; School  Inspector,  Arthur  H.  Bigg;  Consta- 
bles, John  M.  Shaft,  Ovid  Whipple,  Isaac  Rohra- 
bacher, William  Bailey. 
-Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh ;  Clerk,  Arthur  H. 
Bigg;  Treasurer,  Francis  P.  Mann;  Justices, 
Hugh  Oaks,  Charles  Arnold  ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, James  M.  Clement,  Bernard  Bray; 
School  Inspector,  James  S.  Harper ;  Constables, 
John  M.  Shaft,  David  Whipple,  Oliver  P.  Everts, 
Alford  S.  Wright. 
-Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Smith  F. 
Warner;  Treasurer,  John  M.  Shaft;  Justices, 
David  Tower,  Henry  Stevens ;  Highway  Com- 


1866.— g 


1867.— £ 


1868.- 


1869.— S 


WOODHULL  TOWNSHIP. 


327 


missioner,  S.  S.  Green  ;  School  Inspector,  Henry 
Tallmadge;  Constables,  B.  D.  Corcoran,  Oliver  P. 
Everts,  Alfred  L.  Wright,  Andrew  J.  Harper. 

1870.— Supervisor,  J.  G.  Marsh ;  Clerk,  Smith  F.  War- 
ner ;  Treasurer,  John  M.  Shaft ;  Justices,  Henry 
Stevens,  Samuel  Pope ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
A.  Simpkins;  School  Inspector,  James  S.  Har- 
per; Constables,  Oliver  P.  Everts,  Alphonso 
Harkness,  George  Acker,  Charles  S.  Place. 

1871. — Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Smith  P. 
Warner ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Rohrabacher ;  Justice, 
John  Corcoran ;  Highway  Commissioner,  John 
L.  Tyler ;  School  Inspector,  Henry  Tallm'adge ; 
Constables,  John  H.  Corcoran,  Sidney  Simpson, 
Alphonso  Harkness,  John  H.  Parshall. 

1872. — Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Smith  F. 
Warner;  Treasurer, Isaac  Rohrabacher;  Justice, 
Hugh  Oaks ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Sidney  S. 
Green  ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Owen  Corcoran  ; 
School  Inspectors,  James  S.  Harper,  Michael 
Flanagan  ;  Constables,  Oliver  P.  Everts,  Andrew 
J.  Harper,  Bartley  Siegle,  Israel  E.  Saddler. 

1873. — Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Richard  F. 
Kay ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Rohrabacher  ;  Justice, 
George  W.  Clements  ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Sarsfield  Corcoran,  Almond  N.  Stevens  ;  Drain 
Commissioner,  Owen  Corcoran ;  School  Inspec- 
tor, James  S.  Harper;  Constables,  Oliver  P. 
Everts,  Alfred  L.  Wright,  William  H.  Robison, 
Bartley  Siegle. 

1874. — Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh ;  Clerk,  Richard  F. 
Kay  ;  Treasurer,  John  M.  Shaft ;  Justice,  Henry 
Stevens ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Zetus  S.  Wood- 
hull  ;  School  Inspector,  John  Tyler ;  Drain  Com- 
missioner, Chauncey  Rohrabacher;  Constables, 
William  Robinson,  Parley  Laing,  Smith  F.  War- 
ner, Rodolphus  E.  Tower. 

1875. — Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh ;  Clerk,  Smith  F, 
Warner ;  Treasurer,  John  M.  Shaft ;  Justice, 
John  Corcoran ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Michael 
Flanagan ;  School  Superintendent,  Charles  M, 
Smith ;  School  Inspector,  James  S.  Harper ; 
Drain  Commissioner,  Chauncey  Rohrabacher; 
Constables,  Oliver  P.  Everts,  Paisley  Laing, 
R.  E.  Hower,  Bartley  Siegle. 

1876. — Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh;  Clerk,  Charles  M. 
Smith  ;  Treasurer,  John  M.  Shaft ;  Justice,  Hugh 
Oaks;  Highway  Commissioner,  Michael  Flana- 
gan ;  School  Superintendent,  Richard  F.  Kay  ; 
School  Inspector,  James  S.  Harper ;  Drain  Com- 
missioner, Isaac  Rohrabacher ;  Constables,  Oliver 
P.  Everts,  Bartley  Siegle,  John  L.  Tyler,  John 
Dunn. 
1877. — Supervisor,  Joshua  G.  Marsh ;  Clerk,  Smith  F. 
Warner ;  Treasurer,  Daniel  R.  Tuthill ;  Justice, 
James  S.  Harper  ;  Commissioner  of  Highways, 
Edward  Crawford ;  School  Superintendent,  Dan- 
iel 0.  Beardslee ;  School  Inspector,  Hugh  Oaks ; 
Constables,  J.  D.  Southwell,  Bartley  Siegle,  F. 
M.  Powell,  J.  F.  Hunt. 


1878.— Supervisor,  Smith  F.  Warner ;  Clerk,  Joseph  V. 
D.  Wyckoff;  Treasurer,  John  Aikens ;  Justices, 
Henry  Stevens,  G.  W.  Chrouch ;  School  Super- 
intendent, Daniel  0.  BeardSlee ;  School  Inspec- 
tor, James  S.  Harper ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
William  G.  Kent ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Joshua 
G.  Marsh ;  Constables,  F.  M.  Powell,  J.  D. 
Southwell,  Bartley  Siegle,  D.  Marsh. 

1879.— Supervisor,  S.  F.  Warner;  Clerk,  Joseph  V.  D. 
Wyckoff;  Treasurer,  Joshua  G.  Marsh ;  Jus- 
tice, John  Corcoran ;  Highway  Commissioner, 
William  G.  Kent;  School  Superintendent, 
George  W.  Chrouch;  School  Inspector,  James 
S.  Harper ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Joshua  G. 
Marsh ;  Constables,  Francis  M.  Powell,  Mark 
Marlatt,  Newton  Shaft,  Jediah  Southwell. 

1880. — Supervisor,  Smith  F.  Warner;  Clerk,  Joseph  V. 
D.  Wyckoff;  Treasurer,  Joshua  G.  Marks  ;  Jus- 
tice, Hugh  Oakes ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Wil- 
liam Kent ;  School  Superintendent,  George  W. 
Chrouch ;  Drain  Commissioner,  George  W. 
Colby ;  School  Inspector,  James  S.  Harper ; 
Constables,  Alfred  F.  Tyler,  Alphonso  Harkness, 
Oliver  P.  Everts,  Horace  R.  Stevens. 

EARLY  SCHOOLS. 

On  Nov.  14,  1837,  the  school  commissioners  of  Shia- 
wassee township  (which  at  that  time  embraced  the  territory 
comprised  in  Shiawassee,  Antrim,  Bennington,  Perry,  Wood- 
hull,  and  Sciota)  met  at  the  Shiawassee  Exchange,  and 
divided  the  township  intcf  school  districts.  Woodhull  was 
divided  as  follows ; 

District  No.  1  itjclnded  sections  2,  3,  10,  11,  12,  13, 
14,  15, 

District  No.  2.— Sections  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  34, 
35,  36. 

District  No.  3.--^Sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  16,  17,  18. 

District  No.  4.— Sections  19,  20,  21,  22,  28,  29,  31, 
32,  33, 

In  the  fall  of  1838  the  inhabitants  of  Woodhull  and  the 
neighboring  towns  of  Bath  and  Victor  in  Clinton  County 
met  at  the  house  of  Josephus  Woodhull  for  the  transaction 
of  school  bi(siness.  Of  this  meeting  Mr.  Woodhull  was 
chosen  moderator,  and  the  usual  school  officers  were  elected. 
It  was  then  decided  to  have  a.  bee  and  build  a  school -house. 
Nearly  all  the  settlers  in  the  vicinity  accordingly  assembled 
at  a  specified  place  a  few  days  afterwards,  and,  working 
with  alacrity,  soon  completed  a  log  school-house.  This 
building  stood  near  the  county-line,  on  section  5.  It  was 
the  first  school-house  built  in  Woodhull  township,  and  in 
it  was  taught  the  first  school  by  Oliver  B.  Westcott.  He 
received  tep  dollars  per  month  and  boarded  himself.  The 
attendance  w^  from  ten  to  sixteen,  and  among  the  number 
^erg  pj^jldren  from  territory  now  comprised  in  four  town- 
ships. 

As  no  money  had  thus  far  been  collected  by  taxation  for 
school  purposes  it  was  necessary  to  raise  this  amount  by 
subscription,  or  by  assessing  the  parents  of  those  who  at- 
tended school  a  certain  per  cent.  The  money  was  accord- 
ingly raised  in  this  way. 


328 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


The  next  school  district  was  formed  in  1842,  in  the 
locality  containing  the  northern  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. '  The  inhabitants  met  at  the  house  of  John  Gra- 
ham and  elected  the  necessary  district  oflScers,  but  the 
minutes  of  the  meeting  are  not  to  be  found.  A  site  was 
selected,  being  the  one  now  occupied  by  the  school-house 
in  district  No.  2.  A  framed  school-house  was  then  built, 
being  the  first  in  the  township,  in  which  Martha  Spicer 
taught  the  first  school.  Elizabeth  Woodhull  and  Mary 
Jane  Hill  taught  in  the  same  district  soon  after. 

EELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES. 

The  early  settlers  of  Woodhull  would  compare  favorably 
in  character  and  education  with  those  of  any  other  town- 
ship in  the  county.  They  had  scarcely  placed  themselves 
in  a  position  to  provide  for  the  bare  wants  of  life  when 
they  began  to  agitate  measures  for  the  establishment  of 
schools  and  churches.  All  the  principal  denominations  of 
the  Protestant  Church  have  been  organized  and  encouraged 
from  time  to  time.  Methodist,  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  and 
Congregational  societies  have  been  established.  But  the 
changes  and  vicissitudes  of  more  than  forty  years  have 
worked  the  dissolution  of  nearly  all  the  societies  formed  in 
an  early  day.  In  the  church,  as  in  the  school-room,  the 
field,  and  the  household,  the  men  and  women  who,  in  the 
strength  and  vigor  of  youth,  put  their  shoulders  to  the 
wheel  have  surrendered  the  task,  unfinished,  to  another 
generation. 

In  the  year  1839  a  Methodist  class  was  formed  in  the 
log  school-house  on  section  5.  'A  Mr.  Finch,  of  Bath,  was 
the  first  class-leader.  This  class  subsequently  disbanded, 
and  others  of  the  same  denomination  have  since  been  , 
formed.  The  class  now  in  existence  in  the  northern  part 
of  Woodhull  was  formed  in  September,  1855,  in  the  Antrim 
Circuit,  and  at  that  time  was  known  as  West  Perry  charge. 


James  S.  Harper  was  chosen  class-leader.  The  meeting- 
house of  the  society  was  erected  in  1879,  at  a  cost  of 
one  thousand  and  fifty  dollars.  The  ground  for  the  cemetery 
at  this  church  was  donated  to  the  township  by  F.  F.  Mann 
and  Samuel  Graham.     It  contains  one  and  one-half  acres. 

In  the  same  year  that  the  Methodist  class  was  formed 
Elder  B.  B.  Brigham  organized  a  Baptist  Church.  The 
place  of  holding-  its  meetings  was  afterwards  changed  to 
Laingsburg. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1879,  a  meeting  was  called  at 
Shaftsburg,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  action  in  regard  to 
building  a  church.  The  following  persons  were  appointed 
a  building  committee :  James  Harper,  J.  V.  D.  Wyckoff, 
Sr.,  Joshua  G.  Marsh,  and  Rev.  James  Whitford,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as  chairman.  With  the  un- 
derstanding that  the  various  societies  should  be  allowed  to 
worship  in  the  new  house,  the  members  of  all  denomina- 
tions subscribed  liberally,  and  about  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred dollars  was  pledged  for  that  purpose.  The  building 
was  erected  during  the  summer  of  that  year.  It  is  now, 
however,  under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

SHAPTSBTJEG. 

This  station  on  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad  contains  four 
stores,  a  hotel,  a  post-oflSce,  two  blacksmith-shops,  a  saw- 
mill, a  flouring-mill,  and  a  meeting-house.  The  village  is 
platted  on  the  land  of  John  P.  Shaft,  from  whom  it  is 
named.  The  post-office  at  this  place  was  established  in 
1878,  and  Newton  Bacon,  who  had  opened  the  first  dry- 
goods  store,  was  appointed  postmaster. 

The  flouring-mill,  the  first  and  only  one  built  in  the 
township,  was  erected  by  Jacob  Stabler  in  1877.  It  has 
two  run  of  stones.  Just  previous  to  its  completion.  Stabler 
&  Harlow  built  the  saw-mill.  The  hotel  was  built  by  John 
P.  Shaft. 


ffesioBNCE  OF  ANDREW  J  VAN  RIPER.  Wdodhull.    Shiawassee.  Co  Mich. 


WOODHULL  TOWNSHIP. 


329 


BIOGEAPHIOAL    SKETCHES. 


ANDREW    J.    VAN   RIPER. 


JiKS.    ANDREW    J.    VAN    RIPER. 


ANDKEW  J.  VAN  RIPER. 


This  venerable  pioneer  was   born  in   Paterson,  N.  J., 
Jan.  9,  1806.     His  father,  Jeremiah  Van  Riper,  was  born 
in  Lodi,  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.     He  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Blarcom,  and  reared  a  family  of  seven  children.     The  elder 
Van  Riper  was  a  thrifty,  industrious,  and  successful  farmer,  _ 
a  man  of  undoubted  integrity,  and  one  of  Michigan's  ear- 
liest settlers,  and  universally  beloved  for  his  kindness  of 
heart.     He  had  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  was  perhaps 
without  an  enemy.     Andrew  lived  with  his  father  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  the  city  of  New 
York  and  apprenticed  himself  to  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker. 
He  remained  in  New  York  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  returned  to  Paterson  and  commenced  business 
for  himself.     In   1824  he  removed  to  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y., 
whither  his  father  had  removed  the  year  previous.     Here 
he  followed  his  trade,  and  in  1827  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Dubois.     In  May,  1831,  he  started  for  Michigan 
with  his  family,  which  consisted  of  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren.    He  settled  in  the  town  of  Lodi,  Washtenaw  Co., 
where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
from  the  government,  receiving  his  deed  from  Martin  Van 
Buren.     In  1834  his  father  followed  him,  and  purchased  a 
farm  near  the  home' of  his  son,  where  he  resided  until  bis 
death,  which  occurred  in  1858.     In  1848,  Mr.  Van  Riper 
removed  to  the  town  of  Woodhull,  where  he  had  previously 
42 


purchased  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  government 
iand.  Here  he  has  since  resided,  and  during  the  thirty- 
two  years  that  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Woodhull  no  man 
has  been  more  closely  identified  with  its  development  than 
he.  Energy,  industry,  and  economy  are  the  salient  points 
in  the  character  of  Mr.  Van  Riper.  He  has  perfected  a 
valuable  record  as  a  citizen,  and  no  one  stands  higher  in  the 
estimation  of  the  people  of  Woodhull  than  he.  His  word, 
whether  given  in  a  business  transaction  or  in  ordinary  con- 
versation, is  considered  to  be  as  good  as  his  bond.  He  has 
been  highly  successful  in  business,  and  has  accumulated  a 
fine  competency,  and  at  the  same  time  has  been  a  generous 
giver,  a  friend  to  the  poor  and  distressed,  and  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  all  public  and  charitable  enterprises.  In  his  relig- 
ious belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Lodi,  and  identified  himself 
largely  with  the  building  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Shafts- 
burg.  Socially  he  is  genial  and  courteous  ;  he  loves  a  good 
joke,  and  his  frank,  open  countenance  is  indicative  of  good- 
nature and  generosity.  In  his  domestic  relations  he  is  a 
kind  father  and  a  valued  friend.  He  has  settled  his  children 
around  him,  to  each  of  whom  he  has  given  good  homes. 
He  is  now  in  his  seventy-fifth  year,  and  still  retains  much 
of  his  former  vigor  and  energy.  He  has  made  a  name  and 
reputation  that  will  live  as  long  as  the  history  of  Woodhull. 


330 


HISTORY  OF  SHIAWASSEE  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


FRANCIS  P.  MANN. 


MRS.  FRANCIS  F.  MANN. 


FRANCIS   F.  MANN. 


The  family  tmditions  of  Francis  F.  Mann  reach  back  to 
a  time  before  the  French  and  Indian  war,  when  two  broth- 
ers, named  respectively  William  and  Samuel  Mann,  came 
to  America.  They  went  back  to  England,  their  native 
land,  in  a  few  years,  but  soon  returned  to  America.  Which 
of  these  was  the  ancestor  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  it  is 
impossible  to  say.  His  <Trandfather,  Jacob  Mann,  who  was 
born  in  1744,  and  lived  in  Wenham,  Mass.,  married  Miss 
Susan  Richardson. 

While  a  young  man,  being  afflicted  with  the  rheumatism, 
he  left  the  farm  where  he  had  lived  and  went  to  Harvard 
College,  from  which  he  graduated.  He  was  then  admitted 
to  the  Congregational  Church  as  minister,  and  was  the  first 
located  pastor  of  that  denomination  in  the  town  of  Alstead, 
N.  H.  In  this  place  Jacob  Mann,  Jr.,  the  father  of  Fran- 
cis F.  Mann,  was  born  in  August,  1782.  His  wife,  Miss 
Phoebe  Fisher,  was  born  Sept.  2,  1787. 

Francis  F.  Mann  was  born  in  the  town  of  Alstead,  N.  H., 
Dec.  12,  1808.  When  he  was  about  three  years  old  his 
father  died,  and  his  mother  subsequently  married  again. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  fourteen,  and  then  went 
to  live  with  his  uncle,  Samuel  Maun.  He  subsequently 
left  Alstead  and  went  to  Walpole,  where  he  met  Laura 
Robinson,  to  whom  he  was  married  June  29, 1836. 

The  ancestors  of  Mrs.  Mann  are  traced  back  to  the  time 
when  the  Pilgrims  left  England  and  went  to  Leyden.  She 
is  the  descendant  of  John  Robinson,  formerly  a  preacher 
in  the  Established  Church  near  Yarmouth,  Norfolk,  Eng- 
land,  and  whose  sons  came  to  Plymouth  in  the  "  May- 
flower." John  Robinson,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Mann,  lived  in   Connecticut,  where  Isaiah   Robinson,  her 


grandfather,  a  deacon  in  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Ches- 
ter, Vt.,  was  born.  In  1750  he  married  Sarah  Robins,  the 
daughter  of  Colonel  Robins,  who  served  in  the  French  and 
Indian  war.  They  lived  in  Killingly,  where,  while  he  was 
in  the  Continental  Army,  her  father,  Daniel  Robinson,  was 
born,  Oct.  29,  1776.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  her  father 
moved  to  Springfield,  Windsor  Co.,  where  he  married 
Nancy  McElroy,  Oct.  30,  1798.  At  this  place  Laura,  the 
fourth  daughter,  was  born  June  9, 1809.  She  subsequently 
resided  with  her  uncle's  family,  at  Walpole,  N.  H.,  where 
she  met  F.  F.  Mann  and  was  married  to  him,  as  already 
stated. 

They  came  to  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  in  October,  1837. 
Their  settlement  in  Michigan  is  more  fully  spoken  of  in 
the  history  of  WoodhuU  township.  The  following  is  the 
record  of  their  children :  Mary  Omenda,  born  April  24, 
1839;  Helen  L.,  born  Dec.  20,  1841;  Harriet  L.,  born 
Sept.  25, 1851.  Adopted  children:  Amasa  F.  Chadwick, 
born  Sept.  17,  1846 ;  James  0.  McClintock,  born  Oct.  28, 
1850  ;  Albert  J.  Wilcox,  born  July  14,  1865.  Amasa  F. 
Chadwick  died  in  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  June 
12,  1864,  and  was  buried  in  the  Soldiers'  National  Ceme- 
tery at  that  place. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  are  kind  and  hospitable,  respected 
by  all  who  know  them,  and  eminently  deserving  the  brief 
mention  given  them  in  this  sketch.  They  are  not  members 
of  any  church  in  the  township,  Mrs.  Mann  having  never 
severed  her  connection  with  the  society  to  which  she  be- 
longed in  the  East.  They  both  encourage  and  favor  all 
societies  of  Christians  the  lives  of  whose  members  comply 
with  their  professions. 


JOHN   P.   SHAFT. 


The  Shaft  family  are  of  German  and  French  ex- 
traction. The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  an  officer  under  Napoleon.  Nothing 
is  now  known  regarding  his  history  or  the  date  of 
his  emigration  to  America.  The  paternal  grand- 
father emigrated  from  Germany  previous  to  the  Revo- 
lution, and  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  enlisted 
and  served  during  its  continuance.  Soon  after  peace 
was  declared  he  settled  in  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  Peter  Shaft,  father  of  John  P.,  was  born. 
From  Rensselaer  County  a  portion  of  the  family  re- 
moved to  Saratoga  County,  where  the  father  of  our 
subject  purchased  a  farm,  and  where  John  P.  was 
born  Sept.  16, 1805,  His  parents,  Peter  and  Eliza- 
beth (Loop)  Shaft,  reared  a  family  of  seven  children, 
and  when  John  was  a  babe  removed  to  Madison  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  they  resided  until  1838,  when  they 
emigrated  to  Perry,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich. 

John  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  He  received  a  good  com  mon-school 
education,  and  shortly  after  he  attained  his  majority 
apprenticed  himself  to  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker, 
which  he  followed  until  he  came  to  Michigan,  in 
1839.     He  brought  with  him  a  stock  of  boots,  shoes, 


and  leather,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Perry,  where 
he  purchased  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land 
on  sections  19,  20,  and  29.  About  1846  he  removed 
to  Woodhull  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  where  he  now  resides.  To  this  purchase 
he  made  repeated  additions,  until  he  owned  at  one 
time  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 
He  now  owns  one  thousand  and  eighty  acres,  most  of 
which  is  in  the  town  of  Woodhull. 

Mr.  Shaft  has  identified  himself  largely  with  the 
interests  of  Woodhull.  He  laid  out  the  thriving 
village  which  bears  his  name,  and  was  prominent  in 
the  location  and  construction  of  the  railroad  which 
passes  through  it.  He  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  edu- 
cational and  religious  enterprises,  and  has  done  his 
part  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  town.  He 
has  been  married  five  times,  first  to  Christiana  Olsaver 
in  1829 ;  she  was  a  fine  type  of  the  pioneer  woman, 
and  was  highly  esteemed.  His  present  wife,  nie 
Julia  E.  Parks,  is  a  lady  of  much  culture  and 
refinement.  Mr.  Shaft  is  now  in  his  seventy-fifth 
year,  and  is  still  hale  and  hearty.  His  name  is 
prominent  in  the  history  of  Woodhull,  and  he  will 
always  be  remembered  as  a  valuable  citizen. 


CLINTON     COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

BOTJUDAKIES-TOPOGKAPHY-MHTEKAL   RE- 
SOUHOES. 

Location  and  Natural  Features — The  Coal-Measnres — Salt  Springs 

Results  of  Explorations  for  Coal  and  Salt. 

Clinton  County  lies  directly  west  of  Shiawassee,  the 
principal  meridian  of  the  State  forming  the  boundary- 
line  between  them.  On  the  north  Clinton  is  bounded  by 
Gratiot  County,  on  the  west  by  Ionia,  and  on  the  south  by 
the  counties  of  Ingham  and  Eaton.  The  Grand  River, 
flowing  northwestwardly  from  the  latter  county,  enters  Clin- 
ton, and,  traversing  the  extreme  southwestern  corner  of  its 
territory  for  a  few  miles,  passes  across  its  west  boundary  into 
Ionia.  The  other  principal  streams  are  the  Maple  and 
Looking-Glass  Rivers,  both  of  which  enter  the  county 
across  its  eastern  border,  from  Shiawassee.  The  former, 
crossing  the  northeast  corner  of  Clinton  in  a  general  course 
jg^owards  the  northwest,  passes  out  into  Gratiot  County, 
Through  the  southern  part  of  which  it  meanders  for.  some 
twenty  miles,  and  then  returns  to  Clinton  across  its  north 
boundary  (about  three  miles  west  of  the  centre),  and  flows 
in  a  general  southwesterly  course  through  the  northwest 
corner  of  this  county  into  Ionia. 

The  Looking-Glass  River,  coming  into  the  county  across 
the  east  line,  at  a  point  about  seven  and  a  half  miles  north 
of  its  southeast  corner,  flows  in  a  general  course  a  little 
south  of  west  across  Clinton  into  Ionia  Couniy,  passing 
out  of  the  former  about  six  miles  north  of  its  southwest 
corner.  The  Looking-Glass  teceives  tributaries  of  consider- 
able size  within  this  county,  as  does  also  the  Maple.  The 
projected  improvements  on  both  these  streams  for  purposes 
of  navigation  in  early  years  have  already  been  mentioned  in 
preceding  pages. 

The  surface  of  Clinton  County  is  properly  described  as 
undulating,  for  the  swells  of  ground  are  not  sufficiently 
lofty  or  abrupt  to  be  termed  hills,  and  there  are  in  the 
county  but  very  few  places  where  entirely  level  upland 
tracts  of  much  extent  are  found,  though  ip  the  original 
field-notes  of  the  government  surveys  a  great  number  of 
places  are  mentioned  where  the  surveyors,  in  traversing  this 
county,  passed  through  "prairies,"  and  "prairie  lands." 
They  also  note  the  existence  of  "  floating  prairie"  in  some 
localities,  and  continually  mention  "marsh,"  "cranberry 
marsh,"  and  "tamarack  swamp."  The  aggregate  of  all 
these,  however,  forms  but  a  very  small  part  of  the  area  of 
the  county. 

The  kinds  of  timber  noted  in  the  surveys  of  this  county 
are  oak  (white,  red,  yellow,  black,  and  burr),  elm,  beech, 
maple  (hard  and  soft),  white  and  black  ash,  aspen,  tama- 


rack, linn,  birch,  cedar,  black-walnut,  iron-wood,  cotton- 
wood,  hickory,  cherry,  -and  spruce,  with  a  very  general 
undergrowth  of  prickly  ash  and  willow.  The  greater  part 
of  the  county  was  embraced  in  the  heavily-timbered  lands 
and  timbered  openings,  the  open  lands  or  "  prairies"  being 
generally  of  small  extent.  The  lands  from  which  heavy 
timber  has  been  cleared  are  generally  strongest  and  best, 
but  a  really  poor  soil  is  scarcely  known  in  any  part  of  the 
county. 

In  geological  formation  and  development,  Clinton  County 
presents  but  little  that  is  of  much  interest.  Explorations 
have  been  made  here  in  past  years  for  salt  springs,  and  also 
for  veins  of  coal,  the  search  for  the  latter  being  encouraged 
by  the  fact  that  the  entire  country  is  known  to  be  under- 
laid by  the  "  coal-measures"  of  the  lower  peninsula,  the 
location  and  limits  of  which  are  described  by  Professor  C. 
Rominger,  the  State  geologist,  as  follows: 

"  The  approximate  limits  of  the  coal-measures  on  the 
peninsula  are  within  a  line  drawn  from  Sebawing,  on  Sag- 
inaw Bay,  towards  Holly,  in  the  south  part  of  Genesee 
County,*  and  from  there,  prolongated  in  a  southwesterly 
curve,  to  Jackson.  From  Jackson  the  line  goes  west,  pass- 
'ing  a  few  miles  north  of  Albion  ;  it  then  strikes  northwest, 
passing  some  distance  east  of  Bellevue  to  Hastings,  whence, 
northward,  the  extent  of  the  formation  is  only  guessed  at. 
The  western  edge  of  the  coal-measures  is  supposed  to  inter- 
sect the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  line  near  Lowell, 
thence  to  go  north,  touching  Big  Rapids,  and  from  there  to 
run  in  a  northeastern  curve  diagonally  through  Osceola 
County  and  the  northwest  corner  of  Clare  County.  The 
line  does  not  seem  to  transgress  the  second  correction  line  ; 
it  goes  parallel  with  it  along  the  northern  end  of  Gladwin 
County,  from  which  point  the  formation  is  again  known 
through  actual  outcrops.  It  enters  the  northwest  corner  of 
Bay  County,  and  extends  in  a  southeast  direction  towards 
the  mouth  of  Rifle  River,  striking  the  shore  of  Saginaw 
Bay.  The  rim  of  the  formation  is  a  few  miles  north  of  Rifle 
River."  It  will  be  seen  that  this  description  places  the 
county  of  Clinton  entirely  within  and  not  far  from  the 
centre  of  the  great  coal-basin. 

In  his  report  of  1876,  on  the  geological  survey  of  the 
State,  Prof.  Rominger  makes  mention  of  the  outcrop  of  the 
coal  formation  and  other  geological  developments  at  Grand 
Ledge,  and  along  the  Grand  River  below  that  place.  As  the 
pbint  first  mentioned  is  within  a  short  distance  of  the  south 
boundary  of  Clinton,  and  as  his  description  follows  the 
river  in  its  course  of  several  miles  through  this  county,  it  is 

^  The  professor  here  makes  a  mistake  in  locating  Holly,  which  is  in 
the  northwest  corner  of  Oakland  County. 

331 


332 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


thought  appropriate  injthis  connection  to  extract  that  por- 
tion of  his  report  which  has  reference  to  this  region.  He 
says,  "The  most  instructive  natural  section  through  the 
coal  formations  which  we  have  in  this  State  is  seen  at  Grand 
Ledge  in  the  valley  of  Grand  Eiver,  ten  miles  below  Lan- 
sing. The  river  has  carved  its  bed  there  to  a  depth  of 
about  sixty  feet  below  the  general  surface  level  of  the 
country.  The^upper  part  of  the  hills  bordering  the  valley 
is  formed  of  drift ;  the  lower  presents  a  section  through  the 
rock-beds  of  the  coal-measures.  The  village  of  Grand 
Ledge  is  located  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  outcrops,  which 
continue  up  and  down  the  river  for  about  a  mile.  The 
strata  rise  and  sink  in  undulations,  which  bring  the  higher 
and  lower  beds  to  repeated  outcrops  on  the  same  level. 
The  order  of  stratification,  often  visible  in  sections  of  large 
horizontal  extent,  gives  a  fair  opportunity  for  observing  the 
changes  to  which  a  stratum  in  its  horizontal  extension  is 
often  subject  with  regard  to  thickness  and  quality  of  mate- 
rial. The  observed  variability  explains  why,  in  the  numer- 
ous sections  seen  within  the  limited  space  of  a  few  miles, 
no  one  exactly  corresponds  with  the  other,  although  many 
of  them  represent  about  the  same  horizon. 

"  The  upper  part  of  the  formation  is  a  coarse-grained 
sand-rock  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  feet  in  thickness.  In 
the  locality  where  I  saw  it  best  exposed  the  rock  occupies 
one  of  the  depressed  curves  of  an  undulation  such  as  has 
been  alluded  to,  and  at  both  ends  of  the  exposure  lower 
rock  strata  come  up  alongside  the  upper  beds  on  the  same 
level.  The  sand-rock  ledges  form  a  compact  body  with  only 
insignificant  intermediate  seams  of  shale,  or  with  an  occa- 
sional coal-seam  of  a  few  inches  thickness  wedged  in. 
Calamites  and  other  vegetable  imprints,  besides  concretions 
of  kidney-ore  and  of  iron  pyrites  and  conglomerated  seams, 
are  usually  found  inclosed  within  the  rock  mass.  In  grain 
and  hardness  it  fully  resembles  the  upper  sandstones  of 
Jackson  ;  its  color,  however,  is  a  somewhat  darker,  yellow- 
ish shade.  Locally,  the  rock  becomes  very  hard,  and  has 
a  dark  chocolate-brown  color  from  containing  an  abundance 
of  ferruginous  cement ;  a  part  of  this  brown  rock  is  coarsely 
conglomeratic.  Next  below  this  sand-rock,  which  borders 
the  river  in  vertical  cliffs  for  nearly  the  length  of  a  mile, 
we  find  blue  shales  of  arenaceous  character,  interlaminated 
with  thin  layers  of  sand-rock,  all  amounting  to  a  thickness 
of  about  fifteen  or  twenty  feet.  Under  these  is  a  coal-seam 
two  and  a  half  feet  in  thickness,  and  of  very  good  bitumi- 
nous quality.  It  wedges  out  in  places,  or  changes  into  a 
black,  carbonaceous  shale.  This  seam  is  worked  at  times 
by  single  workmen  as  a  temporary  occupation  when  they 
have  little  else  to  do.  The  coal-seam  rests  on  a  gray,  argil- 
laceous, laminated  sand-rock,  with  softer  shaly  seams,  which 
both  inclose  a  large  quantity  of  coaly  vegetable  remains, — 
Lepidodendron,  similar  to  Lepid.  Wortheni,  Stigmaria 
ficoides,  trunks  and  leaves.  The  thickness  of  the  beds  is 
about  five  feet.  Lower  comes  a  fine-grained,  whitish  sand- 
rock,  in  even,  compact  beds  eight  feet  in  thickness.  Di- 
rectly under  this  sand-rock  is  a  fifteen-inch  bed  of  good  bitu- 
minous coal.  Lowest  in  the  outcrop  are  about  twenty-five 
feet  of  additional  strata,  principally  sand-rock  ledges,  with 
some  intermediate  shale-seams.  In  the  bed  of  the  river  at  this 
spot  large,  hard  sand-rock  slabs  of  very  even  bedding,  and 


from  two  to  three  inches  in  thickness,  are  laid  open,  which 
would  make  excellent  flag-stones  for  paving  sidewalks.  The 
aggregate  thickness  of  the  given  section  is  about  ninety  feet ; 
it  beo'ins  with  the  centre  of  the  synclinal  depression,  and  is 
followed  down  the  stream.  .  .  . 

"  A  good  section  through  the  formation  can  be  observed  in 
the  ravines  of  a  creek  entering  Grand  River  from  the  south, 
a  short  distance  west  of  the  village,  and  another  in  the 
bluffs  just  below  it,  and  opposite  the  section  last  described. 
Highest  in  this  latter,  under  a  few  feet  of  drift,  are  fifteen 
feet  of  arenaceous  shales,  with  nodular  seams  of  sand-rock 
and  kidney-ore  concretions,  and  a  band  of  carbonaceous 
shale  with  seams  of  coal ;  below  follow  eight  feet  of  a  fine- 
grained greenish-white  sandstone,  in  thick,  even  beds,  iden- 
tical with  the  sand-rock  found  in  the  first  section,  interme- 
diate between  the  two  coal-seams.  This  rock  is  quarriea 
and  worked  into  cut  stone,  window-  and  door-sills  ;  it  is  of 
fine  quality,  better  than  any  of  the  coal-measure  sand-rocks 
I  have  before  seen.  The  beds  at  one  end  of  the  quarry  are 
much  thicker  than  at  the  other,  and  seem  to  wedge  out. 
Under  the  quarry-stone,  a  foot  or  two  of  arenaceous  shales, 
laminated  by  black,  coaly  seams,  follow,  and  then  a  coal- 
bed  fifteen  inches  thick.  The  coal  is  of  very  good  quality 
even  for  fclacksmiths'  use,  and  is  occasionally  obtained  by 
working  the  quarry  for  its  sand-rock.  The  coal-seam  rest-s 
on  bluish,  arenaceous  shales,  and  lower  beds  of  sand-rock 
form  the  base  of  the  bluff  and  the  bed  of  the  river.  The 
banks  of  the  river,  at  intervals  for  the  distance  of  eight 
miles,  present  more  limited  outcrops  than  those  near  Grand 
Ledge,  but  after  that  no  more  rock  is  denuded  in  the  river- ' 
bed  until  Ionia  township  is  reached,  where,  in  section  23, 
the  upper  sand-rock  of  the  coal-measures  comes  to  the  sur- 
face, or  is  only  covered  by  a  thin  coating  of  drift.  The 
quality  of  this  sand-rock  is  superior  to  the  equivalent  beds 
at  Grand  Ledge  or  at  Jackson  ;  it  can  be  quarried  in  blocks 
of  large  dimension,  and  is  of  proper  durability  for  building 
purposes.  .  .  .  West  and  north  of  Ionia,  the  coal-forma- 
tion disappears  under  the  drift,  and  no  other  borings  have 
been  made  in  these  directions  by  which  we  could  ascertain 
the  extent  of  its  distribution  as  the  surface-rock.  To  en- 
counter the  coal-formation  again,  we  have  to  return  east- 
ward." 

Several  borings  for  coal  have  been  made  at>different  times 
in  the  southwest  part  of  the  county,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
region  to  which  the  professor  refers  in  the  extract  given 
above.  One  of  these  borings,  made  at  Eagle,  in  1873, 
showed  the  following  section  : 

Drift 8  feet. 

Sand-rook 23    " 

Coal A  thin  vein. 

Fire-clay 3    " 

Light  slate 13    " 

Black  slate U    " 

Sand-rook 2    " 

Coal 35  inches. 

Sand- rock 21  feet. 

The  other  borings  in  the  same  township  showed  strata 
passed  through  similar  to  this.  A  boring  made  at  Ovid,  on 
the  east  line  of  the  county,  in  1878,  showed  a  vein  of  coal 
about  one  foot  in  thickness  at  a  depth  of  fifty  eigiit  feet 
below  the  surface.  Another,  sunk  in  the  same  year  in  Du- 
plain,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county  (but  not  for  the 


^GEOIOGICAL  MAP 

f       -^    or  THE  LOWER    PENINSULA 


BOUNDARIES,  TOPOGRAPHY,  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES. 


333 


purpose  of  discovering  coal),  reached  a  depth  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-seven  feet,  disclosing  no  coal-vein. 

From  the  time  when  the  territory  of  Clinteu  County 
first  became  known  by  white  men,  it  was  believed  that  val- 
uable salt-springs  existed  along  the  valley  of  the  Maple 
River,  and  this  belief  resulted  in  explorations,  with  a  view 
to  their  discovery  and  development.  The  principal  exami- 
nation of  the  country  to  this  end  was  made  by  the  State 
geologist,  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton,  in  1837,  a  report  of 
which  was  made  by  him  in  January,  1838,  from  which  re- 
port an  extract,  having  reference  to  his  examinations  in 
the  northwest  township  of  Clinton  County,  is  here  given, 
viz. : 

"  It  has  been  known  from  the  earliest  settlement  of  the 
country  that  the  Indians  formerly  supplied  themselves  with 
salt  from  springs  occurring  on  the  peninsula ;  numerous 
reservations  of  lands  supposed  to  contain  salt-springs  have 
been  made  by  the  United  States.  Many  years  ago  several 
unsuccessful  attempts  were  made  by  individuals  to  manu- 
facture salt,  but,  after  all,  the  fact  that  most  of  the  springs 
reserved  by  the  United  States  contain  little  else  than  some 
of  the  salts  of  lime  and  iron,  and  the  failure  in  the  original 
attempt  to  manufacture  the  salt,  had  with  much  reason 
given  rise  to  doubts  as  to  the  existence  of  saline  springs  to 
any  extent.  .  In  ascending  Maple  River  saline  indications 
were  first  observed  in  township  8  north,  range  4  west,  and 
were  seen  to  occur  at  distant  intervals  between  that  point 
and  what  may  be  considered  as  the  head  of  navigation  of 
the  stream,  not  far  from  the  line  between  ranges  1  and  2 
west.  The  Maple  River,  between  these  points,  is  a  slug- 
gish stream,  having  so  slight  a  current  as  to  resemble  a  suc- 
cession of  narrow  lakes,  while  the  alluvial  shores,  scarcely 
rising  above  the  water,  even  when  lowest,  are  covered  with 
a  dense  forest  of  soft  maple,  giving  to  the  whole  stream,  at 
first,  rather  a  forbidding  aspect.  But  in  passing  from  this 
valley,  which  varies  from  half  a  mile  to  two  or  three  miles 
in  width,  we  come  upon  a  beautiful  elevated  and  undula- 
ting country,  for  the  most  past  heavily  timbered  and  well 
adapted  to  the  purposes  of  agriculture.  The  bottom  of  the 
stream  is  seen  to  be  composed  of  a  yellowish  sand,  as  are 
also  the  alluvial  deposits  which  bound  it  on  either  side,  with 
which  are  frequently  seen  bowlders  of  primary  rocks,  but  no 
rock  was  seen  at  any  point  upon  the  river. 

"In  Clinton  County,  township  8  north,  range  4  west, 
section  15,  and  where  by  a  somewhat  sudden  turn  the  river 
approaches  near  to  the  elevated  boundary  of  the  valley  just 
described,  saline  indications  of  a  decided  character  appear 
in  the  narrow  marsh  or  alluvial  bottom  which  bounds  the 
river  upon  its  northern  side.  Two  marshes  scarcely  ele- 
vated above  the  surface  of  the  river,  and  partially  separated 
from  each  other,  occur,  in  the  lower  of  which  no  distinct 
springs  can  be  said  to  exist,  but  the  water  is  seen  at  several 
polnte  oozing  through  the  sandy  soil  in  Connection  with  the 
water  of  the  river,  and  although  no  means  could  be  devised 
for  preventing  the  constant  accession  of  fresh  water  and 
foreign  matter,  it  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  spring  14, 
tables  Nos.  1  and  2,  a  much  more  favorable  result  was  ob- 
tained than  could  under  those  circumstances  have  been  an- 
ticipated. 


"  Table  1. — Spring  14,  Lower  Marsh,  Clinton  Salt-  Works,*  Township 
8  North,  Jiunge  4  West,  Section  15. 

"How  owned Private  property. 

Grains. 

Specific  gravity 1.0026 

Muriate  of  soda 67.76 

lime 1.22 

"  magnesia 5.54 

Carbonate  of  lime 8.45 

iron .04 

Sulphate  of  lime ,7.13 

Vegetable  matterf 54 

Siliceous  and  aluminous! 22 

Solid  matter 90.90 

"Table  No.  2, — Showing  the  Constituents  of  One  Hundred  Grains  of 

Solid  Contents  of  Spring  14,  in  Table  1. 

GraioB. 

"Muriate  of  soda 74.50 

"  lime 1.35 

"  magnesia 6.10 

Carbonate  of  lime 9.30 

Sulphate  of  lime 7.85 

Carbonate  of  iron .05 

Vegetable  matter 60 

Siliceous  and  aluminous  matter 25 

Total 100.00 

• 

"  At  the  upper  marsh  an  excavation  had  been  made  to  a 
depth  of  a  few  feet,  but  not  sufficient  to  prevent  the  free 
ingress  of  fresh  water.  There  was  a  constant  discharge  of 
water  in  small  quantities,  perfectly  transparent  and  having 
a  temperature  of  46°,  and,  as  was  also  the  case  with  that  at 
the  lower  marsh,  having  a  slight  odor  of  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen. Since  my  visit  to  this  place  I  am  informed  a  shaft 
has  been  sunk  through  alternate  beds  of  sand  and  coarse 
gravel  to  a  depth  of  about  forty  feet,  and  has  been  attended 
by  a  considerable  increase  of  the  saline  contents  of  the  water. 
I  have  received,  through  the  politeness  of  Messrs.  Parks  & 
Warner,  proprietors  of  the  springs,  several  bottles  of  the 
water,  taken  since  the  shaft  was  sunk.  One  hundred  cubic 
inches  (three  and  one-half  wine-pints,  nearly)  of  the  water 
subjected  to  analysis  give  the  following  results: 

Grains. 

"Muriate  of  soda 143.88 

"  lime 4.30 

*'  magnesia 12.83 

Carbonate  of  lime 6.23 

"  iron 09 

Sulphate  of  lime 13.47 

Total  solid  matter 180.80 

"  In  consequence  of  the  shaft  which  has  been  sunk  there 
has  been  an  increase  over  a  former  analysis  of  92.42  grains 
of  solid  matter  and  77.05  grains  of  salt  in  one  hundred 
cubic  inches  of  water.  As  we  continue  to  ascend  the  Maple 
River  indications  of  saline  occasionally  appear,  until  we 

»  The  "  Clinton  Salt- Works,"  referred  to  in  Dr.  Houghton's  report, 
was  not  what  its  name  would  imply, — an  establishment  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  salt, — but  a  paper-village  enterprise,  started  on  the  Maple 
River,  in  the  township  of  Lebanon,  Clinton  Co.,  by  Robert  S.  Parks, 
Lawson  S.  Warner,  Thomas  B.  Andrews,  Charles  Hubbell,  and  Calvin 
C.  Parks,  who  afterwards  (by  act  approved  April  3,  1838)  became  in- 
corporated as  "The  Clinton  Salt- Works  Company";  the  object  of  the 
incorporation  being  set  forth  to  be  "for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
salt  by  erecting  the  necessary  buildings,  vats,  etc."  The  platting  of 
an  imaginary  village,  the  procuring  of  this  high-sounding  act  of  incor- 
poration, and  the  starting  of  the  "  Clinton  Salt -Works  Bank"  (wild- 
cat), by  which  many  people  suffered  loss,  was  the  only  result  of  the 
enterprise  of  these  gentlemen. 

■f-  Foreign. 


33-i 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


arrive  near  the  source  of  navigation  of  that  stream  in  Gra- 
tiot County,  some  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  above  these  al- 
ready described."  t^  ti  T> 
This  report,  from  so  eminent  an  authority  as  Dr.  Hough- 
ton, established  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  salt-springs  in 
the  valley  of  the  Maple  River.  It  is  certain,  too,  that  the 
Indians  had  made  salt  in  small  quantities  from  the  springs 
for  many  years.  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams,  of  Owosso,  who  was 
a  trader  among  them  as  early  as  1831,  says  he  has  seen  and 
eaten  salt  made  by  the  natives  from  brine  obtained  there. 
But  no  result  was  ever  reached  in  the  discovery  of  supplies 
of  salt  water  which  would  pay  for  manufacturing.  The 
same  result  has  followed  all  searches  for  remunerative  veins 
of  coal  in  Clinton.  The  fact  became  apparent  years  ago, 
and  is  now  universally  accepted  as  such,  that  for  the  people 
of  this  county  at  least,  it  is  far  better  to  expend  their  labor 
on  the  surface  of  their  magnificent  fields  than  to  delve  in 
the  earth  beneath  them  in  search  of  mineral  wealth. 


CHAPTER    XLVI. 

CHANGES  OF  CIVIL  JUEISDICTIOIir. 

Clinton  County  included  successively  in  Wayne,  Oalsland,  and  Kala- 
mazoo— Erection  of  Clinton  and  its  Attachment  to  the  County  of 
Kent— Subsequent  Attachment  to  Shiawassee  County — Subdivision 
of  Clinton  County  into  Civil  Townships. 

It  is  frequently  said  of  the  county  of  Clinton  (as  indeed 
of  many  other  counties  of  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michi- 
gan) that  it  once  formed  a  part  of  the  county  of  Wayne, 
which  was  first  "  laid  out"  by  proclamation  of  Winthrop 
Sargent,  Acting  Governor  of  the  old  Northwest  Territory, 
Aug.  18,  1796,  with  boundaries  running  from  the  Cuya- 
hoga River,  in  Ohio,  west  to  the  eastern  line  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  and  thence  north  to  the  boundary  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain,  thus  including  all  the 
country  between  Lakes  Erie,  St.  Clair,  and  Huron,  and 
Lake  Michigan,  as  well  as  a  great  tract  between  the  latter 
and  Lake  Superior.  Nominally,  therefore,  this  county  and 
all  the  adjacent  country  was  included  within  the  indefinite 
boundaries  of  Wayne  for  many  years,  and  yet,  practically 
this  inaccessible  wilderness  region,  uninhabited  as  it  then  was 
except  by  savages  and  wild  beasts,  was  no  more  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  Wayne  County  than  it  had  been  within  that 
of  the  ancient  Plymouth  Company,  to  whom,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  James  I.  of  England  had 
granted  all  the  lands  between  42°  2'  and  44°  15'  north 
latitude,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  In  the 
subsequent  "  laying  out"  of  Wayne  County,  by  proclama- 
tion of  Governor  Cass  (in  1815),  it  was  only  made  to  in- 
clude that  part  of  Michigan  Territory  to  which  the  Indian 
title  had  already  been  extinguished,  and  as  at  that  time 
the  western  boundary  of  Indian  cessions  was  a  line  identi- 
cal with  that  which  was  afterwards  established  as  the  prin- 
cipal meridian  of  the  United  States  surveys,  the  county  of 
Wayne,  as  then  defined,  included  no  part  of  the  territory  of 
Clinton. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1819,  a  proclamation  was  made 
by  Governor  Cass,  erecting  the  county  of  Oakland,  to  ip- 


clude  six  tiers  of  townships  north  from  the  base-line,  and 
extending  westward  to  the  line  which  is  now  the  principal 
meridian,  thus  leaving  all  of  the  present  county  of  Clinton 
outside  its  limits.  Oakland  County  was  organized  in  1820 
with  its  original  boundaries;  but  by  a  proclamation  of 
Governor  Cass,  dated  Sept.  10,  1822,  it  was  reduced  to  its 
present  size,  and  the  new  counties  of  Lapeer,  Sanilac,  Sagi- 
naw, and  Shiawassee  (which  were  erected  by  the  same 
proclamation)  were  attached  to  it,  as  was  also  "  all  the 
country  not  included  within  the  boundaries  of  any  of  the 
before-described  counties,  to  which  the  Indian  title  was 
extinguished  by  the  treaty  of  Saginaw."  This  latter  at- 
tachment of  territory  to  Oakland  included  what  is  now 
Clinton  County,  with  many  other  counties  lying  to  the 
south,  west,  and  north  of  it ;  and  it  continued  in  force,  as 
regards  the  domain  of  Clinton  County,  until  1830,  when 
an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  (approved  July  30th 
and  taking  effect  October  1st  in  that  year)  organizing  the 
county  of  Kalamazoo,  and  providing  "  that  the  counties  of 
Calhoun,  Barry,  and  Eaton,  and  all  the  country  lying  north 
of  township  four,  north  of  the  base-line,  west  of  the  prin- 
cipal meridian,  south  of  the  county  of  Michilimackinac, 
and  east  of  the  line  between  ranges  twelve  and  thirteen  and 
of  Lake  Michigan,  where  said  range-line  intersects  the  lake, 
shall  be  attached  to  and  compose  a  part  of  the  county  of 
Kalamazoo  County  for  judicial  purposes."  Included  in  the 
above-described  unorganized  territory  was  that  of  the 
county  of  Clinton,  which  remained  so  attached  to  Kala- 
mazoo for  about  five  and  a  half  years. 

The  erection  of  the  county  of  Clinton  was  effected  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  (approved  March  2,  1831),  which 
provided  "  that  the  country  included  within  the  following 
limits,  to  wit :  west  of  the  meridian  and  east  of  the  line 
between  ranges  4  and  5,  west  of  the  meridian  ;  south  of  the 
line  between  townships  8  and  9,  north  of  the  base-line ;  north 
of  the  line  between  townships  4  and  5,  north  of  the  base-line, 
containing  sixteen  townships,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
off  into  a  separate  county  by  the  name  of  Clinton." 

Legislative  acts,  bearing  even  date  with  that  which 
erected  Clinton,  erected  also  the  counties  of  Ottawa,  Ionia, 
and  Kent.  The  last-named  county  was  organized  by  act 
approved  March  24,  1 836,  which  also  provided  "  that  the 
unorganized  counties  of  Ottawa,  Ionia,  and  Clinton  shall 
be  attached  to  the  county  of  Kent  for  judicial  purposes." 
Clinton  remained  attached  to  Kent  until  March  18,  1837, 
when,  by  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  that  date  organizing 
the  county  of  Shiawassee,  it  was  attached,  for  judicial  pur- 
poses, to  the  last-named  county,  and  so  continued  until  its 
own  organization  as  a  separate  county,  in  1839. 

SUBDIVISION  OF  THE  COUNTY  INTO  TOWN- 
SHIPS. 

The  entire  area  of  Clinton  County  was  at  first  embraced 
in  a  single  original  township, — De  Witt, — which  was  erected 
by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  approved  March 
23,  1836.  That  act  provided:  "Section  49.  That  the 
county  of  Clinton  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and 
organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  De  Witt ; 
and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the 
dwelling-house  of  David  Scott,  in  said  township." 


CHANGES  OP   CIVIL  JURISDICTION. 


335 


By  an  act  approved  March  20,  1837,  the  township  of 
De  Witt  was  divided  in  its  centre,— on  the  north  and  south 
line  which  forms  the  boundary  between  ranges  2  and  3 
west  of  the  meridian,— and  the  western  half  was  erected 
into  a  new  township  ;  that  part  of  the  act  which  has  refer- 
ence to  this  erection  being  as  follows  :  "  That  the  townships 
in  ranges  three  and  four  west,  in  the  county  of  Clinton,  be 
a  township  by  the  name  of  Watertown ;  and  the  people 
therein  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  incident  to 
inhabitants  of  organized  townships,  and  the  first  township- 
meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Anthony 
Niles,  in  said  township  of  Watertown." 

The  north  half  of  the  territory  of  Watertown  was  set 
off  and  erected  into  a  separate  township  by  the  terms  of  an 
act  (approved  March  6,  1838)  which  provided  that  "  all 
that  part  of  Clinton  County  designated  by  the  United 
States  survey  as  townships  numbers  seven  and  eight  north, 
of  ranges  three  and  four  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby 
set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name 
of  Wandaugon,  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall 
be  held  at  the  house  of  George  Campau,  in  said  township." 
The  Indian  name  given  to  this  township  appears  to  have 
been  unfavorably  received  by  the  people,  and  an  attempt 
was  soon  after  made  to  have  it  changed.  This  resulted  in 
the  passage  of  an  act  (approved  April  2d  in  the  same  year) 
which  provided  that  "  That  portion  of  townships  seven  and 
eight  north,  of  ranges  three  and  four  west,  according  to 
the  United  States  survey,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
off  and  organized  by  the  name  of  Lebanon,  and  the  first 
township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of 
James  Sowle,  Jr."  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  above  de- 
scription of  the  boundaries  of  the  new  township  is  exceed- 
ingly obscure.  The  law-makers  had  undoubtedly  meant  to 
enact  that  "  that  portion  of  the  cmmty  of  Clinton  which  is 
embraced  in  townships  seven  and  eight  north,  of  ranges 
three  and  four  west,"  should  be  set  off  and  organized,  etc., 
but  the  omission  of  the  words  here  italicized  was  fatal  to 
the  operation  of  the  act.  The  proposed  change  of  name 
was  therefore  postponed  until  the  next  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature, and  in  the  mean  time  the  township  remained  Wan- 
daugon, as  before. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  Clinton  County  there 
had  been  erected  within  it  only  the  three  townships  already 
mentioned, — De  Witt,  Watertown,  and  Wandaugon, — and 
the  territory  embraced,  respectively,  in  these  subdivisions  at 
that  time  was  as  follows :  De  Witt  included  all  the  eastern 
half  of  the  county  from  the  meridian  westward  to  the  west 
boundary-line  of  range  No.  2;  Watertown  covered  the 
southwest  quarter  of  the  county,  comprising  the  present 
townships  of  Eagle,  Westphalia,  and  Eiley,  in  addition  to 
its  own  reduced  territory. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of  Clinton  the  north- 
east quarter  of  the  county — embracing  the  present  towns  of 
Ovid,  Bingham,  Greenbush,  and  Duplain — was  erected  into 
the  township  of  Bingham,  by  act  of  Legislature  approved 
March  21,  1839.  As  this  block  of  territory  was  taken 
from  De  Witt,  that  township  was  left  with  only  four  survey- 
townships,  comprising  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  county, 
and  the  east  half  of  this  was  taken  off  on  the  following  day 
(March  22,  1839)  by  the  Governor's  approval  of  an  act 


which  provided,  "  That  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Clin- 
ton designated  in  the  United  States  survey  as  townships 
Nos.  5  and  6  north,  of  range  No.  1  west,  be  and  the  same 
is  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into  a  township  by  the  name 
of  Ossowa."  Again,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1841,  survey- 
township  No.  6  north,  of  range  No.  2  west, — being  the  north 
half  of  the  then  remaining  territory  of  De  Witt, — was  set  off 
by  legislative  act  and  erected  into  the  township  of  Olive, 
thus  leaving  to  De  Witt  only  a  single  survey-township, 
which  has  continued  to  be  the  extent  of  its  area  until  the 
present  time. 

Watertown,  which  at  first  embraced  the  entire  west  half 
of  the  county,  but  had  yielded  the  north  half  of  its  area  in 
the  erection  of  Wandaugon  township,  as  before  noticed,  was 
further  reduced  by  an  act  (approved  March  21, 1839)  which 
took  from  it  the  survey-township  numbered  6  north,  of  range 
4  west,  and  organized  it  as  the  township  of  Westphalia. 
About  two  years  later  (March  15,  1841)  an  act  was  ap- 
proved erecting  survey-township  No.  5  north,  of  range  4 
west,  into  the  civil  township  of  Eagle,  and  township  6 
north,  of  range  3  west,  into  the  township  of  Riley.  This 
left  the  township  of  Watertown  with  only  its  present  area, 
that  of  a  single  township  of  the  government  survey. 

The  township  of  Wandaugon,  having  survived  the  act  of 
April  2,  1838,  continued  to  exist  under  its  original  name 
until  March  22,  1839,  at  which  date  an  act  was  approved 
which  provided  that  "  the  township  of  Wandaugon,  in  the 
county  of  Clinton,  shall  be  hereafter  known  and  designated 
by  the  name  of  Lebanon."  At  that  time,  and  for  about  a 
year  afterwards,  the  township  retained  all  the  original  area 
of  Wandaugon  (the  northwest  quarter  of  the  county),  but 
on  the  19th  of  March,  1840,  an  act  was  passed  setting  off 
the  eastern  half  of  its  territory,  yi?. :  survey-townships  Nos. 
7  and  8  north,  of  range  3  west,  and  erecting  the  part  so  set 
off  into  the  towns)iip  of  Bengal.  And  finally,  in  1845, 
an  act  was  passed  (approved  March  19th  of  that  year)  by 
which  the  township  of  Dallas  was  erected  on  survey-town- 
ship 7  of  range  4  west.  This  took  from  Lebanon  the  south 
half  of  its  then  remaining  territory,  leaving  it  with  but  one 
survey-township,  as  at  present.  Bengal  township  (taken 
from  Lebanon,  as  before  noticed,  and  embracing  the  north- 
ern two  survey-townships  of  Clinton  County  in  range  3 
west)  was  partitioned  under  the  provisions  of  an  act  ap- 
proved March  9,  1843,  and  its  northern  half  was  erected 
into  the  township  of  Essex.  The  boundaries  of  both  these 
townships  still  remain  as  then  established. 

The  township  of  Bingham,  from  the  time  of  its  erection 
in  March,  1839,  continued  to  embrace  the  entire  northeast 
quarter  of  the  county  until  March  19,  1840,  when,  under 
the  provisions  of  an  act  of  that  date,  the  east  half  of  its 
territory  was  set  off  and  erected  into  the  townships  of  Sena* 
and  Ovid,  the  latter  covering  survey-township  7,  and  the 
formpr  toyraship  8  north,  of  range  1  west.  Of  the  terri- 
tory remaining  to  Bingham  after  the  setting  off  of  these 
two  towns,  the  north  half  (township  8  north,  of  range  2 
west)  was  taken  by  act  of  February  16,  1842,  and  erected 


*  The  name  of  Sena  was  discontinued,  and  Duplain  adopted  as  the 
name  of  this  township,  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March 
20,  1841. 


336 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


into  the  town  of  Greenbush.  The  boundary  as  then  estab- 
lished between  Greenbush  and  Bingham  continued  undis- 
turbed until  April  7,  1846,  when  an  act  was  passed  pro- 
viding "  that  all  that  part  of  the  township  of  Greenbush, 
in  the  county  of  Clinton,  known  and  designated  as  the 
south  half  of  section  30,  and  sections  31,  32,  and  33,  be 
and  the  same  is  hereby  attached  to  the  township  of  Bing- 
ham, in  said  county."  The  sections  and  half-section  above 
named  continued  to  form  a  part  of  the  township  of  Bing- 
ham until  March  20,  1850,  when,  by  an  act  of  that  date, 
they  were  re-annexed  to  Greenbush,  and  the  original  boun- 
dary between  the  two  townships  was  re-established. 

Ossowa  township,  set  off  from  De  Witt  in  1839,  held  its 
original  area  of  two  survey- townships  until  March  9, 18-13, 
when  the  Governor  approved  an  act  changing  its  name  from 
Ossowa  to  Bath,  and  erecting  the  north  half  of  it.s  territory 
(township  6  north,  of  range  1  west)  into  the  township  of 
Victor.  These  two  towns  have  remained  unchanged  in 
limits  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

During  several  years  prior  to  the  organization,  but  after 
the  laying  out,  of  Gratiot  County,  the  two  tiers  of  town- 
ships composing  the  southern  half  of  that  county  were 
attached  to  the  northern  tier  of  townships  of  Clinton 
County.  The  first  act  of  the  Legislature  by  which  any  of 
those  townships  were  so  attached  was  approved  March  16, 
1847.  It  provided  "that  all  the  territory  designated  by 
the  United  States  survey  as  townships  Nos.  9  and  10  north, 
of  range  No.  2  west,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  attached 
to  the  township  of  Greenbush,  in  the  county  of  Clinton." 
In  the  same  way  it  attached  township  !)  north,  of  range  3 
west,  to  the  township  of  Essex  ;  and  townships  Nos.  9  and 
10  north,  of  range  4  west,  to  the  township  of  Lebanon. 
A  subsequent  act,  approved  March  9, 1848,  provided  "  that 
townships  Nos.  9  and  10  north,  of  range  No.  1  west,  in 
the  county  of  Gratiot,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  attached 
to  and  made  a  part  of  the  township  of  Duplain,  in  the 
county  of  Clinton  ;  and  that  township  No.  10  north,  of 
range  3  west,  in  the  county  of  Gratiot,  be  and  the  same 
is  hereby  attached  to  and  made  a  part  of  the  township  of 
Essex,  in  the  county  of  Clinton." 

The  effect  of  this  legislation  was  to  attach  the  townships 
which  are  now  North  Shade  and  New  Haven,  in  Gratiot, 
to  the  township  of  Lebanon,  in  Clinton  County;  the  town- 
ships now  Fulton  and  Newark,  in  Gratiot,  to  the  township 
of  Essex,  in  Clinton ;  the  townships  now  Washington  and 
North  Star,  in  Gratiot,  to  Greenbush,  in  Clinton  ;  °and  the 
townships  now  Elba  and  Hamilton,  in  Gratiot,  to  the  town- 
ship of  Duplain,  in  Clinton  County.     On  the  12th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1853,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Clinton  County, 
in  the  exercise  of  powers  conferred  on  such  boards  by  the 
State  constitution  of  1850,  set  off  the  two  Gratiot  town- 
ships which  had  been  attached  to  Lebanon,  and  erected  the 
southernmost  of  the  two  into  the  township  of  North  Shade 
attaching  the  other  one  to  it.     After  the  organization  of 
th,s  town,  Its  supervisor  met  regularly  with  the  supervisors 
of  Clinton  County,  and  acted  with  them  as  a  member  of 
the  board.     Some  of  the  other  Gratiot  townships  were  set 
off  and  organized  by  the  Clinton  Board  of  Supervisors  in 
1855,  but  their  supervisors  never  met  with  the  Clinton 
board,  for  the  reason  that  the  organization  of  Gratiot  County 


which  was  effected  in  the  same  year,  severed  all  connection 
between  its  southern  townships  and  the  county  of  Clinton. 


CHAPTEK  XLVIL 

EAKLT  SETTLE MEBTTS-COUNTY  OKGABTIZATIOU 
-COUKTS  ABTD  OTHEK  COtrBTTT  MATTEKS. 

Low  Estimate  of  the  Value  of  Michigan  Lands  in  Early  Years — First 
Settlements  in  Different  Parts  of  Clinton  County — Organization  of 
the  County — Early  Proceedings  of  the  County  Commissioners  and 
Supervisors — Wolf-Bounties — Establishment  of  Courts  in  Clinton 
County— County  Sites  and  County  Property. 

It  was  not  until  late  in  the  present  century  that  white 
settlements  began  to  invade  the  wilderness  of  Clinton 
County,  and  the  same  is  true  to  a  great  extent  of  the  region 
adjacent  to  it  as  far  east  as  the  older  county  of  Oakland, 
which  had  itself  remained  an  almost  unknown  country  for 
fully  a  century  after  the  cabins  and  clearings  of  French 
immigrants  began  to  cluster  along  the  shores  of  the  Detroit 
River,  only  a  few  miles  farther  eastward.  That  this  should 
have  been  so,  that  these  lands  of  almost  marvelous  fertility, 
lying  within  a  comparatively  short  distance  of  the  old  post 
of  Detroit  and  the  navigable  waters  north  of  it,  should 
have  remained  unappropriated — and  unnoticed,  except  in 
contempt — by  emigrants  seeking  comfortable  homes  and 
productive  farms,  seems  not  a  little  mysterious  at  first 
thought ;  but  the  cause  is  made  tolerably  clear  by  reference 
to  a  few  facts  which  are  narrated  b^low,  showing  that  for 
many  years  the  peninsula  was  believed  to  be  a  land  unfit 
for  white  men's  occupancy,  and  how  it  came  to  be  so  re- 
garded. 

The  earliest,  as  it  was  also  the  most  extreme,  among  the 
unfavorable  notices  of  the  lands  forming  the  Michigan 
peninsula  is  found  in  the  writings  of  the  French  Baron 
La  Hontan,  who  passed  up  through  the  Detroit  River,  and 
the  lake  and  river  of  St.  Clair,  in  1686,  and  who,  judging 
of  all  the  country  from  his  glimpses  of  the  swampy  lands 
bordering  the  lake  and  rivers,  chronicled  his  opinion  that 
the  entire  region  was  truly  "  the  fag-end  of  the  world." 
So  contemptuous  an  expression  from  such  a  distinguished 
man  and  extensive  traveler  could  not  fail  to  have  its  effect 
on  the  minds  of  the  people  of  that  day,  and  it  was,  perhaps, 
the  beginning  of  the  opinion  which  afterwards  became  well- 
nigh  universal,  and  continued  for  more  than  a  century  and 
a  quarter,  that  Michigan  was  but  another  name  for  a  coun- 
try of  morasses,  irreclaimable  swamps,  and  barren  sand- 
knolls. 

In  the  year  1812  an  act  was  passed  by  Congress  requir- 
ing that  two  millions  of  acres  of  land  in  each  of  the  (then) 
Territories  of  Michigan,  Illinois,  and  Louisiana— in  all  six 
million  acres— should  be  surveyed  and  set  apart  as  military 
tracts,  out  of  which  each  soldier  serving  in  the  armies  of 
the  United  States  in  the  war  then  existing  with  England 
should  be  entitled  to  receive  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  fit  for  cultivation.  Under  the  provisions  of  this 
act  surveys  were  made ;  but,  while  engaged  in  the  work, 
the  surveyors  seem  to  have  formed  an  idea  of  the  country 
similar  to  that  expressed  by  La  Hontan,  and  to  have  im- 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 


337 


parted  their  opinion  to  the  surveyor-general,  as  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  following  extract  from  his  report,  made 
Nov.  13,  1815,  and  having  reference  to  the  Michigan  sur- 
veys, viz. :  "  The  country  on  the  Indian  boundary-line  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Auglaize  River  [that  is,  the  line 
established  by  the  treaty  of  Detroit  in  1807,  and  identical, 
or  nearly  so,  with  the  principal  meridian  of  the  government 
surveys],  and  running  thence  for  about  fifty  miles,  in,  with 
some  few  exceptions,  low,   wet  land,  with  a  very  thick 
growth  of  underbrush,  intermixed  with  very  bad  marshes, 
but  generally  very  heavily  timbered  with  beech,  cottonwood, 
oak,  etc. ;  thence,  continuing  north,  and  extending  from 
the   Indian  boundary  eastward,  the   number  and   extent 
of  the  swamps  increases,  with  the  addition  of  numbers  of 
lakes  from  twenty  chains  to  two  and  three  miles  across. 
Many  of  these   lakes   have  extensive  marshes  adjoining 
their  margins,  sometimes  thickly  covered  with  a  species  of 
pine  called  tamarack,  and  other  places  covered  with  a 
coarse,  high  grass,  and  uniformly  covered  from  six  inches 
to  three  feet  (and  more  at  times)  with  water.     The  margins 
of  these  lakes  are  not  the  only  places  where  swamps  are 
found,  for  they  are   interspersed   throughout   the  whole 
country  and  filled  with  water,  as  above  stated,  and  varying 
in  extent. 

"The  intermediate  space  between  these  swamps  and 
lakes — which  is  probably  near  one-half  of  the  country — 
is,  with  very  few  exceptions,  a  poor,  barren,  sandy  land, 
on  which  scarcely  any  vegetation  grows  except  very  small, 
scrubby  oaks.  In  many  places  that  part  which  may  be 
called  dry  land  is  composed  of  little,  short  sand-hills,  form- 
ing a  kind  of  deep  basins,  the  bottoms  of  many  of  which 
are  composed  of  marsh  similar  to  the  above  described.  The 
streams  are  generally  narrow  and  very  deep  compared  with 
their  width,  the  shores  and  bottoms  of  which  are,  with 
very  few  exceptions,  swampy  beyond  description,  and  it  is 
with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  a  place  can  be  found  over 
which  horses  can  be  conveyed  in  safety. 

"  A  circumstance  peculiar  to  that  country  is  exhibited 
in  many  of  the  marshes  by  their  being  thinly  covered  with 
a  sward  of  grass,  by  walking  on  which  evinces  the  exist- 
ence of  water  or  a  very  thin  mud  immediately  under  their 
covering,  which  sinks  from  six  to  eighteen  inches  under 
the  pressure  of  the  foot  at  every  step,  and  at  the  same  time 
rises  before  and  behind  the  person  passing  over  it.  The 
margins  of  many  of  the  lakes  and  streams  are  in  similar 
situation,  and  in  many  places  'are  literally  afloat.  On  ap- 
proaching the  eastern  part  of  the  military  land,  towards 
the  private  claims  on  the  straits  and  lake,  the  country  does 
not  contain  so  many  swamps  and  lakes,  but  the  extreme 
sterility  and  barrenness  of  the  soil  continue  the  same. 
Taking  the  country  altogether,  so  far  as  it  has  been  ex- 
plored, and  to  all  appearances,  together  with  information 
received  concerning  the  balance,  it  is  so  bad  that  there 
would  not  he  more  than  one  acre  out  of  a  hundred,  if 
there  would  be  one  out  of  a  thousand,  that  would  in  any 
case  admit  of  cultivation." 

The  tract  of  country  surveyed  for  soldiers'  bounty  lands, 

and  on  the  survey  of  which  the  above-mentioned  report 

was  based,  did  not  include  the  territory  of  the  present 

county  of  Clinton,  but  still  the  report  itself  was  accepted 

43 


as  a  sweeping  condemnation  of  the  whole  interior  portion 
of  the  peninsula,  and  it  was  not  doubted  that  the  facts 
were  strictly  as  set  forth  in  the  opinion  of  the  surveyor- 
general.  It  was  doubtless  an  honest  expression  of  opinion 
on  his  part,  for  he  of  course  based  the  report  on  the  in- 
formation furnished  him  by  his  subordinates,  who  per- 
formed the  work  in  the  field;  but  how  they  could  have 
been  so  deceived  (if  indeed  they  were  so  far  deceived  as 
to  believe  the  disparaging  statements  which  they  made)  is 
certainly  a  mystery.  However  it  may  have  been  brought 
about,  the  result  was  that  Congress  passed  a  law  (April  29, 
1816)  repealing  so  much  of  the  act  of  1812  as  authorized 
the  locating  of  soldiers'  lands  in  Michigan,  and,  in  lieu 
thereof,  providing  for  the  survey  of  one  million  five  hun- 
dred thousand  acres  in  Missouri ;  so  that  the  brave  men 
who  had  periled  their  lives  for  their  country  should  not  be 
wronged  and  insulted  by  the  donation  of  lands  of  which, 
according  to  the  surveyors'  reports,  not  one  acre  in  a  hun- 
dred was  fit  for  cultivation. 

In  1822  the  government  established  a  military  post  at 
Saginaw,  and  several  companies  of  United  States  troops 
were  placed  in  garrison  there.  Soon  afterwards  the  men 
of  this  garrison  were  attacked  by  disease,  which  continued 
to  rage  among  them  with  such  fatal  efiect  that  a  large  pro- 
portion of  them  perished.  At  last,  after  an  occupation  of 
about  fourteen  months,  the  troops  were  withdrawn  and  the 
post  abandoned  on  the  recommendation  of  the  commaqdant, 
who  reported  to  the  authorities  above  him  that  it  was  in 
his  opinion  a  great  wrong  to  compel  Christian  men  to  re- 
main in  a  country  which  was  wholly  unfit  to  be  occupied 
except  by  Indians,  muskrats,  and  bull-frogs.  This  with- 
drawal of  the  troops,  with  the  accompanying  opinion  of 
the  commanding  officer,  was  as  effective  as  the  surveyor- 
general's  report  had  been  in  bringing  the  entire  country  to 
the  north  and  west  of  Detroit  into  disrepute  and  contempt, 
and  for  years  afterwards  there  were  very  few  white  men 
who  thought  of  invading  the  terrible  wilderness  north  and 
west  of  Pontiac. 

In  the  "  Fortnight  in  the  Wilderness,"  written  by  the 
eminent  French  traveler  Alexis  de  Tocqueville,  describing 
a  trip  made  by  him  and  a  friend  from  Detroit  to  Saginaw, 
in  1831,  he  narrates  a  conversation  he  had  with  Maj.  Bid- 
die,  the   United  States  land-agent  at  Detroit,  as  follows : 
"  We  presented  ourselves  to  him  as  persons  who,  without 
having  quite  made  up  our  minds  to  establish  ourselves  in 
the  country,  were  interested  to  know  the  price  and  situation 
of  government  lands.     Maj.  Biddle,  the  officer,  now  under- 
Stood  perfectly  what  we  wanted,  and  entered  into  a  number 
of  details,  to  which  we  eagerly  listened.  ...  We  thanked 
Maj.  Biddle  for  his  advice,  and  asked  him,  with  an  air  of 
indifference  bordering  on  contempt,  towards  which  side  of 
his  district  the  current  of  emigration  had,  up  to  the  pre- 
sent time,  least  tended.     '  This  way,'  he  said,  without  at- 
taching more  importance  to  his  answer  that  we  had  seemed 
to  do  to  our  question, '  towards  the  northwest.    About  Pon- 
tiac and  its  neighborhood  some  pretty  fair  establishments 
have  lately  been  commenced.     But  you  must  not  think  of 
fixing  yourselves  farther  off;  the  country  is  covered  by  an 
almost  impenetrable  forest,  which  extends  uninterruptedly 
towards  the  northwest,  full  of  nothing  but  wild  beasts  and 


338 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Indians.  The  government  proposes  to  open  a  way  through 
it,  but  the  road  is  only  just  begun,  and  stops  at  Pontiac.  I 
repeat,  there  is  nothing  to  be  thought  of  in  that  quarter. 
We  thanked  Maj.  Biddle  for  his  good  advice,  and  deter- 
mined to  taice  it  in  a  contrary  sense.  We  were  beside  our- 
selves with  joy  at  the  prospect  of  at  length  finding  a  place 
which  the  torrent  of  European  civilization  had  not  yet  in- 
vaded." 

The  next  day  (July  23,  1831)  De  Tocqueville  and  his 
companion  started  on  horseback  from  Detroit,  and  reached 
Pontiac,  the  outpost  of  civilization,  on  their  way  to  the 
northwestern  wilderness.  At  Pontiac  they  stopped  for  the 
night  at  one  of  the  two  hotels  of  the  place  (probably  the  one 
then  kept  by  Judge  Amasa  Bagley),  where  they  were  beset 
by  the  people,  including  the  landlord,  to  induce  them  to  buy 
land  in,  or  in  the  vicinity  of,  the  village, — never  dreaming 
that  it  could  be  the  travelers'  intention  to  proceed  farther 
into  the  wilderness.  But  they  were  determined  to  continue 
their  explorations,  and  in  the  morning  called  for  their 
horses,  having  first  thanked  the  landlord  for  his  valuable  in- 
formation and  wise  counsels.  "  '  But  before  fixing  in  your 
country,  my  dear  landlord,'  said  M.  de  Tocqueville,  '  we 
intend  to  visit  Saginaw,  and  we  wish  to  consult  you  on  this 
point.'  At  the  name  of  Saginaw  a  remarkable  change 
came  over  his  features.  It  seemed  as  if  he  had  suddenly 
been  snatched  from  real  life  and  transported  to  a  land  of 
wonders.  His  eyes  dilated,  his  mouth  fell  open,  and  the 
most  complete  astonishment  pervaded  his  countenance. 
'  You  want  to  go  to  Saginaw  ?'  exclaimed  he.  '  To  Sagi- 
naw Bay  ?  Two  foreign  gentlemen,  two  rational  men,  who 
want  to  go  to  Saginaw  Bay  !  It  is  scarcely  credible !' 
'  And  why  not?'  we  replied.  'But  are  you  well  aware,' 
continued  our  host,  '  what  you  undertake  ?  Do  you  know 
that  Saginaw  is  the  last  inhabited  spot  towards  the  Pacific  ? 
That  between  this  place  and  Saginaw  lies  an  uncleared 
wilderness  ?  Do  you  know  that  the  forest  is  full  of  Indians 
and  mosquitoes  ?  Have  you  no  thought  about  the  fever  ? 
Will  you  be  able  to  get  on  in  the  wilderness,  and  to  find 
your  way  in  the  labyrinth  of  our  forests  ?'  .  .  .  '  Have  you 
ever  been  in  Saginaw  ?'  we  resumed.  '  I  have  been  so  un- 
lucky as  to  go  thither  five  or  six  times,'  he  replied  ;  ''  but  I 
had  a  motive  for  doing  it,  and  you  do  not  appear  to  have 
any.'  "  But  he  did  not  succeed  in  dissuading  the  travelers 
from  continuing  on  their  tour.  They  pressed  on  to  Sagi- 
naw, and  returned  from  that  place  in  safety,  finding  in  the 
country  through  which  they  passed  the  untamed  wilder- 
ness which  they  came  to  Michigan  to  see.  The  above  extract 
from  De  Tocqueville's  narrative  is  given,  somewhat  at 
length,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  what,  even  at  that  late 
date,  was  the  general  opinion  prevailing  among  the  people 
as  to  the  great  wilderness  which  stretched  away  to  the  north 
and  west  from  Pontiac,  and  the  prospect  which  there  then 
seemed  to  exist,  of  its  early  settlement. 

The  opinion  which  had  been  given  by  the  surveyor-gen- 
eral in  1815,  by  the  commandant  of  the  post  of  Saginaw 
in  1823,  and  which  had  received  confirmation  from  many 
other  sources,  had  the  efl'ect  to  bring  the  Territory  of  Michi- 
gan into  great  disrepute,  as  a  country  wholly  unfit  for 
agriculture;  and  this  feeling  was  fostered  by  the  Indian 
traders,  who  were  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  interior 


country  and  its  capabilities,  but  were  only  too  willing  to 
assist  in  perpetuating  the  delusion  in  order  to  postpone  the 
evil  day  (as  they  regarded  it)  when  their  lucrative  business 
should  be  ruined  by  the  advance  of  white  immigration  and 
settlement.  This  is  how  and  why  there  grew  up  the  almost 
universal  belief  that  the  interior  of  Michigan  was  worthless 
for  agricultural  purposes ;  the  home  of  every  species  of 
malarial  disease,  and  a  land  of  which  the  obvious  destiny 
must  be  to  continue  in  the  possession  of  Indians  and  wild 
beasts.  And  the  existence  of  this  belief  was  the  cause 
which  for  many  years,  deterred  emigrants  from  seeking 
homes  in  the  forest  land  of  Clinton  and  other  interior 
counties  of  the  State. 

The  survey  of  land  by  the  government  does  not  always 
precede  the  making  of  settlements  on  them,  though  it  gen- 
erally does,  and  such  was  the  case  in  Clinton  County,  not 
more  than  one  settler  (if  any)  having  located  in  the  county 
prior  to  the  survey  of  the  lands  on  which  he  established 
bis  home.  In  1824  the  principal  meridian  line  was  run 
by  Joseph  Wampler,  deputy  surveyor,  to  a  point  as  far 
north  as  the  centre  of' the  county  of  Clinton,  and  in  1826 
and  1827  the  south  half  of  the  county  was  surveyed  and 
laid  ofif  into  the  usual  subdivisions ;  the  laying  out  of  the 
townships  being  done  by  Lucius  Lyon,  deputy  surveyor. 
The  north  half  of  the  county  was  surveyed  in  the  year  1831, 
the  township-lines  being  principally  run  by  Robert  Clark, 
Jr.,  but  some  of  them  being  laid  off  by  C.  W.  Christmas. 
Both  of  these  gentlemen  were  deputy  United  States  sur- 
veyors. In  addition  to  the  four  deputy  surveyors  above 
mentioned,  there  were  several  others  employed  on  the  sub- 
division-lines in  Clinton  County,  among  them  being  Hervey 
Parke,  Orange  Risdon,  R.  Thomas,  Joel  Wright,  Austin 
Burt,  and  perhaps  others.  All  of  those  who  supervised 
the  running  of  lines  held  the  appointment  of  deputy  United 
States  surveyor. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  county  was  made  at  the  place 
now  known  as  Maple  Rapids,  by  George  Campau,  who,  as 
has  already  been  mentioned,  came  there  for  the  purpose  of 
trading  with  the  Indians.  The  trading-post  at  that  point 
was  established  in  1826.  John  B.  Cushway  is  believed  to 
have  preceded  Campau  in  the  proprietorship,  but  the  former 
made  but  a  temporary  residence  there,  while  Campau  be- 
came a  permanent  settler  and  entered  government  land  in 
that  township  (Essex)  as  early  as  1832.  About  that  time 
Hiram  Benedict  settled  in  the  same  township. 

David  Scott,  who  has  generally  but  erroneously  been 
mentioned  as  the  first  settler  in  the  county,  located  on  the 
Looking-Glass  River,  in  the  present  township  of  De  Witt, 
in  1833.  He  there  opened  a  public-house  which  became  a 
landmark  in  the  early  years,  and  was  known  far  and  wide 
through  this  part  of  the  State  by  the  simple  appellation  of 
"  Scott's." 

In  the  southwest  corner  of  the  county  the  first  settle- 
ments were  made  by  Anthony  Niles  and  Stephen  B. 
Gruger,  from  Oakland  County,  who,  with  two  or  three 
other  families,  settled  in  the  township  (now  Eagle)  in 
1834. 

The  northwest  corner  township  (Lebanon)  received  its 
first  settlers  in  the  family  of  Daniel  Barker,  who  came 
there  and  located  in  1834. 


OKGANIZATION  OF  THE   COUNTY. 


339 


In  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county  a  number  of  im- 
migrants from  Western  New  York,  composing  what  was 
known  as  the  "  Rochester  Colony,"  located  in  the  valley  of 
the  Maple  River  in  the  year  1836.  This  settlement,  which 
has  retained  the  above  name  until  the  present  time,  will  be 
found  mentioned  at  length  in  the  history  of  the  township 
of  Duplain,  in  which  it  is  situated.  The  earliest  settlements 
in  all  the  other  parts  of  the  county  will  also  be  similarly 
noticed  in  detail  in  the  separate  histories  of  the  several 
townships. 

The  progress  made  in  the  settlement  of  the  county 
during  a  period  of  about  fifteen  years  from  the  date  of  the 
first  land-entry,  is  shown  by  the  following  statement  of  the 
total  valuation  of  real  and  personal  estate  in  the  diflFerent 
townships  of  the  county  in  1847,  viz. : 

Bath $16,705 

Bengal 21,602 

Bingham 20,358 

Duplain 23,923 

Dallas 26,111 

De  Witt 52,215 

Eagle 49,067 

Essex 43,078 

Greenbush 12  000 

Lebanon 24,204 

■  Ovid 23^221 

Olive 30,041 

Riley 23,156 

Victor 23,321 

Westphalia 26,769 

Walertown 42,403 

Total $458,175 

OKGANIZATION  OP  THE  COUNTY. 

The  organization  of  Clinton  County  was  effected  in  1839, 
by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  (approved  March  12th  of  that 
year)  which  provided  "  That  the  county  of  Clinton  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  organized.  .  .  .  There  shall  be  elected 
in  the  county  of  Clinton,  on  the  first  Monday  of  April  next, 
all  the  several  county  officers  to  which,  by  law,  the  said 
county  is  entitled,  and  whose  term  of  office  shall  severally 
expire  at  the  time  the  same  would  have  expired  had 
they  been  elected  on  the  first  Monday  and  Tuesday  of 
November  last ;  said  election  shall  be  held  in  the  several 
townships  at  the  same  place  where  by  law  such  annual 
township-meeting  is  to  be  held."  Under  the  provisions  of 
this  organizing  act  the  election  was  held  at  the  time  (April 
1,  1839)  and  places  designated,  resulting  in  the  election  of 
the  following-named  officers  for  the  county  of  Clinton,  viz. : 
Sheriff,  William  F.  Jenison;  Clerk,  Seth  P.  Marvin; 
Register  of  Deeds,  Milo  H.  Turner;  Treasurer,  John 
Gould;  Judge  of  Probate,  Hiram  W.  S  to  well;  Associate 
Judges,  Hiram  Wilcox,  Joseph  Sever ;  County  Commis- 
sioners, Calvin  Marvin,  Ephraim  H.  Utley,  Robert  E. 
Craven. 

The  office  of  county  commisioner  was  created  in  Mich- 
igan by  a  law  passed  in  May,  1818,  giving  to  each  organized 
county  a  board  of  three  of  these  officers,  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor,  and  to  receive  a  salary  of  thirty  dollars 
each  per  annum.  The  office  was  discontinued  by  an  act 
passed  in  April,  1827,  and  the  powers  before  held  by  that 
board  were  given  to  a  Board  of  Supervisors,  composed  of 
one  supervisor  from  each  township.  The  Board  of  Com- 
missioners was  revived  by  a  law  passed  by  the  Legislature 
in    1838 ;   and   this   law  being  in   force   at  the  time  of 


the  organization  of  Clinton  County,  there  were  included 
among  its  first  officers  the  three  gentlemen  above  named  as 
composing  its  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  their  powers 
and  duties  being  the  same  as  those  which  now  pertain  to 
the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

EAELT  PKOCEEDINGS  OF  THE  COMMISSIONERS 
AND  SUPERVISOKS. 

The  earUest  public  business  of  the  county  was  that 
which  came  before  the  Board  of  Commissioners  at  their  first 
meeting,  which  was  held  in  the  village  of  De  Witt  on  the 
10th  of  April,  1839.  Ephraim  H.  Utley  was  chosen 
chairman  and  Seth  P.  Marvin  (the  county  clerk)  was  made 
clerk  of  the  board.  Their  first  action  was  the  appointment 
of  the  21st  of  April,  1839,  to  meet  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners of  Shiawassee  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  settle- 
ment between  the  two  counties.  The  board  then  adjourned 
to  meet  on  the  10th  of  June,  1839,  at  the  house  of 
Ephraim  H.  Utley  in  the  village  of  De  Witt. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  board  the  following 
demands  against  the  county  were  audited  and  ordered  paid : 

Wolf- certificate  to  No-wab-a-no $8.00 

"              "            Ash-ha-be 8.00 

"              "            Alonzo  D.  Brewster 8.00 

"              "            Alonzo  Vaughn 48.00 

Account  of  David  Watson 7.50 

"           Timothy  H.  Petit 7.60 

"           John  Berry 6.00 

"           E.  H.  Utley 5.50 

"          Seth  P.  Marvin 9.60 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  abstract  of  the  assessment- 
rolls  of  the  several  townships  of  Clinton  County  for  the 
year  1839,  as  equalized  by  the  board : 


Towus.  Number  of 

AcreSi 

24,501 

Be  Witt 33,919 

Watertown 55,690 

Westphalia 14,529 

Lebanon 67,713 

Bingham 49,191 


Amount  of     Amount  of  Per-    Aggregate. 
Beal  Estato.      sonal  Property. 


$73,503 
103,833 
169,817 
43,587 
203,139 
147,946 


$1,106 
4,753 
3,130 
150 
2,300 
1,250 


$74,608 
108,586 
172,947 
43,737 
205,439 
149,196 


Total 246,643  $741,825  $12,688  $754,513 

The  following  is  the  amount  of  tax  levied  in  the  several 
townships  in  the  same  year : 

Town. 

Ossowa $259.83 

De  Witt 162.96 

Watertown 314.46 

Bingham 302.03 

Lebanon 430.00 

Westphalia 106.40 


County. 
$148.67 
205.05 
353.84 
281.56 
1377.79 
82.23 


state. 

Road. 

Poor. 

Total. 

S164.81 

$143.05 



$1,304.26 

216.89 

82193 



1,4(16.83 

377.07 

1289.88 

2,334.95 

30U.4:j 

1418.51 

2,305.53 

4:36.20 

1720.37 

$25 

3,989.36 

93.57 

326.19 

614.39 

Total 81575.68      $2465.74      $1578.97      $6319.93        $25      $11,955.32 

The  meeting  that  was  called  for  the  21st  of  April,  1839, 
for  the  purpose  of  adjusting  accounts  •  between  the  two 
counties  was  not  held  until  the  23d  day  of  September  of 
the  same  year,  at  which  time  the  accounts  were  examined, 
and  on  the  24th  of  December,  1840,  the  following  state- 
ment was  agreed  upon  as  a  basis  of  settlement : 

"  State  of  Michigan,  | 
Shiawassee  County,  j  **' 
"  It  is  hereby  agreed  and  concluded  by  the  undersigned, 
county  commissioners  of  the  counties  of  Shiawassee  and 
Clinton  on  an  adjustment  and  settlement  of  the  accounts  of 
the  two  counties,  that  the  county  of  Clinton  is  justly  in- 
debted to  Shiawassee  County  in  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
and  five  dollars  and  ninety-seven  cents,  as  follows : 


340 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


To  a  proportion  of  the  contingent  expense  of  the  two  counties 
up  to  Sept.  23,  1839,  as  per  settlement..............----"--  « 

To  interest  oS  S202.91  from  Sept.  23,  1839,  to  Dec.  18,  1840,       ^^  ^^ 
1  year,  2  months,  and  25  days • :"'"ih'a 

To  a  proportion  of  expense  in  examining  and  arranging  the      ^^  ^^ 
boolts,  papers,  and  accounts,  e'»-:;"-:"",""";"";"T."j"h 

To  a  proportion  of  a  $10  counterfeit  bill  taken  of  Josiah        ^^^^ 
Pierce,  late  treasurer,  for  taxes......-.....—- ."V."""'';- 

To  expenslis  of  advertising  and  setting  60  descr.pt.ons  of 

land  discharged  by  the  county  commissioners  of  Clinton       ^^^^ 

County 

$305.97 

And  it  is  hereby  agreed  that  the  county  of  Clinton  shall 
be  credited  with  the  sum  of  fourteen  dollars  and  eighty 
cents,  to  be  deducted  from  the  above  sum  of  three  hundred 
and  five  dollars  and  ninety-seven  cents,  the  said  sum  of 
fourteen  dollars  and  eighty  cents  being  a  proportion  of  the 
bounties  on  wolf-scalps  allowed  by  the  auditor-general,  Feb. 
12,  1840,  by  letter  of  that  date. 

"Calvin  Marvin, 
"Robert  E.  Craven, 
"  Commissioners  of  Clinton  County. 
"  R.  W.  HOLLEY, 

"Lemuel  Castle, 
"  Commissioners  of  Shiawassee  County. 
"Isaac  Castle, 
"  Treasurer  of  Shiawassee  County. 
"  Dated  at  Corunna,  Dec.  24,  1840." 

The  following  receipt  shows  the  final  settlement  of  the 
account : 

"  $291.17.  Received  of  the  county  commissioner  of  the 
county  of  Clinton  two  hundred  and  ninety-one  dollars  and 
seventeen  cents,  being  the  balance  due  to  Shiawassee  County 
from  the  county  of  Clinton,  a  settlement  of  the  contingent 
expenses  of  the  counties  up  to  Dec.  18,  1840. 
"Isaac  Castle, 
"  Treasurer  of  Shiawassee  County. 

"  CoRtJNNA,  Jan.  13, 1841." 

In  1842  a  law  was  passed  abolishing  the  office  of  county 
commissioner  and  restoring  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  The 
last  meeting  of  the  commissioners  was  held  on  the  16th  of 
March,  1842,  and  on  the  4th  of  July  of  the  same  year  (the 
date  designated  by  law)  the  supervisors  met  and  resumed 
the  powers  they  had  relinquished  to  the  commissioners 
four  years  before.  There  were  present  at  this  meeting  the 
following-named  supervisors,  viz. : 

De  Witt. — Jesse  F.  Turner. 
Eagle. — Oliver  Doty. 
Westphalia. — Anthony  Kopp. 
Riley. — Atwell  Simmons. 
Olive. — Daniel  Ferguson,  Jr. 
Ovid. — Isaac  V.  Swarthout. 
Bingham. — Stephen  W.  Downer. 
Bengal. — Chauncey  M.  Stebbins. 
Greenbush. — David  Levy. 
Duplain. — Robert  E.  Craven. 

The  townships  of  Watertown,  Ossowa,  and  Lebanon  were 
not  represented. 

From  1842  until  the  present  time  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors have  continued  to  exercise  their  functions  as  fiscal 
managers  of  the  county. 


WOLF-BOUNTIES. 

The  class  of  vouchers  known  as  "  wolf-certificates''  were 
issued  by  the  County  Commissioners  and  Board  of  Super- 
visors to  persons  presenting  proof  of  the  killing  of  wolves 
and  applying  for  the  bounty  awarded  for  such  killing. 
Below  is  given  a  list  of  the  names  of  persons  to  whom 
such  certificates  were  issued  by  the  commissioners  and  su- 
pervisors from  1839  to  1845,  inclusive.  Prior  to  Oct.  11, 
1843,  the  bounty  paid  on  each  wolf  was  eight  dollars,  but 
at  that  time  it  was  raised  to  twelve  dollars. 

Amount  of  Certificate. 
April  10,  1839. 

No-wab-a-no $8 

Ash-ha  be 8 

Alonzo  D.  Brewster 8 

Alonzo  Vaughn 48 

Oct.  7,  1839. 

Alonzo  Vaughn 32 

Sau-lo-de 8 

Shant  comagin 8 

Enoch  Willis 8 

Nathaniel  Eussell 8 

Nov.  16,  1839. 

Joshua  Frinlt 8 

Feb.  3,  1840. 

Nelson  Daggett 16 

George  Pearsall 8 

David  Cooper 8 

Joseph  Hussell.. 40 

Elisha  B.  Isbam ^ 

March  2,  1340. 

Joshua  Frink 8 

Philemon  Newman 8 

Lucern  Eldridge 8 

April  8,  1840. 

Stephen  Willis 8 

Me-we-zan 8 

Nelson  Daggett 24 

John  Ferdon 8 

Alonzo  D.  Brewster 16 

John  P.  Miller 16 

Alonzo  D.  Brewster 8 

July  8,  1840. 

Lyman  Webster 16 

Wa-ba-gun  ish  cum 8 

Nelson  Daggett 24 

Joseph  Bussell 8 

Au-gun-gno-ung 8 

James  Miller 8 

Oct.  5,  1840. 

E-be-no-sha 8 

Bish-she-mony 8 

Enoch  Willis 8 

Oct.  12,  1840. 

John  Berry 8 

Thomas  Russell 8 

George  F.  Dutton 8 

Posha-ton  and  Bash-ke-ziok 8 

Jan.  1,  1841. 

William  Drake 8 

Pamaso-quay 8 

William  Drake 8 

Joseph  Russell.; 8 

Augustus  tiillett 8 

Jan.  25,  1841. 

Joseph  Russell 8 

July  5,  1841. 

Alonzo  D.  Brewster 80 

Joseph  Russell 16 

John  Ferdon 16 

James  Stiles 8 

Ora  Stiles 8 

Oct.  22,  1841. 

William  Drake 8 


COURTS  AND  OTHER  COUiSfTY  MATTERS. 


341 


Deo.  30,  1841. 

Cornelius  Drake «ig 

William  Drake ...'..".'.."..'..'.'..'....'..'.'.'."  8 

Joseph  Russell ."......  8 

Coo-Cosh ..!!!!!"! 8 

John  Avery '"^ g 

James  Stiles 8 

Thomas  Fisk !!!!!!!!',!'.  8 

Augustus  Qillett .........'.  8 

Jan.  1,  1842. 

Sally  Avery g 

March  14,  1842. 

Willard  N.  Daggett g 

Thomas  Fisk g 

Ora  B.  Stiles .........'..'.'.'..........!!'.!  8 

Hosea  Baker g 

Lucius  Norton [  g 

Thomas  Fisk .'..'.'.'.'!!!."!  16 

Jan.  5,  1843. 

Lucius  Morton 24 

J.  W.  Taylor ...!..r.'..".'.'.'.  8 

Seth  Morton ]]'"'_  g 

Oct.  9,  1843. 

Henry  Brown g 

Jan.  2,  1844. 

Robert  (J.  McKee 12 

Minor  R.  Frink 12 

Lucius  Morton 24 

David  Olin 12 

Oct.  18,  1844. 

Cornelius  N.  Drake 12 

Willard  N.  Daggett 12 

John  A.  Millard 24 

Silas  W.  Rose 12 

.  Herod  Morton ^ 12 

John  Ferdon 12 

John  I.  Tinkelpaugh 12 

Samuel  M.  Ramill 12 

Lucius  Morton 24 

Oct.  19,  l'a44. 

Ezra  Thornton 24 

Robert  G.  McKee 12 

Jan.  1,  1845. 

Daniel  Fifield 12 

Lucius  Morton 12 

John  Ferdon 12 

John  A.  Millard 12 

Blkanah  Peck 24 

William  B.  Bennett 12 

Cortland  Hill 12 

Henry  S.  Fisk 12 

An  Indian 12 

Marvin  L.  Coots 12 

ESTABLISHMENT    OP    COURTS    IN    CLINTON 
COUNTY. 

THE  CIRCUIT  COURT. 
By  the  act  under  which  Clinton  County  was  organized 
it  was  provided  "  That  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  county  of 
Clinton  shall  he  held  at  the  county-seat,  in  such  place  as  the 
commissioners  shall  provide."  The  village  of  De  Witt  had 
been  selected  as  the  county-seat  some  years  before,  and  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  the  commission- 
ers decided  upon  the  house  of  David  Scott  as  the  place  for 
holding  the  court,  the  first  term  of  which  was  held  at  his 
house  on  the  2d  of  October,  1840,  the  Hon.  Hiram  Wil- 
cox, associate  justice,  being  present.  The  Hon.  Charles 
W.  Whipple  and  the  Hon.  Joseph  Seaver  not  appearing. 
Judge  Wilcox  ordered  the  court  adjourned  to  the  9th  of 
October  following.  Court  was  called  at  the  time  appointed, 
and  was  adjourned  to  the  17th  of  December,  when,  the 
Hon.  Charles  W.  Whipple  not  appearing,  Judge  Wilcox 
declared  the  court  adjourned  until  the  regular  term,  com- 
mencing on  the  7th  of  May,  1841.     On  this  day  the  Hon. 


Charles  W.  Whipple,  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  and 
presiding  judge  of  the  Circuit,  and  Hiram  Wilcox  and  Jo- 
seph Seaver,  associate  judges  of  the  county  of  Clinton, 
were  present.  The  court  was  opened  in  due  form,  and  the 
following  persons  composing  the  grand  jury  were  sworn, 
viz.:  Harvey  Alexander,  John  H.  Andrews,  Daniel  H. 
Blood,  Grove  Cooper,  Benjamin  Carpenter,  Gilbert  Cush- 
man,  Oliver  Doty,  Francis  Francisco,  Daniel  Ferguson, 
Jr.,  Hugh  Hagerty,  John  Gould,  Elisha  Gunnison,  Levi  D. 
Jenison,  Allen  Lounsberry,  Thomas  Myers,  John  Jessup, 
John  W.  Merrihew,  Welcome  J.  Partelo,  Jonathan  R. 
Pearsall,  John  Parker,  Charles  Stevens,  William  S.  Swart- 
hout,  and  William  H.  Webb. 

There  being  no  prosecuting  attorney,  the  court  appointed 
Calvin  C.  Parks  to  perform  the  duties  of  that  office  during 
the  term.  Two  cases  were  brought  before  the  court,  and 
were  both  sent  back  to  the  justice  from  whom  they  came 
for  a  more  full  and  perfect  statement.  Robert  B.  Daniels 
appeared  in  court  and  made  declaration  in  due  form  of  his 
intention  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  United  States.  The 
declaration  was  ordered  placed  on  file. 

The  next  case  was  that  of  Ephraim  H.  Utley  vs.  Joseph 
Cook.     In  attachment. 

The  defendant  was  called  and  came  not ;  thereupon  "  Or- 
dered that  his  default  be  and  is  hereby  entered." 

A  petition  for  divorce  was  presented,  and  the  court  or- 
dered publication  of  petition  and  order  for  six  weeks. 

The  grand  jury  came  in,  presented  sundry  indictments, 
and  were  discharged.  The  case  of  the  People  vs.  Lyman 
Webster,  for  embezzlement,  was  called,  and  on  motion  of 
the  prosecuting  attorney  it  was  "  Ordered  that  the  prisoner 
enter  in  recognizance  himself  in  three  hundred  dollars,  and 
a  surety  in  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  consideration 
for  his  appearance  at  the  next  term  of  court."  There  being 
no  further  business,  the  court  adjourned. 

At  the  second  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  in  October, 
1841,  the  first  petit  jury  was  called,  the  following- named 
persons  being  the  jurors:  Benjamin  Merrihew,  Edward 
Higbee,  Henry  Jipson,  John  McCoUum,  Calvin  Barber, 
Henry  Gibbs,  Jr.,  James  GunsoUy,  Richard  Lewis,  Lyman 
Webster,  Elijah  I.  Stone,  Joab  Dobbins,  George  A.  Merri- 
hew, D.  B.  Cranson,  Jesse  Olmstead,  Nathan  Case,  Barney 
Allen,  Morris  Cushman,  Ransom  Reed,  John  Ferdon, 
Peter  Finch,  Reuben  Rogers,  Smith  Parker,  F.  W.  Cronk- 
hite.  Judge  Whipple  not  being  present,  the  court  ad- 
journed. 

The  presiding  judge  of  the  circuit  until  1847  was  the 
Hon.  C.  W.  Whipple,  who  was  succeeded  by  the  Hon. 
Edward  Mundy.  Judge  Mundy  filled  the  unexpired  term 
of  Judge  Whipple,  and  continued  in  office  till  1851,  when 
the  Hon.  George  Martin  was  elected  for  a  full  term.  In 
1857  the  Hon.  Louis  S.  Lovell  was  elected  circuit  judge, 
and  has  continued  in  the  office  till  the  present  time. 

THE   PROBATE   COURT. 

The  first  judge  of  probate  of  the  county  of  Clinton  was 
Hiram  W.  Stowell,  who  was  elected  in  April,  1839.  The 
first  business  of  which  any  record  appears  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  Belinda  Cushman  as  guardian  of  Mial  and  Charles 
B.  Cushman,  minor  children  and  heirs  of  Ira  Cushman,  of 


342 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


the  township  of  De  Witt.  The  date  of  this  appointment 
was  the  11th  of  April,  1840.  The  next  record  is  of  the 
appointment  of  Henry  Moon  as  guardian  of  Catharine, 
Caroline,  Mary  Ann,'  and  Rebecca  Place,  minor  children  of 
David  T.  Place,  of  Salem,  Washtenaw  Co.,  and  bears  date 
Jan.  10, 1842. 

The  first  letters  of  administration  were  granted  March 
26,  1842,  to  Matilda  and  Calvin  Marvin,  of  De  Witt,  on 
the  estate  of  Eleazer  M.  Marvin,  deceased,  Calvin  Marvin 
havin<'  waived  his  right  to  administer  and  declined  the  ap- 
pointment, Seth  P.  Marvin  was  appointed.  Harvey  Alex- 
ander, W.  W.  Webb,  and  Ephraim  H.  Utley  were  ap- 
pointed appraisers  and  ordered  to  report  May  10,  1842,  at 
which  time  they  did  so  report  and  presented  an  inventory 
of  the  property. 

The  first  will  offered  for  probate  and  recorded  in  the 
probate  office  was  that  of  Joseph  Eddy,  of  the  township  of 
Eagle.  The  will  was  dated  April  13,  1842,  and  bears  the 
names  of  Edward  W.  Higbee,  Philo  Doty,  Jared  Higbee, 
and  Curtis  Hinman  as  attesting  witnesses.  Jane  Eddy  and 
Jeremiah  Eddy  were  appointed  administrators.  Jane  Eddy 
renounced  all  right  to  administer  upon  the  estate,  and  Jere- 
miah Eddy  remained  sole  administrator.  On  the  6th  day 
of  June,  Sophia  Eddy  was  appointed  administrator  on  the 
estate  of  Abram  Eddy,  deceased. 

The  above  account  includes  all  the  business  on  record 
during  the  incumbency  of  Hiram  W.  Stowell  as  probate 
judge.  He  was  succeeded  by  Theodore  H.  Chapin,  who 
held  his  first  court  on  the  23d  of  January,  1843,  when  he 
examined  the  accounts  and  received  the  resignation  of  the 
administrators  of  the  estate  of  Eleazer  M.  Marvin. 

The  office  of  the  probate  judge  was  held  in  one  room  of 
the  building  erected  by  the  county  on  the  public  square  in 
the  village  of  De  Witt  until  the  removal  of  the  county- 
seat  to  St.  Johns  in  1857.  The  office  at  that  place  was 
held  in  Plumstead  Hall  until  the  completion  of  the  first 
county  building  on  the  public  square,  when  it  was  removed 
to  that  building,  and  to  the  court-house  on  its  completion 
in  1871. 

THE   COUNTY    COURT. 

County,  courts,  which  were  established  in  Michigan  on 
the  24th  of  October,  1815,  and  abolished  in  April,  1833, 
were  re-established  by  act  approved  May  18,  1846.  Under 
this  law  an  election  of  judges  was  held  in  Clinton  County 
on  the  3d  of  November,  1846.  Jesse  F.  Turner  was 
elected  county  judge  and  William  Shepherd  second  judge. 
The  first  term  of  the  county  court  for  the  county  of  Clin- 
ton was  held  on  the  5th  day  of  April,  1847  (the  day  ap- 
pointed by  law),  in  the  upper  room  of  David  Scott's  house 
in  the  village  of  De  Witt,  the  Hon.  Jesse  F.  Turner  pre- 
siding. There  being  no  business,  the  court  adjourned. 
Judge  Turner  officiated  as  county  judge  until  the  8th  of 
February,  1851,  when  he  resigned,  and  the  Hon.  William 
Shepherd,  second  judge,  presided  until  the  close  of  the 
year,  when  the  county  court  ceased  to  exist  by  limitation,— 
the  constitution  of  1850  having  provided  that  the  terms'  of 
the  judges  of  county  courts  should  expire  on  the  first  of 
January,  1852,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  all  suits  and  proceed- 
ings m  law  and  equity  then  pending  in  the  county  courts 
should  become  vested  in  the  circuit  and  district  courts 


COUNTY  SITES  AND  COUNTY  PROPERTY.. 

In  accordance  with  an  act  of  the  Legislative  Council  of 
the  Territory  of  Michigan,  passed  in  1830,  providing  for  the 
appointment  by  the  Governor  of  commissioners  to  locate 
county-.seats,  acting  Governor  Stevens  T.  Mason,  on  the  5th 
day  of  September,  1833,  appointed  James  Kingsley,  Stephen 
V.  R.  Trowbridge,  and  Charles  J.  Lanman  commissioners  to 
locate  the  county-seat  of  Clinton  County.  No  record  is 
found  of  the  date  on  which  the  report  of  the  commissioners 
was  filed,  and  it  was  not  until  the  22d  day  of  September, 
1835,  that  the  proclamation  of  the  Governor  was  issued  con- 
firming the  location,  which  was  described  as  the  west  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  5,  in  township  5  north,  of 
range  2  west,  the  present  site  of  De  Witt.  Clinton  County 
was  attached  .to  Kalamazoo  County  as  unorganized  terri- 
tory from  1830  till  March  23,  1836,  when  it  was  erected 
into  a  township  by  the  name  of  De  Witt,  and  the  next  day 
it  became  attached  to  Kent  County.  Welcome  J.  Partelo 
was  the  first  supervisor  of  De  Witt  township,  and  attended 
the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Kent  County  at 
Grand  Rapids.  Upon  the  organization  of  Shiawassee 
County,  on  the  18th  of  March,  1837,  Clinton  County  was 
attached  to  it,  and  remained  under  that  jurisdiction  until 
March  12,  1839,  when  it  was  organized  as  a  separate 
county.  The  first  election  of  county  officers  was  held  on 
the  1st  day  of  April,  1839,  and  on  the  10th  of  the  same 
month  the  commissioners  for  the  county  convened  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  and  transaction  of  county  business. 

The  erection  of  county  buildings  soon  became  neces- 
sary, and  the  subject  was  brought  before  the  Board  of  Com- 
missioners on  the  12th  of  October,  1840,  by  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted  :  "  That  four  hundred  dollars 
be  appropriated  in  erecting  offices  for  the  following  county 
officers  :  treasurer,  clerk,  and  register  of  deeds  ;  also  that 
a  sufficient  amount  of  money  be  appropriated  in  erecting  a 
jail  and  dwelling-house  attached  thereto,  for  the  use  of  the 
jailer ;  the  offices  to  be  completed  by  the  15th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1841,  the  jail  and  residence  on  or  before  October  15th 
of  the  same  year."  The  Board  of  Commissioners  convened 
Dec.  3,  1841,  and  awarded  the  contract  for  building  the 
public  offices  and  jail  and  jailer's  residence  to  William  H. 
Utley,  he  being  the  lowest  responsible  bidder.  The  con- 
tract price  for  the  offices  was  four  hundred  and  thirty-nine 
dollars,  and  for  the  jail  and  residence  one  thousand  and  sev- 
enty-eight dollars.  The  buildings  were  not  completed  at  the 
specified  time,  and  in  March,  1842,  Seth  P.  Marvin  was 
appointed  by  the  commissioners  to  attend  to  the  completion 
of  the  jail.  About  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  S.  P. 
Marvin,  David  Scott  conveyed  to  Clinton  County  the  parcel 
of  land  lying  in  the  village  of  De  Witt,  bounded  as  follows : 
"  Commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  public  square  ; 
running  thence  east  three  chains  ;  thence  north  three  chains ; 
thence  west  three  chains  ;  thence  south  three  chains  to  the 
place  of  beginning;  also  lot  366,  in  block  50,  according  to 
the  plat  of  the  village  of  De  Witt,  for  purposes  of  the 
county  buildings  of  said  county,  with  the  express  under- 
standing that,  should  the  present  location  of  the  county- 
site  of  said  county  be  removed,  the  said  county  is  to  further 
remove  from  said  lands  any  buildings  belonging  to  siud 
county  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  said  county-site,  and 


COURTS  AND  OTHER  COUNTY  MATTERS. 


343 


the  lands  above  described  are  to  revert  to  the  said  David 
Scott  and  Clarissa  Scott,  their  heirs,  execTitors,  administra- 
tors, and  assigns,  etc."  This  property  was  deeded  in  con- 
sideration of  ten  dollars.  The  deed  bears  date  March  15, 
1842,  and  is  recorded  in  Liber  B,  page  49,  in  the  register's 
office  of  Clinton  County. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1843,  the  committee  on  public 
buildings  reported  recommending  the  immediate  occupation 
of  the  buildings,  though  they  were  not  yet  completed. 
The  public  office  building  was  erected  on  the  public  square. 
It  was  about  eighteen  by  thirty  feet,  and  divided  into  two 
rooms,  the  clerk  and  register  occupying  one,  the  treasurer 
and  judge  of  probate  the  other. 

Prior  to  this  time  it  appears  the  offices  had  been  kept  at 
different  places,  for  on  the  day  following  the  adoption  of  the 
committee's  report  bills  were  audited  as  follows :  "  To  Milo 
H.  Turner,*  $11.44,  for  rent  for  county  offices.  To  Jesse 
F.  Turner  and  Seth  P.  Marvin,  |20  for  rent  for  county  of- 
fices." From  this  time  the  offices  of  the  clerk,  treasurer, 
and  register  were  kept  in  this  building  until  the  removal  of 
the  county-site  to  the  village  of  St.  Johns.  The  old  jail 
at  De  Witt  was  occupied  until  1862.")"  The  rooms  for  the 
use  of  court,  juries,  and  Board  of  Supervisors  were  rented 
of  David  Scott  from  1839  to  1847.  For  the  year  1843 
the  price  paid  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  one 
hundred  dollars  per  annum  was  paid  from  1844  to  1847  in- 
clusive. In  October,  1847,  the  supervisors  rented  the  school- 
house  in  district  No.  6  for  county  purposes  for  fifty  dollars 
per  year,  and  continued  to  occupy  it  till  1855.  From 
that  time  until  the  removal  to  St.  Johns  the  courts  were 
held  in  the  following-named  places  :  in  1855  in  rooms  rented 
from  Chauncey  Lott,  for  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum  ; 
in  1856  in  rooms  rented  of  C.  M.  Derbyshire,  for  seventy- 
five  dollars  per  annum ;  in  1857  in  the  Baptist  church  at 
De  Witt.  In  October,  1851,  the  board  resolved  to  build 
a  court-house  on  the  east  half  of  the  public  square,  in  the 
village  of  De  Witt. 

The  agitation  of  the  removal  of  the  county-site  was  com- 
menced by  Mr.  Palmer,  who,  in  October,  1855,  offered  a 
resolution  "  That  the  county-site  be  removed  to  St.  Johns." 
W.  F.  Jenison  moved  to  amend  by  striking  out  the  "  vil- 
lage of  St.  Johns"  and  inserting  the  "  centre  of  Muskrat 
Lake."  Vote  was  taken,  and  both  the  amendment  and 
original  resolution  were  lost.  At  the  January  session  the 
next  year  the  subject  was  again  brought  up,  and  a  resolu- 
tion was  offered  that  two  thousand  dollars  be  appropriated 
to  be  used  in  connection  with  one  thousand  dollars  sub- 
scribed by  the  citizens  of  De  Witt  for  the  building  of  a 
court-house  on  the  public  square  belonging  to  the  county. 
Another  was  offered  that  the  county-site  be  located  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  5,  in  the  township  of  Olive. 
A  motion  was  also  made  to  appropriate  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars for  building  fire-proof  offices  at  De  Witt.  These  reso- 
lutions and  the  motion  were  all  lost,  and  the  question  was 
postponed  indefinitely.     On  the  1st  of  January,  1857,  Mr. 

«  Milo  H.  Turner  lived  on  the  south  side  of  Looking-Glass  Eiver, 
in  the  village  of  New  Albany. 

t  During  the  years  1847,  1848,  1849  the  jail  was  used  by  Ionia 
County  for  the  confinement  of  its  prisoners  four  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  days,  for  which  they  paid  thirty-three  dollars. 


Henry  Moote  offered  a  resolution  to  remove  the  county- 
site  of  Clinton  County  to  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  which 
was  laid  on  the  table.  The  next  day  Mr.  Moote  offered  a 
substitute  for  his  resolution  of  the  day  previous,  as  follows  : 
"  Whereas  it  is  proposed  to  remove  the  county-site  of  Clin- 
ton County  from  the  village  of  De  Witt,  in  said  county, 
where  it  is  now  located.  Therefore  we,  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, resolve  that  the  public  square  in  the  village  of  St. 
Johns,  in  said  county,  according  to  the  recorded  plat 
thereof,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  designated  by  said 
board  as  the  place  to  which  such  proposed  removal  is  to  be 
made."  The  resolution  was  accepted  as  a  substitute  for 
Mr.  Moote's  original  resolution.  An  amendment  was 
offered  by  Mr.  Hunter,  viz. :  "  Provided  that  the  inhabi- 
tants, or  some  one  in  their  behalf,  will  make  to  Clinton 
County  a  good  and  sufficient  deed  for  one  and  a  half  acres 
of  land  for  county  buildings,  on  or  before  March,  1857, 
and  secure  to  said  county  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars 
towards  the  expeose  of  the  county  buildings,  to  be  paid  on 
completion  of  the  buildings."  Mr.  Rodgers  offered  an 
amendment  to  strike  out  all  after  the  figures  1857.  The 
amendments  were  carried,  and  Mr.  Moote's  resolution,  as 
amended,  was  also  adopted.  At  the  evening  session  Mr. 
Moote  offered  a  resolution  to  stand  in  connection  with  the 
others  in  reference  to  county -site:  "  That  the  day  for  hold- 
ing the  next  annual  township-meeting  shall  be  the  day  on 
which  the  electors  of  said  county  shall  vote  on  such  pro- 
posed removal ;  and  that  the  county  clerk  be  authorized  to 
notify  the  township  clerks  and  to  furnish  three  notices  of 
the  foregoing  resolutions,  to  be  posted  in  three  public  places 
in  each  township."  In  accordance  with  this  action  the 
question  was  submitted  to  the  people  at  the  annual  town- 
ship-meeting, on  the  6th  of  April,  1857,  with  the  follow- 
ing result :  For  the  removal,  1423 ;  against  the  removal, 
689.  At  the  session  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  Mr. 
Moote  offered  a  preamble  and  resolution,  as  follows: 
"  Whereas,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county  of  Clin- 
ton, by  resolutions  adopted  Jan.  2,  1857,  proposed  to  re- 
move the  county-site  of  the  county  of  Clinton  and  locate 
the  same  at  the  village  of  St.  Johns ;  and  whereas  it 
appears  that  at  a  subsequent  election  a  majority  of  the  elec- 
tors of  said  county  voted  in  favor  of  said  removal  and  loca- 
tion ;  therefore  be  it  resolved,  That  the  county-site  of  said 
county  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  declared  to  be  estab- 
lished at  the  said  village  of  St.  Johns,  in  accordance  with 
said  resolutions  and  the  vote  of  the  electors  of  said  county 
thereon."  The  resolution  was  adopted,  eleven  to  five,  and 
under  it  the  offices  of  the  county  were  removed,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1857,  to  Plumstead  Hall,  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns, 
in  1858  a  brick  building,  about  twenty  by  twenty-five  feet, 
was  erected  on  the  public  square  fronting  on  State  Street. 
This  building  was  occupied  by  the  county  officers  from 
Jan.  19,  1859,  until  the  completion  of  their  present  quar- 
ters in  the  court-house,  when  the  offices  were  removed  to 
that  building.  During  the  time  intervening  between  the 
removal  of  the  county-site  to  St.  Johns  and  the  completion 
of  the  present  court-house,  the  courts  were  held  first  at 
Plumstead's  Hall  until  about  1861 ;  then  in  Clinton  Hall, 
rented  of  George  W.  Stephenson,  till  1869  ;  next  in  New- 
ton's Hall,  which  was  occupied  for  about  a  year ;  and  finally 


344 


HISTORY  OP  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


in  a  building  owned  by  John  Hicks,  on  Clinton  Avenue, 
between  Walker  and  Higham  Streets. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1869,  a  preamble  and  resolution 
was  offered  as  follows  :  "  Whereas,  the  village  of  St.  Johns 
has  provided  for  raising  the  five  thousand  dollars  offered  for 
construction  of  the  court-house ;  therefore  resolved.  That  the 
county  of  Clinton  build  a  court-house  on  the  public  square, 
not  to  cost  to  exceed  six  mills  on  the  dollar  on  the  assessed 
valuation  of  the  county,  estimated  from  the  corrected  ag- 
gregate assessment  of  the  county  for  the  year  1868  ;  three 
mills  of  the  amount  to  be  raised  in  1869,  and  three  mills 
in  1870.  The  question  to  be  submitted  to  the  electors  at 
the  annual  meeting  in  April,  1869."  This  action  was  re- 
ferred to  a  committee,  and  on  the  next  day  a  substitute  was 
offered  and  accepted  as  follows :  "  That  the  proposition  to 
raise  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  be  submitted 
to  the  people  in  April,  1869,  be  raised  by  loan  ;  said  loan 
payable  in  five  annual  payments."  This  last  resolution  was 
passed  by  a  vote  of  twelve  to  two,  and  in  the  election  that 
followed  seventeen  hundred  and  thirty-four  votes  were  cast 
in  favor  of  building  a  court-house,  and  eleven  hundred  and 
seventy  against  it. 

The  following-named  gentlemen  were  appointed  as  a 
building  committee,  with  power  to  contract  for  the  erection 
of  the  court-house :  William  L.  Hicks,  George  E.  Hunt, 
Benjamin  F.  Shepherd,  David  Clark,  Moses  Bartow,  and 
John  Hicks.  On  the  12th  of  October,  1869,  this  com- 
mittee reported  that  they  had  adopted  a  plan  similar  to  that 
of  the  court-house  in  Bay  City,  Mich.,  and  that  contracts 
were  awarded  for  the  construction  of  foundation-walls,  to 
be  completed  in  November,  1869.  On  the  18th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1869,  proposals  were  opened  by  the  committee  for  the 
construction  of  the  court-house ;  the  lowest  bid  was  twenty- 
four  thousand  dollars,  which  was  not  accepted,  and  work 
was  commenced  by  the  day,  the  committee  taking  charge. 
The  building  was  finally  completed,  ready  for  use,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1871.  The  cost  of  the  building,  as  reported  Jan.  9, 
1872,  by  John  Hicks,  chairman  of  committee,  was  thirty- 
five  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-four  dollars  and  fifty- 
eight  cents. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1873,  a  special  committee,  who 
had  been  previously  appointed  to  select  a  suitable  site  for  a 
jail,  reported  and  recommended  the  purchase  of  lots  1  2 
and  3,  in  block  20,  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  report  was  adopted,  and  the  lots  were  purchased 
of  John  Turner  for  six  hundred  dollars,  the  deed  bearin- 
date  Jan.  20, 1873.  On  the  5th  of  January,  1875,  a  reso° 
lution  was  passed  by  the  board  to  submit  a  proposition  to 
the  electors  to  raise  ten  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection  of 
a  jail  and  sheriff's  residence  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns  At 
the  next  annual  town-meeting,  in  April,  1875,  this  question 
was  submitted,  with  the  following  result:  twelve  hundred 
and  nmety-two  votes  in  favor  and  seven  hundred  and  two 
against.  In  accordance  with  this  decision  the  board  con- 
vened  on  the  12th  of  May  following,  for  the  express  pur- 

he  jail.     Two  days  and  a  half  were  occupied  in  electing  a 
chairman.    Forty-five  formal  ballots  were  faken  before  they 

resulted  in  the  election  of  Eugene  V.  Chase  as  chairman 


Josiah  Upton  was  then  appointed  to  procure  plans  and 
specifications  for  a  jail  and  residence  not  to  exceed  the  sum 
of  ten  thousand  dollars.  After  the  accomplishment  of  this 
item  of  business  the  board  adjourned.  Iq  the  June  follow- 
ing, plans  presented  by  Mr.  Heddcn  were  accepted.  John 
Hicks,  Josiah  Upton,  and  Richard  Moore  were  appointed 
a  building  committee,  with  power  to  advertise,  receive  pro- 
posals, and  let  the  contract  for  building  the  jail,  which  was 
goon  after  commenced,  and  completed  in  October,  1876. 
On  the  4th  of  January,  1877,  the  committee  on  buildin" 
the  jail  reported  as  to  the  cost  of  jail  and  residence  as  fol- 
lows :  total  amount,  ten  thousand  and  fifteen  dollars  and 
fifty-three  cents. 

COUNTY  POOR-HOUSE  AND  FARM. 
The  first  oflScial  action  taken  in  reference  to  the  support 
of  the  county  poor  of  Clinton  is  recorded  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  county  commissioners  in  October,  1839,  at 
which  time  Grafton  Webber,  of  Watertown,  Thomas  Fisk 
of  Bingham,  and  Franklin  Oliver,  of  De  Witt,  were  ap- 
pointed county  superintendents  of  the  poor  for  the  ensuino- 
year.  In  the  month  of  February  following  it  was  resolved 
to  abolish  the  distinction  of  county  and  township  poor,  and 
that  "all  expenses  hereafter  incurred  shall  be  a  charge 
against  the  county."  The  first  step  towards  providing  a 
county  farm  for  the  poor  was  taken  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  on  the  4th  of  January,  1844,  when 
a  resolution  was  offered  that  arrangements  be  made  for  the 
purchase  of  a  farm  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor.  This 
resolution  was  laid  on  the  table  and  finally  rejected  by  the 
board,  but  at  the  annual  session  in  the  following  autumn  a 
committee  to  whom  the  report  of  the  superintendents  of 
the  poor  was  referred  recommended  the  purchase  of  a  farm, 
and  Supervisors  Boughton,  Pearl,  and  Taber  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  examine  the  farm  of  William  Utley  and 
ascertain  his  price.  The  committee  reported,  and  after 
due  consideration  the  farm  was  purchased  for  six  hundred 
and  sixty-one  dollars  and  sixty-eight  cents,  the  deed  bear- 
ing date  Nov.  1, 1844.  Its  location  is  in  township  5  north, 
range  2  west  (De  Witt),  and  is  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  southwest  quarter  and  the  west  half  of  the  south 
fraction  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  9.  The  farm 
was  rented  to  David  Olin  for  one  year  from  Jan.  1,  1845, 
for  fifty  dollars,  and  was  sold  to  Jesse  F.  Turner  for  six 
hundred  and  sixty-one  dollars  and  ninety-two  cents  on  the 
7th  of  October  of  the  same  year. 

About  ten  years  elapsed  before  further  action  was  taken 
for  the  purchase  of  a  farm.  At  the  fall  session  of  1854, 
N.  I.  Daniels,  of  Watertown,  moved  "  that  a  committee  of 
three  be  appointed,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  examine 
locations  and  receive  proposals  with  a  view  to  the  purchase 
of  a  farm  and  the  erection  of  a  poor-house,  and  report  to  , 
the  board  at  the  next  meeting."  Three  days  later  Super- 
visors Plowman,  Estes,  and  Fitch  were  appointed  such 
committee.  On  the  12th  of  October,  1855,  Stephen  Pearl, 
county  treasurer,  was  authorized  to  advertise  and  receive 
proposals  for  the  purchase  of  a  farm  of  from  eighty  to  one 
hundred  acres.  It  does  not  appear  that  Mr.  Pearl  made  a 
purchase,  as  on  the  24th  of  January,  1856,  the  committee 
appointed  in   1854  reported  in  favor  of  purchasing  one 


THE  PKOFESSIONS. 


345 


hundred  acres  of  land  of  George  W.  Stoddard  for  fifteen 
hundred  dollars,  situated  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 18,  in  the  township  of  Olive.  This  report  was 
adopted,  and  Stephen  Pearl  was  appointed  agent  to  ex- 
amine title  and  consummate  the  purchase.  The  deed  is 
dated  Jan.  25,  1856,  and  recorded  on  the  29th  of  January 
of  the  same  year.  At  the  January  session  in  1858  a 
communication  was  received  from  the  superintendents  of 
the  poor,  recommending  an  appropriation  to  erect  a  build- 
ing on  the  county  poor-farm,  which  was  referred  to  a 
special  committee.  There  is  no  record  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  this  committee,  or  of  any  report  made  upon  the 
subject. 

At  the  annual  session  in  the  autumn  of  1859  it  was  de- 
cided to  let  the  maintenance  of  the  county  paupers  to  the 
lowest  bidder  with  good  security.  This  method  of  sup- 
porting the  poor  was  continued  for  several  years. 

At  the  January  session  in  1864  the  offer  of  William 
Sickles  to  exchange  lots  1  and  2  in  block  13,  in  the  village 
of  St.  Johns,  for  the  county  farm  was  accepted,  and  Charles 
Kipp  was  authorized  to  convey  the  title.     This  exchange, 
however,  was  not  made,  as  it  appears  that  on  the  17th  of 
December,  1867,  Charles  Kipp  conveyed  the  farm  owned 
by  the  county  to  Henry  Lackey, — this  conveyance  being  in 
accordance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
made  Oct.  17, 1867,  the  farm  having  been  sold  on  contract 
to  Mr.  Lackey  in  October,  1865.     A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  report  on  the  necessity  of  purchasing  a  poor 
farm,  which  committee  reported  the  next  day,  recommend- 
ing the  piirchase  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  near  the 
village  of  St.  Johns.     This    report  was  approved,  and  on 
the  next  day  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  were  author- 
ized to  purchase  a  farm  at  a  price  not  to  exceed  four 
thousand  dollars.     A  farm  was  purchased  of  Hiram  L. 
Lamb  for  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  the  deed 
bearing  date  April  8,  1867.     It  contains  seventy-six  and  a 
half  acres,  forty  of  which  are  under  cultivation,  and  in- 
cludes an  orchard  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  fruit- 
trees.     Its  location  is  on  the  south  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  18,  in  the  township  of  Bingham.     The 
superintendents  of  the  poor  were  authorized  to  erect  a 
building  not  to  exceed  eighteen  hundred  dollars  in  cost, 
"  to   meet  the  demands  of  the  unfortunates  who  are  in- 
trusted to  their  care."     Under  this  authority  a  building 
was  constructed  in  the  summer  of  1871,  and  another  is 
being  erected  the  present  year  to  further  accommodate  the 
increasing  demands  of  the  county  poor. 

The  report  of  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  for  1879 
shows  as  follows:  The  whole  number  of  paupers  maintained 
in  the  poor-house  during  the  year  was  thirty;  the  whole 
number  temporarily  relieved  outside  of  the  poor-house  was 
one  hundred  and  nineteen ;  the  whole  amount  paid  from 
the  poor-fund  during  the  year  was  $6962.53;  the  whole 
amount  paid  from  other  funds  was  $2393.06.  The  total 
expenses  of  the  poor-farm,  exclusive  of  interest  on  capital 
invested  and  value  of  pauper  labor,  was  $3816.23.  Value 
of  products  of  farm  during  the  year  (estimated),  $793.30. 
Value  of  poor-farm  and  buildings,  $6500  ;  of  live  stock, 
$330.  Total  value  of  poor-farm  and  appurtenances, 
$8050.50. 
44 


CHAPTER    XLVIIL 

THE  PEOPESSIONS-THB  PKESS-THE  CIVIL  LIST. 

Early  Lawyers  in  Clinton  County — The  present  Bar  of  Clinton — The 
Medical  Profession — Clinton  County  Medical  Society — Homoeo- 
pathic Physicians — The  Press  of  Clinton  County — Clinton  County 
Civil  List. 

THE   LEGAL  PROFESSION. 
EARLY   LAWYERS   IN   CLINTON   COUNTY. 

The  first  resident  lawyer  practicing  in  Clinton  County 
was  Levi  Townson,  who  studied  law  at  Ann  Arbor,  and 
was  there  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  appointed  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Clinton  County  in  1842,  and  removed 
to  the  village  of  De  Witt,  the  county-seat.  He  retained 
the  position  till  1848.  In  1846  he  was  elected  judge  of 
probate,  and  held  that  office  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  De  Witt,  in  July,  1849. 

Theodore  H.  Chapin  emigrated  to  Michigan  about  1840, 
from  Loekport,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  had  practiced  law 
in  that  State,  and  was  advanced  in  years  when  he  located 
at  De  Witt,  Clinton  Co.  He  was  elected  judge  of  probate 
in  1842,  and  held  the  office  till  Jan.  1,  1847.  He  after- 
wards removed  with  his  son,  De  Witt  C.  Chapin,  to  Alle- 
gan Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  died. 

De  Witt  C.  Chapin  came  to  De  Witt  with  his  father, 
Theodore  H.  Chapin,  in  1840,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  in  New 
York  State  before  coming  to  Michigan.  He  was  elected 
county  clerk  in  1842,  and  served  two  years.  Soon  afler- 
wards  he  removed  to  Ionia  County,  where  he  lived  a  year 
or  two,  and  moved  to  Allegan  County.  In  1848  he  was 
elected  judge  of  probate  of  that  county,  and  served  in  that 
office  four  years.  He  served  as  prosecuting  attorney  in 
1851  and  1852.  Returning  to  Clinton  County,  he  was 
ao-ain  elected  county  clerk  in  1856,  and  re-elected  in  1858 
and  1860.  Upon  his  retirement  from  this  office  he  re- 
moved to  Gratiot  County,  where  he  was  elected  register  of 
deeds.  He  died  about  1874.  He  was  not  a  profound 
lawyer,  but  was  an  excellent  pleader  before  a  jury. 

Joseph  Hollister  came  from  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to 
Victor,  Clinton  Co.,  in  1843.  He  brought  with  him  from 
the  clerk  of  that  county  a  certificate  of  good  standing  as 
a  lawyer  in  that  State.  Upon  this  certificate  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  this  county,  Nov.  15,  1843,  and  was 
appointed  prosecuting  attorney  in  1848.  He  was  a  good 
office  lawyer,  but  not  very  successful  in  court  practice. 

Joab  Baker  came  to  this  State  from  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Eaton  County  in  1845,  and 
practiced  for  a  time  in  Portland,  Ionia  Co.  In  the  spring 
of  1847  he  removed  to  De  Witt,  and  was  elected  prosecut- 
ing attorney  in  1850,— the  first  under  the  new  constitution. 
When  the  county-seat  was  removed  to  St.  Johns  he  re- 
moved to  that  place,  and  practiced  for  five  years.  In  1862 
he  moved  to  Grand  Haven,  and  is  now  living  at  Muskegon, 
where  he  is  following  his  profession.  He  is  a  good  advo- 
cate and  a  successful  lawyer. 

Christopher  W..  Leffingwell  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
this  county  on  the  15th  of  January,  1849,  having  previously 
been  admitted  in  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  emigrated  to 


346 


EISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Michigan.      He  was  considered  a  good  chancery  lawyer 
and  excellent  in  office  husiness. 

Randolph  Strickland  is  a  native  of  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1844,  and  studied  kw  two 
years  in  Portland,  Ionia  Co.  In  August,  1847,  he  re- 
moved to  De  Witt,  entered  the  office  of  Joab  Baker,  and 
continued  his  studies  until  June  15,  1849,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  has  been  in  practice  from  that 
time  to  the  present.  He  is  the  oldest  lawyer  now  in  the 
county.  He  was  prosecuting  attorney  from  1852  to  1858, 
and  again  in  1862;  State  senator  in  1860-62;  provost- 
marshal  from  1863  to  1865  ;  member  of  State  Republican 
Committee;  delegate  to  National  Convention  in  1856  and 
1868;  representative  from  Michigan  in  the  Forty-first 
Congress,  serving  on  committees  on  invalid  pensions  and 
mines  and  mining.  He  is  cautious  and  painstaking  in 
practice,  and  very  successful.  In  1862  he  removed  from 
De  Witt  to  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  where  he  still  resides. 

Jesse  F.  Turner  came  to  De  Witt  from  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
in  1839.  He  was  elected  county  judge  in  1846  ;  studied 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  this  county  June  17, 
1850  ;  and  later  removed  to  California,  where  he  was  elected 
to  fill  the  position  of  judge  of  one  of  the  courts.  He  died 
about  1878. 

James  W.  Ransom  came  from  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  about 
1853.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Clinton  County  on 
the  2d  of  June,  1853,  and  practiced  at  De  Witt  for  four 
years,  removing  to  St.  Johns  upon  the  establishment  of 
the  county-seat  at  that  village.  He  remained  at  St.  Johns 
until  1860,  when  he  removed  to  Grand  Rapids,  and  is  still 
in  practice  there. 

David  I.  Daniels  was  an  early  settler  in  Wacousta  (town- 
ship of  Watertown).  He  studied  law  late  in  life,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  June  9,  1852,  and  practiced  until  his 
death.  He  was  elected  member  of  the  State  Legislature  in 
1858. 

Obed  F.  Strickland,  a  brother  of  Randolph  Strickland, 
studied  law  with  the  latter,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
June  7,  1856.  He  practiced  at  St.  Johns  until  1864,  and 
removed  to  Salt  Lake  City,  practiced  two  years,  and  was 
appointed  by  President  Grant  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Utah.  He  is  now  following  his  profession  at  Walla 
Walla,  Washington  Territory. 

Delos  C.  Wiley  came  to  De  Witt  about  1854  and  entered 
the  office  of  Joab  Baker.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
on  the  9th  of  June,  1856.  He  practiced  for  a  time  in  De 
Witt  and  St.  Johns,  and  removed  to  Lansing,  where  he  was 
a  successful  lawyer.     He  died  in  1874. 

Oliver  L.  Spaulding  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  He 
emigrated  from  that  State  to  Ohio,  and  graduated  at  Ober- 
Im  College.  He  came  to  Michigan,  and,  locating  at  St 
Johns,  Clinton  Co.,  entered  the  office  of  James  W.  Ran- 
som, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  April  6,  1858.  From 
that  time  until  the  present  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Chnton  County  bar,  and  has  resided  at  St.  Johns.  In  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  served  in  the  Twenty-third  Michi- 
gan Infantry  Regiment,  from  the  grade  of  captain  to  that 
of  colonel,  and  was  brevetted  brigadier-general  for  meri- 
tonous  services  Among  the  civil  offices  which  he  has 
filled  >s  that  of  regent  of  the  University  of  Michigan 


1858-64;  Secretary  of  State  of  Michigan,  elected  in  1866 
and  re-elected  in  1868 ;  and  special  agent  of  the  treasury 
department,  appointed  in  1875  and  still  holding  that 
office. 

Henry  Walbridge  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Montpelier,  in  that  State,  in  1848. 
He  came  to  Detroit  in  1850  as  agent  for  Fairbanks  Bros., 
of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  and  remained  in  their  employ  three 
years  and  a  half  In  October,  1855,  he  came  to  St.  Johns, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  this  county  on  the  7th  of 
June,  1856.  From  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  continued 
in  practice  in  St.  Johns.  He  was  elected  Circuit  Court  com- 
missioner in  1856  and  1873,  and  prosecuting  attorney  in 
1860. 

Henry  M.  Perrin  is  a  native  of  Vermont.  He  eraduated 
at  the  Albany  Law  School,  came  to  Detroit  in  1855,  re- 
mained there  two  years,  and  removed  to  St.  Johns,  Nov. 
22,  1857.  For  a  short  time  he  was  in  the  office  of  Henry 
Walbridge,  and  in  February  of  1858  he  opened  an  office 
and  commenced  practice.  Mr.  Perrin  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  judge  of  probate  in  1860,  and  to  the  State  Senate 
in  1864.  He  is  now  associated  with  P.  K.  Perrin  and 
Albert  J.  Baldwin  in  the  practice  of  law  in  the  village  of 
St.  Johns. 

The  above  mention  of  early  lawyers  embraces  the  princi- 
pal ones  who  commenced  practice  in  the  county  during  the 
twenty  years  following  the  establishment  of  its  courts.  Of 
some  others  who  have  not  been  mentioned  but  who  came 
to  the  county  during  that  period,  as  well  as  of  those  who 
have  practiced  here  since  that  time,  the  names  will  be  found 
in  the  appended  list  (prepared  from  the  court  records)  of 
attorneys  who  have  from  time  to  time  been  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  courts  of  Clinton,  viz. : 

William  H.  Parks,  admitted  May  9,  1843. 

John  C.  Blanchard,  admitted  May  9,  1843. 

Joseph  HoUister,  admitted  Nov.  15,  1843. 

Ralph  B.  Goble,  admitted  Nov.  12,  1844. 

Theodore  H.  Chapin,  Jr.,  admitted  Nov.  12,  1844. 

Harvey  Bartow,  admitted  May  12,  1846. 

H.  M.  Munson,  admitted  May  14,  1846. 

William  W.  Upton,  admitted  Nov.  13,  1846. 

Milton  P.  Burtch,  admitted  Nov.  13,  1845. 

Randolph  Strickland,  admitted  June  15,  1849. 

Christopher  W.  Leffingwell,  admitted  June  15,  1849. 

David  E.  Corbin,  admitted  June  15,  1849. 

N.  Byron  HoUister,  admitted  Sept.  12,  1849. 

J.  Foot  Turner,  admitted  June  17,  1850. 

James  H.  McKee,  admitted  June  17,  1850. 

David  I.  Daniels,  admitted  June  9,  1852. 

James  H.  Ransom,  admitted  June  2,  1853. 

Franklin  Miller,  admitted  Nov.  15,  1855. 

Stevens  E.  Longyear,  admitted  Nov.  15,  1855. 

Delos  C.  Wiley,  admitted  June  7,  1856. 

Henry  Walbridge,  admitted  June  7,  1856. 

Obed  F.  Strickland,  admitted  June  7,  1856. 

E.  Nelson  Pitch,  admitted  June  5,  1857. 

Sylvester  Hoyt,  admitted  Aug.  29,  1857. 

Henry  M.  Perrin,  admitted  Feb.  2,  1858. 

Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  admitted  April  6,  1858. 

Ruel  M.  Boynton,  admitted  April  6,  1858. 


THE  PEOFESSIONS. 


347 


Alvah  C.  Laing,  admitted  April  8,  1859. 
Sylvester  H.  Pennington,  admitted  April  8,  1859. 
Robert  V.  Briggs,  admitted  Sept.  24,  1859. 
Warren  II.  Hickox,  admitted  Sept.  24,  1859. 
William  F.  Moore,  admitted  July  22,  1862. 
William  M.  Stiles,  admitted  Oct.  20,  1863. 
Sidney  Fitzgerald,  admitted  Jan.  19,  1864. 
Andrew  Stout,  admitted  April  18,  1864. 
George  Tompkins,  admitted  April  18,  1864. 
Hiram  C.  Hodge,  admitted  Jan.  19,  1865. 
Daniel  Granger,  admitted  Jan.  18,  1866. 
Edward  Cahill,  admitted  July  16,  1866. 
Moses  Bartow,  admitted  July  16,  1866. 
Alvin  Patterson,  admitted  Jan.  21,  1867. 
Porter  K.  Perrin,  admitted  July  15,  1867. 
Albert  J.  Baldwin,  admitted  July  15,  1867. 
Frederick  Wilkinson,  admitted  April  18,  1868. 
Charles  E.  Williams,  admitted  April  18,  1868. 
Ferrin  C.  Cummings,  admitted  Oct.  3,  1868. 
John  Q.  Patterson,  admitted  Oct.  3,  1868. 
Samuel  D.  Haight,  admitted  April  13,  1870. 
Francis  W.  Cook,  admitted  April  13,  1870. 
William  W.  Dennis,  admitted  July  12,  1870. 
Alfred  G.  Higham,  admitted  July  12,  1870. 
Nelson  De  Long,  admitted  April  14,  1871. 
Henry  E.  Walbridge,  admitted  April  14,  1871. 
John  H.  Fedewa,  admitted  May  20,  1872. 
Arlington  C.  Lewis,  admitted  May  20,  1872. 
James  H.  Walsh,  admitted  May  20,  1872. 
Adelbert  McCabe,  admitted  May  20,  1872. 
Benjamin  F.  Button,  admitted  May  27,  1875. 
Edward  L.  Walbridge,  admitted  Feb.  17,  1878. 
Will  A.  Norton,  admitted  Aug.  19,  1878. 
John  G.  Patterson,  admitted  Aug.  19,  1878. 
Henry  J.  Patterson,  admitted  Aug.  19,  1878. 
Loyal  W.  Hill,  admitted  May  21,  1879. 
John  J.  Kerr,  admitted  May  21,  1879. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  present  members  of  the 
bar  of  Clinton  County  : 

Randolph  Strickland.  Henry  Walbridge. 

Porter  K.  Perrin.  Joel  H.  Cranson. 

Oliver  L.  Spaulding.  Henry  M.  Perrin. 

Josephus  0.  Selden.  Anthony  Cook. 

Richard  Baylis.  Albert  J.  Baldwin. 

Anderson  Stout.  William  W.  Dennis. 

Henry  E.  Walbridge.  John  H.  Fedewa. 

William  H.  Castel.  0.  W.  Barker. 

William  F.  Moore.  William  Brunson. 

Charles  M.  Merrill.  Henry  J.  Patterson. 

John  G.  Patterson.  Edward  L.  Walbridge. 

Loyal  W.  Hill.  John  J.  Kerr. 

S.  B.  DaboU. 

THE   MEDICAL  PEOPESSION. 

Dr.  Seth  P.  Marvin  came  from  Oakland  County  to  Clin- 
ton County  with  his  father  in  1835  and  located  in  Water- 
town,  where  Seth  built  a  log  house  and  lived  until  the 
county  was  organized,  when  he  removed  to  De  Witt.  He 
had  studied  medicine  previous  to  his  settlement  in  Clinton 
County,  as  the  following  certificate  indicates  : 


"  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  or  may  in  any 
wise  concern. 

"  The  Pres't,  Sec'y,  and  Censors  of  the  Medical  Society 
of  the  County  of  Macomb  send  greeting.  Whereas,  Seth 
P.  Marvin  hath  exhibited  unto  us  satisfactory  testimony 
that  he  is  entitled  to  a  License  to  practice  Physic  and  Sur- 
gery: now  know  ye  that  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  au- 
thority vested  in  us  by  Law,  we  do  grant  unto  the  said 
Seth  P.  Marvin  the  privilege  of  practicing  Physic  and 
Surgery  in  this  State,  together  with  all  the  rights  and  im- 
munities which  usually  appertain  to  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons. 

"  A.  C.  Campbell,  ^ 

"  Geo.  Lee,  [■  Censors. 

"  H.  Taylor,  3 

"  In  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  the  seal  of  the 
Society  to  be  hereunto  affixed,  at  the  village  of  Mount 
Clemens,  this  14th  day  of  November,  1836. 

"  A.  C.  Campbell,  Sec'y. 

"  H.  R.  SCHITTERLY,  President." 

Dr.  Marvin  did  not  graduate  at  any  medical  college,  but 
was  afterwards  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  Central  Mich- 
igan Medical  Society  upon  this  certificate.  He  was  the 
first  practicing  physician  in  the  county,  but  not  the  first  in 
the  village  of  De  Witt.  He  was  elected  county  elerk  at 
the  first  election  of  the  county,  in  April,  1839,  and  served 
two  terms,  and  also  served  as  register  of  deeds  from  1851  to 
1856,  and  as  judge  of  probate  from  1856  to  1860.  His 
practice  was  largely  interrupted  by  attention  to  his  duties 
as  a  public  officer,  still  he  continued  his  practice  until  his 
death,  in  August,  1864.  He  was  very  popular  with  the 
people,  a  good  conversationalist  and  story-teller.  As  a  phy- 
sician he  was  very  successful  in  the  management  of  disease. 

Dr.  Levi  D.  Jennison  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and 
emigrated  to  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
where  he  studied  medicine  in  the  village  of  Batavia.  He 
emigrated  to  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and  located' 
on  the  south  side  of  Looking-Glass  River,  then  known  as 
New  Albany.  He  was  the  first  physician  in  the  cluster  of 
villages  that  at  that  time  were  laid  out  along  Looking-Glass 
River.  He  obtained  a  large  country  practice,  and  resided 
at  that  place  until  1843,  when  he  removed  to  Essex  and 
resumed  practice,  which  he  continued  until  his  death,  in 
1863,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  As  a  physician  he 
was  cautious  and  slow  in  forming  an  opinion.  In  cases  of 
inflammation  of  the  lung's  he  was  uniformly  successful,  and 
without  an  equal  in  this  region  of  country. 

Dr.  Hiram  W.  Stowell  was  a  native  of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  studied  medicine  and  graduated  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.  He 
emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1836,  and  practiced  medicine  one 
year  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  in  the  summer  of  1837  he  came  to 
the  village  of  De  Witt,  where  he  practiced  until  his  death, 
in  August,  1857.  His  ride  was  extended,  reaching  into 
other  counties.  He  was  elected  the  first  judge  of  probate 
of  Clinton  County,  and  afterwards  treasurer. 

Dr.  William  B.  Watson  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1839, 
and  located  in  the  township  of  Duplain,  where  he  opened 
an  office  at  the  Rochester  Colony,  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine.     He  was  the  first  physician  in  the  town- 


348 


HISTOBY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


ship,  aBd  for  many  years  the  only  one.  H.s  practice  was 
continued  till  within  a  few  years  of  his  death  wh.h  o  - 
curred  in  1875.  He  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  people 
and  the  respect  of  his  fellow-practitioners.  . 

Dr  Martin  Moore,  a  native  of  Steuhen  Co.,  JN.  !■,  emi- 
grated in  1838  or  '39  from  New  York  State,  and  came  to 
the  settlement  on  Looking-Glass  Eiver  and  located,  but 
whether  at  Middletown,  old  De  Witt,  New  Albany,  or  De 
Witt,  has  not  been  ascertained.  He  practiced  in  the  sur- 
rounding country  till  his  death,  in  18.50.  He  was  consid- 
ered a  good  practitioner. 

Dr  Stanton  E.  Hazard,  a  native  of  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y., 
studied  medicine  in  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  and  attended  one 
course  of  lectures  in  Ann  Arbor.  In  the  spring  of  1842 
he  came  to  Wacousta,  in  the  township  of  Watertown,  where 
he  commenced  practice,  and  soon  obtained  an  extensive 
patronage.  He  was  careful  and  cautious,  and  uniformly 
successful  as  a  physician.     His  death  occurred  in  May, 

1880. 

Dr.  Isaac  T.  Hollister  came  in  1847  from  the  State  of 
New  York  to  the  township  of  Victor,  in  this  county,  to 
visit  his  brother  Joseph.  There  being  no  physician  in  the 
township  he  was  persuaded  to  remain.  He  rapidly  gained 
the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  his  ride  was  widely  ex- 
tended. He  remained  in  Victor  until  1864,  when  he  re- 
tired from  practice  and  removed  to  Laingsburg,  where  he 
still  resides.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1856. 
Dr.  John  H.  Bacon,  a  native  of  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y., 
studied  medicine  in  that  State  and  graduated  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City.  He  emi- 
grated to  Michigan  and  located  in  De  Witt  in  1852,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  until  about  1860.  He  then  removed 
to  Lansing. 

Dr.  G.  W.  Topping  is  a  native  of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1853,  studied  medicine  and 
graduated  at  the  medical  department  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity, and  in  1854  removed  to  De  Witt  and  commenced  a 
practice  in  which  he  still  continues.  He  is  now  president 
of  the  county  medical  society. 

The  first  medical  practitioner  in  St.  Johns  was  Dr. 

Darrow,  a  young  physician,  who  located  there  soon  after  the 
settlement  of  the  village.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent  edu- 
cation and  fine  ability ;  but  he  only  remained  about  one 
year  at  St.  Johns,  removing  at  the  end  of  that  time  to 
Okemos,  and  afterwards  to  Mason,  Ingham  Co.,  where  he 
is  now  living. 

Dr.  De  Witt  C.  Stewart  is  a  native  of  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  emigrated  to  Tecumseh,  Mich.,  in  1833,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  buying  and  selling  lands  until  1848, 
when  he  returned  to  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  studied  med- 
icine with  Dr.  William  B.  Alley  about  four  years,  riding 
with  him  and  practicing  during  the  last  year.  In  1852  he 
came  to  Michigan  again,  and  practiced  about  two  years  in 
the  townships  of  Onondaga  and  Aurelius,  Ingham  Co.,  and 
in  May,  1854,  removed  to  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  where 
he  opened  an  office.  He  was  the  first  permanent  physician 
in  the  township,  and  his  ride  extended  twenty-five  and 
thirty  miles  from  St.  Johns  into  Gratiot  and  Shiawassee 
Counties.  At  that  time  roads  were  few  and  poor,  and  the 
many  visits  of  the  physician  were  forced  to  be  made  on 


horseback.  Dr.  Stewart  is  a  careful  practitioner  and  has 
been  very  successful  in  his  profession.  He  still  lives  on  the 
spot  where  he  first  located  in  St.  Johns.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  members  of  the  Clinton  County  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  M.  L.  Leach  located  in  1854  in  Duplain,  where  he 
practiced  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Bebellion, 
when  he  entered  the  army.  After  his  term  of  service  had 
expired  he  returned  to  the  Bochester  Colony,  resumed  prac- 
tice, and  continued  there  till  1878,  when  he  removed  to 
Elsie.  Dr.  F.  A.  House  came  to  the  same  township  in 
1858,  and  is  still  in  practice  in  that  place.  Six  years  of  the 
time,  however,  he  passed  in  Indiana. 

Dr.  Louis  W.  Fasquelle  is  a  native  of  France.  His 
father  was  a  professor  in  the  State  University  for  many 
years.  Dr.  Fasquelle  graduated  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University,  and  practiced  about  one  and  a 
half  years  in  Hartland  and  Cohoctah,  Livingston  Co., 
Mich.  In  April,  1855,  he  removed  to  St.  Johns  and  re- 
sumed his  practice.  He  served  in  the  army  six  months  as 
surgeon  during  the  war  of  the  Bebellion.  He  is  still  in 
practice  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns. 

Dr.  Andrew  J.  Wiggins  was  educated  at  Warsaw,  N.  Y., 
graduated  at  Geneva  (N.  Y.)  Medical  College,  and  emi- 
grated to  Michigan  in  1851.  He  attended  medical  lectures 
at  the  State  University,  practiced  in  Monroe  Co.,  Mich. ; 
Summit  and  Goshen,  Ind. ;  Chelsea,  Washtenaw  Co.,  and 
Danville,  Ingham  Co.,  Mich.  In  1862  he  came  to  the 
village  of  St.  Johns,  where  he  is  still  in  practice. 

Besides  the  physicians  above  named  there  were  a  few 
others  who  located  in  Clinton  County  during  the  quarter 
of  a  century  succeeding  its  organization,  but  those  who  have 
been  mentioned  were  the  principal  ones  who  commenced  prac- 
tice here  during  that  period.  A  large  number  of  practi- 
tioners have  come  to  practice  in  the  county  in  the  later 
years,  and  the  names  of  many  of  these  will  be  found  in  the 
following  notice  of  the  county  medical  society. 

CLINTON    COUNTY  MEDICAL   SOCIETY. 

As  early  as  the  year  1864  an  eifort  was  made  to  estab- 
lish a  medical  society  in  Clinton  County.  Indeed,  at  that 
time  a  partial  organization  was  efiected,  but  the  resident 
members  of  the  profession  were  then  so  few  that  it  was 
found  impracticable  to  infuse  sufficient  vitality  into  the  or- 
ganization, and  in  a  little  less  than  two  years  it  expired. 
From  that  time  to  the  present  the  increase  in  population, 
substantial  developments,  and  material  wealth  has  been  un- 
surpassed. While  the  natural  and  necessary  developments 
of  the  county  have  greatly  diminished  the  causes  of  some 
forms  of  disease,  and  entirely  annihilated  others,  the  rapid 
influx  of  population  has  seemed  to  demand  accessions  to 
the  ranks  of  the  medical  profession.  This  demand  has  been 
more  than  supplied. 

With  adequate  numbers,  early  in  June,  1874,  a  call  was 
issued  for  all  persons  residing  in  the  county  who  were 
"  regularly  engaged  in  the  rational  practice  of  medicine 
to  assemble  at  the  office  of  Dr.  G.  E.  Corbin,  in  the  village 
of  St.  Johns,  on  Thursday,  July  9th,  of  that  year,  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  a  medical  society.  At  the  appointed 
time  and  place,  in  response  to  the  call,  there  were  present 
the  persons  here  named  : 


THE  PRESS. 


349 


Casper  V.  Beebe,  of  Ovid. 

L.  T.  Wells,  of  Ovid. 

Edvrin  Doty,  of  Maple  Rapids. 

David  HoUister,  of  Maple  Rapids. 

S.  M.  Post,  of  Eureka. 

L.  A.  Laurason,  of  Fowler. 

L.  W.  Fasquelle,  of  St.  Johns. 

D.  C.  Stewart,  of  St.  Johns. 
G.  E.  Corbin,  of  St.  Johns. 

C.  C.  Dellenbaugh,  of  Westphalia. 

Among  the  usual  preliminaries  was  the  appointment  of 
Drs.  Corbin,  Doty,  and  Beebe  as  a  committee  to  draft  a 
constitution  and  report  at  the  afternoon  session.  On  pre- 
sentation the  constitution  drafted  by  the  committee  was 
adopted  with  few  alterations,  and  the  organization  of  the 
society  was  completed  by  the  election  of  its  first  officers. 
They  were : 

President,  L.  W.  Fasquelle. 

Vice-President,  C.  V.  Beebe. 

Treasurer,  L.  T.  Wells. 

Secretary,  G.  E.  Corbin. 

The  objects  of  this  society  cannot  be  better  expressed 
than  in  the  brief  preamble  to  its  constitution  which  is  here 
quoted :  "  Believing  that  men  of  congenial  minds  and 
similar  pursuits  may  derive  mutual  benefit  from  fraternal 
association,  thus  promoting  kind  feelings  and  removing 
prejudices  that  are  liable  to  exist  while  strangers  to  each 
other,  and  that  a  free  interchange  of  opinions  is  calculated 
not  only  to  harmonize  the  views,  but  also  to  add  to  the 
common  stock  of  professional  knowledge ;  therefore,  Re- 
solved, That  for  these  purposes,  and  in  the  furtherance  of 
these  objects,  we  form  ourselves  into  an  association  to  be 
called  Clinton  County  Medical  Society." 

From  its  organization  to  the  present  date  (June,  1880) 
Drs.  Fasquelle,  Topping,  and  Gillam  have  served  as  pres- 
idents ;  Beebe,  Topping,  Dellenbaugh,  Doty,  and  Post,  as 
vice-presidents;  Wells,  Laurason,  and  Post,  as  treasurers; 
and  Dr.  G.  E.  Corbin  has  been  its  only  secretary  during  the 
same  period.  During  the  six  years  of  its  existence  this 
society  has  delegated  Drs.  Fasquelle,  Beebe,  Dellenbaugh, 
Gillam,  Topping,  Corbin,  and  Doty  to  represent  its  in- 
terests in  the  annual  deliberations  of  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Its  constitution  requires  that  the  meetings  of 
the  society  shall  all  be  held  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns, 
and  thus  far  they  have  all  been  held  in  the  office  of  its 
secretary.  A  number  of  changes  in  membership  have  oc- 
curred. Some  have  removed  from  its  jurisdiction.  None 
have  yet  been  removed  by  death.  The  present  membership 
embraces  the  following  list : 

G.  W.  Topping,  De  Witt. 

E.  V.  Chase,  Elsie. 
H.  Hart,  Eureka. 
S.  M.  Post,  Eureka. 

L.  A.  Laurason,  Fowler. 
Edwin  Doty,  Maple  Rapids. 
Samuel  H.  Wellings,  Maple  Rapids. 

Abbot,  Ovid. 

0.  B.  Campbell,  Ovid. 
S.  C.  King,  Ovid. 
W.  K.  Yuill,  Ovid. 


C.  C.  Dellenbaugh,  Portland. 
L.  0.  Ludlum,  Shepardsville. 
G.  E.  Corbin,  St.  Johns. 

L.  W.  Fasquelle,  St.  Johns. 
S.  E.  Gillam,  St.  Johns. 

D.  C.  Stewart,  St.  Johns. 
N.  B.  Welper,  St.  Johns. 
A.  J.  Wiggins,  St.  Johns. 

■  Simon  Herres,  Westphalia. 

The  officers  for  1880  were  elected  on  the  8th  of  July, 
at  the  annual  meeting,  and  are  as  follows : 

President,  G.  W.  Topping,  De  Witt. 

Vice-President,  L.  W.  Fasquelle,  St.  Johns. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer,  G.  E.  Corbin,  St.  Johns. 

HOMffiOPATHIC   PHYSICIANS. 

The  following  list  includes  the  names  of  the  homoeo- 
pathic physicians  who  have  practiced  in  the  county,  with 
the  year  of  their  establishment  here,  as  near  as  can  be  as- 
certained : 

Caleb  Lamb,  1853,  St.  Johns. 

T.  B.  Lamb,  1855,  St.  Johns. 

Timothy  Baker,  1856,  St.  Johns. 

M.  J.  S.  Cook,  1865,  St.  Johns. 

D.  L.  Roberts,  1865,  St.  Johns. 
William  Havens,  1871,  St.  Johns. 
Graduates  of  Michigan  Homoeopathic  College : 
C.  P.  Burch,  1868,  Ovid. 

J.  L.  Harris,  1876,  Ovid. 

Reels,  1879,  Ovid. 

Mrs.  M.  P.  Havens,  1871,  St.  Johns. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Sprague,  St.  Johns. 

A.  A.  Allen,  1879,  St.  Johns. 

Graduates  of  New  York  Homoeopathic  College  : 

E.  R.  Haden,  1868,  Eureka. 
William  Walker,  Eureka. 

Obed  Wheeler,  1860,  Maple  Rapids. 

Brown,  1865,  Maple  Rapids. 

Wcstervelt,  1868,  Maple  Rapids. 

Charles  Knapp,  1876,  Maple  Rapids. 

THE   PKESS   OF   CLINTON  COUNTY. 

The  first  two  local  newspapers  which  circulated  in  Clin- 
ton County  were  the  Grand  River  City  Courier  and  the 
Shiawassee  Express  and  Clinton  Advocate.  The  latter 
journal  was  published  at  Owosso,  Shiawassee  Co.,  in  1839, 
and  the  former  was  commenced  in  1837,  at  "  Grand  River 
City,"  which  was  simply  one  of  the  "  paper  villages"  so 
common  at  that  day,  and  located  on  both  sides  of  the 
boundary-line  between  Clinton  and  Eaton  Counties.  It 
was  laid  out  and  platted  by  Erastus  IngersoU,  on  lands  en- 
tered by  him  in  1834,  in  the  township  of  Watertown, 
Clinton  Co.,  and  Delta,  Eaton  Co.,  and  the  boundaries  of 
the  village  extended  from  the  Grand  River,  a  little  south 
of  the  county-line  in  the  latter  township,  northward  to  the 
Grand  River  turnpike,  in  Watertown.  There  is  nothing 
now  known  which  shows  whether  the  publication-office  of 
the  Courier  was  in  the  Clinton  .or  in  the  Eaton  portion  of 
the  villafc,  but  whichever  may  have  been  the  case  it  seems 
proper  to  regard  the  newspaper,  like  the  "  City,"  as  belong- 


350 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


ing  to  both  counties  in  equal  share.  Beyond  the  fact  of 
its  existence  at  the  time  mentioned,  nothing  has  been  ascer- 
tained of  the  Couriers  history. 

The  Clintonian,  a  four-column  newspaper,  was  established 
about  1842,  at  the  village  of  De  Witt,  by  Mark  A.  Childs, 
who  was  somewhat  noted  among  the  early  settlers  as  a  hu- 
morist. This  paper— particularly  during  the  first  part  of 
its  existence — depended  mainly  for  support  upon  the  print- 
ing of  tax  sales.  Mr.  Childs  used  to  relate  that  in  the  first 
years  he  received  on  subscriptions  the  sum  of  twelve  shil- 
lings from  Alfred  Gunnison,  a  settler  residing  a  few  miles 
east  of  De  Witt,  and  that,  as  most  of  the  pioneers  at  that 
time  derived  their  principal  revenue  from  hunting  and 
trapping,  raccoon  tracks  were  regarded  as  legal  tender  in 
the  payment  of  printers',  lawyers',  and  doctors'  bills.  A 
number  of  this  paper,  dated  July  13,  1844,  contains  an  ac- 
count of  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  held  that  year  in  the 
village  of  De  Witt.  The  Declaration  of  Independence  was 
read  by  Dr.  Hiram  Stowell,  the  oration  was  delivered  by 
De  Witt  C.  Chapin,  and  William  Utley  was  marshal  of 
the  day.  De  Witt  at  that  time  was  the  largest  village  in 
the  county,  and  contained  three  dry-goods  stores,  eight  me- 
chanic-shops, one  hotel, — "  The  Clinton  House," — two  at- 
torneys, and  two  physicians. 

Mr.  Childs  was  succeeded  in  the  management  of  the 
paper  about  1845  by  Milo  Blair,  who  continued  it  until 
about  1849,  when  it  passed  to  the  proprietorship  of  John 
Eansom,  by  whom  the  name  was  changed  to  The  Clinton 
Express,  the  first  volume  of  which  was  commenced  Jan.  1, 
1850.  It  was  enlarged  to  a  five-column  folio,  wide  columns, 
equal  to  six  columns  standard.  It  was  Democratic  in  poli- 
tics, with  the  motto  "  Where  Liberty  dwells  there  is  my 
Counlry."  About  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  county- 
site  to  St.  Johns,  the  Clinton  Express  was  also  moved  and 
the  name  changed  to  the  North-Side  Democrat.  It  was 
published  in  an  ofl&ce  in  the  upper  story  of  Clinton  Hall. 
H.  C.  Hodge  was  associated  with  Mr.  Ransom  for  a  short 
time,  and  became  the  proprietor  in  1859,  at  which  time  the 
name  was  changed  to  the  St.  Johns  Democrat  and  the 
ofiice  removed  to  the  east  side  of  Clinton  Avenue,  near  the 
public  square,  where  it  was  published  till  May,  1864,  when 
it  was  discontinued  and  the  material  of  the  office  was  sold 
to  the  proprietor  of  the  Republican  at  St.  Johns. 

The  De  Witt  Repullican  was  established  at  De  Witt 
village  by  Hascall  &  Hilton,  the  first  number  being  issued 
April  9, 1856.  Mr.  Hascall  retired  in  about  three  months, 
and  Henry  S.  Hilton  continued  the  paper  at  De  Witt  until 
the  removal  of  the  county-site,  when  the  paper  was  also 
removed  to  St.  Johns. 

The  Clinton  Republican  is  the  new  title  given  to  the 
paper  last  named  upon  its  removal  to  St.  Johns.  It  was 
enlarged  to  a  six-column  folio,  and  was  published  by  Mr. 
Hilton  until  Dec.  3,  1858,  when,  on  account  of  ill  health, 
he  associated  others  with  him  in  the  business.  From  this 
time  the  paper  passed  through  numerous  changes  of  pro- 
prietorship, viz.,  H.  S.  Hilton  &  Co.,  J.  Kipp  &  A.  D. 
Carrier,*  Hilton  &  Carrier,  H.  S.  Hilton  &  Co.,  P.  K.  & 

»  The  office  was  destroyed  by  fire  April  13,  1860,  while  under  the 
proprietorship  of  Kipp  &  Carrier,  and  the  paper  was  re-established 
te    this  disaster  by  Hilton  &  Carrier. 


H.  M.  Perrin,  Robert  Smith  &  Co.,  Philips  &  Doughty, 
D.  M.  Philips,  and  A.  H.  Herron.  On  the  20th  of  June, 
1873,  the  paper  passed  to  the  proprietorship  of  its  founder, 
Henry  S.  Hilton,  by  whom  it  is  still  continued.  It  has 
been  enlarged  to  a  nine-column  folio.  It  advocates  Repub- 
lican principles,  and  circulates  eleven  hundred  copies. 

The  St.  Johns  Herald,  a  seven-column  folio,  was  first 
is.sued  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns  on  the  24th  of  August, 
1864,  about  four  months  after  the  discontinuance  of  the 
St.  Johns  Democrat.  It  was  established  by  R.  Cheney  in 
the  interests  of-  the  Democratic  party,  having  for  a  motto 

"  Truth,  ever  lovely,  since  the  world  began 
The  foe  of  tyrants  and  the  friend  of  man." 

The  first  number  bore  the  name  of  George  B.  McClellan  as 
Presidential  candidate.  The  paper  vras  published  through 
the  fall  campaign,  and  at  its  close  was  discontinued. 

The  Clinton  Independent,  a  six-column  folio,  was  first 
issued  Aug.  20,  1866,  at  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  as  an 
exponent  of  Democratic  principles.  It  was  owned  and 
edited  by  John  H.  and  James  A.  Stephenson,  whose  office 
was  in  the  rear  of  G.  W.  Stephenson's  store,  on  Clinton 
Avenue.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1867,  the  office  was 
removed  to  rooms  over  J.  H.  Corbit's  hardware-store,  on 
Walker  Street,  and  on  the  17th  of  April  of  that  year  James 
A.  Stephenson  sold  his  interest  to  George  S.  Corbit.  On 
the  17th  of  March,  1869,  Mr.  Corbit  purchased  the  interest 
of  John  H.  Stephenson,  and  on  the  20th  of  October  follow- 
ing James  D.  Estes  became  associated  with  him  under  the 
firm-name  of  Corbit  &  Estes,  by  whom  it  is  still  published. 
It  has  been  enlarged  from  time  to  time,  and  is  now  a  nine- 
column  folio.  It  has  a  circulation  of  about  eleven  hundred, 
and  is  the  leading  Democratic  organ  in  the  county.  The 
office  is  now  over  the  store  of  D.  C.  Hurd,  on  Clinton 
Avenue. 

The  Ovid  Register,  a  six-column  folio,  was  established 
in  May,  1866,  in  the  village  of  Ovid,  by  J.  H.  Wickwire, 
who  published  it  for  about  one  year,  and  then  sold  it  to  J. 
Leonard,  who  remained  its  proprietor  only  about  three 
months.  From  that  time  the  paper  passed  through  several 
changes,  as  follows  :  Henry  Eggabroad,  A.  B.  Wood,  J.  W. 
Fitzgerald,  Rutherford  &  Rich,  and  J.  W.  Pierson.  In 
August,  1873,  Reeves  and  Carrier  purchased  the  paper,  and 
continued  its  publication  until  Jan.  1,  1879,  when  Mr. 
Reeves  sold  his  interest  to  Irving  Carrier,  and  the  firm  is 
now  Carrier  &  Son.  During  some  of  the  numerous  changes 
the  paper  was  enlarged  from  six  to  seven  columns  folio,  and 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1879,  it  was  enlarged  to  its  present 
size.  On  the  2d  of  July,  1880,  the  paper  changed  from 
independent  to  Democratic  in  politics. 

The  Maple  Rapids  Messenger. — A  paper  (six  columns 
folio)  bearing  the  above  title  was  established  in  1874,  by 
the  Dicky  Bros.,  at  Maple  Rapids.  The  first  number 
was  issued  April  16th  of  that  year.  Its  publication  was 
discontinued  about  January,  1878,  and  the  press  and 
material  were  removed  to  Muir,  Ionia  Co. 

The  Maple  Rapids  Dispatch  was  established  by  its 
present  publishers,  0.  &  E.  D.  Stair.  It  is  an  independent 
weekly,  published  on  Saturdays,  and  circulates  over  five 
hundred  copies.  The  first  number  was  issued  Oct.  26, 
1878. 


CIVIL  LIST. 


351 


The  Clinton  -and  Shiawassee  Union  (eight  columns  folio) 
was  established  in  the  village  of  Ovid  in  June,  1879,  by 
Fitzgerald  &  Walsh.  The  latter  retired  April  5,  1880,  and 
Mr.  Fitzgerald  assumed  the  entire  charge.  The  paper  was 
then  reduced  in  size  to  a  four-column  folio. 

The  Home  Chronicle  was  first  issued  on  the  2d  day  of 
October,  1878,  by  Frank  H.  Eose.  It  advocated  green- 
back principles,  and  was  discontinued  on  the  6th  of  August, 
1879. 

CLINTON   COUNTY   CIVIL   LIST.. 

In  this  list  the  names  are  given  of  those  who  have  held 
county  offices,  and  also  of  those,  resident  in  Clinton,  who 
have  held  important  offices  in  or  under  the  State  or  national 
government. 

EBPRESENTATIVB   IN   CONGRESS. 

Randolph  Strickland,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

PRESIDENTIAL   ELECTOR. 

Charles  Kipp,  Sixth  District,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

SECRETARY   OF   STATE. 

Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  3,  1868. 

AUDITOR-GENERAL   OF   MICHIGAN. 
John  Swegles,  Jr.,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850.* 

REGENTS   OF  THE   UNIVERSITY. 

Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  elected  Nov.  2, 1858,  to  fill  vacancy. 
Samuel  S.  Walker,  elected  April,  1875. 

MEMBERS  OF   CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTIONS. 

Convention  of  1850,  convened  at  Lansing,  June  3d. — 
David  Sturgis,  elected  November,  1849. 

Convention  of  1867,  convened  at  Lansing,  May  15th. — 
Alvah  H.  Walker  and  Nathaniel  I.  Daniels,  elected  April 
1, 1867. 

STATE   SENATORS. 

Jesse  F.  Turner,  elected  November,  1843;  re-elected 
November,  1844. 

Isaac  T.  HoUister,  elected  November,  1856. 
Randolph  Strickland,  elected  November,  1860. 
Henry  M.  Perrin,  elected  Nov.  8,"  1864. 
Stephen  Pearl,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
Adam  Beattie,  elected  Nov.  5, 1872.        \ 
Porter  K.  Perrin,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

REPRESENTATIVES   IN  THE   STATE   LEGISLATURE. 

Robert  G.  McKee,t  elected  November,  1838. 
Milo  H.  Turner,  elected  Nov.  1-2,  1841. 
Daniel  Ferguson,  Jr.,  elected  Novt  6-7,  1843. 
Samuel  M.  Scott,  elected  Nov.  4,  1845. 
Wm.  W.  Upton,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 
Samuel  M.  Scott,  elected  Nov.  2,  1847. 
Morris  E.  Allen,  elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 
Samuel  M.  Scott,  elected  Nov.  6,  1849. 
David  Clark,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 


«  The  first  auditor  elected  under  the  constitution  of  1860. 
j-  Elected  before  the  organization  of  Clinton  County. 


Robert  E.  Craven,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

Timothy  H.  Petit,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

James  Kipp,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

David  I.  Daniels,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858. 

Chandler  Freeman,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 

Moses  Bartow,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Orrin  W.  Munger,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  8, 1864. 

Sidney  U.  Alexander,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  6, 1866. 

Stephen  Pearl,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Philo  Doty,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

Aaron  Sickles,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

Philo  Duty,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  8,  1870. 

Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  8, 
1870. 

John  C.  Brunson,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 

Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  5, 
■  1872. 

Samuel  S.  Walker,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 

Moses  Bartow,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 

Eugene  V.  Chase,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

Newton  Baker,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

Eugene  V.  Chase,  First  District,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

Frank  Necker,  Second  District,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

ASSOCIATE  JUDGES. 
Hiram  Wilcox,  elected  April  4,  1839 ;  re-elected  April 
4,  1840. 

Joseph  Sever,  elected  April  4,  1839. 
David  Sturgis,  elected  Nov.  7-8,  1842. 
Timothy  H.  Petit,  elected  Nov.  7-8,  1842. 
Chandler  W.  Coy,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 
Henry  M.  Sickles,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 
Joseph  Sever,  elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 

JUDGES   OF   PROBATE. 

Hiram  W.  Stowell,  elected  April  4,  1839;  term  com- 
menced upon  election. 

Theodore  H.  Chapin,  elected  Nov.  7-8,  1842. 

Levi  Townson,  elected  Nov.  3, 1846  ;  died  July,  1849. 

J.  Baker,  acting  judge  of  probate  remainder  of  term, 
appointed  July  14,  1849. 

Cortland  Hill,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850  ;  re-elected  Nov.  2, 
1852. 

Seth  P.  Marvin,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

Henry  M.  Perrin,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 

William  Sickles,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Porter  K.  Perrin,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Joel  H.  Cranson,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872;  re-elected  Nov. 
7,  1876. 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 

Jesse  F.  Turner,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
5,  1850  ;  resigned  Feb.  8,  1851. 

SECOND   JUDGE. 

William  Shepard,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846  ;  re-elected  Nov. 
5,  1850  ;  acted  as  county  judge  from  Feb.  8,  1851,  to  Jan. 
1,  1852. 

SHERIFFS. 

William  F.  Jenison,  elected  April  4,  1839. 
James  K.  Morris,  elected  Nov.  2-3,  1840. 


352 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Samuel  M.  Scott,  elected  Nov.  7-8,  1842. 
William  P.  Jenison,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 
Robert  G.  McKee,  elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 
Obadiah  J.  Niles,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 
Adam  W.  Partridge,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 
Philo  Doty,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 
Gardner  Conn,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858. 
William  Brunson,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 
William  T.  Plowman,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862  ;  re-elected 
Nov.  8,  1864. 

Abncr  B.  Wood,  Jr.,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Henry  P.  Adams,  elected  Nov.  3,  1 868  ;  re-elected  Nov. 

8,  i8ro. 

Cassius  M.  Carrier,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 

Galusha  Pennell,  elected  Nov.  3,  1874  ;  re-elected  Nov. 

7,  1876. 

Murdo  McDonald,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY   CLERKS. 

Seth  P.  Marvin,  elected  April  4, 1839  ;  term  commenced 
upon  election;  re-elected  Nov.  2-3,  1840. 

De  Witt  C.  Chapin,  elected  Nov.  7-8,  1842. 

Samuel  M.  Scott,  elected  Nov.  4-5,  1844. 

Walter  Hubbell,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 

Joseph  H.  Adams,  elected  Nov.  5, 1850;  re-elected  Nov. 
2,  1852  ;  and  again  Nov.  7,  1854. 

De  Witt  C.  Chapin,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856 ;  reelected 
Nov.  2,  1858,  and  Nov.  6,  1860. 

Horatio  Hunter,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 

Heman  C.  Smith,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  re-elected  Nov. 
6,  1866. 

John  M.  Easton,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868;  re-elected  Nov. 

8,  1870. 

F.  Byron  Cutler,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 
Charles  H.  Palmer,  elected  Nov.  3,  1 874. 
Hanford  H.  Hawley,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  5,  1878. 

REGISTERS  OF   DEEDS. 

Milo  H.  Turner,  elected  April  4, 1839  ;  term  commenced 
upon  election;  re-elected  Nov.  2-3,  1840. 

Jesse  F.  Turner,  elected  Nov.  7-8,  1842. 

Hiram  Wilcox,  elected  Nov.  4-5,  1844. 

Joseph  H.  Adams,  elected  to  fill  vacancy  Nov.  4,  1845. 

Samuel  Treat,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846. 

Frederick  R.  Read,  elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 

Seth  P.  Marvin,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850;  re-elected  Nov 
2,  1852,  and  Nov.  7,  1854. 

Henry  S.  Gibbons,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856  ;  re  elected  Nov 
2,  1858. 

William  Sickles,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 
Morgan  L.  Leach,  elected  Nov.  4, 1862. 
Burtis  H.  Beers,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864 ;  re-elected  Nov 
6,  1866. 

John  B.  McLean,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868 ;  re-elected  Nov 
8, 1870. 

Robert  Young,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 
Jacob  F.  Shraft,  elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 

r.  ?oiy  ^"  ^"'°°'  "'""'"^  ^°^-  '^'  1876;  re-elected  Nov. 
",  1878. 


COUNTY   TREASURERS. 

John  Gould,  elected  April  4,  1839 ;  term  commenced 
upon  election. 

William  Utley,  elected  Nov.  2-3,  1840. 

Hiram  Stowell,  elected  Nov.  7-8,  1842. 

William  W.  Upton,  elected  Nov.  4-5,  1844. 

Daniel  Ferguson,  elected  Nov.  3,  1846 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
7,  1848. 

Stephen  Pearl,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850  ;  re-elected  Nov.  2 
1852,  Nov.  7,  1854,  and  Nov.  2,  1858. 

Charles  Kipp,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860 ;  re-elected  Nov.  4 
1862,  Nov.  8,  1864,  and  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Josiah  Upton,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868 ;  re-elected  Nov.  8 
1870,  and  Nov.  5,  1872. 

Richard  Moore,  elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 

Myron  Ellis,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  re-elected  Nov.  5, 
1878. 

PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS.* 

Calvin  C.  Parks,  appointed  1840-41. 

Levi  Townson,  appointed  1842 ;  continued  to  1848. 

Joseph  HoUister,  appointed  1848. 

Joab  Baker,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Randolph  Strickland,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  7,  1854,  Nov.  4,  1856,  and  Nov.  2,  1858. 

Henry  Walbridge,  elected  Nov.  6, 1860  ;  re-elected  Nov. 
8,  1864. 

Josephus  0.  Selden,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Anthony  Cook,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868 ;  re-elected  Nov.  8, 
1870,  and  Nov.  5,  1872. 

John  H.  Fedewa,  elected  Nov.  3, 1874. 

Benton  H.  Scovill,  elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

John  H.  Fedewa,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 
Robert  E.  Craven,  elected  April  4, 1839. 
Calvin  Marvin,  elected  April  4,  1839. 
Ephraim  H.  Utley,  elected  April  4,  1839. 
Calvin  Marvin,  elected  Nov.  4-5,  1839. 
Hiram  Benedict,  Jr.,  elected  Nov.  2-3,  1840. 
Jesse  F.  Turner,  elected  Nov.  1-2,  1841. 

COUNTY   SURVEYORS. 

Charles  R.  Spicer,  elected  April  4,  1839  ;  term  com- 
menced upon  election. 

Jared  Higbee,  elected  Nov.  2-3,  1840. 

William  W.  Upton,  elected  Nov.  1-2,  1841 ;  re-elected 
Nov.  7-8,  1842. 

Robert  G.  McKee,  elected  Nov.  4-5,  1844. 

Charles  B.  Roberts,  elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 

John  0.  Palmer,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Orville  B.  IngersoU,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

Edward  Paine,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854  ;  re-elected  Nov.  4, 
1856. 

Oliver  C.  HoUister,  elected  Nov.  2,  1858. 

Heman  G.  Smith,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 

John  0.  Palmer,  elected  Nov.  4,  1862  ;  re-elected  Nov. 
8,  1864,  Nov.  6,  1866,  Nov.  3,  1868,  and  Nov.  8,  1870. 


*  Proaecuting  attorneys   were  appointed  by  the  Governor  until 
1850,  when  the  office  was  made  elective. 


COUNTY  SOCIETIES. 


353 


Thurlow  W.  Lurk,  elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 
Henry  H.   Jenison,  elected  Nov.  3,  1874;    re-elected 
Nov.  7,  1876. 

Charles  E.  Hollister,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

CORONERS. 

David  "Watson,  elected  April  4,  1839. 

William  A.  Hewitt,  elected  April  4,  1839. 

Edwin  L.  Phillips,  David  Watson,  elected  Nov.  2-3, 
1840. 

James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Smith,  elected  Nov.  7-8, 
1842. 

Henry  Gibbs,  Jr.,  Oliver  Beebe,  elected  Nov.  4-5, 1844. 

Mark  A.  Child,  elected  Nov.  2,  1847. 

Ephraim  Bixby,  Benjamin  F.  Nichols,  elected  Nov.  7, 
1848. 

Caleb  A.  Lamb,  Isaac  T.  Hollister,  elected  Nov.  5, 1850. 

Mark  A.  Child,  Charles  Turner,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852. 

William  Brunson,  Henry  Lane,  elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 

John  Manchester,  Charles  Sessions,  elected  Nov.  4, 1856. 

Charles  Sessions,  Burtis  H.  Beers,  elected  Nov.  2, 1858. 

Charles  W.  Brown,  Burtis  H.  Beers,  elected  Nov.  6, 
1860. 

Orange  Whitlock,  Charles  Sessions,  elected  Nov.  4, 1862. 

Nathaniel  I.  Daniels,  William  A.  Chaddock,  elected  Nov. 
8,  1864. 

WaiTen  H.  Stone,  Ransom  Reed,  elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Daniel  Hurd,  Charles  Sessions,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

Daniel  Hurd,  Josiah  Murdock,  elected  Nov.  8,  1870. 

George  Allen,  John  N.  McFarland,  elected  Nov.  5, 1872. 

John  Miller,  William  "Van  Dyke,  elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 

F.  Byron  Cutler,  Charles  Sessions,  elected  Nov.  7, 1876 ; 
re-elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

CIRCUIT   COURT   COMMISSIONERS. 

David  I.  Daniels,  elected  Nov.  2,  1852 ;  re-elected  Nov. 
7, 1854. 

Henry  Walbridge,  elected  Nov.  4,  1856;  re-elected  Nov. 
2,  1858. 

Obed  F.  Strickland,  elected  Nov.  6,  1860;  re-elected 
Nov.  4,  1862. 

Anthony  Cook,  elected  Nov.  8,  1864  ;  re-elected  Nov. 

6,  1866. 

Sylvester  Hoyt,  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
Moses  Bartow,  elected  Nov.  5,  1870. 
Nelson  De  Long,  Henry  E.  Walbridge,  elected  Nov.  5, 
1872. 

Richard  Baylis,  William  H.  Castle,  elected  Nov.  3, 1874. 
Henry  E.  Walbridge,  Charles  M.  Morrell,  elected  Nov. 

7,  1876  ;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

SUPERINTENDENT   OE   SCHOOLS. 

Elisha  Mudge,  elected  April  5,  1869. 
Joseph  B.  Chapin,  elected  April  3,  1871; 
Edward  Paine,  elected  April  7,  1873. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS  {Two  Years). 

John  0.  Palmer,  elected  April  5,  1869. 
Stephen  Pearl,  elected  April  3,  1871. 
45 


CHAPTER    XLIX. 

COUNTY  SOCIETIES— AGBICUIiTUBE-MAWCrPAO- 
T  [JIlES-POPUIiATIOlir. 

Pioneer  Society  of  Clinton  County — Clinton  Bible  Society — Farmers' 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Clinton  County — Clinton  County 
Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society — Pomona  County  Grange — ■ 
Agriculture  of  the  County — Manufacturing  Industries — Population 
of  the  County  at  Different  Periods. 

PIONEER  SOCIETY  OF   CLINTON"  COUNTY. 

On  the  4th  day  of  November,  1873,  a  meeting  was  held 
at  the  Perrin  House,  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  a  pioneer  society.  The  meeting  was 
called  to  order.  Orange  Whitlock,  of  Greenbush,  was  called 
to  the  chair,  and  Randolph  Strickland,  of  Bingham,  was 
appointed  secretary.  After  the  object  of  the  meeting  had 
been  briefly  stated,  the  society  was  organized  by  the  elec- 
tion of  the  following-named  officers,  viz. : 

President,  Cortland  Hill,  Bengal.  "Vice-Presidents,  Ed- 
win Phelps,  Bath ;  I.  T.  Hollister,  Victor ;  William  Shep- 
ard,  .  Ovid ;  John  Faxon,  Duplain ;  Orange  Whitlock, 
Greenbush  ;  John  Avery,  Bingham  ;  Moses  Tabor,  Olive ; 
David  Scott,  De  Witt ;  Harvey  Hunter,  Watertown ;  Wil- 
liam Van  Dyke,  Riley;  Miner  Frink,  Bengal;  David 
Scott,  Essex ;  Charles  Sessions,  Lebanon ;  Constantine 
Gruler,  Dallas  ;  Moses  Bartow,  Westphalia ;  David  Clark, 
Eagle.     Secretary,  Randolph  Strickland. 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  at  the  court-house  on 
the  15th  of  January,  1874.  Short  speeches  were  made  by 
several  of  the  old  pioneers,  and  the  society  adjourned  to 
meet  at  the.  fair-grounds  in  St.  Johns,  on  the  10th  of  June, 
1874,  at  which  time  an  address  was  delivered  by  the  presi- 
dent, Cortland  Hill,  and  a  paper  was  read  by  Mrs.  Parks. 
Short  speeches  were  made  by  the  Hon.  Robert  G.  MoKee, 
Henry  B.  Gibbons,  and  David  Scott.  The  first  basket  pic- 
nic of  the  society  was  held  at  De  Witt  on  the  25th  of  Au- 
gust, 1877  ;  the  second,  on  the  22d  of  August,  1878,  was 
held  at  Maple  Rapids ;  the  third,  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1879,  at  the  grove  of  B.  M.  Shepard,  at  Shepardsville. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  presidents,  secretaries,  and 
treasurers  of  the  society  since  its  organization  :  Presidents, 
Cortland  Hill,  1874-76 ;  B.  F.  Kneeland,  1877 ;  John  C. 
Brunson,  1878  ;  David  Scott,  1879  ;  Cortland  Hill,  1880. 
Secretaries,  R.  Strickland,  1874-75 ;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Strick- 
land, 1876  ;  John  0.  Palmer,  1877-78  ;  Henry  S.  Hilton, 
1879  ;  William.  Brunson,  1 880.  Treasurers,  Morris  Bough- 
ton,  1874-75;  William  Van  Dyke,  1876-78;  M.  R. 
Frink,  1879-80. 

The  following-named  persons  have  become  members  of 
the  Clinton  County  Pioneer  Society  at  and  since  its  organ- 
ization, viz. : 

Aaron  Sickles.  Miner  R.  Frink. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Sickles.  Lucinda  Frink. 

Randolph  Strickland.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Hobert. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Strickland.         George  W.  Kinney. 
Homer  W.  Hale.  Alvah  Walker. 

Liberty  Carter.  Minerva  S.  Walker. 

William  M.  Hobert.  David  Ward. 

Morris  Boughton.  Hiram  Nestel. 

Lueretia  Boughton.  William  B.  Lazelle. 


354 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Moses  Bartow. 

Mrs.  Adelia  Bartow. 

James  N.  Vansier. 

Cortland  Hill. 

Mrs.  Lucioda  Hill. 

Burtis  H.  Beers. 

James  E.  Hiscock. 

Mrs.  E.  M.  Hiscock. 

Orange  Whitlock. 

Mrs.  Phoebe  A.  Whitlock. 

Orange  A.  Whitlock. 

W.  J.  Whitlock. 

Henry  S.  Gibbons. 

Mrs.  Mary  B.  Gibbons. 

Orrin  W.  Munger. 

William  Besley. 

Mrs.  J.  Besley. 

Porter  K.  Perrin. 

Mrs.  Ella  M.  Perrin. 

Reuben  S.  Norris. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Norris. 

John  B.  Shear. 

David  Clark. 

Aran  Beebe. 

Mrs.  M.  T.  Parks. 

John  0.  Palmer. 

Cassius  M.  Carrier. 

Mrs.  Addie  Carrier. 

Mrs.  Charlotte  F.  Palmer. 

William  H.  Watts. 

George  Hicks. 

Joel  H.  CransoD. 

William  Burns. 

Mrs.  Ann  Burns. 

A.  J.  Halsey. 

Atwell  Simmons. 

William  J.  Bancroft. 

E.  Nithaway. 

Benjamin  F.  Eneeland. 

John  Parks. 

U.  B.  Owen. 

Maria  Bancroft. 

Loren  Miner. 

Mrs.  C.  Wilson. 
Samuel  Knapp. 

George  Allen. 

Charles  Grant. 
Michael  Ryan. 
S.  W.  Gibbs. 
Lyman  Swagart. 
William  Van  Dyke. 
Sarah  J.  Van  Dyke. 
Moses  D.  Tabor. 
Lewis  Smith. 
A.  Weller. 
Mrs.  A.  Weller. 
Charles  E.  Lamb. 
Israel  M.  Bray. 
John  Brown. 
A.  J.  Bement. 


Caroline  Bement. 
Joseph  T.  Perkins. 
Isaac  C.  Jones. 
Mary  A.  Jones. 
Mary  A.  Bray. 
Stephen  Hill. 
Robert  G.  McKee. 
Thomas  J.  Woodman. 
John  M.  Easton. 
Ainsworth  Reed. 
Dorr  K.  Stowell. 
Mary  J.  Smith. 
Caleb  A.  Lamb. 
David  P.  Wilcox. 
Edgar  D.  Moss. 
Lydia  M..  Moss. 
Frederick  Lehmer. 
Isaac  T.  HoUister. 
Ellen  C.  Hollister. 
William  H.  Norris. 
Sarah  A.  Norris. 
Chauncey  S.  Wolcott. 
Olive  Hill. 
Abigail  Miller. 
William  Shepherd. 
John  C.  Brunson. 
Elijah  J.  Stone. 
Henry  Park. 
Mrs.  Eleanor  E.  Morton. 
Allen  Nichols. 
Mary  S.  Brunson. 
Mary  E.  Rundall. 
Clarissa  Gage. 
Simeon  Hewitt. 
Hannah  0.  Hewitt. 
Chauncey  Lott. 
John  J.  KniflBn. 
James  W.  Smith. 
Edwin  D.  Webster. 
Caroline  Webster. 
Marvin  Babcock. 
Mary  Babcock. 
Maria  Nichols. 
David  P.  Dryer. 
William  J.  Moss. 
Esther  A.  Moss. 
William  Young. 
Addison  U.  Cook. 
Mary  A.  Young. 
Willard  King. 
Martin  L.  Corbin. 
Martha  J.  Corbin. 
Charles  E.  HoUister. 
Luman  Wilcox. 
Nathaniel  I.  Daniels. 
George  W.  Freeman. 
Pauline  M.  Freeman. 
David  Hollister. 
Ambrose  T.  Bates. 
Isaac  Hewitt. 


Helen  C.  Hewitt. 
Rufus  C.  Hewitt.  . 
Lewis  Bentley. 
Walter  A.  Cook. 
Sarah  A.  Cook. 
0.  W.  Robinson. 
Mary  D.  Robinson. 
Joseph  F.  Owen. 
S.  A.  Owen. 
James  A.  Forman. 
Dollie  S.  Forman. 
H.  B.  Bliss. 
Ellen  Bliss. 
A.  J.  Moss. 
Mary  Whitacre. 
Hervey  Lyon. 
Hiram  H.  Richmond. 
Frank  Hudson. 
Paul  De  Witt. 
Mary  M.  De  Witt. 
John  W.  Merrihew. 
John  M.  Merrihew. 
Martin  Hubbell. 
Lovinia  Hubbell. 
J.  T.  Daniels. 
Mrs.  J.  T.  Daniels. 
William  P.  Ladd. 
Emeline  Ladd. 
Stephen  Pearl. 
Sarah  A.  Pearl. 
John  Anderson. 
Cornelia  Anderson. 
Walter  Doty. 
Mrs.  Cornelia  N.  Hazard. 
Nelson  Daniels. 
Olive  Daniels. 
Isaac  M.  Ocobock. 
Benjamin  F.  Ocobock. 
M.  S.  Moss. 
M.  A.  Moss. 
Samuel  Forman. 
Catharine  Forman. 
Henry  Mulden. 
Vesta  E.  Mulden. 
George  W.  Groom. 
John  L.  Lyon. 
Lucinda  L.  Lyon. 
D.  J.  Rogers. 
Matilda  Rogers. 
Edward  Jones. 
Russell  Whitney. 
Arvilla  T.  Whitney. 


Joseph  W.  Hewitt, 
Sarah  A.  Hewitt. 
John  R.  Haise. 
John  A.  Watson. 
Homer  Watson. 
Andrew  Dunlap. 
Thomas  Craven. 
Orville  Williams. 
Jacob  W.  Weller. 
Allen  C.  Bennett. 
Caroline  M.  Bennett. 
Sally  Williams. 
Rudolphus  LoomLs. 
Hannah  C.  Loomis. 
Josiah  Murdock. 
Edward  Paine. 
Sarah  J.  Sickles. 
John  H.  Faxon. 
Mary  A.  Faxon. 
Lucy  S.  Watson. 
Jane  Caster. 
Catharine  L.  Shepard. 
John  T.  Tanager. 
Harriet  Tanager. 
David  Coats. 
Daniel  A.  Sutfin. 
Elsana  Sutfin. 
Albert  McKewen. 
Norman  R.  Allen. 
Mary  A.  Allen. 
George  R.  Doty. 
Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Garrick. 
Latham  M.  Garrick. 
Joseph  H.  Lowe. 
Edward  Patten. 
Sophia  Patten. 
Elijah  W.  Cobb. 
Ann  S.  Cobb. 
Isaac  N.  Tanager. 
Philo  C.  Bassett. 
Oscar  M.  Pcari. 
Benjamin  M.  Shepard. 
Elisha  W.  Shepard. 
James  W.  Welch. 
Julia  A.  Welch. 
Benjamin  T.  Welch. 
E.  M.  Patten. 
D.  C.  Harrington. 
J.  L.  Button. 
Calvin  Green. 
Mary  H.  Green. 
George  A.  Holden. 


At  the  annual  meeting  held  June  10, 1880,  the  following 
officers  were  elected : 

Cortland  Hill,  President. 
Mrs.  R.  Strickland,  Vice-President. 
Miner  R.  Frink,  Treasurer. 
William  Brunson,  Secretary. 


COUNTY   SOCIETIES. 


355 


CLINTON  COUNTY  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

A  County  Bible  Society  was  organized  at  De  Witt  in 
the  year  1848.  The  record  of  the  first  meeting  is  lost,  but 
the  minutes  of  the  society  were  kept  from  184:9  to  1854 
inclusive,  from  which  are  taken  the  following  items : 

"  The  Clinton  County  Bible  Society  held  its  first  annual 
meeting  at  De  Witt  on  Tuesday  evening,  the  6th  day  of 
February,  1849.  The  Rev.  Lewis  Coburn,  President  of 
the  Society,  having  taken  the  chair,  Robert  G.  McKee 
was  appointed  secretary /))-o  tern.  The  Rev.  John  Baugh- 
man  addressed  the  Society  and  audience  upon  the  subject 
of  the  distribution  of  the  Bible,  after  which  a  collection 
was  taken  under  the  direction  of  the  President  of  the 
Society."  The  following  persons  were  appointed  officers 
for  the  ensuing  year :  President,  Lewis  Coburn ;  Vice- 
President,  Daniel  Ferguson  ;  Secretary,  Robert  Gr.  McKee ; 
Treasurer,  George  T.  Clark ;  Executive  Committee,  J.  F. 
Turner,  Cortland  Hill, 'James  Sturgis,  Setli  P.  Marvin, 
Joseph  H.  Adams,  Levi  Townson,  and  David  Sturgis. 

At  the  meeting  in  1850  a  collection  was  taken,  and  on 
motion  the  amount  was  to  be  returned  in  books,  and  the 
various  clergymen  were  appointed  a  distributing  committee. 
At  the  annual  meeting  in  1851  it  was  resolved  that  the 
ministers  are  requested  to  preach  to  their  several  congrega- 
tions in  favor  of  the  spread  of  the  Bible  and  take  up  col- 
lections for  the  purchase  of  the  same,  also  to  employ  others 
to  act  as  agents.  The  treasurer  was  authorized  to  order 
Bibles  when  needed,  so  far  as  the  funds  would  permit. 
At  a  meeting  held  in  September,  1853,  the  Revs.  Lewis 
Coburn,  John  Scotford,  and  John  Gunderman  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution,  which  was  adopted 
October  2d  of  the  same  year.  At  this  meeting  the 
treasurer  reported  five  dollars  and  eighty-seven  cents 
collected.  The  annual  meeting  of  1854  was  held  in  the 
Baptist  church  of  De  Witt  on  the  1st  of  October.  An 
address  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  J.  Anderson,  agent  of 
the  American  Bible  Society,  and  a  collection  was  taken  up, 
the  amount  of  which  was  paid  to  J.  Anderson. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  the  condition  of  the  society 
at  that  time:  "The  affairs  of  the  Clinton  County  Bible 
Society  at  this  date,  Nov.  29,  1854,  are  as  follows: 

"There  i3  now  due   the   society  from   J.  Sturgis,  o'^ 

treasurer,  ostensibly ;"u'"j  u!^a 

From  various  persons  ns  per  bill  in  treasurer  s  hands  a.US 

J.  D.  Edwards,  present  treasurer *-^^ 

Heeeived  this  day  from  W.  R.  Sturgis,  late  treasurer,  as 

follows :  g  i^g 

In  Bibles 7  91" 

In  cash ■ 

The  officers  of  the  society  from  1849  to  1854  inclusive 
were  as  follows : 

1850.— Rev.  Lewis  A.  Coburn,  President ;  Rev.  Caleb 
A.  Lamb,  Vice-President ;  F.  R.  Read,  Secretary ;  James 
Sturgis,  Treasurer;  W.  W.  Webb,  J.  F.  Turner,  D.  B. 
Johnson,  W.  R.  Sturgis,  David  Sturgis,  J.  M.  Estes, 
Daniel  Ferguson,  Executive  Committee. 

1851.— Rev.  Lewis  Coburn,  President;  J.  Boynton, 
Vice-President;  J.  Sturgis,  Treasurer;  F.  R.  Read,  Secre- 
tary. 

1852.— Rev.  Lewis  Coburn,  President;  John  Gunder- 
man, Vice-President;  R.  Strickland,  Secretary ;  J.  II. 
Adams,  Treasurer. 


1853. — Rev.  John  Scotford,  President ;  Rev.  Lewis 
Coburn,  Vice-President;  R.  Strickland,  Secretary;  W.  R. 
Sturgis,  Treasurer. 

1854. — Henry  Post,  President;  Rev.  John  Gunder- 
man, Vice-President;  Joseph  H.  Adams,  Secretary;  J.  D. 
Edwards,  Treasurer. 

The  constitution  adopted  in  1853  names  the  society  and 
explains  its  objects,  thus : 

"  Article  1st.  This  Society  shall  be  called  the  Clinton 
County  Bible  Society,  auxiliary  to  the  American  Bible 
Society.  Article  2d.  The  object  of  this  Society  shall  be 
to  disseminate  the  Holy  Scriptures  without  note  or  comment 
throughout  the  County."  The  names  of  persons  attached 
to  the  constitution  are  as  follows :  J.  M.  Estes,  Lewis 
Coburn,  Mrs.  Coburn,  F.  R.  Read,  John  Scotsford,  John 
Gunderman,  R.  Strickland,  George  Allen,  J.  D.  Edwards, 
M.  Moote,  J.  H.  Adams,  W.  R.  Sturgis,  Ellen  Sturgis, 
Mrs.  Goodrich,  Mrs.  Scotford,  A.  Dunton,  Alsa  Cushraan, 
A.  Goodrich,  M.  A.  Child. 

Since  1854  no  records  of  the  society  have  been  preserved, 
and  nothing  further  is  known  of  its  history.  On  the  14th 
of  February  of  that  year  several  Christian  organizations 
convened  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  the  village 
of  St.  Johns  for  the  purpose  of  reorganizing  a  county 
Bible  Society.  A  constitution  was  presented  and  adopted. 
The  drug-store  of  George  Hunt  &  Brother  was  selected  as 
the  depository  of  the  society.  It  remained  there  till  March, 
1876,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  drug-store  of  Dr.  M. 
L.  Bagg,  where  it  is  at  present  The  transactions  of  the 
society  since  1865,  as  shown  by  the  treasurer's  books,  have 
been  as  follows :  Paid  for  Bibles  purchased  in  1865,  $245.28  ; 
1866,  $466.72;  1867,  $79.75;  1869,  $219.89;  1870, 
$173.44;  1872,  $126.83;  1873,  $128.99  ;  1875,  $142.69  ; 
1876,  $63.84 ;  1877,  $73.44 ;  1878,  $49.97  ;  1879,  $41.56. 
Auxiliary  societies  were  formed  some  years  ago  at  Ovid, 
De  Witt,  and  Maple  Rapids,  but  have  now  declined.  The 
officers  of  the  society  since  its  reorganization  are  as  follows  : 
Presidents,  A.  H.  Walker,  1864  to  1875  inclusive;  Rev. 
D.  D.  Gillett,  1876  ;  F.  H.  Cary,  1877 ;  J.  E.  Richards, 
1878-79  ;  S.  L.  Hamilton,  1880.  Secretaries,  R.  Apthorp, 
1864 ;  William  Sickles,  1865  ;  L.  G.  N.  Randolph,  1866 
to  1868  inclusive;  M.  V.  Brown,  1869  to  1880.  Treas- 
urers, H.  C.  Hodge,  1864;  A.  0.  Hunt,  1865  to  1875  in- 
clusive ;  M.  V.  Brown,  1876 ;  Dr.  M.  L.  Bagg,  1877  to 

1880. 

Following  is  a  list  of  names  of  persons  who  became  life 
members  in  1865  and  1866: 

1865.— Burtis  H.  Beer,  P.  C.  Perrin,  William  Brunson, 
W.  J.  Bancroft,  A.  H.  Walker,  Mrs.  McFarlan,  Mrs. 
Sarah  A.  Baker,  Mrs.  Fanny  Brown. 

1866.— S.  S.  Walker,  Milo  A.  Fowler,  Joseph  Wood, 
W.  W.  Brainerdj  Louise  F.  Apthorp,  Elizabeth  Kipp, 
Hannah  Plumstead,  Isabel  B.  Sickles,  Mary  E.  Strickland, 
Mary  E.  Burgess. 

No  names  appear  on  the  record  since  1866. 

B-ARMBKS'  MUTUAL  FIRE  INSURANCE  COMPANY 
OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 

This  company  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  protection 
a<'ainst  loss  by  fire  or  lightning  on  all  buildings  and  farm- 


356 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


property  subject  to  such  risk.  It  has  been  in  existence 
seventeen  years,  and  has  proved  so  successful  that  it  is 
regarded  with  much  satisfaction  by  its  members.  On  the 
16th  of  March,  1863,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  village  of 
St.  Johns  pursuant  to  call;  articles  of  association  were 
agreed  upon  and  signed  by  Jonathan  R.  Pearsall,  Dewitt 
C.  Chapin,  Asahel  K.  Marvin,  Henry  Moon,  George  W. 
Cook,  Lewis  Coburn,  and  Jeremiah  Emery.  The  articles 
of  association  were  published  three  weeks  in  the  Ciinton 
MepuMican. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  the  same  year,  articles  of  associa- 
tion were  published  differing  in  some  respects  from  the 
first,  and  signed  by  the  following-named  corporators : 
Ainsworth  Reed,  Henry  Moon,  William  R.  Allen,  Lewis 
Coburn,  George  Allen,  Asahel  R.  Marvin,  Jonathan  R. 
Pearsall,  Jeremiah  Emery,  and  George  W.  Cook.  In  the 
paper  of  the  same  date  a  call  was  issued  for  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of 
Clinton  County  on  the  7th  of  July,  1863,  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  ofiScers  and  transacting  other  business. 

The  records  of  the  society  were  burned  a  few  years  ago. 
J.  H.  Osborne,  secretary  and  financial  agent  of  the  com- 
pany, opened  an  office  in  the  drug-store  of  G.  R.  Hunt  & 
Brother. 

The  business  of  the  company  extends  over  the  counties 
of  Clinton  and  Gratiot.  The  number  of  policies  in  force, 
June  1, 1880,  was  two  thousand  three  hundred,  covering 
property  to  the  amount  of  $2,625,371.  The  losses  from 
September,  1877,  to  September,  1878,  were  $1933.05  ; 
from  September,  1878,  to  September,  1879,  $3268.13. 
The  salaries,  fees,  and  expenses  for  the  year  ending  Dec. 
31,  1879,  amounted  to  $1822.47.  Total  expenses  for  the 
year,  $5205.97. 

The  o£5cers  for  1880  are  as  follows : 

Josiah  Upton,  President;  R.  Du  Bois,  Secretary. 

Directors. — Clinton  County:  Orange  Whitlock,  Green- 
bush  ;  Lewis  Bentley,  Essex  ;  William  Collins,  De  Witt ; 
W.  W.  Dunham,  Duplain.  Gratiot  County  :  Charles  Web- 
ster, Fulton. 

CLINTON  COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  AND  HOKTI- 
CULTUEAL  SOCIETY. 
On  the  12th  of  January,  1853,  a  preliminary  meeting 
was  held  at  the  "  Clinton  House,"  in  the  village  of  De 
Witt,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  county  agricultural 
society.  A  committee  appointed  on  constitution  and  per- 
manent officers  reported,  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  same 
place,  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month.  A  constitution  and 
by-laws  were  presented  and  adopted.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  the  names  of  the  original  members  : 


Harvey  Hunter. 
Horatio  Hunter. 
J.  H.  Adams, 
F.  R.  Read. 
Jason  Nichols. 
David  I.  Daniels. 
Samuel  Forman. 
A.  R.  Marvin. 
W.  Lee. 
D.  S.  Ingersoll. 


0.  B.  Ingersoll. 
Eliel  Ingersoll. 
Charles  Scott. 
Russell  Churchman. 
A.  C.  Lee. 
David  P.  Dryer. 
Charles  R.  McKee. 
D.  S.  Coats. 
John  CoUister. 
Orange  Ferguson. 


H.  Alexander. 

U.  R.  Owen. 

W.  Dills. 

Peter  Merrihew. 

Moses  Tabor. 

A.  U.  Cook. 

J.  W.  Merrihew. 

Linus  Gillett. 

George  Fuller. 

A.  Gillett. 

George  A.  Merrihew. 

H.  S.  Green. 

Ransom  Reed. 

D.  Ferguson. 
H.  C.  Butler. 
A.  Calder. 
John  Hicks. 
Horatio  Lyon. 
C.  A.  Lamb. 

C.  Hill. 
David  Scott. 
Parker  Webber. 
J.  C.  Brunson. 
N.  N.  Thompson. 
W.  Utley. 
Daniel  H.  Blood. 
Lewis  Coburn. 

E.  S.  Ingersoll. 
Thomas  Lester. 
W.  R.  Sturgis. 

D.  Olin. 

A.  W.  Partridge. 
I.  F.  HoUister. 
J.  R.  Pearsall. 
W.  Brunson. 
H.  Post. 
I.  B.  Smith. 


Richard  Walton. 
Stephen  Hill. 
Gardner  Conn. 
Wm.  Tanager. 
Benjamin  Silsbee. 
David  Knight. 
Constant  Shaw. 
Henry  Jones. 

B.  H.  Beers. 
A.  Lounsbury. 
L.  Hungerford. 
William  H.  Webb. 
A.  Goodrich. 

C.  Caywood. 
John  Voorhees. 
David  Clark. 
Philo  Doty. 

J.  H.  Gardner. 
H.  Stowell. 
John  Skinner. 
Thomas  J.  Allen. 
James  G.  Pike. 
Hiram  Scott. 
Moulton  Sprague. 
James  Smith. 
Henry  Smith. 
James  W.  McMillan. 
Joseph  HoUister. 
Henry  Jipson. 
Mary  E.  Silsbee. 
George  Allen. 
Ira  S.  Thornton. 
Mrs.  D.  G.  Wilsey. 
A.  Simmons. 
S.  Sherman. 
W.  T.  Plowman. 
T.  Dunlap. 


The  Committee  on  Permanent  Officers  reported  tho 
names  of  the  following  persons,  who  were  elected  for  1853 : 

President,  Harvey  Hunter. 

Vice-Presidents,  J.  F.  HoUister,  B.  H.  Beers,  D.  Fergu- 
son, H.  Benedict,  L.  Hungerford,  J.  Sever,  S.  B.  Smith. 

Recording  Secretary,  F.  R.  Read. 

Corresponding  Secretary,  I.  H.  Adams. 

Treasurer,  W.  W.  Webb. 

Directors,  0.  Ferguson,  C.  A.  Lamb,  C.  Hill,  M.  S. 
Allen,  Henry  Post. 

The  following-named  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  three  from  each  township  to  secure  members  to 
the  society : 

Bath.— E.  L.  Phelps,  R.  CoUister,  S.  Batchelor. 

Victor.— J.  C.  Brunson,  H.  Hagerty,  D.  H.  Blood. 

Ovid.— J.  V.  Swarthout,  E.  Willis,  E.  Fitch. 

Duplain.— H.  Faxon,  J.  D.  Sickels,  Dr.  Watson. 

Greenbush.— H.  Avery,  D.  Sever,  0.  Whitlock. 

Bingham.— G.  W.  Estes,  C.  A.  Lamb,  R.  S.  NorrU. 

Olive.— A.  Calder,  J.  W.  Merrihew,  H.  S.  Green. 

De  Witt.— D.  B.  Johnson,  E.  Gunnison,  N.  N.  Thomp- 
son. 


COUNTY  SOCIETIES. 


357 


Watertown. — S.  Ffary,  A.  R.  Marvin,  W.  Lee. 
Riley. — C.  Shaw,  H.  Jones,  L.  Hungerford. 
Bengal.— C.  Hill,  B.  F.  Kneeland,  J.  Hamer. 
Essex.— H.  Benedict,  T.  H.  Petit,  F.  Parr. 
Lebanon. — P.  Corey,  J.  Vance,  'A.  G.  Russell. 
Dallas. — G.  F.  Button,  M.  Van  Gerison,  Z.  Rice. 
Westphalia.— W.  F.  Plowman,  M.  P.  McVey,  J.  Piatt. 
Eagle.— J.  W.  Hill,  W.  T.  Jennison,  J.  W.  McMillan. 
The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  same  place  on 
Wednesday,  Feb.  23,  1873,  at  one  o'clock  p.m.     At  the 
adjourned  meeting  in  February  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  fair 
in  the  village  of  De  Witt  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  October 
of  that  year.     A  premium-list  was  made  out  and  judges 
selected  for  the  different  departments,  whose  names  are 
given  below : 

On  Cattle. — N.  N.  Thompson,  Robert  Darrow,  and  John 
CoUister. 

On  Horses. — E.  P.  Daniels,  H.   B.  Green,  and  John 
Voorhees. 

On  Sheep.— W.  P.  Esler,  S.  W.  Downer,  and  Parris 
Corey. 

On  Swine. — M.  Van  Gieson,  J.    R.    Pearsall,  D.    H. 
Blood. 

On  Fowls. — T.  H.  Petit,  David  Clark,  Alexander  Calder. 
On  Grain. — Philo  Doty,  W.  Bronson,  John  Vaace. 
On  Fruits. — E.  L.  Phelps,  M.  Greenwood,  W.  T.  Plow- 
man. 

On  Vegetables.— David  Sturgis,  A.  Goodrich,  M.  Bar- 
tow. 

On  Ladies'  Department.— Mary  Stuvgis,  M.  H.  Adams, 
Amanda  Hunter. 

On  Cabinet-work.— M.  S.  Allen,  J.  H.  Adams,  R.  S.  Van 

Sevy. 

On  Boots  and  Shoes.— Harvey  Hunter,  H.  Benedict,  C. 

A.  Lamb. 

On  Blacksmithing.— N.  N.  Thompson,  T.  H.  Petit,  W. 

W.  Webb. 

On  Miscellaneous.— A.  R.  Marvin,  Moses  Tober,  D.  Fer- 
guson. 

On  Plowing.— H.  Benedict,  H.  Post,  David  Clark. 

The  annual  fair  for  that  year  was  held  on  the  public 
square  at  the  time  specified.  Premiums  were  awarded  to 
the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  dollars  and 
twenty-five  cents.  The  entire  amount  of  receipts  from  all 
sources  was  one  hundred  dollars  and  seventy-eight  cents. 
Incidental  expenses  reduced  this  amount  to  eighty-one  dol- 
lars and  forty  cents,  from  which  to  pay  the  premiums,  it 
being  fifty-nine  per  cent,  of  the  amount  awarded. 

Premiums  were  received  on  cattle  by  Charles  A.  Lamb, 
Samuel  Sherman,  N.  N.  Thompson,  Eliel  Ingersoll,  C.  Shaw, 
David  Scott,  E.  S.  Ingersoll,  A.  R.  Marvin,  Stephen  Hill, 
A.  W.  Partridge,  George  Allen,  William  Dills,  and  B.  H. 
Beers;  on  sheep  by  Harvey  Hunter,  A.  C.  Lee,  Lewis  Co- 
burn,  and  Charles  Scott;  on  horses  by  Gardner  Conn, 
Charles  Scott,  A.  Goodrich,  A.  Lounsbury,  I.  W.  Gardner, 
Peter  Merrihew,  E.  S.  Ingersoll,  and  Ransom  Reed;  and 
for  the  best  five  acres  of  wheat  by  David  Scott;  second 
best,  Harvey  Hunter;  best  one  acre  of  corn,  I.  Caywood; 
best  acre  of  oats,  David  Scott. 

The  annual  fairs  for  1854-55-56  were  held  at  De  Witt. 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  society,  on  the  10th,  11th,  and 
12th  of  March,  1857,  it  was  resolved  that  the  fair  of  that 
year  on  the  8th  and  9th  of  October  be  held  either  at  De 
Witt  or  St.  Johns,  the  choice  to  be  decided  as  follows : 
''  The  one  of  the  two  villages  that  subscribes  the  most 
money  by  the  15th  of  August,  1857,  to  be  paid  to  the 
Society  on  or  before  the  fair,  is  to  have  the  fair  at  said  vil- 
lage ;  sealed  proposals  to  be  received  until  August  15th." 

The  executive  committee  met  on  the  9th  of  September 
to  consider  proposals.  A  proposition  was  received  from  the 
inhabitants  of  St.  Johns  stating  that  one  hundred  and  six 
dollars  had  been  subscribed,  and  as  none  was  received  froip 
De  Witt  it  was  decided  to  hold  the  fair  for  1857  at  the 
village  of  St.  Johns,  on  the  8th  and  9th  of  October.  The 
society  advertised  for  proposals  in  1858.  No  propositions 
were  received,  and  the  fair  was  held  at  St.  Johns,  October 
13th  and  14th  of  that  year.  Nothing  further  is  known  of 
the  history  of  the  society  until  its  reorganization  in  1863. 
A  preliminary  meeting  was  held  at  the  clerk's  office  in  De 
Witt,  on  the  15th  of  August  of  that  year,  and  adjourned 
to  the  29th  of  August,  at  which  meeting  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  draft  a  new  constitution  and  by-laws.  Officers 
were  elected,  and  the  8th  of  October  was  the  day  fixed  for 
the  fair.  The  constitution  was  adopted  on  the  9th  of  Octo- 
ber of  that  year. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society  at  Clinton  Hall  in  the  vil- 
lage of  St.  Johns,  in  1865,  it  was  resolved  to  purchase  ten 
or  fifteen  acres  of  land  near  the  village,  for  fair-grounds. 

Messrs.  Isaac  T.  Hollister,  W.  T.  Bancroft,  and  Sidney 
U.  Alexander  were  appointed  to  select  the  same  and  nego- 
tiate for  the  purchase.  The  committee  reported  Jan.  27, 
1866,  that  two  tracts  had  been  offered,  and  recommended 
the  purchase  of  thirty  acres  of  Joseph  Cardinal,  situated 
one  mile  south  of  the  village.  On  the  7th  of  April  the 
secretarji  of  the  society  reported  that  he  had  made  the  con- 
tract for  the  grounds  at  seventeen  hundred  dollars.  Ten 
acres  were  sold  from  the  south  part  of  the  grounds  for  foui: 
hundred  dollars.  In  the  May  following  a  contract  was  made 
with  A.  Hathaway  for  grading  a  trotting-oourse.  The 
grounds  were  also  inclosed  and  prepared  for  the  fall  exhi- 
bition. 

Durlnn-  this  year  articles  of  association  were  drawn  up, 
having  for  a  purpose  "the  reorganization  and  perfecting 
of  a  society  to  be  known  as  the  Clinton  County  Agricul- 
tural and  Horticultural  Society,  that  was  attempted  to  be 
made  on  or  about  the  19th  day  of  August,  1866."  The 
following-named  persons  are  mentioned  in  the  articles  for 
officers :  Dr.  I.  T.  Hollister,  President ;  William  H.  Moore, 
Vice-President;  B.  H.  Beers,  Treasurer;  Robert  Smith, 
Secretary.     These  articles  were  not  signed. 

In  1869  a  floral  hall  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  three  hun- 
dred dollars.  Its  form  was  that  of  a  Greek  cross,  abo.ut 
eighty  feet  in  length  each  way,  with  the  central  portion 
twenty  feet  square.  The  agricultural  hall,  twenty-four  by 
fifty  feet,  was  erected  in  1874,  at  a  cost  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  The  grand  stand  and  dining-hall  were  erected 
in  1877.  The  former  is  twenty-four  by  sixty  feet,  and  cost 
three  hundred  dollars  ;  the  latter,  twenty  by  forty,  cost  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars.  A  commercial  hall  was 
built  in  the  season  of  1878,  twenty-eight  by  eighty  feet  in 


358 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


dimensions,  at  an  expense  of  four  hundred  dollars.  In 
1879  the  judges'  stand  was  built  in  a  neat  and  ornamental 
style,  octagonal  in  form,  sixteen  feet  square  and  two  stories 
in  height,  at  a  cost  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars. 
The  society  have  about  eighty  rods  of  stabling  for  horses 
a  n  cattle. 

The  twentieth  annual  fair  of  the  society  was  held  at  the 
fair-grounds  in  October,  1879.  Nearly  twelve  hundred  en- 
tries were  made ;  the  receipts  from  all  sources  were  three 
thousand  three  hundred  and  ninety-three  dollars.  Eleven 
hundred  dollars  was  awarded  in  premiums  for  the  stock  and 
articles  on  exhibition,  and  one  thousand  dollars  for  speed  in 
horses. 

A  new  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted  in  the 
spring  of  1880. 

The  officers  of  the  society,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained, 
have  been  as  follows  : 

Presidents. — Harvey  Hunter,  1853;  Henry  Post,  1851 
Isaac  T.  HoUister,  1855  ;  no  records  1856  ;  Seth  P.  Marvin 
1857  ;  William  J.  Bancroft, -1858  ;  Isaac  T.  HoUister,  1859 
Asahel  E.  Marvin,  18G3  ;  John  Gilbert,  1861-65  ;  B.  F, 
Kneeland,  1866 ;  John  C.  Dayton,  1866  (reorganization) 
Isaac  T.  HoUister,  1867;  Charles  Kipp,  1868-70;  John 
C.  Dayton,  1871-72;   D.  P.  Wilcox,  1873;   A.  Stout, 
1874-75  ;  Joshua  Brown,  1876-77  ;  R.  M.  Steel,  1878-80. 

Secretaries.— F.  R.  Read,  1853-55  ;  Nobles  S.  Ham- 
mond, 1857 ;  John  C.  Brunson,  1858 ;  Rev.  Caleb  A. 
Lamb,  1859;  Hiram  C.  Hodge,  1863;  Henry  S.  Hilton, 
1861-65;  T.  B.  Cutter,  1866  (reorganization);  Robert 
Smith,  1866-67 ;  T.  Baker,  1868  ;  J.  B.  Nixon,  1869-70 ; 
T.  B.  Cutler,  1871-75  ;  H.  S.  Hilton,  1876  ;  Alvin  Shaver, 
1877 ;  Richard  Du  Bois,  1878-79 ;  Charles  W.  Lyon,  188.0. 

Treasurers.— W.  W.Webb,  1853-55;  Charles  Scott, 
1857;  Caleb  A.  Lamb,  1858;  Hiram  C.  Hodge,  1859; 
Harvey  Alexander,  1863 ;  S.  U.  Alexander,  1864-65  ;  B. 
H.  Beers,  1866;  Samuel  S.  Walker,  1866  (reorganization)  ; 
B.  H.  Beers,  1867  ;  Samuel  S.  Walker,  1868-72  ;  George  R. 
Hunt,  1873  ;  0.  B.  Swain,  1874 ;  David  P.  Wilcox,  1875  ; 
R.  B.  Caruss,  1876-77  ;  Alvin  Shaver,  1878-79 ;  Josiah 
Upton,  1880. 

The  fair-grounds  of  the  Ionia,  Montcalm,  Gratiot,  and 
Clinton  Agricultural  Society  are  situated  in  the  village  of 
Hubbardston,  in  the  township  of  Lebanon,  and  contain  about 
thirty  acres  of  land,  on  which  are  built  substantial  and  com- 
modious buildings.  The  grounds  are  well  fenced  and  a  good- 
track  is  laid  out  and  graded. 

POMONA  COUNTY  GRANGE,  No.  25. 
Delegates  from  the  subordinate  granges  of  the  several 
townships  convened  at  De  Witt  and  St.  Johns  in  the  faU 
of  1879,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  county  grange ;  but 
DQthing  was  effected  until  December  31st  of  that  year, 
when  a  permanent  organization  was  effected  by  the  election 
of  the  following  officers :  Thomas  W.  Baldwin,  Olive,  Master  • 
Warren  Halsey,  Bengal,  Overseer ;  0.  G.  Pennell,  De  Witt, 
Lecturer ;  John  J.  Keyser,  Keystone,  Steward ;  Avander 
Dickinson,  Riley,  Assistant  Steward;  Anson  McWithey, 
Olive,  Chaplain ;  James  Sowle,  Essex,  Treasurer ;  Frank 
Conn,  Bingham,  Secretary;  Daniel  Dutton,  Dallas,  Gate- 
Kceper;  Mary  J.  Drake,  Dallas,  Ceres;  Elizabeth  M.  Voor- 


hees,  Keystone,  Pomona;  Antoinette  Emmet,  Olive,  Flora; 
Lydia  A.  Rice,  Bengal,  Lady  Assistant  Steward.  Meetings 
are  held  once  a  month  at  the  halls  of  the  different  granges 
throughout  the  county. 

AGRICULTUEE   OP   THE   COUNTY. 

The  greater  part  of  the  pioneer  farmers  who  settled  in 
Clinton  County  were  emigrants  from  the  State  of  New 
York ;  men  who  either  came  here  directly  from  that  State, 
or  who  had  previously  emigrated  from  there  to  the  older 
counties  of  Michigan,  and  had  removed  thence  to  Clinton. 
This  being  the  case,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  they  should, 
as  they  did,  plant  and  sow  the  same  crops,  cultivate  their 
lands  in  the  same  manner,  and  in  general  pursue  the  same 
methods  of  agriculture  as  those  to  which  they  had  been 
accustomed  in  the  country  from  which  they  came. 

Emigrants  from  the  old  wheat-raising  sections  of  New 
York  always  judged  of  the  new  countries  to  which  they 
went  by  comparison  with  that  which  they  had  left,  and  to 
them  the  chief  proof  of  the  excellence  of  any  soil  was  its 
capability  for  the  production  of  wheat, — as  much  wheat  in 
quantity  and  as  good  wheat  in  quality  as  could  be  raised  on 
lands  similarly  situated  in  that  garden-spot  of  the  world  (as 
it  seemed  to  them),  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  particularly  the  renowned  Genesee  Valley.  And 
in  their  application  of  this  test  to  the  county  of  Clinton 
they  found  and  acknowledged  that  in  this  essential  particu- 
lar the  new  country  to  which  they  came  was  equal,  if  not 
superior,  to  the  old  country  which  they  had  left. 

Their  agriculture  was,  of  course,  small  at  first,  and  was 
devoted  to  those  crops  which  were  indispensable  to  their 
immediate  necessities  for  the  support  of  their  families. 
The  first  few  crops  of  wheat,  bounteous  as  they  were,  re- 
moved all  fear  of  want,  but  as  the  very  abundance  lowered 
the  price,  and  as  the  isolated  location  of  the  settlers  of  this 
county  enhanced  the  expense  of  transporting  their  produce 
to  a  market,  the  net  profit  resulting  from  their  crops  was 
so  small  as  to  hardly  repay  the  cost  and  labor  of  produc- 
tion. This  disadvantage,  however,  was  only  temporary. 
In  succeeding  years  prices  became  more  remunerative,  the 
farmers  steadily  increased  their  tilled  acres,  and,  what  was 
of  more  importance  stiU,  the  improvement  of  roads  and  the 
opening  of  railroads,  by  affording  means  of  transportation 
to  markets,  greatly  enhanced  the  profits  of  agriculture. 
But  so  gradually  was  all  this  accomplished  that  it  would  be 
difficult  to  say  just  when  the  struggling  pioneers  of  the 
early  days  of  Clinton  County  became  transformed  into  the 
prosperous  and  wealthy  farmers  who  now  own  and  till  its 
soil. 

The  breeding  of  cattle  has  been  pursued  by  the  fiirmers 
of  Clinton  County  quite  extensively,  but  not  sufficiently  so 
to  give  it  a  chief  place  among  the  agricultural  industries. 
The  same  is  true  of  sheep-breeding.  The  first  settlers  who 
came  to  locate  in  the  county  brought  with  them  a  rather 
unusually  large  number  of  cattle,  for  the  reason  that  the  fact 
had  become  known  that  stock  could  be  kept  here  and  win- 
tered even  before  crops  of  fodder  had  been  raised  for  their 
subsistence.  On  the  numerous  marshes  of  this  region  there 
grow  spontaneously  a  heavy  burden  of  tall,  coarse  grasses, 


AGRICULTURE. 


359 


which,  in  the  absence  of  timothy,  clover,  or  other  cultivated 
fodder,  furnished  very  good  food  for  cattle.  Plain-grass 
was  also  found  in  abundance  in  the  openings  (probably 
brought  in  by  the  annual  fires  kindled  there  by  the  Indians 
during  many  previous  years),  and  this  was  equally  good 
and  nutritious.  The  existence  of  these  resources  enabled 
the  settlers  (who  were  nearly  all  men  of  sufficient  means 
to  purchase  stock)  to  bring  cattle  with  them  at  the  time  of 
their  settlement  without  fear  that  the  animals  would  die 
for  lack  of  subsistence  during  the  first  or  succeeding 
winters,  and  it  was  for  this  reason  that  the  number  of  cattle 
brought  into  this  county  by  the  pioneer  farmers  was  rather 
unusually  large,  though  probably  not  greater  than  was 
brought  in  by  an  equal  number  of  settlers  in  the  other 
counties  of  this  region  where  the  same  favorable  conditions 
existed. 

A  few  sheep  were  found  in  Clinton  County  prior  to 
1837,  and  their  numbers  have  gradually  and  steadily  in- 
creased during  subsequent  years,  until  sheep-breeding  and 
wool-growing  have  become  sources  of  large  revenue  to 
such  farmers  as  are  engaged  in  them.  Improved  breeds 
were  early  introduced  here,  and  the  county  now  contains 
a  large  number  (notably  the  French  and  Spanish  Merinoes 
and  Shropshire  Downs)  of  pure  blood,  with  a  much  larger 
number  of  high  grades.  Nearly  the  same  is  the  case  with 
regard  to  improved  breeds  of  cattle  kept  in  the  county, — 
the  Durham  and  Galloway  pure-bloods  and  crosses  being 
perhaps  the  most  numerous.  The  names  of  a  great  num- 
ber of  breeders  of  both  sheep  and  cattle  might  be  given, 
with  a  more  particular  account  of  their  several  flocks  and 
herds;  but  as  in  such  a  notice  the  names  of  some  would 
necessarily  be  omitted,  it  is  thought  preferable  to  omit  all 
such  mention,  and  more  particularly  for  the  reason  that 
here  the  breeding  of  improved  stock  is  not  a  specialty,  nor 
to  be  reckoned  among  the  most  important  of  the  agricul- 
tural industries  of  the  county. 

There  are  in  Clinton  County  a  very  large  number  of 
excellent  farms,  with  not  a  few  of  which  each  might  with 
propriety  be  termed  a  "  model  farm,''  as  the  term  is  usually 
applied.  It  would  be  pleasant,  and  might  be  profitable,  to 
give  a  particularized  account  of  each  of  these,  but  as  it  is 
impracticable,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  properly 
drawing  the  line  of  superior  excellence,  to  notice  all  such 
in  detail,  we  shall  make  particular  mention  of  only  one, — 
a  large  and  in  every  way  a  very  remarkable  farm,  a  great 
part  of  which  was  a  few  years  since  a  worthless  and 
malarious  swamp,  from  which  condition  it  was  reclaimed 
and  brought  to  a  state  of  high  cultivation  and  productive- 
ness by  one  of  Michigan's  most  prominent  public  men,  the 
late  Senator  Zachariah  Chandler.  This  farm  comprises 
half  of  section  29,  all  of  section  30,  and  the  greater  part 
of  sections  31  and  32,  in  the  township  of  Bath,  with 
nearly  all  of  section  25,  and  considerable  parts  of  sections 
26  and  36,  in  the  township  of  De  Witt.  An  account  of 
the  purchase  of  the  lands,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  they 
were  reclaimed  and  transformed  into  the  present  noble  and 
productive  farm,  is  given  in  a  recently  published  life  of  the 
Hon.  Zachariah  Chandler,  from  which  account  is  extracted 
the  following : 


"  In  1857  the  State  of  Michigan  gave  to  its  agricultural 
college  the  public  lands  in  the  four  townships  of  Bath, 
De  Witt,  Meridian,  and  Lansing,  which  were  designated  on 
the  surveyors'  maps  as  '  swamp-lands.'  In  the  main,  the 
sections  covered  by  the  grant  were  marshy,  although  their 
rectilinear  boundaries  included  some  solid  ground.  Mr. 
Chandler  purchased  from  the  college  and  other  owners  a 
farm  of  three  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
located  four  miles  (by  railroad)  from  Lansing,  in  the  towns 
of  Bath  and  De  Witt  in  Clinton  County;  it  included 
about  nineteen  hundred  acres  (five  hundred  acres  of 
marsh-meadow,  six  hundred  acres  of  tamarack-swamp, 
and  eight  hundred  acres  of  oak-opening  uplands).  The 
marsh  was  traversed  by  a  slender  water-course,  deviously 
connecting  some  small  lakes  with  the  Looking-Glass 
River.  The  upland  portion  of  the  farm  was  thoroughly 
fertile,  but  its  development  and  cultivation  did  not  specially 
interest  Mr.  Chandler,  except  as  furnishing  the  needed 
base  for  his  experiments  upon  the  marsh.  He  said, 
'  Michigan  contains  thousands  of  acres  of  precisely  this 
kind  of  land.  The  drainage  of  this  particular  marsh  is 
difficult,  as  much  so  as  is  the  case  with  any  land  in  this 
peninsula  which  is  not  a  hopeless  swamp.  If  this  tract 
can  be  reclaimed,  others  can  be,  and  I  propose  to  give  the 
experiment  of  reclamation  a  thorough  trial.  I  have  the 
money,  and  I  believe  I  have  the  pluck.  If  I  succeed,  it 
will  be  a  good  thing  for  the  State,  for  it.  will  show  how  to 
add  millions  of  dollars  worth  of  land  to  its  farms.  If  I  fail, 
it  will  also  be  a  good  thing,  for  it  will  settle  an  open  ques- 
tion, and  no  man  need  repeat  my  attempt.'  He  pushed 
this  experiment  vigorously  from  the  time  of  its  commence- 
ment until  his  death,  and  gave  to  it  his  frequent  personal 
supervision.  His  investments  in  the  marsh-farm  soon  came 
to  be  counted  by  many  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars. 

"  Originally,  practical  farmers  were  inclined  to  regard 
his  operations  as  sheer  folly,  but  as  they  saw  the  purpose, 
methods,  and  thoroughness  of  his  work,  a  just  appreciation 
of  its  aim  followed.  Mr.  Chandler  never  disguised  the 
character  of  this  enterprise.  Repeatedly  he  said  to  visitors 
at  the  farm  and  to  friends,  '  I  have  a  theory, — that  is  a  re- 
markably expensive  thing  to  have, — and  I  propose  to  test 
it  here ;  it  will  make  me  poorer,  but  it  may  make  others 
richer  some  time.' 

"  The  public  value  of  his  experiment  he  believed  to  be 
great,  and  that  fact  he  was  quick  to  make  prominent  when- 
ever it  seemed  necessary.  The  general  plan  of  drainage 
operations  consisted  in  connecting  by  a  large  ditch  Park 
Lake  (which  has  an  area  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres)  with  the  Looking-Glass  River.  This  main  ditch 
was  constructed  by  straightening  the  bed  of  Prairie  Creek, 
and  possessed  descent  enough  to  insure  a  slow  current  in 
wet  seasons.  It  is  about  four  miles  in  length,  and  averages 
fourteen  feet  in  width  by  four  in  depth.  At  intervals  of 
forty  rods  are  constructed  lateral  ditches,  as  a  rule  five  feet 
in  width  at  the  top  by  three  in  depth.  This  part  of  the 
work  had  not  been  completed  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Chandler's 
death,  but  still  the  lateral  ditching  had  reached  about  fifty 
miles  in  aggregate  length,  and  had  well  drained  about  one 
thousand  acres  in  the  western  end  of  the  marsh,  near  the 
outlet   into   the  Looking-Glass.     In  that  portion  of  the 


360 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHiaAN. 


farm  the  first  results  of  the  drainage— the  rotting  down 
of  the  surface  of  the  marsh  into  a  vegetable  mould— have 
already  manifested  themselves  satisfactorily.  The  extent 
to  which  this  decomposition  will  continue  is  not  com- 
pletely tested,  nor  does  it  yet  appear  what  will  be  the  full 
measure  of  the  arability  of  soil  which  will  be  created  by 
this  process,  supplemented  by  the  tile-draining  which  will 
follow  the  subsidence  of  the  marsh  to  a  permanent  level. 
This  peaty  surface  varies  from  two  and  a  half  feet  to  a  rod 
in  depth,  and  promises  to  become  an  enormously  produc- 
tive soil.  The  experiments,  thus  far  tried  upon  it  have 
resulted  hopefully.  Much  of  the  native  grass  furnished 
excellent  hay,  and  stock  fatted  upon  it  thoroughly  with  no 
more  than  the  usual  allowance  of  grain.  The  tame  grass 
sown  was  chiefly  fowl-meadow  and  timothy.  The  former 
Mr.  Chandler  had  seen  growing  in  Holland  on  reclaimed 
land,  and  he  determined  to  give  it  a  trial.  He  was  only 
able  to  find  the  seed  in  the  Boston  market,  and  there  paid 
for  it  four  dollars  per  bushel  of  eleven  pounds.  It  is  a 
species  of  red-top,  and  soon  yielded  from  one  and  a  half  to  two 
tons  of  excellent  hay  per  acre.  For  four  seasons  this  seeding 
down  with  tame  grasses  was  tried  with  satisfactory  results, 
and  then  other  experiments  followed.  In  the  fall  of  1878 
twelve  acres  of  marsh,  then  well  seeded  down  with  grass, 
were  thoroughly  plowed  by  Superintendent  Hughes,  who 
in  the  following  season  raised  thereon  corn,  potatoes,  ruta- 
bagas, and  oats.  The  results  conclusively  showed  that  the 
marsh  possessed  general  productiveness,  although  the  ex- 
periment itself  wa&  marred  by  the  unseasonable  frosts  of 
1879.  The  corn  looked  well  at  the  outset,  but  was  severely 
injured  in  the  end.  The  potato-crop  was  a  good  one,  and 
the  yield  of  oats  was  also  large.  In  the  fall  of  1879 
another  tract  of  twelve  acres  was  plowed,  and  the  same  ex- 
periment was  put  in  process  of  repetition. 

"  Superintendent  Hughes  is  of  the  opinion  that  within 
another  year  the  reclaimed  marsh  will  produce  one  hundred 
bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre.  A  short  time  before  his  death 
Mr.  Chandler  said  that  in  view  of  the  success  which  had  at- 
tended the  experiments  already  tried,  he  now  felt  confident 
that  in  time  his  farm  would  be  pointed  out  as  an  ague-bed 
transformed  into  one  of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of  prop- 
erty in  Central  Michigan,  and  would  demonstrate  the  re- 
claimability  of  large  tracts  of  swamp-land  in  that  State. 
About  five  hundred  acres  of  the  marsh  are  seeded  with 
fowl-meadow  grass;  about  three  hundred  acres  of  this  is 
mowed,  and  the  remainder  is  used  for  pasturage.  Over  four 
hundred  tons  of  excellent  hay  were  cut  there  in  the  season 
of  1879. 

"  Outside  of  the  interest  attaching  to  it  by  reason  of  the 
drainage  experiments,  the  Chandler  farm  would  deserve 
notice  as  one  of  the  most  thoroughly  equipped  and  stocked 
of  the  new  farms  of  Michigan.  It  is  traversed  by  a  State  road, 
and  by  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad  (which 
has  established  a  signal-station  near  the  farm-house).  Its 
buildings  are  located  upon  the  highest  ground.  They  are 
substantially  constructed,  and  surrounded  with  all  the  evi- 
dences of  thrift.  The  main  house  of  the  farm,  which  is 
occupied  by  the  superintendent  and  his  family,  is  a  commodi- 
ous Irame  structure,  two  stories  in  height,  and  conveniently 
partitioned  off  into  spacious  and  airy  apartments.     Near  it 


is  the  horse-barn  (thirty-two  by  fifty-four  feet  in  dimen- 
sions), with  sheep-sheds  adjoining.  About  a  half-mile  to 
the  east  are  two  tenant-houses,  occupied  by  families  em- 
ployed on  the  farm.  On  the  east  side  of  the  State  road,  at 
a  distance  of  half  a  mile,  is  a  large  barn  erected  in  1879 ; 
its  main  portion  is  forty-one  by  sixty-six  feet  in  dimensions, 
with  a  wing  thirty-eight  by  ninety  feet ;  its  height  is  forty- 
four  feet  to  the  ridge  ;  attached  are  sheds  two  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  in  length  and  L-shaped.  This  barn  is  largely 
used  for  storage  purposes,  and  will  receive  two  hundred  and 
fifty  tons  of  hay.  The  basement  of  its  wing  is  divided 
into  sixty  cattle-stalls,  thirty  on  each  side,  with  a  broad 
passage  through  the  centre.  The  stalls  are  ingeniously 
arranged  in  the  most  improved  style,  and  with  a  special 
regard  for  cleanliness.  In  the  basement  of  the  main  barn 
is  a  large  root-cellar  (capable  of  holding  two  thousand 
bushels  of  potatoes,  turnips,  etc.),  stabling  accommodations 
for  eight  horses,  two  large  box-stalls  for  stallions,  a  feed- 
room,  twenty  by  twenty-five  feet  in  size,  numerous  calf- 
pens,  and  many  other  conveniences. 

"  Located  above  are  two  granaries,  each  twelve  by  twenty- 
six  feet  in  dimensions.  Attached  to  the  barn,  but  in  a 
separate  building,  is  a  twelve-liorse  power  engine,  used  for 
cutting  feed  and  for  other  farm  purposes.  A  large  automa- 
tic windmill  and  pump  supply  water  in  abundance.     . 

"  The  farm  is  well  stocked ;  on  it  are  seventeen  horses, 
including  '  Mark  Antony,'  an  imported  Normandy  stallion, 
which  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  Percheron  breed.  There 
are  also  one  hundred  and  twenty  head  of  handsome  graded 
cattle  on  the  farm,  three  hundred  sheep  graded  from  Shrop- 
shire Down  bucks,  and  twenty-three  pure-bred  Essex  swine. 
In  wagons  and  implements  of  every  kind  the  equipment  is 
complete,  and  all  are  of  the  best  manufacture  and  most  im- 
proved quality.  The  force  of  laborers  on  the  farm,  as  a  rule, 
includes  five  men  in  summer  and  three  in  winter,  large 
gangs  being  employed  during  the  two  months  of  the  haying 
season,  and  also  when  there  is  any  extensive  fencing  or 
ditching  enterprise  to  be  pushed.  Mr.  Chandler's  experi- 
ments were  closely  watched  by  the  farmers  of  Michigan. 
Visits  were  frequent  from  them  singly,  in  small  parties,  and 
in  club  or  grange  excursions  to  the  marsh,  and  they  always 
met  a  hospitable  reception.  Letters  of  inquiry  also  came 
from  many  parts  of  the  State,  giving  evidences  of  the  wide- 
spread character  of  the  interest  felt.  Mr.  Chandler  him- 
self when  in  Michigan  visited  the  farm  at  least  once  a 
month,  inspecting  the  work  thoroughly,  discussing  plans 
with  the  superintendent,  making  suggestions,  and  giving 
orders.  His  experience  as  a  farmer  in  his  boyhood  fur- 
nished ideas  which  were  yet  useful  and  a  judgment  which 
was  well  informed,  still  he  was  ready  to  welcome  all  inno- 
vations that  promised  good  results,  and  he  closed  many  dis- 
cussions with  his  superintendents  by  remarking,  '  If  you 
come  at  me  with  facts,  that  is  enough :  I  never  argue 
against  them.'  " 

The  following  agricultural  statistics  of  the  county  of 
Clinton  at  different  periods  from  the  year  1840  to  the  year 
1874,  inclusive,  are  gathered  from  the  returns  of  the  several 
censuses  by  the  United  States  and  the  State  of  Michigan, 
viz.: 


AGRICULTURE. 


361 


1840. 

Number  of  neat  cattle  in  the  county 1,621 

"         swine  in  the  county 2,560 

"         sheep     "           "      294 

Pounds  of  wool  shorn 215 

Bushels  of  wheat  harvested  in  the  preceding  year 18,632 

«         Indian  corn     "            "            "            15,296 

"         barley               "            "            "            100 

«         oats                  "            "            "            11,310 

"         potatoes           "            "            "            17,033 

Tons  of  hay  cut  preceding  year 984 

Pounds  of  sugar  made  (1840) 27,666 

1850. 

Whole  number  of  occupied  farms 652 

Cash  value                "            "         $549,835 

Total  number  of  acres  improved 21,825 

"           "          neat  cattle  kept  in  county 4,760 

«            "           sheep                 "         "         5,085 

"           "          swine                "        "        4,788 

"     value  of  live  stock $108,671 

Bushels  of  wheat  harvested  in  preceding  year 54,297 

«         rye                "                 "            "   328 

"         Indian  corn  raised        "            "   64,967 

"          oats                   "              "             "   38,960 

barley                «              "             "   161 

"         buckwheat       "             "            "   8,126 

"          potatoes           "              "             "    41,000 

Value  of  orchard  products  preceding  year $337 

Tons  of  hay  cut  preceding  year 5,013 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  (1850) 14,638 

"          maple-sugar  made  (1850) 125,024 

'<          butter  made  (June,  1849,  to  June,  1850) 135,613 

"         cheese     "            "            "            "        5,936 

1854. 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  land 28,870 

"         neat  cattle  in  county 7,423 

"         swine                "       ^.S+l 

"         sheep                "       5,368 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  preceding  year 14,096 

pork  marketed      "            "   110,599 

Acres  of  wheat  harvested       "            "  ■ 6>736 

Bushels        "            "              "            "  98."8 

Acres  of  corn            "              "            "   „M44 

Bushels  of  corn         "                "             " 118,686 

"         all  other  grains  harvested  in  preceding  year.  44,9-!.i 

Bushels  potatoes  raised  preceding  year ^"H^i 

Tons  of  hay  cut                     «             "    ,6,997 

Pounds  of  butter  made        "            "    "!'»il 

cheese      "          "            "   ,,?'io? 

"        maple-sugar  made  in  1854 125,185 

I860. 

Whole  number  of  occupied  farms f,l'ilt 

acres  improved to  dt'ttn 

Total  cash  value  of  farms '  ii  =09 

Number  of  neatcattle  in  county i'tti 

swine                 "         9'?26 

"         sheep                 "        ".f7 

Total  value  of  live  stock sn's« 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  in  preceding  year lio  is. 

Bushels  of  wheat  harvested      ''^             ^^   6  731 

»    Sdiancorn"     «      ;;  ':::::.:::':::"^^  le^os 

»          oats                "            "                   ""''^^ 

"*'^                „            «              "           4,146 

"         barley                                      ,,    ,'  „., 

buckwheat  "           "                  If-t 

"         potatoes  raised         "                  0;''°" 

Value  of  orchard  products        '^^             ['^   *^'^^» 

Tons  of  hay  cut                          '              ^,    ihami 

Pounds  of  butter  made             '^              ^^   32463 

"        cheese    "                 "                  59q'27!1 

"        maple-sugar  made   "                  izy,zii 

1864.      • 

Number  of  acres  improved  in  the  county 67,007 

«'          sheep  over  six  months  old los'aai 

Pounds  of  wool  sheared  in  preceding  year ulli 

Acres  of  wheat  harvested          '                     qa'qn!! 

Bushels                      _^                ,,             „    169,472 

"       aU  Other  grains  harvested  in  preceding  year...  117,480 

"      potatoes  raised  in  preceding  year 6^,J*^ 

Tons  of  hay  cut                         ^^             ^^    459'900 

Pounds  of  pork  marketed                       ^^    382'l46 

butter  made             ^^             ,_    -  23,'568 

cheese                                      „ 174  183 

"         maple-sugar  made  

46 


1870. 

Number  of  acres  improved  in  county 113,578 

Value  of  farms $9,248,012 

"      all  live  stock $1,321,970 

Number  of  sheep  kept 44,895 

Pounds  of  wool  shorn 196,444 

Number  of  milch  cows 6,620 

Pounds  of  butter  made  in  the  preceding  year 796,970 

Bushels  of  wheat  harvested           "             "   499,030 

"          Indian  corn  "                "              "    274,606 

«          oats                 "                 ""             "    285,419 

"          barley             "                 "             "   17,871 

"          buckwheat    "                 "             "   8,603 

"          potatoes  raised               "             "   227,140 

Tons  of  hay  out  in  the  preceding  year 29,369 

Pounds  of  maple-sugar  made  (1870) 78,500 

1874. 

Total  acres  of  improved  land 144,568 

Number  of  farms 3,290 

Average  area  of  farms  (acres) 83i 

Number  of  nent  cattle  kept 22,476 

"           swine  over  six  months  old 10,705 

Pounds  of  pork  marketed  in  preceding  year 1,040,847 

Number  of  sheep  kept  in  county 43,064 

Number  of  sheep  sheared  in  preceding  year 43,312 

Pounds  of  wool          "                     "            "    175,909 

Acres  of  wheat  harvested              "            "    36,979 

Bushels  of"             "                      "            "    665,552 

Acres  of  corn            "                      "            "    13,827 

Bushels  of  corn        "                      "            "    496,207 

all  other  grains            "            "    449,423 

potatoes  rniscd             "            "    90,390 

Tons  of  hay  cut  preceding  year 28,106 

Pounds  of  butter  made  preceding  year 811,826 

"          cheese     "             "            "    21,916 

"          maple-sugar  made  in  1874 175,640 

Bushels  of  apples  raised  in  preceding  year 105,205 

"          peaches  "                "            "    '* 

pears       "                "            "    ^85 

plums      "                 "            "    ,93 

cherries  "                 "            "    1,324 

Tons  of  grapes          ".^."       ,.  "    *,„    *! 

Total  value  of  fruits  raised  in  preceding  year 'nqo 

Total  acres  devoted  to  fruits  in  1874 6,932 

The  agricultural  report  published  by  the  Secretary  of 
State  for  1877  shows  the  number  of  bushels  of  wheat 
raised  in  that  year  in  the  several  townships  of  Clinton 
County  to  have  been  as  follows  : 

Bath 63,590 

Bengal f/^ 

Bingham f'f^ 

Dallas 9*'2" 

De  Witt 81.^85 

Duplain f'8^2 

Eagle 89,944 

Essex  »B,aBa 

Geenbush..:.. 60,092 

Sr-":::::::;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::=:   ^m- 

ovTd '"'^l* 

^::::::::::. K 

Victor -iniTA 

Watertown sl'sti 

Westphalia 84,874 

Total  bushels  raised  in  county 1,200,433 

Total  number  of  acres  harvested ^*'^^?  „„ 

Average  yield  of  bushels  per  acre -sa-Wa 

Agricultural  statistics— gathered  from  the  same  source 
as  the  above— for  the  year  1878  show  the  following  yield 
of  wheat  in  the  several  townships  of  Clinton  County,  viz. : 

Bath  township,  from  2756  acres  produced  56016  bushels, 
an  average  of  20.33  bushels  per  acre;  Bengal,  from  4117 
acres  93,900  bushels,  average  22.81  ;  Bingham,  from  4027 
acres  95,661  bushels,  average  23.76  ;  Dallas,  from  4696  acres 
101,949  bushels,  average  21.71  ;  De  Witt,  from  3919  acres 
97,279  bushels,  average  24.82  ;  Duplain,  from  2233  acres 
52',213  bushels,  average  23.38;  Eagle,  from  4523  acres 
104,989  bushels,  average  28.21 ;  Essex,  from  4727  acres 


362 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


102,918  bushels,  average  21.77;  Greenbush,  from  3329 
acres  75,502  bushels,  average  22.68  ;  Lebanon,  from  3587 
acres  79,579  bushels,  average  22.19 ;  Olive,  from  3723 
acres  86,994  bushels,  average  23.37  ;  Ovid,  from  4131 
acres  106,862  bushels,  average  25.87;  Riley,  from  3456 
acres  81,608  bushels,  average  23.61 ;  Victor,  from  3454 
acres  82,414  bushels,  average  23.86;  Watertown,  from 
4825  acres  124,783  bushels,  average  25.86  ;  Westphalia, 
from  3779  acres  86,492  bushels,  average  22.89.  Total 
yield  of  the  county,  from  61,282  acres,  1,429,159  bushels, 
an  average  yield  of  23.32  bushels  per  acre. 

In  the  same  year  the  county  produced  1,100,535  bushels 
of  corn,  from  18,357  acres;  396,356  bushels  of  oats,  from 
13,184  acres ;  9788  bushels  clover-seed,  from  6600  acres ; 
16,029  bushels  barley,  from  861 J  acres;  144,895  bushels 
potatoes,  from  1738  acres;  31,093  tons  of  hay,  from 
23,843  acres.  The  greatest  amount  of  hay  raised  in  any 
one  township  was  produced  by  De  Witt,  the  greatest 
amount  of  potatoes  by  Bingham,  and  the  most  clover-seed 
and  barley  by  the  township  of  Ovid. 

The  total  number  of  pounds  of  wool  shorn  in  the  county 
in  1878,  as  shown  by  the  returns,  was  267,236,  from 
52,799  sheep,  the  product  of  the  several  townships  being 
as  follows :  Bath,  20,747  pounds  of  wool,  from  3934  sheep ; 
Bengal,  13,026  pounds  of  wool,  from  2683  sheep ;  Bing- 
ham, 11,865  pounds  of  wool,  from  2401  sheep;  Dallas, 
17,614  pounds  of  wool,  from  3930  sheep  ;  De  Witt,  20,621 
pounds  of  wool,  from  4106  sheep ;  Duplain,  7363  pounds 
of  wool,  from  1529  sheep;  Eagle,  12,755  pounds  of  wool, 
from  2534  sheep  ;  Essex,  2146  pounds  of  wool,  from  3901 
sheep;  Greenbush,  15,588  pounds  of  wool,  from  2872 
sheep ;  Lebanon,  21,135  pounds  of  wool,  from  4167  sheep  ; 
Olive,  14,006  pounds  of  wool,  from  2894  sheep ;  Ovid, 
18,288  pounds  of  wool,  from  3501  sheep;  Riley,  16,478 
pounds  of  wool,  from  3309  sheep ;  Victor,  23,745  pounds 
of  wool,  from  4350  sheep ;  Watertown,  20,719  pounds  of 
wool,  from  3934  sheep;  Westphalia,  11,826  pounds  of 
wool,  from  2754  sheep. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  statistics  of  the  agriculture 
of  the  county  for  the  present  year  can  be  given,  as  at  this 
time  (July,  1880)  no  returns  of  the  census  just  completed 
have  been  made. 

MANUFACTURING   INDUSTRIES. 

Clinton,  though  almost  exclusively  an  agricultural  county., 
contains  a  number  of  manufacturing  establishments,  some 
of  which  are  quite  extensive.  These  are  located  principally 
in  St.  Johns  and  Ovid,  and  will  be  found  mentioned  more 
particularly  in  the  histories  of  those  villages.  The  general 
manufacturing  statistics  of  the  county,  however,  as  shown 
by  the  several  United  States  and  State  censuses  from  1850 
to  1874,  inclusive,  are  here  given,  as  follows: 


FOE,   THE   YKAR   1850. 

Number  of  flouring-mills  reported 2 

Capital  invested  in  flouring-mills  $7,000 

Barrels  of  flour  manufactured  in  preceding  year 7,000 

Value  of  flour  manufactured                "            "    $33,000 

Number  of  saw-mills 6 

Capital  invested  in  lumber  manufacture $10,000 

Annual  product  of  lumber  (feet) 1,630,000 

Value  of  product $9  010 

Aggregate  amount  of  capital  invested  in  all  kinds  of 

manufactures  (flour-mills  and  saw-mills  included) $21,175 


Number  of  hands  employed  in  all  manufactures 28 

Aggregate  value  of  annual  product  of  all  kinds  of  man- 
ufactures in  the  county $58,900 

1854. 

Number  of  flouring-mills  reported....: .  1 

Capital  invested  in  flouring-mills ....'  $7,000 

Barrels  of  flour  made  in  the  preceding  year 1,500 

Value  of  flour  manufactured ; $12,000 

Number  of  saw-mills  operated  in  the  county 8 

"         feet  of  lumber  sawed  in  preceding  year 1,572,000 

Value  of  product • fJHIl" 

Amount  of  capital  invested  in  lumber  manufacture $15,800 

Number  of  hands  employed 23 

1864. 

Number  of  flour-mills  reported  (steam,  4;  water,  3) 1 

"         runs  of  stones ,....;.... 15 

Amount  of  capital  invested  in  flouring-mills.... $29,900 

Barrels  of  flour  made  in  the  preceding  year 5,450 

Value            «              "                   "            .",   ■• *^^'"?2 

Number  of  persons  employed  in  flour-mills 12 

"  saw-mills  operated  in  the  county  (steam,  6; 

water,  4) 1" 

Capital  invested  in  lumber  manufacture $18,600 

Feet  of  lumber  sawed  in  the  preceding  year 1,247,000 

Value          "             «                        "             "    «25,82» 

Number  of  hands  employed  in  lumber  manufacture 26 

Number   of   manufactories  other  than   saw-mills   and 

flour-mills J 

Number  of  persons  employed  in  same .  64 

Amount  of  capital  invested         "         $31,000 

Value  of  products  of  same  in  preceding  year.... $64,480 

1874. 

Number  of  flouring-mills  in  county  (steam,  5 ;  water,  6)  11 

"         runs  of  stones  in  operation 25 

Barrels  of  flour  made  in  preceding  year... 28,480 

Value            "             "             "             "         $220,034 

Capital  invested  in  floUring-mills $70,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 26 

"          saw-mills  in  the  County  (steam,  17 ;  water,  3)  20 

Feet  of  lumber  sawed  in  preceding  year..... 8,919,000 

Value      "        "           "        "  tni,m 

Capital  invested  in  lumber  manufacture $62,400 

Persons  employed  in                 "                 ^^ 

Number  of  wood-working*  manufactories 3 

Capital  invested  in  same $8,800 

Number  of  persons  employed 12 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $10,600 

Number  of  irOn-workingf  manufactories 2 

Capital  invested  in  same $7,500 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $6,000 

Number  of  persons  employed 5 

Number  of  agricultural-implement  works 3 

Capital  invested  in  such  works $12,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $18,800 

Number  of  persons  employed 13 

*'           carriage-  and  sleigh-manufactories 4 

Capital  invested  in  same $18,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $26,1180 

Number  of  bands  employed 28 

"           furniture- and  chair-manufactories 2 

Capital  invested  in  same $76,200 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $50,461 

Number  of  hands  employed..' ', : '48 

*'           pump-manufactories 1 

Capital  invested  in  same $6,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year .' $2,800 

Number  of  hands  employed ^ 

*'           stave-  and  heading-factories 2 

Capital  invested  in  same '. $26,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year...' $110,000 

Number  of  persons  employed ', ^2 

"          barrel-,  keg-,  tub-,  and  pail-factories 2 

Capital  invested  in  same $1,200 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $1,900 

Number  of  persons  employe'd...' 3 

"           wooden-ware  manufactories 2 

Capital  invested  in  same.... $7,000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $7,947 

Number  of  hands  employed l'^ 

"           saddle-,   harness-,   and    trunk-factories  re- 
ported  1 

Capital  invested  in  same $3,000 

Value  of-product  in  preceding  year $7,000 


»  Including  in  this  class  planing-  and  turning-mills,  and  sash-, 
door-,  blind-,  and  hub-  and  spoke-factories. 
■f  Foundries,  machine-shops,  and  boiler-shops  included  in  this  class. 


VILLAGE  OF  ST.  JOHNS. 


363 


Number  of  hands  employed 4 

"           breweries  reported  in  county 3 

Cnpital  inrested  in  same... jy  Oqq 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $ll'616 

Number  of  persons  employed '     i; 

"          brick- and  tile-mauufaotories .'.  1 

Capital  invested  in  same , $600 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year Jl  000 

Number  of  marble- and  cut-stone  works '    1 

Capital  invested  in  same '.  $8  000 

Value  of  product  in  preceding  year $8000 

Number  of  hands  employed '  jg 

Whole  number  of  inanufacturing  establishments  reported 

in  Clinton  County  in  1873 go 

Whole  number  of  persons  employed  in  same. 323 

"       amount  of  capital  invested     "     "     $315  700 

Total  value  of  product  in  1873 $599709 

POPULATION. 
The  population  of  Clinton  County  in  1837  was  shown 
by  the  census  of  that  year  to  be  five  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine,  and  in  1840  it  had  increased  to  sixteen  hundred  and 
fourteen.  The  censuses  taken  at  subsequent  periods  show 
the  population  of  the  county  and  of  its  several  townships 
to  have  been  as  given  below  for  the  years  indicated,  viz. : 


1845. 

Bath 151 

Bengal 49 

Bingham 72 

Dallas 108 

De  Witt 418 

Duphiin 213 

Eagle... 364 

Essex 193 

Greenbush 105 

Lebanon .,  114 

Olive 169 

Ovid 102 

Riley 1.S4 

Victor 229 

Watertown....  198 

Westphalia....  401 


1850. 
222 
143 
185 
185 
706 
419 
521 
410 
318 
192 
228 
172 
191 
277 
315 
618 


1854. 
283 
350 
336 
476 
885 
559 
657 
833 
518 
389 
316 
276 
400 
403 
442 
803 


1860. 

677 
638 

1,460 
910 

1,139 
916 
912 

1,013 
967 
661 
627 
936 
607 
662 
808 

1,091 


1864. 
625 
706 

1,794 
932 

1,086 
997 
844 

1,056 

1,071 
645 
605 

1,171 
641 
562 
910 

1,095 


1870. 
1,125 
1,086 
2,910 
1,360 
1,306 
1,493 
1,008 
1,501 
1,486 
1,119 
1,156 
2,420 
1,139 
940 
1,297 
1,499 


1874. 
1,205 
1,200 
2,963 
1,519 
1,410 
1,567 

985 
1,513 
1,473 
1,129 
1,168 
2,553 
1,163 

968 
1,298 
1,548 


Total 3,060      5,102      7,926    13,923    14,739     22,845      23,661 


CHAPTER   L. 


THE    VILLAGE    OF    ST.  JOHNS. 

Situation  and  Natural  Advantages— Settlement  and  Progress  of  the 
Village — Village  Plat  and  Additions — Progress  in  1856  and  1857— 
Village  Incorporation  and  List  of  Officers — Churches — St.  Johns 
Union  Schools — Post-Offlce — Societies  and  Orders — Cemetery  As- 
sociation— Banks — Manufacturing  Industries — St.  Johns  Fire  De- 
partment— Memorable  Fires — Public  and  Private  Buildings. 

The  incorporated  village  of  St.  Johns,  the  county-seat 
of  Clinton  County,  is  situated  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
township  of  Bingham,  the  southeast  corner  of  the  corporate 
limits  being  the  territorial  centre  of  that  township.  The 
village  occupies  an  elevated  and  excellent  site,  and  is  justly 
regarded  as  one  of  the  handsomest  villages  in  Central  Mich- 
igan. The  main  portion  of  the  town  lies  upon  a  ridge 
which  slopes  gradually  and  gracefully  upon  all  sides,  and 
iiova  which  the  eye  may  sweep  through  an  extended  and 
picturesque  view  towards  all  points  of  the  compass.  The 
kltitude  of  the  town  is  seven  hundred  and  fifty-five  i'eet 
above  sea-level,  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  feet  above 
Lake  Huron,  and  thirty-oue  feet  above  the  village  of  Ovid, 

*By  David  Schwartz. 


ten  miles  to  the  eastward,  while  towards  the  west  there 
is  a  general  gradual  decline  to  the  Grand  River. 

Early  in  its  history  St.  Johns  was  regarded  as  an  un- 
healthy locality,  by  reason  of  the  swamps  which  lie  around 
it ;  but  these  having  been  made  fruitful  garden-spots,  it  is 
maintained,  and  with  an  excellent  show  of  truth,  that  there 
is  now  no  healthier  spot  in  Michigan  than  St.  Johns.  The 
streets  a»e  handsomely  laid  out  and  well  shaded;  and 
among  the  numerous  handsome  and  comfortable-looking 
homes  of  the  village,  there  are  many  which  are  especially 
noticeable  for  elegance  and  refined  taste  in  their  architec- 
ture. 

To  the  advantage  of  being  the  county-seat  the  village 
owes,  of  course,  much  of  its  business  activity  and  enter- 
prise ;  but,  aside  from  that,  it  gains  much  prominence  as  an 
important  manufacturing  and  railway  shipping-point.  It 
contains  (io  July,  1880)  a  population  of  upwards  of  two 
thousand  five  hundred.  Taking  the  growth  of  recent  years 
as  a  basis,  the  village  is  likely  to  continue  in  the  expansion 
of  its  business  and  population  in  the  future  as  in  the  past. 

SETTLEMENT  AND  PKOGEESS  OF  THE  VILLAGE, 
Late  in  the  year  1853,  while  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
Railway  was  being  slowly  extended  westward  from  Detroit, 
a  party  of  i'our  State  officials  at  Lansing  examined  the  line 
of  the  proposed  railway  with  a  view  to  making  purchases 
of  eligible  lands  for  village-sites  or  other  profitable  enter- 
prises. These  four  officials  were  John  Swegles,  Auditor- 
General ;  Porter  Kibby,  Commissioner  of  the  Land-Office; 
B.  C.  Whittemore,  State  Treasurer  ;  and  H.  S.  Mead,  Dep- 
uty Attorney-General.  They  were  in  a  position  to  know 
something  about  choice  tracts  of  land  in  Michigan,  and  they 
delegated  to  John  Swegles  the  task  of  securing  a  tract  on 
the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  line  likely  to  become  a  railway- 
station  and  village-site.  Robert  Higham,  chief  engineer 
of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  who  had  the  fixing 
of  sites  for  railway-stations,  was  taken  into  the  party  as  a 
measure  of  policy,  and  Charles  L.  Dibble,  landlord  of  the 
"  Biddle  House''  of  Detroit,  was  admitted  as  a  sixth  part- 
ner, on  the  ground,  probably,  that  he  was  a  good  fellow  and 
kept  a  good  hotel. 

Mr.  Swegles  was  to  buy  the  land  and  transact  the  general 
business  connected  with  the  land-purchases  and  proposed 
subsequent  operations,  and  was  appointed  attorney-in-fact 
for  each  member  of  the  company.  He  got  a  pretty  clear 
idea  from  Higham  that  the  railway  would  fix  a  station  at 
the  point  now  covered  by  St.  Johns,  and  he  at  once  went 
to  that  locality  to  buy  land.  His  first  purchase  was  eighty 
acres  in  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
9,  of  George  W.  Estes,  representing  the  owners.  At  that 
time  but  one  acre  on  that  eighty  had  been  chopped.  He 
bought  immediately  afterwards  land  enough  to  make  his 
entire  purchase  aggregate  nine  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
and  to  include  the  south  half  of  section  9  and  all  of  section 
16,  except  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter. 
The  land  having  been  purchased  and  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage being  chosen,  Mr.  Swegles  at  once  set  about  the  work 
of  surveying  and  clearing  streets  and  lots.  He  brought  out 
a  gang  of  choppers  and  other  laborers,  and  engaged  George 
W.  Estes  to  take  charge  of  them,  and  to  superintend  tlie  job 


364 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


of  making  a  commencement  for  a  town.  This  was  early  in 
1854,  and  the  business  in  hand  was  taken  hold  of  with  an 
energy  that  betokened  prompt  results.  Mr.  Swegles  him- 
self joined  the  band  of  workers,  and  pushed  matters  ahead 
with  great  rapidity.  The  village-site  was  nearly  all  woods 
then,  and  the  work  of  chopping  was  of  course  the  first  to 
be  done.  As  soon  as  possible  Mr.  Swegles  built  a  steam 
saw-mill,  and  in  the  winter  of  1854-55  had  it  in  motion. 
The  first  frame  house  put  up  in  the  village  was  built  by 
Cornelius  Vrooman  before'  Swegles  put  up  his  saw-mill. 
Vrooman  hired  John  Avery  to  haul  the  lumber  from  the 
Colony.  The  house  stood  just  back  of  where  the  "  Gibbs 
House"  stands,  and  was  put  up  by  guess,  as  the  town  had 
then  not  been  surveyed.  Vrooman  boarded  the  surveyors 
and  laborers,  and  called  his  place  the  "  Whittemore  House." 

About  the  time  Mr.  Swegles  began  to  clear  the  land 
comprising  the  village-site  Samuel  Gardner,  an  early  settler 
in  Bingham  township  and  for  years  the  landlord  of  a  tavern 
in  Bingham  on  the  Bengal  town-line,  came  on  and  bought 
a  lot  upon  what  is  now  the  extreme  northern  corner  of 
Clinton  Avenue  on  the  east  side.  He  quickly  put  up  a 
board  building  for  a  tavern,  and  called  it  the  "  Gardner 
House,"  but  had  kept  only  a  short  time  when  he  leased  it 
to  George  W.  Estes,  who  changed  the  name  to  that  of  the 
"  Clinton  House."  John  Sw«gles  built  a  store  building  on 
Clinton  Avenue  just  north  of  where  the  "  Gibbs  House" 
stands.  He  put  in  a  good  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and 
hired  George  F.  Mead  and  George  W.  Estes  as  his  clerks. 

Thus  the  embryo  village  was  started  in  the  summer  of 
1854,  with  a  hot«l,  a  store,  and  a  saw-mill  as  a  commence- 
ment. The  railway  was  pushing  westward,  and  Swegles' 
village  was  beginning  to  attract  attention.  It  was  high 
time,  therefore,  that  it  should  be  dignified  with  a  name, 
since  it  gave  gratifying  signs  of  healthy  growth,  and  so  in 
due  season  it  was  christened. 

There  appears  to  be  some  conflict  of  testimony  touching 
the  identity  of  the  person  to  whom  the  honor  of  having 
named  the  village  was  due.  Both  George  W.  Estes  and 
Elder  C.  A.  Lamb  claim  that  honor,  but  both  unite  in  say- 
ing the  name  was  bestowed  in  honor  of  John  Swegles,  the 
projector  and  creator  of  the  place.  Mr.  Estes  says  that  in 
the  summer  of  1854,  John  Swegles,  David  Sturgis,  M.  E. 
Burroughs,  C.  A.  Lamb,  and  Estes  himself  (then  super- 
visor of  the  township)  were  one  day  sitting  upon  a  log  in 
Walker  Street  (Clinton  Avenue  contained  at  that  time  a 
good  many  standing  trees),  when  the  question  of  naming 
the  village  came  up.  Swegles,  desirous  of  honoring  his 
business  associates,  suggested  Whittemoreville  and  Mead- 
ville,  while  Sturgis  put  forth  Sweglesville.  Estes  thought 
the  most  eminently  appropriate  designation  would  be  St. 
Johns,  as  a  mark  of  honor  to  John  Swegles.  The  idea 
seemed  to  suit  the  others,  and  they  with  one  accord  assented 
to  it.  Swegles  said  he  would  submit  the  proposition  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  company,  and  so  the  conference  ended. 
Mr.  Estes  goes  on  to  say  that  before  the  next  meeting  of 
the  company  John  T.  Newell  came  in  with  goods  for  the 
opening  of  a  store,  and  that  his  boxes  were  marked  "  St. 
Johns,"  thus  showing  that  the  name  had  already  gone 
abroad.  Estes  took  the  cover  from  one  of  Newell's  boxes 
and  nailed  it  against  a  tree,  with  the  name  St.  Johns  show- 


in"  in  bold  relief.  It  was  therefore  already  practically 
settled  as  to  the  name,  although  the  company  did  not 
formally  adopt  the  designation  until  some  time  afterwards. 
Elder  Lamb  says  that  at  the  conference  about  a  name 
only  he,  Swegles,  Sturgis,  and  Mead  were  present,  and  that 
after  the  names  of  Richmond,  Sweglesville,  and  Johnsville 
were  proposed,  he  (Lamb)  said,  "  Call  it  St.  Johns."'  Mr. 
Swegles  replied,  "  For  some  reasons  I  should  be  in  favor 
of  St.  Johns,"  adding,  "  Amen,  St.  Johns  let  it  be." 


JOHN   SWEGLES. 

In  this  connection  it  will  be  appropriate  to  note  the  facts 
that  John  Swegles  was  born  in  Hector,  N.  Y.,  April  10, 
1819 ;  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  and  abandoned  it  to  become  purser's  clerk  on  the 
brig  "  Porpoise"  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Survey;  was  later  a 
school-teacher,  and  in  1840  removed  to  Jonesville,  Mich. 
He  was  chosen  clerk  of  Hillsdale  County,  and  served  sev- 
eral terms ;  became  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Hillsdale 
Gazette,  and  in  1850  was  elected  audi  tor- general. 

Allusion  to  the  "  company''  suggests  the  explanation 
that  such  was  the  collective  title  by  which  the  association 
of  the  village  proprietors  was  by  common  consent  known. 
There  was  no  incorporation,  but  there  was  a  community  of 
property,  and  it  was  further  agreed  that  each  owner  should 
bear  his  proportionate  share  of  expenses  and  receive  like- 
wise his  due  share  of  the  gains.  At  the  outset  there  were 
six  proprietors,  and  each  qwned  one-sixth  of  the  property 
purchased.  To  John  Swegles  was  left  the  exclusive  con- 
trol and  management  of  affairs,  and  at  stated  periods  the 
proprietors  met  in  Detroit  to  receive  reports  and  review  the 
progress  of  the  business. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  coming  in  of  John 
T.  Newell  with  a  stock  of  goods.  Newell  was  the  second 
trader  in  the  town  (Swegles  being  the  first),  and  opened 
his  store  in  a  frame  building  that  stood  on  Clinton  Avenue 
just  south  of  "  Kipp's  Corner."     M.  E.  Burroughs,  who 


VILLAGE  OF  ST.  JOHNS. 


365 


previously  lived  near  De  Witt,  came  in  about  that  time,  and 
put  up  a  log  house  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  post- 
office.  He  started  it  as  a  meat-market,  and  presently 
John  Hicks,  of  De  Witt,  sent  him  a  few  hundred  dollars' 
worth  of  goods,  with  which  Burroughs  opened  a  store  in 
a  corner  of  his  market.  Olney  Brown  opened  a  store  late 
in  1854  on  Clinton  Avenue  south  of  Walker  Street,  and 
one  J.  C.  Sewell  opened  a  saloon  on  "Baggls  Corner" 
at  about  the  same  time. 

There  was  but  a  small  community  living  at  St.  Johns 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1854,  but  it  was  nevertheless  resolved 
to  have  an  "  Independence"  celebration.  The  exercises, 
which  included  music,  "  bowery  dances,"  speeches,  and  a 
dinner,  took  place  in  a  grove  then  occupying  a  place  upon 
which  the  Gibbs  House  barn  stands.  Hilliker,  of  Green- 
bush,  a  clarionet-player,  Wilcox,  a  fifer,  his  son,  a  drum- 
mer, and  a  man  with  a  violin  furnished  the  soul-stirring 
music  on  the  occasion,  while  James  W.  Ransom,  a  lawyer, 
delivered  the  oration.  The  dinner  was,  however,  a  failure, 
although  the  remainder  of  the  day's  celebration  proved  a 
satisfactory  success.  Just  as  the  company  sat  down  to  the 
table  there  came  up  a  terrific  rain-storm,  and  away  went  the 
assembled  company,  pell-mell,  for  shelter,  leaving  their 
dinner,  and  ending  abruptly  the  performances  of  the  waning 
Fourth.  The  celebration  in  1855  included  a  dinner  at 
Gibbs'  Eailroad  Exchange  and  a  general  happy  time  at  the 
grove,  where  the  oration  was  delivered  by  H.  C.  Hodge. 

The  Gardner  House  has  already  been  mentioned,  as  has 
the  fact  of  its  change  of  name  and  proprietorship.  Estes 
kept  it  until  1856,  and  then  turned  it  over  to  a  Mr.  Mc- 
Omber.  It  was  not  much  of  a  tavern,  according  to  reports, 
but  it  doubtless  served  its  purpose.  John  Hicks  says  he 
took  dinner  there  in  1856,  and  remembers,  that  rain  was 
falling  inside  as  well  as  outside,  and  that  the  guests  at  din- 
ner had  to  move  from  place.to  place  to  avoid  the-  rain-drops 
as  they  came  freely  and  copiously  into  the  dining-room. 

Early  in  1855,  Spencer  W.  Gibbs  came  to  St.  Johns  for 
the  purpose  of  building  a  hotel,  and,  buying  four  lots,  put 
up  the  "Railroad  Exchange,"  which  he  opened  July  1, 
1855.  A  year  after  that  he  sold  out  to  David  Sturgis  and 
William  L.  Hicks,  who  changed  the  name  of  the  house  to 
the  "St.  Johns  House,"  and  that  name  it  still  bears. 
When  Gibbs  came  to  town  with  his  family,  early  in  1855, 
he  occupied  with  Jacob  Passage  a  part  of  the  house  of  Dr. 
D.  C.  Stewart,  who  was  then  living  on  Walker  Street,  in  a 
building  now  used  as  his  barn.  Clinton  Avenue  was  then 
chopped  out,  but  it  was  full  of  stumps  and  fallen  trees, 
while  standing  trees  even  were  plentiful. 

■  At  this  time  the  west  side  of  Clinton  Avenue  contained 
the  store  of  Olney  Brown,  the  corner  whisky-shop  of  J.  C. 
Sewell,  a  slab  shanty  in  which  A.  F.  Cowell  was  living, 
upon  the  lot  now  occupied  by  his  store,  and  Marshall  Wil- 
cox's tin-shop.  A.  F.  Cowell  opened  a  store  in  1856  upon 
the  same  site,  and,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  has 
been  in  trade  there  ever  since.  On  the  east  side  of  the  street 
was  Swegles'  store,  and  in  that  store  was  a  shoemaker  by 
the  name  of  Kinch,  who  had  his  shop  and  lived  in  a  por- 
tion of  the  store  building.  Next  south  of  Swegles'  Corne- 
lius Vrooman  was  keeping  a  boarding-house  known  as  the 


Whittemore  House,  now  the  Gibbs  House.  Newell,  the 
store-keeper,  Blakeslee,  the  painter,  and  Deming,  the  shoe- 
maker, were  on  that  side,  as  was  the  Clinton  House,  while 
east,  on  Walker  Street,  was  Burroughs,  the  butcher.  Of 
those  then  residents  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
village  of  St.  Johns,  the  only  ones  now  living  in  the  town 
are  George  W.  Estes  and  wife,  A.  F.  Cowell  and  wife,  8. 
W.  Gibbs  and  wife,  Dr.  D.  C.  Stewart  and  wife,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Henry  Fitch,  the  widow  of  Lorenzo  Hall,  the  widow 
of  John  Swegles,  and  George  W.  Emmons.  Mr.  Eramona 
was  the  first  white  inhabitant  of  the  present  village  tract, 
and  lives  now  where  he  located  in  1845,  although  he  did 
not  make  a  permanent  settlement  thereon  until  1852. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  village  was  Charles  Cobb's 
daughter.  Her  birth  occurred  in  the  summer  of  1855, 
but  the  exact  date  cannot  now  be  given.  She  died  the  fol- 
lowing year.  The  first  male  child  born  was  George  A., 
son  of  George  W.  Estes,  born  Oct.  23,  1855.  The  first 
death  of  a  resident  was  that  of  Mrs.  Kinch,  wife  of  the 
village  shoemaker,  in  May,  1855.  She  was  buried  in  the 
village  cemetery,  which  had  been  .donated  by  the  village 
proprietors,  and  hers  was  the  first  interment  within  it. 
Before  May,  1855,  there  was  a  death  in  the  village,  that 
of  Thomas  Long,  a  railway  employee,  who  in  an  altercation 
with  a  fellow-laborer,  about  four  miles  west  of  St.  Johns, 
was  mortally  hurt.  He  was  brought  to  the  village,  where 
he  died,  but  his  body  was  conveyed  eastward  for  burial. 
The  first  man  buried  in  the  cemetery  was  Joseph  McKinney, 
a  railroad  hand,  and  over  him  was  erected  the  first  head- 
stone put  up  in  the  burying-ground.  It  bears  date  July 
17,  1857. 

During  the  fall  of  1854  the  new  village  received  its  first 
physician.  Dr.  D.  C.  Stewart,  who  has  since  that  time  re- 
sided continuously  in  St.  Johns.  A  Dr.  Darrall,  who  was 
livio"'  about  two  miles  south  of  the  vills^e  when  Dr.  Stewart 
located,  came  to  the  town  in  about  six  weeks  thereafter, 
and  next  to  him,  as  the  third  physician  of  the  village,  came 
Dr.  Louis  W.  Fasquelle,  still  one  of  the  village  practition- 
ers. Timothy  Baker  and  James  W.  Ransom,  lawyers,  came 
in  and  opened  offices,  and  in  that  same  year  John  Crawley 
and  Hiram  Herrington  began  in  business  as  blacksmiths. 
In  January,  1855,  James  Stiles  came  over  from  Greenbush 
and  made  his  home  upon  the  corner  of  Walker  and  Spring 
Streets,  where  Alonzo  Plumstead  now  lives,  and  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  splint-bottomed  chairs.  In  September, 
1855  George  W.  Stephenson  opened  a  tailor's  shop  on 
Clinton  Avenue,  just  south  of  what  is  now  known  as  Kipp's 
Corner,  and  there  built  Clinton  Hall,  where  schools,  Sunday- 
schools,  and  public  assemblies  were  held  at  an  early  day. 

In  1855  there  was  a  changfe  in  the  list  of  village  pro- 
prietors. Mead  sold  out  to  Swegles  and  N.  P.  Stewart, 
and  the  latter  becoming  possessed  also  of  Kibby's  and 
Swegles'  interests,  resold  a  portion  to  Orville  and  Asahel 
Clark.  These  changes  vested  the  proprietorship  of  the 
villao-e  in  N.  P.  Stewart,  B.  C.  Whittemore,  Charles  L. 
Dibble,  Robert  Higham,  Orville  Clark,  and  Asahel  Clark. 
John  Swegles  continued,  however,  as  heretofore,  to  be  the 


366 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


attorney-in-fact  for  the  proprietors,  and  to  conduct  their 
husiness  interests  in  the  premises. 

In  1855,  David  Sturgis,  of  De  Witt,  entered  the  trade 
at  St.  Johns,  and  two  drug-stores  were  started,  by  Dr.  Stone 
and  Dr.  J.  E.  Leach,  respectively. 

Of  the  business  men  in  St.  Johns  at  that  period,  1855, 
the  only  one  now  in  trade  is  Gr.  W.  Stephenson.  He  has 
carried  on  business  uninterruptedly  here  since  he  started, 
in  September,  1855,  and  is  accordingly  its  oldest  merchant. 

VILLAGE  PLAT  AND  ADDITIONS. 

The  village  was  platted  March  25, 1856.  The  document, 
on  file  at  the  county  register's  office,  reads  as  follows : 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we.  Nelson  P. 
Stewart,  Mary  Ann  Stewart,  B.  C.  Whittemore,  Caroline 
Whittemore,  Charles  L.  Dibble,  Sarah  I.  Dibble,  Kobert 
Higham,  Elvira  Higham,  Orville  Clark,  Delia  M.  Clark, 
and  Asahel  Clark,  do  by  these  presents  set  apart  and  estab- 
lish the  following-described  premises  for  a  village,  to  be 
known  and  designated  as  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  to  wit : 
that  part  of  the  south  half  of  section  9,  and  that  part  of 
the  north  half  of  section.  16,  in  town  7  north,  range  2  west, 
in  the  county  of  Clinton  and  State  of  Michigan,  com- 
mencing on  the  section-line  two  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
feet  east  from  the  section  corners  of  sections  8,  9,  16,  and 
17  in  said  township,  at  which  point  State  Street  intersects 
the  west  line  of  Ottawa  Street ;  running  thence  south  along 
the  west  line  of  Ottawa  Street  twelve  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  feet  to  a  point  where  said  west  line  of  Ottawa  Street 
intersects  the  south  line  of  Baldwin  Street ;  thence  east, 
and  parallel  with  the  section-line  between  sections  9  and  16, 
for  a  distance  of  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  feet  and  six  inches  to  the  point  where  the  south  line 
of  Baldwin  Street  intersects  the  east  line  of  East  Street ; 
thence  north  along  the  east  line  of  East  Street  to  a  point 
where  the  east  line  of  East  Street  intersects  the  north  line 
of  Railroad  Street,  one  hundred  feet  south  from  the  centre 
line  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railway ;  thence  west 
parallel  with  the  centre  line  of  said  railway,  and  one  hun- 
dred feet  therefrom,  to  the  point  where  the  north  line  of 
Railroad  Street  intersects-  the  west  line  of  Ottawa  Street . 
thence  south  along  the  west  line  of  Ottawa  Street  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto 
set  our  hands  and  seals  this  25th  day  of  March,  1856,  by 
John  Swegles,  our  attorney-in-fapt. 

(Signed)  "  Nelson  P.  Stewart. 

"  Mary  Ann  Stewart. 

"  B.  C.  Whittemore. 

"  Caroline  Whittemore. 

"  Charles  L.  Dibble. 

"  Sarah  I.  Dibble. 

"  Robert  Higham. 

"  Elvira  Higham. 

"  Orville  Clark. 

"  Delia  M.  Clark. 

"  Asahel  Clark. 
"  By  John  Swegles,  their  atloniey-in-fact. 
"In  the  presence  of 

"  Timothy  Baker. 
"  George  F.  Mead." 


Additions  to  the  village  plat  have  been  made  from  time 
to  time,  as  follows : 

May  5,  1857,  George  W.  Emmons'  addition,  known  as 
Emmonsville,  and  commencing  at  the  corners  of  sections  8, 

9,  16,  and  17,  running  thence  west  to  the  quarter-section 
stake  between  sections  8  and  1,7  ;  thence  south  along  the 
quarter-section  line  of  section  17  for  a  distance  of  ninety- 
seven  rods ;  thence  east,  and  parallel  with  the  section-line 
between  sections  8  and  17,  to  the  section-line  between  sec- 
tions 16  and  17;  thence  north  along  said  section-line  be- 
tween sections  16  and  17. to  the  place  of  beginning.  June 
16,  1857,  Clark  and  Bolton's  subdivision  of  out-lots  Nos. 

10,  11,  12,  and  13;  June  2,  1858,  Francis  Lynd's  addi- 
tion ;  June  15,  1866,  G.  J.  Gibbs'  addition ;  May  14, 
1866,  De  Witt  C.  Hurd  and  William  Sickles'  subdivision 
of  out-lots  G  and  H;  March  28,  1865,  A.  H.  Walker's 
subdivision  of  out-lot  B;  April  1,  1870,  Walker  & 
Steel's  subdivision  of  lands  north  of  the  Detroit  and  Mil- 
waukee Railroad,  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns,  by  A.  H. 
Walker,  R.  M.  Steel,  S.  W.  Gibbs,  and  H.  W.  Carrington ; 
Nov.  26,  1870,  P.  L.  Vanoousant's  addition;  Feb.  10, 
1871,  Henry  M.  Perrin's  addition. 

PEOGKESS  IN   1856  AND   1857. 

The  year  1856  saw  considerable  accessions  to  the  village, 
and  matters  began  to  look  up  with  a  show  of  something 
like  vigorous  life.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  J.  H.  Cor- 
bit,  now  the  hardware  merchant  of  longest  standing  and 
virtually  the  pioneer  in  that  trade  in  the  county,  purchased 
Marshall  Wilcox's  tin-shop  business  and  became  one  of  the 
village  merchants.  In  September,  1856,  Mr.  Corbit  took 
in  William  H.  Moote  as  a  partner.  During  the  year 
Charles  Kipp  opened  a  hardware-store,  and  since  that  date 
has  followed  that  business  in  St.  Johns  continuously^  Ho 
commenced  business  at  the  Rochester  Colony  in  1852,  with 
J.  W.  Paine.  A.  F.  Cowell  opened  a  small  store.  Lucas 
&  Wilson  located  at  the  corner  of  Walker  Street  and  Clin- 
ton Avenue,  and  Bliss  &  Walton  established  a  blaeksmith- 
and  wagon-shop,  their  wagon-maker  being  Arthur  Catter, 
mold.     In  1856  the  first  village  school  was  taught. 

At  that  time  Clinton  Avenue  was  still  thickly  studded 
with  stumps,  and  mosquitoes  were  so  exceedingly  plentiful 
that  stump-fires  on  the  avenue  to  drive  away  the  pests  were 
nightly  spectacles  in  summer.  Store-keepers,  of  1856,  other 
than  those  mentioned,  were  Joshua  Garte,  W.  W.  Flagler, 
J.  F.  Newton,  M.  E.  Palmer,  and  Mrs.  David  Sturgis. 

Although  St.  Johns  had  been  making  quite  rapid  strides 
forward  during  1855  and  1856,  it  was  not  until  1857  that 
the  movement  reached  a  height  that  crowded  into  the  space 
of  a  twelvemonth  the  most  important  events  in  the  history 
of  the  village,  and  brought  a  great  increase  in  population 
as  well  as  business. 

One  of  the  leading  events  was  the  completion  in  Janu- 
ary of  the  laying  of  the  track  of  the  Detroit  and  Mil- 
waukee Railway  to  St.  Johns  and  the  arrival,  upon  the 
16th  of  that  month,  of  the  first  passenger-train.  R.  M. 
Steel,  now  an  eminent  railway  contractor  living  in  St, 
Johns,  took  in  1856  a  contract  to  lay  the  track  and  bridges 
over  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  between  Owosso 
and  Grand  Haven,  and  in  1860  became  a  resident  of  St. 


VILLAGE  OF  ST.  JOHNS. 


367 


Johns.  In  this  year  the  county-seat  of  Clinton  was  re- 
moved from  De  Witt  to  St.  Johns,  and  that  incident  gave, 
of  course,  a  great  impetus  to  the  progress  of  the  village, 
and,  with  the  opening  of  railway  communication,  gave 
assurance  of  future  prosperity  to  St.  Johns. 

In  1857  a  village  school-house  was  built  upon  the  lot 
now  occupied  by  the  Episcopal  church.  This  lot,  as  well 
as  lots  for  two  churches,  ground  for  a  cemetery,  and  ample 
space  for  railway-depots,  etc.,  had  already  been  set  aside 
for  such  purposes  by  the  village  proprietors  when  the  plat 
was  made.  Early  in  1857,  Alvah  H.  Walker,  who  became 
shortly  afterwards  a  resident  of  St.  Johns  and  one  of  its 
prominent  merchants,  was  the  actual  owner  of  five-twelfths 
of  the  village  and  possessed  the  titles  to  seven-twelfths, 
while  the  residue  was  owned  by  Elvira  Higham,  C.  L. 
Dibble,  Orville  Clark,  and  Asahel  Clark.  In  1857,  John 
Swegles  built  a  grist-mill  with  two  run  of  stones  at  the 
corner  of  Higham  and  Spring  Streets.  In  1858  it  was 
burned  and  directly  afterwards  replaced  with  the  mill  now 
carried  on  at  the  same  place  by  Wood  &  Son.  In  1857, 
John  Swegles  rebuilt  the  Prospect  House,  called  it  the 
American,  and  kept  it  until  his  death  in  1861.  The 
Prospect  House  was  built  in  1856  by  Lorenzo  Hall,  and 
occupied  the  east  side  of  Oakland  Street  just  north  of 
Walker  Street.  The  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1863.  In  1857,  John  Hicks,  of  De  Witt,  engaged  in 
business  with  David  Sturgis,  and  0.  W.  Munger  began  to 
trade  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  Dunn  &  Lee.  Mr.  Hicks 
is  yet  in  business.  Mr.  Munger  is  a  retired  merchant,  but 
still  lives  in  the  village.  In  1857,  Wilbur  Ash  had  a 
carpenter-shop  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Ameri- 
can Express  Company,  and  in  the  same  building  in  the 
same  year  James  W.  Hungerford  opened  the  pioneer  cabi- 
net-shop. Alonzo  Plumstead  built  in  1857,  at  the  corner 
of  Walker  Street  and  Clinton  Avenue,  what  was  then  the 
best  store  in  St.  Johns;  John  Bansom  started  a  news- 
paper called  the  North-Side  Democrat ;  Archelaus  Silsbee 
started  a  foundry,  H.  C.  Hodge  a  bank,  W.  W.  Brainard 
a  carpenter's-  and  builder's-shop  in  Swegles'  saw-mill,  and, 
Listly,  the  village  was  incorporated  by  the  county  super- 
visors, Sept.  2,  1857. 

In  1858,  John  W.  Paine  opened  a  general  store,  and 
Hunt  Bros,  a  drug-stox-e.  Paine  built  in  1860  the  first 
brick  store,  now  occupied  by  A.  Teachout,  who  commenced 
to  trade  in  the  village  in  1859.  Dr.  A.  M.  Crawford  built 
the  first  brick  house.  It  stood  where  Eandolph  Strickland 
lives.  The  bricks  were  burned  at  the  village  by  a  Mr. 
Higgins. 

Directly  upon  the  opening  of  railway  transportation  St. 
Johns  began  to  take  on  importance  as  a  shipping-point. 
The  first  car-load  of  wheat  fdrwarded  from  the  village  by 
rail  was  shipped  by  John  Hicks  in  1857  to  George  C. 
Langdon  at  Detroit.  Staves  were  purchased  largely  at  St. 
Johns  for  European  markets,  and  in  the  early  days  of  vil- 
lage history  the  stave  traffic  rose  to  considerable  magnitude. 

The  business  of  the  Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwau- 
kee Bailway  (formerly  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Bail- 
road)  at  its  station  at  St.  Johns  village  in  the  year  1879* 
was  as  follows : 

*  Items  furnished  by  the  secretary  of  the  company. 


Number  of  passengers  outwards 

"  inwards , 

"  tons  of  freight  outwards. . 

.  inwards..., 

Receipts  from  outward  passengers 

"         freight 


16,813 

16,682 

19,395 
4,922 
$15,521.82 
$38,519.41 


DESCRIPTION   OF  FREIGHT  FORWARDED. 

Apples,  barrels isr       Pork,  pounds 96  204 

Lumber,  cars 121      Wool,        "      63*596 

Staves,  cars 90      Brick  and  stone,  tons.  '  50 

Gram,  pounds 2?, 748,915       Plaster,                   "  1 

Potatoes,     «     158,550      Sundries,                «    .  3,185 

St.  Johns  contains  to-day  at  least  eight  merchants  who 
have  done  business  continuously  in  the  town  for  the  space 
of  twenty  years  and  upwards,  ending  with  the  present 
year.  There  are,  moreover,  five  professional  gentlemen  arid 
one  manufacturer  of  whom  a  similar  statement  may  be 
made.  The  merchants  are  George  W.  Stephenson,  John 
Hicks,  A.  F.  Cowell,  Charles  Kipp,  A.  0.  Hunt,  A.  Teach- 
out,  P.  L.  Vancousant,  and  J.  H.  Corbit.  The  professional 
men  are  0.  L.  Spaulding,  H.  M.  Perrin,  and  Henry  Wal- 
bridge,  lawyers,  and  Drs.  Louis  Fasquelle  and  D.  C.  Stew- 
art.    The  manufacturer  is  W.  W.  Brainard. 

VILLAGE   INCORPOEATIOlsr   AND  LIST  OP 
•     OFFICERS. 

The  first  step  towards  the  incorporation  of  the  village  of 
St.  Johns  was  indicated  in  the  following  publication,  viz. : 
"  Notice  is  hereby  given  that  the  undersigned,  legal  voters 
residing  in  the  territory  hereinafter  described,  will  at  the 
next  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Clin- 
ton County,  to  be  held  at  De  Witt  on  the  first  Monday  of 
October  next,  make  application  to  the  said  board,  on  the 
said  day,  for  an  order  of  incorporation  of  the  followi  ng  one 
square  mile  as  a  village,  to  be  described  by  boundaries  as 
follows : 

"  Commencing  at  a  point  where  the  quarter-line  of  sec- 
tion 9  intersects  the  section-line  of  8  and  9 ;  thence  east 
along  said  quarter-line  to  the  point  where  said  line  inter- 
sects the  section-line  of  9  and  10;  thence  south  to  the 
south  line  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railway  ;  thence 
west  along  the  south  line  of  said  railway  sixty-nine  rods; 
thence  south  to  the  quarter-line  of  section  16 ;  thence  west 
along  the  quarter-line  of  sections  16  and  17  three  hundred 
and  twenty  rods ;  thence  north  to  the  south  line  of  said 
railway ;  thence  east  along  the  said  line  of  the  said  railway 
to  the  section  line  of  8  and  9 ;  thence  north  along  the  said 
liitt-mentioned  line  to  the  aforesaid  quarter-line  of  section 
9,  the  place  of  beginning,  in  the  township  of  Bingham, 
county  of  Clinton,  and  State  of  Michigan,  to  be  known 
and  designated  as  the  village  of  St.  Johns. 

."  David  Sturgis,  S.  W.  Gibbs, 

Jlenry  Walbridge,        William  H.  Moote, 
Stephen  J.  Wright,      J.  T.  Newell, 
John  Hicks,  William  L.  Hicks, 

George  F.  Mead,  Charles  Kipp, 

^eorge  W*  Emmons,.   William  Weeks, 
J.  H.  Corbit,  Sheldon  Munger, 

A.  M.  Crawford,  A.  Plumstead, 

J.  E.  Leach,  William  W.  Flagler, 

Joshua  Garte,  M.  E.  Palmer, 

and  thirty-one  others. 
"Dated  Bingham,  Sept.  2, 1857." 


368 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


The  petition  was  presented  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors, 
and  at  a  meeting  held  Oct.  15,  1857,  an  order  of  incor- 
poration was  entered,  and  John  Swegles,  Charles  Kipp,  and 
Alonzo  Plumstead  appointed  inspectors  of  an  election  to 
be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  March,  1858,  at  Hicks' 
Hotel,  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns. 

The  election  was  accordingly  held  on  the  2d  of  March, 
as  provided.  The  oflBcers  elected  on  that  occasion  were : 
President,  William  H.  Moote;  Clerk,  John  Eansom ;  Treas- 
urer, Alonzo  Plumstead ;  Trustees,  John  Swegles,  George 
W.  Stephenson,  David  Sturgis,  George  W.  Emmons,  Wil- 
liam W.  Flagler,  and  William  L.  Hicks ;  Assessors,  Marvin 
B.  Palmer,  Ransom  Plumstead ;  Street  Commissioners,  S. 
T.  Hayward,  Spencer  W.  Gibbs,  John  B.  Lucas ;  Marshal, 
George  W.  Estes ;  Poundmaster,  Chdrles  0.  Stiles. 

At  the  fourth  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees,  April 
17,  1858,  by-laws  and  ordinances  were  adopted,  and  at  the 
meeting  of  April  24th  the  street  commissioners  were  author- 
ized to  contract  with  Marvin  E.  Palmer  for  the  grading 
and  filling  of  Clinton  Avenue,  at  sixteen  cents  per  yard. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  persons  chosen  annually  to  the 
chief  village  ofiSces  of  St.  Johns  from  1859  to  1880  : 
1859. — President,  W.  W.  Flagler;  dlerk,  John  Ransom; 
Treasurer,  George  W.  Estes ;  Trustees,  Ransom 
Plumstead,  Archelaus  Silsbee,  James  W.  Hun- 
gerford,  W.  L.  Hicks,  George  W.  Stephenson, 
George  W.  Emmons. 
I860.— President,  Marvin  E.  Palmer;  Clerk,  R.  V.  Briggs; 
Treasurer,  Ransom  Plumstead ;  Trustees,  George 
W.  Stephenson,  S.  T.  Hayward,  John  Hicks, 
George  W.  Emmons,  Charles  Plumstead,  Wil- 
liam H.  Moote. 
1861.— President,  William  L.  Hicks;  Clerk,  George  F. 
Mead ;  Treasurer,  Hiram  C.  Hodge ;  Trustees, 
W.  W.  Brainard,  George  W.  Emmons,  Jacob 
Brown,  Louis  W.  Fasquelle,  Marvin  E.  Palmer, 
Henry  W.  Walton. 
-President,  R.  M.  Steel ;  Clerk,  George  F.  Mead ; 
Treasurer,  Hiram  C.  Hodge;  Trustees,  M.  E. 
Palmer,  Jacob  Brown,   Charles  Plumstead,  L. 
W.    Fasquelle,    George    W.    Emmons,    Joab 
Baker. 
-President,  G.  W.  Stephenson  ;  Clerk,  George  F. 
Mead  ;  Treasurer,  Ransom  Plumstead ;  Trustees, 
M.   E.    Palmer,   John    Hicks,   J.    W.   Paine, 
Thomas  S.  Congdon,-  George  Worden,  Celestin 
Loranger. 
1864. — President,    Alonzo    Plumstead ;    Clerk,    Charles 
Plumstead;    Treasurer,    Alpheus    F.    Cowell; 
Trustees,  John  H.  Corbit,  Thomas  J.  Urie,  A. 
G.  Higham,  Spencer  W.  Gibbs,  Mina  Boyd, 
John  Hicks. 
1865. — President,    Alonzo    Plumstead;     Clerk,    Charles 
Plumstead ;  Treasurer,  Jacob  Brown ;  Trustees, 
William  L.  Hicks,  Theodore  W.  Ferry,  Arche- 
laus  Silsbee,   Andrew  J.    Wiggins,   Frederick 
Wilkinson,  George  Worden. 
1866 — President,  Robert  McFarlan  ;  Clerk,  L.  G.  N.  Ran- 
dolph; Treasurer,  Samuel  S.  Walker;  Trustees, 
A.  H.  Walker,  E.  D.  Tripp,  William  W.  Brain- 


1862.- 


1863.- 


ard,  William  Sickels,  Henry  M.  Perrin,  James 
W.  Reid. 

1867.— President,*  Thomas  J.  Urie  ;  Clerk,  E.  D.  Tripp; 
Treasurer,  George  W.  Stephenson;  Trustees 
(one  year),  Joseph  H.  Ingalls,  Paul  De  Witt, 
L.  Z.  Munger  (for  two  years),  John  Hicks, 
Thomas  S.  Congdon,  William  S.  Decker. 

1868.— President,  H.  M.  Perrin;  Clerk,  E.  D.  Tripp; 
Treasurer,  P.  L.  Vancousant;  Trustees,  Henry 
Walbridge,  George  W.  Emmons,  John  C.  Day- 
ton. 

1869.— President,  Alvah  H.  Walker ;  Clerk,  G.  W.  Wells ; 
Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson ;  Trustees,  Robert 
McFarlan,  Stephen  J.  Wright,  Harvey  W.  Car- 
rington. 

1870. — President,  A.  H.  Walker;  Clerk,  George  A. 
Wells ;  Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson  ;  Trustees, 
Richard  Moore,  John  H.  Corbit,  John  C.  Day- 
ton. 

1871.— President,  A.  H.  Walker;  Clerk,  George  A.  Wells 
Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson ;  Trustees,  H.  M, 
Lamphere,  Henry  S.  Hilton,  Charles  Fowler. 

1872. — President,  James  Kipp ;  Clerk,  George  A.  Wells 
Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson  ;  Trustees,  L.  C 
Kellogg,  Warner  Buuday,  Asher  Teachout. 

1873.— President,  O.  W.  Barker ;  Clerk,  George  A.  Wells 
Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson  ;  Trustees,  Charles 
Fowler,  A.  J.  Nelson,  John  D.  Henderson,  Jr. 

1874. — President,  Samuel  S.  Walker;  Clerk,  George  A. 
Wells ;  Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson  ;  Trustees, 
Thomas  Padley,  Warner  Bunday,  Harvey  W. 
Carrington. 

1875. — President,  Samuel  S.  Walker;  Clerk,  James  H. 
Collins ;  Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson ;  Trustees, 
Charles  Fowler,  John  D.  Henderson,  John  M. 
Easton. 

1876 President,  Samuel  S.  Walker;    Clerk,  James  H. 

Collins ;  Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson ;  Trustees, 
Isaac  Helton,  Gilbert  L.  Goodyear,  William 
H.  Hoffman. 

1877.— President,  D.  S.  French;  Clerk,  James  H.  Collins; 
Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson ;  Trustees,  John 
D.  Henderson,  Charles  H.  Eaton,  E.  L.  Nichols. 

1878.— President,  D.  S.  French ;  Clerk,  James  H.  Collins; 
Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson ;  Trustees,  P.  K. 
Perrin,  H.  H.  Hawley,  Henry  Fildew,  Jr. 

1879.— President,  D.  S.  French;  Clerk,  J.  H.  Collins; 
Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson  ;  Trustees,  J.  D. 
Henderson,  E.  L.  Nichols,  Charles  H.  Eaton. 

1880. — President,  Charles  Fowler;  Clerk,  James  H.  Col- 
lins ;  Treasurer,  Charles  E.  Grisson ;  Trustees, 
A.  L.  Butler,  Warner  Bunday,  Robert  Young. 

The  votes  cast  at  the  first  village  election  in  1858  num- 
bered one  hundred  and  sixty-six ;  the  number  polled  at  the 
election  in  1880  reached  five  hundred  and  thirty-nine. 

The  Legislative  act  of  incorporation,  passed  March  2, 
1867,  described  the  village  territory  as  including  the  whole 
of  sections  9  and  16,  the  east  half  of  section  17,  the  south- 

*  Reinoorporated  by  act  of  Legielature. 


VILLAGE  OF  ST.  JOHNS. 


369 


east  quarter  and  east  three-quarters  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  8,  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  21,  and  the  east  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  20. 

CHURCHES. 

THE   PIONEER   RELIGIOUS   ORGANIZATION— TUE   METH- 
ODIST EPISCOPAL  CLASS. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns  was 
delivered  in  the  autumn  of  1855  at  Gibbs'  Railroad  Ex- 
change by  Rev.  J.  S.  Harder,  then  riding  the  circuit  of  Du- 
plain  as  a  Methodist  Episcopal  preacher.  He  came  about 
twice  a  month  that  year  and  a  portion  of  the  following 
year,  and  during  1855  organized  a  class,  of  which  the 
original  members  were  D.  H.  Warren,  Caroline  Warren, 
Lovina  Higgins,  Henry  Smith,  Wilson  Curtis,  Ethan 
Allen,  Catherine  Curtis,  Michael  Treece,  and-  Mary  Treece. 
Early  services  were  held  at  the  Railroad  Exchange,  and 
afterwards  at  Clinton  Hall,  on  Clinton  Avenue,  above 
Kipp's  Corner.  Of  the  first  class  the  first  leader  was  Ethan 
Allen,  who  claimed  to  be  a  grandson  of  that  old  Ethan 
Allen  who  captured  Fort  Ticonderoga. 

In  1857,  S.  W.  Gibbs  was  chosen  class-leader,  and  in 
the  same  year  Revs.  Brockwayand  Sherman  were  on  the 
work  as  the  successors  of  Harder  and  Hill.  The  place  of 
worship  was  clianged  in  1857  to  Plumstead  Hall,  and  from 
there  to  the  school-house  and  afterwards  to  the  Baptist 
church,  which  the  Methodists  occupied  on  alternate  Sun- 
days until  the  completion  of  their  own  church  in  1863. 

A  Sunday-school  partaking  of  the  character  of  a  union 
Sabbath-school  was  organized  by  Mr.  Harder  before  the 
class  was  formed,  and  for  a  time  the  school  had  regular 
weekly  sessions  in  the  Railroad  Exchange.  Early  in  1857 
there  was  a  spirited  revival  and  nineteen  persons  were 
added  to  the  membership,  to  wit :  S.  W.  Gibbs,  Clarinda 
Gibbs,  W.  K.  Homer,  Esther  Homer,  Anna  Hutchinson 
and  her  daughter  Anna,  Philena  Newton,  Robert  Shewin, 
Susan  Shewin,  Charlotte  Smith,  Mary  Urie,  Sharpnock 
Urie,  Eliza  Hicks,  John  Halstead,  Elizabeth  Halstead, 
H.  B.  Bliss,  Eleanor  Bliss,  E.  M.  Badgley,  and  Mary  B. 
Whitstone.  Among  the  early  pastors  of  the  church  were 
Revs.  Harder,  Hill,  Brock  way,  Sherman,  Otis,  Cawthorne, 
Fox,  Fowler,  Wood,  and  Webb. 

During  1863  the  church  society  erected  a  house  of  wor- 
ship upon  the  lots  originally  set  aside  by  the  village  pro- 
prietors to  the  Episcopal  Church  Society.  The  Episcopa- 
lians were,  however,  unable  to  pledge  themselves  to  build  a 
church,  and  so  the  Methodists — agreeing  to  a  similar  prop- 
osition— received  the  land  as  a  donation,  and  Jan.  14, 
1864,  their  house  was  dedicated,  the  dedicatory  sermon 
being  preached  by  Dr.  T.  M.  Eddy,  of  Chicago,  editor  of 
the  Christian  Advocate.  The  church  building  is  thirty- 
nine  by  sixty-five  feet  in  dimensions,  and  surmounted  with 
a  spire  ninety  feet  in  height  from  the  ground.  Its  cost 
was  four  thousand  dollars.  In  1864  the  class  membership 
had  risen  to  about  fifty ;  now  it  is  one  hundred  and  forty- 
two.  A.  P.  McCabe  is  class-leader;  M.  V.  Brown,  W.  W. 
Brainard,  T.  S.  Congdon,  A.  Richardson,  and  P.  C.  Stuart, 
trustees.  The  pastor  is  S.  L.  Hamilton.  The  Sunday- 
school  is  in  charge  of  J.  D.  Estes,  superintendent,  and  a 
47 


corps  of  fifteen  teachers.  The  average  attendance  is  one 
hundred  and  thirty-four,  and  the  volumes  in  the  library  two 
hundred. 

THE    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

In  1857,  Rev.  William  G.  Smith,  a  Presbyterian  mis- 
sionary living  at  Hartwellville,  came  to  St.  Johns  and  in 
the  house  of  James  W.  Ransom  organized  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  St.  Johns,  with  four  members, — James 
W.  Ransom  and  John  Ransom,  his  brother,  with  their 
wives.  The  first  members  received  after  that  were  Levi 
Brown  and  wife.  A  church  society  was  formed  May  31, 
1858,  by  James  W.  Ransom,  Levi  Brown,  0.  L.  Spaulding, 
William  M.  Snow,  James  Hayes,  John  Ransom,  George 
W.  Estes,  and  S.  T.  Hayward.  The  trustees  chosen  were 
James  Kipp.  H.  S.  Harrison,  William  M.  Snow,  James 
Hayes,  S.  T.  Hayward,  and  0.  L.  Spaulding. 

Services  were  held  quite  regularly  in  Plumstead  Hall 
until  about  1860,  when  removals  of  members  from  town 
and  withdrawals  to  other  churches  weakened  the  society  so 
that  before  the  close  of  the  year  it  ceased  to  exist. 

THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  records  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  St.  Johns, 
dating  from  the  beginning  of  the  church's  history  up  to  a 
comparatively  recent  date,  were  either  lost  or  destroyed  by 
fire  some  time  ago,  and  as  evidence  by  oral  testimony  as  to 
the  early  days  of  the  organization  is  exceedingly  meagre, 
this  chronicle  must  needs  be  brief. 

Baptist  preaching  was  supplied  in  the  township  as  early 
as  1849,  and  probably  earlier.  At  all  events,  when  Elder 
C.  A.  Lamb,  a  Baptist  minister,  came  in  that  year  from  Oak- 
land County  to  live  in  Bingham  he  held  public  worship  in 
the  township.  A  church  was  organized  by  Elder  John 
Gundeman  shortly  after  1850,  and  in  1855  a  church  so- 
ciety was  incorporated,  November  2d,  with  W.  J.  McKay, 
George  W.  Estes,  William  J.  Bancroft,  Charles  Higgins, 
H.  S.  Gibbons,  and  J.  0.  Palmer  as  trustees.  About  that 
time  the  present  house  of  worship  at  St.  Johns  was  built. 
The  first  deacon  of  the  church  was  Reuben  S.  Norris. 

A  union  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  the  village  by 
H.  S.  Gibbons  and  others  even  before  the  organization  of 
a  church.  The  school-room  was  at  first  in  the  old  black- 
smith-shop that  served  as  a  room  for  a  day-school,  and  soon 
afterwards  Clinton  Hall  was  the  place  of  meeting.  The  Bap- 
tist Church  and  society  have  maintained  an  active  existence 
since  their  organization.  The  church  has  now  a  flourishing 
membership  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen.  The  deacons 
are  J.  0.  Palmer  and  George  Morris.  J.  0.  Palmer  is 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  an  average 
attendance  of  upwards  of  one  hundred.  The  church  pastor 
is  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Stone. 

FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 
The  first  entry  upon  the  records  of  the  First  Congregsi- 
tional  Church  of  St.  Johns  is  as  follows :  "  At  a  meeting  of 
professed  Christians,  convened,  pursuant  to  public  notice,  at 
the  school-house  in  the  village  of  St.  Johns  on  the  first  day 
of  April,  1860,  to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety 
of  organizing  themselves  into  a  Congregational  Church, 
James  Kipp  was  chosen  moderator  and  L.  H.  Pennington 


H70 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


clerk.  Kev.  William  P.  Esler,  a  Congregationalist  minister 
of  Eagle,  was  present  and  assisted  in  the  exercises." 

At  that  meeting  the  First  Congregational  Church  was 
organized,  and  the  constitution,  articles  of  faith,  and  cov- 
enant subscribed  to  by  James  Kipp,  S.  H.  Pennington, 
Sarah  A.  Pennington,  Henry  Walbridge,  Charlotte  E. 
Willson,  Charlotte  Patch,  Elizabeth  A.  Blagoffin,  and 
Walter  Norris.  James  Kipp  and  Walter  Norris  were 
chosen  deacons  at  the  same  meeting. 

At  a  second  meeting,  held  April  14th,  further  additions 
to  the  membership  were  made  in  Asher  Hathaway,  Wil- 
liam H.  Norris,  Gr.  P.  Mattoon,  Horace  M.  Skinner,  and 
Harvey  Lyon.  Applications  for  membership  were  accepted 
from  Theodore  Lyon,  Harvey  Lyon,  Jr.,  James  S.  Skinner, 
Daniel  Webster,  Elizabeth  J.  Lyon,  Nancy  L.  Mattoon, 
Nancy  M.  Mattoon,  Susan  Hinckley,  Julia  A.  Skinner, 
Amanda  Webster,  Sarah  Ann  Norris,  Mahala  Norris,  Delia 
E.  Hathaway,  Harvey  Armstrong,  Susan  B.  Armstrong, 
and  Eliza  Armstrong.  G.  P.  Mattoon  was  chosen  deacon, 
and  Asher  Hathaway,  Horace  M.  Skinner,  and  William 
H.  Norris  committeemen.  Kev.  William  P.  Esler  was 
chosen  to  be  the  church  pastor  for  one  year,  and  G.  P.  Mat- 
toon, James  Kipp,  and  H.  Walbridge  appointed  to  repre- 
sent the  church  in  the  Genesee  Association  to  be  lield  at 
Owosso,  April  24,  1860.  The  first  recorded  celebration 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  occurred  April  29, 1860,  and  the  first 
baptism — that  of  Daniel  L.  Kelley — on  the  same  day. 

A  church  society  was  organized  Jan.  13,  1862,  and 
Henry  M.  Perrin,  Asher  Hathaway,  George  W.  Barker, 
Horace  M.  Skinner,  Charles  Kipp,  and  Henry  Walbridge 
chosen  trustees.  A  church  site  donated  by  the  village 
company  was  exchanged  for  other  lots,  and  upon  the  latter 
a  church  was  built  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1864. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Esler  closed  his  labors  as  pastor  in  1862, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  R.  Apthorpe,  who  resigned  in 
January,  1867.  Rev.  George  M.  Tuthill  succeeded  him 
in  July,  1867,  and  on  April  1,  1868,  he  presented  the  an- 
nual report  for  1867,  showing  a  membership  of  seventy- 
five  and  accessions  during  the  year  of  six.  Mr.  Tuthill 
resigned  his  charge  April  1,  1870,  but  continued  to  sup- 
ply the  pulpit  most  of  the  time  until  January,  1872,  when 
Rev.  M.  K.  Pasco  was  engaged.  Ho  resigned  in  Novem- 
ber, 1873,  and  was  directly  succeeded  by  Rev.  L.  F.  Bickford, 
who  gave  place  in  December,  1874,  to  Rev.  S.  Sessions,  at 
the  close  of  whose  service,  in  December,  1875,  the  mem- 
bership of  the  church  was  one  hundred  and  twelve.  Rev. 
C.  Barstow  was  the  pastor  until  1877,  when  J.  E.  Rich- 
ards, the  present  pastor,  entered  upon  his  labors. 

The  church  membership  June  1,  1880,  was  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  (two  hundred  and  fifty-four  having  been 
received  since  organization  in  1860),  and  that  of  the  Sun- 
day-school one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  trustees  were  B.  D. 
Palmer,  Josiah  Upton,  A.  Shafer,  A;  0.  Hunt,  William  h! 
Turner,  and  A.  J.  Baldwin ;  the  deacons,  James  Kipp, 
Levi  Brown,  and  B.  D.  Palmer.  The  Sabbath-school  has 
fourteen  teachers  and  a  library  of  two  hundred  volumes. 

ST.  JOHN'S   (PKOTESTANT   EPISCOPAL)    CHDKCH. 

The  first  Protestant  Episcopal  services  held  in  St.  Johns 
were  conducted  by  Rev.  John  Bramwell,  of  Lansing,  who 


on  the  21st  of  October,  1856,  wrote  to  Timothy  Baker,  of 
St.  Johns,  saying  that,  if  convenient,  he  would  hold  Epis- 
copal services  in  the  village  on  Wednesday,  November  5th. 
Mr.  Bramwell  accordingly  came  over  and  held  the  promised 
services  in  the  village  school-house.  After  that  Mr.  Bram- 
well made  similar  occasional  visits  to  St.  Johns,  but  how 
many  cannot  be  said. 

The  first  step  towards  the  actual  organization  of  a  church 
was  taken  May  4,  1858,  when,  at  a  meeting  "  of  persons 
professing  attachment  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church" 
at  Plumstead's  Hall,  William  H.  Moote  was  chosen  chair- 
man and  Timothy  Baker  secretary.  Thereupon  the  meet- 
ing adjourned  to  meet  at  the  post-oflSce  May  5th,  and  that 
meeting  resulted  in  the  election  of  Louis  W.  Fasquelle, 
Timothy  Baker,  Hiram  C.  Hodge,  William  H.  Moote,  Oliver 
L.  Spaalding,  George  W.  Stephenson,  and  George  P.  Mead 
as  vestrymen,  Louis  W.  Fasquelle  and  George  W.  Stephen- 
son as  wardens,  0.  L.  Spaulding  secretary,  and  Timothy 
Baker  treasurer.  Precisely  what  was  the  outcome  of  the 
foregoing  does  not  appear  from  the  records.  From  them, 
however,  it  does  appear  that  on  May  25,  1858,  formal 
articles  of  a  church  organization  were  signed  by  Timothy 
Baker,  Louis  W.  Fasquelle,  Hiram  C.  Hodge,  William  W. 
Flagler,  James  H.  Benson,  William  H.  Moote,  George  ¥. 
Mead,  0.  L.  Spaulding,  J.  H.  Corbit,  D.  N.  Murray, 
George  W.  Stephenson,  H.  M.  Perrin.  The  name  adopted 
was  that  of  St.  John's  Church,  and  the  first  annual  meet- 
ing appointed  for  June  4th,  at  Plumstead's  Hall.  Somehow 
the  plan  for  organization  miscarried,  and  until  April,  1864, 
the  Episcopalians  of  St.  Johns  depended  forpublic  worship, 
as  they  had  done  before  1858,  upon  such  occasional  and 
irregular  services  as  could  be  obtained  from  time  to  time. 
There  had  been  set  aside  by  the  St.  Johns  Village  Com- 
pany a  church-lot  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  as  a  majority  of  the  village 
proprietors  were  of  the  Episcopal  faith,  they  confidently 
hoped  to  see  the  site  occupied  by  an  Episcopal  church. 
The  Episcopalians  were,  however,  unable  to  put  such  a  plan 
into  execution,  and  the  Methodists  agreeing  to  build  a 
church,  conditioned  upon  the  donation  of  the  land  to 
them,  they  were  given  the  privilege,  and  thus  obtained 
their  church-lot  free  of  cost. 

April  20, 1864,  a  successful  effort  was  made  to  reorganize 
St.  John's  Church,  and  on  that  day  articles  of  association 
were  signed  by  A.  G.  Higham,  Timothy  Baker,  Louis  W. 
Fasquelle,  Samuel  S.  Walker,  Charles  Plumstead,  and  N. 
C.  McCuUom.  The  first  meeting  was  called  for  April  30th, 
when  a  vestry  was  chosen.  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Dooley  was 
called  to  the  rectorship,  and  officiated  at  stated  times  for 
about  one  year.  In  1865,  Rev.  Henry  Barnwell  became  the 
rector,  and  during  his  term  of  service,  extending  over  a 
period  of  fourteen  months,  the  society,  receiving  from  the 
village  company  a  donation  of  three  lots  (originally  set 
aside  and  occupied  for  a  village  school,  but  reverted  to  the 
company  by  a  removal  of  the  school  site),  set  about  the 
erection  of  a  church  edifice,  worship  from  the  reorganiza- 
tion having  been  held  in  the  school-house.  The  business 
of  building  was  checked  by  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Barnwell 
from  the  rectorship  in  1865,  and  the  parish  being  vacant 
until  November,  1866,  nothing  was  meanwhile  done  towards 


'(^C^CC^h^^^^^ 


VILLAGE  OF  ST.  JOHNS. 


371 


the  church  construction.  At  the  time  last  mentioned  Rev. 
S.  S.  Chapin  was  called  to  be  the  rector,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1867  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  church  building 
was  laid  by  Revs.  B.  H.  Paddock  and  George  D.  Gillespie, 
the  former  now  bishop  of  Massachusetts  and  the  latter  of 
Western  Michigan.  Upon  the  first  Sunday  in  1867  the 
church  was  first  opened  for  divine  service.  Mr.  Chapin 
continued  in  the  rectorship  for  the  space  of  six  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Reeves,  who  tarried  a  little 
more  than  a  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  Rev.  S.  S. 
Chapin  returned,  and  in  the  ensuing  autumn  the  church 
structure  was  improved  and  enlarged.  April  19,  1876,  it 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  McCoskry.  Mr.  Chapin  retired 
in  1879,  and  the  rectorate  remained  vacant  until  the  en- 
gagement of  Rev.  Joseph  Cross,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  the  present 
rector,  in  June,  1880. 

To  the  beginning  of  1880  the  families  who  had  joined 
the  parish  numbered  seventy,  confirmations  were  seventy 
in  number,  ninety-seven  names  were  added  to  the  com- 
munion list,  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons  were  baptized, 
thirty-five  couples  married,  and  forty-nine  persons  buried. 
The  parish  is  now  clear  of  debt,  owns  property  valued  at 
four  thousand  dollars,  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  much 
prosperity. 

The  vestry  in  1880  is  composed  of  0.  L.  Spaulding,  F. 
B.  Cutler,  C.  E.  Grisson,  J.  H.  Cranson,  G.  S.  Corbit,  J.  H. 
Corbit,  and  S.  S.  Walker. 

ST.   JOHN'S    (ROMAN   CATHOLIC)   CHURCH. 

During  the  progress  of  the  construction  of  the  Detroit 
and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  at  and  near  St.  Johns,  in  1856 
-57,  Father  Koenig,  of  Flint,  visited  the  place  occasionally 
and  held  Roman  Catholic  Church  service  in  the  shanties  of 
the  railway  hands.  Similarly  Father  De  Yordias,  of  West- 
phalia, visited  the  town  subsequently,  and  still  later  Father 
Von  Palmer,  of  Corunna,  conducted  periodical  services  for 
the  space  of  two  years  in  the  house  of  Jeremiah  Dooling. 
By  that  time  the  accession  of  a  dozen  or  more  families  to 
the  congregation  warranted  the  attachment  of  St.  Johns  to 
the  Corunna  mission  and  the  provision  of  regular  services. 
After  Von  Palmer's  term  expired.  Father  Vandenriche  was 
given  charge  of  the  work  and  the  place  of  worship  trans- 
ferred to  the  village  school-house.  In  1862  measures  were 
taken  to  erect  a  church  building  upon  lots  donated  by  A. 
H.  Walker  and  A.  G.  Higham.  A  building  committee,  com- 
posed of  Father  Vandenriche,  Celestin  Loranger,  Michael 
Ryan,  Dennis  Clancey,  and  William  Ryan,  was  appointed, 
and  entering  at  once  upon  the  work  of  soliciting  subscrip- 
tions, obtained  by  1864  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars, 
contributed  by  the  business  men  of  the  village  without  re- 
gard to  creed.  The  church  was  accordingly  begun  in  18G4, 
completed  in  1865,  and  dedicated  in  1867,  Bishop  Caspar 
A.  Borgess,  of  Detroit,  officiating.  When  the  church  was 
occupied  in  the  spring  of  1865  the  congregation  included 
about  sixty  families,  and  at  that  strength  has  remained 
until  this  day  without  material  change. 

A  Sabbath-school  was  organized  in  1865  and  a  pastoral 
residence  built  in  1871.  Father  Vandenriche  remained  in 
charge  until  1867,  and  afler  him  came  Fathers  Beranger, 
Rickert,  and  Cramer.     Cramer  was  made  a  resident  priest. 


his  predecessors  having  been  supplied  from  Corunna.  With 
the  close  of  Cramer's  service,  in  1877,  the  church  was  trans- 
ferred from  the  Corunna  to  the  Ionia  mission,  and  Father 
Bolte,  who  was  then  given  charge  of  the  work,  has  since 
that  time  held  services  regularly  once  each  month.  Since 
Cramer's  time  there  has  been  no  resident  priest,  although 
one  is  promised  for  the  near  future. 

The  church  is  now  out  of  debt  and  owns  a  church  edi- 
fice and  parsonage.  The  trustees  for  1880  are  Michael 
Ryan,  A.  Florian,  Augustus  Werner,  and Doyle. 

FREE    METHODIST   CHURCH. 

In  the  winter  of  1870-71,  Free  Methodist  meetings 
were  held  in  the  Baptist  church  and  the  houses  of  Caleb 
Ash  and  Rev.  John  Ellison.  lu  March,  1871,  Rev.  John 
Ellison,  chairman  of  the  Grand  Rapids  district,  organized  a 
class  of  sixteen  members  in  his  own  house  in  St.  Johns. 

Caleb  Ash  was  chosen  to  be  the  first  leader,  and  directly 
after  organization  Hicks'  Hall  was  rented  and  occupied  at 
regular  periods  until  the  completion  of  the  present  church 
edifice,  which  was  built  in  1872  and  cost  four  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars.  Ellison  preached  two  years,  and  then 
the  St.  Johns  circuit  being  established.  Rev.  W.  R.  Cusick 
was  sent  upon  the  work  as  the  first  circuit  preacher.  After 
Cusick  the  charge  was  delegated  successively  to  Revs.  J.  G. 
Witham,  C.  F.  Irish,  W.  J.  Johnston,  C.  D.  Hoadley, 
Hiram  Bearss,  A.  V.  Leonardson,  and  G.  H.  Joslyn,  the 
latter  being  now  on  the  work.  The  class  numbered  at  its 
most  prosperous  period  upwards  of  one  hundred  members, 
but  removals  from  the  town  have  reduced  the  number  to 
about  fifty.  The  class-leader  is  Walter  McFarlan  ;  the 
trustees,  George  Gillison,  H.  D.  Park,  Harmon  Martin, 
Thomas  Atkinson,  Alfred  Barden.  George  Pray  is  super- 
iiftendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  an  average 
attendance  of  twenty. 

GERMAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

A  German  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  in  1870  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  in  the  office  of  John  McFarlan.  The 
organizing  members  included  Henry  Eckert,  John  Van 
Hoesen,  Conrad  Burkhardt,  Caspar  Seibert,  Charles  Seibert, 
Fred  Martin,  Christian  Heoht,  M.  Holbrook,  Jacob  Siefert, 
and  Jacob  Siefert,  Jr.,  with  their  wives,  and  Henry  Perry. 
Caspar  Seibert  was  the  first  class-leader,  and  successively 
after  Jacob  Siefert,  Henry  Eckert,  and  Henry  Ferry  were 
leaders.  Rev.  Mr.  Smith's  successors  in  the  pulpit  have 
been  Revs.  Orcheu  and  Wittey,  the  latter  being  now  the 
pastor  and  preaching  once  a  month.  In  1874  a  church 
edifice  was  built.  The  membership  includes  about  twelve 
families.     The  class-leader  is  Jacob  Siefert. 

ST.  JOHNS  UNION  SCHOOLS. 

The  territory  covered  by  the  village  of  St.  Johns  in  1856 
was  on  Oct.  6,  1855,  set  off  by  the  township  school  inspec- 
tors as  district  No.  4. 

The  first  school  taught  in  St.  Johns  was  a  select  school 
in  charge  of  Miss  Maria  Coryell,  sister  of  Mrs.  Swegles. 
She  was"  visiting  Mrs.  Swegles  in  the  summer  of  1855,  and 
that  summer  taught  the  school  in  a  shanty  on  Walker  Street, 
used  before  that  as  a  blacksmith-shop. 


372 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


In  1856  the  first  public  school  was  taught  in  the  same 
building  by  Mrs.  Gunsally  (previously  Miss  Nancy  M.  Rich- 
mond) and  Mr.  J.  Wilcox,  the  latter  of  whom  was  assisted 
by  his  stepmother. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  voters  of  the  school  district 
in  September,  1857,  it  was  resolved  to  organize  the  district 
under  the  law  authorizing  the  formation  of  union  districts. 
An  election  for  officers  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Hiram  C. 
Hodge  as  Moderator ;  John  Ransom,  Director ;  Spencer  W. 
Gibbs,  Assessor;  and  Timothy  Baker,  A.  M.  Crawford,  S. 
T.  Hayward,  and  David  Sturgis  as  Trustees.  At  the  same 
meeting  it  was  resolved  to  raise  three  thousand  dollars  to 
build  a  school-house,  and  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  Oct.  12, 

1857,  Jjie  donation  of  a  school-site  was  accepted  from  A. 
H.  Walker,  on  behalf  of  the  village  proprietors. 

This  resolution  seems  to  have  met  with  some  subsequent 
objection  on  the  part  of  the  tax-payers,  many  of  whom 
joined  in  a  suit  for  an  injunction  against  the  levy  of  a  tax 
for  the  three-thousand-dollar  school-house,  upon  the  ground 
that  the  appropriation  was  an  extravagant  one,  and  that  the 
resolution  passing  it  was  illegal.  The  courts  sustained  the 
application  for  an  injunction,  and  the  district  therefore  voted 
to  raise  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  building  of  a  school- 
house  without  a  dissenting  voice.  The  house  was  erected 
upon  the  lot  donated  by  the  village  proprietors,  and  stood 
where  now  stands  the  Episcopal  church.  It  was  completed 
in  the  fall  of  1858,  and  cost  four  hundred  and  ninety-five 
dollars,  McKay  &  Mitchell  being  the  builders.  The  taxes 
voted  in  the  district  during  the  school  year  closing  October, 

1858,  included  one  dollar  each  on  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
scholars,  two  hundred  and  six  dollars  to  pay  fees  and  costs 
in  injunction  suit,  and  five  hundred  dollars  to  pay  for  school- 
house. 

In  1862  the  district  resolved  a  second  time  to  organize 
into  a  union  school  district.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  that 
a  similar  resolution,  passed  injl857,  fell  short  of  practical 
efifect.  Trustees  chosen  in  1 862  for  the  district  were  John 
W.  Paine,  Henry  M.  Perrin,  Ransom  Plumstead,  Thoma-s 
J.  Urie,  Samuel  S.  Walker,  and  Randolph  Strickland.  In 
1863  it  was  resolved  to  purchase  the  present  union  school 
site  for  eight  hundred  and  seventy  dollars,  and  to  build  a 
new  school-house  to  cost  ten  thousand  dollars.  Upon  ad- 
vertising for  bids,  it  was  found  that  Brainard,  Wood  & 
Dane  would  build  such  a  school-house  as  was  desired  for 
eight  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  whereupon 
the  district  borrowed  nine  thousand  dollars  of  James  M. 
Soverhill,  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  for  ten  years,  at  eight  and  a 
half  per  cent,  per  annum. 

^  The  building  was  completed  in  October,  1865.  It  con- 
sisted of  a  main  structure  fifty-four  by  thirty-one  feet, 
flanked  on  each  side  by  a  wing  fourteen  by  thirty-one! 
The  entire  edifice  was  constructed  of  brick.  Its  height 
was  three  stories.  To  the  original  contract  price  of  eight 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  the  district  added 
on  behalf  of  the  contractors  sixteen  hundred  dollars,  to 
cover  extra  expenditures  incurred  by  them,  so  that  'the 
total  cost  of  the  building  reached  ten  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars.  On  the  1st  of  November,  1865,  the 
old  school-house  was  sold  for  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  first  corps  of  teachers  in  the  new  union  school,  in 


1865,  was  composed  of  J.  B.  Nixon,  A.M.,  of  Pontiac,  as 
principal ;  Miss  Anna  A.  Miller,  of  Ann  Arbor,  as  first 
a.ssistant ;  Miss  Emma  Siokels,  of  Owosso,  as  second  assist- 
ant;  and  Miss  Hunt,  of  St.  Johns. 

The  Perrin  School  was  built  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  and  the-  East-Side  School  in  1876,  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  dollars. 

The  enrollment  of  school  children  in  the  district  for 
1880  was  two  hundred  and  ninety-six  boys  and  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-two  girls,  or  a  total  of  six  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight.  The  average  attendance  was  for  the  various  depart- 
ments as  follows : 

High-school 44 

Grammar  department  (Union  School) 87 

Secondary  "  (Union  School) 62 

"  ''  (Perrin  School) 58 

"  "  (Bast-Side  School) 56 

Primary  "  (Union  School) 61 

"  "  (Perrin  School) 70 

"  "  (East-Side  School) 52 

The  corps  of  teachers  for  1880  is  as  follows :  Douwe  B. 
Yntema,  Principal;  M.  Allida  Strickland,  Preceptress; 
Helen  Lamphere,  Principal  Grammar  School ;  Anna  Ryan, 
Assistant  Grammar  School ;  William  H.  Brunson,  Third, 
Fourth,  and  Fifth  Grades ;  L.  Alice  Woodruff,  First,  Sec- 
ond and  Third  Grades. 

Perrin  School. — Jennie  S.  Hurd,  Third,  Fourth,  and 
Fifth  Grades ;  Helen  G.  Queal,  First,  Second,  and  Third 
Grades. 

East-Side  School.— Crissie  Hill,  Third,  Fourth,  and 
Fifth  Grades;  Ellen  Moore,  First,  Second,  and  Third 
Grades. 

A  tWo-story  brick  wing,  sixty-four  by  forty  and  to  cost 
five  thousand  dollars,  will  be  added  to  the  union  school 
building  in  season  for  the  fall  term  of  1880.  The  corps 
of  teachers  will  likewise  be  increased  by  the  addition  of 
Misses  Cora  Stout,  Hattie  Baldwin,  and  Alice  Barstow. 

The  Board  of  Education  of  St.  Johns  is  composed  of 
Messrs.  0.  W.  Barker,  D.  C.  Hurd,  C.  E.  Grisson,  R. 
Strickland,  G.  H.  Stephenson,  and  Josiah  Upton.  0.  W. 
Barker  is  president,  Josiah  Upton  secretary,  and  Charles 
E.  Grisson  treasurer. 

ST.  JOHNS   POST-OFFICE. 

In  1852  the  first  post-office  in  the  township  of  Bingham 
was  established,  and  located  at  the  house  of  George  W. 
Estes,  who  was  appointed  postmaster.  He  lived  then  on 
section  17.  The  office  was  named  Bingham,  and  was  kept 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Estes  until  his  removal,  in  1854,  to 
the  site  selected  for  the  village  of  St.  Johns.  He  carried 
the  office  with  him,  and  kept  it  there  until  1856,  when 
Timothy  Baker  received  the  appointment,  upon  Estes' 
recommendation,  and  at  that  time  too  the  name  of  the 
office  was  changed  to  St.  Johns.  To  the  time  of  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  to  St.  Johns, 
mail  was  received  over  the  route  from  De  Witt  to  the 
Rochester  Colony  over  the  State  road. 

The  postmasters  succeeding  Mr.  Baker  in  regular  order 
were  Thomas  J.  Urie,  H.  S.  Gibbons,  Richard  Baylis,  J.  M. 
Carter,  and  George  A.  Wells.  Mr.  Wells,  the  present  in- 
cumbent, was  appointed  in  1875.  It  is  related  that  the 
first  mail  brought  to  St.  Johns  was  carried  in  the  mail- 


VILLAGE   OF  ST.  JOHNS. 


373 


rider's  hat,  and  that  the  first  postmaster  kept  his  office  in 
a  cigar-box,  but  these  stories  are  probably  pure  imagina- 
tion. The  early  history  of  the  St.  Johns  post-office  boasted 
no  incident  out  of  the  ordinary  course  of  such  business. 

The  business  of  the  St.  Johns  post-office  during  the 
three  months  ending  March  31,  1880,  aggregated  as  fol- 
lows : 

Receipts  for  stamps,  envelopes,  etc $1064.00 

Money-orders  issued $4171.95 

"  "     paid $.S992.36 

Registered  letters  mailed 143 

SOCIETIES  AND  ORDEES. 
ST.  JOHNS   LODGE,  No.  105,  F.  AND  A.  M. 

This,  the  first  lodge  of  a  secret  order  organized  in  St. 
Johns,  received  a  dispensation  from  the  Grand  Lodge  Sept. 
23,  1857,  and  held  its  first  communication  December  3d 
of  that  year.  On  that  occasion  the  officers  present  were 
Timothy  Baker,  W.  M. ;  George  P.  Mead,  Sec. ;  W.  W. 
Brainard,  S.  W. ;  J.  E.  Leech,  J.  W. ;  H.  C.  Hodge, 
Treas. ;  John  Bansom,  S.  D. ;  L.  S.  Conn,  J.  D. ;  George 
Richmond,  Tiler.  At  the  next  lodge-meeting,  Dec.  7, 
1857,  A.  M.  Crawford,  George  P.  Mead,  C.  A.  Lamb,  and 
George  W.  Eichmond  were  presented  as  candidates  and 
duly  elected. 

Jan.  14,  1858,  the  lodge  received  a  charter,  and  Janu- 
ary 25th  elected  officers  as  follows :  Timothy  Baker,  W. 
M. ;  W.  W.  Brainard,  S.  W. ;  L.  C.  Conn,  J.  W. ;  George 
P.  Mead,  Sec. ;  H.  C.  Hodge,  Treas. ;  J.  Ransom,  S.  D. ; 
Jl.  M.  Crawford,  J.  D. ;  C.  A.  Lamb,  Chaplain  ;  J.  B. 
Lucas,  Tiler ;  George  W.  Richmond  and  0.  B.  Swain, 
Stewards. 

The  Masters  of  the  lodge  since  Jan.  14,  1858,  have  been 
chosen  as  follows:  December,  1858,  W.  W.  Brainard; 
1859-60,  Ransom  Plumstead  ;  1861,  J.  W.  Paine  ;  1862, 
W.  H.  Moote;  1863,  J.  W.  Paine;  1864-65,  W.  H. 
Moote;  1866,  0.  L.  Spaulding;  1867,  R.  McFarlan ; 
1868-74,  A.  J.  Wiggins;  1875-76,  J.  D.  Henderson; 
1877-79,  W.  W.  Brown;  1880,  M.  D.  Brown. 

The  lodge  has  now  a  flourishing  membership  of  about 
two  hundred,  and  is  exceedingly  prosperous.  A  hand- 
somely-appointed lodge-room  in  Hicks  &  Steel's  block  has 
been  the  lodge  quarters  since  1867. 

The  present  officers  are  M.  D.  Brown,  W.  M. ;  E.  R. 
Sanford,  8.  W. ;  George  H.  Stephenson,  J.  W. ;  J.  D. 
Henderson,  Treas. ;  A.  S.  Fildew,  Sec. ;  J.  H.  Ingalls,  S. 
D. ;  H.  P.  Adams,  J.  D. ;  George  Hicks,  Tiler. 

ST.  JOHNS  LODGE,  No.  81,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
This,  the  second  secret  order  instituted  in  St.  Johns',  was 
organized  in  1859,  and  chartered  Jan.  12,  1860.  The 
charter  members  numbered  seven, — William  L.  Hicks, 
William  Jones,  Gardner  Conn,  Henry  Walbridge,  N.  C. 
McCollum,  W.  H.  Plumstead,  and  A.  Plumstead.  The 
early  records  of  the  lodge  having  been  burned,  only  meagre 
details  can  be  gleaned  touching  that  portion  of  the  lodge 
history  to  which  they  had  reference.  St.  Johns  Lodge  has 
now  forty-one  members,  and  has  officers  as  follows :  Wil- 
liam Bishop,  N.  G. ;  S.  B.  Allen,  V.  G. ;  N.  D.  Hotch- 
kiss,  Recording  and  Financial  Sec. ;  F.  R.  Butler,  Treas. ; 
L.  Z.  Munger,  Warden. 


ST.  JOHNS  ENCAMPMENT,  No.  83,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
A  charter  to  the  encampment  was  issued  Feb.  11,  1876, 
to  P.  E.  Vauconsant,  J.  H.  Ingall,  H.  P.  Adams,  William 
P.  Tromp,  W.  J.  Esler,  N.  W.  Bush,  and  L.  Z.  Munger. 
The  membership  July  1,  1880,  was  twenty-two,  and  the 
officers  Charles  M.  Merrill,  C.  P. ;  N.  W.  Bush,  Ac.  S.  W. ; 
L.  Z.  Munger,  H.  P. ;  N.  D.  Hotchkiss,  Scribe  and  Finan- 
cial Sec. ;  F.  R.  Butler,  Treas. ;  I.  D.  Richmond,  J.  W. 

CORINTHIAN    LODGE,   No.  241,   F.   AND   A.   M. 

This  lodge  was  organized  early  in  1867,  in  the  major  part 
by  members  demitted  from  St.  Johns  Lodge.  The  charter 
was  issued  Jan.  9,  1868,  and  at  the  first  meeting  there- 
after there  were  present  the  following  officers  :  J.  H.  Cran- 
son,  W.  M.  ;  W.  W.  Brainard,  S.  W. ;  J.  M.  Carter,  J. 
W. ;  William  Sickels,  Treas.;  Charles  E.  Grisson,  Sec; 
J.  L.  Paldi,  S.  D. ;  0.  M.  Hidden,  J.  D. ;  A.  M.  Steel 
and  J.  Brown,  Stewards;  G.  H.  Stephenson,  Tiler.  The 
Masters  since  the  organization  have  been  J.  H.  Cranson, 
W.  W.  Brainard,  C.  I'l.  Grisson,  James  H.  Collins,  and 
William  Cochran.  The  present  membership  roll  bears 
fifty-eight  names.  The  officers  are  William  Cochran,  W. 
M.  ;  0.  W.  Miller,  S.  W. ;  J.  C.  Watkins,  J.  W. ;  C.  B. 
Grisson,  Treas.  ;  William  M.  Leland,  Sec. ;  Henry  Filden, 
S.  D. ;  N.  A.  Oleson,  J.  D. ;  George  Hicks,  Tiler.  Meet- 
ings have  been  held  in  Masonic  Hall — Hicks  and  Steel's 
block — since  organization. 

ST.   JOHNS    COUNCIL,   No.    21. 

The  council  received  a  dispensation  Nov.  24,  1866,  and 
a  charter  June  6,  1867,  but  held  no  meeting  until  Sept. 
17,  1867.  Upon  that  occasion  the  following-named  officers 
were  installed :  0.  L.  Spaulding,  T.  L  G.  M. ;  Joseph  W. 
Bromley,  D.  T.  I.  G.  M. ;  Robert  McFarlan,  M.  E.  P.  C. ; 
G.  H.  Stephenson,  Treas. ;  Sylvester  Hoyt,  Recorder.  On 
the  same  night  petitions  were  received  from  Companions 
William  Sickels,  M.  F.  Fasquelle,  Charles  E.  Grisson,  R. 
M.  Steel,  0.  H.  Wood,  William  H.  Sexton,  A.  J.  Wiggins, 
and  John  Hale.  The  membership  is  now  sixty,  and  the 
officers  George  H.  Stephenson,  T.  I.  G.  M. ;  J.  N.  Prisbie, 
D.  T.  I.  G.  M. ;  J.  D.  Henderson,  P.  C.  W. ;  C.  E.  Gris- 
son, Treas. ;  Q.  E.  Bridgman,  Recorder. 

ST.   JOHNS    COMMANDERY,    No.    24,    K.   T. 

The  commandery  received  a  dispensation  Dec.  24,  1868, 
and  a  charter  June  2,  1869.  At  the  first  conclave,  held 
Feb.  6,  1869,  the  officers  present  were  Sir  Knight  H.  M. 
Curdy,  B.  C. ;  Sir  Knight  0.  L.  Spaulding,  G. ;  Sir 
Knight  E.  S.  Converse,  C.  G. ;  Sir  Knight  E.  Sprague, 
Prelate ;  Sir  Knight  J.  Gute,  S.  W. ;  Sir  Knight  W.  H. 
Sexton,  J.  W. ;  Sir  Knight  A.  J.  Wiggins,  Treas. ;  Sir 
Knight  J.  L.  Paldi,  Recorder ;  Sir  Knight  R.  McFarlan, 
Standard- Bearer ;  Sir  Knight  J.  S.  Ranney,  Sword-Bearer ; 
Sir  Knight  T.  W.  Lusk,  Warden ;  Sir  Knight  H.  Boyd, 
Sentinel.  Petitions  were  presented  from  Companions  John 
B.  Nixon,  Charles  E.  Grisson,  William  Sickels,  R.  Strick- 
land, H.  C.  Smith,  R.  M.  Steel,  Jesse  Dunn,  J.  C.  Dayton, 
J.  R.  Hale,  E.  L.  Smith,  Sylvester  Hoyt,  M.  S.  Fasquelle, 
and  J.  M.  Frisbie.  The  present  membership  is  sixty-seven, 
and  the  official  list  for  1880  as  follows :  Sir  Knight  0. 


374 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


L.  Spaulding,  B.  C;  Sir  Knight  F.  B.  Cutler  G. ;  Sir 
Knight  C.  E.  Grisson,  C.  G. ;  Sir  Knight  R.  B  Emmons, 
Prelate;  Sir  Knight  Jesse  Dunn,  Treas. ;  Sir  Knight  J. 
M.  Frisbie,  Recorder;  Sir  Knight  W.  W.  Brown,  S.  W  ; 
Sir  Knight  C.  P.  Wickes,  J.  W. ;  Sir  Knight  G.  Pennell, 
Standard-Bearer;  Sir  Knight  J.  D.  Henderson  Swo.d- 
Bearer;  Sir  Knight  0.  H.  Stephenson,  Warden;  Sir- 
Knight  George  Hicks,  Guard. 

ST.  JOHNS  CHAPTER,  No.  45,  R.  A.  M., 
was  organized  April  13,  1866,  and  chartered  Jan.  8,  1867. 
The  charter  members  were  J.,  B.  Lucas,  T.  Baker,  0.  L. 
Spaulding,  W.  W.  Brainard,  William  S.  Lazelle,  J.  B. 
Nixon,  j!  M.  Carter,  S.  Steele,  R.  M.  Steel,  Elijah  Peck. 
The  chapter  has  now  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  mem- 
bers. The  officers  for  1880  are  J.  D.  Henderson,  H.  P. ; 
G.  H.  Stephenson,  K. ;  W.  W.  Brown,  Scribe ;  E.  R. 
Sanford,  C.  of  H. ;  J.  G.  Watkins,  P.  S. ;  Joseph  H.  In- 
galls,  R.  A.  C. ;  0.  L.  Vreeland,  M.  of  3d  V. ;  J.  K.  Bale, 
M.  of  2d  V. ;  Charles  Pattison,  M.  of  1st  V. ;  C.  E.  Gris- 
son,  Treas. ;  C.  P.  Wickes,  Sec. ;  George  Hicks,  Guard. 
Since  the  organization  the  High  Priests  have  been  0.  L. 
Spaulding,  J.  B.  Nixon,  S.  Hoyt,  A.  J.  Wiggins,  R.  Mc- 
Farlan,  J.  W.  Lewis,  C.  E.  Grisson,  and  J.  D.  Henderson. 

BINGHAM  LODGE,  No.  439,  KNIGHTS  OF  HONOR. 

This  lodge,  organized  Jan.  11,  1877,  has  a  membership 
of  iwenty-eight  and  the  following  officers :  J.  G.  Wise,  D. ; 
Peter  Mead,  V.  D. ;  A.  L.  Butler,  P.  R. ;  William  H. 
Tripp,  Reporter ;  G.  E.  Corbin,  Treas.  Regular  sessions 
are  held  once  each  fortnight. 

ST.  JOHNS  LODGE,  No.  28,  A.  0.  U.  W., 
was  organized  Deo.  20,  1877,  and  has  now  sixty-five  mem- 
bers. Regular  meetings  are  held  twice  a  month  in  the 
Odd-Fellows'  Hail.  The  officers  for  1880  areL.  Z.  Munger, 
M.  W. ;  W.  F.  Troump,  Foreman ;  T.  Hart,  0. ;  A.  L. 
Butler,  Financier;  William  Cochran,  Sec;  Charles  E. 
Grisson,  Treas. ;   E.  B.  Bailey,  Guide. 

ROYAL  TEMPLARS  OF  TEMPERANCE. 
This  lodge  was  organized  Feb.  17,  1880,  with  seventeen 
members.  Meetings  are  held  in  the  Teachout  building. 
The  officers  are  James  D.  Estes,  S.  C. ;  George  H.  Stephen- 
son, V.  C. ;  George  W.  Estes,  P.  C. ;  W.  J.  Smith,  Sec.  ; 
Frederick  Lee,  Treas. ;  John  Stitt,  Herald  ;  James  Thomp- 
son, Chaplain  ;  James  Gibbs,  Guard ;  S  E.  Wilson,  Sen- 
tinel.    The  members  number  now  twenty-two. 

ST.  JOHNS  GRANGE,  P.  OF  H., 
was  organized  in  1869,  with  thirteen  members.  The  pres- 
ent membership  is  upwards  of  forty,  and  the  condition  of 
the  grange  exceedingly  prosperous.  Meetings  are  held 
every  Saturday  in  the  Teachout  building.  The  officers  for 
1880  are  George  Arnold,  M. ;  B.  P.  Conn,  0. ;  Richard 
Moore,  L. ;  Frank  Ridenour,  Chaplain  ;  Frank  Hale,  Sec. ; 
A.  0.  Huntly,  Treas. 

THE  ST.  JOHNS  RED  RIBBON  CLUB 

was  organized  in  February,  1876,  when  the  temperance 
movement  was  at  its  height,  and  enrolled  a  membership  of 
two  hundred,  with  D.  S.  French  as  president.     Now  the 


membership  is  forty.  Meetings  are  held  once  a  week.  E. 
P.  Bailey  is  President ;  G.  H.  Stephenson,  Vice-President ; 
M.  J.  Bassett,  Secretary ;  and  D.  C.  Hurd,  Treasurer. 

LADIES'  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Ladies'  Library  Association  of  St.  Johns  was  organ- 
ized under  the  laws  of  the  State  Feb.  1,  1871,  with  Mrs. 
G.  M.  Tuthill,  Mrs.  M.  Babcook,  Mrs.  R.  M.  McFarlan, 
Mrs.  S.  S-.  Walker,  Miss  Frances  E.  Tuckerman,  Mrs.  J. 
B.  McLean,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Lee,  Mrs.  C.  S. 'Wells,  Mrs.  CeliaC. 
Smith,  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Collins  as  charter  members.  The 
association  was  chartered  for  a  period  of  thirty  years  for 
"  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  and  intellectual  culture  or 
literary  pursuits."  An  active  organization  has  been  main- 
tained since  1871,  and  during  that  period  the  valuable 
benefits  steadily  flowing  from  the  association's  efforts  have 
met  with  earnest  popular  appreciation.  The  "  Directory  for 
1880"  is  composed  of  Mrs.  G.  E.  Corbin,  Mrs.  S.  S.  Wood- 
ruff, Mrs.  C.  E.  Grisson,  and  Mrs.  J.  Dunn.  Mrs.  M. 
Babcock  is  the  President ;  Mrs.  R.  Strickland,  Vice-Presi- 
dent ;  Mrs.  S.  S.  Walker,  Secretary ;  Miss  F.  B.  Tucker- 
man, Treasurer;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Ball,  Librarian;  Miss  G. 
Shaver,  Assistant  Librarian. 

THE  ST.  JOHNS  CEMETERY  ASSOCIATION 
was  incorporated  July  28,  1863,  for  the  government  and 
control  of  the  cemetery  grounds  donated  by  the  village 
proprietors.     Since  the  organization  0.  L.  Spaulding  has 
been  the  president  and  G.  H.  Stephenson  treasurer. 

BANKS. 

The  pioneer  bank  of  St.  Johns  was  started  in  1857  by 
H.  C.  Hodge,  on  the  west  side  of  Clinton  Avenue,  south 
of  Walker  Street.  The  bank  was  a  small  affair,  but  Mr. 
Hodge  contrived  nevertheless  to  do  a  good  deal  of  banking 
business,  and  he  found  frequent  opportunities  for  making 
loans.  He  made  them,  too,  at  a  good  living  rate  of  interest 
for  himself.     He  carried  on  his  bank  until  some  time  in 

1864,  just  before  which  period  Timothy  Baker  and  A.  G. 
Higham  opened  a  banking  institution  in  a  small  building 
which  stood  upon  the  site'  now  occupied  by  the  First 
National  Bank.  Baker  &  Higham's  business  did  not  last 
very  long,  and  ended  rather  abruptly. 

In  January,  1865,  S.  S.  Walker  opened  a  banking-office 
in  0.  W.  Munger's  store,  and  shortly  after  that  Mr.  Walker, 
in  conjunction  with  others,  organized 

THE    FIRST    NATIONAL    BANK. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders  was  held  May  31, 

1865,  at  the  office  of  P.  K.  &  H.  M.  Perrin,when  Charles 
Kipp  was  chosen  President;  John  Hicks,  Vice-President; 
and  S.  S.  Walker,  Cashier.  The  directors  elected  were  R. 
M.  Steel,  Charies  Kipp,  John  Hicks,  Josiah  Upton,  H.  M. 
Eddy,  R.  Strickland,  0.  W.  Munger,  H.  M.  Perrin,  and 
Ransom  Plumstead.  Aug.  28,  1865,  the  bank  was  char- 
tered, with  a  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  limited  to 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  Sept.  4,  1865,  began 
business  in  the  building  originally  used  by  Baker  &  High- 
am, for  which  the  bank  paid  seventeen  doUai'S.  Directly 
afterwards  a  new  bank  building  was  put  up  on  the  same 


:-^fu" 


It 


VILLAGE  OP  ST.  JOHNS. 


375 


site,  the  old  structure  occupying  meanwhile  a  place  on  the 
avenue,  and  there  for  thirty  days  the  banking  business  was 
done  until  the  new  building  was  ready  for  occupation. 
This  latter  served  until  1870,  in  which  year  it  was  replaced 
by  the  present  fine  brick  structure.  The  old  bank  building 
was  moved  around  upon  Walker  Street,  and  now  does  duty 
as  the  St.  Johns  post-office.  Mr.  Walker  continued  to  be 
the  cashier  until  his  resignation,  in  July,  1877.  G.  W. 
Ball  succeeded  him,  but  retired  in  December  of  that  year. 
His  successor  was  Galusha  Pennell,  who  is  the  present 
cashier.  The  directory  of  the  bank  is  composed  of  Charles 
Kipp,  President;  John  Hicks,  Vice-President ;  Galusha 
Pennell,  Cashier ;  Joshua  Upton,  and  A.  H.  Walker.  The 
working  capital  of  the  institution  remains  at  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  At  the  close  of  business,  May  10, 1880,  the  bank 
statement  showed  the  circulation  to  be  forty-five  thousand 
dollars;  loans  and  discounts,  one  hundred  and  six  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  ninety-eight  dollars  and  fifty-nine  cents; 
deposits,  seventy-six  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-four 
dollars  and  eighty-one  cents ;  surplus,  twelve  thousand  and 
twenty-eight  dollars  and  ninety-six  cents ;  profit  and  loss, 
five  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-six  dollars  and 
ninety-six  cents ;  undivided  earnings,  five  thousand  five 
hundred  and  twenty-two  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents. 

SHAVER   &    GEISSON'S  BANK. 

The  firm  of  Shaver  &  Grisson .  carry  on  a  private  bank- 
ing institution,  which  they  founded  in  September,  1877. 
They  occupy  fine  quarters  in  Steel's  Block,and  conduct  a 
general  banking  business. 

MANUFACTURING  INDUSTRIES. 
THE  ST.  JOHNS   MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. 

This  corporation,  the  most  important  of  the  industries  of 
St.  Johns,  is  an  enterprise  of  more  than  ordinary  preten- 
sions. Devoted  to  the  general  manufacture  of  furniture,  it 
contributes  towards  the  support  of  upwards  of  one  hundred 
families,  and  employs  a  capital  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  dollars. 

Its  origin  dates  back  to  April,  1857,  when  W.  W. 
Brainard  came  to  St.  Johns  from  Ohio  with  a  chest  of  car- 
penter's tools  (having  previously — in  July,  1856 — been  out 
prospecting  for  a  location),  and  fixed  his  carpenter's  bench 
in  the  lower  portion  of  the  village  company's  saw-mill, 
which  latter  he  rented  and  carried  on  in  connection  with 
his  business  as  carpenter  and  builder.  In  1858  he  gave  up 
the  mill  and  moved  up  town,  where  he  bought,  on  Walker 
Street,  a  building  which  had  been  erected  by  Wilbur  Ash 
in  1857  as  a  carpenter-shop,  and  occupied  a  little  later  by 
James  Hungerford  as  a  cabinet-shop.  The  building  was 
afterwards  remodeled,  and  is  now  used  by  the  American 
Express  Company.  Mr.  Brainard  put  iu  machinery  and 
started  a  cabinet-making  establishment  of  respectable  pro- 
portions. He  carried  on  business  at  that  place  two  years, 
and  then  moved  to  a  place  on  Spring  Street,  just  south  of 
Walker  Street,  where  he  had  built  a  pretty  good-»ized  fac- 
tory. He  associated  with  him  Charles  B.  Andrews,  and 
at  that  stand  Brainard  &  Andrews  carried  on  the  manufac- 
ture of  furniture  until  January,  1868.  On  the  9th  of  that 
month  the  St.  Johns   Manufacturing  Company  was  organ- 


ized by  R.  M.  Steel,  William  Steel,  W.  W.  Brainard,  Oli- 
ver Hidden,  and  J.  L.  Paldi,  who  bought  the  business  of 
Brainard  &  Andrews  with  a  view  of  continuing  it  upon  a 
more  extensive  plan.  R.  M.  Steel  was  chosen  president, 
J.  L,  Paldi  secretary,  and  W.  W.  Brainard  superintendent. 

The  company  was  chartered  with  a  capital  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  proceeded  to  erect 
new  and  spacious  factory  buildings  at  the  north  end  of  the 
village,  near  the  railway-track.  While  the  new  works  were 
being  constructed  the  old  factory  on  Spring  Street  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  December,  1868.  The  only  article  saved 
was  an  adze,  and  that  relic  has  ever  since  been  in  use  at  the 
new  works.  The  fire  did  not,  however,  retard  the  com- 
pany's business  very  much,  for  in  March,  1869,  the  new 
factory  was  started  with  a  force  of  thirty  men.  The  main 
building  was  ninety-six  feet  in  length  by  fifty  feet  in  width, 
with  a  height  of  two  stories  and  a  basement.  There  was 
also  a  brick  structure  three  stories  high,  used  on  the  ground- 
floor  for  a  boiler-  and  engine-room,  and  above  for  shop- 
rooms.  During  the  same  spring  additions  were  made  of 
two  store-houses,  each  two  stories  high  and  twenty-four  by 
sixty.  The  company  purchased  also  extensive  tracts  of 
timber-lands  in  Gratiot  County,  put  up  a  good  saw-mill, 
and  trafficked  largely  in  lumber. 

In  1874  further  additions  were  made  to  the  factory 
buildings,  so  that  now  the  works,  including  a  mill  for  the 
sawing  of  hard  woods,  cover  about  six  acres.  Since  the 
organization  R.  M.  Steel  has  been  the  president  and  W. 
W.  Brainard  the  superintendent  of  the  company.  J.  L. 
Paldi  was  secretary  until  June,  1870,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  D.  S.  French,  the  present  secretary.  The  com- 
pany's capital  remains  at  the  original  sum  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  dollars.  Its  stockholders  are  but 
three  in  number, — R.  M.  Steel,  William  Steel,  and  W.  W. 
Brainard. 

One  hundred  and  twenty  men  are  employed  in  the  manu- 
facture of  all  kinds  of  furniture,  of  which  the  especial 
features  for  the  past  three  years  have  been  extension-tables 
and  extension  slides,  upon  which  latter  a  valuable  patent  is 
held.  These  latter  are  marketed  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
The  furniture  product  is  generally  sold  within  the  State. 
During  the  year  1879  there  were  used  in  the  manufactory 
two  million  feet  of  pine  and  five  hundred  thousand  feet  of 
hard  wood. 

HICKS'   FOUNDRY. 

Archelaus  Silsbee  opened  a  foundry  in  1857  for  the  mak- 
ing of  plow-points  and  general  castings,  and  soon  took  in 
as  a  partner  Wm.  H.  Moote,  of  the  firm  of  Corbit  &  Moote, 
hardware  merchants.  The  business  passed  through  fre- 
quent changes  in  ownership,  and  lastly  to  John  Hicks,  who 
has  been  interested  in  it  since  1873.  The  establishment 
is  known  as  the  St.  Johns  Foundry  and  Agricultural 
Works,  and  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  general  ma- 
chine castings,  but  more  especially  in  the  manufacture  of 
the  "  Victor  Mower,"  in  which  a  good  deal  of  business  is 
done. 

THE   ST.   JOHNS   CO-OPERATIVE   COMPANY. 
In  1875,  Messrs.  A.  S.  Fildew,  Ira  D.  Nichols,  E.  L. 
Nichols,  and   Frank   Fildew  founded  the  St.  Johns  Co- 


376 


HISTORY  OP  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


operative  Company  for  the  extensive  manufacture  of  doors, 
sash,  and  blinds.  In  the  summer  of  1879,  I.  D.  Nichols 
was  accidentally  killed  in  the  factory,  and  consequent  upon 
that  event  the  establishment  passed  by  purchase  into  the 
hands  of  the  Fildew  Brothers,  present  proprietors,  who 
have  added  a  spoke-factory  to  the  original  works. 

WIGGINS  &  FAIRCHILD'S  MILL. 
The  firm  of  Wiggins  &  Pairchild  has  teen  engaged  since 
1878  in  the  operation,  on  Higham  Street,  of  an  elm-bark 
mill,  to  which  was  added  in  the  fall  of  1879  the  business 
of  a  bed-spring  manufactory  that  is  rapidly  developing  into 
a  business  of  considerable  importance. 

ST.   JOHNS  PIEE  DEPARTMENT. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  village  trustees  held  Juno  12,  1858, 
a  petition  was  presented  by  W.  H.  Moote,  signed  by  J.  W. 
Hungerford,  H.  0.  Hodge,  George  F.  Mead,  William  H. 
Moote,  and  thirty-five  others,  praying  that  they  might  be 
enrolled  as  firemen  in  Hook-and-Ladder  Company  No.  1. 
It  was  thereupon  "  Resolved,  That  the  following-named 
persons  be  organized  into  a  fire  company,  to  be  denominated 
Hook-and-Ladder  Company  No.  1,  of  the  village  of  St. 
Johns,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  act  No.  168, 
section  39,  session  laws  of  1857  :  James  W.  Hungerford, 
Hiram  C.  Hodge,  Henry  Walbridge,  R.  Plumstead,  George 
P.  Mead,  W.  W.  Brainard,  T.  H.  Poland,  0.  W.  Munger, 
J.  'H.  Corbit,  George  W^.  Stephenson,  S.  W.  Ingraham, 
William  A.  McOmber,  William  Wicks,  William  H.  Vol- 
leau,  John  Turner,  John  D.  Cain,  George  W.  Estes,  George 
W.  Carly,  Z.  C.  Cheney,  C.  W.  Palmer,  William  H.  Moote, 
George  L.  Patch,  H.  A.  Smith,  Charles  P.  Smith,  John 
Ransom,  Wilson  Curtiss,  W.  W.  Flagler,  T.  R.  Burns,  D. 
P.  Bissell,  George  W.  Emmons,  Abijah  Schaff,  S.  T.  Hay- 
ward,  L.  McCabe,  C.  0.  Stiles,  William  J.  McKay,  N. 
Grummons,  John  Travis,  G.  B.  Stevens,  and  George  H. 
Stephenson." 

This  hook-and-ladder  company,  so  called,  was  simply 
the  addition  of  a  ladder  attachment  to  the  old-time  bucket 
brigade.  There  was  no  "  truck,"  but  what  ladders  were 
provided  were  kept  in  various  convenient  places  to  serve  in 
time  of  need. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1860,  the  trustees  received  from 
citizens  and  tax-payers  a  petition  asking  for  the  purchase 
of  hose  and  a  fire-engine,  and  the  construction  of  capacious 
water-tanks  on  Clinton  Avenue.  At  the  meeting  of  April 
3,  1860,  the  trustees  resolved  to  purchase  for  five  hundred 
dollars  the  engine  belonging  to  Eagle  Engine  Company, 
No.  2,  of  Detroit,  to  secure  a  hose-cart  and  three  hundred 
feet  of  hose,  and  to  construct  two  reservoirs  on  Clinton 
Avenue. 

At  a  trustees'  meeting,  June  2,  1860,  the  matter  of  or- 
ganizing Pioneer  Fire  Company,  No.  1,  being  under  con- 
sideration, William  H.  Moote  and  Charles  Plumstead 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  take  such  measures  as  were 
necessary  for  such  organization.  June  4th  the  committee  re- 
ported, and  upon  their  report  the  following  ordinance  was 
adopted : 

"  Be  it  ordained  by  the  president  and  trustees  of  the 
village  of  St.  Johns  that  we  hereby  establish  and  or.'anize 


a  fire  company,  to  be  known  and  designated  as  Eagle  Com- 
pany, No.  1,  consisting  of  the  following-named  persons,  to 
wit :  William  H.  Moote,  B.  M.  Shields,  J.  H.  Corbit,  C. 
B.  Holiday,  Charles  F.  Smith,  James  H.  Alward,  Charles 
Plumstead,  Marvin  E.  Palmer,  W.  E.  Servis,  Charles  Kipp, 
William  W.  Flagler,  James  Vanrice,  S.  T.  Hayward,  James 
Travis,  Asher  Teachout,  John  W.  Paine,  George  W.  Estes, 
Richard  Moore,  James  B.  Wait,  Jerome  Bacheler,  W.  H. 
Edick,  G.  M.  Farnliam,  John  Dunn,  Henry  Hunn,  Lorenzo 
Hall,  John  Turner,  Robert  G.  Shaw,  Alfred  B.  Olin,  An- 
thony Cookj,  John  Hicks,  Jacob  Brown,  H.  Walbridge,  0. 
W.  Munger,  Jerry  Dobin,  Charles  McColifi',  and  James 
W.  Hungerford. 

The  civil  officers  were  William  H.  Moote,  President; 
Charles  Kipp,  Vice-President ;  Richard  Moore,  Secretary ; 
Marvin-  P].  Palmer,  Treasurer.  The  fire  officers,  Charles 
Plumstead,  Foreman;  John  W.  Paine,  First  Assistant;  S. 
T.  Hayward,  Second  Assistant ;  William  W.  Flagler,  Pipe- 
man  ;  George  W.  Estes,  Steward. 

The  cause  of  change  in  the  name  of  the  company  from 
"  Pioneer"  to  "  Eagle"  was  a"  fancy  of  the  majority  to 
adopt  the  latter  because  it  had  been  borne  by  the  company 
from  whom  the  engine  was  purchased, — "  Eagle,"  of  De- 
troit, being  somewhat  noted  as  a  company  of  tlite  young 
^  men. 

The  hand-engine  purchased  in  I860  continued  to  do 
duty  for  the  Eagle  Company  of  St.  Johns  until  May,  1880, 
when  it  was  superseded  by  a  fine  third-class  steamer  of  the 
Silsbee  make,  costing  three  thousand  dollars. 

Firemen's  Hall,  now  the  headquarters  of  the  department, 
is  a  fine  two-story  brick  structure,  embellished  with  a  mas- 
sive bell-tower.  The  hall  was  erected  in  1874,  upon  the 
ground  occupied  by  the  old  frame  engine-house  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1873. 

William  Hoffman  is  chief  engineer  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment, and  John  Tramper  first  assistant.  The  department 
consists  of  Eagle  Steam  Fire  Company,  C.  B.  Stout,. fore- 
man, with  forty  men ;  Rescue  Hook-and-Ladder  Company, 
No.  1,  William  W.  Leland,  foreman,  with  twenty-four  men ; 
and  Alert  Hose  Company,  C.  E.  Pulfrey,  foreman,  with 
sixteen  men.  George  W.  Estes  is  president,  F.  Fairchild 
secretary,  and  Miner  Boyd  treasurer. 

MEMORABLE  FIRES  IN  ST.  JOHNS. 

The  first  village  conflagration  of  any  consequence  oc- 
curred in  1858,  in  the  burning  of  Swegles'  grist-mill.  April 
14,  1860,  a  fire  originated  in  the  second  story  of  the 
building  occupied  by  John  Hicks  as  a  store,  and  swept  away 
every  building  save  one  on  the  west  side  of  Clinton  Avenue 
between  Walker  and  Higham  Streets.  In  1863  the  Amer- 
ican House  was  destroyed;  in  1867  the  Clinton  House  and 
three  or  four  stores  were  burned ;  in  1875  four  stores  on 
Clinton  Avenue  south  of  Walker  Street  and  the  engine- 
house  on  Walker  Street;  and  in  1878  several  stores  on 
the  west  side  of  Clinton  Avenue  south  of  Walker  Street. 

These  fires  destroyed  in  each  case  frame  structures,  and 
inasmuch  as  they  called  into  existence  brick  blocks  to  fill 
the  vacant  places,  the  disasters  proved  to  be  in  the  end 
benefits  to  the  village. 


VILLAGE  OP  ST.  JOHNS. 


377 


PUBLIC  AND  PEIVATE  BUILDINGS  IN  ST.  JOHNS. 

St.  Johns  has  much  of  which  to  be  proud  in  the  way  of 
residences  as  well  as  business  blocks,  while  it  may  be  truly 
said  in  respect  to  the  court-house  that  few  buildings  of 
the  kind  in  the  State  can  approach  it  in  point  of  massive 
and  imposing  proportions  and  architectural  beauty.  It  was 
built  at  an  expenditure  of  forty-five  thousand  dollars,  of 
which  the  village  of  St.  Johns  contributed  five  thousand 
dollars,  Oct.  3,  1868,  by  a  popular  vote  of  167  to  11. 

The  first  brick  structures  in  the  town  were  John  W. 
Paine's  store  and  residence.  Both  were  built  in  1860.  The 
best  block  of  its  day,  and  now  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the 
town,  was  the  Hicks  &  Steel  Block,  built  by  John  Hicks 
in  1867.  There  are  besides  the  Hicks  Block,  numerous 
fine  brick  blocks  deserving  of  more  than  passing  mention, 
among  them  being  the  Opera-House  building.  There  are, 
moreover,  other  brick  blocks  in  course  of  construction,  and 
these  when  completed  will  add  materially  to  the  present 
attractive  appearance  of  the  chief  business  thoroughfare  of 
the  village. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


OLIVER  LYMAN  SPAULDING. 

Oliver  Lyman  Spaulding  was  born  at  Jaffrey,  N.  H., 
Aug.  2,  1833,  and  is  the  son  of  Lyman  and  Susan  (Mar- 
shall) Spaulding.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Melville 
Academy,  in  Jaffrey,  working  on  the  farm  during  the 
time.  In  1851  he  entered  Oberlin  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1855.  He  then  spent  three  years  in 
teaching,  devoting  his  leisure  to  the  study  of  law.  He 
taught  successively  in  the  union  schools  at  Medina, 
Ohio,  and  Hillsdale,  Mich.,  and  in  the  academy  at  Me- 
.dina,  Mich.  In  1858  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
settled  at  St.  Johns,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  prac- 
tice his  profession,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in 
the  civil  war.  In  1862  he  began  military  service  as  cap- 
tain in  the  Twenty-third  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  was  appointed,  successively,  major,  lieutenant-colonel, 
and  colonel,  having  been  senior  officer  in  command  of  the 
regiment  from  the  time  of  receiving  his  commission  as 
major  in  1863.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  Second  Division,  Twenty-third  Army  Corps, 
and  was  brevetted  brigadier-general  of  United  States  vol- 
unteers, June  25,  1865,  "  for  faithful  and  meritorious  ser- 
vices during  the  war."  In  1858  he  was  elected  a  regent 
of  the  State  University,  and  held  the  office  until  1864.  In 
1866  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  State,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1868.  In  1875  he  was  appointed  by  President  Grant 
Special  Agent  of  the  Treasury  Department,  which  office  he 
still  holds. 

Gen.  Spaulding  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  actively 
connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  1869  he  was 
Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Council  of  Koyal  and  Select 
Masters ;  in  1872,  Grand  Commander  of  the  Grand  Com- 
mandery  of  Knights  Templar  ;  in  1877,  Grand  High  Priest 
of  the  Grand  Chapter;  and  for  several  years  has  been 
chairman  of  the  standing  committee  on  appeals  in  the 
48    . 


Grand  Lodge.  He  is  at  present  Deputy  Grand  Master  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Gen.  Spaulding  was  reared  a  Congregationalist,  but  in 
1866  became  connected  with  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
since  that  time  has  been  senior  warden. 

Politically  he  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  since  its  organization,  and  an  ardent  member  of 
the  State  Central  Committee  since  1870.  In  the  Repub- 
lican Convention  held  at  Owosso,  he  was  nominated  by 
acclamation,  Aug.  5,  1880,  for  member  of  Congress  from 
the  Sixth  District. 

His  family  consists  of  a  wife  and  three  children.  Mrs. 
Spaulding  was  the  daughter  of  the  Hon.  John  Swegles, 
who  was  the  founder  of  the  village  of  St.  Johns. 


JOHN  H.  FEDEWA. 

Among  the  honorable  names  in  the  county  of  Clinton 
that  recall  the  qualities  of  energy  and  force  of  character  as 
the  chief  elements  in  a  successful  career,  no  finer  example 
is  discovered  than  that  presented  in  the  life  of  John  H.  Fe- 
dewa.  With  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  given  him  in 
early  life, — a  mere  adjifnct  to  the  capital  which  his  own  in- 
dustry and  ambition  supplied, — he  has  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
one  years  not  only  acquired  a  thorough  legal  education 
but  been  the  recipient  of  many  offices  of  trust,  and  is  now 
filling  for  the  second  term  the  office  of  prosecuting  attor- 
ney for  the  county. 

His  father,  Morris  Fedewa,  was  born  in  Germany,  in 
1812,  the  birth  of  his  mother,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
having  occurred  the  year  following.  They  emigrated  to  the 
hospitable  shores  of  America  during  the  year  1842,  and  at 
once  embarked  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  township  of 
Dallas,  Clinton  Co.  Here  their  son  was  born  May  8, 1849, 
having  been  the  eighth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fedewa  experienced  all  the  hardships  of 
the  early  settler,  the  former  having  borne  his  grist  many 
miles  to  Lyons,  to  avail  himself  of  the  nearest  mill.  Until 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  John  H.  led  the  accustomed  life 
of  the  farmer's  son,  having  labored  in  summer  and  studied 
in  winter.  He  later  enjoyed  for  two  years  the  advantages 
of  the  St.  Johns  High  School,  after  which  he  taught  for  a 
brief  period.  In  1870  he  entered  the  law-school  at  the 
University  of  Michigan,  from  which  he  graduated  May  27, 
.1872.  He  then  .began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Westphalia,  and  in  1873  was  elected  supervisor  of  the 
township.  He  was  re-elected  the  following  year,  and  soon 
after  honored  with  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  of 
the  county,  which  occasioned  his  removal  to  St.  Johns, 
where  he  remained  until  1877.  He  returned  again  to  his 
former  resjdence,  and  was  soon  recalled  to  the  office  of  su- 
pervisor of  the  township,  which  he  filled  for  two  successive 
terms.  The  ability  with  which  he  discharged  the  onerous 
duties  of  prosecuting  attorney  during  a  previous  term  in- 
sured his  re-election  in  1878,  and  his  removal  again  to  St. 
Johns  as  a  result.  Mr.  Fedewa  was  on  the  27th  of  No- 
vember, 1876,  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  Petsch,  of  Fowler, 
Clinton  Co.,  Mich.  Their  home  is  graced  by  the  presence 
of  one  little  daughter,  named  Pauline  May. 


378 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON    COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


ROBERT  M.  STEEL. 
Robert  M.  Steel  was  born  in  the  town  of  Craftsbury,  Vt., 
Oct.  21 ,  1833.   His  father,  William  Steel,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, emigrated  to  America  in  1830,  and  settled  in  Vermont. 
He  was  a  contractor  and  builder.    Robert  M.  Steel  took  an 
academic  course  in  that  State.     After  having  received  a 
thorough  training  in  the  carpenter  and  joiner  business  from 
his  father,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Toronto, 
and  was  employed  as  time-keeper  on  the  Grand  Trunk 
Railroad.     After  two  months  he  was  appointed  foreman  on 
the  road  that  was  building  between  Sarnia  and  Toronto, 
and  held  the  position  for  fifteen  months.     His  employers, 
Hayden  &  Ross,  taking  a  contract  to  lay  the  superstructure 
on  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  he  entered  into  a 
partnership  with  them.     In  1856  he  removed  to  St.  Johns 
as  the  most  convenient  point,  and  was  engaged  in  com- 
pleting this  contract  until  the  fall  of  1858.     In  1859  he 
took  a  contract  to  lay  the  superstructure  on  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railroad  from  Detroit  to  Port  Huron,  and  at  the 
same  time  was  interested,  with  W.  A.  Stearnes  &  Co.,  in 
building  a  road  from  Three  Rivers,  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
River,  to  Athabaska,  a  distance  of  thirty-eight  miles.     He 
finished  these  contracts  in  December,  1859.     On  the  9th 
of  September,  1862,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  one 
of  his  first  employers,  Mr.  Ross,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Ross,  Steel  &  Co.,  to  build  the  Kansas  Pacific  Railroad 
from  Kansas  City  to  the  one  hundredth  meridian,  a  distance 
of  three  hundred  and  sixty  miles.     They  had  one  hundred 
miles  located  and  about  twenty-five  graded  when  the  com- 
pany disposed  of  their  franchise  to  Samuel  Hallett  and  J. 
C.  Fremont.     Mr.  Steel  then  entered  into  partnership  with 
EUethorpe  &  Adams,  under  the  firm-name  of  Ellethorpe, 
Adams  &  Steel,  and  was  engaged  in  building  stona  bridges, 
etc.,  for  the  city  of  Leavenworth.     He  was  subsequently 
engaged  in  rebuilding  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
road, and  continued  in  this  work  until  December,  1869. 
In  1867  he  made  an  individual  contract  with  James  F. 
Joy  to  build  the  accretions  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  for  the 
union  depot  of  Burlington  and  Missouri,  and  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington and  Quincy  Railroads.      This  contract  was  com- 
pleted in  the  fall  of  1868  by  working  night  and  day.     In 
1870  he  made  a  contract  to  build  ninety  miles  of  the  St. 
Louis  and   Southeastern  Railroad,  which  was  completed 
November,  1871.     In  January,  1872,  he  took  a  contract 
on  the  Cairo  and  Vinceunes  Railroad,  having  the  entire 
road  to  build  through  two  counties,  a  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-eight  miles,  and  the  building  of  culverts, 
bridges,  etc.     This  was  completed  in  December,  1872.     In 
1873  he  took  the  contract  to  build  the  superstructure  of 
forty  miles  on  the  Paducah  and  Memphis  Railroad,  and 
completed  that  in  thirty-five  days.     In  May,  1875   Mr 
George  Mason,  of  Toronto,  made  a  contract  to  build  seventy 
miles  of  railway  between  the  Great  Western  Railway  of 
Canada  on  the  south,  and  the  Wellington,  Grey  and  Bruce 
Railway  on  the  north,  to  be  opened  for  traffic  on  the  1st 
day  of  January,  1876.     Mr.  Steel  received  the  contract  to 
grade  thirty  miles  of  the  same;  also,  the  fencin-  of  the 
whole  line,  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  of  posts  and  board 
fence.     The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  Mr 
Mason : 


"  The  whole  work  is  completed  to  my  entire  satisfaction 
and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  to  your  skill  ex- 
perience, and  energy  as  contractor,  I  consider  I  am  indebted 
in  a  great  measure  for  the  successful  completion  of  the 
undertaking. 

"  Believe  me  faithfully  yours, 

"  George  Mason, 
"  Chief  Engineer,  L.  E.  and  £.  R.  R.,  and  D.  and 

M.  R.  r:' 

Besides  his  extensive  railroad  contracts  Mr.  Steel  was 
connected  with  the  government  work  at  Chicago,  Calumet 
Ludington,  Manistee,  and  Frankfort.  In  the  year  1857 
he  became  a  Freemason,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  St. 
Johns  Commandery.  In  1848  he  visited  England,  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  and  was  absent  one  year.  He  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  all 
matters  that  pertain  to  the  advancement  of  St.  Johns  or 
Clinton  County,  Mr.  Steel  is  ever  ready  to  assist  by  his 
counsel  or  capital.  He  largely  engaged  in  agriculture,  and 
is  the  president  of  the  Clinton  County  Agricultural  Society. 
He  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  St.  Johns  Manu- 
facturing Company,  having  a  paid-up  capital  of  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  He  owns  ninety  per  cent,  of 
the  capital,  and  holds  the  office  of  president.  In  social 
relations  genial  and  companionable,  in  business  matters 
he  is  prompt  and  reliable,  as  a  citizen  respected  and  in- 
fluential, at  home  cordial  and  hospitable;  to  the  poor  he 
has  been  a  quiet,  unostentatious  friend.  He  married,  March 
13,  1860,  Miss  Carrie  A.  Hyatt,  daughter  of  James  M. 
Hyatt,  of  New  York  State.  They  have  three  children,— 
George  A.,  Robert  G.,  and  Carrie  L. 


JOHN   HICKS. 


Mr.  Hicks  may  with  justice  be  regarded  as  one  of  the 
foremost  men  of  Clinton  County  in  business  enterprises, 
and  one  who  in  certain  specialties  of  trade  has  no  com- 
petitor.    He  is  a  Canadian  by  birth,  having  been  born  in 
Kingston,  Canada  West,  in  1824,  his  father,  Samuel  Hicks, 
and  mother,  Eunice  Bailey,  having  both  been  natives  of 
Connecticut.    The  former  was  a  patriot  of  the  war  of  1812, 
and  was  an  active  participant  in  the  battle  of  Saekett's 
Harbor.     Mr.  Hicks  is  of  English  extraction,  and  the  first 
twenty-six  years  of  his  life  were  spent  mostly  in  Canada, 
after  which  he  came  to  the  States,  and  repaired  at  once  to 
Michigan,  having  located  in  De  Witt,  Clinton  Co.,  and  en- 
gaged  as  clerk  and  book-keeper  with  Hon.  David  Sturgis, 
who  was  in  the  milling  and  mercantile  business.     A  year 
later  he  became  a  partner,  and  remained  until  1856,  when, 
St.  Johns  presenting  a  wider  sphere  for  his  remarkable 
business  abilities,  he  became  a  resident  of  the  county-seat, 
meanwhile  having  disposed  of  his  interest  at  De  Witt  to 
James  Sturgis.     Since  then  he  has  been  actively 'engaged 
in  mercantile  enterprises,  first  as  a  dealer  in  dry  goods  and 
later  as  an  extensive  dealer  in  wheat.    In  the  latter  branch 
of  trade  Mr.  Hicks  is  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest, 
shippers  of  wheat  in  his  portion  of  the  State,  and  had  the 
satisfaction  of  forwarding  the  first  car-load  of  that  grain 
by  rail  from  St.  Johns. 


BINGHAM   TOWNSHIP. 


379 


Mr.  Hicks  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  erec- 
tion of  the  court-house  and  jail  at  St.  Johns,  and  has  been 
the  vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  the  city 
since  its  organization.  He  was  married  in  1855  to  Miss 
Eliza  Huston,  of  Vermont,  and  has  three  children,  who 
with  their  parents  share  the  comforts  of  the  most  attractive 
home  in  St.  Johns.  Mr.  Hicks,  in  connection  with  other 
extensive  business  interests,  is  the  proprietor  of  a  foundry. 
His  integrity  of  character  and  fairness  have  not  only  mate- 
rially contributed  to  his  financial  success,  but  established 
for  him  an  enviable  reputation  in  all  mercantile  circles. 


CHAPTEE    LI. 
BINGHAM    TOWNSHIP.* 

Pioneers  and  Settlements — Township  Organiz.ation  and  Civil  List — 
Township  Highways — Educational — Religious. 

Bingham  is  conspicuous  among  the  townships  of  Clinton 
County  because  it  contains  within  its  territory  the  village 
of  St.  Johns,  the  county-seat.  Its  designation  upon  the 
government  survey  is  town  7  north,  in  range  2  west.  Its 
boundaries  are  Greenbush  on  the  north,  Olive  on  the  south, 
Ovid  on  the  east,  and  Bengal  on  the  west. 

Originally  including  in  many  places  considerable  tracts 
of  waste  land,  Bingham  still  contains  some  swampy  country, 
— notably  east  and  southeast  of  St.  Johns  village, — ^but  the 
rapidity  with  which  this  has  been  drained  and  improved 
during  late  years  makes  its  complete  reclamation  only  a 
question  of  time,  and  probably  of  the  near  future. 

The  Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee  Railway 
pa.sses  through  the  town  from  east  to  west  upon  almost  an 
air-line,  and  has  in  Bingham  the  station  of  St.  Johns,  the 
market-  and  shipping-town  for  a  wide  stretch  of  surrounding 
country. 

THE   PIONEEES   OF   BINGHAM. 

Bingham  township  received  its  first  settlers  upon  section 
10,  in  the  fall  of  1837.  The  land  there  located  covered  two 
eighty-acre  lots,  which  Lucius  Morton  bought  in  1837  for 
his  father-in-law,  Thomas  Neal,  who  with  Morton  and  two 
other  sons-in-law,  named  Joseph  Russell  and  Benjamin 
Finkle,  was  living  in  Lenawee  County.     In  the  autumn  of 

1837,  Lucius  Morton  and  his  brother  Herod  came  to  the 
place  and  rolled  up  the  body  of  the  first  house  built  in 
Bingham.  Their  intention  was  to  stop  until  they  could 
complete  the  house  and  make  a  small  clearing ;  but  their 
provisions  gave  out  before  their  allotted  task  was  done,  and 
so  they  had  to  return  to  Lenawee  County.  When  they  got 
back  there,  Lucius  hired  Benjamin  Finkle  and  Runah  Mor- 
ton to  go  out  to  Bingham  and  finish  what  had  been  begun. 
They  reached  the  ground  December,  1837,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing summer  Thomas  Neal  came  out.     In  September, 

1838,  Lucius  Morton  followed.  Upon  his  arrival  he  found 
that  Silas  Parks  had  joined  the  settlement  and  was  on  sec- 
tion 3,  where  John  Avery  now  lives,  and  that  Joel  Bebee 
was  on  section  10.     In  February,  1839,  Joseph  Russell  lo- 

*  By  David  Schwartz. 


cated  likewise  on  section  10.  At  that  time,  therefore,  the 
settlers  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township  included 
Thomas  Neal,  Benjamin  Finkle,  Runah  Morton,  Lucius 
Morton,  Joel  Bebee,  Joseph  Russell,  and  Silas  Parks. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  settlement  was  Lewis,  son  of 
Lucius  Morton,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1838.  In  1863 
he  was  drowned  in  the  Maple  River  while  fishing  from  a 
boat.  He  was  subject  to  fits,  and  being  attacked  by  one 
while  in  the  boat  fell  overboard.  The  first  deaths  in  the 
town  occurred  in  18-tO,  when  by  scarlet  fever,  which  raged 
in  a  violent  form,  Benjamin  Finkle  lost  three  children,  all 
of  whom  died  in  the  same  week.  At  the  same  time  Silas 
Parks  also  lost  two  children  by  the  same  disease.  Other 
children  of  the  neighborhood  were  sick  with  the  fever,  but 
those  mentioned  were  the  only  ones  who  died. 

Silas  Parks,  already  named,  gained  some  notoriety  during 
the  year  1839  by  reason  of  the  mysterious  disappearance 
of  his  four-year  old  boy  under  circumstances  that  were  said 
to  have  pointed  strongly  to  Parks  as  the  author  of  his 
death,  although  nothing  tangible  was  adduced  against  him. 
Parks  gave  out  that  his  child  was  lost,  saying  that  the  little 
fellow  had  set  out  to  visit  a  neighbor's  house,  and  after  that 
had  not  been  seen.  Intelligence  of  the  disappearance  of 
the  child  quickly  spread,  and  people  to  the  number  of  one 
hundred  or  more  promptly  gathered  and  organized  a  search- 
ing-party. They  hunted  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  and  pur- 
sued their  work  with  unceasing  vigilance  until  all  hope  of 
discovery  was  given  up,  and  then  they  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  Parks  had  in  a  fit  of  anger  made  away  with  the 
child  and  concealed  the  body.  He  stoutly  maintained  that 
the  Indians  •'  must  have  done  it."  Of  course  everybody 
knew  that  story  to  be  an  improbable  one,  and  that  Parks  in 
a  moment  of  impetuous  rage  had  fatally  injured  another  of 
his  children  ;  but  no  legal  investigation  followed,  and  Parks 
went  unscathed,  at  least  by  the  law. 

The  first  grown  person  who  died  was  Thomas  Neal, 
whose  death  occurred  in  1841.  He  was  buried  on  William 
Russell's  farm  in  Greenbush,  and  was  the  first  one  buried 
in  the  Greenbush  cemetery  (on  section  8).  The  first 
marriage  is  supposed  to  have  been  that  of  Ann  Morton 
and  Stephen  W.  Downer,  in  1841,  at  the  house  of  the 
bride's  father.  Bishop  Morton,  on  section  20,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  by  Joel  Bebee,  J.P. 

The  pioneers  were  obliged  to  go  to  Ionia  or  De  Witt  for 
physicians,  and  when  milling  was  necessary,  to  Ionia,  Wa- 
cousta,  or  Shiawasseetown.  When  Lucius  Morton  made 
his  first  trip  to  mill  after  settling  in  Bingham,  he  had  first 
to  start  on  a  tour  of  exploration  among  older  settlers  to 
buy  or  borrow  some  grain,  and  then,  having  found  it,  to 
undertake  the  wearisome  journey  to  mill,  upon  which  he 
was  absent  four  days,  during  which  his  lodging  at  night 
was  in  the  open  air  under  his  wagon.  Mr.  Morton's  first 
cabin  had  the  trough-roof  common  enough  in  those  times, 
but,  more  aristocratic  than  his  neighbors,  whose  windows 
and  doors  were  blankets,  he  whittled  with  his  jack-knife 
thin  sticks  for  window-sash,  and  over  them  pasted  greased 
paper  to  serve  as  lights.  Morton  one  day  wished  to  start 
for  De  Witt  by  a  shorter  way  than  usual,  and  with  Runah 
Morton,  Joel  Bebee,  and  Sylvester  Carter  worked  four  days 
underbrushing  a  roadway.    At  the  end  of  that  time  they 


380 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


came  to  a  swamp,  and  seeing  no  way  to  cross  it,  gave  up 
the  task  of  road-building,  and  Morton,  to  get  around  the 
swamp,  which  turned  out  to  be  less  than  half  a  mile  across, 
made  a  journey  of  twenty-four  hours  by  way  of  Shiawas- 
see. Working  on  the  highways  for  the  non-resident  taxes 
was  a  boon  to  the  pioneers,  as  it  gave  to  many  of  them  the 
only  means  of  earning  a  subsistence  while  waiting  for  their 
crops  to  mature.  It  was  not  always,  however,  that  they 
could  get  cash  for  their  labor,  and  quite  frequently  county 
or  town  orders  were  doled  out  to  them.  These  orders  were 
good  enough  for  taxes,  but  in  trade  they  were  current  only 
at  a  discount  of  forty  per  cent.  Still  they  were  welcome, 
as  being  better  than  nothing. 

Wheat  was  salable  only  at  about  fifty  cents  a  bushel, 
and  at  that  no  money  could  be  got  for  it  short  of  Detroit. 
Hauling  it  that  far  for  that  price  was  far  from  profitable, 
and  in  some  cases  farmers  preferred  to  feed  it  to  their  cattle. 
During  Lucius  Morton's  first  winter  in  the  settlement  he 
could  give  his  cattle  no  grain  or  hay,  for  he  neither  had  any 
nor  could  he  buy  any,  and  so  during  the  season  he  cleared 
fifteen  acres  to  provide  browse  or  tree-tops  for  nine  cows. 
In  reply  to  the  question,  "  Where  did  the  people  of  the 
settlement  go  to  church  ?"  ho  said,  "  Why,  bless  your  soul, 
we  didn't  have  any  time  to  go  to  church ;  we  were  too  much 
pressed  for  time  to  stop  for  church.  Neither  snow,  nor 
rain,  nor  Sunday  made  any  difierence  in  our  ordinary  pro- 
gramme. We  were  out  chopping  at  all  times  and  in  all  sea- 
sons, and  begrudged  even  the  night-time,  which  compelled 
us  to  desist  from  labor,  we  were  so  anxious  to  hurry  for- 
ward." 

Thomas  Fiak,  a  resident  of  Greenbush,  came  occasionally 
into  the  Bingham  settlement  and  held  religious  services. 
Fisk  claimed  to  be  a  member  of  the  Christian  faith,  but  his 
followers  were  popularly  known  as  Fiskites.  He  grew  into 
disfavor  in  his  own  town,  and  was  by  reason  of  public 
prejudice  against  him  compelled  to  seek  a  home  elsewhere. 

Among  other  early  comers  into  the  Morton  neighborhood 
were  Charles  Simpson,  William  Silverwood,  John  Avery, 
and  Samuel  Gardner.  In  the  year  1840  the  extreme  north- 
western corner  of  Bingham  came  to  be  known  as  Gardner's 
Corners,  and  for  many  years  thereafter  the  Corners  had  a 
reputation  that  reached  far  and  wide.  It  was  there  that 
Samuel  Gardner  located  a  piece  of  land  in  1839,  and  in 
February,  1840,  he  occupied  the  place  as  a  permanent 
settler.  He  was  located  on  the  De  Witt  road,  passing  via 
the  west  town-line  of  town  7  (now  Bingham)  to  Gratiot 
County,  and  in  the  year  1840  there  was  a  good  deal  of 
travel  over  that  road  by  land-seekers  bound  for  Gratiot 
County.  Travel  naturally  suggested  a  tavern,  and  during 
1840  Mr.  Gardner  put  up  a  log  tavern  upon  the  spot  now 
occupied  by  one  of  his  grandsons  in  the  northwestern  corner 
of  section  6. 

Mr.  Gardner  called  his  tavern  the  Gardner  House,  and 
the  locality  Gardner's  Corners.  At  the  time  mentioned 
(1840)  he  had  but  few  neighbors  in  Bingham.  Lucius 
Morton,  Benjamin  Fhikle,  and  Joel  Bebee  were  living  in 
the  town  east  of  him,  but  south  of  him,  on  the  De  Witt 
road,  he  knew  of  no  one  but  William  H.  and  Reuben 
Norris  between  Gardner's  Corners  and  De  Witt.  Travel 
on  that  highway  increased  as  time  moved  on,  and  in  1843 


to  meet  the  demands  of  the  occasion,  Gardner  replaced  his 
log  tavern  with  a  more  pretentious  and  commodious  framed 
hotel.  A  portion  of  it  he  set  apart  as  a  store,  and  there- 
after, between  selling  goods  and  keeping  tavern,  drove  a 
brisk  trade.  The  Gardner  House  was,  too,  a  place  of 
popular  resort  for  the  pleasure-seekers  and  merry-makers  of 
the  adjoining  country,  and  the  many  jolly  dances  and  simi- 
lar festive  gatherings  that  marked  its  busy  era  are  still  sub- 
jects of  enjoyable  remembrance  among  those  who  took  part 
in  them.  The  country  belles  in  those  days  were  inordi- 
nately fond  of  dancing  opportunities,  and  although  they  did 
walk  barefooted  many  miles  to  a  Gardner  House  ball  and 
carry  their  shoes  to  the  ball-room  door  to  save  the  wear  of 
them,  they  enjoyed  the  hilarious  reunions  none  the  less  nor 
missed  one  when  they  could  help  it. 

Business  at  Gardner's  tavern  was  during  the  briskest 
season  of  travel  so  great  that  upwards  of-  sixty  teams  were 
kept  there  overnight,  and  the  receipts  of  money  before 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  were  more  than  a  hundred  dol- 
lars. Gardner  kept  the  tavern  until  his  death  in  1867, 
and  after  that  his  widow  carried  it  on  until  it  was  burned 
in  1872.  During  1854,  Mr.  Gardner  built  at  St.  Johns 
the  first  tavern  put  up  at  the  village,  although  he  was  him- 
self at  no  time  the  landlord  of  it.  In  1857  a  post-o£Bce, 
called  Gardner's  Corners  was  established  at  Gardner's 
Hotel,  and  Mr.  Gardner  given  charge  of  it.  Mail  was  re- 
ceived from  St.  Johns,  the  route  being  from  the  latter 
place  to  Maple  Rapids.  Mr.  Gardner  remained  in  charge . 
of  the  office  as  postmaster  until  1863,  when  it  was  abolished. 

The  following  list  of  resident  tax-payers  in  Bingham  in 
1 840  shows  very  nearly  who  had  been  the  settlers  in  the 
township  prior  to  that  time,  and  the  sections  on  which  they 
had  located  their  homes  : 

Acres. 

Silas  Parka,  section  3 40 

Joel  Bebee,  section  10 80 

Lucius  Morton,  section  10 80 

Joseph  llussell,  section  10 40 

Benjamin  Finkle,  section  10 40 

Reuben  Norris,  section  32 40 

William  H.  Norris,  section  32 120 

Levi  Frost,  section  35 80 

The  resident  tax-payers  of  the  township  in  1841  were : , 

Acrea. 

Silas  Parks,  section  3 80 

Benjamin  Finkle,  section  10 , 40 

Thomas  Neal,  section  10 40 

Lucius  Morton,  section  10 80 

Joel  Bebee,  section  10... 80 

Beuben  Norris,  section  32 80 

William  H.  Noriris,  section  32 80 

W.  C.  Gardner,  sections  1  and  6 .320 

S.  C.  Vandeventer,  section  35 80 

The  following-named  persons  were  drawn  as  jurors  in  the 
township  of  Bingham  in  the  year  1839  : 

Enos  Kinyan,  William  Swarthout,  Charles  Simpson,  Joel 
Bebee,  Nathan  Lowe,  Samuel  Barber,  Francis  Faxon,  Henry 
M.  Sever,  John  Burnet,  Charles  Stevens,  Sydney  L.  Smith, 
Benjamin  Carpenter,  Oliver  Bebee,  Grove  Cooper,  John 
Ferdon,  Sylvester  Carter,  John  Jessop,  Allen  Lounsbury. 

Following  is  the  list  of  jurors  drawn  for  the  year  1841  : 

Grand — Horace  Avery,  Joel  Bebee,  John  Avery,  Herod 
Morton. 


BINGHAM  TOWNSHIP. 


38 


Petit. — Moses  Phillips,  John  Ferdon,  J.  I.  Tinklepaugh, 
Marvin  Greenwood. 

The  residents  in  Bingham  in  1842  liable  to  do  mili- 
tary duty  were  William  C.  Gardner,  Samuel  H.  Gardner, 
Stephen  W.  Downer,  William  H.  Norris,  Reuben  S.  Nor- 
ris,  C.  Vandeventer,  Joel  Bebee. 

The  number  of  votes  cast  at  the  township  election  in 
1845  was  eleven,  and  they  were  oast  by  the  following-named 
persons :  Samuel  H.  Gardner,  Joseph  A.  Sperry,  John 
Avery,  John  Dickerson,  William  C.  Gardner,  John  Avery, 
Jr.,  Reuben  S;  Norris,  Christopher  Vandeventer,  Samuel 
Gardner,  H.  S.  Harrison,  Benjamin  Finkle,  William  H. 
Norris,  Bishop  Morton. 

Stephen  W.  Downer,  famous  for  his  successes  as  a  bear- 
hunter  and  the  hero  of  a  desperate  bear-fight,  located  on 
section  20  in  1841,  and  in  1849  exchanged  his  farm  with 
C.  A.  Lamb,  of  Oakland  County,  for  a  place  in  the  latter 
county.  Lamb,  who  settled  in  Oakland  in  1829,  was  a 
Baptist  preacher,  and  during  his  fifteen  years'  residence  in 
Bingham  labored  zealously  in  his  ministerial  calling.  J. 
R.  Hale  settled  in  that  neighborhood  in  1846,  and  in  1847 
was  followed  by  his  brother,  Homer  W.  Hale.  At  that 
time  the  settlers  in  the  vicinity  were  Lucius  Morton,  Ste- 
phen W.  Downer,  David  Snow,  Bishop  Morton,  George 
W.  Estes.  Later  came  A.  0.  Huntley  and  A.  Warren. 
In  1847  the  only  settler  in  Bingham  between  H.  W.  Hale 
and  William  H.  Norris  was  J.  R.  Hale. 

Daniel  Ridenour  made  a  settlement  in  1852  upon  land 
in  sections  5  and  6,  where  he  still  lives.  Some  time  after- 
wards Simeon  Haynes,  Patrick  Whittlesey,  Richard  Moore, 
and  J.  H.  Van  Sice  made  settlements  in  the  neighborhood. 
Ridenour  had  a  number  of  adventures  with  bears,  although 
none  of  them,  as  far  as  report  goes,  were  of  a  dangerously 
exciting  character.  He  was  out  after  a  cow  in  1852,  when 
his  dog  started  and  made  chase  for  a  bear.  Ridenour  joined 
the  pursuit  and  came  to  close  q»arters  with  Bruin,  who 
turned  and  made  a  show  as  if  for  battle.  Ridenour  being 
unarmed  retreated  in  tolerable  haste,  but  still  in  good  order, 
for  William  Silverwood's,  and  besought  Silverwood  to  go 
with  him  that  they  might  slay  the  brute  together.  Silver- 
wood  admitted  that  the  sport  would  be  grand  and  that  of 
course  the  victors  would  be  heroes,  but  however  much  he 
might  wish  to  immortalize  himself,  he  was  warned  that  his 
lame  back  totally  unfitted  him  for  a  bear-fight,  and  must 
therefore  decline  to  share  in  the  honor.  Ridenour  smiled 
at  the  lame-back  story,  but  he  had  to  be  content  with  it, 
and  not  feeling  particularly  ambitious  to  engage  single- 
handed  in  the  conflict,  abandoned  his  purpose.  Upon 
another  occasion  Ridenour  was  aroused  from  his  midnight 
slumbers  by  a  commotion  indicative  of  the  presence  of  a 
bear  among  the  pigs.  Rushing  hastily  forth,  he  found  sure 
enough  that  an  old  bear  and  her  two  cubs  were  on  the 
ground  actively  engaged  in  preparations  for  the  removal 
of  a  promising  porker.  Ridenour  seized  a  cudgel  and 
boldly  attacked  the  entire  family.  The  old  one  and  one 
of  the  cubs  fled  ingloriously  into  outer  darkness,  while  the 
second  cub  took  to  a  tree.  Ridenour  hurried  into  his  house 
for  a  gun,  but  while  he  was  gone  the  cub  backed  down 
the  tree  and  was  gone  by  the  time  his  would-be  slayer 


returned,  and  thus  in  smoke  ended  the  valiantly-directed 
eflForts  of  the  intrepid  Ridenour. 

John  Avery,  now  living  on  section  3,  located  some  land 
in  Greenbush,  on  section  33,  in  1838.  To  earn  sufficient 
money  to  carry  him  eastward  to  his  family,  he  cleared  ten 
acres  for  Marvin  Greenwood,  and  in  1839  brought  his  fam- 
ily out.  In  1840  he  bought  his  present  place  of  Silas 
Parks,  but  did  not  permanently  occupy  it  until  1842. 
Avery's  first  mill  journeys  were  made  in  a  canoe,  by  way 
of  the  Maple  River  to  Ionia ;  and  when  he  wanted  to  reach 
a  market-town  he  journeyed  to  Detroit,  which  place  he 
reached  at  times  by  ox-team  and  at  others  on  foot.  In  the 
winter  of  1842  he  cut  out  a  road  four  rods  wide  and  two 
miles  in  length,  and  assisted  later  in  the  foundation  of  the 
village  of  St.  Johns,  by  hauling  from  the  Rochester  Colony 
mill  the  boards  for  the  first  frame  house  built  in  the  vil- 
lage,— the  Whittemore  house,  owned  by  Cornelius  Vroo- 
man.  Mr.  Avery  was  esteemed  a  hunter  and  trapper  of 
consummate  skill,  and  carried  on  an  active  and  profitable 
campaign  against  wolves  and  other  wild  animals,  the  scalps 
of  the  wolves  yielding  a  handsome  bounty. 

Charles  Simpson  was  a  settler  upon  section  8  about  the 
time  of  Avery's  location,  and  made  himself  famous  chiefly 
by  reason  of  the  fact  that  when  he  came  in  he  brought 
two  barrels  of  pork  and  two  barrels  of  whisky.  The  former 
he  peddled  out  to  his  neighbors.  The  latter  he  kept  for 
his  own  use,  and  used  so  freely  that  by  the  time  the  supply 
was  exhausted,  he  himself  was  nearly  in  the  same  condition. 

Among  other  early  settlers  in  that  vicinity  were  the 
Davisons,  Boughtons,  Wykoffs,  Krolls,  Balcoms,  Doyns, 
Shulters,  Laphams,  Tranchells,  Williams,  Hugus,  and 
Warrens. 

In  the  southern  portion  of  Bingham  the  earliest  settle- 
ment was  made  by  William  H.  Norris  in  1838,  upon  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  section  32,  where  he  still  lives. 
From  a  recently -published  sketch  of  Mr.  Norris'  pioneer 
experiences  is  given  the  following : 

"  Ben  Merrihew,  of  Olive,  had  built  a  shanty  on  a  piece 
of  land  owned  by  him,  and  quite  near  to  Mr.  Norris,  and 
being  unoccupied  the  latter  took  possession  of  it  until  he 
could  build  upon  his  own.  At  this  time  he  sold  forty 
acres  of  his  farm  to  his  brother,  R.  S.  (now  deceased),  and 
the  two  families  lived  together  in  the  house  which  Mr. 
Norris  immediately  erected.  During  the  latter  part  of  fall 
and  the  early  part  of  the  winter  following  the  logs  were 
gotten  together  and  hewn  for  the  brother's  house,  and 
between  Christmas  and  New  Year  they  raised  it.  On  the 
same  day,  while  they  were  at  work  at  the  new  house,  the 
first  one  took  fire,  and  for  all  they  could  do  burned  to  the 
..round  with  all  its  contents,  although,  happily,  it  was  so 
soon  after  their  arrival  that  the  better  part  of  the  household 
goods  had  not  yet  come  from  the  former  home  in  Washte- 
naw. At  this  critical  juncture  some  hardships  were  endured 
which,  even  looked  back  upon  through  the  softening  screen 
of  many  years  of  plenty,  bring  with  them  no  sensations  of 
pleasure.  Of  course  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  finish 
the  brother's  house,  and  all  occupy  it  until  the  burned  spot 
could  be  covered  by  another  home.  In  about  two  weeks 
from  the  time  of  the  fire  the  father  came  from  Superior 


382 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


with  the  expected  goods,  together  with  some  eatables,  put 
in  with  an  especial  reference  to  the  late  fire,  all  of  which 
exactly  fitted  into  the  piche  which  hard  circumstances  had 
chiseled.  The  rest  of  th«  winter  was  spent  quite  comfort- 
ably in  spite  of  the  uninviting  outlook  a  little  before,  and 
in  the  spring  enough  land  was  stripped  of  trees  and  logs  to 
allow  of  the  sowing  of  two  bushels  of  spring  wheat  on  as 
many  acres;  and  a  little  later  three  acres  of  corn  were 
planted,  although  the  ground  for  this  was  not  cleared  of 
logs,  but  the  corn  was  thrust  into  the  soil  wherever  a  spot 
could  be  found.  One  acre  and  a  half  of  exceedingly  rough- 
looking  ground  was  given  to  a  scattering  of  oats,  and  thus 
the  new  farm  was  cropped.  In  the  following  August  the 
burned  house  was  replaced,  and  soon  after,  harvest  coming 
on,  the  crops  were  taken  from  the  ground.  A  thrashing- 
floor  was  made  of  split  plank,  a  flail  prepared,  and  the 
yellow  sheaves  of  wheat  yielded  up  their  golden  treasure  to 
the  amount  of  twenty  bushels  of  clean,  plump  kernels. 
The  corn  had  eared  splendidly,  and  two  hundred  bushels 
were  securely  cribbed ;  but  the  oats  had  been  sown  so  late 
that  they  could  not  ripen,  and  were  cut  and  stacked  for 
fodder.  Thus  diligent  hands,  aided  by  a  kind  Providence, 
managed  to  gather  through  the  summer  an  encouraging 
plenty  for  the  winter,  and  these  things  provided  for,  what 
if  the  home-nest  was  a  little  crude  and  frontier-looking  ? 
It  was  comfortable  and  was  home.  To  them  "  Be  it  ever 
so  humble,  there's  no  place  like  home"  was  true,  and  hunger 
was  not  to  gnaw  nor  cold  to  pinch. 

"  After  grain  had  been  grown,  harvested,  and  thrashed, 
the  work  of  putting  it  into  a  condition  from,  which  it  could 
be  moulded  into  eatables  was  by  no  means  accomplished, 
for  the  milling  in  those  days  was  a  very  important  factor  in 
this  preparation.  Mr.  Norris  had  come  into  the  place  well 
provided  with  provisions,  and  not  until  August  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  did  he  have  to  perform  the  laborious  task  of 
going  to  mill.  But  at  that  time  it  must  be  done,  and  throw- 
ing ten  bushels  of  wheat  into  a  wagon,  and  hitching  on  a  yoke 
of  oxen,  he  started  off  to  find  the  mill  at  Delta,  Eaton  Co. 
Persons  not  familiar  with  pioneer  life  can  but  illy  imafine 
what  were  the  difficulties  of  team  travel  in  those  days  of 
footpaths  and  tree-blockaded  roads.  To  the  mill  at  Delta 
he  went  until  one  was  built  at  Rochester  Colony  in  1841 
or  1842. 

"  Mr.  Norris,  as  well  as  some  others,  was  a  religious  man, 
and  realizing  the  need  of  gospel  services  in  a  place  so  emi- 
nently calculated  to  breed  a  forgetfuln^ss  of  God  and  the 
incalculable  interests  of  the  soul,  he,  with  others,  organ- 
ized a  Methodist  society  in  1840,  and  they  were  soon  shep- 
herded by  the  Rev.  Lewis  Coburn.  Revs.  Lapham  and  W. 
Jackson,  respectively,  followed  him  in  the  gospel  work  in 
those  extreme  early  days  of  Bingham." 

The  next  settler  after  Norris  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  township  was  Levi  Frost,  who  in  1838  made  a  home 
on  section  35.  While  raising  a  barn  in  1844,  Frost  was 
crushed  and  killed  by  a  falling  log.  Christopher  Vande- 
venter  married  the  widow  and  lived  on  the  place.  He  was 
much  given  to  hunting  bears  and  wolves,  and  made  a  com- 
fortable living  on  the  scalp-bounties  he  obtained. 

The  place  now  occupied  by  William  H.  Krepps  was  first 
settled  by  Nathan  Flint  about  1840.     Flint  claimed  to  be 


a  physician,  and  did  doctor  a  good  many  people  effectively 
with  roots  and  herbs,  although  he  was  looked  upon  by  reg- 
ular practitioners  as  an  impostor.  Still  he  was  gladly  wel- 
comed by  sick  settlers,  and  he  did  some  good '  service . 
While  chopping,  Dr.  Flint  was  badly  hurt  by  a  falling  tree. 
Dr.  Hollister,  of  Victor,  called  to  see  him,  and  pronounced 
his  left  leg  so  badly  shattered,  and  Flint  .himself  so  pros- 
trated, that  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  set  the  leg,  for 
the  patient  was  bound  to  die.  Nevertheless,  Dr.  Flint 
insisted  that  he  would  not  die,  and  after  nine  days  of  suf- 
fering, finding  no  one  to  set  his  leg,  he  set  it  himself  and 
finally  recovered. 

Moses  D.  Tabor  settled  in  1843  across  the  southern 
town-line,  opposite  section  34,  when  the  only  settler  west  of 
there  was  William  FI.  Norris,  and  the  only  ones  eastward 
were  Levi  Frost  and  Dr.  Flint.  Tabor  lodged  his  family  at 
J.  W.  Merrihew's  while  he  was  getting  his  cabin  ready,  and 
although  Merrihew's  cabin  had  but  one  room  in  it,  the  two 
families  of  nine  persons  managed  to  exist  there,  although 
with  little  comfort  or  convenience.  When  Tabor  had  got 
out  logs  for  his  cabin  and  w;is  ready  to  raise  it  there  came 
on  a  heavy  snow-storm  and  buried  his  logs  so  that  he 
could  not  well  get  at  them.  In  this  emergency  he  put  up 
a  shanty  in  the  snow  as  best  he  could,  and  for  the  next  two 
weeks  his  family  lived  without  a  pound  of  flour  in  the 
house,  but  got  along  instead  on  hulled  corn.  What  neigh- 
bors he  could  reach  were  as  badly  off  for  flour  as  he  was, 
and  getting  to  mill  was  out  of  the  question  by  reason  of  the 
impassable  condition  of  the  few  roads. 

William  Faucett,  who  in  1848  made  a  settlement  on  sec- 
tion 34  (where  he  now  lives),  took  a  tract  upon  which 
not  a  stick  had  been  cut.  In  1850,  Ezekiel  Lamphere  lo- 
cated on  section  35,  about  a  half-mile  north  of  Dr.  Flint. 
Norman  Williams  came  to  section  35  in  1855.  In  the 
southern  portion  of  the  town  the  early  settlers  included  also 
J.  N.  De  Witt,  0.  M.  Brooks,  William  Gigler,  George 
Waldron,  Carr,  Richarcfcon,  Gillison,  Newman,  Barnes, 
Hicks,  Atkinson,  and  Beach. 

L.  S.  Conn  joined  the  settlers  in  Bingham  in  1847,  and 
occupied  a  place  on  section  21,  where  a  Mr.  Halsinger  had 
made  a  clearing  of  two  or  three  acres.  Mr.  Conn's  neigh- 
bors were  Benjamin  Brown  on  the  west,  and  Asher  Hath- 
away on  the  north,  both  within  easy  call.  Although  the 
surrounding  neighborhood  contained  quite  a  number  of 
settlers,  settlements  had  not  in  that  quarter  more  than 
fairly  commenced. 

South  of  Conn,  and  near  the  south  line  of  the  town, 
Joseph  Sperry  had  been  living  on  sections  33  and  34  since 
1844.  When  he  came  in  for  a  settlement  he  had  to  cut 
out  a  road  from  Laingsburg  to  his  place.  His  nearest 
neighbor  was  Moses  D.  Tabor,  in  Olive,  on  the  north  town- 
line,  where  he  had  been  living  about  a  year.  Christopher 
Vandeventer  was  on  section  35,  near  where  W.  H.  Krepps 
now  lives.  Sperry  was  the  only  one  in  the  neighborhood 
boasting  the  possession  of  a  wagon,  and  he  was  therefore 
the  one  who  went  to  mill  for  all  the  neighbors, — the  mill  in 
question  being  at  the  Rochester  Colony.  The  pay  he  got 
from  those  whom  he  thus  served  was  daily  labor  on  his  place, 
for  money  was  too  scarce  to  be  paid  out  unless  other  means 
failed.    Sperry  was  a  cooper,  and  made  a  good  many  barrels, 


K'-'-. 

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John 

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A  eftJf 

■s*,;^^-^    M"' JOHN  Avery . 


Residence  of  JOHN  AVERY.  Bingham,  Clinton  Co.  Mich. 


BINGHAM  TOWNSHIP. 


383 


which  he  marketed  at  De  Witt,  where  also  the  settlers 
found  their  post-office  as  well  as  their  church. 

Sperry's  cabin  had  a  bark  roof,  but  neither  window  nor 
door,  and  many  a  night  Mrs.  Sperry  was  left  alone  with  her 
children  to  brave  the  terrors  of  loneliness,  emphasized  by 
the  presence  of  howling  wolves.  One  night,  while  her  hus- 
band was  gone  on  a  journey  to  the  Colony  mill,  Mrs.  Sperry 
was  awakened  by  the  pandemonium  of  what  appeared  to 
her  to  be  an  hundred  wolves  howling  about  her  cabin. 
Terrified,  she  fled  with  her  two  small  children  into  the 
darkness  and  made  for  the  house  of  Christopher  Vande- 
venter,  nearly  two  miles  distant,  where  she  craved  shelter, 
and  remained  until  morning  calmed  her  fears  and  enabled 
her  to  return  home. 

TOWNSHIP  OEGANIZATION  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 

Eingham  was  organized  under  act  of  Legislature  ap- 
proved March  21, 1839,  and  included  towns  7  and  8  north, 
in  ranges  1  and  2  west,  previously  a  portion^  of  De  Witt 
township.  Towns  7  and  8  in  range  1  were  detached  in 
1840,  and  called  Ovid  and  Duplsiin  respectively.  Town  8 
in  range  2  was  set  off  Feb.  16.  1842,  and  named  Green- 
bush.  The  name  of  Bingham  was  bestowed  in  honor  of 
Governor  K.  8.  Bingham. 

The  first  town-meeting  in  Bingham  was  held,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  provisions  of  the  organizing  act,  at  the  house 
of  Joseph  Sever,  April  3, 1839.  The  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  that  meeting  has  been  lost,  and  nothing  can,  there- 
fore, be  said  touching  the  list  of  officers  then  elected.  At 
a  special  meeting  held  at  Grove  Cooper's  house  April  27, 
1839,  it  was  voted  to  raise  one  hundred  dollars  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  town  for  the  ensuing  year,  that  a  pound 
should  be  established  at  John  Ferdon's  barn  free  of  ex- 
pense, and  that  no  money  should  be  raised  for  the  support 
the  poor. 

Below  is  given  a  list  of  persons  elected  annually  from 
1840  to  1880  to  the  offices  of  supervisor,  clerk,  treasurer, 
and  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township  of  Bingham: 


1840.  R.  E.  Craven.* 

1864-65.  George  R.  Hunt. 

1841.  Lucius  Morton. 

1866.  0.  L.  gpaulding. 

1842-48.  S.  W.  Downer.t 

1867.  W.  S.  Lazelle. 

1849-52.  G.  W.  Estes. 

1868.  George  Servlss. 

1853.  W.  Silverwood. 

1869.  George  R.  Hunt. 

1854.  6.  W.  Estes. 

1870.  H.  C.  Smith. 

1856.  J.  0.  Palmer. 

1871.  George  R.  Hunt. 

1866-58.  W.  H.  Moote. 

1872.  A.  J.  Baldwin. 

1869-60.  C.  Kipp. 

1873.  0.  W.  Munger. 

1861.  T.  Baker. 

1874.  J.  M.  Easton. 

1862-63.  H.  M.  Perrin. 

1875-80.  Josiah  Upton. 

CLERKS. 

1840.  S.  Pearl.* 

1844.  W.  C.  Gardner. 

1841.  R.  Morton. 

1845.  J.  Avery,  Jr. 

1842.  N.  W.  Aldrich.t 

1846.  W.  C.  Gardner. 

1843.  W.  H.  Norris. 

1847-48.  J.  M.  Estes. 

*  Township  divided.  At  the  first  election  this  year  fifty-seven 
votes  were  polled.  At  the  special  election  the  same  year,  after  the 
division,  twenty-five  votes  were  cast,  Thomas  Fisk  being  chosen 
Supervisor;  David  Sevey,  Clerk;  John  Ferdon,  Treasurer;  and 
David  Sevey,  Marvin  Green,  and  Joel  Bebee,  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

t  Greenbash  detached.  Nine  votes  oast  at  this  year's  election  in 
Bingham. 


1849-51.  J.  R.  Hale. 
1852.  H.  G.  Tyler. 
1853-54.  William  C.  Gardner. 
1866-57.  William  H.  Conn. 
1858.  R.  Plumstead. 
1859-60.  H.  M.  Pen-in. 
1861-63.  George  R.  Hunt. 
1864-65.  W.  S.  Lazelle. 


1866.  A.  0.  Hunt. 

1867.  W.  S.  Lazelle. 

1868.  I.,H.  Cranson. 
1869-71.  A.  J.  Baldwin. 

1872.  M.  J.  Bassett. 

1873.  R.  J.  AVoodruff. 
1874-76.  M.J.  Bassett. 
1876-80.  W.  M.  Leland. 


1840.  S.  L.  Smith.* 

1841.  H.Morton. 
1842-43.  L.  Morton.f 
1844-46.  W.  H.  Norris. 
1847-48.  H.Avery. 

1849.  Isaac  Wait. 

1850.  L.  Morton. 

1851.  R.  Wilcox. 
1862.  N.Doty. 
1853.  C.  A.  Lamb. 
1854-66.  N.  Doty. 
1857-68.  C.  A.  Lamb. 


1840. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1846. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
1852. 
1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1866. 
1857. 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 


TREASURERS. 

1859-61.  W.  H.  Conn. 
1862-63.  S.  Hunt. 
1864-65.  J.  W.  Ash. 
1866-67.  James  Kipp. 

1868.  I.  Gabrien.  ■ 

1869.  S.  J.  Wright. 
1870-71.  B.  L.  Smith. 
1872.  C.  B.  Andrews. 
1873-74.  H.  S.  Hilton. 
1876-76.  W.  H.  Turner. 
1877-78.  0.  M.  Brooks. 
1879-80.  0.  B.  Swain. 


JUSTIC 

'ES  OF  THE 

PEACE. 

S.  Pearl.* 

1861. 

D.  Sturgis. 

M.  Greenwood. 

1862. 

0.  L.  Spaulding. 

J.  Bebce.f 

1863. 

W.  Sickels. 

S.  Morton. 

1864. 

George  Serviss. 

C.  Vandeventer. 

1865. 

W.  N.Willey. 

R.  S.  Norris. 

1866. 

E.  D.  Tripp. 

B.  Morton. 

1867. 

G.  W.  Barker. 

M.  Greenwood. 

1868. 

J.  M.  McFarlan 

H.  S.  Harrison. 

1869. 

W.  N.  Willey. 

R.  S.  Norris. 

1870. 

E.  D.  Tripp. 

Isaac  Wait. 

1871. 

William  Taylor. 

H.  W.  Hudson. 

1872. 

J.  N.  McFarlan. 

Z.  H.  Harrison. 

1873. 

S.  Hoyt. 

I.  C.  Palmer. 

1874. 

E.  D.  Tripp. 

G.  Conn. 

1875. 

A.  Stout. 

C.  Higgins. 

1876. 

J.  N.  De  Witt. 

Z.  H.  Harrison. 

1877. 

W.  H.  Moote. 

J.  0.  Palmer. 

1878. 

H.  P.  Adams. 

0.  L.  Spaulding. 

1879. 

C.  M.  Merrill. 

J.  H.  Cranson. 

1880. 

W.  Brunson. 

George  Serviss. 

TOWNSHIP  HIGHWAYS. 

The  first  highways  recorded  in  the  township  records  were 
laid  out  by  Highway  Commissioners  Barker  audi  Stevens, 
July  15,  1839.     Road  No.  1  is  described  as  follows: 

"  Commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  26,  in 
town  8  north,  of  range  2  west;  thence  north,  52°  west,  30 
chains  and  37  links  to  angle ;  thence  north,  57°  west,  1 
chain  and  63  links  to  angle ;  thence  north,  53J°  west,  73 
chains  and  75  links  to  the  west  line  of  said  section  26 ; 
thence  north  on  section-line  11  chains  and  26  links  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  said  section ;  thence  north  on  section- 
line  200  chains  to  the  quarter-stake  on  the  east  line  of 
section  10 ;  thence  west,  2i°  south,  144  chains  and  50 
links  to  maple  stub;  thence  west,  30°  south,  15  chains 
and  50  links  to  quarter-stake  on  the  east  side  of  section  8  ; 
thence  west,  2J°  south,  152  chains  to  the  quarter-post  on 
the  west  line  of  section  7, — all  in  said  town  8  north,  of 
range  2  west. 

"  No.  2. — Also  a  road  beginning  at  the  southwest  corner 
of  section  30  in  the  above-named  township ;  tfeence  east, 
4i°  north,  6  chains  and  90  links  to  post  and  angle ;  thence 
south,  41°  east,  4  chains  and  92  links  to  button  wood-tree ; 
thence  south,  54°  east,  5  chains  and  45  links  to  a  post; 


384 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


thence  south,  48°  east,  50  chains  and  50  links  to  post ; 
thence  south,  52°  east,  10  chains  to  post ;  thence  south,  43° 
east,  5  chains  to  post;  thence  south,  50°  east,  15 J  chains 
to  beech-tree  ;  thence  south,  46°  east,  6  chains  and  25  links 
to  post ;  thence  south,  48°  east,  7  chains  to  post ;  thence 
east,  2J°  north,  120  chains  to  post ;  thence  south,  66°  east, 
5  chains  to  beech-tree ;  thence  south,  77°  east,  10  chains 
and  65  links  to  beech-tree  ;  thence  east,  3J°  north,  6  chains 
and  60  links  to  post;  thence  south,  65°  east,  13  chains  and 
75  links;  thence  south,  59°  east,  4i  chains  to  basswood- 
tree;  thence  south,  58°  east,  19J  chains  to  beech-tree; 
thence  south,  80°  east,  8  chains  and  40  links  to  maple-tree ; 
thence  south,  85°  east,  15  chains  and  38  links  to  post; 
thence  south,  75°  east,  30  chains  and  38  links  to  post ; 
thence  east,  17°  north,  4  chains  and  96  links  to  elm-tree ; 
thence  east,  18  chains  and  25  links  to  post ;  thence  east, 
27°  north,  7  chains  to  basswood-tree ;  thence  east,  14° 
north,  11  chains  and  56  links  to  post;  thence  south,  85° 
east,  19  chains  and  87  links  to  post;  thence  east, 4°  north, 
4  chains;  thence  north,  37°  east,  3  chains;  thence  east, 
29°  north,  II  chains  and  81  links;  thence  east,  5°  south, 
9i  chains  ;  thence  east,  13°  south,  7  chains  and  56  links; 
thence  east,  5°  south,  12  chain?  and  30  links;  thence  east, 
10°  north,  15  chains  and  12  links;  thence  39°  north,  4 
chains  and  11  links;  thence  east,  43 J° north,  5  chains  and 
75  links ;  thence  east,  32^°  north,  6  chains ;  thence  east, 
48°  north,  24i  chains  to  the  south  [east]  corner  of  section 
36  in  said  town  8  north,  of  range  2  west. 

"  No.  3. — Also  commencing  2 J°  north,  40  chains  east  of 
quarter-post,  on  the  west  line  of  section  6,  town  7  north,  of 
range  1  west;  thence  east,  2J°  north,  36  chains  and  5 
links  to  post ;  thence  north,  5°  west,  46  chains  to  the  north 
line  of  said  section  6,  5  chains  and  17  links  west  of  the 
northeast  corner  of  said  section  6." 

COPY   OF   ENTRY   IN   HIGHWAY  RECORDS. 

"  Mr.  Stephen  Pearl,  T.C.,  of  the  township  of  Bingham : 
We  the  undersigned,  highway  commissioners  of  the  said 
town,  having  determ.ined  to  lay  out  the  following  roads,  do 
hereby  order  you  to  record  the  same. 

"  The  minutes  of  the  surveys  of  the  several  roads  are  as 
follows : 

"  Town  8  north,  of  range  2  west. 

"  No.  1 . — Beginning  at  the  west  quarter  stake  of  section 
No.  23 ;  thence  running  north  87  J°  east,  80  chains  to  the 
east  quarter  post  of  23. 

"  No.  2. — Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
No.  27;  thence  running  south,  87  J°  west,  160  chains  to 
the  southwest  corner  of  section  No.  21. 

"  Town  7  north,  of  range  1  west. 

"No.  1. — Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
No.  36 ;  thence  running  south,  87°  west,  19  chains ;  thence 
north,  521°  west,  8  chains;  thence  south,  51i°  west,  17 
chains  and  3  links ;  thence  south,  87°  west,  32  chains  and 
13  links  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  No.  35. 

"  No.  2. — Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
No.  36 ;  thence  running  north,  3°  west,  92  chains ;  thence 
north,  45°  east,  37  chains  and  70  links  to  a  stake  59  links 
north,  i°  west,  from  w.  oak  18  inches  in  diameter. 


"  Town  8  north,  of  range  1  west. 
"  No.  1. — Beginning  at  a  stake  bearing  south  87J°  west, 
20  chains  from  the  northwest  corner  of  section  No.  33 ; 
thence  running  south,  2J°  east,  80  chains  and  24  links; 
thence  south,  15°  west,  3  chains  and  75  links;  thence 
south,  26°  west,  13  chains  and  52  links.;  thence  south,  2i° 
cast,  12  chains  and  59  links  to  a  stake  standing  in  the 
centre  of  the  highway. 
"  Recorded  Dec.  14,  1839. 

"Samuel  Barker, 
"  Charles  Stevens, 
"  Stephen  Pearl,  T.  C, 
"Commissioners  of  Sighwai/s." 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Bingham's  first  school  was  taught  on  the  Silas  Parks 
place  by  Mary,  daughter  of  Nathan  Smith,  of  Olive.  The 
school-house  was  an  abandoned  cabin,  and  the  pupils  were 
from  the  families  of  Lucius  Morton,  Silas  Parks,  and  Ben- 
jamin Finkle.  Mary  Smith  taught  the  school  two  terms, 
and  after  that  Orpha  Fisk  taught  in  the  same  house.  The 
nest  teacher  was  Lucinda  Richmond,  who  kept  school  about 
two  years  in  Lucius  Morton's  house,  Morton  having  built 
an  addition  to  his  residence  for  this  purpose.  He  hired 
Miss  Richmond  at  one  dollar  a  .week,  and  charged  a  certain 
sum  per  capita  for  each  child  to  cover  expenses.  Some  of 
the  pupils  were  boarded  by  him  and  others  brought  their 
dinners. 

The  records  of  an  early  date  having  been  lost,  very  little 
touching  the  history  of  township  schools  from  the  be^n- 
ning  can  be  gleaned.  There  is,  indeed,  nothing  to  be 
gathered  from  the  records  antedating  1855.  On  the  6th 
of  October  in  that  year  it  appears  of  record  that  dbtrict 
No.  4  was  organized  to  contain  the  south  half  of  section  9 
and  the  whole  of  section  16,  except  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter.  On  the  same  day  district  No.  5 
was  formed,  and  contained  sections  13,  14,  15,  22,  23,  24. 
Fractional  district  No.  6  was  formed  Oct.  27,  1855,  of  a 
portion  of  Olive  and  section  26,  the  east  half  of  section  34, 
and  the  whole  of  section  35  in  Bingham.  Oct.  27,  1855, 
No.  7  was  organized  to  contain  section  29,  the  south  half 
of  section  30,  the  whole  of  section  31,  the  north  half  of 
the  northwest  quarter,  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  north- 
west quarter,  the  southwest  quarter,  and  the  west  half  of 
the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  32.  No. 
8  was  organized  Feb.  2,  1856,  and  comprised  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  28,  the  north  half  of  section  29,  and  the 
north  half  of  section  30. 

From  1853  to  1858  teachers  were  appointed  as  follows: 

Nov.  20,  1853.— Pamelia  Bliss. 

May  6,  1854.— Jane  Clark. 

May  29,  1854.— Stella  Ferguson. 

Nov.  6,  1854.— S.  J.  Wilcox. 

Dec.  2,  1854.— Tamour  Doty. 

Dec.  5,  1854. — Catherine  A.  Fenner. 

May  7,  1855.— Mary  C.  Richmond. 

Nov.  3,  1855.— R.  Dubois. 

Dec.  15,  1855.— William  Silverwood. 

Dec.  21,  1855.— a  A.  Lamb. 


15 


BINGHAM  TOWNSHIP. 


385 


Jan.  17,  1856. — Susan  Gardner,  Emily  Bowan. 
'April  29, 1856. — Nancy  M.  Richmond,  Adelaide  Smith. 

Nov.  1,  1856.— Charles  T.  Bnoe. 

Nov.  19, 1856.— George  L.  Wait. 

Dec.  17,  1856. — Catherine  A.  Fenner. 

Jan.  1,  1857. — John  0.  Palmer. 

Jan.  26,  1857.— George  W.  Doty. 

April  13,  1857. — Sally  Lamphere. 

April  21,  1857 Ann  Davidson. 

May  1,  1857.— Lucy  M.  Palmer. 

June  19,  1857. — Betsey  Warren. 

Nov.  7,  1857. — Seth  Hunt,  Jr.,  Anthony  Swarthout. 

Nov.  12,  1857.— John  Van  Horn. 

Dec.  2,  1857.— John  E,.  Pond. 

Dec.  12, 1857.— Esther  Powell. 

Jan.  5,  1858. — Nancy  Seweil. 

March  4,  1858.— Jeanette  E.  Newell. 

April  10, 1858. — Elizabeth  Severance,  Rosina  Severance, 
Sophronia  Corbin. 

The  annual  school  report  for  1879  gives  the  following 
details : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  5 ;  fractional,  5)  10 

"         scholars  of  school  age 1,049 

Average  attendance 889 

Value  of  school  property $1?,725 

Amount  of  teachers'  wages $5,014.50 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  H.  W.  Hale,  C.  H. 
Sebert,  Lyman  Sperry,  Josiah  Upton,  William  Atkinson, 
N.  Williamson,  Jans  Purvis,  Eugene  Shulters,  Frank 
Sacket,  and  Richard  Gay. 

RELIGIOUS. 

THE  WEST   BINGHAM   UNITED   BRETHREN   CLASS. 

In  September,  1867,  Rev.  William  Palmer,  of  the  Ben- 
gal Circuit,  organized  the  West  Bingham  United  Brethren 
class,  with  five  members,  viz. :  D.  C.  Norris,  Henry  Lar^ 
kens,  George  Yallap,  Mary  Larkens,  and  Mary  Yallap,  the 
class-leader  being  Henry  Larkens.  The  Peck  school-house, 
in  district  No.  3,  has  been  used  as  the  place  of  worship 
since  the  class  organization. '  The  class  has  now  a  member- 
ship of  thirteen,  and  meets  for  worship  once  a  fortnight. 
Mr.  Palmer's  successors  on  the  work  have  been  Revs.  Dor- 
rance,  Beechler,  Shelley,  Barnaby,  Older,  Duryea,  Lane, 
Maynard,  and  Mowers.  There  is  also  a  union  Sunday- 
school,  of  which  Robert  Larkens  is  superintendent,  and  in 
which  the  attendance  averages  forty. 


f   BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JOHN   R.   HALE. 

John  R.  Hale  was  born  at  Sangersfield,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  5,  1822j  on  the  san^/arm  and  in  the  same  house 
where  his  father,  Seneca  ;^P,  was  born  in  1790.  John  R. 
lived  at  home  until  he  v®i^enty-one,  and  that  year  (1842) 
came  to  Michigan  with  cine  hundred  dollars,  bought  land 
in  Ingham  County,  where  he  remained  some  three  years, 
exchanging  that  property  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
49 


of  land  where  he  now  resides,  and  upon  which  he  moved  in 
1845.  The  whole  county  was  then  a  wilderness,  scarcely 
settled  and  all  new  beginners, — not  more  than  fifty  acres 
of  land  at  that  time  had  been  plowed  in  the  town  of  Bing- 
ham. Mr.  Hale's  first  dwelling  was  a  log  cabin  of  the  most 
primitive  kind,  where  he  and  his  mother  lived  for  several 
years.  To  supply  the  necessaries  of  life  Mr.  Hale  was 
obliged  to  seek  employment  in  the  more  populous  portions 
of  the  Statfe,  consequently  the  improvements  upon  his  own 
land  were  made  with  the  greatest  difficulty.  In  1852  he 
went  to  California ;  was  absent  two  and  a  half  years,  when 
he  returii^d  with  sufficient  money  to  enable  him  to  purchase' 
other  lands,  erect  a  more  pretentious  log  house,  and  make 
substantial  improvements  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
has  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and  a 
commodious  brick  residence,  a  view  of  which  may  be  seen  in 
this  work.  Mr.  Hale  has  been  twice  married:  first  to  Cor- 
delia E.  Redfield,  June  2,  1847.  She  died  Deo.  26, 1876, 
leaving  two  children, — Emma,  married  Milton  -Smith ; 
the  son,  Frank  0.,  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Hale  was  again 
married  August,  1877,  to  Dorissa  Miles,  by  whom  he  has 
one  daughter.  Politically,  Mr.  Hale  is  a  Democrat,  has 
held  several  town  offices,  and  is  classed  among  the  substan- 
tial and  reliable  men  of  Clinton  County. 


JOHN   AVERY. 
John  Avery  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  May 
4,  1798,  and  is  of  English  and  Scotch  descent.     When  six 
years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
when  the  war  of  1812  broke  out,  John  Avery,  then  a  lad 
of  thirteen  years,  moved  by  a  spirit  of  adventure  and 
independence  which  has  characterized  him  through  life, 
enlisted  in  the  Twenty-third  Regiment  of  United  States 
Jnfantry.     He  participated  in  the  capture  of  Fort  George, 
and  nearly  all  the  engagements  on  the  frontier  during  the 
war,  and  took  part  in  the.  capture  of  the  brigs  "  Adams" 
and  "  Caledonia ;"  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Fort 
Erie  by  the  Indians,  who  took  him  to  the  forests  of  Canada, 
wiiere  he  reniaiued  more  than  a  year  in  charge  of  Jack 
Brandt,  when  his  freedom  was  purchased  by  Adams  &  Ball, 
merchants  at  Twelve-Mile  Creek.      He  then  returned  to 
Adamsj  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  married,  August, 
1821,  to  Sarah  Cooper,  of  Watertown.     After  a  few  years 
they  went  to  Chautauqua  County,  and  in  1836  came  to 
Michigan,  stopping  in  Oakland  County  two  years,  arriving 
in  Clinton  County  the  fall  of  1838  with  fifty  dollars;  pur- 
chased  forty  acres  of  land   in   the  town  of  Greenbush, 
where  he  remained  five  years,  then  purchased  eighty  acres 
in  Bingham,  where  he  has  since  resided.     At  that  time 
this  part  of  the  county  was  sparsely  settled,  and  all  new 
beginners,  with  limited  means.     Mr.  Avery  cut  out  the 
road  for  two  miles,  and  put  in  the  first  log  bridges  on  that 
road.     The  country  was  heavily  timbered,  and  the  process 
of  iflakipg  a  farm  was  slow,  but  by  the  indomitable  perse- 
verance and  strong  arm  of  this  pioneer  the  improvements 
were  made,  other  lands  added,  until  at  "one  time  he  had 
more  than  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  with  large  and  sub- 
stantial improvements.     He  has  raised  a  family  of  seven 
children, five.sons  and  two  daughters, — besides  three  chil- 


386 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


dren  which  they  adopted.  Five  of  his  own  children  are 
now  living.  Three  of  his  sons  took  part  in  the  late  civil 
war.  John,  Jr.,  was  educated  for  a  physician,  was  surgeon 
of  the  Twenty-second  Infantry,  and  with  Sherman  on  his 
inarch  to  the  sea ;  is  now  practicing  his  profession  at  Green- 
ville, Mich.  Marvin  was  sergeant  in  the  Sixth  Cavalry, 
and  killed  at  Trevillian  Station,  Va.,  June  12, 1864.  Mer- 
ritt  was  living  in  Minnesota,  and  joined  a  regiment  from 
that  State.  Politically,  Mr..  Avery  was  a  Democrat,  and 
remained  with  that  party  until  the  exigencies  of  war  ap- 
pealed to  the  patriotism  of  every  friend  of  his  country, 
when  he  joined  the  Republican  party  and  cast  his  vote  for 
President  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Avery  was  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Union  cause. 
In  1863  he  called  on  President  Lincoln,  and  was  furnished 
with  a  pass  to  the  front;  went  to  Fairfax  Court-House, 
where  his  son  was  stationed.  Here  he  was  furnished  a 
horse  and  rations,  and  rode  with  the  regiment  for  four 
weeks,  during  which  time  he  witnessed  the  battle  of  Get- 
tysburg. 

John  Avery  and  his  wife  were  well  calculated  for  a  new 
country,  being  blessed  with  strong  constitutions,  untiring 
energy,  and  good  common  sense.  She  died  Dec.  6,  1877, 
aged  seventy-eight  years,  after  a  married  life  of  more  than  a 
half-century. 

Mr.  Avery,  although  past  his  fourscore  years,  enjoys 
good  health.  His  faculties  are  unimpaired,  and  he  man- 
ages his  large  farm  with  the  slme  energy  and  care  of  former 
years. 


DANIEL   RIDENOUR. 

Daniel  Ridenour  was  born  in  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept. 
12,  1819.  His  father  came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Daniel  lived  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he  was  married 
to  Alfleta  Monson,  who  was  accidentally  killed  some  eighteen 
months  after  they  were  married.  She  left  one  child,  Mary, 
then  six  months  old ;  she  was  born  Jan.  23,  1845.  Mr. 
Ridenour  was  again  married  Feb.  1, 1846,  to  Almira  Mon- 
son, sister  of  his  former  wife.  They  came  to  Clinton  County 
September,  1852,  with  eight  hundred  dollars,  which  he  had 
saved  from  his  earnings.  His,  first  purchase  was  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land,  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of 
St.  Johns,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  at  once  erected 
a  log  house  and  commenced  cutting  himself  a  home  from 
the  unbroken  forest ;  the  task  was  a  laborious  one,  but  by 
energy  and  perseverance  rarely  equaled  this  pioneer  couple 
kept  steadily  on  clearing  ten  acres  each  year  for  ten  years ; 
and  from  that  time  other  lands  were  added,  until  he  now 
has  more  than  six  hundred  acres  at  the  home-farm,  large 
improvements,  and  substantial  buildings.  He  has  raised  a 
family  of  seven  children.  For  his  eldest  son  he  has  bought 
a  well-improved  farm.  Mr.  Ridenour  is  classed  among  the 
reliable  and  wealthy  farmers  of  Clinton  County,  which 
position  he  has  attained  by  strict  integrity,  economy,  and 
industry.  His  wife  died  in  1873.  He  was  again  married 
in  1874  to  Mrs.  Kentfield,  formerly  Miss  Lodema  Baldwin, 
daughter  of  Sherman  Baldwin,  an  early  settler  in  the  town 
of  Essex,  where  he  died  in  1847. 


CHAPTER   LIL 
BATH   TOWNSHIP.* 

Settlement  of  the  Township— Organization  and   List  of   Township 
Officers — Schools — Churches — Village  of  Bath. 

The  township  of  Bath  is  the  southeastern  township  of 
Clinton  County.  It  is  bounded  north  by  Victor,  east  by 
Woodhull,  in  Shiawassee  County,  south  by  Ingham  County, 
and  west  by  the  township  of  De  Witt.  The  soil  where 
tillable  is  of  a  good  quality,  but  as  a  whole  the  township 
has  considerable  marsh-  and  swamp-lands.  It  is  drained 
by  the  Looking-Glass  River  and  its  branches. 

Several  causes  had  a  tendency  to  retard  the  early  settle- 
ment of  Bath.  The  most  potent  of  these  was  probably  the 
fact  that  it  contained  a  very  large  proportion  of  swampy 
land,  which  induced  immigrants  to  look  upon  it  with  dis- 
favor as  an  undesirable  region  for  agricultural  purposes. 
Another  and  not  the  least  cause,  as  given  by  old  settlers, 
was  the  fact  that  a  certain  element  detrimental  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  township  gained  a  strong  foothold  within  it 
during  the  first  years  of  its  settlement.  Members  of  those 
families  who  desired  to  hunt  rather  than  work  looked  upon 
the  little  clearings  made  here  and  there  in  the  township 
much  as  the  Indian  does  who  sees  his  bunting-grounds  in- 
vaded and  his  forests  gradually  disappearing  before  the 
strokes  of  the  axe.  They  looked  upon  new-comers  as  in- 
truders, and  did  everything  in  their  power  to  deceive  and 
discourage  the  better  element  from  settling  among  them. 
In  a  number  of  places  notices  were  posted  upon  the  trees 
bearing  the  warning  that  no  hay  or  wood  must  be  cut  on 
those  premises,  and  signed  by  some  real  or  fictitious  name 
as  that  of  the  owner  of  the  land,  while  in  fact  the  land  had 
never  been  purchased  from  government.  But  this  trick 
induced  strangers  to  believe  that  there  was  no  government 
land,  in  the  township,  and  inquiry  generally"  strengthened 
these  impressions.  Many  of  the  actual  settlers  themselves 
were  deceived  in  this  regard.  One  gentleman,  who. came  to 
the  township  and  found,  as  he  was  told,  all  the  land  already 
entered,  went  to  the  land-office  and  made  out  a  plat  showing 
the  resident,  non-resident,  and  government  land  in  the  town- 
ship, and  sold  copies  of  this  diagram  for  a  trifle.  He  en- 
tered land,  built  a  cabin,  and  occupied  it  with  the  intention 
of  staying ;  but  he  soon  received  a  threatening  notice  to 
leave.  A  road  which  he  had  constructed  with  a  great 
amount  of  labor  was  blockaded  by  trees  which  were  felled 
across  it  during  his  absence.  He  was  continually  annoyed, 
until  finally  in  despair  he  sold  out  and  left  the  township. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  add  that  these  circumstances  all  worked 
together  to  give  the  township  a  bad  reputation  and  deter 
its  settlement,  so  that  as  late  as  1850  there  were  still  gov- 
ernment lands  of  good  quality  remaining  unentered  in  the 
township. 

The  honor  of  being  the  first  settler  in  Bath  is  accorded 
to  Ira  Cushman,  who  came  to  the  township  and  entered  a 
part  of  section  19  in  1836.  In  February,  1837,  he 
brought  his  family  and  commenced  the  first  improvement. 
He  built  a  log  house  sixteen  by  twepty-six  feet,  but  whether 

*  By  G.  A.  McAlphie. 


BATH   TOWNSHIP. 


387 


he  or  Silas  W.  Rose  plowed  the  first  furrow  is  not  satis- 
factorily settled.  Both  planted  spring  crops.  Mr.  Cush- 
man  (and  his  brothers,  who  settled  across  the  line  in  the 
township  of  De  Witt)  planted  a  large  field  (for  those  days) 
of  corn  and  potatoes,  and  this  field  was  sowed  to  wheat  the 
next  fall. 

Silas  W.  Rose  first  came  to  Bath  in  the  fall  of  1836,  on 
a  prospecting  tour,  and  about  the  1st  of  April,.  1837,  he 
with  his  wife  and  five  children  reached  his  farm  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  23.  He  brought 
three  yoke  of  oxen,  two  cows,  a  wagon,  some  farming-im- 
plements, and  household  goods.  Over  a  ridge-pole,  sup- 
ported by  two  posts,  he  spread  several  quilts  as  a  temporary 
shelter  for  his  family,  and  then  built  a  cabin.  It  stood 
where  the  barn  now  stands,  across  the  road  from  the  residence 
of  his  son,  William  Rose,  with  whom  his  mother,  the  widow 
of  Silas  W.  Rose,  still  lives.  The  old  cabin  was  afterwards 
used  as  a  blacksmith- shop  by  Cornelius  Potter.  It  was  the 
first  in  the  township.  He  subsequently  built  a  cabin  and 
opened  a  shop  near  the  present  site  of  the  Baptist  church. 

In  the  same  spring,  and  about  the  same  time  that  Mr. 
Rose  came  to  Bath,  James  Smith  and  family  came  in  and 
settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  36.  His  daugh- 
ter. Miss  Nellie  Smith,  was  married  to  Jacob  Bsty  about 
the  year  18J:l.  This  is  regarded  as  the  first  marriage  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Smith  was  elected  first  treasurer  of 
the  township  of  Ossowa.  His  sons,  James  and  Harrison 
Smith,  live  in  Bath,  and  Stephen  is  a  resident  of  Ingham 
County. 

In  the  fall  of  1837,  Jacob  Conklin  settled  on  section  7. 
The  cabin  which  he  built  for  his  family  of  nine  children 
contained  but  a  single  board,  and  this  formed  a  part  of  the 
door  to  which  the  hinges  were  attached.  Peter  Conklin 
(his  son)  lives  on  the  old  homestead. 

At  a.bout  ,the  same  time  Nathaniel  Newman,  with  his 
family,  settled  on  section  18.  His  brother,  Joseph  New- 
man, came  soon  after,  and  commenced  to  clear  up  and  im- 
prove a  farm  on  the  same  section.  He  died  suddenly  in 
1838.  This  was  the  first  death  in  Bath.  He  was  buried 
on  the  farm  of  Ira  Cushman,  where  a  piece  of  land  was 
then  or  soon  after  set  off  as  a  burial-ground,  and  has  since 
been  known  as  the  Cushman  Cemetery.  Nathaniel  New- 
man subsequently  left  his  property  in  care  of  his  sons,  or 
disposed  of  it  to  them,  and  went  away  from  the  township. 

Jesse  and  Jonathan  Burke  came  in  1837  or  early  in 
1838.  Jesse  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  23. 
He  started  to  go  to  California  some  years  afterwards,  and 
Was  supposed  to  have  died  on  the  way.  Jonathan  Burke 
married  a  Miss  Parshall,  of  WoodhuU.  He  died  in  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion. 

In  1838,  Peter  Finch  located  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  24.  After  a  number  of  years  he  sold  to  Thomas 
Newman.  This  farm  is  now  occupied  by  William  Peck,  an 
early  settler  near  Ann  Arbor.  The  farm  which  he  tilled 
there  is  now  a  part  of  the  corporation  of  that  city,  and  is 
the  site  of  some  of  its  best  residences. 

The  northeast  quarter  of  section  21  was  settled  by  Wil- 
liam Culver  in  1839.  He  subsequently  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  A.  Priest,  who  settled  on  section  35.  Hosea  Root 
settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  25.     He  sold  to 


the  father  of  Hiram  L.  Tooker,  who  had  been  clerk  of 
Bath  a  number  of  years. 

The  farm  now  occupied  by  John  B.  Clark  was  settled  by 

A.  Coddington.     Mr.  Clark  came  to  Bath  in  1849. 

In  1841,  Joseph  Piersons  entered  a  part  of  section  2,  but 
subsequently  removed  to  section  3,  where  he  now  resides.  . 
He  was  married  when  he  came  to  the  township  and  had  one 
son,  who,  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  joined  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Berdan  Sharpshooters,  and  died  in  the  city  of 
Washington. 

From  the  list  of  the  pioneers  of  Bath  should  not  be 
omitted  the  following  names:  Miles  W.  and  Philemon 
Newman,  sons  of  Nathaniel  Newman,  before  referred  to; 
0.  A.  and  E.  L.  Phelps,  R.  J.  Burt,  William  Coss,  Stephen 

B.  Roby,  Jacob  Lewis,  Stephen  Gregory,  Lyman  Potter, 
Isaiah  Fletcher.  The  latter  was  a  blacksmith,  and  started 
the  second  shop  in  the  township. 

D.  P.  Dryer,  with  his  son,  Isaac  M.  Dryer,  came  to  Bath 
in  1850  and  bought  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  20.  When  Mr.  Dryer  had  prepared  the  logs  for 
his  house,  he  called  upon  some  of  the  old  settlers  to  assist 
him  at  the  raising.  Several  in  the  vicinity,  however,  upon 
whose  hunting  and  grazing  range  he  had  established  him- . 
self,  declined  on  the  ground  that  they  understood  no 
whisky  would  be  furnished.  This  was  true,  and  Mr. 
Dryer  was  about  to  despair  of  receiving  help  without  going 
out  of  the  neighborhood,  when  Samuel  B.  Smith  promised 
to  come.  He  was  a  very  powerful  man,  and  put  up  one 
corner  of  the  frame  alone.  He  (Mr.  Smith)  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  the  township  of  De  Witt. 

The  following  statistics,  compiled  from  the  records,  will 
show  the  gradual  development  of  the  township : 

In  1843  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  supervisor  was  24 ; 
in  1850,  31 ;  in  1860,  103;  in  1870,  126;  in  1880,  296. 

In  1845  the  total  valuation  of  real  estate  was  $14,743 ; 
in  1855,  $64,823 ;  in  1860,  $75,854. 

In  1845  personal  property  amounted  to  $1170 ;  in  1855, 
$11,496;  in  1860,  $13,066. 

In  1845  the  total  amount  of  money  raised  by  taxation 
was  $290.41;  in  1860,  $1505.12  ;  in  1879,  $4746.6.3. 


ORGANIZATION  AND   LIST  OF   TOWNSHIP 
OFFICERS. 

The  territory  now  comprised  within  the  limits  of  the 
townships  of  Bath  and  Victor  formerly  constituted  the 
township  of  Ossowa,  which  was  organized  and  set  off  by 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  March,  1839.  The  name 
of  Ossowa  was  discontinued  March  9, 1843,  by  act  of  Legis- 
lature, and  by  the  same  act  the  territory  of  the  old  township 
was  divided  and  the  north  half  of  it  was  erected  into  the 
township  of  Victor,  with  boundaries  as  at  present.  The 
southern  half,  described  as  town  5  north,  range  1  west,  was, 
through  the  influence  of  Silas  W.  Rose  (the  second  settler 
in  the  township),  named  Bath,  from  Bath,  Steuben  Co., 
N.  Y.,  the  place  of  his  former  residence. 

Pursuant  to  a  notice  issued,  the  first  annual  meeting  in 
the  township  of  Ossowa  was  held  at  the  house  of  John 
Hunter,  at  Round  Lake,  April  1,  1839.  The  names  of  the 
voters  present  it  is  now  impossible  to  obtain,  but  it  is  prob- 


388 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


able  there  were  several  in  addition  to  those  given  in  the  list 
of  officers  for  that  year. 

By  vote  the  following  persons  were  elected  pathmasters 
in  the  several  districts : 

Silas  W.  Rose,  district  No.  1. 

William  Young,  district  No.  2. 

Philemon  Newman,  district  No.  3. 

W.  J.  Partelo,  district  No.  4. 

Jesse  Jameson,  district  No.  5. 

John  Collister,  district  No.  6. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  town  board  of  the  township  of 
Ossowa,  to  audit  its  accounts,  was  held  Nov.  18,  1839,  at 
which  time  the  following  accounts  were  entered  : 

James  Smith $10.50 

W.  E.Young 2.25 

Jonathan  Burke 2.50 

Daniel  M.  Blood 3.00 

S.  W.  Rose 28.00 

Alva  Coddington 3.00 

Jesse  Jameson 21.00 

Hugh  Hagerty 18.00 

HoseaKoot 4.50 

John  Collister 8.50 

Philemon  Newman 10.50 

W.  J.  Partelo 7.15 


Total $120.00 

On  Jan.  23,  1840,  "James  M.  Blood,  in  consideration 
of  twelve  and  one-half  cents,  received  to  [his]  full  satisfac- 
tion," leased  to  school  district  No.  3  of  the  township  of 
Ossowa  one-quarter  of  an  acre  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
section  13,  now  in  the  township  of  Victor,  "  to  have  and 
to  hold  the  same  for  the  use  of  said  district  as  long  or  as 
many  years  as  the  school  district  desire  to  occupy  it  as  a 
site  for  a  school-house."  This  was  the  first  lease  made  and 
recorded  in  the  township. 

The  first  license  to  keep  a  tavern  was  granted  to  James 
M.  Blood.  A  few  days  after,  the  following  one  was  granted 
to  Samuel  Chappel,  in  the  following  words : 

"  County  of  Clinton,  ■) 

\.  ss 

State  of  Michigan,  j 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  town  board  [of  the  township  of 
Ossowa],  at  the  house  of  James  M.  Blood,  for  the  purpose 
of  granting  permits  to  tavern-keepers  and  common  victual- 
sellers,  on  the  11th  day  of  April,  1840,  Samuel  Chappel 
was  allowed  to  keep  a  tavern  in  all  its  various  branches,  ex- 
cepting the  privilege  to  retail  ardent  and  spirituous  lickours, 
which  privilege  the  board  do  not  grant  or  permit ;  said  license 
to  take  effect  on  the  1st  day  of  May  of  the  present  year, 
and  to  expire  on  the  last  day  of  April,  1841,  in  his  honse^ 
formeriy  belonging  to  Chancey  Davis,  on  section  27,  town 
6  north,  range  1  W.,  and  no  other. 
"James  M.  Blood, 

H.  Hagerty, 

Jesse  Jameson, 

John  Collistee, 

As  has  been  stated,  Ossowa  was  divided  in  1843  and  the 
township  of  Bath  was  organized.  The  first  election  held 
in  Bath  as  a  distinct  township  was  at  the  house  of  Silas 
W.  Rose,  on  the  18th  day  of  April,  1843,  on  which  occa- 
sion the  whole  number  of  votes  cast  was  twenty-five. 

The  township  officers  of  Ossowa  and  Bath  annually 
elected  from  1839  to  1880,  inclusive,  have  been  as  named 
in  the  following  lipt,  vi;t.  : 


Tovm  Board." 


OSSOWA. 

1839.— Supervisor,  Silas  W.  Rose ;  Clerk,  C.  Davis* ;  Com- 
missioners of  Highways,  James  Smith,  Hosea 
Root,  Jesse  Jameson  ;  Assessors,  Hugh  Hagerty, 
A.  Coddington,  Philemon  Newman  ;  School  In- 
spectors, Silas  W.  Rose,  W.  J.  Partelo,  A.  Cod- 
dington ;  Justices,  Hugh  Hagerty,  Jesse  Jame- 
son, P.  Newman,  S.  W.  Rose ;  Collector,  Jona- 
than Burke;  Constables,  Jonathan  Burke,  Peter 
Finke,  Chauncey  Davis,  J.  Canklin ;   Directors 
of  the  Poor,  Robert  Finch,  James  Smith  ;  Treas- 
urer, Jesse  Jameson. 
1840. — Supervisor,  James  Blood  ;  Treasurer,  Jesse  Jame- 
son ;    Assessors,  A.  Coddington,  D.  H.  Blood, 
Hugh    Hagerty;  Collector,  P.  Finch;   School 
Inspectors,  W.   J.    Partelo,   R.    Collister,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Burke ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Robert 
Collister,  W.  E.  Young ;  Commissioners,  Robert 
Finch,  Joseph  Parsons,  James  M.  Blood;  Jus- 
tices, W.  J.  Partelo ;  Constables,  Peter  Finch, 
Stephen  Finch,  Samuel  Chappel,  W.  Calkins. 
1841.— Supervisor,  W.  W.  Upton  ;  Clerk,  Silas  W.  Rose; 
Treasurer,    0.   A.   Phelps;    Assessors,    Hugh 
Hagerty,  Henry  Goodrich,  Jesse  Burke;  Col- 
lector,   John    Crist ;  School  Inspectors,  Walter 
Laing,  John  G.  Brindle,  W.  W.  Upton ;  Com- 
missioners, Edwin  L.  Phelps,  C.  Potter,  Went- 
worth  Calkins ;  Justice,  Walter  Laing ;  Consta- 
bles, John  Crist,  William  Culver,  W.  Calkins ;' 
Directors  of  the  Poor,  James  Smith,  Jesse  Jame- 
son. 
1842.—  Supervisor,  W.  W.  Upton  ;  Clerk,  D.  H.  Blood ; 
Treasurer,   Ainsworth   Reed;   Assessors,   John 
Groom,  Walter  Laing;    Commissioners,  Howe 
Covert,  John  Collister,  Joshua  Priest ;  Justice, 
Stephen  Smith ;  School  Inspectors,  John  Brin- 
gle,  John  Groom,  W.  W.  Upton ;  Directors  of 
the  Poor,  David  B.  Cranson,  D.  S.  Coates ;  Con- 
stables, William  Finch,  C.  S.  Swegles,  A.  Groom ; 
Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures,  James  Calkins. 

BATH. 

1843.— Supervisor,  0.  A.  Phelps;  Clerk,  S.  W.  Rose; 
Treasurer,  E.  L.  Phelps ;  Assessors,  R.  J.  Burt, 
H.  Culver ;  School  Inspectors,  R.  J.  Burt,  A. 
Priest ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Jacob  Conklin, 
S.  W.  Rose ;  Commissioners,  P.  Newman,  Wil- 
liam Cass,  James  Smith ;  Justices,  S.  Call,  Wil- 
liam Cass,  J.  Burke;  Constables,  R.  J.  Burt, 
H.  Stevens,  J.  Persons,  M.  W.  Newman. 

1844.— Supervisor,  0.  A.  Phelps;  Clerk,  S.  W.  Rose; 
Treasurer,  E.  L.  Phelps  ;  Assessor,  A.  Eldrieh  ; 
School  Inspector,  R.  J.  Burt.  The  minutes  of 
the  meeting  of  this  year  are  incomplete  and  in- 
definite. 


*  At  a  special  election  called  on  May  11,  1839,  for  the  purpose  of 
filling  vacancies,  the  following-named  persons  were  chosen :  Clerk, 
John  Collistpr;  Assessor,  Jesse  Burke;  School  Inspector,  William  B. 
Young. 


BATH  TOWNSHIP. 


389 


1845.— Supervisor,  S.  Cole ;  Clerk,  W.  H.  H.  Culver ; 
Treasurer, ;  Assessors,  John  Covert, 


I.  B.  Towner ;  Commissioner,  J.  Calkins ;  School 
Inspector,  S.  B.  Smith ;  Directors  of  the  Poor, 
J.  Smith,  I.  Fletcher ;  Justice,  K.  Burt ;  Con- 
stables, T.  Newman,  L.  Priest. 
1846. — Supervisor,  Samuel  Cole;  Clerk,  Israel  R.  Trem- 
bley ;  Treasurer,  Jesse  Burke ;  Commissioners, 
Edwin  L.  Phelps,  Stephen  Gregory,  Montgomery 
Burt;  School  Inspectors,  D.  L.  Elert,  Samuel 
B.  Smith ;  Justices,  Ezias  A.  Phelps,'  Isaac 
Fletcher;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Isaac  B. 
Towner,  Isaac  Fletcher;  Constables,  Montgom- 
ery Burt,  Harrison  Levanway,  Hamilton  Stevens, 
William  H.  Culver. 

1847. — Supervisor,  D.  Levanway  ;  Clerk,  'John  Crist ; 
Treasurer^  Jesse  Burke  ;  Commissioners,  George 
Smith,  William  Coss,  E.  L.  Phelps ;  School  In- 
spector, Richard  Burt ;  Justices,  Samuel  Cole, 
John  Tyler ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Jacob  Conk- 
lin,  Harrison  Levanway;  Constables,  Hamilton 
Stevens,  Alexis  Tyler. 

1848. — Supervisor,  Dorus  Levanway;  Clerk,  Sylvanus 
Bachelder;  Justice,  Isaac  Fletcher;  Treasurer, 
Jesse  Burke;  School  Inspector,  Dorus  Levan- 
way ;  Commissioner,  A.  Tyler ;  Assessors,  Joseph 
Piersons,  Isaac  B.  Towner;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  J.  Conklin,  James  Smith ;  Constables, 
A.  Stevens,  S.  Tyler,  P.  Conklin,  W.  H.  Culver. 

1849.^-Supervisor,R.  Burt;  Clerk,  S.  Bachelder;  Justice, 
R.  Burt ;  Treasurer,  J.  Burke ;  School  Inspec- 
tors, W.  H.  Culver,  J.  Marsden ;  Commission- 
ers, J.  Tyler,  S.  Cole;  Assessors,  R.  Collister, 
J.  B.  Towner ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  J.  Smith, 
J.  Conklin ;  Constables,  L.  Tyler,  M.  Cushman, 
T.  Newman. 

1850.— Supervisor,  S.  B.  Smith;  Clerk,  S.  Bachelder; 
Treasurer,  A.  Tyler ;  Justice,  Thomas  Peacock  ; 
School  Inspector,  J.  R.  Trembley ;  Commissioner, 
James  Smith ;  Assessors,  E.  L.  Phelps,  W.  H. 
Culver;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  James  Smith, 
Jacob  Conklin ;  Constables,  Stephen  Tyler, 
James  Smith,  Peter  Conklin,  Morris  Cushman. 

1851.— Supervisor,  S.  B.  Smith;  Clerk,  S.  Bachelder; 
Treasurer,  J.  Burke;  Justice,  S.  Cole;  School 
Inspector,  R.  Burt ;  Commissioner,  D.  P.  Dryer ; 
Assessors,- J.  Piersons,  T.  Peacock;  Directors  of 
the  Poor,  J.  Smith,  J.  Tyler;  Constables,  A. 
Sweet,  P.  Rose,  L.  Tyler,  S.  Cole. 

1852.— Supervisor,  S.  Bachelder;  Clerk,  S.  Fletcher; 
Treasurer,  A.  Cole ;  Justice,  S.  R.  Trembley ; 
School  Inspector,  S.  Bachelder ;  Commissioner, 
J.  Tyler ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  R.  Burt,  D.  P. 
Dryer ;  Constables,  A.  Crane,  A.  Sweet. 

1853.— Supervisor,  S.  Bachelder;  Clerk,  L  Fletcher; 
Treasurer,  S.  Cole;  Justice,  E.  L.  Phelps; 
School  Inspector,  A.  Crane;  Commissioner, 
Joseph  Pierson ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  S.  Cole, 
A.  Sweet ;  Constables,  A.  Crane,  W.  Peacock, 
R.  Rose,  James  Smith. 


1854.— Supervisor,  S.  Bachelder;  Clerk,  I.  Fletcher,  Jr.; 
Treasurer,    S.    Cole;    Justice,    D.    P.   Dryer; 
School  Inspector,  S.  Bachelder ;  Commissioner, 
E.  Trumble ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  S.  Cole,  E. 
L.  Phelps;  Constables,  S.  Hunt,  R.  Rose,  L. 
Tyler,  S.  Tyler. 
1855. — Supervisor,  S.  Bachelder;  Clerk,  I.  Fletcher,  Jr.; 
Treasurer,  I.  Cole;   School  Inspector,  W.  R. 
Norton  ;  Commissioner,  A.  Smith  ;  Directors  of 
the  Poor,  R.  CoUister,  Jr.,  E.  R.  Phelps ;  Con- 
stables, J.  Burke,  J.  Spangler,  W.  Stevens,  S. 
R.  Tyler. 
1856. — Supervisor,  James  H.  Cayvett;  Clerk,  Jacob  Spang- 
ler ;  Treasurer,  D.  P.  Dryer ;  School  Inspector, 
James  H.  Cayvett ;  Justice,  John  Watlin  ;  Com- 
missioner, Benjamin  Martin ;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  A.  K.  Shay,  Henry  Goodrich  ;  Constables, 
L.  Potter,  N.  P.  Gallup,  D.  Marr,  Wm.  Stevens. 
1857. — Supervisor,  John  M.  Easton ;  Clerk,  Samuel  Cole ; 
Treasurer,  1.  Fletcher,  Jr. ;   Justice,  A.  Crane  ; 
School  Inspectors,  John  G.  Brindle,  P.  R.  S. 
Crage ;     Commissioners,    Walter    Love,   Oney 
Davis;   Directors  of  the   Poor,   E.  L.  Phelps, 
Henry  Goodrich ;  Constables,  William  Stevens, 
Walter  Coss,  Jared  Debar,  Robert  Rose. 
1858, — Supervisor,  Thomas  Woodman  ;  Clerk,  W.  M.  Van 
Leuven;   Treasurer,  Isaac  Fletcher,  Jr.;   Jus- 
tices,  E.  L.  Phelps,   Samuel   Bender;    School 
Inspector,  Jacob  Spangler;  Commissioners,  A. 
Debar,  Silas  W.  Rose ;  Directors  of  the  Poor, 
Joseph  Piersons,  Henry  Goodrich ;  Constables, 
A.  Debar,  E.  Smith,  W.  Love,  M.  Cushman. 
1859.— Supervisor,  Thomas  J.  Woodman ;  Clerk,  W.  M. 
Van  Leuven  ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Fletcher  ;  School 
Inspectors,  John  M.  Easton,  John  G.  Brindle ; 
Justices,  Walter  Love,  Isaac  M.  Dryer ;  Direc- 
tors of  the  Poor,  E.  L.  Phelps,  Albert  Smith; 
Constables,   James    Culver,   R.    C.   Comstoek, 
Abraham  Smith,  P.  N.  Galliger. 
;   I860.— Supervisor,  John  M.  Easton;  Clerk,  William  M. 
Van  Leuven  ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Fletcher ;  School 
Inspector,  Hiram  Rathburn ;  Justices,  Samuel 
'  Cole,  John  G.  Brindle  ;  Commissioner,  Silas  W. 

Rose ;  Constables,  Alexander  McKibbin,  R.  C. 
Comstoek,  James  L.  Culver. 
1861.— Supervisor,  John  M.  Easton;  Clerk,  W.  M.  Van 
Leuven  ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Fletcher ;  Justice, 
T.  J.  Woodman;  School  Inspectors,  John  M. 
Easton,  W.  R.  Norton  ;  Commissioner,  James  L. 
Culver ;  Constables,  William  P.  Trembly,  Lyman 
S.  Potter,  Ransford  C.  Comstoek,  Silas  W.  Rose. 
1862. — Supervisor,  Thomas  J.  Woodman;  Clerk,  Wash- 
ington Youry ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Fletcher ;  Jus- 
tice, Marion  Smith  ;  Commissioner,  Daniel  Sober ; 
School  Inspectors,  Jacob  Spangler,  John  Seely  ; 
Constables,  Albert  P.  Smith,  Charles  Cushman, 
George  H.  Spangler,  Wilber  Thompson. 
1863.— Supervisor,  Thomas  J.  Woodman ;  Clerk,  Washing- 
ton Youry ;  Treasurer,  Stephen  B.  Roby  ;  Jus- 
tices, Samuel  Hunt,  Elisha  Abel ;  Commissioner, 


390 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Milo  Mead  ;  School  Inspector,  Isaac  M.  Dryer ; 
Constables,  John  L.  Tyler,  Albert  P.  Smith, 
Milo  Mead,  John  Thompson. 

1864. — Supervisor,  John  M.  Easton;  Clerk,  David  M. 
Knox ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Fletcher ;  Justice,  D. 
M.  Knox  ;  Commissioner,  Silas  W.  Rose ;  School 
Inspector,  John  M.  Easton ;  Constables,  Charles 
W.  Smith,  George  W.  Fletcher,  Daniel  Peacock, 
P.  N.  Gallup. 

1865. — Supervisor,  T.  J.  Woodman ;  Clerk,  Washington 
Youry ;  Treasurer,  Albert  Watson  ;  Justices,  T. . 
J.  Woodman,  David  P.  Dryer,  Albert  Smith ; 
School  Inspector,  Albert  Watson ;  Commissioners, 
I.  M.  Dryer,  Stephen  B.  Roby;  Constables, 
Milo  Cushman,  Robert  Rose,  George  Spangler, 
Stephen  B.  Roby. 

1866. — Supervisor,  John  M.  Easton;  Clerk,  Hiram  L. 
Tooker ;  Treasurer,  Albert  Watson  ;  School  In- 
spector, J.  N.  Smith ;  Commissioner,  G.  S.  Cul- 
ver ;  Justices,  James  Conkright,  Levi  Randall ; 
Constables,  F.  M.  Randall,  W.  H.  Rose,  George 
W.  Fletcher. 

1867. — Supervisor,  John  M.  Easton ;  Clerk,  Hiram  L. 
Tooker ;  Treasurer,  Leon  Benson ;  School  In- 
spector, W.  W.  Bowdish;  Commissioner,  Silas 
W.  Rose ;  Justices,  Levi  Randall,  John  Read ; 
Conistables,  Lawrence  Price,  Francis  M.  Randall, 
Edward  F.  Riggs,  William  Rose. 

1868.— Supervisor,  Washington  Youry;  Clerk,  Hiram 
Tooker;  Treasurer,  Albert  Watson;  Justices, 
T.  J.  Woodman,  Richard  Trumbull ;  School  In- 
spectors, R.  C.  Robinson,  A.  Watson ;  Commis- 
sioners, Henry  Ousterhout,  L.  W.  Knapp;  Con- 
stables, Lyman  Douglas,  Isaac  Chapman,  Warner 
Coston,  A.  M.  Towner. 

1869.— Supervisor,  John  M.  Easton ;  Clerk,  Hiram  Tooker ; 
Treasurer,  Albert  Watson  ;  Commissioner,  Peter 
W.  Sleight ;  Justice,  David  Donaldson ;  School 
Inspector,  Henry  Ousterhout;  Constables,  Ly- 
man Douglas,  William  Goodrich,  William  Sleight, 
Jared  De  Bar. 

1870.— Supervisor,  Sylvanus  Bachelder;  Clerk,  Willard 
A.  Corn ;  Treasurer,  Albert  Watson ;  Justices, 
Nathaniel  J.  De  Bar,  W.  W.  Bowdish ;  School 
Inspector,  Newell  A.  Dryer;  Commissioner, 
Silas  W.  Rose ;  Constables,  Jared  De  Bar,  David 
Wherry,  Edward  Southworth,  Charles  B.  Cole. 

1871.— Supervisor,  John  Read;  Clerk,  A.  B.  Gregory; 
Treasurer,  A.  Watson;  Justices,  Stephen  B. 
Rowley,  H.  H.  Hawley ;  School  Inspector,  C.  B. 
Church;  Commissioner,  W.  H.  Famill ;  Con- 
stables, A.  Sheffield,  Daniel  Peacock,  C.  W.  Smith 
P.  N.  Gallup. 

1872.— Supervisor,  John  Read;  Clerk,  Hiram  Tooker; 
Treasurer,  Elijah  M.  Hawley  ;  Justices,  W.  W. 
Bowdish,  A.  H.  Clark  ;  School  Inspector,  N.  A. 
Dryer;  Commissioner,  Oscar  T.  Place;  Drain 
Commissioner,  Hiram  Tooker ;.  Constables,  Hel- 
mer  Gardner,  David  Wherry,  Ira  0.  Fletcher 
A.  W.  Sheffield. 


1873. — Supervisor, Isaac  M.  Dryer;  Clerk,  Hiram  Tooker- 
Treasurer,  Elijah  M.  Hawley ;  Justice,  Hanford 
H.  Hawley ;  School  Inspector,  0.  S.  Trumbull ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  G.  W.  Fletcher ;  Drain 
Commissioner,  Silas  W.  Rose;  Constables,  W. 
H.  Sweeny,  C.  W.  Austin,  Isaac  Chapman, 
Amos  Phelps. 

1 874. — Supervisor,  Isaac  M.  Dryer ;  Clerk,  Hiram  Tooker ; 
Treasurer,  Albert  Watson  ;  Justice,  T.  J.  Wood- 
man ;  Highway  Commissioner,  L.  W.  Knapp  ; 
Drain  Commissioner,  Milo  Mead ;  School  In- 
spector, Washington  Youry ;  Constables,  Charles 
W.  Austin,  Mitchell  Hyler,  Alfred  Sprague,  Al- 
bert Hyler. 

1875. — Supervisor,  Isaac  M.  Dryer;  Clerk,  Hiram  Tooker; 
Treasurer,  Albert  Watson  ;  Justice,  Ross  Brown ; 
School  Inspector,  Washington  Youry;  School 
Superintendent,  T.  A.  Stephens ;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, George  W.  Fletcher ;  Drain  Commis- 
sioner, Sylvanus  Bachelder ;  Constables,  Charles 
W.  Austin,  William  Mitchell,  Bradley  T.  Whil> 
ney,  Charles  R.  Cushman. 

1876. — Supervisor,  Isaac  M.  Dryer;  Clerk,  A.  W.  Johnson  ; 
Treasurer,  A.  Watson ;  Justice,  T.  K.  Makley ; 
School  Inspector,  Washington  Youry ;  School 
Superintendent,  T.  A.  Stephens ;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, Job  Sleight ;  Drain  Commissioner,  T. 
J.  Woodman  ;  Constables,  T.  B.  Whitney,  James 
Terry,  T.  M.  Goodhue. 

1877. — Supervisor,  Ross  Brown  ;  Clerk,  A.  W.  Johnson  ; 
Treasurer,  Albert  Watson;  Justices,  Sylvanus 
Bachelder,  Isaac  Fletcher,  Edwin  Clark ;  School 
Inspector,  Daniel  Peacock  ;  School  Superintend- 
ent, T.  A.  Stephens;  Highway  Coiumissioner, 
P.  H.  Mackley;  Constables,  John  G.  Smith, 
Warren  Trumbull,  C.  B.  Gillingham,  C.  J. 
Martin. 

1878. — Supervisor,  Isaac  M.  Dryer;  Clerk,  H.  L.  Tooker; 
Treasurer,  Albert  Watson ;  Justices,  A.  H. 
Clark,  Silas  W.  Rose,  E.  M.  Hawley ;  School 
Inspector,  Henry  Talmage ;  School  Superintend- 
ent, Edward  Barber;  Highway  Commissioner, 
James  Sweeny ;  Drain  Commissioner,  T.  J.  Wood- 
man ;  Constables,  Edward  Everett,  Nelson  W. 
Torrey,  Denis  Robey,  George  Van  Scoy. 

1879. — Supervisor,  Isaac  M.  Dryer ;  Clerk,  Albert  Watson  ; 
Treasurer,  W.  H.  Rose ;  Justice,  T.  J.  Wood- 
man ;  School  Superintendent,  T.  A.  Stephens ; 
School  Inspector,  George  H.  Carl;  Highway 
Commissioner,  James  Sweeny ;  Constables,  Ed- 
ward Everett,  Rolin  Crandall,  Samuel  Cushman, 
John  Woodman. 

1880. — Supervisor,  Ross  Brown;  Clerk,  Abel  W.  John- 
son ;  Treasurer,  William  H.  Rose  ;  Justice,  Silas 
W.  Rose ;  School  Superintendent,  T.  A.  Ste- 
phens ;  School  Inspector,  George  W.  Fletcher ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  C.  B.  Church;  Drain 
Commissioner,  James  N.  Smith ;  Constables, 
Nathaniel  J.  De  Bar,  Charles  E.  Phelps,  Charles 
W.  Austin,  Tunis  Cronkite. 


BATH  TOWNSHIP. 


391 


SCHOOLS. 
The  schools  of  Bath  had  their  beginning  in  a  little  log 
cabin,  built  by  Peter  Finch,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
William  Peacock.  But  the  exact  time  in  which  this  be- 
ginning was  made  it  is  now  impossible  to  say  with  certainty. 
It  was  probably  in  the  summer  of  1840.  Mrs.  Finch,  who 
had  taught  before  she  came  to  the  township,  commenced  a 
school,  and  several  days  had  glided  peacefully  away,  with 
from  seven  to  ten  scholars  in  attendance,  when  a  minister 
of  the  Christian  Church  came  to  the  house  of  Silas  W. 
Rose,  and  signified  his  intention  to  hold  public  worship, 
and  this  school-house  was  selected  as  the  place  in  which  it 
was  to  be  held. 

Several  boys  in  the  neighborhood,  thinking  to  give  him 
a  warm  reception,  built  a  rousing  fire  in  the  fireplace,  which 
was  made  of  stones,  sticks,  and  mud,  and  the  result  was 
that  the  building  took  fire  and  was  destroyed.  This  ter- 
minated the  school  until  another  log  school-house  was  built 
in  this  district.  This  second  one  stood  where  the  one  now 
in  use  stands.  It  was  the  first  frame  school-house  built  in 
the  township.  A  school  had  been  taught  as  early  as  1839, 
in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township  of  WoodhuU,  and 
this  continued  in  active  operation  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  to  it  the  settlers  in  the  adjoining  part  of  Bath  sent 
their  children.  A  school  was  also  opened  in  Ingham 
County,  near  the  southeastern  part  of  Bath.  The  second 
school  in  the  township  was  in  a  diminutive  cabin,  built  by 
Joshua  Priest,  on  the  farm  of  Jacob  Wesner,  during  the 
summer  of  1844.  This,  as  well  as  several  succeeding  terms 
(taught  in  another  cabin  built  by  Stephen  Gregory,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Isaac  Fletcher),  was  conducted  by  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Young.  In  the  log  school-house  which  was 
built  subsequently,  Miss  Celestine  Freeman  taught  the  first 
term  ;  and  Miss  Kate  Hardy  taught  the  first  term  in  the 
frame  school-house  built  in  this  district  by  Silas  W.  Rose 
and  James  L.  Culver. 

The  following  table  gives  the  number  of  scholars  in  each 
school  district  (whole  and  fractional)  in  the  township,  and 
the  total  amounts  of  moneys  raised  for  various  school  pur- 
poses for  the  year  1879  : 

District.                                                     Seholara.  Amonnt. 

No.    1  (whole) 33  $179.70 

.<      2         "       33  2U.t4 

"      3         "      32  638.92 

.<      4         "      ; 125  403.14 

.<      6         "               43  181.65 

"    10         "      .'..... 45  193.45 

"      6  (fractional) 39  250.99 

<<      7           .<          19  142.35 

Kg"             42  214.76 

«      9           «          ".] 19  143.82 

«    12           "          ...'..'.'. 55  133.11 

CHURCHES. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  a  minister  of  the  Christian 
Church  came  to  the  house  of  Silas  W.  Rose  about  the  year 
1840.  His  efforts  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a  society 
of  that  denomination,  the  original  members  of  which  were 
five  in  number,  as  follows :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Silas  M.  Rose, 
Cornelius  Potter  and  wife,  and  William  Culver. 

The  society  prospered  for  some  years,  and  at  one  time 
became  quite  strong,  but  as  some  of  its  best  members  died, 
and  others  moved  away,  it  declined  and  was  at  last  dis- 
continued. 


The  next  society  organized  was  that  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren, but  it  was  discontinued  in  a  short  time. 

The  Methodists  also  made  several  attempts  to  establish 
their  society  in  the  township  in  an  early  day,  but  their 
efforts  were  unsuccessful. 

FIRST  FREE-WILL  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 
This  church  was  organized  by  S.  Courier  and  William  R. 
Norton,  in  April,  1855.  A  series  of  revival-meetings  had 
been  conducted  with  gratifying  success,  and  at  the  first 
meeting  called  for  the  purpose  fifteen  names  were  enrolled. 
In  1872  the  society  built  a  meeting-house,  which  cost 
about  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  The  present 
membership  is  ninety. 

CLOSE-COMMUNION  BAPTIST   CHURCH   OF   BATH. 

On  the  16th  day  of  March,  1868,  the  friends  of  this  . 
society  met,  in  compliance  with  the  recommendation  of 
Rev.  A.  H.  Parsons.  At  this  meeting  a  vote  to  organize 
was  unanimously  adopted,  and  the  following-named  per- 
sons became  the  constituent  members  of  the  church : 
Charles,  Samuel,  and  Samantha  Vandeventer,  Sarah  Cheney, 
Abiram  Riggs,  Amanda  Cronkite,  Lucina  Ellsworth. 

These  were  admitted  by  letter  from  other  Baptist  socie- 
ties to  which  they  had  belonged.  There  were  also  a  num- 
ber admitted  on  probation. 

FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH   OF   BATH. 

This  society  owes  its  organization  to  Rev.  A.  A.  Ralph, 
who,  in  the  winter  of  1869,  conducted  a  series  of  revival- 
meetings  with  notable  success.  These  meetings  were  con- 
tinued about  four  weeks,  during  which  time  a  large  number 
of  converts  were  made,  and  the  class  which,  prior  to  this 
time  had  belonged  to  the  Okemos  charge,  received  many 
additions  and  became  a  distinct  organization  and  the  centre 
of  the  circuit.  Rev.  A.  A.  Ralph  was  succeeded  by  B.  S. 
Pratt.  The  society  is  now  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  J. 
Hills.  It  has  a  membership  of  eighty-one.  A  class  of 
the  same  society,  numbering  fourteen  members,  meets  at 
school-house  No.  10,  but  it  is  not  a  chartered  society. 
The  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  at  Pine  Lake  was  organ- 
ized about  the  same  time  as  the  one  mentioned  above.  In 
1879,  while  Rev.  McEwing  was  in  charge,  it  built  the 
"  Pine  Lake  Meeting-House,"  which  cost  fifteen  hundred 
dollars. 

VILLAGE  OE  BATH.      ■ 

The  village  of  Bath  is  situated  upon,  land  which  was 
entered  and  settled  by  Dustin  Marr,  a  soldier  of  the  Mexi- 
can war.  He  received  a  land-warrant  from  the  government, 
and  came  to  Bath  and  located  on  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  17.  He  subsequently  sold  it  to  Charles  Tomp- 
kins. 

When  the  railroad  was  completed  into  the  township,  the 
people,  desirous  to  secure-  a  depot,  offered  the  company 
various  inducements  to  that  end.  A  sum  of  money  was 
raised  by  subscription,  and  in  addition  Mr.  Tompkins  offered 
the  undivided  one-half  of  forty  acres,  favorably  located, 
for  depot  and  yard  purposes.  The  proposition  was  accepted 
and  a  depot  immediately  built.  It  was  the  first  house  built 
in  the  village,  which  was  platted  soon  after.     A  lot  was 


392 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


soon  sold  to  Israel  Van  Ostran,  who  built  a  small  tavern. 
This  was  remodeled  and  a  large  addition  built  to  it  in  1879 
by  John  Beade. 

The  first  store  in  the  village  was  opened  by  F.  Kelly 
and  John  Steffee,  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  John 
Smith.  Charles  Farrer  opened  a  blacksmith-shop,  and 
after  some  years  sold  it  to  Walter  Snell.  The  first  post- 
master in  Bath  was  H.  H.  Culver.  Artemas  H.  Clark,  the 
present  postmaster,  was  appointed  in  1873.  About  the 
year  1864  a  saw-mill  was  built  by  Mr.  Lee,  which  did  good 
service.  Since  then  several  have  been  built  and  two  have 
been  destroyed  by  fire.  The  one  now  standing  was  built 
by  Watson  &  Everetts.  On  the  20th  day  of  January,  1880, 
the  Bath  Flouring-Mill,  built  by  Leach,  Ray  &  Company, 
commenced  operations.  It  has  one  run  of  stones  for  flour, 
and  one  for  coarser  grinding,  with  room  for  another  run. 
.  It  has  a  forty-five  horse-power  engine.  It  was  a  valuable 
addition  to  the  business  interests  of  the  village. 


There  are  now  in  the  village  four  general  stores,  one 
drug-store,  one  shoe-store,  a  carriage-  and  wagon-shop,  etc., 
in  addition  to  the  business  places  already  mentioned.  The 
population  of  the  village  is  three  hundred  and  fifty. 

Dr.  Newell  A.  Dryer  and  Dr.  Albert  Hicks  are  practicing 
physicians  of  Bath. 

BATH  LODGE,  No.  124,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

This  lodge  was  organized  Dec.  1,  1868,  with  N.  A. 
Dryer,  I.  M.  Dryer,  W.  S.  Hall,  Martin  Neichswander,  0. 
J.  Hyler  as  its  charter  members.  The  lodge  is  now  in  a 
prosperous  condition,  having  seventy  members.  The  founda- 
tion of  a  hall,  twenty-four  by  fifty-five  feet,  is  completed, 
and  the  building  will  be  at  once  erected  and  furnished  for 
the  use  of  the  lodge. 

The  present  officers  are  N.  Watson,  N.  G. ;  J.  Sweeney, 
V.  G. ;  A.  H.  Clark,  Recording  Secretary;  A.  Webster, 
P.  Secretary ;  Thomas  Witchel,  Treasurer. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCH. 


JAMES  N.  SMITH. 


This  gentleman,  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
Clinton  County,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hector,  Tompkins 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  20, 1830,  and  was  the  eldest  in  the  family 
of  Jonas  and  Mary  (Gilmore)  Smith,  which  consisted  of 
six.  The  elder  Smith  was  a  farmer,  and  was  born  in 
Tompkins  County  in  1807,  and  was  married  in  February 
of  1829.  In  1833  he  removed  with  his  family  to  San- 
dusky Co.,  Ohio,  whore  he  resided  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  was  one  of 
the  prominent  citizens  of  the  county.  He  held  various 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  notably  among  the 


number  that  of  sheriff  and  county  commissioner;  the 
latter  position  he  filled  acceptably  for  six  years.  He  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  eighteen  years.  He 
was  an  energetic  and  successful  farmer,  and  acquired  a 
competency.  James  received  a  common-school  education, 
and  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  He  studied  civil  engineering  and  surveying,  and  for 
several  years  was  engaged  as  a  teacher.  In  1854  he  met 
his  destiny  in  the  person  of  Miss  Rachel  Short,  whom  he 
married  in  that  year.  Shortly  after  his  marriage  he  pur- 
chased a  farm,  which  he  carried  on  in  connection  with  that 


BENGAL  TOWNSHIP. 


393 


of  his  father.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  political  mat- 
ters, and  in  1858  was  elected  county  clerk.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  terra  of  oflBce  he  was  re-elected.  He  dis- 
charged his  duties  with  fidelity  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him, 
and  with  credit  to  himself. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Smith  disposed  of  his  property  in  Ohio 
and  came  to  Bath,  where  he  purchased  seven  hundred  acres 
of  land,  which  is  a  part  of  his  present  estate  of  twelve 
hundred  acres,  a  large  portion  of  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  Since  coming  to  Michigan  Mr.  Smith  . 
has  eschewed  politics,  and  has  devoted  himself  to  farming 
and  stock-growing.  He  has  a  large  herd  of  Galloway  cattle, 
of  which  he  is  said  to  be  the  largest  breeder  in  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Smith  has  devoted  much  time  and  study  to  the 
subject  of  draining,  and  is*  considered  to  be  standard  au- 
thority on  anything  pertaining  thereto.  He  is  county 
drain  commissioner,  and  in  this  capacity  his  services  are  of 
immense  value  to  the  farming  community.  As  a  farm  en- 
gineer he  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  proficient  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  and  his  services  are  in  great  demand. 
He  is  one  of  the  organizers  and  charter  members  of  the 
Central  Michigan  Agricultural  Society,  and  has  probably 
done  more  to  advance  its  interests  than  any  other  member 
of  the  organization.  The  society  was  born  under  adverse 
circumstances,  and  has  had  to  contend  with  many  difficul- 
ties and  embarrassments,  and  its  success  is  largely  attributa- 
ble to  the  untiring  efforts  of  its  present  superintendent, 
James  N.  Smith.  The  exhibition  of  the  centennial  year 
was  highly  successful,  and  the  officers  of  the  society, — 
business  men  of  the  city  of  Lansing, — knowing  that  it  was 
due  largely  to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  to  show  their 
esteem  and  appreciation  of  hig^services,  presented  him  with 
an  elegant  cane  suitably  engraved. 

Altogether,  Mr.  Smith  is  one  of  those  leading  spirits 
whose  identification  with  any  community  is  always  produc- 
tive of  good. 


CHAPTER    LIIL 
BENGAL   TOWNSHIP.* 

Description— Original  Land-Entries— Early  Settlements  and  Settlers 
—Organization  and  Civil  LisU-Religious  History— Burial-Grounds 
—Agricultural  Statistics- Bengal  Grange— Population. 

This  is  an  interior  township,  its  southeast  corner  being 
the  centre  of  the  county.  It  is  designated  by  the  United 
States  survey  as  township  No.  7  north,  of  range  No.  3 
west.  The  southern  boundary  was  surveyed  in  1826  by 
Lucius  Lyon ;  the  east,  north,  and  west  boundaries  were 
surveyed  in  1831  by  Kobort  Clark,  Jr.  The  subdivision 
was  made  by  Joel  Wright  and  certified  to  June  28,  1831. 
Essex,  which  was  formerly  included  in  this  township,  lies 
on  the  north ;  Bingham  township,  with  the  village  of  St. 
Johns,  the  county-seat,  is  on  the  east;  Riley  lies  south, 
and  Dallas  is  on  the  west.     The  area  of  the  township  is 


»  By  Charles  A.  Chapin. 


23,300y|-j-  acres.  The  surface  is  gently  undulating,  the 
elevations  being  about  fifty  feet  above  the  general  level. 
From  these  elevations  some  beautiful  views  of  the  surround- 
ing country  are  had.  The  soil  is  remarkably  fertile,  pro- 
ducing large  crops  of  grain,  fruit,  and  vegetables.  Origi- 
nally the  township  was  heavily  timbered  with  ash,  basswood, 
beech,  cherry,  elm,  maple,  oak,  and  walnut.  Robert  Clark, 
Jr.,  deputy  surveyor,  in  his  field-notes,  Feb.  10,  1831, 
speaking  of  Stony  Creek,  says,  "  1  have  ascertained  that 
this  stream  is  called  by  the  French  traders  La  Rivifere  aux 
Roche,  or  Stony  Creek.''  This  stream  runs  through  the 
southern  portion  of  the  town  from  east  to  west,  entering 
the  town  on  section  25,  receiving  a  branch  from  section  24, 
and  running  thence  through  sections  26  and  27  and  in  sec- 
tion 34,  receiving  Bad  Creek ;  thence  through  section  33 
and  in  section  31,  mingling  its  waters  with  those  of  the 
Muskrat,  it  passes  out  of  the  township  into  Dallas. 

The  northerly  portion  of  the  town  is  drained  by  Hay- 
worth  Creek  and  a  branch,  being  principally  on  sections  2 
and  3.  The  Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee  Rail- 
way runs  through  this  town  from  east  to  west,  having  a  side- 
track and  station  at  Lyon's  Mills.  Bengal  has  no  water- 
power;  it  is  entirely  an  agricultural  town,  and  is  justly 
entitled  to  its  fame  of  being  one  of  the  best  townships  in 
the  county.  Its  farmers  are  well  to  do,  and  their  well- 
tilled  acres  are  second  to  none. 

Its  first  pioneer  (Judge  Cortland  Hill)  says,  "  Bengal 
was  heavily  timbered,  and  the  early  pioneers  had  but  little 
inducement  to  stay  in  such  a  wilderness,  to  fight  wolves 
and  work  their  way  up  to  civilized  society.     Several  of  the 
first  settlers  who  could  get  away  left  for  other  parts,  but 
those  who  remained  acquired  a  competence,  and  some  an 
independent  fortune.     The  wild  beasts  of  the  forests,  the 
deadly  foes  to  flocks  and  herds,  have  been  utterly  destroyed ; 
the  forest  has  melted  away  before  the  hand  of  industry,  and 
orchards  and  fruitful   fields   now  fill  its  place.     The  log 
cabins  that  sheltered  the  early  settlers  from  the  storm  have 
rotted  down,  and  elegant  mansions  stand  in  their  stead. 
In  forty  years  Bengal  has  constructed  two  hundred  and 
eighty  dwellings,   sixty  miles  of  good   wagon-roads,  and 
spanned  the  crossing  on  every  stream  with  a  good,  substan- 
tial bridge.     Fron  1837  to  1850  Bengal  was  considered 
the  most  worthless  town  in  the  county, — away  back  in  the 
woods,  outside  the  boundaries  of  civilization.     Land  was  of 
no  value,  for  no  one  would  buy  it ;  grain  was  not  worth 
raising,  for  it  could  not  be  shipped  ;  cattle  would  not  pay, 
for  it  was  too  far  to  drive  them  to  market ;  sheep  could 
not  be  raised,  for  the  wolves  would  eat  them  up ;  yet  amidst 
all  these  difficulties  her  progress  has  been  steadily  onward, 
until  she  stands  the  peer  of  any  of  her  sister  towns  in  the 
county." 

OKIGINAL  LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  following  list  shows  the  names  of  those  who  bought 
laud  of  the  general  government  in  this  township,  and  also 
gives  their  residence,  date  of  entry,  and  description  : 

Section  1. 

Ezra  J.  Mundy,  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  northeast  frac- 
tional quarter. 

James  S.  Wadsworth,  Geneseo,  N,  Y.,  April  5, 1837,  southwest  quarter 
and  south  half  of  northwest  quarter. 


50 


394 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


William  D.  RobinsoE",  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  21,  1837,  southeast 
quarter. 

Section  2. 

James  S.  Wadsworth,  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1837,  south  half  of 
DOrthwest  quarter  and  south  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Peter   Larkings,  Washtenaw  Co.,    Mich.,  May  12,    1837,  southwest 
quarter. 

Anna  Denton,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  T.,  May  12, 1837,  southeast  quarter. 

William  D.  Robinson,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  21,  1837,  north  half  of 
northwest  quarter. 

Section  3. 

James  S.  Wadsworth,  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1837,  south  half  of 
northwest  quarter  and  south  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Hannah  Green,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  May  12,  1837,  southeast  quarter 
and  southeast  quarter  of  southwest  quarter. 

William  D.  Robinson,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  21,  1837,  north  half 
of  northeast  quarter. 

Section  4. 

Seymour  H.  Sutton,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  13,  1836,  south  part  of 

east  fractional  quarter. 
James  S.  Wadsworth,  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  April  5, 1837,  southwest  quarter 

and  west  half  of  southeast  quarter,  and  south  half  of  northwest 

quarter. 

Section  5. 

James  S.  Wadsworth,  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1837,  south  half  and 
south  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Section  6." 
Mortimer  C.  Rice,  June  9, 1852,  southeast  quarter  of  southeast  quarter. 

Section  7. 
Abel  Densmore,  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  7,  1836,  east  half. 
James  K.  Guernsey,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Deo.   13,  1836,  southwest 
fractional  quarter. 

Section  8. 
John  Easton,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  7,  1836,  southwest  quarter 
and  west  half  of  southeast  quarter;    Dec.  12,  1836,  northeast 
quarter  and  northwest  quarter. 

Section  9. 
Bush  and  Bailey,  Lansing,  Mich.,  Aug.  6,  1853,  whole  section. 

Section  10. 
Sarah  H.  Porter,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  east  half. 
Wheaton  Eldrich,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7, 1836,  southwest  quarter. 
Hazen  Jaquish,  Elton,  N.  Y.,  June  19,  1852,  northwest  quarter. 

Section  11. 

Sarah  H.  Porter,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  5, 1836,  northwest  quarter. 
William  B.  Waldo,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  northeast  quarter 

and  east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Jeremiah  Groat,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  southwest 

quarter  and  west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

Section  12. 

Daniel  Starr,  July  18,  1836,  northwest  quarter  and  west  half  of  south- 
west quarter. 

James  K.  Guernsey,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  18,  1836,  northeast 
quarter  and  east  half  of  southwest  quarter. 

Section  13. 

William  B.  Waldo,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  west  half  of  south- 
west  quarter. 

William  Fariey,  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  6, 1836,  west  half  of  north- 
east  quarter. 

Daniel  Z.  Ostrim,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1836,  east  half  of  north- 
east  quarter. 

Section  14. 
William  B.  Waldo,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1836,  east  half 
Austin  R.  Gordon,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Nov.  5, 1836,  west  half. 


Section  15. 

B.  Bartow,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 

Caleb  Tioknor  and  George  M.  Hickok,  New  York  City,  Nov.  5,  1836, 
northwest  quarter. 

Nathan  Smith,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  west  half  of  north- 
east quarter. 

Section  16. 
School  lands. 

Section  17. 
Charles  Osgood,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  12, 1836,  west  half. 

Section  18. 

B.  B.  Kercheval,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Nov.  7,  1836,  west  half  of  southwest 

fractional  quarter. 
B.  B.  Kercheval,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Dec.  13,  1836,  northwest  fractional 

quarter  and  east  part  of  southwest  fractional  quarter. 
Charles  Osgood,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  12,  1836,  east  half. 

Section  19. 

Abram  H.  Stevens,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1836,  east  half  of 
southeast  quarter. 

H.  S.  Vanderbilt,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  west  half  of  south- 
east quarter  and  east  half  of  southwest  quarter. 

William  Case,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  7,  1836,  northwest  frac- 
tional quarter. 

Lucinda  Perkins,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  8,  1836,  west  part  of 
southwest  fractional  quarter. 

Section  20. 

Abner  Perkins,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  8,  1836,  southwest  quarter 
and  west  half  of  northwest  quarter. 

George  M.  Hickok,  Salisbury,  Conn.,  Nov.  8, 1836,  ea«t  half  of  north- 
west quarter. 

Section  21. 

Wheaton  Eldrich,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7, 1836,  northeast  quarter. 
N.  and  D.  F.  Horton,  Jackson,  Mich.,  Nov.  8,  1836,  south  half. 
Robert  D.  Swagart,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  18,  1851,  west  half  of 
northwest  quarter. 

Section  22. 

B.  Bartow,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  northwest  quarter  and  west 

half  of  northeast  quarter. 
Wheaton  Eldrich,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7, 1836,  southwest  quarter. 
Luther  Tioknor,  Salisbury,  Conn.,  Nov.  8,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 

Section  23. 

B.  B.  Kercheval,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Nov.  6,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 
S.  V.  R.  Trowbridge,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  northeast 

quarter. 
William  Reynolds,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  8, 1836,  northwest  quarter. 
Luther  Tioknor,  Salisbury,  Conn.,  Nov.  8,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 

Section  24. 

Sherman  Page,  Feb.  19,  1836,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter. 
Andrew  T.  Judson,  April  27,  1836,  east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Stephen  L.  Gage,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  northwest  quar- 
ter and  west  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Section  25. 

A.  Montgomery,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  21,  1836,  southwest 
quarter. 

David  Blakely,  Jr.,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  23,  1836,  west  half  of 
northwest  quarter. 

Aldrich  Knapp,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  May  12,  1837,  east  half  of  north- 
east quarter. 

Ezra  Thornton,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  May  12,  1837,  west  half  of  north- 
east quarter  and  east  half  of  northwest  quarter. 

Section  26. 

Mary  Cronkhite,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  21,  1838,  south  half. 
George  Lewis,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5, 1836,  west  half  of  northwest 
quarter. 


BENGAL  TOWNSHIP. 


395 


David  F.  Farley,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  Nov.  5, 1836,  northeast  quarter 
and  east  half  of  northwest  quarter. 

Section  27. 
F.  A.  Kennedy,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mioh.,  Sept.  21,  1836,  south  half. 
George  Lewis,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  northeast  quarter  and 

east  half  of  northwest  quarter. 
Sanford  Lacey,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  west  half  of 
northwest  quarter. 

Section  28. 

Sanford  Lacey,  Nov.  5,  1836,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Enos  Button,  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  west  half  and  west 

half  of  northeast  qu<irter,  and  west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
D.  Lacey,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1836,  east  half  of  southeast 

quarter. 

Seotion^29. 

Hiram  Godfrey,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  east  half  of 

northwest  quarter. 
Lemuel  Dwelle,  Jr.,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  west  half  of 

northwest  quarter. 
Lemuel  Brown,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  8,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 
Walter  W.  Deane,  Wayne  Co.,  Mioh.,  Jan.  18, 1837,  southeast  quarter. 

Section  30. 
Ebenezer  Sprague,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  east  half  of 

northwest  quarter,  and  east  half  of  southwest  quarter. 
B.  B.  Kereheval,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Nov.  5, 1836,  west  part  of  northwest 

fractional  quarter  and  west  part  of  southwest  quarter. 
Lemuel  Dwelle,  Jr.,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  Nov.  6,  1836,  east  half. 

Section  31. 

Henry  M.  Moore,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  21,  1836,  east  half  of 
northwest  fractional  quarter  and  east  half  of  southwest  fractional 
quarter. 

James  Grant,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  23,  1836,  west  half  of  north- 
east quarter  and  west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

Thomas  Palmer,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  28, 1836,  west  half  of  south- 
west fractional  quarter,  and  southwest  quarter  of  northwest  frac- 
tional quarter. 

Walter  W.  Deane,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  18,  1837,  east  half  of 
southeast  quarter. 

Daniel  Merrill,  Hancock  Co.,  Me.,  Sept.  23,  1837,  east  half  of  north- 
east quarter. 

Section  32. 

Daniel  Merrill,  Sept.  23,  1836,  south  half. 
Walter  W.  Deane,  Jan.  18,  1837,  north  half. 

Section  33. 
Arunah  Soper,  Hartford,  Conn.,  Sept.  28,  1836,  south  half. 

Section  3-1. 

Elijah  L.  Walter,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  April  28,  1837,  west  half  of 
southwest  quarter. 

Huldah  Curtis,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  April  28,  1837,  northwest 
quarter. 

Laura  R.  Curtis,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mioh.,  June  27,  1837,  east  half  of 
southwest  quarter. 

Section  35. 

Miles  E.  Chapman,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  June  12,  1849,  northwest  quar- 
ter of  northeast  quarter. 

Henry  T.  Truman,  June  12,  1849,  northwest  quarter. 

Stephen  F.  Hammond,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  July  17, 1852,  south  half  of 
northeast  quarter  and  southwest  quarter  of  northeast  quarter. 

Section  36. 
Sherman  Page,  Feb.  19,  1836,  east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Andrew  T.  Judson,  April  27,  1836,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter. 
Benjamin  Stanton,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  June  16, 1862,  northwest  quarter 
of  northeast  quarter. 

EAKLY  SETTLEMENTS  AND   SETTLERS. 
Cortland  Hill  and  Lucinda,  his  wife,  having  just  been 
married,  and  having  concluded  to  seek  a  new  home  in  the 


far  West,  packed  up  their  goods  and  left  their  home  iu 
Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.  Proceeding  to  Syracuse  they  took  a 
canal-boat  for  Buffalo,  and  at  that  port  took  passage  on  a 
steamboat  for  Detroit,  which  they  reached  in  about  four 
days.  In  Detroit  Mr.  Hill  hired  two  teams  for  one  hun- 
dred dollars  to  take  them  and  their  household  goods 
through  to  Scott's  (now  De  Witt).  On  arriving  there 
they  met  H.  M.  Moore  and  James  Grant,  who  had  just 
come  in  from  Ionia,  where  they  had  each  entered  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  31.  Mr.  Hill 
bought  this  land  of  them  at  two  dollars  per  acre,  and  then 
hired  a  man  to  go  on  before  him  and  put  up  a  log  cabin. 
Mr.  Hill  hired  from  Capt.  Scott  two  wagons  drawn  by  oxen 
to  convey  his  goods  to  their  location  in  the  unbroken  wil- 
derness. The  road  which  they  traveled  was  the  State  road 
and  Dexter  trail,  which  had  been  underbrushed  and  made 
passable  for  wagons.  On  the  26th  day  of  September,  1837, 
they  arrived  at  their  new  home,  and  found  a  log  cabin  ready 
for  occupancy.  This  cabin  stood  a  few  feet  west  of  their 
present  residence.  Its  size  was  fourteen  by  eighteen,  with 
shanty  roof  covered  with  shakqs.  The  floor  was  of  white- 
ash  split  thin ;  the  opening  for  a  window  was  filled  with 
sash  and  glass,  which  they  brought  with  them.  The  door 
was  made  from  the  boards  of  their  packing-boxes.  The 
fireplace  was  omitted,  for  they  brought  a  cook-stove.  Two 
years  later  another  and  better  log  house  was  erected  in 
front  of  their  first  cabin.  In  1856  the  frame  house  which 
they  now  occupy  was  built.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  have  had 
one  son  and  five  daughters  born  to  them,  but  they  have 
been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  their  daughters,  who 
were  cut  down  in  the  flower  of  their  youth. 

Clinton  J.  Hill  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  1838,  and 
is  married  and  still  living  on  it  with  his  parents.  Judge  Hill 
has  been  supervisor  of  Bengal  fifteen  years,  and  at  times 
has  filled  all  the  minor  offices.  He  was  the  first  justice  of 
the  peace,  having  been  elected  while  the  town  was  a  part 
of  Lebanon.  In  the  county  he  has  been  judge  of  probate, 
serving  from  1850  to  1856.  He  has  been  postmaster  for 
thirty  years,  and  still  enjoys  the  position  and  its  emoluments, 
though  the  latter  are  but  nominal. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  the  second  family  moved  into  the 
township ;  they  were  William  Drake  and  wife,  with  three 
sons,  two  married  and  one  single.  They  settled  on  the  east 
half  of  the  northwest  and  southwest  quarter  of  section  30, 
which  was  divided  among  the  sons, — C.  R.  taking  the  south 
part  containing  fifty-five  acres,  Uriah  the  mid-portion  of 
fifty  acres,  and  Levi  the  north  part  of  fifty-five  acres. 
The  widows  of  C.  R.  and  Uriah  are  still  living  on  their 
homesteads.  Levi  moved  into  Dallas,  where  he  now  lives. 
The  next  pioneer  was  Adam  Laughlin,  a  native  of  Ash- 
tabula Co.,  Ohio,  who  in  1836,  a  young  and  single  man, 
settled  in  Oakland  County.  The  next  year,  1837,  he  bought 
from  David  F.  Farley  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  26,  and  in  the  beginning  of  winter  came  in  to 
chop  and  clear  ten  acres  for  Farley,  to  make  a  payment  on 
his  purchase.  His  first  work  on  the  section  was  to  cut 
down  a  large  beech-tree  which  stood  on  the  corner  of  his 
land,  northeast  of  his  present  residence ;  this  tree  served 
as  a  back-log  for  his  camp-fire,  in  front  of  which  he  camped 
three  nights ;  during  the  day  he  was  occupied  in  putting 


396 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


up  a  log  cabin  on  the  land  he  was  to  clear.  After  clearing 
the  ten  acres  he  went  back  to  Oakland  County,  where  he 
married,  and  in  January,  1840,  with  his  family,  moved  in 
and  occupied  the  cabin  which  he  built  three  years  before. 
In  the  spring  he  built  a  log  house  near  his  present  resi- 
dence, which  he  built  in  1866.  Of  six  children  four  are 
now  living, — Charles  is  married  and  lives  on  the  homestead  ; 
Lydia  (Mrs.  Gibson)  lives  in  Bingham ;  Jane  (Mrs.  Clark) 
lives  in  Danby,  Ionia  Co. ;  Mary  (Mrs.  Prudy)  lives  in  De 
Witt. 

Charles  Grant,  of  "Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.,  having  lost  his 
second  wife,  took  their  two  children  (boys)  and  came  to 
this  State  in  October,  1836.  Stopping  in  Ann  Arbor,  he 
left  his  children  with  their  grandparents  and  then  went  to 
Mason,  Ingham  Co.,  where  he  built  a  saw-mill,  which  was 
the  first  erected  there.  Proceeding  to  Lyons,  Ionia  Co.,  he 
helped  build  the  first  bridge  which  spanned  the  Grand 
River  at  that  place.  He  then  went  back  to  New  York  and 
married  Emeline  Gillett,  of  Gainesville,  Wyoming  Co. 
Returning  to  Lyons  in  the  winter  of  1838,  he  lived  there 
working  at  his  trade  until  .the  spring  of  1840,  when  he 
moved  to  Bengal  and  settled  on  the  south  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  4.  Being  a  carpenter  he  built  a 
frame  house,  which  was  the  first  in  the  town.  He  lived 
on  this  place  till  1849,  when  he  moved  to  the  south  half 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  3.  His  house,  which 
was  in  an  unfinished  condition,  was  taken  down  and  trans- 
ferred, and  now  forms  a  portion  of  his  present  residence. 
When  they  moved  into  the  town  there  were  no  roads,  and 
their  only  way  out  and  in  was  by  a  trail  marked  by  blazed 
trees. 

Mr.  Grant  is  a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  served 
his  country  at  Sacket's  Harbor.  Charles  W.  Grant,  a  son 
by  his  first  wife,  lives  at  East  Saginaw ;  Elihu  lives  at  Fall 
River,  Mass. ;  Eugene,  a  son  by  his  second  wife,  lives  in 
Minnesota.  The  children  by  the  third  wife  are  Julia  D. 
(Mrs.  B.  F.  Young),  lives  west  of  and  adjoining  the  school- 
house  ;  Sylvia  lives  west  of  her  sister  Julia ;  Eliza  lives  in 
Erie,  Pa. ;  Isaac  lives  in  Lake  Co.,  Mich. ;  Phoebe  J.  lives 
in  Ovid ;  Loring  is  married  and  lives  on  the  homestead. 

Mr.  Grant  is  now  eighty-seven  years  of  age,  and,  in  the 
full  possession  of  his  faculties,  has  lived  to  see  the  township 
rise  from  an  unbroken  forest  to  one  of  the  principal  agri- 
cultural towns  in  the  county. 

William  C.  Gardner  was  farming  in  Hamburg,  Living- 
ston Co.,  Micih.,  but  in  the  beginning  of  1840  he  traded 
his  farm  with  E.  J.  Mundy  for  the  northeast  fractional 
quarter  of  section  1,  and  in  February  of  Same  year  settled 
upon  the  land,  and  is  still  residing  on  it.  He  claims  to 
have  set  out  the  second  orchard  in  the  township. 

Joshua  Frink  and  family,  from  Williamstown,  Mass., 
emigrated  to  Farmiogton,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  and  in  1838 
from  the  latter  place  moved  to  Essex  (then  a  part  of  Ben- 
gal) and  settled  on  section  34. 

Miner  R.  Frink,  a  young  man  and  unmarried,  came  with 
his  father  into  the  wilderness.  He  married  Lucinda  Nich- 
ols, and  in  the  spring  of  1841  settled  on  section  3  of  Ben- 
gal. They  began  the  journey  of  life  together  by  living  in 
a  cabin  built  of  split  logs  and  covered  over  with  a  board 
roof.     Their  next  dwelling  was  of  logs,  but  in  the  usual 


style,  with  gables,  and  was  more  commodious.  The  neat 
and  tasteful  frame  house  which  they  now  occupy  was  erected 
in  1861. 

Their  son,  Murrett,  married  a  daughter  of  B.  F,  Enee- 
land,  and  is  living  on  the  we.st  half  of  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  11.  Amelia,  their  daughter,  married  H.  B. 
Kneeland,  and  lives  in  the  neighborhood. 

Jonathan  Young  emigrated  from  Yorkshire,  England, 
about  1834,  and  settled  first  in  Northville,  Wayne  Co., 
Mich.,  and  while  living  there  married  Mrs.  Hannah  Green. 
She  had  on  May  12,  1837,  entered  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  on  section  3.  In  the  fall  of  1841  they  moved  in  and 
settled  on  this  land.  Their  first  habitation  was  of  logs,  in 
the  cabin  style,  covered  with  bark.  In  this  humble  log 
cabin  they  lived  about  three  years,  and  then  built  a  log 
house  larger  and  better  suited  to  their  needs.  This  stood 
on  the  hill,  about  seventy  rods  back  from  the  road,  and 
near  the  barn.  Benjamin  F.,  a  sou,  is  owner  and  occupant 
of  the  homestead  on  which  he  was  born.  He  married  Oct. 
7,  1867,  Julia,  daughter  of  Charles  Grant;  they  have  four 
children.     Their  cottage  was  erected  in  1867. 

The  following  list  comprises  the  names  of  the  resident 
tax-payers  of  the  township  of  Bengal  in  1840,  with  addi- 
tional names  to  1846,  inclusive,  together  with  the  sections 
upon  which  they  paid  taxes : 

Charles  Grant,  1840,  section  4. 

Cornelius  R.  Drake,  1840,  section  30. 

Uriah  Drake,  1840,  section  30. 

Levi  Drake,  1840,  section  30. 

Cortland  Hill,  1840,  section  31. 

Miner  R.  Frink,  1841,  section  3. 

Benjamin  Thompson,  1843,  section  19. 

Jonathan  Young,  1844,  section  3. 

Benjamin  F.  Kneeland,  1844,  section  3. 

Willard  Knowles,  1844,  section  13. 

Samuel  N.  Bentley,  1844,  section  13 ;  sold  and  moved 
away. 

David  Storms,  1844,  .section  13. 

Amasa  Johnson,  1844,  section  13. 

Ira  S.  Thornton,  1844,  sections  24,  25. 

Adam  Laughlin,  1844,  section  26. 

Justus  Vaughn,  1844,  section  27. 

Lyman  Swagart,  1844,  section  28. 

Herod  Morton,  1845,  section  13. 

R.  B.  Crowner,  1846,  section  1 ;  in  1848  moved  to  sec- 
tion 26. 

Levi  Jones,  1846,  section  27. 

Harrison  Sutton,  1846,  section  29. 

John  N.  Plowman,  1846,  section  26. 

Some  of  the  above  names  should  have  appeared  earlier 
on  the  rolls,  but  their  taxes  were  assessed  to  non-residents. 

In  October,  1842,  Ira  S.  Thornton,  wife,  and  three  chil- 
dren moved  from  Oakland  County  into  the  town  and  settled 
on  sections  24  and  25.  A  log  cabin  was  erected  on  section 
25 ;  the  roof  was  made  of  hollow  logs  split  in  two  pieces, 
the  floor  was  of  black-ash  puncheons,  the  door  made  from 
boards,  and  in  the  windows  greased  paper  took  the  place  of 
glass.  The  frame  house  situated  on  section  24  was  built 
in  1857.  Of  eight  children,  six  are  now  living.  Whipple 
A.,  the  eldest  son,  died  while  in  the  army;   Sarah,  the 


BENGAL  TOWNSHIP. 


397 


eldest  dauj2;hter,  died  in  April,  1880  ;  Mrs.  Acker  lives  on 
a  farm  in  the  neighborhood ;  Mrs.  Plowman  lives  in  Water- 
town  ;  Napoleon  is  married  and  lives  on  the  homestead  ; 
Mrs.  Cronkhite  lives  in  St.  Johns ;  Mrs.  Keller  lives  in 
Gratiot  County ;  Douglas  lives  at  home. 

Lyman  Swagart,  from  Windsor,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y., 
came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Calhoun  County.  Here 
he  married,  and  in  1842  moved  to  Bengal  and  settled  on 
section  28,  on  land  bought  of  Enos  Button.  His  log  cabin 
stood  in  front  of  where  his  barn  now  stands.  William 
Swagart,  a  son,  now  lives  on  the  homestead.  George  lives 
on  a  farm  on  section  20,  and  a  half-mile  north.  Mrs. 
Sturges  lives  about  a  half-mile  east. 

Benjamin  F.  Kneeland  and  wife  in  the  fall  of  1843  set 
out  from  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Michigan  to  settle 
in  the  township  of  Bengal,  having  previously  purchased 
land  on  section  3.  On  arriving  here  they  stopped  with 
Miner  E.  Frink  in  his  log  cabin  until  they  could  build  a 
log  house.  The  house  stood  on  the  south  bank  of  a  small 
stream  which  runs  through  his  farm.  It  was  built  of 
hewed  logs,  with  a  shingle  roof,  matched  floors,  brick  chim- 
neys, panel  doors,  etc.  The  house  when  finished  was  the 
envy  of  all  who  saw  it. 

Mr.  Kneeland  built  the  first  steam  saw-mill  in  the  town. 
It  was  put  in  running  order  in  the  spring  of  1856,  and  was 
situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  brook.  After  being  in 
operation  nine  years  it  was  taken  down  and  moved  to 
Maple  Eapids.  The  frame  house  in  which  they  now  live 
was  erected  in  1861.  Their  five  children  living  are  Edwin, 
on  a  farm  on  section  13;  Mrs.  Walcott  lives  in  Essex; 
Mrs.  Frink  lives  about  one  mile  south ;  Horace  B.  on  a  farm 
east  of  the  school-house ;  Mrs.  Whitlock  in  Greenbusli. 

Harrison  Sutton  came  from  Oakland  County  about  thirty- 
four  years  ago  (1846)  to  Bengal,  and  here  married  Emeline 
Nichols  and  settled  on  section  29,  upon  which  farm  he  has 
built  two  log  houses,  the  last  one  in  1855,  which  is  still 
standing  and  occupied  as  a  home.  Their  children  are  :  Celia 
(Mrs.  Sutton)  lives  in  the  neighborhood;  Louisa  (Mrs. 
Kimball)  lives  on  a  farm  adjoining  on  the  east ;  Miner  is 
married  and  lives  on  the  homestead  ;  Milo  and  Byron  are 
living  in  Gratiot  County  ;  Harrison,  Jr.,  is  at  home. 

Andrew  Waller  and  family  moved  from  Geneseo,  N.  Y., 
in  October,  1847,  and  settled  on  the  north  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  2.  Their  first  house  was  of 
hewed  logs,  in  which  they  lived  until  they  built  their  frame 
house,  which  they  now  occupy.  Of  four  children,  three 
are  living.  Frank,  the  eldest  son,  is  married  and  lives  in 
St.  Johns.  The  other  sons  are  studying  medicine  at  Ann 
Arbor. 

Among  those  who  moved  into  Bengal  in  1852  were 
Russell  Harper  and  William  F.  Clark  and  families,  from 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  They  settled  on  section  26.  Mr. 
Harper  had  been  in  four  years  before  and  purchased  his 
land  and  cleared  five  acres,  which  he  put  into  wheat.  He 
sold  the  crop  on  the  ground,  and  went  back  to  Ohio. 
David,  a  son  of  William  F.  Clark,  lives  in  Montcalm 
County.  The  children  of  Russell  Harper  are  George  A., 
living  on  a  farm  two  miles  west;  William  N.  lives  in 
Gratiot  County  ;  Edwin  P.  lives  at  home ;  Kitty  and  Etta, 
twin  daughters,  live  at  home. 


Edward  Jones,  wife,  and  family  came  from  Tompkins" 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  July,  1850,  and  settled  on  section  27,  on  a 
farm  now  owned  by  Silas  Chapman.  Luther,  the  eldest  son, 
came  in  April,  and  began  working  on  the  land.  He  mar- 
ried in  1852  Sarah  E.  Plowman  ;  they  moved  to  their  pres- 
ent location  on  section  23  in  1861.  Edward  Jones  lives 
at  this  time  on  section  24.  Names  of  children  as  follows  : 
Isaac  V.  died  while  in  the  army ;  Eliza  (Mrs.  L.  M.  Lyon) 
lives  on  section  22  ;  George  M.  lives  in  Carson  City ;  Hiram 
P.  enlisted  in  the  army  and  died  in  the  service. 

Dorr  K.  StowcU,  son  of  Dr.  Hiram  Stowell,  one  of  the 
pioneer  physicians  of  De  Witt,  married  Louisa  Nichols,  Oct. 
10,  1862  ;  settled  on  the  east  half  of  northeast  quarter  of 
section  15,  and  began  housekeeping  in  a  log  house  which 
is  still  standing.  Of  six  children  three  are  now  living, — 
Clark,  Fred,  and  Emma.  In  1864  he  bought  eighty  acres 
across  the  road,  for  which  he  paid  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
per  acre.  His  present  substantial  dwelling,  built  in  1874, 
stands  upon  this  land,  and  is  opposite  the  log  house.  Mr. 
Stowell  has  been  supervisor  and  treasurer  of  his  town,  hold- 
ing each  oflSce  three  years.  Mrs.  Stowell's  father,  Samuel 
D.  Nichols,  moved  from  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Farmington, 
Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1825,  and  in  April,  1854,  came  to 
Bengal,  settling  upon  the  northeast  quarter  of  northeast 
quarter  of  section  22.  Mr.  Nichols  was  a  veteran  of  the 
war  of  1812,  and  was  at  Bufl'alo  when  it  was  burned  by 
the  British.  He  died  in  September,  1860.  Mrs.  Nichols 
lives  on  the  farm  with  her  son  Allen. 

Emmons  Blakeslee,  from  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  came  into 
Michigan  in  April,  1852,  looking  for  a  suitable  location 
for  a  farm.  In  August  of  that  year  he  was  in  Bengal, 
and  selected  land  on  section  23.  In  October  of  same  year 
he  chopped  and  cleared  two  acres,  and  built  a  small  frame 
house.  May,  1853,  saw  him  with  his  wife  and  four  chil-  . 
drcn  moving  from  the  old  home  to  the  new  one  in  the 
woods.  Mrs.  Blakeslee  died  in  June,  1874.  The  children 
are  :  Eliakim  R.  lives  on  the  farm  next  north  ;  Charles  B. 
lives  on  southwest  corner  of  section  13  ;  Henry  N.  lives  in 
Lebanon;  Cornelia  (Mrs.  Charles  Travis)  lives  on  the 
homestead ;  Mabel  A.  (Mrs.  Harper)  lives  on  section  23, 
south  side. 

October,  1853,  saw  another  family  moving  from  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio,  into  the  forests  of  Bengal.  R.  C.  Lyon,  wife, 
and  five  children  settled  on  a  farm  purchased  from  Luther 
Jones,  now  owned  by  I.  M.  Bray.  In  1857  they  moved  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  26.  Mr.  Lyon  died  in 
1873.  Mrs.  Lyon  still  resides  on  the  homestead.  They 
had  six  children, — Willard  lives  on  a  farm  about  a  half  mile 
west;  Sarah  married  Charles  W.  Lyon,  and  is  living  at 
Lyon's  Mills ;  Dow  lives  on  a  farm  across  the  road,  west 
of  homestead ;  Delight  married  Clinton  Hill,  she  died  in 
May,  1875 ;  Virginia  E.  died  in  1871  ;  Emma  (Mrs.  Charles 
Pope)  lives  near  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Alonzo  E.  Jaquish  located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  10  in  1852,  and  went  back  to  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 
In  1854  with  his  wife  they  came  on  to  occupy  the  prom- 
ised land  in  the  wilderness.  They  lived  at  first  in  a  board 
shanty,  but  next  year  built  a  part  of  their  present  dwelling. 
John  Travis,  with  his  wife  and  a  part  of  his  family, 
came  from  Shelby,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  fall  of  1856, 


398 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


•and  settled  where  he  now  lives.  Two  sons  preceded  them 
in  1855,— James  settled  in  St.  Johns  and  Isaac  in  Bengal 
(died  in  1879)  ;  Mrs.  Dane  now  lives  in  Riley  ;  Parker  is 
living  on  the  homestead ;  Leonard  moved  back  to  New 
York ;  Frances  (Mrs.  Blakeslee)  lives  in  the  vicinity ; 
Charles  Travis  is  married  and  living  on  the  Blakeslee 
homestead. 

Many  other  persons  who  have  lived  in  the  town  and 
been  connected  with  its  early  history  deserve  mention  ; 
but  as  it  is  difficult  to  obtain  facts  and  data  of  their  early 
settlement,  they  must  necessarily  be  omitted. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  a  child  of 
Judge  S.  W.  Dexter.  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams,  of  Owosso,  says : 
"  At  that  point  (Muskrat  Creek)  a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dexter,  a  child  about  two  years  old,  died  of  scarlet  fever. 
We  buried  the  child  by  torch  and  candle-light  in  a  box  im- 
provised by  the  party.  Never  shall  I  forget  that  scene. 
The  whole  family,  and  most  if  not  all  others,  in  tears ;  the 
gray-haired  sire,  after  inviting  the  heads  of  other  families  to 
lead  the  exercises  of  the  mournful  occasion,  with  tears 
streaming  down  his  cheeks,  read  a  burial  service,  amid  the 
sobs  that  nearly  drowned  his  voice  in  that  deep,  dark, 
gloomy  forest,  the  gloomiest  spot  of  the  whole  route.''  The 
grave  was  made  and  is  still  seen  on  the  farm  of  Judge  Hill, 
on  the  bank  of  Muskrat  Creek. 

The  first  child  born  in  Bengal  was  Clinton  J.  Hill,  son 
of  Judge  Cortland  and  Ijucinda  Hill,  who  was  born  on  the 
homestead  in  1838,  and  named  Clinton  from  the  name  of 
the  county. 

Judge  Hill,  in  his  official  capacity  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
officiated  at  the  first  wedding,  by  uniting  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony  Miss  Julia  Ann  Avery  and  Nelson  Delong. 

The  first  post-office  in  Bengal  was  established  in  1850, 
with  Cortland  Hill  postmaster.  The  post-office  at  Lyon's 
Mills  was  established  a  few  years  since,  and  Charles  W. 
Lyon  appointed  postmaster. 

The  first  highway  through  the  town  was  the  De  Witt  and 
Lyons  road,  occupying  the  same  ground  taken  by  the  Dex- 
ter trail  in  1833,  coming  into  the  township  on  section  31, 
and  passing  through  it  in  a  northwesterly  course  into  the 
township  of  Dallas. 

The  first  blacksmith  in  the  town  was  Jerry  Waldron,  who 
had  a  shop  on  section  31,  on  the  corner  west  of  Cortland 
Hill's. 

There  have  been  two  physicians  in  the  town, — Dr.  Bates 
who  moved  to  another  field  of  practice,  and  Dr.  Messen<'er 
who  moved  to  Grand  Ledge. 

ORGANIZATION  AND    CIVIL  LIST. 

Before  the  organization  of  this  township  names  were  se- 
lected and  sent  to  Hon.  Lemuel  Castle,  of  Shiawassee,  then 
representing  Tjoth  counties  in  the  Legislature ;  he  was  re- 
quested to  have  the  newly-organized  town  called  after  one 
of  these  names  ;  but  of  those  sent  none  seem  to  have  favor- 
ably impressed  the  mind  of  the  legislator,  and,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  some  member  who  had  a  fancy  for  Oriental  names, 
that  of  Bengal  was  substituted  and  adopted. 

Act  No.  58  of  the  Legblature,  approved  March  19, 1840, 
is  as  follows : 


"  See.  10.  All  that  part  of  the  county  of  Clinton  desig- 
nated in  the  United  States  survey  as  townships  7  and  8 
north,  of  range  3  west,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off 
and  organized  into  a  township  by  the  name  of  Bengal,  and 
the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house 
of  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  in  said  township." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  act,  the  first  township-meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  house  of  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  on  the  18th 
of  April,  1840,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected :  Su- 
pervisor, Hiram  Benedict ;  Town  Clerk,  Timothy  H.  Pettit; 
Treasurer,  Charles  Grant;  Assessors,  Cortland  Hill,  Sylves- 
ter Stephens,  Hiram  Benedict;  Commissioners  of  Highways, 
Hiram  Benedict,  Lyman  Webster  ;  Collector,  Nelson  Ben- 
edict ;  School  Inspectors,  Cortland  Hill,  James  Sowle,  Jr. ; 
Directors  of  the  Poor,  Joshua  Frink,  Daniel  Kellogg;  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace,  Timothy  H.  Pettit,  Cortland  Hill,  Ly- 
man Webster ;  Constables,  Nelson  Benedict,  Miner  Frink, 
Julius  Bishop,  Sylvester  Stephens ;  Overseers  of  Highways, 
Hiram  Benedict,  Sylvester  Stephens,  Lyman  Webster, 
Charles  Grant,  Cortland  Hill ;  Poundmaster,  Cortland  Hill, 
James  Sowle,  Jr. 

It  was  voted  to  pay  two  dollars  for  each  and  every  wolf 
that  shall  be  killed  in  the  town.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  contingent  expenses 
of  said  town.  It  was  voted  that  the  next  township-meet- 
ing should  be  held  at  the  house  of  Sylvester  Stephens.  The 
oath  of  office  was  then  administered  to  the  officers  elect,  and 
the  organization  of  the  township  of  Bengal  was  complete. 

The  following  men  were  selected  for  jurymen  for  the  year 
1840  :  Uriah  Drake,  Lucene  Eldridge,  Orlow  W.  Holmes, 
James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Marcus  Rowley,  Joshua  Frink. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  all  the  legal  voters  in  Bengal 
township  at  its  organization  (all  but  three  of  these,  how- 
ever, were  resident  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Essex) : 
Cortland  Hill,  Charles  Grant,  Uriah  Drake,  James  Sowle, 
Jr.,  Hiram  Benedict,  Timothy  H.  Pettit,  Joshua  Frink, 
Sylvester  Stephens,  Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  Lyman  Web- 
ster, Daniel  Kellogg,  Alonzo  Vaughn,  Nelson  Benedict, 
Julius  Bishop,  Joshua  Coomer,  Lucene  Eldridge,  Orlow  W. 
Holmes,  Marcus  Riley,  Miner  Frink. 

The  second  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Sylvester  Stephens,  April  23,  1841.  The  whole  number 
of  votes  cast  at  this  election  averaged  twenty-four.  Tlie 
officers  elected  were  as  follows :  Supervisor,  Hiram  Benedict, 
Jr.;  Clerk,  Henry  M.  Starks;  Treasurer,  Henry  M. 
Starks;  Assessors,  Hiram  Benedict,  Jr.,  Chauncey  M. 
Stebbins,  Miner  R.  Frink  ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  James 
Sowle,  Jr.,  Nelson  Benedict ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Hiram  Benedict,  Jr.,  Joshua  Coomer,  Cortland  Hill ;  Con- 
stables, Nelson  Benedict,  Uriah  Drake,  Miner  R.  Frink, 
James  Sowle,  Jr. ;  Inspectors  of  Schools,  Miner  R.  Frink, 
Lyman  Webster,  Cortland  Hill ;  Collector,  Nelson  Benedict. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  vot«d  that  two  cents  a  head  be 
paid  for  every  blackbird  killed  in  the  town  up  to  the  1st 
day  of  November.  The  wolf-bounty  of  two  dollars  per  head 
was  renewed,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was  voted 
for  contingent  expenses  of  the  town.  Voted  that  the  next 
township-meeting  be  held  at  the  house  of  Chauncey  M. 
Stebbins.  The  following  names  were  returned  as  jurors 
for  the  year  1841 :  grand  jury,  Lucene  Eldridge,  Chaun- 


BENGAL  TOWNSHIP. 


399 


cey    M.    Stebbins,  Nelson    Belong  ;    petit  jury,   Joshua 
Coomer,  Joshua  Frink,  Lyman  Webster. 

The  third  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  C. 
M.  Stebbins.  The  average  number  of  votes  was  twenty- 
three.  The  officers  elected  were :  Supervisor,  Chauncey  M. 
Stebbins;  Clerk,  Lyman  Webster;  Treasurer,  Daniel  Kel- 
logg ;  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  four  years,  Samuel  M.  Bent- 
ley  ;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  Samuel  N.  Bentley, 
Uriah  Drake,  William  L.  Delbridge,  The  wolf-bounty  was 
increased  to  five  dollars  per  head. 

The  next  township-meeting  was  appointed  at  the  barn  of 
James  Sowle,  Jr.,  April  .3,  1843.  The  third  township- 
meeting  was  held,  and  the  following  persons  were  elected : 
Supervisor,  Hiram  Benedict,  Jr. ;  Clerk,  James  Sowle,  Jr. ; 
Treasurer,  Daniel  Kellogg;  School  Inspectors,  Cortland  Hill, 
Samuel  N.  Bentley ;  Assessors,  William  Bentley,  Lyman 
Webster ;  Justices  of  the  Peace  (four  years),  Solomon  Moss 
(three  years),  Samuel  N.  Bentley  ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Nelson  Benedict,  Sylvester  Stephens ;  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 
Timothy  H.  Pettit,  Cortland  Hill ;  Constables,  David  Scott, 
John  W.  Armstrong,  Uriah  Drake,  Ira  S.  Thornton. 
This  election,  however,  was  set  aside,  for  the  reason  that 
the  north  half  of  Bengal  (in  which  most  of  the  elected  offi- 
cers resided)  had  been  set  off  and  erected  as  the  township 
of  Essex  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  March  9, 
1843.  A  special  election  was  then  ordered  in  each  town- 
ship. That  in  Essex  was  held  April  21st,  and  in  Bengal 
April  26th,  at  the  house  of  William  Bentley,  at  which 
time  the  following  persons  were  elected  (whole  number  of 
votes,  twelve) :  Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill ;  Clerk,  William 
Bentley;  Treasurer,  Charles  Grant;  Commissioners  of 
Highways,  Samuel  N.  Bentley,  Willard  Knowles,  Lyman 
Swagart;  School  Inspectors,  Charles  Grant,  Benjamin  C. 
Thompson  ;  Constables,  Ira  S.  Thornton,  Willard  Knowles, 
Uriah  Drake,  Levi  Drake  ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Cortland 
Hill,  Charles  Grant ;  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Charles  Grant, 
Miner  R.  Frink,  B.  C.  Thompson,  S.  N.  Bentley,  William 
Bentley.  A  bounty  of  twenty  dollars  was  voted  on  every 
full-grown  wolf,  and  eight  dollars  on  each  bear  killed  in  the 
town.  The  next  township-meeting  was  appointed  at  the 
house  of  Lyman  Swagart. 

Sept.  22,  1843,  the  township  board  met  and  ordered  the 
general  election  (in  November)  to  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Cortland  Hill,  November  6th,  and  at  the  house  of  Samuel 
N.  Bentley,  November  7th. 

Below  is  given  a  list  of  persons  who  have  held  the  offices 
of  supervisor,  town  clerk,  treasurer,  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
school  inspector  from  1844  to  1880,  inclusive : 
1844.— Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill;  Clerk,  Lyman  Swagart; 
Treasurer,  Uriah  Drake* ;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
Cortland  Hill,  Ira  S.  Thornton,  Lyman  Swa- 
gart, School  Inspectors,  Cortland  Hill,  Herod 
Morton. 
1845.— Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill;   Clerk,   Benjamin    F. 
Kneeland  ;  Treasurer,  Ira  S.  Thornton  ;  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  Herod  Morton  (four  years),  Cort- 
land Hill  (three  years,  vacancy),  Adam  Laugh- 
lin  (one  year)  ;  School  Inspector,  Herod  Morton. 


»  Resigned;  I.  S.  Thornton  appointed  to  fill  vacancy. 


1846. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Swagart;  Clerk,  Benjamin  F. 
Kneeland  ;  Treasurer,  Ira  S.  Thornton  ;  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  L.  Swagart  (four  years),  Herod 
Morton  (vacancy),  Levi  Jones  (vacancy). 

1847. — Supervisor,  Benjamin  F.  Kneeland ;  Clerk,  Levi 
Jones  ;  Treasurer,  Harrison  Sutton  ;  School  In- 
spector, M.  R.  J'rink. 

1848. — Supervisor,  Benjamin  F.  Kneeland ;  Clerk,  Levi 
Jones  ;  Treasurer,  Harrison  Sutton  ;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Ira  S.  Thornton ;  School  Inspector, 
Uriah  Drake. 

1849. — SupeiTisor,  Benjamin  F.  Kneeland ;  Clerk,  Levi 
Jones  ;  Treasurer,  Harrison  Sutton  ;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Heman  Lake;  School  Inspector, 
Cortland  Hill. 

1850. — Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill ;  Clerk,  Ira  S.  Thornton  ; 
Treasurer,  Lyman  Swagart;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Cortland  Hill,  Peter  Strickland  (va- 
cancy) ;  School  Inspector,  Alanson  Giledet. 

1851. — Supervisor,  Benjamin  F.  Kneeland;  Clerk,  John 
N.  Plowman  ;  Treasurer,  Andrew  Weller ;  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace,  Andrew  Weller  (four  years), 
Seth  Morton  (three  years),  Lyman  Swagart  (two 
years)  ;  School  Inspector,  Cortland  Hill. 

1852. — Supervisor,  Benjamin  F.  Kneeland ;  Clerk,  John 
N.  Plowman;  Treasurer,  Andrew  Weller;  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace,  Ira  S.  Thornton  (four  years), 
John  C.  Irons  (vacancy),  James  L.  Hamer  (va- 
cancy) ;  School  Inspector,  Cortland  Hill. 

1853.^Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill;  Clerk,  Edward  Jones; 
Treasurer,  Lyman  Swagart ;  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  William  Bartholomew  (four  years) ; 
School  Inspectors,  Dorr  K.  Stowell  (two  years), 
Stephen  F.  Hammond  (one  year). 

1854. — Supervisor,  Ira  S.  Thornton ;  Clerk,  Emmons 
Blakeslee ;  Treasurer,  Samuel  H.  Griffith  ;  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  Uriah  Drake. 

1855. — Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill ;  Clerk,  Emmons  Blakes- 
lee ;  Treasurer,  Nathan  A.  Elliott ;  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  John  C.  Irons,  Edward  Jones,  Stephen 
Hammond. 

1856.— Supervisor,  Ira  S.  Thornton;  Clerk,  Edward 
Jones;  Treasurer,  Nathan  A.  Elliott;  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  Miner  R.  Frink,  Levi  Jones  (va- 
cancy) ;  School  Inspector,  Dorr  K.  Stowell. 

1857. — Supervisor,  Benjamin  F.  Kneeland ;  Clerk,  Edward 
Jones ;  Treasurer,  Dorr  K.  Stowell ;  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  Levi  Jones,  Alonzo  Jaquish ;  School 
Inspectors,  Alfred  H.  Lyon,  D.  D.  T.  Smith. 

1858.— Supervisor,  Benjamin  F.  Kneeland ;  Clerk,  Edward 
Jones ;  Treasurer,  Dorr  K.  Stowell ;  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  John  Travis ;  School  Inspector,  An- 
drew Breakins. 

1859.— Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill ;  Clerk,  Emmons  Blakes- 
lee ;  Treasurer,  Dorr  K.  Stowell;  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  John  C.  Irons,  Stephen' F.  Hammond 
(vacancy)  ;  School  Inspectors,  James  H.  Bush, 
Alfred  H.  Lyon,  Cortland  Hill. 

I860.— Supervisor,  Israel  M.  Bray;  Clerk,  Leonard  Travis; 
Treasurer,  Willard  Lyon  ;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 


400 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Emmons  Blakeslee ;  School  Inspector,  Alfred  B. 
Bloomer. 

1861.— Supervisor,  Dorr  K.  Stowell;  Clerk,  Leonard 
Travis;  Treasurer,  Benjamin  I.  Sheldon;  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace,  D.  D.  T.  Smith,  Levi  Jones, 
Alonzo  Jaquish;  School  Inspector,  Israel  M. 
Bray.  , 

1862. — Supervisor,  Dorr  K.  Stowell ;  Clerk,  Isaac  C.  Jones ; 
Treasurer,  Willard  Lyon  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
AloDzo  Jaquish,  Miner  R.  Frink;  School  In- 
spectors, Willard  Lyon,  Dorr  K.  Stowell. 

1863.— Supervisor, Leonard  Travis;  Clerk,Lyman  Swagart; 
Treasurer,  Willard  Lyon  ;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Cortland  Hill ;  School  Inspector,  Leonard  Travis. 

1864. — Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill;  Clerk,  Willard  Lyon; 
Treasurer,  Israel  M.  Bray ;  Justices,  James  L. 
Hamer,  Edward  Jones  (vacancy) ;  School  In- 
spector, Charles  E.  Blakeslee. 

1865. — Supervisor,  Dorr  K.  Stowell;  Clerk,  Leonard 
Travis ;  Treasurer,  E.  G.  Wfellington ;  Justice, 
William  Sutton ;  School  Inspectors,  Willard 
Lyon,  I.  M.  Bray  (vacancy). 

1866.— Supervisor,  B.  F.  Kneeland;  Clerk,  William  W. 
Humaston  ;  Treasurer,  Leonard  Travis ;  Justices, 
Israel  M.Bray,  John  C.  Sewell  (vacancy)  ;  School 
Inspectors,  Charles  Travis,  Edward  Brown  (va- 
cancy). 

1867. — Supervisor,  Richard  S.  Coshun  ;  Clerk,  Eliakim  R. 
Blakeslee ;  Treasurer,  John  Brown ;  Justices, 
Edward  Mack,  Stephen  F.  Hammond,  John  N. 
Van  Duyn ;  School  Inspector,  Edward  Brown. 

1868.— Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill;  Clerk,  Charles  H. 
Palmer ;  Treasurer,  Joshua  Brown ;  Justices, 
Ebenezer  W.  Buck,  Ira  S.  Thornton ;  School 
Inspector,  James  H.  Bush. 

1869. — Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill;  Clerk,  Edward  Brown; 
Treasurer,  Harrison  Sutton  ;  Justices,  Miner  R. 
Frink,  Cortland  Hill  (vacancy);  School  Inspec- 
tor, Stephen  F.  Hammond. 

1870. — Supervisor,  Joshua  Brown ;  Clerk,  Dorr  K.  Stowell ; 
Treasurer,  Edward  Brown ;  Justices,  Charles 
Rider,  John  N.  Van  Duyn ;  School  Inspector, 
Willard  Steward. 

1871. — Supervisor,  Joshua  Brown ;  Clerk,  Charles  H. 
Palmer ;  Treasurer,  Edward  Brown ;  Justices, 
Cortland  Hill,  R.  Coshun,  William  Hammond ; 
School  Inspector,  S.  F.  Hammond. 

1872.— Supervisor,  Cortland  Hill;  Clerk,  Charles  H. 
Palmer ;  Treasurer,  Joshua  Brown ;  Justices, 
Parker  Travis,  William  H.  Sutton ;  School  In- 
spector, Warren  Jennings. 

1873.— Supervisor,  Charles  II.  Palmer;  Clerk,  D.  K. 
Stowell ;  Treasurer,  John  Brown ;  Justices, 
Ebenezer  Buck,  Newton  Baker ;  School  Inspec- 
tor, L.  Grant. 

1874. — Supervisor,  Edward  Brown  ;  Clerk,  Oliver  Wright ; 
Treasurer,  John  Brown ;  Justices,  George  Brown, 
William  W.  Humaston,  Ebenezer  W.  Buck  • 
School  Inspector,  Warren  Jennings. 

1875. — Supervisor,  Edward  Brown;  Clerk,  H.  S.  Frisbie; 


Treasurer,  John  Brown ;  Justice,  Ormel  Whit- 
taker;  School  Inspector,  Loren  Grant;  School 
Superintendent,  Eliakim  R.  Blakeslee. 

1876. — Supervisor,  Newton  Baker ;  Clerk,  Oliver  Wright; 
Treasurer,  Isaac  Travis ;  Justice,  David  Weather- 
wax  ;  School  Inspector,  George  Brown  ;  School 
Superintendent,  Charles  Travis. 

1877. — Supervisor,  Edward  Brown ;  Clerk,  Warren  Hal- 
sey ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Travis ;  Justice,  Dorr  K. 
Stowell ;  School  Inspector,  P.  W.  Buck. 

1878. — Supervisor,  Edward  Brown ;  Clerk,  Warren  Hal- 
sey ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  Travis ;  Justice,  Ebenezer 
W.  Buck,  George  Brown  (vacancy)  ;  School  In- 
spector, Peter  Frisbie;  School  Superintendent, 
Charles  Travis. 

1879. — Supervisor,  Charles  H.  Palmer;  Clerk,  Warren 
Halsey ;  Treasurer,  Edward  Brown ;  Justices, 
Riley  Rice,  A.  Y.  Boak  (vacancy) ;  School  In- 
spector, John  Love,  Jr. ;  School  Superintendent, 
Alva  H.  Corwin. 

1880. — Supervisor,  Edward  Brown  ;  Clerk,  Alva  H.  Cor- 
win ;  Treasurer,  Edward  H.  Lyon ;  Justice,  0. 
C.  Whittaker;  School  Inspector,  Frederick 
Stowell ;  School  Superintendent,  Abram  R. 
Brown. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  district  organized  iYi  the  township  was 
what  is  still  known  as  district  No.  1,  commonly  called  the 
Sutton  School.  Herod  Morton,  Uriah  Drake,  and  Ben- 
jamin F.  Kneeland,  school  inspectors,  met  May  2,  1846, 
at  the  house  of  Lyman  Swagart,  and  organized  the  district, 
which  comprised  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  township. 
The  first  school-house  was  built  of  logs  and  stood  west  of 
the  present  frame  building,  which  was  erected  about  1858. 
Mr.  Dorr  K.  Stowell  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  log  school- 
house.  The  school  report  for  1878-79  gives  the  follow- 
ing :  Children  in  district,  73 ;  attending  school,  73 ;  one 
frame  school-house,  value  $500 ;  teachers  employed,  1  male 
(wages  $112),  2  female  (wages  $76);  resources  for  the 
year,  $323.75. 

District  No.  2  was  organized  Dec.  29,  1859,  and  com- 
prised sections  16  and  17,  the  south  half  of  sections  14 
and  15,  and  the  west  half  of  section  9.  The  first  school- 
house,  a  small  frame  structure,  stood  on  the  same  ground 
now  occupied  by  a  neat  and  substantial  brick  building,  and 
the  only  one  in  the  township.  It  is  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  16.  The  school 
report  for  1878-79  is  as  follows :  Number  of  children,  59 ; 
attending  school,  47 ;  one  brick  school-house,  seats  68, 
value  $1100  ;  1  male  teacher,  pay  $80  ;  1  female  teacher, 
pay  $48 ;  resources  for  the  year,  $654.52. 

District  No.  3  was  laid  out  April  24, 1847,  and  embraced 
all  the  sections  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  town.  The 
first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Adam  Laughlin,  and 
very  soon  after  its  organization  a  school-house  of  logs  was 
built  on  land  given  by  John  N.  Plowman,  and  across  the 
road  from  the  present  site.  The  first  frame  school-house 
was  erected  on  the  present  site.  The  building  was  poorly 
built,  and  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  inspectors  or  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  district.    It  was  never  occupied  for  school 


BENGAL  TOWNSHIP, 


401 


purposes.  The  school,  meanwhile,  was  taught  in  a  log 
building  which  stood  opposite  the  house  of  Luther  Jones, 
and  was  used  as  a  church  by  the  United  Brethren.  The 
structure  in  dispute  finally  gave  place  to  the  present  neat 
edifice,  which  was  built  in  the  year  1870.  The  school  re- 
port for  1878-79  gives  the  following :  Number  of  children, 
73 ;  attending  school,  63 ;  frame  school-house,  will  seat  60 
pupils,  value  $700;  1  male  teacher,  pay  $144;  1  female 
teacher,  pay  $56  ;  resources  for  the  year,  $347.99. 

District  No.  4  (commonly  called  the  Frink  School)  com- 
prised when  organized  sections  2,  3,  10,  and  11,  and  was 
organized  April  14,  1851,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  house 
of  B.  F.  Kneeland.  The  first  school  building  was  of  logs, 
and  was  situated  about  forty  rods  north  of  Miner  R.  Frink's 
house,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  The  first  teacher  was 
Mary  L.  Nichols,  now  Mrs.  D.  K.  Stowell.  Succeeding 
teachers  were  Esther  Hammond,  Eunice  Randolph,  Martha 
Avery,  Mary  J.  Corwin,  Nancy  Seweli.  The  new  school- 
house  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1858.  The  first  teacher 
was  Jennie  Kneeland.  She  taught  the  summer  term  and 
Abel  Wightman  taught  the  winter  term.  Robert  Lyon 
taught  the  winter  term  of  1859-60.  The  report  of  the 
district  for  1878-79  is  as  follows:  Children,  63  ;  attending 
school,  55 ;  one  frame  school-house,  value  $100,  seats  36  ; 
male  teacher,  pay  $96 ;  female  teacher  received  $56 ;  re- 
sources for  the  year,  $230.44. 

District  No.  5  has  a  frame  school-house,  situated  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  7.  The  district  was  organized 
Aug.  10,  1872,  and  at  that  time  comprised  sections  5,  6,  7, 
8,  and  18  (except  southeast  quarter  on  southeast  corner). 
The  school-house  will  seat  40  pupils,  its  value  is  $400 ; 
scholars  in  district,  69  ;  in  school,  60  ;  pay  of  male  teacher, 
$120  ;  female,  $54  ;  resources  for  the  year,  $240.68. 

Fractional  school  district  No.  1  (Bengal  and  Riley)  was 
formed  by  the  inspectors  Nov.  18,  1850,  at  a  meeting  held 
at  the  house  of  Cortland  Hill.  The  district  at  that  time 
was  composed  of  sections  31,  32,  33,  and  the  west  half  of 
section  34  in  Bengal,  and  the  north  half  of  sections  4,  5, 
6,  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  3  in  Riley.  The 
first  school-house  in  this  district  was  a  log  structure,  which 
stood  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Mr.  Hill's  farm.  The  first 
teacher  was  Maria  T.  Dryer.  The  next  school-house  was 
located  about  a  half-mile  farther  east.  It  is  a  frame  build- 
ing, and  was  erected  about  1864.  Children  in  the  district, 
52;  attending  school,  44;  value  of  school-house,  $600, 
will  seat  46 ;  1  female  teacher  received  for  services,  $188.60 ; 
resources,  $227.32. 

Fractional  district  No.  2  (Bengal  and  Riley)  was  organ- 
ized at  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  «f  John  M.  Jones 
June  26,  1852.  The  district  then  embraced  sections  34, 
35,  and  36  in  Bengal,  and  sections  1  and  2  and  east  half 
of  section  3  in  Riley.  The  school-house  is  a  frame  build- 
ing, valued  at  $300  ;  the  district  contains  67  children,  and 
all  attend  school ;  the  seating  capacity  of  school-house  is 
50  ;  the  male  teacher  was  paid  $130  ;  female  teacher,  $60. 

The  following  are  the  numes  of  teachers  who  taught 
school  in  this  township  from  1846  to  1860 :  Dorr  K.  Sto- 
well, Mary  L.  Nichols,  Esther  Hammond,  Mary  F.  Pratt, 
Elizabeth  Pratt,  A.  Benedict,  Martha  Lowell,  Huldah  Taft, 
Utensia  Gee,  Martha  Avery,  H.  M.  Sage,  Mary  Jane  Cor- 
51 


win,  Jane  Bartholomew,  Charlotte  Thomas,  Sarah  J.  Ten 
Eyck,  Ann  E.  Shoemaker,  Nancy  E.  Seweli,  B.  S.  Pratt, 
B.  C.  Macomber,  Charles  J.  Eno,  Lovisa  A.  Densmore, 
Margaret  A.  Davenport,  Harriet  Hall,  Pembroke  S.  Buck, 
Ellen  Cronin,  Ellen  M.  Face,  Sarah  Thompson,  Jane 
Kneeland,  Robert  Lyon,  Betsey  M.  Parker,  Mary  A.  Hal- 
sey,  Jane  Walker,  Emerett  E.  Hill,  Leonard  Travis. 

KELIGIOUS   HISTOEY. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  society  or  class  was  organized 
about  1844,  at  the  house  of  John  N.  Plowman.  Among 
the  early  members  were  John  N.  and  Sarah  Plowman, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Swagart,  David  and  Agnes  Houghtaling,  and 
Mr.  Day  and  wife.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  dwel- 
ling-house of  J.  N.  Plowman  until  the  log  school-house 
was  built.  The  loss  of  the  class-book  makes  a  gap  in  the 
history  of  the  class  until  1856,  when  a  new  book  was  sub- 
stituted and  the  record  is  as  follows : 

The  additional  members  were  Juliana  Plowman,  Edward 
Jones,  Lois  Jones,  George  Jones,  Joseph  G.  Plowman, 
Francis  Lyon,  Dow  Lyon,  L.  M.  Lyon,  William  Houghtaling, 
Eliza  A.  Shoemaker,  and  Charlotte  Ames.  The  pastors  have 
been  J.  Harder,/!.  J.  Hill,  N.  L.  Brockway,  J.  W.  Caw- 
thorne,  J.  Fowler,  D.  0.  Fox,  8.  Steele,  L.  Hutt,  William 
McKnight,  F.  I.  Bell,  H.  H.  Hulbert,  B.  S.  Pratt,  C.  A. 
Jacokes,  S.  G.  Blanchard,  J.  S.  Harder,  Hiram  B.  Nichols, 
afld  S.  Snyder.  This  class  has  been  merged  with  the 
Bengal  Centre,  formerly  the  West-Bengal  class,  and  trans- 
ferred to  Bengal  Centre,  and  now  worship  in  the  brick 
school-house.  Present  membership,  twenty-four,  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  L.  M.  Garlick. 

The  North  Bengal  class  was  organized  in  the  fall  of 
1867,  by  Rev.  F.  I.  Bell,  at  the  Frink  school-house.  The 
members  then  were  John  N.  and  Angeline  Van  Duyn, 
Andrew  and  Charlotte  Weller,  Emeline  Grant,  and  Julia 
D.  Young.  The  pastors  include  some  of  those  named  above. 
While  in  charge  of  Rev.  William  McKnight  a  revival  oc- 
curred, which  added  some  twenty-five  to  the  class.  Pres- 
ent membership,  twenty-six.  Present  pastor  Rev.  L.  M. 
Garlick. 

The  only  church  edifice  in  the  township  of  Bengal  is 
that  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.*  The  society  was 
organized  Oct.  1,  1855,  by  Rev.  William  L.  Kennard,  cir- 
cuit preacher  of  Pine  Lake  Mission,  Michigan  Conference. 
The  first  members  were  Emmons  and  Sarah  L.  Blakeslee, 
Abraham  and  Lydia  Ten  p]yck,  and  Betsey  Lyons.  For 
church  officers  Emmons  Blakeslee  was  elected  class-leader, 
and  Abraham  Ten  Eyck  steward. 

During  the  next  winter  a  revival  was  had,  which  added 
some  thirty  to  the  church.  In  the  summer  of  1856  a  log 
church,  size  thirty  by  thirty  feet,  was  built,  located  on  sec- 
tion 26,  on  land  opposite  the  present  residence  of  Luther 

Jones. 

Their  new  frame  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1877,  at  a 
cost  of  about  twenty-eight  hundred  dollars  ;  size  thirty-six 
by  fifty,  with  a  vestibule  eleven  by  sixteen  ;  the  tower  and 
spire  rises  ninety-six  feet  high.  The  inside  is  neatly  fin- 
ished and  furnished.    It  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  J.  Weaver. 


*  Contributed  by  Emmfins  Blakeslep. 


402 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


The  present  class  numbers  twenty-three.  The  pastor  is 
Kev.  B.  H.  Mowers ;  class-leader,  John  Brown.  The  so- 
ciety has  a  good  parsonage  for  their  minister.  The  Sunday- 
school  was  organized  in  1854,  with  thirty  scholars ;  the 
present  school  numbers  seventy  in  all.  John  Brown  is 
superintendent.  The  school  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condi- 
tion. The  church  society,  though  few  in  numbers,  is  doing 
very  well. 

BUKIAL-GEOUNDS. 

The  Bengal  Cemetery  Association  was  organized  in  1863, 
John  Travis,  President;  Israel  M.  Bray,  Secretary  and 
Sexton  ;  Dorr  K.  Stowell,  Treasurer.  This  society  owns  a 
half-acre  of  land  adjoining  the  Bray  farm.  It  is  neatly  laid 
out  and  fenced. 

There  is  another  burying-ground  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  town,  in  the  Frink  neighborhood. 

AGKICULTUEAL  STATISTICS. 

In  1879  there  were  sown  5337  acres  of  wheat,  against 
4985  in  1878  and  2829  acres  in  1874 ;  and  there  were 
1375  acres  of  corn  planted  in  1879,  against  945  in  1874. 

The  crop  of  1874  yielded  41,674  bushels  of  wheat, 
58,963  bushels  of  corn,  and  6721  bushels  of  potatoes.  The 
crop  of  1879  yielded  141,064  bushels  of  wheat,  105,722 
bushels  of  corn,  and  12,656  bushels  of  potatoes,  62,909 
bushels  of  oats,  1395  bushels  of  clover-seed,  2227  tons  of 
hay,  15,191  pounds  of  wool  from  3050  sheep. 

The  yield  of  maple-sugar  in  1854  was  6582  pounds; 
1860,  20,095  pounds;  in  1874,  11,778  pounds. 

The  amount  of  butter  made  in  1854  was  8485  pounds ; 
in  1864,  20,700  pounds;  in  1874,  67,381  pounds. 

In  1860  there  were  80  horses,  249  milch  cows,  134  oxen, 
and  794  swine  in  the  town.  The  year  1879  shows  the  in- 
crease to  662  horses,  644  milch  cows,  and  1075  swine. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  names  of  farmers  in  the  town- 
ship who  produced  one  thousand  bushels  of  wheat  or  over 
during  the  year  1879  : 

Philip  Sturgis,  33  acres,  1000  bushels;  Corwin  Sturgis, 
34  acres,  1000  bushels;  H.  B.  Kneeland,  36  acres,  1170 
bushels;  George  Seifert,  36  acres,  1015  bushels;  James 
Strong,  40  acres,  1056  bushels ;  Mrs.  Isaac  Travis,  40 
acres,  1260  bushels;  Harrison  Sutton,  42  acres,  1300 
bushels ;  Hfnry  Sheldon,  42  acres,  1064  bushels ;  George 
Brown,  42  acres,  1420  bushels ;  John  Brown,  43  acres, 
1343  bushels;  C.  W.  Lyon,  48  acres,  1720  bushels;  B.  F. 
Young,  50  acres,  1404  bushels ;  William  Swagart,  50  acres, 
1480  bushels;  Hiram  Nestle,  50  acres,  1100  bushels; 
Loren  Grant,  S8  acres,  1560  bushels ;  William  Byrne,  54 
acres,  2500  bushels ;  M.  Ryan,  56  acres,  2300  bushels ; 
M.  R.  Georgia,  58  acres,  1586  bushels ;  William  Polhemus, 
60  acres,  1764  bushels;  Miner  B.  Frink,  60  acres,  1800 
bushels ;  Dorr  K.  Stowell,  63  acres,  1920  bushels ;  E.  Plow- 
man, 63  acres,  2400  bushels ;  William  Mack,  65  acres, 
1597  bushels;  J.  S.  Sturgis,  70  acres,  2262  bushels;  J. 
N.  Parker,  75  acres,  2550  bushels ;  A.  Rosenkrans,  75 
acres,  1848  bushels;  James  L.  Hamer,  80  acres,  2200 
bushels;  B.  F.  Kneeland,  80  acres,  2700  bqshels. 


PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY. 

Bengal  Grange,  No.  225,  was  organized  Deo.  28,  1878. 
The  oflBcers  for  1880  are.  Master,  Warren  Halsey;  Over- 
seer, Dorr  K.  Stowell;  Lecturer,  Mrs.  Willard  Steward; 
Steward,  Darius  Pectil ;  Asst.  Steward,  Frederick  Stowell ; 
Lady  Asst.  Steward,  Mrs.  Riley  Rice ;  Chaplain,  Willard 
Steward  ;  Treasurer,  Hiram  Tubbs ;  Secretary,  Dow  Lyon  ; 
Gatekeeper,  L.  Hammond ;  Ceres,  Mrs.  W.  Jennings ; 
Pomona,  Mrs.  Emma  Chapman ;  Flora,  Miss  Flora  Plow- 
man. The  grange  has  a  hall  situated  on  section  23,  about 
one  mile  east  of  the  town-house. 

POPULATION. 

In  1847  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  numbered  49. 
In  1854  they  had  increased  to  350,  and  in  1860  to  638. 
In  129  families  there  were  148  dwelling-houses  ;  99  farms 
were  occupied.  The  State  census  for  1864  gave  706.  The 
United  States  census,  1870,  showed  1086,  which  was  in- 
creased in  1874  to  1200;  and  the  census  of  1880  shows 
1295,  a  gain  of  95  in  six  years. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


B.  F.  YOUNG. 

Jonathan  Young,  father  of  B.  F.  Young,  was  a.  native 
of  Yorkshire,  England,  born  in  1778.  He  was  about  sixty 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America.  First  settled  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  and  married  Mrs.  Hannah  Green,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts.  From  Wayne  County  they  removed 
in  1841  to  Bengal  township,  where  Mrs.  Young  had  en- 
tered a  piece  of  government  land,  upon  which  they  settled. 
Here  their  three  children  were  born  :  B.  F.  Young,  born 
in  1844,  being  the  youngest  and  only  surviving  child,  the 
others  dying  when  infants.  Here  Jonathan  and  his  wife 
resided  until  their  deaths,  which  occurred  in  1856, — his 
January  14th,  hers  November  1st. 

Benjamin  F.  continued  to  reside  on  the  old  homestead 
after  the  death  of  his  parents,  and  in  1867  married  Miss 
Julia  D.,  daughter  of  Charles  Grant.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young 
are  the  parents  of  four  children, — Viola  A.,  Myron,  Charles 
L.,  and  Ida  M. 

Mr.  Young  at  the  age  of  twenty  enlisted  in  the  army 
for  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion.  He  was  a  member  of 
Company  A,  Twenty-third  Michigan  Infantry,  and  his  term 
of  service  was  from  March  23, 1864,  to  June  10, 1866.  lie 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta, 
Nashville,  Franklin,  and  Fort  Anderson. 

Mr.  Young's  farm  now  consists  of  two  hundred  acres, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  of  ^hich  ho  inherited  from  his 
mother,  which  were  purchased  with  her  earnings,  eighty 
having  been  added  by  Mr.  Young.  In  politics  be  is  Re- 
publican ;  in  religion,  both  himself  and  wife  are  members 
pf  North  Bengal  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


8! 
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5 


DB   WITT  TOWNSHIP. 


403 


CHAPTER    LIV. 
DE   WITT   TOWNSHIP.* 

Boundaries,  Soil,  and  Streams — Land-Entries — Early  Villages  in 
De  Witt  Township — Settlement  and  Progress — Early  Highways — 
Township  Organization  and  Civil  List — Schools — Religious  Organ- 
izations— De  Witt  Grange. 

The  township  of  De  Witt,  the  scene  of  the  early  labors 
of  the  first  pioneer  to  the  south  half  of  the  county,  as 
also  of  the  earliest  session  of  the  county  court,  may  be  geo- 
graphically described  as  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  town- 
ship of  Olive,  south  by  Ingham  County,  east  by  Bath,  and 
west  by  Watertown.  It  is  designated  by  the  United  States 
survey  as  township  5  north,  of  range  2  west. 

The  township  is  watered  by  numerous  streams  of  greater 
or  less  magnitude,  the  most  important  being  the  Looking- 
Grlass  River,  which  enters  it  from  the  north  at  section  1, 
and  flowing  southwest  through  sections  2,  3,  and  4,  di- 
verges to  the  west,  passing  through  the  village  of  De  Witt, 
and  again  to  the  south  at  section  7,  making  its  exit  into 
Watertown  at  section  18.  This  stream,  which  affords  a 
considerable  water-power,  is  fed  by  Prairie  Creek,  which 
rises  in  a  marsh  in  the  southeast  portion  of  the  township, 
and  flowing  north  and  west  while  pursuing  a  tortuous  course, 
enters  the  main  waters  at  the  village  of  De  Witt  on  sec- 
tion 8. 

The  soil  of  the  township   embraces  sand,  gravel,  and 
clay,  the  former  prevailing  to  a  greater  extent  on  the  south- 
erly border,  while  clay  is  found  in  the  north  and  north- 
west.    Gravel  in  limited  amount  is  distributed  generally 
throughout  the  township.     The  southwest  abounds  in  ex- 
tensive marshes  and  swamps  of  tamarack,  though  an  elabo- 
rate system  of  drainage  has  greatly  improved  much  of  this 
land.     The   surface  of  De  Witt  is   somewhat  rolling  in 
character  and  offers  a  pleasing  variation  to  the  eye.     The 
landscape  from  all  points  is  attractive,  and  in  many  places 
impressive  in  its  beauty,  vying  in   this  regard  with  the 
most  beautiful  portions  of  the  county.     The  soil  is  well 
adapted  to  grains  of  all  kinds,  wheat  and  corn  being  es- 
pecially prolific  in  their  yield.     The  average  harvest  of 
wheat  in  localities  is  twenty-five  bushels  to  the  acre,  though 
this  is  exceptional.    The  various  fruits  find  here  a  congenial 
soil,  and  orchards   producing   the   choicest  grafted   fruit 
abound  in  all  parts.     Peaches  are  being  cultivated  with 
much  success,  and  the  smaller  fruits  are  abundant  in  their 
yield.     Most  of  the  woods  peculiar  to  the  State  flourish  in 
De  Witt,  oak,  maple,  ash,  and  walnut  being  very  thrifty  in 
their  growth.     The  marshes  produce  the  usual  growth  of 
tamarack,  which  prevails  principally  in  the  south  and  south- 
west.    The  township  is  not  unlike  other  portions  of  the 
county  in  its  destitution  of  pine-lands,  a  single  tree  of  that 
kind  being  almost  a  curiosity  in  De  Witt. 

LAND-ENTEIES. 
The  following-named  persons  were  the  original  purchasers 
from  the  government  of  the  land  in  township  5  north,  of 
range  2  west : 

*  By  B.  0.  Wagner. 


SECTION  1. 

Acres. 

John  Lowery,  1835 65.28 

Dewitt  Parshall,  18.36 320 

Samuel  Sherman,  1836 89.28 

John  Dodge,  1836 148.69 

SECTION   2. 

Cynthia  M.Collins,  1834 112.70 

John  Lowery,  1835,  1836 295.48 

SECTION   3. 

Henry  Miller,  1835 81.62 

Erastus  S.  IngersoU,  1835 80 

H.  H.  Leroy,  1835 129.96 

EHas  Daniels,  1836 81.70 

D.  E.  Matthews,  1836..... 39.14 

Piatt  Smith,  1836 206.97 

SECTION   4. 

S.  Beokwith,  1835, 1836 160 

Leah  Packard,  1836 80 

S.  Beckwith,  1836 232.03 

D.  E.  Matthews,  1836 78.61 

Daniel  Moore,  1836 78.45 

SECTION    5. 

David  Scott,  1833 240 

Sylvester  Scott,  1833 80 

Randolph  Manning,  1836 80 

J.  R.  Langdon,  1836 158.16 

D.  E.  Matthews,  1836 77.40 

SECTION   6. 

C.  S.  Ferguson,  1834 160 

William  H.  Webb,  1835 169.44 

Alanson  Goodrich,  1836 84.73 

J.  R.  Langdon,  1836 157.20 

E.  H.  Utley,  1836..... 82.11 

SECTION   7. 

C.  S.  Ferguson,  1834 9.13 

Calvin  Marbin,  1835...... 55.52 

E.  H:'Utley,  1835 203.04 

Franklin  Oliver,  1835 204.16 

Alanson  Goodrich,  1836 166.27 

SECTION  8. 

David  Soott,  1833 82.81 

Hiram  F.  Sheldon,  1833 107.80 

George  Pearsall,  1835 80 

William  A.  Hewitt,  1835 40 

F.  R.  Bolles,  1835 197.54 

J.  R.  Langdon,  1836 120 

SECTION   9. 

S.  Beckwith,  1835 34.47 

William  Utley,  1835 234.17 

George  Pearsall,  1836 40 

David  Scott,  1336 80 

Piatt  Smith;  1836 80 

Fitzalah  Gardner,  1836 160 

SECTION   10. 

Philip  French,  1836 160 

John  Groves,  1836 160 

Fitzalan  Gardner,  1836 80 

Salam  F.  King,  1836 240 

SECTION   11. 

William  S.  Warner,  1836  160 

Edward  Townley,  1836 160 

Piatt  Smith,  1836 320 

SECTION   12. 

Stephen  P.  Morehouse,  1836 160 

William  M.  Lowell,  1836 320 

|.evi  A.  Mills,  1836 160 

SECTION  13. 

S.  S.  Bullock,  1836 8" 

William  Packard,  1836 80 

William  G.  Smith,  1836 40 

B.  L.  Smith,  1836 160 

John  Taylor,  1836 80 


404 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Acres. 

Lewis  Boyd,  1836 : 80 

RuEsel  Cufhmnn,  1846 80 

Ellen  Cushman,  1852 '"' 

Hiram  Rathburn,  1864 40 

SECTION  14. 

Elihu  Jamison,  1835 160 

William  Moore,  1836 *0 

S.  S.Bnllock,  1836 80 

S.  P.  Morehouse,  1836 240 

Philip  French,  1836 80 

Harvey  C.  Boyd,  1836 40 

SECTION  15. 

William  Hunt,  1836 40 

L.  D.  Jennison,  1836 40 

William  Roose,  1836 80 

Harvey  C.  Boyd,  1836 120 

7oshua  Cushman,  1836 80 

David  Scott,  1837 40 

L.  D.  Jennison,  1837 40 

Thomas  Robbins,  1843 40 

Elvira  Robbins,  1847 40 

Samuel  Smith,  1851 80 

Thomas  Robbins,  1854 40 


SECTION  16. 


School  section. 


SECTION  17. 

J.  R.  Pearsall,  1835 SO 

J.  R.  Langdon,  1836 80 

David  Scott,  1836 160 

John  Gould,  1836 160 

Elisha  Lester,  1836 IBO 

SECTION  18. 

Ephraim  H.  Utley,  1836 20.96 

Daniel  Ferguson,  1836 80 

H.  N.  Andrus,  1836 92.08 

James  Gay,  1836 80 

John  Gould,  1836 160 

Philip  Burnett,  1836 160 

James  Dean,  1836 66.76 

SECTION  19. 

Samuel  Crowell,  1836 346.68 

J.  D.  Child,  1836 160 

Amos  Waterhouse,  1837 .' 80 

Dexter  White,  1837 80 

SECTION  20. 

Dexter  White,  1836 80 

James  Perkins,  1836 160 

J.  S.  Hollister,  1837 320 

Lueinda  Colburn,  1838 80 

SECTION  21. 

Lewis  Boyd,  1836 80 

Frederic  Perkins,  1836 80 

Barnabas  Bassett,  1836 80 

Thompson  S.  Hollister,  1837 240 

William  H.  Hockenbury,  1849 40 

Samuel  Steele,  1850 40 

Margaret  Steele,  1854 40 

SECTION  22. 

H.  C.Boyd,  1836 160 

Joshua  Cushman,  1836 80 

Sizar  L.  Stoddard,  1836 ^ ...'.'.  80 

Samuel  Higgins,  1836 80 

Daniel  Ounderman,  1848 40 

E.  A.  Gunderman,  1860 40 

William  Vail,  1850 .....".!.'.'.  40 

SECTION  2.3. 

Francis  Moore,  1836 80 

William  Moore,  1836 '"'.""..'.'..'.'.  240 

Ruth  A.  Gunnison,  1843 '.....'"'..'.......     40 

Stephen  W.  Downer,  1850 .!.!....!!!!!.  280 

SECTION  24. 

William  Moore,  1836 80 

J.  B.  Ackley,  1836 !...'.'."...'.!'..'.'."."!."."!!^!  160 

Gilbert  Cnshman,  1837 ". '  80 

S.  W.  Downer,  1850,  185] !.!!...""... 80 


Acres. 

Morris  Cushman,  1854 40 

Joseph  C.  Bailey,  1854 80 

A.  M.  Crawford,  1864 40 

SECTION   25. 
J.  B.Bennett,  1862 40 

SECTION  26. 

Allen  Hutchins,  1836 160 

Charles  M.  McKenzie,  1846 80 

Anson  Simmons,  1847 40 

Nathan  Weldon,  1860 40 

5.  W.  Downer,  1851 40 

IraDurand,  1852 40 

J.B.Bennett,  1852 120 

SECTION  27. 

M.  M.  Boyd,  1836 80 

G.  W.  Boyd,  1836 80 

W.  D.  Hurd,  1836 80 

O.H.Lyon,  1842 80 

Nelson  H.  King,  1847 80 

Donnell  Mclntire,  1847 80 

William  Moon,  1847 80 

6.  R.  Culver,  1848 40 

H.H.Smith,  1854 40 

SECTION  28. 

O.H.Lyon,  1842 40 

Stephen  F.  Dexter,  1847 160 

John  Gunderman,  1848 80 

R.  R.  Quigley,  1848 160 

William  C.  Brangwin,  1848 .'. 160 

SECTION  29. 

Henry  Moon,  1837 160 

Richard  Moon,  1838 80 

L.  A.  Ayers,  1838 40 

J.  R.  Jewett,  1847 80 

N.  H.  Wing,  1847 120 

J.  R.  Jewett,  1847 40 

James  Sickles,  1861 80 

SECTION   30. 

William  Congdon,  1836 174.68 

R.  S.  Van  Scoy,  1847 40 

Orville  Bacon,  1849,  1860 80 

James  Sickles,  1851 80 

Henry  Gibbs,  1862 47.53 

SECTION  31. 

M.L.Stanley,  1837 240 

D.  S.  Ingersoll,  1837 96.62 

E.  F.  Sweet,  1850 47.74 

E.  Richardson,  1851 80 

Andrew  Shadduck,  1852 40 

Allen  Goodridge,  1852 ...  40 

George  J.  Parson  and  F.  M.  Cowles,  1864 40 

SECTION  32. 

James  Cram,  1836 320 

Samuel  and  Elias  Bliss,  1836 160 

Matthew  Dearin,  1847 40 

Robert  Dearin,  1847 " 40 

David  Westcott,  1862 ........!.!]"      40 

John  F.Welsh,  1854 40 

SECTION  33. 

Allen  Hutchins,  1836 160 

Jonathan  Birdsall,  1836 80 

Nelson  H.  Wing,  1847 160 

David  Sturgis,  1847 40 

Calvin  Woodward,  1849 "'.."."..'...'.'.  160 

SECTION  34. 

Samuel  Higgins,  1836 320 

Warner  D.  Hurd,  1836 80 

Stephen  A.Smith,  1839 ,", 160 

William  Moon,  1847 !.!.!"'.".'.'."     80 

SECTION  35. 

William  Birge,  1836 160 

Samuel  Higgins,  1836 160 

B.  P.  Kereheval,  1836 160 

Samuel  Cutler,  1848 I6O 


DE   WITT  TOWNSHIP. 


405 


SECTION  36. 

Acres. 

Eliza  Jane  Bennett,  1852 40 

Jacob  B.  Bennett,  1852 80 

Robert  West,  1853 40 

EAELT  VILLAGES  IW  DE  WITT  TOWNSHIP. 

The  lands  lying  along  both  sides  of  the  Looking-Glass 
River,  at  and  opposite  the  mouth  of  Prairie  Creek,  were, 
about  the  year  1836,  selected  as  locations  for  a  cluster  of 
(prospective)  villages.  The  old  Indian  trail  which  after- 
wards became  the  Pontiac  and  Grand  River  road,  passed 
along  the  north  bank  of  the  river  at  this  point,  and  in  that 
year,  as  for  many  years  later,  it  was  the  principal  thorough- 
fare through  this  portion  of  country. 

The  first  of  these  embryo  villages  was  Middletown  or 
Middleton.  The  land  on  which  it  was  laid  out  was  entered 
from  the  United  States  by  Sebastian  Beckwith,  in  1835, 
but  at  the  time  it  was  platted  the  proprietors  were  Sebastian 
Beckwith,  Joel  Wicks,  and  George  J.  Goodhue.  It  was 
situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  east  of  the  present 
village  of  De  Witt,  and  was  the  north  fraction  of  the  north- 
west quarter  ef  section  9  and  the  soutliwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 4.  It  was  surveyed  on  the  25th  of  January,  1836,  and 
the  original  map  filed  in  Kalamazoo  County,  February  6th 
of  that  year.  The  plat  shows  the  village  to  have  been  di- 
vided into  eighty-six  blocks,  each  block  containing  one  and 
three-fifths  acres.  Block  No.  36  was  reserved  for  a  public 
square.  Each  block  was  subdivided  into  eight  lots,  each  of 
which  was  four  by  eight  rods.  The  streets  were  laid  out 
four  rods  wide,  except  Clinton  and  Detroit,  which  were  six 
rods  in  width.  From  the  north  to  the  south  the  streets 
were  named  as  follows :  Huron,  Superior,  Ontario,  Detroit, 
Erie,  Michigan,  Mason,  St.  Joseph,  Mill,  and  Ionia.  From 
east  to  west.  Quay,  Toledo,  Chicago,  Main,  Clinton,  Monroe, 
Jefferson,  and  Washington. 

This  pretentious  array  of  streets,  however,  did  not  cause 
the  village  to  thrive,  as  on  the  12th  day  of  October,  1842, 
the  lots  of  the  village  were  sold  for  unpaid  taxes  to  Milo 
H.  Turner,  David  Sturgis,  Hiram  Stowell,  W.  H.  Case,  and 
W.  A.  Hewitt. 

NEW  ALBANY. 

The  land  on  which  this  village  was  laid  out  was  entered 
by  Hiram  F.  Sheldon,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Oct.  21,  1833, 
and  by  him  the  village  was  laid  out  and  mapped.  This 
map  was  not  recorded  and  is  lost.  On  the  1st  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1836,  he  sold  the  land  on  which  the  village  was  sit- 
uated to  George  F.  Clark,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  it  being  de- 
scribed as  the  south  fraction  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  8,  containing  107yW  acres,  "  saving  and  reserving 
certain  village  lots  as  laid  down  on  a  map  made  for  said 
Sheldon"  (eighteen  lots  in  different  blocks).  Milo  H. 
Turner,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  was  the  agent-  for  Mr.  Clark, 
and  managed  the  sale  of  the  property.  The  village  was 
divided  into  twenty-nine  blocks ;  many  lots  were  sold,  but 
the  anticipations  of  the  proprietors  soon  came  to  naught, 
and  in  1840  the  lots  were  advertised  to  be  sold  for  unpaid 
taxes.  The  prices  paid  ranged  from  a  dollar  and  six  cents 
to  a  dollar  and  seventy-four  cents  per  lot,  and  were  pur- 
chased as  follows :  Milo  H.  Turner,  fifty-five  lots ;  David 
Sturgis,  five;  Seth  P.  Marvin,  two;  J.  F.  Turner,  two; 


William  E.  Turner,  one ;  George  F.  Clark,  one.  They 
were  not  all  sold,  however,  in  1840,  for  the  sale  continued 
for  several  years,  the  last  being  sold  in  1848; 

OLD  DE   WITT. 

On  the  second  day  of  January,  1837,  there  was  offered 
for  record  at  the  county  of  Washtenaw  a  map  of  the  plat 
of  De  Witt,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.  Frederick  A.  Bolles  ap- 
peared before  James  Kingsley,  notary  public,  of  that  county, 
on  the  23d  day  of  December,  1836,  and  acknowledged  the 
execution  of  the  plat  and  map  to  be  his  act  and  deed  for 
the  purposes  therein  expressed,  and  to  answer  the  require- 
ments of  the  statute  in  such  cases  provided.  Frederick 
A.  Bolles  entered  the  land  from  the  United  States  on  which 
this  village  was  platted,  and  on  the  12th  day  of  December, 
1836,  it  was  surveyed  by  William  Finley,  Jr.,  laid  out  on 
a  scale  of  thirty-two  rods  to  an  inch,  and  platted  by  Dr. 
Bennett  and  J.  M.  Wilcox.  The  map  contains  the  follow- 
ing remarks :  "  All  lots  are  (4)  rods  wide  and  eight  rods 
deep,  except  on  block  five,  six  and  seven,  which  are  four 
rods  by  five  deep,  and  the  water-lots  and  other  fractions  are 
variable  in  depth.  This  plat  contains  according  to  original 
surveys  one  hundred  :ind  ninety-seven  y^^^  acres.  All  streets 
in  plat  are  (4)  rods  wide,  and  intended  as  public  highways, 
and  the  Timber  in  the  same  at  the  proprietor's  service,  if 
required ;  if  not,  the  buyers  of  lots  are  to  have  it.  Lots 
No.  3,  4  in  Block  No.  51,  and  Lots  No.  3,  4  in  Block  No. 
54  are  given  for  the  firm  established  church  in  said  Plat, 
and  also  said  named  Publick  Square  for  publick  purposes, 
and  all  other  lots  in  the  proprietor's  name  for  his  own  use. 
"  Frederick  A.  Bolles, 

"  Proprietor." 

This  village  was  situated  east  of  and  adjoining  New 
Albany.  The  streets  were  named  as  follows:  From  the  east 
to  the  west,  Newton,  Wayne,  Main  (these  three  streets  ran 
from  the  river  south  to  the  section-line),.  Park,  Hall,  Lyon, 
and  Lynn.  From  the  river  and  parallel  with  it.  River,  Wall, 
Spring,  Franklin,  Jefferson,  Madison,  Brighton,  Church, 
Summer,  Green,  St.  Ann's,  Catharine,  St.  Mary's,  and 
Frederick. 

In  the  sales-book  of  Clinton  County  in  the  treasurer's 
office  is  an  account  of  the  "  Village  of  De  Witt,  south  of 
the  Looking-Glass  River,"  advertised  for  unpaid  taxes  of 
1842.  Seventy-eight  blocks  are  described  with  the  lots, 
numbering  eight  lots  to  each  block.  The  taxes  due  on 
each  block  are  given,  ranging  from  ninety-five  cents  to  one 
dollar  and  twenty-four  cents.  It  docs  not  appear  that  these 
lots  were  sold,  as  no  account  is  made  of  sale.  The  follow- 
ing statement  is  appended  to  the  description  : 

"  The  entire  descriptions  of  the  above  village  of  De 
Witt,  south  side  of  the  Looking-Glass  River,  was  passed 
to  the  State  of  Michigan  at  the  sales  in  account  of  1844 
for  the  tax  of  1842." 

DE  WITT. 

The  land  on  which  the  present  village  of  De  Witt  is 
located  was  entered  by  Capt.  David  Scott  in  1833,  and 
platted  by  him  on  the  26th  of  October,  1841.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  the  north  side  of  Looking-Glass  River,  on  sections 
5  and  8,  and  was  the  county-site  of  Clinton  County  until 


406 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1857,  when,  by  a  vote  of  the  various  townships  of  the 
county,  the  seat  was  removed  to  St.  Johns,  the  recorded 
vote  of  De  Witt  having  been  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  against  and  three  in  favor  of  the  measure. 

The  settlement  of  De  Witt,  as  of  the  south  half  of  the 
county,  began  with  the  coming  of  Capt.  David  Scott,  who  left 
Ann  Arbor  with  his  wife  and  two  sons,  David  and  Charles, 
in  September  of  1833.  They  began  their  pilgrimage  in 
wagons  drawn  by  ox-teams  and  laden  with  their  household 
goods,  their  objective  point  being  the  land  he  entered  in 
Clinton  County,  embracing  altogether  fourteen  hundred 
and  twenty-six  acres  in  various  portions  of  the  township. 
They  forded  rivers,  drove  into  lakes,  were  frequently  mired 
in  dismal  marshes,  and  pitched  their  tents  where  night 
overtook  them,  until  their  arrival  at  the  present  De  Witt 
village  on  Oct.  4,  1833.  Capt.  Scott  obtained  the  consent 
of  the  Indians  to  occupy  one  of  their  wigwams  for  several 
weeks,  when  their  own  cabin  was  completed,  to  which  they 
then  removed.  This  Indian  house  was  constructed  of  bark, 
with  bunks  on  the  sides,  and  a  fire  was  built  in  the  centre, 
the  smoke  of  which  escaped  through  a  hole  or  remained  in 
the  room.  While  dwelling  in  this  rude  habitation  a  party  of 
English  travelers  on  their  way  to  Grand  River,  now  Port- 
land, tarried  and  sought  shelter  for  the  night.  One  of  the 
party,  overcome  with  fatigue,  died  soon  after,  and  was 
buried  in  a  coffin  of  bark  taken  from  the  wigwam.  The 
funeral  was  attended  by  Capt.  Scott's  family,  the  only  in- 
habitants of  the  county,  except  the  people  at  the  trading- 
post  on  Maple  River,  the  physician  from  an  adjoining 
county,  and  the  hired  companion  of  the  captain.  The  log 
cabin  of  Capt.  Scott,  twenty  feet  square,  was  begun  the 
5th  of  October  and  occupied  soon  after  with  demonstra- 
tions of  great  joy.  Seventeen  head  of  cattle  and  one  horse 
were  brought  by  them  into  the  wilderness,  whose  broad 
pasture-land  was  the  whole  of  Clinton  and  portions  of 
Ionia,  Eaton,  Ingham,  and  Shiawassee  Counties.  There 
being  no  fodder  for  winter,  trees  were  felled,  upon  which 
they  browsed,  the  sound  of  the  axe  being  the  only  call 
needed.  They  were  all  attracted  by  the  falling  of  a  tree. 
Ground  was  broken  for  wheat  in  July,  1834,  twenty  acres 
was  sown,  and  harvested  the  following  y«ar  during  the 
same  month,  yielding  thirty-two  bushels  to  the  acre.  A 
piece  of  ground  was  leveled,  logs  laid  round  it,  when  a 
flooring  of  wheat  was  placed  over  it,  and  thrashed  by  four 
yoke  of  oxen. 

The  earliest  settlers  made  journeys  to  Pontiac  to  have 
their  grain  ground  until  1837,  when  a  grist-mill  was  com- 
pleted at  Wacousta. 

Capt.  Scott  built  in  1839  a  frame  building  for  a  store- 
room and  grocery,  and  the  point  having  been  established 
the  following  year  as  the  county-seat  the  early  sessions  of 
the  court  were  there  held.  Judge  Hubbard  presiding. 

In  1840  a  school-house  was  built  on  the  present  school- 
house  site,  which  was  at  that  period  the  most  spacious  and 
convenient  of  the  buildings  yet  erected  in  the  embryo  vil- 
lage. Here  court  was  held  at  a  later  date,  and  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  also  convened  within  its  walls.  In  1842  a 
spacious  and  well-appointed  hotel  was  erected  by  Capt. 
Scott,  the  hall  of  which  for  years  afforded  a  place  of  meet- 
ing  for   the   county  court,  small  buildings  having   been 


previously  provided  for  the   convenience  of    the  county 
officers. 

Capt.  Scott  early  received  his  commission  as  postmaster 
of  the  hamlet,  and  established  an  office  at  his  house.  He 
continued  to  reside  in  Dewitt  until  his  death,  in  1851, 
having  been  the  leading  spirit  in  all  business  enterprises. 
His  son,  David  Scott,  still  occupies  a  portion  of  the  land 
he  entered.  Another  son,  Sylvester  Scott,  made  his  advent 
the  month  succeeding  that  of  his  father,  and  located  on  a 
portion  of  the  land  entered  by  the  former.  His  wife,  Mrs. 
Sophronia  Scott,  who  is  still  living  in  De  Witt,  and  one  son 
arrived  soon  after,  and  Sept.  15,  1836,  a  second  son, 
Charles,  was  born,  he  having  been  the  first  white  child 
born  in  the  county. 

Sylvester  Scott  did  not  long  survive  his  early  pioneer 
experiences.  Hiram  Wilcox  had  in  1837  erected  the  first 
saw-mill  in  the  county,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  upon 
the  plat  known  as  New  Albany.  It  was  completed  and  in 
running  order  early  in  1838,  and  a  party  of  settlers  having 
assembled  at  Capt.  Scott's  one  Sabbath  afternoon,  it  was 
suggested  that  they  should  visit  the  mill  on  a  tour  of  in- 
spection. On  their  arrival,  Mr.  Scott  with  others  was  ex- 
amining the  construction  of  the  machinery  and  had  uncon- 
sciously placed  himself  in  a  position  of  great  danger.  One 
of  the  party,  not  aware  of  this  fact,  suddenly  turned  on  the 
water,  which  set  the  mill  in  motion  and  instantly  killed  the 
unfortunate  man.  This  event  caused  profound  sorrow  in 
the  little  community. 

Milo  H.  Turner  arrived  in  1838,  as  the  agent  of  George 
T.  Clark,  who  had  previously  purchased  the  land  platted  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  known'  as  New  Albany.  He 
brought  with  him  a  stock  of  goods,  erected  a  log  house, 
and  opened  the  first  store  in  the  village  of  De  Witt.  He 
leased  the  saw-mill  of  Hiram  Wilcox,  and  after  effecting  a 
considerable  clearing,  built  a  large  frame  structure,  which 
was  devoted  to  the  uses  of  a  hotel.  His  brother,  Jesse 
Foot  Turner,  arrived  the  following  year,  and  embarked  with 
Milo  H.  ill  business  enterprises.  In  1844  they  erected  on 
the  Looking-Glass  River  a  grist-mill,  which  was  consumed 
by  fire  in  1847,  but  soon  after  rebuilt.  The  brothers 
Turner  were  men  of  much  activity,  and  largely  identified 
with  the  interests  of  the  township  and  the  county.  They 
remained  residents  until  1850,  when  the  gold  fields  of 
California  lured  them  to  the  Pacific  coast.  George  T.  Clark 
also  became  a  resident  at  a  later  period. 

The  earliest  store  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  was 
built  by  David  Sturgis,  who  came  from  Portland,  Ionia  Co., 
in  1840,  with  a  stock  of  goods  which  he  offered  for  sale, 
as  the  agent  of  Messrs.  Abbott  &  Eeecher,  of  Detroit. 
He  soon  after  built  an  ashery  near  by,  and  remained  in 
business  at  De  Witt  until  1850,  when  he  removed  to  St. 
Johns,  and  later  to  Gratiot  County,  where  he  died.  He  at 
one  time  filled  the  position  of  associate  judge  of  the  county 
court. 

The  distinction  which  was  accorded  to  De  Witt  as  the 
centre  of  the  judicial  business  of  the  county  attracted 
many  representatives  of  the  bar,  and  made  it  for  a  period 
of  many  years  the  centre  of  legal  talent.  A  brief  review 
of  the  advent  and  subsequent  career  of  the  lawyers 
of  the  village  is  embodied  in  a  chapter  on  the  Bar  of 


DE  WITT  TOWNSHIP. 


407 


the  County  in  a  preceding  portion  of  this  work.  The 
uncertain  tenure  by  which  De  Witt  maintained  its  prestige 
as  the  county-seat  offered  strong  obstacles  against  the  erec- 
tion of  county  buildings,  and  on  the  occasion  of  its  later 
removal  to  St.  Johns  not  a  single  structure  of  importance 
had  been  devoted  to  county  uses.  This  fact  also  materially 
influenced  the  growth  of  the  village,  and  has  effectually 
checked  the  development  of  its  business  interests  since  1857. 
The  village  now  has  one  hotel,  of  which  R.  Durham  is  the 
landlord ;  two  general  stores,  kept  by  J.  E.  Jayne  and  A. 
A.  Woodruff;  one  drug  store,  owned  by  Dr.  G.  W.  Top- 
ping; two  millinery-shops,  kept  by  Mrs.  Ware  and  Mrs. 
Woodruff  respectively  ;  one  shoe-store,  by  J.  Averill ;  one 
wagon-shop,  of  which  A.  Lott  is  proprietor ;  and  three 
blacksmith-shops,  owned  by  Messrs.  Tout,  Pilbeau,  and 
Worden.  J.  A.  Sweet  holds  the  commission  as  postmaster. 
There  are  two  saw-mills,  owned  by  William  M.  Potter  and 
E.  Cr.  Holmes  &  Son,  and  a  completely-appointed  flouring- 
mili,  equipped  with  four  run  of  stones  and  enjoying  an  ex- 
tensive custom  trade,  of  which  Messrs.  Osgood  &  Co.  are 
proprietors.  There  is  also  a  foundry,  owned  by  E.  Merritt. 
De  Witt  has  two  churches,  whose  early  history,  found  else- 
where, is  coexistent  with  the  primitive  days  of  the  hamlet. 

The  second  pioneer  in  the  township  of  De  Witt  came 
there  to  settle  in  1834.  This  was  Chauncey  S.  Ferguson, 
who  brought  with  him  his  family,  including  his  father, 
Daniel  Ferguson,  and  located  upon  section  6,  where  he 
entered  in  the  same  year  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land.  He  removed  from  Oakland  County,  and  at  once 
erected  a  log  house,  but  effected  little  in  the  way  of  clear- 
ing. Mr.  Ferguson  seems  irot  to  have  been  well  satis- 
fied with  the  advantages  Clinton  County  offered  to  the  set- 
tler, for  the  year  1837  found  him  a  pioneer  to  the  wilds  of 
Ionia  County,  where  he  became  a  land-owner.  Mr.  Fer- 
guson exercised  a  generous  hospitality  to  subsequent  comers, 
who  never  failed  to  receive  a  cordial  welcome  to  his  humble 
home  and  frugal  board  on  their  arrival. 

The  third  pioneer  in  order  of  arrival  was  Franklin  Oliver, 
who  came  from  N'iagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1835,  and  settled 
upon  two  hundred  and  four  acres,  which  he  entered  the 
same  year.  He  remained  with  Chauncey  Ferguson  while 
building  a  house,  and  very  early  effected  a  considerable 
clearing.  Four  years  later  he  constructed  a  saw-mill,  which, 
however,  for  want  of  power,  was  never  operated  successfully, 
and  was  ultimately  abandoned.  Mr.  Oliver  died  a  few 
years  later,  and  the  estate  was  purchased  by  Morris  S. 
Allen. 

William  M.  Webb  has  with  justice  advanced  his  claim 
to  having  been  thfe  fourth  settler.  He  entered,  in  1835, 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  on  section  6,  upon  which  he 
located  in  the  same  year,  having  come  from  Plymouth, 
Wayne  Co.,  Mich.  The  land  he  found  entirely  uncleared, 
and  for  four  weeks  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  Mr.  Fergu- 
son's log  cabin  afforded  while  constructing  a  temporary 
abode  for  his  own  family.  At  De  Witt  there  was  an  Indian 
village,  several  families  of  whom  were  still  enjoying  peace- 
able possession  of  their  wigwams.  Bears  and  wolves  were 
frequent  visitors,  a»d  caused  consternation  among  the  sheep 
and  swine.     Mr.  Webb  was  very  successful  in  construct- 


ing pitfalls  by  which  the  stock  of  bears  was  considerably 
diminished.  He  still  resides  upon  the  land  he  at  first  en- 
tered, where  a  highly-improved  farm  is  the  result  of  his 
industry.  The  firgt  Fourth  of  July  a  gathering  of  a  social 
character  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Webb  in  1837, 
dancing  having  been  enjoyed  upon  a  puncheon  floor. 

The  next  settler  in  order  of  arrival  was  Ephraim  H. 
Utley,  who  also  came  from  Plymouth,  Wayne  Co.,  and 
arrived  the  day  following  Mr.  Webb's  coming.  He  entered 
thirty  plats  of  eighty  acres  each  in  De  Witt  and  elsewhere, 
and  made  a  settlement  upon  section  7.  He  cleared  and  im- 
proved this  farm,  but  ultimately  removed  to  Newaygo 
County,  where  he  died  on  Big  Prairie,  in  1860.  Mr.  Ut- 
ley held  office  the  first  year  of  the  township  organization, 
and  was  also  at  one  time  county  commissioner.  He  occa- 
sionally practiced  as  a  lawyer,  and  was  a  man  of  influence 
during  his  brief  residence  in  De  Witt. 

Alanson  Goodrich  was  among  the  pioneers  of  1835,  as 
stated  by  his  early  neighbors,  though  he  does  not  appear  to 
have  made  an  entry  of  land  until  1836,  when  he  secured 
one  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres  on  section  7,  and  resided  on 
it  until  his  death.  The  earliest  school-house  in  the  county 
was  built  upon  this  land,  and  the  Goodrich  neighborhood 
was,  until  1840,  the  centre  of  the  educational  interests  of  the 
township. 

Isaac  Hewitt  arrived  in  1835  and  located  on  section  17, 
where  he  had  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  having  been 
a  former  resident  of  Stephen  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  devoted  him- 
self with  much  energy  to  the  clearing  of  his  farm,  being 
greatly  aided  by  his  six  sons,  but  one  of  whom — Edmond 
— now  resides  in  the  township,  where  he  has  a  farm  on 
the  same  section. 

Gilbert  Cushman  came  from  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1836,  three  of  his  sons  having  preceded  him  to  this  State 
and  located  in  Bath.  He  remained  with  them  until  a 
house  was  built  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  24,  when  all 
removed  to  the  township  of  De  Witt.  There  was  no 
neighbor  within  five  miles,  and  Dexter,  sixty  miles  away, 
was  the  most  convenient  milling  point.  With  the  circuit- 
ous route  usually  followed  the  distance  was  increased  to 
nearly  one  hundred  miles.  A  mill  was  later  built  at  Wa- 
cousta,  which  enjoyed  a  very  liberal  patronage  from  the  ad- 
jacent country.  On  the  farm  of  Mr.  Cushman,  -and  those 
of  his  six  sons,  forty  acres  were  cleared  the  first  year.  Of 
this  large  family,  embracing  the  parent  and  six  sons,  all  of 
whom  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  but  two  survive,  both 
of  whom  reside  on  section  24,  in  De  Witt.  George  Cush- 
man has  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  an  additional 
forty  on  section  13,  while  Russell  has  one  hundred  and 
twenty  on  each  section.  The  father's  death  occurred  in 
De  Witt  during  the  year  1855. 

In  1836,  among  the  prominent  arrivals,  was  that  of 
Jonathan  R.  Pearsall,  who  in  the  year  previous  had  entered 
eighty  acres  on  section  17.  He  found  this  land  uncleared, 
and  began  at  once  the  work  of  chopping,  with  a  view  to 
the  erection  of  a  log  house,  and  became  soon  after  absorbed 
in  the  improvement  of  his  farm.  He  was  an  industrious 
farmer  and  a  leading  man  in  all  religious  enterprises.  Mr. 
Pearsall  served  among  the  earliest  township  officers,  and 
held  many  positions  of  influence  in  De  Witt. 


408 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Peter  Lott,  who  had  formerly  located  in  Washtenaw 
County,  purchased  in  1837,  on  sections  19  and  30,  three 
hundred  and  fifty-five  acres,  and  settled  on  the  former  the 
same  year.  With  him  came  five  sons,  all  of  whom  camped 
out  while  huilding  a  house  of  logs.  Benjamin  Lott,  a 
brother,  followed  him  soon  after,  and,  purchasing  eighty 
acres  on  section  19,  remained  with,  him  while  building  a 
house  and  making  a  preliminary  clearing.  He  later  re- 
moved to  his  present  residence  on  section  3,  where  he  has 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Two  sons  of  Peter  Lott — 
Chauncey  and  Albert  Lott — still  survive,  and  reside  in  the 
township. 

Henry  Moon  entered,  in  1837,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  29,  embracing  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
section.  He  remained  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Utley  while 
building  a  cabin  in  the  forest  that  covered  his  land.  Mr. 
Moon  improved  his  purchase  and  converted  it  into  a  pro- 
ductive farm,  but  ultimately  removed  to  the  village  of  De 
Witt,  where  he  now  resides  in  advanced  years. 

Dr.  Levi  D.  Jenison,  who  was  the  earliest  resident 
physician  in  the  township,  and  for  a  period  of  some  years 
enjoyed  an  extended  practice,  entered  in  1836  forty  acres 
on  section  15,  and  subsequently  purchased  other  land  in 
the  township.  His  career  will  be  more  fully  mentioned  in 
a  chapter  on  the  medical  fraternity  of  the  county,  as  will 
also  that  of  Dr.  Hiram  Stowell,  who  settled  in  1837  on 
section  2,  on  a  farm  originally  owned  by  Capt.  Lowry, 
of  Watertowo.  The  doctor  was  originally  from  Cayuga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  came  from  Ann  Arbor  to  this  township, 
where  he  followed  his  profession  and  agricultural  pursuits 
until  his  death,  in  1857.     His  widow  resides  in  De  Witt. 

Barnabas  Bassett  entered  eighty  acres  on  section  21  in 
1836  and  became  a  resident.  He  improved  the  land  after 
having  built  a  house  upon  it,  and  converted  it  into  a  farm 
which  has  well  repaid  the  labor  bestowed  upon  it.  After 
a  life  of  activity,  Mr.  Bassett  removed  to  the  village  of 
De  Witt,  where  the  advancing  years  of  his  life  are  spent 
among  scenes  familiar  to  him  since  his  settlement  in  the 
township. 

The  earliest  circuit  preacher  in  De  Witt  was  Washington 
Jackson,  of  Wayne  County,  who  in  1838  held  services  at 
the  various  log  houses  in  De  Witt.  Later,  school  buildings 
were  erected,  and  Elders  Cole  and  Bigelow  officiated.  The 
townspeople,  while  devoted  to  the  word  as  expounded  by 
these  gospel  messengers,  were  not  without  occasional  social 
diversions  as  well.  The  log  cabins  of  the  day,  though  lim- 
ited in  dimensions,  were  the  scene  of  many  terpsichorean 
revels,  at  which  music  of  a  novel  character  was  introduced. 
For  want  of  better  melody,  a  venerable  pioneer,  still  resident 
in  the  township,  regaled  them  with  a  whistle,  and  this 
music  is  said  to  have  often  furnished  inspiration  and  pleas- 
ure to  the  dancers  from  "  early  candle-lighting  till  dawn." 

From  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  in  1839  came  Theodore  Chapin 
and  his  son  De  Witt  C,  who  located  in  the  village  of  De 
Witt  and  followed  for  years  their  profession  as  lawyers, 
where  they  were  known  as  successful  practitioners.  They 
subsequently  removed  to  Ionia,  and  then  to  Allegan  County, 
where  De  Witt  C.  attained  some  distinction  in  his  profes^ 
sion.  He  returned  again  to  De  Witt  and  was  elected 
county  clerk  in  1856,  and  died  at  his  later  residence  in 


Gratiot  County  in  1874.     The  father's  death  occurred  in 
Allegan. 

Nelson  K.  Allport  came  to  De  Witt  as  early  as  1839 
and  opened  a  store,  having  erected  a  building  for  the  pur- 
pose. He  later  purchased  the  hotel  formerly  kept  by  Milo 
H.  Turner  and  built  by  David  Scott. 

Elihu  Gunnison,  formerly  of  Livingston  Co.,  Mich, 
settled  in  Bath  in  1836,  and  three  years  later  removed  to 
the  township,  where  he  found  an  attractive  location  on  sec- 
tion 14,  embracing  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  first 
built  a  cabin,  and  later  a  log  house,  having  remained  upon 
the  farm  until  his  death  in  1877.  Three  sons,  Alfred, 
Joseph  W.,  and  James  H.,  now  reside  in  the  township. 
Alfred  has  eighty  acres  on  section  23,  Joseph  W.  is  on 
section  9,  and  James  H.  occupies  the  homestead.  The 
widow  still  survives  and  resides  in  the  township. 

William  A.  Moore  became  a  settler  at  nearly  the  same 
period,  having  entered  forty  acres  on  section  14,  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  on  section  23,  and  eighty  on  24.  He  im- 
proved the  land  on  which  he  located,  and  was  not  only  a 
successful  farmer  but  a  man  of  some  influence  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Erastus  S.  lugersoU  entered  land  on  section  3  in  1836, 
and  became  a  settler.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent  judg- 
ment in  his  agricultural  pursuits  and  of  much  public  spirit, 
having  during  his  residence  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
administration  of  township  aflFairs. 

George  Allen,  a  venerable  pioneer  of  1841,  still  living, 
is  a  native  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.-,  and  removed  from  Oak- 
land County  to  this  township,  where  he  purchased  forty 
acres  on  section  19.  His  father,  Barney  Allen,  had  pre- 
ceded him  by  four  years,  and  located  upon  the  same  sec- 
tion. With  him  he  found  a  temporary  habitation  while 
erecting  a  log  house  on  the  eighty  acres  he  had  purchased. 
The  father  survived  until  1847,  and  died  at  the  home  of 
his  son.  His  neighbor  was  Elder  Lewis  Coburn,  who  re- 
sided upon  eighty  acres  on  section  20,  and  combined  the 
sacred  office  of  a  preacher  with  that  of  farming  pursuits. 
Elder  Coburn  entered  his  land  in  1838  and  occupied  it  a 
year  later,  was  the  earliest  resident  minister,  and  conducted 
most  of  the  religious  services  of  that  early  day.  There 
were  no  roads  at  this  period,  and  Mr.  Allen  on  his  arrival 
followed  the  Grand  River  road,  then  only  partially  under- 
brushed,  to  his  land.  Indians  were  numerous,  and  wolves 
and  bears  were  very  destructive  to  cattle.  With  his  own 
hands  Mr.  Allen  has  cleared  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
and  is  still  actively  employed  in  the  superintendence  of  his 
home  interests. 

Dr.  Seth  P.  Marvin  was  one  of  the  earliest  representa- 
tives of  the  medical  profession,  and  followed  Dr.  Jenison 
to  this  township.  He  came  with  his  father,  Calvin  Marvin, 
to  Watertown  in  1835,  and  soon  after  removed  to  De  Witt. 
He  engaged  actively  in  political  contests,  and  filled  many 
important  township  and  county  offices,  among  them  that  of 
register  of  deeds. 

James  Collins  came  from  Marshall,  Mich.,  to  the  town- 
ship in  1845,  and  located  upon  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  21.  He  temporarily  occupied  with  his  family 
a  cabin  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Hewitt,  and  later  erected  a 
substantial  house  of  logs  upon  his  own  farm.     He  raised 


DE   WITT  TOWNSHIP. 


409 


little  grain  at  first,  but  devoted  his  spot  of  cleared  land  to 
garden  products  for  family  use,  though  a  fine  farm  was 
ultimately  improved,  upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death, 
in  1860.  The  widow  and  son  still  occupy  the  homestead, 
upon  which  an  elegant  brick  residence  was  erected  in 
1876. 

Edward  A.  Gunderman  came  from  Orange  County  in 
1847,  and  selected  a  farm  of  forty  acres  on  section  22  and 
an  additional  forty  upon  section  1 6.  The  former  was  pre- 
empted by  him,  and  entered  in  1850. 

Barnabas  Bassett  and  Charles  Cushman  were  near  neigh- 
bors, the  former  having  preceded  Mr.  Gunderman  and  died 
on  the  farm  he  then  occupied.  Indians  were  numerous, 
there  being  a  small  encampment  of  them  on  the.  land,  which 
was  vacated  on  his  arrival.  They  paid  him  frequent  visits, 
principally  in  pursuit  of  fire-water,  and  were  occasionally 
boisterous.  Mr.  Gunderman  still  occupies  the  land  he  first 
purchased,  and  is  engaged  in  farming. 

Stephen  W.  Downer  came  from  Bingham  to  this  town- 
ship in  1849,  and  located  upon  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  22,  which  has  since  been  increased  to  eight 
hundred.  He  first  built  a  cabin,  which  was  occupied  for  a 
period  of  nine  years,  after  which  his  present  residence  was 
erected.  Thomas  Lester  was  a  near  neighbor,  as  was  also 
William  A.  Moore,  who  later  removed  to  Iowa.  Mr.  Dow- 
ner's progress  was  at  first  moderate,  much  of  his  land  being 
marshy.  This  when  drained,  however,  was  converted  into 
the  most  productive  land  in  the  township. 

In  reviewing  the  long  list  of  pioneers  or  settlers  who 
tho^gh  not  early  in  point  of  arrival  still  did  much  to  level 
the  forests  of  the  township,  it  will  be  possible  to  give  only 
a  brief  mention  of  many  names  that  are  justly  entitled  to 
notice. 

Levi  Townson  came  in  1840,  having  been  the  first  lawyer 
in  the  county,  and  also  prosecuting  attorney  and  judge  of 
probate  from  1846  till  his  death  in  1849.  Mark  A.  Childs 
was  a  lawyer  of  prominence,  and  the  founder  of  the  Glin- 
tonian  newspaper,  established  in  1842. 

Joseph  HoUister,  who  came  to  De  Witt  in  1846,  was  ac- 
tively engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  until  his  departure  for 
Dowagiac,  where  he  died.  Joseph  Baker  came  from  Ionia 
in  1847,  and  remained  ten  years  in  De  Witt.  Kandolph 
Strickland,  who  arrived  in  1847,  is  now  one  of  the  promi- 
nent lawyers  of  St.  Johns,  his  brother  0.  F.  Strickland, 
who  came  in  1851,  as  did  also  D.  C.  Wiley,  having  both 
been  practitioners,  the  former  being  now  a  resident  of  St. 
Johns,  and  the  latter  of  Lansing.  Dr.  G.  W.  Toppmg 
came  from  Ann  Arbor  to  the  village  of  De  Witt  in  185i, 
and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  being  still  in  the 
enjoyment  of  an  extended  practice.  John  Gould  settled 
early  on  section  18,  where  he  had  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres.  D.  Ward  had  eighty  acres  on  section  18,  and  later 
removed  to  St.  Johns.  Roland  S.  Van  Scoy  resided  upon 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  17.  Samuel  B. 
Smith  owned  forty  acres  on  section  4.  Benjamin  Van 
Louven  located  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  the  nortb.- 
east  corner  of  De  Witt  on  section  1.  Samuel  Sherman 
also  settled  upon  the  same  section.  John  S.  Swezey  had 
two  quarter-sections  on  10  and  12,  and  Sanborn  S.  Matthews 
purchased  forty  acres  on  section  2. 
52 


Below  are  given  lists  of  persons  who  were  resident  tax- 
payers in  De  Witt  in  1839  and  1840,  showing  very  nearly 
who  were  the  settlers  who  had  located  in  the  township  prior 
to  that  time.  The  lists  are  taken  from  the  original  assess- 
ment rolls  of  the  township  for  the  years  indicated : 

1839. 

Town  5,  Range  2,  West. 
Names.  Acres. 

Peter  Lott,  section. 19 160 

George  Pearsall,  section  8 100 

Alanson  Goodrich,  section  6 250 

Daniel  Moon,  section  4 80 

S.  B.  Smith,  section  4 40 

Hiram  Wilcox,  section  8 40 

M.  H.  Turner,  section  8 148 

S.  D.  Jenison,  section  15 100 

Eobert  M.  Folb,  section  — 

Bphraim  H.  Utiey,  section  7 420 

Richard  Moon,  section  27 80 

Chaunoey  Lott,  section  30 80 

Thomas  Myers,  section  17 80 

William  W.Webb,  section  6 166 

William  Utley,  section  9 162 

John  Berry,  section  2 40 

Benjamin  Van  Louven,  section  1 160 

Samuel  Sherman,  section  1 89 

E.  S.  Ingersoll,  section  3 161 

Elihu  Gunnison,  section  14 160 

William  Moon,   sections  24,  14 440 

Gilbert  Cushman,  section  24 80 

Kussell  Cushman,  section  24 160 

Warren  Cushman 

Hiram  Stowell,  section  2 113 

Trustees  of  Sylvester  Scott,  sections  5,  6 243 

Charles  Lent,  section  34 40 

David  Scott,  sections  5,  8,  2,  36,  35,  9,  15,  6 1426 

1840. 

Acres. 

David  Scott,  sections  1,  2,  5,  6,  8,  9, 15,  25,  35,  36...  1426 

Isaac  Hewitt,  section  17 120 

J.  R.  Pearsall,  section  17 80 

Asa  Parker,  section  17 80 

John  Gould,  section  18 160 

Franklin  Oliver,  section  7 204 

D.  Ward,  section  18 80 

Cheney  Lott,  section  30 '. 80 

Barney  Allen,  section  19 80 

Benjamin  Lott,  section  19 80 

Peter  Lott,  section  19 190 

Lewis  Cobane,  section  20 80 

R.  S.  Van  Scoy,  section  17 IB" 

Thomas  Myers,  section  17 80 

Henry  Moon,  section  29 16" 

Richard  Moon,  section  29 80 

Levi  D.  Jenison,  sections  8,  15 100 

Hiram  Withou,  section  8 4" 

William  Utley,  section  9 162 

John  Sands,  section  9 72 

Samuel  B.  Smith,  section  4 *0 

Alanson  Goodrich,  sections  6,  7 253 

William  W.  Webb,  section  6 166 

E.  H.  Utley,  sections  7,  9 353 

Sophronia  Scott,  sections  5,  6 249 

M.  H.  Turner,  section  17 *" 

Charles  Cushman,  section  22 80 

David  Otis,  section  23 80 

William  A.  Moore,  sections  14,  23,  24 360 

Gilbert  Cushman,  section  24  80 

Russel  Cushman,  section  24 160 

David  G.  Wilsey,  section  26.. 120 

Benjamin  Van  Louven,  section  1 160 

Samuel  Sherman,  section  1 89 

Sanborn  S.  Matthews,  sections  2,  35 120 

Hiram  Stowell,  section  2 112 

John  S.  Sweezey,  sections  10,  12 320 

James  Sweezey,  section  14 «" 

E.  S.  Ingersoll,  section  3 160 

Blihu  Gunnison,  section  14 160 

Daniel  Moore,  section  4 80 

Lyman  J.  Hewitt,  section  31 80 

Almanzo  Eldred 

Morris  Cushman 

George  Smith 

The  following  list  embraces  the  names  of  the  jurors 
drawn  in  De  Witt  for  the  year  1839  :  E.  S.  Ingersoll,  Elihu 
Gunnison,  William  Moore,  Benjamin  Van  Houven,  Orange 


410 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Ferguson,  Ephraim  Merriliew,  James  Annis,  Ransom  Read, 
William  W.  Webb,  Harvey  Alexander,  Franklin  Oliver,  J. 
R.  Pearsall,  Alanson  Goodrich,  Barney  Allen,  Thomas 
Myers,  William  Utley,  Asa  Parker,  Levi  D.  Jenison, 
Orange  Cushman,  Lyman  J.  Hewitt. 

^^  Jurors  for  1842. — David  Scott,  Jesse  Foot  Turner, 
assessors,  and  Seth  P.  Marvin,  township  clerk  of  De  Witt, 
Clinton  Co.,  having  convened  at  the  office  of  the  township 
clerk  of  De  Witt  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  assess- 
ment rolls  for  the  year  1842,  agreeable  to  notice  given  pur- 
suant to  law,  do  at  said  meeting,  as  the  law  directs,  propose 
a  test  of  such  inhabitants  of  said  town  as  we  deem  well 
qualified  for  serving  as  jurors  in  the  circuit  court  of  said 
county  of  Clinton,  being  of  good  moral  character,  sound 
judgment,  and  free  from  all  legal  exceptions,  which  list  in- 
cludes not  less  than  one  for  every  one  hundred  inhabitants 
of  said  township,  computing  from  the  last  census,  and  which 
were  not  returned  as  jurors  at  the  last  preceding  review  of 
its  assessment  roll,  from  the  best  of  our  knowledge. 

'■'■  Grand  Jurois. — William  Utley,  Elihu  Gunnison,  Jon- 
athan R.  Pearsall,  Samuel  Greeley,  Lewis  Coburn,  Charles 
Cushman. 

"  Petit  Jurors. — John  S.  Sweezey,  George  Smith,  John 
Scott,  Edward  Greeley,  Thomas  H.  Myers,  William  Rouse. 
"David  Scott, 
"Jesse  Foot  Turner, 


"Seth  P.  Marvin, 

"  Township  Clerk." 

EARLY  HIGHWAYS. 

The  earliest  highway  that  traversed  De  Witt  was  the  old 
Indian  trail,  subsequently  known  as  the  Pontiac  and  Grand 
River  road,  which  ran  from  Pontiac  and  followed  the  north 
line  of  the  township  to  the  northeast  corner  of  seclion  3, 
where  it  diverged  to  the  southwest  and  into  the  village  of 
De  Witt.  The  earliest  pioneer,  David  Scott,  followed  this 
trail  in  making  his  advent  to  the  township  in  1833. 

In  an  examination  of  the  early  highway  records,  road 
No.  1  is  described  as  "  beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
section  No.  7,  in  township  No.  5  north,  of  range  4  west, 
and  running  easterly  along  the  line  of  sections  through  the 
3d  and  4th  ranges,  and  terminating  at  the  quarter  section 
post  on  the  north  line  of  section  7,  in  township  5  north,  of 
range  2  west. 

"E.  H.  Utley, 

"  David  Scott, 

"  Commissioners  of  Highways" 

The  above  road  was  continued  as  follows : 

"  Beginning  at  the  quarter  section  post  on  the  north  line 
of  section  7,  township  5  north,  of  range  2  west,  and  run- 
ning east  along  the  section-line  fifteen  chains ;  thence  north 
seventy-four  and  a  half  degrees,  east  three  chains ;  thence 
easterly  nearly  parallel  to  the  section-line  fourteen  chains ; 
thence  south  seventy-three  degrees,  east  two  and  a  half 
chains  to  the  section-line ;  thence  continuing  east  on  said 
line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  No.  8  in  said  town." 

Recorded  March  6,  1837. 


Road  No.  2  was  established  by  William  A.  Hewitt  and 
David  Scott,  highway  commissioners,  and  recorded  Dec.  3 
1837,  commencing  one  hundred  and  five  rods  west  of  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  8,  in  township  5  north,  ran^e  2 
west,  and  terminating  on  the  south  line  of  section  34  in 
township  5  north,  of  range  1  west.  Said  road  was  to  be 
six  rods  wide  from  the  first  to  the  second  section,  and  the 
remainder  to  be  four  rods  wide.  The  commissioners  of 
liighways  continued  to  survey  and  award  contracts  for  the 
construction  of  highways  as  the  presence  of  settlers  de- 
manded them. 

The  towbship  in  the  spring  of  1840  was  divided  into 
the  following  road  districts,  a  meeting  for  the  purpose 
having  been  held  March  24,  1840,  at  the  house  of  David 
Scott : 

District  No.  1  to  include  south  half  of  sections  10, 11 
12,  sections  13,  14,  15,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26, 27,  34,  35,  36, 
township  5  north,  range  2  west. 

District  No.  2  to  include  sections  31 ,  32,  33,  south  half 
of  section  30,  and  all  of  sections  28,  29. 

District  No.  3  to  include  north  half  of  section  30,  all  of 
sections  19,  20,  ^l,  and  the  south  half  of  section  18. 

District  No.  4  to  include  sections  16,  17,  north  half  of 
18,  and  the  south  half  of  sections  7,  8,  9. 

District  No.  5  to  include  north  half  of  section  7,  north 
fraction  of  8,  9,  south  half  of  sections  5,  6,  south  fractional 
half  and  northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  4. 

District  No.  6  to  include  north  half  of  sections  10  11 
12,  and  south  fraction  of  sections  1,  2. 

District  No.  7  to  include  sections  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  north 
half  of  sections  7,  8,  9,  10,  and  all  of  sections  11,  12, 
township  6  north,  range  2  west. 

District  No.  8  to  include  the  south  half  of  sections  7,  8, 
9, 10,  all  of  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  township  6  north, 
range  2  west. 

District  No.  9  to  include  north  half  of  sections  5,  6, 
township  5  north,  range  2  west ;  south  half  of  sections  2,  8, 
29,  30,  all  of  31,  32,  west  half  of  33,  township  6  north, 
range  2  west. 

District  No.  10  to  include  sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35, 
36,  township  6  north,  range  2  west,  east  half  of  section 
33,  of  same  township,  north  fraction  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  4,  and  north  fraction  of  sections  1,  2,  3, 
township  5  north,  range  2  west. 

District  No.  11  to  include  sections  19,  20,  21,  22,  23, 
24,  north  half  of  28,  29,  30,  township  6  north,  range  2 
west. 

District  No.  12  to  include  the  south  fraction  of  the  north 
half  of  sections  8,  9,  township  5  north,  of  range  2  west. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION  AND  CIVIL  LIST. 
The  act  of  the  State  Legislature  organizing  the  township 
of  De  Witt  was  approved  March  23,  1836,  and  provides: 
"  That  the  county  of  Clinton  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
oflF  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of 
De  Witt,  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be 
held  at  the  dwelling-house  of  David  Scott  in  said  town- 
ship." As  specified  in  the  above  act,  the  township  of  De 
Witt  early  embraced  the  whole  of  the  county  of  Clinton. 
The  township  of  Watertown,  embracing  the  west  half  of 


DE  WITT  TOWNSHIP, 


411 


the  county,  of  ranges  3  and  4,  was  erected  March  20, 1837. 
The  township  of  Bingham,  including  the  present  Bingham, 
Ovid,  Greenbush,  and  Sena  (now  Daplain),  was  set  off 
March  21,  1839.  Ossowa,  including  Bath  and  Victor,  was 
erected  March  22, 1839,  and  Olive  was  erected  March  20, 
1841,  leaving  De  Witt  a  township  with  boundaries  as  at 
present  existing. 

At  the  earliest  meeting  of  the  electors  of  the  township 
of  De  Witt,  held  at  the  house  of  David  Scott  on  the  8th 
day  of  April,  1836,  R.  H.  Utley  was  chosen  moderator 
and  Sylvester  Scott  clerk.  The  following  township  officers 
were  elected  for  the  year :  Supervisor,  Welcome  J.  Partelo ; 
Township  Clerk,  Sylvester  Scott ;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
W.  J.  Partelo,  E.  H.  Utley,  Henry  Rowland,  John  Ben- 
son ;  Collector,  Chauncey  S.  Ferguson  ;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  David  Scott,  Anthony  Niles ;  School  Commission- 
ers, Alexander  Chappel,  Calvin  Marvin,  W.  J.  Partelo ; 
Assessors,  John  Benson,  Calvin  Marvin,  Elihu  Gunnison ; 
Highway  Commissioners,  David  Scott,  E.  H.  Utley,  Stephen 
B.  Groger;  Constables,  Chauncey  S.  Ferguson,  Ezekiel 
Niles. 

The  township  officers  annually  elected  from  the  organiza- 
tion to  the  present  time  have  been  as  follows : 


SUPERVISORS. 


18.37-38.  Welcome  J.  Partelo. 

1839.  William  Utley. 

1840.  Hiram  Wilcox. 

1841.  Franklin  Oliver. 

1842.  Jesse  Foot  Turner. 
1843-44.  David  Scott. 
1845.  Milo  H.  Turner. 
1846-48.  Jesse  F.  Turner. 

1849.  William  W  Webb. 

1850.  David  Sturgis. 

1851.  Jesse  P.  Turner. 

1852.  F.  R.  Read. 

1853.  David  Sturgis. 

1854.  Jonathan  R.  Fearsall. 


1855. 
1856. 
1857- 
1860. 
1861. 
1862- 
1864. 
1865. 
1866- 
1870- 
1872. 
1873- 
1875- 
1880. 

CLERKS. 


F.  R.  Read. 

S.  W.  Downer. 
59.  Asahel  R.  Msirvin. 

A.  R.  Marvin. 

Randolph  Strickland. 
■63.  Frederick  A.  Read. 

A.  a.  Gunnison. 

Charles  Day. 

69.  David  Scott. 

-71    Samuel  B.  McPherson. 

James  Cortright. 
-74.  Galusha  Pennell. 
-79.  William  Collins. 

Charles  Bauerly. 


1837.  Sylvester  Seott.  1863. 

1838-40.  J.  R.  Pearsall.  1864. 

1841.  Milo  H.  Turner.  1865. 

1842.  Seth  P.  Marvin.  1866 
1843-44.  Sylvester  Townson.  1871. 

1845.  Seth  P.  Marvin.  1872. 

1846.  George  0.  Wells.  1873. 
1847-48.  Joseph  H.  Adams.  1874. 
1848-53.  John  F.  MoKeen.  1875. 
1854^55.  James  M.  Estes.  1876. 
1856-57.  Elisha  C.  Cook.  1877- 
1858-59.  0.  F.  Strickland.  1879. 
1860.  Eben  W.  Dart.  1880. 
1861-62.  Jonathan  A.  Sweet. 


A.  J.  Bement. 
R.  J.  Woodruff. 
Tobias  Foreman. 
-70.  Milton  F.  White. 
Benton  Bement. 
J.  A.  Sweet. 
Mark  Scott. 
J.  A.  Sweet. 
Odell  Brinkerhoff. 
G.  W.  Smith. 
78.  A.  A.  Woodruff. 
Horace  S.  Holmes. 
A.  A.  Woodruff. 


1841.  Samuel  B.  Smith. 
1842-57.  David  Scott,  Jr. 

1858.  George  W.  Scott. 

1859.  William  R.  Allen. 

1860.  David  Scott. 
1861-62.  William  R.  Allen, 


1837.  Samuel  Barker. 
C.  S.  Ferguson. 


TREASURERS. 

1863.  Parker  Webber. 

1864.  George  W.  Scott. 
1865-71^  Parker  Webber. 
1872-77.  Charles  Bauerly. 
1878.  Sylvester  Moon. 
1879-80.  Mark  Scott. 

ASSESSORS. 

1837.  Elihu  Gunnison. 

1838.  Hiram  Stowell. 


1838.  William  W.  Webb. 
J.  AV.  Merrihew. 
Oliver  Bebee. 

1839.  William  W.  Webb. 
Daniel  Ferguson. 
Hiram  Stowell. 

1840.  Isaac  Hewitt. 
Daniel  Ferguson,  Jr. 
Elihu  Gunnison. 

1841.  W.  W.  Webb. 


1841.  Hiram  Stowell. 
Elihu  Gunnison. 

1842.  David  Scott. 
William  Utley. 

1843.  William  Utley. 
Charles  Cushraan. 

1844.  John  S.  Sweezey. 
William  A.  Hewitt. 

1845.  Charles  Cushman. 
William  A.  Hewitt. 


JUSTICES    OF   THE   PEACE. 


1837.  Orange  Ferguson. 
John  Ferdon. 
William  A.  Hewitt. 
Sylvester  Scott. 

1838.  E.  H.  Utley. 
John  Ferdon. 

1839.  William  A.  Hewitt. 
Hiram  Wilcox. 
Orange  Ferguson. 

1840.  Hiram  Wilcox. 
Orange  Ferguson. 

1841.  Elihu  Gunnison. 
J.  F.  Turner. 

1842.  Charles  Lent. 
Lewis  Coburn. 

1843.  Martin  Moore. 

1844.  J.  F.  Turner. 

1845.  J.  S.  Swezey. 

1846.  R.  S.  Van  Scoy. 

1847.  Morris  S.  Allen. 

1848.  Walter  Hubbell. 

1849.  Daniel  Hurd. 

1850.  William  A.  Hewitt. 

1851.  Cory  don  Lee. 

1852.  John  Gunderman. 
S.  W.  Downer. 
Joab  Baker. 

1853.  John  H.  Bacon. 
R.  Strickland. 

1854.  Joab  Baker. 


1855.  C.  W.  Leffingwell. 

1856.  D.  C.  Chapin. 
Sylvester  Hoyt. 

1857.  Seth  P.  Marvin. 

1858.  Theron  Winans. 
1869.  William  Utley. 

1860.  Sylvester  Hoyt. 

1861.  Daniel  Hurd. 

1 862.  Chauncey  Lett. 

1863.  J.  P.  Willet. 
S.  E.  Scott 

1864.  J.  A.  Sweet. 

1865.  Daniel  Hurd. 

1866.  Chauncey  Lett. 

1867.  Charles  A.  Sloan. 

1868.  Enoch  Lewis. 

1869.  S.  B.  McPherson. 
Newton  McLoatb. 

1870.  William  Calkins. 

1871.  Charles  A.  Sloan. 
Chauncey  Lott. 

1872.  Chauncey  Lott. 

1873.  J.  A.  Sweet. 

1874.  William  Collins. 

1875.  Charles  A.  Sloan. 

1876.  A.  J.  Bement. 

1877.  J.  A.  Sweet. 

1878.  Charles  Day. 

1879.  William  A.  Partridge, 

1880.  Jotham  Averill. 


HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 


1837. 

1838. 
1839. 

1840. 

1841. 
1842. 

184.3; 

1844. 

1845. 

1846. 

1847. 


William  A.  Hewitt. 
Orange  Ferguson. 
David  Scott. 
John  Gould. 
Samuel  Barker. 
Orange  Ferguson. 
Harvey  Alexander. 
John  Berry. 
John  W.  Merrihew. 
Harvey  Alexander. 
J.  S.  Sweezey. 
Jesse  F.  Turner. 
John  Gould. 
Elihu  Gunnison. 
Charles  Lent. 
William  A.  Hewitt. 
Elihu  Gunnison. 

Charles  Lent. 

William  E.  Turner. 
Elihu  Gunnison. 
William  E.  Turner. 

R.  S.  Van  Scoy. 

E.  Gunnison. 

W.  Rouse. 

Charles  Lent. 

Elihu  Gunnison. 

Charles  Scott. 

William  Rouse. 

David  Sturgis. 

Charles  Scott. 


1847.  J.  R.  Pearsall. 

1848.  Morris  S.  Allen. 

1849.  R.  B.  Pennell. 
George  Allen. 

1850.  John  Gunderman. 

1851.  William  Rouse. 

1852.  No  record. 

1853.  M.  P.  Headley. 

1854.  William  Rouse. 
John  Gunderman. 

1855.  A.  J.  Bement. 
Daniel  Hurd. 

1856.  Benjamin  Cushman. 
K.  Webber. 

1857.  John  Woodbury. 
Robert  Smith. 

1858.  Charles  Day. 
John  P.  Willet. 

1859.  Robert  Smith. 
Charles  Sloan. 

1860.  Robert  Smith. 
Charles  Lott. 

1861.  Morgan  Christopher. 

1862.  B.  W.  Cushman. 

1863.  H.  P.  Clark. 

1864.  R.  Webber. 
J.  W.  Peavy. 

1865.  David  Knight. 

1866.  Egbert  Hurd. 

1867.  Joseph  Sahpeborger, 


412 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


1S68. 

William  Calkins. ' 

1874.  L.  B.  Worden. 

1869. 

George  W.  Scott. 

1875.  James  Cartwright. 

1870. 

Edmund  Hewitt. 

1876.  Philip  Kraus. 

1871. 

David  Knight. 

1877-78.  L.  E.  Worden. 

1872. 

E.  P.  Wells. 

1879-80.  Edward  Hewitt. 

1873. 

J.  H.  Gunnison. 

SCHOOL 

INSPECTORS. 

1837. 

J.  R.  Pearsall. 

1852.  John  H.  Bacon. 

S.  Scott. 

1853.  Joseph  H.  Adams. 

W.  J.  Pnrtelo. 

1854.  John  H.  Bacon. 

E.  H.  Utlcy. 

1855.  J.  W.  Ransom. 

1838. 

John  Gould. 

1856.  J.  H.  Bacon. 

Hiram  Stowell. 

J.  H.  Adams. 

J.  R.  Pearsall. 

1857.  E.  M.  Hutohins. 

1839. 

No  record. 

1858.  John  D.  Woodbury. 

1840. 

Hiram  Wilcox. 

1859.  Elihu  Gunnison. 

Daniel  Ferguson,  Jr. 

1860.  John  H.  Bacon. 

J.  R.  Pearsall. 

1861.  George  W.  Topping. 

1841. 

Lewis  Oaborn. 

1862.  Frank  Webb. 

Hiram  Stowell. 

1863.  A.  G.  Gunnison. 

J.  K.  Pearsall. 

1864.  G.  W.  Topping. 

1842. 

S.  P.  Marvin. 

1865.  H.  P.  Bartlett. 

Lewis  Osborn. 

1866.  Frank  Webb. 

J.  R.  Pearsall. 

1867.  James  Gunnison. 

1843. 

Lewis  Coburn. 

1868.  Mark  Scott. 

Levi  Townson. 

1869.  Charles  Moon. 

J  844. 

J.  R.  Pearsall. 

1870.  Edward  M.  Webb. 

S.  P.  Marvin. 

1871.  William  Collins. 

1845 

Lemuel  Woodhouse. 

1872.  William  D.  Bird. 

1846 

Lewis  Coburn. 

1873.  J.  W.  Gunnison. 

William  W.  Upton. 

1874.  William  D.  Bird. 

1847 

Levi  Townson. 

1875-77.  Alfred  G.  Gunnison 

1848 

J.  R.  Pearsall. 

1878.  J.  W.  Gunnison. 

1849 

Joseph  H.  Adams. 

1879.  0.  G.  Pennell. 

1850 

Hiram  Stowell. 

1880.  Albert  Rouse. 

1851 

Joseph  H.  Adams. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  early  records  of  the  board  of  school  inspectors  of 
the  township  of  De  Witt  have  not  been  preserved,  and  facts 
regarding  its  division  into  school  districts  and  the  subse- 
quent progress  of  the  educational  interests  of  the  township 
are  not  accessible. 

The  earliest  school  building  was  a  log  structure  erected 
on  section  7,  upon  the  farm  of  Alanson  Goodrich,  and 
known  as  the  "  Goodrich  School-House."  Miss  Betsey 
Gooch  was  the  pioneer  instructress.  The  second  school- 
house  was  built  in  district  No.  2  (the  first  having  been  in 
district  No.  1)  in  the  village  of  De  Witt  in  1840.  Both 
Dr.  Seth  P.  Marvin  and  J.  H.  Adams  are  given  as  early 
teachers,  and  it  is  difficult  to  say  which  was  the  first.  This 
first  building  was  replaced  by  one  of  more  extended  pro- 
portions, in  which  the  sessions  of  the  court  were  for  a  time 
held,  it  having  been  at  that  period  the  most  pretentious 
structure  at  the  county-seat. 

In  1870  the  present  spacious  edifice  of  brick  was  erected, 
and  the  school  is  now  conducted  on  the  graded  plan,  with 
Prof.  Coriel  as  principal,  Miss  Edith  Williams  as  assistant, 
and  Miss  Josie  Holmes  in  charge  of  the  intermediate  de- 
partment. The  present  school  territory  of  De  Witt  is  divided 
into  one  fractional  and  five  whole  districts,  with  the  follow- 
ing as  a  board  of  directors :  Robert  McConkey,  James 
Hath,  A.  A.  WoodruflF,  Christian  Kraus,  A.  8.  Weste,  and 
Edgar  Hurd.  The  value  of  school  property  is  eleven 
thousand  nine  hundred  dollars,  embracing  one  brick  and 
five  frame   buildings.      Three   male   and    eleven   female 


teachers  are  employed.  They  have  under  their  care  three 
hundred  and  twenty-six  scholars,  all  residents  of  the  town- 
ship. 

KBLIGIOUS  OEGAlSriZATIONS. 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
The  first  class  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  De  Witt  was  organized  by  Elder  Bennett,  the 
pioneer  in  religious  labor  in  the  township,  in  1836.  Its 
earliest  members  were  John  Gould,  Pamelia  Gould,  Asa 
Parker,  Mary  Parker,  Samuel  Smith,  Lewis  Coburn,  and 
Lucinda  Coburn. 

Without  information  from  church  records  it  is  impossible 
to  give  a  sketch  of  the  early  progress  of  the  church,  though 
from  various  sources  has  been  gleaned  a  list  of  the  pastors 
who  in  turn  were  appointed  to  the  charge.  The  date  of 
their  service  is  not  obtainable  previous  to  1854.  They 
were  Rev.  Zebulon  C.  Brown,  Rev.  Washington  Jackson, 

Rev.  Loriman   Chatfield,  Rev.  Allen  Staples,  Rev. 

Warner,  Rev.  Nathan  Mount,  Rev.-  Jeremiah  Boynton, 
Rev.  T.  A.  Blades,  Rev. Whitmore,  Rev.  Ely  West- 
lake,  Rev.  Stephen  Woodard,  Rev.  E.  H.  Pilcher,  who  was 
the  first  presiding  elder  in  the  district  with  which  the  cir- 
cuit was  connected.  Rev. Bradley,  Rev. Shaw, 

Rev. Brown,  Rev. Penfield,  Rev. Hem- 

mingway.  Rev.  Seth  Reid,  Rev.  T.  S.  Hill,  Rev.  Samuel 
Bessey,  Rev.  W^illiam  E.  Bigelow,  Rev.  William  F.  Coles, 

Rev.  Joseph  Sutton,  Rev. Fowler.     The  parsonage 

was  erected  in  1846,  but  it  is  not  apparent  under  whose 

ministry  this  was  accomplished.    In  1854  Rev. Dun^ 

ton  had  the  care  of  the  flock,  and  was  succeeded  as  follows : 
1855,  Rev.  D.  D.  Young;  1856,  Rev.  B.  D.  Young  and 

T.  J.  Hill ;  1857,  T.  J.  Hill  and  Rev. Fowler;  1858, 

Rev.  Almon  Gore  and  Henry  P.  Parker ;  1850,  Rev.  A. 
L.  Cullenden  and  C.  B.  Holbrook ;  1860,  Rev.  William 
Stafford  and  Rev.  F.  J.  Freeman;  1861,  Rev.  William 
Stafford ;  1862,  Rev.  Charles  Chick ;  1863,  Rev.  L.  M. 
Garlick ;  1864,  Rev.  James  Roberts ;  1865,  Rev.  William 
F.  Jenkins,  under  whose  ministry  the  present  church  was 
built;  1867,  Rev.  E.  Wilkinson;  1868,  Rev.  Thomas 
Clark  ;  1869,  Rev.  H.  D.  Jordan  ;  1870,  Rev.  F.  J.  Free- 
man ;  1872,  Rev.  J.  R.  Chadwell ;  1873,  Rev.  William  J. 
Swift ;  1876,  Rev.  J.  Garlick ;  1878,  Rev.  W.  R.  McEwing, 
the  present  pastor,  who  embraces  in  his  field  of  labor  the 
following  appointments  :  De  Witt,  Riley,  Wacousta,  South 
Riley,  Jason's  School-House,  and  Gunnison's  School-House, 
the  whole  being  known  as  the  Wacousta  circuit.  The  De 
Witt  church  has  a  membership  of  sixty,  under  the  direction 
of  William  Roberts  and  Seth  M.  Cook  as  class-leaders. 
A  Sabbath-school  is  also  connected  with  the  organization, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Mrs.  D.  0.  Topping,  with 
Myron  Clary  as  assistant. 

The  board  of  trustees  are  H.  W.  Springstead,  S.  M. 
Cook,  J.  A.  Sweet,  William  Roberts,  Jotham  Averiil, 
George  Allen,  Barnabas  Bassett. 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 
A  meeting  of  persons  resident  in  the  township  of  De 
W^itt  and   desirous  of  forming  a   Congregational  Church 
was  held  at  the  school-house  in  the  village  of  De  Witt 


DB  WITT  TOWNSHIP. 


413 


April  21,  1851,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  society  and 
electing  a  board  of  trustees.  The  following  gentlemen  were 
chosen :  Adam  W.  Euttridge,  Jesse  Foot  Turner,  Joseph 
Hollister,  J.  W.  Gardner,  Nelson  J.  Allport,  Frederick  K. 
Read,  Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy,  James  Sturgis,  and  Morris  8. 
Allen. 

This  board  having  been  disorganized,  a  new  board  was 
formed  in  1853,  embracing  Riley  A.  Hoyt,  James  M. 
Estes,  and  Frederick  R.  Read.  Services  were  held  in  the 
school-house  at  De  Witt  for  a  brief  time,  but  the  organi- 
zation seemed  not  to  possess  the  elements  of  permanent  ex- 
istence, and  was  eventually  disbanded. 

BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

Meetings  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  John  Gunder- 
man,  in  connection  with  the  Baptist  denomination,  had 
been  held  prior  to  1850  at  the  school-house  in  De  Witt. 
On  the  20th  of  September  a  public  meeting  was  convened 
at  the  above  school-house,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a 
chureh  in  accordance  with  the  statutes  of  Michigan.  Dea- 
con Jonathan  R.  Pearsall  and  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Merrill 
were  chosen  to  preside,  and  an  election  was  held,  the  fol- 
lowing trustees  having  been  chosen  :  Jonathan  R.  Pearsall, 
Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy,  David  Sturgis,  J.  B.  Clark,  Orville 
■Bacon,  David  Olin,  N.  B.  Allen,  Silas  Walton,  and  Na- 
thaniel Foreman.  It  was  on  this  occasion  resolved  "  that 
the  trustees  elected  be  and  their  successors  are  forever 
hereafter  called  the  '  The  First  Baptist  Church  and  Society 
of  De  Witt,'  and  that  Rev.  John  Gunderman  is  declared 
president  of  the  said  association  and  Jonathan  R.  Pearsall 
secretary."  The  meeting  then  adjourned  subject  to  the  call 
of  the  president.  Rev.  John  Gunderman. 

This  society  grew  in  numbers  and  influence,  and  at  one 
period  of  its  existence  embraced  one  hundred  and  sixty 
members  on  its  church-roll.  An  edifice  was  erected  and 
services  were  regularly  maintained. 

It  afterwards  sufiered  a  period  of  decline,  which  seems  to 
have  reached  a  culmination  with  its  present  membership  of 
thirty,  all  of  whom  are  residents  of  the  adjacent  country 
and  not  of  the  village.  Under  the  present  pastorate  of 
Rev.  A.  N.  Niles  new  life  has  been  infused  into  the  con- 
gregation, and  with  a  revival  of  interest  a  more  extended 
membership  and  greater  activity  is  hoped  for. 

GERMAN  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
This  society  was  formerly  connected  with  the  Lansing 
charge,  having  been  associated  with  it  under  the  ministry 
of  Rev.  Jacob  Krehbeil  in  1854.  The  members  continued 
their  connection  with  the  Lansing  organization  for  many 
years,  services  having  usually  been  held  at  the  Allen  school- 
house  in  the  township  of  De  Witt.  The  pastors  after  Rev. 
Jacob  Krehbeil,  in  succession,  were :  1855,  Rev.  Gustav 
Bertrams  ;  1856,  Rev.  Henry  Krill ;  1857,  Rev.  John  F. 
Jahraus;  1859,  Henry  Mentz;  1860,  Daniel  Meyer; 
1862,  Adolph  Heluker;  1863,  Gustav  Bertrams;  1865, 
Andreas  Meyer;  1867,  Jacob  Bram ;  1868,  Gustav  Ber- 
trams; 1869,  C.  F.  Heitmeyer;  1870,  C.  A.  Mitilzer; 
1874,  William  Audran ;  1877,  C.  F.  Hietmeyer;  1879, 
Conrad  Wehnes,  the  present  pastor.  Under  the  ministra- 
tions of  Rev.  William'  Audran,  in   1874,  a  church  edifice 


was  erected  on  section  18,  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  dollars  and  fifty-four  cents,  the 
board  of  trustees  who  superintended  its  construction  hav- 
ing been  C.  F.  Heitmeyer,  John  Schlee,  Gebhart  Gude- 
kunst,  and  John  Stutts.  The  present  qhurch-roU  embraces 
eighty  members,  and  a  flourishing  Sabbath-school  is  con- 
nected with  the  charge,  embracing  fifty  scholars,  with  Theo- 
dore Shafier  as  superintendent.  Adjoining  the  church  is  a 
comfortable  parsonage  in  which  the  pastor  resides,  services 
being  held  each  Sabbath.  The  present  board  of  trustees 
are  John  Schlee,  Gebhart  Gudekunst,  John  Fell,  Gottlieb 
Schrey,  and  Charles  Stebler. 

DE   WITT   GKANGE,  No.  459. 

The  De  Witt  Grange  was  organized  in  the  year  1875, 
with  the  following  oflScers :  Galusha  Pennell,  Master ; 
George  W.  Scott,  Overseer ;  0.  G.  Pennell,  Lecturer ;  M. 
L.  Alexander,  Chaplain  ;  S.  E.  Scott,  Steward ;  Bishop 
Downer,  Sec. ;  De  Witt  BrinkerhofF,  Treas.  Its  present 
officers  are  R.  G.  Mason,  Master ;  J.  T.  Morris,  Overseer ; 
0.  G.  Pennell,  Lecturer ;  Mrs.  0.  G.  Pennell,  Chaplain  ; 
William  Collins,  Sec. ;  Newton  McCiough,  Treas.  The 
meetings,  which  are  well  attended,  are  held  at  Bates'  Hall. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


GEORGE  ALLEN. 

George  Allen,  one  of  the  first  settlors  of  the  town  of  De 
Witt,  was  born  in  Rome,  Onoida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  23, 1806. 
His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  born 
in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  12,  1786.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  was  married  to  Miss  Betsey  Heath,  and  shortly 
after  removed  to  Oneida  County,  where  he  resided  until 
1816,  when  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Niagara  County, 
then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness.  But  little  is  known 
of  his  history ;  he  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  but  never 
attained  special  proininence  in  any  way.  When  George  was 
nine  years  of  age  he  went  to  live  with  a  Baptist  minister, 
with  whom  he  was  to  remain  until  he  was  twenty-one ; 
but  after  five  years  of  toil  and  inhuman  treatment  he  ran 
away  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Niagara  County.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources. 
He  obtained  employment  of  a  farmer,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained nearly  four  years,  hen,  with  an  idea  of  bettering 
his  condition,  he  went  on  to  the  Erie  Canal,  but  that  life 
was  not  a  congenial  one,  and  he  returned  to  the  farm.  In 
1831  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Laughlin.  She  was 
born  in  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  April  17, 1810  ;  she  has  been 
the  partner  of  all  his  pioneer  experiences,  and  has  shared 
with  him  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  a  life  in 
a  new  country.  Six  years  after  their  marriage  they  came 
to  Michigan,  and  first  settled  in  Plymouth,  Wayne  Co., 
where  he  rented  a  large  farm  ;  shortly  after,  however,  he 
disposed  of  his  interest  for  eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  town 
of  De  Witt,  upon  which  he  now  resides.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  De  Witt,  a  period  of  over  forty  years,  he  has 
demonstrated  his  general  worth  as  a  citizen,  and  has  identi- 


414 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


GEORGE  ALLEN. 

fied  himself  largely  with  the  development  of  the  town.  He 
has  attracted  to  himself  a  large  circle  of  friends,  by  whom 
he  is  appreciated  for  his  integrity  as  a  man,  and  as  a  kind, 
obliging  neighbor  and  friend.  He  is  an  honored  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  a  generous 
supporter,  so  far  as  his  means  will  allow,  of  all  religious  and 
benevolent  enterprises.   In  his  political  belief  he  is  a  staunch 


MKS.    GEORGE  ALLEN. 

Republican,  but  has  never  desired  or  sought  office,  prefer- 
ring rather  the  retirement  of  the  farm,  the  companionship 
of  his  family,  and  the  good-will  and  esteem  of  all  to  the 
slight  distinction  gained  by  the  occupancy  of  a  subordinate' 
position. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  are  the  parents  of  two  children, — 
Oscar,  born  Aug.  23, 1832,  and  Mary,  born  Aug.  28, 1834. 


CHAPTER   LV. 
DALLAS   TOWNSHIP.* 

Description — The  Pioneers  of  Dallas — Township  Organization  and 
List  of  Officers — Schools — Township  Roads — Village  of  Dallas — 
Fowler  Village'^Keligious  Organizations — Societies. 

The  township  of  Dallas,  known  in  the  United  States 
survey  as  town  7  north,  in  range  4  west,  lies  upon  the 
western  line  of  Clinton  County,  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Lebanon  township,  on.  the  south  by  Westphalia, 
on  the  east  by  Bengal,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Ionia 
County  line. 

The  Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee  Railway 
passes  through  Dallas  on  an  air-line  between  east  and  west, 
and  traverses  sections  7,  8,  9, 10, 11,  and  12.  Stony  Creek, 
a  stream  of  some  water-power,  flows  northward  and  west- 
ward from  section  36  through  sections  25,  26,  27,  28,  29, 
20,  and  19.  Following  the  course  of  the  creek  the  old 
State  road  gave  in  the  pioneer  days  convenient  passage 
westward  to  Lyons,  and  even  before  the  settlement  of  the 
town  was  a  much-traveled  highway.  The  country  is  gen- 
erally level  and  the  soil  clayey.  There  is  some  waste  land, 
but  only  a  trifle  compared  to  the  area  of  similar  nature 
presented  to  the  first  comers.  Fowler,  a  station  on  the 
Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee  Railway,  is  a  grow- 
ing village,  and  a  wheat-market  of  some  pretensions,  as 
well  as  a  lively  business  centre. 


*  By  Darid  Schwartz. 


THE   PIONEERS   OE   DALLAS. 

In  the  year  1836,  Morris  Boughton  and  his  brother-in- 
law,  Benjamin  Welch,  came  westward,  in  company  with 
their  families,  and  founded  each  a  settlement  in  a  Clintoo 
County  town, — Boughton  in  Riley  and  Welch  in  Daliae. 
Welch  made  his  commencement  upon  section  36,  on^he 
line  of  the  road  chopped  out  by  Dexter  wbile  pushing  on 
for  Ionia  some  time  before,  the  place  being  now  known  as 
the  Feldpanoch  farm.  Welch  was  for  some  little  time  the 
only  settler  in  Dallas,  until  1837,  when  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Simeon  McCoy  rolled  up  a  cabin  on  section  27  and 
started  a  clearing.  McCoy  owned  no  land,  but  came  on  for 
Giles  Isham,  of  Lyons,  who  owned  a  tract  of  four  hundred 
acres  on  section  27.  McCoy  did  not,  perhaps,  fancy  the 
work  of  pioneering,  for  after  clearing  about  eleven  acres  he 
concluded  he  had  had  enough  of  it,  packed  his  traps, 
migrated,  and  was  heard  of  no  more. 

Following  close  upon  that  event  came  George  F.  Dutton, 
who  in  1835  fij^t  pitched  his  tent  in  Michigan,  upon  the 
Grand  River,  at  Lyons,  and  exchanged  that  location  for  one 
in  Dallas,  upon  section  22,  where  his  widow  still  lives 
with  her  son  George.  Mr.  Dutton  was  a  solitary  settler  in 
fi  wild  tract  of  some  extent,  for  his  nearest  settled  neighbor 
was  no  nearer  than  Lyons.  McCoy  had  been  in  and  gone, 
and  a  mile  east  Nathan  Bigelow  and  his  wife  had  been 
living  on  section  23  since  the  previous  September,  in  a 
wagon-box.  Bigelow  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  but  did  not  seem  to  care  to  exert  him- 
self to  put  up  a  cabin  until  his  neighbors  rallied  and  as- 


DALLAS  TOWNSHIP. 


415 


him  to  one.  Keeping  house  in  a  wagon-box  ap- 
peared to  suit  him  and  his  good  wife  quite  well  enough 
while  the  mild  season  endured,  and  they  were  probably 
happy  enough.  Daniel  Dutton,  now  living  on  section  14, 
was  George  F.  Dutton's  younger  brother,  and  lived  awhile 
with  Mr.  Dutton  in  Dallas.  After  a  sojourn  of  a  few 
years  he  moved  to  Portland;  became  a  settler  in  West- 
phalia in  1851,  and  some  years  later  upon  the  place  in 
Dallas  where  he  now  lives.  George  F.  Dutton  built  the 
first  framed  barn  in  Dallas,  and  when  he  got  ready  for  the 
raising  could  not  find  neighbors  enough  to  assist  him  without 
going  to  the  Keynolds  settlement,  five  miles  or  more  away. 
There  were  sixteen  men  at  that  raising,  and  they  were 
entertained  by  Mrs.  Dutton  in  a  hearty  and  hospitable,  if 
not  an  elegant,  manner.  Hospitality  was  in  those  days  a 
crowning  virtue  of  the  time,  and  was  a  spirit  so  broad  and 
large-hearted  that  it  pervaded  every  pioneer  home  and 
made  itself  felt  wherever  a  stranger  or  wayfarer  applied  for 
food  or  shelter. 

George  F.  Dutton  owned  one  of  the  few  pairs  of  horses 
boasted  by  the  neighborhood,  and  the  business  of  hauling 
goods  from  Detroit  to  Lyons  and  other  places,  which  he 
entered  upon  soon  after  his  settlement  at  Lyons,  he  con- 
tinued after  he  located  in  Dallas.  The  road  now  known  as 
the  State  road  follows  essentially  the  path  marked  by  Dexter, 
Ionia's  first  settler,  when  he  passed  on  to  his  destination 
and  cut  out  his  road  as  he  traveled  (wherefore  it  was  known 
for  a  long  time  as  the  Dexter  road)  over  that  highway. 
Dutton  made  many  a  trip  as  freighter  between  Detroit  and 
points  in  Clinton  and  Ionia  Counties.  There  was  another 
early  road  through  the  town,  passing  between  east  and  west, 
upon  a  line  about  one  mile  south  of  the  present  line  of  the 
Detroit,  Grand  Haven  and  Milwaukee  llailroad.  It  was 
originally  intended  for  the  Northern  Railroad,  the  bed  of 
which  was  constructed  in  1837  or  thereabouts,  but  never 
came  to  any  further  conclusion.  The  line  of  that  road, 
straightened  so  as  to  pass  along  section-lines,  is  now  a  town- 
ship road. 

Off  at  the  north,  Andrew  R.  ^'^ance,  one  of  the  Vance 
families  whose  members  made  an  important  settlement  in 
the  locality  known  as  the  Plains,  came  in  about  the  time  of 
Dutton's  advent  and  located  on  section  4,  close  to  the  Vances 
of  the  Plains.  He  was  a  bachelor  and  lived  for  several 
years  alone  in  his  primitive  shanty.  His  was  the  first  set- 
tlement in  the  northern  portion  of  Dallas. 

The  entrance  of  the  Parks  families  and  the  numerical 
strength  of  the  various  branches  thereof  who  became  pio- 
neers in  the  township  marked  an  event  of  some  conse- 
quence in  the  early  history  of  Dallas.  Smith  Parks,  with 
a  family  of  seventeen  children,  led  the  Parks'  advance  into 
Dallas  close  upon  the  appearance  of  the  Duttons.  Smith 
Parks  and  his  wife  were  married  at  the  respective  ages  of 
sixteen  and  fifteen,  and,  as  has  been  seen,  boasted  at  the 
time  of  their  settlement  in  Dallas  the  possession  of  a  small 
army  of  descendants.  It  is  further  worthy  of  remark  that 
of  these  seventeen  children  all  lived  to  become  men  and 
women.  Parks'  location  was  on  section  27,  upon  a  portion 
of  the  four  hundred  acres  owned  by  Giles  Isham,  of  Lyons, 
who  in  1837  had  sent  Simeon  McCoy  over  to  make  a 
clearing  upon  it.     Davis  Parks,  now  living  in  the  village  of 


Fowler  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  and  the  oldest  living  male 
settler  in  the  town,  was  the  next  to  follow  his  brother 
Smith,  and  settled  likewise  upon  section  27,  on  Stony  Creek, 
where  there  was  a  mill-site,  and  where  in  1840  he  and 
Smith  Parks,  Jr.,  built  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township. 
The  lumber  for  the  mill  they  got  at  Miles  Mansfield's  mill, 
on  the  Looking-Glass  in  Eagle  township,  whence  they 
hauled  it  over  a  rough  and  roadless  country.  Davis  Parks 
had  a  considerable  lot  of  supplies  to  bring  in  when  he 
settled,  and  before  he  could  get  his  goods  to  his  clearing 
made  no  less  than  five  trips  over  the  State  road,  with  an 
ox^team,  between  Dallas  and  Oakland  County,  his  former 
home. 

As  before  mentioned,  that  State  road  was  much  trav- 
eled. It  was  chopped  out  four  rods  wide,  but  cleared  only 
two  rods,  and  was  for  a  long  time  at  best  a  pretty  wild  and 
stumpy  track.  On  Smith  Parks' place  a  fine  black-walnut, 
measuring  twenty-eight  feet  in  circumference,  bordered 
the  highway,  and  at  its  foot  a  flowing  spring  cheerily  in- 
vited passing  travelers  to  halt.  This  spot  was  a  favorite 
one  for  night  encampments,  and  the  spring  and  walnut-tree 
came  to  be  gratefully  known  by  many  a  tired  traveler. 
Although  every  man's  house  was  a  "  house  of  entertain- 
ment," there  were  no  licensed  inns  on  the  road  in  Dallas. 
Those  who  chose  to  "  keep  people"  for  pay  obtained  excel- 
lent financial  returns,  for  entertainment  was  in  demand  and 
the  entertained  were  usually  quite  willing  to  pay  whatever 
was  asked.  Ben  Welsh  used  to  keep  people  very  often,  and 
charged  them  good  round  prices.  When  he  got  a  chance 
to  keep  a  man  over  night  with  a  pair  of  oxen,  he  put  up 
his  bill  to  a  couple  of  dollars  or  so  for  the  man  and  an  extra 
dollar  for  cornstalks  enough  to  fodder  the  cattle.  Some- 
times he  kept  parties  conveying  wagon-loads  of  money  be- 
tween the  Ionia  land-oflBce  and  Detroit,  and  then  he  rolled 
up  an  account  for  lodging  and  subsistence  that  leaped  fairly 
into  the  atmosphere  of  the  bonanza  world.  At  a  later 
period  stages  ran  over  the  road  between  Portland  and 
points  eastward,  and  the  mail  was  also  carried  over  it,  but 
neither  the  stage  nor  the  mail-route  era  lasted  very  long. 

The  first  child  born  in  Dallas  was  Phoebe,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Welch,  her  birth  occurring  in  the  spring  of 
1837.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Ballard,  of  Jackson,. 
Mich.,  where  at  last  accounts  her  father,  Benjamin  Welch 
(Dallas'  first  settler),  was  also  living.  The  pioneer  marriage 
was  celebrated  in  1839,  at  Benjamin  Welch's  house,  on 
which  occasion  the  bride  was  Lydia  Ann  Ayers  and  the 
groom  Nelson  D,  Long, — both  bride  and  groom  being  in 
the  employ  of  Mr.  Welch.  The'  ceremony  was  performed 
by  'Squire  Cortland  Hill,  of  Bengal.  The  first  death  in 
the  town  was  the  tragic  taking  off  of  Amasa  Dorn,  brother- 
in-law  to  Smith  Parks,  with  whom  he  came  to  the  town 
and  made  a  settlement.  Dorn  was  somewhat  noted  as  a 
hunter,  and  for  being  moreover  chronically  despondent,  but 
whether  for  good  reason  or  not  cannot  be  said.  He  was  at 
all  events  much  disposed  to  rail  at  fortune  and  make  him- 
self desperately  unhappy  by  reflections  upon  what  he  was 
pleased  to  term  "  his  hard  lot."  One  day,  while  more  than 
ordinarily  depressed,  he  called  one  of  his  children  to  him, 
patted  her  on  the  head,  told  her  he  had  made  up  his  mind 


416 


HISTORY  OP  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


to  kill  himself,  placed  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  against  his 
head,  pulled  the  trigger  with  his  toe,  and  blew  his  head  to 
pieces.  The  incident  was  of  course  a  sensation  in  the  in- 
fant settlement,  and  rather  supplanted  for  a  time  the  prac- 
tical considerations  of  everyday  life,  for  the  course  of  com- 
mon events  in  that  neighborhood  was  naturally  simple  and 
even  in  its  flow,  and  thus  roughly  disturbed  did  not  soon 
regain  its  customary  placidity.  Dorn  was  buried  upon 
Cortland  Hill's  farm  in  Bengal,  where  his  bones  still  lie, 
although  the  traces  of  his  grave  have  been  swept  away  by 
the  plowshare. 

Davis  Parks  relates  an  instance  of  starvation  diet  in- 
flicted upon  the  Parks  families  during  the  absence,  in  De- 
troit, of  Davis  and  his  brother  Smith.  They  went  over  to 
Ionia  to  sell  a  cow,  and  took  in  part  exchange  a  little  bar- 
ley flour.  This  happened  to  be  all  the  flour  they  could 
secure,  and  so  leaving  it  at  home  they  hurried  away  to  De- 
troit for  a  larger  supply ;  but  hasten  as  they  would  they 
were  six  days  making  the  trip,  and  meanwhile  the  band  of 
little  ones  at  home  had  eaten  of  the  barley  flour,  and  were 
endeavoring  to  sustain  life  on  roasted  leeks,  which  were  not 
the  most  palatable  food  in  the  world.  The  struggle  was  a 
tough  one,  and  promised  to  end  in  disaster,  but  flnally  the 
wanderers  appeared  with  the  long-expected  flour,  and  star- 
vation was  averted. 

The  widow  of  George  F.  Dutton,  in  dwelling  upon  the  ex- 
periences that  assailed  the  pioneers  of  Dallas,  remarks  that 
hardships  were  not  exceedingly  rigorous  among  those  who 
sturdily  and  bravely  pushed  their  energies  to  the  tasks  be- 
fore them, — that  those  who  tried  to  do  so  got  along  well 
enough, — and  that  there  were,  of  course,  a  sufficiency  of 
those  who  sought  to  shirk  the  serious  issues  of  bread- 
winning,  and  found  themselves,  accordingly,  the  subjects  of 
privations  and  suff'ering,  which,  instead  of  rightly  charging 
to  their  own  improvidence  and  love  of  ease,  they  imposed 
as  a  complaint  against  the  country  and  circumstances  over 
wliich  they  had  no  control. 

The  earliest  school  taught  in  the  township  was  one  over 
which  one  Sheldon  Sherman  presided.  Sherman  was  a 
resident  of  Oakland  County,  where  Smith  Parks  had  been 
his  neighbor.  The  latter  induced  him  to  come  out  to  Dal- 
las and  open  a  school,  but  the  recollection  of  that  school  by 
Stephen  Parks,  one  of  the  pupils,  is  to  the  efi^ect  that  Sher- 
man was  so  full  of  mischief  and  play  that  keeping  school 
was  a  farce  that  encouraged  the  scholars  in  their  fondness 
for  sport  rather  than  for  book-learning.  The  school-house 
was  the  abandoned  cabin  of  Amasa  Dorn,  on  section  36, — 
the  building  in  which  Dorn  killed  himself, — and  the  pupils 
not  more  than  a  half-dozen  in  number.  Smith  Parks  and 
Benjamin  Welch  agreed  to  pay  the  school-master  and  get 
what  they  could  of  other  parents  to  reimburse  themselves. 
Sherman  was  famous  as  the  man  with  the  club-foot  and  a 
most  extraordinary  taste  for  dancing  and  cutting  up  all  sorts 
of  "  shines."  Just  as  school  was  over  he  would  hurry  the 
boys  and  girls  to  the  school-house  green  and  start  himself 
and  them  upon  a  dancing-campaign  that  endured  just  as 
long  as  tlie  physical  forces  could  bear  the  burden.  He 
was,  moreover,  inclined  to  romp  with  the  children  during 
school-hours,  and  as  a  consequence  they  learned  very  little. 
Charles  Maynard,  the  second  teacher,  taught  in  a  school- 


house  on  the  State  road  just  east  of  the  Parks  saw-mill, 
and  was  accounted  a  pedagogue  of  much  worth.  In  1849 
a  log  school-house  was  built  on  section  22,  and  in  that 
house  the  first  teacher  was  Christina  Hutchinson,  of  Ionia. 
Early  religious  services  in  the  settlement  were  held  by 
Methodist  exhorters,  among  whom  the  most  prominent  were 
Mr.  Deitz  and  James  Moore,  of  Maple  Rapids,  and  "  Bible- 
back"  Reynolds,  of  the  Reynolds  settlement  in  Ionia 
County.  Reynolds  was  a  good  deal  of  a  character  in  those 
days,  and  devoted  himself  earnestly  and  steadily  to  the 
work  of  furthering  public  religious  worship  wherever  it 
appeared  to  be  in  demand. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  Dallas  were  some  Germans, 
who  drifted  into  the  town  by  way  of  Westphalia,  and 
located  chiefly  south  of  Stony  Creek,  where  the  residents 
of  to-day  are  nearly  all  of  German  extraction.  Among 
the  German  pioneers  alluded  to  were  John  Shafier,  who 
bought  land  on  section  31,  originally  improved  by  Mr. 
Chamberlain ;  Henry  Bartow,  on  section  31 ;  John  A. 
Fedewa,  who  kept  a  store  at  an  early  date  on  the  southern 
town  line  in  section  32;  the  Sniders,  Hafners,  Dunne- 
backers,  Millers,  Lehmans,  and  others.  Richard  Welling 
was  an  early  settler  on  section  25,  and  the  Sargents  like- 
wise, on  section  23.  Upon  section  22,  in  May,  1847,  Ze- 
bina  Rice,  of  Oakland  County,  became  a  settler  upon  a 
tract  of  which  George  F.  Dutton  had  cleared  ten  acres. 
He  used  to  flnd  a  road  out  of  town  over  the  old  Northern 
Railroad  bed,  and  when  he  did  not  wish  to  travel  that  way 
he  had  to  manufacture  a  road  of  his  own.  Three  miles 
west  of  him  was  Hiram  Willis,  who  had  moved  into  the 
town  in  the  fall  of  1844,  at,  which  time  also  Marcellus 
Vangeison  made  a  location  on  the  State  road,  in  section  25. 
South  of  Vangeison's,  on  section  35,  William  Hayes  was 
living  in  1845,  as  was  Israel  Smith,  while  on  section  36 
Samuel  Sterns  was  one  of  the  new-comers. 

UESIDENT  TAX-PAYEKS   OF   DALLAS  IN  1845. 

Acres. 

Isaac  Fifield,  section  3 30 

Samuel  Fifleld Personal. 

Andrew  K.  Vanee,  section  4 99 

Hiram  Dean,  section  6 162 

Orrin  Parks,  sections  26,  27 120 

Vincent  Parks,  sections  15,26 180 

Smith  I'arks,  section  26 '90 

Smith  Parks,  Jr.,  section  26 70 

William  Hayes,  section  35 80 

Alexander  Parks Personal. 

Marcellus  Vangeison,  section  25 80 

Nathan  Bigelow,  sections  23,  36 160 

Uriah  Drake Personal. 

Samuel  Stems,  section  36 160 

Saniuel  H.  Parks,  section  35 80 

William  Bartow,  section  34 160 

Constance  Shaw,  section  33 80 

Israel  Smith,  section  35 80 

Henry  Bartow,  section  31 160 

Peter  Shaffer,  section  32 40 

J.  A.  Fedewa,  section  32 20 

Richard  AVelling,  sections  15-26 240 

Hiram  F.  Willis,  sections  18-17 120 

George  F.  Dntton,  section  22 240 

Davis  Parks,  section  27 80 

Sidney  Parks,  section  25 80 

Frederick  Myers,  living  now  on  section  16,  was  a  farm 
hand  with  George  F.  Dutton  in  1852,  and  remained  in  Mr. 
Dutton's  employ  upwards  often  and  a  half  years.  In  1869 
he  took  possession  of  the  farm  he  now  owns  on  sections  16 


DALLAS  TOWNSHIP. 


417 


and  21,  which  was  at  that  time  an  untouched  forest;  Wil- 
liam Hayes,  who  penetrated  the  township  of  Kiley  as  a  set- 
tler as  early  as  1837,  became  subsequently  a  moderately 
early  settler  in  Dallas,  and  lives  now  therein  upon  a  place 
previously  settled  by  Alexander  Parks. 

THE   NOKTHERN   PORTION   OF   THE   TOWNSHIP. 

North  of  the  centre  of  the  township,  settlements  pro- 
gressed much  more  slowly  than  elsewhere  until  about 
1856,  when  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  line 
traversed  that  quarter,  and  called  settlers  to  its  vicinity  in 
rapidly  swelling  volume.  Andrew  R.  Vance,  who  opened 
bachelor's  hall  on  section  4,  was  -the  first  settler  in  that 
quarter,  and  on  sections  3  and  6  Isaac  Fifield  and  Hiram 
Dean  were  early  on  the  ground.  One  Sever  made  a  begin- 
ning in  1845  on  section  17,  where  J.  W.  Shumway  now 
lives,  and  in  1852  Josephus  Mundell  came  to  section  14, 
then  a  wild  tract.  Mr.  Mundell  occupied,  with  his  family, 
temporary  quarters  in  an  abandoned  lumberman's  shanty 
that  he  found  hard  by  on  section  11,  where  somebody  had 
chopped  a  five-acre  tract.  Upon  section  14,  southward, 
Sidney  Parks  and  Stephen  Parks,  with  their  families,  were 
living  at  the  period  of  Mr.  Mundell's  arrival.  North  of 
them  Peter  Strickland  was  living,  on  the  old  Andrew  Vance 
place.  Their  nearest  neighbors  on  the  west  were  the  Severs, 
on  section  17,  three  miles  away. 

In  1853,  P.  T.  JoUey,  now  living  on  section  11,  made  a 
location  on  the  south  town  line  of  Lebanon,  north  of  where 
he  now  lives.  James  McRoberts,  a  settler  in  Westphalia, 
as  early  as  1839,  had  moved  to  section  4  in  Dallas  before 
JoUey  got  in,  and  a  man,  by  name  Seaton,  was  on  the  place 
now  occupied  by  William  N.  Upson,  who  came  in  during 
1853.  Jolley  was  a  cooper,  and  made  pork-barrels,  which 
he  carried  over  south  into  the  Parks  settlement  for  sale. 
The  road  he  traveled  was  a  trail  he  cut  out  himself,  and  as 
he  passed  straight  southward  on  that  line,  the  first  house 
he  encountered  was  that  of  a  Mr.  Smith,  just  three  miles 
distant  from  the  north  town-line.  Mr.  Jolley  says  that  when 
he  made  his  settlement  in  1853  the  neighborhood  in  which 
he  now  lives  was  but  little  better  than  a  swamp,  and  he 
ventured  then  the  remark  that  he  really  would  not  live  there 
if  he  could  get  a  farm  for  nothing.  In  1864  he  did  move 
there,  however,  and  then  found  that  time  had  vastly  im- 
proved matters.  Following  close  upon  Mr.  Jolley,  in  1854 
and  afterwards,  came  the  Mankeys, — Charles  and  Frederick, 
— James  Pierce,  Thomas  and  James  Long,  Samuel  Sage 
(April,  1854),  G.  N.  Clark  (where  Mr.  Hyams  had  made 
some  improvement),  the  Krugers,  Samuel  Green,  Jhe 
Wrights,  Teiters,  Millers,  Kincaid,  Salisbury,  Nowland,  and 
others. 

The  soil  of  Michigan  gave  birth  in  the  pioneer  days  to 
many  a  counterfeiters'  den,  and  although  Dallas  never  cut  a 
very  important  figure  as  a  bogus  neighborhood,  there  was, 
nevertheless,  a  trifling  bit  of  business  done  on  Stony  Creek 
in  the  matter  of  manufacturing  spurious  coin.  The  coun- 
terfeiters were  a  shrewd  lot,  and  kept  themselves  so  shady 
that  despite  earnest  efforts  to  unearth  them  they  avoided 
detection  a  long  time,  and  turned  out  counterfeit  Mexi- 
can dollars  upon  an  unsuspecting  and  innocent  public. 
53 


When  the  search  grew  so  hot  that  they  could  remain  hidden 
no  longer  they  made  off, — that  is,  some  of  them  made  off, 
while  some  less  fortunate  were  captured  and  eventually  con- 
veyed to  prison.  For  some  reason,  however,  their  punish- 
ment was  light,  and  as  a  net  result  of  their  operations  it  is 
likely  they  gained  much  profit. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION   AND   LIST  OP 
OFFICERS. 

A  legislative  act,  approved  March  19,  1845,  detached 
township  7  north,  in  range  4  west,  from  the  township  of 
Lebanon  and  named  it  Dallas.  Davis  Parks  says  that  the 
naming  of  the  town  was  left  to  him  and  George  F.  Dutton  ; 
that  he  wished  to  call  it  Dallas,  in  honor  of  the  Vice- 
President-elect,  while  Dutton  chose  Polk,  in  honor  of  the 
newly-elected  President ;  and  that  deciding  the  point  by  lot 
he  (Parks)  won,  and  thus  christened  the  new  township. 
The  widow  of  George  F.  Dutton  says  that  her  husband 
upon  being  asked  to  circulate  a  petition  for  organization, 
requested  the  privilege  of  naming  the  town,  and  the  privi- 
lege being  accorded  him,  he  chose  Dallas,  through  his 
admiration  for  the  statesman  of  that  name. 

The  first  township-meeting  was  held  April  23,  1845,  at 
the  house  of  George  P.  Dutton.  The  inspectors  of  elec- 
tion were  Davis  Parks,  Vincent  Parks,  Smith  Parks,  Jr., 
Smith  Parks ;  the  moderator  George  F.  Dutton ;  and  the 
clerk  Zebina  Rice.  The  votes  cast  numbered  twenty-seven. 
The  result  of  the  election  was  as  follows  : 

SUPERVISOR. 

Votes. 

»Davis  Parks 17 

Andrew  R.  Vance 10 

CLERK. 

»Davis  Parks 16 

Uriah  Drake 10 

Orrin  Parks 1 

TREASURER. 

*6eorge  F.  Button 17 

William  Bartow 10 

JUSTICES  OP  THE  PEACE. 

»George  F.  Button 17 

*Smith  Parks,  Jr 1* 

»Vinoent  Parks 17 

Marcellus  Vangeieon '0 

Hiram  Dean 10 

Uriali  Brake " 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 

»Morri8  Parks ^7 

»Smith  Parks,  Jr j7 

^Vincent  Parks ]7 

Isaac  Fifield j" 

Israel  B.  Smith 10 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 

»George  F.  Button J^ 

»Smith  Parks,  Jr lo 

William  Bartow 10 

Andrew  R.  Vance 10 

CONSTABLES. 

«Orrin  Parks ^* 

iSWilliam  Hayes " 

»Uriah  Brake i° 

Morris  Parks 1" 


*  Elected. 


418 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


POORMASTERS. 

»Smith  Parks 25 

*George  F.  Button 1' 

Hiram  Dean 1" 

Richard  Welling 1 

HIGHWAY   OVERSEERS. 

SHiram  Dean District  No.  1 

»George  F.  Dutton "         "     2 

»Smith  Parks,  Jr "         "     3 

»William  Hayes "         "     4 

POUNDMASTER. 
■^'Samuel  Sterns 

Following  is  a  list  of  persons  chosen  annually  between 
1846  and  1880  to  be  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and 
justices  of  the  peace: 

SUPERVISORS. 

1846.  A.  R.  Vance.  1860.  W.  S.  Green. 

1847.  D.  Parks.  1861-63.  G.  F.  Dutton. 

1848.  G.  F.  Dutton.  1864.  W.  N.  Upson. 
1849-50.  A.  R.  Vance.  1865.  P.  Ulrioh. 
1851.  A.  Parks.  1866.  0.  R.  Rice. 
1852-53.  G.  F.  Dutton.  1867-68.  A.  Cook. 
1854^56.  A.  Parks.  1869.  0.  R.  Rice. 
1857-59.  A.  Cook.  1870-80.  L.  W.  Baldwin. 


CLERKS. 


1846.  George  F.  Dutton. 

1847.  S.  Parks,  Jr. 

1848.  D.  PSrks. 

1849.  G.  B.  Tripp. 

1850.  D.  Parks. 
1861-53.  M.  Vangeison. 
1854.  M.  Sargent. 
1855-56.  A.  Cook. 
1857-59.  M.  Vangeison. 


1860-61. 
1862-63. 

1864.  M. 

1865.  S. 

1866.  J 
1867-74. 

1875.  N. 

1876.  T. 
1877-80. 


J.  Parks. 

W.  N.  Upson. 
.  Vangeison. 
W.  B.  Temple. 
Shraft. 

J.  F.  Shraft. 

H.  Geller. 

B.  Mundell. 

J.  F.  Shraft. 


TREASURERS. 


1846-47. 

1848.  A. 

1849.  J. 

1850.  S. 

1851.  G. 

1852.  H, 

1853.  M 

1854.  H. 

1855.  M, 

1856.  W 

1857.  J. 

1858.  H. 

1859.  A. 

1860.  J. 

1861.  J. 


William  Bartow. 
Bentley. 
Parks. 
Parks,  Jr. 
P.  Datton. 
.  Sturges. 
Doll. 
Sturges. 
.  Vangeison. 
.  N.  Upson. 
Fedewa. 
Sturges. 
Martin. 
Lance. 
F.  Shraft. 


1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869- 
1871- 
1874. 
1875. 
1876- 
1878- 
1880. 


JUSTICES. 


C.  Gruler. 

P.  Simmons. 

J.  P.  Fox. 

J.  Miller. 

George  Ott. 

F.  A.  Rademacher. 

W.  B.  Rice. 
■70.  J.  P.  Miller. 
■73.  N.  Smith. 

M.  Sohafer. 

N.  Smith. 
77.  B.  Simmons. 
79.  William  Luttig. 

James  Lance. 


1846.  H.  Dean. 

1847.  D.  Parks. 

1848.  No  record. 

1849.  A.  R.  Vance. 

1850.  J.  Parks. 

1851.  Hiram  Dean. 

1852.  G.  F.  Dutton. 

1853.  T.  W.  Sever. 

1854.  M.  Sargent. 

1855.  A.  Parks. 

1856.  G.  Salisbury. 

1857.  A.  Cook. 

1858.  G.  W.  Parks. 


1869.  J.  Parks. 

1860.  D.  Richards. 

1861.  T.  J.  Sohonover. 

1862.  G.  W.  Parks. 

1863.  James  Lance. 

1864.  W.  N.  Upson. 

1865.  S.  W.  B.  Temple. 

1866.  G.  W.  Parks. 

1867.  W.  N.  Upson. 

1868.  J.  Ludwig. 

1869.  D.  Dutton. 

1870.  W.  W.  Lewis. 

1871.  G.  W.  Parks. 


1872.  J..F.  Shraft. 

1873.  J.  D.  Burns. 

1874.  G.  W.  Parks. 

1875.  J.  BuUard. 

1876.  J.  P.  Miller. 


«  Elected. 


1877.  W.  N.  Upson. 

1878.  G.  Cuddeback. 

1879.  G.  W.  Parks. 

1880.  J.  Ballard. 


JFEOKS  FOE   1846. 

Grand. — Payette  Bartow,  Samuel  Sterns,  Hiram  Dean, 
William  Hayes. 

Petit. — Vincent  Parks,  Jesse  Fifield,  Israel  D.  Smith, 
William  Bartow. 

THE   TREASIJEEE'S   REPOET  FOE  1846. 

William  Bartow,  town  treasurer,  presented  his  annual 
report  March  30,  1847,  which  shows  as  follows: 

Received  from  the  previous  treasurer  (contingent  funds) $13.67 

Amount  of  town  orders  received  from  Bartow 10.60 

Collections  by  the  treasurer  for  contingent  funds 1.54.97 

Collections  by  the  treasurer  for  school  funds 24.38 

Collections  by  the  treasurer  for  highway  funds 128.69 

Amount  of  town  orders  received  of  treasurer  as  collector 84.87 

Amount  returned  to  county 45.67 

Amount  of  school  funds  returned  to  county 18.43 

Amount  of  highway  funds  returned  to  county 122.13 

THE  POLL-LIST   FOE   185.5. 

There  has  been  preserved  no  poll-list  antedating  the  year 
1855,  when  at  the  annual  township-meeting  the  voters  num- 
bered eighty-five,  as  follows :  James  Clark,  Jr.,  Anthony 
Cook,  Alanson  Parks,  Smith  Parks,  Orrin  Parks,  Isaac 
Sage,  Jesse  M.  Perry,  Alanson  Eddy,  Conrad  Martin, 
George  Sargent,  Frederick  Mires,  Richard  Smith,  Jackson 
Smith,  Thomas  Ferris,  Mathias  Doll,  Richard  Welling,  John 
Fitzmire,.  Sinbad  Hall,  John  White,  Jr.,  Samuel  H.  Parks, 
Smith  Parks,  Jr.,  Philip  Cock,  Thomas  W.  Sever,  Loren 
Day,  Sidney  W.  Parks,  George  Parks,  A.  B.  Horton, 
Patrick  Kelly,  N.  R.  Catlin,  W.  N.  Upson,  John  Parks, 
A.  W.  Williams,  P.  Mills,  T.  W.  Robinson,  Stephen  Parks, 
Mathias  Taber,  Peter  Shafer,  Lewis  Feldpausch,  Jacob 
Cook,  Joseph  Fox,  John  P.  Smith,  John  Shafer,  John  P. 
Fox,  Peter  Fox,  Alexander  Parks,  John  George,,  John 
Dunlap,  Daniel  Pierce,  Benjamin  Snyder,  David  Richards, 
Mathias  Weber,  Mathias  Simmons,  Joseph  Hiller,  Garner 
Salisbury,  G.  B.  Tripp,  William  Smith,  Charles  Smith, 
Frederick  Shelhamer,  Jacob  Abfalter,  Joseph  Abfalter, 
Andrew  Shuler,  Anthony  George,  John  Fedewa,  Samuel 
Green,  Miron  Sargent,  R.  C.  Whitney,  Peter  Holfman, 
Hiram  Briggs,  W.  R.  Rice,  S.  B.  Evans,  William  Miller, 
Henry  Sturges,  George  F.  Dutton,  Marcellus  Vangeison, 
Peter  Whitmire,  Levi  Drake,  Peter  Strickland,  W.  G. 
Green,  Joseph  Dinerbacher,  Henry  Hover,  Hiram  M.  Mil- 
lis,  Morris  Parks,  Anthony  Martin,  Nathan  Bigelow,  John 
Whitmire. 

SCHOOLS. 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  a  few  of  the  incidents 
attendant  upon  the  introduction  of  schools  into  the  town- 
ship. The  town  records  containing  the  history  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  since  their  foundation  have  disappeared,  and  all 
that  can  be  added  in  the  premises  follows  : 

The  school  inspectors'  annual  report  for  1857  gave  the 
following : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  6;  fractional  1) 7 

Number  of  scholars  of  school  age 252 

Average  attendance 140 

Teachers'  wages $288.35 


DALLAS  TOWNSHIP. 


419 


The  books  ia  use  in  the  township  schools  in  1857  were 
the  Elementary  Spelling  Book,  Saunders'  Reader,  Smith's 
Arithmetic,  Mitchell's  Geography,  Smith's  Grammar. 

The  report  for  1879  contained  the  subjoined  details  : 

Nnmbor  of  diatricta 8 

Number  of  aoholara  of  aohool  age 579 

ATerage  attendance 422 

Value  of  aohool  property $,S466.00 

Teachers'  wages 1748.25 

The  school  directors  for  1 879  were  William  Luttig,  P. 
T.  JoUey,  John  Luttig,  George  Dutton,  J.  P.  Miller,  David 
Douglass,  and  F.  Schemer. 

TOWNSHIP  EOADS. 

The  first  township  road  recorded  in  the  Dallas  highway- 
book  was  recorded  May  24,  1846.  It  was  laid  by  A.  E. 
Vance  and  Fayette  Bartow,  commenced  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  6  and  extended  thence  east  on  section-line 
six  miles.  The  road  was  laid  upon  the  application  of  Isaac 
Fifield,  Hiram  Dean,  and  James  Hall.  May  22,  1847,  a 
road  was  laid  out,  commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  27  and  running  thence  one  mile  on  section-line  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  27.  This  road  was  laid  out 
upon  the  application  of  Davis  Parks,  Vincent  Parks,  Smith 
Parks,  Jr.  June  4,  1847,  a  road  was  laid  on  the  quarter- 
line  of  section  35,  running  east  and  west  one  mile. 

Dec.  26, 1842,  a  road  was  laid  out  in  town  7,  commencing 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  26,  running  thence  north  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  1.  A  second  road  was  laid 
out  the  same  day,  commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 16  and  extending  north  on  the  said  line  to  the  road 
running  up  between  towns  7  and  8. 

June  23,  1843,  A.  R.  Vance  and  William  Barton,  high- 
way commissioners,  laid  out  a  road  commencing  at  the  State 
road  between  sections  27  and  28,  and  extending  south  to 
the  town-line  between  sections  33  and  34.  Aug.  7,  1841, 
the  highway  commissioners  of  Lebanon  and  Westphalia 
divided  the  road  on  the  town-line  between  said  townships, 
and  agreed  that  Lebanon  should  take  three  miles  of  the  east 
end  and  Westphalia  three  miles  of  the  west  end. 

June  10,  1848,  J.  W.  Turner,  special  commissioner,  no- 
tified the  town  clerk  of  Dallas  that  the  portion  of  the  De 
Witt  and  Lyons  road  lying  in  the  township  of  Dallas  com- 
menced eighty  links  east  of  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
31,  and  extended  thence  north  89  degrees,  west  SOgy-y^ 
rods  to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  section.  The  annual 
highway  fund  of  1854  was  divided  as  follows : 


District  No.  1.. 

"  2., 

3., 

"  4.. 

"  6., 


10., 


.  $10 

.  25 

.  19 

.  12 

.  20 

.  35 

.  15 

.  19 

.  20 
..     25 

$200 


THE  VILLAGE  OE  DALLAS. 
Late  in  1856,  or  early  in  1857,  Robert  Higham  (chief 
engineer  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  then  push- 
ing westward)  and  B.  A.  Wales,  of  Detroit,  contracted  for 
the  purchase  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  lying 


on  the  line  of  the  road,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  eastward 
of  the  station  now  called  Fowler,  their  purpose  being  to 
found  a  village  there,  as  Higham  had  already  settled  upon 
the  site  as  a  place  for  a  railway-station  which  he  was  to 
designate  as  Dallas.     The  tract  was  therefore  laid  out  into 
village  lots,  and  in  1857,  when  the  construction  of  the  rail- 
way reached  that  point,  Hiram  Marsh  was  appointed  station 
agent,  and  the  Dallas  post-office,  then  in  charge  of  Alanson 
Parks  on  Stony  Creek,  was  transferred  to  the  new  town. 
Meanwhile,  with  an  eye  single  to  the  rise  and  progress  of 
the  embryo  city,  E.  A.  Wales  had  erected  a  hotel  and  Hi- 
ram Marsh  a  store  building,  while  other  people,  enthused 
with  the  prospect  of  a  village,  bought  a  few  lots  and  began 
to   make    improvements.     Nelson    Kuhn    opened  a  small 
grocery,  and  a  Mr.  Branswick,  keeping  abreast  of  the  spirit 
of  the  times,  set  up  in  business  as  a  shoemaker.     Despite 
these  efforts  to  trundle  the  village  of  Dallas  into  public 
favor,  the  affair  was  a  dismal  failure  from  the  first.     The 
surrounding  country  was  so  swampy  that  travel  to  and  from 
the  village,  except  in  the  dryest  of  weather  or  in  the  winter 
season,  was  a  task  of  difficult  accomplishment.     As  a  conse- 
quence, the  inhabitants  of  the  outlying  region  came  in  to 
trade  only  under  pressure  of  strongest  necessity,  and  Dallas 
appeared  to  drag  out  a  wearisome  existence  under  protest. 

After  thus  struggling  for  the  space  of  ten  years  the  vil- 
lage found  itself  in  1867  no  farther  along  in  dignity  or 
growth  than  it  had  progressed  during  the  first  year  of  its 
life.     Recognizing,  therefore,  that  if  they  were  ever  to  own 
a  village  worthy  the  name  it  must  be  fixed  at  some  other 
spot,  citizens  of  Dallas  township,  as  well  as  others  near  by, 
began  to  agitate  the  matter  of  a  new  location,  and  in  this 
project  they  were  materially  aided  and  encouraged  by  J.  N. 
Fowler,  of  Detroit,  who  owned  considerable  land  in  the 
vicinity.     The  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that  the  railway 
company  was  induced  in  1867,  by  the  donation  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  to  transfer  their  depot  buildings 
and  station  to  a  point  three-quarters  of  a  mile  west,  where 
there  was  a  better  outlook  for  a  village.    Fowler,  who  owned 
the  land. occupying  the  proposed  site,  surveyed  and  platted 
a  village  on  the  north  side  of  the  railway,  on  sections  11 
and  12,  in  September,  1867,  and  called  it  Isabella,  after  the_ 
county  of  Isabella,  where  he  had  large  landed  interests. 
Isabella  was  likewise  the  name  chosen  for  the  station,  and 
simultaneously  with  the  move  of  the  railway-station  from 
Dallas  there  ensued  a  transfer  of  the  business  population 
and  every  other  feature  that  had  contributed  in  any  way 
to  lift  the  town  from  the  atmosphere  of  rural  felicity  into 
the  domain  of  village  life.     Dallas  was  therefore  relegated 
to  obscurity,  where  for  many  a  day  had  been  domiciled  the 
sanguine  hopes  born  in  the  breasts  of  Wales  and  Higham 
when  they  first  set  Dallas  on  its  legs,  So  to  speak,  and 
awaited  the  coming  of  its  future  greatness. 

The  hotel  building  put  up  at  Dallas  by  Wales  was  moved 
bodily  to  Isabella,  and  upon  the  spot  where  it  then  landed 
still  invites  the  attention  of  travelers  as  the  Fowler  House. 
James  Lance  was  storekeeper  and  postmaster  at  Dallas 
when  the  change  was  made,  and  moving  his  establishment 
westward  set  it  up  again  just  south  of  Isabella  village, 
upon  land  he  owned,  where  he  subsequently  laid  out  an 
addition  to  the  village  of  Fowler.     The  store  he  then 


420 


HISTOKY  OP   CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


started  occupied  the  building  now  known  as  the  Dallas 
House,  and  was  the  pioneer  trading-post  at  Isabella,  al- 
though, strictly  speaking,  it  was  not  in  Isabella.  The  second 
store  was  opened  by  Jacob  Schraft  in  a  log  house  just  west 
of  where  the  Fowler  House  stands.  At  this  time  Fowler 
moved  the  tavern  from  Dallas  and  leased  it  to  Shemer  & 
Gruler,  who  carried  on  in  the  building  a  store  as  well  as 
hotel  business.  Willey  &  Peterson  kept  the  hotel  after- 
wards, and  after  them  a  Mr.  Stiles  and  Mathias  Petsch 
were  respectively  the  landlords. 


POWLEE  VILLAGE. 

As  the  name  of  Isabella  was  not  exactly  to  the  liking  of 
the  villagers.  Fowler  agreed  to  change  it,  and,  upon  request, 
called  it  by  his  own  name  ^hen,  in  May,  1869,  he  caused 
an  addition  to  be  platted  on  section  14,  south  of  the  rail- 
way. At  that  time,  too,  the  name  of  the  station  was 
changed,  as  was  the  name  of  the  post-office,  which  had  thus 
far  retained  the  name  of  Dallas.  The  plat  of  the  village  of 
Fowler,  recorded  Feb.  1,  1870,  certifies  that  "the  village 
is  located  on  the  line  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Rail- 
road, on  sections  11, 12,  and  14."  James  Lance's  addition 
was  recorded  May  31, 1873,  and  is  described  as  "  beeinnino- 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  13,  running  thence  east 
on  section-line  sixty-six  rods  and  six  feet ;  thence  south 
parallel  with  the  west  section-line  sixty-eight  rods  and  six 
feet ;  thence  west  parallel  with  the  north  line  sixty-six  rods 
and  six  feet  to  said  west  line ;  and  thence  north  on  the  sec- 
tion-line sixty-eight  rods  and  six  feet  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning." 

Of  those  who  set  the  wheels  of  trade  in  motion  when 
Isabella  village  was  founded  Messrs.  Constantine  Gruler, 
Frederick  Shemer,  and  Jacob  Schraft  are  now  merchants  in 
Fowler.  Constantine  Gruler  is,  moreover,  a  dealer  in  grain 
to  a  very  large  extent,  and  almost  since  his  first  appearance 
as  a  merchant  in  the  town  has  been  a  heavy  wheat-buyer. 
He  has  a  commodious  wheat-house  at  the  station,  and  near 
there,  too,  P.  L.  Vancousant,  of  St.  Johns,  has  a  wheat- 
house.  Fowler  is  esteemed  an  excellent  point  for  wheat 
shipment,  and  the  business  carried  on  by  Messrs.  Gruler 
and  Vancousant  in  that  department  is  of  valuable  importance 
to  the  town. 

The  first  post-office  established  in  Dallas  township  was 
created  in  1855  and  called  Dallas.  Alanson  Parks,  living 
on  the  State  road,  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  upon  the 
location  of  Dallas  Station  he  transferred  the  office  to  that 
point.  In  1859,  James  Lance  succeeded  to  the  office,  and 
retiring  for  a  brief  period  in  favor  of  David  Richards,  he 
renewed  his  possession,  and  was  the  incumbent  when  'the 
railway-station  and  village  were  moved  westward.  Fred- 
erick Shemer  was  postmaster  for  a  short  time  after  Lance's 
retirement,  and  in  1869  Jacob  Shraft  came  in.  During 
his  occupancy  the  name  of  the  office  was  changed  from 
Dallas  to  Fowler.  In  1874,  Shraft  was  succeeded  by 
Wilham  M.  Youngs,  and  he,  in  1877,  by  John  Hicks,  the 
present  incumbent. 

Dr.  L.  A.  Laurason,  now  a  physician  and  druggist  in 
Fowler,  made  his  home  upon  the  site  of  the  village  in  1866 
and,  fresh  from  the  State  University,  there  began  his  medi- 


cal  career.     Gustavus  Miller  had  been  practicing  medicine 
in  the  township,  but  in  the  village  Dr.  Laurason  was  the 
pioneer  physician.    Other  doctors  followed  the  flow  of  pop- 
ulation, among  them  being  Drs.  Schmitten,  Cole,  Miller, 
and  Spears,  but  neither  tarried  long  enough  to  leave  a  mark 
upon  the  face  of  passing  time,  and  may  therefore  be  dis- 
missed with  but  casual  notice.    Drs.  W.  H.  McKenzie  and 
George  E.  Bliss,  now  in  village  practice,  have  been  located 
some  little  time,  and  with  Dr.  Laurason  divide  the  business 
of  doctoring  the  people  of  the  immediate  and  adjacent  ter- 
ritories.  John  G.  Patterson,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law 
in  Fowler,  is  the  only  person  resident  who  ever  ventured 
upon  the  enterprise  of  expounding  the  mysteries  of  Coke 
and  Blackstone  for  the  benefit  of  the  villagers  and  towns- 
people. 

Fowler  is  a  growing  village  of  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty  people, — the  entire  township  including  seventeen  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two, — and  enjoys  much  business  prosperity. 
It  supports  two  hotels  and  includes  in  its  marts  of  trade  the 
general  stores  of  Constantine  Gruler  and  Frederick  Shemer, 
the  hardware-store  of  Jacob  Schraft,  the  hardware-  and 
grocery-store  of  Baldwin  &  Gary,  the  boot-  and  shoe-store 
of  Gillam  &  Doolittle,  the  groceries  of  N.  H.  Geller  and 
J.  T.  Council,  the  drug-stores  of  L.  A.  Laurason  and  S. 
G.  McLaughlin,  and  the  furniture-store  of  Charles  Bengal. 
There  are  also  wagon-shops  and  minor  village  industries  of 
a  promiscuous  character. 

EELIGIOUS  OEGANIZATIONS. 
UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH. 
One  of  the  earliest  religious  organizations  of  Dallas  was 
a  United  Brethren  class,  which  was  formed  in  the  Sargent 
neighborhood  and  flourished  apace  for  several  years.  As 
the  members  of  the  organization  lived  here,  there,  and 
everywhere,  the  place  of  worship  was  frequently  changed  as 
convenience  demanded,  and  eventually  settled  at  what  was 
called  the  "  Bell  School-House"  in  1868,  where  it  remained 
until  1875,  when  a  house  of  worship  was  built  at  Fowler. 
The  class  has  now  a  membership  of  forty-four  and  is  on  the 
Bengal  Circuit,  in  charge  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Mowers,  who 
preaches  at  Fowler  once  a  fortnight.  The  leader  is  W.  B. 
Garrison,  the  trustees  A.  Compton,  Miron  Sargent,  and 
Eli  Grimes,  and  the  Sunday-school  superintendent  Mrs.  A. 
Compton.    The  school  has  an  average  attendance  of  thirty. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  FOWLER  CLASS. 
Two  Methodist  Episcopal  classes  were  organized  after 
1860,  one  at  the  Bell  school-house  and  one  at  the  Nowland 
school-house.  The  former  failed  to  prosper  beyond  a 
weakly  condition  of  being,  and  after  persistent  but  fruitless 
efforts  to  reach  a  healthful  atmosphere  dissolved,  and  its 
members  thereafter  joined  the  class  at  Nowland's,  which 
had  got  on  excellently  well  from  the  outset.  Class-meet- 
ings were  also  held  at  the  village,  as  well  as  at  Nowland's, 
until  1880,  when  the  church  at  Fowler  was  built,  and  then 
all  joined  in  common  worship  at  that  place.  The  class  has 
now  about  fifteen  members,  and  is  attached  to  the  Fowler 
Circuit,  upon  which  Rev.  Mr.  Garlick  is  employed.  Since 
1868  the  pastors  on  the  charge  have  been  Revs.  McKnight, 
Hulburt,  Pratt,   Jacokes,   Harder,   Nichols,   Snider,   and 


DALLAS  TOWNSHIP. 


421 


Garlick.     Calvin  Coon,  the  present  class-leader,  has  been 
leader  since  1870.     The  church  trustees  are  Calvin  Coon, 

George  Clark,  and Hanford.     The  Sunday-school  is 

in  charge  of  G.  W.  Gillan  and  a  corps  of  five  teachers. 

GERMAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  EOWLBR. 
This  church  organization  was  formed  in  1869  by  mem- 
bers of  a  similar  denomination  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  township.  The  church  at  that  point  was  at  a  tiresome 
distance  for  those  of  the  faith  who  lived  towards  the  north, 
and,  as  a  matter  of  more  convenience,  they  formed  a  second 
society  in  1879,  and  in  that  year  built  a  church.  Kev. 
Mr.  Wittey,  who  preaches  for  the  church  in  the  south, 
preaches  also  at  Fowler  three  times  each  month.  About 
twenty-five  families  are  represented  in  the  membership. 

GERMAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  DALLAS. 
The  German  Lutherans  of  Dallas  organized  a  church 
about  1869,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Mr.  Fuer,  of 
Owosso,  and  the  same  year  built  a  neat  house  of  worship 
on  section  36.  Besides  Mr.  Fuer,  the  pastors  have  in- 
cluded Revs.  Smith  and  Wittey,  the  latter  of  whom  is  now 
in  charge,  preaching  three  times  each  month.  The  mem- 
bership comprises  now  about  thirty-five  families,  and  that 
of  the  Sunday-school,  which  is  in  charge  of  the  pastor. 


about  sixty  scholars.     The  trustees  are  William  Rosso w 
August  Schroeder,  and  Frederick  Speerbrecker. 

SOCIETIES. 
FOWLER  LODGE,  No.  19,  A.  0.  U.  W. 

This  lodge  was  organized  at  Fowler  in  November,  1878, 
with  ten  members.  It  has  now  a  membership  of  twenty- 
seven.  Regular  sessions  are  held  weekly.  The  officers  for 
1880  are  8.  G.  McLaughlin,  M.  W. ;  Edwin  Baldwin,  G. 
F. ;  R.  L.  Bunting,  0. ;  Joseph  Austin,  F. ;  L.  W.  Bald- 
win, Receiver;  J.  F.  Gary,  Recorder;  John  Bullard, 
Guide ;  Philo  Parks,  I.  W. ;  H.  D.  Welling,  0.  W. ; 
Jacob  Schraft,  P.  M.  W.  The  Master  Workmen  of  the 
lodge  since  its  organization  have  been  L.  W.  Baldwin, 
Jacob  Schraft,  and  S.  G.  McLaughlin. 

DALLAS  GRANGE,  No.  605,  P.  OF  H., 

was  organized  September,  1874,  in  the  Bell  school-house, 
Winchester  Rice  being  then  chosen  Master.  The  officers 
for  1880  are  H.  D.  Wellings,  M. ;  E.  W.  Buck,  0. ; 
George  E.  Bliss,  L. ;  F.  S.  Brooks,  Sec. ;  Maurice  Drake, 
Treas. ;  J.  H.  Bush,  Chaplain ;  Frederick  Myers,  Steward. 
Meetings  are  held  at  Fowler  weekly.  The  membership  is 
fifty-seven. 


BIOGEAPHIOAL    SKETCHES. 


GEORGE   F.    DUTTON. 


GEORGE  F. 


George  F.  Dutton  was  born  in  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April  27, 1814.  His  parents,  Robert  and  Sarah  (Fowler) 
Dutton,  were  of  English  extraction  ;  lived  to  raise  a  family 
of  seven  children.  After  the  death  of  the  elder  Dutton, 
George  with  his  mother  moved  to  Detroit,  where  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  and  married  Miss  Sarah  Horner.  In 
the  spring  of  1835  they  removed  to  Ionia  County.  Five 
years  later  exchanged  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
wild  land  on  section  22,  the  present  home.  The  town  had 
not  yet  received  a  name,  and  Mr.  Dutton  being  elected 


Ml  >     I  1  c)l  liL    i      I'l   1  U)N 

DUTTON. 

supervisor  secured  the  name  Dallas,  in  admiration  of  the 
candidate  for  national  honors  by  that  name.  Mr.  George 
F.  Dutton  died  May  15,  1863,  lamented  by  all.  He  had 
filled  many  places  of  public  trust,  and  in  departing  this 
life  left  a  name  and  reputation  worthy  the  life  of  honor 
and  integrity  he  had  lived.  He  left  a  widow  and  five 
children,— Mrs.  Julie  A.  Belden ;  James ;  Adaline,  died  at 
six  years  of  age;  Richard;  Mrs.  Charlotta  Myers;  and 
George,  born  Oct.  9,  1851,  grew  to  manhood  upon  the 
farm  and  soon  after  his  father's  death  assumed  the  man- 


422 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


agement  of  affairs.  April  8,  1872,  he  married  Miss 
Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Christa  (Hutchinson) 
Rudgers,  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Ionia 
County,  having  located  in  the  town  of  Lyons  in  1834.  Mrs. 
Rudgers  taught  the  first  school  in  the  town  of  Dallas. 


George  and  Nancy  are  the  happy  parents  of  one  child, 
James,  who  was  born  on  the  27th  of  December,  1876. 
Mrs.  George  Dutton  still  continues  at  the  old  homestead, 
beloved  by  her  children  and  respected  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 


DANIEL   DtTTTON. 


MRS.    DANIEL   DUTTON. 


DANIEL   DUTTON. 


Daniel  Dutton  is  one  of  the  family  of  Robert  and  Sarah 
(Fowler)  Dutton,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  we  give  in  connec- 
tion with  that  of  George  F.  Dutton  in  another  place.  Daniel 
was  the  youngest  son  and  child ;  his  birth  occurred  at  Co- 
lumbus, Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  7,  1825.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  he  came  with  an  elder  sister  to  Clinton  Co.,  Mich., 
and  lived  with  George  F.  three  years ;  then  one  season  with 
William  F.  Dutton  in  Westphalia.  Then  lived  with  Rob- 
ert Dutton,  Portland,  Ionia  Co.,  until  past  twenty.  Then 
went  to  Cass  County,  obtained  a  few  tools,  and  set  himself 
up  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  commencing  business  for 
himself;  remained  four  years  ;  returned  to  Clinton  County, 
and  in  1850  purchased  forty  acres  in  the  town  of  West- 
phalia. Jan.  1,  1852,  he  married  Mary  R.,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Lucette  (Wheeler)  Farman,  who  emigrated 
from  Oswego  County  in  1838.  He  continued  at  his  trade 
and  farming  until  1864,  when  he  exchanged  for  eighty 
acres  on  same  section.  Considerable  clearing  had  been  pre- 
viously made,  but  only  a  log  house  erected.  He  immedi- 
ately set  about  erecting  a  suitable  building,  and  a  few  years 
sufficed  to  render  it  one  of  the  pleasantest  locations  in 
town.  Their  large  family  of  children  were  early  taught 
that  steady  application  to  their  calling,  with  economy,  was 
the  true  way  to  success,  as  exemplified  by  them.  Their 
children  number  ten,  as  follows :  Alfred  E.,  born  Jan.  12, 
1853 ;  Hattie  L.,  Oct.  3,  1854 ;  Ida  S.,  June  24,  1857 ; 
Judson  H.,  Nov.  2, 1858  ;  Dora  A.,  July  22,  1860  ;  Emma 
I.,  Dec.  26,  1861 ;  Charles  R.,  July  2,  1863  ;  Elmer  E., 
Jan.  17,  1865 ;  Laura  A.,  Nov.  2,  1868 ;  Ellen  N.,  Jan. 
3,  1876. 

In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party ;  has 


held  several  local  offices,  but  has  never  sought  or  desired 
them,  preferring  the  peace  and  comfort  of  home-life  to  the 
anxiety  experienced  by  office-seekers. 


CHAPTER   LVL 
DUPLAIN    TOWNSHIP.* 

Location  and  Natural  Features — Early  Settlement  of  Duplain — Vil- 
lage of  Mapleton — Early  Religious  Meetings  —  Town  Koads  — 
Schools — Township  Organization  and  Civil  List — Craven's  Mills — 
Village  of  Elsie — Societies  and  Orders. 

Duplain  is  town  8  north,  in  range  1  west,  and  occupies 
the  northeastern  corner  of  Clinton  County,  with  the  Gratiot 
County  line  as  the  northern  boundary,  Ovid  township  on  the 
south,  Shiawassee  Coubty  on  the  east,  and  Greenbush  town- 
ship on  the  west.  There  was  originally  much  heavily  tim- 
bered land  in  the  town,  and  there  was  west  of  the  river 
until  1870  a  good  deal  of  swampy  region,  but  that  quarter 
is  now  almost  entirely  free  from  waste  lands,  although  the 
period  of  its  reclamation  was  a  late  one,  and  settlements 
there  were  put  back  as  a  consequence.  The  Maple  River, 
known  early  by  the  French  name  of  Riviere  Du  Plain,  pur- 
sues a  winding  course  from  south  to  north,  and  has  since 
the  foundation  of  the  town  been  a  mill-stream  of  more  or 
less  value. 

There  is  upon  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  town  the 

*  By  David  Scfawartz. 


DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


423 


■graded  bed  of  what  was  once  proposed  to  beoomc  the 
Owosso  and  Big  Eapids  Eailway,  but  the  enterprise  stopped, 
as  a  failure,  short  of  actual  operation.  The  town  voted 
Oct.  16,  1869,  by  a  vote  of  two  hundred  and  eighteen  to 
one  hundred  and  one,  to  appropriate  ten  thousand  dollars 
towards  the  expenses  of  the  road,  only,  however,  upon  the 
completion  thereof,  and  therefore  escaped  a  sacrifice.  Du- 
plain  contains  two  villages,  called  respectively  Mapleton  and 
Elsie.  The  former,  laid  out  in  1837,  has  declined  to  feeble 
proportions.  Elsie  is  a  small  but  active  hamlet,  and  is  by 
those  who  reside  within  its  limits  esteemed  a  place  of  much 
promise. 

EAELY  SETTLEMENT  OF   DUPLAIN. 
THE   ROCHESTER   COLONY. 

The  pioneer  settlements  in  Duplain  were  made  during 
the  summer  of  1836  by  members  of  a  community  styled 
the  Eochester  Colony,  so  called  because  they  lived  previous 
to  that  in  or  near  Eochester,  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
A  discussion  by  a  few  persons  living  in  that  neighborhood 
touching  advantages  of  a  colony  emigration  to  some  point 
in  the  far  West  led  to  the  formation  in  the  city  of  Eoches- 
ter of  the  Eochester  Colony.  The  organization  was  effected 
at  a  meeting  held  Feb.  29,  1836,  upon  which  occasion  ar- 
ticles of  association  were  subscribed  to  in  substance  as 
follows :  ' 

Article  one  provided  that  the  association  should  be 
called  and  known  as  "  The  Eochester  Colony."  The  articles 
provided  for  the  raising  of  a  fund  with  which  to  purchase 
lands,  and  authorized  any  person  to  become  a  member  and 
be  entitled  to  a  vote  by  subscribing  for  one  share  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars,  and  paying  five  dollars 
down  and  the  balance  on  call. 

Article  five  provided  that  "  Deeds  for  any  purchase  of 
lands  may  be  executed  to  the  agents  as  grantees,  but  ex- 
pressed to  be  to  them  as  joint  tenants  in  common,  in  order 
that  there  may  be  a  survivorship  on  the  death  of  either. 
The  lands,  although  conveyed  thus  absolutely  for  the  sake 
of  convenience,  shall  be  considered  as  purchased  and  held 
in  trust  for  the  subscribers  who  contribute  to  the  funds.'' 

It  was  also  provided  that  the  lands  purchased  should  be 
surveyed  and  laid  out  into  farm  lots  of  eighty  acres  each 
and  village  lots,  and  that  one  farm  lot  and  one  or  more  vil- 
lage lots  should  constitute  a  share,  and  that  a  drawing 
should  be  held  in  the  city  of  Eochester,  and  that  each 
shareholder  should  be  entitled  to  draw  one  farm  lot  and  one 
or  more  village  lots,  and  that  after  the  drawing  the  agents 
should  give  to  each  subscriber  an  article  or  contract  for  his 
portion  of  the  land  so  drawn ;  and  as  soon  as  any  sub- 
scriber had  actually  settled  with  his  family  on  his  portion, 
and  made  affidavit  of  his  bona  fide  intention  to  remain  a 
settler,  or,  in  lieu  of  settling,  had  made  improvements  on 
his  portion  to  the  value  of  one-fourth  of  the  cost  thereof, 
the  agents  should  give  him  a  deed  in  fee  simple  for  his 


It  was  further  provided  that  the  balance  of  the  land 
should  be  sold  at  auction,  and  the  proceeds  divided  between 
the  shareholders.  And  it  was  further  provided  that  if  any 
subscriber  did  not  settle  or  make  the  requisite  improve- 
ments on  his  land  within  eighteen  months  after  the  draw- 


ing he  forfeit  all  his  interest  in  the  lands  and  property  of 
the  colony,  and  that  the  same  should  be  sold  at  auction, 
and  the  proceeds,  not  exceeding  the  original  cost,  without 
interest,  after  deducting  all  taxes,  charges,  and  assessments, 
should  be  paid  to  such  delinquent  subscriber,  and  the 
balance  divided  among  the  shareholders.  It  was  also  pro- 
vided that  the  agents  should  not  purchase  any  land  con- 
tiguous to  that  purchased  for  the  company  until  after  the 
purchase  for  the  company  was  completed  and  the  agents 
had  returned  to  their  homes  in  Eochester,  N.  Y. 

The  names  of  those  subscribing  to  the  articles  embraced 
the  following :  B.  E.  Everest,  W.  Gr.  Eussell,  Joseph  Sever, 
W.  P.  Stanton,  Jacob  Martin,  Oliver  Bebee,  Benjamin  Car- 
penter, Joseph  Atwood,  Calvin  Brainard,  William  Chyn- 
worth,  Samuel  Barker,  M.  T.  Croade,  Francis  Faxon, 
Samuel  Graves,  John  Ferdon,  Electus  Boardman,  B.  W. 
Collins,  Samuel  Brass,  Henry  Wilson,  Eufus  Collier,  Jr., 
Martha  Osborn,  V.  E.  Cook,  P.  A.  Ford,.  Eowley  &  Brit- 
ton,  and  B.  Eowley.  At  the  next  meeting,  held  April  2, 
1836,  the  association  appointed  W.  G.  Eussell,  Joseph 
Sever,  and  E.  E.  Everest  to  act  as  agents  in  the  selection 
and  purchase  of  lands,  and  being  instructed  to  attend  to 
the  matter  in  hand  without  delay,  Russell  and  Sever  set  out 
April  12,  1836,  upon  the  tour  of  exploration. 

They  were  directed  to  proceed  first  to  Ohio,  and  go  up 
the  Wabash  and  Erie  Canal  to  Fort  Defiance,  examining 
the  country  in  that  section,  and  also  to  look  at  Perrysburg, 
on  the  Maumee.  Thence  they  were  to  go  to  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind.,  "  and  examine  the  country  north  and  west  of  there, 
especially  along  the  Bel  Eiver  and  all  the  northern  coun- 
ties of  Indiana."  Then  go  to  Michigan  and  "  examine  the 
Grand  Eiver  and  its  tributary  streams  with  great  attention." 
They  were  told  that  "  the  head-waters  of  the  Huron  and 
the  Grand  are  not  far  distant  from  each  other,  and  it  is  con- 
jectured with  strong  probability  that  a  canal  will  soon  inter- 
sect those  two  streams ;  look  between  those  two  points. 
The  Grand  Eiver  is  said  to  embrace  water  privileges  which 
must  soon  be  of  great  value.  Look  well  to  the  village  of 
Grand  Eapids  and  the  country  south  of  it,  for  that  place 
must  be  of  importance.  We  have  heard  that  a  railroad 
has  been  laid  out  from  that  place  to  Monroe  village.  The 
counties  of  Clinton,  Ingham,  Baton,  and  Barry  should  not 
be  passed  unnoticed.  You  may  be  suited  on  the  Thorn- 
apple  Eiver.  We  learn  that  there  is  a  valuable  tract  of 
land  near  the  centre  of  Barry  County.  If  you  should  con- 
clude to  go  to  Grand  Eapids  and  examine  as  far  north  as 
Clinton  County  and  the  Maple  Eiver,  you  must  not  fail  to 
go  into  Saginaw  County.  Dr.  Fitzhugh  thinks  the  Saginaw 
flats  are  equal  to  the  Genesee  flats.  This  is  also  the  opinion 
of  Dr.  Town,  who  lives  at  Ypsilanti,  and  his  partner,  who 
have  all  purchased  there  largely.  Daniel  Ball  and  his 
brother  are  now  on  a  tour  to  that  section." 

Within  a  month  after  their  departure  from  Eochester 
Eussell  and  Sever  completed  their  land  purchases,  having 
selected  a  tract  lying  chiefly  in  what  is  now  Duplain  town- 
ship. Their  purchase  embraced  sections  28,  29,  31,  32, 
and  33,  and  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  in  town  8 
north,  range  1  west,  and  the  north  halves  of  sections  5  and 
6  in  town  7  north,  range  1  west,  aggregating  4003yf-g- 


424 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


acres.    The  stipulated  price  of  $1.25  per  acre  gave  the  sum 
total  of  the  purchase  money  as  $5003.82. 

The  story  of  Russell  and  Sever's  land  search,  as  told  by 
Russell  in  a  letter  to  Everest,  is  comprehensive  and  inter- 
esting, and  is  given,  as  follows : 

"  BnoNsoN,  Mich.,  May  11,  1836. 

"  E.  R.  Everest  :  Sir, — We  arrived  in  Detroit  Friday, 
22d  of  April,  making  ten  days  from  Rochester;  found  the 
roads  had.  The  Ball  horse  tired  and  we  had  to  put  him  off. 
We  exchanged  him  for  a  pony  and  paid  $35.  We  stayed 
in  Detroit  until  the  Monday  following ;  got  what  information 
we  could  from  Messrs.  Alcott,  Ketchum,  Strong,  and  others 
that  we  thought  advisable  to  inquire,  and  started  on  the 
Pontiac  turnpike  leading  through  the  northwest  part  of  the 
Territory.  We  stopped  and  explored  different  sections  of 
the  country.  We  found  all  the  important  points  taken,  ex- 
cepting one  which  lies  on  the  Maple  River.  We  spent 
some  four  days  in  that  part.  We  think  that  the  water 
privileges  are  good  and  the  land  first  best.  Sever  and  my- 
self are  much  pleased  with  it,  although  it  is  timbered  land. 
The  timber  is  beech,  maple,  hickory,  oak,  bass,  butternut, 
and  black-walnut,  and  as  handsome  as  you  ever  saw,  and 
well  watered  with  beautiful  springs.  There  is  a  contem- 
plated canal  to  connect  the  Maple  and  Shiawassee  together 
near  this  place,  which,  if  that  takes  place,  will  cause  a  great 
drift  of  business  through  this  section  of  the  country,  as  it 
will  save  something  like  one  thousand  miles  of  water-car- 
riage around  the  lakes.  AVe  thought  best  to  look  further, 
and  went  to  Barry  County.  We  went,  but  soon  returned. 
Got  satisfied  that  it  was  too  heavy  timbered  and  rough, 
broken  land  for  us.  We  then  made  up  our  minds  that  the 
Maple  River  must  he  the  place.  We  started  off  for  Bronson 
that  night;  rode  until  eleven  o'clock,  evening;  put  up  at  a 
tavern,  and  got  permission  to  sleep  on  the  floor.  Started 
in  the  morning ;  fell  in  company  with  a  speculator  ;  was  sat- 
isfied that  he  was  after  our  land.  Feeling  determined  not 
to  give  it  up,  I  changed  horses  with  Sever,  the  other  man 
being  ahead  a  mile  or  two.  I  set  out,  determined  not  to 
lose  the  prize  if  Host  the  horse.  After  we  got  within  four- 
teen miles  of  Bronson  I  had  a  fresh  horse  to  contend  with. 
For  four  or  five  miles  I  let  him  go  ahead,  until  we  got  on 
the  last  ten  miles  to  the  oflSce.  I  passed  him  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  oflSce,  and  got  my  application  in  a  few  minutes 
before  him,  after  coming  ten  miles  in  forty  minutes.  The 
country  around  this  place  is  new,  and  if  any  family  should 
leave  Rochester  for  this  they  had  better  bring  everything 
they  want  for  family  use.  There  is  no  house  near.  If  any 
one  should  set  off  before  we  get  home  you  must  direct  them 
from  Detroit  to  take  the  road  leading  northwest  fifty  miles 
to  Grand  Blanc ;  then  take  a  west  course  to  Mr.  Williams', 
on  the  Shiawassee  River,  where  they  will  get  all  the  infor- 
mation necessary.  We  applied  on  Friday  last,  and  are  to 
have  our  duplicates  at  nine  o'clock  this  morning.  We  are  to 
leave  this  place  for  the  Maple  to-day,  with  Mr.  Hill,  to  make 
the  survey  and  lay  the  lots.  We  feel  glad  to  get  away.  It 
is  like  town-meeting  here  every  day  (Sundays  excepted). 
We  shall  be  in  Rochester  about  the  middle  of  June,  proba- 
bly. "William  G.  Russell, 

"  For  the  Colony." 


According  to  the  information  in  the  closing  portions  of 
the  letter,  Russell  and  Sever  went  over  to  the  Maple  with 
Calvin  G.  Hill,  the  surveyor,  who  platted  the  colony  lots. 
The  plat,  including  the  territory  already  mentioned,  was 
received  for  record  Oct.  27,  1837,  from  "  E.  R.  Everest, 
acting  agent  for  the  Rochester  Colony."  The  plat  of  the 
village  received  for  record  on  the  same  day  contains  the 
following  :  ''  On  the  27th  day  of  October,  1837,  personally 
appeared  before  me,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  Edward  R.  Ev- 
erest, now  acting  agent  for  the  Rochester  Colony,  in  the 
county  of  Clinton  and  State  of  Michigan,  known  to  me  to 
be  the  person  who  executed  this  plat,  and  acknowledged  the 
same  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed,  and  furthermore  that  this 
plat  was  made  by  Benjamin  H.  Brown. 

"  JosiAH  Pearce,  J.P." 

June  15, 1836,  Russell  and  Sever  returned  to  Rochester 
and  reported  the  results  of  their  labors.  On  the  29th  instant 
the  members  of  the  colony  met  at  the  office  of  Edward  R. 
Everest  and  drew  each  his  share  by  lot.  At  a  meeting 
held  the  30th  instant  it  was  voted  to  dispose  of  the  Maple 
River  water-power  on  section  29  at  auction.  The  power 
was  estimated  as  capable  of  running  two  saws  and  three 
run  of  stones,  and,  precedent  to  the  contract  of  sale,  it  was 
stipulated  that  the  purchaser  should  bind  himself  in  the 
sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  to  have  one  saw  in  operation 
within  a  year,  and  that  within  two  years  he  should  have 
erected  a  grist-mill  with  at  least  one  run  of  stone.  The 
mill-privilege  was  sold  under  the  named  conditions  to 
Willis  Thempshall  for  one  thousand  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  dollars. 

The  first  movement  towards  an  actual  settlement  upon 
the  Colony  lands  was  made  early  in  July,  1 836',  by  John 
Ferdon,  Samuel  Barker,  and  Oliver  Bebee,  who,  with  their 
families  and  Ellen  Lowe,  then  set  out  for  the  West  to  take 
possession  of  the  colony  lots  that  had  fallen  to  their  shares. 
In  the  company  were  sixteen  persons,  of  whom  ten  were 
children.  They  journeyed  by  water  to  Detroit,  and  thence 
by  ox-teams  to  the  place  of  proposed  settlement.  They  fol- 
lowed the  Grand  River  trail  to  a  point  some  miles  east  of 
where  Laingsburg  now  stands,  and  struck  through  the 
trackless  forest  northward.  The  distance  to  their  destina- 
tion was  full  twenty  miles,  and  over  the  entire  route  they 
were  compelled  to  cut  a  road.  So  tedious  was  the  progress 
that,  although  they  persevered  diligently,  they  were  nine 
days  making  the  trip  of  twenty  miles. 

However  long  their  road  it  had  a  turn,  and  fio  on  the 
28th  of  July,  1836,  they  came  to  the  end  of  their  weari- 
some travels.  Their  first  night  upon  the  Colony  land  was 
spent  upon  Bebee's  place,  and  on  the  day  following  they 
moved  to  Ferdon 's  lot,  where  it  was  proposed  to  put  up  a 
cabin.  The  shanty,  built  of  logs  with  bark  roof  and  bark 
floor,  was  finished  within  a  day  or  two,  but  stood  just  over 
the  town-line,  in  what  iS  now  the  town  of  Greenbush, 
Ferdon's  lot  bordering  upon  the  west  line  of  town  8. 
Barker's  cabin  was  next  put  up,  and  occupied  a  place  on 
the  north  line  of  town  7  (now  known  as  Ovid),  in  section 
6.  It  will  have  been  seen  therefore  that  the  first  improve- 
ment in  the  colony  was  made  in  town  7  by  Barker,  Ferdon's 
hut  not  being  upon  Colony  land.     It  will  be  further  seen 


DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


425 


that  Ferdon  and  Barker  built  respectively  the  first  houses 
in  Greenbush  and  Ovid.  The  third  Colony  house,  and  the 
first  in  town  8,  was  Bebee's  cabin,  built  directly  after  the 
completion  of  Barker's.  It  stood  upon  the  south  line  of 
town  8,  in  section  31,  directly  opposite  Barker's. 

Illustrative  of  the  peculiar  inflictions  of  the  densely- 
wooded  country  into  which  these  hardy  pioneers  had  pene- 
trated, it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  multitudesi)f  mosqui- 
toes they  encountered  made  life  well-nigh  a  burden.  So 
thick  were  the  pests  that  while  two  of  the  men  labored  at 
cabin  building  the  third  found  his  time  and  energies  fully 
occupied  in  driving  off  mosquitoes.  Veils  were  absolutely 
necessary  as  face  coverings,  and,  at  best,  for  some  time  the 
troubles   that   arose   from  the   insect  source  were   sorely 


Of  the  sixteen  persons  who  came  as  the  Colony  pioneer 
advance-guard  six  still  live, — Mrs.  Henry  S.  Harrison  (then 
Mrs.  Barker),  Mrs.  Oliver  Bebee  (then  Ellen  Lowe), 
Thomas  Bebee,  Mrs.  Z.  H.  Harrison  (daughter  of  Mrs. 
Bebee),  Lorenzo  Ferdon,  and  Henry  P.  Barker.  Mrs. 
Harrison  lives  in  Elsie,  and  Mrs.  Bebee  upon  the  farm  Mr. 
Bebee  occupied  in  July,  1836. 

Barker,  Bebee,  and  Ferdon  were  not  joined  by  others  of 
the  Colony  until  September,  although  it  was  confidently  ex- 
pected that  they  would  be  followed  almost  immediately  by 
several  families.  As  it  was,  the  next  to  come  were  Joseph 
Sever  and  Francis  Faxon, — only  the  former,  however,  bring- 
ing a  family.  Faxon  put  up  a  cabin  and  made  a  clearing, 
and  returning  eastward  for  his  family  brought  them  out  in 
September,  1837.  Until  then  (except  David  Watson,  a 
blacksmith)  there  had  been  no  fresh  accessions  to  the  Colony 
settlement,  which  progressed,  indeed,  at  first  very  slowly. 
Charles  Baldwin  came  with  his  family  Nov.  15,  1837,  and 
after  that  the  settlement  began  to  slowly  but  surely  receive 
numerical  strength.  In  December,  1836,  Barker  vacated 
his  house  in  town  7,  and  passed  over  into  town  8,  where  he 
had  made  a  new  location.  He  had  but  three  miles  to  go, 
yet  the  journey  consumed  an  entire  day.  In  fording  the 
liver  his  wagon  came  apart,  and  being  covered  with  ice  re- 
sisted for  a  long  time  the  efforts  of  himself  and  wife  to  put 
it  together.  They  conquered  the  emergency,  however,  by 
nightfall  and  pushed  on. 

PASSING  INCIDENTS. 

Getting  to  market  or  to  mill  was  to  the  first  comers  a 
task  of  considerable  magnitude,  since  either  involved  a 
journey  to  Ann  Arbor,  Battle  Creek,  or  Pontiac,  and  some- 
times even  to  Detroit,  while  to  obtain  access  to  a  post-office 
required  a  trip  to  Laingsburg  or  Owosso.  .After  a  little 
while  Joseph  Sever,  Edward  R.  Everest,  and  Willis  Themp- 
shall  built  a  grist-  and  saw-mill  at  the  colony.  Everest 
opened  a  store  and  caused  a  post-office  to  be  established 
there,  so  that  existence  began  to  flow  in  smoother  channels. 

The  first  birth  in  the  settlement  was  that  of  William 
Henry,  son  of  Sterry  Lyon,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1838. 
He  died  in  1839.  Fidelia  Carpenter,  the  ten-year-old 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Carpenter,  was  the  first  person  to 
die.  She  died  in  1838,  and  was  the  first  to  be  buried  in 
the  Colony  cemetery  laid  out  some  time  before  and  ever 
since  continued  in  its  original  use.  The  funeral  sermon 
54 


was  preached  by  Mr.  "Whiting,  a  member  of  the  Colony, 
and  a  Methodist  exhorter.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of 
Oliver  Bebee  and  Ellen  Lowe.  They  were  married  at  Be- 
bee's house,  by  John  Ferdon,  then  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
in  July,  1837.  The  only  wedding-guests  were  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Barker  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferdon.  Mrs.  Bebee  still 
lives  on  the  old  Bebee  place  at  the  Colony. 

The  first  blacksmith  was  David  Watson,  who  opened  a 
shop  on  section  31,  in  the  summer  of  1837.  Whiting,  the 
exhorter,  was  also  a  blacksmith,  but  he  did  not  set  up  his 
shop  until  1843.  Oliver  Bebee  was  the  first  carpenter  and 
Charles  Stevens  the  second.  Samuel  L.  Brass  was  the  first 
shoemaker,  and  afterwards  kept  a  store  at  an  early  date. 

At  the  meeting  held  June  29,  1836,  the  result  of  the 
drawing  for  lots  was  as  follows : 

Farm  Village 

Lobj.  Lota. 

Edward  R.  Everest i  12 

William  G.  Kussell 2  5 

Joseph  Sever 2  7 

John  Ferdon 2  7 

William  Chynoworth 2  9 

Benjamin  Carpenter H  13 

Samuel  Graves 3  10 

Oliver  Bebee 2  5 

Samuel  Barker 2  4 

M.  T.  Croade....'. 2  8 

Jacob  Martin 1  4 

John  Boardman 1  3 

Electus  Boarduian 1  5 

Edwin  W.  Collins 1 

Rufus  Collier,  Jr 1 

Van  Rensselaer  Cook 1 

Joseph  Atwood 1 

AV.  P.  &  H.  Stanton 1 

George  S.  Sbelmire 1 

Henry  N.  Sever 1 

Samuel  Brass 1  3 

Sunanous  Britton 1  3 

Martha  Osborne 1  2 

P.  A.  Ford  and  B.  Bliss 1  2 

Rowley  &  Britton 1  2 

Eleazar  Rowley 1  3 

Calvin  Brainard 1  5 

Francis  Faxon 2  5 

Sylvester  Bliss 2  6 

The  drawing  disposed  of  forty-five  Colony  lots.  There 
were  reserved  to  the  Colony  eighty  acres  in  lots  11, 12,  and 
13,  lying  off  the  Maple  River,  besides  four  large  and  forty- 
four  small  village  lots,  as  well  as  a  lot  for  a  burial-place  and 
farm  lots  9  and  42. 

RESIDENT  TAX-PATERS  IN  TOWN  8  NORTH, 
RANGE   1  WEST,  IN  1839. 

Acres. 

B.  Hicks,  section  11 40 

Thomas  Craven,  Sr.,  section  14 200 

R.  B.  Craven,  sections  11,  14 360 

Sydney  L.  Smith,  sections  22,  23 240 

Charles  Stephens,  section  27 80 

Nathan  Lowe,  section  34 160 

m  THE  COLONY  PURCHASE. 

E.  R.  Everest *80 

Francis  Faxon l^JJ 

Oliver  Bebee 1^0 

Joseph  Sever '. 160 

JohnCopeland '"0 

Samuel  Barker 160 

RESIDENT  TAX-PAYERS  IN  SENA  IN  1840. 

Acres. 

John  Burnett,  Colony  lots  1  and  2 160 

Sterry  Lyon,  Colony  lot  3 »0 

"  "      section  11 *" 

Abram  Becker,  Colony  lot  21 ■••     80 

Francis  Faxon,  Colony  lots  16  and  34  and  south- 
west quarter  of  section  24 320 

Oliver  Bebee,  lots  32  and  33 16C 


426 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Acres. 

Joseph  Sever,  lots  8  and  14 1*^ 

Samuel  Barker,  lot  19 °" 

Grove  Cooper,  lots  31  and  32 J"" 

H.  M.  Sever,  lot  18  »" 

Oliver  Everest,  lot  17 "" 

John  Ferdon,  lot  29 °" 

Benjamin  Carpenter,  lot  28 °" 

David  Watson,  fraction  of  lot  26 ^" 

Samuel  Brass,  lot  25 *" 

Terapshall  A  Sever,  mill-lot » 

Nathan  Lowe,  section  34 lo" 

Charles  Stevens,  section  27 °" 

Sidney  L.  Smith,  sections  27  and  23 240 

K.  E.  Craven,  sections  11,  22,  23,  10 400 

Thomas  Craven,  Sr.,  section  14 160 

Thomas  Craven,  Jr.,  section  14 °0 

Liberty  Carter,  section  24 1"0 

Patrick  Galligan,  section  12 80 

William  B.  Watson,  sections  2  and  21 160 

Chandler  Coy,  section  35 80 

Benjamin  Hicks,  section  U 40 

Soon  after  the  coming  to  the  town  of  the  advance-guard 
of  the  Colony  there  came  also  other  settlers,  and  they  drift- 
ing to  various  portions  of  the  township  generally  populated 
it  at  a  comparatively  early  day.  Nathan  E.  Lowe,  a  New 
Yorker,  settled  in  1838  on  section  34,  to  which  he  had  to 
cut  his  road  from  the  Colony.  Chandler  Coy  settled  on 
section  35.  Dexter  Cooper  was  one  of  the  earliest  comers 
to  the  vicinity  of  the  Colony,  and  in  1840  E.  J.  Stone 
made  a  home  upon  a  farm  in  section  33,  for  which  he  ex- 
changed a  farm  in  Calhoun  County,  whither  he  migrated 
from  the  East  as  early  as  1835.  Later  comers  to  that 
neighborhood  were  Edward  Paine,  F.  L.  Hall,  Robert  Coy, 
George  Wilcox,  Benjamin  Wilcox,  Richard  Tompkins, 
Henry  Spencer,  and  John  Spencer. 

About  1840  the  northeastern  and  eastern  portions  of  the 
town  began  to  receive  settlers,  of  whom  several  had  located 
their  lands  in  1836.  On  the  west  side  of  the  river  the 
prevalence  of  lowlands  repelled  the  pioneer,  and  in  that 
quarter  settlements  were  meagre  until  a  late  date.  Liberty 
Carter  entered  land  in  section  24  in  the  fall  of  1836,  but 
did  not  occupy  it  until  the  spring  of  1841,  when  he  came 
with  his  father,  and  brother  Sylvester,  having  meanwhile 
worked  at  the  Colony  on  the  places  of  Ferdon  and  Bebee. 
The  only  man  north  of  Carter  was  Patrick  Galligan,  on 
section  12,  where  he  had  in  the  spring  of  1841  just  made 
a  commencement.  In  that  portion  of  the  town  Galligan 
and  the  Carters  were  the  pioneers.  Franklin,  Baker,  and 
H.  B.  Gleason  came  into  the  Carter  neighborhood  in  1841, 
and  in  1844  E.  W.  Cobb,  with  his  brother,  Lyman,  and 
father,  Joshua,  made  settlements  upon  section  12.  H.  P. 
Cobb  was  on  section  13,  where  he  had  been  about  two 
years ;  the  Cravens  were  in  section  10,  on  the  Maple,  where 
they  soon  built  a  mill ;  Charles  Baldwin  was  near  there, 
and  afterwards  kept  a  boarding-house  for  the  mill  hands, 
and  on  section  12  was  Patrick  Galligan.  That  portion  of 
the  town  was  heavily  timbered,  and  had  in  1844  scarcely  a 
semblance  of  a  road,  except  one  the  Cravens  had  cut  out 
between  their  place  and  the  Colony.  In  1845,  Levi  Hicks 
settled  in  Livingston  County,  and  when  in  1854  he  made 
a  new  home  upon  section  1  in  Duplain  the  only  other  resi- 
dents upon  that  section  were  Abram  Hobbs  and  A.  J.  Lin- 
man.  Z.  A.  Ford  came  to  the  section  in  1855,  the  Ben- 
netts to  section  12  in  1855,  and  J.  B.  Moore  to  section  2 
in  1855.  Among  the  settlers  in  the  east  were  also  W. 
WooU,  E.  N.  Wait,  Charles  Sexton,  E.  Nethaway,  Mr. 


Hickox,  William  Tillottson,  and  James  Shaw,  the  latter  in 
1845  to  the  place  now  occupied  by  A.  B.  Jeffrey. 

Upon  the  west  side  of  the  river  the  earliest  settlements 
were  made  by  C.  Stafford,  Thomas  Leet,  and  Daniel  Letts, 
who  penetrated  that  quarter  upon  sections  9  and  15  in 
1850.  After  that  C.  Ranney  located  on  section  3,  J.  W. 
Garrett  on  section  9,  C.  B.  Dodge  on  section  10,  and  Israel 
Mead  on  section  16. 

VILLAGE  OF   MAPLETON. 

As  already  remarked,  the  village  of  Mapleton  was  platted 
by  Edward  R.  Everest,  as  the  Colony's  agent,  Oct.  27, 1837. 
The  erection  of  the  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  in  1840,  and  the 
opening  of  a  store  by  Edward  R.  Everest,  soon  afterwards 
contributed  something  of  a  vigorous  start  to  the  little  ham- 
let, and  directly  afterwards  a  post-oflSce  was  added  to  the 
conveniences,  William  B.  Watson,  a  physician,  having  pre- 
viously located  in  1830.  Previous  to  Everest's  time,  some 
time  in  1838  or  1839,  John  Ferdon  had  a  small  quantity 
of  goods  in  his  house,  having  taken  them  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  on  a  debt,  and  these  he  doled  out  to  whoever  would 
buy,  but  the  first  regularly-equipped  store  was  Everest's. 
The  second  store  was  set  up  by  William  Shepard,  in  1844, 
and  in  connection  with  his  store  Mr.  Shepard  opened  a 
tavern.  In  1849,  Shepard  was  still  keeping  store,  and  in 
1850,  0.  M.  Pearl  became  a  Colony  trader.  Paine  &  Kipp 
opened  a  store  in  1852,  and  in  1853,  Faxon  &  Pearl  suc- 
ceeded 0.  M.  Pearl.  Among  succeeding  merchants  at  Ma- 
pleton were  Henry  Paine  and  Samuel  L.  Brass. 

A  post-oflSce  was  established  at  Mapleton  about  1840,  and 
given  the  name  of  Colony,  but  this  being  found  to  conflict 
with  another  office  of  a  similar  name  in  the  State,  a  change 
was  made  to  Duplain.  Mail  was  at  first  delivered  to  Du- 
plain over  the  route  between  Owosso  and  Lyons  once  a 
week.  Edward  Everest,  the  firet  postmaster,  continued  in 
the  office  until  1847,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  James 
Tucker.  Tucker  stepped  out  in  1852,  in  favor  of  J.  W. 
Paine,  who  gave  way  in  1853  to  William  Shepard,  and  he 
to  William  H.  Faxon,  whose  term  of  service  endured  only  a 
few  months.  Samuel  L.  Brass,  the  next  incumbent,  held 
the  place  from  1855  to  1861.  R.  Dewstoe  served  from 
1861  to  1866,  James  Tucker  (second  term)  from  1866  to 
1869,  and  William  Smead  (who  came  to  Mapleton  in 
1850)  from  1869  to  the  present  time. 

In  1839  the  village  received  its  pioneer  physician,  Dr. 
William  B.  Watson,  who,  when  he  first  set  up  in  practice 
in  the  Colony,  boarded  with  Francis  Faxon,  and  married 
one  of  Mr.  Faxon's  daughters.  Dr.  Watson  lived  in  and 
near  the  Colony  from  1839  until  his  death  in  1875,  and 
continued  his  professional  pursuits  to  within  a  few  years  of 
his  demise.  For  fifteen  years  Dr.  Watson  was  the  sole 
physician  the  Colony  had.  In  1854  came  Dr.  M.  L.  Leach, 
who  practiced  thereabout,  with  more  or  less  regularity, 
until  his  removal  to  Elsie  in  1878.  Dr.  H.  H.  House 
opened  an  office  in  1858,  and  remained  continuously  to  1876 
a  village  doctor  there,  except  for  a  space  of  six  years  spent 
in  Indiana.  Dr.  E.  S.  Leonard  practiced  one  year,  from 
1857  to  1858,  and  Dr.  A.  C.  Joslyn,  five  years,  from  1860 
to  1865.  Dr.  D.  W.  Emerson,  now  the  only  physician  at 
the  colony,  has  been  located  there  since  1 864. 


DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


427 


RELIGIOUS  MEETINGS. 
The  pioneer  sermou  in  the  Colony  was  preached  at  John 
Ferdon's  house,  in  the  fall  of  1836,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kanouse,  a 
Presbyterian  minister  of  Lodi,  Mich.,  who,  while  on  a 
land-looking  tour,  tarried  at  Ferdon's  house.  Mr.  Kanouse 
preached  from  the  thirty-second  chapter  and  eleventh  verse 
of  Deuteronomy, — "  As  an  eagle  stirreth  up  her  nest,  flut- 
tereth  over  her  young,  spreadeth  abroad  her  wings,  taketh 
them  and  beareth  them  on  her  wings."  The  choir  was 
composed  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Barker  and  John  Ferdon,  and 
besides  them  there  were  in  the  congregation  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bebee  and  four  children,  Mrs.  Ferdon  and  three  children, 
Mr.  Barker  and  three  children,  and  Mr.  Ferdon's  hired 
man,  William.  One  Sunday  in  the  summer  of  1837  there 
came  to  Mr.  Barker's  house  two  men,  who  represented 
that  they  were  laborers  on  the  mill  at  Owosso,  and  that 
having  heard  there  were  occasional  prayer-meetings  at  the 
Colony  they  were  determined  to  come  out ;  "  for,"  added 
the  spokesman,  "  we  were  so  hungry  for  prayer  and  a 
prayer-meeting  that  we  would  have  walked  twice  the  dis- 
tance." The  Barkers  were  of  course  glad  to  see  them, 
and  in  the  prayer-meeting  that  followed  there  was  one 
Hicks,  a  land-looker,  besides  the  Barkers  and  the  two  men 
from  Owosso.  Hicks  was  a  powerfully-voiced  singer,  and 
Mrs.  Harrison  thinks  his  voice,  when  pitched  to  its  highest, 
could  have  been  heard  well-nigh  a  mile.  After  prayers  an 
excellent  dinner  followed,  and  the  two  pilgrims  from  Owosso 
departed  on  their  return  journey  happy  and  refreshed. 
They  walked  thirty-two  miles  to  participate  in  that  prayer- 
meeting,  but  the  satisfaction  they  derived  was  presumably 
more  than  enough  to  afford  compensation  for  what  weari- 
ness the  walk  may  have  occasioned. 

DUPLAIN  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CLASS. 

In  November,  1837,  Revs.  Washington  Jackson  and 
Isaac  Bennett,  sent  out  by  the  Michigan  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Conference,  organized  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Sever 
the  Duplain  class.  The  members  numbered  ten,  and  in- 
cluded Francis  Faxon  and  Betsey  his  wife,  Joseph  Sever, 
Jane  his  wife,  and  his  two  daughters,  Sarah  and  Bathsheba, 
Charles  and  Sophronia  Baldwin,  Frederick  Cranson,  and 
Mrs.  Cusick,  Charles  Baldwin  being  class-leader.  The 
circuit  embraced  a  tour  of  three  hundred  miles,  and  as 
there  were  but  the  two  preachers  on  the  work,  the  Du- 
plain class  was  not  enabled  to  have  public  worship  oftener 
than  once  in  four  weeks.  In  the  December  following  a 
Sunday-school  was  organized  in  Francis  Faxon's  house 
with  nine  scholars,  Charles  Baldwin  being  chosen  superin- 
tendent. Church  and  school  have  maintained  from  the 
first  a  continuous  active  existence,  and  are  to-day  flourish- 
ing organizations.  The  class  is  now  on  the  Duplain  Cir- 
cuit, in  charge  of  Rev.  C.  A.  Jacokes ;  has  a  membership 
of  eighty  and  has  worship  every  Sunday. 

A  church  edifice  was  built  in  1855,  and  still  continues 
in  use.  The  present  class-leader  is  Albert  McBwen,  who 
is  also  local  preacher.  The  church  trustees  are  J.  H.  Love, 
Lewis  McKnight,  J.  H.  Faxon,  R.  Chapman,  and  E.  J. 
Stone.  Albert  McEwen  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  has  one  hundred  and  ten  scholars  on  the 
roll. 


FIRST  DISCIPLE  CHURCH  OF  DUPLAIN. 
The  First  Disciple  Church  was  organized  in  the  Colony 
school-house  in  1870  by  Elder  Brooks,  with  about  thirty 
members.  A  house  of  worship  was  begun  the  same  year 
and  completed  in  1871.  Elder  Brooks  preached  a  year,  and 
was  succeeded  in  regular  order  by  Revs.  Fraut,  John  A. 
Mafferty,  La  Grange,  Cook,  Hurd,  and  Sweatman.  Rev. 
S.  K.  Sweatman  is  the  present  pastor,  and  preaches  once  a 
week.  The  membership  is  seventy-five ;  the  trijstees  and 
elders  are  Peter  Moore,  Looman  Wilcox,  and  Clinton 
Shaw ;  the  deacons,  T.  C.  Avery  and  P.  Foss.  The  Sab- 
bath-school, organized  in  1876,  has  an  average  attendance 
of  six  teachers  and  fifty  scholars.  The  superintendent  is 
Peter  Moore. 

-TOWN   KOADS. 

The  first  road  laid  in  town  8  north,  range  1  west,  while 
it  was  yet  a  portion  of  Bingham,  was  surveyed  by  Charles 
R.  Spicer,  and  recorded  Aug.  7,  1839,  Samuel  Barker  and 
Charles  Stevens  being  highway  commissioners.  The  survey, 
made  July  15th,  commenced  at  the  quarter  post  on  the  east 
side  of  section  31,  thence  running  north  two  and  a  half  de- 
grees, west  twelve  and  a  half  chains  to  angle  ;  thence  north 
forty-five  degrees,  west  five  chains  and  forty-five  links  to  a 
beech-tree  ;  thence  north  twenty-nine  degrees,  west  one 
chain  and"  eighty-seven  Unks  to  a  post;  thence  north  twelve 
degrees,  east  three  chains  and  twenty-five  links  to  a  post ; 
thence  north  seventy-one.  degrees,  east  five  chains  and  twelve 
links  to  a  post ;  thence  north  eighteen  degrees,  west  six 
chains  to  the  east  line  of  said  section  31,  eleven  chains  and 
sixty  links  south  of  the  northeast  corner  of  said  section. 

Survey  No.  2  commenced  at  the  quarter  post  on  the 
north  line  of  section  31,  thence  running  south  two  and  one 
half  degrees,  east  twenty-four  chains  to  angle  ;  thence  south 
forty-seven  and  one-half  degrees,  east  nineteen  and  one-half 
chains  to  a  beech-tree ;  thence  south  sixty-two  degrees,  east 
forty  chains  ;  thence  south  seventy-three  degrees,  east  six 
chains  to  post ;  thence  south  forty-seven  and  a  half  degrees, 
east  twenty-five  chains  and  eleven  links  to  a  beech-tree; 
thence  south  twenty  degrees,  east  eleven  chains  and  sixty-nine 
links  ;  thence  south  thirty-eight  degrees,  east  forty  chains  to 
post ;  thence  south  forty-seven  and  a  half  degrees,  east  sixty 
chains  ;  thence  south  twenty-four  degrees,  east  twenty-two 
chains  and  seventy  links  to  a  basswood-tree ;  thence  south 
sixty-two  degrees,  east  twenty  chains  and  seventy-five  links 
to  a  maple-tree ;  thence  south  fifty-one  degrees,  east  four- 
teen chains  to  post ;  thence  south  nine  degrees,  east  four 
chains  and  eighty-seven  links ;  thence  south  fifty  chains, 
east  thirty  and  a  half  chains  to  the  meridian  line,  three 
chains  sixty-five  links  north  of  the  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 12,  town  7  north,  range  1  west. 

Survey  No.  3  commenced  at  a  stake  twenty  chains  twenty 
links  east  on  the  section-line  from  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  29  ;  thence  north  two  and  a  half  degrees,  west  forty 
chains  to  a  point  twenty  chains  twenty  links  east,  two  and 
a  half  degrees  north  of  the  quarter  stake  on  the  west  line 
of  section  29. 

Survey  No.  4  commenced  seventy-nine  rods  north  on  the 
section-line  of  the  southeast  corner  of  section  21,  running 
thence  forty-four  and  a  half  degrees,  east  four  chains  seventy- 


428 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


three  links;  thence  north  forty  degrees,  east  forty-eight 
chains  fifty  links  to  the  centre  of  the  highway ;  thence  west 
and  south  to  intersect  road  No.  3. 

The  following  road  districts  in  Sena  were  set  off  and 
recorded  March  30,  1840,  by  Charles  Stevens  and  John 
Jessup,  highway  commissioners  : 

District  No.  1,  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit;  commencing 
at  the  quarter  post  on  the  meridian  of  the  25th  section, 
thence  running  west  on  the  quarter  line  through  sections 
25,  26,  27,  28,  29  and  30,  and  including  all  the  land  north 
of  said  line  in  the  town. 

District  No.  2,  bounded  as  follows :  commencing  at  the 
quarter  post  on  the  east  line  of  section  25,  thence  running 
west,  on  the  quarter  line,  through  sections  25,  26,  and  27  ; 
thence  on  the  section-line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 34  ;  thence  east  on  the  town  line  to  the  meridian  line ; 
thence  north  on  the  meridian  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

District  No.  3  comprised  the  remainder  of  the  town  not 
contained  within  the  limits  of  districts  Nos.  1  and  2. 

At  a  public  meeting  held  Dec.  12,  1840,  for  the  purpose 
of  letting  contracts  for  improvements  upon  the  roads  of 
Sena,  contracts  were  awarded  as  follows,  the  work  to  be 
completed  March  1,  1841 : 

Contract  No.  1. — To  build  eight  rods  of  causeway  on  the  road 
leading  from  the  mill  to  Dr.  Watson's,  near  Austin's.  Let 
to  Silvester  Carter  at  97  cents  per  rod,  said  causeway  to 
be  laid  on  stringers  or  poles,  and  to  be  made  in  the  best 

manner  twelve  feet  wide $8.73 

No.  2. — To  build  six  rods  of  causeway  on  the  south  line  of  sec- 
tion 21.     Let  to  Silvester  Carter  at  $1  per  rod 6.00 

No.  3 — To  build  twenty  rods  of  causeway  on  south  line  of  sec- 
tion 21.  Let  to  Henry  M.  Sever  at  $1  per  rod,  subse- 
quently taken  by  Abraham  Becker  and  S.  Carter  at  same 

rate 20.00 

No.  4, — To  build  twelve  rods  of  causeway  on  south  line  of  sec- 
tion 21.     Let  to  Liberty  Carter  at  $1.17  per  rod 14.0i 

No.  6. — To  chop  and  clear  one  mile  of  the  road  from  Barker's 
to  Jessop's,  two  rods  wide,  of  all  timber  under  six  inches 
in  diameter,  and  otherwise  to  make  the  road  passable. 

Let  to  Liberty  Carter  at 9.87 

No.  6. — To  build  eight  rods  of  causeway  on  the  south  line  of 
section  29,  and  digging  up  a  large  pine-stump  at  the  end 

of  the  same.     Let  to  Oliver  Bebee  at 8.76 

No.  7. — To  build  seven  rods  of  causeway  on  the  south  line  of 

section  31.     Let  to  Oliver  Bebee  at  $1  per  rod 7.00 

No.  8.— To  log  out  and  clear  three  acres  of  the  Owosso  road 

three  rods  wide.     Let  to  Oliver  Bebee  at 8.7* 

No.  9. — To  build  four  rods  of  causeway  over  a  brook  on  sec- 
tion 21.     Let  to  E.  E.  Craven  at  94  cents  per  rod 3.76 

No.  10. — To  chop  and  clear  one  acre  of  the  road  leading  to 
Owosso  four  rods  wide.  Let  to  Henry  Faxon  and  Henry 
M.  Sever  at  $10  per  acre,  all  of  the  above  jobs  to  be  fin- 
ished according  to  specifications  in  contract  No.  1 10.00 

No.  1 1.— To  remove  three  stumps  out  of  the  way  of  the  six- 
rod  causeway  on  the  south  line  of  section  21.     Let  to  L. 

Carter '       j  jq 

No.  12. — To  build  a  bridge  over  a  ravine  on  section  22.  Let 
to  Robert  E.  Craven  at  $75,  to  be  finished  by  the  1st  of 

April yg  QQ 

No.  13. — Allowed  to  Abraham  Becker  for  clearing  out  the  road 

from  the  school-house  west  thirty  rods 1.50 

No.  14. — To  chop  one  acre  on  the  Owosso  road  four  rods  wide. 

Let  to  Francis  Faxon  at '      5.0Q 

No.  15.— To  chop  one  acre  and  a  quarter  on  the  Owosso  road 

four  rods  wide.     Let  to  Sydney  L.  Smith  at 7.5O 

No.  16.— To  chop  one  acre  on  the  Owosso  road  four  rods  wide. 

Let  to  Nathan  Lowe  at '      5  aq 

No.  17.— To  chop  and  clear  a  job  on  the  Owosso  road  four  rods 

wide.     Let  to  Charles  Baldwin  at  $11  per  acre 11.00 

SCHOOLS. 

One  of  the  first  two  schools  established  in  Clinton  County 
was  taught  by  Miss  Bathsheba  Sever  (subsequently  the  wife 
of  W.  H.  Faxon)  in  a  school-house  built  at  the  Colony  (on 
the  present  Peter  Moore  place)  in  February,  1838.  Frac- 
tional school  district  No.  1  was  organizred  May  20,  1843 
to  embrace  the  south  half  of  section  19,  the  whole  of  sec- 


tions 30  and  31,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  32,  and 
so  much  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32  as  lay  on 
the  west  side  of  Maple  River,  containing  seventeen  acres, 
all  in  the  township  of  Duplain  ;  lots  Nos.  45,  46,  47,  48, 
49,  and  50  of  the  Rochester  Colony  tract,  and  the  south 
half  of  section  25,  the  east  half  of  section  35,  and  the 
whole  of  section  36  in  Greenbush. 

District  No.  2  was  formed  Sept.  13, 1845,  of  sections  1, 
2,  and  3,  the  east  half  of  section  4,  the  east  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  9,  the  whole  of  sections  10, 
11,  and  12,  and  the  north  halves  of  sections  13,  14,  and 
15.  The  first  meeting  of  the  district  was  ordered  to  be 
held  at  the  house  of  Charles  Baldwin,  Sept.  26,  1845. 

District  No.  3,  organized  Oct.  1,  1845,  included  the 
south  halves  of  sections  13  and  14,  southeast  quarter  of 
section  15,  the  east  half  of  section  22,  the  whole  of  sec- 
tions 23  and  24,  the  north  half  of  section  25,  and  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  26. 

Although  district  No.  1  must  have  been  organized  pre- 
vious to  May  20,  1843,  there  is  no  reference  in  the  records 
to  district  No.  1  until  Oct.  1,  1845,  when-  it  was  stated 
that  "  School  district  No.  1  comprises  within  its  limits  sec- 
tions 33,  34,  35,  27,  and  28,  the  east  half  and  southwest 
quarter  of  section  29,  the  east  half  and  norttwest  quarter 
of  section  32,  the  west  half  and  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 26,  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  22,  and  the  south 
half  of  section  21." 

Of  the  money  received  from  the  State  school  fund  for 
1847  the  apportionment  was  twenty-five  dollars  and  twenty- 
eight  cents  to  district  No.  1,  having  seventy-nine  scholars, 
and  six  dollars  and  seventy-two  cents  to  fractional  district 
No.  1,  having  twenty-one  scholars.  District  No.  4  was 
formed  April  4,  1850,  to  embrace  sections  35  and  36  and 
the  south  halves  of  sections  25  and  26.  The  first  meeting 
of  the  district  was  ordered  to  be  hold  April  30,  1850,  at 
the  house  of  Thomas  Leet. 

The  apportionment  of  the  primary-school  fund  for  1851 
was  as  below : 

IMS'""*-                                                        ScholaiB.  Amount. 

No-1 77  $26.33 

2 27  9.23 

"    3 24  8.21 

* 14  4.79 

"    1  (fractional)..... 31  lo.go 

173  $59.16 

For  the  year  1852  the  apportionment  was  as  follows: 

'''""'=*■  Scholare.-        Amount. 

No.  1 78  $25.38 

"    2 40  13.01 

'    ?•;••■■•■ 27  8.77 

"    1  (fractional) 22  7.16 

167  $54.32 

For  1858  as  follows : 

^'^"■'<"-                                                        Scholars.  Amount. 

No-1 75  $35.43 

„    1 73  34.50 

,,    i 62  29.29 

„    I • ■ 37  17.48 

T.- 13  6.15 

1  (fractional) ; 43  22.68 

Library  money 25.00 

308  $170.53 


DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


429 


The  first  recorded  appointment  of  a  teacher  is  under  date 
of  Nov.  14,  1849.     From  that  date  to  1860  teachers'  cer- 
tificates were  issued  by  the  school  inspectors  as  follows : 
Nov.  14,  1849. — Arozina  Chapman. 
April  13,  1850. — Ann  S.  Avery,  Albina  Chapman. 
March  29,  1851.— Eleanor  M.  Rockwell. 
May  24,  1851.— Mary  Hill,  Margaret  Janes. 
Nov.  12,  1851. — Delia  S.  Janes. 
Dec.  1,  1851. — Stephen  Chapman,  Jr. 
April  10,  1852. — Mary  A.  Stevenson. 
May  8,  1852.— Mrs.  Hicks. 
June  7,  1852.— Catherine  E.  Beebe. 
Nov.  6,  1852. — J.  H.  Faxon,  Henry  Harrison,  Hannah 
Wilcox. 

Jan.  15,  1853.— William  Tillottson. 

June  21,  1853. Shepard. 

Oct.  18,  1853. — Lounsberry  Swarthout. 

April  8,  1854.— Mrs.  Marshall  Wilcox. 

April  17,  1854.— Nancy  M.  Gunsally. 

May  8,  1854. — Malinda  Richmond. 

Nov.  4,  1854. — Samuel  L.  Brass. 

Nov.  18,  1854.— Miss  B.  A.  Sickels. 

Nov.  27, 1854.— Marshall  L.  Wilcox. 

Dec.  21,  1854.— Sylvia  Guilford. 

Jan.  13,  1855.— Edward  Clark. 

April  14,  1855. — Mary  L.  Kipp,  Adelia  Smith. 

April  27,  1855.— Mary  A.  Faxon. 

May  11,  1855. — Eleanor  M.  Rockwell. 

Nov.  3,  1855.— Morgan  L.  Leach,  William  L.  Tillott- 
son, Delia  A.  Leckenby. 

Dec.  25,  1855. Gaskill. 

Jan.  5,  1856. — Margaret  Janes. 

April  12,  1856.— Rebecca  Salyer. 

May  8,  1856.— Elizabeth  Borden. 

March  30, 1857. — Maria  Wood,  James  Roberts,  William 
Sickels. 

April  10, 1858.— Emory  ,B.  Hyde,  Loren  Shelley,  Nancy 
Budd,  and  Marilla  Nethaway. 

April  12,  1858— Mary  B.  Kingsley. 

May  22,  1858.— Fanny  Chapell. 

April  14,  I860.— Miss  Achsah  Giddings,  William   H. 
Stone,  and  Marilla  Nethaway. 

Below  is  a  copy  of  the  annual  school  report  for  1879  : 

^-      .  Enumer-'i!?™f    Value  of  Teachers' 

Diat.  Directors.  ation.     ^„^        Property.   Wages. 

No.l     J.H.Faxon 64  57  $S00  $183 

"   2    M.W.Dunham* 192  123  1200  630 

"    3    William  Wooll 57  49  40C  236 

"   4tJ.Meaoher „ 46  27  400  144 

"    7    Morgan  Morse 35  28  375  67 

«   8    J.  G:  Wilcox 39  29  250  128 

"    I     Byron  Brown 43  26  1200  131 

"   2t  Bishop  Miller 77  108  600  144 

"  3}  A.  McEwen.... 60  44  200  H" 

613    491    $5425    $1773 

TOWNSHIP  OBGANIZATIOJSr   AND   CIVIL   LIST. 

Under  act  approved  March  19,  1840,  town  8  north,  in 
range  1  west  was  set  off  from  Bingham  and  called  Sena 
township.  Whence  came  the  name  of  Sena,  or  who  the 
person  that  suggested  it,  the  most  diligent  inquiry  has 


failed  to  reveal.  It  can  only  be  said  that  with  the  petition 
for  separate  organization  went  also  the  three  names  Sena, 
Sinai,  and  Napanee,  and  that  the  former  was  selected.  The 
name  did  not,  however,  suit  upon  closer  acquaintance,  and 
in  accordance  with  a  petition,  the  name  of  Duplain  was 
substituted  March  20, 1841.  The  wife  of  Dr.  William  B. 
Watson  is  credited  with  having  bestowed  the  new  appella- 
tion, and  with  having  taken  it  from  the  name  given  by  the 
French-Indian  traders  to  the  river  now  called  the  Maple. 
In  the  French  the  word  is  written  Du  Plain, — meaning 
"  of  the  plain," — and  should  properly  be  so  written  now, 
but  by  custom  it  has  somehow  lost  the  feature  of  the  capi- 
tal P,  and  is  commonly  written  Duplain. 

March  9,  1848,  towns  9  and  10  north,  in  range  1  west, 
being  a  portion  of  Gratiot  County,  were  attached  to  Du- 
plain, and  remained  so  attached  until  the  organization  of 
Gratiot  County  in  1855. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  town  of  Sena  was  held  in  the 
school-house  of  school  district  No.  1  April  23,  1840,  when 
twenty  votes  were  cast,  but  one  ticket  being  offered  for  the 
consideration  of  the  suffragans.  Appended  is  a  full  list  of 
the  persons  chosen  at  that  meeting  to  be  town  officials : 
Supervisor,  Robert  E.  Craven  ;  Clerk,  Francis  Faxon ;  Treas- 
urer, Sydney  L.  Smith ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Joseph 
Sever,  David  Watson,  Nathan  Lowe,  and  Abram  Becker  ; 
Assessors',  Samuel  Barker,  Francis  Faxon,  Oliver  Bebee ; 
Commissioners  of  Highways,  Robert  E.  Craven,  Francis 
Faxon,  Charles  Stevens;  School  Inspectors,  William  B. 
Watson,  Chandler  Coy,  Sydney  L.  Smith  ;  Collector,  Henry 
M.  Sever,  Liberty  Carter,  Henry  M.  Sever ;  Overseers  of 
the  Poor,  Joseph  Sever,  Thomas  Craven,  Sr. ;  Overseers  of 
Highways,  Thomas  Craven,  Sr.,  in  No.  1,  Sydney  L.  Smith 
in  No.  2,  Joseph  Sever  in  No.  3 ;  Poundmaster,  Samuel 
Barker. 

The  names  of  the  persons  chosen  annually  from  1841  to 
1880  to  be  supervisor,  clerk,  treasurer,  and  justice  of  the 
peace  will  be  found  here  appended : 


SUPBKVISORS. 


1841.  Nathan  Lowe. 
1842-44.  R.  E.  Craven.t 

1845.  S.  L.  Smith. 

1846.  William  Shepard. 
1847-49.  S.  L.  Smith. 

1850.  R.  E.  Craven. 

1851.  J.  D.  Sickels. 

1852.  R.  B.  Craven. 
1853-54.  0.  M.  Pearl. 
1855-57.  J.  D.  Sickels. 
1858.  Levi  Hicks. 


1859.  J.  F.  Gleason. 
1860-63.  J.  D.  Sickels. 

1864.  Jos.  Keen. 

1865.  A.  Brown. 

1866.  B.  Nethaway. 
1867-68.  J.  D.  Sickels. 

1869.  T.  L.  Hall. 

1870.  M.  B.  Kelly. 

1871.  J.  D.  Sickels. 
1872-78.  B.  V.  Chase. 
1879-80.  L.  G.  Bates. 


CLERKS. 


*  Elsie  graded  school. 


f  Fractional. 


1841.  E. 
1842-46. 
1847.  B. 
1848-50. 
1851.  0. 
1852-53. 
1854-55. 
1856-57. 
1858-69. 
1860-61. 
1862-63. 


J.  Stone. 

F.  Faxon. 
J.  Stone. 

F.  Faxon. 
M.  Pearl. 

F.  Faxon. 

Charles  Kipp. 

M.  L.  Leach. 

William  Siokela. 

S.  L.  Brass. 

J.  H.  Lowe. 


1864.  William  H.  Sexton. 

1865.  M.  L.  Leach. 

1866.  J.  H.  Lowe. 
1867-69.  W.  A.  Linman. 
1870-71.  1.  C.  Chase. 
1872-74.  L.  G.  Bates. 

1875.  J.  A.  Watson. 

1876.  0.  0.  Perrin. 
1877-78.  L.  G.  Bates. 
1879-80.  L.  C.  Shelley. 


X  Name  of  township  changed  to  Duplain. 


430 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


TREASURERS. 


1841.  S.  L.  Smith. 
1842-46.  N.  Lowe. 
1847.  C.  W.  Coy. 
1848-49.  N.  Lowe. 
1850.  J.  D.  Siokels. 
1851-52.  E.  J.  Stone. 
1853-55.  J.  H.  Craven. 
185fi-57.  H.  Y.  Sexton. 
1858.  H.  Shaw. 


1860-61.  D.  F.  McPherson. 
1862-63.  H.  P.  Barker. 
1864.  H.  C.  Hosley. 
1865-69.  S.  R.  Dewstoe. 

1870.  ft.  W.  Bates. 

1871.  J.  A.  Watson. 

1872.  I.  ft.  Eddy. 

1873.  A.  M.  Emery. 
1874-78.  I.  ft.  Eddy. 


Herewith  is  presented  a  list  of  the  voters  of  Sena  at  the 
general  election  in  Sena,  November,  1840,  and  a  list  of 
those  who  voted  at  the  general  election  held  in  Duplain 
the  1st  and  2d  of  November,  1841. 


1840. 


Oliver  Bebee. 

Sterry  Lyon. 

Grove  Cooper. 

John  Burnet. 

Henry  M.  Sever. 

James  Gunsally. 

Samuel  Brass. 

Charles  Stevens. 

Francis  Faxon. 
Charles  Baldwin. 
Samuel  Barker. 
Joseph  SQver. 
Oliver  Everest. 
George  Burnet. 
Abraham  Becker. 

Isaac  Second. 
Thomas  Craven,  Jr. 
Thomas  Craven,  Sr. 
Marvin  Second. 
Charles  Baldwin. 
Alfonso  Brundage. 
Patrick  Galligan. 
Samuel  L.  Whiting. 
Sebert  Carty. 
Sydney  L.  Smith. 


Sydney  L.  Smith. 
Thomas  Craven,  Sr. 
Joseph  Craven. 
James  Stanley. 
Thomas  Craven,  Jr. 
Chandler  Coy. 
Patrick  Galligan. 
William  B.  Watson. 
Robert  E.  Craven. 
David  Watson. 
Dexter  Cooper. 
David  M.  Austin. 
Nathan  Lowe. 
Twenty-eight  in  all. 


1841. 


Barnard  McKnight. 
John  Burnet. 
Joseph  Craven. 
Sylvester  Carter. 
S.  A.  Mitchell. 
Abraham  Becker. 
Robert  E.  Craven. 
James  Gunsally. 
Samuel  Barker. 
Joseph  Sever. 


1859.  H.  T.  Sexton. 

1879-80.  P.  A.  Faxon. 

JUSTICES 

OP   THE   PEACE. 

1841.  James  Gunsally. 

1862.  J.  D.  Siokels. 

1843.  David  Watson. 

1863.  J.  T.  Gleason. 

1844.  James  Gunsally. 

1864.  G.  R.  Doty. 

1845.  S.  Barker. 

1865.  R.  Birmingham. 

1846.  C.  W.  Coy. 

1866.  E.  W.  Cobb. 

1847.  J.  Perdon. 

1867.  R.  Birmingham. 

1848.  G.  W.  Lewis. 

1868.  G.  W.  Bates. 

1849.  H.  W.  Janes. 

1869.  E.  Paine. 

1850.  James  Tucker. 

1870.  I.  G.  Eddy. 

1851.  0.  Bebee. 

1871.  P.  Moore. 

1852.  G.  W.  Lewis. 

1872.  G.  W.  Bates. 

1853.  J.  D.  Siokels. 

1873.  E.  Paine. 

1854.  J.  T.  Gleason. 

1874.  T.  C.  Chase. 

1855.  B.  P.  Chapman. 

1875.  P.  Moore. 

1856.  J.  Sloat. 

1876.  G.  W.  Bates. 

1857.  R.  Birmingham. 

1877.  D.  W.  Emerson. 

1858.  J.  D.  Siokels. 

1878.  J.  J.  Miller. 

1859.  G.  F.  Roberts. 

1879.  H.  W.  Sloat. 

1860.  A.  Brown. 

1880.  G.  W.  Bates. 

1861.  R.  Birmingham. 

Elijah  J.  Stone. 
William  B.  Watson. 
Nathan  Lowe. 
Francis  Faxon. 
Sterry  Lyon. 
David  Watson. 
Oliver  Everest. 
Henry  M.  Sever.  . 
Chandler  Coy. 
Dexter  Cooper. 


Oliver  Bebee. 
Samuel  Brass. 
Grove  Cooper. 
Benjamin  Carpenter. 
Martin  Cranson. 
Charles  Marro. 
Henry  I.  Fisk. 
David  M.  Austin. 
Thirty-eight  in  all. 


The  jurors  drawn  in  this  township  for  the  year  1841 
were  as  follows : 

Grand. — Samuel  Barker,  Samuel  Brass,  Oliver  Bebee 
Sydney  L.  Smith,  Liberty  Carter,  Chandler  Coy,  Sylvester 
Carter. 

Petit. — John  Burnet,  Henry  M.  Sever,  Francis  Faxon, 
Nathan  Lowe,  Thomas  Craven,  Jr.,  S.  L.  Whiting,  E.  J. 
Stone. 

1842. 

Grand. — Benoni  Kimble,  Thomas  Beach,  George  Bur- 
net, Salmon  Mitchell. 

Petit. — Joseph  Craven,  William  H.  Faxon,  Martin 
Cranson,  Alphonso  Brundage. 

The  first  treasurer's  report  on  record,  dated  March  30, 
1844,  shows  as  follows: 

Amount  of  money  on  hand  at  the  last  settlement $305.97 

Received  from  county  treasurer 10.00 

Amount  collected  for  1841 ....'..."    %&\.iZ 


Paid  for  contingent  expenses $102.53 

For  clearing  burying-ground 24.92 

Other  payments 229.66 

Orders  and  funds  on  hand 220.29 


$577.40 


$577.40    $577.40 

CRAVENS'   MILLS. 

About  1845  the  brothers  Joseph,  Thomas,  and  Robert 

Craven,  early  settlers  in  the  town,  began  upon  the  Maple 

River,  in  section  10,  the  erection  of  a  sawmill,  and  led  to 

sanguine  hopes  by  the  excellence  of  the  water-power,  platted 

a  village  at  that  point,  although  they  never  got  the  village 

sufficiently  far  advanced  to  give  it  a  formal  name.     After 

a  while  Alpheus  Bebee  opened  a  store  there,  and  sold  out 

within  a  short  time  to  J.  D.  Sickels  and  his  brothers  Aaron 

and  William.     Bebee  set  up  a  wagon-shop,  and  in  185(3 

built  a  tavern.     Hiram   Curtis   had  a  cabineUhop  and 

Bruce  Hunter  a  smithy  at  the  Mills  or  "  Corners,"  as  the 

place  was  sometimes  called.    The  village  began  sure  enough 

to  look  up,  and  the  Cravens  began  to  have  a  bright  hope 

that  their  bantling  might  come  to  healthful  strength.    The 

hope  was,  however,  destined  to  die,  for  when  Job  D.  and 

William  Sickles  concluded  in  1857  to  abandon  their  place 

at  the  Mills  and  start  a  village  one  mile  east,  the  end  of 

Cravens'  enterprise  had  begun. 

THE  VILLAGE   OP  ELSIE. 

It  was  on  their  farm  that  the  Sickels  brothers  proposed 

to  construct  their  new  village,  and  June  18,  1857,  they 

recorded  the  plat  which  is  described   as  «  twenty-six  rods 

wide,   extending  across  the  south  part  of  the  southeast 


DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


431 


quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  11,  and  twenty- 
six  rods  wide  across  the  north  part  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  14."  The  new  village 
was  named  Elsie  as  a  compliment  to  one  of  Franklin  Tillot- 
son's  daughters. 

Additions  to  the  plat  were  made  May  24,  1858,  by 
Franklin  Tillotson ;  June  23,  1858,  by  Jonathan  Hicks; 
July  26,  1870,  by  Elijah  W.  Cobb,  Levi  Kandall,  and 
Kingston  Wooll ;  and  June  23,  1S71,  by  B.  D.  Hicks. 

The  first  improvement  at  Elsie  was  a  framed  store  built 
by  Job  D.  and  William  Sickels  in  1857  on  the  first  lot 
west  of  the  present  tavern,  and  in  1858  a  second  store  was 
started  by  Aaron  Sickels  and  E.  W.  Cobb.  When  Elsie 
began  to  loom  up,  Cravens'  Mills  began  to  lose  its  vitality, 
and  in  a  brief  time  boasted  nothing  save  the  mill. 

A.  E.  Gray,  now  an  Ovid  blacksmith,  was  early  on  the 
ground  at  Elsie  with  a  smithy,  and  in  1858  Farwell  & 
Son,  of  Detroit,  set  in  motion  a  chair-factory  operated  by 
steam  and  employing  four  people.  They  carried  on  the 
business  until  1860,  when  they  failed.  In  1858,  Job  and 
William  Sickels  sold  their  store  business  to  Aaron  Durfee, 
and  in  1860  M.  B.  Kelly  succeeded  Cobb  &  Sickels.  In 
1 865,  Kelly  Brothers  and  Johnson  launched  out  in  a  new 
bi"  store,  and  built  a  grist-mill  at  Craven's  old  stand.  In 
1870  they  built  a  planing-mill,  and,  in  connection  with 
considerable  timber-land  interests,  carried  on  an  extensive 
business. 

The  earliest  shoemakers  in  the  village  were  John  Meacher 
and  Henry  Sexton.  E.  W.  Gay  opened  a  wagon-shop  in 
1865,  and  still  carries  it  on.  In  1870,  J.  F.  Hasty  &  Co. 
put  up  south  of  the  village  a  stave-  and  shook-factory  em- 
ploying thirty  men,  and  when  the  concern  burned  in  1871 
started  another  one  east  of  the  village.  In  1878  they  re- 
moved the  business  to  Detroit. 

Elsie  village  contains  now  among  its  business  interests 
three  general  store's,  hardware-store,  grocery-,  drug-,  and 
boot-and-shoe  stores. 

The  Elsie  post-oflSce  was  established  in  1857,  and  Frank- 
lin Tillotson  appointed  postmaster.  Mail  was  received  by 
way  of  the  Colony  post-office  until  the  creation  of  the  Ovid 
post-office.  In  1861,  J.  D.  Sickels  succeeded  Tillottson, 
and  gave  way  in  1866  to  lehabod  Chase.  J.  D.  Sickels 
was  reappointed  in  1867  and  retained  the  office  until  1878, 
when  E.  W.  Cobb,  the  present  incumbent,  was  appointed. 
The  office  receives  now  a  daily  mail  by  way  of  Ovid. 

TAVERNS. 
D.  B.  Fox  built  Elsie's  first  tavern  in  1859,  forty  rods 
west  of  the  present  tavern,  which — the  only  one  now  open 
—was  erected  in  1865  by  J.  L.  Doty,  who  has  been  its 
landlord  continuously  ever  since. 

CEMETERY. 

The  Elsie  cemetery  was  laid  out  in  1851.  The  first  per- 
son buried  therein  was  Joshua  W.  Cobb,  the  date  of  whose 
burial  was  May  4,  1851. 

CHEESE-FACTORY. 
M.  S.  Doyle  purchased  in  1875  the  cheese-factory  estab- 
lished by  Sheldon  &  Eddy,  and  still  carries  it  on.   In  1879 
he    manufactured    sixty-eight    thousand     seven    hundred 


pounds  of  cheese,  in  the  production  of  which  six  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  thousand  pounds  of  milk  were  used. 

Elsie's  first  resident  physician  was  one  Dr.  Taugersen,  a 
Texan,  who,  during  a  few  months'  stay  in  the  year  1858, 
divided  his  time  between  lecturing  on  temperance  and  prac- 
ticing physic.  Dr.  Leach,  of  the  colony,  practiced  also 
medicine  at  Elsie  and  vicinity  at  that  period,  but  did  not 
take  up  his  residence  there  until  many  years  later.  Dr.  E. 
V.  Chase,  now  in  practice  in  Elsie,  began  his  professional 
career  in  Clinton  County  at  Ovid,  in  1857,  and  removing 
thence  in  1860  to  Elsie,  has  practiced  continuously  at  the 
latter  place  ever  since,  except  for  a  period  of  four  years 
and  seven  months  passed  in  the  military  service.  Follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  the  physicians  who  appeared  at  Elsie  subse- 
quent to  Dr.  Chase's  coming,  with  date  of  each  arrival  and 
departure : 

Dr.  Allen,  1861-63. 

De  Los  StaiT,*  1863. 

J.  B.  Sweatland,  1864-66. 

A.  T.  Worden,  1868-7(>. 

S.  E.  Gillam,  1869-79. 

J.  H.  Travis,*  1877 

A.  M.  Lawreson,*  1878. 

M.  L.  Leach,  1878-79. 

E.  B.  Taylor,  1878-79. 

CHURCHES  IN   ELSIE. 
METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 
The  Elsie  Methodist  Episcopal   class  was  organized  in 
1849,  by  Elder  Noah  Fassett,  of  the  Colony,  as  the  East 
Duplain    class.     The    organization  was   efiected    in   a  log 
school-house,  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  the  site  of 
Elsie.     In  1851  the  place  of  worship  was  changed  to  the 
school-house  just  west  of  the  Elsie  site,  and  the  name  of 
the   class   changed  to  North   Duplain.      The   organizing 
members  of  the  East  Duplain  class  were  few  in  number, 
and  came  to  worship  from  far  away ;  but  they  prospered 
in  their  work,  nevertheless,  and  so  firmly  established  their 
purpose  that  from  1849  to  the  present  day  the  class  has 
maintained  an  active  existence  and  enjoyed  regular  periodi- 
cal worship.     Services  were  held  once  in  every  two  weeks 
until  1872 ;  since  then  the  service  has  been  weekly.     In 
1857  the  place  of  worship  was  changed  again,  this  time  to 
Elsie,  and  then  the  class  received  the  name  it  now  bears. 
The  erection  of  a  church  edifice  was  commenced  in  1860, 
but  progress  was  slow,  and  it  was  not  until  1864  that  the 
building  was  dedicated.     The  class  is  now  on  the  Duplain 
Circuit"  in  charge  of  Kev.  C.  A.  Jacokes.     The  leader  is 
Lyman  Cobb,  and  the  trustees,  J.  D.  Sickles,  Alfred  Lin- 
man,  Lyman    Cobb,  John    Curtis,  Hiram    Curtis,  J.  W. 
Curtis,  and  Liberty  Carter.     Alfred  Linman  is  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  one  hundred  and 
thirty  scholars  and  twelve  teachers. 

FREE-WILL   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  formed  in  1851,  by  Elder  Chauncey 

Reynolds,  in  the  school-house  west  of  the  Elsie  site.     The 

organizing   members  were   five   in   number,— George  W. 

«  In  practice  at  Elsie  at  prescDt; 


432 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTr,  MICHiaAN. 


Lewis,  Samantha  Lewis,  Seth  Richards,  Mary  Ann  Rich- 
ards, and  Moses  Wooll.  Elder  Reynolds  came  from  Lyons 
to  preach  for  the  church,  and  for  about  a  year  held  services 
once  each  fortnight.  After  that  George  W.  Lewis,  the 
first  church  clerk,  was  ordained,  and  with  Elders  Parchal 
and  Ross  served  the  church  until  1864.  Then  Elder  Ira 
Allen  took  charge,  and  to  the  present  time  he  has  continued 
uninterruptedly  to  be  the  pastor.  In  1865  the  society's 
new  church  edifice  was  dedicated.  Rev.  William  R.  Norton, 
of  Bath,  preaching  the  dedication  sermon.  To  the  time  of 
the  completion  of  the  church  services  were  held  at  the 
school-house  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The 
organization  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  enjoys 
the  support  of  a  numerous  congregation. 

PROTESTANT  METHODIST  CHURCH. 
The  Elsie  Protestant  Methodist  class  was  organized  in 
the  Baptist  church  by  P.  M.  Rowell  in  1870,  and  began 
straightway  to  increase  in  strength.  A  church  edifice  was 
built  in  1875,  but  after  that  the  church  began  to  decline 
by  reason  of  being  set  off  into  the  Western  Conference  as 
the  only  church  in  the  Conference,  and  inability  to  support 
a  pastor  unaided  led  to  the  practical  dissolution  of  the  or- 
ganization in  1878,  although  the  society  has  yet  a  legal 
existence.  The  organizing  members  of  the  church  were 
George  W.  Gillam  and  wife,  Mrs.  Ichabod  Chase,  H.  E. 
Smith  and  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Chase,  T.  C.  Chase  and 
wife. 

SOCIETIES  AND  ORDERS. 
MAPLE  RIVER  LODGE,  No.  76,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

This  lodge  was  organized  at  the  Colony  Jan.  16,  1856, 
and  removed  not  hing  afterwards  to  Elsie.  The  charter 
members  were  B.  W.  Darling,  C.  D.  Searl,  Almon  Brown, 
Henry  Stebbins,  William  Oaks.  At  the  first  meeting  after 
charter,  held  Feb.  15, 1856,  E.  S.  Hamilton,  Oscar  Darling, 
W.  H.  Turk,  Jedediah  Owens,  and  Edward  Paine  were  re- 
ceived into  membership.  On  the  same  night  William  Oaks 
was  installed  as  N.  G. ;  Almon  Brown,  V.  G. ;  Chauncey 
D.  Searl,  Secretary ;  B.  W.  Darling,  Treasurer ;  and  Jede- 
diah Owens,  Warden.  The  lodge  is  exceedingly  prosperous, 
with  an  active  membership  of  ninety,  and  owns  a  lodge- 
room  at  Elsie.  It  has  during  its  existence  supplied  organ- 
izing members  for  lodges  at  St.  Johns,  Ovid,  Mungerville, 
Greenbush,  and  Chapin,  in  Saginaw  County.  The  roll  of 
officials  is  now  C.  Loyens,  N.  G. ;  R.  G.  Van  Deusen, 
V.  G. ;  George  W.  Davis,  F.  S. ;  George  Craddock.  R.  S. ; 
William  W.  Wooll,  Treasurer. 

ELSIE  LODGE,  No.  238,  F.  AND  A.  M. 
The  first  recorded  meeting  of  this  lodge  is  under  date 
of  Nov.  6,  1867,  when  the  organization  was  effected.  A 
charter  was  issued  Jan.  9,  1868,  to  T.  W.  Lusk,  E.  V. 
Chase,  W.  A.  Linman,  L.  D.  Lusk,  G.  W.  Gillam,  G.  W. 
Bates,  A.  D.  Linman,  G.  C.  Bell,  and  Ichabod  Chase.  The 
first  list  of  officials  recorded,  Nov.  6,  1867,  was  T.  W. 
Lusk,  W.  M. ;  E.  V.  Chase,  S.  W. ;  G.  W.  Gillam,  J.  W. ; 
W.  A.  Linman,  Secretary  ;  L.  D.  Lusk,  Treasurer;  G.  W. 
Bates,  S.  D. ;  A.  D.  Linman,  J.  D. ;  George  C.  Bell,  Tiler. 
Since  1868  the  lodge  has  received  seventy-eight  members, 
of  whom  fifty-five  remain.     The  officers  for  1880  are  M. 


S.  Doyle,  W.  M. ;  T.  W.  Snelling,  S.  W.;  M.  W.  Dun- 
ham, J.  W. ;  L.  F.  Randolph,  Secretary  ;  C.  Powers,  Treas- 
urer'; J.  C.  Sickels,  S.  D. ;  L.  G.  Bates,  J.  D. ;  I.  Eddy, 
Tiler. 

ELSIE  LODGE,  No.  926,  I.  0.  G.  T. 

This  lodge  of  Good  Templars  was  chartered  Dec.  23, 
1875,  with  thirty  members,  R.  G.  Van  Dusen  being  W. 

C.  T.  and  Ellen  Austin  W.  V.  T.  The  membership  is 
now  forty,  and  the  officers  as  follows:  Alice  L.  Sickels, 
W.  C.  T. ;  Jasper  Blayney,  W.  V.  T. ;  Marian  Tillottson, 
W.  S. ;  Irwin  Wooll,  W.  T. ;  Orrin  Dunham,  W.  ¥.  S. ; 
Mrs..  C.  L.  Chase,  W.  Chaplain ;  Harry  Sexton,  W.  M, 

GOOD  INTENT  REBEKAH  LODGE,  No.  11. 
The  Rebekah  lodge  was  chartered  Feb.  22,  1879,  to 
Henry  E.  Smith,  J  L.  Le  Beau,  D.  A.  Maynard,  I.  Chase, 
Levi  Hicks,  William  Wooll,  C.  D.  Searl,  Z.  A.  Ford,  J.  T. 
Huston,  Henry  Wooll,  Mary  A.  Smith,  Elvira  T.  Le  Blanc, 
Annie  S.  Maynard,  Margaret  B.  Chase,  I.  C.  Hicks,  Ros- 
anna  Wooll,  Harriet  Searl,  Mary  J.  Ford,  C.  E.  Huston, 
Vienna  Wooll.  The  membership  is  twenty,  and  the  official 
list,  Eleanor  Bennett,  N.  G. ;  R.  G.  Van  Deusen,  Sec. ; 
George  Davis,  F.  S. ;  Sarah  Linman,  Treas. ;  J.  B.  Moore, 

D.  D.  G.  M. 

ERIE  GRANGE,  No.  202,  P.  OF  H. 
This  grange,  organized  in  the  Baptist  church  Jan.  20, 
1874,  with  a  membership  of  thirty-four,  and  chartered 
Aug.  1,  1875,  has  now  ninety  paying  members,  and  meets 
every  Monday  night  in  the  Odd-Fellows'  Hall.  The  first 
list  of  officers  included  T.  W.  Lusk,  M. ;  W.  T.  Tillottaon, 
0. ;  W.  A.  Linman,  Sec. ;  W.  W.  Wooley,  Treas.  Since 
the  organization  the  Masters  have  been  T.  W.  Lusk,  W.  T. 
Tillottson,  M.  W.  Dunham,  R.  G.  Van  Deusen,  W.  A.  Lin- 
man, and  W.  T.  Tillottson  (second  term).  The  officers 
chosen  in  1880  were  W.  T.  Tillottson,  M. ;  William  War- 
ner, 0.;  Abram  Sebring,  L. ;  Irwin  O.  Wooll,  Sec.;  J. 
J.  Miller,  Treas. ;  J.  0.  Wool,  Chaplain. 

TREHISTORIC   RELICS. 

Prehistoric  mounds  are  stated  to  have  existed  in  Du- 
plain  in  considerable  numbers,  and  the  claim  is  still  urged 
that  marks  of  the  presence  thereof  may  yet  be  seen.    Sec- 
tion 32  is  said  to  contain  the  sit«  of  what  was  probably 
the  largest  mound  in  this  portion  of  the  country.     It  is  on 
the  farm  of  Edward  Paine,  and  despite  the  fact  that  it  has 
been  plowed  over  year  after  year,  there  yet  remain  traces 
of  it,  although  they  are  vague.     It  is  thought  to  have  been 
forty  feet  in  length  extending  east  and  west,  and  about  five 
feet  high,  while  upon  its  side  grew  an  oak-tree  fourteen 
inches  in  diameter.     Three  skulls  and  a  number  of  bones 
were  excavated  at  a  comparatively  recent  date,  and  it  is 
further   alleged   that   later    investigations    revealed   what 
might  have  been  a  fireplace  some  distance  below  the  sur- 
face, in  the  southwest  part  of  the  mound.     Southwest  of 
the  spot  mentioned  were  several  smaller  mounds,  and  a 
short  distance  towards  the  northwest  were  two  oihers,  the 
larger  of  which  was  four  feet  high  and  twenty-five  feet 
wide  at  the  base. 


^^^:t/^ 


E.  y.  Chase,  of  Elsie,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  was 
born  in  the  township  of  Gustavus,  Trumbull  Co., 
Ohio,  Sept.  16,  1833.  His  parents  were  poor,  and 
had  a  hard  struggle  to  support  their  family.  His 
father  was  a  millwright,  and  would  have  educated 
the  son  to  the  same  trade,  but  for  an  accident  which 
nearly  crippled  him  for  life.  This  determined  the 
father  to  put  his  son  at  school  that  he  might  lay  the 
foundation  for  a  profession.  Mr.  Chase  taught  school 
as  soon  as  he  was  competent,  and  thns  assisted  him- 
self until  he  had  acquired  not  only  an  academical 
but  also  a  professional  education.  He  read  medicine 
three  years  with  Dr.  G.  W.  Willey,  of  Spencer,  Ohio; 
attended  lectures  in  Michigan  University ;  and  in  the 
spring  of  1857  settled  in  the  small  village  of  Ovid, 
Clinton  Co.,  on  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad. 
He  married,  in  the  fall  of  1857,  Miss  Emily  Wilkin- 
son, an  estimable  young  lady,  to  whom  his  success 
may,  in  a  measure,  be  attributed.  In  the  spring  of 
1860  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Elsie,  where  he 
resided  until  the  commencement  of  the  civil  war. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  First  Michigan  Cav- 


alry, was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  war  went  with  the  regiment 
across  the  Plains  to  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.     In  the 
spring  of  1866  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service, 
and  returned  to  Elsie,  where  he  has  since  resided,  in 
the  active  discharge  of  his  professional  duties.     He 
has  been  six  years  supervisor  of  the  township  in 
which  his  village  is  located.     In  the  fall  of  1876 
he  was  elected  representative  to  the  State  Legislature, 
by  the  Eepublican  party,  from  the  first  district, — 
Clinton  County.     So  well  did  he  serve  his  constitu- 
ents that  he  was  re-elected  in  1879.    He  served  upon 
several    committees,   among   them    that  on   insane 
asylums,  in  which  he  held  the  ofSce  of  chairman. 
His  duties  necessarily  called  him  away  much  of  the 
time  from  the  representative  halls,  but  when  present 
he  was  arduously  engaged  in  duties  which  rank  him 
among  the  foremost,  always  striking  at  the  heart 
of  any  measure  to  which  he  was  opposed  sharp  and 
effectual  blows,  that  produce  more  effect  than  the  bold 
speculations  and  fantastical  theories  which,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  characterize  many  of  the  representatives. 


DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


433 


Upon  the  eastern  portion  of  the  east  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  33  are  traces  of  a  group  of  mounds,  the 
largest  of  which  was  probably  twenty-five  feet  long,  twenty 
feet  wide,  and  three  feet  in  height.  Rows  of  other  and 
smaller  mounds  appear  to  have  joined  the  base  of  this  large 
mound,  and  south  of  the  latter  was  a  clearly-defined  oblong 
mound  two  and  a  half  feet  high,  twenty-two  feet  long  be- 
tween east  and  west,  and  fourteen  feet  in  width  between 
north  and  south.  Southwest  of  the  principal  mound  about 
twenty  feet  is  another  pretty  clearly  marked  one,  three  feet 
high,  twenty-five  feet  long,  and  fifteen  feet  wide.  Near  at 
hand  is  a  circular  mound  about  twenty  feet  through,  from 
which  human  bones  have  been  unearthed.  Recent  excava- 
tions in  these  mounds  have  brought  to  light  human  skele- 
tons as  well  as  miscellaneous  bones,  and  in  one  of  them 


evidences  pointed  to  the  existence,  at  one  time,  of  altar-fires 
and  possibly  human  sacrifices  thereon. 

On  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 33  were  a  number  of  small  mounds,  of  which  there  is 
now  no  trace.  Upon  the  farm  of  H.  B.  Smith,  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  27,  is  shown  the  site  of  a  now 
obliterated  large  mound.  Where  it  once  stood  two  peach- 
trees  now  grow.  Mr.  Smith  recollects  that  the  mound  was 
more  than  thirty  feet  in  diameter  and  four  feet  high  ;  that 
several  second-growth  maples  adorned  its  sides,  and  that 
heavy  timber  surrounded  it.  Evidently  these  mounds 
served  as  burial-places,  since  in  each  have  been  found 
human  bones,  but  whether  the  burial-places  of  Indians  or 
members  of  a  prehistoric  race,  as  some  savants  claim,  is 
simply  matter  for  conjecture. 


BIOGEAPHIOAL   SKETCHES. 


MRS.    WILLIAM   TILLOTSON. 


WILLIAM   TILLOTSON. 


WILLIAM  TILLOTSON. 


Leonard  Tillotson  was  born  March  15,  1803,  at  Berk- 
shire, Mass.  The  family  removed  to  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1814.  At  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Thomas,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  rearing  a  family  of 
six  children.  He  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two.  Mrs.  Til- 
lotson, at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-five,  in  good  health 
and  sound  mind,  resides  with  a  son,  William,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  Nov.  23,  1826.  In  1852  he 
came  to  the  town  of  Duplain,  and  purchasing  eighty  acres 
of  wild  land  on  section  11,  immediately  began  improving 
it.  Sought  and  found  a  companion  in  Miss  Mary  E.  WooU, 
55 


whose  family  came,  in  1854,  to  Duplain  from  Loraine, 
Ohio.  They  were  married  September  26th ;  pursued  their 
improvements,  which  have  resulted  in  a  finely-improved 
farm,  and  surrounded  them  with  many  comforts  of  life, 
upon  which  they  can  look  with  pride  as  the  results  of  their 
industry.  Surrounded  by.  a  large  circle  of  friends,  life 
passes  pleasantly.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children,— Marion,  born  Sept.  23,  1860 ;  Myra,  April  13, 
1864;  Hattie,  May  6,  1868;  Willie,  May  6,  1876.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tillotson  have  long  been  consistent  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


434 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


CHARLES  R.   DOTY. 


L  ^ 


GEORGE  R.   DOTT. 


MRS.    GEORGE  R.   DOTT. 


GEORGE  R.  DOTY. 


Josiah  Doty's  birth  dates  back  to  Nov.  18,  1792.  He 
was  twice  married.  One  child  was  born  to  the  first  union. 
The  second  wife,  Chloe  (Rash),  born  March  24,  1793,  bore 
him  four  children,  three  living  to  manhood.  George  R., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  Dec.  30,  1821,  at 
Seneca,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.  When  he  was  eight  years  of 
age  the  family  removed  to  Greece,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  the  parents  continued  to  reside  until  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Doty,  which  occurred  Sept.  19,  1876.  The  home 
was  then  broken  up,  Mr.  Doty  thereafter  making  his  home 
with  a  son  residing  in  Rochester,  where  he  is  yet  living  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight. 


In  the  fall  of  1844,  George  R.  came  to  Livingston  Co., 
Mich.,  and  the  following  year,  May  20,  1845,  married 
Eunice  Seeley,  born  Dec.  14,  1822.  Her/ather,  Seth  C. 
Seeley,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  Feb.  22, 1789,  and 
was  twice  married,  first  to  Anna  Bradley,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children ;  and  the  second  time  to  Betsey  Green,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  born  Feb.  18, 1798  ;  to  this  union  were 
born  five  children.  The  family  resided  in  Monroe  Co., 
N.  Y.,  until  1844,  when  they  removed  to  Ionia  Co.,  Mieh. 
Both  parents  have  since  passed  away.  George  and  Eunice 
were  married  at  her  parental  home,  Ionia  County.  The  day 
following  they  took  their  departure  for  Livingston  County 


Hotel   PfioPEnry  of  GEO.  R.  DOTY,  Elsie,  Mich  . 


M 

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L  / 

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^ 

^ 

DUPLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


435 


with  a  single  horse  and  buggy,  it  suflScing  to  carry  them 
and  their  worldly  effects.  No  permanent  location  was  made 
by  them,  but  they  changed  their  location  as  his  occupation 
of  cooper  required.  In  1853  he  received  the  appointment  of 
light-house  keeper  at  Mama  Judee,  on  Detroit  River;  this 
proved  the  laying  of  a  foundation  for  future  success.  For 
eight  years  he  continued,  his  wife  assuming  the  duties  of 
keeper,  he  finding  employment  at  the  cooper's  trade.  In 
1861,  Mr.  Doty  moved  to  Elsie,  Clinton  Co.,  and  for  six 
years  followed  his  trade.  Previous  to  his  coming  he  had 
purchased  a  hundred  acres  on  section  26,  Duplain  town- 
ship.    The  village  of  Elsie  was  becoming  a  place  of  some 


importance,  and  Mr.  Doty  decided  upon  opening  a  hotel, 
and  accordingly  purchased  a  suitable  location,  disposed  of 
his  farm,  and  on  Christmas,  1867,  his  house  was  duly 
opened  to  the  public.  Success  attended  him ;  the  public 
gave  him  a  liberal  patronage,  and  the  genial  host  and  his 
lady  are  known  far  and  near.  In  1877  he  purchased 
seventy-seven  acres  on  section  13,  upon  which  a  part  of  the 
village  of  Elsie  is  located.  In  addition  to  the  hotel  he  also 
conducts  the  farm. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doty  have  been  given  three  children, 
of  whom  one  only  is  now  living,  Charlie  E.,  born  Dec.  22, 
1863. 


LYMAN    COBB. 


MRS.   LYMAN   COBB. 


LYMAN   COBB. 


Joshua  W.  Cobb  was  a  native  of  Canaan,  Conn.  When 
of  age  found  his  way  west  to  Kochester,  N.  Y.,  and  helped 
to  erect  the  first  bridge  across  the  Genesee  River.  It  was 
commenced  in  1812,  but  not  completed  until  1814,  the  west 
side  refusing  for  some  time  to  build  their  half.  He  also 
purchased,  eighty  acres  of  land  now  lying  within  the  city 
limits.  Becoming  disheartened  on  account  of  the  unhealthy 
location  he,  though  having  made  a  partial  payment,  aban- 
doned the  place,  pushing  on  west  to  Sheldon,  Wyoming 
Co. ;  purchased  eighty  acres,  which  he  afterwards  sold,  and 
removed  to  Niagara  County ;  remained  there  a  short  time, 
then  returned  to  Bennington,  Wyoming  Co.,  where  he  re- 
sided for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  He  then  removed  to 
Duplain,  Clinton  Co.,  and  purchased  forty  acres  on  section  11, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  May, 
1852,  his  being  the  first  burial  in  the  cemetery  at  Elsie. 
Mr.  Cobb  was  married  quite  early  in  life  to  Miss  Susanna 
Doty,  and  raised  a  family  of  nine  children.  At  present  all 
are  living,  except  one,  a  son,  who  died  at  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.,  while  in  the  army.  Mrs.  Cobb  is  still  living,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-eight,  making  her  home  among  the 
children,  where  she  is  ever  made  welcome. 

Lyman  Cobb  was  the  sixth  in  the  family,  and  born  Aug. 
14,  1826,  at  Bennington,  N.  Y. ;  came  West  with  the 


family  in  1844,  and  when  of  age  purchased  eighty  acres 
on  section  13,  Duplain  township,  from  an  elder  brother 
residing  in  Oakland  County,  giying  in  payment  two  years' 
labor.  Payment  being  made,  he  returned  and  began  the 
improvements  by  which  he  has  succeeded  in  making  one  of 
the  finest  farms  in  that  locality.  For  several  years  he  la- 
bored single-handed  and  alone,  but  his  better  judgment 
finally  prevailed,  and  on  April  20,  1853,  he  led  to  the  hy- 
meneal altar  Susan,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Sally  Hicks, 
natives  of  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  they  removed  to  Cuyahoga  Co., 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  nearly  twenty  years,  and  in  1852 
removed  to  Elsie.  Both  have  since  passed  away.  Oliver 
Hicks  served  during  the  war  of  1812.  The  family  consisted 
of  eleven  children,  seven  living  to  maturity,  Mrs.  Cobb  being 
the  tenth  in  number.  Mr.  Lyman  Cobb  united  with  the 
church  while  yet  a  youth,  and  Mrs.  Cobb  soon  afler  their 
marriage.  Both  have  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
erection  of  the  church  building,  and  with  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  society. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cobb  have  been  born  six  children,— 
George  W.,  Jan.  18,  1854;  Susie  M.  (now  Mrs.  Davis), 
born  Sept.  16,  1856 ;  Samuel  R.,  July  3,  1859 ;  Henry 
P.,  Jan.  11,  1863 ;  Dellie  L.,  May  29,  1870 ;  and  Judson 
L.,'  born  Feb.  24, 1875. 


436 


HISTOEY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


COMFORT  RANNBY. 

The  grandparent  of  Comfort  Ranney  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut;  emigrated  to  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  at  government  prices,  of  which 
the  public  park  in  the  city  of  Cleveland  is  now  a  part.  He 
engaged  in  ship-building,  putting  afloat  the  first  boats  of  con- 
siderable tonnage  built  at  that  place.  A  few  years  later  he 
sold  his  land  at  a  slight  advance  upon  the  price  he  paid, 
closed  out  his  business,  and  removed  to  Summit  County, 


COMFORT  EANNET. 

Ohio,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  death 
occurring  in  1834.  Luther  B.,  a  son,  was  born  at  Hudson, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  29, 1809.  Farming  seems  to  have 
particular  fascination  for  him, — almost  inherent, — as  he  has 
continued  at  that  occupation,  and  now  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-one  manages  a  large  farm,  leading  in  many  of  the 
arduous  physical  duties  required  in  that  calling.  Comfort, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Boston,  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio,  on  Feb.  7,  1838.  He,  in  company  with  Leach, 
Sheldon,  and  Clark,  came  to  Clinton  County  and  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land,  erected  a  steam-mill,  and  engaged 
quite  extensively  in  the  manufacturing  of  lumber.  Also 
Ranney,  Leach,  and  Berry  in  1879  erected  a  large  custom 
flouring-mill  at  Bath,  which  they  are  still  operating.  Since 
1874  Mr.  Ranney  has  had  the  managementof  the  lumber  and 
mill  interests.  But  on  the  death  of  his  brother-in-law  (Mr. 
Leach)  he  leased  the  mills  and  returned  to  their  farm  in 
Clinton  County,  and  intends  to  devote  his  time  to  the  im- 
provement of  his  farm  and  rearing  of  fine  stock,  in  which 
he  has  always  taken  great  pride.  Dec.  18,  1868,  Mr. 
Ranney  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  M.  Hesser,  of 
Nevada,  Wyandot  Co.,  Ohio.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children, — Luther  B.,  Sadie  M.,  Luella,  and  James.. 


WILLIS   LEACH. 
Willis  Leach  was  born  May  23,  1831,  in  Summit  Co., 
Ohio,  where  his  parents  had  located  in  an  early  day  in  the 
settlement  of  that  county.    When  twenty-three  years  of  age 


he  married  Miss  Mary  Ranney,  with  whom  he  lived  six 
years,  when  death's  summons  came  to  her,  leaving  a  family 
of  four  children, — Willie  E.,  Luther  J.,  Burritt  E.,  and 
Mary  J.  Again,  on  July  16,  1861,  he  married  Sophia  Ran- 
ney, a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  By  his  second  wife  he  had 
eight  children, — Cora  A.,  Melvin  C,  Sallie  P.,  Floyd,  Leon 
B.,  Morris  K.,  Lucetta  L.,  Nora  W. 

In  January,  1865,  he  moved  to  Duplain,  Clinton  Co., 
and,  in  company  with  D.  F.  Sheldon,  0.  A.  Clark,  and  C. 
Ranney,  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  timbered  land  and 


WILLIS   LEACH. 

erected  a  steam  saw-mill,  which  was  successfully  operated 
for  three  years.  In  1868,  Sheldon,  Ranney,  and  Leach 
purchased  several  hundred  acres  of  wild  lands  in  the  south 
part  of  Saginaw  and  Gratiot  Counties,  to  which  they  re- 
moved their  mill.  The  following  year,  1869,  Leach  and 
Ranney  purchased  the  interest  of  Sheldon.  From  the  date 
of  Leach  and  Ranney's  purchase  to  January,  1872,  the 
mill  property  and  lumber  was  three  times  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  still  they  prosecuted  the  work  with  a  will  and  energy 
worthy  of  success.  Mr.  Leach's  health  being  somewhat 
impaired,  he  determined  upon  removing  to  the  first  purchase 
to  recuperate,  and  for  the  better  advantages  of  schooling  his 
children.  He  continued  in  failing  health  until  March  2, 
1 880,  when  death's  summons  came,  regretted  by  all  with 
whom  he  had  been  associated. 


CHAPTER    LVIL 
EAGLE   TOWNSHIP.* 

Location  and  Natural  Features — -Settlements  and  Early  Incidents — 
Schools — Churclies — List  of  Township  Officers — Eagle  Village. 

Eagle  is  the  southwestern  township  of  Clinton  County, 
designated  in  the  United  States  survey  as  township  5  north, 
of  range  4  west.     The  surface,  generally  undulating,  be- 

*  By  G.  A.  McAIpine. 


EAGLE   TOWNSHIP. 


437 


comes  hilly  and  terminates  in  places  in  abrupt  bluffs  near 
the  Grand  River.  The  banks  of  the  Looking-Glass  are 
less  precipitous,  and  the  northern  part  of  the  township  is 
more  level.  Along  the  Grand  River  the  timber  is  mainly 
oak  and  the  soil  is  somewhat  sandy  in  certain  sections. 
The  timber  along  the  Looking-Glass  is  basswood,  beech, 
and  maple,  and  the  soil  is  heavier.  By  these  streams  and 
many  rivulets  the  township  is  well  watered  and  drained. 
In  agriculture  this  township  ranks  among  the  most  produc- 
tive in  the  county. 

It  was  observed  at  an  early  day,  by  Marshal  Meade  and 
Mr.  Townsend,  who  owned  land  between  the  rivers  (which, 
on  sections  16,  17,  and  21,  approach  by  abrupt  curves 
within  less  than  two  miles),  that,  while  the  distance  to 
Portland  by  the  almost  direct  course  of  the  Looking-Glass 
was  less  than  ten  miles,  and  the  distance  to  the  same  village 
by  the  course  of  the  Grand  River  was  reported  to  be  nearly 
forty  miles,  the  fall  of  the  two  streams  appeared  to  be,  on 
an  average,  nearly  equal.  This  fact  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  there  was  considerable  difference  in  their  respective 
levels  in  Eagle.  Mr.  Townsend  accordingly  employed 
John  Mullet,  a  competent  surveyor,  to  run  a  line  between 
the  rivers  on  the  sections  above  referred  to,  in  which 
work  he  was  assisted  by  Alexander  Chapel,  Ezekiel  Miles, 
and  Lewis  Miles.  This  survey  demonstrated  that  there  was 
a  fall  of  more  than  twenty-one  feet  from  the  surface  of  the 
Grand  River  to  that  of  the  Looking-Glass.  The  ground . 
between  them  was  favorable  to  ditching,  and  in  no  place 
was  a  deep  cut  necessary- except  through  the  narrow  rise  on 
the  shore  of  the  Grand  River,  and  even  here  it  did  not 
offer  any  serious  obstacle  to  the  plan  of  uniting  them  by 
this  means.  Mr.  Townsend  expected  in  this  way  to  secure 
one  of  the  most  extensive  water-powers  in  the  State.  His 
death,  however,  terminated  this  splendid  enterprise,  and 
the  immense  power  up  to  this  time  is  undeveloped. 

Until  March  15,  1841,  town  5  north,  range  4  west,  was 
included  in  the  township  of  Watertown.  On  the  previous 
year  Jared  Higbee  had  circulated  a  petition  which  was 
signed  by  the  voters  of  said  town,  asking  the  Legislature 
that  it  be  set  off  as  a  separate  and  distinct  township.  In 
compliance  with  this  petition  the  township  of  Eagle  was 
formed,  and  although  the  name  does  not  apply  to  town  5 
north,  range  4  west,  previous  to  the  date  given  above,  in 
order  to  prevent  confusion  it  will  be  necessary  in  these 
pages  to  use  it  in  connection  with  the  first  settlement  of  the 
township. 

In  1831  three  steamboats — the  "  Superior,"  the  "  Henry 
Clay,"  and  the  "Robert  Fulton" — plied  the  waters  between 
Buffalo  and  Detroit.  Among  the  many  passengers  of  the 
last-named  vessel  on  its  trip  westward  in  the  month  of  June 
of  that  year,  were  the  families  of  Anthony  Niles  and  Ste- 
phen B.  Groger,  from  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  Scattered  here 
and  there  about  the  boat  were  little  groups  of  men,  women, 
and  children,  surrounded  with  boxes  of  goods,  bundles  of 
bedding,  clothes,  barrels,  cooking-utensils,  and  everything, 
from  an  ox-cart  to  a  fire-shovel,  that  could  be  of  use  on  the 
frontier.  A  variety  of  resources  indicated  in  this  instance 
at  least  unity  of  purpose ;  and  it  is  probable  that  nearly 
all  were  actuated  by  the  same  motives,  and  had  the  same 
end  in  view. 


Some  were  there  who  were  more  wealthy  and  some  pos- 
sibly who  were  poorer  in  this  world's  goods  than  those  men 
whose  names  we  have  given,  but  few  could  compare  at  all 
with  either  of  them  in  physical  power.  It  is  said  Anthony 
Niles  never  met  his  equal  with  an  axe,  and  few  men  were 
found  able  to  stand  under  a  load  which  Stephen  B.  Groger 
could  carry.  These  men  and  their  families  were  the  first 
settlers  of  Eagle.  Upon  reaching  Detroit  they  employed 
two  men  with  teams  to  bring  them  and  their  families  to 
Troy,  Oakland  Co.  The  next  year  Anthony  Niles,  Daniel 
Clark,  and  Austin  Wood  followed  an  Indian  trail  from 
Pontiac  to  an  Indian  village,  which  occupied  the  site  upon 
which  Portland  now  stands.  They  were  favorably  impressed 
with  the  country  along  the  route,  but  did  not  at  this  time 
select  any  particular  locality  as  a  future  home. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1834,  Anthony  Niles  and 
Stephen  B.  Groger  with  their  families  set  out  from  Troy 
westward,  but,  as  subsequent  events  proved,  without  any 
definite  purpose  as  to  where  to  locate.  In  the  township  of 
De  Witt,  the  teams  which  had  been  secured  to  bring  their 
families  and  goods  were  mired,  the  horses  being  "  all  down 
at  the  same  time."  The  women,  children,  and  goods  were 
carried  through  the  deep  mud  and  water  several  rods  to 
higher  ground,  the  horses  after  much  trouble  were  finally 
extricated,  and  by  means  of  ropes  the  wagons  were  drawn 
across  the  marsh,  and  after  an  infinite  number  of  trying 
and  tedious  delays  the  party  reached  the  cabin  of  Capt. 
Scott,  who  had  come  to  De  Witt  the  fall  previous. 

Here  we  must  again  introduce  the  name  of  Daniel  Clark, 
and  his  companions  Heman  Thomas  and  John  Benson, 
who  .also  required  shelter  under  the  roof  of  the  hospitable 
but  rough  and  eccentric  captain.  As  these  parties  were  all 
bound  westward,  in  the  direction  pursued  previously  by 
Clark  and  Niles,  down  the  Looking-Glass  River,  it  was 
decided  to  build  boats  and  a  raft  to  assist  in  the  expedition. 

The  men  of  the  party  at  once  began  their  construction, 
and  after  several  days'  diligent  work  completed  two  boats 
and  a  raft.  The  boats,  commonly  known  as  dugouts,  were 
each  made  from  a  whitewood  log,  and  were  about  eighteen 
feet  long  and  two  and  a  half  feet  wide.  They  were  lashed 
together,  the  goods  were  loaded  on  the  raft,  which  was  a 
hun-e,  unmanageable  concern,  and  the  trip  down  stream 
commenced.  It  was  not  all  smooth  sailing,  however.  After 
proceeding  about  six  miles  the  raft  struck  a  snag,  and  all 
efforts  to  free  it  proved  futile.  Clark  and  his  companions 
went  ashore  in  the  boats  and  camped  to  await  the  arrival 
of  Anthony  Niles  and  Stephen  Groger,  who,  with  their 
families  and  one  yoke  of  oxen,  were  trying  to  make  a  way 
through  the  wilderness,  and  who  did  not  make  their  appear- 
ance until  evening.  The  next  morning  (the  water  having 
risen  somewhat  during  the  night)  the  rafl  was  freed,  the 
families  carried  across  the  river  in  the  boats,  and  the  jour- 
ney resumed. 

In  the  afternoon  a  landing  was  made  on  the  south  shore 
of  the  river,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  14,  town 
5  north,  range  4  west.  The  next  morning  the  goods  were 
transferred  from  the  raft  to  the  boats  and  it  was  abandoned. 
They  then  continued  their  way  down  the  river,  and  finally 
reached  the  Indian  village  (already  alluded  to)  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Portland.     On  the  way  one  of  the  overloaded 


438 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN, 


boats  nearly  capsized.  It  righted,  however,  with  no  more 
serious  loss  than  that  of  a  coop  of  fowls  and  the  free  appli- 
cation of  cold  water  to  some  of  the  passengers. 

When  Anthony  Niles  reached  the  vicinity  where  the 
goods  were  transferred  he  pitched  a  large  tent,  which  he 
had  brought  with  him,  on  section  23.  On  the  next  day 
he  was  delayed  to  search  for  one  of  his  cows,  which  had 
strayed  away,  and  did  not  continue  his  journey  until  the 
aflernoon.  An  entire  life  is  sometimes  modified  by  a  little 
incident  of  no  apparent  importance  in  itself,  and  in  this 
instance  it  is  probable  that  had  it  not  been  for  his  long  and 
tedious  search  the  fine  forests  and  streams  of  Eagle  would 
not  have  been  fully  appreciated.  As  it  was,  Mr.  Niles  fol- 
lowed his  companions  to  the  Indian  village,  but  after  living 
two  weeks  in  a  wigwam  he  declared  he  had  found  no  place 
that  suited  him  so  well  as  the  land  by  the  little  stream 
where  he  had  camped  and  lost  his  cow.  The  whole  party 
at  last  returned.  Its  members  took  minutes  of  the  several 
parcels  of  land  which  each  wished  to  enter,  and  Daniel 
Clark  and  Heman  Thomas  set  ofi'  on  foot  for  the  land- 
office  at  White  Pigeon,  to  enter  land  for  themselves  and 
for  Anthony  Niles,  Stephen  B.  Groger,  and  John  Benson. 
All  chose  land  on  section  23.  Daniel  Clark  entered  the 
east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter.  Heman  Thomas  entered 
forty  acres  for  himself  and  forty  for  John  Benson,  on  the 
southeast  quarter.  Stephen  B.  Groger  took  the  west  half 
of  the  southwest  quarter,  and  Anthony  Niles  chose  the  west 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter. 

Anthony  Niles  and  Stephen  B.  Groger  must  be  considered 
the  first  settlers  in  the  township  of  Eagle,  as  the  other 
members  of  the  party,  after  entering  their  land,  did  not  re- 
tuan  to  the  township  till  in  the  summer  and  fall  following. 
Anthony  Niles  built  the  first  cabin  in  the  township,  and 
for  this  purpose  his  son  Ezekiel,  who  had  accompanied 
him  in  all  his  wanderings,  chopped  down  the  first  tree 
probably  that  was  felled  in  the  township  about  the  1st  day 
of  March,  1834.  This  cabin  stood  near  where  Mr.  Niles 
pitched  his  tent  when  he  first  came  to  Eagle  on  his  way  to 
Portland,  and  the  site  is  now  nearly  marked  by  the  east 
barn,  which  he  built  many  years  after.  He  also  prepared 
and  planted  a  piece  to  corn  and  potatoes,  but  the  crop  was 
very  light. 

Stephen  B.  Groger  built  the  second  cabin  in  the  town- 
ship, and  planted  the  second  piece  to  corn  and  potatoes. 
He  worked  for  Capt.  Scott,  in  De  Witt,  at  odd  intervals 
for  a  number  of  years.  It  is  said  that  at  one  time  after 
working  all  day  he  walked  home,  carrying  one  hundred 
pounds  of  flour,  a  quarter  of  a  deer,  and  several  other 
articles  for  the  use  of  his  family. 

In  October,  1834,  Susan  M.  Groger  was  born.  This 
was  the  first  birth  in  Clinton  County.  Stephen  B.  Groger 
died  in  1878.  Until  recently  his  wife  occupied  the  old 
home. 

John  Benson  and  Heman  Thomas  were  the  next  to  set- 
tle permanently  in  Eagle.  They  immediately  built  cabins 
on  the  land  entered  the  spring  previous.  Mr.  Benson  sub- 
sequently moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  died.  His  son  Edwin 
was  the  second  child  born  in  Eagle,  and  the  first  male  child 
born  in  Clinton  County.  He  enlisted  and  died  in  the  late 
war.     Heman  Thomas  and  wife  still  live  in  the  township. 


They  probably  alone  are  lefl,  the  only  couple  who  came  to 
Clinton  County  in  the  fall  of  1834.  Their  son,  G.  W. 
Thomas,  who  was  a  lad  at  the  time  of  their  settlement,  also 
lives  in  Eagle. 

After  entering  his  land,  in  the  spring  of  1834,  Daniel 
Clark  returned  to  Eagle  accompanied  by  David  Clark,  his 
brother.  They  felled  the  timber  on  about  five  acres,  and 
then  returned  to  Pontiac,  Oakland  Co.,  to  which  place 
Jonas  Clark  had  brought  his  family  in  1833.  In  the  fall 
of  1834,  Daniel  Clark  and  his  brother  Henry  came  to 
Eagle  and  cleared  and  sowed  the  field  to  wheat  which  had 
been  partially  prepared  the  previous  spring.  Henry  Clark 
moved  to  Ingham  County,  where  he  still  lives  one  of  its 
oldest  pioneers.  Jonas  Clark  brought  his  family  to  Eagle 
in  the  fall  of  1835.  David  Clark,  his  son,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  respected  citizens,  now  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead. 

In  the  fall  of  1834,  Anthony  Niles  built  a  log  house, 
which  was  twenty-eight  by  thirty  feet.  Houses  have  histories 
as  well  as  men  sometimes.  In  this  rude  log  structure  was 
organized  the  first  church  society  in  Eagle;  and  a  little 
later,  when  the  settlement  of  the  surrounding  country  was 
an  assured  fact,  and  the  youth  with  their  sweethearts  were 
wont  to  assemble  for  a  "  social  dance,"  its  rough  floors  were 
the  smoothest  to  be  found.  Beside  its  great  fireplace, 
heaped  with  logs,  William  Cryderman  wooed  and  won  the 
fair  Alvira,  daughter  of  Anthony  Niles,  and  their  nuptials, 
the  first  in  the  township,  were  celebrated  in  it  in  1837. 
Travelers,  few  or  many,  always  found  ample  cheer  and 
shelter  beneath  its  basswood  roof. 

The  settlement  of  Eagle  was  gradual,  until  the  rush  of 
immigration  in  1836.  In  1835,  however,  several  settlers 
came  in,  who,  in  addition  to  the  family  of  Jonas  Clark  (al- 
ready mentioned),  deserve  notice.  Oliver  Rowland  and  his 
son  Henry  entered  land  on  section  13.  The  latter  is  still 
a  resident  of  the  township.  John  B.  Shear  settled  on  sec- 
tion 26,  where  he  still  lives.  In  1836  the  first  frame  build- 
ing in  Eagle  was  erected.  .It  was  a  barn,  ariS  was  built  for 
Jesse  Monroe  -by  Anthony  Niles  and  his  son  Ezekiel. 
The  lumber  used  in  its  construction  was  hauled  from  Port- 
land, where  a  saw-mill  had  just  been  completed.  Mr.  Mon- 
roe had  recently  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  7. 

About  the  same  time  a  saw-mill  was  built  by  Peter 
Kent,  -for  Philo  Beers,  on  section  14.  It  was  the  first  in 
Eagle,  and  did  valuable  service  for  several  years.  The  re- 
mains of  the  dam  built  across  the  little  stream  are  yet 
plainly  visible. 

Mr.  Beers  also  opened  the  first  blacksmith-shop.  It 
stood  by  the  quarter  post  on  the  south  line  of  section  14. 
The  settlers  came  with  work  from  all  quarters,  and  often 
from  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  late  at  night  was  he 
kept  steadily  at  the  anvil. 

Before  coming  to  Michigan,  Mr.  Beers  had  been  a  man 
of  considerable  competence,  but  through  an  unfortunate 
business  connection  with  the  great  showman,  Barntim,  he 
was  financially  ruined.  He  sought  the  woods  of  Michigan, 
and,  like  so  many  others,  retrieved  his  broken  fortune. 

Lazarus  Doty  came  to  Eagle,  and  entered  a  large  tract  of 
land  for  his  three  sons, — Oliver,  Philo,  and  Charles.    The 


Ob 


Pi 

3 


EAGLE  TOWNSHIP. 


439 


three  are  residents  of  the  township,  and  still  occupy  the 
land  entered  for  them  by  their  father.  Oliver  is  on  section 
26,  Philo  is  on  14,  and  Charles  on  34.  The  family  has 
been  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  enterprising  in  the 
township. 

The  second  saw-mill  was  built  by  Henry  Gibbs,  Jr.,  for 
Philo  Doty,  on  section  14. 

Henry  Gibbs  settled  the  farm  upon  which  Isaac  Brown 
now  lives.  Morris  Allen  settled  on  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  23.  He  has  since  moved  to 
Iowa.  His  father,  Nehemiab  Allen,  died  in  January,  1837. 
This  was  the  first  death  in  Eagle.  He  was  buried  near  the 
north  bank  of  the  river,  on  section  15,  on  land  which  was 
entered  by  Joseph  Eddy  in  the  spring  of  1836.  Mr. 
Eddy  and  his  wife  were  both  subsequently  interred  here. 
This  was  the  first  burial-place  in  the  township.  The  land 
is  now  occupied  by  Christopher  C.  Tallman.  Jacob  De 
Witt  settled  on  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  15  in  1836,  and  remained  there  until  his  death. 
The  place  is  now  occupied  by  his  son-iu-law,  William 
Sutherland. 

In  the  same  year  Valentine  Cryderman  came  from  Canada 
and  located  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  fractional  quarter 
of  section  13.  He  subsequently  sold  his  land  and  returned 
to  Canada.  His  daughter  Sarah  and  Ezekiel  Niles  were 
married  in  1841.  At  the  marriage  of  his  son  William  and 
Miss  Alvira  Niles,  in  the  fall  of  1837,  David  A.  Simmons, 
who  had  recently  come  to  the  township  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 9,  officiated.  The  land  entered  by  Mr.  Simmons  is 
now  occupied  by  Hiram  Briggs,  who  came  in  at  the  same 
time. 

In  1837,  Josiah  Hogle  entered  the  west  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  13.  The  same  year  Isaac  Phillips 
settled  on  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
10.  This  place  is  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Joseph  Phillips, 
whose  elder  brothers,  Orin  and  Perry,  are  also  old  settlers 
of  Eagle. 

Jeremiah,  Stephen,  and  Abraham  Eddy,  sons  of  Joseph 
Eddy,  who  settled  on  section  15,  entered  land  in  the  town- 
ship in  an  early  day.  Jeremiah  built  a  tavern,  which  still 
bears  the  name  Western  Grand  River  House.  He  sold  it 
to  Isaac  Pennington,  who  came  in  an  early  day  and  settled 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  10.  His  eldest  son, 
Josiah  Pennington,  at  that  time  a  young  man,  now  occupies 
the  old  home.  His  daughter  Lucinda  married  S.  M. 
Howard,  who  is  also  an  early  settler. 

Jason  Macomber  entered  the  west  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  4.  It  was  subsequently  purchased  by 
Stephen  Eddy.  Abraham  Eddy  settled  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  22.  Luther  settled  on  the  west  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  9.  His  son,  Jefferson  E.  Eddy, 
now  lives  on  section  4.  Joseph  Eddy,  Jr.,  who  married 
Miss  Almeda  Hill,  lives  on  the  west  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  15.  Her  father  settled  on  section  26 
and  opened  a  blacksmith-shop.  The  north  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  15,  now  occupied  by  Joseph 
Hinman^  was  entered  by  his  father  in  an  early  day. 

Fletcher  Jenison  came  to  Eagle  with  his  son,  W.  F. 
Jenison,  and  was  appointed  the  first  postmaster  in  the  town- 
ship in  1841.     A  mail-route  was  established  from   Ann 


Arbor  to  Ionia,  and  the  mail  was  first  carried,  on  horseback, 
by  a  man  named  in  Ingersoll. 

The  names  of  Palmer  Partelo  and  H.  Lyon  should  not 
be  omitted.  The  former  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  22.  H.  Lyon  settled  on  the  west  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  8,  where  he  still  resides.  Wil- 
liam R.  Howe  occupies  land  settled  by  his  father. 

The  names,  also,  of  some  of  the  early  settlers  which  we 
have  omitted  will  be  given  in  the  following  list,  taken  from 
the  assessment-roll  of  1841. 

AcreB. 

George  J.  Phiney,  section  1 80 

David  McCIansey,  section  1 40 

Orange  Eddy,  section  2 40 

Jason  Macomber,  section  4 160 

Peter  Carrow,  section  6 140 

Jesse  Munroe,  section  7 160 

Hiram  C.  Briggs,  section  8 72 

David  A.  Simmons,  section  9 197 

Richard  Lewis,  section  9 , 40 

Isaac  Phillips,  section  10 74 

Jeremiah  Eddy,  section  10 78 

Nathaniel  D.  Macomber,  section  10 80 

David  ¥.  Burgess,  section  11 80 

Jared  Higbee,  section  11 160 

Henry  Rowland,  section  13 155 

Oliver  Rowland,  section  13 182 

Philo  Beers,  section  14 103 

Philo  Doty,  section  14 126 

Joseph  Eddy,  sections  14,  15 385 

Jacob  Dewitt,  section  15 80 

Hiram  0.  Briggs,  section  18 147 

Nathan  Stevens,  section  21 40 

John  G.  Harrington,  section  22 15 

Abram  Eddy,  section  22 145 

W.  F.  Jenison,  section  22 240 

Stephen  B.  Groger,  section  22 120 

Heman  Thomas,  section  23 80 

John  Benson,  section  23 40 

Daniel  Clark,  section  23 80 

Anthony  Niles,  section  23 120 

Philo  Doty,  section  23 80 

Ezekiel  Niles,  section  23 80 

David  Clark,  section  24 40 

Andrew  Shadduck,  section  24 40 

Henry  Gibbs,  section  25 80 

Henry  Gibbs,  Jr.,  section  25 80 

Chester  Brown,  section  26 160 

Calvin  Barber,  section  25 80 

Oliver  Doty,  sections  25,  26 240 

John  B.  Shear,  section  26 40 

George  W.  Jones,  section  31 80 

Joab  Dobbins,  section  32 40 

Charles  Jones,  section  32 20 

Oliver  Doty,  section  36 80 

Miles  Mansfield,  section  36 160 

SCHOOLS. 

Up  to  the  summer  of  1837  there  had  been  no  school 
taught  in  Eagle.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  an  informal 
meeting  was  called  at  the  house  of  Anthony  Niles,  and  it 
was  resolved  to  build  a  log  school-house  and  have  a  school. 
At  the  appointed  time,  accordingly,  the  men  assembled,  and, 
though  few  in  numbers,  strong  in  purpose,  they  took  hold 
of  the  logs  with  hearty  good  will,  and  soon  a  commodious 
cabin  stood  ready  for  use  on  the  east  side  of  the  quarter- 
line  on  section  23,  nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  brick  resi- 
dence of  G.  W.  Thomas.  The  benches  were  made  of  slabs, 
and  the  teacher's  desk  was  a  board  resting  upon  two  pins 
driven  into  the  wall.  The  fireplace,  such  as  was  common 
in  those  days,  was  made  of  sticks  lined  with  stones  and 
mud.  Mrs.  Alice  Allen,  whose  husband  had  died  in  the 
previous  winter,  taught  the  first  school.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  some  of  the  scholars :  Fannie,  Clarinda,  and 
Charles  Groger,  Eoyal  and  Marian  Benson,  Emily,  Julia, 
and  Angeline  Niles,  and  Phoebe  Beers. 

In  the  winter  of  1837-38,  W.  F.  Jenison  taught  four 


440 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


months.  He  was  the  first  male  teacher  in  the  township. 
The  next  summer  Mrs.  Amanda  Blaisdale,  usually  known 
as  Aunt  Amanda,  taught.  She  was  subsequently  married 
to  Chester  Brown.  During  the  summer  of  1839  the  school- 
house  known  for  many  years  as  the  Red  School-House  was 
built.  It  took  its  name  from  a  liberal  coat  of  red  paint 
which  it  received  when  completed.  It  was  the  first  frame 
school-house  in  the  township,  and  said  to  be  the  first  in 
Clinton  County.  It  stood  near  the  residence  of  Heman 
Thomas,  on  section  23.  The  first  school  in  this  building 
was  taught  by  W.  F.  Jenison.  It  was  composed  of  chil- 
dren from  Watertown,  some  from  the  Canada  settlement  in 
Eaton  County,  and  some  from  Delta. 

The  next  school-house  was  built  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  32.  Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  town- 
ship of  Eagle  its  territory  had  been  separated  into  school 
districts,  but  none  were  organized  except  district  No.  1  and 
districts  Nos.  2  and  5. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  school  board  of  Eagle,  on  the 
1st  of  April,  1841,  these  districts  were  rearranged,  as  fol- 
lows: District  No.  1  comprised  sections  22,  23,  25,  26,  27, 
34,  35,  36,  and  all  of  24,  except  a  part  of  the  northeast 
quarter.  Fractional  districts  2  and  5  included  sections  28, 
29,  30,  31,  32, -and  33  in  Eagle,  and  the  north  half  of  4, 
5,  and  6  in  Oneida.  No  other  districts  were  formed  until 
Feb.  4,  1843,  at  which  time  the  board  set  off  4,  5,  6,  7,  8, 
9,  17,  and  18  as  district  No.  3 ;  but  this  act  became  null 
and  void  through  the  failure  of  its  ofiicers  to  qualify  and 
serve.  This  territory  was  set  ofi'  on  the  7th  day  of  May, 
1845,  and  numbered  4.  In  the  mean  time  (on  April  5, 
1844)  school  district  No.  3  was  formed  of  the  remaining 
sections  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township.  In  the  re- 
port of  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  three  schools  are  repre- 
sented. The  school  fund  disbursed  among  them  was  thirty 
dollars  and  eighty  cents,  of  which  district  No.  1  received 
fourteen  dollars  and  eighty-four  cents,  districts  Nos.  2  and 
5  received  six  dollars  and  sixteen  cents,  while  No.  4  re- 
ceived nine  dollars  and  eighty  cents.  The  number  of  chil- 
dren enrolled  in  each  district  was  fifty-three,  twenty-two, 
and  thirty-five,  respectively. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  school  board,  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
amining applicants  to  teach,  Aug.  23, 1845,  certificates  were 
given  to.  Misses  Mary  Gooch,  Clarinda  Groger,  Emeline 
Higbee,  and  Lucinda  Barut.  On  16th  of  November  fol- 
lowing similar  permits  were  issued  to  Benjamin  C.  Mac- 
omber  and  Silas  P.  Fish,  as  teachers  for  one  term  of  winter 
school  each.  In  1845  four  schools  were  taught  in  the  town- 
ship, and  the  amount  of  money  distributed  among  them  was 
forty  dollars  and  sixty  cents : 

^'■"™'-  Scholars.    Amount. 

S°-  '^ ;•■. 50  $14.9.3 

S^^^.ndo 29  8.65 

^o-* 26  r.76 

School  district  No.  5  was  formed  by  the  school  board  on 
the  4th  day  of  November,  1848,  but  in  the  report  of  1849, 
and  also  of  1850,  no  returns  were  made  from  this  district! 

Oa  Sept.  7,  1850,  the  school  board  formed  districts  6 
and  7.  No.  6  did  not  organize,  however.  District  No.  8 
was  first  organized  on  Feb.  27,  1858,  and  Dec.  24  1859 
district  No.  9  was  set  oflF.     Fractional  district  No.  10  was 


formed  June  3,  1865.  District  No.  7  was  discontinued 
and  included  in  district  No.  1,  Dec.  28,  1872.  This  was 
brought  about  by  the  destruction  of  the  school-house  in 
that  district  by  fire. 

The  aggregate  value  of  school  property  in  the  township 
in  1879  was  four  thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars.  The  number  of  scholars  enrolled  in  the  township 
was  three  hundred  and  forty,  and  there  were  sixteen  quali- 
fied teachers. 

CHUKCHES. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  Rev.  Mr.  Munett,  a  Methodist  mis- 
sionary, as  they  were  then  called,  visited  the  remote  settlement 
in  Eagle.  He  followed  his  circuit,  which  embraced  a  great 
extent  of  country,  on  foot,  carrying  a  knapsack  stored  with 
a  Bible,  a  hymn-book,  a  liberal  supply  of  tracts,  and  a  few 
articles  of  clothing.  With  these  he  went  from  one  settle- 
ment to  another,  making  his  rounds  about  once  in  five  or 
six  weeks.  At  the  time  above  stated  he  came  to  the  log 
house  of  Anthony  Niles,  and  with  his  permission  announced 
religious  exercises  for  the  next  Sabbath.  These  exercises, 
the  first  of  the  kind  in  Eagle,  passed  off  well,  and  while 
upon  that  circuit  he  visited  this  settlement  as  regularly  as 
possible. 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  Rev.  Mr.  Bennett  came  to  Eagle 
and  organized  the  first  church  society.  It  was  composed 
of  Anthony  Niles,  John  Benson  and  wife,  Heman  Thomas, 
and  Valentine  Cryderman  and  wife.  Mr.  Cryderman  was 
appointed  class-leader.  The  class  prospered  for  a  little 
time,  but  was  at  length  discontinued. 

In  1840,  John  Thomas,  a  representative  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  came  and  held  a  series  of  meetings,  which  resulted 
in  the  formation  of  a  Baptist  Church.  When  it  was  or- 
ganized several  persons  who  had  previously  been  members 
of  that  denomination,  reunited  with  it.  The  names  of 
the  persons  composing  this  class  were  Anthony  Niles,  John 
Benson  and  wife,  Heman  Thomas  and  wife,  John  B.  Shear 
and  wife.  Anthony  Niles  was  chosen  deacon.  About  the 
same  time  the  Methodist  Church  reorganized,  with  Oliver 
Doty  as  class-leader. 

The  Baptist  Church  in  Eagle  was  finally  disbanded,  its 
members  uniting  with  the  society  in  Grand  Ledge. 

The  Methodist  class  has  not  been  discontinued,  and  was 
really  the  germ  of  the  one  now  in  existence.  The  meet- 
ings of  this  society  were  held  for  a  number  of  years  in 
the  Thomas  school,  and  more  recently  in  the  Jenison 
school-house.  Its  meeting-house  was  completed  in  1876, 
and  cost  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixty  dollars.  It 
was  dedicated  by  Rev.  George  B.  Jocelyn.  F.  J..Freeman 
is  the  present  pastor.  M.  R.  Hill  is  class-leader.  L.  W. 
Hill  is  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school. 

The  Free  Methodist  Church  was  organized  at  the  school- 
house  in  North  Eagle  in  June,  1876.  The  church  edifice 
of  this  society  was  built  in  1879,  and  dedicate^  by  C.  W. 
Haines.     The  present  membership  is  eight. 

LIST   OP  TOWNSHIP   OFPICEBS. 
As  has  been  stated,  Eagle  was  set  off  from  Watertown 
March  15,  1841.     The  act  provided  Chat  the  first  town- 
meeting  should  be  at  the  house  of  Philo  Doty,  and  it  was 
so  held  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  act.     Tho 


EAGLE  TOWNSHIP. 


441 


following-named  persons  were  then  to  'fill  the  several  town- 
ship offices:  Supervisor,  Jared  Higbee ;  Clerk,  Edward 
W.  Higbee  ;  Treasurer,  Henry  Rowland  ;  Assessors,  John 
Benson,  David  A.  Simmons,  Henry  Eowland ;  School  In- 
spector, Elisha  B.  Isham ;  Collectors,  Edward  W.  Higbee, 
Thomas  I.  Allen,  Nathan  Stevens  ;  Directors  of  the  Poor, 
Henry  Rowland,  Fletcher  Jenison ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, Oliver  Doty,  Philo  Doty,  Jared  Higbee ;  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  Oliver  Doty,  David  A.  Simmons,  Henry 
Rowland ;  Constables,  Hiram  C.  Briggs,  Nathan  Stevens, 
Thomas  I.  Allen,  Frederick  M.  Groger. 

The  list  of  supervisors,  township  clerks,  treasurers,  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  and  school  inspectors  from  1842  to  1880 
inclusive,  is  as  follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 


1842.  Jared  Higbee. 
1843-46.  William  F.  Jenison. 
1847-50.  David  C.  Clark. 

1851.  Ezekiel  Niles. 

1852.  Ira  W.  Hill. 
1853-54.  Ezekiel  Niles. 
1855.  James  W.  McMillan. 
1856-57.  Elisha  I.  Higbee. 
1858.  John  C.  Scadin. 
1859-60.  B.  II.  Beers. 
1861-62.  William  F.  Jenison. 

TOWN 
1842-44.  Edward  W.  Higbee. 
1846-50.  Ezekiel  Niles. 
1851.  B.  H.  Beers. 
1852-54.  Elisha  I.  Higbee. 

1855.  Arcbelaus  Silsbee. 

1856.  Thomas  J.  Allen. 

1857.  G.  W.  Thomas. 

1858.  James  W.  McMillan. 
1859-60.  aeorge  W.  Thomas. 


1863-64.  Ohijrles  M.  Derbyshine. 
1865-66.  William  F.  Jenison. 
1867-68.  Philo  Doty. 

1869.  Ezekiel  Niles. 

1870.  David  Clark. 
1871-72.  Hiram  C.  Briggs. 
1873.  George  W.  MoCrumb. 
1874-77.  Philo  Doty. 

1878.  George  W.  Thomas. 

1879.  Philo  Doty. 

1880.  Henry  II.  Jenison. 

CLERKS. 

1861-63.  James  W.  McMillan. 
1864.  Henry  J.  Stark. 
1865-66.  James  W.  McMillan. 

1867.  Sheridan  P.  Hill. 

1868.  Ezekiel  Niles. 

1869.  Loyal  W.  Hill. 
1870-77.  Ezekiel  Niles. 
1878-79.  Edward  W.  Stephenson. 
1880.  Eugene  Marsh. 


TREASURERS. 


■  1842.  David  C.  Clark. 

1864 

Hiram  C.  Briggs. 

1843-44.  Elisha  B.  Isham. 

1865 

Silas  P.  Fish. 

1845-47.  Cyrus  Briggs. 

1866 

Josiah  Monroe. 

1848-50.  Thomas  I.  Allen. 

1867 

David  Taylor. 

1851-62.  Elisha  B.  Isham. 

1868 

6.  W.  McCrumb. 

1853-56.  Philo  Doty. 

1869 

James  J.  Kerr. 

1857.  Oliver  Doty. 

1870- 

-71.  Joseph  Hinman. 

1858.  George  R.  Stark. 

1872- 

-73.  James  J.  Kerr. 

1859-60.  Silas  P.  Fish. 

1874-77.  Henry  P.  Finney 

1861-62.  Hiram  C.  Briggs. 

1878- 

-79.  James  F.  Baker. 

1863.  John  C.  Scadin. 

1880. 

Joseph  Hammon. 

JUSTICES 

OF  THE 

PEACE. 

1842.  Henry  Qibbs. 

1857. 

David  Taylor. 

Anthony  Niles. 

1858. 

Nelson  M.  Stark. 

1843.  Jacob  Dobins. 

James  W.  McMillan. 

1844.  Henry  Rowland. 

1859. 

Milton  P.  Burtch. 

1845.  Anthony  Niles. 

1860. 

Oliver  Doty. 

1846.  Horatio  Lyon. 

1861. 

Burtis  H.  Beers. 

1847.  Milton  P.  Burtoh. 

David  Taylor.  . 

1848.  Henry  Rowland. 

1862. 

A.  Josiah  Hogle. 

1849.  James  W.  McMillan. 

Horace  Brown. 

1850.  Henry  M.  Stark. 

186.S. 

James  W.  McMillan. 

1851.  Lewis  S.  Niles. 

1864. 

Oliver  Doty. 

1852.  Morton  Lyon. 

1865. 

John  0.  Scadin. 

Benjamin  C.  Macomber. 

1866. 

Alanson  J.  Hogle. 

1853.  James  W.  McMillan. 

Thomas  H.  Case. 

1854.  B.  C.  Macomber. 

1867. 

Ezekiel  Niles. 

1865.  Oliver  Doty. 

1868. 

Oliver  Doty. 

1856.  Horatio  Lyon. 

1869. 

James  J.  Kerr. 

1857.  Burtis  H.  Beers. 

Almond  Partelo. 

56 

1870 

Thomas  H.  Case. 

1875 

Ezekiel  Niles. 

1871. 

Ezekiel  Niles. 

1876 

Levi  Partelo. 

1872 

Almond  Partelo. 

1877 

Thomas  H.  Case. 

1873 

Almond  Partelo. 

1878 

Eugene  Marsh. 

Loyal  W.  Hill. 

1879 

George  W.  Thomas. 

1874. 

Levi  Partelo. 
Oliver  Doty. 

1880 

Hiram  F.  Jones. 

SCHOOL 

INSPECTORS. 

1842. 

David  Clark. 

1860. 

William  P.  Esler. 

Henry  Rowland. 

1861. 

Benjamin  C.  Macomber. 

William  F.  Jenison. 

1862. 

Perry  Shepard. 

1843. 

William  F.  Jenison. 

1863. 

William  F.  Jenison. 

Thomas  J.  Allen. 

1864. 

Orville  Bates. 

1844. 

William  F.  Jenison. 

1865. 

Alanson  J,  Hogle. 

Henry  Rowland. 

1866. 

Nathan  Stevans. 

1846. 

David  Clark. 

1867. 

Perry  Shepard. 

1846. 

Benjamin  C.  Macomber. 

1868. 

Sheridan  F.  Hill. 

1847. 

Silas  P.  Fish. 

1869. 

Perry  E.  Shepard. 

1848. 

Lewis  S.  Niles. 
vMoore  Whitmore. 

1870. 

Loyal  W.  Hill. 

1871. 

Horatio  Hunter. 

1849. 

B.  H.  Beers. 

1872. 

Loyal  W.  Hill. 

1850. 

Silas  P.  Fish. 

George  W.  Thomas. 

1851. 

William  F.  Jenison. 

1873. 

L.  S.  Briggs. 

1852. 

James  W.  McMillan. 

1874. 

Ezekiel  F.  Brown. 

1853. 

W.  E.  Barber. 

1875. 

George  W.  Thomas. 

1854. 

William  F.  Jenison. 

1876. 

George  W.  Thomas. 

1855. 

James  W.  McMillan. 

1877. 

William  S.  Tallman. 

1856. 

W.  P.  Esler. 

1878. 

Ezekiel  F.  Brown. 

1857. 

Silas  P.  Fish. 

1879. 

Jacob  Morris. 

1858. 

William  F.  Jenison. 

1880. 

A.  S.  Kerr. 

1859. 

Moses  Hall. 

EAGLE  VILLAGE. 

The  location  and  platting  of  the  village  of  Eagle  followed 
the  opening  of  the  Ionia  and  Lansing  Railroad.  It  will 
therefore  be  proper  to  preface  a  sketch  of  the  village  by  a 
brief  history  of  this  thoroughfare  in  its  connection  with 
the  township. 

While  the  subject  of  a  railroad  through  Eagle  was  being 
agitated  a  meeting-  was  called  by  George  W.  McCrumb  at 
Jenison  Hall,  by  request  of  many  prominent  citizens  desirous 
of  expressing  their  opinion  in  favor  or  against  the  measure. 
At  a  later  meeting  a  resolution  was  passed,  with  but  one  dis- 
senting vote,  offering  aid  to  the  company,  and  the  township 
officers  were  subsequently  authorized  to  issue  bonds  against 
the  township,  bearing  ten  per  cent,  interest,  for  the  sum  of 
nine  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  payable  in  four  equal 
installments,  the  first  of  which  should  become  due  six 
months  after  the  completion  of  the  road.  The  time  for  the 
first  payment  on  these  bonds  having  expired,  at  the  date 
specified  the  amount  was  promptly  met.  Before  the  suc- 
ceeding obligations  had  matured  the  Supreme  Court  had 
declared  the  issuance  of  township  bonds  for  such  purposes 
unconstitutional.  The  bonds  had  meanwhile  been  disposed 
of  or  fallen  into  the  liands  of  other  parties.  Action  was 
brought  against  the  township,  as  represented  by  its  super- 
visor, George  W.  McCrumb,  who  engaged  counsel,  and  ip 
the  suit  which  followed  was  victorious.  An  appeal  was 
taken,  however,  and  ultimately  the  township  was  compelled 
to  pay  principal  and  interest,  amounting  in  the  aggregate 
to  about  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

The  site  of  the  depot  having  been  determined,  Geoi:ge  W. 
McCrumb  in  1872  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 21,  of  the  estate  of  John  H.  McCrumb,  a  part  of 
which  was  formerly  owned  by  Amos  Nichols,  the  remainder 


442 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


being  a  portion  of  the  Townsend  tract.  To  this  Jacob 
Schott  added  ten  acres,  the  whole  of  which  was  platted  as 
the  village  of  Eagle  and  recorded  May  6,  1873.  Mr. 
McCrumb  may  therefore  be  regarded  as  the  projector  of 
the  village.  He  removed  from  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1845, 
with  his  father,  William  McCrumb,  who  located  upon 
eighty  acres  on  section  17.  This  land  was  uncleared  on 
their  arrival,  and  a  cabin  built  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood aflForded  them  a  home  while  erecting  a  log  house.  The 
father  survived  his  arrival  but  a  year,  when  George  W. 
purchased  the  estate  and  remained  with  the  family  at  the 
homestead  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  to  which  he  later 
added  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  adjacent  to  it.  Upon 
this  land  he  erected  in  1877  his  present  spacious  residence. 
Mr.  McCrumb  at  once  built  a  depot  upon  his  plat,  bear- 
ing himself  the  entire  expense  of  its  construction.  In  the 
same  year  (1873)  Loyal  W.  Hill  removed  from  the  town- 
ship and  built  a  store,  in  which  he  placed  a  general  stock 
of  goods.  This  was  the  beginning  of  business  enterprise 
in  the  village.  He  was  followed  by  John  Force,  who  be- 
came the  pioneer  blacksmith,  after  which  Loyal  Hill  and 
others  erected  dwelling-houses  and  Mr.  McCrumb  laid  the 
foundation  for  a  spacious  building,  which  was  later  rented 
to  Messrs.  Cole  &  Marsh,  who  opened  a  general  store  which 
supplied  the  wants  of  the  surrounding  country.  In  1876, 
Messrs.  Cole  &  Fletcher  built  a  store  in  which  was  placed 
a  stock  of  hardware,  and  the  church  edifice  was  erected  in 
the  same  year.  The  first  public-house  was  opened  by 
Eugene  Marsh  in  a  building  originally  designed  as  a  dwell- 
ing. A  spacious  and  well-appointed  hotel  was  erected  in 
1879,  of  which  Washburn  Strickland  is  proprietor  and 
landlord.  The  present  business  of  the  place  embraces,  in 
addition,  a  general  store,  owned  by  Messrs.  Pearl  &  Starch  ; 
a  grocery  and  hardware,  kept  by  Eugene  Marsh,  who  is 
deputy  postmaster,  the  commission  being  held  by  George 
W.  McCrumb ;  two  blacksmith-shops,  Kobert  Pullen  and 
Josiah  Hogle  presiding  at  the  forge ;  a  milliner,  who  is 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Palmer ;  and  a  saw-,  planing-,  and  moulding- 
mill,  with  feed-mill  combined,  owned  by  Mr.  McCrumb  and 
located  one  mile  from  the  village.  The  teacher  of  the 
public  school  is  Miss  Diana  Pennington. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


DAVID   CLAEK. 

The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Clark  were  early  emigrants  from 
Great  Britain  to  America,  and  among  the  primitive  settlers 
in  the  old  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  His  grand- 
father, John  Clark,  was  actively  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Bennington,  and  participated  also  in  the  engagement  which 
resulted  in  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  John  dark,  the 
father  of  David,  was  born  about  the  year  1770,  at  Phelen, 
Mass.,  and  at  the  age  of  seven  years  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Bennington,  Vt.,  where  he  resided  when  the 
famous  battle  occurred.  He  was  taken  to  the  battle-field 
by  his  father,  and  witnessed  the  encounter. 


Having  lost  his  mother  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  a  home 
was  open  to  him  at  the  residence  of  a  relative,  Daniel  Mc- 
Nutt,  where  he  remained  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Knowlton.  Their  sou  David  was  born  in  Castleton,  Vt., 
June  13,  1817,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Pontiac,  Mich.,  where  they  located  in  1833. 
In  1835  the  family  removed  to  the  township  of  Eagle,  on 
land  entered  by  Mr.  Clark,  which  his  son  assisted  in  clearing 
and  improving.  They  were  in  an  eminent  sense  pioneers, 
having  discovered  no  evidences  of  civilization  on  their 
arrival. 

On  Jan.  1,  1857,  Mr.  Clark  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Smith,  whose  parents — natives  of  New  York  State — were 
settlers  in  Eaton  County  in  1839.  They  have  had  three 
children, — David,  Jr.,  born  April  17,  1862;  Fred,  whose 
birth  occurred  July  4,  1864,  and  who  died  Oct.  20,  1868 ; 
and  Charles  Henry,  born  Sept.  5,  1868. 

Mr.  Clark  was  formerly  a  strong  Democrat,  but  subse- 
quent developments  occasioned  a  change  in  his  political 
views  and  have  since  caused  him  to  join  the  ranks  of  the 
Republican  party. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are  supporters  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  the  latter  being  a  member  and  an  active 
worker  in  its  interests. 


GEORGE  W.   McCRUMB. 

William  McCrumb,  who  was  descended  from  Scotch  an- 
cestry, was  an  early  settler  in  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  and  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  married  Dec.  4,  1815, 
to  Miss  Mary  Stewart,  and  George  W.,  the  seventh  of  their 
children,  was  born  in  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  April  26,  1827, 
to  which  State  his  parents  had  emigrated  a  few  months 
previous.  They,  however,  soon  after  removed  to  Lorain 
County,  and  remained  until  1844,  when  the  family  re- 
paired to  the  township  of  Eagle,  where  Mr.  McCrumb  died 
the  year  following.  The  mother  survived  until  March, 
1853.  George  W.  at  the  age  of  eighteen  was  left  with 
the  care -of  the  family  almost  entirely  devolving  upon  him. 
He  was  married  June  14,  1856,  to  Miss  Calanthe  M.  Hill,' 
whose  parents  are  inmates  of  her  own  cheerful  home. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCrumb  were  born  in 
the  following  order :  Helen  M.,  March  24,  1857 ;  Floid, 
Feb.  1,  1858;  Charles,  Aug.  3,  1860;  Nettie  and  Mattie 
(twins),  Aug.  25,  1863  ;  George  W.,  Jr.,  Sept.  14,  1866  ; 
Jennie,  Jan.  18,  18G9 ;  Calanthe  May,  June  11,  1875. 
Of  these  children  have  died  Charles  and  Mattie,  October, 
1863;  Floid,  Nov.  13,  1874;  Calanthe  May,  Ma^  11, 
1876;  Helen,  Aug.  28,  1876;  leaving  still  three  to 
brighten  the  home  circle.  Mr.  McCrumb  is  actively  en- 
gaged in  business  pursuits,  and  is  at  present  largely  inter- 
ested in  the  saw-mill  on  the  Looking-Glass  River,  of  which 
he  is  proprietor,  and  which  has  a  capacity  of  one  million 
feet  of  lumber  per  year.  He  has  been  especially  prominent 
in  politics,  having  held  many  influential  ofiices  and  been  a 
recognized  leader  in  his  township.  His  convictions  have 
caused  him  until  recently  to  affiliate  with  the  Republican 
party.' 


'  p^^i 


^  -^       ^i<--y^,.>^- 


fiisiDENCE  OF  GEORGE  GAU.WATenTmN   Clinton  Co. Mich. 


Bbsioence  of  DAV/D  CLARK .  £AGLa.  CuntonCo.  M,ch, 


ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 


443 


Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  MoCrumb  are  ardent  supporters  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  she  is  an  es- 
teemed member. 


MRS.  SALLY  HAWLEY  BEERS. 

The  ancestors  of  Mrs.  Beers  were  of  English  and  Scotch 
descent,  the  family  having  numbered  six  generations  since 
first  they  left  their  native  shores  and  landed  in  Stratford, 
Conn.  From  thence  they  removed  to  Newtown  township, 
where  a  small  hamlet  was  projected  and  called  Land's  End, 


SALLY   H.   BEEllS. 

from  their  former  residence  in  England,  and  was  subse- 
quently christened  Hawley,  after  its  founders.  Her  father, 
Jabez  Hawley,  was  born  in  Newtown  in  1767,  and  married 
to  Perthena  Booth,  to  whom  were  born  seven  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Sally  H.  Beers  was  the  eldest.  She  was  mar- 
ried Oct.  6,  1816,  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  to  Philo 
Beers,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
same  township.  His  father,  Ebenezer  Beers,  was  a  native 
of  Newtown,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  was  early  married  to 
Miss  Anna  Hard.  Their  son  Philo,  the  fifth  in  a  large 
lamily  of  children,  was  born  in  Newtown,  Dec.  20,  1793, 
and  remained  at  the  place  of  his  nativity  until  November, 
1831,  when,  with  his  family,  he  repaired  to  Oakland 
County.  Here  they  sojourned  until  1836,  when,  the 
county  of  Clinton  proving  more  attractive,  they  repaired  to 
the  township  of  Eagle,  where  a  considerable  purchase  of 
land  was  made,  and  where  Mrs.  Beers,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  still  resides.  The  services  of  her  hus- 
band in  the  war  of  1812  entitle  her  to  a  pension,  which  is 
annually  paid  by  the  government. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beers  were  blessed  with  the  follpwing  chil- 
dren :  Esther,  born  Oct.  13,  1818 ;  Mary  E.,  whose  birth 
occurred  May  23,  1821 ;  Burtis  H.,  born  Nov.  22,  1823  ; 
Philo  N.,  whose  birth  occurred  Sept.  11,  1826,  and  his 
death  Jan.  26,  1851  ;  Sarah  F.  and  Samuel  (twins),  born 
Jan.  11, 1828,  the  death  of  the  latter  having  taken  place 
Nov.  17,  1832 ;  Phebe  A.,  who  was  born  Sept.  5,  1830, 


and  died  in  the  fall  of  1859 ;  Currence,  born  November, 
1833,  and  whose  death  occurred  in  November,  1833 ;  and 
Anna  A.,  born  July  2,  1838. 

Mr.  Beers  was  the  pioneer  blacksmith  in  the  township 
of  Eagle,  and  also  the  builder  of  the  first  saw-mill  within 
its  bordere.  He  was  a  man  of  untiring  industry,  and  his 
early  efibrts  did  much  towards  advancing  the  interests  of 
the  new  settlement.  Combined  with  these  qualities  was  a 
stern  integrity  and  principle,  which  made  him  a  power  for 
good  in  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 

Burtis  H.,  the  third  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beers,  was 
a  young  man  of  unusual  promise.  He  was  well  educated, 
and  had  intended  adopting  the  profession  of  law,  but  was 
diverted  by  circumstances  from  the  accomplishment  of  this 
object.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Esler,  and  was 
filling  the  responsible  position  of  register  of  deeds,  which 
required  his  residence  at  St.  Johns,  when  death  suddenly 
ended  his  brilliant  career  on  the  8th  of  January,  1877. 


CHAPTER    LVIIL 


ESSEX   TOWNSHIP. 


Boundaries,  Surface,  Soil,  and  Streams — Original  Surveys  and  Lnnd- 
■    Entries — First  and  other  Early  Settlements — Civil  History,  First 

Township-Meeting,  and  List  of  Officers — Educational — Village  of 

Maple  Rapids — Religious  History. 

The  township  of  Essex  is  situated  on  the  n'orthern  bor- 
der of  Clinton  County,  west  of  the  centre.  Fulton,  in 
Gratiot  County,  forms  its  northern  boundary,  while  the 
townships  of  Greenbush,  Bengal,  and  Lebanon,  respectively, 
in  Clinton  County,  join  upon  its  eastern,  southern,  and 
western  borders. 

Its  surface  is  of  the  character  common  to  the  Lower 
Peninsula,  undulating  sufiSciently  to  permit  of  good  sur- 
face drainage  and  diversified  only  by  occasional  bluffs  and 
plains.  Originally  it  was  termed  a  "  hard-wood  township," 
and,  except  "  Benedict's  Plains"  and  another  opening  at 
"  Sowle's  Corners,"  it  was  generally  heavily  timbered  with 
the  various  deciduous  varieties  indigenous  to  this  climate. 

The  soil,  too,  is  of  that  nature  which  has  been  so  fre- 
quently described  when  speaking  of  Michigan  lands, — an 
admixture  of  sand,  clay,  and  gravelly  loam,  and  in  the 
lower  portions  alluvial  deposits.  It  is  consequently  well 
adapted  to  the  culture  of  grass,  corn,  vegetables,  fruit, 
wheat,  and  other  cereals,  and  in  their  production,  coupled 
with  stock-raising,  the  agricultural  classes  are  chiefly  en- 
gaged. 

Maple  River  and  Hayworth  Creek  are  the  principal  water- 
courses. The  former  in  its  flow  to  the  southwest  crosses 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  township.  Rapids  occur  in  its 
course  near  the  village  of  Maple  Rapids,  and  here  its  waters 
have  been  utilized -for  mill  purposes.  Above  the  rapids, 
and  from  thence,  stretching  up  the  river  a  distance  of  ten 
miles,  to  Bridgeville,  in  Gratiot  County,  it  widens  to  the 
extent  of  from  one-eighth  to  one-half  mile.     Here  it  is 


*  By  John  S.  Schenok. 


444 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTr,  MICHIGAN. 


similar  to  a  long  lake  or  bayou  in  appearance,  and  during 
the  past  two  or  three  years  has  been  navigated  between  the 
two  points  mentioned  by  the  "  May  Queen,"  a  small  side- 
wheel  steamer,  which  was  built  at  Maple  Bapids  by  Messrs. 
Whitacre  and  Webster. 

During  the  present  summer  (1880)  Professor  Davis,  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  with  a  corps  of  engineers,  has 
been  engaged  in  a  survey  of  the  Maple  River  above  and  be- 
low the  village  of  Maple  Bapids,  for  the  purpose  of  deter- 
mining whether  it  is  practicable  to  lower  the  water  in  the 
river  so  as  to  drain  and  render  valuable  a  very  large  area 
above  Maple  Bapids  of  lands  which  are  now  submerged  and 
worthless.  The  survey  was  made  at  the  suggestion  and 
through  the  iofluence  of  the  Hon.  S.  S.  Walker,  of  St. 
Johns.     Of  its  results  Professor  Davis  says : 

"  The  surveying  party  from  Ann  Arbor,  who  have  been 
sounding  Maple  Biver  in  the  vicinity  of  Maple  Bapids,  with 
the  view  of  ascertaining  the  feasibility  of  deepening  the 
channel,  and  thereby  draining  the  swamps  which  border 
that  stream  from  Maple  Bapids  to  Bridgeville,  Gratiot 
County,  overflowing  some  five  thousand  acres  of  land,  re- 
port that  the  lands  can  be  relieved  of  the  overflow  by  re- 
moval of  the  dam  at  Maple  Bapids  and  the  bottom  of  the 
river  at  the  rapids,  or  a  shallow  place,  lowered  some  six  and 
one-half  feet.  This  will  immediately  lower  the  stream  for 
a  number  of  miles,  as  the  bed  of  the  river  above  and  below 
this  shallow  place,  which  is  only  about  one  mile  and  a  half 
in  length,  extending  about  equally  each  way  from  the 
bridge  at  the  rapids,  and  also  has  numerous  depressions,  is 
much  lower,  and  only  in  few  instances  is  the  river  so  shallow 
that  its  bed  would  reach  this  six  and  one-half  feet  level. 
This  would  not  only  relieve  the  overflowed  land,  but  also 
afford  a  much  better  drainage  for  all  the  surrounding 
country,  and  take  away  the  source  of  much  sickness. 

"  The  bed  of  the  river  is  composed  largely  of  sand  and 
gravel,  with  a  mixture  of  small  bowlders,  and  the  shallow 
place  shows  made  land  or  choke  filling,  being  composed 
mostly  of  soft  muck,  through  which  a  stake  can  be  thrust 
to  the  gravel  or  natural  bed  of  the  river. 

"The  surveys  made  in  1831  indicate  a  good  growth  of 
timber,  such  as  oak,  white-ash,  and  other  kinds  of  trees 
which  do  not  grow  in  overflowed  land.  Part  of  these  trees 
have  been  cut  off  in  the  winter-time  for  wood,  but  that  now 
standing  is  dead.  This  proves  conclusively  that  at  one 
time  the  land  where  they  are  was  not  continually  under 
water.  The  swamp  under  consideration  extends  from 
Maple  Bapids  about  twelve  miles  up  the  river  into  Gratiot 
County." 

Hayworth  Creek  enters  the  township  of  Essex  by  cross- 
ing the  east  line  of  section  25  ;  thence  it  meanders  gen- 
erally northwesterly  through  the  southern  part  until  it 
crosses  the  west  line  of  section  18  and  enters  Lebanon 
township.  Beappearing  again  upon  the  same  section,  it 
pursues  a  northeasterly  course  until  its  surplus  waters  are 
emptied  into  the  Maple  Biver  just  below  the  village  of 
Maple  Bapids.  The  Hayworth,  wiih  its  tributaries,  drains 
the  greater  portion  of  Essex  township. 

With  its  pretty  and  thriving  village  of  Maple  Rapids,  its 
many  beautiful  farm-houses,  surrounded  by  well-cultivated 


fields,  and  also  in  point  of  population  and  the  amount  of 
agricultural  products  annually  produced,  Essex  may  be 
classed  as  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and  important  among 
the  townships  of  Clinton  County. 

OEIGINAL  SURVEYS   AND   LAND-ENTRIES. 

Pursuant  to  contracts  with  and  instructions  received 
from  William  Lytle,  Surveyor-General  of  the  United 
States,  Deputy  United  States  Surveyors  Robert  Clerk,  Jr., 
and  Joel  Wright  surveyed  the  present  township  of  Essex 
in  the  year  1831.  The  former  ran  the  boundary  lines  in 
February  and  March,  designating  the  same  township 
No.  8  north,  of  range  No.  3  west.  Mr.  Wright  subdi- 
vided the  township  in  May.  In  his  field-notes  mention  is 
made  of  a  "  beautiful  mill-seat"  on  the  creek  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  29  ;  and  again,  in  running  the  line 
between  sections  19  and  20,  he  spoke  of  "  a  bluff  fifty  feet 
in  height,  at  the  base  of  which  were  several  sulphur 
springs."  At  the  close  of  his  work  he  said,  "  There  is  a 
considerable  part  of  the  foregoing  township  that  is  valuable 
land,  yet  I  think  it  is  somewhat  inferior  to  those  situated 
on  Stony  Creek." 

George  Campau  became  the  first  individual  owner  of  land 
in  the  township,  and  probably  in  the  county,  by  the  pur- 
chase of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  8,  Nov.  30,  1832.  Following,  however,  are  the 
names  of  those  who  purchased  from  the  general  government 
lands  situated  in  this  township  : 

SECTION  1. 

Joseph  R.  Williams,  Detroit,  July  27,  1836,  south  half. 

John  Montreiul,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Aug.  1,  1838,  south  half  of  north- 
west quarter. 

SECTION  2. 

Joseph  R.  Williams,  Detroit,  July  27,  1836,  south  half. 

John  Barrett,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  12,  1836,  south  half  of  north- 
west quarter. 

SECTION  3. 

IloUis  Pratt,  July  27,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 

Isaac  A.  Brooks,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  July  27, 1836,  west  half  of 
southwest  quarter. 

Isaac  A.  Brooks,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  23,  1836,  east  half  of 
southwest  quarter.  ' 

Wa-be-oake  Mak-i-to-quet,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  1,  1841,  north 
part  of  northwest  quarter.  .    t 

SECTION  4. 
Hollis  Pratt,  July  27,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 
Joseph  R.  Williams,  Detroit,  July  27,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  5.      • 
John  P.  Wueherer,  Aug.  8,  1835,  east  half  of  southwest  quarter. 
William  McCausIand,   Ionia   Co.,   Mich.,   Jan.  5,   1836,   southwest 

quarter  of  southwest  quarter. 
S.  Newton  Dexter,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  T.,  April  29,  1836,  north  half  of 

northwest  quarter. 

SECTION  6. 

Warren  P.  Mills,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  May  10,  1836,  southeast 
quarter  of  southeast  quarter. 

Charles  N.  Bristol,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Deo.  13, 1836,  northwest  frac- 
tional quarter. 

SECTION  7. 
Edward  J.  Glenn,  Aug.  8,  1835,  west  half  of  northeast  quarter. 
Louis  Campau,  Grand  Rapids,  Feb.  12,  1836,  west  half  of  southeast 
quarter  and  east  half  of  southwest  quarter. 


ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 


445 


SECTION  8. 

George  Campau,  Nov.  30, 1832,  northwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter. 
Louis  Campau,  July  11,  1835,  east  half  of  southwest  quarter  and 

southwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter. 
■William  K.  Thompson,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  Jan.  6,  1836,  west  half  of 

northeast  quarter. 

SECTION  9. 

Hiram  Benedict,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1835,  west  half. 

Calvin  Cooley,  March  23, 1836,  northeast  quarter. 

James  S.  Wadsworth,  Geneseo,  N.  Y.,  April  25, 1836,  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  10. 

Charles  H.  Carroll,  April  26,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 

Joseph  R.  Williams,  July  27,  1836,  north  half  and  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  11. 
Joseph  R.  Williams,  Detroit,  July  27,  1836,  north  half  and  southwest 

quarter. 
Joseph  C.  Lyon,  Nov.  20,  1849,  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  12. 
Joseph  R.  Williams,  Detroit,  July  27, 1836,  north  half  and  southeast 
quarter. 

SECTION  13. 

Henry  Auten,  May  3,  1849,  northeast  quarter. 
Charles  R.  Webb,  June  19, 1849,  southwest  quarter. 
George  Watltins,  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  June  20,  1850,  east  half  of  north- 
west quarter  and  southwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter. 

SECTION  14. 

John  F.  Lansing,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  west  half  of 

northwest  quarter. 
John  Kanouse,  Jr.,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  oast  half  of 

southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  15. 

Burotas  P.  Hastings,  Detroit,  Nov.  5, 1836,  southeast  quarter  and  cast 

half  of  northeast  quarter. 
William  Page,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  May  12,  1836,  west  half. 
John  F.  Lansing,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  northeast 

quarter  and  west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Silas  C.  Herring  (safe  man).  New  York  City,  Jan.  17,  1837,  east  half 

of  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  16. 
School  lands. 

SECTION  17. 

Charles  Butler,  April  25,  1836,  northeast  quarter  and  east  half  of 

northwest  quarter. 
Henry  M.  Moore,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  23, 1836,  southeast  quarter. 
Lewis  Corning,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  16,  1837,  southwest  quarter. 

SECTION  18. 

Oliver  Johnson,  April  18,  1836,  north  half  and  southwest  quarter  and 

west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Charles  Butler,  April  25,  1836,  east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  19. 

Oliver  Johnson,  April  18, 1836,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Sylvester  Stevens,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  July  12,  1838,  north  half 
of  southeast  quarter. 

Daniel  Kellogg,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  July  12,  1838,  south  half  of 
southeast  qnarter. 

Justus  and  Gardner  Hale,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  18,1838,  north- 
west quarter,  west  half  of  northeast  quarter,  and  southwest 
quarter. 

SECTION  20. 

Abram  S.  Wadsworth,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  April  18,  1835,  west  half  of 

southwest  quarter. 
Henry  M.  Moore,  Gonesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  23, 1835,  northeast  quarter. 
Thompson  J.  Daniels,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  16, 1837,  west  half 

of  northwest  quarter. 


SECTION  21. 

Preston    Mitchell,    Calhoun    Co.,    Mioh.,   Sept.    24,    1836,   northwest 

quarter. 
James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  1,  1836,  east  half. 

SECTION  22. 

William  Page,  May  12,  1836,  east  half,  and  east  half  of  northwest 

quarter,  and  east  half  of  southwest  quarter. 
James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Nov.  1,  1836,  west  half  of  northwest  quarter  and 

west  half  of  southwest  quarter. 

SECTION  23. 

James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  1,  1836,  south  half. 
Silas  C.  Herring,  city  of  New  York,  Jan.  16,  1837,  north  half. 

SECTION  24. 

Sarah  H.  Porter,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  5, 1836,  southeast  quarter. 
Nohemiah  D.  Stebbins,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  8,  1836,  southwest 

quarter. 
Sidney  S.  Alcott,  Marshall,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  northeast  quarter. 

SECTION  25. 

William  McCausland,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  May  15,  1834,  west  half  of 
southeast  quarter  and  east  half  of  southwest  quarter. 

William  Page,  May  12,  1836,  north  half  and  west  half  of  southwest 
quarter. 

Horace  Butler,  May  26,  1836,  east  half  of  southeaat  quarter. 

SECTION  26. 

Philip  Eayne,  July  18,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 
Horace  Butler,  May  26,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 
John  Kanouse,  Jr.,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  -1836,  northwest 
quarter  and  west  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

SECTION  27. 

Sidonius  Teall,  July  18,  1836,  northwest  quarter  and  west  half  of 
southeast  quarter. 

John  B.  Nestell,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  June  27, 1837,  west  half  of  south- 
west quarter. 

James  K.  Morris,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  26, 1839,  east  half  of  south- 
west quarter. 

Paine  &  Teall,  July  18,  1836,  east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  28. 

Charles  J.  Walker,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  30, 1836,  northeast  quarter. 
Elizabeth  Kanouse,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  southeast 

quarter  and  west  half  of  northwest  quarter. 
Noble  Sperry,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  southwest  quarter. 

SECTION  29. 

Joseph  R.  Williams,  July  27,  1836,  west  half  of  northwest  quarter. 

George  W.  Dickinson,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1837,  east  half  of 
northwest  quarter  and  northwest  quarter  of  northeast  quarter. 

George  Stillson,  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  April  3, 1837,  southwest  quarter 
of  northeast  quarter. 

Philo  Sperry,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  3, 1837,  southeast  quarter. 

Carmi  Rainsford,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  3, 1837,  east  half  of  north- 
east quarter. 

SECTION  30. 

Joseph  R.  Williams,  July  27,  1836,  northeast  quarter. 

Beniamin  Welch,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15, 1837,  southwest  quarter. 

George  W.  Perry,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  IS,  1838,  northwest 

quarter. 

SECTION   31. 

Charles  J.  Walker,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  30, 1836,  west  fractional 

Lucius  C.  Martin,  West  Milton,  Vt.,  Dec.  9, 1850,  east  half  of  north- 
east quarter. 

SECTION   32. 

Campbell  &  Bradley,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  11 836,  east  half. 
Silas  B.  Jones,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  March  11, 1850,  northwest  quarter 
of  southwest  quarter. 


446 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SECTION   33. 

Campbell  A  Bradley,  Oct.  1,  1836,  west  half. 

Elizabeth  Eanouse,  Nov.  4,  1836,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Levi  B.  Morris,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1837,  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  34. 

James  Cram,  May  12,  1836,  north  half. 

Lucenc  Eldridge,  Oakland  Co:,  Mich.,  Deo.  13,  1836,  south  half. 

SECTION  35. 

Horace  Butler,  May  26,  1836,  northeast  quarter. 
Lucene  Eldridge,  Dec.  13,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  14, 1836,  northwest  quarter 
and  west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION   36. 

Walter  Hubbell,  May  12,  1836,  west  half  of  northeast  quarter  and 

east  half  of  northwest  quarter. 
Joseph  K.  Williams,  July  27^1836,  east  half  of  southeast  quarter  and 

west  half  of  southwest  quarter. 
Miles  P.  Lampson,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  23,  1836,  west  half  of 

northwest  quarter. 
Chaunoey  M.  Stebbins,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  28, 1836,  east  half  of 

northeast  quarter. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Joseph  R.  Williams,  a  Detroit 
speculator,  was  the  largest  purchaser  of  lands  in  this  town- 
ship ;  that  the  greater  portion  was  purchased  by  the  close 
of  the  year  1836 ;  that  among  the  first  buyers  speculators 
largely  predominated,  and  that  of  the  early  settlers  but 
very  few  purchased  their  homesteads  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment. 

FIRST  AND  OTHER  EAELT  SETTLEMENTS. 
George  Campau,  brother  of  Louis  Campau,  of  Grand 
Eapids,  and  a  representative  of  the  family  whose  name  has 
been  so  closely  connected  with  the  history  of  Michigan  dur- 
ing and  since  its  occupancy  by  the  French,  was  the  first 
settler  in  the  present  township  of  Essex.  It  is  probable 
that  while  following  the  vocation  of  an  Indian  trader  he 
had  visited  this  region  long  prior  to  his  purchase  of  a  por- 
tion of  section  8,  or  had  learned  of  the  advantan-es  here 
offered  for  the  establishment  of  an  Indian  trading-post 
through  his  own  or  other  coitreurs  du  hois.  Makitoquet's 
large  band  of  Indians  was  located  on  the  Maple,  and  doubtless 
other  bands  equally  as  numerous,  in  the  vicinity.  Rival  tra- 
ders were  not  near  enough  to  offer  serious  competition  ;  the 
field  before  him  was  broad  and  unoccupied.  On  the  30th 
of  November,  1832,  he  purchased  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  8,  but  it  seems  that  he  did 
not  establish  himself  upon  it  until  some  three  years  later. 
Louis  Campau  entered  the  south  half  of  the  same  eighty- 
acre  lot,  July  11,  1835,  and'soon  after,  some  time  during 
the  summer  or  early  autumn  of  that  year,  George  Campau 
settled*  at  the  Rapids.  His  wife  and  two  small  children 
came  with  him.  Near  the  north  line  of  his  lot,  and  facing 
Jlaple  River,  was  erected  his  dwelling.  The  site  was  well 
chosen,  and  is  to-day  the  most  picturesque  place  in  the 
township.  A  building  of  hewn  logs  for  trading  purposes 
was  built  near  by,  and  yet  standing,  is  the  only  relic  left  to 


»  James  Sowie,  Jr.,  was  entertained  at  his  house  in  October  1836 
and  Mr.  Campau  then  mentioned  that  he  had  resided  upon  his  land 
a  little  more  than  one  year.  ' 


remind  the  passing  citizen  or  inquiring   stranger  of  the 
Campau  trading-post. 

As  we  view  its  decaying  timbers,  the  massive  but  rusty 
padlock  which  still  holds  in  place  the  iron  strap  on  the 
staple,  and  peer  in  upon  space  confined  only  by  the  outer 
walls  and  roof,  imagination  involuntarily  takes  us  back  to 
scenes  here  enacted  forty  and  forty-five  years  ago.  Here  were 
assembled,  perhaps,  a  score  or  more  of  Makitoquet's  band, 
accompanied  by  their  stolid-faced,  broad-backed  squaws, 
who,  serving  as  their  beasts  of  burden,  carried  the  utensils 
used  in  their  domestic  economy,  besides  a  few  peltries, 
the  latter  to  be  bartered  for  articles  on  sale  at  the  trading- 


Inside  the  building,  and  behind  a  long  high  counter  which 
ranged  along  one  side  of  the  large  room,  might  be  found 
Mr.  Campau  chatting  gayly  with  his  dusky  customers,  and 
speaking  with  equal  fluency  in  either  the  French  or  Chip- 
pewa dialect.  Back  upon  narrow  shelvings  were  shown 
bright  calicoes,  cheap  breeches,  flints,  knives,  leaden  balls, 
tobacco,  and  other  articles.  But  the  "  fire-water"  of  the 
whites,  the  sale  of  which  to  the  Indians  was  the  chief 
source  of  revenue  of  all  the  early  traders,  although  it  might 
not  have  occupied  a  conspicuous  place  in  Campan's  stock 
on  hand,  was — if  we  may  believe  what  has  been  related  by 
early  settlers — at  times  very  conspicuously  displayed  in 
effect  in  the  antics,  brawls,  and  "  whoopees"  which  followed 
its  sale  to  his  thirsty  customers. 

Mr.  Campau 's  post  was  also  rendered  memorable  by  hold- 
ing the  first  township-meeting  of  Wandaugon  here  in  1838, 
and  of  Lebanon  in  1839.  He  did  not  occupy  a  prominent 
position  in  the  civil  history  of  this  region,  however,  and 
the  only  office  to  which  he  was  elected  by  the  votes  of  the 
people  was  that  of  director  of  the  poor  of  Lebanon  town- 
ship, in  April,  1839.  After  having  enjoyed  a  reasonable 
degree  of  prosperity  as  an  Indian  trader  he  sold  out  his 
interests  here  to  John  Johnson,  about  the  year  1842,  and 
then  removed  to  Grand  Rapids. 

James  Sowle,  Jr.,  still  a  resident  of  the  township,  was 
the  next  person  to  make  an  improvement  here,  but  not  the 
next  to  settle  after  Mr.  Campau.  He  was  born  in  Che- 
nango Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  afterwards  resided  in  Monroe  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
He  first  came  to  Michigan  in  1826,  and  assisted  to  build  a 
saw-mill  at  Waterford,  Oakland  Co.  He  then  returned  to 
New  York  State,  where  he  married  and  remained  until 
1832.  During  the  latter  year  he  again  came  to  this  State 
as  a  permanent  resident.  Locating  at  Manchester,  Wash- 
tenaw Co.,  he  worked  at  his  trade  and  assisted  to  build 
many  houses.  In  the  autumn  of  1836  he  visited  this  town- 
ship for  the  purpose  of  selecting  lands  for  a  homestead. 
He  was  entertained  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Campau,  and  the 
next  day  made  choice  of  the  east  half  of  section  21,  the 
west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  and  west  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  22,  and  the  south  half  of  sec- 
tion 23,  in  all  a  tract  of  eight  hundred  acres,  which  was 
entered  at  the  Ionia  land-office  Nov.  1,  1836.  A  large 
portion  of  his  purchase  consisted  of  rose-willow  and  burr^ 
oak  plains,-  and,  taken  together,  most  desirable.  Ho  then 
superintended  the  building  of  the  Wacofista  mills,  which 
accomplished,  in  July,  1837,  he  came  here,  and,  assisted 


'^^^>.:^'> 


(3)^^/2^^  A- 


/?«.  o/:-    O.  F.  PECK  .  Maple  Rapids  Essex  Tp.  Mich. 


ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 


447 


by  John  Nestell,  his  brother-in-law,  built  his  first  dwelling,* 
a  log  one,  on  the  site  of  his  present  residence. 

Although  Mr.  Sowle's  house  was  the  first  to  succeed  that 
of  George  Campau,  it  was  not  occupied  by  him  until 
June,  1838,  many  of  his  household  goods  having  been 
moved  therein  the  winter  previously.  In  July,  1838,  his 
little  daughter,  Mary  E.,  nearly  two  years  old,  while  tied  in  a 
chair,  fell  forward  into  a  "  smudge,"  kindled  for  the  purpose 
of  driving  away  gnats  and  mosquitoes,  and  was  so  badly 
burned  that  she  died.  His  son,  Joseph  B.,  who  lived  to 
be  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  born  on  the  22d  of  the  same 
month.  Thus  the  first  birth  and  death  occurring  in  the 
northern  half  of  Clinton  County  took  place  in  his  family. 
He  also  claims  that  the  first  marriage  in  the  county  took 
place  at  his  house  in  the  spring  of  1837,  while  he  resided 
at  Wacousta,  the  contracting  parties  being  Loren  Miner 
and  Miss  Margaret. Nestell,  both  of  whom  were  then  work- 
ing for  Mr.  Sowle,  and  the  ceremony  was  performed  by 
William  A.  Hewitt,  Esq.,  of  Dewitt,  who  was  afterwards  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Essex. 

Mr.  Sowle  built  the  first  framed  barn  in  the  township  in 
1839,  which  is  stilJ  standing.  He  also  erected  for  others 
the  first  mills  at  Hubbardston  and  at  Maple  Rapids,  the 
latter  for  Messrs.  Hewitt  &  Shepard.  In  the  fall  of  1839 
he  procured  at  Ionia  some  very  small  apple-trees.  Of  these, 
his  neighbors,  Daniel  Kello^'g  and  Sylvester  Stephens,  re- 
ceived some.  All  were  set  out  the  same  day,  and  thus 
were  started  the  first  orchards.  Mr.  Sowle,  or  "  Sohn,"  as 
he  was  termed  by  them,  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  In- 
dians who  lived  in  his  vicinity.  He  relates  that  in  1838, 
also  in  1839  and  1840,  he  plowed  many  little  patches  for 
the  Indian  women  to  cultivate  their  corn  and  vegetables. 
Bach  had  their  own  little  plat,  and  they  usually  paid  him 
with  maple-sugar.  As  the  proceeds  of  one  day's  work  he 
once  received  four  hundred  and  eighty  pounds. 

He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  when  he  came  here,  and 
served  as  such  for  several  years  thereafter.  Illustrative  of 
his  experience  while  serving  in  that  capacity,  also  of  the 
friendly  feeling  then  existing  between  the  whites  and  In- 
dians, we  relate  the  following:  On  the  4th  of  July,  1839, 
he  visited  Campau's  trading^post.  There  were  present,  be- 
sides Mr.  Campau  and  himself,  five  buxom  Indian  women. 
Campau  was  in  a  joking  mood,  and  speaking  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Chippewas,  told  the  women  that  "  Sohn"  was 
a  justice  of  the  peace ;  that  among  the  whites  it  was  cus- 
tomary for  such  oflSeials  to  "  treat"  all  women  who  kissed 
them  on  the  4th  of  July ;  therefore,  if  they  kissed  "  Sohn," 
they  were  sure  of  a  drink.  Although  not  understanding 
their  language,  Mr.  Sowle  was  well  aware  from  their  ges- 
tures and  glances  exchanged  that  it  related  to  him.  On 
the  alert,  therefore,  when  the  squaws  arose  and  moved  care- 
lessly towards  him,  he,  ton,  stood  erect.  A  moment  later 
they  closed  in  upon  him  on  all  sides.  The  short,  sharp 
struggle  which  ensued  resulted  in  the  forest  feminines  being 

*  This  house  wag  burned  in  1850.  A  small  frame  dwelling  fol- 
lowed, which  was  occupied  until  1860.  It  then  gave  place  to  a  more 
pretentious  one  costing  five  thousand  dollars,  the  former  being  naoved 
a  short  distance  away.  In  March,  1861,  both  the  old  and  new  houses 
burned,  and  the  present  or  fourth  dwelling  on  the  same  site  was  soon 
after  erected. 


thrown  to  the  floor,  lying  one  across  another.  Not  satisfied, 
however,  they  made  a  second  attempt  to  gain  the  coveted 
kiss  and,  what  was  of  more  importance  to  them  just  then, 
the  drink,  but  were  again  served  as  before.  Convulsed 
with  laughter,  Mr.  Campau  called  off  the  women,  saying  to 
them  that  they  were  beaten,  but  if  they  would  bring  in  a 
"rat  skin''  (meaning  a  muskrat  skin)  the  next  day,  he 
would  treat.  Assenting,  the  squaws  drank  their  whisky 
with  evident  relish,  and  thereafter  Sohn's  reputation  as  a 
wrestler  was  fully  established  among  the  Indians. 

Hiram  Benedict  and  Timothy  II.  Pettit,  brothers-in-law, 
accompanied  by  their  families.  Nelson  Benedict,  an  unmar- 
ried brother  of  Hiram,  and  another  young  man  named 
John  Brown,  came  from  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  settled 
upon  the  openings  known  since  as  "  Benedict's  Plains,"  in 
the  autumn  of  1837,  thus  becoming  the  next  settlers  after 
Mr.  Campau.     Their  families  found  shelter  under  the  hos- 
pitable roof  of  Mr.  Campau,  until  their  own  first  dwellings 
were  ready  for  occupancy.     Hiram  Benedict  purchased  of 
the  government  the  west  half  of  section  9  Nov.  5,  1835, 
and  soon   afterwards   became   possessed  of  the  two  east 
eighty-acre  lots  of  section  8.     The  spring  following  his 
settlement  (1838)  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  newly- 
organized  township  of  Wandaugon,  and  afterwards,  without 
changing  his  residence,  served  as  the  first  supervisor  of  the 
respective  townships  of  Lebanon,  Bengal,  and  Essex.     He 
was  an  able  man,  a  good  citizen,  and  highly  respected. 
His  aged  father — Hiram,  Sr. — and  mother  also  removed  to 
this  township,  where  were  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
days.     Hiram  Benedict,  Sr.,  had  served  in  the  war  of 
1812-14.     Timothy  H.  Pettit  and  Nelson  Benedict  were 
also  prominent  early  citizens.     Mr.  Pettit  was  elected  the 
first  clerk  of  Wandaugon,  also  a  justice  of  the  peace  ;  was 
active  in  the  organization  of  Bengal  and  Essex  townships ; 
and  ably  served  both  in  various  official  capacities.     (See 
lists  of  officers  of  this,  Bengal,  and  Lebanon  townships.) 
It  is  thought  that  he  built  the  first  framed  house  in  Essex. 
Lyman  Webster,  known  by  the  Indians  of  his  day  as 
"  Ma-quah,"  because  of  his  heavy  dark  beard,  and  Ohaun- 
cey  M.  Stebbios,  brothers-in-law,  came  here  from  Ionia 
County  in  the  fall  of  1837.     They  owned  lands  situated 
upon  sections  35  and  36,  and  were  the  first  settlers  in  the 
southeast  quarter  of  the  township.     Both  were  gentlemen 
of  ability,  and  most  creditably  served  their  townsmen  in 
various  public  stations. 

Daniel  Kellogg  and  Sylvester  Stevens,  his  son-in-law, 
from  Washtenaw  County,  purchased  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  19  in  July,  1838,  and  during  the  following 
winter  or  early  spring  of  1839  settled  upon  their  newly- 
acquired  estate.  They,  too,  became  well-known  and  prom- 
inent citizens.  Mr.  Kellogg  was  an  early  township  clerk, 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  treasurer,  while  Mr.  Stevens  built 
the  first  saw-mill,t  which  stood  on  Hayworth  Creek,  in  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  20. 

Lucene  Eldridge,  Joshua  Frink,  and  Joshua  Coomer  set- 
tled upon  sections  34  and  35,  early  in  the  spring  of  1840. 
All  were  good  substantial  farmers,  and  most  worthy  citizens. 
Mr.  Coomer  still  resides  where  he  settled  forty  years  ago. 


f  This  mill  was  afterwards  owned  by  Thomas  Irwin  and  William 
A.  Hewitt. 


448 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Those  liTiDg  in  township  8  north,  of  range  3  west,  who 
were  assessed  as  resident  tax-payers  of  Bengal  in  June, 
1840,  were' as  follows  : 

George  Campau,  west  half  of  northwest  quarter  of  section  8. 
Sylvester  Stevens,  north  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  section  19. 
Daniel  Kellogg,  south  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  section  19. 
Hiram  Benedict,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter  and  east  half  of 
southeast  quarter  of  section  8. 

Hiram    Benedict,   northwest  quarter   and  west  half  of  southwest 

quarter  of  section  9.  ,        ,  u  ,<■    r 

Timothy  H.  Pettit,  east  half  of  southwest  quarter  and  east  half  ot 
east  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  section  9. 

James  Sowle,  Jr.,  northeast  quarter  of  section  21. 

James  Sowle,  Jr.,  west  half  of  northwest  quarter  of  section  22. 

James  Sowle,  Jr.,  southwest  quarter  of  section  23. 

Chauncey  M.  Stcbbins,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter  of  section  36. 

Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  east  half  of  west  half  of  southeast  quarter 

of  section  35. 

Lyman  Webster,  east  half  of  southwest  quarter  and  west  half  of 
west  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  section  35. 

Luccne  Eldridge,  southwest  quarter  of  section  35. 

Jofhua  Frink,  southeast  quarter  and  east  half  of  southwest  quarter 
of  section  34. 

Joshua  Coomer,  west  half  of  southwest  quarter  of  section  34. 

A  mistake  seems  to  exist  in  the  description  of  lands 
credited  to  Webster  and  Eldridge,  but  the  foregoing  is  a 
copy  of  the  roll  of  that  date. 

The  residents  of  the  present  township  who  availed  them- 
selves of  the  elective  franchise  in  November,  1840,  the  days 
of  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too,"  were  Messrs.  Timothy  H. 
Pettit,  Hiram  Benedict,  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Alonzo  Vaughn, 
Sylvester  Stevens,  Joshua  Frink,  Miner  Frink,  Nelson 
Benedict,  Daniel  Kellogg,  Julius  Bishop,  Joshua  Coomer, 
Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  Lyman  Webster,  Lucene  Eldridge, 
Orlow  W.  Holmes,  and  Marcus  Rowley,  who,  except 
Messrs.  Cortland  Hill,  Charles  Grant,  and  Uriah  Drake, 
were  the  only  residents  of  Bengal  who  voted. 

Solomon  Moss,  a  prominent  pioneer  of  Essex,  came  here 
in  1841,  from  the  town  of  Ira,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  set- 
tled upon  section  33.  He  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1790. 
During  the  war  of  1812-14  he  was,  while  residing  in 
Canada,  drafted  into  the  British  service,  but  at  some  pecu- 
niary sacrifice  te  evaded  doing  duty  for  His  Britannic  Maj- 
esty by  returning  to  Vermont.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss 
Fanny  Jones,  of  Shoreham,  Vt.,  and  six  children,  viz., 
Hiram  L.,  William  J.,  Edgar  D.,  Vesta  E.,  Laura  K.,  and 
Myron  S.,  came  with  him  to  this  township.  Mrs.  Moss 
died  in  1856.  Mr.  Moss  survived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  Their  children  all  reside  in  Clinton  County, 
except  Mrs.  M.  Baker,  of  St.  Louis,  Gratiot  Co. 

Among  other  prominent  early  settlers  were  John  Johnson, 
who  succeeded  Mr.  Campau  and,  until  the  settlement  of 
William  A.  Hewitt  at  Maple  Rapids,  did  a  thriving  mer- 
cantile business  with  the  Indians  and  early  white  settlers ; 
Chauncey  S.  Wolcott,  who  is  still  one  of  Essex's  most  re- 
spected citizens;  Henry  M.  Starks,  Levi  D.  Jenison,  Samuel 
M.  Scott,  Daniel  G.  Smith,  Obadiah  Lyon,  Walter  Hubbell, 
Rufus  Dinsmore,  and  others  whose  faces  and  peculiarities 
will  be  remembered  when  their  names  are  found  in  accom- 
panying list. 

In  1844  those  residents  of  the  township  assessed  for 
taxes  were  mentioned  as  owning  property  on  the  following 
sections : 


Sec. 

Ephraim  Rolfe 7 

John  Johnson 8 

Levi  D.  Jenison 8 

Hiram  Benedict,  Jr 8,9 

Nelson  Benedict 9 

Timothy  H.  Pettit 9 

Henry  M.  Starks 9 

Bleazer  Toby 8 

George  Starks 9 

John  W.  Armstrong 19 

Sylvester  Stevens 19 

Daniel  Kellogg 19 

James  Sowle,  Jr 21,  22 

David  Seott 23 

Rufus  Dinsmuro 25,  36 

Lyman  Webster 25 

The  population  and  number  of  dwellings  were  more  than 
doubled  during  the  succeeding  six  years,  and  in  1850  there 
were  seventy-seven  families  and  a  total  population  of  four 
hundred  and  ten  inhabitants.  The  resident  tax-payers  at 
that  time  were  named  as  follows  : 


Sue. 

George  W.  Gardner 26 

Christian  G.  Nestell 27 

Daniel  G.Smith 29 

Nelson  Delong 30 

Solomon  Moss 33 

Joshua  Coomer 31 

Joshua  Frink 34 

Lucene  Eldridge 35 

Chauncey  S.  Wolcott 36 

Walter  Hubbell 36 

Lewis  Norton Personal 

Joseph  Kellogg " 

Oliver  Aldrich " 

Parley  Gardner " 

Joseph  Nestell " 


Sec. 

Simon  T.Hill 3 

Hiram  Kichmond 3 

Thomas  Stickney 6 

Ephraim  Rolfe 7 

Alfred  Stone 7 

William  Perry 7 

John  Johnson 8 

Ransom  S.Cook 8 

Solomon  Moss 8 

Hiram  Benedict 8,  9 

Timothy  H.  Pettit 9 

Nelson  Benedict 9 

Peter  Schanck 9 

Edward  Perrin  9 

Joseph  O.Lyon 9,  11 

Charles  Carter 10 

Aaron  S.  Baker 17,18 

Hansom  Beach 19 

D.  W.  C.  Beach 19 

David  Blank 19 

John  Whitman 19 

Josiah  Cobb 19 

Cornelius  Onderkirk 19 

John  W.Armstrong 19,30 

Nelson  Delong 30 

Palmer  D.  Bancroft 30 

Guy  N.  Wilcox 31 

Adam  Ocobock 29 

Jackson  Ocobock 29 

Frederick  Tuttle 20 

Thomas  Irwin 20 

Thomas  Parr 17,20,21 

James  Yon  dan 22 

David  Scott 23 

Mrs.  Scott 23,  24 


Sec. 

John  Young 24 

Heirs  of  R.  Dinsmore 25,  36 

Morgan  Monroe 25 

Theodore  Webster 25 

Lyman  Webster 25 

C.  Hammond 26 

Truman  B.  Heath 26 

Edwin  W.  Warren 23 

Obadiah  Lyon 26 

James  Owen 27 

Christian  G.  Nestell 27 

Frederick  Delano 19 

James  Sowle,  Jr 21,  22 

Humphrey  Hammond 28 

Daniel  G.  Smith 29 

Riley  Jones 32 

David  Bush 26,  33 

Joshua  Coomer 34 

Hiram  L.  Moss 33 

William  J.  Moss 33 

Mrs.  Frink 34,26 

Lucene  Eldridge 35 

Levi  D.  Jennison 35 

Chauncey  S.  Wolcott 36 

Stephen  MoPherson 10 

Joseph  T.  Hewitt Personal 

Guy  N.  Wilcox " 

David  F.  MoPherson....       " 

George  R.  Nestell " 

Isaiah  Sherwood " 

James  Skillman " 

0.  Dunkle " 

Charles  Turner " 

Eben  B.  Stiles " 

Isaac  Ocobock " 


At  the  expiration  of  another  decade  many  improvements 
had  taken  place.  Framed  dwellings  and  broad  cultivated 
fields  had  succeeded  the  log  cabins  and  small  "clearings;' 
the  enterprising  little  village  of  Maple  Rapids  had  sprung 
into  existence,  and  Essex  in  1860  contained  two  hundred 
and  fourteen  dwelling-houses  and  one  thousand  and  thirteen 
inhabitants,  thus  taking  third  place  among  Clinton  County 
townships.     The  tax-paying  residents*  of  twenty  years  ago 


Sec. 

Aaron  W.  Phillips 1 

Lewis  Bryant 1 

William  Brown 1 

Samuel  H.  Griffith 2 

Andrew  J.  Taylor 2 

John  Anderson 2 

William  S.  Mathews 3 

Marcus  Annis 4,  14 

M.  J.  Whitacre 5 

Reuben  Smith Personal 


Martin  V.  Brown Village  Lots 

John  N.  Whitacre...  " 

James  K.  Petteys....  " 

Augustus  Randolph.  " 

Frederick  Tuttle " 

Ransom  Beach " 

James  Carpenter ^ 

Arnold  Payne 6 

Abigail  Fulton ^ 

Daniel  Webster 6 


*  In  this  and  other  lists  of  names  errors  may  be  found  in  spelling, 
but  they  cannot  be  avoided  when  not  written  correctly  or  legibly  on 
original  rolls. 


ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 


449 


J,  R.  Mosher 6 

Bennett  Cook t 

Hazen  Jaquish 7 

Chaunoey  Jaqniah Personal 

Azro  Jaquieh " 

IraS.  Baker 7 

Betsey  M.  Stone 7 

William  Mather 7 

Hewitt  and  Mather...Village  Lots 
William  A.  Hewitt...  " 

Isaac  Hewitt " 

Hannah  Hewitt " 

D.  J.  Rogers " 

George  Herrendeen..  " 

Henry  C.  Lyon " 

B.  P.  Herrendeen....  " 

Owen  Holland " 

Franklin  Hudson " 

Michael  Lestrange...  " 

Horace  S.  Taylor " 

John  Johnson 3,  7,  8 

Chandler  Freeman. ..Village  Lots 

C.  W.  Brown " 

H.  P.  Lansing " 

Joseph  W.  Hewitt...  " 

Lafayette  Brown " 

Hiram  Richmond....  " 

William  P.  Bolds " 

ElishaMudge " 

Nancy  Webster " 

Daniel  Pratt " 

Bdgar  D.  Moss 8,  18 

Solomon  Moss 8,  18 

William  J.  Moss 5,  8,  18 

Eli  Madison Village  Lots 

William  Annis " 

George  Hewitt " 

Lydia  A,  Lane " 

Zachary  Hewitt " 

Paul  Hewitt " 

Anderson  Stout 8 

Ransom  J.  Cook 8 

William  Benedict 8,  9,  18 

Nelson  Benedict 9 

Joseph  C.  Lyon 9 

Henry  Dimon 9 

James  Skinner Personal 

Peter  Schanck 9 

Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy 9,  10 

B.  Danby 10 

R.  T.  Sumner'. 10 

Guy  N.Wilcox 10 

Jacob  Britton 10 

George  A.  Britton JO 

Alfred  Russell 12 

William  M.  Stevens 12 

Nathan  S.  Ellis 13 

Edgar  C.  Van  Vleet 1.3,  U 

Martin  L  Hulbert 14 

Mary  Root 14,  15 

Henry  Hinckley 15 

John  Groat 15 

James  Youdan 14,15 

Thomas  Parr 15 

Daniel  Piniard 16 

John  Baker 16 

Charles  Carter 10,16 

William  J.  Havens 16 

Cornelius  V»n  Sickle 16 

Maria  Perrin 4,  5,  10,  16 

Newman  Terry 16 

O.P.Bristol 16 

Isaac  T.  Bentley 17 

George  Blank 17 

Joseph  BUicott 17 

George  Baharsh..  18  and  Vil.  Lot 

Harvey  White 18 

John  P.  Smith 18 

Jacob  Ridenour,  Jr 19 

Stephen  Parr. 19 

John  W.  Armstrong 19,  30 

John  Ridenour 19 

Josiah  Cobb 19 

David  Ridenour 19 

Warren  Peet 19 

Ransom  Beach 19 

Peter  and  David  Blank 17 

Alonzo  Potter Personal 

Thomas  Irwin 20 


Sec. 

John  Beach 20 

Lyman  Van  Sickle 20 

Warren  Smith 20 

Lewis  Bentley 20 

Christopher  M.  Bannister 20 

William  Parr 20 

T.  P.  Hoyt 20 

Charles  Bentley 21 

A.  Stevens 21 

Stephen  McPherson 21 

John  Piniard 21 

Mary  McPherson 21 

James  Sowle,  Jr...  15,  21,  22,  28 

Martin  Fisher 22 

Arnold  L.  Lake 22 

Horace  M.  Skinner 22 

Nathan  L.  Carr 22 

John  D.Whitman 23 

Francis  A.  Coats 23 

Nathan  B.  Lowe 23 

Abram  Annis 24 

Andrew  Annis 24 

John  Young 24 

William  Young 24 

George  B.  Andrus Personal 

Luther  Wheat 24 

Albert  B.  Fox 24 

Charles  Fox 24 

Henry  Lyon 24 

K.  W.  Boynton 25 

Carmi  Hammond 25,26 

B.  Taylor 25 

Watson  Rolfe 25 

George  Bolfe Personal 

James  H.  Roberts 26 

Simon  T.  Hause 26 

Obadiah  Lyon 26 

A.  Pietz 26 

John  Cantwell....' 26 

J.  F.  Frink 26 

Dennis  Webster 27 

E.  D.  Webster 27 

Joseph  Parr 27 

John  H.  Parr 27 

James  Owen 27 

Sanford  Crowner 27 

James  D.  Crowner 27 

John  Parnsworth 27 

Horace  A.  Sowle 27 

Moses  Nestell 27 

Hiram  Nestell 27 

George  R.  Nestell 27 

Albert  Angell 27 

Humphrey  Hammond 28,  33 

N.  S.  Hammond Personal 

H.  C.  Elkins " 

Richard  Britton 28 

Nelson  Garner 28 

S.  Arnold 29 

Thomas  Luck 29 

Jackson  Ocobock 29 

Isaac  M.  Ocobock 29 

Adam  Ocobock 29 

Hamilton  Ocobock 29 

Loren  Peet 29 

Nelson  Belong 18,  30 

Loren  Miner 30 

Benjamin  P.  Ocobock 30 

Palmer  D.  Bancroft 30 

Simon  T.Hill 9,  31 

Riley  Jones 32 

M.  Chase 32 

Hiram  L.  Moss 33,  34 

David  Bush 26,  33,  34 

William  Ward 34 

Joshua  Coomer 34 

Chester  Dean 34 

J.  C.  Jewett 26,  34 

John  Ward 34 

Lucene  Bldridge 35 

Rodney  Bldridge 35 

John  Bottum 35 

Levi  D.  Jenison 26,  35 

Chauncey  S.  Woloott..  25,  34,  36 

Jerome  Clark 36 

Barney  Bond 36 

S.  Bottum 36 

H.  Houek 36 


and  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  county  ;  Isaac  Hewitt, 
a  merchant  and  capitalist,  who  owns  nearly  six  hundred 
acres ;  Horace  M.  Skinner,  a  thorough-going  farmer,  who 
has  done  much  to  improve  live  stock  ;  and  Richard  B.  Ca- 
russ,  who,  although  a  more  recent  settler,  is  deserving  great 
credit  for  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  an  improved  stock  of 
cattle,  sheep,  and  hogs,  and  true  farm  culture. 

CIVIL    HISTORY,    FIRST  TOWNSHIP-MEETING, 
AND    LIST    OP    OFFICERS. 

Essex,  which  comprises  territory  designated  in  the  orig- 
inal survey-township  No.  8  north,  of  range  No.  3  west, 
formed  part  of  Wandaugon  (afterwards  Lebanon)  township 
from  March  6,  1838,  to  March  19,  1840,  when  it  became 
part  of  Bengal.  It  continued  thus  until  1843,  when  by  an 
act  of  the  State  Legislature,  as  follows,  approved  March  9th 
of  the  same  year,  it  began  a  separate  existence. 

"  All  that  part  of  the  county  of  Clinton  designated  in 
the  United  States  survey  as  township  No.  8  north,  of  range 
No.  3  west,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and  organized 
into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Essex,  and  the 
first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of 
James  Sowle,  Jr.,  in  said  township." 

Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  act,  twenty-eight  electors  as- 
sembled at  the  house  of  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  April  21, 1843, 
to  hold  their  first  township  election,  and  as  a  result  the  fol- 
lowing township  officers  were  declared  elected:  Hiram 
Benedict,*  Supervisor;  Daniel  Kellogg,  Clerk;  Lyman 
Webster,  Treasurer;  Henry  M.  Starks,  Solomon  Moss, 
Chauncey  S.  Wolcott,  Highway  Commissioners ;  Solomon 
Moss,  Daniel  Kellogg',  Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  Justices  of 
the  Peace ;  Daniel  Kellogg,  Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  Asses- 
sors ;  Chauncey  S.  Wolcott,  Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  School 
Inspectors;  Benjamin  F.  Doty,  Chauncey  M.  Stebbins, 
Directors  of  the  Poor;  John  W.  Armstrong,  Chauncey  S. 
Wolcott,  Constables.  Samuel  M.  Scott,  Solomon  Moss, 
James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Hiram  Benedict,  and  Timothy  H.  Pettit 
served  as  inspectors  of  this  election. 

Two  days  fater  a  special  township-meeting  was  held, 
when  the  following-named  citizens  were  chosen  pathmasters : 
Henry  M.  Starks,  district  No.  1 ;  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  district 
No.  2 ;  John  W.  Armstrong,  district  No.  3 ;  William  L. 
Delbridge,  district  No.  4 ;  Solomon  Moss,  district  No.  5  ; 
and  it  was  resolved  that  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  serve  as  pound- 
master  ;  that  the  township  buy  books  for  records ;  that  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  be  raised  for  highway  purposes ; 
that  two  dollars  be  paid  for  wolf-scalps ;  that  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  be  raised  for  contingent  expenses,  and  that 
the  next  township  election  be  held  at  the  house  of  William 
L.  Delbridge. 

In  1845  the  people  voted  to  pay  as  town  bounties  two 
dollars  for  each  wolf-scalp,  one  dollar  for  each  bear-scalp, 
and  two  cents  for  each  blackbird  killed  in  the  township. 

During  a  few  years  preceding  1856  or  1857  the  present 
townships  of  Newark  and  Fulton,  in  Gratiot  County,  were 
attached  to  Essex. 


Prominent  among  the  citizens  of  to-day  of  those  whose 
names  are  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  list  are  Rowland  S. 
Van  Scoy,  the  owner  of  about  fifteen  hundred  acres  in  Essex, 
57 


»  Hiram  Benedict  had  served  as  the  first  supervisor  of  Wandaugon 
in  1838,  also  of  Lebanon  in  1839.  He  was  elected  the  first  supervisor 
of  Bengal  in  1840,  also  to  the  same  office  in  1841,  and  on  the  3d  of 
April,  1843. 


450 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


The  following  tables  embrace  the  names  of  those  who 
have  been  annually  elected  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers, 
justices  of  the  peace,  highway  commissioners,  school  in- 
spectors, drain  commissioners,  and  school  superintendents 
for  the  years  from  1844  to  1880,  inclusive;  but  where 
vacancies  have  been  filled  by  appointments  and  special  elec- 
tions, such  changes  are  not  shown.  Possibly  errors  will  be 
found ;  if  so,  the  fault  must  rest  upon  successive  township 
clerks,  who  at  the  conclusion  of  each  township-meeting 
failed  to  summarize  and  declare  who  were  elected : 


SUPERVISORS. 


]  844-45.  Walter  Hubbell. 

1846.  Hiram  Benedict. 

1847.  Snmuel  M.  Scott. 

1848.  Hiram  Benedict. 

1849.  Samuel  M.  Scott. 

1850.  Daniel  G.  Smith. 
1851-52.  Hiram  Benedict. 
1853.  William  A.  Hewitt. 
1864.  Thomas  Parr. 

1855.  Timothy  H.  Pettit. 

1856.  Joseph  T.  Hewilt. 


1867.  John  Young. 
1858.  Hiram  Benedict. 
1869-66.  Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy. 
1866.  Hiram  L.  Moss. 
1867-69.  James  Youdan. 

1870.  Justus  Root. 

1871.  Jiimes  Youdan. 

1872.  Richard  B.  Caruss. 
187.S-74.  James  Youdan. 
1876-80.  Orin  F.  Peck. 


CLERKS. 

1844.  Lyman  Webster.  1859- 

1845.  Levi  D.  Jenison.  1863. 
1846-47.  Daniel  G.  Smith.  1864. 

1848.  Obadiah  Lyon.  1865- 

1849.  Daniel  6.  Smith.  1867. 
1850-53.  David  F.  McPherson.  1868. 

1854.  Robert  W.  McCartney.  1869- 

1855.  John  S.  Bristol.  1875- 

1866.  Martin  V.  Brown.  1879. 

1867.  William  J.  Moss.  1880. 
1858.  Charles  W.  Brown. 


-62.  William  J.  Moss. 

Myron  S.  Moss. 

Martin  V.  Brown. 
-66.  Myron  S.  Moss. 

Henry  D.  Sanders. 

Daniel  Lyon. 
-74.  Orin  F.  Peck. 
-78.  Murdo  McDonald. 

William  F.  Petteys. 

Sanford  W.  Smith. 


1844-46.  Daniel  Kellogg. 

1847.  H.  M.  Starks. 

1848.  James  Sowle,  Jr. 
1849-61.  Humphrey  Hammond. 
1852.  Timothy  H.  Pettit. 
186.3-54.  Joseph  T.  Hewitt. 
1856.  William  A.  Hewitt. 
1856-62.  George  Daharsh. 
1863-64.  Robert  T.  Sumner. 


TREASURERS. 

1865.  Thomas  Parr. 

1866.  Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy. 

1867.  Simeon  Hewitt. 

1868.  Edwin  D.  Webster. 

1869.  Alfred  Shaw. 

1870.  James  Youdan. 
1871-77.  Simeon  Hewitt. 
1878-79.  John  Chick. 
1880.  Simeon  Hewitt. 


JUSTICES 

1844.  Henry  M.  Starks. 
Walter  Hubbell. 

1845.  Solomon  Moss. 

1846.  Daniel  Kellogg. 
Christian  G.  Nestell. 

1847.  Chauneey  S.  Wolcott. 

1848.  No  record. 

1849.  Ransom  Beach. 
William  Sherwood. 

1860.  Stephen  McPherson. 
1851.  James  Sowle,  Jr. 
Obadiah  Lyon. 

1862.  William  A.  Hewitt. 

1863.  Charles  Townsend. 
1854.  Ransom  Beach. 
1856.  John  Young. 

David  F.  McPherson. 
1856.  William  A.  Hewitt. 

Jerome  Clark. 
1867.  Chauneey  S.  Wolcott. 
1858.  Daniel  Webster. 

Ruel  W.  Boynton. 
1869.  Thomas  Parr. 


OF  THE 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 

1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 

1869. 

1870. 
1871. 
1872. 

1873. 
1874. 
1875. 

1876. 


PEACE. 
David  Blank. 
Edwin  D.  Webster. 
William  A.  Hewitt. 
Ruel  W.  Boynton. 
Nathan  J.  Ellis. 
Isaac  Hewitt. 
Edwin  D.  Webster. 
James  Sowle,  Jr. 
R.  H.  Sanborn. 
Jacob  Britton. 
John  R.  Bottom. 
Ransom  J.  Cook. 
Robert  B.  Burt. 
Whipple  Martin. 
Solomon  P.  Oreasinger. 
John  N.  Whitacre. 
Nelson  Belong. 
Franklin  Hudson. 
Robert  B.  Burt. 
James  D.  Covert. 
Walter  Floate. 
James  D.  Covert. 
Martin  Hubbell. 


1876.  Albert  T.  Cross. 

1877.  Gabriel  Anderson. 
Franklin  Hudson. 
Robert  B.  Burt. 


HIGHWAY 

1844.  Solomon  Moss. 
Chauneey  S.  Wolcott. 
Nelson  Benedict. 

1845.  Rufus  Densmore. 
Hiram  Benedict. 
Daniel  G.  Smith. 

1846.  Rufus  Densmore. 

1847.  Lyman  Webster. 
Sherman  Baldwin. 
Rufus  Densmore. 

1848.  Hiram  Benedict. 

1849.  Aaron  S.  Baker. 

1850.  John  Young. 

1861.  Thomas  Parr. 

1862.  Arunah  Hubbell. 

1853.  James  Youdan. 

1854.  David  Blank. 

1855.  Edwin  D.  Webster. 

1856.  James  Youdan. 

1857.  Joseph  T.  Hewilt. 

1858.  Daniel  T.  Hoyt. 
Alfred  Cowles. 

1869.  James  Youdan. 

Humphrey  Hammond. 

SCHOOL 
1844.  Timothy  H.  Pettit. 
1846.  Walter  Hubbell. 

1846.  Humphrey  Hammond. 
Timothy  H.  Pettit. 

1847.  Humphrey  Hammond. 

1848.  Timothy  H.  Pettit. 

1849.  Samuel  M.  Scott. 

1850.  D.  W.  C.  Beach. 

1851.  Humphrey  Hammond. 

1852.  D.  W.  C.  Beach. 

1853.  William  J.  Moss. 

1854.  D.  W.  C.  Beach. 

1855.  William  J.  Moss. 

1856.  Eleazer  N.  Darrow. 

1857.  Humphrey  Hammond. 

1858.  William  Mather. 

1859.  Elisha  Mudge. 

1860.  Chandler  Freeman. 

1861.  Elisha  Mudge. 

1862.  Humphrey  Hammond. 


1878.  Joseph  Parr. 

1879.  Winfield  Stitt. 

1880.  Robert  Anderson. 
Albert  T.  Cross. 

COMMISSIONERS. 

1859.  James  Sowle,  Jr. 

1860.  Robert  T.  Sumner. 

1861.  James  Sowle,  Jr. 
1862-  James  Youdan. 

1863.  Henry  B.  Dimon. 

1864.  Samuel  Reed. 
William  Parr. 

1865.  James  Youdan. 

1866.  Simeon  Hewitt. 

1867.  James  Anderson. 

1868.  Stephen  M.  Parr. 

1869.  Theodore  P.  Hoyt. 

1870.  James  Anderson. 

1871.  Milton  L.  Hildreth. 

1872.  William  B.  Smith. 

1873.  James  Anderson. 

1874.  William  S.  Hane. 
David  H.  Payne. 
Nathan  Ellis,  Jr. 

1875.  James  Youdan. 
1876-78.  Jacob  Hoover. 

1879.  Walter  Floate. 

1880.  James  K.  Davison. 


INSPECTORS. 

1862.  Myron  A.  Dunning. 

1863.  Charles  P.  Lyon. 
Myron  A.  Dunning. 

1864.  James  0.  Bates. 
1866.  Ruel  W.  Boynton. 

Nathan  Ellis,  Jr. 

1866.  Hervey  Lyon. 

1867.  Myron  S.  Moss. 

1868.  Daniel  B.  Chase. 

1869.  James  S.  Bristol. 

1870.  Daniel  B.  Chase. 

1871.  James  S.  Bristol. 

1872.  William  Heck. 

1873.  James  S.  Bristol. 

1 874.  Murdo  McDonald. 

1875.  Robert  B.  Burt. 

1876.  Munson  Chase. 

1877.  George  Ewers. 
1878-79.  Munson  Chase. 
1880.  William  J.  Moss. 


DRAIN  COMMISSIONERS. 
1371.  William  J.  Moss.  1876.  Lewis  Bentley. 

1872.  Daniel  Lyon.  1877.  No  record. 

1873.  Robert  B.  Burt.  1878.  John  L.  Lyon. 

1874.  No  record.  1879.  No  record. 

1875.  James  C.  Jewett.  1880.  Francis  W.  Redfem. 

SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS. 

1875.  Charles  M.  Perry.  1879.  Oliver  G.  Webster. 

1876.  Elisha  Mudge.  iggfl.  Mrs.  Libbie  Anderson. 
1877-78.  W.  H.  Owen. 

EDUCATIONAL. 
In  the  winter  of  1840-41,  while  Essex  formed  part  of 
Bengal,  the  first  school  was  established  in  township  8  north, 
of  range  3  west.  Its  sessions  were  held  in  the  upper  part 
of  James  Sowle's  log  house,  and  Miss  Emily  Moss,  daughter 
of  Solomon  Moss,  presided  as  teacher.  Her  pupils,  seven 
in  number,  were  the  children  of  James  Sowle  and  Parley 


ESSEX   TOWNSHIP. 


451 


Gardner.  According  to  the  school  law  then  prevailing, 
nine  scholars  or  children  of  school  age  were  necessary  to 
form  a  district  and  enable  it  to  draw  money  from  the  public- 
school  fund.  As  the  two  families  could  muster  but  seven 
children,  Bengal  authorities  refused  to  organize  a  district, 
consequently  Miss  Moss'  school  was  a  private  one. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1845,  School  Inspectors  Lyman 
Webster,  Timothy  H.  Pettit,  and  Chauncey  S.  Wolcott 
formed  school  district  No.  2,  and  ordered  that  it  should 
include  sections  21,  22,  15,  10,  and  3,  the  east  half  of  sec- 
tions 4,  9,  16,  and  the  southwest  quarter  of  16.  The  first 
meeting  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Wed- 
nesday, Jan.  15,  1845,  at  one  p.m. 

District  No.  1  was  formed  in  December,  1846,  and 
Rufus  Densmore  and  others  of  this  district  were  duly 
notified  that  its  boundaries  be  as  follows :  "  Commencing 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  thirty-six,  thence  west 
to  the  quarter  post  on  the  south  line  of  section  thirty-four, 
thence  north  through  the  centre  of  sections  thirty-four  and 
twenty-seven  to  the  centre  of  section  twenty-two,  thence 
east  through  the  centre  of  sections  twenty-three  and  twenty- 
four  to  the  east  line  of  the  township,  thence  south  to  the 
place  of  beginning ;  and  the  first  school-meeting  therein 
shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Chauncey  S.  Wolcott,  Tues- 
day, December  15,  1846,  at  six  p.m." 

So  says  the  record.  But  why  district  No.  2  was  formed 
prior  to  No.  1  we  cannot  determine.  Probably  the  latter 
description  was  a  change  of  the  boundary-lines  of  original 
district  No.  1,  for  of  the  primary-school  fund  (twenty-three 
dollars  and  fifty-five  cents)  drawn  in  1845,  fourteen  dollars 
and  eighty-seven  and  a  half  cents  was  apportioned  to  dis- 
trict No.  1,  and  eight  dollars  and  sixty-seven  and  a  half 
cents  to  district  No.  2.  But  eighteen  dollars  and  eighty- 
eight  cents  was  received  from  the  primary-school  fund  in 
1846.  In  April,  1847,  it  was  determined  to  build  a  school- 
house  for  district  No.  1  on  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
36,  land  owned  by  Chauncey  S.  Wolcott. 

District  No.  3,  comprising  sections  13,  14,  23,  24,  south 
half  of  11  and  12,  and  portions  of  26  and  27,  was  formed 
in  September,  1848. 

District  No.  4  was  organized  in  May,  1849.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Hiram  Benedict,  and  the 
district  comprised  sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17,  18,  and  the  west 
half  of  sections  4,  9,  and  16.  This  was  the  first  district 
organized  which  included  the  territory  now  occupied  by 
the  village  of  Maple  Rapids.  The  amount  of  primary- 
school  funds  received  the  same  year  was  sixteen  dollars  and 
seventeen  cents,  which  was  apportioned  to  districts  1  and  2. 
In  1850  twenty-six  dollars  and  fifty-two  cents  was  received 
from  the  same  fund,  which  was  apportioned  to  the  two  dis- 
tricts as  before.  , 

Of  the  seven  districts  counted  as  organized  in  1851,  but 
four  were  entitled  to  public-school  funds,  viz.,  1,  2,  3,  and 
5.  Since  the  latter  date  many  changes  have  taken  place 
in  the  numbers*  and  boundaries  of  school  districts,  and 
it  is  impracticable  to  follow  their  history  further. 


*  In  1856  there  were  eleven  school  districts,  but  districts  in  the 
present  townships  of  Newark  and  Fulton,  Gratiot  County,  were  then 
included. 


EARLY   TEACHERS. 

Miss  Martha  Grooch  or  Gooch  received  a  teacher's  cer- 
tificate May  26,  1849,  and  is  the  first  mentioned  in  the 
school  inspectors'  books  as  having  received  one.     Other 
early  teachers  are  mentioned  by  years,  as  follows : 
1850. — Harriet  Bliss,  Sarah  Jane  Lyon,  Helen  E.  Stevens, 

Mary  Richmond,  and  Lovina  Stone. 
1851.— Miss  T.  M.  Doty,  William  Mather,  David  F.  Mc- 

Pherson,  D.  W.  C.  Beach. 
1852. — Emeline  Moss,  Francis  A.  Chappell,  Mrs.  Arm- 
strong. 
1854. — Emeline  Moss,  Catherine  Ocobock,  Mary  P.  Rich- 
mond, Mary  L.  Kipp,  Maria  Hawkins,  Miss  T. 
M.  Doty,  William  'J.  Moss,  Martha   Pierson, 
Hannibal  Gaskell,  Mrs.  GunsoUy. 
1855.— Mary  L.  Webster,    Miss   H.   L.   Cole,   Mary  L. 
Seaver,  Mary  Hill,  Mary  A.  Moore,  America 
Hoyt,  and  Eleazer  A.  Darrow. 
1856.— Sarah  L.  Cole,  Julia  A.  Skinner,  Mary  J.  Vail, 
Pamelia  Bliss,  Mr.  E.  I.  Abbott,  William  J. 
Moss,  N.  K.  Hane. 
1857. — Alice  Moore,  Mary  J.  Partridge,  Adelia  M.  Smith, 
Martha  Avery,  Mary  Hill,  T.  R.  Bush,  Elisha 
Mudge,  Eleazer  N.  Darrow,  Elizabeth  Doane. 
1 858. — Mary  Coryell,  George  W.  King,  Mary  A.  Moore, 
Miss  Baker,  Lucy  E.  Freeman,  0.  S.  Ingham, 
James  N.  Wallace,  Miss  H.  A.  Taft. 
1859. — Charlotte   Nethaway   or   Hathaway,   Laura   Har- 
rington,   Charlotte   H.   Miller,  Julia   Sessions, 
Martha  Avery,  Anderson  Stout,  0.  B.  Gunnison, 
Myron  S.  Moss,  Oliver  G.  Webster,  Charles  T. 
Lyon,  Lois  Mudge,  Eunice  M.  Eddy,  Elon  Rey- 
nolds, Ely  Reynolds,  Charles  E.  HoUister. 
1860. — Naomi  J.   Everett,    Mary    Hill,    Angeline    Rush, 
Amelia  Brown,  Oliver  G.  Webster,  Mary  M. 
Coryell,  America  Hewitt,  William  Scott,  Alan- 
son  Mathews,  Jane  Strever,  Myron  A.  Dunning, 
William  M.  Colby,  William  Hill. 
1861.— Myron  S.  Moss,  D.  B.  Creasinger,  M.  R.  Eaton, 
Elvira  S.  Cole,  Naomi  J.  Everett,  Rebecca  T. 
Young,  Albert  H.  Burch,  H.  W.  Stiles,  J.  M. 
Harrison,  Elisha  McCall. 
1862.— Mary  L.  Gillett,   Miss   L.  Bentley,  Minerva   A 
Bachelor,  Naomi  S.  Everett,  Sarah  E.  Smith, 
Sophronia   L.  Burch,  Jane  Strever,   Mary  B. 
Harmon,  F.  M.  Chase. 
1853. — America  Hewitt,  Elizabeth   Benjamin,   Gertrude 
Benjamin,  Jane  Strever,  Sarah  Smith,  Catharine 
R.    (Jhase,   Mary  E.   Chase,   Peter   Benjamin, 
Mary  Stafford,  Naomi  J.  Everett,   Myron    A. 
Dunning,  Myron  S.  Moss,  L.  C.  Shelley,  Sarah 
E.  Smith,  C.  C.  Collins,  James  Jewett. 
1864.— Jane  Strever,  C.  R.  Chase,  Laura  Eldred,  Miss  L. 
Bentley,  Eva  E.  Wilson,  Lucy  J.  Peet,  Eliza- 
beth   Taylor,  Helen  L.  Hewitt,  Mary  Coryell, 
Peter  Benjamin,  Messrs.  L.  C.  Shelley,  Joslin 
0.  G.  Webster,  and  0.  M.  Wood. 
1865. — Mary  Moore,  Jennie  Strever,  Nellie  L.    Hewitt, 
Helen  Carrier,  Elizabeth  A.  Benjamin,  Amanda 
Wilcox,   Mary   Coryell,    Myron   A.   Dunning, 


452 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Esther  Swayze,  Elva  J.  Wells,  Delana  Hoyt, 
Caroline  Rouse,  Oliver  Q.  Webster,  MuDSon 
Chase,  L.  C.  Shelley,  Elmer  D.  North,  Alice  L. 
Woodruff,  Alice  N.  Taft,  Naomi  J.  Everett, 
Miss  E.  M.  Williams. 

1866.— Caroline  Rouse,  Amanda  E.  Wilcox,  Helen  F. 
Snyder,  Elva  Wells,  Emma  L.  Beebe,  Livonia 
S.  Holmes,  Elvira  M.  Sturgess,  Mrs.  Lorado 
Dowd,  Lois  Van  Vleet,  Emily  Skinner,  Naomi 
J.  Everett,  Amelia  Rogers,  Helen  Lyon,  Har- 
riet H.  Holmes,  Emma  L.  Beebe,  Elisha 
Mudge,  Edwin  E.  Stone,  Mr.  0.  A.  Price, 
Margaret  E.  Reece,  Nancy  Chase,  Almy  Bent- 
ley,  and  Amelia  Rogers. 

1867. — Miss  A.  Ferguson,  Rhoda  J.  Mosher,  Rebecca 
Chase,  Nancy  Chase,  Mary  Smith,  Lucinda 
Hanse,  Annie  Wakeley,  Emma  Rogers,  and 
Marie  Thornton. 

APPORTIONMENT   OE   PRIMARY-SCHOOL   FUNDS. 

I860.— To  District  No.  1,  $26.68  ;  District  No.  2,  827.60 
District  No.  3,  $29.90  ;  District  No.  4,  $41.40 
District  No.  5,  $9.66  ;  District  No.  6,  $21.62 
District  No.  7,  $8.28. 
1870.— To  District  No.  1,  $25.44;  District  No.  2,  $15.84 
District  No.  3,  $38.88;  District  No.  4,  $69.12 
District  No.  5,  $19.68  ;  District  No.  6,  $8.64 
District  No.  7,  $20.1 6  ;  District  No.  8,  $17.28 
District  No.  9,  $13.92  ;  and  Fractional  District 
No.  8,  $25.44. 
The  following  statistics  are  taken  from  the  school  in- 
spectors' annual  report  for  the  year  ending  Sept.  1,  1879  : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  8;  fractional,  1)...  9 

Number  of  children  of  school  age  residing  in 

the  township 590 

Number  of  children  attending  schools  during 

the  year 534 

Number  of  children,  non-residents,  attending 

schools  during  th*  year 41 

Number  of  school-houses  (brick,  1 ;  frame,  8)..  9 

Number  of  sittings 640 

Value  of  school  property S7850.00 

Number  of  men  teachers  employed 5 

Number  of  women  teachers  employed 15 

Amount  paid  men  teachers $751.00 

Amount  paid  women  teachers $1267.00 

Total  resources  for  the  year $3046.89 

VILLAGE  OF  MAPLE  EAPIDS. 

The  village  of  Maple  Rapids,  an  unincorporated  town  of 
about  six  hundred  inhabitants,  is  situated  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  Essex  township,  on  the  south  side  of  Maple 
River,  and  occupies  portions  of  sections  5  and  8. 

It  contains  three  church  edifices  (Christian,  Congrega- 
tional, and  Methodist  Episcopal),  one  graded  school,  two 
hotels,  four  stores  of  general  merchandise,  two  drug-stores, 
three  millinery-stores,  two  grocery-stores,  two  furniture- 
stores,  one  music-store,  one  jewelry-store,  one  steam  grist- 
mill, one  water-power  grist-mill,  one  saw-mill,  two  plan- 
ing-mills,  one  foundry  and  machine-shop,  a  bank,  a  news- 
paper printing-office  (Maple  Rapids  Dispatch),  besides 
numerous  small  mechanical  shops,  in  which  nearly  all  the 
trades  are i  represented.  Among  the  professional  men  are 
Drs.  Edwin  Doty,  Charles  E.  Knapp,  R.  H.  Sanborn, 
and   Samuel  Wellings;    S.   S.  Swigart,  surgeon-dentist; 


Revs.  S.  Snyder,  S.  Kitzmiller,  and  C.  Barstow,  clergy- 
men ;  A.  T.  Cross,  attorney-at-law,  and  Isaac  Hewitt,  real 
estate.  The  village  is  nine  miles  distant  from  Fowler, 
the  nearest  station  on  the  line  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad,  and  fourteen  miles  from  St.  Johns,  the  county- 
seat.  Daily  stages  run  to  both  places,  and  the  village  is 
also  connected  with  Fowler  by  a  telephone-line. 

A   LEAF    OF   EARLY  VILLAGE   HISTORY. 

Although  the  trading-post  established  by  George  Cam- 
pau  in  1835,  and  afterwards  carried  on  by  John  Johnson, 
was  located  within  what  would  now  be  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  village,  and  though  its  natural  advantages  and  routes 
of  travel  converging  here  had  made  the  Rapids  familiar  to 
most  early  settlers  in  this  and  surrounding  townships,  it 
seems  that  it  was  not  until  the  year  1852  that  any  steps 
were  taken  towards  the  founding  of  a  village. 

In  February,  1852,  William  A.  Hewitt,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  De  Witt  township,  came  in  and  occupied  about 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  purchased  previously  of  Sol- 
omon Moss  and  others.  He  immediately  began  the  con- 
struction of  a  dam  and  saw-mill*  on  the  Maple,  which 
were  completed  in  1853.  During  the  latter  year  he  platted 
a  village,  established  a  store  near  his  mill,  and  was  elected 
supervisor  of  Essex.  Soon  after  he  built  a  hotel,  and  be- 
came postmaster,  succeeding  in  that  office  Edward  Perrin. 
His  sons  were  able  assistants  in  the  work  of  building  up 
the  village  and  advancing  its  interests.  Upon  the  death  of 
his  father,  in  February,  1863,  Isaac  Hewitt  succeeded  to 
the  management  of  the  estate,  and  by  his  energy  and  bus- 
iness tact  has  accumulated  a  handsome  competency.  To 
him,  also,  Maple  Rapids  can  attribute  much  of  the  pros- 
perity it  enjoys  to-day.  In  September,  1864,  he  built  a 
steam  saw-mill  just  above  the  old  mill,  and  for  years  lum- 
bered extensively.  The  building  was  torn  down  in  1878, 
however,  and  the  present  mill  of  William  L.  Hane  occu- 
pies its  site.  Joseph  W.  Hewitt,  the  eldest  of  William  A. 
Hewitt's  family,  came  here  in  1853.  He  was  the  first 
cabinet-maker  and  carpenter,  and  carried  on  the  business 
for  several  years.  He  is  now  associated  with  his  brother 
and  William  P.  Pettys  in  merchandising,  under  the  firm- 
name  of  I.  &  J.  W.  Hewitt  &  Co. 

Among  other  early  professional  and  business  men  were 
Dr.  Daniel  Pratt,  Dr.  Brown,  Ruel  W.  Boynton,  attorney  ;f 
William  Shepard,  who  was  connected  with  W.  A.  Hewitt 
in  business  matters ;  Robert  McCartney,  who  established 
the  first  foundry  about  1854  ;  Martin  V.  Brown,  Beach  & 
Parr,  J.  B.  Rumsey,  James  K.  Petteys,  Augustus  Randolph, 
merchants ;  Chandler  Freeman,  foundryman,  who  did  an 
extensive  business  in  agricultural  implements,  and  also 
represented  this  district  in  the  State  Legislature ;  he  re- 
moved to  Colorado  in  1864  ;  Samuel  Reed,  who  established 
the  Perry  House  and  built  Reed's  Hall ;  and  others,  whose 
names  have  also  been  mentioned. 

*  About  1858  this  building  was  enlarged,  and  with  one  run  of  stone, 
the  industry  of  flouring  grain  was  added  j  finally  the  saw  gearing 
was  taken  out  and  the  capacity  of  the  grist-mill  increased  to  two  run 
of  stone  by  Isaac  Hewitt.  As  such  it  continued  to  do  work  until  the 
spring  of  1878,  when  it  was-  damaged  by  high  water  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  it  has  since  stood  idle. 

"f  William  A.  Hewitt  was  also  an  attorney-at-law. 


ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 


453 


The  first  school-house  was  built  about  1855,  and  remained 
in  use  until  the  present  one  was  erected  in  1869-70.  Rev. 
Elisha  Mudge,  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church,  was  one 
of  the  early  teachers,  and  in  other  ways  a  prominent  and 
most  worthy  citizen. 

In  1867  it  was  discovered  that  the  original  plat  of  the 
village  had  not  been  placed  on  record.     This  fact  necessi- 
tated a  new  survey  and  replat,  which  was  completed  July 
22d  of  that  year.     Among  those  then  named  as  proprietors 
were  Isaac  Hewitt,  Lafayette  Brown,  John  A.  Whitacre, 
William  D.  Young,  George  W.  Aiken,  Cyrus  B.  Craig, 
Stephen  A.  Hathaway,  Zachariah  N.  Hewitt,  Joseph  W. 
Hewitt,  Calvin  P.  Chase,  Rodolphus  Jones,  James  H.  Jones, 
Orrin  P.  Peck,  Edwin  D.  Calkins,  Samuel  Reed,  Sanford 
W.  Smith,  Thomas  Cook,  Pranklin  Hudson,  Barnard  Creas- 
inger,  Simon  T.  Hill,  Rodolphus  H.  Sanborn,  George  Her- 
rendeen,  Edgar  D.  Moss,  Lewis  B.  Wilcox,  J.  B.  Yates, 
Horace  M.  Skinner,  Sarah  Lucas,  John  A.  White,  Elisha 
Mudge,  Louisa  Brown,  Esther  M.  Luce,  Levi  Benjamin, 
Louisa   V.   Hane,   Hiram    Richmond,    Nancy   Webster, 
George  Richmond,  Alfred  W.  Shaw,  James  K.  Petteys, 
David  Hollister,  Letitia  Underbill,  Joseph  E.   Annable, 
Alexander  Quick,  Edward  Cooper,  Reuben  Smith,  Simeon 
Hewitt,  John  Johnson,  Martin  Ferry,  Myron  S.  Moss,  and 
William  P.  Petteys. 

During  later  years  commercial  and  manufacturing  inter- 
ests have  rapidly  increased,  and  the  more  important  of 
them  will  be  briefly  alluded  to.  In  1875  a  flurry  was 
created  over  the  prospect  of  having  a  railway,  which,  pass- 
ing along  on  the  north  side  of  Maple  River,  was  to  connect 
Saginaw  and  Grand  Rapids.  The  citizens  subscribed  lib- 
erally, and  probably  about  six  thousand  dollars  was  paid 
in,  but  after  about  ten  miles  had  been  graded  from  the 
proposed  depot  to  the  northeast  of  the  village  the  matter 
dropped. 

MILLS  AND  MANUFACTUEING. 

The  Essex  Flouring-MilU  were  built  by  Mr.  B.  P. 
Hutchinson  in  1875,  and  completely  appointed  cost  twelve 
thousand  dollars.  The  building  is  three  and  one-half  stories 
in  height,  handsome,  and  commodious.  Power  is  derived 
from  steam,  a  tnarine  boiler  of  one  hundred  horse-power 
being  in  use,  which  propels  four  run  of  stones.  The  mill 
began  operating  Aug.  5,  1875,  and  does  both  merchant  and 
custom  work.  Born  in  New  Hampshire,  Mr.  Hutchinson 
came  to  Michigan  in  1837,  and  with  his  father's  family 
settled  in  Howell,  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.  He  has  also  re- 
sided in  Wayne  County,  this  State,  and  for  four  years  in 
the  State  of  Missouri.  He  served  in  the  Fourth  Michigan 
Cavalry  until  after  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro',  and  con- 
tracted a  disease,  from  which  he  is  still  a  sufferer. 

Rufus  H.  Hewitt's  present  furniture  manufactory  was 
established  by  him  in  the  year  1880.  He  has  been  in  the 
same  business,  however,  ten  years,  having  succeeded  his 
brother,  Joseph  W.  Hewitt,  who  commenced  here  in  1858. 
Steam-power  is  used.  From  six  to  ten  men  are  employed, 
and  the  principal  articles  manufactured  are  tables  and  bed- 


Is. 

The  Maple  Rapids  Foundry,  controlled    by   Messrs. 
Jones,  Perrigo  &  Co.,  employs  seven  men.     Steam-power 


is  used,  and  their  work  consists  of  general  repairing,  or 
work  as  ordered  by  their  patrons.  Since  Mr.  McCartney 
established  his  small  foundry  in  1854,  many  have  been  in- 
terested in  iron-work  here.  In  the  present  foundry  Chand- 
ler Freeman,  Wilcox,  Randolph,  Hathaway,  M.  J.  Whit- 
acre, C.  E.  Winans,  J.  E.  Jones,  S.  D.  Perrigo,  William 
H.  Wheat,  and  Lewis  Terry  have  all  had  an  interest  at  dif- 
ferent periods.  The  present  foundry  building  was  erected 
by  Charles  E.  Winans  in  1872. 

BANKING. 

The  banking-house  of  Solomon  P.  Creasinger  was  estab- 
lished by  himself  Jan.  6,  1875.  He  does  a  general  bank- 
ing business,  and  employs  a  capital  of  from  twenty  thousand 
to  forty- five  thousand  dollars,  according  to  the  demands. 
His  bank  building  was  erected  in  1874  at  a  cost  of  six 
thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars.  It  is  of  brick, 
handsomely  finished  throughout,  and  the  most  commodious 
for  such  purposes  in  the  county.  Over  six  thousand  pounds 
of  iron  was  used  in  the  construction  of  a  burglar  and  fire- 
proof vault,  which  incloses  one  of  Terwilliger's  steel  safes, 
with  Yale  time-locks  attached.  Mr.  Creasinger  has  been 
identified  with  the  interests  of  Maple  -Rapids  since  1865. 
He  is  also  one  of  the  heaviest  dealers  in  buggies  in  the 
State. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The  Maple  Rapids  Messenger,  the.  first  newspaper  enter- 
prise started  in  the  village,  was  first  issued  by  the  Dickey 
Bros,  in  April,  1874.  It  was  an  independent  six-column 
folio,  and  with  the  motto  "The  people's  friend,  but  no 
man's  servant,"  was  continued  until  January,  1878,  when 
its  publication  ceased. 

1  he  Maple  Rapids  Dispatch,  a  seven-column  folio,  was 
established  by  the  Messrs.  Stair  Bros.  (Orin  and  E.  D.). 
The  first  number  was  issued  Oct.  26,  1878,  and,  like  its 
predecessor,  is  independent.  It  is  published  Saturdays,  and 
has  a  circulation  of  over  five  hundred  copies. 

MAPLE  KAPIDS  COENET  BAND. 
The  Cornet  Band  of  Maple  Rapids  was  organized  in 
June,  1878.  After  but  six  weeks'  practice  its  members 
played  at  the  public  installation  of  officers  of  the  Odd- 
Fellows'  Lodge.  Their  first  and  present  leader,  Rufus  H. 
Hewitt,  manipulates  a  first  E-flat  cornet.  Other  present 
members  are  Frank  Stitts,  second  E-flat  cornet ;  Sanford 
W.  Smith,  first  B-flat  cornet ;  A.  J.  Chick,  second  B  flat 
cornet;  Morgan  Perrigo,  E-flat  alto:  Leander  D.  Perrigo, 
first  B-flat  tenor;  Asa  B.  Jones,  second  B-flat  tenor; 
George  Whitney,  baritone;  William  A.  Nixon,  E-flat 
tuba;  F.  B.  Richards,  bass-drum;  Charles  Ferguson, 
tenor-drum ;  G.  A.  WiUett,  drum-major.  The  band  is 
handsomely  uniformed,  and  its  members  have  expended 
about  five  hundred  dollars  for  instruments. 

SBCBET   BENEVOLENT  ASSOCIATIONS. 
MAPLE   KAPIDS  LODGE,  No.  145,  E.  AND  A.  M., 
began  work  Oct.  15,  1863,  under  a  dispensation  granted 
by  the  Grand  Master  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  of  date 
Oct.  1   1863.     The  officers  first  installed  were  Martin  V. 
Brown,  W.  M. ;  George  Herrendeen,  S.  W. ;  Isaac  Hewitt, 


454 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


J.  W. ;  R.  W.  Boynton,  Sec. ;  William  Hane,  Treas. ; 
Chandler  Freeman,  S.  D. ;  L.  R.  Wilcox,  J.  D.  ;  A.  J. 
Eldred,  Tiler.  Edgar  D.  Moss  was  the  first  candidate  for 
membership,  and  was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  the 
order  Oct.  26,  1863. 

Subsequent  Masters  have  been  Martin  V.  Brown,  1864  ; 
Isaac  Hewitt,  1865  ;  Edgar  D.  Moss,  1866;  George  Her- 
rendeen,  186T;  Isaac  Hewitt,  1868;  Elisha  Mudge,  1869 
to  18Y7,  inclusive ;  Murdo  McDonald,  1878;  Clayton  C. 
Taylor,  1879. 

The  present  officers  are  Isaac  Hewitt,  W.  M. ;  Clayton 
C.  Taylor,  S.  W. ;  Solomon  Doty,  J.  W. ;  Myron  S.  Moss, 
Treas.  ;  Adelbert  J.  Moss,  Sec. ;  Scott  S.  Swigart,  S.  D. ; 
George  H.  Newton,  J.  D. ;  Chauncey  S.  Hubbell,  Tiler ; 
L.  H.  Peace  and  William  L.  Hane,  Stewards.  Regular 
communications  are  held  in  Odd-Fellows'  Hall,  village 
of  Maple  Rapids,  Friday  evenings,  on  or  before  the  full 
moon  of  each  month.   Number  of  present  members,  ninety. 

MAPLE  RAPIDS  LODGE,  No.  224,  L  0.  0.  F. 

This  lodge  was  instituted  March  26,  1874.  The  first 
officers  installed  were  Samuel  Reed,  N.  G. ;  R.  H.  San- 
born, V.  G. ;  James  A.  Casada,  Sec. ;  Samuel  Sheperd,  P. 
Sec. ;  L.  L.  Smith,  Treas. 

Subsequent  presiding  officers  are  named  in  the  order  of 
their  succession,  as  follows  :  Lyman  Crowley,  1874;  James 
A.  Casada,  Robert  Anderson,  1875  ;  R.  H.  Sanborn,  Cyrus 
A.  Lyon,  1876 ;  Rufus  H.  Hewitt,  Joseph  F.  Owens, 
1877  ;  Lincoln  L.  Smith,  John  N.  Whitacre,  1878  ;  Albert 
T.  Cross,  John  H.  Marsh,  1879 ;  and  Asa  B.  Jones,  1880. 
Other  present  officers  are  Charles  E.  Price,  V.  G. ;  T.  A! 
Willett,  Sec. ;  L.  L.  Smith,  Per.  Sec. ;  James  H.  Jones, 
Treas. 

The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  Masonic  Hall,  R. 
Smith's  store.  The  lodge  now  owns  about  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars' worth  of  property,  and  meetings  are  held  every  Saturday 
evening  in  Odd-Fellows'  Hall,  Brown's  Block.  Present 
membership  eighty.  Among  those  who  have  been  particu- 
larly zealous  in  working  for  the  success  of  this  lodge  may 
be  named  James  A.  Casada,  Robert  Andersoh,  Thomas  A. 
Willett,  J.  F.  Owens,  James  H.  Jones,  P.  S.  Percy,  and 
William  H.  Hamilton. 

ESSEX  LODGE,  No.  1,  A.  0.  V.  W. 
As  its  number  implies,  this  was  the  first  lodge  of  the 
order  organized  in  the  State.  It  was  instituted  Feb.  28, 
1876,  with  ten  charter  members,  and  now  numbers  eighty 
members.  Those  who  have  served  as  Master  Workmen 
have  been  Orion  F.  Peck,  William  A.  Nixon,  1876  ;  Chaun- 
cey A.  Hubbel,  Lincoln  L.  Smith,  1877  ;  Albert  T.  Cross, 
A.  B.  Carter,  1878  ;  Carlos  A.  Webster,  J.  E.  Jones,  1879  ; 
George  H.  Sowle  and  Clayton  C.  Taylor,  1880.  Regular 
meetings  are  held  at  Grange  Hall  Monday  evenings. 

CARSON  CITY  ENCAMPMENT,  No.  40,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
was  organized  at  Carson  City,  Montcalm  Co.,  Jan.  18, 1878, 
there  being  present  George  H.  Shearer,  G.  P. ;  Norman 
Bailey,  G.  H.  P. ;  Charles  H.  Palmer,  G.  S.  W. ;  Henry 
P.  Adams,  Acting  G.  S. ;  J.  H.  Ingalls,  Acting  G.  S.  W. ; 
and  L.  Z.  Munger,  Acting  G.  I.  S.  of  the  State  encamp- 
ment; G.  B.  Esler,  J.  L.  Zuver,  Anderson  Chestnut,  E.  R. 


Phinney,  Albert  Tuthill,  Lewis  Reynolds,  Alvin  Hodges, 
W.  A.  Sweet,  Jr.,  and  Patrick  Martin  composed  the  char- 
ter members.  The  officers  first  installed  were  Patrick 
Martin,  C.  P. ;  W.  A.  Sweet,  Jr.,  H.  P. ;  J.  L.  Zuver,  S. 
W. ;  Albert  Tuthill,  J.  W. ;  George  B.  Esler,  Scribe ; 
Alvin  Hodges,  Treasurer.  Subsequent  presiding  officers 
have  been  William  A.  Sweet,  1878 ;  Albert  Tuthill,  0.  R. 
Goodnow,  1879;  Lewis  Reynolds,  H.  L.  Porter,  1880. 
Other  present  officers  are  W.  E.  Hamilton,  H.  P. ;  J.  A. 
Casada,  S.  W. ;  E.  R.  Terry,  Scribe;  Alvin  Hodges, 
Treas. ;  C.  E.  Price,  J.  W.  The  encampment  was  removed 
from  Carson  City  to  Maple  Rapids  in  May,  1880.  It  has 
thirty-eight  members,  and  regular  meetings  are  held  on  the 
first  and  third  Thursdays  of  each  month,  in  Odd-Fellows' 
Hall,  village  of  Maple  Rapids. 

ESSEX  GRANGE,  No.  439,  P.  OF  H., 
began  work  under  a  dispensation  granted  by  the  National 
Grange,  of  date  July  2,  1874  ;  was  chartered  July  21st  of 
the  same  year,  and  incorporated  according  to  the  laws  of 
the  State  of  Michigan,  May  24,  1877.  Thomas  Garner, 
S.  N.  Allen,  Oliver  Cunningham,  William  Pinckney,  John 
L.  Lyon,  Andrew  J.  Ennis,  Joseph  F.  Owen,  M.  Hubbert, 
Rowland  S.  Van  Scoy,  Luther  Wheat,  James  Anderson, 
John  Anderson,  and  James  H.  Stonebrook  being  named  as 
corporators.  Further  information  concerning  this  lodge 
was  requested  from  official  members,  but  they  failed  to 
comply. 

RELIGIOUS   HISTOBY. 

THE   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH   OF  MAPLE 
RAPIDS. 

The  Methodists  formed  the  first  religious  organization 
in  the  township  in  1846,  by  organizing  a  class  which  was 
attached  to  the  Duplain  Circuit.  But  in  the  absence  of 
any  authentic  data  little  can  be  told  concerning  it.  The 
Maple  Rapids  Circuit  was  formed  in  1858,  and  among  the 
members  at  that  time,  according  to  the  class-book,  were 
Simon  T.  Hill,  leader  ;  Fidelia  Hill,  Mary  Hill,  Paul  Dewitt, 
Mary  M.  Dewitt,  C.  T.  Nestell,  Rachel  Schanck,  Martin  V. 
Brown,  Fanny  Brown,  Electa  Pratt,  Emily  C.  Brown,  Eliza 
Terry,  Stephen  Dodge,  Rhoda  Dodge,  Hannah  Dodge,  Sarah 
C.  Caplin,  Lyman Wickham,  Catharine  Wickham,  Franklin 
Hudson,  Solomon  Moss,  William  J.  Moss,  Hiram  Nestell, 
E.  D.  Moss,  Lydia  M.  Moss,  George  A.  Britton,  James 
Anderson,  Helen  Mather,  John  Parish,  Eliza  Parish,  Mary 
Grant,  Betsey  Ferguson,  J.  N.  Wallace,  Elizabeth  Ander- 
son, Andrew  A.  Hooker,  Mark  Annis,  Holden  Bannister, 
Kate  Benedict,  Eliza  Strever,  Hannah  Hewitt,  Eunice  Ran- 
dolph, Maria  Perrin,  Sarah  McGraw,  Alfred  Cowles,  Ma- 
tilda Cowles,  Martha  Casper,  Melissa  Bannister,  Newell 
Bannister,  William  Brown,  A.  B.  Snyder,  C.  B.  Snyder, 
R.  J.  Cook,  Ann  Herrendeen,  and  Mary  J.  Dodge. 

Among  those  who  have  served  as  preachers  in  charge  of 
this  circuit  are  mentioned  the  names  of  Revs.  F.  Glass, 
George  W.  Hoag,  William  Benson,  William  M.  Copeland, 
N.  L.  Otis,  McKnight,  House,  Noah,  Fassett,  Thomas  Clark, 
Stafford,  B.  W.  Blanchard,  J.  R.  Caldwell,  E.  Wilkinson, 
A.  L.  Crittenden,  S.  C.  Woodard,  F.  J.  Freeman,  and  S. 
Kitzmiller,  the  present  pastor.  The  circuit  includes  a 
total  membership  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-two.     Their 


ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 


455 


church  edifice,  which  will  seat  two  hundred  and  fifty  people, 
was  built  in  1868,  and  cost  $2400. 

THE  MAPLE  KAPIDS  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH 

was  organized  April  26,  1868,  at  a  meeting  held  in  Union 
Hall.  Rev.  H.  A.  Reed,  agent  of  the  Home  Mission  So- 
ciety, was  present,  and  served  as  moderator.  Rev.  E.  T. 
Branch,  scribe. 

Of  the  original  members  were  James  S.  Bristol,  Mrs. 
Julia  Bristol,  John  Lambie,  Rev.  E.  T.  Branch,  Mrs.  L.  L. 
Branch,  James  K.  Petteys,  Mrs.  Sylvia  M.  Petteys, 
William  F.  Petteys,  John  Blackler,  Mrs.  J.  Blaokler,  B. 
Mattoon,  Mrs.  E.  Mattoon,  Mrs.  A.  Webster,  Mrs.  Mary 
Mudge,  Miss  Mattie  F.  Branch,  Mrs.  Martha  Daniels,  Mrs. 
Almeda  Moss,  Mrs.  S.  Sanders,  Mrs.  Nancy  Smith,  and 
Mrs.  M.  HoUister. 

A  house  of  worship,  built  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of 
1869,  was  dedicated  Jan.  16,  1870.  It  cost  about  83000, 
and  will  seat  nearly  three  hundred  persons.  The  society 
now  numbers  ninety-six  members.  Those  who  have  pre- 
sided as  pastors  have  been  Revs.  Edwin  T.  Branch,  Wil- 
liam Piatt,  and  Charles  Barstow,  the  present  incumbent. 


THE   CHRISTIAN   CHURCH*  OP   MAPLE   KAPIDS, 
as  now  organized,  was  formed  in  1874,  under  the  ministra- 
tions of  Rev.  Elisha  Mudge,  who  remained  here  as  pastor 
until  May,  1878,  when  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  S.  Snyder, 
took  his  place. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  Union  Hall,  Deo.  29,  1874,  Row- 
land S.  Van  Scoy,  Isaac  Hewitt,  Samuel  Reed,  Simeon 
Hewitt,  and  William  L.  Herman  were  elected  trustees. 
The  society  was  soon  after  incorporated  according  to  the 
laws  of  the  State,  and  some  forty  members  signed  the 
articles  as  corporators. 

Union  Hall  was  purchased  in  1876,  which,  remodeled  into 
a  handsome  church  edifice,  was  dedicated  Sept.  24,  1876, 
the  dedicatory  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev.  Warren 
Hathaway,  of  New  York  State.  The  building  cost  two 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  which  includes  the  purchase 
of  hall  and  grounds,  fixtures,  furnishing,  bell,  etc.,  and  will 
seat  three  hundred  and  sixty  people. 

Two  other  religious  societies,  known  as  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Essex  and  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Essex,  have  been  organized  in  the  township,  but  as 
both  have  ceased  to  exist,  no  further  mention  is  deemed 
necessary. 


BIOGEAPHIOAL    SKETCHES. 


/rc>^^^ 


WILLIAM  A, 


William  A.  Hewitt  was  born  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  26th  day  of  November,  1811.  Prominent  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Michigan  we  find  the  name  of  William  A. 
Hewitt,  who  came  to  this  State  in  1835,  accompanied  by 
his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Zachariah  Hyatt,  who  was  one  of 
the  first  clothiers  in  the  city  of  New  York.  She  was  born 
in  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  15,  1813,  and  married  Mr. 
Hewitt  in  1830.     They  stopped  in  Oakland  County,  where 


MRS     HANNAH   C.    HEWITT. 


HEWITT. 

they  remained  until  February,  1836 ;  then  came  to  Clinton 
County,  settling  in  the  town  of  De  Witt,  being  the  third 
family  in  the  county.  Mr.  Hewitt  and  his  worthy  wife 
endured  many  of  the  privations  and  hardships  common  to 
early  settlers.    Their  first  home  was  a  log  cabin,  built  upon 

»  From  data  obtained  from  Isaac  Hewitt,  Esq.,  and  county  records. 
The  charoh  clerk  was  respectfully  requested  to  furnish  further  infor- 


mation, but  failed  to  respond. 


456 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


forty  acres  purchased  from  the  government.  During  fifteen 
years'  residence  in  De  Witt,  all  of  which  time  he  was  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  while  engaged  in  different  kinds  of  busi- 
ness, he  cleared  and  improved  three  farms,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1851  he  cleared  and  put  in  seventy  acres  to  wheat. 
He  was  known  as  a  land-agent,  looking  up  and  locating 
land  for  settlers  and  speculators,  doing  a  general  real-estate 
business.  Was  engaged  in  mercantile  and  hotel  business  in 
De  Witt;  was  the  first  justice  elected,  and  married  the 
first  couple  in  the  county,  viz.,  L.  Minor  to  his  present  wife, 
who  to-day  are  living  in  Essex,  at  a  ripe  old  age,  having 
enjoyed  the  fruit  of  over  twoscore  years  of  unbroken  mari- 
tal life.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1852,  Mr.  Hewitt  re- 
moved to  Essex  township,  locating  on  section  5,  on  the 
banks  of  Maple  River.  Purchasing  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  site  part  of  the  village  of  Maple 
Rapids  is  now  located  (and  it  may  well  be  accorded  to  him 
as  having  been  really  the  founder  of  said  village),  his  efforts 
were  untiring ;  he  erected  a  saw-mill,  hotel,  and  store,  fol- 
lowing a  grist-mill,  and  engaged  in  a  general  mercantile 
business,  and  having  read  law  in  earlier  years  with  Joab 
Baker  in  De  Witt,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  ever  continuing 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  to  his  death  in  Essex.  He 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  the  first  year  of  his  resi- 
dence, and  subsequently  supervisor  and  treasurer,  holding 
the  office  of  justice  from  his  first  election  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  with  Hannah  C.  Hyatt 
is  five  children,  viz. :  Joseph  W.,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Maple  Rapids ;  Zachariah  N.,  now 
residing  near  St.  Louis,  Mich. ;  Fanny  M.,  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  county,  now  wife  of  M.  V.  Brown,  who 
is  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  St.  Johns ;  Isaac 
and  Rufus  H.,  both  residing  at  Maple  Rapids,  the  latter 
now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  doors,  sash,  and  blinds, 
and  furniture,  etc.  William  A.  Hewitt's  death  occurred 
on  the  12th  day  of  February,  1863,  at  Maple  Rapids,  Mich. 
In  1865  his  widow  married  Simeon  Hewitt,  a  brother  of 
her  first  husband,  both  still  living  at  Maple  Rapids. 

Isaac  Hewitt,  the  fourth  child  and  third  son,  was  born 
Jan.  20,  1839,  in  De  Witt ;  removed  to  Essex  with  his 
parents  in  1852,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  married 
Miss  Helen  C.  Lansing,  of  Maple  Rapids,  April  3,  1859. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  was  appointed  executor  of 
his  father's  will,  and  settled  his  estate  in  1863  ;  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  to  fill  his  father's  vacancy,  subsequently 
holding  the  office  of  township  treasurer.  In  1860,  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  conducted  a  flouring-mill,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1860  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  con- 
tinuing in  the  same  to  the  present  time.  In  1864  he 
erected  a  steam  saw-mill  at  Maple  Rapids,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  until  1874.  Following  the  father's 
footsteps,  he  lias  ever  inclined  to  the  legal  profession,  and  for 
many  years  past  has  done  a  large  conveyancing  business  and 
dealt  largely  in  real  estate.  His  possessions  cover  over  five 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Essex,  and  he  enjoys  the  full  con- 
fidence of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


SOLOMON  P.  CREASINGER. 

This  gentleman,  the  fifth  of  the  ten  children  of  Barnard 
and  Ann  Wilhelm  Creasinger,  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Perrysburg,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  March  10,  1844. 

His  great-grandfather,  Michael  Creasinger,  emigrated 
from  Germany  to  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  prior  to  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  and  during  the  long  struggle  which  resulted 
in  the  independence  of  the  United  States  served  seven 
years  in  the  Continental  army.     He  participated  in  many 


SOLOMON   p.    CREASINGER. 

engagements  and  received  several  wounds.  His  wife  also 
accompanied  him  in  all  his  campaigns,  and  did  much  to 
alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiery. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  Michael  Creasinger  settled  in 
Augusta,  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.  His  son  Henry,  father 
and  grandfather  of  Barnard  and  Solomon  P.  Creasinger, 
respectively,  was  born  in  the  latter  place.  He  served  with 
credit  in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  during  the  war  of  1812 
-14.  Of  Henry's  family,  Barnard  was  born  during  the 
last  war  with  Great  Britain.  He  (Barnard)  remjuned  in 
Northumberland  until  the  year  1837,  when  he  removed  to 
the  State  of  Ohio,  and  from  thence  to  Essex,  Clinton  Co., 
Mich.,  in  1857.  In  recent  years  he  has  been  engaged- in 
commercial  pursuits  in  the  village  of  Maple  Rapids,  where 
he  still  resides. 

Until  arriving  at  years  of  discretion  Solomon  assisted  his 
father  in  farm  duties,  when,  wishing  to  obtain  better  edu- 
cational advantages  than  the  district  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood afforded,  the  year  1863  found  him  pursuing  his 
studies  in  the  city  of  Lansing.  Although  but  little  more 
than  nineteen  years  of  age  he  promptly  responded  to  the 
call  of  his  country  for  volunteers,  and  on  the  1st  day  of 
August,  1863,  enlisted  in  Company  M,  First  Regiment 
Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics.  After  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  returned  to  Clinton  County 
and  taught  school  nine  terms.     With  his  father  he  then 


ESSEX  TOWNSHIP. 


457 


engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  the  village  of  Maple 
Bapids.  Two  years  later  he  removed  to  Ithaca,  Gratiot 
Co.,  where  he  alone  successfully  carried  on  merchandising 
and  lumbering.  Selling  out  his  interests  there  he  again 
returned  to  Maple  Rapids,  and  in  1874  erected  his  bank 
building.  The  following  year  he  established  his  present 
banking-house,  supplying  a  want  long  needed.  Besides 
attending  to  his  duties  as  a  banker,  he  is  probably  the 
largest  dealer  in  buggies  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  employ- 
ing some  forty  men. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Clara 
A.,  only  child  of  Eoswell  Jones,  Esq.  To  them  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  viz.,  Lena,  Feb.  28,  1878,  who  died 
March  30,  1878,  and  Grace  L.,  Jan.  27,  1879. 

In  his  political  sentiments  Mr^  Creasinger  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  although  not  a  member  of  any  religious  denomi- 
nation, he  is  active  and  liberal  in  the  support  of  all  churches, 
having  served  ten  years  as  Sabbath-school  superintendent. 

When  it  is  stated  that  Mr.  Solomon  P.  Creasinger  is  the 
most  prosperous  man  of  his  years  in  the  county  of  Clinton, 
that  his  capital  has  been  accumulated  by  his  own  unaided 
exertions,  and  that  he  enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
all  who  have  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance,  no  more  need 
or  can  be  said. 


0.  P.  PECK. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  beads  this  sketch  occupies  a 
prominent  position  among  the  self-made,  reliable,  and  re- 
spected citizens  of  Clinton  County.  Born  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Mich.,  June  2, 1835,  he  is  thoroughly  Michigan  in  all 
his  antecedents, — self-reliant,  energetic,  enterprising,  and 
charitable  to  those  in  need  and  deserving.  His  parents 
were  Yankees.  By  them  his  character  was  moulded  and 
habits  formed.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  removed  to 
Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.  After  three  years'  stay  there  he  went 
to  New  York  State  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  tinner,  fol- 
lowing this  occupation  until  1864,  when  he  returned  to  the 
place  of  his  birth  and  worked  at  his  trade  about  two  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1866  lie  engaged  in  the  hardware  business 
in  Maple  Rapids,  and  at  this  time  carries  on  a  large  farm 
besides  this  hardware  business.  He  has  been  largely  inter- 
ested in  the  improvement  and  advancement  of  this  village, 
having  erected  two  of  the  finest  residences  here.  He  has 
occupied  several  offices  of  trust:  was  township  clerk  five 
years,  supervisor  six  years  ;  also  Grand  Reviewer  for  two 
years  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  of  Michigan,  and  during  this  time 
has  paid  out  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars  ($28,000)  to  its 
widows  and  orphans.  He  is  also  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Home  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Ionia,  Clinton, 
and  Montcalm  Counties. 

Mr.  Peck  was  united  in  marriage.  May  8,  1864,  with  a 
daughter  of  David  Hodges,  Esq.  For  the  past  six  years 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
Politically,  he  affiliates  with  the  Republicans. 


NATHAN    R.  LOWE. 

The  parents  of  Nathan  R.  Lowe  were  Cornelius  and  Phebe 
Roberts  Lowe,  who  were  both  natives  of  New  York  State. 
He  was  the  eldest  of  five  children,  and  was  born  in  Elmira, 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  26,  1801.  His  parents,  who  were  farmers, 
resided  at  Big  Flats,  near  the  former  city,  and  their  son 
remained  at  home,  engaging  in  the  labors  incident  to 
farm  life,,  until  his  marriage  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  to 
Miss  Rachel  Gable,  whose  parents  were  residents  of  the 


NATHAN   R.    LOWE. 

same  locality.  Four  children  were  born  to  them,  a  son  and 
three  daughters.  The  birth  of  Phebe,  the  eldest,  occurred 
in  1824,  that  of  Sarah  Ann  in  1826  ;  Joseph  was  born  in 
1827,  and  Mary  in  1832.  Of  these  children  all  but  the 
eldest  are  still  living.  Mrs.  Lowe  died  Jan.  24,  1852,  in 
Duplain,  and  in  December,  1853,  Mr.  Lowe  was  again  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Sarah  Scott,  who  was  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren,— Robert  C.  Lowe,  born  Dec.  14,  1854,  and  Charles, 
Oct.  8,  1856.  Mrs.  Sarah  Lowe  died  Sept.  8,  1863,  and 
Jan.  28,  1864,  Mr.  Lowe  was  united  to  Mrs.  Rachel  F. 
Walker,  who  had  two  sons,— Ernest,  born  Feb.  14,  1865, 
and  William  S.,  whose  birth  occurred  July  15,  1867. 

In  1835,  Mr.  Lowe  left  his  native  State  for  the  attractive 
soil  of  Michigan,  and  located  in  the  township  of  Duplain, 
Clinton  Co.,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  and  additional  land  elsewhere.  This  was  en- 
tirely uncleared,  the  country  was  devoid  of  roads,  and  a 
pilgrimage  with  oxen  to  Detroit  was  necessary  to  obtain 
supplies  for  family  use.  This  estate  was  later  disposed  of, 
and  another,  partially  improved,  in  the  township  of  Essex 
purchased,  upon  which  the  family  now  reside. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Lowe  occurred  Aug.  8,  1874.  He 
represented  his  township  as  supervisor,  though  averse  to  the 
burden  of  official  honors,  and  rarely  ambitious  for  such  dis- 
tinctions. He  was  modest  in  his  tastes  and  cared  little  for 
public  life,  his  attention  having  been  principally  devoted  to 
the  labors  incidental  to  farm-life.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


58 


458 


HISTORY   OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER   LIX. 
GREENBUSH   TOWNSHIP.* 

Settlements  and  Settlers  -  Township  Organization  -  Civil  List  of 
Greenbush-Voters  in  1844  and  1850-Old  State  Road-Sciiools- 
Town  Roads— The  Village  of  Eureka— Churches— Manufactures- 
Secret  Orders. 

Gbeenbush  is  the  eighth  township  north  in  range  2 
west.  On  the  north  it  has  Gratiot  County,  on  the  south 
the  township  of  Bingham,  on  the  east  Duplain,  and  on 
the  west  Essex.  It  contains  a  village  called  Eureka,  and 
has  two  post-offices.  Besides  the  interest  of  agriculture, 
which  is,  of  course,  paramount,  Greenbush  has  at  least 
three  quite  important  manufacturing  enterprises,  and  is 
altogether  a  town  of  thrift  and  wealth.  Although  no  rail- 
way traverses  its  territory,  it  has  a  popular  highway  known 
as  the  State  road,  over  which,  it  is  said,  the  village  of  St. 
Johns  receives  more  travel  than  over  any  other  two  roads 
centering  at  that  point.  In  the  southern  portion  of  the 
town  there  is  a  broad  stretch  of  swamp  which  covers  thou- 
sands of  acres,  and  which,  despite  energetic  eiforts  towards 
its  reclamation,  is  likely  to  remain  waste  land  for  some 
time  to  come. 

SETTLEMENTS  AND  SETTLERS. 

Simultaneously  with  the  earliest  settlement  of  Duplain 
township  by  members  of  the  Rochester  Colony,  Greenbush 
received  its  first  settler  in  the  person  of  John  Ferdon,  him- 
self a  member  of  the  Colony  and  a  comer  to  the  settlement 
with  Oliver  Bebee  and  Samuel  Barker,  in  July,  1836.  A 
detailed  reference  to  the  Colony  settlement  in  the  history  of 
Duplain  deals  in  extenso  with  the  incidents  of  Ferdon's 
journey  to  Michigan  with  his  fellow-pioneers  and  the  inci- 
dents of  his  earlier  pioneer  experience.  In  this  connection, 
however,  it  is  appropriate  to  repeat  the  story  of  his  locating 
his  cabin  upon  the  northeast  corner  of  section  36  in  Green- 
bush, just  over  the  Duplain  line,  his  landed  possessions 
lying  in  both  towns.  And  there,  as  the  first  white  man  resi- 
dent in  that  town,  he  abided  a  few  years  before  passing 
for  a  permanent  location  into  Duplain,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  upon  the  place  now  oc- 
cupied by  his  son  Charles.  Mr.  Ferdon  was  famous  in  his 
day  as  a  hunter  of  bears,  and  with  Samuel  Rowell,  likewise 
a  mighty  Nimrod,  worked  from  time  to  time  sad  havoc 
among  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest.  In  the  summer  of 
1847,  Mr.  Ferdon  slaughtered  no  less  than  nine  bears,  as- 
sisted only  by  a  club  and  an  old  dog,  and  during  that  sum- 
mer was  the  conquering  hero  of  a  stubbornly-contested  bear- 
fight,  which  was  at  the  time  something  of  a  sensation. 
When  he  came  to  Michigan  Mr.  Ferdon  brought  a  stock 
of  goods  he  had  taken  in  Rochester  on  a  debt,  and  having 
in  his  employ  a  good  many  hands  engaged  in  clearing  lands, 
of  which  he  owned  upwards  of  five  hundred  acres,  he  dealt 
out  supplies  to  his  men  from  his  Greenbush  shanty,  although 
he  made  no  further  effort  at  store-keeping  after  his  stock 
was  disposed  of. 

The  next  comer  into  Greenbush  was  Samuel  Rowell,  who 
in  the  spring  of  1837  moved  westward  with  Stephen  Pearl. 

*  By  David  Schwartz. 


Pearl  settled  in  Ovid,  and  Rowell,  after  remaining  a  short 
time  with  Allen  Lounsbury  in  Ovid,  bought  thirty  acres  on 
section  36  of  John  Ferdon,  and  moved  to  the  place  with- 
out delay.  There  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1876,  where 
his  son  Stephen  lives  and  carries  on  the  foundry  started  by 
his  father  in  1850. 

In  the  fall  of  1838,  David  Richmond  and  Thomas  Fisk, 
of  Stafford,  N.  Y.,  visited  Michigan  for  the  purpose  of  lo- 
cating lands  for  themselves  and  others  living  in  the  same 
town.  About  all  the  desirable  spots  available  they  found 
in  the  hands  of  speculators,  and  determined  to  secure  lands 
from  first  hands,  they  eventually  discovered  what  they 
wanted  in  the  town  now  called  Greenbush,  upon  sections  22, 
23,  and  27.  The  tract  was  hedged  in  on  three  Sides  with 
swamps,  and  for  that  reason  doubtless  had  been  neglected 
by  speculators,  but  it  suited  Fisk  Snd  Richmond,  and  so, 
having  secured  it,  they  went  back  to  Stafford  to  report  pro- 
gress. Their  report  proving  satisfactory,  it  was  decided 
that  Thomas  Fisk  with  others  should  start  at  once  for  the 
place  of  proposed  settlement,  to  prepare  habitations  for  the 
families  of  all  concerned.  Accordingly,  Fisk  set  out  in 
April,  1839,  accompanied  by  G.  W.  Reed,  Henry  Fisk, 
Ora  B.  Stiles,  and'  James  Stiles,  Jr.  They  traveled  by  ox- 
team  by  way  of  Canada,  and  arriving  upon  the  ground  set 
at  once  diligently  to  the  task  of  getting  up  cabins.  Work, 
however,  as  fast  as  they  could,  they  found  the  job  a  slow 
one,  and  before  they  had  got  up  one  cabin  along  came  the 
families  of  David  Sevy,  W.  N.  Daggett,  James  Stiles,  and 
Thomas  Fisk.  They  had  come  together  via  the  lake  to 
Detroit,  and  thence  by  teams  over  the  Grand  River  road  to 
Leach's,  near  Laingsburg.  At  that  point  they  struck  north- 
ward over  the  path  earlier  marked  by  the  Colony  pioneers, 
and  landed  at  John  Ferdon's  about  the  middle  of  May, 
1839,  after  a  four  days'  trip  from  Detroit.  The  night  be- 
fore their  arrival  was  spent  at  Henry  Leach's,  in  Sciota. 
Leach  kept  a  house  of  entertainment,  and  upon  a  tree  in 
front  of  his  shanty  had  nailed  a  board  bearing  in  rude  let- 
ters the  legend,  "  Call  and  C." 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  the  arrival  of  the  families,  two 
settlers  named  David  and  Alvah  Richmond,  with  their  fami- 
lies, came  upon  the  ground,  and  completed  the  little  colony 
for  whose  members  Fisk  and  Richmond  had  made  the  land 
locations  in  1838. 

All  hands  had,  it  is  true,  reached  Ferdon's,  only  a  couple 
of  miles  or  so  from  their  prospective  homes,  but  the  better 
part  of  that  two  miles  or  more  lay  through  a  veritable 
"  Dismal  Swamp,"  and  it  will  be  hereafter  seen  that  to  over- 
come the  obstacle  presented  by  that  swamp  gave  them  well- 
nigh  as  much  trouble  as  did  the  journey  from  Detroit  to 
Ferdon's.     It  was  possible  to  cross  it  afoot,  but  as  for  trav- 
ersing it  with  teams  it  was  simply  out  of  the  question,  and 
the  hardy  band  therefore  faced  with  heroic  determination 
the  conviction  that  they  would  have  to  carry  afoot  over  a 
mile  and  a  half  of  swamp  everything  they  intended  to  take 
to  their  homes.     From  Ferdon's  westward  for  the  distance 
of  a  mile  they  cut  out  a  road,  and  passed  over  it  with  their 
loaded  wagons  well  enough,  but  at  the  end  of  the  mile  the 
swamp  began,  and   there   they  therefore   unloaded  their 
goods  and  carried  them,  as  best  they  could,  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  from  the  southeast  corner  of  section  26  to  the  north- 


GREENBUSH  TOWNSHIP. 


459 


west  corner  of  the  same  section,  where  they  found  dry 
land. 

That  swamp  journey  was  a  memorable  and  a  diflBcult 
one.  Even  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  it 
would  have  been  no  easy  task,  but  when  undertaken  with 
heavy  loads  of  furniture,  stoves,  and  what  not  to  impede 
the  movements  of  the  toilers,  who  were  compelled  to  wade 
through  mire  and  cross  narrow  log  footways  to  avoid  total 
immersion,  the  troubles  that  marked  the  passage  may  be 
slightly  understood.  The  goods  thus  transferred  included 
general  supplies  and  household  goods,  of  which  latter  four 
cook-stoves  formed  no  small  element.  For  carrying  his 
cook-stove  over  David  Sevy  paid  the  carriers  one  day's 
labor,  and  the  same  price  for  transporting  a  bureau,  which 
he  still  preserves  as  a  portion  of  his  household  furniture  at 
his  home  in  Greenbush. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  families  arrived  before  Thomas 
Fisk  and  his  companions  had  fairly  completed  one  cabin, 
but  into  it  a  majority  of  the  new-comers  moved  after  a  few 
days'  stay  at  Perdon's,  and  although  the  quarters  were 
close,  the  best  was  made  of  the  matter,  albeit  that  best  was 
very  bad.  Ferdon  kept  as  many  as  he  could,  but  those  who 
crowded  into  Fisk's  cabin  filled  it  to  the  door.  The  cabin 
measured  ten  by  twelve,  and  with  two  beds  in  it  left  just 
room  enough  for  a  single  file  of  lodgers,  and  when  at  night 
the  household  slept  the  beds  and  lodgers  upon  the  floor 
took  up  every  available  inch  of  space.  There  was  not  room 
in  the  house  for  a  table,  and  so  they  ate  in  the  open  air  at 
a  table  made  of  a  plank  laid  across  two  upright  crotched 
sticks.  The  kitchen  was  the  open  air,  and  the  kitchen-fire 
a  log  h^ap  against  a  stump.  Afler  that  fashion  they  man- 
aged to  struggle  along  until  each  family  got  up  a  cabin  and 
passing  time  introduced  some  of  the  comforts  and  con- 
veniences of  civilization. 

Of  course  cabins  were  built  as  fast  as  hands  could  work, 
and  between  cabin-building,  chopping,  transferring  their 
goods  across  the  swamp,  and  putting  in  crops  the  pioneera 
were  during  their  first  summer  put  to  their  busiest  efforts. 
They  could  not  stop  to  do  any  clearing,  for  they  were  too 
anxious  to  sow  what  would  produce  food,  and  thus  their 
clearing  during  that  summer  was  just  what  sufiSced  to  give 
places  for  their  cabins.  Settled  at  last  in  their  own  homes 
by  midsummer,  the  families  were  distributed  in  close  prox- 
imity,— Alvah  Richmond,  James  Stiles,  and  W.  N.  Dag- 
gett on  section  22,  David  Sevy  and  Thomas  Fisk  on  sec- 
tion 23,  and  David  Richmond  on  section  27.  Meanwhile 
they  were  still  getting  their  goods  over  the  swamp,  and  be- 
fore they  finished  that  job  the  season  had  advanced  to  the 
latter  part  of  August.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  David 
Sevy  carried  a  barrel  of  pork  over  the  swamp  single-handed. 
He  accomplished  the  feat  byjiransporting  the  pork  in  pails, 
and  then  the  empty  barrel.  The  Richmonds  owned  the 
only  two  pairs  of  horses  boasted  by  the  little  band,  and 
Thomas  Fisk  the  only  team  of  oxen.  The  horse-teams 
were  engaged  in  hauling  the  goods  of  the  settlers  from  De- 
troit to  the  edge  of  the  swamp  until  August,  and  then 
driven  into  the  settlement  by  way  of  Essex  as  the  only 
available  route,  and  thus  to  get  around  a  swamp  which 
measured  but  one  mile  and  a  half  across  they  had  to  make 
a  trip  of  twenty- two  miles. 


Important  among  their  first  efforts  after  getting  settled 
was  the  work  of  making  roads,  and  especially  a  road  across 
the  swamp  towards  the  Colony.  This  swamp  road,  however, 
they  made  but  a  foot-path,  and  in  that  shape  at  least  they 
found  it  a  decent  thoroughfare,  and  over  which  they  man- 
aged to  bring  without  much  trouble  such  things  as  they 
needed  from  time  to  time.  In  the  winter  season,  when  the 
earth  was  frozen,  they  crossed  the  swamp  with  teams,  much 
to  their  convenience.  The  first  highway  they  cut  out  after 
their  arrival  was  one  running  westward  from  the  southeast- 
ern corner  of  section  22  to  what  is  now  Coleman's,  a  dis- 
tance of  two  miles. 

Luckily  they  found  upon  their  arrival  that  John  Ferdon 
was  abundantly  supplied  with  potatoes,  and  upon  them  they 
feasted  in  the  absence  of  something  better.  Their  first 
milling  was  done  at  Ionia,  and  for  their  first  grist  they 
bought  wheat  of  Benedict,  of  Essex.  David  Sevy  made 
the  first  trip  to  mill,  accompanied  by  an  Indian  whom  he 
hired  to  manage  the  canoe.  The  trip  was  made  via  the 
Maple  River,  starting  at  Maple  Rapids,  and  occupied  three 
days.  Alvah  Richmond  went  to  the  mill  at  Eaton  Rapids, 
in  the  fall  of  1839  by  ox-team.  When  Sevy  made  his 
second  mill  trip  by  river,  John  Ferdon  agreed  to  accompany 
him  and  manage  the  canoe.  Sevy  was  doubtful  of  Fer- 
don's  ability  to  do  it,  but  the  latter  derided  the  doubt,  and 
declared  that  as  he  had  all  his  life  been  used  to  the  man- 
agement of  skiffs,  it  would  be  queer  indeed  if  he  couldn't 
handle  a  canoe.  As  it  turned  out  he  found  that  there  was 
a  vast  difference  between  handling  a  canoe  and  managing  a 
skiff,  and  before  half  the  journey  was  accomplished  con- 
fessed that  he  knew  but  little  about  the  canoe  business. 
Although  they  did  not  capsize  they  came  several  times  within 
an  ace  of  doing  so,  and  had  altogether  a  hazardous  and 
wearisome  experience.  While  on  the  return  voyage,  worn 
out  and  ready  to  give  up  in  despair,  they  hailed  an  Indian 
and  tried  to  hire  him  to  paddle  them  homeward,  but  the 
savage  absolutely  declined  to  help  them  unless  they  would 
pay  him  in  whisky,  and,  as  of  whisky  they  had  not  a  drop, 
they  were  compelled  to  press  on  as  best  they  could.  They 
finished  the  journey  in  the  course  of  events,  but  in  such  an 
exhausted  condition  that  they  were  laid  up  for  two  or  three 
days  afterwards.  On  another  occasion  Sevy  engaged  John 
and  Horace  Avery  to  go  down  the  river  to  mill  for  him 
with  eighteen  bushels  of  wheat.  The  Averys  reached 
Ionia  all  right,  and  started  back  with  the  flour,  but  en  route 
their  craft  capsized,  and  the  cargo  descended  to  the  bottom 
of  the  river.  The  flour  was  recovered,  but  only  a  very  little 
of  it  was  found  to  be  available  for  use. 

The  first  birth  in  the  settlement  occurred  May  29, 1840, 
when  Willard,  son  of  W.  N.  Daggett,  was  born.  He  is  now 
livino-  in  Missouri.  The  first  wedding  was  that  of  Truman 
Watson  and  Esther,  daughter  to  Sylvester  Carter.  Squire 
John  Ferdon  performed  the  ceremony  at  his  house,  which 
was  then  the  home  of  the  bride  as  well  as  of  her  father. 
The  second  wedding  occurred  in  1841 ,  at  the  house  of  David 
Sevy,  who,  as  justice  of  the  peace,  married  Erastus  Tinkel- 
paugh  and  Orpha  Fisk.  The  first  death  was  that  of  Miranda, 
the°one-year  old  daughter  of  David  Sevy.  She  died  Oct. 
10  1839.     The  first  adult  person  to  die  was  Alfred  Dane, 


460 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


who  was  buried  on  Thomas  Fisk's  place.  There  was,  how- 
ever, no  public  burial-place  until  after  the  death  of  Celestia 
F.  Sevy,  Feb.  26,  1847.  At  that  time  a  cemetery  was  laid 
out  upon  David  Sevy's  place,  in  section  23,  and  in  the  in- 
closure  Sevy's  daughter  was  the  first  to  be  buried.  A  school 
was  taught  in  the  summer  of  1840,  and  Thomas  Fisk  being 
an  ordained  minister  of  the  Christian  faith,  public  worship 
was  introduced  as  soon  as  the  settlements  were  made.  David 
Sevy  was  by  trade  a  cabinet-maker,  and  having  brought  a 
turning-lathe  with  him,  lost  no  time  in  setting  up  a  small 
shop,  in  which  he  carried  on  for  many  years  thereafter  the 
manufacture  of  chairs,  tables,  etc.,  which  as  fast  as  made 
he  carried  to  De  Witt  and  other  places  and  exchanged  for 
wheat  and  various  supplies.  There  was  no  'blacksmitn  in 
the  community  for  years  after  its  creation,  and  when  a 
blacksmith's  services  became  necessary  a  journey  to  De 
Witt  was  imperative  to  secure  tliem.  A  post-office  was 
established  at  David  Richmond's  in  1843,  before  which 
date  mail  was  got  at  Owosso  or  Laingsburg.  Postage  in 
those  days  was  twenty-five  cents  per  letter,  and  as  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  sell  produce  for  anything  but  trade 
short  of  Detroit,  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents  in  hard  cash 
was  of  some  consequence  and  not  always  at  hand.  Mr.  ' 
David  Sevy  got  word  one  day  that  a  letter  awaited  him  at 
the  Laingsburg  post-office,  and  collecting  the  required 
twenty-five  cents — not  without  an  effort — he  went  over. 
When  he  got  there  he  found  that  instead  of  one  there  were 
three  letters,  but,  alas !  he  had  only  the  simple  twenty-five 
cents  to  pay  for  one.  Letters  were  valuable  prizes,  how- 
ever, if  they  did  ojst  twenty-five  cents  each,  and,  determined 
to  have  the  entire  batch,  Sevy  scoured  the  community  at 
Laingsburg  for  the  loan  of  fifty  cents,  and  luckily  obtaining 
it  he  got  his  letters  and  bore  them  homeward  in  triumph. 

The  construction  of  roads  was  pushed  forward  with  zeal- 
ous industry,  and  as  other  settlers  came  highways  were 
opened  rapidly,  and  travel  rendered  a  comfortable  con- 
venience instead  of  a  dread.  Road-bees  were  the  favorite 
methods  by  which  roads  were  made,  and  as  at  these  bees 
about  all  the  inhabitants  gathered  for  work  upon  a  stated 
day  of  each  week,  the  business  in  hand  was  pushed  on  with 
celerity.  The  first  grist  carried  over  to  the  Colony  mill 
from  the  settlement  was  a  bushel  of  wheat  which  Henry 
Fisk  packed  on  his  back  and  lugged  afoot  across  the 
swamp.  Lyman  Richmond  is  supposed  to  have  built  the 
first  framed  house,  Thomas  Fisk  to  have  raised  the  first 
crop  of  wheat,  and  the  first  orchards  to  have  been  set  out 
by  David  Sevy  and  John  I.  Tinkelpaugh,  the  latter  of  whom 
got  his  trees  at  an  Indian  nursery  at  Chesaning  and  carried 
them  home  on  his  back. 

Thomas  Fisk  has  already  been  alluded  to  as  a  minister, 
and  for  some  years  preached  regularly  here  and  there,  pre- 
sumably to  good  purpose.  By  and  by,  however,  reports 
began  to  spread  that  Fisk  was  falling  into  worldly  immoral- 
ities, and  the  tide  of  popular  prejudice  and  suspicion  soon 
set  in  so  strongly  against  him  that  he  was  openly  charged 
with  the  grossest  wickedness.  Public  indignation  broke 
out  presently  in  a  violent  form,  and  those  in  whom  it  was 
felt  the  strongest  banded  for  the  common  cause  and  set  out 
to  harass  and  persecute  Fisk  by  divers  and  sundry  midnight 


raids  upon  his  premises, — burning  his  haystacks,  threaten- 
ing him  with  death,  destroying  his  stock  and  other  property, 
and  resorting,  in  short,  to  such  efforts  a^  they  could  think 
of  to  show  the  disfavor  under  which  he  rested.  His  per- 
secutors were  known  as  the  Swamp  Guard,  and  at  times  as 
the  Swamp  Angels,  and  so  persistently  did  they  pursue 
Fisk  with  vindictive  persecution  that  he  was  eventually  com- 
pelled to  leave  the  town  and  seek  a  residence  elsewhere. 

Before  dismissing  the  history  of  the  settlement  of  the 
six  families  mentioned,  it  will  be  of  interest  to  note  that  of 
the  heads  of  those  six  families  three  still  live, — David 
Richmond,  in  Kent  County ;  W.  N.  Daggett  and  David 
Sperry,  in  Greenbush. 

The  ensuing  autumn  saw  additions  to  the  immediate  set- 
tlement, in  Nathan  Spooner,  Truman  Watson,  and  Moses 
Phillips.  At  the  same  time  John  and  Horace  Avery, 
Herod  and  Buna  Morton,  and  Marvin  Grreenwood  located 
in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  town,  while  Edwin  Hol- 
brook  made  a  settlement  near  Samuel  Rowell's,  on  section 
36.  John  I.  Tinkelpaugh  settled  in  the  fall  of  1840  near 
the  site  of  the  village  of  Eureka,  and  in  1841  Joseph  Rus- 
sell, one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Bingham,  came  to  Green- 
bush  and  settled  at  what  is  known  as  McMaster's  Corners. 
When  Russell  located  there  his  was  the  only  house  between 
the  Sevy  settlement  and  Benedict's  Plains  in  Essex.  His 
son  William  joined  him  in  1842,  and  his  son  James  in 
1843. 

Joseph  Russell  fell  a  victim  in  the  year  1852  to  a  sad 
calamity,  in  which  he  was  slain  by  his  son  Nathaniel. 
The  boy  had  been  out  on  a  hunting  expedition,  and  having 
had  bad  luck  thought  upon  his  return  to  amuse  himself  by 
firing  at  a  mark  placed  upon  a  shingle  shanty.  Unknown 
to  Nathaniel,  his  father  was  at  work  in  the  shanty,  and 
being  within  range  of  the  first  shot  fired,  which  passed 
through  a  crack  in  the  building,  received  it  in  his  brain 
and  expired  almost  instantly. 

The  .following  list  embraces  the  names  of  the  resident 
tax-payers  of  Greenbush  in  the  years  1840  and  1841 : 

1840. 

AcreB. 

John  Ferdon,  sections  26,  8,  31,  36 370 

S.  Kowell,  section  36 30 

G.  W.  Reed,  section  27 80 

D.  Richmond,  section  27 r60 

T.  Fisk,  section  23 80 

II.  S.  Fisis,  section  23 '. 40 

David  Sevy,  section  23 40 

James  Stiles,  sections  21,  22 160 

A.  Richmond,  section  22 200 

T.  Watson,  section  23 80 

W.  N.  Daggett,  section  22 40 

J.  Stanley,  Jr.,  section  33 160 

J.Stanley,  section  32 80 

S.  Stanley,  section  32 ., 80 

D.  Allison,  sections  31,  32 160 

J.Avery,  section  33 40 

M.  Greenwood,  section  31 140 

R.  Morton,  section31 40 

H.  Avery,  section  31 80 

M.  Phillips,  section  20 80 

1841. 

David  Sevy,  section  23 40 

Joseph  Russell,  section  5 100 

T.  Watson,  section  23 ' 80 

E.  Tinkelpaugh,  section  10 80 

W.  N.  Daggett,  section  22 40 

A.  Richmond,  section  22 200 


GREENBUSH   TOWNSHIP. 


461 


Acres. 

M.  Phillips,  Beotion  21 240 

J.  I.  Tinkelpangh,  section  11 40 

H.  S.  Fisk,  section  23 120 

T.  Fisk,  section  23 120 

J.  Ferdon,  sections  31,  30,  25,  8 370 

J.  M.  Rowell,  section  36 30 

J.  D.  Richmond,  section  27 160 

G.  W.  Reed,  section  27 80 

M.  Greenwood,  section  31 132 

Runa  Morton,  section  31 40 

Herod  Morton,  section  31 : 40 

Horace  Avery,  sections  31,  32 80 

N.  W.  Aldrich,  section  30 40 

John  Avery,  section  33 40 

In  February,  1849,  George  Wagner,  John  Wagner, 
Henry  Wagner,  James  Sargent,  Nathan  Kirby,  Gilbert 
Owen,  William  Owen,  Aaron  Smith,  and  Caspar  Wagner, 
of  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  and  H.  A.  Smith,  of  Morrow  Co., 
Ohio,  set  out  for  Michigan  to  locate  land  on  Mexican  war 
land-warrants,  of  which  all  save  George  Wagner  had  be- 
come possessed  by  purchase,  Wagner  alone  having  served  in 
the  Mexican  war.  The  party  numbered  ten,  and  all  but 
three  (who  had  horses)  made  the  journey  of  three  hun- 
dred miles  each  way  afoot.  All  except  Aaron  Smith 
bought. lands  in  Greenbush  and  made  settlements  thereon, 
Smith  making  his  location  in  Essex.  H.  A.  Smith  says 
the  hardest  day's  work  he  ever  accomplished  was  the  day's 
work  required  for  him  to  walk  to  Ionia  for  the  purpose  of 
entering  his  land.  He  says  he  walked  all  day  through  the 
roughest,  wildest  kind  of  a  country,  saw  no  human  being, 
saw  no  track,  and  crossed  but  one  trail  during  the  entire 
journey. 

Henry  A.  Smith's  remarkable  adventure  with  a  bear  in 
October,  1856  (remembered  as  the  smoky  fall),  is  within 
the  general  knowledge  of  the  local  populace  as  a  historical 
incident  of  much  importance,  and  will  therefore  bear  repe- 
tition here. 

Smith  ventured  one  day  upon  a  bear-hunt,  accompanied 
by  a  small  black  dog,  and  had  reached  a  cedar  swamp  three 
miles  distant  when  Bruin  came  to  view,  but  straightway 
took  to  his  heels  and  made  good  his  escape.  Pushing  on, 
the  hunter  came  up  directly  with  a  second  bear,  at  whom 
sliooting  he  wounded,  and  saw  make  rapidly  off,  pursued  by 
the  dog.  Smith  hurried  to  the  rescue,  but  lo  !  almost  in- 
stantly there  crossed  his  path  a  third  bear,  and  at  him  he 
discharged  his  weapon,  with  the  effect  of  hastening  his 
pace.  Smith  chased  him,  and  three  times  fired  at  him  as  he 
ran,  At  that  juncture,  however,  the  programme  changed. 
Up  to  that  time  Smith  had  been  hunting  the  bear ;  then 
the  bear  began  to  hunt  Smith.  Smith  had  often  thought 
he  would  he  happy  if  he  could  take  part  in  a  bear-fight,  but 
when  he  saw  Bruin  turn  upon  him  and,  with  gnashing 
teeth  as  well  as  angry  roar,  threaten  him  with  destruction, 
he  felt  as  if  he  would  give  a  good  deal  to  get  out  of  the 
mess  he  had  got  into.  It  was,  however,  too  late  to  re- 
treat, and  so  he  faced  the  issue  boldly.  Quickly  putting 
the  dog  hors  du  combat,  the  bear  faced  Smith,  who,  club- 
bing his  gun,  dealt  a  swinging  blow,  which,  although  it 
felled  the  beast,  shattered  the  weapon.  In  a  trice  the  bear 
was  on  his  feet  renewing  the  attack,  and  so  furiously  did 
he  press  the  onslaught  that  Smith,  torn  and  bleeding,  was 
about  to  give  himself  up  for  lost,  when  by  a  lucky  chance 
he  tore  himself  from  Bruin's  grasp  and  made  off,  with  the 


bear  in  hot  chase.  Grasping  a  heavy  stick.  Smith  turned 
and  dealt  his  enemy  a  powerful  blow.  Down  went  the 
brute,  and  thicker  and  faster  rained  the  blows  of  Smith's 
cudgel,  until  the  enemy  lay  dead  before  him,  and  then  up 
went  a  shout  of  thankful  joy  from  the  hero  of  the  well- won 
victory. 

Smith's  settlement  was  made  in  November,  1849,  with 
his  family,  whom  he  lodged  temporarily  with  James  R. 
Carter,  who  had  been  living  on  section  10  since  November, 
1848.  When  Smith  built  his  house  on  section  9  there 
was  no  house,  he  says,  between  him  and  Mackinaw.  East 
of  him,  on  section  10,  was  John  I.  Tinkelpaugh,  of  whom 
it  is  said  that  when  he  was  a  workman  in  Owosso  for  B.  0. 
Williams,  in  1839,  he  persisted  in  denying  himself  and 
family  the  comforts  of  life  so  that  he  might  save  money 
enough  to  buy  forty  acres  of  land.  He  saved  the  neces- 
sary amount  of  money,  bought  forty  acres  in  Greenbush, 
and  was  probably  made  happy.  When  Smith  came  to  his 
place  he  traveled  via  De  Witt  and  Gardner's  Corners,  and 
thence  by  trail  along  the  river  to  within  three  miles  of  his 
land. 

William  Thomas  entered  in  1850  a  piece  of  land  upon 
section  17,  then  a  wild  tract,  and  the  same  year  made  a 
settlement.  His  son,  Philip  Thomas,  and  George  Adleman 
were  living  on  the  same  section,  to  which  they  had  come 
iu  1849  and  made  a  small  clearing.  The  road  now  known 
as  the  State  road  was  then  laid  out  as  a  town  road,  but 
scarcely  any  work  had  been  done  upon  it.  Oscar  George 
was  a  close  neighbor  on  the  north,  and  on  the  south  was 
James  Stiles. 

On  the  north  town-line  Nathan  Russell,  son  of  Joseph 
Russell,  made  probably  the  first  location.  He  put  up  a 
shanty  on  section  5,  but  effected  no  clearing  of  any  con- 
sequence. He  sold  the  place  in  1852  to  Benjamin  Doty, 
who  moved  right  in  with  his  family.  He  had  to  cut  a 
road  to  the  shanty  put  up  by  Russell,  and  when  the 
women-folks  got  a  look  at  the  building,  its  dreary,  deso- 
late appearance,  lacking  floor,  door,  and  window,  they 
were  so  oppressed  and  disheartened  at  the  miserable  pros- 
pect before  them  that  they  sat  down  upon  a  log  and  cried 
bitterly.  Philosophy,  however,  soon  came  to  their  aid, 
and  they  faced  the  situation  with  a  renewed  hope  that 
gave  them  courage  and  patience.  They  bore  it  all  heroic- 
ally after  that  until  better  times  greeted  and  cheered  them ; 
"  but  mauy's  the  time,"  says  Mrs.  Doty  in  speaking  of 
their  experiences,  "  that  we  were  awfully,  pitifully  home- 
sick for  the  comforts  of  civilization  we  had  left  in  exchange 
for  the  wild  woods  of  Michigan." 

The  Russells,  a  mile  south,  were  the  Dotys'  nearest 
ne|<'hbors.  Their  milling-point  was  at  the  Colony  or  Fish 
Creek,  apd  whenever  Mr.  Doty  set  out  for  a  journey  with 
his  feam  an  axe  to  cut  out  his  road  was  an  absolutely  indis- 
pensable necessity.  The  same  day  that  saw  them  make 
their  home  on  section  5  saw  also  the  arrival  upon  section  6 
of  J.  W.  Bryant.  Farther  eastward  Henry  Auten  had 
settled  on  section  4  in  1850.  Chauncey  Dexter  settled 
upon  a  place  taken  up  in  1849  by  Andrew  E.  Bryant  on  a 
Mexican  war  land-warrant.  Addison  Hulse  came  during 
the  fall  of  1850,  and  in  that  neighborhood  later  on  William 


462 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Scott,  William  Besley,  and  Nathan  Matthews  pitched  their 
tents,  as  did  Thomas  Jeffreys,  Nelson  Strong,  James  Pat- 
terson, and  Miron  Ellis.  Among  other  early  settlers  in 
the  town  may  likewise  be  mentioned  Isaac  Eagles,  J.  E. 
Power,  David  Blank,  Peter  Pleagle,  Emmet  Kirby,  William 
Burke,  David  Nye,  James  Odell,  and  Benjamin  Hawkins. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 
Town  8  north,  in  range  2  west,  was  a  portion  of  Bing- 
ham township  until  Feb.  16,  1842,  when  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  detached  it  and  named  it  Greenbush.  The 
name  was  suggested  by  Mrs.  David  Sevy  on  the  occasion 
of  a  meeting  of  citizens  at  her  husband's  house  for  the 
purpose  of  christening  the  new  township.  Mrs.  Sevy  had 
a  fancy  that  the  name  would  perpetuate  the  recollection  of 
the  sight  of  many  handsome-looking  green  bushes  which 
greatly  refreshed  her  senses  upon  her  first  entrance  into 
the  town.  She  remembered  also  a  place  known  as  Green- 
bush  in  New  York  State,  where  with  her  father's  family 
she  spent  one  night  while  journeying  in  the  earlier  days 
from  New  England  to  Western  New  York.  So,  in  accord- 
ance with  her  suggestion,  those  present  at  the  meeting  took 
at  once  favorably  to  the  name  of  Greenbush,  and  sent  it  in 
along  with  the  petition  for  organization.  March  16, 1847, 
towns  9  and  10  north,  in  range  2  west,  in  Gratiot  County, 
were  attached  to  Greenbush  for  township  purposes,  and  re- 
mained so  attached  until  the  organization  of  Gratiot  County 
in  1855. 

The  first  town-meeting  in  Greenbush  was  held  April  5, 
1842,  at  the  school-house  in  district  No.  1.  Marvin  Green- 
wood was  chosen  moderator  and  John  Perdon,  David  Sevy, 
W.  N.  Daggett,  and  David  Bichmond  inspectors  of  elec- 
tion. 

The  poll-list  on  that  occasion  was  as  follows :  Thomas 
Russell,  Henry  Fisk,  Joseph  Russell,  Samuel  Rowell,  Na- 
than Spooner,  William  Russell,  Hosea  Fletcher,  John  Fer- 
don,  W.  N.  Daggett,  David  Richmond,  James  Stiles,  Mar- 
vin Greenwood,  0.  B.  Stiles,  Herod  Morton,  Runa  Morton, 
Alvah  Richmond,  Thomas  Fisk,  John  Avery,  Horace 
Avery,  David  Sevy, — twenty  in  all.  Twenty-one  dollars 
was  voted  for  the  support  of  schools ;  two  hundred  dollars 
for  contingent  expenses.  David  Richmond  was  chosen 
poundmaster.  A  pound  six  feet  square,  of  logs  fourteen  feet 
long,  was  ordered  to  be  built,  and  the  contract  therefor 
given  to  Willard  N.  Daggett  for  five  dollars  and  seventy- 
five  cents,  the  bargain  being  that  the  pound  should  be  fin- 
ished by  June  1,  1842.  The  election  for  town  officials 
then  went  forward  with  the  following  result :  Supervisor, 
David  Sevy;  Treasurer,  Horace  Avery;  Clerk,  Alvah 
Richmond ;  Highway  Commissioners,  Runa  Morton,  David 
Richmond,  and  William  Russell ;  School  Inspectors,  Henry 
S.  Fisk,  Runa  Morton,  and  0.  B.  Stiles ;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Marvin  Greenwood,  John  Ferdon,  Herod  Morton, 
and  William  Russell ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  W.  N.  Dag- 
gett and  Herod  Morton ;  Constables,  H.  S.  Fisk  and  John 
Avery. 

CIVIL  LIST  OF  THE  TOWNSHIP. 
Appended  is  a  list  of  the  persons  annually  chosen  from 
1843  to  1880  to  be  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  jus- 
tices of  the  peace : 


SUPERVISORS. 


1843.  H.  ATery. 

1860-61.  M.  Ellis. 

1844.  D.  Sevy. 

1862.  J.  E.  Power. 

1845-50.  S.  Penri. 

1863-64.  M.  Ellis. 

1851.  H.  Avery. 

1865.  L.  Wilcox. 

1852.  J.  C.  Fox. 

1866-67.  M.  Ellis. 

1853.  H.  Avery. 

1868.t  J.  B.  Power. 

1854.  L.  Wilcox. 

1869-70.  M.  Ellis. 

1855.  H.  G.  Thompson. 

1871-74.  J.  E.  Power. 

1856.  W.  N.  Daggett. 

1875-78.  J.  A.  Mai  thews. 

1857.*  H.  Avery. 

1879-80.  A.  Hulse. 

1858-59.  L.  Wilcox. 

CLERKS. 

1843-45.  L.  M.  Richmond. 

1857-59.  J.  L.  Curtis. 

1846-51.  J.  Sevy. 

I860.  W.N.  Daggelt. 

1852.  M.  A.  Chappell. 

1861-62.  R.  E.  Davies. 

1853.  J.  Coffman. 

1863-65.  M.  A.  Chappell. 

1854-56.  M.  A.  Chappell. 

1866-80.  R.  E.  Davies. 

TREASURERS. 

1843.  R.  Morton. 

1859.  C.  Grey. 

1844-45.  H.  Avery. 

1860-62.  J.  R.  Carter. 

1846-51.  W.  N.  Daggett. 

186.3-67.  N.  T.  Stiles. 

1852.  P.  Jeffreys. 

1868.  L.  W.  Ingersoll. 

1853.  L.  Wilcox. 

1869-70.  D.  L.  Eagles.  • 

1854-55.  P.  Jeffreys. 

1871-74.  J.  J.  Bowers. 

1856.  M.  Ellis. 

1875-78.  A.  Hulse. 

1857.  L.  Wilcox. 

1879.  C.  H.  Bogardas. 

1858.  W.  N.  Daggett. 

1880.  D.  L.  Eagles. 

JUSTICES 

OF  THE   PEACE. 

1843.  0.  B.  Stiles. 

1862.  I.  Eagles. 

1S44.  J.  Ferdon. 

1863.  0.  Whitlock. 

1845.  M.  Greenwood. 

1864.  Y.  L.  Miller. 

1846.  W.  Russell. 

.1865.  W.  H.  Burman. 

1847.  0.  Whitlocb. 

1866.  I.  Eagles. 

1848.  E.  Holbrook. 

1867.  G.  W.  Reed. 

1849.  A.  Chappell. 

1868.  L.  G.  Loomis. 

1850.  1.  Eagles. 

1869.  L.  Wilcox. 

1851.  0.  Whitlook. 

1870.  I.  Eagles. 

1852.  H.  Auten. 

1871.  G.  W.  Reed. 

1853.  M.  Greenwood. 

1872.  L.  G.  Loomis. 

1854.  I.  Eagles. 

1873.  S.  Bebee. 

1855.  0.  Whitlock. 

1874.  J.  J.  Keiser. 

1856.  J.  G.Thompson. 

1875.  T.  White. 

1857.  E.  Holbrook. 

1876.  L.  G.  Loomis. 

1858.  I.  Eagles. 

1877.  S.  Bebee. 

1859.  0.  Whitlook. 

1878.  J.  J.  Keiser. 

1860.  G.  W.  Townsend. 

1879.  0.  Whitlock. 

1861.  L.  Wilcox. 

1880.  L.  G.  Loomis. 

LIST  OF  VOTERS  IN  THE  TOWNSHIP  IN  1844 
AND   1850. 

1844. — Nathan  Spooner,  John  Ferdon,  James  M.  Stiles, 
L.  M.  Richmond,  William  Ingalls,  O.  B.  Stiles,  David 
Richmond,  E.  B.  Stiles,  John  Avery,  S.  M.  Rowell,  Joseph 
Russell,  Thomas  Beach,  Edwin  Holbrook,  Orange  Whit- 
lock, Amos  Avery,  William  Russell,  William  Bentley, 
Jonathan  Aldrich,  James  Stiles,  W.  N.  Da^ett,  N.  W. 
Aldrich,  David  Sevy,  Marvin  Greenwood,  Herod  Morton, 
Horace  Avery,  John  I.  Tinkelpaugh,  John  Manchester, 
Truman  Watson,  Alvah  Richmond. 

1850 — Nathan  Spooner,  John  Sevy,  Luman  Wilcox, 
Edwin  Holbrook,  A.  E.  Bryant,  Joseph  Russell,  R.  L. 
Carroll,  Stephen  Pearl,  Lewis  Richards,  0.  Whitlock,  R. 
B.  Crowner,  James  Sargent,  James  Russell,  Amos  Avery, 

*  One  hundred  and  sixty-nine  votes, 
t  Two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  votes. 


GREENBUSH   TOWNSHIP. 


463 


Philip  Thomas,  Marvin  Greenwood,  William  L.  Massey, 
John  Manchester,  James  H.  Kennicott,  H.  S.  Fisk,  Jehiel 
Dunning,  0.  P.  George,  Parsons  Jeffreys,  Henry  Smith, 
A.  B.  Olin,  James  M.  Stiles,  Erastus  Tinkelpaugh,  James 
R.  Carter,  Walter  Hulbert,  Zelotes  Avery,  Samuel  M. 
Rowell,  B.  W.  Hobert,  William  Besley,  Addison  Hulse, 
W.  N.  Daggett,  John  I.  Tinkelpaugh,  William  Johnson, 
William  Russell,  Isaac  Eagles,  William  Badgerow,  0.  B. 
Sevy,  Horace  Avery,  D.  B.  Cranson,  I.  B.  Freece,  L.  W. 
Stiles,  Nathaniel  Russell,  I.  A.  Hooker,  0.  M.  Pearl, 
George  W.  Richmond,  D.  F.  Badgerow,  Benjamin  Stiles, 
A.  H.  Richmond,  0.  B.  Stiles,  Harmon  Richmond,  David 
Sevy,  F.  0.  Richmond,  Alvah  Richmond,  David  Rich- 
mond, John  C.  Fox. 

THE   STATE   ROAD. 

The  old  State  road,  laid  out  between  Lansing  and  St.  Louis, 
was  a  famous  highway  in  ita  day,  not  only  for  the  great  vol- 
ume of  travel  flowing  over  its  surface,  but  for  the  roadside 
inns  which  dotted  it  at  frequent  intervals  and  refreshed  as 
well  as  sustained  the  weary  wayfarers  of  the  time.  T^he  road 
is  still  much  traveled,  and  boasts  still  numerous  roadside 
inns,  of  which  there  are  three  in  Greenbush  township.  The 
pioneer  tavern  on  the  road  in  Greenbush  was  one  put  up  by 
William  Wyman,  or  Yankee  Bill,  as  he  was  called,  on  sec- 
tion 8  just  east  of  the  burying-ground.  Yankee  Bill's 
tavern  was  a  poor  sort  of  an  affair,  and  although  it  suited 
well  enough  in  the  absence  of  other  places  of  entertain- 
ment, it  was  relegated  to  obscurity  as  soon  as  better  taverns 
appeared  upon  the  road.  Presently  Drake's  and  Coleman's 
taverns  presented  excellent  claims  upon  the  traveling  public, 
and  farther  north,  about  1860,  Chauncey  Morton  moved 
into  a  house  built  by  Stephen  MoPherson,  at  what  is  now 
McMaster's  Corners,  and  converted  it  into  a  tavern.  A 
post-office  was  established  at  Coleman's  Corners  about  1858, 
and  named  Keystone,  presumably  by  some  admirer  of 
Pennsylvania  or  of  Buchanan,  who  was  then  in  the  Presi- 
dential office.  Horace  Caster  was  appointed  postmaster, 
but  the  business  of  the  office  proving  insignificant,  it  was 
soon  discontinued.  Shortly  afterwards  the  office  was  re- 
newed and  located  at  Chauncey  Morton's  old  tavern-stand, 
then  being  kept  by  George  W.  Miller  and  called  the  Union 
Home.  The  latter  name  was  likewise  the  one  bestowed 
upon  the  post-office,  and  that  name  it  yet  bears.  The  office 
was  abolished  in  1864  and  restored  in  1871,  with  James 
C.  Barrus  as  postmaster,  who  moving  away  in  1876  was 
succeeded  by  William  Cams,  and  the  latter  in  1878  by  the 
present  incumbent,  S.  L.  McMaster.  A  daily  mail  is  re- 
ceived over  the  route  between  St.  Johns  and  St.  Louis. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  pioneer  school  house  in  Greenbush  was  an  aban- 
doned shanty  that  had  previously  served  David  Sevy  as 
a  residence.  It  stood  upon  the  southwestern  corner  of 
section  23,  and  in  it  the  first  school  was  taught  by  Lucinda, 
daughter  to  David  Richmond.  Miss  Richmond  taught  also 
the  second  school,  and  continued  to  teach  in  the  town  and 
vicinity  several  years. 

The  board  of  school  inspectors  met  for  organization  in 
t\\e  ^phpoUhov}se  pf  clistrict;  No.  1  qr  tlie  13th  of  April, 


1842,  and  chose  Runa  Morton  chairman.  District  No.  1 
was  apportioned  to  contain  the  north  half  of  section  26,  the 
whole  of  sections  23,  14,  11,  2,  3,  10,  15,  the  east  half  of 
section  22,  and  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  22.  No.  2  was  ordained  to 
contain  the  south  half  of  section  26,  the  whole  of  sections 
27,  28,  29,  20,  and  21,  the  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  22,  the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  the  southwest  quarter,  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 
southwest  quarter  and  northwest  quarter  of  22.  No.  3 
(fractional)  composed  of  portions  of  Ovid  and  Duplain, 
and  the  south  half  of  section  25,  the  east  half  of  section 
35,  and  the  whole  of  section  36  in  Greenbush,  was  formed 
April  9,  1847,  as  was  district  No.  4,  composed  of  sections 
2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  and  11.  No.  5  was  organized  May  6,  1850, 
and  contained  sections  30,  31,  32,  and  33,  with  the  south 
halves  of  28  and  29.  No.  6  was  organized  Oct.  25, 1852, 
and  included  sections  16,  17,  18,  19,  and  20,  the  west  half 
of  section  21,  and  the  north  half  of  section  29.  The  same 
day  No.  7  was  formed  with  sections  3,  4,  9,  and  10.  No. 
8  was  formed  April  15,  1856. 

A  report  dated  1847,  touching  the  township  library,  sets 
forth  that  Feb.  1,  1846,  L.  M.  Richmond  bought  books  to 
the  amount  of  fifty  dollars  and  twenty-eight  cents ;  that 
September,  1846,  Zelotes  Avery  bought  books  in  the  sum 
of  forty-one  dollars  and  twelve  cents ;  that  June,  1847,  the 
school  inspector  bought  a  book-case  for  twelve  dollars ;  and 
that  in  July,  1847,  John  Sevy  bought  books  for  twenty- 
one  dollars  and  sixty  cents.  Oct.  18,  1843,  an  annual  re- 
port testified  that  there  were  twenty-two  school  children  in 
district  No.  1,  that  school  had  been  taught  three  months  by 
Nancy  Richmond,  that  she  had  been  paid  two  dollars  per 
week  for  her  services,  and  that  nine  children  had  attended 
private  school.  The  annual  report  dated  Oct.  15,  1844, 
gave  out  that  in  district  No.  1  were  twenty-four  school 
children,  that  in  fractional  1  there  were  twenty-seven,  that 
the  attendance  in  both  districts  was  forty-four,  and  that 
seven  children  attended  private  school. 

The  list  of  teachers  appointed  between  1843  and  1860 
follows  here : 

Jan.  20,  1843. — Nancy  Richmond. 

July  1,  1843._Orpha  Tinkelpaugli. 

Nov.  4,  1843.— L.  M.  Richmond. 

May  8,  1844.— Amelia  F.  Richmond,  Celestia  F.  Sevy. 

May  3,  1845.— Sophia  Stark. 

Nov.  25,  1845. — John  Avery,  Jr. 

May  2,  1846.— Caroline  M.  Richmond,  Mary  E.  Sevy. 

Nov.  22,  1847. — Byron  Hollister. 

April  28,  1849.— Mary  E.  Sevy,  Harriet  Eagle. 

April  26,  1851.— Elvira  A.  Sevy. 

May  10,  1851. — Albina  S.  Chapman. 

May  17,  1851.— Catherine  E.  Beebe. 

Oct.  17, 1851.— Nancy  M.  Gunsally,  Mary  P.  Richmond. 

April  10,  1852.— Frances  A.  Chappell. 

Nov.  27,  1852.— Mary  M.  Hill,  Ann  S.  Avery. 

April  9,  1853.— Albina  S.  and  Mar}a  S,  Chapman. 

May  28,  1853.— Matilda  Besley. 

Nov.  5,  1853,— Mary  A.  Collier. 

Dec.  1, 1854.— Henrietta  L.  Richmond,  Mary  E,  Thomp- 
son, D.  A.  Clarlf,  and  Qrrin  Biercp, 


464 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


April  14,  1855.— Melinda  M.  Richmond,  Mary  C.  Rich- 
mond, Catherine  E.  Bebee. 

June  2,  1855.— Adelia  Smith. 

Nov.  3,  1855.— Arozina  P.  W.  Chapman. 

April  12,  1856— Mary  Cole. 

April  24,  1856.— Rebecca  V.  Young. 

May  6,  1856. — Mary  L.  tane. 

June  7,  1856. — Mary  Jane  Corwin. 

Nov.  12,  1856.— Sanford  H.  Baker. 

Dec.  2,  1856.— Henry  M.  Harrison. 

Dec.  10,  1856.— Lorenzo  D.  Cole. 

April  11,  1857.— Nancy  E.  Budd,  Ellen  Bachelder,  Lu- 
cinda  M.  Manchester. 

May  13,  1857. — Harriet  A.  Mattoon. 

Nov.  28,  1857.— William  W.  Wyman. 

Nov.  7,  1857.— Myron  Ellis,  Mr.  Hamlin. 

Jan.  23,  1858. — Nancy  Richmond. 
•Dec.  14,  1857. — Harriet  Crow. 

April  10,  1858.— Miss  R.  N.  Young. 

April  24,  1858.— Lucy  A.  Baldwin. 

May  15,  1858. — Charlotte  Smith,  Augusta  Chappell, 
Fannie  Chappell. 

May  28,  1858.— Emma  Pearl. 

Nov.  6,  1858. — J.  L.  Hamiel,  J.  C.  Jcwett,  Anthony 
Swarthout,  Myron  A.  Dunning,  Hattie  A.  Stiles. 

March  19,  1859. — Mary  Ann  Bryant. 

April  9,  1859. — Sarah  Nickerson,  Harriet  Jewett. 

June  13,  1859. — Lois  Mudge. 

The  annual  report  for  1879  gave  the  subjoined  details : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  7  ;  fractional  1) 8 

Number  of  scholars  of  school  age 446 

Teachers'  wages $1074.80 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  C.  L.  Putt,  C.  H. 
Bogardus,  W.  J.  Havens,  D.  K.  Greenwood,  J.  W.  Besley, 
H.  H.  Van  Sickle,  W.  N.  Daggett,  and  J.  J.  Bishop. 

TOWN   ROADS. 

Highways  were  to  the  early  settlers  among  the  most  im- 
portant of  requirements,  and  among  their  earliest  efforts 
after  getting  located  they  made  the  chopping-out  of  roads 
a  prominent  business.  Road-bees,  at  which  all  hands  as- 
sembled, usually  on  '  Saturdays,  pushed  matters  briskly 
forward  in  that  direction,  while  the  working  upon  high- 
ways for  the  non-resident  tax  was  almost  the  sole  means 
by  which  settlers  could  obtain  ready  cash.  In  April,  1842, 
the  town  was  divided  into  six  road  districts,  and  for  the 
year  1842  the  report  was  to  the  effect  that  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two  and  a  half  days'  labor  were  assessed,  that 
ninety-nine  and  a  half  days  were  worked,  and  that  Joseph 
Russell  and  John  Avery  were  paid  twenty- eight  dollars  for- 
repairing  highways. 

In  1844  the  assessment  of  highway  labor  in  days  was 
as  follows : 

District  No.  1 5]i 

"     2 :.:::;;:::;;;:  u 

I m 

i 23i 

^ H 

THE   VILLAGE  OF   EUREKA. 
During  the  year  1855,  J.  A.  Banington,  the  proprietor 
of  a  mill  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  was  compelled  in  course  of  a 


business  transaction  to  take  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  wild  land  on  section  15  in  the  township  of  Greenbush, 
and  while  wondering  what  he  would  do  about  it  he  met 
John  Power,  then  just  returned  home  from  a  land-looking 
tour  through  Michigan.  When  Power  learned  that  .Har- 
rington had  bought  some  timber-land  in  Greenbush,  he 
advised  him  to  take  his  mill-right  out  there  as  an  invest- 
ment that  would  pay  him  well.  Barrington  acted  upon 
the  advice  so  far  as  to  leave  at  once  upon  a  tour  of  inspec- 
tion, and  in  looking  through  the  neighborhood  of  his  land 
for  a  mill-site  came  upon  a  spot  in  section  2,  upon  Mill 
Creek,  which  suited  him,  and  putting  down  a  stake  declared 
that  he  would  bring  his  mill  out  and  put  it  up  there.  His 
guide  over  the  territory  was  Isaac  Eagles,  then  living  on 
section  11,  and  afterwards  one  of  a  company  of  three  who 
platted  Greenbush  village  in  1857. 

Barrington  bought  what  land  he  needed,  engaged  Par- 
sons Jeffreys  to  build  a  log  house,  George  Brewbaker  to 
put  in  the  under-frame  for  the  mill,  and  went  back  to  Ohio. 
When  he  got  there  and  told  what  he  had  done,  Clark  Wil- 
liams (qne  of  his  mill-hands)  and  a  Dr.  Rigdon  Potter 
bought  each  an  interest  with  him  as  partners,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1856,  Barrington  and  Potter  made  a  trip  to  Green- 
bush. They  found  matters  progressing  favorably,  and  upon 
their  return  to  Ohio  made  such  preparations  for  a  perma- 
nent transfer  of  the  mill  that  in  May  following  they  were 
en  route.  Williams  and  Jacob  Zullman,  a  mill-hand,  had 
their  families  with  them,  and  moved  into  the  doorless  and 
windowless  log  house  built  by  Jeffreys,  then  the  only 
house  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  village,  which 
was  then  simply  a  forest.  All  hands  set  in  to  complete 
the  mill,  and  got  on  so  well  that  on  the  1st  day  of  July, 
1856,  the  mill-wheel  was  started. 

The  saw-mill  being  accordingly  in  active  operation,  Bar- 
rington returned  to  Ohio  in  October.  In  January,  1857, 
he  came  back  to  Greenbush  with  a  small  run  of  stones,  and 
directly  a  grist-mill  added  its  music  to  the  buzz  of  the  saw. 
Meanwhile  the  starting  of  the  mill  had  suggested  the  idea 
of  a  village,  and  as  the  place  began  to  draw  considerable- 
business,  the  village  idea  took  shape.  Barrington,  Potter, 
and  Williams  laid  out  a  few  lots  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mill, 
and  presently  along  came  James  H.  Morrison  with  half  a 
wagon-load  of  goods,  and  opened  a  store  on  the  lot  now  oc- 
cupied by  0.  R.  Baker's  hardware-store.  The  building 
was  used  also  by  Morrison  as  a  residence,  and  was  the  first 
framed  house  the  village  boasted.  It  was  afterwards  en- 
larged by  David  Sturgis,  and  serves,  as  related,  as  Mr.  Ba- 
ker's store.  About  this  time  Parsons  Jeffreys,  Isaac  Eagles, 
G.  P.  Moore,  and  M.  E.  Burroughs,  owners  of  land  there- 
about, laid  out  the  plat  of  the  present  village,  and  recorded 
it  Dec.  17,  1857,  as  foUovFS :  "  That  part  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  2  commencing  at  the  quarter  post  on  the  south 
side  of  said  section  ;  thence  north  on  the  quarter  line  of  said 
section  thirty-one  rods ;  thence  west  forty-four  rods  so  as  to 
include  a  portion  of  the  stream  marked  Mill  Creek,  on  the 
plat  of  said  village  ;  thence  south  twenty-two  rods ;  thence 
east  three  rods  eighteen  links ;  thence  south  to  the  section 
line  ;  thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning.  Also  that  part 
of  section  11  commencing  at  the  quarter  post  on  the  north 


GKEENBUSH  TOWNSHIP. 


465 


side  of  said  section,  running;  west  twenty-one  rods  and  one 
Unit ;  llience  south  thirty-eight  rods  and  ten  links ;  thence  east 
twenty-one  rods  one  link  to  the  quarter  line ;  thence  north  to 
the  place  of  beginning.  Also  that  part  of  section  1 1  com- 
mencinpr  at  the  quarter  post  aforesaid,  thence  south  on  the 
quarter  line  thirty-eight  rods  ten  links ;  thence  east  forty-four 
rods ;  thence  north  thirty-eight  rods  ten  links  to  the  section- 
line  ;  thence  west  on  the  section-line  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning," The  village  was  named  Greenbush  by  the  pro- 
prietors, although  before  the  platting  the  place  had  been 
variously  known  by  the  names  of  Williamsport,  Barrington, 
and  Swizzletown.  Indeed,  the  latter  designation  clung  to 
the  place  even  after  Greenbush  became  the  formally-adopted 
appellation.  It  was  a  name  applied  in  derision,  because  of 
a  conceived  notion  that  the  villagers  were  in  the  main  given 
overmuch  to  a  taste  for  strong  drink.  Despite  the  coun- 
teracting influence  of  those  who  blushed  to  hear  the  name, 
Swizzletown  was  spread  far  and  near,  and  by  that  mark 
alone  was  the  village  known  to  many. 

When  the  village  was  platted  Avery  Chappell,  who  had 
been  keeping  a  small  store  and  the  Greenbush  post-office, 
about  a  mile  to  the  westward,  removed  the  store  and  post- 
office  to  the  town.  This  post-office  was  established  as 
Greenbush  as  far  back  as  1843  at  David  Eichmond's  house, 
and  his  son  Lyman  appointed  postmaster.  Mail  was  re- 
ceived from  Owosso  by  way  of  the  Colony.  Lyman  Rich- 
mond was  the  postmaster  until  1846,  when  David  Sevy  re- 
ceived the  office,  and  after  holding  it  a  year  relinquished  it 
to  Alvah  Richmond.  The  latter  was  in  possession  from 
1851  to  about  1856,  when  Avery  Chappell  came  in.  E. 
R.  Hayden  succeeded  Chappell  in  1861,  and  to  Hayden 
succeeded  Edward  Stark.  During  Stark's  time  the  name 
of  the  office  as  well  as  that  of  the  village  was  changed  to 
Eureka.  There  being  a  post-office  in  Alcona  County  called 
Greenbush  there  was  some  confusion  in  the  mails,  and  thus 
a  change  was  demanded.  Edward  Stark  being  called  upon 
to  suggest  a  name  declared  at  once  in  favor  of  P]ureka,  on 
the  ground  that  he  thought  he  had  found  in  the  village  a 
most  excellent  opening  for  business,  together  with  the 
promise  of  greater  things  to  come.  The  time  seemed  also 
appropriate  to  make  a  change  in  the  village  name,  since 
Swizzletown  kept  right  on  disputing  the  honors  with 
Greenbush.  Stephen  Pearl,  determined  to  do  what  he 
could  to  impress  the  general  public  with  the  truth  that 
the  village  was  not  Swizzletown,  placed  a  great  sign  over 
against  his  store  adorned  with  the  letters  E-u-r-e-k-a. 

Continuing  the  post-office  history,  W.  N.  Daggett  suc- 
ceeded Stark  in  1868,  and  in  1875  gave  way  to  William 
Bowles,  who,  in  1878,  was  followed  by  Daniel  Turner,  the 
present  incumbent. 

Morrison,  the  first  storekeeper,  soon  sold  out  to  David 
Sturgis,  and  he  to  M.  E.  Burroughs.  George  Stark,  who 
had  been  selling  a  few  goods  from  his  house,  bought  out 
Burroughs,  and  soon  after  that  joined  Stephen  Pearl  in 
trade.  When  Pearl  and  Stark  decided  to  remove  they  left 
their  stock  of  goods  with  Robert  Clark,  a  blacksmith,  who 
had,  with  George  P.  Moorej  set  up  the  pioneer  smithy  in 
the  village.  Moore  was  a  partner  in  the  mill  as  well  as  in 
the  blacksmith's  shop,  and  was  one  of  the  village  proprie- 
tors. Clark  continued  his  shop  business  while  he  sold 
59 


goods,  and  doing  so  well  at  the  latter  he  relinquished  the 
shop,  and,  devoting  himself  to  trade,  soon  became  a  promi- 
nent merchant. 

Martin  Merritt  built  the  tavern  now  called  the  Northern 
Hotel  soon  after  the  mill  started,  and  in  due  season  there 
came  a  Dr.  Cargill,  who  boarded  at  W.  N.  Daggett's  and 
practiced  medicine  about  six  months.  He  probably  found 
the  practice  profitless,  for  he  retired  from  the  field  in  favor 
of  Dr.  H.  A.  Stokes,  who  stopped  a  year  or  so,  and  then 
Dr.  A.  H.  Weston  supplied  the  vacancy.  Weston  entered 
the  military  service  in  1863  and  returned  no  more.  In 
1864,  Dr.  E.  R.  Hayden  opened  an  office,  and  tarried  for 
the  extended  space  of  fourteen  years.  Eureka's  physicians 
now  number  three, — Dr.  Samuel  Post,  Dr.  Hamlet  Hart, 
and  Dr.  E.  S.  Walker. 

The  mill  built  by  Barrington,  Potter  &  Williams  stood 
until  1861,  when  a  fire  destroyed  it.  In  1863,  Mr.  Bar- 
rington built  a  new  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  in  1865. 
Those  mills  are  the  ones  still  carried  on  by  Barrington. 

CHURCHES. 
THE  GREENBUSH  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH, 
the  oldest  religious  organization  at  Eureka,  was  formed  May 
14,  1856,  at  the  Sherwood  school-house,  then  a  log  struc- 
ture. The  organizing  members  were  Walter  Pierson  and 
wife,  Albert  Pierson  and  wife,  Samuel  Westbrook,  and 
Esther  Thompson,  all  of  whom  had  been  members  of  Chris- 
tian churches  in  Ohio.  Elder  Elijah  Beard,  who  effected 
the  organization,  was  employed  to  preach  once  a  month, 
and  in  1857,  Elder  Elislia  Mudge,  of  Maple  Rapids,  was 
called  to  succeed  him.  In  the  spring  of  1858,' I.  Cofiinan 
joined  the  church,  and  with  Walter  Pierson  served  as 
deacon.  During  Elder  Mudge's  term  of  service  the  school- 
house  at  what  is  now  the  village  of  Eureka  was  completed, 
and  directly  upon  that  event,  in  the  fall  of  1859,  he  preached 
there  the  first  sermon  delivered  in  the  village.  The  subject  was 
"  The  relation  of  science  to  religion,"  and  so  well  pleased  were 
the  inhabitants  with  the  introduction  of  religious  services 
that  Elder  Mudge  was  engaged  to  preach  at  the  village  at 
stated  intervals,  his  labors  for  the  Christian  Church  at  the 
Sherwood  school-house  continuing  as  before.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1859  and  '60  a  series  of  revival-meetings  set  in, 
and  thirty-five  persons  were  as  a  result  received  into  church 
membership.  At  this  time  the  place  of  worship  was  per- 
manently transferred  to  Greenbush  village,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1860  a  membership  of  fifty-six  was  reported  to  the 
Grand  Valley  Christian  Conference. 

Elder  Mudge  resigned  in  1861,' and  Elder  Beard  was 
recalled.  In  1865  he  retired,  and  until  1868,  Elder  Mudge 
preached  from  time  to  time.  Elder  E.  Crosby  followed, 
and  in  1869  a  Church  Society  was  organized  for  the  purpose 
of  building  a  church,  which  was,  however,  so  slow  in  con- 
struction that  it  was  not  dedicated  until  1871,  the  dedica- 
tion sermon  being  preached  by  Rev.  D.  E.  Millard,  of 
Jackson.  Meanwhile,  Revs.  L.  N.  Barber  and  S.  Brad- 
shaw  occupied  the  charge,  and  Barber  returning  in  1871, 
remained  until  1873.  After  that  the  pulpit  was  occupied 
successively  by  Revs.  George  Myers,  0.  P.  Alderman, 
Frank  0.  Dickey,  and  Elijah  Beard.  Beard  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.   Solomon    Snyder,   the  present   pastor,  who 


466 


HISTOKY  OP  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


preaches  twice  each  month.  The  church  membership  is 
now  thirty.  The  deacons  are  Walter  Pierson  and  Ben- 
jamin Wadsworth. 

UNITED   BRETHREN   CHURCH. 

Previous  to  1866,  Eev.  Mr.  Shelley  visited  Eureka  occa- 
sionally to  hold  United  Brethren  services  in  the  village 
school-house,  and  in  that  year  organized  a  class  with  about 
twelve  members.  The  school-liouse  was  used  as  a  place  of 
worship  until  1870,  when  the  present  church  edifice  was 
completed  and  dedicated  the  fall  of  that  year.  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Mowers  preaching  the  dedication  sermon.  Then  the 
membership  was  twenty ;  now  it  is  twenty-eight.  Among 
the  ministers  in  charge  early  in  the  history  of  the  church 
were  Revs.  Miller,  Briedenstein,  and  Kinney.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  J.  J.  Sly,  in  charge  of  the  Ovid  Circuit. 
The  class-leader  is  Lester  Wright,  and  the  Sunday-school 
superintendent  S.  J.  Mullet.  The  school  is  supported  by 
the  attendance  in  union  of  representatives  of  various  relig- 
ious denominations,  and  has  upon  its  roll  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  names. 

EUREKA   METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CLASS. 

In  April,  1880,  Rev.  C.  A.  Jacokes,  of  Duplain,  organ- 
ized a  class  at  Eureka  with  about  twelve  members.  Mr. 
Jacokes  preaches  to  the  class  in  the  United  Brethren  class 
once  in  two  weeks. 

GREENBUSH  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CLASS. 
This,  one  of  the  earliest  religious  organizations  in  the 
township,  was  formed  about  1855,  in  what  was  then  known 
as  the  Wildcat  school-house.  In  1S60  it  contained  about 
fifteen  members,  and  in  1865  moved  over  to  the  Sherwood 
school-house,  where  services  were  held  until  1877,  when  the 
Grange  Hall  was  occupied.  There  the  class  still  worships 
once  each  fortnight,  Rev.  Mr.  Hamilton  being  the  pastor, 
and  Peter  Fleagle  the  class-leader.  The  membership  is 
about  thirty.  A  union  Sunday-school  meets  in  the  same 
place,  and  is  prosperously  patronized. 

MANUPACTUEES. 

The  most  extensive  manufacturing  interest  in  Grecnbush 
is  the  fanning-mill  factory  of  W.  T.  and  R.  E.  Davies  on 
section  15,  founded  by  them  in  1855.  The  Davies  broth- 
ers had  worked  at  the  fanning-mill  business  in  New  York 
State,  and  in  1855,  with  the  savings  of  a  few  hundred 
dollars,  were  prospecting  in  Michigan  for  a  location 
where  they  might  set  up  in  that  business  on  their  own 
account.  That  location  they  concluded  to  fix  somewhere 
near  the  route  of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad, 
.about  half  way  between  Corunna  and  Ionia,  at  each  of 
which  places  there  was  a  fanning-mill  factory.  Visitino-  St. 
Johns,  they  found  it  a  place  "  of  logs,  fire-heaps,  and  mud, 
without  a  passable  road  anywhere,"  and  although  John 
Swegles  offered  to  donate  them  land  as  an  inducement  to 
them  to  locate  their  factory  there,  they  would  not  stop,  but 
pushed  on  with  intent  to  visit  Craven's  mills,  in  Duplain. 
En  route  they  stopped  overnight  at  Alvah  Richmond's,  in 
Greenbush,  and  that  night  attending  school-meeting,  met 


David  Sevy,  who  carried  on  near  his  residence  a  little  shop 
where  he  made  chairs  and   spinning-wheels.     Sevy  soon 
learned  the  bent  of  the  brothers'  inclination,  and  suggested 
that  they  might  do  worse  than  make  their  location  right 
there,  adding  that  he  would  agree  to  do  what  "  turning" 
they  might  need.     They  considered  the  suggestion  favora- 
bly, and  the  next  day  decided  to  start  their  factory  there, 
rented  Sevy's  shop,  and  arranged  to  board  with  him  at  two 
dollars  per  week.     They  began  business  Oct.  5,  1855,  and 
that  year,  unaided,  made  one  hundred  fanning-mills  entirely 
by  hand,  and  sold  them  as  fast  as  they  could  make  them. 
The  next  year  Henry  Toms,  a  former  fellow-workman  in 
New  York  State,  came  along,  and  having  a  little  ready 
money,  of  which   the   brothers   then  stood   in   need,  he 
bought  a  third  interest  in  the  bu.siness.     During  that  year 
the  firm  turned  out  one  hundred  fanning-mills  and  one 
hundred  milk-safes.    In  1857,  B.  E.  Davies  went  out  on  a 
pedestrian  collecting  tour,  and  af^er  an  absence  of  a  week 
got  back  with  just  one  hundred  dollars.    This  was  the  year 
of  the  financial  panic,  and  Michigan  banks  went  down  right 
and  lefl.     Of  the  one  hundred  dollars  every  dollar  but  a 
twenty-dollar  Ohio  bank-bill  was  Michigan  money,  and  al- 
though it  was  presumably  good  when  Davies  took  it,  it  was 
worthless  when  he  got  home.     Such  a  condition  of  things 
discouraged  Toms,  who  sold  out  to  the  brothers.     They 
kept  right  on  with  rugged  faith  and  persistence,  and  by 
1859  had  reached  a  prosperous  era.     They  then  removed 
their  works  to  their  present  location,  and  have  each  succes- 
sive year  expanded  and  strengthened  their  business  to  its 
present   considerable    proportions.      They  employ  sixteen 
men,  and  manufacture  yearly  five  hundred  fanning-mills 
and  two  hundred  milk-safes,  all  of  which  they  sell  directly 
through  their  own  agents  in  various  portions  of  the  State. 
The   Greenbush  Foundry. — This  manufactory  antedates 
any  of  Greenbush's  manufacturing  enterprises.    It  has  been 
in  active  operation  since  1850,  when  Samuel  Rowell  and 
Stephen  Pearl  undertook  upon  section  36  to  make  plows  and 
andirons.     Pearl  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Zelotes  Avery, 
who  was  in  turn  bought  out  by  Samuel  Rowell,  his  partner. 
Mr.  Rowell  carried  on  the  business  until  1873,  when  he 
retired  from  active  pursuits  and  the  foundry  passed  to  the 
possession  of  his  son  Stephen,  who  is  still  its  proprietor. 
He  employs  five  people,  and  manufactures  plows,  cultiva- 
tors, drags,  etc.,  besides  doing  a  large  business  in  the  way' 
of  general  repairs.     The  annual  product  of  his  foundry 
aggregates  one  hundred  and  twenty  plows,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  cultivators,  twenty  drags,  and  upwards  of 
six  thousand  plow-points. 

Greenbush  Pump-  Works.— R.  L.  Post  settled  in  Green- 
bush in  1857,  upon  section  4,  where  a  Mr.  Tubbs  had 
cleared  about  five  acres.  He  used  to  make  pumps  for  his 
neighbors,  but  devoted  to  the  production  of  each  no  more 
skill  than  was  necessary  to  simply  bore  out  a  common  log 
and  trim  it  down.  In  1864,  however,  his  son  Leonard 
conceived  the  idea  of  starting  a  pump-factory  of  some  pre- 
tensions,- and  in  that  year,  accordingly,  he  put  up  on  section 
4  a  small  afliair,  which  he  carried  on  until  1866.  An  in- 
crease in  his  business  then  warranted  an  extension  of  facili- 
ties, and  in  the  year  last  named  he  built  the  works  on  sec- 
tion 8  which  he  still  controls.  He  manufactures  yearly  about 


GREENBUSH  TOWNSHIP. 


467 


three  hundred  pumps,  two  hundred  milk-safes,  and  a  mis- 
cellaneous list  of  agricultural  implements,  etc. 

SECKET  ORDERS. 
GREENBUSH  LODGE,  No.  209,  I.  0.  0.  P. 

This  lodge  was  organized  at  Eureka  June  3,  1873,  and 
chartered  Feb.  20,  1874.  The  charter  members  were  Wil- 
liam Spade,  John  J.  Bowers,  S.  M.  Post,  William  Cobble- 
stone, L.  Randolph,  L.  N.  Barber,  and  W.  H.  Morrison. 
The  first  list  of  ofScers  included  William  Spade,  N.  Gr. ;  S. 
M.  Post,  V.  G. ;  J.  J.  Bowers,  R.  S. ;  W.  H.  Morrison, 
Treas.  From  the  date  of  organization  to  the  present  those 
who  have  filled  the  chair  of  Noble  Grand  have  been  William 
Spade;  S.  M.  Post,  J.  J.  Bowers,  Benjamin  Austin,  Jackson 
Page,  James  Lindley,  C.  L.  Putt,  I.  D.  Richmond,  and 
David  Henry.  The  present  membership  is  forty.  The  of- 
ficers are  David  Henry,  N.  G. ;  Chauncey  Sevy,  V.  G. ; 
J.  R.  Jefi"reys,  R.  S. ;  William  Funk,  P.  S. ;  J.  J.  Bowers, 
Treas. 

GREENBUSH  LODGE,  No.  318,  F.  AND  A.  M. 
This  lodge  was  organized  at  Eureka  June  23,  1873. 
The  first  officers  were  J.  R.  Carter,  W.  M. ;  J.  E.  Power, 
S.  W. ;  Robert  Clark,  J.  W. ;  Eli  Tinkelpaugh,  S.  D. ;  H. 
A.  Smith,  Sec. ;  Wm.  J.  Havens,  J.  D. ;  Henry  Demott, 
Treas. ;  •  Thompson  Kirby,  Tiler.  J.  E.  Power  and  J.  R. 
Carter  have  occupied  between  them  the  office  of  Worship- 
ful Master  since  the  organization  of  tlie  lodge.  The  mem- 
bers number  now  forty.  The  officers  for  1880  are  J.  R. 
Carter,  W.  M. ;  J.  L.  Eagles,  S.  W. ;  H.  H.  Smith,  J.  W. ; 
H.  V.  Pray,  Sec. ;  Robert  Clark,  Treas. ;  I.  N.  Eagles,  S.  D. ; 
Charles  Hunt,  J.  D. ;  Uriah  Higbee,  Tiler. 

KEYSTONE  GRANGE,  No.  226,  P.  OP  H. 
This  flourishing  grange,  which  has  an  active  membership 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty,  owns  a  finely-appointed  grange 
hall  and  store  on  section  16.  Regular  sessions  are  held  each 
Saturday.  The  officers  for  1880  are  John  Keiser,  M. ; 
C.  L.  Putt,  0. ;  Altman,  L. ;  Peter  Fleagle,  Chap- 
lain j.Roswell  Dexter,  Sec;  John  Matthews,  Treas.;  D. 
Perkins,  Steward. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


CAPT.  DAVID  S.  FRENCH.* 

Capt.  David  S.  French,  of  St.  Johns,  Mich.,  was  born  in 
Lawrenceburg,  Ind.,  April  4,  1844.  Lewis  and  Maria 
(Sargent)  French,  his  parents,  were  early  settlers  in  the 
Ohio  Valley.  His  father,  a  lawyer  for  thirty  years  in  Cin- 
cinnati, maried  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  leading  families  of 
that  city. 

Mr.  French  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Cincinnati. 
The  year  that  he  should  have  graduated,  Mr.  Lincoln  issued 
a  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  men.  Thirty-six  hours 
aflerwards  the  Cincinnati  Zouave  Guard,  to  which  Mr. 

*  Prom  "Eminent  Men  of  Michigan." 


French  belonged,  entered  the  service.  They  were  incor- 
porated in  the  Second  Ohio  Infantry,  and  went  to  Baltimore 
and;  Washington.  Mr.  French  was  engaged  in  the  first 
Bull  Run  fight,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  Aug.  6, 
1861.  In  August,  1862,  although  but  eighteen  years  of 
age,  under  protest  of  friends  and  relatives,  he  again  sacri- 
ficed the  comforts  of  home  for  his  country,  and  enlisted  as 
private  in  the  Eleventh  Ohio  Infantry,  under  Gen.  J.  War- 
ren Keifer.  He  served  in  West  Virginia  during  1862 
and  the  spring  of  1863,  participating  in  the  battles  of 
Strasburg,  Capon  Springs,  Moorfield,  Romney,  and  Win- 
chester, remaining  in  Winchester,  Va.,  until  driven  out 
by  Lee's  army  in  their  advance  into  Pennsylvania  in  June, 
1863.  After  this  the  army  to  which  he  was  attached 
hastened  forward  to  reinforce  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1863,  immediately  after  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  Mr.  French  was  transferred  with  his  regi- 
ment to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  took  part  in  nu- 
merous engagements  during  the  remainder  of  that  year  and 
the  spring  of  1864.  He  was  in  the  campaign  with  Gen. 
Grant  from  the  Rapidan  through  the  Wilderness,  and  its 
numerous  engagements  to  Richmond.  In  July,  1864,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  second  lieutenancy,  and  during  that 
month  the  Sixth  Corps,  under  Gen.  Wright,  to  which  his 
regiment  belonged,  was  ordered  to  the  defense  of  Washing- 
ton against  Gen.  Early.  After  the  battles  of  Kernstown, 
Monocacy,  Md.,  and  Frederick,  the  corps  was  ordered  to 
join  Gen.  Sheridan's  army  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.  Dur- 
ing the  campaign  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Mr.  French 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Opequan,  Winchester,  Fisher's 
Hill,  Cedar  Creek,  and  after  the  last  battle  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant.  On  the  close  of  Sheridan's  cam- 
paign he  was  transferred  with  his  regiment  back  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  1865  he  joined  in  the  final 
assault  on  the  outer  line  of  works  of  the  last  stronghold 
of  the  Confederacy,  Petersburg,  and  took  part  in  the  attack 
which  carried  the  place,  April  2d,  and  culminated  in  the 
surrender  of  Lee.  He  was  brevetted  captain  for  merito- 
rious conduct  in  this  campaign.  He  was  mustered  out  of 
service  July  1,  1865,  and  engaged  in  general  mercantile 
business  at  Brookston,  Ind.,  four  years.  In  1870  he  en- 
gaged with  the  St.  Johns  Manufacturing  Company  at 
Piqua,  Ohio.  The  following  year,  at  the  request  of  the 
president  of  the  company,  he  removed  to  St.  Johns,  Clin- 
ton Co.,  Mich.,  to  act  as  secretary  and  general  manager  of 
the  business  of  the  company.  In  1877  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  village,  and  re-elected  in  1878-79.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Consistory  in  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
and  has  taken  all  the  degrees  in  the  Blue  Lodge  Chapter 
and  Commandery.  He  is  an  Episcopalian.  He  c'ast  his 
first  vote  for  Grant,  and  is  an  active  Republican.  He 
married.  May  26,  1866,  Cornelia  B.  Mitchell,  daughter  of 
Joseph  M.  Mitchell,  a  pioneer  settler  in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio. 
Energy,  perseverance,  and  strict  integrity  have  marked  his 
course  in  life.  In  December,  1879,  he  traded  his  village 
property  for  an  elegant  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  four  miles  north  of  the  village  ;  it  has  been  known  as 
Coleman's  Hotel.  Since  its  change  of  hands  it  has  under- 
gone some  very  marked  improvements,  and  under  its  new 
name  (The  Park  House)  it  is  a  desirable  summer  resort, 


468 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


and  has  had  the  praise  of  all  the  surrounding  citizens  and 
his  large  circle  of  friends. 


DAVID  LEVY. 


This  gentleman  was  one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  and 
the  only  one  now  surviving ;  was  horn  in  New  Hampshire, 
June  19, 1804,  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Mary  (Blake)  Levy, 
being  also  natives  of  the  same  State. 

When  David  was  six  years  old  his  parents  removed  to 
Vermont,  and  at  thirteen  removed  with  him  to  Genesee 


DAVID   LEVY. 

Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  both  died,  his  father  in  1848,  his 
mother  surviving  three  years  later. 

David  remained  at  home  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty,  assisting  his  parents.  Feb.  24, 1824,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Khoda  Baker,  a  resident  of  the  same  county  but  a 
native  of  Vermont.  Here  in  Genesee  County  they  re- 
mained for  some  fifteen  years,  David  following  his  trade  as 
cabinet-maker.  In  the  spring  of  1839  they  removed  to 
Michigan,  coming  by  wagon  to  Buffalo,  lake  to  Detroit, 
thence  by  wagon  to  this  township,  locating  first  on  section 
23.  They  were  one  of  the  first  families  to  settle  in  that 
part  of  the  township,  and  Mr.  Levy  and  Mr.  Daggett  being 
the  only  ones  left  of  the  first  pioneers  of  this  section.  Mr. 
Levy's  first  purchase  was  of  forty  acres,  to  which  he  soon 
added  forty,  clearing  and  improving  them. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Levy  were  born  seven  children,  of  whom 
only  four  are  living,  these  grown  to  maturity,  married  and 
settled,  living  near  their  father.  The  mother,  after  endur- 
ing all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life,  and 
burying  three  of  her  children,  succumbed  to  her  trials  and 
in  1870  passed  from  earth,  regretted  and  mourned  by  many 
friends  besides  her  husband  and  children. 

Mr.  Levy  for  three  years  subsequently  lived  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Covertson,  when  he  was  again  married,  his 


second  wife  having  been  a  Mrs.  Stiles.  She  only  lived  four 
years.  Since  her  death  he  has  resided  with  his  eldest  son. 
He  is  in  politics  Republican,  and  has  held  a  number  of 
township  oflSces,  among  which  are  supervisor  (two  years), 
township  clerk,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  highway  commis- 
sioner He  is  a  member  of  the  Seventh-Day  Adventist 
denomination,  as  was  his  last  wife,  and  although  seventy-, 
six  years  of  age  assisted  in  planting  corn  this  spring.  Is 
hale  and  hearty,  retaining  his  full  mental  faculties,  a  true 
pioneer  of  pioneer  days. 


WILLIAM  T.  AND  ROBERT  E.  DAVIES. 

William  T.  and  Robert  B.  Davies  were  born  in  England, 
the  first  named  in  Kent  County,  Aug.  30,  1829,  the 
second  in  Sussex  County,  Oct.  5,  1830,  and  are  the  sons 
of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann  (Thomas)  Davies.  Their  father 
traces  his  ancestry  to  Wales ;  served  as  sergeant  in  the  Eng- 
o-lish  army  twenty-six  and  one-half  years ;  he  was  with  Wel- 
lington in  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  after  which  he  was  dis- 
charged from  the  service  and  pensioned  for  life,  receiving 
in  addition  in  consideration  for  past  services  an  appoint- 
ment from  the  government  as  station-keeper  at  the  ancient 
town  of  Winchelsea,  where  he  died  in  August,  1859,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy. 

Robert,  Jr.,  came  to  America  in  1849,  and  was  followed  by 
William  two  years  later.  They  located  at  Lyons,  N.  Y 
where  they  learned  their  trade,  that  of  fanning  mill  making, 
of  John  Gilbert,  serving  ati  apprenticeship  of  three  years. 
They  then  came  West,  locating  the  first  year  in  Grand 
Rapids,  working  at  the  same  trade.  In  1855  they  moved 
to  Greenbush  and  established  their  present  business,  first 
renting  a  shop  of  David  Levy,  manufacturing  the  first  one 
hundred  mills  by  hand.  The  second  year  they  added  the 
manufacturing  of  milk-safes,  taking  as  a  partnei;  an  old 
schoolmate,  Henry  Toms  ;  he  only  remained  one  year.  In 
1859  they  bought  their  present  home,  which  then  had  but 
little  improvement,  but  by  their  energy  and  zeal  they  have 
erected  their  buildings,  increased  their  business  until  at  the 
present  time  they  employ  fourteen  men  in  building  mills 
and  safes.  They  also  combine  farming  with  their  manu- 
facturing, owning  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  in  their 
home-farm,  besides  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Gra- 
tiot County.  When  they  started  their  capital  was  health,  a 
strong  arm,  and  willing  heart,  and  not  over  five  dollars  in 
cash  when  landed  in  America. 

William  was  married  in  November,.1856,  to  Miss  Janette 
Levy,  daughter  of  Daniel  Levi,  Esq.  To  them  have  been 
born  two  boys  and  four  girls.  Robert  was  married  in 
Grand  Rapids,  June,  1866,  to  Miss  Alice  Thomas,  who  was 
a  native  of  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  born  Aug.  8,  1833.  They  are 
the  parents  of  two  boys  and  two  girls. 

After  the  death  of  their  father  their  mother  came  to 
Michigan,  where  she  lived  with  her  sons  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1874,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy- 
seven. 

In  politics  both  are  Republicans,  and  have  filled  several 
of  the  various  township  ofiSccs.     Robert  was  for  eighteen 


LEBANON  TOWNSHIP. 


469 


years  township  clerk,  and  William  several  years  highway 
commissioner. 

Robert  and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  William  is  liberal  in  his  views,  and  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Adventist  denomination. 

W.  T.  Davies'  residence  is  on  the  same  side  of  the  street 
as  the  factory. 


CHAPTER    LX. 
LEBANON   TOWNSHIP.* 

General  Deaoription  of  the  Township — Original  Surveys — Land-En- 
tries  First  and  Other  Early  Settlements — Salt- Works  Village  and 

Wildcat  Banking — Residents  in  the  Township  in  1840 — The  In- 
dian Chief  Makitoquet — Educational  and  Keligious — Civil  History 
of  the  Township. 

This  township,  .which  was  designated  in  the  field-notes 
of  the  United  States  survey  as  township  No.  8  north,  of 
rant'e  No.  4  west,  lies  in  the  extreme  northwest  corner 
of  Clinton  County.  North  Shade,  in  Gratiot  County,  forms 
its  northern  boundary ;  North  Plains,  in  Ionia  County,  its 
western  ;  while  Essex  and  Dallas  townships,  respectively,  in 
Clinton  County,  are  situated  upon  its  eastern  and  southern 
borders. 

The  surface,. diversified  by  plains,  occasional  blufiB,  and 
rolling  uplands,  is  drained  by  the  Maple  River  and  its 
numerous  small  tributary  creeks  and  rivulets.  The  former 
stream  in  its  flow  towards  Grand  River  crosses  the  town- 
ship diagonally  from  the  northeast  to  near  the  southwest 
corner.  It  has  a  sluggish  current,  offering  no  advantageous 
mill-sites.  Back  from  it  in  either  direction  for  the  distance 
of  about  one  mile  occurs  a  surface  more  than  usually 
broken  and  covered  with  loose  bowlders.  The  original 
timber  was  principally  of  the  deciduous  varieties  common 
to  the  Peninsular  State,  and  in  consequence  the  soil  is  well 
adapted  to  grazing  and  the  production  of  corn,  fruit,  vege- 
tables, and  the  various  cereals. 

Lebanon  boasts  neither  a  railroad,  village,  church,  or 
post-oflSce.  Mail  facilities  are  afforded  at  the  village  of 
Maple  Rapids,  in  Essex  township,  also  at  Hubbardston 
and  Matherton  villages,  which  lie  mainly  in  the  township 
of  North  Plains,  Ionia  Co.,  yet  encroach  upon  the  limits 
of  this. 

The  fair-grounds  of  the  Central  Fair  Association,  com- 
posed  of  members  residing  in  the  counties  of  Clinton, 
Gratiot,  Ionia,  and  Montcalm,  are  located  on  section  18, 
just  east  of  the  village  of  Hubbardston.  The  grounds, 
about  thirty  acres  in  extent,  are  very  pleasantly  situated, 
and  the  annual  meetings  are  largely  attended. 

Agricultural  pursuits  occupy  the  chief  attention  of  the 
people.  Many  buildings  evince  taste  and  wealth,  while  the 
farm-lands  seem  to  be  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

ORIGINAL  SUKVBYS. 
In  February  and  March,  1831,  Robert  Clark,  Jr.,  ran 
out  the  boundary  lines  of  the  territory  then  first  designated 

*  By  John  S.  Sohenck. 


township  No.  8  north,  of  range  No.  4  west.  The  work  of 
subdividing  the  same  was  performed  by  Orange  Risdon 
from  July  26  to  Aug.  10,  1831.  He  also  meandered 
Maple  River  in  October  of  the  same  year.  Both  Messrs. 
Clark  and  Risdon  were  entitled  Deputy  United  States  Sur- 
veyors, and  did  their  work  under  contract  and  instructions 
received  from  William  Lytle,  Surveyor-General  of  the 
United  States.  They  reported  the  lands  as  generally  good, 
rolling,  and  heavily  timbered. 

LAND-ENTEIES. 
The  following  list  includes  the  names  of  those  who  pur- 
chased of  the  general  government  lands  situated  in  this 
township. 

SECTION    1. 

William  Hoskins,  May  7, 1836. 

Charles  N.  Bristol,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dee;  (3,  1836. 
David  P.  Weeks,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1850. 
Warren  A.  Sherwood,  Lookport,  N.  Y.,  December,  1852. 
Joshua  W.  Waterman,  Detroit,  Mich.,  August,  1853. 

SECTION   2. 

Alvin  Billings,  Richland,  Ohio,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
Luther  Briggs,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
Warren  A.  Sherwood,  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  Deo.  22,  1852. 
Joshua  W.  Waterman,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Aug.  18,  1853. 

SECTION   3. 

Bradley  True,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Fob.  15,  1837. 
Alanson  Aldrich,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
Alvin  Billings,  Richland,  Ohio,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
John  Ennis,  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1853. 
Joshua  W.  Waterman,  Detroit,  Mich.,  August,  1853. 
Chauncey  D.  Webster,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1854. 

SECTION    4. 

George  W.  Dickinson,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  8,  1836. 
Sylvanus  Hopkins,  Sept.  4, 1851. 
George  W.  Rathburn,  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1853. 
John  Ennis,  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1853. 
Joshua  W.  Waterman,  Detroit,  Mich.,  August,  1853. 

SECTION   5. 

Amos  Daniels,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  29,  1836. 
Sanford  Vandusen,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1851. 
Thomas  Jennings,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  September,  1851. 
Thomas  French,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  October,  1851. 
Abram  Terwilliger,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  August,  1853. 
Albert  Daniels,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1853. 

SECTION   6. 
George  W.  Dickinson,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  8,  1836. 
Edward  Petteys,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mieh.,  Dec.  12,  1836. 
Milo  Benham,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  30,  1837. 
''    John  B.  Contine,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  12,  1851. 

SECTION  7. 
Andrew  T.  McReynolds,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Amos  Boughton,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  February,  1837. 
John  Minich,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  August,  1851. 
Lyman  Daniels,  Ionia  Co.,  Mioh.,  October,  18o2. 

SECTION  8. 
Chester  Ingalls,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  13, 1837 
William  W.  AinslejP,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1849. 
Reuben  Ferris,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1851. 
George  E.  Gifford,  July,  1851. 
Thomas  Satterlee,  Welshfield,  Ohio,  August,  18..1. 
Royal  Bradish,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1851 
William  W.  Edmiuster,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  18o4. 


470 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SECTION  9. 
Jarvia  Hoag,  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  Nov.  8,  1836. 
Andrew  T.  MoReynolds,  Wayne  Co.,  Mioh.,  November,  1836. 
Sylvanus  Hopkins,  September,  1851. 
John  Stoddard,  October,  1851. 
Robert  W.  Davis,  September,  1852. 

SECTION  10. 
Richard  P.  Hart  and  George  M.  Mills,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Feb.  2, 

1836. 
Robert  S.  Parks  and  Lawaon  S.  Warner,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  September, 

1836. 
John  Booth,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  13, 1837. 
R.  S.  Parks  and  L.  S.  Warner,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1 837. 
Charles  A.  Trowbridge,  Detroit,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 

SECTION  11. 
Hart  &  Mills,  Grand  Rapids,  Mioh.,  February,  1836. 
Michael  Smead,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January,  1837. 
Horace  Hallock,  Wayne  .Co.,  Mieh.,  February,  1837. 
Leland  Green,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1837. 
Norman  P.  Green,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Jane,  1853. 
Henry  A.  Jennison,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1854. 

SECTION  12. 
Hart  &  Mills,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Feb.  2,  J836. 
Eliza  Moore,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 
Baptiste  Mak-i-to-quet,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  31, 1837. 
Pe-aw-mo,  Tan-wa-ao-me,  and  Ka-wy-aw-so-me,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich., 

Jan.  31,  1837. 
Hiram.  Nestell,  Clinton  Co.,  Mioh.,  September,  1851. 
Nathaniel  R.  Catlin,  Clinton  Co.,  Mioh.,  October,  1852. 

SECTION  13. 
Oliver  Johnson,  April  25,  1836. 
Marshall  Smead,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  T.,  January,  1837. 
Thomas  0.  Hill,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  May  5,  1837. 
Isaac  Reynolds,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1862. 

SECTION  14. 
Faroe  Barber,  May  21,  1836. 
Elias  Daniels,  May  24,  1836. 

Andrew  T.  McReynolds,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  8,  1836. 
Baptiste  Makitoquet  and  Etienne  Lemorandiere,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich., 

Jan.  10,  1837. 
Win-ta-go-wish,  Clinton  Co.,  Mieh.,  Jan.  11,  1837. 
Francis  Bailley,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  31,  1837. 
Frederick  Gire,  May,  1852. 

Philemore  Reynolds,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1852. 
Henry  and  Franklin  Vredenburg,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1854. 

SECTION  15. 
Lawson  S.  Warner,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  July  22,  1836. 
Henry  V.  Libhart,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1837. 
Edward  Y.  Morton  and  John  B.  Guiteau,  Ionia,  Mioh.,  February 

1837. 
Clemens  Gibba,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1854. 

SECTION  16.  . 
School  lands. 

SECTION  17. 
Parce  Barber,  May  21,  1836. 

Abner  Spencer,  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  26,  1836. 
R.  S.  Parks  and  L.  S.  Warner,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  13,  1837. 
John  and  John  B.  Brownell,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  16,  1837. 
Thomas  Blackmer  and  P.  S.  Stoddard,  Livingston  Co.,  N  Y    Anril 
1837.  ■'     '^     ' 

SECTION  18. 
David  Irish,  Ionia  Co.,  Mioh.  (west  half),  Sept.  26,  1836. 
James  V.  Tabor,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich,  (east  half),  Sept.  26, 1836. 

SECTION  19. 
Parce  Barber,  May  21,  1836. 
Alexander  H.  Edwards,  July  12,  1836. 


William  A.  Burgess,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Robert  McClelland,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836, 
Levi  A.  Mills,  city  of  New  York,  December,  1836. 

SECTION  20. 
Daniel  Barker,  Deo.  26,  1836. 
Robert  S.  Parks  and  Elias  Daniela,  April  29,  1836. 
Horace  Butler,  May  17,  1836. 
William  Mann,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  23,  1836. 
Levi  A.  Mills,  city  of  New  York,  Dec.  17,  1836. 
Phineas  Van  Ness,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1854. 

SECTION  21. 
William  Mann,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  23, 1836. 
Ledra  Phillips,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  April  27,  1836. 
William  L.  Drake,  November,  1852. 
Hiram  Segar,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1853. 

SECTION  22. 

Hiram  Benedict,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27,  1836. 
Henry  J.  Pearsall,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1837. 
Ledra  Phillips,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837. 
William  Faragber,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837. 
Charles  Sessions,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  14,  1837. 
Nathaniel  Scsaiona,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  14,  1837. 
Charles  Sessions,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  October,  1852. 

SECTION  23. 

Horace  Bntler,  May  17,  1836. 

Eliaa  Daniels,  May  24,  1836. 

Allen  A.  Robinson,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836. 

Charles  Osgood,  Monroe  Co.,  Mioh.,  Dec.  12,  1836. 

Michael  Pearsall,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1837. 

SECTION  24. 
Horace  Butler,  entire  section.  May  17, 1836 

SECTION  25. 

Benjamin  Pierson,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
William  J.  Wells,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
Isaac  W.  Averell,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  April  8,  1837. 
Benjamin  F.  Lamed,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  April  12,  1837. 
Caroline  Sprague,  Oakland  Co.,  Mioh.,  Feb.  15,  1838. 
Harriet  Sprague,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  April  8,  1839. 

SECTION  26. 

Charles  Osgood,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  12,  1836. 
Horace  Hallock,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  April  12,  1837. 
Seth  B.  Pearsall,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  17,  1837. 
Louis  S.  Lovell,  Ionia  Co.,  Mioh.,  Nov.  14,  1853. 

SECTION  27. 

Harlow  Benedict,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27,  1836. 
Perry  Billings,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27,  1836. 
Horace  Hallock,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
Robert  S.  Parker,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  April  8,  1837.        . 

SECTION   28. 
Horace  Butler,  May  17, 1836. 
Perry  Billings,  Saratoga  Co,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27, 1836. 

SECTION   29. 
Horace  Butler,  May  17,  1836. 
William  Mann,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  29, 1836 

SECTION   30. 
Daniel  Barker,  May  2, 1834. 
James  B.  Murray,  Aug.  8,  1835. 
Daniel  Slawaon,  Jr.,  Sept.  9,  1835. 
Sebastian  Beokwith,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  24,  1835. 
William  Mann,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 


LEBANON  TOWNSHIP. 


471 


SECTION   31. 

Daniel  Barker,  May  2,  1834. 

Daniel  SlawBon,  Jr.,  Sept.  9,  1S35. 

Sebastian  Bed^with,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  24,  1835. 

Lucius  Warner,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  Dee.  12,  1836. 

SECTION  32. 

William  Mann,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  23,  1836. 
Sherman  Goodwin  and  George  Henderson,  Wayne  Co.,  Mieh.,  Sept. 
24, 1836. 

SECTION   33. 
John  Norvell,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich,  (whole  section),  Feb.  15,  1837. 

SECTION  34. 
Homer  Loomis,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  T.,  Jan.  27, 1837. 
Henry  H.  Loomis,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  May  21,  1853. 
Anson  C.  Loomis,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  18, 1853. 

SECTION   35. 
Joseph  Penniman,  Wayne  Co.,  Mieh.,  Feb.  15,  1837. 
Jesse  Jolly,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  12,  1853. 
Anson  C.  Loomis,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  14,  1853. 
John  N.  Fowler,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1853. 

SECTION   36. 
Alanson  Aldrich,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1837. 
Samuel  Boughton,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1837. 
Edwin  H.  Jones,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  February',  1837. 
George  W.  Perry,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  April  12,  1837. 
Anson  C.  Loomis,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  14,  1853. 
John  N.  Fowler,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1853. 

FIRST  AND  OTHER  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

Upon  sections  30  and  31  began  the  first  settlements  and 
improvements  in  the  present  township  of  Lebanon.  Daniel 
Barker,  a  native  of  one  of  the  New  England  States,  was 
an  early  settler  in  Washtenaw  County.  On  the  2d  of 
May,  1834,  he  became  the  first  individual  owner  of  land 
in  township  8  north,  of  range  No.  4  west,  by  the  purchase 
of  the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  and  the  west 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  30 ;  also  the  north- 
west quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  31.  His 
location  was  a  desirable  and  well-chosen  one,  being  situated 
near  the  northeastern  limit  of  the  beautiful  tract  known  at 
an  early  day  as  the  East  Plains, — lands  which  in  a  state  of 
nature  produced  only  wild  grass,  willows,  and  scattered 
oaks,  and  readily  yielded  to  cultivation. 

Some  time  during  the  summer  or  fall  of  1834,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  two  or  three  small  children,  Mr. 
Barker  took  up  his  abode  on  the  west  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  30,  building  his  cabin  about  sixty 
rods  in  rear  of  Hon.  John  Vance's  present  residence.  He 
was  a  young  man  about  thirty  years  of  age,  and  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  years  had  placed  under  cultivation 
about  twenty-five  acres  of  land.  On  the  26th  of  December, 
1836,  he  increased  his  landed  estate  by  the  purchase  of  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  20.  An 
event  of  unusual  occurrence  (even  in  thickly-settled  com- 
munities) took  place  in  his  family  June  1,  1837,  and  in 
time  his  neighbors  were  made  aware  of  the  fact  that  he 
was  the  proud  father  of  twin  daughters. 

But  Mr.  Barker  was  destined  not  to  remain  long  con- 
spicuous as  a  pioneer  and  first  settler  of  the  now  populous 
township  of  Lebanon.  Returning  from  Ionia  on  the  6th 
of  November,  1837,  whither  he  had  been  to  obtain  flour 


and  other  supplies  for  his  family,  he  met  his  death  by 
drowning  in  attempting  to  cross  Maple  River.  Thus  in 
Mr.  Barker's  family  occurred  the  first  births  and  death  in 
the  township.  His  widow  and  children  removed  from  this 
vicinity  the  year  following  his  decease. 

The  town  of  Starkey,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  furnished  the 
next  settlers,  in  the  persons  of  the  brothers  John,  William, 
and  Andrew  Vance,  who  arrived  here  May  16,  1837.  The 
former  had  resided  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  three  years 
prior  to  his  coming  to  Michigan,  and  was  accompanied  by 
his  wife,  Cornelia  A.,  and  two  children,  Emmet  and  Ursula. 
His  brothers  were  unmarried.  Having  purchased  from 
Daniel  Slawson,  Jr.,  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  31,  John  Vance  erected  his  dwelling 
thereon,  and  as  a  Michigan  farmer  began  a  career  which 
has  been  remarkably  successful.  Beginning  with  forty 
acres,  the  purchase  of  which  took  all  his  available  cash,  his 
estate  has  been  increased  until  he  now  owns  eight  hundred 
and  ninety-four  acres,  besides  having  given  his  sons  three 
hundred  acres.  He  was  present  at  the  organization  of 
Wandaugon  township,  and,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  lists  of  township  ofiicers,  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  civil  history  of  Lebanon.  He  has  served  as 
supervisor  eleven  terms,  besides  in  various  other  capacities. 
His  brothers,  also,  have  proved  themselves  most  worthy 
citizens. 

John  A.  Millard,  a  brother-in-law  of  John  Vance,  also 
came  from  Starkey,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  where  he 
now  resides  in  July,  1837.  His  name  occupies  a  conspicu- 
ous place  in  the  annals  of  Lebanon,  and  he  has  ever  been 
accounted  one  of  its  most  prominent  and  trustworthy  in- 
habitants. 

In  December,  1835,  Sebastian  Bcckwith,  of  Ionia  County, 
purchased  quite  extensively  of  lands  situated  on  both  sides 
of  the  county-line,  including  in  this  township  the  greater 
portion  of  the  west  half  of  section  31  and  the  fraction 
of  section  30  lying  north  of  Maple  River.  He  was  a 
bachelor,  and  for  a  short  time  resided  in  Lyons  township, 
Ionia  County.  He  died  about  the  spring  of  1838,  when 
his  brothers,  Dr.  Norton  H.  and  Miner  Y.  Beckwith,  came 
in  and  occupied  that  portion  of  his  estate  lying  in  Leb- 
anon. The  Beckwiths  were  from  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and  first 
located  in  Washtenaw  County.  They  were  active,  energetic 
men,  and  at  an  early  day  took  the  lead  in  farming  and 
making  improvements.  Norton  H.  Beckwith  built  a  framed 
barn  and  a  plank  house  on  the  northwest  fractional  quar- 
ter of  section  31  in  1840,  which,  except  those  built  by  the 
salt  company,  are  believed  to  have  been  the  first  framed 
buildings  erected  in  the  township.  Miner  Y.  Beckwith 
was  an  early  justice  of  the  peace. 

Alonzo  D.  Brewster,  prominent  as  one  of  the  first  resi- 
dents of  the  township,  and  who  served  as  its  supervisor 
in  1840  and  '41,  was  also  here  in  1838,  perhaps  earlier. 

As  yet  settlements  all  tended  towards  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  township,  or  that  locality  known  as  the  East 
Plains.  In  December,  1838,  Charles  Sessions  began  the 
first  improvements  in  the  central  part.  He  was  born  in 
Marcellus,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  with  his  father's 
family  (he  being  the  eldest  of  seventeen  children)  emi- 
grated to  North  Plains,  Ionia  Co.,  in  the  spring  of  1837. 


472 


HISTORY    OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


In  November  of  the  same  year  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  situated  upon  section  22,  where, 
as  before  stated,  he  began  "  clearing"  one  year  later.- 

His  location  was  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness  ten  miles 
wide  from  east  to  west,  and  his  nearest  neighbors  were 
one-half  that  distance  away,  viz.,  to  the  southeast  on  the 
East  Plains,  and  to  the  northeast  on  Benedict's  Plains. 
He  built  a  small  cabin,  which  stood  near  the  site  of  his 
present  dwelling,  and  with  his  axe  and  twenty  dollars  in 
money  began  hewing  out  a  farm.  Ten  acres  wore  cleared 
the  first  winter.  With  plenty  of  Indians  and  wild  ani- 
mals around  him,  he  lived  alone  until  1840,  when  he 
married  his  first  wife.  Miss  Miriam  MoCooley,  of  Ionia 
County.  Ionia,  twenty  miles  distant,  was  his  nearest  post- 
oflSce.  Those  settlers  who  preceded  him  here,  according  to 
his  recollections,  have  already  been  mentioned.  His  first 
team  grew  up  under  his  care  from  calves.  Mr.  Sessions 
has  always  been  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  his 
township.  He  has  served  in  nearly  every  position  in  the 
gift  of  his  townsmen,  is  now  the  owner  of  eleven  hundred 
and  seventy-one  acres,  and  still  resides  where  he  settled 
forty-two  years  ago.  John  Vance,  James  W.  Tabor,  John 
A.  Millard,  and  himself  all  set  out  apple-trees  soon  after 
their  settlement.  Mr.  Millard  brought  some  cherry-trees 
from  New  York  State  when  he  came  here  in  July,  1837. 

James  W.  Tabor  was  another  prominent  early  settler  of 
Lebanon.  On  the  26th  of  September,  1836,  he  bought  of 
the  government  the  east  half  of  fractional  section  1 8.  He 
settled  upon  the  same  in  1838  or  1839,  and  prior  to  June, 
1840,  owned  the  entire  section.  He  served  several  terms 
as  supervisor,  also  as  township  clerk  and  justice  of  the 
peace. 

Among  other  early  settlers  who  came  in  at  about  the 
same  time  as  those  last  mentioned  were  Harvey  Waterman, 
Russell  Smith,  Martin  Yetter,  one  of  the  first  parties  mar- 
ried here,  and  A.  Warner. 

Lebanon  in  1838  was  the  scene  of  a  series  of  wild  spec- 
ulations, so  rife  in  the  State  of  Michigan  at  that  time,  and 
perhaps  no  historical  paper  relating  to  the  township  would 
be  considered  at  all  complete  which  did  not  allude  even 
briefly  to  them.  The  pioneers  yet  living  relate  the  oft- 
repeated  story  of  excessive  prices  of  wild  or  uncultivated 
lands,  and  of  lots  in  prospective  villages  and  cities  which 
now  have  nothing  but  the  recorded  plat  in  the  office  of  the 
register  of  deeds  to  indicate  their  location.  This  specula- 
tion no  doubt  was  largely  owing  to  the  great  amount  of 
paper  money  then  afloat  in  the  State.  The  men  engaged 
in  these  enterprises  were  full  of  energy  and  activity,  pos- 
sessed of  first-class  business  attainments,  and,  perhaps  it  was 
claimed  for  them,  of  sterling  worth,  who,  although  living 
in  a  region  but  yet  sparsely  settled,  were  anxious  to  become 
wealthy  at  once.  In  the  attempt  to  compass  their  objects, 
however,  the  most  unscrupulous  means  were  not  unfre- 
quently  employed,  and  when  occasion  ofiered  they  did  not 
hesitate  to  dupe  men  of  their  own  State,  although  it  was 
generally  claimed  that  their  victims  were  more  particularly 
Bought  for  on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Erie. 

It  seems  that  during  the  years  1836  and  '37,  Robert  S. 
Parks,  Lawson  S.  Warner,  and  others  of  Ionia  County 
purchased  lands  situated  upon  sections  10,  15,  17,  and  20. 


Soon  after  settlements  had  began  to  thrive  in  this  and  ad- 
joining townships  it  was  rumored  that  salt  springs  of  value 
existed  on  that  part  of  section  15  lying  north  of  Maple 
River.  Whether  salt  springs  or  brackish  water  existed 
there  then  or  now  it  is  not  our  province  to  determine,  for 
some  old  residents  have  asserted  that  "  Parks  sunk  a  barrel 
of  salt  in  a  hole  on  the  bottoms  of  Maple  River  for  purposes 
of  speculation,"  while  others  of  this  county,  also  of  Shia- 
wassee, assert  that  to  their  personal  knowledge  the  Indians 
boiled  salt  in  the  present  township  of  Lebanon,  hence  the 
origin  of  its  original  name  Wandaugon,  meaning  "salt 
springs."  However,  during  the  legislative  session  of  1838 
an  act  was  passed  (approved  April  3d  of  that  year),  of  which 
the  following  is  an  extract,  duly  incorporating  the  Clinton 
Salt- Works  Company : 

"  Robert  S.  Parks,  Lawson  S.  Warner,  Thomas  B.  An- 
drews, Charles  Hubbell,  Calvin  C.  Parks,  and  such  other 
persons  as  shall  hereafter  associate  with  them  and  their  suc- 
cessors, shall  be  and  they  are  hereby  created  a  body  corpo- 
rate and  politic  by  the  name  of  the  '  Clinton  Salt- Works 
Company.'  The  said  corporation  is  hereby  required  to  im- 
prove the  real  estate  belonging  to  said  company,  situate 
at  Clinton  Salt-Works,  in  the  county  of  Clinton  and  State 
of  Michigan,  known  as  all  that  part  of  the  village  of  Clinton 
Salt- Works  described  as  the  'reserve'  on  the  map  of  said 
village,  duly  executed  and  recorded,  the  which  is  situated 
on  section  No.  15,  in  township  No.  8  north,  of  range  No. 
4  west,  in  the  Grand  River  land  district,  and  is  held  and 
owned  by  the  said  Robert  S.  Parks  and  others  for  the  pur- 
pose of  manufacturing  salt,  by  erecting  the  necessary  build- 
ings and  vats,  by  boring  the  earth  and  sinking  proper  tubes 
and  pumps  to  procure  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water;  and 
also  shall  have  power  to  construct  or  purchase  such  and  all 
other  apparatus  and  machinery  necessary  for  the  carrying 
on  of  said  salt  manufacturing  establishment  to  such  an  ex- 
tent as  shall  be  deemed  necessary  to  advance  the  interest  of 
said  company  and  to  transact  the  business  of  the  same." 

The  foregoing  act  was  to  remain  in  force  twenty  years. 
The  company  erected  several  frame  buildings  in  1 838,  and 
doubtless  brilliant  prospectuses  accompanied  the  engraved 
copies  of  their  village  plat  which  circulated  in  the  Eastern 
country.  The  finding  of  salt-brine,  at  least  in  paying 
quantities,  proved  an  utter  failure.  But  before  its  collapse 
the  ruling  spirits  of  the  company  found  time,  and  the  op- 
portunity under  the  general  banking  law  of  1837,  to  estab- 
lish the  "  Clinton  County  Salt-Works  Bank."  The  general 
provisions  of  this  law  were  fairly  drawn,  except  that  in  the 
two  important  features  that  concern  most  the  public — se- 
curity to  the  bill-holders  and  a  bona  fide  capital  to  secure 
the  depositors — they  were  inadequate.  The  capital  must 
not  be  less  than  fifty  thousand  dollars,  or  more  than  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  issue  could  be  two  and  one- 
half  times  the  capital  paid  in.  The  interest  should  not 
exceed  seven  per  cent,  on  discounts,  and  the  banks  were 
required  to  make  semi-annual  dividends,  assuming  always 
the  banks'  ability  to  do  this.  The  security  for  the  payment 
of  the  banks'  obligations  were  to  be  bonds  and  mortgages 
on  real  estate,  to  be  held  by  the  bank  commissioner,  and 
the  specie  in  the  vaults  of  the  corporation.  Few  banks 
had  this  specie,  though  the  law  required  thirty  per  cent,  of 


LEBANON  TOWNSHIP. 


473 


the  capital  to  be  paid  in  "  in  legal  money  of  the  United 
States."  These  specie  deposits  furnished  little  reliable  se- 
curity. The  fact  was,  the  bank  commissioner,  whose  duty 
it  was  to  examine  these  banks  once  in  three  months,  was 
often  deceived,  as  one  bank  would  inform  another  when  the 
commissioner  was  coming,  and  the  banks  would  borrow 
money  to  exhibit  to  the  commissioner  and  return  it  when 
he  went  away.  In  this  manner  the  same  specie  would  often 
serve  for  the  use  of  several  banks. 

We  are  credibly  informed  that  a  pailful  of  silver  coin, 
owned  by  Moses  Dean,  of  Maple  township,  Ionia  Co., 
famished  the  "legal  money  of  the  United  States"  on 
which  was  based  and  established,  "  according  to  law,"  the 
Clinton  County  Salt- Works  Bank,  and  the  only  evidence 
its  managers  ever  could  have  produced  in  their  assumption 
of  having  specie  in  the  vaults  of  the  corporation  arose  from 
the  fact  that  the  coin  was  brought  to  the  dwelling  of  John 
Vance*  by  Mr.  Dean.  It  was  there  counted  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  said  bank  oflScials,  after  which,  without  any 
transfer  having  been  made,  Mr.  Dean  returned  with  it  to 
his  home.  This  was  the  system  of  banking  inaugurated 
in  the  early  days  of  Michigan,  the  overthrow  of  which  pro- 
duced such  a  financial  shock  in  the  State  that  many  years 
elapsed  before  a  recovery  from  its  effects  was  experienced. 

Messrs.  Parks,  Warner  &  Co.  went  forward  and  issued 
their  elaborately- engraved  notes  of  the  Clinton  County  Salt- 
Works  Bank,  but  their  circulating  power  proved  to  be  of 
but  short  duration,  however,  and  this  bank,  with  other  like 
institutions,  suspended  payment  on  the  decision  of  the 
Supreme  Court  relieving  the  stockholders  from  any  liar 
bility  touching  the  redemption  of  the  bills  of  the  bank. 
Thus  ended  the  manufacture  of  salt  and  wildcat  banking 
on  the  wilderness  bottom-lands  of  Maple  River. 

KESIDENTS  IN  THE   TOWNSHIP  IN   1840. 

The  resident  tax-payers  of  Lebanon  in  1840,  and  the 
lands  upon  which  taxes  were  assessed,  were  as  follows  : 

Acres. 

Morton  H.  Beekwith,  sections  30,  31 206 

John  Vance,  sections  30,  31 253 

James  W.  Tabor,  entire  section  18 ,  685 

Daniel  Barker's  heirs,  sections  20,  30,  31 280 

Charles  Sessions,  section  22 120 

John  A.  Millard,  section  31 160 

Kussell  Smith,  section  11 115 

Harvey  Waterman Personal 

Alonzo  D.  Brewster  and  Miller Personal 

Those  named  in  addition,  in  1841,  were  : 

Acres. 

Miner  Y.  Beekwith,  section  31 51 

Martin  Yetler,  section  31 80 

A.Warner,  sections  20,  30,  31 280 

In  1844  there  were  as  additional  residents : 

Palmer  D.  Bancroft,  sections  10,  22. 
Elijah  lE'ord,  section  32. 
Isaac  Sherman,  section  32. 
Avery  Belong,  section  29 . 
Daniel  Fifield,  Jr ,  section  6. 
Walter  Halstead,  section  32. 
Ezekiel  Halstead,  section  32. 
Ledra  Phillips,  sections  21,  22. 
Charles  Millard,  section  22. 

The  total  tax  levied  on  real  and  personal  estate  (includ- 
f  Mr.  Vance  was  not  interested  in  these  speculations. 

60 


ing  present  township  of  Dallas)  was  one  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  dollars  and  sixty  cents. 

The  holding  of  a  large  portion  of  the  township  as  non- 
resident lands  by  speculators  proved  to  be  here,  as  else- 
where in  the  State,  a  great  detriment  to  its  material  wealth 
and  increase  of  population,  and  as  late  as  1850  there  were 
but  thirty  menf  mentioned  as  resident  tax-payers,  viz. : 

Acres. 

John  Vance,  sections  30,  31 352 

John  A.  Millard,  section  31 160 

James  W.  Tabor,  section  18 585 

Lucius  H.  Peet,  section  36 110 

William  Vanderhoof,  section  17 80 

Dennis  Merwin,  sections  26,  36 130 

Ledra  Phillips,  section  22 160 

Russell  Phillips,  section  21 40 

William  Daniels,  section  5 150 

Lyman  Daniels,  section  5 , 40 

Reuben  Ferris,  section  5 40 

Ezekiel  Halstead,  section  32 30 

Avery  Delong,  section  29 169 

Miner  Y.  Beekwith,  section  31 53 

Elijah  Ford,  section  32 80 

Charles  Sessions,  section  22 160 

Hezekiah  Austin,  section  22 40 

Isaac  Fifield,  section  6 80 

Thomas  Bellows,  section  32 10 

William  Wamsley,  section  8 40 

Nelson  P.  Johnson,  section  1 69 

William  Mather,  section  1 64 

John  Sturgess,  section  32 160 

Paris  Corey,  sections  30,  31 232 

Chester  Wood,  section  32 : 70 

Cornelius  Valeau,  sections  30,  31 100 

Albert  G.  Russell Personal 

William  McAllister,  section  32 40 

R.  M.  Cone,  section  10 80 

David  Fifield,  section  6 80 

During  the  succeeding  decade  a  marked  increase  in  popu- 
lation took  place,  and  the  residents  assessed  for  taxes  in 
1860  were  as  follows : 


Sec. 

J.  C.  Caldwell I 

Albert  G.  Russell 1 

M.  N.  Wade 1,2 

Paul  De  Witt 1 

L.  S.  Scott 2 

C.  H.  Townsend 2 

M.  L.  Weatherwax 2 

0.  Briggs 2 

L.  S.  Aldrioh '. 3 

Joseph  Haynes 3 

W.  L.  Haynes 3 

Kussell  Commons 4 

Jonathan  Terwilliger 5 

C.  H.  Newcomb 5 

A;  Terwilliger 5 

Lyman  Daniels 5,8 

William  Daniels 5 

Reuben  Ferris 5,8 

David  Fifield 6 

Henry  S.  Barker 6 

Volney  Newland 6 

Sanford  Vandusen 6 

Pliny  Moore 7 

Harrison  Colby 7 

Henry  Colby 7 

Chester  Warner 8 

Joseph  P.  Lathrop 8 

Henry  Manga 8 

R.D.  Tabor 8 

Charles  Rosecnins 8 

Johp  G.Roberts 8 

Masoif  W'.  Stoddard 9 

H.'  L.'  Sto4d!^^d.^ 9 

E.p.  phurchill 9 

William  Reynolds 9 

C.  G.  Sherwood 10,  15 

A.  Miles 10 

Oliver  Cunningham 10 

J.  W.  Crawford 10 


Sec. 

M.  K.  Haynes 11 

David  P.  Weeks 11 

T.  J.  Terwilliger U 

Robert  Frank 11 

William  Vred'enburg 11 

J.  T.  Hewitt 12 

Jacob  Hancher Personal 

J.  P.  easier 12 

H.  Jaques 12 

Robert  Winfield 12 

Broderiok  Winfield 12 

H.  A.  Jennison 12 

J.  F.Owen 12 

Henry  White 13 

Isaac  Reynolds 13 

John  Pinkney 13 

Michael  Frear H 

Herman  Sprague 14 

Henry  Geer 14 

Peter  Winans 15 

C.  Gibbs 15 

J.  Wright 15 

Marcus  Smith., 15 

Charles  Sessions..l5, 16,  20,  22,  23 

L.  L.  Wamsley 16 

C.  C.  Stoddard 16 

P.  H.Babooek 16 

John  Leary 16 

A.N.  Fuller 17 

G.  A.  Geluf 17 

RufusB 17 

Oscar  Rogers 17 

L.  Dexter 17 

Justus  Perry 17 

Henry  Dexter Personal 

Esther  Tabor 18 

J.  A.  Tabor 18 

B.  M.  Tabor 18 

M.N.  Tabor 18 


■(■  Possibly  mistakes  in  the  spelling  of  names  will  be  found  in  this 
and  the  succeeding  long  list.  If  so,  the  fault  must  be  attributed  to 
those  who  made  out  the  assessment-rolls. 


474 


HISTORY  OF   CLINTON    COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Sec. 

W.  L.  Tabor 18 

Herman  Green 19 

0.  Burt 19 

Henry  Sitner 19 

William  Albro 19 

W.  H.  Rudd 19 

W.  H.Stone 19,  21 

Harvey  Gratton 19 

Samuel  Brooks 19,29 

A.  Mathers 19 

George  D.  Barker 20 

Calvin  Merwin 20 

Edgar  Loomis 20 

Emmet  Vance 20 

Benjamin  Caldwell 21 

Alfred  Benjamin 21 

B.  T.  Keeves 21,  20 

Natbnn  Benjamin 21 

Calvin  Benjamin 21 

Ledra  Phillips 22 

Richard  Evans 22 

J.W.Russell 22 

Ezra  J.  Glass 23 

B.Perry 23 

C.  J.  Warner 23 

N.  J.Williams 25 

Charles  Piggott 25 

Joseph  Clark 35 


Sec. 

L.  H.  Peet 25,26 

David  C.Gould 26 

Ebenczer  West 27 

H.  K.  Cotant 27 

A.  AV.  Williams 27,  28 

Nathan  Evans 28 

N.  P.Johnson 28 

Uriah  Fritts 28 

W.  S.  Latlimer 28 

Chester  Winans 29 

Theo.  Belong 29 

Avery  Belong 29 

Thomiis  McBride 29 

Leoniird  Clark 29 

Philip  Mills 30 

John  Vance 30,  31 

John  A.Millard 31 

Phineas  Millard 31 

Paris  Corey 31 

Chester  Wood 32 

Cbiiuncey  B.Vance 32 

J.  F.  BignaVs  heirs 32 

Betsey  Filield 32 

M.Bird 34 

Calvin  Coon 35 

Ste[)hen  Hammond 35 

Joel  Wagar 36 


Much  could  be  written  concerning  the  doings  of  the  In- 
dian chief  Makitoquet*  and  his  large  band  of  followers, 
among  whom  were  Wintagowish,  their  speaker,  Aiken  the 
half-breed  with  his  two  wives,  Lemorandiere,  and  others. 
Several  of  these  purchased  of  the  general  government, 
in  1837,  lands  situated  on  sections  12  and  14.  They  had 
a  village  on  the  latter  section,  also  one  upon  19.  As  many 
sugar-maples  grew  in  this  township,  early  settlers  relate 
that  during  the  sugar-making  season  the  woods  were  full  of 
Indians.  Supplies  of  whisky  were  obtained  at  Campau's 
trading-post,  and  in  consequence  shouting,  singing,  drinking, 
and  fighting  were  indulged  in  all  through  the  night.  Other- 
wise they  were  generally  well  behaved,  and  were  of  much 
service  in  assisting  to  rid  the  country  of  noxious  wild  ani- 
mals. But  as  much  space  is  directed  to  the  aborigines  in 
the  general  chapters  of  this  work,  further  remarks  here  arc 
deemed  unnecessary. 

EDUCATIONAL   AND   RELIGIOUS^. 

According  to  the  recollections  of  Mr.  John  Vance,  the 
first  school  taught  in  the  township  was  held  in  the  build- 
ing built  and  formerly  occupied  by  Daniel  Barker.  Soon 
after  the  removal  of  Mrs.  Barker  and  family  the  house  was 
fitted  for  school  purposes,  and  a  school  opened.  Miss  Ma- 
tilda Sessions,  sister  of  Charles  Sessions,  presided  as  teacher, 
and  taught  two  or  three  successive  terms  in  it. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1841,  Alonzo  D.  Brewster  and 
John  A.  Millard,  school  inspectors  of  Lebanon,  and  W.  Z. 
Blanchard  and  Luke  H.  Parsons,  school  inspectors  of  Lyons, 
ordered  the  formation  of  the  first  school  district — of  which 
official  data  has  been  obtained — that  embraced  any  por- 
tion of  this  township.  The  district  was  denominated  Frac- 
tional School  District  No.  3,  of  the  townships  of  Lyons 
and  Lebanon.     Its  boundaries  were  described  as  follows : 

"  Beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  32  in 
township  8  north,  of  range  4  west,  thence  north  on  sec- 
tion-line to  Maple  River  ;  thence  down  said  river  to  the  sec- 
tion-line between  townships  8  and  7  north,  of  range  5  west  ■ 
thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning."     John  A.  Millard 

*  "  Makey,"  as  he  was  termed  by  the  whites,  was  part  French.    His 
son  also  married  a  Frenchwoman, 


was  required  to  notify  each  person  liable  to  pay  a  school 
district  tax  in  said  district  of  the  proceedings  of  the  joint 
board  of  inspectors,  and  the  first  school  meeting  was  ordered 
to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Moses  Dean,  in  the  township  of 
Lyons,  on  Saturday,  May  22,  1841,  at  six  o'clock  p.m. 

In  1844  the  first  building  designed  for  schools  was 
erected  in  this  township.  It  was  situated  upon  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  31,  and  in  it  De  Witt  C.  Chapin  delivered 
the  first  political  speech  (Whig)  the  same  year.  This  dis- 
trict was  then  denominated  No.  1,  that  in  the  Tabor 
neiKhborhood  No.  2,  and  the  Sessions  district  No.  3.  In 
the  latter  district  it  is  believed  that  Miss  Caroline  Stevens 
taught  the  first  school  about  thirty-five  years  ago. 

During  years  intervening  since  1845  many  changes  have 
occurred  in  the  numbers  and  boundaries  of  school  districts, 
and  doubtless  educational  matters  have  been  as  well  attended 
to  here  as  in  agricultural  regions  generally.  The  following 
statistics,  gathered  from  the  school  inspectors'  annual  report 
for  the  year  ending  Sept.  1,  1879,  shows  the  present  condi- 
tion of  school  interests : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  7;  fractional,  2)....  9 
"              children  of  school  age  in  the  town- 
ship   340 

"  children   attending  schools   during 

the  year 302 

"  children     non-residents     attending 

schools  during  the  year 31 

"              school-houses  (brick,  Ij  frame,  8)...  9 

"              sittings 466 

Value  of  school  property $6650 

Number  of  teachers  employed  (male,  10  j  female, 

13) 23 

Paid  teachers  (male,  $912;  female,  $534) $1446 

Total  resources  for  the  year $2404.23 

EELIGIOUS. 

The  Methodists  were  the  pioneers  in  religious  matters 
here.  In  subsequent  years  other  denominations  have  fol- 
lowed, yet  none  of  them  seem  to  have  flourished  to  the 
extent  of  making  necessary  the  building  of  church  edifices, 
and  services  thus  far  have  been  held  in  the  district  school- 
houses.  Those  who  believe  in  the  doctrines  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  now  predominate. 

In  November,  1858,  Nelson  P.  Johnson,  Stephen  Ham- 
mond, William  Sessions,  Herman  Sprague,  and  John  Stur- 
gess  were  elected  trustees,  and  empowered  to  hold  in  trust 
all  the  church  property  of  the  Matherton  Mission,  the 
church  of  the  "  United  Brethren  in  Christ." 

CIVIL   HISTOKY. 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  March  6, 
1838,  "  All  that  part  of  Clinton  County  designated  by 
the  United  States  surveys  as  townships  Nos.  7  and  8 
north,  of  range  Nos.  3  and  4  west,  be  and  the  same 
is  hereby  set  ofi"  and  organized  into  a  separate  township 
by  the    name  of   Wandaugon,f  and    the   first   township- 


t  The  people  generally  were  not  pleased  with  the  Indian  name  of 
Wandaugon,  meaning  in  the  Chippewa  dialect  ".saU-springs,"  and 
soon  after  an  attempt  was  made  to  have  it  changed.  This  resulted 
in  the  passage  of  an  act,  approved  April  2,  1838,  which  provided 
that  "  That  portion  of  townships  7  and  8  north,  of  ranges  Nos.  3  and 
4  west,  according  to  the  United  States  survey,  be  and  the  same  is 
hereby  set  off  and  organized  by  the  name  of  Lebanon,  and  the  first 
township-meeting  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  James  Sowle,  Jr." 
The  State  law-makers  intended  doubtless  to  enact  that  "That  portion 


LEBANON  TOWNSHIP. 


475 


meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  George  Cam- 
pau,  in  said  township." 

According  to  the  foregoing  act,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
territory  described  assembled  at  the  trading-post  of  George 
Campau  early  in  April,  1838,  and  elected  township  oflScers. 
Complete  records  of  this  meeting  and  of  other  township 
proceedings  during  the  year  1838  have  not  been  preserved. 
Wje  learn,  however,  from  various  sources  that  Hiram  Bene- 
dict was  elected  Supervisor ;  Timothy  H.  Pettit,  Township 
Clerk;  Nelson  Benedict,  Collector;  Cortland  Hill,  High- 
way Commissioner,  Assessor,  and  School  Inspector;  and 
Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  Highway  Commissioner.  The  other 
ofiBcers  are  unknown.  At  that  time  Clinton  County  was 
attached  to  Shiawassee  for  judicial  purposes,  and  the  town- 
ships then  organized  in  the  former  were  Do  Witt,  Water- 
town  and  Wandaugon.  That  the  township  officials  of 
Wandau^on  were  lax  in  the  performance  of  their  duties 
in   more   ways   than   one   the    following    paragraph   will 

show. 

When  the  county  canvassers  met  at  the  clerk's  office  in 
Shiawassee  County,  Nov.  13,  1838,  to  count  the  votes 
polled  at  the  last  general  election,  there  were  present 
proper  representatives  from  the  townships  of  Antrim,  Ben- 
nington, Burns,  Owosso,  Shiawassee,  and  WoodhuU,  in 
Shiawassee  County,  and  from  De  Witt  and  Watertown, 
in  Clinton.  Wandaugon  was  not  represented,  whereupon, 
the  record  says,  "  The  clerk  dispatched  a  special  messenger 
to  procure  a  Statement  of  the  votes  polled  in  said  town, 
and  the  Board  adjourned  to  the  hour  of  two  o'clock  next 
day.  And  it  appearing  that  the  returns  had  not  then  come 
in  for  said  town  of  Wandaugon,  the  Board  voted  to  hold 
open  meeting  until  twelve  o'clock  of  the  next  day,  in  case 
said  returns  should  not  come  in  previous  to  that  time."  It 
seems  that  "  twelve  o'clock  of  the  next  day"  arrived,  but 
no  returns  from  Wandaugon,  and  the  board  then  resolved 
to  proceed  without  them.  Whatever  became  of  the  "  spe- 
cial messenger"  written  history  fails  to  inform  us. 

On  Monday,  the  1st  day  of  April,  18:i9,  the  second 
township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  George  Campau. 
Thirty-two  votes  were  polled,  and  the  officers  elected  were 
Hiram  Benedict,  Supervisor ;  Timothy  H.  Pettit,  Township 
Clerk;  Alonzo  D.  Brewster,  Treasurer;  Cortland  Hill, 
Hiram  Benedict,  Chauncey  M.  Stebbins,  Assessors ;  Nel- 
son Benedict,  Collector;  James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Cortland  Hill, 
Alonzo  Vaughn,  School  Inspectors  ;  George  Campau,  Ly- 
man Webster,  Directors  of  the  Poor ;  James  Sowle,  Jr., 
Cortland  Hill,  John  A.  Millard,  Highway  Commissioners ; 
Cortland  Hill,  Timothy  H.  Pettit,  John  A.  Millard,  Chaun- 
cey M.  Stebbins,  Justices  of  the  Peace ;  Nelson  Benedict, 
Charles  Sessions,  Uriah  Drake,  Robert  Holmes,  Consta- 
bles. 


of  the  county  of  Clinton  embraced  in  townships  7  and  8  north,"  etc: 
It  seems  that  the  omission  was  fatal  to  the  act;  that  it  became  in- 
operative, and  the  change  of  name  was  postponed  until,  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  22,  1839,  the  name  of  Wandau- 
gon was  dropped  and  that  of  Lebanon  substituted.  In  working  so 
determinedly  for  the  change  it  is  possible  that  the  citizens  of  Wan- 
daugon were  actuated  more  by  a  spirit  of  disgust  at  the^  failure  of 
Parka  &  Co.,  their  salt  company,  and  the  operations  of  their  Clinton 
County  Salt-Works  (wildcat)  Bank,  than  dislike  for  a  name  so  eu- 
phonious. 


The  overseers  of  highways,  elected  by  voice,  were  Hiram 
Benedict,  for  district  No.  1 ;  Lyman  Webster,  for  district 
No.  2 ;  John  A.  Millard,  for  district  No.  3 ;  Andrew 
Vance,  for  district  No.  4 ;  William  Merrill,  for  district  No. 
5  ;  Cortland  Hill,  for  district  No.  6 ;  and  Uriah  Drake, 
for  district  No.  7.  Hiram  Benedict,  Timothy  H.  Pettit, 
James  Sowle,  Jr.,  Cortland  Hill,  and  Dauphin  W.  Osgood 
served  as  inspectors  of  this  election. 

It  was  further  resolved  that  a  bounty  of  four  dollars 
should  be  paid  for  each  wolf  killed  in  the  township ;  that 
one  hundred  dollars  be  raised  for  contingent  expenses,  and 
twenty-five  dollars  for  the  support  of  the  poor;  that  all 
hogs  over  forty  pounds  in  weight  be  free  commoners ;  that 
no  pound  be  built  the  present  year,  and  that  the  next  town- 
ship-meeting be  held  at  the  house  of  John  A.  Millard. 

At  a  special  township-meeting,  held  at  the  house  of 
George  Campau,  April  29,  1839,  Alonzo  Vaughn,  the 
candidate  for  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  to  fill  vacancy, 
received  eleven  votes,  the  whole  number  polled. 

During  the  year  ending  April  1,  1840,  Alonzo  D. 
Brewster,  for  killing  two  wolves ;  Stephen  Willits,  for  kill- 
ing one  wolf;  Alonzo  Vaughn,  for  killing  four  wolves; 
Ash-ka-be,  for  killing  one  wolf;  No-wob-a-no,  for  killing 
one  wolf;  and  Lo-lon-da,  for  killing  one  wolf,  were  allowed 
the  township  bounty  of  four  dollars  for  each  scalp. 

Following  is  a  copy  of  the  certificate  usually  granted  him 
who  slew  the  wolf: 

"  We,  Alonzo  Vaughn,  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the 
township  of  Lebanon,  in  the  county  of  Clinton,  and  John 
A.  Millard,  a  commissioner  of  highways  of  said  township, 
having  been  associated  together  for  the  purpose  of  examin- 
ing Ash-ka-be  touching  his  claim  for  bounty  on  a  certain 
wolf's  head,  by  him  presented  to  us,  we  do  therefore  certify 
that  the  said  Ash-ka-be  is  in  our  judgment  entitled  to  the 
township  bounty  on  said  wolf's  head,  and,  further,  we  did 
burn  the  said  wolf's  scalp  and  ears,  according  to  law. 

''  Alonzo  Vaughn,  J.  P. 

"  John  A.  Millard,  Com.  of  Eighwa^s. 

■'Lebanos,  May  31,1839." 

Bengal,  including  the  present  township  of  Essex,  was  set 
off  from  Lebanon  by  an  act  approved  March  19,  1840,  and 
Dallas  by  an  act  approved  March  19,  1845. 

The  voters  of  Lebanon  at  the  fall  election  of  1840  were 
Smith  Parks,  Alexander  Frazier,  John  Vance,  Vincent 
Parks,  George  F.  Dutton,  Amacy  Dorn,  Willis  Parks, 
Alonzo  D.  Brewster,  William  Merrill,  John  A.  Millard, 
Charles  Sessions,  Benjamin  Welch,  Nelson  Belong,  Nathan 
Bigelow,  Daniel  T.  Locke,  Harvey  Waterman,  Silas  Win-" 
tere,  Martin  Zetter,  Joseph  Bowley,  and  Thomas  Tripp. 

Those  who  availed  themselves  of  the  election  franchise 
one  year  later  were  George  F.  Dutton,  Richard  Willing, 
Smith  Parks,  Tompkins  Parks,  Orrin  Parks,  Ira  Pinckney, 
William  Hayes,  Nathan' Bigelow,  William  Parks,  Alonzo 
D  Brewster,  Constant  Shaw,  David  Parks,  Samuel  Parks, 
Andrew  R.  Vance,  John  Vance,  John  A.  Millard,  Martin 
Zetter,  Minor  Z.  Beckwith,  Charles  Sessions,  Norton  H. 
Beokwith,  Harvey  Waterman,  William  Vance,  and  Charles 

Millard. 

For  a  few  years  prior  to  1855  the  present  township  q{ 


476 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


North  Shade  and  New  Haven,  in  Gratiot  County,  were  at- 
tached to  this  for  judicial  purposes. 

TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS. 

The  following  tables  embrace  the  names  of  the  principal 
township  officers  elected  annually  from  1840  to  1880,  in- 
clusive.    Vacancies,  appointments,  and  resignations  are  not 

shown : 

SUPERVISORS. 

John  Vance. 
■62.  Charles  Sessions. 

Nelson  P.  Johnson. 

Charles  Sessions. 

Roderick  D.  Tabor. 
■69.  Charles  Sessions. 
■74.  Loren  G.  Buroh. 
-77.  Jacob  E.  Ludwick. 

Loren  G.  Buroh. 
■80.  Emerson  Vance. 


1840-41.  Alonzo  D.  Brewster 

1860. 

1842.  John  Vance. 

1861- 

1843.  William  J.  Bancroft. 

1863. 

1844.  James  W.  Tabor. 

1864. 

1845-47.  John  Vance. 

1866. 

1848-60.  James  Vl^.  Tabor. 

1866- 

1851.  John  Vance. 

1870- 

1852.  Alberto.  RusselL 

1875- 

1853-67.  John  Vance. 

1878. 

1858.  Benjamin  Caldwell. 

1879- 

1869.  Henry  Lane. 

CLERKS. 

1840.  Norton  H.  Beckwith. 

1841.  John  Vance. 
1842-47.  John  A.  Millard. 

1848.  Thomas  Bellows. 

1849.  John  A.  Millard. 
1860.  No  record. 

1851.  James  W.  Tabor. 

1852.  John  A.  Millard. 

1853.  James  W.  Tabor. 
1854-58.  Nelson  P.  Johnson. 
1859-60.  Pliny  Moore. 


1861.  Warren  H.  Stone. 
1862-68.  Pliny  Moore. 
1869-70.  Henry  G.  Cooley. 

1871.  Frank  Abbott. 

1872.  Henry  G.  Cooley. 
1873-74.  Frank  Abbott. 
1875-76.  Pliny  Moore. 

1877.  Emerson  Vance. 

1878.  Jay  Sessions. 
1879-80.  Martin  L.  Peck. 


TREASURERS. 


1840-41.  Alonzo  D.  Brewster.  1863. 

1842.  George  F.  Button.  1864. 

1843-46.  Isaac  Sherman.  1865. 

1847.  Lucius  H.  Peet.  1866- 

1848.  Dennis  Merwin.  1869. 
1849-  John  Vance.  1870- 

1850.  No  record.  1877. 

1851.  Charles  Sessions.  1878. 
1852-63.  George  E.  Walker.  1879. 
1864-68.  Charles  Sessions.  1880. 
1869-62.  Moses  N.  Wade. 


David  R.  Cory. 

Joseph  P.  Owen. 

Charles  Sessions. 
■68.  Benjamin  S.  Patrick. 

Nathan  H.  Evans. 
■76.  David  P.  Weeks. 

D.  H.  Kirkpatrick. 

David  P.  Weeks. 

Benjamin  S.  Patrick. 

Loren  G.  Burch. 


JUSTICES    OP   THE   PEACE. 


1840, 


1841 


■  1842. 

1843. 

1844. 
1845. 
1846. 
1847. 

1848. 


1849. 


.  Norton  H.  Beckwith. 

Benjamin  Welsh. 

Charles  Sessions. 

Harvey  Waterman. 

George  F.  Dutton. 
.  Vincent  Parks. 

Charles  Sessions. 

William  Merrill. 

George  F.  Dutton. 

Davis  Parks. 

James  W.  Tabor. 

Miner  Y.  Beckwith. 

Constant  Shaw. 

Charles  Sessions. 

James  W.  Tabor. 

No  record. 

James  W.  Tabor. 

Miner  T.  Beckwith. 

William  Wamsley. 

Miner  Y.  Beckwith. 

Avery  Delong. 

Charles  Sessions. 

James  W.  Tabor. 
Pennis  Merwin. 


1850. 
1861. 
1852. 
1853. 

1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857. 
1858. 
1869. 

1860. 

1861. 
1862. 
1863. 


1864. 
1865. 


1866. 


No  record. 

Albert  G.  Russell. 

Charles  Sessions. 

George  E.  Gifford. 

Charles  Sessions. 

Hiram  Burgess. 

James  W.  Tabor. 

Ezra  J.  Glass. 
Moses  N.  Wade. 

Henry  Lane. 
Henry  S.  Barker. 

Calvin  Benjamin. 
Ezra  P.  Glass. 
George  D.  Barker. 
Warren  H.  Stone. 
George  D.  Barker. 
John  G.  Roberts. 
L.  D.  Burch. 
Joseph  F.  Owen. 
J.  F.  Albro. 
Warren  H.  Stone. 
Pliny  Moore. 
A.  T.  Cross. 
Lucius  H.  Peet. 


1867.  Harrison  Colby. 

1868.  Joseph  F.  Owen. 

1869.  William  C.  Frank. 

1870.  Harrison  Colby. 
Henry  W.  Brown. 

1871.  Lucius  H.  Peet. 
Guilford  A.  Smith. 
Nelson  P.  Johnson. 

1872.  Joseph  F.  Owen. 
L.  D.  Burch. 

1873.  Guilford  A.  Smith. 


1874.  L.  D.  Burch. 

1875.  Samuel  A.  Brooks. 
Daniel  McGraw. 

1876.  Joseph  F.  Owen. 
Milo  Grove. 

1877.  Charles  Sessions. 

1878.  Guilford  A.  Smith. 

1879.  Samuel  A.  Brooks. 

1880.  A.  S.  Harris. 
Charles  J.  Graham. 


HIGHWAY    COMMISSIONERS. 


1840 

John    Vance,    Norton    H. 

1857 

John     A.     Millard,    Joel 

Beckwith,    Daniel    Kel- 

Wager. 

logg- 

1868 

Robert  Frank. 

1841 

John  A.  Millard,  Benjamin 

1859 

Lyman  Daniels. 

Welsh,  Vincent  Parks. 

I860 

John  A.  Millard. 

1842 

George  F.  Dutton,  Charles 

1861 

Herman  Sprague. 

Sessions,  Davis  Parks. 

1862 

Lewis  L.  Wamsley. 

1843 

Andrew  R.  Vance,  Palmer 

1863 

-64.  Nathan  H.  Evans. 

D.  Bancroft,  John  Vance. 

1865 

John  B.  Stone. 

1844 

William     Bartow,    Walter 

1866. 

Joseph  F.  Owen. 

Halstead,  Ledra  Phillips. 

1867. 

Nathan  H.  Evans. 

1845 

Walter  Halstead,  Anson  B. 

1868. 

Nelson  P.  Johnson. 

Hathaway. 

1869. 

James  McVeigh. 

1846 

No  record. 

1870. 

George  H.  Newton. 

1847. 

Ledra      Phillips,     Ezekiel 

1871. 

Nelson  P.  Johnson. 

Halstead. 

1872. 

Lucius  H.  Peet,  A.  S.  Har- 

1848. 

Ledra  Phillips. 

ris. 

1849 

Lucius  H.  Peet. 

1873. 

William  C.  Frank,  Joseph 

1850. 

No  record. 

F.  Owen. 

1851. 

Paris  Cory. 

1874. 

Nelson  P.  Johnson, 

1852. 

Richard  Evans. 

1875- 

76.  George  M.  Jones. 

185.3. 

Albert  G.  Russell. 

1877. 

L.  D.  Burch. 

1854. 

John  A.  Millard. 

1878. 

Emerson  Vance. 

1865- 

56.  Albert  G.  Russell. 

1879- 

80.  Sidney  Goss. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 

1840-41.  William  Merrill,  Alonzo 

1861. 

George   D.  Barker,  Jona- 

D.   Brewster,    John    A. 

than  F.  Albro. 

Millard. 

1862. 

Wilson  Colby. 

1842. 

Andrew  R.  Vance,  Thomas 

1863. 

Albert  H.  Burch. 

Tripp,  William  Bartow. 

1864. 

David  R.  Cory. 

1843. 

Constant       Shaw,      Isaac 

1865. 

Benjamin   S.  Patrick,  Al- 

Sherman. 

bert  H.  Burch. 

1844. 

Thomas  Bellows. 

1866. 

Henry  G.  Cooley. 

1846. 

William  H.  Pratt. 

1867. 

Benjamin  S.  Patrick, 

1846- 

48.  No  record. 

1868. 

Frank  Abbott. 

1849. 

William  McAllister. 

1869. 

Pliny  Moore, 

1860. 

No  record. 

1870. 

Frank  Abbott, 

1861. 

Lucius  H.  Peet. 

1871. 

Henry  G.  Cooley. 

1862. 

Benjamin  Caldwell. 

1872. 

Frank  Abbott. 

1863. 

Henry  Lane, 

1873. 

Pliny  Moore. 

1854. 

Lucius  H.  Peet. 

1874. 

Emerson  Vance. 

1856. 

J.  C.  Howard. 

1875. 

Charles  J.  Graham. 

1866. 

Lucius  H.  Peet. 

1876. 

Samuel  J.  Horr. 

1857. 

Pliny  Moore. 

1877. 

Jay  Sessions. 

1858. 

Henry  Lane. 

1878. 

Samuel  J,  Horr. 

1859. 

Jonathan  F.  Albro. 

1879. 

Pliny  Moore. 

1860. 

Benjamin  Caldwell. 

1880. 

Ray  Sessions. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 


1872-74.  Charles  Sessions. 

1875.  Loren  G.  Burch. 

1876.  R.  D.  Tabor. 


1877-79.  No  record. 
1880.  Frank  Abbott. 


SCHOOL   SUPERINTENDENTS. 
1875-76.  William  H,  Owen.  1878-79.  Charles  J.  Graham. 

1880.  James  Troop. 


1877.  No  record. 


LEBANON  TOWNSHIP. 


477 


BIOGEAPHIOAL    SKETCH. 


MRS.    CHARLES   SESSIONS. 


CHARLES    SESSIONS. 


CHARLES   SESSIONS. 


This  gentleman,  well  known  to  the  citizens  of  Clinton 
and  Ionia  Counties  for  the  past  forty-three  years,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Marcellus,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  20, 
1817,  being  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  seventeen  children, 
of  whom  fourteen  survived  to  an  adult  age. 

The  Sessionses  are  descended  from  a  sturdy  WeLshman, 
who  was  an  early  settler  in  New  England.  Nathaniel  Ses- 
sions, the  father  of  Charles,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, Aug.  20,  1789.  He  served  in  the  American 
army  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  the  year  1814  re- 
moved to  Marcellus,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.  Here  on  the 
4th  day  of  November,  1816,  he  married  Miss  Chloe 
Thompson,  a  lady  who  was  born  in  Oneida  Co;,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  26,  1798.  In  1822  he  again  removed  to  Harmony, 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  becoming  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  that  region.  He  remained  a  resident  of  Chautauqua 
County  until  the  spring  of  1837,  when,  judging  wisely 
that  the  new  State  of  Michigan  offered  superior  advantages 
to  one  blessed  with  so  large  a  family,  a  third  removal  was 
made,  and  a  final  settlement  effected  in  the  present  town- 
ship of  North  Plains,  Ionia  Co.  He  was  an  indulgent 
father,  a  strict  temperance  man,  and  an  earnest  Christian. 
Early  in  life  he  had  joined  the  Baptists,  but  before  settling 
in  Michigan  had  adopted  the  tenets  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  faith,  and  in  the  latter  church  served  as  steward, 
class-leader,  and  Sunday-school  superintendent  for  many 
years.  He  was  also  prominent  in  civil  life,  and  most 
creditably  served  his  townsmen  as  supervisor,  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  in  other  capacities,  and  whether  as  a  Whig, 
Abolitionist,  or  Bepublican,  stood  firm  as  the  rocks  of  his 
native  State,  believing  in  principles  rather  than  expediency. 
Pull  of  years,  sincerely  mourned  by  ten  surviving  children, 
he  died,  March  15,  1880.     The  worthy  partner  of  his  joys 


and  sorrows,  who  during  the  later  years  of  her  life  was 
affectionately  termed  Mother  Sessions,  died  Nov.  14, 1879. 
She  was  an  active,  earnest  Christian,  an  exemplary  wife 
and  mother,  and  rejoiced  to  see  the  principles  inculcated  by 
her  practiced  by  her  children. 

Charles  Sessions  grew  up  a  farmer.  His  educational 
advantages  were  limited  to  such  as  could  be  obtained  by 
attending  the  district  schools  in  winter.  After  assisting 
his  father  in  the  many  difficulties  and  hardships  attendant 
upon  the  removal  from  New  York  State  to  Michigan,  he 
remained  under  the  paternal  roof  until  the  fall  of  1838, 
meanwhile  assisting  to  clear  forty  acres  of  land.  He  then 
built  a  small  cabin  near  his  present  residence  in  Lebanon, 
upon  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  purchased  the 
year  previously  of  the  general  government.  His  location 
was  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  wilderness,  his  nearest  neigh- 
bors being  John  Vance  and  James  Sowle.  Here  in  his 
lonely  cabin,  the  possessor  of  his  lands,  strong  arms,  a 
stout  heart,  an  axe,  and  twenty  dollars  in  cash,  Charles 
Sessions  began  his  work.  Surrounded  by  Indians,  who 
were  then  more  numerous  than  the  present  white  inhabi- 
tants, the  forest  teeming  with  bears  and  wolves,  he  lived 
alone  until  Aug.  27,  1840,  when  he  married  Miss  Miriam 
Cooley,  of  Portland,  Ionia  Co.,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1822.  As  time  passed  and  the  township  gradu- 
ally increased  in  population,  although  not  an  office-seeker, 
he  very  naturally  became  prominent  among  his  townsmen, 
and  successively  held  the  offices  of  collector,  justice  of  the 
peace,  assessor,  treasurer,  supervisor,  and  drain  commis- 
sioner. His  original  purchase,  by  industry  and  good  man- 
agement, has  been  added  to  until  he  is  now  the  proud 
owner  of  eleven  hundred  and  seventy-one  broad  acres. 

By  his   first   marriage   were   born    two   children,  viz.. 


478 


HISTORY  OP   CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Cynthia  (wife  of  Frank  Abbott),  July  8,  1842,  and 
Nathan  C,  Feb.  1,  1844,  wlio,  while  serving  in  the  Union 
army,  died  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  His  first  wife,  Mrs.  Miriam  Sessions,  died  Feb. 
1,1841. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1846,  he  was  again  married  to 
Mrs.  Mary  Ryan,  a  widow  lady,  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, named  Elmore  D.,  who  died  at  New  Orleans,  La., 
while  a  member  of  Michigan's  volunteer  force  during  the 
war,  and  Alice,  now  Mrs.  N.  H.  Evans,  of  Montcalm 
County.  The  children  born  of  the  second  marriage  were 
Amelia  (now  Mrs.  Horace  Winans),  Feb.  4,  1847  ;  Emily 
(wife  of  H.  N.  Blakcslee),  May  26,  1849;  iMay,  March 
12,  1852;  Jay,  Aug.  5,  1854;  Ray,  April  2,  1859;  and 
Belle,  Nov.  23,  1863.  Afler  but  one  week's  illness,  his 
second  wife,  who  was  born  in  1819,  at  Paris,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  died  at  her  home,  April  21,  1880. 

Mr.  Sessions  has  been  most  liberal  and  indulgent  in  the 
care  and  education  of  his  children.  His  sons  are  gradu- 
ates of  the  State  Agricultural  College,  while  his  daughters, 
having  had  superior  advantages,  are  equally  as  accom- 
plished. A  Whig,  while  that  party  existed,  he  is  now  a 
Republican.  Conservative  in  his  religious  opinions,  as 
well  as  in  other  matters  of  everyday  life,  Charles  Sessions, 
as  a  pioneer  and  present  citizen  of  Lebanon  township,  is 
esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 


CHAPTER  LXL 
OVID    TOWNSHIP.* 

Natural  Features— Indian  Mounds— Settlement  of  the  Township— 
The  Darli  Day  of  1856— Resident  Tax-payers  in  1840— Township 
Organization  and  Civil  List— Highway  Records— Schools— Ovid 
Village— Post-Office— Physicians  —  Churches— Village  Incorpora- 
tion and  List  of  Officers— Manufacturing  Industries— The  Press  of 
Ovid— Ovid  Union  School— Secret  Orders— Ovid  Fire  Department 
— Village  of  Shepardsville. 

The  six  miles  square  of  territory  designated  in  the  United 
States  survey  as  town  7  north,  in  range  1  west,  and  known 
as  Ovid  township,  is  one  of  the  four  towns  lying  on  the 
eastern  border  of  Clinton  County.  It  has  Duplain  on  the 
north,  Victor  on  the  south,  the  Shiawassee  County  line  on 
the  east,  and  Bingham  township  on  the  west. 

Ovid  is  not  only  agriculturally  prosperous,  but  contains 
moreover  two  villages,  at  one  of  which,  Ovid,  there  are  im- 
portant manufacturing  interests.  The  surface  of  the  country, 
like  that  of  neighboring  towns,  is  generally  level,  the  soil  is 
productive,  and  the  members  of  the  farming  community 
are,  as  a  rule,  a  prosperous  people. 

The  supervisors'  report  for  1879  gives  the  number  of 
acres  of  wheat  harvested  during  that  year  as  2964,  the 
number  of  bushels  yielded  as  65,764.  May  1,  1880,  there 
were  on  the  ground  3231  acres  of  wheat.  Eleven  hundred 
acres  of  corn  harvested  in  1879  yielded  50,986  bushels. 
Twenty.five  hundred  and  fifty-seven  sheep  were  sheared, 


By  David  Schwartz. 


and  gave  a  yield  of  10,194  pounds  of  wool.     The  sheep  in 
the  town  May  1,  1880,  numbered  2865. 

INDIAN   MOUNDS. 

Traces  of  Indian  mounds  are  alleged  to  have  been  dis- 
covered in  Ovid,  and  from  a  paper  prepared  by  Dr.  M.  L. 
Leach,  of  Duplain,  in  1877,  it  would  appear  that  at  one 
time  a  chain  of  mounds  extended  northwest  and  south- 
east, and  lay  in  the  northern  portion  of  Ovid  and  south- 
ern part  of  Duplain, — chiefly  in  the  latter  town.  Sev- 
eral small  mounds  are  supposed  to  have  had  an  existence 
on  the  Benjamin  Hicks  place,  just  wiist  of  Ovid  village. 
About  forty  rods  west  of  the  centre  of  section  11  is 
a  mound  measuring  two  and  a  half  feet  in  height  and 
seventeen  feet  in  diameter.  Report  has  it  that  excavations 
therein  have  revealed  the  presence  of  human,  bones.  Pro- 
ceeding towards  the  northwest  a  distance  of  two  miles  one 
comes  to  the  site,  upon  section  4,  of  a  mound  which  is 
described  by  those  who  have  seen  it  as  having  been  two 
feet  high  and  sixteen  feet  broad.  It  is  upon  the  farm  of 
C.  H.  Gleason,  who  claimed  to  have  dug  a  human  skull 
out  of  it,  and  to  have  seen,  moreover,  in  the  mound  other 
skulls  and  human  bones.  On  the  top  of  the  mound  grew 
an  oak-tree  containing  one  hundred  and  forty-three  rings 
of  growth.  Where  the  relic  occupied  a  place  may  yet  bo 
designated,  but  the  relic,  itself  and  all  it  contained  have 
long  since  been  leveled  and  scattered  by  the  plowshare. 

SETTLEMENT   OP  THE  TOWNSHIP. 

Contrary  to  the  general  impression,  the  pioneer  settle- 
ment in  Ovid  was  effected  by  Samuel  Barker,  in  July, 
1836,  simultaneously  with  the  settlement  in  Duplain  of 
Oliver  Bebee,  with  whom  and  John  Ferdon  came  Barker, 
as  a  member  of  the  Rochester  Colony  and  one  of  the 
three  above  named,  who  led  the  van  in  the  Colony  settle- 
ment. /  In  the  drawing  of  Colony  lots  Barker  had  drawn  a 
lot  in  section  6  of  Ovid,  and  upon  the  north  town-line  in 
that  section  he  built  a  log  cabin  with  a  bark  roof  and 
bark  floor.  In  that  cabin  Barker  lived,  however,  only 
until  the  following  December,  when  he«inoved  over  into 
Duplain  and  made  his  home  upon  one  of  the  Colony  lots  in 
that  town.  As  the  record  of  his  early  experiences  belongs 
to  the  Colony  history,  it  will  be  found  there. 

Barker  had  no  more  than  moved  out  of  his  Ovid  cabin 
than  along  came  Allen  Lounsbury,  who,  with  William  H. 
Faraghar,  had  taken  up  land  in  July,  1836,  upon  sections 
4  and  6  in  Ovid.  Lounsbury  was  then— December,  1836 
— just  in  with  his  family,  whom  ho  had  transported  from 
Oakland  County  by  ox-team  by  way  of  Henry  Leach's,  in 
Sciota,  and  so  over  the  Colony  road  to  within  a  mile  of  his 
destination.  Finding  Barker's  cabin  vacant,  he  took  pos- 
session of  it,  and  then,  with  the  assistance  of  Enoch  Willii, 
his  brother-in-law,  set  about  building  a  house  for  himself  on 
section  4,  where  he  and  his  wife  have  ever  since  resided, 
— Ovid's  oldest  living  settlers. 

Illustrative  of  the  difficulty  encountered  in  obtaining 
bread,  Mr.  Lounsbury  tells  the  story  of  his  setting  out  in 
the  spring  of  1837  for  a  walk  over  to  Laingsburg  for  a 
supply  of  flour.  When  he  reached  Dr.  Laing's  he  found 
the  supply  of  flour   there   reduced   to   the   infinitesimal 


OVID  TOWNSHIP. 


479 


quantity  of  nothing.  Determined  to  keep  up  the  search 
until  successful,  Lounsbuty  continued  his  travels  as  far  as 
De  Witt,  where  he  got  what  he  wanted,  and  then  trudged 
homeward  with  his  load.  He  had  started  from  home  with 
the  intention  of  getting  back  the  same  day,  but  his  absence 
was  extended  to  three  days.  His  wife,  worried  by  hLs  con- 
tinued and  unaccountable  non-appearance,  and  growing 
hourly  more  frightened  at  her  lonely  condition,  was  about 
to  put  off  through  the  woods  for  the  Colony  when  her  hus. 
band  appeared  on  the  scene  safe  and  sound,  with  the  precious 
flour  secure  in  his  grasp. 

Barker  was  Ovid's  first  settler,  and  Lounsbury  the  second. 
The  third  comer  to  the  town  and  the  first  to  the  southern 
portion  thereof  was  John  Cross,  who  in  1836  located  a 
tract  of  land  on  section  36,  and  who  in  September,  1837, 
came  with  his  family  to  make  a  settlement.  He  brought  a 
supply  of  provisions  sufficient  to  last,  he  thought,  until  the 
following  spring,  but  his  calculations  proved  at  fault,  for 
the  larder  gave  out  before  the  winter  did,  and  then  set  in 
"  hard  times,"  although  until  then  they  had  fared  decently 
enough.  Many  were  the  hungry  days  they  passed,  and 
many  the  determined  efforts  they  made  to  get  a  bit  of  meat 
or  flour  from  far-off  neighbors.  During  the  winter  Law- 
rence Cortright  came  along,  axe  on  shoulder,  bound  for  the 
Colony,  and  Cross  persuaded  him  to  stop  and  work  for  him 
a  year,  for  which  service  he  was  to  have  eighty  acres  of 
land.  Shortly  afterwards  Cortright  sallied  out  to  borrow 
some  flour  for  the  family,  and,  although  he  succeeded  in 
getting  it,  he  had  a  desperate  job  of  finding  his  way  home. 
He  was  absent  so  long  that  he  was  given  up  for  lost,  and 
was  about  to  be  searched  for  when  he  turned  up  all  right. 
The  Cross  family  thereupon  fell  to  congratulating  them- 
selves that  they  had  once  more  the  prospect  of  bread, 
but  directly  along  came  Robert  G.  McKee  and  a  party 
of  twelve  surveyors,  all  very  hungry.  As  badly  off  as 
they  were,  the  Cross  family  placed  their  hospitality  before 
selfish  considerations,  and  set  out  before  the  party  what 
they  had.  The  consequence  was  that  the  surveyors  ate  up 
all  there  was  in  the  house,  and  Mr.  Cross  and  his  house- 
hold were  once  qjore  reduced  to  their  usual  condition  of 
destitution. 

When  Cross  brought  his  family  to  his  place,  they  found, 
it  is  true,  a  cabin  which  Cross  and  his  brother  Thomas  had 
previously  prepared,  but  it  was  a  rough  specimen  of  a 
cabin,  minus  a  floor  and  minus  door  as  well  as  windows. 
Being  without  the  convenience  of  a  bedstead,  they  all 
slept  the  first  few  nights  in  the  wagon-box,  and  being  like- 
wise without  a  stove,  they  prepared  their  meals  as  best 
they  could  at  a  log-heap  fire. 

Cross,  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  lame  at  that,  found 
himself  by  the  spring  of  1838  pretty  thoroughly  discour- 
aged with  the  hard  experience  he  had  endured,  and  the 
prospect  of  more  hard  work  and  hard  times  yet  to  assail 
hm.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to  remove  his  family  to  the 
East,  and  to  remain  with  them  in  that  country  until  the 
vicinity  of  his  Michigan  possessions  should  become  more 
thoroughly  subdued  by  the  advance  of  civilization.  Ac- 
cordingly he  packed  away  his  goods  in  his  cabin,  nailed 
the  latter  close  shut,  and  turned  his  face  and  the  faces  of 
his  people  towards  the  rising  sun.     He  came  not  again  to 


Ovid  until  1844,  and  then  he  found  that  the  cabin  he 
thought  to  reoccupy,  and  the  household  goods  he  thought 
to  use  again,  had  been  confiscated  by  marauding  hands, 
and  all  he  found  amounted  to  scarcely  sufiieient,  he  re- 
marked, "  to  swear  by." 

About  the  time  Cross  left,  the  town — that  is  to  say,  the 
summer  of  1838— William  Vansickle  made  a  small  clear- 
ing and  put  up  a  cabin  on  the  south  half  of  section  31. 
He  did  not,  however,  continue  his  efforts  in  the  matter  of 
clearing  his  land,  and  after  a  while  those  knowing  him  to 
be  there,  and  knowing  that  no  land  improvement  was  being 
effected,  began  to  speculate  upon  the  character  and  busi- 
ness of  the  people  located  there,  for  there  were  known  to 
be  at  least  five  persons  in  the  household.  Henry  Leach, 
of  Sciota,  who  was  frequently  engaged  in  the  business  of 
looking  up  lands  for  others,  had  encountered  the  Van- 
sickle  cabin  in  his  travels,  and,  like  others,  thought  there 
was  something  queer  about  the  place.  Unlike  others,  he 
made  secret  investigations,  and  soon  satisfied  hims-jlf  that 
Vansickle  was  the  master  of  a  counterfeiter's  den.     Actin" 

■  o 

upon  his  conclusions.  Leach  gave  due  information  at  De- 
troit, and  a  posse  being  sent,  out  for  the  capture,  Vansickle 
and  his  party  were  surprised  and  taken  in  the  very  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  counterfeit  Mexican  dollars.  Be- 
sides Vansickle  there  was  a  woman  and  three  men,  named 
Ward,  Skiff,  and  Gridley.  The  woman  kept  house  for  the 
party,  the  three  last-named  men  performed  the  mechani- 
cal work  of  manufacturing  the  coin,  while  Vansickle,  the 
leading  spirit,  charged  himself  with  the  business  of  dis- 
posing of  the  fruits  of  their  bogus  dollar-factory.  His 
method  of  convoying  his  dollars  to  Detroit  was  by  means 
of  a  black  valise,  which  he  always  carried  on  foot,  and  with 
which  he  became  a  tolerably  familiar  figure  to  dwellers 
along  the  line  of  the  State  road  and  Grand  River  road, 
although  until  his  capture  by  the  law  he  was  regarded  as 
an  industrious  and  innocent  peddler.  The  Vansickles 
place  and  the  neighborhood  have  to  this  day  continued  to 
bear  the  name  of  the  Bogus  settlement.  John  McCollom 
and  James  Nelson  settled  upon  the  place  in  1839,  and  close 
by  them,  at  about  the  same  time,  settled  also  Mark  and 
Benjamin  Brown. 

Jabez  Denison  came  to  the  town  in  the  fall  of  1839,  his 
brother-in-law,  Enos  Kenyon,  having  preceded  him  in  the 
sprino'.  Denison  became  noted  as  a  successful  slayer  of 
bears,  and  killed,  it  is  said,  during  his  residence  in  Ovid 
nineteen  of  the  beasts,  no  less  than  four  falling  victims  to 
his  prowess  on  one  day,  the  19th  day  of  February,  1845, 
to  wit.  So  say  the  town  records.  Previous  to  Denison 's 
coming  Stephen  Pearl  had  made  a  settlement  in  1837  upon 
the  site  of  Shepardsville, 'and  in  1839  William  Swarthout 
moved  to  section  36  from  Victor  township.  To  that  section 
came  also,  in  1840,  Lawrence  Cortright,  heretofore  men- 
tioned as  having  sojourned  temporarily  in  1837  with  John 
Cross.  He  had  been  for  a  couple  of  years  at  the  Rochester 
Colony,  and  after  abiding  seven  years  in  Ovid  proceeded 
eastward,  whence  he  returned  in  the  spring  of  1853,  fol- 
lowed in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  by  Daniel  Dilts. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1839  and  1840  were  Frederick 


480 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Cranson  (upon  the  place  occupied  by  John  Gilbert  in  1857), 
Joseph  Parmenter,  Moses  Smith,  and  John  Voorhies.  In 
Cross'  time  Ann  Arbor  was  the  objective-point  when  a 
journey  to  mill  became  necessary,  and  in  Voorhies'  time 
Ann  Arbor  and  Ypsilanti  were  his  market  as  well  as  milling 
towns.  Mrs.  Voorhies  remembers  her  rides  thither  upon 
loads  of  wheat  and  behind  an  ox-team.  "  The  roads  were 
that  bad  and  tortuous,"  remarks  she,  "  that  we  had  at  times 
to  go  three  miles  around  a  swamp  to  make  a  half  a  mile  in 
a  straight  course,  and  by  the  time  we  got  to  Ann  Arbor  we 
felt  sure  we  had  traveled  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles." 
Voorhies  bought  his  place  (on  section  25)  in  1839  of 
David  Cranson,  who  had  entered  upon  its  occupation  in 
1838  and  chopped  about  two  acres.  Into  his  log  shanty 
Voorhies  conveyed  his  family,  and  so  desolate  and  wretched 
a  habitation  did  it  appear  that  Mr.  Voorhies  oflFered  the  re- 
mark that  as  a  horse-stable  it  would  be  a  miserable  afiiiir. 
It  possessed  a  bark  roof,  and  as  a  consequence  the  interior 
of  the  house  was  generally  afloat  whenever  the  rains  of 
heaven  descended  upon  the  earth.  When  Mr.  Voorhies 
settled  upon  section  25,  in  1840,  the  country  north  of  him 
was  a  wilderness.  There  was  not  a  settler  in  that  direction 
between  him  and  Frederick  Cranson,  on  what  is  now  the 
Gilbert  place.  Later  to  section  24  came  Solomon  Buck 
and  0.  Carpenter,  and  close  by  John  Kent,  Manzey  Sowles, 
Dodge,  and  others. 

Passing  northward  towards  the  Shepardsville  region,  re- 
mark may  be  made  that  John  Jessup  settled  in  1840  upon 
the  place  now  owned  by  John  Miller,  Enoch  Willis  to 
section  9  (Willis  had  come  iu  with  Lounsbury  in  1836), 
and  William  and  13.  M.  Shepard,  who  settled  at  what  is 
now  Shepardsville,  but  which  was  then  a  trackless  wild. 

North  of  the  present  town  of  Ovid  Orville  Williams,  a 
comer  to  Michigan  in  1836,  bought  some  land  on  section  1 
in  1843,  and  in  1847  began  chopping  upon  it,  boarding 
meanwhile  with  John  McCarty,  in  Middlebury.  He 
chopped  and  cleared  ten  acres,  and  then,  winter  coming  on, 
he  took  a  job  at  Sickles'  mill,  in  Elsie,  and  during  that 
period  lived  with  George  McClintook,  who  had  eighty  acres 
on  section  1  in  Ovid.  Previous  to  Williams'  appearance, 
in  1843,  one  Bigelow  had  in  1840  made  a  clearing  in  that 
vicinity,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1843.  In  1850, 
Williams,  having  been  away  three  years,  permanently  re- 
occupied  his  place  on  section  1,  and  there  still  abides.  In 
1850  there'was  also  on  section  1  one  Elijah  Fitch,  but  in 
that  locality  settlements  progressed  slowly  until  the  comple- 
tion of  the  railway  at  Ovid  gave  to  the  surrounding  country 
a  bold  push  forward.  'Squire  Guile  settled  upon  section  2 
in  1856  and  cut  the  first  stick  on  that  section.  Following 
upon  Guile's  settlement,  Heman  Smith  came  to  section  2, 
John  Winfield  to  section  3,  and  Oliver  Hammond  and  Wil- 
liam Hall  to  section  2. 

The  Joseph  Parmenter  place  on  the  town-line  was  occu- 
pied after  Parmenter  by  James  McGuire,  and  in  1852  by 
John  Jamison,  who  found  one  hundred  acres  underbrushed 
and  girdled  and  twenty  acres  cleared. 

In  1855,  Edward  Potter  and  J.  W.  Welter  occupied 
places  on  section  22,  which  was  then  a  wild  tract.  Welter 
was  tje  first  one  in  his  neighborhood,  and  had  to  cut  a 
road  to  the  spot  on  which,  he  proposed  to  make  a  commence- 


ment. West  were  Christian  Baker,  H.  C.  Shiffer,  Charles 
Wilson,  Jonathan,  John,  and  Jacob  Baer ;  north  were  Eli 
Anderson  and  James  Davis ;  south,  Enoch  De  Camp  and 
H.  S.  Ellis ;  and  east,  Harvey  Dodge.  David  H.  Sowles 
had  a  saw-mill  on  section  14,  but  the  country  generally 
round  about  was  a  dense  forest.  N.  R.  Allen  made  his 
home  in  1854  on  section  32,  where  Lay  ton  Swarthout  had 
girdled  twenty  acres.  William  Ellis  was  on  a  place  in  sec- 
tion 33,  which  in  1855  he  sold  to  1.  W.  Taft.  Later  set- 
tlers in  Ovid  included  Jacob  Dunkle,  D.  A.  Sutfin,  George 
Cox,  W.  A.  Barnes,  George  Ramsey,  C.  Boyd,  Josiah  Mur- 
dock,  George  W.  Simpson,  W.  Cronk,  Frederick  Perkins, 
Perry  St.  Clair,  A.  St.  Clair,  and  Jackson  Voorhies. 

THE   DARK   DAY   OF   1856. 

The  great  forest-fires  of  October,  1856,  worked  consider- 
able daniasre  to  the  timber  and  fences  in  the  Welter  neigh- 
borhood,  and  for  ten  days  filled  the  atmosphere  with  smoke 
and  the  people  with  apprehensions  and  fears.  The  16th  of 
October  is  remembered  as  the  "  dark  day.'  It  was  so  dark 
that  objects  at  a  distance  of  two  rods  could  not  be  distin- 
guished, and  lights  were  necessary  indoors.  Fish  in  the 
streams  were  killed,  and  some  people,  sure  that  the  end  of 
the  world  was  at  hand,  made  haste  to  bury  their  valuables 
and  to  make  their  peace  with  Heaven. 

KESIDENT  TAX-PAYERS  OP   OVID  IN  1840. 

Acres. 

Allen  Lounsbury,  section  4 160  • 

Enoch  Willis,  section  5 80 

"William  Paraghar,  section  6 240 

John  Jessop,  section  9 160 

Stephen  Pearl,  sections  9  and  10 60 

Frederick  Cranson,  section  15 40 

Jude  Carter Personal 

D.  B.  Cranson,  section  25 IfiO 

William  Van  Sickle,  section  31  160 

John  McCuUom,  section  31 80 

James  Nelson,  section  31 80 

Etios  Kenyon,  section  35. 80 

Jnbez  Denison,  section  35 120 

Lawrence  Cortright,  section  36 80 

William  Swarthout,  section  36 320 

James  Gunsiilly,*  "Lot  43,"  section  5 80 

TOWNSHIP  OKGANIZATION  AND  CIVIL,  LIST. 

Town  7  north,  in  range  1  west,  was,  under  act  of  Legis- 
lature approved  March  19, 1840,  organized  as  the  township 
of  Ovid,  the  name  having  been  bestowed  by  William 
Swarthout,  who  came  to  Michigan  from  the  town  of  Ovid, 
in  the  State  of  New  York.  The  first  town-meeting  was 
held  at  Stephen  Pearl's  house,  April  22,  1840,  on  which 
occasion  fifteen  votes  were  cast.  But  one  ticket  of  candi- 
dates was  placed  in  the  field,  since  there  were  not  people 
enough  in  the  town  to  make  up  two  tickets  had  there  in- 
deed been  a  disposition  for  it,  and  there  was  of  course  no 
particular  difficulty  in  declaring  for  the  successful  ones.  A 
full  list  of  the  officials  chosen  follows :  Supervisor,  Fred- 
erick Cranson;  Clerk,  Stephen  Pearl;  Treasurer,  John 
Jessop ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  William  Van  Sickle  (four 
years),  Stephen  Pearl  (three  years),  John  Jessop  (two 
yea^s),  Jabez  Dennison  (one  year)  ;  Collector,  David  B. 
Cranson  ;  Assessors,  John  Jessop,  Jabez  Dennison,  John 
McCollum ;  Highway  Commissioners,  William  Swarthout, 

*  Colony  Purchase. 


OVID  TOWNSHIP, 


481 


John  Jeasop,  John  McCuUom  ;  School  Inspectors,  Stephen 
Pearl,  Jabez  Dennison,  William  Van  Sickle ;  Constables, 
Enoch  Willis,  Enos  Kinyon,  Christopher  Van  Deventer ; 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  William  Swarthout,  Allen  Louns- 
berry ;  Highway  Overseer  in  District  No.  4,  John  Jessop ; 
in  No.  5,  William  Swarthout. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was  voted  for  expenses  of 
the  township  during  the  ensuing  year,  and  it  was  further 
resolved  that  the  next  town-meeting  should  be  held  at  Ste- 
phen Pearl's  house.  A  by-law  was  moreover  adopted  to  the 
eflFect  that  "  any  person  leaving  syrup  in  the  woods  to  the 
damage  of  his  neighbor's  cattle  should  be  liable  for  all 
damage."  The  inspectors  of  the  election  just  recorded 
were  Stephen  Pearl,  Frederick  Cranson,  William  Swarth- 
out, John  Jessop,  and  David  B.  Cranson.  / 

Prom  1841  to  1880  those  persons  elected  annually  to  be 
supervisor,  clerk,  treasurer,  and  justice  of  the.  peace  were 
as  follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 


1841.  F.  Cranson. 
1842-43.  I.  V.  Swarthout. 

1844.  S.  Pearl. 

1845.  I.  V.  Swarthout. 
1846-51.  L.  Swarthout. 
1852-55.  E.  Fitch. 

1856.  J.  Jamieson. 

1857.  J.  B.  Park. 

1858.  No  record. 
1859-61.  I.  W.  Taft. 


1841-42.  J.  S.  Denlson. 

1843.  S.  Pearl. 

1844.  I.  V.  Swarthout. 

1845.  L.  Swarthout. 
1846-47.  J.  W.  Cross. 

1848.  I.  Lounsberry. 

1849.  Joseph  Wilson. 
1860.  I.  Lounsberry. 

1851.  James  McGuire. 

1852.  J.  MoGuire. 

1853.  J.  C.  Molntyro. 
1864.  E.  G.  Finch. 
1855.  A.  0.  Chapman. 
1856-57.  William  Shepard. 
1868.  No  reoord. 

1859.  E.  D.  Clark. 


1862-65.  W.  C.  Bennett. 
1866-68.  J.  A.  Potter. 
1869-71.  I.  W.  Taft. 

1872.  D.  C.  Harrington. 

1873.  J.  A.  Potter. 
1874-77.  D.  C.  Harrington. 

1878.  J.  C.  E.  Gumear. 

1879.  D.  C.  Harrington. 

1880.  S.  H.  Valentine. 


CLERKS. 

1860-61.  W.  C.  Bennett. 

1862.  J.  A.  Potter. 

1863.  J.  M.  Fitch. 

1864.  George  Shepard. 

1865.  Thomas  Hall. 

1866.  H.  A.  Potter. 

1867.  A.  Swarthout. 

1868.  S.  D.  Haight. 
1869-70.  D.  C.  Harrington. 
1871-72.  F.  S.  Davis. 
1873.  C.  M.  Hagadorn. 
1874-75.  F.  S.  Davis. 
1876-77.  S.  C.  King. 

1878.  C.  H.  Misner. 

1879.  B.  De  Camp. 

1880.  E.  C.  White. 


TREASURERS. 


1841.  F.  Cranson. 
1842-45.  J.  Parmenter. 
1846.  J.  Cross. 
1847-48.  F.  Cranson. 
1849-51.  L.  Swarthout. 
1852-53.  J.  Wilson. 
1854.  L.  Richards. 
1855-66.  W.  S.  Ellis. 


1857.  E.  Potter. 

1858.  No  record. 
1859-60.  E.  Potter. 
1861-67.  P.  A.  Winfield. 
1868-73.  J.  L.  Button. 
1874-78.  P.  A.  Winfield. 

1879.  L.  H.  Allen. 

1880.  P.  A.  Winfield. 


JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 


1841.  J.  S.  Denison. 

1842.  J.  Jessop. 

1843.  J.  Parmenter. 

1844.  George  Parrish. 

1845.  William  Putnam. 

1846.  J.  W.  Cross. 

1847.  M.  Smith. 

1848.  J.  Cross. 

1849.  J.  S.  Denison. 
1850-51.  J.  -W.  Cross. 
1862.  H.  D.  Wilson. 

61 


1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857. 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 


J.  Jamieson. 
J.  S.  Deuison. 
N.  B.  Allen. 

D.  Birmingham. 

E.  Fitch. 
No  record. 
W.  Shepard. 
C.  Baker. 

J.  S.  Bennett. 
N.  Fitoh. 
William  Shepard. 


1864.  J.  Haire. 

1865.  J.  S.  Bennett. 

1866.  E.  N.  Fitch. 

1867.  William  Shepard. 

1868.  D.  H.  Misner. 

1869.  S.  D.  Haight. 

1870.  J.  Miller. 

1871.  J.  A.  Valentine. 

1872.  C.  M.  Hagadon. 


1873.  D.  C.  Harrington. 

1874.  J.  Miller. 

1875.  J.  L.  Hadley. 

1876.  C.  M.  Hagadorn. 

1877.  D.  C.  Harrington. 

1878.  William  Shepard. 

1879.  J.  Murdock. 

1880.  C.  M.  Hagadorn. 


JURORS  OP   1842,  1843,    1844,    1845,  AND  1850. 

1842. — Grand  Jurors:  B.  P.  Aldridge,  Henry  Brown, 
James  Nelson,  A.  Lounsberry ;  Petit  Jurors :  William 
Putnam,  Enos  Kinyon,  I.  V.  Swarthout,  J.  Denison,  J. 
Parmenter. 

1843. — Grand  Jurors :  Stephen  Pearl,  John  Jessop ; 
Petit  Jurors:  Peter  Brown,  W.  S.  Swarthout,  J.  Voor- 
hies. 

1844. — Grand  Jurors  :  I.  V.  Swarthout,  J.  Parmenter; 
Petit  Jurors :  F.  Cranson,  Enoch  Willis. 

1845 Grand   Jurors:  J.  W.    Cross,   Enos   Kinyon; 

Petit  Jurors :  William  Putnam,  T.  Van  Fleet. 

1850. — Grand  Jurors:  Benjamin  Fuller,  Enoch  Willis, 
J.  W.  Cross,  H.  Smith  ;  Petit  Jurors :  J.  S.  Denison, 
Joseph  Wilson,  F.  Cranson,  0.  0.  Pray. 

THE  TREASURER'S  REPORT  OF   1845. 

March  24,  1845,  the  town  board  settled  with  Joseph 
Parmenter,  town  treasurer,  and  found  sixteen  dollars  and 
twenty  cents  in  school  library  funds  and  six  dollars  and 
sixty-nine  cents  in  funds  for  township  purposes.  The 
treasurer  had  collected  forty-one  dollars  and  thirty-seven 
cents  in  town-orders,  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars  and 
eighty-five  cents  in  highway  orders,  sixty  dollars  and 
seventy-two  cents  in  town-orders  "  to  balance  last  year's 
account  that  was  charged  said  treasurer,"  and  fourteen 
dollars  and  sixty-seven  cents  on  balance  on  "last  year's 
school  funds."  The  treasurer  had  collected  thirty  dollars 
and  one  cent  in  school  funds,  sixteen  dollars  and  twenty 
cents  in  cash,  eleven  dollars  and  eighty  cents  "in  note 
given  to  David  Jones  for  finishing  school-house  in  district 
No.  4,"  and  two  dollars  and  one  cent  "  in  receipt  from 
school  teacher." 

HIGHWAY  RECORDS. 
Aug.  4,  1843,  Stephen  Pearl  and  William  Swarthout, 
highway  commissioners,  laid  out  a  highway  commencing  at 
a  stake  eighteen  chains  and  seventy-nine  links  south  of  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  9 ;  thence  south  on  the  section- 
line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  34.  A  second  road 
laid  that  day  began  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  34, 
and  passed  thence  north  on  the  section-line  to  the  north- 
erst  corner  of  said  section  ;  thence  west  on  the  section-line 
to  the  northwest  corner  of  said  section ;  thence  south  on 
the  section-line  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  31.  A 
third  road  began  at  the  quarter-stake  on  the  east  side  of 
section  15,  and  ran  thence  east  forty-five  chains,  thirty-five 
links ;  thence  south  on  the  section-line  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  chains,  fifty  links;  thence  south  seventy  degrees 
east,  twenty-five  chains  to  a  stake  standing  in  the  centre 
of  the  highway.     A  fourth  road  commenced  at  the  north- 


482 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


west  corner  of  section  9 ;  thence  west  on  the  section-line 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  6. 

March  30,  1844,  the  town  was  divided  into  road  dis- 
tricts, embracing  sections  as  follows : 
No.  1.— Sections  1,  2,  and  12. 
No.  2.— Sections  3,  4,  9,  and  10. 
No.  3.— Sections  11,  13,  14,  15,  and  16. 
No.  4.— Sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17,  and  18. 
No.  5.— Sections  19,  20,  29,  30,  31,  and  32. 
No.  6.— Sections  21,  22,  27,  28,  33,  34,  and  35. 
No.  7.— Sections  23,  24,  25,  26,  and  36. 
The  annual  report  for  1843  gave  the  following:  days 
assessed,  four  hundred  and  fifty-nine;  days  returned  to  the 
clerk,  two  hundred  and  seventy-three. 

The  commissioners  said  in  their  report :  "  The  state  of 
the  roads  and  bridges  in  the  town  is  bad  in  the  extreme, 
but  if  the  jobs  should  be  let  to  the  amount  of  the  back 
taxes,  we  have  no  doubt  but  that  it  would  be  suflBcient  to 
improve  the  roads.  Of  the  rejected  road-tax  of  1838  it 
appears  that  eighty  seven  dollars  and  sixty-seven  cents  have 
been  collected." 

March  22,  1842,  the  town  was  set  off  into  four  road 
districts.  No.  1  contained  twelve  sections  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  town ;  No.  2  the  remaining  six  sections  in 
the  northern  half  of  the  town ;  No.  3  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  town ;  and  No.  4  the  southeast  quarter. 

Nov.  21,  1843,  a  road  was  laid  beginning  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  1,  in  town  6,  and  running  thence  on 
the  section  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  1. 
March  12, 1845,  a  road  was  laid  commencing  at  the  north- 
western corner  of  section  6,  running  thence  south  eighty- 
three  degrees  west  nineteen  chains  and  eighty-nine  links  to 
the  highway  leading  past  the  house  of  John  Cross.  A 
road,  Feb.  19,  1845,  beginning  at  a  stake  standing  in  the 
Colony  road,  running  south  forty-five  degrees  east  to  a 
stake  standing  in  the  section-line  and  eight  chains  due  east 
of  the  quarter-post  on  the  south  side  of  section  25,  in 
town  7  ;  thence  south  twenty-eight  degrees  fifteen  chains. 
A  road  beginning  at  a  stake  eight  chains  due  east  of  the 
quarter-post  on  the  south  side  of  section  25  in  town  7, 
running  thence  west  on  the  section-line  forty-eight  chains 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  25. 

The  commissioners'  annual  report,  dated  April  7,  1845, 
contained  the  following : 

Whole  number  of  days  assessed 233 

"  "  "        returned 155J 

"  "  "        worked 774 

District  chopping  out  four  rods  wide 70  rods. 

"       crosswaying 135     " 

Number  of  rods  of  crosswaying  by  jobs  let 256 

Amount  of  highway  orders   issued  by  commis- 
sioners  $223 

At  the  time  of  making  the  report,  "  the  state  of  the  roads 
was  extremely  bad." 

Other  early  roads  were  laid  as  follows  :  May  23,  1845, 
one  beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  4,  thence 
west  on  the  town-line  twenty-two  and  a  half  chains  to  a 
stake  standing  in  the  centre  of  the  highway.  Sept.  5, 
1846,  the  towns  of  Ovid  and  Sciota  laid  out  a  road  from 
the  southeast  corner  of  Ovid  north,  on  the  principal  merid- 
ian, thirty-two  rods,  and  divided  the  road  into  two  equal 
parts,  apportioning  one  part  to  each  town.     Nov.  7,  1846, 


a  road  beginning  at  the  town-line  of  sections  30  and  31, 
thence  one  mile  east.     The  towns  of  Ovid  and  Bingham 
laid  out  a  road  commencing  at  the  corners  of  the  towns  and 
running  one  mile  north  on  sections  31  and  36.  Dec.  4, 1847, 
a  road  beginning  at  the  quarter-stake  on  the  south  side  of  sec- 
tion 32  ;  thence  north  on  the  quarter-line  to  the  quarter-stake 
of  said  section ;  thence  north  on  the  quarter-line  twenty- 
seven  and  a  half  chains  to  a  stake  standing  on  the  quarter- 
line  running  north  and  south  through  section  17  ;  thence 
north  on  the  quarter-line  to  the  south  line  of  Gr.  E.  Louns- 
berry's  land ;  thence  east  on  the  south  line  of  said  land 
four  chains  seventy-one  links ;  thence  north  and  west  six 
chains  fifty  links  to  a  stake  standing  in  the  centre  of  the 
highway.     Sept.  26,  1849,  a  road  beginning  at  a  stake 
standing  on  the  section-line  between  sections  5  and  8,  two 
chains  eighteen  links  from  the  section  corners  west ;  thence 
north  to  the  quarter-line  on  section  5.     The  same  day  a 
road  beginning  thirteen  chains  thirty-seven  links  north  of 
where  the  former  road  ended  on  the  quarter-line  running 
north  to  the  town-line  road.     April  17  and  18,  1849,  a 
road  beginning  in  the  centre  of  the  road  on  the  south  side 
of  Maple  Eiver,  on  a  line  with  the  centre  of  the  bridge 
across  said  river  and  near  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
9,  thence  north  to  the  north  line  of  said  section  9.    A  road 
commencing  on  the  section-line  between  sections  28  and 
29  on  the  south  side  of  said  sections,  and  running  north 
two  miles. 

SCHOOLS. 

Ovid's  pioneer  school-house  was  built  in  1839,  upon  Wil- 
liam Swarthout's  farm  in  section  36.  It  was  constructed  of 
basswood  logs,  and  within  its  walls  Hannah  Slocomb  taught 
the  first  school.  The  second  teacher  was  probably  Nellie 
Laing.  In  that  school-house  the  town  enjoyed  its  pioneer 
preaching  at  the  hands  of  Revs.  Levi  Warner  and  Mr. 
Blowers.  Jesse  Treat,  a  settler  in  Victor,  preached  Wes- 
leyan  Methodist  sermons  in  that  school-house  occasionally, 
and  was  eventually  buried  within  its  shadows. 

Aug.  19,  1840,  the  school  inspectors  formed  district  No. 
1,  and  apportioned  to  it  sections  3,  4,  9, 10, 15,  21,  22,  27, 
28.  May  20,  1843,  a  school  district  was  organized  to  em- 
brace portions  of  Duplain  and  Greenbush  and  Colony 
lots  Nos.  45,  46,  47,  48,  49,  and  50  in  Ovid.  A  district 
was  likewise  formed  of  sections  31  and  32  in  Ovid  and 
portions  of  Bingham,  Olive,  and  Ossowa. 

The  annual  report  of  fractional  district  No.  2,  dated  Oct. 
10,  1841,  gave  the  number  of  children  in  the  district  as 
twenty-four,  and  the  number  of  children  between  the  ages 
of  five  and  seventeen  as  thirteen.     The  annual  report  of 
fractional  district  No.  4,  in  Ovid  and  Ossowa,  gave  nine  as 
the  number  of  children  over  five  and  under  seventeen,  and 
three  children  under  five  and  over  seventeen,  three  months 
school  being   kept.     The   school   records   touching  early 
schools  were  imperfectly  kept,  and  but  little  can  be  gleaned 
from  them.     The  only  report  concerning  teachers  prior  to 
1860  is  one  dated  1851,  reciting  the  engagement  of  An- 
geline  Ladue  to  teach  in  district  No.  5  ;  Mary  Smith,  in 
fractional  district  No.  2 ;  and  Hannah  Wilcox,  in  district 
No.  1. 


OVID  TOWNSHIP. 


483 


The  annual  school  report  for  1878  presented  the  sub- 
joined details : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  7;  fractional,  4)...  11 

Number  of  Bcholars  of  school  age 1063 

Average  attendance 905 

Value  of  school  property $16,992 

Teacher's  wages $3,413 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  A.  K.  Dayen,  I).  Mc- 
Collum,  H.  L.  Munson,  M.  Nichols,  Hugh  Swarthout,  D. 
A.  Sutfin,  William  Hunter,  William  P.  Hall,  Joseph  Har- 
ris, S.  J.  Sutliff,  and  George  C.  Marvin. 

OVID  VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Ovid,  a  station  on  the  Detroit,  Grand 
Haven  and  Milwaukee  Railway,  ten  miles  eastward  from 
St.  Johns,  the  county-seat,  is  a  bright  and  enterprising  town 
of  about  fifteen  hundred  inhabitants,  and  a  point  of  con- 
siderable manufacturing  importance.  There  are  several  fine 
brick  business  blocks  in  the  central  portion  of  the  place,  and 
for  many  miles  about  this  is  the  centre  of  a  rural  trade  of 
profitable  proportions.  The  village  streets  are  handsomely 
shaded,  and  are,  moreover,  additionally  beautified  with  many 
attractive-looking  homes,  which  are  in  some  cases  costly 
and  elegant. 

The  inhabitants  are  abreast  of  the  times,  and  en^a^e 
with  much  enterprising  spirit  in  the  business  of  promoting 
the  interests  of  the  village  and  expanding  its  value  as  a 
trading  and  manufacturing  town. 

While  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Eailway  was  in  course 
of  construction  J,  C.  E.  Gumaer,  of  New  York,  and  a 
land-owner  in  Michigan,  sought  to  have  a  railway-station 
fixed  upon  the  line  in  the  township  of  Ovid,  upon  land 
which  he  owned  on  section  11,  and  delegated  W.  H.  Faxon, 
of  Duplain  township,  to  consult  the  railway  directors  in 
the  premises.     Mr.  Faxon  accordingly  visited  H.  P.  Bald- 
win, a  leading  member  of  the  board  of  directors  in  1856, 
and  ofiiered  to  donate  to  the  company  two  thousand  dollars 
and  five  acres  of  land  upon  section  11,  contingent  upon  the 
selection  of  that  site  for  a  station.     Mr.  Baldwin  appeared 
to  regard  the  proposition  with  favor,  and  promised  to  con- 
sider it.     Meanwhile  B.  0.  Williams  had  put  up  a  saw-mill 
in  Middlebury,  on  the  railway  line,  one  mile  and  a  quar- 
ter east  of  where   Ovid  station  now  is,  and  confidently 
expecting  to  have  a  railway  depot  assigned  to  that  place 
he  platted   a   town  there  and  began    to   sell  village  lots. 
H.  G.  Higham,  chief  engineer  of  the  road,  and  Amos 
Gould  appeared  anxious  to  join  Williams  in  the  enterprise,- 
but  for  some  reason  negotiations  were  not  satisfactory,  and, 
to  compromise  existing  differences,  Williams,  Gould,  and 
Higham  agreed  to  purchase  land  now  occupied  by  the  vil- 
lage of  Ovid,  and  there,  through  Higham's  efforts,  Ovid 
Station  was  located.     Baldwin  had  evidently  forgotten  his 
promise  to  Faxon  to  "  consider''  the  latter's  proposition,  for 
he  declined  to  make  any  sign,  and  the  first  intimation  to 
Faxon  that  the  company  had  taken  action  as  to  Ovid  was 
the  announced  success  of  the  Williams,  Gould,  and  Higham 
scheme. 

B.  0.  Williams'  plat  of  the  village  of  Ovid  was  received 
for  record  May  27, 1858,  and  embraced  the  southeast  quar- 
ter and  east  half  of  the  oast  half  of  the  southwest  quarter 


of  section  12.  Additions  were  made  by  E.  N.  Fitch,  April 
15,  1867  ;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Patterson  and  P.  C.  Bassett,  July  3, 
1867  ;  by  Hamilton  Stone,  Dec.  7,  1867 ;  and  by  W.  H. 
Faxon,  May  30,  1872,  the  latter  addition  embracing  thirty 
acres  in  the  south  end  of  the  west  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  12. 

With  the  prospect  of  a  village  at  that  point,  came,  of 
course,  an  opening  for  a  trader,  and  the  first  to  embrace 
the  opportunity  happened  to  be  B.  I.  Udell,  who  in  the 
winter  of  1856  opened  a  small  store,  with  "  a  handful  of 
goods,''  upon  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  Retan  House. 
As  the  field  widened  a  wider  enterprise  than  Udell's  estab- 
lishment was  called  for,  and  so,  in  May,  1857,  W.  C.  Ben- 
nett came  along,  built  a  commodious  frame  store,  stocked  it 
liberally,  and  added,  moreover,  to  his  business  of  store- 
keeping  that  of  buying  staves,  wood,  etc.,  for  shipment 
East,  and  in  a  little  time  pushed  his  operations  to  import- 
ant proportions.  Previous  to  Bennett's  coming  Richard 
Baylis  had  put  up  a  saw-mill,  and  contributed  in  no  small 
degree  to  the  general  prosperous  progress. 

Udell,  the  pioneer  store-keeper,  took  a  hurried  and  some- 
what dramatic  departure  from  the  place  in  the  fall  of 
1857,  but  the  village  kept  on  growing  nevertheless,  and 
early  in  1858  received  fresh  impetus  from  the  appearance 
of  John  Burkhart  and  Samuel  Gilson  among  others,  the 
former  of  whom  began  the  manufacture  of  chairs  and  cabi- 
net-ware, and  the  latter  the  business  of  cooperage.  The 
outlook  had  grown  at  this  juncture  quite  bright,  and  great 
things  were  fondly  expected  of  the  new  town. 

After  Udell's  departure  Bennett  monopolized  the  store- 
trade  only  a  short  time,  for  in  the  winter  of  1857  A.  B. 
Wood  entered  the  field.  In  May,  1858,  W.  H.  Faxon  and 
0.  M.  Pearl,  store-keepers  at  Duplain,  rented  Wood's  store, 
formerly  a  dwelling-house  standing  upon  ground  ntow  occu- 
pied by  the  Potter  Block,  stocked  it  with  goods,  and  engaged 
John  A.  Potter,  then  from  the  P]ast  on  a  visit,  to  take  charge 
of  the  business,  Faxon  and  Pearl  themselves  remaining  in 
Ovid.  In  March,  1860,  Mr.  Faxon  removed  permanently  to 
Ovid  to  take  charge  of  his  interests  at  that  point,  and  directly 
afler  his  coming  built  upon  the  site  of'  the  present  Phoenix 
Block  what  was  then  considered  the  best  store  in  Clinton 
County.  Before  that  time  the  commercial  interests  of  the 
village  had  been  additionally  furthered  by  the  erection  of  a 
grist-mill  by  Park  &  Kellogg,  the  opening  of  a  hardware-' 
store  by  E.  D.  Gregory,  a  drug-store  by  John  Fitch  i^who 
soon  sold  out  to  Charles  Farmer),  and  a  clothing-store  by 
JF.  L.  T.  Hasse.  There  was,  besides,  considerable  business 
in  the  way  of  the  manufacture  of  cooperage,  and  from  that 
time  forward  the  commercial  progress  of  Ovid  was  rapid. 
Mr.  Hasse,  who  commenced  business  in  Ovid  as  a  clothing 
merchant  in  August,  1859,  has  continued  to  follow  the 
business  in  the  village  without  interruption  to  the  present 
time,  and  is  the  only  one  of  the  then  merchants  of  Ovid 
now  in  trade. 

A  village  tavern  was  built  in  1857  by  J.  S.  Bennett,  and 
kept  by  him  some  time.  It  was  called  the  Park  House, 
because  it  occupied  land  owned  by  Josiah  B.  Park,  and  con- 
tinues to  serve  its  original  purpose  to-day  as  the  Clinton 
House. 


484 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


The  first  brick  store  in  Ovid  was  built  by  Anthony 
Swarthout  in  1869,  and  leased  to  C.  Beebe  &  Sons  for  a 
drug-store,  and  the  second  by  Henry  Montague.  The 
Phoenix  Block  was  built  in  1873  by  Charles  Farmer,  An- 
thony Swarthout,  W.  C.  Bennett,  and  S.  C.  King,  and 
later  the  Marvin,  Potter,  and  De  Camp  Blocks  were  added 
to  the  town's  architectural  features. 

POST-OFFICE. 

A  post-office  was  established  at  Ovid  in  1857,  and  J.  B. 
Park  appointed  postmaster.  The  office  was  kept  at  first 
in  the  Park  House,  but  soon  transferred  to  W.  C.  Ben- 
nett's store.  W.  H.  Faxon  was  appointed  in  1860,  and  in 
1865  resigned  in  favor  of  Capt.  A.  B.  Wood,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1866  by  L.  T.  Southworth,  and  the  latter  in 
turn  by  L.  C.  Mead  in  1868,  since  which  time  Mr.  Mead 
has  been  the  incumbent. 

The  business  of  the  office  during  the  three  months  ending 
March  31,  1880,  will  be  found  detailed  in  the  following : 

Received  for  sales  of  stamps,  stamped  envelopes,  etc $580.00 

"  "  box  rcDts 55.00 

Amount  of  monej-orders  issued 246.3.5,S 

"  "         paid laraiio 

OVID'S  PHYSICIANS. 
Twenty  physicians  have  pursued  the  practice  of  their 
profession  at  Ovid  between  1858  and  1880,  and  of  the 
twenty  there  are  still  seven  in  the  village.  The  pioneer 
doctor  was  E.  V.  Chase,  who  opened  his  office  in  1857 
and  remained  until  1860.  His  field  of  practice  is  now  at 
Elsie,  in  Duplain  township.  Dr.  S.  C.  King,  who  came 
next  to  Dr.  Chase,  in  1859,  has  practiced  in  Ovid  con- 
tinuously ever  since. 

Herewith  is  presented  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who 
have  practiced  medicine  in  the  village,  the  schools  to  which 
.  they  belonged,  the  date  of  location  where  it  could  be  ascer- 
tained, and  duration  of  stay : 

''^"'°-  Arrival.         stay.  School. 

E.V.Chase 1858  5  years.  A 

S.C.King 1859*         _  ^ 

Charles  Armstrong i860  3  years.  A 

B.S.Leonard IggO  7      «  -g 

Dr.  Baughman I86.3  2      "  A 

J.  B.  McLean 1864  2      "  A 

Charles  Knapp 1864  2      "  A 

Dr.  Tirrell I870*  w 

Dr.  Wells g";";-"  f 

n  ,„  „         .4  years.  A 

C.  W.  Pcngra -. ]875»  ...  a 

J.F.Abbott 4?. 1875,  -  ^ 

O.B.Campbell 1878*          1 

M.  R.Yuill*. ■? 

o---""^™ ::;:::::::::::    iy;^:    i 

^'■1""^^' 2  years.         3 

Dr.McNcal -.'  § 

J- D.  Tirrell Ig/g.  '  ^'*'-  f 

Dr.  Gregory g™"-" 

Dr.  Beats »     „  " 

Dr.  (Mrs.)  Sprague g 

OVID'S  LAWYERS. 
The  history  of  the  legal  profession  in  Ovid  may  be 
qmckly  told.  Richard  Baylis,  who  in  the  fall  of  1856 
built  the  first  saw-mill  at  Ovid,  began  to  practice  law  in 
1858,  about  which  time  E.  N.  Fitch  divided  the  legal 
business  with  him,  although  the  business  they  had  to  divide 
must  have  been  exceedingly  small.  B.  H.  Scovill  and 
JohnJTan^larken  came  next  in  succession,  and  in  1870 

»  Resident  physicians  in  Ovid,  Juno  1,  1880. 


W.  W.  Dennis  began  a  village  practice  which  he  still  con- 
tinues. S.  W.  Baker,  William  H.  Castle,  and  A.  D.  Gris- 
wold  were  later  accessions.  Mr.  Griswold,  who  was  at  one 
time  United  States  District  Attorney  at  Grand  Kapids,  is 
Mr.  Dennis'  law-partner,  and,  with  William  H.  Castle,  this 
firm  represents  the  legal  profession  in  Ovid. 

CHUJiCHES. 
OVID  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
The  Ovid  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized  by 
Rev.  J.  Fowler,  in  charge  of  the  Duplain  Circuit,  in  the 
village  school-house  in  1860.     The  organizing  members 
numbered  but  four, — H.  C.  Shifibr  and  wife,  W.  H.  Faxon 
and  wife, — W.  H.  Faxon  being  class-leader.    Services  were 
held  once  a  fortnight  in  the  school-house  until  1862,  and 
after  that  until  the  spring  of  1868  once  a  week.     At  the 
period  last  mentioned  a  church  edifice  was  erected  and 
dedicated  by  Dr.  Joslyn,  of  Albion  College.     At  that  time 
the  class  was  strong  in  membership,  and  the  society  in 
prosperous  circumstances.     In  1870  there  was  a  revival 
season,  and  material  additions  were  made  to  the  list  of 
members. 

Succeeding  Mr.  Fowler,  the  pastors  have  been  Revs.  H. 
C.  Peck,  B.  S.  Pratt,  T.  Clark,  J.  Gulick,  William  Mc^ 
Knight,  U.  Mason,  A.  McEwan,  J.  N.  Dayton,  J.  T.  Id- 
dings,  W.  Doust,  A.  J.  Russell,  James  Hamilton,  S.  P. 
Warner,  G.  W.  Sherman,  the  latter  being  now  on  the 
work.  A  parsonage  was  rented  in  1875,  and  purchased  in 
September,  1879.  That,  as  well  as  the  church  property, 
the  society  now  holds  clear  of  debt.  The  church  member- 
ship stands  at  present  at  one  hundred  and  ninety-two.  The 
class-leaders  are  H.  A.  Potter  and  E.  T.  Crosswell.  The 
trustees  are  H.  A.  Potter,  E.  Netheway,  Anthony  Swart- 
hout, W.  H.  Faxon,  and  A.  Schenck.  The  Sunday-school 
has  an  average  attendance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty,  and 
has  for  nine  years  been  in  charge  of  Anthony  Swarthout, 
who  has  now  a  corps  of  twenty  teachers;  The  school  li- 
brary numbers  three  hundred  volumes. 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  OP  OVID. 
Feb.  11,  1860,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  Ovid  school- 
house  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Baptist  Church. 
Elder  P.  C.  Bassett  was  chosen  moderator,  and  E.  Potter 
clerk,  whereupon  letters  were  presented  by  the  following 
persons :  P.  C.  Bassett,  Jane  E.  Bassett,  Edward  and  Sophia 
Potter,  Anthony  H.  and  Elsena  Longcor,  Margaret  Long- 
cor,  Jacob  W.  and  Emily  Welter,  John  and  Sophia  Glea- 
son,  Rebecca  Van  Voorheis,  John  L.  and  Aurelia  Larue, 
Daniel  E.  and  Mary  Ernsbarger,  Maria  Ferry,  and  Mary 
Winficld.  The  articles  of  faith  of  the  Michigan  State  Con- 
ference were  adopted,  and  February  22d  the  church  was 
recognized  by  a  church  council,  in  which  Revs.  J.  Booth, 
of  Fentonville,  J.  McLeod,  of  Laingsburg,  George  W. 
Lewis,  Deacon  French,  and  Brother  Rose,  of  Owosso  and 
Bennington,  took  part.  Rev.  P.  C.  Bassett  was  chosen 
pastor,  Lewis  Travis  deacon,  and  E.  Potter  clerk,  and 
membership  effected  with  the  Shiawassee  Association. 

Shortly  after  organization  the  church  membership  began 
to  increase,  and  Deo.  14,  1865,  the  society's  new  house  of 
worship  was  dedicated. 


OVID  TOWNSHIP. 


485 


Elder  Bassett  continued  his  pastorate  until  March,  1866, 
and  after  him  Revs.  J.  H.  Morrison,  A.  W.  Baker,  H.  A. 
Hose,  M.  Mulcahy,  E.  Mills,  and  H.  Pettit  occupied  the 
charge.  Mr.  Pettit  resigned  in  January,  1878,  after  a 
service  of  nearly  five  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Kev, 
A.  Waxman,  the  present  pastor. 

Since  1860  the  church  has  received  four  hundred  and 
eight  members,  and  retains  now  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five.  A.  S.  Rose,  Nathan  Herrick,  and  H.  N.  Mapes  are 
the  deacons,  and  H.  N.  Mapes  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, which  has  an  average  attendance  of  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  scholars  and  a  corps  of  nine  teachers. 

FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

At  a  meeting  held  at  the  office  of  the  Ovid  Register, 
Jan.  30,  1871,  there  were  present  Dr.  C.  V.  Beebe,  David 
Davis,  William  Gr.  Fulkerson,  R.  G.  Young,  L.  C.  Mead, 
Frank  Davis,  D.  H.  Moore,  F.  L.  T.  Hasse,  John  Bennett, 
John  Potter,  J.  G.  Mabbitt,  H.  M.  Enos,  M.  H.  Goff,  D. 
A.  Howe,  J.  S.  Kribbs,  George  C.  Beebe,  Harry  Marvin, 
John  Q.  Patterson,  T.  M.  Scoville,  and  J.  W.  Fitzgerald. 
At  that  meeting  those  present  subscribed  to  the  following 
agreement : 

"  We,  the  undersigned  citizens  of  Ovid,  herewith  form 
ourselves  into  a  temporary  organization  for  the  purpose  of 
conducting  Congregational  services  in  this  village  semi- 
weekly  for  the  next  three  months,  and  that  we  will  indi- 
vidually assist  in  paying  all  expenses  that  may  occur  \  meet- 
ings to  be  held  in  Metropolitan  Hall  until  better  accommo- 
dations can  be  procured." 

Rev.  William  Mulder,  of  Laingsburg,  was  engaged  to 
preach  "  for  expenses  and  what  the  society  saw  fit  to  give 
him.''  Feb.  13,  1871,  a  company  of  twenty-two  persona 
formed  "  a  body  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  themselves 
into  a  Congregational  Church ;"  and  in  the  Baptist  church, 
March  3,  1871,  a  permanent  organization  was  effected,  on 
which  occasion  nine  persons  were  received  into  church  fel- 
lowship. They  were  C.  V.  Beebe,  Maria  D.  Beebe,  R.  G. 
Young,  Jennie  Young,  Annie  Davis,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Bentiett, 
Susan"  Beebe,  Mary  Ray,  and  H.  M.  Enos.  March  26, 
1871,  C.  V.  Beebe  and  H.  M.  Enos  were  chosen  deacons; 
R.  G.  Young  clerk  and  treasurer ;  and  March  28,  J.  C. 
Darragh,  George  Fox,  J.  G.  Mabbitt,  and  R.  G.  Young 
trustees. 

Measures  were  at  once  commenced  for  the  erection  of  a 
house  .of  worship,  and  in  1872  it  was  dedicated.  Rev.  J.  B. 
Dawson  being  called  to  the  pastorate.  Consequent  upon 
the  building  of  the  church  the  society  became  financially 
embarrassed,  and  the  property  being  sold  under  a  mortgage 
the  active,  history  of  the  organization  ceased  for  a  time. 
Sturdy  efforts  resulted,  however,  in  the  restoration  of  the 
property  and  the  resumption  of  worship,  and  latterly  the 
progress  of  the  church  has  been  gratifying.  Rev.  D.  L. 
Eaton  is  the  pastor,  and  preaches  every  Sunday.  The 
deacons  are  Thomas  Neal,  G.  L.  Lignian,  and  I.  W.  Drake ; 
and  the  trustees,  C.  W.  Marvin,  L.  C.  Mead,  Horace  Brad- 
ley, E.  C.  White,  and  George  Sowers.  There  are  about 
seventy  members  in  the  church  and  one  hundred  scholars 
in  the  Sunday-school,  of  which  George  Sowers  is  the  super- 
intendent. 


OVID    MISSION   (PROTESTANT   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH). 

The  first  Protestant  Episcopal  services  held  in  Ovid  were 
conducted  by  Rev.  Henry  Banwell,  of  St.  Johns,  Feb.  1, 
1866,  and  from  that  time  occasional  services  were  held  in 
Ovid  by  the  rectors  of  churches  at  St.  Johns  and  Owosso 
until  1875,  when  Ovid  was  established  as  a  mission,  and 
Rev.  S.  S.  Chapin  taking  charge  thereof,  has  remained  in 
charge  ever  since.  Early  services  were  held  in  the  Con- 
gregational and  Baptist  churches,  later  at  the  residence  of 
the  rector,  and  now  in  the  society's  church  edifice,  which 
was  completed  in  July,  1880.  The  communicants  number 
twenty-five,  and  the  church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

THE  OVID  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 
was  organized  March  25,  1879,  with  fifteen  members,  W. 
Ross  being  chosen  president.  Meetings  are  held  twice 
each  week  in  Marvin  Block,  for  prayer  on  Wednesday 
night  and  Bible  study  on  Sunday  afternoon.  The  member- 
ship is  now  twenty :five,  and  the  officers  as  follows :  Frank 
Allen,  President;  Sarah  Reed,  Vice-President;  Charles 
Waldron,  Secretary;  P.  B.  Smith,  Assistant  Secretary;  D. 
Doremus,  Treasurer. 

VILLAGE    INCORPORATION    AND    LIST    OF 
OFFICERS. 

A  legislative  act,  approved  March  24,  1869,  provided 
that  "  All  that  tract  of  country  situated  in  the  township  of 
Ovid,  in  the  county  of  Clinton,  and  distinguished  as  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  12,  the  east  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  12,  the  south  three-eighths  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  12,  the  south  three-eighths  of 
the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  12,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  13,  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  13,  in  town  7  north,  of  range  1 
west,  is  hereby  constituted  the  village  of  Ovid." 

The  first  election  was  ordered  to  be  held  in  the  village 
school-house  on  the  second  Monday  in  April,  1869,  and 
was  held  accordingly  April  12.  De  Witt  C.  Harrington 
and  Henry  C.  Barber  were  chosen  judges  of  election,  and 
L.  T.  Southworth  clerk.  After  that  the  meeting  adjourned 
to  Metropolitan  Hall,  where  the  election  was  held,  the 
whole  number  of  votes  cast  being  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven.     The  result  of  that  first  election  is  here  appended. 

PRESIDENT. 

Harry  Marvin* }\l 

Abner  B.  Wood,  Jr '■^^ 

RECORDER. 

B.  H.  Scoville IJ-^ 

D.  C.  Harrington* ^^* 

TREASURER. 

James  0.  Darragh* ^J^ 

F.  L.  T.  Hasse ^"' 

ASSESSOR. 

P.  L.  Davis* ™ 

H.A.Potter ^"'^ 

TRUSTEES. 

124 
Hamilton  Stone* „ 

Brazil  Marvin* ^.„ 

A.  H.  Dunham* \\\ 

George  Fox* ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-^ 

*  Elected. 


486 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Samuel  B.  Leddiok* 11^5 

William  Rose* "^ 

William  J.  Gibbs H" 

Abram  Sohenok l"' 

John  Q.  Patterson l"* 

Anthony  Swarthout '"8 

F.  A.  Voorhies H" 

Alsynus  E.  Gray 105 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  council,  Perry  Phelps  was 
appointed  Marshal,  Kingsley  Beckwith  Street  Commis- 
sioner, Henry  Cuddeback  and  F.  A.  Voorhies  Fire- Ward- 
ens, Perry  Phelps  Poundmaster,  and  A.  B.  Wood  Village 
Surveyor. 

Herewith  is  presented  a  list  of  persons  chosen  to  the 
chief  village  offices  from  1870  to  1880. 
1870. — President,  F.  A.  Voorhies ;  Recorder,  D.  C.  Har- 
rington ;  Treasurer,  Charles  N.  Cowan ;  Assessor, 
F.  S.  Davis;  Trustees,  Harry   Marvin,  L.  F. 
Southworth,  William  Rose. 
1871. — President,  J.  H.  Robson ;  Recorder,  B.  H.  Sc6- 
ville ;  Treasurer,  D.   C.  Harrington ;  Assessor, 
F.  S.  Davis ;  Trustees,  George  D.  Sowers,  0.  H. 
Corbett,  and  James  A.  Cooper,  for  two  years  ; 
Harry  Marvin,  William  Harris,  and  Hamilton 
Stone,  for  one  year. 
1872. — President,  J.  H.  Robson ;  Recorder,  B.  H.  Sco- 
ville ;  Treasurer,  Brazil  Marvin  ;  Assessor,  F.  S. 
Davis ;  Trustees,  S.  B.  Leddick,  William  Rose, 
J.  Q.  Patterson,  and  George  Fox. 
1873. — President,  Harry  Marvin ;  Recorder,  Charles  M. 
Hagadorn  ;  Treasurer,  Brazil  Marvin  ;  Assessor, 
F.  S.  Davis ;  Trustees,  J.  C.  E.  Gumaer,  Hamilton 
Stone,  D.  C.  Harrington. 
1874.— President,  S.  B.  Leddick;  Recorder,  Charles  M. 
Hagadorn  ;  Treasurer,  Brazil  Marvin  ;  Assessor, 
F.   S.   Davis ;  Trustees,  Thomas-  H.  Meehan, 
Harry  Marvin,  George  C.  Beebe.  • 
1875.— President,  S.  B.  Leddick ;   Recorder,  H.  L.  Mc- 
Carty ;    Treasurer,    Brazil    Marvin ;    Assessor, 
Henry  M.  Enos ;  Trustees,  F.  S.  Davis,  Thomas 
B.  Southworth,  J.  N.  Brokaw. 
1876.— President,  T.  M.  Scoville;  Recorder,  C.  M.  Haga- 
dorn ;  Treasurer,  E.  C.  White ;  Assessor,  D.  C. 
Harrington  ;    Trustees,  George   W.   Stickney, 
Joseph  Barden,  Chauncey  Mulock. 
1877.— President,  J.  F.  Harris;   Recorder,  Charles  M. 
Hagadorn ;  Treasurer,  E.  C.  White  ;  Assessor, 
H.  A.  Potter ;  Trustees,  J.  N.  Brokaw,  George 
W.  Wortman,  James  A.  Cooper. 
1878.— President,  D.  H.  Misner ;  Recorder,  Samuel  Van 
Blarcom  ;  Treasurer,  Edgar  C.  White  ;  Assessor, 
J.  C.  E.  Gumaer;  Trustees,  Charles  Bement, 
,     Hugh  Morgan,  F.  L.  T.  Hasse. 
1879.— President,  John  Sowers;  Recorder,  F.  W.  Lam- 
phere;  Treasurer,  E.  C.  White;  Assessor,  D. 
C.  Harrington  ;  Trustees,  F.  H.  Scofield,  Lewis 
C.  Mead,  Simon  W.  Rose. 
1880.— President,  Ezekiel  De  Camp;    Recorder,   C.   M. 
Hagadorn  ;  Treasurer,  E.  C.  White ;  Trustees, 
H.  A.  Potter,   George   M.   Edwards,   Charles 
Cowan. 


»  Elected. 


MANUFACTURING   INDUSTRIES. 

Ovid  village  contains  among  her  manufacturing  industries 
two  important  enterprises,  the  Ovid  Carriage- Works  and 
Robertson  &  Co.'s  cooperage,  in  both  of  which  the  aggre- 
gate force  of  men  employed  is  upwards  of  one  hundred. 

Ovid  Carriage-  Worlcs. — The  senior  member  of  the  Ovid 
Carriage- Works,  located  at  Ovid,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Mr. 
F.  A.  Scofield,  in  connection  with  Mr.  E.  A.  Reed,  firet 
began  the  manufacture  of  buggies  on  a  limited  scale  during 
the  year  1877.  Later,  Mr.  Reed's  interest  was  purchased  and 
Mr.  W.  J.  Danforth  became  a  partner,  remaining  less  than  a 
year,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  James  A.  Cooper,  a 
prosperous  hardware  merchant  of  Ovid.     This  partnership 
has  proved  a  very  active  and  lucrative  one.     During  the 
brief  period  of  nine  months  the  business  has  been  increased 
to  three  times  its  former  proportions  in  every  department, 
buildings  having  been  erected,  and  machinery  of  the  most 
approved  character  been  introduced  for  the  more  expedi- 
tious and  perfect  execution  of  their  orders.     Many  cutters 
are   manufactured,  though  buggies  are  made  a  specialty, 
and   the   superior    quality    of    the    latter   is   universally 
conceded.     Sixty  men  are  employed  in  the  various  depart- 
ments, including  planing,  moulding,  resawing,  matching, 
etc.,  each  piece  being  submitted  to  personal  inspection  be- 
fore approval.     The  present  year  the  business  will  reach 
$140,000  in  amount,  and  is  regarded  as  the  most  complete 
and  extensive  in  the  State  in  this  particular  branch  of  in- 
dustry. 

R.  A.  Robertson  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  proprietors  of  the 
cooperage,  set  their  business  in  motion  at  Ovid  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1866,  and  appointed  John  Culver  to  manage  the 
enterprise.  But  six  men  were  employed  at  first,  but  the 
enlargement  of  the  business  took  early  hold,  and  continued 
steadily  until  from  forty  to  fifty  men  represented  the  work- 
ing force,  and  about  three  acres  of  land  were  required  to 
contain  the  buildings,  and  give  yard  room  to  the'con- 
cern.  These  latter  statements  apply  to  the  present  condi- 
tion of  the  establishment,  in  which  the  daily  product  is  from 
two  to  three  hundred  hogsheads,  barrels,  etc.,  which  are 
shipped  to  Eastern  and  foreign  markets.  The  firm  is  repre- 
sented at  Ovid  by  Thomas  H.  Meaghan,  who  began  as  a 
workman  for  them  in  1866,  and  who  has  been  their  manager 
since  1873. 

Ovid  Flouring-Mills. — The  site  of  Ovid's  first  grist-mill, 
built  in  1859,  by  Park  &  Kellogg,  is  now  occupied  by  a 
commodious  three-story  structure  fitted  with  four  run  of 
stones,  and  engaged  largely  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  for 
shipment  to  Eastern  markets.  Schenck  &  Sowers,  the  pres- 
ent proprietors,  have  been  in  control  of  the  property  since 
March,  1878. 

Dunham  &  Kimball  started  a  foundry  in  1865,  and  this 
business  is  still  pursued  upon  the  same  premises  by  Haight 
&  Guio,  who  took  possession  in  March,  1878.  They  em- 
ploy eight  people,  and  manufacture  general  machine-castings. 

THE   PRESS  OF   OVID. 
Ovid  has    two    newspapers, — The   Ovid  Register  and 
Tlte  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Union.     The  Register  is  the 


OVID  TOWNSHIP. 


487 


elder  of  the  two.  It  was  established  July  1,  1866,  by  J. 
W.  Wickwire,  from  whom  it  soon  passed  to  the  possession 
of  "  Happy"  Jack  Leonard,  who  disposed  of  it  to  H.  Ega- 
broad.  Successively,  A.  B.  Wood,  J.  W.  Fitzgerald,  and 
Rich  &  Rutherford  became  the  proprietors.  Rich  soon 
withdrew,  and,  after  carrying  it  on  alone  for  a  brief  time, 
Rutherford  took  in  B.  M.  Pierson  as  a  partner.  Rutherford 
retired  soon  after,  and  Pierson  struggling  to  keep  up  the 
concern  alone,  gave  up  the  task  after  a  sis  months'  experi- 
ence, when  the  property- fell  to  Reeves  &  Carrier,  Aug.  8, 
1873.  To  that  time  the  paper  had  maintained  a  precarious 
and  uncertain  existence,  but  the  new  publishers  introduced 
a  vigorous  life  into  it,  and,  as  a  result,  conducted  it  with 
much  success  for  upwards  of  six  yearg.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  Carrier  &  Carrier,  the  present  publishers,  succeeded 
Reeves  &  Carrier.  From  the  start  in  1866  The  Register 
has  been  an  avowedly  independent  journal  in  politics.  It 
is  issued  every  Friday,  contains  thirty-two  columns  of 
printed  matter,  and  has  a  claimed  circulation  of  seven  hun- 
dred. 

The  Clinton  and  Shiawassee  Union,  a  quarto  sheet  of 
Republican  politics,  was  founded  by  J.  W.  Fitzgerald  and 
J.  W.  Walsh.  The  first  issue  was  dated  June  28,  1879. 
Fitzgerald  became  the  sole  publisher  April  3, 1880,  and 
still  conducts  it. 

BANKING. 

Ovid's  first  bank  was  the  private  corporation  founded  in 
1868  by  J.  C.  Darragh  &  Co.,  including  J.  C.  Darragh, 
formerly  of  Monroe,  Mich.,  and  S.  8.  Walker  and  Charles 
Kipp,  of  St.  Johns.  This  firm  was  succeeded  in  1873  by 
Sowers  &  White,  who  still  maintain  the  private  character  of 
the  bank,  but  carry  on  a  general  banking  business. 

OVIl)  UNION  SCHOOL. 
Justly  the  Union  School  of  Ovid  village  is  an  object  of 
local  pride,  and  it  may  be  added,  moreover,  that  the  school 
building  is  architecturally  a  conspicuous  and  engaging 
feature  of  local  landscape.  Although  the  subject  of  erect- 
ing the  present  handsome  edifice  was  agitated  in  1867,  and 
$12,000  voted  therefor  in  September  of  that  year,  the 
house  was  not  completed  until  1870.  The  building  is 
of  brick,  three  stories  in  height,  and  occupies  a  command- 
ing elevation  at  the  head  of  Gratiot  Street. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  annual  report  of  Pro- 
"   fessor  W.  S.  Webster,  the  principal,  presented  March  26, 
1880: 

Whole  number  of  d:iys  taught : 

High  school 60 

Grammar  department 60 

Second  intermediate 60 

First  intermediate 6" 

Second  primary 60 

First  primary 60 

Total 360 

Whole  number  enrolled,  by  departments  : 

High  school 42 

Grammar  department 38 

Second  intermediate 52 

First  intermediate 62 

Second  primary ^^ 

First  primary 5* 

Total 322 


Highest  number  belonging  at  any  time,  by  departments : 

High  school 40 

Grammar  department 38 

Second  intermediate 52 

First  intermediate 60 

Second  primary „ 71 

First  primary 49 

Highest  number  belonging  at  any  one 

time,  in  entire  school 310 

Number  of  days'  attendance,  by  departments : 

High  school 2,184 

Grammar  department 1,922 

Second  intermediate 2,738.5 

First  intermediate i 3,094 

Second  primary 3,444 

First  primary 2,322 

Total 15,704.5 

Average  attendance,  by  departments: 

Higb  school 36.4 

Grammar  department 32 

Second  intermediate 45.6 

First  intermediate 51.5 

Second  primary 57.4 

First  primary 38.7 

Average  in  entire  school 261.6 

Days  lost  by  absence,  by  departments  : 

High  school 1.S8 

Grammar  department 239 

Second  intermediate 296.5 

First  intermediate 392 

Second  primary 641 

First  primary 409 

Total  number  of  days  lost  by  absence 2115.5 

The  time  lost  by  absence  is  14.47  per  cent,  of  entire  attendance. 

Non-resident  pupils : 

High  school 19 

Grammar  department 2 

Total 21 

SEOKET  ORDERS. 
OVID  LODGE,  No.  127,  F.  AND  A.  M., 

was  organized  Feb.  27,  1860,  in  the  Park  House.  A.  B. 
Wood,  Jr.,  was  W.  M. ;  J.  B.  Park,  S.  W. ;  William  E. 
Sickles,  J.  W. ;  J.  M.  Fitch,  Secretary ;  C.  D.  Rose,  Treas- 
urer ;  J.  A.  Potter,  S.  D. ;  A.  F.  Van  Voorhies,  J.  D. ; 
A.  D.  Smith,  Tiler.  Since  the  organization  the  Masters 
have  been  A.  B.  Wood,  Jr.,  J.  A.  Potter,  W.  H.  Faxon, 
L.  T.Southworth,  S.  C.  King,  Charles  Case,  Abram  Schenck, 
E.  C.  White,  and  M.  R.  Royce.  The  officers  now  are  M. 
R.  Royce,  W.  M. ;  Ansel  Barnes,  S.  W. ;  P.  A.  Winfield, 
J.  W. ;  E.  Mallonee,  Secretary;  John  Sowers,  Treasurer; 
Charles  Cowan,  S.  D. ;  Riley  Watkins,  J.  D. ;  John  Link, 
Tiler.  The  lodge  has  an  active  membership  of  seventy- 
eio'ht,  and  occupies  handsomely-appointed  quarters  in  Potter 

Block. 

OVID  LODGE,  No.  97,  I.  0.  0.  F., 

was  organized  March  14,  1866,  and  chartered  Jan.  14, 
1867.  The  charter  members  were  John  Gillam,  Charles 
Gillam,  H.  C.  Maine,  F.  S.  Cushman,  F.  L.  T.  Hassee,  M. 
Nichols.  The  present  officers  are  B.  M.  Merrill,  N.  G. ; 
Charles  Pengra,  V.  G. ;  J.  A.  Potter,  Secretary ;  M.  Gil- 
bert, P.  S. ;  P.  H.  Shannon,  Treasurer.  The  lodge  mem- 
bership is  seventy-five,  and  of  these  forty  are  active  par- 
ticipants in  lodge  affairs.  Meetings  are  held  in  Marvin 
Block,  where  there  is  a  commodious  and  handsomely- 
furnished  lodge-room. 


488 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


OVID  LODGE,  No.  29,  A.  0.  U.  W., 
was  organized  Dec.  22,  1877,  with  twelve  members.  The 
first  official  list  was  C.  W.  Pengra,  P.  M.  W. ;  L.  C.  Mead, 
M  W. ;  J.  H.  TerriU,  G.  F. ;  F.  W.  Lamphere,  R. ;  li.  t. 
White,  F. ;  S.  C.  King,  Receiver.  The  lodge  has  a  mem- 
bershij)  of  sixty-five,  and  meets  in  Masonic  Hall.  The 
officers  serving  in  1880  are  L.  C.  Mead,  P.  M.  W. ;  L.  C. 
White,  M.  W. ;  A.  Atherton,  G.  F. ;  S.  W.  Rose,  0. ;  F. 
W.  Lamphere,  Recorder ;  E.  Armstrong,  F. ;  N.  J.  Clark, 
Receiver ;  G.  W.  Wortman,  Guide ;  Amos  Covert,  I.  W. ; 
W.  A.  Ross,  0.  W. 

OVID  LODGE,  No.  103,  GOOD  TEMPLAKS, 
was  organized  July,  1879,  in  the  Baptist  church,  with 
seventeen  members.  That  number  has  now  advanced  to 
seventy.  The  officers  for  1880  are  R.  G.  Watkins,  W.  C. 
T. ;  Mrs.  F.  G.  Hills,  W.  V.  T. ;  Miss  Cora  Gray,  Treas- 
urer; E.  Reed,  Recording  Secretary;  David  Flanagan, 
Financial  Secretary ;  William  Berry,  Marshal ;  Ed.  Beebe, 
0.  G. ;  Carrie  Smith,  I.  G. 

COUET  WORKINGMAN'S  PRIDE,  A.  0.  F., 
was  chartered  March  31,  1879.  The  charter  members 
were  Edward  S.  Smith,  Wm.  S.  McGeary,  T.  F.  Smith, 
Daniel  Thomas,  David  Flanagan,  J.  B.  Valiet,  W."  A.  Ross, 
W.  S.  Tidswell,  B.  M.  Besley.  The  membership  is  now 
thirty.  The  officers  are  Daniel  Thomas,  C.  R. ;  B.  M. 
Besley,  S.  C.  R. ;  J.  B.  Valiet,  Sec. ;  W.  A.  Ross,  A.S. ; 
D.  Flanagan,  Treas;  W.  S.  McGeary,  S.  W. ;  W.  S.  Tids- 
well, J.  W.;  Morris  Holmes,  S.  B. ;  D.  Fish,  J.  B.;  E. 
S.  Smith,  P.  C.  R. 

OVID  LODGE,  No.  15,  ROYAL   TEMPLARS    OF   TEM- 
PERANCE, 

was  organized  Nov.  14,  1879,  with  fourteen  members,  and 
includes  now  twenty-four.  The  officers  for  1880  are  A. 
Atherton,  S.  C. ;  Charles  House,  V.  C. ;  P.  Wilbur,  P.  C. ; 
H.  M.  Pack,  Sec. ;  R.  Watkins,  P.  Sec. ;  D.  A.  Haight, 
Treas.;  N.  W.  Jenkins,  Herald;  Mrs.  D.  A.  Haight, 
Deputy  Herald ;  Mrs.  P.  Hills,  Chaplain ;  J.  A.  Hubbell, 
Guard. 

OVID   FIRE  DEPAETMENT. 

Ovid  has  had  its  share  of  fires,  but  they  have  proved 
visitations  of  value,  since  in  the  stead  of  the  unsightly 
wooden  structures  destroyed  have  risen  imposing  business 
blocks  of  brick.  The  "  bucket  brigade"  did  fire  duty  for 
the  town  until  1875,  when  a  hook-and-ladder  company  was 
added  to  the  fire-fighting  force.  The  company  was  chris- 
tened Washington,  No.  1,  and  started  with  twenty-two 
members.  S.  W.  Rose  was  chosen  foreman,  William 
Stevenson  first  assistant,  and  Henry  McCarty  second  as- 
sistant. E.  P.  Corbisher,  who  was  elected  chief  engineer 
of  the  department,  remained  in  that  office  until  1880,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  William  Stevenson.  S.  W.  Rose,  the 
present  foreman  of  the  company,  has  served  continuously 
as  such  since  1875,  except  during  1877,  when  William 
Stevenson  was  the  incumbent.  A  serviceable  hook-and- 
ladder  truck  was  built  in  the  village  in  1875,  and  that  ap- 
paratus is  still  in  use.     Washington,  No.  1,  has  about  forty 


members,  and  is  considered  as  a  spirited  and  valuable  or- 
ganization. 

A  TRIPLE   TRAGEDY. 

Aug.  26,  1870,  Ovid  was  called  upon  to  mourn  over  a 
terrible  calamity,  in  which  the  lives  of  three  valuable  citi- 
zens were   suddenly  sacrificed.     The   three   men— named 

Sanford  House,  J.  C.  Brewster,  and Higgins— were 

on  the  day  in  question  standing  in  front  of  Harrison  & 
Harrington's  steam  saw-mill  when,  without  warning,  the 
boiler  of  the  mill  exploded  with  terrific  force,  and  the  fly- 
ing fragments,  passing  in  the  path  occupied  by  the  three 
unfortunates,  killed  them  instantly. 

SHEPARDSVILLE. 
Shepardsville,  a  station  on  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad  three  miles  west  of  Ovid  village,  was  laid  out  in 
1856  by  William  Shepard,  who  in  that  year  started  a  store 
at  that  point.  The  village  made  feeble  headway  at  first, 
but  about  1867  pushed  ahead  vigorously.  In  that  year 
Mr.  Shepard  put  up  a  grist-mill  with  two  run  of  stones,  and 
a  saw-mill,  which  he  directly  converted  into  a  stave-factory. 
The  grist-mill  had,  however,  been  but  two  days  in  operation 
when  the  boiler  exploded,  killing  Dorn,  the  millwright,  and 
seriously  wounding  six  other  men.  This  example  of  ill 
luck  inflicted  when  the  town  was  just  emerging  into  some- 
thing like  prosperity  was  but  the  forerunner  to  several  dis- 
asters which  followed  hard  upon  and  ultimately  relegated 
Shepardsville  to  a  state  of  masterly  inactivity.  In  1871 
the  stave-mill  was  burned,  a  business  block  of  three  stores 
and  several  shops  succumbed  to  fire  during  1872  and  1873, 
while  upon  other  occasions  other  conflagrations  put  back 
the  work  of  enterprise  as  rapidly  as  it  betrayed  its  pres- 
ence. 

At  its  best,  Shepardsville  contained  five  stores,  a  hotel 
(built  by  H.  Longcor  in  1864),  and  milling  industries 
which  served  altogether  to  make  the  place  a  busy  one. 
That  the  untoward  circumstances  of  its  early  history  fol- 
lowed it  persistently  in  later  years  finds  illustration  in  the 
relation  that  a  cheese-factory  started  in  1878  by  a  Mr. 
Craddock  stood  but  two  years  before  it  was  burned. 

A  post-office  was  established  at  the  town  in  1867  and 
named  Ovid  Centre,  but.  in  a  brief  time  a  change  of  name 
was  made  to  Shepardsville,  consequent  upon  a  similarity 
of  the  first  name  to  Ovid,  the  next  office  eastward.  Wil- 
liam Shepard  was  the  first  postmaster,  J.  L.  Button  the  . 
second,  S.  X.  Brass  the  third,  and  L.  0.  Ludlum,  now  in 
the  office,  the  fourth.  Dr.  L.  0.  Ludlum,  the  postmaster, 
located  in  the  village  in  1868  and  entered  upon  medical 
practice.  He  is  the  only  resident  physician  Shepardsville 
has  had. 

SHEPARDSVILLE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CLASS, 
worshiping  in  the  building  put  up  by  William  Shepard  as  a 
store  in  1856,  was  organized  in  1869  by  Rev.  A.  Wood,  of  the 
Duplain  Circuit,  with  a  membership  of  thirty.  William 
Shepard,  who  was  then  chosen  class-leader,  has  continued 
until  this  time  to  fill  that  place.  The  class  is  now  on  the 
Duplain  Circuit,  has  forty-five  members,  and  has  preaching 
once  a  fortnight.  Rev.  C.  A.  Jacokes  being  the  pastor.  The 
trustees  are  William  Shepard,  P.  A.  Winfield,  and  J.  L. 


I 

N 


OVID  TOWNSHIP. 


489 


Button.  William  Shepard  is  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, which  has  an  average  attendance  of  fifty  and 
employs  eight  teachers. 

BAPTIST   CHURCH   OF   SHEPARDSVILLE. 

April  15, 1876,  a  meeting  was  held  at  Shepardsville  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Baptist  Church.  Among  those 
present  were  P.  C.  Bassett,  John  D.  Gleason,  Jacob  W. 
Welter,  P.  A.  Winfield,  Thomas  Sturges,  I.  E.  Hobart, 
Edward  P.  Castner,  D.  F.  Aldrich,  John  Miller,  H.  H. 
Faragar,  William  Castner,  Isaiah  Castner,  and  Edward 
Potter.  The  persons  named  subscribed  to  the  following : 
"  We  who  do  hereby  subscribe  our  names,  anxious  to  do 
something  in  an  organized  form  to  promote  the  Christian 
religion,  and  to  maintain  the  permanent  worship  of  God 
and  the  institutions  of  the  Gospel  in  this  vicinity,  do  or- 
ganize ourselves  into  a  society  known  as  The  Baptist  Church 
and  Society  of  Shepardsville."  Samuel  B.  Spink,  Edward 
Potter,  John  Miller,  I.  B.  Hobart,  and  Thomas  Sturges 
were  chosen  trustees  and  Edward  Potter  clerk. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  edifice  was  used  for 
public  worship  until  the  fall  of  1879,  when  the  society's 
new  church  was  occupied.  Elder  P.  C.  Bassett,  the  first 
pastor,  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  V.  Ney,  and  after  the 
latter  came  Rev.  A.  Waxman,  who  is  now  in  charge, 
preaching  once  each  week  at  Ovid  and  Shepardsville. 
There  is  in  connection  with  the  church  a  Sabbath-school, 
which  enjoys  much  prosperity. 

SOUTH  OVID  UNITED  BRETHREN  CLASS. 
About  1858,  Eggleston  and  Lee,  missionaries  in  the 
United  Brethren  Qhurch,  visited  the  region  known  as 
South  Ovid  and  organized  the  South  Ovid  United  Breth- 
ren class  in  the  Wilson  school-house.  There  services  were 
afterwards  held  until  1869,  when  a  change  of  location  was 
made  to  the  Baker  school-house,  which  was  used  until  the 
completion  of  the  United  Brethren  church  in  1879,  upon 
December  7th  of  which  year  it  was  dedicated.  The  class, 
having  now  a  flourishing  membership  of  upwards  of  one 
hundred,  is  on  the  Ovid  Circuit,  in  charge  of  Rev.  M.  H. 
Sly,  and  including  points  in  Ovid,  Victor,  Duplain,  and 
Greenbush.  Preaching  is  supplied  at  South  Ovid  once 
each  fortnight.  The  class-leader  is  George  Cox,  the  class- 
steward  John  M.  Kosht,  and  the  trustees  Christian  Baker, 
George  Cox,  I.  N.  Yarger,  J.  M.  Kosht,  and  L.  H.  Allen. 
Cyrus  Sherman  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
which  has  an  average  attendance  of  fifty  scholars  and  eight 
teachers. 

SOUTH   OVID   FREE   METHODIST    CLASS. 

This  class  was  formed  June,  1871,  by  Rev.  John  Ellison 
(in  charge  of  the  St.  Johns  Circuit)  in  a  grove  upon  Seba 
Squires'  farm.  The  organizing  members  numbered  nine, 
of  whom  Jeremiah  Cox  was  class-leader.  Since  that  time 
regular  services  have  been  held  in  South  Ovid.  School- 
houses  and  residences  of  class-members  were  used  until 
1879,  when  a  house  of  worship  was  built,  and  in  July  of 
that  year  dedicated.  There  is  preaching  once  in  two  weeks 
by  Rev.  G.  H.  Joslyn,  in  charge  of  St.  Johns  Circuit,  and 
prayer-meeting  on  alternate  Sundays.  Seba  Squires  is  the 
62 


leader  of  the  class,  which  has  a  membership  now  of  twenty. 
Seba  Squires  is  likewise  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school,  which  enjoys  a  flourishing  existence. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


EZEKIEL  DE  CAMP. 

On  the  occasion  of  Gen.  Lafayette's  presence  in  the 
United  States  as  the  champion  of  freedom,  he  was  ac- 
companied by  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  De  Camp 
(Ezekiel),  who  also  shared  with  him  the  dangers  of  battle 
in  the  cause  of  the  Republic.  He  served  under  Gen. 
Knox,  and  participated  in  both  the  battles  of  Monmouth 
and  Long  Island.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Stephen 
Austin,  was  present,  and  assisted  in  disposing  of  the  mem- 
orable cargo  of  tea  in  Boston  harbor,  and  died  in  Orleans 
Co.,  N.  Y.  The  father,  Enoch  De  Camp,  was  born  in 
Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  in  1784,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years  engaged  actively  in  the  war  of  1812  under  Gen. 
Winfield  Scott,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Lundy's 
Lane,  as  well  as  other  important  engagements.  His  death 
occurred  at  Ovid  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
His  wife,  Mrs.  Eliza  De  Camp,  who  survived  him  less  than 
two  years,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

Ezekiel  De  Camp,  the  brief  sketch  of  whose  life  is  here 
given,  was  a  native  of  Tyrone,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  having 
been  the  tenth  and  youngest  child  of  his  parents,  who  four 
years  subsequent  to  his  birth  removed  to  Reading,  in  the 
same  county.  He  was  at  an  early  age  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources,  and  until  twenty-two  years  of  age  followed 
farming  pursuits,  varied  by  such  advantages  as  the  primi- 
tive schools  of  the  day  aff'orded.  He  then  repaired  to 
Michigan  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Victor,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  an  unimproved  farm  in  Ovid.  The  township  then 
displayed  very  few  evidences  of  the  settler's  presence. 
There  were  no  roads  on  his  arrival,  and  the  market  for 
wheat  was  reached  only  after  a  tedious  ride  of  one  hundred 
miles  to  Detroit.  On  the  8th  of  February,  1857,  Mr. 
De  Camp  was  married  to  Miss  Polly  E.,  daughter  of  John 
L.  and  Lois  Cross,  who  were  among  the  early  pioneers  to 
Ovid.     They  have  had  three  children,— C.  C,  A.  P.,  and 

Autha. 

Mr.  De  Camp  has  held  many  important  village  and 
township  offices,  among  them  ^hose  of  township  clerk, 
highway  commissioner,  president  of  the  village,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education,  in  which  last  position  he 
has  served  the  public  for  eight  years.  In  politics  he  is  an 
ardent  Republican.  He  is  the  senior  member  of  the  exten- 
sive firm  of  De  Camp  &  Stickney.  He  was  also  the 
founder  of  the  firm  of  Potter,  Beattie  &  Co.,  and  has  been 
during  his  business  career  one  of  the  most  reliable  and 
popular  of  the  mercantile  representatives  of  the  village. 
He  has  made  many  improvements  in  the  township  and 
village. 


490 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


B.   M.   SUEl'ARD. 


MRS.   ELIZABETH   SHEPARD. 


MBS.   MATILDA  SHEPABD,   (DEO'D.). 


B.  M.  SHEPARl). 


Samuel  and  Eunice  Duke  Shepard  were  the  parents  of 
two  children,  William  and  B.  M.,  the  latter  of  whom  was 
born  in  Saratoga  County,  Nov.  24,  1816.  When  six  years 
old  the  family  removed  to  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  nine  years  he  met  with  an  irreparable  loss  in 
the  death  of  his  mother.  He  pursued  his  studies  until 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  was  mar- 
ried to  M'ss  Matilda  Stilwell,  of  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  them.  Mr.  Shepard  removed  to 
Ohio  and  remained  ten  years,  after  which  he  repaired  to 
Pennsylvania.  In  1861,  at  the  solicitation  of  his  brother, 
he  came  to  Ovid  Centre  and  began  the  improvement  of  a 


farm  of  sixty  acres,  for  which  he  had  previously  effected 
an  exchange.  He  later  engaged  in  the  purchase  and  ship- 
ment of  live  stock,  his  neighbors  trusting  him  for  the  first 
investment  made  in  the  enterprise.  He  was  also  a  large 
speculator  in  grain,  and  as  the  result  of  his  various  ven- 
tures became  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land,  which  he  later  disposed  of  and  retired  from  active 
business  pursuits.  In  politics  Mr.  Shepard  is  a  Democrat, 
though  liberal  in  his. opinions.  Having  been  afflicted  m 
1874  by  the  loss  of  his  wife,  he  in  1878  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gates,  daughter  of  William  and  Rachel 
Green,  who  is  of  English  extraction,  and  came  to  Clinton 


OLIVE  TOWNSHIP. 


491 


County  in  1846.  Mr.  Shepard  is  still  a  resident  of  Shep- 
ardville,  and  his  children  all  reside  in  Michigan.  During 
this  time  Mr.  Shepard  has  resided  on  his  farm,  which  he 
has  successfully  managed. 


DR.  SOLON  C.  KING. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  brief  biography,  Mager 
King,  was  born  in  Sodus,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1804,  and 
later  married  Miss  Caroline  Graves,  of  Willoughby,  Ohio. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  Solon  having 


King  is  an  ardent  Democrat  in  his  political  convictions,  and 
was  during  the  year  1877  the  successful  candidate  for  the 
office  of  county  clerk. 


SOLON   0.    KING. 

been  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  Austinburg,  Ohio,  was 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  the  date  June  12, 1830.  He 
was  a  pupil  at  the  school  of  the  district  of  his  residence 
until  twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  Grand 
River  Institute  in  Austinburg,  and  remained  four  years, 
after  which  he  repaired  to  the  home  of  his  grandfather  in 
Vernon,  Shiawassee  Co.,  for  a  brief  period,  and  there 
assisted  his  father  in  farm  labor.  Later  he  became  clerk 
for  John  Owens  &  Co.,  of  Detroit,  where  he  remained 
four  years,  when  the  study  of  medicine  occupied  his  atten- 
tion. He  first  repaired  to  Vernon,  and  later  finished  his 
course  at  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  where  he  graduated  after  a  career  involving  three 
years.  In  1860  he  established  himself  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Ovid,  which  was  then  but  a  mere  hamlet. 
In  1871  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Samuel  S.  Moore 
in  the  business  of  drugs  and  medicines,  and  two  years  later 
purchased  the  interest  of  his  partner,  having  since  con- 
ducted the  business  alone.  He  had  enjoyed  prior  to  his 
business  venture  an  extended  practice,  which  was  aban- 
doned for  the  less  arduous  labors  of  the  store.  In  1861 
Dr.  King  was  married  to  Mrs.  L.  J.  Longoor,  who  had  two 
children  by  a  previous  marriage.  Addie  is  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Cowan,  and  Frances  is  Mrs.  F.  W.  Lamphire.    Dr. 


CHAPTER  LXIL 
OLIVE    TOWNSHIP.* 

General  DeBcription — Early  Settlements  and  Settlers — Resident  Tax- 
payers in  Olive  in  1841 — -Voters  in  the  Township  in  1844 — Town- 
ship Organization  —  Civil  List  of  Olive — Highways — Schools — 
Religious  History — Olive  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

The  six  miles  square  of  territory  known  as  Olive  town- 
ship is  designated  in  the  governmental  survey  as  town  6 
north,  range  2  west.  Its  boundaries  are  Bingham  on  the 
north,  De  Witt  on  the  south,  Victor  on  the  east,  and  Riley 
on  the  west.  The  surface  of  the  town  is  generally  level, 
and  although  marked  in  numerous  places  with  tracts  of 
swamp-land,  presents  a  remarkable  improvement  in  that 
respect  over  the  condition  of  things  prevalent  twenty  or 
more  years  ago,  when  swamps  were  much  larger  and  much 
more  plentiful  than  now. 

The  producing  capacity  of  the  soil  is  something  beyond 
the  common,  and  in  respect  to  the  growth  of  wheat  Olive 
ranks  high.  The  town  contains  no  manufacturing  in- 
dustry, has  but  one  church  building,  no  village,  nor  yet  a 
post-office.  There  is,  however,  a  large  amount  of  wealth 
in  the  community,  and  affairs  are  generally  in  a  prosperous 
condition. 

EAKLT  SETTLEMENTS  AND  SETTLERS. 
During  the  month  of  October,  1-836,  Peter  Merrihew 
and  his  sons,  Adam  and  John  W.,  were  looking  through 
Michigan  for  land-locations,  and  coming  to  De  Witt  met  one 
Mr.  Webb,  who  piloted  them  into  the  town  now  called 
Olive.     So  well  pleased  were  they  with  the  country  there 
that  they  selected  eleven  eighty-acre  lots  upon  sections  5, 
6,  7,  8,  9,  and  10.     They  returned  then  to  Livingston 
County,  and  awaited  the  coming  of  their  families  from 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.    In  November  came  their  families,  and  the 
family  of  Ephraim  Merrihew,  who  was  also  a  son  to  Peter. 
The  first  to  push  on  to  Olive  was  Ephraim,  who,  with  his 
wife  and  children,  entered  the  town  in  January,  1837,  and 
made  a  commencement  upon  section  5.     On  the  same  day 
came  also  to  the  town  Orange  Ferguson  and  his  family,  and 
occupied  a  place  on  section  18,  near  Muskrat  Lake.     Eph- 
raim Merrihew's  father  came  with  him  and  gave  assistance 
in  putting  up  a  cabin,  Ephraim's  family  abiding  meanwhile 
at  De  Witt.   Continuing  the  record  of  the  Merrihew  settle- 
ment, which  was  an  important  and  numerous  one,  mention 
is  neit  of  the  coming  of  John  W.  Merrihew  and  his  family 
in  June,  1837,  to  section  5.     Where  he  built  his  first  cabin 
Mr.  Merrihew  has  lived  ever  since,  the  oldest  living  settler 
to-day  in  Olive.     In  July,  1837,  the  elder  Merrihew,  who 
had  been  living  in  Wayne  County,  made  also  a  settlement  in 
Olive,  in  company  with  his  son  Adam.   Adam  made  his  stand 


»  By  David  Schwartz. 


492 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


upon  section  7,  while  his  father  began  his  clearing  on  sec- 
tion 5.  In  1838  yet  another  son,  Benjamin,  came  on  with 
a  family  and  joined  the  pioneer  band  on  section  7,  where 
he  set  up  the  pioneer  blacksmith-shop  in  the  town.  Nehe- 
miah,  the  fifth  son,  unmarried  when  he  came  to  the  town 
with  his  father,  married  in  due  season  and  settled  on  sec^ 
tion  8. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  the  Merrihew 
families  were  sufficiently  numerous  to  give  the  town  a  good 
start,  for  they  numbered  at  least  six  voters,  nearly  as  many 
as  some  of  Clinton  County's  towns  started  their  township 
organizations  with.  Of  those  here  mentioned  the  elder 
Merrihew  died  on  his  Olive  farm  in  1860  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four.  John  W.  and  Benjamin  are  still  living  in  the 
town.  Ephraim  lives  in  Wayne  County,  Nehemiah  in 
Bingham  township,  and  Adam  in  Maple  Rapids. 

Peter  Merrihew  was  a  man  of  some  means  for  that 
day.  He  not  only  brought  a  few  thousand  dollars  west 
with  him,  but  he  made  a  lucky  speculation  on  some  Wayne 
County  land,  which  he  bought  for  a  pair  of  horses  and  sold 
soon  after  for  two  thousand  dollars,  so  that  when  he  en- 
gaged in  his  western  pioneering  he  was  well  provided 
against  the  privations  and  hardships  that  beset  the  average 
pioneer.  He  is  believed  to  have  brought  to  the  town  the 
first  horse-team  seen  therein,  and  to  have  built  the  first 
framed  barn.  Benjamin  Merrihew,  who  set  out  to  accom- 
modate the  settlers  with  a  smithy,  did  so  to  good  purpose, 
as  far  as  they  were  concerned,  but  there  were  not  people 
enough  in  the  community  to  encourage  his  enterprise  satis- 
factorily, and  so  after  a  brief  experience  he  abandoned  it. 
He  did  considerable  business  in  the  way  of  hauling  in  sup- 
plies from  Detroit  and  other  places,  and  used  to  go  to  mill 
to  Northville  for  all  hands  frequently.  In  1838  he  was 
called  upon  to  go  to  Northville  to  buy  twelve  barrels  of 
flour,  but  the  roads  were  so  bad  he  declared  it  to  be  absurd 
to  think  of  making  the  trip  with  an  ox-team.  He  volun- 
teered, however,  to  foot  it  to  Northville,  and  hire  some  one 
else  to  bring  the  flour  back.  So  foot  it  he  did,  a  distance 
of  upwards  of  eighty  miles,  bought  twelve  barrels  of  flour 
at  twelve  dollars  a  barrel,  and  bargained  to  pay  two  dollars 
a  barrel  additional  for  their  transportation  to  De  Witt 
whence  he  hauled  them  to  Olive  with  his  own  team. 

Referring  to  the  matter  of  roads,  the  town  of  Olive  was 
quite  badly  off  in  that  respect  when  the  Merrihews  made 
their  settlement.  When  Benjamin  was  moving  in  he  was 
mired  when  within  a  few  miles  of  his  destination,  and  after 
several  ineffectual  attempts  to  extricate  his  team,  he  and 
his  wife  went  forward  afoot  to  the  settlement  for  assistance. 
At  that,  with  all  the  assistance  he  could  get,  Merrihew  was 
a  good  while  getting  his  oxen  out  of  their  predicament. 
At  this  time  the  road  on  which  the  Merrihews  located  had 
been  worked  some  as  a  State  road,  but  beyond  some  under- 
brushing  no  effective  labor  had  been  expended.  When 
John  came  in  he  found  the  traveling  terribly  tedious,  and 
between  passing  around  marshes  and  miring  in  apparently 
safe  spots  the  miles  were  long  and  the  work  hard.  John 
started  for  the  Colony  mill  one  day,  and  had  not  gone  far 
when  he  found  himself  fast  in  the  mire.  Seeing  a  man 
hard  by  thrashing  wheat  with  a  pair  of  oxen,— the  feet  of 
oxen  were  in  those  days  the  thrashers  and  the  earth  the 


thrashing-floor, — he  got  the  assistance  of  his  team,  to  no 
good  purpose,  however,  since  he  emerged  from  his  troublous 
position  only  when  a  third  pair  of  cattle  came  upon  the 
scene  and  were  pressed  into  service.  Reports  go  as  far  even 
as  to  say  that  teams  used  in  some  cases  to  be  mired  a  whole 
day,  and  that,  unable  to  extricate  themselves  or  to  be  ex- 
tricated, they  were  left  there  to  perish. 

Orange  Ferguson,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made, 
built  Olive's  pioneer  saw-mill, — and  indeed  the  only  mill 
of  any  kind  the  town  has  ever'  had, — near  Muskrat  Lake, 
about  1 843.  It  was  composed  of  hewn  logs,  and  for  its 
irons  Ben  Merrihew  made  a  journey  to  Detroit. 

On  the  south  line  of  the  town  Alexander  Calder  made  a 
settlement  early  in  the  ^ear  1837  upon  section  31.  He 
came  to  the  town  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  bought  his  land 
of  Capt.  Scott.  In  May,  1836,  he  brought  his  family  to 
De  Witt,  and  worked  a  year  for  Capt.  Scott.  In  May, 
1837,  he  occupied  his  Olive  place.  He  was  the  first  to 
settle  in  that  portion  of  the  town.  The  next  year  he  was 
joined  by  Harvey  Alexander,  who  made  also  a  settlement 
on  the  town-line.  From  that  neighborhood  the  settlers  in 
Olive  in  the  early  days  attended  church  and  enjoyed  school 
privileges  in  either  De  Witt  or  Riley.  North  of  the  south 
town-line  Atwell  Simmons,  a  resident  in  Riley,  made  an 
improvement  in  Olive  upon  section  30,  and  in  the  winter 
of  1837  and  1838  put  in  there  three  and  a  half  acres  of 
wheat,  from  which  he  gathered  the  next  summer  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-six  bushels,  or  an  average  of  thirty-six 
bushels  per  acre.  Wheat-thrashers  at  that  time  were  oxen, 
and  although  they  were  slow  in  the  performance  of  the 
duty,  and  the  method  itself  not  of  the  most  satisfactory 
kind,  it  had  to  answer,  and  did  answer  very  decently  until 
something  better  came  to  hand. 

Peter  Ennest,  son-in-law  to  Peter  Merrihew,  who  had 
come  with  the  latter  to  Olive  in  the  fall  of  1836,  then  se- 
lected some  land  on  section  10,  and  in  1838  came  with  his 
brother-in-law,  James  Ennest,  to  make  a  permanent  location, 
James  settling  upon  section  5.  In  1839,  Daniel  Ferguson 
— brother  to  Orange  Ferguson — located  on  section  17. 
During  his  residence  in  Olive  he  served  one  term  as  county 
treasurer. 

In  1839,  Nathan  Smith  came  from  New  York  and  located 
upon  a  place  on  the  De  Witt  and  Colony  road,  one  and  a  half 
miles  south  of  Orange  Ferguson's.  This  thoroughfare, 
known  now  as  the  Lansing  and  St.  Johns  road,  was  then 
simply  an  underbrushed  highway.  On  that  road  in  Olive 
there  was  then  no  settler  between  Smith  and  George  Kin- 
ney, on  the  south  townl-ine.  Half  a  mile  north  of  Smith 
was  Henry  Leuts,  just  north  of  him  his  brother  Hopkins 
Leuts,  and  just  north  of  the  last  was  the  father,  Peter. 
Next  north  was  Daniel  Ferguson,  then  Orange  Ferguson, 
and  so  northward  to  Ransom  Reed,  Benjamin  Merrihew, 
and  Ephraim  Merrihew. 

The  De  Witt  road  became  after  awhile  a  much-traveled 
thoroughfare,  and  about  1853  was  opened  as  a  mail-  and 
stage-route  between  Lansing  and  St.  Johns  via  De  Witt. 
The  volume  of  travel  called,  of  course,  for  taverns,  and  the 
first  to  respond  was  Myron  Wolcott,  who  kept  in  a  shanty 
what  he  was  pleased  to  call  "  The  Half- Way  House,"  in 


OLIVE   TOWNSHIP. 


493 


recognition  of  the  fact  that  it  was  midway  between  De  Witt 
and  St.  Johns.  Later  Wolcott's  shanty  was  supplanted  by 
a  more  pretentious  edifice,  which  still  does  duty  as  a  way- 
side inn  on  section  17.  About  the  time  Wolcott  opened 
his  tavern  Orange  Ferguson  followed  suit  with  a  second 
hostelry  at  Muskrat  Lake.  Two  miles  south  of  Wolcott's 
a  Frenchman  named  J.  P.  Russell  set  up  a  tavern-stand, 
and  hard  by  John  Huits  had  what  he  was  pleased  to  call  a 
brewery.  Russell  called  his  place  "  The  Traveler's  Home," 
and  the  presumption  is  fair  that  the  travelers  who  sojourned 
beneath  Russell's  hospitable  roof  were  fortunate  in  being 
within  such  easy  reach  of  soothing  beer  wherewith  to  mois- 
ten their  clay.  Of  the  taverns  mentioned  none  are  left  to 
cheer  and  refresh  the  weary  wayfarer  save  the  one  occupy- 
ing the  site  of  Wolcott's  old  stand.  As  before  remarked, 
a  mail-  and  stage-route  was  established  upon  the  road,  and 
daily  a  four-horse  coach  bowled  merrily  over  its  smooth 
surface,  while  general  travel  of  considerable  consequence 
animated  and  enlivened  to  no  small  degree  the  stretch  of 
country  that  bordered  the  highway.  When  a  post-ofi5ce 
was  established  John  Norris  was  appointed  postmaster. 
When  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  was  pushed  as 
far  westward  as  St.  Johns,  the  mail-route  over  the  De  Witt 
road  was  abolished,  and  the  post-oflBce  in  Olive  discontinued. 
Some  time  afterwards  it  was  revived  and  the  office  given  to 
Nancy  Rouns.  Her  successor  was  Alonzo  Huntoon,  the 
tavern-keeper,  who  retained  the  place  until  1875,  when  the 
government  decided  again  to  cut  Olive  from  the  list  of  post- 
offices,  and  sinpe  that  day  the  town  has  had  no  mail  con- 
veniences within  its  borders. 

Inquiries  touching  the  first  birth  and  first  death  in 
Olive  have  failed,  although  diligently  pursued,  in  pro- 
ducing satisfactory  conclusions.  The  first  marriage  in  the 
_town  may,  however,  be  noted  as  having  been  that  of  Hor- 
ace S.  Green  to  Mary  Ann,  daughter  to  Peter  Merrihew. 
The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Rev.  Lewis  Coburn,  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  preacher,  in  the  year  1839,  at  the 
house  of  the  bride's  father.  The  occasion  was  naturally  a 
notable  one,  and  the  signal  for  the  gathering  of  a  goodly 
company  and  the  prevalence  of  a  season  of  merry  enjoy- 
ment. 

Early  log  cabins  were  built  with  what  were  called  single 
roofs.  The  first  cabin  that  boasted  a  double  roof  was  the 
one  built  by  Peter  Merrihew.  Guy  Wilcox  built  the  first 
framed  house,  which  Peter  Merrihew  bought  and  moved  to 
his  own  place.  Wilcox  had  also  an  ashery,  and  between 
pioneering  and  making  potash  kept  himself  busily  em- 
ployed. 

Bear-hunts  were  common  pastimes,  and  bear-hunters  of 
more  than  ordinary  skill  won  much  local  fame.  A  noted 
bear-hunting  party  was  composed  of  Adam,  Ephraim,  and 
John  Merrihew  and  Linus  Gillett.  They  hunted  a  bear 
which  had  the  night  before  raided  and  carried  off  a  settler's 
hog.  The  hunt  was  determined  and  protracted,  but  it 
terminated  in  Bruin's  capture  and  a  general  rejoicing  all 
iiround.  (Capturing  bears  by  means  of  dead-falls  was,  how- 
ever, the  favorite  and  most  successful  method,  and  at  this 
Horace  Green  was  exceedingly  adept  and  lucky.  John  W. 
Merrihew  tells  of  taking  part  in  a  bear-hunt  in  which  the 


bear  was  shot  dead  in  a  tree,  and  there  remained  stuck  fast 
until  the  tree  was  felled  to  dislodge  him.  He  was  a  large 
animal,  and  yielded  five  pailfuls  of  fat. 

The  early  history  of  OliVe  was  somewhat  painfully  im- 
pressed with  the  lawless  exploits  of  one  Fletcher,  and  his 
subsequent  expulsion  from  the  town.     He  pretended  to  be 
a  blacksmith,  but  devoted  himself  chiefly  to  laying  unlaw- 
ful hands  upon  the  property  of  his  neighbors,  and  working 
grievances   in    manifold  ways.      Tiring   of    his    ordinary 
methods  of  deviltry  he  took  to  poisoning  the  cattle  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  at  this  latest  and  sharpest  demonstration 
of  sin  the  community  rose  en  masse  and  vowed  that  he 
must  be  made  to  feel  the  sharp  sting  of  public  vengeance. 
Previous  punishments  had  been   inflicted   upon  him  and 
warnings  of  greater  wrath  to  come  had  reached  him,  but 
at  this  time  general  opinion  inclined  to  the  belief  that  pa- 
tience had  ceased  to  be  a  virtue,  and  desperate  measures 
were  accordingly  resolved  on.    An  indignation  meeting  was 
held,  and  after  a  brief  and  hurried  discussion  of  the  situa- 
tion  it  was  proposed    to  lynch  the   sinful  Fletcher,  and 
further  proposed  to  draw  lots  to  see  who  should  have  the 
distinguished  honor  of  leading  the  expedition  and  striking 
the  first  blow.    One  of  the  members  of  the  party  was  indi- 
vidually so  anxious  to  be  chief  in  Fletcher's  taking  off'  that 
he  suggested  the  postponement  of  drawing  cuts,  since  he 
himself  would  take  the  job  of  killing  the  wicked  Fletcher, 
and  would  further  guarantee  that  the  killing  should  be  done 
promptly  and  efiectually.     Unfortunately  for  his  ambition, 
word  was  soon  brought  that  Fletcher  had  been  captured  by 
officers  of  the  law  and  conveyed  to  the  county  jail.    There- 
upon the  company  resolved  not  to  lose  all  chance  for  satis- 
fying their  vengeance,  disguised  themselves  as  a  party  of 
Indians,  and  moving  rapidly  upon  Fletcher's  house,  utterly 
destroyed  it.     His  family  fled  for  their  lives  and  sought 
shelter  in  De  Witt,  but  they  were  in  such  bad  odor  that  no 
one  would  take  them  in,  and  so  they  pressed  on,  nobody 
knows  whither.     There  was  some  talk  of  moving  upon  the 
jail,  dragging  Fletcher  forth,  and  lynching  him  anyway,  but 
discussion  proved  the  plan  impolitic  and  it  was  abandoned. 
Its  abandonment  was  probably  afterwards  regretted  when, 
having  been  in  jail  but  a  short  time,  Fletcher  made  good 
his  escape  therefrom  and  fled  to  other  scenes.     Nothing 
more  was  heard  of  him  after  that  for  some  years,  when  it 
was  told  that  in  the  Far  West  he  had  been  run  over  and 
killed  by  a  railway- train. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  Olive  came  David  G.  Wilsey,  in 
1839,  to  section  26,  where  he  lived  until  1844,  and  then 
removed  to  a  place  on  section  35  he  had  bought  of  David 
Scott,  who  had  improved  forty  acres  of  the  tract.  When 
Wilsey  located  upon  section  26  his  nearest  neighbor  was 
more  than  a  mile  distant,  and  in  1844  his  neighbor 
on  the  town-line  was  Charles  Lent,  who  lived  west  of 
him.  Wilsey  used  to  go  to  Owosso  to  mill,  and  although 
it  was  a  trip  of  fifty  miles,  he  was  not  so  badly  off  in  that 
respect  as  some  of  his  fellow-settlers  farther  west.  Cash 
for  o-rain  was  not  to  be  had  short  of  Detroit,  and  to  that 
point  he  had  to  go  when  he  wanted  money  for  wheat.  La- 
boring for  others  frequently,  he  could  always  get  pay  in 
grain  and  provisions  but  no  money.     Having  accumulated 


494 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN, 


at  the  De  Witt  mill  as  many  as  a  hundred  barrels  of  flour, 
he  hauled  the  lot  a  hundred  miles  to  the  Detroit  market, 
and  got  only  three  dollars  a  barrel  for  it  after  all, — not  much 
more  than  it  cost  him  to  get  it  there.  As  an  illustration 
of  how  she  bore  her  share  of  pioneer  burdens,  Mrs.  Wilsey 
relates  that  when,  shortly  after  their  coming  to  the  town, 
Mr.  Wilsey  was  taken  down  sick,  she  used  to  go  twice  a 
day  for  drinking-water  a  mile  distant  from  her  cabin,  did 
her  cooking  at  a  stump  out-of-doors,  had  nothing  better 
than  a  blanket  for  a  door  and  sheet  for  a  window,  and  lay 
many  a  night  trembling  all  night  long  at  the  doleful  howls 
of  wolves,  who  made  the  darkness  hideous  with  their 
music. 

Linus  Gillett,  who  was  a  settler  in  Olive  in  1840,  settled 
in  the  State  in  1829,  and  claimed  that  his  was  the  first 
family  to  occupy  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Jackson. 
His  settlement  in  Olive  was  made  upon  section  3,  where 
now  lives  J.  W.  Outcalt,  whose  father  occupied  the  place 
in  1854.     Into  the  Merrihew  neighborhood  Edward  Ennest 
was  a  comer  in  1838,  as  were  the  Norris  families  in  1840. 
John  Parks  (who  settled  in  the  State  in  1838),  Addison 
Cook,  William  Van  Dyke,  M.  D.  Tabor,  Thomas  Reed  (a 
comer  to  the  State  in  1834),  and  William  Sperry,  were 
among  the  moderately  early  settlers  in  Olive.      William 
Dills,  who  entered  the  State  in  1842,  made  a  location  in 
1852   upon  the  south  town-line  in  Olive  in'  section  32, 
the  place  being  the  one  originally  settled  by  George  Kin- 
ney.    West  of  Dills,  on  the  town-line  in  Olive,  were  then 
Harvey  Alexander,  Alonzo  Calder,  and  Thomas  Reed ;  but 
east  of  him  there  was  nobody  nearer  than  Wilsey 's,  on  sec- 
tion 35.     Later  came  L.  W.  Sibley  and  H.  G.  Dills,  on 
section  33,  and  Warren  Ives  in  1854  to  a  place  on  section 
36,  where  Amasa  Bugbee  had  been  an  earlier  settler. 

R.  W.  Holly  made  his  home  on  section  26  in  1852,  and 
made  it,  too,  in  the  midst  of  a  forest.     His  nearest  nei"-h- 
bor  was  the  widow  Rathburn,  forty  rods  south.     William 
Van  Looven  was  one  and  a  half  miles  south  and  east,  and 
in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  town  in  1852,  Wilsey  being 
in  California,  Van  Looven  and  Holly  were  the  only  voters. 
In  1855,  William  Blizzard  settled  upon  section  19,  on  the 
west  town- line,  and  at  that  time  section  19  had  but  two 
other  settlers,— B.  F.  Ware  and  Samuel  Knapp.     Oliver 
and  Thomas  Knapp  came  to  section  29  in  1854.     North- 
ward Blizzard  had  no  neighbors  on  the  east  side  of  the 
line.     Southward  were  Samuel  Knapp,  George  Simmons, 
Jonathan  Mosher,  and  Joseph  Thomas.     Off  in  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  town  Eunice  Carpenter  came  with  her  sons 
George,  Benjamin,  and  Jackson,  in  1856  to  section  24.' 
The  surrounding  country  was  a  forest,  and  to  get  to  their 
place  they  had  to  cut  out  a  road.    Even  then  they  could  not 
get  through  because  of  the  swamps,  and  had  to  go  back  to 
R.  W.  Holly's,  where  they  stopped  until,  after  some  con- 
siderable delay,  a  roadway  was  constructed  to  their  new 
abode.     In  the  Carpenter  neighborhood  William  Rheubot- 
tam  settled  upon  section  23  in  1859,  when  the  best  public 
highway  in  the  vicinity  was  an  underbrushed  road  through 
the  woods.     John  Jones  and  Abram  Middleton  were  b 
the  vicinity,  as  were  M.  Black  aid  L.  D.  Chadwick.     P 
F.  Francisco  and  Alonzo  Hamilton  came  later.    On  section 
1,  Marshall  Hand  was  a  settler  in  1854 ;  west  of  him  came 


A.  G.  Foote  at  a  later  date ;  still  farther  west  Ira  Gage 
made  a  location  on  section  4  in  1854, — his  residence  in 
Michigan  dating  from  1826  ;  and  west  of  him  still,  Wil- 
liam Sperry  and  M.  Picktril  located  about  the  same  time. 

KESIDENT  TAX-PAYEES  OF   OLIVE   IN  1841. 

Hiram  Burgess,  section  1 no  ' 

Linus  Gillette,  section  3 I20 

Peter  Ennest,  section  10 go 

John  M.  Merrihew,  sections  9,10 ]60 

Peter  Merrihew,  sections  4,  5 270 

George  A.  Merrihew,  section  8 120 

E.  S.  Merrihew,  section  8 12O 

Eenjamin  Merrihew,  section  7 80 

Isaac  L,  Austin,  section  5 50 

Ransom  Kees,  section  7 2.32 

Orange  Ferguson,  sections  7,  8,  18 238 

Daniel  Ferguson,  sections  18,  17 120 

H.  S.  Green,  sections  5,  17,8 260 

James  Ennest,  section  17 60 

Harvey  Alexander,  section  31 leo 

Nathaniel  Moon,  section  32 go 

George  Kinney,  section  32 go 

Nathan  Smith,  section  20 ]20 

Alexander  Calder,  sections  31,  32 120 

Henry  Leuts,  section  20 40 

Hopkins  Leuts,  section  20 50 

David  G.  Wilsey,  section  26 120 

Peter  Leuts,  section  20 30 

THE  TEEASUKER'S  EEPOET  POR  1841. 
March  22, 1842,  the  town  treasurer  presented  his  annual 
report  for  1841,  in  which  he  set  forth  that  he  had  received 
from  the  county  treasurer  $252.80 ;  that  he  had  paid  out 
for  highway  work  $202.09 ;  and  that  there  were  in  the 
treasury  $50.71.  Further,  that  he  had  received  from  the 
town  collector  $79.89  for  town  expenses,  and  that  of  that 
amount  $22.49  still  remained  in  the  treasury. 

VOTERS  IN  THE  TOWNSHIP  IN  1844. 
The  oldest  recorded  list  of  voters  in  Olive  bears  date 
1844.  Those  who  voted  at  the  election  held  that  year 
numbered  forty,  and  were  named  Adam  Merrihew,  Boyce 
Penden,  Peter  Merrihew,  Philip  Coon,  Peter  Ennest, 
Orange  Eddy,  Perry  Armstrong,  David  Groom,  James  En- 
nest, Benjamin  Merrihew,  Daniel  Ferguson,  M.  W.  Pike, 
Alonzo  Groom,  Richard  Ferguson,  Isaac  Parks,  John 
Groom,  Jr.,  Arvin  Groom,  Edward  Ennest,  Harvey  Alex- 
ander, George  Henry,  Horace  S.  Green,  Addison  W.  Cook, 
John  W.  Merrihew,  Alexander  Calder,  N.  S.  Merrihew, 
D.  G.  Wilsey,  Nathan  Smith,  Linus  Gillett,  Daniel  Fergu- 
son, Jr.,  Orange  Ferguson,  Guy  N.  Wilcox,  Smith  Penden, 
Ransom  Reed,  E.  S.  Merrihew,  Sidney  Leuts,  William  In- 
galls,  Peter  Nelson,  Moses  Tabor,  George  H.  Cook,  George 
Kinney. 

JUEOES  IN  1849. 
The  jurors  in  1849  included  Harvey  Alexander,  Alexan- 
der Calder,  Orange  Ferguson,  Linus  Gillett,  E.  S.  Merri- 
hew, and  J.  W.  Merrihew  as  grand  jurors,  and  H.  S.  Green, 
A.  W.  Cook,  L.  D.  Rathburn,  Adam  Merrihew,  0.  S.  Stod- 
dard, and  Perry  Armstrong  as  petit  jurors. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 

Town  6  north,  range  2  west,  was,  by  act  of  Legislature 

approved  March  20,  1841,  detached  from  De  Witt,  and 

organized  as  a  separate  township,  under  the  name  of  Olive. 

The  name  was  given  it  by  the  Merrihews  at  a  meeting  held 


OLIVE  TOWNSHIP. 


495 


at  Orange  Ferguson's  for  the  purpose  of  christening  the 
proposed  new  organization.  Orange  Ferguson  wanted  to 
name  it  after  his  daughter,  but  the  Merrihews  inclined  to 
the  name  of  the  place  in  New  York  whence  they  had 
come  to  Michigan,  and  being  in  the  majority  they  carried 
the  day,  wherefore  "  Olive"  was  sent  in  to  the  Legislature 
along  with  the  petition  for  organization. 

According  to  public  notice  the  first  town-meeting  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Ransom  Beed,  April  5,  1841.  Daniel 
Ferguson,  John  W.  Merrihew,  Orange  Ferguson,  Hiram 
Burgess,  and  Harvey  Alexander  were  inspectors  of  election. 
Eighteen  votes  were  cast,  and  the  following  persons  chosen 
to  the  various  offices :  Supervisor,  Daniel  Ferguson,  Sr. ; 
Clerk,  John  W.  Merrihew ;  Treasurer,  George  A.  Merri- 
hew; School  Inspectors,  John  W.  Merrihew,  Hiram  Bur- 
gess, Alexander  Calder ;  Assessors,  Hiram  Burgess,  Horace 
S.  Green,  Alexander  Calder ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Hiram 
Burgess,  Orange  Ferguson,  Alexander  Calder;  Highway 
Commissioners,  John  W.  Merrihew,  David  G.  Wilsey; 
Constables,  Isaac  L.  Austin,  Ephraim  S.  Merrihew,  Na- 
thaniel Moore;  Overseers  of  Highways,  Peter  Ennest, 
Ephraim  Merrihew,  Ransom  Beed,  Henry  Leuts,  George 
Kinney. 

CIVIL  LIST  OP  OLIVE. 

Herewith  is  presented  a  list  of  persons  chosen  to  the 
chief  township  offices  annually  from  1842  to  1880 : 


SUPERVISORS. 

1842-46.  D.  Ferguson,  Jr. 

1864.  B.  P.  Ware. 

1847-49.  J.  W.  Merrihew. 

1865-66.  S.  M.  Alexander. 

1860.  H.  Alexander. 

1867.  R.  Reed. 

1851-52.  J.  W.  Merrihew. 

1869.  R.  Young. 

1853-55.  A.  Calder. 

1868-71.  A.  Story. 

1856.  R.  S.  Co'shun. 

1872.  R.  Young. 

1857-61.  B.  F.  Ware. 

1873-79.  M.  Hand. 

1862.  R.  S.  Coshun. 

1880.  T.  W.  Baldwin. 

1863.  S.  M.  Alexander. 

' 

CLERKS. 

1842.  F.  R.  Reed. 

1860-62.  P.  Howe. 

1843.  J.  W.  Merrihew. 

1863.  E.  D.  Clark. 

1844.  G.  N.  Wiloox. 

1864-65.  W.  H.  H.  Knapp. 

1845-46.  J.  W.  Merrihew 

1866-72.  M.  Hand. 

1847-53.  0.  Ferguson. 

1873-76.  W.  L.  Brown. 

1854-55.  R.  S.  Coshun. 

1877-78.  T.  W.  Baldwin. 

1856.  Ira  Gage. 

1879.  E.  Looher. 

1857.  0.  Ferguson. 

1880.  G.  R.  Simmons. 

1858-59.  G.  B.  Wixon. 

TREASURERS. 

1842.  J.  W.  Merrihew. 

1865.  G.  A-  Merrihew. 

1843.  J.  G.  Cagwin. 

1866.  R.  Young. 

1844.  P.  Armstrong. 

1867.  A.  C.  Preston. 

1845-50.  E.  S.  Merrihew. 

1868-70.  M.  L.  Alexander. 

1851-53.  R.  Reed. 

1871-78.  G.  B.  Simmons. 

1854-66.  William  Dills. 

1879-80;  A.  L.  MoWethey 

1867-64.  R.  Reed. 

JUSTICES   OP   THE   PEACE. 

1842.  F.  R.  Reed. 

1851.  N.  Baker. 

1843.  0.  Ferguson. 

1862.  P.  Preston. 

1844.  R.  Reed. 

1853.  U.  R.  Owen. 

1845.  D.  Ferguson,  Jr. 

1854.  A.  Calder. 

184B.  A.  Calder. 

1855.  R.  W.  Holly. 

1847.  J.  Sumner. 

1856.  P.  Howe. 

1848.  F.  R.  Reed. 

1857.  A.  Gillet. 

1849.  M.  Huston. 

1858.  Ira  Gage. 

1850.  A.  Calder. 

1859,  R.  W.  Holly. 

1860.  P.  Howe. 

1861.  A.  Calder. 

1862.  L.  Howe. 

1863.  P.  Preston. 

1864.  William  Dills. 

1865.  N.  Lemm. 

1866.  James  Tubhs. 

1867.  P.  Preston. 

1868.  U.  Rowen. 

1869.  E.  Brink. 

1870.  J.  M.  De  Witt. 


1871.  E.  Case. 

1872.  P.  Howe. 

1873.  Lewis  Isbell. 

1874.  P.  Kyes. 

1875.  P.  Howe. 

1876.  A.  Gillet. 

1877.  P.  Howe. 

1878.  L.  S.  Rue. 

1879.  W.  C.  Lankton. 

1880.  Z.  Sexton. 


HIGHWAYS. 
The  first  road  laid  in  town  6  (now  Olive)  was  recorded 
March  23,  1838,  in  the  highway  records  of  the  town  of 
De  Witt  as  having  been  laid  by  0.  Ferguson  and  William 
A.  Hewitt,  commissioners  of  highways.  The  road  com- 
menced at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  18  and  extended 
thence  east  on  section-line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 16,  and  thence  south  and  east  to  the  quarter  post  on 
the  east  line  of  section  24. 

Road  No.  2,  recorded  June  28,  1839,  was  laid  by  John 
Gould  and  Harvey  Alexander.  It  commenced  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  section  32  and  ran  north  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  29.  No.  3,  recorded  Feb.  19,  1839,  ex- 
tended from  the  northeast  corner  of  section  9  westward  to 
the  north  line  of  section  7.  No.  4,  recorded  the  same  date, 
commenced  ten  chains  north  of  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  8  and  extended  north  to  the  northwest  corner  of 
said  section.  No.  5  commenced  twenty  chains  west  of  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  34  and  ran  north  twenty  chains. 
No.  6  commenced  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  31  and 
extended  thence  south  one  mile  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
said  section.  No.  7  began  at  the  quarter  post  on  the  south 
line  of  section  4  and  passed  thence  north  two  and  one-half 
degrees  west  to  the  quarter  post  on  the  north  line  of  said 
section.  No.  8  extended  from  the  northwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 34  to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  section.  No.  9  was 
laid  by  the  commissioners  of  De  Witt  and  Bingham,  and 
commenced  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  32,  town  7, 
extending  thence  eastward  to  the  east  line  of  the  town. 
The  roads  above  mentioned  Were  laid  while  town  6  was 
attached  to  De  Witt. 

The  town  was  divided  into  road  districts  in  1842  as  fol- 
lows: No.  1  to  comprise  sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11,  12.  No. 
3  to  contain  the  south  halves  of  sections  7,  8,  9,  the  whole 
of  sections  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  22,  the  west  half  and 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  23,  and  the  whole  of  24. 
No.  2  had  sections  4,  5,  6  and  the  north  halves  of  7,  8,  9. 
No.  4  had  sections  20,  21,  28,  29  and  the  northeast  quar- 
ter and  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  32.  No.  5 
had  sections  19,  30,  31,  the  south  and  west  halves  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  32,  and  the  southwest  and  the  north- 
west quarters  of  33.  No.  6  had  sections  25,  26,  27,  the 
east  half  of  section  33,  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  23, 
and  the  whole  of  sections  34,  35,  and  36. 

Appended  is  a  list  of  the  persons  subject  to  work  on  the 
highways  in  1842 : 

District  No.  1.— Linus  Gillet,  Peter  Ennest,  William  D. 
Davis,  Hiram  Burgess. 

No.  2.— J.  W.  Merrihew,  Peter  Merrihew,  N.  S.  Merri- 
hew, B.  S.  Merrihew,  James  Ennest,  I.  L.  Austin,  G.  A. 
Merrihew. 


496 


HISTORY  OP   CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


No.  3. — Ransom  Reed,  Orange  Ferguson,  Daniel  Fer- 
guson, Jr.,  Daniel  Ferguson,  Sr.,  Richard  Ferguson,  Hor- 
ace S.  Green. 

No.  4. — Peter  Lutes,  Henry  Lutes,  Hopkins  Lutes,  Sid- 
ney Lutes,  Nathan  Smith. 

No.  5. — Alexander  Galder,  Harvey  Alexander,  Nathaniel 
Moore,  George  Kinney,  Richard  Kinney,  M.  W.  Pike. 

No.  6.— David  G.  Wilsey,  P.  R.  Read. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Olive  was  doubtless  the  one 
of  which  Harvey  Alexander's  daughter  was  the  teacher. 
The  school-house  was  put  up  in  the  Merrihew  settlement, 
ahout  one  mile  west  of  John  Merrihew's.  Nathan  Smith's 
daughter,  Mary,  taught  in  1840  a  subscription-school,  just 
north  of  the  Ferguson  settlement,  in  a  log  cabin  built  by 
Ransom  Reed  for  a  dwelling-house.  Miss  Smith's  school 
lasted  three  months,  and  gave  instruction  to  fifteen  scholars. 
It  is  held  by  some  that  hers  was  the  pioneer  school.  If 
not  the  first,  it  was  surely  the  second. 

The  township  board  of  school  inspectors  organized  May 
15,  1841,  by  choosing  Hiram  Burgess  chairman.  Their 
first  business  was  to  organize  with  the  inspectors  of  Bing- 
ham, Ossowa,  and  Ovid  fractional  district  No.  2  of  Ovid, 
which  comprised  sections  1,  2,  and  12  in  Olive  and  por- 
tions of  the  other  towns  named. 

At  a  meeting,  October  12, 1841,  district  No.  2,  in  Olive, 
was  formed,  to  include  sections  3,  4,  5,  and  6,  the  north 
halves  of  7,  8,  9,  and  10.  On  the  same  date  the  south 
halves  of  sections  7,  8,  9,  and  10,  and  the  whole  of  sec- 
tions 19,  20,  21,  16,  17,  and  18,  were  set  apart  as  district 
No.  3.  The  annual  report  of  the  director  of  fractional  dis- 
trict No.  1  of  Ovid  to  the  inspectors  of  Olive,  rendered 
Oct.  15, 1842,  set  forth  that  in  that  fractional  district  Olive 
had  four  school  children.  The  annual  report  of  district 
No.  2,  in  Olive,  for  1842,  gave  the  number  of  children  at 
twenty-four,  the  average  attendance  eighteen,  and  thirteen 
dollars  as  paid  to  teacher  for  five  months'  service. 

The  town  school  records  fail  to  note  the  appointment  of 
any  teachers  prior  to  1850.  Subsequent  to  that  date  and 
to  1860  the  appointments  included  the  following : 

April  13,  1850.— Alice  Marvin. 

June  14,  1851.— Seraphina  Alexander. 

Dec.  3,  1851. — Emeline  Moss. 

Dec.  20,  1851.— Mary  A.  Moore. 

Jan.  5,  1852.— Achsah  Blood. 

May  1,  1852.— Minah  Moore. 

May  8,  1852.— Sarah  Ann  Avery. 

May  22,  1852.— iMiss  Irish. 

Dec.  1,  1852.— N.  M.  Gunsally. 

April  7,  1853._Stella  Ferguson. 

April  11,  1853.— Sarah  Chapin. 

April  8,  1854.— Laura  Bates,  Sarah  A.  Marsh. 

May  1,  1854.— Laura  Stowell. 

June  26,  1854.— Lovina  Young. 

Dec.  30,  1854.-Samuel  B.  Owen,  Emily  Southworth. 

Nov.  7,  1857.— Harvey  Bartram,  Joseph  Coryell 

April  10,  1858.— Esther  A.  Lemm. 

May  5,  1858.-Maria  Wood,  Rachel  Dunham. 


March  6,  1858. — Rebecca  Buck. 

Nov.  5,  1858. — James  Du  Bois,  Ira  Wightman. 

March  12,  1859.— Martha  Van  Dyke. 

May  25,  1859.— Sarah  Smith,  Miss  Delano. 

The  annual  report  for  1879  touching  the  condition  of 
the  public  schools  of  Olive  presents  the  following  details  : 

Number  of  districts 6 

"  children  of  school  age 400 

Average  attendance 353 

Value  of  school  property $2775 

Teachers'  wages $1003 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  Andrew  Scott  A. 
G.  Foote,  George  Smith,  William  C.  Lankton,  A.  T. 
Sturges,  and  Alonzo  Hamilton. 

EELIGIOUS  HISTORY. 
The  pioneer  preaching  in  Olive  was  heard  in  the  year 
1840  at  Daniel  Ferguson's  house,  on  which  occasion  ser- 
vices were  conducted  by  a  Methodist  Episcopal  missionary 
named  Lapham,  who  organized  at  Ferguson's  house  in  1840 
a  Methodist  Episcopal  class,  of  which  the  constituent  mem- 
bers were  Daniel  Ferguson,  Orange  Ferguson,  and  Horace 
S.  Green,  and  their  wives;  Ephraim  Merrihew's  wife, 
Adam  Merrihew  and  wife,  and  J.  W.  Merrihew  and  wife. 

After  the  organization  preaching  was  held  in  the  Fer- 
guson school-house  once  a  month  by  Revs.  Jackson,  Mount, 
and  others.  Presently,  as  the  class  membership  increased, 
services  were  held  once  each  fortnight.  From  the  first, 
services  have  been  regularly  held,  although  the  place  of 
worship  has  been  changed  more  than  once.  To  1864 
school-houses  were  used.  In  that  year  the  Olive  church 
was  built,  and  since  that  time  the  organization  has  been 
known  as  the  Olive  Centre  Class.  The  first  board  of  church 
trustees  was  composed  of  Alonzo  Wood,  Charles  Rockwell, 
John  Le  Baron,  William  Hickox,  and  J.  W.  Merriman. 
The  present  trustees  are  J.  W.  Merriman,  Henry  Mc- 
Wethey,  Charles  Rockwell,  and  J.  M.  Merrihew.  Earlier 
the  class  was  attached  to  the  De  Witt  Circuit.  Now  it  is  on 
the  Victor  Circuit,  in  charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gray.  Although 
having  at  one  time  as  many  as  seventy  members,  the  class 
has  now  but  about  twenty,  Anson  L.  McWethey  being  the 
leader.  He  is  also  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  has  an  average  attendance  of  fifty  scholars. 

The  United  Brethren  Class,  of  which  L.  D.  Chadwick 
is  leader,  has  been  having  periodical  worship  at  the  Rheu- 
bottam  school-house  for  the  past  ten  or  fifteen  years,  and 
now  has  public  services  once  each  fortnight. 

OLIVE  GRANGE,  No.  358,  P.  OF  H. 
This  grange  was  organized  by  Deputy  Richard  Moore, 
of  St.  Johns,  Clinton  Co.,  on  the  27th  of  March,  1874. 
The  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organization  was  held  at 
the  Muskrat  school-house,  near  the  bank  of  the  Muskrat 
Lake,  and  notwithstanding  the  roads  were  very  bad  the 
attendance  was  good,  and  the  efi'orts  of  Mr.  Moore  resulted 
in  the  organization  of  Olive  Grange,  with  a  charter  mem- 
bership of  thirty-nine  members,  twenty-one  of  whom  were 
males  and  eighteen  females,  and  were  officered  as  follows : 
Master,  Isaac  Vought;  Overseer,  Thomas  W.  Baldwin; 
Secretary,  William  H.  H.  Knapp.     Great  credit  is  dne 


RILEY  TOWNSHIP. 


497 


Cornelius  Walters  for  his  labor  and  time  spent  in  bringing 
about  the  organization,  and  also  credit  is  due  William  A. 
Merchant,  John  Blass,  and  others  for  their  liberality  in 
opening  their  houses  for  meetings  of  the  grange  until  a 
hall  was  built  for  their  accommodation.     In  the  year  1875 
the  members  of  the  order  succeeded  in  building  a  hall 
twenty-two  by  forty  feet  and  two  stories  high,  the  upper 
room  calculated  for  the  grange  meeting,  the  lower  part  for 
a  dining-hall,  sitting-room,  and  a  small  grocery,  which  has 
been  in  successful  operation  since  that  time  up  to  the  pres- 
ent, and  is  now  carried  on  by  Cornelius  Walters.     In  the 
spring  of  1878  an  addition  of  twenty-two  feet  was  built 
on  the  south  end  to  accommodate  the  increase  in  numbers. 
The  site  was  donated  to  the  society  by  Charles  Ferguson, 
being  sufficient  ground  for  the  hall  and  sheds  to  accommo- 
date the  teams  of  the  patrons.     The  institution  has  been  a 
success,  and  has  exerted  a  lasting  influence  on  the  surround- 
ing country.    Cases  of  dispute  and  misunderstandings  have 
been  adjusted  satisfactorily  by  arbitration  in  the  grange, 
which  otherwise  would  have  led  to  litigation  and  cost  in  the 
courts.     The  office  of  Master  was  held  by  Isaac  Vought 
one  year,   George   Smith    one   year,  and  three  years  by 
Thomas  W.  Baldwin,  who  is  the  present  incumbent.     The 
membership  has  reached  the  number  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  and  the  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and 
fourteen.     The  society  has  the  confidence  of  its  members 
and  the  respect  of  those  outside,  and  can  no  doubt  be  counted 
on  as  a  permanent  institution  of  the  township. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


AUGUSTUS  GILLETT. 

Linus  and  Roxy  (Cody)  Gillett  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut and  New  York  respectively.  Linus  made  his 
home  with  relatives  in  New  York  during  his  younger  days, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Cody,  whom  he 
subsequently  married.  They  removed  to  Upper  Canada 
soon  afterwards,  and  settled  near  London,  where  Augustus, 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  and  Phebe  Jane  were  born, 
Augustus  in  1826.  In  1829  the  family  removed  to  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  and  in  1830  to  Jackson  County,  where 
another  daughter,  Lucy  Ann,  was  born.  Mrs.  Gillett  was 
the  first  white  woman  to  reside  where  the  city  of  Jackson 
now  is. 

In  1840  the  family  again  changed  their  abiding-place, 
effecting  a  permanent  settlement  in  Olive,  where  they  now 
live. 

In  1846,  Augustus  married  Miss  Louisa  Ann  Arm- 
strong, and  to  them  were  born  Francis  M.,  Laura  J.,  R. 
K.,  Isadora,  and  Ezra  A.,  all  of  whom  are  living  with  the 
exception  of  the  last  named,  who  died  when  about  a  year 
old. 

Mrs.  Gillett  died  in  August,  1863,  and  in  1864  Mr. 
Gillett  was  united  in  marriage  with   Loretta  L.  Foote, 
daughter  of  Zelona  and  Betsy  Elizabeth  Foote,  residents 
of  De  Witt. 
63 


Mr.  Gillett  began  his  career  a  poor  man,  and  his  life 
has  been  an  earnest  effort  for  and  crowned  with  success ; 
and  in  his  advancing  years  he  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
labor.  He  has  been  officially  identified  with  Olive  town- 
ship in  different  capacities,  is  honored  and  respected  by 
those  who  know  him,  and  a  worthy  representative  of  the 
pioneers  of  Clinton  County. 


JOHN  W.  OUTCALT. 

William  Outcalt  was  a  native  of  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  April  10,  1815,  and  continued  to  re- 
side until  Jan.  3,  1839,  when  he  married  Mary  Ann 
Richards,  of  Stark  County,  same  State,  and  immediately 
removed  to  La  Grange  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  resided  until 
1854.  Here  John  W.,  Melissa,  and  Nancy  were  horn. 
Then  Mrs.  Outcalt  returned  to  Stark  County,  where  she 
died  Nov.  25,  1851. 

In  1854,  John  W.  and  his  father  removed  to  Olive 
township.  Here  he  remained  until  1866,  when  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Betsey  M.  Gage,  and  removed 
to  Shiawassee  County,  where  they  remained  three  years — 
then  returned  to  their  old  home  in  Olive,  where  they  still 
live,  and  where  his  father  died  May  18,  1869. 

Politically,  Mr.  Outcalt  is  a  Republican,  aiming  to  sus- 
tain with  his  ballot  what  he  fought  with  his  musket  to 
preserve,  having  been  a  member  of  Company  I,  Twenty- 
seventh  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  wounded  and 
disabled  on  Welden  Road,  near  Petersburg,  Va.  He  has 
occupied  several  official  positions  in  his  township,  and  is, 
though  young  in  years,  much  respected  and  possessed  of  a 
competency  acquired  by  industry  and  economy. 

We  present  upon  another  page  a  view  of  his  residence, 
together  with  portraits  of  himself  and  estimable  wife. 


CHAPTER    LXIIL 
RILEY   TOWNSHIP.* 

Topography— Original  Land-Entries— Settlement  of  the  Township— 
The  First  Highways— Organization  and  List  of  Officers— Religious 
History— Sohools—Post-Offices— Patrons  of  Husbandry— Statistics 
of  Agriculture  and  Population. 

This  township  was  set  off  from  Watertown  and  organ- 
ized as  Riley  in  March,  1841.  It  is  not  definitely  known 
how  the  name  originated.  Its  northeast  corner  is  at  the 
centre  of  Clinton  County.  It  is  designated  on  the  govern- 
ment survey  of  the  State  as  township  6  north,  of  range  3 
west.  A  survey  of  the  township  was  made  in  1826  by 
Lucius  Lyon  ;  the  subdivision  lines  were  made  by  Hervey 
Parke,  and  certified  Feb.  12,  1827.  It  has  the  following 
surroundings:  Bengal  on  the  north,  Olive  on  the  east, 
Watertown  on  the  south,  and  Westphalia  on  the  west.  The 
township  contains  within  its  limits  twenty-two  thousand 
ei<rht  hundred  and  eighty-seven  and  eighty-one  one  hun- 


SBy  Charles  A.  Chapin. 


498 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


dredths  acres  of  land.  The  soil  of  the  entire  township  is 
remarkably  fertile,  being  a  rich  clay  loam  intermixed  with 
sand  and  sandy  loam,  and  is  well  adapted  for  the  successful 
cultivation  of  the  cereals,  corn,  fruit,  etc.  Its  water-courses 
are  unimportant.  Bad  Creek,  rising  in  section  34,  runs 
west  into  33,  thence  northeasterly  into  34  again,  and  taking 
a  northeasterly  course  it  drains  sections  34,  27,  22,  15,  14, 
and  11,  and  runs  into  2,  passing  through  2  in  a  northerly 
and  westerly  direction,  through  the  northeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 3  into  Bengal,  and  thence  into  Stony  Creek.  A  branch 
of  Bad  Creek  rises  in  section  35,  and  flows  into  it  on  sec- 
tion 27.  Muskrat  Creek  rises  on  the  west  line  of  section 
19,  runs  northeasterly  through  19  and  18  into  17,  where  it 
receives  a  branch,  thence  through  sections  8  and  6  into 
Bengal,  where  it  empties  into  Stony  Creek. 

ORIGINAL   LAND-ENTEIES. 

The  following  names  will  show  who  made  entries  for  land 
in  this  township,  with  residence,  date  of  entry,  and  descrip- 
tion. Very  few  were  actual  settlers ;  they  were  mostly 
non-residents  and  speculators. 

SECTION  1. 

Sherman  Page,  Feb.  19,  1836,  north  half  of  northeast  quarter. 
James  J.  Godfrey,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  south  half  of 

northeast  quarter. 
Mortimer  Buell,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  T.,  April  3,  1837,  southwest  quarter. 

SECTION  2. 
Allen  A.  Kabineau,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  south  half. 

SECTION   3. 

James  K.  Guernsey,  Monroe  Co.,  N.T.,  Dec.  10,  1836,  north  frac- 
tional half. 
Jeremiah  Jacobs,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  17,  1837,  south  half. 

SECTION   4. 

Kobert  Armitage,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  10,  1836,  northwest  frac- 
tional quarter. 

B.  B.  Kercheval,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Dec.  10,  1836,  northeast  fractional 
quarter. 

Seba  Murphy,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  13,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 

SECTION  5. 

Thomas  W.  Merrill,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich,,  Sept.  23, 1836,  north  half. 
Abby  Mapee,  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4, 1836,  south  half. 

SECTION   6. 

Thomas  Osbom,  May  12,  1836,  southwest  quarter  and  west  half  of 

southeast  quarter. 
Eichard  P.  Hart,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  23, 1836,  north  half  and 

east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION   7. 
Phebe  Boughton,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  2,  1836,  northeast  quarter. 
Ira  A.  Reynolds,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  3, 1836,  northwest  fractional 

quarter. 
B.  B.  Kercheval,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Nov.  5,  1836,  southeast  quarter; 

Dec.  10,  1836,  southwest  fractional  quarter. 

SECTION  8. 

Philip  P.  Peck,*  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  22,  1836,  northwest  quar- 
ter. 
B.  B.  Kercheval,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Dec.  10, 1836,  southeast  quarter 
Seba  Murphy,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  13, 1836,  east  half  of  northeast 
quarter. 


*  Actual  settlers. 


William  T.  Gibson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  13,  1836,  west  half  of 
northeast  quarter. 

SECTION  9. 
Uzziel  Kanouse,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  cast  half. 

SECTION   10. 
David  G.  Mouat,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich,,  Nov.  4,  1836,  west  half. 

SECTION  11, 

Franklin  D,  Markham,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  southeast 

quarter. 
Eichard  Van  Lew,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  4, 1836,  northeast  quarter. 
John  C.  Blanchard,  Ionia,  Mich.,  July  1,  1837,  northwest  quarter  of 

northwest  quarter. 

SECTION  12. 

Franklin  D.  Markham,  Nov.  4,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 
Samuel  B.  Dewey,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  3,  1837,  northwest  quar- 
ter. 

SECTION  13. 

John  Crysler,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov,  4,  1836,  west  half  of  north- 
west quarter, 

John  Dennis,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  southwest  quarter  and 
west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

Peter  Eraliok,  Plymouth,  Mich.,  April  22, 1837,  east  half  of  northeast 
quarter. 

SECTION   14, 

John  Crysler,  Nov.  4,  1836,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter. 

Phebe  Rogers,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  9, 1836,  east  half  of  northwest 

quarter  and  west  half  of  northeast  quarter. 
Peter  Fralick,  April  22,  1837. 

SECTION  15. 
Warren  Fay,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y,,  Jan,  31,  1837,  northeast  quarter. 


School  lands. 


SECTION  16, 


SECTION   17, 


David  S.  Hodgman,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27,  1836,  east  half  of 
northeast  quarter  and  northeast  quarter  of  southeast  quarter. 

Elisha  Hodgman,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27,  1836,  west  half  of 
northeast  quarter. 

James  V,  Ryan,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich,,  Nov,  4, 1836,  west  half, 

SECTION   18, 

Peter  Misner,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  4, 1836,  northeast  quarter. 
David  Entrican,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  April  25,  1837,  west  half  of 
southwest  quarter. 

SECTION    19. 

William  W.  Arnold,  May  13,  1851,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter  and 

northwest  quarter  of  northeast  quarter. 
James  Burns,  Nov.  20,  1851,  east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  20, 

B,  B,  Kercheval,  Detroit,  Mich,,  Nov.  5,  1836,  northeast  quarter. 
William  Thompson,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y,,  Dec,  14, 1836,  west  half, 

SECTION  21, 

Alexander  F.  Bell,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  April  5,  1837,  north  half. 
Augustus  L.  Gould,  Genesee  Co.,  N,  Y,,  June  28,  1838,  east  half  of 
southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  22. 

Harry  Boardman,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  northeast  quarter. 
Ralph  C.  Markham,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  southeast 

quarter. 
Joshua  G.  Knight,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7, 1836,  west  half. 


RILEY  TOWNSHIP. 


499 


SECTION   23. 

John  Paul,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  T.,  Nov.  7,  1836,  southwest  quar.ter  and 

w'est  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Luke  Wood,  Tecumseh,  Mich.,  Nov.  15,  1851,  northwest  quarter. 

SECTION   24. 

Oliver  Miller,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  13,  1836,  northwest  quarter. 
Jeremiah  Naftzgar,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  10,  1848,  south  half  of 
northeast  quarter. 

SECTION   25. 

*Atwell  Simmons,  July  20,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 
Samuel  D.  McDowell,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  west  half  of  southwest 
quarter. 

SECTION  26. 

Philo  Hungerford,  July  19,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 
Herman  V.  Prentice,  July  19,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 

SECTION  2r. 

Samuel  Hungerford,  July  19,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 

Lather  Ingraham,  July  19,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 

Augustus  L.  Gould,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Juno  28,  1838,  west  half  of 

northwest  quarter. 
•Jacob  Miller,  Jan.  16,  1854,  southwest  quarter  of  northeast  quarter. 
Heury  Jones,  Oct.  19,  1854,  southeast  quarter  of  northwest  quarter. 

SECTION    28. 

Luther  Ingraham,  July  19,  1836,  east  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Thomas  R.  Godley,  July  19,  1836,  west  half  of  southeast  quarter. 
Geo.  W.  Enapp,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  4, 1836,  northeast  quarter. 

SECTION    29. 

Seth  M.  Root,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  7,  1851,  west  half  of  northwest 

quarter  and  west  half  of  southwest  quarter. 
William  Drake,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  April  19,  1852,  northeast  quarter. 

SECTION    30. 
Edwin  Lawrence,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  July  6,  1837,  northeast  quarter. 

SECTION    31. 

Benoni  Adams,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  4,  1851,  southwest  quarter  of 
southeast  quarter. 

Ararod  Moore,  Brighton,  Mich.,  June  27,  1853,  east  half  of  north- 
east quarter. 

*Adam  H.  Kincaid,  Oct.  31,  1854,  northeast  quarter  of  southeast 
quarter. 

SECTION    32. 

Seth  M.  Root,  Pittsfield,  Lorain   Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  7,  1851,  southwest 
quarter. 

William  Deits,  Dec.  12,  1853,  southwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter 
and  southeast  quarter  of  northwest  quarter. 

*Adam  H.  Kincaid,  Oct.  9,  1854,   northwest  fractional  quarter  of 
northwest  fractional  quarter. 

*John  Shilling,  Jr.,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  21,  1854,  east  half  of  north- 
east quarter, 

SECTION    33. 

Theodorio  T.  Phillips,  July  19,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 

*Thomas  Ferris,  Clinton  County,  Deo.  3,  1838,  southeast  quarter  of 

northwest  quarter. 
•Francis  Cisco,  Clinton  County,  Jan.  ,26,  1839,  southeast  quarter  of 

southwest  quarter. 

SECTION    34. 

•Charles  M.  Thornton,  July  19,  1836,  southeast  quarter. 
Leland  Green,  July  19,  1836,  northwest  quarter. 
William  Taft,  July  19,  1836,  west  half  of  southwest  quarter. 
•Lyman  Hungerford,  July  19,  1836,  northeast  quarter. 
Nathan  Case,  Oakland  County,  Sept.  23,  1836,  east  half  of  southwest 
quarter. 

*  Actual  settlers. 


SECTION    35. 
William  F.  Shaw,  July  19,  1836,  northwest  quarter. 
Sarah  Thornton,  July  19,  1836,  southwest  quarter. 
James  Parks,  Lenawee  County,  Sept.  22,  1836,  east  half  of  southeast 
.quarter. 

SECTION    36. 

David  Scott,  Clinton  County,  Sept.  22,  1836,  northwest  quarter  of 

southwest  quarter. 
Stephen  P.  Morehouse,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  22, 1836,  southeast 

quarter. 
John  Gould,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  Nov.  4,  1836,  west  half  of  northwest 

quarter. 
Sylvester  Scott,  Clinton  County,  Nov.  4,  1836,  southwest  quarter  of 

southwest  quarter. 

SETTLEMENT  OF  THE   TOWNSHIP. 

Atwell  Simmons,  a  native  of  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with 
his  wife  emigrated  to  Salem,  Washtenaw  Co.,  in  1832.  In 
1836  he  sold  his  land  there  and  concluded  to  go  farther 
into  the  wilderness.  On  July  7th  of  that  year  he  was  ex- 
ploring the  country,  and  selected  the  land  which  he  pur- 
chased, July  20th>  at  the  Kalamazoo  Land-Office.  In  No- 
vember, 1836,  they  started  for  their  new  home  by  wagon, 
drawn  by  oxen,  and  were  six  days  making  the  journey  ;  the 
roads  were  iu  a  terrible  condition  and  the  oxen  were  often 
mired.  They  stopped  with  a  family  named  Webb,  living 
in  De  Witt  township,  until  a  log  cabin  could  be  built ;  this 
cabin  was" fourteen  by  sixteen  feet,  and  stood  in  front  of  the 
present  house  and  near  the  maple-tree  in  the  front  yard. 

That  winter  he  chopped  and  cleared  about  seven  acres, 
and  in  the  spring  put  in  a  crop  of  oats  and  rutabagas.  In 
the  fall  of  1837  he  sowed  three  and  one-half  acres  with 
wheat,  which  was  cut  the  next  summer  with  a  sickle  and 
thrashed  out  with  oxen  ;  the  yield  was  thirty-six  bushels 
per  acre.  The  first  orchard  in  the  township  was  planted  in 
1842,  with  trees  brought  from  Plymouth,  Wayne  Co.,  and 
included  all  kinds  of  fruit.  About  six  years  after  the 
erection  of  the  cabin  a  block-house  of  logs  was  built.  The 
logs  were  hewed  on  both  sides,  and  put  up  so  as  to  make  a 
two-story  house ;  this  house  stood  just  back  of  the  present 
frame  house.  Mrs.  Simmons  spun  and  wove  the  first  flax. 
Their  children  are  pleasantly  settled  on  adjoining  farms, — 
George  E,.,  living  just  over  the  line  in  Olive,  and  Mrs.  Am- 
ariah  B.  Cook,  living  about  a  half-mile  west  of  her  father's. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simmons  are  still  living. 

Some  time  during  the  month  of  November,  1836,  Morris 
Boughton,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  accompanied  by  his  brother- 
in-law,  Benjamin  Welch,  came  into  Clinton  County.  Mr. 
Welch  settled  in  Dallas  and  Mr.  Boughton  settled  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  7,  town  6  north,  range  3  west, 
afterwards  called  by  its  present  name,  Riley.  That  winter 
was  spent  in  chopping  on  his  farm ;  he  boarded  at  Mr. 
Cortland  Hill's,  who  had  moved  into  Bengal  only  a  few 
months  before.  After  putting  up  a  log  cabin  on  his  land 
he  kept  bachelor's  hall,  and  his  only  cooking  utensil  was  a 
kettle,  which  served  for  baking,  boiling,  and  frying.  A 
large  clean  chip  took  the  place  of  a  plate.  Two  years  after 
settling  in  Riley  his  sister,  Mrs.  William  Hayes,  and  her 
husband  moved  in  and  occupied  his  house,  thus  relieving 
the  lonely  hours  of  his  hermit  life.  His  log  cabin  stood  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  his  farm  ;  but  choosing  a  more  de- 
sirable site  ho  erected  a  second  cabin,  thus  leaving  the  first 


500 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


one  to  be  occupied  successively  by  the  settlers  moving  into 
the  town.  He  was  frequently  employed  to  look  up  and 
locate  land  for  speculators.  When  not  thus  engaged  he 
was  at  work  clearing  up  and  improving  his  farm ;  as  soon 
as  a  piece  of  land  was  cleared  seed  was  sown,  and  the  yield 
was  abundant.  More  than  once  he  drew  his  wheat  to 
Detroit  with  an  ox-team  and  sold  it  for  fifty  cents  per 
bushel.  The  nearest  grist-mill  at  first  was  at  Ionia,  twenty- 
two  miles  distant.  Going  to  mill  often  took  from  three  to 
six  days.  In  chopping  and  clearing  out  the  roads  the  early 
settlers  expended  a  vast  amount  of  labor. 

Mr.  Boughton,  having  cleared  the  greater  portion  of  his 
farm  and  erected  comfortable  buildings  of  all  kinds,  set  out 
for  the  State  of  New  York,  and  on  the  10th  of  December, 
1843,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucretia  Culver. 
They  immediately  departed  for  their  home  in  Michigan. 
During  his  long  residence  of  nearly  forty  years  in  Riley  he 
was  closely  identified  with  the  history,  development,  and 
growth  of  this  section  of  Clinton  County.  He  possessed 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow-townsmen,  and  repeatedly  filled 
the  highest  offices  of  the  town.  He  died  Feb.  16,  1876, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  leaving  a  wife  and  eight 
children  to  mourn  his  loss.* 

In  May,  1841,  Philip  P.  Peck,  his  wife,  and  three  chil- 
dren, with  Mrs.  Peck's  father,  John  Gunn,  moved  from 
Tecumseh  (where  they  had  lived  four  years)  to  Riley. 
After  a  tedious  journey  over  bad  roads,  they  found  the 
road  ended  at  Gordon  Treat's  clearing.  After  that  the  path 
or  trail  was  by  marked  trees  to  Morris  Boughton's  clearino-. 
When  they  came  out  on  the  clearing  near  where  the  school- 
house  stands,  Mr.  Boughton  was  at  work  logging.  When 
he  saw  the  emigrants  his  joy  was  great,  and  he  invited 
them  to  his  house  and  set  before  them  the  best  it  afibrded. 
Having  an  unoccupied  cabin  standing  near  Mr.  Peck's  land, 
he  said,  "  There's  a  house  for  you,  and  there's  your  land." 
For  the  first  year  Mr.  Peck  worked  some  of  Mr.  Bough- 
ton's  land  on  shares,  and  thus  got  along  finely  until  he 
could  clear  some  of  his  own  land.  That  summer  he  put 
up  a  log  house,  size  sixteen  by  twenty  feet,  covered  with  a 
shake  roof,  the  floor  of  split  timber  hewed  smooth,  fireplace 
with  clay  back  and  clay  hearth,  the  chimney  built  of  sticks 
plastered  with  clay.  This  small  house  afforded  a  home 
and  shelter  to  many  emigrant  families  until  such  time  as 
they  could  provide  a  cabin  for  themselves.  The  Indians 
shared  their  hospitality  and  became  firm  friends.  This 
house  stood  a  few  feet  west  of  their  present  residence.  In 
the  winter  of  1844,  Mr.  Peck  made  ready  to  build  a  frame 
barn  by  drawing  his  lumber  on  sleighs  from  a  saw-mill 
located  at  Muskrat  Lake.  The  path  was  marked  by  blazed 
trees.  A  man  named  Chubb,  from  Lyons,  was  the  master 
carpenter  who  framed  and  superintended  it ;  his  pay  was 
twelve  pounds  of  maple-sugar  for  each  day's  work.  In 
April  all  was  ready  for  the  raising.  Assistance  to  raise 
the  barn  came  from  ten  miles  around.  Everything  was  in 
good  order,  help  was  plenty,  and  the  frame  went  up  with- 
out any  delay.  Some  seventy  people,  men  and  women, 
partook  of  the  banquet  which  was  served  up  after  the 
raising ;  all  enjoyed  the  occasion  and  had  a  good  time.    This 


«  Contributed  by  his  son,  Georgo  B.  Boughton. 


barn  is  still  standing.  The  front  part  of  their  present  resi- 
dence was  built  in  February,  1860,  the  back  part  since  that 
time.  Of  the  three  children  who  came  with  their  father 
and  mother,  two  are  living.  William  lives  on  a  farm  about 
half  a  mile  east ;  Emma  J.  (Mrs.  Henry  Jones)  died  in 
1861 ;  Amanda  (Mrs.  David  P.  Bliss)  lives  with  her  hus- 
band on  the  homestead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peck  are  yet  living 
and  have  reached  a  ripe  old  age. 

Elkanah  Peck,  a  brother  of  Philip  P.,  with  his  family, 
moved  from  Tecumseh  in  October,  1841.  They  occupied 
the  Boughton  cabin  until  the  next  summer,  when  he  built 
a  log  cabin  on  his  land,  which  adjoined  his  brother  on  the 
east.  Mr.  Peck  died  in  1874,  and  his  family  moved  to 
Kansas. 

Charles  M.  Thornton,  wife,  and  family  arrived  in  this 
town  from  Novi,  Oakland  Co.,  in  1838,  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 34.  His  first  house  was  a  log  cabin,  but  he  proceeded 
to  erect  a  frame  house,  which  was  the  first  in  the  town. 
After  living  here  a  few  years  he  traded  farms  with  his 
brother,  then  living  in  Novi,  and  removed  there. 

Ezra  Thornton  moved  in  with  his  family  about  the  year 
1844,  stayed  here  a  few  years,  and  moved  back  to  Oakland 
County. 

In  1839,  Gordon  Treat  came  to  Riley  and  chopped  five 
acres  of  land  for  Charles  M.  Thornton,  and  in  the  followin" 
year,  in  December,  with  his  family,  he  moved  in  and  took 
up  their  permanent  residence  on  the  farm — on  section  28 — 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  Josiah  E.  Smith.  Their  first  cabin  was 
of  logsi  the  roof  of  logs  hollowed  out ;  the  roof  was  tight 
enough  to  keep  out  a  wildcat,  but  admitted  plenty  of  air, 
and  was  not  snow-proof.  This  cabin  stood  near  where  the 
barn  now  stands.  Its  size  was  sixteen  by  eighteen  feet. 
They  lived  in  it  six  years,  and  then  built  a  log  house,  size 
eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet.  It  stood  back  of  their  present 
residence,  which  was  built  in  1863.  Mr.  Treat  died  in 
1859,  leaving  a  wife  and  three  children.  Mrs.  Owen, 
a  daughter,  died  in  1877;  L.  H.  Treat,  now  living  in 
Gratiot  County,  was  in  the  Twenty-third  Regiment  during 
the  war ;  Lucy  O.  (Mrs.  Gage)  is  living  on  the  homestead 
with  her  mother,  Mrs.  Smith. 

Gabriel  Cronkhite  and  wife,  from  Oakland  County,  settled 
on  section  34  previous  to  1841.  Their  sons,  Watson, 
Jackson  J.,  and  Washington,  with  their  families,  moved 
about  the  same  time.  Their  married  daughters,  Mrs.  C. 
M.  Thornton,  Mrs.  Nathan  Reed,  and  Mrs.  Edwin  Butt, 
lived  near  by.  None  of  these  families  are  in  the  township. 
Francis  Francisco  moved  in  from  De  Witt  about  1841, 
and  settled  on  section  34 ;  afterwards  moved  to  Olive,  and 
died  there.  Robert  McFall  was  here  about  1841,  stayed 
two  or  three  years,  and  moved  away.  Elison  Campbell  and 
family  settled  on  section  35  about  1841 ;  afterwards  moved 
to  Eagle  in  1843.  One  son  is  living  in  Wacousta,  and  one 
in  Eagle.  Lloyd  Worth,  with  his  wife  and  four  children, 
moved  from  Commerce,  Oakland  Co.,  about  1841,  and 
bought  land  on  sections  27  and  28.  After  staying  six  or 
seven  years,  moved  back  to  their  old  home. 

Other  settlers  about  the  years  1840-41  were  Charles 
Kellogg  and  family,  from  Ypsilanti,  who  settled  on  section 
14.  Mr.  Kellogg  having  to  go  back  to  Ypsilanti,  left  his 
family  alone.     The  Indians  became  so  lawless  and  trouble- 


KILEY  TOWNSHIP. 


501 


some  that  Mrs.  Kellogg  took  her  children  and  went  to  the 
nearest  neighbor  for  protection  and  safety.  After  living 
here  a  few  years  they  moved  to  Berry  County  and  settled 
on  the  Thornapple  Kiver. 

Parley  and  Kobert  B.  Gardner  became  settlers  on  section 
3  about  1841.     They  stayed  a  short  time,  and  moved  away. 

John  Reed  and  his  son  Nathan  (now  in  Lansing)  were 
among  the  early  settlers  on  section  36.  John  Reed  built 
the  first  frame  barn  in  the  township.  Nathan  Case  was  a 
pioneer  on  section  34,  and  is  still  living,  though  very  old 
and  infirm.  Benjamin  F.  Nichols,  with  his  wife  and  child, 
from  Farmington,  Oakland  Co.,  moved  in  and  settled  on 
section  6  about  1843.  He  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  stayed  a  short  time,  and  moved  back  to  Oakland 
County. 

Constant  Shaw  and  wife  moved  from  Novi,  Oakland  Co., 
in  1843.  He  settled  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
35.  His  first  work  was  to  chop  and  clear  about  ten  acres 
of  his  land.  He  erected  a  log  house  which  stood  till  1879, 
when  it  was  taken  down  to  make  room  for  the  main  part 
of  a  new  frame  dwelling.  Mr.  Shaw  died  in  1855,  Mrs. 
Shaw  in  1879.  The  homestead  is  now  occupied  by  their 
daughter,  Mrs.  Jerome  Cardinal. 

The  following  names  show  who  were  resident  tax-payers 
in  1841,  giving  the  sections  in  their  order  and  the  number 
of  acres  owned  by  each  person  : 

Acres. 

Parley  Gardner,  section  3 80 

Robert  B.  Gardner,  section  S 40 

Morris  Boughton,  section  7 160 

Charles  Kellogg,  section  14 f60 

Atwell  Simmons,  sections  25-30 140 

Henry  Williams,  section  27 160 

Lloyd  Worth,  sections  27,  28 240 

Gordon  Treat,  section  28 80 

Francis  Francisco,  sections  3.3,  34 60 

Gabriel  Cronkhite,  section  34 40 

tT.  J.  Oronkhite,  section  34 40 

Nathan  Case,  section  34 60 

S.  W.  Cronkhite,  section  34 80 

Charles  M.  Thornton,  sections  34,  35 240 

Robert  McFall,  section  35 70 

Elison  Campbell,  section  35 10 

Nathan  Reed,,  section  36 160 

The  assessment-roll  for  1844  will  show  the  changes  in 
the  township  in  three  years : 

Acres. 

William  Davis,  section  3 80 

Benjamin  F.  Nichols,  section  6 120 

Archibald  Riley,  section  6 80 

Morris  Boughton,  section  7 160 

Philip  P.  Peck,  section  8 120 

Elkanah  Peck,  Jr.,  section  8 80 

Elkanah  Peck,  section  8 40 

James  H.  Chant,  section  14 80 

Joseph  Cook,  section  25 80 

George  Cook,  section  25 50 

Atwell  Simmons,  sections  25,  30 178 

Thomas  Ferris,  section  27 80 

James  J.  Foreman,  section  27 80 

Daniel  C.  Smith,  sections  27,  28 240 

Gordon  Treat,  section  28 80 

Bphraim  H.  Phillips,  section  33 80 

Francis  Francisco,  sections  33,  34 60 

Nathan  H.  Case,  section  34 60 

Nathan  B.  Jones,  section  34 160 

Ezra  Thornton,  sections  .34,  35 190 

William  Burrett,  sections  34,  35 280 

Lyman  Hungerford,  section  34 160 

Elison  Campbell,  section  35 10 

Constant  Shaw,  section  35 160 

John  Reed,  section  36 160 

John  M.  Apthorp 80 

Charl^  Reed — 

Joseph  Cook,  born  in  Vermont  in  1790,  emigrated  to 
Avon  Springs,  N.  Y.,  and  from  that  place  to  Riley  in  the 


fall  of  1842,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  seven  children  ; 
one  son,  George  H.,  was  married.  They  all  settled  on  sec- 
tion 25,  on  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  Mr.  Cook  was 
on  land  now  owned  by  P.  R.  Freeman  ;  George  H.,  on  land 
now  owned  by  his  brother,  A.  B.  Cook.  George  H.  moved 
back  to  the  State  of  New  York  after  living  here  three  or 
four  years.  Mr.  Cook  and  his  son  George  were  the  first 
shoemakers  in  the  town.  Joseph  W.,  a  son,  died  unmar- 
ried ;  he  held  the  office  of  justice  for  several  years.  Char- 
lotte (Mrs.  Newman)  is  not  living.  Abigail  (Mrs.  P.  R. 
Freeman)  is  living  on  a  part  of  the  homestead.  Amariah 
B.  married  Amina  Simmons.  Sally  died  young.  William 
H.  H.  was  in  Third  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  died  at  New 
Madrid,  Mo.  A.  B.  Cook's  children  are  Emeline  S.  (Mrs. 
Dills),  living  at  home ;  Viola  (Mrs.  Pike),  living  on  section 
30  ;  Ida  0.,  living  at  home. 

Lyman  Hungerford,  a  native  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with 
his  wife  and  daughter  emigrated  to  Riley  in  September, 
1843,  and  settled  on  section  34,  having  bought  the  north- 
east quarter  in  July,  1836.  He  built  a  log  house  in  the 
usual  backwoods  style.  Mrs.  Hungerford  died  in  1863. 
Of  three  children  one  is  living,  a  son,  William  W. ;  lives 
on  section  27,  across  the  road  from  the  old  homestead  (now 
owned  by  Augustus  Robinson).  He  married  Miss  Ann 
Tracy,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Mr. 
Lyman  Hungerford  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow-towns- 
men by  having  been  elected  supervisor  thirteen  times,  and 
has  also  held  other  offices  in  the  town. 

Nathan  B.  Jones  and  family,  from  Novi,  Oakland  Co., 
arrived  at  the  site  of  their  future  home,  on  section  34,  in 
the  year  1843.  He  bought  his  land  of  Leland  Green,  who 
took  it  from  government  in  July,  1836.  The  children  who 
came  in  with  their  parents  are  Henry  J.,  living  at  Dimon- 
dale,  Eaton  Co.  ;  Nathan  B.,  Jr.,  lives  on  a  portion  of  the 
homestead ;  Nancy  (Mrs.  Peck),  lives  near  Boughton 
school-house ;  Andrew  J.,  lives  in  Watertown ;  William  J., 
lives  in  Watertown  ;  Albert,  lives  in  the  centre  of  this 
town  ;  Frank,  lives  in  Watertown. 

Henry  Jones  and  wife  moved  from  Novi  to  Danby,  Ionia 
Co.,  where  they  lived  nearly  three  years,  and  then  moved 
to  Riley  in  January,  1848,  having  bought  land  of  Daniel 
C.  Smith,  who  had  made  a  small  clearing  and  erected  a  log 
house ;  they  lived  in  this  till  he  built  the  present  frame  resi- 
dence in  1862.  The  children  are  Adolphus,  married  and 
lives  on  the  homestead,  and  is  the  present  postmaster  of 
South  Riley ;  Ella  (Mrs.  William  Burritt),  lives  about  a 
mile  southwest;  Catharine  M.  (Mrs.  Fields),  died  in  1874. 
Ephraim  H.  Phillips  was  an  early  settler  on  section  33. 
He  came  from  Plymouth,  Wayne  Co.,  a  single  man,  cleared 
some  of  his  land,  built  a  log  house,  and  went  back  and 
married.  He  died  on  his  place.  His  widow  married  Wil- 
liam Burritt.     A  son,  Alonzo  Burritt,  lives  on  the  farm. 

William  Burritt  was  an  early  settler  on  sections  34  and 
35,  owning  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 

Among  the  later  settlers  were  Jacob  Miller,  wife,  and 
family,  from  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1852.  He  bought  his 
land  of  Jacob  Carlisle  and  Samuel  Hungerford,  paying  for 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  27,  bought  of  Hungerford, 
six  hundred  dollars.     The  log  house  was  built  by  Carlisle, 


502 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


who  was  the  first  carpenter  to  locate  in  the  town.  In  1862, 
Mr.  Miller  erected  his  present  substantial  dwelling.  Ben- 
jamin P.,  a  son,  lives  on  the  rise  of  ground  just  east  of  his 
father,  in  a  neat  and  tasty  farm-house.  William,  another 
son,  lives  in  Watertown ;  Septimus  M.  lives  on  a  farm  ad- 
joining on  the  north ;  James  lives  in  Matherton,  Ionia  Co. ; 
Lucinda  (Mrs.  Cardinal)  lives  about  half  a  mile  north. 

David  P.  Wilcox  came  to  Michigan  from  Haddam,  Mid- 
dlesex Co.,  Conn.,  and  located  a  farm  in  Homer,  Calhoun 
Co. ;  then  went  back  for  his  family  and  brought  them  out 
to  reside  in  their  new  home.     Here  they  lived  till  March, 
1854,  when  poor  health  obliged  him  to  sell  his  farm  and 
seek  another  location.     Thinking  that  the  climate  of  Kan- 
sas might  benefit  him,  he  went  there.    It  did  not  suit ;  then 
Iowa  was  tried.     While  there  he  purchased  five  hundred 
acres  of  land.     Becoming  convinced  that  there  is  no  better 
State  than  Michigan,  he  came  back  with  the  intention  of 
locating  in  the  Grand  River  country.     In  June,  185-4,  he 
was  exploring  the  lands  in  Riley,  and  finding  the  school  sec- 
tion to  his  mind,  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
for  which  he  paid  four  dollars  per  acre.    In  July  he  moved 
in  with  his  family,  and  had  to  chop  out  and  underbrush 
the  road  from  the  corner  near  the  cheese-factory  south  to 
the  place  where  he  built  his  log  house,  which  stood  on  the 
farm  where  his  daughter  Aurelia  (Mrs.  Chapman)  lives. 
Another  daughter  (Mrs.  Robinson)  lives  on  section  34,  on 
a  farm  bought  of  L.  Hungerford,  on  which  is  built  the' 
first  and  only  brick  dwelling-house  in  the  township.     In 
1864,  Mr.  Wilcox  removed  to  St.  Johns  and  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business.     After  remaining  there  eight  years 
he  went  back  to  farm-life,  having  built  a  handsome  resi- 
dence on  section  17.     He  built  this  spring  (1880)  one  of 
the  finest  barns  in  the  town.     He  has  been  engaged  about 
twenty  years  in  raising  the  short-horn  breed  of  cattle,  and 
has  one  of  the  best  herds  in  the  county. 

The  question  of  whose  was  the  first  marriage  in  the  town- 
ship being  difierently  answered  by  many  of  .the  old  pioneers 
now  residing  in  the  township,  it  was  referred  to  Mrs.  Jo- 
siah  E.  Smith,  who  gave  the  following  reply :  "  My  first 
recollection  of  a  wedding  in  Riley  township  is  that  of  Char- 
lotte Cook  and  Moses  Newman,  also  of  Nancy  Reed  and 
Willard  Brooks,  and  the  ceremony  was  performed  by  my 
first  husband,  Gordon  Treat,  then  a  justice  of  the  peace." 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  Stephen 
Thornton,  son  of  Charles  M.  and  Harriet  Thornton. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  child  of  Lloyd  Worth. 
The  first  burial-ground  in  South  Riley  was  that  on  section 
35,  on  land  given  by  William  Yerkes  and  deeded  to  four 
trustees  about  1845.  The  first  burial  was  that  of  a  man 
named  Ingalls. 

The  North  Riley  cemetery  was  taken  in  hand  by  an  as- 
sociation organized  Feb.  28,  1867,  and  reorganized  April  2, 
1879,  with  the  following  officers:  President,  Cortland  Hill ; 
Clerk,  S.  N.  Hildreth ;  Treasurer,  C.  N.  Plowman ;  Sexton' 
F.  W.  Benjamin. 

The  first  person  buried  in  this  cemetery  was  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Peck,  whose  remains  were  brought  here  in  1847. 
They  were  first  buried  in  a  farm-lot. 


Riley  was  originally  covered  with  a  dense  forest,  consist- 
ing mainly  of  ash,   basswood,  beech,  elm,  cherry,   oak, 
maple,  and  walnut.     The  woods  are  leveled  now,  and  thin 
screens  of  trees  but  veil  the  fields  beyond.     To-day,  aside 
from  speedy  transit  and  neighbors  near,  the  work  of  chop- 
ping and  clearing  is  contiaued,  and  the  northern  portion  of 
this  State  has  territory  in  its  natural  condition.    The  work 
of  clearing  lands  was  plain,  hard  work.     The  choicest  oak 
walnut,  and  cherry  were  cut  in  logging  lengths  and  burned 
on  the  ground.     Ox-teams  were  everywhere  used.     It  was 
common  for  a  farmer  who  had  no  yoke  of  cattle  of  his  own 
to  go  and  help  his  neighbors  get  the  log-heaps  in  place  for 
burning,  and  when  ready,  they  would  come  and  give  him 
a  log-rolling.     Often  the  settler,  having  spent  the  day  at  a 
logging-bee,  has  passed  the  night  in  kindling  up  and  keep- 
ing his  log-heaps  burning.    In  those  spring  days  the  woods 
were  often  dark  with  smoke,  and  lurid  fires  by  night  gave 
to  the  scene  a  weird  aspect.     If  the  season,  far  advanced, 
did  not   admit  full   clearing,  the  various   crops  of  corn 
pumpkins,  turnips,  and  potatoes  were  planted  irregularly 
amidst  the  blackened  logs.     There  was  no  hoeing  needed, 
but  it  was  necessary  to  go  through  and  pull  up  or  cut 
down  the  fire-weed,  which  sprang  up  numerous  and  rank 
on  newly-cleared  ground.     It  was  soon  exterminated  with 
a  few  successive   crops.     By  some,  wheat  and   rye  were 
sown  tifter  corn,  but  generally  a  special  piece  was  cleared, 
sowed,  and  harrowed  in.     Farming  was  in  a  crude  state, 
and  hoes  and  drags  were  the  implements  for  putting  in  the 
crop.     The  drag  was  made  by  the  settler  himself. 

The  first  consideration  of  the  pioneer  was  a  shelter  for 
himself  and  family.  The  house  was  built  somewhat  in  this 
wise.  Its  walls  were  of  logs  notched  together  at  the  corners, 
and  the  openings  between  chinked  and  plastered  with  clay 
or  mud ;  its  floors  of  puncheons  or  split  logs,  with  the  flat 
side  up ;  roof  made  of  bark,  hollow  logs,  or  shakes ;  the 
partitions  were  formed  by  blankets  hung  up ;  the  door  was 
hung  on  wooden  hinges,  and  fastened  with  a  wooden  latch 
opened  from  the  outside  with  a  cord  or  string,  and  the 
"  latch-string  was  always  out ;"  its  windows  were  often  of 
white  paper  to  let  in  light,  and  well  grea.sed  to  shed  the 
rain  and  make  it  nearer  transparent.  The  fireplace  reached 
nearly  across  one  end  ;  its  back,  sides,  and  hearth  were,  in 
the  absence  of  stones,  made  of  clay  or  mud  plastered  about 
one  foot  thick,  and  baked  hard  by  the  fire ;  two  sticks  of 
the  proper  crook  rested  one  on  either  end  of  the  wall  and 
against  a  beam  overhead,  forming  the  jambs,  and  upon 
these  rested  the  chimney,  made  of  sticks  and  clay  mortar, 
very  wide  at  the  bottom  and  tapering  to  the  top,  serving 
the  purpose  of  both  chimney  and  smoke-house.  When  a 
fire  was  to  be  built  in  winter  a  log  six  or  eight  feet  long 
and  two  or  three  feet  in  diameter  was  brought  in  and  rolled 
on  the  fireplace,  this  was  called  the  back-log  ;  next  came  a 
smaller  log,  which  was  placed  on  the  top  and  called  the  back- 
stick  ;  then  came  two  round  sticks  six  or  eight  inches  in 
diameter  and  three  feet  long,  the  greenest  that  could  be 
found;  these  were  placed  endwise  against  the  back-log, 
and  served  for  andirons ;  upon  them  was  placed  the  fore- 
stick,  and  between  this  and  the  back-log  were  piled  dry 
limbs  and  wood,  and  the  fire  applied.  The  fire  thus  built 
would  last,  with  a  little  attention,  a  whole  day.     In  the 


KILEY  TOWNSHIP. 


503 


fireplace  were  hooks  and  trammel,  the  bake-pan  and  the 
kettle ;  at  the  side  of  the  room  and  about  it  stood  a  plain 
walnut  or  cherry  table  and  splint-bottom  chairs,  and  the 
easy  high-backed  rocker ;  upon  the  shelf  were  spoons  of 
pewter,  blue-edged  plates,  cups  and  saucers,  and  the  earthen 
tea-pot.  In  one  corner  stood  the  old-fashioned  high-post, 
corded  bedstead,  covered  with  quilts,  a  curiosity  of  patch- 
work and  laborious  sewing  each  one,  the  ever-present 
spiuning-wheel,  and  not  unfrequently  a  loom.  In  the  ex- 
pressive language  of  another  it  can  truly  be  said,  "  When 
it  is  seen  what  diflBculties  the  pioneers  had  to  encounter, — 
at  the  dense  forest  that  covered  the  soil, — at  the  cost  of 
marketing  their  products, — we  can  only  marvel  at  the  im- 
provements that  have  been  made.  Year  by  year,  under 
the  sturdy  blows  of  the  axe,  the  forests  have  receded  and 
the  fruitful  fields  taken  the  place  of  the  mighty  wilderness. 
Hard  work  was  their  lot, — their  only  guarantee  of  success." 
From  a  pioneer  address  we  quote :  "  Brave,  strong,  earn- 
est, honest  men  were  these  pioneers.  Those  named  do  not 
deserve  mention  more  than  many  others,  only  they  hap- 
pened to  be  among  the  first.  As  fathers  of  the  township 
they  merit  the  warmest  words  of  commendation, — grateful 
remembrances.  They  laid,  broad  and  firm,  the  foundations 
of  present  prosperity,  which  is  rich  with  the  promise  of 
future  progress.  Their  monuments  are  in  the  fields  made 
fertile  by  their  labor,  in  the  golden  harvests  and  the  waving 
corn,  and  in  the  orchards  that  they  planted." 

THE  FIEST  HIGHWAYS. 

The  Dexter  trail  (so  called)  was  cut  through  in  May, 
1833.  Mr.  B.  0.  Williams,  in  a  paper  read  before  the  State 
Pioneer  Society,  Feb.  6,  1878,  says:  "  In  the  early  part  of 
May,  Judge  Dexter,  with  a  colony  of  eight  or  ten  families, 
arrived  in  wagons  with  horses,  oxen,  and  cows  at  the  Kech- 
e-won-dau-gon-ing  reservation,  en  route  for  the  present  site 
of  Ionia,  on  the  Grand  River.  Having  tried  in  vain  to 
get  a  guide,  Mr.  Dexter  and  others  came  to  us  for  help.  I 
left  our  planting,  taking  my  blankets  and  small  tent,  and 
in  six  days  landed  them  at  Ionia,  looking  out  the  route 
and  directing  where  the  road  was  to  be.  This  was  the  first 
real  colonizing  party  we  had  ever  seen,  myself  having  never 
been  farther  than  De  Witt  (the  Indian  village).  I  then 
procured  Mack-e-ta-pe-na-ce  (Blackbird)  to  pilot  me  past 
Muskrat  Lake  and  Creek,  and  from  there  proceeded  with 
the  party." 

This  trail  entered  the  town  of  Riley  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  35,  and  went  in  a  northwesterly  direction 
through  35  and  26  to  its  northwest  corner ;  thence  diago- 
nally through  sections  22  and  16  into  section  8  at  its  south- 
east corner ;  thence  through  section  8  into  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  5,  and  into  and  through  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  6,  where  it  joins  the  State  road  that  now 
runs  through  section  31  in  Bengal.  As  the  country  be- 
came settled  and  fenced  this  trail  was  discontinued,  and  the 
State  road,  which  ran  in  nearly  the  same  direction,  was 
worked  and  became  the  highway.  This  road  after  leaving 
the  section-line  road  began  on  section  28 ;  running  north 
forty  rods,  it  bore  oflF  in  a  northwesterly  course  through  sec- 
tion 28  across  the  northeast  corner  of  section  29  ;  thence 
across  section  20  and  across  the  northeast  corner  of  section 


19  into  section  18  to  the  half  section-line ;  thence  on  that 
line  about  forty  rods ;  thence  in  a  northeasterly  direction 
about  forty  rods  it  enters  the  present  quarter  section-line 
road ;  thence  north  on  that  road  till  it  enters  the  town  of 
Bengal.  This  road,  where  it  ran  in.  a  northwesterly  course 
through  sections  28,  29,  20,  19,  and  18,  was  taken  up 
about  ten  years  since. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  LIST  OP  OPPICERS. 

The  act  organizing  the  township  of  Riley  was  approved 
March  15,  1841.  It  provides  that  "  All  that  part  of  the 
county  of  Clinton  designated  in  the  United  States  survey 
as  township  No.  6  north,  of  range  3  west,  be  and  the  same 
is  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by 
the  name  of  Riley,  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein 
shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Charles  M.  Thornton,  in  said 
township."  In  conformity  with  this  act,  the  first  township- 
meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Charles  M.  Thornton,  in 
April,  1841,  and  the  township  officers  were  elected.  The 
records  of  that  first  election  having  been  destroyed  by  fire,* 
it  is  impossible  to  give  the  names  of  the  officers  then  elected. 

The  second  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Charles  M.  Thornton,  April  7,  1842.  The  whole  number 
of  votes  cast  was  twenty-four.  The  following  persons  were 
elected  to  fill  the  various  offices  of  the  town :  Supervisor, 
Atwell  Simmons ;  Town  Clerk,  Nathan  Case ;  Treasurer, 
Charles  M.  Thornton  ;  School  Inspectors,  Morris  Boughton, 
Atwell  Simmons,  Daniel  C.  Smith;  Commissioners  of 
Highways,  Morris  Boughton,  Nathan  Reed,  Samuel  W. 
Cronkhite ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Atwell  Simmons,  Charles 
M.  Thornton ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Morris  Boughton,  J. 
J.  Cronkhite  (vacancy)  ;.  Constables,  Philip  P.  Peck,  Nathan 
Reed. 

The   township  officers  of  Riley  elected   annually  from 

1843  to  1880,  inclusive,  have  been  the  following-named, 

viz. : 

1843. — Supervisor,  Morris  Boughton ;  Clerk,  Ephraim  H. 
Phillips;  Treasurer,  Daniel  C.  Smith;  School 
Inspectors,  Joseph  W.  Cook,  Atwell  Simmons ; 
Justices,  Joseph  Cook,  Gordon  Treat,  P.P.  Peck. 

1844. — Supervisor,  Morris  Boughton  ;  Clerk,  Ephraim  H. 
Phillips ;  Treasurer,  Daniel  C.  Smith  ;  School 
Inspector,  Lyman  Hungerford ;  Justice,  Lyman 
Hungerford. 

1845. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Hungerford;  Clerk,  William 
B.  Burritt ;  Treasurer,  Constant  Shaw ;  School 
Inspector,  Richard  I.  Burt;  Justice,  Constant 
Shaw. 

1846. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Hungerford  ;  Clerk,  Joseph  W. 
Cook;  Treasurer,  Constant  Shaw;  School  In- 
spectors, L.  Hungerford,  M.  Boughton  ;  Justice, 
Philip  P.  Peck. 

1847. Supervisor,  Philip  Burritt;  Clerk,  Jacob  Carlisle; 

Treasurer,  Constant  Shaw;  School  Inspector, 
Philip  Burritt ;  Justice,  Joseph  W.  Cook. 

1848.— Supervisor,  Lyman  Hungerford;  Clerk,  Henry 
Jones;   Treasurer,  Constant  Shaw;  School  In- 


»  The  township  records  were  kept  at  the  house  of  J.  J.  Cronkhite, 
deputy  clerk,  and  were  burned  with  the  house,  July  1,  1841. 


504 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


spector,  Benjamin  F.  Nichols ;  Justice,  P.  Bur- 
ritt. 

1849.— Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford  ;  Clerk,  Henry  Jones ; 
Treasurer,  P.  Burritt;  School  Inspector,  P. 
Burritt ;  Justices,  Philip  P.  Peek,  Henry  Jones. 

1850.— Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford  ;  Clerk,  Henry  Jones  ; 
Treasurer,  Henry  F.  Jones;  School  Inspector, 
L.  Hungerford ;  Justice,  Philip  Burritt. 

1851.— Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford;  Clerk,  Henry  Jones ; 
Treasurer,  Morris  Boughton ;  School  Inspector, 
P.  Burritt;  Justices,  Joseph  Cook,  William 
Hildreth. 

1 852. — Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford ;  Clerk,  Henry  Jones ; 
Treasurer,  Henry  F.  Jones;  School  Inspector, 
L.  Hungerford  ;  Justice,  William  B.  Hildreth. 

1853.— Supervisor,  Philip  Burritt ;  Clerk,  Philip  P.  Peck  ; 
Treasurer,  Constant  Shaw ;  School  Inspector, 
Philip  Burritt ;  Justice,  Henry  Jones. 

1854.— Supervisor,  P.  Burritt;  Clerk,  P.  P.  Peck;  Treas- 
urer, Henry  Jones ;  School  Inspector,  Constant 
Shaw ;  Justices,  Ansel  Chapman,  Ray  Gr.  An- 
drews. 

1 855. — Supervisor,  Henry  Jones ;  Clerk,  P.  P.  Peck  ; 
Treasurer,  Henry  F.  Jones ;  School  Inspector, 
Philip  Burritt ;  Justices,  P.  P.  Peck,  Atwell 
Simmons. 

1856. — Supervisor,   Henry  Jones;    Clerk,  P.    P.    Peck 
Treasurer,  Henry  F.  Jones;  School  Inspectors, 
Edwin  H.  Pratt ;  Shubael  Vincent. 

1857. — Supervisor,  David  P.  Wilcox  ;  Clerk,  Henry  Jones 
Treasurer,  Henry  F.  Jones ;  School  Inspectors 
Ansel  Chapman,  Harvey  Nutting;  Justice 
Henry  Jones. 

1858. — Supervisor,  Henry  Jones;  Clerk,  P.  P.  Peck 
Treasurer,  Henry  F.  Jones ;  School  Inspector 
L.  Hungerford  ;  Justice,  Homer  Chase. 

1859. — Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford;  Clerk,  P.  Burritt 
Treasurer,  Morris  Boughton  ;  School  Inspectors, 
William  B.  Owen,  Ezra  L.  Tracy ;  Justices, 
Cyrus  B.  Pratt,  John  S.  Hildreth. 

1860. — Supervisor,  Homer  Chase;  Clerk,  P.  Burritt 
Treasurer,  Morris  Boughton  ;  School  Inspector, 
Smith  N.  Hildreth ;  Justices,  Joseph  Cook 
Homer  Chase. 

1861. — Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford;  Clerk,  Ransom  M. 
Brooks ;  Treasurer,  M.  Boughton ;  School  In- 
spector, Harvey  C.  Nutting ;  Justice,  H.  C. 
Nutting. 

1862. — Supervisor,  Lyman  Hungerford;  Clerk,  P.  Bur- 
ritt; Treasurer,  M.  Boughton;  School  Inspec- 
tor, L.  Hungerford ;  Justice,  Ansel  Chapman. 

1863.— Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford;  Clerk,  P.  Burrritfc; 
Treasurer,  M.  Boughton ;  School  Inspector, 
Smith  N.  Hildreth;  Justices,  Cyrus  B.  Pratt, 
Isaac  M.  Molineaux,  Phineas  R.  Freeman. 

1864. — Supervisor,  Morris  Boughton ;  Clerk,  William  B. 
Owen;  Treasurer,  James  Hodges;  School  In- 
spector, Horace  Wixon;  Justice,  Phineas  R. 
Freeman. 

1865. — Supervisor,   Horace    Wixon;     Clerk,   Ammi   R. 


Boss;  Treasurer,  Henry  F,  Jones;  School  In- 
spector, S.  N.  Hildreth ;  Justices,  P.  R.  Free- 
man, Rufus  B.  Pratt. 

1866. — Supervisor,  M.  Boughton ;  Clerk,  William  H. 
Chaddock;  Treasurer,  C.  B.  Pratt;  School  In- 
spector, P.  Burritt;  Justices,  Horace  Wixon, 
James  Hodges,  Matthew  Williams. 

1867. — Supervisor,  Henry  Jones;  Clerk,  William  H. 
Chaddock;  Treasurer,  C.  B.  Pratt;  School 
Inspector,  Charles  W.  Hildreth ;  Justices,  R. 
M.  Brooks,  Josiah  D.  Wickham,  William  L. 
Davis. 

1868. — Supervisor,  Henry  Jones;  Clerk,  A.  R.  Boss; 
Treasurer,  H.  F.  Jones;  School  Inspector,  P. 
P.  Peck ;  Justices,  P.  P.  Peck,  Ephraim  Case. 

1869. — Supervisor,  M.  Boughton;  Clerk,  Calvin  Ingram; 
Treasurer,  S.  N.  Hildreth ;  School  Inspector, 
Stephen  S.  Gage ;  Justices,  James  Hodges,  An- 
drew J.  Halsted. 

1870. — Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford  ;  Clerk,  Calvin  Ingram ; 
Treasurer,  Byron  S.  Pratt ;  School  Inspector,  A. 
C.  Robinson ;  Justices,  A.  Halsted,  Adam  Kin- 
caid. 

1871. — Supervisor,  Henry  Jones;  Clerk,  A.  R.  Boss; 
Treasurer,  Amariah  B.  Cook  ;  School  Inspector, 
John  R.  Kimball ;  Justices,  Holland  Sias,  C. 
W.  Hildreth,  William  Frost. 

1872. — Supervisor,  A.  R.  Boss;  Clerk,  Lafayette  Fenton ; 
Treasurer,  Amariah  B.  Cook ;  Justices,  John 
P.  Madden,  P.  P.  Peck,  John  Q.  Benedict. 

1873. — Supervisor,  L.  Hungerford  ;  Clerk,  L.  Fenton ; 
Treasurer,  Charles  N.  Plowman ;  School  In- 
spector, Charles  W.  Hildreth ;  Justice,  Elam 
Cutter. 

1874.— Supervisor,  William  H.  H.  Knapp;  Clerk,  L. 
Fenton ;  Treasurer,  Amariah  B.  Cook ;  School 
Inspector,  J.  B.  Knapp ;  Justice,  Richard 
Baylis. 

1875.— Supervisor,   William    H.  H.    Knapp;    Clerk,  L. 
*  Fenton ;  Treasurer,  A.  B.  Cook  ;  School  Inspec- 
tor, M.  Boughton ;  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
George  E.  Boughton  ;  Justice,  Jacob  Miller. 

1876. — Supervisor,  William  H.  H.  Knapp ;  Clerk,  Thomas 
H.  Jones ;  Treasurer,  A.  B.  Cook ;  School  In- 
spector, John  Pingel ;    School  Superintendent, 

A.  R.  Boss ;  Justice,  John  P.  Madden. 
1877.— Supervisor,  William  H.  H.  Knapp ;  Clerk,  T.  H. 

Jones ;  Treasurer,  A.  B.  Cook ;  School  Inspec- 
tor, John  Pingel ;  School  Superintendent,  George 
E.  Boughton. 

1878.— Supervisor,  William  H.  H.  Knapp;  Clerk,  L. 
Fenton ;  Treasurer,  Charles  N.  Plowman  ;  School 
Inspector,  John  H.  Boss ;  School  Superintend- 
ent, John  W.  Keeny;  Justices,  Roderick  I. 
Foot,  John  Wandel. 

1879.— Supervisor,  William  H.  H.  Knapp ;  Clerk,  Robert 

B.  Peabody;  Treasurer,  Charles  N.  Plowman; 
School  Inspector,  H.  L.  Pratt;  School  Superin- 
tendent, John  W.  Keeny ;  Justices,  Walter  M. 
€ronkhite,  S.  N.  Hildreth,  John  H.  Boss. 


KILEY  TOWNSHIP. 


505 


1880.— Supervisor,  William  H.  H.  Knapp  ;  Clerk,  Charles 
Dane ;  Treasurer,  Henry  W.  Bliss ;  School  In- 
spector, Albert  Whitaker  ;  School  Superintend- 
ent, George  E.  Burnes ;  Justices,  Henry  Jones, 
John  Wandel,  Albert  Whitaker. 

KELIGIOUS  HISTOET. 

Wherever  the  smoke  of  the  settler's  cabin  rose,  there 
soon  came  the  circuit  preacher  bound  on  his  mission  of 
good. 

Traversing  trail  and  forest-path,  he  found  cordial  wel- 
come everywhere.  The  first  of  these  pioneer  preachers  was 
a  man  named  Jackson,  and  his  first  meeting  in  the  township 
was  at  the  house  of  Charles  M.  Thornton. 

The  North  Kiley  class,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  was 
organized  about  1842,  at  the  house  of  Philip  P.  Peck,  by 
a  preacher  from  Lyons.  The  members  were  very  few. 
The  class  was  reorganized  in  1863-64,  by  Kevs.  L.  M. 
Garlick  and  C.  Chick.  The  members  were  P.  P.  Peck  and 
wife,  M.  Boughton  and  wife,  J.  H.  Patterson  and  wife, 
John  Jay  and  wife,  William  Owen  and  wife,  S.  N.  Hildreth 
and  wife,  Lydia  Hildreth,  John  Hildreth,  Elizabeth  Ben- 
jamin, and  Mrs.  Temple ;  their  meetings  were  held  in  the 
Boughton  school-house.  That  winter.  1863-64,  there  was 
a  revival,  which  added  some  forty  to  the  class.  The  fol- 
lowing fulfilled  their  mission  here  from  1864  to  the  present 
time,  1880  ;  William  Jenkins,  James  Koberts,  Joseph  Wil- 
kinson, F.  I.  Bell,  William  McKnight,  J.  S.  Harder,  H.  B. 
Nichols,  S.  Snyder,  and  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  L.  M. 
Garlick.     The  present  membership  is  twenty-one. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Riley  and  Bengal  was  formed 
June  8,  1878,  by  Loren  Benton,  Alvin  Winegar,  John  S. 
Sturgis,  Charles  W.  Benton,  and  Jonathan  Walker.  They 
met  at  the  school-house  in  Bengal  (fractional  No.  1),  and 
chose  E.  M.  Ney  chairman,  Loren  Benton  secretary,  and 
James  M.  Chapman,  L.  Benton,  and  A.  Winegar  trustees. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  Mary 
Smith  in  a  log  house  which  had  been  occupied  by  AVash- 
ington  Cronkhite.  The  second  school  was  taught  by  Mary 
Ann  Shears  in  the  log  dwelling  which  J.  J.  Cronkhite 
erected  after  his  first  house  was  burned,  July  1,  1841. 
There  was  a  school  just  over  the  line  in  Watertown, 
taught  by  Mrs.  Betsey  Macomber,  in  1842 ;  it  was  located 
in  the  Thornton  and  Ferris  neighborhood.  There  have 
been  so  many  changes  in  districts  that  it  is  difficult  to  fol- 
low or  designate  their  boundaries  with  any  certainty. 

District  No.  1  (Boughton  school)  has  a  frame  school- 
house  situated  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  7.  The 
report  for  1878-79  gives  41  children  of  school  age,  34  in 
attendance ;  frame  school-house,  value  $400,  will  seat  50 
pupils  ;  1  male  teacher  (winter  term),  pay  $112 ;  1  female 
teacher  (for  summer  term),  pay  $64 ;  resources  for  year, 
$312.46. 

District  No.  2  (Jason  school)  has  quite  a  handsome 
frame  school-house,  built  in  1872  (finished  with  a  bell, 
cupola,  and  blinds  to  the  windows),  situated  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  10.  The  report  for  1878-79  is  as 
follows :  45  children,  38  attending  school ;  frame  school- 
64 


house,  seating  60  pupils,  value  $1300;  1  male  teacher 
(winter  term),  pay  $120;  female  teacher  (summer  term), 
pay  $36  ;  resources,  $267.79. 

District  No.  4  (Jones  school)  has  the  only  brick  school- 
house  in  the  town.  It  was  built  in  1878,  and  is  valued 
at  $1000  ;  seating  capacity,  60  scholars ;  children  in  dis- 
drict,  57 ;  attending  school,  35 ;  pay  of  male  teacher  for 
winter  term,  $100;  female  teacher,  summer  term,  received 
$44;  resources  for  the  year  1878-79,  $492.61;  school- 
house  situated  on  section  34. 

District  No.  5  (Kincaid  school)  has  a  small  frame  house 
situated  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  32  ;  seating  ca- 
pacity, 40  pupils ;  in  attendance,  50  ;  value  of  school-house, 
$500  ;  1  male  teacher  employed;  pay,  $213  ;  resources  for 
1878-79,  $376.15. 

District  No.  6  (Wilcox  school)  has  a  handsome  frame 
school-house  (similar  in  finish  and  appearance  to  the  Jason 
school),  erected  in  1878  and  situated  on  section  17.  The 
report  for  1878-79  gives  the  following  :  children,  78  ;  at- 
tending school,  65  ;  1  frame  school-house  ;  value,  $1000  ; 
will  seat  60  scholars ;  1  female  teacher  employed ;  pay, 
$136 ;  resources,  $546.31. 

Fractional  district  No.  1  (Riley  and  Olive)  has  a  small 
old  frame  school-house  situated  a  short  distance  west  of 
Atwell  Simmons'  residence.  The  report  for  1878-79  gives 
69  children  ;  30  attending  school ;  value  of  house,  $100  ; 
seats  50;  1  male  teacher;  pay,  $140;  1  female  teacher; 
pay,  $64  ;  resources,  $254.50. 

District  (fractional)  No.  2  (Riley  and  Olive)  has  a  neat 
frame  school-house  situated  on  the  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 13.  School  report  for  1878-79  shows  52  children; 
46  attending  school ;  frame  school-house,  value,  $600 ; 
seats  60 ;  1  male  teacher ;  pay,  $84 ;  1  female  teacher ; 
pay,  $42  ;  resources,  $266.27. 

The  following  names  appear  on  the  records  as  teachers  in 
this  township  to  1860 :  Martha  Lowell,  Hannah  J.  Young, 
Dorr  K.  Btowell,  Addis  E.  Lloyd,  Indiana  Walton,  Mary 
Ann  Shear,  Betsey  Macomber,  Charlotte  Ferguson,  Miss 
T.  Alexander,  Eleanor  S.  Macomber,  Ann  Cain,  Mr.  Mon- 
tague, Mary  Daniels,  Frances  E.  Lloyd,  Cyrus  Pratt,  Cor- 
nelia N.  Daniels,  Elizabeth  Tucker,  Joseph  Berry,  Smith 
Hildreth,  Mary  J.  Partridge,  Rebecca  Burk,  Mary  Moore, 
Mary  Weber,  William  E.  Barber,  William  H.  H.  Knapp, 
Harvey  C.  Nutting,  Helen  Humphrey,  Lucy  M.  Whitaker, 
Emma  D.  Badger,  Mary  Austin,  Emeline  Heacox,  Miss 
Kincaid,  Arminda  Bartow,  Mary  Ann  Hayes,  Catharine 
H.  Stevens,  Martha  Howard,  Rhoda  B.  Wilber,  Byron  H. 
Pratt,  Augusta  Fink,  Leonard  Travis,  Clinton  J.  Hill, 
Mary  Reynolds,  Martha  Cokeland,  Angeline  Reynolds. 

POST-OFFICES. 

The  Riley  post-office  was  established  about  1855.  Jon- 
athan Owen  was  the  "first  postmaster.  His  successors  have 
been  Philip  P.  Peck,  John  N.  Hildreth,  and  the  present 
incumbent,  S.  N.  Hildreth. 

The  South  Riley  post-office  was  established  about  1857, 
with  Nathan  E.  Jones,  Sr.,  postmaster,  succeeded  by  Au- 
gustus Robinson,  Nathan  B.  Jones,  Jr.,  and  the  present 
postmaster,  Adolphus  E.  Jones. 


506 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


SAW-MILL. 
The  first  stationary  saw-mill  in  Riley  was  built  on  section 
25  about  1875  by  Henry  Harlow  &  Co.  The  partner  was 
killed  by  being  accidentally  thrown  upon  the  saw.  The 
machinery  was  removed  to  Woodhull,  Shiawassee  Co.,  and 
set  up  in  a  mill  built  on  the  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron 
Railroad. 

PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY. 

NORTH  RILEY  GRANGE,  No.  342, 

was  organized  March  19,  1874,  Col.  Richard  Baylis  being 
the  first  Master;  Morris  Boughton,  Overseer;  Cyrus  B. 
Pratt,  Lecturer ;  George  H.  Peck,  Steward ;  S.  N.  Hil- 
dreth.  Chaplain  ;  Cory  Owen,  Treasurer;  H.  L.  Pratt,  Sec- 
retary; John  Pingel,  Gate-keeper;  Mrs.  Eunice  E.  Baylis, 
Ceres;  Miss  Lucretia  Temple,  Pomona;  Miss  Hattie 
Boughton,  Flora;  Mrs.  Adelia  Walters,  Lady  Assistant 
Steward. 

SOUTH  RILEY  GRANGE,  No.  456, 
was  organized  under  dispensation,  June  11,  1874.     They 
have  a  grange  hall  adjoining  the  brick  school-house  on  the 
east  side. 

FOREST  HILL  CHEESE-FACTORY, 
owned  and  operated  by  a  stock  company,  was  organized  in 
the  spring  of  1874,  and  the  factory  erected.  The  building 
is  in  size  thirty  by  eighty,  and  cost,  with  machinery,  twenty- 
four  hundred  dollars.  It  stands  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  17. 

The  stockholders  are  D.  P.  Wilcox,  Horatio  S.  Bliss, 
Henry  L.  Bliss,  Sidney  J.  Bliss,  David  P.  Bliss,  Stebbins 
C.  Bliss,  Bliss  Temple,  J.  M.  Dane,  Henry  Jones,  Chris- 
tian Jacobs,  Andrew  J.  Chapman,  Frederick  Oding, 
John  Pingel,  Charles  Walters,  and  A.  R.  Boss ;  President 
of  the  company,  D.  P.  Wilcox;  A.  R.  Boss,  Secl-etary. 


AGRICULTURE     AND    POPULATION. 
The  United  States  census  of  1860  gives  the  following 
exhibit.     There  were  owned  in  the  town  94  horses,  248 
milch  cows,  110  work-oxen,  617  sheep,  and  485  swine. 
The  yield  of  grain,  etc.,  was  3653  bushels  of  wheat,  7536 
bushels  of  corn,  4367  bushels  of  oats,  2758  bushels  of  po- 
tatoes, 2469  pounds  of  wool,  26,900   pounds  of  butter 
2430  pounds  of  cheese,  876  tons  of  hay,  41,486  pounds 
of  maple-sugar. 

The  United  States  census  of  1870  shows  the  increase  of 
the  products  of  the  township  over  the  census  of  1860.  Of 
horses  there  were  222  ;  cows,  302;  oxen,  60;  sheep,  1830- 
swine,  355 ;  pounds  of  wool,  8935 ;  pounds  of  butter 
41,345  ;  bushels  of  wheat,  17,382  ;  bushels  of  corn,  9985  ■ 
bushels  of  potatoes,  7340 ;  bushels  of  oats,  16,245 ;  tons 
of  hay,  1410  ;  pounds  of  maple-sugar,  9505. 

The  State  census  of  1874  exhibits  the  gain  over  the 
census  of  1870.  Wheat  on  ground,  2249  acres;  wheat 
cut  in  1873,  1741  acres,  which  yielded  29,239  bushels  • 
corn,  20,073  bushels ;  potatoes,  3634  bushels ;  tons  of  hay, 
1651 ;  pounds  of  wool,  7793;  pounds  of  butter,  53,373; 
pounds  of  cheese,'  6500  ;  pounds  of  maple-sugar,  19,247  ■ 
horses,  375;  oxen,  152;  cows,  636;  swine,  604;  sheep, 
2149.  The  census  of  cereals  for  1877  shows  2452  acres 
of  wheat  cut,  which  produced  61,747  bushels.  The  wheat 
on  the  ground  in  1878  was  3306  acres,  which  would  give 
(as  estimated)  an  average  yield  of  83,245  bushels. 

In  1847,  Riley  had  a  population  of  134,  which  had  in- 
creased in  1854  to  400.  In  1860  the  enumeration  gave 
607  souls  in  122  families.  There  were  142  dwelling-houses 
and  106  farms  occupied.  The  State  census  in  1864  showed 
641,  showing  a  gain  of  only  34  in  four  years.  The  census 
of  1870  gave  1139,  an  increase  in  six  years  of  498.  The 
next  four  years  only  24  were  added  to  the  population,  mak- 
ing for  1874,  1163.  The  United  States  census  for  1880, 
just  completed,  gives  the  number  of  inhabitants  at  1469, 
a  gain  in  six  years  of  306. 


RILEY  TOWNSHIP. 


507 


BIOGEAPHIOAL    SKETCHES. 


LYMAN  HUNGERFORD. 


Lyman    Hungerford    was  born  in   the  town  of  Paris, 
Oneida   Co.,   N.   Y.,   Aug.   1,   1812.     His   father,   Orin 
Hungerford,  was  a  native  of  tlie  Green  Mountain  State, 
and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pownal,  Bennington  Co., 
in  1790.     He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  removed  to 
Oneida  County  about  1808,  where  he  resided  until  1816, 
when  he  removed  to  JeiFerson  County  and  purchased  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Henderson,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1868.     He  married  Miss  Abigail 
Morgan  in  1811.     She  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pownal, 
in  1789.     They  reared  a  family  of  nine  children, — six  boys 
and  three  girls, — Lyman  being  the  eldest  of  the  family. 
The  elder  Hungerford  was   an  energetic   and  successful 
farmer  of  liberal  and  progressive  ideas,  and  in  all  respects 
a  valuable  citizen.     His  wife  was  one  of  those  thrifty 
housewives  of  the  olden  time.      She  spun  and  wove  the 
cloth  from  which  the  family  clothing  was  made,  and  reared 
her  children  to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift.     Lyman 
acquired  what  was  at  that  time  considered  a  good  educa- 
tion.    His  life  up  to  the  age  of  twenty-one  was  spent  upon 
his  father's  farm.     On  attaining  his  majority  he  started  for 
himself,  working  as  a  farm  hand  during  the  summer,  and 
teaching  during  the  winter.     In  1836  he  purchased  from 
the  government  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  34. 

In   1838  he  was   married  to   Miss  Sarah  Nutting,  of 
Henderson.     She  was  born  in  1815.     In  1843,  Mr.  Hun- 


gerford came  West  with  his  family,  and  settled  upon  the 
farm,  which  he  had  previously  purchased.  Riley  was  at 
this  time  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness ;  his  purchase  was 
heavily  timbered,  and  the  construction  of  a  farm  was  an 
undertaking  involving  years  of  hard  labor  and  privation. 
The  life  of  Mr.  Hungerford  has  been  a  success  in  all  that 
the  word  implies.  He  has  secured  a  well- won  competency, 
and  has  attained  an  enviable  position  among  his  fellow- 
citizens,  by  whom  he  is  fully  appreciated  for  his  integrity 
and  ability.  He  has  been  placed  in  various  positions  of 
trust,  notably  among  the  number  that  of  supervisor  and 
magistrate.  The  office  of  supervisor  he  filled  acceptably 
for  over  eleven  years.  In  all  matters  of  county  legislation 
he  took  broad  and  liberal  positions,  and  among  his  brother 
supervisors  he  was  esteemed,  not  only  for  his  gentlemanly 
deportment,  but  for  sterling  common  sense  and  sound  judg- 
ment. As  a  magistrate  his  decisions  were  always  impartial, 
and  evidenced  much  legal  acumen.  Mr.  Hungerford  reared 
a  family  of  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  living, 
William  W.,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Riley,  in  1844, 
and  is  living  on  a  place  which  was  presented  to  him  by  his 
father. 

Accompanying  this  biography  may  be  seen  the  portrait 
of  Mr.  Hungerford,  which  is  indicative  of  generosity  and 
hospitality,  and  is  evidence  of  a  positive  character  and  a 
well-balanced  mind. 


508 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


PHILIP  P.  PECK. 


If  the  future  generations  are  asked  the  question,  "  Who 
has  done  the  most  for  America,  the  pioneer  or  the  inventor 
of  the  telegraph,  the  locomotive,  the  steamboat,  or  the 
many  great  inventors  of  the  present  or  any  other  age  ?"  we 
believe  the  answer  will  be,  "  The  Pioneer."     Without  him 
there  would  have  been  no  need  of  locomotives  or  steam- 
boats, no  cities  to  connect  with  the  telegraph-wire,  and  no 
use  for  the  labor-saving  machinery  we  see  on  every  hand. 
Of  the  pioneers  of  Clinton  County  there  are  none  deserving 
of  more  credit  than  Philip  P.  Peck,  of  whom  this  is  a 
brief  history.     He  was  one  of  a  family  of  six  children, 
and  was  born  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  Nov.  23,  1802.     When 
he  was  fourteen  years  old  his  father,  who  was  a  shoemaker, 
moved  to  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  the  family  resided 
fourteen  years,  and  where  young  Philip  learned  his  father's 
trade.     Arrived  at  his  majority  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself,  locating  first  at  Lodi,  in  Seneca  County.     But 
having  no  means  with  which  to  start,  he  found  a  hard  road 
to  travel.     He  then  became  an  itinerant  shoemaker,  going 
from  farm  to  farm  and  making  up  the  yearly  supply  of 
shoes  for  the  families  where  he  stopped,  as  was  the  custom. 
After  several  years  spent  in  wandering  he  married,  and 
then  emigrated  to  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  fifty 
acres  of  unimproved   land,  on    which   he   did  but  little 
clearing,  as  his  trade   engrossed  the   most  of   his  time. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Ohio,  his  brother  joined  him  and 
opened  a  cooper-shop.     Philip's  health  becoming  impaired 
by  too  close  application  to  the  bench  he  quit  his  trade,  and 
then  for  four  years  worked  at  the  cooper's  trade.     Becoming 
dissatisfied  with  the  progress  he  was  making  he  sold  his  fifty 
acres,  and  with  two  ox-teams  started  for  Michigan,  locating  in 
Tccumseh,  Lenawee  Co.,  where  he  bought  forty  acres  of  L-Tnd, 


but  did  not  work  it,  as  his  recovered  health  made  it  possible 
for  him  to  again  work  at  his  trade,  which  he  followed  four 
years ;  then  sold  out  and  again  wended  his  way  westward, 
this  time  locating  in  Riley  township,  Clinton  Co.  There  were 
then  but  few  families,  and  Mr.  Peck's  arrival  was  hailed 
with  great  pleasure  by  Mr.  Boughton,  who  was  living  a 
bachelor  on  his  farm,  which  was  near  Mr.  Peck's.     He  had 
previously  built  a  small  house  near  Mr.  Peck's  farm,  into 
which  he  at  once  invited  Mr.  Peck  and  his  family,  and 
where  they  resided  many  years.     The  house,  though  small, 
was  always  the  home  of  any  new-comer,  and  families  of 
eight  and  ten  were  often  entertained  for  weeks  until  their 
own  houses  could  be  built.     The  Indians,  too,  always  found 
a  welcome  beneath  his  roof  and  at  his  table,  and  were 
always  warm  friends  of  the  family.     Years  have  passed, 
and  the  wild  land  he  then  bought  is  now  a  well-improved 
farm,  which  is  surrounded  by   the  homes  of  the  many 
thrifty  farmers  of  Riley,  all  of  which  Mr.  Peck  has  lived 
to  see,  and  towards  which  he  has  contributed  more  than 
his  share.     And  now  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age 
he  is  enjoying  the  comforts  his  life  of  toil  has  brought 
him.     He  has  always  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  has  nearly  always  held  some  office  in 
his  town,  having  been  justice  of  the  peace  thirty  years  in 
succession,  and  town  clerk  five  years ;  also  county  superin- 
tendent of  the  poor  two  years.  He  was  in  early  life  converted 
to  the  Methodist  faith,  and  is  now  a  member  of  that  church. 
There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pock  the  following 
children:    William  B.,  born  Oct.  14,   1825;    Emma  J., 
March  12,  1827;  and  Amanda  M.,  June  23,  1833,  who 
married  David  P.  Bliss,  July  30,1853;   their  children 
arc  Eva,  born  July  6, 185J,aiid  Huron  S.,  April  22,  1861. 


JO^'ATHAN    OWEN. 

JONATHAN    OWEN 

Aiiiong  the  patriots  of  the  Revolution  was  Coh 
Jesse  Owen,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 
He  was  a  brave  soldier  and  an  intrepid  commander. 
He  served  with  distinction  throughout  that  sanguin- 
ary struggle,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  settled  in 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  Jonathan  was  born,  April 
1, 1805.  He  lived  with  his  father,  who  was  a  farmer, 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Lydia  Bennet,  who  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey in  1804,  In  1805  the  family  removed  to  Tomp- 
kins Co.,  N.  Y,,  where  the  mother  died. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Owen  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
Michigan,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Riley,  where 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  new 
land  on  section  18.  The  pioneer  life  of  Mr.  Owen 
was  one  of  peculiar  privation  and  hardship ;  he  was 
poor  and  was  obliged  to  work  for  three  shillings  per 
day  to  support  his  family,  but  being  a  man  of  in- 
domitable perseverance  and  energy  he  overcame  the 
obstacles  that  beset  his  way,  and  not  only  accumulated 
a  competency,  but  established  a  valuable  record  as  a 
citizen. 

In  his  religious  belief  he  was  a  Baptist,  and 
carried  his  religion  into  his  everyday  life,  and  its 
precepts  were  his  guide  in  all  transactions.  Politi- 
cally, he  was  a  Republican. 


MES.    JONATHAN   OWEN. 


He  died  April  10,  1866,  at  his  home  in  Riley,  in 
the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age.  He  had  been  closely 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  town  for  over 
twenty-one  years.  He  owned  at  the  time  of  his 
death  a  fine  farm  of  four  hundred  acres,  over  two 
hundred  of  which  were  improved.  He  had  erected 
commodious  buildings,  and  possessed  all  the  appoint- 
ments of  a  well-conducted  farm.  He  was  the  father  of 
a  family  of  nine  children,  viz. :  Betsey,  born  Sept, 
1,  1827;  William  B.,  born  June  22,  1829;  Mary, 
born  July  27,  1831;  Jane,  born  Aug,  24,  1833; 
Joseph  B.,  born  Sept,  17,  1835 ;  John,  born  May  5, 
1837;  Jesse  C,  born  Aug,  18,  1839;  Rebecca  A,, 
born  March  19,  1844 ;  Caroline  C,  born  Nov.  21, 
1847,  Of  the  above  all  are  living,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Betsey,  Mary,  and  John.  The  latter  enlisted 
in  Co,  A,  Twenty-third  Michigan  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  died  in  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 
Dec,  1 ,  1862,  Jesse  C,  was  a  member  of  Co,  G, 
same  regiment. 

Accompanying  this  brief  biography  may  be  seen 
the  portraits  of  Mr,  and  Mrs,  Owen,  placed  in  this 
volume  by  their  children  as  a  monument  for  the  per- 
petuation of  their  memory,  and  as  a  slight  acknowl- 
edgment of  what  they  did  in  the  development  of 
the  town. 


VICTOR  TOWNSHIP. 


509 


CHAPTER    LXIV. 
VICTOR    TOWNSHIP.* 

General  Description — The  Pioneers  of  the  Township  and  its  Settle- 
ment— The  Indian  Chief  Chippewa — Lists  of  Early  Tax-Payers 
and  Voters — Township  Organization — List  of  Township  Officers — 
Post-Offioes — Highways — Religious  History — Schools. 

Town  6  north,  in  range  1  west,  named  Victor,  is  one  of 
the  eastern  border  towns  of  Clinton  County.  North  it  has 
Ovid,  south  is  Bath,  east  Shiawassee  County,  and  west  the 
township  of  Olive. 

Originally  the  town  consisted  of  oak-openings,  with  some 
marsh-lands  on  the  west,  and  a  generally  even  surface  except 
on  the  east,  where  the  country  is  inclined  to  be  liilly.  The 
soil  is  exceedingly  productive,  and,  illustrative  of  the  esteem 
in  which  it  is  held,  the  language  of  one  of  Victor's  most 
prosperous  farmers  testifies  that  the  soil  of  the  town  "  will 
produce  just  what  you  put  the  crop  in  for."  Much  of  the 
acreage  is  given  over  to  the  cultivation  of  wheat,  of  which 
the  average  yield  in  the  best  portions  reaches  twenty-five 
bushels  to  the  acre,  while  in  some  instances  forty  bushels 
have  been  yielded.  Victor  is  moreover  an  excellent  sheep- 
raising  town.  In  1879  the  sheep  sheared  numbered  four 
thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty-six,  and  the  wool-clip 
twenty-five  thousand  eight  hundred  and  Ibrty-seven  pounds. 
The  number  of  sheep  reported  in  1880  aggregated  four 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  sixty-six. 

The  Looking-Glass  River,  an  exceedingly  crooked  stream, 
passes  through  the  southern  part  of  the  town  from  east 
to  west,  but  affords  no  power  that  can  be  utilized  to 
profitable  advantage.  Round  Lake,  a  handsome  sheet  of 
water,  covering  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  upon  sec- 
tions 28  and  29,  was  at  one  time  a  very  popular  resort  for 
anglers,  picnic-parties,  and  pleasure-seekers  in  general,  but 
latterly  its  attractive  features  have  faded  by  neglect,  although 
there  is  still  much  thereabout  that  invites  the  attention  of 
the  rambler. 

The  town  has  no  village,  nor  has  it  yet  any  business 
interests  save  those  of  agriculture.  The  line  of  the  Jack- 
son, Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad  crosses  the  southeast 
corner  of  Victor,  but  has  no  station  therein. 

THE    PIONEERS    OF    THE    TOWNSHIP    AND    ITS 
SETTLEMENT. 

Until  the  summer  of  1836  the  township  now  called 
Victor  contained  no  white  settlers.  At  that  time  one 
Welcome  J.  Partelo  effected  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  31  the  pioneer  clearing.  Although  he  did  not. 
discover  his  error  until  some  years  afterwards,  he  settled 
upon  land  belonging  to  other  parties,  but  adjoining  his 
own.  Unconscious  of  his  mistake  he  worked  and  im- 
proved that  place,  set  out  an  orchard,  and  vei'y  materially 
enhanced  its  value,  when  there  came  to  him  the  knowledge 
one  day  that  he  had  been  improving  another  man's  land 
while  his  own  had  all  that  time  been  suffered  to  lie  ne- 
glected. Partelo  was  of  course  chagrined  and  much  dis- 
gusted when  the  revelation  fell  upon  him,  but  as  he  was 
foi-tunately  permitted  to  purchase  the  property  at  the  price 

*  By  David  Schwartz. 


of  unimproved  land,  he  escaped  from  the  dilemma  with 
considerable  satisfaction,  and  continued  to  make  his  home 
where  he  had  begun.  Mr.  Partelo  was  chosen  the  first 
supervisor  of  the  township  of  De  Witt  in  1836,  and  occu- 
pied for  some  time  a  prominent  place  as  a  county  official. 

Victor's  second  settler  was  Robert  G.  McKee,  now  and 
since  1860  a  resident  of  Laingsburg,  in  Sciota.  Mr.  McKee 
located  land  in  1836  upon  sections  25,  35,  and  36,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1837  began  to  make  an  improvement  thereon. 
He  was  then  a  bachelor,  and  devoted  himself  chiefly  to  the 
business  of  surveying,  but  engaging  a  family  to  live  on  his 
place  and  clear  it  up,  he  "  made  a  commencement"  just  as 
if  he  had  himself  taken  literally  hold  of  tlie  pioneer  busi- 
ness. Indeed,  he  did  do  considerable  work  in  that  direc- 
tion, although,  as  before  remarked,  he  was  dashing  through 
the  country  much  of  his  time  with  his  surveying-party. 
Mr.  McKee's  mode  of  life  brought  him  naturally  into  familiar 
contact  with  the  roving  Indians  of  that  section,  and  he 
became  in  time  their  well-known  and  esteemed  patron. 

The  most  important  of  the  early  settlements  in  the  town- 
ship were  made,  however,  in  June,  1837,  when  there  came 
to  Victor  a  company  of  three  families,  whose  respective 
heads  were  William  Swarthout,  John  Parker,  and  Jesse 
Jamison,  of  whom  the  last  named,  still  living  in  the  town, 
is  the  only  surviving  member.  William  Swarthout,  who 
was  a  man  of  means,  had  instructed  his  brother-in-law, 
Van  Vleet,  of  Aon  Arbor,  to  locate  for  him  six  eighty- 
acre  lots  in  Victor,  his  purpose  being  to  start  a  large  farm, 
so  that  he  might  eventually  apportion  it  to  his  sons,  of 
whom  he  had  six.  Instead  of  locating  the  lots  together, 
Van  Vleet  scattered  them  east,  west,  and  north,  much  to 
Swarthout's  aggravation,  but  the  mischief  being  done  he 
made  the  best  of  it.  The  land  location  was  made  in  1836 
and  the  settlement  in  1837,  Swarthout's  selection  being 
made  in  section  23. 

The  three  families  journeyed  together  from  Seneca  Co., 
N.  Y.,  to  Detroit,  and  there  leaving  the  women  and  chil- 
dren, William  Swarthout,  Jesse  Jamison,  John  Parker,  and 
Swarthout's  two  sons,  Isaac  V.  and  Layton,  pushed  on 
westward  for  Swarthout's  land  in  Victor.  In  short  order 
they  put  up  a  shanty,  and  then  William  Swarthout  returning 
to  Detroit  for  their  families,  brought  them  out  without  much 
delay,  and  into  the  completed  shanty  all  hands  bunked  until  a 
house  was  built  for  Parker  on  section  14.  Then  Jamison 
was  provided  with  a  habitation  on  section  22,  and  .so  all  had 
in  due  season  roofs  over  their  separate  heads.  Jamison, 
the  oldest  living  settler  now  in  the  town,  abides  still  on  the 
spot  where  he  put  up  his  rude  cabin.  Parker's  widow 
lives  on  the  old  Parker  place.  Swarthout  tarried  in  Victor 
only  two  years,  when  he  removed  to  Ovid  and  there  died. 

Jamison,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  set  up  a  smithy  in 
pretty  quick  order,  and  although  he  was  not  equipped  to 
do  much  skillful  work,  his  presence  and  business  becoming 
straightway  known  for  miles  around,  he  was  abundantly 
besieged  by  settlers  needing  his  services,  and  in  many  cases 
these  needy  ones  came  many  miles  to  him  for  plow-points 
or  such  work  as  he  could  furnish.  Soon  afterwards  Moses 
Smith  settling  upon  section  2,  opened  a  smithy  there,  and 
not  long  afterwards  John  Runciman  started  a  similar  shop 
near  Round  Lake,  on  the  Grand  River  road,  but  to  Jami- 


510 


HISTORY   OF   CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


son   belongs  the   distinction   of  "pioneer   blacksmith  of 
Victor." 

Returning  to  mention  of  Welcome  J.  Partelo,  it  is  of 
interest  to  mention  that  he  raised  the'pioneer  crop  of  wheat 
in  the  town  and  set  out  the  first  orchard,  and  that  De  Witt 
C.  Partelo,  his  son,  born  in  1837,  was  the  first  born  in 
Victor.  William  Swarthout,  supposed  generally  to  have 
been  the  first,  was  the  second,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
August,  1838. 

The  first  death  in  the  town  was  that  of  the  mother  of 
John  Parker.  She  died  in  the  summer  of  1839,  and  was 
buried  upon  John  Parker's  farm.  D.  S.  Cotes  dug  the 
grave,  and  D.  H.  Blood  delivered  a  prayer  as  the  only 
funeral  service,  a  minister  being  not  readily  obtainable. 

Nothing  was  done  towards  procuring  a  public  burial- 
ground  until  the  town-meeting  of  April  1,  1844,  when  the 
town  board  was  authorized  to  purchase  three  suitable  sites 
for  burying-grounds ;  and  to  pay  for  the  land  and  breaking 
and  fencing  it  fifty  dollars  were  appropriated,  eight  dollars 
being  also  voted  to  build  a  pound  on  ground  bought  of 
Joseph  Hollister.  From  the  town  records  it  appears  that 
William  Brunson  and  Joseph  Hollister  each  received  five 
dollars  for  half  an  acre  of  land  to  be  used  as  a  cemetery. 
Of  these  the  one  now  on  section  13  was  laid  out  first. 

In  February,  1839,  D.  H.  Blood,  a  New  Yorker,  entered 
the  town  with  his  family — having  already  located  land  on 
section  13 — and  took  possession  temporarily  of  a  log  house 
body  put  up  in  the  fall  of  1838  on  section  10  by  William 
W.  and  James  Upton,  who,  at  the  time  mentioned,  had 
broken  four  acres  on  the  place,  put  it  into  wheat,  and  re- 
turned to  the  East.  Later  on  William  W.  came  back  to 
Victor,  and  resided  in  the  township  many  years.  He  became 
subsequently  an  occupant  of  the  supreme  bench  of  Oregon, 
and  now  holds  an  important  place  in  the  treasury  depart- 
ment at  Washington. 

When  Blood  made  his  settlement  there  were  already  in 
the  town  W.  J.  Partelo,  Jesse  Jamison,  R.  G.  McKee, 
Joseph  Simpson,  John  Parker,  Hugh  Haggerty,  William 
Swarthout,  and  Thomas  Cross.  When  Blood  came  in 
there  was  no  grist-mill  available  short  of  Shiawasseetown, 
and  during  the  first  year  of  his  stay  he  had  to  go  to  Capt. 
-  Scott's,  of  De  Witt,  to  buy  a  grist,  consuming  a  day  to  do 
it  in,  and  after  that  using  two  days  more  to  get  his  grist  to 
mill  and  his  flour  home. 

Joseph  Simpson,  alluded  to  above,  came  with  his  family 
to  Victor  in  1838,  to  work  some  land  on  section  14  be- 
longing to  his  brother-in-law,  D.  S.  Cotes,  who  came  also 
with  him,  but  returned  eastward  after  lending  Siitpson  a 
hand  in  clearing  about  three  acres.  Cotes  came  back  in 
1841  for  a  permanent  stay,  and  remained  a  resident  of  Victor 
until  1866,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Ovid 
township,  to  land  first  settled  by  one  Zewick.  Cotes  found 
in  1841  that  Victor  had  quite  a  bevy  of  settlers,  including 
Thomas  Cross,  Hugh  Haggerty,  John  Parker,  Jesse  Jami- 
son, Ainsworth  Reed,  W.  J.  Partelo,  R.  G.  McKee,  John 
Collister,  Joseph  Hollister,  James  and  Wentworth  Calkins, 
Joseph  Simpson,  Daniel  Blood,  and  Cyrus  Robinson,  who 
was  on  section  6,  where  Ephraim  Trumbull  had  previously 
made  a  settlement.  Samuel  Treat  boarded  with  Cotes  a 
year,  and  then  occupied  a  place  on  tlie  southwest. 


About  that  time  John  Runciman,  already  spoken  of, 
pitched  his  tent  in  section  28,  near  Round  Lake,  on  the 
Grand  River  road,  and  opened  business  as  a  blacksmith. 
A  brief  experience  in  that  field  satisfied  him  that  the  busi- 
ness was  neither  profitable,  pleasant,  nor  suited  to  his  taste, 
and  in  disgust  he  gave  up  the  venture  and  returned  to 
New  York.    There  he  sold  jhe  Victor  place  to  John  Miller, 
who  came  out  in  1844  expecting  to  find  a  clearing  of  fifteen 
acres  on  his  new  purchase,  but  found  instead  that  some  one 
had  turned  simply  a  couple  of  furrows,  and  as  to  clearing 
there  was  not  sufficient  to  speak  of.     When  Miller  reached 
the  spot  with  his  family  the  old  log  house  body  built  by 
Runciman  was  uninhabitable,  and  pending  its  restoration 
Miller  moved  into  the  house  of  Walter  Laing,  then  owning 
a  place  one  mile  east,  but  just  at  that  time  working  a  farm 
in  Bath  for  the  widow  Cushman.    Walter  Laing  was  a  son 
of  Dr.  Peter  Laing,  of  Laingsburg,  and  kept  on  the  Grand 
River  road  in  section  27  a  house  of  public  entertainment, 
where  he  dispensed  whisky  as  the  chief  stock  in  trade. 
A  house  of  public  entertainment  was  also  kept  by  Oliver  B. 
Westcott  in  1845.     Previous  to  that  time  he  kept  tavern 
at    Laingsburg.      Miller's    nearest   neighbors   were  Jesse 
Jamison,  two  and  a  half  miles  northeast,  and  R.  G.  McKee, 
three   miles   east.     There  were  at  that  time   no  lucifer 
matches,  and  on  two  or  three  occasions  Miller  had  made 
trips  to  Jamison's  and  McKee's  in  search  of  firebrands  to 
restore  his  own  expired  fire.     The  business  of  walking  five 
or  six  miles  every  time  his  fire  went  out,  and  made  the  job 
necessary,  set  young  John  contemplating  the  possibility  of 
obtaining  fire  by  an  easier  method.    Contemplation  merged 
into  determination  soon  afterwards  when  one  Sunday  morn- 
ing the  family  fire  was  out  and  a  trip  to  McKee's  stared 
him  in  the  face.     Ransacking  the  cabin  he  stumbled  upon 
a  piece  of  flint,  and  lo  !  in  a  trice  he  had  a  fire,  nor  was  he 
afterward  called  to  repeat  his  former  tiresome  experiences. 
Robert  McKee  was  the  only  man  in  the  neighborhood  who 
had  a  horse-team,  and  to  him  the  people  frequently  turned 
for  a  lift  when  they  wanted  milling  done.     It  was  nothing 
uncommon  for  a  settler  to  use  four  days  in  going  to  Shia- 
wassee to  mill  with  ox-teams,  and  when  the  ground  was 
frozen  hard  their  oxen  were  of  course  valueless  as  motive- 
power.    On  such  occasions  McKee  and  his  horse-team  came 
in  the  guise  of  timely  blessings. 

Mr.  Miller  recalls  a  bear-hunting  incident  in  which  he, 
McKee,  and  an  Indian  took  part.  They  treed  the  bear, 
cut  the  tree  down,  and  then,  as  his  bearship  was  about  to 
make  ofi'.  Miller  mounted  him.  Bruin  struggled  and  en- 
deavored to  lunch  on  his  captor,  who  was,  however,  deter- 
mined to  stick  to  him  until  assisted  by  his  companions,  but 
McKee,  enjoying  the  fun  too  much  to  stop,  yelled,  "  Hang 
to  him.  Miller,  or  he'll  kill  you!"  Miller  fretted  and 
fumed  and  struggled  with  the  bear  until  his  apparent  ex- 
haustion warned  McKee  to  render  assistance.  With  the 
aid  of  the  others  McKee  got  the  bear  down  and  tied,  and 
took  him  up  on  his  horse,  the  intention  all  along  having 
been  to  convey  the  beast  home  alive.  McKee  had  not  gone 
far  with  bis  prize  before  the  prize  managed  to  offer  a  show 
of  fight,  and  that  time  it  was  the  gallant  McKee  who  was 
frightened.  The  more  frightened  he  got  and  the  more  he 
called  to  Miller  and  the  Indian  to  help  him  the  more  Mil- 


VICTOK  TOWNSHIP. 


511 


ler  cried  out,  "  Stick  to  him,  Mac,  or  he'll  kill  you  1" 
Presently  the  situation  began  to  look  serious,  and  then,  to 
Mao's  great  relief,  his  comrades  mastered  the  bear  and  got 
the  alarmed  McKee  out  of  his  trouble. 

When  the  Millers  landed  in  the  town  they  were  very 
poor  in  provisions,  and  what  few  they  did  have  were  soon 
consumed.  New  Year's  Day  was  at  hand,  and  although 
they  were  bound  to  have  a  feast  they  hadn't  a  thing  save  a 
little  corn  upon  which  to  found  it.  Foraging  about  the 
country,  John  managed  to  borrow  a  peck  of  potatoes, 
which,  although  not  much  by  way  of  a  dinner,  furnished  at 
least  a  start  towards  one.  There  was  no  bread  in  the  house, 
and  a  thirty-mile  journey  to  mill  wasn't  to  be  thought  of. 
The  corn  was,  however,  at  hand,  and  that  accordingly 
pounded  was  soon  resolved  into  johnny-cake.  Johnny-cake 
and  potatoes  comprised,  however,  the  sum  total  of  the  com- 
ponent parts  of  the  proposed  New  Year  banquet,  and  as 
philosophy  was  just  then  one  of  the  cardinal  virtues  and 
high  in  favor,  they  sat  down  gladly  to  a  feast  of  potatoes 
and  johnny-cake,  and  thanked  heaven,  no  doubt,  that  their 
condition  was  no  worse.  Apropos  of  a  scarcity  of  pro- 
visions, the  year  1843,  following  upon  what  is  still  keenly 
remembered  as  "  the  hard  winter,"  was  an  especially  hard 
year  for  many  pioneers.  Many  too  poor  to  buy  adequate 
supplies  of  food  subsisted  for  days  at  a  time  upon  berries 
and  milk,  while  those  who  were  considered  exceedingly  for- 
tunate struggled  along  on  a  diet  of  potatoes  and  salt.  D. 
S.  Cotes  says  he  recollects  a  time  when,  there  being  a  relig- 
ious gathering  at  his  house  and  no  flour  in  the  larder,  he 
set  off  on  a  cruise  among  the  neighbors  in  search  of  a  loan, 
and  that  he  walked  seven  miles  before  he  found  a  house- 
hold supplied  with  sufficient  flour  to  spare  enough  for  a 
baking. 

During  the  period  between  1836  and  1839,  Ainsworth 
Keed  ^traveled  through  Clinton,  Shiawassee,  and  other 
Michigan  counties  selling  goods,  and  made  not  only  the 
acquaintance  of  about  every  pioneer  on  his  beat,  but  pur- 
sued a  profitable  industry.  In  1839  he  concluded  he  had 
had  enough  of  wandering,  and  he  therefore  bought  some 
land  on  section  13  in  Victor,  upon  which  he  at  once  set- 
tled. In  1858  he  bought  on  sections  21  and  22  a  tract  of 
land 'measuring  one  mile  square,  and  to  its  improvement  he 
addressed  himself  so  earnestly  that  although  he  paid  but 
three  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty  dollars  for  the  land 
in  1858,  he  was  offered  thirteen  thousand  dollars  for  it  in 
1870.  Upon  that  tract  he  cultivated  two  acres  of  cran- 
berries, and  from  the  yield  in  twelve  years  he  realized  up- 
wards of  five  thousand  dollars.  There  was  not  a  stick  cut 
upon  his  mile  square  in  1858,  and  when  he  built  his  house 
that  year  he  had  to  go  to  Flint  to  get  seasoned  lumbei; 
for  it. 

Among  other  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Victor  not  heretofore 
mentioned  were  William  Kennedy  and  John  Collister,  who 
came  in  1838,  and  Joseph  Hollister,  who  became  a  settler 
in  1841.  Thomas  Jamison,  brother  to  Jesse,  made  his 
home  in  Victor  in  1843,  and  died  in  1861.  His  widow 
lives  now  in  Laingsburg.  Dr.  Isaac  T.  Hollister,  brother 
of  Joseph,  visited  Victor  in  1847,  and  there  being  then  no 
physician  in  the  town,  he  determined  to  settle  there  and 


engage  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  For  seventeen  years 
he  pursued  his  professional  duties  in  Victor  and  the  adjacent 
country,  taking  in  a  large  circuit  of  territory  and  bending 
his  efforts  in  an  energetic  way  to  the  flood  of  demands 
which  beset  him  from  far  and  near.  Doctors  were  rather 
rare  in  Michigan  when  he  entered  the  field  in  Victor,  and" 
as  he  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  town,  he  was  a 
privilege  and  a  luxury  to  the  community,  as  well  as  almost 
constantly  in  demand.  He  was  in  almost  constant  practice 
to  1864,  when  he  removed  to  Laingsburg,  where  he  now 
lives  in  retirement.  Dr.  Aaron  McKee  came  to  Victor 
about  1860,  and  practiced  in  the  town  until  his  death. 
Victor's  doctors  have  been,  as  noted,  but  the  two  named, — 
Hollister  and  McKee.  As  to  the  settlers  who  came  to  Vic- 
tor after  the  town  began  to  be  pretty  well  populated,  a  gen- 
eral allusion  embraces  the  names  of  J.  Y.  Perkins,  C.  R. 
McKee,  Warren  Ives,  Loyal  Starr,  Erastus  Sprague,  R.  C. 
Grothy,  John  Hibbard,  John  Beach,  R.  G.  Arthur,  J.  D. 
Sleight,  W.  F.  Potter,  H.  Cuddeback,  and  W.  Montague. 

THE   INDIAN  CHIEF   CHIPPEWA. 

Upon  the  farm  of  Hugh  Swarthout  in  Victor  the  cu- 
riously inclined  may  observe  the  grave  of  an  Indian  chief, 
known  as  Chippewa,  who  was  at  his  death  at  the  head  of 
the  roving  savages  who  infested  the  townships  of  Sciota 
and  Victor  much  of  the  time  during  the  pioneer  era. 
Chippewa  died  of  the  smallpox,  which  in  1838  raged 
among  the  Indians  thereabout  as  an  epidemic.  It  is  said 
that  Chippewa,  maintaining  that  he  had  discovered  a  new 
cure  for  the  disorder,  proceeded  while  severely  ill  to  put 
his  remedial  measure  into  effect  by  leaping  into  a  cask  of 
cold  water.  Unfortunately  for  his  theory,  his  remedy  simply, 
hastened  his  death,  for  almost  directly  after  applying  it  he 
expired.  His  burial-place  is  regarded  with  considerable  re- 
spect, and  there  has  latterly  been  talk  of  inclosing  it  within 
a  paling,  so  that  the  spot  may  be  not  only  preserved  from  in- 
trusion  but  more  conspicuously  marked  as  an  object  of  in- 
terest. Chippewa's  son,  Jackson,  died  also  of  the  smallpox 
during  the  epidemic  of  1838,  and  was  buried  on  Daniel  H. 
Blood's  farm,  where  his  bones  still  repose. 

LISTS  OF   EAKLY  TAX-PAYERS   AND  VOTERS. 

The  resident  tax-payers  of  town  6  north,  in  range  1 
west  (now  Victor),  in  1839  were  the  following-named 
persons : 

Acres. 

Thomas  M.  Cross,  section  2 147 

Hugh  Haggerty,  section  11 160 

K.  J.  McKee,  sections  25,26,  35,  36 775 

John  Collister,  sections  35,  36 160 

C.  Davis,  section  27 °" 

E.  Finch,  section  36 160 

Jesse  Jamison,  section  22 80 

John  Parker,  section  14 80 

W.'j.  Partelo,  section  31 ^4» 

Jioseph  Simpson,  sections  13,  14 100 

The  jurors  of  1846  were  as  follows  : 

(??-an(f.— William  Brunson,   Henry  Post,  Hugh  Hag- 
gerty, D.  H.  Blood,  Ainsworth  Reed,  John  Parker. 
"  Petit.— ^-Axaxid  Millard,  D.  S.  Cotes,  Thomas  M.  Cross, 
John  Collister,  Thomas  Jamison,  Henry  Buell. 

At  the  elections  of  1844  and  1846  the  voters  were  as 
below  named : 


512 


HISTOKY  OP  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Thomas  M.  Cross. 
W.  Calkins. 
Hugh  Haggerty. 
Moses  Smith. 
•Henry  Buell. 
Jesse  Jamison. 
Ransley  Sutliff. 
William  Letts. 
Samuel  Millard. 
Jos.  Hollister. 
David  Groom. 
How  Covert. 
P.  B.  Aldrich. 
Alonzo  Groom. 
Phineas  Partelo. 
John  Miller. 
William  BrunsoD. 
James  Calkins. 
Keuben  Rogers. 
J.  H.  Adams. 


Henry  Buell. 
Henry  Post. 
E.  G.  McKee. 
Willard  Bichards. 
John  Parker. 
Thomas  Jamison. 
Keuben  Rogers. 
Jesse  Jamison. 
Jacob  Miller. 
Martin  Heathington. 
S.  A.  Mitchell. 
Joseph  Hollister. 
Christopher  Heathington. 


1844. 

David  B.  Cranson. 
Isaac  Parks. , 
S.  A.  Mitchell. 
Joseph  Simpson. 
David  S.  Cotes. 
Ainsworth  Reed. 
Samuel  Treat. 
Philo  Finch. 
Joseph  Hildreth. 
Henry  Post. 
R.  G.  McKee. 
John  Parker. 
John  Collister. 
John  Groom. 
W.  J.  Partelo. 
W.  W.  Upton. 
D.  H.  Blood. 
W.  Laing. 
Thomas  Jamison. 


1846. 


John  Groom. 
Ainsworth  Reed. 
Samuel  Millard. 
P.  B.  Aldrich. 
Samuel  Calkins. 
Wentworth  Calkins. 
D.  H.  Blood. 
Hugh  Haggerty. 
Samuel  Treat. 
John  Collister. 
W.  J.  Partelo. 
David  S.  Cotes. 
Stephen  Duzenberry. 


TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 
Towns  5  and  6  north,  in  range  1  west,  now  known  as 
Victor  and  Bath,  were  until  March  9,  1843,  joined  under 
the  township  name  of  Ossowa.  Legislative  act,  approved 
on  the  date  mentioned,  organized  town  6  as  Victor  town- 
ship, and  provided  that  the  first  town-meeting  should  be 
held  at  "  the  school-house  near  Daniel  Blood's."  The  town 
name  was  bestowed  in  accordance  with  a  suggestion  from 
William  W.  Upton  and  D.  H.  Blood,  who  came  to  Mich- 
igan from  Victor  in  New  York  State. 

The  first  election  for  township  officials  was  held  April 
15,  1843,  Jesse  Jamison,  D.  H.  Blood,  and  William 
W.  Upton  being  inspectors  of  election.  The  voters  were 
twenty-six  in  number,  as  follows:  William  Letts,  Isaac 
Parks,  Aaron  Groom,  P.  P.  Peck,  Robert  Finch,  John 
Groom,  Jr.,  Thomas  M.  Cross,  Joseph  Simpson,  Reuben 
Rogers,  W.  Calkins,  James  Calkins,  John  Groom,  W.  J. 
Partelo,  David  B.  Cranson,  Samuel  Millard,  How  Covert, 
David  S.  Cotes,  John  Parker,  Daniel  H.  Blood,  David 
Groom,  Ainsworth  Reed,  Henry  Buell,  John  Collister,  W. 
P.  Partelo,  Jesse  Jamison,  Hugh  Haggerty. 

A  caucus  was  held  at  "J.  M.  Blood's  old  place,"  and 
the  candidates  then  selected  were  subsequently  elected  with- 


out opposition,  since  there  was  but  one  ticket  in  the  field. 
The  officers  elected  were :  Supervisor,  Samuel  Treat ;  Clerk 
Henry  Buell;  Treasurer,  Ainsworth  Reed;  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  John  Collister,  Hugh  Haggerty,  W.  J.  Par- 
telo, John  Groom  ;  Highway  Commissioners,  William  Letts, 
Thomas  M.  Cross,  John  Parker;  Constables,  David  Cran- 
son, P.  P.  Peck,  Aaron  Groom,  W.  P.  Partelo;  Poor- 
masters,  Hugh  Haggerty,  William  W.  Upton;  School 
Inspectors,  John  Groom,  Hugh  Haggerty,  William  W. 
Upton  ;  Pathmasters,  How  Covert  in  district  No.  8,  David 
Cranson  in  No.  13,  James  Calkins  in  No.  7,  David  S.  Cotes 
in  No.  12,  Jesse  Jamison  in  No.  5,  W.  J.  Partelo  in  No. 
4,  John  Collister  in  No.  6. 

Seventy-five  dollars  was  voted  for  a  town  library;  one 
dollar  each  on  scholars  between  the  ages  of  four  and  ei"iit- 
een  was  ordered  to  be  raised,  and  two  hundred  dollars  were 
voted  for  contingent  expenses. 

LIST  OP   TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 
Beginning  with  1844  and  closing  with  1880,  the  annual 
town  elections  in  Victor  have  designated  as  supervisors 
clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace  the  following 
persons : 

SUPEKVISORS. 


1844.  S.  Treat. 

1869.  C.  E.  Hollister. 

1845-48.  R.  G.  MeKee. 

1870.  R.  H.  Hollister. 

1849-50.  T.  Jamison. 

1871.  A.  Reed. 

1851.  R.  G.  MoKee. 

1872.  R.  H.  Hollister. 

1852-56.  T.  Jamison. 

1873-76.  S.  E.  Jones. 

1857.  William  Brunson. 

1876-77.  J.  C.  Brunson. 

1858-63.  I.  V.  Swarthout. 

1878.  R.  Richmond. 

1864-65.  J.  W.  Beckwith. 

1879.  J.  C.  Brunson. 

1866-68.  I.  V.  Swarthout. 

1880.  I.  V.  Swarthout. 

CLERKS. 

1844.  W.  W.  Upton. 

1864.  C.  E.  Hollister. 

1845.  J.  H.  Adams. 

1865.  I.  V.  Swarthout. 

1846.  S.  Treat. 

1866-67.  A.  Reed. 

1847.  T.Jamison. 

1868.  H,  F.  Alderton. 

1848.  J.  M.  Blood. 

1869.  A.  Reed. 

1849.  I.  T.  Hollister. 

1870.  C.  E.  Hollister. 

1850.  A.  Reed. 

1871-72.  P.  W.  Upton. 

1851.  D.  H.  Blood. 

]873.  L.  Reed. 

1852.  H.  Haggerty. 

1874.  H.  Sprague. 

1853-54.  I.  T.Hollister. 

1875.  L.  Reed. 

1855-61.  T.  L.  Swarthout. 

1876-77.  R.  Richmond. 

1862.  A.  Reed. 

1878-79.  C.  B.  Giffels. 

1863.  J.  Berry. 

1880.  H.  P.  Barker. 

TREASURERS. 

1844-46.  A.  Reed. 

1868.  J.  T.  Perkins. 

1847-48.  N.  Bixby. 

1869-70.  S.  B.  Upton. 

1849.  P.  B.  Aldrich. 

1871-72.  P.  Taylor. 

1850.  J.  Jamison. 

1873.  L.  Starr. 

1851-61.  A.  Reed. 

1874.  A.  Reed. 

1862-63.  T.  L.  Swarthout. 

1875.  J.  D.  Sleight. 

1864-65.  J.  Upton. 

1876-77.  W.  F.  Sleight. 

1866.  J.  Gibbard. 

1878-79.  William  S.  Parker 

1867.  J.  Upton. 

1880.  James  Upton. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

1844.  H.  Haggerty.  igji.  William  Brunson. 

1845.  J.  Collister.  ,853.  a.  Post. 

1846.  T.  Jamison.  1853,  a.  McKee. 

1847.  William  Brunson.  1854.  i.  t.  Hollister. 

1848.  H.  Haggerty.  iggj,  g.  Haggerty. 

1856.  S.  M6on. 


1849.  J.  Collister. 


1850.  P.  B.  Aldrich. 


1857.  C.  R.  McKee. 


0 


s 


13 

U 
0 

o 

Q 


VICTOR  TOWNSHIP. 


513 


1858.  I, 

1859.  J. 

1860.  W, 

1861.  C. 

1862.  I. 
186.r  D 

1864.  I. 

1865.  G. 

1866.  E. 

1867.  I, 

1868.  E. 

1869.  J. 


T.  HoUister. 
0.  Brnnson. 
Balleotine. 
R.  MoKee. 
T.  HoUister. 
.  P.  Miner. 
V.  Swarthout. 
C.  Pox. 
Parker. 
T.  HoUister.. 
Van  Velsor. 
C.  BruDson. 


1870.  I. 

1871.  J. 

1872.  D 

1873.  J. 

1874.  I. 

1875.  J. 

1876.  J. 

1877.  J. 

1878.  I. 

1879.  J. 

1880.  G. 


T.  HoUister. 
W.  Beekwith. 
.  J.  HiU. 
C.  BrunsoD. 
T.  HoUister. 
W.  Beekwith. 
H.  Green. 
0.  Brunson. 
T.  HoUister. 
W.  Beekwith. 
A.  KeUer. 


POST  OFFICES. 

In  the  winter  of  1846,  Henry  Post  prepared  and  circu- 
lated a  petition  asking  the  general  government  to  establish 
a  mail-route  between  Owosso  and  Ionia  via  the  State  road, 
and  the  creation  of  a  post-oflfice  on  that  road  in  Victor, 
the  people  of  the  town  having  been  compelled  previously 
to  go  to  Laingsburg  for  their  mail.  July  1, 1847,  the  mail- 
route  was  opened  and  Victor  post-office  established,  with 
Hugh  Haggerty  as  postmaster.  At  a  public  meeting  pre- 
vious to  that  it  was  decided  to  urge  Henry  Buell  for  post- 
master, but,  his  politics  did  not  suit  at  Washington  and  the 
public  request  was  ignored. 

The  mail-service  gave  Victor  a  weekly  mail  which  was 
never  great  enough  to  worry  the  brain  of  the  postmaster, 
although  small  enough  to  put  to  rout  any  attempt  at  system 
in  the  internal  arrangement  of  the  office.  Apropos  of  that 
declaration,  Henry  Post  says  that  going  one  day  to  the 
office  for  a  letter  that  Mr.  Haggerty  had  informed  him  was 
awaiting  his  demand,  he  found  only  Mrs.  Haggerty  at 
home.  Besponding  to  his  request,  she  began  to  hunt  over 
the  log  cabin  for  the  desired  letter,  and  failing  to  find  it 
either  on  the  floor,  behind  the  stove,  or  on  the  cupboard, 
impatiently  exclaimed,  "  I  should  think  Haggerty  would 
keep  the  mail  where  it  could  be  found  !"  Post  emphatically 
agreed  with  her,:  and  then  joining  her  in  a  renewal  of  the 
search,  finally  unearthed  the  letter  and  bore  it  ayray  in 
triumph. 

After  Henry  Buell  the  office  passed  in  regular  succession 
to  Henry  Post,  J.  C.  Brunson,  Ira  Richards,  Henry  Post 
(second  term),  Thomas  Beach,  Jesse  Woodhams,  and  J.  C. 
Brunson' (second  term).  Mr.  Brunson,  the  present  incum- 
bent, has  held  the  office  continuously  since  1861.  Mail  is 
received  twice  a  week  over  the  route  from  Shepardsville  to 

Geary. 

GEARY  POST-OFFICE 

was  established  in  1 857,  through  the  efforts  of  John  Miller, 

who  was  appointed  postmaster.     At  a  town  discussion  as 

to  a  name  for  the  office,  an  admirer  of  Grovernor  fieary,  of 

Kansas,  suggested  Geary,  and  Geary  it  was  called.     Jesse 

Jamison  succeeded  Miller,  and  in  1861  Ainsworth  Reed 

receiving  the  appointment  has  held  it  ever  since. 

HIGHWAYS. 
The  Grand  River  road  between  Pontiac  and  Grand  Rap- 
ids was  the  first  highway  that  Victor  had,  and  existed  for 
several  years  before  the  town  was  organized.  It  was  a 
thoroughfare  of  considerable  travel  as  early  as  1837,  and 
maintains  now  in  the  town  about  its  original  course, — almost 
a  direct  line  between  east  and  west  thro.ugh  sections  25, 
26,  27,  28,  29,  and  30. 
65 


Upon  and  near  the  State  road  traversing  the  northern 
portion  of  the  town  between  east  and  west  there  were  in 
1844  a  considerable  number  of  settlers.  Indeed,  upon  that 
thoroughfare  some  of  the  earliest  comers  into  the  town 
made  their  homes. 

When  Henry  Post  made  his  commencement  upon  that 
highway  in  section  10  in  1844,— having  come  to  Michigan 
as  early  as  1831, — he  found  living  thereon  William  W. 
Upton,  Hugh  Haggerty,  Henry  Adams,  David  an^  John 
Groom,  Reuben  Rogers,  Henry  Buell,  Samuel  Millard,  and 
Jesse  and  Thomas  Woodham.  William  Brunson  was  on 
section  9,  and  the  next  season  R.  SutlifiF  and  J.  C.  Brun- 
son settled, — the  latter  upon  the  place  earlier  occupied  by 
Henry  Buell.  In  1856,  Elias  Upton,  with  his  sons  James, 
Josiah,  and  H.  L ,  settled  upon  the  old  William  Upton 
place,  and  about  then  came  J.  W.  Beekwith  and  Jacob 
Gibbard, — the  latter  to  a  place  on  section  3  occupied  in 
1866  by  Henry  Mulder. 

While  town  6  was  yet  a  portion  of  Owosso  roads  were 
laid  out  therein  as  follows  : 

Nov.  6,  1839. — "  Beginning  at  the  quarter  post  on 
the  west  side  of  section  25,  and  running  north  on  the 
section-line  seven  chains ;  thence  north  forty  degrees  west 
six  chains  on  said  west  line  of  section  25 ;  thence  north 
on  the  section-line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  25 ; 
thence  north  on  the  west  line  of  section  24  for  twenty- 
five  chains ;  thence  north  on  section-lines  to  the  north 
line  of  the  town." 

Nov.  20, 1839. — Beginning  at  the  corners  of  sections  35 
and  36  on  the  south  town  line ;  thence  north  sixty-seven 
chains,  seventy  links ;  thence  north  to  a  stake  on  the  section- 
line  between  sections  25  and  26 ;  thence  north  to  the 
quarter  post  between  the  last  numbered  sections.  Begin- 
ning at  the  quarter  post  on  the  west  line  of  section  11 ; 
thence  east  forty  chains ;  thence  south  and  east  to  the 
section-line. 

Dec.  28,  1839. — Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  6  in  Ossowa  and  the  southeast  corner  of  section  36 
in  Bingham,  and  running  thence  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  said  section  6. 

Jan.  8,  1840. — Beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
section  2,  and  running  thence  on  the  section  line  "  to  a 
point  on  the  State  road  where  said  road  is  intersected  by 
a  road  leading  from  William  Swarthout's." 

Nov.  21,  1840. — Beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
town  6,  and  running  south  on  the  town-line  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  section  6.  Beginning  at  the  quarter  post 
between  sections  23  and  24,  and  running  thence  west  and 
south  "  to  a  stake  in  the  Round  Lake  road."  Beginning 
at  a  point  in  the  State  road  four  and  a  half  chains  south 
of  the  corners  of  sections  4,  5,  8,  and  9,  and  running 
thence  north  on  the  section-line  to  the  corners  of  sections 

5  and  6. 

March  3  1841. — Beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  35,  and  running  thence  to  a  stake  on  the  section- 
line  between  sections  25  and  26. 

March  24,  1842.— "  Beginning  eighteen  and  a  half 
chains  west  of  the  twenty-seventh  mile  post  in  the  State 
road  leading  from  the  village  of  Byron  to  the  village  of 
Lyons ;  thence  west  forty-six  and  seventy-five  hundredths 


514 


HISTOKY  OP  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


chains ;  thence  north  to  an  angle-post  in  said  State  road." 
Beginning  at  a  stake  three  and  sixty-one  hundredths  chains 
north  of  the  quarter  post  on  the  west  side  of  section  36, 
and  thence  north- fourteen  and  a  half  chains  ;  thence  north 
and  east  to  a  bridge  over  the  Looking-Glass  Eiver.  Be- 
ginning at  a  point  sixty-one  and  thirty-two  hundredths 
chains  north  of  the  southeast  corner  of  section  31 ;  thence 
ndrth  and  east  to  the  principal  meridian. 

Dec.  27,  1844. — Beginning  at  the  centre  of  the  State 
road  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  9,  and  thence  run- 
ning south  and  west  to  the  Grand  River  road. 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY. 

In  the  fall  of  1837  the  disciples  of  Methodism  sought 
the  infant  settlement  in  Victor  near  William  Swarthout's, 
and  at  that  period,  in  Mr.  Swarthout's  house,  Bennett  and 
Jackson,  Methocfct  Episcopal  missionaries,  preached  the 
first  sermon  heard  in  the  town.  They  came  to  the  town 
about  once  a  month  after  that,  and  held  public  services 
wherever  an  available  place  could  be  found.  In  1839  they 
were  succeeded  in  the  work  by  Rev.  Mr.  Blowers,  who  in 
that  year  organized  the  Blood  Methodist  Episcopal  class  at 
Mr.  D.  H.  Blood's  then  residence,  a  log  cabin  owned  by 
W.  W.  Upton.  The  organizing  members  numbered  four  : 
D.  H.  Blood,  Susan  Blood,  Lydia  A.  Blood,  and  Ada  Hag- 
gerty,  D.  H.  Blood  being  class-leader.  When  Mr.  Blood 
moved  to  the  present  "  Blood  neighborhood,"  the  location 
of  the  class  was  also  changed,  and  in  his  house  services 
were  held  about  once  in  two  weeks  until  the  completion  of 
the  school-house.  The  latter  place  served  as  a  house  of 
worship  until  the  erection  of  the  Blood  church  in  1863  on 
section  14. 

Since  1839  the  Blood  class  has  had  a  continuous  exist- 
ence and  has  enjoyed  public  worship  constantly.  D.  H. 
Blood  and  John  Parker  have  been  the  class-leaders  during 
nearly  the  entire  period,  D.  H.  Blood  being  now  the  leader. 
The  first  board  of  trustees  chosen  in  1863  was  composed  of 
D.  H.  Blood,  T.  L.  Swarthout,  Ralph  Swarthout,  and 
George  Hibbard.  The  trustees  serving  in  1880  were  Isaac 
V.  Swarthout,  Charles  W.  Blood,  T.  L.  Swarthout,  Ralph 
Swarthout,  and  George  Hibbard.  The  class,  which  has  a 
membership  of  forty-two,  is  on  the  Victor  Circuit,  in  charge 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Gray,  who  preaches  at  Blood's  once  in  two 
weeks. 

FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

The  first  entry  in  the^  records  of  this  church  reads  as 
follows:  "I,  Noah  Cressy,  of  Portland,  Me.,  minister  of 
the  gospel  and  missionary  of  the  American  Home  Mission- 
ary Society,  hereby  certify  that  on  Saturday,  May  24, 1845, 
at  the  house  of  Henry  Post,  by  the  aid  and  advice  of  Rev. 
0.  Parker,  of  Flint,  Mich.,  I  organized  a  Congregational 
church  consisting  of  the  following  persons,  who  adopted 
the  covenant  and  confession  of  faith  :  Henry  Post,  William 
Brunson,  Eliza  D.  Post,  Hoyt  G.  Post,  Thomas  Jenison, 
Mary  Ann  Brunson,  and  Porter  B.  Pierce."  Henry  Post 
was  appointed  moderator,  Henry  Post  and  Thomas  Jenison 
deacons,  and  William  Brunson  stated  clerk. 

Noah  Cressy,  although  nearly  eighty  years  old,  was  an 
earnest  and  energetic  missionary  worker,  and  after  organi- 


zing the  church  served  it  as  pastor  two  years,  preaching  for 
it  once  a  month.  During  his'  ministerial  labors  in  Michi- 
gan he  was  employed  in  a  wide  range  of  territory,<Cyer 
which  he  invariably  journeyed  afoot,  in  pursuance  of  a 
resolution  taken  in  the  East,  where,  happening  to  trade  for 
a  horse  on  a  Sunday  and  the  horse  dying  on  his  hands,  he 
looked  upon  the  circumstance  as  a  divine  rebuke.  To  do 
penance  he  determined  to  ride  no  more.  Besides  Victor 
Mr.  Cressy  preached  also  in  Duplain,  Essex,  and  De  Witt 
from  1845  to  1847. 

His  successor  was  Rev.  Sanford  R.  Bissell,  who  remained 
until  1848,  in  which  year  the  church  joined  the  Genesee 
Conference  of  Churches.     Following  Mr.  Bissell  the  pas- 

'tors  were  Revs.  John  Scotford,  0.  M.  Goodell, Pox, 

and  William  Mulder.  Mr.  Mulder,  who  is  the  present 
pastor,  has  been  such  since  1871.  The  place  of  worship 
has  been  at  Branson's  Corners,  in  the  district  school-house, 
from  the  outset,  and  there  meetings  have  been  held  since 
1845  with  continuous  regularity.  The  membership  ia 
forty-two.  The  deacons  are  J.  W.  Beckwith  and  Henry 
Mulder,  and  the  clerk,  Edward  D.  Post. 

VICTOR  UNITED  BRETHREN  CLASS. 

This  class  was  organized  at  the  Reed  School-House  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Lee  in  1865  with  eight  members,  J.  Y.  Perkins 
being  chosen  leader.  The  Reed  school-house  was  used  for 
worship  until  1877,  when  a  neat  church  edifice  was  built 
just  west  of  Reed's  Corners.  Since  1865  the  class  has  met 
for  public  worship  once  every  two  weeks,  and  is  now  at- 
tached to  Ovid  Circuit,  in  charge  of  M.  H.  Sly.  There 
are  twenty  members,  of  whom  J.  Y.  Perkins  is  the  leader. 

VICTOR  CENTRE   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

Elder  Wood,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  held 
a  revival  at  the  Grove  school-house  in  1859,  and  after  his 
departure  Mr.  Shiffer,  a  local  preacher,  organized  at  that 
place  the  Victor  Centre  Methodist  Episcopal  Class,  with 
eight  members.  Preaching  has  been  held  at  that  point 
fortnightly  by  the  preachers  on  the  Ovid  Circuit,  now  in 
charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gray.  The  members  number  now 
thirty-eight.  The  leader  is  Truman  Shattuck ;  the  stew- 
ards, Jacob  Gibbard  and  William  Briggs.  The  union 
Sunday-school,  supported  by  the  Methodists  and  Congrega- 
tionalists,  is  in  charge  of  J.  W.  Beckwith,  and  has  an 
average  attendance  of  sixty  scholars  and  eight  teachers. 

SIXTH-DAY  ADVENTISTS. 

A  Sixth-Day  Advent  Church  was  organized  by  Elder 
Pox  in  1876  at  the  Reed  school-house,  with  a  membership 
of  about  forty.  Conjointly  with  the  United  Brethren  the 
Adventists  built  a  church  west  of  Reed's  Corners  in  1877, 
but  for  some  reason  they  have  latterly  been  denied  the. 
privilege  of  using  it.  Their  place  of  worship  is  the  Reed 
school-house,  but  they  are  at  present  without  a  preacher. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  earliest  school  privileges  offered  to  the  children  of 
Victor's  pioneers  were  obtained  in  a  basswood-log  school- 
house,  built  on  William  Swarthout's  farm  in  Ovid  in  1839. 


VICTOR  TOWNSHIP. 


515 


The  first  school-house  in  Victor  was  built  on  section  13  in 
1840,  in  which  Phoebe  Laing  was  the  first  teacher.  At 
the  first  town-meeting  in  Victor,  April  15,  1843,  it  was 
voted  to  raise  one  dollar  for  each  scholar  between  the  ages 
of  four  and  eighteen,  "  to  be  applied  toward  the  payment  of 
teachers." 

March  25,  1845,  school  district  No.  1  was  organized 
from  sections  3,  4,  9,  and  10.  Fractional  district  No.  2, 
organized  May  24,  1845,  included  the  north  halves  of  sec- 
tions 5  and  6  of  Victor,  and  portions  of  the  towns  of  Ovid 
Olive,  and  Bingham.  No.  3  was  formed  in  1846,  and  May 
2, 1848,  No.  4  was  organized,  "  to  commence  at  the  quarter 
stake  in  the  north  line  of  section  22,  running  east  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  23  ;  thence  north  eighty  rods ; 
thence  east  one  hundred  and  sixty  rods  ;  thence  south 
eighty  rods ;  thence  east  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
24 ;  thence  south  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  25 ; 
thence  west  to  the  quarter  stake  on  the  south  side  of  sec- 
tion 27  ;  thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning.  A  frac- 
tional district,  taking  in  portions  of  Bath  and  Victor,  was 
formed  May  13, 1848.  The  apportionment  of  the  primary- 
school  fund,  June  20,  1845,  gave  Victor  $11.48.  At  that 
time  the  number  of  children  in  district  3  was  given  as  33. 
Apportionments  in  1849,  1850,  and  '54  were  made  as  fol- 
lows : 

1849. 

DiBtt'ict.                                                        Scholars.  Money. 

No.  1 18  $5.94 

"   2 18  5.94 

"   3 48  15.84 

"    4 25  8.25 

«   5 24  7.92 

"   6 4  1.32 

Totals 137  $45.21 

1850. 

No.  1 21  $7.14 

"2           37  12.58 

"3     60  17.00 

«   6 20  8.80 

Totals 128  $43.52 

1864. 

No.  1 $7.46 

"   3                       12.59 

"   6.' 6.53 

"   6..... 2.10 

Total $28.68 

To  the  year  1860,  teachers'  certificates  were  issued  to  the 
following : 

May  3,  1845. — Joseph  H.  Adams,  who  was  also  ap- 
pointed librarian. 

July  28,  1845.— Mary  Smith. 

Nov.  1, 1845.— -W.  H.  Blood. 

June  12,  1846.— Diantha  P.  Chaffin. 

Nov.  6,  1846.— J.  0.  Bronson. 

Dec.  8,  1846.— A.  Prarey. 

June  29,  1847.— Mary  S.  HoUister. 

Dec.  11, 1847. — Margaret  P.  Johnson. 

Jan.  15,  1848.— Diantha  Chaffin. 

Feb.  5,  1848.— R.  G.  McKee. 

April  29,  1848.— Polly  Ann  Woodhams. 

May  5,  1848.— Martha  Gooch. 

July  8,  1848. — Emily  Haggerty,  Agnes  Graham. 


Nov.  28,  1848.— I.  V.  Swarthout. 

Dec.  8,  1848.— Miss  IngersoU. 

April  14,  1849.— Mary  E.  Gooch. 

April  14,  1849.— Eliza  Hollister. 

June  15,  1849.— Miss  Webb. 

May  9,  1849.— Miss  E.  WoodhuU. 

Nov.  3,  1849.— Charles  McKee. 

Dec.  13,  1849.— Hiram  Van  Vliet. 

May  8,  1850.— Helen  E.  Stephens. 

June  7,  1850.— Sarah  Cross. 

Dec.  9,  1850.— E.  G.  McKee. 

Dec.  14,  1850. — Agnes  Graham. 

April  21,  1851. — Maria  Johnson. 

May  3,  1851. — Maria  Moore. 

May  8,  1851.— Eliza  Hollister. 

Nov.  1,  1851.— T.  L.  Swarthout. 

Dec.  9,  1851.— J.  M.  Fitch. 

May  10,  1852.— Miss  Esler,  Mary  Parker. 

Dec.  6,  1852.— Frances  E.  Sherman,  Phoebe  A.  Parker. 

May  6,  1853. — Miss  E.  L.  Hollister,  Margaret  Jamison. 

Dec.  5,  1853. — Alanson  Calkins. 

Jan.  12,  1854. — Ann  Aldrich,  Milinda  Aldrich. 

April  8, 1854. — Achsah  Blood,  Emma  Sprague. 

Nov.  4,  1854.-0.  C.  Hollister. 

Dec.  2,  1854. — Henry  Carnahan,  Mr.  Du  Bois. 

May  2,  1855. — Margaret  Jamison,  Helen  White. 

Nov.  24,  1855.— Charles  Tyler. 

May  3,  1856. — Armenia  L.  McCUntock,  Sarah  E.  Cross, 
Eleanor  Hills. 

June  10,  1856. — Miss  Loomis. 

Nov.  1,  1856.— Mr.  Buggies. 

Nov.  15,  1856 E.  Beard. 

Dec.  19,  1856.— Charles  Cross. 

Nov.  10,  1857.— E.  Haggerty,  A.  Hollister,  P.  Taylor. 

Dec.  9,  1857.— William  Brunson. 

April  10,  1858. — Agnes  Ballentine,  Agnes  Graham, 
Sarah  Blood. 

May  3,  1858.— Sarah  Cross. 

Nov.  6,  1858.— A.  Collins,  T.  L.  Swarthout. 

Nov.  15,  1858.— H.  Gaskill. 

Nov.  20,  1858.— Henry  Scott,  Mr.  Whipple. 

April  30,  1859. — Elizabeth  Freeman. 

The  annual  school  report  for  1879  presented  the  sub- 
joined details  : 

Number  of  dlstricta  (whole,  6;  fractional,  2) 8 

"  scholars  of  school  age 346 

Value  of  school  property $4235 

Teachers'  wages .-..-. $939 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  T.  W.  Curtis,  C.  E 
Hollister,  John  Buehler,  T.  Warren,  W.  S.  Barker,  Charle 
Giffles,  M.  Hand,  and  J.  Ballentine. 


516 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


BIOGEAPHIOAL     SKETCHES. 


MRS.   JOHN   C.    BRUNSON. 


JOHN    0.    BRTINSON. 


JOHN   C.  BRUNSON. 


Among  the  few  Michigan  pioneers  who  are  so  fortunate 
as  to  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the  events  of  the  good 
ship  "Mayflower"  is  Mr.  Brunson.  His  progenitors  on  both 
sides  are  Revolutionary  soldiers,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
Amos  Brunson,  and  his  maternal  grandparent,  Benjamin 
Goss,  having  both  been  patriots  in  that  early  struggle  for 
liberty.  His  father,  Flavins  J.  Brunson,  was  born  April 
10,  1786,  in  Massachusetts,  while  the  birth  of  his  mother 
occurred  in  1799,  in  East  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.  John  C. 
recalls  East  Bloomfield,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  as  the  place  of 
his  birth,  where  he  was  born  July  20,  1822,  and  passed 
through  the  usual  monotonous  experiences  of  the  farmers' 
sons, — the  summer  being  one  of  labor,  while  the  winter 
was  devoted  to  study.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  repaired 
to  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary,  at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  for 
two  winters,  and  later  to  the  East  Bloomfield  Academy. 
In  the  year  1845  he  came  to  Michigan  and  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  in  the  township  of  Victor,  to  which  he  sub- 
sequently added  fifty-four  additional  acres.  The  first  five 
winters  that  he  spent  in  Michigan  he  taught  school  in 
order  to  pay  his  way.  On  Nov.  21,  1849,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  S.  HoUister,  of  Victor,  the  adopted  daughter 
of  Dr.  J.  T.  Hollister,  and  the  daughter  of  Newman  Skifi^. 
Mrs.  Brunson  was  born  Oct.  26,  1829,  and  afflicted  at  an 
early  age  by  the  loss  of  her  parents,  but  found  a  welcome 
to  the  cheerful  home  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hollister,  residing  in 
Victor,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
and  then  came  to  Victor  township,  Mich.,  and  taught 
school  a  number  of  terms.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brunson  have 


had  uo  children,  but  have  adopted  two  sons,  both  of  whom 
are  married  and  residing  near  the  home  of  their  adopted 
father. 

On  his  arrival  in  Michigan,  Mr.  Brunson's  sole  capital  was 
three  hundred  dollars,  which  by  industry  and  tact  has  been 
increased  to  a  degree  that  places  him  in  the  rank  of  the 
wealthy  and  successful  farmers  of  the  county.     Mr.  Brun- 
son has  a  great  taste  for  farming  and  horticulture,  is  a 
practical  operator  in  these  pursuits,  and  believes  in  using 
his  surplus  money  in  the  erection  of  buildings  and  beauti- 
fying his  grounds  instead  of  putting  it  at  interest.     Mr. 
Brunson  has  ever  been  prominent  in  the  politics  of  the 
county,  and   a  leading   and   influential  member,  first  of 
the  Whig  and  latterly  of  the  Republican  party.     He  has 
always  been  an  outspoken  temperance  man,  advocating  total 
abstinence,  and  has  never  used  liquor  or  tobacco.     His 
political  record  embraces  the  positions  of  supervisor  for  four 
terms,  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty  years,  postmaster  for 
twenty-two  years,  school  inspector,  highway  commissioner, 
director  and  secretary  of  the  Clinton  County  AgrioulttiTal 
Societysince  its  organization  in  1855,  and  president  of  the 
Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Company.     He  was  represen- 
tative in  the  State  Legislature  for  1873,  has  been  presi- 
dent of  Clinton  County  Pioneer  Society,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  committee  on  education,  'a  subject  in  which  he  has 
taken  a  deep  interest.     In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican, and   in  his    religious   views   inclines   towards  the 
Congregational  Church,  of  which  Mrs.  Brunson  is  an  ex- 
emplary member. 


V 

b, 
0) 


I 


5 


VICTOR  TOWNSHIP. 


517 


WILLIAM    S.    PARKEU. 


MRS.    WILLIAM    S.    PARKER. 


WILLIAM    S.  PARKER. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Parker,  John  and  Sarah  Parker, 
were  natives  of  New  York  State,  and  were  among  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  1837  to  the  township  of  Victor,  where 
their  son  was  born  on  the  home-farm  in  the  year  1841. 
The  country  was  at  this  time  undeveloped,  the  scanty  live- 
lihood of  the  settler  was  earned  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow, 
and  the  early  years  of  William  S.  Parker  were  those  of 
toil  and  exertion.  These  were  varied  by  the  usual  advan- 
tages of  a  district  school  in  winter  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  when  he  entered  the  army  and  became  a  member 
of  Company  G  of  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry.  During  his 
period  of  service,  involving  nearly  three  years,  he  was 
present  at  forty-nine  engagements,  and  was  wounded  on 
four  different  occasions.  On  his  discharge  from  the  army 
and.return  to  his  home  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Amanda,  daughter  of  Daniel  Blood,  of  the  township  of 
Victor.  They  have  three  children, — Isaac,  Edna,  and 
Frank.  Mr.  Parker  after  his  marriage  removed  to  his 
present  home  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  at 
that  date  was  unimproved  and  valued  at  ten  dollars  per 
acre.     The  labor  and  excellent  judgment  of  its  owner  have 

?  developed  a  degree  of  productiveness  which  has  increased 
the  land  in  value  to  sixty  dollars  per  acre.  Mr.  Parker  is 
injpolitics  a  Republican,  and  although  firm  in  his  political 

^^^Mvictions,  is  not  aggressive  in  his  views. 


MRS.  SARAH  PARKER. 

Mr.  Elihu  and  Mrs.  Esther  Disbrow  Cronk  were  the 
parents  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  their  daughter 
Sarah,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  born  in  Orange  Co., 
N.  Y.,  March  19,  1815,  was  the  eldest.  Her  early  years 
Until  the  age  of  fifteen  were  devoted  to  school  duties,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  time  she  was  employed  to  assist  in 


household  occupations  on  a  neighboring  farm ;  and  three 
years  later  was  married  to  John  Parker,  of  Romulus, 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  was  born  Nov.  27,  1804,  in  New 
Jersey,  and  became  a  resident  of  New  York  State  at  the 
age  of  five  years. 

In  1837,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  removed  to  Michigan  and 
settled  upon  the  Parker  homestead,  illustrated  upon  an 
adjoining  page.  They  had  eighty  acres  of  land,  for  which 
one  hundred  and  ten  dollars  were  paid,  the  township  having 
at  that  early  period  been  wholly  undevelqped.  There  were 
no  roads,  and  an  Indian  trail  guided  them  to  their  destina- 
tion. Mr.  Parker  died  in  1863,  leaving  his  wife  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  a  cash  balance  of  four 
hundred  dollars.  The  land,  Mrs.  Parker,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  her  sons,  who  may  be  spoken  of  as  men  "  temper- 
ate in  all  things,"  and  especially  opposed  to  liquor  and 
tobacco,  has  brought  to  a  high  degree  of  productive- 
ness, and  made  correspondingly  valuable.  Her  children 
are  located  as  follows:  Mrs.  Phoebe  Hill  at  Ovid;  Mrs. 
Mary  Swarthout  at  Victor ;  Epson  and  William  at  Victor  ; 
and  the  remaining  five,  Edwin,  Charles,  Harriet,  Martha, 
and  Newell,  at  the  homestead  with  their  mother.  Each 
member  of  the  family  is  industrious  and  frugal,  and  exem- 
plifies in  the  character  developed  the  judicious  and  careful 
training  of  the  parents. 


EPSON  PARKER. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  is  the  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Cronk)  Parker,  and  was  born  in  Seneca 
Co.  N.  Y.,  in  1836.  His  parents  were  cheered  by  the 
presence  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  Epson  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth.  The  farm  was  the  scene  of  the 
labors  of  his  early  years,  where  he  remained  until  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years,  attending  the  neighboring  school  during 


518 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


intervals  of  respite  from  labor,  and  thus  securing  a  fair 
education. 

In  1837,  together  with  two  additional  families,  his 
parents  became  pioneers  to  Victor  township,  which  at  that 
early  date  afforded  few  evidences  of  civilization.  In  the 
year  1859,  Epson  having  found  a  congenial  companion  in 
Miss  Julia  Coats,  of  the  same  township,  was  married. 
Mrs.  Parker's  birth  occurred  in  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  her  advent  to  Michigan  when  but  a  mere  infant,  her 
parents,  David  J.  and  Lydia  Coats,  having  been  influenced 
by  the  advantages  Michigan  offered  to  pioneers  at  an  early 
day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  have  had  seven  children, — A. 
W.,  Jessie  F.,  Emory  L.,  Emily  L.,  Nellie  A.,  J.  D.,  and 
R.  D.,  the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Parker  is  in  politics  a  Republican,  though  not  an  active 
partisan.  He  is  a  man  of  temperate  habits,  and  exemplifies 
in  his  life  the  principle  of  "  moderation  in  all  things."  Both 
he  and  his  wife  have  been  for  many  years  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  are  now  connected 
with  the  Society  of  the  United  Brethren.  He  has  also 
been  for  several  years  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school. 


C.  R.  McKEE. 


Mr.  McKee  was  of  Scotch  parentage,  and  was  born  in 
Arlington,   Vt,    June    12,    1825.      His    father,    Aaron 


C.  E.  McKEB. 

McKee,  was  a  physician,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  and  his  mother  at  seventy-four.  The  early  days  of 
the  subject  of  this  biography  were  passed  under  the  paternal 
roof,  in  pursuing  his  early  studies,  teaching,  and  filling 
the  position  of  clerk.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  his  father 
gave  him  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Victor,  to  which  he  removed,  and  began  the  work  of  the 
early  pioneer,— that  of  transforming  the  wilderness  into 
productiTe  fields.    After  the  preliminary  labor  of  clearing 


had  been  accomplished  he  returned,  and  was  marrried  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Valentine,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Nancy  Valentine,  and  was  born  in  Washington  County 
in  1831.  They  had  four  children, — Mrs.  Mattie  Osborn, 
of  Owosso,  Mary,  Edward,  and  James,  Edward  having  en- 
tered the  Agricultural  College  at  Lansing,  from  which  he 
graduates  in  1881.  Mr.  McKee  was  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  was  for  a  period  of  twelve  years  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  of  his  township,  which  ofiBce  he  filled  with  signal 
ability. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKee  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  exemplified  in  their  lives  the  teachings  of  the 
gospel  they  professed.  Their  attractive  home  was  the  abode 
of  refinement  and  intelligence  not  less  than  of  industry  and 
frugality. 


AINSWORTH  REED. 

Mr.  Reed  is  one  of  many  descendants  of  Revolutionary 
stock  resident  in  the  township  of  Victor.  His  father, 
Nathan  Reed,  a  Revolutionary  hero,  was  born  iu  Rutland, 
Mass.,  while  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Miss 
Lydia  Smith,  was  also  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Ains- 
worth  resided  upon  the  paternal  estate  until  fourteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  became  ambitious  for  an  active  business 
career  and  engaged  as  a  clerk.  This  embraced  a  period  of 
eight  years  of  his  life,  after  which  he  established  himself 
as  a  peddler  of  dry  goods  and  notions,  the  goods  he  sdld 
having  come  principally  from  the  Canadas.  During  this 
period  he  traversed  the  entire  State  of  Michigan,  became 
familiar  with  its  territory,  and  having  been  impressed  with 
the  superior  quality  of  the  land  of  Victor  township,  pur- 
chased a  farm  on  its  eastern  border.  He  was  soon  after 
married  to  Miss  Mariette  George,  daughter  of  Eziba  George, 
of  New  York  State.  The  land  was  little  else  than  a  forest 
at  this  time.  The  market  for  wheat  was  found  at  Pontiac, 
involving  a  journey  of  sixty-seven  miles,  and  prices  were 
scarcely  commensurate  with  the  distance  traveled.  Mr. 
Reed  later  sold  and  removed  to  a  point  known  as  Geary 
Post-Office,  nearer  the  centre  of  the  township  and  more 
accessible.  Here  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  and 
erected  a  new  and  substantial  house. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  seven  children,  named  as  fol- 
lows:  Leroy,  Louisa,  Ernest,  Ellen,  Julia,  Watson,  and 
Estella.  Mr.  Reed  has  held  the  commission  as  postmaster 
for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  has  been  township  treasurer 
for  eighteen  years,  township  clerk  for  seven  years,  and 
filled  many  minor  township  offices.  He  is  one  of  the  three 
oldest  settlers  in  the  township,  and  regarded  as  one  of  its 
foremost  citizens. 


JAMES  UPTON. 
The  family  of  Uptons  are  of  New  England  extraction, 
and  intimately  associated  with  the  war  of  independence. 
Elias  Upton  repaired  to  Boston  during  the  war  of  1812 
to  defend  the  city  against  the  British.  This  gentleman 
was  born  in  Charlemont,  Mass.,  March  22,  1793,  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  during  his  lifetime.  His 
wife,  formerly  Miss  Tryphina  Hathaway,  was  a  native  of 


r'i. 

n 


WATEKTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


519 


Buckland,  Mass.,  and  born  Sept.  21,  1795.  The  birth  of 
their  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  occurred  in 
Heath  township,  Mass.,  on  the  27th  of  February,  1821, 
having  been  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  ten  children. 

His  early  education  was  not  an  exception  to  that  of  most 
sons  of  farmers,  the  labor  of  the  fields  having  been  varied 
by  the  scenes  of  the  district  school  in  winter.  At  the  ace 
of  eighteen  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carriage-maker,  serv- 
ing an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  in  Charlemont,  after 
which  it  aiForded  him  an  occupation  for  six  years,  and  also 
engaged  his  attention  for  two  years  in  New  Hampshire. 
He  married,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  Miss  Julia  H. 
Woodbury,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Harriet  Woodbury, 
who  was  born  March  28,  1824. 

He  engaged  again  in  manufacturing  pursuits,  and  after  a 
brief  residence  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  the  family  moved  to 
Victor,  Mich.,  and  located  upon  their  present  site,  which 
from  a  wilderness  has  by  industry  been  converted  into  a 
productive  and  valuable  estate.  Mr.  Upton  is  an  unyield- 
ing Republican  in  his  political  convictions.  Both  he  and 
Mrs.  Upton  are  active  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 


CHARLES  EDWARD   HOLLISTER. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  gentleman  who  is  the 
subject  of  this  biography,  Joseph  Hollister,  was  one  of  the 
patriots  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  a  direct  descendant  of 
the  Puritan  Governor  of  Connecticut,  Isaac  Treat.     His 
father,  Isaac  T.  Hollister,  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1801, 
and  having  chosen  the  practice  of  medicine  as  a  profession 
attained  some  distinction  as  a  practitioner.     In  the  year 
1827  he  married  Ellen  Chapin,  also  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
who  was  born  in  1805,  daughter  of  Heman  Chapin,  a  pioneer 
of  East  Bloomfield,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.    To  them  were  born 
four  children,  viz.,  Oliver  Chapin,  Charles  Edward,  Ralph 
Heman,  and  Caroline  Amelia.     They  also  adopted  a  girl, 
Mary  SkiflF,  who  afterwards  married  John  C.  Brunson,  of 
Victor.     Charles  E.,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Victor,  On- 
tario Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1839,  was  but  seven  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Michigan,  and  in  1846  entered  from 
government  the  land  still  occupied  by  them.     The  country 
was  in  a  primitive  condition,  and  the  wide  practice  of  Dr. 
Hollister  called  him  through  many  portions  of  the  county 
still  undisturbed  by  the  axe  of  the  pioneer.     In  1856  he 
was  chosen  to  the  Senate  of  the  State,  and  served  two  years 
in  that  capacity,  Charles  meanwhile  remaining  upon  the 
farm,  and  engaging  in  labor  incident  to  farming  pursuits, 
the  winter  affording  opportunities,  for  education.     He  en- 
tered the  agricultural  college  at  Lansing,  May  17, 1857,  at 
the  opening  of  the  college,  and  after  a  thorough  course,  in- 
volving four  years  of  study,  graduated  in  the  first  class. 
The  sons  proved  worthy  of  their  patriot  sires  by  enlisting 
in  the  armies  gathered  by  the  nation  when  assailed  by 
armed  rebellion,  the  eldest,  Oliver,  enlisting  in  the  Fifth 

Michigan  Cavalry,  Company ,  and  dying  in  hospital  of 

disease  contracted  in  McClellan's  Virginia  campaign,  leaving 
a  widow  and  three  children.  Charles  E.,  in  an  independent 
company  of  engineers,  raised  by  Maj.-Gen.  J.  C.  Fremont 
for  his  Missouri  campaign,  which  company  was  discharged 


after  about  five  months'  service.  The  younger  brother, 
Ralph  H.,  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh  Michigan  Cavalry,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  en- 
tered the  army  as  engineer,  and  after  a  brief  experience  re- 
turned home  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was 
soon  after  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minne  Olverson,  of 
Ingham  Co.,  Mich.,  a  pioneer  from  her  fourth  year.  Two 
children  have  brightened  their  home  circle, — May  Eliza 
and  Oliver  Cary.  I.  T.  Hollister,  as  soon  as  he  had<|flowed 
some  land  in  1847,  proceeded  to  set  out  fruit-trees  ^bd  vines, 
probably  setting  out  the  first  pear-trees  and  grape-vines  in 
the  town  of  Victor,  and  teaching  people  that  fruit  was 
necessary  for  the  preservation  of  their  health  as  well  as  a 
cheap  luxury,  and  practicing  what  he  preached  by  giving 
away  to  whomsoever  came  for  them  trees,  vines,  and  straw- 
berry-plants. 

Mr.  Hollister  was,  in  1878,  elected  county  surveyor,  and 
has  been  honored  with  numerous  local  oflSces,  including 
those  of  school  inspector  for  a  long  series  of  years  and 
superintendent  of  schools.  In  1872  he  received  from  the 
United  States  engineer  officer  in  charge  (1st  Lieut.  E.  A. 
Woodruff)  an  appointment  as  a  superintendent  in  the  re- 
moval of  the  celebrated  Red  River  Raft  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Louisiana,  a  position  which  he  held  for  about 
eighteen  months  and  until  the  channel  was  cleared.  Mr. 
Hollister  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party  in  politics, 
and  in  his  church  attachments  is  a  Congregationalist. 


CHAPTER  LXV. 
WATERTOWN    TOWNSHIP.* 

Location,  Surface,  Streams,  and  Soil — Land-Entries — First  and  other 
Early  Settlements — Early  Highways — Organization  of  the  Town- 
ship— Watertown  Civil  List — Early  School  Statistics — Wacoasta — 
Grand  River  City — Church  History. 


.t 


The  township  of  Walertown  embraces  territory  that 
ore  indications  of  the  presence  of  the  pioneer  long  before 
adjacent  portions  of  the  county  had  been  purchased.  Its 
lands  were  principally  entered  between  the  years  1834  and 
1836,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  latter  year  the  south 
and  west  portions  were  the  centres  of  a  considerable  amount 
of  clearing.  The  township  is  known  as  number  5  north, 
of  range  3  west,  and  may  be  described  as  one  of  the  south 
tier  of  townships,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Riley,  south  by 
Eaton  County,  east  by  De  Witt,  and  west  by  the  township 
of  Eagle. 

Its  principal  water-course  is  the  Looking-GIass  River, 
which  enters  the  township  at  section  13,  and  flowing  west 
pursues  a  more  devious  course  through  section  15,  flowing 
northward  to  section  8,  and  again  to  the  south,  where  it 
makes  its  exit  at  section  18.  Several  smaller  streams  tributary 
to  this  more  important  current  flow  from  the  south.  The 
Looking-Glass  River  has  a  volume  of  water  sufficiently 
large  to  be  utilized  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  at  va- 
rious points  mills  have  been  erected  upon  its  banks. 


*  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


520 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


The  Detroit,  Lansing  and  Northern  Railroad  passes  along 
the  south  border  of  the  township,  and  has  a  station  at 
Delta,  adjacent  to  the  southern  line  of  the  township,  in  the 
adjoining  county,  and  another  at  IngersoU's,  in  Watertown. 
The  surface  of  Watertown  is  varied  in  character.  Much 
level  land  is  found,  though  a  sufficient  undulation  appears 
to  relieve  the  monotony.  Its  rolling  aspect  greatly  en- 
hances the  attractiveness  of  the  landscape,  and  many 
striking  views  are  enjoyed  along  the  river-banks  and  else- 
where in  .the  township. 

Tho  soil  of  Watertown  compares  favorably  with  that  of 
other  portions  of  the  county.  In  quality  it  may  be  de- 
scribed as  a  sandy  loan  with  clay  subsoil.  In  localities 
there  is,  however,  some  slight  variation  from  this  rule. 
Wheat  and  corn  are  the  staple  products,  and  the  average 
crop  of  each  is  a  flattering  testimonial  to  the  strength  and 
productiveness  of  the  soil.  The  census  of  1873  gives  the 
number  of  acres  of  the  former  harvested  as  two  hundred 
and  thirty-five,  which  produced  thirty-nine  thousand  two 
hundred  and  eleven  bushels ;  and  nine  hundred  and  four 
acres  of  corn  yielded  twenty-five  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  filty-eight  bushels.  Of  other  grains  more  than  thirty 
thousand  bushels  were  harvested,  while  farm  products  of 
various  kinds  made  an  ample  return  for  the  labor  of  their 
cultivation. 

The  prevailing  woods  are  ash,  maple,  oak,  basswood,  and 
walnut.  Comparatively  little  tamarack  is  found,  and  no 
pine.  The  various  fruits  peculiar  to  the  climate  are  suc- 
cessfully raised  in  the  township. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 
The  lands  composing  the  township  of  Watertown  were 
purchased  from  the  United  States  government  by  the  fol- 
lowing-named persons : 

SECTION  1. 

D.  L.  Smith,  1836 80 

Richard  P.  Har^  18.36 240 

C.  Buckley,  1836 .'..'...'.''  160.14 

Munson  Wheeler,  1836 83!o6 

Henry  Whipple,  1836 .'..,.'.  80 

SECTION  2.  g 

A.  M.  Roberts,  1836 40 

R.  P.  Hart,  1836 .....".....'.'.'.'..'  280 

Selah  Farris,  1836 ""„'     8402 

Sarah  E.  Turner,  1836 80 

Henry  Whipple,  1836 !...............  164.34 

SECTION  3. 

OIney  and  Wolcott,  1836 320 

William  Mosher,  1836 .""."  igs.jg 

Charles  Goodwin,  1836 ....'..'..'.'.  163!66 

SECTION  4. 

Richard  P.  Hart,  1836 32o 

Leander  Ferguson,  1836 .""  j64  62 

Henry  Whipple,  1836 ....!!!......!!..'.'.'."     80' 

J.  Wordman,  1838 , .....'".'.'.'........     84  38 

SECTION   5. 

L.  D.  Owen,  1836 40 

R.  P.  Hart,  1836 280 

Seth  M.  Root,  1851 .....!..!.!.'.!!!!'.'.  160 

James  J.  Foreman,  1854 '  3453 

Thomas  Wilson,  1854 86  19 

SECTION   6. 

L.  Hnnt,  1836 on 

R.  P.  Hart,  1836 ^.V.V.V.!"".".'.'.'.'."."'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.!     80 


Acres, 

William  Reynolds,  1836 150.68 

S.  P.  Potter,  1861 43.44 

M.  Culon,  1851 40 

Samuel  Hitchcock,  1851 43.44 

C.  P.  Cole,  1851 157.77 

David  Eddy,  1851 40 

SECTION   7. 

Elias  Daniells 80 

Clark  Beardsley 80 

Abram  Sloan 160 

J.R.Morris,  1836 148.92 

Richard  Leavis,  1838 4ft 

C.  E.  and  J.  H.  Spicer,  1838 69.92 

J.  H.  Bissell,  1848 40 

SECTION   8. 

Thomas  Emerson 85.57 

Park  and  Hunt 124.46 

Elias  Daniells gi.u 

T.  Osborne 160 

Elias  Daniells 160 

Nelson  Sage 80 

SECTION   9. 

Benjamin  Gooch 160 

William  Thompson 320 

Thomas  Osborne 16(1 

SECTION  10. 

William  Thompson 160 

Almey  and  Wolcott 320 

Thomas  O.-borne ]60 

SECTION  11. 

Henry  Weston,  1836 80 

Samuel  Forman,  1836 320 

Almey  and  Wolcott,  1836 80 

R.  P.  Hart,  1836 160 

SECTION  12. 

Calvin  Marvin,  1835 320 

R.  B.  Hart,  1836 160 

"D.  M.  Aspenwall,  1836 80 

Ed.  Butterfield,  1836 80 

SECTION  13. 

Joseph  Terkes,  1835 72.82 

Horace  Butler,  1836 143.61 

Calvin  Ball,  1836 87.29 

William  Thompson,  1836 82.38 

Elias  Daniells,  1836 '....     48!90 

Thomas  Woodward,  1836 83.80 

Alanson  Sumner,  1836 106.34 

SECTION  14. 

Isaac  Hovett,  1835 80 

Elias  Daniells,  1836 !!!."!.........     43.52 

Horace  Butler,  1836 99.50 

William  Thompson,  1836 79.96 

Clark  Beardsley,  1836 130.45 

William  Packard,  1836 106  65 

S.  M.  Pearsall,  1836 80 

SpCTION  15. 

William  H.  Townsend,  1835 307.24 

Benjamin  Gooch,  1835 149.80 

Stephen  Hill,  1836 160 

SECTION  16. 
School  lands. 

SECTION  17. 

R.  S.  Parks 36.42 

Emmor  Hawley 2.34 

Elias  Daniells '.....'.'.  80 

P.  A.  Selover ..........'.'.".'.'."  316.70 

L.  H.  Trask 113.48 

Richard  Leavis,  1839 40 

Grofton  Webber,  1839 .' 40 


WATERTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


521 


SECTION  18. 

Acres. 

Willam  Diets,  1836 128  30 

B.  Niles,  1836 78!38 

George  Goodman,  1836 10985 

L.  H.  Trask,  1836 ...!!!].'.     12.^8 

KliaB  Daniells,  1836 125.72 

George  Parks,  1836 80 

SECTION  19. 

Charles  Armstrong,  1835  and  '36 ,.  320 

Horace  Butler,  1836 260 

D.  B.  Niles,  1836 ■.■.'.'  132.68 

SECTION  20. 

John  Eoseborne,  1836 160 

Henry  Amuman,  1836 160 

William  Packard,  1836 ]60 

A.  A.  Webber,  1841 40 

Andrew  Shadduck,  1848 120 

SECTION  21. 

E.  Frary,  1836 560 

Elias  Daniells,  1836 80 

SECTION  22. 

Benjamin  Welsh,  1836 200 

E.  Frary,  1836 440 

SECTION  23. 

Horace  Butler,  1836 80 

William  Packard,  1836 240 

Anson  Iloland,1836 240 

Elihu  P.  Ingersoll,  1837 80 

SECTION  24. 

William  Packard,  1836 80 

Russell  Cushman,  1836 160 

Anson  Boland,  1836 80 

Elihu  P.  Ingersoll,  1837 320 

SECTION  25. 

B.  B.  Kercheval,  1836 160 

B.  Daniells,   1836 240 

Samuel  Chadwick ; 160 

C.  J.  Fox  and  0.  C.  Fall,  1865 

SECTION  26. 

Nathan  Daniells,  1836 320 

Thomas  U.  Perkins,  1836 320 

SECTION   27. 

John  Fowlor,  1836 80 

A.  P.  Selover,  1836 160 

S.  B.  Noycs,  1836 80 

William  Packard,  1836 240 

S.  G.  Sears,  1836 80 

SECTION  28. 

William  Thompson,  1836 160 

Harvey  Arnold,  1836 80 

S.  G.  Sears,  1836 400 

SECTION   29. 

E.  Frary,  1836 160 

James  Hutchins,  1836 80 

Harvey  Arnold,  1836 160 

Alfred  Williams,  1836 240 

SECTION  30. 

Hiram  Barton,  1836 320 

D.  B.  Niles,  1836 '. 226.16 

S.  G.  Sears,  1836 66-*8 

SECTION   31. 

T.  H.  Perkins,  1836 146.64 

Amos  Hall,  1836 80 

A.  and  R.  J.  Woodruff,  1836 80 

Josiah  Lowell,  Jr.,  1851 80 

A.  Burrell,  1851 80 

Fletcher  Jamison,  1851 40 

Henry  Garlook,  1851 40 

William  C.  Gordon,  1853 67.28 

60 


SECTION  32. 

T  T.-       . .  Acres. 

James  Hutchins,  1836 ,4(1 

Nathan  Daniells,  1836 on 

T.  H.  Perkins,  1836 '.'.'.!'.!!'."'.'.'.'.'.".'.'.".'.'.;;'.  320 

SECTION  33. 

H.  H.  Comstock,  1836 go 

William  Thompson,  1836 '...'.""] 160 

Nathan  Daniells,  1836 ifin 

T.  U.  Perkins,  1836 .'.'.".'.'.'.■.'."..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.■.■.■.■  240 

SECTION   34. 

H.  II.  Comstock,  1836 go 

Phineas  Davis,  1836 ......"'.....'......'.    320 

William  Thompson,  1836 16O 

Elihu  P.  Ingersoll,  1836 ........'....!.!!!!     80 

SECTION  35. 

H.  H.  Comstock,  1836 gO 

Phineas  Davis,  1836 ............'.........  80 

Leland  Greene,  1836 ......."" 160 

Nathan  Daniells,  1836 16O 

T.  H.  Perkins,  1836 .'.'.".']!!!!!.'.'."'.!  80 

Erastus  Ingersoll,  1836 ].......!!...  80 

SECTION  36. 

Nathan  I.  Daniells,  1836 48O 

Erastus  Ingersoll,  1837 80 


FIRST  AND   OTHER  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  earliest  settler  who  broke  ground  within  the  limits 
of  the  present  township  of  Watertown  was  unquestionably 
Calvin  Marvin,  more  familiarly  known  to  the  townspeople 
as  Deacon  Marvin.  He  entered,  in  the  year  1835,  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  12,  and  the 
same  year  removed  with  his  family  from  Oakland  County, 
and  became  a  settler  upon  his  possessions.  With  Deacon 
Marvin  came  three  sons,  all  of  whom  are  provided  with 
farms  immediately  near  the  paternal  home.  As  no  settlers 
had  taken  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  these  early  pio- 
neers to  Watertown  were  obliged  to  provide  a  shelter  of 
such  material  as  was  at  hand,  and  constructed  a  rude  camp, 
which  afforded  them  a  covering  until  a  cabin  was  built. 
Mr.  Marvin  and  his  sons  at  once  began  the  work  of  chop- 
ping, and  had  during  the  first  year  made  extensive  inroads 
pon  the  forests.     Settlers  gradually  surrounded  them,  and 

e  wilderness  of  1835  was  at  a  later  day  the  most  produc- 
tive of  the  broad  acres  of  Clinton  County.  Deacon  Mar- 
vin was  the  earliest  supervisor  of  the  township,  and  a  man 
of  marked  personal  influence  in  the  community,  not  less  fur 
the  mental  energy  displayed  by  him  than  for  his  many 
genial  qualities  of  heart. 

Dr.  Seth  P.  Marvin  settled  early  in  Watertown,  on  land 
given  him  by  his  father,  upon  which  he  erected  a  house, 
and  began  the  practice  of  medicine,  being  the  first  physician 
in  the  township.  He  later  removed  to  De  Witt,  and  was 
the  second  representative  of  his  profession  in  that  township. 
Asel  R.,  another  son,  also  removed  to  De  Witt,  and  after- 
wards from  the  county.  A  third  son,  Eleazer,  while  at  the 
East  for  the  purpose  of  removing  a  family  to  Clinton  County, 
was  attacked  by  a  severe  illness  that  terminated  fatally.  At 
his  house  occurred  the  earliest  death  in  the  township, — that 
of  his  child. 

Samuel  Foreman  was  the  second  arrival  in  Watertown. 
He  emigrated  from  Wayne  County  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and 
entered  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  11  in 


522 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


the  same  year.  He  became  a  settler  and  began  the  process 
of  improvement,  but  afterwards  exchanged  his  residence 
and  became  a  citizen  of  De  Witt.  Stephen  Hill,  another 
Wayne  County  pioneer,  located  upon  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  15.  In  1837  he  removed  with  Samuel  Foreman 
to  land  on  section  11  while  building,  or  rather  completing, 
a  cabin  which  had  been  begun  the  year  previous. by  him. 
He  acconaplishcd  but  a  small  clearing  the  first  year,  but 
devoted  much  of  the  spring  to  the  making  of  maple-sugar, 
of  which  the  maple-trees  in  the  vicinity  yielded  a  bountiful 
supply.  Mr.  Foreman  and  Deacon  Marvin  were  the  only 
settlers.  Flour  and  other  supplies  had  been  brought  from 
Wayne  County,  which  enabled  the  family  to  subsist  for  a 
long  period  without  replenishing  their  larder.  Mr.  Hill 
still  resides  upon  the  land  he  entered,  where  he  has  a  well- 
cultivated  farm  and  a  spacious  and  elegant  residence. 

Edward  Butterfield  entered  in  1836  eighty  acres  on 
section  12,  and  came  to  the  township  soon  after  to  reside, 
but  did  not  settle  upon  his  purchase  until  1838,  having 
found  employment  in  various  portions  of  the  township. 
He  first  built  a  log  house,  and  later  secured  a  wife  and 
removed  to  his  land.  The  farm  was  unimproved,  but  rap- 
idly changed  and  made  productive  by  his  industry.  Mr. 
Butterfield  resided  upon  the  place  until  his  death,  when  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  its  present  occupant,  George 
Ward. 

Selah  Ferris,  formerly  of  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  purchased 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sections  2  and  3  in  1837, 
upon  which  he  settled  the  following  year.  The  land  was 
entered  at  the  land-oflSce  in  Ionia,  Mr.  Ferris  having  fol- 
lowed the  path  known  as  the  Dexter  trail,  and  spent  the 
night  in  the  woods  after  having  traveled  all  day  to  reach 
his  destination.  The  demand  for  land  was  so  great  as  to 
render  a  stop  of  four  days  at  Ionia  necessary  before  the 
business  of  the  occasion  was  accomplished. 

William  Mosher  had  arrived  in  1837,  and  entered  one 
hundred  and  sixty-three  acres  on  the  same  section,  which 
was  being  rapidly  cleared.  With  him  Mr.  Ferris  found  a 
welcome  while  erecting  a  cabin,  to  which  he  at  once  re- 
moved, and  the  first  year  had  accomplished  a  clearing  of, 
eight  acres.  Indians  occasionally  paid  the  settlers  visits^ 
and  were  ever  eager  for  an  exchange  of  supplies  or  a 
"  swap,"  as  they  termed  it.  Bears  and  wolves  were  also 
numerous,  and  so  terrified  the  family  as  to  effectually  insure 
their  presence  within  doors  after  darkness  approached. 
There  were  no  roads  other  than  those  cut  by  the  settlers 
that  were  in  condition  to  be  made  useful  for  purposes  of 
tra-spl,  though  many  were  surveyed  during  the  year  1837 
and  awaiting  improvement.  In  1852,  Mr.  Ferris  purchased 
the  Mosher  farm,  upon  which  he  at  present  resides,  and  on 
which  a  comfortable  residence  has  been  built.  The  earliest 
marriage  recollected  by  Mr.  Ferris  occurred  at  the  house  of 
William  Mosher,  his  daughter.  Miss  Lucy,  having  been 
united  to  Mr.  Jackson  Cronkhite.  Early  religious  services 
were  held  at  the  houses  of  the  settlers  in  1839,  and  later 
the  few  families  in  the  township  were  accustomed  to  repair 
to  De  Witt  with  ox-teams  for  worship. 

Harvey  Hunter  and  Benjamin  Silsby  were  both  from 
Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  the  township  early.  The 
latter,  who  came  in  1838,  devoted  his  time  to  moving  set- 


tlers from  Detroit  and  adjacent  points  to  their  purchases 
in  the  county.  He  later  found  a  congenial  pursuit  in  the  ' 
occupation  of  a  peddler,  having  kept  horses  and  wagons  for 
the  purpose.  While  making  his  customary  rounds  he  en- 
countered Harvey  Hunter,  with  whom  ho  formed  a  copart- 
nership in  business,  and  together  they  opened  a  store  in 

Wacousta  in  1840.     The  labors  were  divided — one  havin^ 

o 

the  store  in  charge,  while  the  other  followed  an  itinerant 
business.  They  exchanged  goods  for  hides,  wool,  wheat 
and  other  commodities,  which  were  subsequently  sold  in 
Detroit.  Mr.  Silsby  purchased  a  farm  near  Wacousta,  and 
later  removed  to  the  township  of  Eagle,  while  Hunter  se- 
cured in  1850,  of  Stephen  T.  Gooch,  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  9.  It  was  partially  improved  on  his 
removal  to  the  place,  upon  which  he  remained  until  his 
death  in  1880.     His  widow  still  occupies  the  homestead. 

William  Diets,  a  former  resident  of  Plymouth,  Wayne 
Co.,  located  in  1836  upon  the  northwest  fractional  quarter 
of  section  18,  embracing  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres,  which  he  reached  by  floating  down  the  Looking- 
Glass  River  in  a  canoe.  Mr.  Diets  built  a  cabin,  after 
which  he  began  the  work  of  chopping.  The  farm  ulti- 
mately, under  the  influence  of  the  industry  he  evinced,  be- 
came very  productive  and  valuable.  He  lived  upon  the 
land  during  his  lifetime,  and  built  at  diiferent  periods  two 
frame  houses  upon  it.  His  death  occurred  in  1880  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  the  two  hundred  and  eight 
acres  of  land  owned  by  him  were  distributed  among  vari- 
ous heirs. 

Ebenezer  Smith  came  from  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,in  1823, 
having  settled  early  in  Oakland  County.  In  1834  he  en- 
tered land  in  the  township  of  Watertown,  and  in  1837 
made  a  permanent  settlement  on  section  18,  having  the 
winter  previous  erected  a  cabin  and  removed  a  portion  of 
his  goods  on  an  ox-sled.  Pontiac  was  at  this  time  the 
nearest  milling-point,  to  which  the  settlers  carried  their 
grists.  The  Waterloo  Joint  Stock  Company  had  begun 
their  improvements,  and  William  Chiedaman  was  the  man- 
ager of  the  boarding-house  erected  for  the  convenience  of 
the  laborers  employed.  J.  K.  Morris  also  lived  at  Wa- 
cousta, and  was  completing  his  contract  for  the  construc- 
tion of  a  dam  on  the  river.  James  Sowle  was  at  work  upon 
the  mill,  and  was  the  builder  of  the  first  frame  house, 
while  Mr.  Smith  boasted  the  earliest  frame  barn  in  the 
township.  Mr.  Smith  resided  upon  the  farm  until  his 
death  in  1863.  A  portion  of  the  land  is  occupied  by  Ran- 
som Brooks,  and  the  remainder  by  his  son,  A.  J.  Smith, 
at  present  one  of  the  township  justices  of  the  peace. 

The  earliest  prayer-meeting  in  the  township  was  con- 
vened at  the  house  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  was  no  doubt  the 
nucleus  from  which  grew  at  a  later  period  the  various  re- 
ligious organizations  of  Watertown. 

Parker  Webber,  a  former  resident  of  Cazenovia,  N.  Y., 
came  to  the  township  in  1839,  in  the  capacity  of  miller 
for  the  company  at  Wacousta,  and  ground  the  first  grist, 
which  consisted  of  a  bushel  of  corn.  He  was  the  miller  for 
many  years,  and  ultimately  purchased  a  mill  at  De  Witt,  . 
where  he  died.  John  Andrews,  brother-in-law  of  Mr. 
Webber,  settled  in  1839  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  7. 
This  land  was  uncleared  until  improved  by  him  and  made 


WATERTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


523 


productive.  He  remained  upon  it  and  continued  to  labor 
until  his  death  in  1860. 

Sidney  J.  Loomis  moved  to  Watertown  from  Orleans 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1839,  and  selected  a  farm  of  forty  acres  upon 
section  21.  He  found  a  wide  field  for  improvement  open 
to  him,  and  devoted  himself  with  earnestness  to  the  work. 
Mr.  Loomis  has  not  relaxed  his  energy,  but  still  devotes 
his  time  to  the  cultivation  of  his  early  purchase.  Joseph 
Sanborn  came  at  the  same  time,  and  bought  land  also  on 
section  21.  He  afterwards  moved  to  the  township  of  Ean'le 
and  secured  a  home  in  that  township. 

George  West  did  not  follow  agricultural  pursuits  for 
many  years  after  his  arrival  in  the  township.  The  Water- 
loo Joint  Stock  Company  were  engaged,  in  1837,  in  per- 
fecting arrangements  for  the  various  mercantile  enterprises 
then  projected,  and  Mr.  West  sought  employment  with 
them.  He  remained  in  Wacousta  until  1857,  when  a  farm 
was  purchased  by  him  embracing  forty  acres  on  section  16, 
formerly  owned  by  Curtis  Hart,  upon  which  a  small  im- 
provement had  been  made  and  a  frame  house  erected.  Mr. 
West  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  in  Watertown,  and  still 
actively  employed  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land. 

Elder  William  Wood  left  the  exciting  life  he  had  for- 
merly enjoyed  in  New  York  City  for  a  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Michigan,  and  purchased  forty  acres  on  section  17. 
He  was  a  Baptist  preacher,  and  combined  with  his  sacred 
office  the  calling  of  an  agriculturist.  Elder  Wood  was 
withal  a  very  popular  man,  and  one  who  commanded  the 
respect  of  his  neighbors,  both  for  his  intelligence  and  his 
sincerity.  He  led  a  consistent  life,  professed  what  he 
preached,  and  was  never  known  to  engage  in  a  horse-trade 
during  the  intervals  between  service,  as  were  many  others 
of  his  clerical  brethren.  He  is  still  a  resident  of  the  town- 
ship, and  one  of  its  few  venerable  pioneers  who  survive  the 
lapse  of  years. 

Francis  Hart,  another  Oakland  County  settler  of  1840, 
purchased  forty  acres  on  section  16,  which  he  found  unim- 
proved. Mr.  Hart  erected  a  house  upon  this  land  and  at 
once  began  clearing.  A  decided  change  in  its  condition 
was  eflFected  ere  many  years  had  elapsed,  and  ultimately  it 
attained  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Hart  died  at  the 
house  of  his  son,  who  occupied  the  farm,  in  1859.  Har- 
vey Weston  preceded  Mr.  Hart  by  two  years,  and  settled 
on  section  11.  The  first  winter  of  his  residence  was  spent 
with  the  family  of  Stephen  Hill,  during  which  time  he 
erected  a  cabin  and  then  returned  to  the  Bast  for  a  wife. 
He  remained  for  several  years  a  resident  of  the  township, 
but  ultimately  removed. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  tax-list  of  township  5 
north,  of  3  west,  for  18-1:1,  giving  the  names  of  only  those 
tax-payers  who  were  then  residing  in  the  township,  viz. : 

Acres. 

Calvin  Miirvin,  section  12 40 

Seth  P.  Marvin,  section  12 120 

R.  Marvin,  section  12 120 

E.  Butterfield,  Jr.,  section  12 80 

Warren,  section  14 80 

Weston,  section  H 80 

Stephen  Hill,  section  15 160 

Samuel  Foreman,  section  11 320 

Roberts,  section  2 ,. 40 

Goodwin,  section  3 160 

William  Mosier,  section  3 s IBO 

Selah  Ferris,  section  2 84 


Acres. 

Peter  Briggs,  section  22  20O 

Elihu  Lewis,  section  35 !..!!!!!..     20 

Billings  and  Haydon,  section  35 60 

A.  Adams,  section  25 .!!..."]!     40 

Charles  Prouton,  section  31 !'.!!'.'.'.'.!!!     80 

J.Smith,  section  29 \[  igQ 

J.  Lowell,  section  21 40 

J.  S.  Loomis,  section  21  80 

J.  Siinborn 

E.  Smith,  sections  7-14 218 

J.  H.  Spicer,  section  7  70 

Q.  H.  Andrews,  section  7 69 

J.  K.  Morris,  section  7  80 

William  Diets,  section  18 284 

Parker  Webber,  section  18 65 

E.  F.  Thompson 

Israel  Carpenter 

William  J,  King 

,       H.W.Brooks 

D.  C.  Moore,  section  17 36 

W.  Hubbcll,  sections  7-8,17-18 391 

B.  F.  Thompson,  section  21 80 

E.  P.  Daniells,  section  17 40 

R.  C.  Sisson,  section  17 10 

H.  W.  West,  section  17 30 

William  Lewis,  section  17 20 

King,  section  17 20 

F.  Hart,  section  19 80 

Joseph  Lowell  came  from  New  York  State  in  1813,  and 
located  upon  forty  acres  of  land  purchased  by  him  of  E. 
Frary  on  section  21.  In  the  midst  of  the  wilderness  which 
enveloped  it  he  cleared  a  tract  sufficiently  large  upon  which 
to  erect  a  log  house,  dwelling  meanwhile  in  a  cabin  built 
for  temporary  occupation.  At  the  raising  of  the  house  set- 
tlers assisted  who  came  a  distance  of  many  miles,  each 
anxious  to  welcome  the  presence  of  another  pioneer  to  their 
little  band.  Mr.  Lowell  improved  this  land,  and  resided 
upon  it  until  his  death.  Four  sons — Cassin,  G.  W.,  John 
H.,  and  Othman  W. — are  all  residents  of  the  township,  as 
are  also  five  daughters.  The  homestead  is  occupied  by  Ben- 
jamin F.  King. 

Daniel  Sherman  came  as  early  as  1832  from  Massachu- 
setts to  the  township  of  Farmington,  Oakland  Co.,  where 
he  remained  until  1843,  after  which  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  was  purchased  on  section  27.  Not  a  tree  had  yet 
been  felled  on  this  land,  and  the  only  settlers  near  were 
Lowell,  Sanborn,  and  Loomis.  Twenty  voters  gathered  at 
the  polls  the  year  of  his  arrival.  No  party  lines  existed  at 
this  time.  A  candidate  was  nominated,  all  voting  for  or 
against  him,  and  the  day  was  ended  with  frequent  draughts 
of  very  bad  whisky.  A  number  of  roads  had  been  sur- 
veyed, but  were  as  yet  little  traveled.  Indians  were 
numerous,  and  did  much  in  the  way  of  traffic  with  the 
whites.  Mr.  Sherman  in  1863  disposed  of  his  farm  to 
Joseph  Timmerman,  and  has  since  that  time  resided  in 
Wacousta,  having  been  for  years  proprietor  of  the  hotel  at 
that  place. 

N.  Badger  came  from  Ohio  in  1848  and  located  upon 
an  uncleared  farm  on  section  13.  He  experienced  all  the 
hardships  of  the  pioneer,  and  remained  upon  this  land 
until  his  death. 

Ray  Gr.  Tifi't,  another  emigrant  from  the  Buckeye  State, 
came  to  the  county  in  1846,  and  in  1850  purchased  eighty 
acres  on  section  11.  A  log  house  had  been  erected  upon  it 
and  a  small  tract  cleared  by  a  settler  named  Weston.  Mr. 
Tifft  made  rapid  progress  in  the  improvement  of  this  farm 
and  afterwards  erected  a  substantial  residence,  which  was 
occupied  by  him  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1877.  His 
widow  and  sons  are  the  present  owners  of  the  estate. 


5U 


HISTORY  OP  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


George  W.  Kinney,  from  Oakland  County,  located  in 
1847  upon  section  8,  when  a  small  chopping  had  been 
made  and  a  log  cabin  erected  upon  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  he  purchased.  This  cabin  Mr.  Kinney  shared 
with  a  family  until  a  log  house  of  more  spacious  propor- 
tions was  erected.  He  cleared  the  first  year  ten  acres,  and 
continued  to  improve  the  land  until  1852,  when  his  present 
home  on  section  3  was  purchased.  In  1870  his  residence 
was  burned,  and  six  years  later  the  present  house  was 
erected. 

Ira  Ide,  formerly  of  Livingston  County,  came  to  the 
township  in  1855  and  located  upon  eighty  acres  on  section 
11.  While  building  a  house  on  this  uncleared  land  he 
remained  with  Edson  Smith,  and  had  soon  accomplished  a 
considerable  clearing.     He  still  resides  upon  the  farm. 

Nelson  Hunt  came  from  Oakland  County  in  1856  and 
located  upon  eighty  acres  on  section  15.  He  had  originally 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  a  portion  of  which  was 
given  to  his  sons.  The  land  was  purchased  of  a  speculator 
named  Townsend,  Mr.  Hunt  having  come  soon  after  and 
erected  a  house  upon  it.  The  following  spring  he  became 
a  settler.  He  found  all  the  experiences  of  a  pioneer  await- 
ing him,  but  labor  and  perseverance  conquered  every  obsta- 
cle, and  ultimately  enabled  him  to  become  the  owner  of  a 
well-improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  upon 
which  in  1870  he  erected  a  comfortable  residence. 

Kobert  G.  Mason  came  from  Detroit  in  1856  and  located 
upon  seventy  acres  on  section  17.  This  was  uncleared,  but 
Mr.  Mason  inaugurated  a  system  of  improvements,  and  soon 
after  sold  to  C.  N.  Derbyshire  and  removed  to  De  Witt. 
On  his  return  from  the  army  in  1864  he  purchased  again 
on  section  11,  and  erected  a  substantial  residence  upon  the 
land,  which  he  still  occupies.  The  farm  is  cleared  and 
highly  cultivated. 

Among  other  early  settlers  in  Watertown  who  contrib- 
uted to  its  development  were  A.  Adams,  on  section  25  ; 
Elihu  Lewis,  on  section  35 ;  Charles  Prouton,  who  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  on  section  31  ;  J.  H.  Spicer,  who  set- 
tled upon  seventy  acres  on  section  7  ;  Parker  Webber,  who 
owned  sixty-five  acres  on  section  18  ;  D.  C.  Moore,  on  sec- 
tion 16;  E.  F.  Thompson,  on  section  21;  and  Peter 
Briggs,  who  owned  two  hundred  acres  on  section  22. 

EAELT   HIGHWAYS. 

The  earliest  road  through  the  township  is  that  known  as 
the  Grand  River  turnpike,  which  was  authorized  by  act  of 
Congress  of  1832.  It  was  projected  from  Detroit  to  Grand 
Haven  as  a  military  road.  The  survey  and  subsequent 
construction  of  the  road  was  begun  at  Detroit,  though  its 
progress  was  not  rapid.  The  date  of  its  completion  to 
Watertown,  where  it  entered  the  township  at  section  36 
and  made  its  exit  at  section  31,  is  not  a  matter  of  record. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  highway  commissioners  of  the 
township  of  Watertown,  on  the  Tuesday  preceding  the  an- 
nual township-meeting,  it  was  ordered  that  the  said  town- 
ship be  divided  into  the  following-described  districts,  viz. ; 

"  District  number  1  to  be  composed  of  sections  number 
1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  and  the  north  half  of  sections  number  7, 
8,  9,  10,  11,  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  12,  in 
township  number  5  north,  of  range  3  west.  < 


"  District  number  2  to  be  composed  of  the  south  half  of 
sections  number  10,  11,  12  and  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  12 ;  also  sections  number  13,  14,  15,  22,  23,  24  in 
said  township. 

"  District  number  3  to  be  composed  of  sections  number 
25,  26,  27,  34,  35,  36 ;  and 

"  District  number  4  to  be  composed  of  the  south  half  of 
sections  number  7,  8,  9  and  all  of  sections  number  16,  17, 

18,  19,  20,  21,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,  33,  all  in  township 
number  5  north,  of  range  3  west. 

"  Given  under  our  hands  at  Watertown,  this  27th  day  of 

March,  1838. 

"  William  Diets, 

"Joseph  Eddy, 

"  Samuel  Foreman, 

"  Highway  Commissioners." 

The  above  commissioners  as  early  as  May,  1837,  laid 
out  the  following  road  :  Commencing  at  the  corners  of  sec- 
tions 10, 11, 14,  and  15,  in  town  5  north,  of  range  3  west; 
thence  north  on  the  section-line  to  the  corners  of  sections 

14,  15,  22,  23,  in  township  6  north,  of  range  3  west. 
Also  in  July  of  the  same  year  a  highway  commencing 

at  the  quarter  stake  on  the  west  line  of  section  18,  township 
5  north,  of  range  3  west ;  thence  north  four  degrees  west 
three  chains ;  thence  west  sixty-six  degrees  north  forty-four 
chains ;  thence  west  ten  degrees  north  twenty  chains ;  thence 
west  eighteen  degrees  south  sixty  chains;  thence  north 
twenty-four  degrees  west  thirty  chains;  thence  north 
twenty-two  degrees  west  twenty  chains ;  thence  west  four 
degrees  north  sixty  chains  ;  thence  west  four  degrees  north 
ninety  chains  ;  thence  four  degrees  west  fifty-three  chains 
eighty-seven  links. 

Also  another  beginning  at  the  corners  of  sections  14, 15, 
22,  and  23 ;  thence  north  four  degrees  west  one  hundred 
and  sixty  chains. 

Also  a  road  beginning  at  the  corners  of  sections  13, 18, 

19,  and  24;  thence  east  on  the  section-line  four  degrees 
north  to  the  east  line  of  township  5  north,  of  range  3  west. 

ORGANIZATION   OF   THE   TOWNSHIP. 

An  act  of  the  State  Legislature  approved  March  20, 1837, 
provided  and  declared,  "  That  the  townships  in  ranges  3  and 
4  west,  in  the  county  of  Clinton,  be  a  township  by  the  name 
of  Watertown,  and  the  people  therein  shall  be  entitled  to 
all  the  privileges  incidenfto  inhabitants  of  organized  town- 
ships, and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Anthony  Niles,  in  said  township  of  Water- 
town."  This  territory  then  embraced  all  the  west  half  of 
the  county  of  Clinton. 

Townships  Nos.  7  and  8  north,  of  ranges  3  and  4  west, 
embracing  the  present  townships  of  Lebanon,  Dallas,  Essex, 
and  Bengal,  was  set  off  by  act  of  Legislature  dated  March 
6,  1838,  and  known  as  the  township  of  Wandaugon  (now 
Lebanon).  Township  6  north,  of  range  4  west,  was  erected 
March  21,  1839,  as  the  township  of  Westphalia.  Town- 
ship 6  north,  of  range  3  west,  was  by  act  of  March  15, 
1841,  made  Riley;  and  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  March 

15,  1841,  created  township  No.  5  north,  of  range  4  west, 
as  the  township  of  Eagle,  reducing  Watertown  to  its  present 
limits. 


WATERTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


525 


WATEETOWN  CIVIL  LIST. 
The  record  of  the  first  township  election  has  not  been 
preserved,  and  it  is  therefore  not  possible  to  give  a  list  of 
the  officers  for  that  year.  It  is,  however,  probable  that 
Calvin  Marvin  was  chosen  as  the  first  supervisor.  The  offi- 
cers elected  in  succeeding  years  have  been  as  follows : 


1838.  Calvin  Marvin. 

1839.  Philo  Beers. 

1840.  Jared  Higby. 

1841.  Calvin  Marvin. 
1842-43.  Harvey  Hunter, 
1844-45.  Calvin  Marvin. 
1846-48,  Harvey  Hunter 

1849.  E.  P.  Ingersoll. 

1850.  Harvey  Hunter. 

1851.  N.  I.  Daniells. 

1852.  Harvey  Hunter. 
1863.  Horatio  Hunter. 

1854.  D.  I.  Daniells. 

1855.  C.  M.  Derbyshire. 

1856.  Harvey  Hunter. 

1857.  D.  I.  Daniells. 


SUPERVISORS. 

1858-59.  Ezekiel  Niles. 

1860.  Samuel  B.  Dayton. 

1861.  Ezekiel  Niles. 

1862.  Henry  Gibbs. 

1863.  D.  A.  Davis. 

1864.  Charles  B.  Eastman. 

1865.  P.  L.  Smith. 

1866.  Daniel  L.  Wilson. 
1867-68.  F.  L.  Smith. 
1869.  George  Smith. 
1870-71.  George  W.  Kinney. 

1872.  S.  U.  Alexander. 

1873.  George  W.  Kinney. 

1874.  S.  U.  Alexander. 
1875-79.  G.  W.  Kinney. 
1830.  James  Timmerman. 


TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 


1838.  Charles  R.  Spicer. 
1839-40.  J.  K.  Morris. 
1841.  Grafton  Webber. 
1842-43.  Walter  Hubbell. 
1844-45.  J.  K.  Morris. 

1846.  Thomas  J.  Allen. 

1847.  Stephen  Hill. 

1848.  Egbert  Ingersoll. 

1849.  Nelson  Daniells. 

1850.  Stephen  Hill. 

1851.  Henry  Snow. 
1852-53.  Sidney  Frary. 
1854.  S.  E.  Hazard. 
1856-66.  J.  C.  Backus. 

1857.  Ezekiel  Niles. 

1858.  R.  W.  Holbrook. 

1859.  D.  A.  Davis. 


1860.  Stephen  Hill. 
1861-62.  Lewis  Timmerman. 

1863.  D.  F.  Betts. 

1864.  Cassin  Lowell. 

1865.  George  E.  King. 
1866-67.  A.  A.  Hunt. 

1868.  Lewis  Timmerman. 

1869.  A.  A.  Hunt. 

1870.  George  W.  West. 

1871.  Luther  F.  Conrad. 

1872.  George  W.  Lowell. 

1873.  George  E.  King. 

1874.  George  W.  West. 

1875.  George  B.  King. 
1876-77.  0.  A.  Lockwood. 
1878-79.  George  W.  Burt. 
1880.  G.  C.  Higbee. 


JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 


1837.  Henry  Rowland. 
Morris  S.  Allen. 
Charles  R.  Spicer. 
Stephen  Hill. 

1838.  Anthony  Niles. 

D.  A.  Simmons. 

1839.  Stephen  Hill. 

1840.  Jared  Higbee. 

1841.  Grafton  Webber. 
Seth  P.  Marvin. 
Joseph  Sanborn. 

1842.  Walter  Hubbell. 

1843.  Stephen  Hill. 

1844.  Morris  S.  Allen. 
1846.  Joseph  Sanborn. 

1846.  Daniel  R.  Carpenter. 
Josiah  Lowell. 

E.  F.  Thompson. 

1847.  Stephen  Hill. 
D.  S.  Ingersoll. 

1848.  D.  S.  Ingersoll. 

1849.  Henry  Houghtaling. 

1850.  Josiah  Lowell. 
1861.  D.  S.  Ingersoll. 

1852.  Stephen  Hill. 
Joseph  Woodruff. 
N.  I.  Daniells. 

1853.  William  Wood. 


1854. 
1855. 

1866. 
1867. 

1858. 

1859. 
1860. 

1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 


1870. 

187L 
1872. 
1873, 
1874, 
1875, 
1876 


Samuel  Foreman. 
B.  G.  Niles. 
R.  W.  Buck. 
Harvey  Gibbs. 
N.  I.  Daniells. 
Philip  Burt. 
George  C.  Jarvis. 
Aaron  Reed. 
Charles  E.  Eastman. 
A.  J.  Reed. 
William  Wood. 
Henry  F.  Brown. 
George  C.  Jarvis. 
N.  I.  Daniells. 
George  W.  Kinney. 
Nelson  Hunt. 
Lewis  Timmerman. 
N.  I.  Daniells. 
G.  W.  Kinney. 
Bliott  Shadduok. 
Lewis  Timmerman. 

F.  L.  Smith. 

G.  C.  Jarvis. 
William  Boylan. 
F.  L.  Smith. 
Lewis  Timmerman. 
George  W.  Lowell. 
A.  J.  Smith. 


1877.  John  B.  Howe. 

1878.  William  Boylan. 

1879.  Lewis  Timmerman. 


1841.  George  W.  West. 
1842-43.  Parker  Webber. 
1844-46.  Parker  Webber. 
1846-48.  George  W.  West, 
1849-50.  G.  W.  West. 

1861.  Edward  Bntterfield. 

1862.  George  W.  West. 
1853-54.  E.  P.  Daniells. 
1855.  Jason  Nichols. 

1866.  Samuel  Foreman. 

1867.  A.  M.  Roberts. 

1858.  Henry  Gibbs. 

1859.  Daniel  Sherman. 

1860.  D.  S.  Ingersoll. 


1880. 

A.  J.  Smith. 

George  C.  Jarvis. 

TREASURERS. 

1861. 

Ira  Ide. 

1862. 

Samuel  Clark. 

1863- 

64.  Edwin  Reed. 

1865- 

66.  S.  W.  Cronkite. 

1867- 

68.  Samuel  Clark. 

1869- 

-70.  John  Cupid.- 

1871. 

D.  L.  Wilson. 

1872. 

Harvey  Hunter. 

1873 

Mark  Jenney. 

1874 

Robert  G.  Mason. 

1875 

-76.  Joseph  Walford. 

1877 

-79.  John  G.  Sohlee. 

1880 

William  A.  Lee. 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 


1838. 
1839. 
1840. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 

1846. 

1846. 

1847. 

1848. 

1849, 
1850, 


Morris  Boughton. 
Heman  Thomas. 
Samuel  Foreman. 
Henry  Gibbs. 
Stephen  Hill. 
David  Clark. 
Jared  Higbee. 
Henry  Gibbs. 
Stephen  Hill. 
E.  P.  Daniells. 
E.  Billings. 
Samuel  Foreman. 
Ezra  P.  Daniells. 
Joseph  S.  Loomis. 
A.  R.  Marvin. 
Jonas  Smith. 
E.  P.  Daniells. 
Grofton  Webber. 
Harry  Weston. 
Thomas  J.  Allen, 
E.  P.  Daniells. 

Ezra  Billings. 

Josiah  Lowell. 

A.  R.  Marvin. 

AVilliam  Diets. 

Eliot  Ingersoll. 

Jason  Nichols. 

Jonas  Smith. 

Jason  Nichols. 

A.  R.  Marvin. 

G.  W.  Kinney. 

J.  H.  Andrews. 

D.  R.  Cutter. 

A.  R.  Marvin. 

Jason  Nichols. 

Jason  Nichols. 


1860.  Eliot  Ingersoll. 

1851.  A.  R.  Marvin. 
Jonas  Smith. 

1852.  A.  J.  Reed. 

1853.  B.  F.  Ilammill. 
E.  Ingersoll. 
Joseph  S.  Loomis. 

1854.  William  Lee, 

E.  Ingersoll. 

1855.  A.  J.  Reed. 
1866.  C.  N.  Derbyshire. 
1857.  C.  E.  Eastman. 

Egbert  Ingersoll. 
1868.  G.  W.  Kinney, 

F.  L.  Smith. 

1859.  Egbert  Ingersoll. 

1860.  WillardKing. 

1861.  Daniel  Sherman. 
■    Edward  Root. 

1862.  George  Smith. 

1863.  Charles  E.  Eastman. 

1864.  B.  S.  Derbyshire. 

1865.  S.  M.  Cook. 

1866.  A.  J.  Smith. 

1867.  Robert  G.  Mason. 

1868.  Egbert  Ingersoll. 

1869.  John  H.  Lowell. 

1870.  Lockwood  Clark. 

1871.  0.  W.  Lowell. 

1872.  George  Oliver. 

1873.  Martin  Maior. 

1874.  A.  J.  Jones. 
1876.  R.  G.  Mason. 
1876-77.  Seth  M.  Cook. 
1878.  George  Reeves. 
1879-80.  John  G.  Sohlee. 


SCHOOL 


1838.  Seth  P.  Marvin. 
E.  F.  Thompson, 
S.  B.  Groger. 

1839.  S.  P.  Marvin. 
Philo  Beers. 

E.  F.  Thompson. 

1840.  Seth  P.  Marvin. 
Philo  Beers. 
Charles  R.  Spicer. 

1841.  Walter  Hubbell. 
Seth  P.  Marvin. 
B.  F.  Thompson. 

1842.  Stephen  Hill. 
Charles  Goodwin. 


1842. 

B.  F.  Thompson. 

1843. 

Charles  Goodwin 

Stephen  Hill. 

Harvey  Hunter. 

1844. 

Thomas  Allen. 

H.  Hunter. 

M.  P.  Buroh. 

1846. 

No  record. 

1846 

Egbert  Ingersoll 

1847. 

William  Wood. 

1848. 

0.  B.  Ingersoll, 

1849 

B.  P.  Ingersoll. 

1850 

G.  W.  Lowell. 

1851 

N.  I.  Daniells. 

526 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTS,  MICHIGAN. 


1852. 

No  record. 

1866.  D.  A.  Davis. 

1853. 

Henry  Snow. 

1867.  H.  P.  Clark. 

1854. 

Sidney  Frary. 

1868.  Lyman  Townsond. 

1855. 

J.  W.  Timmerman. 

1869.  H.  P.  Clark. 

1856. 

F.  L.  Smith. 

1870.  L.  F.  Conrad. 

1857. 

Seth  M.  Cook. 

1871.  Warren  Smith. 

1858. 

K.  F.  Morse. 

1872.  A.  A.  Hunt. 

1859. 

N.  I.  Daniells. 

1873.  S.M.Cook. 

1860. 

Ilix  Horton. 

1874.  Peter  Oliver. 

1861. 

R.  W.  Holbrook. 

1875.  S.  M.  Cook. 

1862. 

F.  L.  Smith. 

1876.  Egbert  Ingersoll. 

1863. 

R.  W.  Holbrook. 

1877-78.  John  Q.  Benedict 

1864. 

S.  M.  Cook. 

1879.  George  C.  Higbee. 

1865. 

D.  F.  Belts. 

1880.  R.  M.  Brooks. 

DRAIN 

COMMISSIONERS. 

1873. 

Harvey  Hunter. 

1878.  William  S.  Miller. 

1874. 

0.  W.  Lowell. 

1879.  0.  A.  Lockwood. 

1875- 

76.  Thomas  Reed. 

1880.  Albert  D.  Wood. 

1877. 

George  C.  Jarvis. 

SUPERINTENDENT   OF  SCHOOLS. 

1875-76.  L.  F.  Conrad.  1879.  R.  M.  Brooks. 

1877-78.  Lyman  Townsend.  1880.  Miss  Emma  L.  Wiekham. 

EAELY  SCHOOL  STATISTICS. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  school  inspectors  held  at 
the  office  of  the  township  clerk  on  the  7th  day  of  April, 
1838,  Seth  P.  Marvin  was  chosen  chairman,  and  the  board 
proceeded  to  the  transaction  of  business,  making  the  di- 
vision of  school  districts  as  follows,  viz. : 

"  The  west  half  of  town  number  five  north  of  ran^e 
number  three  west,  with  sections  22,  27,  34,  except  the 
north  half  of  sections  4,  5,  6,  shall  comprise  district  num- 
ber one. 

"  District  number  two  shall  embrace  the  southeast  quarter 
of  said  township  five  north  of  range  three  west. 

"District  number  three  shall  embrace  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  1,  the  north  half  of  section  2,  all  of 
section  3,  and  the  north  half  of  sections  4,  5,  6,  in  town- 
ship five  north  of  range  three  west,  and  all  that  part  of 
township  six  north  of  range  three  west,  lying  south  of  the 
quarter-line  through  sections  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12. 

"  District  number  four  shall  embrace  the  north  half  of 
township  five  north  of  range  four  west,  except  the  east 
half  of  sections  1,  12,  13,  north  of  the  Looking-Glass 
Eiver. 

"  District  number  five  shall  be  composed  of  the  south 

half  of  paid  township. 

"  Stephen  B.  Groger. 

"  Seth  P.  Marvin. 

"  Ephraim  E.  Thompson. 
"  C.  R.  Spicer, 

"  Township  Clerlt. 

"  Watertown,  April  7,  1838." 

The  earliest  school  in  Watertown  was  opened  at  Wa- 
cousta,  then  embraced  in  fractional  school  district  No.  1 
and  now  a  portion  of  district  No.  6.  It  was  held  in  the 
upper  story  of  a  store  occupied  by  Daniel  Hubbell,  there 
having  been  at  that  time  no  school  building  erected,  and 
was  taught  by  Mrs.  Daniel  Moore.  In  1844,  or  possibly 
earlier,  a  contract  was  awarded  to  Henry  Gibbs  for  the 
erection  of  a  school  building  in  this  district,  who  was  as- 


sisted in  its  construction  by  Royal  Benson.  Miss  Sarah 
Beers  and  Miss  Ehoda  Brooks  were  also  early  teachers, 
and  probably  exercised  a  wholesome  discipline  upon  the 
youth  of  Wacousta  before  a  school-house  was  constructed 
in  the  township.  The  second  school  building  was  erected 
on  section  34,  then  embraced  in  district  No.  2,  but  the 
earliest  instructor  is  not  remembered. 

The  present  school  territory  of  Watertown  is  divided 
into  one  fractional  and  six  whole  districts,  over  whom  pre- 
side the  following  board  of  directors, — William  M.  Jones 
George  W.  West,  J.  T.  Backus,  0.  W.  Lowell,  RG.  Mason' 
0.  H.  Smith,  Christopher  Summers.  Three  hundred  and 
sixty-one  scholars  received  instruction  during  the  past  year 
of  whom  eleven  were  non-residents.  They  were  under  the 
supervision  of  a  corps  of  eight  male  and  eleven  female 
teachers,  who  received  in  salaries  an  aggregate  sum  of 
seventeen  hundred  and  twenty-four  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 
The  school  property  of  the  township,  embracing  one  brick 
and  six  frame  buildings,  is  valued  at  five  thousand  seven 
hundred  dollars. 

WACOUSTA. 

In  July,  1837,  an  association  was  formed  with  the 
avowed  purpose  of  organizing  a  company,  to  be  known 
as  the  "  Waterloo  Joint-Stock  Company."  The  mem- 
bers of  the  company,  or  more  properly  the  stockholders, 
were  Alexander  Goodell,  Charles  Hubbell,  Orson  E.  Hall, 
Reuben  R.  Gibson,  Thomas  0.  Hill,  and  Charles  A.  Trow- 
bridge. They  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Watertown  de- 
scribed as  "  lying  upon  the  Looking-Glass  River,  and  being 
the  southeast  fraction  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
17,  township  5  west,  of  range  3  west;  also  the  east  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  7,  in  the  same  township  ; 
also  the  east  fraction  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  18  ; 
also  the  northwest  fraction  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 8 ;  also  the  west  fraction  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  17  in  the  same  township."  The  object  of  this.pur- 
chase,  as  stated  in  the  articles  of  agreement,  was  the  im- 
provement of  the  real  estate  and  the  laying  out  of  a  town 
therein,  and  the  disposing  of  lots  for  building  purposes. 

The  company  appointed  Charles  R.  Spicer  as  their  resi- 
dent agent,  and  at  once  began  a  system  of  improvements  in- 
volving an  expenditure  of  twelve  thousand  dollars. 

A  saw-mill  was  first  erected,  and  immediately  after,  a 
grist-mill,  a  dwelling  having  meanwhile  been  constructed 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  men  employed  on  the  works, 
and  superintended  by  William  Chridawan.  A  store  was 
also  opened  by  the  company. 

It  needed,  however,  but  little  time  to  develop  the  fact 
that  the  scheme  was  not  destined  to  financial  success.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  a  lease  of  the  property,  in- 
cluding four  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land,  and  the  mills 
and  dwelling,  was  secured  by  Charles  R.  Spicer  for  the 
sum  of  eight  hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  annually.  Spicer 
then  took  possession  of  the  property,  but  failed  to  make  any 
payments  on  the  lease,  and  finally  departed  for  New 
York.  The  property  was  ultimately  sold  at  auction  in  the 
city  of  Detroit,  and  was  purchased  by  Cornelius  O'Flynn 
and  William  K.  Coyle,  both  of  Detroit,  who  obtained  a 
title  and  reorganized  the  company. 


WATERTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


527 


In  1848  the  latter  gentleman  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
N.  I.  Daniells,  and  Cornelius  O'Flynn  conveyed  his  share  to 
Elias  Daniells.  With  this  later  transfer  ended  the  decaying 
fortunes  of  the  Waterloo  Joint-Stock  Company. 

The  mill  property  was  subsequently  owned  by  Messrs. 
Hunter  &  Silsbee,  who  arrived  in  1840,  and  established  a 
general  store  at  this  point,  having  purchased  the  business  of 
Walter  Hubbell,  though  the  mill  property  not  having  been 
managed  by  them  to  profit,  had  been  allowed  to  go  to  decay. 
The  above-named  firm  were  formerly  peddlers,  and  after 
having  by  fair  dealing  obtained  an  extended  patronage  in 
adjacent  parts  of  the  country,  ultimately  located  at  Wa- 
cousta,  where  a  very  lucrative  system  of  barter  and  trade 
was  maintained  with  the  settlers. 

N.  I.  and  Nelson  Daniells  arrived  in  1848  (having  been 
former  residents  of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.),  and  at  once  repaired 
the  mill  property.  The  grist-mill,  which  was  in  a  condi- 
tion unfit  for  service,  was  at  once  remodeled,  and  the  saw- 
mill also  thoroughly  rebuilt.  A  store  was  opened  by  them, 
and  in  1855  the  old  grist-mill  was  replaced  by  a  new  one, 
which  is  now  owned  by  Nelson  Daniells.  This  mill  has 
three  run  of  stones,  and  is  devoted  to  both  custom-  and 
merchant- work.  It  is  located  upon  the  Looking-Glass 
lliver,  from  whence  its  power  is  derived,  and  has  a  capacity 
of  four  hundred  bushels  per  day.  Much  patronage  is  en- 
joyed from  the  adjacent  country,  though  Lansing  and  the 
East  furnish  a  market  for  its  merchant  work. 

The  saw-mill,  which  is  also  owned  by  Mr.  Daniells,  em- 
braces planing  machinery,  and  has  a  capacity  of  two  thou- 
sand feet  per  day.     It  does  custom-work  exclusively. 
There  are  at  Wacousta  six  stores,  owned  as  follows : 
Carey  R.  Daniells  has  a  general  store. 
Carmer  Brothers,  of  Lansing,  have  also  a  general  store, 
managed  by  0.  A.  Smith. 

H.  D.  Weaver  has  a  market  and  also  a  grocery-store. 
G.  W.  Burt  combines  drugs  and  medicines  with  a  stock 
of  groceries. 

Frank  E.  Davis  deals  in  boots  and  shoes,  and  groceries. 
Two  blacksmith-shops  are  conducted  by  P.  H.  Blass  & 
Son,  and  Alonzo  Waldron. 

Mrs.  Cook  has  a  millinery  establishment. 
William  Hosner  is  the  landlord,  while  Frank  B.  Davis 
is  postmaster,  and   Henry  J.   Patterson  and   Joseph  A. 
Myers  are  the  lawyers  of  the  village.     Drs.  A.  S.  Hyatt 
and  S.  A.  Mauzer  are  the  physicians. 

The  projectors  of  the  village  had  determined  upon 
"  Waterloo"  as  a.  euphonious,  and  at  the  time  a  popular  cog- 
nomen for  the  rising  village,  but  subsequent  investigation 
proved  that  a  post-office  of  similar  name  already  existed  in 
the  State.  Some  early  settler,  with  an  intense  admiration 
for  the  character  of  the  historic  Wacousta,*  suggested  the 
name  as  a  substitute,  and  it  was  at  once  adopted. 

GRAND  EIVEK   CITY. 
In  the  summer  of  1834,  Erastus  IngersoU  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  township  of  Delta,  on  the  northern 

»  In  the  conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  in  1763,  Major  Gladwin,  the  com- 
mandant at  Detroit,  was  apprised  by  the  Indian  maiden  Wacousta 
of  the  intention  of  the  Indians  to  surprise  and  massacre  the  garnson 
at  the  fort,  and  thus  the  plot  was  defeated.  At  least  this  is  one  of 
the  traditions  of  that  conspiracy. 


boundary-line  of  the  county  of  Eaton,  and  in  1836  added 
to  this  purchase  eighty  acres  on  section  35  in  the  township 
of  Watertown,  and  a  year  later  an  additional  eighty  on  sec- 
tion 36.  Elihu  P.  IngersoU  also  bought  eighty  acres  at  the 
same  date  on  section  34.  This  portion  of  the  State  was  at 
that  early  date  little  else  than  a  vast  forest,  diversified  by 
occasional  oak-openings,  and  surprise  was  manifested  on 
the  part  of  friends  of  the  gentleman  that  he  should  have 
chosen  so  isolated  a  spot.  The  prospective  removal  of  the 
State  capital  had,  however,  influenced  him  to  choose  what 
he  deemed  a  central  location,  trusting  to  circumstances  to 
enhance  the  value  of  this  land. 

In  the  year  1836  he  erected  a  log  house,  and  having  se- 
cured an  individual  named  Avery  to  superintend  operations, 
brought  a  squad  of  men  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  dam 
and  erecting  mills.  Soon  after  the  services  of  John  Thayer, 
a  surveyor,  resident  in  Farmington,  Oakland  Co.,  were  se- 
cured, and  a  village  was  marked  out  extending  from  the 
G-rand  River  to  the  Grand  River  turnpike,  and  this  pros- 
pective village  was  immediately  christened  Grand  River 
City.  On  the  completion  of  the  saw-mill  the  men  were 
employed  in  clearing  and  chopping  preparatory  to  the  rais- 
ing of  crops. 

Early  during  the  winter  of  1837  E.  S.  IngersoU  with  his 
family  arrived,  and  became  residents  of  the  place,  and  in 
June  of  the  same  year  a  party  of  gentlemen  including  Dr. 
Isaac  Jennings,  Rev.  E.  P.  IngersoU,  Charles  W.  Gurney, 
and  others,  all  of  Massachusetts,  arrived,  having  as  their  ob- 
ject the  establishment  of  an  extensive  educational  enterprise 
at  Grand  River  City.     The  State  Legislature  passed  and 
approved  an  act  incorporating  the  school  April  11,  1839, 
indicating  it  as  the  Grand  River  Theological  Seminary,  with 
Isaac  Jennings,  Thomas  Blossom,  John  J.  Sheppard,  Josiah 
Tole,  Erastus  IngersoU,  Charles  W.  Gurney,  Samuel  Chad- 
wick,  and  E.  P.  IngersoU  as  a  board  of  trustees.     It  fur- 
ther invested  the  said  trustees  with  power  to  erect  "  in  the 
village  of   Orion,  in   Eaton   and   Clinton    Counties  [the 
county-line  running  through  the  village],  such  buildings 
as  they  may  judge  the  interests  of  the  institution  shall  at 
any  time  demand."     The  school  was  to  have  been  con- 
ducted on  a  plan  similar  to  that  adopted  by  many  Eastern 
institutions,  involving  a  system  of  manual  labor  as  an  ac- 
companiment of  instruction. 

A  site  was  chosen  for  the  buUding,  the  lumber  was  par- 
tially prepared,  and  Rev.  E.  P.  IngersoU  was  delegated  to 
solicit  aid  for  the  enterprise.  The  subscriptions  on  paper 
were  so  numerous  as  to  warrant  the  most  sanguine  predictions 
of  success,  when  the  wildcat  banking  system  of  Michigan 
collapsed,  and  in  the  general  financial  wreck  which  ensued 
were  engulfed  all  the  brilliant  hopes  for  the  future  of  Grand 
River  C°ity.  Mr.  Erastus  IngersoU  resided  in  Farmington, 
Oakland  Co.,  where  he  died  in  1851.  He  divided  his 
estate  in  Watertown  among  his  sons,  Elial,  Orville  B.,  Eg- 
bert, and  Truman,  all  of  whom  as  early  as  the  year  1842 
became  residents  of  this  township. 

CHUECH  HISTOEY. 
CONGEEQATIONAL  CHURCH. 
An  ecclesiastical  council  convened  at  Wacousta,  Mich., 
on  the  8th  day  of  July,  1862,  pursuant  to  an  invitation  of 


528 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


certain  individuals  who  desired  to  be  organized  as  a  Con- 
gregational Church.  The  council  having  been  convened  by 
the  choice  of  Rev.  H.  A.  Read,  of  Marshall,  as  moderator, 
and  Rev.  W.  B.  Williams,  of  Charlotte,  as  clerk,  prayer 
was  offered  and  the  letter  read  which  designated  the  pur- 
pose of  the  meeting.  The  following  persons  publicly 
assented  to  the  confession  of  faith,  and  solemnly  entered 
into  covenant  to  walk  together  in  Christian  fellowship :  J. 
D.  Millard,  Jane  L.  Millard,  John  A.  Hamilton,  Maria 
Hamilton,  Mrs.  Cornelia  N.  Hazard,  Mrs.  Mary  Bissell, 
Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Davidson,  Miss  Percis  Root. 

At  the  first  regular  meeting  John  A.  Hamilton  was 
elected  Deacon ;  Persis  Root,  Treasurer ;  and  Cornelia  N. 
Hazard,  Church  Clerk.  In  the  following  year  David  I. 
Daniells,  N.  L.  Daniells,  and  Rev.  William  P.  Esler  were 
elected  a  financial  committee,  and  to  Rev.  J.  D.  Millard  was 
extended  an  invitation  to  serve  as  pastor  the  following  year. 
Rev.  Mr.  Millard  accepted,  and  remained  as  pastor  in  charge 
until  1866,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Ashley. 
The  church  next  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  N.  D.  Glidden, 
who  filled  the  ministerial  office  until  1872,  when  Rev. 
William  H.  Skentelbury,  of  the  Chicago  Theological  Sem- 
inary, was  invited  to  the  charge,  and  at  a  later  period  ac- 
cepted. An  effort  was  made  to  erect  a  house  of  worship 
soon  after,  and  a  lot  was  purchased.  Subscriptions  having 
been  offered  with  much  zeal,  the  congregation  felt  encour- 
aged to  begin  the  work.  The  edifice  was  completed  at  a 
cost  of  eighteen  hundred  dollars,  and  the  dedicatory  ser- 
vices were  held  on  the  13th  of  January,  1875. 

A  flourishing  Sabbath-school  is  connected  with  the  so- 
ciety, of  which  L.  J.  Gibson  is  superintendent.  During 
the  summer  months  one  hundred  and  twenty  members  are 
enrolled.  The  present  church  officers  are  Munsen  Austin, 
Oscar  Hart,  George  H.  Niles,  Deacons ;  R.  E.  Hamilton, 
Treasurer ;  G.  W.  Burt,  Clerk.  Rev.  W.  H.  Skentelbury 
is  still  the  pastor,  and  resides  in  the  village  of  Wacousta. 
The  church-roll  numbers  seventy-five  members. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

A  Baptist  society  was  organized  in  Wacousta  during  the 
year  1854,  and  a  legal  organization  was  effected  as  early  as 
July  4th  of  that  year,  with  the  following  as  a  board  of 
trustees :  Harvey  Hunter,  John  C.  Backus,  George  W. 
Perigo,  Charles  M.  Derbyshire,  and  David  P.  Daniells. 
The  society  flourished  for  a  time,  but  with  the  presence  of 
later  organizations  much  of  the  support  of  the  church-going 
portion  of  the  township  was  diverted  into  other  channels, 
and  the  Baptist  Church  has  now  no  existence  other  than  in 
the  memory  of  its  former  adherents. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OF  WACOUSTA. 
The  organization  and  first  preachers  of  this  society  have 
not  been  ascertained.  The  church  in  which  they  worship 
was  erected  in  1867,  and  dedicated  in  April,  1868.  The 
dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mead 
the  Rev.  John  Bragins  being  in  charge  at  that  time.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Revs.  Thomas  Clark,  H.  D.  Jordan,  S. 

P.  Hewitt, Cadwell,  B.  S.  Pratt,  and  the  Rev.  W. 

R.  McEwen,  who  is  the  present  pastor.     The  trustees  of 
the  church  are  H.  Farloch,  T.  Bateman,  J.  Q.  Benedict, 


D.  Niles,  and  William  Warbais.  The  church  numbers  at 
present  thirty-three.  A  Sunday-school  is  in  connection 
with  the  church  containing  fifty  pupils.  William  Miller  is 
superintendent. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


GEORGE  GALL. 

George  Gall  was  born  in  Newton,  Cambridgeshire,  Eng- 
land, Oct.  11,  1824.  His  father,  Edward  Gall,  was  born 
in  Leverton,  England,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  working 
as  soon  as  large  enough  at  common  labor.  He  married 
Susan  Andrus.  They  had  eight  children,  George  being 
the  second.  He,  too,  was  a  common  laborer,  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  old,  when  he  was  apprenticed  for  three  years 
to  James  Hardmeat,  of  Wisbech,  to  learn  the  butcher's 
trade.  After  learning  his  trade  he  went  to  Ely,  where  he 
worked  in  a  meat-market  for  seven  shillings  per  week.  In 
May,  1849,  Mr.  Gall  took  passage  in  a  sailing-vessel  for 
New  York.  He  had  saved  the  money  to  buy  his  ticket  by 
putting  a  few  shillings  at  a  time  in  the  savings-bank.  He 
had  learned  that  in  the  mother-country  only  a  life  of  toil 
and  poverty  awaited  him,  and  he  determined  to  see  what 
labor  and  economy  would  do  for  him  in  the  new  world  be- 
yond the  sea.  He  landed  in  New  York  after  a  month's 
voyage,  and  with  but  ten  cents  in  his  pocket.  This  would 
not  buy  a  meal  for  himself  and  comrade,  John  Nourse,  so 
he  bought  them  each  a  glass  of  American  beer.  Their  ticket 
was  to  Buffalo,  but  they  went  only  to  Lockport,  where  they 
both  hired  out  for  ten  dollars  per  month.  Here  Mr.  Gall 
remained  during  the  summer.  During  the  next  two  years 
he  worked  by  the  month  at  farm  labor,  his  highest  wages 
being  thirteen  dollars  per  month.  Eighteen  months  after 
his  arrival  he  sent  two  hundred  dollars  to  his  father  with 
which  to  bring  the  family  to  this  country.  His  employer 
advanced  one  season's  earnings  to  enable  him  to  send  that 
amount.  When  his  parents  and  four  sisters  arrived  they 
found  a  home  awaiting  them  which  had  been  rented  by 
George,  who  never  forgot  to  "  honor  his  father  and  mother." 
In  1851  he  bought  forty  acres  of  new  land  in  Watertown, 
and  then  after  working  one  year  more  by  the  month,  he, 
with  his  father's  family,  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  on 
his  land.  Their  family  was  large  and  they  had  no  means, 
and  for  a  time  George  found  supplying  the  wants  of  so 
many  no  easy  task.  But  he  was  not  easily  discouraged, 
and  with  untiring  energy  he  went  to  work.  In  the  winter 
he  thrashed  grain  with  a  flail,  doing  an  amount  of  work 
that  to  the  young  men  of  to-day  would  seem  incredible. 
In  the  summer  months  he  worked  on  his  farm  when  not 
compelled  to  work  for  others  to  supply  the  family  wants. 
His  sisters  married  from  his  home,  while  the  father  and 
mother  rassed  with  him  the  remainder  of  their  days,  the 
mother  living  to  see  her  son  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm,  and 
a  man  honored  and  esteemed  by  his  neighbors  for  his  in- 
dustry and  sterling  integrity.  Oct.  19,  1863,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Celia  Rudgers,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lil- 
lias  J.  (Bush)  Rudgers,  born  in  La  Grange,  Wyoming  Co., 


WATERTOWN  TOWNSHIP; 


529 


N.  T.,  Nov.  22,  1840.  Her  people  were  early  settlers  in 
Orange  township,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  where  her  father  cleared 
a  new  farm.  He  is  still  living  in  Dallas,  Clinton  Co.  The 
death  of  her  mother  when  she  was  nine  years  old  made  it 
necessary  for  her  to  work  out  by  the  week,  which  she  did 
for  years.     Mr.  Gall  now  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty 


acres  of  fine  land  under  good  improvement,  with  good 
house  and  out-buildings,  the  result  of  hard  labor  and  good 
management.  Their  children  were  Hannah  L.,  born  Oct. 
12,  1864,  died  March  28,  1865;  Ida  M.,  April  4,  1866; 
Elizabeth  J.,  Sept.  4,  1868 ;  Thomas  B.,  July  2,  1871 ; 
George  H.,  Nov.  13,  1873 ;  and  Linna  C,  April  6,  1877. 


I,        IS  \ 

MRS.  ELIEL  INGERSOLL. 


ELIEL  INGERSOLL. 


ELIEL  INGEESOLL. 


In  the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century  three  brothers, 
of  whom  one  was  William  Ingersoll,  emigrated  from  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  the  town  of  Lee,  in  what  afterwards 
became  the  celebrated  county  of  Berkshire,  Mass.  At  the 
first  election  held  in  the  town  he  was  elected  town  clerk, 
magistrate,  and  selectman.  When  the  Congregational 
Church  of  the  town  of  Lee  was  organized  his  name 
headed  the  list.  He  had  five  sons— Aaron,  Jared,  Seth, 
David,  and  William— and  two  daughters,  names  unknown. 
David  Ingersoll,  of  whose  family  we  shall  write,  married 
a  Miss  Sally  Parsons.  She  was  a  granddaughter  of  the 
celebrated  Jonathan  Edwards.  They  had  thirteen  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and  all  of  whom 
became  members  of  the  Congregational  branch  of  the 
Christian  Church.  David  was  for  forty-five  years  a  dea- 
con in  the  Congregational  Church  in  Lee.  He  died  there, 
as  did  also  his  wife.  Erastus,  the  oldest  of  the  family, 
lived  in  Lee  until  early  manhood,  when  he  emigrated 
to  the  town  of  Victor,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  March 
1806,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sally  Smith,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Smith,  who  emigrated  from  Stockbridge,  Mass., 
to  the  Genesee  country  about  the  year  1789.  Erastus 
remained  in  Victor  until  1825,  when,  having  lost  his  prop- 
67 


erty  in  building  the  locks  on  the  Erie  Canal  at  Rochester, 
he  with  his  family  came  to  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  and  settled 
in  the  town  of  Farmington,  where  there  were  but  a  few 
families  then  settled.  They  came  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit 
by  schooner,  and  were  nine  days  on  the  lake.  In  Detroit, 
Mr.  Ingersoll  bought  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  drove  by  way  of 
Birmingham  to  the  new  home  in  the  wilderness.'  There 
were  no  roads,  and  for  three  miles  from  his  home  no  houses. 
His  nearest  neighbor  was  a  Mr.  Powers,  who  was  then 
building  a  mill  where  the  village  of  Farmington  now  stands. 
He  bought  of  the  government  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  he  cleared  and  improved.  In  1834  he  came  to  Clin- 
ton County,  where  he  bought  five  lots  of  wild  land,  and  four 
lots  in  Eaton  County.  He  located  in  the  town  of  Delta, 
where  he  built  mills.  The  first  school  taught  in  his  town 
was  in  his  mill,  and  by  his  brother,  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Inger- 
soll. He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  a  pioneer 
of  whom  any  new  country  may  be  proud..  He  died  in 
Farmington,  January,  1850. 

Eliel  the  fifth  child  of  Erastus,  was  born  in  Victor, 
Ontario'  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  10,  1816.  He  was  married, 
Jan  30  1839,  to  Miss  Diantha  M.  McRobert,  daughter 
of  James  and  Rachel  (Covill)  McRobert.    She  was  born 


630 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


in  Greenfield,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  30,  1817.  Her 
father  was  born  in  the  lowlands  of  Scotland,  from  whence 
his  mother  emigrated  to  America  when  he  was  four  years 
old.  In  1840,  Eliel,  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  moved 
from  Oakland  County  to  Watertown,  going  with  a  team 
and  by  the  way  of  Howell,  and  then  following  a  road  his 
father  had  cut  through  to  his  lands  in  Clinton  and  Eaton 
Counties.  He  reached  his  father's  place  in  midwinter,  but 
a  house  of  tamarack  logs  was  soon  built,  and  they  at  once 
moved  in.  Their  house  and  furniture  were  of  the  most 
primitive  kind.  Their  table  was  plain  boards,  their  bed- 
stead made  of  poles  driven  into  the  logs,  and  their  stairs  a 
log  with  notches  cut  in  it  for  steps.  Yet  it  was  home,  and 
their  settlement  the  foundation  for  a  fine  farm.  Prior  to 
this  he  had  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  gov- 
ernment land  in  Delta,  eighty  acres  of  which  he  traded  for 
a  team,  and  the  balance  was  sold  to  improve  his  farm  in 
Watertown.  There  was  nothing  cleared  on  their  farm  and 
no  roads.  Wild  game  of  every  kind  was  abundant,  as  was 
also  nearly  every  species  of  snake,  from  the  deadly  rattle- 
snake to  the  harmless  streaked  snake,  all  of  which  were  a 
terror  to  Mrs.  Ingersoll,  who  often  found  them  uninvited 
guests  in  her  home.  After  locating  on  his  farm  they  went 
to  Delta  to  help  rebuild  the  dams,  which  had  been  washed 
away,  and  to  help  erect  new  mills.  This  kept  them  from 
their  farm  five  years,  when  they  returned,  and  the  work  of 
clearing  and  improving  went  on.  The  result  is  a  well-im- 
proved farm  of  over  one  hundred  acres,  the  result  of  years 
of  toil  and  economy.  Mr.  Ingersoll  also  owns  a  fine  resi- 
dence in  North  Lansing.  In  politics  he  is  a  Eepublican  ; 
though  he  has  never  sought  or  wanted  office,  still  he  has 
held  some  of  the  minor  offices  in  his  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ingersoll  have  been  for  many  years  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  are  strong  sympathizers  in  the 
cause  of  temperance.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
the  following  children:  Lucy  E.,  born  Nov.  18,  1839; 
John  N.,  Jan.  15,  1844;  Elihu  B.,  Nov.  1,  1849;  Eliel 
B.,  Nov.  1,  1852;  Augusta  L.,  Nov.  20,  1854;  Dwight 
C,  March  3,  1856 ;  and  Carter  W.,  Nov.  19,  1862. 


WILLIAM  F.  DUTTON. 

William  F.  Dutton  was  born  in  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y., 
June  23,  1812,  and  is  a  true  specimen  of  the  American 
pioneer.  A  man  of  iron  constitution,  with  nerves  and 
sinews  of  steel,  he  never  knew  the  meaning  of  the  words 
"  fatigue"  and  "  fail."  With  him  to  will  was  to  do.  Before 
his  never-tiring  arm  the  forests  disappeared  from  farm  after 
farm,  until  but  few  men  can  say  they  have  cleared  as  much 
land  as  he.  His  father  and  mother,  Kobert  and  Sarah 
(Fowler)  Dutton,  were  early  settlers  in  Chenango  County, 
having  settled  on  their  farm  when  it  was  entirely  new. 
When  WiDiam  was  fifteen  years  old  he  engaged  with  the 
Merchant  line  as  a  driver  on  the  Erie  Canal.  Until  he 
was  twenty-two  we  find  him  each  summer  on  the  canal  in 
the  different  rSles  of  driver,  deck-hand,  steersman,  and 
captain,  while  in  the  winter  he  worked  in  the  lumber-woods 
of  Steuben  County  getting  out  ship-timber. 


On  the  18th  day  of  August,  1836,  he  was  joined  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Young,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Ellen  (Pray)  Young,  who  was  born  Sept.  5,  1819.     Her 
parents  were  Massachusetts  people  and  emigrated  to  Cayuga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  when  that  county  was  new,  and  where  for  years 
her  father  was  a  drover.    He  died  in  Brutus  township,  same 
county.     In  August,  1836,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dutton  started 
for  Michigan,  going  to  Buffalo,  where  they  shipped  them- 
selves and  team  for  Toledo,  from  whence  they  drove  to 
Cass  County,  following  the  Chicago  road.     For  a  time  he 
worked  land  on  shares  on  Prairie  Ronde.     Prior  to  this 
Mr.  Dutton  had  been  to  Michigan  and  had  made  a  pedes- 
trian trip  over  a  good  deal  of  the  southern  part  of  the 
State.     He  walked  from  Detroit  to  White  Pigeon  in  three 
days ;  thence  to  Kalamazoo,  where  he  worked  on  the  first 
bridge  across  the  Kalamazoo  River ;  thence  by  Indian  trail 
and  wagon-road  to  Grand  Rapids,  making  sizty-five  miles 
in  one  day.     Near  the  Rapids  he  entered  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  he  sold  without  going  on 
to  it. 

After  working  land  in  Cass  County  three  years  he  came 
to  Westphalia  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
wild  land,  to  which  there  was  no  road  of  any  description, 
and  on  which  he  in  ten  days  built  a  log  house,  into  which 
they  moved  when  there  were  no  doors  or  windows,  and 
but  a  portion  being  floored.  Their  fire  was  built  against 
the  logs  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  the  smoke  escaping 
through  a  hole  in  the  roof  This  was  their  first  home,  and 
they  have  never  enjoyed  life  better  than  in  those  days.  On 
this  farm  they  remained  six  years,  clearing  forty  acres,  setting 
out  an  orchard,  and  putting  up  a  frame  barn.  They  then 
traded  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in 
Cass  County.  They  reached  the  new  farm  with  but  five 
dollars  in  money,  and  a  house  to  build  and  winter  before 
them.  But  nothing  ever  daunted  Mr.  Dutton,  and  we 
soon  find  him  with  a  comfortable  log  house,  a  frame  barn, 
young  orchard,  and  forty  acres  cleared.  After  four  years 
spent  on  the  Cass  County  farm,  suffering  repeated  attacks 
of  the  ague,  he  again  sold  out,  and  in  the  township  of  Riley, 
Clinton  Co.,  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
wild  land,  which  under  his  labor  and  management  became 
one  of  the  fine  farms  of  Clinton  County,  with  fine  build- 
ings, orchards,  and  highly  cultivated  fields. 

In  1874  he  again  sold  out  and  then  came  to  Watertown, 
and  bought  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  of  land,  mostly 
cleared,  and  on  which  Tie  has  built  fine  buildings  (a  view 
of  which  appears  on  another  page  of  this  histoiy),  and 
where  he  intends  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days,  be- 
lieving that  he  has  done  his  share  as  a  pioneer. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dutton  is  an  ardent  Republican ;  was  one 
term  supervisor  in  Westphalia,  and  has  held  other  minor 
offices. 

Their  children  are  as  follows :  Ella  N.,  bom  Jan.  8, 
1837;  deceased.  Harriet,  born  Dec.  31,  1838;  married 
to  George  Green,  and  now  living  near  Detroit.  Ann 
Eliza,  born  Oct.  23,  1842.  William  Abner,  born  June 
22,  1845 ;  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Eighth  Michigan  In- 
fantry, and  killed  June  2,  1864,  at  Cold  Harbor,  falling 
thus  early  in  life  a  sacrifice  upon  the  altar  of  his  counti-y's 
liberty.     Jane,  born  May  2,  1S49 ;  died  Aug.  18,  1852.    ; 


WATERTOWN  iTOWNSHIP. 


531 


GEORaE  W.  KINNEY. 


Among  the  leading  self-made  men  of  Watertown  we  find 
the  name  of  George  W.  Kinney,  who  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Franklin,  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  Nov.  28,  1828.    He 
is  of  Scotch  descent,  his  ancestors  having  emigrated  from 
Scotland  to  America  prior  to  the  Revolution  and  settled  in 
Connecticut.     When  George  was  nine  years  old  his  parents 
moved  into  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  remained  until 
1835,  when  they  emigrated  to  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
settled  on  a  new  farm  in  the  town  of  Hartland.     On  this 
farm  they  remained  five  years,  clearing  and  improving  part 
of  it.     George  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Clinton  County, 
where  he  had  previously  bought^  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  8,  in  Watertown.     The  farm  was  partly  improved, 
and  under  his  management  and  industry  became  a  well  im- 
proved farm.    In  the  spring  of  1852,  becoming  impregnated 
with  the  gold  fever,  Mr.  Kinney  joined  a  train  which  was 
organizing  at  De  Witt,  and  with  "it  made  the  overland  jour- 
ney to  California.     The  trip,  which  was  made  in  six  months, 
was  attended  by  the  interests,  hardships,  and  dangers  of  an 
overland  trip  to  California  at  that  time.     Arrived  in  the 
EI  Dorado  of  the  West,  he  at  once  went  into  the  mines, 
and  most  of  the  time  for  two  years  and  nine  months  fol- 
lowed mining,  meeting  with  fair  success.     He  then  returned 
to  the  States,  coming  back  by  water.     Soon  after  his  return 
Mr.  Kinney  sold  his  farm  on  section  8  and  bought  the 
east  three  quarters  of  section  3  in  the  same  town.     It  was 


all  new  at  that  time,  but  is  now  mostly  improved,  and  the 
work  of  his  own-  hands,  while  on  it  he  has  erected  a  fine 
house,  surrounded  by  large  and  commodious  out-buildings. 
For  his  first  wife  Mr.  Kinney  married  Hannah  J.  Gue  in 
the  spring  of  1845.  To  them  was  born  one  child,  Ade- 
laide, born  March  2,  1846;  died  in  September,  1850. 
Mrs.  Kinney  died  in  June,  1846.  In  September,  1848, 
he  was  again  married,  his  bride  being  Mrs.  Emily  H. 
Phillips,  who  died  in  February,  1871.  For  his  third  wife 
Mr.  Kinney  married  Miss  Achsah  Reed,  who  was  born  in 
Jackson,  Mich.,  Dec.  31,  1836.  She  is  daughter  of  Alson 
H.  and  Dolly  (Jackson)  Reed.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  two  children,  viz. :  A.  Carl,  born  Aug.  6,  1872  (died 
Feb.  3,  1877),  and  Emily  F.,  born  Aug.  20,  1875.  Mr. 
Kinney  is  and  has  been  for  years  a  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  believing  it  to  be  the  exponent  of  advanced  ideas 
and  the  champion  of  the  rights  of  all  men  under  the  law. 
He  has  been  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party  in  his  town- 
ship for  years,  having  been  for  nine  years  supervisor,  and 
two  years  chairman  of  the  board,  making,  as  testified  to  by 
his  neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen,  an  efficient  officer.  He 
has  also  been  highway  commissioner  six  years,  justice  of 
the  peace  eight  years,  and  has  held  other  minor  offices.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  one 
of  its  trustees,  while  he  stands  high  as  a  man  of  integrity 
and  business  qualifications. 


532 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


STEPHEN   HILL. 


The  oldest  settler  now  living  in  the  town  of  Watertown 
is  Stephen  Hill,  who  bought  of  the  government  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  15,  in  1836.  There  were  then  but 
few  settlers  in  the  town,  all  of  whom  have  either  moved 
away,  or  have  gone  to  that  "  bourne  from  whence  no  trav- 
eler returns." 

Mr.  Hill  is  of  English  origin,  his  ancestors  having  emi- 
grated from  the  mother-country  in  the  infancy  of  the 
colony.  His  father,  Enoch  Hill,  was  born  in  New  Bruns- 
wick, where  his  parents  resided  a  few  years,  and  from 
whence  they  again  returned  to  Maine,  while  Enoch  was 
still  a  boy,  and  settled  on  a  piece  of  wild  land  in  the  town 
of  Whiting,  Washington  Co.  On  this  farm  Enoch  grew 
to  manhood.  He  married  Miss  Hepzibeth  Gardner,  and 
still  remained  on  the  old  homestead,  which  he  owned  after 
his  father's  death,  and  on  which  Stephen  was  born  Jan.  21, 
1809.  He  too  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  farm,  receiving 
a  good  common-school  education,  better  than  the  majority 
of  his  associates  obtained.  Becoming  desirous  of  getting  a 
home  of  his  own  and  having  no  means,  he,  in  1834,  came 
to  Michigan,  where  land  of  the  best  quality  was  awaiting 
the  axe  of  the  pioneer,  and  could  be  had  at  a  mere  nominal 
sum.  He  first  stopped  in  Plymouth,  in  Wayne  County, 
where  for  two  years  he  worked  his  father-in-law's  farm  on 
shares.  He  then',  as  above  set  forth,  bought  land  in  Water- 
town,  on  which  he  made  a  permanent  settlement  in  1837. 
On  his  farm,  to  which  there  were  no  roads  or  even  a  trail, 
he  built  a  log  shanty,  its  floor  of  split  logs,  with  but  one 
window  and  two  doors;  it  was  still  home,  and  within  it 
hunger  and  want  were  never  felt,  though  its  occupants  saw 


many  hardships  and  privations,  as  they  were  then  very  poon 
With  energy  and  perseverance  he  at  once  commenced  to 
clear  and  improve  his  land,  which  was  covered  with  heavy 
timber.     But  not  all  of  the  time  could  he  work  on  his  own 
land.     He  had  no  surplus  means,  and   had  to  work  for 
others  to  earn  means  with  which  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door.     He  has  cleared  fifty  acres  on  his  own  farm  and  a 
good  deal  on  the  farms  of  others.    In  those  early  days  deer 
and  other  game  were  plenty,  while  the  wolves  had  their  nest- 
ing-places near  his  home,  often  making  the  forest  ring  with 
their  howling.     But  Mr.  Hill  was  not  much  of  a  Nimrod, 
as  he  never  shot  either  wolf,  deer,  or  turkey.     Years  have 
passed,  and  the  then  forests  are  now  well-improved  farms, 
homes  of  intelligent  and  industrious  people,  all  of  which 
Mr.  Hill  has  lived  to  see,  and  now  in  the  seventy-first  year 
of  his  age,  surrounded  by  the  comforts  his  life  of  toil  has 
brought  him,  respected  and  esteemed  by  those  who  know 
him  best,  he  is  passing  away  the  even- time  of  life.    In 
politics  he  was  in  early  life  a  Whig,  then  a  Republican,  of 
which  party  he  is  a  stalwart  member.     He  has  been  town 
clerk,  highway  commissioner,  and  for  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace.     He  has  also  taken  a  lively  interest  in  schools,  and 
has  been  more  or  less  a  member  of  the  school-board.     Mr. 
Hill  was  married   May  7,  1835,  to  Miss   Olive   Goooh, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Lucy  (Boynton)  Gooch.     She 
was  born  in  Machias  township,  Washington  Co.,  Me.,  Feb. 
19, 1816.    To  them  have  been  born  Lucy  H.,  Feb.  2, 1836 ; 
Warren  H.,  Nov.  24, 1840  ;  Bartlett  B.,  Jan.  22,  1843,— 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  Twenty-third  Regiment  Michigan 
Infantry,  and  died  in  hospital  at  or  near  Strawberry  Plain ; 


WESTPHALIA  TOWNSHIP. 


53S 


EUery  B.,  Oct.  17, 1845  ;  Chrbsie,  March  17, 1848 ;  Amos 
B.,  June  8, 1850 ;  Frank,  Jan.  18,  1854,  died  Sept.  .30, 
1858;  and  Jessie  F.,  Oct.  14,  1856,  died  Oct.  6,  1858. 
Amos  B.,who  is  now  owner  of  part  of  the  home-farm,  and 
with  whom  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  now  reside,  was  married 
March  2,  1873,  to  Miss  Lucy  Webster,  who  was  born 
March  2,  1856.  Their  children  are  May,  born  May  12, 
1874,  and  Pearl,  born  June  11,  1878. 


CHAPTER   LXVL 
WESTPHALIA    TOWNSHIP.* 

General  Description— Settlement  of  the  Township— Early  Township 

Hoads Township  Organization  and  Civil  List — Schools — Village 

of  Westphaliar— Religious  History. 

Westphalia  is  the  sixth  town  north  of  the  base-line  in 
range  4  west  of  the  meridian,  and  has  for  its  boundaries, 
Dallas  on  the  north.  Eagle  on  the  south,  Riley  on  the  east, 
and  the  Ionia  County  line  on  the  west.     The  township, 
originally  settled  by  Germans,  is  populated  now  almost  ex- 
clusively by  representatives  of  that  race ;  indeed,  it  would 
be  difiScult  to  find  more  than  a  dozen  families  in  the  town 
other  than  those  of  Germans.    Among  these  latter,  Catholi- 
cism is  the  universal  religion,  and  at  the  village  of  West- 
phalia the  people  of   that  faith   gather  weekly  in  great 
numbers  for  worship  in  one  of  the  costliest  as  well  as  one 
of  the  most  commodious  religious  temples  in  the  State  of 
Michigan.      In  keeping  with  the  characteristics  of  their 
countrymen,  the  Germans  of  Westphalia  are  a  thrifty  peo- 
ple, and,  as  a  class,  are  exceedingly  prosperous  and  com- 
fortably circumstanced.     The  spirit  of  Democracy  prevails 
as  the  ruling  political  mainspring,  and  from  the  beginning 
of  the  town's  existence  Democracy  has  held  undisputed 
sway.     Although  Westphalia  has  no  railway  conveniences 
within  its  borders,  easy  access  is  found  to  Portland,  in  Ionia 
County,  and  Fowler,  in  Dallas  township,— both  railway 
stations,  and  both  desirable  markets.      The  Westphalia, 
Hubbardston  and  Northern  Railroad  was  projected  through 
the  town  in  1869,  and  Jan.  20, 1870,  the  inhabitants  voted 
by  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine  ayes  to  seventy-three  nays 
to  donate  eighteen  thousand  dollars  in  aid  of  the  enterprise, 
but  the  act  incorporating  the  railway  company  was  declared 
unconstitutional,  and  there  was  no  railway. 

Westphalia,  having  now  a  population  of  seventeen  hun- 
dred and  thirty-eight  (last  United  States  census),  shows  an 
increase  since  1874  of  two  hundred  and  forty..  There  is 
still  opportunity  for  advancement  in  that  direction,  for 
there  is  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  town  a  good  deal  of 
lowland  now  unoccupied,  which  must  be  in  the  nature  of 
things  reclaimed  for  the  purposes  of  agriculture,  and  thus 
will  add  accordingly  in  a  material  way  to  the  development 
of  the  town's  resources  and  wealth. 

SETTLEMENT  OF   THE  TOWNSHIP. 
Eminently  a  German  settlement,  the  township  of  West- 
phalia has  been  so  from  the  hour  it  received  its  pioneer 
»  By  David  Schwartz. 


settlers.  Germans  first  penetrated  its  forest  recesses,  first 
peopled  it,  and  first  turned  its  soil  to  receive  the  seed  of  the 
sower.  Its  inhabitants  compose  what  may  be  aptly  termed 
a  colony,  for  they  are  bound  by  the  common  sympathy  of  a 
spirit  which  has  its  origin  in  a  common  reverence  for  the 
Fatherland,  and  professing  one  common  religious  belief; 
while  they  meet  each  Sabbath  in  one  common  temple  of 
worship,  they  are  banded  together  by  a  fraternal  bond  that 
makes  them  more  like  members  of  one  family  than  of  a 
community.  They  find  a  cause  for  much  pride  in  this 
fraternal  feeling,  and  they  are  proud,  moreover,  of  the 
hardy  and  heroic  band  whose  feeble  numbers  led  the  way 
to  the  wilderness  forty-four  years  ago,  and  set  up  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  what  is  now  a  massive  and  substantial  social 
fabric. 

The  sturdy  ones  who  thus  advanced  to  the  work  when 
pioneering  meant  their  lonely  isolation  in  the  forest-wilds 
from  those  of  their  kind  were  three  in  number,  John, 
Hauses,  Anthony  Cordes,  and  Joseph  Platte,  of  whom 
but  John  Hauses  still  lives.  He  abides  yet  upon  the  place 
which  in  1836  he  chose  as  his  future  home,  and  which  he 
has  seen  seen  blossom  from  a  dreary  stretch  of  dense  wood 
into  a  smiling  and  fruitful  landscape. 

In  the  autumn  of  1836,  John  Hauses,  Joseph  Platte, 
Anthony  Cordes,  William  Theilman,  and  a  Mr.  Salter,  na- 
tives of  Westphalia,  and  recently  arrived  from  Germany  in 
search  of  landed  homes  in   America's  Far  West,  met  in 
Detroit  and  took  counsel  together  as  to  where  they  would 
be  best  suited  with  a  location.     They  talked  with  a  Catho- 
lic priest-  in  Detroit,  and  he  advising  them  to  seek  a  loca- 
cation  in  the  Grand  River  country,  they  lost  no  time  in 
setting  out.     They  traveled  on  foot  and  reached  Lyons  by 
way  of  the  Dexter  road.     At  Lyons  they  learned  that  the 
major  part  of  the  desirable  land- tracts  in  that  region  had 
been  taken  up  by  speculators,  and  that  they  could  be  best 
accommodated  with  government  land  in  the  town  6  north, 
in  range  4  west,  now  called  Westphalia.     As  they  were  es- 
pecially in  search  of  government  lands,  since  they  felt  they 
could  not  afford  to  pay  speculators'  prices,  they  decided  to 
go  over  into  town  6,  and  accordingly  engaged  a  Mr.  Hunt, 
of  Lyons,  to  guide  them  thither.     The  lands  in  that  town 
were  not  deemed  by  speculators  as  worthy  their  attention, 
inasmuch  as  there  was  much  undesirable  swamp  country, 
and  to  that  fact  is  due  the  circumstance  that  Hauses  and 
his  friends  found  there  cheap  government  lands  to  suit 
them.     Indeed,  F.  J.  Snider,  now  a  resident  in  the  town, 
recalls  that  he  visited  the  place  in  1842,  and  found  it  so 
much  of  a    "  mud-hole"    that  he  determined  to  get  out 
of  it  as  fast  as  he  could,  and  to  stay  out  of  it,  for  to  his 
way  of  thinking  it  was  a  poor  kind  of  a  place  for  a  man 

to  live  in.  ,    ■,  j  ^ 

After  looking  about,  the  party  of  Germans  decided  to 
locate  on  section  5,  where  they  made  their  first  appearance 
Sept.  8,  1836,  and  where  they  entered  seven  lots  of  eighty 
acres  each,  or  the  entire  section  save  one  lot.  Hauses, 
Cordes,  Platte,  and  Theilman  remained  on  the  ground  and 
entered  at  once  upon  the  work  of  clearing  the  land,  while 
Selter,  declining  to  become  a  practical  pioneer  just  then, 
returned  to  Detroit,  soon  afterwards  sold  his  land,  and 
ended  his  connection  with  Westphalia.    Theilman  remained 


584 


HISTOKY  OF  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


about  two  months,  absented  himself  for  about  six  months, 
and  then  returning  for  a  permanent  stay,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 7. 

John  Hauses  was  the  only  one  of  the  pioneer  company 
unmarried,  but  he  put  up  a  cabin  on  his  place  and  kept 
bachelor's  hall  alone,  after  his  companions  brought  their 
fimilies  out  from  Detroit  towards  the  beginning  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1837.  Early  in  1837  the  settlers  were  joined  by 
Anthony  Kopp,  a  Catholic  priest,  who,  as  will  be  presently 
shown,  was  a  man  of  much  energy  and  force  of  character, 
and  who  was  an  important  factor  during  his  brief  stay  in 
the  conduct  of  religious  and  secular  affairs  in  the  little 
community.  Hauses,  who  spent  the  first  eighteen  months 
of  his  sojourn  between  clearing  his  place  and  working  at 
Lyons  for  others,  was  upon  his  return  to  his  bachelor's  hall 
fur  a  permanent  stay  stricken  down  with  fever  and  ague, 
and  lay  thus  helpless  for  the  space  of  six  months.  He  was 
then  taken  in  hand  by  the  family  of  Nicholas  Martin,  his 
neighbor,  and  set  upon  his  feet.  His  marriage  to  Martin's 
daughter,  Klizabeth,  Feb.  1,  1840,  was  the  pioneer  wedding. 
It  took  place  at  Martin's  house,  Anthony  Kopp,  the  priest, 
performing  the  ceremony.  There  was  an  humble  wedding 
feast,  and  then  the  bride  and  groom  took  for  their  wedding 
tour  a  walk  from  Father  Martin's  house  to  the  groom's 
cabin.  Bride  and  groom  still  live  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
hearty  old  age,  after  journeying  in  company  more  than  forty 
years. 

These  first  settlers  were  very  poor,  and  after  paying  for 
their  lands  had  but  little  left.  Such  luxuries  as  doors  or 
windows  for  their  homes  they  did  not  aspire  to,  but  were 
rrlad  to  depend  upon  blankets  and  sheets,  albeit  it  did  cause 
the  hearts  of  the  women  folks  to  quake  with  terror  when 
at  night  they  heard  the  howls  of  wolves  and  expected  to 
see  the  beasts  dash  at  any  time  through  the  ill-protected 
cabin  openings  and  wage  a  war  of  slaughter.  Poor  as  they 
were  they  had  to  pay  dearly  for  what  they  needed,  and 
many's  the  story  that's  told  about  the  struggles  and  priva- 
tions they  were  called  upon  to  endure  by  reason  of  their 
poverty  and  inability  to  supply  themselves  with  the  common 
necessaries  of  life  while  waiting  for  the  earth  to  yield 
them  of  its  fruits.  As  an  instance,  it  cost  Anthony  Cordes 
fifty  dollars,  about  all  the  money  he  had  in  the  world,  for 
bringing  a  load  of  household  goods  from  Detroit  to  his 
Westphalia  clearing.  In  the  summer  of  1837  flour  was 
held  at  twenty-one  dollars  a  barrel  at  Lyons,  and  even  at 
that  was  hard  to  get.  Mr.  Hauses  says  the  timber  about 
them  was  so  thick  that  when  they  wanted  to  see  the  sky 
they  had  to  chop  down  a  tree. 

Following  the  first  comers  to  Westphalia  in  1837  and 
1838,  Everhard  Platte,  Michael  Thoma,  Peter  Platte, 
Anton  Platte,  Bernard  Rademacher,  Michael  Thomen, 
Lorenz  Nasman,  and  Nicholas  Martin  joined  the  settlement. 
They  came  from  the  same  neighborhood  in  Germany  that 
had  owned  the  members  of  the  pioneer  advance  guard  were 
in  many  cases  friends  of  long  standing,  and  bad  naturally 
fumed  their  faces  towards  new  Western  homes  where  they 
would  meet  their  old  companions. 

When  Anthony  Kopp  became  one  of  the  settlers,  he  set 
himself  at  once  to  the  business  of  providing  a  church  and 


school  for  the  settlement.    He  held  religious  services  in  his 
log  cabin,  after  the  form  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church 
(for  be  it  remembered  that  the  early  as  well  as  the  later 
settlers  in  Westphalia  were  attached  to  that  faith),  and 
began  also  to  teach  school  therein.     Church  and  school 
were  to  these  Germans  adjuncts  of  great  value,  and  the 
establishment  thereof  they  regarded  as  among  the  most 
serious  and  important  duties  of  the  time.     The  church  and 
school   thus   set   up   in   the   wilderness   by  priest  Kopp 
gathered  strength  as  time  passed  on,  widening  and  strength- 
ening their  influence  among  the  people,  and  supplying  that 
bond  of  social  union  which,  as  strangers  in  a  strange  land, 
sheltered  them  within  the  folds  of  fraternal  friendship,  and 
which  has  since  that  time  steadily  held  them  to  the  same 
purpose,  while  they  have  seen  the  infant  church  and  school 
mount  steadily  upwards  in  the  scale  of  expanded  useful- 
ness, until  to-day  thousands  worship  in  a  common  temple, 
and  nearly  half  a  thousand  school  children  gather  within 
the  walls  of  a  common  institution  of  learning.     Later  on 
will  be  found  a  detailed  history  of  church  and  school  from 
priest  Kopp's  time  to  the  present. 

Anthony  Kopp  was  a  man  of  mark  in  the  community, 
and  besides  the  task  of  religious  and  secular  teacher,  took 
also  upon  himself  the  r6le  of  adviser  to  his  neighbors  in  all 
afi"airs  where  his  superior  intelligence  would  naturally  guide 
them.  He  was  much  respected,  and  to  his  advice  the 
greatest  deference  was  paid.  To  his  natural  energy  of 
character  the  settlement  owes  much  of  its  advancement  in 
temporal  matters,  for  he  took  upon  himself  their  direction 
at  a  time  when  the  people,  utterly  strange  to  the  necessities 
and  forms  of  local  government,  needed  some  teacher  and 
adviser.  He  was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  matter  of  town 
organization,  although  when  it  came  to  the  intricate  details 
and  forms  of  holding  the  first  town-meeting,  a  cry  went  up 
for  an  American  to  assist  them,  and  so  Henry  Bartow,  of 
Lyons,  came  over  and  set  them  a  model  by  which  they  were 
easily  able  to  fashion  their  subsequent  records  of  town 
business. 

In  1839  there  came  fresh  accessions,  for  the  planting  of 
this  little  German  colony  in  the  wilds  of  Michigan  became 
in  some  quarters  a  matter  of  common  fame,  while  its  mem- 
bers, communicating  with  friends  in  the  "  faderland,"  pointed 
the  way  for  such  as  chose  to  join  the  earlier  and  more  daring 
land-seekers.  Among  those  who  came  in  1839  were  Franz 
Rademacher,  Conrad  Martin,  Gottfried  Adleman,  Mathias 
Ott,  Anthony  Huhn,  Peter  Arens,  and  Philip  H.  Martz. 
James  J.  McRoberts,  now  living  in  Dallas,  settled  that  year 
on  section  12,  in  Westphalia,  and  M.  McVeigh  on  section  2. 

Following  is  a  list  of  resident  tax-payers  of  Westphalia 
in  1839,  which  shows  nearly  what  settlers  had  come  to  the 
township  prior  to  that  time  : 

Acres. 

Franz  Rademacher,  section  3 80 

Conrad  Martin,  eection  4 80 

Miciiael  Tliomen,  Bection  4 40 

Gottfried  Adelman,  section  4 38 

Anthony  Cordes,  section  5 112 

Matthias  Ott,  section  4 38 

.John  Hauses,  section  5 135 

Bemhard  Rademacher,  section  5 24 

Anthony  Kopp,  section  5 80 

Nicholas  Martin,  section  & 65 

Joseph  Piatt,  section  5 40 

Michael  Thoma,  section  9 80 

A.  Huhn,  section  10 40 


WESTPHALIA  TOWNSHIP. 


535 


Acres. 

Peter  Arens,  eeotion  9 40 

James  J.  McRoberts,  section  12 80 

Philip  H.  Martz,  section  i 40 

The  early  settlers  went  over  to  Lyons  or  Portland  when 
milling  was  to  be  done,  and  as  cattle  were  scarce  the  usual 
custom  was  to  pack  a  two  bushel  bag  of  wheat  upon  the 
back,  carry  it  on  foot  through  the  woods,  and  bring  back  the 
flour  after  the  same  fashion.  John  Hauses  says  he  doesn't 
remember  carrying  barrels  of  flour  from  Portland  on  his 
back,  but  that  he  does  recollect  how  he  used  to  drag  barrels 
of  flour  from  there  on  a  hand-sled,  and  halt  every  few  min- 
utes to  lift  the  flour  over  fallen  trees  which  impeded  the 
progress  of  his  vehicle.  Indeed,  the  scarcity  of  ox-teams 
was  a  seriously  felt  want,  and  in  such  work  as  carrying 
fence-rails  and  doing  other  similar  tugging  labor,  the  back 
of  the  pioneer  became  sorely  weary  and  sighed  for  the  time 
when  beasts  of  burden  would  become  common.  Michael 
Thome  brought  the  first  pair  of  oxen  to  the  settlement,  and 
while  he  was  looked  upon  as  a  man  favored  in  an  extraor- 
dinary way  by  fortune,  his  oxen  were  in  constant  demand, 
and  so  put  to  the  extent  of  their  endeavors  as  must  have 
convinced  them  that  to  be  the  only  team  of  cattle  in  a  new 
settlement  was  far  from  a  consoling  reflection. 

Earlier  mention  was  made  that  flour  was  hard  to  obtain 
at  Portland  or  Lyons  at  even  twenty-one  dollars  a  barrel. 
Additional  mention  may  be  made  that  other  supplies  were 
proportionately  dear,  as,  for  example,  meat  twenty-five  cents 
a  pound,  potatoes  two  dollars  a  bushel,  and  beans  six  dol- 
lars a  bushel.  Of  course  the  settlers  had  to  buy  all  needed 
supplies  while  awaiting  the  growth  of  their  first  crops,  and 
poor  as  they  were  in  money,  it  was  not  always  that  they 
could  bless  themselves  with  suflicient  provisions  to  gratify 
their  wants,  and  that  hunger  intruded  its  grim  front  full 
many  a  time  and  oft,  may  be  well  understood.  Apropos 
of  the  poverty  of  some,  it  may  be  noted  that  Michael 
Thomen  was  so  poor-when  he  sowed  his  first  crop  of  wheat 
he  could  not  afford  a  drag,  and  actually  dragged  his  wheat- 
field  with  bundles  of  thorn  bushes. 

The  pioneer  marriage  has  already  been  noted.  The  first 
birth  was  that  of  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Conrad  Martin, 
born  in  1840,  and  now  the  wife  of  Peter  Petsch,  of  Jack- 
son. The  first  death  was  a  daughter  of  Everhard  Platte, 
.  and  the  first  male  person  to  die  a  son  of  Anthony  Cordes. 
Both  died  in  1839.  In  1842,  Lorenz  Huhn's  two  infant 
children  were  burned  to  death  in  the  house  of  their  parents. 
The  latter,  who  lived  on  section  10,  went  one  day  into  the 
"  bush,"  leaving  the  little  ones  alone  in  the  house.  Not 
long  after  the  departure  of  the  parents  the  house  took  fire, 
and  by  the  time  the  circumstance  was  discovered  by  those 
able  to  help,  the  dwelling  had  fallen  a  prey  to  the  devour- 
ing element,  and  along  with  it  the  children.  The  supposi- 
tion was  of  course  that  they  played  with  fire  in  some  form 
and  thus  destroyed  themselves,  but  just  how  it  all  occurred 
no  one  could  tell. 

In  1840  there  came  to  the  settlement  from  the  Rhine 
country  in  Germany,  John  Fox,  Nicholas  Paul,  and  John 
Lehman,  with  their  families,  and  from  the  favorable  reports 
dispatched  by  them  to  their  friends  in  Germany,  arose  the 


following  year  an  emigration  from  the  same  neighborhood 
to  Westphalia  of  fifteen  or  twenty  families,  among  whom 
were  those  of  Lewis  Weber,  Anton  Martin,  John  Dunne- 
backer,  Joseph  Bohr,  John  Smith,  Jacob  Newman,  Nicho- 
las Knipps,  Peter  Simons,  Peter  Servatius,  Mathias  Bohi, 
Maurice  Fedewa,  and  Anthony  Fox.  Later  comers  to  the 
settlement  may  be  named  in  John  and  Theodore  Schaffer, 
Jacob  Abfalter,  Querin  and  John  Smith,  J.  P.  Smith,  Peter 
Wirth,  Mathias  Schafer,  Jacob  Spitzley,  Michael  Smith, 
John  Pung,  John  Fox,  Adam  Fedewa,  Theodore  Drostc, 
Anthony  Martin,  and  Mathias  Simons. 

Lorenz  Nasman  was  the  first  shoemaker  the  settlement 
had,  and  Peter  Servatius,  who  came  in  1841,  the  second. 
Joseph  Platte  started  a  small  store  at  Lyons  directly  after 
his  arrival  in  Westphalia,  and  when  the  settlers  in  the  lat- 
ter place  began  to  make  a  respectable  show  of  numbers  he 
opened  a  similar  place  on  section  5,  upon  the  road  now 
passing  east  and  west  through  the  village.  That  was  the 
first  regularly-constructed  highway  in  the  settlement,  and 
on  it  Jacob  Newman  and  Joseph  Platte  kept  regularly 
licensed  taverns  about  the  year  1842.  Indians  were 
among  their  best  customers  for  whisky,  and  to  the  red- 
skins they  dealt  out  copious  quantities  of  fire-water  in  ex- 
change for  furs,  hides,  sugar,  and  anything  merchantabli 
that  the  savages  could  offer.  On  the  same  road,  in  section 
4,  Joseph  Weaver  opened  the  first  blacksmith's  shop,  near 
where  the  church  now  stands. 

English-speaking  settlers  came  to  Westphalia  at  an  early 
day,  but  the  influx  of  that  class  was  at  no  time  numerous. 
Among  the  earliest,  and  the  earliest  in  the  northern  portion 
of  the  town,  were  James  J.  McRoberts  and  Simeon  McCoy, 
both  of  whom  located  on  section  12  as  early  as  1839,  or 
perhaps  shortly  before.  In  the  south,  where  but  few 
Germans  penetrated  until  a  comparatively  late  date,  the 
pioneer  settler  was  David  Wells,  who  settled  in  section  3(5, 
in  1839,  and  who  still  lives  on  the  place.  He  came  from 
Oakland  County  with  his  family,  whom  he  lodged  a  week 
at  Hovey  Spicer's,  in  Watertown,  while  he  prepared  a  cabin 
on  his  own  place.  He  had  eleven  people  to  assist  at  the 
raising  of  his  cabin,  of  whom  Anthony  and  Ezekiel  Nilcs, 
Philo  Beers,  a  blacksmith,  David  Burgess,  Mr.  Whitmoro, 
and  the  Higbees,  were  from  Eagle,  and  Hovey  Spiccr, 
Ebenezer  Smith,  and  John  Andrus,  from  Watertown. 

Wells  went  through  the  woods  to  Portland  to  mill,  and 
as  he  had  usually  to  clear  his  road  or  cut  it  out,  it  took 
him  two  days  to  make  the  trip.  His  children  he  sent  to 
Wacousta  to  school.  Getting  medical  attendance  was 
somewhat  troublesome,  but  he,  like  many  other  settlers  in 
the  vicinity,  got  so  after  awhile  that  he  could  do  consider- 
able doctoring  himself,  and  in  cases  of  simple  sickness 
managed  very  well.  Trading  was  done  at  Jackson,  al- 
though it  took  a  good- ten  days  to  make  the  journey  thence 
and  back  with  an  ox-team.  Black  salts,  coon  furs,  and  deer- 
skins were  the  earliest  articles  which  he  could  muster  as 
the  basis  of  a  dicker  at  the  market,  and  for  these  he  would 
brin"  back  flour  and  other  much-needed  comforts.  Cash 
was  scarce,  and  such  a  thing  as  selling  anything  near  home 
fpr  money  was  not  to  be  thought  of,  for  no  merchant  would 
aive  anything  but  "  trade."     Meat  was  plentiful,  for  game 


536 


HISTORY  OP  CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


was  to  be  had  almost  for  the  asking,  and  settlers  had  no 
reason,  therefore,  to  go  hungry  unless  so  disposed. 

Wells  was  the  only  settler  in  that  portion  of  West- 
phalia for  a  year  or  two.  Then  the  Haners,  Hazens,  and 
Nettletons  came  in,  and  others  soon  followed.  Among 
these  latter  was  John  Kelly,  who  entered  two  lots  on  sec- 
tion 25  in  1851.  He  himself  settled  on  one  of  the  lots, 
and  sold  the  other  to  his  brother  Chester,  who  occupied  it 
the  same  year,  and  still  lives  on  it.  It  was  making  a  home 
in  the  heart  of  the  woods,  although  the  town  had  received 
a  good  many  settlers.  On  section  36  were  Conrad  and 
John  Haner,  who  had  cut  out  a  road  on  the  west  line  of 
the  section.  Northwest  of  Chester  Kelly  his  nearest 
neighbors  were  William  Nettleton  and  his  brother,  both  of 
whom  had  clearings  in  section  23  upon  a  laid-out  angling 
road.  Abram  Bennett  located  on  section  36  in  1853,  and 
in  that  year  Joseph  Kelly  occupied  on  section  35  the  place 
upon  which  his  son  Charles  now  lives.  David  Goss  located 
in  March,  1855,  on  an  eighty-acre  lot  in  section  35,  which 
he  had  entered  some  years  before ;  and  in  1857  Christopher 
Tallman  made  his  home  in  section  35,  upon  a  place  occu- 
pied at  a  later  date  by  Alfred  Williams.  Edward  Dilling- 
ham came  to  section  36  in  1855,  and  in  that  year  A.  D. 
Parkhurst  settled  on  a  tract  of  new  land  in  the  same  sec- 
tion. Edward  Rose  lived  on  the  old  Haner  place  in  1854, 
now  occupied  by  Henry  Sanford.  Rose  also  lived  in  1860 
upon  the  place  where  Charles  Brown  succeeded  him  two 
years  after  and  still  occupies.  In  1856,  Cook  Delamater 
entered  the  farm  on  section  36  known  as  the  Weatherwax 
place,  and  on  section  26  Michael  Hayes  settled  in  1854, 
where  his  widow  still  lives.  In  1854,  also,  8.  C.  Hazen 
moved  to  the  farm  on  sections  34  and  35  settled  by  his 
brother  Eber  in  1841.  Hazen  had  the  only  horse-team  in 
that  corner  of  the  town,  and  he  used  to  haul  a  good  many 
supplies  between  Detroit  and  northern  points  before  railway 
facilities  were  extended  to  that  country.  Even  in  his  time 
a  journey  to  mill  by  ox-team  occupied  two  days,  each  man 
taking  turns  in  going  for  the  entire  neighborhood.  Coon- 
skins  and  deer-skins  brought  the  cash  in  Detroit,  and  as  a 
consequence  hunting  for  coons  and  deer  was  lively  business 
among  the  settlers.  A  little  money  was  realized  that  way, 
and  at  other  times  working  on  the  road  contracts,  road- 
bees  being  the  favorite  method,  for  the  tax  of  non-residents, 
brought  in  the  welcome  cash. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
town  was  one  over  which  Harriet  De  Witt  presided  as 
teacher  in  1853,  on  section  36. 

S.  L.  Jenkins  settled  in  1855  on  section  31,  after  a  thir- 
teen years'  residence  in  Michigan.  A  Mr.  Mitchell  was  the 
original  settler  upon  the  place  in  about  1850.  Jenkins 
found  his  neighbors  to  include  Robinson,  a  blacksmith,  just 
south  of  him,  and  John  Wingate,  just  south  of  Robinson's. 
North  was  Mr.  Terrill,  and  still  further  north  J.  Colby, 
who  had  been  in  since  1842.  Eastward  the  land  was 
swampy,  and  there  but  few  settlements  were  made  until  a 
late  period.  Arnold  Dinsmore's  son  William  and  son-in- 
law,  Franklin  Naveman,  came  in  a  few  years  afterwards  and 
began  to  clear  some  land  on  the  elder  Dinsmore's  place, 
lying  to  the  eastward,  about  the  first  clearing  effected  in 
that  locality. 


EAELT  TOWNSHIP  EOADS. 
In  1839  the  township  was  divided  into  three  road  dis- 
tricts. The  first  comprised  all  that  portion  of  land  situated 
on  the  east  section-line  between  sections  2  and  3,  runnins 
from  north  to  south  through  the  town  ;  the  second,  all  that 
land  lying  between  the  above-mentioned  line  and  a  line 
running  between  sections  4  and  5 ;  the  third,  all  the  re- 
maining land  in  said  township. 

May  27, 1839,  a  road  was  laid  commencing  on  the  north 
line  of  said  town,  and  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  6 ; 
thence  running  south  on  section-lines  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  6.  A  second  road  was  laid  from  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  2  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  same  sec- 
tion. A  third  road  commenced  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  5  and  terminated  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
same  section.  A  fourth  road  began  at  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  1  and  passed  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
6.  July  15,  1839,  a  road  was  laid  commencing  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  12,  and  extending  west  on  sec- 
tions 11  and  14  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  11. 
Sept.  1, 1840,  a  road  was  laid  commencing  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  11,  and  running  north  on  section-line  one 
mile.  Sept.  29,  1840,  a  road  was  laid  commencing  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  section  2,  and  running  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  same  section.  Same  date  a  road  was  laid  from 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  8  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  section  32,  running  south  on  section-lines.  Nov.  20, 
1840,  a  road  was  laid  from  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
9  to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  section.  Oct.  5,  1840,  a 
road  was  laid  from  the  southwest  corner  of  section  9  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  same  section.  Oct.  3,  1841,  a  road 
was  laid  from  the  northwest  corner  of  section  3  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  said  section.  Dec.  25,  1841,  a  road 
was  laid  from  the  southwest  corner  of  section  1  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  same  section. 

Nov.  6,  1842,  a  road  was  laid  from  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  10  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  same  section. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  highways  of  the 
township  of  Westphalia,  on  the  24th  day  of  March,  A.D. 
1846,  they  divided  the  road  districts  in  the  following 
manner: 

District  No.  1  to  contain  sections  1,  2,  and  the  north  half 
of  section  11,  and  the  north  half  of  section  12,  and  to  take 
all  roads  in  said  district,  as  well  as  the  south  half  of  the 
road  between  sections  2  and  3,  and  the  south  half  of  the 
north  half  of  the  road  between  sections  10  and  11. 

District  No.  2  to  contain  sections  3  and  4,  and  to  take 
all  roads  in  said  district,  as  well  as  the  north  half  of  the  road 
between  sections  2  and  3,  the  north  half  of  the  road  between 
sections  4  and  5,  and  the  road  between  sections  3  and  10. 

District  No.  3  to  contain  sections  5  and  6,  and  take  all 
roads  in  said  district,  as  well  as  the  south  half  of  the  road 
between  sections  4  and  5  and  the  road  between  sections  6 
and  7. 

District  No.  4  to  contain  sections  7  and  8,  and  to  take 
all  roads  in  said  district,  the  road  between  sections  5  and 
8,  the  north  half  of  the  road  between  sections  8  and  9,  and 
the  road  between  sections  7  and  18. 

District  No.  5  to  contain  sections  9  and  10,  and  to  take 
all  roads  in  said  district,  the  south  half  of  the  road  between 


WESTPHALIA  TOWNSHIP. 


537 


sections  8  and  9,  the  road  between  sections  9  and  16,  and 
the  road  between  sections  4  and  9. 

District  No.  6  to  contain  the  south  half  of  section  11, 
and  south  half  of  sections  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  and  18, 
and  to  take  all  roads  in  said  district,  the  south  half  of  the 
road  between  sections  10  and  11,  the  road  between  sections 
8  and  17,  the  road  between  sections  10  and  15,  the  road 
between  sections  13  and  24,  the  road  between  sections  15 
and  22,  and  the  road  between  sections  17  and  20. 

District  No.  7  to  contain  sections  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24, 
27,  28,  29,  and  30,  and  to  take  all  roads  in  said  district, 
the  road  between  sections  14  and  23,  the  road  between  sec- 
tions 16  and  21,  and  the  road  between  sections  18  and  19. 

District  No.  8  to  contain  sections  25,  26,  31,  32,  33,  34, 
35,  and  36,  and  to  take  all  roads  in  said  distiict,  and  the 
road  running  east  from  the  northwest  corner  of  section  31, 
terminating  at  the  east  side  of  said  town. 

TOWNSHIP  OKGANIZATION   AND    CIVIL   LIST. 

Town  6  north,  in  range  4  west,  was  detached  from  the 
township  of  Watertown  by  act  of  Legislature  approved 
March  21,  1839,  and  named  Westphalia,  suggested  ori- 
ginally as  a  name  for  the  town  by  Rev.  Anthony  Kopp,  in 
recognition  of  the  fact  that  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship came  from  the  province  of  Westphalia  in  Germany. 

The  first  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Anthony  Cordes,  April  29,  1839.  Anthony  Cordes  was 
appointed  moderator,  Joseph  Cordes  clerk,  and  Philip 
Henry  Martz,  James  S.  McEoberts,  Peter  Arens,  and  An- 
thony Kopp  inspectors  of  election.  The  officials  chosen 
on  that  occasion  were :  Supervisor,  Anthony  Kopp  ;  Clerk, 
Philip  Henry  Martz ;  Treasurer,  Nicholas  Martin ;  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace,  Gottfried  Adleman  (four  years),  An- 
thony Cordes  (three  years),  Peter  Arens ;  Assessors,  An- 
thony Platte,  Philip  Henry  Martz,  James  S.  MoRoberts  ; 
Highway  Commissioners,  Conrad  Martin,  Nicholas  Martin, 
John  Hauses ;  School  Inspectors,  Peter  Arens,'  Michael 
Thoma ;  Collector,  Mathias  Ott ;  Constable,  Mathias  Ott ; 
Directors  of  the  Poor,  Bernhard  Rademacher  and  Anthony 
Cordes ;  Overseers  of  Highways,  Francis  Rademacher,  dis- 
trict No.  1,  Anthony  Kopp  in  district  No.  2. 

• 
Appended  is  given  a  list  of  the  persons  chosen  annually 
from  1840  to  1880  to  serve  as  supervisor,  clerk,  treasurer, 
and  justice  of  the  peace. : 


s 

1840.*  J.  Dannel?aoker. 

UPERVISOES. 

1862-63.  M.  Bartow. 

1841.  Joseph  Platte. 

1864.  J.  Bohr. 

1842.  A.  Kopp. 

1865.  M.  Bartow. 

1843.  M.  McVeigh. 

1866.  No  record. 

1844.  M.  Bartow. 

1867-68.  M.  Bartow. 

1845.  William  F.  Dutton. 

1869-72.  J.  P.  Yuncker. 

1846-51.  M.  Bartow,  Jr. 

1873-74.  J.  H.  Fedewa. 

1852-53.  W.  T.  Plowman. 

1875-76.  M.  Bartow. 

1854-59.  M.  Bartow,  Jr. 

1877-78.  J.  H.  Pedewa. 

1860-61.  Joseph  Bohr. 

1879-80.  William  Smith. 

CLERKS. 

1840.  A.  Kopp. 

1843.  W.  T.  Plowman. 

1841-42.  S.  Boughton. 

1844.  S.  Boughton. 

■  Twenty-six  votes  cast. 


1845.  F.  W.  Criiin. 

1846.  M.  McVeigh. 
1847-48.  F.  Martin. 

1849.  M.  McVeigh. 

1850.  W.  Nettleton. 
1851-53.  J.  A.  McVeigh. 
1854.  Joseph  Bohr. 


1840. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1845- 
1847- 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
1852. 
1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857. 


L.  Wieber. 
M.  Paul. 
C.  Martin. 
J.  Dunnebacker. 

C.  Martin. 
46.  F.  Martin. 
48.  Joseph  Platte. 

D.  Kopfert. 
G.  Adleman. 
F.  Martin. 
Joseph  Platte. 
J.  Rademacher. 
P.  J.  Voosen. 
N.  Kneiss. 

C.  Martin. 
L.  Keusch. 


1855- 

63. 

Joseph  Platte,  Jr. 

1864- 

65. 

J.  Rademacher. 

1866. 

Nc 

record. 

1867- 

69. 

William  Smith. 

1870- 

72. 

T.  Platte. 

1873- 

78. 

Joseph  Arens. 

1879- 

80. 

A.  A.  Fox. 

TREASURERS. 

1858- 

59. 

B.  Rademacher  (2d) 

1860. 

M 

Petsch. 

1861. 

M 

Pung. 

1862. 

A. 

Fu.\. 

1863. 

P. 

Smith. 

1864. 

T. 

Rademacher. 

1865 

J. 

Bucbal. 

1866. 

No  record. 

1867 

A 

Arens. 

1863 

F. 

Platte. 

1869- 

-70. 

A.  Arens. 

1871- 

-73 

J.  Snitgen. 

1874 

-75. 

J.  Baker. 

1876 

-78 

J.  P.  Bertram. 

1879 

-80 

J.  Martin. 

JUSTICES    OF   THE    PEACE. 


1840. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1845. 
1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
1852. 
1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857. 
1858- 
1860. 


S.  Boughton. 
No  record. 
Joseph  Cordes. 
G-.  Adelman. 
S.  Boughton. 
C.  Martin. 
W.  T.  Plowman. 
M.  Snider. 
M.  Bartow,  Jr. 

C.  Haner. 

W.  T.  Plowman. 
S.  Barnes. 

D.  Dutton. 
M.  Bartow,  Jr. 
J.  T.  Wingate. 
W.  T.  Plowman. 
D.  Goss,  Jr. 

M.  Bartow,  Jr. 
59.  L.  Keusoh. 
J.  Bohr. 


1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1S65. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 


M.  Bartow. 
J,  Rademacher. 
L.  Keusch. 
J.  M.  Benjamin. 
M.  Bartow. 
No  record. 
L.  Keusch. 
J.  Rademacher. 
F.  Noeker. 
P.  Petsch. 
L.  Kousoh. 
P.  Noeker. 
M.  Bartow. 
P.  Petsch. 
B.  Fitzgerald. 
F.  Noeker. 
M.Bartow. 
P.  Petsch. 
A.  F.  Williams. 
F.  Noeker. 


THE  TREASURER'S  REPORT  IN  1840. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  township  board,  held  March  24, 
1840,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  with  the  town  treasurer, 
it  appeared  that  there  had  been  received  by  the  treasurer 
from  residents  twenty-six  dollars  and  forty  cents  and  from 
non-residents  twenty  dollars  and  seventy  cents,  or  a  total  of 
forty-seven  dollars  and  ten  cents ;  that  the  collector's  fees 
were  two  dollars  and  fifty-one  centsj  that  there  had  been 
paid  in  town  orders  twenty-six  dollars  and  twenty-five  and 
a  half  cents,  and  that  there  remained  due  to  the  town 
twenty-one  dollars  and  thirty-six  and  a  half  cents. 

JURORS   FOR   1841. 
Ch-and.— Joseph  Platte,  Conrad  Martin,  Mathias  Ott, 
Samuel  Boughton. 

Petit.— Dominiok  Hopfert,  Francis  Martin,  Martin  Paul, 
Gottfried  Adleman. 

JURORS   FOR   1844. 
Grand.— John    Dunnebacker,   William    T.   Plowman, 
Samuel  M.  Grain,  John  Haner. 


68 


538 


IIISTOllY   OF   CLINTON  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


Petit— ^oses  Bartow,  Jr.,  Samuel  Boughton,  William 
F.  Button,  Gottfried  Adleman. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  township  board,  March  30,  1847, 
it  appeared  that  the  tax  raised  in  1846  was  four  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  dollars  and  twenty-two  cents,  and  that 
the  amount  of  non-resident  tax  returned  was  two  hundred 
and  fifty-five  dollars  and  fifty-two  cents. 

JURORS  FOR   1850. 

Grand. — William  T.  Plowman,  William  Nettleton,  Sam- 
uel Barnes,  Milton  McVeigh,  Moses  Bartow,  Jr. 

Petit. — James  A.  McVeigh,  Francis  W.  Crain,  Conrad 
Haner,  John  Haner,  Samuel  M.  Crain. 

June  20,  1853,  the  township  voted  five  for  and  seventy 
against  the  adoption  of  an  act  prohibiting  the  manufacture 
of,  and  traffic  in,  intoxicating  beverages. 

COUNTY  OFFICIALS  FEOM   WESTPHALIA. 

Westphalia  has  furnished  the  county  prosecuting  attor- 
neys for  ten  years, — Anthony  Cook,  six  years,  and  J.  H. 
Fedewa,  four  years ;  Circuit  Court  commissioners,  four 
years, — Anthony  Cook  and  Moses  Bartow ;  William  T. 
Plowman  as  sheriff;  Moses  T.  Bartow  as  representative, 
four  years ;  and  David  Goss  coroner,  four  years. 

SCHOOLS. 

In  regard  to  schools,  the  first  settlers  and  organizers  of 
the  township  being   emigrants  directly  from  Germany,  a 
great  prejudice  existed  against  English  schools,  first,  and 
mainly,  because  of  the  national  pride  in  favor  of  the  Ger- 
man language,  and  secondly,  because  a  feeling  prevailed 
that  a  change  of  language  would  interfere  with  their  church 
interest,  which  was  mainly  Roman    Catholic,  and    conse- 
quently the  progress  of  English  schools  was  slow  until  the 
Legislature  enacted  a  law  that  all  public  records  and  busi- 
ness should  be  in  the  English  language ;  and  since  that 
time,  and  since  the  passing  away  of  the  original  Germans, 
a  steady  growing  interest  has  been  manifested  in  favor  of 
English  schools.    Several  causes  have  conspired  to  this  end. 
The  first  was  the  enactment  of  the  law  that  no  public 
money  should  be  appropriated  for  any  but  English  schools ; 
second,  the  national  pride  giving  way  to  the  idea  that  we 
are  a  universal  Yankee  nation,  and  that  it  is  better  for  all 
business  to  be  done  by  one  universal  language ;  and  thirdly, 
on  account  of  the  quiet  but  persistent  efforts  of  some  of 
the  English  or  American  settlers  in  the  township,  first  and 
foremost  being  Moses  Bartow,  the  first  American  teacher 
among  the  Germans,  who- taught  in,  a  portion  of  their  old 
log  church  in  1846,  while  in  another  portion  of  the  same 
church  a  German  school  was  taught,  both  schools  drawing 
from  the  primary-school  fund  for  their  support ;  but  soon 
after  that,  and  upon  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of 
1850,  requiring  at  least  three  months  of  free  schools  each 
year,  and  that  the  public  schools  should  be  conducted  in 
the  English  language,  a  steady-growing  interest  has  arisen 
in  favor  of  our  State  or  English  schools,  until  now  there 
are  many  good  English  scholars  among  the  Germans  there, 
and  the  business  of  the  township  is  ably  conducted  wholly 
by  the  Germans.     Moses  Bartow,  who  was  originally  from 


Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  who  lived  in  the  township  from 
1841  to  1879,  was  largely  conducive  and  conspicuous  among 
the  American  settlers  to  this  end.  He  was  elected  super- 
visor for  twenty  years,  from  1846  to  1879,  for  that  town- 
ship, and  upwards  of  thirty-four  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  many  years  school  inspector  and  superintendent 
of  schools.  The  township  may  now  be  said  to  be  pretty 
thoroughly  Americanized  in  regard  to  schools,  and  Michi- 
ganized  in  education. 

Oct.  2,  1845,  school-money  was  apportioned  as  follows : 
to  district  No.  1  the  sum  of  eight  dollars  and  forty-one 
cents-  to  No.  2  the  sum  of  twenty-six  dollars  and  fifty- 
nine  cents. 

In  1843  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars  was  raised  for  the 
support  of  schools. 

May  1, 1846,  school  district  No.  3  was  organized  to  con- 
tain sections  26,  27,  27,  28,  33,  34,  35,  36.  The  dates  of 
the  organizations  of  districts  Nos.  1  and  2  are  not  fixed  by 
the  records.  In  1846  district  No.  1  was  apportioned  nine 
dollars  and  eleven  cents,  and  to  district  No.  2  the  sum  of 
thirty-one  dollars  and  eighty-nine  cents. 

District  No.  4  was  formed  April  2, 1853,  and  commenced 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  18,  extended  south  four 
miles,  thence  east  two  miles,  thence  north  one  mile,  thence 
east  one  mile,  thence  north  two  miles,  thence  west  two 
miles,  thence  north  one  mile,  thence  west  one  mile  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  It  contained  sections  18,  19,  20,  21, 
28,  29,  30,  31,  and  32.  Directly  afterwards  sections  29, 
30,  31,  and  32  were  detached  from  district  No.  4  and 
organized  as  district  No.  5. 

District  No.  6  was  formed  March  11,  1854,  to  comprise 
sections  1,  2,  the  north  half  of  section  11,  and  the  whole 
of  section  12  except  the  southwest  quarter. 

April  14, 1855,  district  No.  7  was  formed  to  include  sec- 
tions 3,  4,  9,  and  10,  except  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
section  last  named. 

April  23, 1856,  the  mill-tax  of  1855  was  apportioned  as 
follows : 

BistriotNo.l $18.65 

"           2  27.32 

«           3 10.94 

6 „ 5.48 

"           7 20.57 

8 17.37 

Total .' S100.33 

District  No.  9  was  organized  April  8, 1863,  and  included 
sections  33,  34,  27,  southeast  quarter  of  section  28,  north 
half  of  the  southwest  quarter  and  the  south  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  26,  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  22,  southeast  quarter  of  section  21,  the  northeast 
quarter  and  southwest  quarter  of  section  28, — the  district 
being  formed  from  portions  of  districts  Nos.  1,  3,  and  4. 

Appended  is  given  a  list  of  the  teatshers  appointed  between 
1845  and  1865 : 

June  23,  1845. — Martha  Jones. 

Nov.  1,  1845. — Moses  Bartow,  Jr. 

Dec.  5,  1846.— George  Godez,  Moses  Bartow  (2d). 

April  13,  1850.— Anthony  Fox. 

June  8,  1854. — Harriet  De  Witt,  Lucy  M.  Jenkson. 

July  6,  1854.— Ursula  Vance. 


WESTPHALIA  TOWNSHIP. 


539 


Feb.  21,  1855.— Anthony  Fox. 

Nov.  25,  1854.— Benjamin  and  Ann  McOmber. 

Nov.  3,  I860.— B.  C.  McOmber,  E.  L.  Tracy,  J.  H. 
Burgess,  Peter  Wirth. 

Nov.  24,  I860.— John  T.  Cornue. 

May  30,  1861.— Mis.s  Lodima  L.  Brown. 

Nov.  2,  1861.— C.  J.  Hill,  John  H.  Goss,  Henry  D. 
Hall,  Emma  T.  Ross,  Mary  E.  Plowman. 

Nov.  25,  1861.— Henry  N.  McVeigh. 

May  21,  1864.— Sarah  Ann  Thunia,  Abbie  Tlioma. 

June  1,  1864. — Peter  Manar. 

Nov.  5,  1864. — Nettie  Leonard. 

Nov.  18,  1864.— Miss  Wood. 

Nov.  19,  1864.— Miss  Loots. 

Nov.  29,  1864.— Julia  A.  Plowman. 

Dee.  17,  1864.— Addie  L.  Packard. 

April  8,  1865.— Caroline  Bissell. 

April  29,  1865.— Sarah  M.  Backus. 

The  annual  school  report  for  1879  gives  the  following 
details : 

Number  of  Bohool  districts  (whole,  6;  fractional,,!)...  7 

Number  of  scholars  of  school  age 620 

Average  attendance 178 

Value  of  school  property $3850 

Teachers'  wages $824 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  Peter  Petsch,  S.  0. 
Haysen,  J.  P.  Seoo,  William  H.  Hubbard,  Peter  Fedewa, 
Mathew  Thelen,  and  L.  Kensch. 

THK  VILLAGE  OF  WESTPHALIA. 
Apart  from  the  church  building,  the  first  improvement 
made  upon  the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Westphalia 
was  a  house  put  up  in  1849  by  Anton  Dunnebacker,  a 
shoemaker.  That  house  is  now  included  in  the  building 
known  as  the  village  tavern.  Dunnebacker  sold  his  place 
to  Joseph  Platte,  who  transferred  his  store  from  section  5, 
and  became  the  pioneer  trader  of  the  embryo  village.  Platte 
owned  considerable  land  thereabout,  and  his  object  in  re- 
moving his  store  was  to  found  a  village.  His  lead  was  fol- 
lowed by  others,  and  in  due  time  the  town  took  on  shape 
and  population.  Platte  opened  his  store  in  1852,  and  in 
1854  John  A.  Fedewa  opened  a  second  store  ju.st  west  of 
where  John  Hafner  now  has  a  wagon-shop.  In  1856  a 
very  important  impetus  was  given  to  the  growth  of  the  vil- 
lage in  the  erection  of  a  saw-mill  by  Joseph  Platte,  John 
Smith,  and  Joseph  Bohr,  and  in  1858,  in  the  addition  by 
the  same  parties  of  a  grist-mill.  In  1854,  Joseph  Platte 
sold  his  store  business  to  his  son  Joseph,  Jr.,  and  Caspar 
Rademacher,  who  materially  enlarged  the  premises.  In 
1862,  Platte  &  Rademacher  erected  on  the  corner  opposite 
their  place  the  store  now  owned  by  Thoma  &  Co.  Their 
old  store  was  sold  to  Bernard  Rademacher  (who  had  pre- 
viously kept  a  house  of  entertainment  on  section  3),  who 
converted  it  into  a  tavern,  to  which  use  it  has  since  been 
devoted.  Platte  &  Rademacher  kept  the  only  store  in  the 
village  for  a  time.  In  1868  they  dissolved,  when  Rade- 
macher retired  and  built  the  brick  store  now  occupied  by 
Joseph  Arens  &  Co.  Each  continued  in  business  on  his 
own  account,  and  each  ultimately  failing,  the  business  of 
both  passed  to  the  control  of  Thoma,  Arens  &  Co. 

Christopher  Thiol  slarte'd  a  small  brewery  in  the  village 


in  1861,  and  carried  it  on  until  1866,  when  Peter  Thoma 
and  Peter  Arens  built  the  Clinton  Brewery,  just  north  of 
the  village,  and  straightway  monopolized  the  business.  In 
186S,  Joseph  Bohr  and  John  Smith  built  the  pastoral  resi- 
dence at  the  village;  the  new  church  was  already  under  way, 
and  the  village  was  well  along  as  a  thriving  place.  In  1865, 
Snitgen  &  Rademacher  opened  a  hardware-store,  Joseph 
Snitgen  having  for  several  years  previous  been  carrying  on 
business  as  a  blacksmith  at  Westphalia.  In  1868  the 
boiler  of  the  grist-mill  exploded,  and  besides  destroying  the 
mill,  killed  John  Smith,  one  of  the  proprietors.  His  son 
William  was  buried  beneath  the  ruins,  and  other  persons  in 
and  about  the  premises  were  roughly  handled,  but  except 
the  death  of  Mr.  Smith  no  serious  accident  to  life  or  limb 
was  occasioned.  The  saw-mill  was  at  once  rebuilt  by  Wil- 
liam Smith,  but  the  grist-mill  was  not  replaced  until  1872, 
when  Frank  Nocker,  the  present  proprietor,  put  up  the 
present  structure,  containing  three  run  of  stones.  Mr. 
Nocker  does  considerable  custom  and  merchant  work,  and 
manufactures  for  shipment  to  Detroit  about  two  hundred 
barrels  of  flour  per  month. 

VILLAGE   PHYSICIANS. 

In  the  early  days  of  Westphalia's  settlement  medical  at- 
tendance was  obtained  from  Ionia,  Lyons,  and  Portland. 
In  1848  one  Dr.  Seinholt  settled  in  Westphalia  as  a  resi- 
dent physician,  and  remained  until  1857.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Howard  City.  His  successors  in  the  settlement  have 
been  Drs.  Fisher,  Stokes,  Sauer,  Shattuck,  Dellenbaugh, 
and  Herres.  Dr.  Simon  Herres  is  now  the  only  resident 
physician  in  Westphalia. 

POST-OFFICE. 

The  Westphalia  post-office  was  probably  established  in 
1850  or  before.  Rev.  George  Goditz  was  the  first  post- 
master. As  he  could  write  the  English,  and  as  a  large 
majority  of  the  townspeople  could  not,  he  was  ordinarily 
kept  pretty  busy  superscribing  letters  for  his  German  fellow- 
citizens  and  patrons  of  the  office.  Mail  came  once  a  week 
over  the  route  from  De  Witt  northward.  Joseph  Platte,  Jr., 
was  the  second  postmaster,  serving  from  1854  to  1873,  and 
after  him  Joseph  Snitgen,  the  present  incumbent,  took 
possession.  A  daily  mail  has  been  received  at  Westphalia 
since  1863. 

POPULATION  AND  BUSINESS. 
Within  the  mile  square  inclosing  the  village  the  popu- 
lation numbered  in  July,  1880,  just  three  hundred  and 
ninety-two.  The  business  interests  were  represented  by 
the  general  stores  of  Fox  &  Snitgen,  Arens  &  Co.,  and 
Thoma  &  Co.,  the  drug-store  of  J.  P.  Bertram,  William 
Smith's  tavern,  the  wagon-shops  of  John  Hafner,  Peter 
Bauer,  and  Peter  Doll,  Frank  Noeker's  grist-mill,  William 
Smith's  saw-mill,  four  boot-  and  shoe-manufacturers,  har- 
ness-maker, photographer,  etc. 

KELIGIOUS  HISTOKY. 
ST.   MARY'S   (ROMAN   CATHOLIC)    CHURCH. 
It  has  already  been  related  that  as  soon  as  Anthony  Kopp, 
the  priest,  joined  the  settlers  in  Westphalia  he  founded  a 


540 


HISTORY  OF  CLINTON   COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


church  and  school.  Kopp  had  served  in  the  priesthood  in 
Germany,  and  in  the  new  field  opened  before  him  in  a  new 
world  he  engaged  at  once  with  much  enthusiastic  vigor 
upon  the  work  he  was  called  to  perform.  After  Kopf  es- 
tablished his  log  cabin  as  a  church  and  school  he  continued 
the  exercises  in  both  with  unfailing  regularity,  and  when, 
amid  the  growth  of  his  duties  as  teacher  and  participator 
in  affairs  that  concerned  the  civil  government,  he  found  his 
duties  becoming  laborious  beyond  his  capacity,  he  engaged 
a  young  German  of  Detroit,  by  name  Cronus,  to  come  out 
and  teach  the  school.  Presently  the  priest's  log  cabin  be- 
coming too  small  for  the  increasing  church  congregration, 
a  second  and  larger  log  church  was  built  upon  the  site  now 
occupied  by  the  pastoral  residence.  After  a  time  the  sec- 
ond house  of  worship,  like  its  predecessor,  was  found  in- 
adequate to  supply  places  for  all  who  came,  and  so  a  third 
(framed)  church  was  built  just  west  of  the  other.  The 
new  building  was  capable  of  holding  three  or  four  hundred 
people,  and  the  general  opinion  seemed  that  that  church  at 
least  would  be  large  enough  and  remain  large  enough,  but 
these  calculations,  as  will  be  seen,  were  greatly  at  fault.  In 
1867  it  became  evident  that  enlarged  church  capacity  must 
be  provided,  for  the  congregation  had  risen  in  numbers  to 
something  like  a  thousand,  and  so,  upon  consultation,  it 
was  decided  to  build  not  only  a  massive  and  commodious, 
but  likewise  a  magnificent  temple,  which  should  be  alike 
a  source  of  architectural  pride  and  a  place  where  all  who 
came,  although  they  might  number  two  thousand,  might 
find  shelter  and  places.  The  result  was  the  noble  struc- 
ture which  now  at  the  village  of  Westphalia  touches  the 
clouds  with  its  lofty  spire,  and  remains  an  object  of  unfail- 
ing satisfaction  to  those  who  worship  beneath  its  roof. 

Anthony  Kopp  labored  among  the  people  six  years,  and 
saw  that  his  labors  were  fruitful  in  establishing  church  and 
school  upon  an  enduring  foundation.  Newer  and  more 
needy  fields  then  inviting  him  he  passed  on,  and  although 
he  came  no  more  to  Westphalia,  he  cherished  his  work 
there  in  fond  remembrance,  watched  its  progress  with 
anxious  solicitude,  and  to  the  day  of  his  death  was  in 
kindly  and  friendly  communication  with  the  people,  who 
remember  him  and  speak  of  him  reverently  and  gratefully. 

His  successor.  Rev.  George  Godez,  began  his  labors  in 
1843,  and  continued  them  uninterruptedly  with  the  con- 
gregation of  St.  JMary's  Church  for  tlie  space  of  thirty  years, 
or  until  the  year  1873,  when  the  infirmities  of  age  warned 
him  that  he  was  unable  to  longer  perform  the  duties  at- 
tendant upon  his  laborious  service,  and  so,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, he  was  transferred  to  a  narrower  sphere  of  action. 
A  sei-vice  of  thirty  years  had  endeared  him  to  his  people, 
and  the  severance  of  the  bonds  which  had  so  long  bound 
them  was  a  painful  incident  to  both  pastor  and  congrega- 
tion. During  Father  Godez'  time  the  church  made  re- 
markable advancement,  and  provided  not  only  the  present 
church  edifice,  but  the  fine  school  building  and  pastoral 
residence  as  well.  Father  Godez  is  still,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-five, preaching  at  Greenfield,  Mich. 

His  successors  at  Westphalia  have  been  Revs.  Trotten- 
berg,  Lightner,  lleifurth,  and  Herwig.  The  first  two  were 
in  charge  of  the  work  but  a  brief  space,  while  Rev.  Mr. 
lleifurth's  term  of  service  extended  over  a  period  of  five 


years.  Rev.  William  Herwig,  the  present  pastor,  was 
called  to  the  charge  from  Stony  Creek  (near  Monroe)  in 
the  autumn  of  1879. 

The  church  edifice,  which  was  begun  in  1867,  was  com- 
pleted in  1869,  and  although  the  people  contributed  con- 
siderable free  labor  such  as  hauling  lumber,  brick,  and  other 
materials,  besides  rendering  minor  other  services,  the  total 
cost  of  the  structure  is  stated  to  have  been  upwards  of 
$70,000.  Seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  brick  were 
used  in  the  construction,  and  these  brick,  as  well  as  those 
used  in  building  the  pastoral  residence  and  the  school, 
were  of  course  burned  upon  the  ground.  The  two  latter 
buildings,  located  near  the  church,  are  handsome  edifices, 
and  cost  about  $10,000  each,  the  pastoral  residence 
having  been  built  in  1868  and  the  school  in  1873.  The 
aggregate  wealth  represented  in  the  church,  school,  parson- 
age, and  surroundings  reaches  therefore  the  sum  of  fully 
$100,000. 

The  church  contains  a  seating  capacity  for  fifteen  hun- 
dred people,  while  an  additional  five  hundred  or  more  may 
be  accommodated  in  an  emergency.  The  exterior,  of  mas- 
sive and  imposing  appearance,  has  a  front  of  sixty  feet  and 
a  depth  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet.  In  the  inte- 
rior an  arched  roof  is  supported  by  massive  pillars.  The 
distance  from  floor  to  ceiling  measures  thirty-three  feet. 
The  spire  that  surmounts  the  majestic  pile  points  its  glist- 
ening cross  towards  the  heavens  at  a  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  feet  from  mother  earth.  The  central  altar- 
piece,  magnificent  in  artistic  design  and  decoration,  is  thirty 
feet  in  height  by  twenty  feet  in  width  and  in  keeping  with 
its  character ;  the  interior  of  the  edifice  is  lavishly  embel- 
lished upon  ceiling  and  walls  with  paintings  and  frescoes. 
A  large  pipe-organ,  purchased  in  JMilwaukee  at  a  cost  of 
three  thousand  dollars,  occupies  space  in  a  gallery  facing 
the  altar.  The  organist,  Mr.  Henry  Horstman,  is  employed 
exclusively  in  that  capacity. 

Few  such  churches  may  be  seen  anywhere  aside  from 
large  business  centres,  and  that  Westphalia,  the  abode  of  a 
rural  population,  can  boast  it  testifies  in  an  eloquent  way 
to  the  religious  devotion  and  liberality  of  the  people.  It 
is  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  two  thousand  persons  in  at- 
tendance at  worship  of  a  Sunday,  and  in  this  temple — 
striking  in  its  artistic  embellishments,  impressive  in  its 
roomy  architecture,  and  crowded  with  the  faithful — the 
spectacle  offered  is  one  that  weighs  with  no  slight  effect 
upon  the  human  mind. 

To  this  church  come  worshipers  from  five  townships, — 
Lyons,  Portland,  Westphalia,  Dallas,  and  Riley, — and  so 
steadily  do  their  numbers  increase  that  even  now  there  is 
talk  of  affording  increased  church  accommodations.  The 
temporal  affairs  of  church  and  school,  and  all  property 
incidental  thereto,  are  managed  and  held  in  trust  by  a  board 
of  trustees  five  in  number.  The  members  of  the  board 
for  1880  are  Joseph  Martin,  Franz  Wolfart,  Joseph  Dunne- 
backer,  Bernhard  Hauses,  and  Joseph  Telan. 

ST.    MARY'S   (ROMAN    CATHOLIC)   SCHOOL. 
Upon  the  establishment  of  St.  Mary's  Church  a  parish 
school  was  at  once  instituted  and  placed  under  the  direct 
charge  of  the  priest.     Father  Kopp  taught  the  school  hiui- 


WESTPHALIA  TOWNSHIP. 


541 


self  until  increased  duties  led  him  to  provide  another 
teacher  in  the  person  of  one  Cronus,  of  Detroit.  Cronus 
remained  only  a  short  time,  and  after  returning  to  Detroit 
lost  his  life  by  accidental  drowning.  Anton  Puchs  was  his 
successor,  an"!  ^om  that  time  until  1868  various  teachers, 
aided  and  directed  by  the  pastor,  guided  school  affairs.  In 
1868  the  institution  was  given  over  to  the  charge  of  the 
Sisters  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  and  under  their 
charge  it  remained  until  1874.  Meanwhile — the  school 
having  occupied  quarters  in  the  church  buildings— a  hand- 
some brick  school  was  erected  for  the  parish  by  William 
Smith,  in  1873,  at  a  cost  of  about  ten  thousand  dollars. 
In  1874  the  school  was  transferred  to  the  charge  of  the 
Sisters  of  Charity,  who  have  since  then  continued  in  con- 
trol. These  are  five  in  number  (three  Germans  and  two 
Americans),  and  with  three  other  sisters  reside  in  a  com- 
mon home  provided  for  them  neaT  the  school.  The  names 
of  these  eight  sisters  are  Boniface,  Bonaventure,  Ealalia, 
Ildephonse,  Pulcharia,  Olga,  Justina,  and  Febronia.  The 
school  is  supported  by  the  church,  is  absolutely  free  to  all 
members  of  the  church  congregation,  and  contains  four 
departments,  aggregating  an  attendance  of  four  hundred 
scholars,  who  are  taught  in  both  the  German  and  English 
languages.  Many  of  these  children  come  to  school  from  a 
distance  of  three,  four,  and  even-  six  miles,  and  although 
many  of  these  latter  board  in  the  village  during  the  week, 
a  few  traverse  the  distance  morning  and  evening. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


FRANK  NOEKER. 

Westphalia  township  affords  many  fine  examples  of  suc- 
cessful business  enterprise  as  the  result  of  industry  and 


close  application,  though  perhaps  the  most  signal  instance  is 
discovered  in  the  career  of  Mr.  Noeker.  He  is  the  son  of 
Frank  Noeker,  who  was  born  in  Westphalia,  Prussia,  in 
1801,  as  was  also  his  son,  Frank,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
December,  1834.  When  eleven  years  of  age  the  parents 
were  induced,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  their  son,  to 
emigrate  to  America,  and  after  a  weary  passage  and  an  ad- 
ditionally tedious  voyage  on  the  Erie  Canal,  they  landed  in 
Detroit.  Mr.  Noeker  purchased  an  unimproved  farm  three 
miles  from  the  city,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in 
1876.  The  son,  having  previously  been  educated  in  the 
rudiments  in  his  native  land,  devoted  himself  to  farming 
pursuits,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty -five  married  Miss  Mary 
Damitio,  of  Detroit,  who  was  a  native  of  the  township  of 
Hamtrawick,  where  her  parents  were  among  the  early  Ger- 
man pioneers.  Mr.  Noeker,  during  the  nine  years  that 
followed,  was  occupied  with  his  farming  duties  varied  by 
the  exciting  life  of  a  local  politician.  Land  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  having  increased  rapidly  in  value,  he  decided  to 
sell  his  possessions  and  remove  to  Westphalia,  which  he 
did  in  1867.  He  became  the  popular  host  of  the  township, 
and  four  years  later  erected  an  extensive  flouring-mill,  which 
so  absorbed  his  time  as  to  induce  him  to  sell  the  hotel 
property. 

He  has  since  the  first  year  of  his  arrival  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  also  served  as  school  di- 
rector and  drain  commissioner.  The  political  campaign  of 
1879  found  him  the  successful  candidate  of  the  Democratic 
party  as  representative  of  his  district  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, where  he  for  two  years  with  ability  and  dignity  filled 
this  responsible  position.  Mr.  Noeker,  by  his  force  of 
character  and  manliness,  has  attained  a  considerable  influ- 
ence among  the  people  of  his  own  nationality,  while  his 
genial  character  has  rendered  him  deservedly  popular  with 
1  hem. 


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