F 7i^i~ -z teil; OU --- -,- - -I - — Wlfl~w X TH 1 it I^ST^ 444 74i arLa All4.......... V0;,,, —T~'1_', U:;V 7( '1j FA '40",V _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __e r I I i i i I i I i I 1 i I i Ii i I i I I i i i I i I I I iI i I i I I I i I I i I I i i i i I I I i I I i I i i i I i I i I i I i I II t I I i I ii i I kit i 11 -- ---- t K6pe>S 'A a W. ^l i 4'te r^ N rl: 6 is i; M-h, ifna;; 6 4 P.,;R11111;l -4. I I -M-1..I- 11-2- I — -"- A "J.- I-U-1 11144-11-2.-11-44-1. 1 — — MIM (;b I e m I I I I B 3 ", — - --- ---- ---- S TOF OFPT ____ HILLSDALE COUNTY MICHIGAN, lWstrITHol ([lsltratiions and iiagratlti aI hklet2 3 Oil I i i i i i i Ii I I i I I i iI i Ii i I I I I i I I i II i i i I II I -1 I I i iI I i I I i I i i i i i i f I i i I i I I Ig t fII I I I I I I1 56 = B - ( I B m B B X Xc= X~1 I SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. PHILADELPHIA: EVERtJTS & A-BBOTT. 1879. — -I - --- -- -iIi 2 ==I I" If" IIII I I-b III (r-,r.9 rh'%t111 p l'l?~7Crgj~~~zcSBA1/:~S.!- m m mmC~D W5~;:~~i3S1i~~~ 5~~5~~i~~9 | PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA. I t$4. -I I> C0 N T ENTq-S. IT SITO R.0 IO -AI4T HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY. CHAPTER PAGE 1.-Introductory...9 II.-Early French Discoveries... 10 1II.-The Pottawattamies... 12 IV.-The Pottawattamies (continued) 16 V.-The Pottawattamies (continued) 26 VLI.-The Era of Preparation... 32 VIL-The Pioneer Era... 35 VIII-The Era of Development... 45 IX.-The First and Second Infantry... 47 X.-The Fourth Infantry... 49 XI.-The Seventh and Tenth Infantry 55 XII.-The Eleventh Infantry... 58 XJII.-The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Infantry so XIV.-The Eighteenth Infantry... 62 XV.-The Twenty-Fourth, Twenty-Seventh, and Thirtieth Infantry...65 XVI.-The First Sharpshooters and First Engineers and Mechanics...69 XVII.-Second, Fourth, and Seventh Cavalry.. 71 XVIII.-Eighth and Eleventh Cavalry and First Light Artillery.75 XIX.-Other Soldiers.79 XX.-Since the War.80 XXI.-Hillsdale County Civil List.81 XXII.-The Press of Hillsdale County.83 PALGE XXIII.-IHillsdale County Agricultural Society.86 XXIV.-The County Grange and the Pioneer Society. 89 XXV.-Hillsdale College..90 CITY OF HLILLSDALE 94 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF HILL4SDALE COUNTY. Fayette.119 Scipio.149 Litchfield.157 Pittsford f"lY Wheatland.188 Wright.200 Hillsdale.215 Adamns.219 Somerset.230 Moscow.241 Allen.251 Cambria.266 Jefferson.272 Ransom.283 Amboy.295 Camden.301 Reading.311 Woodhridge.328:BIOGEK8-1I OJAL - Hon. John P. Cook, Hillsdale Lewis Emery, Harvey B. Rowlson, lion. Henry Waldron, William Waldron, Daniel L. Pratt, Oscar A. Janes, Benjamin P. Shepard, Asher B. La Flour, Robert A. Weir, George W. Bullock, Corvis M. Barre, Gen. C. J. ]Dickerson, John W. Falley, M.D., Arvin F. Whelan, M.D., Hillsdale Col. F. M. Holloway, Fayette Hon. Levi Baxter, " Seth D. McNeal, Charles P. Osius, Charles Mosher, Scipio Lyman Johnson, "1 Isaac Smith, "t William J. and Otis Bettis, Litchfield Horton Mann, i Hon. Stephen Canniff; Samuel Riblet, James Valentine, Gideon Stoddard, Hon. William Stoddard, Miles Rorabacher, M.D., Warner Bunday, Lahan A.' Howard, M.D., i S. Sabin Fairhank, 9 Milton P. Herring, William J. Barnard, Litchfleld James B. Linsday, "t Reuben W. Freeman," Samuel Day, Pittsford Aaron Clement," Hon. John M. Oshorn, Pittsford. John H. Keagle, i James H. Miner, John Perrin, Zebulon Williams, Wheatland Samuel Combs, Dr. John W. Steward," Seth Wood, Almon Goff, Nelson R. Rowley, " Albert B. Slocum, " Harvey McGee, Thomas Robins, i James N. Wilcox, Wright Robert B. Sawyer," William Brewster," PAGE facing 94 it 105 " 108.11-4.~114.~114.~115.~115 115.~116.~116.~116.~118.~147 148.~149.~155.~156.~157 facing 161 between 162, 163.~164.~164.~165.~165.~165.166.~166.~167.~167.~168.~168.~168.~169 between 184, 185 facing 185.~185.~186.~186.~187 facing 191 197.~197.~198.~198.~199.~199.~199.~200.~212 213.~213 I I I i i PAGE Win. S. Van Fleet, Wright.214 W. H. andlienry M. Pratt, Wright.21.5 Asa G. Edwards, Hillsdale.between 216, 217 Joseph J. Jones, "... 218 Garry Sarles,.... 218 The Gray Family, Adams.... 226 Horace P. Hitchcock, "... 226 Nicholas Schmitt, "... 227 William Wright,.... 227 Furmnan Huff,.... 227 William Kirby,.... 228 Lemuel Roberts, "... 228 Samuel Stevens,.... 229 Vining Barker,.... 229 Levi Vanaken,.... 230 Andrew McDougal, Somerset..between 234, 235 Seth Aldrich,...238 Charles M. L. Andrus, Somerset...238 Oliver E. Mosher,.... 239 Deacon James Brezee, "..23.9 William Mercer,...240 Robert McGregor,...241 Daniel McNabb, Moscow..facing 249 Israel Buck,...249 Azariah Mallory, "..250 Horatio N. Rowley, "..250 Alexander Hewitt, Allen...262 Thomas O'Hanlon,...262 The Glasgow Family, "..263 John Herring,...263 L. P. Roode,...264 Roscius Southworth, "..264 Jonathan W. Whitney, Allen...265 William McConnell, "..265 Win. S. Hosmer and Abner W. Pearce, Cambria.271 Hon. Charles D. Luce, Jefferson 282 Thomas Hlutchings, Jefferson.... 283 Samuel B. Brown, Ransom.... 291 Nelson Doty,...... 292 Orsamus Doty, "..... 292 Oliver T. Powers, i..... 293 Thomas Burt, Sr. and Jr., Ransom.... 293 Gilbert Rowland,...... 294 George Camp, it294 Augustus G. McClellan, Amboy.... 299 Elihu Ferrall, 300 Henry Loutsenhizer,....300 Andrew J. Wigent, Camden.... 310 John Cole, Reading.... 325 Hiram B. Chapman, Reading.... 325 Harrison Bailey, Reading.... 326 Charles Kane, "..... 326 A. D. Southworth,....327 Henry K. Abbott,....327 Hon. Frederick Fowler, Reading 328 I --- - I 8 CONTENTS. IiTS-T-i-U S Arr TIQ32 -rI IT S - ----- I PAGE View of Hillsdale College (frontispiece). facing title page Map of Hillsdale County.... facing 9 View of Hillsdale County Fair Grounds (double page) between 88, 89 HILLSDALE. Portrait of Hon. John P. Cook. Portraits of Lewis Emery and wife Portrait of Harvey B. Rowlson. " on. Henry Waldron " William Waldron " Daniel L. Pratt " Oscar A. Janes. t Benjamin P. Shepard " George W. Bullock. " Robert A. Weir " A. B. La Fleur. " Corvis M. Barre " Gen. Christopher J. Dickerson. " John W. Falley, M.D. " Arvin F. Whelan, M.D. Residence of Garry Sarles (township) Portraits of A. G. Edwards and wife (township) Residence of J. J. Jones (township). facing 94 " 105 I 108 " 114 * 114 116 116 " 116 116;-.116 " 116 " 116. 117. 118.118 between 216, 217 " 216, 217 facing 218 FAYETTE. The Gay Homestead... facing 119 Residence of Chas. P. Osius (with portraits).. " 128 First Presbyterian Church, Jonesville... 142 Carriage Mnfy, J. J. Deal, Jonesville (with portrait) 145 Residence of Col. F. M. Holloway " between 146,147 Portraits of Levi and Witter J. Baxter " 146, 147 Portrait of Seth D. McNeal.... 148 Residence of 0. Palmer, Jonesville... facing 149 SCIPIO. Residence of S. H. Smith. " Mrs. Persis Wilcox " Robert B. Sawyer (with portraits) " W. S. Van Fleet William T. Lyons and Son ADAMS. Residence of William Wright " Lemuel Roberts. " Levi Vanaken i" George and William Gray (" George Stevens (with portraits) Portrait of Horace P. Hitchcock Residence of Furman Huff (with portraits) Portraits of William Kirby and wife. " Vining Barker and wives SOMERSET. Residence of Robert McGregor. " D. M. Lyons. " Andrew McDougal (with portraits) Manufactory, etc., of H. C. Aldrich. Portrait of Seth Aldrich " Charles M. L. Andrus Portraits of Oliver E. Mosher and wife Portrait of Deacon James Brezee " William Mercer MOSCOW. Residence of Israel Buck " H. N. Rowley (with portraits) Portraits of Daniel McNabb and wife " Israel Buck and wife " Azariah Mallory and wife ALLEN. Residence of Hon. Alex. Hewitt (with portraits) " R. Southworth " Win. McConnell " Jonathan Whitney Property of John Herring, Herring & Avery, etc. portraits) Portrait of Thomas O'Hanlon Portraits of John Glasgow and wives " William Glasgow and wife " S. W. Glasgow '. " L. P. Roode " CAMBRIA. Residence of Hosmer and Pearce JEFFERSON. between 220, 221 " 220, 221 facing 223 " 223 " 224. 226 facing 227. 228 facing 229 facing 230 " 232 between 234, 235 facing 237.238.238.239.240.240 PAGE facing 212 " 212 " 213 " 214 " 215 facing 242 " 244 " 249. 249. 250 Residence of Samuel E. Johnson " Isaac Smith (with portraits). Portrait of Charles Mosher "t Lyman Johnson facing 149 " 153.156.156 LITCHFIELD. Residence of Warner Bunday (with portraits). facing 157 " S. S. Fairbank. " 158 Portraits of William J. and Otis Bettis. " 161 Residence of W. J. Barnard. between 162, 163 " late Horton Mann (with portraits) " 162, 163 Portrait of Hon. William Stoddard. facing 164 Hon. Stephen Canniff... 164 " Samuel Riblet... 164 " James Valentine... " 164 " Gideon Stoddard....165 Residence of Dr. M. Rorabacher (with portrait). facing 166 Portrait of Laban A. Howard, M.D...... 167 Portraits of Milton P. Herring and wife... 168 Residence of Milton P. Herring.. facing 168 " R. W. Freeman (with portraits).. " 169 " J. B. Linsday.. " 170 PITTSFORD. Residence of J. H. Miner... facing 170 " Hon. J. M. Osborn. " 172 J. H. Keagle (with portraits), double page.. between 176, 177 " John Perrin facing 180 " Winslow H. Day.. between 184, 185 Portraits of Samuel Day and wife... " 184, 185 " Aaron Clement and wife... facing 185 WHEATLAND. Residence of Nelson R. Rowley (with portraits). facing 188 Portrait of Zebulon Williams. " 191 Residence of Hon. A. B. Slocum (with portraits). " 192 Property of William Curtis and sons (double page) between 194, 195 Portrait of Harvey McGee..... facing 197 f" Dr. John W. Steward.. " 197 " Almon Goff...... 197 " Samuel Combs.. " 197 Portraits of Seth Wood and wife... 198 Rsidence of Thomas Robins.. facing 200 WRIGHT. Residence of L. H. Root.... facing 200 Bird '-eye View of Prattville... 205 Residence of E. C. Brewster (with portraits).. " 208 facing 251 " 254 257 257 (with " 260. 262 between 262, 263 " 262, 263 " 262, 263. 264 facing 271 Residence of Charles D. Luce (with portrait) " Thomas Hutchings RANSOM. Residence of Orsamus Doty (with portraits) ". Thomas Burt, Sr. ". be " " " Jr. " (" Gilbert Howland ' Portrait of Samuel B. Brown " Oliver T. Powers Residence of George Camp (with portraits) AMBOY. Residence of Elihu Ferrall (with portraits) " Henry Loutsenhizer (with portraits) Portrait of Augustus G. McClellan CAMDEN. Residence of A. J. Wigent (with portraits) READING. Residence of Harrison Bailey (with portraits) " Charles Kane " " " Henry K. Abbott " John Cole George G. Cone Samuel C. Dodge H. B. Chapman " A. D. Southworth Wm. Terpening " Col. F. Fowler facing 272 " 278 facing 284 etween 286, 287 " 286, 287 facing 288.291 293 facing 294 facing 296 " 298.300 facing 304 facing 311 " 314 " 318 " 320 " 322 " 322 " 325 " 326 " 326 " 328 1 *0y:I:: .., I..,,!),u:... _ " '.. ',',,,, ',..,,...:!!.I',"!,,,, ',,, "'!L,, _MAP OF - HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN EjwramvexL epressl~ for th's Work/ ___ __I_^~~ ili-l.-l-IIIII._L —-i- yl —..-ID-yjill- 11 - - - - - 4 Ytl _zo_, 4 Le g*i i I Il!2 a 4 26 + \ I.D r 13 - ml-Tr T *- ** t r Z8, s N? N]l': -N/ 1^ Dz~ 'I e. \., 2 5k i^ 4} - t I I IS 2 + I ---c — Z'^r (,4s (;J4y ^j p7, zIT2,, rry 79771fr~ji /7-~i^ _^ 3 /- Z r~f is i r, 1 is,A) ^\ J4_ Q^ S1 Cy~ 0\ ^vU^,g~l L ^ ^ ' ^ ^ 'V P^.^ Mi i ,' 11.11-n.- - i - f AL - - -7- tNI 7 ~ - ~j-::A;[I W 119 A 1; tl W -_ It - I I I v % % I % HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. BY CRISFIELD JOHNSON. 9 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. Makers and Writers of History-Interest Attached to all Beginnings -Interest in Pioneer Life-History hitherto Written long after Death of Actors-More Rapid Custom of the Present Age-Evidence from Living Lips-Plan of the Work-Books Consulted-The Result Submitted. TIE individuals more or less connected with history have long been divided into two classes: " those who make history," and " those who write history." In one sense, the former class comprises the whole human race, for every human being contributes something to that great stream of events, the course of which is mapped and the flow of which is recorded by the pen of the historian; but the expression is commonly applied to the actors in the more important or more interesting scenes in the drama of life. Among these scenes a deep interest has always attached to the conquest of the wilderness by civilization, to the foundation of new nations, states, cities, and communities, and to the first critical years of their development. The trivial wall, over which according to tradition Remus leaped, and which Romulus stained with his brother's blood, still interests the imagination of mankind-because it was the first of Rome's defenses-almost as strongly as do the Pantheon, the Coliseum, and all the other mighty ruins of the seven-hilled city. Thus, too, the little band of Puritans, who amid poverty, hardship, and danger, planted the banners of civil and religious freedom on the rock-bound coast of New England, still live on the page of history, more conspicuous than any of the swarming millions who have since occupied the land. For the same reason, though in lesser degree, the pioneers of every State and county, who with adventurous steps have defied the wilderness and endured the toils of frontier life, have been objects of especial interest to all who came after them, and enjoyed the blessings which they secured: Hitherto, however, it has generally been the case that those who "made history" had long been in their graves, sometimes for centuries, ere those who "wrote history" began their work. The latter could only rely upon doubtful traditions, or at best upon a few worn and scattered manuscripts, for the material from which they were to construct their enduring records. Endless mistakes were naturally 2 the consequence, numerous conflicts were wagei over disputed points, and many of them are unsettled even to the present day. But in our more rapid age the muse of history often stands, pen in hand, beside the pioneer, the workman, and the soldier, ready to record their deeds ere yet the hunter's antlered victim ceases to quiver beneath his fatal shot, ere yet the echoes of the woodman's axe die away in the distance, ere yet the foeman's blood is wiped from the warrior's steel. In harmony with this spirit of the age, the publishers of this and other similar works seek to obtain the greater part of their history from living lips. In the county of Hillsdale this can be done with great facility. Many of the men and women who led the vanguard of the army of civilization in its attack on the forest still live to testify of the scenes through which they passed. From these we have sought with all possible diligence to obtain the facts regarding the development of every township in the county, and of the county at large. Besides the evidence thus procured from original sources, we give a succinct account of the early discoveries which gave the French what they considered a title to all this region, and a more complete narrative of the actual early possessors of the soil,-the Pottawattamie Indians. Going into detail as much as we do, our plan is necessarily somewhat different from that of ordinary histories. It embraces: first, a general history of the county; second, a special history of the city of Hillsdale and of each of the eighteen townships. The general history, in the first place, comprises a consecutive record of everything of importance that has occurred in the territory of the present county of Hillsdale, or has been done by the inhabitants of that territory, whether red or white, from the earliest accounts down to the present time, including the savage deeds of the Indians of the St. Joseph Valley, the treaties by which the land was acquired by the whites, the early development of the county, and the gallant achievements of Hillsdale soldiers in the war for the Union. This record occupies twenty chapters, and adheres closely to the chronological order. The remaining five chapters of the general history are occupied with statistical and miscellaneous matters, which could not well be worked into the continuous record. The histories of the city of Hillsdale and the various ' X " d;:: *9 0 * '. ' ' 10 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. townships each begin with the settlement of the territory which now constitutes the city or the township, and traces its development to the present time, giving the names of early settlers, numerous incidents relating to each locality, separate sketches of all the churches and societies, an account of the manufactures, etc. Interspersed with these are portraits and biographies of various citizens, with views of their residences, etc., giving variety to the printed page, and satisfying the eye as well as the mind of the reader. For the early history, which was necessarily obtained from books, we have consulted the following works, to which we beg leave to acknowledge our indebtedness: Parkman's Discovery of the Great West, Parkman's Conspiracy of Pontiac, Smith's Life and Times of Lewis Cass, Holloway's Sketch of Hillsdale County in the proceedings of the State Pioneer Association, Drake's Life of Tecumseh, Sargent's History of Braddock's Expedition, Lossing's Field-Book of the War of 1812, Lanman's Red Book of Michigan, the very valuable reports of Gen. John C. Robertson, AdjutantGeneral of the State, for the years 1861 to 1866, Schoolcraft's Report on the Indians, the published Indian treaties of the United States, the territorial and session laws of Michigan, Pierce's History of St. Joseph County, and some minor works. Among the many who have favored us with information regarding the later history, we would especially mention F. M. Holloway, Esq., who is one of the early pioneers of the county, who has long given particular attention to the subject of local history, and who has been indefatigable in his efforts to aid us. Many others will be found mentioned in the various township histories. With this explanation of our plan of action we submit our work to the candid judgment of the public of Hillsdale County. That in so voluminous a work, entering into so many details, we have entirely escaped error, no one can reasonably expect, but we have taken great pains to avoid mistakes, and we believe there are as few within the following pages as in any other volume of this kind. That it contains a large amount of information regarding Hillsdale County is very certain, and we trust it is so arranged and presented as to meet the approbation of our patrons, and be a subject of interest to them and their posterity for many years to come. CHAPTER II. EARLY FRENCH DISCOVERIES. Arrival of the French on the Upper Lakes-Champlain in 1615-The Franciscan Priests-The Jesuits-Hunters and Traders-Raymbault and Jogues in 1641-The Wyandots and Ottalvas-Father Marquette-The Lake Country formally taken Possession of for the King of France-Marquette Discovers the Mississippi-Discovers and Explores the St. Joseph-La Salle and the " Griffin"-A Fort on the St. Joseph-Loss of the " Griffin"-La Salle's Subsequent Career and Murder-French Dominion-Influence of Fort St. JosephFounding of Detroit-The Pottawattamies. THOUQOH the French were unquestionably the first explorers of the shores of all the great lakes of North America, 'yet its somewhat doubtful at what precise time they first ea rd the peninsula of Michigan. As early as 1615, Samuel de Champlain, then governor of the infant province of Canada, which he had founded, visited the Huron tribes on the shores of Lake Manitouline. Almost or quite as early, priests of the " Recollet" or Franciscan order established Catholic missions in the same locality, and it is not improbable that some of them visited the shores of the great peninsula a little farther westward; for all, whether friends or foes, admit the extraordinary zeal and unflinching courage of the Catholic missionaries in their efforts to make proselytes among the savages of North America. In 1625, however, there arrived on the banks of the St. Lawrence the vanguard of a black-gowned host, to be sent to America by a still more vigorous, zealous, and highly-disciplined order,-the far-famed Jesuits. These fiery champions of the cross were destined to crowd aside the more peaceful or more inert Franciscans throughout the whole lake region, and substantially appropriate that missionary ground to themselves. French hunters and fur-traders, too, made their way into the West far in advance of their English rivals, and doubtless reached the confines of Michigan early in the seventeenth century. Their course, however, was not along the great watery highway through Lakes Ontario and Erie and the Niagara River, for there dwelt the fierce, untamable TIoquiois, the bravest and most politic of all the Indians of North America, whom Champlain, by an ill-advised attack, had made the deadly enemies of the French. With the HuIrons, or Wyandots, who though a branch of the same race were the foes of the Iroquois, the French were fast friends, and had no difficulty in penetrating westward as far as their domain extended. Their seats were on the eastern side of Lake Huron, while our peninsula was occupied by Ottawas, Ojibwas (or Chippewas), and Pottawattamies, not perhaps as friendly as the Hurons, but standing in fear of the conquering Iroquois, and therefore disposed to be on good terms with the French foes of that confederacy. The course of the intrepid missionaries and traders was up the Ottawa River from Montreal; thence across to the western division of Lake Huron, otherwise known as Lake Manitouline, and thence coasting along the northern shore of that body of water to the Saut Sainte Marie and the Straits of Michillimacinac. In the year 1641, the Jesuits Raymbault and Jogues reached the former point, preached to a crowd of savages, and raised the flag of France, in token of sovereignty, beside the rushing outlet of Lake Superior. Doubtless other missionaries and numerous voyageurs and fur-traders explored the outskirts of Michigan, and possibly penetrated its interior, but there are few records to show their adventurous deeds. In 1659, the Wyandots, or HIurons, fled from the valley of the St. Lawrence before the attacks of the Iroquois, seeking shelter in the islands of Lake Manitouline. The Ottawawas, since called Ottawas, who had previously resided there, retired to the northern part of the main peninsula of Michigan. The Wyandots, or a portion of them, again assailed by the Iroquois, fled to the Straits of Mich illimacinac, and still again to the shores of Lake Superior. Being again followed by their implacable enemies, however, they were enabled to repulse them, and thenceforward, being HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 11 I. to some extent protected by the French, the Wyandots dwelt on the borders of the great lakes which surround the peninsula of Michigan. In 1668, the celebrated Father Marquette, accompanied by Father Claude Dablon, founded a mission at Saut Saint Marie, at the northern extremity of Michigan; and in 1671 established that of St. Ignace, on the Straits of Michillimacinac (now spelled Mackinaw). In 1670, a French officer, Daumont de St. Lusson, raised the flag of France at the Saut Sainte Marie with pompous ceremonies, and, so far as words could do so, took possession of the whole region of the great lakes in the name of " the Most High, Mighty, and Redoubtable Monarch, Louis, Fourteenth of that name, Most Christian King of France and of Navarre." But the French were by no means disposed to rest content with sounding proclamations. Still eager to spread the reign of the cross among the heathen, and doubtless not unwilling to extend the domain of King Louis over new empires, the intrepid Marquette pushed forward into the wilderness, and discovered'the mighty stream which has since borne the name of Mississippi. Shortly afterwards, 1i 3 in 77~ while coasting along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, Marquette discovered a stream which he explored for several miles, and to which he gave the name of St. Joseph. This was, so far as known, the first acquaintance of Europeans with the fertile valley, the eastern part of which lies in the county of Hillsdale. But a still greater explorer than Marquette was about to traverse the lakes and lauds of the great West, though, unlike Marquette, he did not subordinate all other objects to the spread of his religion. In the month of August, 1679, the wonder-stricken savages on the shores of Detroit River saw what seemed to them a huge canoe, with immense wings, stemming the powerful current without the aid of oars or paddles, and swiftly traversing the placid sheet of water now known as Lake St. Clair. This was the " Griffin," a schooner of sixty tons, built the preceding winter and spring on the shore of the Niagara, just above the great cataract, and which on the 7th of August had set forth on the first voyage ever made by a sail vessel over the waters of the upper lakes. Its commander was Robert Cavelier de La Salle, the most hardy and adventurous of all the gallant Frenchmen who explored the wilds of North America, and the one whose discoveries did the most to extend the dominions of his royal master. The only portrait which has been preserved of La Salle represents him as a blue-eyed, handsome cavalier with blonde ringlets, apparently better fitted fbr the salons of Paris than the forests of America; but a thousand evidences show not only the courage but the extraordinary vigor and hardihood of this remarkable man. He was accompanied by Tonti, a gallant Italian exile, who was his second in command, by Father Hennepin, a Franciscan monk, who became the historian of the expedition, and by about thirty sailors, voyageurs, hunters, etc. The "Griffin " passed on over the tempest-tossed waters of Lake Huron, through the Strait of Michillimacinac, out upon the unknown waste of Lake Michigan, and at length came to anchor in Green Bay. Thence she was sent back with a part of her crew and a cargo of furs, while the intrepid La Salle with a score of men remained to explore the vast unconquered empire which lay spread before him. He and his comrades in birch-bark canoes coasted along the western shore of Lake Michigan, reaching its southern extremity on the eighteenth day of October, 1679. Thence the flotilla proceeded to the mouth of the St. Joseph River.* At its mouth he built a fortified trading-post, to which he gave the name of Fort of the Miamis, and which was intended both to facilitate commerce and curb the hostility of the surrounding tribes. Pottawattamies were found at the southern end and on the western shore of Lake Michigan. This trading-post, or fort, was the first built for the purpose of controlling the Indians of this part of the Northwest, and its erection, coincident with the appearance of a French vessel on the upper lakes, may be considered as marking the establishment of French authority (though somewhat vague) over the peninsula of Michigan, including the county which is the subject of this history. La Salle and his comrades remained several weary months at the St. Joseph awaiting the return of the " Griffin," but that ill-fated bark was never heard of after leaving the outlet of Green Bay. Whether, as is probable, it went down with all its men before the gales of one of the great inland seas, or was captured at anchor by jealous savages, its crew butchered and the vessel itself destroyed, is one of the unsolved problems of American history. Despairing at length of the "Griffin's" return, La Salle with a portion of his men in December proceeded up the St. Joseph River in canoes to South Bend, in the present State of Indiana, whence they made their way overland to the head-waters of the Illinois. The future career of this adventurous explorer is not especially connected with the history of this region, and must be dismissed in a few words. After numerous remarkable adventures (being compelled once to return to Canada on foot) La Salle explored the Mississippi to the sea, and took verbal possession of the adjacent country for the benefit of King Louis the Fourteenth, by the name of Louisiana. While attempting, however, to colonize the new domain he met with many misfortunes, and was at length assassinated by two of his own men in Texas, in the year 1687. But, notwithstanding the unfortunate end of the great discoverer, his achievements had extended the dominion of France more widely than had any of his adventurous compatriots, and from that time forth the Bourbon'kings maintained an ascendency more or less complete throughout all the vast region extending from Quebec to New Orleans, until compelled to resign it nearly a century later by the prowess of the British. French vessels circled around the great lakes on the track of the ill-fated " Griffin," French forts and trading-posts were established in the wilderness, and French missionaries bore the cross among th'e heathen with redoubled zeal. French adroitness succeeded in establishing friendly relations with the Indians on the shores of all the upper lakes, and rpmebers of all the various bands * From a few Miamis who were then located there, La Salle called it the river of the Miamia. 12 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I found their way to Fort Frontenac (now Kingston), and even to Montreal, with packages of furs to sell to the children of their great father across the sea. The English, busily engaged in building up a powerful but compact empire along the sea-coast, scarcely attempted to rival their Gallic competitors in gaining control over the immense interior. The various Indian tribes doubtless would have rejected with scorn the idea of French ownership in the lands which they and their fathers had so long occupied, but as between the English and French it was substantially understood that the dominion of the former extended from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to that of the Mississippi. The only question was where the boundary line should be between the two domains. The Indians around the upper lakes were the more ready to court the friendship of the French, since it was only from the latter that they could obtain arms and ammunition to contest with the terrible Iroquois. After the time of La Salle the French government supported a post, and the Jesuit fathers maintained a mission, at the mouth of the St. Joseph, and the two institutions became a centre of influence over all the southern part of the peninsula. In 1701, however, another frontier post was established, destined soon to overshadow that of St. Joseph. In that year Monsieur La Motte de Cadillac, an officer in the service of the King of France, with a small detachment of troops, landed at the head of Detroit River, and established a post to which he gave the name of "' Fort Ponchartrain," but which soon became known by the appellation of" Detroit." This post and the whole of Michigan were nominally a part of the province of. Canada, and so remained during both French and English rule. During the French dominion, however, the provincial government exercised very little authority, except to appoint commanders of the various posts. Those commanders ruled both the soldiers and the few civilians about as they saw proper. The establishment of this post increased still more the influence of the French throughout the West, and especially throughout the peninsula of Michigan. There seemed little doubt that this whole region was to be subject to French rule, and fancy might have pictured these gleaming lakes and rippling rivers overlooked by the baronial castles of French seigneurs, while around them clustered the humble dwellings of their loyal retainers. French hunters and trappers made their way into all parts of the peninsula, establishing friendly relations with the natives, and not unfrequently forming unions more or less permanent with the copper-colored damsels of the various tribes. Of these tribes we are especially concerned with the Pottawattamies, who soon obtained entire control of the valley of the St. Joseph, who are known to have been fully established here in 1721, and who for over a century were the undisputed lords of its noble forests, its pellucid lakes, and its grassy glades. From the time of the early discoveries already mentioned down to the beginning of settlement and cultivation by the whites, the history of the territory now composing Hillsdale County, with the rest of the St. Joseph Valley, is confined substantially to the doings of the Pottawattamie Indians. To them and their deeds the following three chapters are devoted. CHAPTER III. THE POTTAWATTAMIES. General Relations of the Indian Tribes-Iroquois and AlgonquilsTheir Location-Numerous Tribes of AlgyoIqliin Race-The Pottawoattamies-T.heir League with the Ottawoas and Chippecwas-Their Establishment in the Saint Joseph Valley-Changes of LocationAbsence of Romance-Indian Warfare-Indian Weapons-Surprising an Enemy-Insult and Torture-Adoption-The Mission of Saint Joseph-Pottawtattamie Friendship for the French-Rescue of Detroit-Trading with French and English-The War of 1744 -Raids on the Frontiers-French Records of the P'ottailattamiesPeace in 1748. IN order to give a correct idea of the position and history of the Pottawattamie Indians, so long the lords of Hillsdale County and all the adjacent country, it is necessary very briefly to sketch the general relations of the Indians of this part of North America. Of course the writer of a mere county history does not pretend to have investigated this abstruse subject by reference to original sources of informa-' tion; he is obliged to depend on those who have made those matters the study of their lives,-especially on Francis Parkman, the accomplished author of the " Conspiracy of Pontiac," the " Discovery of the Great West," and other works on cognate subjects. When the French and English hunters first penetrated the dark forests whose gloomy masses rolled from the shores of the North Atlantic far back beyond the Alleghanies, and when the most adventurous among them first gladdened their eyes with the gay prairies still farther westward, they found two great Indian races occupying the whole land from the ocean to the Mississippi, and from the valleys of Tennessee to the frozen regions of Northern. Canada. Southward of these limits were the Mobilian tribes, of whom the Cherokees, Chickasaws, and others have since adopted to some extent the customs of the whites, while west of the Father of Waters were the great Dakota race, whose principal representatives, the Sioux, still roam in savage freedom over the prairies, a terror to all who cross their path. The two races, who, as stated a few lines above, occupied the whole northeastern portion of the United States and a large part of Canada, were the Iroquois and the Algonquins. Though the former were the most celebrated and the most powerful, the latter were by far the most numerous; in fact, as has been truly said, the former were like an island amid the vast hordes of Algonquins around. The five confederate tribes of the Iroquois, commonly known as the Five Nations (afterwards the Six Nations), occupied a strong position, extending from the banks of the Hudson nearly to those of the Niagara, protected on the north by the waters of Lake Ontario, on the south by the mountains of Pennsylvania, and now comprising the heart of the great Empire State. The Wyandots, or Hurons, before mentioned, were an outlying branch of the same race, but hostile to the great confederacy; while the Tuscaroras were a fiiendly offshoot in the South, who afterwards became the sixth of the Six Nations. Aside from these, the woods and prairies far and near swarmed with the diverse tribes of the Algonquin race; Abenaquis in Canada, Pequots and Narragansetis in New England, Delawares in Pennsylvania, Shawnees in Ohio, HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 13 Miamis in Ohio and Indiana, Illinois in the territory of the State which still bears their name, Sauks, Foxes, and Menomonees in the country west of Lake Michigan, while the great peninsula of Michigan, and some neighboring sections, were occupied by tlie Ojibways, or Chippewas, the Ottawas, and the tribe which is the especial subject of this chapter, the Pottawattanmies. All these, though sundered far apart, and often warring desperately among themselves, have been shown by students of their characteristics to have belonged to one great stock, and to have spoken various dialects of one language. They outnumbered the Five Nations of Iroquois more than ten to one; yet such was the superior skill, sagacity, and prowess of the confederates that they were able to defeat their disunited foes one after the other, till none could stand before them, and the terror of their name spread over half the continent. Even the WyIan(dots, though of the same race, and almost equal in numbers, lacked the ferocious energy of the Five Nations, and were driven before them as deer are driven before the screaming panther. The three tribes of Algonquin stock just mentioned, the Ojibwas, the Ottawas, and the Pottawattamies, were in the forepart of the eighteenth century united in a rude confederacy, somewhat similar to the celebrated league of the Ir'oquois, but far less thorough and less potent. The dialects of the three tribes differed less even than was usual among the various branches of the Algonquin race, and, notwithstanding some differences of inflection, the members could understand each other without the aid of an interpreter. The Ojibwas, outnumbering both the other two tribes combined, dwelt in the frozen region of Lake Superior, where their descendants still chase the elk and moose amid the gloomy pines, and spear their finny prey over the sides of frail canoes, rocked on the boiling waters of the Saut Ste. Marie. The Ottawas, who had fled from Canada before the hatred of the all-conquering Iroquois, had their principal headquarters in the vicinity of Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, where, after the erection of Fort Ponchartrain by their French friends, they felt comparatively secure from their terrible enemies. Finally, the domain of the Pottawattamies, the subject of these chapters, stretched from the vicinity of Chicago around the head of Lake Michigan, northward to the mouth of the Kalamazoo or beyond, while to the eastward it extended so as to include the valleys of the St. Joseph, the Kalamazoo, and other streams which flow into Lake Michigan from the central portion of the peninsula. The exact period at which the Pottawattamies established themselves in the valley of the St. Joseph is unknown. Unless La Salle was mistaken, the Miamis occupied the banks of the St. Joseph in 1678, at which time the Pottawattamies are believed to have been mostly in the vicinity of Green Bay. It is certain, however, that they were in the St. Joseph Valley in 1721 (having probably established themselves there about the beginning of the century), and there they remained until within the memory of men still living. It will be understood, however, that the location of the various tribes of the Iroquois and Algonquin races at that distant period can only be given with approximate correctness. Their boundaries were constantly changing. Tribes were frequently driven by the fortunes of war from the homes of their fathers, or even blotted from the list of forest nationalities. Sometimes they changed their localities in search of more abundant game, and sometimes no cause but caprice could be assigned for their migrations. Not only did whole tribes occasionally change their locations, but in many cases outlying clans dwelt at a long distance from the parent tribe, being sometimes surrounded by the villages of other nations. Thus, though the main body of the Pottawattamies were to be found as early as 1721 stretching from the head of Lake Michigan eastward to the head of the St. Joseph River, there were for a considerable time two or three detached villages in the vicinity of Detroit, and others in the neighborhood of Green Bay. Besides these more permanent changes of location, the several bands of which each nation was composed were, even in time of peace, constantly migrating to and fro over the domain which unquestionably belonged to their tribe. In summer they raised corn (that is, the squaws did) in one place, in winter they hunted in another, perhaps a hundred miles distant, and in spring they visited still another location for the purpose of fishing; usually but not always returning to their former ground to raise and harvest their crops. Yet, notwithstanding these various changes by which the Pottawattamies were more or less affected, they continued for over a century and a quarter the masters of the territory composing this county, and their bloody record is perhaps quite as deserving of being embodied in history as are those of several other conquerors. While, however, the admirers of stirring adventure and desperate conflict may find something of interest in the story of an Indian tribe, it would be hopeless for the lover of romance to seek there for aught to gratify his taste. No truthful delineation can present the Indian as a romantic character. Apathetic in an extraordinary degree in regard to the softer passions, it is seldom, indeed, that love sways his actions, although the slightest cause is liable to arouse him to the direst fury of hate. He had rather capture one scalp than a dozen hearts. The Pottawattamie inherited the usual characteristics of the Indian, and especially of the Algonquin race. Less terrible in battle, less sagacious in council, than the men of the Five Nations, he was, nevertheless, like the rest of his red brethren, a brave, hardy, and skillful warrior, an astute manager so far as his knowledge extended, generally a faithful friend, and invariably a most implacable enemy. His own time he devoted to war, the chase, or idleness, abandoning to the women the labor of raising his scanty supplies of Indian corn, pumpkins, and beans, of transporting his household goods from point to point, and every other burden which he could possibly impose upon her weary shoulders. He lived in the utmost freedom which it is possible to imagine, consistent with any civil or military organization whatever. His sachems exercised little authority except to declare war and make peace, to determine on the migrations of the tribe, and to give wise counsels allaying any ill feel 14 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ings which might arise among the people. There was no positive law compelling obedience. Even when war was declared there was no way by which the braves could be compelled to take the war-path. Any war-chief could drive a stake in the ground, dance the wardance around it, strike his tomahawk into it with a yell of defiance, and call for volunteers to go forth against the foe. If his courage or capacity were doubted, he obtained but few followers. If he were of approved valor and skill, a larger number would grasp their tomahawks in response to his appeal; while, if he were a chieftain distinguished far and wide for deeds of blood and craft, the whole nation would spring to arms, and all its villages would resound with the terrific notes of the war-song, chanted by hundreds of frenzied braves. With followers few or many, the chief went forth against the foe. But he could not compel their obedience a moment longer than they chose to give it, and no punishment but disgrace awaited the recreant who deserted his leader in the hour of his utmost need. The most extreme penalty only consisted in giving the dishonor due the dastard a visible form, by enveloping him in the garments of a woman and compelling him to perform the menial labors usually performed by the weaker sex. But to an Indian, accustomed to look down on his squaw as infinitely below him, this would be the most terrible of inflictions. As is well known, the original weapons of the Indians were bows and arrows (the latter tipped with flint), warclubs, stone tomahawks, and scalping-knives, also made of sharpened flints. But, stubborn as they were in repelling all the arts of civilization offered by the whites, they grasped eagerly at the formidable implements of war brought across the Atlantic. Iron tomahawks and scalping-knives could be cheaply manufactured, and soon an ample supply of them was furnished by the Dutch and English to the Iroquois, and by the French to the numerous tribes of the Algonquin race under the influence of that subtle people. Guns and ammunition were more costly, but the Indian longed for them with a love second only to his passion for whisky, and, despite occasional prohibitions by the colonial authorities on either side, the best warriors and hunters in the various tribes were soon provided with these deadly instruments of slaughter. In fact, whenever war was threatened between the French and English, both parties were eager to enlist all the Indian allies they could, and furnished muskets and gunpowder with a free hand. Armed and equipped, clad only in a breech-clout, but covered from head to foot with paint disposed in the most hideous figures, his head crested with feathers of the wild birds he had slain, the Indian went forth on the war-path. If the band was a small one, it lurked in the vicinity of the hostile villages until a still smaller number of the enemy could be caught at a distance from their friends. These were, if possible, shot down from an ambush (for under no circumstances will an Indian run any risk which it is possible to avoid), their scalps were stripped off with eager haste, and the victors fled towards their homes at their utmost speed. If the whole nation turned out in arms, they might attempt the total destruction of their enemy; but even then surprise was generally an essential element of success. Hurrying forward by unfrequented paths, or plunging through the trackless forest, guided only by the sun and the well-known courses of the streams, the little army reached the neighborhood of the foe. Carefully concealing their approach, they waited an opportunity for attack, which was usually made at night. When their unsuspecting victims were wrapped in slumber, the whole crowd of painted demons would burst in among them, using musket, knife, and tomahawk with furious zeal, and striking terror to every heart with the fiendish sound of war-whoops shrieked from a thousand throats. The torch was applied to the frail cabins of the unhappy people, and men, women, and children were stricken down in indiscriminate slaughter by the lurid light of their blazing homes. When the first fury of savage hate had been satiated, prisoners were taken, but these were frequently destined to a fate far more terrible than the speedy death from which they had escaped. Bound with thongs and loaded with burdens, they were urged on with remorseless speed toward the home of their captors, and if, enfeebled by wounds or sickness, they lagged behind, the ready tomahawk put an end to their miseries. But if the prisoner, withstanding the hardships of the march, was brought alive to the wigwams of the victors, and especially if he were a well-known warrior, human fancy never painted a more awful doom than that which awaited him, save where it has described the tortures of the damned in another world. As a sportive preliminary the victim was required to run the gauntlet, when a hundred malicious foes, both male and female, ranged on either side, flung stones, clubs, tomahawks, and every other possible missile at his naked form, as he dashed with the energy of despair between their furious ranks. Then, unless he was saved by unexpected lenity, came the fiercer agony of the stake, prolonged sometimes for hours and even for days, accompanied by all the refinements of torment which a baleful ingenuity could invent, yet supported with unsurpassable fortitude by the victim, who often shrieked his defiant death-song even amid the last convulsions of his tortured frame. Yet women, children, and youths were frequently saved from this horrible fate to be adopted into the tribe of their captors, and even men sometimes shared the same lenity. What is remarkable is that as soon as it was decided thus to receive a captive into the tribe, all appearances of hate seemed immediately to disappear; the best of all the forest luxuries was placed before the honored guest, the costliest blankets were spread over his shoulders, and the softest couches of fur were spread for his wearied limbs. Either because the change was so great from the expected torture to the kindly adoption, or because the captors knew so well whom to choose as recipients of their indulgence, it was very seldom that the latter attempted to escape from their new alliances. Nay, even young white men and women, thus adopted into the ranks of the savages, frequently became so well satisfied with forest life as to resist every inducement afterwards offered them to return to their countrymen. Such were some of the salient characteristics of the HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 15 North American Indians, shared by the Potwttwttamies, the subject of these chapters. Those characteristics were common to the Algonquin and Iroquois races, the principal difference being in the greater intensity with which they were manifested by the latter. The Shawnee was subtle in war; the Iroquois was still more so. The Ottawa was cold and haughty toward others, but he was met by still greater coldness and haughtiness on the part of the Iroquois. The Pottawattamie, the confederate of the Ottawa, was brave and ferocious, but he was surpassed both in bravery and ferocity by the terrible warriors of the Five Nations. In speaking of Indians the term " nation" is generally used as synonymous with tribe, and to the civilized ear the word carries an idea of large numbers, confirmed by the immense range of Indian operations, and the terror which they inspired on the frontiers. Yet the celebrated Five Nations, in the height of their power, numbered altogether but two or three thousand warriors, the Wyandot branch of the Iroquois had about the same number, and the various tribes of Algonquin lineage were proportionally small. As near as can be ascertained, the Pottawattamies at the beginning of the eighteenth century numbered about eight hundred warriors, including those of Illinois and Wisconsin. As has been said, they were linked in a loose confederacy with the more numerous Ottawas and Chippewas, but the Pottawattamies were the only tribe sufficiently connected with this county to make their acts a subject of interest in this work. The others will not be mentioned except when the story of their savage deeds is necessarily intermingled with the record of the Pottawattamies. To that record we now address ourselves. It was near the beginning of the eighteenth century that the Jesuits, who had obtained almost a monopoly of missionary work in French America, established the mission of St. Joseph at the mouth of the river of that name, and under the shadow of the little post maintained on the site selected by La Salle. In 1712, Father Marest describes the mission as being in a very flourishing condition. Whatever might have been the success of the holy fathers in the task of Christianizing the Indians there is no doubt that they obtained a great personal influence over them, which the priests naturally used to cement their friendship for France. Numerous other influences were also brought to bear by the adroit managers who, in various capacities, represented the Gallic people on the upper lakes, and the friendship of the Pottawattamies was thoroughly demonstrated in the year just named, 1712. In May of that year, a large body of Sacs, Foxes, and Mascoutins, tribes of Algonquin lineage but at enmity with the other nations of that race (and supposed to be acting under the influence of the Iroquois, the inveterate foes of the French), suddenly appeared before Fort Ponchartrain, threw up some rude breastworks, and attempted to destroy the post. On the thirteenth of the month a fierce assault was made, and, though not at first successful, it was maintained with such energy and by such.numbers that the little garrison of twenty soldiers was placed in a situation of great danger. But while the wearied Frenchmen were husbanding their scanty resources in expectation of a still more deadly on slaught, their ears were saluted by hundreds of savage warwhoops, and a large body of friendly Wyandots, Ottawas, and Pottawattamies burst from the forest, and flung themselves impetuously upon the startled besiegers of the fort. The latter resisted to the best of their ability, and for a short time the battle-field resounded with the shouts of the contestants, the constant rattle of musketry, the groans of the wounded, and now and then with the terrific scalphalloo of some successful brave as he tore the coveted trophy from the head of his victim. But, aided by the fire of the garrison, the rescuing party were soon completely successful, and the Sacs, Foxes, and Mascoutins fled in utter rout through the forest. The vengeance of the victors, in accordance with Indian custom, was visited alike upon men, women, and children, from eight hundred to a thousand of whom were slain. So great was the injury inflicted that the Fox nation was reported to be completely destroyed. This was not the case, but it was compelled to flee to the west side of Lake Michigan, where it long remained, being distinguished by the peculiar bitterness borne by its members toward the French. On the other hand, the fiiendship thus cemented between the French and the Pottawattamies, Ottawas, and 1W4an(lots endured through more than half a century of varied fortunes, and was scarcely severed when throughout Canada and the West the Gallic flag went down in hopeless defeat before the conquering English. During the thirty years following the event just mentioned, there are but few and scanty records to show the acts of the Pottawattamies. They continued to cultivate their little patches of corn, and to hunt the deer through the forests of southern Michigan and around the head of the lake of that name, generally exchanging their surplus furs with their friends, the French, for blankets, calicoes, gilt ornaments, guns, powder, and brandy. To the honor of the Jesuits, it should be said that they steadily opposed the sale of this last commodity to the Indians, braving the enmity of the most powerful officials in so doing. But although the Canadian voyageulr or Indian trader was a good Catholic, who would regularly confess his sins and practice the severest penances imposed by his priests, yet even their potent influence was insufficient to keep him from grasping the enormous profits made by selling ardent spirits to the Indians. Civic functionaries, commandants of posts, and every one else who had the means, were alike eager to share these dubious gains, and all the tribes connected with the French, like those in communication with the English, became deeply infected with the fatal thirst for spirituous liquors, which has been the greatest bane of their race. But although the Pottawattamies usually traded with the French, yet when the English opened a trading-house at Oswego, on Lake Ontario, in 1727, many of their number, with other denizens of the upper-lake region, found their way thither with their furs, having discovered that the English gave much better bargains in the Indians' necessities of powder and whisky than did the French. It will be understood that there were no commission merchants in those days, by whom packages of beaver-skins and otter-skins could be sent to Oswego or Montreal for 16 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. sale. The adventurous Pottawattamie hunter who wanted to drive a better bargain than he could make at the frontier posts must launch his frail canoe, with its load of furs, on the waters of the St. Joseph or the Raisin, follow the tortuous course of the river to Lake Michigan or Lake Erie, coast cautiously down those inland seas to the Niagara, carry his little vessel around the great cataract, launch it again upon the bosom of Ontario, and at length make his toilsome way to Oswego or Frontenac. Having made the customary exchange for powder, blankets, calicoes, and brandy, he must return by the same route, not only braving the hardships of the voyage but the danger of ambush by the dreaded Iroquois; for though there were intervals of peace between the " fierce democracies" of the East and the West, yet there was always danger that some wandering band of warriors would seek vengeance for old but unforgotten injuries upon any less powerful squad whom fortune might throw in their path. The greater part of the Indian trade, however, was carried on by the French coureurs de bois, a wild and hardy race, who adopted, to a great extent, the Indian customs, formed Indian alliances of more or less permanence, and through whom the French influence was constantly extended over the nations of Algonqzuil race. In 1736 the French local authorities reported to the home government that they exercised authority over a hundred and three tribes, numbering sixteen thousand warriors and eighty-two thousand souls. This authority was very vague and precarious, and might more properly have been described as influence; and yet it was a very real assistance to the French in their constant rivalry with the English. In 1744, after a thirty years' peace, war broke out between those two great nations, and each at once summoned their Indian allies to the war-path. Far and wide, through Canada and the Great West, the French officials labored to stir up the passions of the Algonquin braves, while the English sought the aid of the Iroquois, much fewer in number, but more daring in spirit and more compact in organization. Bands of all the Northwestern tribes made frequent and most murderous assaults on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, inflicting the most terrible cruelties upon the settlers, and suffering scarcely less in return, when they fell into the hands of the fierce borderers, who hated the red men as the Jews hated the heathen whose lands they had seized. Other bands made their way over the long course to Montreal, received full equipments there, and then, sometimes under their own chiefs, sometimes under French partisan officers, went forth to harry the frontiers of New York and New England. In 1745, one of the numerous records made by the Canadian officials states that fifty " Poutewatamies," fifteen Puans, and ten Illinois came to go to war. Another memorandum, dated August 22, the same year, mentions the arrival of thirty-eight Outawois (Ottawas) of Detroit, seventeen Sauternes, twenty-four Hurons, and fourteen "Poutewatamies." The French records show the sending out of not less than twenty marauding expeditions against the colonists of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York in one year, and chronicle their dismal re turn with scalps and prisoners. The colonial governments did their best to retaliate in kind, but the small number of their only allies, the Iroquois, made it impracticable to equal the atrocities of the French. The war lasted four years, consisting principally of such predatory excursions, during which the French accounts make frequent mention of the "Poutewatamies" as active in gaining whatever glory could be reaped fiom those ferocious achievements. The contest was closed, however, in 1748, by the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, and again the Pottawattamtie braves were forced to content themselves with warfare with other tribes, save when occasionally a small band could make a stealthy foray against the settlers of Pennsylvania, which would be promptly disowned by the wily old sachems of the tribe, as the act of some "bad young men." CHAPTER IV. THE POTTAWATTAMIES-(Continued). The Crisis-Beginning of War-The Three Expeditions of 1755 -Braddock's Advance-Indians at Fort Duquesne-Beaujeu Induces them to follow Him-Attack upon the British-Desperate Battle-The British routed-Fiendish Orgies-The Indians attack the Frontiers-Other Indian Operations-Defeat of Grant-Pottavattannies at Fort Niagara-Their Defeat-Fall of Quebec-Rogers takes Possession of Detroit-Indian Dislike of the English-The Conspiracy of Pontiac-Number of the Pottawcattaoties-Pontiac's Schemes-His Treachery exposed-The Attack-The Siege-Capture of Fort St. Joseph-The Pottawattanmies make Peace-Battle of Bloody Run-Pottaicattanmies take Part-The British defeated -Pottawtattamies, etc., attack a Vessel-Indians off to HuntPontiac withdraws-End of the Siege-Gen. Bradstreet comes up the Lakes with Army-General Submission of the Tribes-British Posts re-established-Sir William Johnson's Tactics with the Pottaiwattamies-An Indian Speech-Fate of Pontiac-The Revenge of the Northern Indians. THE long and almost constant struggle between the French and English for the mastery of North America was rapidly approaching a crisis. The former, having secured an influence over the Indians throughout the West, and having established a line of forts and trading-posts by way of Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and the Mississippi River, were now anxious to crowd still more closely on the English, and to establish an interior line from Lake Erie to the forks of the Ohio (now Pittsburgh) and thence down the river to the Mississippi. The slower English colonists, absorbed with the work of chopping, and plowing, and building houses, were yet determined to prevent a proceeding which would have brought a line of hostile posts almost to their doors. In 1754, Major George Washington, in command of a body of rangers who were guarding the frontiers of Virginia, attacked and defeated a detachment of French and Indians who were apparently acting as spies upon him, thus beginning a war destined to convulse two continents, to expel the flag of France from the greater part of North America, and to pave the way for the American Revolution and American independence. Little more was done that year than to fight a few inconsequent skirmishes, and to terrify the frontier with a few savage deeds of blood. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 17 But in 1755 desperate exertions were made on both sides to accomplish great results. The English planned to send three armies against three prominent French posts; one, under Gen. Johnson (afterwards Sir William Johnson), against Crown Point, on Lake Champlain; one, under Gen. Shirley, against Fort Niagara, at the mouth of the Niagara River; and one, the most formidable of all, was to be led against Fort Duquesne, at the forks of the Ohio, by Maj.-Gen. Edward Braddock, who was sent over to be commander-in-chief of all the British forces in America. The French, on the other hand, though comparatively few in numbers, were more vigilant and active than their adversaries, and depended much on the aid they could obtain fiomn the swarms of Indians in their interest, whom they made strenuous and quite successful efforts to attach to their standard. The expedition against Fort Niagara broke down before reaching that post. The one under Gen. Johnson, though it did not capture or even attack Crown Point, yet resulted in a decided victory over the combined French and Indian force under Baron Dieskau, on the shores of Lake George, in the northeastern part. of New York. Considering the custom among the Western Indians of making their way in small bands to Montreal to take part in operations against the English, it is quite probable that some of our "Poufewatamies" were actors under Dieskau in the battle of Lake George; but as it is not certain, and as their mode of operation can be sufficiently understood by observing their acts on a more celebrated field where they were unquestionably present, we turn at once to the sadly-celebrated expedition under Gen. Braddock. It was early in June, 1755, that that brave, but conceited and thick-headed, commander led forth an army of some two thousand men from the frontiers of Pennsylvania, and took the road toward Fort Duquesne. Small as that number may seem to the reader of this generation, Braddock commanded one of the largest forces that had yet been assembled in North America, and high hopes were entertained of its achievements. It was mostly composed of British regulars, with a few Virginia and Pennsylvania riflemen, and as the scarlet columns strode proudly along the narrow forest pathway, their commander did not doubt for a moment that they would easily accomplish the task which had been allotted them. After a considerable part of the distance had been traveled, the general, by the advice of his aide-de-camp, Col. Washington, moved forward with twelve hundred men and some light artillery, leaving the rest of the army to follow at a slower pace. Meanwhile the alarmed French, unable to bring any considerable number of troops to Fort Duquesne, had strained every nerve to draw thither a sufficient force of Indians to repel the assailants. But though it was easy to persuade numerous savages to go forth in little bands against the hapless colonists, it was far more difficult to concentrate a considerable force for the purpose of defending a fort against a British army. An Indian, as a rule, has a great aversion to facing a large, organized army, and an equally strong dislike of being shut up in a fort. According to Sargent's " History of Braddock's Expedition,"-the best authority to be found on the subject,-there were six hundred and thirty3 seven Indian warriors gathered at Fort Duquesne. These comprised Abenakis and Ca(lghlawagas, from Canada; Shawtnees, from Ohio; Clhippewas, Ottawas, and Pottawattanies, from Michigan; and some smaller bands, all friendly to the French, but all alarmed at the superior force of the English, as reported by their scouts. Besides these, there were seventy-two regular French soldiers and a hundred and forty-six Canadian militia, making a total, as lnear as can be ascertained, of eight hundred and fifty-five combatants. The post was under the command of Capt. Contrecoeur, of the French army. Knowing the superior force of Braddock, and the indisposition of the Indians to engage in a regular siege, Contrecoeur was half disposed to abandon the post and descend the Ohio. But among the French officers was one who was thoroughly accustomed to forest warfare, and who possessed extraordinary influence over tlhe Indians. This was Capt. Beaujeu, who, on learning of the near approach of Braddock, boldly proposed to lead forth the Indians and Canadians and endeavor to surprise or ambush the too-confident English. The commander rcluctantly gave his consent. Beaujeu then hastened among his Indian friends. Calling together the cliefs, lie flung down a tomahawk before them, harangued them in that Algonqgint tongue with which all their dialects were affiliated, and offered to lead them at once against the red-coats, who were coming to rob them of their lands. But all shrank back from this daring proposal. Shawnees, Ottawas, and Pottawattanmies alike declined the challenge, declaring that the English were too strong for such an attempt. Again Beaujeu appealed to their friendship for the French, their hatred against the English, their pride in their own valor. But still in vain. " Does our father think we are fools," exclaimed the chiefs, "that we should go forth against the red soldiers, when they are more numerous than the leaves of the forest?" Yet once more Beaujeu essayed the powers of his eloquence. He painted more vividly than before the steady encroachment of the English on the Indian lands, till every face was black with hatred; depicted, with all the pathos he could command, the friendship which had always existed between the French and the tribes of Algonquin race; pointed out the ease with which from behind trees and rocks they could shoot down the clumsy red-coats; and dilated on the rich harvest of booty and scalps they could gather, till the bolder chiefs clutched their tomahawks with a passion that could scarcely be restrained. Then Beaujeu capped the climax of his eloquence by exclaiming,"I am determined to go to-morrow though not a chief dare follow me! Will you allow your father to go alone against your enemies while you remain in safety here?" This bold declaration turned the wavering balance in the minds of his savage hearers; the bravest among them sprang forward, brandishing their tomahawks and asserting their readiness to follow their father Beaujeu wherever he might lead, and the contagion of generous rashness soon spread through all the crowd. In a few moments all were thronging around Beaujeu with shouts of defiance against the red-coats, and in a few more they were away among 18 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. their followers, arousing their passions by the same arts which Beaujeu had employed upon themselves. Late that night the war-dance was danced in a score of Indian camps, and Pottawattamies, Ottawas, Shlawnees, Delawares, Abenakis, worked themselves into a fienzy of valor by their own shrieks, contortions, and harangues. The next morning, the fatal 9th of July, the scouts brought in the news that Braddock's army was on the move, and was crossing the Monongahela from the eastern to the western side, some twelve or fourteen miles from the fort. Shawnees, Pottawattamies, Aben akis, and all their brethren were soon astir, the scenes of the previous night were reenacted, and the warriors, while making their few preparations, aroused each other's enthusiasm with shrieks, and shouts, and brandishing of tomahawks, and impromptu fragments of the war-dance, and brief rehearsals of their valorous deeds on former occasions. Contrece(ur ordered kegs of bullets and gunpowder to be broken open and placed at the gate of the fort, so that all the Indians might help themselves. Thus amply furnished with ammunition, naked save the breech-clout and a long line of braided deer-hide wound around the waist, to which was suspended tomahawk, scalping-knife, powder-horn, and bullet-pouch, the yelling bands hurried off into the forest. The hundred or more warriors of each tribe were under their own chief, nor does there seem to have been any unity of action among them, save through the partial obedience which they voluntarily yielded to Contrecoeur and Beaujeu. Tradition indeed asserts that the Ottawas were led by the great chieftain whose name was in a few years to become a terror along a thousand miles of English frontier, the renowned Pontiac, and if so it is quite possible that the Chippewas and Pottawattamies (who, as before stated, were loosely leagued in a warlike confederacy with the Otttaw(s) might have followed the same daring leader. There is, however, little evidence to support the tradition, and, unless influenced by the renown of some very distinguished chief, the warriors of each tribe usually acted by themselves, and sometimes divided into still smaller bands. When Beaujeu had superintended the fitting out of his Indians, he set forth himself with about two hundred white men, three-fourths Canadian militia and hunters, and the remainder French regulars, but regulars who had served long in America, and were well versed in the wiles of forest warfare. Contrecoeur was left almost alone in the fort. Though the Indians had started first they were not disposed to get ahead of their father, Beaujeu, and they speedily arranged themselves in irregular order on either side of the narrow road along which marched the little column of French and Canadians. As they neared the foe the yells with which they had excited each other's valor sank into silence, for the Indian invariably seeks the advantage of surprise. The second in command under Beaujeu was Lieutenant Dumas, and another partisan officer was Charles de Langlade, afterwards a resident of Green Bay, and by some considered the principal pioneer of Wisconsin. He was especially distinguished for his influence over the Ottawas, Pottawattamies, and other Indians of the upper lakes. Beaujeu knew that about nine miles from Fort Duquesne the road coming from the south, after again crossing the Monongahela to the east side (on which the fort was situated), wound upward to the heights above the stream, between gloomy ravines with precipitous sides, such as are often seen in America, where tall trees growing at the bottom rise beside the almost perpendicular walls, their foliage mingling with the undergrowth at the top, thus concealing the abyss fiom the eyes of all but the most observant woodsmen. It is supposed that he intended to place his men in ambush in these ravines and fire on the unsuspecting battalions of Braddock after they had partially marched through the defile. He hurried forward at great speed, but the preparations had taken up so much time that, if such was his intention, he was a little too late to carry it fully into effect. As he and his foremost men reached the isthmus between the two ravines, a little after noon, the vanguard of the British army came into view only a few rods distant. The biographer of De Langlade declares that, on discovering this fact, Beaujeu was unwilling to make an attack, and that the former was obliged to ply him with argument and entreaties for several minutes before he would consent to go forward. Be that as it may, the order was soon given, and French, Canadians, and Indians plunged forward at full speed. One of the English perceived Beaujeu, clad in borderfashion in a fringed hunting-shirt, springing forward with long bounds, closely followed by his Canadians, while the dark forms of the Indians could barely be seen on either side gliding at equal speed through the forest. Almost at the same moment the French leader halted and waved his hat. The Canadians formed an irregular line across the road, and began firing briskly on those British who were in sight, while the Indians, once more raising the war-whoop, sprang into the ravines on either side, and plied their muskets with equal vigor. A detachment of grenadiers, under Lieut.-Col. Thomas Gage (afterwards the celebrated Gen. Gage, commanding the British troops at Boston at the beginning of the Revolution), formed the principal part of the vanguard. They returned the fire of the Canadians, and one of the first shots killed Capt. Beaujeu, on whom the whole enterprise seemed to depend. His men were in truth greatly discouraged, and when some artillery, brought forward by Braddock, made the hills and forests re-echo with its tremendous volleys, the Indians (who are usually very timorous about facing the big guns) were on the point of fleeing. But Dumas, the second in command, quickly rallied his men after the fall of Beaujeu, and the Indians soon discovered that they were almost completely screened from artillery fire by their position in the ravines. They could establish themselves close to the top, clinging to the bushes and small trees, and, barely lifting their fierce faces above the level, could fire, in almost complete security, at the red battalions which crowded the road a few rods away, while the great cannon-balls crashed above them, cutting the limbs from hundreds of trees, but hardly slaying a single warrior. The artillerists were shot down at their guns, and the infantry fell by the score. They were extremely frightened by seeing that the fire, as was said, " came out of the ground at their feet," and huddled to HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 19 I gether in crowds, firing their muskets in the air, and offering the best possible mark for their unseen foes. The Indians soon saw the dismay they were causing, and their own courage became proportionately inflated. They spread themselves down the ravines, enveloping the column in a murderous line of fire on both sides, while tlemselves seldom exposing more than a head or an arm. In vain the British officers, with unquestioned bravery, endeavored to encourage their terrified soldiers; in vain Braddock himself rushed into the thickest of the fire, where five horses were successively shot under him as he tried to form his men in the prim array suited to European warfare; in vain young Col. Washington rode to and fro, seconding the efforts of his chief with far more wisdom, having likewise two horses killed under him and his clothes riddled with bullets; in vain the three companies of Virginia riflemen, preserving something like composure amid the terrific scene, fought in Indian style fiom behind the trees; neither valiant example, nor military authority, nor the hope of selfpreservation could inspire with courage that demoralized throng. When it has been impracticable to fight Indians in their own fashion, good commanders have sometimes driven them from their coverts with the bayonet, as the red men generally have a wholesome horror of cold steel. Both Wayne at the Miami and Harrison at Tippecanoe pursued these tactics with great success. But either Braddock did not think of this or his men would not go forward, and the Indians continued to maintain their strong position in the ravines. At length, after three hours' fighting, after the general had been mortally wounded and borne from the field, after Gage and Gates (the future conqueror of Saratoga) had also been severely wounded, after sixty-three officers out of eighty-six, and over seven hundred men out of twelve hundred, had been killed or wounded, the remainder fled in a rabble rout across the Monongahlela, hastened on for several days till they met the rear-guard, and in company with them pursued their course till they reached a safe retreat in Philadelphia. The French and Indians, wlho had suffered some loss though it was trifling compared with that of their opponents, only pursued their defeated foes to the river, and then spread themselves over the field to seek for booty and scalps. The Indians fairly went crazy with their fiendish joy. A colonial prisoner previously captured, and held at Fort Duquesne, described them as rivaling Pandemonium itself on their return to that fortress at night. Hardly a warrior but had one or more scalps to adorn his girdle. Most of them had secured articles of clothing or other plunder from the dead or prisoners. All were covered with the blood of their unfortunate victims, and all were shrieking, whooping, leaping up and down, and brandishing their weapons in a perfect delirium of triumph. Here might be seen a stalwart Ottawa, naked as he went forth in the morning, save that upon his head was placed the plumed hat of a British officer; there strode a haughty P]ottawattamie, a red coat, dyed a deeper crimson by the blood of its late owner, buttoned across his brawny breast, a gold watch clutched in his hand to be gazed at with ad miring but half-suspicious eyes, while two or three fairhaired scalps, suspended from the ramrod of his rifle, gave fearful evidence of the sorrow which that day had caused in far-off English homes. The glorious tragedy of battle never had a more hideous afterpiece of mingled folly and horror than was presented around Fort Duquesne at sunset on the 9th of July, 1755. Few prisoners were taken, and most of these suffered the awful, the almost indescribable, death at the stake, which Indian vengeance prescribes for their defeated foes. The defeat of Braddock, and consequent retreat of the whole army, unloosed the passions and dispelled the fears of all the Western Indians,-even of those who had not before taken up arms for the French,-and thousands of tomahawks were grasped in the hope of burying them in the brains of the hated English colonists,-a hope, alas, too often fulfilled by the terrible reality. These predatory excursions constituted the principal part of the warfare waged by the Western Indians during the two succeeding years. A few Pottawattamties probably found their way to the armies of the Marquis de Montcalm, taking part with him in the capture of Oswego, in 1756, and in that of Fort William Henry and subsequent massacre, in 1757; but their numbers were so scant, and the part they played so unimportant, that it is needless to refer to it further here. In 1758, the Plottawattanies, with the other Western Indians, were again summnoned to the defense of Fort Duquesne, then threatened by the army of Gen. Forbes. -Less than a thousand warriors assembled there; for while a single Indian tribe could keep a thousand miles of frontier in terror, yet, owill to its small numbers and its extremely democratic organization, it could not, or would not, furnish any large number of men for protracted military operations. They could hardly expect to repeat the surprise which destroyed Braddock, and the French commander was fully prepared to retreat if necessary; yet, nevertheless, they did succeed in inflicting destruction on a considerable portion of the invading army. Maj. Grant, with a battalion of regulars, was sent forward by Gen. Forbes to reconnoitre, and to hold a safe position not far from Fort Duquesne. The major seems to have imbibed the idea that he could capture the fort without assistance, and carry off the honors alone. He accordingly marched up to within a very short distance of the French stronghold. Perhaps his desire was to tempt the enemy fiom his fastness; if so, he was only too successful. Suddenly the whole crowd of Ottawas, Pottawattamnies, Shawnzees, Delawares, etc., poured yelling from the fortress, supported by the few French and Canadian soldiers present. Hurrying forward, they flung themselves impetuously upon the startled Britons, and succeeded in breaking their ranks. Then swiftly succeeded the scenes of confusion and panic so common when regular soldiers, under an incompetent commander, heard the terrible war-whoop sounding in their ears, and saw the forest flashing fire in every direction, while scarcely a single enemy appeared. Maj. Grant's force was cut off almost to a man, and once more the forest warriors indulged in a carnival of malignant joy. 20 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. But Gen. Forbes was too cautious to be surprised, and his force was too strong to be withstood, and when he approached the fortress, previously so fiercely defended, the French and their Indian allies reluctantly retreated to their fastnesses still deeper in the forest. The next year, 1759, came the great and practically the final struggle between the French and English in North America. Charles de Langlade, the partisan commander before mentioned, was with Montcalm at Quebec, with a body of Indians from the lake region, among whom were doubtless a band of Pottawattamnie warriors, as that tribe was represented at almost every point where there was any fighting going on. The red men took an active part in some of the preliminary struggles around Quebec, but when the audacity and good fortune of Wolfe had placed the English on the open field of the Plains of Abraham there was no chance for Indian tactics, and even the French and Canadian levies were driven back in utter rout before the lead and steel of the British grenadiers. A few weeks before the fall of Quebec a well-appointed Anglo-American force, accompanied by a large body of Iroquois warriors, appeared before Fort Niagara, one of the strongest of the French fortresses, and considered the key of the whole Western country. Its commander called on his brethren for relief, and they responded promptly to his appeal. D'Aubry, the senior officer in the West, was at Venango, now in the State of Pennsylvania. With desperate energy he called together every man he could muster fiom Le Boeuf, Presque Isle, Detroit, and other French posts on and near Lake Erie. The Western Indians had been in the habit of making these posts their headquarters, but since the fall of Fort Duquesne they had been less enthusiastic in their devotion to French interests. Nevertheless, by using all his efforts, D'Aubry succeeded in gathering some six hundred of the Shawnees, MJiamis, Pottawattamies, etc., who had so often danced the wardance and brandished the tomahawk in behalf of France. With these were joined near a thousand French and Canadian soldiers, hastily gathered for a final struggle in defense of French supremacy in the West. It was in the latter part of July that this motley band, in Indian canoes and French bateaux, coasted along the southern shore of Lake Erie, passed on down the Niagara, landed above the great cataract, and marched down to relieve the fort. But Sir William Johnson, who had become the commander of the besieging force, was not at all inclined to suffer the fate of Braddock. Well-apprised of the approach of his foe, he left a sufficient number to guard the trenches and marched forth to meet him. Soon the two armies were engaged in deadly conflict. Seldom has a battle been fought with more picturesque surroundings, orunder more romantic circumstances. Beside the field of combat, but a hundred feet below, the mighty Niagara rolled through its darksome gorge, while scarcely out of hearing, to the southward, thundered the avalanche of waters which has made Niagara renowned throughout the world. There was everything to nerve the combatants on both sides to the most desperate struggle. The fhte of Canada was still hanging in the balance, but few could doubt that if this stronghold should fall into English hands they would be able to control the upper lake country, whatever might become of the valley of the St. Lawrence. On either side were regular soldiers of the two greatest nations of the world, colonial levies of rude appearance, but skilled in all the mysteries of forest warfare, and naked Indians ready to split open each other's heads for the benefit of the European intruders. Here, while Englishmen were crossing bayonets with Frenchmen, and Canadians and New Yorkers were aiming their fatal weapons at each other's breasts, Shavlnees and Mohawks were also to be seen engaged in deadly conflict, the Onondaga fought hand to hand with the Ottawa, and the tomahawk of the brawny Pottawattam'ie fiomn the banks of the St. Joseph beat down tile knife of the scowling Carygac from the shores of the pellucid lake which still perpetuates his memory. The contest was brief and decisive. The French and their red allies were utterly defeated, and chased for several miles through the woods; their commander was wounded and taken prisoner, and a large portion of the whole force was either slain or captured. The fall of Fort Niagara speedily followed. The Indians who escaped returned in sorrow to their wigwams in the wilds of Ohio and Michigan, and gloomily awaited the result. The next year the final blows were struck. Three armies were concentrated on Montreal, and the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the governor-general of Canada, surrendered that province and all its dependencies to the English, including all the posts on the upper lakes and in the surrounding country. This was the formal act which made Michigan British territory, though the cause of' the transfer is to be sought where Wolfe snatched victory ifron the grasp of death, on the Plains of' Abraham. Maj. Robert Rogers, a celebrated New Hampshire partisan, was selected by the British general to lead a body of his rangers to take possession of Detroit, the same autumnn. Arrived at that post, he found a band of Pottawattamies just below the fort on the western side of the river, while the villages of the Wlyandots were to be seen opposite, and those of the Ottawas farther up, on what is now the American side. The fort was surrendered on presentation of a letter from the governor-general announcing the capitulation. All the warriors hailed the descent of the French flag with yells which might have been inspired by anger, but were quite likely to have indicated only excitement over the change. The next year (1761), the posts at Michillimacinac, Saut Sainte Marie, Green Bay, and St. Joseph (where the St. Joseph River enters Lake Michigan) were also surrendered to the English. This practically consummated the transfer of Michigan to British rule. But the Indians of that territory were from the first extremely restive at the presence of the red-coats, and even the lroqluois began to think, when too late, that it would have been better to aid the French, and thus balance the greater power of the English. In July, 1761, a council was held near Detroit, at which the chiefs of the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandots, and Pottawattamies met with dele gates from the Six Nations, or at least a part of them, and at which it was half agreed to endeavor to surprise Detroit, Fort Pitt, and all the other posts. The plot was discovered, HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 21 however, before any conclusion was reached. It was explained away as well as possible by the Indians, and the English paid very little attention to it. The ill-will among the Indians still continued. The change was great fiom the subtle complaisance of the French, who veiled even acts of aggression with plausible pretexts and flattering words, to the bluff and contemptuous bearing of the English, who offended even when granting a favor. The French traders, voyageurs, and coureurs de bois, who feared the rivalry of the English in their occupations, fanned the rising hatred of the red men by a thousand wild stories regarding the intention of the British to destroy them, and the certainty that the French king would again send an army to drive out the intruders. It was at this time that the celebrated Ottawa chief, Pontiac, conceived the idea of the great conspiracy with which his name has been permanently associated by the genius of Parkman, and in which the Pottawattamie tribe bore a prominent part. Near the close of 1762, he sent ambassadors among all the tribes, from the great lakes to the far south, to rouse them to united action against the English. But again the British got an inkling of the design, and the plot was postponed. In February, 1763, a treaty of peace was finally signed between Great Britain and France, the latter confirming the transfer to England of Canada, including Michigan and the Northwest, which had already been brought about by the force of arms. The news of this event, however, did not reach Detroit until the following summer. By the opening of spring, Pontiac had nearly perfected his arrangements. The tribes of Indians living eastward, at a given time, were to assail all the posts from the head of Lake Erie to Fort Niagara; the Ch/lipewas were to carry Michillimacinac and Saut Ste. Marie, while Pontiac reserved to himself, with his Ottawas and Pottawattanies, the attack upon Detroit. To the Pottawattamnies was also assigned the capture of Fort St. Joseph. Sir Willial Johnson, who about this period made a careful estimate of the numbers of all the tribes of the north, fixed the number of Pottawattamie warriors in Michigan at three hundred and fifty, one hundred and fifty being temporarily located at Detroit and two hundred being in the St. Joseph Valley. It is probable, however, that the number of the latter portion was somewhat larger, as Sir William had no chance to examine them, and the maps of the period show the valley to have been the principal home of the tribe. Doubtless it seems as if three hundred and fifty warriors or even three times as many were a very small number to write a long chapter about, yet a tew hundred Indians can make a terrible commotion. The JMohawks, one of the most warlike of the Six Nations, of whom the celebrated Brant was the chief, had no more, and that whole remarkable confederacy, the renown of which filled two continents, could muster but two thousand fighting men. And at the very time of which we are writing, the deeds of those few hundred Pottawattamnies, and of three or four other tribes scarcely stronger than themselves, were destined to terrify half the people of North America, and to startle the ministry of triumphant Britain with portents of incalculable disaster. On the 27th of May, 1763, a council of Ottawas, Pottawattamies, and Wyandots, the nucleus of the conspiring league, was held at the River Ecorces, near Detroit, at which Pontiac, with his wild eloquence, fired the hearts of his hearers, and prepared them for the deadly work before them. It was arranged that on the 2d of May he should gain admittance to the fort with a party of warriors, on pretense of dancing the calumet dance, should carefully observe its strength, and call another council to make final preparations. This was accordingly done without exciting suspicion. A few days later Pontiac called the chiefs to another meeting in a large bark council-house, in the Pottawattamie village. Here, after again exciting their passions by a fervid recital of their wrongs, he proposed that on the seventh of that month he and the principal chiefs would gain admittance to the fort on pretense of holding a council with the commandant, all apparently unarmed, but all with weapons concealed under their blankets. At a given motion of the great chief, the officers assembled at the council were to be butchered, and the scalp-yells of the victors were to be the signal for a united attack by a host of warriors outside on the surprised and leaderless garrison. The plan was eagerly adopted by the chiefs. At this time Detroit was defended by a hundred and twenty soldiers under Major Gladwyn, of the British army. There were also some employees, both English and French, within the fort. Outside, on both sides of the Detroit River, were several hundred families of French Canadians, who lived partly by agriculture, and partly by hunting, trapping, and trading with the Indians..They were on excellent terms with Pontiac and his warriors, and probably many of them were quite willing that the hated English should be destroyed, no matter by what means. Yet they were not foolish enough to suppose that two or three thousand Indians could destroy the British power in North America, and were not at all disposed to subject themselves to a terrible retribution by aiding the conspirators. Some of' them, who were friendly to the English, saw that something unusual was going on among the warriors, and warned Maj. Gladwyn that there was danger in the air, but he, with the usual British-officer mixture of courage and dullness, paid no attention to their suggestions. Yet somehow, on the eve of the attack, he did receive a warning which he heeded. A score of different stories are preserved by tradition regarding the source of.the information; stories which only agree in declaring that the plot was betrayed by one of the Indians or squaws, probably one of the latter. The common account, probably adopted only because it has a spice of romance in it, is that in the Pottawattamie village dwelt an Ojilwa& damsel who had become the mistress of Gladwyn. The day before the intended massacre she sought an audience of her lover, and informed him of the whole plot in language so simple and earnest that he could not but believe it. The next day, the 7th of May, sixty stalwart chieftains, Ottawas, Potttawattamies, and Wyaldots, with the grim Pontiac at their head, marched in '" Indian file" into the fort, to hold a council with their white father. Besides these, some two hundred and fifty other warriors had gained admittance on various pretexts, for Gladwyn, with bravery 22 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. amounting to rashness, had allowed all to enter. But as Pontiac passed through the gate he saw the whole garrison as well as the employees of the fur-traders under arms, and knew that so far as a surprise was concerned his plot had failed. His warriors were all armed with knives and tomahawks, and many of them had guns which had been filed off short, hidden under their blankets. Had they boldly attacked the garrison and been assisted by their comrades outside, they might very probably have succeeded in their attempt. But the Indian, though brave enough in his own way, will seldom engage in a square fight with the Caucasian unless lie has a great advantage in numbers. Pontiac and his chiefs held the proposed council with Gladwyn and his officers, but he made no signal and all passed off quietly. A dramatic account has frequently been published stating how, as Pontiac was raising his belt of wampum to give the fatal signal, Maj. Gladwyn anticipated him, when " the drums at the door of the council-house rolled to the charge, the guards presented their pieces, and the British officers drew their swords from the scabbards," and how the major immediately stepped forward, drew aside the chieftain's blanket, and disclosed the shortened musket beneath. But Gladwyn's letter, published by Parkman, declares distinctly that he did not intimate his suspicions of their intentions, and apparently negatives even the attempted signal and the rolling of the drums; it certainly negatives the traditional uncovering of the shortened muskets. The Indians retired but did not yet throw off the mask. The next day, after another attempt to lull the suspicions of the British, Pontiac spent the afternoon in the Pottawattamie village consulting with the chiefs. On the ninth Pontiac made still another request for admission with a large band, but Maj. Gladwyn refused entrance to any but the chief himself. Then at last the latter unloosed the rage of his followers, which he had held so long in the leash. With fiendish yells they threw themselves upon a few wretched English who lived outside the walls, and the waving of the scalps of these unfortunates constituted their ghastly declaration of war. The Ottawa village was quickly moved to the west side of the river, and the same night a band of Ojibwas came down from Lake Huron. At dawn, the morning of the tenth of May, the attack began. At the pealing of the war-whoop on every side the soldiers rushed to their posts. "And truly," says Parkman, "it was time; for not the Ottawas alone but the whole barbarian swarm-W cyandots, Pottawattamies, and Ojibwas-were upon them, and bullets rapped hard and fast against the palisades." Yet, though their numbers were estimated at from one to two thousand, they did not attempt to charge the walls, but with the usual Indian strategy sheltered themselves behind barns, outhouses, and bushes, keeping up an incessant fire at the loop-holes of the fort. The conflict was maintained for half the day, when the baffled savages gradually retired, neither side having suffered heavy loss. The attack had failed, and those who knew the Indian character might naturally expect that, having been repulsed on their first spring, they would soon slink away into the woods. It was a remarkable evidence ^ 61*: *,. ' 1 *. of the command obtained by Pontiac over these wild warriors, that he was able to retain them as long as he did in the uncongenial duties of a siege. But Pontiac, unused as he was to regular operations, had conceived the idea of starving out the garrison, and indeed there was considerable danger that he would do so. Thle supply of provisions was small, the French inhabitants were unwilling to brave the wrath of the savages, and, though communication with the East was open by the river and lake, the chances of receiving succor in time was very discouraging. Pontiac made such arrangements as his crude ideas of war suggested. He placed a band of Pottawattamies along the river below the fort to cut off any who might approach, while another band of the same tribe was concealed near the fort to shoot any one who might be seen. After another long fusillade, Pontiac sent a Canadian to demand a surrender of the post, which was promptly refused. For over a month the siege was closely continued, the Indians preventing every one from going out, but seldom coming within gun-shot of the walls. There were two small English vessels in the river, and the garrison might easily have escaped, as indeed some of the officers thought was best, but Gladwyn peremptorily declined. Their scanty supplies were eked out by those surreptitiously brought across the river by tie Canadians, and as long as this was the case the soldiers could hope to hold out till Sir Jeffrey Amherst could send relief, in response to the message which Gladwyn had managed to dispatch as early as the 14th of May. In fact one detachment had left Fort Niagara on the 13th with supplies for Detroit, but this was cut off on the way, and when the soldiers crowded to the river-side to welcome a long line of boats, which they saw approaching under the English flag, they were inexpressibly disappointed to find them filled only with naked savages and their unfortunate captives. News of disaster now came thick and fast. One after another the garrison learned of the capture of the various little posts transferred to the English by the French, and the slaughter or captivity of their defenders. Of the twelve posts attacked during the wide-spread " Conspiracy of Pontiac," all fell into the hands of the savages, save Detroit, Fort Pitt, and Fort Niagara. Only one of these was especially connected with the history of the tribe of which we are writing. This was Fort St. Joseph, near the mouth of St. Joseph River, where La Salle had established a trading-post over eighty years before. It had in time become a French military post and the seat of a small but thriving colony of Canadian fur-traders and voyageuros. After the surrender to the English the latter also maintained a post there designed to curb to some extent the neighboring Pottawattamies, and to furnish a convenient nucleus for the fur-trade. In the spring of 1763 it was garrisoned by Ensign Schlosser, with fourteen men, who seem to have had no apprehension of danger. On the 25th of May the ensign was told by some of the Indians that a party of Pottawattamies had come from Detroit on a visit. Soon after, a few braves, headed by a chief named Washaste, came in, apparently for friendly HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 23 purposes. Then a Canadian informed Schlosser that the savages, who were thronging around and into the post, were manifesting every indication of hostility. The unwary officer left his apartment, and found both the parade and barracks thronged with insolent savages and doubtful Canadians. While he was endeavoring to get both English and Canadians into some kind of order, a yell was raised, the sentinel was tomahawked, the Pottawattamies on the outside rushed in, and in less than two minutes, as the officer afterwards declared, all the soldiers were butchered and scalped save himself and three others, who were seized and bound hand and foot. As in numerous other cases, the French were unharmed, showing that the rage of the savage was not directed indiscriminately against the whites, but was only aroused against the haughty English. Two or three English traders who were present were sheltered by French friends till the first fury was over, but could not avoid being taken prisoners by the Indians. A band of Pottawattamies then went to join their brethren at Detroit, taking with them the unlucky ensign and his three comrades. Fortunately for them, several Pottawattamies had been imprisoned in the fort before the outbreak for some offense, and were still held. For these the Indians exchanged the prisoners they had brought from St. Joseph,-one of the very few instances with which we have met of the red men exchanging prisoners. Generally they are too anxious to burn them to suffer any sympathy for their own friends to interfere. To return to the siege of Detroit. About the 20th of June one of the schooners before mentioned, which had gone up Lake Erie to obtain aid, returned with about sixty men and a supply of ammunition and provision. She also brought the news of peace and the cession of Canada to England. This, however, was discredited not only by Pontiac, but by many of the Canadians, who could not bear the idea of passing permanently under English rule, and who told the Indians that even then two great French armies were coming up the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. The siege progressed with a constant succession of exciting incidents, though the Indians avoided an attack, and of course knew nothing of making approaches by intrenchments and parallels. They made many efforts to destroy the garrison by surprise or to fire the schooners on which Gladwyn depended for communication with the outer world, but without success. About the middle of July the Wyandots and Pottawattamies sent deputations to Maj. Gladwyn begging for peace, either from lack of zeal or, as is quite likely, from motives of treachery. The major acceded to the proposal of the Wyandots, but when the Pottawattamies came they insisted that some of their people imprisoned in the fort should first be given up. Gladwyn, on the other hand, demanded the English captives in possession of that tribe. The Pottawattamnies brought three prisoners, but were peremptorily sent back for more whom they were known to have; then they brought six. The treaty was about to be concluded when one of the six told Gladwyn that there were still others detained in the camp of the Pottawattamies, and the deputation was again turned away. They were furious with rage, and hastily consulting together in their own tongue, determined to kill the commander and then make their escape if possible. But at that instant Gladwyn discovered an Ottawa among them, and called some of the guard into the council-house to arrest him. The Pottawattamies then sullenly withdrew. Yet in a day or two they returned with the other captives, when their own friends were freed and a treaty of peace was made. It is evident that either Pontiac's power was waning, or that the whole proceeding was a ruse, which from subsequent events seems quite probable. On the morning of the 29th of July, twenty-two barges bearing two hundred and sixty regulars, twenty independent rangers, several small cannon, and fresh supplies of provisions and ammunition, came up the river. These were under Capt. Dalzell, an officer of the British army, but one who had had considerable experience in Indian fighting, having been present with Rogers and Putnam in some of their most desperate conflicts. The rangers were commanded by the redoubtable Major Rogers himself, whose eagerness for battle and glory had sent him to the front with his little squad of followers. As the convoy came opposite to the villages of W/yandots and Pottawattamies, lying respectively on the east and west banks of the river, these treacherous enemies, in spite of their recent treaty of peace, opened fire on the barges from both shores at once. The soldiers replied with their swivels and muskets, but ere they gained the shelter of the fort fifteen of their number were killed and wounded. We are afraid, in view of such flcts as these, it will be impossible to say anything in favor of the chivalry or honor of our Pottawattamtis, who, in fact, like nearly all the rest of the " noble red men" of whom we have any account, never hesitated at the blackest treachery when necessary to accomplish their object. Not but what they could be true to those they considered their fiiends; as they were to the French during nearly a century of varied fortunes. But when they had once made up their minds that any people were their enemies, they hesitated at no deception and no cruelty in order to accomplish their ruin. Treaties and pledges were but as straw before the fire of their hatred. Immediately after his arrival Dalzell requested permission to attack Pontiac in his camp, which Gladwyn reluctantly granted. It was a presumptuous request, as Dalzell knew nothing of the ground, and his commander was greatly to blame for granting it, for that reason. Nevertheless, at two o'clock on the morning of the 1st of August, Dalzell and two hundred and fifty men marched up the river-road toward Pontiac's camp, then situafed several miles up the stream. But some of the Canadians had got an inkling of the plan, and through them the chief was fully apprised of the approach of the English column, and had left his camp with all his Ojibwa and Ottawa warriors to attack it. At Parent's Creek (since called Bloody Run), a mile and a half above the fort, the vanguard was assailed by a terrific fire from hundreds of Indians ambushed behind piles of firewood, fences, houses, apple-trees, etc., belonging to the Canadians, and some rude intrenchments previously thrown up by Pontiac when his camp was situated there. From the facts in this case, in that of Braddock's defeat, 24 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and in numerous others of the same class and period, it would seem that the system of covering an advancing column with a line of skirmishers several paces apart was unknown to, or at least unpracticed by, the strategists of that day. It is true a vanguard marched ahead of the main body, but it formed a small column of itself, and was an easy mark for the guns of ambushed foemen. In the present instance half of the advance-guard were killed or wounded by the first volley; the rest ran back, throwing the main body into confusion. Dalzell rallied his men, who made charge after charge upon the fences and other structures which sheltered the foe, only to find in each case that the Indians had fled back a little farther into the darkness, whence their bullets still flew with fearful effect into the crowded ranks of the soldiers. Dalzell was compelled to order a retreat. Up to this time the bloody work had been carried on by Ojibwas and Ottawas, either because the Wyandots and Pottawattamies had shaken off the influence of Pontiac, or because he had planned for them to fall on the English rear. Whichever supposition is correct, no sooner was the noise of battle wafted to their ears than the warriors hastened to take part in the fray. The Wyandots rowed across the river in canoes, the IPotattaattiies hastened through the woods west of the fort. Scarcely had the column begun its retrograde movement when all the bands from below occupied the houses, fences, and orchards by the roadside, pouring volley after volley into the ranks of the wearied and discouraged soldiery. At one point, half a mile below Bloody Run, the savages occupied a cluster of out-houses and a newly-dug cellar close to the road, and, strange as it may seem, they were again able to ambush the column, allowing the vanguard to pass unharmed, but firing with deadly effect upon the centre and rear. The retreat came near degenerating into a perfect rout, but Dalzell, though twice severely wounded, rallied his men, and did all that valor could inspire to compensate for his lack of skill. Maj. Rogers, with his American rangers, broke into a house and drove out the savages. Capt. Gray, while charging the enemy, was mortally wounded, but the foe was temporarily repulsed. Again the retreat was resumed, and instantly the Pottawattamies and Wyandots gathered on the flank of the column and riddled it with their deadly volleys. Dalzell was killed and his body abandoned to the brutal rage of the foe by the fleeing soldiers. Rogers again took possession of a house to cover the retreat, and to some extent succeeded in doing so; but when the column had passed, two hundred yelling savages surrounded the place, firing into every aperture they could see, and effectually preventing the escape of its defenders. Half a mile farther down, Capt. Grant, now in command of the demoralized troops, was able to seize some inclosures, which pretty effectually sheltered his men. Thence he sent squads to occupy the houses below, ahead of the Indians, and thus secured his retreat to the fort. He then sent the two armed bateaux, which had accompanied the expedition, to a point opposite the house of Campau, which was held by Rogers. The vessels swept the ground on both sides of the house with their swivels, the fire from which sent Potta wattamnies, Ottawas, and all, yelling in dismay to the woods. But no sooner had Rogers marched down the road to join Grant than some of them rushed into the house and scalped the slain remaining there, an old squaw cutting open one of the dead bodies and drinking the blood with more than fiendish joy. Yet amid all this ferocity no damage was done to any of the family, nor to the frightened French pioneers of the neighborhood, who had crowded into the cellar for safety. Grant and Rogers successfully consummated their retreat; but fifty-nine men killed and wounded, out of two hundred and fifty, in a two-hours' fight, attested the accuracy of aim of the Ottawa, Pottawattamie, and WVyandot braves. Pontiac at once sent messengers, announcing his victory, to St. Joseph, Saginaw, and numerous other points, scattered far and wide through the forest, and bands of warriors soon came trooping in, anxious to join what seemed to them the successful side. Yet even with these reinforcemcnts the chieftain dared make no attack on the fort, which was now well supplied with arms, ammunition, and provisions, and the garrison of which, notwithstanding the recent disaster, numbered over three hundred men. On the 4th of September some three hundred WUyandots and Pottawattcames made an attack in birch canoes on the schooner " Gladwyn,' as it lay detained by contrary winds on its way up from Lake Erie. They clambered up the sides in spite of cannon and small arms, with their knives between their teeth, slew the master of the vessel, and disabled several of the men who formed the crew; yet the remainder fought with such desperate valor that the assailants were finally repulsed. Contemporary letters assert that the mate ordered the vessel blown up, which some of the Indians understood, and on their telling their comrades they all fled to avoid the threatened explosion. This is very doubtful. A few of the Western Indians knew a little French, but not one in a thousand could have understood a word of English. Doubtless the Pottawattamie braves were very much " at sea" in attacking an armed ship, and were much more easily repulsed than they would have been by the same number of foes on land. But by the end of September the patience of the Indians was pretty well exhausted. Notwithstanding the victory of Bloody Run, they saw no prospect of reducing the fort as long as they had free communication with the East by means of the river and lake, and they had already been engaged in the siege far longer than they had been in the habit of continuing in any enterprise. As the hunting season approached, too, they were obliged to seek for game or go without food the next year, and a large portion of them scattered to their respective hunting-grounds for that purpose. Soon, all along the banks of the St. Joseph and far into the forest on either side, the Pottawattamie warriors were to be seen ambushing the deer as they visited their favorite drinking-places, or tracking the bear to his lonely den, or occasionally bringing down some stately moose which had wandered down from its northern home, while the patient squaws bore their lords' burdens from place to place and prepared for future use the game the latter had slain. Similar scenes were enacted on the hunting-grounds of the HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I 25 other tribes, and the siege of Detroit necessarily languished for lack of besiegers. But after the terrible experience of Bloody Run, Major Gladwyn was naturally in no haste to try to drive them away by a sally. Those who remained were also anxious to begin hunting, and were willing to tell any number of falsehoods which would tend to shield them from annoyance through the winter. On the 12th of October a chief of the M:ssisaitgas, a branch of the Ojibwas, came to the fort with a pipe of peace. He informed Maj. Gladwyn that lie was authorized to represent the Ojihwras, 1 /an(lots, and Pottawattaines, who were deeply repentant and desirous of peace. The commandant valued their repentance at what it was worth, but willingly offered a truce. While it lasted he succeeded in obtaining a good supply of provisions among the Canadians. But the stern Pontiac and his Ottawa warriors sullenly refused to ask for truce or peace, and continued the war to the best of their ability, neglecting no opportunity to fire upon a foraging-party or cut off a straggling soldier. But on the last day of October a messenger came from the commandant of Fort Chartres, the principal French post on the upper Mississippi, informing Pontiac that the French and English were now at peace, and that he could expect no help from the former in his warfare with the latter. The disgusted chieftain immediately sent word to Maj. Gladwyn that he should advise all the Indians to bury the hatchet, and soon afterwards withdrew, with some of his principal henchmen, to the Maumee. The 1-ottawattamies and others who had taken part in the siege were already nearly all busy in their respective hunting-,grounds, and the remainder soon departed after the guiding spirit of the conspiracy abandoned his self-imposed task. Thus ended the celebrated siege of Detroit, distinguished not only for the commanding character of the sullen chief of the assailants, and for the importance of the interests involved, but for the constancy, unrivaled in Indian warfare, with which the capricious warriors of the woods, under the influence of that powerful mind, devoted themselves through five weary months to the accomplishment of their object. Although Pontiac probably intended to renew the siege in the spring of 1764, and though some of the warriors he had led returned to Detroit at that time for that purpose, yet so many difficulties had arisen that the great chief Ilinself did not appear on the scene of his exploits, and the attempted renewal of the conflict amounted to little or nothing except to annoy still longer the faithful garrison. In the summer of 1764, Gen. John Bradstrect cane up the lakes with an army of twelve or fifteen hundred men, and several hundred Iroyqois allies, to enforce the submission of the hostile tribes. He reached Detroit on the 26th of August, and on the 7th of September held a grand council with the Indians. A considerable delegation came fiom the country about Sandusky, but the Pottawattanies and other tribes of the Michigan peninsula were only represented by the Ojibwa chief Wasson and six inferior chiefs. Bradstreet was very desirous that the Indians should ac knowledge themselves subjects of the King of England. But their democratic minds could hardly understand what was meant by being " subjects" of any man, and if they had 4 understood it they would certainly never have sincerely assented to it. But they had been accustomed, as a matter of courtesy, to call the King of France their father, and this title they willingly agreed to transfer to the King of England. Bradstreet boasted that he had reduced the Indians to complete submission, but if there had been a good opening for an outbreak, he would doubtless have discovered that though he might have called the King of England his father, a Pottawattamie brave would not thereby have been prevented from tomahawking the King's subjects whenever he could catch one alone. A treaty was made, signed, according to the historian Mante, with a deer and cross on behalf of the Hurons, with a turtle by the Miamis, and with an eagle by the Missisalgyas, while the corporate seal of the Pottawattamies and Foxes was represented by the figures of a fox, an eel, and a bear. Bradstreet sent troops to reestablish the posts at Michillimacinac and Green Bay, and then returned East. Though the expedition was not very well managed, yet the presence of such a large English force-larger than any body the French had ever sent up the lakes-could not but impress the minds of the Indians with the idea that it would be well to keep on good terms with their new " father." A much more skillful manager of Indians than Bradstreet was the celebrated Sir William Johnson, who was appointed superintendent of all the Indians of the North. He personally visited Detroit and other posts, and kept three well-trained deputies traveling among the various tribes. By a shrewd miixture of dignity and flattery, by a frequent distribution of' cheap but highly-prized presents, anJd by florid delineation of the immense power of the English king, Sir William and his deputies contrived to keep these numerous forest-clansmen in comparative quiet down nearly to the time of his death. On the 17th of August, 1765, George Croghan, the most expert of Sir Williamn's deputies, held a grand council at Detroit with the Ottawas, lPottawattanw.es, and Ojilwas. They had been thoroughly humbled by their ill success, and moreover (having aclquired numerous artificial wants since the first advent of the whites among them) they had suffered much from the long suspension of the fur-trade, and were truly desirous for peace, professing their repentance and submission in the most moving terms. A band of Pottawatfttmics from St. Joseph is particularly nlentioned as being present, whose orator, in the course of a speech of submission, said (" Conspiracy of Pontiac," vol. ii. p. 293): "We are no more than wild creatures to you, fathers, in understanding; therefore, we request you to forgive the past follies of our young people, and receive us for your children. Since you have thrown down our former father (the King of France) on his back, we have been wandering in the dark like blind people. Now you have dispersed all this darkness which hung over the heads of the several tribes, and have accepted them for your children, we hope you will let us partake with them the light, that our women and children may enjoy peace. We beg you to forget all that is past. By this belt we remove all evil thoughts from your hearts. Fathers, when we formerly came to ~ p ~~;- ~ I - ~; I ~ 7,: 26 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. visit our fathers, the French, they always sent us home joyful; and we hope you, fathers, will have pity on our women and young men, who are in great want of necessaries, and not let us go to our towns ashamed." Pontiac was present at another council on the 27th of the same month, and also made his submission to the English. In the autumn of that year, too, Fort Chartres, the last French post east of the Mississippi (except in the vicinity of New Orleans), was delivered up to a detachment of British soldiers. The humiliation of France was complete, and the West was at peace. Yet there was still a very bitter feeling existing on the part of the Western Indians toward the English, and traders of that nation frequently dealt in the name of their French employees, on account of the greater friendliness of the savages for that people. Before proceeding with the history of the tribe we have taken under our especial charge, a few words may interest the reader regarding the great chieftain whose skill and eloquence, ferocity and valor had shaken the power of Britain throughout an immense domain, and startled half a continent from its propriety. In the spring of 1706, Pontiac met Sir William Johnson at Oswego, and renewed the compact of peace and friendship already made in the West. He then returned and fixed his home on the Maumee. When new disturbances arose between the settlers and Indians, Pontiac was suspected of inflaming the hostility of the latter. Early in 1769 he went to Illinois, where there was already much uneasiness, and again the suspicions of the English were aroused. According to the account adopted by Parkman, and which is in all probability correct, Pontiac became intoxicated at an Indian feast at Cahokia, near St. Louis. An English trader, seeing his condition, hired a Kaskaskia Indian to murder him, and when the chieftain wandered alone into the forest to cool his heated brain, the assassin stealthily followed and stabbed him to the heart. His followers fled northward and told the tale among the warriors of the lakes, all of whom were eager to avenge the crime. They might endure the supremacy of the powerful English, but their fierce blood boiled at the thought that the scurvy Illinois Indians, whom they had always looked on as their inferiors, should dare to slay their renowned champion. By hundreds, perhaps by thousands, the northern warriors sprang to arms,-Oftawas, Ojibwas, and I'ottawattamies, Delawares, Shawnees, and lialmis,and ere the conflict was concluded the Illinois were almost entirely exterminated. Men, women, and children were indiscriminately slaughtered, their villages were destroyed by fire, and only a few puny and frightened bands remained to tell the story of the great revenge. Pontiac was essentially a representative Indian, with all the mingled virtues and vices of his race in the most marked degree. Brave, ferocious, patriotic, true to his friends, treacherous toward his foes, enduring the severest hardships of war with stoic fortitude, but succumbing at length to the baleful fire-water of the pale-faces, his charac ter may well be studied on the pages of Parkman, as manifesting in a single individual all the most prominent attributes of the Indians of North America. *: 1-:t:,::, *:^: *.| | CHAPTER V. THE POTTAWATTAMIES-(Continued). A Peaceful Era-The Quebec Act-Michigan called " Iesse"-The Revolution-Pott owatt(lmies with Burgoyne-Outrage and Desertion-The Ordinance of 1787-The Treaty of 1789-Defeat of Harmar and St. Clair-" Mad Anthony" on the War-Path-The Battle of the Maumee-Treaty of Greenville-Topenabee, the Head Chief -A "Ring" Scheme-Organization of Indiana and MichiganDivers Treaties-Tecumseh and the Iuttawcatt omies- Battle of Tippecanoe-The War of 1812-Defeat of Major Van Iloin-British and Indians Defeated by Colonel Miller-Hull's Surrender-P ',ttaw tttoamies turn out en masse-Battle and Massacre of the RaisinProctor's Defeat at Lower Sandusky-Battle of Lake Erie-Indians at the Topmast-Battle of the Thames-Submission of the IPottawattfaniice-Concluding Remarks. DOWN to the opening of the Revolutionary war, the Pottawattamnies, like the other lake Indians, dwelt in comparative peace with the white men, though occasional murders on either side kept up the general feeling of uneasiness. The Indians of Michigan occupied a much more independent position than their brethren to the southeast. The Jroquois claimed sovereignty over the whole northwest almost to the Mississippi, by virtue of previous conquests; but while the Delawares and Slh(awnees of Ohio admitted their supremacy, and never attempted to sell land without their consent, the fiercer Ottawas, Ojibwas, and Pottawattamies defied their power, and were able to maintain their own independence. We may mention, too, in passing that, in 1774, the act of Parliament known as the Quebec Act established the boundaries of Canada, so far as to include Michigan, and extend west to the Mississippi, and south to the Ohio. The district of Michigan was established then, or previously, as a part of the province of Quebec, but it had no civil government. The commandant of the post of Detroit exercised almost autocratic power over the white men of the district, while the vast forests of the interior knew no government save the vague authority exercised by Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Pottawattamie chietains. In time, these and their followers became pretty well reconciled to the English, and very strongly impressed with the power of the English king. Four years after the Quebec Act, the Captain-General of Canada divided that province into districts, giving that of Michigan the name of " Hesse," in honor of the Hessian troops then serving King George in America. But the fortunes of war determined that the people of Michigan should not be " Hessians." Meanwhile the oppressions of Britain had roused the colonies to resistance, and in 1775 the bloody dlrama of the Revolution opened on the field of Lexington. With the first news of conflict, the warriors of the West snuffed blood in the air, and were eager to take part in the strife. The English authorities were very willing to employ them, and, having ample means and free communication with the savages, it was easy to enlist both their avarice and their passions on the royal side. It was easy to throw the blame of all the wrongs of which the Indians complained upon the colonists (who were by no means guiltless), and to represent that their great and good father across the ocean was determined to see that justice was done to his red chil HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 27 dren. An ample array of presents enforced this reasoning, and fully enlisted the sympathies of the red men. Yet, although a few small bands were employed during 1775 and 1776, no considerable body of Indians took the war-path in behalf of the British during either of those years. Doubtless the invasion of Canada by the Americans, who for a while carried everything before them, tended to repress the enthusiasm of the prudent aborigines. But in 1776 the Americans were driven out of Canada, and in the fall of that year an army began to be gathered in that province, designed to attack them by way of Lake Chainplain. In the early spring of 1777 great efforts were made to collect a large auxiliary force of savages. No one who knew anything of Indian character could have expected them to be of much benefit in open fighting, such as is usually carried on between civilized armies. It was supposed, however, that they would be useful in cutting off small parties, pickets, outposts, etc., and performing similar work. Moreover, it is plain from the proclamations of British commanders that, although they may have hesitated to actually hire the Indians to scalp American women and children (as our fithers believed they did), yet they relied largely on the terror with which the prospect of wide-spread Indian ravages would naturally inspire the people. To the chiefs and warriors they sometimes said, " You must only slay men in arms against us, not prisoners, nor women, nor children;" but to the Americans on the fiontier they always said, in language more or less plain, " If you do not submit we shall be unable to restrain our Indians, and then you know what will happen." As the war went on, the passions of the English officers were inflamed by defeat; they became less and less particular as to restraining their Indians, and at length coolly tolerated the most atrocious crimes. It was arranged that the Six Nations should accompany Gen. St. Leger in his attack upon the Mohawk Valley, while the Western Indians were to be assembled near Montreal and join the main army of Lieut.-Gen. Burgoyne. Large amounts were expended in gathering these warriors, and ere long band after band made its way eastward. There were our old acquaintances, the Pottawattamies, Ottawas, and Chippewas, of Michigan; MTinnebagoes, Menomonees, Sacs and Foxes, from the territory now called Wisconsin and even a few Sioux from the western side of the " Father of Waters,-all painted and plumed for war, and thirsting for the blood of the " Boston men," as they called the Americans. Notwithstanding the money employed and trouble taken, only about five or six hundred were brought together by the 1st of July, 1777. These joined Burgoyne's army at the head of Lake Champlain, about the tenth of that month. The warriors of each tribe had their own chiefs, but they were all under the direction of St. Luc la Come de St. Luc, a Canadian partisan, who had frequently led Indians to deeds of blood for the French in the old wars, and had now offered his services to the English. Another French Canadian leader of the Indians was Charles de Langlade, before mentioned as having taken part in the defeat of Braddock. The Americans were terribly frightened at their approach, and thousands fled to the interior of the country, solely from fear of the Indians. These took part in some operations around Skenesboro', now Whitehall, but were pretty closely watched by the British officers. When, in the latter part of July, Burgoyne's army began its advance towards the Hudson, the Indians thought their time had cone. They spread out on both flanks, plundering the people who remained, burning houses, and occasionally, when there was a good opportunity, slaughtering a whole family. They were much more anxious about the number of scalps they could obtain than about the politics of the leads which wore them, and some Tory families who had remained, relying on their loyalty, were butchered to the youngest child by these devoted champions of King George. On the 27th of July occurred the celebrated tragedy of Jane McCrea, in which a young girl was slain and scalped by a band of Indians who were taking her to the British camp. According to the common account, her lover, who was a Tory officer, had sent these strange ambassadors to bring Miss McCrea to camp, where he intended to marry her; they quarreled on the road about the reward, and to settle the difficulty slew their unhappy charge and divided the scalp. One account of the affair says the murderers were Pottawattamies, and we must confess that the act was entirely in accordance with their previous character. The mingled romance and tragedy of this sad event attracted universal attention and cast the deepest odium on the British. Burgoyne arrested the murderer, but released him on a promise from the Indians that if he were pardoned they would behave better in the future. He reprimanded them with great severity, and really seems to have set so a close watch on them that the more atrocious kind of outrages were prevented during the remainder of the campaign. But our Pottawatta(tie and Ottawa friends took great umbrage at these restrictions. A canpaign with no scalps or plunder was not at all to their taste, and their leader, La Corne de St. Luc, encouraged their complaints. Many deserted and made their ways in small bands to the wilds of Michigan. About a hundred and fifty of those who remained were sent with the Hessian troops to Bennington, and shared the severe defeat inflicted by the Americans at that celebrated battle, thirty or forty of them being killed or captured. Their brethren were very indignant against Burgoyne for not sending reinforcements in time. Band after band deserted, and finally, at a general council, nearly all of them demanded permission to return. Burgoyne used every inducement he could to persuade them to remain, and they apparently yielded to his solicitations, but the very next day a large number of them left, and they continued to desert until scarcely one remained. This, we believe, was the last time that any considerable number of Pottawattamies or other Michigan Indians were employed by the British during the Revolution, though perhaps a few were afterwards kept in pay along the northern border of New York. After 1777, too, the English authorities no longer tried to use Indians as auxiliaries to regular troops. They fitted out bands of the Six Nations, and allowed them to ravage the frontiers at will. At the close of the Revolution the treaty of peace gave 288 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Michigan to the United States, but England still continued to hold Detroit and the other posts of the Northwest, and all the Indians of this section were still under their influence. In 1787 the old Continental Congress passed an ordinance, soon after confirmed by the Federal Congress, constituting Michigan a part of the great Northwest Territory, which extended from the Ohio River to the Canadian boundary, and fiom Pennsylvania to the Mississippi. Yet still the British held possession of the frontier forts; still the Ottawas, Pottawattamies, and Shawnees looked up to the British officers as the representatives of their great father beyond the sea, who was the embodiment of all terrestrial power and wisdom. In 1789 the Pottfawttfamies and other Michigan tribes were represented by their principal chiefs in a great council held by Gen. St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, on the Muskingum River, in the present State of Ohio, where they made a treaty of peace with the United States. None the less they still hated the Americans, and, as the latter believed, were encouraged in this feeling by the British officials. And when, a little later, two American armies, under Gens. Harmar and St. Clair, were successively defeated by the Shawnees, Delawares, and other tribes of what is now Ohio and Indiana, the Pottawattamies and Ottawas lost what little respect they might previously have had for the new Republic, and were quite ready to go upon the war-path against it. They soon had an opportunity. In 1794, Gen. Wayne, familiarly known as " Mad Anthony," led a small but wellappointed army into the wilderness of Western Ohio, to chastise the red men in their native fastnesses. Lithe messengers sped with flying feet to all the tribes of the Northwest, and in a short time bands of painted Potfawattamies and Ottawas, well equipped with guns and ammunition obtained at the British posts, were on their way to join their Shawnee and Miami brethren in destroying the presumptuous Yankee. The clans gathered rapidly in the northwestern part of the present State of Ohio, under the leadership of the celebrated Miami chieftain, Little Turtle, and for a while contented themselves with watching Wayne's approach, in the hope of surprising him. But Anthony Wayne was not the man to be surprised, and at length Little Turtle and his chiefs determined to attack him. When the army had moved about five miles southward from the head of the rapids of the Maumee, the whole great horde of Miamis, Delawares, Shawnees, Ch/ippewas, Ottawas, and Pottawattamies, two thousand strong (including about seventy white men, mostly from Detroit), advanced against the Americans. But Wayne was well prepared, and after a brief but well-contested battle the Indians gave way at every point, and fled in utter rout from the field. Many were left dead on the ground, and beside every one was found a musket, with bayonet and equipments from a British armory, showing but too plainly one of the chief sources of their hostility. A trader who not long afterwards met a Miami who had fled before the terrible onslaught of Wayne's soldiers, said to him, "What made you run away?" With gestures corresponding to his words, and endeavoring to represent the effect of the cannon, he replied, "Pop, pop, pop,-boo, woo, woo,-wis, whis whish, boo, woo,-kill twenty Indians one time,-no good, by dam!" As had so often been the case before, as soon as defeated the various bands hurried away to their respective villages. In a short time the Pottawattamie warriors were pursuing their customary avocations along the banks of the St. Joseph. But they were deeply impressed both with Wayne's vigor and the strength of the United States, and began seriously to think that all the power in the world was not embraced within the walls of the British forts. When, soon afterwards, Wayne sent messengers summoning the chiefs to council, they were very willing to respond. The principal men of the Mianmis, Delawlares, Shawnees, Chippewas, Ottawas, and Pottawattarnics met the general at Fort Greenville, and concluded a treaty of peace and friendship with the United States, which was quite faithfully observed for over fifteen years. The Shawnees and others made a large cession of land in Ohio to the government, but the Michigan Indians were still left in undisturbed possession of their old hunting-grounds. The treaty was signed on the part of the Miamis and Shiawnees by Little Turtle and Blue Jacket, who were both leaders in the battle against Wayne. On the part of the 'ottawattamies there appeared the name and mark of " Topinabi," their head chief, who was also probably, but not certainly, in the same combat, and who was recognized as head chief of that tribe until his death, forty years later. It is evident from the treaty that the Pottawattamies were ranked among the more important tribes, as they received a thousand dollars as gratuities, which was the amount awarded to the Mlianmis, the Delawares, the Shlwnees, the Chippewas, and the Ottawas respectively, while the Kickapoos and other tribes received only five hundred dollars each. When the time came for signing the treaty, it was twice read and every section explained by Gen. Wayne, through an interpreter, to the assembled chiefs and warriors. Then he said," You Chippewas, do you approve of these articles of treaty, and are you prepared to sign them?" A unanimous " yes," was the response. " And you Ottawas, do you approve of these articles of treaty, and are you prepared to sign them?" Again a unanimous affirmative. "And you Pottawattamies, do you approve of these articles of treaty, and are you prepared to sign them?" "Yes, yes, treaty good," said or grunted all the dark warriors of Southern Michigan. After obtaining similar responses from the other tribes, the treaty was considered to be approved and the work of signing concluded the negotiations. lTp to this time no attempt had been made either by the government or by private individuals to obtain title to any of the land of Michigan, except in the case of the few settlers around Detroit. But in 1795 an effort was made by what would now be called a " ring" to obtain some twenty million acres, situated between Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan. One Robert Randall, of Pennsylvania, Charles Whitney, of Vermont, and some Detroit merchants formed a company, dividing the lands they expected to obtain, and which included Hillsdale County, into forty-one shares, of HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 29 from half a million to a million acres each. Of these shares, five were to go to the Detroiters, six to Randall and his associates, while the very liberal proportion of thirty shares was to be assigned to members of Congress, in return for their assistance in securing the passage of the necessary laws. The part assigned to the Detroit men was to procure the needful treaties granting the lands to them, which they thought they could obtain by their influence over the Pottawattamie and Ottawa chiefs, with whom they were in the habit of trading. Thus it will be seen that some very illegitimate schemes were concocted even in the "good old times" eighty years ago. It must be admitted, however, that this one was not as successful as some later ones have been, for it was thoroughly exposed, and some of the parties were brought before Congress and fined. In 1796 the British, after long negotiations, surrendered Detroit and the other posts in the West, and then, and not till then, did the Americans obtain any real power over Michigan. The same year Governor St. Clair formed by proclamation the county of Wayne, which extended from the Cuyahoga River in Ohio to the Mississippi, and northward to Lake Superior. This was the first county which included the present territory of Hillsdale within its limits, but its jurisdiction here was entirely nominal, and the Pottawattamne chiefs still continued the magnates of this region. The Pottawa ttamies were always a warlike tribe, and although awed into peace with the United States were much engaged in hostilities with other tribes, especially with the Shawnees, who lived to the southward. Many interesting legends regarding these tribes near the close of the last century are related by Judge Littlejohn in his work entitled "Legends of Michigan and the old Northwest." The admixture of the romantic, however, is so great that we could hardly give them a place in our sober history. This county in rapid succession passed through several changes of jurisdiction at this period, all merely nominal, and in nowise interfering with the supremacy of the aboriginal lords of the soil. In 1800 the Territory of Indiana was formed fiom the Northwest Territory. The east line of the new Territory was the same as that of the present State of Indiana, but it was continued northward through the present State of Michigan to the Strait of Mackinaw. The present county of Hillsdale was thus left in the Northwest Territory, except a strip a mile wide on the west side of the townships of Camden, Reading, Allen, and Litchfield, which was in Indiana. In 1802 the State of Ohio was formed, at which time the eastern part of the present Michigan was also annexed to Indiana. In February, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was organized, with Gen. William Hull as the first Governor, and thus the ancient lands of the Pottawattamies became a portion of a Territory destined to become one of the great and powerful States of the American Union. In 1807 a treaty was made by Gen. Hull on the part of the United States with the Ottawas, Pottawattamies, Chip pewas, and Wyandots, by which those tribes ceded to the government their claim to all'the land east of a line drawn north from the mouth of the Auglaise River (which empties into the Maumee at Defiance, Ohio), to a point near the present south line of Michigan. This north and south line was afterwards extended and made the principal meridian for the government surveys in Michigan, finally becoming the line between Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties. Several other treaties were made with the Pottawattamies and other tribes between 1800 and 1810. Most of them were of little importance, though several provided for the payment of annuities and goods of the United States to the Indians. Nearly every treaty was headed by the name of Topenabee (sometimes spelled " Tuthinepee" or " Topenipee"), who was always recognized as the head chief of the tribe. Two or three years later the Pottawattamies again began to grow restless and hostile towards the people of the United States. The Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, a forest hero of as great ability as Pontiac, though less ferocious in disposition, had, like him, conceived the idea of stopping the advancing war of emigration, which seemed likely ere long to overwhelm the original inhabitants of the land, or drive them into unknown deserts far beyond the Father of Waters. Like Pontiac, he too hoped for foreign assistance; but the hatred felt for the English by the great Ottawa had been changed to love and admiration in the heart of his modern imitator. The reason is plain. In Pontiac's time the English were one nation with the Americans, and together they were the great colonizing, emigrating people of the world. Pontiac hated them, largely because they wanted land, and preferred the French, not only on account of their pleasant ways but because they were poor colonizers, and did not want much land. In Tecumseh's day the Americans were the ones who threatened to overwhelm the Indians by emigration; while the English, confined to a narrow belt of habitable land in Canada, appeared far less dangerous. Tecumseh knew that there were difficulties between the United States and Great Britain which portended war; and it is believed by many that he was directly encouraged by the British officials to engage in hostilities against the Americans. However that nay be, about the year 1810 the brave and eloquent Shawznee made desperate efforts to form an alliance against the Americans of all the Indian tribes from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Superior, and from the frontier settlements of the whites to or beyond the Mississippi. From tribe to tribe he made his rapid way, gathering the chiefs and warriors in council, kindling their passions by fierce invectives against the Americans, exciting their hopes by portraying the scalps and booty to be obtained from the hated pale-faces, and quelling their fears by promising them the protection of their father, the king of Great Britain, who was ready to join hands with his red children in punishing the insolence of the Yankees. The Pottawattamies were quite ready to believe the flattering story, and they, like all Indians who live in the vicinity of the whites, had had more or less difficulty with them, which they were glad to avenge in the bloodiest manner. But the Indian policy was not deep enough to keep the warriors quiet until all was ready for a deadly blow. Their restive spirits showed themselves by frequent outrages, the 30 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. whites retaliated, and the Americans could not help seeing that they must prepare for an Indian war. In the fall of 1811, Gen. William H. Harrison, Governor of Indiana, took the field to chastise the unruly warriors. Tecumseh had been greatly aided in his efforts to form an Indian confederacy by his brother Elkswatawa, a prominent ' medicine-man," commonly known as the Prophet. At the time when Harrison's army approached the Shawnee villages on the Wabash, the chieftain himself was in the far South, endeavoring to persuade the Cherokees, Choctaws, and other Southern Indians to take up arms, and Elkswatawa was left to exercise supreme authority. Either thinking there was no time to spare, or desiring to acquire for himself the glory of defeating Harrison, Elkswatawa prepared to make an attack on the Governor's army with all the warriors he could collect together. Messengers were sent to the nearest tribes, and several small bands came in to help the Shawnees. The dread of the Americans, caused by Wayne's victory, was, however, not yet entirely dissipated, and many hung back. But about the first of November he was cheered by the arrival of band after band of the fierce Pottawattamies, some from the head of Lake Michigan, and some from the valley of the St. Joseph, numbering in all about three hundred warriors. Having this powerful accession to his force, he determined at once to attack. Before daybreak on the morning of the 7th of November, just as Harrison had given orders for the arousing of his little army by the sound of the trumpet, a fierce outburst of yells was heard, and hundreds upon hundreds of Shawnee and Pottawattamie warriors, with some from other tribes, came rushing to the attack, lighting up the darkness with the fire of their guns, and stripping the scalps from whatever victims they could reach with all of their old-time energy. But Harrison's men were sleeping upon their arms, and scarcely had the first demoniac shrieks sounded in their ears ere they were on their feet, ranged in order of battle, and returning with steady aim the fire of the assailants. For two or three hours the battle raged with great violence; both Shawnees and Pottawattamies fought with furious energy, and many of the Americans were slain or wounded. But at length the steady valor of the regulars and the Indiana militia prevailed over the fierce desperation of the Indians, and the latter gave way at all points. They speedily fled the field, and Harrison marched unopposed to the destruction of the Shawnee villages. After the battle the Pottawattanmie warriors returned to their own homes, and these were so far distant that they escaped all punishment for the part they had taken. If there had been any intention on the part of the American officials to follow them to their retreats and chastise them the next spring, the former were effectually precluded from doing so by the approach of war with Great Britain. In June, 1812, war was declared, and Tecumseh at once made common cause with the English, with all the warriors of his own and other tribes whom he could persuade to follow him. The Pottawattamies had not been so severely injured by the battle of Tippecanoe, but that some of their braves were still willing to try the chances of war against the hated Americans. When Gen. Hull crossed the Detroit River into Canada in July of that year, Tecunseh, with thirty Shawnees and Pottawattamies, was at Malden. Others were added to these, and when Hull, by his tardy movements and feeble conduct, showed the weakness of his heart, the number was largely increased. The Pottawattamies, being nearly or quite the nearest tribe to the scene of action, and being anxious for revenge for their humiliation at Tippecanoe, formed a considerable part of Tecumseh's force. About the 5th of August, Hull sent Major Van Horn with two hundred men to escort a convoy of provisions from the river Raisin. As the detachment approached Brownstown Creek it was saluted by volleys of musketry, and the usual terrific accompaniment of savage yells which announced the presence of an Indian foe. Tecumseh with a large number of warriors, principally Shawlees. Pottawattamies, and Ottawas, had placed his people in ambush on Van Horn's path, and had assailed him with the greatest fury. After a brief conflict the Americans were utterly defeated, and fled to Detroit, having lost half their number in killed, wounded, and missing. This victory of Tecumseh and his followers determined Hull to evacuate Canada. After doing so the general sent another force of six hundred men, under Lieut.-Col. Miller, to open the road to the convoy at the river Raisin. Again Tecumseh and his warriors flung themselves in the pathway of the advancing Americans, this time being assisted by a large body of British troops. A battle ensued at Maguaga, twelve miles below Detroit, where Miller found the enemy, both British and Indians, drawn up in line of battle to meet him. He attacked them without hesitation. After a brief conflict the English fled from the field, but Tecumseh, with his Shawnees and Pottawattamies, still kept up the fight. These, too, were at length defeated, and both white men and red men fled across the river to Canada, having lost a hundred and thirty-four in killed and wounded. The Americans had seventeen killed and sixty-four wounded. Notwithstanding this check, Tecumseh still maintained his control over his warriors, and when the British commander, Gen. Brock, followed the imbecile Hull to Detroit, he reported to his government, and no doubt correctly, that he was accompanied by seven hundred Indians. At all events, there were enough to terrify the feeble Hull to an extraordinary degree, and his mind was filled with terrible visions of all the " hordes of the Northwest '-Shawnees, Ottawas, Pottawattamnies, and Chi7ppewas-overwhelming his fort, massacring himself and his garrison, and devastating the settlements of Michigan with tomahawk and scalping-knife. Of the disgraceful surrender which followed on the 16th of August it is needless to speak here, save to say that all attempts to justify or extenuate it have miserably failed, and the name of the cowardly Hull must ever remain on the pages of American history only less hateful than that of Arnold, and even more contemptible. As Mackinaw had already yielded to a British force, the surrender of Detroit and of Hull's army, with all the troops in the vicinity, carried with it control over the whole of Michigan, which, for the next year, became practically British territory. All the'Indians were already favorable to the English, and the remarkable success of the HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 31.... _. latter naturally increased the confidence of the red men in their prowess. The warriors thronged by hundreds to the camp of the victors, and hardly a Pottawattamie or Ottawa capable of wielding a tomahawk was left behind. Nine days after the surrender, and perhaps in consequence of it, a band of Pottawattamies, who resided at the head of Lake Michigan, fell upon, and massacred, the little garrison of Fort Dearborn (on the site of Chicago), as it was endeavoring to retreat eastward from that exposed post. The next conflict in which the Pottawattamries took part was the celebrated battle of the river Raisin, near the site of Monroe, on the 22d day of January, 1813. Here a large force of British and Indians, under GenProctor and Tecumseh, attacked a body of Americans under Gen. Winchester. Auchinleck, the Canadian historian of the war of 1812, says there were two hundred Pottawattamies in the battle, and that these were about all the Indians present. It is admitted that they fought with great bravery, and their efforts, with those of their British comrades, were entirely successful. Whether fiom actual necessity, or because of the pall of imbecility which seems to have fallen upon the whole American army during the first months of the war of 1812, Gen. Winchester and his entire force surrendered to Gen. Proctor. That officer soon after moved northward with the British troops, and most of the able-bodied prisoners, leaving the sick and wounded to the mercy of the Indians. Ile knew well enough what the result would be-what it always has been where the savages have had the opportunity of wreaking vengeance on the head of a helpless foe. No sooner had the British disappeared than the Pottawattanies, and the other Indians with them, fell upon the wretched Americans who were left behind. They began by plundering them of everything they possessed. Then, as their rage grew by its own indulgence, they thirsted for more exquisite pleasure than plunder afforded. First one ferocious warrior sank his tomahawk into the head of some helpless victim, and, with a fearful yell, tore away the reeking scalp. Another, and another, and another, quickly followed his example, and soon the whole scene became one of brutal butchery, the sick and wounded Americans being slaughtered by the score without remorse by the savage Pottawattamies. It was what was to be expected from them, but something better might have been hoped from British officers, and few more disgraceful events have ever happened than Proctor's abandonment of his helpless prisoners to the fury of the savages. It should be added that Tecumseh was absent when the massacre began, and on his arrival did all in his power to stop it. There were no other events of importance in which the Pottawattamies took part during that year, 1812, and as usual they returned home to hunt as winter approached. In the spring of 1813, they again rallied to the aid of the British. After numerous desultory operations during the forepart of the year, Proctor and Tecumseh led a large force of British and Indians to attack the fort at Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio. The number of Indians was estimated at from one to two thousand, of whom from three to four hundred were Pottawattamies. On the 2d of August, an assault was made by about five hundred British troops, while the Indians surrounded the fort, and kept up a continuous firing on every American soldier they could discover. But the attacking column was completely repulsed by the one hundred and sixty Americans in the fort, commanded by the gallant Maj. Croghan, and both the red and white assailants quickly retired from the field. The British and American fleets on Lake Erie were now preparing for action, and both were greatly deficient in seamen. The Americans supplied their place with raw militiamen, boys, and negroes: the English endeavored to strengthen themselves by placing a number of Indian warriors on each vessel, to act as sharpshooters and pick off the American gunners. On the memorable 10th of September the battle was fought which decided the mastery of Lake Erie. But alas for the noble red men; no sooner did the American cannon-balls come crashing among them, and the ships shake from stem to stern with the thunder of their own guns, than Shawnees, Pottawattamies, and Ottazwas alike fled from their elevated positions, took refuge in the holds of their respective vessels, and there remained in ignominious security but quaking in every nerve until the end of the conflict. They would have fought bravely, perhaps desperately, in their native woods, but their unaccustomed position and the terrific thunder of the cannon were too much even for their stoic natures. The battle of Lake Erie was immediately followed by the advance of the American army into Canada, under Gen. Harrison. The British and Indians retreated to the northeast. On the 29th of September, Gen. Harrison took possession of Detroit, and Michigan once moreand let us trust forever-passed under American sway. For, two or three days later, Harrison followed the British army up the river Thames. On the 5th day of October he overtook it near the Moravian towns on that stream, and the celebrated battle of the Thames ensued. The British were in line of battle next the river; on their right were the Indians, under Tecumseh, extending in irregular order into a swamp which protected their position on the north. Tecumseh doubtless saw that this battle was to determine the event of the war so far as he and his were concerned. If the Americans could not be defeated, then, whatever might be the result elsewhere, there could be little hope but that the United States would hold possession of Michigan and the whole Northwest, and his people must go down before their power. Many of the more intelligent Shawnees and Pottawattamies likewise understood the situation, and the rest were devoted to Tecumseh; all were determined to fight to the utmost. The battle was begun in a very peculiar manner, Col. Richard M. Johnson's regiment of mounted riflemen being ordered to charge the enemy's lines, in advance of the infantry. Singularly enough, the British infantry at once gave way before the charge of a single battalion of the regiment, led by the lieutenant-colonel. Six hundred of them were taken prisoners, but their general, the man responsible for the massacre of the river Raisin, fled so early and so rapidly as to escape capture. The other battalion was led by Col. Johnson himself, 32 E [ISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. his principal foes being the Indians. From them, even after the British had all fled or surrendered, the riflemen encountered a fierce resistance. Cheered on by Tecumseh and the other chiefs, among whom Maipock, a fierce and implacable Pottawattamie, was one of the most conspicuous, and feeling that this was their last chance, Shawnees, Ottawas, and Pottawattamies all fought with equal valor and ferocity. The American infantry came up and engaged in the conflict, yet still the warriors fought with desperate and useless courage against overwhelming numbers. But at length Tecumseh fell (no one has ever ascertained exactly when or where), the remaining braves were outnumbered four to one, and all speedily fled or yielded to the victors. The Pottawattamies stood by Tecumseh to the last, and one of their number, a large, fine-looking chief, who was slain while emulating his great leader, is said to have been mistaken for him by many of the Americans. The battle of the Thames completely extinguished the hopes of victory and independence indulged by the Indians of the Northwest. The confederacy which had been formed among them by the genius of Tecumseh at once fell in pieces after his death, and each tribe thought only of securing its own safety. The Pottawattamies, Ottawas, and several other tribes immediately sent delegations offering peace to the successful Americans, and on the 16th of October Gen. Harrison granted them an armistice, having first received a number of warriors fionm each tribe as hostages for the peaceable conduct of their comrades. The latter returned to their villages, and, although the war did not cease until the beginning of 1815, they were glad to refrain from taking any part in it. Henceforth we have to deal with the Pottawattamies, not as a proud and powerful people, the unquestioned lords of Southern Michigan, setting at defiance by turns the governments of England and the United States, but as a subjugated, disorganized tribe, composed of a few feeble, scattered bands, roaming over the scenes of their former greatness, bartering their birthright for whisky, and begging for occasional crusts from the hands of their conquerors. For these it will not be necessary to continue a separate record. Their story can be sufficiently told by occasional mention in the chapters devoted to the progress of the whites, and by description of the treaties by which the demoralized nation disposed of its broad domain. CHAPTER VI. THE ERA OF PREPARATION. Recapitulation-Desolation after the War-Gen. Cass GovernorTreaty of 1817-Treaty of 1818-The great Chicago Treaty-An honest Murderer-" Give us Whisky"-Transfer of Southern Michigan to the United States-Boundary of the deeded Tract-Reservations and Gifts-List of Signers-Baw Beese and his Band-A Tragedy at Jonesville-Migratory Habits-Settlement of Lenawee County-Surveying the Chicago Road-Prospecting-Parties-Approach of Settlement. DESIGNING in this consecutive general history of the county to adhere as closely as possible to the chronological order, we have mentioned, in our chapters on the Pottawattamies, the transfer of Michigan from the French t' the English, in 1703; its conveyance by England to the United States, at the end of the Revolution; its becoming a part of the Northwest Territory, in 1787; its transference to Indiana, in 1802; and its separate organization, in 1805. At the close of the war, in 1815, there was still only a narrow fringe of settlement along the Detroit River and Lake Erie, and this was in a most desolate condition. Many had been driven away by fear of the Indians, the property of others had been largely destroyed, and all were thoroughly discouraged by the trouble, terror, and hardships through which they had passed. As for the exterior of the Territory, it was still in a state of nature. Gen. Lewis Cass had been appointed Governor immediately after the battle of the Thames, and as soon as the close of the war gave him an opportunity he devoted himself with great zeal to the development of the resources of the Territory and the promotion of emigration. Whatever may be thought of his political course, all the early residents of Michigan agree that as the Governor of a new Territory he could not have been excelled. There was a considerable emigration immediately after the war, but the Territory had obtained so bad a reputation for dampness of soil and badness of health that the flow of land-seekers was less than might have been expected, and did not even approach the borders of Hillsdale County for many years. In fact, a law which had been passed by Congress in 1812, giving a large tract of Michigan land to surviving soldiers of the Revolution, was repealed after the war on account of a report made by inspectors sent to examine the ground, that there was not enough good land in the Territory to satisfy the just claims of the beneficiaries. Together with the office of Governor of Michigan, Gen. Cass held that of Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Northwest, and immediately after the close of the war turned his attention to the subject of the extinguishment of the Indian title, so that the Territory might be open to settlement by the whites. In September, 1817, he and Gen. Duncan McArthur held a council with the sachems and chiefs of the Wyandots, Senecas, Delawares, Shawnees, Pottawattamies, Ottawas, and ChIippewas, at the rapids of the Maumee, when those nations ceded to the United States nearly all their lands in Ohio, and a small area in the southeastern part of Michigan. For the cession of these lands, in which the Pottawattamies had but a slight interest, they received thirteen hundred dollars a year annually for fifteen years; the Wyandots being granted four thousand dollars annually forever; the Ottawas and Chippewas a thousand dollars each annually for fifteen years, while the other tribes received smaller annuities. The treaty was signed by thirty-two Pottawattamie chiefs and warriors, while all the other tribes together were represented by about fifty. In fact, it was a characteristic of this tribe to have a very large delegation at all the councils where their interests were brought in question. Judging from the number of their representatives, they were the most democratic people in the whole Northwest. In October, 1818, Gen. Cass and two other commis sioners held a council with the Pottawattamies alone, by which the latter ceded to the United States a tract of land on the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers for a perpetual an HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 33 -.. nuity of two thousand five hundred dollars per year. This treaty was signed by thirty-four chiefs and warriors, headed by old " Topinabee." In 1820, Henry R. Schoolcraft, the celebrated student of Indian customs and history, states that the Pottawattamies of both Illinois and Michigan "obeyed" Topinabee, an old man who had signed the Greenville treaty with Gen. Wayne. But the " obedience" of the Indians to their chiefs was always very indefinite, and after the close of the war of 1812, when the growing power of the United States relieved them from the constant fear of war with neighboring tribes, their tendency to wander off in small bands, each under the leadership of some petty chieftain, became more and more pronounced. In 1820 the Pottawattamies were estimated by Mr. Schoolcraft at three thousand four hundred persons all told. But by far the most important of the treaties negotiated by Gen. Cass, so far as the destinies of Southern Michigan were concerned, was the one concluded at Chicago on the 29th day of August, 1821. Hon. Solomon Sibley was associated with the general as a commissioner on behalf of the United States, while the Chippewas, Ottawas, and Pottawattamnes, who were the contracting parties on the other side, were represented, the first named tribe by two chiefs, the second by eight, and the Pottawattamies by fifty-five. That is to say, that was the number which signed the treaty, but there was also a large number of less prominent warriors present, with their squaws and pappooses, and these warriors, and even the squaws, in the democratic constitution of Indian polity, could exercise a strong influence on the negotiations. A curious incident in connection with this council is narrated in Smith's " Life of Cass," as derived fromn the general himself. While the latter was watching some peculiar ceremonies of the Indians in the early part of the proceedings, he observed a Chippewa looking very grave, and keeping apart from his fellows. Gov. Cass inquired the cause, and learned that the man, in a fit of passion, had killed a Pottawattanmie in the early part of the same season. The Pottawattamies had demanded the surrender of the murderer, and as the Chippewas, and in fact the homicide himself, admitted the justice of the claim, it was expected that the clansmen of the murdered man would inflict the penalty of death. But the latter was owing some traders for goods received of them, and he was anxious to pay them before he died. He solicited and obtained the postponement of his execution until he could, by hunting, procure the means of satisfying his creditors. HIe had hunted successfully through the season, had obtained furs enough to pay his debts, and had come to the council prepared to suffer death at the hands of the friends of his victim. The Governor was touched by the stolid honesty of the doomed man, and by liberal presents to his intended executioners persuaded them to let him go free. Probably an ample supply of whisky was the principal consideration which induced them to forego their revenge; for this was ever the most potent agent to reach their hearts. It is related, on the same authority above given, that even Topinabee, the hereditary chief of the Pottawattamies and the one who stood highest in their confidence, the veteran 5 of nearly a hundred years who had signed the Greenville treaty with Anthony Wayne, was more anxious about obtaining a supply of whisky than anything else. When Gen. Cass urged him to keep sober so as to make a good bargain for himself and his people, he replied: " Father, we do not care for the land, nor the money, nor the goods-what we want is whisky; give us whisky." Possibly, however, the old man spoke sarcastically, in view of the manifest anxiety of many of the Indians for that which was their deadliest bane. After the usual time spent in bargaining and adjusting details (for the Indians were by no means all of them so drunk as to lose sight of their interests), the terms of the treaty were agreed upon and reduced to writing. By it the Pottawattamies as the actual occupants, and the Ottawas and Chlppewas as their allies, ceded to the United States a tract of land stretching nearly across the Territory of Michigan from west to east, and described as follows: Beginning on the south bank of the St. Joseph River of Michigan near " Pare aux Vaches" (a short distance above the mouth); thence south to a line running due east from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan; thence along that line to the tract ceded by the treaty of Fort Meigs in 1817 (which was far to the east of Hillsdale County), or, if that tract should be found to lie entirely south of the line, then to the tract ceded by the treaty of Detroit in 1807 (the western boundary of which was twenty miles west of Lake Erie and the Detroit River); thence northward along that tract to a point due east of the source of Grand River; thence west to the source of that river; thence down the river on the north bank to its junction with Lake Michigan; thence southward along the east bank of the lake to the mouth of the St. Joseph River; and thence up that river to the place of beginning. From the tract thus ceded five reservations were excepted, none of which were in Hillsdale County, unless, possibly, one of three miles square might have been partly within it. It was described as situated at the village of ' Match-e-be-nash-c-wish," at the head of the "'Kekalamazoo" River.* Numerous grants of small tracts were also made by the treaty to individuals who were favorites of the Indians, usually either half-bloods or white men married to squaws. These were in the counties west of Hillsdale. In consideration of this cession, the United States agreed to pay the Ottawas a thousand dollars a year forever, besides fifteen hundred dollars a year for fifteen years, to support a blacksmith, teacher, and farmer. To the Pottawattanties the government agreed to pay five thousand dollars annually for twenty years, besides a thousand dollars per year to support a blacksmith and teacher. These were some of the first provisions made by the government for the purpose of civilizing the Indians. Such was the treaty which gave the title of the land of Hillsdale County to the United States, and, consequently, constitutes the basis of all the land-titles in that county.: This is rather an indefinite expression, as the" Kekalamazoo" River, now called the Kalamazoo, has several head-water branches, and as the Indians retained the rtservation but a short time, the earliest settlers have no recollection of it. It was probably in Jackson County. 34 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The southern line of the ceded tract was originally claimed by Michigan as being the southern line of the county, but in the contention with Ohio, fourteen or fifteen years after the making of the treaty of Chicago,-of which mention will be made farther on,-the county and State boundary was located two or three miles north of the treaty line. As the Grand River heads in the northeast corner of this county, a small fraction of Somerset township may have been left out of the cession, as the line runs west to the source of Grand River, and thence down that stream to the lake; but as the land north of the line was also ceded soon after, it made no practical difference. Below we give the names of the Pottawattamie chiefs and warriors who signed the treaty of Chicago, both to show the original title of Hillsdale County land (for the Ottawas and Chippewas were merely allies of the real owners,-at least so far as the land in this vicinity was concerned), and also to show what sort of names our predecessors indulged in. The list is headed by the veteran Topenibee, after whom came the following: Meteay, Chebonsee, Loinson, Weesaw, Keepotaw, Schayank, Keebee, Schomang, Wawwemickemack, Nayoncheemon, Kongee, Sheeshawgau, Ayshcam, Meeksayimank, Moytenway, Shawwennemetay, Francois, Mauksee, Waymego, Maudauming, Quayguee, Aapenhawbee, Matchaweeyaas, Matchapoggish, Mongau, Puggagaus, Sescobennish, Cheegwamackgwago, Wawsebbau, Peecheeco, Quonquoitaw, Reannish, Wynemaig, Onmuckemeck, Kawaysin, Ameckkose, Osseemeet, Shawkoto, Noshayweequat, Meegunn, Maesheketeumon, Keenotoge, Wabawneshen, Shawwawnayse, Atchweemuckquee, Pishsheebangay, Wawbassay, Meggesseese, Saygawkoomick, Shawwayno, Sheeshawgun, Totomee. Ashkuwee, Shayankkeebee, Awbetonee. If that array of names doesn't give a good title to land it were difficult to find one that would. It will be observed that " Baw Beese," who is supposed by many to have been the head chief of the Pottawattamnies, or at least one of the principal chiefs, does not appear as one of the signers of the treaty, even in a minor capacity. He might, however, have been absent for other good reasons-not from insignificance. It was shortly after the signing of the Chicago treaty that we first hear of Baw Beese's band in Hillsdale County, though this had probably been their headquarters for sonme time before. It was in connection with an event of a most tragic nature that the band first comes into the light of local history. 'he story was told to the early settlers by the Indians, and the locality of the tragedy pointed out, but the natives were not good at keeping count of years, and the precise date is unknown. Some time, however, between 1820 and 1825, an Indian who belonged to the band discovered that his squaw was unfaithful to him. He proved his grievance to the satisfaction of the band, and they decided that the offender must die. She was accordingly taken to a point in the south part of the present village of Jonesville, and there in presence of the assembled band was shot to death by the executioners selected for the purpose. Thenieforth the whites, who soon began traveling and prosectinlg within the territory of Hillsdale County, were constanly: eing some of Baw Beese's band, and not un frequently met the chieftain himself. The band numbered about a hundred and fifty all told, men, women, and children. They could hardly be said to have any settled headquarters, even for a part of the year. They seem to have stayed, however, more in the eastern than in the western portion of the county, ranging principally from the shores of Baw Beese Lake, and the vicinity of the site of Hillsdale, into Pittsford, Jefferson, Adams, and Wheatland. They also made long excursions east into Lenawee County, and south into Ohio and Indiana; always, however, returning to their range in this county. They built temporary cabins of bark, but these were not all in one village, nor did their occupants hold continuously to the same location. There were a few small open fields of a few acres each, where the squaws raised corn and beans, but the greater part of the subsistence of the band was obtained by hunting. There is believed to have been an old trading-post kept by a Frenchman at what was afterwards called Allen's Prairie, and there were certainly two or three in the present county of Branch, where the furs secured by the Indians were exchanged for guns, ammunition, calico, cheap jewelry, and whisky. After the treaty of Chicago, Baw Beese's band made no move toward establishing themselves on the reservations, but continued their migratory occupation of the territory of this county. For a few years there was no one to object to this, for emigration had not yet reached our borders. But events were rapidly shaping themselves toward a different state of affairs. In 1823 a land-office was established at Monroe, the district embracing the whole of the present county of Hillsdale. ' In 1824 the first settlement was mlade in Lenawee County. At this period, through the influence of Gen. Cass, the general government ordered the construction of a road a hundred feet wide from Detroit to Chicago (with a branch from near Monroe, striking the main line near the eastern line of Hillsdale County), and appropriated ten thousand dollars to pay for a survey of it. In the spring of 1825, the chief surveyor began his work, planning to run on nearly straight lines. He soon found, however, that if he followed this plan, cutting a vista for his compass through the dense woods, and spending a large part of his time in hunting up good routes and good places for bridges, the money would all be expended before he should have half completed his task. So he determined to follow the "Chicago trail," the old pathway which the Indians had followed from time immemorial in passing between Detroit and the point at the mouth of Chicago River where the great city of the West now stands. This he did so faithfully that it is said there is not an angle, bend, or turn of the Indian trail which is not preserved by the present road from Chicago to Detroit, except for a single mile in Washtenaw County. This is somewhat exaggerated, but a glance at the map will show that there are angles enough in the present road to give good reason for the statement. The flagmen were sent ahead as far as they could be seen, the bearings taken, the distance chained, and the results noted in the field-book; then the flagmen were again sent ahead, the axemen meantime blazing the trees fifty feet on each side of the central line. It was not a very bad plan. though it caused considerable HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN 35 crookedness. The Indians had avoided the worst marshes, which were the principal obstructions to road-making, and what was equally important, they had selected the best fording-places of the creeks and rivers that could be found. The trail, and consequently the road, entered the territory of the county in the present township of Somerset, about a mile and two-thirds from the northeast corner of the county, ran nearly west to the present village of Moscow; thence southwesterly to the crossing of the St. Joseph, where Jonesville now stands; and thence southwesterly through the present township of Allen, passing out of the county half a mile north of the centre of that township. It was not opened by the government for several years after the survey, but the fact that it was surveyed and established as a road caused emigration to follow that line, and the emigrants here and there did a little something towards making it passable. As early as 1826, a few prospecting-parties began to pass westward along the Chicago road, looking for the best places for settlement, some of them going through as far as Lake Michigan. There was still, however, no white man, save an occasional Indian trader, residing west of Lenawee County, in the Territory of Michigan. But the time had come for the subjugation of the wilderness to begin. Who began it and how it was carried forward may be learned in the succeeding chapter. CHAPTER VII. THE PIONEER ERA. The First Pioneer-Date and Locality of Settlement-Another Treaty -Good-Natured Indians-Settlement at Jonesville-The Infant in the Corn Barn-Increasing Population-First Sale of Land-First Tavern in the County-The First Death-Making the Coffin-Formation of Iillsdale County-Its Boundaries-It is Attached to Lenawee-The Township of Vance-Location of the County-SeatThe Governor's Proclamation-The First Village-First Mill-The Black Hawk War-List of Hillsdale County Soldiers-Another Treaty-Sale of Land down to 1833-The Sale of Nottawa-Seepe Reservation-Opposition of the Indians-Baw Beese at Dinner Time-First Store-First School-House-Organization of Hillsdale County-The First Officers-Division into Four Townships-Movement to be Admitted as a State-The Toledo War-Its Causes and Conduct-Interposition of the President-The Offer of CongressIts Rejection and Acceptance-The " Flush Times"-" Wild Cat" and " Red Dog"-Hillsdale Village-The Grea:t Crash-Fluctuation of Prices-A Turnpike Project-New Townships-EmigrationFriendship with the Indians-Pioneer Hardships-Sickness-Wolves -More Townships-Baw Beese's Idea of Friendship-Removal of the Indians-The Last Procession-Their Subsequent Fate-Attempted Removal of County-Seat. THE very earliest pioneer of Hillsdale County was an enterprising citizen hailing from near Wyandotte, in Wayne County, an ex-soldier of the war of 1812, bearing the name and title of Capt. Moses Allen. He is said to have been one of the original party who surveyed the Chicago road in 1825. It is certain that in the spring or early summer of 1826, Capt. Allen, with John W. Fletcher and George Hubbard, made an extended prospecting tour over the valley of the St. Joseph, exploring the lands of Southern Michigan nearly to the mouth of that river. Of all the territory thus examined, the fertile soil and beautiful appearance of the tract since known as Allen's Prairie most attracted his eye and satisfied his judgment, and there he determined to locate. The surveys were not yet made, or at least not completed so that he could obtain a title, but he was anxious lest his choice location should fall into other hands, and in April, 1827, he moved on, with his family, and took possession of a claim. It was on the east side of the prairie, on the southeast quarter of section 10, township 6 south, range 4 west, and comprised the site of the present village of Allen. The locality was called by the Indians, Mascootah-siac or Sand Creek Prairie. This was the very first settlement made for the purpose of permanent improvement in Hillsdale County, and so far as known was the first in the whole State of Michigan west of Tecumseh, Lenawee County. In the spring of 1827, however, several families settled in the present county of St. Joseph. Captain Allen was accompanied by his brother, John Allen, who resided at the Prairie three or four years, but did not become the owner of any land. He was afterwards a prominent citizen of Branch County. They erected a rude cabin with a puncheon floor, and there the family resided over a year without a neighbor eastward nearer than Tecumseh, fifty miles distant, or westward nearer than White Pigeon Prairie, at about the same distance. Southward the forest, broken by occasional prairies, but unoccupied by a single settler, extended far into Ohio and Indiana, while in the opposite direction there was not a solitary permanent white resident between Allen's Prairie and the North Pole. The Allen family have all removed from Hillsdale County, and little is known of their lives during that lonesome period. It is pretty certain, however, that during the summer of 1827 they raised a crop of corn, the evidence being that in the spring of 1828 they had an empty corn barn. They found a grist-mill ready made to their hands. It consisted of a stump hollowed out on the top to receive the corn, the grinding part consisting of a wooden pestle fastened to a spring-pole, and worked up and down by hand, this being the common style of pioneer mill in places remote from the conveniences of civilized life. The one in question is reputed to have been made by some one in the employ of Campau, an Indian trader of Detroit, who had formerly had a station on the prairie. In the September succeeding the advent of the first settlers in Hillsdale County a new treaty was made, by which the Indians exchanged all their reservations reserved by the treaty of Chicago, except that of Nottawa-Seepe, for a tract of land. adjoining that one, the whole making an area of ninety-nine square miles. But they still continued to wander at will through the forest. In fact, the Pottawattamies seem to have been a peculiarly uneasy clan, for there are no less than thirty-seven treaties with them transcribed in the published records of the United States down to 1837. This is a larger number than were made by any other tribe, the Chippewas, who were the next in order, having made but twenty-six treaties down to 1842. The pioneers of Hillsdale County found Baw Beese and his band the sole occupants of its territory. Even these, as before stated, were not permanent. They wandered to 36 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. -- I and fro, hunting and fishing, occasionally straying into Indiana, and again making a journey to visit their brethren in Branch and St. Joseph Counties. The testimony is general that the old chief was one of the best natured of men, and there seems never to have been the slightest difficulty between him and the new-comers. The nature and example of the chief, too, appear to have had their due influence on his band, or else all the goodnatured Indians followed him as a matter of choice, for, from the time of Allen's arrival until the Pottawattanmies were transported to the shores of the Missouri, a period of some thirteen years, the red men of this clan lived in almost perfect harmony with the whites, and with each other. This is the more remarkable as the bands in Branch and St. Joseph Counties had numerous feuds among themselves, sometimes resulting in murder, and occasionally came in collision with the whites around them. Baw Beese is described as being always ready to give shelter and a meal of victuals, such as it was, to any white man who came to his wigwam, and, on the other hand, he was still more ready to receive the same hospitality from the whites whom he visited at their cabins. And, if they did not offer, he was not averse to asking; for, proud as the Indian is in some respects, he seldom comprehends that any degradation attaches to begging for whatever he needs. During the fishing season the band was usually to be found near Baw Beese Lake, which was one of the best fishing-places in the country, the river being unimpeded by dams, and the fish coming up from Lake Michigan in great numbers. Of the little patches of corn-ground before mentioned, the largest was in the north part of the present township of Wright, embracing about fifteen acres. There were a few other smaller tracts in various parts of the county, and near the eastern line of Wheatland was a log cabin, said to have belonged to Baw Beese; but he and his family spent so much of their time wandering in the woods that it would be extremely difficult to prove their title to the domicile in question. In June, 1828, Benaiah Jones, Jr., came, with his wife and five children, along the Chicago trail, seeking a place in the wilderness to make them a home. He fixed on the point where that trail crossed the St. Joseph River, as the most desirable one at which to locate. To save his family, however, from camping out while he was building a house, he proceeded to Allen's Prairie, and obtained permission for them to live in Allen's corn barn during the summer. From there Mr. Jones and his oldest son returned to the point he had selected, built a log house, and made some other slight improvements. These were on section 4, township 6 south, range 3 west, being the site of the present village of Jonesville. It was during this time, in the month of August, 1828, that the first child in Hillsdale County saw the light, its place of birth being the corn barn just mentioned. The youthful stranger received the name of Cordas M. Jones, being the sixth of the sons of Benaiah Jones, Jr. In October, Mr. J removed his family to their new home, and the winter of 1828-29 passed with two families instead of one in the county. The year 1829 saw a decided increase in the population of the county. In the spring, Edmund Jones, a brother of Benaiah, came and selected a piece of land adjoining that occupied by the latter. About the same time, Thaddeus Wight located himself two miles west of Jonesville, and at least as early as this, Reuben Cornish, a brother-inlaw of Mrs. Allen, joined the little settlement at Allen's Prairie. In the middle of the summer, Thomas Reed also settled at the same point. Population was getting crowded. Meanwhile the land had been declared ready for sale, and on the 8th day of June, 1829, Moses Allen, Benaiah Jones, Jr., and Edmund Jones all appeared at the landoffice at Monroe, and purchased the tracts on which they had located themselves, Mr. Allen taking a quarter section, and the two Joneses each acquiring eighty acres. By this time emigrants and prospecting-parties began to pass through the county with considerable frequency, and Mr. Jones opened a tavern at his log house, the first in the county. To keep a tavern was in fact the aristocratic as well as the profitable thing to do in those days. If a man kept tavern it might fairly be presumed that he had two rooms in his house, while if he didn't the inference was almost certain that he had only one. Mr. Allen also wished to set up a tavern (hotels were not known here then), and as his primitive cabin was hardly fit for that purpose, he proceeded in the summer and fall of 1829 to erect a substantial log house. It was not quite completed when Mr. Allen was taken sick, and in October he died; the first white victim of the grim destroyer in Hillsdale County, so far as known. There was no lumber anywhere within reach from which a coffin could be made, yet his few neighbors were anxious to give him Christian and civilized burial. They accordingly cut down a blackcherry tree, placing one end of a log severed from it on a high bank, and the other on a crotched tree. Then one man standing upon the log, and another beneath it, proceeded with a cross-cut saw (in the manner known as " whip-sawing") to cut out boards enough for the required purpose. Hitherto we have frequently spoken of " Hillsdale County," to avoid inconvenient repetition, meaning the territory of which the county was to be formed. But henceforth the county of Hillsdale was to be an actual entity, though for several years without any county organization. On the 29th day of October, 1829, an act was passed by the legislative council of the Territory and approved by Governor Cass, creating the counties of Hillsdale, Branch, St. Joseph, Cass, Van Buren, Berrien, Jackson, Barry, Eaton, Kalamazoo, and Ingham. The section devoted to this county reads as follows: " So much of the county as lies west of the meridian and east of the line between ranges 4 and 5 west of the meridian, and south of the line between townships 4 and 5 south of the base line, and north of the boundary line between the State of Ohio and the Territory of Michigan, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, and the name thereof shall be Hillsdale." The appellation thus selected is highly proper on account of the diversified surface, consisting entirely of alternating hills and dales. There is also a town of Hillsdale in Columbia Co., N. Y., another in Indiana Co., Pa., and another HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 37 in Bergen Co., N. J., and it is quite probable that some of the early settlers or their ancestors came from one of those regions, and that the name was thus suggested to them.* The boundaries of the county, as above defined, were the same which have ever since been retained, except that the boundary between this county and Ohio was then supposed to be a little farther south than it was located on the admission of the State of Michigan. The change will be noted at the time it occurred. It will be understood, however, that the mere creation of a county amounted to nothing except to specify the name and boundaries. No county officers could be elected until further action was taken by the Territorial authorities. When the county of Hillsdale was formed there was not even a township organization within its limits. Five days afterwards, on the 4th of November, 1829, another law was passed by the legislative council declaring that for all judicial and legislative purposes the county of Hillsdale should be attached to and form a part of Lenawee County. The next day still another act was passed, one section of which enacted that the whole county of Hillsdale should thenceforth constitute a township by the name of Vance. A township embracing a whole county seems rather large, but the township of Green, formed by the same act, embraced three counties, Branch, Calhoun, and Eaton, besides a large tract lying north of Eaton, the whole being attached to St. Joseph County for the time being. The act in question also provided that the first townmeeting in the new township of Vance should be held at the house of Benaiah Jones, Jr. The meeting was accordingly held on the first Monday of April, 1830. James M. Burdick, now of Quincy, who settled at Allen's Prairie early in the spring of 1830, says that every voter in the county was present at that meeting, and that every one had a township ofrce, some of them two or three. Vance township continued to exist a little over five years, its officers performing the usual functions, and its successive supervisors acting as members of the board of Lenawee County. The records have, however, disappeared, and we are therefore unable to give the names of those who officiated during what may be called the chrysalis period of Hillsdale County. In 1830, settlement in the county began to increase considerably; all, however, in the northern portion. The Chicago road was not yet opened by the government through the county, but the old trail was there, the blazed trees marked by the surveyors were there, and enough travel had been attracted by these forerunners of a highway so that wagons with considerable trouble could make their way along the devious path. The slight improvements thus made drew all the new emigrants, and the settlements were all made in the immediate vicinity of the Chicago road. Mr. Jones found business increasing at the location he had chosen, and he and his neighbors naturally desired * There are no less than twelve post-offices named Hillsdale in the United States besides the one in this county, namely, in Columbia I Co., N. Y.; in Bergen Co., N. J.; in Indiana Co., Pa.; in Guilford Co., N. C.; in Macon Co., Tenn.; in Vermilion Co., Ind.; in Rock Island Co., Ill.; in Mills Co., Iowa; in Nemeha Co., Neb.; in Moody Co., Dakota; and in Kane Co., Utah. There is, however, no county bearing that name except the one which is the subject of this history. to have the county-seat fixed there. The proper application was made, and in the winter of 1830 the legislative council passed an act appointing Shubael Conant, of Monroe, Jared Patchin, of Lenawee, and Judge Sibley, of Detroit, as commissioners to establish the county-seat. After due examination they selected Jonesville, as people already began to call the neighborhood where Mr. Jones had located, though no village was yet laid out. Owing, however, to some informality this selection was not considered final. In July following the legislative council passed a general law authorizing the Governor to appoint commissioners to fix the location of county-seats, and also authorizing him to confirm and proclaim their selections. To locate the county-seat of Hillsdale County, the Governor appointed De Garmo Jones, Joseph W. Brown, and Charles Noble, and after they had performed their duty he issued the following proclamation: By Lewis Cass, Governor in and over the Territory of Michigan. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas by an act of the Legislative Council passed July thirtyfirst, one thousand eight hundred and thirty, authority is given to the Governor of the Territory to appoint commissioners to locate the seats of justice of the several counties in which the seats of justice may not have been located, and to receive their report and confirm the same if he approve thereof, and then to issue a proclamation establishing the seats of justice so located; and whereas De Garmo Jones, Joseph W. Brown, and Charles Noble, Esquires, were appointed commissioners to locate the seat of justice of the county of Hillsdale, a majority of whom proceeded to execute the said duty, and have located the seat of justice of the said county of IIillsdale at the village of Jonesville, in said county: Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority given in said act, and in conformity with the said report, I do hereby issue this proclamation, establishing the seat of justice of the said county of Hillsdale at the village of Jonesville, in said county. In test whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the Territory to be affixed. Done at the city of Detroit, this sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, and of the Independence of the United States the fifty-fifth. LEwis CASS. By the Governor. JOHN G. MASON, Secretary of the Territory. This was one of the last official acts of Gov. Cass' long administration, for in the following summer he was called to the office of Secretary of War of the United States, by President Jackson. In June, 1831, Benaiah Jones, Jr., laid out the ground at the point where the county-seat had been located in a regular village plat, the first in the county. He recorded the plat under the name of Jonesville, which had already been given to the settlement there. Only twelve hundred and eighty acres of land had then been sold in the county, and this had been purchased by twelve persons: Moses Allen, John S. Reid, Thomas S. Reid, S. N. W. Benson, James Olds, Abram F. Bolton, Richard W. Corbus, E. J. Sibley, Martin G. Shellhouse, and Benjamin F. Lamed. All except perhaps the three last were actual settlers. Allen and the two Reids were in the present town of Allen. The two Joneses and Olds were in the present Fayette. There were also a few settlers who had not made any purchase, though these generally did so not long afterwards. There was a constant stream of emigrants flowing west i8 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ward through the county, and every little while one " dropped off" within its limits. This year a land-office was established at White Pigeon, in St. Joseph County, for a district which included this county. It was also, as near as can be ascertained, in 1831 that the first school-house in the county was built, a small, rude log structure, situated at Allen's Prairie. Hiram Hunt was the teacher. In the spring of 1832 the population had increased so that it was thought a saw-mill would be supported. E. J. Sibley, of Detroit, accordingly began the erection of one on the St. Joseph River, two miles up stream (nearly south) from Jonesville,-the pioneer mill of the county. It was completed the same year. At this time the Chicago road had been opened by the government so as to be fairly passable, though still very rude, as far west as Jonesville. It was opened westward through the county in 1832. The same year a Territorial road was established from Port Lawrence (now Toledo) west through to the ninth townships of the various ranges to the eastern line of Indiana. This was opened soon after, and became the principal thoroughfare by which emigration reached that part of the county. But in May of that year an event occurred which startled from their propriety all the people of Hillsdale County, together with most of those throughout Southern Michigan, and for a short time seemed likely to put a stop to all the improvements so rapidly being planned and prosecuted. This was the outbreak of the celebrated " Black Hawk war." The scene of actual strife was far away in Illinois and Wisconsin, but the white population was very sparse from here there, and Indians bent on vengeance have long arms. Besides, no one could tell whether the Pottawattamies scattered through Southern Michigan might not make common cause with the warriors of Black Hawk, and turn their tomahawks upon their white neighbors. No hostile disposition, however, was manifested by these ancient enemies, and the whites seem generally to have trusted to their friendship. Scarcely had the first news of the troubles arrived than a dispatch went through from the government agent at Chicago, asking for the aid of the Michigan militia to defend that place, then an insignificant hamlet in a marsh at the head of Lake Michigan. The brigade of militia in the southern part of the Territory was commanded by Brig.Gen. Joseph W. Brown, a near relative of Maj.-Gen. Jacob Brown, the hero of the war of 1812 and at one time commander-in-chief of the United States Army. Gen. J. W. Brown possessed much of the martial fire of the soldier of Lundy's Lane, and promptly responded to the call. He ordered his brigade to take the field, the rendezvous being at Niles, in Berrien County. The militia regiments of Monroe and Lenawee Counties readily obeyed his orders, and in a few days company after company was to be seen marching westward over the Chicago road, each man clad not in bright blue clothes with brass buttons, but in the rude garb of a backwoodsman, with rifle, or musket, or shot-gun on his shoulder, as chance might determine, and with accoutrements equally varied at his side. Benaiah Jones, Jr., at this time was major, commanding a battalion of militia, consisting of one company in Hillsdale County and two in Branch. On the 22d day of May, he received orders from Gen. Brown to call out his battalion and march westward to repel the enemy. The order must have been very promptly obeyed, for the men were called out, got together in companies, and marched to Niles by the 25th of that month. We are indebted to Harvey Warner, Esq., of Coldwater, for a copy of the muster-roll of the battalion, furnished him by Dr. Enoch Chase, formerly of Coldwater, who was both surgeon and adjutant of Maj. Jones' command. The other staff-officers were Abial Potter, quartermaster (also of Branch County), Ambrose Nicholson, and John Morse (another Branch County man), who sustained the honorable position of fife-major. We give below a copy of the roll of the Hillsdale County company, both as an interesting relic of itself and as showing the growth of the county up to that time: "James Olds, captain of second company. "Silas Benson, lieutenant. " Hiram B. Hunt, ensign. "Non-commissioned officers: Daniel Atkin, first sergeant; John G. Reed, first corporal; Osborn Blackman, second corporal; Dexter Olds, third corporal. " Privates: Abel Olds, John Stewart, William Lancaster, Morris Earl, Rufus Van Pool, William Bell, David M. Dunn, Jerome Jewell, Peter Benson, Henry Clark, Zachariah Crook, Washington Thurston. "Absent: Joseph Hartsough, second sergeant; Stephen Hickox, third sergeant; Ambrose S. Burdick, third sergeant; sick. "Absent without leave: 0. G. B. Aiken, James Winter, John Wall, John Hartsough, David Hartsough, Elisha Hartsough, Clark Baker." Note onl mlargin: "This company was mustered into service May 24, and dismissed June 4, 1832." "The above is a true copy of the returns made by the captains of the several companies to me. "ENOCII CHASE, Ad(jutmtt. "COLDWATER, June 4, 1832." It will be seen that, according to the above roll, there were in May, 1832, thirty persons (including Maj. Jones) capable of bearing arms and supposed to be between eighteen and forty-five years of age. The women, children, and old men left behind were for a few days in a state of great dismay lest their friends should be destroyed by the bloody Indians, and terrifying rumors flew through the scattered settlements by the score. Scarcely, however, had the militia reached Niles, when messengers from the West brought the welcome news that Black Hawk and his bands had been utterly defeated and that all danger was over. As appears by the roll, the troops returned and were mustered out at Coldwater on the 4th of June. Black Hawk, the cause of all this trouble, is said by Drake, the Indian historian, to have been a Pottawattamie by birth, but to have been brought up among the Sacs. The Black Hawk war caused the people and the government to be all the more anxious to have the Indians removed beyond the Mississippi. Another treaty was made in October, 1832, by which nearly all the lands to which the Pottawattamies had any claim in Michigan were ceded to the United States, except the Nottawa-Seepe reservation. This treaty provided for an individual grant of a square mile to " Topenibee, the principal chief," and another to " Pokagon, the second chief." Emigrants continued to make their way into the county with increasing rapidity. At the close of 1833 there were HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 39 ten thousand two hundred and eighty acres sold within its limits. This land was distributed among seventy-five owners, and was located as follows: In the present town of Somerset, a thousand and forty acres; in Wheatland, twelve hundred acres; in Moscow, three thousand three hundred and twenty acres; in Scipio, three hundred acres; in Fayette, nineteen hundred and eighty acres; in Allen, seventeen hundred and twenty acres. In 1833 the first railroad charter was granted by the Legislative Council of Michigan, and its prescribed course led into the county of Hillsdale. It was to run from Port Lawrence (now Toledo), then considered to be in Michigan, to the " head-waters of the Kalamazoo River." This was somewhat indefinite. If it ran to the head-waters of the main or south branch of the Kalamazoo it would pass through Somerset into the township of Moscow. If it ran to the present village of Albion, where the two branches unite, it would still pass through Somerset and Moscow. But the road was never built farther than Adrian, and is now a part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern line. In September of this year (1833), also, the last reservation kept by the Pottawattamies in this vicinity, that of Nottawa-Seepe, was ceded by the chiefs, or a part of them, to the United States, the Indians being allowed to remain two more years before removing to the far West. Many of the Indians were bitterly opposed to the sale, and claimed that the chiefs who signed the treaty had no authority to do so. One of the malcontents, on the day of the first payment on the reservation, tried to murder Sa-au-a-quett, the chief who had been most prominent in effecting the sale, and only failed because his pistol missed fire. Saut-au-quett was several years afterwards murdered by one of his tribe, in a feud arising, as was supposed, from the same cause. Nevertheless the treaty was sustained by the government, payments were made, and business proceeded upon the assumption that the Indian title was extinguished in all this part of the Territory. But Baw Beese and his band still continued to roam over the hills and dales of Hillsdale County, especially through the central and eastern portions, and around the lake which still bears the chieftain's name. The veteran pioneer, Frederick M. Holloway, mentions coming into the southern part of the county with a party looking for land, in the summer of 1834. Soon after their arrival, while they were eating dinner near the site of Morganville, in the present township of Amboy, the chief, Baw Beesc, appeared. He was asked to partake of the meal with them, and very promptly did so, and a very full meal he made, too. The party remained exploring in that part of the county some weeks. Baw Beese made them many visits during the time, and almost invariably appeared about noon. In 1834 the first stock of goods in the county was opened for sale at Jonesville by the firm of Cook & Ferris (John P. Cook and Chauncey W. Ferris). During the same year Levi Baxter and Cook Sisson began a grist-mill at Jonesville, the first in the county. It was not finished till the next year. The second school-house in the county was built at Jonesville this year. It was made of logs, and is said to have been only twelve feet wide by fourteen long. It stood where the Episcopal church of Jonesville now stands. Besides its educational uses it was also employed as a church by the Methodists and Presbyterians, the two denominations who first held religious services in the county. It was in the spring of 1834, also, that the first settlement was made in the present town of Litchfield; the pioneers being Henry Stevens and Samuel Riblett, who located themselves about three miles east of the village. Hitherto, notwithstanding its broad dimensions on the map, and the possession of a county-seat, Hillsdale County had been for all municipal purposes only the township of Vance, attached to Lenawee County. It was now thought desirable to have an actual county organization. A townmeeting for Vance was held on the 13th day of December, 1834,-apparently a special election to choose commissioners of highways to fill vacancies. As the record of that meeting, which is preserved in the town-book of Fayette, is the only record of Vance township (aside from its creation by the legislative council) which we have been able to discover, we transcribe it in full: "At a legal and special meeting of the inhabitants of the township of Vance, on the 13th day of December, 1834, at the house of James D. Van Hocvenbergh. Henry Stevens, Moderator; Lewis T. Miller, Supervisor; John Taylor, Justice of Peace, forming the township board. James Olds chosen Township Clerk pro tern. Board duly sworn. "James Winter and Timothy Gay were chosen Commissioners of Highways. "Attest: CHARLES GREGORY, Town Clerk." After the regular business of the meeting was concluded, the voters present proceeded to take measures to secure the organization of the county and the subdivision of the township. The following is the record of their proceedings: "At a meeting of the voters of the county of Hillsdale, convened at the house of James D. Van Hoevenbergh, on the 13th day of December, 1834, Lyman Blackmar was chosen Chairman, and James Olds Secretary. First: Resolved, unanimously, That the inhabitants will petition the Legislative Council to organize said county. Second: Rlesolved, unanimously, To divide the county into four townships, each township to consist of one range through the county; range 1 to be called Wheatland, the first township-meeting to be held at the house of Elias Banch; range 2 to be called Moscow, the first township-meeting to be held at the house of L. Blackmar; range 3 to be called Fayette, the first township-meeting to be held at the house of J. D. Van Ioevenbergh; range 4 to be called Alien, the first township-meeting to be held at the house of R. W. Corbus. Third: Resolved, That the following persons be recommended for the officers of the county: Lewis T. Miller and Henry Stevens, Associate Judges; Chauncey W. Ferris, County Clerk; James D. Van Hoevenbergh, Sheriff; Newel Kane, Judge of Probate; James Olds, Register or Recorder; David Hlarrington, County Commissioner; Aaron B. Goodwin, Surveyor; E. P. Champlin, County Treasurer. "Adjourned to Wednesday, the 17th instant, at Lyman Blackmar's. Chairman, Lyman Blackmar; Secretary, James Olds. "Attest: CHARLES GREGORY, Townshlp Clerk." Of the proceedings of the adjourned meeting we have no record. It is certain, however, that the legislative council looked favorably on the petition of the inhabitants, though it did not entirely coincide with them in the selection of officers. On the 11th day of February an act was passed detaching the county from Lenawee and organizing it, with the following officers: Sheriff, James D. Van Hoevenbergh; Clerk, Chauncey W. Ferris; Register, James Olds; Treasurer, John P. Cook; Judge of Probate, Ly 40 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. - -- -I man Blackmar. The other officers are believed to have been the same as those recommended by the meeting in December, viz.: Lewis T. Miller and Henry Stevens, Associate Judges; David Harrington, Coroner; Aaron B. E Goodwin, Surveyor. On the 17th of March another act subdivided the town- i ship of Vance into four new townships, with the names l and boundaries recommended in the resolutions before t given,-the survey townships of range 1 throughout the f county forming the civil township of Wheatland; those e of range 2, the civil township of Moscow; those of I range 3, the civil township of Fayette; those of range 4, the civil township of Allen. The first town-meetings c were all held on the 4th day of April, 1835, and all at the places designated in the resolutions, except that the meet- I ing in Wheatland was directed to be held at the house of v Thomas Gamble. s The first supervisors of the organized county, elected at a the time just specified, were Heman Pratt, of Wheatland; t] Benjamin Fowle, of Moscow; Brooks Bowman, of Fayette; n and Richard W. Corbus, of Allen. sc At the same time measures were in progress to form a t State government for Michigan, and secure its admission into the Union. A convention was called by the legislative d council to form a State constitution. The Territory was n divided into districts, containing, as near as might be, a ai thousand people each, and each district was entitled to one S member in the constitutional convention. Hillsdale and C Branch Counties constituted the ninth district. An elec- se tion for members of the convention was held at the time w of the annual town-meeting, in April, when Judge Lewis ol T. Miller was chosen to represent the ninth district. to Not only was the county government started in the spring d of 1835, and the first movements made towards a State government, but this was the period when the people were ac startled by the great " Toledo war." The result of this or celebrated tragi-comic contest had a direct though slight ce effect upon Hillsdale County. If the claim of Michigan th had been recognized, this county would have extended from m two to three miles farther south, increasing its area between by fifty and sixty square miles. A brief account of the causes le of the controversy, therefore, will not be out of place here. pi The ordinance of 1787, passed by the old Confederate di: Congress to provide for the government of the Northwest of Territory, and confirmed by one of the first acts of the United M States Congress after the adoption of the Federal constitu- so tion, declared that the territory in question should at some He future time be divided into three States, the line between ha the first and second (counting from the east) being the H present east line of Indiana, and that between the second Bi and third being the present west line of the same State, both mi lines to be extended north to the British dominions. But it du was also provided in the same act that Congress might form Mi two other new States north of a line running east and west through the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. It did the not say that the two northern States should go south to that Co line, but inferentially, at least, that they should not go be- wa yond it. In 1802, Congress passed an act enabling the people of in Ohio to form a State constitution, and locating the northern far boundary of the new State on the line laid down by the ordinance of 1787, viz., one running east fiom the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to Lake Erie. But the Constitutional Convention of Ohio, desiring to secure to that State the trade of the Maumee River, inserted a provision in the constitution that if the east and west line before mentioned should strike south of the mouth of the Maumee, then the northern boundary of the State should be a line from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan, not due east, but running straight to the northernmost cape of Mlaumee Bay. The constitution was not submitted to the )eople, but under it Ohio was admitted as a State by act )f Congress. In 1805 the Territory of Michigan was detached from:ndiana by Congress, embracing all north of the east and rest line before mentioned. But as Indiana desired a little hore-line on Lake Michigan, Congress granted it a strip bout nine or ten miles wide north of the line, thus causing he notch made by that State into this county,-a tract a nile wide east and west, and about six miles long north and outh, being carved out of the southwest corner of the ownship of Camden by the Hoosier State. From the last mentioned year until 1835 nothing was one to settle the title. The disputed strip, about six niles wide at the eastern end, and about three and a half t the western boundary of Ohio, was included in the latter tate by its constitution, and in Michigan by the law of ongress. It was, however, mostly a wilderness, and when ettlcments were made in the eastern part of it, the settlers, ho were largely from Ohio, generally yielded voluntary bedience to the laws of that State. But when Michigan )ok steps to form a State constitution the disputed bounary at once became a question of importance. In February, 1835, the Legislature of Ohio passed an et asserting its jurisdiction over the disputed territory, rganizing townships, and directing the people to elect offiers in April following; also directing Governor Lucas, of iat State, to appoint three commissioners to resurvey and ark the old " Harris line,"-that is, the line as claimed y Ohio,-beginning on the 1st of April. Forthwith the gislative council of Michigan passed an act making it inishable with fine and imprisonment for any one on the sputed territory to accept office from Ohio or exercise icial functions under that State. The acting Governor of ichigan at this time was the Secretary, Stevens T. Man, a fiery young Virginian, about twenty-five years old. e promptly ordered General Brown, of Tecumseh, who s before been mentioned in connection with the Black awk war, to call the militia of his brigade to arms. rown sent out the necessary orders, and soon there was istering in hot haste and hurrying to and fro and all the e preparation for war in the counties of Southeastern ichigan. We regret that we are not able to give, as in the case of e Black Hawk war, a list of the heroes from Hillsdale unty (if any there were) who took part in the Toledo r. There was from the first a certain element of the farcical all this pomp and circumstance of war, and yet it was a ce which might easily have been turned into a tragedy by HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 41 any reckless demagogue on either side. To all appearances the contest was a very unequal one between the populous and wealthy State of Ohio, having already nearly a million inhabitants, and the forest-covered, ague-smitten Territory of Michigan, with less than a hundred thousand; yet the discrepancy was to some extent balanced by the nearness of the settled parts of Michigan to the scene of trouble, and by the greater promptness, or rather recklessness, of its Governor. Mason and Brown soon raised a force of a thousand to twelve hundred men. with which they took possession of Toledo, already a rising young port, and the chief bone of contention. Meanwhile, Governor Lucas, of Ohio, had only obtained five or six hundred men, with whom he came to Perrysburg, but halted there when he found his opponents in possession of Toledo, wisely hesitating to precipitate the shedding of blood. Meanwhile the government at Washington had been apprised of the impending war, and sent commissioners to endeavor to avert it. These proposed to the belligerent Governors that the Ohio commissioners should be allowed to run out the " Harris line," but without gaining any new rights thereby; that the people of the disputed district should obey whichever officers they pleased until the end of the next session of Congress, which would endeavor to settle the matter. Governor Lucas agreed to this, and disbanded his force. Mason partly disbanded his troops but, as he claimed, did not agree to the proposition. President Jackson, on hearing of the trouble, had referred the question to his attorney-general, who reported favorably to Michigan. Governor Lucas' commissioners proceeded to resurvey the " Harris line," beginning at the northwest corner of the State, being the southwest corner of Hillsdale County. In the woods there was no trouble, but as the officials and surveyors reached the more settled districts, several of their party were arrested by the under-sheriff of Monroe County, Michigan. The commissioners escaped. Governor Lucas sought the interposition of the President. Governor Mason continued to order arrests, employing a large part of the people of Monroe County in doing so. One of the Michigan officers was stabbed by a man bearing the curious name of "Two Stickney." This we believe was the only blood shed during the " war." Stickney fled to Governor Lucas, and was protected by him. Matters were really approaching a crisis. The President recommended, as his commissioners had done before him, that Ohio be allowed to run her line. But this had no effect upon Mason, whose blood was up and who was determined to win at every cost. At length the President removed him from the secretaryship, and appointed Charles Shaler in his place. Shaler declined, and John W. Horner was appointed; being the last territorial secretary and acting Governor of Michigan. After this the " war" raged less furiously, though there was still a frequent display of troops on the part of the belligerents. F. M. Holloway, Esq., of this county, was then a resident of the disputed territory, and like almost all the rest of the inhabitants was friendly to Ohio, in whose forces he held the rank of captain. Without following the " war" through all its vicissitudes, 6 in which letters and proclamations played a much more influential part than bullets and bayonets, suffice it to say that when Congress met they decided that Ohio should have the land in dispute, and that Michigan should be consoled with what has since been known as the " Upper Peninsula," and with the cession of the title to large tracts throughout the State for educational and other purposes. Although the value of the territory thus yielded by Congress was far greater than that claimed, yet the passions of the people had been so aroused that a convention chosen to consider the proposed terms promptly rejected them. Zachariah Van Duser, the member from this county, however, voted in favor of accepting them, as did Harvey Warner, of Branch County, a still-surviving resident of Coldwater. It will be observed that these two counties each had a representative in the convention, instead of having one in common as before. But as Congress persistently refused to admit the new State on any other terms, and as the inhabitants at length reluctantly made up their minds that they couldn't fight both the State of Ohio and the United States of America, they elected a second convention, called somewhat informally, which accepted the terms, and Michigan became a State, though not until the beginning of 1837, more than two years after the first movement was made in that direction. Thus it was that Hillsdale County failed to be twentyeight miles long instead of twenty-five and a half; and thus, too, it happened that the southern boundary of the county is not an east and west line, but a line bearing north of east, diverging from a true east line about half a mile in the width of the county. Notwithstanding the little unpleasantness just referred to, emigration was flowing into Hillsdale County and the rest of Southern Michigan, during 1835 and 1836, with greater rapidity than ever before. Reading and Camden both received their first settlers during the former year. These were the celebrated "flush times" throughout the West, and in fact throughout the United States. Every State granted almost unlimited indulgence to everybody that wanted to issue bank-notes; but Michigan was the most liberal of all. There the " Wild Cat" and the " Red Dog," as the two principal species of currency were called, flourished with a vigor and ferocity never known before nor since in financial zoology.* Strangely enough, none of these were established in Hillsdale County, but there were plenty on every side, and money was almost as free as water and hardly as valuable. The fever for cheap money, land speculation, and all kinds of money-making without work, was raging pretty strongly in 1835; it reached fever heat in 1836, and the bubble burst in 1837. In 1835 the first church edifice was built in the county, the location being at Jonesville. It was erected by the Presbyterian denomination, and was a small frame building, - A " Wild-Cat" bill was one issued by a bank with no sufficient foundation, but which had means enough to have bills engraved for its own use with its own name on them. The " Red-Dog" bills were engraved with the name of the bank in blank, and each impecunious institution had its own name printed on them in red ink; hence the name. 4 i I I I I I I I 42) HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. which is still standing there, being now used as a marbleshop. It was also used as a court-house, as the people did not consider themselves able to build one. A jail, however, would be less expensive and even more necessary. A rude but substantial structure was accordingly erected at Jonesville in 1835, which served for the detention of criminals while the county-seat remained at that point. Among other enterprises of this fertile period was one which resulted more successfully than most of them did. A single settler had located on the site of Hillsdale City, in 1834; another came in 1835, and built a tavern. During the latter year several gentlemen of Jonesville and elsewhere purchased land there, and in 1836 they built a mill and made other improvements. The details are given in the history of the city of Hillsdale. Suffice it to say here, that this offspring of the flush times did not collapse when the financial bubble broke, but continued to progress with steady pace until it is now one of the most pleasant and thriving cities of Southern Michigan. In 1837, as before stated, came the great crash, the beginning of the celebrated " hard times." There have been several other periods known by that disconsolate name, but that extending from 1837 to 1840, or a little later, was the " hard times" par excellence, in comparison with which all other times have been years of luxurious ease. In the spring of 1837 money was plenty, and all the productions of this region were exhausted by the heavy emigration of that year and the year before. Provisions and other necessaries were brought in from Ohio, and brought a very high price. Flour was worth nine dollars a barrel, oats seventy-five cents a bushel, and other farm products in proportion. The next fall, after harvest, and after the financial collapse, everything had fallen to half the previous price, and ere long a still lower depth was reached. Wheat was only thirty-five cents a bushel. Pork and beef brought two dollars and a half a barrel, in " store pay." Farm products could hardly be sold for money at any price. Salt was considered a cash article, and was not included in the general designation of " store pay." A man could hardly exchange a barrel of beef for enough salt to cure another with. When the crash came the State suspended work on the Southern Railroad before it reached Hillsdale County. Another road, which was projected from Adrian to Marshall, and surveyed through Hillsdale, was also abandoned. Among other enterprises of the day, we find an act passed in March, 1837, incorporating the Adrian and Coldwater Turnpike Company, to build a turnpike between those two places, through Hillsdale County. Addison J. * Comstock, E. C. Winter, Henry Wood, George Crane, Samuel Comstock, Rockwell Manning, and Hiram Cowles were appointed commissioners to take stock. There were to be nine directors, and the above gentlemen, with Hiram Alden and L. B. Crippin, of Coldwater, were made the first board of directors. Six toll-gates were provided for; but if the proposed road should intersect the Chicago road before reaching Coldwater, there were to be no gates on that road, which was under the control of the United States. The toll was fixed at six cents for twenty hogs or sheep; twenty cents for the same number of cattle; ten cents for *: a two-horse wagon and team, and three cents for each ad ditional horse; fifteen cents for each two-horse coach or pleasure-wagon, and five cents for each additional horse; five cents for a two-ox cart, and five cents for each additional yoke, etc., etc. Sleighs and sleds half-price. The line was located through Jonesville, leaving Hillsdale at one side. But the whole scheme fell through, as did nearly all similar ones in this county. Before the turnpikes could be built the railroads came, and then people thought they could get along without the more humble kind of improvements. It was in the forepart of 1837, just as the "hard times" were about to come down upon the country with crushing force, that the Legislature of the young State of Michigan embarked in a grand scheme of internal improvements. A loan of five million dollars was authorized, and a board of commissioners of internal improvement organized, who in March, 1837, were directed to survey and build three railroads across the State. Of these, the southern road was to run from near Monroe, through the southern tier of counties to New Buffalo, on Lake Michigan. Almost as a matter of course there were various routes proposed, and much heated discussion regarding their respective advantages. The two routes which were surveyed by the examining engineers, ran,-one of them through Tecumseh, in Lenawee County, Jonesville, Coldwater, and thence westward to New Buffalo; the other through Adrian, Hillsdale village, Branch (then the seat of justice of Branch County), and thence westward to the same destination. The latter route was adopted, though the line was afterwards deflected so as to run fiom Hillsdale through Jonesville and Coldwater, and thence through Branch. New townships were rapidly being formed. In 1836 Adams was created from Moscow, leaving the latter township with its present boundaries, and itself embracing not only the present town of Adams, but Jefferson, Ransom, and the east half of Amboy. The same year Pittsford was formed from Wheatland, embracing the present Pittsford and Wright, and leaving to the former town the present Wheatland and Somerset. Scipio was also formed from Fayette in 1836, embracing the whole of township 5, south, range 3, east. In 1837 the new town of Adams was subdivided by the creation of another called Florida, the name of which was afterwards changed to Jefferson, and which, on its formation, embraced Jefferson, Ransom, and the east half of Amboy. Adams was thus left to its present boundaries. The same year both Litchfield and Reading were formed from Allen. The former, as now, embraced survey-township No. 5, in range 4; Allen, after the two towns were taken off, contained only survey-township No. 6, in the same range; while Reading embraced survey-townships 7, 8, and fractional 9, in the same range, now comprising the townships of Reading and Camden. In 1837, also, the township of Somerset was formed from Wheatland, both, after the division, having their present boundaries. Thus at the end of 1837 there were no less than eleven organized townships in Hillsdale County,-indicative of at least some scattered settlements in all except the extreme southern portion. The hard times did not stop HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 43 emigration, although they may have decreased it. People, it is true, did not come West with the same enthusiastic expectation of becoming rich in a year and a half which animated them during the flush times, but there were a great many who were glad to emigrate to escape the consequences of the financial troubles in the East. As will be remembered, the treaty of 1833, by which the reservation of Nottawa-Seepe was sold to the United States, provided that all the bands of Southern Michigan, including the one led by Baw Beese, should be transported beyond the Misissippi at the end of two years. But when the time came none of the bands wanted to go. They had numerous excuses: that they had been cheated in the sale of the land; that the bones of their fathers were buried here, and they could not leave them; that if they went West the large and powerful tribe of the Sioux, who inhabited these regions, would fall upon them and destroy them. Whenever any commissioners or other officials came around to require them to leave, they scattered into the forest, or made elusive promises which no one could induce them to carry out. So far as Baw Beese and his band were concerned, they seem to have always been on first-rate terns with the settlers, and the latter did not generally object to their remaining. Often, in a cold winter night, a pioneer would hear a knock at his door or window, and on opening the former would be confronted by two or three brawny Indians, or perhaps a single warrior with his squaw and pappooses. " ow, how!" was the invariable salutation with wl)ich they-greeted their white friends. Then would follow the demand for shelter: " Indian cold; squaw cold; pappoose cold; want fire." Then the settler would pile the logs up in the big oldfashioned fireplace, and the Indians would lie down upon the stone hearth or the puncheon floor, as close as they could get to the blaze without burning their blankets, and there rest contentedly until morning. Sometimes they would ask not only for shelter but food, and even this was generally given them. No one seems to have feared them, or to have remembered that their ancestors had engaged in indiscriminate destruction of the Americans during the Revolutionary and other wars, or even that some of these very men might have followed Teculseh to battle in the war of 1812, and have taken part in the dreadful scenes on the banks of the river Raisin. As for the pioneers themselves, their hardships and trials are depicted at more or less length in the sketches of individuals in the various township histories. Hard, indeed, were their struggles, for not only were the most of them obliged to clear away the dense forest with their own hands, before they could raise a single bushel of grain; not only were they obliged to construct their own rude cabins, often without boards for a floor or glass for a window; but, worse than all, sickness dogged their steps with pitiless tenacity for many a weary year. The rich, fresh soil, unconquered by cultivation, was saturated with malaria, and when up turned by the plow of the pioneer the air became loaded with the fever-breeding exhalations. Large tracts, too, in some localities, were of a swampy nature, and in many places a man could stamp on the thin crust which covered a miry basin, and shake it for a dozen rods around. True, the prevailing disease was "only ague," and attracted but little sympathy for the sufferers. But when the unlucky pioneer, or his still more unfortunate wife, had been in the grasp of this trembling yet powerful foe for several months, shaking every alternate day, and perhaps every day, even though able to get up and out between the attacks, they were little inclined to jest regarding its powers. Moreover, fever and ague frequently ran into malarial fevers of various kinds, which often resulted fatally. Sickness was the great enemy of the pioneers of Michigan through all the early days. To add to the difficulties of the situation, quinine, which was the sole specific relied on against ague, was, like salt, a cash article, and it was frequently almost or quite impossible for physicians or patients to obtain a sufficient quantity of the desired article. The very hardest of all hard times for the people of Hillsdale County was between 1837 and 1840, and those who went through the hardships of that period, whether men or women, may as truly consider themselves veterans as those who have dared and survived the dangers of a dozen well-fought battles. Yet, with steady cultivation, the malaria was to a great extent eliminated from the soil, and even the soil itself became more solid in those localities where, as before mentioned, the semi-fluid marsh below was covered with a thin surface of earth. Year after year witnessed a steady improvemlenlt, and at the present time, although we cannot say that ague is entirely unknown in the county (for it is not in mortal fortune to be entirely fiee from some form of disease), yet this is none the less one of the healthiest counties in the West; the salubrity of its atmosphere rivaling the sparkling beauty of' its myriad lakes and verdure-clad hills. Among other troubles which the settlers had to encounter were wolves and bears, and an occasional panther. The last-named animal was too uncommon to be much feared, and the bears were too clumsy to do much damage, except by carrying off an occasional pig; but the wolves were a real pest to every one who wanted to keep sheep. At night their howling was heard far and wide through the forest, and woe to the unfortunate wool-bearer caught outside of a well-built fold. As an evidence of injury apprehended from these savage animals, we may note that in 1838 a law was passed giving eight dollars for the scalp of every wolf, and four dollars for that of every whelp. Four new towns were organized between the end of 1837 and that of 1840: Canaan in 1838, Camden in 1839, and Rowland (now Ransom) and Woodbridge in 1840. The first named, afterwards called Wright, was taken from Pittsford, leaving to the latter only survey-township No. 7 in range 1 (of which it is still composed), and itself comprising, as now, township 8 and fractional township 9 in the same range. Camden was formed from Reading, which it left of its present size, and embraced survey-township 8 and fractional 9 in range 4. Rowland was erected from Jefferson, and included the present township of that name, and the east half of Amboy, the whole comprising survey *;j; I 44 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. - - township No. 8 and fractional No. 9 in the second range.* Jefferson was thus restricted to the limits of township 7 in that range, which are still its bounds. Down to 1840, the township of Fayette extended from Scipio south to the Indiana line, six miles wide and nearly twenty-one miles long. The creation of Woodbridge in that year brought Fayette down to the present dimensions of Fayette, Hillsdale, and Hillsdale City, and gave the new township officials authority over survey-townships 7, 8, and fractional 9 in range 3, now known as Cambria, Woodbridge, and the west half of Amboy. Thus the number of civil townships was increased to fifteen; the total population, by the census of 1840, being seven thousand two hundred and forty. Down to the beginning of 1840, Baw Beese and his band had continued to wander over the territory which had so long been the hunting-ground of their ancestors, evading, as did their brethren in Branch and St. Joseph Counties, every attempt to enforce their removal in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of 1833. They seemed to have retained the good-will of the settlers of Hillsdale County to the last. An incident is recounted, however, where the chief became rather too friendly to suit the taste of his white acquaintances. Meeting one of the judges of the county and a physician of Hillsdale in that village, he proposed that they should drink with him. As the noble red man usually expected some one else to " stand treat," the judicial and medical functionaries promptly accepted the unwonted invitation. Baw Beese called for liquor and a single tumbler, filled the latter full, drank off half of it, and proffered the remainder to one of his friends. The latter and his comrade both declined it, but proposed to drink front their own glasses. "No, no; that no friendship," said the chief; " if you my friend you drink with me,-same tumbler." In vain the two gentlemen professed their undying love for all the Pottawattamies in America, and especially for their great chieftain, the noble Baw Beese; the latter became decidedly angry at their persistent refusal to accept his generous offer. He had condescended to honor two of the leading professions of the pale-faces by asking the gentlemen to drink with him; they had accepted, and now they insulted him by asking for separate glasses. The ghosts of his ancestors, the heroes of Braddock's field and the siege of Detroit, were ready to leap from their longclosed graves, brandishing their shadowy tomahawks and scalping-knives at this degrading proposition. It was only after many protestations and the interposition of the landlord, Adam Howder, that the chieftain consented that his own tumbler might be refilled and that his two friends might use their separate glasses. Meanwhile, the people of St. Joseph and Branch Counties hardly felt secure in the possession of the reservation lands as long as the Pottawattamies remained in the vicinity, and were exceedingly anxious for their removal, * This township has had a curious record in regard to names, having been first Rowland, then Ransom, then Bird, and finally Ransom again. See township history. and in 1840 the government positively determined to compel the whole tribe to move West. Various efforts to compass the desired result were made during the summer, but still the Indians evaded the official demands. Baw Beese was particularly averse to the step. "Sioux kill me; Sioux kill us all," he said. "Sioux bad Indians, tomahawk squaw, scalp papoose; ugh!" At length, in November, when the government found the year drawing to a close, and the Indians still in Michigan, they sent not only civil commissioners, but a detachment of soldiers to enforce their immediate removal. Even then the task was a difficult one. The commissioners formed a camp and sent the soldiers to bring the Indians in. They made no resistance, but the young men would break away every chance they saw, and the squaws would hide so adroitly that it required the utmost skill to find them. At length nearly all of them were assembled under a strict guard, and the officials declared themselves ready to start. Poor, good-natured old Baw Beese wept bitterly when he found that the dreaded removal was inevitable. " Sioux kill me; Siovx kill us all," was his reply to every attempt at consolation. Mr. Holloway has furnished us a description of the mournful cortege as it passed through Jonesville, the next day after leaving camp. At the head of the column rode the aged chieftain in an open buggy, drawn by an Indian pony, alone, with his gun standing between his knees. A single infantry soldier, with musket on shoulder, preceded the buggy, while another marched on each flank. The chief had ceased to complain, but his countenance was dejected to the last degree as he drove in mournful silence away from the land of his forefathers. His wife, a woman of sixty, followed next, mounted on a pony, a single soldier being considered sufficient for her guard. After her came Baw Bee, a sub-chief, and halfbrother of Baw Beese, with about a dozen more middle-aged and youngerly Indians and squaws, some on ponies and some on foot, and some of the squaws with pappooses on their backs. These were probably the children and grandchildren of Baw Beese, and a special escort of half a dozen soldiers was assigned to them. After these came the main body of the band, in groups of five, ten, or twenty each, stretching along for half a mile or more. A few were on ponies but most of them on foot; stalwart warriors, with rifles on their shoulders, but with mournful faces; women, still more dejected, with their blankets drawn over their heads; boys and girls, careless of the future, and full of mischievous tricks; and, slung on their mothers' backs, the black-haired, bright-eyed, brownfaced pappooses, the cutest-looking creatures in the world, gazing with infant wonder on the curious scene. On each side of the road marched the soldiers, scattered along, a considerable distance apart, as if guarding a wagon-train. The Indians were acquainted with almost every one, and as they recognized one and another of those who had been their friends, they called to them by name: " Good-by, good-by." " Good-by, good-by," responded the whites; and thus with friendly salutations the last of the Pottawattamies left forever the home of their ancestors. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 45 After Baw Beese and his band joined the rest of the tribe the women and children and some others were put in wagons. All were then taken to Peoria, Ill., and embarked upon steamboats. Thence they were carried down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to the mouth of the Missouri, and up the latter stream to Council Bluffs, Ia., nearly due west of their former home, where the government had allotted them a large reservation. They disliked the location, however, partly on account of the scarcity of timber, which made the country so different from the densely-wooded hills and dales of their ancient hunting-grounds, and partly on account of the nearness of the dreaded Sioux, who ranged at will over the broad plains less than a hundred miles to the northward and westward. They continuously besought the government to remove them to some other locality, and at last gained their point. About 1850 they were transferred to a tract about thirty miles square on the Kansas River, some seventy-five miles west of its junction with the Missouri, in what was then a part of the Indian Territory. On the formation of Kansas Territory, embracing this tract, the Pottawattamnies were left there on a reservation, and there they still reside. A report has gained some credence in this county that, while the tribe resided near Council Bluffs, Baw Beese was actually slain by the Sioux whom he so much dreaded. This, however, is incorrect; the chieftain died a natural death in extreme old age. Those who have been interested in the changeful history of these children of the wilderness may, perhaps, be gratified to learn that, according to official reports, the two thousand Pottawattamnies in Kansas have much improved in their new home, and that their moral and intellectual standing is higher than that of almost any other tribe in that State. Their removal in 1840 terminated their connection with Hillsdale County; for, although a very few of those who were sent West escaped from the guard and returned to Michigan, we cannot learn that a single one of them took up his residence in this county. With the end of 1840 we close our chapter on what we have designated as " The Pioneer Era," meaning to indicate roughly the period of the hardest struggles in the settlement of Hillsdale County. There was a good deal of pioneering done after that, yet with the lightening of the financial pressure of 1840, the rapid emigration soon swept away many of the difficulties incident to a new country, constant cultivation removed many of the causes of sickness, and the county soon entered on a course of rapid and prosperous development. Before leaving the year 1840, however, we must mention a curious result of the contest which had been going on for several years between Hillsdale and Jonesville for the county-seat. As is the case in many political contests, both of the chief rivals came very near losing the prize for which they were striving, in favor of a " dark horse." Finding that they were in growing danger of losing the countyseat, on account of Hillsdale's nearness to the centre of the county, the Jonesville people joined with those in the eastern part of the county and procured the passage of an act on the 31st of March, 1840, by which a majority of the county commissioners were directed to fix the site of the county buildings in Osseo. The new city was so small that the Legislature was obliged to describe it as being in sections 4 and 9, township 7, range 2, where a lot of not less than three acres was to be deeded for the use of the county. But the courts and offices were to be kept at Jonesville until the county commissioners should certify that suitable buildings had been erected at Osseo for their accommodation. As no such buildings were ever erected, the county-seat was never removed to Osseo, but remained at Jonesville until it was finally located at Hillsdale. CHAPTER VIII. THE ERA OF DEVELOPMENT. The Railroad-Laws to Facilitate its Construction-Its Completion to Hillsdale-Marked Improvement-Orchards and Fields-Another Township-The County-Seat moved to Hillsdale-A New County Building-The Old Jail Burned-New Jail-County Offices and Records burned-New Court-House built-The State sells its Railroad-It is extended to Jonesville-Rapid Construction to Chicago -Formation of Amnboy-The Frame-House Era-The Crisis of 1857-The Last Township-The Tocsin of War-Hillsdale's Response. BY far the most important public object to which the attention of the people of Hillsdale County was attracted at the opening of the new decade was the attainment of a railroad. This was to be the magic power which should connect the lonesome settlements in the still uncongenial forests of Michigan with the great world outside. The country was beginning to recover from the stunning blows of 1837, and the Legislature of Michigan still adhered to the theory that the State could profitably build and manage any kind of public works that might be deemed necessary. Accordingly, in March, 1841, a law was passed granting two hundred thousand dollars to build the Southern Railroad as far west as Hillsdale village. Work was begun along the line between Adrian and Hillsdale, but not very rapidly. In February, 1842, another law was passed authorizing the board of commissioners of internal improvement to pledge the net proceeds of the Southern road for five years, in order to iron the road and to build it from Adrian to Hillsdale. Through 1842 the work was continued with much energy, the people watching with intensest interest, as if, instead of grimy engineers and brakemen, a host of shining angels were expected to come over the slender rails. At length, in the spring of 1843, the road was completed as far as Hudson, close to the 'eastern border of Hillsdale County. Renewed efforts were made, and inr the autumn of the same year it was finished sixteen miles farther to Hillsdale, and the first locomotive began its regular trips in the county. Nor were the people much mistaken in thinking that the railroad would be the harbinger of an era of great prosperity. The road, in connection with the great improvement in business consequent on the reaction from the previous depression, certainly worked marvelous changes in Hillsdale County. The products of its farms, so long imprisoned by the unfathomable roads between here and Lake Erie, now found 46 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ready egress to the East, and brought back returns of money which, in comparison with the supplies of previous years, might be called abundant. New facilities were also furnished for emigration, and for several springs and summers not a week, hardly a day, passed without some newcomer from the East making his home amid the dense forests or fertile openings of Hillsdale County. Improvement began to be observed, too, in the condition of the farms and character of the buildings. The massive stumps, which looked as if they could defy the assaults of an army of giants, began rapidly to disappear under the destructive influences of time. Although log houses still remained the rule, yet here and there a modest frame house was to be seen even outside of the only two villages in the county-Jonesville and Hillsdale. Orchards had been set out by nearly all the early settlers very soon after their arrival, and during the decade now under consideration their fruits became comparatively common throughout the county. Meanwhile, another civil township was organized; Cambria being formed from Woodbridge, in 1841, embracing same territory as at present,-survey-township No. 7, in range 3. As before stated, ever since Hillsdale village had been founded its proprietors and inhabitants had been striving to make it the county-seat. Tie law directing the removal of the seat of justice to Osseo had been a failure, because very few really wanted it there, and the commissioners had not procured the erection of any buildings there. Hillsdale still continued its efforts to remove the coveted " seat" to its own " Court-House Square," while Jonesville struggled desperately to retain its failing grasp. Vigorous efforts were made on either side to elect representatives and senators favorable to Hillsdale or to Jonesville, as the case might be, and ordinary politics were subservient for a time to the all-important question of the county-seat. At length, however, the central position of Hillsdale triumphed, and the long-vexed question was finally settled. On the 30th of January, 1843, a law was passed declaring that the present seat of justice of Hillsdale County (without specifying whether it was at Jonesville or Osseo) was thereby "vacated," and establishing the same on the Court-House Square, in the village of Hillsdale. The courts were directed to be held at Hillsdale as soon as commissioners named in the bill should procure the use of a suitable building to be occupied until a permanent one could be erected. Heman Pratt, John Mickle, and Wray T. Palmer were appointed by the act commissioners to carry out the removal, and in this case there was no hesitation about doing so. A temporary building was at once procured, and the change was speedily consummated. The new law also provided that the supervisors should sell all the county buildings and lands in Jonesville, and build a jail at Hillsdale with the proceeds. There were no "county buildings" at Jonesville except the old log jail. This was used until 1844, when it caught fire, and was speedily consumed. The jail still standing in Hillsdale City was begun in 1845 and finished in 1846. In 1843, soon after the passage of the law moving the county-seat, a building was erected on the site of the present court-house, for county purposes. It was merely a onestory wooden structure, about twenty-five feet by forty, with a hall through the middle, and rooms on each side for the treasurer, clerk, register, and sheriff: The courts were held in the Presbyterian church, now belonging to the Catholics. In 18-17, the county building just described was burned to the ground. Nearly all the records were destroyed with it; in fact, scarcely anything was saved except the book which recorded the various canvasses of votes and certificates of elections. This, however, is just what is necessary for our purposes, and from it we have been able to obtain a nearly full list of the county officers with their terms of service. For two or three years nothing was done to repair the loss, but at the session of the Legislature in 1850 an act was passed authorizing the Board of Supervisors of Hillsdale County to borrow money for the purpose of building a court-house. The board forthwith proceeded to exercise the authority thus conferred, and the same year they made the necessary loan and began the erection of the present plain but substantial stone edifice. The new structure was completed in the winter of 1850 -51. F. M. Holloway was the first official occupant; taking possession of the room assigned to the register of deeds about the middle of February, 1851. Meanwhile there had been some progress in railroadbuilding. By 1846, the people had become thoroughly disgusted with the experience of the State in that kind of work, and in that year the Legislature sold the Southern Railroad to a company, with Edwin C. Litchfield at its head, for five hundred thousand dollars, in ten equal annual instalments. During the next four years the new company only built four miles, extending the track as far as Jonesville. In fact, it could hardly be said that the company built even that. As before stated, the route, as adopted by the State Commissioners, ran westward from Hillsdale, leaving Jonesville out in the cold. But after the Litchfield company bought the road, the people of Jonesville offered, if the company would bring it there, to build the road from Hillsdale to that place, ready for the iron, free of cost. The offer was accepted and the road was built. Ransom Gardner, a public-spirited citizen of Jonesville, obtained as large a subscription as he could, and then proceeded to grade the track and put down the ties. It was completed to Jonesville in 1849. In 1851, the company began building the road westward. They pushed it forward with extraordinary rapidity, constructed it far beyond the western boundary of Hillsdale County the same year, and in March, 1852, completed it to Chicago. Another township was also added to the previous number. Amboy was formed in 1850, from the southern portions of Ransom and Woodbridge; comprising the southern tier of sections in township 8 and fiactional township 9 in range 2, the corresponding parts of the same numbered townships in range 3. The new township was thus twelve miles long east and west, by from two miles and a third to two miles and two-thirds north and south, being the narrowest at the east end. The extreme tenuity of Amboy is one of the results of the " Toledo war." If it had not HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 47 been for the enforced yielding by Michigan to Ohio of the territory which the former had long claimed as her own, the fractional townships would have been from three to four miles wider. In that case, doubtless, three more civil townships would have been organized in the south part of Hillsdale County. So that, by the adverse termination of that memorable conflict, the people have been deprived of the services of three sets of town officers, which is a great pity. The population of the county by the census of 1850 was sixteen thousand one hundred and fifty-nine, and the increase both in population and improvements went steadily forward. The remaining forests were rapidly going down before the woodsman's axe, thousands of fertile acres were every year uncovered to the sun, and smiling orchards took the places lately occupied by gloomy elms and towering oaks. The decade lasting from 1850 to 1860 also witnessed a great part of the change which especially marks to the outward eye the transition from the pioneer period to the farming period; viz., the change from log houses to frame houses. Outside the two villages of Jonesville and Hillsdale there were almost no frame houses erected before 1840. From 1840 to 1850 a comparatively small number had taken the places of their rude though serviceable predecessors, but between 1850 and 1860 a decided majority of the farmers found themselves able to enjoy the luxury of frame houses of various styles and sizes. Pumps, too, took the place of the picturesque "sweeps," which in every pioneer's door-yard had greeted the eye afar, and from each of which depended the " old oaken bucket" renowned in song, but somewhat difficult for a woman or small boy to manage. Changes from inconvenience to convenience were to be seen in every part of the county, and prosperity was unquestionably the order of the day. The "crisis" of 1857 only slightly checked the tide. It was so light in comparison with the terrible crash of 1837 that old settlers scarcely considered it as worthy of the name of crisis. In 1858 the eighteenth, and till the present time the last township in the county was formed,-that of Hillsdale. It comprised the south half of the former township of Fayette (survey township 6 south, in range 3 west). At the same time Fayette was extended so as to take in the southern tier of sections of Scipio. These changes were made by the Board of Supervisors, which had been invested with authority to act in such cases. After a year or two of depression, the business of the county again began to manifest its old vitality. The census of 1860 showed a population of twenty-five thousand six hundred and seventy-five, an increase of fifty-nine per cent. in ten years. Thus prosperous, and, perhaps, as happy as could well be expected in this world of difficulty, the people of Hillsdale County entered the fateful year 1861, hardly able to believe that the treasonous threats wafted on every Southern breeze would be carried out by American citizens, however frenzied in their devotion to slavery and their hatred of freedom. But the electric tocsin which sounded through the land on the 14th day of April, 1861, quickly dispelled this delusive trust in the patriotism of the South, and from the I i I I Atlantic to the Pacific the North sprang to arms in defense of the country. Among all the millions who thus responded to the call of patriotism, none made a better record than did those who represented the county of Hillsdale. In the following chapters we give that record so far as we have been able to obtain it. CHAPTER IX. THE FIRST AND SECOND INFANTRY. Preliminary Remarks-Basis of Military Records-The First Infantry-Number from Ilillsdale County-On the Peninsula-Second Bull Itun-Antietam and Fredericksburg-Hard Fight at Gettysburg-The Campaign of 1864-The Siege of Petersburg-Capturing Fortifications at Poplar Grove Church-The Final Conflict-List of Members-The Second Infantry-Its Numbers from this County -On the Peninsula-Severely engaged at Williamsburg-Also at Fair Oaks-Other Conflicts-The Second joins Grant-Battle at Jackson-Ordered to Knoxville-A Desperate Conflict-Back to the Potomac-The Wilderness and Spottsylvania — ard Fighting before Petersburg-Storming a Breach-Other Battles-Storming of Fort Steadiman-Final Victory-Names of Members. IN order to show as fully as possible the part taken by the soldiers of Hlillsdale County, we have determined that in every case in which there were twenty or more men from that county in a regiment, we would give a slight sketch of the services of the regiment in question; although, of course, where the number was as small as that, the notice can only be extremely brief. When there was a larger number in a regiment, and especially when there were two or three hundred, the regimental record has been given at considerable length. Attached to each regimental history are the names of the officers and soldiers from Hillsdale County belonging to that regiment. All those belonging to regiments in which there were less than twenty Hillsdale men each, are grouped together in the closing chapter of the military record. That record is derived mostly from the admirable reports of Gen. John C. Robertson, adjutant-general of the State throughout the war, and still holding that position. His reports are more full than those of almost any other State, and being obtained from the commanders of regiments from year to year during the war, are far more reliable than any accounts which could -now be gathered elsewhere, unless the latter were based on the diaries of officers or soldiers. We have found none such, however, in this county, and have, therefore, depended principally upon the adjutant-general's reports, eking them out in some cases by incidents derived from members of the regiments. We are under especial obligations to Mr. Asher B. La Fleur, now county treasurer, for interesting items regarding the 4th Infantry. We have, of course, used only such portions of the reports as are applicable to Hillsdale County men, and in case of small detachments have condensed the official statements into very small compass. The lists of officers and soldiers are also based on those reports, though there are occasional corrections made by those who have personal knowledge of the matter. The list of officers from this county could only be obtained at the adjutant-general's office, as their residence is not given in the published reports. We beg leave to acknowledge the I 48 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. courtesies extended us there, as well as the great aid afforded Jam Juli us in our work by the reports. Without further preliminary, wm we proceed at once to tell the story of the part taken by Corr Chai the soldiers of Hillsdale County in the war for the Union. Pil FIRST MICHIGAN INFANTRY. There were, during the war, fifteen Hillsdale County men in Company C of this regiment, four in Company H, one sev in Company I, and one in Company K; in all twenty-one. tee] The regiment, organized for three years, after the discharge pan of the first regiment of three-months' volunteers, left the Coi State in September, 1861. During the succeeding winter ] it was in Maryland, guarding the Baltimore and Washington sett Railroad. In the spring of 1862, it went with the Army tha of the Potomac to the Peninsula, where it took part in the Jul battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mills, and Malvern Hill. wet Joining Pope's army immediately after, the 1st partici- in pated in the battles of Gainesville, Second Bull Run (in liar which over half its members were killed or wounded), tha Antietam, and Fredericksburg. and The next spring it took part in the campaign of Chancel- in lorsville, and after numerous severe marches reached Get- kill tysburg on the 2d of July, 1863, in time to engage in that fort memorable encounter. Nearly a third of the small number of which followed its banner were killed or wounded. ver During the remainder of the year and the forepart of but 1864, the 1st was engaged in the various movements made ] in Virginia by the Army of the Potomac, and in the mean of time was reorganized as a veteran regiment. Going into of the great campaign of 1864 on the 1st of May, the regi- Jac ment took part in most of the battles and skirmishes of van that terrible time, including Alsop's Farm, Spottsylvania, the North Anna, Jericho Mine, and Cold Harbor. In June, linc 1864, when the 4th Infantry went home to be mustered tur out and reorganized, its veterans and the later recruits were vie: assigned to the 1st, and remained with them until June, Vi( 1865. It took an active part in the siege of Petersburg, to. was present at the battle of Weldon Railroad, and partici- ] pated in the desperate conflict of Poplar Grove Church, and where alone it carried two strong fortifications, and a part the of an intrenched line. acti The regiment remained engaged in the siege of Peters- resi burg throughout the winter, taking part in the battle of In Hatcher's Run in February, and in another conflict at the reb same place in March. It was also engaged in the closing the battles of the great struggle, including the affair at Appo- ] mattox Court-House on the 9th of April, 1865. The regi- mel ment was mustered out in July. its LIST OF MEMBERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. plu dec Luther S. Millard, Co. C; killed at Gaines' Mill, Va., June 27, 1862. Eliab F. Rogers, Co. C; died Sept. 18, 1862, of wounds received at Bull Run. nes John Ball, Jr., Co. C; died. thi John E. Crane, Co. C; died at Fortress Monroe, Va., Sept. 21, 1862. George Garrett, Co. C; died at Washington, D. C., Oct. 1, 1862.e John Smalts, Co. C; died at Washington, D. C., Oct. 10, 1862. Bet Truman A. Hodgkins, Co. H; missing in action, Jan. 15, 1864.i Ambrose Cole, Co. I; died of wounds, July 2, 1864. t Isaac Smith, Co. C; died near Alexandria, Va. Michael Helmick, Co. C; disch. for disability, April 3, 1862. i John C. Iles, Co. C; disch. at Point Lookout, Md., Feb. 1,1863. James McDougall, Co. C; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 17,1864. bat Wm. R. Newman, Co. C; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 25, 1863. kill Cornelius Fuller, Co. H; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 17, 1864. Allen O. Goodrich, Co. C; trans. to Yet. Res. Corps, July 1, 1863. fou es McDougall, Co. C; must. out July 9, 1865. us R. Newman, Co. C; must. out at expiration of service, Oct. 24, 1864.. H. Pettit, Co. C; must. out at expiration of service, Nov. 19, 1864. nelius Fuller, Co. H; must. out July 9, 1865. rles D. Hodgkin, Co. H; disch. for disability, Feb. 15, 1863. o M. Palmer, Co. K; must. out July 9, 1865. SECOND INFANTRY. This regiment numbered among its members no less than enty soldiers from Hillsdale County; comprising eighn in Company A, forty in Company D, three in Comly E, five in Company F, one in Company G, and one in mpany K. [t was the first three-years' regiment which left the State; ting out in the forepart of June, 1861. Its only combat t season was at Blackburn's Ford, Va., on the 18th of ly. Remaining near Alexandria during the winter, it nt to the Peninsula in March, 1862. After taking part the siege of Yorktown, the regiment proceeded to Wilnsburg, where it was actively engaged in the battle of it name; having seventeen killed, thirty-eight wounded, I four missing. It also took an active and gallant part the battle of Fair Oaks, where ten of its members were ed and forty-seven wounded. The regiment shared the tunes of the Army of the Potomac during the remainder the year, being present at the battles of Glendale, Malrn Hill, second Bull Run, Chantilly, and Fredericksburg, t being so stationed as not to suffer very serious loss. In March, 1863, the 2d was ordered West, and in June that year, as a part of the 9th Corps, it joined the army Gen. Grant, near Vicksburg. It arrived in front of tkson, Miss., on the 10th of June. The next day it adiced in skirmish-line and drove the rebel skirmishers from ir rifle-pits, but was in return driven back by the main e of the enemy; the total of killed, wounded, and caped during the battle being fifty-six. It remained in the inity, aiding the operations which resulted in the fall of eksburg, about a month after which it went up the river Kentucky. In September, 1863, the 2d marched to Knoxville, Tenn., I remained in East Tennessee throughout the year. In 3 latter part of November and forepart of December it was ively engaged in the celebrated defense of that city, which ulted in the complete defeat and withdrawal of the enemy. a charge made on the 24th, the regiment assailed the el intrenchments with desperate valor, more than half number engaged having been killed or wounded. Having re-enlisted as veterans in January, 1864, the regint returned home on furlough. In April it again joined old comrades in the Army of the Potomac, and soon nged into the long and bloody campaign which was to;ide the fate of the nation. In the battle of the Wilders, on the 6th of May, the 2d had six men killed and rty-two wounded; at Spottsylvania Court-House, on 12th, it had two killed and nine wounded; and at thesda Church, on the 2d of June, two were killed and rty-six wounded. After crossing the Chickahominy and James Rivers to the inity of Petersburg, the regiment took part in the severe ties of the 17th and 18th of June, 1864; having eight led and seventy-four wounded on the former day, and rteen killed and sixty-nine wounded on the latter. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. _ 49 Again, on the 30th of July, after the explosion of the celebrated Petersburg mine, the regiment took an active part in the fiuitless attempt to storm the breach, having six men killed, fourteen wounded, and thirty-seven captured by the enemy. It was also in the battles of Weldon Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, and Boydton Plank-Road. During the winter of 1864-65 the 2d was actively engaged in the siege of Petersburg, taking its full part in trench and picket duty, and sharing all the hardships of that gloomy period. On the 25th of March it took part in the storming of Fort Steadman, suffering heavily in killed and wounded. After the capture of Petersburg and surrender of Lee the regiment was on duty in and near Washington until the 1st of August, when it was sent home and discharged. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HIILLSDALE COUNTY. Edwin J. March (previously capt. of the 27th Inf.), appointed lieut.-col. April 1, 1864; wounded before Petersburg, June -, 1864; commissioned col. Sept. 30, 1864; resigned April 17, 1865. Richard W. Ricaby, appointed capt. April 1, 1864; wounded June 24, 1864; com. lieut.-col. Dec. 1864; disch. for disability Dec. 14, 1864. Edward A. Sherman, com. 1st lieut. April 1, 1864; wounded near Petersburg, June, 1864; died Aug. 1864. Hurlburt Regg, coin. 2d lieut. April 1, 1864; wounded July 17, 1864; disch. for disability Oct. 14, 1864. Franklin Burns, Co. A; killed near Petersburg, Va., June 18,1864. Mathew M. Ormsby, Co. A; died of wounds June 19, 1864. Sanford Rogers, Co. A; died of wounds Aug. 16, 1864, at David's Island, N. Y. Edwin C. Holmes, Co. D; killed near Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864. George Hatch, Co. D; died of wounds at Washington, D. C., Aug. 2, 1864. George Crisp, Co. G; died of wounds at Washington, D. C., July 28, 1864. Roselle S. Dickson, Co. D; died at Washington, D. C., July 28, 1864. Samuel B. Rogers, Co. A; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. Richard Hogarth, Co. A; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. Warren Copeland, Co. A; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., Sept. 30, 1864. John Tracy, Co. A; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., Sept. 30, 1864; returned. Charles W. Daniels, Co. D; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864; returned. James Beard, Co. D; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864; returned. Alvin E. Hank, Co. D; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., Oct. 27, 1864; returned. Luke Stage, Co. A; died of wounds Oct. 27, 1864. Thomas Weston, Co. D; killed near Petersburg, Va., Feb. 23, 1865. William Priestly, Co. D; died of wounds May 18, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pa. Emanuel Eddinger, Co. E; died of wounds June 26,1864, at City Point, Va. William Cartwright, Co. F; killed near Petersburg, Va., Feb. 22, 1865. John Tracy, Co. A; died at Salisbury, N. C., Feb. 18, 1865. George Crisp, Co. D; died at Washington, D. C., July 28, 1864. Edward M. Brown, band; must. out Aug. 1,1862. William L. Mapes, Co. B; disch. for wounds Aug. 25, 1862. Warren Eddinger, Co. E; disch. for disability Sept. 26, 1864. Alexander Campbell, Co. K; disch. for disability, July 1, 1864. Lavant Palmer, Co. B; disch. Dec. 31, 1863, to re-enl. as veteran. Edward Bohner, Co. A; must. out June 2, 1865. Thos. H. Curtis, Co. A; must. out Aug. 2, 1865. Lucius E. Gridley, Co. A; must. out July 28, 1865. Warren Muller, Co. A; must. out July 28,1865. Franklin Russell, Co. A; must. out June 2,1865. B. Franklin Sweet, Co. A; must. out May 25,1865. George Touse, Co. A; must. out July 28, 1865. Adna M. Woolsey, Co. A; must. out July 28, 1865. William Young, Co. A; must. out July 28, 1865. John W. Stone, Co. D; must. out Aug. 19,1865. James Beard, Co. D; must. out July 18, 1865. Dewitt C. Cherington, Co. D; must. out July 28,1865. Levi Dunn, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Michael Overly, Co. D; must. out June 7, 1865. Thos. C. Rudabaugh, Co. D; must. out Aug. 3,1865. Alvin E. Hank, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Charles W. Daniels, Co. D; must. out July 28,1865. Andrew A. Ewing, Co. D; must. out July 28,1865. William Beard, Co. D; must out July 28, 1865. Freeman HIavens, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Frederick Knecht, Co. D; disch. for disability, May 22, 1865. 7 Wm. W. Marshall, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Christian Knecht, Co. D, must. out July 28, 1865. Ebenezer W. Warren, Co. D; disch. for disability, June 26, 1865. George Hart, Co. D; must. out June 20, 1865. Henry Fried, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Samuel H. Helsel, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Franklin D. Ford, Co. D; must. out June 20, 1865. James N. Root, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Myron It. Smith, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. William Morley, Co. D; must. out May 24, 1865. Andrew Hall, Co. D; disch. for disability, July 30, 1865. John Ackerman, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Joseph II. Crisp, Co. D; must. out May 12, 1865. John Truax, Co. D; disch. for disability, May 26,1865. Henry M. Ewing, Co. D; disch. for disability, June 23,1865. Marshall Crandall, Co. D; must. out July 28, 1865. Sidney Jackson, Co. D; must. out June 16, 1865. Orrin C. Fry, Co. D; must. out June 24, 1865. David L. Havens, Co. D; must. out June 20, 1865. John T. Corwin, Co. F; disch. from V. R. C., May 30, 1865. Alvarus Derthick, Co. F; must. out July 28, 1865. Wm. H. Vandebogart, Co. F; must. out May 11, 1865. George Carpenter, Co. F; must. out July 28, 1865. William Havens, Co. F; disch. by order, June 17, 1865. William B. May, Co. K; must. out July 28, 1865. CHAPTER X. THE FOURTH INFANTRY. Number from Hillsdale County-The " Grosvenor Guard" and "Hillsdale Volunteers" —The Fourth in Virginia-Its Conduct after Bull Run-It goes to the Peninsula-Its Gallantry at New Bridge-Also at Malvern Hill, Bull Run, and Antietam-A Night Attack-A Brilliant Success-A Battery Captured-Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville-Desperate Fight at Gettysburg-The Campaign of 1864 -In the Wilderness-Death of Col. Lombard-Victory at Laurel Hill-Continuous Fighting-Time Expires-Veterans, etc., detached-Various Items-The Reorganized Fourth-Eight new Companies Raised-Off for Alabama-A Fight as soon as it ArrivesThe Enemy Defeated-Service in Tennessee-Ordered to TexasHard Service-Mustered out in 1866-List of Officers and Soldiers. THIS regiment, including the recruits added on its reorganization, embraced the largest contingent of Hillsdale County soldiers of any in the service, and was likewise one of the most distinguished of the Michigan regiments for excellent discipline and unflinching valor. Previous to the reorganization the number of soldiers from this county who served in Company B was three; in Company C, seven; in E, a hundred and seventeen; in H, ninety-five; and in T, nine; total, two hundred and eighteen. In the new organization there were seventy-one Hillsdale County men in Company A, twenty-three in Company B, twelve in C, one in D, seven in E, and seventeen in F; total, one hundred and thirty-one; making a grand total of three hundred and forty-nine; sixty-three more Hillsdale County men than were contained in any other regiment. When the war news first rang through the country two companies were immediately raised in Hillsdale County; the headquarters of one being at Jonesville, and that of the other at Hillsdale. The former was called the " Grosvenor Union Guard," in honor of Hon. E. O. Grosvenor, of Jonesville, and was under the command of Capt. M. A. Funk, while the latter was known as the " Hillsdale Volun teers," commanded by Capt. George W. Lombard, a prominent lawyer of that place. The young men of Fayette, Litchfield, Scipio, and other 50 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. northern towns hastened to fill the ranks of the Grosvenor Guard, while those from the southern towns mostly enlisted in the Hillsdale Volunteers. A few, as has been seen, went into other companies. Being ordered to Adrian, where the 4th Infantry was in process of formation, Capt. Funk's command became Company H of that regiment, while Capt. Lombard's became Company E. The regiment was speedily filled up, and left Adrian on the 25th of June, 1861, with over a thousand men. Arriving in Virginia, the 4th took an active part in the movements connected with the first battle of Bull Run, and after that disastrous conflict it was one of the few regiments which retired in good order, covering the rear of the demoralized army. The regiment also aided largely in the construction of the works around Washington. During the winter of 1861-62 it was encamped at Miner's Hill, Va. In the spring of the latter year it went with McClellan's army to Yorktown, and thence up the Peninsula. On the 24th of May, it was on the north side of the Chickahominy, at New Bridge. An order came to make a reconnaissance in force. Five companies of the 4th were directed to cross the river. They plunged in under a heavy fire, and made their way steadily across. In many places the water was up to the men's necks, and they could only keep their cartridges dry by hanging the boxes on their bayonets and holding their rifles above their heads. Once on the other side, the battalion quickly formed and engaged in a desperate conflict with the celebrated Louisiana Tigers, driving them back with heavy loss. They were highly complimented by Gen. McClellan for their gallantry, and at once took rank among the best regiments in the service. On the 26th of June the 4th took part in the battle of Mechanicsville, and in that of Gaines' Mills on the following day. Still retiring with the shattered Army of the Potomac, on the 1st of July it reached the hills of Malvern, where the Union forces stood at bay. The 4th Michigan was on the extreme left of the Union lines. One of the divisions of Stonewall Jackson's corps formed on its left, with the evident intention of turning its flank. The brigade to which the 4th belonged changed front, so as to face the enemy, and poured a deadly fire upon them. Meanwhile the gunboats in the James River, which lay so as to cover the Union flank, also opened fire on the foe with their big guns, throwing, as our informant expressed it, "shells as big as nail-kegs." As their terrible missiles, which cut off trees like pipe-stems, joined their destructive powers to the thick-flying bullets of the 4th Michigan and their comrade regiments, the rebels were very glad to retire in all haste from the position, and did not again attempt to occupy it. During the fierce battle which followed, Col. Woodbury, the commandant of the 4th, was killed. Capt. George W. Lombard, of Hillsdale, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the regiment for gallant conduct at Malvern Hill, his commission dating from July 1,-the day of the battle. The total of casualties in the 4th during the battles of June and July was fifty-three killed, a hundred and fortyfour wounded, and fifty-two missing; in all two hundred and thirty-one. The regiment soon after went north with the Army of the Potomac, being present in the battles of Gainesville, Second Bull Run, and Antietam, but without suffering very serious loss. Three days after the latter battle, on the 20th of September, 1862, the 4th was stationed on the east side of the Potomac, at Shepherdstown Ford. On the western side of the river was a rebel battery of five guns, which kept up a most annoying fire on the troops on the eastern side. Gen. Griffin, the commander of the brigade, rode up to the commander of the 4th, saying," Can't you take your regiment quietly into the river after dark, march across, and capture that battery?" "I can try, sir," promptly replied the officer addressed. " That's all that any one can do," said the general; " go ahead and try it." Accordingly, about nine o'clock at night, the 4th, alone, moved quietly down and took post in the bed of the Baltimore and Ohio Canal, which ran close to the bank of the river, and from which the water had been drained by the breaking of the locks. All orders were passed in a whisper, and the utmost care was taken to prevent any untimely noise from disclosing the enterprise to the enemy. The men looked with considerable distrust on the undertaking; it seemed like a big job to ford a river a third of a mile wide in face of a hostile battery and capture it. However, the order was imperative, and few or none were disposed to flinch. When all was ready, the requisite orders, still in whispers, were passed along the line, and the men silently arose and passed over the bank into the river. The night was dark, and although the enemy's pickets were close to the water on the other side, they could see nothing of the movement which was in progress. In some places the water was only ankle-deep, in others knee-deep, and in others waist-deep. In complete silence the line moved steadily forward until the middle of the stream was nearly reached. Then some of the men stumbled on the slippery rocks, and, in saving themselves from falling, made considerable splashing in the water. The attention of the rebel pickets was aroused, and, on peering eagerly into the darkness, they could discern the dim line of the silent 4th making its way across the river. The next instant a dozen rifles flashed their angry welcome. Their leaden messengers whistled among the ranks of the advancing "' Yankees," and the sharp reports re-echoed along the rocky banks of the Potomac. No more need of silence now. " Forward!" shouted the colonel; " forward! forward!" repeated the line-officers, and forward went the gallant regiment, all striving to see how quickly they could reach the shore. On the other hand, the rebels, who seem to have been without much infantry support, got their guns ready for action as speedily as possible, and began a tremendous cannonade. But the battery was on high ground, and by the time it opened fire the 4th was so close that the rebel balls went harmlessly over their heads. With a thundering cheer, the Union line charged up the steep, rushed with fixed bayonets upon the artillerists, and captured about twenty of them, while the rest fled at the top of their speed into the darkness, leaving their five cannon the prize of the conquerors. So well had the plan been arranged and carried HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 51 out that only two or three men were killed in what had at first appeared to be an undertaking of extreme danger. Its very audacity largely assisted its success. Four of the guns thus taken had been captured by the rebels at the first Bull Run battle from the battery then commanded by Capt. Griffin, of the regular army, who in 1862 was the brigadier-general that ordered the assault just described, and who was intensely gratified at the unexpected recapture of his former pets. After this exploit, the regiment engaged in the usual marches through the mud and snow of Virginia, until the battle of Fredericksburg, on the 13th and 14th of December, 1862, in which it took an active part, having nine men killed and forty-one wounded. It remained in the vicinity of Fredericksburg until the 1st of May, 1863, when it became engaged in the battle of Chancellorsville, though not in the hottest part of the field. The total of casualties there-killed, wounded, and missing-was thirty. Then followed the long march northward under a blazing sun, till on the 1st of July they reached the field of Gettysburg. On the 2d they were in the thick of the fight, being then in the 5th Corps. Here they met the Louisiana Tigers, their old enemies of the Chickahominy, with other regiments, in one of the few hand-to-hand conflicts of the war. For a time the conflict was of the most deadly description. Col. Jeffords, the commander of the regiment, fell dead pierced by half a dozen bayonets. Several other officers were killed and wounded. Lieut.-Col. Lombard assumed command and gallantly continued the fight, but the loss of the regiment was very serious. When, on the 4th of July, after the glorious victory of the Union arms was assured, the rolls of the 4th Michigan were called, it was found that twenty-eight men had been killed, eighty were wounded, and seventy-nine were missing. After Gettysburg the 4th participated in the pursuit of the enemy and other movements of the Army of the Potomac, and was encamped during the winter of 1863-64 at Bealton, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Lieut.Col. Lombard, of Hillsdale, was promoted to colonel, dating fiom the 3d of July, 1863. On the 30th of April, 1864, the 4th broke camp, and set out on the great campaign which was only to close with the overthrow of the Rebellion. On the 5th, 6th, and 7th of May the regiment was engaged in the battle of the Wilderness. Though not in the thickest of the fight, it suffered a severe loss on the first-mentioned day, the gallant and genial Col. Lombard being mortally wounded by a rebel bullet. On the morning of the 8ti of May, the 4th, with the rest of Griffin's Division, arrived at Laurel Hill, between the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court-House. They remained here during the 8th and 9th, exchanging frequent shots with the enemy, but without a heavy battle. On the morning of the 10th of May, while the 4th was supporting a battery, the enemy made a charge on the guns. The supports remained in the rear, and the first charge was repulsed by the battery alone. It was seen, however, that another and more determined charge was about to be made, and pretty soon the gray lines came rushing forward, sounding the well-known rebel yell. The brigade to which the 4th belonged was ordered to keep quiet till the enemy was within about ten rods. Then, at the sound of the bugle, the Union line advanced rapidly to the battery and delivered a well-directed volley among the advancing Confederates. Scores of the latter fell, killed or wounded, before the deadly blast, but, with redoubled yells, the survivors rushed forward towards the coveted cannon. The 4th and their comrades stood their ground, and for a few moments a fierce hand-to-hand conflict raged among the guns and caissons. In some instances, when bayonets were knocked off the rifles were clubbed and shattered on the heads of foemen. A brief experience of this kind of fighting was sufficient to satisfy the assailants, and very soon the gray-coats were seen streaming back to the shelter of their rifle-pits. Then a counter-charge was ordered, and with a cheer the Union brigade rushed forward, capturing a large number of prisoners and taking and holding the first line of the rebel works. This was the signal for a general advance along the Union lines, by which several thousand prisoners were captured. In the brief conflict of the morning the 4th had twenty men killed and wounded, which was nearly ten per cent. of the number engaged. The 4th was in the advanced lines of the 5th Corps throughout the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th days of May, a large part of the time being actively engaged as skirmishers. It also participated in a brisk conflict near Jericho Mills, on the North Anna River. In fact it was at this period engaged in fighting nearly every day and almost all day. On the 29th, 30th, and 31st days of May, and the 1st day of June it was skirmishing south of the Pamunkey River, and on the 3d of the latter month it took part in the capture of the enemy's works at Bethesda Church. Crossing the James River, the regiment arrived in front of Petersburg on the 16th of June, and the next day was engaged in a skirmish. Its time expired on the 19th of June, and on that very day it took part in a sharp engagement, having eight men killed and wounded. That evening it was relieved from duty and the next day embarked for Washington. It arrived in Detroit on the 26th of June, and on the 30th was mustered out of service. A hundred and twenty-nine of the men, however, had re-enlisted as veterans, which, with recruits who joined after the organization, brought up the number of those whose time had not expired to two hundred and eighty soldiers and three officers. These were assigned to duty with the 1st Michigan Infantry when the 4th left the seat of war. Of the ten hundred and eighty-five gallant officers and men who left Adrian in the 4th Infantry for the front in June, 1861, there were only two hundred and twentythree on the rolls at the time of muster out, in addition to the one hundred and twenty-nine re-enlisted veterans. Of those who had been dropped from the rolls nearly two hundred had been killed in action or died of wounds. Only about fifty had died of disease during the whole time, but about two hundred and fifty were discharged for disability. The report for 1862 is defective, so that we cannot give the exact numbers. During the last eight months of ser vice only twelve had died of disease, while forty had been killed in action, showing that the men had become pretty well seasoned to the hardships of camp-life. 52 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE REORGANIZED FOURTH INFANTRY. The one hundred and twenty-nine veterans of the old 4th formed but a small basis for a new regiment, but a determined effort was made to organize one. The veterans were consolidated into two companies, and an order was issued for the enlistment of eight more. A camp was established at Adrian on the 26th of July, and Lieut.-Col. Hall of the old 4th was made colonel of the new organization. The work was completed in about two months and a half, and on the 14th of October, 1864, the new regiment was mustered into service. As before stated, there served in A company of the new 4th (commanded by Capt. Geo. A. Knickerbocker) seventy-one men of Hillsdale County; in B company, twenty-three; in C, twelve; in D, one; in E, seven; and in F, seventeen,-total, one hundred and thirty-one. On the 22d of October the regiment left Adrian, proceeding to Decatur, Ala., which they reached on the 28th, where their career was at once inaugurated by a battle with the forces of the rebel general Hood, who had already attacked that town. The assailants were repulsed, the 4th having only one man killed and four wounded. It was afterwards sent to Murfreesboro', where it was kept on picket and guard duty until the middle of January, 1865. It then went to Huntsville, Ala., where it was assigned to the 3d Division, 3d Brigade, 4th Army Corps. In the latter part of March it was ordered to East Tennessee. It remained there, constantly on the march, about a month, when it returned to Nashville. It stayed at that point until the middle of June, when, with its corps, it was sent to New Orleans. It was then joined by the detachment of the old 4th Infantry which had previously been on duty with the 1st. The regiment proceeded to Texas in July. The fighting was over but the service was severe; owing to the heat, and the scarcity and badness of the water, many died. The regiment was on duty at various points in Texas, mostly at San Antonio and vicinity, until May 26, 1866, when it was mustered out of service at Houston, in that State. On the 10th of June it arrived at Detroit, where it was paid off and disbanded. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE OLD AND NEW 4TH INFANTRY, FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. George W. Lombard, commissioned capt. May 16,1861; lieut.-col., July 1,1862; col., July 3, 1863; mortally wounded in battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864; died May 6,1864. C. C. Doolittle, corn. st lieut. May 16,1861; capt., Aug. 20,1861; wounded at Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862; col., 18th Infantry, July 27, 1862; brig.-gen. of vols., May 11, 1865; brev. maj.-gen. of vols., June 13, 1865; must. out Nov. 30, 1865. Simon B. Iadley, com. 1st lieut. May 16, 1861; resigned; re-app. as capt., Feb. 1, 1863; res. May 31, 1864, to accept app. as assist. adj.-gen. with rank of capt.; finally res. Jan. 1, 1865. Moses A. Funk, com. capt. May 16, 1861; resigned. Charles B. Parsons, com. 2d lieut. May 16, 1861; wounded at Gaines' Mil!s, June 27, 1862; res. March 7, 1863. William H. McConnell, com. 2d lieut. May 16,1861; res. Jan. 2,1862. Charles Marvin, com. 2d lieut., 1861; 1st lieut., 1862; capt., 1862; res. Jan. 2, '63. Robert Campbell, com. qr.-mr. Sept. 1,1862; must. out June 30, 1864. Josiah D. Emerson, corn. 2d lieut. Sept: 3, 1862; 1st lieut. Dec. 13, 1862; must. out June 30, 1864. William H. Sherman, cor. 1st lieut. April 5, 1864; res. Sept. 13, 1864. Horatio G. Lombard, com. 1st lieut. Nov. 14,1862; captured at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Jacob H. Stark, corn. 1st lieut. Sept. 13,1864; must. out May 26, 1866. George A. Knickerbocker, com as capt. July 26,1864; res. Jan. 31, 1865. Samuel S. Walker, com. 2d lieut. July, 1862; must. out on expiration of service. Levi J. Courtright, Co. E; killed at Hall's Hill, Sept. 4,1861. Truman K. Blatchley, Co. H; killed at Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. Henry L. Morehouse, Co. H; killed at Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. Oliver C. Vanderpool, Co. H; killed at Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. William M. Worden, Co. E; died near Falmouth, Va., March 30, 1863. David Cronk, Co. F; died at Adrian, Mich., June 10, 1861. Isaac Coleman, Co. II; died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 12, 1862. Columbus L. Bradley, Co. H; died on hospital boat, en route to New York, Aug. 7, 1862. David C. Brock, Co. E; killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Alfred H. Dolph, Co. E; killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1,1862. Frank B. Forncrook, Co. E; killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Thos. Van Valkenburg, Co. E; killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Thos. Prestol, Co. E; died July 15,1862, of wounds received in action. John Millions, Co. H; killed at Gaines' Mills, Va., June 27,1862. Avery Randall, Co. E; died Dec. 18, 1861. David Worden, Co. E; died April 20, 1862. Oliver Gilbert, Co. H; died Oct. 27,1861. William H. Sloan, Co. IH; died Dec. 3, 1861. Madison Van Meter, Co. H; died Aug. 23, 1861. Francis Yawger, Co. H; died Nov. 16,1861. James T. Wood, Co. H; died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 25, 1862. Watson W. Fuller, Co. H; missing at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Charles W. Gregory, Co. H; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 186:3. James H. Pendleton, Co. H; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2,1863. Edtwin G. Tripp, Co. H; died at Gettysburg, Pa., of wounds, July 12,1863. Sewell A. Jennison, Co. E; died in camp, March 30,1863. Elam J. Todd, Co. H; died at Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 18, 1862. Cyrenus Cargill, Co. C; missing at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. Riley N. Ainsworth, Co. E; died in rebel prison, at Richmond, Va. Wm. R. Fuller, Co. E; missing at Gettysburg, Pa. John Tarsney, Co. E; missing at Gettysburg, Pa. George A. Walker, Co. E; returned. James R. Stillwell, Co. H; returned. Chester Yawger, Co. H; returned. Seth English, Co. C; died of wounds, June 22,1864, near Petersburg, Va. George W. Teachout, Co. C; killed at North Anna, Va., May 23, 1864. Heman S. Thewing, Co. C; died of wounds, June 19, 1864, at Washington, D. C. James Tarsney, Co. E; killed in the Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. James Terwilliger, Co. E; killed in the Wilderness, Va., May 5,1864. Amon C. Lake, Co. E; died May 14, 1864, of wounds received in Wilderness. Benjamin Best, Co. E; killed at Wilderness, May 15, 1864. George A. Walker, Co. E; killed at Spottsylvania, Va, May 9,1864. John P. Fuller, Co. F; died at Fredericksburg, Va., of wounds, June 20, 1864. John Goodenberger, Co. F; died at Washington, I). C., of wounds, May 22, 1864. Ira Worden, Co. H; killed near Richmond, Va., June 3, 1864 Emery B. Kelly, Co. I; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. Stephen C. Bond, Co. C; died at Baltimore, Md. Edward Rhodes, Co. C; missing while on picket, Aug. 21,1864. John W. Vanness, Co. C; missing while on picket, Aug. 21, 1864. Timothy B. Burch, Co. E; missing at Wilderness, Va., Nov. 23,1863. Wm. H. Smith, Co. E; missing at Wilderness, Va., Nov. 23, 1863. Horatio B. Parker, Co. II; died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug. 4,1862. Charles W. Page, Co. F; died at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 6, 1865. John Hardy, Co. H; died at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 14,1864. Wnm. T. Fiester, Co. E; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. James H. Harrison, Co. E; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. Charles T. Hartson, Co. E; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. Thomas Taroney, Co. E; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. Allen Freeman, Co. F; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. larvey B. Braddock, Co. F; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. Warren M. Champlain, Co. F; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. Wm. B. Duryea, Co. F; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. James H. Dnryea, Co. F; trans. to new 4th Int., June 28, 1865. John A. Alden, Co. H; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. John Dean, Co. II; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. Origen H. Getter, Co. H; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. Asher Lafleur, Co. H; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. Wm. Marks, Co. H; trans. to new 4th Inf.: June 28,1865. Enos S. Nobles, Co. H; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. Wm. Robinson, Co. H; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28, 1865. Joseph Sandbar, Co. H; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. Andrew J. Cook, Co. I; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. John Wallace, Co. I; trans. to new 4th Inf., June 28,1865. Jesse D. Critchfield, Co. E; disch. for disability, April 20, 1862. George Comfort, Co. E; disch. for disability, March 5, 1862. Isaac Chase, Co. E; disch. for disability, Jan. 20, 1862. Charles M. Drake, Co. E; disch. for disability, March 6,1862. Newton Green, Co. E; disch. for disability, Sept. 6,1861. Alvro F. Gleason, Co. E; disch. July 15,1861. George E. Gates, Co. E; disch. July 15, 1861. John D. Neal, Co. E; disch. April 24, 1862. Justin Russell, Co. E; disch. June 24, 1861. Watson C. Simmons, Co. E; disch. for disability, April 22,1862. John W. Brown, Co. E; disch. Dec. 18,1861. Eli Burk, Co. E; disch. Aug. 13, 1861. George E. Beebe, Co. E; disch. for disalility. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 53 William H. Ross, Co. E; disch. for disability, Oct. 6, 1862. Billings B. Merritt, Co. E; disch. for disability, Oct. 27, 1862. F. Brown, Co. E; disch. for disability, Ang. 4, 1862. William R. Bird, Co. E; disch. for disability, Nov. 14, 1862. Marc A. Merrifield, Co. E; disch. for disability, Nov. 18, 1862. Walter W. Wright, Co. E; disch. for disability, Nov. 18, 1862. Chauncy A. Brown, Co. E; disch. for disability, Oct. 18, 1862. Win. F. D. McCarty, Co. E; disch. Nov. 3, 1862, to enl. in regniar service. Lawrence Wright, Co. E; discli. Nov. 3, 1862, to enl. in regular service. Albert W. Wilson, Co. E; disecl. for disability, Dec. 2, 1862. Joseph Stevens, Co. E, discli for disability, Dec. 3,1862. Oliver P. Stone, Co. E, disch. Nov. 21), 1862, to enl. in regnlar 8ervice. Cha.ries T. Jeffers, Go. 11; liseli for disability, Dec. 12, 1861. William Lindsley, Co. H1 diich. for disability, May 5,1862. Charles S. Birdsall, Go. Ii disch. for disability, April 29, 1862. Allen Anderson, Co. H; disch. for disability, Jan. 11, 1862. John Warren, Co. 11, disch. for disability, July 29, 1861. Jesse IL. Hladley, Co. 11; dischi for disability, Dec. 18, 1861. Marion F. Howe, Co. H; disch. for disability, Dec. 9, 1861. George WV. Jeffers, Co. H; disch. for disability, Sept. 6, 1861. Michael Miller, Co. 1; disch. for disability, Nov. 21, 1861. Ira Murdock, Co. H; disi li for disability, July 29,1861. Byron F. Nutton, C o 11; dischi for disa bility, Nov. 21, 1861. James H. Ostrandei, Co. H; disch. for disability, Sept. 16, 1861. Samuel S. Parker, Co. 11; disch. for disability, Jaii. 6, 1862. Erastus W. Page, Co. It dis h. for disability, Jar). 15, 1862. John Plitwood, Co. H diseb. for disabiility, July 29, 1861. Mosley S. Ten Eyck, Co. H, dischi for disability, Sept. 24, 1861. Henry Uptliegrove, Co. H; disch. for disability, Jan. 2, 1862. Charles P. White, Co. 1I disch. foi disability, Nov. 21, 1861. William Wilder, Co. ii disch. for disability, July 29, 1861. Jules L. Williams, Co. 11; diseli. for disa bility, Jan. 2, 1862. Linden H. Allen, Co. 11 disch. for disability, Sept. 27, 1862. Martin McCoinnell, CIo. H; discli for disability, July 19, 1862. Olney J. Smith, Co. It; discli fur disability, Nov. 17, 1862. Cornelius M. Hadlhy Co. H; dischb for disability, Oct. 21, 1862. Orson L. Parks, Co. 11, disch. for disability, Nov. 12. 1862. William Smith, Co. Ht dischb for disability, Oct. 25, 1862. Lafayette Youiig, Co H; dischi for disability, Sept. 18, 1862. Charles S. Duncan, Co. B; disch. by order, Jaii. 2, 1863. Jarvis D) Rolfe, Co. E discim for dibability, Jaii. 1, 1863. Ira Willianis, Co. E; disch. foi disa.iduty, Dec. 26, 1862. Orlatido Gilcitrist, Co. E; disch. for disability, Nov. 30, 1862. Thomas Vanvallkenbiirghi Co. E diacli. for disability, Feb. 4, 1863. Charles H. Smith, Co. E disehb for promotion, March 27, 1863. Edward Gavitt, Co. EL disch. by order, Sept. 15, 1863. George B. Browii, Co. E dischi for disability, April 14, 1861. William IL. Worden, Co. E; disch. for disability, Feb. 16, 1863. Debzon C. Allen, Co. E; disct for disability, Jani. 24, 1863. Webster H. Abtiott, Co. EL diseb. for disability, Aug. 1, 1863. Gilbert D. Ward, Co. E; disch. for disability, Oct. 14, 1863. Orlando F. Weaver, Co. E; disch. for disability, Oct. 13, 1863. Orlatido Nash, Co. H; disch. for disability, Jan. 2, 1863. Aloiizo B. Vaniscoter, Co. It; disch. for disability, Dec. 22, 1862. William G. Gay, Co. H; disch. for disability, Jan. 12, 1861. William Morelmouse, Co. 1II; disch. for disability, Jan. 31, 186:1. William Dover, Co. H; diseb. for disability, April 6, 1863. David W. Todid, Co. H; discli. for disability, Jan. 26, 18163. Edward L. Walter, Co. H; disclh. for disability, Feb. 20, 1863. James Henry, Co. H; dTisch. for disability, Jan. 25, 1863. Manley Rood, Co. H; discb. for disability, Feb. 28, 1863. Miles Jones, Co. 11; diseti. for disatility, March 13, 1863. George Kriiner, Co. H; discih. for disability, Dec. 1862. Darius Van Alleii, Co. H; discti. for disability, Dec. 1862. John Coleman, Co. H; disch. by order, July 1, 1863. Sidney A. Willis, Co. H; disch. by order, Sept. 15, 1861. Lyman Osborne, Co. It; disch. by order, Oct. 1, 1863. Charles S. Duncan, Co. B; discli. at sxpiration of service, June 30, 1864. Charles Coppins, Co. B; dischm. at expiration of ser-vice, Nov. 7, 1864. George W. Coffin, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, Nov. 11, 1863. Oscar B. Abbott, Co. E; discim. at expiration of service, Nov. 11, 186:1. Charles A. Fletch er, Co. E; disclm. at expiration of service, Jun e 28, 1864. Henry WV. McGee, Co. E; disch. at expiratioti of service, June 28, 18611. Marioti F. Hunt, Co. E. discli. at expiration of ser-vice, Jimit 28, 1864. William R. Fuller, Co. E; discim. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Williani F. Bristol, Co. E; disch. at eximiration of service, June 28, 1864. Augustus R. Barker, Co. E; disclh. at expiration of service, Juime 28, 1864. Beiijsniit Best, Co. E; discim. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Timothy F. Burtchi, Co. E; discli. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Chauncey V. Buarnette, Co. EN; discb. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. William H. H. Birge, Co. E; d~isch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Joseph Crisler, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864 John F. Dugan, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Wini. H. Dilldine, Co. E; discli. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. David Fox, Co. E; discim. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. John Fleminig, Co. EB; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. John Farley, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. James H. Hullinger, Co. E; disch. at expiratioti of service, June 28, 1864. Thaddeus Huff, Co. E, disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Hi ram L. Hartson, Co. EB; disch. at expi ration of service, June 28, 1864. John Hewitt, Co. B; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. George W. Hughes, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Frank Miller, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Stephen H. Mallory, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Charles H. Rupert, Co. E; diech. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Philip Stanback, Co. E; disch. at expiration of service, Jiite 28, 1864. George H. Stacy, Co. E; disclh. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. William H. Smith, Co. E disch. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. James K. Spence, Co. EB dischi at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Mark W. Taylor, Co. E diseb. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Architald Wier, Co. E diech. at expiration of service, June 28, 1864. Francis C. Wailer, Go. EB disch at expiration of service, Jutue 28, 1864. Sylvanims Athierton, Co. H; disch. for disability, June 24, 1863. Ma rtiti V. B. Rhodes, Co. H; disch. at expiration of service, Dec. 22, 1863. William 11. Sutherland, Co. It dmsch. at expiration of service, Nov. 11, 1863. John Staley, Co. It, dischb at expiratioti of service, June 30, 1864. tierbert D. Smith, Co. H, dischb at expiration of service, June 30, 1864. Hiram Dodge, Co. 11, dischb at expiration of service, June 30, 1864. Janmes Cooley, Co. H; disch. by order, Nov. 16, 1863. Alvin Dodge, Co. H1 dmschb for disability, March 9, 1864. Frank Shadlmolt, Co. EB dischi to re-enl. as veteran, Jain. 20, 1864. James It. Harroun (o. EB dtsch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 13, 1864. James 11. Quackenbush, Co. Et diseb. to re-enl. as veterati, Dec. 29, 1863. Seth Bolles, Co. E; disch. to re-etiml as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. Charles W. Becker, Co. E; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. Amos Strong, Co. E; di,4ch. to me-enl. as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. William T. Feister Go. E; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. Thomas Tarstiey, Co. EB discli. to re-en]. as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. Asher B. Lafleur, Co. H; utisch. to re-en]. as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. Enos S. Nobles, Co. H; discti. to re-emit, as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. John A. Alden, Co. H; disch. to re-ent. as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. henry L. Case, Co. H; disuli to re-eut. as veteran, Dec. 29, 186:1. John Dean, Co. II; dischi to me-enli as veteraii, Dec. 29, 186:3. John D. Hardy, Co. H; disch. to re-enl. a veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. William It. Marks, Co. H; disech to re-enl. as veteraii, Dec. 29, 1863. William W. iRobinsoim Co. II disuli. to re-etil. as veterati, Dec. 29, 1863. Ira Worden, Co. H; diucti to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 29, 1863. Aretitbal~l Gilchrist, Co. EB d'ischi for disability, Jan. 29, 1861. George Moon, Co. EB disch for disatility, Oct. 23, 1862. Amos Strong, Co. EL nsiist. out Aug. 5, 1865. Albsert M. Wilbur, Co. EB dischi for deisability, Dec. 2, 1862. George W~ard, Co. EL; disch. at expiration of service, Jimie 28, 1864. Clarence L. Northrup, Co. EB duschb at expiration of service, March 18, 1865. Henry S. Sea,,e, Co. E; discti at expiratioti of service, Sept. 12, 186i. Thomas Terwilliget, Co. E disch. at expiration of sarvice, Sept. 12, 1864. Franklin Shadbolt, Go. EL must. omit Sept. 11, 1865. Herbert D. Bryan, Co. E; must. out June 5, 1865. Joseph HI. Jagger, Co. E; ninst. nut June 5. 1865. Wiltiam, Washburn, Co. E; niust. omit June 5, 1865. George IL. Brewster, Co. E; muust. out June 5, 1865. S. Spencer, Co. E; must, ount June 5, 1865. letiry M. Brodock, Co. F; disch. for disability, May 1, 1865. Henry IL. Case, Co. HI; disclu. for dis, idlity, June 9, 1865. David T. Cotbb, Co. H; disch. for disability, Jaii. 27, 1863. George Kiiiney, Co. H; dischi. for disatility, June 4, 1862. William H. H1. Marsh, Co. H; must. out Sept. 26, 1865. Willianm Robinson, Co. H1; must, out July 3l, 1865. James Stitllvell, Co. 11; di..ch. at expiration of service, Jaim. 13, 1865. Chester Yauger, Co. It; discim. at expiration of service, Jan. 4, 1865. Darius Briggs, Co. H; diseth. at expiration of service, Sept. 3, 1864. David G. Cormmell, Co. I:- must, out May 12, 1865. Charles E. Nichols, Co. I; musmt, omit June 15, 1865. NEW FOURTH INFANTRY. Arthuir D. Pierce, non-conmnissioned staff; (lied at Murfree-sboro', Tenn., Jan. 7, 1865. Thomas Weir, non-com. staff; died at Hhi] sdale, Micti., Jan. 30, 1865. George Austine, Co. A; died at San Atutonio, Tex., Oct. 8, 1865. William Greening, Co. A; died at Suit Amitonio, Tex., Nov. 8, 1865. Lewis A. IHill, Co. A; died at huntsville, Ala., Miarchm 6, 1865. Giles C. Hodgman, Co. A died at Knoxville, Tenn., March 30, 1865. Ilorace J. Musher, Co. A; died at Nashville, Temun., Dec. 28, 1864. Samuel McLanme, Co. A; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 18, 1865. George W. Norton, Co. A; died nut St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 31, 1864. Hamlin Treat, Co. A; died at Jeffeisomivilte, Ind., Jaum. 17, 1865. Cicero S. Taylor, Co. A; died at Murfreesboro', Tenn., lay 18, 1865. Floyd Thomas, Co. A; died at Larkimieville, Ala., Nov. 13, 1864. Jehuiel Wismuer, Co. A; died at Nashville, Tenn., May 14, 1865. Alvin Wisner, Co. A; died at Murfreesboro', Tenn., March 23, 1865. W~illiam C. Norton, Co. A; died at San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 22, 1865. George Duryee, Co. A; died at Nashville, T'enn., May 3, 1865. William Darlinig, Co. A; died at Hummtsville, Ala., Jan. 25, 1865. Daniel S. Chapmanm, Co. A; died at Hummtsville, Ala., Jan. 25, 1865. 54 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Alfred M. Davis, Co. A; died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 9, 1865. George S. Donaldson, Co. A; died at St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 25, 1865. Nathan Smith, Co. B; died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 18, 1865. William G. Straight, Co. B; died at Nashville, Tenn.. June 7,1865. Asa W. Houghton, Co. E; died at Nashville, Tenn., May 23, 1865. Samuel Richardson, Co. E; died at Adrian, Mich., Oct. 15,1864. John Holtslander, Co. E; died at Nashville, Tenn., May 30, 1865. A. Wisner, Co. I; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 23,1865. Samuel A. Alden, Co. K; died at Petersburg, Va., Aug. 10, 1864. Harvey C. Beam, Co. K; died at Green Lake, Texas, Aug. 3,1865. Stephen C. Bond, Co. K; died at Baltimore, Md., July 1, 1864. Henry A. Chapman, Co. K; died at Philadelphia, Pa., June 20, 1865. Cyrus P. Cobb, Co. K; died at Washington, D. C., June, 1865. Seth English, Co. K; died of wounds received June 22, 1865. Thomas King, Jr., Co. K; died at Hudson, Mich, Sept. 19, 1864. Justus Macoy, Co. K; died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 6, 1864. Washington Pease, Co. K; died at Washington, D. C., May 25, 1865. Charles B. Raynor, Co. K; died at Alexandria, Va., June 26, 1864. George W. Teachout, Co. K; died at North Anna, Va., May 22, 1864. Thomas S. Thewing, Co. K; died at Washington, D. C., March 19,1864. Rynear Van Wagner, Co. K; died at Alexandria, Va. Laban A. Howard, N. C. S.; must. out June 12, 1866. James H. Thiell, Co. A; must. out May 28,1866. Orrin E. Nichols, Co. A; must. out June 14, 1865. Thomas J. Lowery, Co. A; must. out Aug. 30, 1865. Dexter C. Avery, Co. A; must. out May 26,1866. Charles F. Clark, Co. A; must. out June 20,1865. Jacob Pepper, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Warren Clements, Co. A; must. out May 23, 1865. Corydon Barnes, Co. A; must. out Aug. 8, 1865. James E. Herbert, Co. A; must. out March 3, 1865. William H. Bailey, Co. A; must. out Jan. 18, 1866. Nelson F. Abbott, Co. A; must. out Aug. 3, 1865. James Blanks, Co. A; must. out May 26,1866. Thos. E. Bisi op, Co. A; must. out Aug. 18,1865. Joseph Baker, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. John W. Bagerly, Co. A; must. out June 3,1865. Myres Brodock, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. John Beems, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Edmond Buck, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Leroy Brown, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. William Burch, Co. A; must. out Aug. 26, 1865. De Forest J. Carroll, Co. A; must. out Aug. 18, 1865. Henry T. Clark, Co. A; must. out May 30, 1865. Charles Carlton, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. William Carlton, Co. A; must. out May 26,1865. Walter L. Fink, Co. A; disch. by order, June 2, 1865. George Q. Fitzsimons, Co. A; must. out July 13, 1865. Frank Greening, Co. A; inust. out May 8,1866. Orville W. Hodge, Co. A; must. out June 22, 1865. William P. Holden, Co. A; must. out June 1, 1865. Edward Haggar, Co. A; must. out May 26,1866. Joseph Howard, Co. A; must. out May 8, 1866. George Hungiton, Co. A; must. out March 6, 1866. Silas W. Haynes, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. George Kimball, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. John Millson, Co. A; must. out May 26,1866. William Moore, Co. A; must. out June 21, 1865. Benjamin F. Ogden, Co. A; must. out May 23, 1865. Loren Ostrand, Co. A; must. out Jan. 18, 1866. Leonard Parish, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Rollin L. Rice, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Charles E. Riker, Co. A; must. out June 14, 1866. Crawford Stourk, Co. A; must. out July 31, 1865. Frederick L. Storm, Co. A; disch. by order, June 9, 1865. Archibald Storm, Co. A; disch. by order, June 9,1865. Byron G. Saxton, Co. A; must. out May 26,1866. Thomas Williams. Co. A; must. out June 12,1866. James Thompson, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Reeves E. Taylor, Co. A; must. out Aug. 14, 1865. Cornelius Vaneeter, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Alexander Vrooman, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Robert Wilson, Co. A; must. out May 26, 1866. Thomas A. Wilcox, Co. A; disch. by order, June 6,1865. John S. Pierson, Co. A; disch. at expiration of service, April 13, 1866. George A. Losey, Co. B; must. out May 26,1866. Alanson S. Teed, Co. B; disch. by order, Aug. 17, 1865. Orlando Miner, Co. B; must. out May 26, 1866. Jerome Wilcox, Co. B; must. out May 26, 1866. Jonathan Burton, Co. B; must. out Jan. 17,1866. Lewis Britton, Co. B; disch. by order, July 13, 1865. Augustus Blurton, Co. B; must. out May 26, 1866. Henry Barnes, Co. B; must. out May 26,1866. David Carlisle, Co. B; must. out July 26, 1865. Martin Carpenter, Co. B; must. out May 26, 1865. William H. Carpenter, Co. B; must. out June 16, 1865. George H. Dennis, Co. B; must. out Jan. 25, 1866. Charles H. Fairbanks, Co. B; must. out May 25, 1866. Stephen G. Fuller, Co. B; must. out May 25, 1866. Thomas W. Lea, Co. B; disch. by order, May 23, 1865. Henry A. Piper, Co. B; must. out May 26,1866. Sylvanus Soles, Co. B; must. out May 26, 1866. Franklin Tayer, Co. B; must. out May 23, 1865. Elbridge Williams, Co. B; must. out Aug. 31,1865. Daniel Wean, Co. B; disch. by order, June 5,1865. Asher Lafleur, Co. B; must. out June 5, 1865. Enos S. Nobles, Co. C; must. out Feb. 26,1866. William T. Feister, Co. C; must. out Feb. 26, 1866. John Alden, Co. C; disch by order, Sept. 11, 1865. Seth Bowles, Co. C; must. out Feb. 1866. David Cornell, Co. C; disch. by order, May 12,1865. Warren HI. Champlin, Co. C; must. out Jan. 15,1866. John Dean, Co. C; must. out Feb. 26, 1866. James H. Harman, Co. C; must. out Feb. 26, 1866. Charles E. Nichols, Co. C; disch. by order, June 15, 1865. William H. Robinson, Co. C; must. out Feb. 10, 1866. Amos Strong, Co. C; must. out Sept. 11, 1865. Frank Shadbolt, Co. C; must. out Aug. 5, 1865. George II. Southwick, Co. D; must. out May 26, 1866. Edward Crisher, Co. E; must out May 26, 1866. Andrew J. Earles, Co. E; must. out May 23, 1865. Charles H. Foote, Co. E; must. out May, 1866. William Sawyer, Co. E; must. out Oct. 10, 1865. Cassius M. Windsor, Co. F; must. out Sept. 21, 1865. Robert Seeley, Co. F; must. out Aug. 7, 1865. William Brooks, Co. F; must. out Aug. 5, 1865. James H. Kelley, Co. F; must. out May 26, 1866. IHugh Keeney, Co. F; must. out July 3, 1865. Laurence Miner, Co. F; must. out Nov. 12,1865. Atcheson Mellen, Co. F; must. out April 10, 1865. George N. Mayson, Co. F: must. out July 13, 1865. George M. D. Southworth, Co. F; must. out May 26,1866. Myron Vancloke, Co. F; must. out May 26, 1866. Charles Town, Co. F; must. out Sept. 29,1865. Henry Van Vieet, Co. F; disch. by order, Sept. 12,1865. Edwin D. Plumb, Co. F; disch. at exp. of service, March 23,1866. Andrew Walters, Co. F; disch. at exp. of service, March 7, 1866. Francis E. Hill, Co F; must. out Aug. 29, 1865. Calvin Maloney, Co. F; disch. at exp. of service, March 7, 1866. Quincy Farmer, Co. F; disch. at exp. of service, March 27, 1866. J. S. Bush, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. William E. Newell, Co. K; must. out May 26,1866. Amos English, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. Wm, B. Duryee, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. Alfred A. Irish, Co. K; must. out May 26,1866. Luman 11. Dillon, Co. I; must. out May 26, 1866. Albert W. Vanness, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. Charles Buchanan, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. Almon S. Bassett, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. Henry M. Brodock, Co. K; must. out June 14, 1865. William Bryant, Co. K; must. out May 4, 1865. George W. Booth, Co. K; must. out Feb. 28, 1865. Marcus H. Cole, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. Andrew J. Cook, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. James Duryea, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1866. Adelbert Delameter, Co. K; disch. by order, Feb. 23, 1866. Samuel A. Delameter, Co. K; must. out June 10, 1865. C. W. Decker, Co. K; disch. by order, Feb. 23,1866. John W. Fowler, Co. K; must. out May 30, 1865. Ezra M. Fish, Co. K; must. out Sept. 9, 1865. Francis E. Hill, Co. K; must. out Aug. 29, 1865. Oscar A. James, Co. K; must. out Nov. 15, 1864. J. B. Jones, Co. K; must. out June 8, 1865. Lawrence King, Co. K; must. out Sept. 25, 1865. William Long, Co. K; must. out July 3, 1865. Ira G. Miller, Co. K; must. out May 30, 1865. Barzilla S. Miller, Co. K; must. out Aug. 29, 1865. Henry C. Petier, Co. K; must. out Nov. 26, 1861. Edward Rhodes, Co. K; must. out June 8,1865. William II. Ross, Co. K; must. out Feb. 23,1866. Jacob H. Stark, Co. K; must. out March 16, 1865. Alphonso Shafer, Co. K; must. out Feb. 23, 1866. Henry S. Wells, Co. K; must. out June 8, 1865. Janues A. Wright, Co. K; must. out Feb. 23, 1866. Peter Whitmore, Co. K; must. out June 14,1865. Andrew J. Franklin, Co. K; must. out April 18, 1866. Milton E. Fisher; must. out Aug. 9,1865. Enoch Dowling; must. out Aug. 6, 1865. Matthew Dowling; must. out Aug. 6, 1865. Norman B. Cole; must. out May 4,1865. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 55 CHAPTER XI. THE SEVENTH AND TENTH INFANTRY. The Jonesville Light Guard-It joins the 7th Infantry-Other Members from this County-Ball's Bluff-West Point and Fair OaksThe Seven Days' Fight —The Battle of Antietam-Fredericksburg -Crossing the Rappahannock under Fire-The Charge up the Heights-The Great March to Gettysburg-Severe Conflict thereSpottsylvania-Cold Harbor-Fighting before Petersburg-Storming the Enemy's Works-Final Victory-Muster out-List of Officers and Soldiers-Tenth Infantry-Company K from Hillsdale County-Light Service in Tennessee-Buzzard's Roost-The Georgia Campaign-Battle of Jonesboro'-The March to the SeaThrough the Carolinas-Battle of Bentopville-List of Members. THE 7th Michigan Infantry was formed at Monroe, during the summer of 1861. One of the first companies to reach the headquarters of the regiment was the " Jones, ville Light Guard," commanded by Capt. Henry Baxter. It had been recruited at Jonesville, but its members hailed fiom all the north part of Hillsdale County, including a few from outside the county limits. On reaching Monroe the " Light Guard" was mustered in as Company C of the 7th Infantry, and its fanciful name was thenceforth laid aside. The number of Hillsdale County men in Company C throughout the war was sixty-nine; in Companies A, B, F, and G, one each; in Company K, two; and in the noncommissioned staff two; total, seventy-seven. The regiment left Monroe for Virginia on the 15th of December, 1861. Arriving there, it was stationed on the upper Potomac. It was one of the regiments detailed to go to Ball's Bluff on the 21st of October, under Gen. Baker, and shared the losses inflicted by the sudden and overwhelming attack of the enemy on that disastrous day. In the spring of 1862, the 7th went with the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula, where it was engaged in the siege of Yorktown, and afterwards in the affair at West Point on the 7th of May. It also took an active part in the battle of Fair Oaks on the 31st of May and 1st of June. When the Confederate force was massed to attack the Union right, the 7th was with the columns which were forced back through the disastrous " Seven Days' Fight;" taking part in the actions at Peach-Orchard Creek on the 29th of June, at Savage Station on the same day, at White Oak Swamp on the 30th of June, at Glendale on the same day, and finally on the 1st of July, at Malvern Hill, when victory at length perched on the Union standard, and the rebel hordes were repulsed with terrific loss. The 7th went northward with the Army of the Potomac, and was present at the second battle of Bull Run. It then crossed the Potomac with McClellan, took part in the battle of South Mountain, and on the 17th of September, 1862, stood face to face with the enemy on the field of Antietam. Here it was engaged in one of the hottest struggles of the war, and bravely maintained itself throughout, though the victory which it achieved was purchased at the cost of a list of killed and wounded embracing more than half the men present in the action. After Antietam, the 7th continued with the Army of the Potomac in its marches through Northern Virginia until the 11th of December, 1862, when that army stood on the north side of the Rappahannock, gazing across at the enemy's works at Fredericksburg. During the night of the 10th the Union engineers had laid a pontoon-bridge partly across the stream, but at daylight the rebel sharpshooters soon drove them away. Volunteers were called for to cross the river and seize a foothold on the opposite shore. Lieut.-Col. Baxter, then in command, called on the 7th for that duty, and as one man they responded to the call. Foremost of all the army, they sprang into the boats and set out for the opposite shore. The rebel bullets fell thick and fast among them, and many were slain or wounded,-among the latter being their gallant commander,-but still they held on their way, and at length made good their landing. Close behind them came a Massachusetts regiment. The two formed on the bank, dashed up the heights above, drove the enemy from his intrenchnents, and captured several hundred prisoners at the point of the bayonet. The pontoons were then laid across the river, and a portion of the army crossed in safety. The subsequent disasters which befell the forces of Gen. Burnside in that action cannot dim the glory of the bril. liant exploit of Col. Henry Baxter and the 7th Michigan Infantry. The regiment acted as provost-guard at Falmouth until the 3d of May, 1863, when it again crossed the Rappahannock to take part in the battle of Chancellorsville. It was not closely engaged, but the enemy's artillery fire wounded ten of the men. During the Gettysburg campaign the 7th underwent even more than the usual hardship of that torrid and dusty period. On the 27th of June it marched thirty-seven miles, on the 28th six miles, and on the 29th thirty-two miles, making seventy-five miles in three days; a remarkable exploit when it is considered that every soldier carried a rifle, bayonet, cartridge-box, belts, blanket, haversack, and canteen, and that marching in column in a cloud of dust is twice as fatiguing as walking by a single individual. On the 2d of July the 7th arrived at Gettysburg, and was immediately placed in the front of battle on Cemetery Hill. In this exposed position it remained until the close of the action on the 3d of July, meeting and repelling some of the fiercest attacks of the enemy. So much had the regiment been depleted by its previous conflicts that only fourteen officers and a hundred and fifty-one men went into this fight. Of this small number twenty-one were killed (including the commander, Lieut.-Col. Steele) and forty-four wounded; the total of casualties being nearly half of the whole number engaged. After taking part in the pursuit of the enemy, the 7th went to New York a short time during the enforcement of the draft, and then returned to the Army of the Potomac. On the 7th of December, after considerable marching and skirmishing in Northern Virginia, it went into winter quarters at Barry's Hill. Here, notwithstanding all its hardships and losses, a hundred and fifty-three men re-enlisted as veterans, and the regiment was sent home to Monroe on the 1st of January to recruit. After a thirty days' furlough it returned to Barry's Hill, where it remained until the grand advance of the army on the 3d of May. It was lightly engaged in the Wilderness on the 5th of 56 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. May, but on the succeeding day it had a severe conflict with the enemy, having eight men killed, thirty-eight wounded, and eight missing. On the 10th it was at Spottsylvania Court-House, where it was subjected to a severe fire from the rebel sharpshooters, and also made an assault on the enemy's works. The total of casualties during the day was five killed and twelve wounded. The next day it was again slightly engaged, and on the 12th it took part in Hancock's charge on the left of the enemy's line, eleven of the men being wounded. The next day there was another fight, when the 7th had three men killed and ten wounded. Continuing, with the Army of the Potomac, the flank movements to the left which constantly brought it nearer to Richmond, the 7th passed the North Anna and Pamunkey Rivers, being frequently engaged as skirmishers, and on the 30th and 31st of May, and 1st of June, it lost six killed and had nine wounded. At Cold Harbor it gallantly charged the enemy's works, but the long lines of intrenchments, behind which the rebel marksmen leveled their deadly rifles in almost perfect security, proved impervious to the thinned ranks of the 7th and their comrades, and the regiment fell back with a loss of sixteen killed and wounded. The 7th reached the lines in front of Petersburg on the 15th of June, and at once entered on the tedious picket and trench duty, fighting nearly every day, and having twenty-three killed and wounded during the first ten days. In the battles of Strawberry Plains and Flussier's Mills (August 14 and 17) it had three men killed and eleven wounded. It was also engaged in the battle of Reams' Station on the 25th of August. On the 26th of October, the 7th was one of the regiments which advanced on the enemy's right, and the next day it took part in no less than three battles; those of Hatcher's Run, Burgess Tavern, and Boydton Plank-Road. In this movement the 7th, alone, captured four hundred and eighty men and twenty officers of the 26th North Carolina rebel infantry. From the beginning of the campaign to the 1st of November, the feeble regiment, in these constant battles and skirmishes, had had forty-one men killed and one hundred and thirty-one wounded, besides thirty-six captured by the enemy, and thirty reported as "missing in action," some of whom were killed and some captured. And still the Herculean task of destroying the rebel army was uncompleted. The regiment remained in front of Petersburg during the winter, sharing all the dangers and hardships of the army, but not suffering as severely in killed and wounded as during the previous six months. On the 2d of April, the 7th, with detachments of the 1st Minnesota and 19th Massachusetts, were ordered to attack the enemy's works at Cat-Tail Creek. They advanced steadily to their task, and, notwithstanding the fire from the rebels, safely ensconced behind their intrenchments, the 7th dashed boldly forward, reaching the enemy's lines the first of the Union forces, and driving out the gray-back defenders at the point of the bayonet. The assaulting brigade quickly captured two forts and three cannon; then forming in flank, it swept along the rebel works, capturing five other forts and about five hundred prisoners. The regiment was less fortunate on the 7th of April, when, after capturing many prisoners, it was cut off from the main army by a large force of rebel infantry and cavalry, and, in attempting to fight its way through, had three officers and thirty-four men taken prisoners. In the afternoon it was relieved and rejoined its brigade. Two days later, Lee's army surrendered, and the most serious trials of the 7th Michigan were ended. It was sent to Louisville, Ky., and Jeffersonville, Ind., in June, very much to the disgust of the men, but was mustered out at Jeffersonville, on the 5th of July, 1865, sent immediately to Jackson, Mich., and paid off and disbanded on the 7th of that month. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Henry Baxter, commissioned capt. Aug. 19, 1861; lieut.-col. May 22, 1862; wounded at Antietam; severely wounded at Fredericksburg; corn. brig.gen. March 12,1863; wounded in the Wilderness; brevetted maj.-gen. for gallant conduct; must. out Aug. 24, 1865. Sidney B. Vrooman, corn. 1st lieut. June 19, 1861; capt. May 22, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg; must. out. Oct. 5, 1864. William W. Wade, corn. 2d lieut. June 19,1861; res. Jan. 30, 1862. Gilbert Chaddock, appointed surg. Jan. 15,1862; must. out at end of service. Charles A. Nimocks, corn. 2d lieut. Jan. 1, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg; corn. 1st lieut. Oct. 2, 1863; capt. April 7, 1864; must. out Oct. 5, 1864. John C. Tracy, corn. 1st lieut. Oct. 2, 1863; wounded May 3, 1864; discharged on account of wounds, Sept. 6,1864. Charles Oakley, corn. 1st lieut. April 3,1864; wounded at North Anna River, May 24, 1864; died of wounds May 25, 1864. Lewis D. Locklin, corn. 1st lient. Sept. 6, 1864; capt. June 20, 1864; must. out July 5, 1865. James B. Coates, corn. 2d lieut. May 22, 1862; died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Nov. 13, 1862. Alonzo Smith, corn. 1st lieut. June 12, 1864; must. out July 5, 1865. John S. Edwards, Co. C; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 30, 1862. George T. Storer, Co. C; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. Elliott Todd, Co. C; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. J. Henry Lewis, Co. -; died at Itarrison's Landing, Va., July 12, 1862. Appleton M. Crary, Co. C; died at Ship Point, Va., May 14, 1862. Nelson Worden, Co. C; died at Camp Benton, Nov. 7, 1862. James Williams, Co. C; died at Camp Benton, Feb. 4,1862. William White, Co. C; died at Camp Benton, Nov. 7, 1862. Delos W. IIarris, Co. C; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1862. John M. Fitterling, Co. C; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2,1862. Alex. McGregor, Co. C; missing at Reams' Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864. Thomas E. Cooney, Co. C; missing at Hatcher's Run, Va., Oct. 28,1864; returned. Henry L. Hartshorn, Co. C; killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. Robert B. Vanslyke, Co. C; died at Washington, D. C., Nov. 29, 1862. Byron Cusick, Co. C; died at Andersonville, Ga., June 18, 1864. Oliver Park, Co. C; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, March 8, 1864. George Manning, Co. C; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 15, 1864. Perry E. Babcock, Co. C; trans. to 6th Micl. Cavalry. William H. Sinclair, disch. for promotion, October, 1861. Robert 0. Sinclair, Co. C; discharged. A. A. Foreman, Co. C; disch. for wounds, Nov. 12, 1862. Samuel E. Gear, Co. C; disch. for disability, Nov. 29, 1862. Chris'opher Myers, Co. C; disch. for wounds, Oct. 24,1862. Wm. N. Vanderpool, Co. C; disch. for disability, Nov. 15, 1862. Henry 0. Tucker, Co. C; disch. for wounds, Dec. 12, 1862. Ezekiel C. Estus, Co. C; disch. by order, Aug. 8,1863. Sidney Barber, Co. C; disch. for disability, Feb. 27, 1863. Joel E. Gray, Co. C; disch. for disability, Feb. 14, 1863. William T. Brain, Co. C; disch. for disability, Feb. 6,1863. William I. Graves, Co. C; disch. for disability, Jan. 10, 1863. William T. Searles, Co. C; disch. by order. Charles Welkins, Co. C; disch. for disability, Feb. 6, 1863. Charles St. John, Co. C; disch. for disability, March 30, 1863. C. Berbeck, Co. C; disch. for disability, April 24, 1863. T. H. McMillan, Co. C; disch. by order, July 16, 1863. Leverett N. Case, Co. C; disch. at Detroit, Mich., July 1, 1862. Arthur Cheney, Co. C; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 9, 186. Jacob M. Lair, Co. C; disch. at expiration of service, Aug. 26, 1864. Orril W. Avery, Co. C; disch. at expiration of service, Aug. 22,1864. Alex. Worden, Co. C; disch. at expiration of service, Aug. 24, 1864. Seymour Underwood, Co. C; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 16,1863. John Bowen, Co. C; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 18, 1863. John L. Rice, Co. C; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 19, 1863. James 0. Hall, Co. C; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Dec. 16, 1863. Byron C. Ellis, N. C. S.; must. out July 6,1865. William A. Herring, band; must. out July 5, 1865. Jacob W. Snyder, Co. A, must. out July 5, 1865. William N. Dunn, Co. B; must. out July 5,1865. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 57 John R. Randall, Co. C; disch. for promotion in 18th Inf. July 27, 1862. Clark R. Warren, Co. C; must. out July 5, 1865. Clark W. Blair, Cu. C; disch. for disability, July 18, 1862. Philip Fox, Co. C; disch. for disability, Sept. 28, 1862. Joln B. Fullerton, Co. C; disch. for disability, Feb. 27,1863. Joseph W. Fullerton, Co. C; disch. for disability, Feb. 28, 1863. Wm. F. Nelson, Co. C; must. out July 5, 1865. James H. Warring, Co. C; wounded at Fair Oaks; disch. Nov. 20,1862; re-enl. in 46th N. Y. Inf. Aug. 14, 1864; in battles of Hatcher's Run, Peebles' Farm, and Petersburg; must. out June 20, 1865. James Gibson, Co. C; disch. Robert Gibson, Co. C; must. out July 5, 1865. Robert D. Glasgow, Co. C; disch. Dec. 19, 1862. George 0. Nimocks, Co. C; disch. by order May 6, 1865. Thomas Caldwell, Co. F; must. out July 5, 1865. Thomas A. Cooney. Co. G; must. out July 5, 1865. Walter Nichols, Co. K; disch. for disability March 1, 1865. John Spillane, Co. K; must. out July 5, 1865. TENTH INFANTRY. The 10th Michigan Infantry was raised in the fall of 1861 and winter of 1862, its headquarters being at Flint, Genesee County. Company K was principally recruited in Hillsdale County, sixty-eight of those who served in it during the war being from that county. No other company was represented by Hillsdale County men, but Christopher J. Dickerson, of Hillsdale, was lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. The 10th left Flint on the 22d of April, 1862, and joined the Southwestern Army. It took part in the siege of Corinth and in several skirmishes, but escaped any general engagement during that year. In the fall it was transferred to Middle Tennessee, and remained there over a year, engaged in the necessary but not very exciting duty of guarding trains, watching guerrillas, etc. In November, 1863, the regiment started for Knoxville, in East Tennessee, but was suddenly sent back to Columbus, Ky., on the Mississippi River, and again as suddenly ordered to Chattanooga, which it reached on the 19th of December. On the 25th of February, 1864, the 10th took an active part in the severe battle of Buzzard's Roost, near Dalton, Ga., having thirteen men killed, thirty-six wounded, and seventeen missing. Lieut.-Col. Dickerson, who was in command of the regiment, was wounded and taken prisoner. Soon afterwards, three hundred and ninety-five of the men re-enlisted, as veterans, and, after a furlough at home, the regiment returned, in May, 1864, to take part in Gen. Sherman's Georgia campaign. On the 17th of May it arrived in front of Rome, and the next day participated in its capture. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, on the 19th of June, the 10th was in the reserve. Pursuing its course, and sharing the toils and dangers of the army, it came into position in front of Atlanta on the 22d of July, and remained there during the rest of that month and the whole of August. On the 1st of September the 10th bore a gallant part in the battle of Jonesboro', having thirty men killed (including Maj. Burnett, the commander) and forty-seven wounded. On the 8th of September its trials were rewarded by its entrance into captured Atlanta. On the 28th it returned to Chattanooga, and operated in that vicinity and in Northern Georgia until the 1st of November. It then returned to Atlanta, destroying bridges and railroads the whole dis tance, thus guarding Sherman's army from assault in the rear while it should make its contemplated " March to the Sea." 8 The 10th accompanied the army on this celebrated expedition, setting out from Atlanta on the 26th of November, 1864. The movement was mostly a holiday trip, but on the 31st of November three companies of the 10th, while on picket at Louisville, Georgia, were attacked by a large force of rebel cavalry. After a sharp fight the enemy was completely repulsed, leaving his killed and wounded on the field. After reaching Savannah the regiment remained there until the 20th of January, 1865, when it moved with Sherman's army through the Carolinas. It was slightly engaged with the enemy near Fayetteville and Averysboro', N. C., from the 11th to the 16th of March. During the night of the 18th, the 10th, which was intrusted with the defense of the position at the junction of the Smithfield and Goldsboro' roads, was vigorously attacked, but succeeded in repulsing the enemy. At the battle of Bentonville, on the 19th of March, the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 14th Corps, was disposed in two lines, the 10th Michigan being in the second. The first line was charged by the enemy, but repulsed them, and in a counter-charge captured a large number of prisoners. The 10th, with the rest of the brigade, then moved forward to the first line, but in a few moments the rebels, having broken through the 1st Division, were discovered in the left flank and rear. The Union line was at once placed on the other side of its works. The enemy advanced rapidly, but. the 10th and its comrade regiments poured a deadly volley into his ranks. and then charged with the bayonet, driving the foe in confusion from the field, and capturing a considerable number of prisoners. The regiment skirmished some the next day, which was its last service under fire. It then proceeded to Richmond and Washington, participating in the grand review of Sherman's army in the latter city, on the 27th of May. On the 13th of June it was sent to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out of service on the 19th of July. On the 1st of August it was paid off and disbanded at Jackson, Michigan. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Christopher J. Dickerson, commissioned lieut.-col. Nov. 20,1861; wounded and captured at Buzzard's Roost, Ga., Feb. 25, 1864; corn. col. 6th Inf., Nov. 12,1864; app. brevet brig.-gen. of vols., March 13, 1865. Ethel Judd, corn. capt. Oct. 1, 1861; res. July, 1862. John T. Storer, corn. 1st lieut. Oct. 1, 1861; res. June 21, 1862. Avery A. Smith, coni. 2d lieut. June 23, 1862; 1st lieut., March 31,1863; res. Nov. 8, 1864. George H. Sherman, corn. 1st lieut. Feb. 24,1865; must. out July 19, 1865. John Cronk, Co. K; died June 3, 1862. Horace F. Crosby, Co. K; died at Camp Farmington, May 3, 1862. Alexander Robb, Co. K; died at Camp Thompson, Mich. Norman Doolittle, Co. K; died at Camp Dennison, Ohio, July 12,1862. Alonzo Wood, Co. K; died at Camp Dennison, Ohio, July 12, 1862. Homer Northrup, Co. K; died at Keokuk, Iowa, Aug. 18, 1862. James Fuller, Co. K; died at Keokuk, Iowa, Aug. 18, 1862. Alexander Williams, Co. K; died. Emory C. Yost, Co. K; died. Wm. Russell, Co. K; died at Evansville, Ind., Sept. 9, 1862. John McGuiggan, Co. K; died at Stevenson, Ala., Oct. 6, 1863. Samuel Fuller, Co. K; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 18, 1863. Nelson Judd, Co. K; died at Keokuk, Iowa, Nov. 4,1862. John Van Deger, Co. K; killed near Dalton, Ga., Feb. 25, 1864. Adriel Gibson, Co. K; killed at Jonesboro', Ga., Sept. 1, 1864. Thos. Russell, Co. K; killed at Jonesboro', Ga., Sept. 1, 1864. Joseph Wolfe, Co. K; killed at Buzzard's Roost, Ga., Feb. 25,1864. Warren Merritt, Co. K; disch. for disability, July 29, 1862. Thomas Dean, Co. K; disch. for disability, July 29,1862. Paul Fifield, Co. K; disch. for disability, Oct. 8,1862. Lothario Chase, Co. K; disch. for disability. Eugene Cronk, Co. K; disch. for disability. i 58 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. James Fifield, Co. K; disch. for disability. Ampton Otto, Co. K; disch. for disability, July 25, 1862. Charles H. Spencer, Co. K; disch. for disability, Sept. 30, 1862. Peter West, Co. K; disch. to enl. il marine service. Jacob U. Squier, Co. K; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, April 10,1864. John E. Cleveland, Co. K; disch. for minority, May 15, 1863. Frederick J. Baker, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6,1864. Jasper Bryan, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6, 1861. Christian Howold, Jr., Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6, 1864. Giles P. Mesick, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6;1864. John C. Ollin, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6, 1864. George Rose, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6,1864. Gideon H. Sherman, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6,1864. Philip B. Spencer, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6, 1864. John Vandusen, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 6,1864. Willard F. Lamb, Co. K; disch. July 8, 1862. Frederick S. Baker, Co. K; must. out July 19,1865. Samuel Sanform, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Feb. 6,1865. Marshall Bartlett, Co. K; (tisch. at expiration of service, Feb. 6, 1865. Albert Bates, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Feb. 6, 1865. Sheldon W. Curtis, Co. K; disch. by order, May 16, 1865. Thomas Faulkner, Co. K; must. out July 19, 1865. Charles Goodrich, Co. K; must. out July 19, 1865. Eben M. Lewis, Co. K; must. out July 19, 1865. William Otto, Co. K; disch. for disability. Valentine Riggs, Co. K; must. out July 19,1865. Benjamin F. Vreeland, Co. K; must. out July 19,1865. Wayne Vosburg, Co. K; must. out July 19, 1865. George Young, Co. K; must. out July 19, 1865. Emery Yost, Co. K; must. out July 19, 1865. George G. Spencer, Co. K; must. out July 19, 1865. Peter Ackerman, Co. K; disch. by order, June, 1865. Abram Stall, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Feb. 6, 1865. George Salmon, Co. K.- disch. at exliration of service, Feb. 6, 1865. CHAPTER XII. THE ELEVENTH INFANTRY. Hillsdale County Represented in Five Companies-Its First BattleGallant Conduct-Triumphant Charge through Stone River-In Thomas' Command at Chickamauga —The Grand Assault at Mission Ridge-The Georgia Campaign-The Old Regiment Mustered Out-Reorganization-Services of the New Regiment-List of Officers and Soldiers in both Organizations. THE 11th Michigan Infantry was raised in the summer and autumn of 1861, in St. Joseph, Branch, Hillsdale, and other counties of Southern Michigan; its headquarters being at White Pigeon, in St. Joseph County. Hillsdale County was represented in no less than five companies, but in all by comparatively small detachments. The number serving during the war, in the respective companies in the first organization, was as follows: Twenty-four in B company; seven in C; thirty-eight in D; eleven in G; eleven in K; total, ninety-one. In the new organization the members were four in Company A; one in B; four in C; one in D; eleven in E; one in F; six in H; thirty-one in I; and three in K; total, sixty-two. Total in both organizations, one hundred and fifty-three. The regiment moved from White Pigeon, on the 9th of December, 1861, to Bardstown, Ky. It remained in that State, and near Nashville, Tenn., until the advance of Gen. Rosecrans' army in December, 1862. Though not engaged in battle during this time it suffered very severely from sickness; no less than one hundred and eighteen men hav ing died previous to the 1st of November, and one hundred and twenty-seven discharged on account of disability. The first fighting of the 11th was at the battle of Stone River, on the 31st of December, 1862, and the 1st and 2d of January, 1863, and a most severe " baptism of fire" it was. On the morning of the 31st the enemy approached the position of the regiment from the right front. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the 11th steadily awaited the assault of the foe. Just as the men were bracing themselves for the expected attack a heavy fire of musketry and artillery showed that the principal advance of the rebels was on the left rear. The regiment immediately changed front under a heavy fire, and advanced in line of battle to the crest of a hill, from which a Union battery had recently been driven. Here the heavy columns of the enemy were seen advancing, while a large part of his artillery appeared to be aimed at this point, and with terrible effect. Undismayed by the bullets and cannon-balls which riddled its ranks, and before which officers and men fell on every side, the 11th poured in a steady fire with severe effect on the advancing grays. This fire was kept up until the general in command, seeing that the enemy's fire was concentrated on that locality, sent orders to the 11th to retire. It fell back about fifteen rods, faced about, fired on the rebels as they came over the hill, and then again retreated to the cover of a wood a short distance in the rear. Many other regiments were also there, and some confusion was temporarily manifested. Order, however, was promptly restored, and the 11th, with other regiments, moved slowly to the rear, keeping up a constant fire. At one point the regiment halted, and held the enemy in check nearly half an hour. A little later, in obedience to orders, they rallied on the colors, and made a sudden charge back with the bayonet, stopping the course of the startled foe, until, again in obedience to orders, they once more fell back to the Murfreesboro' Pike, which was steadily held by the Union troops. During the 1st of January the 11th was not called on for active service, but in the afternoon of the 2d it performed one of the most brilliant feats of the war. It was at that time lying down as a reserve in rear of the Union batteries, on the right part of the left wing of Gen. Rosecrans' army. Between three and four o'clock, the rebels on the other side of Stone River made a heavy attack on the Union front. At the end of half an hour they succeeded in forcing back the Union troops, one regiment being driven in great disorder across the river and through the ranks of the 11th. As soon as the enemy came within range, the I th, with the rest of the brigade, rose up, fired one volley, and then charged at full speed, under a storm of bullets, across the river. It was the first regiment on the farther bank,-a fact which caused it to be publicly complimented by Gen. Negley after the battle. Its disordered ranks were speedily reformed, and volley after volley was poured into the rebel lines, until the graybacks were glad to flee to their intrenchments in the rear, leaving four pieces of artillery as the prize of the victors. The 11th and other regiments then formed line of battle, threw out skirmishers, and held the position until recalled by order across the river. This brilliant charge had a most depressing effect upon the enemy, and was one of the principal causes of his re tiring that night from the field, leaving the victory to the Union forces. Col. Stoughton, from whose official report the above ac 17 ~ --- —. -..: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 59 count is taken, spoke in the highest terms of the conduct of his troops. " They fought," said he, " with the bravery and coolness of veterans, and obeyed my commands under the hottest fire with the precision of the parade-ground." The total loss of the 11th in the three days' fight known as the battle of Stone River was thirty-two killed, seventynine wounded, and twenty-nine missing. After the retreat of the Confederate army, the regiment was detailed as provost-guard at Murfreesboro', remaining there until the advance made in June, 1863. On the 1st of July it was engaged in a skirmish at Elk River, and soon after went into camp at Decherd, Tenn., where it remained until the 1st of September. It then advanced with Rosecrans' army to the vicinity of Chattanooga. At the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 2(th of September, the 11th was in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division of the 14th Corps, in the command of the inflexible Thomas. On the last day of the battle, when the hosts which had routed the other two grand divisions came down upon the devoted columns of Thomas, the 11th was in the thickest of the fight, and did its full share in the heroic task of repelling this overwhelming force. It held one of the most important points in Thomas' line, successfully meeting numerous charges of the enemy, who came on flushed with former triumphs, but was compelled to stay his course by the hardy sons of Southern Michigan. The next day the 11th was one of the regiments which covered the retreat of the army to Chattanooga. Its casualties in the battle numbered eighty-three killed and wounded and twentythree missing. Equal gallantry was manifested by the 11th at the battle of Mission Ridge, one of the great decisive conflicts of the war; and that time the men had the pleasure of seeing that their efforts were completely successful, resulting in one of the most brilliant victories of the war. Far above the Union army, then commanded by Gen. Grant, were the Confederate forces of Gen. Bragg on the towering heights of Mission Ridge, their position, apparently almost impregnable by nature, being strengthened by long lines of intrenchments, with numerous redoubts, which seemed able to defy every attempt which could be made by the most desperate enemy. No military achievement equal to the conquest of those lines had been accomplished in America since the army of Wolfe surmounted the rock-ribbed heights of Abrahamn, and vanquished the legions of Montcalm before the walls of Quebec. But Wolfe made his way to the top of the heights by means of a night-surprise, while at Mission Ridge the two armies were too large for that, and the Union forces were drawn out in broad day, with all the Confederate host as interested spectators. Yet when the order was given, the long blue lines advanced steadily up the embattled steeps, sometimes climbing by means of bushes, and firing, as they went, at the enemy (who from his vantage-ground sent thousands of bullets through their devoted ranks), pressing on without a thought of retreat, and finally driving the foe in utter confusion from all his rifle-pits, intrenchments, and redoubts,-capturing thousands of prisoners and scores of cannon, and seizing the key-position of Georgia and the Southeast. The 11th Michigan was one of the most active and valiant regiments in the great charge, and was one of the very first to reach the enemy's works. It had thirty-nine men killed and wounded, including among the former its gallant commander, Maj. Bennett. The 11th hastened in pursuit of the flying foe, and at Graysville it charged their rear, aiding in the capture of a whole battery of artillery, with the equipments complete. It was then stationed at Rossville, Graysville, and vicinity until the 7th of May, when it entered on Gen. Sherman's Georgia campaign. It was frequently engaged in skirmishing and under heavy artillery fire, and on the 4th of July participated in a successful charge on the intrenchments near Marietta, having thirteen men killed and wounded. At Peach-Tree Creek, on the 20th of July, it lost eleven killed and wounded, and at the battle in front of Atlanta, on the 7th of August, it had fifteen men killed and fifteen wounded. The regiment's term of service having now expired, it returned to Michigan, leaving behind a hundred and fiftytwo veterans and recruits with unexpired terms. It was mustered out at Sturgis on the 30th of September, 1864. ELEVENTH INFANTRY REORGANIZED. It was determined, however, not to lose the name and prestige of a regiment which had won such renown, and, even before its muster out, orders were issued by the Governor for its reorganization. This was not accomplished until the 18th of March, 1865, when the new 4th was concentrated at Jackson. As before stated, it had sixtytwo members fiom Hillsdale County. About the 1st of April it proceeded to Chattanooga where it was joined by the veterans and others who had been left behind on the return of the old regiment By this time the fighting in the West was over, but the regiment was retained in Tennessee until the middle of September, mostly engaged in guarding railroads, etc., in the eastern part of that State. It was paid off and disbanded at Jackson, Mich., on the 23d of September, 1865. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM IIILLSDALE COUNTY. Arvin T. Whelan, app. asst. surg. Nov. 12, 1861; res. Oct. 13, 1862; app. surg. 1st Sharpshooters, Jan. 1, 1863; brevetted lieut.-col. March 13, 1865; must. out Jan. 28,1865. Chauncey E. Koon, corn. 2d lieut. Nov. 26,1862; 1st lieut. Jan. 7, 1863; capt. June 17, 1864; must. out at end of service, Sept. 30, 1864. William G. Whitney, cor. 2d lieut. Jan. 7, 1863; wounded at Chickamauga; Ist lient. June 17,1864; capt. March 1, 1865; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Jolln Bosenbark, com. capt. March 1, 1865; res. May 31, 1865. Justus Witherell, coni. 1st lieut. March 1, 1865; capt. May 31, 1865; rhust. out Sept. 16, 1865. Charles D. Pierce, corn. 1st lieut. May 31, 1865; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Silas MI. Kelly, Co. G; killed at Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862. Bennett Smetts, Co. C; killed at Stone River, Dec. 31,1862. Stephen Bradshaw, Co. B; died at Bardstown, Ky., Jan. 28,1862. Richard E. Stone, Co. B; died at Bardstown, Ky., March 18, 1862. Edward Sherman, Co. B; died at Bardstown, Ky., March 17,1862. Andrew J. M. Wood, Co. C; died Jan. 24, 1862. Benjamin F. Cay, Co. F; died Feb. 4, 1862. Joseph W. Fearnley, Co. F; died April 6,1862. John Masters, Co. F; died May 28, 1862. Elias Sloan, Co. F; died Feb. 16, 1862. John W. Wisner, Co. F; died April 15, 1862. Pelatiah Hyde, Co. G; died Jan. 8, 1862. Daniel lHure, Co. G; died Jan. 8, 1862. Cyrus Sherman, Co. C; missing at Stone River, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1862; returned. N. Myron Comstock, Co F; missing at Stone River, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1862. Wm. Spafford, Co. F; missing at Stone River, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1862. 60 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Stillman Hedges, Co. H; cap. at Stone River; paroled; died before exchange. A. J. Silverwood, Co. B; died Jan. 2, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River. Joseph Miller, Co. K; died Jan. 2, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River. James W. Seelay, Co. K; died of wounds, March 10,1863, at Nashville, Tonn. George C. Barnes, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn. John Duffey, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 9, 1863. Horace Weaver, Co. F; missing at Chickamauga, Tenn., Sept. 20,1863. Isaac C. Mosher, Co. B; died at Danville, Va., of w'ds rec'd at Chickamauga. James Pierce, Co. B; died in service. Thomas Pixley, Co. F; killed near Dallas, Ga., May 31,1864. David Sloan, Co. F; died Dec. 22, 1863, of wounds, at Chattanooga, Tenn. George Slayton, Co. B; disch. to enl. in regulars, Nov. 25, 1862. Charles Hull, Co. F; drowned in Sequeachie Creek, Nov. 23, 1863. John Metcalf, Co. F; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, April 10, 1864. John Vance, Co. F; died Jan. 18,1863, at Murfreesboro', Tenn. William Coplin, Co. B; trans. to 16th Mich. Inf., Sept. 20,1861. Charles B. Baynor, Co. B; disch. for disability, June 4, 1862. John Russell, Co. B; disch. for disability, Oct. 10, 1862. Charles Sylvester, Co. B; disch. for disability, Oct. 11, 1862. Enoch 11. Goodrich, Co. F; disch. for disability, June 7, 1862. George Baker, Co. F; disch. for disability, Oct. 21,1861. Simon Kelly, Co. F; disch. for disability, April 25, 1862. Orville Palmer, Co. F; disch. for disability, Oct. 26,1861. David W. Stroud, Co. F; disch. for disability, March 17, 1862. Eugene Worden, Co. F; disch. for disability, July 6,1862. David Warren, Co. F; disch. for disability, Marchl 17,1862. Clement Tubbs, Co. F; disch. for disability, Aug. 9, 1862. Milo Scovill, Co. F; disch. for disability, Aug. 27, 1862. Phillips Abel, Co. G; disch. for disability, Feb. 23, 1862. Franklin Bobbilt, Co. G; disch. for disability, Feb. 24, 1862. Lewis Britton, Co. G; disch. for disability, Feb. 13,1862. William K. Leonard, Co. G; disch. for disability. William Rogers, Co. K; disch. for disability, June 3,1862. Lewis H1. Storer, Co. K; disch. for disability, July 11,1862. Henry Palmeter, Co. K; disch. for disability, Dec. 3,1862. Warren Clemens, Co. B; disch. for disability, Feb. 1,1863. John Caldwell, Co. B; disch. for disability, May 23,1863. Charles Wilson, Co F; disci. for disability, April 20, 1863. Thomas E. A. Cooney, Co. K; disch. for disability, Feb. 18, 1863. Albert Palmeter, Co. K; disch. for disability, March 1,1863. James Fields, Co. B; trans. to U. S. Engineers, July 20, 1864. Orrin J. Ford, Co. B; discb. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Randall C. West, Co. B; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Oscar F. Avery, Co. B; wounded in service; disch. at exp. of serv., Sept. 30, '64. Dillison S. Avery, Co. B; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. Halley M. Mills, Co. B; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Bradley Mosher, Co. B; wounded at Stone River; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. James S. Raynor, Co. B; discb. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. William Spencer, Co. B; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. 0. J. Ford, sergt. Henry V. Whitehead, Co. B; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Clark Marsh, 1st sergt.; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Horace Weaver, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. George W. Whitney; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Myron M. Comstock, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. John M. Rhodes, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. William C. Clark, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. John Jubinville, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. William B. Moon, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. Samuel A. Oldfield, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Marion Perry, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. John 0. Taylor, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Alexander Weaver, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. Reuben Wilson, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. Samuel German, Co. G; disch. for disability, July 20, 1864. James Crocker, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. James Quilhot, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. Wrauy T. Thorn, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. William C. Johnson, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Carlos B. Johnson, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. William H. Marrell, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. Walter Myers, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. Peter Seeley, Co. K: disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30, 1864. James Fields, Co. B; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 30,1864. Stephen Caner, Co. C; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, March 24, 1864. Watts Sherman, Co. C; disch to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 27,1864. Samuel German, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 30, 1864. Samuel H. Fellows, Co. B; disch. for disability, April 20,1863. Cyrus Sherman, Co. C; disch. at expiration of service, Dec. 9,1864. ls A., Caner, Co. C; disch. Sept. 26,1865.:Ula;e-Hart, Co. D; disch. by order, May 29,1865. oma C. Filson, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. 30,1864. Ja;es Thorp, Co. F; disch. for disability. James Long, Co. K; disch. by order, June 16, 1865. Xorris Slayton, Co. B; died at Bardstown, Ky., April 19, 1862. Cornelius H. Van Schaik, Co. F; died at Bardstown, Ky., Feb. 28, 1862. ELEVENTH INFANTRY, REORGANIZED. Byron D. Foster, Co. C; died at Chattanooga, Tenn., May 31, 1865. Leroy Geer, Co. E; died at Chattanooga, Tenn., May 6, 1865. Charles Martin, Co. E; (ldied at Nashville, Tenn., April 2, 1865. Frank Jennings, Co. I; died at Chattanooga, Tenn., April 14, 1865. Joseph Whaley, Co. I; died at Chattanooga, Tenn., April 19,1865. Ed. A. Bassett, Co. A; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. James D. Beyer, Co. A; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Melvin Mosher, Co. A; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Edwin M. Wilson, Co. A; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. W. Whitney, Co. B; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Alfred Bush, Co. C; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Winfield S. Mapes, Co. C; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. George Rush, Co. C; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Urbane Hart, Co. D; disch. by order, June 16, 1865. Alien Anderson, Co. E; must. out. Sept. 16, 1865. Edward E. Clapp, Co. E; must. out Sept. 16,1865. John Coleman, Co. E; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. John P. Johnson, Co. E; must. out Sept. 30, 1865. William Maybee, Co. E; must. out May 6, 1865. Frank W May, Co. E; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Freeman Pettis, Co. E; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Edwin B. Sheldon, Co. E; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. James S. Whitney, Co. E; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Albert H. Mendel, Co. F; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Horatio M. Townsend, Co. H; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Joseph T. Bolger, Co. 11; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Adoniram J. Burroughs, Co. 1I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. George M. Cooper, Co. H; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. George Pratt, Co. H; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Levi Warrens, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Hiram S. Atmes, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Lewis Baler, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16,1865. William Barnard, Co. I: must. out Sept. 16,1865. Benjamin Candee, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. James E. Case, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16,1865. George A. Converse, Co. I; miust. out Sept. 16, 1865. William Cook, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Warren II. Green, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. John Gordon, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Charles H. Laper, Co. I; must. out Aug. 15, 1865. Freeman W. Lindsley, Co. I; Iust. out Sept. 16, 1865. Charles 11H. Lindsley, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Sanford Miller, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865, Sumnrer Manning, Co. I; inust. out Sept. 16, 1865. Francis M. Rustine, Co. I; must. out Sept. 30, 1865. Byron Rustine, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Peter Silvernail, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Jacob E. Smith, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Francis Squier, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Orlando Shark, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Emerson S. Trumbull, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Solomon B. Trumbull, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. William E. Williams, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Allen E. Worden, Co. I; must. out Sept. 6, 1865. John H. Wells, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Charles W. White, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Alanson Wales, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16,1865. Christ Young, Co. I; must. out Aug. 30,1865. Cyrus J. Dewey, Co. I; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. John Roberts, Co. K; must. out Sept. 16,1865. James Wilkinson, Co. K; must. out Sept. 16, 1865. Franklin Van Schaik, Co. K; must. out Sept. 16,1865. CHAPTER XIII. THE FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH INFANTRY. A Scattering Representation-From Parade-Ground to Battle-Field -The 15th at Pittsburg Landing-Battle of Corinth-Siege and Capture of Vicksburg-Victories in Georgia-The March to the, Sea-Through the Carolinas-Ordered to Arkansas-Brought Home and Disbanded-List of Officers and Soldiers-A Scant Delegation in the 16th-That Regiment in the Seven Days' Fight-Heavy Loss at Gaines' Mill-Second Battle of Bull Run-GettysburgSharp Fight in the Wilderness-Subsequent Conflicts-Storming the Works at Poplar Grove Church-Hatcher's Run-The Final Struggles-The Muster-Out-List of Members. THE 15th Infantry, raised under Col. J. M. Oliver at Monroe, was not able to leave that place for the front until the 27th day of March, 1862. The Hillsdale County sol HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 61 diers who served in its ranks during the war numbered four in Company A, six in B, three in C, one in D, four in E, twelve in F, two in G, three in H, five in I, and ten in K, making just fifty men in the ten companies of the regiment. We believe this was the only regiment in the service in which every company embraced Hillsdale men, yet, as has been seen, the representation was exceedingly sparse. The 15th was transferred almost instantaneously from the peaceful parade-ground at Monroe to the storm of battle at Pittsburg Landing It arrived the evening of the 5th of April, 1862. The next day the battle opened, and the 15th was hurried to the front, taking an active and gallant part, and having thirty-three officers and men killed and sixty-four wounded, while seven were reported missing. The regiment served through the siege of Corinth, and was on duty in the vicinity until that place was attacked by the rebel generals, Price and Van Dorn, on the 1st and 2d of October, 1862. It was then on outpost duty, ten miles northwest of Corinth, and was assailed by the whole rebel force. It fell back, contesting the ground inch by inch, and with some other regiments held the enemy in check during the whole of that day, giving ample time for Gen. Rosecrans to prepare for the next day's conflict, in which he won a complete victory over the rebel army. The casualties of the 15th were thirteen killed, thirty-two wounded. and five missing. The regiment served in Northern Mississippi until June, 1863, when it was ordered to Vicksburg. Having been assigned to the 9th Corps, it took part in the siege of that city, sharing the hardships and dangers, which were at length rewarded by the surrender of the place, with the grand army of Gen. Pemberton, on the ever-memorable Fourth of July, 1863; The 15th remained in Central Mississippi during the summer, and in October was sent with the 5th Corps to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland. It was stationed in Northern Alabama until Feb. ruary, 1864, when a portion of the men re-enlisted, and the regiment was sent home on veteran furlough, returning, to take part in Gen. Sherman's Georgia campaign, in May. After unnumbered wearisome marches and many skirmishes, the 15th found itself in the 5th Corps, in front of the enemy, near Decatur, Ga. The rebels drove back the 17th Corps, which was on the left of the 5th. The 15th Michigan was ordered to take possession of an exposed position some distance from the line of its corps. On the regiment's arriving near the point indicated, it was found to be in possession of the enemy. The men of Michigan did not hesitate, but moved gallantly forward, and after a brief but sharp conflict captured the position, with seventeen rebel officers, a hundred and sixty-seven men, and three stands of colors. The loss of the 15th was only four killed and six wounded. On the 28th of July the regiment won another victory over an assailing force of the enemy, which was driven off with heavy loss, leaving its dead and wounded on the field. Still another triumph was gained near Jonesboro' on the 31st of August, when the enemy attacked the fortified camp of the 15th, and was most decisively defeated. After the surrender of Atlanta; the regiment went to Northern Alabama to operate against the rebel general, Hood, but returned in time to " march to the sea" with Sherman. It also marched through the Carolinas with that general; went from Washington to Little Rock, Ark., in June and July, 1865; returned to Detroit in August, and was discharged on the 1st of September. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Franklin B. Case, Jr., commissioned 2d lieut. Oct. 29,1862; 1st lieut., Aug. 13, 1863; capt., March 30, 1865; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Daniel D. Case, corn. 2d lieut. Feb. 1,1863; 1st lieut., June 6,1865; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. James C. Kellogg, corn. 1st lieut. March 30, 1865; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Charles E. K. Baxter, cor. 1st lieut. March 30, 1865; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. John W. Hughes, Co. F; died July 3, 1862. Charles Hughes, Co. F; died May 3, 1862. Eugene Godfrey, Co. K; killed at Jonesboro', Ga., Sept. 1, 1864. George Hewitt, Co. K; killed at Rome, Ga., July 28, 1865. Royal Willson, Co. F; disch. for disability, March 26,1862. Jeremiah Harris, Co. I; disch. for disability, June 12,1862. James IHughes, Co. F; disch for disability, July 17,1862. Chauncey Tupper, Co. F; disch. for disability, July 16, 1862. Reuben Wilson, Co. F; disch. for disability, Sept. 2, 1862. Cyrus Lawrence, Co. A; disch. by order, May 30,1865. Frederick Just, Co. A; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Walter B. Harrison, Co. A; must. out Aug. 13,1865. Edward G. Latham, Co. A; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Anthony Cooley, Co. B; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Calvin Wehlin, Co. B; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. John Patten, Co. B; disch. by order, June 29,1865. Chauncey A. Perllam, Co. B; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. John V. Robbins, Co. B; must. out Aug. 13,1865. Stephen Old, Co. C; disch. by order, May 30,1865. Volney White, Co. C; disch. by order, July 19, 1865. George Weaver, Co. C; disch. by order, May 530, 1865. Henry Fash, Co. D; nmust. out Aug. 13, 1865. Alonzo Noyts, Co. E; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Charles La Carge, Co. E; disch. by order, July 17, 1865. James McGreery, Co. E; must. out Aug. 13. 1865. Richard Martin, Co. E; must. out Aug. 1:1, 1865. Thomas R. Gallagher, Co. F; disch. for disability, July 16,1862. James 1. Hughes, Co. F; disch. at expiration of service, Jan. 29, 1865. Henry Upthegrove, Co. F; disch. by order, Sept. 12, 1865. Sibley P. Wilder, Co. F; disch. for dis:tbility, May 6,1862. Iorace Cory, Co. F; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. James Silver, Co. F must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Charles F. Butler, Co. G; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. John Spoor, Co. G; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Alrmon Cary, Co. H; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Henry Coy, Co. H; must. out Aug. 13,1865. Joel B. Myers, Co. H; must. out July 19, 1865. John Crelley, Jr., Co. I; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. William Lake, Co. I; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Herman Terril, Co. I; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. George Mackay, Co. I; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. John C. Cooley, Co. K; nmst. out Aug. 13, 1865. George Sevick, Co. K; disch. by order, Aug. 1865. John W. Resdorph, Co. K; disch. by order, May 22, 1865. John Cruthers, Co. K; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. George H. Godfrey, Co. K; musnt. out Aug. 13,1865. George Nisle, Co. K; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. John H. Bradshaw, Co. K; must. out Aug. 1:3,1865. Washington J. Engle, Co. K; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. SIXTEENTH INFANTRY. The 16th barely comes within the limit we have prescribed as entitling a regiment to mention in these pages. It had, according to the adjutant-general's rolls, just twenty members who were residents of Hillsdale County, viz., one in Company B, seven in C, two in D, eight in E, and two in F. It went to Virginia in September, 1861. In the spring of 1862 it moved with the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula, and was engaged in the battles of Hanover Court-House, Gaines' Mills, and Malvern Hill. At Gaines' Mills alone it had no less than forty-nine officers and sol diers killed, one hundred and sixteen wounded, and fifty-five missing. At the second battle of Bull Run it had sixteen killed, sixty-three wounded, and seventeen missing. 62 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. At Antietam it was in reserve. At Fredericksburg it had twenty-three men killed and wounded, and at Chancellorsville one killed and six wounded. At Middleburg, on the 21st of June, 1'863, the regiment captured a piece of artillery with nineteen officers and men, itself having nine men wounded. It was hotly engaged at Gettysburg, having twenty-four officers and soldiers killed, thirty-six wounded, and two missing. The next battle of the 16th (which, in the mean time, had reorganized as a veteran regiment) was at the Wilderness, where, on the 7th of May, 1864, it was sharply and gallantly engaged, having thirty-five officers and men killed and wounded. The evening of the 8th, the rebels attacked the regiment while on the march, but were repulsed, and a rebel colonel and a large number of men were captured. On the 22d of May the 16th defeated the enemy's rearguard, and made another large capture of prisoners. After numerous skirmishes and two or three serious conflicts it reached the lines in front of Petersburg on the 17th of June. On the 30th of September it was part of the force which stormed the works at Poplar Grove Church, its commander, Col. Welch, being killed, and fifty-two others being killed and wounded. The regiment remained on duty before and near Petersburg until the 6th and 7th of February, 1865, when it was engaged in the battle of Hatcher's Run, and suffered heavy loss. It was also engaged to some extent in the conflicts at Five Forks, Amelia Court-House, High Bridge, and the crowning glory of Appomnattox CourtHouse. After being ordered to Louisville, Ky., and Jeffersonville, Ind., in June, it was finally sent to Jackson, Mich., in July, where it was paid off and disbanded on the 25th of that month. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. James R. Hall, Co. D; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2,1863. William Simmons, Co. E; died of wounds. Joseph Cilliway, Co. C; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 8,1864. Curtis Blanchard, Co. C; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, July, 1863. James N. Ish, Co. D; disch. Feb. 26,1863. William Coplin, Co. F; disch. Oct. 24, 1862. SamJuel Holstead, Co. C; disch. Sept. 7, 1864. Abram Whitbeck, Co. C; disth. to re-enlist as veteran, Dec. 24, 1863. James Spatch, Co. E; disch. to re-enlist as veteran, Dec. 21, 1863. Reuben Weston, Co. F; disch. to re-enlist as veteran, Dec. 21, 1863. William Ryan, Co. C; must. out July 8, 1865. Nathaniel D. Milliard, Co. E; disch. for disability, April 16, 1863. Patrick Meehan, Co. E; disch. for disability, Jan. 21, 1863. James Parker, Co. E; disch. for disability, Jan. 15, 1863. David Bellington, Co. C; killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Malcolm McClellan, Co. E; killed at Gaines' Mills, Va., June 27,1862. Patrick Meehan, Co. E; killed at Gaines' Mills, Va., June 27, 1862. Ephraim H. Hewlett, Co. B; died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 11, 1862. Henry Peck, Co. E; died at Baltimore, Md, Nov. 25, 1862. Thomas Cilliway, Co. C; disch. for disability, Feb. 24, 1862. Alphonzo Wakefield, Co. C; disch. for disability, Dec. 29, 1861. CHAPTER XIV. THE EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY. A Special Hillsdale Regiment-Number from the County-How Raised-Camp at Hillsdale-Service in Kentucky-Provost Duty at Nashville-In Garrison at Nashville-Suprising the RebelsDisaster near Athens-A Successful Defense-A Brilliant SallySubsequent Duties-Muster Out-The Officers and Soldiers. THIS is generally considered as peculiarly a Hillsdale County regiment, as its rendezvous during formation was at Hillsdale village. It also contained more men from that I i i I T county than did any other regiment under a single organization, though not as many as did the old and new 4th combined. The whole number of Hillsdale men in the regiment during the war was two hundred and eighty-six, distributed as follows: sixteen in Company A, ninety-two in Company D, eighty-three in Company F, seventy-four in Company G, nineteen in Company H, and two in Company I. The 18th was one of the first organized results of President Lincoln's call for more troops after the disasters of the Peninsular campaign. The 17th Infantry was raised under that call by the State at large. Then it was arranged that each of the six Congressional districts in the State should raise one regiment to be numbered from eighteen to twentythree, inclusive. The county of Wayne, however, which was then in the first district, undertook to raise an additional regiment by itself, and consequently the remaining counties of the first district, Monroe, Lenawee, and Hillsdale, were called on to supply a sufficient number of volunteers for the 18th Regiment. The regimental camp was established at Hillsdale, and placed under the charge of Hon. Henry Waldron. So promptly did the young men of the three counties named respond to their country's call that on the 4th of September, 1862, the regiment left Hillsdale for Cincinnati with a thousand and two officers and men in its ranks. Of these, as has been seen, Companies D, F, G, were substantially from Hillsdale County, while small detachments represented the county in other companies. Charles E. Doolittle, of Hillsdale, then a captain of the 4th Infantry, was commissioned as colonel of the new regiment. The other fieldofficers were Lieut-Col. George Spaulding, of Monroe County, and Maj. John W. Homer, of Lenawee. From Cincinnati the regiment was moved to Lexington, Ky., where it remained until February 21, when it marched to Danville. It retreated from Danville with Gen. Carter's force, skirnishing with the rebels under Gen. Pegram on the way. On the 28th, the Union men turned the tables on their late pursuers, chasing them over a rough mountainous road as far as Buck Creek. On the 7th of April the 18th marched to Lebanon, and thence proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, where it arrived on the 14th of that month. It remained at Nashville, doing duty as provost-guard, until the 11th of June, 1864, a period of fourteen months. Its duties were well performed, and it is understood that it was retained so long in that position at the request of Andrew Johnson, then Military Governor of Tennessee, and afterwards President of the United States. Of course, however, this detention prevented the regiment from winning glory in the field during the time of its stay. On the date before named, the 11th of June, 1864, the 18th was released from duty as provost-guard, and promptly set out to meet the enemy in the field. The next day it reached Decatur, Ala., of which place it formed a part of the garrison during the succeeding summer and fall, though often engaged in scouting through the neighboring country and having several conflicts with the enemy. On the 28th of June, in connection with a force of cavalry, it surprised the camp of Patterson's brigade of rebel cavalry, capturing all the equipage, wagons, stores, etc., HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 63 - and some prisoners. On the 25th of July, again in connection with a cavalry force, but marching in advance of it, the 18th attacked the same brigade at Cortland, Ala., and drove it in confusion from the field. On the 1st of September, it was sent to reinforce the garrison of Athens, Ala., arriving just in time to prevent Gen. Roddy's brigade of shot-gun cavalry from seizing the town. On the 8th of September the regiment left Athens, with Gen. Streight's brigade, in pursuit of Gen. Wheeler, with whose troops it had a sharp skirmish near Florence, Ala. The pursuit being abandoned, the 18th returned to Decatur. On the 24th of September, two hundred and thirty-one officers and men of the 18th marched with about as many other troops to aid the garrison of Athens. About two miles from that place they were attacked by Gen. N. B. Forrest, the most vigorous and successful of all the rebel cavalrymen in the West, with a force since ascertained to have numbered four thousand. After expending all their ammunition in five hours' hard fighting against this immensely superior force, the detachment had fought its way to a point in sight of Athens, but all their hopes were extinguished by seeing that the town was already in possession of the enemy. The force intended to relieve it, including the detachment of the 18th, then also surrendered. Except a very few who escaped, the entire number above mentioned (two hundred and thirty-one) was killed or captured. On the 26th of October Gen. Hood, then on his way, with the army withdrawn from Atlanta, to attempt the defeat of Thomas and capture of Nashville, appeared before Decatur. The siege continued until the 29th of October, the immense force of rebels making every effort to overwhelm the defenders of the town, but without success. That portion of the 18th not captured by Forrest was active in the defense, which at length resulted in the defeat of the enemy, and the withdrawal of his whole force. At one time during the siege a detachment of the enemy's riflemen gained possession of a line of rifle-pits close to one of the Union forts. Fifty men of the 18th were sent out against them. The Michigan men managed to strike the rebels in flank, rout them from their rifle-pits, and capture a hundred and fifteen of them, almost before the bewildered Confederates knew what was going on. On the 25th of November the 18th set out for Stevenson, Ala., but after remaining at the latter place about two weeks it returned to Decatur. From that point it proceeded to Huntsville, Ala., on the 11th of January, 1865, where it remained in garrison until the 20th of June. It was then ordered to Nashville, where it was mustered out on the 26th of that month. It arrived at Jackson, Mich., on the 2d of July, 1865, and on the 4th was paid off and disbanded. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Charles E. Doolittle (formerly of 4th Inf.), commissioned col. July 27,1862; brig.gen. of vols., May 11, 1865; brevet maj.-gen. of vols., May 11,1865; must. out Nov. 30, 1865. Simeon P. Root, corn. surg. Aug. 7, 1862; res. Feb. 25, 1863. James H. Pratt, corn. 1st lieut. and qr.-mr. Aug. 2,1862; assist. qr.-mr. U. S. Vols., March 29,1863; must. out Jan. 8,1866. John R. Randall, corn. 1st lieut. July 27, 1862; capt., Feb. 18, 1863; res. April 16, 1864. George W. Bullock, cor. capt. July 27, 1862; res. March 27, 1865. Jacob 0. Ames, cor. 1st lieut. July 27, 1862; res. Jan. 16,1863. I I James G. Bunt, com. 2d lieut. July 27, 1862; 1st lieut., Dec. 13,1862; capt., March 21, 1865; must. out June 26, 1865. Stanley W. Turner, corn. 2d lieut. July 27, 1862; res. Jan. 16, 1863. Alonzo E. Clark, corn. 2d lieut. July 27, 1862; 1st lieut., Feb. 18, 1863; must. out June 26, 1865. Stanley W. Davis, corn. 2d lieut. Jan. 31,1863; wounded and captured at Athens, Ala., Sept. 24, 1864; paroled Nov. 14, 1864; must. out June 26, 1865. Edward P. Champlin, corn. 2d lieut. Jan. 16, 1863; 1st lieut. and qr.-mr., Sept. 28, 1863; assist. qr.-mr. U. S. Vols., June 30, 1864. Seymour HI. Adams, corn. 2d lieut. Feb. 18,1863; 1st lieut., Aug. 16, 1864; must. out June 26, 1865. Charles B. Hoyt, corn. 2d lient. May 30,1863; res. Jan. 9, 1865. George W. Brewster, corn. 2d lieut. Aug. 1, 1863; 1st lieut., March 21, 1865; must. out June 26, 1865. Albert C. Smith, corn, 2d lient. Jan. 9,1865; must. out June 26,1865. Clinton F. Norris, coin. 2d lieut. Aug. 16, 1864; must. out June 26, 1865. John Massaker, Co. D; died at Lexington, Ky., Oct. 25, 1862. William G. Granger, Co. G; died at Camp Smith, Ky., Oct. 16, 1862. Ashur T. Strong, Co. G; died at Covington, Ky., Oct. 2, 1862. Daniel S. Foster, Co. D; died at Nashville, Tenn., July 3, 1863. William T. Hart, Co. D; died at Nashville, Tenn., June 22, 1863. Alonzo II. Orvis, Co. D; died at Lexington, Ky., Jan. 5,1863. William Folger, Co. D; died at Lexington, Ky., Jan. 7,1863. John Richey, Co. D; died at Lexington, Ky., Jan. 16,1863. Cbauncey Ashley, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn., May 28,1863. Robert 11. Cowgill, Co. F; died at Lexington, Ky., March 7, 1863. John Croup, Co. F; died at Lexington, Ky., Feb. 8,1863. Albert S. Thorn, Co. F; died at Lexington, Ky., Jan. 8, 1863. Loren M. Hammond, Co. F; died at Lexington, Ky., Jan. 21, 1863. Charles E. Merrick, Co. G; died at Lexington, Ky., Feb. 19,1863. Francis Hunt, Co. G; died at Danville, Ky., March 23, 1863. Byron Barber, Co. G; died at Danville, Ky., April 10, 1863. John B. Webster, Co. G; died at Lexiniton, Ky., April 8,1863. William McCarthy, Co. G; (lied at Naslhville, Tenn., May 4,1863. Seth Petrie, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., May 23, 1863. Ira E. Gay, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., July 24,1863. Helon Vanscoy, Co. H; died at Louisville, Ky., July 27. 1863. Irving Bramen, Co. 1H; died at Lexington, Ky., Feb. 10, 1863. George W. Hughes, Co. H; died at Lexington, Ky., Feb. 13,1863. Eli Alvord, Co. H; died at Lexington, Ky., Jani. 22, 186'. Ralph E. Stout, Co. F; killed at Courtland, Ala, June 27, 18C4. Samuel D. Douglass, Co. A; died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan 9, 1864. Charles W. Davis, Co. A; shot at Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 27, 1863. William McGaffee, Co. D; died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 18, 18F4. Charles It. Baker, Co. D; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 14,1864. Itenry D. Narcott, Co. D; died at Nashville, Tenn., April 20, 1864. Pliny Pettis, Co. D; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 10, 1864. James W. Camp, Co. D; died at Decatur, Ala., Aug. 14,1864. William F. Cook, Co. D; accidentally shot, Nov. 27, 1863. Milton Rice, Co. F; died at Reading, Mich., Dec. 29,1863. Philip J. Conklin, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 8, 1864. Sheldon Carey, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 30, 1864. John C. ltindes, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 18, 1864. Jacob Beiry, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 22,1864. Henry 11. Davis, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn., April 17, 1864. Albert Tillotson, Co. F: died at Nashville, Tenn., May 12, 1864. James Lickley, Co. F; died at Decatur, Ala., Sept. 11, 1864. Willis M. Woods, Co. F; died at Decatur, Ala., Sept. 11,1864. Nelson L. Lyon, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 24,1864. William B. Burt, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., April 6, 1864. Norman G. Markham, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., April 4, 1864. William D. Storer, Co. H; died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 22, 1864. Nelson Slocum, Co. G; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Feb. 15,1864. James L. Avery, Co. D; killed at Athens, Ala., Sept. 24,1864. Levi Courtleff, Co. D; killed at Athens, Ala., Sept. 24, 1864. Win. H. Finch, Co. D: killed by explosion of steamer " Sultana," April 28,1865. John F. Schermerhorn, Co. F; killed at Athens, Ala., Sept. 24, 1864. Jonathan Robbins. Co. A; killed by explosion of "Sultana," April 28, 1865. William Moore, Co. D; died at Lexington, Ky., Dec. 27,1862. Albert W. Lawrence, Co. D; killed by explosion of " Sultana," April 28, 1865. John E. Bird, Co. D; killed by explosion of steamer "Sultana," April 28, 1865. Wm. Young, Co. D; killed by explosion of steamer "Sultana," April 28, 1865. Silas C. Dodge, Co. D; died at Huntsville, Ala., March 12, 1865. Edwin Ford, Co. D; killed by explosion, April 28,1865. Lemon Nelson, Co. D; killed by explosion, April 28, 1865. Benjamin Morton, Co. D; died at Danville, Ky., April 8, 1863. F. M. Sawyer, Co. D; died at Decatur, Ala., Dec. 17, 1864. James Watkins, Co. D; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Ward Wilson, Co. D; died in rebel prison, Cahawba, Ala., Nov. 17,1864. Washington Mann, Co. D; killed by " Sultana" explosion. Levi J. Hoyle, Co. D; died at Decatur, Ala., Dec. 17, 1864. Albert W. Barber, Co. F; died at Cahawba, Ala., in rebel prison, Sept. 24, 1864. Alfred Dewell, Co. F; died at Nashville, Tenn., April 17,1864. Alexander Fuller, Co. F; killed by " Sultana" explosion. Orris Gale, Co. F; killed by " Sultana" explosion. Morgan,L. Holmes, Co. F; killed by " Sultana" explosion. Sherman Rupert, Co. F; died in Cahawba prison, Ala., Feb. 25, 185. 64 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. George W. Vangorden, Co. F; killed by "Sultana" explosion. George Lockler, Co. F; killed by "Sultana" explosion. James Caldwell, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Foster Colby, Co. G; died at Vicksburg, Miss., April 5,1865. William F. Fanrat, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Patrick Lackey, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. George W. Palmer, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Frederick D. Zeeley, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Jason Vanata, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Charles A. West, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Wm. Springer, Co. G; died at Huntsville, Ala., May 6, 1865. Henry Thompson, Co. G; killed by "Sultana" explosion. Simon Mattison, Co. H; killed by "Sultana" explosion. George W. Angel, Co. H; died at Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 9, 1865. Henry H. Loper, Co. D; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. Sylvester Lyman, Co. D; trans. to 9th Mich Inf. William Wilson, Co. D; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. Russell J. Ellis, Co. D; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf: Milo M. Titus, Co. D; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. David Cowan, Co. D; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. Charles Richardson, Co. D; tranis. to 9th Mich. Inf. Sidney J. Smithson, Co. F; tranc. to 9th Mich. Inf. Andrew B. Crandall, Co. F; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. Thomas T. Cox, Co. F; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. William H. Smith, Co. G; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. Luther Benedict, Co. G; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. Edward Aiken, Co. G; trans. to 9th Mich. Inf. John R. Duesler, Co. D; disch. for disability, Oct. 4,1862. John Beaver, Co. H; disch. for disability, Sept. 2,1862. Donald T. McCall, Co. A; disch. for disability, Jan. 3, 1863. William B. Evatt, Co. A; disch. for disability, March 12,1863. Washington Pease, Co. D; disch. for disability, Jan. 26, 1863. James H. Thill, Co. D; disch. for disability, Feb. 4,1863. Henry Hermance, Co. D; disch. for disability, Feb. 4,1863. James H. Wheeler, Co. D; disch. for disability, Feb. 4,1863. Henry C. Cole, Co. D; ditch. for disability, Marcl 20, 1863. George Warren, Co. D; disch. for disability, May 23, 1863. William 0. Truman, Co. D; disch. for disability, June 1, 1863. Charles H. Baker, Co. D; disch. for disability, June 14, 1863. Hugh Killen, Co. D; disch. for disability, Oct. 15,1863. Francis Furry, Co. F; disch. for disability, March 26, 1863. William Siddal, Co. F: disch. for disability, June 22, 1863. Charles H. Randolph, Co. G; disch. for disability, April 23, 1863. Orrin E. Nichols, Co. G; disch. for disability, April 23,1863. A. V. Ammerman, Co. G; disch. for disability, May 1, 1863. Albert Bayer, Co. G; disch. for disability, May 27,1863. Cornelius Anable, Co. G; disch. for disability, June 8, 1863. Charles E. K. Baxter, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 15, 1863. George Hancock, Co. H; disch. for disability, March 26, 1863. Charles Button, Co. D; disch. for disability, June 15, 1864. William W. Noe, Co. D; disch. by order, July 10, 1864. James D. Smith, Co. F; disch. for disability, Jan. 15,1864. Lewis P. Swift, Co. G; disch. for promotion, April 20,1864. Marion I. Dillon, Co. A; must. out June 26, 1865. Nathaniel W. Foglesang, Co. A; must. out June 21,1865. Nelson Hinckley, Co. A; must. out June 10, 1865. Benjamin B. Martin, Co. A; must. out June 26, 1865. Harvey Pixley, Co. A; must. out June 26, 1865. Philo Stafford, Co. A; disch. for disability, Dec. 26,1862. Peter Vanderowligan, Co. A; must. out June 26,1865. Charles H. Levens, N. C. S, must. out June 26, 1865. David H. Perry, Co. A; must. out June 26, 1865. Thomas S. Finch, Co. A; must. out June 26, 1865. Ephraim W. Benson, Co. A; must. out June 26,1865. Lyman Carr, Co. A; disch. for disability, Dec. 26, 1862. John H. Purdy, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Henry C. Wood, Co. D; must. out June 22, 1865. Joseph A. Mathews, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. E. G. Kellogg, Co. D; disch. Dec. 27, 1862. Charles N. Howland, Co. D; disch. Dec. 27, 1862. Luther B. Walcott, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Aaron F. Brown, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. John Acker, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Louis J. Barnes, Co. D; disch. for disability, Feb 18, 1865. Hiram M. Clark, Co. D; lost right arm at Decatur, Ala., Oct. 26,1864; disch. on account of wounds, March 23, 1865. William Crisp, Co. D; must. out June 22, 1865. Nelson Clark, Co. D; must. out June 30,1865. George W. Drake, Co. D; disch. for disability, Dec. 26, 1862. James Ellis, Co. D; disch. for disability, Dec. 26, 1862. George W. Duesler, Co. D; must. out June 22, 1865. Ephraim Gillet, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Charles Hutchings, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. William Y. Henry, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. George N. Jones, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. A. Jennings, Co. D; must. out July 10,1865. William N. Kinney, Co. D; must. out June 9, 1865. Jacob Kausen, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. William Lee, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Michael Mosher, Co. D: must. out June 26,1865. John Miles, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. John McKee, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Harrison Mattison, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Nicholas G. Massaker, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Sampson Orenden, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Samuel Prescott, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Robert Scott, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Franklin Shaw, Co. D; must. out June 10, 1865. Amos Sawyer, Co. D; must. out June 21, 1865. Alvah Sawyer, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Oscar Tindell, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. William Torry, Co. D; must. out Sept. 11, 1865. Galusha Turner, Co. D; mlist. out June 26,1865. Ambrose C. Tyler, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. John Warner, Co. D; must. out June 26,1865. George Williams, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. David J. Watkins, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. Hiram J. Wilson, Co. D; disch. Dec. 26,1862. William T. Whitney, Co. D; disch. for disability, May 21, 1865. Henry S. Woodruff, Co. D; must. out June 26, 1865. John W. Norcutt, Co. D, must. out July 19, 1865. Foshen Smith, Co. D; must. out June 10, 1865. Aaron Wood, Co. D; must. out June 24, 1865. Isaac Coffin, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. John Williams, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Commodore Smith, Co. F; must. out July 25, 1865. Judah P. Cornell, Co. F; must. out June 10, 186i. Albert Hancock, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Orlando Cole, Co. F; must. out June 29, 1865. Peter G. Clow, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. John T. Young, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Sidney Dodge, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Nelson Beliedict, Co. F; must. out July 6, 1865. Erastus Bates, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. Ira Bryant, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Isaac Brown, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Miles O. Bailey, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. John Burns, Co. F; must. out. June 26,1865. George E. Carter, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. George II. Cornell, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. Edward L. Cutter, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Loren W. Chapin, Co. F; rmust. out June 26, 1865. Samuel Carlisle, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Daniel Clehane, Co. F; must. out June 10, 1865. John Capon, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Henry R. Davis, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. James N. Davis, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Jacob M. Divine, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Lewis Dewell, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Franklin Fuller, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Franklin J. Farnham, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. 1D. Eddy Haskins, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Michael S. Howland, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Thomas Hodson, Co. F; must. out May 29, 1865. Sylvester B. Kimball, Co. F; disch. in March, 1863. Allen D. Lite, Co. F; must. out June 10, 1865. Daniel W. Litclifield, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. Le Grand B. Lanb, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Gad McDowell, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. Joel F. Neviis, Co. F; must. out July 6, 1865. Charles J. Owens, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. William H. Petrie, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. John Palmer, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. William Rose, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. William H. Shepherd, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Ransom Scovill, Co. F; must. out June 10, 1865. S. B. Stubberfield, Co. F; must. out July 5, 1865. Richard Shepardson, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. James D. Smith, Co. F; disch. Jan. 16, 1863. Martin V. Stuck, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. George W. Sturdevant, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. Charles W. Sackrider, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Alonzo Van Vlack, Co. F; must. out July 6,1865. William W. Wilson, Co. F; must. out June 26,1865. Luther W. Woods, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. John Wear, Co. F; disch. for disability, April 12, 1865. Nelson P. Woodruff, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. Hiram A. Cole, Co. F; must. out June 26, 1865. John P. Freeland, Co. F; disch. Dec. 26, 1862. Thaddeus C. Ayers, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Horace C. Aldrich, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Marion F. Howe, Co. G; must. out June 21,1865. John M. 0. Smith, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. James A. Tyler, Co. G; must. out June 26,1865. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 65 - I. I I__ Almon M. Pierce, Co. G; disch. Dec. 25, 1862. Alfred Hopkins, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. George W. Ankless, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Allen G. Brindage, Co. G; must. out May 17, 1865. George W. Baker, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Daniel A. Benedict, Co. G; disch. Jan. 18, 1865. Wesley Brooks, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Henry C. Bennett, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Nilare Branch, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Samuel D. Brown, Co. G; must. out June 26,1865. Edward Bemis, Co. G; must. out June 12,1865. John P. Cooper, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Peter Card, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. George Curris, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. George W. Crawford, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Corridor Cassady, Co. G; must. out June 29,1865. Martin W. Decker, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Door Darling, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Eli A. Fuller, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Lyman Havens, Co. G; must. out June 15,1865. Richard W. Hawkins, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Thomnas J. Harris, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Allen C. Howe, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. George C. Howe, Co. G; must. out June 26,1865. Ensign Johnson, Co. G; must. out May 22, 1865. Benjamin Kaltenback, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Ira Kinney, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Julius Lewis, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Joseph W. Mullen, Co. G; must. out June 26,1865. John Mull, Co. G; must. out June 26,1865. Bradley O. Moore, Co. G; must. out June 26,1865. Sylvester Miller, Co. G; disch. Dec. 25, 1862. Oscar C. Nash, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Philemon Plumer, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Elisha Remele, Co. G; disch. Dec. 26, 1862. John J. Riggs, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Levi Riker, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Cyrus W. Simons, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. David Stevens, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. David Turner, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Cornelius Veli, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Edward A. Wright, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. George W. Walker, Co. G; must. out June 26, 1865. Willis W. Wright, Co. G; must. out June 28,1865. W. C. Seymour, Co. G; must. out June 9,1865. John C. Curtiss, Co. G; must. out May 14, 1865. James Bradley, Co. H; disch. Dec. 25, 1862. Jacob Barrett, Co. H; must. out June 26, 1865. Theodore S. Bloomer, Co. H; must. out June 26, 1865. James Barrett, Co. H; must. out June 26, 1865. Christian Gernan, Co. H; must. out June 26, 1865. David Hand, Co. 11; must. out June 26, 1865. John Kurton, Co. HI; must. out June 26, 1865. Benjamin Osborn, Co. H; must. out June 26, 1865. Henry Quanee, Co. H; must. out June 26, 1865. Henry R. Stivers, Co. H; must. out June 26, 1865. William D. Storer, Co. H; must. out June 26,1865. John Jibb, Co. I; disch. July 1, 1865. John Kirkly, Co. I; disch. May 22, 1865. CHAPTER XV. THE TWENTY-FOURTH, TWENTY-SEVENTH, AND THIRTIETH INFANTRY. A Score of Gallant Men-Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville-Severe Loss at Gettysburg-Capturing Rebel Colors in the Wilderness-A Third Cut Down at Petersburg-Defeating the Foe on the Weldon Railroad-Hatcher's Run-Mustered Out-List of Members-Origin of the 27th-The Second Independent Company of Sharpshooters-The Members from Hillsdale County-At Vicksburg-In Kentucky-Ordered to Knoxville-Checking Longstreet -Defense of Knoxville-Ordered to Maryland in 1864-The Wilderness and Spottsylvania-Bethesda Church-Assailing Petersburg-The Explosion of the Mine-Enormous Total of LossesDuties during the Winter-Storming and Capture of Fort Steadman-Entering Petersburg-Close of Services-Officers and Soldiers -Thirtieth Infantry formed to stop Rebel Raids-The Hillsdale County Recruits-Brief Services-Muster-Out-List of Members. THE 24th Infantry had only twenty-one men from Hillsdale County, two of whom were in Company B, four. in 9 D, one in F, six in G, two in H, one in I, and five in K. The regiment was raised mostly in Wayne County, its rendezvous being at Detroit. It left for Washington the last of August, 1862. Its first severe battle was at Fredericksburg, on the 13th and 14th of December, 1862, where it had twenty-three men killed and wounded. On the 29th of April, 1863, preliminary to the battle of Chancellorsville, the 24th and another regiment crossed the Rappahannock and drove the rebels from their rifle-pits, capturing one-hundred and three prisoners, with a loss of only three killed and twenty-two wounded. The enemy left seventeen dead on the field. The regiment was not engaged in the main battle of Chancellorsville, but covered the retreat of the Union army. At Gettysburg the 24th was a part of the first infantry engaged, and its loss on the first day was extremely severe, eight officers and sixty-five men being killed, thirteen officers and two hundred and fourteen men being wounded, and three officers and ninety-one men being reported missing, a total of three hundred and ninety-four. The twentyone officers killed and wounded embraced nearly the whole number present. The regiment was not engaged during the second and third days of the battle. The 24th was not again in any important conflict until it met the foe in the Wilderness, on the 5th of May, 1864, where it captured a number of prisoners and the colors of the 48th Virginia rebel infantry. It was also sharply engaged on the 6th and 7th of May, having sixty-four men killed and wounded during the three days. At and near Spottsylvania Court-House the 24th was under fire nearly every day for two weeks, having fifty men killed and wounded. On the 23d of May the regiment defeated the enemy, which attacked it immediately after crossing the North Anna River. After some fighting near Cold Harbor, it advanced to the front of Petersburg, and on the 18th of June took part in the assault on that place, having onethird killed and wounded out of the little band of a hundred and twenty which gallantly advanced under its banner. The regiment (scarcely more than a company in numbers) was severely engaged on the Weldon Railroad on the 19th of August, its casualties numbering twenty-five. Two days later it aided in defeating a rebel attack with great loss, this regiment alone capturing eleven rebel officers and sixty soldiers. Its next serious conflict was at Hatcher's Run, on the 6th and 7th of February, 1865, where it had twenty-two members killed and wounded. Being soon after sent to Springfield, Ill., on guard duty, it was not again under fire. It was mustered out at Detroit, on the 30th of June, 1865. SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Henry J. Phillips, Co. K; died at Camp Butler, Ill., April 7,1865. Jerome Pierce, Co. B; must. out June 30, 1865. Charles Dobson, Co. B; must. out June 30, 1865. William Millard, Co. D; must. out June 30,1865. David J. Kendall, Co. D; must. out June 30,1865. Edward Webster, Co. D; must. out June 30, 1865. John A. Devoe, Co. D; must. out June 30,1865. John S. Ensign, Co. F; must. out June 30, 1865. Michael Cassidy, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Thomas Delano, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Hub. Lull, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. John Lyon, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. 66 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. James Smith, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Mathus Shinners, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Angus Matherson, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. Edward F. Staples, Co. H; must out June 30,1865. Anselm Ball, Co. I; must. out June 30, 1865. James K. P. Heath, Co. K; must. out June 30, 1865. James K. Thompson, Co. K; must. out June 30,1865. Stephen Underhill, Co. K; must. out June 30,1865. William Wright, Co. K; must. out June 28,1865. TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY. The formation of the 27th Infantry was ordered by the Governor, with the consent of the national administration, in September, 1862, the rendezvous being at Port Huron. Soon afterwards the formation of the 28th Infantry was ordered at Ypsilanti. Such heavy drafts, however, had already been made on the then sparse population of Michigan that recruiting went on but slowly, and in January, 1863, it was determined to consolidate the two regiments just named. On the 1st of February the 27th accordingly removed to Ypsilanti, where the consolidation was effected, the resultant regiment taking the name of the 27th. Another 28th Regiment was afterwards raised, unconnected with this. Company K of the 27th was entirely recruited in Hillsdale County, and during the war ninety-six citizens of that county served in its ranks; besides which, there were fourteen Hillsdale County men in Company D, twenty-eight in Company G, one in Company F, one in Company E, and two in Company H, making a total of a hundred and fortyone. In addition there was a company partly raised in Hillsdale County in the forepart of 1864 (fifty of its men being from that county), which was called the 2d Independent Company of Sharpshooters, and which joined the 27th in April, 1864, remaining with it during the war. Including these, there were a hundred and ninety-one officers and soldiers of Hillsdale County in or connected with the 27th Infantry. Only eight companies were filled when the regiment was ordered from Ypsilanti to Cincinnati, in April, 1863. The two other companies, however, soon joined it. After some service in Kentucky it was attached to the 9th Corps, and in June was sent to Mississippi. It took part in the operations which resulted in the capture of Vicksburg, and after the surrender had a sharp skirmish with the enemy near Jackson. In August the regiment returned with the 9th Corps to Kentucky, and in September was ordered to Knoxville by way of Cumberland Gap. On the 16th of November it was at Hoyt's Station, southwest from Knoxville, when Longstreet's army approached. The 27th with other regiments fell back toward Knoxville, closely followed by the rebels. In order to secure the trains a temporary stand was made at Campbell's Station, where this regiment had eleven men killed and wounded, besides eight missing. On reaching Knoxville the 27th took an active part in the celebrated defense of that place, where all the skill and valor of Longstreet's veterans were foiled by the steady courage of the Union volunteers, where every assault was defeated with disastrous loss, and whence at length the humbled Confederates retreated with shattered columns along the valley of the Tennessee. The regiment had eight killed and seventeen severely wounded during the month of November. 1 i The 27th joined in the pursuit of the enemy, and after he had left the State remained in East Tennessee until the middle of January, 1864. It then marched to Kentucky, and was thence ordered to Maryland, where it was joined by the two companies of sharpshooters before mentioned. In the latter part of April it joined the Army of the Potomac, and almost immediately plunged into the terrible series of conflicts so deeply marked with blood in our country's history, but destined to result in the preservation of that country's existence. Down to this time the regiment had not suffered very severely from the enemy's bullets, though its trials from hunger and cold around Knoxville had been very bitter, but it was now to know all the horrors of war and win all the glory that war confers. In the desperate conflict in the Wilderness on the 6th of May it had eighty-nine men killed and wounded, its commander, Maj. Moody, dying of wounds received there. At Spottsylvania Court-House it upheld its banner in the face of a still more destructive shower of rebel bullets, no less than a hundred and seventyfive officers and men being killed or wounded in those few hours of deadly strife. It should be remembered that all the 'regiments were greatly depleted by previous hardships and battles, and probably not over six hundred men entered the campaign under the banners of the 27th, including the two companies of sharpshooters. The regiment also took an active part in the battle of Bethesda Church, on the 3d of June, having seventy-six of its members killed and wounded. Again it set forth on its blood-tracked path, escaping serious loss before the terrible lines of Cold Harbor, but having nearly a hundred men killed and wounded in the desperate charges on the enemy's works at Petersburg on the 17th and 18th of June. From the 8th to the 30th of July the regiment was in the advance immediately in front of the rebel forts, against which the Union engineers were directing their celebrated mine. When the mine was sprung, on the 30th of July, the 27th sprang forward to the assault, but shared the fate of so many other gallant regiments which were unable to force their way over the upheaved ground, the remaining intrenchments, and the storm of well-aimed bullets which still guarded the city. The casualties of the month of July, principally on the 30th, numbered one hundred and sixteen men killed and wounded. On the 19th and 20th of August, the regiment took part in the battles near the Weldon Railroad, having seventeen men killed and wounded, and thirty-seven missing. It was also in the battle of Poplar Grove Church, on the 30th of September. From the beginning of the campaign to the 1st of November, the 27th lost one hundred and forty-eight men killed in action or died of wounds, while the wounded reached the enormous number of four hundred and ninetyfive. There were also about fifty who died of disease, thirty taken prisoners, and eighty reported "missing in action," mostly killed or captured. These items probably equaled or surpassed the number of men in the regiment when it entered the campaign; but its continued existence as an organization was due to the fact that a large part of the wounds were not such as to disable the men from further HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 67 I fighting. Many of them, too, were wounded two or more times each. Some recruits were received, but not many. During the winter of 1864-65 the regiment was engaged in very arduous picket and trench duty, but did not suffer from the enemy's bullets as during the preceding season. Recruits were also sent forward to join it, some prisoners were exchanged, some reported " missing" were found, and in the spring of 1865 the regiment was in quite respectable force. On the 2d of April, at four o'clock in the morning, the 27th charged the rebel Fort Mahon, capturing the eastern part of it, with three cannon and a hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and holding the position throughout the day, in spite of repeated assaults of the enemy. During the night the men threw up breastworks, connecting the captured fort with the Union picket-line, and at three o'clock on the morning of the 3d of April advanced into the long-besieged and now abandoned city of Petersburg. After assisting in the capture of Lee's army and performing some less important duties in Virginia and the District of Columbia, the 27th was mustered out at Tenallytown, in that district, on the 26th of July, 1865, and paid off and disbanded at Detroit about the 30th of the same month. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY, AND OF THE SECOND COMPANY OF SHARPSHOOTERS ATTACHED TO IT, FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Edwin J. March, commissioned capt. Dec. 30,1863; trans. as lieut.-col. to the 2d Inf. April 1, 1864; afterwards wounded before Petersburg; cor. col., and res. April 1, 1864. James W. Niblack, app. asst. surg. Dec. 15, 1863; must. out July 26,1865. Oscar Hancock, cor. 1st lieut. Dec. 15,1863; res. Nov. 5, 1864. Richard Vosper, cor. 2d lieut. in the 2d Ind. Co., Feb. 27, 1864; wounded near Petersburg, June 18, 1864; res. Sept. 27, 1864. Thomas S. Mead, corn. st lieut. 2d Ind. Co., Feb. 27,1864; wounded near Petersburg, June 17, 1864; also at Poplar Grove Church, Sept. 30, 1864; died of wounds Oct. 16,1864. Albert C. Dunn, Co. G; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 3,1864. Nelson Kellogg, Co. G; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 3,1864. Harlow Haines, Co. G; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 3,1864. James P. Todd, Co. G; died of wounds, July 19, 1864. Jacob Rarick, Co. K; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. Henry Rich, Co. K; killed at Petersburg, Va., August, 1864. David Smith, Co. K; died of wounds, June 29, 1864, at Washington, D. C. Albert Blunt, Co. K; died of wounds, May 6, 1864, at Wilderness, Va. Paul Fifield, Co. K; died of wounds, May 6,1864, at Wilderness, Va. Pulard Sappson, Co. K; died of wounds, May 12, 1864, at Wilderness, Va. Leander Squires, Co. K; died of wounds, May 19, 1864, at Wilderness, Va. John Ayres, Co. K; died of wounds, May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. Frederick Ostrander, Co. K; died of wounds, May 12,1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. David 0. Smith, Co. K; died of wounds, June 1, 1864, at Petersburg, Va. Conrad Straub, Co. K; died of wounds, May 1.2, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. Jason Worden, Co. K; died of wounds, June 17, 1864, at Petersburg, Va. Samuel Ostrahurt, Co. K; died of wounds, May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. Austin Paustle, Co. K; died of wounds, July 30, 1864, at Petersburg, Va. Horace Drake, Co. K; died of wounds, June 23,1864, in Michigan. William D. Belden, Co. K; died of wounds, June 25, 1864, at Washington, D. C. A. B. Culver, Co. K; died at Washington, D. C., Aug. 1,1864. Stephen Patch, Co. K; died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 3, 1864. John B. Burdick, Co. K; died at home, January, 1864. James P. Todd, Co. G; missing in action, May 26, 1864. Byron Brine, Co. G; missing in action, May 25. 1864. D. G. Van Allen, Co. K; missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. E. D. Van Allen, Co. K; missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 6,1864. John Anderson, Co. K; missing at Wilderness, Va., May 8, 1864. E. W. Elliott, Co. K; missing at Petersburg, Va., July 30,1864. Stephen Patch, Co. K; missing at Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. William H. Cole, Co. K; missing at Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. Charles E. Duel, Co. D of regt.; died of wounds, May 12, 1864. Nelson Winfield, killed before Petersburg, Va., July 30,1864. William B. Thorn, Co. G; died Dec. 2, 1864. William H. Cole, Co. K; died at Danville, Va., Dec. 8, 1864. Ira V. Strough, Co. K; died at Annapolis, Md., March 26, 1865. Cicero D. Van Allen, Co. K; died at Andersonville, Ga., Nov. 26,1864. Henry M. Bird, missing in action May 12,1864. Franklin Smith, Co. D; trans. to V. R. Corps, May 1, 1865. John Noonin, Co. K; trans. to V. R. Corps, Oct. 17, 1864. Joseph M. Dolph, trans. to V. R. Corps. Franklin Hoover, Co. D; must. out July 26, 1865. William Dillon, Co. D; must. out July 26, 186 i. Charles Hannibal, Co. D; must. out June 19, 1865. James Hoover, Co. D; must. out July 26, 1865. James Lukes, Co. D; must. out June 12, 1865. James McCluklin, Co. D; must. out July 26, 1865. David Slaybaugh, Co. D; must. out June 15, 1865. Levi N. Forrester, Co. D; must. out Aug. 11, 1865, from V. R. Corps. Asahel Parks, Co. D; must. out June 13, 1865. Charles Parks, Co. D; must. out July 26, 1865. Charles Myers, Co. D; must. out July 26,1865. Birdsey S. Remmley, Co. D; must. out July 26,1865. Elmer Farry, Co. E; must. out May 27, 1865. Thomas Brayman, Co. F; must. out July 26, 1865. Byron Brine, Co. G; must out Aug. 24, 1865. Nathaniel Millard, Co. G; must. out July 28, 1865. Wm. N. Younglove, Co. G; must. out Sept. 4, 1865, from V. R. Corps. Leslie Hackett, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Elisha Wilcox, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. George Care, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. John Cleveland, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Samuel H. Dillon, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Thomas W. Dillon, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Mathew Fifield, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Martin W. Holmes, Co. G; must. out July 26,1865. Rodney D. Johnson, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. John Johnson, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Charles S. Marsh, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Michael O'Hara, Co. G; must. outJuly 26,1865. Eugene D. Putney, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Christopher Purchase, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. John W. Rose, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Isaac Walter, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Christopher Wood, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. Nathaniel Winans, Co. G; must. out July 26, 1865. William C. Cook, Co. H; disch. Jan. 27,1865, for wounds received Aug. 16,1864. Michael Schmoulder, Co. H; must. out May 27, 1865. Charles T. Jeffers, Co. K; disch. in Sept. 1864, for promotion in U. S. C. T. Lewis A. Briggs, Co. K; disch. for wounds, Dec. 24,1864. Marcus Hatch, Co. K; mustered out July 26, 1865. Christopher Myers, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Truman C. Baker, Co. K; must. out May 31, 1865. Cyrus W. Elliott, Co. K; must. out May 27, 1865. Peter Cook, Co. K; must. out June 6, 1865. Wm. H. H. Dunn, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Samuel G. Wright, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. William C. Farnlam, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. William Kent, Co. K; must. out Aug. 7, 1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. Solomon Armstrong, Co. K; must. out. July 26, 1865. John Anderson, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Horace A. Brockway, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. John D. Burgess, Co. K; must. out June 2, 1865. John Beaver, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Albert W. Bates, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. John Corcoran, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Alexander Coleman, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Stephen P. Choate, Co. K; must. out June 5,1865. Henry A. Clow, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Martin Collar, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Samuel Cressey, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Isaac Chase, Co. K; must. out June 7, 1865. Wilbur D. Dolph, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Gilbert Ellis, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. James Fifield, Co. K; must. out July 25,1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. John Greening, Co. K; must. out June 9, 1865. Charles Harris, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. John W. Huff, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Marks H. Hyliard, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Benjamin E. Hyliard, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Alpheus W. Hammond, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. John Herwath, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Marion Kink, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Nathan B. Lewis, Co. K; must. out June 28,1865. Thomas Lozier, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Alfred J. Marks, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1865. Henry McLean, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Wellington Mickle, Co. K; must. out June 13, 1865. James McDougall, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. John W. Osterhout, Co. K; must. out July 31,1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. Albert W. Potter, Co. K; disch. for disability, Feb. 22,1865. Samuel L. Parsons, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. William Rutan, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. William L. Rurick, Co. K; must. out Aug. 7, 1865. Gilbert H. Rurick, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. 68 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Huron (or Aaron) Rose, Co. K; disch. May 6, 1865. Milo Rich, Co. K; must. out June 6, 1865. Oshea F. Reyner, Co. K; disch. for wounds, Dec. 5,1864. Jacob Rhodes, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Francis Sanderson, Co. K; must. out June 12, 1865. John Snyder, Co. K; must. out Aug. 3, 1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. Justus Stewart, Co. K; must. out Aug. 7, 1865. George Sparks, Co. K; must. out June 10,1865. Christopher Shultz, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. James H. Smith, Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Charles St. John, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Thomas H. Twist, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. James Todd, Co. K; must. out May 26,1865. Duane Van Dreisen, Co. K; disch. for disability, June 28, 1865. Jonathan Washburn, Jr., Co. K; must. out July 26, 1865. Solomon T. Worden, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Patrick W. Welch, Co. K; must. out July 26,1865. Alexander Wilkins, Co. K; must. out May 26, 1865. Dennis Wright, Co. K; must. out May 30, 1865. Peter Winters, Co. K; must. out June 10, 1865. Charles Jorobman, Co. K; nust. out July 26,1865. SECOND INDEPENDENT COMPANY OP SHARPSHOOTERS, ATTACHED TO TWENTYSEVENTH INFANTRY. William W. Wilkins, killed at Spottsylvania, Va., June 12,1864. James McHughes, killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 6,1864. Leroy A. Button, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. William L. Riggs, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17,1864. Andrew Hillard, killed at North Anna, Va., May 20, 1864. George F. Anderson, killed at Petersburg, Va., July 30,1864. Martin Winfield, killed at Petersburg, Va., July 30, f864. William H. Allen, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 24,1864. Jacob S. Conklin, died of wounds, May 10, 1864, at Fredericksburg, Va. Patrick Donnelly, died of wounds, June 29,1864, at Washington, D. C. Ira Norton, died of wounds, June 11,1864, at White House, Va. William Pierce, died of wounds, June 17, 1864. Lewis Smith, died of wounds, Aug. 1, 1864. William E. C. McCowan, died of wounds, Aug. 19,1864. Ed. H. Blackman, missing in action at Petersburg, Va., July 30,1864. Fred. Paskett, missing in action at Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. George Wartzwig, missing in action at Petersburg, Va., July 30,1864. Geerge H. Adams, must. out Oct. 18, 1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. Sinwry Bohure, must. out May 20, 1865. John S. Blackmer, must. out July 26, 1865. Urial 0. Chase, must. out Aug. 8,1865. Daniel D. Dunks, must. out May 31, 1865. E. K. Eastman, must. out Aug. 3, 1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. William R. Filkins, must. out July 26,1865. Abraham Frisbie, must. out July 26,1865. Albert Frantz, must. out July 26, 1865. James Graham, must. out May 18, 1865. William Hoolihan, must. out July 26, 1865. Joseph Hoolihan, must. out July 26, 1865. Ira J. Knickerbocker, must. out June 23,1865. John E. Lewis, must. out Aug. 18,1865, from Yet. Res. Corps. Ismel Lozier, disch. for disability, March 13,1865. Scott Marshall, disch. May 4,1865. Timothy D. Porter, must. out June 17, 1865. Joseph R. Phillips, disch. for disability, Jan. 20,1865. Franklin S. Peck, must. out June 24,1865. David L. Reynolds, must. out June 9, 1865. George F. Smith, must. out May 29,1865. George Shrutt, must. out June 30, 1865. James W. Stephens, disch. by order, June 7, 1865. Frederick Wolf, must. out July 26,1865. Charles Wilkins, must. out July 26,1865. George Wenetig, disch. for disability, June 13,1865. Joseph Warwick, Jr., disch. for disability, June 20,1865. William Wilson, must. out Aug. 16,1865. Martin Winfield, must. out July 26, 1865. James P. Young,must. out July 26,1865. Joseph Marvin, must. out July 8, 1865. THIRTIETH INFANTRY. On account of the numerous attempts made by the rebels to organize plundering raids in Canada against our northern border, authority was given by the War Department to the Governor of this State, in the autumn of 1864, to raise a regiment of infantry for one year's service, especially designed to guard the Michigan frontier. Its formation, under the name of the 30th Michigan Infantry, was begun at Jackson, on the 7th of November, 1864, and was completed at Detroit, on the 9th of January, 1865. Company G was principally recruited in this county, which furnished it with sixty members; Company C had seven Hillsdale County members; Company E, one; Company H, eleven; Company K, five; making a total of eighty-nine. When the organization was completed, the regiment was stationed at various points along the frontier, Company G being at Detroit, H at Fenton, etc. But the speedy collapse of the rebellion put an end to Canadian raids, and the regiment, though its will was good, had no active service to perform. It remained on duty until the 30th of June, 1865, when it was mustered out of service. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. George A. Douglass, commissioned capt. Nov. 28,1864; must. out June 30,1865. William C. Campbell, com. 1st. lieut. Nov. 28, 1864; must. out June 30,1865. John A. Forbes, com. 2d lieut. Nov. 28,1864; must. out June 30,1865. Orrin S. Davis, Co. G; died at Jackson, Mich., May 23, 1865. Irving S. Hill, Co. G; died at Detroit, Mich., Jan. 5, 1865. Byron Pierce, Co. C; must. out June 30, 1865. Eugene Reeves, Co. C; must. out June 30,1865. John Benjamin, Jr., Co. C; must. out June 30,1865. William Handyside, Co. C; must. out June 30,1865. Israel King, Co. C; must. out June 30, 1865. Francis Smith, Co. C; must. out June 30,1865. John Scanow, Co. C; must. out June 30,1865. Parker K. Allen, Co. E; must. out June 30, 1865. Wm. Ernest Lockwood, Co. H; must. out June 30,1865. David Fox, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. Joseph Totten, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. Ienry Humphrey, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. Edwin N. Douglass, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. Eugene J. Olney, Co. H; must. out June 30,1865. Willard Hattell, Co. H; must. out June 30,1865. Aaron B. Ranney, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. William J. Stone, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. Andrew C. Peterson, Co. H; must. out June 30, 1865. Walter C. Browning, Co. H; must. out June 30,1865. William Ramsey, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Alfred E. Archibald, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. William E. Aldrich, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. John Arch, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Mathew Burt, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. George Britton, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. John Boone, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Bernard A. Cook, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. James M. Cutler, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Homer A. Campbell, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Elijah W. Craig, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. George E. Conant, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Alvin Drake, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. John F. Delamater, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. George A. Davenport, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Charles H. Dean, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Charles B. Fowler, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. George D. Gray, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Charles W. Goodale, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Martin G. Hitchcock, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. John Howland, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Alpheus F. Haas, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. George D. Irish, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Ferdinand Kelsey, Co.. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Levi H. Kinney, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Charles Lockwood, Co. G; must. out. June 30, 1865. Franklin Lewis, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Wm. R. Montgomery, Jr., Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Alpheus D. Maloney, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. James H. Miller, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Chester Martin, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Charles Martin, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. John C. Moore, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Reuben Moses, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. James H. Newell, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Frank Nicholson, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Edgar J. Older, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Darwin Odell, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Samuel Odell, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. John Petyt, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Newton W. Piper, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. David W. Perry, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. James R. Quigley, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. John B. Robins, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Burtis Robins, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 69 Seth Robins, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Frank W. Ralph, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Stephen N. Rowley, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. David S. Stone, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Daniel Snyder, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Seth J. Spitter, Co. G; must. out May 22, 1865. Martin V. B. Stranahan, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Theodore Silvernail, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Milton Shepardson, Co. G; must. out June 30,1865. Franklin Stuck, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Michael R. Spelman, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Arvid S. Thomas, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Stephen G. Updyke, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Stephen G. Vanduyer, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Charles E. Vanduyer, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Lewis T. Worden, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Arthur A. Walters, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Gilbert D. Walmsley, Co. G; must. out June 30, 1865. Wm. H. Kelley, Co. K; must. out June 30,1865. William Levanway, Co. K; must. out June 30, 1865. Daniel Morehouse, Co. K; must. out June 30, 1865. John T. Porter, Co. K; must. out June 30, 1865. Ezra W. Weaver, Co. K; must. June 30,1865. CHAPTER XVI. THE FIRST SHARPSHOOTERS AND FIRST ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS. Formation of the 1st Sharpshooters-After John Morgan-Hillsdale Representation-In the Wilderness-Nature of the ServiceHeavy Loss at Spottsylvania-Cut off and Charging Back-Eightyfour Missing-Capturing Works without Results-Casualties in the Campaign-Defense of Fort Steadman-The 1st Regiment in Petersburg-The End-List of Members-Design of First Engineers and Mechanics-Ilillsdale County Members-Services in Tennessee and Mississippi-Repulsing two Cavalry BrigadesWork in Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama-Ordered to Atlanta-Hard Work on the March to the Sea-Closing ScenesDisbanded-The Officers and Soldiers. FIRST SHARPSHOOTERS. THE formation of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters (which must be distinguished from the 1st United States Sharpshooters, though the latter was largely recruited in Michigan) was begun in the autumn of 1862. Its headquarters were at Kalamazoo, but were changed in the spring of 1863 to Dearborn. In the summer of that year six companies, all that were then formed, were ordered to Southern Indiana to check the progress of John Morgan and his rebel raiders, but they soon returned to Michigan, and the regiment had its ranks full by the 16th of August. One company (C) was mostly from Hillsdale County, seventy-six of its members hailing from that territory. Besides this there were, during the war, six Hillsdale County men in A company, thirty-four in B, three in E, five in F, three in H, and five in I, making one hundred and twenty-nine in all. After guarding prisoners at Chicago until March 17, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Annapolis, Md., where it was assigned to the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 9th Corps. It soon joined the Army of the Potomac, and met the enemy for the first time in the battle of the Wilderness, on the 6th and 7th of May, where it had twenty-four men killed and wounded. From their name the sharp shooters were evidently intended to act principally as skirmishers and advance guards, fighting in detail, picking off rebel officers and artillerists, and other similar work. But these careful arrangements regarding particular corps often do not work well in the rough practice of the battle-field, and the record of the body in question does not seem to have been seriously different from that of any other infantry regiment. The sharpshooters behaved with great gallantry at the battles near Spottsylvania Court-House on the 9th, 10th, and 12th days of May, in which the regiment suffered severely, having thirty-four killed and one hundred and seventeen wounded. It also had a sharp skirmish at the crossing of the North Anna River, on the 23d of May. Although taking part in numerous skirmishes and other hostile operations, it was not again very warmly engaged until the charge made on the enemy's works before Petersburg on the 17th of June. The sharpshooters gallantly pushed their way into the intrenchments, and twice, with other regiments, met and repulsed the rebels who charged to recapture the works. At length, however, the rebels threw a large force in the rear of this regiment, it being on the extreme left of its corps, compelling it either to surrender or break through the enveloping lines. The men promptly chose the latter course, and by a rapid charge most of them made their way through and rejoined their comrades. The regiment had thirty-one killed, forty-six wounded, and eighty-four missing. On the 30th of July the sharpshooters charged, in the advance of their brigade, on the works next to the fort which was blown up by the celebrated Petersburg mine, capturing the intrenchments and about fifty prisoners. As, however, the Union forces were unable to force their way through the blown-up fort, the regiment was obliged to retire. During the remainder of the summer and autumn it was engaged in trench and picket work, alternating with numerous conflicts, none of them very severe, yet sharp enough so that the casualties between the opening of the campaign and the 1st of November footed up one hundred and six killed in action and two hundred and twenty-seven wounded. Forty had also died of disease in the same time, and one hundred and fifty-eight were reported " missing in action," of whom some were killed, some were taken prisoners, and some had probably deserted. The sharpshooters continued engaged in the arduous duties of the siege of Petersburg until the 25th of March, 1865. On that day Companies I and K were a part of the garrison of Fort Steadman. The rebels attacked that post, but were defeated with severe loss, the Union men charging out and capturing a large number of prisoners. The end was now rapidly approaching. Nearly every regiment was kept constantly fighting, and the sharpshooters had their full share of the deadly work. On the 3d of April the regiment was ordered to move forward in the advance at half-past three in the morning, when it was found that the enemy had evacuated Petersburg. The column pushed on, and the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters were the foremost Union regiment to enter the city. After doing service on the South Side Railroad until the surrender of Lee, the regiment went with its division to Washington. It remained in that vicinity until the last of July, when it returned to Jackson, Mich., and on the 7th of August was paid off and disbanded. 70 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Lucien Meigs, commissioned capt., March 31, 1863; res. Aug. 9, 1864. William Clark, corn. 1st. lieut., March 31, 1863; res. May 3,1864. Thomas R. Fowler, corn. 1st lieut., March 31, 1863; capt., Aug. 15, 1864; disch. for disab., Oct. 16,1864. Asahel R. Strong, corn. asst. surg., Jan. 15,1864; disch. for disability, July 9, 1864. Leverett N. Case, corn. 1st lient., Oct. 14,1864; capt., March 7,1865; brev. maj., April 2,1865, for bravery before Petersburg. Francis Whipple, corn. 1st lieut., March 31,1863; disch. for disab., Sept. 13,1864. Albert P. Thomas, corn. 2d lieut., March 31,1863; disch. for disah., Sept. 13,1864. Matthew C. Sharp, Co. C; died at Chicago, Ill., Oct. 17,1863. James G. Stombaugh, Co. C; died at Dearborn, Mich., July 5, 1863. Reuben Evy, Co. B; died of wounds, June 6, 1864. James Fullerton, Co. B; killed near Petersburg, Va., June 17,1864. Alexander Wallace, Co. B; died of w'ds, June 23, 1864, at Annapolis Junc., Md. Sylvester M. Osborn, Ce. B; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. Elias Fullerton, Co. B; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. Charles Quance, Co. B; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. Clark Fox, Jr., Co. B; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. John Beck, Co. B; killed at North Anna River, Va., May 25,1864. John B. Gilbert, Co. C; killed near Petersburg, Va., June 28, 1864. Alonzo B. Walls, Co. C; killed near Petersburg, Va., June 17,1864. Warren Sharp, Co. C; died of wounds, near Petersburg, Va., July 13, 1864. Gilbert Morehouse, Co. C; died of wounds, near Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. Roland Mills, Co. C; died of wounds, near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. John S. Vader, Co. C; killed in the Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. Randolph Betts, Co. C; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. Charles Fox, Co. B; died at Annapolis, Md., March 28,1861. James Signs, Co. B; died at Camp Douglas, Ill., March 29, 1864. Charles A. Vliet, Co. C; killed accidentally on railroad, Feb. 8, 1864. Albert C. Baker, Co. C; died at Camp Douglas, Ill., Feb. 21, 1864. William M. Cummings, Co. C; died at Alexandria, Va., July 3, 1864. Willard Barnes, Co. C; died at City Point, Va., Aug. 19,1864. Nicholas Crilley, Co. C; died. James Larronay, Co. C; died at City Point, Va., Aug. 12, 1864. Lucius P. Spencer, Co. C; died at David's Island, N. Y., July 24, 1864. Hiram Pierce, Co. C; died at Reading, Mich., Sept. 7, 1864. Lafayette Weston, Co. C; died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 27, 1864. Joseph Crawford, Co. C; died at Annapolis, Md., March 31, 1864. Francis Urie, Co. C; missing near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1861; returned. Stanley W. Turner, Co. C; missing near Petersburg, Va., July 30,1864; returned. Milo Osterhout, Co. H; missing near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864; returned. Daniel Cross, Co. C; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps., Jan. 15, 1864. George W. Wainer, N. C. S.; disch. for disability, Sept. 10, 1864. Charles H. Field, Co. C; killed near Petersburg, Va., March 29, 1865. Clark Fox, Sr., Co. B; died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 27,1864. Cyrus Face, Co. B; died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 9, 1864. Augustus H. Ferris, Co. C; died at Salisbury, N. C., June 5, 1865. Russell T. Lawrence, Co. C; died at Alexandria. Va., Dec. 2, 1864. William 0. Clemens, Co. C; died at Andersonville, Ga., July 25, 1864. Alfred Davis, Co. C; died on hospital boat, Oct. 15, 1864. Nathan J. Cahon, Co. H; died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 13, 1864. Judson Eldred, Co. C; disch. for disability, Sept. 16, 1863. James Scoby, Co. C; disch. for disability, June 16, 1863. Silas Beckworth, Co. C; disch. for disability. Theodore V. Purdy, N. C. S.; must. out July 28, 1865. Albert H. Keating, N. C. S.; must. out July 28, 1865. George W. Crisler, Co. A; must. out Sept. 6, 1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. Daniel Fisher, Co. A; must. out May 12, 1865. William R. Branyan, Co. A; must. out June 24,1865. Henry Doile, Co. A; disch. by order. John B. Eaton, Co. A; disch. by order. Osborn Sheeley, Co. A; disch. by order. Joseph Stevens, Co. B; must. out June 2,1865. Ralph McClellan, Co. B; must. out June 2, 1865. George W. Barnes, Co. B; must. out July 28,1865. William Bryant, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. Henry Burton, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. Peter Demarest, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. Andrew H. Face, Co. B; must. out June 13, 1865. Benjamin Hosmer, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. Marvin Maloney, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. Chester R. Phillips, Co. B; must. out July 28,1865. Albert Quance, Co. B; disch. for disability, June 20,1865. Harrison Snyder, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. Colland Stafford, Co. B; must. out July 1, 1865. Charles Stafford, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. John H. Sweet, Co. B; must. out Aug. 14, 1865. Irwin Stocker, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. William W. Wells, Co. B; must. out July 28, 1865. Orlon Hopkills, Co. B; must. out Aug. 14, 1865. Charles W. Lake, Co. C; disch. for disability, Jan. 7, 1865. William C. Hughes, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. James S. Adams, Co. C; must. out. ewis C. Adams, Co. C; must. out July 28,1865. Adrew Bailey, Co. C; must. out July 28,1865. I Spencer Beard, Co. C; must. out Aug. 7, 1865. William Burroughs, Co. C; disch. for disability, Dec. 15, 1864. Albert H. Cook, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. George Davis, Co. C; must. out Aug. 5, 1865. John D. Evans, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. Jedediah Grey, Co. C; disch. May 8, 1865. William H. Guy, Co. C; must. out Aug. 14,1865. Amos Hoffman, Co. C; disch. for disability, March 3, 1865. John D. Hunt, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. Joel B. Haynes, Co. C; must. out May 31, 1865. George D. Lenhart, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. James McConnell, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. John W. Potter, Co. C; disch. for disability, May 9, 1865. Job Priest, Co. C; must. out July 28,1865. Augustus Ransom, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. Zina D. Ransom, Co. C; must. out May 29,1865. William C. Raymond, Co. C. Nathaniel Rogers, Co. C; must. out Aug. 19,1865. Andrew J. Savage, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. Alonzo B. Smith, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. John H. Spencer, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. Eugene A. Taylor, Co. C; must. out Aug. 11, 1865, from Vet. Res. Corps. Thomas Urie, Co. C; must. out June 7, 1865. William Wagner, Co. C; must. out Aug. 14,1865. Eliphalet Barber, Co. C; disch. by writ of habeas corpus, May 2, 1863. Charles E. Nichols, Co. C; must. out Aug. 14, 1865. Alexander Cahon, Co. C; must. out July 28,1865. John W. Lathrop, Co. C; must. out June 8,1865. Almond C. Abbott, Co. C; must. out July 28, 1865. Leman C. Abbott, Co. C; must. out June 6, 1865. Franklin Palmer, Co. C; must. out June 5,1865. Franklin Bell, Co. C; must. out July 28,1865. Levi J. Faulk, Co. C; must. out July 14,1865. Stanley W. Turner, Co. C; must. out June 13,1865. Daniel Teachout, Co. E; must. out July 28,1865. James B. Haight, Co. E; disch. for disability, Feb. 28, 1865. Peter Hagerman, Co. E; must. out July 28, 1865. George C. Dean, Co. F; must. out July 28, 1865. Frank McClelland, Co. F; must. out June 3, 1865. Alfred D. Nobles, Co. F; must. out June 3, 1865. Edward P. Robbins, Co. F; must. out June 7, 1865. Oliver Sharp, Co. F; must. out June 7, 1865. Cornelius Youngs, Jr., Co. I; must. out Aug. 14, 1865. Josiah Walker, Co. I; must. out June 26, 1865. Riley Wilson, Co. I; must. out June 2, 1865. Joseph Wickham, Co. I; must. out June 2, 1865. Stephen W. Wickham, Co. I; must. out June 2, 1865. FIRST ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS. The regiment bearing this name was raised in the summer and autumn of 1861, its rendezvous being at Marshall, Calhoun County. It was intended, as its name implies, to be principally employed in the numerous kinds of mechanical and engineering work incident to the operations of an army, and, unlike many other special organizations, it was largely used for the purpose originally designed. It was also armed with infantry weapons, and, whenever called on, its members showed themselves as prompt in battle as they were skillful in labor. There were thirty-three members from Hillsdale County, distributed among nine companies, as follows: Company A, six; Company B, three; Company D, one; Company E, two; Company F, one; Company G, five; Company H, eight; Company I, one; Company K, four; non-commissioned staff, one. The regiment left Marshall on the 17th of December, 1861, for Louisville, Ky., and, after the capture of Fort Donelson opened Tennessee to the Union army, the 1st Engineers and Mechanics was speedily at work in that State. Owing to the nature of the service required of them they were employed in detachments, and it would be impracticable to trace them through the half of their numerous locations, marches, and labors. Immediately after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, the regiment was engaged eight weeks in constructing steamboat-landings. In June, 1862, it built seven bridges on the Memphis 1 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 71 and Charleston Railroad, ranging from eighty to three hundred and fifty feet in length. It was also engaged throughout the season in opening and repairing railroads in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Northern Alabama and Mississippi. While at Lavergne, Tenn., on the 1st of January, 1863, a part of the regiment was attacked by two brigades of rebel cavalry, under Generals Wheeler and Wharton, with two pieces of artillery, but succeeded in defeating them, with serious loss. During the year the regiment, divided into detachments, was almost constantly engaged in building bridges, making pontoons, and other similar work, in -Tennessee and Northern Alabama. One of the bridges (over Elk River, Tenn.) was four hundred and sixty feet long. The same work was continued through the greater part of 1864 and in the same localities,-mostly in the vicinity of Chattanooga, Bridgeport, Stevenson, and Decatur. The men whose terms had expired were mustered out in October, but there were enough re-enlisted men and recruits, so that the force was kept up nearly to its original strength. About the 1st of November the regiment, except two companies, was transferred to Atlanta, Ga., where it destroyed an immense number of rebel foundries, rollingmills, etc., and then marched, with Sherman's army, through to Savannah, being obliged to keep up with the army and work hard destroying railroads, etc., at the same time. After several weeks' labor, fortifying Savannah, the regiment proceeded with Sherman through the Carolinas, and thence to Washington. In June it was sent to Nashville, where it was employed on the defenses until the latter part of September. It was disbanded at Jackson, Mich., on the 1st of October, 1865. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Caleb A. Ensign, commissioned 1st lieut. Dec. 8,1863; 1st lieut., March 11,1864; must. out Sept. 22, 1865. Jacob Shafer, Co. H; died Dec. 20, 1862. Anson R. Eddy, Co. 11; died of wounds, Oct. 10, 1862, at Perrysville, Ky. Simeon Hicks, Co. B; died at Evansville, Ind., Jan. 3, 1864. George Shafer, Co. I; died at Cartersville, Ga., Sept. 7, 1864. Christopher Kinney, Co. E; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps. Hiram Carey, Co. A; disch. for disability, Nov. 17,1862. John Price, Co. H; disch. for disability, June 21, 1862. Jeremiah Gardner, Co. A; disch. for disability, March 9, 1863. John D. Shoemaker, Co. G; disch. for disability, June 18, 1863. Edwin Smith, Co. A; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 31, 1864. John Pittswood, Co. D; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 31,1861. Albert Roberts, Co. H; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 31, 1864. Harmon S. Wood, Co. K; disch. for disability, Dec. 26, 1863. Albert M. Wells, Co. K; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 31,1864. James B. Lyon, Co. H; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 1, 1864. William Hedden, Co. K; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Feb. 14, 1864. Benjamin F. Edwards, N. C. S.; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 31, 1864. Hiram Carey, Co. A; disch. for disability, Nov. 17, 1862. Edgar A. Shattuck, Co. A; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1865. George A. Hicks, Co. B; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22,1865. John W. Covert, Co. E; disch. by order, June 6, 1865. Freeman Fuller, Co. F; disch. by order, July 7, 1865. Henry J. Devoe, Co. G; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22,1865. Alfred Phillips, Co. G; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22,1865. Samuel J. Hoot, Co. G; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1865. Euclid Hubbard, Co. G; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1865. George Carlow, Co. H; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1865. Jonathan D. Butler, Co. H; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1865. Daniel Bolles, Co. I; must. out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1865. Peleg G. Roberts, Co. K; disch. by order, Sept. 9, 1862. CHAPTER XVII. SECOND, FOURTH, AND SEVENTH CAVALRY. Nature of Cavalry Service-Hillsdale County Men in the 2d Michigan -Services on the Mississippi-Granger and Sheridan-Around Corinth-The 2d in Kentucky and Tennessee-Capturing ArtilleryIn the Advance in the Georgia Campaign-Fighting Forrest again -In the Battle of Franklin-A Long Raid-The End-List of Members-Hillsdale in the 4th Cavalry-That Regiment in Kentucky and Tennessee-Breaking up a Rebel Camp-The Advance to Chattanooga-Used-up Horses-Marching through GeorgiaFight at Lattimore's Mill-Horses again Worn Out-Remounted and on the Wing-Another Long Raid-Storming the Intrenchments at Selma-On to Georgia-Capture of Jefferson Davis-List of Members-The 7th Cavalry and its Hillsdale Men-The Severe Cavalry Fight at Gettysburg-Losses in the Campaign-Kilpatrick's Raid-The Battle of Yellow Church-The Battle of Crooked Run-Sheridan's Raid to the James-Ordered to Colorado-Some Transferred, the rest Mustered Out-The Transferred Men also Disbanded-Officers and Soldiers. SECOND CAVALRY. ALTHOUGH the cavalry branch of the army was not brought into as many close engagements as the infantry, and consequently suffered less in killed and wounded, yet its service was of an extremely arduous description, compelling the men to be almost constantly in the saddle, to ride day and night for hundreds of miles, and sometimes to travel more than a thousand miles on a single excursion. Of all the regiments in this branch of the service, the 2d Michigan Cavalry was one of the bravest and most faithful, and was also made especially conspicuous by the high rank attained by two of its commanders. The regiment was recruited at Grand Rapids, in the summer and autumn of 1861, attaining a strength of twelve companies, with eleven hundred and sixty-three men. Company G, commanded by Capt. Frederick Fowler, of Reading, was entirely from this county, and during the war numbered a hundred and twenty-seven Hillsdale County men in its ranks. Besides this there were one from that county in Company A, six in Company B, three in Company C, three in Company D, one in Company E, two in Company K, and twenty-two in Company M; making a total of a hundred and sixty-five. The regiment left Grand Rapids on the 14th of November, going to St. Louis, where it remained during the winter. Its colonel was Gordon Granger, who at the time of his appointment was a captain im the regular army. In March, 1862, it took part in the operations near New Madrid and Island No. l 0. In May it went to the vicinity of Corinth. At this period Col. Granger was promoted to brigadier-general of volunteers. He afterwards became major-general of volunteers, colonel and brevet major-general in the regular army, and one of the most distinguished of the Union commanders, excepting only a very few of the most renowned leaders. His place as colonel was supplied by the appointment of Philip H. Sheridan, also a young captain in the regular army, destined to still wider celebrity than Gen. Granger,-so wide indeed that it would be superfluous to give even a line in description of his career. Under Col. Sheridan, who commanded the brigade, the 2d was busily engaged through the summer scouting in all i2 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. _ ___ _ _ directions around Corinth. In September it took part in the battle of Iuka, near Corinth. About this time Col. Sheridan was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers, and was assigned to an infantry command. Lieut.-Col. Campbell was made colonel, and Capt. Fowler, before mentioned, was commissioned as lieutenant-colonel. In October the regiment was sent to Kentucky, and had its headquarters in that State until the forepart of February, 1863, though in December and January it made a raid into East Tennessee, which occupied twenty-two days. In February it removed to Nashville, and during the spring was constantly engaged in scouting and skirmishing in that part of Tennessee. On the 25th of March it was engaged in a severe fight with a large rebel cavalry force, under the celebrated Forrest, whom it defeated, capturing fifty-two prisoners, with slight loss. In June it moved forward with the army, and in September had made its way into the mountains west and south of Chattanooga. Then for about four months it was busy in Middle Tennessee. In January, 1864, it went to East Tennessee, where, as elsewhere, it was hardly ever at rest. On the 27th of January it took part in an attack on a brigade of rebel cavalry, capturing three pieces of artillery and seventy-five prisoners. In May the regiment moved with Sherman's army in the Georgia campaign. It was generally in the advance, and day after day was engaged in the skirmishing and scouting which, though it makes no great show in the list of victories, is absolutely necessary to the safety of an army. The last of June the 2d returned to Middle Tennessee, where it had a dozen or two more conflicts with Forrest, Wheeler, and other rebel cavalry leaders, generally driving them, but being sometimes obliged to fall back. On the 13th of November it was in the battle of Franklin, having eighteen men killed and wounded. During the winter the same old work was continued in Middle Tennessee, the regiment sometimes crossing the Tennessee River on improvised means of transportation, and making matters lively for the rebels on the other side. A very extensive movement was begun on the 11th of March, 1865, when the 2d set out from Waterloo, Tenn., crossed the Tennessee River, marched to Chickasaw, Ala., remained there till the 22d, marched on through numerous towns of the northern and central parts of that State, never before visited by hostile troops, swam the Black Warrior River on the 29th of March, and again on the 1st of April, and on the 3d arrived at Tuscaloosa, the former capital of Alabama; surprising the pickets and capturing the city, three cannon, and a considerable number of prisoners. Thence they marched on, swimming numerous streams, driving off the enemy when he came too near, and reaching Talladega on the 22d of April. This was the end of the fighting, but the regiment marched on several hundred miles to Macon, Ga., where it arrived on the 1st of May, and where it obtained its first rest in nearly two months. It was afterwards employed in detachments to garrison various points in Georgia, and in August was sent home, being disbanded at Jackson, Mich., on the twenty-sixth of that month. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Frederick Fowler, commissioned capt., Sept. 2, 1861; lieut.-col., Dec. 1862; res. May 2, 1863. Jasper A. Waterman, corn. 1st lieut., Sept. 2, 1861; res. Sept. 8, 1862. James Hawley, corn. 2d lieut., Sept. 2, 1861; 1st lieut., Sept. 8, 1862; capt., Jan. 30, 1863; killed at Chickamauga, on staff of Gen. Stanley, Sept. 20, 1863. Robert Taylor, app. chap. Sept. 4,1862; res. Feb. 10,1864. Samuel V. Robertson, cor. 2d lieut., May 2,1863; 1st lieut., March 1,1864; capt., Dec. 1, 1864; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. F. Byron Cutler, com. 2d lieut., June 9, 1862; res. May 2, 1863. Edwin Eddy, com. 2d lieut., March 1,1864; res. Nov. 19, 1864. Joseph Palmer, coni. 1st lieut., Oct. 22, 1864; must. out Aug. 17, 1864. Warren Bowen, cor. 2d lieut., Dec. 31, 1864; 1st lieut., 1865; must. out with regt. Jerry Arnold, Co. G; died at New Madrid, April 14, 1862. James E. Ainsworth, Co. G; died at Rienzi, Miss., July 15,1862. William Ashley, Co. G; died at Camp Benton, Mo., Feb. 14,1862. William Brock, Co. G; died at Reading, Mich., May 25, 1862. Austin Cone, Co. G; died at Farmington, Miss., June 16,1862. Alton S. Ford, Co. G; died at Jefferson, Mich., May 22,1862. Ansel Fleetwood, Co. G; died at New Madrid, Mo., April 11, 1862. William Tuttle, Co. G; died at Camp Benton, Mo., Dec. 4, 1861. Norman Benedict, Co. G; died at Keokuk, Iowa. Darwin E. Brown, Co. G; died at Keokuk, Iowa. Robert H. Cowan, Co. M; died at New Madrid, Mo., April 10, 1862. Hiram J. IIarris, Co. M; died at St. Louis, Mo., May 31, 1862. Ezra W. Norcutt, Co. M; died April 3,1862. Clement C. Iutton, Co. M; died at Rienzi, Miss., Aug. 11, 1862. J. H. Norton, Co. G; died at Nicholsville, Ky., Sept. 1, 1863. Martin Williams, Co. G; killed at Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 8, 1863. Owen W. McAaunus, Co. M; killed at Florence, Ala., Sept. 7, 1864. William H. Graves, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 12,1863. Warren B. Narcott, Co. M; died at Franklin, Tenn., Aug. 21,1864. Israel P. Bates, Co. G; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, April 10, 1864. Nathaniel Keith, Co. G; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Feb. 15, 1864. Joseph L. Long, Co. G; killed at Tuscaloosa, Ala., April 3, 1865. William Price, Co. G; killed at Franklin, Telm., Nov. 30, 1864. John A. Carny, Co. G; died of wounds, April 4,1861, at Nashville, Tenn. William B. Martin, Co. G; died at Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 8,1863. Bradley I. Wilson, Co. G; died at Richmond, Va., Nov. 3,1863. Comstock Maples, Co.M; died at Louisville, Ky., Dec. 13,1864. Charles Mapes, Co. M; died at Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 15, 1864. George W. Baker, Co. G; trans. to 2d Mich. Bat. Michael McIntyre, Co. G; trans. to 3d Mich. Cav., Nov. 1, 1861. Warren D. Collatimus, Co. G; disch. for disability. Liberty Straw, Co. G; disch. for disability, June 6, 1862. Grove S. Bartholomew, Co. G; disch. for disability, March 16, 1862. Henry H. Ferris, Co. G; disch. for disability, Feb. 14,1862. William Hughs, Co. G; disch. for disability, March 17, 1862. Sylvester H. Kellogg, Co. G; disch. for disability, Feb. 17, 1862. Aymour R. Shannon, Co. G; disch. for disability. William A. Brown, Co. G; disch. for disability, April 5, 1862. Byron J. Day, Co. G; disch. for disability, Nov. 21, 1862. Jonathan B. Somers, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 26, 1862. Harvey Wilson, Co. G; disch. for disability, Dec. 18,1862. William A. Vanhorn, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 8, 1862. James A. Taylor, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 9, 1862. Clarence H. Chapman, Co. G; disch. for disability, July 12, 1862. Otis F. Packard, Co. G; disch. for disability, July 3, 1862. Samuel Wheaton, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 10, 1862. George Perkins, Co. G; disch. fbr disability. Royal B. Ames, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 15, 1862. John Forquer, Co. G; disch. for disability. Cornelius M. Gregory, Co. G; discharged for disability. Horace W. Titus, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 11, 1862. James Appleton, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 11, 1862. John Pease, Co. G; disch. for disability, Oct. 15, 1862. William H. Barrett, Co. G; disch. for disability, Oct. 15, 1862. Homer H. Kidder, Co. G; disch. for disability, Oct. 3, 1862. Thaddeus M. Southworth, Co. M; disch. for disability, May 2,1862. Robert Wilson, Co. M; disch. for disability, Sept. 27, 1862. Andrew Peterson, Co. B; disch. for disability, April 4, 1863. A. J. Filkins, Co. D; disch. for disability, March 21,1863. John H. Stage, Co. D; disch. for disability, July 14, 1863. Ralph Bailey, Co. G; disch. for disability, Nov. 13, 1863. Jabez H. Moses, Co. G; disch. for disability, March 30, 1863. John B. Harrington, Co. G; disch. for disability, May 1, 1863. Arthur Walter, Co. G; disch. for disability, Aug. 5, 1863. Nicholas Tibits, Co. G; disch. for disability, Aug. 6,1863. Walter B. Straw, Co. G; disch. for disability, Aug. 11, 1863. Austin Winney, Co. K; disch. for disability, May 20, 1863. Stephen Turner, Co. G; disch. by order, Oct. 27, 1863. Wm. Davenport, Co. G; disch. by order, Jan. 24, 1863. James Thompson, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. George A. Douglas, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1,1864. William C. Campbell, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Hugh Longhey, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 73 Charles Vanderburg, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Joshua Henry, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Judah Reed, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Joseph Sturdevant, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Theron D. Walters, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Ephraim B. Briggs, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Nelson E. Kidder, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 1, 1864. Thomas O'Brien, Co. M; disch. in Jan. 1863. John Aulsbro, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as vet., Jan 5, 1864. Charles S. Beckwith, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as vet., Jan. 5, 1864. Washington J. Bulson, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as vet., Jan. 5, 1864. James Burt, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as vet., Jan. 5,1864. Eben HI. DIunton, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as vet., Jan. 5, 1864. Eli R. Forquer, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as vet., Jan. 5, 1864. Richard Morrison, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as vet., Jan 5,1864. Abram F. Pierce, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 5, 1864. Gabriel See, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 5, 1864. Charles Wooster, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 5, 1864. -Frank L. Weston, Co. G; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 5, 1864. Owen McManus, Co. M; disch. to re-enl. as veteran, Jan. 5, 1864. Friend Alvord, Co. A; must. out July 17, 1865. Henry Jones, Co. B; must. out Aug. 17,1865. Sylvester J. Olmstead, Co. B; must. out June 20, 1865. Wilbur Showier, Co. B; must. out June 20, 1865. Reuben D. Bowen, Co. B; must. out June 27,1865. William Carson, Co. C; must. out June 6,1865. Patrick Doolin, Co. C; must. out Aug. 25, 1865. David B. Finn, Co. C; Aug. 17, 1865. Merrick G. Blood, Co. D; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Roderick C. Phiillip, Co. E; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Peter Keefer, Co. F; must. out June 13, 1865. Henry Zupp, Co. F; disch. for disability, July 28, 1864. Wells W. Gates, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Frank H. Proctor, Co. G; disch. for disability, May 3, 1865. Henry H. Browln, Co. G; disch. for disability, June 10, 1865. Warren Bowen, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17,1865. Leander Birdsall, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Oscar H. Duncan, Co. G; must. out Aug. 30,1865. Joseph Fitzgerald, Co. G; must. out Aug. 30, 1865. George A. Munger, Co. G; must. out Aug. 30, 1865. Chauncey L. Howell, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. John F. Howell, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Isaac McCurdy, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Robert McDougal, Co. G; disch. by order, June 13, 1865. James Y. Mesick, Co. G; must. out Aug. 31, 1865. Alonzo S. Mulliken, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Oscar D. Nulton, Co. G; discli. June 2, 1863. William Ii. Vandewalker, Co. G; disch. at expiration of service, Oct. 22, 1864. Burdett S. Waldo, Co. G; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Porter Yates, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. William C. Howell, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. Charles M. Hannah, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. John B. Mulliken, Co. G; must. out June 8, 1865. Alonzo Alsbo, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. John A. White, Co. G; must out June 21, 1865. William Howe, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. George W. Burt, Co. G; nmust. out June 21, 1865. Andrew I. Armdon, Co. G; must. out June 8, 1865. David McDuffie, Co. G; must. out May, 1866. Francis E. Bird, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. Edward C. Smith, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. Jefferson M. Campbell, Co. G; disch. for disability, July 17, 1865. Reuben Vickers, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. William W. Taylor, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. Christopher Wansley, Co. G; must. out June 3, 1865. Erasmus Wilbur, Co. G; must. out June 3, 1865. Philip R. Bowen, Co. G; must. out June 21, 1865. Zachariah Kemp, Co. G; imust. out Aug. 17, 1865. Seymour F. Smith, Co. G; must. out May 17, 1865. Marion Harris, Co. K; must. out Aug. 31, 1865. William Birdsall, Co. M; disch. at expiration of service, April 17, 1865. James Beddon, Co. M; must. out Aug. 30, 1865. William A. Case, Co. M; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Samuel Williams, Co. M; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. Benjamin Ayers, Co. M; disch. May 26,1865. Richard Phillips, Co. M; must. out Sept. 7, 1865. Sidney R. Smith, Co. M; must. out Aug. 17, 1865. FOURTH CAVALRY. This regiment was raised in July and August, 1862, under the call for new troops, resulting from the disasters of McClellan's Peninsular campaign. The rendezvous was at Detroit, and the regiment was mustered in on the 29th of August. The men of Hillsdale County who served in it 10 ranks during the war numbered twenty-six in Company F, twelve in G, one in B, and one in H. In September the regiment set out for Kentucky, where it was soon chasing Morgan's guerrillas; leading the attack on Lebanon two miles before the infantry, driving out Morgan with an equal or superior force, and capturing a large amount of stores. On the 13th of December the regiment, by a forced march, surprised and captured the pickets at Franklin, Tenn., driving out a large force of the enemy with heavy loss. It led the extreme advance to Murfreesboro', and after the capture of that place was engaged in numerous excursions, driving back the enemy's cavalry, which infested the county, and capturing several hundred prisoners. In May, 1863, followed by detachments of other regiments, the 4th led a gallant charge into the camp of three Confederate regiments of cavalry, routed them, and took fifty-five prisoners and the colors of the 1st Alabama. When the Army of the Cumberland advanced from Murfreesboro', in June, the 4th was again on the lead and engaged in innumerable conflicts. It was always successful until it reached the vicinity of Chattanooga, when it was several times driven back by the enemy. The season's service was so severe that on the 1st of November only about three hundred men were mounted. After constant service througll the winter, mounted and dismounted, among the mountains of Southeastern Tennessee, the regiment returned to Nashville the last of March, where it received fresh horses and new equipments. It tlien returned to Sherman's army, which it accompanied in the Georgia campaign, constantly engaged in the same kind of arduous service before described. Its hardest conflict was on the 20th of June, at Lattimore's Mill, when, with the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, it engaged three brigades of rebel cavalry. It twice charged the enemy with the sabre, and repulsed several charges made by them. Having finally fallen back to its supports, it aided in meeting an attack by Gen. Wheeler's whole force, which was driven back with heavy loss. In this affair the regiment, which had about three hundred men present, had thirty-seven killed and wounded. After the capture of Atlanta the mounted men of the regiment followed Hood's army northward nearly to the Tennessee River, harassing his rear, capturing prisoners, etc. By this time all the horses but about a hundred were again worn out. These were transferred to another command, and the 4th was reunited on foot at Nashville in October. It was remounted at Louisville, Ky., and by the last of January, 1865, was at Gravelly Springs, Ala. Leaving there the 12th of March, it set out with other regiments on a long raid through Alabama, swimming rivers, building corduroy roads, seizing towns, capturing Forrest's artillery, and finally capturing the city of Selma, defended by very elaborate fortifications and by at least seven thousand men under Gen. Forrest. At one point fifteen hundred dismounted cavalry, of which the 4th was a part, charged the intrenchments and captured them in twenty minutes, having had three hundred and twenty-four men killed and wounded. This was on the 2d of April. On the 20th, after numerous adventures, the command reached 74 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Macon, Ga., where the news of the surrender of the rebel armies caused the cessation of fighting. The 4th, however, gained still another title to renown by capturing the rebel president, Jefferson Davis, near Abbeville, Ga., on the 10th of April, 1865. The regiment soon after marched to Nashville, where it was mustered out on the 1st of July; being disbanded at Detroit on the 10th. The list of its battles and skirmishes numbered ninety-four. Few of them, it is true, were very severe, but the number shows that the regiment didn't "let the grass grow under its horses' feet." OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Wilford Bates, appointed assistant surgeon, March 10,1865; not must. Isaac T. Birdsell, Co. G; died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 8, 1863. Levi R. Watkins, Co. B;:trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, April 30, 1861. John F. Wagner, Co. F; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, April 10, 1864. Nelson Higgins, Co. F; died at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 17, 1864. Alfred Hall, Co. G; died at Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 9, 186>5. William A. Lamb, Co. F; disch. for disability, Feb. 3, 1863. J. G. Robb, Co. F; disch. for disability, March 22, 1863. Henry O'Neil, Co. G; disch. for disability, Feb. 4,1863. Jackson Pardee, Co. G; disch. for disability, May 8, 186,. Henry Rynes, Co. 1; disch. for disability, March 18, 1863. Albert S. Wilson, N. C. S.; must. out July 1, 1865. R. Blackmer, Co. F; disch. by order, July 19, 1865. Ira W. Harrington, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. Lyman P. Pitts, Co. F; must. out July 1,1865. Orange C. Smith, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. George W. Temple, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. George W. Tagsgold, Co. F; must. out July 1,1865. Horace Wilcox, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. Peter Wacker, Co. F; disch. for disability, Dec. 26,1864. Oscar Wilder, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. John 0. Williams, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. George F. Whitman, Co. F; must. out July 1,1865. George W. Williams, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. William Wright, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. Thomas Gorman, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. William Chase, Co. F; disch. for disability. M. Winchester, Co. F; disch. Feb. 11,1863. William F. True, Co. F; must. out July 1, 1865. Henry Braddock, Co. F; must. out Aug. 15, 1865. Howard Dickerson, Co. F; must. out Aug. 15, 1865. Delaski W. Fish, Co. F; must. out Aug. 15, 1865. Francis Gurmid, Co. F; disch. by order, May 3, 1865. Simon B. Hadley, Co. G; disch. for promotion, Feb. 9, 1865. Charles E. Lockwood, Co. G; disch. by order, July 13,1865. Alonzo Fox, Co. G; must. out July 1,1865. George B. Allen, Co. G; must. out July 1, 1865. Denison D. Burch, Co. G; must. out July 1, 1865. Lawrence C. Carr, Co. G; must. out July 1, 1865. John Plunkett, Co. G; must. out July 1, 1865. John Sullivan, Co. G; must. out July 1,1865. Hughes S. Hill, Co. H; must. out July 1, 1865. SEVENTH CAVALRY. This regiment was organized at Grand Rapids, two battalions leaving for Washington in February, 1863, and the third one in May. The number from Hillsdale County was as follows: twenty-two in Company F, three in E, one in G, and eight in I; total, thirty-four. The regiment was very actively engaged in the cavalry service of the Army of the Potomac, and at the battle of Gettysburg, on the 3d of July, fought one of the hardest conflicts which ever fell to the share of that service, having sixteen men killed, forty-one wounded, twelve missing, and twelve taken prisoners. It was in numerous skirmishes during the rest of the season, having thirty men killed in action from the 1st of May to the 1st of November and sixty-two wounded. On the 28th of February, 1864, the 7th started with Gen. Kilpatrick on his celebrated raid to Richmond. After its return, it was attached to the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and soon started with that army on the great campaign of 1864. At the battle of Yellow Church, on the 11th of May, it aided in driving the rebel cavalry from the field, having sixteen men killed and wounded, including among the former its commander, Maj. Granger. On the 27th of May it charged a rebel brigade, driving it several miles and capturing forty-one prisoners. At a cavalry fight at " Haines' Shop," the next day, the regiment had fourteen men killed and wounded. After two months more of service with the Army of the Potomac, the regiment was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley. On the 16th of August it was in the battle of Crooked Run, where it charged and routed a rebel brigade, capturing nearly a hundred prisoners, and having twelve men killed and wounded. At the battle of Opequan Creek, on the 19th of August, it charged through the creek and drove the foe from the farther shore, and, later in the day, joined with other regiments in charging the enemy and driving him through Winchester. The regiment had twenty-three killed and wounded, among the former being its commander, Lieut.-Col. Brewer,-the second commander killed during.the season. The 7th remained in active service in the Shenandoah Valley until the last of February, 1865, when it joined in Sheridan's celebrated raid to the James River. The latter part of March it joined the Army of the Potomac, and was active in the operations which resulted in the surrender of Lee's army. The last of May, 1865, the 7th was sent with the Michigan Cavalry Brigade to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and thence across the Plains to Denver, Col. There was naturally much dissatisfaction at being called on for this unexpected service after the war was over, but there was no mutiny or other misconduct. After guarding the overland stage-route till the 1st of November, two hundred and fifty of those having the longest time to serve were transferred to the 1st Michigan Cavalry. The remainder hired their passage in mule-trains to Fort Leavenworth, where they were mustered out. The regiment was disbanded at Jackson, Mich., on the 25th of December, 1865. The men transferred to the 1st Michigan Calvary were mustered out in Utah, in March, 1866. They had to pay their own passage home, but the amount was afterwards refunded by Congress. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY. Hiram J. Ingersoll, commissioned 2d lieut., Oct. 15, 1862; 1st lietit., Feb. 28, 1863; must. out Dec. 15, 1865. Henry Guir, Co. F; killed at Falling Waters, Md., July 14,1863. George W. Lundy, Co. F; died at Gettysburg, Pa., July 15, 1863. C. P. White, Co. F; missing at Frenchtown, July 6, 1863; returned. Wm. C. Armstrong, Co. F; missing at Frenchtown, July 6, 1863. Asa Sprague, Co. I; missing at Gainesville, Va., Oct. 14, 1863. Jacob Paule, Co. F; killed at Yellow Tavern, Va., May 11, 1864. Thomas C. Mercer, Co. F; killed at Smithfield, Va., Aug. 29, 1864. Abram Hogland, Co. F; died at Washington, D. C., Feb. 18,1864. Clark A. Stewart, Co. F; died at Andersonville, Ga., June 30,1864. Henry Chaplain, Co. F; trans. to Yet. Res. Corps, Feb. 15, 1864. Linus N. Dillon, Co. F; trans. to Yet. Res. Corps, Nov. 15, 1863. J. H. Armstrong, Co. F; died of wounds, about May 20,1864, at Richmond, Va. Stephen Mosher, Co. I; died in Andersonville prison, Ga., Sept. 9, 1864. John E. Covey, Co. F; disch. for disability, May 25, 1863. George Arnold, Co. I; disch. for disability, July 11, 1863. H. J. Wright, Co. F; disch. for disability, March 3, 1864. Isaac Van Vleet, Co. F; disch. for disability, Nov. 17, 186:3. Henry De Graff, N. C. S.; must. out Dec. 11, 1865. Norris W. McHurd, Co. E; must. out Dec. 23,1865. I I.1 i - -- - I I" I., "I I I 11- I I I HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 75 - Benton H. Spear, Co. E; must. out Dec. 15, 1865. George T I :I:-::.:;: ~I: -~-~~. ~.~~;~-r~,,-: ~:-,~-:-~i~1.: ~~:; ~I i;' .S * -~.ji -..-~ i::~ ~' ~: ~~I:-. -I;I;~~~: ~;'"~1-~:':I ~ 8~~~~- alr-~:.~;s ~z:t:::;i '";;~:"5;~';'.':","~: -: -':l.~~'~''''t~:,.:;t,~~;-_~",;:~i::-I-;:~j..I_ ~.._;.. ~~:,~- ~~~- ~~~:- ~:~:-:~ r-: I.. - -~ IC I. I. '... I - A CI,- I I P.,~I. I t. -. I I - -.. I. -.."...,. — ~~~:-: ~;A:~-i~~::;lr —:-~~, i;~:~'~j:,c-~ B;.~~-~~~.: ~-; ---I:?-:-I-~. i~:x.,~i~i 'c" Lr"~. '?-?-\~!L.:~'~:;:~ r~.:,ii"d...i, ~; i-"iCil~~" i:~, ~I.~_,:;~~~~~: —:;-;:i.....i "4:- 1; 777777777 I I..... i 0.1 u 1k: rc w C.2 0 14 0~ LLI z rt HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 213 ROBERT B. SAWYER was a native of the town of Hopewell, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he was born on the 29th day of April, 1813. He was a son of Luke and Rhoda Sawyer. Luke was a son of Thomas Sawyer, and was born in Salisbury, Addison Co., Vt., July 8, 1785. At an early age he came to Canandaigua, N. Y., which was then in the midst of a wilderness, with his father and his family, and resided with them until, soon after attaining his majority, he met Miss Rhoda Cook, who had formerly resided in Connecticut; and in 1809 was united with her in marriage. He then bought a farm in the adjoining town of Hopewell,-then a part of Gorham,-and lived there until 1817, except a year or two spent in the woolen manufacturing business at "Short's Mills," now known as Shortsville. In the year above mentioned he bought a new, unimproved farm in the northeast part of the town of Manchester, near the village of Port Gibson, and made a permanent home for himself and family. Luke died on this place, Aug. 13, 1831. His wife survived him thirty years and one day. She lived in Ohio for a short time, and then settled in Medina, Lenawee Co., Mich., and died there, April 14, 1861. Robert remained on the homestead, working on the farm and attending school, until he reached the age of twentyfive years. His health was poor, and unfitted him for the performance of any kind of hard labor; but he had made good use of his opportunities, and had acquired a good common-school education. Armed with this he left the homestead and went to Wayne Co., N. Y., to teach school, making his home in the town of Ontario. He remained in that county engaged in this business, and varying his labors with an occasional term of study at the Marion and Palmyra Academies, until the summer of 1845. On the 8th day of July of that year he was married to Miss Caroline W. Webb, a native of Oneida Co., N. Y. He had previously purchased a farm of one hundred acres in the north part of the town of Arcadia. In the spring of 1846 he disposed of this property and came West, purchasing a farm of one hundred acres on Mongoquinon prairie, near Lima, Ind. Here they remained about two years, and had two children born to them: Newton J., on the 4th of August, 1846, and Byron H., on the 27th of November, 1847. Having disposed of his Indiana property, Robert next purchased a one-hundred-acre farm in the town of Gilead, in Branch County. In April, 1851, his brother, Thomas C., who lived in this town near Lime Lake, died, and he was called upon to come and settle the estate. He removed here with his family, then increased by the birth of another son, Orville W. (born April 15, 1850), and lived two years on his brother's farm. Having suffered a great deal from sickness in Gilead, Mr. Sawyer determined not to return there, and purchased three hundred and eighty acres on section 16, on which he moved in the spring of 1853. At that time there was but six acres cleared on the farm, which now has about three hundred and twenty acres cleared, and increased by the purchase of the southwest quarter of section 15, is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Sawyer's fourth and youngest child, Luke B., was born on this place, Sept. 27, 1855. By a life of industry and economy, combined with good management of his affairs, Mr. Sawyer has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, and in carving out of the wilderness one of the finest and most productive farms of the township in which he resides. Having a distaste for the cares and duties of public life, he has shunned the cares of office, with one exception. In 1871 he was elected justice of the peace, and retained that position four years. A few years since he divided a part of his real estate among his sons, retaining two hundred and twenty-five acres for a homestead, and in that pleasant home he and his wife, with their son, Orville W., are living in pleasant retirement. Of his other children, Newton J. and Luke B. are engaged in the mercantile business at Leslie, Ingham Co.; and Byron I., who graduated at the law school at the State University at Ann Arbor, is practicing his profession in Hudson, Lenawee Co. WILLIAM BREWSTER, an early settler in the township of Wright, born in Middletown, Conn., where he passed the days of his youth, was a descendant of Elder Wm. Brewster, who came with the band of Pilgrims in the " Mayflower" and settled in Plymouth, Mass., in 1620. The line of descent is: first, Elder William Brewster; second, Love Brewster; third, William Brewster; fourth, William Brewster; fifth, Elisha Brewster; sixth, Elisha Brewster; seventh, William Brewster, the subject of our sketch. His father, captain and owner of the vessel, was lost at sea, the vessel sailing from port, and never after heard of. Thus, at an early age, he was left to depend on his own labor for support. Bound out, at the age of nine years, to learn the carpenter and joiner trade, he served his apprenticeship and became a skilled workman. Soon after he became of age he went to Charleston, S. C., and spent a year working at his trade. After returning from there, he made his way to Eaton, Madison Co., N. Y., where he found and married his wife, Miss Anna Palmer, on the 8th day of November, 1812. The artillery company to which he belonged having tendered their services to the Government in the war with England soon after, and their offer being accepted, he went with them to Sacket's Harbor, and remained until honorably discharged, a few months after. He remained in Madison County a few years, working at his trade; was burned out during the time, losing about all he had; recovered, with his neighbors' help, some of his loss, and afterwards removed, with his family, to Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y. They were commencing a village there. The country was new, and for three years it was very sickly. They suffered with the rest, as is common in most new countries. Remaining there a few years, pursuing his trade, in 1824 he removed to Geneva, N. Y., where he remained about eight years, leaving many evidences of his skill in public and private buildings. Then he removed to Hammonds 214. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. port, at the head of Crooked Lake, N. Y. Was there about four years; then went to Buffalo, in the fall of 1832. Was foreman of one of the shops of Benjamin Rathbun. Rathbun failed, and made an assignment, in 1836. Business in Buffalo was very much affected; all building ceased. The financial crisis of 1837 coming on, no work was to be obtained, and not willing or able to remain idle, in August of that year removed to Medina, Mich., where he remained three and a half years. He had before this purchased eighty acres of wild land in Wright, nine miles from Medina, the place now owned and occupied by his youngest son, E. C. Brewster. Having had a few acres chopped and part cleared, and sown to wheat, in February, 1841, he moved to Wright, and put up the first frame house erected in that township, where he lived, improving the farm, working some for others at his trade the first eight or ten years, until he was in a comfortable condition. His children were well brought up, given a good commonschool education, and trained in habits of industry and economy. Ever industrious himself, he could not endure a shiftless, do-nothing person or shirk around him. Generally respected for his honesty, integrity, and worth, he died at Wright, March 31, 1868, aged nearly eighty-five years. His wife was a worthy companion. Skilled in housekeeping, dairy business, spinning, weaving, and sewing of all kinds, she fully did her part in bringing up and training the family. During the first years of their residence in Wright, the family were indebted to her labor and skill, with the assistance of her daughters, for a large share of the clothing they wore. Though not elegantly, they were comfortably clothed. She lived, respected and loved by her children and neighbors, to a good old age, being nearly eighty-five when she died, May 22, 1875. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church, and ever maintained family prayer. They had eleven children,-Mary A., Oliver C., Harriet, Margaret, Wm. W., Frederick H., Eliza J., Frances H., Geo. H., Laura, and Edward C. Three died'in infancy. Frederick H. died of smallpox, in Canton, China, soon after reaching his station, having been sent as a missionary by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. But four of the children survived the parents,-Mary A., married to Thomas Judd, a widow, now lives near South Hadley, Mass.; Wm. W. and George H. live in Hudson, Mich.; Edward C. owns and occupies the old homestead in Wright. WILLIAM S. VAN FLEET. This gentleman is descended from a family that emigrated from Holland to America at an early period of this country's existence, and settled in New Jersey. At a later period his grandfather, Cornelius Van Fleet, removed to Pennsylvania and settled at Muncy, in Lycoming County. His father, Matthias S., born* either shortly before or soon after the family's removal to Muncy, lived there, and upon attaining his majority was married to Miss Mary Rickard, of that place. About the year 1820, they removed to Green County, Ohio, near Dayton, and lived there till 1830, when they removed to Wood County,-now Lucas County,settling in Waterville township, sixteen miles above Toledo, on the Maumee River. At a later date they removed to Maumee City, where Mr. Van Fleet is now living, at the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Van Fleet died while on a visit at Napoleon, O., Feb. 7, 1870. Their family consisted of nine children: Cornelius and John R. were born in Muncy; William S., Charles, Mary A., Sarah J., and Matthias R. were born near Dayton, 0.; and Margaret E. and Harriet R. were born at Waterville. William S. Van Fleet was born near Dayton, Green Co., O., Feb. 5, 1820, and remained at home, working on the farm and attending school, until he reached the age of twenty-two years. At that time, the spring of 1842, he went to Iowa, and in the summer or fall of that year preempted a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of government land. He worked out at anything that offered until he had accumulated enough to enable him to do so, and then, in the fall of 1843, paid up and took a deed of it from the government. He remained on the place three years, and then, leaving it in charge of his brother, John R., returned to Ohio, and engaged in farming one year, after which he clerked three years in a grocery. Then he entered into a partnership with his brother Cornelius, and they took two contracts for carrying the mails fiom Maumee to Fort Defiance and from Maumee to Bryan. After these contracts were abrogate, he worked his mother's farm, near Waterville, a couple of years until his removal to Michigan, which occurred in April, 1854. On the 13th of April he married his cousin, Mrs. Sarah A. Root, widow of Amasa L. Root, and a daughter of Jared and Mary O. Van Fleet, at Medina, Lenawee Co. She was a native of Washington, Lycoming Co., Pa., born in 1824, and came to Michigan with her father's family in 1834. Mr. Van Fleet had purchased of the heirs of Amasa L. Root fifty-one acres, in the northwest corner of section 19, in the town of Medina, and here they commenced housekeeping on the 1st of May, 1834. In 1859, Mr. Van Fleet purchased eighty acres in section 24 of the town of Wright, adjoining his other land. In 1869 he erected thereon a fine brick dwelling, and changed his residence from Medina, Lenawee Co., to Wright, Hillsdale Co., by simply moving across the road. He now owns ninety-one acres in Medina and eighty acres in Wright. He has always lived a farmer's life, not mingling to any extent in public or political matters, and by thrifty industry has built up one of the pleasantest homes of the vicinity.t He is an earnest and consistent member of the Wright Christian Church, and in every way a reliable and exemplary citizen. With his wife and one daughter, an only child (who was married December, 1878, to Winthrop W. Bennett), he lives in comfort and peace on his farm, enjoying the con fidence, respect, and esteem of his neighbors and friends. * In the year 1794. t See view on, another page. RESIDENCE or W. S. VAN FLEET, WRIGHT, MICHIGAN. ,gg@pBy HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 215 WELLINGTON II. AND HENRY M. PRATT. These brothers were children of Aaron and Abigail (Eames) Pratt, farmers, of South Framingham, Mass. Both were born at that place, the former May 22, 1843, and the latter Feb. 19, 1842, and lived there until the fall of 1864, attending school at the district school and the academy at Framingham Centre. Henry also attended for a time Frost's Select School at the same place. In 1852 their father died and their maternal grandfather, Alexander Eames, came to live with them and managed the farm. In 1862, Wellington enlisted in Company H, 44th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, for a term of nine months, and served that length of time under the command of Major-General L. S. Foster, in the Newbern, N. C., campaign. In the fall of 1864, the two brothers came to Michigan -Henry in October and Wellington in December-and hired out to work for Charles Ames on his farm, in Pittsford. They remained with him a little over a year, having leased his farm for one year in the spring of 1865, and then they sold their interest in the lease to Ames, and Wellington entered upon the business of buying poultry and produce for the Eastern markets, while Henry bought a flock of eight hundred sheep and took them to Iowa, where he disposed of them, returning to Pittsford in February, 1866. The brothers then formed a copartnership under the name of Pratt Brothers, and came to this town, purchasing ten acres of ground on the southwest corner of section 11, where they opened a small store in a building they had purchased of Charles S. Reed, and moved to the Corners. Since that time they have been engaged in the mercantile business and have also bought and sold large quantities of poultry and produce, besides their lumbering business, which has been quite extensive. They have bought and cleared two hundred and eighty acres of timber-lands, and have bought large quantities of oak logs, which were sawed into chair stuff at their mill and shipped to Boston. They became the owners of the saw- and gristmills in 1872. Their business annually amounts to from $40,000 to $50,000. To their energy, enterprise, and public spirit, the little village which bears their name owes its existence and growth. They have erected seven of its buildings, including the store and hotel. Wellington H. was married at Battle Creek, on the 4th of March, 1869, to Miss Julia A. Smith, a native of Romulus, Seneca Co., N. Y., who had resided in Michigan since 1866. They have six children: Agnes M., Ina C., Lena, Eva, Helen, and Clifford H. Henry M. was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta M. Reed, at Hudson, Mich., on the 21st day of October, 1868. She was a native of Sharon, Medina Co., Ohio. Their children are two in number, Clara L. and William J. Their second child, George A., died Jan. 12, 1874. Wellington H. has for three years past served the town in the capacity of treasurer, and is one of the trustees of the Congregational Church, which office he has held since its organization. Henry M. is now and for several years has been postmaster at this place. IILLSD ALE. THE original township of Fayette comprised not only the ground it at present covers, but that now embraced in the township of Hillsdale. In the year 1855 it was divided, the southern half being organized as a separate township and called Hillsdale, which in dimensions may be described as three miles north and south and six miles east and west, comprising the south half of township 6 of range 3, west. The original tract embraced the village of Hillsdale also; but the growth of this place was so steady and rapid as to inspire a desire on the part of its residents to obtain a city charter. That having been secured, the city became quite independent of the township, with a separate civil organization. At the time of the early settlement of the township the country was almost uninhabited, and presented the appearance of a vast tract of marsh and wilderness, with an occasional log shanty, and this at long intervals. White inhabitants were few in numbers, the Indians constituting the chief portion of the population, and pursuing their peaceful avocations, depending upon the streams and forests for their daily subsistence. The early years of the township history are inseparably connected with the Indian bands who, up to the year 1840, remained in the county, and were in constant intercourse with its inhabitants. The first settlers were Caleb Bates and Jeremiah Arnold, who came early in 1835 and located on the east line of the township. Later in the year came James K. Kinman, with his family and another settler, and located on section 31. Kinman seems to have been the victim of a succession of misfortunes from the time of his arrival. He chose a spot far back into the forest and erected a shanty. With the cold winter came privation and suffering. Finally the family were all prostrated with ague and beyond the reach of help. With no friendly hand to offer aid, and no skill to minister to their ills, death seemed inevitable, when Baw Beese with his roving band discovered them. With a kindly instinct, which was a part of his nature, and for which his memory is still held in pleasant remembrance by many old pioneers, he and his followers devoted themselves to the care of the 216 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. -- ~ sick ones. They brought water to quench the thirst of fever, and sent to their own wigwams, which dotted the forest for miles around, for corn and meal, with which to make bread. The Indians were dispatched in various directions for game, and returned laden with venison, wild turkey, and birds for the nourishment of their white sufferers. For six weeks these faithful friends watched over and kept from death the family of James K. Kinman, and did not leave them until they were sufficiently recovered to care for themselves. It was ever afterwards the delight of this family to recall the goodness of Baw Beese, and they were never weary of sounding the praises of his tribe. Later in the year 1835 came William Bacon, who located on section 28, on a point known as the Lightning-Rod, from the fact that on his place was one of these preventives against lightning, which in the early days was a novelty. Next came John and Samuel Gilmore, who located on the east side of the town, and afterwards one Cleveland and Rev. Jeduthan Lockwood, a Universalist preacher, who preached the first sermon in the township. George and David Stone arrived in the year 1836, and located a tract in the northeast corner of the township. George Stone, who is still living, remembers passing the shanty of Daniel Putnam on his way to settle upon his purchase, and describes the country as very desolate, with occasionally a log house to indicate the presence of a white inhabitant. At this time there was also a log school-house erected on land of Richard Fowler, half a mile east of Stone's location, and near the line that separates the township from that of Adams. There was also a log school-house one mile north, built by James Mergiu, Daniel Putnam, Isaac Martin, John Goforth, and M. Ashworth, with a young lady from the vicinity as teacher. Divine service was held in these schoolhouses each alternate week, and occasionally in private residences, as might best suit the convenience of the worshipers. These services were conducted from 1836 to 1840 by Elder Parker, who was a most worthy parson and universally beloved by the inhabitants. He officiated on all funeral occasions, and no wedding feast was complete that was not graced with his presence to make secure the nuptial tie. He afterwards removed to Kansas. An early inhabitant named Andrich also preached occasionally, and is described as " a godly man and full of the Holy Spirit." Among the earliest residents on the west side was Garret Searles, who came in 1835 and located a tract on the west bank of Sand Lake. In the north part of the township a location was made by a settler named Crane very nearly as early. In the spring of 1844, William S. Hosmer and A. W. Pierce came from New York State, having previously purchased a tract embracing 120 acres, lying in the southwest corner of the township, bordering on the township of Cambria. These gentlemen have continued to live here, together with their families, increasing their landed possessions, and are now among the representative citizens of the county. At this time Indians were occasionally to be seen, but the majority of them had departed. Many of the early settlers now living remember distinctly the majestic presence of old Baw Beese, and the imperious dictation he:execied over his followers. This relic of the tribe, how ever, left, in many respects, very pleasing impressions behind them. They were scrupulous in the performance of their word, and strictly honest in their dealings. In making their trades with the settlers they were unable to speak the English language, but would extend their fingers to indicate the number of days before their return with the wares they had pledged. No instance is remembered where they failed to keep the appointment. Frequently Baw Beese and his fiiends would appear at night at the shanty of a settler and request supper. After partaking of a hearty meal, the chief would take from his pouch a silver quarter of a dollar, and lay it beside his plate; then, nodding to his followers, each would in turn follow his example, until the housewife was repaid for her hospitality. They would then wrap themselves in their blankets, and lie down before the blazing log fire for a night's sleep. A fondness for whisky early developed itself among them, and none yielded more readily to the temptation than Baw Beese himself. On one occasion he attempted to cross the St. Joseph River, which runs through the township, on a log which was stretched across the stream. Being under the influence of frequent potations of bad whisky, his head became confused, and he tumbled into the water. He repaired to the house of a near settler, and, pulling out his bottle and taking a good draught, exclaimed: " Baw Beese fall in bish (water); take something to keep warm." The population being so meagre at this time, a funeral was not only a rare but a very impressive occurrence, and the good elder never failed to improve the occasion with a moral lesson on the uncertainty of life and the necessity for preparation to meet the final summons. A family named Bird, living in an adjacent township, lost one of its number about the year 1836, and this is the first death recollected in the vicinity. During the early settlement of the township very little land had yet been turned over, and, consequently, no rich grass and sweet-scented clover, such as the herds of the present day are fed upon, was to be found. The grass of the marshes was cut and cured, and this afforded the principai stock of winter fodder. Jonesville was the principal market for the produce of the country, though Adam Howder's hotel, at Hillsdale, which at the time was the headquarters of travelers and parties who came to the county to locate lands, made large demands upon the settlers for grain and provisions. The county poor-house was originally located in the township of Hillsdale, on section 28, the site being changed, in 1853, to one on section 26, the east side of which is now a portion of the city. Later it was removed to the township of Cambria. The surface of the township of Hillsdale is undulating, the western portion being entirely cut by a chain of small lakes, which, together, form what is known as Sand Lake. There is also in the southern part a small sheet of water, known as King Lake, and the northern half of Baw Beese Lake extends into the southeast corner of the township. This lake is memorable not only from the name it bears, but from its being the scene of the regattas of the Hillsdale boat-clubs. The soil is medium in quality, there being no extended v* ., I, aj iA1 Xk) a~~La WOU, tC z:z ~~~::~i~:::':cik~ex i 5~~~k,........... if/ Oi IA, I...:irs: r ~W, 1;:~ 00 -J j', t lot E/ isr 4% i - Photos. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. ASA G. EDWARDS. MRS. ASA G. EDWARDS. ASA G. EDWARDS. The great-grandfather of this gentleman was a native of the land where poets were developed "from time immemorial,"-the rugged home of the Druids,-having been born among the towering mountains of Wales. Upon his father's side his great-grandfather was of French descent. His grandfather was a hardy veteran of the Revolution, having borne arms in the memorable struggle for freedom, which resulted in the birth of a republic destined to become one of the greatest of the nations of the earth; and his father was of that "sturdy race and strong" which became the pioneers of the " far west," and wrought perseveringly until the forest had disappeared and gardens smiled amain. The latter gentleman was born upon the eastern end of Long Island, N. Y.; afterwards, with his father, removing to Morris County, N. J., and thence to Seneca County, N. Y.; and in the fall of 1831 emigrating with his family, consisting of his wife and four sons,-Asa G., Richard, Andrew, and Jephthah W.,-to Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich. The son, Asa G., was then twenty years of age, his birth having occurred at Romulus, Seneca Co., N. Y., Sept. 1,1811. His mother, Mrs. Electa Edwards, was born at Morristown, N. J., at which place her marriage was consummated with Mr. Edwards (father of Asa). In the spring of 1832, Asa G. Edwards enlisted as a private in a regiment raised at Tecumseh for service in the Black Hawk war, and experienced soldier life for four weeks. He was also a lieutenant in the famous " Toledo War" of 1835, wherein the State of Ohio and the Territory of Michigan exhibited great valor over a small matter, and which war resulted harmlessly, except that the temper of the people was aroused to a great degree. Those were the days, however, in which the venturesome settlers would brook but illy any hostile demonstrations, from whatever quarter, and all were ready for the fray. Mr. Edwards was married in the township of Adrian, on the 30th of January, 1834, to Margaret Peters, daughter of Joseph and Anna Peters, who emigrated from New Jersey. After his marriage, Mr. Edwards began prospecting for a home for himself and his bride, and finally found it in the township of Adams, Hillsdale Co., where he located one hundred and twenty acres in March, 1837, and settled upon it. There he lived and was prosperous for many years. In March, 1868, he purchased his present home, situated a short distance east of the city of Hillsdale. When he first located in Adams there were no neighbors within one mile of him. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have been blessed with six children, as follows: Martha Matilda, who died in infancy; Rachel, also died in infancy; Susan Angeline, who became the wife of David Emery, and is now residing in Titusville, Pa.; Andrew C., who lives on the old homestead; Welcome C., died in infancy; and Asa A., at present residing on a farm in Jefferson. Mr. Edwards is a staunch Democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. In religion he upholds the Congregational creed. He has been prominent among his townsmen from his earliest settlement, and has filled all the important offices in his community; is at present the supervisor of Hillsdale township. He was several times supervisor of Adams, and for some time a justice of the peace, both in that and Hillsdale townships; also a director of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. In him is seen an example of the fruits of a life well spent, and his fortyseven years' residence in the " Peninsular State" have been replete with all the varied experiences of the anxious pioneer and the well-to-do citizen, and the happiness of age has settled upon him as a rich bounty for the deeds of the past. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 217 surfaces of rich land, gravelly clay ridges predominating, and forming the principal ground which has been broken by the plow. Three railways traverse the surface of the township,the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, which runs through its southeast corner; the Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railroad, which passes through the easterly and southwesterly portion; and the Fort Waync, Jackson and Saginaw Railroad, which cuts through the western portion. The list of officers from the organization of the township to the present time is as follows: For 1858.-C. W. Ferris, Supervisor; Chas. F. Cooper, Township Clerk; James N. Mott and C. H. Churchill, School Inspectors; Morgan Lancaster, Constable; W. S. Iosmer, S. Gilmore, Highway Commissioners; A. F. Whelan, Deputy Clerk. For 1859.-John Gilmore, Supervisor; Joseph J. Clark, Township Clerk; I. J. Fowler, School Inspector; John Rorhig, H. J. Ranny, Geo. Banker, Wim. L. Ribley, Constables; John Peck, Highway Commissioner; G. W. Lumbard, Justice; S. J. Coon, C. B. Dresser, Deputy Clerks. For 1860.-Benjamin Fisher, Supervisor; A. F. Whelan, Township Clerk; Joseph J. Clark, Treasurer; E. H. White, Justice; E. L. Coon, School Inspector; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner; W. L. Ripley, Geo. Banker, Benjamin Dreesler, and B. E. Brown, Constables. For 1861.-Wim. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; A. F. Whelan, Township Clerk; Samuel Gilmore, Highway Commissioner; G. W. Warren, Deputy Town Clerk; C. B. Dresser, School Inspector; W. L. Ripley, Geo. Banker, J. Odell, Peter Strunk, Constables. For 1862.-W.m. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Edward R. Potter, Township Clerk; John S. Barber, Treasurer; Timothy E. Dibell, Justice; C. B. Dresser, Justice, to fill vacancy; John Peck, Highway Commissioner; Geo. McMillan, School Inspector; Peter Strunk, W. L. Ripley, G. Z. Hood, MI. H. Saviers, Constables. For 1863.-W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; E. R. Potter, Township Clerk; J. S. Barber, Treasurer; C. B. Dresser, Justice; Henry S. Farnam, School Inspector; John C. Swift, Highway Commissioner; Wm. L. Ripley, James D. Winchel, Geo. Banker, Joseph J. Jones, Constables. For 1864.-Wm. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Jacob O. Ames, Township Clerk; E. C. Campbell, Treasurer; Eugene White, Justice; Geo. McMillan, School Inspector; Elihu Davis, Highway Commissioner; David Forbes, Highway Commissioner, to fill vacancy; Geo. Banker, John Miller, E. H. Pennel, J. J. Jones, Constables. For 1865.-W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; J. O. Ames, Township Clerk; E. C. Campbell, Treasurer; Elisha Davis, Justice; Isaac P. Christiancy, Associate Justice; IL. T. Farnam, School Inspector; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner; J. D. Winchel, E. H. Pennel, J. J. Jones, Geo. Banker, Constables. For 1866.-W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Eugene Rowlson, Township Clerk; M. H. Saviers, Treasurer; Henry T. Kellogg, Justice; Z. D. Thomas and Geo. W. Burchard, Justices, to fill vacancies; Geo. McMillan, School Inspector; W. L. Ripley, James D. Winchel, E. K. Pennel, M. H. Saviers, Constables. 28 For 1867.-W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Eugene Rowlson, Township Clerk; E. C. Campbell, Treasurer; Edwin J. March, Justice; Geo. E. Smith, School Inspector; W. L. Ripley, E. Rowlson, E. K. Pennel, M. H. Saviers, Constables. For 1868.-W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Harvey Montgomery, Township Clerk; M. H. Saviers, Township Treasurer; C. B. Dresser, Justice; Geo. McMillan, School Inspector; Hugh Cook, Isaac Cole, Highway Commissioners; Eugene Rowlson, F. J. Wilson, M. H. Saviers, E. K. Pennel, Constables. For 1869.-John Gilmore, Supervisor; Charles H. Morgan, Township Clerk; Edward W. Brigham, Treasurer; Eugene H. White, Rufus Filleo, Joel South, Asa G. Edwards, Justices; Horace H. Johnson, Anson B. Ranney, School Inspectors; John Stone, Highway Commissioner; Geo. Banker, Franklin Stone, J. Byron Still, Hiram Filleo, Constables. For 1870.-John Gilmore, Supervisor; Charles H. Morgan, Township Clerk; Edward W. Brigham, Treasurer; John C. Swift, Eugene H. White, H. S. Parmelee, Justices; J. P. Cole, Highway Commissioner; L. S. Ranney, School Inspector, to fill vacancy; Horace H. Jolnson, School Inspector; F. A. Stone, William Wilson, Samuel 0. Morgan, Edwin Camp, Constables. For 1871.-Eugene H.White, Supervisor; Chas. H. Morgan, Township Clerk; John M. Warren, Treasurer; Joseph J. Jones, Justice; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner; Darius P. Crane, School Inspector; Edwin Camp, Franklin Stone, Vinton W. Warren, Constables. For 1872.-Eugene H.White, Supervisor; A. B. Ranney, Township Clerk; J. M. Warren, Treasurer; John G. Reilay, Justice; John C. Swift, Drain Commissioner; John F. King, Highway Commissioner; William Bishop, School Inspector; Lemuel S. Ranney, School Inspector, to fill vacancy; Henry L. Pierce, William J. Alles, Franklin A. Stone, John Pickering, Constables. For 1873.-L. S. Ranney, Supervisor; Anson B. Ranney, Township Clerk; Wm. F. Young, Treasurer; Darius P. Crane, Eugene H. White, Joel Smith, Justices; George Banker, Highway Commissioner; Chas. H. Morgan, School Inspector; Willard H. Gaines, Grain Commissioner; William P. Alles, Fred. W. Gould, Franklin A. Stone, Orrin Gray, Constables. For 1874.-Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor; A. B. Ranney, Township Clerk; William Bishop, Treasurer; John M. Warren, Justice; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner; Samuel G. Wright, School Inspector; John M. Warren, to fill vacancy; Chas. H. Morgan, Drain Commissioner; Gilbert B. Hart, Isaac P. Cole, L. A. Alles, Samuel Morgan, Constables. For 1875.-Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor; Eugene H. White, Township Clerk; William Bishop, Treasurer; Joseph J. Jones, Justice; Elihu Davis, Highway Commissioner; Chas. H. Morgan, Superintendent of Schools; Frederic W. Gould, School Inspector; Hugh Cook, Drain Commissioner; Henry Bellany, L. A. Alles, John M. War ren, James Gould, Constables. For 1876.-Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor; Eugene H. White, Township Clerk; Wm. Bishop, Treasurer; Hosea 218 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.,I W. Folger, Justice; Isaac P. Cole, to fill vacancy; William C. Barns, Superintendent of Schools; Elihu Davis, Commissioner of Highways; Fred. W. Gould, School Inspector; John M. Warren, Drain Commissioner; Isaac N. Baker, Charles Carter, Samuel 0. Morgan, Charles L. Terwilliger, Constables. For 1877.-Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor; Eugene H. White, Township Clerk; Isaac P. Cole, Treasurer; John F. King, Justice; Hea W. Folger, Justice for three years; Darius P. Cranie, Justice for two years; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner; Zeria R. Ashbaugh, Superintendent of Schools; Frederic W. Gould, School Inspector; Elihu Davis, Drain Commissioner; Willard Hallett, Constable. For 1878.-G. Edwards, Supervisor; William Bishop, Township Clerk; Isaac P. Cole, Treasurer; John M. Warren, Justice; James A. Burns, Justice, to fill vacancy; Shepherd Bellamy, Highway Commissioner; Joel R. Stone, Superintendent of Schools; Cyrus King, Drain Commissioner; Wm. T. Lyons, School Inspector; Isaac Baker, William Hallett, Ambrose C. Fyle, William Platt, Constables. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. JOSEPI J. JONES. New England was the birthplace of Mr. Jones, and Massachusetts his native State; the date of his birth April 27, 1834. When three years of age he removed with his parents to Huron Co., Ohio, and at the age of eleven years was left fatherless, and dependent upon his own labor for a livelihood. He worked by the month, and by frugality and strict truthfulness he established a reputation and credit among his neighbors. In November, 1854, he married Luana Gleason, at Ripley, Huron Co., Ohio; but Mrs. Gleason's married life was of short duration, she having died in February of the following year. In August of 1856 he was married again, to Charlotte Gleason, and Mrs. Jones died June 22, 1863, leaving two boys. Mr. Jones was married the third time, to Betsey M. Bradley, of Hillsdale, Aug. 11, 1864, and four more children were born. He moved with his second wife to Michigan, in March, 1857, and settled at Woodbridge. After a two years' residence in that township, disposed of his property, and located at his present home, in Hillsdale township, before it was improved. He has one hundred and seventy acres of highly-improved land, a view of which is given in this work. Mr. Jones has made a specialty of raising a fine grade of Spanish Merino sheep. In this department of farming he has established a reputation, and stands at its head in the county. During the last fall he shipped twenty-six rams, many of them going out of the State. Mr. Jones is noted for fair dealing, moderate prices, and close application to business. At the county fair, held in 1877, he was awarded every premium for fine sheep. He is a Republican in politics, and has held many offices of trust in the township. GARRY SEARLS. Mr. Searls was born in Seneca County, in the central part of New York State, Oct. 24, 1824, his ancestors having been descended from old Dutch stock, and residing along the banks of the Hudson. He remained for six years on the home-farm, and then removed to Bradford Co., Pa., and remained there four years. His parents, then, following the course of emigration, came to Michigan, and located in Hillsdale County, on the then Chicago turnpike, three miles west of Jonesville. Mr. Searls married May 16, 1858, the family of Mrs. Searls having moved from Dutchess Co., N. Y., to Michigan, in 1855. Their children are six in number,-Frederick, Jr., Edward V., George W., Charles H., Anna M., and Albert E.,-all living, and members of the home circle. Mr. Searls resides upon a finely-cultivated farm of one hundred and ninetyfive acres, lying in Hillsdale and Cambria townships. 7777777 ri Ol ~ ii) 4t A-~ ImI cl l M 4 ~~, CJill ADAMS. THE original township of Adams included all of range Section 12.-Simon Jacobus, G. W. Brown, S. P. Jer2 west in Hillsdale County, south of the present township main, John De Mott, Benjamin Sutton, Pharis Sutton,of Moscow, from which it was formed by act of the Legis- 640 acres. lature, March 23, 1836. Section 13.-S. P. Jermain, Nathaniel Dawley, Alfred This town differs from those to the north in the fact that Brown, Caleb N. Cransby, Ralph Pratt,-640 acres. it was originally heavily timbered; much of it is still cov- Section 14.-Joseph B. Dawley, Alfred Brown, Darius ered with a sturdy forest, and the supply of wood is not A. Ogden, Pharis Sutton, William W. Avery, Ralph Pratt, liable to be exhausted for many years. The surface is John McVickar. similar to that of the neighboring townships and the soil Section 15.-Roswell Parker, John Benedict, David good. Numerous small streams and lakes furnish abundant Bagley, Wesley Batcheller,-640 acres. water, the largest of the lakes being Lake Adams, on sections Section 17.-A. Wright, H. Packer, James F. Stark, 21 and 28. N. Worthington, Tompkins C. Delavan, Israel Daniels, The only village in the township is North Adams, in the Ralph Pratt,-640 acres. northeast part. It is a station on the Detroit, Hillsdale Section 18.-Myron McGee, Erastus Gay, Enoch Ward, and Southwestern Railway (formerly Detroit, Hillsdale and Wright, Packer, Stark, and Worthington, Thomas Denny, Indiana), which connects the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Joseph Randall, Zadock Randolph,-627.40 acres. Saginaw Road at Banker's with the Michigan Central at Section 19.-Julius 0. Swift, John Gregg, Ransom Ypsilanti. This road has not proved a paying investment, Gardner, Uriah B. Couch, H. S. Platt, John W. Miller,and it is rumored that trains are to cease running upon it 632.44 acres. during the season of 1879. Section 20.-Lydia Swift, William C. Swift, Thomas The following list shows the persons who had entered Denny, Jeremiah Arnold, Nathaniel Hewitt, Simon Jacoland in this township previous to April 27, 1838. This bus,-640 acres. includes only the present township; Jefferson, Ransom, and Section 21.-Thomas Denny, Sizer L. Stoddard, David the east half of Amboy having been formed from what was Bagley, Roswell Cheney, E. W., Jr., and Seth Hastings, originally Adams: Elijah Daniels,-640 acres. Section 1.-William Warren, Almon Green, Ralph and Section 22.-David Bagley, E. W., Jr., and Seth HasPolly Douglass, James Foot,-654.08 acres. tings, George W. Jermain, John McVickar, William HeaSection 2.-Salmon Sharp, Stephen Birdsall, Gershom cox,-640 acres. Noyes, W. W. Jackson, Milton Foot, John M. Foot, Section 23.-William Heacox, E. W., Jr., and Seth Gabriel H. Todd,-649.21 acres. Hastins, Ralph Pratt, Josiah Southerland,-640 acres. Section 3.-Henry Wilcox, Stephen Birdsall, Asa Eddy, Section 24.-Admiral L. Martin, William Burton, Amy J. S. Northrop, Ralph Pratt,-647.07 acres. Hawkshurst, Calvin Carr,-640 acres. Section 4.-John and Mary Eddy, William Gage, Foster Section 25.-E. W., Jr., and Seth Hastings,-640 acres. St. John, Sarah Eddy, William Durant,-641.56 acres. Section 26.-Joseph Purdy, Robert Hill, Ephraim P. Section 5.-Daniel D. Sinclair, George C. Van Horn, Purdy, E. W., Jr., and Seth Hastings, Job L. Albro,James Anderson, Solomon Jordan,-642.79 acres. 640 acres. Section 6.-Daniel Parks, S. P. Jermain, Samuel Covey, Section 27.-Joseph Purdy, John Moore, Harry Wood, Abraham Converse, William Durant, Alfred Brown, Richard Stephen Perkins, Ralph Pratt, Ephraim P. Purdy, Samuel Dobson,-587.26 acres. Van Gorden, S. P. Jermain,-560 acres. Section 7.-Erastus Gay, Simeon Carr, Seba Murphy, Section 28.-William Plimpton, L. M. Janes, Betsy -621.88 acres. Young, Asa G. Edwards, Thomas Denny, Abagail Hall, Section 8.-V. Barker, Francis A. Fisk, William Du- Ralph Pratt,-600 acres. rant, Alanson Jermain,-640 acres. Section 29.-Daniel Peck, Luther Bradish, Norman B. Section 9.-Francis A. Fisk, Thomas Rowarth, William Carter, Easton Wilber, Nathaniel Hewitt, Seba Murphy,Durant, Alanson Jermain, Lemuel Cobb,-640 acres. 640 acres. Section 10.-William Cutler, Seth Kempton, Wesley Section 30.-Richard -, William Kirby, John B. Batcheller, Roswell Barker, William S. Fuller, Reuben J. Brockelbank, Daniel Peck, Salem T. King, James B. Fuller,-640 acres. Murray,-636 acres. Section 11.-Mahlon Brown, Robeit T. Brown, Marcus Section 31.-Daniel Peck, Austin Westover, H. S. Platt, Terwilliger, John M. Foot, S. P. Jermain, Joseph B. J. H. Miller, Lonzo G. Budlong, Norman B. Carter,Dawley, Ralph Pratt, Peter Meach,-640 acres. 640.64 acres. 219 * *: 220 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Section 32.-Daniel Peck, James B. Murray, G. L. Crane, John Bradish, Thomas Denny,-640 acres. Section 33.-B. B. Moore, James B. Murray, John Moore, Lewis M. Jones, William Plimpton, Peter Gates,640 acres. Section 34.-David Capont, Joseph W. Atard, B. B. Moore, Marshall Huntington, Howard Weaver, Elihu L. Clark,-640 acres. Section 35.-David Capont, entire section,-640 acres. Section 36.-E. Wilder, Jr., and Seth Hastings, Henry Howe, H. B. Scovell,-640 acres. From this list it is seen that only 120 acres of land remained in the hands of the government in this township at the date given. The same year (1838) it contained a population of 279. There were also owned 217 head of neat stock, 12 horses, 40 sheep, and 276 hogs. For purposes of comparison, we give the following figures from the State census of 1874, to show to what proportions the township has developed: Population (830 males, 844 females)..................... 1674 Total acres of taxable land............................... 22,816 Lands owned by inhabitants and companies.......... 22,916 Number of acres of improved land...................... 14,790 " "' land exempt from taxation...... 100 Value of same, including improvements............... $20,250 Number of acres in school-house sites................ 7 " "t church and parsonage sites..... 5 'ft " burying-grounds................... 6 " " railroad right of way and depot grounds......................... 38 " farms in township.......................... 303 " acrts in same................................... 21,528 Average number of acres in farms....................... 71.04 Number of acres of wheat sown in 1874................ 3,413 " " " harvested in 1873.......... 3,090 " " corn " ".......... 1,962 Bushels of wheat raised in 1873........................... 42,430 corn 8f............................ 81,628 all other grain raised in 1873............... 22,770 " potatoes raised in 1873....................... 8,642 Tons of hay cut in 1873.................................... 2,325 Pounds of wool sheared in 1873........................... 20,464 " of pork marketed in 1873.................. 311,630 " cheese made in 1873........................... 6,490 <" butter made in 1873.......................... 89,639 " fruit dried for market in 1873........... 32,257 Barrels of cider made in 1873.............................. 603 Pounds of maple-sugar made in 1874................... 5,445 Number of acres in orchards in 1874.................... 642 Bushels of apples raised in 1872....................... 26,357 " t" * in 1873......................... 24,449 peaches raised in 1872........................ 60 " pearsraised in 1872.....................6...... 67 " " " 1873.......................... 71 " plums raised in 1872......................... 8 "t cherries raised in 1872........................ 1,099 " " " 1873........................ 919 grapes raised in 1872......................... 42." " 1873......................... 43 " strawberries raised in 1872.................. 41 " " W " 1873.................. 37 " currants and gooseberries raised in 1872 208 " " " " 1873 167 " melons and garden vegetables raised in 1872......................................... 342 t" melons and garden vegetables raised in 1873.......................................... 3,179 Value of all such fruit and garden vegetables for 1873........................................................... $1 1,281 VaJue of all such fruit and garden vegetables for 1874........................................................ $10,772 Number of horses owned in township in 1874........ 675 it mules "i " "...... 7 " work-oxen " "..... 14 " milch-cows........ 824 '" neat cattle, one year old and over, other than oxen and cows...............689 " swine, over six months old............ 1,376 sheep " ".............. 4,431 " sheep sheared in 1873................. 3,04 saw-mills in township in 1874............. 3 " persons employed in sarie.................. 9 Amount of capital invested in same................... $4,700 Feet of lumber sawed........................................ 275,000 Value of lumber sawed....................................... $3,200 Egg-carrier factories.................................. 1 Persons employed in same............................ 3 Capital invested in same.................................... $2,000 Value of products............................................. $3,000 EARLY SETTLEMENT. The township of Adams was not settled as early as those along the Chicago turnpike, yet it was but a few years after they had begun to fill with a white population before the woods of Adams rang to the blows of the pioneer's axe, and the typical log cabins were reared where now are the tasty dwellings and excellent improvements of her citizens. When once the work of developing her resources had begun it was rapidly pushed along, and the foregoing figures show that in the lapse of years the township has become one of the foremost in the county in the amount of many of its productions. A period of forty-four years has rolled over the country since the stillness of the forest was broken by the sound of the pioneer's voice,-forty-four years fraught at first with great toil and many privations, and since with mingled joy and anxiety, until at present the outlook is cheerful and the times are prosperous. The first settler in what is now the township of Adams was Salmon Sharp, who came with his son, Norman S. Sharp, from Auburn, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1835. He selected his land in the month of April of that year, and while his son stayed upon it he went on foot to Monroe, recorded his entry at the land-office, and returned in the same way. While Mr. Sharp, Sr., returned to New York for his family, the son and Samuel Healey, who had also come, kept " bachelors' hall" in a log house which was erected by Salmon Sharp and son, and his brother, Sheldon W. Sharp, with the aid of George Omens, who was at that time stopping at the " Scipio House" in Moscow, on the Chicago road, at the west line of the township, where Lorenzo Benson now lives. Mr. Omens made the shingles for Mr. Sharp's house, and afterwards for others in the vicinity. This rude dwelling was 10 logs high, and 18 by 24 feet in dimensions, and was the first one erected in the township for the use of a white family. Salmon Sharp is now residing in Wayne Co., Ia., aged eighty-six years, and his brother, Sheldon W. Sharp, in California. Norman S. Sharp, who is still living in Adams, is consequently its oldest resident settler, and occupies land entered by his father, on section 2, west of the old farm. His wife is a daughter of Sylvester Twogood, who settled a mile farther north, in Moscow, in June, 1836. He was from Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and has been dead over thirty years. His widow is still living. At the same time Salmon Sharp selected his land in Adams, his brother, Sheldon W. Sharp, S. A. Whittaker, and Samuel Healey located close by in Moscow. They were conducted to it by Zachariah Van Duzar, of Moscow. Lot Fulkerson also settled in Moscow, in the same neighborhood (section 35), at about the same time. In the fall of the same year (1835) the families of S. A. Whittaker, James Fitten, and Anthony Ingham came to their new homes in the forest, from near Lawrence, Mass. They all located on the tract taken up by Mr. Whittaker. I nI Il 1 I :[.; RESIDENCE or WILLIAM WRIGHT, ADAMS, MICHIGAN. rril r, 0 71 r, r 0 C3 r-n r-' c:s X En M. r C) -:.:...... I HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 221 Salmon Sharp's original location was on the northeast quarter of section 2, in Adams, and that of his brother on the southwest quarter of section 36, in Moscow. Whittaker's tract was the farthest west. William Warren, who lived in the northeast part of town, on land at present occupied by George Combs, located also in the year 1835, very soon after Mr. Sharp had made his entry. Albert Kenyon, now of North Adams, came to Hillsdale County, from Sempronius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1841; he was at that time but eighteen years old. He afterwards purchased the Sheldon W. Sharp place, in Moscow. After arriving in the county he taught school for ten successive winters. On one occasion he went to Cambria township, in company with Esq. Salmon Sharp, to look at a piece of land he (Kenyon) had purchased. This was in April, 1842. They came in the course of their journey to the border of a large swamp, and missed the section line. So much time was spent in endeavoring to find the blazed trees which marked it, that darkness came upon them and they found themselves alone in the forest. The night was quite cold, and they concluded to build a fire and remain by it until daybreak. Their disappointment was sore enough, when on searching they found they had not a single match between them. They had heard that if a person lost in the night will take a stick and swing it up and down before him, and follow in the direction he thinks is right, he will arrive safely at his destination. This they tried, and wandered on and on in the darkness, scratching their hands and faces with briers, stumbling over fallen logs, and tearing their clothing in the brush, imagining all the time that they were pointing towards Adam Howder's tavern, at Hillsdale. What was their surprise, after several hours' tramp and anxiety, at finding themselves at the house of the widow Bird, in Jefferson! They had done what lost people invariably do, circled to the right, and brought up several miles from their intended resting-place. Henry N. and E. K. Wilcox, from the northwestern part of Vermont, settled in Adams in the spring of 1836, and both are yet residing in the township. Abijah Smith came to Adams from Saratoga Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1836, and settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 3, where William Morehouse now lives. He moved his family to the township in the fall of the same year. He is at present residing a short distance west of the village of North Adams. Joseph Woolston, from Monroe Co., N. Y., came with his wife to Michigan, in September, 1838, and settled in the township of Wheatland, on the farm of which Emery Ferguson now owns a part. There he cleared eighty acres, and about fourteen years after his settlement sold his property and removed to his present location, on the northeast quarter of section 1, in Adams, upon which he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Woolston are the parents of nine children. Salmon Sharp, the first settler, was the owner of a large rope, and with that and his team rendered efficient service at the raising of the various log houses and barns built in the neighborhood; in fact, his aid was deemed almost indispensable, for the walls of a dwelling or other building could be rolled up with the help of the team and rope in a very short space of time. Rev. Milton Foote and family came from Villa Nova, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., to Adrian, Mich., in the fall of 1830, and located at the latter place. In September, 1835, his sons, John and James M. Foote, came to Adams township (then Moscow), located land, built a shanty upon it, and lived in it that winter. Their father removed to the place in the spring of 1836. The portion of the farm which was taken by the latter is now owned by John Cutler and Eli Collins (lying east of North Adams village), and the part owned by John M. Foote-eighty acres-is now the property of Joseph Wright. John M. Foote was married and his brother single when they came to the township. Their cousin, Frederick E. Fairchild, who came with them, yet owns land in Adams, but his present residence is in Rollin, Lenawee Co. When the Footes moved in they came as far as Moscow, on the Chicago road, and thence via the Sharp place to their own land. Sharp had his cabin built at the time, and William Cutler had settled at what is now North Adams, about June of the same year. The Footes cut their own road through from the openings on the north. While on their trip through fiom New York to Michigan, in 1830, the families were transported in a wagon drawn by a team of horses, their household goods having been sent by water. They brought three cows with them, which the sons drove in turn, having to walk when thus engaged. Milton Foote was a Methodist Episcopal minister, and at his house in Adams preached the first sermon in the township,-and it is said in the county also.* Mr. Foote's son, James Foote, now living a mile south of North Adams, for some years occupied land which he " took up" on the Adrian road. His wife was a daughter of David Bagley, and died in 1873. Their son, James Foote, whose birth occurred in October, 1838, was one of the first white male children born in the township. George Dibble, living on the west line of Adams, is, perhaps, a little older than Mr. Foote's son. The first marriage in the township was probably that of Wallace Jackson and Lucy Wilcox, which occurred some time in 1837. James Foote and Harriet M. Bagley were married on the 16th day of November of the same year, and theirs was the second marriage in town. Griffin Fuller and Lois Fairchild were married soon after, and Norman S. Sharp and Juliet Twogood were married in November, 1839. Probably the first death in town was that of a child of Nelson Dawley, who, in the fall of 1836, fell into a barrel of water (the barrel was set in the ground to serve as a cistern) and was drowned. The child was the first person buried in the cemetery in the eastern part of the township. The first adult person who died was possibly Mrs. Griffin Fuller, who died in childbirth within a year after her marriage. The first white child born in the township was Hannah, a daughter of Stephen Burchell, who lived just west of the * This cannot be, as there was preaching at Jonesville before that time. Ir 222 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. present village site. She is now Mrs. Charles E. Fullerton, residing half a mile west of the village. John Cutler, son of William Cutler, was among the first white male children born in the township, his birth occurring in 1840. David Bagley, from the town of Mentz, Cayuga Co., N. Y., removed with his wife and eight children (the oldest son remaining in New York) to Michigan in June, 1836, and settled in Adams, on the farm now partly owned by Saxton S. Bagley. The latter has removed the old log dwelling of his father from its former location to his share of the farm, and still occupies it. This building was raised in June and July, 1836, and stands south of its original site. Another son, Joseph L. Bagley, lives near the centre of the township. When the Bagleys moved into town, Rev. Milton Foote was living a short distance east of Cutler's Corners, where he had settled as described. Rev. Roswell Parker, also a Methodist minister, had purchased land in the township but had not yet moved upon it, and settled in the summer of the same year (1836). Joseph B. Dawley lived a mile south and one and a quarter miles east from North Adams in 1836, and probably had settled in 1835. William Fowler occupied a place at the west line of the township, on what is now the Hillsdale road. Seth Kempton, who was the first township clerk of Adams, was by profession a Thompsonian physician, and married a daughter of Judge Lyman Blackmar, of Moscow. He was the first physician who settled in Adams township, and was a very capable man. Norman S. Sharp relates the following incident as illustrative of the straits to which the good housewives of early days were sometimes reduced: He had gone to Tecumseh on one occasion to procure grists for four families. He was gone so much longer than usual that the families used up what little flour they had left, and then took some bran, sifted the "middlings" out of it and used that, and still the flour came not. Towards evening of one day three preachers came to Mrs. Sharp's,-Elders Parker, Benedict, and Batchelor,-and were given supper and lodging. Mrs. Sharp (N. S. Sharp's mother) told them she had given them the last food she had in the house, and unless her son came that night they would have to go without breakfast in the morning. The son arrived with his grist within two miles of home that evening, unhitched the oxen and turned them out, walked home and went to bed, and early in the morning walked back, hitched up again, and drew the load home in time to halve some of it to prepare for breakfast. The dispensers of the Word consequently did not suffer from hunger. LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, ETC. Seth Kempton, Jr.; Assessors, Benjamin Moore, William Cutler, William W. Jackson; Commissioners of Schools, William W. Jackson, Nicholas Worthington, Easton Wilber;* Commissioners of Highways, John M. Foote, Joseph W. Atard, Stephen Birdsall; Directors of the Poor, Joseph B. Dawley, Julius O. Swift; Collector, Easton Wilber; Constables, Easton Wilber, William Jackson; Magistrates, William Cutler, Nicholas Worthington, Horatio Hadley, Salmon Sharp; School Inspectors, Easton Wilber, William Jackson, Nicholas Worthington, Seth Kempton, Jr., A. Z. Hayward. At this election it was " Voted, That the town of Adams be divided into five road districts, the first containing the northeast quarter of township 6 south, of range 3 west, including the south dividing line to section 16; the second the northwest quarter, including the south dividing line to the east corner of 16; the third the southwest quarter; the fourth the southeast quarter; and the fifth all that part of Adams south of township 6." Pathmasters chosen. —John M. Foote, E. M. Curtis, Julius O. Swift, Joseph W. Atard, A. Z. Hayward, these for districts one to five respectively. The last-named person refused to serve, and Horatio Hadley was appointed in his place. It was voted that the pathmasters serve as fence-viewers, and the meeting adjourned to the first Monday in April, 1837, at the house of Arnold. At a special election, Sept. 12, 1836, to choose a delegate to State convention, which was to assemble at Ann Arbor the same month, Zachariah Van Duzar received fourteen votes and Heman Pratt two. In 1837 it was " Voted, That the town pay a bounty of $5 on every woolf over six months of age, and $2.50 on all under that age, caught and killed in the town by any inhabitant of the same (and none other), and presented to the town board with satisfactory proof that they were taken within the limits of the same. " Voted, The supervisor be authorized to raise $50 for the purpose of paying a bounty on woolves." In 1839 it was " Voted, That the town take a deed of Jabez S. Northrop of a piece of ground as a burying-ground selected by D. Bagley, S. Kempton, and Milton Foote." This burying-ground was a part of the present one north of the village of North Adams. The following is a list of the principal officers of the township from 1837 to 1877, inclusive: SUPERVISORS. 1837-40. Salmon Sharp. 1841. David Bagley. 1842. Ethel Judd. 1843-44. Peter Gates. 1845. David Bagley. 1846. Nelson Nethaway. 1847. Norman S. Sharp. 1848. Easton Wilbur. 1849. Andrew Wade. 1850. Asa G. Edwards. 1851. Nelson Nethaway. 1852. John M. Foote. 1853. Asa G. Edwards. 1854. Peter Gates. 1855. Nelson Nethaway. 1856. William Cutler. 1857. Nelson Nethaway. 1858. Andrew Wade. 1859. Nicholas G. Vreeland. 1860-61. James H. Fowler. 1862-63. Nelson Nethaway. 1864-68. Ethel Judd. 1869. John Phillips. 1870-74. James Foote. 1875. Albert Kenyon. 1876. Saxton S. Bagley. 1877. George Kinney. According to direction of act creating the township of Adams the first town-meeting was held April 4, 1836, at the southeast corner of section 16, centre of the township. A large log answered the purposes of table, desks, and seats. Salmon Sharp was moderator of the meeting and Nicholas Worthington clerk. The following were the officers hosen, viz.: Supervisor, Salmon Sharp; Town Clerk, * Spelled also Wilbur. II RESIDENCE OF LEVI VANAKEN,ADAMS.HILLSDALE Co.,MICH.,,: - -~;:i-;i. -:"'';'i;iii.: -:.!;"::.-s:~' ":':"-";'-":" ' Sak:i:;:ci:e;r:;; ~-:ill:1:-;:,,,,,,;::::ii I -::~':i6di::~-f:9-;:::::~,r-:cj~ i_; ~~i-+ — ~~;i;r;-n~;~ ^~ ~ —___-1..*~..- b:-:::::: I:::.:~:: ~'-:. ':.;.i-~iji::;;;;~-;;i:~i_::::: —lii '.:'-.(nrir-,-:if-~;i;i:l r;;'x-":::::-r:;:; —"i.(~~-; —;-.:::a::l ;,::;'''' '.'~:s~I.I:~:i I::"~:I: -:-;-:i: ' ----::: i:::~; --- —:::_::_,: -:; —;:: .::::::. ~ ~. ~: ~~ —~~~~-:::-: I dl I AM wFAY, ADAMS, PILLSDALE CO., MICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 223 TOWN CLERKS. COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. 1837-39. Seth Kempton, Jr. 1840. Nicholas Worthington. 1841-43. William D. Moore. 1844-45. Nelson Nethaway. 1846. Norman S. Sharp. 1847. Nelson Nethaway. 1848. Nicholas Worthington. 1849. David M. Bagley. 1850. Warner Spooner. 1851. David C. Fuller. 1852. James H. Fowler. 1853. Nicholas G. Vreeland. 1854. Gilbert Travis. 1855-56. Allen Kenney. 1857-61. Saxton S. Bagley. 1862-64. Henry H. Wade. 1865. Lewis J. Thompson. 1866. Saxton S. Bagley. 1867-68. John B. Kemp. 1869. David M. Foote. 1870-72. Thomas J. Nethaway. 1873-76. George Kinney. 1877. Saxton S. Bagley. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1837. Easton Wilbur. 1838. William W. Jackson. 1839. Nicholas Worthington. 1840. William Cutler. 1841. Easton Wilbur. 1842. William W. Jackson. Peter Gates. 1843. Robert Iill. 1844. William Cutler. 1845. Easton Wilbur. 1846. William B. Foote. 1847. Asa G. Edwards. Robert Hill. 1848. Silas Sears. 1849. Ira Hill. Samuel Stephens. 1850. Nicholas G. Vreeland. 1851. Robert Hill. 1852. David B. Kempton. 1853. Israel Post. 1854. Nicholas G. Vreeland. 1855. Robert Hill. 1856. D. B. Kempton. Robert Hill. 1857. Allen Kenney. 1858. Martin H. Langdon. 1837. William W. Jackson. David Bagley. Henry Fowler. 1838. W. W. Jackson. William Cutler. Peter Gates. 1839. Milton Foote. Easton Wilbur. David B. Kempton. 1840. Easton Wilbur. William W. Jackson. Vining Barker. 1841. Salmon Sharp. Easton Wilbur. Solomon A. Clark. 1842. Milton Foote. ( 1837. James Foote. 1838. Reuben J. Fuller. 1839. James Foote. T 1839-41. David Bagley. 1842. Easton Wilbur. 1843. Wm. C, Swift. 1844. James Foote. 1845. Asa G. Edwards. 1846-47. Wm. C. Swift. 1848. Ira Hill. 1849. Stillman C. Post. 1850. Jared H. Huyck. 1851. Amos B. Noyes. 1852. Wm. C. Swift. 1859. Lucius M. French. 1860. David B. Kempton. 1861. David C. Fuller. 1862. Furman Huff. 1863. Azariah F. De Pue. 1864. Orson Herrington. Wilson W. Curtice. 1865. W. W. Curtice. 1866. Furman Huff. C. H. Jackson. 1867. A. F. De Pue. D. B. Kempton. 1868. James Barker. A. F. De Pue. 1869. Lucius E. Russ. 1870. Furman Huff. 1871. Nelson Nethaway. 1872. James Barker. Stephen N. Betts. 1873. L. E. Russ. 1874. Furman Huff. 1875. Robert Hill. 1876. S. N. Betts. James Barker. 1877. Benjamin D. Ackmoody. 1837. John M. Foote. J. 0. Swift. Joseph B. Dawley. 1838. John M. Foote. Henry Burgess. Julius O. Swift. 1839. Henry Burgess. Ethel Judd. Delonzo Turner. 1840. Julius 0. Swift. Delonzo Turner. Samuel Stevens. 1841. David B. Kempton. Robert Hill. Peter Gates. 1842. Peter Gates. Samuel Niblack. Samuel Stephens. 1843. Stephen Birdsall. Samuel Niblack. Jehiel Rush. 1844. S. Birdsall. Norman S. Sharp. Wm. C. Swift. 1845. N. S. Sharp. Wm. C. Swift. Andrew Wade. 1846. Peter Gates. Philip Clark. Amos B. Noyes. 1847. Erastus Wilcox. Amos B. Noyes. John S. Older. 1848. John M. Foote. 1849. John H. Smith. 1850. Alonzo S. Carter. 1851. John M. Foote. 1852. Cyrus H. Jackson. 1853. Gilbert Travis. 1854. Henry Huff. George Gregory. 1855. Cyrus H. Jackson. 1856. Charles D. Wyman. 1857. Daniel McKercher. 1858. Alonzo S. Carter. 1859. Charles D. Wyman. 1860. Daniel McKercher. 1861. Alonzo S. Carter. 1862. Charles D. Wyman. 1863. Davis Barker. 1864. Eli B. Rogers. 1865. Allen Keney. 1866. Nelson J. Webb. Alonzo Cole. 1867. Lemuel Roberts. D. H. Jackson. 1868. Alonzo Cole. 1869. John H. Bearss. 1870. Charles W. Bross. 1871. James F. Burnett. 1872. Elisha Swift. Elliott W. Church. 1873. Charles W. Bross. 1874. Thomas J. Nethaway. 1875. C. W. Bross. 1876. David M. Foote. 1877. Charles W. Bross. ASSESSORS. 1842. II. P. Hitchcock. 1843. Abijah Smith. Horace P. Hitchcock. 1844. Asa G. Edwards. Abijah Smith. 1845. Horace P. Hitchcock. Gershomn Noyes. 1846. A. G. Edwards. Abijah Smith. 1847. Abijah Smith. Peter Gates. 1848. Same as previous year. 1849. William Kirby. David C. Myers. 1850. William Tater. Henry Lyons. COLLECTORS. 1840. Reuben J. Fuller. 1841. Reuben J. Fuller. 'REASURERS. 1853. A. B. Noyes. 1854. Wm. C. Walmsley. 1855. Saxton S. Bagley. 1856. Horace P. Hitchcock. 1857-58. Heman Swift. 1859-66. James Foote. 1867-69. Saxton S. Bagley. 1870-72. Charles D. Wyman. 1873-75. Charles J. Hickox. 1876-77. Willard J. Wyman. The officers for 1878 are as follows: Supervisor, George Kinney; Town Clerk, Saxton S. Bagley; Treasurer, W. J. Wyman; Justice of the Peace, Furman Huff; Commissioner of Highways, Abram Williams; Township Superintendent of Schools, George E. Wilson; School Inspector, Thomas J. Nethaway; Drain Commissioner, Richard S. Hicks; Constables, Ezra L. Tiffany, James Crisp, C. Leslie Benson, Adelbert C. Gregory. Reuben J. Fuller, whose name appears frequently in the foregoing list, came from Sullivan, Madison Co., N. Y., with his family, and settled on section 10 in Adams on the 2d of February, 1837. His location is immediately east of the village of North Adams. He purchased the south 40 of his 80 in 1835, and has resided upon his place since his settlement in 1837. Ethel Judd, whose name also appears conspicuously, is a native of Herkimer Co., N. Y., and was later a resident of Chautauqua County, from which he came to Adams with his family in 1837, arriving July 7, and settled on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 14,-the old farm now owned by his son-in-law, Charles EI. Smith. Mr. Judd is at present resident of North Adams. He is by trade a carpenter and joiner, and, besides attending to his farm duties, he has built many of the houses and barns in this township,-among them seven dwellings in North Adams. Before leaving the State of New York he was employed upon the Erie Canal. SCHOOLS. The first school-house in the present township of Adams was a log building, which was erected a short distance south -11-oi -7 -7;77MM77777F -' w7 I 7 - 224 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. - l of North Adams. Oliver Streeter was an early teacher. The first school was taught in this building in the summer of 1839, by Miss Juliet Twogood,* now the wife of Norman S. Sharp. She was then but seventeen years of age, and had previously attended at a school which was kept in a log school-house across the line in Moscow, and about a quarter of a mile west of Mr. Sharp's present residence. Mr. Sharp's sister, Melissa, now the wife of Jonathan Benson, of Moscow, taught the first school in the latter building as early as 1837. Among the children who attended the first school at North Adams were those from the families of the Fullers, Bagleys, Parkers, and others. The present substantial and elegant two-story brick union school building at North Adams was erected in 1877, at a cost of about $7000. The union district was organized in the fall of 1874, and its present Trustees are Ethel Judd, Moderator; George Cutler, Director; Henry Gray, Assessor; William Wilbur, Joseph A. Wright, Leslie Benson. The school has three departments, and an attendance averaging about 150. The teachers for the school year of 1878-79 are F. B. McClellan, Principal; Miss Ella A. Teed, Intermediate; Miss Mary E. Hosmer, Primary. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NORTH ADAMS. Revs. Milton Foote and Roswell Parker were the first ministers who settled in what is now Adams township. The latter has been given the credit of preaching the first sermon in the township; but this is an error, as Mr. Foote arrived first, and held meetings at his house before Mr. Parker came. The latter probably preached the first funeral sermon, and also discoursed at Mr. Foote's house, and at meetings held in his barn. The Methodist Church was organized in that barn in 1836 or 1837. One of the first members was Miss Melissa Sharp, now Mrs. Jonathan Benson, of Moscow. Messrs. Foote and Parker were efficient in organizing the church. The first circuit preacher was Rev. Mr. Sabin, who lived in Allen; this was as early as 1837. Meetings were for a long time held in the schoolhouse, and afterwards in each of the churches at the village. The present brick church is the first house of worship owned by the society, and was built in 1870, during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Brockway. Its cost, including furniture, etc., was about $6000. The leader of the first Methodist class was Wallace Jackson. The present pastor is Rev. W. M. Paddock, and the membership in the neighborhood of 200. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NORTH ADAMS. Rev. Roswell Parker, originally a Methodist, afterwards became a Congregationalist, and organized and became the first pastor of the church of that.denomination at North Adams, about 1848. It is known as the First Congregational Church of Adams. Mr. Parker remained in charge six or eight years, and the pastors since have been Revs. Nichols, Shaw, M. E. Lewis (now in Kansas), J. L. Crane, * Other authority says Emily Ferguson taught the first school in the township in 1837. Stevenson, J. S. Noyes, and the present incumbent, Rev. George E. Wilson. Others preached for short periods. The present membership is about 60. A Sunday-school is sustained, with Levi Reckord as superintendent. The society built a frame church not long after organizing, and afterwards sold it to the school district, the trustees of which fitted it up for a school-house. The }Vesleyan Methodists had organized and built a church about 1840-42, but they finally disbanded, and donated their church to the Congregationalists, which society most of them united with, the balance going to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The building is a frame structure, standing in the eastern part of the village. BAPTIST CHURCH, NORTH ADAMS. This is also quite an old organization, and occupies a frame church which stands near that owned by the Congregational Society. The membership Dec. 17, 1878, was 62. The present pastor is Rev. H. P. Eldridge, who also has a charge at Church's Corners, in Wheatland. A flourishing Sabbath-school is kept up, with Daniel Barber as superintendent. Rev. Roswell Parker was from Plainfield, Windham Co., Conn., and settled in Adams, July 5, 1836. His daughter was the second white child born in the township. Two of his sons are now ministers in Kansas, where their father died at a recent date. James Holcomb, from England, settled in this town in 1841. His wife, Mrs. Sarah A. Holcomb, settled with her parents quite early in Lenawee County, and in 1837 removed with them to this county. On one occasion, when she had been gathering black walnuts, she was followed home by two wolves, and thoroughly frightened by her adventure. Baw Beese, the noted chief, often came to her father's house, with his wife and children, for food, and always conducted himself with great dignity and decorum. William B. Eldred, from Otsego Co., N. Y., emigrated to Michigan in 1836, and located at Adrian, Lenawee Co. In February, 1844, he removed to a farm in Adams. Easton Wilbur, whose name appears conspicuously in the early records of the township, came also from Otsego Co., N. Y., and settled here in January, 1836. Lemuel Roberts, of Seneca Co., N. Y., removed to this township in 1841, settling upon a farm therein, a half-mile west of North Adams, on the 1st of November of that year. His son Lemuel, who came with him, and was at the time only twenty years old, now lives on section 7. Nelson Nethaway came in November, 1842, from the State of New York, and located in Adams in January, 1843. James Whittaker, also a farmer, came from Lancashire, England, and settled in Adams, Oct. 8, 1840. Simeon Lyon came from Dedham, Mass., and located in this town in 1843. Julius O. Swift, from Junius, Seneca Co., N. Y., settled in this township in November, 1835. John C. Swift, who came at the same time, is still a resident of the town. Robert Hill, from the Lake Champlain region, came to Adams and settled March 2, 1839; and Albert G. Wells, from Chautauqua Co., N. Y., removed here and took up his abode in the wilderness in February, 1838. GEORGE STEVENS. MRS-GEORGE STEVENS. PHOT-05. Bl CARSON& GRAHAM RE~sIDE'NCE OF GEORGE STEVENS, ADAMSMICHIGAN. t dU0d ff0000000002 f:ffff; 00 SS\Xt002S 00f f:00 0 S tEf i: S 0 S z f \ ff:S::l t: tS S f:::t R::: 0 S \::: S::::: 0::: A::::: S 40;:f: 0 f:::::\:::9;: \:: a: f::; i 9 f:s X:: U S: f:::::!:: S:::!: X 9 f f; \: \ S::;\ffffiN; La: f 0;:;::U\:000SES C00t;::00X\X00:0::: f::f f:::0::::: 0 0 3:Q',f 0 t t \: f }; g: ',, fi S S \\ 00t ft0000200000000200 TV; f fF0E ff' tu000; 0 0 \ 0 f S X A X 'S 'T 0Att't'aVlt300;SuCA0000ff0'; tt 0 dud ff;00 Dy ff 0 Ati! 0? a;u; '\\\X<,0.'tf;0Y?f\n,.SX?0SfudD feSX T$yeD; f S:i'L;if S00t \' at:X: CfS C;' i;;f f 0 f 0 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 225 I Vining Barker, from Herkimer Co., N. Y., emigrated to Michigan in 1839, and on the 24th of February, 1839, settled in what is now the township of Adams. Horace P. Hitchcock left his home in Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y., in October, 1833, with his wife and one child, and moved to Mayville, Chautauqua Co. From there, in the month of January, 1834, Mr. Hitchcock started on foot for Michigan, leaving his family, and walked through Pennsylvania and Ohio to the land of lakes, hills, and dales, and entered 80 acres of government land on section 25, Pittsford township, Hillsdale Co. He then set out on his return,-afoot as before,-and in due time reached Mayville. He purchased an ox-team, and with his family drove through to their new home in the forest wilds of Michigan, the trip occupying twenty-two days. Upon arriving in Pittsford he had but $22 left, and no house wherein to find shelter. The latter difficulty was finally overcome, and a rude log dwelling appeared in the midst of a small clearing. The cooking utensils of the family consisted. of a skillet, or " spider," a dish, kettle, and an iron tea-kettle. Some time in the summer of 1835, Mr. H. sold his place in Pittsford for $1000, and moved to his present home, on section 26 in Adams, in February, 1836. Here he purchased from second hands; he owns at present 160 acres. When coming from his place in Pittsford to the one in Adams, he trimmed out the underbrush for a mile and a half, in order to clear a passage-way. In 1837 or 1838 a road was constructed six miles long, east and west, to enable the settlers to reach Hillsdale conveniently. This was through the instrumentality of Mr. Hitchcock also. Israel Post, residing on the southwest quarter of section 22, settled in 1846; and Samuel Stevens, now deceased, was also one of the pioneers of the township. Michael Donovan, who had served in the rank of lieutenant during the war of 1812, removed from Jordan village, in the State of New York, to Toledo, Ohio, in 1839, and two years later (1841) settled near North Adams. His death occurred March 29, 1873. VILLAGE OF NORTH ADAMS. The first settlers on the site of this village were William Cutler and Stephen Birdsall, who came from Niagara Co., N. Y., about the month of June, 1835. Mr. Cutler located 120 acres of land where North Adams now stands, and Birdsall settled immediately east of him, afterwards moving west of the village. Mr. Cutler was accompanied by his wife and one child, and a second son, John, now living east of North Adams, was born in 1,40. Mrs. Cutler died about the winter of 1840-41, and her husband married again in August, 1841. His oldest child, Byron, who came with him to the State, is a resident of Clinton County at this time. Five children were born to Mr. Cutler by his second wife,-two sons and three daughters, -and of these the only one now living in the township is George Cutler, of North Adams. Mr. Cutler's first dwelling at his new location was a log house, which stood a little in the rear of the present post office, and in it he kept tavern,-the first in the township. A frame was subsequently built over it, and the log part torn out. In 1851 he built the hotel now owned and oc29 cupied by H. W. Comfort, and known as the " Comfort House." In honor of Mr. Cutler the settlement which grew up around him was called " Cutler's Corners," and long bore that name. About 1846 he erected a small frame building, and in it established the first store in the village, afterwards associating with him William Foote. Mr. Cutler died in July, 1869. The store he built is yet standing on its old site, on the north slde of the street, nearly opposite the "Comfort House," and is at present filled with a stock of millinery and fancy goods. H. W. Comfort, proprietor of the hotel previously mentioned, is a native of Elmira, Chemung Co., N. Y., and in his early manhood was engaged in the lumber business at Troy, Pa., from which place he emigrated to Michigan in 1843. He stopped for a short time on the old Warner Bunday farm in Somerset, and aided in reclaiming a nursery which had belonged to the latter, and which had been allowed to run down. From there he removed to Moscow village. He has since lived in Ohio, and has occupied the hotel at North Adams since Dec. 1, 1873. North Adams Post- Office.-The oldest post-office in this locality was called Adams, and was first kept by Salmon Sharp, at his residence on the north line of the township. It was established as early as 1836-38. Mail was carried by Mr. Sharp's brother, Sheldon W. Sharp, over the route which extended from Adrian to Jonesville, via Addison. Norman S. Sharp succeeded his father as postmaster, and the office was subsequently moved across the line into Moscow, and kept by Benjamin I. Kenyon (father of Albert Kenyon), still retaining its original name. Meanwhile a post-office was established at Cutler's Corners and called North Adams, with William Cutler as first postmaster. The Adams post-office was continued for some time under charge of Mr. Kenyon, and finally withdrawn from the list, all mail going thereafter to the North Adams office. The village itself from that time began to be known by the same name as the post-office. The present incumbent of the latter office is M. F. Lamb. Although numerous lots had been sold " by metes and bounds" to parties locating here, the village was not regularly surveyed, platted, and recorded until 1871. The proprietors as it was laid out were Franklin Noyes, G. C. Morehouse, L. E. Russ, William McConnell, Ethel Judd, B. F. Vreeland, G. W. Relyea, Solomon Armstrong, Charles H. Wilbur, William H. Wilbur, John Wilbur, N. Lamb, M. F. Lamb, H. Bowman, Albert Kenyon, J. M. George, W. Mallery, C. W. Knapp, James Fitton, S. S. Wiley, Esther Cutler, George W. Cutler, A. J. Spear, F. Corey, E. F. Smith, and 0. C. Smith. The village, unlike the beautiful town of the same name in Berkshire Co., Mass., is not surrounded by " the everlasting hills," but is located on very level ground. The North Adams Cornet Band was reorganized in 1877, and at present has 15 members, with Charles Sabins as leader. It has a very neat uniform, and, for the time it has been in practice, discourses excellent music. Adams Lodge, No. 189, F. & A. M., was organized in 1863, with Albert Kenyon as first Master. It has a present membership of between 30 and 40, and occupies a 226 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. room in the fine brick block on the northwest corner of the streets, built by a stock company, in 1868. The present officers of the lodge are: Worshipful Master, Norman S. Sharp; Senior Warden, George Stevens; Junior Warden, George Kalder; Treas., D. B. Kempton; Sec., B. D. Ackmoody; Tyler, Seth Wiley. Fidelity Lodge, I 0. O. F., has been an organized body about twenty-five years. Its membership at present is not large. It occupies a room in the same building with the Masons. Summary of North Adams.-The village contained in December, 1878, 10 stores of various kinds, 4 millinery establishments, 1 tailor, 1 agricultural implement store,.4 blacksmith-shops, 1 cooper-shop, a steam saw-mill, 2 harness-shops, 1 shoe-shop, a post-office, a union school building, 3 churches, lodges of Masons and Odd-Fellows, 3 physicians (Drs. Wood, W. R. Ditmars, and Frank Noyes, the latter a homoeopathist), an extensive wagon- and carriage-factory, owned by Z. Schaad & Co., and a population of nearly or quite 400. The place has been built up principally since the completion of the Detroit, Hillsdale and Southwestern Railway. The Crater Brothers are contemplating the erection, during 1879, of a three-story brick building, 45 by 100, on the vacant corner north of the "Comfort House," to be used for stores, offices, and public hall. The brick block on the south side of the street, west of the corners, was built by G. W. Rockwood and William Brooks, the former erecting the western part and the latter the eastern. We are indebted to the following persons in this township for information furnished while compiling the foregoing article: Norman S. Sharp and wife, James Foote, Saxton S. Bagley, George W. Cutler, Albert Kenyon, Capt. Ethel Judd, Russell J. Fuller, H. W. Comfort, Mrs. Joseph Woolston, and many others. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. THE GRAY FAMILY are entitled to special mention in this work for the progress they have made in developing the resources of the country, the progress they have made, the hardships they have endured, and the obstacles they have overcome. They were from Ohio; being of limited means, compelled to seek cheap land. George Gray, the pioneer, left his native State, with his wife and three children, in 1846, and came to Hillsdale County by wagon. Stopped in Wheatland for two years, where they suffered many privations; the family were nearly all sick, and the youngest child died. They then came to Adams and purchased eighty acres of unimproved land, where they now reside, and by diligence and perseverance have improved that, and added other lands, erected fine buildings, and secured a comfortable home. Joseph H., the oldest son, is a large farmer in the same town. Wil iam Harrison remained with his father, and his strong arm has been instrumental in pushing back the forest and establishing the comfortable home for himself and parents. He was born June 13, 1841. Married Dec. 13, 1866, to Mary Wayman, of Lockport, N. Y. To them have been born five children,-two sons and three daughters; one daughter died in her sixth year. These children are the fourth generation now living. Their great-grandfather, David Gray, is now living in Lake Co., 0., in his ninety-ninth year. HORACE P. HITCHCOCK was born at Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y., Oct. 17, 1809. Son of Amasa Hitchcock, one of the early settlers of that county, who raised a family of five children, of whom Horace P. was the youngest son. He lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age, worked in the neighborhood at such jobs as he could get for three years. During this time he Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale HORACE P. HITCHCOCK. was married to Miss Elmira Day, sixteenth child of Lewis Day, a soldier of the Revolution. In 1833, Mr. Hitchcock took his wife and a child, four weeks old, and went to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he left them, and came to Michigan; entered eighty acres of land one mile south of Hudson, but in this county, January, 1834, for which he received patent, signed by Andrew Jackson. After securing his land Mr. Hitchcock returned to Chautauqua, making the journey out and back on foot. The next fall he purchased an ox-team, took his family with their little household effects, and after a journey of twenty-two days arrived on the land he had previously purchased, and commenced the task of making a home in the wilderness, his only capital being a pair of strong arms and twenty-two dollars in money; the latter was at once paid out for provisions. At that early day life in the wilderness was not without its sweets, for the first day he was there he found a bee-tree that yielded eighty pounds of honey. He remained on this place two years, when he sold it for one thousand dollars, and purchased the land where he now I F UaMN IIU _ MRS.FURMAN PUFF RESIDENCE OF FURMAN fIUFF,ADAM, IILLSDALE CO.,MICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 227 resides. Here he not only cut the first tree, but cut a road a mile and a half to get to it. Sept. 16,1859, Mrs. Hitchcock departed this life, leaving nine children,-four sons and five daughters. Mr. Hitchcock was again married, Oct. 16, 1860, to Miss Esther Cook, daughter of Samuel Cook, who settled in Lenawee County in 1827. He came to Allen (this county) in 1844. By this union Mr. Hitchcock has been the father of five children, three of whom are now living. NICHOLAS SCHMITT was born in Beber, Kur-Hesse, Prussia, Jan. 22, 1811. He lived with his father, who was a farmer and miller. June 12, 1831, he married Miss Gertrude Grat, who was born Aug. 13, 1809. In 1834 they came to America with their two small children; the first winter in this country was spent at Ann Arbor. In the spring Mr. Schmitt came to Fayette, Hillsdale Co., and selected eighty acres of land, which he took from government, and moved on to it July, 1835, and commenced to make him a home. Here they remained until 1851, when he sold out, and in 1852 went to California, where he remained four years. When he returned he purchased of L. R. Gay one hundred and twenty acres from the Gay farm, where he died Jan. 14, 1870, leaving a wife and five children. The oldest, Elizabeth M., married L. R. Gay; he died in 1860, leaving one son. She was again married to William B. Clark; they have one daughter. John C. lives in California; is superintendent of the Lady Bryan Mine at Virginia City. Henry W. died in California. Franklin is a farmer, living in Reading. Daniel died at ten years of age. Wilhelmina C. died at five years of age. George, the youngest, lives at home with his mother and works the farm. He married Miss Anna Warner; they have one son, George, Jr. WILLIAM WRIGHT was descended from a Scotch-Irish family, his father, Robert Wright, having been born in Tyrone County, in the north of Ireland. He was a man of sterling worth, and established an enviable reputation as a business man, having been largely engaged in the manufacture and sale of linen, which was at that time an important element in the productions of his native country. Mr. Wright, Sr., was at one time in possession of considerable wealth, but having been induced to become surety for parties who subsequently proved irresponsible, and thus brought on business reverses, he lost the greater portion of his means. He finally emigrated to the State of New York, and located in Cayuga County, following agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1846. William, after the death of his father and until his seventeenth year, spent his time upon the farm or attending the neighboring district school, and in the year 1849 was employed as clerk in a store at Montezuma, that being the year the enlargement of the Erie Canal was begun. The following year he received an appointment from the superintendent of his county to the State Normal School at Albany, and remained at that institution until failing health compelled him to relinquish his studies, although within a few months of graduation. He spent the summer of 1852 on the farm for the purpose of regaining his health, and taught the neighboring district school the winter following. In the spring he went to Wheeling, Va., and remained there engaged in teaching until the fall, when he departed for Missouri, and followed the same profession in that State until 1854. During that year, the Golden State presenting superior attractions for him, he joined a company who took the overland route to California, reaching Sacramento Sept. 10 of the same year, making the trip in four months and ten days. He remained there but a short time and departed for Oregon Territory, arriving there early in 1855, and pursuing teaching for two years as a profession. He then embarked in the mercantile business until 1859, when he returned to his old home, crossing the Isthmus of Panama on the way and reaching New York City early in February. After a summer spent on the farm in Cayuga County, he determined to come to Michigan, and chose the township of Adams as his residence, purchasing there one hundred and sixty acres of wild land. He has since resided there, dividing his time in clearing up, improving his farm, and shipping stock to the Eastern market; has made a specialty of keeeping and feeding a superior quality of beef-cattle, in which branch of business he has been unusually successful; is prominent in all enterprises calculated to raise the agricultural status of his county. He is, and has been for several years, a member of the board of directors of the Hillsdale County Agricultural Society. Was married in 1868 to Miss Martha M. Hosmer, daughter of the Rev. William Hosmer, of Auburn, N. Y. Has two children, both boys,-Winthrop H. and William R. Wright,-aged respectively nine and six years. FURMAN IUFF was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., Sept. 23, 1810. Son of John Huff, who moved to Ontario Co., N. Y., the spring of 1835, and died in the fall of that year, leaving a widow and eight children. Furman lived at home until he was twenty years of age, when he bought a piece of land and commenced for himself. Was married Sept. 15, 1831, to Miss Ann Eliza Sargeant. In the spring of 1835 he left Ontario with a wagon which contained his wife and two children (having buried one child in Ontario); they came through Canada to Saline, Washtenaw Co., where he left the family, and came on foot to Hillsdale County to look for land; decided upon section 1, Fayette township. Went to Monroe, entered a quarter of that section, returned to Saline for his family, and arrived 'on the land in June. They lived in the wagon until a cabin could be erected, their only neighbors for miles being the wild beasts, of which the wolf and bear played a conspicuous part. Mr. Huff remained on this land until the spring of 1837, when he exchanged for the land where 228 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. he now resides, which was better adapted to a man of his limited means. Upon this land there was a small log house and a few acres of the timber girdled. In August of that year Mrs. Huff died, leaving two small children. The future as well as the forest must have looked dark, but the sturdy pioneer, determined to have a home for his children, moved steadily on. Dec. 25, 1838, was again married, to Miss Mary Driscal, formerly of Onondaga, N. Y. By this union Mr. H. has been the father of two children,-William H., who is a farmer in the town of Adams; Mary Eliza, married Emery Kasey, and lives near the old home. John U. and Lyman P. were children by the first wife. The former is a farmer in Kansas. Lyman P. was a soldier in the war I — of the Rebellion, enlisted in a battery, was taken prisoner at Pittsburg Landing, and died at Macon, Ga., May 16, 1862. Politically, Mr. Huff is a Republican; is now serving his fifth term as justice of the peace, which term will make twenty consecutive years; was sergeant of a company at the time of the Toledo war; warned out his company, and had them at Jonesville. Mr. Huff is a member of the Congregational Church. Has been identified with all the improvements of his day. There has been no sudden accession of property, but slowly the work has been carried forward year by year, amid the severest hardships and privations, until in the lapse of time ease and comfort have been reached. Photos. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. WILLIAM KIRBY. MRS. WILLIAM KIRBY. WILLIAM KIRBY was born near Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 1805. He married Miss Hannah Sykes. They emigrated to this country about 1825. Landed at Quebec, and crossed over to Ogdensburg, where they remained for a time; then went to Ohio, near Painesville, where they became acquainted with the Fowler family. In the spring of 1834, in company with Richard Fowler and Caleb Bates, Mr. Kirby came to Adams, and took land from the government. Mr. Fowler moved on to his land the following fall, and was the first settler in the town of Adams. Mr. Kirby came the next spring (1835), with his large family of small children, all the money he possessed being seventy-five cents. He went out to work by the day for Mr. Fowler, and at Jonesville; and slowly, amid the severest hardships and privations, they struggled on. Frequently did the mother divide the last morsel of food among her children; heroically did she stand to her post until the original forty acres of land had expanded to a well-cultivated farm of two hundred and forty acres, and ease and comfort had been secured. She died May 12, 1876, aged seventy-five years. Mr. Kirby, although in feeble health, lives to relate many a thrilling inoident of the times that run back to the cutting of the first tree in the town of Adams. The children are Emma, who married Chas. White. Mary is the wife of the Rev. Isaac Taylor. James is a farmer, and has a portion of. the old farm. Reuben lives in Jefferson. William lives on the old home. Francis N. is a farmer in Adams. Ann Louisa married James Braynard. Cordelia died when a child, and Edwin died in infancy. LEMUEL ROBERTS was born in Junius, Seneca Co., N. Y., March 18, 1822. The next year his father, with his family, moved to Niagara County, where he remained some ten years, then went to Erie County, where his wife died in 1840. In 1841 he came to Adams, Hillsdale Co., and died in 1845, leaving five children,-four sons and one daughter,-of whom the subject of this sketch was the third son. He lived at home until he was eighteen years of age. He worked out for two years for small wages. When he came to Michigan he had no money; worked at chopping, clearing land, etc. The second year he cleared a piece of land and put in wheat on shares; sold his part of the wheat at Hillsdale for forty-four cents per bushel. In 1846 he was married to Miss Alice I VINING BARKER. MRS. VINING BARKER. MRS. VINING BARKER. [Deceased.] Photos, by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 229 Fitton, daughter of James Fitton, who emigrated from England, about 1828, to Lowell, Mass, where he had a woolen-mill. He settled in Moscow, this county, in 1835. Soon after Mr. Roberts was married, he, in company with his father-in-law, bought a saw-mill, which they operated one year; and in 1848 he bought eighty acres of land, where he now resides, which. had a small improvement, and commenced in earnest to make himself a home. In 1852 he went to California, where he remained two years, during which time he bought eighty acres adjoining his home, and since has added other lands, erected fine buildings, until he now has one of the finest farms of Hillsdale County. Although this pioneer and his wife have not yet reached their threescore years, through the severest privations and hardships they have secured an ample competency. They have two sons,-Walter L., who lives at Big Rapids, Mich., and Albert K., who is a farmer and resides near the old home. SAMUEL STEVENS was born in Worcester Co., Mass., Sept. 19, 1793. He married, for his first wife, Lucy Johnson, who was born the 11th of July, 1797. On the 5th day of November, 1829, was married to Mary Johnson, who was born in the same county, April 5, 1803. To them were born eleven children, -Adalirne, born Nov. 11, 1818; Lucy A., born Dec. 29, 1819; William S., born March 31, 1822; Louisa, born Dec. 5, 1823; Permelia, born May 17, 1825; Lyman, born June -, 1827; George, born Jan. 21, 1831; Roxana, born March 27, 1833; Samuel E., born March 10, 1835; Henry, born March 5, 1837; Freelove, born Nov. 25, 1843; and William I., born Feb. -, 1846.* Mr. Stevens moved to Adams township, Hillsdale Co., Mich., in November, 1838, and bought eighty acres of wild land, built a small log house, and at once commenced to improve his farm. To this he added, so that he owned at the time of his death one hundred and fifty acres of fine land, with good buildings and well improved. In politics he was in an early day a Free-Soiler and an Abolitionist. On the formation of the Republican party he became a member of it, but never was an office-seeker, though he was several years a justice of the peace. Mr. Stevens was a consistent Christian, and for many years a member of the Methodist Church. He always took great interest in schools, and was a strong advocate of free education. He died June 22, 1870, respected and esteemed by all. George Stevens was born in Worcester, Mass., where he resided until 1839, when he came to Michigan and joined his father (Samuel Stevens), with whom he resided until his marriage to Miss Roxana M. Betts, daughter of James and Catherine (Case) Betts, who was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., Jan. 19, 1835. They were married the 21st day of January, 1855, and in the following May he bought eighty acres of new land, which he has cleared and improved. An elegant brick house has taken the place of the plank one built in an early day, and Mr. Stevens is now one of Adams' most successful farmers. He, like his father, was an Abolitionist, and has many times driven all night helping escaped slaves on their way to freedom. He is now a strong Republican and votes with that party, believing the principles set forth by it to be right and just. To Mr. and Mr. Stevens there have been born four children,Archie E., born May 3,1856; died April 27,1859; Laban P., born April 24, 1860; died July 7, 1870; Myrta L., born Sept. 21, 1865; and Arthur L., born Nov. 27, 1870. VINING BARKER. Among the men who have aided in transforming the primeval forest to a civilized community is Vining Barker. He was born at Schuyler, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Jan. 11, 1806. Son of Paul Barker. Vining lived at home and worked the farm. Jan. 5, 1823, he was married to Miss Sally Davis. Upon the death of his father, which occurred Sept. 27, 1833, the property was distributed among the children. In 1837 he came to Adams, Hillsdale Co., Mich., and located eighty acres of land, taking the title from the government, then returned to Schuyler, and in January, 1839, he left the home of his childhood with a wagon which contained his wife and seven children, in company with his brother Amos, to make the long journey to this county. The second day they encountered a heavy snow-storm. After several changes from wagons to sleighs and sleighs to wagons they arrived on the land they had previously purchased, Feb. 27, 1839, after a journey of thirty-six days, and proceeded to build a log house, which was finished in a few days. The spring was early, and everything favored the improvement of the forest home, which was destined to be one of the important neighborhoods in the county. Mr. Barker has been the father of eight children, five of whom are now living,-four sons and one daughter; the latter, Hannah B., married Iram Shadwick, a farmer in Kansas. The four sons, Isaac, James, Luther, and Anson, are all well settled near the old home. The second daughter died when a child; Jane married Daniel Sears, and died Nov. 14, 1866, leaving four children; Davis J. was killed by the explosion of a steam-boiler, Jan. 8, 1873; and soon after followed the death of the mother, Jan. 22, 1873; and thus the worthy couple were separated after a married life of more than a half-century, they having celebrated their golden wedding just previous to her death. Mr. Barker was again married, Sept. 2, 1874, to Mrs. Paulina Webbe, formerly Miss Carter, daughter of Oney Carter, of Wayne Co., N. Y. Mr. Barker and his first wife united with the Baptist Church at Schuyler, N. Y. Upon coming to Michigan they joined the church at Jonesville, and transferred their membership to the Baptist Church at North Adams, where Mr. Barker has been a deacon since its organization. After an industrious and exemplary life this veteran pioneer finds himself in the enjoyment of an ample competency, surrounded by his sons in like good circumstances, in good health, and with the same cheerful spirit which has cast a ray of sunshine along his pathway. Future generations will regard him as a kind father, an upright man, and a consistent Christian. * The six last named were children by his second wife. 0 230 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. LEVI VANAKEN was born at Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y., March 25, 1827; son of Benjamin H. Vanaken, who emigrated from that county and settled on the land now the home of Levi. He purchased the land in 1846 and moved in 1848. The family suffered not only the privations of pioneer life, but severe sickness, and in March, 1852, the father and mother both died. Within a week before his father's death Levi Vanaken had purchased of him eighty acres of unimproved land. Was married Nov. 24, 1851, to Miss Sarah L. Stoddard, daughter of Henry Stoddard, one of the pioneers of Litchfield. Having no children of their own, they adopted Marion G. Moshier, whose mother was a sister of Mr. Vanaken, and who died when Marion was one week old. Is now in the twenty-first year of his age. Has had good advantages. Graduated at the High School at New Haven, Conn. gL, SOMERSET. THE township of Somerset occupies a position in the northeast corner of Hillsdale County, and is designated upon the government surveys as township 5 south, of range 3 west of the principal meridian. It was originally a part of Wheatland, from which it was set off, and erected into a separate township for civil purposes, by an act of the Legislature passed March 20, 1837. The surface of this town is greatly diversified. There are no extensive areas of level land, while " hills and dales" abound in nearly every part. A large portion of the township is watered by Goose Creek, one of the main tributaries of the river Raisin. It flows through in a general easterly direction, and along its valley passes the Detroit, Hillsdale and Southwestern Railway. It drains Goose Lake, northeast of Jerome village, Moon Lake, south of Somerset Centre, and several small ponds. At the Centre its power has been utilized to drive the machinery of a grist- and saw-mill, and the supply of water never entirely fails, owing to the aid of the lakes which feed it. A branch of Grand River heads in the northern part of the town, where a neverfailing reservoir exists in the shape of several small lakes, among them Crystal (named from the clearness and purity of its waters), Grand River, Mud, and Perch. Goose Lake was so named from the fact that in the early days of the settlement it was a resort for countless numbers of wildgeese. Crystal Lake has a small island which enhances its beauty greatly. The famous " Chicago road" passes through this township from east to west, north of the central portion, and is the highway over which, forty years since, rolled such a tide of human life as only finds an equal in the history of this country in the historic region of Central New York," In the vale where the Mohawk gently glides On its clear winding way to the sea." The villages of the township are Jerome, Somerset Centre, and Somerset Post-Office, or Gambleville, as it was long ago known. The soil is generally of an excellent quality, and possessed of the peculiarities which characterize that of Southern Michigan generally, being a mixture of sand, clay, and rich loam, well adapted to the growth of grain and fruit. The township is one of the best in the county in respect to the supply of water it contains. In 1838, according to a gazetteer of the State, published that year by John T. Blois, Esq., now of Jonesville, this township contained 2 saw-mills, a merchant. 326 head of neat cattle, 40 horses, 93 sheep, 603 hogs, and a population of 441. By the census of 1874, we find its showing so different and its condition improved to such an extent that the following figures will prove interesting: Population (539 males, 470 females).................. 1,009 Number of acres of taxable land..................... 22,496 " " land owned by individuals and companies............... 22,579 i" " improved land................ 12,769 " " land exempt from taxation.. 83 Value of same, including improvements............ $9,690 Number of acres in school-house sites............... 5 " " church and parsonage sites... 2 i" " burying-grounds................ 4 " " railroad right of way and depot grounds................. 72 " farms in township......................... 196 " acres in farms............................... 21,312 Average number of acres in farms.................... 108.73 Number of acres of wheat sowed in 1874........... 3,053 i(" "t harvested in 1873...... 2,700 t" " corn " " 1...... 1,394 " bushels of wheat raised in 1873........ 39,470* l" " corn " "........ 42,867 " " all other grain raised in 1873........................... 14,284 " '" potatoes raised in 1873..... 5,886 " tons of hay cut in 1873................... 2,278 " pounds of wool sheared in 1873........ 25,942 ((" " pork marketed in 1873...... 124,659 it " butter made in 1.873......... 68,508 i" t" fruit dried for market in 1873........................... 25,880 " barrels of cider made in 1873........... 647 " acres in orchards in 1874................ 527 " bushels of apples raised in 1872....... 26,443 " i" " " 1873....... 21,780 " " cherries " 1872....... 20 " " (" " 1873....... 23 " {" strawberries raised in 1872. 3 c" " " " 1873. 3 " currants and gooseberries raised in 1872.............. 2 " currants and gooseberries raised in 1873.............. 2 Value of all such productions for 1872............... $6,221 " " " 1873............... $6,215 Number of horses in township, one year old and over, in 1874......................................... 473 Number of mules........................................ 12 " work oxen................................... 31 " milch cows................................ 523 * Second in county. i~ '-'P;4 ~;:::::::::~: i;~;i;i::;~";; ':.j~-;;;;;:~- ';~l:i; ~:~.:.:::r:;i:; ~ ~..8: ~ . ~.: t: :::::II ~`e:ii:ia,:I;i~,5-;''' ~; ~;::.:::::-i;;ri;.-.i-r?:1:I\-:~~-~,':~:.:?~~-1;~~~t".i::~:.'~ ~;~; ~ ~.:::;:. ':::.:-::: :i:;;.-; I:_,-:.'jl:i ~ ---.: ~t.. ~~~-~.. -:: I:;!.-. _:.1.l.l~T. — I ~i ~\li~j -; —i w; p;1* ~.'~iG'; ~:;''"";t'"l Is..~.~~ ~c-*,,: ~:; v::: 3: ~:i.-~I':i;si q _ 11 - HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 231 Number of neat cattle, one year old and over, other than oxen and cows............. 619 " swine over six months old............... 776 " sheep " "............... 4,263 " " sheared in 1873..................... 5,343 " flouring-mills............................. 1 persons employed in same............... 2 Amount of capital invested.............................. $5,500 Number of runs of stone................................. 2 " barrels of flour made...................... 500 Value of products...................................... $3,500 Number of saw-mills..................................... 1 " persons employed in same............... 2 Amount of capital invested............................. $2,500 Number of feet of lumber sawed..................... 100,000 Value of products........................................ $1,200 LAND ENTRIES. The total amount of land entered in this township at the close of the year 1833 was but 1,040 acres, which was divided among the following persons, viz.: James D. Van Hoevenbergh, Horace White, Heman Pratt, Elias Branch, Elias Alley, David Herrington, Ebenezer Gay, and Charles Blackmar. Up to the 27th of April, 1838, the following persons had entered land in this township: Section 1.-Heman Pratt, Amos Hixson, Jonathan Haynes, William Hoard, Samuel O. Clark, P. Chamberlain, Samuel Clark. Section 2.-Horace White, Landon Colman, Jeremiah Belden, Alvah Foster, A. S. Ames, T. M. Torrance. Section 3.-R. Allen, A. S. Ames, R. McClelland, Uriah Every, Thomas Turner, Edward Turner, John Diamond. Section 4.-P. U. Jones, H. Choat, J. Patch, Ira Nickerson, S. Birchard, D. Hinkley, S. Goodrich. Section 5.-Abram Young, Samuel Gardner, Seth Farwell, D. Hinkley, Lorin Wood, Abram Young. Section 6.-C. C. Barton, J. W. Fisk, James Brezee, P. Anson, P. Shaver, J. G. S. and Mary Putnam, Francis Farwell. Section 7.-Warner Bunday, J. S. Hubbert, T. B. Van Brunt, James Carpenter, S. Gilmore. Section 8.-C. C. Benton, James Gowans, Samuel Gardner, Moses Chapman, Elias Branch, Elizabeth Huff, Samuel Gilmore. Section 9. —Elias Branch, Wolcott G. Branch, John Youngs, Paul Raymond, Ranson Hulin, Ira Goodrich, Chester Stuart. Section 10.-John Gilbert, Elias Alley, Lewis Carris, John Young, Luther Ricker, O. Herrington, Thomas Jolls, S. Starkweather, Ira Goodrich, James Stanton. Section 11.-David Herrington, Samuel Mills, F. C. Pratt, O. White, O. Herrington, H. White, H. Isaacs. Section 12.-J. D. Van Hoevenbergh, C. Blackmar, J. Haynes, M. Leach, W. Gamble, D. Turrell, Stephen Turrell, Nancy G. Gay. Section 13.-Ebenezer Gay, D. Herrington, E. H. Kelley, H. Griswold, J. Loucks, D. Strong, S. C. Clark, Eli Bugbee, George Omans. Section 14.-Ebenezer Gay, A. Finney, T. Finney, William Boulton, O. Herrington, S. Gay, H. Isaacs. Section 15.-William C. Turrell, Eli McGee, J. R. Williams, Thomas Goodrich, J. D. Farr, M oon. Section 17.-Elias Alley, Jesse Russell, W. Johnson, J. Butcher, I. Dickson, D. A. Ogden, Samuel Young, J. Gowans. Section 18.-W. Bunday, D. A. Ogden, C. C. Knapp. Section 19.-N. C. Wolcott, E. Randolph, William Talbott, W. Moore. Section 20.-N. C. Wolcott, James McCleary, Thomas Gamble, William Talbott, Rob McGregor, A. McPherson, J. D. Payne, A. Parmele..5ection 21.-A. McPherson, E. Gool, W. G. Throop, B. Chapin, B. R. Hickox, R. Bilbey, S. Bilbey, Abram Vanalstine, Samuel Young. Section 22.-John McDougal, Samuel Mercer, Myron McGee, J. R. Willis, D. Vanalstine. Section 23.-Thomas Gamble, Samuel Mercer, J. H. King, Ebenezer Gay, Ira Goodrich, R. Fisher, David Burns. Section 24.-Ebenezer Gay, W. Welch, Rufus Gilford, Daniel Strong, A. Chamberlain, Oliver Benton. Section 25.-A. S. Dunn, J. Darlington, D. Cattell, J. Minor, 0. C. McLouth. Section 26.-S. Vail, B. D. Brand, D. Cattell, S. Murphy, R. Bilbey, John Brown. Section 27.-D. Gamble, Samuel Mercer, S. Darlington. Section 28.-R. D. Hudson, D. C. Yaw, A. Coats, R. McClelland, Chester Stuart, J. Lamb. Section 29.-W. McBride, James Palmer, V. W. Paine, W. Tolford, J. Bamer, W. H. Boyd, William W. Murphy, Charles Osgood. Section 30.-G. Harkness, D. Harkness, Z. Van Duzar, A. Parmele, B. Dow, W. Weaver, William Talbott. Section 31.-Gideon Harkness, Zachariah Van Duzar, E. B. Brown, A. Hill, Sally Hill, S. H. Baker. Section 32.-J. H. Jackson, S. H. Baker, Isaac Derby, E. Smith, E. Boardman, Seba Murphy. Section 33.-John Jackson, I. 11. Jackson, E. Slayton, A. Woods, L. Bilbey, E. Smith, Aaron Van Vleet, John Mershon, Jr. Section 34.-D. Herrington, W. Gallass, Stephen Vail, Welcome Graham, Robert Bilbey, Abraham West, A. Olds. Section 35.-David Herrington, N. Aldrich, Mahlon Brown, W. T. Webster, Stephen Vail, C. McLouth. Section 36.-David Steer, R. T. Brown, Cromwell McLouth. Considerable land remained unsold in the township at the date before mentioned (April, 1838), but was all entered in a comparatively short time thereafter. There was a considerable area of marsh land, which doubtless deterred many from settling, but this has in the lapse of years been largely drained, and furnishes not only excellent pasture, but in places good ground for raising various kinds of vegetables. There was originally, and is still, a large area of timber, the value of which is acknowledged to be very great. The varieties are principally the different kinds of oak, natural to this region. EARLY SETTLEMENT. In the dim long ago, o'er these beauteous vales and hills — Whose contemplated fairness the mind with rapture thrills — The dusky Indian warrior strode lightly in his pride And deemed of all things earthly none could compare beside. The lakelets, kissed by sunbeams and fanned by breezes light, Tossed up their tiny billows and told of pure delight. The rivers and the streamlets, in threads of silv'ry sheen, Flowed on, with rippling music, 'twixt banks of shining green. 232 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The forests, in their grandeur, all proud and nobly stood, Ere the woodman's blows rang echoing in the deep and darksome wood. The sunny, smiling prairies-oases bright and fairWere spread with fragrant flowers, whose perfume filled the air, And whose entrancing beauties,-whose every radiant hue,Formed here a glorious picture-a paradise to view. Time sped on ceaseless wing, and with the flight of years Came to this flowery region a band of pioneers. Their simple homes were builded; their sinewy hands and strong Wrought on with patient courage, while hearts were cheered with song. The lovely, blooming carpet that decked the grassy plain Was soon o'erturned by plowshare, and gardens smiled amain. The beech, and elm, and maple, and e'en the sturdy oak All bowed beneath the power of the axe's cleaving stroke. The red man moved afar, the forests disappeared, And the prosp'ring pale-faced people their pleasant homesteads reared. The settlement of this township was begun under the same difficulties which were encountered in all other localities, yet the same spirit of perseverance was possessed by the pioneers of Somerset which characterized the avant couriers of civilization in this and all other lands. A determination to win in the battle with the many hardships and privations, and to safely enter at least the haven of prosperity and plenty. The soldier, fighting in the service of his country, is one example of a patriot; and the pioneer, contending with difficulties nowhere else experienced, in the endeavor to further improve and develop the country and erect homes for future generations, is another. The one is the architect who builds the structure of national importance, and the other is its preserver,-the laurel wreath which graces the brow of the soldier as a tribute of gratitude from a rescued nation is not too great a token to crown the toil-worn pioneer. All honor to the brave men who faced a frowning wilderness, and struck the blows which are reverberating in the grateful memory of a State and a prosperous Republic. "The work goes bravely on," and away on the billowy prairies, beyond the father of waters, are being enacted the same scenes which in years agone rendered Southern Michigan famous. Somerset was named for the township of the same name in Niagara Co., N. Y., from which many of the early settlers in this town had emigrated, among them being David Herrington and Heman Pratt, the latter one of the early " side judges" for Hillsdale County. The first white man to make his home in the then wilderness of Somerset was James D. Van Hoevenbergh, who afterward resided a few years at Jonesville. About 1832 -33, he came to the township and entered two eighty-acre lots from Government, and purchased a third, which had been entered by Charles Blackmar, who lived in Cambridge, Lenawee Co. On the west half of the southwest quarter of section 12 he built a log house, the first habitation for a white family erected in the township. He afterward sold out to Thomas Gamble and removed to Jonesville. From the latter gentleman, who located in the spring of 1834, the place took the name of GAMBLEVILLE, and as such is still familiarly known, although the name of the post-office is Somerset. David Herrington and his son, Orson Herrington, had settled on the next farm west, previous to the arrival of Mr. Gamble, and, as previously mentioned, were from Somerset, Niagara Co., N. Y. The first tavern in the township was kept by Mr. Van Hoevenbergh, in his log house. Thomas Gamble succeeded him in the same business and followed it for many years. He died at the village, in 1870. The present hotel was built about 1850, by William R. Gates. In the winter of 1835-36, a man from Clinton, Lenawee Co, established a store at Gambleville, and employed Vincent Rohrbach (or Roarbeck) to conduct it for him. The first post-office in the township was established here previous to 1835, when Somerset was yet a part of Wheatland. The office was named Wheatland, and Thomas Gamble was appointed the first postmaster. After the township was divided (1837), a new post-office was established in what is now Wheatland, and named Wheatland Centre, and the name of the old Wheatland office was changed to Gambleville. About 1840 it was removed to Somerset Centre, and the name again changed,-this time to Somerset. It has since been moved back to Gambleville, retaining the same name (Somerset), and a separate office established at the Centre. The present postmaster at Somerset (Gambleville) is George A. Smith, who has lived here since about 1854-55. His father, Azariel Smith, now deceased, settled south of the village, on section 25, in 1839 or 1840. His son, Le Grand Smith, occupies the old place. The village at present contains two stores, a Congregational Church, a post-office, and a small population. It is on the east line of the township, on section 12, and located upon the Chicago road, over which the stages rattled in the days when railroads were among the novelties, and the oxteams of the settlers were much more numerous than spans of " fiery steeds,"-the latter being among the " luxuries" which were introduced at later days. The second settlement started in the township of Somerset was that at SOMERSET CENTRE. Elias Alley, Esq., from Cayuga County, N. Y., came to Michigan in the fall of 1833, arriving at Detroit on the 20th of September. The trip from there to the Centre occupied two days of time, and in this locality he was the first actual settler. Cornelius Millspaw had previously been on the ground and put up the body of a log house, but did not finish it, and had not yet located. He came here from Woodstock, Lenawee Co. The first dwelling-house finished on the site of the village was the one erected by 'Squire Alley, in 1833. Like all the buildings of the pioneers, it was constructed of logs. Mr. Alley lived in it two years, and then removed to his present location, on section 17, upon which he also made the first improvements. While living at the Centre, he cut two acres of wheat, in 1834, the first ever harvested in the township. Ebenezer Gay, who lived a mile south of Gambleville (father of Timothy Gay, now of Hudson), raised four acres of wheat the same season, and after Mr. Alley had cut his own, he went to Gay's and assisted in harvesting the latter's field. Mr. Alley moved into his house at the Centre on the last day of December, 1833. He is by trade a tanner, currier, and shoemaker, and followed the business for forty , ---A En r I:;:,i:::::,:_i-::::~ ~:::::I:::::::::~::::-::~ j;: ~:::::::-::~r:::::l -::~; ~ i HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 233 years. For a considerable period he was the only shoemaker in the township, and is now its oldest settler. James D. Van Hoevenbergh raised the first potatoes in Somerset, on his place, where Gambleville now stands. Most of the first settlers raised small " patches" of corn as soon as the land could be prepared. Elias Branch, who arrived in the township a few days after Mr. Alley, built and occupied a log tavern west of Somerset Centre, moving into it a short time before Mr. Alley had finished his own house. Branch kept tavern and stage-house for many years. Its locality has many interesting memories clustering around it, for it was long the most important public-house in town. The Indians at that time inhabiting the region became well acquainted with it and the store of stimulants it contained, insomuch as they acquired the industrious habit of picking cranberries, which they brought here and traded for "fire-water." Nothing but the hope of indulging their appetite ever incited them to work. No serious trouble was ever experienced with them, even though the amount of fiery liquor they swallowed was enormous. The savage appetite is one which must be indulged to extremes ere its possessor becomes satisfied, and a " noble red man" could, undoubtedly, hold a much greater quantity of distilled poison than his pale-faced brother, with a weaker stomach and stronger brain. The thirst of the Indians was remarkable and their laziness proverbial; yet they would work when liquor was the prospective reward. Beside cranberries, they would also occasionally bring honey from some " bee-tree" in the forest to exchange for the desired liquor. Cornelius Millspaw, who had partially completed a log tavern at the Centre when Elias Alley came, subsequently finished it and opened it to travelers. In 1839 it was not used as a tavern, although still owned by Millspaw, who also owned a saw-mill at the place. There were at the time a few dwellings aside from the hotel. In the month of November, 1839, Lewis Fuller, from Monroe Co., N. Y., removed to Somerset with his wife and four children, and occupied the Millspaw tavern, which was one and a half stories high. Mr. Fuller kept it for about tel months, in 1840, and also operated the saw-mill. The property was sold in that year to William Knickerbocker. Lemuel D. Brown, a native of Hadley, Mass., and afterwards a resident of Somerset, Niagara Co., N. Y., emigrated from the latter place to Michigan, arriving early in May, 1839. He had previously purchased a farm half a mile east of Somerset Centre, upon which he is yet residing. His son, Oscar D. Brown, has held the office of township clerk since 1870; he is also postmaster and proprietor of a store at the Centre, and has charge of the railway and express agencies at the place. Mr. Brown, Sr., purchased his farm of a brother of Heman Pratt, Esq., but made the first improvements upon it himself. The first post-office in the township has been mentioned, with its various shiftings. The present office at Somerset Centre was established in 1872, at which time Oscar D. Brown was appointed postmaster; he has continued to hold the office to the present time. 30 The first store at Somerset Centre was established about 1842-43, by Josiah Knauer, who had a small stand near the present site of the depot. This was in existence but a short time, and no other was established until about 1860, when John S. B. Weatherwax started a small store in the room now occupied by the post-office and the store of Oscar D. Brown. Aside from the latter there are now in the place 2 dry-goods stores, 1 hardware store, 2 blacksmithshops, 2 wagon- and repair-shops, 1 shoe-shop, 1 millinershop, a saw- and grist-mill combined, built by Harrison Fitz, and now owned by J. C. Tucker. The same man erected a small building (now used as a barn) near the old saw-mill, and took the water to run it from the same flume which was used to drive the machinery of the saw-mill. In this building he placed one run of stones for grinding, while on the upper floor was placed machinery for manufacturing sash, doors, and blinds. The village also contains 1 small machine-shop, located near the railway depot; 1 hotel-the " Valley City House"-built by Lewis Fuller, Jr., in 1870, and at present the property of Charles Sutfin, and 1 physician,-Dr. R. C. Traver, a graduate of the State University. Probably the first resident physician in this township was Dr. Charles Farnsworth, who was long a prominent citizen. He came about 1837-38, and died in 1851, while holding the office of township clerk. Charles Sutfin, proprietor of the " Valley City House," at Somerset Centre, came with his father, John Sutfin, fiom Milo, Yates Co., N. Y., in May, 1833. The family first settled in Lenawee Co., Mich., between the villages of Clinton and Tecumseh, and were among the first settlers in that locality. Another son, Peter Sutfin, who came in 1831, is yet living in Liberty, Jackson Co. In company with Thomas Gamble, the elder Sutfin made a trip several years previously, as far west as White Pigeon, St. Joseph Co. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and died about 1852. His father, James Sutfin, was among the early settlers of Yates Co., N. Y., and his (John Sutfin's) wife was a native of New Jersey, having emigrated with her parents to the State of New York when about fourteen years of age. She died in 1877, at the advanced age of ninety-three years and five months. The members of the Sutfin family have always been noted for their physical strength. In the early days their services were always welcomed at " raisings" of the log cabins of the times. Charles Sutfin moved into Liberty township, Jackson Co., about 1844-45. Ie has been proprietor of the hotel he now occupies since 1876. The village plat of Somerset Centre was laid out Feb. 17, 1872, on the south half of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 10, by Jesse Tucker, Joseph C. Tucker, and Lewis Fuller, Jr. VILLAGE OF JEROME. During the excitement consequent upon the surveying and building of the Detroit, Hillsdale and Southwestern Railway, the idea of having a new village upon its route made itself manifest, and accordingly, upon the northeast quarter of section 19, near the west line of the township, 234 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the village of Jerome was platted, April 18, 1871, by Jerome Smith (from whom it derived its name) and Mary E. Begel. The site of the village was in the woods when the railroad was built, and the place has grown to its present dimensions entirely since that time. Jerome post-office was established at about the same time the village was laid out, with the proprietor, Jerome Smith, as first postmaster. He was succeeded by Charles Alley, and he by the present incumbent, William P. Miner, in whose store the office is located. Its business has increased in a respectable ratio since the first mail was handled, until it is now well patronized. When a station was located here, Daniel W. Thompson began dealing quite extensively in grain, and the firm of Smith & Alley opened a small grocery. The first general stock of merchandise, however, was brought here by William P. Miner, in the fall of 1871. He built the store he now occupies, and subsequently erected the row of buildings on the east side of the street, including the boardinghouse. The remaining lots in the village of Jerome are now the property of A. P. Cook, who bought out the original proprietors. There are at present in the place 4 general stores, 1 grocery, a meat market, 2 millinery establishments, a harness-shop, a shoe-shop, a post-office, a Congregational church, a school-house, a hotel, a blacksmith-shop, a cooper-shop, the railway station, and 1 physician,-Dr. George E. Brown. Kilwinning Lodge, No. 299, 1 0. O. F., was organized July 25, 1877, with 5 members. It occupies a room over the post-office and has a present membership of about 25. The Noble Grand is S. N. Ostrom, and the ViceGrand, F. M. Wolcott. Samuel Mercer, originally from County Donegal, Ireland, and later a resident of Groveland, Livingston Co., N. Y., moved to Michigan with his family, in the fall of 1835, leaving the old home about the middle of October, and settled on the farm in Somerset, now the property of John Calhoun, northeast from the present residence of Hon. William Mercer. The elder Mercer was accompanied by his wife and seven children,-two sons and five daughters, of whom one son and one daughter have since died. Mr. Mercer's death occurred in the month of January, 1852, and his wife is also deceased. Hon. William Mercer has lived on his present farm, section 27, more than thirty years, making the first improvements upon it and moving to it after his marriage. He has been a man of great prominence in both the township and county. When the Mercer family came to the township four taverns were in a flourishing state of existence. These were the ones at Gambleville and Somerset Centre, and those of Elias Branch and Warner Bunday, west of the Centre, all on the Chicago turnpike. Their patronage was very extensive in those days, and nightfall always found them full of weary travelers, who, when the beds had all been occu pied, made temporary couches on the floor or in other convenient places. The first settlers in the southeast part of the township were Jacob Brown and Bela Norton, who located on section 35 in 1834-35. These were the only ones south of the Mercer place and east of the centre of the township when the latter family came, in October, 1835. William Throop, living south of Somerset Centre, is one of the pioneers of the township, having emigrated hither from the State of New York, some time previous to 1840. The year 1835 also witnessed the arrival of three families from Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y.,-those of Deacon James Brezee, Warner Bunday, and Peter Shafer, who started from their old homes for Michigan together. Arriving at Buffalo, Mr. Brezee took passage on a boat, with the household goods, while the three families proceeded onward through Canada by team. Arriving safely in Detroit, they came on to Somerset. Mr. Brezee, who was accompanied by his wife and five children, settled on the farm in the northwest part of the township, now owned by McKee Lyons, who purchased it of him, he (Brezee) moving to another farm adjoining on the north, where he resided until his death. When the Brezee family first came they stayed a few days with Elias Alley, at Somerset Centre, until they could finish a house for themselves,into the latter they moved in December, 1835. Of Mr. Brezee's children the youngest son, Loren, yet lives in the township, and another son, Win. H. Brezec, is a resident of Morenci, Lenawee Co. The latter was elected inspector of schools in Somerset when but twenty-one years of age, and he and his father were both prominent in the political history of the township, as will be seen by reference to the list of town officers. The following items were contributed by Warner Bunday, now of Litchfield, to the Pioneer Society, from the records of which they are taken: Mr. Bunday first came.to Michigan in 1824; returned soon to Canandaigua, N. Y., and in 1835 came back and purchased nearly a thousand acres of land in Somerset; cleared 450 acres, and inclosed it with 6~ miiles of railfence. He built a log house in December, 1835, 22 by 32 feet, and in 1836 began keeping hotel on the Chicago turnpike. At that time, in the distance between Jonesville and Monroe Junction-25 miles-there were, according to Mr. Bunday's assertion, 25 hotels, or one for each mile! Religious meetings were held in this neighborhood in the latter part of 1835. Alvah Foster, who came from Roxbury, Cheshire Co., N. H., settled in Somerset, May 26, 1835, and is living yet. Jeremiah Belding located near Mr. Foster in the same year. He died in the fall of 1878, and was over ninety years of age. Jonathan Haynes, who lived a mile north of Gambleville, at what was called "Haynes' Corners," was among the earlier settlers in the township. He afterwards became a local preacher in the Methodist Church. Oliver C. McLouth purchased land from the government on section 36, and settled upon it in 1835. He came here from Wayne County. His son, John McLouth, has held numerous prominent positions-supervisor, justice of the peace, etc.-in the township of Wheatland, where he now resides. It is related that when the township of Wheatland was 0 a 4 0 Co 0 u Ld -i a.J 0 (a -i z L&L 0 U3 it ww z 0 /c Lt. 0 u u z uj ct MR. ANDREW McDOUGAL. MRS. ANDREW McDOUGAL. ANDREW McDOUGAL. The parents of Mr. McDougal were natives of the county of Donegal, Ireland. His father came to this country when nineteen years of age, and settled in the town of Groveland, Livingston Co., N. Y. Here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1854, and it was here that Andrew was born, Sept. 18, 1817. He lived with his father until he attained his majority, when he resolved to make for himself a home in Michigan. He accordingly came to Hillsdale County, in October of 1838, and purchased the northwest quarter of section 27, in the town of Somerset, upon which he has since resided. The land was entirely unimproved, and the fine farm of to-day is the result of his own industry and energy, and a monument to his thrift and frugality. Mr. McDougal was married to Miss Mary Gambol, of Groveland, Livingston Co., N. Y., where she was born Oct. 22, 1815. They have been blessed with three children,Lucretia, born October, 1837; Margaret E., born June, 1841; John, born November, 1842. Although he has taken an active part in all matters devoted to the interests of his town, county, or State, he has never sought political advancement. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type. He has occupied many positions in the affairs of his town, and has always discharged his duties with fidelity to the trust reposed in him, and with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen. Mr. McDougal is a prominent member of the Methodist Church, and has done much to advance the cause of religion. An ardent friend of education, he has done his part in the advancement of educational interests. Socially he is genial and courteous, earning and retaining the regard and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. He can look back upon his past life with the assurance that he has improved his opportunities, and that he has done his part in developing the resources of his town, in building up and advancing the best interests of the church and society, thus earning the position he occupies among the representative men of Hillsdale County. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 235 I divided and Somerset formed, Thomas Gamble, from Wheatland, Monroe Co., N. Y., wished the original name to be retained by the latter town (Somerset); but as a majority of the prominent settlers at that time had come from Somerset, Niagara Co., and wished the name of their township to be given, it was decided in their favor, and Somerset became one of the sisterhood of towns, with a name reminding its inhabitants of the homes they had left in an eastern land. Andrew McDougal settled in 1838, on section 27, north of the present school-house site, where he still resides. He came from the same locality in New York (Groveland, Livingston Co.) from whence the Mercer family had emigrated three years previously, and is related to them. Richard E. Weaver, of Hartland, Niagara Co., N. Y., settled in Somerset in October, 1835. He left the above county with his father, in company with four other families, May 1, 1835, and came through to Adrian, Mich. His father, William Weaver, located land in the township that summer, and they settled upon it in October, as stated. Mr. Weaver, Sr., was originally from the Green Mountain region, having moved to Niagara Co., N. Y., from Rutland Co., Vt. Among those who entered land in Somerset township in 1834 were the following persons: Amos Hixson, Lewis Carrier, Samuel Mills, Elias H. Kelley, Hezekiah Griswold, Jeremiah Loucks, Daniel Strong, Samuel O. Clark, Eli Bugbee, George Oncans (or Omans), Arza Finney, David Binns, William Welch, Rufus Gilford, David Catelle, Benjamin D. Bond, Stephen Darlington, Gideon and David Harkness, Zachariah Van Duzar, Jabez H. Jackson, William Gallup, Stephen Vail, Welcome Graham, and William T. Webster.* Probably many of these never located in the township, but it is known that part of them did. From the records of Somerset are copied the following interesting agreements of parents to the marriage of their daughters: "This may certify that I, Betsey Chichester, of the township of Tecumseh, State of Michigan, do hereby consent to the marriage of my daughter, Clarissa Chichester, to Nathan McLouth, now of the township of Somerset, in the County of Hillsdale, Michigan. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of January, 1838. "BESTEY CHICHESTER. "In presence of ELIZA IVES." "This may certify that I, Edward Gould, of the township of Somerset, County of Hillsdale, and State of Michigan, do hereby consent to the marriage of my daughter, Lavinia, to John Young, of the same place. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day offMarch, 1839. his "EDWARD X GOULD. mark. "LEWIS CARRIS." The first white child born in this township was Frances Griswold, whose mother was a sister to Orson Herrington (who settled in September, 1833). Mrs. Griswold lived but a short time after the birth of her daughter, and her death was the first one among the settlers in the township, occurring in the fall of 1833. Her father, David Her rington, died the same winter, from a sickness contracted by overwork in drawing logs near Crystal Lake. Mrs. * Hogaboam's History of the Bean Creek Valley. Griswold's husband drove stage on the Chicago road, and after the death of his wife removed to Galena, Illinois. OFFICIAL RECORD. The act creating the township of Somerset specified that the first town-meeting should be held at the house of Thomas Gamble, but it appears from the records that it was held instead at the house of Cornelius Millspaw, on the third day of April, 1837, at which time the following officers were elected, viz.: Supervisor, Heman Pratt; Town Clerk, John McKnight; Justices of the Peace, Warner Bunday, Heman Pratt, Amos Fairchild, William Weaver; Assessors, William Mercer, Alvah Foster, Orson Herrington; Commissioners of Highways, Daniel Strong, Chauncey Kennedy, Jonathan Haynes; Collector, Samuel O. Clark; Directors of the Poor, Cornelius Millspaw, David Weatherwax; Inspectors of Common Schools, Warner Bunday, Alvah Foster, Arza Finney; Constables, Samuel O. Clark, Daniel Millspaw, William Hoard; Overseers of Road Districts, James Gowin, Cornelius Millspaw, Orson Herrington, Samuel O. Clark, David Weatherwax, William Webster, Chauncey Kennedy, Daniel Strong. At this meeting it was " Voted, to raise as much money for the support of common schools as shall be apportioned to our town from the general school fund." In 1840 it was " Voted, to pay a bounty of $10 for killing full-grown wolves in this town, and $5 for killing any wolf under six months old, said wolves to be caught in said town." "Voted, that any person who shall suffer his ram to run at large out of his own inclosure, between the first day of September and the first day of November, shall pay a fine of $5." In 1841 wolf bounties were reduced to five and two and a half dollars, and fifty cents bounty was paid for each fox scalp. Cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs, " except rams, boars, and stud horses," were free commoners in 1841. The following is the jury list for Somerset in the year 1841: Grand Jurors.-Jeremiah Belding, Samuel Dunn, Arza Finney, Alvah Foster, William P. Gibbs, Chester Hunt, Jonathan Haynes, Samuel B. Randolph, Azariel Smith, Newton C. Wolcott, William Weaver, Warner Bunday, Elijah Slayton, Mitchell Gue. Petit Jurors.-James Brezee, Mahlon Brown, Samuel O. Clark, Timothy Gay, Edward Gould, Andrew McDougal, Ransom S. Olds, James Palmer, Peter Shafer, Ashur Strong, William T. Webster, Johnson Davidson, Sanford D. Hopkins, Isaac Derby. A list of the principal officers of the township from 1838 to 1877, inclusive, embraces the following names: SUPERVISORS. 1838. William Weaver. 1839. Elias Branch. 1841. William Weaver. Azariel Smith. 1842-44. William Mercer. 1845. Jabez S. Mosher. 1846-47. Chester Hunt. 1848-49. William Mercer. 1850-51. Chester Hunt. 1852. Daniel C. Crane. 1853-55. William Mercer. 1856-57. William P. Richards. 1858. William Mercer. 1859. William P. Richards. 1860. George A. Smith. 1861-62. Sanford D. Hopkins. 1863-64. Newton C. Wolcott. 1865-68. Sanford D. Hopkins. 1869. William Mercer. 1870-73. Sanford D. Hopkins. 1874-77. Andrew N. Westcott. 236 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. TOWN CLERKS. COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. 1838-39. Wolcott G. Branch. 1840. James Gowans. 1841-42. Charles Farnsworth. 1843. George L. Moore. 1844. Jabez L. Mosher. 1845. George L. Moore. 1846. John M. Munson. 1847. George L. Moore. 1848-50. Oliver Lathrop. 1851. Charles Farnsworth; died in office, and vacancy filled by the appointment of John McKnight. 1852. Orson Herrington. 1853-54. Roosevelt H. Davis. 1855. Charles B. Moon. 1856-57. Roswell R. Farnsworth. 1858-62. Aaron Bickford. 1863. Dennis Clancy. 1864. Aaron Bickford. 1865. Dennis Clancy. 1866-68. Warner Bunday. 1869. David A. Turrell. 1870-77. Oscar D. Brown. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1838. Elias Branch. 1839. Timothy Gay. 1840. William Mercer. Anson Root. 1841. Newton C. Wolcott. 1842. Elias Alley. Heman Pratt. 1843. William Mercer. 1844. Jabez S. Mosher. 1845. Adam S. Dunn. 1846. Elias S. Alley. 1847. William Mercer. Walter S. Moore. 1848. Walter S. Moore. 1849. Jesse D. Payne. 1850. Henry B. Fuller. William Weaver. 1851. Ransom S. Olds. Augustus G. Fisk. 1852. Walter S. Moore. William Mercer. 1853. William Weaver. Abel Scott. William P. Richards. 1854. William H. Brezee. 1855. Augustus G. Fisk. 1856. William O. Smith. 1857. William Weaver. 1858. William H. Brezee. 1838. Alvah Foster. Elias Alley. William Mercer. 1839. James Gowans. Alvah Foster. Orson Herrington. 1840. Freeman T. Kellogg. Alvah Foster. George Abbott. 1841. Freeman T. Kellogg. John McKnight. Lemuel D. Brown. 1842. John McKnight. F. T. Kellogg. 1843. John McKnight. 1838-4 1859. D. C. Crane. 1860. Samuel O. Clark. Seth Aldrich. Charles L. M. Andrus. 1861. George Brown. 1862. Charles L. M. Andrus. 1863. Seth Aldrich. Orson Herrington. 1864. David A. Turrell. 1865. Townsend Coats. George Brown. 1866. Dennis Clancy. 1867. Seth Aldrich. 1868. Joshua Davison. 1869. Isaac Kinney. 1870..Dennis Clancy. George Brown. 1871. Seaton Flint. 1872. Joshua Davison. 1873. George Brown. Robert Harper. 1874. William P. McKnight. Dennis Clancy. 1875. Seaton Flint. Lucius Powers. 1876. Lucien B. North. 1877. George Brown. Jonathan Haynes. 1838. James Brezee. William Knapp. Robert Bilby. 1839. Jonathan Haynes. William Mercer. Elias Alley. 1840. William Knapp. Elias Alley. Chester Hunt. 1841. Jeremiah Belding. Jonathan Haynes. Orson Herrington. 1842. Jonathan Haynes. Adam S. Dunn. William Knapp. 1843. Jonathan Haynes. Andrew McDougal. Samuel W. Parsons. 1844. William G. Throop. John Munson. Lewis Fuller. 1845. William Hoard. D. F. Hurd. Samuel M. Hagerman. 1846. Cicero J. Van Allen. Samuel M. Hagerman. Phipps W. Hewitt. 1847. Jason Tayre. William Knapp. Elias Alley. 1848. Elias Alley. 1849. John McKnight. 1850. Samuel Dunn. 1851. Sanford D. Hopkins. 1852. Jason Tayre. Alvah Foster. 1853. Charles N. Lewis. 1854. Jesse D. Payne. 1855. Jason Tayre. 1856. Alvah Foster. Sanford D. Hopkins. 1857. Jesse D. Payne. 1858. S. D. Hopkins. 1859. Elias Alley. 1860. Lemuel D. Brown. 1861. Martin C. Rogers. 1862. Rufus Smith. 1863. John S. B. Weatherwax. 1864. Benjamin F. Carney. 1865. Jesse D. Payne. 1866. Jabin Strong. 1867. Benjamin F. Carney. 1868. Gardner Foster. 1869. Jabin Strong. 1870. Benjamin F. Carney. 1871. Henry Harper. 1872. Jabin Strong. 1873. Andrew N. Westcott. 1874-75. Henry Harper. 1876-77. Willis Baker. ASSESSORS. 1843. Chester Hunt. 1844. William Weaver. Thomas Jolls. 1845. Newton C. Wolcott. Thomas Jolls. 1846. Thomas Jolls. Horace II. Smith. 1847. Horace H. Smith. William Weaver. 1848. Horace H. Smith. William Weaver. 1849. Horace H. Smith. William Weaver. 1850. Jonathan Haynes. Benjamin Houghtalin. COLLECTOR.:0. Jesse D. Payne. TREASURERS. The officers of the township for 1878 are: Supervisor, Henry S. Walworth; Town Clerk, Oscar D. Brown; Treasurer, Lucien B. North; Justice of the Peace, Dennis Clancy; Commissioner of Highways, Willis Baker; Township Superintendent of Schools, R. A. Randolph; Mr. Randolph resigned and John S. Flint was appointed in his place, but failed to qualify, and the position was finally filled by the appointment of William T. Morous; Inspector of Schools, Hosea C. Aldrich; Constables, Charles Camburn, Stowell Jones, Ira Smith, Andrew J. Geer. The ingenuity of the early settlers was considerably taxed by their endeavors to select marks by which to distinguish their cattle, sheep, and hogs, which were permitted to run at large. Among those adopted were the following: Sept. 30, 1835.-Thomas Gamble's mark-a crop from the right ear, and a half crop from the upper side of the left. April 16, 1836.-John McKnight's mark-a crop from the right ear, and a slit in the same. April 29, 1836.-Elias Alley's mark-a crop from the right ear and a slit in the same, and a slit in the left. May 18, 1836.-Timothy Gay's mark-a swallow fork from the right ear, and a crop from the left. June 1, 1836.-Elias H. Kelly's mark-a hole in the right ear. Nov. 7, 1836.-Jacob Brown's mark-a crop from the left ear, and a slit in the same. Same date.-Thomas Joll's mark-two slits in the left ear. Dec. 5, 1836.-Cornelius Millspaw's mark-a crop from the left ear, and a slit in the right. Dec. 25, 1837.-Mitchell Gue's mark-a crop from the left ear, and a half-penny from the upper and lower sides of the same. 1839-40. Charles Farnsworth. 1841. Lemuel D. Brown. 1842-43. Jabez S. Mosher. 1844. Timothy Gay. 1845. John McKnight. 1846. Jabez S. Mosher. 1847. Thomas Jolls. 1848. Daniel H. Shepherd. 1849-50. Thomas Jolls. 181-52. Matthias Slaght. 183-54. Jason Tayre. 1856-58. Daniel Ostrom. 1859-60. Martin C. Rogers. 1861. Asher T. Strong. 1862. M. C. Rogers. 1863-64. James A. Strong. 1865. Jabin Strong. 1866-68. Nathaniel K. Haynes. 1869-70. Willis Baker. 1871-72. Allen W. Dunn. 1873-74. Lucien B. North. 1875. Benjamin Dunn. 1876-77. Henry S. Walworth. 1I Lai tl a: - 0Q Lcr Z Lo - uZ C0 az 03 Q CJ ca -I L. La V1 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 237 I i May 24, 1847.-J. S. B. Weatherwax's mark-a hole in the left ear by a punch and a " happany," done by the same punch, under the right ear. These marks were all recorded in the township book of records, and each was illustrated in an artistic manner by drawing the outline of a sheep's head and showing the marks on the ears. EARLY SCHOOLS. The first school in Somerset was taught at Gambleville, in 1834, by Mrs. Clark, a daughter of Judge Heman Pratt. This was a summer school, and the term lasted three months, the number of scholars being but 5 or 6. Judge Pratt taught in the same building,-a rude log school-house, the succeeding winter and at later periods. His father was a school-teacher forty-six years. The judge had charge of the school in 1835, and among the scholars were several of Samuel Mercer's children. The school district in which Hon. William Mercer now resides was organized in 1845, and a log school-house built half a mile north of the present frame school building at the corners, the latter having been erected in the neighborhood of the year 1850. A log school-house was built in 1836 a mile south of the present residence of Elias Alley. It was difficult to maintain a school here, as the number of pupils for several years was quite small,-the attendance sometimes being no more than three,-but by persistent effort it was kept up until it became one of the important schools of the township. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. In the spring of 1836, Rev. Mr. Wolcott organized a Presbyterian society at Somerset Centre, and remained as their minister for a short time. Rev. Mr. Morton was one of the early pastors also. The present frame church at the Centre was built about 1840-42. This society has no existence at this date (January, 1879), and the old church is now the property of a Methodist Episcopal organization, whose pastor is Rev. Mr. Berry, of Fuller's Mills, Jackson Co. Subsequent to the year 1850, numerous membership of the Presbyterian Church at the Centre seceded and formed the present Congregational Church at Gambleville, where they built a frame church. This society is at present in very good condition, and has for its pastor Rev. Mr. Branch, of Grand Ledge. THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SOMERSET was organized at Jerome in the fall of 1873, and the present frame church dedicated in the fall of 1875. This society had also been previously connected with the original church at the Centre, and when the division occurred and a new church was built at Gambleville, this part moved to the southwest part of town, and held meetings in the Payne school-house, moving to Jerome, and reorganizing, after that village was laid out. The membership in December, 1878, was about 35, and the pastor is the same who has charge of the congregation at Gambleville,-Rev. E. T. Branch. A Sabbath-school is sustained during the summer months. BRICK-YARD AND TILE WORKS. It is the experience of farmers in this vicinity that underdraining pays at least twenty-five per cent., and the cheapest and most durable material to use in forming drains is the uniform drain-tile. Seth Aldrich, one of the early settlers in Somerset, began the manufacture of tile and earthenware in this town in 1842, turning the first tile on a wheel. The demand for the article increased, and to keep up the supply he purchased a hand-tile machine, and in the spring of 1858 made his first " horseshoe" tile (it was so named from the shape of the orifice), which gave entire satisfaction. His son, Hosea C. Aldrich, the present proprietor of the works, assisted his father in his labors until 1862, when he enlisted in the 18th Michigan Infantry, and served three years, during six months of which time he was immured in one of those terrible places,-a rebel prison. He was finally released, and started for home on the ill-fated steamer "Sultana," which exploded her boiler on the passage up the Mississippi River, and hurried into eternity so many of the brave sons of Michigan. Mr. Aldrich was picked up for dead, but finally returned to consciousness, and ultimately to his home, where he engaged in the old work once more. In 1866 he purchased the works from his father, and admitted his brother, B. F. Aldrich, as partner in the business. Each hired a helper, and the sales averaged $1020 annually. The demand, however, increased to such an extent that a larger machine-operated by horse-power -was purchased in 1870, and a factory built, which is 30 by 137 feet in dimensions, standing near the clay bed. In 1873, Hosea C. Aldrich purchased his brother's interest, built a larger kiln, and employed from four to six hands. In 1876 he purchased a brick-machine, and added a brickyard to his establishment, which necessitated the employment of more help. In 1877 he built a pottery, in which he placed two wheels and two turners, and erected another kiln in which to burn ware. Mr. Aldrich has probably the best clay in the State for making drain-tile, and the truth of this assertion is demonstrated by the fact that some of the tile manufactured here have been in the ground thirty-five years, and are as sound to-day as when first laid. Mr. Aldrich now burns five kilns of tile, two of flower-pots (of which he makes a specialty), and one of brick annually. Increased facilities will be added as the demand warrants. Two kinds of clay exist here, and white and red brick are both manufactured and kept on hand, as well as flower-pots, pipe-tile from two to six inch, "D" tile from two to seven inch, and horse-shoe tile from two to eight inch. Mr. Aldrich is to be congratulated on the extent of his work and the favor with which his manufactures are everywhere received. Among those who have furnished information in this town are Hon. William Mercer, Elias Alley, Esq., William H. Brezee (of Morenci), Oscar D. Brown, Lewis Fuller, Charles Sutfin, Hosea C. Aldrich, and numerous others whose names are not now recollected. Our obligations to all are hereby acknowledged. 238 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. SETH ALDRICH. The ancestors of the Aldrich family were from Wales, Great Britain. Seth Aldrich, the grandfather of the subject of this narrative, and the progenitor of the Aldrich family in this country, came from Wales previous to the Revolutionary war, and settled in Uxbridge, Mass. He had five sons,-Enoch, Abraham, Nathan, Abel, and Hosea. The latter was the father of our subject, and moved into Ontario Co., N. Y., in an early day, where he resided until his death. He was an active, energetic business man, and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of pottery. He married Miss Rachel Corrary. They had five children, who grew to maturity,-Sarah, Seth, Emiline, Hall, and Stephen. Seth was born in the town of West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., March 3, 1801. He lived with his father until he attained his majority, when he went to Canandaigua, where he was engaged in the business of a butcher, which he followed until his removal to Michigan, in 1841. He purchased four hundred and eighty acres of land in the town of Somerset. About 1847 he commenced the manufacture of earthenware. He was the first manu 1832, to Miss Minerva Doolittle, by whom he had four children,-Willis K., Benjamin F., Hosea C., and Mary C. Mr. Aldrich has been prominently identified with the development of Somerset, and perhaps there is no one whose influence in society and the church has been more productive of good. A prominent member of the Congregational Church of Somerset, few have done more to promote its religious welfare. A man of marked liberality, a generous supporter, so far as means would admit, of all worthy enterprises, and emphatically a peacemaker, he has always used his best endeavors to quiet or dispel all dissensions and differences arising in his immediate neighborhood. Possessed of many of the virtues, and but few of the faults, of human kind, he has endeared himself to his friends and fellow-townsmen in such a way that he will always be remembered as a kind father, a valuable neighbor, and a worthy citizen. CHARLES M. L. ANDRUS was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Aug. 16, 1808. His father, Jason Andrus, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served as aide-de-camp to General Sullivan. After the war closed he settled in Mil Photo, by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. SETH ALDRICH. faturer of drain-tile in Southern Michigan, in which business he continued until 1863, when he sold to his sons, H. C. and B. F. Aldrich. H. C. subsequently purchased his brother's interest, made extensive improvements in machinery, etc., and is at present one of the most extensive manufacturers of drain-tile, fire-, wall-, and building brick, and flower-vases, etc., in the State. A view of his residece and works is presented on another page. In 1828, Mr. Aldrich was married to Miss Jane Kemphall; by whom he had two children,-Elsey and Jane. Mrs died 183 ande wa aain was aa married, in Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. CHARLES M. L. ANDRUS. ton, where he resided until his death, which occurred in February, 1859. He was a surveyor by occupation, and with the assistance of a friendly Indian, surveyed the county of Coos, New Hampshire. Charles stayed at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he left home to acquire the trade of a tanner and currier. He followed this avocation several years, and in 1833 he established himself in the shoe business in Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Y., where he remained thirteen years. In 1846 he came to Hillsdale County, and settled in the town of Somerset, where he purchased one hundred HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 239 I and forty acres of land, to which he has added two hundred acres. In 1836 he married Miss Leah Mallory, of Macedon, N. Y., by whom he had five children, two of whom are now living,-Cassius M. C., born Dec. 25, 1844, and Josephine H., now Mrs. Benjamin A. Fowle, of Moscow. Although Mr. Andrus is not a pioneer, still he has prominently identified himself with the history of the town. He has led a busy, successful life, and by industry and honorable dealing has acquired a competency. In his political affiliations Mr. Andrus is a prominent Republican, and for many years was justice of the peace. Photos. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. OLIVER E. MOSHER. MRS. OLIVER E. MOSHER. OLIVER E. MOSHER. The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1818. He was the son of Jabez Mosher and Lucinda Dake, who were natives of Saratoga County. When six years of age his parents removed to Mount Morris, Livingston Co.; here the family remained four years, when they moved to Leroy, Genesee Co. Here the elder Mosher resided until his death, which occurred in 1837. Upon the death of his father he was thrown upon his own resources, and he sought employment as a farm laborer. In 1839 he came to Michigan and settled in the town of Somerset. He first purchased forty acres of wild land, which is a part of his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres, for which he agreed to work one year and four months. In July, 1842, he married Miss Louisa Bigelow, of Manchester, Washtenaw Co. She died in 1849, and he was again married to Miss Mary Baker, of Rose, Wayne Co., N. Y., where she was born, Oct. 22, 1828. When nine years of age her father came to Somerset, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Mosher have been blessed with five children, three died in infancy; two sons, Alva and Orrin B., are left to cheer their parents in their declining years. Alva livet near the old place and Orrin resides with his father. DEACON JAMES BREZEE. The traveler through Southern Michigan, sitting in the luxurious palace-cars of to-day, looks out on either side upon a wide expanse of finely-cultivated farms and beautiful homes, and as the variegated scenery of forests, hills, lakes, streams, orchards, farms, school-houses, churches, and villages flit by, in an ever-changing panorama of beauty, may be impressed with the thrift and enterprise of its citizens; but of the trials, hardships, and privations-the courage and endurance necessary to change the unbroken wilderness, peopled with ferocious wild beasts and savage Indians, into this magnificent picture of civilization-he can only get a mere glimpse, by reading the brief and imperfect sketches of some of those hardy old pioneer settlers, to whom the present generation is indebted for the wealth and prosperity so widely scattered over this highly-favored region. As one among the early settlers of Hillsdale County, may be mentioned James Brezee, who was born in Claverac, Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1802. His ancestors were of French and German origin, with an admixture of the " Knickerbocker Dutch" of the Hudson. He was one of a family of nine children, and as they were in limited circumstances, he from early boyhood earned his own living by working out by the month. In 1827 he was married to Miss Frances M. Copeland, of the same town. In 1832 they removed to Wayne Co., N. Y., and the next year to Canandaigua, Ontario Co., where he had the charge of one of 240 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. - -- - --- - -I the farms of Judge Atwater. In 1835 he emigrated to Michigan, and settled in the present township of Somerset, Hillsdale Co. He bought eighty acres of government land, and after paying for his land he had just money enough left to pay for a cow and a barrel of flour. In the intervals of working out by the job, to supply his family, he managed to erect a log house, into which they moved in December the same year, before there was a door, window, or chimney in it. By almost incessant toil at the rudest kinds of labor, he not only supported his family, but in a few years had cleared off and improved his farm and bought one hundred and twenty acres in addition. In all his early toils and struggles and the example of a sincere, practical Christian. To the many old friends and patrons of this work this page is contributed, as a memorial to the life and character of another of the old pioneers of Hillsdale County. WILLIAM MERCER. This gentleman, one of the early settlers of Somerset, and identified with its pioneer history far more than in name, was born in the county of Donegal, Ireland, Oct. 6, 1811. His parents, Samuel and Hannah (Culbert) Mercer, emigrated to this country in 1819, and settled in Livingston County, N. Y. DEACON JAMES BREZEE. he had an able and active assistant in his noble and intelligent wife, whose wise counsels and co-operation contributed much to their prosperity; but just as their circumstances were getting into a prosperous condition, they were called upon to mourn the loss of the devoted wife and mother,she died on the 16th day of March, 1851, at the age of forty-three years. She was the mother of seven children,William H., Fidelia, Catharine, Phebe J., James, Peter, and Loren; of these the only ones living are Win. H. and Loren. In 1858 he was married to Miss Julia Spencer, of Moscow. The fruit of this marriage was one son, Charles. James Brezee, or " the Deacon," as he was generally known, was all his life known as a hard-working honest man, and his sincere and genuine piety commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him, however much they might differ in opinion. He was during his latter years a constant reader of the Bible, which was his text-book, and its precepts were the rule and guide of his conduct in all his transactions. For several years before his death he was afflicted with hernia, rhich, together with an accident, ultimately caused his death. He died in 1875, at seventy-three years of age, leaving behind him the record of an unblemished character, WILLIAM MERCER. The elder Mercer was a farmer, and William's early life was spent upon the farm, receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools of that day. In the fall of 1835 the family emigrated to Hillsdale County, and Mr. Mercer purchased from Government four hundred acres of land in the town of Somerset. Here the elder Mercer resided until his death, which occurred in 1852. He was a man of great energy and a valuable citizen. William remained with his father until 1843, when he purchased one hundred and thirty acres of his father's estate, and which is a portion of his present farm, which consists of two hundred and forty acres. Mr. Mercer has been prominently identified with the political and judicial history of his town and county. In 1844 he was elected associate judge of the Circuit Court, which position he held four years. In 1850 he was elected county judge. This position he filled acceptably until the office was abolished by the provisions of the State constitution. For ten years he has represented his town upon the board of supervisors, and was one of its first officers, and his opinion upon all important matters is fully appreciated. For many years he was justice of the peace, and has filled many other positions of trust with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 241 In 1845, Mr. Mercer was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of David Gambol, Esq., of Groveland, Livingston Co., N. Y. Six children were born to them, all of whom are now living. David G., the eldest, was born February, 1846; Samuel A., November, 1847; Elizabeth, March, 1849; William W., March, 1853; John G., December, 1854; Sarah, December, 1858. In his political belief he is a Democrat of the old-school stamp, and a man of more than an ordinary amount of energy and business ability. By a long life of industry and honorable dealing he has acquired a competency, which he is enjoying in his old age. Few men have been more prominently identified with the material development of the northern part of the county than Mr. Mercer. He has not only witnessed the gradual transition of a small and isolated settlement into a busy and prosperous community, of a semi-wilderness into a fertile and highly-productive region, but in his own person has typified so admirably the agencies which have wrought many of these changes that no history of Somerset township would be complete which did not include some sketch of his life. ROBERT McGREGOR. Robert McGregor was born in the town of Kildrane, County of Donegal, Ireland, March, 1812. His father was a farmer, and had a family of eight boys and one girl, Robert being the eldest. When twenty years of age he emigrated to Nova Scotia; after a short residence in Halifax he went to New York city, where he remained a short time; from New Yotk he went to Canandaigua, where for five years he was engaged as a farm laborer; from Canandaigua he removed to Ohio; here he resided three years, when he again returned to New York. In 1835 lie came to Hillsdale County and purchased the farm where he now resides, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1842 he returned with his family, and has since been a resident of the town of Somerset. In 1838 he was married to Miss Sarah Easlen, of Canandaigua, where she was born in 1810. They have had five children, two of whom are living,William J. and Eliza Jane, now Mrs. T. J. Lowrey. Mr. and Mrs. McGregor are both prominent members of the Congregational Church, and are exemplars of long lives well spent, and will leave to their children that priceless legacy,-an unstained reputation. MOSCOW-. WHEN, on the 17th of March, 1835, the township of Vance-which included the entire county of Hillsdalc-was divided, that portion embraced in range 2 west of the principal meridian was given the name of Moscow. This name has been retained only by township 5 south, being the northernmost one of the range in the county. From the original township have been formed the following separate townships, viz.: Adams, March 23, 1836, first including the territory in range 2 from the present township of Moscow to the State line on the south; Florida, including townships 7, 8, and fractional 9 south, March 11, 1837; township 7 changed to Jefferson, March 17, 1849; Rowland, including townships 8 and fractional 9 south, Jan. 28, 1840, changed to Ransom, March 9, 1848; Bird, from Ransom, April 2, 1849, changed back to Ransom, March 28, 1850; part of Amboy, March 28, 1850. The present township of Moscow, being the earliest settled of the above, very appropriately retained the name. This is an excellent township for agricultural purposes, and is generally well improved. It is well watered by the Kalamazoo River and numerous smaller streams, and a few miniature lakes are also found, the principal ones being Buck and Wyllis Lakes, named from families living near them. The surface is undulating, and the soil such as is common among the " oak openings" of Southern Michigan. West of Moscow village is quite an extensive plain, known throughout this region from the earliest settlement as the 31 "Moscow Plains." It was originally covered with a profuse growth of burr-oak and hazel, and included some of the best land in the township. The population of the township of Moscow in 1838 was 496; there were then within its limits a saw-mill, two merchants, 460 head of neat stock, 70 horses, 18 sheep, and 554 hogs.* For the purpose of comparison with the foregoing figures we insert the following items from the State census of 1874: Total population (627 males, 556 females) in 1874 1,183 Acres of taxable land....................................... 21,142.75 Land owned by individuals and companies.......... 21,198 Acres of improved land.................................... 14,255 Land exempt from taxation.............................. 55.25 Value of same, including improvements.............. $2,564 Acres in school-house sites............................... 5.75 " church and parsonage sites................... 1.50 " burying-grounds................................. 7 Railroad right of way and depot grounds............ 36 Number of farms...................................... 222 " acres in same................................. 21,198 Average number of acres in farms..................... 95.48 Number of acres of wheat sowed in 1874............ 4,536 " " " harvested in 1873....... 3,972 " " corn "....... 1,864 Bushels of wheat raised in 1873.................. 44,105 " corn (" ".................... 59,870 " all other grain raised in 1873.......... 12,335 " potatoes raised in 1873..................... 5,968 Tons of hay cut in 1873................................... 1,292 Pounds of wool sheared in 1873........................ 26,799 " pork marketed in 1873...................... 153,659 " butter made "........ 57,505 " fruit dried for market in 1873....... 18,550 * Gazetteer of Michigan, 1838. 242 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Barrels of cider made in 1873........................... 514 Number of acres in orchards, 1874..................... 456 Bushels of apples raised in 1872........................ 22,209 4" "t 1873........................ 22,647 " cherries " 1872........................ 299 " " " 1873........................ 314 Value of fruit and garden productions, 1872........ $9,057 i" " " "i 1873........ 9,209 Number of horses in township one year old and over, 1874............................................ 602 Number of mules.......................................... 12 " work oxen.................................... 12 " milch cows.................................... 513 " neat cattle one year old and over, other than oxen and cows........... 499 " swine over six months old............... 827 sheep " " "............... 3,765 " sheep sheared in 1873...................... 5,139 flouring-mills in township................ (" persons employed in same................ 8 Capital invested in same................................... $17,500 Number of runs of stone in same...................... 5 " barrels of flour made........................ 3,200 Value of products................................. $27,600 Number of saw-mills................................... 1 " hands employed in same.................. 2 Amount of capital invested.............................. $2,000 Feet of lumber sawed................................... $50,000 Value of products.......................................... $800 Agricultural implement works........................... 1 Persons employed in same................................ 4 Capital invested............................................ $10,000 Value of products........................................... 5,000 Steam carriage factories................................... 1 Persons employed in same............................. 9 Capital invested............................................. $6,000 Value of products................................... 7,614 LAND ENTRIES. At the close of the year 1833, but 3320 acres of land had been entered in what is now Moscow, and this was much more than was taken in any other township. It was divided among the following persons, viz.: Benjamin Fowle, S. N. W. Benson, Samuel Aiken, O. B. Blackmar, Pontius Hooper, Stephen Scott, David Hiller, Thomas Watts, John Simmons, James Winters, T. C. Delavan, Lewis T. Miller, Simon Jacobus, Charles T. Delavan, Lucius Lyon, Alonzo Kies, Mary Miller, and Charles Stuck. Mr. Benson also had land in what is now Scipio. In the present township of Moscow (township 5 south, range 2 west), the following persons had entered land previous to the 27th of April, 138: Section 1.-Benjamin Fowle, Milo Tracy, Seth Farewell, Clarissa Monroe. Section 2.-Samuel Aiken, David Hiller, Thomas Watts, Aaron Spencer, Moses Beaman. Section 3.-Thomas Watts, Amos Spencer, Esek Finch, William H. Hoag, Leander Kimball, Sarah Moore, John P. Cook. Section 4.-Lyman Smith, Esek Finch, Leander Kimball, Tompkins C. Delavan, Daniel McNabb, C. J. Delavan, 0. B. Blackmar. Section 5.-Simon Jacobus, John D. Sinclair, William:t. Schuyler, James H. Miller, C. Pratt, C. L. & W. G. Grant. Section 6.-M. Camburn, John Espie, Isaac Amerman, Ralph Pratt, Phebe Booth, I. P. Christiancy, and II. Forester. Section 7.-W. Potter, Luke Taylor, E. G. Delie, Levi Camburn, Jr., T. C. Delavan. Section 8.-John Simmons, James Winters, O. L. Church, Duncan Sinclair, Hugh Sinclair. Section 9.-0. B. Blackmar, Peter Benson, James Armstrong, J. R. Frink, Anson Mapes, Simon Jacobus..: I I Section 10.-0. B. Blackmar, H. Crittenden, P. Rorend, T. C. Delavan, W. Porter, W. Durant. Section 11. —Silas N. W. Benson, Benjamin Fowle, Jo L. Guion, Aaron Spencer. Section 12.-Benjamin Fowle, S. Scott, Charles Fowle, A. Little, A. White, J. Scott, W. W. Gale, S. W. Sharp. Section 13.-James Gregory, John Keyes, W. Yeow, W. Chaffee, J. Boulton, Benjamin Fowle, Morris Barton. Section 14.-Benjamin Fowle, Caroline Fowle, Edward Griscom, James L. Guion, Samantha Tracy, John Boulton, J. C. B. Section 15.-Lyman Smith, G. Morford, Abram Cutler, Benjamin Fowle, Caroline Smith, Jonas Bond, Simon Jacobus. Section 17.-Pontius Hooper, Tompkins C. Delavan, L. B. Miller, Simon Jacobus, O. L. Church. Section 18.-C. T. Delavan, R. W. Engle, A. M. Eagles, John Blain, A. T. Dyers, Simon Jacobus. Section 19.-Lucius Lyons, S. N. W. Benson, A. Kies, T. Cowles, 0. Rankin, S. P. & A. Jermain. Section 20.-Tompkins C. Delavan, Alonzo Kies, Mary Miller, Ira Mumford. Section 21.-A. Kies, S. Ray, S. P. & A. Jermain, E. R. Howe, A. Mercer, J. Morford. Section 22.-E. R. Howe, A. Mercer, J. Williams, B. K. Wood, Simon Jacobus. Section 23.-Seth Farewell, D. A. Wisner, C. Wisner, Alfred Brown, Charles Fowle, Benjamin Fowle. Section 24.-Joseph Burges, Benjamin Fowle, Levi Woodward, Edmund Randolph, Isaac Lamb, Myron Russell, Robert McClelland. Section 25. —Charles Stuck, Zachariah Van Duzar, Lot Fulkerson, James Tilton, Sheldon W. Sharp, William Talbot, E. Burgess, Zera Ballard, W. P. Van Vechten, William W. Murphy, W. S. Landon. Section 26.-John B. Putnam, Thomas Gilmore, Alfred Brown, S. A. Whittaker, James Tilton, Salmon Sharp, James H. Miller, Charles Butler. Section 27.-George Bansill, George W. Jackson, Ira B. Putnam, Alanson Jermain, Amos Strong, Seth Strong, Charles Noble. Section 28.-William Munroe, Levi Burditt, Ebenezer G. Mills, Philo Mills. Section 29.-Tompkins C. Delavan, Israel Buck, Ira Mumford, John Jermain, Fernando Kies, Pratt & Grant. Section 30.-Stephen N. Edmonds, S. P. & A. Jermain, George Omans, Hewitt Dakin, John Jermain, Alanson Jermain, C. Pratt, and C. L. & W. G. Grant. Section 31.-G. C. Vanhorn, S. P. Jermain, Alanson Jermain, S. B. Blackmar, Sarah Jermain. Section 32.-Justis Vaughn, John Jermain, J. W. Miller, Alfred Brown, Simon Jacobus. Section 33.-Philo Mills, Foster St. John, Salmon Sharp, Isaac Center, Henry Wilcox. Section 34.-S. A. Whittaker, J. A. Center, H. N. Wilcox, Seth Strong, T. 0. Bargarrow, William J. Delavan. Section 35.-Samuel Sharp, Samuel A. Whittaker, Asa Eddy, B. C. Pierce, George W. Nicholas, Samuel Healey, W. Stone. Section 36.-Charles Stuck, Wm. G. Sprague, Zachariah PI PI z 0 'II C) Cl) x -9 Wi 0 C):0 C) z I ::;00: i:f00:f:: A::: 0: \: 9 I:: ff\::D:C \D L: S A: It:\ ST f DaS 4 DVi 0 $: f SS:;::;000:: f: D Of dD00:: X 0:0$fff: A:: b 0 f0 fff\dfffff: a:: S S:f:T f Ci:Dit of g:::000ff f 0 < XCH:\' 0: t of::: 0 f f f:fffffff of::0S g A A00 L 0 0 X0Sr?::::0:::: fr0::j:000g0004 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 243 Van Duzar, William Warren, Sheldon W. Sharp, Charles Fowle. SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. " Westward the course of empire takes its way." From the band of "Pilgrim Fathers," who braved the dangers of the sea in order to rear for themselves homes in the American wilderness, has descended a hardy race. Their children's children moved westward into the hilly and timbered region of Eastern New York, and strove for supremacy with the "' Knickerbockers." As the population increased, it spread farther west, and anon the beautiful region surrounding the lakes of Central New York, —the famous "Black River Country" and " Genesee Country,"-was filled up and improved, and the savage race was forced to recede. Ohio's " Western Reserve" offered many inducements to settlers, and still the tide was not checked. The " Black Swamp," with all its terrors, was not of sufficient account to prevent the adventurous from making their passage through it, and the flowery plains of Michigan received attention from the sons of the East. From nearly every county in New York, from parts of Pennsylvania, from the Jersey gardens, from the land of wooden nutmegs, from beneath the shadow of Greylock, Wachusett, Monadnock, and Ascutney, from the banks of the sweeping Connecticut, the busy Merrimac, and the forests of Maine, poured forth an almost endless tide of emigration, and the change in the " Peninsular State" was wonderful. Hillsdale County lay on the main highway over which was the greatest amount of travel, and her many advantages were quickly recognized. Between Tecumseh and White Pigeon the first settlement was made within her borders. Moscow was third in the county to become the home of a white man, and the record of entries shows that her development and growth were exceedingly rapid. The first settler in Moscow was Silas N. W. Benson, who entered a large amount of land in the township, and located upon the portion of it where Moscow village now stands, in 1830. The orchard, which is yet in existence on the premises of O. C. Gale, was set out by Mr. Benson, in 1835, and was the first in the township. A log tavern was built by Mr. Benson, in 1830, on the corner where now stands the hotel kept by Henry Rynex. In 1832, during the Black Hawk war, he built the present frame structure, and the log part stood but a few years thereafter. Lyman Blackmar was the second white man to locate within the limits of the present township of Moscow, making his home two miles west of the village. He built a log house, and for a long time kept a tavern. It was customary to convene the town-meetings at his house. George C. Munro, of Jonesville, who built the first brick house in Hillsdale County, states that Mr. Blackmar built the second one, upon his place in Moscow, in 1842. Charles Fowle, who built a "cobble-stone" house in 1840, says that Mr. Blackmar was then living in his brick residence. Both these statements are made from memory, and we are unable to determine which is correct. Mr. Blackmar was chosen the first Judge of Probate for Hillsdale County, and held that office twelve years. He also kept the first post-office in Moscow township, previous to 1838, at his place west of the village. It has always borne the same name as at present, no better one having been fixed upon. A man by the name of Stewart, who also lived west of the village, was postmaster after Judge Blackmar. After the office was removed to the village, Brooks Gale was appointed to take charge of it, and continued in the capacity of postmaster for a long term of years. Politically, he was a Democrat. When Gen. Harrison was elected President, in 1840, Mr. Gale sent in his resignation, giving as a reason for such a step, that he was "opposed to the administration elect!" The department informed him that his excuse was not sufficient, and retained him in the office. He was succeeded by his brother, George Gale, and since then it has been held by numerous persons, among them being Dr. S. C. Merwin, John Arnold, A. Thompson, and others. Mr. Thompson is the present incumbent, the office being located in his store, at Moscow village. He has held numerous township offices also, and has resided here since 1818. By far the greater proportion of the early inhabitants of this town, as is the case with all others in Southern Michigan, emigrated from the "Empire State," and except for the purpose of ascertaining the counties in which they formerly resided, it is scarcely necessary to ask from whence they came. A person acquainted with the customs is nearly certain to distinguish a New Yorker, without asking questions. A chief peculiarity among them is the preva-lence of good cooks. The matrons of New York and New England are among the best cooks in the world, and to one accustomed to their fare a return to it is most gratifying after long experience among people from other portions of the East dr South. The manners and customs of the pioneers have been transmitted to their children, and the savory dishes placed upon the groaning tables of Michigan, Illinois, or Wisconsin, are nearly identical with those to be found still in the East-in the land of the forefathers. Livingston Co., N. Y., furnished a large number of the earlier inhabitants of Hillsdale County. Among those who ventured to locate in Moscow were Charles and Benjamin Fowle, who emigrated in 1833,-the latter with a wife and one child. Their brother James had settled at Blissfield, Lenawee Co., in the spring of 1830. Charles Fowle was the next to leave the old home, coming to Michigan in the fall of 1830, and helping his brother James on.the river Raisin until the spring of 1831, when he returned to New York, and stayed there until his removal to Michigan in 1833. This trip was made on foot the greater part of the distance through Ohio. Benjamin came by water. Charles stopped with his brother at Blissfield and helped him plant his corn, and then pushed on to Moscow, where he boarded at the log hotel of Silas N. W. Benson. He purchased land early in June, 1833, on sections 1, 11, 12, and 14, and is still residing upon a portion of it '(section 12). In the winter of 1833-34 he built a log house on his place, having been to New York and married in October, 1833. In June, 1833, Benjamin Fowle bought of Silas Benson, for $1400, the 80 acres upon which he afterwards laid out the village of Moscow. He moved upon it in August following, and during his residence on the village site occupied 244 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the log tavern which Mr. Benson had built in 1830. In 1834 he purchased government land just above the village (where his son, Harmon Fowle, now lives), built a log llouse, and lived in it until 1839, when he erected the frame house now occupied by his widow and his son, Dr. Orrin Fowle. The wife of Benjamin Fowle aided in making the fence which inclosed the first fair-ground of the first agricultural society in the county. This was done by sewing strips of factory cloth together and placing them around the grounds like the walls of a tent. The first death of an adult in this township was that of an aged lady,-Mrs. Brown,-the mother of Maj. Daniel Aiken, an early settler here and afterwards a resident of Jonesville. Mrs. Brown's death occurred in 1834, and she was the first person buried in the Blackmar Cemetery. The box which held her remains was made by Charles Fowle. In the latter part of June, 1833, an infant child of Samuel Benson died and was buried on his place. This was probably the first death of a white person in the township. Mr. Benson was a brother to S. N. W. Benson. William Benson was also an early arrival, and of one of the men of that name a good story is told. It was in the year 1843, his daughter had just been married, and in the evening a crowd gathered to serenade the bridal couple after the fashion of the day. The noise of horns and various other instruments grew louder and louder, and became almost unbearable. An appeal was made to some one to "repel invaders." Finally Mr. Benson, who was a strong, stalwart man, sallied forth with his equally stalwart sons, and in a few minutes the uproar was ended and the premises cleared of the mischievous crowd. The " horning" was stopped, and the father and sons returned to the house with the flush of victory on their brows. Possibly the first marriage in the township was that of Wolcott G. Branch, of Somerset, and Miss Alvira Rounds, daughter of Parvis Rounds, an early settler. The lady is now Mrs. Weatherwax, of Somerset Centre. The first white child born in Moscow was probably Lucy Fowle, a daughter of Benjamin Fowle, whose birth occurred about the latter part of 1833. She is now Mrs. Charles Hollingsworth. Among the first settlers in the western part of the township was Jacob Kesselring, from the town of Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y. (originally from Germany), who came to Michigan in September, 1835, and located in what is now Scipio, two miles westward from his present residence in Moscow. There he purchased forty acres of government land, having but five dollars left after paying for it. He had earned his money working by the day in the State of New York. He was accompanied to Michigan by his wife, four sons, and a daughter. Two of the sons went afterwards to California, where one died. One resides at Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, and five of the children are living in Moscow. When Mr. Kesselring came he endeavored to get work at Marshall at his trade of baker and brewer, but failed, and in lieu of other work, chopped wood at Jonesville at the rate of two shilling per cord. In the fall of the same:year was paid five shilling and sixpence per cord; yet w:t provisions s and pork two shillings a pound, it required much ingenuity to secure sufficient for the use of his family, and the same was the case with many others. The supply was many times unequal to the demand, and more than once did the settlers have to practice the strictest self-denial in their consumption of food in order to subsist equally for a given time. The most of the merchandise was brought in by way of Tecumseh. This portion of the township was not settled rapidly, and for a supply of meat it was only necessary to kill a deer or a bear, both of which abounded in considerable numbers. After living two years in Scipio, Mr. Kesselring moved into Moscow in the fall of 1837, locating on the farm now owned by his son, Daniel B. Kesselring, afterwards on the place he now occupies, on the south side of the road from his son's place. His land in Moscow he purchased from John Jermain, but made the first improvements upon it himself. Mr. Kesselring is now in his eighty-second year, and, like many others who have passed more than twoscore years in this region, has witnessed its steady development from an almost trackless wilderness to a mighty " power in the land." Israel Buck, living east of Mr. Kesselring's, has been a resident of the State and township also more than forty years. Upon his farm is a small lake which has been given his name. Wallace H. Godfrey settled in the township, with his wife and daughter, in 1838, and became quite prominent therein. He was from Livingston Co., N. Y. For sixteen years he was a justice of the peace in the town, and served as supervisor three years. He died Aug. 20, 1868, aged sixty. The old farm is now owned by his widow and his son, Wilbert. J. Godfrey.* Peter Atwell, now living in the north part of the township, was a very early settler, and was present at the first township-meeting, in 1835. S. A. Whittaker, who settled about 1835-36, was a sonin-law of James Fitten, who settled at the same time. It is said that the Fowles, Littles, and others who resided early in the northeast part of town, were accustomed to going one and a half miles north for water, to a large spring a short distance over the line in Jackson County. There were no wells yet dug in their own neighborhood, neither did any springs exist. Charles Fowle rigged a forked piece of timber in such manner that a barrel of water could be drawn upon it, and with that hauled water for his use. * Wilbert J. Godfrey furnishes the following items: "Wallace II. Godfrey was born to Seth and Mary P. Godfrey, in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Aug. 12, 1808. At the age of three years he, with his father's family, removed to Cayuga County, and at the age of six years to Livingston Co., N. Y., and there remained until the year 1838. Having, in 1834, married Clarissa P. Elmore, he, with his wife and one daughter, Juliette, aged two years, again removed to the township of Moscow, county of Hillsdale, Mich., where he bought of William Y. Baker acres of land with no improvements, paying $6 per acre. This is the west half of the northeast quarter of section 30. In 1850 he bought of William Benson 40 acres,-the southwest quarter of southeast quarter of section 19,-and afterwards 20 acres of Daniel Kesselring,-north half of northwest quarter of southeast quarter,-all of which is at present in the possession of the wife and youngest son, Wilbert J. Godfrey. He held the office of supervisor for three terms, justice of the peace sixteen years, and many other responsible positions. He died at his home in Moscow, Aug. 20, 1868." MRS.,ORATIO N. ROWLEY. JIORATJO N. ROWLEY. ::::-::-::::~I:I:~-:::: ':: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 245 Leonard Miller, now of Jonesville, came to Moscow, in 1839, from Seneca Co., N. Y., and was at that time a young man of nineteen. His uncle, Lewis T. Miller, who was also an uncle of Hon. William H. Seward, so well known as one of the country's greatest statesmen, settled in the township in 1834, and was a delegate to the first Constitutional Convention, in 1836. Leonard Miller was a member of the State Legislature in 1861. Cornelius L. Traverse was one of the pioneers of the township, and died within quite recent years, aged over ninety years. The first practicing physician in the township, and one of the first in the county, was Dr. William J. Delavan, who settled in 1834. IHe owned a large farm on Moscow Plains, and enjoyed a very large practice in HEillsdale and Jackson Counties. He died at Jonesville, Jan. 23, 1875, at the age of seventy-two. Dr. Stillman Ralph was probably the next to locate in town, but soon left it and settled in Scipio, afterwards changing his residence to Jonesville, where he had an office at least as early as April, 1839, for in the first issue of the Hillsdale County Gazette, bearing date April 13, 1839, his card appears, announcing that he has an office in the Manning and Munro block, on the corner of Chicago and West Streets. Dr. S. C. Merwin, from Genesee Co., N. Y., settled in Moscow village, July 22, 1838, where he has since resided and.enjoyed an extensive practice. Thompson Wallace, from Ireland, a school-teacher by profession, settled on a farm in Moscow, June 20, 1842. Daniel Rowley, Jr., was a soldier of the war of 1812, and for his services received a land warrant for 160 acres of land. He was a native of Washington Co., N. Y., his father, Daniel Rowley, Sr., having been a native of the State of Connecticut. The latter served in the patriot army during the Revolutionary war. Daniel Rowley, Jr., came from the town of Wales, Erie Co., N. Y., with his family of three sons and three daughters, and settled in Moscow on the 16th of September, 1836. He died, of apoplexy, April 2, 1865, at the age of eighty-six. His son, Horatio N. Rowley, is now a resident of Moscow township, and a prominent and respectable citizen thereof. He is a native of Erie Co., N. Y. Asa Little, at present living in the township of Somerset, settled in the northeast part of Moscow in November, 1835, and was from Cayuga Co., N. Y. Warren M. Baker, from Ontario Co., N. Y., settled Nov. 1, 1840, and followed the business of farming. A. G. Mosher, from the town of Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y., came to Moscow, June 26, 1846, and removed to Adams township Nov. 3, 1843. Norman D. Howe and his brother Erastus, from the town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y., located on a farm in Moscow on the 10th of June, 1835. The former is now deceased and the latter has removed from the county. James O. Blackmar, the second son of Hon. Lyman Blackmar,-who has been mentioned, is now living in Jeffer son township. He came with his father from Wales, Erie Co., N. Y., and settled in Moscow in September, 1831. Jonathan and Lorenzo Benson, now living in Moscow township, are sons of William Benson, who came here with his family from Springfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1835. William Benson was a cousin to Silas N. W. Benson, the first settler in the township. Stephen and John Kies, brothers, from Cayuga Co., N. Y., settled in the township very early, the former in 1832. The son of one of them, Francis Kies, is still one of its citizens. Robert Engle, from Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., came to Moscow in 1834, and is now residing in Pulaski, Jackson Co. Benjamin F. Pierce, whose widow is living in the township, came here from New York in June, 1846. Daniel McNabb emigrated to Michigan in May, 1835, from Johnstown, N. Y., and was at the time in his twentyfirst year. He earned money enough to buy eighty acres of land, upon which he has ever since resided. D. A. and Calvin Wisner, brothers from Livingston Co., N. Y., located two miles south of the present village of Moscow, in 1836. Their only neighbors in that part of town at the time were Norman D. and Erastus Howe and George Bansel, the latter having probably settled in 1835. Calvin Wisner is not now living, and his brother is engaged in the mercantile business in Jonesville. Amos Gould brought his family into the township in 1838, and still resides southwest of the village. EARLY SCHOOLS. The early schools in Moscow were similar in character to those of every pioneer town in the land, although a somewhat remarkable fact is that her first school-house, which stood near the site of the present Methodist Episcopal church in the eastern part of the village of Moscow,unlike its neighbors in other townships,-was a frame build'ing. This was erected by Benjamin Fowle in 1837, and stood a few feet southwest of the spot now occupied by the church. The nam6 of the person who taught the first school beneath its roof is forgotten. The first school-house in which the young idea residing in the western portion of the town were taught the rudiments of an education, stood a few steps over the line, in what is now Scipio. It was a log building, originally intended for a stable, but was finally transformed into a schoolhouse. It stood near the site of the present " stone schoolhouse," on the Chicago road, and the first school in it was taught about 1840, by an old gentleman named Bates, who subsequently became a justice of the peace. The second school-house in the same neighborhood, and the first in that part of Moscow township, stood on the place now owned by Israel Buck. Probably the second school-house in the township was a log building which was erected as early as 1837 on section 35, on the town line between Moscow and Adams. The first teacher was Miss Melissa Sharp, daughter of Salmon Sharp, the first settler in Adams. She is now the wife of Jonathan Benson, of Moscow. Northward from this, and midway between here and Moscow village, a school was taught about 1840, also in a log building erected for the purpose. 246 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MOSCOW VILLAGE. The Methodists of this neighborhood held meetings as early as 1838-40. They used the school-house at the village for a place of public worship, as did also the Presbyterians and Universalists. A small Methodist class was formed, and in 1852-53 the present frame church was built by H. N. Rowley, Isaac S. Wright, and H. N. McCowen. The latter gentleman came to the State in 1843, and to Moscow in 1851. The building was finished in 1853, during the pastorate of Rev. Isaac Taylor, present presiding elder of this district. The slips were sold in the spring of 1854 for a little more than enough to pay the debt owing to the builders, and the society started free of incumbrance. Rev. Mr. Taylor preached in the schoolhouse before the church was built, and had been preceded by Rev. Mr. Crane. Among those who have been in charge since the church was built are Revs. Wells, Mount, William Copeland, Bignall, Ware, Franklin Gage, Henry Worthington, Russell, Wilkerson, McAllister, Woodward, Merritt, Marble, Crittenden, and others. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Tanner. The membership is not large. A good Sunday-school is sustained The Methodist Episcopal Church in the west part of the town, on the " Moscow Plains," was organized at about the same time with the one at the village, and dedicated its house of worship a little sooner than the latter. The building is a frame structure. The society is at present under the same charge as the one at the village. LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. The township records for the first three years after its organization are missing, and it is impossible to give all the officers for that time. Zachariah Van Duzar, who settled in the township in 1834, was its first supervisor, elected in 1835. Lyman Blackmar was a justice of the peace the same year, and Parvis Round was one of the highway commissioners. Major Daniel Aiken was also living in the township at that time. The following were elected in 1838, viz.: Supervisor, Zachariah Van Duzar; Town Clerk, George Gale; Assessors, Benjamin Fowle, Osman B. Blackmar, and Alva Blodget; Commissioners of Highways, Abraham Vandebogart, Aaron Spencer, and John S. Weaver; Justice of the Peace, Zachariah Van Duzar; Collector, Parvis Round. The following persons were also living in the township at that time, and held various offices: Benjamin C. Pierce, James A. Stewart, Lot Falkerson, Lyman Smith, James H. King, Charles Fowle, William Benson, Garrett Morford, Daniel A. Wisner, Sheldon W. Sharp, Geo. W. Jackson, and Israel Buck. SUPERVISORS. 1839. Othniel Allen. 1850-51. Wallace H. Godfrey. 1840. Daniel A. Wisner. 1852. Benjamin Fowle. 1841. Zachariah Van Duzar. 1853. Orlando C. Gale. 1842-44. Brooks Gale. 1854. Benjamin I. Kenyon. 1845. Zaehariah Van Duzar. 1855. Horatio N. Rowley. 1846. Osman D. Blaekmar. 1856. Abram Ramsdell. 1847t48, Joael Moore. 1857. Horatio N. Rowley. 1849. Zachariah Van Duzar. 1858. Henry 0. Mallory. 1859. HI. N. Rowley. 1860. Wallace HI. Godfrey. 1861-62. Joel Moore. 1863-65. Horatio N. Rowloy. 1866-67. Albert Kenyon. 1868-72. E. C. L. Mumford. 1873-75. Parker B. Shepard. 1876. William Armstrong. 1877. E. C. L. Mumford. TOWN CLERKS. 1839-42. George Gale. 1843. Moses A. Taylor. 1844-45. George Gale. 1846. Benjamin Fowle. 1847. John M. Ford.'1848. Smith C. Merwin. 1849-52. Orlando C. Gale 1853-54. Amandur Thoin 1855-56. Volney V. B. M 1857-59. John D. Van Di JUS' 1839. Azariah Mallory. 1840. George Gale. 1841. Lyman Blackmar. 1842. Samuel A. Whit.tak 1843. Wallace II. Godfre: 1844. George Gale. 1845. Alexander Proudfit 1846. Samuel A. Whittak 1847. Wallace H. Godfrey 1848. Benjamin Fowle. 1849. George Gale. 1850. Samuel A. Whittak 1851. Dr. Stillman Ralph 1852. Wallace H. Godfrey 1853. Ilenry McCowen. 1854. Samuel A. Whittak 1855. Schuyler P. Simons 1856. Wallace IH. Godfrey Horatio N. Rowley. 1857. Henry McCowen. 1858. Calvin Wisner. 1859. John Donovan. 1839-42. Lyman Blackms 1843-14. Benjamin Fowle 1845-46. Calvin Griswold 1847. Nathaniel R. Hamr 1848. Peter Atwell. 1849. Horatio N. A. Holn 1850. Joel Moore. 1851-52. John C. McKerc 1853. Walter Huntington 1854. William R. Perry. 1855-58. David Cheeny. 1859-60. Daniel McNabb, 1861. Seneca W. Perry, 1839. Daniel A. Wisner, Osman B. Blackmar Charles Fowle. 1840. Orson B. Blackmar. Charles Fowle.: Uriah Mallory. 1841. John McKercher. Isaac A. Center. John S. Weaver. 1839. Parvis Round. 1840. Calvin Wisner. 1860. V. V. B. Merwin. 1861-65. Amandur Thompson. 1866. Amaziah Bibbins. 1867-71. Seneca W. Perry. 1872. Adam Marks, 1873. Oliver IHitt.t. 1874. Addison J. Rowley. pson. 1875. Seneca W. Parker. ervin. 1876-77. Cyrenus M. Parker. uyn. TICES OF THE PEACE. 1860. Robert T. Lewis. 1861. George C. Wyllis. Horatio N. Rowley. er. 1862. George Nutten. y. 1863. No record. 1864. Benjamin I. Kenyon. 1865. George C. Wyllis. er. 1866. John W. Donovan. Y. 1867. Daniel Timms. 1868. Benjamin I. Kenyon. John Pettit. er. 1869. George C. Wyllis. I. Ira M. Waring. Y. 1870. Frederick S. Godfrey. 1871. Daniel McNabb. er. 1872. Amos Gould. 3. 1873. George C. Wyllis. 7. Augustus Borden. 1874. Isaac Travis. 1875. Daniel McNabb. 1876. Orlando C. Gale. 1877. Seneca W. Perry. TREASURERS. lr. 1862. James A. Lynch.. 1863. Seneca W. Perry.. 1864. Joseph McKercher. nond. 1865. Dolphin A. Knight. 1866. James Wheeler. nes. 1867. Cyrenus M. Parker. 1868-70. Amos Gould.,her, 1871. Amaziah Bibbins. 1872. Alonzo F. Eddy. 1873. Edgar A. Blackmar. 1874. Edward Creech. 1875-77. Oliver Hitt. ASSESSORS. 1842. Alvah Blodgett. Otis Briggs. 1843. John McKercher. D. P. George. 1844. Same as 1843. 1845. Daniel A. Wisner. John Bissell. 1846. Alonzo Kies. Horatio N. A. Holmes. COLLECTORS. 1841. Daniel H. Sinclair. * Removed from township, and Smith C. Merwin appointed instead. t Amandur Thompson appointed subsequently in same year to fill vacancy. t Reuhen R. Tingley appointed in Fowle's place. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 247 COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. 1839. Daniel Rowley. Israel Buck. Calvin Wisner. 1840. Same as 1839. 1841. Moses A. Taylor. Calvin Wisner. Joel Moore. 1842. Joel Moore. Sheldon W. Sharp. Ira Mumford. 1843. Sheldon W. Sharp. Amos Gould. Ira Mumford. 1844. Joel Moore. Sheldon W. Sharp. Amos Gould. 1845. Joel Moore. Horace Wisner. Stephen Potter. 1846. Tompkins D. Miller. Calvin Griswold. John C. McKercher. 1847. Alonzo Kies. Alonzo W. Sharp. Benjamin Fowle. 1848. Amos Gould. 1849. Lorenzo Benson. 1850. Schuyler P. Simons. 1851. Amos Gould. 1852. Lorenzo Benson. Horace Wisner. 1854. Schuyler P. Simons. 1855. Charles Griswold. Amos Gould. 1856. Henry C. Mallory. 1857. Schuyler P. Simons. 1858. Warren Nutten. 1859. James G. Blackmar. 1860. Joel Moore. 1861. Iris Hammond. 1862. Joseph Borden. 1863. Amos Gould. 1864. James R. Fletcher. 1865. Elisha C. L. Mumford. Benjamin P. Huff. David Cheney. 1866. David Cheney. Benjamin P. Huff. 1867. Joseph Borden. 1868. E. C. L. Mumford. 1869. David Cheney. 1870. Albert Crane. 1871. De Witt C. Mallory. 1872. Joseph Borden. 1873. Jonathan Nutten. Reuben Strait. 1874-75. Reuben Strait. 1876. E. C. L. Mumford. 1877. D. W. Arnold. The officers for 1878 are as follows: Supervisor, Wm. A. Armstrong; Town Clerk, George A. Harris; Treasurer, Jonathan J. Ramsdell; Justice of the Peace, Foster N. Wilcox; Comnlissioner of Highways, Moses Marvin; Township Superintendent of Schools, Oscar E. Nutten; Inspector of Schools, Edward L. Bansell; Drain Commissioner, John B. Bissell; Constables, Charles Stevens, James McClay, John Entz, William Caldwell. At the annual meeting for 1838, it was "' Voted, That the bounty of five dollars on wolves, as voted at the last annual meeting, be rescinded." In 1839, it was " Voted, That the town pay a bounty of five dollars on each and every full-grown wolf, and twenty shillings for each and every young wolf under six months old, that is taken and killed within the limits of this town; residents of this town are entitled to the above bounty, and no other persons." The following is a list of jurors selected from this township in 1840: Daniel Rowley, Malcolm McKercher, Peter Atwell, Wallace H. Godfrey, Daniel McNabb, James Waring, John McKercher, Benjamin C. Pierce, O. B. Blackmar, John S. Weaver, William Benson, Seth Strong, Azariah Mallory, Samuel A. Whittaker, William Morford, Isaac A. Center, Moses A. Taylor, William Munroe, Robert Engle, Uriah Mallory. On the 6th of May, 1841, the following persons, who had been in the business for some time previously, were licensed by the town board to keep taverns, viz.: James G. Gridley, O. B. Blackmar, and Asa Little; and subsequently Reuben Rice. John Murray was refused a license. The business of tavern-keeping was, perhaps, more than any other' entered into by the early settlers. Those who first located erected log cabins, and never refused shelter to those who came afterward, looking for homes in the wilderness. The roof of the pioneer sheltered all alike, and in very few instances did its host receive pay for hospitalities from his guests. They were free to avail themselves of all advantages he could offer them, and like a band of brothers did they stand shoulder to shoulder along the frontier, and move steadily onward to the goal of prosperity and plenty. It may be said that every man who reared for himself and family a log dwelling, kept public-house therein. VILLAGE OF MOSCOW. Silas N. W. Benson has been mentioned as the first settler at the village or in the township. The log tavern which he built and occupied sheltered many persons who were looking up land and sites for future homes, and families on their way to farms already located. It was one of the first necessities of the time, and served its purpose faithfully. The frame hotel, built two years after,-or in 1832, -has clinging around it the memories of nearly half a century, and its bar-room has echoed with the voices of many who have passed away, and whose history is unknown or forgotten. In the days when travel by stage-coach was the only mode of public conveyance overland, the Benson stand was one of the most popular ones on the route. Benjamin Fowle was its second proprietor, keeping it a year or more. George Gale, from the town of Barre, Washington Co., Vt., settled with his family at Moscow village in 1836, moving at first into a log house which stood opposite the present tavern. In that he stayed but a short time, soon occupying the tavern itself, and continuing its proprietor for many years. The log house he first lived in had been built by Nicholas Vanalstine, who afterwards removed to Jonesville, where he became proprietor of the old " St. Charles Hotel," now out of existence. Mr. Gale's brother, Brooks Gale, came to the village in 1838, and died here; and a third, Orlando C. Gale, who came in 1840, is now living on a portion of the old Benson purchase, in the village. About the year 1843 George Gale established a foundry at this place. The iron with which the first cupola was built was melted in a three-pail kettle, a hand-bellows being used with which to fan the fire. After he had finished the cupola he began the manufacture of plows, and conducted the business a number of years. The foundry was in time purchased by Mr. Gale's sons, who in turn sold to J. H. Kies & Co. S. W. Perry & Co. afterwards owned it, and it is at present operated by Jerome W. Murray. The Messrs. Gale removed to Albion, Calhoun Co., where they established a manufactory on a large scale, and where they still continue to make as good plows as are to be found in the West. Their father died at Albion. The first mercantile establishment in the village was owned by Matthew D.. Willard, who started in business here probably in 1837, his brother, J. Willard, being associated with him afterwards. Their store was in the red building now standing near the residence of Mr. Tryon. When Brooks Gale came, in 1838, he brought a small stock of merchandise, and established the second store at the place. He enlarged his stock in 1839. Upon start ing here he built a small frame store on the ground now occupied by the shop of G. E. Carter. All the citizens collected and aided in cutting and framing the timbers. 248 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. His brother, 0. C. Gale, entered into partnership with him upon his arrival in 1840. The store.now occupied by Amandur Thompson was begun by Osman Blackmar, and purchased by the Gale Brothers before it was finished, they moving their stock into it. The building now occupied by the drug-store was built much later than those mentioned, probably by Benjamin Fowle. The house which is at present used by Isaac Harper for a dwelling was erected for a tavern by Charles Ladd, some time between 1840 and 1850. About the year 1835, James Murray came to the village from Erie County, N. Y., his family following in May, 1838. He, with his son William, and four of his daughters, are yet living in the village. When Mr. Murray came, his father, John Murray, had been here a couple of years, and was keeping a tavern on the west side of the creek, near where James Murray at present resides. In the month of July, 1833, Isaac S. Knight came with his wife and three children, and his parents, from Crown Point, Essex Co., N. Y., to Columbia, Jackson Co., Mich. His parents died in the town of Summit, in the same county. Mr. Knight continued to reside in Jackson County until August, 1850, when he removed to Moscow village, where he is now living, engaged in the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes. Thomas White, familiarly called major, from the fact that he served in the Black Hawk war, is now living in the town of Wheatland. He owned the first blacksmith-shop at the village of Moscow, or for a long distance in either direction on the Chicago road. The shop was in a small shanty on the east side of the Kalamazoo River. For an anvil a large granite bowlder was pressed into service, and although it would not ring as merrily beneath the blows of the hammer, yet it answered every purpose by the exercise of a little patience. Such a rude " contrivance" in these days of anvils with shape fitted to all requirements would appear curious enough; and yet the time is not far past since it was in actual use, and the work done upon it was perhaps as satisfactory as that of the most skilled mechanic to-day. The bowlder anvil was not the only article used at that period which would look very inferior beside those for the same purposes to-day. Agricultural implements have, perhaps, undergone the greatest improvements, while progression has been marked in everything. The early settlers were neither slow to perceive nor unwilling to perform, and any improvement was adopted by them with an instantaneous appreciation of its advantages. As the years rolled away more rapid strides were made toward perfection; and the various implements and tools now in use are in nearly every case wonders of mechanism, yet so simple that it looks curious why they never were discovered before. The reaper of thirty years ago was an unwieldy affair in comparison with the light-running yet strong machine now in use. The same may be said of all. The settlement at the village was long known as " Little Kalamazoo," from its location on the stream of that name. On the 21st of April, 1842, the original village of Moscow was laid out by Benjamin Fowle, on the north part of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 11. The same person platted an addition April 21, 1848, and a second one Oct. 10, 1856. A third addition was laid out by Henry McCowen, March 20, 1857. The first saw-mill in the township was built near the village in 1836-37, by Benjamin Fowle. Grain was ground early in an iron mill owned by Charles Fowle, worked with a sweep by ox-power. This was the first step toward a grist-mill in the township. In 1849-50, a run of stones was placed by George Gale in his foundry, and feed was ground. About 1852 these were removed to Benjamin Fowle's saw-mill, south of the village. A grist-mill was built at the same place during the war of the Rebellion, and is now owned by Mr. Fowle's son, Dr. O. Fowle, being very popular with those in its neighborhood. The large gristmill at the village was erected in 1873, by C. N. Lewis. Hamilton Lodge, No. 113, F. and A. M., located at Moscow village, was organized in August, 1858, with 8 members. Its first Master was Henry Griswold. The present membership (winter of 1878-79) is about 85, and its officers as follows, viz.: Worshipful Master, George C. Wyllis; Senior Warden, Cyrenus M. Parker; Junior Warden, Oliver Hitt; Sec., Seneca W. Perry; Treas., David M. Lyons; Tyler, Addison Rowley. Moscow Grange of Patrons of Husbandry is one of the first organizations of the kind in the county, dating to October, 1874. Its first Master was H. N. McCowen. It has a present membership of about 80, and contemplating the erection of a hall during the season of 1879. Its present officers are: Master, Seneca W. Perry; Overseer, Geo. C. Wyllis; Sec., Cyrenus M. Parker; Treas., Dr. Daniel Timms; Lecturer, H. N. McCowen. Moscow village, although very pleasant, and having numerous local advantages, does not enjoy the prosperity it had during early days, when its hotels were full and popular, its merchants doing an excellent business, and its manufacturing institutions working on full time. The decline of travel over the famous "Chicago road," and the building of railways to other points, gave it a hard blow, such as many other villages of equal importance were forced to sustain. The inhabitant of the present listens in vain for the sound of the coachman's horn, or the angry snap of the lash; the foaming horses which once panted at their stopping-places have given room to the steady-going team of the farmer; the old hotel has comparatively little custom; all the peculiarities of the early days have disappeared, and instead of the great activity and bustle then common " all along the line," the traveler beholds a scene of quiet, everyday life, such as is found in most of the rural villages throughout the land. Now that the tide of immigration has ceased to roll in, and the people have settled to earnest work, the rush once known is no longer necessary. The vicinity of Moscow is one of the bright spots which are so common in this " beautiful peninsula." Dec. 16, 1878, the village contained 2 hotels, 1 dry-goods store, 1 drug-store, a post-office, a Methodist church, a shoeshop, a blacksmith-shop, a millinery-shop, a paint-shop, a wagon-shop, a foundry (where wagons and sleighs are also made and repaired), a grist-mill, etc. For items furnished we are under obligations to O. C. Gale, Charles Fowle, Jacob Kesselring, and many others. I DANIEL MCNABB. MRS. DANIEL MCNABB. DANIEL McNABB. The McNabb family are of Scotch extraction. Peter McNabb, the father of the subject of this narrative, was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to this country about 1803, and settled in Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y., where Daniel was born Aug. 18, 1814. The elder McNabb was married to Margaret Campbell. She was a Scotchwoman, and was a passenger on the same vessel which brought over her husband. They were blessed with three children, who grew to maturity, our subject being the youngest. When Daniel was a child his father removed to Livingston Co., N. Y., where he ended his days, and where Daniel resided until his emigration to Hillsdale, in the spring of 1835. His means being limited, he worked by the month until December of that year, when he purchased from government eighty acres of land, and returned to New York. The following spring he returned with his mother and widowed sister, and commenced the improvement of his farm. Two years subsequently he was married to Miss Joanna, daughter of Daniel Rowley, Esq., of Mos cow, one of the town's first settlers. Mrs. McNabb was born in the town of Wales, Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1815, and came to Moscow with her father's family in the spring of 1836. Mr. McNabb has been a constant and unceasing worker; and now, after an active business life of over forty years, is enjoying a well-earned competency. Industry, economy, and integrity were the first and last lessons of his boyhood. They have been the guide of his life, which is attested by his success in business, and in the high respect and love of his neighbors. Although Mr. McNabb has taken a proper interest in political matters, the whole ambition of his life has been to be a good farmer; and his fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres, and the position he holds among the substantial farmers of Hillsdale County, is evidence of his success. He has been a powerful aid in developing the resources of his town, in building up and advancing the best interests of society, and is in every way worthy of the position he holds among the representative men of Hillsdale County. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 249 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ISRAEL BUCK. MRS. ISRAEL BUCK. ISRAEL BUCK. Among the venerable pioneers who by their own industry, perseverance, and energy laid the foundation for the present wealth and enterprise of the town of Moscow, none are more worthy of a prominent place in the history of Hillsdale County than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. The progenitors of the Buck family were English Quakers, and settled somewhere in New England; but little is known of their history further than that they were a sturdy race of people, and were true to the tenets of their religious faith. Levi Buck, father of our subject, was born April 21, 1786, in either Massachusetts or Connecticut, and when a mere lad moved to Clinton Co., N. Y., where he resided until his death, which occurred June 18, 1816. But little is known of his early life; he followed the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and was a man of great industry, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He married Ruth Hoag, Oct. 30, 1805. She was born on Grand Isle, Lake Champlain, June 28, 1789. She died in the year 1816. Israel Buck, their only child, was born in the town of Peru, Clinton County, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1807; when, in his ninth year, his father died, and he was thrown upon the world to fight unaided the battle of life, and being compelled to rely wholly upon his own resources he developed in boyhood many strong points of character that otherwise might have remained latent. He early resolved to follow farming as a business for life, believing it to be most conducive to health and happiness, and until he attained his majority he worked on a farm by the month. Educational advantages were extremely limited in those days, but by dint of energy and application he obtained what was considered to be at the time a good common-school education. At the age of seventeen he removed to Dutchess Co., N. Y., where 32 he formed the acquaintance of Miss Jane E. Green, whom he married in the year 1828. She was born in the town of Stanford, Dutchess Co., Aug. 3, 1808. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Buck purchased a small farm in the town of Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y. Here they remained about five years, when, owing to the poverty of the soil and his ambition to become a large farmer, he resolved to emigrate to what was then considered to be the far West. Accordingly, in the spring of 1835, he came to Hillsdale County, and purchased two hundred acres of land, where he now resides. Completing his business, he returned to New York, and in the spring of 1836 he came on with his family, which consisted of his wife and three children. The town at this time was almost a trackless wilderness, and Mr. Buck is well qualified to speak of hardships and privations of pioneer times, and did our space permit we could pen from his own lips many a statement that, to the rising generation, would sound more like fiction than fact. Although his location was a fortunate one, still the construction of a farm was a work of no small magnitude, but by degrees field after field was added and industry and frugality were rewarded, and his farm is now considered to be one of the most productive and valuable ones in the county; and as a farmer he holds a deservedly high reputation. Mr. Buck is now in his seventy-second year, and still possesses much of his former vigor and energy. He can look back upon his past life knowing that he has achieved success, and that the toil and privation of early days have been rewarded. But we should be recreant to our duty did we not speak of the many virtues and the valuable assistance rendered him by his worthy helpmeet, who has shared his joys and sorrows and has been his partner in all his trials and hardships. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have been blessed with six children,four boys and two girls. John L., was born in the town of 250 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Chatham, N. Y., Sept. 1, 1829; Emily, now Mrs. G. C. Wyliss, of Moscow, was born in Chatham, July 22, 1832; James J., a prominent attorney of Emporia, Kan., was born in Chatham, Aug. 14, 1835; Helen, wife of Geo. B. Hall, of Shelbina, Mo., was born in Moscow, Jan. 22, 1839; Edmund and Albert B. were born on the old homestead, the former June 30, 1844, and the latter May 10, 1847. John L. married Miss Emeline Sprowls; James J. married Miss Mary H. Tichenor; Edward married Miss Elizabeth Collins; Albert B. married Miss Sarah E. Smith. Photos. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. AZARIAH MALLORY. MRS. AZARIAH MALLORY. AZARIAH MALLORY was born in the town of New Ashford, Mass., on Nov. 27, 1804. His parents were Quakers, sober, staid, and religious; and he early in life imbibed the principles that in after-years became prominent points in his character. When a child, his parents removed to Wayne Co., N. Y., where his boyhood days were passed, and where he resided until he came to Michigan, in June, 1837; he settled in the town of Moscow, where he resided until his death. Here he purchased two hundred acres of land on section 17. Mr. Mallory was a man of great energy and remarkable industry,-in fact, they were his prominent characteristics,-and he became a large land-holder, owning at one time over nine hundred acres of the most valuable land in the town. In the year 1826, Mr. Mallory was married to Miss Azuba, daughter of Abisha White, of Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Y. She was born in the town of Douglas, Worcester Co., Mass., March 12, 1807: her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died soon after its close. Mr. and Mrs. Mallory were blessed with nine children, all of whom are now living but one. Mr. Mallory was a man of pronounced temperance principles, and a liberal supporter of all religious enterprises; he did much to build up and advance the best interests of society, and was a powerful aid in developing the resources of his town,-a man of broad charity, generous liberaly, an ly honor. HORATIO N. ROWLEY. The Rowley family were originally from Wales, Great Britain, emigrated to this country previous to the Revolution, and settled in Connecticut. The immediate subjects of this sketch are from Revolutionary stock. Daniel Rowley, our subject's grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolution; he had a family of seven children, Daniel Rowley, Jr., our subject's father, being the second son. He was born in Washington Co., N. Y., whither his father had removed shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war. The elder Rowley subsequently removed to Wyoming County, where he died at the advanced age of eighty years. Daniel, Jr., lived with his father until he was twentythree years of age, at which time he was married to Miss Lois Holmes. Shortly after his marriage war was declared between the United States and Great Britain, and he enlisted as a soldier and participated in many battles. At the close of the war he settled in Erie Co., N. Y., where he remained until his emigration to Hillsdale County in 1836, and where he resided until his death, which occurred April 2, 1867. His wife died some six years previous. He was blessed with nine children,-Lydia, John M., Joanna, Nelson, Horatio N., Phebe, Sydney H., Oscar P., and Lois M.; of the above, five are now living. Mrs. Daniel Rowley, our subject's mother, was born in the town and county of Saratoga, N. Y., July 22, 1791. She was the eldest in a family of sixteen children. She emigrated to Erie Co., N. Y., with her parents, about 1807. Horatio N. Rowley was Of, IP 64, PHOTOSBy CARsOrN & CRAHAM. I/ I - ---.11 - - AI., 1-1 — - l-"' -;:Il ;-' — -- - - - - '-'. -, " - 1,,. -1- . I, " - " " -" - -111 -1- ,,,, -, — -"'. - I I- -1-, i " - '.-I '. -l"-, '- q -.' — I., '- - I . ". —' - r;- I-. f- I - I - —: 1-1'. -11:' - -; 'j II - ".' — -, ' ", -— , "', f: M:r~ FOtri ri ~~I;~"'~;:-&!',* k:r_-::1C "~.:-~ii~~j,iTi s_ii'-~:.""-.' ~:xJ. -C$I:12 d~r;::hZ:~:e xi?~.:,:~ ~~:~ ~:,_- ~';-i ICii; I.; i... I~~~'': I~b:u';~ ~-':~ ~i:-~~ ~~; -.::-i i~i i- i: i r.::i ~"?J:`-::::(*-';~~~ ~rr; ".*. 7 - F;"i:~i:~l-$~a-i~~; sli5;:;.: IL"I;b; l-a-;ai ~~:~~~l~m~r~:~:~~,~?:-i.r ~'' n;-'i- ~bi:'l:r::!4:: Wl i,?;d1;~~; it sr;.Cu:t~ ir-; "'lai \ c:... Ai:i ~-::*r'"'''"'=' i:i:.. —I: ~~;:~:, A ` r A 4,,, - -4~ HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 251 born in Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 15, 1819. When seventeen years of age he came to Hillsdale County with his father, where he has since resided. The elder Rowley purchased one hundred and eighty-five acres of land on sections 3 and 4, in the town of Moscow. He resided with his parents until February, 1843, when he was married to Miss Betsey A. McKercher. She was born in the town of Broad Albin, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Aug. 23, 1824. She was the youngest in a family of eleven children. After his marriage Mr. Rowley moved on to the farm where he now resides; it was entirely unimproved, and originally consisted of eighty acres, to which he has added three hundred and twenty. Mr. Rowley is justly considered to be one of the successful and prominent farmers of the county. He has been largely identified with Moscow; he has held all the offices in the gift of his fellow-townsmen; for eight years he represented them upon the Board of Supervisors. In his religious affiliations he is a Methodist, and is a prominent member and a liberal supporter of church interests. He is radical in all measures of reform, and is a pronounced temperance man; he raised the first barn ever erected in Moscow without the aid of whisky. Mr. and Mrs. Rowley have been blessed with eleven children,-Marion D., John M., Daniel D., Ransom A., Horatio N., Diantha V., Osman B., Elizabeth A., William C., Josephine L., and James W., four of whom are now living. Mr. Rowley is emphatically a self-made man. Coming into a new country with only his natural resources for his capital, he has achieved success in every department of life, and is justly entitled to the reputation he holds, that of a kind father, a valuable neighbor and friend, and a worthy citizen. AL L E N. THE original township of Allen, as formed by act of the Legislature, March 17, 1835, included the west one-fourth of the county of Hillsdale, as embraced in range 4 west of the principal meridian. From it have since been formed the following townships, viz.: Litchfield, from township 5 south, range 4 west, March 11, 1837; Reading, from townships 7, 8, and 9 south, same range, at same date; Camden, from townships 8 and 9 south, same range, March 21, 1839, leaving Allen as at present, including township 6 south, of range 4 west. The surface of this township is hilly to some extent in places, while marshes and lowlands are found in others, and at Allen village is an elevated plain, which has received the name of " Allen Prairie." The principal stream is Sand Creek, which flows through the township east of the centre, and has a rapid current. Numerous smaller streams abound, among them being Hog Creek and others, of which the former furnishes considerable power. It is the outlet of Hog Lake, in the southeast part of town, and flows in a northwest direction. Aside from Hog Lake are several others, all small. Duck Lake is in the same neighborhood, and Hamlin Lake lies for the most part in the township of Reading. The soil is in general good, and the various grains, vegetables, and fruits common to this region are successfully raised here. The main line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway crosses the township from east to west, with a station one mile north of Allen village. According to the " Gazetteer of Michigan," published in 1838 by John T. Blois, Esq., now of Jonesville, the township of Allen contained at that time 2 saw-mills, a merchant, 242 head of neat stock, 51 horses, 42 sheep, 310 hogs, and a population of 353. The State census of 1874 gives the following figures, which will compare somewhat favorably with the above: Population (825 males, 779 females).................. 1,604 Acres of taxable land............................... 22,616 Land owned by individuals and companies......... 22,715 Improved land....................................... 13,238 Land exempt from taxation............................. 99 Value of same, including improvements............. $35,750 Number of acres in school-house sites................ 5 " " in church and parsonage sites... 1 " " in burying-grounds.............. 3 " " in railroad right of way and depot grounds..................... 90 Number of farms in township.......................... 209 " acres in same................................. 19,775 Average number of acres in farms..................... 94.61 Number of acres of wheat sown in 1874............ 2,977 it " " "( raised in 1873........... 2,795 " "i corn raised in 1873............. 1,715 " bushels of wheat raised in 1873....... 35,041 " " corn raised in 1873......... 68,745 " acres of all other grain raised in 1873 12,788 " bushels of potatoes raised in 1873.... 7,345 " tons of hay cut in 1873................. 1,391 " pounds of wool sheared in 1873..... 23,118 i" " pork marketed in 1873.... 83,495 " " butter made in 1873........ 81,010 " " fruit dried for market in 1873.......................... 16,795 " barrels of cider made in 1873.......... 826 " pounds of maple-sugar made in 1873 8,030 " acres in orchards in 1874................ 573 " bushels of apples raised in 1872...... 30,650 ~" " " 1873....... 32,355 Value of fruits and garden vegetables, 1872....... $15,225 t" " " " 1873....... $16,177 Number of horses, one year old and over, owned in 1874................................ 501 Number of mules................................... 9 " work oxen.................................. 6 " milch cows................................ 596 ( neat cattle, one year old and over, other than oxen and cows.............. 265 " swine over six months old.............. 938 " sheep over six months old................ 5,006 " " sheared in 1873..................... 4,932 " flouring-mills in township................ 1 " persons employed in same................ 2 Amount of capital invested in same.................. $2,500 Number of runs of stone in mill....................... 2 " barrels of flour made.................... 200 252 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Value of same........................................... Number of saw-mills in township in 1874.......... " persons employed in same............... Amount of capital invested in same.................. Number of feet of lumber sawed....................... Value of same...................................... $1,400 3 5 $5,000 570,000 $6,000 The total amount of land entered in the township of Allen (or what is now said township), at the close of the year 1833, was but 1720 acres, which was divided among Moses Allen, John S. and Thomas S. Reed, Richard W. Corbus, Abram F. Boulton, R. E. and N. Stiles, John Ewell, Newell Kane, David Stiles, Ichabod Burdick, Henry Clark, and Hiram B. Hunt. By the records of the landoffice it appears that the following persons had made ENTRIES OF LAND in the township previous to April 27, 1838, viz.: Section 1.-Timothy Eddy, Lewis O. Miller, John L. Egerton, William C. Kelly, William J. Bettis, Wheeler M. Dewey,-653.82 acres. Section 2.-B. Allen, Elias Harrison, Zebulon Doty, Marcus N. Mulliner, James Rainey,-660.76 acres. Section 3.-Nathan Munroe, Levi Warren, Eliza Stiles, Ruda Stiles,-664.92 acres. Section 4.-Oliver Johnson, Luke Hazen, D. Goddard, John R. Willis,-674.19 acres. Section 5.-Ammi Whitney, F. Barnhart, David C. Stuart, William Pierce, Center Lamb, Stephen E. Edmonds,-666.36 acres. Section 6.-John Keagle, William Wilkinson, John Jones, Philip L. Harding, O. E. M. & A. W. Langdon,647.70 acres. Section 7,-John Keagle, Michael Walsh, William Wilkinson, John Jones, Lewis Darrah, John R. Willis,618.69 acres. Section 8.-Stephen N. Edmunds, Thomas G. Reed, Isaac Eslow, Robert Bett, John S. Reed, William Lindley, John Graham, Alonzo Standard, Tunis Cronkite, Samuel Sawyer, Horace Eddy,-640 acres. Section 9.-Ichabod H. Benedict, Hiram B. Hunt, George Mosher, Solomon Wells, Maxwell Brady, Rufus Osborn, Solomon Williams, Ammi Whitney, Abigail H. Lindsley,-640 acres. Section 10.-Moses Allen, Ichabod H. Burdick, Benjamin Allen, Daniel Rice, Ambrose Burdick, Ammi Whitney, -640 acres. Section 11.-Richard W. Corbus, Abram F. Boulton, Reuben, Edwin, and Nathan Stiles, Newell Kane, David Stiles, Everett Schermerhorn, Marcus N. Mulliner,-640 acres. Section 12. ---Newell Kane, John Ewell, Everett Schermerhorn, William B. Coryell,-640 acres. Section 13.-Isaac Burge, Charles M. Giddings, H. Collins, O. W. C. Brown, Horace Thatcher,-640 acres. Section 14.-Stillman Hedge, B. S. Clark, Emanuel Bentz, Edward A. Wright, Jerusha Whipple, John De Mtt,-640 acres. Section 15.-Ichabod H. Burdick, Henry Clark, William dley, Watson Prentiss, Daniel Oakley,-640 acres. Section 17.-John S. Reed, Thomas S. Reed, Aaron B. Goodwin, Ammi Layton, Robert Bell, John Jones, Samuel T. Sheriff, Robert McClelland, Charles Butler,-640 acres. Section 18.-Warner Wing, Thomas H. Vinton, Elijah H. John, Moseley Dunham, Michael Walsh, John Jones, Joseph Wells, John R. Willis, Robert McClelland,-634.58 acres. Section 19.-Oliver Johnson, Franklin Johnson, Charles H. Abbott, William, Dan B. Miller, John R. Willis,-610.19 acres. Section 20.-P. and Z. Kirkham, Michael Walsh, Archibald Garfield, William Burt, Silas Kendall, Watson Prentiss, -640 acres. Section 21.-P. and Z. Kirkham, John McConnell, Daniel Oakley, Samuel H. Gale, Franklin Strong,-640 acres. Section 22.-Arzen Purdy, Watson Prentiss, Emanuel Barts,-640 acres. Section 23.-Lewis Baxter, Charles M. Giddings, Stephen Warren, William Prentiss,-640 acres. Section 24.-Lewis Baxter, Charles M. Giddings, John L. Eastman, William Sprague, Patrick Donahoo, Stephen Warren,-640 acres. Section 25.-Abram Keefer, Norman L. Osborn, Stephen Warren, William Wilkinson, Thomas G. McCulloch, Franklin Mulliner,-640 acres. Section 26.-Isaac Burge, Abram Keefer, John De Mott, Stillman Elman, Stephen Warren, Ira Ingalls,604.80 acres. Section 27.-Horace Purdy, Ira Purdy, Joseph Fellows, -640 acres. Section 28.-Amni Whitney, Samuel W. Gale, Jerome & Fenton, O. H. Blandin, John W. Sheriff, Samuel T. Sheriff,-640 acres. Section 29.-John Cook, Abigail H. Track, Charles Butler,-579.66 acres. Section 30.-A. Mosher, William Larzelere, John C. Waleman, J. Nottingham, Charles Butler,-612.33 acres. Section 31.-Seba Murphy, Solon Pierce, William Larzelere, Caleb Moore,-600.49 acres. Section 32.-John Cook, Jerome & Fenton, Charles Butler,-590.82 acres. Section 33.-Joshua M. Lindsley, Ammi Whitney, Jerome & Fenton,-535.68 acres. Section 34.-Ammi Whitney, Joel Newton, John W. Sheriff, Edward Hollam, Isaac Thompson,-638.46 acres. Section 35.-James Leonard, Isaac Thompson, Nathan M onroe,-640 acres Section 36.-Edward Hollam, Isaac Thompson, Isaac Trask, Horace Thacher, Dilla & Elwell,-640 acres. All the taxable land, amounting in the aggregate to 22,153.45 acres, had been taken at the date given, so rapidly had the sales been effected and the country filled up with settlers. Much land has since been reclaimed, thereby increasing the amount several hundred acres. Hog Lake received its name probably from the mire surrounding it being so suggestive of "hog wallows." Most of the marshes in this region-when not open-were covered with a dense growth of tamarack, which wood has been found excellent for fence-posts, telegraph-poles, and railroad crossties. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 253 EARLY SETTLEMENT. " We cross the prairie as of old The Pilgrims crossed the sea, To make the West, as they the East, The homestead of the free. "We're flowing from our native hills As our free rivers flow; The blessing of our motherland Is on us as we go. " We go to plant her common-schools On distant prairie swells, And give the Sabbaths of her wilds The music of her bells. -:t,;! -z;- be;>: -4- *5-~ * "We'll sweep the prairies, as of old Our fathers swept the sea, And make the West, as they the East, The homestead of the free." Thus sings the poet Whittier over the flood of emigration rolling towards Kansas, and the words are equally applicable to the days when Michigan was the goal which the thousands from Eastern lands were striving to reach,-the "promised land" where homes for all comers could be had for almost nothing. The township of Allen is entitled to the honor of having been the home of the first white man who located within the limits of Hillsdale County. This person was Moses Allen. It is said that he was living at Flat Rock, near Wyandotte, on the Detroit River, below the city of Detroit, when the government agent was appointed to survey a road across the then Territory of Michigan, to connect Detroit and Chicago. Mr. Allen joined the surveying-party in 1825, and went through to Chicago with them. On the route he noticed the prairie which now bears his name, and was much pleased with it. He selected a piece of land, and, after reaching home, returned with his family and settled upon it, entering it at the land-office as soon as it came into market (1829). His widow-afterwards Mrs. Hunt-is now living on the old farm at Flat Rock, in the neighborhood of ninety years of age. From James M. Burdick, Esq., of Quincy, Branch Co., Mich., we have received the following items, kindly furnished by him. They will prove interesting from the fact that few, if any, now in Hillsdale County are conversant with the history of Mr. Allen, and his settlement at Allen Prairie: aQUINCY, Dec. 25, 1878. "MR. P. A. DURANT, St. Charles, Ill. "DEAR SIR:-Yours of the 20th inst. is at hand, and for your benefit hasten to reply. In the first place, I will answer the questions you ask in your letter. " Moses Allen settled in the township that now bears his name, in the month of April, 1827; he was formerly from the State of New York. Before the war of 1812-he then being a young man-he went to Canada, where he was pressed into the British service. As soon as opportunity favored him he left them and enlisted under Gen. Hull; and when that traitor sold his army at Detroit, Mich., he (Moses Allen) with the rest was sold for British gold, and would have been hung had it not been for the aid and sympathy of the captain of the boat (prompted by their both being Masons) that carried off the Ohio Volunteers. "After the war of 1812 he settled in'Brownstown, in the then Territory of Michigan. He there married Polly Barnes (my aunt). He lived there until the spring of 1827, when he removed to the place that now bears his name, or the Indian name of ' Mscootah Siac,' meaning ' Sand Creek Prairie.' He died in Allen, in the month of October, 1829, that being the cause of my leaving my Eastern home and coming to this wild, unsettled Territory on the 18th of April, 1830, to assist my widowed aunt. " I found four families in the township of Allen; three of them had but a few months preceded me. Moses Allen's widow, Joseph Corbus, Samuel Craig, and Thomas Reed comprised the white inhabitants of the township. " At Jonesville, one family,-Benaiah Jones; at Moscow, one family, -Silas Benson, composed the white population of the county. In 1830 other families came and settled in the county, among whom were Thaddeus Wight, Stephen Hecock,"- and Ambrose S. Burdick,-who settled in Jonesville,-and a few others. " I spent my first two years in the counties of Hillsdale and Branch. Four months of the time I spent a solitary life in the woods, two miles north of what is now the city of Coldwater, my only neighbors being the red men of the forest. " In the year 1830 I followed the Sauk trail from Detroit to Mottville, St. Joseph Co., with an ox-team, camping out forty-two nights, sleeping mostly under my wagon, or up a tree to keep away from the ravenous wolves. " In the fall of 1831 my father came to the township of Allen, and entered his land. My father,t self, and brother put up a rude log house, and on the 4th of February, 1832, my father and myself started for the State of New York, with a horse and cutter, leaving brother in possession of the new house. After a two-weeks' hard drive, and many narrow escapes from death,-the consequence of crossing Lake St. Clair on the ice,-we arrived at the home of my boyhood. On the 28th day of March, 1832, I was married to Miss Eunice Laughlin, my present wife, and on the 10th of May we started to return to our Western home, accompanied by my father and family, my brother-inlaw-Abijah Mosher-and family, and Daniel Stanton and family. We arrived on the 22d of the same month, and all moved into the log house (16 by 20), 28 of us in number, and there lived until other houses could be erected. "On the day preceding our arrival at our new home in Allen, I was met by an officer who warned me into the Indian war against Black Hawk, and I left my young wife the next morning to meet that warrior, with whom I had become personally acquainted, and drive him back across the Mississippi River, which our army succeeded in doing... "When we first settled in Hillsdale County, it was attached to Lenawee County for judicial purposes. The first town-meeting was held at Jonesville, where every voter of the county met to put in their officers; and every voter held an office, and some of them three, in order to fill every office. "Now I can tell what no other man now living can tell. I helped to bury the second white man that was buried in Iillsdale County,he being Mrs. Craig's father, an Irishman, by the name of Dowd,and helped to raise the first frame bent, it being a saw-mill, built up the river from where Jonesville now stands, by Lieut. Sibley, of the regular army. I also helped to bury the second white man and raise the first frame bent in Branch County; so, you see, I have seen the entire up-building of the country. "I have been asked several times who the first postmaster was in Allen. It was Hiram B. Hunt, who married the widow Allen. He was the first justice of the peace, and four years after his appointment died with hydrophobia, having been bitten by a mad dog seven years previous. "I could think of many more incidents that would never disgrace the pages of history,-such as first mill, which was a hole burned in the top of a stump, with a spring-pole over it, which served as the first mill of Allen for the whites and Indians to pound corn in, etc... "Very respectfully, "JAMES M. BURDICK." Mr. Burdick was from the town of Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y., and when he started on his first trip to Michigan (1830) he walked to Buffalo, leaving home April 2. At Buffalo he engaged passage on a steamer, which was all day * Hickox. t Ichabod H. Burdick. 254 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. pushing its way through the ice to open water. The boat in due time arrived at Detroit, and Mr. Burdick reached Allen Prairie on the 18th of October, as he has stated. He was one of a family of twelve children. The "stump mortar" mentioned by Mr. Burdick is said to have been originally fitted up by an Indian trader named Campau, before there were any white settlers in the neighborhood. It was a large white-oak stump, and was some years ago removed by Mr. Howard, the present owner of the place, to the roadside, and afterwards, while improving the road, it was moved away and burned up, being to the last in a very good state of preservation. After the death of Moses Allen, which occurred in October, 1829, his widow built a " block" tavern on the Chicago road, east of the present village of Allen. The work upon the building was performed by her brother-in-law, Reuben Cornish, who lived in a small shanty next west. This was late in 1829. The tavern was constructed of whitewood logs, hewed on two sides, and the rough sides placed together, in order to have a smooth wall both on the inside and outside of the house. Mrs. Allen was afterwards married to Hiram Hunt, who kept the tavern for some time. In 1835 it was occupied by Alvah N. Jones. Hiram Hunt was a blacksmith by trade, also a gunsmith, and an excellent workman. He owned the first blacksmithshop in the township, which was located half a mile east of the corners. The first coal used in town was burned at his forge. Mr. Hunt was a man of fine education and pleasant manners, and was much esteemed by all who knew him. As has been mentioned, his death was caused by the bite of a mad dog. The stump mentioned as having been the first mill of any kind in the township, was extensively used by the settlers, and it has been known that such a crowd was present to pound small quantities of corn each, that some were obliged to await their turn until midnight. The farm taken up by Moses Allen is now owned by Goodwin Howard, who came with his father, Phineas Howard, from Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1835, arriving in Allen on the 12th of May. The elder Howard had been a farmer and t" shingle-weaver " while living in New York. Goodwin Howard has been engagedfor over twenty years in stock dealing and raising, and with good success financially. His present residence stands some distance south of the site of the old Allen house and " Hunt's tavern," which have passed away and left no trace of former existence. Moses Allen, the date of whose death has been mentioned, was the first white man who died in the county, and no boards could be procured wherewith to make a coffin. A black-cherry tree was therefore felled, and the log hewedflat. Lines were marked at equal distances on both sides, fourt "crotches" set up and poles laid on for cross-pieces, the log rolled upon them, and sawed by two men, one standing above and the other below it. The boards manufactured in this primitive saw-mill were made into a coffin, and Mr. Allen was buried in it. It is not now recollected who fashioned the coffin. Henry Clark, a native of England, came to America when a young man, and located at Washington, D. C. He was married during his residence there, and subsequently removed to Richland Co., Pa., where he resided for three years; his wife's father, Thomas Reed, being a resident of the same county. From there the Reeds moved to Richland Co., Ohio; thence to Dearborn, Mich., near Detroit; the Clark family following first to Ohio, thence to Michigan, at the solicitation of Mr. Reed (arriving in Dearborn in 1827). In 1829, Thomas Reed removed to Allen township with his family, and located at the " White Marble Springs," one and a half miles west of Allen village, on the Chicago road. These springs, 10 or 12 in number, are very clear, pure, and beautiful, and a great advantage to the locality. Mr. Clark followed with his family in 1830, reaching Allen on the 18th of September, and locating on the farm which Moses Allen had originally taken. After the death of the latter the farm was rented to Samuel Craig, who was occupying it when Mr. Clark came. A son of the latter (Robert Clark) is now living at Allen village, as is also Thomas Reed's son, John S. Reed. Mr. Reed states that his father moved into this township with his family, about harvest-time, in the year 1829. He purchased 160 acres of land from the government, and afterwards gave 80 acres of it to his son (John S. Reed), who purchased 40 additional acres of government land. The old homestead is now owned by John S. Reed's son, John T. Reed. John S. Reed has been a resident of Allen village since 1873, and of the township almost half a century. He says that although he was but a boy when his father came here, he was obliged to perform a man's work. He is at present in the sixty-third year of his age, and has undoubtedly been a resident of Hillsdale County longer than any other person now within its limits. When the Reeds came to this township, they brought their household goods in a lumber-wagon, drawn by two yokes of oxen, and had also two cows. They followed the old trail, now the Chicago road. This trail was remarkable (as are Indian trails in general) from the fact that, although it had a uniform general direction, the dusky warriors who trod over it had carefully avoided every log or stump, turning to one side for them and coming back to the direct course as soon as they were passed. The pathway was narrow, and, from being so extensively traveled, was well worn and beaten. As it was a highway only for footmen, the task of following it with a team and heavy wagon, through woods and swamps, and over hills and around fallen trees, can better be imagined than described. Wolves were exceedingly plenty, and although no instance is given of the loss of human life through their agency, yet many were the frights received by various settlers when on their way through the dark forest, and without adequate means of defense. On one occasion John S. Reed was walking home at night from Jonesville, and the hungry brutes followed him to within 40 rods of his house, being finally driven away by the dog. Mr. Reed admits that he was a trifle alarmed, and very likely did not wish for a repetition of such an experience. Many tales are related by the survivors of the pioneer days of adventure and escape, of sports in woodland and " o'er prairie green and fair," of anxious occasions when they became lost in the forest within a short distance of home, AlleA LI~i Zrn 134; Hill z: C-).~-~..i:-~.:;~: i:;- -;:~~~-~a~~~~'~ 0i C-)''j i: I- -i I r HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 255 of dealings with the dusky inhabitants who had so long occupied the land before they came, and of many things interesting to both themselves and those of the present generation; and these tales, if preserved, would make volumes of printed matter. To the settler in his age, surrounded by plenty, and with everything to make him comfortable and happy, the recollections of the days when he was young and hardy aid him to pass pleasantly the hours of his declining years, and he takes pleasure also in relating his experiences to attentive and appreciative listeners. On the farm now owned by Edwin Howard-originally taken up by Moses Allen's brother-in-law, Ichabod H. Burdick-was a locality known as the " popple thicket," containing about two acres, and covered in the early days of the settlement by a thicket of plum and poplar trees. This and the adjoining prairie were famous resorts for the Indians until long after the advent of the whites, and it is thought that possibly an Indian village was at one time located here. Near the thicket was a small pond. The trees were all cleared away years ago by Daniel Nichols and Goodwin Howard, and the land has been long under cultivation. Upon the Allen place, when occupied by Mr. Clark, was a small pond, immediately west of the buildings and near the road. The water usually froze in it early in the winter, and the grain when cut was stacked around it, and threshed out on the ice by Mr. Clark and his sons during the winter. The solid ice made an excellent threshing-floor. People passing often stopped and purchased grain for their teams from the men when at work. The first sheep owned in this part of the country were brought in by Moses Allen, and were only a few in number. They were quite often noticed as belonging to emigrants passing through, and from one of these Henry Clark afterwards purchased some. For a number of years, however, it was not deemed expedient to attempt to raise sheep, as the bloodthirsty wolves did not disappear until about the same time the last of the Indians left. Southern Michigan has since become a great wool-growing region, and, from the census returns, it will be seen that Allen township ranks among the foremost in the number of sheep raised and amount of wool sheared. It is not easy to determine who owned the first swine in the township, as hogs ran wild in the woods, and in order to secure a supply of pork it was only necessary to shoot one of them. During the hot weather some of the settlers used smart-weed and gunpowder with which to preserve their pork, and fried it in mutton-tallow,-the wild meat being insufficiently fat to fry itself. Pork, even of that quality, however, was deemed a luxury, and many in other portions of the county, who were not fortunate enough to get their meat in the same manner, often suffered for the want of it. Pork has long been a staple article of food among the farmers of the State of New York, and those from that State who settled in Michigan and elsewhere early knew not how to manage without it. Richard and Joseph Corbus settled on the bank of Sand Creek, probably in the fall of 1829. Joseph was a mar ried man, and brought his family with him. Richard was unmarried; he returned to Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, and taught school that winter. While there he was married, at Euclid, and returned to Michigan with his wife, on horseback, in the spring of 1830. He was an esteemed citizen of the township, and held numerous offices therein. He was the first person buried in the cemetery at Allen, his death occurring from dropsy, some time in 1835. Moses Allen and the wife of John Allen-the first persons who died in the township-were buried on their own places, but some years afterwards taken up and removed to the cemetery. John Allen was a brother of Moses Allen, and probably came with him to the prairie in 1827. He owned no land in this neighborhood; the first saw-mill at Coldwater, Branch Co., was built by him in 1833. The first frame house in the township was built on Sand Creek, in 1835, by Richard Corbus, the carpenter work being done by Daniel Bostwick. It was on the place now owned by Thomas Nash, near the residence of John T. Warn, east of Allen village. The first orchards in this township were set out by Richard Corbus and Thomas Reed, and the first one in the adjoining town of Fayette probably about the same time, by Thaddeus Wight, who had settled in 1830. Thaddeus Wight,* who settled in what is now the township of Fayette, in April, 1830, was the father of Washburn and Ira Wight, Mrs. L. L. Southworth, and Mrs. Jesse Pomeroy, now residing in Allen, and Mrs. Daniel Bostwick, of Argentine, Genesee Co. When they reached the St. Joseph River the latter,-whose name is Harriet,-then fifteen years of age, was the first one of the family to cross it, the day being the 16th of April. There were but very few young people in the township or county at that time. Miss Wight was married to Daniel Bostwick on the 3d of November, 1832. Mr. Wight's son, Washburn Wight, now of Allen, was one of the first settlers of Quincy, Branch Co., and is one of the earliest arrivals in Hillsdale County now residing within its borders. Miss Rosamond Wight, now Mrs. Jesse Pomeroy, of Allen, was born in Fayette, Nov. 6, 1830, and was undoubtedly the first white female child born in the township or county. Two daughters of Moses Allen-Aurelia and Cordelia-were born previously, but not in Hillsdale County, their mother having gone at the time of their birth to the old Allen home, near Dearborn, on the river Rouge, in order to secure necessary aid and care. She returned each time to Allen after the birth of her child. The sugar used by the early inhabitants was largely made from the sap of the maple-tree by the Indians. Mr. Wight procured his sugar of them, always receiving the best from the chief, Baw Beese. The other " natives" made very dirty sugar, and in some unaccountable manner it always appeared full of feathers, sticks, dirt, or leaves, and was scarcely fit for use. That made by Baw Beese was very good. This chieftain acquired a great liking for Harriet Wight, and for a number of months strenuously endeavored to persuade her to become his " squaw." Her tastes, however, were not of the character which sought happiness in such a union, and, to the great sorrow of the Indian, she declined. His "un tutored mind" doubtless could find no reason why she *-See Fayette township history. 256 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. should refuse so mighty a man as he, when acquainted so well with all his noble qualities. Mrs. Bostwick, the heroine, delights in relating this experience of her pioneer days. In the month of August, 1832 or '33, Benaiah Jones, Thaddeus Wight, and others from Jonesville, started for a ride toward Coldwater Prairie in the stage. William Stewart, one of the drivers, but not driving at the time, spoke to Luke Spafford, who was, when they reached the prairie, and told him to " drive on to the river." The party was in high spirits. Jones, who did not wish to go so far, attempted to jump out, but was stopped by Stewart; the consequence was that Mr. Jones caught his left foot in the wheel and broke his leg. They immediately turned round and drove back to Wight's house. Stewart, who had some knowledge of surgery, called to the women to "bring him their corset-boards," and by using them for splints he set the broken limb, and the next day Mr. Jones was removed to his home. In some way the splints must have become loosened, for the leg was never straight after it healed, and Mr. Jones was slightly lame in consequence. That part of the Chicago road westward from Jonesville was let to contractors to clear and grade in 1832, the portion east having been contracted the previous year. In the spring of 1832, Ira and William Wight, the former eight and the latter six years of age, " grubbed" a quarter of a mile of the road, their father having taken the contract for the sum of $85. While the turnpike was being constructed in the fall of the same year, Ira Wight drove a team to assist in the work. Boys in those days were accustomed to performing a great amount of work for their years. Each was required to do his portion in the task of improving the country destined to be their future home, and all worked energetically and without complaint. The fare was coarse and progress slow, but this did not deter them from their purpose, and the result of their labors is seen in the smiling fields and happy homes of the present. Hanson Cook, from Livingston Co., N. Y. (a native of Madison County), settled in Litchfield in 1844, in Fayette in 1847, and in Allen in 1851, in which latter township he has since resided. H. J. Koon, now of the township, came here with his father and family in 1844, from what was then Steuben, now Schuyler Co., N. Y., and was one of eight children who accompanied their parents to Michigan. They located on the farm, one and a half miles southeast of Allen village, now occupied by H. J. Koon. No improvements whatever had been made upon the place. The elder Koon was a blacksmith by trade, and in connection with his farm worked a shop. H. J. Koon is the present clerk of the Baptist society at Allen. Benjamin W. Brockway, a native of'Ontario Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in 1836, and stayed until 1838 in Washtenaw County, from whence he came to Allen in the year last named, and located in the south part of the township, upon the farm now owned by Lucius Ranney. There he made the first improvements, clearing 30 acres, and subse quently traded that place to Mr. Ranney for the one he now occupies (section 27), upon which Ranney had cleared about three acres. Mr. Bockway also made the first im - provements on the farm now owned by Charles Homan, on section 24, and has lived on his present place since 1845. When Mr. Brockway first came to the township the only persons living in the southern part in what is known as "South Allen," were Isaac Holbrook, William Nichols, James Hamlin (near Hamlin Lake), Zedekiah and Peter Kirkham. Mr. Holbrook, who lived on section 28, west of the present site of the school-house at the corners (District No. 4), and whose widow still occupies the old homestead, had cut a track through to his farm from the old " Indian road;" this track Mr. Brockway followed when he came, and continued it from Mr. Holbrook's place to his own, that which Mr. Ranney now occupies. Mr. Brockway's brother, Daniel P. Brockway, came to the township in the spring of 1837, in company with Samuel T. Sheriff, and the two together made improvements upon a 40-acre lot belonging to Mr. Sheriff a mile southwest of Allen village. Tile latter gentleman is yet living west of the village, on the Chicago road, and his brother, Isaac W. Sheriff, who came in 1838, resides in the southern part of town. The Sheriffs were from Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y. The two who came together stayed but a short time on the place mentioned, and it was afterwards sold to Daniel Densler, who, in company with David Nellis, erected a distillery upon it in 1839. This was the first and only institution of the kind ever built in the township, and was operated three or four years. The business never proved remunerative, even though the use of liquor among the early settlers was more general than is now the custom, and considered less harmful. B. W. Brockway, during the first years of his residence here, occasionally hauled wheat to Toledo, where it brought the wonderful price of six shillings per bushel. The round trip occupied six days' time, and very little could be made at wheat-raising at that period. At Adrian it sold as low as fifty cents and three shillings per bushel. In one way did the settlers gain on their trips to market with grain. It was generally the case that a load of goods could be secured for the return journey, and the money paid for transporting them about covered expenses, leaving the amount received for the wheat as so much cash in hand. In the house now owned by Mr. Brockway four generations of the same family have lived for a number of years. These, originally, were Mr. Brockway's mother and Mrs. Brockway's father, Mr. Brockway and wife, and their children and grandchildren. Mrs. Brockway, Sr., is yet living, while Mr. Pettibone is dead. Roswell Pettibone, the father of Mrs. Benjamin W. Brockway, was from the town of Pembroke, Genesee Co., N. Y. (originally from Massachusetts, and later a resident of Manchester, Vt.). He came to Michigan in 1827, and settled in the township of Farmington, Oakland Co. In 1839 he removed to Hillsdale County and located in Allen township, upon the place now owned by Mrs. Hill, between Allen village and the station. He was among the pioneers of both New York and Michigan, although quite young when he removed to the former State from Massachusetts. Jonathan Whitney, from Ontario Co., N. Y., removed to Allen, and settled northwest of the village, on the farm *~ RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM M.c CONNELL, AEN, A JLLSNDALE C. MICH. NATHAN WHITNEY, ALLEN, HILLSDALEC;O.,MICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 257 he now occupies, in 1839. He had been a week in the county in 1837, and was at an election in Reading that year, when there were only six voters, of whom four were upon the town board. His father, Ammi Whitney, had come here from New York about 1835, and entered a large amount of government land, intending it for his children. Jonathan Whitney was the only one of them who came, however. He was accompanied by his wife. They had come from Buffalo to Toledo, with their limited stock of household goods, by boat, being two days and two nights out on Lake Erie. From Toledo the goods were transported by rail to Tecumseh, and thence to Allen in a wagon. Their first night in the township was spent at the house built by Isaac Holbrook, in the south part of town, and occupied at the time by Isaac W. and Samuel T. Sheriff. Mr. Whitney immediately began inproving his place, his only resources being what little he had saved fromn his two years' wages at work by the month. He at first lived in the house already mentioned as having been built by D. P. Brockway and S. T. Sheriff, afterwards converted into a distillery. He erected a log house upon his own place, manufactured the shingles which covered it, and moved into it as soon as it was habitable. He had brought windows with him, but as no lumber could be procured with which to make doors, blankets were hung up in their place. A puncheon floor was laid, the house well banked up, and in that way made quite comfortable. There was then no road to his place, and the present highway leading north and south past his residence was not opened until about eight years later. Henry M. Keefer, by trade a tailor, was born in Wheatland, Monroe Co., N. Y., and in 1836 came to Michigan, locating first at Colon, St. Joseph Co. On the 2d of April, 1841, he removed to Allen. David Thomas, from Rowe, Franklin Co., Mass., settled in Allen township in May, 1841, and Lucius Ranney, from Ashfield, Mass., in October of the same year. Edwin Ford, a native of Cornwall, Addison Co., Vt., emigrated to Michigan in the spring of 1835, and located at Rome, Lenawee Co., removing to Allen, Hillsdale Co., March 27, 1845. His wife came with her father to the site of Adrian in 1827. Barney Reynolds, of Albany Co., N. Y., settled in 1847, and Hugh Cook, from Schuylkill Co., Pa., in 1840. The latter is now a resident of Hillsdale. Samuel Watkins, a farmer and brickmaker, came to the United States from Staplehurst, Kent, England, and settled in Allen on the 27th of May, 1837. He is still residing in the southwest part of town, where he has a large brickyard. His brother, Thomas Watkins, settled previously. John McConnell settled in the township in 1830. MINUTES FROM TOWNSHIP RECORDS. The records of the township of Allen previous to 1845 were destroyed by fire, and it is impossible to give names of officers up to that time. Those since have been as follows, viz.: 1854. Samuel T. Sheriff. 1855-56. David Cutter. 1857-58. Zimri D. Thomas. 1859-60. Alexander Hewitt. 1861-62. Erastus P. Norton. 1863. Samuel Gillet. 1864. Erastus P. Norton. 1865. Samuel t4illet. TOWN 1845. L. A. Webster... 1846. Joshua M. Lindsley. 1847. Henry S. Sherman. 1848. Lester R. Watkins, M.D. 1849. Luke Ilazen. 1850-51. Dudley Chancy. 1852. Bishop A. Johnson. 1853. Samuel T. Sheriff. 1854-56. Lester t. Watkins. 1857. Levi Clark. 1858. John F. Ellis. 1859. L. R. Watkins. TREA 1845-46. Don C. Hewitt. 1847-48. Hiram J. Hanchett. 1849. Robert Clark. 1850-51. Benj. W. Brockway. 1852-53. Wm. H. Layton. 1854. Robert Clark. 1855-56. Lucius Ranney. 1857-58. Samuel Gillet. 1859-60. Joseph A. Mathews. 1861. Lucius Ranney. JUSTICES OF 1866. Abram Martin. 1867. Samuel Gillet. 1868. Jonathan Whitney. 1869. Isaac W. Sheriff. 1870-72. Samuel Gillet. 1873. Erastus P. Norton. 1874-77. Albert Prentiss. CLERKS. 1860. Andrew Winchester. 1861. Charles Winchester. 1862. Asa Clemens. 1863. Bishop A. Johnson. 1864. Laban A. Ioward. 1865-66. Bishop A. Johnson. 1867. 1 estcr R. Watkins. 1868-69. George N. Howe. 1870-72. Robert Mann. 1873. Charles L. HIasbrouck. 1874-77. Bishop A. Johnson. S U ERS. 1862-63. Andrew Winchester. 1864-65. Charles H. Winchester. 1866. Benj. W. Brockway. 1867-68. Bradley Mosher. 1869-70. Allen C. Howe. 1871. James N. Conklin. 1872-73. Allen C. Howe. 1874. John F. Ellis. 1875-77. Allen C. Howe. F THE PEACE. 1845. Uriah B. Couch. 1846. Volney Edgerton. 1847. Abijah Mosher. Alexander D. Hewitt. 1848. Luke Hazen. 1849. Alexander Hewitt. Samuel T. Sheriff. 1850. Edwin Ford. 1851. Isaac W. Sheriff. Bishop A. Johnson. 1852. Jonathan Whitney. 1853. Alexander Hewitt. Dudley Chaney. 1854. Horace B. Avery. 1855. Erastus Lake. 1856. Jonathan Whitney. Benjamin W. Brockway. 1857. Hiram A. St. John. 1858. Horace B. Avery. 1859. William H. Layton. 1860. Jonathan Whitney. Robert Clark. 1861. Robert Clark. Alexander Hewitt. COMMISSIONERS 1845. Lucius Ranney. Benjamin W. Brockway. John W. Pierce. 1846. Thomas A. Vinson. Alanson Koon. Morris W. Balcom. 1847. Thomas O'Hanlon. David Cutter. Horatio Elmore. 1848. Isaac W. Sheriff. 1862. Alexander Hewitt. G. W. Elmore. 1863. Stephen W. Ellis. 1864. Edwin Ford. 1865. Jonathan Whitney. 1866. Alexander Hewitt. George W. Elmore. 1867. S. W. Ellis. Charles R. Coryell. 1868. Edwin Ford. 1869. George W. Elmore. 1870. Bishop A. Johnson. 1871. S. W. Ellis. Charles R. Coryell. 1872. Edwin Ford. 1873. Albert Prentiss. 1874. Alexander Hewitt. Edwin J. Ford. 1875. Jonathan Whitney. Franklin Ross. 1876. Isaac W. Sheriff. 1877. Jonathan Whitney. Silas N. Glasgow. OF HIGHWAYS. 1849. George W. Elmore. 1850. Daniel Nichols. Wm. Welsh. 1851. StephEn cickox. 1852. Jonathan Whitney. 1853. Philander D. Harris. 1854. James H. Hunt. 1855. Nicholas Torburn. Robert Clark. 1856. James M. Hanchett. 1845-47. Luke Hazen. 1848. Samuel T. Sheriff. 1849, David Cutter. 33 SUPERVISORS. 1850-51. Erastus Lake. 1852. Samuel T. Sheriff. 1853. Erastus Lake, * Died in February, 1846, and Don C. Hewitt was appointed to fill vacancy. 258 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 1857. Benjamin B. Wells. 1869. Albert Prentiss. 1858. Erastus Lake. 1870. John F. Bond. 1859. Ira Wight. Charles Watkins. 1860. Laban Howard. 1871. Charles Watkins. 1861. Harrison Beers. Walter C. Browning. 1862. Ira T. Wight. 1872. Erastus P. Norton. 1863. Albert Prentiss. Albert Prentiss. 1864. Abram Martin. 1873. Hiram Osgood. 1865. Lester R. Watkins. 1874. Horace L. Bishop. 1866. David Thomas. Myron Perry. 1867. Samuel J. Watkins. 1875. Charles Watkins. 1868. Elnathan Turner. 1876. Robert Clark. 1869. E. P. Norton. 1877. Arvid S. Thomas. The officers for 1878 are: Supervisor, Albert Prentiss; Town Clerk, Bishop A. Johnson; Treasurer, Allen C. Howe; Justices of the Peace, John H. Parish, Jonathan Whitney; Commissioner of Highways, Chester E. Hill; Drain Commissioner, John M. Watkins; Township Superintendent of Schools, Erastus P. Norton; School Inspector, Angus Beers; Constables, Darius Johnson, Amari Winchester, Nelson R. Cook, George Martin. In the year 1845, licenses to keep taverns were granted by the town board to David Winchester, James Peterson, Almond Ames, William Wedge, and Nicholas Van Alstine. Most of these had been in the business for some time. Van Alstine seems to have been a man who could not stay long in a place, for we hear of him first at Moscow village, then at Jonesville, where he kept the old "St. Charles Hotel for some time, and finally in Allen. Other early tavern-keepers were Henry Whitehead, David Cutter, Andrew Hall, Isaac Eslow, and Orrin Gray. In the fall of 1845 a couple of mill-ponds, one owned by William N. Nichols and Don C. Hewitt, and the other by William Stone and Ira Latham, were declared public nuisances, and ordered to be cleared of everything which should obstruct the free course of the streams, as in their then condition they were " productive of disease." These mill-ponds were for some time the subject of discussion by the town board, but it does not appear on the records what disposition was finally made of the matter. It seems that certain individuals living in the township in 1845 had the fault of imbibing too freely of intoxicating liquors, and occasionally getting themselves in trouble. They were complained of in the fall of that year, and the board published them as habitual drunkards and notified proprietors of "licensed taverns or groceries" not to furnish them with liquor. In the month of April, 1848, the smallpox broke out in the family of Robert Bell, and Dr. Watkins was appointed physician of the town board, to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease. The highway near Mr. Bell's house was temporarily changed to the fields on the south, and travel was not resumed over the old route until after the disease had abated, and it was determined not dangerous to pass so close to the house. During the early years of the settlement, this town, as well as all others in the region, was subject to malarial disease, and the " fever and ague" scorched the skin and shook the bones of the people until they were nearly ready to believe they were in the most unhealthy locality in the world. They bore the ordeal bravely, however, and since the country has been brought under continued cultivation, and the marshes have become mostly drained, the ague, although occasionally prevalent, is not universally so as in the " days when we were pioneers." SCHOOLS-EARLY AND LATE. About 1831 a small log school-house was built at the prairie, very nearly upon the site of the present brick Baptist church. This was the first one in the township, and was covered with "shakes," which were held on by poles. But few children were then living in the neighborhood. Among those attending were four from the family of Thomas Reed, together with their hired man, and those in the family of Ichabod H. Burdick. Hiram Hunt, who married the widow of Moses Allen, was the first teacher, and was very popular. One New Year's Day the boys barred him out of the school-house, and determined not to allow him to enter until he promised to " treat" them. Mr. Hunt was a man of great determination, and concluded that he would prove himself master of the situation. After vainly trying to force open the door, a new idea entered his mind,-the roof should be his next point of attack! With action following quick upon thought, he set to work, and in a very short space of time had one side of the roof nearly torn off. Every time he sprang up to climb over the wall, however, the boys smartly rapped his knuckles, and he was finally forced to yield to their wishes. This school-house was not long used. In what is now district No. 4 the first school was taught in the summer of 1843, by a Miss Lewis, who was an adopted daughter of Benjamin Lewis, and afterwards became the wife of Edward Carpenter, who lived in the north part of the township of Reading, where his father was an early settler. This school was taught in a log dwelling built by Daniel P. Brockway. A frame school-house was erected a year or two afterwards, and a second one on the same site is yet standing, though not used for school purposes. The present brick school-house was built in 1877. In the locality known as " Arkansaw," near the residence of John Herring, a school was taught as early as 1838-39, Among the first teachers were Miss Ransom and Philena Galloway. The first school in that neighborhood was taught in a small log shanty, built either by William Mar tin, Esq., or a man named Purdy. Miss Ransom taught in 1839, and Miss Galloway in 1840. In what was originally known as the " Pratt District," PHYSICIANS. Lester R. Watkins, M.D., came from Ontario Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1846, and located at Allen village, where he has since resided. He had graduated in the winter of 1845-46 from the Geneva Medical College, and removed to Michigan to begin practice. Dr. Asa Clemens, from Litchfield Co., Conn., was then practicing in the township. He had attended lectures at Castleton, Vt. Dr. Peter O. Eastman was also an early physician in this township, and others have been Drs. Alvin Gould, C. Remington, R. Grimes, and E. M. Shaw, the latter now a resident of the village. One Dr. Perrin practiced here to some extent, and also preahed oasionally. Others who were not regularly educated to the profession also practiced at different times. i Q — ":: f HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 259 -now the Cutter district, in the southeast part of townthe first school was taught in the winter of 1838-39, by Miss Catharine Galligan, or Gallagher, a young lady from Canada, and the second in the summer of 1839, by Miss Sarah A. Pettibone, now Mrs. Benjamin W. Brockway. A board shanty served as a school-house, and three of its corner-posts were three oak-trees which stood in convenient position. A new building was erected in 1840, and Miss Pettibone also taught in that. The school moneys apportioned to the districts in the township of Allen in 1846 amounted to $58.57, of which $54.87 was from the State fund, and the balance from the township. Of this sum district No. 2, with 67 scholars, received $39.20; joint district No. 3, of Allen and Reading, 59 cents; district No. 4, with 20 scholars, $11.71; joint district No. 8, Allen and Quincy, with 7 scholars, $4.10; joint district No. 6, Allen and Litchfield, five scholars, $2.93. The directors of these districts, in the above order, were at that time I. W. Estus, A. K. Carpenter, Isaac Sheriff, Erastus Lake, F. Norcutt. The present large and tasty union school building at Allen village is a two-story brick structure, erected in 1869, at a cost of $11,000. A small one-story frame building had previously been in use. The district was organized as a union school district in 1870. The present board consists of the following persons, viz.: Daniel Hall, Moderator; Albert Prentiss, Director; John Parish, Assessor; C. H. Winchester, A. Winchester, A. C. Howe. The school has three departments, and the teachers for the winter of 1878-79 are Dennis Dunn, Principal; Belle Allen, Intermediate; Lizzie Yost, Primary. The attendance averages over 100, and the school well sustains the reputation of the educational institutions of Michigan. It is seldom that a village no larger than Allen is so liberal as to erect so costly an edifice for school purposes. ALLEN GRANGE, NO. 78, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY, is one of the oldest in the county, having been organized in October, 1873. It occupies the old frame school-house in district No. 4, and has a present membership of about 75. The officers are: Master, H. D. Pessell; Sec., H. 0. Watkins; Overseer, Lucius Ranney; Lecturer, Isaac W. Sheriff; Chaplain, E. O. Goodrich; Steward, S. Watkins; Assistant Steward, George Goodrich: Gatekeeper, Charles Shafer; Ceres, Mrs. Nettie Osgood; Pomona, Miss E. Shepherd; Flora, Miss N. Wells; Lady Assistant Steward, Miss F. Thomas. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ALLEN VILLAGE. From the historical record in the church book the following is copied: " Allen Circuit was organized in 1856. Rev. E. Hunt (afterwards a merchant at Osseo, Mich.) supplied it as first pastor. It originally formed a part of the Jonesville and Litchfield circuits. At the time of its organization it comprised five appointments, organized as follows, viz.: Allen's Prairie class and Shook's Prairie, in 1840, by Rev. J. H. Pitezell; Brother Burdick was appointed class-leader of Allen Prairie, and Brother John Steel of the Shook's Prairie class; North Butler class in 1842, by Rev. I. Bennett, Brother L. Decker, first leader; Northeast Quincy class, organized in 1850, by Rev. N. Mount, Brother H. S. Reed, first leader; South Allen class, organized in 1856, by Rev. William Doust, Brother R. Bird, first leader; North Allen class, organized by Rev. I. Taylor, Brother J. H. Hunt, first leader,-this class disorganized in 1866, by Rev. M. I. Smith, and the remaining members transferred to Allen Prairie and Northeast Quincy classes; Quaker Mills class, organized in 1866, by Rev. M. I. Smith, Brother Charles Williams appointed leader. It was attached to the Litchfield circuit at the close of the conference year of 1866." From information furnished by different members of this church, it is evident that not all of the foregoing extract is correct. The class at Allen Prairie was undoubtedly in existence in 1839, and was organized as early as 1833, with Tunis Cronk as leader in the former year. James M. Burdick, of Quincy, one of the original members, writes as follows regarding it: "The names of the first ten members are: my father and mother, Ichabod H. Burdick and Clarinda Burdick, his wife; Ambrose L. Burdick and Margaret Burdick, his wife; Abijah Mosher and Sarah Ann Mosher, his wife; Richard Corbus; Nancy Clark, wife of Henry Clark; James M. Burdick and Eunice Burdick, his wife. " Revs. Davison and Pilcher were the missionaries sent from the Ohio conference to form our class and to preach for the mission. Rev. Gilruth was presiding elder." James M. Burdick and his wife are the only ones of the original members who still retain their connection with the church, and six of the ten have passed to their long rest. Thomas H. Vinson was also an early member, and is yet residing in the township south of Allen village. Allen circuit originally included the townships of Allen and a portion of Litchfield in Hillsdale County, and Butler and a portion of Quincy in Branch County. The circuit at present has three appointments-at Allen village, South Allen, and Northeast Quincy. The pastors since the organization of the circuit have been the following persons: Revs. E. Hunt (supply), J. Hoyt (supply), R. Kirby, J. Taylor (supply), C. T. Van Antwerp, A. Coplin, Joseph Jones (supply), Wilson Gray, L. Rossman (local preacher and supply), I. Bennett, M. I. Smith, J. Clubine, W. M. Ball, J. H. Potts, M. D. Carrell, T. H. Jacokes, J. T. Iddings, E. Marble, and the present pastor, Rev. S. M. Merritt. Rev. Peter Sabin lived and preached here in 1839, having come in 1838. Rev. S. Steele preached here about 1845-46, and is now living at Bean Lake, Manistee Co. One of the early members of the Allen Prairie class, and an old settler here, was Dr. Asa Clemens, a native of Connecticut, who died Nov. 5, 1865. " He was much esteemed as a physician, and beloved as a neighbor and friend." The original church occupied by this society was a frame building, which is yet standing in the rear of the post-office. The present elegant brick church was begun in 1872, a sub scription of $4500 having been raised. It was finished at a total cost of $10,000, and dedicated Feb. 19, 1873, by Rev. B. I. Ives, D.D., of Auburn, N. Y., and at the time of dedication the deficiency was all made up. A further 260 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. sum of $500 was raised the same evening, and with it a bell was purchased of Jones & Co., of Troy, N. Y. The building was furnished by the ladies at an expense of nearly $1000. The parsonage was built in 1868, and stands a short distance west of the church, in the western part of the village. The number of members in full connection, Sept. 4, 1878, in the whole circuit, was 151; probationers, 24; value of church property on circuit, $11,000; the only edifice for worship being at the village, where is also the largest society. Two Sunday-schools are sustained, one at Allen village and one at Northeast Quincy, having together 28 officers and teachers, and 120 members, with libraries containing 100 volumes; 70 papers and periodicals are also taken. BAPTIST CHURCH,* ALLEN VILLAGE. This church was organized in 1841. Its first pastor was Rev. W. G. Wisner, and its first clerk Daniel Nichols. Its first house of worship was built in 1844-45 as a union church, by the Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists, and the present fine brick church was erected in 1871-72, at a cost of $10,000. The old church is yet standing in the northeast part of the village. Among the original members of the Baptist society in Allen were Ansel Nichols, Susan Nichols, Daniel Nichols, Alvarado Brown and wife, George Boon, Truman Coles and wife, Orson Randall, Alfred Willmoth, Francis Ransom, and Stephen Edmonds. The pastors of this church from its organization to the present have been as follows: Revs. W. G. Wisner, G. W. Warren, A. Town, L. M. Mack, L. A. Alford, I. D. Hosford, J. Lyon, J. Kelly, J. R. Abbott, A. D. Abbott, L. C. Pettengill, William Prentiss, H. C. Beals, H. M. Gallup, William Remington, S. E. Faxon, and the present pastor, Rev. R. D. Clark. The membership in December, 1878, was 60, and that of the Sunday-school, 40. The number of teachers and classes in the school is 7, and a library is owned containing 150 volumes. Grist- and Cider-Mill (South of Allen Village).-The grist-mill now standing was built by John Herring, about 1871. It contains two runs of stone and does both merchant and custom business. Power is furnished by Little Hog Creek, the outlet of Hog Lake. The cider-mill was built by Messrs. Herring and Warner, in 1873. An excellent article of jelly is manufactured by boiling down the cider. Six persons are employed in the mills, and steam is used to run them when the water is low. The property is at present owned by John and William Herring, father and son. Cradle-Factory.-About 1862, John Herring and Daniel Deusler began the manufacture, on a small scale, of grain-cradles, and Mr. Avery, now Mr. Herring's partner in the business, was employed by them. After that the firm was composed of Messrs. Herring & Warner for three years. The old shop, which was used about twelve years, occupied the site of the present mill, which was built in 1874,-the original one having been torn away to make room for it. The present firm, Messrs. Herring & Avery, employ from three to seven hands, and manufacture annually, including cradles and lumber, from $5000 to $6000 worth of material. The goods are principally disposed of in Michigan, although many are sent into Indiana and Ohio. Three agents are employed, selling to dealers and others. MILITARY. Several of the early residents of Allen were veterans of the war of 1812, and the " Black Hawk" and "Toledo" wars called forth a few from the township. During the war with Mexico one or two enlisted from this town,-one of whom was a Mr. Root. Lee Clark, who afterwards settled in the township, had been a soldier in the regular army, but volunteered and went to Mexico after his time was out, During his service he contracted disease, which resulted in his death after coming to Allen. The war of the Rebellion deprived the township of many of her brave sons, and their bones lie bleaching on memorable Southern fields, awaiting the final summons which shall awake them from their slumber, when they shall stand foremost in the ranks of martyrs, and noblest among them all. VILLAGE OF ALLEN. The earliest settlers in the township who are now living in the village have been mentioned. Others who arrived later, but have become prominent citizens, also deserve notice. Bishop A. Johnson, the present township clerk, came to Allen village in 1846, from Genesee Co., N. Y., and with the exception of two years spent in Hillsdale, has resided here since that time. Albert Prentiss, the present supervisor, was also formerly a resident of New York, and came to Michigan from Steuben County, in that State, in the fall of 1845. The village of Allen has been his place of residence since, and he has been prominent as a citizen of the township. David Winchester, the father of Andrew and Charles Winchester, of the village, removed here from Dutchess Co., N. Y., in February, 1845, and soon began keeping tavern in the building now known as the " Allen House," W. H. Shelp, present proprietor. It has since been largely remodeled and repaired. It was originally built of tamarack poles by a man named Abijah Mosher, probably about 1838-39. Mr. Winchester died in the village at the age of eighty-three. Six children came with him to Alien; also his sister, older than he, who died at the age of eightyseven. A man named Randall built a small hotel in 1837, now known as the " old Pink tavern," from being painted that color afterwards. When the Winchesters came to the village, a hotel was kept by Isaac N. Russell, on the ground where Robert Clark now lives. James M. Burdick informs us that he kept the first hotel at the village himself. The sign-post in front of the " Allen House" has been in use 43 years, having been first set up by Isaac N. Russell in 1835, at which time he was keeping a hotel on the opposite (south) side of the street from the present one.t t Information by W. H. Shelp. * By H. J. Koon, church clerk. /'ERRING & AVERY. ALLEN, HILLSDALE COUNTY. MICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 261 W. H. Shelp, present proprietor of the " Allen House," came with his father, Henry Shelp, to Branch County, from Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1841. The elder Shelp was born on the northern border of the State of Maine, and is now residing in the township of Butler, Branch Co., Mich., aged seventy-eight years. W. H. Shelp was born above his father's birthplace, in the lower part of Upper Canada, and when eleven years old removed with his father to the State of New York. He has occupied the " Allen House" since March 25, 1864. Mrs. W. H. Shelp is a daughter of Robert Bell, who settled in Allen, on section 8, April 15, 1836. He purchased of Alonzo Standard on that day the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of the above section. Mr. Standard had built a small house and planted a garden, and was quite comfortably situated when he sold to Mr. Bell. The latter came from the State of Maryland, where he had lived near the shore of Delaware Bay. He died in January, 1878; his widow yet resides in town. John M. Ford, from Spafford, Onondaga Co., N. Y., emigrated with his family to Michigan in 1837, and located at Adrian, Lenawee Co. From there he came the next year to Moscow, Hillsdale Co. About 1850-51 he removed to Allen, and from thence to Jackson County. He is now living at Allen village with his son, Edwin J. Ford, who came here and established a blacksmith-shop about 1860-62. Another son, Stillman W. Ford, has been in the wagon- and carriage-manufacturing business at this place since October, 1866. Allen Post-Office.-Hiram B. Hunt was the first regularly-appointed postmaster in Allen township. Previous to that time Richard Corbus, who lived on Sand Creek, had mail left at his house for distribution, this being before a post-office was established. Mail was carried over the route on horseback. The post-office afterwards established at Allen Prairie was in existence as early as 1836-38, and was called Sylvanus, which name it bore until about 1849, when it was changed to Allen, to correspond with the name of the township and avoid conflicting with the office called Sylvania, in Lucas Co., Ohio, north of Toledo. In 1839 it was kept by a man named Randall, a blacksmith by trade, and was then located on the site of the present residence of Andrew Winchester. Mr. Goodwin, an uncle to Goodwin Howard, was postmaster in 1837, the office being located at that time at the corner north of Mr. Howard's present residence, where the Hillsdale road diverges from the Chicago road, east of Allen village. The present incumbent of the office is Andrew Winchester. One of the first merchants at the village was Don C. Hewitt, who occupied a store on the ground where Allen C. Howe's residence now stands. Lucius A. Webster was also in business here early, on a small scale. The first important mercantile house was established by Messrs. Latimer & Fries, of Tecumseh, who sent Dudley Chaney on with a large stock of goods. Mr. Chaney succeeded his employers in the business, and Andrew Winchester worked in his store as clerk when but thirteen years old. The Latimer & Fries store stood on the site now occupied by Andrew Winchester's house, and Mr. Chaney was in business at the same place. David Winchester subsequently built the frame store now occupied by James N. Conklin, druggist, and rented the same to Chaney. This building yet belongs to Mr. Winchester's estate. Numerous building lots were sold to individuals before the village was regularly laid out and surveyed, and it was not until 1868 that their owners and the proprietors of the adjacent land made a plat of it and had it recorded. The village lies on sections 9, 10, 15, and 16 of township 6 south, range 4 west, and its proprietors, at the time the survey was made, were the following persons, viz.: J. C. Remington, C. H. Winchester, Hattie Winchester, D. S. Olmsted, M. L. Olmsted, E. J. Ford, S. L. Ford, B. S. Brooks, P. A. L. Brooks, Laura H. Lyon, Hiram A. Davis, Roxenia Davis, George W. Elmore, Emily F. Elmore, E. Johnson, Urbane Shepard, Susan Shepard, David Winchester, Jane Hedge, Andrew Winchester, Bishop A. Johnson, Wm. H. Shelp, J. E. Shelp, Albert Prentiss, May E. Prentiss, F. Sherman, S. B. Sherman, Lester R. Watkins, J. W. Watkins, F. Hamburgh, Jane Hamburgh, E. Coon, C. Coon, J. M. Remington, R. A. Remington, William Stone, J. J. Whitney, R. Clark, Mrs. A. Clark. On the 4th of January, 1869, an addition was laid out by Albert Prentiss, and May 22, 1871, an addition was platted by Goodwin Howard and Erastus P. Norton. The village contains at present (winter of 1878-79) one hotel in operation and a second not now kept as such, 5 stores, 2 churches, a fine union school building, 2 millinerystores, a post-office, 2 wagon-shops, and several blacksmithand other mechanic-shops, and a stave-factory, owned by John H. Parish. The brick stores belonging to Andrew and Charles Winchester are a credit to the village, and testify to the taste and enterprise of her citizens. Aside from Hillsdale and Jonesville, Allen ranks among the most important villages of the county in the variety and value of her improvements. Allen Lodge, No. 253, F. and A. M., was organized July 12, 1868, with 29 members. Its first Master was Benjamin W. Brockway. The membership on the 4th of December, 1878, was about 65, and the following were the officers at the same time, viz.: Worshipful Master, C. H. Guy; Senior Warden, A. F. Brown; Junior Warden, C. E. Hill; Senior Deacon, W. F. Shepard; Junior Deacon, E. O. Goodrich; Sec., W. H. Aller; Treas., D. Hall. The lodge-room is located over the store of Andrew Winchester, and is very neatly fitted up. At ALLEN STATION, a mile north of the village, two small hotels and a saloon have been built, and one or two dwellings. Quite an extensive business is done here in the line of buying and shipping stock and grain. Among early settlers of the township, who have not already been mentioned, are John T. Warn, now living on the Chicago road, east of Allen; William Glasgow, on the east line of the township; A. Hewitt, residing in the southeast part of the township, chosen State Senator at the November election, 1878; and M. W. Balcom, in the same neighborhood. S. George, who lives northwest of the station, is a veteran of the war of 1812, but not among the pioneers of the township. 262 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The general improvements in the township of Allen are of a high order, and there is manifest evidence on every hand that the first comers to its broad fields were not mistaken in their estimate of its character and advantages. The spirit of emigration was innate in the breasts of many of the early settlers, however, and they moved onward to develop other lands and make room for the incoming tide which took possession immediately after their departure. To-day Allen wears as staid an aspect as many older settlements, yet there is withal an appearance of freshness about it, such as characterizes most of the towns in Southern Michigan. Well may the inhabitants of Allen be proud of their home. Among the many who have furnished information from which the foregoing history has been written are James M. Burdick, of Quincy; John S. Reed, Robert Clark, Andrew Winchester, Dr. L. R. Watkins, A. Prentiss, B. A. Johnson, W. H. Shelp, and numerous others in the village; and Ira and Washburn Wight, Mrs. Roscius Southworth, Mrs. Jesse Pomeroy, Jonathan Whitney and wife, Goodwin Howard, Benjamin W. Brockway and wife, Isaac W. Sheriff, and others in the township; and Mrs. Daniel Bostwick, of Argentine, Genesee Co. To all we ret rn sincere thanks. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ALEXANDER HEWITT was born on the 25th day of March, 1818, in Saratoga Co., N. Y. His parents were poor but industrious. His father devoted his time to clearing and fencing new land. His mother was a spinner and weaver, using the wheel and hand-loom, and by unremitting toil converted a good deal of flax and wool into substantial cloth. When quite young he removed with his parents into the new regions of Western New York, and was at an early age inured to the hardships of pioneer life. His advantages for an education were very limited. Books were scarce, but those at hand were read with care. When fourteen years of age, he chopped cord-wood at twenty-five cents per cord, and used the money to purchase a copy of Webster's spelling-book and Ostrander's arithmetic, which he studied, sometimes in school and sometimes by firelight in the chimney-corner. When grown to manhood he possessed what he had inherited and his surroundings had given 'him, namely, a robust and healthy constitution, coupled with a determination to do something in the world. He labored several years at farming and school-teaching. At the age of twenty-six Mr. Hewitt was married to Miss Mary E. Noble, of Honeoye, Ontario Co., N. Y., and in a few months, accompanied by his wife, started westward in search of a new home. He arrived in the township of Allen, Hillsdale Co., in the fall of 1844, and bought the land on which he now resides, which was at that time entirely uncultivated. His wife, who has always given her personal attention to the duties of the household, and her counsel in business transactions, is entitled to a large share of the merit of converting the wilderness into the pleasant home they now enjoy. Mr. H. also attributes a large part of his financial success to a strict adherence to the pay-asyou.go policy. Mr. Hewitt has enjoyed the confidence of his fellowcitizens in a very marked degree. He has filled the most important offices in his township, was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature in 1872, was re-elected in 1874, and was chosen to the State Senate in 1878. In politics he is a decided Republican, and in religion a Universalist. Mr. H. has a family of four children,-one son, William Eugene, living at home; Rilla, wife of Frank K. Proctor; Mary, wife of Prof. A. E. Haynes, of Hillsdale; and Hattie, who resides at home. A fine view of his farm of one hundred and eighty acres is given in this work. THOMAS O'HANLON was born at Elmira, N. Y., Jan. 30, 1820. He was a son of Owen O'Hanlon, who emigrated from the county of Lowe, Ireland, in the year 1818, and settled at Elmira, N. Y., where he carried on the coopering business until Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. THOMAS O'HANLON. 1837, when he purchased a farm on the Horseheads road, about half-way between that village and Elmira. Here he died about 1860, leaving five sons, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest. He lived at home and assisted on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to Michigan, purchased eighty acres of timber-land in the town of Allen, and commenced the hardy task of cutting for himself a home from the unbroken forest. This enterprise he pursued diligently, unaided and alone, for six years, when he secured a copartner and helpmeet by marrying Miss Jane Shannon, Feb. 4, 1847. By their united efforts the forest receded, and in its stead have appeared broad fields, a fine residence, and such surroundings as indicate a thrifty farmer and a pleasant home. a: \ fft0:00: t:; D:::: T-:: 0::: JOHN GLASGOW. fMRS. JOHN GLASGOW. SMRS. JOHN GLASGOW, (DECEASE.) MRS. WM. GLASGOW. WM. GLASGOW: M RS. S.W. GLASGOW. S.W. GLASGOW. :':-: ~~-~ ~-ai i iPi O::-" HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 263 Mrs. O'Hanlon departed this life Jan. 27, 1863, leaving one son, Owen, and one daughter, Mary E. Mr. O'Hanlon was again married, April 4, 1867, to Miss Eliza Ann Crocker, daughter of William H. H. Crocker, one of the early settlers of this county, and now one of the prominent farmers of Reading township. By the second marriage, Mr. O'Hanlon has been the father of two daughters, Belle and Jennie. The latter died when five years of age. As a representative farmer and a pioneer of Hillsdale County, Mr. O'Hanlon has justly earned that distinction. TIIE GLASGOW FAMILY trace their genealogy back to James Glasgow. His wife was a Mitchell. They emigrated from Scotland to the north of Ireland about 1750, and settled in the county of Tyrone, near Cookstown, where, in after-years, the family became numerous and influential. John Glasgow was the son of James; he was a farmer near Cookstown, raised a family of seven children,-four sons and three daughters. When the second son, William, was twenty-one years of age, the family conceived the idea of coming to America, and William was sent over in 1833 to prospect for a future home. He reported favorably, and in 1837 purchased some land in the town of Fayette, this county, making Auburn, N. Y., his stopping-place. Here he married Miss Eliza Glasgow, Aug. 4, 1836, and in 1842, with his wife and John, his brother, came to this county, built a cabin on the land he had previously purchased, which was some two miles south of Jonesville. Here the two brothers, by their united efforts, commenced laying the foundation for one of the most successful families of Hillsdale County. Here the brothers worked diligently for several years, the young wife sharing the hardships and privations of cabin life in the wilderness, when they saw a better location, and changed to the place where they now reside, each taking adjoining pieces of land, from which they have made two of the finest farms in the county. Their father, John Glasgow, came with the remainder of the family to Fayette, where the old people died at an advanced old age. John Glasgow, Jr., was born April 15, 1814. Married Miss Elizabeth Eddy, August, 1845. She died November, 1854. He was again married, Jan. 24, 1856, to Miss Mary Sinclair. She died Nov. 19, 1872, leaving two children,-a son and daughter. By the first wife he had three children,-two sons; both died when young; one daughter, who married James Gould, a farmer in Missouri. Mr. Glasgow was married a third time, to Mrs. Mary Ann Howard, formerly Mary Ann Babbitt. William Glasgow has three sons and one daughter, Mrs. William Howlett, living in Colorado. W. C., the oldest son, is a lawyer in Indiana; Silas W. married Miss Emma L. Mitchell, of Jonesville; they live at home and work the farm with the father. Silas W. was born Oct. 2, 1843. Is one of the enterprising men of the day, taking a deep interest in educational matters; has been town superintendent of schools for six years. Politically is a Republican, and a zealous worker in the party; has held various offices of trust and honor under its administration. The youngest of the family is C. L. Glasgow; he was born Feb. 16, 1858. The Glasgow family have been identified with the Presbyterian Church as far back as their history can be traced. In the family have been several celebrated divines. The present Glasgows continue in that faith, and are active members of the church at Jonesville. JOIN HERRING has been closely identified with the material interests of the town of Allen and the county of Hillsdale for more than thirty years. He was born at Virgil, Cortland Co., N. Y., Nov. 8, 1819. He is the son of Samuel Herring, who emigrated to Michigan in 1838, with a tfmily of eight children, of whom John was the oldest. They located in Eaton County, some twenty miles north of Marshall, in an unbroken forest. Here they cut the first tree, where now stands the village of Kalamo, and for twenty years the old gentleman kept a hotel there. The subject of this sketch remained with his father for one year; then, being ambitious to do something for himself, went to Grand Haven, where he worked in a mill one year. Subsequently he came to Homer, where he became acquainted with Miss Nancy J. Brown, to whom he was married March 13, 1841. The next fall he went to Litchfield, in the employ of Monroe & Gardner, milling, where he remained some four years; then leased a saw-mill and contracted for 160 acres of land where he now resides, and began in earnest to make himself a home. Here he has diligently worked, and by his sagacity and perseverance has added other lands, erected other mills, until he is now the most important manufacturer in the township. Oscar N. Avery has been associated with Mr. Herring for more than twenty years. They built a mill in the Pinery, and in 1875 erected a large mill for the manufacture of lumber and grain-cradles near the residence of Mr. Herring. He and his son own the flouring-mill at South Allen, which has the most improved machinery and is one of the important interests in the town, there being no other mill for several miles. In 1858 he built a steam flouring-mill at Allen's Prairie, ran it for two years, when he sold it. It was carried on for five or six years, when, for lack of business or sagacity in managing, it was dismantled. Mr. Herring has been the father of two children, William and Samuel A.; the latter died Nov. 6, 1861, in his fourteenth year. William is a partner with his father in the mill at South Allen. He served four years in the war of the Rebellion; was a member of 7th Michigan Infantry. He married Miss Anna Hicks; they have five children,-three sons and two daughters. Coming into the county in its early settlement, Mr. Herring has watched the progress of improvement in the various branches of industry of the county. A man of strong personal character, ambitious in all business operations with which he has been connected, and possessed of good, sound judgment common to all self-made men, by the wise coun sels, economy, and frugality of an estimable wife, he has secured a competency as well as the esteem of the community. 264 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. L. P. ROODE. MRS. L. P. ROODE. L. P. ROODE. G. Archer, of Branch County; is in the mer Among the many worthy pioneers and representative ness at Quincy, that county. He is the son people of Hillsdale County, and especially Allen township, Archer, a pioneer of this county. none are more deserving of special mention than Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Roode in the history of their county. Having had advantages of early education, they were especially cal- ROSCIUS SOUTHIWORTII. culated to assist in developing a new country and shaping The Southworth family dates its settlement ir its future. Mrs. Roode was the daughter of J. C. Fink, States to the arrival of the " Mayflower" at Plym of Onondaga Co., N. Y., where she was born Sept. 20, in December, 1620, a female member being a p 1813. She formed the acquaintance of Mr. Roode at that vessel, and afterwards becoming the wife ( Weedsport, N. Y., where she was attending school. They Bradford, of the colony then formed. Roscius were married at that place Oct. 18, 1832. The next seven was born in Windham Co., Conn. (town of years was spent in that locality, Mr. Roode cultivating his Aug. 27, 1815, his parents, Royal and Phebe farm summers and teaching school the winter months, until having resided there many years. The elder 1839, when they came to Allen, this county, and purchased was a machinist by trade, and is said to have a land near where he now lives; and as he had done in the structing the first spinning-machine made in State of New York he continued here, working at farming States. In 1820 he removed with his family summers and teaching school winters. Mrs. Roode taught Worcester Co., Mass., and in 1828 to Oswego the first school in district No. 3; it was a private school, When nineteen years of age, Roscius Southwort and in her own house. Mr. Roode taught at Allen Prairie to Michigan and settled in the town of Litchfiel the same winter. He taught in district No. 3 in 1854, chased of Deacon Harvey Smith forty acres of lan when his own children were scholars in that school. Upon shingles to pay for it. In 1838 he was marr their arrival in Allen they took a prominent position in Lucinda Murdock, who died in 1839, leaving society, then forming. While living at Weedsport they John Southworth, now a prominent lawyer o: both experienced religion, and united with the Presbyterian Texas. In 1841 he was married to Miss Lucinc Church. There being no church of that denomination at daughter of Thaddeus Wight, who settled in J Allen, they united with the Methodist Episcopal, and re- April, 1830. By this union Mr. Southworth mained in that connection until the slavery question divided of four children, three sons and one daughter, its members. The dissenters organized as Wesleyans, under now Mrs. John H. Parish, of Allen. The elde the Rev. Mr. Hovey; Mr. F. L. Roode, the son of L. P. deus M., is managing the old farm, and takes et oode, being the first child baptized in that organization. in his fancy stock,-short-horned cattle and fine-w He married Miss Cora Parker, daughter of Hiram Parker, During the Rebellion he served with distinction of Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co., Mich. They live at the M, 2d Michigan Cavalry. Royal A. is an ext< th tead with the father, as one family, to cheer and cor- miser in Colorado, and at present occupies a frt him in his loneliness, Mrs. Roode having departed this Legislature of that State. William R. Sout life Marh 8, 1877. Addie, the daughter, married James farmer, residing near Kalamazoo, Mich.::000y ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I -::f \ 0 f:'f:: cantile busiof Gardner 1 the United outh, Mass., passenger on of Governor Southworth Thompson), Southworth, Southworth.ided in conthe United to Mendon, o Co., N. Y.;h emigrated I. He purid, and made ried to Miss g one child, f Henrietta, la L. Wight, Jonesville in is the father -the latter r son, Thadspecial pride cooled sheep. in Company ensive stockseat in the hworth is a HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 265 I Mr. Southworth is emphatically a self-made man. He arrived in Michigan without a dollar in his pocket, and by industry and shrewdness has worked his way onward and upward, until he occupies a position as one of the most prominent farmers in the township of Alien. Has a large and finely-improved farm. For many years he was a railroad contractor, building portions on the Detroit and Toledo, Michigan Southern, Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, and Jackson branch of the Michigan Southern Railways. The second horse he purchased in Michigan cost him ninety-five dollars, and he drew flour from Litchfield to Hillsdale at a shilling per barrel to pay for it. The father of Mrs. Southworth, Thaddeus Wight, was one of the earliest pioneers of the county, and when he arrived with his wife and eight children, had but twelve shillings in money left, with no shelter and no means of supporting them. But the ingenuity and perseverance of the " dweller in the wilderness" triumphed, and in a short time he was one of the wealthiest farmers in the county, and was surrounded with every comfort attainable in that day. Mr. and Mrs. Southworth have witnessed the growth of their adopted land, and its development into one of the most powerful members of the sisterhood of States. Forty-four years' residence on the part of the husband, and forty-eight on that of the wife, have had their varied experiences,-their trials, hardships, privations, reverses, and successes,-and in their age they may rest content amid the blessings their hands have provided, while their children enjoy the noble inheritance built up for them since the pioneer days of long ago. JONATHAN W. WHITNEY. Among the early pioneers to Hillsdale County was Jonathan Whitney, a descendant of John Whitney, who was born in Whitney Street, Liverpool, England, in the year 1599. Having determined to emigrate to the colonies, with his wife and family he embarked on the vessel " Elizabeth and Ann," April, 1634, and arrived in Watertown, Mass., in June of the same year. Jonathan, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 3, 1816. His grandfather, Jonathan Whitney, was a volunteer in the French and Indian war, and was captain in the war for independence. His father bore the commission of lieutenant in the war of 1812. Mr. Whitney came in the year 1837 to Michigan on a prospecting tour, and returning in the fall of the same year to his native State, engaged in farming occupations until the year 1839, when he married Ann Jane Garrett, of Niagara, N. Y., who was born on the Isle of Man. They came to Allen, Hillsdale Co., after their marriage, and on the 21st of June of the same year moved into the house known in after-years as the Still house. In February of 1840 they removed to a house of their own. This dwelling was destitute of many comforts, having no doors or floor, for the reason that no lumber was to be had for the purpose. Mr. Whitney made good use of his axe, and in a short time had cut a puncheon floor, and having hauled a saw-log to the nearest mill, ten miles away, he hoped soon to complete his house, and make it attractive. On going for the lumber, a week later, he was dismayed to find neither lumber nor log. It had disappeared in a manner not unfamiliar to pioneer lumbermen. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have had four children. The first, William G. Whitney, was born Dec. 13, 1840, and enlisted as a private soldier in the 11th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry Aug. 24, 1861, and was with one exception in every engagement in which his regiment participated. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, and afterwards promoted to a captaincy. He was provost-marshal, military conductor, and railroad inspector, and was mustered out of the service Sept. 30, 1865. In 1874 he married Bessie Kay, and now resides on his farm in Allen. Anna E. was born Dec. 26, 1842, and was married to John M. Watkins in 1868, and died Jan. 2, 1878. Jonathan C. was born Aug. 19, 1852, and Jennie S. Oct. 10, 1859. They are both living at home with their parents. Mr. Whitney and his family are regular attendants of the Methodist Church, and their house has often been the home of the itinerant minister. Hospitality and good cheer have always been extended to the deserving, and the poor and sick alike find a welcome at their door. Many places of honor and trust have been filled by Mr. Whitney, among them the offices of supervisor, town treasurer, justice of the peace, etc. In politics he is a Republican, and was in early years a Whig. WILLIAM McCONNELL was born on the Isle of Barbadoes, Nov. 19, 1818. His father was a soldier in the British army. William came to America when he was fifteen years of age; learned the cooper's trade. Carried on that and the mercantile business in Ceresco, Calhoun Co., Mich., until 1864, when he purchased the farm where he now lives. Aug. 17, 1848, he married Miss Elvira Cunningham. By this union five children have been born, four of whom are now living,two sons and two daughters. Mrs. McConnell was the daughter of James Cunningham, who came from Cortland, N. Y. Settled in Marshall, 1837. 34 CAMBRIA. THE township of Cambria, which lies south and west of the centre of the county of Hillsdale, was originally a part of the township of Fayette. In the year 1840, the territory now covered by the present townships of Woodbridge and Cambria was set apart, and called Woodbridge. This apportionment of the territory extended, however, over a period of but one year, for the year following the present township of Cambria was formed, comprising an area of surface six miles square, and may be described as township No. 7, south of range No. 3 west. The surface of the land is undulating, being diversified with hills and several small lakes, named successively Bear Lake, Hog Lake, Cub Lake, and a portion of Baw Beese Lake, and having no continuous stretches of level land. The soil comprises a mixture of sand, clay, and gravel, with occasionally some pieces of clay and tracts of sandy loam. It is regarded as one of the most productive towns in the county, and the average yield of its broad acres of cultivated land compares favorably with that of any other township of the same area. The following list of entries of land will indicate the early settlers in the township previous to 1838, and the section on which they located: Section 1.-Theron Taylor, Samuel Ford, Center Lamb, J. Ford, Ingham Roberts. Section 2.-William C. Swift, Louson G. Budlong, Theron Taylor, H. S. Platt, and G. W. Miller. Section 3.-Julius 0. Swift, Beverly Robinson, Caleb N. Ormsbee, A. Wilcox, H. Philips, B. Fowler, and H. J. Olds. Section 4.- Otho Beall, Caleb N. Ormsbee, Cyrus Whitney. Section 5.-Otho Beall, E. Banker, Reuben Hoar, John Morgan, John Logan. Section 6.-H. G. Hubbard, Ira Ingalls, Jesse F. Bangs, Daniel Bangs, Gilbert Bloomer, John W. Talbott. Section 7.-Ebenezer Raymond, Bowen Whiting, Hiram V. Weaver, Lorenzo D. Weaver, Abel Bailey, John P. Freeman. Section 8.-Peter Gates, A. Owen, Alfred Brown, Eliphalet Gilbert, John W. Talbott, David Thompson. Section 9.-Lyman Allyn, Noys and Wm. W. Billings, John Flint, Charles H. Carroll, Epenetus A. Reed, Henry Swisher, Ely and Harvey Hanford. Section 11.-William Plympton, Daniel Putnam, Samuel F. Hoper, Nicholas Van Alstine, Ralph Pratt, Samuel Chandler, Charles Laumon, Warren Chaffee. Section 13.-Silas Doty, Wilder D. Hastings, Samuel Chandler, Benjamin J. Kinyon, Charles J. Manning, Samuel Baldwin, William Dixon. Section 14.-Benjamin Johnson, Charles H. Carroll, 266 Epenetus A. Reed, Edwin Comstock, William Kirbey, William Taylor. Section 15.-Ebenezer Parker, Charles H. Carroll, Epenetus A. Reed, Samuel Baldwin. Section 16. School lands. Section 17.-Samuel M. Bartlett, Z. M. P. Spalding, Hiram A. Weaver, Hiram Owen, Abel Bailey. Section 18.-Philip Day, H. H. and George C. Seelye, Pasqua P. Weaver, Charles D. Wilcox, Ira Grosvenor. Section 19.-Susannah Comstock, Moses Willetts, H. H. and George C. Seelye, Alfred Brown, Jacob Clark. Section 20.-Susannah Comstock, Barron B. Willits, James Ingersoll, Samuel M. Bartlett, Joseph R. Williams. Section 21.-James Ingersoll, Samuel M. Bartlett, Joseph R. Williams, Wait Chapin, Isaac Merritt, Epenetus A. Reed. Section 22.-Samuel M. Bartlett, Moses Brigham, Epenetus A. Reed, Ralph Pratt. Section 23.-David Hudson, I. Berry, William C. Kelly, Tolbert Sparks. Section 24.-Lewis M. Gates, Chester Stuart, Charles I. Manning, Warren Chaffee, E. G. and H. Hanford. Section 25.-William A. Codding, George W. Jermain, B. J. Kinyon, Sally Ann Falkner. Section 26.-Silas Doty, Dwight Woodbury, W. P. Green, Irvin Camp, E. G. and H. Hanford. Section 27.-Samuel M. Bartlett, John De Mott, Andrew Palmer, Samuel Baldwin, C. G. and H. Hanford. Section 28.-John McDermid, Samuel M. Bartlett, Joseph R. Williams, Rollin Brigham, C. C. Jackson. Section 29.-David Seeley, Melvin Barrett, S. M. Bartlett, Andrew F. Oliver, Gilbert Bloomer, Joseph R. Williams, Chester Stuart. Section 30. -Lester C. Bennett, Henry P. Sartwell, Samuel Orr, Gilbert Bloomer, Jacob Clark. Section 31.-William Duffield and W. R. Smith, Wilder D. HIastings, John W. Johnson, Ralph Pratt, H. S. Platt, John W. Miller. Section 32.-Lester C. Bennett, William Duffield and W. R. Smith, Charles H. Carroll. Section 33.-John McDermid, Samuel M. Bartlett, Norman C. Baldwin, Center Lamb. Section 34.-T. B. Van Brunt, Dwight Woodbury, A. S. and Stephen Clark, Center Lamb, John R. Willis. Section 35.-Anthony Silsbee, Dwight Woodbury, H. S. Platt, Sarah Douglas, Joseph True. Section 36.-Lewis M. Gates, George W. Jermain, Sally Ann Falkner, Leander Candee, Samuel Lathrop. The first settlers on the west side were Hiram Weaver and Abel Bailey, who came in 1835. The former located 100 acres on section 7 and the same number of acres on HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 2G7 section 17. The latter located 80 acres on section 7 and 80 acres on section 17. Moses Willets also located 100 acres on section 19 in 1837. With him also came his brothers, Barron B. Willets and Jonathan Willets. The former located 160 acres on section 20. These brothers came from Cambria, in New York State, and named their adopted home Cambria township, in memory of their early associations at the East. Gaylor Dowd came to this township in the year 1836. The same year Warren Smith emigrated to Tecumseh, from Franklin Co., N. Y., and after remaining three years, purchased 160 acres on section 30, where he now resides. Mr. Smith retains a very vivid recollection of his pioneer experiences. Bears and wolves were abundant at that time, and it was not unusual to see the latter playing in the fields and even approaching the houses of the settlers. Later a bounty of $3 was offered for every wolf's skin, which was afterwards increased to five dollars. Deer were also plentiful, and would frequently eat with the cattle, showing no signs of timidity. They soon became pets with the family, and very seldom were any of them harmed. Wild turkeys were also occasionally seen feeding with the domestic fowls, and they also enjoyed the same immunity from the bullets of the hunter. Mr. Smith remembers traveling three days to reach and return from the nearest point where the grists were ground, and as an evidence of the " hard times" of early days, which were less a fiction than at present, he remarked that he worked three days for a bushel of potatoes, and occasionally indulged in the luxury of a dish of oysters when in Detroit, for which he paid one dollar and a half. He also paid the same price for a bushel of very poor apples. The first frame house built in the south portion of the township was erected by Lorenzo Rice, of Cambria Mills, and the second by Warren Smith, in 1842. As late as 1839 no roads had been cut, the country being one vast wilderness, and not nore than 100 acres having been cleared in the whole township. The settlers lived far apart, and frequently no white inhabitant was to be seen from one week's end to another. In 1841 the neighborhood was visited with a calamity that caused profound sorrow, in the sudden death by accident of Hiram Weaver, whose name heads this record as the earliest settler. While digging a well upon the land which he had located, the earth caved in and buried him several feet under the surface. Some hours elapsed before the debris could be removed, and long ere this life had become extinct. The first log house south of the Willets' location was built by Samuel Orr, who came in 1837, and was the hospitable abode of many early settlers until their own simple houses were constructed. The log houses of that period were small and inconvenient, and frequently two and three families occupied them at the same time. The first barn was built by Lyman Rhodes in 1838, on land at present occupied by Bani Bishop. Jacob Hancock, who reviews with much satisfaction his pioneer reminiscences and whose memory of early scenes in which he participated is still very acute, came from Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 10, 1839, and located in the south west quarter of the township. He remembers the first township election, held April 5, 1841, at which the electors were very few in number, and was about casting the first vote on this occasion, when Potter G. Card, one of the early settlers who came in the spring of 1839, from Gates Co., N. Y., and purchased 160 acres on section 8, stepped forward and claimed the privilege on account of his superior years, which was very gracefully conceded him by Mr. Hancock. The following are the names of voters at that time: Barton Aldrich, John Fogerson, John Ferdig, Ebenezer Banker, Isaac S. Climer, Potter G. Card, Linus A. Carner, Hiram V. Weaver, Job A. Smith, Abel Bailey, Gaylor Dowd, Charles Dowd, Silas Doty, Barron B. Willets, Jonathan Willets, Andrew Westcott, Ira Mead, Jacob S. IIancock, James Wilson, Ira Brown, Alanson Van Vlack, Daniel Weaver, Samuel Orr, Warren Smith, Isaac Wheeler, Albert Dresser, Moses Willets, John I. Van Vlack, Nathan Frink, Lorenzo Rice, John Smith, B. Willard, 0. Oliver, Henry Sanford, Rowland Lewis, Alex. Vinicore, William Metcalf. The following was the valuation of property in 1841: valuation of personal property, $1635; real estate owned by residents, $10,002.80; real estate owned by non-residents, $58,103.11; total valuation of real estate and personal property in the township, $78,640.97; total valuation of the same in 1875, $400,290. Jacob Clark came early and located on the east side of the township. He made much progress in clearing the wild land and making a comfortable habitation for his family, as, previous to 1836, he had thirty acres cleared and had erected a comfortable frame residence. Among the early settlers on the east side were Samuel Paylor, William French, William Plympton, who located forty acres on section 12; Samuel Chandler, who located 160 acres on the same section, but did not reside upon it; Warren Chaffee, who located eighty acres on section 24; Wesley Burgoyne, Levi Lane, E. G. Salisbury, John Swift, Harvey Southworth, and Peter Beam. The first sermon was preached at the house of Ira Mead, in 1839, by Rev. Mr. Burroughs. The first school-house was built in 1840, and first taught by Miss D. A. Gload, in District No. 4, on section 19. This lady died in the township in 1878, at Banker's Station. The first marriage was that of Ira Brown to Sarah Wilson, which occurred at the house of James Wilson, Jan. 11, 1842. The ceremony was performed by Ira Mead, Esq., then justice of the peace. The first male child born was Noalee Bailey, Aug. 28, 1839. The first female child born was Rabie O. Weaver, Sept. 2, 1836, who lost her life in the great Chicago fire, in 1871. The first death in the township was that of Luceene Bailey, wife of Abel Bailey, who died February 22, 1837. This was a very sad and impressive event in the neighborhood. In February, 1841, the government established a postoffice, and appointed Jacob Hancock postmaster. The fol lowing is a summary of the amounts paid the mail-carrier for the first four years, when the rates were 61 cents, 12~ cents, 18 cents, and 25 cents for each piece of paper: 268 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. March 31, 1841.............. $2.84 March 31, 1843.............. $2.56 June 30, 1841................ 1.29 June 30, 1843............... 2.52 Sept. 30, 1841............... 2.62~ Sept. 30, 1843............... 1.95 Dec. 31, 1841................ 2.32~ Dec. 31, 1843................ 2.01~ March 31, 1842.............. 3.98 March 31, 1844.............. 1.62 June 30, 1842................ 2.48 June 30, 1844................ 1.79 Sept. 30, 1842............... 2.53 Sept. 30, 1844............... 1.45 Dec. 31, 1842................ 2.06 Dec. 31, 1844................ 2.05 The mail matter was at this early date so limited that the postmaster frequently carried it in his pocket. The most considerable village of the township of Cambria is CAMBRIA MILLS, which was founded by John McDermid, and takes its name from the mills which were built by him. He located 120 acres on section 28 and 40 acres on section 33, June 16, 1835, and immediately began the construction of a sawmill. He was followed soon after by his brother, Andrew Jackson McDermid, who built a grist-mill. These mills have, during a series of years, undergone many improvements, but the original structures still exist as landmarks of the period when Cambria Mills was little more than a vast forest. When John McDermid first settled here there were no traces of civilization to be found, wood and thick underbrush covering the territory now embraced in the little village. The mills since their erection have had successive proprietors. The McDermids sold them to Lorenzo Rice, who again sold them to Wilbur & Wheeler. They passed again into the hands of the McDermids, and were afterwards controlled by one Russell and John Mangold, who sold them to James Hollingshead. Jacob Bush then purchased a half-interest, and Hollingshead sold his interest to Henry Gilbert, who purchased Bush's interest and became sole owner. After conducting them for some length of time he disposed of the property to Western Ramiley, who re-sold them again to Gilbert, who is the present owner. Cambria Mills was platted in 1878, but has never been incorporated. Among the most imposing structures is the school building, built of brick, and admirably adapted, by its arrangements for ventilation and comfort as well as its spacious apartments, for the purpose to which it is devoted. It is the intention of the trustees during the present year to introduce the graded-school system and give instruction in the higher branches, when the corps of teachers will also be increased in numbers. It is at present conducted by Mr. Samuel Morris and Miss Huldah Chapel. The village also boasts 1 hardware-store, 2 drug-stores, 2 dry-goods-stores, 1 boot- and shoe-store, 2 harness-shops, 2 blacksmith-shops, 1 cabinet-shop, 1 milliner-shop, 1 market, and a planing-mill, owned by Geo. F. Drake. There are 3 physicians in the place,-James W. Niblack, Charles E. Payne, and Mrs. E. S. Aber. Among the representative men of the village is George F. Houghtby, who has for the past twenty-two years held the appointment of postmaster. He is also proprietor of the Houghtby House, which was built in the summer of 1875, and is strictly a temperance house. In fact, the temperance sentiment meets a warm indorsement from the residents of Cambria Mills, the only license in the place having been granted to one of the druggists to sell liquors for medicinal purposes. The citizens confess with chagrin that for a brief period a whisky-shop flourished in the vil lage, "but one pleasant day the institution collapsed." While the proprietor thereof-a gentleman standing, we judge, near seven feet in his stockings-had gone to supper, or somewhere else, the outside of this establishment, or at least a part of it, " went in," and the inside-bottles, benches, and casks-" went out," and, strange to say, in such ceremonious haste that not a bottle or cask but was so buried and broken as to lose its precious contents on the ground. Cambria now breathes pure air, thank God! and, with her enterprising, moral, and intelligent citizenship, may look forward to certain prosperity and wealth. The Methodist Episcopal Church in the village has been in existence since 1866. In that year the classes of the township desiring to have a stated place of worship within their own limits, united their forces with those of Cambria Centre and formed an organization. Soon after recognizing the necessity for a suitable house of worship, they began the erection of the present edifice, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Fanner. The building is of brick, convenient and comfortable, with ample room for a congregation of 300. Cambria Circuit includes the society at Cambria Mills, and a society four miles south, at Woodbridge. In the class at the former place are 57 members, the latter numbering 35 in its present membership. Its present pastor is Rev. Marcellus Darling. CAMBRIA LODGE, NO. 259, OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, was organized Dec. 4, 1868. The members who first applied for a charter were S. L. Dart, B. W. Dodge, Christian Fink, James Hollingshead, James Fink, C. T. Gilbert, Jacob Bust, Perry Oderkirk, Lauson Fink, Elkana Brower, Jesse Hilliard, Warren Merritt, and George Farmer. The present membership of the lodge, which is in a flourishing condition, is 56. Its first officers were S. L. Dart, Worthy Master; B. W. Dodge, Senior Warden; C. Fink, Junior Warden; James Hollingshead, Treas.; James Fink, Sec.; C. T. Gilbert, S. D.; Jacob Bush, J. D.; Perry Oderkirk, Tyler. Its present officers are P. H. Oderkirk, Worthy Master; E. Brower, Senior Warden; Charles Marsh, Junior Warden; Judson Chapel, Sec.; Christian Fink, Treas. This township is the site of the county-house, which is located on section 4, the farm covering portions of sections 3 and 4. Three railroads traverse the soil of Cambria,the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad passing through the extreme northeastern point of the township; the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railroad running through the northwestern portion and forming a junction with the Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railroad at BANKERS' STATION. This little hamlet, located in the northwestern corner of Cambria, was founded by Horace and George Banker, who located there in 1838, and has derived some importance since 1873 from its railroad connections. It has a hotel, kept by John Burgess, blacksmith-shop, store, post-office,W. A. Carpenter being postmaster,-saw-mill, and a restau rant connected with the depot. There is also a repair-shop for the use of the railways. The church, which is connected with the Free-Will Baptist denomination, and is also HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 269 used as a school-building, is an unpretentious wooden structure, with nearly 200 sittings, which has been erected about four years. Its present pastor is Miss Mary Garard, who resides in Hillsdale while pursuing her studies and preaches at Bankers' on Sabbath. STEAM BURG is a small settlement on the east side of the township, and takes its name from a steam saw- and planing-mill located there, owned by Chauncey W. Ferris. It has also a blacksmith-shop, Mr. Lamb being proprietor, and school-house, and a few private houses, but no post-office. Thus we have given a brief history of one of the fairest townships that Hillsdale County boasts. With a soil remarkable for fertility, a geographical location affording it every advantage, and a population whose intelligence and moral character are universally conceded, it may with reason look forward to a continued growth and prosperity as the reward of its enterprise. The following are the officers elected since the organization of the township: 1841.-Jacob Hancock, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Ira Mead, Treasurer; Warren Smith, Collector; Job A Smith, Samuel Orr, Barron B. Willets, School Inspectors; Potter G. Card, James Wilson, Directors of the Poor; Lorenzo Riel, Pardon Aldrich, Silas Doty, Highway Commissioners; Pardon Aldrich, Ira Mead, Samuel Orr, Lorenzo Rice, Justices of the Peace; Alanson W. Van Vlack, Job A. Smith, Abel Bailey, Assessors; Alanson Van Vlack, John Ferguson, Albert Dresser, Warren Smith, Constables. 1842.-Lorenzo Rice, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Pardon Aldrich, Treasurer; Pardon Aldrich, Justice of the Peace; Daniel Weaver, Jacob Clark, Job A. Smith, Assessors; Alanson Van Vlack, I. P. Wheeler, Job A. Smith, Highway Commissioners; Job A. Smith, Ira Mead, Jacob Clark, School Inspectors; Potter Card, Gaylor Dowd, Directors of the Poor; Warren Smith, Albert Dresser, Henry Sanford, Constables. 1843.-Lorenzo Rice, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Lorenzo Rice, Justice of the Peace; Pardon Aldrich, Treasurer; Jacob Clark, Barron B. Willets, Assessors; Joseph A. Smith, Isaac P. Wheeler, Moses Willets, Highway Commissioners; Samuel Orr, Job A. Smith, School Inspectors; Jacob Clark, Ira Mead, Directors of the Poor; Luther Finney, Constable. 1844.-Lorenzo Rice, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Pardon Aldrich, Treasurer; Barron B. Willets, Jacob Clark, Assessors; Thomas H. Stewart, Alanson Van Vlack, Elijah G. Salsbury, Highway Commissioners; Barron B. Willets, School Inspector; Ira Mead, Jacob Clark, Directors of the Poor; Mesbach Terry, Alexander Vinicore, Jonathan Willets, Constables. 1845.-Lorenzo Rice, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Jacob Clark, Justice of the Peace; Samuel Orr, Treasurer; Pardon Aldrich, Barron B. Willets, Assessors; Levi L. Lane, Thomas S. Thompson, Jonathan Willets, Highway Commissioners; Pardon Aldrich, Ira Mead, Directors of the Poor; Nelson Chittenden, William D. Stout, School Inspectors; Thomas Shall, Constable. 1846.-Pardon Aldrich, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Pardon Aldrich, Justice of the Peace; Ira Mead, Treasurer; Barron B. Willets, School Inspector; Charles Burr, Frederic Van Tyle, Highway Commissioners; Oliver Walkley, Nelson Chittenden, Assessors; Ira Mead, Austin T. Stone, Directors of the Poor; Jonathan Willetts, Alexander Vinicore, Leander L. Lane, Constables. 1847.-Ira Foster, Supervisor; Elijah J. Salisbury, Township Clerk; Peter Beam, Treasurer; Jacob S. Hancock, Addison H. Mack, Assessors; Alanson Van Vlack, Keith Aldrich, John Swegles, Highway Commissioners; Ira Mead, Pardon Aldrich, Directors of the Poor; William G. Foreman, School Inspector; Leander L. Lane, Daniel Chapman, Edmund Van Vlack, Horace Starkweather, Constables. 1848. —Ira Mead, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Peter Beam, Treasurer; Lucius H. Gridley, Justice of the Peace; Alanson Van Vlack, George T. Baron, Assessors; Frederic Van Tyle, Horatio Bates, Highway Commissioners; Lucius H. Gridley, John McDermid, School Inspectors; Henry Wilcox, Almond Bird, Directors of the Poor; Lemuel Howe, Amos Marston, John Stuart, Wesley Burgoyne, Constables. 1849.-Daniel Weaver, Supervisor; Ira B. Card, Township Clerk; Peter Beam, Treasurer; Calvin Smith, Wilks L. Stewart, Justices of the Peace; Jacob S. Hancock, Andrew J. McDermid, School Inspectors; E. C. Barnes, Henry Wilcox, Highway Commissioners; Christopher Brock, Director of the Poor; Jonathan Willets, Thomas S. Hall, Wesley Burgoyne, Constables. 1850.-Daniel Weaver, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Jonathan Willets, Treasurer; Nelson Chittenden, Peter Strunk, Justices of the Peace; Henry Wilcox, Austin T, Stone, Commissioners of Highways; Barron B. Willets, John Swegles, Jr., School Inspectors; Nathan Rich, Levius A. Carner, Directors of the Poor; S. B. Paylor, Alexander Vinicore, Jonathan Willets, Richard Rice, Constables. 1851.-Ira Mead, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Jonathan Willets, Treasurer; Richard Willets, William French, Highway Commissioners; John Lamb,.Nathan Rich, Justices of the Peace; Andrew J. McDermid, William French, School Inspectors; S. B. Paylor, Lorenzo L. Lane, Thomas Hall, Russell Seaman, Constables. 1852.-Daniel Weaver, Supervisor; Nathan Frink, Township Clerk; Kent Aldrich, Treasurer; Horatio W. Bates, Justice of the Peace; Jacob S. Hancock, Warren Smith, Highway Commissioners; Barron B. Willets, Ira B. Card, School Inspectors; Joseph Orr, William French, Assessors; John H. Stephens, Wesley Burgoyne, Directors of the Poor; Jeremiah Sabins, Thomas Stuart, Josiah Levitt, John H. Dunkel, Constables. 1853.-Daniel Weaver, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Keith Aldrich, Treasurer; Wilks Stuart, Justice of the Peace; William French, Nathan Rich, Highway Commissioners; Barron B. Willets, Bani Bishop, School Inspectors; Jacob Clark, Christopher Brock, Direc tors of the Poor; Solomon M. Barron, Josiah Levitt, Thomas H. Stuart, Carlisle Smith, Constables. 1854.-Barron B. Willets, Supervisor; Nathan H. T 270 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Frink, Township Clerk; Samuel Foust, Justice of the Peace; Hubbard German, Treasurer; Barron B. Willets, Decatur Barnum, School Inspectors; John J. Cheney, Henry Wilcox, Highway Commissioners; John McDermid, Christopher Brock, Directors of the Poor; Carlisle Smith, John H. Stage, James E. Wilson, Orlando White, Constables. 1855.-Andrew J. McDermid, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Hubbard German, Treasurer; Ira Mead, Justice of the Peace; Warren Smith, Calvin Smith, Highway Commissioners; Magor Barritt, Bani Bishop, School Inspectors; Nathan Rich, Keith Aldrich, Directors of the Poor; Samuel B. Paylor, William Hanson, Jonathan Willets, William T. Fleming, Constables. 1856.-William French, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Josiah Leavitt, Treasurer; Barron B. Willets, William G. Barnum, School Inspectors; Strickland Adams, Charles Shattuck, Highway Commissioners; Ira Mead, Justice of the Peace; Job Cole, Amos Green, Robert W. Paylor, Andrew J. Fuller, Constables. 1857.-William French, Supervisor; Nathan H. Frink, Township Clerk; Wells Whitney, Treasurer; Ira Hill, Justice of the Peace; Bani Bishop, J. B. Morris, School Inspectors; Abel Wolcott, Henry Southworth, Highway Commissioners; Ira Mead, John W. Johnson, Directors of the Poor; George W. Lane, Walter R. Frink, Job Cole, David Leighman, Constables. 1858.-Ira Mead, Supervisor; William S. Barclay, Township Clerk; Jonathan Willets, Treasurer; Lorenzo Russell, Justice of the Peace; Orlando White, Justice to fill vacancy; Francis Andrews, Highway Commissioner; Charles G. Robertson, School Inspector; John H. Johnson, Franklin Cook, Directors of the Poor; Job Cole, John' Houghtby, George W. Lane, Constables. 1859.-William French, Supervisor; William S. Barclay, Township Clerk; Levi Lane, Treasurer; Charles Shattuck, Justice of the Peace; Ira B. Card, School Inspector; Joel B. Norris, John Mead, Highway Commissioners; Peter Beam, Harvey Southworth, Directors of the Poor; George Lane, Russell Randall, Job Cole, Charles Hanna, Constables. 1860.-Barron B. Willets, Supervisor; Ira Hill, Town-. ship Clerk; Perry Sebring, Treasurer; Wells Whitney, Justice of the Peace; Charles G. Robertson, School Inspector; Amos Green, Highway Commissioner; Sylvester Clark, Asa B. Hanna, Bennet Gregg, Job Cole, Constables. 1861.-Barron B. Willets, Supervisor; Ira Hill, Township Clerk; Perry Sebring, Treasurer; Tibbets Nichols, Justice of the Peace; Bani Bishop, School Inspector; Ira Mead, Highway Commissioner; George W. Lane, John Houghtby, Job Cole, Asa B. Hanna, Constables. 1862.-Barron B. Willets, Supervisor; Ira Hill, Township Clerk; Perry Sebring, Treasurer; Richard Willets, Justice of the Peace; Orlando Parker, Justice, to fill vacancy; David B. Taylor, School Inspector; Nicholas S. Adams, Commissioner of Highways; Orlando White, An drew B. Fleming, Palmer Rowley, Geo. W. Lane, Constables. 1863. —Barron B. Willets, Supervisor; Ira Hill, Town ship Clerk; Perry Sebring, Treasurer; Philip De Pay, Justice of the Peace; Orange Porter, Justice, to fill vacancy; Bani Bishop, Joseph Arnold, School Inspectors; Amos Green, Highway Commissioner; Acander Sanders, Andrew B. Fleming, Orlando White, Geo. W. Lane, Constables. 1864. —Barron B. Willets, Supervisor; Joseph Snyder, Township Clerk; Worlin C. Barritt, Treasurer; Orlando White, Justice of the Peace; Joseph Arnold, School Inspector; Ira Mead, Highway Commissioner; Andrew B. Fleming, Stephen Osborn, Geo. W. Lane, Constables. 1865.-Charles G. Robertson, Supervisor; Worlin Barritt, Township Clerk; Wells Whitney, Treasurer; Tibbets Nichols, Justice of the Peace; Bani Bishop, School Inspector; John Chappell, Highway Commissioner; David Simmons, Andrew B. Fleming, William Wilson, Warren Smith, Constables. 1866.-Charles G. Robertson, Supervisor; Worlin C. Barritt, Township Clerk; Wells Whitney, Treasurer; Chester Farmer, Justice of the Peace; Orange Porter, Highway Commissioner; William Wilson, Perry Sebring, Ira A. McBain, Alphonzo Sanders, Constables. 1867.-Charles G. Robertson, Supervisor; Worlin C. Barritt, Township Clerk; Dennis Mead, Treasurer; Philip De Pay, Justice of the Peace; Bani Bishop, School Inspector; Ira Mead, Highway Commissioner; Charles Marsh, Ira A. McBain, Job Cole, Lewis Piersen, Constables. 1868.-Bani Bishop, Supervisor; Worlin C. Barritt, Township Clerk; Dennis 'W. Mead, Treasurer; Charles McDermid, School Inspector; John Chappell, Highway Commissioner for term, A. B. Prentice to fill vacancy; John MeNorten, Justice of the Peace; Charles S. Marsh, Hiram M. Clark, John H. Stage, John F. Peterson, Constables. 1869.-Bani Bishop, Supervisor; Charles C. McDermid, Township Clerk; Dennis W. Mead, Treasurer; George E. Ferris, Justice of the Peace; Bani Bishop, School Inspector; Orange Porter, Highway Commissioner; William A. Case, Hiram A. Clark, John H. Stage, George W. Lane, Constables. 1870.-Bani Bishop, Supervisor; Worlin C. Barritt, Township Clerk; Dennis W. Mead, Treasurer; Leander Brown, Justice of the Peace; A. B. Prentice, Justice to fill vacancy; Amos Green, Highway Commissioner; Franklin Cook, School Inspector; Loren Benson, Charles S. Marsh, John H. Stage, H. M. Clark, Constables. 1871.-Perry Sebring, Supervisor; Samuel Foot, Township Clerk; Avery Smith, Treasurer; John Cole, Justice of the Peace; Henry D. Baldwin, School Inspector; Job Card, Highway Commissioner; Hiram Clark, Simeon Bliss, Andrew Hall, S. C. Stage, Constables. 1872.-Perry Sebring, Supervisor; James A. Chandler. Township Clerk; Avery A. Smith, Treasurer; John M. Norton, Justice of the Peace; John J. Chappell, Highway Commissioner; Charles L. Northrup, Drain Commissioner; Samuel Foot, School Inspector; Lester Baldwin, Charles March, James Fink, Nelson Benedict, Constables. 1873.-Perry Sebring, Supervisor; James A. Chandler, Township Clerk; Charles Marsh, Treasurer; A. B. Prentice, Justice of the Peace; Amos Green, Highway Com I nESIDENCE OF HOSMER — PEARCE,CAMBRIA, HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 271 missioner; Henry Baldwin, School Inspector; Charles L. Northrop, Drain Commissioner; Hiram Clark, Lester Baldwin, Nelson Benedict, John W. Cronk, Constables. 1874.-Orange Porter, Supervisor; Christian Fink, Township Clerk; Charles Marsh, Treasurer; Luther B. Wolcott, Justice of the Peace; John Dryer, Highway Commissioner; James Fink, Highway Commissioner to fill vacancy; Worlin C. Barritt, School Inspector; Wells Whitney, Drain Commissioner; George Barbe, Oliver Bement, William Lathrop, Constables. 1875.-Perry Sebring, Supervisor; George F. Houghtby, Township Clerk; Charles S. Marsh, Treasurer; William A. Carpenter, Justice of the Peace; Orlando White, Justice, to fill vacancy; Judson D. Chappell, Superintendent of Schools; Henry D. Baldwin, Inspector of Schools; A. B. Bennett, Highway Commissioner; Amos Green, Drain Commissioner; Henry Sanders, Loren Benson, Charles Marsh, Israel N. Gregg, Constables. 1876.-Perry Sebring, Supervisor; George F. Houghtby, Township Clerk; David Simmons, Treasurer; John M. Norton, Justice of the Peace; Henry Cheney, School Superintendent; Henry D. Baldwin, School Inspector; Christian Fink, Highway Commissioner; Horace Titus, Drain Commissioner; Charles S. Marsh, Orlando White, John D. Burgess, Edwin Foust, Constables. 1877.-Perry Sebring, Supervisor; George F. Houghtby, Township Clerk; Charles S. Marsh, Treasurer; A. B. Prentice, Justice of the Peace; Ira Green, Highway Commissioner; Henry D. Cheney, Superintendent of Schools; D. W. Mead, School Inspector; Charles Marsh, John Burgess, John French, Edd Gregg, Constables. 1878.-Edwin A. Jones, Supervisor; James W. Niblack, Township Clerk; David F. Watkins, Treasurer; Marvin Jones, Highway Commissioner; Luther B. Wolcott, Justice of the Peace; David E. Chesnut, School Superintendent; Charles D. Boa, School Inspector; Horace W. Titus, Drain Commlissioner; Lewis Eddy, James Dow, John G. Chesnut, Zachariah Kamp, Constables. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. WILLIAM S. IIOSMER AND ABNER W. PEARCE. The lives of Mr. Hosmer and Mr. Pearce have been so inseparably connected, and afford such a beautiful example of fidelity and constancy, that it is almost impossible to tell the story of one without weaving in all the essential points in the history of the other. Both are descended from sturdy New England stock, Abner W. Pearce having been born in Torrington, Conn., Aug. 23, 1813, his parents having emigrated to that State from Rhode Island. He remained at home until his seventeenth year, and followed the occupation of a blacksmith until the removal of the family to Oneida Co., N. Y., when he became a firmer and lumberman, only occasionally pursuing his original trade. On the 11th of November, 1838, Mr. Pearce married Thankful Tuttle, who resided at Vienna, N. Y., and together followed farming pursuits. In the spring of 1844 Mr. and Mrs. Pearce moved to Hillsdale township, being accompanied by their faithful colaborers, Mr. and Mrs. V. S. Hosmer. They settled upon a tract of land which had been acquired by an advantageous trade before leaving New York State. They live in their attractive home, surrounded by every comfort that industry and perseverance has brought to them, and cheered by the presence of friends and relatives who are a part of their home circles. Under the same hospitable roof live Wm. S. Hosmer and wife. Mr. Hosmer was born in Craftsbury, Vt., May 20, 1809. At the age of five years he moved to Oneida Co., N. Y., with his parents, and aided them in farming occupations until his sixteenth year, when he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed until his removal to Michigan. He married, Dec. 13, 1836, Alma Tuttle, of Vienna, N. Y. She and Mrs. Pearce were the daughters of Deacon Tuttle, of that place, a man of much influence in the community in which he resided. They have had six children. Emily A. is the wife of Edwin Phelps, and resides at Hillsdale. Hiram died Nov. 9, 1868. Mary resides with her parents. Sophia died May 26, 1866. Abner P. also lives with his parents, and manages the farm. Etta is the youngest, and resides at home. These gentlemen, with their families, have never been separated since their advent in the State of Michigan. The same roof has sheltered them, and the same lands have supplied them an abundant subsistence. A view of their fine farm-building is given in this volume. Both Mr. Hosmer and Mr. Pearce have held several positions of trust in their township, and are known as consistent Democrats of the Jackson type. JE F FERSON. * ON the 20th day of April, 1835, a citizen of the famous town of Woodstock, in Windham County, in the State of Connecticut, bade adieu to the scenes of his early life, and, gathering his family about him, shook the dust of the land of "wooden nutmegs" from his feet, and started forth on a Western pilgrimage to the rich and heavily-timbered lands of Southern Michigan, which were then being opened to settlement, and whose fame had reached even to " Yankee land." They first went to Norwich, where they embarked on a vessel that was about to sail for Albany, and, without any unusual experiences on the voyage, arrived there in due time. That great wonder of the age, the Erie Canal, was then in its glory, and its supremacy as a means of transportation' and travel was not disputed by the great tramways of internal commerce that now thread the forests, cross the plains, leap the rivers, climb the mountains, and form an intricate maze of steel and iron lines upon the breast of the continent. The traveler in those days stood trembling upon the packet's deck with his hands nervously clasping some convenient means of support, and, with eyes dilating with nervous uneasiness, was whisked through the country by three span of horses at the terrific speed of from six to eight miles an hour. On one of these boats the travelers rode from Albany to Buffalo, where they embarked on a steamer, and, running the length of Lake Erie, reached Detroit on the 12th day of May, having consumed a little more than three weeks on the way. The father and his two eldest sons then started out to locate a farm, leaving the rest of the family behind them at Detroit. They finally reached the Bean Creek Valley, and passed through it till they got into the hilly lands in the east part of this town, near the Pittsford line, and about a mile south of the present village. There they found a spring gushing from the hillside, and the man threw himself on the ground beside it and drank deeply of the cool and sparkling water. It seemed like the old hills of Connecticut, and, rising to his feet, he exclaimed, " This is my land!" and set about the work of ascertaining its location and having it entered at the land-office at Monroe. On the 1st day of June a clearing was commenced, and on the 8th the family all arrived and were installed in their new home. This family was that of John Perrin, and consisted of himself and wife, five sons and four daughters. To him and to them belongs the honor of being the first resident settlers of the town. Others, of whom we shall speak, had before this entered lands, but none had occupied them or moved their families here. Mr. Perrin built the first house, and for some weeks, if not for months, was the only white settler in the town. He also built a saw-mill at an early date, *By C. W. Brown. 272 which was used up and replaced by another, and, when the need of it was lessened by the erection of other mills in the vicinity, the water-power was used to run a grist-mill, which has been in operation down to the present time. At the time of Mr. Perrin's settlement the nearest neighbor was Samuel Cooley, three-quarters of a mile north, in Pittsford. There were two other log houses in that town, four and a half miles east, and Richard Fowler lived in Adams, eight miles northwest. The city of Hudson then boasted three log houses and a saw-mill. The hardships that always have to be met and endured by settlers in a new country soon began to tell upon this family. The father died within four years of the date of their settlement, and the mother survived him but a little more than two years. There are now but six of the children living, five in this county and one in Kansas. During the summer of 1835 two young men named Quaid (one of them being Christopher Quaid, Jr.) came on to work the land taken up by their father in May previous. They came to Richard Fowler's, in Adams, and stopped with him while they broke up some land and built a shanty. Their farm was on the " burnt openings," and required but little work with the axe before the plow could be started. They finished the shanty, and had plowed a few times around the field, when one night's solitary rest in their new home, where nothing broke the silence save the howls of wolves and the hooting of the owls, so disgusted them with pioneer life that they returned to their home in Niagara Co., N. Y., having, however, previously sold their team and implements to Mr. Fowler, and contracted with him to put in 10 acres of wheat on their land. They did not return again, as the land was soon after bought by Warren Thompson. In the early autumn of this year two men, living at places widely separated in the State of New York, broke up their homes there and started for this new country, to settle where they could get larger farms than their means would enable them to purchase at the East. Starting with their respective families, without any knowledge of one another or of one another's movements, they pursued their westward courses, and finally landed here at about the same time and but two miles apart. The first of these was William Duryea, who was of Dutch descent and formerly resided in Montgomery Co., N. Y. He was accompanied by his wife and six sons, some of them nearly grown to manhood. He had entered his land, the northwest quarter of section 3, in the month of May previous, and immediately upon his arrival put up a log house near the southwest corner of his farm, and on the south side of the Territorial road, which crossed it. He was an industrious, economical, hard-working man, and, in addition to his farm CHARLES D. LUCE..I. -. I -. I. i {,q RESIDENCE 6F CHARLES D. LUCE, JEFFERSON, PILLSDALE CO. MICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 273 ing operations, did considerable teaming in the line of drawing flour from Jonesville and other places. He was also an ardent as well as consistent member of the Methodist Church, and contributed to its support. Some of the earliest meetings were held at his house, and the preaching was done by Rev. R. Parker, of Cutter's Corners, who always brought his gun along as a protection against the wolves. He was quite prominent in town affairs, and held the offices of supervisor, treasurer, justice of the peace, and commissioner of highways. It is related of him that being elected one of the first justices of the peace, and the code at that time being made up more of tradition than of statutory enactments, he had a somewhat exaggerated idea of the responsibilities and powers vested in him. A poor wretch was brought before him charged with stealing an axe. The plaintiff proved that the accused had taken the axe and that it was found in his possession. The prisoner offered no defense, and the court passed sentence in a very impressive and solemn manner, condemning the prisoner to confinement at hard labor in the prison at Jackson for a term of two years. The commitment was made out, and a constable took possession of the prisoner and started for Jackson with him. Arriving at Jonesville, the officer called on the sheriff for accommodations for the night for his charge, and presented the commitment as his authority. The sheriff very coolly tore the document to shreds, and asked the astonished officer where the prisoner was. He was told; and, desiring the officer to remain where le was, he went out to interview the culprit. After looking at him a moment, he said," What offense was you convicted of?" " Stealing an axe, sir," was the reply. " How did you happen to do that?" " I borrowed the axe and intended to return it but didn't do so, and when I was arrested with it in my possession, why, I was, of course, found guilty." " But you did not intend to steal it?" " No, sir!" "Well, my man, you do not look like a bad or vicious fellow and I believe what you say, and, if you will promise me to leave the county and never return, I am going to give you a chance to get away. Will you do it?' "You'd better believe I will," said the overjoyed prisoner; and, as soon as the sheriff's back was turned, he disappeared through a convenient door, and never returned to plague those who had, however inadvertently, exceeded their authority, and thereby rendered themselves liable to a suit for damages. Mr. Duryea remained an honest and respected citizen of this town for upwards of thirty-five years, and died here surrounded by friends. One son, W. H. Duryea, is now living in the southwest part of the town. The other settler referred to was Horatio Hadley, who was a native of Vermont, but had spent the years of his boyhood and youth in the town of Sandy Creek, in Oswego Co., N. Y. He was married there, and with his wife and one child, a daughter less than a year old, started for Michigan about the middle of the month of September, 1835. His route was over the Territorial road leading from Maumee to Jonesville, and his wagon, drawn by an ox-team, very often sank to the hubs in the muddy road, which the 35 thick forest prevented the sun from drying up. He left his wife and child at Samuel Cooley's, in the town of Pittsford, while he located his land, which he selected on sections 10 and 11, taking up 160 acres. As soon as possible he put up a "10 by 12" log hut on the north side of the road, a few rods from the present site of his farm buildings, and brought his family from Mr. Cooley's to their new home about the middle of October. Soon after he was fortunate enough to discover a " bee-tree," and from it took about 50 pounds of very nice honey. His wife, who remembered with regret the comforts of her Eastern home, said that this was probably intended to make her contented with her home in the woods. At any rate it was a welcome addition to their larder, and served to sweeten their food if it did not their lot in life. During the first winter of his residence here, Mr. Hadley captured a large wolf by means of a trap, and stuffed the hide with hay, after which he set it up beside his house to show the passing traveler what kind of foes the settlers had to contend with. One day two Indians who were passing stopped, and pointing to the wolf said, in guttural tones, "kill much plenty wolf, make Great Spirit mad." They killed the wolves only in self-defense or when pressed by hunger, and thought the Great Spirit would be angry at what they deemed the wanton destruction of his creatures. They also deprecated the killing of rattlesnakes, especially if they gave the warning rattle, which they interpreted as the serpent's mode of begging for mercy. Mrs. Iadley succumbed to the hardships of her pioneer life and the unhealthiness of the climate, and died about four years after her arrival here. Mr. Hadley then married Sarah Bullard, and both are still living on the farm which shows such evidence of his toil and careful thrift, surrounded by fiiends, and blest with the comforts of competency. He was one of the earliest magistrates of this section, and only through his reluctance to accept official positions has he escaped the cares of office. He has, ever since its formation, been an influential member and a liberal supporter of the Ossco Methodist Church. In the following winter, 1835-36, Robert McNeal, with his wife, one daughter, and four sons,-Robert, Jr., William, Alonzo, and Samuel,-settled in the town. It being winter, and the ground covered with snow, they selected a farm between Lake Pleasant and Baw Beese Lake, thinking it was a level prairie; but when the spring came, and the snow and frost disappeared, they discovered that they were on a marsh, or filled lake, and had to remove. Robert lived only about two years before he succumbed to the hardships of pioneer life and passed away. His son, Robert, Jr., remained a resident of this town until he died, about 1850, and was a prominent citizen. His neighbors' respect for and confidence in his probity of character is attested by their act in retaining him for nine consecutive years in the responsible office of treasurer of the town. William was at that time a young man of twenty-one, and in the spring of 1837 was married to Jane Decker, a girl of fifteen. He was a carpenter by trade, and, together with his father, worked a t that businesss. The money he thus earned he invested in small tracts of land, on which he erected houses, and then sold them to new-comers as opportunity offered. He continued to live in this way, 274 HIR ISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. moving several times before he settled down permanently, east quarter of section 4, and built a log house near the about 1845. He died two or three years ago. One of his northeast corner of his land. In the fall he brought his sons, Seth D. McNeal, is now engaged in the practice of the family from their former home in Orleans Co., N. Y. He law in Jonesville. Of the other sons of Robert McNeal, did not after the first few years devote his time to farming, we can only say that Alonzo died here some thirty years but worked for the State upon the railroad, and upon ago, and Samuel removed from the town in a few years after its completion became a "section boss." After about his arrival. thirteen years of life in this town, he received a cut in his James H. Thorn was the first person to enter any of the knee by a blow from an adze, from the effects of which he land in this town. He was a young man living in Otsego died soon after. Iis widow is still living on a portion of Co., N. Y., and came West to make his fortune. After the farm, and a daughter, Mrs. Warren Thompson, is also his arrival in this State he worked for a while at Detroit living in town. He was the first tax collector, and in and Ypsilanti, and in the fall went to Farmington, Oakland 1841 was elected town treasurer. Co., where he taught school during the winter of 1834-35. Amba Orcutt was a son-in-law of William Duryea, and In the spring he had money enough due him to purchase followed him to this town, in the spring of 1836. His 80 acres of land; but was able to collect only half, and daughter, Phebe Orcutt, now Mrs. Robert Jones, of Piqua, consequently had to content himself with a forty-acre farm. Ohio, was born on the 26th of October, 1836, and was the Coming to the Bean Creek Valley, he made his selection, first white child born in the town. and traveling on foot to Monroe, entered it on the 22d day Four brothers, named Chauncey, William S., Matthias of May, 1835, the receiver at the land-office remarking, A., and Henry B. Leonard, came to this town in the spring ' You have the entire township to select from." The land of the same year. The first of these settled on the southhe took up was the northeast quarter of the southeast quar- east quarter of section 9, and at once rose to prominence ter of section 13, near the present village of' Pittsford. After among his fellow-townsmen. In addition to his farming paying for his land and the fee for administering the oath business, he was active in political matters, and was rehe had but ten cents left, and this he invested in crackers peatedly called to take official trusts. He was supervisor and cheese, and started on foot for Tecumseh, where he two years, town clerk four years, town treasurer three had a friend living, of whom he hoped to be able to borrow years, justice of the peace ten years, and held other town a little money till he had the opportunity to earn some. offices at different times. On account of some unfortunate Upon his return to this town he hired out to Ozen Keith, financial embarrassments, he removed from the town a who lived a mile and a half west of Hudson, and while in couple of years since, and is now living in Sand Lake, his employ, and engaged in logging, received an injury Kent Co., Mich. William S. and Matthias A. are still that incapacitated him for labor. He then went to Grand living on their farms a short distance southwest from Osseo. River, where he remained until the spring of 1836, at The other brother, Henry B., died about five or six years which time he returned here and went to work on his after settling here. place. His first plowing was done with three yokes of James and Henry Bullard, with their mother, younger oxen, and he had to go to Medina, in Lenawee County, to brother Charles, and sister Sarah, also settled here in the get teams to help. A son of Elder Warner came back year 1836, the first in the spring and the others in the fall. with him, and assisted in the breaking up of a five acre lot, Their location was about a mile west of Osseo. Sarah which was sowed to wheat in the fall. In October, 1836, Bullard (now Mrs. Horatio Hadley) taught the first school he was married to Mary Monroe, who died in 1852. He kept in the town, in the summer of 1839, in a log schoolwas married a second time in April, 1853, and, with his house that stood about a half-mile east of the present school second wife, is still living on the homestead, now increased building. James Bullard remained here but a few years. to 160 acres. During his residence here Mr. Thorn has Another of the emigrants of the year 1836 was Owen been one of the leading citizens of the town, a successful B. Coffin, who took up a farm of 80 acres on the northwest farmer and merchant, and has repeatedly been called to quarter of section 2. He was an excellent citizen and a official positions, filling, among others, the office of super- prominent Methodist, and his neighbors deeply felt his loss visor for five years, and justice of the peace for thirteen when he died, about 1850. years. James P. Howell settled here Aug. 29, 1836. He came Another settler in the spring of 1836 was William from Minnesink, Orange Co., N. Y., and was married to Hecox, who arrived from Maumee, Ohio, in the month of Emily Perrin on the 9th of November following. This March, and located on a farm of 80 acres, it being the west was the first wedding celebrated in the town of Jefferson. half of the southwest quarter of section 2. He was a He was a Baptist, and a candidate for the ministry, and farmer, and made for himself and family a comfortable was called upon to officiate at the first funeral in the town, living by that pursuit. The Methodist Church in this that of a child of William Green, who died in September, town owed its organization, existence, and prosperity more 1836. He was ordained to the ministry in Wheatland, on to his efforts and generosity than to those of any other the 8th of January, 1838. He is now a resident of the person. For many years he was a zealous and consistent adjoining town of Pittsford. Four of his brothers also member, and a liberal contributor to its support. His death settled here about the same time. Their names were occurred in this town in 1876. His widow and a married Michael B., William, Alser, and Walter. The first redaughter survived him, and are living on the homestead. mained here until after the late war, but the others removed Peter Failing, in the fall of 1836, settled on the south- from the town within a few years after coming here. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 275 In September of this year Harvey Black, with his family of a wife and nine children, came from Ridgefield, Huron Co., Ohio, and settled on a tract of 320 acres lying in sections 23, 26, and 27. He was a resident of the town at the time of his death, in 1853, and three sons, Harvey P., Philancourt, and Marquis D., are still living on parts of the original homestead. Orrin Anderson located on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 22, in 1836. He was one of the first highway commissioners, and the second tax collector of the town. His widow and son are now living on the homestead. Wait Chapin was another settler in that year, on section 10. About 1841-42 he built a saw-mill on the stream near his house, and this mill sawed a good share of the lumber used in the new settlement for several years. He was an industrious, hard-working man, a good citizen, and possessed the respect and good-will of all who knew him. He died some eight or ten years ago, leaving his farm to his two sons, Loren and Lucius, who still occupy it. William Green, the Nimrod of this town, was one of the emigration of 1836, and came in the spring of the year, locating on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 3, where he lived till his death, in 1862, and where his widow and one son still reside. His clearing and farm work was done mornings and evenings, and the days were devoted to hunting. The crack of his rifle rang the deathknell of the unlucky deer which chanced within its range, and the number of them that fell victims to his prowess as a hunter, while he resided in this town, is variously stated at from 1000 to 1500. His son, William W. Green, studied law, and became quite prominent in town affairs. He is now practicing law at Fairwell, in this State. James Wallace settled in town in 1838, and is now living on the farm he has cleared and improved on Bird Lake. Some time in the winter of 1836-37 Jacob and Erasmus D. Ambler, two brothers, came into the town. Jacob went into partnership with Henry P. Adams, and built a saw-mill that spring where Lamb's grist-mill now stands. He was a Baptist minister, but while he remained here was engaged in the lumber trade. He was the first supervisor, and held the office three years, until he removed to Hillsdale. Erasmus D. settled on section 3, and died there some twenty-five or thirty years ago. Isaiah Green, with his wife and two children, came from the town of Barre, Orleans Co., N. Y., and arrived here May 10, 1837. He purchased lands in Genesee Co., Mich., as early as 1835. His settlement was with the Bullards, who were his wife's relatives. Soon after his arrival here he hired out to work a farm in Jackson County, and lived there for a year and a half, when he returned here. The Osseo Village Company gave him a lot if he would put up a hotel, which he did in the spring of 1840. He has been a hotel-keeper from that time till the present, and by nearly twoscore years' experience is well qualified to cater to the wants of the traveling public. He has been active in building up the village, and has several times been called to official positions in the town. Warren Thompson purchased of Christopher Quaid the 240 acres he had taken up in sections 3 and 10, in the winter of 1836-37, and sent George Jenkins, to whom he had sold 40 acres, to look after it. Dec. 25, 1838, he brought his wife, three sons, and two daughters, and became a permanent resident. He hired a vacant log house near William Duryea's, and lived there until spring, when they moved into a new house he had built on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 3. Mr. Thompson was a native of Warrensburg, Warren Co., N. Y., and was named after that county. After living several years in Vermont he removed to Niagara Co., N. Y., and from there came to Adrian, Mich., in 1837. Since his settling here he has been one of the leading men of the town, and has held office many years. He has been engaged in agriculture principally, though he was for several years engaged in the grocery trade at Osseo, and is now retired from business, enjoying that rest and repose of mind and body that a busy life so well merits. One son, Francis W. Thompson, resides in Osseo, and anot ther youngest, George W. Thompson, is a rising and successful practitioner at the bar of Kent County, having his residence at Grand Rapids. Besides those we have mentioned, we find that George Jenkins (now living at North Adams, at the age of eightyfour years), Henry P. Adams, William Scoon, and Perez Dimmick resided here previous to the spring of 1837; Albert Vredenburgh (the first shoemaker in town), Gustavus Stevens, and Israel S. Hodges, before the spring of 1838; Matthew Armstrong, Marlin Parsons, William D. Stout, Hezekiah Marvin, Miles and Harvey Lyon, Joseph Bailey (now living at Pittsford), Abel Bailey, Charles Ledyard, Isaac Ambler, and Orrin Cobb, before the spring of 1839; Ralph and Alvin Hamilton, Hiram and Erastus C. Decker, Alanson Driscoll (an early blacksmith), Finley McArthur, Rufus Davis (a carpenter and joiner, who worked for the railroad company for several years), Willet Green, Julius Richards, Henry Sherman, David K. Chase, Levi H. Durgee, and William P. Darrow, before the spring of 1840; Silas S. Lindsley, Albert Blount, Henry Trumans (still living on section 31), Aaron W. Nichols, William Way (still living on section 1), John Bullard (who enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war and died there), and Pelatiah Hyde (who died in the army during the late war), before the spring of 1841; and Hiram Howe, Solomon Fenton, Peter Conrad, Isaac Doty, Joseph W. Ashley, Philo A. Wells, and Joseph G. Howe, before the spring of 1842. Of these settlers nearly all are dead or have removed from the town. Among the later settlers was Charles D. Luce, who settled in 1846, on section 20, and has been one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of the town. A more detailed sketch of his life will be found in another part of this work. E. D. Ford was an early settler in the State. He was from Wayne Co., N. Y., removed to Medina Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1833, and in the fall of 1836 settled in the south part of the town of Adams. He lived in Indiana several years, returned to Michigan in 1849, locating at Hillsdale, and removed to this town in 1854, where he has continued to reside till the present. His farm, showing marks of careful culture, is a part of section 18. 276 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Amasa and Avery Blunt, who have long been ranked as substantial citizens of the town, are sons of Lemuel Blunt, an early settler in the town of Woodbridge. Amasa came to this town in 1841, and his brother, Avery, some years later. They were originally from Barre, Orleans Co., N. Y. James Leonardson, who settled here in the fall of 1843 (having been a resident of the State from 1836), came fiom Montgomery Co., N. Y. He has been a leading and influential citizen, has served in the most important town offices, was Deputy United States Provost- Marshal for Hillsdale County during the war, and is now living at Pittsford village, near which place he owns a fine farm of 170 acres. This town is designated in the United States survey as township 7 south, of range 2 west. It is six miles square. lies south of the town of Adams, of which it formerly was a part, is bounded east by Pittsford, south by Ransom, and west by Cambria, and is the most hilly of all the towns in the county. The surface may be described as generally rolling, rising into hills in the southeast and subsiding to level lands in the southwest. A strip some two miles wide, crossing the town diagonally from northwest to southeast, lying a little north of the centre, and following the general direction of the principal water-course, is of the kind of land known as " oak-openings," and has a sandy or gravelly soil, which is poorer in quality than the timbered lands which border it, and occupy the northeast and southwest parts. In the eastern part, south of the centre, there was originally a considerable area of tamarack swamps, some of which have not yet been reclaimed, and in the northwest there was considerable marshy land, much of which by improved drainage has become tillable land. The soil is varied in its character, being mainly sandy or gravelly, with some clay in the south and west parts, and occasionally loam or alluvial deposits in the bottom-lands. It is well adapted to all kinds of crops, and on many farms the best grade of wheat is successfully grown. The largest body of water in the town is Bird Lake, in the central southern part, on sections 27 and 28. It was named after Rowland Bird, of Ransom, who was, at the time, the nearest settler to it. It is longest from east to west, is divided into two parts by a peninsula jutting out from its southern shore, and the outlet, called Burt Creek, is situated at the southeastern extremity. Its waters cover an area of some 125 acres, and are very deep. Lake Pleasant, covering an area of about 70 acres, lies chiefly in the northwest quarter of section 8, with its outlet at the western end, connecting it with Baw Beese Lake, in Cambria. The shores of this lake are surrounded by wide marshes, and the bottom, which is of a muddy character, shelves rapidly a few feet from the shore and sinks to the depth of over 70 feet in some places. Deer Lake is the largest of a chain of eight small lakes and ponds that envelopes the western part of Osseo village in a semicircle, and stretches away to the southeast two or three miles. It lies just south of the village, and in form resembles an axe. It is very deep in some parts, having been sounded to a depth of 120 feet without finding the bottom. The name was, in all probability, derived from its being a favorite place for the deer to come for water and to feed on the marshes. Mud Lake is a small body of water near the town line, in sections 34 and 35, and is so called because of the muddy character of its banks and bottom, and the muddy tinge of its waters. It covers about 3 acres, and its outlet flows into Burt Creek. Near the northwest corner of section 28 is a pond of about 1 acre, called Mabb's Lake. Its peculiarity is that it is surrounded to a considerable distance by a bog, which seems to lie upon the water, showing that the land is encroaching on and gradually filling up the lake. The outlet of this lake is called Acorn Creek, a name given it by the Indians, and flows south into Ransom, where it is called Ransom Creek. In all there are 17 lakes and ponds within the limits of the town, the rest of which do not appear to have been christened. A small part of Bass Lake and Baw Beese Lake lie across the western boundary in section 6. The waters of Lake Pleasant and its tributaries find their way to Lake Michigan through the St. Joseph's River, while the rest of the lakes empty their waters through the Little St. Joseph's and Maumee Rivers into Lake Erie. The principal stream is the outlet of Deer Lake, which flows through the town in a southeasterly course, entering Pittsford near the north line of section 25. Previous to its settlement by the whites, and for a few years after, there were a good many Indians living here, who belonged to Baw Beese's tribe, and subsisted by hunting and fishing and cultivating a little corn on the openings along the shores of the lakes. They were always peaceable and fiiendly towards the whites until about the time of their removal to the Indian Territory, in 1839, when the killing of an Indian's dog by one of the white settlers made bad blood between them, and this was used as an argument to hasten their removal from this locality. Every winter the Indians were in the habit of setting fire to and burning the grass and bushes that covered the marshes along the north shore of the lakes, and each year the fire extended a little farther into the timber, and formed the " burnt openings" that occupied a considerable portion of the land north and east of Osseo village. Along the north shore of the chain of lakes, and also on the shore of Bird Lake, are found a considerable number of mounds, which tend to show that this country was once inhabited by a race now unknown to man save by the relics they have left behind them. That these have not been explored and examined by scientific men is a wonder, for they are rich magazines of proofs of the residence of the mound-builders in this region. They are of various sizes, from 4 to 10 feet in diameter, and 2 or 3 feet high, and all contain the skeletons of a number of people, some more, some less. Those that have been opened by curious people hereabouts have furnished many specimens of pottery, such as pipes, bowls, etc., that are treasured as relics by those finding them. Mr. Andrew Vanarsdale, who lives in the south part of the town, opened one a few years since, from which he took the skeleton of a man, who must have been about 5 feet 3 inches high. He was buried in a sitting posture in a small mound a short distance from a larger one; from which we are led to infer that he was a person of distinction, and that he was a warrior is shown by a hole in the skull above the right eye, evidently the effect of a wound, which is about three-eighths of an inch in diameter and half an inch deep. The skull does not HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 277 possess the high cheek-bones of the Indian, and differs from theirs in other respects. In the tomb was a clay vessel, evidently moulded in a sort of wicker-frame, smoothed on the inside with the fingers, and then hardened by exposure to great heat. It is about 5 inches high, and nearly the same in diameter. These mounds and their contents were not of Indian origin, for the tribes of this region knew nothing of them, and the implements and utensils were totally dissimilar from any ever used by them. In section 18, and extending quite a distance to the northeast, evidences are found of the track of the mighty tornado that many years ago swept through the forest with resistless force, and in a few seconds of time felled to the earth as many of the forest monarchs as it would have taken one man a lifetime to demolish. The path it took was at the time of settlement plainly indicated by the strip of second-growth timber it bore. Only a surmise can be made as to the time when it occurred; but in one instance a basswood-tree having between sixty and seventy concentric rings, each supposed to indicate the growth during one year, was cut down, which stood on the same ground formerly occupied by an ash-tree which was blown down by the wind. This would indicate that the storm which did such harm to the forest must have occurred nearly or quite a century ago. In the settlement of the town the north part was first settled, because it was nearer the old Chicago road, and the Territorial road ran through it. It was also good timber land, and attractive to settlers for that reason. The settlement rapidly extended south and west, however, and clearings were begun in almost every section within five years of the arrival of the first settler. The land entered for speculative purposes by non-resident capitalists was mostly situated in the southwest part, and was not generally transferred into the hands of actual settlers until from ten to fifteen years afterwards. The early pioneers had many hardships and dangers to encounter, wolves and bears being quite numerous and troublesome, and for a few years provisions and clothing were both scarce and costly. Flour and meal had often to be brought from a distance, and other supplies too, while meat had to be furnished by hunting or trade with the Indians. But this state of affairs did not long exist, for as fast as the land was cleared crops were planted, and the area of tillable lands constantly increasing furnished an abundance of the fruits of the earth. Orchards were started, often from seeds brought with them by the emigrants, but it was necessarily several years before they came into bearing, and meantime fruit, especially apples, was scarce. Now all is changed, and fruitful fields and orchards occupy the site of the ancient forest, testifying to the beneficence of the Creator and the sturdy toil and ceaseless care of the tillers of the soil. What a grand testimonial to the physical and mental domination of the human race over all other animate or inanimate nature! The project of building a railroad by aid from the State was being urged at the time of the settlement, and the work was undertaken in the fall of 1838 and continued until it was completed to Hillsdale in 1843. This enterprise furnished considerable employment to the settlers along the line, who engaged in cutting and hauling lumber and ties, building trestles and bridges, and took contracts for grading portions of the road-bed. A station was established at Osseo, which village had been laid out in 1840, and trains began running through the town in October, 1843. The highest point reached by the Michigan Southern Railroad is in this town. This town was set off from Adams by a special act of the Legislature of 1837. It was the practice among the early settlers to allow the first settler to give the town in which he lived a name. In this town that honor was, however, conferred upon William Duryea, and he chose to name it Florida, after the town of Florida, in Montgomery Co., N. Y., where his former home was. It continued to bear that name until the year 1850, when, at the instigation of Warren Thompson, it was changed to Jefferson, in honor of the illustrious framer of the immortal Declaration of Independence. The desire to change the name is said to have grown out of the use of a teasing expression by the citizens of Hillsdale and Jonesville, who called the citizens of this town " Florida Indians," much to their dissatisfaction. The first town-meeting was held at the log house of William Duryea, on the 3d day of April, 1837. The following is a copy of the record of that meeting: "Florida, April 3,1837.-At the first township-meeting of the electors of the town of Florida, Hillsdale County, State of Michigan, held at the house of William Duryea, in said town, the house was called to order by H. Hadley, Esq., Chauncey Leonard chosen Moderator, and Henry P. Adams, Clerk for the day. William Duryea, Perez Dimmick, and Rowland Bird constitute the Board of inspectors of Election, and chose by Ballot the following Persons to fill the Several town offices as follows: Supervisor, Henry P. Adams; Town Clerk, Chauncey Leonard; Assessors, James Bullard, William Hecox, Alonzo McNeal; Collector, John M. Duryea; Directors of Poor, Horatio Hadley, Michael B. Howell; Commissioners of Highways, Orrin Anderson, Frederick Duryea, Robert McNeal, Jr.; Constables, John M. Duryea, Orrin Anderson; School Inspectors, Wate Chapin, William Scoon, John Perrin, Jr.; Justices of the Peace, Horatio Hadley, Henry P. Adams, William Scoon, William Duryea. " WILLIAM DURYEA, " PEREZ DIMMICK, " ROWLAND BIRD, "Inspectors of Election." After the election, Henry P. Adams refused to serve either as supervisor or justice of the peace, and a special election was held at " the house of Adams and Ambler," on the 4th of May following, at which Jacob Ambler was chosen to both positions. The following list shows all the principal officers of the town from its organization to the present time: CIVIL LIST OF THE TOWN OF JEFFERSON. 1837-39. Jacob Ambler. 1840. William Ilecox. 1841. William Duryea. 1842. Chauncey Leonard. SUPERVISORS. 1843. William tIecox. 1844. Chauncey Leonard. 1845-46. James H. Thorn. 1847-48. Warren Thompson. 278 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 1849-50. James H. Thorn. 1851-62. Charles D. Luce. 1853. William Hecox. 1854. James H. Thorn. 1855-56. Henry F. Sutton. 1857. Moses Rumsey. 1858-59. Henry F. Sutton. 1860. Charles D. Luce. 1861. Joseph Slaght. TOWN 1837-39. Chauncey Leonard. 1840. Warren Thompson. 1841-42. Erasmus D. Ambler. 1843. Chauncey Leonard. 1844-45. Isaiah Green. 1846. Stephen L. Gilbert. 1847-50. Isaiah Green. 1851. William Messenger. 1852. James D. Salisbury. 1853. William D. Jones. 1854. Ebenezer Hunt. 1855. William D. Jones. 1856. Charles Bullard. 1857. S. P. Van Akin. TOWN T 1839. William Heeox. 1840. William Duryea. 1841. Peter Failing. 1842-50. Robert McNeal. 1851. George Jenkins. 1852-54. Chauncey Leonard. 1855. Moses Rumsey. 1856. Jeremiah Odell. 1857. Alanson Driscoll. 1858-59. Charles D. Luce. 1860. Harrison Van Akin. 1861. Hiram Decker. JUSTICES ( 1837. William Duryea, 4 years. William Scoon, 3 years. Jacob Ambler, 2 years. Horatio Hadley, 1 year. 1838. Rowland Bird, f. t. James H. Thorn, v. 1839. James H. Thorn. 1840. Perez Dimmick, f. t. Chauncey Leonard, v. 1841. Warren Thompson. 1842. Chauncey Leonard, f. t. Aaron W. Nichols, v. 1843. James H. Thorn. 1844. Aaron W. Nichols. 1845. Warren Thompson. 1846. E. K. Parmelee. 1847. Stephen W. Perrin. 1848. Aaron W. Nichols. 1849. Warren Thompson. 1850. E. K. Parmelee. 1851. Stephen W. Perrin. 1852. Aaron W. Nichols. 1853. E. C. Adams. 1854. Charles D. Luce. 1855. James H. Thorn, f. t. 1862. Silas A. Wade. 1863-64. James Leonardson. 1865. Moses Rumsey. 1866-68. James Leonardson. 1869-71. Charles D. Luce. 1872. Moses Rumsey. 1873. James Leonardson. 1874-77. Charles D. Luce. 1878. Andrew L. Davis. CLERKS. 1857. William D. Jones (appointed to fill vacancy). 1858-59. Nelson W. Thompson. 1860. Isaiah Green. 1861. Nelson W. Thompson. 1862-64. William W. Green. 1865. Jonathan Green. 1866. Isaac N. Green. 1867. C. B. Wiley. 1868-70. George W. Cooper. 1871. Zelora Phillips. 1872. William W. Green, Jr. 1873-78. J. H. Mann. REASURERS. 1862. James H. Davis. 1863-64. David Wines. 1865-66. Charles D. Luce. 1867. Ebenezer Hunt. 1868-69. Morris Lamb. 1870. Francis M. Hunt. 1871-72. Isaac N. Green. 1873. Robert J. Nichols. 1874-75. Zela IIadley. 1876-77. Dexter Hadley. 1878. Aaron Bush. 1841. John Bullard. George Jenkins. Henry Trumans. 1842. George Jenkins. John Perrin. Erasmus D. Ambler. 1843. Julius Richards. William Green. Hiram Howe. 1844. Stephen W. Perrin. William Duryea. John Paterson. 1845. Joseph Bailey. Almon Bird. Alanson Driscoll. 1846. Robert J. Nichols. Stephen W. Perrin. Hiram Howe. 1847. Hiram Howe. Robert J. Nichols. James H. Thorn. 1848. Joseph Slaght. 1849. Israel S. Hodges. 1850. M. D. Black. 1851. George Duryea, f. t. Hiram Howe, v. 1852. Adin T. Ayres, f. t. Warren Thompson, v. 1853. Clarkson Soper. 1854. Elijah Perrin, f. t. George W. Densmore, 2 yrs. Isaiah Green, 1 year. 1855. Chauncey Leonard. 1856. James Leonardson. 1857. Daniel B. Woodward. 1858. Michael B. Howell. 1859. James Leonardson. 1860. Daniel B. Woodward. 1861. Albert B. Loomis. 1862. Elihu Hubbard. 1863. Anthony Van Arsdale. 1861. William Trivett. 1865. David Green. 1866. James A. Cole. 1867. Charles D. Luce. 1868. Robert J. Nichols. 1869. James A. Cole. 1870. Charles Mulikin. 1871. William C. Howell. 1872-77. James A. Cole. 1878. Peter Schneider. ASSESSORS. 1837. James Bullard. William Hecox. Alonzo McNeal. 1838. William Hecox. Peter Failing. Perez Dimmick. 1839. William Hecox. Perez Dimmick. Matthew Armstrong. 1840. Erastus C. Decker. James 1. Thorn. William Duryea. 1841. Chauncey Leonard. Aaron W. Nichols. William Hecox. 1842. Stephen W. Perrin. Hiram Howe. 1843. Isaac Doty. Almon Bird. 1844. John Perrin. Almon Bird. 1845. Erastus K. Parmelee. George L. Monroe. 1846. Marquis E. French. George L. Monroe. 1849. Owen B. Coffin. Robert J. Nichols. 1850. James H. Lewis. Owen B. Coffin. 1852. Alanson Driscoll. William P. Darrow. 1853. Moses Rumsey. Robert J. Nichols.' )F THE PEACE. 1855. Adin T. Ayres, 3 years. Warren Thompson, 2 years. 1856. Robert J. Nichols. 1857. Warren Thompson. 1858. Daniel B. Woodward. 1859.. Silas A. Wade. 1860. Robert J. Nichols. 1861. Chauncey Leonard. 1862. Daniel B. Woodward. 1863. Serring N. Wade. 1864. Charles H. Smith. 1865. William W. Green. 1866. Hiram Decker. 1867. Daniel B. Woodward. 1868. Moses Rumsey. 1869. Jonas B. Cooper. 1870. Hiram Decker. 1871. Daniel B. Woodward. 1872. Serring N. Wade. 1873. Seth D. McNeal. 1874. Henry Decker. 1875. Daniel B. Woodward. 1876. Moses Rumsey. 1877. William H. Kimball. 1878. William D. Jones. OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. 1837. Horatio Hadley. Michael B. Howell. 1838. Horatio Hadley. Michael B. Howell. 1839. Horatio Hadley. Wait Chapin. 1840. Perez Dimmick. Wait Chapin. 1841. William Green. Wait Chapin. 1842. William Hecox. Wait Chapin. 1843. Chauncey Leonard. Warren Thompson. 1844. Chauncey Leonard. Warren Thompson. 1845. Isaac Doty. Ely Farnsworth. John W. Merriott. 1846. Owen B. Coffin. Chauncey Leonard. 1847. Ely Farnsworth. 1847. Joseph Bailey. 1848. Chauncey Leonard. Wait Chapin. 1849. George Jenkins. Owen B. Coffin. 1850. Wait Chapin. James H. Thorn. 1851. William P. Darrow. Ely Pettis. 1852. Warren Thompson. Chauncey Leonard. 1853. Warren Thompson. Chauncey Leonard. 1854. William Hecox. Aaron W. Nichols. 1855. Alanson Driscoll. Stephen W. Perrin. 1856. Alanson Driscoll. Ransom Cole. 1857. Silas A. Wade. 1858. Jehiel H. Lockwood. George L. Monroe. COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. 1837. Orrin Anderson. 1839. William D. Stout. Frederick Duryea. Michael B. Howell. Robert McNeal, Jr. Israel S. Hodges. 1838. Owen B. Coffin. 1840. Alanson Driscoll. Erasmus D. Ambler. Finley McArthur. Rowland Bird. James H. Thorn. 1837. Peter Failing. 1838. Orrin Anderson. 1839. Erasmus D. Ambler. COLLECTORS. 1840. Alanson Driscoll. 1841. Robert McNeal, Jr. ~ HOME IN SUMMERSET, ENGLAND. RESIDENCE, OF THOMAS HUTCHINGS,JEFFERSON, fILLSDALEC~MICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 279 The town is now and has for many years been Republican in politics. The elections are held at Osseo. The first post-office was established Aug. 20, 1839, through the efforts of Warren Thompson, who circulated a petition, obtained a number of signatures, forwarded it to the Department, and was commissioned as postmaster on the date above mentioned. He retained this position nearly twenty-two years, although the office was kept several years by deputies appointed by him. Upon the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency, Mr. Thompson was removed and Ebenezer Hunt appointed in his stead. During the administration of Andrew Johnson the office was transferred into the hands of Isaac N. Green, who held it until the winter of 1873-74, when William H. Kimball superseded him. In 1875, William R. Davis was appointed, and held it for eight months, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, L. H. Elliott, who was appointed in the summer of 1876. At first the office was a station on the Hillsdale and Maumee post-route, and was kept at Mr. Thompson's log house. Soon after the completion of the railroad it was changed to Osseo village, and was first kept in the tavern of Isaiah Green. It was first known as Florida post-office until the name of the town was changed, and then it was called Osseo. Another post-office was established in the south part of the town, six or seven years ago. It is called South Jefferson post-office, and is kept at the house of the postmaster, Mr. A. Van Arsdale. The village of Osseo lies in the north centre of the town, or portions of sections 4 and 9. At the time of the building of the railroad Jonesville was the county-seat, and the citizens of Hillsdale were making an effort to have the county-seat removed to their village, claiming that it was nearer the centre of the county and more convenient to the whole population. This movement was seen to be gaining strength, and a few of the citizens of Joncsville conceived the idea of starting a village nearer the centre of the county, to contest with Hillsdale the possession of the county seat, and thus, by dividing the forces of the opposition, to keep things as they were. In pursuance of this scheme, " The Osseo Village Company" was formed, and purchased a tract of land of 130 acres, on which they surveyed a village plat of about 6 acres, which was recorded in the register's office March 11, 1840. So sanguine were the people of this vicinity that the county-seat would be removed to this village that the sites of the county buildings were selected, and preparations made to build. But when they found out the ruse of the Jonesville people, they sided with the citizens of Hillsdale, and assisted in changing the county-seat to that place. The original proprietors of the plat were Hervey Smith, James K. Kinman, William W. Murphy, Benjamin F. Smith, and George C. Munro. An addition was made to the village August 2, 1866, by Warren Thompson, Jonathan Silcox, Francis Ogden, and three others who owned lots at the northeast of the village. The name "Osseo" is of Indian origin, said to mean "fiery plumes," and was derived from the appearance of the marshes and woods when the annual burning of them ook place. The first building erected in Osseo was the tavern of Isaiah Green, which still stands on the northwest corner of Monroe Avenue and McClelland Street. It was also the first frame building in the township. Win. Hecox had previously erected a frame addition to his log house, but this was the first built entirely of framed timbers. It is now used as a store. The succeeding summer Mr. Green erected a small building on the opposite corner, which he rented for store purposes to Philo A. Wells, who kept a small grocery there. A short time after, this building was sold to Thomas Silver, who moved it to the south side of the railroad, where Hunt's store now stands. In 1857, Silver sold the building to Ebenezer Hunt, from whose hands it passed into the possession of Fred Silver, and lastly into the hands of Thomas Porter, the present owner. Mr. Green, in a short time after the removal of this building, put up another small store on the same site, which he occupied as a dry-goods and grocery-store. This is now owned by William D. Jones and used for a dwelling. About a year later, in 1843, a warehouse was built at the east side of the railroad crossing, which was afterwards fitted up for a store and occupied by Isaiah Green. Two or three years later it was removed to its present site, just east of the hotel. The first dwelling-house in the village was in the west part, and was built by Peter Conrad. From this small commencement Osseo has grown to its present size. The growth has been slow and steady up to the panic of 1873, since which time it has, as in nearly all other villages, practically ceased. At present, indications of renewed activity in building are making their appearance. Of the business places opened at a later day than those already mentioned, we name a few. Ebenezer Hunt opened a store here in 1854, and in 1859-60 he put up the building he now occupies. He has been connected in business partnerships with other persons a part of the time, and John N. Miner is now a partner in the business. The first blacksmith-shop was that of William S. Leonard, standing north of the old tavern. In 1853, Isaiah Green erected a new hotel opposite the old one, which was converted into a store, and is still keeping a public-house there. He has been the only innkeeper in the town from the time of settlement, a period of 43 years, and is now completing his 25th year in the present house. The first hardware-store and tin-shop was opened in 1868, by George W. Cooper. J. H. Mann is the present merchant in that line of trade. The first, and at present the only brick business block, was erected in 1863, by Zelora and Dorr Phillips, and is used as a drug-store. The second story is occupied by the Masons as their lodge-room. A brick-yard was started by Phillips Brothers about 1863. The first church in the village was the Methodist church, built in 1860. The second, a brick structure, was built by the Free Baptists in 1873. At present the village contains about 60 dwellings, one dry-goods and grocery-store, two drug- and grocery-stores, one hardware-store and tin-shop, one boot- and shoe-shop, two carriage- and blacksmith-shops, one blacksmith-shop, one brick and tile-factory, one hotel, a fine brick schoolhouse, two churches, and the depot and warehouse of the L. S. & M. S. Railroad Co. Its population is about 350. A small portion of the village of Pittsford, containing the Christian Church, lies in this town. The history of "80 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I that village will be found in connection with that of the town of Pittsford. We have heretofore made mention of the first school in the town, kept by Sarah Bullard in 1839. As the town became settled more thickly, new districts were organized, until at present there are 10 whole and 2 joint districts in the town. These schools are all maintained on a liberal footing, and are furnishing educational facilities of no mean character to the children of the town. In District No. 2 is a school and building of which the citizens of Osseo may well be proud. It was changed from a common to a graded school in December, 1867, upon the completion of the new house, and commenced at that time under the charge of George W. Thompson and Adaline G. Darrow. The present teachers are C. B. Derthick and Alice Darrow. The building was erected in 1867, at a cost of about $4000. It is 30 by 50 feet, and built of brick, and, standing as it does on an eminence in the east part of the'village, presents a pleasant and attractive appearance, adding very much to the looks of the village. There are about 90 pupils in attendance, and the school census of 1878 shows that there are but 103 persons of school age (between five and twenty years) residing in the district, demonstrating the fact that nearly 90 per cent. of the children are in school. The following is a list of the first and also of the present officers of the district, viz.: First Oficers.-Moderator, H. H. Harring; Director, F. W. Thompson; Assessor, G. W. Cooperl; Trustees, Ebenezer Hunt, F. W. Thompson, Morris Lamb, James King, H. H. Harring, Joseph Slaght. Present Officers.-Moderator, A. R. Whitney: Director, Dorr Phillips; Assessor, James King; Trustees, L. H. Elliott, William E. Burnett, James Rose. Aside from agriculture and the usual mechanical pursuits, the business of the town is limited. There are two saw-mills and two grist-mills now in operation, and these, with those already mentioned, complete the list of mills and factories. One enterprise we wish, however, to make a more special mention of, and that is the OSSEO BRICK AND DRAIN-TILE WORKS. About fourteen years ago, while the citizens were improving the grade of the road leading south from the village, they cut through the surface soil of sand and gravel, and struck a vein of clay that looked as if it might be excellent for the purpose of manufacturing brick. Subsequently, by the digging of wells at different places along the hill, it was discovered that the clay formed an extensive bed, underlying the whole hill on which the village stands. Phillips Brothers established a brick-yard soon after this, and about 1869 added the manufacture of drain-tile on a small scale. The business constantly increased, as the tough and durable nature of the tile became recognized, and in 1873 the premises and business was purchased by William H. Kimball, who, in the spring of 1878, sold a half-interest to Dexter Hadley. The bed of clay is seemingly almost in exhaustible and of a very superior quality, being plastic and easily worked and remarkably free from impurities. It is well adapted to the manufacture of coarse pottery if not for the finer grades, and that branch is soon to be added to the manufactures of the company. It is the largest and best tile-factory in the county, and ranks well with any in the State. During the past year the works have turned off 225,000 tile and have employed on an average eight men. The Tiffany Tile-Machine is used, and the capacity is about 300,000 a year. A 25 horse-power steam-engine is used to run the works. A serious railroad accident occurred at Osseo, about the 20th of December, 1864, by which three persons lost their lives and many others were more or less injured. It was in the early morning. A freight-train had passed through in the night and the switch-tender had depended on the conductor of that train to close the switch after he had passed, but this was not done, and when the express-train came dashing along at a high rate of speed it was thrown from the track and badly wrecked, and the unsuspecting passengers were hurled into a promiscuous heap, from which they were rescued as speedily as possible and received the care and attention of the villagers. The three who were killed were buried here, until their friends came and removed them. The switchman and the conductor of the freighttrain immediately fled, and were never called to account for their criminal negligence. The Masonic fraternity has an organization in this town. It is known as STAR LODGE, NO. 93, F. AND A. M. It was instituted on the 16th day of January, 1857, under the auspices of Fidelity Lodge, No. 32, F. and A. M., of Hillsdale, with ten members. Their names were Lewis Hagadorn, Chauncey Leonard, Samuel P. Vanakin, William M. Clark, Samuel B. Paylor, Abel Wolcott, Horatio W. Bates, Marvin W. Thatcher, Milo Bell, and Ichabod Steadman. The first officers were installed Jan. 29, 1857, as follows, viz.: Lewis Hagadorn, W. M.; Chauncey Leonard, S. W.; Samuel P. Vanakin, J. W.; M. W. Thatcher, S. D; H. W. Gere, J. D.; Alanson Driscoll, Treas.; William M. Clark, Sec.; Samuel B. Paylor, Tyler. The installation ceremonies were conducted by Franklin French, W. M. of Fidelity Lodge, of Hillsdale. The Masters of the lodge in the order of their service have been Lewis Hagadorn, David H. Lord, Chauncey Leonard, Francis W. Thompson, Samuel S. Hinkle, Zelora Phillips, Caleb Green, N. W. Thompson, S. M. Huntington, Samuel S. Hinkle, and William E. Burnett. The membership at present is about 60. The lodge owns the hall, in the second story of the Phillips block, and have fitted it up in handsome style. The entire expense of hall and furniture has been about $1500. The present officers are William E. Burnett, W. M.; Guy Kingsley, S. W.; Sanford Leonardson, J. W.; Thomas Porter, S. D.; A. G. Mosher, J. D.; George W. Rumsey, Treas.; Sanford F. Greene, Sec.; H. H. Harring, Tyler. Living in the north part of the town is an aged couple seventy-eight years of age, both born on the same day, and who have been living in the relation of husband and wife upwards of fifty years. It is remarkable as a coincidence HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 281 of ages, as an instance of longevity, and as a more than usually prolonged term of wedded life. This worthy couple, who are held in high esteem by all who know them, are Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Knight. The churches of this town are four in number: two of them, the Methodist Episcopal and Free Baptist churches, at Osseo; another, the Adventist church, in the south part; and the last, the Christian church, at Pittsford. We have obtained as full histories of each of them as we were able to, which we here present. OSSEO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first service held in connection with the organization of this society was a sermon preached at the house of Horatio Hadley in 1836. The congregation consisted of five persons, and the minister, Rev. Mr. Wilcox, received for his services a" five-dollar gold-piece." In 1837 a class was formed, consisting of thirteen persons, and the society was attached to Bean Creek Mission. It was afterwards changed to the Hillsdale Circuit, and some years later was established as a separate charge. Four of the original members are still living in the town. They are Mr. and Mrs. Horatio Hadley, Mrs. Sarah Hecox, and Mrs. Rebecca Failing. The pastors have been as follows, viz.: 1837, J. Scotford and A. Staples; 1838, P. Sabin and Z. C. Brown; 1839 -40, J. Scotford and P. Sabin; 1841, C. Babcock and G. C. Shurtliff; 1842, G. C. Shurtliff; 1843-44, W. Jackson and A. Minnis; 1845, W. P. Judd and Thomas Seely; 1846, J. Jennings; 1847, H. Worthington; 1848, W. Kelly; 1849, R. McConnell; 1850, I. Taylor; 1851-52, James Maguire; 1853, I. Card; 1854, J. Dobbins; 1855, B. N. Sheldon and J. Clerbine; 1856, N. Mount and J. Hoyt; 1857, I. Finch and William Doust; 1858-59, E. C. Chambers; 1860-61, A. W. Torrey; 1862, A. L. Crittenden; 1863, C. T. Van Antwerp; 1864-65, G. D. Palmer; 1866, A. J. Russel; 1867-68, B. W. Smith; 1869-70, W. J. Swift; 1871, A. M. Hunt; 1872-74, J. Clerbine; 1875, S. George; 1876, M. Browning; 1877, A. M. Fitch; 1878, M. I. Smith. The first church edifice was erected, in the year 1860, at a cost of about $2000. It was repaired and enlarged, in 1873, at a further cost of $2000, and will now comfortably seat about 300 people. The membership is now 84. The officers of the church and Sabbath-school are L. W. Chapin, Class-Leader; Robert Hill, Levi Vanakin, Loren W. Chapin, William E. Burnett, and William H. Kimball, Trustees; W. H. Kimball, Superintendent. FREE BAPTIST CHURCH OF OSSEO. The records of this church begin with a meeting held August 13, 1873, though it is possible there was an organization prior to that time. It was organized through the efforts of Rev. A. A. Myers, of Hillsdale, who was also the first pastor, and continued in that relation, being assisted by Rev. John Mitchell, a student at Hillsdale College, until January, 1878, when Rev. C. B: Mills was settled as pastor, and remained six months. Since that time the pulpit has been supplied, Elder Myers preaching most of the time. 36 The number of members at the time of organization was about 30. Among them we mention John S. Alder, Marcus Van, Robert Purchase, Lawton Taylor, A. J. Goodell, S. D. McNeal, Elliott W. Church, James Fowler, Minor Knight, John D. Burghdurf, J. H. Mann, Guy Kingsley, and William W. Green. The present membership is about 75. The society is connected with the Hillsdale Quarterly Meeting and the Michigan Yearly Meeting. The society purchased a lot of J. S. Alder for $200, and at once set at work to build a church, which was erected in 1873, at a cost of $5000. It is built of brick, and is a fine-looking edifice. It was dedicated Oct. 28, 1877, by Prof. Dunn, of Hillsdale College. The first officers were Moses Rumsey, E. G. Parker, William Van Wert, Warren Thompson, Lawton Taylor, Seth D. McNeal, Trustees; Marcus Van, Miner Knight, Deacons; Robert Purchase, Caleb Green, Lawton Taylor, Building Committee. The present officers are Miner Knight, Lawton Taylor, George Rumsey, Nathan J. Randall, Marcus Van, J. H. Mann, Trustees; A. J. Goodell, Clerk; John Decker, Treasurer; E. W. Church, J. D. Burghdurf, Deacons. There is a large and flourishing Sabbath-school connected with the church. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. In the early spring of the year 1875, an Adventist minister named Rev. Hiram St. John, who resided at Clyde, Ohio, came to this town for the purpose of holding a series of meetings to propagate the doctrines of that sect. The place selected at which to hold the meetings was the Black school-house, in the south part of the town, and they were kept up for a period of about six weeks, with good success, and resulted in numerous conversions. From among these converts the church was formed in June following, and had a membership of 43. Among these members were Amasa Blunt, F. D. Snyder, Philancourt Black, George B. Taylor, Andrew Cook, Mary J. Snyder, Jonathan Iden, and George Hodgson. The church has had many additions to its roll of members, and has lost by removal and other causes sufficient to offset them, so that the membership is about the same now that it was in the beginning. For a year after the formation of the church regular weekly meetings were held at the school-house; but in the summer of 1876 a church was built, under the charge of G. Hodgson, F. D. Snyder, and E. Forte, building committee, on a lot donated by Mr. Snyder. It is a plain, neat, wooden structure, capable of seating 200 people, and cost about $700. The ministers who officiate at these Adventist churches are not settled as pastors, but are sent, as occasion demands, to hold meetings at different points. Those who have preached at this church are Revs. Hiram St. John, H. M. Kenyon, W. H. Littlejohn, M. S. Burnham, and M. B. Miller. The first officers were F. D. Snyder, Amasa Blunt, An drew Cook, Trustees; Philancourt Black, Clerk; Amasa Blunt, Elder; George N. Monroe, Deacon. The present officers are F. D. Snyder, Amasa Blunt, 282 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Jonathan Iden, Trustees; Esther Cook, Clerk; F. D. Snyder, Elder; George Hodgson, Deacon. There has been a Sabbath-school from the commencement, with an average attendance of about 30 scholars. Amasa Blunt was the first Superintendent. F. D. Snyder is the present Superintendent, and Alice Kingsbury is the Secretary. FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF PITTSFORD. During the year 1867, Rev. W. W. De Geer, a minister of the Christian denomination, was induced to come to this place to preach by Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Haynes, who were acquaintances of his. The meetings thus instituted continued for about a year, and then it was thought desirable to form a church society, there then being about a dozen members of the sect who were anxious to unite their efforts for the furtherance of the interests of the cause of Christ. As a consequence of this desire on their part, a meeting was held at the Wesleyan church, in Pittsford village, on Saturday, the 28th day of April, 1868, for the purpose of organizing the church. The meeting was attended by about twenty persons, and proved an interesting and profitable occasion. After a sermon preached by Rev. W. W. De Geer, he instituted the church, receiving into its fellowship the following persons, viz.: Sanford Haynes, Sarah A. Haynes, James H. Filkins, Jane Filkins, from the Adams Church; Matthew A. Willitts, from the Free-Will Baptist Church of Pittsford; John C. S. Burger, Fanny Burger, Amos D. Olds, Ann 0. Olds, James H. Salmond, Tryphena Salmond, Sarah A. Debingham, and Jane A. Converse. Sanford Haynes was elected deacon, and James H. Filkins clerk. The meetings were first held at the Wesleyan Methodist church, and subsequently at the school-house, and for a while in the store now occupied by J. B. Wilson. In the winter of 1869-70 it was decided to build a church, and a meeting was held for the purpose of incorporating the society, on the 1st of January, 1870. This meeting adopted the following as the legal name of the body, viz.: "The First Christian Church in the village of Pittsford, in the towns of Pittsford and Jefferson, Hillsdale Co., State of Michigan." 'Sanford Haynes, M. A. Willitts, J. C. S. Burger were elected as trustees, and they together with Charles Boley and H. B. Mead constituted the building committee to superintend the erection of the church. A subscription paper was started, and a sufficient sum being pledged, work on the church was begun in the spring or summer following. The church was so far completed as to allow of its being occupied as a place of worship in the winter following. It was then furnished with temporary seats, and the meetings, which had for a short time been held at the house of J. H. Filkins, were changed to the church, the first one being held there on the 1st of January, 1871. In the spring of 1874, Rev. G. T. Sullivan, an Evangelist, from Iowa, was engaged to conduct a series of revi val meetings, which commenced on the 13th of March, and continued for several weeks, resulting in a widely extended and powerful revival of God's work, by means of which one hundred and thirty-four persons were converted and I joined the church. Strengthened by this large addition to their numbers, steps were at once taken to finish the church by putting in permanent seats and pulpit. This was accomplished at a cost of $400, and the dedicatory services were held at two o'clock P.M., Sept. 18, 1874, the sermon being preached by Mr. Sullivan. The sum of $336 was raised to pay off the indebtedness of the church. In the evening a meeting was held, which was addressed by Rev. H. K. Stamp. The church is a brick building capable of seating about 250 persons, stands on the west side of Main Street, in the north part of the village of Pittsford, and was erected at a total cost of $3200. The pastors of this church, in the order of their service, have been Revs. W. W. De Geer, M. W. Tuck, John Wilcox, P. W. Sinks, and N. L. Swank. Since the 1st of December, 1878, the church has been without a pastor. At present the membership of the church is 71. The present officers are James H. Filkins, G. S. Patterson, Alonzo F. Webster, Trustees; James H. Filkins, Clerk; G. C. Maxson, Treasurer. The Sabbath-school connected with this church was organized as a union school some time before the formation of the church. It has been well maintained throughout, and has at present an average attendance of about 40 scholars. William Perrin was the first superintendent, and Rev. N. L. Swank is the present one, though since his pastorate terminated, the duties of the position have devolved mostly upon the assistant superintendent, Jas. H. Filkins. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. IION. CIIARLES D. LUCE. Among the early settlers at Martha's Vineyard were the Luces. Portions of the family emigrated to other States. Joseph Luce, the father of the subject of this narrative, was a native of New Jersey, where he was born in the year 1786. He followed the calling of a miller in the earlier part of his life, but in his later years he turned his attention to farming. He was an officer in the war of 1812, and served on the frontier. He was a sober, industrious man, of excellent principles, and led a comparatively uneventful life. HIe died in the year 1842, in Erie Co., Pa., whither he had removed from Arcadia, Wayne Co., N. Y. In 1811 he was married to Miss Betsey Soverhill, by whom he had a family of twelve children, Charles D. being the fifth. He was born in Arcadia, Wayne Co., N. Y., April 6,1820. His early life did not differ materially from that of farmer boys generally. Work upon the farm during the summer was succeeded by the usual term at the district school in winter. By dint of energy and application, he obtained a thorough knowledge of the English branches, and his education he made practically useful to himself and others by teaching. In 1846 he came to Hillsdale County, and purchased, on credit, the farm where he now resides. The land was entirely unimproved, and the construction of a farm HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 283 - --.... and the liquidation of the debt incurred was a work of no small magnitude. In February, 1850, Mr. Luce was married to Miss Sylva R., daughter of Daniel S. and Rhoda Brown, of Erie Co., Pa. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Luce was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, while her father served in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Luce have been blessed with one child, a son, Ernest M., who was born December, 1850, in the town of Harbor Creek, Erie Co., Pa. In his political belief Mr. Luce is a Republican, and has been prominently identified with the politics of his district and county, although not a politician in the common acceptation of the term, never having sought political advancement. He has filled many positions of trust and responsibility, the duties of which he has discharged with fidelity to the trust reposed in him, and with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of the public. In 1850 he was elected supervisor of Jefferson, re-elected in 1851, and since that time has served seven terms. On the Board he was regarded as an efficient member, and served on important committees. For four years he served his fellow-townsmen as treasurer, and for seven years was on the Board of County Superintendents. In 1872 was elected to the representative branch of the Legislature, serving on the committees of Education and Engrossment and Enrollment. Having acquired an enviable reputation for integrity and business ability, he was urged to accept the position of president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Hillsdale County, which position he now holds. Mr. Luce is emphatically a self-made man. Commencing life with only his natural resources for his capital, he has attained success in every department of life, and his career is an example to young men of the capabilities of character and manhood. THOMAS HUTCHINGS. This gentleman, one of the substantial farmers of Jefferson, was born in Somersetshire, England, Sept. 16, 1820. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, which occupation he followed until his emigration to this country, in 1850. For several years preceding his settlement in Hillsdale County he was engaged in farming in the State of New York; but, his means being limited, he came to Michigan in order to attain the acme of his ambition, the possession of a home of his own. He first purchased, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Trivett, the farm now owned by the latter gentleman. The copartnership existed about ten years, when Mr. Hutchings sold his interest, and purchased and cleared the farm now owned by Henry Duryea. Mr. Hutchings has been a sober, industrious man, and in his chosen calling has been very successful, and is considered to be one of the thorough, energetic farmers of Jefferson. He attributes much of his success to the substantial aid rendered him by his worthy wife, whom he married Sept. 5, 1855. Her maiden name was Elida A. Betts. She was born in Barry, Orleans Co., N. Y., Dec. 3, 1829. Her parents were farmers, and came to Michigan in 1849, and settled in Jackson County. On another page will be seen a view of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hutchings, and of the birthplace of Mr. HIutchings, which is situated in a little hamlet in Somersetshire, about five miles from the city of Chard. The house is built of stone. The central part was built by the elder Hutchings, the subsequent additions being made by the members of the family. The left-hand portion of the building is used for the manufacture of shoes, and is thatched with straw. The building in the baclkground is one of the ordinary English tenant-houses, immediately in front of which is the holly hedge. Altogether it affords a very pretty view of English scenery. RA NSO M. THE township of Ransom includes sections 1 to 30 of congressional township 8 south, range 2 west, and its municipal genealogy may be traced as follows: When, on the 17th of March, 1835, the county of Hillsdale was divided by ranges into four separate townships, range 2 west was given the name of Moscow. March 23, 1836, the town of Adams was formed, including all of the range from what is now Moscow south to the Ohio line. March 11, 1837, that portion south of what is now Adams was given the name Florida, from part of which-townships 8 and fractional 9 south-was formed Rowland, Jan. 28, 1840. The remaining portion of Florida was changed to Jefferson, March 17, 1849, which name it still retains, including township 7 south, range 2 west. The name of Rowland was given in honor of the first settler of the township, Rowland Bird. Several years after the death of Mr. Bird a second act was passed, through the influence of certain parties living in what is now Amboy, and by this the name of the township was changed to Ransom; this was on the 9th of March, 1848. The inhabitants were not satisfied with this, and desiring that the name of the pioneer of the township should be duly honored, they secured the passage of an act the next year (April 2, 1849) changing the name to Bird. The strife was not yet at an end, for in the succeeding year (March 28, 1850) the act was passed which changed the name finally to Ransom, which has since been retained. By the same act the east half of Amboy was formed from fractional township 9 south (range 2) and the south tier of sections of township 8, the west half being taken from the south part of Woodbridge in the same manner. Three considerable streams, with their lesser tributaries, furnish abundant water for this township. These are Silver 284 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Creek, entering from Woodbridge on section 7, and flowing in a general southerly course, furnishing very good power, and discharging into Amboy at the south side of section 29; Ransom Creek, flowing southerly through the centre of the township, entering Amboy from section 26; and Burt Creek, the outlet of Bird Lake, in Jefferson, which flows south through the eastern part of the town. The latter stream is named from the family which early located near it,-that pf Thomas Burt. All three of these creeks finally mingle their waters with those in the St. Joseph's fork of the Maumee, flowing through Williams Co., Ohio, and into Indiana, uniting with the St. Mary's at Fort Wayne, in the latter State, and forming the Maumee, which takes a northeasterly course and enters Maumee Bay ten miles below Toledo. Silver Creek is also known as the west branch of the St. Joseph, the two branches uniting in Williams Co., Ohio. The surface of this town is greatly varied. In the southern and eastern portions it is comparatively level, while the balance is considerably broken by hills and ravines. The channels of the streams are deeply cut, and their currents usually quite rapid. But a small proportion of the township contains marsh, the most extensive having been originally a mile and a half north of Ransom Centre, at what is called " Tamarack Corners." Here was a considerable swamp, filled with tamarack timber, but it has been mostly drained and rendered productive. The system of underdraining has been introduced by the farmers of the township, and with marked success; different varieties of drain tile are used. When Ransom was first settled, nearly its entire area was covered with a dense and heavy growth of timber, the only exception being a small portion in the north, which was "timbered openings." Much of the original timber yet remains, and the want of wood for fuel is not likely to be felt for many years. In this town are to be found, in the dwellings of its inhabitants, many of the wide fireplaces, such as cheered the hearts and warmed the log cabins of her first settlers, and the same charm attaches to them which they possessed in years agone, when the forest reached to the doorway, and the huge back-log was brought in from only a few steps away and deposited in its place to act as a support to the pile of smaller sticks placed in its front, while the jolly sparks raced with each other up the capacious chimney. The soil of Ransom is generally of a clayey nature, but little sand abounding, and is well adapted to the growth of wheat and the various grains raised in this region. An idea of the resources of the township will be gained by perusing the following items, taken from the State census for 1874: Population (763 males, 776 females)................ 1,539 Number of acres of taxable land...................... 19,042 " " land owned by individuals and companies................ 19,075.50 " " improved land................... 12,074 " " land exempt from taxation... 33.50 Value of same, including improvements............ $10,900 Number of acres in school-house sites............... 3 " church and parsonage sites............. 4 " burying-grounds........................... 6 Property used or intended for other public purposes...............................................50 Number of farms in township.......................... 306 " acres in same............................... 18,604 Average number of acres in same..................... 60.79 Number of acres of wheat sown in 1874............ 2,359 (" "t harvested in 1873...... 1,962 " " corn " "..... 1,852 " bushels of wheat " "...... 24,871 " " corn " "..... 99,660 " " all other grain " "...... 16,787 ( " potatoes raised "...... 7,856 " tons of hay cut "...... 2,080 pounds of wool sheared "..... 16,079 " " pork marketed "...... 183,505 " " cheese made...... 49,882 " " butter made "...... 89,580 " " fruit dried for market "...... 11,562 " barrels of cider made "...... 423 " pounds of maple-sugar made in 1874 1,610 " acres in orchards in "t 522 " bushels of apples raised in 1872....... 21,750 " / " " 1873..... 16,420 " pears " 1872...... 10 " " " " 1873...... 10 " " cherries " 1872...... 63 " 4" " 1873...... 76 " cwt. of grapes....... 5 Value of these productions for 1872.................. $5,691 1" " " 1873.................. $4,215 Number of horses, one year old and over, 1874... 577 " m ules, 1874.................................. 5 " work-oxen, 1874............................ 46 " milch cows, "............................ 886 " neat cattle, one year old and over, other than oxen and cows............ 448 " swine over six months old............... 1,138 " sheep " "............... 1,848 " " sheared in 1873...................... 3,385 " lumber, lath, and shingle-mills in 1874........................................ 2 " persons employed in same.............. 8 Amount of capital invested in same.................. $7,000 Feet of lumber sawed.................................... 600,000 Value of products of these mills....................... $9,700 Number of cheese- and butter-factories in 1874... 1 " persons employed in same.............. 2 Amount of capital invested............................. $1,100 Value of products......................................... $4,653 As a dairying township Ransom ranks second in the county, according to the census, Reading only being ahead. Three cheese-factories have at different times been built in town, the first by Jacob Lozier, on section 22; the next by Silas P. Boothe, on section 1; and the third by Thomas Burt, on section 24. The only one now in operation is that of Mr. Lozier. The Boothe factory was only conducted part of one season, and is now used as a barn. That of Mr. Burt was the most extensive of the three, and is yet standing. Mr. Lozier manufactures from the milk of his own cows only. The inhabitants of Ransom take just pride in their choice stock. Thomas Burt, who owns one of the best farms in the township, has as good-perhaps the best-conveniences for wintering stock as any farmer in the vicinity, and his herd of choice cows and fat young steers is certainly the best in the township. LAND ENTRIES. Much of the land included in what is now Ransom was entered by speculators before a solitary person had settled within its limits, and the greater number of the early arrivals purchased from second hands. The following is a record of the entries previous to the 27th of April, 1838, as transcribed to the county books from the records of the land-office at Monroe: Section 1. —David Margas, William Wolcott, William B. Bristol, Gardner Cooper, John F. Taylor, John M. Lickley. Section 2.-Gilbert Howland, Joseph R. Williams, Lorenzo Bailey, Lothrop & Buck, Bronson Hopkins. Section 3.-Lorenzo Bailey, Lothrop & Buck, Bronson 5 9..,. p, jt *^ wMRS.ORSAMUS 1 ORSAMUS DOrY. RESIDENCE OF ORSAMUS DOTY, RANSOM, HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICH. :;::f:;7::7: ^p. j~^ A^pT^.,,. ^.~. jy ~i?^ ' '' * ' 1 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 285 Hopkins, Alonzo Bailey, Edward S. Baker, R. T. Davis, James Bellows. Section 4.-John Allen, Gershom Willmarth, Lothrop & Buck, Wilder & Hastings. Section 5.-John Palmer, Rowland Bird, Lothrop & Buck, James Guion. Section 6.-Samuel Young, Wilder & Hastings, William P. Green, James Guion. Section 7.-Lothrop & Buck, Wilder & Hastings, A. S. & Stephen Clark, Orrin Cobb, Charles J. Manning, Watson Childs, Hiram Darrow. Section 8.-Asahel Kimball, Lothrop & Buck, William Burnham, Henry Fowler, Erastus Gaylord. Section 9.-Stephen F. Warner, Asahel Kimball, A. & E. Willis. Section 10.-Franklin Lakey, Joseph R. Williams. Section 11.-William H. Chilson, Christopher Perkins, William B. Bristol. Section 12.-Henry Cornell, David Short, Parley J. Spalding, Aaron D. Carroll, William H. Chilson, A. W. Nichols. Section 13.-Gabriel H. Todd, A. McCow, David Short, Ransom Ferris, Otis Johnson, Elizabeth Sprague. Section 14.-Lyman Doolittle, Ransom Ferris, Joseph R. Williams, Wilder & Hastings. Section 15.-Gabriel H. Todd, Franklin Lakey, Joseph R. Williams. Section 17.-Benajah Barker, Lothrop & Buck, W. P. Green, George L. Perkins, Erastus Gaylord. Section 18.-Theron Skeel, Lothrop & Buck, Green, Hubbard & Lester, Charles Darrow, Charles H. and William Harroll. Section 19.-Joseph R. Williams, T. B. Van Brant, Isaac Knapp, Jr., B. F. Van Dake, Charles Helm, Leonard Carlton. Section 20.-Seth Brewster, Lothrop & Buck, M. L. and Aaron Lincoln, Ira R. Grosvenor. Section 21.-Henry Jessup, Jr., Lothrop & Buck, M. L. and A. Lincoln, C. Howell, Deborah D. Field, George Crane. Section 22.-J. E. Fletcher, Isaac French, Russell Whitney, Joseph R. Williams, Center Lamb, John R. Willis. Section 23.-Gilbert Sherman, Sylvanus Rowles, Thomas Burt, Wilder & Hastings, John R. Willis. Section 24.-Hiram Doolittle, Salmon Laird, Joseph R. Williams, Benjamin Harrington, Archibald McVickar. Section 25.-Charles H. Carroll, Epenetus Howell, A. S. Clapp. Section 26.-Salmon Laird, Green, Hubbard & Lester, William P. Green, Harvey Cobb, Isaac A. Calvin. Section 27.-Isaac French, Russell Whitney, Noram C. Baldwin, J. D. Huntington, N. Bassett, Jr., Ama B. Cobb, Harvey Cobb. Section 28.-J. J. Snidecor, Irwin Camp, William P. Green, Robert Parker, James Bellows. Section 29.-Asa D. Reed, John Babcock, Samuel S. Brown, Ira R. Grosvenor. Section 30.-James H. Babcock, Green, Hubbard & Lester, Edward L. Baker, William P. Green. EARLY SETTLEMENT. From a historical sketch of this town by Samuel B. Brown (at present occupying a seat in the State Legislature), read July 4, 1876, the following extract is made regarding the first white settler of what is now Ransom: "Rowland Bird, a native of Massachusetts, who had previously lived in Wayne Co., N. Y., in the year 1832, in October, moved into Michigan and located in the town of Sylvania, now in the State of Ohio. From Sylvania he came to Ransom, where he arrived March 8, 1836. With him came his wife and seven children, four daughters and three sons; also a young man by the name of Leander Candee, as a man-of-all-work. What his wages were, or for what he served, the only record we have is that, four years after, to wit, March, 1840, he took to wife Lorinda Bird, and no doubt considered himself amply repaid for all the privations and hardships he had endured." The marriage of Mr. Candee and Miss Bird was the first which took place within the present limits of Ransom. The first death was that of Allen Bird, a sixteen-year-old son of Rowland Bird, who died March 8, 1839, just three years after the family settled in the township, and a year before his sister was married to Mr. Candee. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Jacob Ambler, of Osseo, and was the first sermon delivered in town. The first birth was that of a child of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Babcock, and occurred also in 1839. For one or two years after his settlement Mr. Bird's family had no neighbors save the prowling beasts of the wilderness, and the only occasions when they were permitted to gaze on one of their own color were the visits of parties looking for land upon which to locate at some future time. The second family which settled in Ransom was that of Orrin Cobb, who made a home on the western border. Mr. Cobb became prominent in town, and held numerous offices, among them that of assessor, to which position he was elected at the first town-meeting. The first frame barn in the township was built by Rowland Bird, in 1838, and among those who were present to assist in raising it were a few Indians, and several persons from Jonesville, who had come purposely to aid in the work. This was but one of many instances of the same character, and it was often found necessary to go even farther for help.; Indeed, the settlers of the town know what hardships and privations mean. One of them, desiring sash for the windows of his new log house, walked to Jonesville, bought five sash, paid all his money, lashed the sash to his back, and returned without having a mouthful to eat. Another man, desiring some seed-oats, started out, accompanied by his thirteen-year-old boy, in search of some. He bought three bushels three miles west of Hudson. Two bushels were put in one bag, and one bushel in the other. The bags were shouldered respectively by father and son, and carried the whole distance home."* A wonderful mortality developed itself in the Bird family in the year 1840. Mrs. Candee, the bride of only a month, sickened and died on the 9th day of April, and the grave which was dug to receive her remains was the * Hogaboam's History of the Bean Creek Valley. 286 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. second for a white person in the township. Mrs. Candee's youngest sister, Eunice Bird, died the same day, and on the 18th of September following, the youngest son of Mr. Bird died, aged six years. Four days later, September 22, Mr. Bird himself succumbed to the great destroyer of all things earthly, and at the age of forty-seven was laid to his long rest in the forest where he had made his home for four short years. A daughter of Mr. Bird became the wife of Nelson Doty, and is yet residing on the old farm taken up by the latter. Another daughter resides in Sylvania, Ohio. The year 1839 witnessed the arrival of the three brothers, Orsamus, Nelson, and Aaron Doty, who came from the town of Wallingford, Rutland Co., Vt. They reached the house of Rowland Bird in the month of November. Orsamus and Nelson located land on the southeast quarter of section 8, west of the present residence of the former. Aaron did not at that time purchase, and after about a year in Michigan returned to Vermont, where he remained until after the death of his parents, when he removed to Ransom and bought the farm on section 16, now owned by A. J. Emmons and Truman Ramsey. After Orsamus and Nelson Doty had located their land they went as far east as Tecumseh, where the latter remained one year and the former two, both returning to Ransom at the expiration of those periods. Nelson Doty's farm is widely noted for its excellence as a wheat-growing tract, having produced in a single year 3500 bushels. Nelson Doty died in January, 1859, and his widow yet occupies the place. Aaron removed to Edgewood, Effingham Co., Ill., where his death occurred. When the Dotys arrived in town the residents in its northern portion were Rowland Bird, William and Joseph Phillips (father and son), Israel lIodges, Matthew Armstrong,-now all deceased,-and Alexander Palmer, who still resides north of Tamarack Corners. Leander Candee lived with Mr. Bird, as stated, and Cornelius Deuel, Henry Cornell, and the Burts were living in the eastern part of town. Joseph Webster and Danforth Bugbee came a few years later. The latter at present resides a short distance south of Ransom village. John J. Andridge, a Methodist preacher, was also a later arrival; he purchased the place in the northwest part of town, which had been entered by Israel S. Hodges, now of Ogden, Lenawee Co. The brothers Thomas and Charles Burt are natives of "Merrie England," from whose wave-washed shores the former emigrated to the United States in February, 1833, and the latter at a subsequent date. They came together to Michigan in 1838, arriving in Ransom in the month of December. Charles Burt was unmarried and not yet of age. His brother was accompanied by his wife and four children,-one of them having been born on a place near Toledo, Ohio, upon which Mr. Burt lived during the five years of his residence in the country previous to removing to Ransom. Arriving on his place in the latter town (he had left his family at a place near the northwest corner of Pittsford until he could prepare shelter for them), he built a small shanty on the site of his present cheese-factory, and moving into it on Christmas-day, occupied it two years, when a second log house was built on ground where the east part of his present residence stands. Mr. Burt's first purchase in Ransom included the northeast quarter of section 23, upon which he still resides. When the Burts settled the only family living in their neighborhood was that of Cornelius Deuel, a mile north. Among the first who came later were Henry Cornell and Harvey Higley. William Allen located still later; Giles Taylor lived a short time in the vicinity, but owned no land; Richard Kelley and Thaddeus Bailey were among the early settlers of this portion of the town,-the former is now a resident of Pittsford. Morris M. Laird came in about 1841-42, and for a few weeks stayed with Thomas Burt, locating soon on his own place. Mr. Laird in a few years was seized with a desire to try his fortune in the newly-developed land of Ophir, and removed with his chattels to California, where he amassed a respectable fortune. The charms of a life in Michigan proved too tempting for him, and he was ere long back to his home. in Ransom. His speculative and roving disposition, however, refused to content itself here, and numerous other ventures made and lost fortunes for him. He is at present residing probably in the city of Utica, N. Y. The settlement of the eastern part of town was quite slow, and when Mr. Burt came he was surrounded entirely by non-resident land. For about fifteen years he was obliged to keep in good condition a half-mile of road alone. John Crommer settled quite early north of the Burt place, and Gilbert Howland located still farther north about 1842. One of the most prominent residents of the township of Ransom, although not an early settler, was Oliver T. Powers, who removed here fiom Buffalo, N. Y., in 1851. His widow is yet occupying the farm, her husband's death having taken place in March, 1875. A remarkable and somewhat amusing incident is related by Thomas Burt. His wife gave birth to twin daughters in September, 1839. The only person in the neighborhood who could render aid was Mrs. Deuel, and she was promptly on hand. In some manner, during the excitement, the babes were changed around so that the matter of their age has ever since been a problem with no solution,-their parents being utterly unable to say which is the elder of the two. They are both living, —having families of their own, -one in this township and the other in Hillsdale. The veteran hunter and woodsman, Jesse Smith, who called at Mr. Burt's a few days after the twins were born, is said to have stated that " the prettiest sight he ever saw" was Mrs. Burt and her babies, one on each arm, dressed neat and clean in observance of the Sabbath; and it is further known that Mrs. Burt was a remarkably handsome woman in those days, while many traces of her beauty are still retained. E. H. Goodrich, a native of Morris township, Washington Co., Pa., removed to Marion Co., Ohio, in 1833, and to Michigan, in February, 1848. He settled on section 20, in Ransom, where he still resides. Even at as late a period as 1848 the township was sparsely settled, especially in the southern portion, and Mr. Goodrich encountered many of the difficulties of a pioneer life. George Coppins, originally from England and for some time a resident of Vernon, Oneida Co., N. Y., came from the latter place to Ransom in 1842, and located on his pres , t - THOMAS BURT, r.*.T \ H.. 0MAS, S / - u THOMAS BURreSR./f 'RS.THOMAS BURT SR.. {i g 1i. z i,; RESIDENCE OF THOMAS BURT, RANSOM, HILLSDALE CO., MICH. YVW a. ~~~e '1THOMAS BURT JR r JVIRS.THOMAS BuRT,JPY. ",, b -J -. RESIDENCE oF THOMAS BLRT,jR., RANSOM, HILLSDALE CO., MICH. h ii HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 287 ent farm, having purchased it at the earnest solicitation of Thomas Burt. He was fearful that he never could pay for the place, but through Mr. Burt's efforts he was induced to take the risk, and his present improvements and the order in which his farm is kept tell of his success. For thirteen years Mr. Coppins has been sexton of the township cemetery on section 23, opposite his residence, and has spared no pains to make it the most beautiful of the three cemeteries the town contains. Evergreens have been set out and walks and drives arranged to the best advantage, and Mr. Coppins takes just pride in the appearance of the grounds. The first person buried here was Betsey Giar, wife of Henry Giar, whose interment dates Oct. 11, 1864. The other two cemeteries are known respectively as the Doty and Andridge burying-grounds, the former on section 5, and the latter on section 7. The Doty ground is the oldest in the township, the first person buried in it having been Rowland Bird's son, Allen, who died, as mentioned, March 8, 1839. The first fire in the township occurred in the flll of the year 1841. Caleb B. Shepard, then living in Adams, was preparing to move to Ransom. He had built and covered a house, and the lumber was on the ground for the floors and doors thereto. He occupied a small, temporary shanty near by while at work. One Saturday afternoon he went to Adams to stay over Sunday, intending to bring a load of household goods back with him. Monday, upon returning, his surprise was great at finding his house and lumber pile in ashes. A clue was obtained to the cause of the fire when Mr. Shepard remembered leaving some gunpowder in the bottom of a boiler which was filled with tin pans and cooking utensils. Scraps of torn and twisted and blackened tin confirmed his suspicions, and people living five or six miles away claimed to have heard an explosion in that direction about sundown Saturday. Mr. Shepard set about rebuilding at once, and on the 14th of December, 1841, moved his family into his new house. For want of lower floor, doors, and windows they were obliged to live up-stairs through that winter. Several fatal accidents have occurred in Ransom. A Mr. Featherly was killed, in 1851, by a falling limb, while in the woods east of Bugbee's Corners. In 1860, Mr. Joles was killed by lightning, and about the same time old Mr. Siddall (or Siddle) met his death while felling a tree, in the southwest part of the town. A young man named Ward fell upon the tines of a pitchfork, causing his death; and in 1872 the boiler of a steam saw-mill, on the farm of Charles Burt, exploded, killing four persons and wounding several others. Once only has the crime of murder been perpetrated in the town; this was on the 6th of February, 1876, when Jacob Stevick assaulted and killed Horace A. Burnett. The first physician who settled in what is now Ransom was Dr. Baldwin, who came here about 1841-42. He had previously practiced in Hudson, Lenawee Co., and was an excellent physician for that time. The next medical professor who located was Dr. Lee, who, in 1851, established the first store in the township. Dr. Wilford Bates, now a resident of Ransom village, has practiced here with great success for over twenty years, and beside accumulating considerable property, has won an enviable place in the esteem of his neighbors, and a reputation for thoroughness and reliability not possessed in all cases by physicians. He is spoken of as an earnest, hard worker. RECORD OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, ETC. "At the first meeting of the electors of the township of Rowland, holden at the house of A. Palmer, on the 6th day of April, 1840, James H. Babcock was chosen Moderator, and Israel S. Hodges, Secretary; Roland Bird, Orrin Cobb, Rufus H. Rathbun, and Joseph Howe, Inspectors of Election; and Thomas Burt, Poll Clerk.* The number of officers to be elected was twenty-three,t and the number of electors was but eighteen, yet the difficulty was obviated by giving several offices to one man. Those elected were the following: Supervisor, Leander Candee; Town Clerk, Israel S. Hodges; Treasurer, Rowland Bird; Assessors, Matthew Armstrong, Rowland Bird, Orrin Cobb; Collector, Alexander Palmer; School Inspectors, Matthew Armstrong, Israel S. Hodges, James H. Babcock; Directors of the Poor, Joseph Howe, William Phillips; Commissioners of Highways, James H. Babcock, Alexander Palmer, Henry Cornell; Justices of the Peace, Rowland Bird, James H. Babcock, Matthew Armstrong, Henry Cornell; Constables, Alexander Palmer, Joseph Phillips, Amos S. Drake, Alexander Findley At this meeting it was " Voted, That there be paid five dollars for each and every full-grown wolf that is killed by the residents of the township, and two dollars and fifty cents for each and every wolf's whelp. '- Voted, That there be twenty-five dollars raised for the purpose of destroying bear. "Voted, That there be paid five dollars for every fullgrown bear that is killed within the township by actual residents, and two dollars and fifty cents for each and every cub that is killed by the residents of this township." The township was divided into five road districts, and the following persons appointed their respective overseers: William Phillips, Leander Candee, James H. Babcock, Amos S. Drake, Alexander Findley. After the death of Rowland Bird, in the fall of 1840, Leander Candee was chosen at a special meeting to fill his place as treasurer, and Israel S. Hodges was selected to the position of justice of the peace to take his place. This meeting was held Nov. 4, 1840; at the same time it was; Voted, that there be a set of measures and weights provided for the township; that there be a set of measures of wood for dry measure; and that there be a set of measures of tin to measure liquids; and that there be a set of scales of iron and tin." Matthew Armstrong was appointed town sealer. The list of jurors appointed from Ransom in 1840 included James H. Babcock, Rowland Bird, Matthew Armstrong, Henry Cornell, Orrin Cobb, Israel S. Hodges, Leander Candee, and Nelson Doty. On the 29th of January, 1841, Nathaniel S. Dewey was licensed to keep a tavern in the dwelling-house where he was then living, on the east half of the southwest quarter * Township records. t Twenty-eight, including pathmasters. 288 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ~ —, of section 5, township 9 south, range 2 west. This was in what is now Amboy, and he was not allowed under the license to sell " ardent spirits, beer, ale, cider, or wine." The principal officers of the township from 1841 to 1877. inclusive, will be found in the following list: SUPERVISORS. 1841. Amos S. Drake. Orsamus Doty. Joseph Phillips. 1842. Caleb B. Shepard. G. Cramton. 1843. G. Cramton. Sidney S. Drake. ASSESSORS. 1844. A. Palmer. S. S. Drake. 1845. Alexander Palmer. William Sloan. 1846. G. Cramton. I Solomon Fenton.* 1841. Nelson Doty. 1842. Thomas Burt. 1843-44. Nelson Doty. 1845. Israel S. Hodges. 1846-47. Thomas Burt. 1848. Leander Candee. 1849. William Burnham, Jr. 1850. Thomas Burt. 1851. John J. Andridge. 1852. William E. Warner. 1853. Thomas Burt. 1854-55. Jared B. Norris. 1856-57. Nelson Doty. 1858. Lemuel J. Squier. 1859. Ephraim C. Turner. 1860. Warren McCutcheon. 1861. Henry W. Russell. 1862-68. Warren McCutcheon. 1869-70. Miles G. Teachout. 1871-72. Warren McCutcheon. 1873-74. Samuel B. Brown. 1875-77. William H. H. Pettit. COLLECTORS. 1841. Daniel Saxton.:' COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. TOWN CLERKS. 1841-45. Henry Cornell. 1846. William Burnham, Jr. 1847. William D. Stout. 1848-49. Albert T. Kimball. 1850. George A. King. 1851-54. Lemuel J. Squier. 1855. Cyrus Lee. 1856-57. George A. Brown. 1858. Henry Cornell. 1859. Lemuel J. Squier. 1860. Cyrus Lee. 1861-63. Ira W. Bell. 1864-67. Lemuel J. Squier. 1868. Samuel D. Proctor. 1869-70. Charles Fitzgerald. 1871-72. Chas. D. Schermerhorn. 1873. M. A. Thompson. 1874-77. Lewis Thompson. 1841. Hiram Howe. Nelson Doty. Joseph Phillips. 1842. Caleb B. Shepard. George W. Densmore. Gurdon Cramton. 1843. Gurdon Cramton. Amos S. Drake. Leander Candee. 1844. Amos S. Drake. John Perkins. Daniel Saxton. 1845. S. S. Drake. John Hammond. John Carter. 1846. Christopher Perkins. Uri Cramton. Daniel Saxton. 1847. S. S. Drake. W. D. Stout. James Denney. 1848. Gilbert Howland. Joseph Webster. 1849. Daniel Saxton. 1850. Nelson Doty. 1851. Lemuel Howe. 1852. Thomas Burt. 1852. William Palmer. 1853. Nelson Doty. 1854. Danforth Bugbee. 1855. Isaac Doty. 1856. William R. Peck. E. 11. Goodrich. 1857. Orsamus Doty. 1858. Jacob Pettit. 1859. Moses E. Bailey. 1860. James Cooper. Chauncey Casterline. 1861. George Camp. 1862. Elijah S. Field. 1863. Jacob Pettit. 1864. George Coppins. 1865. Oliver T. Powers. 1866. William Hile. 1867. George Coppins. 1868. Oliver T. Powers. 1869. Orsamus Doty. 1870. Richard Hart. 1871. Harvey Higley. 1872. David Crommer. 1873. Richard Hart. 1874. Gardner Vincent. 1875-77. Moses E. Bailey. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1841. Joseph G. Howe. 1842. Joseph Phillips. John Sloan. 1843. Thomas Stetson. Orsamus Doty. 1844. William Gay. 1845. —. 1846. James H. Babcock. 1847. Caleb B. Shepard. 1848. Amos S. Drake. 1849. William Palmer. 1850. Z. D. Hammond. 1851. Andrew Hermance. Orsamus Doty. William E. Warner. 1852. Cyrenus Powers. 1853. Joseph Miller. Phineas Perham. 1854. Orsamus Doty. James D. Salisbury. 1855. Alden Siddall. 1856. E. C. Turner. C. B. Shepard. 1857. Ferris Hill. 1858. Jared B. Norris. 1859. Jonathan E. Ingersoll. George A. Brown. 1860. E. C. Turper. William E. Warner. 1861. William Siddall. 1862. George A. Brown. 1863. Jonathan B. Bailey. Isaac B. Mapes. 1864. E. C. Turner. John W. Warner. Peter Croup. William Siddall. 1865. Z. D. Hammond. Henry L. Russell. 1866. Enoch H. Goodrich. Samuel B. Brown. 1867. Samuel B. Brown. 1868. Ephraim C. Turner. 1869. William R. Peck. 1870. Reuben B. Mason. 1871. Samuel B. Brown. 1872. Ephraim C. Turner. 1873. David T. Carpenter. 1874. Newton Russell. 1875. Harvey Higley. Charles G. Palmer. 1876. Ephraim C. Turner. 1877. D. M. Worden. The following are the officers of Ransom chosen at the annual town-meeting for 1878, viz.: Supervisor, William H. H. Pettit; Town Clerk, John Squier; Treasurer, Jacob Pettit; Justice of the Peace, J. B. Phillips; School Inspector, Andrew J. Cornell; Township Superintendent of Schools, Alfred F. Hart; Commissioner of Highways, Hiram Miller; Drain Commissioner, Thomas Dennis; Constables, David Stoner, Ambrose H. Baldwin, James C. Bailey, Charles H. Moore. EARLY SCHOOLS. The first school in the township of Ransom was taught in the summer of 1838 by Lucinda Bird, in a shanty on the northwest quarter of section 8, on land now owned by George W. Boothe. The three families who sent children to Miss Bird for instruction were those of Rowland Bird, Orrin Cobb, and Israel S. Hodges. The first school-house was a log building erected in 1839 or 1840, in district,No. 2, near the present structure, in the same district. A frame school-house, the first in town, was built in 1844 in district No. 7, where now stands the brick building. In what is now district No. 9 the first school-house was a log building erected about 1851-52, and the teacher was Hannah McCarty. A frame building afterwards put up was destroyed by fire, and the present one, also frame, has taken * None since chosen. Ir TREASURERS. 1841. Alexander Palmer. 1842.-. 1843-45. Caleb B. Shepard. 1846-47. Leadder Candee. 1848. Zopher D. Hammond. 1849. 0. B. Shepard. 1850-51. Henry Cornell. 1852. James Denney. 1853. Oliver T. Powers. 1854. James Denney. 1855. John L. Andridge. 1856. Harvey Higley. 1857. Caleb B. Shepard. 1858. Moses E. Bailey. 1859. Ferris Hill. 1860. Gordon H. Wilcox. 1861-62. Willia W. Haviland. 1863-64. Wilford Bates. 1865-68. Jonathan W. Harrison. 1869. James D. Cornell. 1870-71. Jehu W. Pennock. 1872-77. Jacob Pettit. I I,. t P f' ': i~.1 I Z". 's@ \ I MRS. GiLBERT HOWLAND. GILBERT H OWLAND. RESIDENCE OF GILBERT POWLAND, RANSOM, 1ILLSDALE CO.,MICH. :~::-::::-:: -:;: - -i:-:::::~ ~:;:-:::::s: —:-i.~:::::-i;: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 289 its place. The township has very good schools and school buildings, three of the latter being constructed of brick. About 1844 a log school-house was built on land owned by Thomas Burt. Probably the first teacher was the wife of Thomas Lee (brother of Dr. Lee), and another who taught here early was Amanda Birch. A frame schoolhouse is now standing in the district, on section 24. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, RANSOM.* This church was organized May 19, 1848, by a council called for that purpose, at the house of C. B. Shepard, two and a half miles northeast of the Centre. The council consisted of Rev. S. R. Laird, preaching at Hudson and Wheatland; Rev. Roswell Parker, of Adams; and laymen Jacob Robins, of Wheatland; A. Wade and David Bagley, of Adams; and B. H. Lane, of Hudson. The church was organized with seven members,-three males and four females,-six of whom came with letters from other churches. These persons were Stephen Ingersoll and Joan, his wife; C. B. Shepard and Mary E., his wife; Jacob T. Service and Ann, his wife; and Sally Perkins. The church assumed the name of the First Congregational Church of Ransom" on the day of its organization, and voted to invite Rev. R. Parker, of Adams, to preach for them one-half of the time. A committee was also appointed to solicit aid from the American Home Missionary Society, and it was granted. The church was first represented in the Southern Michigan Association, by C. B. Mott, at a meeting held at Clinton, on the fourth Tuesday in June, 1848. Rev. Roswell Parker closed his labors with this church in November, 1850, having remained two and one-half years. Soon after this Rev. William E. Warner (Wesleyan), a resident of the town, was employed for half of the time, and remained about two years. For eight or ten months subsequently the church was not supplied except occasionally, when Rev. W. Wolcott, of Adrian, came and preached one-third of the time for some two years. Mr. Wolcott labored as a minister at large for the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society. His successor was Rev. T. W. Davis (Wesleyan), of Ransom; he began in the spring of 1856, and continued one year. The church was again unsupplied for some six months, and then secured the services of Rev. M. Tingly, a recent graduate of Oberlin. He came in November, 1858, and remained three years. After a vacancy of a few months the church was supplied for three years by Rev. George Barnum. In August, 1864, Mr. Barnum was obliged to cease preaching in consequence of the failure of his voice. He was succeeded, in September, by Rev. J. F. Boughton, of Geneva, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. The records show that delegates have very generally been appointed to represent the church at meetings of associations. During the first of the eighteen years of the history of the church there were additions of members nearly every year, chiefly by letter. Four of the members of the church served during the war of the Rebellion, and of these but one returned. They were John Schermerhorn, killed Sept. 24, 1864, at Athens, Ala.; Henry Mabbs, died also in 1864; Collins J. Wilcox, died July 29, 1864, of wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia; and Ovid M. Thompson, the only one who returned. For the first seven years the congregation held its meetings in what was known as the "red school-house," two miles northeast of Ransom village. At a meeting held at that place April 12, 1853, a society was organized called the " First Congregational Society of Ransom." Five trustees were chosen, and instructed to take measures preparatory to building a meeting-house. During the next year and a half several meetings were held, but no decisive action relative to building took place. Those interested had but limited means, and all were not agreed as to the best site for a house. On the 2d of November, 1854, the society convened at the house of A. Thompson, when the latter was appointed a building committee, and it was decided to build at the Centre. Application was made for aid from the church erection fund, and $250 procured. The balance, $950, was raised by subscription, and all paid within three years. About the middle of the following summer the building was so far completed as to be occupied for worship. In the spring of 1865 the house was repaired and improved on the interior, at an expense of $100. June 18, 1848, Caleb B. Shepard was elected church clerk, and held the office twenty-four years. Lemuel J. Squire was elected a deacon in this church April 6, 1850, and has continued to hold that office to the present. The only ones of the original members of this church who are still connected with it are Caleb B. Shepard and wife. L. J. Squier and wife became members in 1849, and Mrs. Nancy Thompson in 1854, and are yet connected with it. Rev. Mr. Boughton preached here nearly five years, and for about sixteen months after he left the church was without a pastor. Rev. J. F. Husted assumed charge Jan. 1, 1871, and preached about eighteen months. Oct. 1, 1872, Rev. Charles Warburton became pastor, also remaining about eighteen months. Rev. Reuben Everts began his labors here Oct. 25, 1874, and stayed one year. April 1, 1876, Rev. K. H. Crane took charge. At present there is no regular pastor. The membership of the church in January, 1879, was 58. A good Sabbath-school is sustained, with a large attendance; its superintendent is J. W. Hile. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, RANSOM. The present society at the Centre was organized in 1857, during which year John F. Schermerhorn built the dwelling which he afterwards sold to the society for use as a parsonage. The present frame church was built in 1868 -69, and dedicated July 4 of the latter year, by Rev. Mr. Doust, of Hillsdale. Previous to that time meetings had been held in the school-house. The present membership is about 50, and the pastor, Rev. George Donaldson. Before the church was built here meetings were also held in the Hall school-house, in the northwest part of the town. The oldest class in the township was organized in the Doty neighborhood, and had a considerable membership in 1848. One of the early ministers was Rev. John J. Andridge, still a resident of the township. It is related of him that after a hard week's work upon his farm, he would start I5 1 * By Lewis Thompson, clerk; prepared in 1878. 37 290 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.: I ' Sunday morning and walk to Jonesville, where his first appointment was, and hold services at 10.30 o'clock in the forenoon; thence walk to Litchfield and preach before an afternoon audience; travel from there to Allen Prairie and hold evening services and finally walk back to his home in Ransom and be ready early Monday morning to take his axe into the woods and swing it uninterruptedly till nightfall; and in the language of an old settler, "it took a good man to keep up with him." His second year was attended with a trifle less travel, his appointments being at Hudson, Pittsford, and Osseo. Rev. William E. Warner was also an early preacher of this denomination, and a very eloquent and much-esteemed man. Mr. Andridge preached at the time the class was organized at the Centre. UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES. Of these there are three in the township. The oldest is located in the southern part of the township, where a society was organized about 1863-64, by Rev. Joseph Gear, and has a present membership (January, 1879) of 47. The frame church in which its meetings are held was built about 1868-70. A second church, to which has been given the name " Otterbein," stands on the east town-line, adjoining Wright, where a society was organized at a somewhat later date than the one first mentioned. It has a membership of 79. The third and latest society was organized at the village of Ransom about 1875, by Rev. Wesley Lilly, and a brick church built in 1876. The membership of this latter society is 19. Rev. G. W. Crawford is pastor of all three churches, and also of two others on his circuit,-one at Pioneer, Williams Co., Ohio, and one called "Olive Branch," east of Pioneer. THE FREE METHODISTS have a class near " Tamarack Corners," organized in 1878, and another south of the Centre, which has been in existence ten or eleven years. The membership is small, and meetings are held in school-houses. Rev. Mr. Lynn is the present pastor. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.* One of the two churches of this denomination in Hillsdale County is located at Ransom village, the other being at Hillsdale. The society in Ransom was organized in 1866, with about 20 members, and a frame church built in 1869. This church was organized by Elder John Byington, from Newton, Calhoun Co. Among its early members were Andrew J. Emmons and Samuel S. Jones, with their families. Truman Ramsey came to the township in 1868, and has been a member since that time. This society employs no settled pastor, but is supplied by missionary ministers of the denomination. The present membership is 52. It is in good condition, and its members appear fully in earnest in their belief and work. MILITARY RECORD. The assertion that the inhabitants of Ransom are imbued with a spirit of valor and a genuine love for their country, is proven by the fact that the township furnished 143 men * IFrom information by Truman Ramsey. for the Union army during the war of the rebellion. Out of the number, 40 laid down their greatest offering-their lives-in defense of the Union their fathers had cemented, and the wailing cypress and spreading live-oak shower dewy tears upon the graves of the fallen martyrs. Five men enlisted for three months in the 4th Michigan Infantry, the first that received recruits from this township. On the 15th of April, 1861, the day the first call was made for volunteers, James Tarsney, of Ransom, was in Hillsdale and there enlisted, being the first person from this town to enroll himself in the list of national defenders. On the next day Riley Ainsworth, Hiram L. Hartson, Ira Williams, and Avery Randall enlisted from Ransom. Of these five, Hiram L. Hartson was the only one who returned, the others having found eternal rest from the fatigues of march and engagement, and the anxieties of the soldier for the success of his loved standard. Those who volunteered from this town were the following persons, viz.: James Tarsney,t Riley Ainsworth, Hiram L. Hartson, Ira Williams, Emery Yost, - Yost, John Williams, Horace Doty, Darius Howe, Marshall Tooth, Ephiaim Baker, Charles Baker, C. Sutton, Samuel Wheaton, William Kelley, John Durgan, William Palmer, William Britton, Sidney Palmer, Hall, Andrew Booth, Hollis Hammond, Higley, Charles Coppins, Samuel Halstead, George Dewey, Orrin Olds, E. H. Goodrich, J. M. Bailey, William Doyle, Oscar Barnes, William Clark, Amos Smith, Charles Hartson, Edgar Ainsworth, Richard Hart, James Burt, William Pettit, S. Bliler, John Smatts, Hiram Hurd, H. Perkins, Charles Olds, Captain Hill, William Rose, George W. Van Gauder, Loren Hammond, George H. Cornell, John Palmer, Isaac Brown, James H. Thiel, Kincaid Shepardson, D. W. Litchfield, J. Schermerhorn, William H. Shepard, Michael Howland, Lewis Deuel, John Croop, Alfred Deuel, William Siddall, Willis Woods, Loren Whitney, John Williams, Sidney Dodge, Daniel Clemens, Sheldon Carey, Daniel Brogan, Henry Common, John C. Cooper, William Manning, John Tarsney, Thomas Plumley, George Brewster, Thomas Tarsney, Andrew Tarsney, Quincy Britton, Aaron Boyer, Michael Helmick, James D. Cornell, Horace Gay, Warren Perham, William Mapes, George Mapes, Aaron Smith, Cornelius Boyington, James Hoover, Samuel Kingsley, George R. Palmer, Benjamin S. Ward, Collins Wilcox, William Youngs, T. C. Baker, Charles Hannibal, Isaac Smith, H. Bailey, Orsamus Doty, Harry Mott, David Litchfield, John Ainsworth, William H. Allen, Samuel Cressey, Edwin Camp, George Casterline, Jeptha Casterline, Henry Tary, John Hosman, George Hart, Frank Hoover, Elias Hoover, Thomas Lozier, Israel Lozier, Benjamin Olds, Asahel Parks, Charles Parks, Frank Runell, Lewis Smith, Orville Thompson, E. W. Warner, Fred Olds, Jacob Rorrick, William Agnew, George W. Booth, William Lile, Andrew Crandall, Aaron Stocker, Jonas Smith, William Young, A. Howell, W. Young, E. P. Barson, George N. Sacrider, I. C. Hinds, Frank Smith. VILLAGE OF RANSOM. The first post-office in the township of Ransom was established in 1847, and Albert T. Kimball appointed post t Also spelled Tarseney. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 291 master. Mail was delivered weekly, and the route extended from Hillsdale to Likely's Corners, or "Wood's Corners Post-Office," in Wright township, the latter office being named from the postmaster. Lemuel J. Squier was appointed to the office in Ransom about 1851, and some two years later it was removed to the village and kept by one Dr. Lord. About 1855, Ichabod Stedman opened the first store in Ransom village, and the next year Mr. Squier moved from his farm-having been severely injured by a horse-and entered Stedman's store as clerk. He was soon after a second time appointed postmaster. The present incumbent of the office is David Carpenter. Lemuel J. Squier, now of Ransom village, came with his father, Noble Squier, from Wayne Co., N. Y., to Michigan, in 1839, and settled at Locust Corners, in Pittsford. The elder Squier lived there a few years and removed to Hudson, and about 1846 to Ransom. His son followed with his own family in November, 1848. Both families lived on section 9. Noble Squier is now also a resident of the village, and has reached the age of ninety years. The store built by Ichabod Stedman is yet standing in the south part of the village. Lemuel J. Squier has been engaged in the mercantile business here for twenty years, and only recently sold out to his son-in-law, George A. Hicks, who also has a store at South Wright. The establishment at Ransom is managed for Mr. Hicks by Mr. Squier's sons. The village now contains 5 stores of various kinds, 2 blacksmith-shops, 3 millinery-shops, 1 harness-shop, 2 bootand shoe-shops, 2 wagon-shops, a hotel, 4 churches (Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren, and Seventh-Day Adventist), a good brick school-house, and a population of about 200. The Ransom Cornet-Band was organized in the fall of 1876, and has thirteen members,-twelve instruments belonging to the band. Its leader is C. H. Moore. Leonard Lodge, No. 266, F. and A. M., was organized in January or February, 1869, with eight members. It was named for its first Master, Chauncey Leonard, then living at Osseo, in Jefferson township. Hiram Hartson was the first Senior Warden. The lodge was organized at the Centre, and occupies the same room as at first, that in the building where the drug-store is located. The present membership is in the neighborhood of thirty. The oldest Mason now connected with the lodge is Newton Russell, who was first initiated in Franklin Lodge, at Litchfield, in 1854. The next oldest is Orsamus Doty. The officers of Leonard Lodge are,-W. M., A. R. Knowles; S. W., Ferris Hill; J. W., Lawder; S. D., Hiram Hartson; J. D., Wm. Palmer; Treas., Bradley Phillips; Sec., Joseph Edinger; Tyler, Mr. Dillen. Ransom Centre Grange, No. 181, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized about 1874, with some thirty members. The first Master was Oliver T. Powers, now deceased. The grange occupies the old frame school-house at the village. Ransom village is more commonly known as " Ransom Centre," from its position in the township. The place was started on the south side of Ransom Creek, and has gradually spread to the northward, until as much lies on the north side as the south. Among those to whom we are greatly indebted for favors extended while gathering the foregoing items are Lemuel J. Squier, Orsamus Doty, Lewis Thompson, Thomas Burt, Newton Russell, Rev. G. W. Davis, E. H. Goodrich, George Coppins, and numerous others. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. SAMUEL B. BROWN. Joseph Brown, born April 11, 1785, in Heath, Franklin Co., Mass., was married in 1810 to Miss Polly Dix. The same year he settled in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and in 1833 he removed to Niagara County, same State. His son, Samuel B. Brown, the subject of this sketch, was born in Photo. by C. H. Mead, Lansing. SAMUEL B. BROWN. Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1820, and was the fifth of a family of ten children. He lived with his father until he was of age, having, before his majority, learned the wagonmaker's trade. His educational advantages were limited to the district schools of his time. At the age of twenty-one he started out in life for himself, working at his trade. Oct. 1, 1846, he was married to Miss Sally Sophronia Lathrop, who was born Feb. 14, 1819. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born five children, Curtis Lathrop, born Nov. 11,1847; Joseph Dix, born Feb. 25, 1849; Myron Eudelmer, born Dec. 7, 1850; Charles H., born July 21, 1852; and Henry Truman, born Jan. 24,1854, died Jan. 2, 1861. April 20, 1862, he came to Lenawee Co., Mich., and in the spring of 1864 he moved to the town of Ransom, in Hillsdale Co., Mich., and engaged in farming, where he still resides. In politics he is a Republican, having formerly belonged to the Whig party. In 1865 he was elected justice of the peace which office he held ten years. In 1873 and 1874 he was 292 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. i ~- I chosen supervisor of his township, giving such satisfaction that, in 1876, he was elected to represent the Second Representative District of Hillsdale County in the State Legislature, filling the office with credit both to himself and his constituents, and in 1878 was re-nominated and re-elected to the same office. In religion Mr. Brown is a Congregationalist, and has been for many years a member of that church. NELSON DOTY. Among the first settlers of Ransom township there was none who took a more active part in all that pertained to the advancement and improvement of the town than Nelson Doty, the subject of this sketch. Born in Wallingford township, Rutland Co., Vt., June 7, 1816, he grew to manhood among the sturdy yeomanry of the Green Mountain State. His early life, training, and education were such as would naturally fit him to bear the hardships and privations of a pioneer life. His education was such as could be obtained at the district schools of his native town during the winter months, yet he acquired enough to fit him for the active business life he afterwards led. One of the leading traits of Mr. Doty's character in early life was perseverance, and this trait, combined with an indomitable will, made him one not easily discouraged by adversity or hardships. He lived with his father, who was a farmer, until he was sixteen years old, when he left home to commence life for himself, with no other assistance than a strong constitution and the traits of character above referred to. He worked at jobbing around the factory towns of Massachusetts until the fall of 1838, when he, in company with his brother, Orsamus Doty, emigrated to what was then called the township of Rowland (now Ransom), Hillsdale Co., Mich. Here the brothers, who were almost inseparable companions, determined to settle, and in the midst of a forest which extended almost unbroken for miles, they bought the southeast quarter of section 8, which they at once commenced improving. They soon after bought the southwest quarter of section 9. In 1843 the brothers divided their land, Nelson taking as his share the southeast quarter of section 8. It is said of the two brothers that up to the time of division they had always worked together, owning everything in common, and that when one made a dollar the other had half of it. To the land thus obtained Mr. Doty added from time to time, until at the time of his death he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land, the greater part of it under cultivation. April 4, 1841, he was married to Miss Priscilla Bird, daughter of Rowland and Lydia (Ford) Bird, who was born June 6, 1823. There were born to them three children, as follows: Horace B., born Dec. 8, 1842; Eveline P., born Aug. 30, 1845; and Mahala, born Dec. 10, 1854. Horace B. Doty enlisted Aug. 16, 1861, in the 7th Michigan Battery, and died in hospital April 24, 1863. In politics Mr. Doty was formerly a Whig, but at the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and was, to the day oT his death, an ardent Republican. He always took an active part in political matters, and at the second town-meeting held in the town he was elected super visor, holding the office five terms, and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen. At different times he held other minor township offices. He was also active in school matters, and did much to advance the educational interests of his town. Died Jan. 10, 1859. ORSAMUS DOTY. Orsamus Doty, the subject of this sketch, was the tenth of thirteen children, and was born Sept. 20, 1815, in Wallingford township, Rutland Co., Vt., where he lived with his father until he was nineteen years old, working at shoemaking and as a miller. He then left home, and in Worcester Co., Mass., worked on a farm two years, earning the money which was his start in life. While living in Worcester he rode on the first train which ran from Boston to Worcester. Sept. 20, 1838, Mr. Doty, with his two brothers, came into Ransom township, Hillsdale Co., Mich., then an almost unbroken wilderness, and with his brother, Nelson, located the southeast quarter of section 8, afterwards buying the southwest quarter of section 9. They worked on these two lots together till 1843, when they divided,-Orsamus taking the southwest quarter, section 9, which he still owns. On this farm he built a log house, carrying the window-sash for the same twenty miles on his back, paying for them his last cent, and going home without any dinner. At that time his neighbors, aside from his brother's family, were Indians, with whom he lived on the most amicable terms. At the second town-meeting held in the town Mr. Doty was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for ten years. Few if any of the early settlers deserve more credit than Mr. Doty, coming into the town as he did with limited means and clearing up a large farm, carrying his supplies forty miles on his back, enduring the hardships of a frontier life, and raising a family and acquiring more than a fair competency, although he has had many misfortunes, among them the loss of three wives, and being now in his sixty-fourth year, a strong and well-preserved man. Oct. 31, 1844, he was married to Miss Lydia Ingersoll. To them was born one child, Albert W., born Aug. 4, 1845. Nov. 5, 1846, he was again married, to Miss Sarah B. Squier; the result of this marriage was three children, Theressa Maria, born Dec. 1, 1851; Adelaide B., born March 9, 1854; and Susan E., born June 13, 1858. For his third wife he married Mrs. Annie E. Fenton, and May 11, 1878, he was married to Miss Maggie Palmer. Although Mr. Doty was not liable to a draft, he enlisted, Aug. 16, 1861, in the 7th Mich. Battery, Capt. Chas. Lamphier, as sergeant-major. At Richmond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862, his company was engaged with the enemy and nearly all were captured; Sergt. Doty and a few others escaped. Discharged on account of disability, March 9,1863. In politics he has always been a Whig and Republican, in religion a Universalist. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 293 OLIVER T. POWERS. Oliver Powers was born Aug. 5, 1792, in the State of Connecticut, and was a farmer. March 9, 1813, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Sprague, who was born May 4, 1793. From Connecticut he moved to Erie Co., N. Y., where he died. They had nine children, the fourth of whom, Oliver T. Powers, the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 7, 1821, in Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y., where he THOMAS BURT, SR. AND JR. James Burt was born in the parish of Marnhull, England, July 28, 1780. He followed agriculture, and occupied a farm which had been in possession of his family for more than a century. He was married to Elizabeth Burge, who was born Oct. 4, 1780, in the market-town of Stalbridge, England. There were born to them eleven children, Thomas Burt, the subject of this sketch, being the second, and born Nov. 28, 1805. His education was limited, being obtained mostly at a day school prior to his twelfth year. At the age of nineteen he went to London to seek his fortune, where he learned the baker's trade. After learning the trade he was in business for himself four years. He was married, Oct. 29, 1829, to Miss Sarah Bartlett, daughter of John and Sarah (Martin) Bartlett; she was born at Weymouth, Dorset Co., England, April 10, 1803. Miss Bartlett's parents were wealthy, and up to the time she left home and friends to come to America, she had never done any menial labor. Eight children have blessed their union,-Sarah, born Dec. 4, 1830; Edward, born June 30, 1832; Thomas, born Oct. 12, 1833; James, born March 25, 1837; Betsey and Nancy, born Sept. 1, 1839; George, born Aug. 12, 1833; and Mathew, born April 9, 1846,-all of whom are still living. Of these James, Edward, and Mathew all served in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion,-James in the 2d Michigan Cavalry over three years, Edward in an Ohio regiment, and Mathew in the 30th Michigan Infantry, running away from home to enlist. In 1833, Mr. Burt embarked in a merchant-ship for New York, where he arrived March 25 of the same year, and the next May he purchased a farm of wild land two miles from Toledo, Ohio. On this farm he lived for three years, in a shanty, improving his farm and getting along as best he could. The first year he cleared off three acres of land and sowed it to wheat; he cut, harvested, and thrashed the same, and in a small boat took it to mill, had it ground into flour, which he baked into bread and sold, a feat performed by but few. In May, 1836, he returned to England, and in the following October, with his family, he again landed in Toledo, with but seven dollars in his pocket. He sold his farm and lived on a rented one until the fall of 1838, when he started with his family for the then wilderness of what is now Ransom. In a cold night in midwinter he arrived at a hotel kept by a Mr. Finney, at what is now Hudson. His money was exhausted, but he was kept by Mr. Finney, to whom he gave his note the next morning for three dollars and fifty cents. On Christmas-day of that year he took his wife and four small children into a shanty he had erected on his new farm. The farm (now consisting of three hundred and sixty acres) was a wet, swampy one, but has been made into one of the finest in Ransom. Mr. Burt has always been an energetic, industrious man, earning by his labor and good management more than a competency. He has been identified with the best interests of his town and county, holding at different times the various offices in the gift of his fellow-townsmen; he took an active part in organizing the county agricultural Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. OLIVER T. POWERS. grew to manhood, receiving such educational advantages as were to be had in the common schools of that day, with one year in a Pennsylvania academy. At the age of twenty-one he commenced life for himself on a farm, which business, and that of grafting, he followed through life. Feb. 21, 1850, he was married to Miss Elvira Cunningham, daughter of Lyman and Julia (Parmalee) Cunningham. Mr. Powers was father to nine children, Philander, born Dec. 9, 1847, by his first wife; Mary C., born April 12, 1851; Julia E., born May 25, 1853; Almon C., born Jan. 19, 1856; Henry C., born Aug. 17, 1858; Calvin E. and Melvin E., born Sept. 2, 1861; Clara E., born May 28, 1864; Eva H., born April 16, 1867; Oliver G., born Dec. 16, 1870; Lucy V., born Nov. 16, 1873. In 1852, Mr. Powers, with his family, moved to the town of Ransom, Hillsdale Co., Mich., and bought eighty acres of land, on which he settled. He since added to it until it now consists of one hundred and eighty acres of fine soil, the most of which he cleared and improved. Mr. Powers was an enterprising, energetic man, respected and esteemed by all. He took great interest in educational matters connected with his township, and filled several local offices with credit, among them that of township treasurer. In politics he was always a Republican, and in religion liberal. His death occurred March 4, 1875. 294 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I society, and was an earnest supporter of the schools of his township. In politics he was a Democrat till the Kansas troubles, when he joined the Republican party, to which he has since belonged. TN' His son, Thomas Burt, Jr., was married, Aug. 22, 1859, to Miss Lydia E. Bugbee, daughter of Danforth and Margaret (Saunders) Bugbee, who was born in Jefferson township, Hillsdale Co., Dec. 27, 1841; they have had four children,-Cary D., born April 20, 1861; James E., born Sept. 4, 1869; Burton T., born June 7, 1871; and Verna M., born July 27, 1878. In April, 1860, Mr. Burt, then just married, moved into a new farm; being part of the southeast quarter of section twenty-two, and for which they ran partly in debt. By their industry and good judgment, they have paid for their farm, which now consists of one hundred and twenty acres of land, mostly improved, and with fine buildings, fences, etc. In politics Mr. Burt is and has always been a Republican; in religion, United Brethren. GILBERT HOWLAND. Jonathan Howland was born in Massachusetts in 1789. Was married in 1810 to Miss Mary Sprague. The result of this union was eight children. Mr. Howland was the owner of a fine farm in Ontario Co., N. Y., which he traded for one hundred and sixty acres of land near Adrian, where he died, April 11, 1871. Mrs. Howland died Sept. 28, 1849. Gilbert Howland, the subject of this sketch, was born Oct. 24, 1814, in Manchester township, Ontario Co., N. Y. He lived with his father until he was twenty-three, working on the farm. Nov. 22, 1837, was married to Miss Zipporah P. Johnson, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Pratt) Johnson. Joseph Johnson was born in New Jersey, Sept. 11, 1782, and died June 2, 1848; was married, Feb. 1, 1806, to Miss Elizabeth Pratt, who was born in Massachusetts, Jan. 5, 1783, and died Jan. 16, 1866. Mrs. Gilbert Howland was born Sept. 6, 1812, in Manchester, Ontario Co., N. Y. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Howland rented a farm, by which means he got a start in life. Oct. 20, 1835, he bought of the United States Government the southeast quarter of section 2, in Ransom township, Hillsdale Co., Mich., which was one of the first entries made in the town. In October, 1843, he, with his family, came to Adrian, Mich., by railroad, from there to their new home in the wilderness with a team. He built a log house, into which they moved before there was a window or door and with only half of the house roofed. The floor was made of logs, on which they made their beds, keeping a fire all night to keep from freezing. This was the hard winter so long to be remembered by the early settlers of Michigan, and Mr. Howland's family endured many privations and hardships, suffering mostly from cold, Mrs. Howland actually chilling her feet while in bed, from the effects of which she suffers to this day. The wolves howled around their home by night, while by day the deer brow se in the timber felled by Mr. Howland. The groceries and family supplies were carried home by Mr. Howland from Jonesville and Hudson, he going and coming on foot. From the wild home thus settled he has made a beautiful farm, with fine buildings and improvements, a sketch of which appears on another page, and where he intends to pass the remainder of his days. Mr. Howland has always taken great interest in schools, being for many years one of the school-board. In politics he was in early days a Whig, and at the formation of the Republican party he early joined it, and has since been an ardent Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Howland have had born to them four children, as follows: Jonathan H., born Dec. 21, 1838; Mary E., born Sept. 21, 1840; Sarah C., born April 10, 1845; and Cynthia L., born March 3, 1849. Of these Mary E. died June 27, 1842, and Sarah C., April 20, 1871. GEORGE CAMP. From the landing of the Pilgrim fathers at Plymouth Rock down to the present time the pioneers of America have been men of energy, endurance, and iron nerve,men who never stopped for trifles or turned back when they had once put their hands to the plow,-and such were the men who, in many cases, left luxurious homes in the Eastern States to carve out for themselves homes and fortunes in the wilderness of Michigan; and but few of these have been more successful or better deserve the name of pioneer than George Camp, the subject of this sketch. His father, Joseph Camp, was born in Masonville, N. Y., May 31, 1786, and was married to Miss Rachel Rogers, who was born Dec. 20, 1795. George Camp was born in Masonville, Dec. 25, 1814, and lived with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he commenced life for himself, following the same occupation as his father. Oct. 11, 1837, he was married to Miss Catharine M. Quackenbush, daughter of Barny and Maria (Rosa) Quackenbush. She was born Dec. 17, 1817, in Pennsylvania. Two years prior to his marriage Mr. Camp had located in Dover, Lenawee Co., Mich., buying ten acres of land. In 1837 he, with his young wife, came to Dover, Mich., but sold out and returned to New York. Again, in 1840, they returned to Dover, and on their arrival Mr. Camp had just eighteen pence. In 1842 he bought forty acres of wild land, in Ransom, which he paid for by clearing land for others. In 1844 he moved on to the farm he now owns, in Ransom, Hillsdale Co., which was then all new, and not a stick cut. On this farm he built a house, and commenced improving. Though it was new, and neighbors were few, with the wolves making night hideous with their howling, still, Mrs. Camp says, they were happy in their new homes, and did not mind the hardships and privations incident to the life of a pioneer. To this farm of forty acres Mr. Camp added, from time to time, until he owned two hundred and sixty acres of splendid land, which is now under cultivation, and one of the best farms, and has the finest buildings, in Ransom. Mr. Camp took a contract of David Woods, then postmaster at Wright's Corners, to carry the mail from Likely's Corners to Hillsdale via Ransom Centre, Palmer P. 0. (in Jefferson), and Cambria Mills. This trip of forty-one miles he made every Saturday, receiving therefor one dollar a week, and continued it for two and a half years. RESIDENCE or GEORGE CAMP, RANSOM, MICHIGAN. ::a: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 295 Mr. Camp has always been a Whig and Republican, and has taken an active interest in politics, though he has never wanted or held office. To Mr. and Mrs. Camp there have been born four children,-Henry A., born July 17, 1838, married to Mary Likely; George E., born Oct. 3, 1844, married to Miss Jane Kay; Albert B., born June 17, 1849, married Miss Eva Clark; Milan F., born May 4, 1856, married Carrie Keith. Of these, Albert B. lives in California, the rest within a mile of the old home,-Milan F. and George E. on the old place, and Henry A. in Wright township, where he is in the mercantile business and is postmaster. Mr. Camp was always active in school matters, and was for many years one of the school board. He has now retired from business, and lives in Hudson, where he has a fine home. - i AM B Y. THE township of Amboy, which is situated in the centre, on the south border of the county, embraces a territory 12 miles in length from east to west, with an average width of about 21 miles. It is bounded on the north by Woodbridge and Ransom townships, east by the township of Wright, west by Camden township, and south by the State of Ohio. Its surface is a rolling upland of the character so commonly found in this portion of Southern Michigan, and was covered, originally, with dense forests of the finest quality of beech, maple, oak, walnut, linn, ash, and whitewood. The principal water-courses are St. Joseph's River in the west part, Silver Creek in the centre, Ransom Creek and St. Joseph's fork of the Maumee in the east. These streams all enter Amboy from the north, and flow to the southward, affording in their passage through the township many fine water-power privileges. Goforth and Hagaman's Lakes, small bodies of water, are found in the west part. The soil is of that changeable quality usually found in all drift formations, and consists of a sandy, gravelly loam alternating with clay loam. It is very productive, however, and well adapted to grazing and the cultivation of the cereals. The people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. The farms are under a good state of cultivation. Neat farm-houses and substantial outbuildings abound, and the citizens are in a seemingly prosperous condition. The township contains a total area of 19,221 acres, of which about one-third are improved, and in 1874 had a population of 1232 inhabitants. EARLY SETTLEMENT. When, in February, 1838, James H. Fullerton, who was originally from Washington Co., N. Y., came from the vicinity of Adrian, Lenawee Co., Mich., and settled upon section 33, township 8 south, range 3 west,-then Fayette township,-he became the first 'settler in the territory now known as Amboy township. He had bought 80 acres of government land and erected a log cabin upon his lot in the fall of 1837. The journey from Adrian to his new home was accomplished in two days. His family-which consisted of himself, wife, and an infant son, Daniel-and a few household goods were transported by means of an ox-team and sled. Mrs. Fullerton relates that at the time of their settlement here, their nearest neighbor on the west was 'Squire Fowle, nine miles distant. To Canandaigua, on Bean Creek, where resided their nearest neighbors on the east, it was about twenty miles. William Saxton and Jacob Clark, who lived some eight or nine miles northeast of them, were the only residents in that part of Fayette now known as Woodbridge township, while to the south of them was an unbroken wilderness for many miles. The next settler in Amboy was Amos S. Drake, who came from Wayne Co., N. Y., and settled upon section 6, township 9 south, range 2 west,-then Florida township,in December, 1838. He was accompanied by his wife, sons, Sidney, John, and William, and three daughters. The journey from Buffalo to Toledo was accomplished by steamboat, and from the latter city to Amboy by horseteam, his being the first span of horses owned in the township. During his lifetime Mr. Drake was one of the leading citizens of the township. Although he kept no tavern, his door was always open to the many travelers passing upon the " Territorial Road." He was the first postmaster, receiving his appointment about 1841. The office was then known as Bird. He erected the first framed barn, in 1845, and owned the first " Cayuga Chief,"-a combined mower and reaper,-which he purchased in 1853. His son, Sidney Drake, built the first framed house in the township, in 1845. Another son, Hon. William Drake, besides serving his town in many responsible positions for a long period of years, has represented Hillsdale County in the State Legislature. William D. Stout, the first practicing physician, came from New York State, and settled near Mr. Drake, in 1839. He afterwards became a Baptist preacher. Nathaniel S. Dewey, from Williams Co., Ohio, became a resident in 1841. He built an ashery, and opened the first store in 1846. He also served as the first supervisor of the town of Amboy in 1850. John King came from Lima, Ontario Co., N. Y., and 296 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. -- settled in Ypsilanti in the winter of 1837-38, where he remained until January, 1841, when he removed to Amboy, locating in the central part. His sons, Gideon G. and Walter, came with him. Mr. King was one of the first justices of the peace, and a prominent citizen. His son, Gideon G. King, was also a gentleman of prominence and ability. He represented Hillsdale County in the State Legislature, and served his townsmen in various capacities as a township officer. He died at the early age of thirtynine years. Joseph Webb, from New York, settled in the west part in 1841. In 1842, William Gay came in from Genesee Co., N. Y., and settled on section 5, township 9 south, range 2 west. He built the first saw-mill, soon after, and erected the first grist-mill, prior to 1847. Among others who came the same year (1842), some of whom settled upon land owned by Mr. Gay, were Willard Gay, a brother, - Stetson, Barney Whetstone, Jeremiah Sperry, Charles Baker, John Goforth, Dewitt C. Lewis, and Thomas W. Ashworth. Charles Clark, from St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., became a resident in 1845. Also George W. Alfred, from Wayne Co., of the same State. Other settlers here prior to 1850 were Asa Brown, John B. Covey, Joel Cowgill, Joseph Cowgill, Ideomer Church, Joel L. Chatfield, Nathan Edinger, Samuel Fowler, Charles Farlee, Cyrus Gordon, Hosea Gillett, William Gillett, Debalt Heckel, George Heckel, John Kuhns, Rodney King, Israel Loomis, Robert L. McCollum, Paden Marshall, Scott Marshall, William Marshall, Harris W. Odell, Niles J. Parrish, Joseph Philbrick, Jr., Henry Prestage, John W. Robbins, Joseph B. Rowland, David C. Rowland, James Smith, Allen [Stanley, Lemuel Stanley, Joseph Stanley, Littleberry Stanley, John Shupp, Francis A. Squires, James Snow, Milo Scovill, James Sloan, Levi B. Spafford, and Henry Zuver. In 1851-52 a large number of families emigrated from Stark Co., Ohio, and its vicinity, and settled in Amboy. Among them were William Elliott, Mayhew Elliott, Benjamin Elliott, Timothy Elliott, Cyrus Elliott, Isaac Hagaman, Ellis W. Cope, and John Reader. Henry Loutsenhizer, a prominent citizen at the present time, erected the first brick dwelling, about 1872. The first death was that of Sarah, a daughter of Amos S. Drake, who died in March, 1839. Samuel Carll and Miss Jane Drake were married by Squire Fowle in 1840, and theirs is believed to have been the first marriage celebrated in the township. Names of those who bought land of the United States Government prior to April 27, 1838, and whose lands were situated within the present boundaries of Amboy: Township 8 South, Range 2 West.-Section 31, Norman C. Baldwin, Wm. P. Green & Co., Wm. P. Green, G. L. Perkins. Section 32, Theron Skeels, Colby Chew, David Short, William P. Green. Township 9 South, Range 2 West.-Section 7, Joseph R. Williams, Robert McClelland, Stiles Staunton, Calvin Camp. Section 8, Jonathan E. Fletcher, Silas Phinney, Andrew F. Oliver, Peter Decker. Section 9, Andrew F. Oliver, Joseph R. Williams. Section 10, Joseph R. Wiltim. Se:tion 11, Austin E. Wing, David R. Carrier, Jo seph R. Williams. Section 12, Austin E. Wing, Charles H. Carroll. Township 8 South, Range 3 West.-Section 31, Joseph R. Williams, John M. Pease, Charles Butler, S. A. Faulkner. Section 32, E. S. Jones, Parker Handy, Joseph R. Williams, John P. Brayton, B. Mallite, Isaac H. Gibbs. Section 33, James H. Fullerton, Joseph Webb, W. O. Wood, C. P. and C. S. G. and P. B. and Wm. G. Grant, Philip C. Bucket. Section 34, W. O. Wood, Jacob Vanderheyden, C. P. and C. S. G. and P. B. and Wm. G. Grant, Philip C. Bucket, Charles Noble. Section 35, Green, Hubbard & Lester, Irwin Camp, Green & Co. Section 36, Green, Hubbard & Lester, Stiles Stanton, John Joseph Charround. Township 9 South, Range 3 West.-Section 1, John Merchant, Jr., Joseph R. Williams, Norman C. Baldwin, W. B. & C. H. Harvey, Stiles Stanton, John Makison. Section 2, Peter Martin, Harvey P. Sartwell, Joseph R. Williams, E. A. Reed, Irwin Camp, John Joseph Charround. Section 3, Peter Martin, N. Silsbee, Joseph R. Williams, John I. Wright, E. A. Reed, W. B. & C. H. Harvey. Section 4, Joseph R. Williams, E. L. Baker, W. P. Green, W. B. & H. Harvey. Section 5, Porter, Tolford & White, I. H. Collard and S. Stiles, Joseph R. Williams. Section 6, Porter, Tolford & White, Theron Morgan, David S. Sanford, I. S. Stoddard. Section 7, Porter, Tolford & White, Russell Forsyth, David White, Abram Jessup, Joseph R. Williams. Section 8, Porter, Tolford & White, Russell Forsyth, David White, Abram Jessup, Theron Morgan, J. R. Williams. Section 9, Jared Green, Theron Morgan, David C. Stuart, Joseph R. Williams, Gustavus Grinald. Section 10, George Landon, James C. Brayton, Robert McClelland, Green, Hubbard & Lester, William P. Green, I. Ward. Section 11, A. F. Oliver, Ira R. Grosvenor, Joseph R. Williams, James C. Brayton, Orlando Brown, John R. Dean, Green, Hubbard & Lester. Section 12, Joseph R. Williams, Alfred Willis, Edward Willis, Orlando Brown, Curtis ogswel, and James W. Pease. Of all those named in the foregoing, James H. Fullerton and Joseph Webb seem to have been the only ones who became actual settlers and permanent residents. The remainder were speculators. These lands were purchased of the government for $1.25 per acre, and the list embraces the names of the men in whom was vested the ownership of the major portion of the present town of Amboy in April, 1838. CIVIL HISTORY. By an act of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, approved March 28, 1850, Amboy was formed from Bird and Woodbridge townships. The act reads as follows: " Sec. 7. That so much of the townships of Woodbridge and Bird, in the county of Hillsdale, lying in townships 9 south, of range 2 and 3 west, and the south tier of sections of townships 8 south, of range 2 and 3 west, be and the same are hereby set off from the said townships of Woodbridge and Bird, and organized into a separate township by the name of Amboy; and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house now occupied by Amos S. Drake, in said township." RESIDENCE OF ELIHU FERRALL, AMBOY, HILLSDALE CO., MICHIGAN. ~- ~ ~;i ~~ _~;;~~-~;,~;_lr *-~,;; "g;i _-":2:YB~:rT: " " — iI::` -:: I;::::: -:::;: -::-: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 297 At the first township election, held at the house of Amos S. Drake, in the town of Amboy, on Monday, April 22, 1850, the meeting was organized by the election of John King, Moderator; Gideon G. King, Clerk; and Amos S. Drake and John P. Covey, Inspectors of said election. Forty-five electors were present, and at the close of the meeting the following-named persons were declared elected to the offices set opposite their respective names, to wit: Nathaniel S. Dewey, Supervisor; Gideon G. King, Township Clerk; Charles Clark, Treasurer; Nathan Edinger, John King, Justices of the Peace; Henry Prestage, John Goforth, Gideon G. King, Commissioners of Highways; Charles Farlee, William Drake, Inspectors of Common Schools; Amos S. Drake, John King, Overseers of the Poor; Joseph Philbrick, Jr., Charles H. Barton, Paden Marshall, Constables. Overseers of Highways.-George Converse, district No. 15; Samuel Fowler, district No. 7; John P. Covey, district No. 8; John Goforth, district No. 11; Paden Marshall, district No. 19. It was also voted " That the supervisor do the assessing in said township, and that there be no assessor elected the ensuing year. That there be but three constables elected. That all other business be done before counting the votes. That the electors of each road district elect their own overseers. That $150 be raised for contingent expenses. That the same amount be raised for highway purposes. That there be a fine of $5 levied on the owners of all boar hogs over three months old that run at large in the highways in said township." Jurors for 1850.-Charles Farlee, Milo Scovill, John Shupp, Grand Jurors; Dewitt C. Lewis, George W. Alford, Samuel Fowler, Petit Jurors. The total amount of money assessed and collected for the year 1851 was $1021.73, and applied as follows: TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1850. Gideon G. King. 1867. 0. J. Britton. 1851. Charles Farlee. 1868. Homer C. Davis. 1852. William Drake. 1869. Luther W. Woods. 1853. William D. Stout. 1870-72. Homer C.'Davis. 1854. William J. Gay. 1873-74. James M. Baker. 1855. James M. Baker. 1875-76. Timothy Elliott. 1856. John F. Hendricks. 1877. James Beattie. 1857. William Drake. 1878. Edward Darlington. 1858-66. Homer C. Davis. TREASURERS. 1850. Charles Clark. 1869. Osborn J. Britton. 1851. William Drake. 1870-75. Charles Clark. 1852-55. George W. Alfred. 1876. William Drake. 1856-62. Allen Stanley. 1877-78. Cyrus W. Elliott. 1863-68. David Snyder. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1850. Nathan Edinger. John King. 1851. Nathan Edinger. 1852. Amos S. Drake. Joel Cowgill. Niles J. Parrish. 1853. John Bates. 1854. Cyrus Gordon. Cyrus O. Blanchard. 1855. Joel Cowgill. Nathan Edinger. William Elliott. 1856. Jacob B. Delamater. Hiram'M. Corse. 1857. Isaac Hagaman. 1858. Nathan Edinger. James D. Salisbury. 1859. John King. Joseph M. Snyder. 1860. Hiram M. Corse. 1861. Richard Osborn. William Leisenring. 1862. Jacob B. Delamater. Samuel Bowman. COMMISSIONERS 1850. Henry Prestage. John Goforth. Gideon G. King. 1851. Cyrus Gordon. 1852. John P. Covey. 1853. Milo Scovill. Charles Clark, Jr. 1854. Milo Scovill. 1855. Dewitt C. Lewis. 1856. Jesse Crow.' 1857. Cyrus Gordon. John S. Drake. Henry Zuver. 1858. Henry Zuver. 1859. Samuel Fowler. 1860. Milo Scovill. 1861. William H. Osborn. 1862. William Gordon. 1863. Benson E. Doolittle. 1864. Benson E. Doolittle. Horatio G. Moore. 1865. Horatio G. Moore. 1866. Jacob B. Delamater. Thomas A. Sawyer. 1867. William Gordon. John E. Benton. 1868. John C. Hagaman. Milo Scovill. 1869. Horatio G. Moore. 1870. Alvin E. Hank. James A. Drake. 1871. Milo Scovill. Augustus G. McClellan. 1872. John S. Drake. 1873. Cyrus Elliott. 1874. Augustus G. McClellan. 1875. Eddy Towers. Samuel Jacobus. 1876. John S. Drake. 1877. John M. White. 1878. Samuel Jacobus. OF HIGHWAYS. 1862. Samuel Fowler. Joseph Stanley. 1863. Joseph Stanley. 1864. George A. Metzgar. 1865. Allen Stanley. 1866. John S.-Drake. 1867. Milo Scovill. 1868& Ellis W. Cope. 1869. John S. Drake. 1870. Milo Scovill. 1871. Ellis W. Cope. 1872. John S. Drake. 1873. Andrew Bushong. 1874. David Charier. 1875. Henry Loutsenhizer. 1876-78. William Eagle. For State purposes........................................ $101.14 " county ".................................... 276.25 " town ".................................. 300.00 " highway........................................... 133.37 " special ".................................... 36.93 " school "........................................... 174.04 $1021.73 Total amount of tax levied for the year 1878, $3069.84. At the spring election for 1863 the total number of votes cast was 92, and all the officers elected received a unanimous vote. A town hall, costing $1000, was erected in 1876. A list of the principal township officers from 1850 to 1878, inclusive,SUPERVISORS. ~ 1850. Nathaniel S. Dewey. 1851-52. Gideon G. King. 1853. Wm. Gay. 1854. Charles S. Barker. 1855. Wm. Gay. 1856-57. Gideon G. King. 1858-59. Charles Farlee. 1860. Gideon G. King. 1861-62. Wm. Drake. 38 1863-67. Augustus G. McClellan. 1868-69. Wm. Drake. 1870. Augustus G. McClellan. 1871-72. Wm. Drake. 1873-74. Augustus G. McClellan. 1875. James M. Baker. 1876. James Beattie. 1877. Wim. Drake. 1878. James Beattie. The following is an alphabetical list of the resident landowners in the township of Amboy for the year 1851; showing also their location and the number of acres owned by each: Names. Section. Town. Range. Acr. Ashworth, Thomas W.......... 4 9 3 94 Alfred, Mrs. Mary.............. 36 8 3 40 Alfred, George W............... 31 and 36 8 2and3 120 Brown, Asa....................... 9 9 3 40 Baker, Charles............ 9 3 120 Covey, John P.............. 9 9 3 40 Cowgill, Joel................. 4 9 2 80 i HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN..%. -VowgIW i, tloseI.................. Chureh, Idomer.................. Clark, Charles................... Chatfield Joel L................. Convers, Mrs. Susan............ Drake, Amos S................... Drake, John S.................... Drake, William.................. Dewey, Nathaniel S............ Edinger, Nathan................ Fullerton, James H............ Fowler, Samuel.................. Farlee, Charles................. Gordon, Cyrus................... Goforth, John.................... Gay, William, & Sons.......... Gillett, Hosea.................... Gillett, William.................. Heckel, Debalt................... Heckel, George.................. Kuhns, John..................... King, Rodney.................... King, Gideon G.................. Loomis, Israel.................... Lewis, Dewitt C................. McCollum, Robert L........... Marshall, Paden................. Marshall, Scott.................. Marshall, William............... Odell, Harris W................ Parrish, Niles J.................. Philbrick, Joseph, Jr.......... Prestage, Henry................. Robbins, John W............... Rowland, Joseph B............. Rowland, David C............... Smith, James..................... Stanley, Allen.................... Stanley,.Lemuel................. Stanley, Joseph.................. Stanley, Littlebury.............. Shupp, John...................... Squires, Francis A............. Snow, James.................... Sperry, Jeremiah............... Scovill, Milo.................. Sloan, James...................... Spafford, Levi B................. Stout, William D.............. Webb, Joseph.................... Zuver, Henry.................... Section. 4 12 1 31 5 and 31 6 and 8 7 6 6 34 33 12 8 4 33 and 34 5 6 6 9 9 31 8 12 34 8 34 34 34 31 5 12 9 and 10 6 5 4 34 5 5 5 4 5 4 31 6 10 7 and 31 31 7 33 31 Town. 9 9 9 8 8 and 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 9 9 9 8 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 8 9 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 8 and 9 8 9 8 8 Range. 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 Acres. 43 80 80 80 160 160 83 80 40 70 80 80 78 40 200 240 80 40 40 40 Personal. 80 80 Personal. 40 160 10 70 10 80 80 40 160 120 2 80 80 40 30 Personal. 43 80 40 44 80 40 120 80 40 40 173 south, range 3,west, leaves the township near the northwest corner. The work was performed in the years 1870-71, and was paid for mainly with money received from citizens living along the line. The following agricultural statistics are compiled from the census report of 1874: Nnmber of acres of taxable land........................ " " improved................................ " farms in the township...................... " acres in farms.................................. Average number of acres in farms....................... Number of acres of wheat growing June, 1874...... " " l" harvested, 1873............ " " corn harvested, 1873............. " bushels of wheat harvested, 1873........ i" " corn harvested, 1873........... " " other grain harvested, 1873.. " " c potatoes harvested, 1873..... " tons of hay harvested, 1873............... " pounds of wool sheared, 1873.............. c" " pork marketed, 1873........... ( " " butter made, 1873............... " " fruit dried for market, 1873.. " " maple-sugar produced, 1873. " barrels of cider made, 1873............... " acres in fruits, 1873........................... Value of fruits and garden vegetables, 1873.......... Number of horses, 1874.................................... " m ules, 1874..................................... " working oxen, 1874........................... " milch-cows, 1874.............................. " other cattle, 1874.............................. " swine, 1874..................................... " sheep, 1874............................... " "it sheared, 1873..................... 19,177 7,438 227 15,988 70yr 1,967 1,658 1,331 24,674 69,658 12,633 5,407 1,485 6.958 136,056 71,895 1,025 855 127 386 $1,641 414 6 32 626 659 957 1,752 1,066 Gideon G. King, who was then supervisor and assessor, estimated that the township contained a total area of 19,4294. acres. The personal estate was valued at $2070;' the real estate was valued at $50,099.63. Total, $52,169.63. The Board of Supervisors equalized the above amount, and by deduction determined that the aggregate value of the taxable real and personal property in the township of Amboy for the year 1851 be $22,000. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. The Territorial road which intersects the township from east to west, passing along the south boundaries of the northern tier of sections of the original townships 9 south, ranges 2 and 3 west, was the earliest established. Other highways were laid out in the west part by the township of Woodbridge, in 1840, and in the east part by the township of Ransom, 1841. The highways are in good condition, and have ever received a large share of attention. One thousand dollars was appropriated for highway purposes in 1852, and the same amount for the following year. The road-bed of the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad Company enters the township near the entre, on south, and running in a northwesterly course, etig sections 12, 2, 3, and 4, of township 9 south, 3 west, and sections 33, 32, and 31, of township 8 VILLAGES. There are no villages of any importance in this township, the inhabitants doing the most of their trading across the line, at Pioneer, Ohio. Amboy Post-office, 16 miles south of Hillsdale City, is situated a little south of the central part of the township, and receives mail semi-weekly from the latter city. Austin, a hamlet in the northwest corner, and on the line of the contemplated M. C. & L. M. R. R., contains a saw-mill, store, post-office, and 8 or 10 dwelling-houses. Its post-office name is White. It is on the route from Camden Centre to Reading, and receives the mail semiweekly. R. W. Drinker's saw- and grist-mills are situated on St. Joseph's River, in the southwest part. SCHOOLS. The first school-house erected in the township was built about 1847. It was a small frame structure, and was situated one mile east of the Baptist church. Miss Lucia Cohoon was the first teacher in the new school-house, and hers was the first school taught in the town. The first teacher licensed, after the organization of the township, was Miss Elizabeth Doolittle, who was examined, and found qualified, May 8, 1850. The first board of school inspectors, viz., Charles Farlee, William Drake, and Gideon G. King, met at the house of John King, Saturday, Junei 1, 1850, and organized five school districts. Charles Farlee was examined, and found qualified to teach, Nov. 2, 1850. The following is the first report regarding school moneys, its apportionment, and explaihs itself: RESIDENCE OF HENRY LOUTSENHIZER, AMBOY, HILLSDALE;O.,MICH. )"Wg1"0-~lf"R-i-~r~CrM —' ~~);: ~:'II:' ~-Wlii;pi;::ir~.:8:X;-i;il -~ i~- -;: i:;~: w~~ ct;~ 6::I:::: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 299 "STATE OF MICHIGAN, COUNTY OF HILLSDALE. "To the Treasurer of Amboy township: " SIR,-The amount of school money to be apportioned in the several districts entitled thereto, being the interest of the Primary School Fund, is $20.00 for the year ending Sept. 1, 1851. The districts entitled to draw money are districts Nos. 3 and 4. "Number of scholars in district No. 3, 45; amount of money apportioned to the same, $15.25. Number of scholars in district No. 4, 14; amount of money apportioned, $4.75. " Dated at Amboy, this 22d day of September, 1851. "CHARLES FARLEE, Township Clerk." The school-house in district No. 7 was the first brick building erected in the township. Number of school districts in the township, 1878, 10; children of school age, 505; amount of interest, Primary School Fund, $281.88. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN AMBOY was organized by Rev. L. A. Alford, Feb. 23, 1850, with the following-named members: Amos S. Drake, William D. Stout, Horace Gillett, Harris W. Odell, Catherine Drake, Emily Farlee, Catherine Heckel, and Mrs. Philbrick. Previous to the formation of this society, the people had listened to the preachings of Elders Smith, Lewis, and other missionaries, sent out by the Baptist Home Mission Society. Meetings were held in the school-house of district No. 5. Elder Perrin also preached here one year previous to the regular organization. In 1870, William Drake, Homer C. Davis, Warren McCutcheon, John S. Drake, and Walter E. King were elected trustees, and empowered to go forward and build a house of worship. An edifice was commenced in the spring of 1871. This, when in a forward state, was blown down in the fall of the same year. Although somewhat discouraged, another structure (the present one) was commenced in the spring of 1872, completed during the year, and dedicated Jan. 1, 1873. It has sittings for 300 people, and cost $3600, which is all paid up. The pastors since Mr. Alford have been William D. Stout,-a licentiate of the society,-who continued one year. He was followed by Rev. Orlando Mack, who came in 1854, and remained two years. Mr. Stout returned early in 1856. Rev. L. M. Rose became the pastor in 1859, and remained until the time of his death, May 11, 1872. Rev. William Prentice supplied for a few months after the death of Mr. Rose, also Elder William Bassett. Rev. Robert Clark came next, and remained two years. Rev. William Read was their last pastor. The society has no pastor at the present time. Present membership, 88; number of pupils in Sabbathschools, 70; superintendent of Sabbath-schools, William Drake, who has served in that capacity for a period of 21 years. FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In February, 1851, Rev. Newland Sampson organized a Protestant Methodist Society of about 15 members. Among them were George W. Alfred, Catherine Alfred, Milo Scovill, Cynthia Scovill, David C. Rowland, Eva Rowland, Mary Shupp, Betsey Alfred, Lucy Alfred, Debalt Heckel, Mrs. D. Heckel, and Salander Johnson. Their meetings were held in the school-house of district No. 4, and they were visited by Elders Sampson and Hurlbut semi-monthly for about five years, when the society disbanded. At this time (1856) a Methodist Episcopal class was formed by Rev. John J. Andridge, comprised of the following members, viz.: George W. Alfred, Catharine Alfred, Milo Scovill, Cynthia Scovill, Cyrus Gordon and wife, and Mary Shupp. The meetings were held in the school-house until April 13, 1871, when their present house of worship was dedicated as the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Amboy. It has sittings for 300 persons, and cost $2500. Among the pastors of this church who have followed Mr. Andridge are Revs. Nathan Mount, I. Finch, E. C. Chambers, John Hoyt, Franklin Cook, Myron Wheeler, Charles Warburton, William Ball, John Johns, M. D. Carroll, Jones, D. A. Ide, C. H. Ellis, J. Berry, and George Donaldson, the present pastor. This church now forms part of the Ransom Circuit, Coldwater District. Number of present members, 60; number of pupils in Sabbath-schools, 50. Henry L. Russell, Sabbath-school superintendent. CEMETERIES. It was voted at the annual township-meeting, held April 7, 1851, " That the town board be instructed to procure or purchase a good and sufficient burying-ground in this township." Acting upon these instructions, a ground for burial purposes was soon after located upon the northwest corner of section 5, township 9 south, range 2 west. Other buryinggrounds are found upon sections 3 and 10, township 9 south, range 3 west. MILITARY. During the war of the Rebellion, the township issued bonds, for the payment of soldiers' bounties, to the amount of $2400. Her quotas were always filled, and by her sons was represented upon a majority of the hard-fought fields which from 1861 to 1865 deluged our common country with woe and bloodshed. Their names, and the history of the organizations to which they belonged, are more fully treated, under the head of military, in the general history, to which the reader is respectfully referred. In compiling the history of the township of Amboy, we have been assisted very materially by information derived from Hon. William Drake, Messrs. George W. Alfred, William Elliott, Edward Darlington, township clerk, Mrs. James H. Fullerton, Mrs. John King, and many others, to all of whom we desire to return our sincere thanks for their uniform courtesy and kindness. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. AUGUSTUS' G. McCLELLAN, the subject of this sketch, was born in the State of Vermont, Sept. 16, 1811. Until he was eighteen years old he lived on the farm with his father. His education was such N0 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. t - I. I I I I I as could be obtained at the district schools of that day, going three miles to school during the winter months. At the age of eighteen he went to Portage Co., Ohio, where he learned the carpenter and joiner trade, which he followed several years. April 18, 1833, he was married to Mrs. Mary Sears. The result of this union was four children, viz.: Ralph, born March 21, 1837; Orrison, born May 21, 1839; Melissa Ann, born May 16, 1843; and Alice S., Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. AUGUSTUS G. M'CLELLAN. born Aug. 23,1848. After the death of his first wife, Mr. McClellan was again married, to Miss Mary Taylor, and there were born to them four children: Clarence A., born Jan. 13, 1860 (he was killed June 23, 1864); Arthur W., born March 16, 1862; Ida and Ada, born Dec. 20, 1867. From Portage Co., Ohio, Mr. McClellan moved to Wood Co., Ohio, where he bought a new farm of eighty acres, which he cleared and improved, working at his trade part of the time. While residing in Wood County he was for many years justce of the peace and postmaster, always taking an active part in school matters, and generally a member of the board. In the fall of 1860 he sold his farm and moved into Amboy, Hillsdale Co., Mich., where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which was mostly new. This farm he improved and built upon, living thereon till his death, which occurred May 15, 1874. He had lived in Amboy but two years when he was elected supervisor, which office he held several terms to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was also for several years a justice of the peace, and it is said by his old neighbors that his advice in legal matters was better than that given by many lawyers. His son, Orrison, enlisted in Company B, 57th Ohio Infantry, and served one and one-half years. Ralph enlisted Feb. 3, 1863, in Company B, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, and was discharged June 5, 1865. Was i'n the battle of the Wilderness and part of the siege of Petersburg. ELIHU FERRALL. William Ferrall was born in Holly Spring, Va., and was married at the age of twenty-three to Rachel Beck. His son, Elihu Ferrall, the subject of this sketch, was born Jan. 5, 1817, in Salem township, Columbiana Co., Ohio, from whence his father moved to Centre township, in the same county, where he resided until he was nineteen years old, when he left home, and, without a cent, commenced in life for himself. He was naturally of a roving disposition, and, bound to gratify this desire, he started out, earning the means to pay his way by working at whatever he could get to do. In this way he traveled through the States of Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and thence home to Ohio, where he remained but a short time, when he again started on his rambles, going down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi; then through the States of Iowa and Illinois to Chicago; from there across the lake to Michigan; thence on foot to Toledo, Ohio; from there to Cleveland by schooner; then on foot again to his old home. March 25, 1840, he was married to Mary Ann Hart, daughter of Garrett Hart and Elizabeth Hart, who was born July 16, 1817. After their marriage they worked a rented farm for a couple of years and then bought. In 1855 he sold out and moved to Fulton Co., Ohio. In 1858 again sold out and moved with his family on a wild farm in Amboy township, Hillsdale Co., Mich., running in debt for the same. At this time they had a family of eight children and nothing'to live upon but potatoes, and not always enough of them, but an indomitable will conquered, and they soon had food in abundance. They have had ten children: Sarah Catharine, born March 26, 1841; Barzillai F., born May 7, 1842; Garrett H., born Nov. 11, 1843; Rachel B., born April 21, 1845; Oliver P., born July 26, 1846; Jane E., born March 5, 1848; John W., born Nov. 15, 1850; James E., born Oct. 17, 1852; Taylor S., born May 29, 1854; and Isabell Lucy, born May 21, 1856. Rachel B. died May 15, 1846. Mr. Ferrall owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, one hundred acres improved, with one of the best houses in town. In politics he was a Whig in early days, since then a Republican. In religion liberal, while Mrs. Ferrall has been for many years a Methodist, but is at present a member of the society of United Brethren. HENRY LOUTSENHIZER. David Loutsenhizer was born June 15, 1802, in Westmoreland Co., Pa. In 1824 he was married to Miss Margaret Cavett, and soon after emigrated to Ohio, living a short time in Licking County, from whence he moved to Williams County, where he resided till his death. They had born to them thirteen children, James, Mary, Louisa, Henry, Hester, William, Joseph, Lydia Ann, Oliver D., and John C. (the two last were twins), Margaret, Sarah, and David. Henry Loutsenhizer, the fourth child, and the subject of this sketch, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1828. Arriving at maturity he commenced life for himself, with nothing but his energy and perseverance for a dowry. During the first winter he worked in an ashery, and the wages thus earned, added to the amount received HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 301 for a colt which had been given him, made the sum of ninety-nine dollars and fifty cents. At this time he was troubled with the California fever, but his capital was too small, and he applied to Judge Ayres, then of West Unity, for assistance, and the judge, with no security but Mr. Loutsenhizer's word of honor, loaned him one hundred dollars, Mr. Loutsenhizer agreeing to give the judge onethird of first year's earnings. April 5, in company with others, he started for the land of gold, going overland with a team, and making the trip in five months, and seeing the hard times and excitement attending an overland trip to California at that time. His first year's earnings amounted to twelve hundred and eight dollars, one-third of which he gave the judge. In April, 1852, he returned to Ohio, and, with the money thus earned, he made a start with which he has made himself a competency, at this date owning a farm of two hundred acres, one of the best in his town. Dec. 5, 1857, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Bachman, daughter of George and Sarah Bachman, of Williams Co., Ohio, where they had moved from Seneca Co., N. Y., in which county Miss Bachman was born. In 1839, Mr. Loutsenhizer bought a farm in Williams Co., Ohio, which he cleared and improved, selling the same in.1861 and taking up his residence on another new farm in Amboy, Hillsdale Co., Mich., where he has since resided. In politics he is and has always been a Democrat, and has several times been nominated by his party for supervisor, always getting more than his party vote. C A M DE N. THE township of Camden was, in 1839, a part of the town of Reading, and had before the organization of that town formed a part of the town of Allen. A bill was presented to the Legislature, in the session of 1839, to set off the south part of Reading into a separate town. A meeting was held, during the pendency of this bill, at the house of Eason T. Chester, to select a name for the new town. Among the names proposed were " Clarence," "Echo," and " Camden." After considerable discussion the name of Camden, proposed by Mr. Chester, was settled upon, and the representative was notified of the choice and incorporated the name in the bill. This town was therefore named Camden, after the town of that name in Oneida Co., N. Y. It is the southwest town of the county, and contains an area of 26,927 acres, being sections 1 to 36 (except sections 30 and 31 and the south half of section 19) of town 8 south, of range 4 west, and sections 1 to 12 (except sections 6 and 7) of town 9 south, of range 4 west. The sections excepted lie in the town of Clear Lake, Ind. Camden is bounded north by Reading, east by Woodbridge and Amboy, south by Northwest, Williams Co., O., and west by Clear Lake, Steuben Co., Ind., and by California, Branch Co., Mich. The surface of the town is generally level or slightly rolling, rising into low hills in the central part along the course of the streams, and being most level in the south and east parts. In the northwest part of the town there is considerable marshy land, the surface there being low as compared to the water-courses. The hills rising highest above the general surface are just north of Camden village, and are of the kind known as clay knobs, and furnish a good quality of clay for use in brick-making. The soil is varied in its character, and consists of clayey, gravelly, and sandy loam and muck. It is very irregular in its distribution, all kinds of soil often appearing in a piece of land but a few rods square, and is of a very fertile nature. Originally the land was covered with dense forest, except in the western part, where there were oak openings. These openings were at first considered of but little value, and were neglected for many years, but latterly they have risen in the estimation of the people until they are now looked upon as good lands for agricultural purposes. The principal stream of this town is known as Little St. Joseph River. It takes its rise in Clear Lake, Ind., of which it is the outlet, and enters the town at its northwest corner. It is soon joined by a branch which flows from Turner's Lake, in the town of Reading, and passing through two other small lakes enters Camden at the east line of section 6. It then pursues a southeast course, and passes into Amboy near the north boundary of that town. It eventually flows into the Maumee River, and through that stream enters Lake Erie at Toledo. In its course through this town it is augmented by several tributary streams rising in this and adjoining towns. Another stream of considerable size, and which is also a branch of the Little St. Joseph, is the outlet of Long Lake. This lake, which is very irregular in form, very much resembling a large letter Z, lies across the State line, about one-third of it being in Indiana. It covers an area of about 120 acres, has a gravelly bottom, and but little marsh about its shores. The outlet is at its western extremity, and curves eastward till it enters Camden in section 32 and flows eastward three miles, when it takes a sudden turn and runs south till it crosses the line into Ohio. These streams are not rapid in their flow, but rather inclined to be sluggish. Marsh Lake, covering an area of some 30 acres, lies in the north part of sections 4 and 5, South Camden. There are a few very small ponds in the town, most of 302 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I them lying near the western border, and none of sufficient size to merit separate mention. Previous to 1835 this country was a wilderness covered with a dense growth of trees, mostly beech, maple, oak, ash, whitewood, basswood, elm, hickory, and black walnut, with a little tamarack along the streams and in the swamps, and a sprinkling of white birch in some localities. The Indians roamed through the forest in search of game, and wolves and bears alone disputed their supremacy. But the restive, progressive American spirit was strong in the breasts of the Eastern people, impelling them on to seek new locations, to subdue the wild lands of the West, and to find on these new and cheap lands homes for themselves and prospective wealth for their children. The lands began to be taken up about 1832 or 1833, though the actual settlement was made a little later. A large part of the land in this town was taken up by speculators, and after being held by them for several years, was then sold at advanced prices to actual settlers, who immediately began to improve them, and to change the country from a frowning forest to a smiling and fruitful Arcadia. For a few years the settlements grew slowly, and not until about 1850 did settlers come in very fast. From that time the growth was rapid, and very soon there were no vacant farms remaining. The first settlement within the limits of this town was made by James Fowle, on 480 acres of land in sections 28, 29, 32, and 33, in the west central part, near Long Lake. He was a native of Monroe County, in the State of New York, and at the age of twenty-four years married Mary Ann McKnight, a fair daughter of the adjoining county of Livingston, and with her came to Michigan to make a home. They first settled on the river Raisin, in Blissfield, Monroe Co., near the Kidd's Grove post-office. Not being fully satisfied with that location, in the fall of 1835 he left his family at Kidd's Grove, and taking an ox-team and a wagon, started out to look up a farm in the new country to the west. He had to cut his own road through the woods the latter part of his journey, and finding a location that pleased him, he at once entered it, the record being made Dec. 31, 1835. Through the winter months he remained on his land, living in a shanty he had erected, and clearing his land as fast as possible, in order to have some ready to plant in the spring. In the spring he returned to Kidd's Grove, and with the help of his brother, Charles Fowle, now living in Moscow, moved his family to his new location, going by way of Jonesville to Clear Lake, then skirting the shores of that and Long Lake, until he finally reached his destination. That spring he planted potatoes, corn, and beans, and raised quite a crop of each, having, besides what he needed for his own use, some to sell to new-comers who were unsupplied. During the first year's residence in Camdenthen a part of Reading-Mrs. Fowle said she did not see a white woman's face. Land-lookers, as men in search of farms were called, were plentiful, and nearly every night one or more would be domiciled with them. Indians, too, were ofte sen in the forest, or called at the cabin, and the squaws frequently came to their doors; but white women were scarce, and not until the arrival of new settlers in the spring of 1837 did she have the pleasure and satisfaction of meeting and onversing with one of her own race and sex. In 1837 a post-route was established from Toledo, O., to Lima, Ind., and a post-road was cut through the woods, passing through the south part of Camden. Application was made to the Post-Office Department, and a post-office was established, with James Fowle as postmaster. This office was called " Crawbrooke," after the place in England from which the Fowle family emigrated to America. Mr. Fowle continued to hold the office until the election of Polk to the Presidency, when he was removed. He was the first supervisor of Camden, and was also elected justice of the peace for the full term at the first town-meeting, and was re-elected at the expiration of his first term. He also served as representative in the Michigan Legislature three terms. He was a volunteer in the Black Hawk and Toledo wars, and in his later years drew a pension on account of his services at those times. His family consisted of eight children,-Cordelia, who married Melvin Tillotson, and died at Fremont, Ind.; Martha L., who married Frederick Chester, and is living at Camden; Elizabeth, who married George Clark, and now resides at Reading; Louisa, who was the first white child born in Camden, in October, 1837, married Erastus Farnham, and is now living at Fremont, Ind.; and Western, Foster, Mary Ann, and Luella, all of whom died in Camden in their childhood. His wife died Sept. 17, 1856, and he subsequently married Mary Youngs, by whom he had one son, named Elco, who is now living with an aunt in California, his mother having died about 1868. James Fowle died May 18, 1865, at the age of fifty-eight years. The second settler was a man named Timothy H. Wilkinson, from Seneca Co., N. Y., who was a son-in-law of Frederick Perring. Frederick Perring, of Huron Co., O., entered 280 acres of land in section 4, in October, 1835, and his son, Stephen C. Perring, at the same time entered 120 acres in the southeast part of section 5. Wilkinson settled on the south part of his brother-in-law's land in the winter or spring of 1836. Between this time and the summer of 1837 the two Perrings; Hiram, Oren C., and Philander Wilkinson, brothers of Timothy H. Wilkinson; Nehemiah Wilkinson, their father; and Murray Knowles, another son-in-law of Perring, all came and settled on the lands taken up by the Perrings. The little settlement thus commenced received by common consent the name of " Perringburgh," by which it was known until the post-office was established there, some thirty years ago, with Murray Knowles as the first postmaster, when it was changed to Edinburgh. Though now no more thickly settled than any other part of the town, the locality is still known as " the Burgh." The Wilkinsons were, during the early years of the settlement, quite prominent in town affairs; but about 1850 they became involved in some questionable transactions, and acquired a somewhat unsavory reputation in consequence. The Perrings were not, however, involved in this affair, and always retained the confidence and respect of the community. Frederick Perring built the first saw-mill in town, in the year 1838. In the fall of 1836, James Holcomb purchased of Abra ham Wortman the southwest fractional quarter of section 6, giving him the price he had paid the government ($1.25 per acre), and, in addition, a bonus of $50. This was two HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 303 miles west of Perringburgh, on the line of Branch County. James Holcomb was a native of the State of Connecticut, in which he lived until reaching manhood. He married Hannah Bentley, of Rhode Island, a daughter of Col. *Bentley, who served his country as a soldier during the Revolution, and they emigrated to the then wilderness of Western New York, and settled in the town of Sweden, in the western part of Monroe County. There they lived until the fall of 1836, when, on the tenth day of October, with their family of eight children they started for the West. They took passage at Buffalo on the steamer " De Witt Clinton," then starting on its second trip, and reached Detroit five days afterwards, having experienced very severe storms, and been beaten back by a fierce westerly gale. Reaching Brooklyn, in the south part of Jackson County, he left his family at the house of a relative while he came on to look up his land and prepare a place to live in. On his return they again started, and got as far as Sand Creek, some four miles southwest of Jonesville, and there they were obliged to make another stop while he and his oldest son took their axes and cleared a road to his place. The season had thus worn away until winter had come, and not until Christmas-day, Dec. 25, 1836, did they finally reach their home and move into their new house. Mrs. Holcomb was taken sick on the road, and from Perringburgh was carried to her home on a bed. During the winter quite a piece of land was cleared, and in the spring he sowed a field of wheat, paying for his seed $3 a bushel. The yield was good, but, when he came to sell his surplus crop, it was worth but 50 cents a bushel. He built a barn in the summer of 1839 which is still standing and in use. It was the second frame barn erected in the town. It is said that this frame was raised in one hour, and that considerable merriment was had at the expense of some people who came from a distance to participate in the " raising," and did not arrive until it was all up. Mr. Holcomb's family met with the usual hardships incidental to all pioneer life, were frequently visited by wandering Indians, and sometimes by predatory animals. On one occasion a large wolf came into the clearing after daylight in the morning, jumped into the pig-pen, and carried off a pig in spite of all their efforts to prevent it. Black-snakes were very numerous, and often in the morning one or more of them would be found coiled up in the fireplace, enjoying the heat of the warm ashes or the smouldering fire. The first death in this family was that of Mr. Holcomb, which occurred April 9, 1864, and the next was that of his wife, who survived him a few years, and died Aug. 7, 1871. The family of eight children are all living. Harriet married Azem Purdy, and resides in Kinderhook, Branch Co.; Mary A. married Jesse Doyle, and lives at Independence, Iowa; Benjamin married Sarah L. Beach, and is living at Fremont, Ind.; Charlotte married Dr. L. M. Jones, and has her home at Brooklyn, Jackson Co.; Susan married William Worden, and lives at Coldwater, Mich.; Myron married Susan Phinecy, and removed to Olathe, Kan., where he now resides; George W. married Amelia A. Hughes, and remains on the homestead; and Roxy married Charles Travis, and is now living at Laramie City, W. T. George C. Lewis, some time previous to the spring of 1837, settled on land lying in sections 4 and 5, in the north part of the town. Soon after Holcomb came Samuel Seamans, some time in the winter of 1836-37, and settled on' land in sections 14 and 15, about one mile and a half north of Camden. He was an ardent Baptist, and when "' Millerism" began to be preached immediately embraced the new doctrine. He was also a noted bee-hunter, and very successfully "lined" the bees to their hidden stores of sweets, and appropriated the delicious fruits of their labor to his own use. He was one of the first highway commissioners of the town, also one of the first overseers of the poor, and was repeatedly re-elected to these positions. He was accompanied here by his sons, Olney and Samuel, Jr., and his son-in-law, George Cummins. James Hall, from Lenawee County, settled in this town in the spring of 1837, on 40 acres in the northeast corner of section 9. His son, Cheney W. Hall, was the first white male child born in Camden. The spring of this year (1837) brought quite a number of new settlers into town. A company composed of Gurdon Chester and wife, and family of seven children; his son, Eason T. Chester, and his wife; his son-in-law, Oliver R. Cole, and his wife; Samuel S. Curtiss and family, and Timothy Larrabee and family, came together at that time, and took up lands near the centre of the town. Gurdon Chester was a native of Windham Co., Conn. While he was but a child his parents removed with him to Whitestown, Oneida Co., N. Y. Upon reaching maturity he was married to Catharine Darling, by whom he had three children,-Eason T., Lucy A., and Freelove; and they lived in Mexico, Oswego Co., N. Y., till they came to Camden. His first wife having died, he married a second time, his second wife being Anna Rathburn, of Connecticut, and by her he had four sons and three daughters. Of his children, Lucy A. married James Hamlin, Esq., and died in Allen, Mich. Freelove died in childhood. Jonathan was killed on the 27th of February, 1838, while chopping on his brother Eason's land. His is believed to have been the first death of a white resident in this town. He went out one morning to chop on a job he had taken, and felled a large basswood, which, in falling, lodged in a blue-ash tree. He was engaged in cutting this, to let both fall, when the weight of the larger tree broke and split the ash, and the end of the broken piece struck him with great force in the side. He cried out, and thus brought help, but it was of no avail, and with a few convulsive gasps life fled away. Charles went to California during the excitement caused by the discovery of gold in that State, and is supposed to be still living there. Frederick married Martha L. Fowle, a daughter of James Fowle, Esq., and is living in Camden. He'has served two years as town treasurer, and sixteen years as justice of the peace. Eliza married Stephen Levings, and died in Jonesville, in September, 1854. Abby married Oliver R. Cole, came with him to Camden, and died here in 1845. William married Susan Marquitt, and lives in Camden. He has served as town clerk and town treasurer, and is at present a justice of the peace. Catharine married Peter Anderson, and both she and her husband died in Camden. Of the oldest son we shall speak farther 304 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. - ----- I on. Gurdon Chester died in Camden, Aug. 30, 1854, having survived his second wife nearly ten years. Eason T. Chester was born at Mexico, Oswego Co., N. Y., on the 3d day of March, 1807. When eighteen years old he went to live with Jonathan Wales, at Whitestown, Oneida Co., N. Y. There he worked on a farm for three or four years, and then accepted the agency for a papermill run by Messrs. Olmstead & Isbell, a position which he retained until the winter of 1837. In February, 1835, he was married to Emeline, a daughter of Walter Olmstead, one of the proprietors of the mill. On the 16th of February, 1837, he, in company with his father and brother-inlaw, and their families, left the State of New York, bound for this place, where he had previously purchased 400 acres of land. They traveled in two wagons, each drawn by one span of horses, and came through the State of Ohio. Reaching Huron Co., Ohio, they found the roads so deep with mud as to be almost impassable, and renting a log house in the town of Florence for a month, they unloaded their goods, and leaving their families there with ample store of provisions for themselves and the horses, the men started out on foot, with their axes on their shoulders, for their new homes. They passed through the Maumee and Cottonwood swamps, and when nearly at their destination, found James Fowle living in his shanty, and stopped with him a couple of days while they marked the lines of their farms, when they built a small log shanty, covering it with split logs, and occupied that in company, while they cut logs and built their houses, four in number. The flooring for these buildings was all split out of logs, and the roofs were made of the same material, covered with "shakes." The houses were built as near together as practicable for the comfort, convenience, and safety of their future occupants. Then they returned to Florence, and came on with their families, arriving here on the 24th of April. Eason T. Chester the next day took his team and started west in search of potatoes and flour, which he found at White Pigeon. While there he traded his team and harness for a yoke of oxen and $65. Oats at that time were worth twenty shillings per bushel, and were not to be found in this vicinity even at that price. Of his pioneer life, with its privations and hardships, it is not necessary to speak, for to all early settlers these experiences are familiar. Suffice it to say that his experience was like that of others. The journeys to mill, often extending to White Pigeon, or to English Prairie, near Lima, Ind., were generally made with ox-teams, and occupied from four to eight days' time. Mr. Chester built the first frame barn of any size that was erected in this town. -It was built in 1839, and having been repaired and enlarged, is still standing. His first child was born in Camden, April 26, 1838, and was the second white male child born in this town. He was named Orson D., and is still living in Camden, being engaged in business with his father. The other children were Juliette, who married Samuel Huggett, and resides in this town; Ellen L., who married George Worden, and lives at Reading; Clement L., who died in infancy; and Delphine C., who married Jirah I. Young. Her husband died in 1873, and she, with her two children, M. Ophelia and J. Idell Young, resides with her father on the old homestead. Mr. Chester's wife died May 20, 1877, and is buried in the cemetery at Camden. The second saw-mill in this town was built by Mr. Chester in 1849, and, after having been rebuilt once in the mean time, is still standing. It was run by water-power, furnished by the Little St. Joseph River, and has sawed a large amount of lumber, a good share of which has been black-walnut lumber, in which article Mr. Chester has been an extensive dealer, having shipped some $200,000 worth of it from this town. He also built a carding-mill, and in 1850 leased it, together with the water-power, to a man by the name of Ballard, who ran it a couple of years, and being unsuccessful, abandoned it, and it again passed into Mr. Chester's hands. It was then converted into a gristmill, and was used till Jan. 4, 1864, when it was burned, and a large quantity of wheat and flour it contained was also consumed. It was then rebuilt upon an improved plan, and commenced running in the spring of 1865. It is fitted up with four runs of stone, and with all the improved machinery to enable it to do first-class work, and is one of the best mills in Southern Michigan. The stream furnishes a head and fall of 12 feet, and the power is applied by means of 4 turbine-wheels, of an aggregate capacity of 60 horse-power. From the time of his first settlement here Mr. Chester has been a land-agent, and has negotiated the sale of many thousands of acres in this and adjoining States. He is the largest land-holder in town, owning over 1400 acres within its limits, besides considerable in other sections. He is the oldest surviving first settler in the town, and has been a prominent man throughout its history. He has served in the most prominent town offices, having been supervisor ten years, and justice of the peace nine years, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1844. Of the others who accompanied Mr. Chester on his journey here, Oliver R. Cole remained here several years, and then removed to Jackson, where he now resides; Timothy Larrabee lived here several years, his father Lebbeus Larrabee residing with him, and then he removed to Union City, Branch Co., where. he died some years after; Samuel S. Curtiss came from some place'on " the Ridge" road, a little east of Rochester, N. Y. He was a teacher by profession, and a thoroughly well-educated man. While living here he practiced surveying, and laid out a great many farms and roads in this and adjoining towns. After residing here a few years he returned to his former home in New York, from thence went to Virginia, locating in the vicinity of Washington, D. C., where he died. He was the first treasurer of this town, and also one of the first justices of the peace. Zachariah Jackson settled on the northwest quarter of section 35 in June, 1837, and in the fall of the same year a family of hunters, consisting of George Swiger, his son Leonard, his sons-in-law John Flake and Enoch Thompson, together with their respective families, came from the State of Ohio, where game was beginning to get too scarce to ren der hunting a profitable business, and settled here. Their rifles and snares furnished meat for many families in this vicinity during the early life of the settlement. They have all passed away with the advance of that tide of civilization I I. I 1 I I . I.. I.1. -.1 I I., . I4,..,I,,,,,: ", - -,-..I -, I. :, ,. ,,, i` ",It" I 1..,4,: ,:i, ',._, ,. - ,:Z. . I,,,., -:.:-.,,.. ", ",.,..,,,I, ", II.,III.,,:,.,,.,; '.'-"` ., .I.,...I.,. -I.. ,I:III. I..;.,i ,,-:!',,: ,,,,.,", I " I...I.,-,, -- ,.;-,,'-,.-. I - ,..-." I II.III,I. _;:..,.,,,..,,..,,'!,,...,.,'I I..t..I.....-,.., I-, .,,",, ,.,-..';'.,,,!. II ".... I.- I I;II...,,.., I.I:III ., --.I..I.,:,..I.; .. I ..:,, " I - ,,-, -.-, ,;-' e.:1,, ;;: -,', ". - 111,.... li I 11, . 11 I.I.III.. 1; I I..",; :, *111-II Ii:.. " IIII II-,, ",;,4., I,., ., -- III.'.,I.. _.,, ,.,,... " I ' 'k, 'I-." j:r. I " I-. I, , - I ! , e , ", I,.., - I. I., 'k -. I , ; ,,.,: .,:,. r,.,111...-,: -I :*. "tII " -.'., I ; 5 r I I 11; ". 1.,', I I ".. Is , ", -4 , I,,,, 1. I —&q;,- -q " ,,, 11, -'1.1111 ,_,_, " .-!, I..:II.I II.,. .,,, -,. -. X -1 I I., -, i, I .1 11, , j I.... 1;:11 L, : I... 1,, 1, I. ' ' . - " r.,.:, " ".,,:, ,,.. b I I, . I.-.I. ".. 1, i: ,,: ".4 ",%, 11. I "., _?, ";_, I I :-': i',, '.]... I;"',,..qj,!,';-,.I-'. I.. -, '.,_,.;. - I I. W= ., . - I I I I; III.,,.1,.111,t, I.;l, '' - I ", t.,", 1 . _ rs=.. I 6,,. i il I . 11,. I. - i. 7,Il.':.. -1 I!:I. I,,I I ,I. , '.. ,,;,... I7:::, ` -, i, I,, 11 I ", I- 11 r- I...1.11-11,I.. -. T_ I 1, 1-1...I,.. I, "J, I1A I,. Ii;!.Il, I, I... 1113-1-, .I ' '':,, -,, I - I.,,I.', ". '.,I,:;, -:,:-.,:i. I i, ,,,.t :,..',, -,, II 1-. ,.,', . I. 6 I - I'.. I I I, , I I I I, I, I ".. .r,,:."L I I,.: -,.. "I II..". —,-I: ,,.',',,.II t. I I.,..,.;,'t' I,,.".,.,t -, _'. rl_., I,..,: I..1..a. -l-,. I, -. ,, V ) 1.:. I;,., ., I.., " 'I, w..- I,, , -., "-.,,.. _. i.... 1.II.. t , ..,,,,'z,,-... ;:,,-...,, I 14i. 0... - '. -. :,.,! 11",.I T w ,. rl, -,,:..I,.,.'.,'ii,. Z. ", ', 1. I I I %.7'. I., ",.. :,,,.` - i,, k, 1. I. I.:w,". - 11 " I. "I p I., ': ,m; ": 1 1 ",,,. " " ,.'I _', , - -.- -,,,,,..,.'r...,"., -., ,.,.,.. . x. I I - - -, It, II '..II.,II-1 ,Z - 7: - -.1,11"m! .. T -,, I. '.., -',;',,.., x - I I I:1 J, _,, I.I,,, - _. I t.,. i ": I I- .. I,I", I, ",, - I I,-.,. I- - Ilk ,,..i,,'-:-,,; 41 1 ,_:".. I.". - ., - f",,... 1. . I I I. _ r )b I,.".. r " ", I.,:. , .,?II-1......I-;I. " I -,,. -,.-"", "I, ". ,.r' -; - i -,.,, _:.,. " -.. ., ,l II I"I I',,.'._.,, .,, 'A 5 ,, " II..-,, -. I- - 1 I, I.,- I ,"f %.". -. I i,:- .,, " " , - I;, ". ",Iv I I ,., "k:r:, -, il."I", ',,-, ", - ,,, "., I. I." 'I.. '!.i.I.,;, I..,Zl. i.- i I!.t'. , I , -, '.,:,,,,, k", !, I -s_-.i~i;-, ':;?:s" iBa :0s: I Ba r "-;" t0~ ---. Ar: —1 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 305 which so relentlessly pushes the picturesquely-dressed hunter and his romantic existence from the scenes of progress into the shadow and solitude of the yet unsubdued forests. But their names and the memory of their achievements still remain a pleasant tradition in the minds of the present generation. The year 1838 brought in another lot of settlers. In November, 1835, a company of four men, consisting of Benjamin C. Bradley, Robert B. Sutton, Charles W. Westfall, and Benjamin Fisher, the two latter sons-in-law of Sutton, started out on the post-road leading from Toledo to Lima, via Adrian and Jonesville, looking for a good place to locate some land. They intended to go farther West, but had noticed from the maps of the government surveys that this section around Hillsdale seemed to be a fountain-head for streams running in all directions, and they judged from that that it would be a very healthy locality. So when they arrived in this vicinity they took a careful look about them, noting the character of the soil, the course of the streams, and the general lay of the land, and were so well satisfied with what they saw that they at once abandoned the idea of going any farther West, and selected farms and entered them as soon as possible, each taking up 160 acres, in sections 33 and 34, the farms all adjoining one another. Two of these men moved their families here in the spring of 1838, and a third in the fall of 1839, but the other one (Sutton) never became a resident here. Benjamin Fisher, some eight years later, removed to a farm a little south of Hillsdale, where he is still living. He was from Wayne Co., N. Y. The first one of the four mentioned, Benjamin C. Bradley, remained in this town, and is now the second oldest surviving settler. He was born in Litchfield, Conn., July 5, 1806, and when he was nine years old his father moved his family to Western New York, locating at Lyons, Wayne Co., where they arrived on the 9th day of January, 1815, having traveled with teams and been eight days on the road. Here he lived until the time when he came here, in March, 1838. At the age of twenty-three he was married to Catharine W. Cole, of Auburn, N. Y. Their oldest child and only son and oldest daughter were born in Lyons. Upon his arrival here, he immediately set to work to clear a piece of ground and to build a log house. The house was 18 by 26 feet, and stood just west of the present residence. It was not finished till the following fall. He cleared about three-quarters of an acre, planted it to corn, potatoes, and garden-sauce, hired a man to attend to it during his absence, and then returned to bring his family. They arrived in July, and found their garden doing well. He continued his clearing through the summer, and in the fall sowed four or five acres to wheat. This piece of wheat, harvested by the somewhat primitive methods then in use, yielded about 40 bushels per acre. The old log house furnished a home for the family until the present house was erected, in 1850. Mrs. Bradley died Dec. 27, 1860. Mr. Bradley has served three times as supervisor (once by appointment), twice as justice of the peace, three times as treasurer, and several years in other capacities in the town, and has lived to see the rapid-almost marvelous/development of this country, to which he came, forty years 39 ago, as into a wilderness. Amid all the hardships of the pioneer's life he has preserved a cheerful, uncomplaining spirit, and now is reaping the comfort and enjoyment in his old age to which the labors of his well-spent life entitle him. His children were five in number,-James C. came with his parents from Lyons, at the age of six years; married Ellen Thompson, and is engaged in mercantile business at Camden. Margaret W. was two years old when she came to this State. She married George S. Crane, and resides on a farm near her father's. Jane married Charles B. Johnson, and lives on the farm adjoining her father's on the east. Her husband died in 1875. Julia married Ormal Crane, and is a resident of Parker's City, Pa. Esther married Henry Crane, who died in 1872, and she is living with her father on the homestead. The three last mentioned were born in this town. In the fall of 1837 a settlement was made in the south part of the town by Chester Hills and his three sons, — Chester, Jr., Joseph M., and Levi. They purchased 320 acres in sections 4, 9, and 10, of township 9 south, range 4 west, of Alfred Brown, of Wayne Co., N. Y., who had entered it Oct. 24, 1835. Two years later, in the autumn of 1839, Charles W. Westfall and Richard Huggett, both from the town of Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., moved into town. Westfall had taken up his land at the same time that Bradley did his, and also came here in 1838. But, after contracting with Mr. Bradley to build him a log house and to clear five acres of ground ready for sowing in the fall of 1839, he returned East and remained a year. Upon his arrival here he found things in quite comfortable shape, but he did not remain many years before he sold out and went to live in the South. Richard Huggett was a native of Brenzett, Kent, England, and with his wife (Eleanor Piall) and three children emigrated to this country in the spring of 1828, locating first at Phelps, N. Y., where he worked land on shares for eleven years, and then came to this State and settled on 80 acres he had purchased of Robert Sutton, on section 33. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and merited, as he received, the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. He died Dec. 8, 1860. His wife survived him about thirteen years. His children were ten in number. Four of them died in childhood. Charles and Richard live in the town of Reading, and Samuel, William, Celia (Mrs. G. H. Derr), and Silas W. still live in Camden, the latter on the homestead. Eli Westfall moved into Camden in 1841, and lived here until about 1865, when he removed to Hillsdale, where he now lives. He was from Ontario Co., N. Y. John G. McWilliams was the next settler. He was born in Charlton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1822, and came to Blissfield, Lenawee Co., Mich., with his father's family in the fall of 1832. In March, 1842, he started out in life by taking up 107 acres in the southwest quarter of section 29. He commenced his work of clearing the land, and worked at it one year, boarding with James Fowle and Eli Westfall. During the following year he worked in Lenawee County, and in 1844 again returned to his farm 306 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and continued his clearing, boarding with Eli Westfall. In the spring of 1845 he built a log cabin, and on the 27th of April was married to Westfall's sister, Sally. At that time he had 15 acres cleared, of which about 10 acres were under cultivation. The log house was replaced in 1867 and 1868 by a fine frame building, which stands on the same site. Mr. McWilliams has served the town in the capacity of treasurer, highway commissioner, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. His family consisted of three children,-Abner, who lives with his parents; Estelle, who married Silas W. Huggett, and lives in this town; and Albert W., who died in Camden while in his second year. Mr. McWilliams is the third oldest surviving settler, now a resident of this town. In the same year with McWilliams came Harvey Osborn, who settled on section 1, of township 9. He was an early settler in Lenawee County, having located there in 1832. Among the later settlers we mention, as nearly as possible in the order of their arrival, Ivory Woodman, 1839; Levi Barber, Joshua Myers, 1841; Morgan McCarty, Thomas McKnight, Samuel Wilds, Dewey Barber, James R. Mason, Salmon Wheeling, 1842; Francis D. Youngs, John W. Stewart, Nahum Shaw, A. B. Goodwin, William Parlamene, 1843; Robert Seeley (from Steuben Co., N. Y., on section 4, south part of the town), Addison T. Pound (from Wayne Co., N. Y., on the same section), Erastus Keyes, John W. Robbins, John Trim, Jeremiah Peck, G. Campbell, D. L. Thompson, Ebenezer Youngs, 1844; Nelson Palmer (from Herkimer Co., N. Y., on section 2, south part of town), Hezekiah Barber, John Lords, Jacob I. Marquitt, William R. Montgomery, Elijah Campbell, Joseph Seeley, 1845; William P. Kingman, Daniel Graves, Samuel Whaley, Potter C. Sullivan, William R. Worden, 1846; Elisha Y. Palmer, from Herkimer Co., N. Y., settled in Brooklyn, Jackson Co., in 1838, and on section 2, of township 9, in the spring of 1847; Isaac Baldwin, Simeon O. Whaley, Elihu Braman, David Steel, Grant Lester, Thomas Pierce, 1848; Parley Brown, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Linden Cummings, 1850; Andrew Blair, Adam Beaver, 1853. The first town-meeting was held at the house of Samuel S. Curtiss, on the 1st day of April, 1839. The circumstances attending this meeting were as follows: the town was then Reading, and the annual town-meeting was called to meet at Perringburgh, near the present boundary between the two towns. The citizens gathered together, but did not open the meeting because James Fowle, who was one of the Town Board, had not arrived. Mr. Fowle was also postmaster, and he, knowing that the bill to divide the town was before the Legislature, determined to wait till after the mail arrived, to see what action, if any, had been taken on the bill. When the mail arrived, it brought the official notification of the erection of the town. Mr. Fowle at once repaired to the place of meeting and reported, and the citizens separated according to their locations, the residents of Reading going north, and the residents of Camden coming south, to the respective places at which the bill de signated their first meetings were to be held. Arrived at Mr. Curtiss' house, the meeting was organized by electing James Fowle, Moderator; Eason T. Chester, Clerk; and Samuel S. Curtiss, Inspector of Election. Resolutions were passed, I. To raise a fund of $50 to be used to purchase necessary books for recording the town business, to pay wolf-bounties, and to build a pound; II. To pay a bounty of $2 for every wolf's head, with the ears and skin entire thereon, that should be killed in the town before the next town-meeting; III. To build a pound 25 feet square and 6 feet high, of rough logs, to be furnished with a good door and padlock for the same. Eason T. Chester, Benjamin C. Bradley, and Samuel S. Curtiss were the committee appointed to see to the building of the pound. The following officers were then elected for the ensuing year: Supervisor, James Fowle; Town Clerk, Benjamin Fisher; Town Treasurer, Samuel S. Curtiss; Justices of the Peace, James Fowie, four years; George C. Lewis, three years; Samuel S. Curtiss, two years; and Eason T. Chester, one year; Assessors, Eason T. Chester, James Holcomb, Benjamin C. Bradley; Commissioners of Highways, James Holcomb, Samuel Seamans, Benjamin C. Bradley; Collector, Oliver R. Cole; Constable, Oliver R. Cole; School Inspectors, Samuel S. Curtiss, Murray Knowles, Benjamin C. Bradley; Directors of the Poor, Samuel Seamans, Joseph M. Hills; Pound-keeper, Gurdon Chester. At the conclusion of the canvass of votes the meeting adjourned till the first Monday in April, 1840, to meet at the house of Eason T. Chester. The following summer, among the accounts audited was a bill of $11.50 for building the pound, of $3.50 for books, and of $10 paid for the killing of five wolves. At the first general election, held in the fall of 1839, the poll-list comprised 25 names. This number was increased to 30 the following spring, and in 1842 had risen to 42. At the last election, Nov. 5, 1878, the poll-list exceeded 460. During the early years of the town's existence the political struggles were between the Democratic and Whig parties, and the elections were attended with varying results, but generally favorable to the Democrats. Upon the organization of the Republican party, however, after a short struggle, the Democrats became hopelessly in the minority. In the bringing about of this change the " United Americans," or "Know-Nothing" societies, took a somewhat prominent part, although their existence was but brief. The man to whom the honor belongs for first moving for the organization of the Republican party in Camden is Thomas Fitzsimmons, who has lived to see that party perform a service to the country that will immortalize its name in the pages of the world's history. The Republicans of Camden continued to be in the majority until the National Greenback party was organized. In the election of last spring, that party swept the town by a majority of 162 votes. This fall its majority has fallen to 80. On the question of licensing the sale of intoxicating drinks this town has uniformly expressed itself as favoring the traffic; but the sentiment of the town has undergone a change, and it is now believed to be strongly in favor of restrictive legislation. During the war for the suppression of the Rebellion Cam den did its full share, by furnishing men and money, to carry it forward to a glorious and successful issue. We publish elsewhere a list of those who donned the blue and HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 307 - - -rI served their country in its time of need. It is a glorious record, and one to which every true patriot will point with pride and satisfaction. The town voted, at several special meetings held for that purpose, to pay every recruit credited to this town the sum of $100, as a town bounty. Part of the sum thus voted was raised by tax, and bonds to the amount of $2700 were issued for the remainder. The first attempt to found a village was made at South Camden. About the year 1848 one James Corslet came there and put up a log house on the northwest corner of the three roads centering there, and opened a tavern for the accommodation of travelers and the convenience of the public. Through a somewhat inordinate fondness for, and a more or less immoderate use of, the fluids there kept, he became unfitted for the management of the business; the care of which consequently devolved upon his wife. She proved herself fully competent, and carried on the business with such success that eventually poor James was almost utterly ignored by the public, and the place was known far and near as " Granny Corslet's tavern." And so well were people pleased with her manner and the accommodations furnished that it has often been remarked that " Granny Corslet was the best man that everkept the house." A small stock of goods was placed in a room at the rear of the tavern by a man named D. B. Hawley, and offered for sale. With the exception of the store built and kept by Nelson Palmer, in 1846, near his residence, this was the first store opened in Camden. About four years later the hotel was torn down and replaced by a frame building, which was built by Almon M. Mallison. It is still standing, is used as a tavern, and bears on its sign the name of the "Travelers' Home." The store was moved to a new building on the opposite corner, and was kept there some time. Subsequently another building was erected for a store, which stands on the south side of the street, facing the road to the north. A furnace was built at a date subsequent to the building of the first hotel. It was owned by a Mr. Phelps. It has passed through several hands, and is now owned by C. W. Brown, and is doing a small business in the line of plow- and custom-work. The village did not attain any size, and consists of the hotel, furnace, store, and about a dozen dwellings. The south part of Camden was formerly known as " Euchre Street," probably because of the fondness for that fascinating game manifested by the people there, and was subsequently, on account of some circumstance not known to the writer, invested with the name of " Crampton." By this name it is quite generally known at present. Sometimes letters destined to this locality bear that direction. The post-office, which was established a few years since, is called South Camden, and is at present located a mile and three-quarters west of the corners. A mile north of South Camden is the first and only tannery in the town. It was built by A. J. St. John in 1866; uses oak-bark in the tanning process, and has a capacity for turning out from 1000 to'1500 hides per year. A currying-shop is attached, and all the leather tanned is finished up into harness and upper leathers. It is now being run by Charles & Walter St. John, sons of the former proprietor. A quarter of a mile east of the tannery is the first steam saw-mill that was started in this town. It was built by a Mr. Parrish, and is now owned by Hazen & Chester, and does considerable business in custom-sawing and in the manufacture of shingles and lath. There are three other steam saw-mills in Camden. The Briggs mill, in the east part of the town, was built by Ford & Rice about thirteen years ago, and is now owned by R. M. Briggs. The Cooney mill is in the southwest part of the town, and is of more recent origin. The third is at Montgomery. The village of Camden was first started on the flat along the river. The mill, school-house, and a few dwellings comprised all there was of it previous to 1850. Then Olney Seamans built a tavern on the lot next south of the residence of Dr. Guy, and a few years later a store was started by Joseph Tucker. The tavern burned down some five or six years after it was built, and about 1860 the store was sold to Nathan Alvord, who enlarged it and kept a fine stock of goods, continuing in the business several years. In 1867 the first plat of the village was made, and a tract of some 30 acres in extent, owned by Eason T. Chester, Orson D. Chester, and Nathan Alvord, was laid out into streets and village lots. In 1871 there was talk of the building of a railroad from Mansfield, O., to Allegan, Mich., which was to pass through this place, and, the project receiving active support from the citizens of this and other towns along its proposed route, in 1872, the road-bed was purchased and graded through this town. The route selected led a little south of the village, on the higher ground, and it was decided to change the site of the business part of the village to the still higher ground south of the railroad. In pursuance of this determination, Mr. Hiram Bell and Mr. Eason T. Chester decided to plat a tract of about 25 acres lying south of the railroad and west of the main road. This was done in the fall of 1872, and the plat was called " Bell and Chester's addition to the village of Camden." Subsequently, William Miller recorded a plat of about 45 acres lying on the east side of Main street, and extending along that street till it reached the first plat. Building was immediately begun, and several stores and dwellings were put up. Since the panic of 1873 the growth has been slow,-a fact which may also be partially explained by the failure of the railroad, which is still a vision of the future. The village now contains a hotel, built in 1873, by C. R. and W. Lackey, a Methodist Episcopal church, a fine brick school-house, erected in 1873, at a cost of nearly $3500, six stores, two wagon- and blacksmith-shops, one saw- and planing-mill, one saw-mill, one fine grist-mill, and about 30 dwellinghouses. Its present population is about 200. In days gone by some facetious individual fastened upon this locality the title of " Henpeck," and though it has long since outgrown any fitness of the name it still clings to it. Previous to 1869 the site of the present village of Montgomery was as wild and uncultivated a piece of land as the town contained. It was then an " oak opening," and was rather looked upon as almost worthless land compared to the rest of the town. But the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railroad came stretching its iron sinews through the town, and people began to look about them to select a point for a station that would best accommodate the farmers 308 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of the section. At last the place was selected, and immediately the spirit of enterprise that has so quickly developed the Western States made itself manifest here. Tracts of land owned by Israel Shepard, G. B. Hewitt, R. B. Teachout, and Joshua Dobbs, aggregating more than 80 acres, were surveyed into village plats and thrown into the market. These lots were quickly sold to a large number of mechanics, laborers, and business men, and they erected houses and shops and stores upon them, and a thrifty village sprang up as if by miracle. The first place of business was opened by A. P. Kellogg, as a hardware- and grocery-store, and this was followed by 0. M. Hayward, with a dry-goods and grocery-store, and soon after this Joshua Dobbs opened an extensive general store, dealing in dry-goods, groceries, hardware, crockery, clothing, boots and shoes, etc. The first hotel was built and opened in 1870, by William Hakes. The steam sawmill was built by D. & M. Orewiler, in 1872, and is still owned and worked by them. In 1874 a joint-stock company was formed for the purpose of manufacturing Strunk's patent window-blinds. A shop was erected and fitted up with the necessary machinery, a steam-engine put in, and operations commenced. After running two years the business was found to be unprofitable, and work was stopped and has not been resumed. The building is now used as a hardware-store. Two physicians settled there soon after the village was started. Their names were Dr. George L. Guy and Dr. J. M. Merry. br. Guy subsequently removed to Camden. Dr. C. E. Miner was the first physician at that point. Though popularly designated as " Frog-eye," the village was named by Wm. R. Montgomery, then register of the county, after himself, in return for which favorable distinction he recorded the plat without receiving any fee. At present Montgomery contains 6 stores, 3 carriage- and blacksmith-shops, 1 steam saw-mill, 2 meat-markets, 1 hotel, 1 school-house, the railroad buildings, and nearly 100 dwellings. Its population is about 300. It is one of the most important shipping-points along the line of railroad from Jackson to Fort Wayne, sending off an annual average of 200,000 bushels of wheat, besides large quantities of other grains, pork, hogs, cattle, lumber, and produce of all kinds. The first preaching of the gospel in this town was during the winter of 1839, when Rev. Mr. Smith, a Methodist itinerant, held services at E. T. Chester's house. Meetings were held occasionally by the Baptists at an early day, they being preached to by Hezekiah Barber, a resident of this town. They did not, however, organize a regular church. The Methodists continued their meetings, and about 1841 the Conference sent a circuit preacher named Rev. Isaac Bennett to this section, and he preached here for some time. Rev. J. H. Peitzel, who had been a missionary among the Indians, also preached here several times. In 1854 the first regular class was formed, and among the members were Dr. and Mrs. James Cough, Joseph and Maria Seeley, John and Huldah Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Huggett, Mr. and Mrs. John Bean, Mr. a Mr nMrs. Thomas Fitzsimmons, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Haynes, Mr. and Mrs. Zebulon Parker, Mrs. Joseph Ricks, Mrs. Harvey Seeley, and Mrs. James Buchnan. Rev. William Doust was the first regu lar preacher, and he was sent here by the Conference of 1854. Since that time regular weekly meetings have been held, at the school-house until the church was completed, and since that time in the church. The same minister has preached here that was stationed at Reading through these years. Revivals were experienced during the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Doust, Rev. Noah Fassett, and Rev. Taylor. Dr. James Cough was the first class-leader. The first board of trustees was elected in 1869, and was composed as follows, viz., Zalmon H. Gray, Thomas Fitzsimmons, John B. Alward, Nathan Alvord, Eason T. Chester, S. W. Shuefeldt, John Myers. The six last named, and William McCluckion, constitute the present board. Nathan Alvord is the secretary of the board, and J. B. Alward is the treasurer, and also the secretary of the Quarterly Conference. S. W. Shuefeldt is the class-leader and steward. A Sabbath-school has been connected with the church since 1854. Joseph Seeley was the first superintendent, and M. L. Perego is the present incumbent. John B. Alward is the secretary. The school is in a prosperous condition, and numbers about 75 members. The church edifice, which was and still remains the first and only church in this town, was erected in 1873, finished in 1874, and dedicated to the worship of God in December of the latter year. It is a handsome brick building, 35 feet wide by 53 feet long, with a handsome spire, but not yet supplied with a bell. It cost about $4500, and will comfortably seat about 400 people. But little temperance work was done in Camden outside of that incidental to the teachings of the church until a few years after the close of the war, when a Good Templars' lodge was organized. This was prosperous for a time, but finally became disgraced by the practices of some of its members, and after an existence of a year or two it went down. Matters rested thus until the " Red Ribbon" movement was inaugurated at the West, and then the subject of temperance reform began again to be agitated here. Sunday afternoon, May 27, 1877, Harvey Iddings, son of Rev. - Iddings, of Reading, delivered a forcible temperance address at the Methodist Episcopal church, and at the close of the meeting a pledge was circulated among the audience, and a large number of signatures obtained. A meeting was then appointed for the following Tuesday evening, the object of which would be the organizing of a "Temperance Reform," or " Red Ribbon" club. At that meeting the organization was perfected by the election of the following officers, viz.: President, Frederick Chester; Vice-Presidents, Gillman H. Derr, Hiram Bell, Martin Fast; Secretary, John B. Alward; Financial Secretary, M. L. Perego; Treasurer, Samuel Persons. Several committees were appointed, among them one to draft a set of by-laws, which were, at a subsequent meeting, presented and adopted. The club has held regular semi-monthly meetings since its organization, which were addressed by speakers from abroad, or selected from its members, and has steadily prospered, adding new names to its roll of members from time to time, until it now contains about 220 names. The present officers, who were elected Dec. 26, 1877, and hold their offices one year, are as follows, viz.: President, Parley Brown; Vice-Presidents, M. L. Perego, L. H. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 309 I Storer, A. Lawton; Secretary, Guy Chester; Financial Secretary, Martin Fast; Treasurer, Clinton St. John. The first Masonic society was organized in Camden in 1865. Some time early in the summer of that year a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge of the State asking for a charter for a lodge. A dispensation was granted by the Grand Master, and the lodge was instituted and worked under the dispensation until the meeting of the Grand Lodge, when it was regularly chartered as " Camden Lodge, No. 245, F. and A. M." The first election of officers was held Dec. 16, 1865, and the following were chosen, the first four of them having acted in the same positions under the dispensation, viz.: W. M., George N. Mead; S. W., G. S. Crane; J. W., Frederick Chester; Sec., James C. Bradley; Treas., Orson D. Chester; S. D., Samuel Miner; J. D., Jacob Stambaugh; Stewards, Gillman H. Derr, H. T. Crane; Tyler, William Kunkle. The hall over Charles R. Lackey's store was fitted up for a lodge-room, and the meetings were held there until the store was burned, when the lodge lost all its property. Business meetings were then held at different times, but no initiations or other work was done until the present store, owned by Mr. Chester, was erected. Then a hall in the third story of that building was fitted up for a lodge-room, and has been used by the lodge since that time. The regular meetings are held on that Thursday evening of each month which falls nearest to the time of the full moon. The lodge numbers between 70 and 80 members. The following are the present officers: W. M., George N. Mead; S. W., Frederick Chester; J. W., Nathan Alvord; Sec., Gillman H. Derr; Treas., William Kunkle; S. D., A. A. Baxter; J. D., Philip Shook; Stewards, Henry Spaulding, Christopher Myers; Tyler, William Stahl. The fraternity of Odd-Fellows has very recently established itself in this town, the first society of that brotherhood having been instituted on the 25th of May last, by Deputy Grand Master L. C. Tillotson, of Hillsdale, assisted by Past N. G. Witter J. Baxter, of Jonesville. The first and present officers are: N. G., John B. Alward; V. G., Jonathan Fast; Sec., William A. Saunders; Warden, Martin Fast; Conductor, David A. Erwin; O. Guard, Andrew J. Longstreet. The lodge is called " Camden Lodge, No. 312, I. O. O. F.," and is working under a dispensation until the Grand Lodge meets and the charter is issued. It has been prosperous, and now numbers 42 members. Its meetings are held at Masonic Hall. We give a list of the principal town officers, compiled from the records: 1839-1841. Benjamin Fisher. 1842. Murray Knowles. 1843-44. Francis D. Young. 1845-46. Erastus Keyes. 1847-48. Murray Knowles. 1849. Benjamin B. Holcomb. 1850-51. Elisha Y. Palmer. 1852. Parley Brown. 1853. Benjamin B. Holcomb. 1854-55. David C. Tyrrill. 1856. Samuel Whaley. 1857. Talma H. Brooks. 1858. Stephen Fitzsimmons. TREAS 1839. Samuel S. Curtiss. 1840-42. Benjamin C. Bradley. 1843. Levi Hills. 1844. Oliver R. Cole. 1845-46. Benjamin Fisher. 1846. John G. McWilliams.* Benja. B. Holcomb.t 1847-49. Joseph Seeley. 1850. Richard Huggett. 1851. Orlando Patee. 1852. Daniel Van Etten. 1853-54. Frederick Chester. 1855. Edwin R. Stewart. 1856. Richard Huggett. 1857. Zalmon H. Gray. JUSTICES OF 1839. James Fowle (4 years). George C. Lewis (3 years). Samuel S. Curtiss (2 years). Eason T. Chester (1 year). 1840. James Holcomb. 1841. Benjamin C. Bradley. 1842. Timothy H. Wilkinson. 1843. James Fowle. 1844. James Holcomb. 1845. Benjamin C. Bradley. 1846. Salmon Whaling. 1847. Samuel Whaley. 1848. James Holcomb. 1849. Eason T. Chester (f. t.). Joel Campbell (v.). 1850. Murray Knowles. 1851. Wm. Palmiter. 1852. Alonzo E. Richmond. 1853. Eason T. Chester (f. t.). Elisha Y. Palmer (v.). 1854. Parley Brown. 1855. Almon Day. 1856. Alonzo E. Richmond. 1857. Frederick Chester. 1858. Parley Brown. 1859. Wm. H. Billings. CLERKS. 1859-60. Nathan Alvord. 1861-62. Eli Alvord. 1863. Nathan Alvord. 1864. Joseph Seeley. 1865-66. Nathan Alvord. 1867. Jirah I. Young. 1868. Nathan Alvord. 1869. Wm. Chester. 1870-71. James C. Bradley. 1872. John B. Alward. 1873-74. Andrew A. Baxter. 1875-76. James C. Bradley. 1877-78. John B. Alward. CURERS. 1857. James Fowle.t 1858. Wm. R. Worden. 1859-60. James M. Hagerman. 1860-61. James C. Bradley.~ 1862. Zebulon W. Parker. 1863-64. Charles B. Johnson. 1865. George C. Crane. 1866. Wm. Chester. 1867. Robert Masters. 1868-70. Charles R. Lackey. 1871. Wm. Chester. 1872-73. Lewis H. Stover. 1874-76. Lorenzo B. Davis. 1877-78. Albert Walls. THE PEACE. 1860. Benjamin A. Hagerman (f. t.). Almon Day (v.). 1861. Frederick Chester. 1862. Parley Brown. 1863. Charles Cooney. 1864. Benjamin A. Hagerman. 1865. Frederick Chester. 1866. James D. Fitzsimmons. 1867. Orlando C. Curtiss. 1868. Andrew J. Wigent. 1869. Frederick Chester. 1870. Judson B. Haynes. 1871. John G. McWilliams. 1872. Samuel W. Miner. 1873. Dr. James Cough. 1874. Thos. Fitzsimmons (f.t.). Enoch B. Teachout (v.). James Oliver (v.). 1875. John G. McWilliams (f. t.). Gilman H. Derr. Wm. Chester (v.). 1876. Loftus Stanton. 1877. C. P. Taylor. 1878. Wm. Chester (f. t.). Thomas E. Cooney (v.). SUPERVISORS. 1839-40. James Fowle. 1841-42. Eason T. Chester. 1843-44. Benjamin C. Bradley. 1845-48. Eason T. Chester. 1849. James Fowle. 1850. Wm. R. Montgomery. 1851. Eason T. Chester. 1852. Wm. R. Montgomery. 1853. Zalmon H. Gray. 1854. Wm. R. Montgomery. 1855-56. Eason T. Chester. 1857. Frederick A. Seymour. 1858. Daniel Van Etten. 1859. Eason T. Chester. 1860-61. Zalmon H. Gray. 1862. Thomas Fitzsimmons. 1863-64. Zalmon H. Gray. 1865-66. Almon Day. 1867. Thomas Fitzsimmons. 1868. Almon Day. 1869. Zalmon H. Gray. 1870. Walter Young. 1871- 72. Charles B. Johnson. 1873. John B. Alward. 1874-77. A. J. Wigent. 1878. Andrew A. Baxter. 1839. 1840. 1841. COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. James Holcomb. 1842. Morgan McCarty. Samuel Seamans. Chester Hills. Benjamin C. Bradley. Thomas McKnight. James Holcomb. 1843. Jeremiah Peck. George C. Lewis. Samuel Seamans. Samuel Seamans. Thomas McKnight. George C. Lewis. 1844. George Swiger. Samuel Seamans. Benjamin Fisher. Benjamin C. Bradley. John Trim, Jr.., Appointed vice Fisher. t Appointed vice McWilliams. $ Vice Gray, resigned. ~ Appointed to fill vacancy, and re-elected. 310 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 1845. Jeremiah Peek. Richard Huggett. Philander Wilkinson. 1846. Richard Huggett. Joseph Seeley. Nahum Shaw. 1847. W. P. Kingman (3 years). J. G. McWilliams (2 years). Joseph M. Hills (1 year). 1848. Joseph M. Hills (f. t.). Philander Wilkinson (v.). 1849. Almon Day. 1850. Benjamin B. Holcomb. 1851. Richard Huggett. 1852. Thomas Fitzsimmons. 1853. Orlando Patee. 1854. Edward Huggett. 1855. William Miller. 1856. Benjamin A. Hagerman. 1857. Jesse Tucker. 1858. Elisha Y. Palmer. 1859. Joseph C. Dewitt (f. t.). Hiram Noyes (v.). 1860. Hiram B. Alvord. 1861. Addison T. Pownd. 1862. George Holcomb. 1863. Hiram B. Alvord. 1864. Nelson Palmer (f. t.). Elmer Hess (v.). 1865. John C. Higgins (f. t.). Robert Morris (v.). 1866. Robert Morris. 1867. George N. Mead. 1868. Judson B. Haynes. 1869. Lorenzo B. Davis. 1870. J. G. McWilliams (f. t.). John C. Higgins (v.). 187i. Silas W. Huggett (f. t.). Lorenzo Saunders (v.). 1872. E. P. Teachout. 1873. H. B. Spicer. 1874. William Franks. 1875. Robert Masters. 1876. No record. 1877. Adam Beaver. 1878. Adam Beaver. 1839. Eason T. Chester. James Holcomb. Benjamin C. Bradley. 1840. Eason T. Chester. Benjamin C. Bradley. ASSESSORS. 1840. James Holcomb. 1841. Eason T. Chester. James lHolc mb. Benjamin C. Bradley. COLLECTOR. 1839-41. Oliver R. Cole. OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. Reading. He at first erected a log shanty, into which he moved his family, and for the first few years they lived in a very primitive manner. As there were no mills in the vicinity, Mr. Wigent constructed one in the form of a huge mortar, by burning and digging out the end of a log, with which, placed on end, and by means of a large spring-pole, the grain was pounded into meal. This mill was used quite extensively for miles around by the neighbors for the first year or two, until mills were built in the vicinity. Mr. Wigent, in addition to farming, became engaged in brickmaking. He reared a family of six children, named Daniel B., Andrew J., George M., Richard E., Horace P., and Lucy J. Of these all are living except Horace P., and all are married and have families. Mr. Martin Wigent died at his home, in Reading, in 1861, at the age of fifty-eight, and Mrs. Wigent, in 1867, at the age of fifty-seven years. Andrew J., the second son, was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., on the 30th day of August, 1833. He was but a young boy when his father came to their new home in the wild woods of Reading, and the facilities for obtaining even a common-school education, for years, were very limited indeed; but he managed to get a knowledge of the English branches, principally by study at home in the chimneycorner. At twenty years of age he commenced teaching district school, which was his occupation for some ten or twelve winters. The summer seasons were employed in brickmaking and working at the mason's trade, in which he became a very skillful and reliable workman. And the numerous brick residences and other buildings erected by his labor and skill in Camden and the adjoining towns stand to-day as monuments of his industry, and a credit to the enterprise and thrift of the citizens of this locality. On March 25, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Belinda Foust, of Cambria. Soon after his marriage, he moved on to his land in the north part of Camden, where he still continues. Mr. Wigent enjoys the entire confidence and esteem of all his acquaintances, which has been repeatedly manifested in his election to various offices of trust and responsibility in his town, such as inspector of schools, justice of the peace, and supervisor for four successive terms. He is known and recognized as a firm friend, a kind and indulgent husband and father, a genial and sociable neighbor, and that highest type of an American gentleman-an honest man. Mr. Wigent and his excellent wife are the parents of nine children, named Fred M., Frank S., Shannon L., Mary C., Ida M., Ada J., Rhoda, Bliss, and an infant not yet named. All are living except Mary C. and Ada J. Fred and Frank, the two oldest boys, carry on the farm, which consists of eighty acres, in a very creditable manner, and they bid fair to sustain in their own lives the reputation and honorable character of their worthy parents. In religious faith Mr. Wigent is what is known as Advent Christian. We present our readers in this work a fine view of the home, portraits of another pair of Hillsdale pioneers, and this brief sketch as a tribute of respect to their worth. 1839. Samuel Seamans. Joseph M. Hills. 1840. Samuel Seamans. Joseph M. Hills. 1841. Samuel Seamans. George C. Lewis. 1842. James Hall. Joseph M. Hills. 1843. James Hall. Chester Hills. 1844. George C. Lewis. Chester Hills. 1845. John Lords. Chester Hills. 1846. Samuel Seamans. Chester Hills. 1847. John Lords. Chester Hills. 1848. Samuel Cough. James Holcomb. 1849. Joseph Trim. James Corslet. 1850. James Corslet. Gordon Chester. 1855. Daniel Van Etten. Elisha Y. Palmer. 1856. Daniel Van Etten. Almon M. Mallison. 1857. Almon M. Mallison. Andrew Brannan. 1858. Samuel Whaley. George Cummings. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. ANDREW J. WIGENT. Martin Wigent, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Onondaga Co., N. Y. In early life was married to Miss Mary M. Bartholomew, of the same county. In April, 1834, he emigrated with his family to Ohio, and settled near Toledo, where he remained about four years. He then removed to Michigan, and purchased of the government eighty acres of wild land, in what is now known as Reading village, and on which now stands the depot of the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railroad in IIff fa0 RESIDENCE OF HARRISON BAILEY, READING, MICHIGAN. READING. PREVIOUS to the year 1837 the territory lying in Hillsdale County belonging to the fourth range west, as designated by the United States survey, was all included in the town of Allen. The Legislature of 1837 was petitioned by the inhabitants of this tract of country to divide it into three towns, in order that the interests of the inhabitants of each locality might be better served, the transaction of public business be facilitated, and the long journeys to attend the elections, town-meetings, and meetings of the town board which necessitated in the case of some citizens a journey of 17 or 18 miles —might be rendered unnecessary. In accordance with the request of the petitioners, the towns of Litchfield and Reading were erected. In the petition the Legislature was requested to call the northern town Columbus, and the southern one either Troy or Utica, but, as these names had already been used by other towns, that body, without consulting again with the petitioners, passed the special act organizing the towns under the names of Litchfield and Reading, supposed to have been taken from towns of the same names in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. At that time this town comprised all the territory south of township 6 south, lying in the county, which included the whole of township 7, nearly all of township 8, and a portion of township 9, extending to the Ohio and Indiana lines. The entire population of this territory was but 227 souls, less than an average of three persons to each square mile. By the act of a subsequent Legislature, that of 1839, the town. was again divided by erecting the territory south of township 7 into a separate town, under the name of Camden, leaving the town of Reading as at present constituted, embracing a territory six miles square, designated in the United States survey as township 7 south, range 4 west. Allen adjoins it on the north, Cambria on the east, Camden on the south, and Algansee, Branch Co., on the west. Its surface is gently undulating, was originally heavily timbered, is well watered by springs and streams, and is probably the most elevated point in the southern part of the State, if not in the entire lower peninsula. A high ridge of land occupies the eastern part of the town, the culminating point being at Reading village, and radiating from that point to the north and to the southwest. From this ridge the streams diverge in every direction, some of them going south or east and reaching Lake Erie through the Little St. Joseph's and Maumee Rivers, and the rest flowing west or north, and reaching Lake Michigan through Hog Creek and the St. Joseph's River. In the west part of the town the land slopes rather abruptly, forming a natural basin in which lies a chain of lakes reaching nearly across the town from north to south. Near the line, between sections 30 and 31, is the dividing line between the waters which flow south and those which flow north. It is in a marshy piece of land, and the north and south parts each drain in an opposite direction. To the south the waters flow into Turner's Lake, and, passing through two other small lakes, form a branch of the Little St. Joseph's River. The water flowing north forms the inlet to a chain of lakes stretching north nearly five miles, and formerly designated on the survey maps as "Hog Lakes." The principal of these is now known as Long Lake. It is nearly two miles long, and of an average width of a quarter of a mile. The depth is variable, and the bottom either sandy or muddy. Berry Lake lies east of Long Lake and is a tributary to it. Hemlock Lake, deriving its name from the fact that its shores were formerly covered to some extent with hemlock timber, lies across the north line of the town, in section 5. It is irregular in form, covers an area of about one quarter section, and is rather shallow, with a fine, gravelly bottom. Round Lake, a mile east of Hemlock Lake, is of about the same dimensions, but nearly circular in form and of great depth, having been sounded in some places to a depth of 70 feet. The bottom is sandy in some parts and muddy in others. The rest of these lakes, some ten or more in number, have not been deemed worthy to be invested with names, and indeed, some of them are little more than ponds. These bodies of water are generally well stocked with fish, and in the spring and fall are covered to some extent with waterfowl, tempting the sportsman to expend time and amunition in efforts to secure them for his use. The township is noted far and near as being, as a whole, one of the best in Southern Michigan. The soil is generally a black, sandy loam, of great depth and fertility, or a rich, mellow, vegetable mould, formed by the accretions from decayed leaves and fallen timber, and equally as good as the other. Under this lies a subsoil, from 10 to 15 feet in depth, generally regarded as of a clayey nature, but which seems really to be composed of a mixture of yellow sand and marl, which reinforces the flagging energies of the fields whose strength has been impaired by constant and repeated cropping. A narrow strip of gravelly land of a poorer quality lies along the sides of the valley in which lie the lakes, and occasional swamps or marshes border the lakes, but they form a mere fraction of the town. On the northwest side of the dividing ridge we have mentioned, a good many loose, widely-scattered stones are found, while to the south and east they are very scarce. In no part can the land be truly said to be stony. Previous to 1835 this country was a wilderness in which the Indians roamed, hunting and fishing, and occasionally cultivating a little patch of corn in some spot where the falling of trees, or some other causer had exposed a little of 311 312 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the virgin earth to the warm embrace of the sun, and the only white men whose feet had trodden the forest fstnesses were the hunters, trappers, traders, or surveyors, whose business had called them hither. Among these was a trader, half merchant, half hunter, by the name of Rice, who lived at Perrysburgh, Ohio, near the site of the present city of Maumee. He was a bachelor, a peculiarly shrewd and intelligent observer of everything falling within his notice, and boasted that he had an acquaintance with every township, stream, and lake in the Territory of Michigan. His occupation had taken him to every part of the State, and his habit of observation being known, his judgment was often asked for by those purposing purchases of land in this State. Near him were located several families from the western part of the State of New York, who were becoming very much dissatisfied with their situation on account of the lands being so low and wet and the climate so unhealthy. They asked Rice where was the best and nearest government land that was open to settlers, and he told them that this town embraced the best lands he knew of, and advised them to take up land and settle here. In accordance with his advice several families, including those of John Mickle, Eleazer Gleason, William Berry, Ephraim Wiltsie, Charles Powell, and others, removed and settled in this favorable location. The lands proved to be so desirable that the growth of the settlement would have been exceedingly rapid but for the fact that large tracts had been entered by eastern capitalists for purposes of speculation. This is shown by the fact that the two first settlers, who came only five weeks apart, were obliged to settle on farms six miles distant the one from the other. In spite of this drawback the settlers continued to come in respectable numbers, and finally, in 1837, it was thought that there were enough of them to warrant the formation of the town, though at the first meeting two of them were obliged to accept two offices each, three of them three each, and one, John Mickle, walked off with the honors, emoluments, and official responsibilities of four different positions. The first settler was John Mickle, Oct. 5, 1835. Eleazer Gleason, with his wife, one child, and his wife's brother, Win. C. Berry, and Charles Powell and his younger brother, William Powell, followed in November, and Ephraim Wiltsie in December of the same year. In January, 1836, William Berry, Horace Palmer, Rnsselaer Sutliff, and Charles Lee came (all except Palmer, who was single) with their families. In February following, Mrs. Lee and child died, and Mr. Lee left the town. In April, Wright Redding, Ammi Carpenter, and his mother came; in May, Jarvis Mason; in June, Jefferson Kellogg and George W. Halsted; in October, Sylvester Whaling and Peter Betts; and in November, Newman Curtiss. These were the principal electors in the organization of the town. In April, 1837, George and John Fitzsimmons, father and son; in May, John and Asahel M. Rising, father and son; and through the summer and fall, Jonas P. Gates, Jonathan Odell, William Tappan, Lewis A. Keith, William Meek, Hiram Wiltsie, William Van Horn, Sidney Bailey, Benjamin Lewis, and Garner Archer. In 1838, Martin Wgt, David D. Prouty, William and Chester Morey, Wa n Caffee, Bazaliel almer, Lorenzo and Bingham D. Abbott, Charles Hughes, Daniel Kinne, Robert Berry, Stephen Webster, Thomas Berry, John Fritts, A. H. Bartholomew, George Brown, Oscar Whitney, Mrs. Betsey Moses, Jacob Valentine, Ralph Bailey, Melvin Bailey, Almon Nichols, and a Mr. Sears; and in 1839, Ephraim P. Purdy, James A. Galloway, James C. Galloway, Elmer and Heman Hawse, Elmer Bacon, Horace Avery, Henry Holdridge, Roswell and Royal Merriman, Daniel Murray, John Dopp, and two brothers by the name of Hill settled in the town, very nearly in the order here named. These were strictly pioneers of the town, each taking up a farm in the forest and at once entering upon the laborious task of clearing and fitting it for cultivation. Among the later settlers we find W. R Kidder, Smith Wilbur, Harrison Bailey, Elihu Warner, in 1840; George Campbell. Cornelius B. Reynolds, in 1842; John Cole, Charles Kane, Jefferson Stout, in 1843; Henry K. Abbott, Ebenezer L. Kelly, Augustus F. Vaun, Samuel Whaley, in 1844; Asa Warner, George Youngs, in 1845; Frederick Fowler, Israel Thatcher, in 1846; Abigail Dopp, Barney Reynolds, in 1847; and Isaac H. Kellogg, Giles Castle, John B. Southworth, and his two sons, and M. H. McClave, the exact date of whose coming is not known to the writer of this sketch. Of John Mickle, the first settler, it may be said that he has attained a ripe old age, and surrounded by kind friends and a comfortable competency of worldly goods is reaping the fruits of an industrious, steady, and useful life. He came from Oswego, N. Y., in 1831, and after living four years a few miles from Maumee, Ohio, removed to this town in the fall of 1835, arriving at his farm on the 5th of October. He was accompanied by his wife and one child, and a hired man named Ephraim Wiltsie. They came from Jonesville by way of Sand Creek, and opened the first road to the south from that point. He purchased of the government the south half of section 3, and assisted by Almon Nichols, of Fayette, and a man named Wagner, built his first log house or shanty near a spring about sixty rods north of the section corner. This cabin was built of unhewn logs, and its dimensions were 19 by 23 feet. While living in this shanty, Mr. Mickle was often called upon to entertain land-lookers, and also furnished a temporary home for the families of no less than thirteen settlers while they were selecting their lands and building homes of their own. Three years later this shanty was replaced by a fine blockhouse, built almost entirely of black-walnut logs squared to the size of eight inches, and which was at that time and for several years after the best house in the township. It has since been clapboarded and is still standing, being occupied by Daniel W. Mickle, a son of the first settler. The first death of a white resident in the township occurred in October, 1836, and was that of an infant child of Mr. Mickle. His wife died in 1839, and he then married Mary Fitzsimmons, the eldest daughter of George Fitzsimmons, a subsequent settler. This was the first wedding in town, and has proved a happy one to all concerned. Soon after his arrival, Mr. Mickle hired Horace Palmer, Jefferson Kellogg, and Ephraim Wiltsie to help him in the work of clearing his land, commenced cutting the timber about his house, and in the following spring had several HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 313 II acres ready to plant and sow, and along with his other crops sowed some apple-seeds he had brought with him, and from them raised the first orchard in the town. He was an early partisan in political matters, and was allied to the Whig school until the Republican party sprang into being, since which time he has been an earnest and consistent supporter of its principles. Ever prominently interested in matters relating to the prosperity of the town, he has often been called to serve the people in a public capacity. As early as 1842 he was chosen to represent the county in the State Legislature in the capacity of representative. In 1841 he was elected associate judge of the Circuit Court of the county, and in 1851 was again elected second judge. He was an early member of the Baptist Church, and has contributed largely to its success. Many of the early meetings of that church were held at his house. His family consisted of fifteen children, five of whom died in early life; two, Mrs. Mary Carey and George, died in Reading after reaching maturity; and eight are still living, -Eugene in California, and John Q., Henry C., Daniel W., Benjamin F., Luther, George L., and Elias R., in this town. Eleazer Gleason, with his wife and one child, followed the route opened by Mr. Mickle, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 33 in the early part of November, 1835. He was from Seneca, Ontario Co., N. Y., and had lived one year near Maumee City, Ohio. His first son, William, was born in the winter of 1836, and was the first white child born in Reading. He is now living in Iowa. One other child, a daughter, died in her girlhood, and the other eight children are still living,-Eleazer H., Mrs. Mary Woodard, Ida, and Mrs. Harriet Potter, in Reading; Charles and Lovinas in Allen; Mrs. Jane Bristol in St. Joseph County; and Alvaro F. in New Mexico. Of Mr. Gleason we can say that he has always been one of the reliable citizens of the town, a practical and successful farmer, and by his unobtrusive manner and the strict integrity of his character has always deserved, as he has ever received, the love and esteem of his neighbors. He was the first tax collector of the town, and held the office of assessor as long as any were elected by the town, with the exception of one year. He is still living on the farm he first settled. William C. Berry, who accompanied Mr. Gleason, was the eldest son of William Berry, and upon his arrival here commenced work at clearing his father's land. He is still living in town, and is a successful farmer. Of Charles Powell we can only say that he was elected supervisor in 1838. In 1841 was elected county treasurer, and after serving in that position two years removed from the county, and is now living at Omaha, Neb. Ephraim Wiltsie first came to this town with Mr. Mickle in October, 1835, but soon after returned to Ohio, and brought his family here in December of the same year. He was a quiet, industrious farmer, and not given to much meddling with public affairs. He now lives in an adjoining town, respected and beloved by his neighbors. Of William Berry it may be said that he was one of the substantial men of the town, was the first town clerk, and also one of the first justices of the peace. In the discharge of his public as well as private duties he was always faithful and conscientious, and, by his investments in land, his careful business management and his thorough farming, was enabled to leave a competency to his numerous family. He was thrice married and had thirteen children, eleven of whom survived him,-William C., Mrs. Eleazer Gleason, Mrs. Emma Russell, Mrs. Mary Meigs, Thomas, Gardner, John, J. Byron, and Richard reside in this town; Henry in Camden, and Mrs. Hannah Barber in Algansee, Branch Co. Horace Palmer did not, strictly speaking, belong to the emigration of 1836, although he came here first in January of that year. He was then a single man, and bought a piece of land and commenced clearing it, but soon after returned to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., was married, and in 1837 came with his wife and settled in this town. He is still a resident, having a fine farm in the north part of the town, on section 10. With this exception the settlers of 1836 have either emigrated or died, not one of them remaining to tell the tale of their trials and privations endured in the work of reclaiming this rich country from the dominion of the forest. Of the emigration of 1837 we find George Fitzsimmons soon assuming a prominent position in the conducting of the public affairs of the town. Elected treasurer of the town in 1839, he served two years in that position, and in 1840 was chosen a justice of the peace. This office he held for sixteen years, the last twelve, commencing in 1851, continuously. In 1851-52 he was a representative in the State Legislature. At a later date we find him contributing largely of his influence, energies, and money to secure the building of the railroad through the town. He was one of the early members of the Baptist Church, and its stability and permanent success was largely due to his efforts and to his generosity. He was from Rose, Wayne Co., N. Y., and with his eldest son, John, walked from there to Fairport, O., on Lake Erie, where they took boat for Detroit. In May following Mrs. Fitzsimmons and her family, with two wagons loaded with household goods, came through Canada, via Buffalo and Detroit, arriving at this place on the 2d of June. The wagons were drawn by oxen, and they drove two cows to stock the new farm. Mr. Fitzsimmons first purchased the northeast quarter of section 26, and, as opportunity offered, added to it until he owned 560 acres. One of the earliest (if not the very first) religious meetings held in this town was a prayer-meeting held at his house, and attended by his family and the family of John Rising, in May, 1837. He died Oct. 9, 1870, loved and respected by all who knew him, and leaving six children, five of whom are living in this town, and rank among its best and most enterprising citizens. They are John, George, and A. M. R. Fitzsimmons, Mrs. Mary Mickle, and Mrs. Catharine Palmer. The other son, Vincent, was at that time living at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, where he was editor and proprietor of the Honolulu Gazette, the government organ. He died about 1872. John Rising is said to have been quite peculiar in all his ways. He came to the town with a large family of sons and daughters, and with means to purchase sufficient land to settle them all. His improvements were readily made, and he was soon in a position of comparative independence 40 314 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. and was recognized by his neighbors as a well-to-do farmer. He was a Methodist and brought his religion with him into the forest, and he is no doubt rightfully credited with being the father of the sect in this town. His house was always opened for religious meetings when no more convenient place was found, and the hard-worked itinerant always found bountiful hospitality and a warm welcome when he crossed its threshold. Neither did he hesitate, or falter, or relax his efforts, until the full privileges of the church were all firmly established in the town. Jonas P. Gates was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and came from the town of Seneca, Ontario Co., N. Y., settling on section 34. He was one of the most energetic and thorough farmers ever living in the town. Sidney Bailey came from Lodus, Wayne Co., N. Y., and settled on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 32. He died there some twenty-eight or thirty years ago. His only surviving child is Mrs. Catharine Mallery, who lives in town. John Fitzsimmons and Asahel M. Rising are now prominent farmers in the town, and Garner Archer in an adjoining town. The rest of the emigration of 1837 have mostly emigrated or died. The emigrants of 1838 were largely of a class of enterprising and energetic young men, generally of limited means, but of great moral worth, well fitted to carry forward the work, the foundation for which had been laid by the pioneers. These entered with zest upon the work before them, and the well-tilled farms, the fruitful orchards, the elegant dwellings, and the commodious farm buildings that grace and beautify the town, show how well they performed their tasks, and with what measure of success their labors were rewarded. While lack of space forbids any detailed history of these men, we feel called upon to refer more particularly to some of them, even at the risk of having our remarks looked upon as invidious. The most prominent of these was Daniel Kinne, who came from Erie Co., N. Y., and settled on section 21, on the farm now in the possession of his heirs. Upon his arrival here he at once took a prominent rank and was soon called to official position. He served as supervisor (for five years), justice of the peace, town clerk, and commissioner of highways. In 1845 he was elected associate judge of the county; in 1847, a representative in the State Legislature; and in 1851, a member of the Convention to revise the Constitution of the State. In each of these positions he displayed marked ability and rare good judgment in all his acts. At a later period these same traits and the energy of his character made him a conspicuous figure in movements to develop the resources and promote the interests and growth of the town. Among these we make mention of the plank-road from Reading to Hillsdale, the cheese-factory in Reading, and the Reading Manufacturing Company, designed for the general manufacture of household articles. By over-exertion in this last enterprise he contracted a cold, which resulted in his death in a distant State, far away from home, family, and friends. His many virtues will long be held in tender remembrance by the citizens of Reading. oren:o and Jingham D. Abbott, two brothers, the first from Vernon, Conn., and the last from Cayuga Co., N. Y., after living a short time at Maumee, Ohio, settled here in the fall of 1838, on section 27. Of Lorenzo's family three sons, Sylvester, Arthur, and Remus, and one daughter, Mrs. Amelia Bartholomew, are living in town. Of Bingham D.'s family one daughter, Louisa, and two sons, John and Oscar, live in Reading, and two sons, Webster and Hascall, live in Texas. Both of these pioneers are still living, the former an honored and respected citizen and successful farmer of this town, and the latter has very recently removed to Texas. Of Stephen Webster we may say that he came from Seneca township, in Ontario Co., N. Y., and settled on the farm he now occupies. He has taken an active part in the conducting of town affairs, and has served as supervisor five years, and also has held other offices in the town. Thomas Berry was one of the earliest hotel-keepers in Reading, and was the first tax collector after the town of Camden was set off, holding that office three years. iHe was the proprietor of the northwest quarter of Reading village, and is still living on a part of the farm he first took up. Of Ralph Bailey it may be said that he was a man of energetic character, strict integrity, and good business capacity. A carpenter by trade, he became a successful farmer, and accumulated a fine property. His worth was speedily recognized by his neighbors, and at the next townmeeting he was elected supervisor, and, with the exception of the year 1872, continued in that office during the next seven years. He was a native of Massachusetts, and lived for a time in St. Lawrence and Wayne Counties, N. Y., and Lenawee Co., Mich., before settling here. He died about ten years after his arrival. Two sons, Harrison and Washington, are still living and rank among the substantial citizens of the town. Almon Nichols settled in the town of Fayette in 1834, and removed here in 1838. He was quite a hunter, and during his pioneer life killed many wolves. One day he heard his dog barking furiously in the woods near his house, and running to the spot, found him engaged in battle with a large wolf that had taken refuge in a large hollow log. Encouraged by his presence the dog renewed the battle and " carried the war into Africa" by plunging into the log, where he got his jaws locked in those of the wolf, and was unable to either advance or retreat. Imitating the illus-. trious example of the famous Putnam, Nichols crawled into the log and pulled out the wolf, making the dog act the part of the rope, and soon put an end to the wolf's existence by a few strokes of the ever-ready axe. He is now living in the western part of the town, and has the name of having been the best chopper that ever lived in town. There are many others of those who settled here within the first five years of the town's existence, who have filled honorable positions and discharged responsible trusts connected with the administration of township affairs, or are still active participants in the daily affairs of life, whom we would gladly mention did space permit and had we the necessary facts to do so. Still we may safely say that, as a class, the settlers of this town would rank well with any in the State in point of intelligence, virtue, industry, thrift, CHARLES KANE. I RESIDENCE OF CHARLES KANE, READING,MICHIGAN. ~ — ~7Tr~n7;~~~~ ~~ ~ I 777;: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 315. ~ ~..-.-.. _...... and public spirit. " By their fruits ye shall know them," and we will let the thriving township and beautiful, enterprising village they have built up by their efforts speak with eloquent tongue and forcible words of their public and private virtues. The first townmjneeting met at the house of Judge John Mickle, on the 3d of April, 1837, in accordance with the provision of the act creating the town, and was adjourned to Sylvester Whaling's. The meeting organized by choosing William Berry, Moderator; James Fowle, Clerk; and John Mickle, Inspector of Election. The following officers were then elected, viz.: Supervisor, James Fowle; Town Clerk, William Berry; Collector, Eleazer Gleason; Justices of the Peace, John Mickle, James Fowle, Samuel S. Curtiss, William Berry; Assessors, Samuel S. Curtiss, Eleazer Gleason, John Mickle, Wright Redding; Highway Commissioners, Charles Powell, John Mickle, James Fowle; Poor-Masters, William Berry, Samuel Seamans; School Inspectors, Charles Powell, John Mickle, Timothy Larrabee; School Commissioners, Frederick Perring, Eason T. Chester, Rensselaer Sutliff; Constables, Eleazer Gleason, Oliver R. Cole, George Halstead. Several of these officers lived in what is now the town of Camden. Without following closely the political history of the town, we may briefly state that from its first organization it was uniformly Democratic for many years, until the political principles of the Whig party, expounded and exemplified by such men as Judge Mickle and Ephraim Wiltsie, who were, for a time, the only members of that party living in the town, grew upon the minds of the people and at last triumphed over their opposers. For many years the political balance was very evenly adjusted, a half-dozen votes often sufficing to change the result in favor of either party. Upon the organization of the Republican party its principles of equal and exact justice to all, and of opposition to the greatest blot upon our civilization,-American slavery,-won for it a warm and hearty reception, and gave it the political control of the town which it maintained undisputed until the election in the spring of 1878, when the National Greenback party elected their ticket by a good majority. At the fall election, however, Nov. 5, 1878, the Republican ticket received a plurality of about 25. At the first fall election, that of 1837, the full vote polled in this town was 41, and nearly half of those voters lived in what is now another town. So rapid has been the growth, that at the last election above mentioned, 581 votes were cast, showing an average increase of over 2400 per cent. The population has increased from about 127 in 1837, to upwards for 2000 in 1878. The assessed valuation has increased from $137,678, in 1837, to $428,700, in 1878. We here present a list of the names of the principal town officers from the organization of the town to the present time, which we have carefully compiled from the records. CIVIL LIST OF THE TOWN OF READING. SUPERVISORS. 1837. James Powle. 1842. Daniel Kinne. 1838. Charles Powell. 1843-45. Ralph Bailey. 1839-41. Ralph Bailey. 1846. Lewis A. Keith. 1847. John Hughes. 1848. Frederick Fowler. 1849. Daniel Kinne. 1850. LewisA. Keith. 1851. Daniel Kinne. 1852. George Fitzsimmons 1853. Daniel Kinne. 1854. Levi Barber. 1855. Daniel Kinne. 1856-58. Daniel Murray. 1859- 60. Lucien Meigs. 1861. Daniel Murray. 1837. Wm. Berry. 1838. Chas. T. Grosvenor. 1839. Win. Berry. 1840-41. Lewis A. Keith. 1842-45. George Campbell 1846-47. Eleazer Ray. 1848. George Campbell. 1849. Lucien Meigs. 1850. Wm. H. Barnes. 1851. Henry H. Ferris. 1852. Daniel Kinne. 1853. Henry I. Reese. 1854. Lucien Meigs. 1855. Daniel Murray. 1856. Wm. F. Turner. T( 1839-40. George Fitzsimm 1841-42. Lorenzo Abbott. 1843-44. Lewis A. Keith. 1845. Daniel Murray. 1846-47. A. H, Bartholomn 1848. Lewis H. Mallory. 1849. John Fritts. 1850. Benjamin Smith. 1851-53. Justin H. Ranson 1854. Cornelius B. Reynole 1855. Richard Berry. 1856. Lucien Meigs. 1857. W. H. H. Crocker. JUST 1837. John Mickle (4 years James Fowle (3 year, Samuel S. Curtiss (2 y William Berry (1 yen 1838. William Berry. 1839. Daniel Kinne (f. t.). Ammi R. Carpenter 1840. George Fitzsimmons. 1841. John Mickle. 1842. Aaron Thompson. 1843. Daniel Kinne. 1844. Jonas P. Gates. 1845. Augustus F. Vaun. 1846. Heman Howes. 1847. Frederick Fowler. 1848. Randolph Densmore, 1849. Lewis Vaun (f. t.). John Hughes (v.). 1850. Lucien Meigs. 1851. George Fitzsimmons. 1852. Sheridan H. Turner. 1853. James A. Galloway. 1854. Lewis A. Keith. 1855. George Fitzsimmons Lucas Terpening. 1856. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1857. Asahel M. Rising. 1862. George Campbell. 1863-64. Daniel Murray. 1865-68. Stephen Webster. 1869-71. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1872. Stephen Webster. 1873. Morton Meigs. 1874. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1875. Zebedee Culver. 1876. A. M. R. Fitzsimmons. 1877. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1878. George Young. TOWN CLERKS. 1857. Harris B. Mead. 1858-60. Wn. H. Benedict. 1861. Samuel Whaley. 1862. James R. Abbott. 1863-65. Horatio P. Parmelee. 1866. Henry K. Abbott. 1867. Oswald A. Sutton. 1868. Lewis H. Mallory. 1869. Lucius E. Judson. 1870-71. Edward P. Wadsworth. 1872-74. Henry F. Doty. 1875. George F. Murray. 1876. F. G. Carroll. 1877. Isaac H. Kellogg. 1878. H. Wayne Russell. )WN TREASURERS. ons. 1858. Joseph Warburton. 1859. J. J. Gould. 1860. Bingham D. Abbott. 1861. George Campbell. ew. 1862. Stephen Webster. 1863. Morton Meigs. 1864. Stephen Webster. 1865. James R. Abbott. n. 1866. Richard Berry. ds. 1867. Isaac H. Kellogg. 1868-77. George Young. 1878. John Q. Mickle. ICES OF THE PEACE. S). 1858. David Young. s). 1859. George Fitzsimmons (f. t.). 'ears). Egbert Carpenter (v.). ar). 1860. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1861. A. M. R. Fitzsimmons. 1862. Isaac H. Kellogg. (v.). 1863. Hiram Shafer. 1864. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1865. Samuel Whaley. 1866. John B. Hendricks. 1867. Zalmon B. Stittson (f. t.). John Mickle (v.), 1868. Ebenezer L. Kelly. 1869. Aaron Abbott. 1870. Samuel Whaley. 1871. Grove S. Bartholomew. 1872. Moses C. Cortright. 1873. Isaac H. Kellogg. 1874. William Schermerhorn. 1875. W. P. Carroll (f. t.). G. S. Bartholomew (v.). 1876. M. C. Cortright, 1877. Isaac H. Kellogg (f. t.). (f. t.). Ebenezer L. Kelly (v.). 1878. Samuel Whaley (f. t.). D. Ellis Russell. 316 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS. 1837. Charles Powell. John Mickle. James Fowle. 1838. James Holcomb. Samuel Seamans. Stephen C. Perrin. 1839. Lorenzo Abbott. Daniel Kinne. William Mickle. 1840. Daniel Kinne. Jefferson Kellogg. Jonas P. Gates. 1841. Ralph Bailey. Daniel Kinne. Ephraim P. Purdy. 1842. Justin H. Ransom. Garner Archer. Horace B. Avery. 1843. Daniel Murray. Jefferson Kellogg. Garner Archer. 1844. Washington Bailey. Daniel Murray. Ammi R. Carpenter. 1845. Washington Bailey. Ammi R. Carpenter. Israel Slauson. 1846. Melvin Bailey. Albert Benjamin. Justin H. Ransom. 1847. Levi Barber (3 years). Stephen Webster (2 years). Augustus F. Vaun (1 year). 1848. Daniel Murray. COLLI 1837. Eleazer Gleason. 1838. Oliver R. Cole. ASSE 1837. Samuel S. Curtiss. Eleazer Gleason. John Mickle. Wright Redding. 1838. Eleazer Gleason. Timothy Larrabee. Ammi R. Carpenter. 1839. John Mickle. DRAIN CON 1849. John Fitzsimmons (f. t.). Justin H. Ransom (1. v.). Cornelius Reynolds (s. v.). 1850. Asahel M. Rising. 1851. Sheridan H. Turner. 1852. Justin H. Ransom. 1853. John Fritts. 1854. William C. Perry. 1855. Elias Hakes. 1856. Stephen Webster. 1857. Amasa Potter. 1858. Jefferson Kellogg. 1859. A. H. Bartholomew. 1860. John C. Warner. 1861. Jefferson R. Kellogg. 1862. Charles A. Hughes. 1863. John C. Warner. 1864. John Hendricks. 1865. Washington Bailey. 1866. Charles Hakes. 1867. Philander Lawrence. 1868. Washington Bailey (f. t.). Almon Lindsley (v.). 1869. Asahel B. Northrop (f. t.). Moses C. Cortright. 1870. Philander Lawrence. 1871. Alexander P. McConnel. 1872. William H. Murray. 1873. Chester E. Morey (f. t.). Zebedee Culver (v.). 1874-76. Leander H. McClave. 1877-78. Daniel W. Mickle. Henry C. Mickle (appointed vice Daniel W. Mickle, resigned). on the west line of section 2, from whence it followed the section line, with one or two changes of direction, to the Ohio line. From this main road others branched off each way, leading to the different settlements. There was considerable agitation about this time of the question of removing the county-seat from Jonesville to Hillsdale, or some other point nearer the centre of the county, and the citizens of Hillsdale and Reading made an effort to secure the building of a road from Hillsdale through Reading to the Indiana line. The Legislature passed an act authorizing the laying of a State road on the route proposed, and appointed Ralph Bailey, George Fitzsimmons, and Barron B. Willetts as commissioners to carry the act into effect. The road was partially opened by those living along the line, and'was the means of opening a new market and point of trade to the people of this region, who had previously been confined to one market, that of Jonesville. The nearest mills were found at Jonesville to the north, Coldwater to the west, or Adrian to the east; and frequently, in times of scarcity, the settlers were compelled to go as far west as White Pigeon, or as far east as Tecumseh, to get supplies of flour and meal. Trade with the Indians enabled them to get supplies of meat and maple-sugar of a somewhat doubtful character. These Indians were peculiar in their dealings, taking nothing but silver in exchange for their goods. Neither gold nor bank-notes would suit their requirements. At that time the census showed that the population of the town had risen to 331, and the people began to ask for mail facilities, the need of which they had felt for a long time. Quite a general move was made to have a post-route established, and to have John Mickle, the first settler in town, a prominent man, and one politically in harmony with the national administration, appointed as postmaster. Those having the matter in charge did not move as promptly as they might have done, and some other citizens, like the " enemy" who " sowed tares while the husbandman slept," took advantage of their moderation, slipped a petition, numerously signed by citizens of Adrian and vicinity, into the hands of the department, and had the route established, the contract for carrying the mail let, Ralph Bailey appointed as postmaster, and Daniel Kinne as deputy, before the other party got an inkling of the course affairs were taking. This result was partially brought about by a rivalry that existed between two neighborhoods, the one located on the Jonesville road in the north part of the town, and the other on the State road in the south part of the town, and a little nearer the geographical centre. It was also charged that this was the work of a ring of which Ralph Bailey, George Fitzsimmons, and Daniel Kinne were prominent members, a fact which they did not deny and which they would not willingly have had disproved. The route thus established led from Hillsdale to Reading, and George Fitzsimmons carried the mail for $26 a year, making one trip each week. The route was afterwards extended to Willow Prairie (now Fremont), in Indiana. In 1847 the State apportioned to Hillsdale County a share of the lands granted for internal improvements in the State, and the county devoted it to the work of completing the Hillsdale and Indiana turnpike. Solomon Sharpe, Esq., ECTORS. 1839-41. Thomas Berry. SSORS. 1839. Eleazer Gleason. Jarvis Mason. 1840. Jarvis Mason. Aaron Thompson. Wright Redding. 1841. Jarvis Mason. Eleazer Gleason. William Van Horn. WMISSIONERS. 1878. Washington Bailey. 1873-76. Henry H. Ferris. 1877. Lucien Meigs. The settlers of this town came mostly from Western and Central New York, or from the New England States, and brought with them the ideas, beliefs, and practices of their fathers. They believed strongly in the doctrine of free education, and also in a liberal expenditure of labor and means in carrying on public improvements. In the work of building school-houses, opening highways, and building bridges they were energetic, and as this work naturally made taxes somewhat high, nmany non-resident owners of land were thereby forced to dispose of their land to actual settlers, and this assisted in the rapid development of the town. Up to the year 1840 but few roads had been laid out and improved. There was one principal road,-that opened by the first settlers,-leading from Jonesville, the ounty-seat, by way of Sand Creek, and entering Reading HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 317 was appointed commissioner; the work was done by people alone the line, and the lands were taken in payment therefor. Up to and including the year 1850, the population of the town was wholly rural and engaged in agriculture. There was not a store, grocery, or hotel in the town, and scarcely a mechanic. Looking back from that time we see that many had settled quietly, grown into positions of prominence, and become influential citizens of the town, and were ready to enter upon any effort to develop its resources and increase its prosperity and growth. They began to feel the need of a common business centre, of better church facilities, of more convenient places to trade, and of a development of the manufacturing interests. Of course, the first move was to determine upon a site for the proposed village. 'Common consent seemed to point unmistakably to the locality known as " Basswood Corners," which derived its name from the fact that about 10 feet southwest of the corner of sections 22, 23, 26, and 27, stood a clump of 7 basswood-trees, each about 20 inches in diameter, and all growing from one stump. A short distance east of the corner, a blacksmith-shop, one of those inevitable precursors of a village, had been built by Horace Billings, on land bought of George Young, in 1846, on the present site of the " McConnel House." In the summer of the same year, Morris Inglesby had erected a shop for the manufacture of grain-cradles, on the site where the "Reading House" now stands, and a year later, Dr. William Hullinger erected the first frame dwelling in the future village, just north of the cradle-factory. Dr. Hullinger was the first practicing physician in the town. As this place was the junction of the State and the Jonesville roads, it was thereby rendered the most convenient point for a village. Already a charter had been obtained for a company known as the " Hillsdale and Reading Plank-road Company," with the intention of laying a plank-road on the State road between this place and Hillsdale. The stock was largely taken by citizens of this town and others living along the line or in Hillsdale. It depended, however, for its success, upon the energy and perseverance of citizens of Reading, among the most prominent and active of whom were Col. Frederick Fowler, Daniel Kinne, George and John Fitzsimmons, Nelson M. and William F. Turner, and others. This enterprise was completed in 1855, and after running a couple of years proved unsatisfactory and was abandoned. In view of the benefits anticipated as the result of the completion of this work, David D. Prouty and Thomas Fuller, who owned the lands on sections 26 and 27 coming to the corner, had platted a village on their lands, had it surveyed into lots and streets, and placed on record in the register's office. In the summer of 1852, William F. Turner and George Young built the first steam saw-mill in the town, on the site now occupied by Col. F. Fowler's carriage-shop. This mill was removed to Allen some thirteen years afterward. In 1853, Dr. Hullinger purchased the cradle-factory, moved it back from the street, and on the same site erected a hotel, which was, with the exception of a small tavern kept on section 30 by Henry Holdridge, the first in the town. This hotel, together with his residence, was burned before it was fully completed, but was rebuilt the following year as the Reading House, and has continued one of the principal hotels of the place, in the hands of different proprietors, down to the present time. About the same time that the hotel was first started, Nelson M. Turner erected a building, still standing, on the northeast corner of Main and Michigan Streets, and filled it with a stock of goods, such as is usually kept in country stores. This was the first building in Reading that was used solely for mercantile business, and is properly credited with being the first store in town. About this time James and John Orr, of New York, opened a pretty good stock in a building on the southeast corner of Main and Michigan Streets. In 1856, the second era in the commercial existence of the village was ushered in by the arrival in town of Messrs. L. S. Parmelee & Co. and Messrs. Cone & Keiser with large stocks of well-assorted goods, which they opened to the public; and by the building of a steam grist-mill by N. M. and Wm. F. Turner and Alvin Griffith. Before this mill was completed, Mr. Griffith purchased Messrs. Turners' interest, and completed and operated it himself for some time. It was the first, and still remains the only grist-mill in the town, and after passing through the hands of several persons, is now owned and operated by Sanford Stiles. Jasper A. Waterman in that same year started a shop for the manufacture of pumps, it being a fine point for that business, because of the abundance of excellent timber for that purpose. He some years later added the making of cheese-boxes to his business, and quite recently has invented a new and novel mode of manufacturing barrels and kegs. His improvement, which is covered by letters patent, consists in cutting from the circumference of the log a continuous sheet or scroll in the form of a finished stave. This is afterwards cut into staves of a width to form a barrel from two of them, and then finished by being hooped in the ordinary manner. This method saves a large percentage both in labor and in material, and is of great value. The shop now furnishes employment to from 6 to 10 persons, and turns off from $5000 to $15,000 worth of manufactures each year. From this small beginning Reading has grown to its present rank. Its growth from that time was quite rapid for several years. There were constant new arrivals, and new enterprises sprang up on every hand. Mechanics came in, and manufactories were called for to supply the demands of the people of the village and the surrounding country. The necessity for better church privileges resulted in the erection of the Methodist church in 185-, and this was followed in 1858 by the Free Baptist church. As the village increased in size, it became evident that to promote its growth and development, a closer and more rapid communication with the commercial world was necessary, as without it the activity and enterprise of the place would be circumscribed and limited, and the village be a tributary to Hillsdale, which was even then a thriving and important railroad town and the county-seat. The project of building a railroad from Jackson, in this State, to Cincinnati, Ohio, to run through Fort Wayne, was at this time being agitated, and to it the same minds that had conceived 318 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. - I the building up of the village turned their attention, with a view to secure the building of the road on a route running through this place. The preliminary survey demonstrated that the route from Jonesville to Reading necessitated a heavy grade, and that a much easier grade could be found by keeping farther east and following the valley of the Little St. Joseph, passing through Hillsdale and Cambria Mills, and thus reaching the headwaters of Elk River, in De Kalb Co., Ind. But opposed to the easy grade was the necessity of reaching such important points as Reading and Angola, and Waterloo, in Indiana. A further inducement was the material aid offered by these places. This town bonded in aid of the railroad to the amount of $15,000, and its citizens subscribed for $60,000 worth of its stock, thus securing the road, which was built through the town in 1868-69. The first regular train running from Jackson arrived in Reading on the 9th of November of the latter year. Among the most active promoters of this undertaking we find George, John, and A. M. R. Fitzsirnmons, Col. F. Fowler, Daniel Kinne, H. B. Chapman, G. G. Cone, L. S. and H. P. Parmelee, John Fritts, J. A. Waterman, Thomas Berry, and others. The wisdom of this undertaking was made at once apparent by the fresh impetus it gave to business, and the additional inducements it furnished for mechanics and business men to locate here. The farmers were at once benefitted by the opening of a market at their very doors, and the saving to themselves of the heavy cost of marketing their surplus produce that had heretofore proved so onerous a burden. At once, too, there was a demand for better buildings to accommodate the business men of the town, and in response to it, Mr. H. B. Chapman, Mr. L. S. Parmelee, and Mr. S. C. Dodge united to build the first brick business block, which was speedily completed and occupied. This marked the third era in the business life of the town, and the increased prosperity induced the erection of other fine, substantial brick blocks, of which there are now seven in town, accommodating fourteen firms, engaged in various branches of trade. The business of the village is believed to have been quadrupled by the building of the railroad, and the population more than doubled. The residences of the citizens both in village and town have undergone a great change, and in beauty and worth will rank well with any village or town in the State of similar advantages in point of wealth and population. This result is due largely to the taste and liberality of her energetic and public-spirited business men. Among others we may mention Mr. H. B. Chapman, who, being the proprietor of one of the additions to the village, has contributed largely by the erection of good business blocks and convenient and tasty dwellings. It was his choice to dot his plat with numerous fine dwellings before offering the lots for sale. There are, at present, five. very respectable churches in the town, the four in the village having been erected in the following order: Methodist, Free Baptist, Baptist, and Presbyterian. The schools of the town are twelve in number, and are well sustained by the people. The graded union school of the village is especially worthy of commendation. This was hanged from a common to a graded school in 1870. In 18572 steps were taken toward the erection of a new school building, which was accomplished in 1873, at a cost of $10,000. School was commenced in the new building, Nov. 4, 1873. The district issued bonds to raise, the necessary funds to build the school-house. The building stands five rods back from the east line of Chestnut Street, and faces Silver Street. It is built of brick, is three stories high, with a basements and contains four school-rooms capable of accommodating five hundred pupils. The third floor is reserved for a hall. The building was erected under the supervision of S. J. Woodard, E. W. Case, and H. E. Barker. The school has on its rolls at present about two hundred scholars under the charge of four teachers, and is an institution of which the village may well be proud. The present Board of Trustees is composed of A. B. Strong, M.D., Assessor; G. G. Clark, Moderator; H. P. Parmelee, Director; B. F. Tinkham, A. M. R. Fitzsimmons, and George W. Fitzsimmons. In 1873, in accordance with the wishes of her citizens, the village of Reading was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature, passed April 12. The territory included in the corporation was one mile square, the centre being at the corner of sections 22, 23, 26, and 27. The first election was appointed at the school-house, but was adjourned to the Howder House (now the McConnel House). It was held on the 14th of April, and officers were elected whose names, together with their successors, are given below. The names of the first board of trustees and of the present board are also given: President. Recorder. Assessor. 1873. Asahel B. Strong. Seymour J. Smith. Jas. C. Cunningham. 1874. Hasey E. Barker. J. Eldred. George Young. 1875. George Young. J. R. Jones. L. S. Parmelee. 1876. A.M.R.Fitzsimmons. Eugene Clizbe. George Young. 1877. Levi H. Thomas. " " " " 1878. " " William Rogers. Jasper A. Waterman. First Trustees. Present Trustees. Sanford Stiles. Leonard W. Pierce. Ienry F. Doty. George W. Fitzsimmons. Thomas Berry. John Q. Mickle. Lucas Terpening. Thomas Berry. Hasey E. Barker. Samuel N. Curtiss. Aside from the business enterprises already spoken of, we now find several others worthy of notice, which we sketch as briefly as possible The Colby Wringer Company's works were erected in 1872, by the subscriptions of the citizens of Reading, and cost about $20,000. The company was formerly located at Waterbury, Vt., but in January, 1873, began here the manufacture of the Colby wringers and washing-machines. A part of the building was also occupied for a time by the Reading Manufacturing Company, before referred to. Upon the breaking up of that company, their branch of manufactures was taken up and continued by the Colby Company. The manufactures now amount to about $30,000 per annum, and employment is furnished to.about 25 men. Besides this, considerable piece-work is done outside the shop. The works are run by steam-power, supplied by an engine of 45 horse-power, and consume annually from one-half to three-quarters of a million feet of pine, black-walnut, oak, and maple lumber. The office of the company is in Vermont, and the works here are in charge of J. R. Jones, Superintendent. I I ) ri PI z z:0 -;1 -4 P1 I. C) 2 C -— -rr HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 319 Thomas' Ink- and Blueing-Factory was established here in the spring of 1872. It had been run in a small way for three or four years at Waterbury, Vt., but soon after the opening of the works here, it began to grow in importance, and now ranks as the foremost of the business establishments of the place. The sales during the past year have aggregated about $75,000. From occupying a space of 1600 square feet the buildings have grown until they now cover an area of about 15,000 square feet, and the help employed has risen from 4 in number until nearly 50 hands are employed at the works, beside the agents who are engaged in selling the manufactures throughout the country. Thomas' inks are now in use in all the departments of the Government at Washington, except the War Department. Levi H. Thomas is the owner and was the originator of the enterprise. The Reading Cheese-Factory was built in 1866-67, by Col. Frederick Fowler, Daniel Kinne, John Fitzsimmons, and L. S. Parmelee, and has been in successful operation since that time. The most prosperous season was that of 1872, when the sales aggregated over $22,000. The past year the sales aggregated about $6000. In 1874, C. D. Warner started a medical dispensary in Reading for the manufacture of a cough-remedy, known as "Warner's White Wine and Tar Syrup." The business has increased till the sales amount to about $10,000 per annum, and furnish employment to about five persons besides traveling agents. In June, 1877, a new business was introduced here by Mr. Stillman Parker, which is that of tanning and making up buffalo-robes. The tannery has a capacity of 2000 robes per annum, and employs about 20 hands. The business is conducted under the management of Mr. R. Wilbur. The first and only banking institution in town is the Exchange Bank, of Chapman & Co., which was organized in March, 1873, by H. B. and A. R. Chapman. It was for some time carried on in the hardware-store conducted by Mr. Chapman, but is now removed to fine and convenient rooms in the new block recently erected, and is doing a good business, furnishing the business men of the town the facilities that go so far to make up success. We may summarize the present business of the village by briefly stating that there are about 25 stores and shops, 2 hotels, 2 liveries, about -25 manufactories and mechanics' shops, and several firms and individuals dealing in grain and produce; in all, representing 35 different branches of industry. Few inland towns can make as good a showing, and we can justly say that it is owing solely to the energy and liberality of the citizens, who have worked for the general good instead of the promotion of selfish ends. Two of these, whom we have not particularly referred to before, are deserving of a more special mention from their having also been called upon to serve the people in the capacity of legislators. We allude to Frederick Fowler, who was a member of the House in 1857, and of the Senate in 1865, and who earned his military title by noble service in the Union army, and to Rev. L. S. Parmelee, who was a member of the House in 1-867, and has served as postmaster since 1861, with the exception of the administration of Andrew Johnson. The religious convictions of the people are well attested by the numerous churches, brief histories of which we here present, prefacing them with the remark that in each case they are the best we were able to obtain. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. This church was organized at an early day in the history of this town. Scarcely four years had elapsed since the first blows of the settler's axe awoke the echoes of the startled forest before sufficient numbers of settlers of the Baptist persuasion had arrived to warrant an effort to found a church of that denomination in Reading. Consequently, a council was called, which met at the house of Bazaliel Palmer, on the site of the present grist-mill, on the 24th of August, 1839. This council was composed of Revs. Newman Havens, Truman Burroughs, and Erastus Spear. The two latter were the respective pastors of the churches at Brockville and Jackson, Ind. Rev. Truman Burroughs was chosen Moderator, and Daniel Weaver, Clerk, and the church was then formed with the following members, viz.: Samuel and Matilda Seamans, Frederick and Abigail Perring, Daniel and Emily A. Weaver, Stephen C. and Eliza Perring, Aaron Thompson, and Ann Morey. The first officers of the church were Samuel Seamans, Deacon; Daniel Weaver, Church Clerk. In June, 1841, the church joined the "Raisin River Association," and remained connected with it until the " Hillsdale Association" was formed, since which time it has been a member of that body. The pastors and those who have served as pulpit supplies, for a greater or less period, have been, as near as may be, in the following order: Revs. Truman Burroughs, L. H. Stocker, Erastus Spear, Blanchard, Chamberlain Fuller, A. Town, Truman Burroughs, J. D. Hosford, Joel Lyon, Kelly, James R. Abbott, M. H. Prentiss, Lyman Palmer, S. D. Burlingame (who was ordained here Dec. 20, 1871), M. H. De Witt, William Read, and J. C. Armstrong, who is the present pastor, and commenced his labors here in September, 1877. At an early day a log meeting-house was commenced on the corner opposite the grist-mill, but the work was given up before much progress had been made, and the meetings were, for a period of about twenty years, held at private houses, barns; and, later, at school-houses, until the present Free-Will Baptist church in the north part of the town was built in 1859. That church was built by the two societies, and this society had the use of it for one-half the time. Many of the early meetings were held at the house of Judge Mickle, who joined the church at an early day, and has been a prominent member and one of its principal supporters from that time. The present elegant church edifice was erected in the year 1872, on the lot purchased of Mrs. David D. Prouty, lying on the east side of Chestnut Street. The entire cost of the church and site was nearly $10,000. The year following a parsonage was built, adjoining the church on the south, at a cost of $1000. Both of these buildings are of brick, and add much to the beauty and attractiveness of the village. Samuel Seamans, George C. Lewis, Aaron Thompson, H. H. Ferris, E. P. Purdy, E. L. Kelly, and J. C. Chappell, have 320 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. been the deacons of this clurch, and all, except Seamans, Lewis, and Ferris, are now living and acting in that capacity. The present membership of the church is 101. The society was incorporated at a meeting held in the North Reading meeting-house, in the fall of 1871. Rev. Lyman Palmer was Moderator of the meeting, and Aaron Thompson and H. H. Ferris, Inspectors of Election. The following board of trustees was elected, viz.: Stephen Allen, Levi Wood, Andrew J. Rising, John Fitzsimmons, Treas.; Henry C. Mickle, Clerk; Bazaliel Palmer and John Mickle. The present officers of the church and society are J. R. Abbott, Jr., Clerk of the Church; Henry C. Mickle, Clerk of the Society; John Fitzsimmons, Treasurer; E. L. Kelly, John Fitzsimmons, Henry C. Mickle, Myron Perry, F. Andrews, John Chappell, S. W. Post, Trustees. ~The Sabbath-school connected with this church was organized as a separate school in 1873, with Mr. Ebenezer L. Kelly as Superintendent. He held that position until the spring of 1878, when he resigned and Rev. J. C. Armstrong was chosen in his stead, and is still acting. Miss Georgia Fitzsimmons is the Secretary, and the school is in a fairly prosperous condition, with a membership of about 60. FIRST FREE BAPTIST CHURCH. The first church of this denomination was the result of a series of meetings held at the Berry school-house, three miles southwest of Reading village, by Rev. L. S. Parmelee, in the winter of 1857. About 40 persons were converted, and the meeting to organize a church was held at that place on the 21st of February. It was then adjourned to Reading, where the church was organized, March 1, 1857, the hand of fellowship being given by Rev. E. B. Fairfield, President of Hillsdale College, to the following 18 persons who constituted the church, viz.: L. S. and Julia A. Parmelee, J. H. and Margaret Smith, Charles and Lydia Pierce, A. E. and Jane E. Griffith, Washington and Iantha Bailey, A. G. Bigelow, Fanny Stevens, Richard Dorlisca, Rhoda Berry, Abigail Potter, Esther Gleason, and Maria S. Worden. At this meeting Mr. A. E. Griffith was elected church clerk. Commencing with this small membership the church ran along until the winter of 1857-58, when a series of union meetings was held in connection with the Methodists, Elder Parmelee and Rev. Wm. Doust preaching on alternate evenings, and a general revival was experienced, by which 33 members were added to this church. A year later a case of discipline created a disturbance, which resulted in a loss of 17 members. From this time on, for a period of eighteen years, the growth of the church was slow, steady, and healthy, and perfect harmony reigned among its members. Not a single case of discipline was necessitated, and the membership at one time rose to 134. Near the close of this era of peace and good feeling, in the winter of 1876-77, another series of meetings was held by Rev. Giles Burnham, and was followed by a glorious revival of the work of grace, and 40 members were added to the hreh. A year later the members became divided on a point of doctrine, which caused 52 members to withdraw b letter from the fellowship of the church, leaving but 70 to maintain the organization. Since that time two have joined, making the present numerical strength 72. For the first eight years of the church's existence Rev. F. B. Fairfield was its nominal pastor, but most of the labor fell on Rev. L. S. Parmelee, who was styled the associate pastor. He preached three-fourths of the time and discharged all the other pastoral duties, and, at the expiration of the eight years, became the regular pastor and continued to act in that capacity till Jan. 1, 1878, making his term of service twenty-one years. During that time he united several hundred anxious couples in the bonds of matrimony, and has preached over 800 funeral sermons. He has been the principal mainstay as he was the principal founder of the church in this village. He was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Aug. 20, 1815, and came to Reading in April, 1856. He was not educated for the ministry and did not study in any theological school, but was licensed to preach the gospel and has met with good success in his ministerial work. Since his resignation of the pastorate the pulpit has been supplied by Rev. D. W. C. Durgin, President of Hillsdale College, and by Rev. C. B. Mills, also of Hillsdale. The society was incorporated April 12, 1858, Rev. L. S. Parmelee presiding at the meeting, and H. B. Worden acting as secretary. The following trustees were elected, viz.: George Campbell, Elias Hakes, D. D. Prouty, George -Youngs, and Washington Bailey. April 5, 1859, Frederick Fowler was elected trustee in the place of D. D. Prouty, deceased, and has held the office ever since. The first deacons were Elias Hakes, George Young, and Lucas Terpening. The first associated choristers were John W. Stevens and A. G. Bigelow, who served about five years, and were then succeeded by Martin H. Parmelee, who conducted the singing from that time till the time of his death, in the spring of 1878, a period of about fifteen years. Previous to the building of the church the meetings were held about a year in the Methodist church and for a short time in the school-house. The church was built in the summer and fall of 1858, under the supervision of Rev. L. S. Parmelee, George Young, and H. B. Worden, building committee. It is a wood building; dimensions 34 by 60 feet, with a steeple and spire 83 feet high, and comfortable sittings for 300 people. Including $300 paid for a bell, the total cost was $2600. It has been repaired once, a furnace put in, an orchestra built on, and new seats made, costing in all about $1500 more. The church lot, located on Chestnut Street, was the gift of David D. Prouty. The church was dedicated Jan. 1, 1859, by Rev. E. B. Fairfield. The present officers of the church are Frederick Fowler, A. H. Hall, Washington Bailey, W. E. Austin, L. D. Smith, Trustees; Washington Bailey, A. G. Bigelow, Deacons; W. E. Austin, Clerk of Church and Society. The Sunday-school connected with this church was organized in 1858, and has had a continuous existence to the present. The average attendance is about 70. J. A. Waterman was the first Superintendent, and A. H. Hall is the present one. SECOND FREE BAPTIST CHURCH OF READING. This society was organized through the efforts of Rev. E. B. Fairfield, in 1858. The original membership was m rn z m () z 0 r r m co 2 I HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 321 drawn, to some extent, from the First Baptist Society. Among the most prominent of the early members were William Balcom, Marcus Balcom, and Garner Archer, and their respective families. The church was built in 1858, the Baptist society paying half the cost and being entitled to use it one-half the time. It cost $2300 and will seat about 300 people. The pastors of the church have been Rev. E. B. Fairfield, two Elder Davis's, Elder Rice, Prof. Dunn, and Elder Limbocker, the present incumbent. The church has had a pretty large membership, at one time amounting to 150, and it is now not much below that number. The church is located on section 3, on land donated by John Mickle. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The First Presbyterian Church and Society of Reading was inaugurated by a meeting held at the Methodist church in Reading, on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 5, 1868, of which Rev. F. R. Gallagher, D.D., of Hillsdale, was Moderator, and G. B. Barnes was Clerk. The meeting was well attended, and ten persons presented letters from the Presbyterian Church of Hillsdale, two from the Presbyterian Church of Pleasantville, Ohio, and two from the Christian Church at Salem, Ohio. Their names, in the order mentioned above, were Jasper A. Waterman, Mary Waterman, Hannah Stiles, Sally Van Etten, James O'Donoughue, Laura O'Donoughue, Julia Taylor, Nancy M. Hicks, Cornelia Strong, Olive Abbott, Ezra Ketchum, Phebe Ketchum, Harrison Yates, and Susan R. Yates. These were all received as members, and proceeded to organize a church by electing J. A. Waterman and Ezra Ketchum as Ruling Elders, and G. B. Barnes as Stated Clerk. A meeting of the session was then held, and Ellen Morris, Lois A. St. John, Sarah J. Ketchum, and Lewis B. Ketchum were admitted on profession of faith. After a sermon by Rev. Mr. Gallagher, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, which completed the services of the day. For the first year the services were held in the Methodist Episcopal church, then for a little over two years in the Free-Will Baptist church, and after that no regular preaching was had until the church was built. The prayer-meetings were, however, continued regularly and were well sustained. Rev. G. B. Barnes was the first minister, and preached two years. He was not ordained to the ministry, however, until after he finished his labors here. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Fleming, who remained some three months. Then, after a brief interval, Rev. James Quick came, and served a year. Since that time Rev. E. M. Lewis, Rev. James Curtiss, and Rev. W. F. Matthews have each served a while as pastor, and at the present time Rev. M. L. Booher is acting in that capacity. In addition to those already named, Rev. Mr. Fleming, Rev. W. J. Stoutenburg, and others have preached occasionally. The question of building a church was agitated as early as the year 1870, and a subscription was started for that purpose. A lot containing 56 square rods was bought from Mr. H. B. Chapman for $300, the most of which sum was 41 T paid through the efforts of the ladies of the congregation, They are also entitled to great credit for their indefatigable efforts to secure the extinguishment of the debt incurred in the building of the church. The building was erected in the spring and summer of 1872, but was not finished off inside until the spring of 1873. June 22, 1873, the church was dedicated, the sermon on that occasion being preached by Rev. George B. Barnes, of Three Rivers. Rev. James Quick, of Blissfield, preached in the evening. The church is built of brick, and is 38 feet wide and 55 feet long. It cost about $5000; and the aid received from the Church Erection Fund was $700. At the dedication a sum nearly sufficient to liquidate the $2400 indebtedness was pledged, and $60 was raised towards purchasing an organ. The church is neatly frescoed and well furnished, and has an organ that cost $450. The incorporation of the society was effected on the 24th of January, 1870, by the election of the following officers: Trustees, H. K. Abbott, A. B. Strong, Alfonzo Schafer, J. A. Waterman, Ira Mead, Seymour J. Smith, Solomon T. Green, Samuel R. Hicks, Byron T. Scammon. J. A. Waterman, Chairman; Edward P. Wadsworth, Clerk; S. T. Green, Treasurer; S. R. Hicks, Collector. The board is at present composed of five members: William Skinner, Zalmon B. Stillson, Byron T. Scammon, James O'Donoughue, and Samuel Fawkes. Z. B. Stillson is the clerk and treasurer of the board, and J. O'Donoughue is the clerk of the church. Deacons S. R. Hicks and John H. Boyden and Elders S. R. Hicks and J. O'Donoughue are the present officers of the church. L. E. Judson, E. P. Wadsworth, John C. Bradley, E. J. Mills, and Dr. E. V. N. Hall have also acted as elders during the church's existence. The membership has risen from 18 to a present active membership of 74. THE FRATERNITIES OF READING. The Masonic fraternity was the first to start societies in this town, and they first put in an appearance in the winter of 1858. At that time a lodge was formed under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the State, and continued to work under that authority until regularly chartered, Jan. 13, 1860, under the name of READING LODGE, NO. 117, F. AND A. M. The lodge met with good success, and added rapidly to its list of members. It purchased the hall in the third story of the Reading House, and fitted it up at a total expense of about $1500. It still continues its meetings there on the Wednesday on or before each full moon. Its present roll of members comprises 120 names. The lodges at Camden, Cambria Mills, and Hall's Corners, all are offshoots from this lodge. We give below a list of the first officers, and also of the present officers of the lodge: First Officers.-W. M., George Fitzsimmons; S. W., John Mickle; J. W., George Campbell; Sec., Lewis H. Mallery; Treas, Bingham D. Abbott; S. D., Justin H. Ransom; J. D., S. Rising; Tyler, M. Mallery. 322 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I Present Officers.-W. M., L. W. Pierce; S. W., A. H. Hall; J. W., J. W. Kelly; Sec., George F. Murray; Treas., John Fitzsimmons; S. D., S. G. Woodard; J. D., E. Seekins; Tyler, E. Mellon. The second society organized by the fiaternity was a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, known as SUMMIT CHAPTER, NO. 49, R. A. M. It was organized, under a dispensation from the Grand Chapter of the State of Michigan, June 8, 1867, and received its charter, conferring full power as a subordinate chapter, on the 24th of February, 1868. The membership at the time of organization was 14, and has grown until at present the number of members is 65. The regular convocations were at first held on the evening of the fourth Monday in each month, at Masonic Hall, but on March 23, 1868, the time was changed to the Monday evening on or before the full moon in each month. The chapter has been a successful working one from its formation, and harmony has ever pervaded its workings in all its departments. The following are the first and the present officers, viz.: First Officers.-H. P., C. B. Reynolds; K., S. B. Mallery; S., John Fritts; C. of H., A. B. Strong; P. S., S. Davis; R. A. C., B. Moss; M. of 1st V., Jasper A. Waterman; M. of 2d V., L. H. Terpening; M. of 3d V., Eleazer Gleason; Sec., O. P. Crittenden; Treas., Morton Meigs; Sent., Daniel Kinne. Present Officers. —H. P., A. B. Strong; K., C. B. Reynolds; S., G. G. Clark; C. of H., S. J. Woodard; P. S., S. Davis; R. A. C., S. Orr; M. of 1st V., B. Moss; M. of 2d V., William Fritts; M. of 3d V., L. W. Pierce; Sec., A. H. Hall; Treas., John Fitzsimmons; Sent., John Fritts. The third and last of the Masonic societies of Reading was organized Feb. 2, 1870, and is called READING COUNCIL, NO. 31. It has a membership of 25. The following were the first and are the present officers: First Officers.-T. I. G. M., C. B. Reynolds; D. I. G. M., Daniel Kinne; P. C. W., John Fritts; C. G., S. Davis; Treas., S. D. Mallery; Rec., E. W. Reynolds; C. C., George Clark; G. S. and Sent., Morton Meigs. Present Officers.-T. I. G. M., C. B. Reynolds; D. I. G. M., John Fitzsimmons; P. C. W., S. J. Woodard; C. G., B. F. Morse; Treas., John Fritts; Rec., A. B. Strong; C. C., W. S. Fritts; G. S. and Sent., S. Davis. The fraternity of Odd-Fellows started at a later date the READING LODGE, NO. 287, I. 0. O. F., having received its charter from the Grand Lodge of the State on the 15th of November, 1876. The number of charter members was six, and the lapse of two years' time has added largely to the number of members, until 52 names are now borne upon the roll. The lodge was instituted by Deputy Grand Master L. C. Tillotson, of Hillsdale, assisted by Witter J. Baxter, of Jonesville, and other members of the order from sister lodges. The hall they now occupy was fitted up and furnished by them at a cost of about $600. The workings of the lodge have always been marked by perfect harmony and good brotherly feeling. We append a list of officers comprising tie first and present incumbents: First Officers.-N. G., H. W. Russell; V. G., S. N. Curtiss; Sec., Eli R. Forquer; Treas., Wilson Haynes; Per. Sec., Thomas Wyble; Warden, B. F. Finkham; Con., Ernest Canfield. Present Officers.-N. G., William Rogers; V. G., Francis M. Woodard; Sec., Alden C. Eldridge; Treas., O. G. Berry; Per. Sec., R. B. Pettit; Warden, Wilson Haynes; Con., C. S. Martin. The Grand Army of the Republic is represented here by a post, named in honor of one of Reading's noblest sons,a true Christian soldier,-who went forth to fight in defense of his country, and laid his life a sacrifice on the altar of Liberty. It is called FRANK FORNCROOK POST, NO. 7, G. A. R. It was organized June 12, 1878, " C. O. Loomis, Post No. 2," conducting the ceremonies. The officers elected, and who are also the present officers, were Alfonzo Shafer, P. C.; William Rogers, S. V. C.; Abram Shafer, J. V. C.; Howland H. Weaver, Q. M.; B. K. Robbins, Chaplain; Nelson J. Pierce, Surgeon; Wilson Haynes, Officer of the Day; Frank M. Sherman, Officer of the Guard; W. H. Petrie, Q.M.-Sergt.; Grove S. Bartholomew, Adjt.; John C. Dugan, Sergt.-Maj. These, together with Nathan Van Fassan, Albert U. Potter, Frank Eaton, Andrew A. Baxter, and Ezra Weaver, were the charter members of the post. The membership has already increased to 29. The meetings are held semi-monthly in Odd-Fellows' Hall, on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The inhabitants of Reading have always been a temperate people, and to this virtue, no doubt, they are largely indebted for their prosperity and progress. Whenever called upon to express their sentiments at the polls, their voice has ever been for the right. The first vote was taken April 1, 1850, on the question of licensing the liquor traffic, and the vote stood 47 for license and 55 against. The vote on the prohibitory law, three years later, was a still more full and decided expression of their sentiments, the vote standing 123 for the law and but 34 against it. In support of these principles, and as a means of educating the people and making their efforts united and effective, several temperance societies have been formed at different times, brief sketches of which are appended. The first was a division of Sons of Temperance, organized in 1848, and the next a Temple of Honor, started in 1859. Both of these societies died out within two or three years after their formation. The next was a lodge of Good Templars, organized about 1871-72, and which, after a brief existence of less than one year, went down. The next was a division of the Sons of Temperance, instituted in the fall of 1875, which operated about a year, and then ceased working. Then another lodge of Good Templars, known as RESIDENCE or GEO. G.-CONE, REAOINO~ 1-ILLSDALE CO.MIcH. R~ESIDENCE OF SAMUEL C. DODGE, READING, MCH. 777: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 323 PHAROS LODGE, NO. 945, I. O. G. T., was organized. It was instituted by Rev. C. H. Ellis on the 1st of February, 1876, with 16 members. Its existence has been, like that of all other similar organizations, marked by many vicissitudes, but it is now, having passed the point of the ebb, apparently rising, on the flood-tide, to prosperity and renewed usefulness. The meetings are held every Tuesday evening, at Odd-Fellows' Hall. We present a list of the most prominent first and present officers. First Officers.-W. C. T., J. A. Cassidy; W. V. T., Mrs. C. H. Ellis; W. S., H. W. Russell; W. F. S., Miss Ada Ellis; W. T., N. P. Sherman. Present Officers.-W. C. T., Daniel W. Mickle; W. V. T., Mrs. Lavonie Mellon; W. S., J. A. Cassidy; W. F. S., N. P. Sherman; W. T., Mrs. A. Roat. The Gospel Temperance Reform movement was introduced in Reading by a young lawyer from Lansing by the name of Johnson. He was himself a reformed man, and at the close of a stirring address one evening in February, 1877, he organized the READING RED RIBBON CLUB. About 50 persons joined the first evening, and the following officers were elected: Corvis M. Barre, Pres.; A. M. R. Fitzsimmons, Vice-Pres.; E. Foote, Sec.; C. Martin, Treas. Club-rooms were fitted up in Mallery's Hall, a reading-room and library established, and weekly meetings held, addressed by prominent speakers from abroad or by local talent. The membership rapidly rose until it at one time reached between 600 and 700. The club-room, reading-room, and library were kept up for about nine months. From that time the interest seemed to wane, and the club displayed less activity. At present an effort is being made to revive the interest in the work. The present officers are Porter W. Thomas, Pres.; Ernest Canfield, Sec.; Sanford Stiles, Treas. The last of these aids to the cause of temperance reform is the WOMAN S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, a branch of the State Union, which was organized at a meeting held at the Presbyterian church, April 4, 1878, by Mrs. E. A. Hallett, President of the County Union. The present membership is 45, and the Union has done considerable to sustain the interest in the Reform Club as well as to maintain its own standing. The officers at the organization and the present officers are given below. First Officers.-Pres., Mrs. E. W. Case; Vice-Pres., Mrs. J. T. Iddings; Sec., Mrs. E. J. Mills; Treas., Mrs. H. W. Antisdale. Present Officers.-Pres., Mrs. E. J. Mills; Vice-Pres., Mrs. H. P. Parmelee; Sec., Mrs. P. W. Thomas; Treas., Mrs. H. W. Antisdale. We now draw near the close of this imperfect sketch, and it is fitting here to speak of some serious and sober things that have formed a prominent and memorable, as well as painful, part of the history of Reading. Ever since the first transgression of God's divine law, the grim angel of death has exercised relentless sway over the destinies of I I- — ~ mankind, calling from every field of labor and usefulness the brightest and best at his pleasure. In his own time he visits all, and none escape. As we have before mentioned, the first death in this community was that of an infant child of Judge John Mickle. The next two were those of Mrs. Charles Lee and her infant child. Next was Mrs. John Mickle, in 1839, followed closely by that of Mrs. Tappan, mother of Chester Morey. The first man who died in the town was Mr. Howard, the stepfather of Mrs. Odell, who went into the woods to cut broomsticks, was caught in a snow-storm, and, getting bewildered, wandered about in a circle until he was overcome by exhaustion and cold, and was frozen to death before he was found. All of these deaths occurred before 1840. The visitations of death are always the source of pain and grief, but, when he comes in the midst of joy and happiness, his coming casts a sable pall over our hearts, deeper and darker than under other circumstances. One such occasion, and one which will long remain fresh in the memory of this people as the saddest event of their history, occurred on the 4th of July, 1859. A picnic and celebration had been planned on that day to take place at Clear Lake, Ind., a noted resort for pleasure-seekers, and a large number of Reading people attended it. The time was employed in fishing, boat-riding, bathing, and in pleasant social intercourse, until the day was far spent, when a gloom was suddenly cast over their enjoyment by an awful accident, by which 11 persons, mostly young people and children, lost their lives. The boat used for their excursions across the lake to an island opposite the hotel was a frail craft, and illy managed by those having charge of it, and when returning from one of its trips, and still distant some 40 rods from the shore, it suddenly careened to one side and capsized, leaving its freight of human beings struggling in the water. As before stated, 11 lost their lives, and, of these, 7 were loved and respected ones of Reading. Their names were Isaac J. Berry, Danforth W. Berry and his wife Miranda; Salome and Estelle, wife and adopted daughter of Wm. F. Turner; and Louisa and Olin, children of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson M. Turner. This event cast a deep shadow on the entire community, and will ever remain a tender yet painful recollection through the coming years. But all is not dark, for the poet sings, in a strain almost divine,"There is no death! The stars go down To rise upon some fairer shore, And, bright in Heaven's jeweled crown, They shine forevermore." The first cemetery in Reading was the Mickle or North Reading burying-ground, and the next the one near Eleazer Gleason's. There are now five burial-places in the town, all under the supervision of the town board of health. The largest is a newly-opened ground north of the village, which is being improved with walks, drives, trees, and shrubbery, and will be a pleasant and beautiful cemetery. Another cloud that has passed over this community in common with all others, was that caused by the Rebellion of 1861-65, which called forth so many of our noblest sons to do battle in defense of the national honor and integrity, and 324 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. which quenched by its bloody sacrifices so many bright and promising young lives. We ever cherish and seek to perpetuate the merits and fame of these noble defenders of our country, by instilling in the minds of the rising generation a true estimate of their noble self-sacrifice and their unfaltering patriotism. With this in view, we point with pride to the list of Reading soldiers who went forth to the conflict, from which so many of them came not back. In closing we may say that we have endeavored as biefy as possible to portray the principal events in the history of the town, and now leave it to the enjoyment of the peace, prosperity, and happiness which ever follow in the wake of earnest endeavor and a faithful observance of the Christian virtues. Since the first crops were harvested Reading has never been dependent upon others for bread or the many things that make life pleasant and happy, and we only wish for her and her people that they may be permitted to bask in the same sunlight of prosperity through future years. RESIDENCE OF H. B. CHAPMAN, READINGMICH. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 325 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. JOHN COLE was the son of Joshua and Innocent Cole, of Wayne Co., N. Y. He was born May 8, 1819. When Mr. Cole was thirteen years of age the family removed to Geauga Co., Ohio, where they were engaged in farming. Mrs. Innocent Cole died in 1843, at the age of fifty-two years. Joshua Cole died at the age of fifty-five, in 1844. They were the parents of nine children, of whom John Cole, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. At the age of eighteen John went back to the State of New York, and made his home with an uncle until 1843, when he was seized with a desire to get a farm and home of his own. He came West to Jonesville, Mich., and bought of Murphy and Varnum one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, in the township of Reading, at three dollars and seventy-five cents per acre. He at once commenced work on his land, first of all by erecting a log house, and then commenced the work of chopping, logging, and burning off the timber, brush, etc. During the next two years he became acquainted with Miss Anna Sarles, daughter of Garry Sarles, an old settler of Fayette township. This acquaintance ripened into courtship and marriage. They were united on the 7th day of October, 1845. They went to housekeeping at once, and three years later he erected a frame house, which, with some additions, has been his dwelling-house up to this time. He has a fine, productive farm, well adapted for the grains and fruits for which Hillsdale County is so justly celebrated. He has been especially successful in the cultivation and production of peaches, as by his own peculiar method he rarely fails of having a fine crop every year. Mr. Cole and his wife have reared a family of five children, whom we briefly notice, thus: Benjamin is married, and resides on a farm of his own, one mile from his parents. John is also married, and resides at Fremont, Newago Co., Mich. He is engaged in the hardware trade at that place, and he and his father are partners in business and own a large amount of property, consisting of lands and village lots in Fremont. Willie W., Martha A., and Amanda M. are young people, still at home with their parents. Mr. Cole comes of good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having fought all through the war for independence in the ranks of the patriot army. All through life he has been uniformly successful in all his undertakings, and by prudence and good management has amassed a very comfortable property. He is in religious faith a Universalist; in politics, a Democrat of the old school; in social intercourse kind and affable, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who come in contact with him. Mr. Garry Sarles, the father of Mrs. Cole, came into Hillsdale County in 1835, and in 1838 died, leaving his widow and a large family of children dependent upon themselves for a living. Mrs. Sarles lived to an advanced age and to see her large family of children all grown up into useful men and women. Mr. Cole has contributed to this work a view of his farmhome, to be found on another page. HIRAM B. CHAPMAN. The activity, energy, and perseverance, the variety and changes of occupation, the genius and versatility displayed in the career of Mr. Chapman very strikingly illustrate a peculiar feature in the life and character of the American business man, and afford many useful lessons of great value to the young men of to-day. Of course we can only glance briefly at a few of the most characteristic incidents in the life of Mr. Chapman, commencing with his birth, which occurred Sept. 15, 1817, at Sandwich, N. H. While an infant his parents removed to Fairfield, Vt., and after a few years to Orleans Co., N. Y., and soon after to Portage Co., 0., and thence to Wood Co., 0., and in 1835 to Gibraltar, Wayne Co., Mich. In the intervals of all these frequent removals the young lad was engaged in attending the schools, and assisting his father in the farm labors. At nineteen years of age he bought his time of his father for seventy-two dollars, and from that time on for a number of years his occupation was varied by almost continued changes, at first attending school, then as clerk in a store, next as captain of a sloop in the Detroit River, then as clerk in a grocerystore in Detroit, and assisting in the survey of the Grand Traverse region,.next as a teacher in Monroe Co., where he became acquainted with and married Miss Elizabeth Chamberlain. They were married on the 21st day of April, 1840. He at once erected a log house on his purchase of sixty acres of wild land, and then commenced life in earnest by alternately working out at fifty cents a day, and in chopping, logging, and burning off his land. By unceasing toil, ably assisted by his noble and energetic companion, in five years he had cleared off forty acres, and purchased an addition of forty acres to his farm. In 1847 he traded his farm in Monroe County for four hundred acres of wild land in the towns of Reading, Hillsdale Co., and Algansee, Branch Co. He built a log house, cleared off and put in fifty-five acres of wheat the first year. For the next eight years he was engaged in clearing up and erecting buildings on his farm. He became very successful in raising stock for sale on his farm, and as a dealer in the same. His children were all reared and received the wholesome lessons of farm life, and with it the strong, robust health and habits only to be acquired in the atmosphere of a farm home. On February 28, Mr. Chapman was called to mourn the loss of his companion, who, for twenty-five years, had shared the joys and sorrows of wedded life. She was known among her relatives and friends as a devoted wife and mother, and by a large circle of acquaintances respected and esteemed as a kind neighbor and sincere Christian. The vacancy in his household caused by the death of his wife was filled by his union with Miss Elizabeth A. Morse, of Detroit. In 1865, Mr. Chapman leased out his farm and moved into the village of Reading, since which time he has been engaged in building stores, dwellings, and business blocks, etc., in the village; and in company with one of his sons has carried on the hardware, and for the last five years a banking business. Mr. Chapman is the father of ten children,-Elbridge R., Clarence H., Alanson W., Adelbert R., Asenath M., Lury E., Jay W., Almond D., Lottie R., and Jennie A. Of these all are living except Elbridge and Alanson. Clar 326 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. ence, Alanson, and Adelbert were cavalry soldiers in the Union army in the great Rebellion, and Alanson was killed in South Carolina. All are married except Asenath and Almond. Mr. Chapman by a long life of industry, prudence, and sagacity has accumulated a fine fortune, the most of which he has invested in improvements in the village of Reading, and it is conceded that he has accomplished more towards building up and advancing its interests than any other person in it. He has recently erected one of the finest dwellings in the county, complete in all its appointments. Mr. Chapman, although a man of wealth, is plain and unassuming in his manners, sociable and chatty with his friends, agreeable and polite to all who approach him. The view of his beautiful residence, which will be found on another page of this work, is a handsome contribution, dedicated by him to his children, relatives, friends, and to every patron of this work in Hillsdale County. HARRISON BAILEY is of English ancestry; his great-grandfather settled at Bridgewater, in Massachusetts, at an early date in the history of this country. He became engaged in farming, and was one of the first in this country to manufacture ashes into potash. He reared a large family of children, and died at an advanced age. Joseph, Jr., the grandfather of our subject, was born at the old home in Bridgewater, grew up to manhood, and married and reared a large family of children. He was a mechanic, and lived to a ripe old age. Ralph, the father of Harrison, was born at the old Massachusetts home in Bridgewater, in 1782; he became a farmer, a mechanic, and at intervals followed the sea as a whaler. He was married in early life, and reared a family of ten children, named as follows: Catharine, Sidney, Catharine (2d), Washington, Harrison, Melvin, Adeline, Melvin (2d), Adonis, Mary Ann. Of these only two are living,-Harrison and Washington. In 1830, Mr. Ralph Bailey emigrated to the Territory of Michigan, and settled at Monroe; soon after he moved to the present town of Blissfield, in Lenawee Co., Mich.; and afterwards the family moved to Reading, in Hillsdale Co. Mr. Ralph Bailey died in 1847, at the age of sixty-five years. Harrison Bailey was born March 21, 1813, in Wayne Co., N. Y. During his younger years he attended the common schools and assisted on the farm, and until he was twenty-five years of age he followed farming and jobbing. At this time he was united in marriage to Miss Salome Dunton, of Monroe, the daughter of Winslow Dunton and Nabby D. Allen, who came of a long line of English ancestors. They went to housekeeping at once on their farm in Bifield, where they continued until 1841, when he sold out:ad purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Reading, which has been his permanent home ever since. They are the parents of eleven children, as follows: Sarah, Mary, Julia N., Harriet M., Guy A., Valorus, Frank W., Ernest I., Mittie, Ralph W., and Ada S. Of these all aw living except Mary, Harriet, and Mittie, and all are m ed except Ralph and Ada, who are at home with their psr ale fine,: p:. ti- e whch he has frIr. lsailey has a fine, Vproduciive fars, on whic he has recently erected a very fine, commodious brick residence, at the north end of his farm, opposite to the old residence, which stands at the south end. Mr. Bailey and his excellent wife both enjoy the esteem and confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. In politics Mr. Bailey is a Democrat of the old Jackson type, and believes in the teachings and maxims of the fathers and founders of the Great Republic. He and his lady are known as upright and consistent Christians, having been for many years honored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is with much pleasure we present our readers, on another page of this work, a fine view of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, accompanied with their portraits. CHARLES KANE. While general history treats of the rise and progress of nations and governments, their wars and conquests, and records the great events of the past, and the mighty deeds of kings, presidents, generals, statesmen, judges, and other great and distinguished men of the past and present, it is proper that some of the real representatives of the people should be assigned their proper place in such a work as this,-that those upon whose shoulders the responsibilities and weight of this great republic chiefly rest are deserving of more than a passing notice in these annals. And it is with pride we call the attention of our readers to the life and character of Charles Kane, of Reading. He was the son of William and Betsey Kane, of Otsego Co., N. Y. He was born in 1818, and never had the advantages of even a common school. He commenced work as soon as he was old enough to do anything on a farm, and at the age of thirteen worked all winter with his father, threshing grain with a flail. At the age of fourteen he lost his mother. When he was seventeen he worked for three weeks putting in a piece of wheat, living on nothing but milk as it came from the cow. He continued with his father until twenty-two years of age, when he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Sanford, of Monroe Co., N. Y. In 1844 he and his wife came to Michigan, determined to secure a home for themselves, but with nothing to purchase one but willing hearts and strong arms. He came to Reading, and at once commenced work, jobbing for the first year. He then worked a few months by the month, but finding he could make more money by chopping by the job, he followed the latter. And for the next six years he was engaged the most of the time in chopping on the lands of his neighbors by the job or acre, and at intervals clearing off and working on his own purchase of forty acres. He afterwards made a purchase of eighty acres adjoining his first. In all Mr. Kane, with his own hands, chopped off over three hundred acres, and fitted it for logging and burning. And to-day he is living in a large and commodious farmhouse, with convenient out-buildings, and a finely-cultivated farm, on which now stands the prize orchard of Hillsdale County. Mr. Kane, notwithstanding the disadvantages he has had to contend with in the want of an education, is to-day respected and esteemed as one of the model 4 RESIDENCE Or A. 0. SOUTHWORTH, fREADING-, MICHIGAN.- II RESI DENCE' Or WILLIAM TERPENING, READINGJUILLSDALE Co MICH. i -ax zi: ~~:'`;"" "" a ar:"~" :i:: HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 327 farmers of Reading, and an honor to his neighborhood. He is still a hardy, fine-looking specimen of the American farmer, and although about sixty years of age, he looks younger than many men of forty-five. This is probably largely due to the fact that he has always had a conscience void of offense, that he never owed a debt that was not paid on or before it became due, and that in all his life he never had a suit at law. Mr. Kane is the father of five children,-Newton, Louise, an infant deceased, Lucy, and Charles W. Of these, Newton is married to Miss Josephine Bird, daughter of Erastus Bird, an old settler of Allen township. They have one child, and are at present at home with the old gentleman, assisting in carrying on the old home-farm. Newton has a farm of his own in Eaton County, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. Lucy is married to Oscar Folger; they reside in the township of Cambria, and they have one child. Charles W. was recently married to Miss Alvada Hollinshead, of Reading, and they are at present at home with their parents. On the 23d day of November, 1876, Mr. Kane was bereaved in the death of his estimable life-long companion, who departed for the better world, after suffering for many months. She was for many years an honored member of the Baptist Church, and was known and respected as a candid and consistent Christian. It is with pleasure we are able to present our readers with a view of the home, and portraits of this excellent pair of old Hillsdale pioneers. A. D. SOUTHWORTH. The subject of this sketch was born Nov. 25, 1834, in the town of Perrinton, Monroe Co., N. Y. He was a son of J. B. Southworth. He moved with his parents to Michigan in 1844, where his father bought a farm, and he helped his father on the same until he was twenty-four years old. H.e then bought fifty-eight acres of wild land adjoining his father's place and commenced to improve it. In 1866 he was married to Sophia A. Crin, and built a house on his place and moved into it the same year. They have a family of two children,-Anna Adell, born May 20, 1867, and Charles Augustus, born Feb. 3, 1869, having lost one child in infancy. By industry and perseverance Mr. Southworth, with the aid of his good wife, has improved his place and added to his farm, and now owns one of the good farms of Reading, a picture of which will be found on another leaf of this book. He has always taken an active part in church matters and is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church. HENRY K. ABBOTT. George Abbott, the venerable ancestor of a numerous progeny, emigrated from Yorkshire, England, about the year 1640, and settled at Andover, Mass. Here he lived and reared a large family, and died at an advanced age, on the same farm now owned by John Abbott, one of the sev enth generation from George. William, one of the sons of George, was born in 1657 and died in 1713. His son Philip was born in 1699 and died in 1748. Next in de I scent was one of his sons, Joseph, who was born in 1735 and died in 1814. He was a man of distinction in his generation,-widely known and distinguished for his patriotism and moral virtues. He was a wealthy farmer, and during the ever-memorable struggle for independence was a colonel of militia in the rebel forces. Delano, one of his sons, and the father of our subject, was born in 1774. He was a farmer, and was also engaged in the manufacture of woolens at the town of Vernon, Conn., and in 1829 removed to Ira, N. Y. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters, and died, at the age of sixty-four years, in 1838. Henry K. Abbott was born near Hartford, Conn., on the 25th day of December, 1816. He attended the common schools of that day until seventeen years of age, when he went to learn the carpenter's trade. After serving his apprenticeship he worked at his trade for ten years, and, having during this time by industry and economy accumulated a little money, he came West in quest of a farm. In 1842 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild land in the township of Reading, about ten miles southwest of Hillsdale, which has been his permanent home ever since. After his purchase he returned to the State of New York and again went to work at his trade, which he continued for two years. During this time he became acquainted with and married Miss Olive P. Grinell, of Jefferson Co., N. Y., and in the fall of 1844 they came on to settle permanently on their new farm in Reading. They resided for a short time with his brother, until they could erect a small frame house on their own land. For the next few years he was engaged in chopping, logging, and clearing off his lands,-and, by untiring industry and perseverance, in a very short time became one of the leading solid farmers of Hillsdale County. As the years rolled on, the inherent sagacity and business shrewdness of Mr. Abbott began to tell favorably in his finances. He, in fact, became known as one of the most successful farmers in the county, and as one of the most extensive wool-growers, -and it is entirely due to his sound judgment in regard to all that pertains to the routine of wool-growing, fruitgrowing, and cropping generally, that has made him a man of wealth and consideration where so many have failed. He at one time owned farms amounting to four hundred and seventy-five acres, but he has recently sold off some, so that his present farm consists of two hundred and eighty acres, beautifully situated, on which, a few years since, he erected one of the finest farm-residences in Hillsdale County. Mr. Abbott and his excellent wife are the parents of six children,-five sons and one daughter. Eugenia, the eldest, is the wife of W. J. Meader, and resides at Elkhart, Ind. Jerome, who for several years has been an extensive woolgrower in Colorado, is a single man. Angus H. has been married and his wife is deceased; he resides on a farm in Reading, near his old home. Walter C. is engaged in the commission business in the city of New York. Horace C. is a partner with his brother in Colorado, and Charlie W., who is a young man, is still at home with his parents. The reader will be pleased to find a beautiful view-on another page of this work-of the farm-home of one of the esteemed citizens and solid men of Hillsdale County. 328 coo6 on4o HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. I- _ - -I FREDERICK FOWLER. Conspicuous among the old residents and active business men of Hillsdale County is Colonel Frederick Fowler, of Reading. His parents, Richard and Anna Fowler, were natives of Massachusetts. They reared a family of nine children,-Henry, Frederick, Franklin, Louisa, Horace, Sophia, Emily, Timna, and Melissa. In 1814, Mr. Richard Fowler emigrated to Ohio with his family. He remained there engaged in farming until 1834, when he removed to this county. Having reached Jonesville by the Chicago turnpike, he and his sons cut their own road through the woods to their destination, on section 30, in the present township of Adams. There they cleared up a good farm, and there Richard Fowler died in 1847, at the age of fifty-six years. His widow passed away in 1873, aged seventy-eight years. Frederick Fowler was born at Perry, Geauga Co., Ohio, on the 5th day of February, 1815. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years old, assisting in the labors of the farm, and acquiring a fair English education. Soon after reaching his majority he took and carried out several large contracts for clearing off and grading the Michigan Southern Railroad immediately east of Hillsdale, besides partially clearing up a farm in Hillsdale township. About 1837, his brother Henry and himself bought seventy-six acres of land, known as Fowler's addition to Hillsdale City, on which they erected sixteen dwellings. They also engaged in the dry-goods trade in Hillsdale; but as Henry died at sea, on a voyage to Havana for his health, Frederick closed the business, having obtained two hundred and forty acres of wild land in Reading, and built a log house upon it. He moved thither in 1846, and there he has resided, engaged in farming, to the present time. By purchase this tract now contains four hundred and forty acres of land beautifully situated, with fine buildings, and all the accessories of a first-class farm. Colonel Fowler is also the owner of several other farms, besides considerable village property, etc. Notwithstanding his numerous agricultural and business enterprises, he has been very active in all matters relating to the public welfare. He was one of the principal agents in procuring the location of Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, and has been one of its trustees from the beginning to the present time. Always an ardent Republican, Frederick Fowler was one of the foremost to take up arms when his country's life was assailed. In the summer of 1861 he raised a company of horsemen, of which he was commissioned as captain, and which became Company G of the 2d Michigan Cavalry (Phil. Sheridan's regiment). In the fall of 1861 the regiment went to the front. Capt. Fowler was with it at New Madrid, Corinth, Chaplain Hills, and numerous other conflicts, as well as in raiding through Virginia and East Tennessee, burning bridges, tearing up railways, and otherwise crippling the enemy. Being promoted to the position of lieutenant-colonel in June, 1863, he resigned and returned home. Colonel Fowler was also supervisor and magistrate of his town; was elected a representative in the Legislature in 1857, and in 1864 was chosen to represent Hillsdale County in the State Senate. He was married on the 13th day of January, 1842, to Miss Phebe L. Willits, of Lockport, N. Y., and they have been the parents of six children: Helen, wife of J. C. Merriman, of Reading; two who died young; Henry M., of Jasper Co., Mo.; and Fremont and Frederick, Jr., still at home. In this brief sketch we have confined ourselves to the barest facts, which show the character of Frederick Fowler, one of the very earliest pioneers of Hillsdale County, more clearly than we could do by any labored eulogy. He is a type of the active workers who have made the wilderness change to fruitful fields, and as his energy has added to his own possessions, it has at the same time benefited the community in which he lived. The example he has set has borne its fruit. As a farmer, soldier, legislator, and neighbor, he may be well satisfied with the record he has made. WOODBRIDGE. THE township of Woodbridge, lying in the interior of the county, a little southwest of the centre, was formed from Fayette in 1840. Its original territory embraced within its boundaries the present townships of Woodbridge, Cambria, and the west half of Amboy. Cambria was set off in 1841, and part of Amboy in 1850. It now contains a total area of thirty sections, and is bounded on the north by Cambria; east, by Ransom; south, by Amboy; and west, by Camden township. The general surface is elevated and rolling, quite regular in its character, except along the water-courses and in the northern part, where the bluffs and knolls rise almost to the dignity of hills. The entire township was covered, originally, wit a heavy growth of timber, chiefly beech, maple, linn, poplar, black and white ash, with considerable oak, hickory, and black walnut. A few acres of the primeval forests are still found scattered here and there over the township, giving evidence of its former wealth and magnificence in the grand deciduous trees once so common to this section. The soil is of a clay and gravelly loam, very fertile, producing corn, potatoes, fruits, and the various cereals in the greatest abundance and perfection. As a grazing and stock-raising township, it has few superiors in the county. St. Joseph's River, its principal water-course, enters the township from the north, and flows southwest through the central part. Silver Creek, flowing southeast, intersects the northeast part. These streams, and their numerous small tributaries, afford good water-power privileges, and excel RESIDENCE OF ULL. t. I UWLL:., 'IEAUDINU-, MIL' ~. ~+ s HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 329 I lent drainage, rendering possible the tillage of nearly the entire township. Cub Lake, lying partly in this town and partly in Cambria, is found near the centre of the north border. The township has a total area of 19,228 acres, of which 6000 acres are improved, and in 1874 contained a population of 1386 inhabitants, of whom a large majority are agriculturists. FIRST ENTRIES OF PUBLIC LANDS. The following are the names* of those who purchased land of the United States prior to April 27, 1838, and whose lands were situated within the present boundaries of Woodbridge. These lands were all situated in township 8 south, range 3 west. Section 1.-Wilder & Hastings, Barnett Wightman, Elisha Brown, A. S. & Stephen Clark, John R. Willis. Section 2.-John B. Norris, Celesta Goodrich, Elisha McNeill, Joseph True. Section 3.-H. P. Sartwell, Joseph R. Williams, John Morgan, Celesta Goodrich, Francis Nelson, Schuyler W. Cotton. Section 4.-A. J. Comstock, A. S. & Stephen Clark, Dwight Woodbury, Russell Forsyth, John Morgan. Section 5.-Henry Forman, Dwight Woodbury, Russell Forsyth. Section 6.-David W. Whitford, Henry Forman, Wilder & Hastings. Section 7.-Andrew Taylor, George W. Jermain, Amos Bigelow, Wilder & Hastings, Dwight Woodbury. Section 8.-George W. Strong, Ezekiel Lamphere, Green Hubbard, A. S. & Stephen Clark, Russell Forsyth. Section 9.-P. H. Sartwell, Burton H. Lamphere, Green, Hubbard & Lyster, William N. Green, Dwight Woodbury. Section 10.-H. P. Sartwell, A. F. Oliver, Lothrop & Buck, Dwight Woodbury, Stiles Stanton, Edwin Randall. Section 11.-Jesse Chapman, Abram Andrews, Dwight Woodbury, Stiles Stanton. Section 12.-William Saxton, Wilder & Hastings, Stiles Stanton, August Ford. Section 13.-Jacob Clark, William Sherman, William P. Green, Elleferrouno Elraseo Maxon, John Stuck, Irwin Camp, John McVickar. Section 14.-Lothrop & Buck, Ralph Pratt, Dwight Woodbury, William Sherman, Stiles Stanton, John McVickar. Section 15.-Sartwell & Oliver, Joseph R. Williams, Lothrop & Buck, A. S. & Stephen Clark, William P. Green. Section 17.-Samuel McCourtney, B. Harrington, Wilder & Hastings, Dwight Woodbury, A. Forman. Section 18.-Ira Barton, Wilder & Hastings, Dwight Woodbury. Section 19.-Ebenezer C. Aiken, Wilder & Hastings, Dwight Woodbury, John W. Johnson, William P. Green. Section 20.-E. C. Aiken, Green, Hubbard & Lester, A. S. & Stephen Clark. *At the time this list was compiled (1838) by Hon. I. P. Christiancy, the ownership of nearly the entire township was vested in the men whose names are here represented. 42 Section 21.-Joseph R. Williams, William O. Wood, E. C. Aiken. Section 22.-Lothrop & Buck, Wilder & Hastings, E. C. Aiken, George W. Jermain. Section 23.-Wilder & Hastings, John McVickar, C. H. & William T. Carroll. Section 24.-William Greenleaf, I. C. Voorhees. Section 25.-Green, Hubbard & Lester, Stiles Stanton, C. H. & William T. Carroll, John R. Willis. Section 26.-Green, Hubbard & Lester, Stiles Stanton, John R. Willis. Section 27.-C. Pratt, C. L. Grant, P. Bronson, William P. Grant, Wilder & Hastings, Green, Hubbard & Lester, Sally Ann Falkner. Section 28.-Joseph R. Williams, C. Pratt, C. L. Grant, P. Bronson, William G. Grant, Thomas Burt, William P. Green. Section 29.-Joseph R. Williams, A. S. & Stephen Clark. Section 30.-William P. Green, Stiles Stanton, and Sally Ann Falkner. Of those named in the foregoing list, William Saxton, Jacob Clark, Burton H. Lamphere, John B. Norris, and John W. Johnson seem to have been the only ones who became actual settlers. The remainder were speculators, who had purchased these lands of the government for $1.25 per acre. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The first permanent settlementt within the present bounds of Woodbridge was made by William Saxton, who came from Raisin, Lenawee Co., Mich., and settled on the northeast quarter of section 12, in the winter of 1834-35. Mr. Saxton came from Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., originally, and had been a resident of Lenawee County since 1830. He purchased his land-160 acres-of the government, in 1834, and during the fall of the same year came on and built a log cabin. He was accompanied by his wife and four sons,-then small children,-viz.: Wallace, James, Stephen, and John. During the last nine miles of his journey, he was obliged to cut out his own road for the passage of his ox-team and sled. Mr. Saxton served as a soldier during the Black Hawk war, and is now a resident of the State of Iowa. The next settler in the township was Jacob Clark, who came from Andover, Allegany Co., N. Y., and settled first in Monroe Co., Mich., where he remained two years. In December, 1836, he located upon the north part of section 13, the present site of the village of Frontier. Mr. Clark had also purchased of the government, visited his land the fall previously, and erected a small log cabin. His sons Robert W. and Sylvester, and daughters Rebecca, Sarah, and Eliza, came with him. Mr. Clark drove in, and owned t It is claimed by some old residents that a man named Story was the first settler in Woodbridge. He came from the East, had abandoned his wife, and, in company with another woman, settled down in the wilderness, on the line between sections 7 and 8. He built a cabin, and cleared some four or five acres, cutting in on both sections. After a brief period his place of concealment was discovered by his wife, or her friends, when he again fled to parts unknown. As early as 1838 the ground cleared by Story was covered with a luxuriant growth of red raspberry bushes. 330 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the first span of horses in the township. One of them, with its mate, had been driven by him from Allegany Co., N. Y., to Monroe Co., Mich., in 1834. Daniel Saxton, a brother of William, came from Canandaigua, N. Y., and settled here in 1837. He is a resident of the town at the present time, and assures us that at the time of his arrival the only families living in what is now Woodbridge were those of his brother William Saxton and Jacob Clark. Samuel Wheeler came from Benton, Yates Co., N. Y.,. and settled in Woodbridge,-then Fayette township,-on section 10, in December, 1838. He had purchased five 80 -acre lots, and paid for his land before coming. He was possessed of considerable means, and was the first to open a farm to cultivation to any considerable extent. In September of the same year Richard Bryan and his family came in from Cheshire, Berkshire Co., Mass., and settled upon section 5. He had served as a soldier during the war of 1812, and was accompanied here by his sons William, Richard, Jr., John, and Ezra, all of whom are residents of the township at the present time. When the elder Bryan built his first log cabin, the lumber which he found it necessary to use in the construction of gables, floors, doors, etc., was carried from Cambria Mills on his back. The elder son, William Bryan, built the first framed house in 1841. It was a small structure, and stood on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 5. John Bryan built the second framed dwelling, some four.or five years later. This was a more pretentious edifice. Worthy neighbors, who still resided in log dwellings, when called upon to express their opinion of neighbor John's enterprise and taste, replied that they "preferred log houses, they were warmer." Harvey Fish, a native of New York, came in from Ohio, and settled upon the farm now owned by John Bryan, late in the fall of 1838. Romanta and Luther Phinney, brothers, settled upon section 10-the Harrington place-at about the same time. In January, 1839, the settlement was increased in numbers by the arrival of the families of Burton H. Lamphere and Patrick McCartney, who, though originally from Ontario Co., N. Y., came in from Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich. Messrs. Lamphere and McCartney had visited the township the fall previously, purchased their land, and, together, had erected a log cabin for Mr. Lamphere on the northeast corner of section 9. McCartney's lot was situated one mile west of his neighbor's (Lamphere's), being the northeast corner of section 8. Mr. McCartney, who is now a resident of the village of Cambria Mills, relates that when he settled in Woodbridge, with his wife and two small children, his possessions consisted of a small load of household goods (which he had hired a man from Plymouth to bring in for him), a cow, a yoke of steers, and a pig. In midwinter his family occupied the cabin before it was completed. The surrounding country for miles was heavily timbered with forests of beech, maple, linn, whitewood, white and black ash, with considerable oak and black walnut. He remembers that the timber growing upon sections 4 and 5 was especially handsome. Deer, wild turkeys, wolves, bears, and cats, and many other species of wild fowls and animals, abounded on every hand. As an instance of the abundance of deer, he mentions that some two or three years after his settlement here he was engaged by two well-known hunters, named Pulaski Fraker and Leonard Swiger, to take into Hillsdale deer, killed by them, and that at one load he hauled 20 deer from the residence of James H. Fullerton to the small store kept by Henry and Fred Fowler, in Hillsdale. Ephraim Hoisington also became a resident in 1839. Cyrus Patterson came from St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and located in Toledo, O., in 1837. He afterwards removed to Lenawee Co., Mich., where he remained until January, 1840, when, having purchased land in township 8, range 3, he settled upon the premises where he now resides. Mr. Patterson was elected supervisor in 1844, 1845, 1846, and again in 1851, and has honorably served his town in various other official capacities. John W. Johnson, another well-known pioneer, became a resident during the same month and year. He came from Broome, Schoharie Co., N. Y., and settled in Oakland Co., Mich., in 1835. While a resident of the latter county he purchased his present homestead in Woodbridge, and the deed for his land bears the bold signature of Andrew Jackson. His sons. Orrin B. and John L. Johnson, came in with him. His nearest neighbor was Patrick McCartney, who lived to the north of him, about four miles distant. James H. Fullerton lived to the southeast, at about the same distance. The nearest grist-mill was at Jonesville, and it occupied three days' time to go there with an ox-team and return. Mr. Johnson's log cabin was not built until after his arrival on the ground of his future home. It was occupied by his family before completion. But a good rousing fire was kept burning continuously in the wide, old-fashioned fireplace, and the generous heat imparted from it made ample amends for the unchinked crevices in the outer walls. During the remainder of the first winter, assisted by a man whom he had hired, he cut down the timber on ten acres, and in the spring planted one-half of it with corn and potatoes, from which he obtained a good crop. The following fall the whole ten acres were seeded with wheat, which he bought at Jonesville for 37 cents per bushel. This crop also yielded well. He relates that when the wheat had begun to ripen he was obliged to keep his children out around the field during the daytime, to drive and frighten away countless numbers of wild turkeys that he doubts not would have destroyed his crop unless this precaution had been taken. Deer also were so plentiful that, during the first winter, they came up and browsed on the tree-tops, while the woodchopper was at work on the trunk of the same tree. Lemuel Blount, with his sons Albert and Amasa, came from the town of German, Genesee Co., N. Y., and settled on the pretnises where he now resides in March, 1840. Asa L. and Joseph Divine, Jr., brothers, came from Springfield, Lucas Co, Ohio, in 1841, and settled on section 6. Two years later their father, Joseph, Sr., and brothers, William and James, became residents of the township. Representatives of these families are now very numerous in the northwest part of Woodbridge. The Divines came from Cayuga Co., N. Y., and during the war of 1812, Joseph, Sr., served as captain with the New York HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 331 State troops on the Canadian frontier. Among other settlers who came in during the winter of 1840-41 were Orrin Cobb, Urias Hoyt, a Methodist preacher, Jacob Sumner, and Chester Stoddart, the first supervisor of the township. Previous to 1838, John B. Norris, a resident of Canandaigua, N. Y., had purchased of the government the south half of section 2 and north half of section 11. In the fall of 1840, accompanied by his son, Joel B., he visited his purchase, and erected a log cabin on section 2. This house was occupied in May, 1841, by Jared B. Norris and his wife. A few years later the father and sons, viz., John B., Jared B., Joel B., James B., Jason B., and Jackson B. Norris, all became residents of the township. Calvin Young and sons, Francis D., Milton, Ebenezer, Job, and Jeremiah, from Monroe Co., N. Y., settled upon section 19 in 1842. Other settlers of the years 1842 and 1843 were Dennis D. Wright, Curtis and Obadiah Seeley, John Ashley, Chauncey Ashley, Isaac P. Hoag, Robinson S. Lockwood, a prominent township officer, and who built the first sawmill on section 10 about 1845, Lewis Sprague, who has creditably served his townsmen in many official capacities, Jeremiah I. Sabin, Horace Starkweather, and Silas P. Thomas. Cornelius Fuller and sons, Orson, Sidney, and David, from Sodus, Wayne Co., N. Y., settled on the farm now owned by David Hatch, in 1844. The residents of 1850, other than those already named, were as follows: William Goodwin, Rufus Wyllys, William Bell, Daniel Campbell, Adolphus Randall, Danford Fish, Thomas Finch, Samuel Purches, William Burgess, Merritt J. Chappell, Theodore P. Carbine, William Purches, Truman Sampson, Edmond Van Vlack, Seth Tubbs, Chas. S. Billings, Nelson Kellogg, Fernando C. Horton; Warren Stevens, William Viqkers, Orlando H. Avery, Levi Weston, Albert Weston, Lewis Beck, Levi Hill, Alanson Van Vlack, Benona Samson, William H. Clark, Jonathan B. Abbott, Mr. Brown, Daniel P. Whitney, Orrin Vanakin, William Luke, S. W. Farr, Aaron Steele, John A. Beard, George Lee, Mathew Fairfield, Simeon Steele, William Osborn, Josiah Jenkins, Edwin Hungerford, Stephen and Elias Hungerford, Henry Alverson, Walter Baker, Chauncey Mayfield, Thomas Braman, Martin H. Roe, Cornelius Acker, John Sanderson, and Peter Perry. James A. Keech was married to Miss Sarah Clark in the fall of 1838. This was the first marriage. Squire Packer, of Litchfield, officiated. The first birth was that of Erastus Phinney, son of Romanta, who was born in 1838. The first death was that of Eliza, daughter of Jacob Clark, who died of scarlet fever, in the spring of the same year (1838). CIVIL HISTORY. By an act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, approved Jan. 28, 1840, Woodbridge was formed from Fayette. Its original limits, and the place designated for holding the first township-meeting, were by that act defined as follows: "All that portion of the county of Hillsdale, designated by the United States survey as townships numbered 7, 8, and fractional A, township 9 south, of range 3 west, be set off into a separate township, and organized by the name of Woodbridge, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house formerly occupied by John McDermaid, in said township. " This act shall not in any wise affect the collection of taxes assessed in the county of Hillsdale for the year 1839, or in any township thereof; but the same shall be collected as if this act had not passed. "This act shall take effect, and be in force, on and after the first Monday of April next. " Approved Jan. 28, 1840." The township derived its name from Gov. William Woodbridge, for many years Territorial Secretary, and during the years 1820-21 acting Governor of the Territory of Michigan. Cambria was set off as a separate township March 15, 1841, and the west half of Amboy, being the fractional township of No. 9 south, range 3 west, March 28, 1850. PROCEEDINGS OF TOWNSHIP-MEETINGS FOR THE YEARS 1840, 1841, AND 1842. The township clerk for the years 1840 and 1841 neglected his duty so far as recording the names of the township officers elected and holding office during these years. He even fails to inform us of his own name. The following is the entire record of the proceedings of the first township-meeting, copied verbatim: "At a meeting of the electors of the town of Woodbridge, held at the house of Lorenzo Rice, Monday, the 6th day of April, 1840, Hiram V. Weaver was chosen Moderator; Samuel Wheeler, Samuel Orr, Moses Willits, Baron B. Willits, Inspectors; and Ira Mead, Clerk. "Voted three dollars bounty on wolves. "Voted three dollars bounty on Bears. " Voted that hogs be free commoners. "Voted that all boars found running at large shall be altered at the risk of the owner. " Voted that our next township-m'eeting be held at this place." The recorded proceedings of the township-meeting for the year 1841 are as follows: "At the annual township-meeting for the town of Woodbridge, held at the house of Burton H. Lamphere, 1841. Voted that a bounty be raised on bears of five dollars, to be paid the killer. Also five dollars to the wolf. Voted that fifty dollars be raised for the payment of the above bounty. Voted that one hundred and fifty dollars be raised for the expenses of the township. Voted ten dollars for town books and book-case. Voted that all swine run at large, except boars over three months old, which if found at large, to be altered at the risk of the owner. Adjourned to meet for next annual meeting at the residence of Chester Stoddard. (Signed) " CHESTER STODDARD, "HARVEY FISH, "JACOB SUMNER, "JACOB CLARK, Inspectors." At the annual township election, held in the spring of 1842, the following-named officers were elected: Supervisor, Chester Stoddard; Township Clerk, Burton H. Lamphere; Treasurer, Jacob Sumner; Assessors, Urias Hoyt, Luther Phinney; Inspectors of Schools, Jacob Sumner, Jared B. Norris, Urias Hoyt; Overseers of the Poor, Dennis D. Wright, Lemuel Blount; Commissioners of Highways, Jared B. Norris, John W. Johnson, John 332 HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. King; Justice of the Peace, Chester Stoddard; Constables, Dennis D. Wright, Romanta Phinney; Overseers of Highways, District No. 1, William Saxton; No. 2, Cyrus Patterson; No. 3, Samuel Wheeler; No. 4, Chester Stoddard; No. 5, Patrick McCartney; No. 6, Joseph Divine; No. 7, William D. Stout. Following are the names of the principal township officers from 1842 to 1878, inclusive: SUPERVISORS. 1868. Samuel Divine. Merritt J. Chappell. 1869. Nathan C. Gavitt. Lewis ILarington. 1870. Francis D. Young. Elijah G. Gibbon. 1871. Luther G. Rogers. Merritt J. Chappell. 1872. Warren Atwood. 1873. Nathan C. Gavitt. James Noble. 1874. Francis D. Young. 1875. Joseph Divine. Jonathan Sherman. 1876. Jonathan Sherman. 1877. Frank Van Duzen. 1878. George Blount. Francis D. Young. COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. 1842-43. Chester Stoddard. 1844-46. Cyrus Patterson. 1847-48. John King. 1849. Lewis Sprague. 1850.* William Bryan. 1851. Cyrus Patterson. 1852. Richard Bryan, Jr. 1853-54. Lewis Sprague. 1855. Joel B. Norris. 1856-58. Sylvester W. Farr. 1859-60. Lewis Sprague. 1861-63. William Divine. 1864. Warren Atwood. 1865. William Divine. 1866-67. Jason B. Norris. 1868-69. Warren Atwood. 1870-76. Peter Hewitt. 1877. Jason B. Norris. 1878. Amos H. Bartholomew. TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1842. Burton H. Lamphere. 1843. Samuel Wheeler. 1844-47. Robison S. Lockwood. 1848. Gideon G. King. 1849. Robison S. Lockwood. 1850-51. Richard Bryan, Jr. * -1852-53. Jonathan B. Abbott. 1854-57. Alanson Van Vlack. 1858-60. William Divine. 1861-64. Horace Carbine. 1865-71. William A. Calkins. 1872-74. John D. Freed. 1875-77. Warren Atwood. 1878. John E. Hueston. 1842. Jared B. Norris. John W. Johnson. John King. 1843. Joseph Divine. Burton H. Lamphere. Cyrus Patterson. 1844. John W. Johnson. Gideon G. King. Richard Bryan. 1845. Gideon G. King. Joseph Divine. Richard Bryan, Jr. 1846. Gideon G. King. Lewis Sprague. Isaac P. Hoag. 1847. Gideon G. King. Lewis Sprague. William I. Bennett. 1848. Charles Clark. 1849. Isaac P. Hoag. Orrin Johnson. 1850. Jason B. Norris. Alanson Van Vlack. Walter Baker. 1851. Walter Baker. Levi Hills. 1852. Josiah Jenkins. 1853. Alanson Van Vlack. Harvey J. Cox. 1854. Joel B. Norris. 1854. Harvey J. Cox. 1855. Alden B. Nash. 1856. Jason B. Norris. Harvey J. Cox. David L. Russell. 1857. Harvey J. Cox. 1858. Merritt J. Chappell. Robert Martin. 1859. Harvey J. Cox. Peter Hewitt. 1860. William Fitzgerald. Joseph Ellis. 1861. Peter Hewitt. Albert E. Weston. 1862. Albert E. Weston. 1863. William Fitzgerald. 1864. David N. Hatch. 1865. John Ingalsbee. 1866. Peter Hewitt. 1867. Joseph Stoddard. 1868. Peter Hewitt. 1869. Hugh Loughrey. 1870. Benjamin Rochelle. 1871. Andrew A. Ewin. 1872. Franklin Fuller. 1873. Albert Vincent. 1874-75. Andrew A. Ewing. 1876. Franklin Fuller. 1877. Washington Whitney. 1878. Hiram M. Powers. TREASURERS. 1842. Jacob Sumner. 1843. Chester Stoddard. 1844. William Bryan. 1845. Chester Stoddard. 1846-48. Jared B. Norris. 1849. Harvey Fish. 1850. Daniel D. Divine. 1851. Lewis Sprague. 1852. Robison S. Lockwood. 1853-57. Walter Baker. 1858. Lewis Sprague. 1859-61. Jason B. Norris. 1862. Peter Hewitt. 1863. Warren Atwood. 1864. Joseph Ellis. 1865. Jason B. Norris. 1866. Alonzo Hewitt. 1867. John W. Johnson. 1868-69. William N. Lewis. 1870-71. Henry M. Ewing. 1872. Thomas C. Robinson. 1873-76. Hiram M. Powers. 1877. Samuel Ingalsbee. 1878. Orrin Carpenter. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1842. Chester Stoddard. 1843. John King. Richard Bryan. 1844. Jared B. Norris. 1845. Cyrus Patterson. Lewis Sprague. 1846. John King. Milton Young. 1847. Lewis Sprague. Urias Hoyt. 1848. Eleazer Millard. 1849. Orrin Vanaken. John P. Covey. 1850. Samuel Wheeler. Levi Weston. 1851. William Bryan. 1852. Harvey Fish. Walter Baker. Milton Young. 1853. Walter Baker. Rufus Willis. 1854. Walter Baker. Robison S. Lockwood. 1855. Joseph Divine, Jr. 1856. Milton Young. 1857. Allen S. Perry. 1858. Robison S. Lockwood. 1859. Luther Rogers. John P. Pettibone. 1860. Milton Young. 1861. John P. Pettibone. 1862. Francis D. Young. 1863. Joseph Divine. 1864. William Divine. Henry W. Comfort. 1865. John P. Pettibone. Luther G. Rogers. 1866. Francis D. Young. Luther G. Rogers. James G. Rounds. 1867. Warren Atwood. ASSESSORS. Urias Hoyt and Luther Phinney were elected in 1842; Harvey Fish and Lemuel Blount in 1843; and Cyrus Patterson and Alanson Van Vleck in 1852. In all the remaining years the supervisor has served as assessor. TOWNSHIP LEGISLATION IN REGARD TO SOLDIERS BOUNTIES, ETC. " To the Town Board of the township of Woodbridge, in the county of Hillsdale, and State of Michigan: We; the undersigned legal voters of the township of Woodbridge, in the aforesaid county and State, do hereby request your honorable body to issue an order, and call a special townmeeting in the aforesaid township, according to provisions of the law in such case made and provided, for the purpose of taking a vote to raise by tax on the taxable property of the township (and to issue bonds of the township for the same) the sum of one thousand three hundred dollars, or a sum of money sufficient to pay to each person who may volunteer into the service of the United States (under the call of the President of the United States, dated Oct. 17, 1863, for three hundred thousand volunteers) the sum of one hundred dollars, and to transact such other business as may come before the meeting. Dated at Woodbridge this 12th day of December, 1863." Signed by D. C. Cherrington, James Divine, C. L. Northrup, T. P. Carbine, L. Benson, O. Carpenter, D. Divine, W. D. Harrington, Joseph Divine, A. Baker, A. E. Weston, and Peter Hewitt. * Atthe annual spring election of 1850, Gideon G. King was chosen upervisor, and John King justice of the peace. A few days subsequently Amboy was formed. As the Kings resided in Amboy, a ecial town-meeting was held, April 29,1850, and Bryan and Wheeler were elected to fill vacancy. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 333 In response to this request the Town Board, composed of Messrs. William Divine, Supervisor; Horace Carbine, Township Clerk; and John P. Pettibone, one of the Justices of the Peace, ordered a special township-meeting, to be held at the town-house, in said township, on Wednesday, the 30th day of December, 1863. Of the 121 electors present at this special township-meeting, 101 voted in favor of paying a bounty. Feb. 13, 1864, the Town Board issued an order, naming Feb. 24, 1864, as the time when another special townshipmeeting should be held, to take action whether a bounty of $100 should be paid to each volunteer enlisting in the United States service, and accredited to the town of Woodbridge. At this meeting the whole number of votes thrown was 108, of which there were in favor of a bounty, 58; against bounty, 49; defective, 1. At the annual township-meeting held April 4, 1864, it was voted," That the town of Woodbridge pay a bounty of $100 to each person who has volunteered into the military service of the United States since the commencement of the present war, who has not received $100, or has not deserted from the service, and all of those who may volunteer into the military service of the United States during the year A.D. 1864. All that have received any portion of $100 shall receive enough, with that which they have received, to make $100. " That the township raise by tax on the taxable property of said township $1000 annually, and the interest thereon, to redeem the bonds of said township, issued to procure volunteer soldiers to fill the several quotas of said township." The foregoing proceedings of the annual town-meeting were by a vote rescinded at a special township-meeting held at the town-house, April 25, 1864, and in their stead, it was voted " that the fund was to be available to those only who were already in service and credited to the township, and to those who should enlist between the 25th day of April, 1864, and April 1, 1865." It was voted, in 1848, " to raise $100 to build a townhouse as near the centre as may be." The vote was rescinded the following year. In 1855 it was voted " to raise $250 to build a townhouse, the site to be the northeast corner of section 16. Voted $10 to pay for the site, and that John A. Beard, A. Fuller, and Cyrus Patterson be building committee." The following agricultural statistics are compiled from the census report of 1874: Acres of taxable land......................................... 19,220 " improved land..................................... 5,692 " wheat growing, June, 1874..................... 1,608 t" " t harvested, 1873........................... 1,493 " corn "........................... 1,175 Bushels of wheat " "........................... 18,622 corn " "......................... 53,222 " all other grain harvested, 1873........... 13,369 " potatoes raised,............. 4,794 Tons of hay, "............. 840 Pounds of wool sheared,............. 7,188 pork marketed, "............. 120,470 " butter made,............. 42,520 " fruit dried for market, "............. 6,695 " maple-sugar made, "............. 5,445 Bbls. of cider made, "............ 222 Acres in fruits,............. 402 Value of fruits and vegetables, ".............$39,315 Number of horses, 1874...................................... "i mules, ".................................... " working oxen, 1874.................... " milch cows, "........................... " other cattle, ".......................... " swine, "........................... " sheep,........... " sheared, 1873...................... 378 9 10 456 547 733 1,484 1,625 VILLAGES. Frontier, situated in the eastern part of the township, is a post-office station on the route from Hillsdale City to Amboy. It is 11 miles south of the former place, and contains 2 stores, steam saw-mill, stave-factory, several small mechanic shops, and about 150 inhabitants. The first settler upon its site was Jacob Clark. Warren Atwood, Esq., general merchant and postmaster, opened a store here about 1863. Dr. W. A. Calkins, a well-known physician of the township, began to practice at about the same time. SCHOOLS. In 1840, when Woodbridge included the present towns of Woodbridge, Cambria, and part of Amboy, the board of school inspectors met and organized (by describing certain boundary-lines) 11 school districts. But little was done, however, to further the advancement of education until 1843, when the first school-house, a log one, was erected one-half mile west of the southeast corner of section 5. May 4, 1844, the board of school inspectors met, and organized by electing Isaac P. Hoag chairman. They then proceeded to examine Jane M. Barclay," who offered herself as a school-teacher. Finding that she possessed the necessary qualifications to teach a primary school, a certificate was granted her." From a report made Nov. 1, 1844, we find that the total amount of money to be apportioned for school purposes was $19.98, which was divided as follows: To District No. 1, 18 scholars, $8.39; to District No. 2, 24 scholars, $11.59. Total, $19.98. Lucinda D. Lockwood and Emily Fish were granted certificates as teachers April 12, 1845. The total amount of school moneys on hand for the year ending Nov. 1, 1846, was $50, which was apportioned as follows: To District No. 1, 23 scholars, $19.49; to District No. 2, 22 scholars, $1864; to District No. 7, 14 scholars, $11.86. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The Methodists were the first to form a religious society, which they did as early as 1842. They usually met at the house of Silas P. Thomas, and were visited by Elders Scott, Jones, Jackson, and other circuit preachers, who held meetings once in two weeks. Among those who were connected with this organization were Chester Stoddard and wife, Jacob Sumner and wife, Urias Hoyt and wife, and Mrs. Harvey Fish. The society was long since disbanded, and no organization of this denomination exists in the township at the present writing. THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH OF WOODBRIDGE. This society was organized at the Johnson school-house, by Rev. John N. Martin, Jan. 29, 1853. The original members were 13 in number, as follows: Joseph Divine, 334. HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. --- --- ---- William Divine, Dorothy Divine, Jerusha Divine, Esther Divine, Parmelia Divine, George Divine, Almeda Divine, Sarah Divine, A. S. Divine, Betsey Stevens, Hannah Avery, and Elmira Williams. A house of worship was erected in 1861, costing $1500, and will seat about 250 persons. Among the pastors of this church who have succeeded Mr. Martin may be mentioned Revs. Myron Wheeler, D. Holmes, B. Baldwin, W. O. Dinnis, J. W. Rhoades, Asa A. Millard, Miller, W. H. Clay, and Aaron B. Lilley, the present pastor. Present membership, 18. THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF WOODBRIDGE. This society was organized at the school-house in District No. 3, by Elder L. S. Parmelee, March 17, 1860. The constituent members were Franklin Southworth, 0. H. Avery, D. D. Divine, E. Van Vlack, L. Chase, Henry Frost, William Gillis, Warren Stevens, Elmira Williams, Lydia Weston, Esther Divine, Mary Southworth, Hannah Avery, Permilla Divine, Sarah Van Vlack, Mary Chase, Caroline Frost, Jane Gilles, Sarah Divine, Julia Hall, Lucretia Vickers, Elizabeth Weston, Lydia Fish, Eveline Williams, Mary A. Williams, Nancy Murray, Emeline Marsh, Harriet Drake, Robert Taylor, A. E. Griffith, Jane Y. Griffith, Emrancy Cox, William Weston, Philomela Gilles, Horatio Cone, Alice Cone, and Perces Rogers. A church edifice was commenced in 1867, and completed two years later. It cost $1500, and has sittings for 250 persons. Elder Parmelee remained with the society as its pastor for several years. Since his departure they have had no settled pastor. Present membership, 10. THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH OF EAST WOODBRIDGE. A class of this denomination was formed at the schoolhouse in District No. 1 about 1850. Among the first members were Chauncey Ashley, Betsey Ashley, Palmer Carey, David Fuller, Olive Fuller, Daniel Bailey, Ruth Bailey, Franklin Fuller, Lovina Fuller, Ransom Scovill, Adelaide Scovill, William Saxton, Frank Nevins, and Jane Rathbone. A church edifice was commenced about 1866, and completed some six or seven years later. It has sittings for 200 people. Present membership, 35. Rev. Mr. Stockwell, pastor. CEMETERIES. In 1844 the town board was constituted a board of health, and $25 was voted to purchase a burying-ground and to fence the same. The supervisor was authorized to select a plot of ground suitable for the purpose. The plot selected is situated near the southeast corner of section 10. Other grounds have since been laid out for burial purposes on sections 5 and 20. These grounds are all under the control of the town board, and all necessary expenditures for repairs, fencing, etc., are paid by the township. Our thanks are due to Cyrus Patterson, John W. Johnson, John Bryan, Lemuel Blount, Patrick McCartney, George Divine, Robert W. Clark, Daniel Saxton, David Fuller, Franklin Southworth, Joln E. Hueston, township clerk, and many others, who have rendered us valuable assistance by the information imparted concerning the history of Woodbridge township. ?i I l/