391 10 3980 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/16b3646eb981c0f9fe30d04327e567eb.jpg 31e771b1963321952b5be8dbeea1d0f4 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/de204ba2129f8190d842d38a00b4b978.jpg ad6d877fc4d0d0679c378e0e5c23e780 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater Historic Architecture Survey 1976-1979 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1976 - 1979 Language A language of the resource English Description An account of the resource <p>From 1976-1979, the homes and buildings of the City of Coldwater were photographed and assessed according to their architectural materials and style. Not every property in the city was documented, but most were. We have over 2,500 properties in this archive.<br /><br /></p> <a href="/images/coldwater_architectural_survey.png"><img style="background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #a9a9a9; margin: -6px 6px 6px -6px; padding: 4px;" src="/images/coldwater_architectural_survey.jpg" alt="Coldwater Architectural Survey" /></a> <h3>Advanced Search of this Collection</h3> <form id="advanced-search-form" action="/branch/items/browse" method="GET"><input id="collection-search" name="collection" value="6" type="hidden" /> <div id="search-narrow-by-fields" class="field"> <div class="label">Narrow by Specific Fields</div> <div class="inputs"> <div class="search-entry"><select id="" class="advanced-search-element" title="Search Field" name="advanced[0][element_id]"> <option value="">Select Below</option> <option value="136">Address</option> <option value="137">Historic Name</option> <option value="138">Current Name</option> <option value="145">Surface Material</option> <option value="146">Roof Covering</option> <option value="176">Period or Style</option> <option value="158">Incidence</option> <option value="160">Category</option> <option value="173">Notes</option> <option value="177">Editor's Notes</option> </select><select id="" class="advanced-search-type" title="Search Type" name="advanced[0][type]"> <option selected="selected" value="">Select Below</option> <option value="contains">contains</option> <option value="does not contain">does not contain</option> <option value="is exactly">is exactly</option> <option value="is empty">is empty</option> <option value="is not empty">is not empty</option> </select><input id="" class="advanced-search-terms" title="Search Terms" name="advanced[0][terms]" value="" size="20" type="text" /> <button class="remove_search red button" style="display: none;" type="button" disabled="disabled">Remove field</button></div> </div> <button class="add_search" type="button">Add a Field</button></div> <input id="submit_search_advanced" class="submit" name="submit_search" value="Search for items" type="submit" /></form> <script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="https://www.branchdistrictlibrary.org/branch/application/views/scripts/javascripts/items-search.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ jQuery(document).ready(function () { Omeka.Search.activateSearchButtons(); }); // ]]></script> Architecture Survey Survey Date 5-1-77 By A.J. J.H. Address 65 Green Front Direction East Surface Material Asphalt sheeting Roof Covering Asphalt Alterations Moderate Alterations 2 Inappropriate Alterations 2 Score 5 Structural Condition Fair Structural Condition Score 5 Maintenance Quality Poor Maintenance Quality Score 0 - Zero Period or Style QA - Queen Anne Rating Worthy of Mention Rating Score 20 Incidence Common Incidence Score 5 Total 35 Category D Roll 2 Frame 10 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 65 Green Subject The topic of the resource Architectural surveys Historic preservation Historic buildings--Conservation and restoration Queen Anne style architecture Description An account of the resource Architectural survey of 65 Green in Coldwater, Michigan conducted on May 1, 1977. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1977-05-01 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource image Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Additional Item Metadata The additional item metadata element set, consisting of all item elements created by an administrator and not assigned to an item type, and item elements created by plugins and not assigned to an item type or other element set. Additionally, the metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `items` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka items. Spatial Coverage Michigan Coldwater https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/715960909be6452d7cb74e8a079bfaa1.jpg 72c549f7ac80a50aa0917d4401bd9c4e https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/a28b80c4b967f7dc38c575f69f96dacf.jpg 32ab50da53ca8af40882f16750a074e7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater Historic Architecture Survey 1976-1979 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1976 - 1979 Language A language of the resource English Description An account of the resource <p>From 1976-1979, the homes and buildings of the City of Coldwater were photographed and assessed according to their architectural materials and style. Not every property in the city was documented, but most were. We have over 2,500 properties in this archive.<br /><br /></p> <a href="/images/coldwater_architectural_survey.png"><img style="background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #a9a9a9; margin: -6px 6px 6px -6px; padding: 4px;" src="/images/coldwater_architectural_survey.jpg" alt="Coldwater Architectural Survey" /></a> <h3>Advanced Search of this Collection</h3> <form id="advanced-search-form" action="/branch/items/browse" method="GET"><input id="collection-search" name="collection" value="6" type="hidden" /> <div id="search-narrow-by-fields" class="field"> <div class="label">Narrow by Specific Fields</div> <div class="inputs"> <div class="search-entry"><select id="" class="advanced-search-element" title="Search Field" name="advanced[0][element_id]"> <option value="">Select Below</option> <option value="136">Address</option> <option value="137">Historic Name</option> <option value="138">Current Name</option> <option value="145">Surface Material</option> <option value="146">Roof Covering</option> <option value="176">Period or Style</option> <option value="158">Incidence</option> <option value="160">Category</option> <option value="173">Notes</option> <option value="177">Editor's Notes</option> </select><select id="" class="advanced-search-type" title="Search Type" name="advanced[0][type]"> <option selected="selected" value="">Select Below</option> <option value="contains">contains</option> <option value="does not contain">does not contain</option> <option value="is exactly">is exactly</option> <option value="is empty">is empty</option> <option value="is not empty">is not empty</option> </select><input id="" class="advanced-search-terms" title="Search Terms" name="advanced[0][terms]" value="" size="20" type="text" /> <button class="remove_search red button" style="display: none;" type="button" disabled="disabled">Remove field</button></div> </div> <button class="add_search" type="button">Add a Field</button></div> <input id="submit_search_advanced" class="submit" name="submit_search" value="Search for items" type="submit" /></form> <script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="https://www.branchdistrictlibrary.org/branch/application/views/scripts/javascripts/items-search.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ jQuery(document).ready(function () { Omeka.Search.activateSearchButtons(); }); // ]]></script> Architecture Survey Address 24 Park Place Property Uses Res Front Direction West Surface Material Wood siding Roof Covering Asphalt shingles Alterations Moderate Alterations 2 Appropriate Alterations 2 Score 10 Structural Condition Good Structural Condition Score 10 Maintenance Quality Good Maintenance Quality Score 10 Period or Style QA - Queen Anne Rating Worthy of Mention Rating Score 20 Incidence Common Incidence Score 5 Total 55 Category C Roll 1 Frame 19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 24 Park Place (2) Subject The topic of the resource Architectural surveys Architectural surveys Historic buildings--Conservation and restoration Queen Anne style architecture Description An account of the resource Architectural survey of 24 Park Place in Coldwater, Michigan conducted between 1976 and 1979. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1976/1979 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource image Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Additional Item Metadata The additional item metadata element set, consisting of all item elements created by an administrator and not assigned to an item type, and item elements created by plugins and not assigned to an item type or other element set. Additionally, the metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `items` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka items. Spatial Coverage Michigan Coldwater https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/7e863832f9b1cb7bf6d96286904c1ca4.pdf a96642cc292acb429b3929561bee21bb PDF Text Text • % M . �rrr 7 iTi -, - 1 , 7 1 , STATE. PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN r �BRANCH • Clustrations and Viographical •_„:7=-,OF SOME O F I T S P R O M I N E N T M E N A N D P I O N E E R S P H I L A D E L P H I A : ��CONTENTS. I I S T O R I C A I WW1 HISTORY OF - otroilmitory . . . . I I.— E a r l y F r e n c h Discoveries . 111.— T h e Pottawattamies I V. — T h e Pottawattamies, continued V. — T h e Pottawattamies, continued V L— T h e Tr e a t y - M a k i n g P e r i o d V I L — T h e Situation a t Settlement . . . V I I L — F r o m Settlement to Organization o f C o u n t y I X . — F r o m Organization t o 1840 . . X . — F r o m 1841 t o 1861 X L —First Infantry . XII.—Seventh Infantry X I I I . — N i n t h Infantry X I V. — E l e v e n t h I n f a n t r y X V. — F i f t e e n t h . S i x t e e n t h , a n d Seventeenth I n f a n t r y M g . —Nineteenth I n f a n t r y . . . . . M g t . — Tw e n t y - E i g h t h I n f a n t r y a n d F i r s t Sharpshooters X V I I I.— F o u r t h a n d F i f t h C a v a l r y . . X I X . — E i g h t l i . N i n t h , and Eleventh Cavalry . X X.— B a t t e r y A , F i r s t L i g h t A r t i l l e r y . . X X I.— B a t t e r y D X X I I.— B a t t e r y F X X I I I.— B a t t e r y G X X I V.— O t h e r B r a n c h C o u n t y Soldiers. . I . U X X V. — B r a n c h C o u n t y Since the W a r . X X V I . — T h e Press o f B r a n c h C o u n t y . X X V I I . — T h e State P u b l i c School X X V I I I . — C o u n t y Societies X X I X . — B r a n o h County Civil List 9 1 1 1 26 32 35 39 48 5 CITY OF COLDWATER HISTORY T 11 T H E TOWNS AND VILLAGES BRANCH C O U N T Y To w n s h i p o f Coldwater Quincy Union Bronson. G irard . Algansee Gilead . Batavia. Bethel . Kinderhook . . Butler . . . Ovid . . Matteson . Noble . . Sherwood . . . . . . . . California . . . . . . . 6 63 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 S 1 10 1 10 O F O F SI SI I t 1R/ A . T I 0 1\T 33S S . PAG State P u b l i c S c h o o l f o r D e p e n d e n t C h i l d r e n ( F r o n t i s p i e c e ) facing t i t l e -page. Map o f B r a n c h C o u n t y f a c i n g 9 COLDWATER (CITY). A r t G a l l e r y a n d Residence o f H . C. L e w i s . . f a c i n g 11 3 Foe-simile of the Record of the First Village Election, 1837 " 1 1 5 Portrait o f Alonzo Waterman f a c i n g 119 St. M a r k ' s Episcopal Church " 1 2 4 Portraits of Thos. Daugherty and W i f e " 1 2 9 Residence o f H . C. Fenn . . " 1 4 4 A . C. Zink ( w i t h portrait) b e t w e e n 150, 151 Portrait of John H . Beech, M.13 1 5 6 W. B. Spragne M I ) 15 facing 15 Portraits o f L . D . C r i p p e n and W i f e . 15 H a r v e y Haynes a n d W i l e 16 Harvey W a r m , a w l Wife 16 A n d r e w S. P a r r i s h and W if f a r i n g 16 Asa Parrish a n d W i f e . . 16 P o r t r a i t o f James M . L o n g , M . D . 16 L. D . Halsted 16 P o r t r a i t s o f L u k e H . W h i t c o m b and W i l e 16 Wm. S. G i l b e r t a n t 164 Portrait of John Allen P Portraits o f A . B r o w n a n d W i f e B. F. W h e a t and W i f e . . e t e r M. Newberry and W i f e . John S. Delete and W i f e . UNION. P o r t r a i t o f Charles A . L i n c o l n Residence o f E z r a Bostwick ( w i t h p o r t r a i t s ) P o r t r a i t o f D r. H . F. Ewers P o r t r a i t o f Thomas B . B u e l l facini, BRONSON. Residence o f J o n a t h a n H o l m e s ( w i t h portraits) Portrait of Darius Monroe " \ V a l e s Adams facing 2 2 2 41 is is COLDWATER (TOWNSHIP). Residence of W m . P. N o r t o n l Portrait of James R . Wilcox Portraits of John Roberts and Wife o s i n g Q U I N C Y. Residence o f Lucas Joseph ( w i t h portraits) . . facing the late Enos O. Berry (with portraits) J. R . Morey (with portraits) . '• H o r a c e P. Jeffrey. C. N . Wilcox , Donovan and Conly's Block . P e r b a k e of k n e e l Niehole and Wi f e " W m . P. A r n o l d " 11...6denee -1 I f -,(r. r G IRA R D . . . . Residence o f P e t e r I . M a n n . . 111 , . Portraits o f P o l l y M a n n and P. I . M a n n a n d W i f e Portrait o f D r. M . E . Chauncey . . . " M r s . E l i z a Craig Portraits o f H e n r y Pierce and W i f e . . ALGANSEE. Residence of t h e late Amami B r o w n . John Joseph . . . F. T. Gallup . . . 165 P o r t r a i t s o f D a v i d T i f t and W i f e . 172 E . S. E . Brainerd and Wi f e . 173 4 1 W i l l i a m Rraiser and Wi f e . a . A. Shumway and Wife . Samuel B . Hanchett and Wi f e Andrew Crater and Wife 17 F. D . Ransom and Wi f e 17 Asahel Brown and Wi f e 17 18 GILEAD. 18 i t 18 18 10 " (nein, Rr,irien ' i f the late Samuel A r n o l d . Portraits of Samuel Arnold and Wi f e Denial Marsh and Wife . Residence o f E . C. S. Green . • Han. 0 . 0 . Lase . . 1, , , t , ; (= , J o R e p h I r 1 . 1 . facie 24. 24 24 24 2 2 �CON TEN 8 I 1_, 1_, S R . , A_ ' I ' BATAVIA. 0 1•T S_ Portrait, o f D r. D o l l k i WilELIE 1.11,1 Wit,. . ,.I I l e u r y L o c k w o o d . . Residence o f Louisa S. Deusler Portrait o f J o h n D . I m b e r • Portraits o f M a j o r Tu t t l e and W i f e . Henry M i l l e r rand W i f e . Portrait Ilf P h i l . P o r t e r . . • KINDERHOOK. Residence o f Samuel A . W h i t c o m b I with p o r t r a i t s ) . f a c i n g 2 9 1 FiLPIO and Residence of EDO, Michael ( w i t h portraits) between 292, 293 Residence o f George T r i p p . . • 2 9 4 , 295 Portraits o f George T r i p p ..nd W i f e . . • • 2 9 1 , 295 Portrait o f H o n . W i n . Chase . . . f a c i n g 296 Portraits o f A . W . Cra,e rand W i f e . b e t w e e n 298, 299 Joseph H a w k s a n d W i f e " 2 9 8 , 299 G D a v i d T r i p p and W i f e 2 9 4 facing 3 0 0 R e Residence o f Silas E n t . . . BUTLER. f 2 5 l a c i n g ;;17 worn 3 2 2 , 323 3 2 3 NOBLE. Residence i t H u n . 12. 1' R o b i n s o n . . . . . f a c i n g 324 Wa l t e r W. S m i t h ( w i t h p o r t r a i t s I b e t w e e n 326, 327 " t h e late E . T. G a r d n e r i w i t h p o r t r a i t s ) " 3 2 6 . 327 Portraits o f C h r i s t i n a , Chautoo•y, a n d Russell Chase t a r i n g 3 2 8 Residence o f E . B . B u s h n e l l ( w i t h p o r t r a i t , . • • 2 2 9 SHERWOOD. s i d e n c e of E. E. Hearn f a c i n g 330 Oscar Cline ( with p o r t r a i t s ) . b e t w e e n 332, 333 Portrait of Horace A . Lee . . f a c i n g 334 '• H i r a m D o u b l e d a y . 3 3 4 Residence o f J a b i n R . G w i n . . 3 3 7 Portraits o f J a b i n R . G w i n s a d W i f e 3 3 7 Newcomb W i l c o x and W i f e . :138 CALIFORNIA. OVID. Residence o f Samuel M . Tr e a t Portraits o f S. M . Tr e a t and W i f e 1 1 MATTESON. Itesideno. o f A s h l e y T u r n e r w i t h portraits t . 4 A m o s Gardner ( ' F b e t '• J a m e s O. Johnson ( w i t h i m r t r a its • Portraits o f Jesse M e r e d i t h and W i l e . . 27 27 27 Residence o f D . L . B u r b a n k Lucinda R. L i n s d a y ( with p o r t r a i t s ) Portraits o f Charles E . Bowers and W i f e . : . a c i n g Portraits o f J . 11. L a w r e n c e and W i f e f Charles R a y m o n d and W i f e . a c i n g . . :11 347 33100-1Z,A.P1-1IC.A.1.1. 1 dilate P •I. I N I Crippcn I ... I. 1 5 5 . P.1111..11 1 ..orcwoIi. llalste I 1 olic I I . \ \ A l i n -coil. 1 S H i t on 1 .Glen 1 . bran. C. F i s k 1 Him., R . \ V i l e . , 1 L.lin Robert) . 1 .Villiam P. Norton 'Ion. \ Vi l l i a i n P. A r n o l d . Inset Ni,11015 . , . ';. F. Wheat N.Ivarado Brown I.ucas Joseph Peter H . Newlinary Gr, Enos G. Beer, 4113 S. Belote I ohn R . Morey 'harks A . L i n c o l n I:zra Bostwick II. Francis Ewers, M rhomas B. Buell Wales A d a m s Ionathan Holmes Peter I . M a n n . 5 1 1 . . . . 6 6 6 6 6 . 7 7 7 . PAGE facing 1 1 9 •• 1 2 9 5 6 6 9 4 . 15 . 161 16 2 2 3 3 1 2 2 3 •174 189 • 111 0 •190 191 191 192 193 19 194 19 19 19 19 facing 2 0 0 214 214 215 228 229 between 312. 233 P A W A n d r e w Crner S . B. Hanchett 2 F r a n c i s D . Ransom . E. '1'. G a l l u p 2 Asahel B r o w n 2 Samuel A r n o l d b e t w Daniel Marsh. . f a c Hon. Cyrus G. L u c e . Mrs. C a t h a r i n e S. A r n o l d . . Joseph l i e e s l a r . . E C. S G r e e n John D . lusher Henry M i l l e r Philo Porter 2 George T r i w . Hon. W i l l i a m Chase f a c Enos Michael 2 A. W Chase b e t w Joseph H a w k s . ' Silas E n t 2 9 David Tr i p p . 2 Samuel A . W h i t c o m b 2 David L i n s d a y 3 4 ' Dwight L . Burbank S Charles E . Bowers 3 Samuel M . Tr e a t f a c D r. D a n i e l A ' i l s o n 3 Henry L o c k w o o d 3 Atnos Gardner E James O. Johnson Jesse M e r e d i t h 3 Ashley T u r n e r S Christina Chase f m . i n s George P. Robinson Horace P. Jeffrey Wa l t e r W. Samuel S Elislia T L 246 4 7 . 4 4 e i 247 8 3 e n n g . 250, 251 253 . 262 263 264 facing 2 7 2 277 7 7 .. b e t w e e n 294, 295 n g 296 9 8 e e n 298, 299 • 2 9 8 . 299 9 9 9 9 9 1 6 O S 6 7 i n g 3 11 1 2 1 4 n t i 2 2 r 3 9 r l • ��a 1111 " 1 AIIII 1pf .t,. , I."hltiVriniillirigra 'm g inn r Kla t it i l - g iMIPP' a 12 ' -* a P f i l l -c-- r ALTTatOF I n i r M E M 4 I I I I O M N I g a l l I M I N . L • A C I L L 4 0 1;-1-; _ r - �• H I S T O R Y O BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. BY C R I S F I E L D J O H N S O N . I N T R O D U C T O R Y. Plan o f the W o r k — A Consecutive H i s t o r y — S u p p l e m e n t a r y Chapters — C i t y a n d To w n s h i p H i s t o r i e s — T h e I l l u s t r a t i o n s — F u t u r e Va l u e of L o c a l H i s t o r i e s — T h e Portatrotratities—The B o o k s Consulted Acknowledgments to I n d i v i d u a l s — T h e W o r k S u b m i t t e d . L I E plan of this history of Branch County comprises in the first place a connected, consecutive statement of facts of general interest relating to the territory prising that county, from the earliest accounts down to the present time, embracing a short description o f its natural characteristics, and a pretty full record o f the principal events occurring within its limits, or in which have been actors. T h i s portion of the work adheres very closely to the chronological order, and includes the history of the P,,ttatcattamie Indians,—the old-time lords of the Saint Joseph Valley,—an account of by which that valley was transferred to the whites, line sketch of the first settlement of the county, of some of the more prominent features of its and the ever interesting story o f the achievements of the gallant sons of Branch County in the war for the Union. This consecutive account is supplemented by ters, the subjects of which cannot well be incorporated in that account; such as sketches o f the various cieties, a list of the principal officers, a history of school, etc., etc. T h e whole, thus far, covers near dred of the first pages of the volume, and general history of The later and larger portion of the work rate liptories of the city of Coldwater, and of each of the sixteen townships of the county, going with detail into the facts of their early settlement, bardebips and vicissittides of pioneer life as narrated by the pioneers themselves, and giving lists of Amin, together with separate sketches of all ledges, and other local laterisingled with these are to be found traits of prominent citizens of the county, accompanied by their biographies, together with occasional vie me of their reeidosom. Whatever may be said by the r o d imm•liug the fitorary execution of the work, the *2 • writer can confidently recommend the productions artists and engravers as being of aecidedly high order of merit. T h e y have reproduced the faces of the tions, and both the homes and features of to-day, that even after the lapse o f a century there need be no difficulty in knowing precisely what was the condition o f Branch County in 1879. And, although there may be those who are disposed to smile at the idea o f a mere county history, in which the features of plain farmers and mechanics appear side with some o f the most distinguished citizens of yet it is safe to predict that in fifty years few books more sought after than these local records of to-day, with their delineations of pioneer life and their ocratic illustrations of all classes of' the community. A n d this simply for the facts depicted by pencil and despite o f any barrenness o f style o r awkwardness rangement o f which the author may be guilty. S u c h a record will be scarcely less valuable than would now be a similar account of actual life in the Revolutionary era, with portraits, not merely of a few generals arid statesmen, but of the people o f that day, who long since went down to their graves unhonored, unrecorded, The early history of this county (that is, its vious to its settlement) is mostly confined to the story of the Pottawattamies. T h r e e chapters have on this subject with considerable care, and have serted in the histories of both Branch and ties, as that tribe was for over a century the occupants of the whole valley of the St. Joseph. settlement by the whites, the story of' Branch County runs in an entirely To obtain the information thus embodied i n the earlier and some of the later, portions o f the work i t has been necessary to consult numerous books having relation to the subjects under consideration. A m o n g the principal we are indebted t o Parkman's Conspiracy o f Pontiac, Parkman's Discovery of the Oreat West., Smith's Timm of Lewis Cass, Drake's Life o f Book of the Indians, Schooleraft's Report. on the Indians, Lossing's Field Book o f the War of 1812, itanman's iteti Book o f Michigan, thi; published Indian Treaties o f the United States, the Territorial and Session Laws �10 I I I S Toll ( I F l i l t . 1 N 1 ' 11 C O U N T Y, 1111CHIOAN gan, the Reports of Adjutant-General Robertson to 1866, the Reports o f the Superintendent of struction, and Pierce's History of St. Joseph several minor The greater part o f the pioneer record o f the county is embodied in the sketches of Coldwater city and the various townships, yet in obtaining matter for a general outline of that period we received much assistance from those veteran pioneers, Messrs. Wales Adams, Allen Tibbitte, Harvey Warner, and Janice B. Tompkins. Messrs. E. G. Fuller, Harvey Haynes, and Roland Root supplied us with many facts regarding a somewhat later period ; M r. mation being especially full in relation to the Indians from 1836 down to the time of Our acknowledgments are also due to Robertson and his efficient clerk Mr. Humphrey for forded US in obtaining the records of the officers of. Branch County in the war for the Union, to Mrs. Tenny, the librarian of the State library, for the courtesy with which the ample resources o f that institution were placed at our disposal, and to the press o f Branch County for access t o their files and many Some others, who have been consulted on will be mentioned as those points are discussed. have furnished material to the writers on the city ships may be numbered by the hundred, and i t would be impracticable to include them here. M a n y of them mentioned in the city and township histories, and to return the thanks of the publishers and writers. And now we submit our work t o the people of Branch County. W e trust they will be pleased with i t in spite of some imperfections, which keen eyes will doubtless its pages, and that not only they but their children and their children's children will occasionally turn thither from more exciting tales and more eloquent periods to learn the humble but honorable story of CHAPTER II. EARLY FRENCH DISCOVERIES. A rrival of the French on t h e Upper Lakes—Chain plain i n 1615— T h e Franciscan Priests—The Jesuits—Hunters and Traders—ltaymbault and Jogues i n 1641— T h e Wyondots a n d Ottowas— quette—The L a k e C o u n t r y formally taken Possesiion o f for t h e King of France—Marquette Discovers t h e Mississippi—Discovers end Explores the St. Joseph— L a Salle and the G riffin"—A the St. Joseph—Loss of the " G r i f f i n " — L a Salle's and M u r d e r —French Dominion—Influence o f F o r t Founding of Detroit— T h e Putfatouttarnita. THOUGH the French were unquestionably the plorers of' the shores of all the great lakes of yet it is somewhat doubtful at what precise time reached the peninsula o f Michigan. A s early as 1615, Samuel de Champlain, then governor of the of Canada, which lie had founded, visited the on the shores of Lake Manitouline. Al111014 or early, prieas of the B e c o l l e t " or Franciscan lished Catholic missions i n the same locality, and it 001,101,41,i, 11,11 ",01,0. 01. 111,11, N1,04,1 1 i0. ,}001,-. 0i OW 1.•hir.-ii1:1 f i r 1 1 1 , 1.1 A l l o t r vi.,twao,1 . ! ; . r all t h e cxtra..illinal.) o i t i r w r c o f t h e ( a t Iodic w i f t i o n a r i , o . i n I heir efforts t o m a k e proselytes among the stivagos of North America. I n 1625, however, there arrived 011 the banks Ilf the St. Lawrence the vanguard of a blaek-gowned host, to be sent to America by a still more vigorous, zealous. and highly-dieeiplined order,—the far-famed Jernits. T h e s e fiery the cross were destined 10 crowd aside the or more inert Franciscans throughout the whole and substantially appropriate that mistsionary ground t o themselve French hunters and fur-traders, too, made their way into the West far in advance of their English rivals, less reached the confines of Michigan early in teenth century. T h e i r course, however, was not along the great watery highway through Lakes Ontario and the Niagara River, for there dwelt the fierce, quois, the bravest and most politic o f all the Indians of North America, whom Champlain, by an ill-advised attack. had made the deadly enemies of the French. W i t h the Hurons, or Wyandots, who though a branch of the same race were the foes o f the f r o v o i s . the French were fast friends, and had no difficulty in penetrating westward as their domain extended. T h e i r seats were !!ti the side of Lake Huron, while our peninsula war occupied b y Otto was. gii/aras o r Chippewa s), and perhaps as friendly as the Heroes, but standing in fear of the conquering Iroquois. and therefore disposed to be on good terms with the French foes of that The course of the intrepid missionaries and 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 of that body of water t o the Saut Sainte Marie and the Straits of Michillimacinac. In t h e year 1641, the Jesuits Raymbault and Jognes reached the former point, preached to a crowd and raised the flag of France, in token of the rushing outlet of Lake Superior. Doubtless sionaries and numerous voyageurs and f u r the outskirts of Michigan, and possibly penetrated terior, but there are few records to show their deed In 1659, the Wya ;idols, or Hurons, fled front of the St. Lawrence before the attacks o f the Iroquois, seeking shelter in the islands of Lake Manitouline. T h e Ottawa were, since called Ottawas, who had sided there. retired to the northern part o f the sula o f Michigan. T h e llywolots. or a portion of them. again a,sailed by the b!,!tittois, fled t o the Straits illimacititte, and still a!,:iin t o the shores of Lake Superior. Being again followed by their implacable they were enabled to repulse them, and to sotue extent protected b y the French, the 11-rm./ors dwelt on the borders of the great lakes which surround the peninsula of Michigan. 1668, the celebrated Father Marquette, by Father Claude Dablon, founded a mission at • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H Marie, at the northern extremity o f Michigan ; and i n 1671 t.%-tablished. that of St. Ignace, on the Straits illimacinac (now spelled Mackinaw). In 1670, a French officer, Daumont de St. the flag of France at the Saut Sainte Marie ceremonies, and, so far as words could do so, of the whole region o f the great lakes in the name of " t h e Most H i g h , Mighty, and Redoubtable Monarch, Louis, Fourteenth o f that name, Most Christian K i n g of France and of Navarre." But the French were by no means disposed to tent with sounding proclamations. S t i l l eager to spread the reign o f the cross among the heathen, and doubtless not unwilling t o extend the domain o f King Louis over new empires, the intrepid Marquette pushed forward into the wilderness, and discovered the mighty stream which has since borne the name o f Mississippi. S h o r t l y in 1773, while coasting along the eastern shore o f Lake Michigan, Marquette discovered a stream which for several miles. and t o which he gave the name o f St. Joseph. T h i s was, so far as known, the first of Europeans with the fertile valley, in t h e eastern part of which lies the county of Branch. But a still greater explorer than Marquette was about to traverse the lakes and lands of the great West, like Marquette, he did not subordinate all other objects to the spread of his religion. I n the month of August, 1679, the wonder-stricken savages on the shores of Detroit River saw what seemed t o them a huge canoe, with immense wings. stemming the powerful current without the aid o f oars or paddles, and swiftly traversing the placid sheet of water now known as Lake St. Clair. T h i s was the" Griffin," a schooner o f 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 of the upper lakes. I t s commander was Robert Cavelier de La Salle, the most hardy and adventurous of all lant Frenchmen who explored the wilds of North America, and the one whose discoveries did the most to extend the dominions of his The only portrait which has been preserved of represents h i m a s a blue-eyed, handsome cavalier with blonde ringlets, apparently better fitted fir the $111011.1f than the Ibrests of America ; but a thousand not only the courage but the extraordinary vigor hood o f this remarkable man. H e was accompanied b y Tonti, a * l e n t Italian exile, who was his second mand, b y 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 tenwest-tossed Luke Huron, through the Strait of 3fichillioneinac, out upon the unknown waste of Lake Miehigarand at length came to anchor in Green Bay. T h e n c e she was with a part of her crew and a cargo of furs, while trepid L a Salle with a score of men remained t o explore the vast uneonquercol empire which lay spread before him. He and his comrades in birch-bark canoes coasted along the western shore of Jake Michigan. reaching its southern COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 1 1 extremity on the eighteenth day of October, 1679. T h e n c e the flotilla proceeded to the mouth of the St. Joseph River.* At its mouth he built a fortified trading-post, to gave the name of Fort of the Miarnis, and which tended both to facilitate commerce and curb the hostility of the surrounding tribes. Pottawatianties were found at the southern end arid on the western shore of gan This trading-post, or fort, was the first built for pose 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 over the peninsula of Michigan, including the county which is the subject of this history. L a Salle and remained several weary months at the St. Joseph awaiting the return of the "Griffin," but that ill-fated bark heard of after leaving the outlet of' Green Bay. W h e t h e r as is probable, i t went down with all its men before the gales of one of the great inland seas, or was captured a t anchor by jealous savages, its crew butchered and ad itself destroyed, is one o f the unsolved problems o f American history. Despairing at length o f the "Griffin's" return, with a portion of his men in December proceeded up Joseph River in canoes to South Bend, in the of Indiana, whence they made their way overland to the head-waters of the Illinois. T h e future career of venturous explorer is not especially connected with t h e history o f this region, and must be dismissed in a few word After numerous remarkable adventures once t o return t o Canada on foot) La Salle explored the Mississippi t o the sea, and took verbal possession o f the adjacent country for the benefit of King Louis teenth, by the name of Louisiana. W h i l e ever, to colonize the new domain lie met with fortunes, and was at length assassinated by two of his own men in Texas, in the year 1687. But, notwithstanding the unfortunate end o f the great discoverer, his achievements had extended the dominion of France more widely than had any of his patriots, and from that time forth the Bourbon tained an ascendency more or less complete throughout all the vast region extending from Quebec to until compelled to resign i t nearly a century later by the prowess of the British. F r e n c h vessels circled around the great lakes on the track of the ill-fitted " forts and trading-posts were established in the and French missionaries bore the crow among with redoubled zeal. French adroitness succeeded lishing friendly relations with the Indians on the shores of all the upper lakes, and members of all the found their way to Fort Frontenac (now even to Montreal, with packages of furs to sell to dren of their great father across The English, busily engaged in building up a compact empire along thesea-coast, scarcely attempted • Prow a few Afrorroi• who were then loonier] there, La Salle walled I t the river of the M i a m i . . �12 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M It '11W their Gallic competitors in gaining control over interior. T h e various Indian tribes doubtless would have rejected with scorn the idea of French ownership i n 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 between the The Indians around the upper lakes were the to court the friendship of the French, since i t was only from the latter that they could obtain arms and ammunition to contest w i t h the terrible Iroquois. A f t e r the time o f 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 fluence over all the southern part of the peninsula. I n 1701, however, another frontier post was established, to overshadow that of St. Joseph. I n 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 o f " Fort Ponchartrain," b u t became known by the appellation of " Detroit." and the whole of Michigan were nominally a part of the province of Canada, and so remained during both French and English rule. D u r i n g the French dominion, however, the provincial government exercised very little authority, except to appoint commanders of the various posts. T h o s e commanders ruled both the soldiers and the few civilians about as they The establishment of this post increased still more the influence of the French throughout the West, throughout the peninsula of Michigan. T h e r e seemed little doubt that this whole region was to be subject to French rule, and fancy might have pictured these and rippling rivers overlooked b y the baronial castles o f French seigneurs, while around them clustered dwellings o f their loyal retainers. F r e n c h bunters and trappers made their way into all parts o f the peninsula, establishing friendly relations with t h e natives, and not unfrequently forming unions more or less permanent with the copper-colored damsels of the Of these tribes w e are especially concerned with the Poitawaltanties, who soon obtained entire control o f the valley of the St. Joseph, who are known to have been fully established here in 1721, and who for over a the undisputed lords of its noble forests, its pellucid lakes and its grassy glades. F r o m the time of the eries already mentioned down t o the beginning ment and cultivation b y the whites, the history o f the territory now composing Branch County, with the rest of the St. Joseph Valley, is confined substantially to of the follawatiantie Indians. T o them and the following three chapters CHAPTER TEM P O T TAWAT TA K I E n General Relations of the lobos Tribein—irogosis Their Location—Ntunersoui Tribes of dligospais ases— uothasis.—Their Lassos with the &soma a M alippineui. fistablishuteat in the Saint Joseph Vsilisp—Cheappie Absence o f Rotosooe--Indias Warforts—lodios pricing an Reenly—Ineolt sod Tortorit—Adoption—The Missive of Saint Juseph—Potlawatosseis Friestisktip for the French of Detroit—Trading with Preach sod English--Tbe War —Raids on the Prontiers--Frooeh Records of the Poessisou.....,e• Peace IN order to give a correct idea of the position and history of the Poltawattawie Indians, so long the lords County and all the adjacent country, it i s necessary very briefly to sketch the general relations of the Indians part o f North America. O f course the writer o f a mere county history does not pretend t o have investigated this abstruse subject by reference to original sources tion; he is obliged t o depend on those who have made those matters the study of their lives,—especially cis Parketten, the accomplished author o f the 'Conspiracy of Pontiac," the "Discovery of the Great West," and other works on cognate When the French and English hunters the dark forests whose gloomy masses rolled from of the North Atlantic far back beyond the when the most adventurous among them their eyes with the gay prairies still farther westward, they found two great Indian races occupying the whole land front the ocean to the Mississippi, and from the valleys nessee to the frozen regions o f Northern ward of these limits were the Mobilian tribes, of whom the Cherokees, Chickasaws, and others have since adopted t o some extent the customs o f the whites, while west o f the Father of Waters were the great Dakota race, cipal representatives, the Sioux, still roam in over the prairies, a terror to all who cross The two races, who, as stated a few lines the whole northeastern portion of the United States and a large part of Canada, were the Iroquois and the _l/gory/ins. 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 Algotiquias around. T h e five tribes of the Iroquois, commonly known as the Five Nations (afterwards the Six Nations), occupied a strong position, extending from the banks o f the Hudson nearly to those of the Niagara, protected on the north b y the waters of Lake Ontario, on the south by the mountains vania, and now comprising the heart o f the great Empire State. T h e 11:yandota, or Hunaes. before an outlying bunch .of the same race, but hostile t o the great confedesiiiy ; while the Tuscaroras were a friendly 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 o f the Atenaquis i n Canada, l'egnots and Narragansetts in New England, Delawares i n Pennsylvania. Shawnees i n Ohio, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . .1/iant5s in Ohio and Indiana, Illinois in the territory State which still bears their name, Souks, Foxes, /mutes in the country west of Lake Michigan, while the great peninsula of Michigan, and some were occupied by the Ojiliways, or and the tribe which is the especial subject of this chapter, the Pottawattamns. A l l these, though sundered and often warring desperately among themselves, shown by students of their characteristics to to one great stock, and to have spoken various dialects language. T h e y outnumbered the Five Nations more than ten t o one; y e t such was the superior skill, sagacity, and prowess o f the confederates that able to defeat their disunited foes one after die other, till none could stand before them, and the terror of spread over h a l f the continent. E v e n t h e 11:yastiots, though o f the same race, and almost equal i n numbers, lacked the ferocious energy of the Five Nations, driven before diem as deer are driven before panther The three tribes o f Algonqui,i stock j u s t mentioned, the Ojitwas, the OttaUMS, and the in the forepart of the eighteenth century united in a rude confederacy. somewhat similar t o the celebrated league of the Iroquois, but far less thorough and leas potent. T h e dialects o f the three tribes differed less even than was usual among the various branches o f the Algonquin ram, and, notwithstanding some differences o f members could understand each other without the aid of an interpreter. The Ojihwas, outnumbering both the other two tribes combined, dwelt i n the frozen region o f Lake Superior, where their descendants still chase the elk and moose amid the gloomy pines, and spear t h e i r finny prey sides of frail canoes, rocked on the boiling waters o f the Sant Sainte Marie. T h e Ottawas, who had Canada before the hatred o f the all-conquering Iroquois, had their principal headquarters in the vicinity of Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, where, after the erection of chartrain by their French friends, they felt comparatively secure from their terrible enemies. F i n a l l y, the domain of the Pottawattamies, the subject of these from the vicinity of Chicago around the head of gan. northward to the month of the Kalamazoo while to the eastward it extended so as to include of the St. Joseph, the Kalamazoo, and other streams which flow into Lake Michigan from the central portion o f the peninsul The exact period at which the Pedtutoatiarni,a themselves i n the valley o f the St. Joseph i s unknown. Unless L a Salle was mistaken, the Miami's occupied the banks of the St. .Joseph in 1678, at wkiich time seottamies are believed to have been mostly in of Green Bay. I t is certain, however, that they were i n the St. Joseph Valley in 1721 (having probably themselves there about the beginning of the century). and there they remained until within the nietnory of men still living. It will be undersyssl, however. that the 0.51 ' n of the various tribes of the Iroyaois arid .tly,,nria raves at that 1 3 distant period can only be given with ness. T h e i r boundaries were constantly changing. Tr i b e s were frequently driven b y the fortunes o f war from the homes o f their fathers, or even blotted from the list of forest nationalities. Sometimes they changed ties 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 tions, but i n many eases outlying clans dwelt at a long distance from the parent tribe, being by the villages of' other nations. T h u s , though the main body of the Pottawattamies were to be found as 1721 stretching from the head of' Lake to the head of the St. Joseph River, there were for siderable time two or three detached villages in the vicinity of Detroit, and others i n t h e neighborhood o f Green Bay. Besides these more permanent changes o f location, the several bands o f which each nation was composed were, even in time of peace, constantly migrating to and the domain which unquestionably belonged t o their tribe. In summer they raised corn (that is, the squaws did) in one place, i n winter they hunted i n another, perhaps a hundred miles distant, and i n spring they visited still another location for the purpose o f fishing; not always returning to their former ground t o harvest their crops. Y e t , notwithstanding these various changes by which the Pottawattamies were more affected, they continued for over a century and a quarter the masters o f the territory composing this county, and their bloody record is perhaps quite as deserving of being embodied i n history as are those o f several querors While, however, the admirers of stirring adventure and desperate conflict may find something o f interest story of an Indian tribe, i t would be hopeless for the lover of romance to seek there for aught to gratify his taste. N o truthful delineation can present the Indian as character. Apathetic in an extraordinary degree to the softer passions, it is seldom, indeed, that his actions, although the slightest cause is liable him to the direst fury of hate. H e had rather scalp than a The Pottawattamie inherited the usual characteristics of the Indian, and especially of the Algonquin race. rible in battle, less sagacious in council, than the men Five Nations, he was, nevertheless, like the rest of his red brethren, a brave, hardy, and skillful warrior, an ager so far 38 his knowledge extended, generally a faithful friend, and invariably a most implacable enemy. time he devoted to war, the chase, or to the women the labor of raising his scanty supplies of Indian corn, pumpkins, and beans, of transporting hold goods from point to point, and every other burden which he could possibly impose upon her He lived in the utmost freedom which i t is imagine, consistent with any civil or military whatever. H i s sachems exercised little authority declare war and make peace, to determine on of the tribe, and to give wise counsels allaying airy �14 ; H I S D n a 01,' B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . hip which might arise among the people. T h e r e was no positive law compelling Even when war was declared there was no way the braves could be compelled to take the war-pub. A n y war-chief could drive a Make in the ground, danoe dance around it, strike his tomahawk into it with a yell of defiance, and call for volunteers to go forth against I f his courage or capacity were doubted, he obtained followers. I f he were of approved valor and skill, number would grasp their tomahawks in response to peal; while, if he were a chieftain distinguished far for deeds of blood and craft, the whole nation to arms, and all its villages would resound with notes of the war-song, chanted by hundreds brave With followers few or many, the chief went the foe. B u t he could not compel their obedience ment 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. T h e most extreme penalty only consisted in giving the dishonor due the dastard a visible form, by enveloping him in the garments of and compelling him to perform the menial labors usually performed by the weaker sex. B u t to an tomed to look down on his squaw as infinitely this would be the nfost terrible of inflictions. As is well known, the original weapons o f the Indians were bows and arrows (the latter tipped with clubs, stone tomahawks, and scalping-knives also made o f sharpened flints. B u t , stubborn as they were all the arts o f civilization offered b y the whites, they grasped eagerly a t t h e formidable implements o f w a r brought across the Atlantic. I r o n tomahawks ing-keives could be cheaply manufactured, and soon an ample supply o f them was furnished b y the Dutch and English to the Iroquois, and b y the French to ous tribes o f the _Algonquin race under the that subtle 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 authorities on either side, the best warriors and hunters in the various tribes were soon provided with these struments of slaughter. I n fact, whenever war ened between the French and English, both :iger to enlist all the Indian allies they could, 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 i n the most hideous figures, his head crested with feathers of the wild birds he had slain, the Indian went forth on the I f the band was a small one, it lurked in the vicinity hostile villages until a still smaller number of could be caught at a distance from their friends. These were, if possible, shot down from an ambush (for circumstances will an Indian run any risk which i t ble to avoid), their scalps were stripped o ff with eager haste, and the victors fled towards their homes utmost I f the whole nation turned out i n arms, they might attempt the total destruction of' their enemy b u t even then surprise. was generally a n essential element flurrying h,rward b y unfrequented paths, throuLfti th‘• trackless forest, guided only b y the sun and tle- ivell-known courses o f the streams, t h e little army nached the neighborhood of' the fis-. ing their a frfPr4oalt. I by waited an opportunity for attack, wit ii was usually made :it night. W h e n ing i t at were wrapped i n slumber. the whole crowd o f painted d,Atiolis vimuld burst in among them, knife, and tomahawk with furious sesl, sod finikials to every heart with the fiendish sound e r shrieked from a thousand throats. T h e torch was applied to the frail cabins of the unhappy people, sad nen, wafts and children were stricken down in by the lurid light of their When the first f u r y o f savage hate had been satiated. prisoners were taken, but these were frequently destined to a fate far more terrible than the speedy death they had escaped. B o u n d with thongs and loaded with burdens, they were urged on with remorseless the home of their captors, and i f , enfeebled b y wounds o r sickness, they lagged behind, the ready tomahawk p u t an end to their miseries. B u t i f the prisoner, withstanding the hardships of the march, was brought alive to wams of the victors, and especially i f lie were a well-known warrior, human fancy never painted a more than that which awaited him, save where i t the tortures of the damned in 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, hawks, and every other possible missile at his naked form, as he dashed with the energy o f despair between their furious ranks. T h e n , unless he was saved lenity, came the fiercer agony of the stake, times for hours and even for days, accompanied b y all the refinements o f torment which a baleful ingenuity could invent, yet supported with unsurpassable fortitude by the victim, who often shrieked his defiant deathamid the last convulsions of his Yet women, children, and youths were 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 i t was decided thus to receive a captive into the tribe, all appearances of hate seemed immediately to disappear; the best of all 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. E i t h e r because the change WU so great from the expected torture to the kindly adoption, or because the captors knew ao well whom t o choose as recipients o f their indulgenee. very seldom ttat the latter attempted to escape from their new alliances. N a y , eves young white men and women, thus adopted i n t o the ranks o f the savages, frequently became so well satisfied with forest life as to inducement afterwards offered them to return to trynien. Such were some o f the salient characteristics o f t h e �HISTORY O F B R A N C H North American Indians, shared b y the Pottawattamies, the subject of these chapters. T h o s e characteristics were common to the A/90iiquia and Iroquois races, the principal difference being i n the greater intensity with which they were manifested by the latter. T h e Shawnee was subtle in war; the Iroquois was still more so. T h e Ottawa and haughty toward others, but he was met by coldness and haughtiness on the part of the Iroquois. T h e Pottawattatnie, the confederate o f the Ottawa, and ferocious, but he was surpassed both i n 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 o f large numbers, confirmed b y the immense range of Indian operations, and the terror which they inspired on the frontiers. Y e t the celebrated Five Nations, in the height of their power, numbered altogether but two or three thousand warriors, the Ityandot branch of the Iroquois had about the same number, and the various tribes of Algonquin lineage were proportionally small. A s near as can be ascertained, the Pottawattamies at ning of the eighteenth century numbered about dred warriors, including those o f Illinois and Wisconsin. As has been said, they were linked i n a loose with the more numerous Ottawas and Chippewas, but the Pottawattamies were the only tribe with this county to make their acts a subject of interest in this work. T h e others will not be mentioned the story of their savage deeds is necessarily intermingled with the record of the Pottuwattamies. T o that now address I t was near the beginning of the eighteenth century that the Jesuits, who had obtained almost a monopoly ary 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 by La Salle. I n 1712, Father Marest describes as beinL, in a very flourishing condition. have been the success o f the holy fathers i n the task of Christianizing the Indians there is no doubt that tained a great personal influence over them, priests uatu rally used to cement their friendship 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 Pottauxotamies was thoroughly demonstrated i n just named, 1712. In M a y of that year, a large body of Sacs, Moscoutins, tribes o f Algonquin lineage b u t a t enmity with t h e other nations of that race (and supposed to be acting under the influence o f the /requoia, foes o f the French), suddenly appeared before chartrain. threw up some rude breastworks, to destroy the post. O n the thirteenth o f the month a fierce assault was made, and, though not at first it was maintained with such energy and by that the little garrison o f twenty soldiers was placed in a situation of But while the wearied Frenchmen were husbanding their scanty resources in expectation o f a still more COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 1 5 slaught, their ears were saluted by hundreds of whoops, and a large body o f friendly Wyandots, Ottawas, and Pottawattamies burst from the forest, and selves impetuously upon the startled besiegers of the fort. The latter resisted t o the best o f their ability, and for a short time the battle-field resounded with the shouts contestants, the constant rattle of musketry, the groans of the wounded, and now and then w i t h the halloo o f some successful brave as he tore the coveted trophy from the head o f his victim. B u t , aided by the fire of the garrison, the rescuing party were successful, and t h e Sacs, Foxes, and Mascoutins utter rout through The vengeance o f the victors, in accordance with Indian custom, was visited alike upon men, women, from eight hundred to a thousand of whom were slain. S u great was the injury inflicted that the Fox nation ported to be completely destroyed. T h i s was not but i t was compelled to flee to the west side of gan, where i t long remained, being distinguished by the peculiar bitterness borne by its members toward the French. On the other hand, the friendship thus the French and the Pottawattainies, Ottawas, dots endured through more than half a century fortunes, and was scarcely severed when and the Wcst the Gallic flag went down in before the conquering English. During the thirty years following the event tioned, there are b u t few and scanty records to show the acts or the Pottawattamies. T h e y continued to cultivate their little patches of corn, and t o hunt the deer through the forests of Southern Michigan and around the head o f the lake of that name, generally exchanging their surplus furs with their friends, the French, for gilt ornaments, guns, powder, and brandy. T o the honor of the Jesuits, it should be said that they the sale of this last commodity to the Indians, braving the enmity o f the most powerful officials i n so doing. B u t although the Canadian voyageur 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 t o from grasping the enormous profits made by selling ardent spirits to the Indians. C i v i c functionaries, 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 i n communication with the English, became deeply infected with the fatal thirst for spirituous liquors, which has beep bane of their raw. But although the Pottwouteamies usually traded with the French, yet when the English opened a at Oswego, on Lake Ontario, in 1727, many of ber, with other denizens o f the upper-lake region, found their way thither with their furs, having discovered that the English gave much better bargains i n t h e Indians' necessities of powder and whisky than did the French. I t will be understood that there were chants in those days, by whom packages o f and otter-skins could be sent to Oswego or Montreal for �16 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . sale. T h e adventurous J'ottrourattontie hunter who wanted to drive a better bargain than lie could make at tier posts must launch his frail canoe, with its load on the water* 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 agara, carry his little vessel around the launch it again upon the bosom of Ontario, arid make his toilsome way to Oswego or Frontenac. H a v i n g made the customary exchange for powder, coes, and brandy, he must return by the same route, not only braving the hardships of the voyage but of ambush by the dreaded irorprois; for though intervals of peace between the fierce democracies" East and the \Vest, yet there was always danger wandering band of warriors would seek vengeance for old but unforgotten injuries upon any less whom fortune might throw in their path. The greater part of the Indian trade, however, ried on by the French coureurs de toss, a wild and hardy race, who adopted, to a great extent, the formed Indian alliances of more or less through whom the French influence was tended over the nations of Algonquin race. I n 1736 the French local authorities reported t o the ment that they exercised authority over a hundred and three tribes, numbering sixteen thousand warriors and eighty-two thousand souls. T h i s authority was and precarious, and might more properly have scribed as influence; and yet it was a very to the French in their constant rivalry with In 1744, after a thirty years' peace, war broke tween those two great nations, and each at their Indian allies to the war-path. F a r and Canada and the Great West, the French officials labored to stir up the passions of the Algonquin braves, while the English sought the aid o f the Iroquois, much fewer in number, but more daring in spirit and more compact in organizatio Bands of all the Northwestern tribes made most murderous assaults on the frontiers o f and Virginia, inflicting the most terrible cruelties upon the settlers, and suffering scarcely less in return, when into the hands of the fierce borderers, who hated men as the Jews hated the heathen whose lands seized. O t h e r bands made their way over the to Montreal, received full equipments there, and then, sometimes under their own chiefs, sometimes partisan officers, went forth to harry the frontiers of New York and In 1745, one of the numerous records made by the Canadian officials states that fifty " Pumas, and ten Illinois came t o go to war. Another memorandum, dated August 22, the same the arrival o f thirty-eight Otitatcois (Ottawas) of Detroit, seventeen Sautrrnrs, twenty-four Hurons, and fourteen .‘ Poul,watarnirs." T h e French records show ing out o f not less than twenty marauding expeditions against the colonists o f New Hampshire, and New York in one year, and chronicle their turn with walla aud prisoners. T h s colonial did their best to retaliate in kiwi, but the mall amiber ci their only allies, the Iroquois, made i t isepacticable a . equal the atrocities of The war lamed four years, consisting principally predatory excursions, during which the make frequent mention o f the "Posuessotainies" as setive in gaining whatever glory could be reaped from cious achievements. T h e contest was closed, however, in 1748, by the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, and again tvolloutie braves were !breed to content themselves with warfare with other tribes, save when occasionally band could make a stealthy foray against the settlers o f Pennsylvania. which would be promptly disowned by the wily old sachems of the tribe, as the act of 1301111C "bad young C H A P T E R I V. T H E P O T TAWAT TA M I E S — C o n t i n u e d . . The Crisis—Beginning of War—The Three BriLddoek's Advance--Indians a t Fort 1,o4u,sne—Beaujru thew to follow H i m —Attack upon the British—liesperate Battle—The British routed—Fi..lidith ,,rgie-,—The Indians attaelt the Frontiers—Other Indian 0 r t G ran t — Pot anatomies at Fort Niagara—Their Defeat—Fall of takes Possession of Detroit—Indian Dislike of the Beglish Conspiracy of Pontiac—Number of the Schemes—His Treachery exposed—The Atteek—The Biers ture of Fort St. Joseph—The Potusweftwasies make Peeee of Bloody Run— Potentontsaesies take Part—The Bridals disked —Pottswiattastiss, etc., attack a Veasel--ladiesse i t to B a t Pontiac withdraws—End of the Siege—Gee. Bradstreet mews op the Lakes with Army—General Sabasissioa of die Trams— B M & l'osts re-established—Sir William Johnsea's Testis with tnicanarnies—An Indian Speech—Fate of Pontiac— of the Northern Indians. THE long and almost constant struggle between the French and English f o r the mastery o f North America was rapidly approaching a crisis. T h e former, cured an influence over the Indians throughout the Wait. and having established a line of forts and trading-posts by way o f Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and the 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 the river to the Mississippi. T h e slower absorbed with the work of chopping, and plowing, ing houses, were yet determined to prevent which would have brought a line of hostile posts almost to their In 1754, Major George Washington, in command o f a body of rangers who were guarding the frontiers ginia, attacked and defeated a detachment o f French and Indians who were apparently- acting as spies upon hint, thus beginning a war destined to convulse two continent/1, to expel the flag of France from the greater part America, and to pave the way for the American Revolution and American indepetMenee. L i t t l e more was done that year than t o fight a 1_•vc imsinsispient skirmishes. terrify the frontier with a few savage deeds ��18 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . their followers, arousing their passions b y the same arts which Beaujeu had employed upon themselves. L a t e that night the war-dance was danced in a iscure uf and Pottatouttanaies, Ottawas, Shatostees, akis, worked themselves into a frenzy of valor by shrieks, contortions, The next morning, the fatal 9 t h o f July, brought in the news that Braddock's army was on t h e move, and was crossing the Monongahela from to the western side, sonic twelve or fourteen miles from the fort. Shawnees, "ttawattanales, Abenahis, and all their brethren were soon astir, the scenes of the previous night were rerMacted, and the warriors, while making their few preparations, aroused each other's enthusiasm with shrieks, and shouts, arid brandishing of tomahawks, and impromptu fragments o f the war-dance, and brief rehearsals o f their valorous deeds on former occasions. Contrecreur ordered kegs of bullets and gunpowder to be broken open at the gate of the fort, so that all the Indians might help themselves. T h u s amply furnished with save the breech-clout and a long line of braided wound around the waist, to which was scalping-knife, powder-horn, and bullet-pouch, the yelling bands hurried off into the forest. The hundred or more warriors o f each tribe were under their own chief, nor does there seem to have been any unity of action among them, save through the which they voluntarily yielded to Contrecceur Tradition indeed asserts that the Ottawas were led by the great chieftain whose name was in a few years to terror along a thousand miles o f English frontier, nowned Pontiac, and i f so it is quite possible that pewas and Pottawattamies (who, as before stated, were loosely leagued in a warlike confederacy with the Ottawas) might have followed the same daring leader. T h e r e is, however, little evidence to support the tradition, influenced by the renown of some very distinguished chief, the warriors of each tribe usually acted by themselves, and sometimes divided into still When Beaujeu had superintended the fitting out Indians, lie 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 warfare. Contrecceur was l e f t almost alone i n the fort. Though the Indians had started first they were to get ahead o f their father, Beaujeu, and they speedily arranged themselves in irregular order on either side of the narrow road along which marched the little column o f French and Canadians. A s 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 o f surprise. T h e second i n command under Beaujeu was Lieutenant Dumas, and another partisan officer de Langlade, afterwards a resident o f Green Bay, and by some considered the principal pioneer o f Wisconsin. H e was especially distinguished f o r his influence Ottawas, Pottawattanties, and other Indians of the upper lake Beaujeu knew that about nine miles from the road coming from the south, after again c r a w * de, Mosiong,aliela to the east aide Ion which the feat ated), wound upward to the heights above l i r tween gloouiy ravines with precipitous ides, ouch as seen in America, where tall trees growing at the beside the almost perpendicular walls, their with the undergrowth at the top, thus eoneealing from the eyes of all but the most observant woodsmen. I t is supposed that he intended to place his men in ambush in these ravines and fire on the unsuspecting battalions dock after they had partially marched through He hurried forward at great speed, but the taken up so much time that, i f such was his was a little too late to carry i t fully into effect. A s his foremost men reached the isthmus between the two ravines, a little after noon, the vanguard o f the British army came into view only a few rods distant. rapher 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 treaties for several minutes before he would consent t o go forward. B e that as it may, the order was soon French, Canadians, and Indians plumped forward at full spee One of the English perceived Beanjea, clad fashion in a fringed hunting-shirt, wringing 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. A l m o s t at the same moment the French leader halted and waved his hat. T h e Canadians formed an irregular line acmes the road, and began bring briskly on these British who were in sight. while the Indians, once more raising the sprang into the ravines on either side, and plied ets with equal vigor. A detachment o f grenadiers, under Gage (afterwards the celebrated Gen. the British troops at Bosun) at the beginning o f lution), formed the principal part of the vanguard. T h e y returned t h e fire o f the Canadians, and one o f shots killed Capt. Beaujeu, on i h o m the whole enterprise seemed t o depend. H i s men were i n truth couraged, and when some artillery, brought forward b y Braddock, made the hills and forests re-echo with mendous volleys, the Indians (who are usually ous about facing the big guns) were on the point But Dumas, the second i n command, quickly rallied his men after the fall o f Beaujeu, and the Indians covered that they were almost completely screened from artillery fire by their position in They could establish themselves close to the to the bushes and small trees, and, barely lifting faces above the level, could fire, in almost at the red battalions which crowded the road a few rods away, while the great cannon-balls crashed above ting the limbs from hundreds of trees, but hardly single warrior. T h e artillerists were„shot down a t their guns, and the infantry fell b y the score. T h e y tremely frightened t o seeing that the fire, as '-came out o f the ground at their feet," and • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . gether in crowds, tiring their muskets in the air, ing the best possible mark f o r their unseen foes. T h e Indians s o o a w the dismay they were causing, and their own courage became proportionately inflated. themselves down the ravines, enveloping the column i n a murderous line of fire on both sides, while dom exposing more than a head or an arm. In vain the British officers, with unquestioned bravery, endeavored t o encourage their terrified soldiers; Braddock himself rushed into the thickest of the 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 the efforts of his chief with far more wisdom. wise two horses killed under him and his clothes riddled with bullets ; i n vain the three companies of men, preserving something like composure amid the terrific scene, fought in Indian style from behind the trees; neither valiant example, nor military authority, nor the hope preservation could inspire with courage that demoralized throng When i t has been impracticable to fight Indians own fashion, good commanders have sometimes driven them from their coverts with the bayonet, as the red men generally have a wholesome horror o f cold steel. B o t h Wayne at the Miami and Harrison at these tactics with great success. B u t either Braddock did not think of this or his men would not go forward, and the Indians continued t o maintain their strong position in the ravines At length, after three hours' fighting, after had been mortally wounded and borne from the Gage and Gates (the future conqueror o f Saratoga) had also been severely wounded, after sixty-three officers out of eighty-six, and over seven hundred men o u t o f twelve hundred, had been killed o r wounded, the remainder fled in a rabble rout across the Monongahela, hastened on f o r several days t i l l they met the rear-guard, and with them pursued their course t i l l they reached retreat in Philadelphia. The French and Indians, who had suffered some loss, though i t was trifling compared with that o f nents, only pursued their defeated foes t o the river, and then spread themselves over the field to seek for scalps. T h e Indians fairly went crazy with joy. A colonial prisoner previously captured, and held at Fort Duquesne, described them as rivaling itself on their return to that fortress a t night. H a r d l y a warrior b u t had one or more scalps t o adorn his girdle. Most o f them had secured articles o f clothing or other plunder from the dead or prisoners. A l l were the blood of their unfortunate victims, and all ing, whooping, leaping up and down, and brandishing their weapons in a perfect delirium Here might be seen a stalwart Ottawa, naked as forth in the morning, save that upon his head the plumed hat of a Vritish officer; there qrodc a haughty Pottawattain, a red coat, dyed a deeper crimson b y the blood of its late owner, buttoned across his a gold watch clutched in his hand to be gazed at 1 9 miring but half-suspicious eyes, while two or haired scalps, suspended from the ramrod of his fearful evidence of the sorrow which that day in far-off English homes. T h e glorious tragedy of battle never had a more hideous afterpiece of mingled horror than was presented around Fort Duquesne on the 9th of July, 1755. F e w prisoners were most of these suffered the awful, the almost death at the stake, which Indian vengeance prescribes for their defeated The defeat of Braddock, and consequent retreat o f the whole army, unloosed the plosions and dispelled of all the Western Indians,—even o f those who had not before taken up arms for the French,—and thousands o f tomahawks were grasped i n the hope of burying them in the brains o f the hated English colonists,—a too often fulfilled by the terrible reality. excursions constituted the principal part o f the warfare waged by the Western Indians during the years. A few Pottawattamies probably found their way to the armies of the Marquis de Montcalm, taking part with him in the capture o f Oswego, i n 1756, and i n that o f Fort William Henry and subsequent massacre, but their numbers were so scant, and the part so unimportant, that i t i s needless to refer to i t further here In 1758, the Pottawattamies, with the Indians, were again summoned to the defense of quesne, then threatened by the army of Gen. Forbes. L e s s than a thousand warriors assembled there; for while Indian tribe could keep a thousand miles of frontier ror, yet, owing to its small numbers and its ocratic organization, it could not, or would not, large number o f men for protracted military They could hardly expect to repeat the surprise stroyed Braddock, and the French commander was fully prepared t o retreat i f necessary; yet, nevertheless, they did succeed in inflicting destruction on a tion of the invading army. Maj. Grant, with a battalion o f regulars, was ward b y Gen. Forbes t o reconnoitre, and t o hold a safe position not far from Fort Duquesne. T h e to have imbibed the idea that he could capture the fort without assistance, and carry off t h e honors alone. H e accordingly marched up to within a very short distance o f the French stronghold. Perhaps his desire was to tempt the enemy from his fastness; i f so, he was only cessfu Suddenly the whole crowd of Ottawas, ,Thawnees, Delawares, etc., poured yelling from supported by the few French and Canadian Hurrying forward, they flung themselves impetuously upon the startled Britons, and succeeded in breaking Then swiftly succeeded the scenes of confusion so common when regular soldiers, under an commander, heard the terrible war-whoop sounding in their ears, and saw the forest flashing fire i n while scarcely a single enemy appeared. M a j . was cut off almost to a man, and onec more the riors indulged in a carnival of malignant joy. �20 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . But Gen. Forbes was too cautious t o be his force was too strong to be withstood, and when proached the fortress, previously so fiercely French and their Indian allies reluctantly retreated to their fastnesses still deeper in The next year, 1759, came the great and practically the final struggle between the French and English i n North America. C h a r l e s de Langlade, the partisan commander before mentioned, was with Montealni a t Quebec, with a body of Indians from the lake region, among doubtless a band o f Pottawattantie warriors, as that tribe was represented at almost every point where there was any fighting going on. T h e red men took an active some o f the preliminary struggles around Quebec, b u t when the audacity and good fortune of Wolfe had placed the English on the open field o f the Plains there was no chance for Indian tactics, and even the French and Canadian levies were driven back i n utter rout before the lead and steel of the British A few weeks before the fall o f Quebec a Anglo-American force, accompanied by a large body quois warriors, appeared before Fort Niagara, one o f the strongest of the French fortresses, and considered the key of the whole Western country. I t s commander called on his brethren for relief, and they responded promptly appeal. D ' A u b r y, the senior officer i n the West, Venango, now in the State o f Pennsylvania. perate energy he called together every man he ter from Le Bceuf, Presque Isle, Detroit, and other French posts on and near Lake Erie. T h e Western Indians had been in the habit of making these posts their but since the fall of Fort Duquesne they had been thusiastic in their devotion to French interests. Nevertheless, by using all his efforts, in gathering some six hundred of Puttawattanties, etc., who had so often danced dance and brandished the tomahawk in behalf of France. With these were joined near a thousand French dian soldiers, hastily gathered for a final struggle of French supremacy in the West. It was in the latter part of July that this in Indian canoes and French bateaux, coasted along the southern shore of Lake Erie, passed on down landed above the great cataract, and marched down t o relieve the fort. B u t Sir William Johnson, who come the commander of the besieging force, was not at all inclined to suffer the fate of Braddock. W e l l -apprised o f the approach of his foe, he left a sufficient number the trenches and marched forth t o meet him. S o o n the two armies were engaged in deadly conflict. Seldom has a battle been fought with more picturesque surroundings, or under more romantic circumstances. Beside the field of combat, but a hundred feet below, the mighty Niagara rolled through its darksome gorge, out of hearing, to the southward, thundered of waters which has made Niagara renowned throughout the world. T h e r e was everything to nerve on both sides to the most desperate s:ruggle. T h e fate o f Canada was still hanging in the balance, but few that if this stronghold should tiill into the hands of lish they would be able to eoatrol the upper lake tatintry, whatever might become of the valley of the On either side were regales soldiers of the nations of the world, colonial levier of rude appearance, but skilled in all the mysteries of fore• warfare, and asked Indians ready to split °pea each other's heads for the bent* of the European intruders. H e r e , while crossing bayonets with Frenchmen, and Canadians sad New Yorkers were aiming their fatal weapons at breasts, Shawnees and Mohawks were also to be gaged in deadly conflict, the Onondaga fought head with the Ottawa, and the tomahawk of the wattamie from the banks of the St. Joseph beat knife of the scowlint,..! Cayuya from the shores of lucid lake which still perpetuates The contest was brief and decisive. T h e French and their red allies were utterly defeated, and chased miles through the woods; their commander and taken prisoner, and a large portion of the was either slain o r captured. T h e fall o f Fort Niagara speedily followed. T h e Indians who escaped retuned 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. were concentrated on Montreal, and the Marquis dreuil, the governor-general o f Canada, surrendered that province and all its dependencies to the English. including all the posts on the upper lakes and i n the surrounding country. T h i s was the formal act which made Michigan a British territory, though the cause of the transfer is sought where Wolfe snatched victory .from t h e grasp o f death, on the Plains of Abraham. Maj. Robert Rogers, a celebrated New san, was selected by the British general to leada body of his rangers t o take possession o f Detroit, the tumn. A r r i v e d a t that post, he found a eland wattanties just below the fort on the western side o f the river, while the villages of the Wyantiots were to opposite, and 'those o f the Ottawas farther up. on what is now t h e American side. T h e f o r t was surrendered o n presentation o f a letter from the governorcing the capitulation. A l l the warriors hailed of the French flag with yells which might have spired by anger, but were quite likely t o have indicated only excitement over The next year (1761), the posts at Michillimacinac, Sant Sainte Marie, Green Bay, and St. Joseph (where the St. Joseph River enters Lake Michigan) were also to the English. T h i s practically consummated the transfer of Michigan to British rule. But the Indians of that territory were front the tremely restive at the presence o f the English, and even the Iroquois began t o think, when too late, that it would have been better to aid the French. and thus greater power o f the English. I n July, 1761, a council PM held near Detroit, at which the chiefs of the Ottawas. Chipprwas,Wyandois, and Pottatratrsni,s Met gates from the Six Nations, or at least a part of them. sod at which it was half agreed to endeavor to surprise Detroit, Fort Pitt, and all the other posts. T h e plot was • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . however, before any conclusion was reached. I t plained away as well as possible by the Indians, and the English paid very little attention to it. The a m o n g t h e Indians still continued. T h e change was great from t h e subtle complaisance o f the French, who veiled even acts o f aggression with plausible pretexts and flattering words, to the bluff and bearing of the English, who offended even when favor. T h e French traders, voyageurs, and COUITUI'S who feared the rivalry of the English in their fanned the rising hatred of the red men by a thousand wild stories regarding the intention o f the British t o destroy them, and the certainty that the French king would again send an army to drive out the intruders. I t was a t this time that the celebrated Ottawa chief, Pontiac, conceived the idea o f the great conspiracy w i t h which his name has been permanently associated by the genius of Parkumn, and in which the Pottawattantie tribe bore a prominent part. N e a r the close o f 1762, he sent ambassadors among all the tribes, from the great lakes to the far south, to rouse them t o united action against the English. B u t again the British got an inkling o f sign, and the plot In February, 1763, a treaty of peace was between Great Britain and France, the latter transfer to England of Canada, including Michigan and the Northwest, which had already been brought about by the force of arms. T h e news o f this event, however, did not reach Detroit until the following summer. B y of spring, Pontiac had nearly perfected his The tribes of Indians living eastward, at a given to assail all the posts from the head of Lake Erie to Fort Niagara; the Chippewas were to carry Saut Sainte Marie, while Pontiac reserved to himself, with his Ottawas and Pottawattandes, the attack upon Detroit. To the Pottawattandes was also assigned the capture o f Fort St. Sir William Johnson, who about this period made a careful estimate o f the numbers o f all the tribes o f the north, fixed t h e number o f Pottawattantie Michigan at three hundred and fifty, one hundred being temporarily located at Detroit and two hundred being in the St. Joseph Valley. I t is probable, however, that the number o f 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 o r even three times as many were small number to write a long chapter about, yet a dred Indians can make a terrible commotion. one of the most warlike of the Six Nations, of whom the celebrated Brant was the chief, had no more, and remarkable confederacy, the renown o f which continents, could muster but two thousand And at the very time of which we are writing, the deeds of those few hundred Pottateattamies, and o f three or four other tribes scarcely stronger than themselves, to terrify half the people of North America, and to startle the ministry of triumphant Britain with portents culable 2 1 On the 27th of May, 17f13, a council of wattandes, and Ilyttatiots, the nucleus o f the conspiring league, was held at the River Ecorces, near Detroit, Pontiac, with his wild eloquence, fired the hearts hearers, and prepared them for the deadly work I t was arranged that on the 2d of May he should mittance to the fort with a party of warriors, of dancing the calumet dance, should carefully observe its strength, and call another council to make final This was accordingly done without exciting suspicion. A few days later l'ontiac called the chiefs to in a large bark council-house, in the Po/fit/et/ 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 to the fort on pretense of holding a council with mandant, all apparently unarmed, but all with cealed under their blankets. A t a given motion o f the great chief, the officers assembled at the council were butchered, and the scalp-yells of the victors were to be the signal for a united attack b y a host of warriors the surprised and leaderless garrison. T h e plan adopted by A t this time Detroit was defended b y 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 o f the Detroit River, were several hundred families of who lived partly by agriculture, and partly by hunting, trapping, and trading with the Indians. T h e y were cellent 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. Y e t they were not foolish enough to suppose that two or sand Indians could destroy the British power i n North America, and were not at all disposed to to a terrible retribution by aiding the Some o f them, who were friendly to the 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 age and dullness, paid no attention t o their Yet somehow, on the eve o f the attack, lie did receive a warning which he heeded. A score of different preserved by tradition regarding the source of tion ; stories which only agree in declaring that the plot was betrayed by one o f the Indians or one of the latter. T h e common account, only because i t has a spice of romance in it, is that in the Pottawattantie village dwelt an Ojibwa damsel who had become the mistress of Gladwyn. T h e day before tended massacre she sought an audience of her 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 Ottawas, PMtawattantirs, and Nyandots, with the grim Pontiac at their head, marched i n "Indian file" fort, to hold a council with their white father. Besides these, some two hundred and Lilly other vnitri.rs admittance on various pretexts. for Iiladwyti, a ill, �or 22 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . amounting to rashness, had allowed all to enter. Pontiac passed through the gate he saw the whole garrison as well as the employees of the fur-traders under knew that so far as a surprise was concerned his failed. H i s warriors were all armed with knives hawks, and many of them had guns which had been filed off short, hidden under their blankets. H a d they boldly attacked the garrison and been assisted by outside, they might very probably have succeeded i n their attempt. B u t the Indian, though brave enough in way, will seldom engage in a square fight with sian unless he has a great advantage 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 published stating how, as Pontiac WM raising his belt o f wampum to give the fatal signal, Maj. Gladwyn anticipated hint, when " the drums at the door o f the rolled to the charge, the guards presented their the British officers drew their swords from the and how the major immediately stepped forward, the chieftain's blanket, and disclosed the shortened musket beneath. B u t Gladwyn's letter, published by Parkman, declares distinctly that he did not intimate of their intentions, and apparently negatives even tempted signal and the rolling of the drums; i t certainly negatives the traditional uncovering of the kets The Indians retired but did not yet throw off The next day, after another attempt to lull of the British, Pontiac spent the afternoon i n wattainie village consulting with the chiefs. On the ninth Pontiac made still another request mission with a large band, but M a j . Gladwyn refused entrance to any but the chief himself. T h e n a t last the latter unloosed the rage of his followers, which he had held so long in the leash. W i t h fiendish yells they selves 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. T h e Ottawa village was quickly moved to the west side or the the same night a band of Ojibwas came down from Lake Huron A t dawn, the morning of the tenth of May, the attack began. A t the pealing of the war-whoop on every side the soldiers rushed t o their posts. " A n d truly," man, " i t was time; for not the Ottawas alone but the whole barbarian swarm—Wyandots, Pottawattamies, and Ojibwaa—were upon them, and bullets rapped hard and fast against the palisades." Y e t , 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, bushes, keeping up an incessant fire at the loop-holes fort. T h e conflict was maintained for half the the baffled savages gradually retired, neither side having suffered heavy loss. T h e attack had failed, and those who knew the Indian character might naturally expect that, having been repulsed on their first spring, they slink away into the woods. I t was a of the command obtained by Pontiac over these riors, that he was able to retain them as -tong as he e r i in the uncongenial duties of But Pontiac, unused as he was to regular conceived the idea of starving out the garrison, and Weed there was considerable danger that he would do so. T h e supply of provisions was small, the French unwilling to brave the wrath of the savages, communication with the East was open by the river and lake, the chances of receiving succor is tine was couraging. Pontiac made such arrangements as ideas of war suggested. H e placed a band of mice along the river below the fort to cut off any who night approach, while another baud of the same tribe cealed near the fort to shoot any one who might After another long fusillade. Pontiac sent a Canadian to demand a surrender of the post, which was fuse For over a month the siege was closely continued, the Indians preventing every one from going out, coming within gun-shot o f the walls. T h e r e were two small English vessels in the river, and the garrison might easily have escaped, as indeed some of the was best, but Gladwyn peremptorily declined. supplies were eked o u t b y those across the river by the Canadians. and as long as the case the soldiers could hope to hold out t i l l 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 a long line of boats, which they saw approaching under the English flag, they were inexpressibly disappointed them filled only with naked savages and their captives. N e w s o f disaster now came thick and fast. One after another the garrison learned o f the capture o f the various little posts transferred t o the English by the French, and the slaughter or captivity of Of the twelve posts attacked during the wide-spread spiracy of Pontiac," all fell into the hands of save Detroit, Fort Pitt, and Only one o f these was especially connected w i t h t h e history of the tribe o f which we are writing. T h i s was Fort S t . Joseph, near t h e mouth o f St. Joseph River, where L a Salle had established a trading-post over eighty years before. I t had i n time become a French military post and the seat of a small but thriving colony dian f u r -traders and voyageurs. A f t e r the surrender t o the English t h e latter also maintained a post signed to curb to some extent the neighboring nties, and to furnish a convenient nucleus for the In the spring of 1763 it was garrisoned by ser, with fourteen men, who seem to have had hension of danger. On the 25th of May the ensign was told by some of the Indians that a party o f Potintrattamies had come from Detroit on a visit. S o o n after, a few braves, headed b y a chief named Washaste, came in, apparently for friendly • __ �IIISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . purposes. T h e n a Canadian informed Schlosser that the savages, who were thronging around and into the manifesting every indication of hostility. T h e cer left his apartment, and found both the parade racks thronged ivith insolent savages and dians. W h i l e he was endeavoring to get both English and Canadians into some kind of order, a yell was raised, the sentinel was tomahawked, the Pattawattamies on side rushed in, and i n less than two minutes, as afterwards declared, all t h e 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 showing that t h e rage o f the savage was n o t directed indiscriminately against the whites, b u t was against the haughty English. T w o or three English traders who were present were sheltered by French friends till the first fury was over, but could not avoid being ers by the Indians. A band of Pattawattamies then went to join their brethren at Detroit, taking with them lucky ensign and his three comrades. Fortunately several Pattawattamies had been imprisoned i n the f o r t before the outbreak f o r some offense, and were still held. For these the Indians exchanged the prisoners they had brought from St. Joseph,—one o f the very with which we have met of the red men oners. Generally they are too anxious t o burn them to suffer any sympathy for their own friends to interfere. To return to the siege o f Detroit. A b o u t the 20th o f June one o f 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. brought the news o f peace and the cession o f Canada to England. T h i s , however, was discredited not only tiac, but by many of the Canadians, who could not bear the idea o f 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 The siege progressed with a constant succession irr: incidents, though the Indians avoided an attack, and of course knew nothing of making approaches by and parallels. T h e y made many efforts to destroy son by surprise or to fire the schooners on depended f o r communication w i t h t h e outer world, b u t without About the middle of July the Wyandats and mies sent deputations to Maj. Gladwyn begging either from lack o f zeal or, as is quite likely, from motives of treachery. T h e major acceded t o the proposal o f the Wyandots, but when the Pattawattamies came that some of their people imprisoned in the f 4 t should first be given up. Gladwyn, on the other hand, demanded the English captives in possession o f that tribe. The Pattawattamirs brought three prisoners, but were peremptorily sent back for more whom they were known to have; then they brought six. T h e treaty was about to be concluded when one o f the six told Gladwyn that there were still others detained i n the camp o f the ntics, and the deputation was again turned sway. T h e y were furious with rage, and hastily consulting together in 2 3 their own tongue, determined t o kill the commander and then make their escape i f possible. B u t at that instant Gladwyn discovered an Ottawa among them, and called sonic o f the guard into the council-house to arrest him. The Pottawattamies then sullenly withdrew. Y e t in a day or two they returned with the other captives, when their own friends were freed and a treaty of peace I t is evident that either Pontiac's power was waning, or that t h e whole proceeding was a ruse, which quent events seems On the morning of the 29th o f July, twentybearing two hundred and sixty regulars, ent rangers, several small cannon, and fresh supplies o f provisions and ammunition, came u p the river. T h e s e were under Capt. Dalzell, an officer o f the but one who had had considerable experience in Indian fighting, having been present with Rogers and some of their most desperate conflicts. T h e commanded b y t h e redoubtable M a j o r Rogers himself, whose eagerness for battle and glory had sent him to the front with his little squad o f followers. A s the convoy came opposite to the villages of IVyandots and mies, lying respectively on the east and west banks of the river, these treacherous enemies, in spite o f their recent treaty of peace, opened fire on the barges from at once. T h e soldiers replied with their swivels kets, but ere they gained the shelter o f the fort fifteen of their number were killed We are afraid, in view of such facts as these, i t will be impossible to say anything in favor of the chivalry of our Pottatvattanzies, who, in fact, like nearly all the rest of the " noble red men" of whom we have never hesitated at the blackest treachery when necessary to accomplish their object. N o t but what they could be true to those they considered their friends, as they were to the French during nearly a century o f varied fortunes. B u t when they had once made up their minds that were their enemies, they hesitated at no deception and n o cruelty in order t o accomplish their ruin. Treaties and pledges were but as straw before the fire of Immediately after his arrival Dalzell sion to attack Pontiac i n his camp, which tantly granted. I t was a presumptuous request, as Dalzell knew nothing o f the ground, and h i s commander was greatly to blame for granting it, for that less, at two o'clock on the morning of the 1st of August, Dalzell and two hundred and fifty men marched river-road toward Pontiac's camp, then situated several miles up the stream. B u t some of the Canadians had got an inkling o f the plan, and through them the fully apprised of the approach o f the English had left his camp, with all his Ojibwa and to attack it. At Parent's Creek (since called Bloody Run), a a half above the fort, the vanguard WAS assailed by rific fire from hundreds of Indians ambushed of firewood, fences, houses, apple-trees, etc., belonging t o the Canadians, and some rude intrenchments previously thrown up by Pontiac when his anip was situated there. From the facts in this case, in that o f �24 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M ICH IG and in numerous others o f the same class and period, i t would seem that t h e system o f covering an advancing column with a line of' skirmishers several paces unknown to, or at least unpracticed by, the strategists o f that day. I t is true a vanguard marched ahead of body, but it formed a small column of itself, and was mark for the guns of In the present instance half of the advancekilled o r wounded by the first volley ; the rest throwing the main body into confusion. Dalzell rallied his meu, who made charge after charge upon the other structures which sheltered the foe, only to each case that the Indians had fled back a little farther into the darkness, whence their bullets still flew effect into the crowded ranks of the soldiers. compelled to order Up to this time the bloody work had been carried on by °fibrous and Ottaicas, either because the Wyandots and Pottawattamies had shaken off the influence o f 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 tened t o take part in t h e fray. T h e TVyinittots rowed across the river i n canoes, t h e through the woods west o f the fort. Scarcely had the column begun its retrograde movement when all from below occupied the houses, fences, and orchards by the roadside, pouring volley after volley into the ranks o f the wearied and discouraged soldiery. A t one point, half a mile below Bloody Run, occupied a cluster of out-houses and a newly-dug to the road, and, strange as i t may seem, they were again able to ambush the column, allowing the vanguard unharmed, but firing with deadly effect upon the rear. T h e retreat came near degenerating into a perfect rout, but Dalzell, though twice severely wounded, rallied his men, and did all that valor could inspire for his lack o f skill. M a j . Rogers, with his American rangers, broke into a house and drove out Capt. Gray, while charging the enemy, was but the foe was Again the retreat was resumed, and instantly tawattamies and 11:youd,ots gathered on the flank column and riddled i t with their deadly volleys. Dalzell was killed and his body abandoned t o the brutal rage o f the foe by the fleeing soldiers. Rogers again session o f a house to cover the retreat, and t o tent succeeded i n doing so; b u t when the col h a d passed, two hundred yelling savages surrounded firing into every aperture they could see, and preventing the escape of its defenders. H a l f a mile farther down, Capt. Grant, now in command o f the troops, was able t o seize some inclosures, which pretty effectually sheltered his men. T h e n c e he sent squads to occupy the houses below, ahead o f the Indians, and thus secured his retreat to the fort. H e then sent t h e two armed bateaux, which had accompanied the expedition, point opposite the house o f Catnpan, which was held by Rogers. T h e vessels swept the ground on both sides house with their swivels, the fire from which wattamies, Ottawas, and all, yelling in dismay to But eo sootier had Rogers marched down the road to join Grant tbau some of them rushed into the house the slain remaining there, an old squaw cutting open one of the dead bodies arid drinking the blood with more than fiendish joy. Y e t amid all this ferocity no damage was done to any o f the family, nor to the frightened French pioneers o f the neighborhood, who had crowded iota the cellar for Grant and Rogers successfully consummated but fifty-nine men killed and wounded, out of and fifty, in a two hours' tight, attested the accuracy of the Ottawa, Pottawattamie, arid Pontiac at once sent messenger,. announcing his victory. to St. Joseph, Saginaw, and numerous other tered far and wide through the forest, and bands soon came trooping in. anxious to join what seemed to them the successful side. Y e t even with these reinforcements the chieftain dared make no attack on the fort, which well supplied with arms, ammunition, and provisions, and the garrison of which, notwithstanding the numbered over three On the 4th of September some three hundred Wyandots and Prittawattamies made an attack in birch canoes on the schooner "Gladwyn,' as it lay detained by contrary its way up from Lake Erie. T h e y clambered up in spite of cannon and small arms, with their their teeth, slew t h e master o f the vessel, and disabled several of the men who formed the crew; yet fought with such desperate valor that the finally repulsed. Contemporary letters assert that ordered the vessel blown up, which some o f the Indians understood, and on their telling their comrades they all fled to avoid the threatened explosion. T h i s is very doubtful. A few of the Western Indians knew a little French, but not one in a thousand could have understood a word o f English. Doubtless the Pottoleattitinie braves were very much " at sea" in attacking an armed ship. and were much more easily repulsed than they would have been by number of foes 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 b y means of the river and lake, and they had already gaged i n the siege far longer than they had been in the habit o f continuing i n any enterprise. A s the hunting season approached, too, they were obliged to seek for game or go without food the next year, and a large portion o f theni scattered to their respective hunting-grounds for pos Soon, all along the banks of the St. Joseph and far into the forest on either side, the Pottotectrtarnie 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 t o place and prepared f o r future use the game the latter had slain. Similar scenes were enacted on the hunting-grounds of the �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . other tribes, and the siege of Detroit for lack of besiegers. B u t after the terrible experience of Bloody Run, Major Gladwyn was naturally in no haste to try to drive them away by a sally. T h o s e 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 o f October a chief of the Missisaugas, a branch o f the O j i b was, came to the fort with a pipe o f peace. H e informed Maj. Gladwyu that he ized to represent the Ojibums, 11;yandots, and lilies, who were deeply repentant and desirous The commandant valued their repentance at what worth, but willingly offered a truce. W h i l e i t lasted he succeeded i n obtaining a good supply of the 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. B u t on the last day of October a messenger came from mandant 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 i n his warfare with the latter. T h e disgusted chieftain immediately sent word t o wyn that he should advise all t h e Indians t o bury the hatchet, and soon afterwards withdrew, with some of cipal henchmen, to the Maumee. T h e others who had taken part in the siege were already nearly all busy i n their respective hunting-grounds, and mainder soon departed after the guiding spirit of spiracy abandoned his self-imposed task. Thus ended the celebrated siege of Detroit, not only for the commanding character o f the sullen chief of the assailants, and for the importance of the volved. but for the constancy, unrivaled in with which the capricious warriors o f the woods, under the influence o f that powerful mind, through five weary months to the accomplishment of their object Although Pontiac probably intended to renew in the spring of 1764, and though some of the warriors he had led returned to Detroit at that time for yet so many difficulties had arisen that the great self did not appear on the scene of his exploits, and tempted renewal of the conflict amounted to little or nothing except to annoy still longer the In the summer of 1764, Gen. John Bradstreet Came up the lakes with an army of twelve or fifteen hundred men, and several hundred Iroquois allies, to ent4ce sion of the hostile tribes. H e reached Detroit on the 26th of August, and on the 7th of September held a cil with the Indians. A considerable delegation the country about Sandusky, but the Pottawattants and other tribes o f the Michigan peninsula were sented by the Ojibwa chief Wasson and six Bradstreet was very desirous that the Indians knowledge themselves subjects o f the K i n g o f England. But their democratic minds could hardly understand what 4 • 2 was meant by being "subjects" of any man, and if understood i t they would certainly never have sincerely assented to it. B u t they had been accustomed, as a matter of courtesy, to call the King of France their father, title they willingly agreed to transfer to the K i n g land. Bradstreet boasted that he had reduced the Indians to complete submission, but i f there had been a for an outbreak, be would doubtless have discovered that though he might have culled the King of England a Pottawattamie brave would not thereby have vented from toniahawking the King's subjects whenever lie could catch A treaty was made, signed, according to the historian Mante, with a deer and cross on behalf of the Ihrons, with a turtle by the a n d with an eagle by saugas, while the corporate seal of the Foxes was represented by the figures of a fox, an a Bradstreet sent troops to re-establish the posts macinac and Green nay, and then returned East. T h o u g h the expedition was not very well managed, yet of such a•large English force—larger than any body the French had ever sent up the lakes—could not the minds of the Indians with the idea that i t would be well to keep on good terms with their new "father." A much more skillful manager o f Indians street was the celebrated Sir William Johnson, who was appointed superintendent of all the Indians o f the North. He personally visited Detroit and other posts, and kept three well-trained deputies traveling among the various tribes. B y a shrewd mixture of dignity and flattery, frequent distribution o f cheap but highlyand b y florid delineation o f the immense power English king, Sir William and his deputies contrived to keep these numerous forest-clansmen i n comparative quiet down nearly to the time of On the 17th of August, 1765, George Croghan, expert of Sir William's deputies, held a grand council at Detroit with the Ottawas, Pottawattarnies, and They had been thoroughly humbled by their and, moreover (having acquired numerous since the first advent of the whites among them), suffered much from the long suspension o f the and were truly desirous for peace, professing ance and submission i n the most moving terms. of l'ottawattamies from St. Joseph is tioned as being present, whose orator, in the course of a speech of submission, said ( " Conspiracy o f Pontiac," vol. p. 293): " W e are no more than wild creatures to in understanding; therefore, we request you to forgive the past follies o f our young people, and receive us for your children. S i n c e you have thrown down our former father (the King of France) on his back, we have in the dark like blind people. N o w you all this darkness which hung over the heads of tribes, and have accepted them for your children, you will let us partake with them the light, that and children may enjoy peace. W e beg you to that is past. B y this belt we remove all evil thoughts �2 HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . from your hearts. Fathers, when we fornierly came t o visit our flithers, the French, they always titlit joyful; and we hope you, fathers, will have pity on our women and young men, who are i n great want saries, and not let us go to our Pontiac was present at another council on the 27th of the same month, and also made his submission to lish. I n the autumn o f that year, too, Fort Chartres, the last French post east o f the Mississippi (except i n t h e vicinity of New Orleans), was delivered up to of British soldiers. T h e humiliation of France plete, and the West was at peace. Y e t there was still a very bitter feeling ou the part o f 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 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 t h e power o f Britain throughout an immense domain, and startled h a l f a continent from i t s propriety. I n the spring o f 1766, Pontiac met Sir William Johnson at Oswego, the compact of peace and friendship already made i n the West. H e then returned and fixed h i s home Maumee. W h e n new disturbances arose between tlers and Indians, Pontiac was suspected of hostility of the latter. E a r l y in 1769 he went to Illinois, where there was already much uneasiness, and again the suspicions of the English were aroused. A c c o r d i n g to the account adopted b y Parkman, and which i s i n bility correct, Pontiac became intoxicated a t an Indian feast at Cahokia, near St. Louis. A n English ing 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 the warriors of the lakes, all of whom were eager the crime. T h e y might endure the supremacy of erful English, but their fierce blood boiled at that the scurvy Illinois Indians, whom they had always looked on as their inferiors, should dare to slay nowned champion. B y hundreds, perhaps the northern warriors sprang to arms,—Otiatvers, Ojilacas, and Pottawat(amies, Delawares, Shawnees, and ere the conflict was concluded the / / G a s were almost entirely exterminated. M e n , women, and children were indiscriminately slaughtered, their villages were destroyed by fire, and only a few puny and frightened to tell the story of the Pontiac was essentially a representative Indian, with all the mingled virtues and vices o f his race i n t h e most marked degree. B r a v e , ferocious, patriotic, true t o his friends, treacherous toward his foes, enduring hardships of war with stoic fortitude, but succumbing at length to the baleful fire-water of the pale-faces, ter may well be studied on the pages of Parkman, festing in a single individual all the most butes of the Indians of North America. C11 A l ' T L I I V . T H E P O T TAWAT TA M I E S - - , C o n t a n u e d A Peaceful E r a — T k v Que1,4,- A c t —MiebiAron " T h e Revolution—Pt/Pao B u r g o ) 1 4 e - - ( l U t r U g t 11.1,1 b c e e r. tiun—The Ordinanue i t I e t h e Tr. . . 1 y o f 17,t4 D e f t -a ' 1 f l a t mar and St. C l a i r — . Mad A lith'.1.1y" "a the W m -Path --Tto. ! W i l e of the kftwunee—Treat o f 1:r....ti,t11,--Topellabro-, t i o . Head ' h i f — A " R i n g " S c I t e m c - - o r g a m t u t o m o f I n d i a n s a n d k f u Munt, Divers Tr e a t i e s — TeouLuseh a i d t h e Pottoteuttostiee— ham o f Tippecanoe— T h e Wa r of 1812—Defeat of M a j o r Va n B a r n h t , i m ish and Indians Defeated by Colonel Miller—linfreffairrender—Aa intro/topple. turn out en wasse—Battle and I t i r s s e r e of ProcWr's Defeat a t Lower Sandusky—Battle of L a k e M e —iodises at t h e Topmast— B a t t l e of the Tlastnes—Submieeion o f vuttainics—Conoluding Remarks. DOWN t o the opening o f the Revolutionary war, the Puttairatfainirs, like the other lake Indians, dwelt parative peace with the white men, though ders on either side kept up the general feeling of The Indians of Michigan occupied a much ent position than t h e i r brethren t o the southeast. T h e Iroquois claimed sovereignty over t h e whole northwest almost to the Mississippi, by virtue of previous conquests; but while the Delawates and Shawnees of Ohio admitted their supremacy, and never attempted to sell land without their consent, the fiercer Ottawas. Ojibwas, tanties defied their power, and were able to maintain their own We may mention, too, in passing that, in 1774, the act of Parliament known as the Quebec A c t established the boundaries of Canada, so far as to include Michigan, tend west to the Mississippi, and south to the Ohio. T h e district of Michigan was established then, or a part of the province of Quebec. but i t had no ernment. T h e commandant of the post of almost autocratic power over the white men of the district, while the vast forests o f the interior knew no government save the vague authority exercised by Ottawa, Pottawattantie chieftains. I n time, these and became pretty well reconciled t o the English, and very strongly impressed with t h e power o f the English king. Four years after the Quebec A c t , t h e captain-general o f Canada divided that province into districts, giving that o f Michigan the name o f " Hesse," in honor o f troops then serving K i n g George i n America. B u t the fortunes o f war determined that the people o f Michigan should not be Meanwhile the oppressions o f Britain had roused the colonies t o resistance, and i n 1775 t h e bloody drama o f the Revolution opened on the field o f the first news of conflict, the warriors of the 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, i t was easy to enlist both their avarice and their passions on the royal side. I t was easy to throw the blame of all the wrongs o f which the Indians complained upon the colonists ovlio were b y no means guiltless), and t o represent that their great and good father across was determined to see that justice was done to his �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . dren. A n ample array of presents enforced 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 i n behalf of the British during either years. Doubtless the invasion o f Canada b y icans, who f o r a while carried everything before them, tended to repress the enthusiasm of the prudent But in 1776 the Americans were driven out of in the fitll of that year an army begun to be gathered latter province, designed t o attack them b y way of Lake Champlain. I n the early spring of 1777 great made to collect a large auxiliary force No one who knew anything o f Indian character could have expected them to be of much benefit in open fighting, such as is usually carried on between civilized armies. I t was supposed, however, that they would be useful in cutting off small parties, pickets, outposts,etc., and ilar work. Moreover, it is plain from the proclamations of British commanders that, although they may to actually hire the Indians to scalp American women and children OS our fathers believed they did), yet largely on the terror with which the prospect of Indian ravages would naturally inspire the people. T o the chiefs and warriors they sometimes said : " You must only slay nom in arms against us, not prisoners, nor women, nor children ;" but to the Americans on the frontier said, in language more or less plain: " I f you do mit we shall be unable to restrain our Indians, and then you know what will happen." A s the war went on, of the English officers were inflamed by defeat; came less and less particular as to restraining their Indians, and at length coolly tolerated the most It was arranged that the Six Nations Gen. St. Leger i n h i s attack upon the Mohawk Valley, while the Western Indians were to be asseniblea treal and join the main army o f Lieut.-Gen. Burgoyne. Large amounts were expended in gathering these warriors, and ere long band after band made i t s There were our o l d acquaintances, t h e Amami/unties, Ottawas, and Chi/rite/cos, o f Michigan ; Winnebagoes, ifennownees, Saes and Foxes, from the territory Wisconsin; and even a few 8inwr from the western side of the F a t h e r of Waters,—all painted and plumed and thirsting f r r the blood of the B o s t o n men," called the Americans. Notwithstanding the money employed and only about five o r six hundred were brought the let of July, 1777. These joined Burgrrylle'S army 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 Is Come de St. hue, a Canadian partisan, who had frequently led Indians t o deeds of blood for the French in the old wars, and offered his services to the English. A n o t h e r dian leader of the Indians was Charles de mentioned ea haviag takes part in the defeat The auterierts were terribly frightened at and thisivails l a to the interior of the of s U AW & These teak pert in 2 riot's around Skenesboro', now Whitehall, but were pretty closely watched by the British officers. W h e n , in the latter part o f July, Burgoyne's army began its the Hudson, the Indians thought their time had conic. They spread out on both flanks, plundering the remained, burning houses, and occasionally, when a good opportunity, slaughtering a whole family. T h e y were much more anxious about the number of scalps they could obtain than about the polities o f the heads which wore them, and some To r y finnilies who relying on their loyalty, were butchered t o child by these devoted champions of On the 27th of July occurred the celebrated tragedy of Jane McCrea, in which a young girl was slain by a band of Indians who were taking her to the British camp. A c c o r d i n g 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 t o marry her; they quarreled on the road about the reward, and t o settle the difficulty slew their unhappy charge the scalp. O n e account o f the affair says the murderers were Pottareattamies, and we must confess that the entirely in accordance with their The mingled romance and tragedy of this sad tracted universal attention and east t h e deepest odium on the British. B u r g o y n e arrested the murderer, leased him on a promise from the Indians that i f pardoned they would behave better i n the future. H e reprimanded thein with great severity, and really seems to have set so close a watch on them that the kind of outrages were prevented during the remainder o f the campaign. B u t our Pottawattamie and took great umbrage at these restrictions. A campaign with no scalps or plunder was not at all to their taste, and their leader, La Come de St. Luc, encouraged di, Many deserted and made their ways in ma], wilds of Michigan. About a hundred and fifty of those who sent with the Hessian troops to Bennington, and severe defeat inflicted by the Americans at battle, thirty or tioty o f them being killed o r Their brethren were very indignant against Burgoyne 6,, not sending reinforcements in time. B a u d ' serted, and finally, at a general council, nearly demanded permission to return. Burgoyne used ducemeut he could apparently y;elded to Iris sulicitatiolk. i i a large number of threw left, and they continued to rl, until scarcely This, we believe, was the last time that number of Pottawattamies or other Michigan employed by the British during the haps a few were afterwards kept in pay along the border of New York. After 1777, too, the ities no longer tried to use Indians as auxiliaries troops. T h e y fitted out bands or the Six allowed them to ravage the frontiers itt will. At the close of the Revolution the treaty of peace gave Michigan to the United Staten, but England to hold Detroit and the other posts of the Northwest, �28 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . the Indians o f this section were still under enc In 1787 the old Continental Congress passed nance, soon after confirmed by the Federal stituting Michigan a part of the great Northwest Territory, which extended from t h e Ohio River t o the Canadian boundary, and from Pennsylvania t o the Mississippi. Y e t still the British held possession o f the frontier forts ; still the Ottawas, Pottawattamies, and Shawaccs looked up to the British officers as the representatives o f their great father beyond the sea, who was the embodiment of restrial power In 1789 the Pottawattanties 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 they made a treaty of peace with the United States. N o n e the less they still hated the Americans, and, as the latter believed, were encouraged in t h i s feeling b y the British officials. A n d when, a little later, two American armies, under Gens. Harniar and St. Clair, were feated b y the Shawnees, Delawares, and other tribes of' what is now Ohio and Indiana, the Pottawattamies and Ottawas lost what little respect they might had for the new Republic, and were quite ready to the war-path against it. They soon had an opportunity. I n 1794, Gen. Wayne, familiarly known as "Mad Anthony," led a small appointed army into the wilderness of Western Ohio, t o chastise the red men i n t h e i r Dative fastnesses. L i t h e messengers sped with flying feet to all the tribes Northwest, and in a short time bands of tanties and Ottawas, well equipped with guns nition obtained at the British posts, were on their way to join their Shawnee and Miami brethren in destroying the presumptuous Yankee. T h e 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 and at length Little Turtle and his chiefs determined to attack him. W h e n the army had moved about southward from the head of the rapids of the Maumee, the whole great horde of Miamis, Delawares, poems, Ottawas, and Pottawattanties, two thousand strong (including about seventy white men, mostly from Detroit), advanced against the Americans. B u t 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. M a n y were left dead on the ground, every one was found a musket, bayonet, and equipments, from a British armory, showing but too plainly one of the chief sources o f their hostility. A trader who not long afterwards met a Miami who had fled before onslaught of Wayne's soldiers, said " What made you run away ?" W i t h sponding to his words, arid endeavoring to represent the effect of the cannon, lie replied, Pop, pop, pop,—boo, woo, woo,—whish, whish, boo, woo, — kill twenty Indians one time, — ito geed, b y dam !" As had so often been the case before, as soon the various bands hurried away to In a short time the Pottawatiantie warriors were punning their customary avocations along the banks o f the St. Joseph. B u t they were deeply impressed both with Wayne's vigor and the strength of the United began seriously to think that all the power i s was not embraced within the walls of the When, W M afterwards, Wayne sent mooing the chiefs t o council, they were very willing to respond. T h e principal men o f the Miami's, Delawares, S'hawnees, Chippewa, Ottawas, and Pottawattannies met the general a t Fort Greenville. and concluded a treaty of peace arid friendship with the United States, which was quite faithfully observed for over fifteen years. nees and others made a large cession of land in Ohio to the government, but the Michigan Indians were will left in undisturbed possession o f their old The treaty was signed on the part o f the Miami, and Shawnees b y Little Turtle and Blue Jacket, who were both leaders i n the battle against Wayne. O n the part of the l'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 as head chief of that tribe until his death, forty It is evident from the treaty that the ranked among the more important tribes, as a thousand dollars as gratuities, which was t h e amount awarded to die Miamis, the Delawares, tire Shawnees, the Chippewus, and the Ottawas respectively, while Foos and other tribes received only five each. W h e n the time came for signing the treaty, twice read and every section explained b y Gen. Wayse, through an interpreter, to the assembled chiefs riors. T h e n " Yo u Chippereas, do you approve o f these articles o f treaty, and are you prepared to sign them ?" A unanimous "yes," was "Arid you Ottawas, do you approve of these articles of treaty, and are you prepared t o sign them ?" A g a i n unanimous affirmative. "And you Pottawattamies, do you approve articles o f treaty, and are you prepared to " Yes, yes, treaty good," said or grunted all the dark warriors of Southern Michigan. A f t e r obtaining from the other tribes, the treaty was considered to proved and the work of signing concluded the Up to this time no attempt had been made either by the government or by private individuals to obtain title of the land of Michigan, except in the case of the tlers around Detroit. B u t in 1795 an effort was what would now be called a " r i n g " to obtain million acres, situated between Lakes Erie, H a n s , and Michigan. O n e Robert' Randall. of 'Whitney, of Vermont, and sine Detroit a company, dividing the lands they expected to which included Branch County, into forty-one shares, o f from half a million to a million acres each. O f �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . five were to go to the Detroiters, six t o Randall and his associates, while the very liberal proportion of was to be assigned to members o f Congress, in return for their assistance i n securing the passage o f laws. T h e 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 wattamie and Ottawa chiefs, with whom they were in the habit of trading. Thus it will be seen that some very were concocted even in the g o o d old times" ago. I t must be admitted, however, that this one was not as successful as some later ones have been, for it oughly exposed, and some of the parties were Congress and fined. In 1796 the British, after long negotiations, 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 tion the county o f Wayne, which extended from hoga River i n Ohio to the Mississippi, and northward to Lake Superior. T h i s was the first county which included the present territory o f Branch within its limits, but its jurisdiction here was entirely nominal, and the mie chiefs still continued the magnates of The Pottawattamies were always a warlike tribe, and although awed into peace with the United States engaged in hostilities with other tribes, especially with the Shawnees, who lived to the southward. M a n y interesting legends regarding these tribes near the close of the tury are related by Judge Littlejohn i n his work entitled "Legends of Michigan and the Old Northwest." mixture 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 a t this period, all and in nowise interfering with the supremacy of riginal lords of the soil. I n 1800 the Territory of Indiana was formed from the Northwest Territory. T h e 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 t o the Strait of Mackinaw. The present county of Branch was thus transferred diana Territory, the west line of which was a mile the present eastern boundary of that county. I n State of Ohio was formed, at which time the eastern part of the present Michigan was also annexed In February. 1 805. the Territory o f Michigan ganized, with Gem William Hull as the first thus the ancient lands of the Pattawattamies became tion of a Territory destined to become one of the great and powerful States of the American Union. B y the law form. tug the Territory, the boundary between it and Indiana line drawn east from the southern extremity of igan. which was ten miles wrath of the In 1.4)7 a treaty was made by Geo. Hull on the part of the United States with the Ottawas, pewa... and lily,. 'alio'', by which those tribes ceded to the government their elaini to all the land tart of a 2 north from the mouth of the Anglaise River into the Maumee at Defiance, Ohio), to a point near the present south line of Michigan. T h i s north and south line was afterwards extended and made the principal meridian for the government surveys i n Michigan, the line between Lenawee and Several other treaties were made with the Pottawattamies and other tribes between 1800 and 1810. M o s t of them were of little importance, though several provided for ment of annuities and goods of the United States to dians. N e a r l y every treaty was headed by the name of To, penabee (sometimes spelled " Tuthinepee" or " Topenipee"), who was always recognized as the head chief of the tribe. Two or three years later the Pottawattamies to grow restless and hostile towards the people of the United States. T h e Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, a forest hero great ability as Pontiac, though less ferocious in had, like him, conceived the idea of stopping wave of emigration, which seemed likely ere long whelm the original inhabitants of the land, or drive them into unknown deserts f'ar beyond the Father of Waters. L i k e Pontiac, he too hoped for foreign assistance; but felt for the English by the great Ottawa had to love and admiration in the heart of his modern imitator. The reason is plain. I n Pontiac's time the one nation with the Americans, and together they great colonizing, emigrating people of the world. P o n t i a c hated them, largely because they wanted land, the French, not only on account of' their pleasant ways but because they were poor colonizers, and did not care much for land. I n Tecumseh's day the Americans were who threatened to overwhelm the Indians by while the English, confined to a narrow belt land in Canada, appeared far Tecumseh knew that there were difficulties between the United States and Great Britain which portended it is believed by many that lie was directly encouraged by the British officials t o engage in hostilities Americans. H o w e v e r that may be, about the year 1810 the brave and eloquent Shawnee 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 o f the whites t o o r beyond the Mississippi. F r o m tribe to tribe he made his rapid way, gathering the chiefs and warriors in council, kindling their passions b y fierce invectives against the Americans, ex citing their hopes by portraying the scalps and booty obtained from the hated pale-faces, and quelling by promising them the protection of their father, the King of Great Britain, who was ready to join bands with his red children in punishing the insolence of The Pottawatta ?Hies were quite ready to believe tering story, and they, like all Indians who live in ity of the whites, had had more or less difficulty which they were glad to avenge in the But the Indian policy was not deep enough to keep the warriors quiet until all was ready for a grand blow. T h e i r restive spirits showed themselves by frequent outrages, the whites retaliated, and the Americans could not that they must prepare for an �30 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . -- In the fall of 1811, Gen. William H . Harrison, Governor of Indiana, took the field to chastise the Tecumseh had been greatly aided in his efforts to Indian confederacy by his brother Elkswatawa, a prominent " medicine-man," commonly known as the Prophet. A t the time when Harrison's army approached villages on the Wabash, the chieftain himself was in the far South, endeavoring to persuade the taws, and other Southern Indians to take u p arms, and Elkswatawa was left to exercise supreme authority. E i t h e r thinking there was no time to spare, or desiring for himself the glory o f defeating Harrison, Elkswatawa prepared to make an attack on the Governor's army with all the warriors lie could collect together. Messengers to the nearest tribes, and several small bands came in to help the Shawnees. T h e dread o f the Americans, caused by Waylle'S victory, was, however, not yet entirely and many But about the first of November lie was cheered arrival o f band after band o f the fierce sonic from the head of Lake Michigan, and some from the valley of the St. Joseph, numbering in all about dred warriors. H a v i n g this powerful accession to he determined at once to attack. Before daybreak on the morning of the 7th 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 and Pnttawattantie 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 ever victims they could reach with all o f their old-time energy. B u t Harrison's men were sleeping upon t h e i r arms, and scarcely had the first demoniac in their ears ere they were on their feet, ranged in order of battle, and returning with steady aim the fire of ants. F o r two or three hours the battle raged with great violence; both Shawnees and Pottawattanties fought with furious energy, and many of the Americans were slain o r wounded. B u t at length t h e steady valor of and the Indiana militia prevailed over the fierce of the Indians, and the latter gave way at all points. T h e y speedily fled the field, and Harrison marched unopposed to the destruction of the After the battle the Pottawattamie warriors returned to their own villages, and these were so far distant that they escaped all punishment for the part they had taken. I f 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 doing so by the approach of war with Great Britain. In June, 1812, war was declared. and Tecumseh made common cause with the English, with all the warriors of his own and other tribes whom he could persuade low him. T h e Pottawattamies had not been injured b y the battle o f Tippecanoe, b u t that some o f their braves were still willing to t r y the chances o f war against the hated Americans. W h e n (den. Hull crossed the Detroit River into Canada in July of that with thirty Shawnees and Pottawattansies, was at Malden. Others were added t o these, and when H u l l . by movements and feeble conduct, showed the weskown of bit heart, the number was largely increased. T h e mies, being nearly or quite the nearest tribe to the acme of action, aid being anxious for revenge for their humiliation at Tippecanoe, formed a considerable part o f force About the 5th of August. Hull sent Major Van H o r n with two hundred men to escort a convoy of provisions from the river Raisin. A l l the detachment town Creek it was saluted b y volleys of musketry, and the usual terrific aceotupanitnent o f savage yells nounced the presence of an Indian foe. Tecumseh with a large number of warriors, prieeipally Shawnees. nties, 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 and fled to Detroit, having lost half their number wounded, This victory of Tecumseh and his Hull to evacuate Canada. A f t e r 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. A g a i n Tecumseh and his warriors flung themselves in of t h e advancing Americans, this time being assisted b y a large body of British troops. A battle ensued guaga, twelve miles below Detroit. where Miller found the enemy, both British and Indians, drawn up in line of battle to meet him. H e attacked them without hesitation. A f t e r a brief conflict the English fled from the field, with his Shawnees and i'ortateatiamies, still kept u p the fight. These, too, were at length defeated, and men and red men fled across the river to lost one hundred and thirty-four in killed and wounded. T h e Americans had seventeen killed and sixtyNotwithstanding this check, Tecumseh still maintained Iris control over his warriors, and when the mander, 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. A t all events, there were enough t o terrify die feeble Hull t o an extraordinary degree, and his mind was filled with terrible visions of all the "hordes of the Nortliwast”—Slonewees, Ottawas, Pottawallanties, and Chippewas.-Iris fort, massacring himself and his garrison, tating the settlements o f Michigan w i t h tomahawk and scalping-knife. O f the disgraceful surrender lowed on the 16th of August i t is needless t o save to say that all attempts to justify or extenuate miserably failed, and the name of the cowardly Hall must ever remain on the pages of American history hateful than that of Arnold, and even more As Mackinaw had already yielded to a British surrender o f Detroit and o f Hull's army, with all t h e troops in the vicinity, carried with it control over of Michigan, which, for the m i t per. British territory. A l l t h e % G e m Imre able t o the English, and the remarkable memos of the latter naturally increased the confidence of the red sea in their prowess. T h e warriors thronged by handled, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 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 quence o f i t , a band o f Pottateattumies, who resided a t the head o f Lake Michigan, fell upon, and massacred, the little garrison of Fort Dearborn o n the site of it was endeavoring to retreat eastward from that The next conflict i n which the part was the celebrated battle o f the river Raisin, near the site o f Monroe, on t h e 22d day o f January, 1813. Here a large force o f British and Indians, under Gen. Proctor and Tecumseh, attacked a body o f Americans, under Gen. Winchester. Auchinleck, the rian o f the war o f 1812, says there were two hundred Pottawattamies in the battle, and that these were about all the Indians present. I t is admitted that they fought with great bravery, and their efforts, with those of their British comrades, were entirely successful. W h e t h e r from actual necessity, or because of the pall o f imbecility to have fallen upon the whole American army during the first months of the war of 1812, Gen. Winchester 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 t o the mercy of the Indians. H e knew well enough what the result would be—what it been where the savages have had the opportunity ing vengeance on t h e head o f a helpless foe. had the British disappeared than the the other Indians with them, fell upon the cans who were left behind. T h e y began b y plundering them o f everything they possessed. T h e n , as their rage grew by its own indulgence, they thirsted for site pleasure than plunder afforded. F i r s t one ferocious warrior sank his tomahawk into the head of victim, and, w i t h a fearful yell, tore away the reeking scalp. A n o t h e r, and another, and another, his example, and soon the whole scene became one o f brutal butchery, the sick and wounded Americans being slaughtered by the score without remorse by the tawattamies. I t was what was to be expected from them, but something better might have been hoped from British officers, and few more disgraceful events have pened than Proctor's abandonment of his to the fury of the savages. I t should he added cumseh was absent when the massacre began, and on his arrival did all in his power to stop it. There were no other events o f importance in which the Pottatoottamies took part during that year, 1812, usual they returned home to hunt as winter In the spring o f 1813, they again rallied to the aid of the British. A f t e r 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. T h e number of Indians was estimated at from one to two thousand, of whom from three to four hundred were Pottawattaniies. On the 2d o f August, an assault was made by about five hundred British troops, while the Indians surrounded the fort, and kept up a continuous firing on 3 1 can soldier they could discover. B u t the was completely repulsed b y the one hundred and sixty Americans i n the fort, commanded b y the gallant Maj. Croghan, and both the red and white assailants quickly retired from the field. The British and American fleets on Lake now preparing f u r action, and both were greatly deficient in seamen. T h e Americans supplied their place with raw militiamen, boys, and ocgroes; the English endeavored to strengthen themselves by placing a number of riors on each vessel, to act as sharpshooters and pick American gunners. O n the memorable 10th the battle was fought which decided the mastery of Lake Erie. B u t 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 o f their own guns, than Shawnees, Poltawattanties, was 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 o f the conflict. T h e y would have perhaps desperately, in their native woods, but customed position and the terrific thunder o f were too much even for their The battle o f Lake Erie was immediately followed b y the advance o f the American army into Canada, under Gen. Harrison. T h e British and Indians retreated t o the northeast. O n t h e 29th o f September, rison took possession of Detroit, and Michigan and let us trust forever—passed under For, two or three days later, Harrison followed the British army up the river Thames. O n the 5th day he overtook it near the Moravian towns on that the celebrated battle of the Thames ensued. T h e British were in line of battle next the river; on their the Indians, under Tecumseh, extending i n into a swamp which protected their position on the north. Tecumseh doubtless saw that this battle was the event of' the war so far as lie and his I f 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 igan and the whole Northwest, and his people must go down before their power. M a n y of the more intelligent Shawnees and Pottamattamies likewise understood t h e situation, and the rest were devoted to Tecumseh ; determined to fight to The battle was begun i n a very peculiar manner, Col. Richard M. Johnson's regiment of mounted riflemen being ordered to charge the enemy's lines, in advance o f fantry. Singularly enough, the British infantry at way before the charge of a single battalion of led by the lieutenant-colonel. S i x hundred o f taken prisoners, but their general, the man responsible for the massacre of the river Raisin, fled so early and idly as to The other battalion was led by Col. Johnson himself, his principal foes being the Indians. F r o m them, even after the British had all fled or surrendered, encountered a fierce resistance. Cheered on �32 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH and the other chiefs, among whom Maipoek, a implacable Pottawattamie, was one of the uous, and feeling that this was their last nees, Ottawas, and Puttawattamies all fought valor and ferocity. T h e American infantry came engaged in the conflict, yet still the warriors desperate and useless courage against But at length Tecumseh fell (no one has ever exactly when or where), the remaining braves bered four to one, and all speedily fled or yielded victors. T h e Pottawattamies stood by Tecumseh to the last, and one of their number, a large, finewho was slain while emulating his great leader, is said to have been mistaken for him by many of The battle of the Thames completely extinguished the hopes of victory and independence indulged by of the Northwest. T h e confederacy which had among them by the genius of Tecutnseli at once fell in pieces after his death, and each tribe thought only ing its own safety. T h e Pottawattamies, Ottawas, and several other tribes immediately sent peace to the successful Americans, and on the 16th o f October Gen. Harrison granted them an first received a number of warriors from each tribe ages for the peaceable conduct of their comrades. T h e latter returned to their villages, and, although the war did not cease until the beginning of 1815, they were refrain from taking any part in it. Henceforth we have to deal with the not as a proud and powerful people, the of Southern Michigan, setting a t defiance by turns the governments of England and the United States, but as a subjugated, disorganized tribe, composed o f a scattered bands, roaming over the scenes o f their former greatness, bartering their birthright for whisky, ging for occasional crusts from the hands of their For these it will not be necessary to continue record. T h e i r story can be sufficiently told mention in the chapters devoted to the progress of the whites, and by description o f the treaties by which the demoralized nation disposed of its CHAPTER VI. THE T R E AT Y-MARINO PERIOD. Recapitulation—Michigan after the Wa r — H o r. Cass—Fhol Repote of the Territory—Change of the Indiana Boutolary—Trenty of 1817 Large P o w. . . a t o m i c Delegations— Tr e a t y of 1818—Topinabec still the H e a d C h i e f —Treaty 1,r 1 8 2 I — A Curious I n c i d e n t — " (live us Whisky"—The G r e a t Cession—Deseription o f the Ceded Tr a c t Names o f the Polfairtiftrimie Signers— T h e Reservations—Location of " Marck-ke-saw-bee"—The Bounds insisted on b y the C h i e f Uneven Tracts still R e m a i n i n g — T h e Consideration P a i d f o r t h e Ceaaion—New L a n d District —The Chicago Road— gineering- 1 1 . ) d Fords selected by the Indians— T h e Post—Marantelle—Black H a w k and him Band— A Quarrel in 1825 —Thu Boy's Vi c t o r y —Prospecting Parties—First Settlements i n Hillsdale and S t . Joseph Counties—Treaty o f 1827—Exchange of Territory—Ou the Verge of Settlement. DESIONINH in this consecutive general history o f the county to adhere as closely as possible to the COUNTY, — — order, we have mentioned, in our chapters on tanaes, the transfer of Michigan from the French English, in 1703; its conveyance by England to States, at the end of the Revolution; its becoming a part of the Northwest Territory, in 171'17; the transference ana of the western half, including Branch County, in 1800; the annexation of the (extern half to the same territory, in 1802; and the separate organisation of Michigan. in 1805. At the close of the war, in 1815, there was still only row fringe of settlement along the Detroit River and Lake Erie, and this wle- in a most desolate condition. been driven away by fear of the Lithium, the property of others had been largely destroyed, and all discouraged by the trouble, terror. and which they had passed. A s for the interior of tory, it was still in a state Gen. Lewis Case had been appointed ately after the battle o f the Thames, and as soon as the close of the war gave him an opportunity he self' with great zeal to the development of the resources of the Territory and the promotion of emigration. Whatever may be thought o f his ia,litical course, all the dents o f Michigan agree that as the governor of a new Territory he could not have There was a cott,iderahle emigration immediately after the war, but the Territory had obtained so bad for dampness of soil and badness of health that the flow of land-seekers was less than might have been did not even approach the borders of Branch many years. I n fact, a law which had been passed gress in 1S12, giving a large tract of Michigan land viving soldiers of the Revolution, was repealed after the war on account of a report made by inspectors sent amine the ground, that there was not enough good land in the Territory to satisfy the just claims of the As stated in the previous chapter, the original tablished between Indiana and Michigan in 1805 east from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. B u t by the law of April 19, 1816, authorizing Indiana a State constitution, it was enacted that the run through a point ten miles north o f the tremity of the lake; t h e object doubtless being to give Indiana the port o f Michigan City, which, not been o f much advantage. T h u s i t happened that Branch County, when it came to be formed, was shorter on the south than it would probably bee Together with the office of Governor of Cass lield that of Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Northwest, and immediately after the close of the his attention to the subject of the extinguishment of dian title, so that the Territory might be crpen by the whites. I n September, 1817, he and McArthur held a council with the sachems and chiefs of the B:yandors, Senecas, Delawares, Shatottees, mies, Ottawas, and Chippewa., at the rapids of mee, when those nations ceded to the United all their lands in Ohio, and • small area in the part of For the cession of them lands, in which the Panama**. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY', M I C H I G A N . mica had but a slight interest, they received dred 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 t h e other tribes annuities. T h e treaty was signed b y thirtytamie chiefs and warriors, while all the other were represented b y about fifty. I n fact, it was teristic o f this tribe t o have very large delegations at all the councils where their interests were brought Judging from the number o f their representatives, they were the most democratic people in the whole Northwest. In October, 1818, Gen. Cass and two 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 nuity of two thousand five hundred dollars per year. T h i s treaty was signed by thirty-four chiefs and by old Topinabee." I n 1820, Henry R. Schooleraft, the celebrated student o f Indian customs and that t h e Pottawattamies o f both Illinois and Michigan "obeyed" Topinabee, an o l d man who had signed t h e Greenville treaty with Gen. Wayne. B u t the "obedience" of the Indians t o 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 fear o f w a r w i t h neighboring tribes, their tendency t o wander off in small bands, each under the leadership o f some petty chieftain, became more and more pronounced. In 1820 the Pottawattainies were estimated by Mr. School craft 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. H o n . Solomon Sibley sociated with the general as a commissioner on behalf of the United States, while t h e Chippewas, Ottawas, and Pottawattamies, who were the contracting parties on the other side, were represented, the first-named tribe b y two chiefs, the second b y eight, and the Puttawattarnies by fifty-five. T h a t i s t o say, that was t h e signed the treaty, but there was also a large number prominent warriors present, with t h e i r squaws pooses, and these warriors, and even the squaws, in the democratic constitution o f Indian polity, could exercise a strong influence on the A curious incident i n connection w i t h this council is narrated in Smith's " L i f e of Cass," as derived from eral himself. W h i l e the latter was watching some peculiar ceretuonies of the Indians in the early part of ings, he observed a Chippewa looking very grave, and keeping apart from his fellows. G o v. Case inquired the cause, and learned that the man, in a f i t o f killed a Pottawattantie in the early part o f the son. T h e Pottawattarnies had demanded the surrender of the murderer, and as the Chippewas, and in fact himself, admitted the justice of the claim, it that the clansmen of the murdered man would penalty ,4 death. But the latter was owing some traders for 5 3 3 of them, and he was anxious to pay them before he died. He solicited and obtained the postponement of until he could, by hunting, procure the means his creditors. H e 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 o f his victim. T h e Governor was touched by the stolid honesty of the doomed man, and by to his intended executioners persuaded them to let him go free Probably an ample supply o f whisky was the principal consideration which induced them to forego their revenge; for this was ever the most potent agent to reach It is related, on the same authority above given, that even Topinabee, the hereditary chief o f the the one who stood highest in their confidence, the veteran of nearly a hundred years who had signed the Greenville treaty with Anthony Wayne, was more anxious taining a supply o f whisky than anything else. W h e n Gen. Cass urged him to keep sober so as to make a good bargain for himself and his people, "Father, we do not care for the land, nor the the goods,—what we want is whisky g i v e us whisky." Possibly, however, the old man spoke sarcastically, i n view o f the manifest anxiety o f many of the Indians for that which was their After the usual time spent in bargaining and adjusting details (for the Indians were by no means all o f them so drunk as to lose sight of their interests), the terms o f the treaty were agreed upon and reduced to writing. B y it the Pottawattanties as the actuaPoccupants, and the Ottawas and Chippewas as their allies, ceded to the United tract of land stretching nearly across the Territory igan from west to east, and described as follows: Beginning on the south bank o f the St. Joseph River o f Michigan near " P a r c a u x Vaches" ( a short distance above t h e 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, i f that tract should be found to lie entirely south of the line, then to the tract ceded by the treaty of Detroit in 1807 ern 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 o f that river; thence down the river on the north bank t o 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. Below we give the names of the Pottawattamie chiefs and warriors who signed the treaty o f Chicago, both t o show the original title o f Branch County land (for the Ottawas and Chippetoas were merely allies o f the real owners— a t least so far as the land i n this concerned), and also to show what sort of names decessors indulged in. The list is headed by the veteran Topenahee, came the following,: Metetty, Cliebonsee, Keepotaw, Sehayank, Keebee, 1 �:14 I H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Mairksce, Waymego, Maud:ruffling, Quayguee, Aaperiliafi bee, M;itchaweeyaas, Matchapoggish, Mongau, Sescobetinish, Cheegwarnackgwago, eeco, Quonquoitaw, Reannish, Wynetuaig, Kawaysin, Anieekkose, Osseemeet, Shawkoto, N i • quat, Meegunn, Maeshelteteumon, Keenotoge, 11 hen, Shawwawnayse, Atehweemuckquee, Wawbassay, Meggesseese, Saygawkoomick, Shawwayno, Sheeshawgun, Totomee, Ashkuwee, tonee. I f that array of names doesn't give a good title to land it were difficult to find one From this cession were excepted five reservations: one four miles square at Nuttawa-seepe, in the of St Joseph ; uric three miles square at Prairie Ronde, in the present county of Kalamazoo; one three miles square at the head o f the Kalamazoo River, near the llillsdale and Jackson Counties; one six miles square at Maugaeliqoa," on the river Peble;” arid one six at Miek-ke-saw-bee. T h e last named was in what is now Branch County, comprising the eastern two-thirds ship 6 south, range 6 west (Coldwater), and the eastern one-third of township 6, range 5 (Quincy). When the government surveyor, a year or two later, ran out the newly-purchased land into townships, he was structed to survey the lines of the reservation, the chiefs of the band which dwelt in the vicinity having the privilege of locating the boundaries. T h e surveyor wanted t o make square work and run the boundaries so they would section lines. T h e chiefs, however, objected to this, sisted that the western boundary of the reservation should run GO rods west of the east line o f sections 5, 8, 17, 20, 29, arid 32, in what is now Coldwater, and that boundary should r u n through the same sections i n t h e present Quincy. T h e surveyor was at length compelled to run the lines as desired by the chiefs. I t is imagine the object of the latter, unless it was to save all the land possible by keeping out of both Marble Lakes The outside land was subdivided into sections and quarter sections before the reservation was ceded t o the United States; afterwards the reservation was subdivided i n the same manner. I t resulted that the east halve i of named, instead of being divided into 80-acre and tracts, as is usually the case, were cut into 60-acre acre tracts, and many of them retain that size to time. Notwithstanding the words of the treaty, the size of the reservation was at first in some doubt in mind; but Mr. J. B. Tompkins, of Girard, an called our attention to the row of GO-acre (or near tracts running north and south through Quincy, just six miles from t h e corresponding row in Coldwater, and width corresponded to the language of the treaty, no longer be :iny reasonable question that the the government agreed to pay live Ihitmumorid ti,r twenty years, besides a theamind dollars per year port a blacksmith and teacher. These were &MI.' first provisions made by the government fur the purpisse of civilizing the Indian& Such was the treaty which pave the title of the land of Branch County t o the United States, and, constitutes the basis of all land-titles in that on the For a,. vial y i n - after this treaty no settlement in Branch County, arid the Indians did not selves at all to the reservations aasigned them, at will through the forest and over the prairies. a small village near the site of Coldwater, and a one near that of Girard, of which more will be raid a little farther In 1823, the Detroit land district was divided and office established at Munroe. T h e new district embraced not only the land in the immediate vicinity of Monroe, but all that part of the territory west of the " (which afterwards became the east line of A little later, through the influence o f Gen. Cam, the general government ordered the construction o f a road a hundred feet wide from Detroit to Chicago (with from near Munroe, striking the main line Dear line of Hillsdale County), and appropriated dollars to pay for a survey of it. In the spring of 1825, the chief surveyor began planning to run on nearly straight lines. I l e however, that i f he followed this plan, cutting a vista for his compass through the dense woods, and spending part of his time in hunting up good routes and for bridges, the money would all be expended before he should have half completed his task. S o he determined to follow the "Chicago trail," t h e old pathway which t h e Indians had followed from time immemorial i n r e s i n between Detroit and the point a t the month River where the great city of the West This he did so faithfully that it is said there was angle, bend, or turn of the Indian trail which was served by the "Chicago Road," as the new was soon universally called. Some o f these were afterwards straightened by the authorities, and yet even now a glance at the map will show that there gles enough in the present road to give good reason for crediting this statement. T h e flagmen were seat ahead m far as they could be seen, the bearings taken, chained, and the remits noted ill the field-book; then the flagmen were again sent ahead, the axemen the trees fifty feet on each side of the It was not a very bad plan, though it caused crookedness. T h e Indians had avoided the which were the principal obstructions to rnedwhat was equally important, they had Wet:ea the best fording-places of the creeks and rivers that ocedd The fords, too, had been improved by the bad carried gravel and a (tore.r11, moeucks," or bark the streams, so the mire. aml soak i O w • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . were loaded upon them. T h e road was not opened by the goverutuent for several years after the survey, but the fact that i t was surveyed and established as a road gration to follow that line, and the emigrants here and there did a little something toward making As early as 1325, and probably before, there was a trading-post established where the Coldwater Cemetery (Oak Grove) now is. T h e owners were Loranger & Foster. I n the year just named the late Mr. 3Iarantelle, of Mendott, St. Joseph Co., though then only a French stripling o f • eighteen, had charge o f the post. A t that time, by Mr. 3Iarantelle during his life, the Sues and perhaps other Western Indians, among whom celebrated Black Hawk was the most prominent, were in the habit o f going annually to Malden, Canada, to obtain annuities allowed them by the British When returning from this trip in 1825, they stopped at the post in charge o f 3Iarantelle, to trade, that being the last one before reaching Chicago. T h e y dismounted and tied their ponies, and in a few moments the room was full of braves and squaws. B l a c k Hawk, armed with a long lance, stood grim and stately in their midst. T h e had his hands full selling his goods to his dark-skinned customers, and occasionally purchasing some article produce which they had While the bargaining was at its height, a to sell young Marmite& a fine smoked deer-skin, immetIrately recognized as one which he had bought days before, and which had his mark ( 1 6 I — ) on t h e corner. H e immediately seized and claimed i t , but the squaw clung to the other end, and both pulled lustily at the coveted article. T h e Indians began to Black Hawk advanced with impressive mien through the throng, and laid his lance across the skin; to command the peace or possibly purposing to end the dispute by taking possession of the contested But Marantelle immediately picked u p another from his pile, and laying it down beside the one claimed by the squaw, showed the two corresponding marks to Black Hawk and " How ! H o w !" exclaimed the chieftain, lifting and relinquishing the skin to the bold boy. " H o w ! H o w ! " cried all the Indians and squaws, as they drove one out of doors, and then returned more eager to buy than before. S o pleased were they with young havior, that before they left they purchased between five and six hundred dollars' worth As early as 1826, a few prospecting-parties began westward along the Chicago road, looking for the for settlement, some of them going through as far as Lake Michigan. T h e r e was still, however, n o white an occasional Indian trader, residing west County, i n t h e Territory o f Michigan. I n November, 1826, the territory of Branch County was brought undei municipal jurisdiction b y an act of the which declared that all the country within the territory to which the Indian title was extinguished b y the treaty of Chicago should be attached t o awl compose a part of the county of Lenawee. O n the 12th of April, act. enacted that all the territory thus annexed 3 5 County should constitute the township of St. Joseph. T h i s township must have contained at least ten miles In t h e spring o f that year (1827), the was made in Hillsdale County, at Allen's Prairie, and the same season the earliest pioneers o f St. Joseph cated on White Pigeon Prairie. S i x o r eight grants passed through the territory now constituting Branch County, and made their homes in St. Joseph. evidently was because the Mick-ke-saw-bee closed one of the largest prairies, lying near the centre of the county, on-both sides of the Chicago road, did not desire to settle in the immediate vicinity of it. Strenuous efforts were made to concentrate all the Indians of the various reservations before mentioned on a single tract, and i n September, 1327, a treaty was concluded to that effect. I t recited that it was desirable that the Indians should be removed from the Chicago road, where in constant contact with the stream of white which and other reasons they ceded to the,Uttne4 States all the tracts reserved by the treaty of Chicago except that at Nottawa-seepe in St. Joseph County, and received in return a large addition t o that reserve, bringing i t up nine sections, which lacked but seven sections of much as the area o f all the reservations had been. T h i s treaty was not signed by Topenabee. T h e list was headed by Pee-nai-sheish, or Little Bird, followed b y " Peerish Morain," a Frenchman, who had become a chief o f t h e Pottateattaniies. This brings us to the verge of settlement in this county. Before entering on a description of the pioneer ever, a chapter will be devoted to a delineation of tion i n which the first white settlers found now comprising the county of Branch. CHAPTER VII. T H E SITUATION AT S E T T L E M E N T. The P r i m e v a l F o r e s t — P r a i r i e s a n d Openings—Coldwater—Cocoosh and Bronson's Prairies—Surface and Soil— R i v e r s and L a k e s — O l d Mounds a n d F o r t i f i c a t i o n s — T h e Supposed M o u n d -Builders marks r e g a r d i n g t h e m — T h e Pottoicattataies a g a i n — T h e .Nof frlica Indians— P i e r r e Moreau—Satt-no-qocit—Wandering H a b i t s o f t h e Indians - - T h e i r V i l l a g e s i n B r a n c h C o u n t y — T h e i r H o u s e s Squaws, Boys, and Papooses— I n d i a n H u n t e r s — I n d i a n Tr a i l s . IN the year 1828, when the first permanent located themselves i n the territory now constituting the county of Branch, they found a tract of mingled prairie, seldom, i f ever, surpassed in fertility or More than h a l f of the district in question— work, so to say, o f the landscape--was a dense limest o f oak, elm, beech, maple, black walnut, whitewood, minor varieties of trees. T h e two last-named especially noticeable for their large size and This forest was diversified by several tine the centre o f the present township (if Coldwater was one about three miles long, east and west, and near a a half wide, north and south, at the broadest place; the city 4 �36 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of Coldwater now occupying its eastern end. like the others in the vicinity, was not exactly what of Iowa or Kansas would call a prairie; that is, it an absolutely treeless expanse. There were many and other trees scattered here and there over its in some places, especially near the edges of timber, these were so numerous that these places properly designated as oak openings than Some three miles north of Coldwater Prairie, 5 south, range 6 west (now Girard), were known as "Cocoosh" and "West Cocoosh." the Indian name for hog, and the whites adopted latien for the two prairies, though unflatunately, which meanders through them has received the name of Hog Creek. Cocoosh Prairie, which site of Girard village, contained about a West Cocoosh, about a mile directly west of the somewhat South of Coldwater Prairie for six miles, was belt of the finest timber, principally whitewuod walnut, running east and vo..t through the county. M a n y of these trees were so large that when afterwards and taken to mill, it was necessary to hew considerably before they could pass through an perpendicular Still south of the timber belt just mentioned, ing territory of the present county was occupied by a heavy forest, broken by occasional small openings. O f the prairies, the principal was the known as Bronson's Prairie, in the township of name. I t was about three-fourths of a mile wide north and south, and full a mile long from east to west. This, unlike some of the others, was a regular what there was of it, with scarcely a tree upon it. The surface of the future county was with the eastern country, from which most of came, but did not quite match the sameness of an Illinois prairie. I n the central portions there were tions, but in the northeast and southwest occasional hills were seen, though none sufficient to interfere vatio The soil of the prairies was generally a dry, loain, changing into a somewhat level, sandy loam in the openings, awl showing an admixture of clay in timbe The general, though slight, slope i f the land was westward ; all the streams being tributary to the River, which, having started on its course County, and made its way northwest into Calhoun touching the northeast corner of the present township of Butler), turns to the southwest, enters eight miles east from the northwestern corner, almost directly southwest course, and passes seven miles south from that corner. Thence it makes a long detour southward, but returns to the north Lake Michigan at St. Joseph, a little farther the northern line of this county, having flowed of two hundred miles besides its Its principal tributary in the territory which subject of this work was the Coldwater River, branches of which both began their township of California, ran northwestward a through various lakes and united their waters 6, range 6 (Coldwater), just above the point Chicago trail crossed the combined stream, thence in the same general course through of lakes, till it joined the St. Joseph, half a mile entrance into the county, at the place where theism City nowstands. T h e whole distance from the head of the branches to the mouth of the river, was five " (2ocoosh" Creek, as the Indiarir called it, though their limeade successors insist on denominating i t rose in the edge of Hillsdale County, the present townships of Qniney, Butler, and united with Coldwater River, in the eastern edge township of Union. The territory of the of Bethel, Batavia, and Mattison, with part were drained by the waters of Swan Creek and Creek, which united with each other and with the St. Joseph River shortly after entering St. Farther south, Prairie River, finding its source in of beautiful lakes on the Indiana line, wardly through the present towns of Gilead. Bronson, making its exit from the county six from the southwest corner, and passing on until the St. Joseph, two miles below the site of the city Rivera; its total length being about fifty miles. which formed the head-waters of Fawn River were thosewhich flowed into Prairie River, in the ship of Kinderhook, but the former stream passed into Indiana, returning and crossing corner of the present township of Noble and County) and finding its way into the St. Joseph, miles below the mouth of Prairie River, after course of about the same length as the In describing the rivers and creeks it has to make frequent mention of the lakes. These were interesting feature of the country. T h e hunter, trader, the land-seeker, as he made his toilsome the prairie or through the "openings." his steps arrested by a small sheet of water, and sparkling in the sunlight, around which a detour of from one to five miles must be made ere he onhis former course. Still more noticeableWSE when he had been plodding for miles through forest, the giant whitewoods and black walnuts almost every glimpse of the sun, and the air with the heat of an American summer. A glimpse isseen ahead, a few eager strides are made, and eler emerges on the shore of a bright little half a mile in diameter, its pellucid waters shut in darksomewood on every side, displaying by the glowing beauty in bolder relief, while wild fowl log from its surface at sight of the strummer, anantlered deer, drinking at the margin, stands for ment, with head flung back in startled " L i k e chief who hears his warder's call," and then bounds away at headlong speed into �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Of these lakes and ponds, no less than sixty-nine were to be found in the embryo county of Brunch, from utive sheet of water which scarcely made a ing in the forest up t o Coldwater Lake (the southernmost one o f that name) o n the line between townships 7 and 8, range 6 , —Ovid and Kinderhook,—which was about three miles long and from half a mile t o two The lakes were more numerous and of larger average size in t h e southern part o f t h e county, fractional township 8 i n range 6 (now Kinderhook) being particularly well supplied with them. Besides Coldwater Lake, tioned, the larger ones i n the county were together in the pn......‘nt townships of Coldwater and Girard, which also received the name of Coldwater ; one son, called Mattison Lake; one i n Sherwood, wood Lake; one i n Quincy and Algansee, called Marble Lake; two in Ovid, known as Long Lake and Lake of the Woods; t w o i n Gilead, wiled Gilead Lake and Island Pond; t w o i n Kinderhook, known as Silver Lake and Fish Lake; and one on the line between Kinderhook and Indiana, bearing the appellation of Around these lakes and through t h e forest t h e deer roamed in large numbers. H e r e , too, at night was heard the howling of innumerable wolves, always gry and seeking with i l l success for food, their principal reliance being some superannuated o r crippled deer which they were able t o overtake. Occasionally a black bear rolled his unwieldy form beneath the trees, self on acorns, walnuts, etc., i n summer, and retiring i n winter to some hollow oak to live on the tal o f his own flesh. A t still rarer intervals, scream o f t h e panther, fiercest o f American heard afar in the forest, making all other animals tremble with fear, and startling even t h e Indian warrior w i t h the prospect of more than Raccoons, squirrels, and other small animals abounded; wild turkeys trooped i n noisy squadrons through der,rowth, wild geese and ducks i n spring and autumn often covered the surface of the placid lakes, while amid the branches of the trees flitted thousands of smaller birds, of varied song and diverse size, and manyOn the ground, besides some harmless varieties pents, the deadly rattlesnake, generally of the "moccasin" species, made its tortuous way, preluding its fatal stroke with the warning note which distinguishes it front tiles But by far the most important occupants of the county at the time of settlement were the Indians. ever, describing their situation a t that time, perhaps it will be well to make brief mention of some relics believed by many to indicate the existence here of a much more highly civilized race than the red men found b y the plorers. 1 V e approach this subject with much diffidence, for the ascertained facts are really very few and far as this section {8 concerned, while the theories which have been built upon them are so extensive as to tend to overawe any one who has not made the subject study. First, as to the facts. I n this county, as in various other parts of the St. Joseph Valley and throughout the region 3 7 — y b d n u lks,w ra g e fth o numerous mounds, some of' which were evidently places of sepulture, while others had every appearance o f having originally been erected as fortifications. H o n . E. G. Fuller has described t o us several o f these mounds, obliterated, as they were when he first saw are located on ground now belonging to Mrs. Reid, in the township of Girard, near the road from Coldwater to Union City. A t the time of settlement, the largest one or twenty feet high, arid about six rods in diameter. T h e next largest was eight or ten feet high and near in diameter. O a k s two feet thick were growing on the top of the larger mound. I n one o f them a few bones and some rude stone implements were found, but not many of either. Besides these and some smaller mounds also a small fort, about six rods in diameter, inclosed with a wall only a few feet high. S i m i l a r remnants o f other days have been found i n Bronson and in other parts o f the county. I n St. Joseph County they are still more numerou Similar works are found all along the shores of hikes, as flu east as the foot o f Lake Ontario. A s southward the works become more extensive and in the vicinity of the Ohio, they are so large as attracted the most earliest attention o f scientific has long been a 'natter of general credence, that built by some race anterior and superior to the Indians, to whom, for lack o f any other name, has been given the appellation of " Mound-Builders." Many, too, believe that the slighter mounds and forts erected i n the lake-country were the productions o f the same people, but o f this there is considerable doubt. I n fact, the generally trivial character of the works in country, compared with those on and near the ally raises the presumption that the former were not built by the same race as the latter. Moreover, the northern structures are certainly such as could have been erected by the Indians, whether they were or not. T r u e , the Indians were not i n the habit o f building earthen fortifications when the whites first settled in America, but they very elaborate palisades out o f logs cut down w i t h their stone-axes, and this required much more labor and skill than the construction of a small earthen fort. I t should be observed, too, that while the fortifications and mounds throughout the lake region are all of paratively trivial character, and could easily have structed by a barbarous race, yet within a hundred miles of Lake E r i e —noticeably a t Newark, O h i o —we more important works, giving evidence that civilized or at least half-civilized men designed their form tended their erection. I t is, o f course, also well known that a half-civilized race, with numerous and fortifications, were found in Mexico by I t does not seem improbable, therefore, that a ized race did once occupy the Ohio Valley and construct the mighty works found there, while the shores of lakes (and the peninsula which lies between two of them) were held by the ancestors o f the modern Indians. T h e latter would naturally imitate their powerful build intrenchments to protect themselves against them (as 1 �38 H I S T G R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . the Creeks and ('hoc/airs built breastworks in imitation of the whites at Talladega and Horse-Shoe Bend, to guard against the troops of Geri Jackson W h e n the Builders'. disappeared from the Ohio Valley ( either count a internecine wars, or from a desire to migrate milder clime, or for some other unknown reason) and the Indians spread over all this portion of the continent, the latter would naturally cease t o build the tended as a defense against their half-civilized foes, and content themselves with the palisades, which were sufficient for their bow-andThis is only a crude and hastily-constructed theory, yet it seems difficult otherwise to account for the very marked difference between the immense and elaborate structures found near the Ohio and the comparatively insignificant ones which line the shores o f the great lakes and o f the rivers which empty into them. Let us turn to the Indians who were i n the territory of Branch County at the time of its settlement by the whites. These were almost entirely our old friends, tumies, though a few Otfuteas and still fewer Chippewas had drifted down from the north and had permanently located themselves among their ancient confederates. T h e y were sometimes called the Nottawa Indians, because their principal abiding-place was t h e village o f around which, after 1827, was the only reservation they had in Michigan. Topenabe, so long the head chief of the Poitawattantirs, was not yet dead, as will appear by subsequent treaties, but had doubtless become too old and infirm to duties o f active leadership, as his name does not appear among the signers of the treaty o f 1827. Penaishees, or Little Bird, whose name appears at the head o f the list, was afterwards recognized as head chief of the Mies, but the principal man among the Notawa portion of the tribe was the second signer o f the treaty o f 1827, whose name appears there as " Pierish" Moran, or Moran, but who i s b y some called Pierre Moreau, a Frenchman or French Canadian, said to have been family and In early life he began business as a merchant in Detroit and failed. H e took the remnant o f his goods to the St. Joseph River and began trading with the Puttuwattanties. His goods were soon used up, but by this time he had acquired a strong influence over the .Nottaun band and a strong liking for Indian habits. H e married an Indian woman, lived with the Indians, dressed like an Indian, became practically an Indian in everything but color, and did not differ much from his red comrades even in that. His influence steadily increased, and he became at length the head of the An Indian named Cush-e-wees is said to have been the hereditary chief of the band, but was supplanted by the superior intelligence of Moreau. I n 1828, the become old, decrepit, and t o some extent imbecile, and Cush-e-wees sought to regain his lust authority. resisted, however, by Sau-au-quett (or Sau-quett, as comtuonly called by the whites), the oldest son o f Moreau by his Indian W fe. Ma iii w a s at that time Ii w looking, stalwart ltair breed, six feet three inches high, straight and well-proportioned, s i t h a keen intelligence, a strong will, an imposing address, and winning manners; but unprincipled and, like nearly all his people, very fond of whisky. Sauquett's skillf ul management gave him a vantage over Cush-e-weea, notwithstanding tile legitimate descent of the at E v e n during the life of old Moreau. Sanyo-It was generally recognized as the head o f dians on the reservation at Coldwater, which called S a u q u e t t ' s Reservation." A f t e r Nottawa-se.pe was made the headytarters of all the P0til/Wati/// of Southern Michigan, and especially after his father's death, the exact date o f w h k h is not known, Sauquett prattically the head of the band, though a minority still adhered to l'ush-c-wee-. T h e feud between the factions generated much bad blood, arid, i n connection with other matters, afterwards roused she Notwithstanding the exchange of Sattquetfs for an addition to that at Nottawa-seepe, the had dwelt in the territory of Branch County, still continued to occupy their old homes, at least during a large portion of the tinte. I t is impossible to say how many who might fairly be considered as Branch as they were closely toni»,eicil with those at and many of them were frequently going back and forth between the two localities. A l l of the hand at least twice a year; raising their corn and beans i n this locality in the summer, arid rcnowing to some ing-ground i n the winter, where the game was entirely undisturbed. Generally they came back in the spring t o the localities they had left in the fall, but There was a small village a t Mick-ke-saw-be water, and another on Cocoosh Prairie, now Girard. T h e latter locality must have been occupied b y them many years, as there were several well-grown apple-trees there. The writer has tried several times to obtain from tlers a description o f the lodges o r houses o f the watiamies i n this vicinity, but they were of such script character that the task has been extremely difficult. They seem t o have been made o f anything that came to hand. Sometimes, though rarely, a few loIss, were piled up and a bark roof placed upon them. M o r e often some crotched poles were set up and others laid upon them to make the frame; the structure being completed by a bark roof and bark sides. I f a piece o f tent-cloth had been obtained anywhere, it usually supplied the place of bark as far as i t would go. Sometimes one of the smaller cabins was occupied by a single family, but more often built twenty or thirty feet long and occupied families together. Around these, on a summer day, might have the Indian braves lying at ease i n the sun, while their patient squaws worked i n the patches o f corn and beans and pumpkins, which were usually fenced i n with a row of stakes fastened together with strips of bark, to keep out the Indian ponies; sometimes as many as ten acres being thus inclosed. H e r e , too, might be seen " eight little, nine little, ten little Indian boys" running about bows and arrows, shooting with remarkable accuracy �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . birds which flitted around. H e r e , too, were children, naked as they were born, playing in the bright-eyed papooses, strapped upon boards (to straightness of the future warriors) and leaned watched the animated Despite the apparent indolence and selfishness the Indians watched the labors of' the squaws, it should by no means be understood that the former shirked all the duties of life. I n accordance with immemorial work of the field devolved upon the weaker sex, but then there was little labor to be done in the field, and of war and the chase were supposed to include duty of man." O f the pleasures of war the had been largely deprived since their complete conquest by the United States, but the chase still remained. W h e n the leaves of the forest assumed their myriad hues beneath the breath of autumn, and still more when the white mantle of winter covered all the land, the Portiticattoniie his loins for the severest toils. Over hill and dale, over snow, through chilling stream and tangled pursued the track of the deer with unwavering unflinching Arriving at length i n the vicinity of his tim (the nearness of which he could discern dinary sagacity), his approaches were made with a skill surpassing that o f the profoundest military Creeping slowly and stealthily, with half-frozen feet, or more to gain the side of the doomed animal the wind ; lying prone i n a snow-bank to lull aroused suspicions of the quarry; standing so a tree that he seems frozen to it, he at length gains the wished-for opportunity, and a bullet from his the stately monarch of the forest to the ground. W i t h a yell in which lingers some of the glory of the hunting times, he bounds forward to cut the throat of the victim, and then, after hanging the carcass on a tree, out of reach o f wolves, presses on with undiminished ardor to fresh toils and fresh conquests. Perhaps he carries the carcass to camp, but quite as likely informs his squaw (or squaws) of its whereabouts, and quarter it. and carry Though accustomed to the most distant and tain excursions in search o f game. yet in one well-known locality to another, the Indians lowed one trail in all its windings, marching in known " Indian file," and with their own and feet wearing a hard deep path into the earth. great Chica,go trail before mentioned, another from Fort Wayne to Lake Michigan, crowing the the site of Coldwater. Fifteen years after by the whites, the Fort Wayne trail could still barely wide enough for an Indian pony t o walk worn six_ inches below the surface of the pound. S t i l l another ran from the Nottawa-seepe Reservation ill seph County through Bronson and Gilead Prairie in Indiana, and there were others of in various parts of Having given an outline o f the condition of affiiirs at the time of the first settlement o f Branch County whites, we now turn to note the arrival of 3 9 CHAPTER VIII. FROM SET TLEMENT TO ORGANIZATION C O U N T Y. OF The F i r s t Settler—Bronson a n t Bronson's P r a i r i e — P h i n e a s B o n n e r, the Wa n d e r i n g Welshman— F i r s t Settlement i n G i r a r d — T h e F i r s t M a i l — T h e First School— F o r m a t i o n o f Branch County— D e r i v a t i o n of N a m e — A t t tolled t o S r. J o s e p h C o u n t y — F o r m a t i o n o f G r e e n To w n s h i p — I t s I m p e r i a l D i m e n s i o n s — F i r s t To w n - M e e t i n g — F i r s t Officers— F i r s t J u s t i c e a n d Postmaster—Toole's S a w - M i l l and M o r s e — F i r s t P h y s i c i a n — N a v i g a t i n g t h e S t . J o s e p h — F i r s t Record o f Green— L o c a t i n g the C o u n t y -Seat a t O l d Coldwater— A Serious I n f o r m a l i t y — N e w A r r i v a l s — T h e F i r s t S t a g e s — Wa l e s Adams, A l l e n Tibbd.s, a n d H a r v e y Wa r n e r — F i r s t ing— M a r s h ' s T r a d i n g -post— C o l u m b i a —Lancaster— Meeting— N e w Land- d i s t r i c t —Relocation of County-Seat— S t i c k i n g the Stake i n t h e Wilderness— L a y i n g o u t o f B r a n c h V i l l a g e crease o f P o p u l a t i o n —01o1 Records— E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f tricts— F i r s t Road R e c o r d — D i s p u t e w i t h a n I n d i a n — T h e Squaws and t h e A p p l e -Trees— T h e I n d i a n B o y and t h e Horses— T h e F i r s t Merchant— T h i r d T o w n - M e e t i n g —Supervisor's A c c o u n t — R e c o r d of t h e M e e t i n g —Record o f To w n A u d i t o r s — B i s h o p Chase tract f r o m h i s A u t o b i o g r a p h y — H i s R e s i d e n c e i n G i l e a d — T h e Black H a w k W a r — M i l i t i a C a l l e d O u t —Jones's B a t t a l i o n —Copy of t h e Roll—Pottotrottosiies a t Orangeville—Another D r a f t o f M i l i t i a —Check o n E t n i g r a t i o n — G r e e n To w n s h i p D i v i d e d — F i i s t Grist- M i l l — H o t e l s a n d W o l f -Scalps— L a w O r g a n i z i n g B r o o c h County. IT was in the spring of 1828 that the white settler located himself within the limits of ent county of Branch. T h i s was " Jabe" Bronson, he always signed his name,—not Jabez as it been printed. M r . Bronson had already reached middle age, was a ship-carpenter by trade, and built vessels on Lake Erie. H e had made his way to White Pigeon, S t Joseph Co., the year before (1827), where he had raised a crop of' corn, but in 1828 a permanent location on what was long known Prairie, a little south of the present village of Bronson, in the township o f the same name. T h e r e he built a log house and opened His wife had been a widow—a Mrs. Potter— his marriage with her, and they were accompanied County by her four children, John, Abial, Emma, Potter, all adults or nearly so. John Potter soon an Indian trading-post at Bronson's Prairie. H e have a peculiar faculty for that business, and ere came able to speak the Pottawattanzie language siderable It is believed that Seth Dunham also located Prairie in 1828, though perhaps not till the next year. I l e was also a ship-carpenter. H i s residence was at end of the present village of' Bronson, his place owned by Mr. Ruggles. I t had previously by a "squatter," but his name is unknown, and as he only remained a abort time he can hardly be considered as a "settler," though lie might pass as a pioneer. E i t h e r Dunham or his predecessor set out there the in the Another emigrant who scarcely collies within tion of a settler,—in fact, a very unsettled was a Welshman named Phineas Bonner, who with his family located himself on Four-Mile Creek, in township of Batavia. I t is not known exactly when he �40 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . nine into the county, and he way possibly Bronson ; b u t as the titue o f the advent of the latter is known, and as Bonner was as much Indian-trader thing else, Bronson is put down as the first traders not being counted in that category. H e is Wales Adams, Esq., who knew him, to have been a man of considerable intelligence, who had perhaps been a sailor. He told o f many travels on the Old Continent, along the shores o f the Mediterranean, and visiting the imperial city of Constantinople, and was to have run away from a school which he was teaching in Ohio, with one o f his female pupils, whom h e made his wife While here, he acted the part of both farmer and trader, raising corn, which h e sold t o the Indians for sending the latter where they could be sold for money. short time he removed to a point in the woods, a mile or two east of the site of Coldwater. B u t his restless, wandering disposition still clung t o him. H e made no attempt to acquire land, and when, after a few years, the tained t h i r t y o r forty families, he considered i t as too crowded for him, and moved on to some more tion The first settler in the county (except from Bronson's Prairie, was Richard W. Corbus, to the present township of Girard in the year 1829. H e was accompanied by his mother and his niece. T h e latter, now Mrs. Sarah Ann Smith, is still living at Quincy, the earliest surviving resident of the county. T h e y lived several mouths in a deserted wigwam; then moved into a log house and lived there a year or more, without white neighbor in In the spring of' 1829, Jeremiah Tillotson self near Bronson, and also began keeping tavern. B y the fact of two taverns being opened close to each other, it may reasonably be presumed that there was considerable travel over the Chicago road. T h i s i s also known from other sources. T h e r e was already quite a settlement a t White Pigeon, and during the summer o f this year, the first mail-route was established west of Lenawee County. I t was from Tecumseh, i n t h a t county, t o White Pigeon. The contractor was John Michell, of the latter place, and his contract required him t o carry the mail once each way in the summer, and once every two weeks in the winter. D u r i n g 1829 the method of transportation was on horsebac John Toole was another emigrant of 1829, who located at Bronson, and there were probably five o r there in all, as in the winter of 1829-30. To o l e taught a small school there,—unquestionably the first in In fact, there was no one living in the county, away from the vicinity of Bronson's Prairie, except our Putialvattamie friends, the occupants of the French trading-post water River, Mr. Corbus' family in Girard, and dering adventurer, Phineas Bonner. Up to this time, the territory o f Branch County, and indeed the whole southwestern part of Michigan, prised the township of St. Joseph's, which was a part county of Lenawee. O n the 29th day of October, 1829, however, a law was passed by the Legislative Council o f I. Michigan, and approved b y the counties of Washtensw, Ingham, Eaton, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Va n Buren, Hillsdale, Branch, Joseph, Cam, and Berrien. T h e tenth section read lows " T h a t so much o f the country as lies west of the line between ranges four and five, west o f the east of the line between ranges eight and nine south of the line between townships four and five, south of the bam-line, and north of die boundary-line, between this Territory and the State of Indiana, be and t h e same i s hereby set off into a separate county, and the of shall be Branch." This name was derived from that of Hon. John Branch, of North Carolina, who, on the preceding 4th of March, had been appointed Secretary of' the Navy of the United States by the new President, Gen Andrew Jackam. T h e formation o f a county, however, as our readers ably aware, by no means indicated the itutuediate existent* of a county organization ; i t merely showed that, inn the judgment of the legislative council, the district nated, bounded and named would make a very good county at some future time. These inchoate counties attached to more populous ones for all legal such times as they should themselves have a sulicient number of inhabitants to justify their being provided with county In the present case an act was passed on the 4th day of November, 1829, six days after the establishment o f the thirteen counties before named, organizing two of ber, St. Joseph and Cass. B r a n c h , Kalamazoo, Eaton Counties, together with an immense unoccupied tract extending north nearly to the Strait o f Mackinaw, were attached to St. Joseph County. T h e next day (Nov. 5, 1829) an act was approved new townships o f imperial extent. T h e fifth as follows: " That the counties of Branch, Calhoun, and Eaton, and all the country lying north of the county of Eaton, which are attached to and form a part of the county of shall form a township o f the name o f Green, and the first township-meeting shall be held a t t h e house o f Jabez Bronson, in said township." Thus the log tavern of J o b e " (for we adhere t o h i s signature in spite of the law) Bronson became the capital of an empire reaching from the boundary o f Indiana to the southern line of the county o f Mackinaw. There are no original records extant showing when that first township-meeting was held, but from a copy of the account of the supervisor of the township of serted in the forepart of the oldest town-book there is reason for believing that it was held on the 10th day o f February, 1830. A t all events that clared that i t ran from the 10th day of February, 1830, to the 1st day of April, 1832. But whether held in February, or at the natal time, in April, there is no reasonable doubt but that the ship meeting in the county was held at the hoarse of Jabe Bronson, i n the forepart of 1830, instead o f at cahontas (or Black Hawk) Mill, two years later, ��OF B R A N C H ) ' I ) N I M I C H I G A . stake" is an 1 s . f the locution o f ; , ;ialit part of the proceedio;.4,. \ ;1.) II;1ii t , ; c i t y chosen as a county-seat had but one or two houses i n i t , a oil sometimes none at all. Consequently i t was cient to establish the county-seat i n a certain village, but the commissioners must "stick a stake" t o designate the exact location of the con;;. i;;;;I;lings. Unfortunately f o r :11; I ; ii;;11, however, another part o f the proceedings quite as important as '• sticking the stake," which the to perform. T h i s was the " swearing i n " of the worthy officials. N o t having taken the ; ceediugs were of no legal force. " 1 ; ; ; in the annals of the The same year (183))) the brothers William H . and Robert J. Cross located themselves a mile east o f the site of the court-house. H u g h Campbell bought an " e i g h t y " of the government in the southwest corner o f section 15, in the centre o f the present city of Coldwater, being the first resident of that flourishing burg. During the same season the population o f the present township of Girard was increased by the arrival o f Henry Van Hyning, Edward Hanchett, and perhaps one or two others In September, 1830, there came from the city of New York to the county of Branch a young man who is now, so far as we can learn, the earliest surviving male resident of that county. A native o f New England, he had a natural tendency toward mechanics, and was particularly desirous to find a good place for the erection o f a mill. Passing, therefore, by the prairies at Coldwater son, he followed the Chicago road to the point where i t crossed Prairie River, five miles southwest tavern, and there, in partnership with his friend, Willard Pierce, began the erection of a saw-mill. Mr. Adams, whose clear mind retains a vivid of the events o f that day, states that at the time o f his arrival there were twelve families i n Branch County. Bronson, Tillotson, and Morse were then keeping tavern. Dunham, Toole & Co. were building their mill hontas, and t h e prospects o f Branch County sidered to be decidedly encouraging. T h a t horse stages were put upon the Chicago road, running twice a week as far west as Niles ; yet that road was by the government till two or three years later. A few small trees had been cut by emigrants, so that a wagon could barely pass, and a few o f the worst places were repaired by the owners o f the stages, but i t must indeed have been " a hard road to travel." That autumn M r. Allen Tibbits, the welldent of Coldwater, then a young local at Plymouth, twenty-five miles west of Detroit, set out to seek a new habitation. Tr a v e l i n g , as did almost every one, on horseback, he followed an Indian trail son to Allen's Prairie, losing one day on account of taking the wrong trail, and falling i n with Benjamin Smith, Martin Barnhart, and a M r. Freeman on the way. T h e . four came to Morse's tavern, and thence to Cocoosh Prairie. 1;;Inkot :;,e1 o ;.,; .1 W e i t but Tibbits did not become a resident of • year. ,olother of the oldest of the dt I I . rev Warner. now of Coldwater township. A l t e r de! tI I i ' James S. l'hooks t o hutld hotel tor A . F. Bolton. ,outy, ;if ; I first been ,blished , hip of Coldwater. po, He afterwards moved t e the River, where he remained sev; I..; r ; _ large trade w i t h the Indians, and great influence over them. Ile is well remembered by litany The taxes o f the township o f Green t h a t i s o f the whole county of Branch) for the year 1830, collected by Collector John G. Richardson, and turned over visor Seth Dunham, amouuted to seven dollars six cents. T h e supervisor's eonanission on it, at cent., was thirtyThe second school in the county was taught bia Lancaster, whose permanent home was i n County. Columbia Lancaster was a well-known man i n Southern Michigan between forty and fifty years was somewhat celebrated as a lawyer, and still more so as a hunter, being reported to have killed three sixty-six deer in one year. H e frequently acted cuting attorney of this and St. Joseph Counties, regularly appointed to that position in the latter county by the Governor in 1835. M a n y years afterwards to Washington Territory, and in 1854 was in Congress from that Territory. E v e n while teaching school, as he did in the beginning of his he managed to increase his revenue by killing all the venison needed by the In April, 1831, the township-meeting o f held, according to the recollection o f Mr. Adams, at the Indian trading-post just west of Coldwater River. M r . Adams did not go himself, but his partner, Willard Piave, did, and was elected to one of the minor Aces. however, returned East that same season. S a n e doubt has been expressed regarding the holding of at the trading-post, but a town-meeting was somewhere in the county that year, Bath D e n i m W a g re-elected supervisor, and J a n N o m being thane lath collector and township clerk, as apposes b y records. I t seems probable that M r. Adams' is correct as to In the spring of 1831 a WM land-tratritt consisting of all that part of Michigan west of meridian; the office being at Whim Pigs's, tic Jump This was somewhat more convenient than Monroe 1,t t h . i n title f r . , m th, 111.1,1 di.tant part ot 1:tath In the forepart of 1 ..;1 \ ' . i establish a county-seat for Branch County. sioners were appointed, under as ma a t A n a 4, I O W who again a w n to view the m a m a A l g a l 16.111141ft �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . explained the situation and facilities o f his location, b u t without avail. F o r reasons best known to themselves, the commissioners decided to locate the county-seat a t a point on the west side o f the west branch o f Coldwater River three-fourths of a wile down stream (north) from hontas Mills before mentioned. T h e "stake was stuck" in the forest where not a tree had been cut, near the line between sections 1 9 and 30, township 6, range 6 water). Messrs. Elisha Warren and others speedily purchased a tract of land around the stake in question, and laid out a village, to which they gave the name of Branch. lieve, however, that a single log house, and a enough for it to stand in, constituted the improvements at the new county-seat for the year 1831. I t will bered that the county was still unorganized, and seat had no official business to support it, but on the glories of the future. The population of Branch County was increased by what seemed quite a large number o f settlers i n 1831. M r . Warren returned with his young wife, and began keeping hotel in Bolton's new building on the Coldwater. A l l e n Tibbits also returued, and located on the site o f Coldwater City-. Samuel Craig---whose widow, Mrs. Eliza Craig, is still living in Girard—moved to that township len's Prairie; Joseph C. Corbus came with farms with his brother Richard ; Benjamin Smith came to the place he had previously selected the same season ; and Henry Van Hyning moved into a house he had erected the year before. J a m e s B. Tompkins, a surveyor, came to the same township in July, and has resided there till ent time. I n fact, the population o f the county had by this time become so numerous that we must leave tion o f individual emigrants to the writers on townships, except in some Dr. Enoch Chase, who came in 1831, and located water, was the second physician i n the county; and, as Dr. Hill soon left, Chase had the field to himself for time The " mark" records were continued in 1831 ; the next after the one before copied being the following : • " W m . H . Cross, his m a r k f o r cattle, sheep, huge, a swallow f o r k i n the l e f t ear. " C o b n w srsa, A p r i l 4, 1831. " J o e , . MoRSE, Clerk." Another mark was recorded by R . J. Cross day. T h e above not only shows that town officers were acting in 1831, but that the Dame of Coldwater been adopted for the locality to which i t Another evidence on the question of officers is from the " T h i s . a y certify that Jabs Bronson has taken t h e oath seer of the poor for the town o f G r e a t . " A p r i l 12, 1831. " J o n , ' MOMS, ( ' l e d . " The next entry shows the division of the township (that ia, of the county) into road-districts, though in ward . 4 " F o r t h e t o w n s h i p o f Green. T h i s m a y c e r t i f y t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t No. 1 a n d d i s t r i c t N o . 2 a n d d i s t r i c t N o . 3, also No. 4 a n d 5 , w h i c h are recorded t h i s t w e n t y - t h i r d d a y o f A p r i l , 1831. " Jun st MORSE, Clerk." The next step in regard to roads was the one described in the ensuing record: " A t a meeting o f t h e commissioners o f highways, f o r t h e t o w n o f Green, on t h e 14th o f M a y, 1831, the following persons were appointed overseers o f h i g h w a y s [ p a t h m a s t e r s j : D i s t r i c t N o . I , hart; N o . 2, R o b e r t Cross; N o . 3 , J o h n A l l e n ; N o , 4 , Jeretniah Tillotson ; N o . 5, W i l l i a r d Pierce. " M a y 16, 1831. " JOHN MORSE, C i r r k . " W i t . I t . Coosa, " E . S. H A " Contrui eeeeeeeeee o f Hightyngs." The first record of the establishment of a road in is the one given below. ( I t will be understood that the Chicago road, being laid out by the general needed no action by town or county officials.) record was made in 1831, but the exact date is not given: " S u r v e y o f a road established b y the cotnmissioners o f highways o f the town o f Green, county o f St. Joseph [ s t r i c t l y speaking, i t should have been county o f Branch, attached to St. Joseph] ; c o m m e n c i n g at the line at corners of sections 33 and 34, township 4 south, range 6 west, and sections 3 and 4, townships 5 south, range 6 west; a n d runs thence south on section line nine miles to the corner o f sections 15,18, 21, 22, township 6 south, range 0 west. " J . I t . TOM MINS, Surveyor. "WILLIAM " COWARD S . H A M M E T T, " Conornissionere o f H i g h w a y s . " The above is now known as the Marshall road, running front the centre of Coldwater City north to the county line. Two other records of 1831 were the following: " T h e t o w n s h i p o f Green t o S e t h Dunham, D r. T o one vice as inspector of election, $1; t r a v e l f o r t y miles a n d m a k e r e t u r n to c l e r k ' s office, $2.50; canvassing votes a t clerk's office, forty miles, $2.50." " To w n s h i p o f Green to J o h n Morse, D r. F o r serving as c l e r k f o r electing delegate, J u l y, 1831, S l . " " J o i t n MORSE, c l e r k . " All these items show beyond question that there fully-organized township in 1831, a point which disputed by The Indians still remained in their old ing their bark huts in summer, and going on cursions in winter. T h e y were sometimes inclined to be troublesome, but not extremely so. A piece of land which the Indians had used for their gardens and corn ground happened to be a part of the tract which M r. Van Ily-ning purchased. T h e latter proceeded to plow it up, with the intention of planting it to corn. A stalwart him, and declared that the cultivated ground was his, and Van Hyning must not use it. A serious quarrel seemed likely to ensue. O n e of the Corbuses mediated between testants, and at length Van Hyning agreed to give dian half the corn raised on the cultivated ground, which MIS only a small tract. The Indians seemed to have a kind of idea they had sold their land, yet they had a special right to whatever improvements might have been put upon i t by them. A n o t h e r and more marked example of on the land of Mr. J. B. Tompkins, within a short time �111 I i l l , i i r , H 1,1 1 1 ; , , % ' , , , t SO demanded m i g h t h a v e 11. , 1 , • , r. s o l d t I,. I I I , a l i . 1 . ) • I . , i 1 . 1 . 1 1 . 1 , 1 l , .1 those apple-trees and taken care of them, and on having pay for them. M r . Tompkins stood that when he bought the land he bought all the trees there were on it, and declined to One morning, about day-break, he was told by one family -that some one was cutting down his Hurrying out, he found an old squaw and a young one busily at work with their rude, light axes, "squaw hatchets." T h e y had already cut down three of the four trees, and not only that, but, lest the white man's art might set them growing had cut the branches in small pieces and had carried trunks and When Mr. Tompkins reached the spot the had raised her hatchet to attack the last tree. M r . a halt, and obtaining the services o f his neighbor, M r. McCarty, who could talk Indian, proceeded to hold with the aboriginal champions of woman's rights. A f t e r a good deal of palaver the squaws agreed not to cut down the last tree, in consideration of a liberal donation of flour. I t was afterw:irds girdled twice,--onee at the roots higher up. Y e t the Indian hatchets were so dull that the girdling was not thoroughly done, new bark grew old had been cut away, and the tree continued to Indians were quite as repugnant to the white and cattle as they were to the white men themselves. T h e first cattle that M r. Tompkins brought into were almost certain to run away if an them. W h e n driving along in the night, if they threw up their heads and began to show signs of fear, the pretty sure that one or more Indians were coming, fore he could see them himself. Dismounting from his wagon, he would at once unhitch his oxen, and to a tree until the cause of their fright had passed. O t h e r old residents give the same account of the antipathy of their animals for the red men. l i o n . Harvey us an amusing account of this antipathy, and although it occurred several years later than the tunic now sideration ( M r. Haynes came to the county in lS36) yet it will be most Mr. Haynes says he never was tempted to be but once, and that was shortly after he mime into the county. l i e was then a youth of about sixteen teen years. A m o n g the Indians who frequently firther's house (on the premises now occupied b y M r. Haynes) was a peculiarly smart, bright-looking boy, a little younger than himself. T h e family showed a liking cute-looking son of the forest, and he became visitor, generally managing to get something to eat "Now," thought young Harvey to himself " i f teach my aboriginal brother how to work on a farm, it will be a great blessing to him; i t will enable him to earn ilized subsistence during life, and may, perhaps, recompense for the board he manages to I 111 , of a quantity o f grain b y the old-faehioned method o f "treading it out ;" driving berme i r k a i l J i l l i s , and changing the straw when neeseeary. O M . is would have Master Indian drive the hems, self would attend to shaking up the maw. v i m . * I l e "floorings," etc. S o the two wen to the isor Medier. and young Haynes threw down a flooring of pain plained to the other by signs and such few words as the latter could understand youth was "Yes—yes--good--Indian drive horse--all right." Accordingly Harvey brought the horses on to floor,—a young, active, powerful team, full o f life and vigor. B u t no sooner had they got a fail young aboriginal than they began to snort and dance. T l i c more young Harms tried t o hold them the mem they would not be held. T h e y reared and jumped and tore around the ham L . : t civilized, Christian qu:all! II J17 . 1 ti, 11,11.m t-,..i‘a•fc.,{ I I I a corner and Harvey was soon obliged to give im at managing his steeds. I t was hard to UM slack ease die most frightened: t h e furious homes, the sionary, or the The animals grew worse and worse, and Harvey A S COMNIled to seek safety by climbing up the the barn-floor and hay-mow. A s he did so he saw dian darting out through a hole in the beck of As soon as he was gone the homes began to cool down. I n a few moments their master was able to descend from his perch, and he immediately ran out-doom to see become of his pupil. H e saw him running northward at full speed across the fields, turning neither to the tfl'e left, never looking behind him, and almost reached the shelter o f the forest. B e e a s t h its friendly shadows h e soon disappeared, and never more were his dark features seen a t the home o f his former friends. I t is doubtful i f he ever visited from that time till the removal o f his tribe to die Far West. H e had enough of civilization, and was equally well satisfied with his one effort as ary, and never again attempted Wolves as well as Indians were numerous some. M r . Tibbits mentions driving them out of yard after there was quite a little settlement They were mostly of the ordinary gray species, but o u r ia a great while a huge black wolf would be one, the * r e and fiercest of By the end of 183! there was a population of thee/ III forty families in the oounty, mostly, i f sot eirintly, bu the present towns of Bronson, Coldwater, and perity seemed to be assured, and schemes o f W i r e e t villages bega53c,o.be talked over �HISTORY O F B R A N C H In the beginning of 1832, Silas A . amiable and venerable widow still resides came to the place where that city was to be, and the first store in the county, aside from the posts. I t was a diminutive affair, but i t marked ginning of an On the 2d day o f April, 1832, the third of Green was held a t a small cabin near Mills. T h i s was t h e meeting which has generally been considered as the first i n the county, perhaps was the first of which there was any direct in fact i t was two years subsequent to the Before giving the record of this third meeting, transcribe here the consolidated account of for the two previous years, presented by him to ship board a t this time. I t i s copied from the township book of Coldwater, being evidently taken from the original document " T h e Supervisor of Green To w n -,hip i n account current with said township from Feb. 10, 1830. to A p r i l I , 1832. "1030. T o amount of town tax received this year from J o h n G. Richardson, collector. [ T h i s e x t e n d e d i n t o 1031] To amount or tax received for 1832 [that is. 1 8 3 1 - 3 4 per John Morse, collector $7.36 48.96 56.32 50 Under charge on town t a x 56.82 " C r. " Feb. 10. B y commission on $7.36, at 5 per cent Paid on town order in f a v o r of J . Brunson Commission on $48.06, at 5 per rent Paid order i n favor of J . B. Tompkins By paid order in favor of Jahe Bronson 44 " W i l l i a m H . Cross " E . 8. Hanchett di " A . F. Bolton • 4 4 " J o h n Morse • 4 1 1 " S e t h Dunham • " J . Hanchett • " S e t h Dunham " T o w n Book 3 $1.00 2.45 14.00 5.25 6.00 6.00 6.00 4.00 3.25 3.00 7.00 1.0 $59.32 Balance due the Supervisor for 1831 [that is, 1531-32] 2 . 5 0 " S e e n DENHAM, " Supervisor. " T h i s may certify that we, the undersigned, members of ship board of the township o f Green, have examined t h e count, and find " J o s e MORSE, Clerk. " A n n a . F'. Boz.ros, J . P. " J a n e BRONSON, J . P. " Below we give a copy o f the record of copied from the town book of Girard, which the original book " T h e electors o f the township o f Green m e t a t the m i l l water R i v e r t h e 2d o f A p r i l , 1032, for t h e election of cen and for other purposes, and Lemuel Bingham was erator, who, with A b r a m F . Bolton, justice o f the peace, and J o h n Morse, town clerk, composed the board. T h e following officers were closeted by resolution: Seth Dunham, Supervisor; J o h n Morse, Town Clerk; A l l e n Tibbits, John C o -bus, Wales Adams, Assessors; Robert .1. Cross, Jemeo B . To m p k i n s , David J . Pierson, Commissioners o f llighways; Seymour L . Bingham, Constable and Collector; James Countable o n Broneon's P r a i r i e ; Lemuel masker; Millburn H . Cram, 7rensurer ; Wi l l i o m M c C a r t y, Benjamin Hanebett, A l l e n T i b b i t s , Commissioners N t h D u a b s n , Asei Kest, Inspectors of Sehools. COUNTY, M I C H IG AN. 4 Overseers o f Iiightcoys.—E. S. Hanchett, District N o . 1 ; Joseph Hanchet., District No. 2 ; J o h n A l l , n, District No. 3 ; Jobe Brouson, District No. 4 ; H o r a c e D . Judson, District N o , 5 ; M a r t i n Barnhart, District N o . 6 ; Samuel S m i t h [poundmarter], on Bronson'. Prairie, Joseph C. Corbus, on Coquish Prairie; H a r v e y Warner, on Coldwater Prairie. " Moved a n d carried t h a t a l l fences four rails h i g h shall n o t b e laid to exceed four inches apart. " M o v e d a n d carried that no stud horse or colt over two years old be allowed to run a t large. " M o v e d and carried that one dollar is bid on wolves. "Moved a n d carried that the n e x t annual township- w e t t i n g will be held at the house o f John Morse." " T h e board o f town auditors for t h e year ending Sept. 25, 1832, composed o f Seth D u n h a m , Supervisor; J o h n Morse, To w n C l e r k ; Robert J. Cross, Justice of the Peace, allowed the following accounts of township officers: Joseph H a n c h e l t , $ 1 ; R o b e r t J . Cross, Philtres B a i l o r [ B o n n e r ] , $ 1 ; S e t h D u n h a t n , $ 7 ; A l l e n Ti b b i t s , $4.371; James B. Totnpkins, $ 7 ; J o h n Morse, $2." Substantially the same records are to be found i n the town book o f Coldwater, but in different order and more elaborate form. I t was in the spring o f 1832 that the first wide-spread reputation selected a home in Branch County, and among all the prominent men who have resided there, few, if any, were as widely or favorably known as the one of whom we speak. W h i l e young Wales Adams gaged in his business MI Prairie River, toward the close of a spring day, there arrived at the log tavern near his mill a portly, dignified, well-dressed, middleshowing in his face and manner the evidence of both culture and authority, who, with one companion, rode up back (the usual mode of traveling then) from over the Chicago road. T h i s was Right der Chase, uncle of the great statesman, Salmon first Episcopal bishop of Ohio, founder of in that State, and the man who may also be to a great extent, the founder of the Episcopal of the Alleghanies. B i s h o p Chase was then fiftyold, having been born at Corinth, N. H., on the 14th day of December, 1775. H i s life had been a very active one; he having resided several years i n Louisiana, i n which State he was the first Protestant minister; afterwards performed great services in building copacy in the West. H i s companion was Bezaleel Wells, Esq., of Steubenville, Ohio. Mr. Chase had resigned the bishopric of Ohio and the presidency of Kenyon College, and was now seeking tion for a farm, with perhaps some intention ing a similar institution i n the wilderness. H e had had reason t o expect that he would be appointed bishop o f Michigan, and was anxious to find a suitable place intended work in The circumstances attending the bishop's Branch County are so graphically related by him, in his published " Reminiscences" o r autobiography, t h a t we quote a few sentences from that work. I t will that he speaks of himself in the " i t was Friday night when they [Messrs. Chase and Wells] reached a place called 'Adams' Mills,' on one of the streams of St. Joseph's River. H e r e Mr. of his sons on Prairie Ronde; that they were "'And who is this?' said the landlord of a �46 • H I S T O R Y O r BRANCH C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . tavern t o M r. Wells, in a low voice; w h o is you have with you? I s he come out to purchase lands?' " Mr. Wells replied, ' Ile may purchase i f he that suits him.' " Mr. Judson, for that was the wan's name, then raising his voice, said aloud, as i f still speaking to Mr. Wells, ' I believe most tuen are tools; for they go on in flocks, and follow each other like sheep in search of good laud ; when, if they would stop, they would find much better regions through which they pass so rapidly. M u c h more beautiful scenery and richer land are to be found in this neighborhood than farther west. A n d men would so, if they would only stop, go about, "These words were meant for the car of the writer. H e took them so, "'Where is this good land you speak of?' " ‘ Within eight miles of this, to the southeast, there is a charming limpid lake, surrounded with rising burrprairie-lands, interspersed with portions o f lofty timber, fit for building. T h e streams are of clear and running water; and, like the lake, abound in the finest kind of what is quite an essential point, these lands are for market, and (excepting some choice sugaralready taken by persons from Indiana) may be entered by any one going to White Pigeon, where the land-office is kept.' Will you show me these lands i f I stay with you a day or " ' I f I do not, Mr. Adams, the owner o f the saw-mill, will. I will furnish him with a horse, and Thomas holies, who lives near us, shall go along with you on foot, with his rifle, to kill game and keep off "The whole of this speech of Mr. Judson scented viting and practicable to one in the condition o f the writer that he could not resist the invitation offered." The next day (Saturday) M r. Wells proceeded rie Ronde. O n Sunday the bishop held services at M r. Judson's On Monday, Messrs. Chase and Adams set out back along an Indian trail, followed b y " To m Holmes," before mentioned, a noted woodsman and hunter o f the locality. T h e two gentlemen conversed together as they rode on, the bishop relating how he had visited England, interested the English in the support of Episcopacy in the great Western field, and obtained liberal gifts of money to enable him to found and sustain Kenyon College. O w i n g to dissensions among his people, he had felt impelled to resign his charge. H e informed Mr. Adams of tations o f becoming bishop o f Michigan, but at time appeared to be extremely downcast in regard to the future, saying he would be glad, if he could, to home amid the deepest recesses of the Pursuing their way, they reached the shore o f Gilead Lake, where the bishop was delighted with the lovely scenery, then i n all the pristine beauty of nature. J o h n Crory, who had begun a cabin in the present township of Gilead only about a month before, was then the dent iii all the four fractional townships on the of Branch County. T h e bishop was so well pleased country to which Mr. Adams had piloted him. that after purchased a 'adios of land there, and wawa& * M a r with his family, remaining Dearly fear y a m time he again visited Raglaad, bus did sot a n y ow Ms supposed scheme of founding a eollege in Gilead. not being appointed bishop of Michigan, his plows w a s necessarily changed. I n April, 1836, be bishop of Illinois, and in July, 1836, his to that Another event of the spring of 1832 was the by Tibbits and flanchett o f the village which become the city of Coldwater. I t was thee in honor of Mr. Tibbits' native town in New Tort. M a t long afterward the name was changed to Coldwater post-office was moved thither, and the ever since adhered to that locality; the on the river-bank being completely overshadowed and at length absorbed by its wore In M a y o f the year 1832 an event occurred which startled from their propriety all the people o f Branch' County, together with most o f those Michigan, and for a short time seemed likely to put to all the improvements s o rapidly being planned and prosecuted. T h i s was the outbreak of the celebrated ' B I Hawk war." T h e scene o f actual strife was far away in Illinois and Wiseinisin, but the white population .sparse from Bratich County thither, and Indians vengeance have long arms. Besides, no one could tell whether the Pottawananties, scattered through Southern Michigan, might not make common cause with of Black Hawk, and turn their tomahawks upon their white neighbors. N o hostile disposition, however, was by these ancient enemies, and the whites seem generally to have trusted to their 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 3liobigan militia fend that place, then an insignifieant hamlet in a the head of Lake Michigan. T h e brigade of militia in the southern part of the Territory was commanded Gen. Joseph W. Brown, a near relative of Maj.Brown, the hero of the war of 1812 and at one time COM mander-in-chief of the United States Army. G e n . J. W. Brown possessed much of the martial fire of the Lundy's Lane, and promptly responded to the call. H e ordered his brigade to take the field, the at Niles, in Berrien County. T h e militia regiments of Monroe and Lenawee Counties readily obeyed and in a few days company after company was to marching westward over the Chicago road, each M S cid not in bright blue clothes with brass buttons, hot iv the rude garb of a backwoedstuan, with rifle, or111111111kOt, gun, on his shoulder. as ('Lance might determine, and with accoutrements ttis a kattalin o f sisting o f one company in Hillsdale County and two Branch. O n ti.e 22e1 day of May he received Gen. Brown to call out his battalion and to repel the enemy. T h e order must have been w a y promptly obeyed, for tilt. /11011 woro calle,I out, got together �HISTORY O F B R A N C H in companies, and marched t o Niles b y the 25th o f that month. W e are indebted t o Harvey Warner, Esq., o f Coldwater, f a. a copy of the muster-roll o f the battalion, furnished hint by Dr. Enoch Chase, formerly who was both surgeon and adjutant o f Maj. mand We give below a copy of the roll (omitting the Hillsdale County company), both as an interesting relic of as showing the growth of Branch County up to that time: •• M a y 224, 1532, M a j o r B . Jones received orders from Gen. Joseph W. B r o w n t o m u s t e r h i s B a t t a l i o n i n t h e 3 d B r i g a d e , 2 4 D i v i s i o n , H. H. " M a y 25th, present on duty— M a j o r, Beniab Jones, J r. ; M t . , Enoch Chase; Q . H . , E d m o n d J o n e s ; Surgeon, E n o c h Chase, M . D . Q . M . S., A b i e l P o t t e r ; — , Ambrose Nicholson, Staff Officers. " J o h n Morse, F i f e M a j o r, t i c k ; absent. " A b r a m F. Bolton, Capt. o f l e t Company J o h n Alien, L i e u t . ; H a r v e y Wa r n e r, E n s i g n . " N o n - c o m . offimrs.—E. S. Hanehett, 1st Sergeant; -Isaac Eslow. Privates.— S e y m o u r B i n g h a m , Jonas T i l a p a n , George H a t i c h e t t , Moses H e r r i c k , W m . H . Cross, J o h n W i l s o n , P h i l i p L e d y a r d , H e n r y Johnson, James Craig, M a r t i n B a r n h a r t , B e n j a m i n I t . S m i t h , Robert J. Cross, H e n r y Va n I l y n i n g , J o h n P a r k i n s o n , James B . To m p k i n s , Joseph C . Cortius, Phineas B a n n e r, J o h n C o r n i s h , H u g h A l e x a n d e r Chauncey M o r g a n , M r . D e c r o w, M a r v i n H i l l , N e w e l l H i l l , J o s e p h H . F o w l e r. " Note on m a r g i n : " T h i s c o m p a n y was mustered i n t o service M a y 24th, a n d dismissed J u n e 3d, 1832. " S e c o n d company ; H i l l s d a l e ) o m i t t e d . " 3 d company.—Seth D u n h a m , c a p t a i n ; J e r e m i a h Ti l l o t s o n , l i e u t . ; Wales A d a m s . ensign. " N o n -corn. o f f i c e r s . — J a m e s M . G u i l e , 1 s t Holmes, 2 d S e r g e a n t ; G e o r g e W . G a m b l e , 3 d S e r g e a n t ; P h i l i p °meted, l o t C o r p o r a l ; F r e d e r i c k Ly o n s , 2d Corporal. " Privates, H o r a c e D . J u d s o n , Daupbeneus H o l m e s , caster, Isaac S m i t h , D a n i e l S m i t h , D a v i d J . Persons, D a v i d C l a r k , Moses Omsted, Joseph Edwards, Joshua H a n a l e i ] ; J o h n son, John Rose, A l f r e d S. D r i g g s , Sylvester B r o c k w a y. " Pate ow m a r g i n : " M u s t e r e d i n t o service M a y 26th, a n d dismissed June 34, 1832. " T h e above is a true copy o f the returns made b y the captains o f the several companies to me. " COLDWATER, June 4th, 1832. " E s o r n CHASE, A d t . " Mello. as back o f r.11: " C o l . Bitman, D r. 16 horses, t o h a y, stabling To house-room 2 8 4 . . 0 0 0 0 $6.00" l a d e r m a e n t as brick : "Battalion Roll, " M a y, 1836, " M a s t e r e d at N i l e s . " Some o f the foregoing names arc marked the roll, but as i t does not specify whether the men so designated had remained a t home o r were merely out o f camp temporarily, we have not marked them in We infer from other data that only those with the company were placed on the roll, as some known to have gone with it are marked According to this roll there were in Branch May, 1832, at least fifty-six males capable of and supposed to be between eighteen and fortyof age. I n fact, however, we are informed entered the ranks who were above the latter age, and others who were low The women, children, and old men left behind were for a few days in a state o f great dismay lest COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 4 7 should be destroyed by the bloody Indians, and terrifying rumors flew through the scattered settlements by Scarcely, however, had the militia reached Niles, when messengers from the West brought the welcome Black Hawk and his bands had been utterly that all danger was over. A s appears b y the roll, the troops returned arid were mustered out at Coldwater 4th of June. T h e r e were two or three empties encamped where Orangeville (Union stands, during a large part of the spring, and this did not tend to decrease the nervousness of the inhabitants. T h e y manifested, however, a perfectly peaceful Later in the season there was another alarm, and a draft of a hundred men was ordered from Jones' battalion. Fifty or sixty responded, and were placed under mand o f Capt. Bolton, being encamped for two or three weeks at his place on Coldwater River. Black Hawk, the cause of all this trouble, is said b y Drake, the Indian historian, to have been a Potawattunoie by birth, but to have been brought up among the Sacs. The Black Hawk war caused the people and to be all the more anxious to have the beyond t h e Mississippi. A n o t h e r treaty was made i n October, 1832, by which nearly all the lands to which the Pottowattumies had any claim in Michigan were ceded to the United States, except the Nottawa-seepe Reservation. This treaty provided for an individual grant o f mile to " Topenibee, the principal chief," and another to " Pokagon, the second chief." T h i s is the last find o f either o f them i n the treaties, and ward " Penaishees, or Little Bird," became the head chief of the Puttawattainies. The " w a r " put a sudden stop to emigration for that year, and its effects were seriously felt for two Eastern people could not discriminate between the warlike Sacs and the peaceful Pottawattamies, and looked upon the whole West as dangerous ground. T h e stages which had been running over the Chicago road during the spring of 1832 had so little business after the excitement that the owners were obliged t o take them off at heavy loss. T h e line was, however, soon re-established by a firm Gen. J. W. Brown was 1832 was also celebrated a s t h e cholera year. T h e people were almost as badly alarmed by it as by the war, but, like the war, we believe it did not enter though it came close to its borders: a whole family dying just over the line in Calhoun County. I t was now dcenied that there was, or soon would be, people enough i n Branch County to justify the formation of two townships. F o r some unknown reason the name of "Green" had become unpopular, and i t was decided to drop it. T h e passage of the following act was procure " A n A c t to orgonise two townships i n t h e county o f B r a n c h . " He i t enitoed b y the Legidiptive , f the Te r r i t o r y gqn, T h a t a l l t h a t p a r t o f t h e c o u n t y o f B r a n c h k n o w n guished on t h e survey o f t h e U n i t e d States as t o w n s h i p s numbered 5, 6, 7, a n d f r a c t i o n a l t o w n s h i p 5, south o f t h e base l i n e , i n ranges numbered 5 and 6, west o f t h e p r i n c i p a l m e r i d i a n , he a township try the name i d Coldwater, and t h e first t o w n s h i p -meeting shall at the house o f John Morse, in said township. 1 �11IST1111 O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, SIICII1G.kN. 4 ('HAI''I'EIt I X . " S e c . 2. T h a t all that part of the c.... ships numbered 5, 8, 7, and fractioeto o f t h e base l i n e i n r a n g e s numbered 7 o. F R O M O R G A N I Z AT I O N T O 1840. meridian, be a township b y t h e n a m e o f township-meeting s h a l l b e h e l d a t t h e house oi J a i , " lvionsee said township. " S e c . 3. T h a t t h i s set s h a l l l a k e effect a n d b e i n force f r o n i after the last day o f M a r c h next. " A p p r o v e d June 29, 1832." This divided the county into two equal parts by and south line. I t will be observed that the north of Branch County, which was at first a part township on its organization, had been formed into other townships before The first grist-mill in the county was erected summer of 1832, being located beside the mill before mentioned, three-quarters of' a mile south o f Branch. T h e principal proprietor was Dr. Hill. a very small affair, with one stone, about two feet ameter, and the people still frequently sent their grain to Tecumseh, seventy miles distant, to get it times, indeed, as Mrs. Holbrook says, they went to mill in a "caldron-kettle,"—that is, they took a vessel of' to pound their grain in instead of The following record shows the hotel-keepers County in 1832-33, and also the price of wolf-scalps at that time " A t a meeting o f the To w n B o a r d o f A u d i t for the t o w n o f Green, held at the house of John Morse, Jan. 1,1833, present, Seth D u o l i t o n , supervisor, S i l a s A . H o l b r o o k , d e p u t y t o w n c l e r k , R o b e r t J . C r o s s and J u b e Bronson, justices, licences to keep t a v e r n were g r a n t e d t o Ellis R u s s e l l , J o h n 51orse, H a r v e y W a r n e r , J e r e m i a h T i l l o t s o n , Frederick Lines, Jobe Bronson, a n d Clarissa Judson. " A f t e r w h i c h the f o l l o w i n g accounts were audited and a l l o w e d : " L u k e Camp, 2 w o l f -scalps $ 2 . 0 0 Bloater Lancaster, 1 w o l f -scalp 1 . 0 0 John A l l e n , services as school commissioner 1 . 0 0 John Corbus, services as assessor (1831, 1832). 8 . 0 0 Abram F. Bolton, services as school commissioner and town board 2 . 0 0 " By this time the seventy or eighty votes of felt as if they were strong enough to have a ment of their own. Accordingly, in January, petitioned the legislative council to that effect, and that body passed the " A n act to organise the county o f B r a n c h : "Section 1. B e i t enacted b y the legislative c o u n c i l o f tory o f M i c h i g a n , T h a t the county o f B r a n c h shall be organised f r o m and a f t e r t h e t a k i n g effect o f t h i s act., a n d t h e i n h a b i t a n t s t h e r e o f entitled t o a l l t h e r i g h t s a n d p r i v i l e g e s t o w h i c h b y l a w the o t h e r counties o f t h i s Te r r i t o r y are entitled. "Section 2 . T h a t a l l Suits, prosecutions, a n d o t h e r m a t t e r s n o w pending before the courts o f record o f St. Joseph C o u n t y, o r before any justice of t h e peace o f s a i d county o f St. Joseph, shall cuted to final j u d g m e n t and execution i n t h e same manner the said county o f B r a n c h had n o t been organized. ' S e c t i o n 3. T h a t t h i s act shall take effect a n d be i n force from a n d after the 1s1. day o f M a r c h nest. " Approved Feb. 1, 1833." The county of Branch accordingly began its existence on the 1st day o f March, 1833. T h a t date therefore naturally marks the beginning of a new we adopt it as the beginning of a Jury—Opce, vation.:— Settlement rard—Prevalence o f Si.avie E m i g r a t i o n i n 1835—Cueol,, stitution—Dispute w i t h I n d i a n a a d , gration i n 1836— F o r m a t i o n o f Q u i n c y den— A F a n t a s t i c F u n e r a l — M u r d e r o f chre—Whortleberries for the D e a d — S t i i . , a D u r w i u — A n s o n B u r l i n g a m e —Speculate, winsville—State C o n v e n t i o n e — T h e Branch, Admission o f t h e State— S t a t e Roada--Gireat Excitement i n 1•47 Grand Scheme of I n t e r n a l luoprovemeuta—The Routtiero Railroad — F i v e N e w To w e s h i p s — B u i l d i o g • J a i l — W i l d -Cat a n d " Evil. D o g " C u r r e n c y — F i r s t N e w s p a p e r s — Wo n d e r f u l N u m b e r o f T a i . erns— T h e Great C r a s h — H a r d T i m e s —Three m e r e More about t h e . j a i l —Good C r o p o f wolf. s . a p . - - B w m a i f Canalty C o m m i , i o n ers—Terri file Sickness— T h e P o o r - F a r i n - - R s i t i l e e t the I n d i a n s — M u r d e r o f S a u q u e t t — A r r e e t o f the Marderer—Removal of the l n d i a u s — T h e i r Subsequent F a t e — B e g i n n i n g i f As was stated in the last chapter, the act into the two townships o f Coldwater and Prairie River took effect on the 1st day of March, 1833. T h e latter township afterwards became Bronson. A s prised the whole county, we have recorded a large part of its official proceedings in the general history, but separate townships have been established we must leave their story to be told in their respective We will mention one somewhat curious fact, however, as it involves the resuscitation of the old name, Green. A m o n g the Territorial laws is an act approved April 23, 1833, changing the name of the township o f Prairie River to that of Green. T h e law changing the name back River is not given in the statute-book, but mum passed that same session, as at the meeting o f visors the ensuing autumn that township was under the name of Prairie River. T h i s was to Bronson till several At the f i t election for county officers. held 1833, William McCarty was A.:set, sheriff, and Wales Adams clerk. Seth Dunham treasurer and reister Peter Marti n w as appointed probate jiidge la The new register and treasurer snivel to Branch, seat, in the woods, and eStablisiled an office quarters there. C l e r k Adams also appointed deputy clerk ; so that he performed the duties office The first public records in the county were made in the register's office. T h e first record of a deed was made ou the 4th day of April, 1833, the deed itself January 28 the same year. T h e grantor was John Allen, and the grantoo was Ilt,. rt•zi,r, r himself. Seth Dunham. Tcon consideration wasw a stwo hundred dollars-, and eri:.; was described " The equal individual one-fourth part of a lege, together with three acres of land, situate and lying �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . on the east side of Coldwater, being a part o f section 30, in township 6, south of range 6 west, beginning at tree on the mill-dam across Coldwater, and thence running north three chains to the creek ; thence north twenty-one degrees east, three chains and eighty links to a stake on the bank of the creek; thence east four chains seven links to a stake; thence south seven chains and twenty-five links to the pond; thence north west t o the place o f beginning,—containing more or less." T h i s was part o f the " Pocahontas" Mill property above Branch. The deed, which contained a covenant of executed i n presence of William Dunham and Robert J. Cro&, and was acknowledged before Robert J . tice of the peace, on the day of The deed o f earliest date which we could in the book was dated Jan. 19, 1831, more than before the organization of the county. T h e Hugh Campbell and Emma, his w i f e; t h e grantee was Joseph C. Corbus. I t was acknowledged on the day date before Beniali Jones, J r, who described himself justice o f the peace for Lenawee County, being at Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., then attached awee. I t was filed f o r record on the 10th day 1833, and covered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 21, township 5 south, range 6 west (now Girard). The first mortgage on record was dated Jaii. being made b y James B. Stuart, of Co., t o Abram F . Bolton; then o f Napoleon, Jackson Co. T h e consideration was twelve hundred dollars, and it covered the southwest quarter fraction o f section 17, in township 6 south, range 6 west, containing a hundred and sixteen acres. T h i s was the site of Mr. fortunate city, where the county-seat was first mortgage in question was signed in presence of H. Warner arid Robert J. Crass, acknowledged before Robert on the same day, and filed f o r record on the 13th May, 1833. T h e fee was one dollar, being somewhat higher than at present. I t was discharged on the 9th day of January, 1836. The first court (higher than that o f a justice peace), a session of which was held in the county, was that held by Peter Martin, judge of probate. T h e record follow a & l a t e of John Corium, deceased. " A t a special session o f the probate court, held f o r t h e county o f Branch, at the store of Silas A . Holbrook, in t h e township 0 water, on the 20th day of August, A.D. 1833. " I n t h e matter of the estate o f John Corbus, deceased U p o n t h e petition o f Silas A . Holbrook a n d Joseph C . Corbus, p r a y i n g t o b e appointed administrators on the estate of the said John camped, late o f S m a s h County; t h e court having duly considered the said p e t i t i o n : ordered t h a t administration he committed to the said petitioners, on said estate, and t h e y a r e hereby authorised t o settle the seine as the law directs, and t o m a k e a h a l retorn to this court on t h e 25th d a y o f August, 1834; said administrators b a r i n g been duly • t r o r n . "Attest, v O H D i NIVAM, R,yieter." " TIRRITINIT OF MWRIGAN, 4 . . OFFICH, BRANCH COENTY. l e Joseph C . Coaxes sad a Sites A. Holbrook. T o o a r e hereby amtrelaisd j e t n t admnivistrators of the estate of John Corbin, late of time toommitip of Coldwater, 1 , 5 k . m e a t y o f B u e n a , and Te r r i t o r y of 4 9 M i c h i g a n . deceased, a n d y o u a r e h e r e b y r e q u i r e d t o have a ventory t a k e n o f a l l t h e s a i d estate, a n d t h a t y o u m a k e due returns to t h i s c o u r t w i t h i n t h r e e months f r o m t h e date hereof, a n d also make a final r e t u r n o f a l l y o u shall do i n t h e premises w i t h i n Ono this date. " D a t e d B r a n c h , A u g . 20, 1833. [ L . S.] " PETER M A RT I N , " J u d g e o f Probate, B r a n c h County, M i c h i g a n Te r r i t o r y, " "Fees, A d m i n i s t r n t i o n bond Letter o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n Sealing same Wa r r a n t o f a p p r a i s a l Seal Oath F i l i n g bond . . .25 . .25 . 6 $1.94" The second letters of administration were granted to Dr. Enoch Chase, on the estate of Paul Dewitt, on the 21st day of October, 1833, and no more were granted tember, 1834. O n l y forty-eight letters o f administration were granted down to December, 1841. The county clerk and his deputy had very little to do down to the holding of court in the autumn of 1833. O n e of his duties was to record marriage certificates. lowing is a copy of the first one TERRITORY O F COUNTY OF BRANCH. " I , R o b e r t J. Cross, a justice o f the peace for the county aforesaid, do hereby c e r t i f y t h a t on t h e 14th d a y o f J u l y, 1833, I m a r r i e d A l l e n Stoddard, o f D e t r o i t , M i c h i g a n Te r r i t o r y, t o M a r y E s t l o w, o f Branch County, according t o t h e a c t t o regulate m a r r i a g e . C o l d w a t e r , 2 8 t h September, 1833. R O B E R T J . CROSS, J . P. " The second certificate was recorded by Alfred L. Briggs, justice of the peace, certifying the marriage of the worthy clerk, Wales Adams, and Polly Waterman, both o f Prairie River township. We also go forward a year and insert here the sixth record on the book, and the first one made by of the gospel, a very brief one, signed by which reads as follows: "MICHIGAN TERRITORY, I BRANCH COUNTY. " I c e r t i f y t h a t on t h e 25th day o f December, 1834,3 j o i n e d Samuel Chase and - Russell i n h o l y wedlock, in presence of a congregation assembled f o r Christian worship. P H I . CHASE." It may be added that two hundred and twentyriage certificates are recorded i n the first book that purpose, extending from July 14, 1833, to the of August, 1842. Supervisors were duly elected for the townships water and Prairie River, who constituted the A t the first meeting the "board" consisted of one appears by the record for that year, which we give entire: " S i l a s A . H o l b r o o k , supervisor f o r the township o f Coldweter, d i l l appear a t t h e C o u r t -House i n t h e village and c o u n t y o f B r a n c h on the first Tu e s d a y i n October, t h e day appointed b y l a w for i n g o f the Board o f Supervisors o f the respective counties i n ritory of Michigan. " T h e r e not being a quorum present, t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e board war adjouraed to the house of James B. Stuart, t o meet on t h e sold month. " T h e board met according to adjournment ; to wit, on the fifteenth day o f Oeto`fer, P. n . 1533. P r e s e n t — R i l a s A . Holbrook, �HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 50 " The c o u r t b e i n g d u l y opened, t h e g r a n d j u r y w e r e salted. a n d water, and J e r e m i a h Ti l l o t a o n , from P r a i r i e R i v e r ., b e i n g appointed president o f t h e board, s a d S e i b Dualism I i . Tim l . . . ' I then proceeded to the transaction o f business. O r d e r e d that the f o l l u u , o g 3ccoleole lee allowed and orders drawn on Smith, Loren Marsh, Jnttc Cornieb, Joseph Ilaacbett, Peter M a r t i n , John W i l s o n , James B . S t u a r t , Joseph C. Corbus, D a v i d J . P l e n u m eltriiitopber Hartman/03, Allen l'ibbite, Robert J . Cows, Ellie Itemell, neer for their r i • e v, l A m o u n t s Ti ' Willniro , l i e r i t t e o l i n t y , ling o p n o t , , , , ,,1 dulegalu elect ion Sumiuoning grand j u r y f o r Oct. term, 1831 1 0 5 : 0 0$ 0 0 Services in the case of the People el. David Stanton, June 14, 1833 2 . 8 7 i Fees, James B. Tompkins, a justice of the peace in the above ease 8 7 i Robert J. Cross, ditto Seymour L . Bingham, ditto $ 1 1 . , : 1 1 1 7 0 i Hiram 13. H u n t , witness 2 . 2 5 Seth Dunham, Deputy Clerk, County—canvauer o f delegate election Making out notices to assessors for j u r y Drawing grand j u r y and issuing r e c u r 1 . 5 $ 0 $3.50 "Ordered that all the demands against the townships of Green, and which h a v e been a u d i t e d b y t h e s a i l t o w n s h i p b o a r d , be redeemed by t h e county o f B r a n c h , and orders d r a w n o n t h e treasurer f o r t h e respective amounts. To w n order in f a v o r o f P h i l i p Omsted $ 1 . 0 0 Moses Otnsted, d i t t o 2 . 0 0 W i l l i a m Shay 1 . 0 0 John C r o y 2 . 2 5 Benjamin B o o t h 1 . 5 0 Philander Chase.— 1 . 5 0 David J . Pierson 7 . 0 0 John Morse 1 . 0 0 Abisha Sanders 1 . 5 0 James B . To t n p k i n s 1 1 . 0 0 Robert J . Cross 1 . 3 2 Ordered t h a t five dollars be raised t o purchase book f o r t h e use o f t h e hoard $ 5 . T h a t t h e r e be raised t w e n t y - f i r e dollars for ship expenses o f Coldwater, a n d t w e n t y lars f o r P r a i r i e R i v e r township 5 0 . the following pertious answered t o t h e i r names J e r e m i a h Ti l h t s u a , Lemuel B i u g l i a t u , A b i a l m S e n d e r s , E l a t e s W i s r r e a , B e n j a m i n 11 . 0 0 0 0 " Ordered t h a t one-half of 1 p e r centum be raised f o r township and county expenses for 1833. " T h e board then adjourned t o meet again on M o n d a y, the 21st day of October, a t the comity clerk's office. " T h e board m e t purrmant t o a d j o u r n m e n t , a n d t h e counts audited I n f a v o r of Silas A . Holbrook f o r cervices, three d a y s attending the board Taking collector's b o n d 1 . 0 0 $4.00 Jeremiah Ti l l i t s o n , t w o days a t t e n d i n g the board a n d t a k i n g eolleotor's bond 3 . 0 0 Allowed to Seth D u n h a m f o r services as clerk o f t h e board 5 . 0 0 Wa r r a n t isued t o Seymour L . B i n g h a m , Collector t o r Coldwater 9 9 . 6 3 To James M . (Hie, Collector f o r P r a i r i e ship 9 7 . 2 7 " O r d e r e d t h a t Seth D u n h a m be and he is authorised t o purchase a blank hook f o r t h e use of t h e board, a n d t h e b o a r d t h e n a d j o u r n e d w i t h o u t day. " J . TILLITS0N, 1 "S. A. Hotatteck, 8 " / , ‘ ' i s e r s • "SETH DUNHAM, C l e r k . " The first Circuit Court was held by Hon. William A. Fletcher, Circuit Judge, in October, 1833. record shows the opening of the court, with the names of the first grand jury: " A t a session o f t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t o f t h e Te r r i t o r y of Michigan, holden i n a n d f o r t h e c o u n t y o f B r a n c h , a t the court-house i n t h e village of Branch, in said county, on Monday, the 21st day of October, in t h e year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three; present, William A. Fletcher, presiding judge S i l a s A. Holbrook and William A . K e s t , associate judges. Sainted Craig, Frederick L i n e . T h e r e u p o n R o b e r t J . Cross pointed foremen. T h e j u r y were then sworn, charged b y the w a r t , and retired t o consider o f t h e i r presentment. "Ordered t h a t N e a l Ideesaffey be prosecutieg attorney the present term. • • • • • • S S • " T h e foregoing minutes were examined a n d aigned i n open e.ourt the 21re day o f October, 1$33. a n d t h e n t h e court adjourned without day. ' W u . A . FLET,HER, Preeidiuy Judge. "WALES ADAidx, " S e t . DUNHAm. b e p u t y. " We have been at sonic pains to show the beginnings of the new county. W , now turn of more general interest. During the year 133 ernment built the Chicago road through the county of Branch, forty feet of it in the middle being leveled stumps being "grubbed" out, while for thirty feet side the trees were CutSUlow In September, 1833, George B. Porter, ernor of Michigan, made a treaty with Satmuett, breed chief before mentioned, and several other claimed to be chiefs, by which they agreed to cede United States the Nottawa-secp, Itc.ervation, the of the Pottawattanties iti M ichigati T h e band was main two years, and then to be removed beyond sissippi. A majority of the band wure bitterly the treaty, deelai ing that Sallquett no authority to make it, that bribery hail been us-ed cure their assent, and that they, the never accept the paytuent agreed upon nor leave of their The "big payment" for the purchased lands mune December, 1833. at Marantelle's trading-poet, in township of Menden. St. Joseph County. the payment the United States officials took wagon-loads of !roods and several thousand dollars to make the uaynis•nt agreed upon. A l l the Indians band were assembled at the designated point, and dispute was carried on among them regarding ance of the payment. A majority were in favor ing the money i t i l goods, and making a desperate effort to remain on the reservation. Negotiations were kept several days. Situiviett and his friends were in but he was eloquent and influential, and used all (pence and influence to bring about the acceptance jiiy went and the ratification of the treaty. H e successful, and the Indians received the goods t h o u g h w i t h g r e a t dissatittfaetion. In the course of the proceedings, however. Seurrett saw very near sacrificing his life. Having imbibed allowance of whisky one day (we believe it was the acceptance of the payment), he came upon where the warriors were assembled mounted upon horse, with a splendid saddle and equipments, dressed in the unifhrtu of a military officer, with epaulettes, plumed hat, and armed with sword and pirtolo �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, 1%1ICHIG AN. .° arms and equipments had been presented to him ernor Porter). S w i n g i n g his sword over his head, he cried ou " I have sold the land, and would sell i t again for two quarts of whisky." Instantly a warrior named Quansett sprang forward, snatched one o f Sauquett's pistols from its it, aimed it at the chief's breast, and pulled the trigger. I t missed fire. Sauquett immediately struck at with his sword, cutting through his blanket and a large plug of tobacco rolled up inside o f it, but not wounding him. For a short time a battle royal seemed the infuriated factions, but M r. Marantelle, who had great influence over the Indians, took Quansett out o f the way, and persuaded the others to refrain Emigration went forward b u t slowly through the year, notwithstanding the opening o f the Chicago road. S t i l l , quite a number of new settlers came in. I n the autumn Justus S. Goodwin made the first settlement in township o f Union, locating a t the site o f Union City. Mr. Goodwin was a lawyer, and had practiced before coming to this county, i n which he was the first member o f the legal profession. A s may be imagined, there being no litigants but wolves and bears around Union City, he did not at first attempt to practice himself to the more promising employment of building a saw-mill. Afterwards he practiced there for several years; the village which grew up there being at first Goodwinsville About the same time, or a little later, Abram Aldrich established himself at what is now known as Orangeville, in the same township, and began the erection of a grist-mill there. T h i s was the second grist-mill i n the county, and really the first of any In the spring of 1834 a new township was formed out of the northern tier of survey-townships; two from Coldwater and two from Prairie River. The pioneers suffered in full measure all the ship incident to the conquest of the wilderness, and subjected to even more than the usual quantum The soil was extremely fertile and some o f it quite wet; when turned u p by the plow, malarious gases escaped i n great quantity, and the fever and ague was alent and very severe. A s an item o f evidence on this point, we may mention that in 1834 the Board visors allowed Dr. Hill sixty dollars for on county paupers. I n that sparse and poor ous and independent js,pulation, paupers were very professional services cheap ; all the paupers moat sick to have involved an expenditure of Great inconvenience was also felt on account o f treme fluctuation of the prices of produce. I n i f there was much emigration. nearly all the grain consumed for food and seed; and, as all supplies had brought from Ohio a t a heavy expense, the prices produee cvaild rule extremely high. A f t e r the pe,p14. had plenty to Dell, it would sink to a quarter of Ow previous amounts. H a r v e y Warner, Esq., relates that h., has paid ten dollars a barrel for tient brought from Ohio before harvest, and a f o r harvest the same year he 5 1 - - - - - - - sold his wheat for thirty-seven and a half cents Transportation from Lake Erie was nine dollars In 1835 emigration increased very largely. T h e fears aroused by the Black Hawk war had passed away, and the Chicago road again teemed w i t h white-covered wagons, filled with grave-looking women and towwhile one or two brawny men tramped by the side some with rifles on their shoulders, and some with peaceful ox-goad, but all intent upon making a home for themselves and families in the fertile West. E v e r y little while a family dropped off in Branch County. went up here and there in every direction (frame quite unthought of outside o f two or three and even these were exceedingly scarce), and i n every direction, too, a t the proper season, were seen clouds o f smoke arising from t h e logging-field, where grimy men and straining cattle with infinite the timbered land for the plow. A few sheep began to be introduced; b u t they required sharp watching and the most careful guarding at night to protect them from the gray-backed prowlers, could be heard every night in the woods. T h e bounty for wolves was offered by the Board of on the 6th of October, 1835, in the following terms: " Ordered b y the board, that every person who shall take and k i l l a full-grown she wolf' within the limits o f the county o f Branch, shall be entitled t o receive as a reward the sum of $2, and to be paid out o f the county treasury; and for every whelp the sum o f $1, to be paid in manlier I t was in this year that the State constitution gan was formed by a convention elected for the adopted by the people, whereupon application was made to Congress for admission as a State. T h i s another year on account of the celebrated controversy with Ohio (commonly called the "Toledo war") over of a narrow strip between the two States, running ledo to the east line of Indiana. T h i s the size of Hillsdale County, but not of Branch, the Indiana line being a little east of the east line of the latter county. The contest with Ohio, with its mustering of its furious proclamations on either side, made a motion. I t is perhaps not generally known that a similar controversy between Michigan and Indiana which affected the limits of Branch County. B y the law forming Michigan Territory, passed in 1805, its southern boundary was a line running east from the southern boundary o f Lake Michigan. I n 1816, when Indiana was admitted as a State, its northern boundary was b y act moved ten miles farther north. M i c h i g a n objected to this on the ground that the ordinance of 1787, passed before the adoption o f the Federal constitution, had designated the line through the southern extremity of the lake as the boundary between the States thereafter to be that Congress had no power to change it. B u t nance of 1787 did not definitely make that the it might be inferred that such was its meaning), Congress held the power to make 'whatever laws proper regarding the Territories up to the time o f their admission �The Indiana controversy WUB loot sight o f in exciting one with Ohio; but the Legislature of Miehigan passed a law making an offer to Indiana to submit dary question to the Supreme Court of the Indiana paid no attention to this proposition, of Congress was against interfering with the boundary it had itself established, and Michigan finally gave contest. H a d its views prevailed, Branch have been just ten miles longer north and south than i t now is. In the spring of 1836 emigration set in with redoubled volume. I n the language o f one o f the old settlers, i t seemed as i f the whole country was alive with emigrants. By this time all the prairie lands in the county chased from the government, and the new into the heavy timber and attacked the and black walnuts with dauntless energy. T h e present township of Noble was settled in 1836, and i n fact by the close o f this year there was not a survey-township i n the county in which there were not some Two new civil townships were formed this year, Quincy and Batavia. T h e former embraced the present townships of Algansee and California, while the latter included the tract now known as Bethel The time for the removal of the Indians under the treaty of 1833 had now elapsed, but they showed no inclination to leave their old homes. T h e whites speedily occupied their reservation a t Nottawa-seepe, but there was an immense amount of unused land in this part gan, that they could roam around almost at will without coming into collision with their civilized neighbors. T h e r e were a few cases in St. Joseph County of serious conflicts between individuals of the rival races, but there of any consequence in this county. There were, however, a number o f conflicts among the Indians themselves, some of which ended fatally. S o m e of these arose out of the old feud about the sale of vation, mingled with whisky, and some sprang from whisky alone. O f the latter class was one which occurred in the spring of 1836, when a drunken young Indian struck his mother with a club and killed her. R o l a n d Root, Esq., who settled at Coldwater that year, helped bury her. T h e Indians made a coffin—a fearful-looking t h i n g — pieces o f wood split off from a tree, put the corpse in it, and then p u t i t on two poles. S o m e Indians started to carry it to the burial-place. B u t they had assuaged their grief with numerous drinks o f whisky, and in a short time 8011Ie of them fell down and the corpse fell out. T h e n they fastened the poles on either side of a pony, the drag.ging on the ground, and on these, just behind they fastened the coffin with strips of bark. I n this way they managed t o reach t h e grave and buried the body. Then a dish o f " bouillon" (soup) was placed at of the grave, for the use o f the departed spirit, and the Indians returned to finish The woman's husband, Topinabee (not the aged chief of that name, who was probably dead at that time, but a good-natured, rather dull Indian of the band), did company the corpse to the grave, but went off to mourn his loss. T h i s loss, however, was be twole °outwitted ennoble A still more exeiting the same related, at I, County. r l two men engaged it, . quett had a little A , • • but who, when her passions the influence of • • While San-au -' _ , all the hard names they could think of, this behind her husband. E i t h e r thinking that about to make an attack, or becoming incensed at she snatched her husband's long, greenknife from h i s belt, slid around behind Quansett. and plunged the knife into his back, driving it entirely through him. H e fell dead with scarcely This murder, too, was condoned by the presentation of a pony, saddle, and bridle by Sau-au-qnett to the son of the murdered Quansett was buried in a very singular manner, even for Indians to adopt. T h e y cut down a large cut notches i n i t , and split o f f a lai, ' n the upper side. Then they dug out and burned out a 11,,le e t p o t 0 1 to hold the corpse. A f t e r laying it there they replaced the slab on the top. T h e n they tried to l a tree- across the big whitcwood, to hold the slab down b u t they had not the white man's skill in the use of the axe, and tempt was a failure. S i they contented themselves by driving stakes crosswise over the slab into the ground. Some time afterwards ( i n berry-timei young Harvey Haynes went to this curious grave with a away the slab, and looked i n . T h e body lay what decayed, and at its head were several quarts tleberries which some friendly hand h a d placed there. Whether i t MIS really expected that the warrior', spirit could live on whortleherries.. or wholo•r the aot was merely an expression of fliendship, is a point we unt,t leave decision o f those more thoroughly 'mead in the Indian character than The same autumn Dr. Conkliag, a at Coldwater, determined to increase his store lore by obtaining the skeleton o f poor Quanset.t. eordliOy took the remains oh t i l e body from its singular receptacle, and carried it ‘.\ er i..rtli 1.• the hanks ,.f Mud Creek, taking along a sun II kiltie i tiicilitate tions. T h e r e he 1 . M A tlo. tlesh ft-mil the buttes, turned at night with the latter in a bag. I f discovered the offense they were usable to find perpetrator, otherwise it might have far-,j bard ‘i iii, Ow lawless son of There was a council held at Ct,IdW:Itur. n I ,36 Or I on the subject of going West, in aocordaace with t h e M . The Pettasvottaniees came frogs far and mem P r e a d i e m , or Little Bird, the acknowledged heel obief i f de, Vibe, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 5 was present, but did not take either side of the members of the national legislature. H i s He was seventy-five years old, and, when called on as minister to China, and then as minister from China to said he had but a little while t o live, either in the East or the whole civilized world, is a part o f the history of the the West, arid would leave the decision o f the question of nation, but can hardly be dwelt emigration to younger men, who had more interest in the To return from the field of international affairs in 1868 matter. T h e r e was a good deal o f to the forests of' Branch County in 1835, the and many denunciations o f the white men who after Joel Burlingame's, ordered paid by the tained their land, but nothing definite was were one o f two dollars to Zachariah Crook, one of three and t h e Indians s t i l l continued t o wander about t h e dollars to 0. B. Wright, and another o f the sanm amount country. to the sanie Person, all for wolf-scalps. A s this was a l l Mr. Marsh still carried on his trading-house west that was paid that year for that purpose, it is evident that water River. H e was accustomed not only to trade with the reward offered was not enough to tempt the Indians who catue to his post, but to send out into the wolf-business. T h e r e were certainly vals a number of ponies and mules loaded with to operate on, i f it had been worth while. ammunition, and other suitable articles, probably including The great increase of emigration naturally a supply of whisky, to make the circuit of the lation, which was indeed rampant all over the country. campments for a wide distance around. T h e articles i n The old site of Coldwater, formerly owned by ton, was now platted as a village by the name question were traded for furs, either by Marsh himself or by a clerk in charge, and the furs were brought back to the ville, in honor of the youthful Governor of post by the same means of transportation. T h i s T. Mason. I t s proprietors had not yet despaired "running a durwin,- though we are unable to tell ing the location o f the county-seat there, and cation of the last word. contest for that honor went on between Among the accounts audited by the Board of and Masonvillc. in 1836 was one of fifty dollars, by George W. There was also much excitement at the mouth o f the services as prosecuting attorney at the October and April Coldwater, where the village of' Goodwinsville (now Union terms, 1835 and 1836. T h i s was twenty-five City) had been laid out in 1835. T h i s point ered to be at the head o f navigation on the St. Joseph term, which was certainly reasonable enough. River, and a proper point for the connection of manent prosecuting attorney had as yet been appointed for tion with a canal from Lake Erie. T h e value the county. not having yet been demonstrated, canal and Another vote o f the board allowed two dollars to Joel tion was looked on as the most reliable, and the people of Burlingame, for the use of a jury-room. T h i s gentleman Goodwinsville believed their place almost certain came to Branch about 1835, and kept the tavern there for the metropolis of Southern Michigan. several years. W i t h h i m came a tall, slim, The difficulties attending the admission of youngster, with blue eyes, light complexion, and pleasant a State have already been mentioned. T h e face, apparently about fourteen years old. Tw e n t y years ment went into full operation in 1835, but later he was a prominent member of Congress clined to admit it into the Union, except on condition that chusetts, and still ten years later he was known on three it should acknowledge the title o f Ohio to the disputed continents as the statesman and diplomatist, territory. T h e Legislature called a convention, which met lingame at Detroit in September, 1836, to decide on The boy was an ordinary-looking youth, and or rejection of the proposition of Congress. H o n . Harvey noticed b y ordinary observers for brightness o f intellect. Warner was the delegate from Branch County ; He did chores about the tavern, ran of errands, tended bar, the first member from t h i s county o f any and performed the usual miscellaneous tasks incident to his situation. H e was fond of hunting and was an excellent Assembly The proposition of Congress was rejected, but marksman,—an attribute which, when he became ner voted i n i t s favor and signed a protest against the gressman, gave h i m exemption from t h e challenges and action or the majority. T h e people were believed to be in earrings by which the slave-driving chivalry endeavored to favor of accepting the proposition and entering the Union. carry their Another convention was therefore called infornially, t o After four or five years' stay in Branch County, young Burlingame returned t o Detroit, whence the family had which delegates were elected by general consent. J a m e s B. Tompkins, of Girard, was chosen as delegate from this come, and entered the office of a friendly lawyer, who had county, but did not attend the convention. T h a t body nict observed his promising characteristics and desired to aid in December, at Ann Arbor, and accepted the proposals of him. Thence he went t o the law-school a t Cambridge, Congress, and in the forepart of 1837 Michigan Mass., the very centre of New England culture, uated there with high honor. N o t only that, but the raw as a Though there were as yet no railroads, Branch County boy was able t o begin practice ahead at railroad speed for the time being, under tition with the able jurists o f the Massachusetts bar, t o ence of an inflated currency. S o m e idea f aedieve very speedily is decided SIICCI.41.,. to entvr eagerness for improvements may be gained fri-mi a dry item of politic/ with equal good firrtune, and to yet comparatively a young man, one of the most prominent I t o be found in the Territorial laws. O n a single day (Mardi • �t county of Branch. T h e y were as follows: One from Coldwater through Centreville and (St. Joseph County) t o the Indiana line. sioners t o lay i t out were Hiram Alden, man, and Colunihia One from French's tavern, where the Chicago road crossed Prairie River, t o Constantine. Commissioners, William Meek, Willis T. House, and William A . Kent. (Joe from Adrian, Lenawee Co., to the section line, a mile north of the line between townships 1.1 and 7 ; thence west on the same line, as near as may be, into Branch County, and to the Chicago road. (7mutnissioners, Addison J. Comstock, John Hutchins, and George C. Gibbs. One running from Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo Co., to the Chicago road, near Jonesville, Hillsdale Co. ers, Andrew MeKinstry, Isaiah W . Bennet, and J . B . Tompkins One from Coldwater through Girard and Goodwinsville (now Union City) to o r near Battle Creek, Commissioners, Matthew B r i n k , Martin Barnhart, and Sands McCarnly. One from French's tavern to Centreville, the mouth o f the St. Joseph River. Commissioners, Thomas W. Langley and E. One from the county-seat o f Calhoun County to that of Branch County, and thence, in the direction of to the Indiana line. Commissioners, Sidney S. Olcott, Martin Olds, and Jared Pond. One from the county-seat of Branch County the Chicago road near the east end o f Coldwater Prairie. Commissioners, Elisha Warren, Augustin J. Seth Dunham. Although these highways bore the imposing t i t l e o f "State roads," yet it was expressly provided that should not be liable for damages or expenses, and that they should be under the management o f the missioners, the same as township roads. T h e act was to become void as to all roads not laid out by the 1st day of January, The year 1837 opened with the excitement and speculation at greater height than ever before. T h e newly-admitted State began its career by projecting scheme o f internal improvements, intended t o people with prosperity in the briefest passible time. A law was passed in February providing for three railroads built by the State government : t h e Northern, Central, and Southern. T h e Southern road was intended t o run through the southern tier of counties, and there rally much strife as to the location. L i n e s through Coldwater and Branch, and work on the road in Lenawee County by by the State. T h e r e WU also much talk of running the Central road through Goodwinsville, over the route lowed by the air-line branch of that road. i n fact, zi•iii H i it :ill w i i 11111 . . t 111 1 1 1 1 1 t . 111 111 . I 0 t 1 ( 1 . 1 \ i 1 . 111 111111 \ 1111 , . ( , , 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 l o r 0 i t t l e t o , 0 0 1 1 o r 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 / 11 t i i . o t e r. . . e l (how Betlo.1:. T h i s ju-, Dowti t.: this tiwt. tilt —,111- J „ . • at the school house at Branch, and criminals were k, the j a i l o f St. J08,1111 County. I t was now deemed proper that Branch County should have a building of its own, and the fillowing extracts from the records Board or Supervisors show tlic action of that body on the subject. T h e meeting is described as having vened at the court-house in the village of Branch ; but this was merely a form o f speech, the school-house vetted a court-house by the courts and boards which held their sessions there. T h e record reads thus: " Ordered, t h a t arrangements be made f o r t h w i t h f u r erec,ing a j a i l , and t h a t M a r t i n O l d s , E l i j a h T h o m a s , and J o h n Water-loom b e a n d they are h e r e b y a p p o i n t e d a c o m m i t t e e t o s u p e r i n t e n d tract f o r t h e erection o f said j a i l , and t h a t the ',alit,' tie completed o n or before the second Tuesday o f M a r c h n e x t . " O r d e r e d , t h a t f i v e h u n d r e d d o l l a r s b e a n d t h e battle appropriated f r r the erection o f the same. " O r d e r e d , t h a t said committee select a suitable site f o r said j a i l oti one o f the lots belonging to the c o u n t y i n t h e r i l l a g e o f Breach." Although the building thus authorized is described b y the humble name of jail, it was intended that a part of i t should be occupied as a court-room. I t was built during the summer o f 1837, o f hewed logs, about t h i r t y feet square, the lower part being the jail and the upper part the court-room. T h i s was the only public edifice county, while the county-seta remained at Branch. This was the celebrated period of " Wild Cat" and " R e d Dog" currency. T h e removal of the deposits by President Jackson. and the consequent breaking doivii o f States Bank, hael resulted in the granting of charters innumerable swarm o f State banks, with little coin and insufficient security. which made haste to issue bills to an almost unlimited extent. These were generally called •' Wild-Cat" quently these wonderful financial institutions poor to pay f i r engraving plates of their own, respective names upon them. T o meet their wants, number of bills were engraved. with the name of the bank iti blank. Quantities o f these were purchased b y t h e poorer banks, which had their own names printed on them it, red ink. F r o m this circumstance that was called ii, •Tiri...ticy. T w o IX these Inatinfictorics i" II"' 1 1 1 ' " " 1 1 " r i d ""e v..ry , , i i v s e d . A 111. 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 u s i i i I l e 1 0 111111 i n t h e h i s t o r y o f ,ifid l " " " ' I ' ' I ' • tir-t i t v 1 i p r i i i t i i , c , , t t i t t : v W e r e a l s o hie!zitt) t h i s p . a r , o n e a t i t r a t i e l i , v a n e d t h e M i • 1•;!/,ta S e d r , w h t e h i h a d a few weeks' pri,,rity. and :.tio :it Coldwater, named the Cbidwuter . \ : 1 : s , r i p t i o n o f those two organa of public int; oltiat : r i v e n in the to the A s n t i o t h o r 1 1 ( 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 t t l It I l i , county, espeetilly i n the way o , n �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . tion and travel, Dr. Alger, of Coldwater, mentions that in the forepart o f 1S37 he went from Quincy to found thirty-three taverns on the Chicago road i n this county. In the latter part of 1837 this prosperity began rapidly away. I t did not all disappear at once, but than a year i t was gone, and t h e people were worse o ff financially than they have ever been, either before I t was soon found that mere pieces of paper, inscribed "we promise t o pay," when there was nothing t o pay with, would not long retain their purchasing power, and t h e wealth of the people turned to ashes in Laud, which had been carried to high-tide prices by the prevailing inflation, especially wherever there was bility of building a village, now sank to a third, or less, of its former value. Emigration came to a standstill. F a r m produce sank so low that it would not pay for tion. F a r m e r s were unable to purchase even est necessaries o f life, aside from what they could raise, and nearly every business-man was overwhelmed less bankruptcy. Perhaps t h e supervisors thought i t was particularly necessary for the farmers t o raise sheep and make their own cloth, as they would certainly be unable t o buy any, for i n October, 1837, they voted a bounty of apiece for the scalps of full-grown wolves, and each for those In t h e forepart of 1838 three more new formed,—Butler, Mattison, and Algansee. T h e two first named embraced only their present areas, but the included the present township of California. The jail contracted for the previous year had according to agreement, but the agreement did not include the finishing of the upper room so as to be fit for of the courts, or at least the contractor did not it. A f t e r considerable hesitation and discussion, lowing account was audited and paid: " T a o COCNTT OF BRANCH D R . TO STEPHEN BATES. To building jail per contract with supervisors. To extra work making cornice Cutting out three cell-windows Three window-panes $370.00 10.00 1.5 1.50 $383.00" The five-dollar bounty o f the previous stimulated a sharp onslaught on the wolves by men and trappers o f Branch County, the probably, because other avenues to money-making were to a great extent closed. T h e supervisors' records show the following audits: oet. 2, I tilt, .1. B. Woodruff, w o l f - r e r t i t i c a t e s J.icoli S. Sorter, vr.die,. $ 3 1 Myron To w. d c y. wolves 1 Jeremiah M o r r i l l , wolves 1 William M i t c h e l l , 2 wolves 1 J. M . Blazer, 1 wolf...... 5 Cornelius Ta n Aiken, 3 wolves lloraere Graham, 3 wolvee 1 A. Arnold, 1 wolf 5 5 3 9 . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 . 0 0 . 0 . 0 0 1 5 . 0 0 3 . 0 0 . 0 0 'OW. 4, 1830. Simeon B a s s e t t , k i l l i n g 2 w o l v e s l h e s i d m S t a t e booty) 1 0 . 0 0 $138.00" 5 5 I t seems t o have been thought that the was becoming too profitable for the treasury of the county, for the order giving five dollars bounty was repeale The jail being still unfinished, the following were adopted by the board on the 4th of October: "Hr&tdred, T h a t t h e b u i l d i n g designed f o r a county j a i l be p u t in state t h a t i t m a y be u s e d a s s u c h a s soon a s c a n consistently be done. " n e v i / r e d , T h a t the sum o f two hundred and f i f t y d o l l a r s and a p p l i e d t o t h a t purpose i f t h a t a m o u n t shall be r e q u i r e d . " A t this period the Board of Supervisors by a board o f three county commissioners, elected by the county at large, who performed the duties signed to the supervisors. T h e new board, consisting o f Charles G. Hammond, Enos G. Berry, and Wales Adams, met at Branch on the 22d o f November, 1838, and drew lots, as required b y law, to determine the length o f their terms o f service. T h e first named drew a term year, the second of two years, and the third of Thenceforth, during the continuance of the board, commissioner was elected each year and held f o r three year The contract f o r finishing the j a i l was n o t March, 1839, Elisha Warren being the contractor. N o court was held in i t until the fitll o f 1839, and it as a court-house and jail only about The wolf-bounties seem to have been soon restored, for in J u l y, eleven were paid b y the commissioners, at eight dollars, though possibly this was paid by the State through the county officials. Cornelius Va n Aiken received pay for two scalps; J . Wilson f o r one; Marshall B i x b y for one; J . S. Sorter for three; J . Waterman for two; Myron Towsley for ono; William Mitchell for one. W e have taken considerable pains to record the amount of ness done in wolf-scalps, as i t shows t o some extent the condition of the county. W h e n there were it may safely be calculated that there were but and when no more scalps were brought before board i t may safely be calculated that farms were pretty numerous throughout the county. The " Wild-Cat" banks, though now generally dead, still continued to vex the souls of the people by odors as much as did the wolves b y their In July, 1839, an order was passed by the board missioners directing that seventy-five dollars o f Cat" money, received by Seth Dunham as be accepted. I t was also ordered a t the same time that a farm of a hundred and twenty acres should from Mr. Dunham. T h i s was soon placed under of the overseers of the poor, and has been used as a county poor-farm To add tenfold to the disasters o f the period, the latter part of 1837 was characterized by fearful out the county. N e a r l y every one was attacked by the ague, and in hundreds of cases ague was but or attendant o f some more deadly disease, all springing front the malaria let loose by cultivation. I t is said that thirty-two died out of a population of about one �, holy a t I. d c it i moil i i i Icr tatality dcv..stated the greater part of In 1839 a tragedy occurred near Coldwater a decided sensation in both this county and Bt. perhaps had a strong influence on a question of portance to the settlers,—the removal of the Indians. T h e band of Poitawattoniies, so often before mentioned, with the few Ottawas and Chippewas intermingled had continued to roam over the two counties, ing the treaty of 1833 and their acceptance of ment under it. T h e r e were still a host of deer and other game in the forest, though the number was before the advance of the pioneers. T h e made by the United States eked out their nearly all were strongly averse to removing to country to which they were destined by the treaty. Their intercourse with the whites was generally friendly, though there were occasional quarrels between individuals of the two races, arising either from the too free use o f whisky or a dispute about its sale. N o n e of resulted i n bloodshed. T h e squaws frequently brought wild plums and cranberries in their inococks, or kets, to trade for calico, sugar, etc., at the stores in little villages o f the county, while the frequently had venison or furs to dispose of for cloth and powder, and, above all, for whisky. " Me swap" was mon expression in Branch County forty Sau.au-quett continued to be regarded as the head man of the tribe, though his authority had greatly he had brought about the sale of the Nottawavation, in 1833. T h e old feud arising out of that treaty, which had resulted in the death of Quansett (as well as of others outside of the county), was still kept up, and many of the warriors bated the stalwart half-breed ered but The tragedy before alluded to occurred After being together, drinking more or less day, Sau-au-quett and a warrior named Kakotomo went to a wigwam on the peninsula, between Mud Creek water Lake, near the road front Coldwater to to sleep during the night. Kakotomo had long hated the chief on account o f the sale o f the lands, b u t probably there had been some new quarrel t o stimulate into action. W i t h the Indian's usual duplicity toward his foe, he dissembled his anger until there was a tunity to indulge i t to the fullest extent. au-quett was stretched in profound sleep drew the chieftain's long knife from its sheath, it through his body into the ground. H e died a The next day the body was discovered. I t was known that Kakotomo was the last person with him, and when charged with the murder he did not deny it. Sau-au-quett sell Indian's land. I n d i a n k i l l quett. W h o The murderer was promptly arrested by the of Branch County. S a u au-quett's friends came manded him, in order that they might punish him in their own fashion. T h e i r request was, of course, refused. I n a short time the crime was condoned by them on account of ti ni Indian co,t.,o,. T h e n LI, and demanded his release. I i and everybody was satisfied W h y 'should the poor be kept in prison any longer? B u t the i m p e r v i o u s t o dile' appeal. Yet there was a strong disposition OD the part of tile whites to make the murder subservient to their wish to get the Indians out of Michigan. I t was not pleasant them running their knives through web other is iislasee of our laws, nor was it desirable to wainaie the task ing and punishing them with all the fortuality of civilized tribunals. A n d i f they found that allowed to kill each other with impunity, they would be very likely to satiate their capricious hatred upon some of the whites in a similar manner, as in fact had been in St. Joseph Besides, the vagrant, begging habits o f the Indians. those earliest o f Michigan tramps, were disagreeable to the enterprising and industrious pioneers of Branch County. W h e n the noble red man. brawny and stalwart, but ready to starve to death rather than to labor. sought. fl000d awl shelter ffir himself, his wife. awl poose, i t was contrary too the custom o f the emigrant from New England or New York to refuse such a trifle, but it roused his contemptuous anger to look upon a man lent and shiftless. A l l were anxious t h a t the Indians should Application was made to the Governor of by him to the general government. T h e wrote to the Hon. E. G. Fuller, prosecuting attorney o f Branch County, authorizing him to enter a colic proanpi in the case o f the State o f Michigan vs. vided i t would expedite the removal of the Indians. T h e band, as a whole, would not agree to remove of Kakotonio's release, but some of the friends of oner promised to promote a removal i f lie was let the assassin himself, to whom itoprisonnient was wi death, was niore than willing to place himself far beyond the reach of the white Ilian's law. At length, in the autumn of IS-111. all other failed, Gen. Brady was sent from Detroit with a of United States troops to effect the removal of the Indians. A small fore.' was sent into Hillsdale County to gather up the band of 13.1w- Becse, while the main body undertook the management of Otiose i n Branch and I t was not an easy task. T h e older and more intelligent Indians submitted quietly, though sullenly, to what plainly an inevitable necessity, but many of the squaws hid themselves in the forest, and many of the broke away even after they had been gathered into camp and were iairrounile.1 But at last, after several day,: marbuircering. all all were collected together, Bawlicese arid his brought in from Hillsdale County, and then the niournful Cortege. chisel p l a n k , ' by the soldiers, set our for the tar West. T h e Indians were escorted by land to the Illinois River, and thence taken by steamboat down that stream and the Mis.si,,ippi to St. Louis, and up the Missouri t o �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Council Bluffs, Iowa, where a new home them. A few escaped from t h e soldiers on the way and returned t o Michigan. T h e y did not dare, perhaps did not wish, to seek the vicinity or their former home, but went into the northern part of the we believe a few of their descendauts reside at day The tribe was greatly dissatisfied with its residence a t Council Bluffs, partly on account of the scarcity of timber, and partly because o f the nearness of the ferocious Sioux, who then, as now, roamed over the prairies of Dakota, and who were the terror alike of frontier of the weaker Indian tribes. A few years later ingly consented to exchange their reservation a t Council Bluffs for a home in the Indian Territory. W h e n ritory o f Kansas was organized i n 1854, they sold their claim to the government, but reserved a tract o f ten miles sipiare on the north side o f the Kansas River, a tance above Topeka, the present capital o f the they still 'wide_ I t may interest some o f those possess their old homes to know that this tribe, the terror of a thousand miles of frontier, many of the arts o f peace, and is reported by the officials of the Indian Bureau to be in a more prosperous condition than the average Indians located upon The removal o f the Puttawattanties was the portant act affecting Branch County, occurring in the fourth decade of this century, and also marked a decided change in the condition of the county. H i t h e r t o there an almost uninterniitting struggle between the the wilderness. Hardship, sickness, and death assailed the people at every step. and, notwithstanding financial prosperity of two or three feverish years, county still displayed at least as much of the appearance o f a hunting-ground as of a But after 1840 its condition was rapidly though i t was several years before even half of the timber was felled to the ground, the howl of the wolves ceased to echo along the hill-sides at night, yet that year, than any other, marks the line between the and the period of agricultural development. begin the new era with a new chapter. B y the census of 1840 the population of Branch County was seven hundred and fifteen. CH A P T E R X . FROM 1841 The rounty-Sorat Question—Reinoral L a cohlwater— missioners Aboliphed—Burning of the J a i l a t Branch—The Long Straggle o r e r B u i l d i n g a N e w J a i l — T h e Erection o f House— R a p i d a n d B e d e w i n g Progreso— A t a c t L o o k a t t h e Wolven—Cenans o f 1550—Building t h e Michigan road—General Prosperity— T h e Approaeh of W a r —Our Method of Wr i t i n g the I l i s t , r y o f Branch t o u n t y i n the Wa r. IN the beginning of the fifth decade probably cipal subject of public discussion particularly pertainieg to Branch County was the loeation of the county-seat. T h e principal competitors were Branch and Coldwater, 8 ville had small hopes except as a compromise the other two. B r a n c h had t h e advantage o f being in possession of the coveted boon, and besides it was to the centre of the county. O n the other was surrounded b y much the most thriving settlement. The Coldwater Prairie was so easily cultivated that every one who could get a piece o f i t did so, and tracted b y the nearness o f neighbors, settled in of the adjoining forest. Supported by the trade o f the farming population around, Coldwater grew and flourished, while Branch, surrounded by a frowning forest, had only its glory as the county-seat to Moreover, the proprietors o f the latter village were so sure that the county-seat would be retained there that they held lots at a decidedly high price, while those water, being desirous o f drawing the capital thither, put their prices down to After several years o r contest between the partisans or the two localities, a law was at length passed by lature authorizing the county commissioners to recounty-seat. F o r the year 1842 the Hiram Shoudler, of Union (chairman); Oliver D. Colvin, of Kinderhook ; and Hiram Gardner, o f Mattison. T h e last-named gentleman had been chosen the in place o f \Vales Adams, of Bronson, and doubtless the county-seat question entered prominently into Immediately after the assembling of the board uary, 1842, i t decreed the removal o f the county-seat to Goldwater, and there i t has ever since remained. T h e last record o f the meeting o f the board at Branch i s dated Jan. 3,1842, while its first session in Coldwater was 10th day of March in that year. T h e same year of county commissioners was abolished, and system re-established throughout the State; the ing of the new board being held at Coldwater on the 4th Of July, 1842. A s one o f the conditions o f removal, a number of the principal citizens o f Coldwater gave for three hundred dollars, to be applied to the erection court-house and jail a t that point. T h i s was not a very munificent sum, but it was about as much as the building at Branch had cost. F u r several years, standing numerous efforts in that direction, no ing was erected in Coldwater, the courts meeting rary rooms rented for Meanwhile the jail a t Branch was burned down b y a prisoner confined i n i t , and i t has been asserted that sonic o f the people o f Coldwater contributed him for the deed. U n t i l a new one should be built, Branch County prisoners were confined i n the jail o f County, and one o f the records o f the period shows that the sheriff of that county was authorized by sors o f Branch t o buy a "cheap coat" f o r an indigent prisoner from the latter courtly. Although Branch County was now rapidly a civilized condition, yet the wolves still made wool-growing a somewhat risky business, as is shown b y the records of bounties paid. A t the session o f the supervisors ber, 1843, they audited and allowed no less than for bounty,—one by Jeremiah Morrill, one by one by Joseph Cady, and two by C. �58 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . At that October session the board panned a resolution recommending the electors of the county to raise dred dollars to erect a jail, besides the three lars due from the citizens of' Coldwater, and directed the clerk t o submit the proposition t o a vote o f the people. But there was as much struggling over the • m i g h t have sufficed t o build a State capitol, and i n t h e January following the resolution was rescinded. I n lieu of it, one was adopted requesting the electors to authorize the supervisors to raise sufficient money to build ings by a tax extending over four years. T h i s plan also seems to have fallen through, for in January, 1845, we find the board again recommending the electors on this time t o raise five hundred dollars i n 1845 hundred i n 1846, which, with t h e three hundred dollars due from the citizens of CuldWater, was to be used to build a jail. B a l l o t s were ordered to be prepared for " N o Jail." In October, 1845, still another resolution recommending the electors to raise a thousand dollars for a jail. T h e board seemed to be determined, in the words of one of John Hay's heroes, " t o resoloot t i l l the home," and this effort seems to have been successful, next spring it was resolved to let the building of the jail to the highest bidder. I n the succeeding fall the board levied a thousand-dollar tax t o pay for the jail which had been erected during the summer of 1846, and in they voted to accept The next move was for a court-house. I t s the spring of 1847 the people voted that one should be built, but the vote was a very close one,—eight hundred and thirty-four votes being cast in favor o f the requisite tax, hundred and ninety-four against it. I n October, 1847, the board resolved that four thousand dollars should to build a court-house; fifteen hundred that year, fifteen hundred in 1848, and a thousand in 1849. F i v e hundrea dollars was also voted to build a poor-house, and intendents were authorized to advertise for its erection at a sum not exceeding that amount. A t this time temporary apartments were rented for a court-room and a at fifty dollars per year, and one. for a register's twenty dollars. T h e same month i t was resolved court-house should be built for five thousand dollars, and the proposal of G. W. Davis to erect i t for that duly The following year (1848) the present court-house in Coldwater was erected. I t was accepted by the in the autumn, and in December of that year was cupied f i r public purposes, that being the end of years struggle over the erection of county buildings. Meanwhile the progress o f the county was rapid and enduring. T h e r e was not the extraordinary the prices o f real estate seen i n 1834, 1835, and 1836, but, on the other hand, there was no danger of the panic of 1837. N e w farms were opened in every the area o f cultivated land i n the old ones was largely increased. I n some instances frame houses were farms, though as a general rule log houses were still except in Our friends, the wolves, of whom we have spoken so often before, were gredwaRy disapperting W o o d o iiitO and traps of frontiersmen, inspired by do imps et d e Asia dollars bounty which was thee mama f i r mash January, 1846, entiimites were nosed for i s . ordp e t a to David Potter, Lawrearie Docker, Joseph H o e * A m * Townley, and James Johann'. I s December, 1618, d i m is a record of ii certificate issued to and in October, 1850, there were bawd one to geekiii Hayes, Jr., and two to James 0 . J a m a s . T h e m woe the last payments of which we have seen say sibly one or two more wolves were killed in Abe it will be substantially bare to arsomae d o t alier of the century Branch County was free beat of the By the census of 1850 the county had four hundred and seventy-two inbabitanta, its pergolas having more than doubled in ten years. U p to the county had not known the presence of The break-down o f the great system o f begun in 1837 had been so complete, that people were frightened at the idea of building a raiboad is Mishima. By extraordinary exertion, and at immense oast, the flute had succeeded in constructing the Southern road as Hillsdale in 1843, but was utterly unable to build i t any farther. E v e n this, however, was a great boon people of Branch County, as it was certainly far easier to haul their produce in wagons for twenty or even than to prolong the task over nearly a hundred mike of execrable road which lay between them and Lake Erie. The Southern Railroad having hese sold in 1846 to a company, of which Edwin C. Litchfield was the bead, it was hoped that it would be speedily pushed Branch County. B u t the new company could sot wooer the necessary means for several years, and up to of 1850 no advance had been made except over the foto miles between Hillsdale and But in the beginning of 1851 everything was ready for a grand forward movement, which was carried out with extraordinary rapidity. Thousands of workmen ployed all along the line from Jonesville to Chicago. E a r l y in the summer the track was laid down across B r a v a County. and the locomotive went screaming merrily throw* the townships of Quincy, Coldwater, Batavia, Bethel, and Bronson. S t i l l the work went forward with ever- i m a m * zeal, unstayed even by the cold of winter, and in 1852, the cars ran over the road from Lake & i s to Chiewo. This placed Branch County in close connection Outer world, with the swiftly-growing tnetropolis at of Lake Michigan, and with the great markets of the N M . In about three years more a line was completed Anna N o d e to Buffalo, connecting there with the Nyman of rode I s h i i afterwards because the New York Central, and I s m s * a continuous all-rail line from New York to Ohimen, M O W through Branch Over this line rolled nearly the whole tide of W o t a n ensigration, and it could not be but that a hope p o t would be stayed on the fertile lands of I m o & Oelmir, which were not yet entirely occupied by h e m o s . T h e vacant lands, however, were speedily puralms4 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . which had been settled during the previous now took on the appearance of thorough cultivation. I n a majority of cases the log houses of the pioneers changed for frames, pumps took the places o f esque, but inconvenient, well-sweeps, which had formerly risen in every yard, orchards presented their luscious fruit in ample abundance, and school-houses and churches rose wherever necessary, to promote the intellectual and spiritual welfare of the people. E v e n the mischievous imp and-ague became less malignant than before, as the subdued b y cultivation, and the too-abundant water was removed In fact, the decade from the beginning o f 1851 to that of 1861 was one o f almost unchecked prosperity. T h e population increased from twelve thousand four seventy-two to twenty thousand nine hundred one sixty-eight per cent.), and the increase in still greater. A s the whole country, East and West, North and South, shared i n greater o r less degree i n good fortune, i t was hard t o believe that any could be found mad or wicked enough to change the scene for one of war and devastation. E v e n while, during the fateful winter of 1860-61. State after State was seen declaring i n favor of secession, and asserting i t s readiness for war, men still hoped against hope that some means of reconciliation would be devised. B u t the rage of the slaveholders a t tion of a President who was not a propagandist could be satiated by nothing b u t the destruction o f the Union, and so all lovers of their country were to face with the question whether they would mit that country to be ruined by traitors, or would defend it by force o f arms. W h e n the rebel guns sounded the fall of Sumter on the 14th day of April, 1861, tion was speedily Of the gallant part taken by the men of Branch County in the terrible contest of the next four years, the following chapters w i l l speak. I n those chapters w e give b r i e f sketches of the services of all the regiments and batteries of which a n y considerable number went from Branch County. T o each sketch is appended a list of and soldiers from Branch County who served in ular regiment or battery. W h e r e less than thirty were from Branch County we can give, as a rule, no history vices, but a list of all the names is furnished in chapter of the war record. T h e s e lists are taken from the published reports of the adjutant-general of the rected whenever practicable by members of the ganizations. T h e histories of the services of batteries are also based on the adjutant-general's reports, but i n numerous cases officers and soldiers belonging t o them have furnished us with circumstances, and details which could be obtained from no 5 9 CHAPTER XI. FIRST I N FA N T RY " The P r e s i d e n t ' s P r o c l a m a t i o n — T h e G o v e r n o r ' s C a l l — R a i s i n g t h e First Regiment o f I n f a n t r y f o r Three Months—Company C from Branch County— I t s First Officers— G o i n g to Washington V i r g i n i a — The B a t t l e o f B u l l R u n — R e o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r T h r e e Years— G u a r d i n g the B a l t i m o r e a n d Wa s h i n g t o n R a i l r o a d - - O n . t h e Peninsula— I t s B a t t l e s t h e r e —Sent t o P o p e —Second B u l l R u n Te r r i b l e L o s s — A n t i e t a m a n d F r e d e r i c k s b u r g — T h e C a m p a i g n o f P i n — H a r d F i g h t i n g a t Gettysburg—The Campaign o f 1864 Numerous Battles— T h e Siege of Petersburg— T h e F i n a l V i c t o r y The R e t u r n — T h e N u m b e r Slain o r Died. THE THREE MONTHS' THE day after the surrender of Fort Sumter, ident of the United States called upon the loyal States o f the Union f o r seventy-five thousand men to suppress the rebellious uprising in the South. O n the following day (April 16, 1861) was published the proclamation o f the Governor of Michigan, calling for volunteers to companies, which, with the requisite field and were to compose two regiments o f infantry, though only one regiment was required under the President's call. Three days after the issuance of the tion the 1st Regiment was ready for muster, and on the 1st of May following it was mustered, seven eighty strong, into the service o f the United States f o r three months, by Lieut.-Col. E. Backus, U. S. A., at Fort Wayne, Detroit, the regiment being then fully equipped with arms, ammunition, and clothing, ready for service, and awaiting the orders of the War One of the companies of the regiment (C) of men of Branch County, its nucleus being a pany which had been organized i n Coldwater some time previous to the opening of the war. T h i s company joined the regiment with a strength o f about eighty rank and under command o f the following-named officers, all residents o f Coldwater: Ebenezer Charles E. Eggleston, first lieutenant ; George ton, second lieutenant. T h e field-officers o f the regiment were Orlando B . Wilcox, colonel; L o r i n L . Comstock, lieutenant-colonel ; Alonzo F. Bidwell, major. Orders for its movement having been received on the 13th o f May, the 1st Regiment of Michigan left Detroit on that day, and proceeded t o Washington. I t was the first regiment to reach the National Capital from the Alleghany Mountains, and was not second ment and soldierly qualities t o any regiment which had arrived from any other State. I t s appearance vania Avenue was hailed with joyful acclamation, great President, before whom i t marched in dressed its officers and men in most and through them thanked the State of Michigan for the patriotism and alacrity with which she had responded to the call The 1st was assigned to duty with the command of Col. (afterwards Gen.) Heintzelman, and when the movement across the Potomac into Virginia was made, on the 24th to This includes both the three months' and t h e three �60 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . of May, i t led the advance o f the Union Long Bridge, driving in the rebel pickets along the river, and entering Alexandria by the Washington taneously with the arrival of Ellsworth's Zouave regiment by The first and only battle o f this regiment was that of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, at which time its brave colonel was in command o f the brigade o f which the 1st was a part. O i l that disastrous field it was in the thickest fight, eagerly pressing forward to engage the enemy, losing heavily, but fighting with stubborn heroism, ing that bright reputation for gallantry which Michigan troops so uniformly maintained throughout the war. I n this engagement Capt. Butterworth ( o f Company C) and Lieuts. Mauch and Casey were wounded and oners, and afterwards died o f their wounds while 'in t h e enemy's hands. C o l . Wilcox was also wounded prisoner, and was exchanged after fifteen months' captivity. At the expiration of its three months' term of service the regiment returned t o Michigan, and was mustered o u t Aug. 7, 1861. T I I E T H R E E Y E A R S ' R E G I M E N T. After the muster-out and discharge of the men the 1st Regiment was reorganized for a three years' term o f service. T h e men for the new regiment were principally recruited i n the counties o f Washtenaw, Lenawee, Monroe, Hillsdale, and Branch; this county contributing a large part o f the members pany E and a few men to The reorganized 1st Infantry left its rendezvous at Ann Arbor (excepting two small detachments, which followed soon after) on the 16th of September, 1861, to Washington, D. C. A m o n g the earliest duties to which it was assigned was that of' guarding the Baltimore and Washington Railroad; and i n this it was engaged during the winter o f 1861-62, with its headquarters and winter camp a t Annapolis Junction. I n the month o f March, 1862, it moved to the Peninsula with the Army of tomac, to join in McClellan's campaign against Richmond. During that campaign i t took an honorable part in the battles o f Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862, Gaines' Mills, June 27, and Malvern Hill, July 1. At the close o f the Peninsular campaign the 1st was placed in the army of Gen. Pope, and fought under that. general at Gainesville, August 29, and at the second B u l l Run battle, August 30. I n the last-named engagement i t lost its colonel, adjutant, four captains, and more than half its members killed or wounded. Rejoining the army McClellan, it fought during his fall campaign of 1862 at Antietam, September 17, and Shepherdstown tember 2 0 ; and after the assumption of the command of the army by Gen. Burnside i t fought under him i n the terrific battle of Fredericksburg, Va., The next spring it took part in the campaign cellorsville, and after numerous severe marches reached Gettysburg on the 2d o f July, 1862, in time to engage in that memorable encounter. N e a r l y a third o f the small number which followed its banner were killed on that During the remainder of the year and the early port of 1864 the 1st Was engaged in the various in Virginia by the Army of the Potomac, and in time was reorganized as a veteran regiment. G o i n g into the great campaign of 1864 on the 1st of May, ment took part in most of the battles and skirmishes terrible time, including Alsop's Farso, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Jericho Mills, and Cold Harbor. I n June, 1864, when the 4th Infantry went home to be mustered reorganize, 118 veterans and the later recruits to the 1st and remained with it until June, 1865. an active part in the siege of Petersburg, was present battle of Weldon Railroad. and participated in conflict of Poplar Grove Church, where alone it carried two strong fortifications, and a part of an The regiment remained engaged in the siege burg throughout the winter; taking part, in the battle of Hatcher's Run in February, and in another conflict same place in March. I t was also engaged in battles or the great struggle, including the events pomatox Court-House, April 9. A f t e r Lee's surrender i t was moved to City Point, and remain, d there until May 16, then went by water t o Alexandria, arriving there on the 18th, and on the 16th o f June went by rail to Louisville. Ky., reaching there on the 21st. I t was encamped on the opposite side of the river, at Jeffersonville, Intl., mustered out of service on the 9th o f July. arrived at Jackson, Mini., on the 12th uf the naLOP month, and was there paid and The losses of the let during the war were une hundred and forty-six men, and fifteen commissioned in battle or died o f wounds, and ninety-six men arid one officer died MEMBERS O F T H E F I R S T I N FA N T R Y ' T H R E E M O N T H S ) T R O Y I11 1:si It a ° A N T I . Cbspoza C. Ebenezer Butterworth, caps.; n i l . May 1, 1851; captured at battle of Bull It..,,, Va., July 21, 1661 ; died in rebel baspiltal, at weans* al q.-17 , M g t Charles E Eggleston. let tient ; sal. May 1, 11161; UMW. eat George H Eggleston, 2d lieut.; sid. May 1,, 1886 ; mei^ eat A u g . ; Iggi Charlet, B Lincoln, tat sergt. ; eid. May 1,1861 ; must out Aug. 7,1181. Cannel N Andrews. 2t1 o.rgt.; en!. May I , 1861 ; IRMO. 1.1It Seg. George Rhodes, ad serzt. ; en!. M n , 1, , captured at b u n k .4 Bell Ron. Va , July 21,1861; confined it, Libhy prison; most out May go, Itgli Charlet, 1'. Whitcomb, 4th sergt; eel. May 1, 111111; captured et Yellin of p.m It, Va., July 21, 1861; confined i n Libby prison m a n . oat 155 Joaepli It. Cnip, hit corp.; en!. May 1, 1861; must on? A zg. Ins. Mills, MI corp.; ant May 1.1861; s u e . out Aug. 7.1861. A heti It. Potter, ad corp.; eat. May 1,1861; must. out Aug. 7, 8) hoster It. Wright, 4th corp.; eel. May 1,1861; wad. A n g . N i-laun Abbott, winelcian ; col. M a y I, 1961 ; mast oat Aug. Silas L. Pal ker, musician; eel. May 1, 1861; meat. oat Aug. i m i r AT I O L Henry C. Adams, eat. May 1,1881; mast. oat Aug. 7,1881. Benjamin F. An-her, en?. /day 1,1861; =net. oat Aug. 7,1881. George W..% hhott, en?. May I , 1861; must. ont Aug. 7,1881. Albert a'. Allen. enl. M . ) 1, 1861 ; mulct. out Henry Abbett, eail. May 1, tafq ; tuna. out Lorenzo F. Brown, en! M a y I , 1861 ; meat, oat M1111.1111 L. Biirritt, vol. May 1, 1861; must. out Henry rimier, nil. May I , teal ; must. ant Aug. Peter Bintawn, enl. May 1, 1861 ; mast net Aug. 7.1861. Martin e n ? . May 1, ; noted. out Charles B a l a . el, eid. May 1, 1861 ; taunt. out Aug. 7,1884. Sena Rialcy, en?. May I , 1861; meet. a t J•ndw Bennett. en]. May I , 1861 ; meet. out Aug. William I t Bryon, V1/1I. May 1, 1541 ; m a t tont Aug. 7, IMI4. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Jonas P. Brown, en]. May I. 1'61 ; limo out Aug. lira. il,ouk,',I,,,..f, en' 51 ay 1. i•i 1 0 .•iiieli a at Bull 11111, Chauncey S l i i i von, r d . May I , 1001 : noon. out Aug Thema M i e n ; erd. May 1,1861; moot. out A m i d IL Campbell, a t . May 1,1661 ; m u . . out Aug. H a m i l l = Collier, oil. May 1, 18011 n r n . i . Oct M o o d Catlin, mil.. May 1.1861 ; mnat. out Aug. 7,1861. /Alward Craft, enl. May 1, 1841 ; must. out Aug. 7,1861. Lester B. Callahan, out. lbw 1, 1861 ; ntuat. out Aug. 7,1861. Gewsge Cooger, col. May 1, 1861; mind. out Aug. 7,1861. George D. Drury, enl. May 1,1861; taken prisoner a t lasttle of Bull Ran, Va., and confined in Libby prison; must. out May 20,1862. Martin Damon, eel. May 1.1861; moat. out Gilbert Declute, ent May 1, 1661 ; must. out Aug. 7,1861. Lafayette Finch, ml. May 1, 1861 ; must. out A Smith W. Fisk, eel. May 1, 1861 ; must. out. Aug. 7,1861. David You, eel. May 1, 1861 ; must. out Aug. 1,1861. laaiab Fox, rot. B e , 1,1061; must. out Aug. 7,1861. Irving S. Graham, col. Bey 1, 1661; must. out Aug. 7.1861. Edward Garde, ed. May 1, 1861 ; i n r a . out Aug. Charles Halume, sal. Nay 1,1811; must. oat 0.84.8 11. Nokuite, l l a y 1, 1861; must. out William Beane, rul. Way 1, 1861 ; must out Aug. 7,1881. Leander C. Handy. eon. May I , 1861 ; most. out Aug. 7,1861. Solomon llull,rrn, r o t 31ay, 1, 1061; must. out Aug. 1,1861. Charles C. Harvey, en I. May 1.1861 t a k e n prisoner at battle of Bull Run, VA, July 21, 1861 ; confined no Libby prison ; . . . o h out Bay James D. C. Harvey, eel. May 1, 1061; nittiit. out Aug. 7,1881. Smith H. Hastings, eel. Ala; 1, 1861 ; must. mit Aug. 7, 186L Folwarti Hewitt, out, May 1,1966; m u . . out Aug. 7,1861. Dead. J. Kaappea, eaL May 1, 1862; most. out Aug. Bdwaril Maimpsevenl.Way 1, 1861; most. out Aug. Edward B. Kirby, eel. May 1, 1861 ; taunt. out Aug. 7.1861. Edwani Lewis, eul. May 1,1061 ; o u t Aug. Franklin Minzey, en, May I, 1061; 10,0.0. .000 Aug. 7,1861. John S. Maosman. tail. May 1. 1801; 111.1e.t....it Aug:. 7,1861. Nitire W Mellendy. 5 l a y I , 1061: to it.t. Aug. Medd:mid, ell]. May I . 1..61 ; n o . t.AO'6 7,1881. J•weth Mc K N o v 1, 1861; mutt. out Aug. 7,1861. etil. May I, 1661 ; moat out Aug. 7,1861. P. Peckham, t u t May 1,1861; must. out Aug. 7,1861. Horace L. Perkin, ord. Nov I . 1061; nitzet. out Aug. Franklin Rol ••rts, eti I. May 1, 1001 ; tu tot. out Aug, Cato,, 10. Stroug,e1.1. Mai I . 10,1 01,080 oilt 5oz. 7,1066. Joha 10. stualla, en I. Nov 1, tool; taken ; . r . . . . : i t ',mole of Bull Run, July I. 18,1 ; ontimet or Lit by priaon ; 010-1. out May John Sullo an. vol. S l y I, 1861; must. out Aug. 7,1661. Cody Smith. evil. May I , 1661 ; must. out Squire S. Sk-els, vol. May 1, 1661 ; must. out Ang. Baxter Strong, mil. May 1, 1861; mmt. out Aug. Lou A. Warner, eel. May I, 1861; must. out 1LMei t Will am., ml. May 1, 10.61 ; must. out (ug. 7,1061. George Wright. enl M a y I. 1861; [frost. out (mt. Ralston Walker, etil M • y I, 1061 t a k e n priaotter at hotly fit Brill July 21, Dud ; confined on Libby pr06•11; must. out May l l E l t IMPS OF THE 711D,T I N F.% NTRY T I I KEE YEARS) FROM BRANCH (DUSTY. Abram 8. Hirklaad, 2.1 Bent ; eid. May 30, 1863; 1st lieut. law nergt.), 1866; mart. out with regiment, July 9,1865. George H. Igglesitctn, 1s6 Bent.; eel. Ang. 17, 1061 ; no. Mardi Alexander Bleck, Cu. 6 ; O w l , at Wuliington, D C , Jan. Whams H. Bernhawi, Co. 6; ...Mentally killed, Oct. Hoary C. flabonek, Co. Z. William V. Braddock, Co. 6 ; mast. out July Rekert W. Beker, Co. C; John N. Beaker, Cu ; died of diem., Washington, D. C., July Awed. D. Deamit, Co. ; Mob. to re.enL ma veteran, Feb. Jammu Covey, Co. 2 ; died of Moose at Annapolis, Md., Men h 7,1062. Whosid Carib; Co I ; wait. out July D o d d Cook, Ca 11; disch. at Vert arhayler, Jan. Jelon Ciente, Co. I ; died.. at expiration of serake, Oct. Int & Climosil, Co. X; d o h te r o w e l . . veteran, Dec. 210,1863; roost. out July 9, MIL M o m G. Demo, Co. I ; died In aetton at Dull Bon, Va., A . ?Madam Devia, Ca. IC; a t expiration of smoke, MM. C a r o m P.884.14, Co. l a n d Ileme, On. 2 : died of Mama la Washington, D. C., * a d s N. Tbly Co. ; d o h . at expiration of minks, Sept David PM, Co. ; / M b . at marmites of w r i e r, Oet. M, 1864; woo In !natio of Dull A m , Frederieksbara, sad George HIlluma, Co. ; died In scrim .8 8.11 iton, Ang. Ilfranels E. Iledlley, Cu II; dhoti, by order, AM.. Hunt, Co. 0 ; dash. fer dlenhelley, April In, M I . Abram K blamed, Oa. 1 ; Moth. I . meal. as VIMPTOft, Feb. 17, IM4 ; Pool, it, Jute, Lauver. 1'0 ; Mork 9607 1, 1 . 6 Sillienn P. Mlle., Co. C; died in action at Bull Run, Va., Aiir. James M. V1011., Co. ; died of disea. in Riclintood, Jon. William J. 51oody, Co. E; must. out July Martin J. Miley, Co. 14; disci, to re-enl. as •eterati, Osear Nash, Co. A; disch, to re.enl. as veteran, Feb. Ludo, iv Nye, Co. 14; diach. Sept. lieorge F. Niverson, Co. IC; dinh. at Potomac Creek ,Jun. Theodore E. Oliver, Co. C; dIegO,. I I eti ry C Yklel I, D : disci,. In re-enl, so veteran, Dec. By ro. Potter, Co. E; killed In action at Bull Rim, Aug. 30,1062. Alexi J. Potter, Co. IC; died of d i m . . . Washingtuu, D. C., Aug. James E. Perry, Co. It; duel, David C. Reynold., Co. H; diach. at expiration of service, Hazleton Saunders, Cu. H; disci,. Jan Hiram Sweet, Co. E ; died in action at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2,1963. Sautes C. Smith, Co. ; ditch. for disal.ility, Neb. George H. Skinner, Co. E; distill Nehen111411 Spencer, Co. E; disci, to re-root. as veteran, C. A. Tompkins, Co. 11; disci, at expiration of service, Oct. Grocge F. Trumbull, Co. E; disch. Burnet A. Tucker, Co. E; died of wounds in Washington, D. C., Horace M. WIthington, Co. E; died it, action at Bull Run, Atte. Entniet R. Wow', Co. E; dled in action at Bull Run, Aug. Eugene Wilson, Co. ; disch. at expiration of service, Jefferson Wood., Co. It; oilnvh. to re-onl. co vetetun, Dee. 25, 186.1; July Willani Whitney, Co. E; dutch. to re.enl. nn veteran, Feb. 17, 1864 ; must. out July 9,1863. William Whalen, Co. E; ol1ml,. to re-en I. no relent., Feb. Levi Webb, Co. B; died of d i s t . , at Burr Oak, 111 kb., Heitry F,. Whitney, Co. E ; died of disease at Waehington, D. C., Jan. Leonard Whitmoyer, Cu. B; o u t July 9,1066. David Williams, Con. C; discharged for disability, Nov. 1,1802. CHAPTER XII. SEVENTH I N FA N T RY. B r a n c h C o u n t y i n t h e S c v e n t h — B a l l ' s B l u f f —West P o i n t a n d F a i r Oaks— T h e Seven Days' F i g h t — T h e Battle of A ntietam— burg—Crossing the Rappahannock under Fire— T h e Charge u p the Heights— T h e Great M a r c h t o Gettysburg—Severe S p o t t s y l v a n i a - - C o l d H a r b o r — F i g h t i n g Before Petersburg i n g t h e E n e m y ' s W o r k s — F i n a l V i c t o r y — M u s t e r -Out— L i s t o f Officers a n d THE 7th Michigan Infantry was formed at Monroe during the sublimer of 1861. T h e number of Branch who served in its ranks during the war was a few fifty, viz., about forty i n K company, ten i n and one or two each in B, C, and D. The regiment left Monroe for Virginia on the 5th o f December, 1861. A r r i v i n g there, i t was stationed on the upper Potomac. I t was one o f the reginienta detailed to go to Ball's Bluff on the 21st of October, under Gen. Baker, and shared the losses inflicted b y the sudden whelming attack of the enemy on that In t h e spring o f 1862 the 7th went with the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula, where it was engaged in the siege o f Yorktown, and afterwards i n the affair at West Point, on the 7th o f May. I t also took an active part in the battle of Fair Oaks, on the 31st of May and 1st of June. W h e n the Confederate force was massed the Union right, the 7th was with the columns steadily forced through the disastrousonSeven Days' Fight," taking part in the actions at Peach Orchard Creek on the 29th of June, at Savage Station on the game day, Oak Swamp on the 30th of June, at Glendale on day, and finally, on the lot of July, at Malvern victory at length perched on the Union standard, and the rebel hordes were repulsed with The 7th went northward with the Army of �69 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . and was present at the second battle of Bull Run. crossed the Potomac with McClellan, took part in of South Mountain, and on the 17th of September, 1862, stood litee to face with the enemy on the field 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 After Antietam the 7th continued with the Army Potomac, in its marches through Northern Virginia, 11th of December, 1869, when that army stood on side o f the Rappahannock, gazing across at the enemy's works at Fredericksburg. During the night o f the 10th the Union laid a pontoon-bridge partly across the stream, but light the rebel sharpshooters soon drove them teers were called for to cross the river, and seize a foothold on the opposite shore. Lieut.-Col. Baxter, then mand, called on the 7th for that duty, and as one wan they responded to the call. Foremost of' all the army into the boats and set out for the opposite shore. bullets fell thick and fast among them, and many were slain or wounded, among the latter being their but still they held on their way, and at length their lauding. C l o s e behind them came a regiment. T h e two formed on the bank, dashed up the heights above, drove the enemy from his intrenehments, and captured several hundred prisoners at the point o f the bayonet. T h e pontoons were then laid across the a portion o f the army crossed in safety. disasters which befell the forces o f Gen. Burnside in that action cannot dim the glory of this brilliant exploit of the 7th Michigan Infantry. The regiment acted as provost-guard at Falmouth until the 3d of May, 1863, when it again crossed nock to take part in the battle of Chancellorsville. not closely engaged, but the enemy's artillery ten of During the Gettysburg campaign t h e 7th underwent even more than the usual hardships o f that torrid and dusty period. O n the 27th o f June, it seven miles; on the 28th, six miles; and on the 20th, thirty-two miles; making seventy-five miles in three days; a remarkable exploit when i t i s considered t h a t every soldier carried a rifle, bayonet, cartridge-box, haversack, and canteen, and that the marching in column in a cloud o f dust is twice as fatiguing as walking single individual. On the 2 d o f July the 7 t h arrived at Gettysburg, and was immediately placed i n the front of battle Hill. I n this exposed position i t remained until of the action on the 3d o f July, meeting and repelling some of the fiercest attacks of the enemy. S o the regiment been depleted b y its previous only fourteen officers and one hundred and fifty-one men went into this fight. O f this small number twentyk illerl ( including the commander. Limit S t e l e l arni I After taking part is the pursuit of the entesy, the 7th went to New York a short time during the of the dnift, and then retureed to the Army of mac. O n the 7th of December, after ing and skirmishing in Northers Virginia, i t went iete winter quarters at Barry's H i l l . H e r e , notwithateadim all its hardships and lower, one hundred and fiftyre-enlisted as veterans, and the rep;inseat was seat home to Monroe the 1st of' January to recruit. A l t e r days' furlough, i t returned to Barry's R N , where mained until the grand advance of the army on the id of May It was lightly engaged in the Wilderness on doe 5th of May, but on the succeeding, day it boa a seems etadist with t h e enemy, having eight men l d , thiotpeight wounded, and eight missing. O n the leak, i t wet a t Spottsylvania Court-House, where i t wee subjected to a severe lire from the rebel sharpshooters, sod ales made as assault on the enemy's works. T h e teed e f arimities during the day was five killed and twelve eresedel. T h e next day it was again slightly engaged, and on the n t h it took part in Hancock's charge on the left of line, eleven o f the men being wounded. T h e meet a r there was another fight, where the 7th had killed and Continuing with the Army of' the Potatoes the i n k movements to the left, which constintly brought to Richmond, the 7th passed the North Anna Rivers, being frequently engaged as skirmishers, and as the 30th and 31st of May and 1st of June it lest six killed and had nine wounded. A t Cold Herber i t gullastly charged the enemy's works, but the long hoes meats, behind which the rebel marksmen larded their deadly rifles in almost perfect security, to the thinned ranks of the 7th asd their the regiment fell back with a loss -Of d o m e wounde The 7th reached the lists is front o f Plierebemg 15th of June, and at osee entered es the trench duty, fighting n e a r l y , e day ry v ,sad three killed and wounded dating the Stet tem &rya h a k e battles of Strawberry Maims alai IFIEsmier's 1D1e and 17) it had three mei killed and eleven wessink i t was also engaged in the battle of Reams' Station cm the i l i a of On the 26th of' October the 7th w e one e f ments which advanced es the enemy's right, and die mut day it took part in no lees than three battlee,--thess e f Hatchers' Run, Burgess' Tavern, and Boydtas In this movement the 7th, alone, captured four eighty men and twenty officers of the rebel infantry. From the beginning of the e a s e s * . to the vetnber, the feeble regiment in these ,,f n , f l t . t kill,nl ma IV, • cr, , 1 • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . winter, sharing all the dangers and hardships of the army, but not suffering as severely in killed and wounded ing the previous six months. O n the 2d of April, the 7th, with detachments o f the 1st Minnesota and cimsetts, were ordered to attack the enemy's works at Cat Tail Creek. T h e y advanced steadily t o their task, and notwithstanding the fire frotu the rebels, behind their intrenclurnents, the 7th dashed boldly forward, reaching the enemy's lines (the first o f the and driving out the gray-back defenders at the point bayonet. T h e assaulting brigade quickly captured two forts and three cannons; then, turning i n flank, i t the rebels' works, capturing five other forts, and hundred The regiment was less fortunate on the 7th o f April, when, after capturing many prisoners, it was cut off from the main army by a large force of rebel infantry and cavalry; and, i n attempting t o fight i t s way through, officers and thirty-four men taken prisoners. I n noon i t was relieved and joined i t s brigade. T w o days later Lee's army surrendered, and the most serious trials of the 7th Michigan It was sent t o Louisville, Ky., and Jeffersonville, Ind., in June, very much to the disgust o f the men; but was mustered out at Jeffersonville on the 5th o f July, 1865, sent immediately to Jackson, Mich., and paid off banded on the 7th of that month. MEMBERS O f T H E SEVENTH I N FA N T RY FROM BRANCH COUNTY. Jeremiah Buys, Co. K ; died of dieenve or Alesandri.,, Va., Dec. HesekiaM Brooks, Co. K ; moat. on; July William H. Burns, Co. K ; died of wounds at Antietam, Md., Sept. David BlarKbard, l's. K ; diach. for disability, Juue Albert A. illancluird, Co. K; must. out July Hamm 011bossa, O . I ; Wad of wounds at White Oak Swamp, June Chaaerey B. Cole, Co. I ; meet. sot July 5,1866, Nehum W. ilark, C.i. K; dieck by order, July Daniel chatse, Co. K ; m e e t oat July Alonzo Converse, K ; roast. out July ilmlieon J. Egglemou, Co. K ; moat. out Jnly Leei., Fry, . •o. K ; 1 . y order, JUIN Mimi,' Fry, C... 1, h . 1.3 order, July Joila B. F..r,l, K ; ladeiing in action, Actg. Fred 11. Gould, Co. 1; died oi diseme near Yorktown, Va., May Alonzo Glair, CO. 1; died of wounds at South Anna Sher, Va., June Jobe likas,136.154 want. set Cherie* X. Hewn, Co. X ; dish. to re-eni. as set, Dec. 011evr Green, Co. K; miming In aallon, June L o r e n . /Aloe, Co. K ; died of wends, &pt. Lorenzo C. Hurd, Co. K ; Mich, fir disability, Nov. Edwin K. Howard, CO. C ; disci. for disability, Nov. 1,1861, (mina Hopkins, Jr., Os 52; Week J a n , . Hopkins, Co. I:, wising i t Cold Barber, Va., Jona Nathaniel R . . , C a ; tganifored to VOL Sm. Corps, Daniel Holbrook, Co IC; W a f t s l f a l t h e e s lion, Va., Het. Will...on J. Leary, C..1; .d.4W wenn& at Tale Oaks, Va., Wxy William Letts, Cr. i t ; O W of dissom at Washington, Nor, 5, bliTid S. Il.diprgly 0 * IC; dloch. Dee. J o t . Moors% Cs. ; a w l 86 Andononsille, Ga., 8ept, Malibu Meyer, Cs. I ; Wed of disease Ha Tie.nme M l l e , Co. K ; miming at Mambo?, Kan, Ott. Deena Munroe, Co. d I s c h , by order, May Tr i m , . E. Almon, Co. K ; died, to vol.. in (1. 8. Caw, Walter Nichol*, Co. K ; Vlach. to re.eni. as vet., imam Puppet, Jr., Co. X; essit. sat July Georg* roller, Co. IC; meet out July Joeeph Pullman, Co. IC; ells& by *Am, Jan. William Queer, Co. ; smut, art Jet, 8,1666. Hiram Hefner, Oa. II; musk out Joky H e n , It unim,011. ; '5266 .4 disease at Windmill paint., Vs, Mn. 7,1663. 'lark Winship, Co. C; died in action at Antietam, Xd., Jinni' -haply, 0.. X ; died A m IS, N M . Andrew J * M o r a y, Co. 1: died of •Iiiieue. at Waahington, Mt C., July Adhert Seliemerttorn. co. K ; James ibeffield, Co. I i , miter J i .5. 6 Thomas Silllway, Co. K ; must. out Jelly Levi R. Tuttle, Co. K ; Mech. at expiralion of service, Aug. 22,1664. John Taggott, C . K ; must. out July it. Valade, Cu. D; miming at Hatcher', RUH, 'Zachary Wells, Co. 1 ; lllll st. oh0 Starry F. Weatherby, Co. K; Tech. by order, July CHAPTER XIII. NINTH I N FA N T RY. F i e l d and Staff o f t h e N i n t h — C o m p a n y 0 f r o m B r a n c h C o u n t y — I t s First Officers— T h e R e g i m e n t gees t o K e n t u c k y — A n d with M i t c h e l l , i n h i s A d v a n c e — S i x Companies a t M u r f r e e s b o r o ' Attacked by Forrest in Force— L o n g and Hard F i g h t i n g — G a l l a n t r y of t h e N i n t h — F i n a l Surrender to Overwhelming Numbers quent Parole and E x c h a n g e —Services of those not Captured— T h e N i n t h as Provest-Ouard—Complitnented b y Gen. Thomas— listment o f Veterans— I n the A t l a n t a Campaign— F u l l R a n k s again —Subsequent Services— L i s t o f Members. THE 9th Infantry Regiment, o f Alichi!-etti, was raised during the latter part o f the summer, and i n the early autumn o f the year 1861. I t s rendezvous was at Fort Wayne, Detroit, where its organization was the following officers: William W. Duffield, colonel; John G. Parkhurst, of Coldwater, lieutenant-colonel; Dorus M . Fox, major; Ennis Church, surgeon; Cyrus ant surgeon; James G . Portman, chaplain; H e n r y M . Duffield, adjutant; Charles H. Irwin, The 9th was composed mainly o f men from counties lying on and to the north o f the line of tile tral Railroad; but contained one company* raised water and other parts of Branch County. T h i s nated as G company, and its first officers were Chase, captain; Mortimer Mansfield ( o f lieutenant; William A . Hull (of Coldwater), tenant The regiment having been armed with weapons o f an inferior class, was mustered into the United for three years, by Capt. H. R . Mizner, U. S. A., at the rendezvous, Oct. 23 and 25, 1861, and on the day left Detroit for the seat of war in the the first regiment from Michigan which entered the the Western departments. I t reached Jeffersonville, Ind., on the 27th, and on the following day Was moved b y steamboat to Salt River, Ky. I t was soon in the construction o f a defensive work on Muldraugh's Hill, and made its winter quarters in that vicinity. D u r i n g their stay at that place the men o f the 9th were terribly afflicted with measles and other disorders, as many as four hundred having been on the sick list at one time. Immediately after the fall o f Fort Donelson, ment was moved by transports from Salt River ville, Tenn., where it remained for some weeks; to Murfreesboro', and was posted there from April to July, as one of the chain o f detachments which were placed t o guard the rear and communications of Gen. 0. M. Mitchell, in his advance on Huntsville, Ala. D u r i n g that time it formed part of the force with which Geo. Negley made a Other companies of the regiment were afterwards recruited to a considerable eotent from this county. O' �64 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . demonstration against Chattanooga, reaching the north bank of the Tennessee River, opposite the town. A f t e r that expedition i t was again stationed a t Murfreesboro' and vicinity, and on the 13th of July the six were at that place (the other four, under command of Maj. Fox, being at Tullahoma) were attacked by a body of the enemy's cavalry, three thousand five hundred Gen. N. B. Forrest. O f this battalion o f the 9th freesboro', one company was quartered in the and five companies (including the company County) were camped in a body in the skirts o f the village,—all under command o f Lieut.-Col. Parkhurst, C o l . Duffield was present but not on having arrived i n the evening o f the 1 lth, in company with Gen. Crittenden, on business connected with mation o f a new brigade, o f which Col. Duffield have the counnand. T h e 3d Minnesota Infantry Regiment was encamped on t h e bank o f Stone River, less than two miles to the northwest o f the town, and with Ilewett's (1st Kentucky) Battery. Forrest's attack on the camp of Lieut.-Col. Parkhurst's battalion was made at four o'clock in the morning day the 13th o f July. H e had evidently expected that it would be a surprise, but such did not prove to be for Col. Parkhurst had suspected, or had by been warned of, their approach, and stood prepared to give them a very warm reception. T h e resnit was that the first attack was successfully repelled, with considerable loss to the enemy, who then withdrew, and proceeded to attack the company occcupying the court-house. U p o n drawal of the enemy from his front, Col. Parkhurst dispatched a messenger to the colonel of the at Stone River, informing him of the situation, and asking him to come to his (Parkhurst's) assistance. W i t h quest the officer in question, for what doubtless seemed to him good reasons, declined t o comply. I t was believed that he might have done so with good prospects he having a comparatively large force, including an efficient battery. Certainly any attempt o f Col. Parkhurst—with his little force o f less than three hundred men, and no artillery—to effect a junction with the Minnesotians, in the face o f such an overwhelming body of the enemy, would have been almost fool-hardy. At the court-house the attacking party met a reception from the defending garrison, who held them a t bay for two long hours, and only surrendered when they found such a course inevitable. Immediately after their capture they were sent t o the rear, in t h e direction o f McMinnville, without an hour's delay, for the mander believed that his work might at any moment terrupted by Union reinforcements from either or all several detachments posted at different points i n ity; a very natural supposition, and one which might very easily have been verified. From the siege o f the court-house the to the attack of Col. Parkhurst's position, which, during the brief cessation of hostilities had been such slight defenses as the men had been able in the short time, and with the insufficient means terials at their command. S l i g h t as they were some shelter to the defending forte, who leered more than ten to one by their weilants, the most determined and persistent bravery till pais ewe, when, as it became evident that they need look so k e p t for succor, and that fuether m i m e o s was wieless, their leader submitted to the inewitable, mad ing the eight hours through which they had stood a t bay their loss had been thirteen killed and wounded. T h e enemy admitted that hie ewe k w in killed alone had been thirty-five, and there is fitters elotet that it was much beyond this figure. A m o n g the raptured elbow were all those of the regiment belonging in viz., Lieut.-Col. Parkhurst, Capt. Iteatithi, awl U w e . Hull. T h e first and last mentioned were marched the victorious rebels. C a p t . Mansfield being unable dure the march was left behind. paroled, as was Duffield, who had been badly wounded during the fight. His companion in his unfortunate visit to the post—(en. Crittenden—had also been captured at the hotel in lage, and was taken away with the other prisoners, numbers was also added the Minnesota mentioned, and the men and officers of' Hewett's Battery. A t McMinnville, Forrest paroled the enlisted he had captured, and they returned to they were sent to Camp Chase. H e , however, retained the officers and took them to Knoxville. F r o m there sent to Atlanta, then to Madison, Ga., where for a considerable time, then t o Columbia, S. C., bury, N . C., and finally t o Libby prison, where they were eventually paroled. C o l . Parkhurst was exchanged in December, 1862. I n the mean time tion o f the regiment which h a d escaped capture frcesboro' had been engaged against the enemy at Tyree Springs, Tenn., and at Mumfordsville. Ky., about of Gen. Buell's advance from Louisville to Bowling On the 24th o f December. 1862. Lieut.-Col. Parkhurst, then in command of the 9th C o l , Duffield was disabled by the wounds received at Murfreesboro', signed less than two months after that time), reported for duty at the headquarters o f Geo. Thomas, near Nashville, and was assigned to duty as provost-marshal; his regiment (reorganized and with ranks refilled by the oners) being detailed as provost-guard of the The remark was made by Gen. Thomas, on the issuance of the order assigning i t t o that duty, that he had quainted himself with the history of the part takes regiment in their defense o f the post o f Merherhere' against Forrest. and that just such a regiment was needed at his The duty to which the 9th was thus assigned formed by the regiment from that time until of its term o f senice. F o r the manner in which they performed the duties devolving on them at the battles o f Stone River and Chickasaw., Umetienhely thuhisrer), Col. Parkhurst and the regiment w e e mental by Gen. Thomas. W h e n that the chief command o f the Army o f the after Chickamauga, Col. Parkhurst ( who had received his promotion to the colonelcy Feb. 6, 1863) �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . provost-marshal-general o f t h e department, and the 9 t h became provost-guard a t army headquarters. ber, 1863, the regiment, to the number of two hundred and twenty-nine, re-enlisted as a veteran a veteran furlough, and returned t o Michigan i n a body, arriving a t Coldwater i n January, 1864. A t tion of its furlough, reassembling at the same place, it left on the 20th of February for the front, with its ranks filled to about five hundred men. A t Chattanooga i t duty at headquarters, and i n the summer and fall o f 1864 participated in all the operatinns of the Army of berland in Georgia and Tennessee. I t entered Atlanta on its evacuation b y t h e enemy, and wa.s there engaged in provost d u t y t i l l t h a t city was abandoned by the Union forces, when it returned to Chattanooga. sixty-nine members were discharged b y expiration o f their term of service, but as a large number of recruits received during the year, the regiment, on the 1st vember, 1864, numbered eight hundred and enlisted men. I t remained i n Chattanooga until the 27th of March, 1865, when i t was moved t o Nashville. T h e r e it stayed on duty at headquarters and as guard at tary prison until the 15th of September, when i t tered out of the service, and on the following day left for Michigan. I t arrived at Jackson on the 19th ber, and one week later the men were paid o ff banded, when they returned t o their homes and t o the avocations MEMBERS OF T H E N I N T H I N FA N T R Y FROM BRANCH COUNTY. John G. Parkhu yet, Coldwater, b e n t -col.; e n l . Sept. 10, 1861; captured a t Murfremburo'. Term., July 1:1, 1862; released Dec. 5,1862; not., Feb. 6, 1861; brevt. brig.-gm., May V, 1865; m i n t out Nov. Mortimer Mansfield, Coldwater, l o t Hest.; out. Oct. 12, 1861; capt., 1892; captured at Murfreesboro', Tenn., July 13, 1862; relemed Aug. 8, 1962; meet_ out William A . H u l l , Coldwater, 2d Bent.; enL Oct. 12, 1461; l e t lieut., Feb. 8, 1'62; captured at Murfremboro*, July 13, 1862; released Dec. 3, 0162; capt., April 9, 1863; resigned Mtg. 22, 1864, to enter Cherie, W. Bennett, Qmincy, Id Haut; enl. Jan. 17,1863; capt. in U. troop., Oct. 26, 1863; brevet major, Oct. 1865; most. out June Rev. Joseph Wood, chaplain; sal. Feb. 19, 1864; Robert Eberhard, Co. 13; disci,, by order Thome. A. Eberhard, Co. 0 ; maid. out Sept. Charlie E. Gregg, Co. z ; mud. out Sept. George Gregg, Co. E ; must. out Sept lessic Gould, Co. F; mum. out Sept. Dennis Blacken, Co. G m u o t . out Sept. Josieph F. Hill, Co. B; must. cot Sept. 13, William Hamlett, Co. D; must. out Sept. Henry Newley, Co. D; must. out June Parker Howes, Co. 0 ; most. out Jon. Henry Hangerford, Co. D; mutt, cot Jan. Joke S. Haines, Co. D; mast. out June Plebes 111111ar, Co. G; Mech. to enlist as veteran. Marlon A. Howard, Co. 11; most. out Sept. Madre Jordon, Co. 12; died of Mame< at West Point, Ky., Dec. John W. [lout, Co. D; moat. out Sept Henry C. Kenyon, Co. G ; meet. one Sept. William Krapohl, Co. G; moot, out. Sept. 13, O M . John P Kidney, Co. G; meet. out Sept. 15, 1865; come from 440 tat, Freak Leiter, Co. C; mud. out Sept Fred. Lents, Co. 13; must. out Sept. Fred. Lipetaff, Co. 0 ; check, by order, June Cherie. P. Lake, Co. K; mart. out Sept. Henry Lake, Go. X ; Mach by order, Fred. Hiller, Cu. H; died of ditemen at Coldwater, Mich.. Feb 14, leak George Mathews, Co. B; meet. ant Sept. I m a g e McGerk, Co. 0 ; moot, oat Ales. McIntyre, Co. C ; dl.eb. by order, J,,no 20, Dmael I , McKay, Co. 6 ; dIseh. by order, Jon. 9 Henry Melvin, Co. G ; ditch, by order, Alvin Mocks, Co. 1; must. out Sept. George 11. Newell, N. C S . ; must. out Sept. Lewis W, Nathan*, B ; must. out Sept. IS, 1,65. Thomas L. Nixon, Co. H ; moot, out Sept. Andrew Nupher, Co. G; ditch, to enlist at veteran, Dec. 7, Dewitt Pierce, Co. C; must. out Sept. Addison J. Peckham, Co. G; must. out Sept. Daniel (1. Parker, Co. ; m i n t out Sept. Joseph E. Penner, Co. hl ; died of disease et White Pigeon, Mick., Riley Pierce, Co. I t ; most, out Sept. Henry Robinson, Co. K ; must. out Sept. Jeremiah Rhodes, Cu. ; must. out Sept. John Rum, Co. G; must. out Sept. Charles E. Rhode., Co. F ; must. out Sept. David Rodgers, Co. F; m u s t . . t Sept. Simon Ream, Co. B; must. out Sept. George Rogers, Co. B; must. out Adams Reed, Co. D; must. out Sept. Bornard L. Rider, Co, K; died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., May 24, 1 Jame.. Reynolds, Co. G; died of disease at Morfreeslioni', Tenn., William J. Sternbaugh, Co. G; died of diseme at Nashville, Tenn., June i Barlow Smith, Co. G; disch. to enlist as veteran, Dec. Charles F. Smith, Co. A ; must. out Sept. Armonut Springsteen, Co. ; must. out Rudolph Stickler, Co. Y; must. out Sept. Bernard Schlieting, Cu. G; dish. Jan. 16, 1865, for pro. in I James F. Schemerhorn, Co. G; disch. to m i l d an Veteran, 1, Levi Sprague, Co. G; must. out Sept. Benj, F. Safford, Co. I; ditch. by order, June Colvin D. Smith, Co. I ; disci., by order, Ales. Tracy, Co. I ; must. out Sept. Thaddeus Yining, Co. I ; disch. by order, Sept. DI wheel Coral., Co. B; died of disease at Gahm., Mick., B. E. Williams, Co. G; died of disease, Henry Wiser, Co. G; died of disease at Chattanooga, Tenn., John Winery, Co. G; died of dismee at Louisville, Ky., Henry C. Wmtfidl, Co. It; must. out Sept. Inc M. Ware, Co. F ; must. out Sept. Wtn. H. Withington, Cu. 0 ; must. out Isaac W i d m e r. Cu. G; must. out Sept. Carlos Whitmore, Co. G; must out Sept. Steward Wilcox, Co. K ; d i m . , by order, June Dyer Wood, Co. K; disci.. by order, May L a n a . C. Wilder, Co. K ; diech, by order, June Charles II. Yates, Co. G; most. out Sept. Jarnes Allen, Co. F ; must. out Sept. Samuel E. Acker, Co. G; disch. March 14, 1865, for promotion in U. S. C. T. Henry Bennett, Co. B; must. out Sept. Peter Bohn, Co. 0 ; must. out Sept. Dwight G. Bolster, Co. IS; most. out Henry Bordenae, Co. C; most, out Sept. Charles NV. Bennett, Co. 0 ; in battleo Stone River, Chickamauga, Nashville, etc.; promoted. O m officer.) Jackson Brown, Co. G; diech. by order, Sept. Howard Bradley, Co. 0 ; chicet,. for disability, Sept. William E. Bennett, Co. K; must out Eli Bowen, Co. K ; most, out Sept. Oren Bowen, Co. K; ditch. hy order, James B a r r i . , Co. (2; dlech. for disability, Sept. Winton B. Brooks, Cu. K : must. out Sept. Charles W. Babbitt. Co. K ; must. out Sept. Reuben S. Babbitt, Co. K ; diocb. by order, May 12,1861. James Callaghan, Co. B ; must. out Sept. Nelson 0. Carey', Co. B ; most. out Sept. Lebannah E. Corder, Co. B ; must. out Sept. William Carmody, Co. B; mmt. out Sept. Lester 0. Chapman, Co. ; must. out Sept. Charles Cannot, Co. 6 ; died of disease at Coldwater, Mlrb., Stillmon Crandall, Co. I ; most. out Sept. 15, 180. Wm. A. Clark, Co. D; died of dismal. at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 29, Dic. Henry Crippen, Co. I ; must. out Herbert B. Davia Co. 0 ; died of disease, April 1, 1804, at Chattanooga, Tenn L a w Doughty, Co. It; moot. out Sept. William J. flyer, Co. C ; died,, by order, Sept. Melvin Dickinson, Co. C; diech. toy order, Sept. Francis Denies, Co. F; must. ont Sept, Andrew Demerest, Co. 0 ; most, out Sept. 15, 18415; diseh, to Dec. 7,1863. George W. Demurest, Co. 0 ; moot, out Sept. Henry J. Dares, Co. ; b y order, Fel. .•; WC' Lafayette Davie, On. H; meet. oat Sept. 15, i James D. M e a n t . , Co. C; most out Wllliune Elierbard, (Jo. CI; most, oat Sept. 15, i �66 H I S T O C II .1 1 " f I t R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . X I V. E L E V E N T H I N F A N T R Y. I Companies it, i f . and 1) principally from Brunch County—Where they were Raised. it t h e i r Fe51 Officers—Muster of the Regiment —It goes to Kentucky—Sent to Tennessee in May, 1862— Mountains after GuerrilIns—Back to Nash, ill—Sent to Ky., and Mounted—AfterJohn Morgan—On Foot Again—Back to Nashville—Building Fortifications—The Battle of Stone River Col. Stoughton's Report—The Regiment's Loss—On Daly vost-Guard—The Advance in Jane, 1863—Skirmish at Elk River Fight at MoLemore's Cove—The Battle of Chickamauga ferred to 14th Corps—The Victory of Mission Ridge—Pursuit of the Enemy—Reraca, etc.—The Georgia Campaign of 1864 etta, Peach-Tree Creek, and Atlanta—Chasing Wheeler out of the Old Regiment—New Organisation— I t goes nooga—Services in Tennessee—Its Return THE 11th Michigan Infantry Regiment was raised in the sutumer and autumn o f 1861. I t was composed o f men from Branch, Hillsdale, St. Joseph, and other southern counties o f the State, and had its rendezvous a t White Pigeon, i n St. Joseph County, where i t was organized under authority received b y Col. William J. May, its first commanding officer. T w o of its companies— B and H were made up almost entirely, and another— very largely, of men belonging to Branch County. Company B was recruited at Quincy by Captain Melvin Mudge, assisted by Francis M. Bissell (afterwards tain) and others. I t left that place on the 22d of August and reported at the rendezvous, where, on the 24th, mustered into the United States service, with full ranks, by Captain H. Tilden, U.S. A. I t s first officers vin Mudge, of Quincy, Captain; Jerome Bowen, of Butler, First Lient, omit ; Miles Warren, of Butler, tenant The noel, 4., ot Company H was formed at about the same time ; i t was moved thence to dezvous, and there filled by recruits arriving in Coldwater and other parts of the county. T h e of t h i s company were: Captain, John L . Ilackstaff, o f Coldwater; First Lieutenant, Samuel C. Mills, water; Second Lieutenant, Leonidas E. Mills, Company D was largely recruited in Bronson ity, and in the early days of the organization was frequently mentioned as " t h e Bronson Company." T h e following were its first officers: Captain, Benjamin G . Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co. ; F i r s t Lieutenant, John R. Keeler, of Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co. ; Second Lieutenant, Theodore P. Kesler, of Bronson, Branch Co. Afterwards, upon the promotion o f Capt. Bennett and the resignation of the two lieutenants, the three offices were all Branch County The several companies of' the regiment were mustered into the United States service at different dates, gust 24 to September 11,—tfieir term o f three years. T h e original field and staff officers regiment were as follows: Colonel, William J. tenant-Colonel, William L . Stoughton; Major, Benjamin F. Doughty; Surgeon, D r. William N . Surgeon, Nelson I . Packard; Chaplain, Holmes tison ; Adjutant, Samuel Chadwick; son T. •-----------Having received its armament (cutiming o f Belgian and o t h r muskets o f indifferent quality) the meet broke camp at White Pigeon on the 11th her, and about midnight took railway tratiaportatioa and proceeded to Louisville, Ky., where it was a:usurped far a short time in the southern suburbs of the city. place it was moved to Bardstown, Ky., ia which remained through the winter, suffering severely ness (measles and smallpox) among the men. l a the latter part o f March the regiment removed t o Belmont, K y, where it was engaged in guarding the railroad. W h i l e at th is place the men exchanged their inferior anon field rifles. O n the let o f April the resignation o f Col. May was accepted, and Lieut.-Col. Stoughton moted to the coloneley o f the regiment On or about the 3d of May the 11th moved by rail t o Louisville, and thence b y steamer on the Ohio berland Rivers to Nashville, Tenn., joining the command of Gen. Negley. T h e r e it remained on picket and ordinary camp duty for two o r three weeks, and was then moved rapidly to Columbia, Tenn., on account of a reported raid of the rebel Gen. John Morgan i n that direction. T h e command remained a t C'olutubia f o r some weeks, Capt. Mudge, of Company B , acting as provostmarshal o f the town during t h a t time. F r o m Columbia the regiment moved to Pulaski, and soon afterwards t o Murfreesboro', Tenn.; thence (under orders front Gen. Dumont eastward across the mountains t o the Sequatchie Valley in pursuit of' guerrillas; but as only a few scouts it soon moved back to Nashville, from which point dispatched b y railroad t o Gallatin, Tenn., being again i n pursuit of' the redoubtable John Morgan, with guard a slight skirmish was had on the 13th of August. Front this expedition the 11th moved t o Ky., and front there to Louisville. H e r e the mounted (though in a very indifferent manner), (as mounted infantry once more in chase of John Morgan, who was reported to be i n the vicinity o f Frankfurt, K y. The regitnent moved to that place, and also to Paris and Georgetown. but the rough riders of Morgan and the 11 t h returned t o Louisville, where i t mounted, and, resuming i t s infantry status, proceeded b y rail back to Nashville. T h e r e i t was joined t o the 29th Brigade, in the command of Gen. Negley ; the ments of the brigade being the 21st and 69th 19th Illinois. T h e lieutenant-colonel and major o f the regiment were then respectively Nathaniel B. Sylvester C. Smith ; promoted as such rice Stoughton, promoted, and Doughty, resigned (Aug. 18, 1862). (..ht the approach o f Gen. Buell's army from nessee River, on i t s way to Kentucky in pursuit o f the invading forces of Bear,. the 11th was moved out to Mittii•eesboro' to meet the column, and after t t . , , n t d , rt-2:11n, m o - c l i c . 1 I p i t , rear I n k t o Nzt,I there Company- B, under command of Second .Lieut F. M. Bissell (First Liont Bowen being at the time en the sick list and Cs; ordered t o etonumuce the erecutei o f a 4.1.c1,..nbive work in the southern suburb ci t i l e Aetna, A i l �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . movement niatle towards t h e fortification The work which was then commenced by and soon after completed under direction o f Capt. St. Clair Morton) was the one known as F o r t Negley, the principal one i n the chain of works which circled the city. At the opening o f the campaign o f Murfreesboro' by Gen. Rosecraus, the 11th moved with its brigade, Dec. 26, 1862, on the Murfreesboro' turnpike, reaching Nolansville the same night, and, during the succeeding four sing Stewart's Creek and Overalls Creek to the of Stone River, where the regiment was to receive tion to the wild work of battle. W h a t that work how the brave men of the 11th performed it, is well told in Col. Stoughton's official report o f that nieut, from which we extract as follows: " O n the morning of the 31st of December heavy firing was heard on our right and front, and apparently rapidly approaching t h e position occupied b y the 2 d Brigade. The regiment was immediately formed and marched to the brow of the hill near brigade headquarters. ing soon after indicated the approach of the enemy to the right of this position, and my regiment was formed in line of battle under cover of a ledge of rocks about dred yards in this direction. T h e skirmishing continued with touch spirit for nearly an hour, when a heavy roar of musketry and artillery announced that t h e principal attack of the enemy was being made on o u r left and rear. I immediately gave orders t o change front on pany, which was promptly executed under a heavy fire, and the regiment advanced in line o f battle to the crest of t h e h i l l from which Shultz's battery had driven, and poured a well-directed and effective the advancing columns of "The firing continued with spirit and energy came to retire. T h e fire o f the enemy was centrated upon this point, and was terrific. M e n cers fell on every side. T h e regiment fell back about eighty yards, was again formed, and then delivered its fire upon the euemy as he advanced over the hill, then retiring to the cover of the cedar woods i n our rear. confusion was a t first manifest. A large number ments had fallen back t o this place for shelter, and the enemy's infantry and artillery opened upon u s front all sides except from the left, towards the Murfreesboro' pike. Order, however, was promptly restored b y our division and brigade commanders, and m y regiment, with others, moved slowly to the rear, keeping up a steady fire enemy. W h e n nearer the cleared field to the right of the Murfreesboro' pike, the regiment was rallied, and ground for twenty or thirty minutes. I t was about half-way across the open field, when orders came to &urge bock into the Imam M y regiment my orders. rallied on the color,: arid A a r o n into with great gallantry, checking the enemy by and legollitooe Mask. .Mbee detivering owe imaglirsairsp, awl she issimat fell beck is geed the le* of the Murfreesboro' pike. H e r e closed the active pp.!nitigois of that day. hi the 2,1 of January we were lezain ealleil into setin 1 3 7 In the afternoon of that day we were posted, as in an open field in time rear of our batteries, on the the left wing of our army. Between three and the enemy made a heavy attack with artillery and infantry on o u r front. M y command was kept lying upon the ground, protected b y a slight hill, for about halt' an hour. At the expiration of this time the enemy had driven back our forces on the opposite side o f the river, one regiment crossing in great disorder and rushing through our rank, As soon as the enemy came within range, my regiment with the others of this brigade, rose up, delivered its fii +1Ik and charged across the river. I n passing the river in: of battle was necessarily broken, and I led the regiment forward t o a fence on a rise of ground and reformed the line Here the firing continued for some time until was driven from his cover and retreated through My regiment was then promptly advanced to the edge woods, and continued to fire upon the enemy as he fled i n disorder across the open field in front to his line ments. A t this time the ammunition was and my regiment, with the others in advance, formed in line of battle, threw out skirmishers, and held our position until recalled across the river. T h e 11th was among the first to cross Stone River, and assisted i n capturing four pieces of artillery, abandoned by the enemy in his flight. " I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of under my command. T h e y fought with the coolness of veterans, and obeyed my commands under the hottest fire with the precision of the The total loss of the regiment during those at Stone River was one hundred and eleven in wounded and twentyUpon t h e occupation o f Murfreesboro' b y the Union troops, after the battle of Stone River, Col. made provost-marshal o f the tbwil, and the mained there on duty as provost-guard until June 24, 1863, when i t moved forward with the army on to Tullahoma. I t then formed part o f the 2d Brigade, 2d Division o f the 14th Army Corps, under H. Thomas. O n the l i t of July it was engaged in and obstinate skirmish with the enemy at Elk River, Tenn., where i t suffered slight loss. A f t e r t h i s fight encamped a t Decherd, Tenn., until the general forward movement o f the army i n September, which resulted in the battle and defeat of Chickamauga. I n the regiment moved with Thomas' Corps to Bridgeport, Ala., crossed t h e Tennessee River, entered Georgia, moved up the Trenton Valley, and the mountains southeastwardly through Cove" to Davis' Cross-Roads, or Pigeon Gap, where engaged with the enemy, and assisted in covering treat of the divisions of Baird and Negley from Ga A few days later (Sept. 19 and 20, 1863) the 1 1 th active and prominent part in the disastrous fight mauga. I n that battle it was under command Col. Mudge, o f Quincy, Col. Stoughton being then i n coniniiind , , f dn. 1,1 t l n , 2,11 indd import:int 1,,,int in ci,, Ii, not 111,, 210, I �68 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H in t h e afternoon o f Sunday, Sept. 20, the hosts of the enemy, then fresh from the defeat and rout of the Union right wing under McCook, came exultingly on the troops o f the steadfast Thomas. T h e shock waveringly met and successfully repelled by the veterans of the 14th Corps. T h e 11 t h Michigan here fought with great gallantry and persistence, repelling charge of the enemy, losing eighty-three in killed and being one of the last regiments to retire from the lost field, " w h e n u t t e r darkness closed i t s wing" over the O s l a u g h t e r of the day. T h e following morning ton took a position commanding the gap to of Rossville, expecting each moment to hear the crash of rebel fusillades along his front. H e , however, held the position through the day and the succeeding night, until four o'clock on the morning of the 22d (the entire Union army having in the mean time retreated, leaving alone on the outpost), when, bearing sounds that the enemy was preparing to advance, he quietly cessfully withdrew his pickets and moved the command with all possible speed to Chattanooga, which was reached without the loss of a man. T h e successful movement of and the admirable conduct of the troops composing afterwards highly complimented by In t h e reorganization o f the army which followed the campaign of Chickamauga, the 11th became part o f the 2d Brigade of Gen. King's (1st) Division of the 14th Corps. I t remained with the other troops of the army, in Chattanooga u n t i l t h e 2 5 t h o f November, when i t marched in its place with the line that moved to of the frowning works o f the enemy on Mission Ridge. Far above the Union army—then commanded b y Gen. Grant—on those bristling heights were t h e forces of Gen. Bragg, their position, apparently pregnable by nature, being strengthened b y long lines o f intrenchtnents with numerous redoubts, which to defy every attempt which could be made b y the most desperate No military achievement equal to the conquest lines had been accomplished in America since the army of Wolfe surmounted the Heights of Abraham the legions of Monteith]) before the walls of Quebec. B u t Wolfe made his way to the top of the heights by means of a night surprise, while a t Mission Ridge the two armies were too large for that, and the Union forces out in broad day, with all the Confederate hosts spectators. Y e t when the order was given the long blue lines advanced steadily up the embattled climbing by means of bushes, and firing as they went enemy (who from his vantage ground sent thousands o f bullets throughout their devoted ranks), pressing on without a thought of retreat, and finally driving the foe in fusion from all his rifle-pits, intrenchinents, capturing thousands of prisoners and scores of seizing the key-position of Georgia and The 11th Michigan was one of the most active regiments in the great charge, and was one of the to reach the enemy's works. I t had thirty-One and wounded, including among the former its mander, Maj. C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . T h e 1 1 t h h a s t e n e d i s r u n i c o f t h e l y i n g foe, a n d a t Grayeiville i t c h a r g e d t h e i r r e a r , a i d i n g i n t h e c a p t o r * s f Ferguson's B a t t e r y, w i t h m i m e s a n d horses complete. I t w a s then stationed at Roseville, Grsysville, a n d v i c i s i t y until t h e 7 t h o f M a y , when i t mitered on G e o . Shermaa's Georgia campaign. I t was engaged a t R o m a , Ga., M a y 14, a n d a t N e w H o p e C h u r c h o a t h e 2 7 t h . I t the Late named place it remained eight days in an almost constantly under fire. A g a i u j o i e * the permit, it participated i n a successful c h a r g e o n t h e intrestelunenta near Marietta, having thirteen men killed At Peach-Tree Creek, on the 20th o f July, it killed and wounded, and at the battle in front of the 7th o f August, i t had fifteen men killed wounde The regiment's term of service having now expired, i t returned to Chattanooga, August 27, but three its arrival there, was ordered to join a column sent suit of the rebel Gen. Wheeler, who was then raiding HI Tennessee. O n this service it marched to and thence to Huntsville, Ala., but finding no enemy, turned to Chattanooga, September 13, and our the 18th started for Michigan, leaving behind one hundred two veterans and recruits with unexpired terms. mustered out at Sturgis on the 13th of September, 1864. ELEVENTH I N FA N T RY REORGANIZED. I t was determined, however, not t o lose t h e name and prestige o f a regiment which had won such renown, and even before its muster out, orders Were issued by ernor for its reorganization. T h i s Was not until the 18th o f March, 1865, when t h e new concentrated a t Jackson. T h e new regiment contained more than one hundred members from Branch County. About the 1st of April i t proceeded to it was joined by the veterans and others who had been left behind on the return o f the old regiment. B y the fighting i n the West was over, but the retained in Tennessee until the middle of engaged i n guarding railroads, etc., in the eastern part of that State. I t was paid o f f and disbanded a t Jackson. Mich., on the 23d of September, 1865. MEMBERS O F E L E V E N T H I N FA N T R Y (OLD ORGANLEATIONI THOR BRANCH COUNTY. Milli,, Hodge, Qninry, mgt., Co. B; eel. Aug. 24, 1561 ; J a e . nine. out at end of service, Sept. Charlert Moose, Bronson, (*pt., Co. ; A u g . 24, 11361; sea. Feb. 14, appointed Feb. 14,1506; reit Nov. John L. Hacketaff, Coldwater, mgt., Co. H; eol. Log. 24,1810; res. Mardi J01.01238 Bowen, Qniticy, 1st Herb, Co. B; eta. Aug. SA l b e ; rum. Bow. V6, M I L Barn eel (7.11111u W.6410,101C0 heat, Ov. ; eaL J5g.111, WW1; a f t SwaSOVIIE Mary Worron, Quincy, Id Ilent., On. ; eel. A n . 14,5666; Wu M A IOWA. Thee. P. Kesler, Aronson. Id Irma, (Is. H; I . k e g I a s ; 5 6 S P i k K U M Leonidas E. In Ills, Coldwater, Sd Hoot., H ; not. Aug. SI, 1861 ; nu. Fran, N I . t , h o n , ' l e n t B F k , . 19, 1862, 1Nt ! 26, 1662; , J . . 7 , Ito::: t13.4-11 for otatablItty, Jnnr 1 6 6 4 Untie T. StillIre, 0, . . l n t . „ I n t n . 4 , IN61.!,I,,I,ent.. Jon. I, 1/111:;: Ang 1 4 1 ; ! , 0111,1. ,.nt at end f o r, ice. Edward 1 2 , 1 8 6 2 : let Dent.. r In, ••31.1 , Jan. I . t , 1n64 t b , .1 of A u g 7, I0t4. D M / A 9.6J I H . , . I het., p ; en1 J611.5,1864, moot.,,,, p t T e l . cie/11111, I . 1 . 1 bent., Co. I I , en] N o t ...Hi. 1,6-Z; 1,1,, 1•11,1 ..litti I I . 1.4,4, 0i001 on, nt end of ' , v i e « , S.'•pt, Jernes C.Cn.lon In, I n t 11001.1', it; not A . . & 71, 1963; moot. nnt at vesd s o o t . 1 8 6 4 . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H • o Henry C. Adasta,Cold water, 21.1 lieut.; mil. Merch 1,1885; must. out 8.1,1.16, 65. I r v i n S. Goshen., Quincy, 2d limn.; out June 1, 1865; must. ant Freak I L /miss RIMM/14 capt ; e s t Jan. 7, 1863; dismissed July Herman G. Adams Co. B; dicta, by order to Vet. I t . . Corp., Aug. Jesse Bekker, Gs. 3 ; t r a m to 16th Mich. Inf., Sept. Augustus Baglenta, Co. It; Bach. to enlist In ' n o i s e service, Nov. Henry G. Bantati, Ott B ; disch. fur disability, June 4, I k e . Levi thole', Ca. 1 ; Mach. for disability, July 1.1802. Oliver Bailey, Go. B; died in action at Stone River, Nathaniel N. Bomb, Cu. B; died of disease at Bardstuvrn, Ky., Feb. Marcia. J. Bilf/•11, Co. B; deal of dismiss at Bardstown, Ky., Jerry M. Burleson, Cu. B; hoot.. Cl expiratiou of nervier, Joseph A. Bowen, Co. B; disch. by order, May 31,1865. Caro A. B018011, Co. B; Mach, at expiration of eervice, Andrew Cleat, Co. B; died of Risme et Belmont Furnace, Ky., April Thomas Clark, Co. B; disch, for disebility, Sept. Christopher Cooly, Co. B; disch, for disability, Oct. Wm. H. Cummings; died of wounds at Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. William Clemens Co. B; trans. to Vet. Bee. Corp., George W. Catlin, Co. B; trans,. to 16th Mich. Inf., Sept. John F. Cole, Co. 11; disch. at expiration of service, Lyniaii L. Cole, C0. B ; disci). at expiration of service, Sept. J a m . B. Daggett, i.O. B ; trouts to l a b Mich. Inf., Sept. Eugene 1 ' 0 . B disch. for disability, Nov. Henry S. Dunks, Co. B; discli. at expiration of service, Melvin T. Edmonds, Co. B; disch. at expiration of urvire, Sept. William I t E n o s . , Co. B; disch, for disability. April S. Minting, Cu. B; disch. for disability, May Samuel Hedge, Co. B ; died of dismuie Cl N u h v i l le, Te n . , Edwin J. Hull, Co. B; disch. for minority, Sept. Andrew J. Hamm, Co. B; disch. for minority, Sept. Daniel K a y o . , Co. B; dint Jon. 2,1803, of wounds received at Stone River. William W. Johnson, Co. B; died Dec. Treacie Jerome, Co. B; disch, for disability, William Ken.; died of disease, at Murfreesboro', Tenn., Adelbert R. Lockwood, Co. it; ditch. for disability, June 4,1802. John McGinnis, Co. B; disch. for diubility. Lein McGinnis, Co. B; died at Murfre.bviro., Feb.4, 1863, of wounds. Edward C. McDonald, Co. 13; Mech. for disability, 001. Halsey Miller, Co. B; disch. at expinttion of service, Sept. 30,1464. Trod. Mal tman, Co. B; disch. at expiratiou of service, Sept. Orrin P. Nichols Co. B; died in action at Slone River, Dec. Derry Ni.: hole, Co. B; disch. at expiration of service, Sept Moo D. Noes, Co. B ; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. Joseph W. P e r k i n , Co. 11; died ot disease at Bardatown, Ky., Charles V. Pstters in, Co. 13; d eil at Kingston, Ga., of wounds, Aug. James Fierce, Co. 11; shed of doeue at Naehrille, Tenn., Dec. Halsey E. Philips, co. B ; disci,. Cr dimbility. Ligden B Philips., Co. /3; discb. at expiration of service, Nene° Philips Co B ; ditch. at expiration of servim, Dec. 9,1864. Thomas C. Pops., Co. II; Mach. for disability, Dee. Idwaral F o y e r, Co. B; diech. for dieability, March 9,1883. Edwie Payees Co. B; dada, at expiration of service, Aaron J. Tiereatias, Co. B; d i n * , at expiration of eervIce, Sept. Charles A. Rees', B ; alkali. at expiration of ureic., Sept. George N. R. Runyon, Co. D; diech. at expiration of service, 8e1't. William I. Rogers, Co. D; trans. to V. 1 . 1 . . Corp.. Ansel Ricb, Co. B; takes prisoner at Chickamauga; died at Anderson Ross, Some., Co. 11; Mech. ler disability, David Sidley, C.,. II; dim& for dimbility, July 1,1862. George Slayton, Co. B; Enoch. to collet In regular service, Nov. Pete, I... Schwartz, CO. B; disch. t,,00list in regular senice, George Schwastx, Co. ; brick. at expiration of service, Sept. Martin Schwartz, Co. II; died at Litchfield, Mich , Feb. 5,1864. Jena.% Sweeney, Co. B ; disch. at expiration of send a., Melvin Sheer, Co. 11 d i s c i ) at expiration of service, Sept. John G. Scripture, Co. B; diseb. at expiration of service, Sold. : Joeeph T. Tiadall,Co. B; 6 , r &nobility. Oct. William IL ' N a d a , Co. B; died at Murfreesboro' of wounds. George W. Taylor, Co. 1 ; Iran.. to Vet. Jonathan S. Tindall, Co. B; Mech. at expiration of service, George Tenths Co. B; it soh. at m i n i o n n of service. Sept George Cpton, Co. D; died et disuse at Nashville, Tenn., May 03,1862. Geo. W. Vim Valltenbent, Co. ; died at Annapolis, 3Id., Feb. Jame. M. Van Camp, Co. H ; /II...h. by order, Jaf11. Tracy Vaughn; t r u e t o 10th B cle. inf., Atelier Williams, Co. B ; died of Mosso at Bardstown. By., March John C. Weller, Co. 11; discb. for Renbility, John Welds, Co. B; db.ehm. for iliaability, April Wanitagke Whitney, Co. B; disch. by order. May W M = A . Wbooko, Co. B; wee In togas of Stone River; trans. to Osspe ; /Deb. Andrew Beer, Co. C; dish. 4.1. disability, Der. Ilstdard F. Dolroos. 0o. D; Mech. for disability, Jame ' B o o r , Dorkore, Co. D. Av i d H. Doolorsio, D ; &sett. at expiration of Berries Weasel A. Clark, Co. It; tied of Morose, April 1.1800. COUNTY, M I C H IG 6 Jeeee .1. Chi let), J01111 W. Coe, Co I George t Henry C. Cady, Cu. C; Jeldel Driggs, Co. D; dis.l.. I . 3 ; . , ; t , , 11,,, I I A. M. Duenberry, Co. D; diod of disoime, Fob James Ensign, Co. A ; miming tu 1lCI.i011 at Chickamauga, Sept. Wiliam II, Zdwards, Co. D; Mach. for disability, Aug. George W. GriMu, Co. D; ditch, for disability, March Ateion T. Gilbert, Co. D; diach. at expiraliou of service, Sept. Johti George, Co. D; ditch. at expiration of service, Sept. John A. Gary, Co. C; died of wointele at Atlanta, Cu., Aug. 7,1864. John Milligan, Co. D; died of disease, Richerd M. Hines, Co. D; died of discos°, Jon. John Henderson, Co. 6); disci, for disability. June Daniel W. Holbrook, Co. A; d i a l , for disability, Harry N. Hunillton, CO. D; disch, for disablity, Charles Hamilton, (SO. I); trans. to Vet. Res. Corp., William L . M a l e , Co. D; died i n action at Davis' Cross-Ronde, Ga., Sept. I t , 186 Charles D. Horner, Co. D; ditch. at expiration of service, Sept. Wellington Hendenion, Co. D; disci, at expiration of service, Sept. 38,1864. Henry E. Halirower, Cu. D; disch. at expinition of service, Jacob E. Kenbarger, Co. 6); disch. by order, May 29,1865. Win. I I . T. Kellum, Co. D; d u b . at expiration of service, Sept. : Melvin J. Lyon, Co. D; d I d , . at expiration of service, Sept. Samuel W. Loring, Co. D; lied,, ai expiration of service, Sept. Charles W. Leigh, Co. A ; b y order. Gordon Lynch, Co. C; disch, for minority, Thum.. McLaughlin, Co. D; ditch,, for disability, Jerome 31.11inian, Co. B ; disch, for dimbility. William It. Melville, Co. C; trims. to Vet. Res. Corpa, II,, noon Otto, Co. D ; di ch, at expiration of service, 8 pt. Ileury Patten, Co. C; disch. at expiration of survice„Sept. John W. Purdy, Co. D; disch. at expiration of service, Charles E. Purdy, Co. D; disch lit expiration of miry's*, Sept. Jacob Peeler, Co. I); traits. to Vet. Res. Cirps, Dec. John W. Quayle, Co. D; dime),. 01 expinition of service, Sept. Clarkson Robinson, Co. D; disci,, for disability, Oct. George L. Smith, Co. D; dIscli, for disability, Stephen Shippy, Co. D; died of disease, Feb. 8.1062. Daniel A. Shippy, Co. D; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. David R. Smith, C 11 ; disch, at expiration of service, Sept. Homer C. Smith, Co. D; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. Joseph Tubb*, Co. D; disch. for disability, William Tice, Co. D; ditch, for diaability, Charles A. Wilber, Co. 6); disci]. at expinition of service, Sept. Wallace Wilber, Co. D; died),. .2 expiration of service, Sept. Ephraim Worden, Co. D; disch. at expiration of service, Sept. John H. Alsdorf, Co. ; a t expiration of service, Sept. : Mathew Adams, Co. H; disch, nt oxpiration of service, Sept. Solomon B. Alsiorf, Co. H; discli, at expiration of service, Sept. William Black, Co. H ; died of dieetwe, Feb. Franklin Bennett, Co. H; dled of disease at Nashville, Tenn.. Iv ' 2 " George Blair, Co. H ; Mech. for disability, Key liaisons Burton, Co. H; disch, by civil authority, Sept. William Burroughs Co. ; discb, for disability, William Brown, Co. H ; disci) at expiration of service, Sept. Alfred CI. Brown, Co. I I ; diech. at expiration of service, Sept. John Bennett, Co. H; disci., at expiration of service, Sept. Stephen Burleson, Co. 51; disch, at expiration of eervir, Cluster Bides, Co. H; tllnel,, at expiration of eerriro, , Alphonse Bush, Co. H; disch. at expiration W111181M Chamterlain, Co. H ; died in action at Stone M i e r, Icon., Di 0.31, 186 George W. Carleton, Co. H ; died of dismiss Ploy Henry Crull, Co. I I ; died of disease, Hiram Cusick, Co, H ; died of disease at Neaten's Tenn., Aug. I A tell]: Corwin, Cu. ; ditch. for disability, Jull6 11, , • ,.1, , 0 , 0 , 0..r .11...1.000 1 A ; . 11 . thiamin Derry, Co. ; Mich. at 1,1.1rotion s o r e lcir, Sept. Seth Ir. Dusenberry, ; finch a t iiv pion ion of seri ico, Sista. Benj. Eastman, Co. II , l i m a Ail...in, (,,.,,.f wounds, Ansi. 7,1004. John c o . I I ; t r i enl. In r o g i d a r . m mlee, Deo. o William W. Foil, co, I I ; P I P . disability, Jan. Edwin S F m l i k lin, Co I I , died) at o u r ration of *retire, Sew. neutae Franklin. Co. I I , bitch. by " I l i , . Walter M. Gre.14, CO I I , Mod neer Silents, , w o u n d s , Aug. William I I Gould, Co I I , died of illsoisso, James II. oriMil, I',, I I ; .1,41 m o s s o , Jan. '818868.1 B firmelo, Co. I I ; diwi In 0,1100 at Stone River, Deo. �t H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. George NV 6 . 1 , 4 C o H ; d i e d i n s e t I o n e t S t o n e R i v e r , D e c . 6 , 1 0 4 1 3 . N e e r ) C . 1401 (2 O P. I m u s t . o u t Sept. I t , 1065. E d e . 1 . 4 ; 1 ' 1 , 11 , C r I i , rho, l, a t , , , p , r a l l u n o f s49-v ( . 9 . Cliar1uo b a y . , Ge. age S. G r i f f i n C . . I I , dis4 h. a t 4 , 1 4 l i a t i o n o f .4.4.14,, S e p t . charles P t u u s t e u t A u g . 29, 1865. E g g ' eston, C o . I I ; m o o t . 0(01 Sept. 16, 1865. John G r e e n , c o i f , 41944.44 1.40 49s:dello , Sept. I I . , i set 0411110111 11 F i a t , 4,, 4'u S t i l l m a n H e d g e , Co I I , 4114•.1 rlirkerfair, 01 .4411,) ; . I i . , 241 .1441.4.141i 1:0,111144, I t , ELIWIll B i g g i n s , Co. I I ; 1 t a w is 6 i . . 1 4 . L . , ' ' A , f o r d i s a b i l i t y. ; m u s t . out M a y 18,18641.. d i e d o f M a o . . . a t C h a t t a n o o g a , Te n t , , A p r i l mind. o u t Sept. 10,10411. S o l o m o n H a y n e s , Co. I I ; d i t c h . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, N o v 9 , 1863. 414.1144s i;r00144444, (.A. F ; d i e d oof 111•11•416 a t N e s l i v i l l e , Te n n , A p r i l 12, 1880 A l b e r t H e w . , Co. I I ; d i s c h . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f v e r v I c e , Sept. 30, 1864. 114•4444.44, Cutithr4.414,4'.4. ; w i l m t o u t P4. pt. 14, l e a ' , J a m . M . B a r r i e , Co. H ; M a c h . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f s e r v i c e , Sept. 30, 1861. 3.,1,1, A G r e g g , Co. 10; m u s t . . u t S e p t . 16, 1665 A l b e r t E . K a m p e n , Co. H ; d i e d 4 disease a t L o u i s v i l l e , K y . , M a y 16,10412. A u g u s t . , G o r h a m , IA.. 1 ; motet. w i t S e p t . 16, 1666. E i l w i d d S. K i t a p i w n , Co. I t i l l s c h . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f s e r v i c e , Sept. 30, 1864. S h e r e b i 1:11I H a ) e a r t , Co J o h n K e s l e r , Co. H ; d i s c h , t o m i l . i n r e g u l a r s e r v i c e , Dee. 8 , 1862. N o r m . . , Y. 11. o r y, 4 , I t ; d i e d o f d i m e s . . a t C b a t t a n u n g a , M a y 1 , 1 8 6 3 A n t h o n y L e v e r s . , Co. I I ; d i e d o f 41 s e m e a t B a r d s t o w n , K y . , F e b . 10,10412. A o r l o n ) K . 111.4..1.1% I kr 1{ , /111161 t n I t 0 . 5 0 . 141. 1865. r d , ; d i e d o f M e m o . a t Jeckeun, M i c h . , M a , 2 4 , 1886 M a r v i n 51alleson, Co. H ; 411041 o f disease a t N o s h . i l l e , Te n n . , Sept. E l m , E. I l a y M e n d , Co. I I ; M e d a t C h a t t a n o o g a , Te e n . , o f w o u n d s , J a n . 2 7 , 1 8 6 4 . ./44144i S. 11014,1.11. I r . , d i e d o l d l o u , v. t . 8.1 21611111r411tl, To011., A p r i l 4, 1865. H e b e r t M a c h i n , Co. I I ; d u d a t C h a t t a n o o g a , Te n n . , o f w o u n d s . L i a o '1 A l l o u g l i t a l i n g . c o B . m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1 W e 1 ' n14101. .018411't. 16, 1665. W u , . H a r r i e t , 51ielg44, Ce. I I ; d i e d , f o r d i s a b i l i t y, A u g . 24, 1862. 111 . 1 0 , I d , H a d l e y, Co. F ; m o a t . o u t S e p t 16. 1865. J a m e s M a r t i n , Co. I I ; d i • c h . a t e x p i r e d ' o n 4.1. s e r v i c e Sept. 341, 1864. J a n i e . H a r r i n g t o n , Cu. I I ; m o s t . o u t Sept. 1 6 , 1 8 4 6 . New 1011 M i t c h e l l , Co. I I ; d i s c i . . a l e x p i r a t i o n o f s e r v i c e , Sept. 30, 1864. A I . . . f l o w ° , Co. I ; m u s t . o u t George S. l I c K Li i g h t , Co. 11 ; George D . H a r d i n g , Co. I ; m o o t . o a t Sept. 1 6 , 111 9 . Mimi, C ' 4 4 . 1 . 1 e x p i r a t i o u o f service, Sept. I I ; rlidell. a t ex p i r i t t i o n o f g e r vice, Sept. 311,1864. James W . B u r n s , Co. ; m a a . o u t S e p t 11, 1188. J o h n E . N i c h o l s , Co. I I 11 0 , 1 , f o r d i s a b i l i t y, A u g . 9, 1862. H a r l o w I I . H o l c o m b , Cu. K ; m u s t . o u t J u l y W a r r e n I I . N e w b u r g , Co. I I ; M e l t o r d i s e a s e a t N a s h v i l l e , T e n o , J u n e Ft, 1861. Jtso-plt J e n k i n s , Co. 1 ; d i e d o f d l , 0 0 0 6 2 N a e h v i l l e , Va s a . , J a s . 6 , 1 5 8 6 . P o r t o . , Co. I I ; 1111,11. 011.01.) r e b u t 4.4f 81.1,1.1, 601.1. 3)), 1864. Jared, E . K..stbarger, Co. D ; disch. b y o r d e r, J u n e SD, 1866. S a m u e l P h e l ( s , Co. 11; d i s c ) ) . f 4 4 l i e m b i l i t y, D i n e 23, 1 6 / 2 . D a n i e l K e e l e r, Cu. B ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 10, 1885. W i l l i a m I ' . R e y n o l d s , Co. I I ; d i s c i , a t e x p i n t t i o n o f s e r v i c e , M a y 3, 1865. N o r r i s K e l l e n , Co. F ; m u s t . o u t S e p t . 10, 1865. L o r e n z o D . R e y n o l d s , Co. I I ; 2 84'11. f o r d i s a b i l i t y, M u r a l . 14, 156.1. B e n j . P. I . y o n s , Co. 11 ; m o s t o u t Sept. 16, 186:.. l i v i n g A . S h e l d o n , Co. H ; d i e d o f 4118C00e 1 M e r f r e e o l i o r o ' , Te n n . , J a n . 18,1863. J o e l L o o m i s , 1'44. I I ; m a s t . o u t Sept. 1 0 , 1 8 6 2 . F r a n k l i n S t e a r n s , Co. ; d i e d i d 4 11 . . . e , M I M I / E b e r 1.9onlis, Co. B ; m u s t . o u t S e p t 16,18041. E d w i n H . S a a b u r y, Co. 11 ; d i s c h . f o r i l i m b i l i t y, J u l y 7 , 1664. C h a r l e s L e w i s , Co. 11; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 186:, A n t h o n y S t e v e n s o n , Co. I t ; d i e d o f disease a t B a r d s t o w n , K y . , F o b . 1 0 , 1 8 0 2 . C111111.'6 11. L i n d s l e y, f'44. I ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, A b r a m S t o w e l l , Co. H ; t r a n s . t o A n d r e w . ' B a t t e r y. J o h n E . M i l l s , Co. B , m u s t . o u t S e p t . 16,1866. A b r a m E . S t o w e l l , Co. H ; t r a m . t o B a t t . F, 1 s t L t . A r t . , Oct. 2 0 , 1 8 6 1 . L e s t e r M i l l e r , Ce. I t ; m u s t . . . t a t S e p t . 16, 1866. G r o v e I I . T y l e r , Co. H ; d i e d o f disease, M a r c h 10, 1862. Joseph L B i l i i g a n , C h a r l e s 0 . T w i s t , Co. H ; d i s c h . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, J u n e 28, 1861. W a l t e r M a r s h a l l , l'rk I I ; /411101 rs111 S p t . 16, 1865. ; m o s t . o u t Sept. 18, 1865. Alamo A . T i f f t , Co. H ; d i s c i . . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, N o v. 2 1 , 1 4 6 . ! . Z e n o , N i b ' s , Ce. 11; d i e d i d ilisense 1,1 S t a s l o i l l e , T e a l , , A p r i l 6, 1665. A n d r e w M . T u r n e r , Co. I t ; d i s c i . . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f s e r v i c e , Sept. 1 0 , 1 8 6 4 . G i l b e r t S. N o r t o n , Co. I ; m u d . o u t S e p t . 25, 1865. E d w a r d A . T u r n e r , Co. I I ; d i s c h . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f e e r v i c e , S e p t . 30, 1664. ' L a i r d . G. T r i m , Co. H ; d i s c h . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f s e r v i c e , S e p t 30, 1864. W m . H . N o r t h a m , Co. 1 ; u m s t o u t G o t . 1 4 , 1 8 6 5 . B y r o n R o o t l i k e , Co. ; m u s t o n t S e p t . 16, 1865. J o s e p h T u r n e r , Co. H ; d i e d o f disease a t W h i t e P i g e o n , D e c . 7, 1861. 111r8m R u O i n e , Cu. 1 ; M i x t . o u t Sept. 3 0 , 106%. H a r v e y Va n d e r h o f f , Co. H ; d i e d a t M u r f r e e s b o r o ' , Te n n . , F e b . 4, 1863, o f Willa. l l o r o r o J . R o h l . . . , Co. I ; H a r v e y E . W a r r e n , Co. I t ; d i e d o f disease a t I t a r d e t o w n , K y . , F e b . 2 , 1 8 6 2 , 1:111111011,1 B e n d e l ] , Co. C ; d i e d r. f alkeinie a t N a e l i v i l l e , Te n n . , B e y 311, 1865 W a r r e n W i l c o x , Cu. H ; d i e d o f disease a t B a r d s t o w n , K y . , J a n . 1 5 , 1 8 6 1 . W m . L . W h e e l e r , Co. 11 ; d i e d o f disease a t W h i t e P i g e o n , M i c h . , N o v. 9, 1861. A a r o n 0 . W o o d , Co. H ; d i s c h . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, ? d a y 25, 1862. T e n n Charles I I . Robinson, C,. B ; m o s t . S e p t 1 , , 1..65 S o l o m o n W . I t u b i n e o n , Co. B ; u o n e . o u t Sept 1 , 1 0 1 3 . L u c i e n E . R o w e , Co. I t ; m u g . o u t S e p t . 16, 1615. J0111)8011 W i l l s o n , Co. I t ; d i s c i . . f o r d l e a b i l i t y, O c t . 2 1 , 1 8 6 2 . Orlando H. Riehardson, S t e p h e n V . W a r r e n , Co. I I ; t r a n s . t o Ve t . Res. C o r p . . S e p t . 1 , 1863. M a y 11 , 8 8 6 3 . A b o r t R i c h m o n d , Co. C ; m o s t . o u t Sept. 1 6 , 1 8 6 5 . S a m u e l E . W a r r e n , Co. H ; M e c h . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, J a n e 29, 1862. C h a r l e s W i l s o n , Co. I I ; d i t c h . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f c o r n i c e , S e p t . 3 0 , 1864. , J e r o m e R a l p h , Co. B m u s t . o u t Sept. 11 . 1815. C h a r l e s W h i t e h e a d , C u . H ; M e c h . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, J u n e 2 4 , 1 8 6 2 . C h a r l e s W e b b , Co. I I ; d I s c h . a t e x p i r a t i o n o f s e r v i c e , S e p t . 30, 1864. . B ; 1114-k1 o f disease a t C h a t t a n o o g a , n a y 1 , 8 8 6 3 . W i l l i a m A . S w e e t l a n d , l ' o . I t n i n e * . o t i t S e p t . 16,184,31. J o h n H . S t o c k w e l l , Co. I I ; n o o n . o u t Sept. D a v i d A . S t e e l , Co. 13, t n i i n t . . . u t S e p t . 16,111401. G e o r g e W . S e x t o n , Co. 11; m u s t . o u t S e p t . lel, 1865. MEMBERS O F T I I E E L E V E N T H I N F A N T R Y ( N E W O R G A N I Z AT I O N ) F R O M B R A N C H C O U N T Y. Jetties N . S o r t e r, A d a m E . A k e t t h e a d , Co. B ; m o o t . e a t S e p t . 1 6 , 1 6 6 5 . G l i n t A . B i g l e r , Co. A ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 1 6 , 1865. I t ; m e e t . o a t S e p t . 16, 1865. A n d r e w S o r t e r, Co. B ; m u s t . o u t S e p t . 16, 1865. S a m u e l A . A r n o l d , Co. A ; d i e d o f disease a t C h a t t a n o o g a , Te e m . , M a r c h 2 4 , 1 8 6 5 . S h i M e r , Co. I t ; m u s t . o u t S e p t . 16, 1865. C h a r l e s S t u a r t . C o . C ; m o o t . o u t J u l y 12, 1865. W i l l i e ° , S t m d l e y, Co. C ; m u s t . e a t S e p t . 1.644 1866, L a u r e n b e r g B . B r o w n , Co. B ; m u s t o n t Sept. 1 6 , 1 8 6 5 . A n d r e w S i t t e n s , Co. C ; m u s t o a t S e p t . 16, 1865, D a v i d H . B r e n n a n , C u . B ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1865. J o s e p h H . S h i p p y, Co. C ; U n l i t o u t S e p t 3(1, 1601. J o h n B a b b , Co. B ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16,1865. Joseph A . B o w e n , Co. B ; m u s t . o u t M a y 26, 1865. G e o r g e W . B u r d i c k , Co. B ; m o o t . o u t Sept. ;SO, 1865, L a f a y e t t e B a r t o n , Co. B ; m e e t . o u t Sept. 3n, 1865. J o h n S m i t h , Co. E ; 1111113I. 0111 S e p t . I t , 1865. G e o r g e E . S ) , e r m a n , Co. 1 ; m u s t . o u t S e p t . 1 6 1865. J o h n G . S k i n n e r , Co. 1 ; m o o t . o u t S e p t . * 6 , 1 8 6 3 . Zebedee Saran, Co. I ; m a s t . o u t Sept. 86, 1086. O b a d i a h B l a u , Co. F ; d i e d o f d i m e . a t N e a h v i l l e , Te n n . , A p r i l 1 , 2 8 6 5 . G e o r g e T u r p i n , C o . ! ; m u s t . o a t Sept. 1 6 , 1 8 6 9 . H e n r y E . B u r n s i d e , Co. F ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 14, 1865, M a r t i n Va n d e r h o f f , Co. B ; m a s t o a t Sept. 16, 1666. Joseph B . B a d g e r, Co. F ; m u s t , o u t l l a y 11 , 1865. A l v a h J. Beiote, C o . ! ; m o o t o u t Sept. 14,1865. I s r a e l L . B u l l o c k , Co. 1 ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1865. K i l l i o n . Vo o r h e e s , Co. B ; nnuet. o a t Sept. 16, 1866. Jacob A . Va n o r y s , Co. U ; m a s t . o u t S e p t 16. I S M . A b r a h a m Ve r t e n n a n , Co. ; m a s t . v e t P P S . 141,1616. E d w i n B u n d y , C o . ! ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1865. B e n j . F. B a r b e r, Co. 1 ; m o s t . m e t Sept. 16, 1865 H e r m a n C r a w f o r d , Co. I I ; d i e d o f disease a t C h a t t a n o o g a , Te n n , A p r i l 17, 1815. F r e d . B . C u t l e r, Co, B ; d i e d o f disease a t J a c k s o n , M l r h . , M a y 24, 1e65. A u g u s t o . F. C l a r k , Co. B ; m u s t . o u t Sept. C h a r l e s N . C a r p e n t e r, Cu, A ; m o o t . o u t S e p t I t , 1865. F r a n k C o c k l e y, Co. ; It II 11 It m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1865. J o n e s C. C h e n e y, Co. F ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1865. W i l l i a m L . C r a f t , Co. I ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1866. 4 J a m e s A . C o r e y, Co. 1 ; m u s t . o u t Sept. 16, 1865. O b a d i a h D a v i s , Co. F ; d i e d o f M a m e . a t O n c l n i t a t i 3 O b i o , J u l y 8 , 1865. M a n l y D n n h a m , Co. B ; m u s t . o u t S e p t 1 6 , 8 0 6 5 . H a r v e y D u b o i s , Co. B ; m u s t o u t Sept. 16, 1965, M i c h a e l D u n n , Co. D ; m u s t . o a t Sept. 16,1866, A �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, C H A P T E R X V. FIFTEENTH. SIXTEENTH, A N D I N FA N T RY. SEVENTEENTH A S e a • t e r i n ; Representation — F r o m P a r a i l e - G r o u n d t o B a t t l e - F i e l d — T h e F i f t e e n t h a t P i t t s b u r g L a n d i n g — B a t t l e o f C o r i n t h —Siege and C a p t u r e o f Vi e k s l i u r c . — Vi c t o r i o n s i n Georgia— T h e M a r c h t o the Sea— T h r o u g h t h e ' ' c " t . l - c , . . 1 t o Arkansas— B r o u g h t Home and Disbanded — d i e t of i t h c e r s and Soliliers—A gation i n t h e 1 6 t h — T h a t R e g i m e n t i n t h e ..ziiven D a y s ' F i g h t H e a v y Loss at G a i n e s M i l l — S e c o n d B a t t l e of B u l l R u n — A n t i e t a m , Fredericksburg, a n d C h a n c e l l o r s v i l l e - - I I o t l y E n g a g e d burg- - S h a r p F i g h t i n t h e Wilderness—Subsequent Conflicts Storming t h e Wo r k s a t P o p l a r Grove Church—llatcher's R u n The F i n a l Struggles— T h e M u s t e r Out— L i s t o f Members— B r a n c h County i n t h e 17th I n f a n t r y — To the F r o n t in A u g u s t , 1852— H a r d Fighting a t South M o u n t a i n a n d A n t i e t a m — T h e Fredericksburg Campaign— F r o m V i r g i n i a to Mississippi— T h e n t o E a s t Tennessee — F i g h t a t T u r k e y C r e e k i n N o v e m b e r, 1663—Defense ville—Once m o r e t o t h e E a s t — T h e Wilderness, Spottsylvania, etc. — H e a v y Loss—Siege o f Petersburg— F i n a l Movements and R e t u r n Hume. THE 15th Infantry, raised under Col. J . M. Oliver at Monroe, left that place for the front on the 27th day 1862. T h e Branch County soldiers who served in during the war, numbered nineteen in Company A, two in Company B, two i n C, one in E , one in F, two i n G, ten in H , two in I , and fifteen in K , —making fiftyscattered among all the ten companies of The 15th was transferred almost instantaneously from the peaceful parade-ground at Monroe to the storm at Pittsburg Landing. I t arrived the evening of the 5th of April, 1862. T h e 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 The regiment served through the siege of was on duty in the vicinity until that place was attacked by the rebel generals, Price and Van Dorn, on the 2d o f October, 1862. I t was then on outpost duty, ten miles northwest of Corinth, and was assailed by rebel force. I t fell back, contesting the ground inch b y inch, and, with some other regiments, held the enemy in check during the whole o f that day, giving ample time for Gen. Rosecrans to prepare for the next day's which he won a complete victory over the rebel army. The casualties of the 15th were thirteen killed, thirty-two wounded, and The regiment served in Northern Mississippi 1863, when i t was ordered t o Vicksburg. H a v i n g been assigned to the 9th Corp, i t took part in the siege city, sharing the hardships and dangers, which were at length rewarded by the surrender of the place with the grand army o f Gen Pemberton) on memorable Fourth of July, 1863. T h e 15th Central Mississippi during the summer, and in sent, with the 5th Corp, to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland. I t was detained in Northern Alabama until February, 1864, when a portion of the men rethe regiment was sent home on veteran to take part in Gen. Sherman's Gcoq.cia campaign in May. After unnumbered wearisome marchee and ishes. the 15th found itself in the 5th Corps, in front of 7 the enemy, near Decatur, Ga. T h e rebels drove back the 17th Corps, which was on the left of the 5th. T h e 15th Michigan was ordered t o take possession o f position some distance from the line of it corps. O n the regiments arriving near the point indicated, it was found to be in possession of the enemy. T h e men of Michigan did not hesitate, but moved gallantly forward, and, after a brief but sharp conflict, captured t h e position rebel officers, one hundred and sixty-seven men, and three stands of colors. T h e loss of the 15th was only four killed and six On the 28th o f 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 o f August, when the enemy attacked t h e fortified camp of the 15th and was most After the surrender o f Atlanta, the regiment went to Northern Alabama, to operate against the rebel Gen. Hood, but returned in time to " march to the sea" I t also marched through the Carolinas with went from Washington t o Little Rock, Ark., in July, 1865; returned to Detroit i n August, and charged on the let MEMBERS OF T H E FIFTEENTH I N FA N T R Y FROM BRANCH COUNTY. Ruins Kibbee, surgeon; enl. April 5, 1862; MB. Oct. Benjamin Archer, Co. A ; died in action at Shiloh, Tenn., April Chauncey Ames, Co. F; must. out John Brower, Co. A ; ditch. Lewis F. Bassett, Co. A : died near Atlanta, Ga., June Abner R. Beebe, Co. A ; disch, by order, July Henry Bullard, Co. B; must. out Oscar Bloat, Co. E ; ditch, by order, Sept. Daniel S. Burdick, Co. H; must. out Ang. Jacob Beam, Co. K ; most. out Aug. George Babcock, Co. K ; must. out Aug. George W. Clark, Co. A ; disch, by order, Aug. Martin Cass, Co. 0 ; must. out Aug. 13,1860. Horace E. Dalton, Co. A ; Mach. by order, Nov. George W. Fenton, Co. A ; dIsch. for disability, June Samuel Fry, Co. A ; ditch, by order, Oct. Edwin J. Fields, Co. A ; must. out Atm. 13, DM. David Fox, Co. K ; must. out Aug. Simnel A. Cries, Co. 11; Mech, by order, Miner S. Hoyt, Co. A ; died of disease at Corinth, Miss., May Lewis W. Hilton, Co. H ; must. out Aug. James Holliday, Co. K ; must. out Aug. Henry Hudson, Co. C; must. out Watslip Kaliont, Co. H; must. tint Wm. 11, Lamberton, Co. U ; must. out Wesley Morse, Co. A; dlech. for disability, Nov. Charles McClure, Co. A ; Mach, to re-en!. in Vet. Iles. Corpi, Feb. McClure, Co. A ; must. ont Aug. Simon Mathews, Co. ; must, out Ang. Edgar 0.burn, Co. K ; must. out David Ferr1n, Co. I ; must. out Aug. Charles Richey, Co. ; most. out Aug. David Rich, 0o. K ; must. out Nelson Hiehardeon, Co. A; ditch, for disability. Feb. Elijah Ransoms, Co. ; most, out Aug. David Shook, Co. A; disci,. for disability, March Edwin J. Start, Co. A; died of dimities at Shiloh, Tenn., 'Award gewrley. Co. C; died of disease at Camp Denison, 0., Charles Sheldon, Co. 0 ; must. uot Amos Stokes, Co. 11; mast out Aug. Sylve.ter N. Spencer, Co. H ; meet. out Henry J. Smith, Co. IC; must. end Amt. John W. Stafford, Co. ; must. oat Thomas Sholun, 0o. ; Mich. for dteeldilty, June 98, i Jame. Thornton, Co. H ; mind. out Aug. heats H. TO M , On. K; roost. not Aug. Charles Thompson, CO. K , must. a t Aug. John Watson, Co. A; died .4 .1.....5ue neer camp brae Walborn, Co. A ; most A u g 1 I, Thomas C. Winters, Co. A , Mach, for disability. Nov �72 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH Joseph Woods, Co. B; 111,111i. out Aug. M e e Whipple, Co. K o u t t . out Aug Jobe Wareeld, Co. K ; dim-h by .1,1,, May 3u, lolls. Charles Wilklosork, Co K , .lisch for disability, Jon.George B. Warner, CV. K ; wuul. uul Aug. S I X T E E N T H I N F A N CRY. The 16th barely comes within the limit we scribed as entitling a regiment to mention in It had, according to the adjutant-general's rolls, members who were residents of Branch County, viz., one in Company A , five i n C, six in E , two in F, four in G , two in H , and one in I. It went to Virginia in September, 1861. I n of 1862 it moved with the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula arid was engaged i n t h e battles o f Hanover Court-House, Gaines' Mills, and Malvern Hill. Mills alone it had no less than forty-nine officers diers killed, one hundred and sixteen wounded, and fifty-five missing. A t the second battle o f Bull Run it killed, sixty-three wounded, and At Antietam i t was i n reserve. A t Fredericksburg i t had twenty-three men killed and wounded, and cellorsville one killed and s i x wounded. A t Middleburg, on the 21st of June, 1863, the regiment captured of artillery with nineteen officers and men, itself having nine men wounded. I t was hotly engaged a t Gettysburg, having twenty-four officers and soldiers killed, thirty-six wounded, and The next battle of the 16th (which in the mean time had reorganized as a veteran regiment) was at the where, on the 7th o f May, 1864, it was sharply lantly engaged, having thirty-five officers and men killed and wounded. T h e evening of the 8th, the the regiment while on the march, but were repulsed, and a rebel colonel and a large number o f men were captured. Ott the 22d of May the 16th defeated the guard and made another large capture After numerous skirmishes and two or three flicts, it reached the lines in front of Petersburg on the 17th of June. O n the 30th o f September it was part o f the force which stormed the works at Poplar Grove commander, Colonel Welch, being killed, and fiftybeing killed and wounded. T h e regiment remained on duty before and near Petersburg until the 6th and 7th ary, 1865, when it was engaged in the battle Run and suffered heavy loss. I t was also engaged to some extent in the conflicts at Five Forks, House, High Bridge, and the crowning glory tox Court-House. A f t e r being ordered to Louisville, Ky., and Jeffersonville, Ind., i n June, i t was finally Jackson, Mich., in J u l y, where i t was paid off banded on the 25th of that month. MEMBERS O F T I I E S I X T E E N T H I N FA N T RY F R O M BRANCH COUNTY. • Earl M. Atkin, Co. E; died of dieesuse in the field in Virginia, June Levi Beecher, Co. E; must. out July George W. Catlin, Co. C; died of disease near Sharpeburg, Ye., Oct. icily. W. Croft, Co. I ; rlisch. by order, Juno WIlilam Dillon, Co. A ; must. out July Leonard DtAn, t e n e t . out July Levi Dicey, Co. K; must out July Evelio Earl, Co. a ; om.t.. out July 6,1866. John C. Goody, Co. 2 ; m u l l out COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . F. Hanford, Co. C; must. out July II, IWO Adam Hower, Co. C.. ruin( out July 6,1161, Rohl lierot, G ; usuat. out July Abram Mosiei, Alonzo Meyers, Co. C ; died of disown at Davis hoop., N. Y., MAy Jere Mann, Cu I I ; wind. out July 8,1681, Janow H. Nye, Co. (I; mud. out July Lawrence M N y e , Co. H; must. out July Joseph Rounge, co. Cl; died, it; order, Joseph Webb, Co ; must. out July John I i . Warren, Co. It; Lutist. out July Siltinono N'uotiard, Co. V; died of d i . . . . •t tatty Point, Va., April S E V E N T E E N T H I N F A N T R Y. Recruiting for the different companies composing the 17th Infantry was commenced in the spring and of the summer of 1862. Branch County fifty men to the ranks of the regiment during viz., about twenty each to companies C and H , and to A , B, E, and G. Company C had for its mander Capt. Henry B . Androns, of Coldwater, and the first captain of Company H was Charles A. Edmoods, of Quincy. T h e regimental rendezvous was The 17th was the first regiment which left the State under the President's call of July 2, 1862, for dred thousand volunteers, the date of its departure from Detroit being Aug. 27, 1862, at the time when of the enemy were almost in sight of the dome of the capitol. A t Washington the regiment was at to duty in the army of Gen. McClellan, and moved with that army into Maryland, in the campaign o f Antietam. On the 14th o f September, only eighteen days after its departure from Detroit, it took part in the fierce battle of South Mountain. where it sustained a loss of and forty-one in killed and wounded. O n the 17th, only three days after South Mountain, the again, and with equal gallantry, in the desperate struggle of Antietam, where its loss in killed and wounded hundred and five. O n the 1st day of November, weeks after i t left Michigan, the 17th had lost in killed and wounded and deaths by disease the of two hundred and sixtyFrom Maryland the regiment crossed into marched by way of Warrenton to Falmouth, on pahannock River, where its camp was pitched on the 18th of November. D u r i n g the operations against burg, December 12 to 14, i t performed some service in skirmishing, and crossed the river with the army, not engaged in the great battle of the 13th. at Aquia Creek on the 14th of February, to Newport News, Va., remained there till March 19, and then moved by transport to Baltimore, and theme by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Ohio River ville, Ky. F r o m that point its movements were March 2 8 , to Bardstown, K y. ; A p r i l 3 , to Lebanon; April 29, to Columbia, and thence to was reached on the 31st of May. F r o m Jamestown, Jane 4, it moved to Louisville. thence to Cairo. Ill., and from there, by the t o the Yazoo near Haynes' Bluffs, Miss. I t proceeded to June 22, and thence, on the 4th of Jody, it moved with the column advancing on Jackson, Mira. arrived there July 10 having had some slight skirmishing, but no general �HISTORY OF B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Again ( Aug. 3.1 i t embarked and proceeded b y river to Louisville, and thence b y land t o Crab Orchard, K y. , moving from that point with the A r m y of the Ohio into East Tennessee. F r o m Knoxville it went to Blue Springs, Tenn., and then back to Knoxville, arriving there Oct. 14. Six days later i t marched, by way o f Loudon, t o Lenoir Station, remaining there u n t i l November 1 4 , when i t marched to the Tennessee River below Loudon the forces o f Longstreet, who was then moving towards Knoxville. F r o m this position i t was compelled to retreat; and while marching with the brigade, as rear-guard of the column, it was severely engaged at Turkey Creek, losing twenty-six killed and wounded. R e t u r n i n g to Knoxville, it took an active part in the defense of that place during the siege operations from Nov. 17 to Dee. 5, ing much from lack of sufficient and proper rations. U p o n the raising of the siege and retreat of the enemy, the 17th moved i n pursuit to Rutledge Blain's Cross-Roads, and other points as far up the valley as Morristown. About the middle o f March, 1864, the 9th Corps, to which the 17th was attached, received orders to report at Annapolis, Md. U n d e r this order the regiment marched from Knoxville on the 22d, crossed the tains to Nicholasville, K y. (one hundred and eighty-six miles), from which place i t proceeded east b y railroad to the point o f destination. F r o m Annapolis, where ceived about two hundred recruits, the regiment marched with its corps, by way of Washington, to tion, Va., and became a part o f the grand army o f Gen. Grant, with which it moved through the of 1864, from t h e Rapidan River to Petersburg. hotly engaged i n the battles o f the Wilderness, a t N y River, May 9, and a t Spottsylvania Court-House on the 10th, 11th, and 12th. O n the day last mentioned in a single charge was twenty-three killed, wounded, and ninety-three taken prisoners, out o f a total of two hundred and twenty-five Reduced in numbers to a mere handful, the remnant of the regiment was detailed on the 16th of May to act with the engineers. I n that duty it was with the corps in all its movements to and across the James River and through the siege o f Petersburg. I t was engaged and did good service in the repulse of the rebel attack on March 25, 1865, where i t took sixty-five participated in the final assault on Petersburg, its division, entered the city upon its On the 23d of April the 17th moved to City on the 25th embarked on transports 1 4 which place it marched to Washington, and thence allytcnrn, Md., remaining there until M a y 22, when i t moved buck to Washington, and took its place in review of the Army of the Potomac on the 23d. rourned to (Amp, and remained till June 3, when mastered out of service. O n the 4th it abided igan, arriving on the 7th at Detroit, where it was disband,d MEIllif,R0 ' I F T H E S I LV L A Z E N T H I N FA N T RY F R O M BRANCH 0011111T fleno k Al1611.118, aemoissr, e s t , C o . C; a d , Able 111101111110ligeht. V a , N I t , ; awasad, h e - S. N M ; s n o t set with regt. June 1 7 3 Charles A. Edmonds, Quincy; pro, to capt., Co. it, June 17,1862, (KIM lot lieut., Bat. A, let L t . Art., May 28, 1861 ; wounded i n action a t tain, Sept. 14,1862; honorably disch. for ',amide, i l l , Benjamin F. Clark, Quincy, 2d lieut., Co. I ; en!. June 17, 1662 ; wounded i n battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862; honorably disch. for wounds, Jan. 16, Daniel Midway, Coldwater, Id C ; eel. Fel,. 24, 1863; pro. to 1st lieut., Sept. 10,1863; pro. to rapt., Jan. 6, 1865 ; bvt..maj., April 2,1865; must. out w i t h regt., Josiah Billingsby, Coldwater, 2d Kent.; en!. July 4,1863; pro. to 1st 19, 1863 ; killed I o n skirmish near Knoxville, Tenn., Nov, Joseph Bailey, Co. C: died in action at Spotteylvania, Ye., Charles Barber, Co. H; meat. out June John Cory, Cu. I I ; munt. out June Charlet, R. Cory, Co. H ; most. out June Lyman L. Colby, Co. H ; most. out June 3,1565. Jeme D. Critchfleid, Co. H ; ditch. for disability, Feb. Richard C. Chamberlain, Co. C; disci.. for disability, Jan. Burr Clark, Co. C; must out by order, George M. Dailey, Co. H; died in action at Sputtsylvania, Va., May John F. Crane, Co. ; died of disease at Washi II gton, D. C., Feb.22,1863. Sub GreetdIrld, Co. C; m u d . out Friebie Hutchinson, Co. C; disch. by order, June 11111.1 Heller, Co. I I ; died in action at South Moaetaio, Md., Sept. Andrew J. Hawse, Co. H ; disch. for disability, Doc. Samuel H . - llllllll Co. ; diech. for disability, Feb. Daniel Heller, Co. H ; moat. out Jo Noses E. Loughlin, Co. H ; taken prisoner in action at Knoxville, Tenn.; died at Andereonville, Aug. WiSiam Hillman, Co. I t ; mieoieg in action at Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. Leonard E. Minor, Co. C; died Dec. 26, 1862, of wounds, at Antietam. Alfred Milnes, Co. C; disch. for disability, Henry McNeil, Co. A ; disch. for disability, March 4,1865. James K. P. Meddaugh, Co. 11; ditch, by order, John Repass, Co. I I ; must. out George Otis, Co. H ; diech. for dieability, Feb. John Fetch, Co. C; died in action at Spotteylvania, May David S. Platt, Co. C; died i f di-tease at Frederickvi Ile, Md., Dec. Charles F. Potter, Co. I t ; most, mit June David Rapp, Co. C; must. out Charles Rapp, Co. C; diMonorably disch. by order, July Andrew P. Smith, Co. E; died at A admen vil William Sprague, Co. G; trans. to 2d Mich. Inf. Henry E. Sisson, Co. 11; must. out June Alfred J. Teachout, Co. C; dkcii. for disability, Jan. 1,1463. Julius 51. Tompkins, Co. C; died i n action a t Spottaylvania, Va., Ammo M. Vicory, Co. C; ditch, by order, Wallace Weller, Co. C; trans. to Vet. Res. Corp., Feb. Charles Weller, Co. C; must. out Paris C. Whiting, Co. C ; must. out June William S. Wood, Co. C; must. out June 3,1865. George Whitten, Co. C; t n . , . to Vet. Res. Corp., Garrett C. Whiteside'', Co. H ; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Feb. Aaron V. Waterbury, Cu. ; k i l l e d b y explosion o f Steamer S u l t a n a , " on Miselmippi River, April Ellis W. Yates, Cu. I I ; dad of dieease at Camp N.tbion, Ky., CHAPTER XVI. NINETEENTH I N FA N T RY. Its F i r s t Colonel f r o m B r a n c h C o u n t y —Companies C and 11 that County— T h e i r F i r s t Officers— T h e Regiment i n the Cumberland— H a r d F i g h t at Thompson's Station— ment,. Surrounded b y S i x Brigades— T h e Surrender—Exchanged and Reorganised—On D o t y under Roseerons i n 15113—.Company ll—Again Captured— I n the Georgia Campaign in 1864 ate a n d . Victorious F i g h t a t Resaes—Col. 0 ilbert K i l l e d —Other Bottles— T h e March to the Seu—Through the Carolinas— ington— H u m e — L i s t of Officers and Soldiers. THE Nineteenth Regiment o f Michigan Infantry was raised from the counties of Branch, St. Cam, Berrien, Van Buren and Allegan, in the summer of 1862, under the President's call o f July 2 , f o r three hundred thousand men. I t s rendezvous for recruitment and organisation was at Dowagiac. Branch represented in the regiment by Companies C and some fifty or sixty more men from the ebunty served �74 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH other companies. T h e first commanding officer of the 19th was a citizen o f Coldwater, Col. Henry C. Gilbert, who fell, mortally wounded, while bravely leading in a charge at the battle of Resaca, Ga., in the campaign of Atlanta. T h e adjutant of the regiment, Lieut. Hamlet B. Adams, and its chaplain, Rev. Isaac also o f Coldwater. T h e Branch County companies were officered from the county as follows: Contpany C —Charles P. Lincoln o f tain ; Smith W. Fisk, of Coldwater, first M. Wing, of Coldwater, second lieutenant. Company 1L—George H. White, of Coldwater, captain; James A. Shoeeraft, of Coldwater, second lieutenant. The 19th broke camp at the rendezvous, on the 14th of September, 1862, proceeded b y rail t o Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Nicholasville, Ky., and later, towards the close of the year, to Danville, Ky. I t had been assigned to duty with the 4th Brigade of the 1st Division of the A r m y of Kentucky, which, on the formation o f the Department and Army of the Cuniberland, was transferred to that a "Reserve Corps." A s a part of that corps, the regiment moved from Danville early in February, and ville on the 7th, proceeding thence to Franklin, Tenn. On the 4th of March, 1863, the brigade,—composed o f the 19th Michigan, the 33d and 85th Indiana, and the 22d Wisconsin Regiments,—numbering one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven men, strengthened by dred men o f the 124th Ohio, with detachments of three regiments of cavalry, about six hundred strong, and a full battery o f artillery, all under command o f Col. Coburn, moved o u t from Franklin on a reconnaissance i n force. After a march of about four miles, the enemy's outposts were encountered, but they retired before the mishers, and the brigade bivouacked there for the night. Resuming the march on the following day, they found the enemy i n force and strongly posted a t Thompson's Station, nine miles from Franklin. A t the point where the turnpike crosses the railroad, the enemy opened fire forces o f Col. Coburn, who immediately formed his men, and ordered a section of the battery to occupy a hill on the left of the road, sending the 19th Michigan and consin t o support it. T h e :i3d and 85th Indiana, with the other guns of the battery, took position on a hill on the right. T h e enemy had two batteries posted on of bills, three-fourths of a mile in front and south of the position of the Union troops. T h e 33d and 85th Indiana made a demonstration on the left o f the enemy, to draw him out or charge his batteries, as circumstances might dictate. T h i s movement was made under a most galling fire from the enemy's batteries, and when the station was reached, two entire brigades o f dismounted rebel cavalry were disclosed, strongly posted behind stone walls and other defense As i t was found impossible to advance farther under the severe and incessant fire, t h e regiments were retire to their former position on the hill, supported by a squadron of cavalry; hut, for some unexplained reason, the cavalry failed to 4ieetipy the supporting position No sooner had the two regiments commenced t o than they were pursued by two rebel regiments, lililli11111111111 COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . volleys into the retiring Union fusee, which was at time under fire from the enmity's batteries. B u t as they reached the hill the Indians regiments the rebel pursuers and drove them hack at dosibleiniek, killing Col. Earle, o f Arkansas. T h e enemy rallied end charged desperately, and were handsomely repulsed; but it soon became evident that the oommand o f had here encountered the entire cavalry form of Brages army, consisting o f six brigades, by the rebel generals Forrest, Wheeler, Jackson, and Martin,—numbering i s all at thousand men, under the command of Gen. On the h-ft the enemy, untke• Gen. WOWS* the position occupied by the 19th Aikidos's sod pan ion regiment, the 22d Wisconsin. A t the time the attack was made, the section of artillery posted two regiments hurriedly left its position, and at time Lieut.-Col. Bloodgood, o f the Wisconsin regiment, with three companies, left the field without off by the left flank, and joining the retreating alry and artillery; but the 19th and the remainder of the 22d Wisconsin bravely poured in their fire sod assaulters at bay l r fully twenty minutes. Fermet,elialkod in his advance, made a circuit with his whole the ground occupied by C,oi. Coburn, to the east, with the intention o f turning his left flank. T h e 19th and 22d were then moved to the west side of the the 33d and 85th Indiana to protect the southern atenity of the hill. T h e four regiuients had scarcely formed in line behind the crest when Armstrong's rebel brigade charged from the east and t h e Texans from the south. The fighting now became terrific. T h r e e times charged gallantly up the hill, and thrice were they forma back with severe loss. I n one of these charges of the 4th Mississippi were captured by the The fighting became desperate. T h e gained possession of the hill on the east of the sweeping the Northern ranks with canister, and, the Union troops fought, it soon became evident struggle was hopeless. T h e i r ammunition was hausted. and Forrest., who had already est them Franklin, was advancing on their rear. C o l . Coburn food his command to the north to meet and-repel this sew eer, and thus Forrest was held i n check until the Union men had expended their last round o f ammunition. T h e n the brave band fixed bayonets, determined to the enemy's lines and escape; but just then it ered that still another line lay in reserve and battery opened o n them from a n unexpected platter. Escape was now hopeless, and, to avoid a further less loss of life, the command surrendered, baying kat ma hundred and thirteen in killed and wounded. O a . G a r e t had had his horse shot under him in the early part of the engagement, and throughout all the fierce borne himself most gallantly. W h e n be oared to the Confederate commander, the letter declined ceive it, with the remark that "so heave as mending so gallant a regiment, deserves to retain A part of the 19th had escaped capture Station. T h i s small body, with those who bad bass left is �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . camp at Franklin, were sent to Brentwood, organized with the remaining fragments of the brigade, and placed under command of an officer belonging to another regiment. T h i s force was surrendered b y that officer to the Forrest on the 25th of March, without the firing of The enlisted men were soon paroled and sent North; the commissioned officers were exchanged on the 25th of May following The 19th was reorganized at Camp Chase, Ohio, the 8th of June left Columbus to engage once more vice at the front. I t reached Naslivill'e on the 11th, and from that time was engaged in ordinary camp and picket duty until July, when it was ordered forward, to form part of Rosecrans' column, advancing on Tullahoma. ment was ordered back to Murfreesboro' on the 23d of July, to do garrison duty in the fortifications at that along Stone River, where Company D was captured i n a stockade, on the 5 t h o f October, by a rebel under Gen. Wheeler. A f t e r having been plundered, the men were released About the last of October the 19th was ordered Minnville, Tenn., where i t remained, engaged in struction o f fortifications and i n similar duty, 21st of April, 1864, when i t was ordered to join sion and march with the strong columns of Sherman into Georgia. I t reached Lookout Valley on t h e 30th, and moved forward with the army on the 3d o f May; being then i n the 1st Brigade, 4th Division o f the 20th Army Corps. M o v i n g b y way of' Buzzard's Roost and Snake Creek Gap to Resaea, it was, with its brigade, etigaged in the battle at that place on the 15th, on which occasion it gallantly charged and captured a battery of the enemy, afterwards holding the position against all efforts to retake it. I t was in that charge that 'Col. the wound from which he died at Chattanooga on the 24th ,,f May. The total loss o f the 19th a t Resaca, i n killed and wounded, was eighty-one. I t was again engaged ville, Ga., on the 19th; at New Hope Church on the 25th; at Golgotha, June 15; and at Kulp's Farm. June 22; losing in these transactions eighty-three, killed and ing in the pursuit of the enemy after his evacuation position and works at Kenesaw Mountain, the 19th -then under command of Maj. John J. Baker-crossed tahoochie, and took part in the battle of PeachJuly 20, i n which i t s loss was thirty-nine killed and wounded; among the latter being the Maj. Baker. D u r i n g the remainder of the siege of Atlanta, the regiment was constantly on duty, much o f the time under artillery fire, but took part i n none of engagements; its loss during that time being eight, killed and In t h e early days o f November, 1864, the 19th was quartered in the city of Atlanta, and on the 15th o f that month moved with its brigade (the 2d of the 3d Division, 20th Corps) on the storied march t o Savannah, taking active part in the siege of that city until its the 21st. of December. I t reniaires1 near Savannah until Jan. 1, 1865, when, with the companion regiments o f its command, it moved acrom the Savannah River into South 7 Carolina. I t crossed the Pedee River a t Cheraw on the 2d o f February, arrived a t Fayetteville, March stroyed the arsenal and other public buildings at and moved thence towards Raleigh. O n the 16th the enemy was found in heavy force at Averysboro'. second brigade was ordered to assault the works, them with great gallantry, capturing the guns and number of prisoners; the loss of the 19th being nineteen in killed and wounded. A t the battle of Bentonville, on the 19th, the regiment stood i n line o f battle, b u t was not ordered in. From Bentonville, the 19th moved to ing there on the 24th, and then marched to Raleigh. Here it remained until the war was closed b y the surrender of Johnston's army. Then, with its corps, it faced northward, and marched through Virginia to Alexandria, where rived on the 18th of May. S i x days later it marched with the bronzed and tattered veterans of Sherman's army, in its memorable review, on the 24th of' May, through of the national capital. F r o m that time i t remained in camp near Washington till June 10, when it out of the service and ordered to Michigan. Covered with honor, the men of the 19th returned to 'Jackson, there paid o ff and discharged on o r about the 15th o f June, 1865. DI E M B E R S O F T H E N I N E T E E N T H I N F A N T R Y F R O M B R A N C H C O U N T Y. H e n r y C. G i l b e r t , C o l d w a t e r, c o l . ; o n ! . A u g . 8 , 1 8 6 2 ; d i e d a t C h a t t a n o o g a , M a y 24, 1864, o f w o u n d s r e c e i v e d i n a c t i o n a t I t e s a r a , Ga., S l a y 15, 1864. I s a a c C o g g e a h a l l , C o l d w a t e r, c h a p l a i n ; e n ' . A n g . 5, 1862; r e s . Sept. 6, 1863. H a m l e t B . A d a r n a , C o l d w a t e r, l e t l i e u t . a n d a d j t . ; e n ! . A u g . 1 4 , 1 8 6 2 ; p r o . t o capt., M a y 1 , 1 5 6 3 ; m u s t . o u t J u l y 5, 1565. C h a l i c e P. L i n c o l n , C o l d w a t e r, r a p t . , o . C ; o n ! . J u l y 2 8 , 1862; r e s . A p r i l 2 6 , 1864. George H . W h i t e , C o l d w a t e r, c a p t . , Co. I t ; e n ! . J u l y 28, 1862. S m i t h W . F i s k , C o l d w a t e r, l e t l i e u t . ; c o t . J u l y 2 8 , 1 8 6 2 ; r e s . J a n . 31,1863. 1.110118 M . W i n g , C o l d w a t e r, 2d 1 . 1 t . ; e a t . J u l y 2 8 , 1 8 6 2 ; p r o . t o l e t l i e u t . , M a y 1 , 1 8 6 3 ; q .111., M a y 25, 1 8 6 4 ; m u s t . o u t J a n e 10, 1863, w i t h r e g t . T i m o t h y G . T u r n e r , C o l d w a t e r, l e t l i e u t . a n d q . - m . ; c a l . N o v . 1 8 , 1 8 6 2 ; r e s . M a y 25, 1864. J a m e s A . S h o e c r a f t , C o l d w a t e r, I d e n l . J u l y 2 8 , 1 8 6 2 ; 1 s t l i e u t . , Miry 1, 1811.1; w o u n d e d a t T h o m p s o n ' s S t a t i o n , Te n n . , M a r c h 5 , 1 8 6 3 ; r e s . J a n . 11, 1864. L a d e n P h e t t e p i a c e , C o l d w a t e r, 2d l i e u t . ; e r d . M a y 1 , 1 8 6 1 ; r a p t . , Oct. 28, 1863 ; m u s t . . t J u n e 10,1865, w i t h regt. N . N o r r i s , C o l d w a t e r, 2 4 l i e u t . ; e n l . Dec. 1 , 1 6 6 3 ; m i d . , O c t . 28, 1864; res. N o v. 4 , 1 8 6 4 . L a d e n B . B a r n h a r t , U n i o n , 2d l i e u t . ; e e l . J a n . 2 3 , 1 8 6 4 ; 1 s t h o o t , Oct. 2 8 , 1 8 6 4 ; c a p t . , J a n . 11 , 1 8 0 6 ; m u s t . o u t J u n e 10, 1865, w i t h r e g t . W i l l i a m L . Ty l e r, Batavia, l e t e e l . Oct. 2 8 , 1 8 6 4 ; c a p t . , J a n . 1 5 , 1 8 0 5 ; moat. o u t J u n e 10,1862, w i t h r e s t . George A . R u m e n , G i r a r d , l e t l i e u t . , Co. C ; e e l . O c t . 2 8 , 1 8 6 4 ; c a p t . , 1865; m e a t . o u t J u n o 10 w i t h r e s t . ; i n a l l t h e b a t t l e s i n w h i c h o l e o ( t o o k p a r t , T h o m p s o n ' . S t a t i o n , A t l a n t a , S a v a n n a h , B e n t o n v i l l e , etc. J o w. p h M . A l e x a n d e r , C o l d w a t e r, 24 h e a t . ; e e l . M a y 2 6 , 1 8 0 4 ; l o t H e a t . a n d a d j t . , J u n e , 1865; m a t . a n t J u n e 10, 1865, w i t h r e s t . J o h n J . M o o r m a n , 24 l i e u t . ; m u s t . o u t J u n e 10, 1865, w i t h r e g t . H a m i l t o n S. Milers, 2d l i e u t . ; m a k . o u t J u n e i s , 1865, w i t h r e g t , H e n r y B u t l e r , 24 l i e u L ; m u s t . o u t J u n e 10, 1866, w i t h r e g t . Consparts C. A s a A l e x a n d e r , d i n . . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, J e l l y 3 0 , 1163. H e n r y A u s t i n , d i e d o f rilaeroe a t D a n v i l l e , K y. , J a n . 6, D I E L A l o n z o B e r r y, d i e d o f disease a t N i e h o l a s s i l l e , K y . , D e c . 27, 1862. C h a u n c e y L . B r o w n , d i e d ,of disease a t L e x i n g t o n , K y . , F e b . 9, 1863. F r a n k l i n 11. B e r n e . , m u s L o n t J u n e l o , Itrao, Suntrel B a t a , most. o u t t o , George W. B r o w n , most. out J u n e [ K r . " , . H e n r y B a t t e r, moot. e a t J u n e 1 8 6 5 , A l f r e d l o d d e l l , m u s k a n t J u n e 10, 1866. I l a n or A . B u r k e , m u s t . n u t J u l y 5 , 1660. J. r . I , . ! b o o t h man, t i n t , f , r ,11.0.11I1v, M a y 17, 1017, William II. Bryan, Jo, oh I N A ' ( L a r y, d i s r l t . f o r I , o n t i t i t y, 5 1 I n y 7 , I O U �Ill- I I I 1 1 1 : \ " I 1 1 C a l led H. Demurest, maul. 0 1 June 1 8 6 5 . John Densoreet, died of disease at Camp Chase, 0., May 9, I-. Charier 8. Davis, Mach. for inability, Beal. V. Draper, disch. for inability, April Joseph R. Dickinson, d a b . for dinability. May 22, D M . Thomas J. Lana, must. out William Muck, most. out June K R. French, Mach. for disability, Oct. William H. l o n a , trans. to Vet. Res Corp., April 10; dbch. July 15,1866. Odes G. Gordon, d a b . for disability, July 8, 1864. • Erasing R. Orson, died in action at Thompson's Station, Tenn., Mardi 5, 1 . Orson Gage, must. out Stephen Gilbert, must. .t June Stephen L. Hawley, must. out Henry Hal leek, must. out J u l i a Herrn'', mint. oat May Freenian Havens, trans. to Vet. Res. Corp., Amos L. Hervey, died at Colombia, Tenn., March 0,1069, of w o a d . . Edward Hewitt, must. out George W. Hewitt, disch. for disability, May 11,1069. George W. Jackson, must. out Juno David Johns, dim.. for diability, Dec. Hiram G. June, died at Nashville, Tenn., Mei ch 10, 1863, Charles Kirk, died of disease at Chattanooga, Tenn., Augustus Lord, must out Cliarlee Lindsey, disch. for (lability, Thomas M a y o n , died of d a m e at Greve' Point, Ohio, Oct. 5,1862. George Miller, must. out June Hamilton S. Miles, must oat George .1. F. Miller, must. out Daniel J. Massey, l a s t out kniani us R. Moore, dinch. for disability, Aug. 6,1064. Noble N. Marks, tract to Vet. Rea. Corps, Nov. John Phloem, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., March 12,1863. Joeeph Polite, dioch. for wounds, Aug. 19,1069. Ermine W. P e g , died of wounds, July William L . Parker, died of wound. at Ream; On., Charles J. Pope, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, March 15, 1864 ; disob. July Elena r Poet, most out John Post, discla. Andrew Ponder, must. out Philip Pitcher, must out Juno Leander Stevens, m a t . oat June Ora B. Stevens, must out J George D. Sinclair, died of disease at Atlanta, Ga., Calvin D. Strong, died of dimes@ at Coldwater, Mich., Sept. 5,1864. Mark H . Smith, died of disease at Danville, Ky., Jan. Ery W. Taylor, diach. George Tottingliam, died a t Thompson'. Station, Tenn., March 5, 1863, o f wouna. Newell W. Thome; most, out June / Edward H. Tullman, mat. out Jane C y r . J. Titus, most. oat Daniel S. Vanbacom, must. tint Martin Vanblarcons, m a t out George W. Whitehead, m a t . out June leagued C. Wilcox, m a t . ant June Jededieh Wilcox, most, ont Charles I L West, died at Ream, On., May 16,1864, of wands. George W. Wordily, died July Benjemin Wiloon, ditch. for disability, Feb. 1,1863. Robert William; trona to n i b Mick. Inf. Sere. Whaley, died of disease at B y , I John Ramer, must. out 'lin B. Van Orman, diva. for disability, May6, D M Is', honk R. Van Orman. dis818 f o r 81198081111y,.111r88, i f l II \ Eduard 8 7 1 Boni n° I„ 8 8 1 r Thomas F., John Peal, must. out June Man nosh l i m b . , mart. out I I 1 1 . , ° . - l l . . . ' r i o . . t -888 ,1888,88 1- 18 N I . A N 6. 1 ��78 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Henry Firth, nowt. out June 6,1866. °war W. Fraser, must. out June John Gam by, dleeh. at end of service, Feb. 8,1866. J u d e . B. Gibbs, must out Mn; 3, DIM. William Goodeuough, must. out by order, May Reuben I. Grove, most. out June 5,1866. C. W. Klima.'mono, must. out Feb. Wm. Hungerfonl, most, out by order, April Emilie !aniline. must. out Jacob Koller, must. ant May Stephen Ladon, died of lineage at Nashville, Jun. Lassiond, mint out June l'imeles Lenin, must out JOBO John Libhart, usual. out July Samuel H. Lofting, most. out June Alonso McLaughlin, most. out Juno Churls. W. Mono, must. out June John C. Meegan, died of disowns at Shelby, N. C., June Alfred A. Norton, must. out June Wilms. Norton, must. out WI 8 . No, m u s t . out J lily Daniel Pratt, must. .t by order, May Charles! E. Perry, must, out by order, May J01111 II. 1111111011, must out by order, May Daniel S. Robinson, must. out June James M. Rawson, must. out June Ileseklah Sweet, finch. for disability, July James E. Sprung, most. mit June Peter Sheeler, must. out Juno 5,1866. James A. Sheldon, must. out Sept. William I . Smalley, mint. out June Charles A. Woodward, mast. out May 12,1863. Henry B. Winslow, must. out June George W. Wiley, must. out May Hasea Bushnell, Co. K ; mud. out July Wm. G. Chamberlain, Co. I ; must. out July 1,1862. George Dustin°, Co. I ; died of disease at Louisville, Ky., Nov. Dustin Beckham, Co. K ; must. out July James Eggleston, Co. K ; meat. out William W. Fenno, Co. ; must. out June Husain Humiston, Co. I ; died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., June John W. Hudson, Co. 1; must. out Franklin Houdin, Co. I ; most. out Julie Israel Hamniond, Co. I ; must. out May S. Lovejoy, Co. K; must. out May Luther Gray, Co. I ; most. out Juno Abram A. Smith, Co. I ; must. out Mn; Marshall M. Smith, C o t ; diech. for disability, William W. Stratton, Co. I ; &orb. for disability, March Marcellus K. Wheteel, Co. I ; disci). for diaibility, June FIRST SHARPSHOOTERS. p The formation o f the 1st Michigan begun in the autumn o f 1862. I t s headquarters were at Kalamazoo, but were changed in the spring of 1863 born. I n the summer of that year, six companies, all that were then formed, were ordered t o Southern Indiana, to check the progress of John Morgan and his rebel raiders, but they soon returned to Michigan, and the its ranks full by the 16th of August. B r a n c h represented in the ranks o f this regiment by about thirty men, o f whom nearly all were i n Company H ; the few others being in Companies B, C, and I. On the 16th of August the regiment proceeded under orders to Chicago, to act as guard to a camp o f oners. I t remained on this duty until March 17, 1864, and was then ordered to Annapolis, Md., where i t signed to the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 9th Corps. joined the A r m y of the Potomac, and met the enemy for the first time in the battle of the Wilderness, on and 7th of' May, where it had twenty-four men killed and wounded. F r o m their name, the Sharpshooters were evi• dently intended to act principally as skirmishers vance Iptard.s, fighting in detail, picking off rebel artillerists, and other similar work. B u t these rangements regarding particular coops often de well in the rough practice of the batde-field, and of the body ill question does not seem to have different from that of any other The Sharpshooters behaved with great gallantry at the battles near Spottsylvania Court-House, on the 9th, lath, and 12th days o f May, in which the severely, having thirty-four killed, and one hundred and seventeen wounded. I t also had a sharp skirmish at the crossing of' the North Anna River on the 23d o f May. Although taking part in numerous skirmishes and other hostile operations, it was not again very until the charge made on the enemy's works burg on the 17th of June. T h e pushed their way into the intrenchments, and twice, with other regiments, wet and repulsed the rebels, to recapture the works. A t length, however, threw a large force in the rear of this regiment, it the extreme left of its corps, compelling it either render or break through the enveloping lines. T h e BIM promptly chose the latter course, and b y a most of them made their way through and rejoined their comrades. T h e regiment had thirty-one killed, forty-six wounded, and eightyOn the 30111 of' July the Sharpshooters charged. in the advance o f their brigade, on the works next t o the fort. which was blown up by the celebrated Petersburg mine, capturing the intrenehments and about fifty however, the Union forces were unable to force through the blown-up fort, the regiment was obliged t o retire. D u r i n g the remainder of the summer and autumn it VMS engaged in trench and picket work, alternating with numerous conflicts, none o f them very severe, enough, so that the casualties between the opening of the campaign and the first of November footed up and six killed in action and two hundred and wounded. F o r t y had also died o f disease in the same time, and one hundred and fifty-eight were reported action," of whom ,ome were killed, some were oners, and some had The Sharpshooters continued engaged i n t h e arduous duties of the siege of Petersburg until the 2.5th 1865. O n that day Companie, 1 and K were a part garrison of Fort Steadman. T h e rebels attacked but were defeated with severe loss. the Union non charging out and capturinu a large number The end was now rapidly approaching. N e a r l y every regiment was kept constantly fighting, and the had their full share of the deadly work. On the 3d o f April the regiment was ordered forward in the advance at half-past three in when i t was found that the enemy had burg. T h e column pushed on, and the 1st shooters were the foremost Union regiment to enter the city. After doing service on the Southside Railroad until the surrender o f Lee, the regiment went with its division t o Washington. I t remained in that vicinity until the last of July, when i t returned to Jackson, Mich., and on the 7th of August was paid off �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . MEMBERSOF THE FIRSTSHAIIPSHUOTEELSFROM Henry S. Fish, Coldwater, lot lout., Ilall's 8.9.; roil. Aug. 19, 1864; trans, to lot Mich. 8. S.; must. out July Robert F. Bradley, Co. l i ; disch for disability, Sept. Jame, L. Rumex, Co. H ; most. out July Jeremiah Bomber, Co. U; died of disease 1n lot Division hospl tal, Mein H. Barber, Co. H; died of dinette in Chicago, Ill., Oct. Daniel H. Conklin, Co. ; must. out July Joeeph A. Conklin, Co. H; must. out June Stephen H. Conklin, Co. H ; must. out July Reuben Cornell, Co. It; must. out July Henry Crag, Co. I t ; niust. out July 28,1863. Witllnttt H. Dupuy, Co. H ; must out July Charles finrfey, Co. H; died in Anderainville prison, Sept. William H . Diirfey, Co. H ; missing in action near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 18 Andrew J. Ellis, Co. Fl ; must. out Derrick Haukon, Co. H ; must. out July Joehna C. Hedglen, Co. B; must. out Aug. 17,1665. George Haulterbrand, Co. H ; died of disease in Chicago, III., Jan. John Kelley, Co. H ; miming in action near Peteroburg, Va., Hugh Kennedy, Co. H; must out Thomas McLaughlin, Co.—; ditch, for dieability, Lewis Prieek Co. H ; must. out July William Rosa Cu. I I ; missing in action tear Petersburg, Va., John Rainbow, Co. H ; most. out July George W. Sackett, Co. H ; most. out July 1,1865. Jacob Sackett., Co. I I ; most. out July 28, 1865. • Benjamin F. Smith, Co. H; moat. out Henry Smith, Ca, H; committed suicide while on guard, Sept. 5,1863. William H. Stebbins, Co. I; must out June 1,1565. George Tanner, Co. C; must. out July Andrew West, Co. H ; must. out July CHAPTER XVIII. FOURTH AND F I F T H C AVA L R Y. Formation a n d First F i e l d -Officers of F o u r t h Cavalry— County Company— I t s First Officers— T h e Regiment Attacking a n t P u r s u i n g John Morgan—Services i n Tennessee Charging a n d Routing a Rebel Brigade i n M a y, 1863—Numerous Conflicts—Victories a n d Defeats—Ilard Service in W i n t e r - 6 1 — T h e G e o r g i a Campaign— H a r d F i g h t a t Lattimore's M i l l Following H o o d —Horses a l l w o r n o u t —Regiment Remounted Attack on Selina—Charging and Capturing Intrenchments lure of Jefferson D a v i s — T h e M u s t e r -out—List o f Members—The Fifth M i c h i g a n C a v a l r y —Company M f r o m Branch County—Off to Virginia— D s Engagements in 1863—Kilpatrick's Raid in March, 64—Dahlgri R a i d — I n Sheridan's Expedition i n M a y merous o t h e r C o n f l i , t , - - T h e V i c t o r y o f Tr e v i l l i a n S t a t i o n Front o f Washington— F i g h t with Mosby—Other Combats — I n Sheridan's R a i d to t h e James- - I n t h e F i n a l Struggle—The Grand Rev inn --Sent to Fort Leavenworth—Some Men Transferred —Regiment Mustered Out.- - L i s t of Offiee:s and Soldiers from Branch County. FOURTH C A V A L R Y. THE raising of the 4th Michigan Cavalry authorized i n the early part o f July, 1862, as part of' Michigan's quota o f eleven thousand s i x hundred and eighty-six men to be furnished under the President's call for troops t o retrieve the disasters o f the Seven Days' battles befi,re Richmond. T h e rendezvous o f was established at Detroit, and the regiment having its ranks filled was there mustered for three years' the 29th of Avigust. I t s field-officers were: ert I I . G. Minty, promoted from lieutenant-colonel o f the 3d Michigan Cavalry ; 1,ientenaut-Colonel, William H . Dickinson ; Major+. Josiah B. Park, Horace W. Houston, t_in, o f the eonipauita ( G ) a u furnished b y Branch County, as were also about twenty -live nom serving 7 eral other companies of the regiment. T h e first officers of Company G were: Captain, Barber N. Sheldon, of' Quincy; First Lieutenant, Daniel Duessler, o f Quincy; Second Lieutenant, Julius M. Carter, of Ovid. The regiment left Detroit on the 26th of proceeded to the seat of war in Kentucky, by way ville. B e i n g fully armed, mounted, and equipped, it was placed in active service without much delay. I t was in the advance in the attack on the guerrillas of John Morgan at Stanford, Ky., and joined in the pursuit of those raiders to Crab Orchard. I n the attack on Lebanon it also led the advance, charging into the town two miles before try, driving out Morgan with an equal o r and capturing a large amount of stores. O n the 131.1i of December the regiment, by a forced march, surprised and captured t h e pickets a t Franklin, Tenn., driving o u t a large force of the enemy with heavy loss. I t led treme advance to Murfreesboro', and, after the capture o f that place, was engaged i n numerous excursions, driving back the enemy's cavalry which infested the capturing several In May, 1863, followed b y detachments o f ments, the 4th led a gallant charge into the camp of three Confederate regiments o f cavalry, routed them, and took fifty five prisoners and t h e colors o f the When the Army of the Cumberland advanced freesboro' in June, the 4th was again in the lead, gaged in innumerable conflicts. I t was until it reached the vicinity of Chattanooga, where several times driven back b y the enemy. service was so severe that on the 1st o f November only about three hundred men After constant service through the winter, dismounted, among the mountains of see, the regiment returned to Nashville the last of March, where i t received fresh horses and new equipments. I t then returned to Sherman's army, which it accompanied in the Georgia campaign, constantly engaged i n t h e same kind of arduous service before described. I t s flict was on the 20th of June, at Lattimore's with the 7 t h Pennsylvania Cavalry it engaged gades of rebel cavalry. I t twice charged the enemy with the sabre, and repulsed several charges made b y them. Having finally fallen back to its supports i t aided ing an attack b y Gen. Wheeler's whole force, driven back with heavy loss. I n this affair the regiment, which had about three hundred men present, seven killed After the capture of' Atlanta, the mounted men o f the regiment followed Hood's army northward, nearly to the Tennessee River, harassing his rear, etc. B y t h i s time all the horses b u t a hundred were again worn out. T h e s e were transferred t o mand a n d the 4t11 was reunited on foot at Nashville in October. I t was remounted at Louisville, Ky., and by the last of January, 1865, was at Gravelly Spring, Ala. Leaving there the 12th o f March, it set out with other regiments on a long raid through Alabama, building corduroy roads, seizing towns, artillery, and finally capturing the city of �80 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . by very elaborate fortifications, and by at least sand men under Gen. Forrest. A t one point dismounted cavalry, of which the 4th was a the intrenehments and captured them in having had three hundred and twenty-four men wounded. T h i s was on the 2d o f April. O n the 20th, after numerous adventures, the command reached Macon, Ga., where the news of the surrender of the caused the cessation The 4th, however, gained still another title to renown by capturing the rebel president, Jefferson Davis, ville, Ga., on the 10th of April, 1865. T h e after marched to Nashville, where it was mustered the 1st of July, being disbanded at Detroit on the 10th. The list of its battles and skirmishes numbered Few of them, it is true, were very severe, but of them shows that the regiment was full o f valo MEMBERS OF T H E FOURTH CAVALRY FROM BRANCH COUNTY. Barber N . Sheldon, Quincy, rapt.; out. Aug. 13. 1862; maj., Aug. 23, 1863; womided in action at Kingston, Ga., May 18, 16514; bet. lieut.-col., March 13, 1865 ; meat. out July Daniel Duesler, Quincy, lot lieut. ; enl. Aug. 13,1862; capt., Feb. 1, 1863; hon. disrh. for disability, June Julius M . Curter, Ovid, 2d lieut.; out. Aug. 13, 1802 ; 1s1 lieut., Dec. wounded in action at Kingston, On., May 18, 1864; capt., July 9,1864; hot mak, March 13, 1863; hon. disci, for dipbility, May Henry D. Fields, Bronson, 2d usio.; out. Aug. 13, 1862; res. March Jeremiah Duesler, Coldwater, 2d lieut.; enl. Feb. 18,186:1; res. April 21,1864. Henry A. l'otter, Ovid, 2d lieut.; out. Feb. 16,1865; lot lieut., March capt., Aug. 1,1866; must. out July 1,1803, with regiment. Alfred Purinton, Coldwater, 2d ; enl. Aug. 1, 1864; l e t lieut., May 10, 1865; most. out July 1,1865, with regiment. Lorenzo J. Botithwell, Ovid, 2d lieut.; mil. Dec. 10,1861; must. out July 1,1863, with Company G. Benj. F. Archer, most, out July 1,1865. Wm. G. Beebe, disch. for dimibility. Phineas Burkholder, disch. for disability. WIT. Burdick, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Sept. Matthew N. Bunlick, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, May Lewis R. Bridge, disch. by order, July 6,1865. Mathew Brayton, died of disease, at Murfreesboro', Tenn., June Milton Seemlier, died of disease, at Nashville, Tenn., March Wm. H. Bradford, most, out July 1,1865. Wm. H. Burt, most. out July 1,1803. Wm. E. Bradley, disci]. for disability, Dec. John Brower., (Bach. by order, June 11,1865. John Cavanaugh, disch, by order, July 14,1863. Martin Cass, disch. for disability, March Charles, C,arter, died of dieuase at M urfreasboro', Tenn., Fe!,. Jr. L. Canfield, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 25,1862. Heury Cusick, died of disease at Louisville, Ky., Feb. Woo. Casselinan, trans. to Vet. Res. Corp, April 30,1864. Aerie M . Chrwe, trans. to Vol. Rea. Corp., March Martin Cloonan, must. out July Jeremiah Craig, 0 1 1 t July 1,1865. Winfield Day, died of disease at Quincy, Mich., May Wm. Dobson, died of disease at Bridgeport, Al.., Nov. Gainalla Dick limn, disci, for disability, Sept. John Daggett, disch. for disability, Aped Howard Gaffney, died of disease at Springfield, Ky., Nov. Edwin E. Htingerford, died of disallow at Murfrephorte, Tenn., Feb. George W. J o u . , died of dimple at Murfreeslipre', Tann, Into. Warren Leland, disch. for disability, Jan. Whitfield LatoiI/11311, moat. out J u l y Charles. M. Matplen, D i d of Deena. lkt Nashville, Treen , Jolt. Willuten 11. Itiyilen, died of die awe at Nnoiunille, Thrill., Jaw 8'I.1111.16 Maguire, nee.t. a n t Jelly 1.1803. Georg. Myron, meow. old July 1,1865. John C. Nichols, must. out July Henry Norton, ilineh, for disability, Joseph M i e n , disc h. ley order. Jarmo 0. (0 Beirn, must. met July Joseph herein, must. out ,leely lewiet Pere itte, ilisch. for divabildv, May 4.1%1. KI/NII II. Moot, died of diserwe at Mierfreienhteni', Tenet., Fe!,. Wenn.s, II. Druid, died o f ifial.110 al Nashville, Term, Mande Will!,,,,, 11. l'alineter, moot. out July ueuvt. out July I, Cary Reed, .0101 001 J',12 Frank ee ituu nob , must . out July James rewarthein I, died o f d i . . . at Mterfruesbone*, Toner, Jan. Hobert 7_ Smith, Soot of disown, at Murfreesboro', Tenn., July Joh. Sit d o w e l . tor disabelit), Feb. 0,1865. Joh, A_ Skin urr, must. met July Swiertliont, must. not July John Sellivan, most, out July Philetue Siggins, meet. nut July Albert 8tIckney, disci,. for disability, Feb. Eller H. Scales. diode. o r dwaldlity, William 11 Thompson, ditch. for dimbility, April 11,1885, VIII ham Tewsk, disch. for dinability, George II. Triwk, must. out July Jacob N. Tresk, must out July 1,1865. George W. You Sickle, must. out July 1,1816. George Whaley, died of d i e t s . at DiliVr1110, Ky., Oct. 25, I S M William Wood, Mach, for disability, Key 1,1561. El islia C. Williams, diai-h. for disability, Feb. 2,1863. Oliver M. Wentworth, disch. for disability. March 27,1566. W. It. Wentwort 11, must. out July 1,1665. Henry Woodrnaster, must. out July Daniel If, Bush, Co. A ; trans. to Vet. Re.. Corp, April Benona Burch, Co. 1; died •t Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864, Ambrose Bur11•11011, CO. I ; died at Noonday Creek, Ga.„ June Pt, 1864, of P O D & John Bailey, Co. 16; died in Aeilersonville priaon, Joly Henry Cosier, Co. 1; disch. for illegibility, June 8,1863. Zenas B. Cheney, N. C. S.; dimh. I,y order, Nov. 16,1863. Aaron B. Fowell, CAL 1; diech. for disability, Jan. &dove.. Fiernith, Co. I ; Mutt. out July 1,1865. Fitton,, Co. K ; most, out Aug. J. V. T. Gauthouse, Co. I ; missing in action at &WOW Al.,. April Henry S. Hewitt, Co. 1; died of diseitee l i i • a h v i l l e , Tenn. Dec. 19,1166, Charles W. Hartwell, Co. I ; disch, by order, July Jerome B. lieth, Co. 1; most. out July 1,1865. Martin flecathorn, Co. 1; must. out July 1,1665. Orlando Hawley, Co. I ; died at Lavergne, Tenn., Dec. 29, 1862, James Ogden, Co. A; trans. to Vet. Ben. Corp., April James Pope, Co. I ; diecb. for disability. Sept. Thomas Reeves, Co. K; died of disease at Northville, April Wilhiom Simpson, Co. 1; must. ont July 1,1885. Ira C. Stockwell, Co. C ; must. out July Elbert Terril, Co. I ; trans. to Vet. Res. Corp., 0. F. Underhill, Co. I; trans. to Vet. Rea. Corp, July 1,1663. I'embroke Vandeniark, ; must. A u g . John II. Williams, Co. 1 diech. for d,seelii I C , Y• k Edward H. Wood, Co. A ; trans. to. V r t Res Corps, Nov. 1, F I F T H C A V A L R Y. The 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment was raised in the summer of 1862, under authority from the ment and t h e Governor of Ow State t o Joseph land, t h e n l i e u t e n a n t -colonel o t t h e 1 s t C a v a l r y. dezvous of the regiment was at Detroit, where its tion was perfected, and it was mustered into the service of the United States on the 30th o f August, in the year named ; t h e field-offieers b e i n g a s f o l l o w s : Copeland, colonel ; W i l l i a m D . M a n n , beutenant-exdonel : Ebenezer G o u l d , L a t h e r S . Tr o w b r i d g e . N o a h I I . T e n ) . Maji,rs. 0110 c o m p a n y r M I w a s e o m p o s e d o f B r a n c h C o u n t y men. I t s officers w h e n musterts1 w e r e S o l i d i tings, of Coldwater, first lieutenant; Andrew D . Hail, of Quincy, second lieutenant; the company a t that time having For about three months after its muster remained at the rendezvous without rewiring agues, and at the tinie of its departure for the seat of war the ress Ind been but partially armed, though faity equipped. T h e command left Detroit for the &oat as the 4th her, 1862, and proceeded to Washingtoe, where through the winter. I n the sprig of 1863, been fully armed, it was smelted to the d Brigade of the �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . x 31 Division o f the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. As it is impracticable t o furnish a detailed account of its almost innumerable marches, and constantlyments and counter-movements during the campaign we give in brief a list of the engagements with in which the regiment took part during that eventful year, namely: Hanover, Va., June 3 0 ; Hunterstown, Pa., July 2; Gettysburg, Pa., J u l y 3 ; Monterey, Md., J u l y 4 ; Cavetown, Md., July 5 ; Smithtown, Md., July boro', Md., July 6; Hagerstown, Md., July 7; Williamsport, Md., July 7 ; Boonsboro', Md., July 8 ; Hagerstown, Md., July 1 0 ; Williamsport, Md., J u l y 10 ; Falling Waters, Va., July 14; Snicker's Gap, Va., July 19 ; Kelly's Ford, Va., September 1 3 ; Culpeper Court-House, ber 14; Raccoon Ford, Va., September 16; White's Ford, Va., September 2 1 ; Jack's Shop, Va., September 2 6 ; James City, Va.. October 1 2 ; Brandy Station, ber 18; Buckland's Mills, Va., October 19; Va., November 19; Morton's Ford, Va., November 26. A t the close of the active operations of 1863, the 5th went into camp at Stevensburg, Va., passing the winter there, and i n picket duty along the line o f the Rapidan. About the 1st of March it took part i n the raid Kilpatrick t o t h e defenses o f Richmond, where i t was attacked March 2 by the enemy in large force, to retire t o New Kent Court-House, where it joined GM. Butler. A detachment of the regiment had Col. Dahlgren in the famous raid in which he lost his life. I t advanced t o within five miles of Richmond the enemy from his first and second lines of was finally compelled to retreat behind the A t Old Church the body containing the detachment of the 5th was attacked and compelled to cut its way to White House Landing, which WRS reached on the following day. On the 11th it embarked at Yorktown, moved by the York and Potomac Rivers to Alexandria, and thence to at Stevensburg. I t was then transferred fmm the 3d to the 1st Cavalry Division at Culpeper The 5th took an active part in the famous campaign of Gen. Grant, in 1864. I t crossed the Rapidan on the 5th of May, and on t h e 6th and 7th was hotly engaged with the enemy in the Wilderness. I t was in Sheridan's great cavalry expedition against the rebel ing at Beaver Dam Station on the 9th of May, at Yellow Tavern on the 10th and 11th, and at Meadow Bridge on the 12th. O n the 14th i t crossed the Chickahominy at Bottom's Bridge, marched thence t o Malvern H i l l , and from there t o Hanover Court-House, destroying railroad track and bridges. I t crossed the Pamunkey River at White House on the 22d; and, marching by way lett's and Concord Church, rejoined the Army of mac, near Chesterfield, on the 25th. It was in the action at Hawes' Shop, May 28, more Cross-Roads on the 29th, and at Cold Harbor and Old Church Tavern on the 30th. Again, on the the line of the Virginia Central Railroad, it fought villian Station, June 11 , where the enemy were driven several miles, leaving i n the hands o f the Union troops about six hundred prisoners, fifteen hundred horses, one stand o f colors, six caissons, forty ambulances, and fifty II 8 wagons. O n the 12th i t was engaged a few miles nearer Louisa Court-House on the Gordonsville Road, ing thence towards the James River, crossed and marched t o Jerusalem Plank-Road, south burg. O n the 4th of August it embarked for and moved thence through Maryland and across mac, to Halltown and Berryville, Va. I t fought chester on the 11th, and a t Front Royal on the 16th of August. O n t h e 19th a squadron o f the regiment was attacked by Mosby's guerrillas, and was driven to the main body, with a loss o f sixteen killed and Among the subsequent engagements of the regiment during the valley campaign of 1864 were Leetown town, A u g . 2 5 ; Opequan Creek, Aug. 2 8 ; Smithfield, Aug. 2 9 ; Berryville, Sept. 3 ; Summit, Sept. quan, Sept. 1 9 (where i t routed the enemy's cavalry, broke his infantry lines, captured two battle-flags and four hundred prisoners); Luray, Va., Sept. 24 (captured forty prisoners); M o u n t Crawford, Va . , Oct. 2 ; Woodstock, Oct. 9 ; Cedar Creek, Oct. 19 (capturing a large number of prisoners, and driving the enemy in great confusion); and Newtown, Nov. 12, where i t fought an of the After the last-named action, the regiment returned to Camp Russell, near Winchester, Va., where until Feb. 27, 1865, when i t broke camp and east, as part o f Sheridan's force, on the famous raid of that general t o the James River. I t was engaged in action at Louisa Court-House, March 18, 1865, and, joining the Army o f the Potomac before Petersburg, fought under Sheridan at Five Forks, Va., March 30 and 31, and April 1. O n the 2d of April it was engaged with the the Southside Railroad ; on the 4th at Duck Pond Mills; on the 6th at Sailor's Creek ; and then took part i n t h e closing events at Appomattox Court-House, from the 6th to the 9th of April, 1865. After the surrender o f Lee the 5th moved with the Cavalry Corps t o Petersburg, and was ordered thence, shortly afterwards, to North Carolina. I t returned ington, D. C., in time to participate in the grand review of the veteran armies o f Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, in the latter part o f May. Immediately after this i t was moved West with the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Ohio and Rivers, to St. Louis; thence by steamer on the Missouri River t o Fort Leavenworth, Mo. T h e r e the men having two years or more to serve were transferred to the 7th Michigan Cavalry; and then, on the 22d of June, the 5th was mustered out o f service. T h e Detroit on the 1st of July, where the men received their pay and Al F,S1BNIRS O F T I M F I F T H ! 9 1 1 C I I I G A N C A V A L R Y F R O M I I R A N C I I C O U N T Y. A n d r o w I ) . 11).11, Q u i n e y, 2,1 l i e u t . ; e n l . A u g . 14, I B M ; res. J u n e fi, M I L 5m,111 11. Heating?), C o l d w a t e r, 1 . 1 g e n t . ; e 0 . A u g . 1 4 , 1 8 6 2 ; a t p t . , J u n . 1 0 , 186.1; w o m o l e d a t Tr e r I l l t e n M a l l o n , Va . , J a n e I S I V A ; m a j o r, A u g . 9, 1864; I l e u t . - r o l . , N o v. 1 0 , 1 8 6 4 ; c o l . , D e c . I T, 1 9 6 4 ; o n e . o u t J u n e 2 2 , 1966. M a d l t o n N . 1111bb4ne, C o l d w a t e r, 24 b r u t . ; a n t . W n r e h 1 4 0 4 ; l o t H e s t . , A u g . 1864; e s p . , Reit. 1 , 1 9 6 6 ; m o o t . n o t . l e n e 22, 1860, w i t h regftnent, Arno)) H i n g h a m , Q n 1 n e y, 2,1 D e n t , e n l . 4/et 2 7 , 1 t 6 4 ; l e t l i e u t . , F o b . 1, 1866 mnaL out J u n e 21, this.'. S i l l , r e g i m e n t �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . on, II I I uni, roblaater l i e u t . ow u o w t out J o n , $9 Healy AI. Fos, Coldualer, 2,1 l o u t n o oidgt m o o t . out June 22, ISO:, 001. regiolout. Govan!, M. William Andrew., must. out John Adams, dier.b. by order, July William H. Black, died of distme at Washington, D. C., Aug. Lost Busley, missing l i t Richmond, Va., Amos Bingham, di.. • Thomas Henry Baines, most. 4,1 Matthew B. Nathan C. Canfield, died ..1 Ese.o, a t lo to .,1, l$ Charles C. Craft, killed by guerrillas in skirmish at Berryville, Va., 186 Peleg Canner, climb. for disability, May Orrin D. Curtin, disch. by order, Sylvester T. Chase, must. out June Parmeniu Casey, meat out June Peter H. Dubendoii, trona to 7th Charles A. Ford, must. out June Henry H. Fox, must. out James A. Furgeson, must. out Isaiah Fox, killed in skirmish by guerrillas at Berryville, Va., Ang. 19,1964. John H. Gripman, died in Andemonvillo prison, April 8,1864. Charles H. Goodrich, trans. to 7th Mich. Cur. Arnold Goodman, disci,. for disability, David Gibbito, most. out H. Hobbs, must. out June William H. Hunt, must. out Seymour H. Houle, disch. fur disability, Fob. William H. Harkness, died of dieease at Annapolis, Md., Aug. 2,1863. Fernando A. Jones, most. out June Stephen Keyser, disch. by order, Sept. Fluette King, trans. to 7th Mich. Car. Charles Little, died in prison at Richmond, Va., April 28,1864. Silencer Leigh, trans. to 7th Mich. Cay. Zelotes Mather, died of disease at Frederick, I M e C r e e r y , died in action at Hawes' Shop, Va., May Millimun, trans. to Marshall, trans. to 7th JO/IIVI H. McGowan, disch. for disability, Doc. James Mills, must. out June John R. Morey, raptured lit Dahlgren'e raid around Richmond, Va.; must. out .111.1110 William Nielson, trans. to Vet. Res. Corp., March Ib,bert B. Nieison, most. coot June Ne.bit J. Nerd, must. mit Jone Edward S. Ogden, died in prison at Anders:m.111e, Ca., Isaac C. Osburn, killed in skirmiell by guertillee at Berryville, Va., Aug. 19, 186 Samuel I. Osborn, disch. by order, May Ephraim lariat, must. ,sa .1.ihn H. Pratt, must. out Ezra Pool, murt. out P. H. Reynold.. nowt. out John A. Snyder, died in prison at A nilersionville, Go., Sept. Spiire E. Skeels, killed i n skirmish b y guerrillas at Berry, i l l , Va., Aug. 19, 1,4; Ilowanl Swoop., must. 101II Jidy \Vni. F. Teacliont, disch. by order, Ang. l i o n . , 31. 'NB, missing iti net' a t Richmond, Va. Ill., •rt l T i n , must. out June tia. It. l'sy lor, noist. not $l,arle, Timeopoon, nowt. ont $Sin, Van t i l l e r , trans. to 7th M i r k Car. 31. I,. Vieory, killed in S m i t h f i e l d , Va., Aug. Vaokyilla, t i n t , , for dbability, Jan. Wo,. S. Van Gictoon, dinch. by onler, July :I:tall-WI E. Vanderker, must. out July Frani a Al. I I , ight, oiled of dimenso at Baltimore, Md., Sept. 1 8 6 4 . IVittkIns, $1b$d in aetion at TI/11.111/ Tavern, Va., May William It. Waikin., nowt. out J o u r Vincent Watkins, mind. out June iboirge While, killed in skirmish by guerrilla. at Berryville, Va., It. C. Worthington, killed In * U m i a k by guerrilla. at Berry 0.11e, Va., 106. Milo Board. Co. 1 ; Irons b$ 1z1 Mieb Cay. James Col•ti, I V I , $ • Edwanl Carr, Co • John Do•rtniA. Co. , Elisha lbotioreet, Co. I E a . , . to 7011 St...', I ; 0 0 0 0 . to :tr. )11,1, I s . . Lobe, $ d i o t i l $ b y .411,, 'boil,. $ ohdbout , trans. to :tit blicb Cav prootwo, I E ; t r a n s to lot Mich. a n J o n , . J l'en,1111, i t t , l i a n a to lot Illicit t r y I.,„ ; , 4 ., 4, ; (Fuoo. t . lel Mich c a r Art .41.1or, 9 : 9 9 i . to 7th Mo colbert %au 1 , t r o n o 1,7,1i Mi$ C u i . Ge..09. 9 V•III G o o n , I L w a n e t o 7t1, Mo ( n o , CHAPTER XIX, E I G H T H , N I N T H , A . N D E L E V E N T H C A . V . A . L H Y. Braneh C o u n t y i n t h e t o l l C a v a l r y — I n K e n t u c k y i n 1 8 6 — C h a s i n g 111.itifun--Cu1turing P r i s o n e r s — To E a s t Tennessee—Defeated a t A t h e n q — S k i r i n i i t h i n g i n t h e Va l l e y — o n F o o t t o K e n t u c k y mounted— J o i n , S h e r i t i a n — I n t h e A t l a n t a C a m p a i g n — D r i v e / t h e Enemy f S h e r m a n ' s F l a n k — S u r p r i s e d a n d R o u t e d — B a c k t o N a d i B o o d — C o n s o l i d a t e d w i t h t h e 11 t h Mustered n u t — I t s o ff i c e r s an.1 Soldiers--Rendesvous o f a l r y a t Coldwater- - C o m p a n y I f r o m B r a n c h C o u n t y — tucky i n M a y , 1863— F i g h t w i t h G u e r r i l l a s — B i t ided, t o C a p t u r e Morgan—Complete S u e e e , s — Vi e t o r y 1.3 e v e r y L l e t a c l i t u e n t — W i t b Burnside in Emit Tonne/sec—Brilliant S u r c . , , at Cumberland G a s —Numcnom Engagements—Repulsed b y I n t e n t r y — D i s m o u n t e d and Remounted— R o u t i n g M o r g a n — t r a d e r K i l p a t r i c k lanta and down to the Bea—Battles a n d Birdensivitee--Throogh the Carolinas—Other Engagements— To Baltimore a n d l i o m e tered o u t — L i s t o f Mentbers—Branch C o u n t y i n t h e alry—Scouting in Kentucky—Defeating Morgan—Defeated ville, Va . — G u e r r i l l a F i g h t i n g i n Tensessee--Routing Va n g i m i s Virginia— F r o m Tennessee to South Carolina--Complete &roams A l o n g Raid—Cmisolidated with t h e 8 t h C a v a l r y — M e s t e r e d o u t —List o f Officers EIGHTH C AVA L R Y. THIS regiment, the rendezvous of which was at Mount Clemens, did not take the field until May, 1863 D u r i n g its service it contained about eighty men from Branch County, principally in Companies B, C, and M, with a few individuals scattered through Companies A , D, N, G, H . I, and L. T w o of its captains—Henry L. Sillick jah J . Devens—were o f this county, the former being a resident of Quincy and the latter of Coldwater. T h e Norman L . Otis, of Unim City. was chaplain of the 8th during all the latter part of' its term Immediately on entering the field t h e placed WO active duty in Kentucky, and was one o f the foremost in the pursuit of the guerrilla chief, gan, through Indiana and Ohio. A t him at Buffington Island, 0., it immediately attacked and routed his command, capturing two hundred prisoners, besides killing and wounding a ber. T h e regiment then proceeded to East Tennessee. A t Calhoun and Athens, in that State, on the 20th and 27th of September, the brigade to which i t belonged feated and driven back by a large rebel force Forrest and Wheeler, the 8th having forty-three wounded and The regiment was very actively engaged skirmishing up and down the Valley of the Tennessee until the forepart o f February, 1864, When i t tarsal over its horses to the quartermaster's department and marched on �HISTORY O F B R A N C H Ga. A s a part of the cavalry force under the 8 t h advanced towards Atlanta, covering the right o f Sherman's command, and frequently engaged w i t h t h e enemy. T h e latter were usually forced t o retire, b u t on the 3d of August, after the regiment had been cut off from the main force, and had cut its way through the enemy, after seven days and nights of continuous marching, with almost n o sleep, i t was surprised and routed, with t h e loss o f two hundred and fifteen officers and men, mostly taken prisoners. T h e remainder of the regiment ployed on picket duty until the middle of it was ordered to Kentucky, and then back to Nashville. The 8th was engaged through the month of November in skirmishing with the cavalry advance of Hood's army, being several times surrounded by the enemy, but always managing to cut its way out. A f t e r Hood was defeated at Franklin and Nashville, and driven out of Tennessee, this regiment had no service more severe than suppressing the guerrillas which still infested the country. I n J u l y the 11th Cavalry was consolidated with the 8th, regiment retaining the latter name. I t was mustered out at Nashville on the 221 of September, 1865, at Jackson about the 30th. OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE EIGHTH CAVALRY FROM BRANCH COUNTY. Henry L. Sellick, Quincy, 2,1 lieu t.; enl. Nov. 1,1862; copt, Aug. 31,1863; rev. Oct. 27, Elijah J. D e r e . , Coldwater. coot ; enl. Nov. 1,1862; rot. A p r i l 8,1864. Smedley Wilkinson, Quincy, l s t lieut.; end Nov. 1.1862; res. Jan. 10,1064. David Noteman, Coldwater, lot lieut.; N o v . 1, 1862; rot. June Waiter B u r r i t t Coldwater. 2.1 Ileta, e n l . Nov. 1, 1862; r . . Jan. c h a r t . 0. TA lot, ..old w:Lter, 3,1 lieut., end Aug. 31, 18611; res. Sept. H.tort,. N h u m ' , 2,1 lo- t . . col. Shy 2, Doll; res. May 17,1863. Horace Wo.eldridge, coldwater, 2,1 liend ; enI.Jan. 8,1868; hon. disch. 1865, on .usulidation with 11 tb Car. Nu matt 6,. Otia, Union City, chaplain, hon. disch. Sept. 72,1865, with regiment Benjamin C. Barnes, Co. I ; must. out Sept. George B a t . , Co. C; must. out William Ball, Co. It; diseh. by order, June Jacob Baker, Co. H m u s t . out Oct. Francis Beedle. Co. 31; died of Mamie at Annapolis, Md., May 3,1864. Co..,,,. Herrin, Co. B ; most. out Sept. Hiram Blackmer, Co. B; trans. to Vet, Red. Corp., May William Beecher, Co. B; trans. to Vet. Bee. Corps, Jan. William Butnngton, Co. 1; m u s t ant Sept. Walter Besemer, Co. B; ilisch. by order, July David W. Burring, Co. 11; must. out Sept. /treble Corwin, Co. 81: disch. for disability, March 20,1862. Jeremiah Coleman, Co. B; died of disease at Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. John H. chivois, Co. E ; moat. out Sept. 22,1065. Jame, C. Church, B ; trans. to Vet. Bea Corps, Jan. 69,1864. Benj. F. Clark, Co. B . wont. ont June Stephen Comb., Cn. B ; d a r k . June Alexander Fisk, Co. B. d .ed George Franklin, Co. ; tenon. to Vet. Res. Corp., Nov. 1,1863. William Vilma, Co. B; died of dineese at camp Neleon, Ky., Dec. Lewin R. To o t Co. I t ; killed by expbeion o f steamer on Mississippi River, April William J. Teeter, Co. ; must. out Sept George Carlson, Co. (1; most. out Sept. ?rands Hadley, Co. I I ; diech. for disaisility, April Enos B. Harney, Co. 31; moat. not May Julies Hosightaling, Co. L ; m u s t oat Sept. Horace W. Hunt, CO. B ; m u s t ant Peter W. Hughes, Co. ; disch. for diaildlity. Vernon C. Howe, Co. X ; Mech. Ifor 2 4 , 1 4 6 6 . Jolt./ Henry, r. . C; moot. out Sept- 22, M d . libria J. Mill, Co. B; Mach. by order, Sept. 7,1685. I n a n e Jerome, Co. B; miming in inkil on Macon, Oa, Aug. J e t . . Etamek, Co. C; most. out Jonathan lonsdnig, CO. B; died in Andersooril le prie.on, March Thome J. tanning, On. B; wont out Joon Emotes J. Lewis, co. ; 113/10t. one Sept. 21, M e . Joke M. L a n d . , Co. C; anat. out Oct. 10, J•row Lower, Co. ; Week. for diaabillty, Mardi WI. IOW. COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 8 William McKinney, Cu. C; taunt. out Sept. Edward C. McDoniels, Co. It; din,!,. Jitne David Musaelmon, Co. 11; moat. out Sept. Reuben T. Mathews, Co. M. Anson W. Merritt, Co. E; must. out Sept. Henry C. Norton, Co. B; killed by exploeion of steamer, April Mortimer J. Nash, Co. C; must. out Sept. William Newman, Co. C; must, out Sept. Edgar T. Ormsby, Cu. X ; Mech. for dieability, Oat. John B. Parkinson, Cu. B; disch. for disability, Oat, Henry N. Perrino, Co. B. William Power., Co. C; must. out Sept. Eliphalet Page, Co. I t ; (Bach. by order, Sept. J. A. R u e d . , Co. B; died of disease at Knoxville, Tenn., March John W. Roger., Co. B; meet. out E l i . Rose, Co. B; must. out Sept. L. B. Robbins, Co. B; moat out June John Smith, Co. B; died of diemse at Lexington, Ky., April George Smith, Co. 11; missing in action at Hentyville, Tenn., Samuel Speucur, Cu. B ; died of disease at Camp Nelson, Ky., Dec. Charles Sutherland, Co. C; must. out Erwin Splitstone, Co. A ; died of d i m . ° at Pulaski, Tenn., Nov. Churles G. Seabury, Co. B ; must. out June Cyrus H. Spofford, Co. I ; must. out Sept. Calvin E. & o n t o . , Co. D ; meet. not. Sept. David A. Farman, Co. B; must. out Sept. Ammon 0. Wood, Co. B ; died at Andersonville prieon, Sept. Oliver M. Wentworth, Co. C; trans. to Vet. Res. Corp., John Weller, Co. B; trans. to Vet. Rot. Corp., Kay C h a d . Wright, Co. B; trans. to Vet. Bee. Corp*, Jon. Sanford E. Wood, Co. 11; diecharged. Manly C. White, Co. B; discb. by order, June Lewis C. Wheeler, Co C; must. out Sept. 0. 11. W. d w o r t l i , Co. K ; diech. for promotion, Seth %Float., Co. M; disch. for disability, Jonathan Wilson, Co. M; ditch, for disability, April William J. Young, Co. C; must. out C h a r l . A. Zimmerman, Co. G; must. out Oct. NIN TH CAVALRY. This regiment had its rendezvous at the city water, and i t s formation was commenced there i n t h e autumn of 1862. O n e company ( I ) was largely recruited in Branch County by its first captain, Jonas of Coldwater. C a p t . Otis H . Gillman, o f Company K , was also a resident o f Coldwater, and men o f Branch County were found serving in nearly all The regiment, except two incomplete companies, left the rendezvous about May 20, 1863, and moved to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Hickman's Bridge. O n the 12th o f June it was ordered in pursuit of Everett's engaged them at Triplett's Bridge, capturing a number. J u l y 4 i t joined i n the pursuit o f Morgan's guerrilla forces, following them through Kentucky, fighting their rear-guard at Lebanon, and capturing a colonel and fifty prisoners. A t Westport, Ky., on of July, the regiment was divided into three parts. O n e detachment, proceeding by river to Cincinnati, joined Gen. Hobson's forces, who pursued and overtook at Buffington's Island, in the Ohio River, and tured five hundred prisoners, with three pieces and a large number of small-arms. A n o t h e r portion took boats at Lawrenceburg, K y. , on the 14th, went mouth, Ohio, landed, pursued the enemy Meigs Co., Ohio, overtook him, and captured a part of his force; and then, joining Gen. Shackleford's command, at Buffington's Island, marched to Eight-Mile the foe W813 again engaged, and more than prisoners captured. T h e remaining part of the regiment received orders on the 24th to join the pursuit of tion o f Morgan's forces which had escaped capture a l Bul5ngton's Island. U n d e r these orders �I H 111 0 1 2 1 . 1 i l ) I S 1:1111$.1.) T O R Y . ‘ l i 1 1 8 1 ) J i i i i c i i , i i 3 O i l O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . t h e o h , . and, marching thence towards Steubenville, overtook the enemy near that town on the 25th o f with him during the night, and in the morning engagement which resulted in the rout of the with a loss o f sixty-seven killed and wounded, and three hundred and five prisoners; this being almost number of men in the attacking After this expedition the detachments were reunited at Covington, Ky., and the regiment joined Gen. Burnside's expedition to East Tennessee; engaging the enemy don, September 2 , and reaching Knoxville on t h e 3 d . Making little or no stop there, i t marched on land Gap, where it took part in the movements sulted (September 8) in the surrender of the at that point, consisting of two thousand five with fourteen pieces o f artillery. T h e 9th with the enemy at Carter's Station, September 21; licoffer, on the 25th ; at Leesburg, on the 29th; at Blue Springs, October 5 and 10; and at Rheatown, on the 11th. After this it was encamped at Henderson Station time, engaged i n scouting and cavalry picket duty. O n the 6 t h o f November i t moved towards mishing with the enemy at Clinch Mountain on the 7th, and was engaged in a sharp fight, two miles town, on the 10th. A t Bean's Station, on the 14th, attacked and driven towards Rutledge. F r o m this time until the 15th of January it was almost in skirmishing, scouting, and most fatiguing picket duty. On the 16th it moved from Dandridge towards B u l l Gap, encountered the enemy's infantry in heavy force bro's Cross-Roads, and was repulsed with a loss two killed, wounded, and missing. F r o m that field tired by way of Strawberry Plains to Knoxville; reaching that place with two-thirds o f its men dismounted; t h e horses having been worn out by reason of the severity of the duty on which they had The regiment returned to Kentucky to be and was in camp at Nicholasville in that State through the month o f May, 1864. O n the 8th o f June i t was once more moved in pursuit of its old antagonist, John Morgan, whose forces it encountered at Cynthiana at four o'clock in the morning of the 12th, routing them and taking dred and ten prisoners. I t continued t h e pursuit u n t i l Morgan entered the mountains, and then the 9th returned to Nicholasville, where i t remained until J u l y, when i t moved southward to join the army of Gen. Sherman. I t "ached the vicinity of Atlanta on the 8th of August, and on the 9th joined the Cavalry Division under Kilpatrick, with whom i t was employed in the operations lanta, till the fall o f the city, and afterwards in the great march to the sea. I t was engaged at Stone Sept. 13, 1864; a t Lovejoy's Station, November 1 6 ; a t Clinton, Ga., November 19; at Griswoldville, at Macon, November 2 1 ; at Milledgeville, November 24; :it Louisville, November 2 6 ; at Waynesboro', 28 and December 4 ;* at Cypress Swamp, December?; near 0 On this occasion i t charged with t h e aabre, taking f o u r hundred prisoners, and f o r i t s gallantry received special notiee in man's report to the Wa r D e p a r i e , et a . I . December 41; Arnold's. Plantation 1 k.c,. and at Altamaha Bridge, December 17. From December 18 it remained camped until Jan. 27, 1865, when, with its division, it the Carolina campaign, crossing the Savannah River into South Carolina at Lister's Ferry on the 3d of February. In its program through South and North Carolina', ment was engaged in the following fights and at Salkehatchie, S. C., February 6; White 9; Aiken, S. C., February 11; Lexington, February 15; Broad River Bridge, S. C., February 17; Roads, N . C., March 4 ; Watlesboro', N . C., March 5 ; Solemn Grove, N. C., March 10; Averysboru', N. C. eral engagement), March 1 5 ; Bentonville, N. C. engagement), March 2 0 and 2 1 ; Raleigh Railroad, N. C., April 11 ; Raleigh, N. C., April risville, N. C., April 13, 1865 ; the last-named ing in the surrender of Raleigh to Kilpatrick. Resuming the march, on the 14th the 9th moved by way Hill (where the news o f Lee's surrender was received;. Hillsboro', Greensboro', and Lexington to Concord, where it encamped on the 14th of May, and where it was mustered out of service, July 21. I t marched thence to Lexington, where i t took railway transportation t o City Point, Va., thence by river and bay to Baltimore, and then by rail to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, and Jackson, where on the 30th of July, and was paid and disbanded. been stated (and there is no reason to doubt that the last hostile shut in the great Rebellion, east of the Mississippi; was fired by the 9th Michigan Cavalry. MEMBERS OF T H E N I N T H CAVALRY FROM BRANCH COUNTY. Jonas H. McGowan, Coldwater, capt.; enl. Nov. 3, 1862 ; rm. Jan. Otis H. Gilbun, Coldwater, rapt ; enl. Nov. 3, 1862; rm. March I I , 1665 Smith W. Fisk, Coldwater. let lieut.; enl. Nov. 3, 1h63; wounded in • a l r e n i t h with Morgans raiders a t alineville, 0., July 26, 1162.1; a r i a . bility, Nor. John D. Smalls, California, 2d lieut.; m l . Dee. 28,1862; 1st lieut., a r c h 15, 1864; must. ont July 21,1865, with regiment. Charles I t . Smith, Girard, 2d hest.; enl. March 27, 1863; t a lient, J r . 17, 1861; rapt., Aug. 19, 18e5; must. Oct July 21,1666, with regiment Benton T. Russell, Coldwater, 21 heat ; s e r g t . , Feb. 27, 1856; m a t out July 21, 1865, with regiment. George W. Howard, 2d Heat.; enl, as eergt, Oct. 26, 1864; sun& out 1865, with regiment. Alfred K. Miller, Coldwater, 2d lieut.; enl. es *mgt. June 27.1885; W . out July 21, 1865, with regiment Milton Allen, C.. C; died of diseme $A Nashville, Time., Aug. 2., late. Samuel All Mai, CO. It; must. out Juno Alexander Black, Co. K ; killed in action at Stone Monistein, Am, Oct. 2, l a l James Ballard, Co. D ; died of disease at Camp Nelson, M y, April Lyman Rama, Co. K ; died of dimate at Knoxville, Team, Jan. Asked L. Baird, Co. it; ditch. for disability, Feb. Georg. R. Bennett, On. K ; ditch. for disability. March 16. i t Warren E. Bills, Co. B ; ' Benjunin F. Belden, I. George W. Warren A. Blye, Co. I • , . Stanley Bidwell, Co. 1; George Blair, Co. 1; Zehelnii Birch, Os. 1; m e e t Peter B. Case, Co. 1; died of Rice W. Cheperan, C o t ; Louis Creer, Co. 1 r Collins W. C u n t , Charlet [lonelier, Benjamin Duck, Co. L ; trim, Wm. R. Dunn, Co.!; Charles Drake, C o . ! ; Joromieh �HISTORY O F B R A N C H Albert E. Crooke°. K ; most. oot June Daniel Francie, CO. R ; moot out July David Franklin, Co. G.. Philip Fonda, Coil; di•ch. for dieability, Feb. John Fisher, Co. I ; disci.. for disability, Doc. Jam.. Iritagemld, N. C. 8.; moot. out July Jackson Gillam, Co.!; died of d h o w st Knoxville, Teon., Henry G. Goode, Co. B; most out July Hiram Hulse, Co. I ; died of disettee at Knoxville, Tenm, William A. Harkins, Co. B; must. out July Eugene Hillard, Co. F.; must. out July John A. Holmes, Co. 6 ; most. out July George F. Hartzell, Co. L; must. out into William S. Hopkins, Co. K ; must. old John Hiverly, Co. K; must. out July 21,1862. Fraucis 311. &mem, Co. B; most. out Ira G. K i m . , Co. I ; must. out July 21,1866. Oliver Lapier, Co. ; must. out Francis La &tote, Co. F ; most. mit July 21,1865. Robert G. Long, Co.!; must. out July Martin Lockwood, Co. 1; no..t. out July Fred Miller. Co. D; disch. for disability. John T. Menial', Co. I ; disch. for disability. Z. D. IlIcGovrtm, Co.!; climb, by order, July George Moon, Co. I ; missing in John E. McCarty, Co. L ; must. out July 21,1865. Alfred K. Miller, Co. I.; must. out July John McPhail, Co. E; moot. '01 May William H. Moore, Co. E ; must. out Elise Michael, Co. I ; most. out July 21,1065. David F. Miseuer, Co. I ; must. ,att July Ne6sti R. Nye, Co. IC; must. out July 21,1866. David Nelson, Co. I ; must. out July Henry I. Ogden, Co. I ; must. "tit June Isaac W. Pierce, Co. E; must. otit . William H . Rosie, CO. I ; must. out July Joseph Robinson, Co. 6 ; must. out June Henry 11) niter, Co. F; trans. to I l t h Mich. Batt., William Rowley, Co. F ; trans. to 11th R a o _ Nov W. W. Scott, Co. K ; died of ilisea0.. at Covington, Ky., Joly Jam...Stows, Co. L ; died in Ander...vine Thomas Stelhortt, Co. I, ; trans. to Vet. 11.,. corps, To , Emmaus L. Smith, " o , ! trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. Sam,, 3. SOlil l. S K ; trans. to Vet. Res. Corp.., Jan. Jacob Sli irnerly. C... 1 trans. to V pt. Res. Corm John A. Smith, Co. A; most. out July 21,1866. George Selleck, Co. E; most. not July 21,1866. Luther W. Smith, Co. K ; most. out July Jephtha Simplon, Co. K m u i t t . . t July James D. Studley, Co. I ; most. out July 21.1865. Jealse Taft, Co. I ; most out July 21, 186. Hazel Tyrrell, Co. K ; most. out George W. Thayer, Co. H ; olied of disesme at Knoxville, Tenn., July 6,1864. George W. fhayer,-Co. B; moot ont July John Chita. Co.!; must clot July 21,1665. F. Vanderhoof, Co. G.; died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., John H. Welts, Co. I ; died,. for disability, J o , , Hozdninin Wilting, Co. K ; moat. out July Ree4. V. M i l e r, Co. I ; o u t out Jim. Aug. Wentworth, Co.!; meet. oat E L E V E N T H C A V A L R Y. This regiment contained about thirty men County, all of whom, with the exception of two were members of Company M . T h e regiment ganised at Kalamazoo, and left that rendezvous ber, 1863, for the scene of war in After scouting in Kentucky about six months, the 11th come in collision with the noted rebel cavalry H. Merges, at Mount Sterling, and after a utterly routed hie command. O n the 12th of June up witb the remainder of his force at Cynthiana, the sons of chivalry were compelled to fly before of )lichian. I n the latter part of September, r•giment moved with its divi,ittft on a long and tt.tlittno raid t,v,•r the mountain,t t , 74altvitt.•, h . . found to be fortified and well defended by a large ultder General Brerkinridge. T h e attack failed, and the command returned to Kentucky. COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 8 the latter part of Nevember the 11th 1938 ordered to East Tennessee, where it was engaged in the with guerillas and rebel cavalry until the middle ary, 1865, when i t marched with General Stoneman on an important raid into Virginia. O n the 16th of January it fought with Vaughn's Brigade a l l d a y near Abington, Va., completely routing i t and capturing all its artillery and two hundred and fifty men. A f t e r ridge's infantry, destroying the salt-works at ing an arsenal, and capturing a large quantity and artillery, the command passed over the mountains into Kentucky, three-fourths of the horses being worn out and the men In t h e early part o f March t h e regiment, with new horses, again went t o East Tennessee, and joined another expedition of General Stoneman into North Carolina, A t Salisbury, in that State, on the 12th of April, defeated a large force o f the enemy, capturing eighteen hundred prisoners and twenty-two pieces o f artillery. I t then passed on through South Carolina into on the 11th of May captured the cavalry escort son Davis near Washington, Georgia. I t then went back through South Carolina to On the 20th of July, the 11th was consolidated with the 8th Michigan Cavalry, taking the name of the ment. T h e consolidated regiment was mustered out i n September, as MEMBERS OF T H E ELEVENTH CAVALRY FROM BRANCH COUNTY. Abram E. Stowell, Coldwater, let lieut.; enl. Aug. 1, 1863 ; res. Martin S. Perkins, Coldwater, 24 lieut.; en!. Aug. 1,1863; res. Edwin R. Bove., Co. M. William E. Hurtles/I, Co. M. Edward Bates, Co. M; trans. to 8th Mich. Cay. David Blase, Co. Id ; trona to 8th Charlet; S. Dunn, Co. A; disci.. by order, William J. Foster, Co. M ; trans. 100th Thome. B. Folcher, Co. M; disch. by order, Otto Gould, Co. M; disci,. by order, July George Garboll, Co. 141; trans. tooth John W. Holloart, Co. M; trans. to 801 Mich. Car. Thomas Howe, Co. M ; disch. by order, Aug. Julius Henry, Co. N; trans. 10 811, James Kobeck, Co. M; trane. to 811, Mich. Cat. George H. Kimball, Co. DI; disch, by order, July James Loomis, Co. M; must. out Sept. Erastus J. Lewis, Co. 111; trans. to 8th Mich. Car. John M. Landon,(25.51; trans.to 814 Jame. C. Moeller, Co. L; disch. Mortimer J. Nash, Co. M ; trans. to 811, Mich. CR, William Newman, Co. M; trans. to 8th William Powers, Co. NI; trans. to 8th Mich. Car. Wesley Preston, Co. M; trans. to 8th Mitt.. Car. Charlet, Sotherland, Co H ; t n . . . to 811t Mich. Car. David (tidier, Co. M ; trans. to Nth FL C. Thoropeon, Co. 111; most. mit J o . Lewis C. Wheeler, Co. 11; o a t , to Oth 011verr H. Wentworth, Co. 61 ; traits. to 0t1t Mich. C.v. William J. Young, 5 1 ; trans. to Ott, Chariot Zimmerman, Co. A; 0, 000. to Mb Mich. Cs.. C II A I " I ' E R X X. B AT T E R Y A , F I R S T L I G H T A R T I L L E R Y. • I t , Common N s m e - - I t s Fortnalion—Calleil the Coldwater Light illery—tiuns received at Detroit --Two Thirds VohiMeer for Three Velars—Ranks I I I l e . 1 - - - N oster-in - - F i r s t Officers--Goes Seat official designation one lima of " l e t Sin hatterier were rained i n Miehigan i n 1811142, belhp nontl.reti respectively from one t o six. I n t h e latter p o r t o f 1858 siz more 4 �86 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Front—Scene in Cincinnati—" Stick to Coldwater"--Sent Virginia—Rich Mountain—Receives Ten-Pound Parrotts of Rikwater and Greenbrier—Useless Preparations-801044d for Important Duty—The Advanoe under Gen. Mitchell—The First Shot at Bowling Green—A Forced March—Advance to Ala.—Important Capture—Become at Bridgeport—Back ville—Good service at Perryville- - I n the battle of Stone River Victory at Hoover's Gap—Defeat at Chickamauga—Five Guns Lost—At Chattanooga till end of War—List THIS battery was almost universally known tioned by the name of its first captain, Its formation was commenced very soon after of the President's first call for troops, on the 15th 1861. I t was composed very largely o f Branch County men, i t s nucleus being an artillery company (so called) which had been i n existence in Coldwater for some time before the commencement o f the war, under command of Capt. John NV. Culp. T h e recruiting of this company up to the required number was an easy task at that time, and was accomplished in a few days. Immediately the men and officers o f the " Coldwater Light Artillery" as they had named themselves, left Coldwater for signated rendezvous a t Detroit, there to be organized and drilled f o r a term o f service o f (as t h e y then believed) three months' duration, like that o f the 1st fantry. On reaching Detroit the men of the battery made their first halt at the fair grounds, and in the same most hospitably entertained a t the Michigan Exchange Hotel. S o o n after, they were marched to the fort (Wayne) near the city, for drill, military instruction, and practice under Lieut. Smith, a West Point officer, who assigned t o that special duty. T h e y here received their equipment of guns,—six indifferent brass sixcluding the one which they had previously used cruiting at Coldwater,—all being the property of and a part of its artillery armament, which all told, of eighteen guns; the other twelve o f cording to the report o f Quartermaster-Gen. Fountain for 1862, were supposed to be distributed among and cities of the State. H e says: " Our twelve remaining brass cannon might be collected together and rifled expense of about sixty dollars each." C e r t a i n i t was, that without such alteration they were well-nigh worthless, and even with i t they could b y no means be made serviceable pieces. T h e harnesses furnished to the battery were also incomplete and inferior i n nearly particular, but there was a f u l l complement o f excellent horses, purchased expressly for the use o f the battery in Branch County. Early in M a y it was announced that the United States would accept the battery only on condition that ments were made for a period of three years, and as declined to accept these conditions would be and left at liberty to return to their homes. _ were raised; the whole being officially considered al the of Michigan Light Artillery; the batteries being designated from A to M inclusive (omitting J). In fact, however, the batteries still operated separately, officers being assigned to staff duty. I t is, therefore, impossible to give a ..unneeb,1 lu-tur% .1 the r, gutuent, but geparate .ketch are circumstances about one-third Of the men and some of the prospective officers withdrew. T h e ranks were recruited to their full strength, and the battery tered i n t o t h e United States service b y Lieut.-Cml. K Backus, U.S. A., for three years front May 2 - 2 8 , 1661. The wishes of the men were consulted in the selection of officers, and the following, recommended t o the Governor, were duly Cyrus (.1. Loomis, captain; Charles A . Edmund*, Otis H. Gillen', first lieutenants; Roland Root, Chandler, second The " Coldwater Light as the "First Michigan Battery," and later as "Battery A, First Michigan Artillery") left Detroit, one hundred and twenty-three strong. on the let of June, by rail for Cincinnati. where they arrived i n the forenoon of Sunday, while the good people o f that city paring for church services. I n f a n t r y troops, on their way to the seat of war, had already passed through the city. but no artillery had been seen there; and as with i t s g r i m guns and other imposing paraphernalia, moved through the streets, it was an object of osity. I n t h e patriotic excitement o f the occasion t h e people neglected the call of the church-bells, gated b y thousands along the thoroughfares to the novel and warlike spectacle. Especially was miration o f hundreds o f total-abstinence men manifested at sight of the magic word on the caissons and limber-chests. for they believed it an exponent of the strict temperance principles of bers o f the battery. A benevolentevidently a clergyman, addressed one of the with pride and pleasure written all over his features, as he pointed to the inscription, said, "That'. right, boys; keep clear of whisky and stick t o cold water? T h a t triotism will take you through." T h e advice but perhaps the battery boys temporarily forgot wards i n the smoke and dust o f Perryville maug From Cincinnati the battery was moved by rail Dennison, being the first artillery command which arrived at that famous rendezvous. Several days later, i t was moved b y railroad t o Marietta, Ohio., being greeted with great enthusiasm along the entire route, but particularly at Chillicothe and Marietta. F r o m the latter place moved by steamboat down the Ohio to Parkersburg. W. Va., and thence (after an encampment of a few ceeded by rail t o Clarksburg, W. Va., where. with two or three Indiana infantry regiments. i t was posted on the heights commohling the town and its approaches. A f t e r a short stay at this place. the c.mtinand Gloved hannon, where a large body of Union troops were found concentrated, and where the men o f the battery Maj.-Gen. George B. McClellan. H e r e also, during their stay of one or tw) weeks, they received their tion, July 4, 1861. the inspecting officer being Sill. alio was afterwards killed at Stone River. On o r about the 8th d i e battery taresi m a i caber troops towards Rich Mountain, a part o f the Laurel H i l l which t h o r e ,..at by a defile through �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . the Staunton and Western turnpike. O n the of this mountain a force of the enemy, about sand strong, was intrenched i n heavy earthworks, and i t was against this force that the army of Gen. moving. A s they drew near the mountain in of the 10th o f July, the pickets of the enemy tered, and in a skirmish with them a man of the 9th Ohio Regiment was killed. T h i s was the first by the soldiers o f the battery. E a r l y the next morning the battle of Rich Mountain was commenced and fought by Gen. Roseerans, with a detachment o f the sisting of the 8th, 10th, and 13th Indiana, and 19th Ohio. The remainder of his forces, including the tery, were held by Gen. McClellan in readiness pate, but their services were not required, for the Indiana regiments which were engaged went in with a fury which was almost ferocity, and carried all before them. T h e y recollected the stigma which had been cast upon troops of their State for discreditable behavior in the Mexican war, and one, at least, of their regiments had inscribed on its colors the words " No Buena Vista." T h e y on this occasion to wipe out the old stain, and they most From Rich Mountain the battery moved with panion troops to Beverly, where i t gave in the capture of a large quantity of forage and plies which were greatly needed. F r o m that point moved t o the defense o f Cheat Mountain Pass, in which position i t remained for some weeks, and while newly equipped with ten-pounder rifled Parrott guns from the Pittsburgh arsenal ; the old armament being given to a battery, then recently formed, of Virginia Unionists. Though the battery had been i n an exposed position, and for some hours under fire at the battle of tain, its first actual engagement was that at the the Elkwater, W. Va., in the latter part of July, where it did good service. I t was again engaged at Greenbrier, W. Va., October 3, where, with Howe's (regular) battery, i t disabled all but one of the fifteen cannon which had upon the field, and also succeeded i n magazine. I t VMS under a hot fire f o r more hours, and ceased firing only when the last round nition was expended. I n this action a loss o f about six hundred was inflicted on the enemy, while the was very small i n comparison, i n the night after this engageinent. t h e battery bivouacked on t h e Greenbrier Mountain, from which place it moved back to ground at Elkwater. Soon after, it was moved to Huttonville, and here thinking this would probably be the place o f their winter quarters, commenced the construction of a suitable camp for that purpose. T h e y were, however, not long to Philippi, where they again commenced the construction of winter quarters for men and horses, but once more their labor proved to have been expended in vain; for in days after their arrival, orders were received from the War Department directing the battery to be transferred to vine, Ky., and its commander to report in that city D. C. Buell. The muse of this transfer was a projected movement of 8 7 Gen Buell southward from Louisville through the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, to the Tennessee River. W h e n this movement had been definitely decided on, wrote to the War Department asking that one of the best regular batteries, one i n which he could (for i t was a characteristic o f that morose martinet that he had little confidence i n any volunteer troops, infantry, cavalry, or artillery) to occupy such positions, and form such duties as could only be entrusted to skilled and tried artillerists i n the contemplated campaign. T o this application o f Gen. Buell, Gen. Halleck replied, in effect, as follows " I cannot send you such a regular you desire; but I send you, instead, Capt. Loomis' First Michigan Battery, which you will not find inferior respect to the best among the regular artillery." for the battery to report to Gen. Buell in Louisville result of this The command thereupon broke camp and marched to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, at Webster, from which point the men, horses, armament, etc., were shipped by rail t o Parkersburg, and thence by steamer on the Ohio River to Louisville. T h e r e Capt. Loomis received orders to join the division of Gen. 0 . M. Mitchell, at his camp of and organization at Bacon Creek. H e r e the mained until February, 1862, when i t advanced with the division towards Bowling Green, where the enemy ported as being i n heavy force. U p o n approaching the town, it was found that the Big Barren River (on side of which the town is situated) was and impassable. T h i s movement on Bowling Green had been a complete surprise t o the enemy. A b b o t t , in his "Civil War in America" says of it,—" Gen. Mitchell, with his heroic, devoted, and thoroughly-disciplined band, had succeeded in cutting off all intelligence of simply by their rapidity. H e had sent out his adroitly in advance, that they seized every solitary one of the enemy's pickets, and no man succeeded in crossing the river to carry the news o f his advance to A cannon planted upon an eminence sent the warning to the enemy, in the form o f a shell. . . . The very first intelligence the enemy had o f his from the bursting of a shell in the midst of a where several regiments of' the rebels were They were, however, preparing to evacuate, alarmed by the movement o f the army and gunboats up the They had destroyed all the bridges across Green with trains o f cars loaded with supplies, were preparing to escape through Nashville. T h e sudden fire Mttchelni batteries scattered the foe in such that they had not even time to fire the trains; engines, the care, and their abundant freight were thus saved. T h a t very night a rope ferry across the river, which b y the early dawn had over enough of the cavalry and infantry to of the town, the enemy flying before them." cannon-shot, sent screaming across the Big Barren narrated by Abbott, was fired by Lieut. the First Michigan Buttery, and that battery i t was. t. whose guns and horses were first crossed upon mows of the rope ferry which be mentions. 4 �E 88 H I S T O R Y OF BRANCH C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . ever, is incorrect in stating that " t h e engines, the their abundant freight were thus saved," for except the one train attached to the locomotive disabled by the shot from Loomis' battery. The damages to the engine were repaired with but little delay, and with i t Gen. Mitchell made a sance along the railroad towards Nashville, being panied by Capt. Loomis and other officers, and having with them a small force, including one gun o f this battery, under the immediate command of Lieut. Hale. A after, the battery was rapidly moved forward to " Murrell's Cave," and after a short stay i t was advanced w i t h the greatest possible speed to Edgefield, on River, opposite Nashville. S o great was t h e haste i n which this march was performed that i n one day Lieut. Root, commanding the battery, had occasion to horses to be " c u t out" and left by the way, hausted, or otherwise disabled b y the extreme severity o f the work which they were forced to perform. why this unusual speed was required was. to gain control of the Cumberland River at Nashville at the sible moment, to prevent the destruction of boats on the river, and to afford assistance, i f necessary, to the fleet Foote and the troops of Gen. Grant, which had a before accomplished the reduction o f The 1st Michigan, the foremost of the five companying Mitchell's force, entered Edgefield speed, and without a moment's delay took possession on a knoll upon the river-bank fronting Nashville, being the first Union battery which turned its guns upon city. T h e orders received by its commanding lieutenant, from Gen. Mitchell, were to double-shot with canister and promptly open fire upon the least indication of along the river-banks. B u t no movement was it proved that the enemy's forces had evacuated the city, which was occupied by the troops of Gen. Mitchell on the 25th of February. T h e battery encamped on freesboro' turnpike, where i t remained for two o r three weeks, and then moved on t o the town o f Murfreesboro', making a stay there of about the same duration. On the 3d of April i t moved with the successively through Wartrace, Shelbyville, ville, on the Elk River, to Huntsville, Ala., the vicinity of which place was reached in the evening of April 10. I n the early morning of the 11th the advance ville, having previously torn u p the railroad track above and below the town, thus preventing the trated there from escaping. Twenty-four hundred cars, and very large quantities of forage itary stores were captured, and, better than all, a principal object of the expedition, the severing of tween Chattanooga and Corinth, by the line of phis and Charleston Railroad, was Soon after the occupation of the town (April 28) tion o f the 1st Battery, under charge of Lieut. companied Gen. Mitchell on an expedition to Bridgeport, Ala., to destroy the railroad bridge across River at that point. T h e y were transported by railroad to a place a short distance above Stevenson, Ala., where the guns were taken from the cars, and for the remainder o f the distance were hauled by the men, with and difficulty, over roads and through nioraaaes description to Bridgeport. H e r e they opened upon the enemy on the opposite side of the river with so much vigor as to compel him to evacuate his pooition.—the fired, striking and completely dismantling a tached t o a train loaded with military stores. T h e rebel commander, Gen. Leadbetter, caused the southern end o f the magnificent railroad bridge to be set on fire, retreated with great precipitation. A considerable amount of forage and other atoms, which had been collected on the Bridgeport side by the enemy, fell into the hands of the Union forces, who, after burning the north end o f the bridge (leaving the central spans unharmed retired venson, and thence to Huntsville,—the guile of being hauled back to Stevenson by the aid of and mules which had been impressed into that service. Two guns captured at Bridgeport were also in the same On the 2d of July, Gen. Mitchell was superseded Lovell H. Rousseau. under whose command the battery lay at Huntsville and immediate vicinity until the incursion of the rebel general Brae... into Tennessee, and his rapid march towards Louisville, K y. , compelled the evacuation of Huntsville, the union o f Gen. Rousseau's troops with the main body u n d , r Gen. Buell, and the march o f the whole army to the Ohio River. I n this movement Michigan Battery took part, and, passing Tennessee and Kentucky, over nearly the same route by which i t had advanced under Gen. Mitchell except a tour by way of Elizabethtown and Salt River, Louisville with the army of Gen. Buell about the middle of September, 1862. After a short season of rest and reorganization, the army again faced southward ..n the 1st of October. still bent on the pursuit of Bragg, who bad in the mean time the retreat towards Tennessee. Overtaking him at Chaplin Hills, near Perryville, K y. , on the 8th. the left wing o f the Union army gave him battle, and a ensued. I n that engagement Loomis' battery took inent a part that Adj.-Geti. Robertson. in his official report for 1862, said o f it that " i t saved the r i O t wing Union army from being flanked in the important action at Perryville, Ky." A f t e r this action the battery moved with the army to Tyree Springs and Nashville; and thenee, in the campaign of Murfreesboro', to the field of Stone River. There, in the great battles of Dee. 31, 1862, and Jan. 2, 1803, i t again distinguished itself as at was complimented i n high terms by its the brave and steadfast Encamping a t Murfreesboro'. after the Stone River battle, the battery remained at that place until of Roseerans' army on Tullahoma, Jane 24, it moved with the column, and on the following hotly engaged a t Hoover's Gap, Tenn., where the enetny's batteries aud added a new page to bright record. Thence, moving on through Decherd. and Cowan, Tenn., to Stevenson and Bridgeport, Ala., it crossed the Tennessee River at the latter the 4th o f September, parsed over Raccoon, Sand, and �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Lookout Mountains to MeLetnore's Cove, skirmishing at various points on the route. Thence it proceeded amauga, which i t reached on the 19th, and entered the tremendous battle which raged there on that and lowing day. This was the hottest and most disastrous battle in its experience. I n obedience to an order (from an evidently incompetent source) i t moved t o a position on the very skirmish-line. in a thicket where its movements sarily cramped, and where, although within a few yards of the enemy's strong line, i t had no adequate infantry support. N o sooner had i t taken its place there than a rebel regiment rose u p from an ambush, and poured its volleys into the very faces o f the cannoneers. F o r t y - s i x horses and many men fell before this and i n hardly more time than is necessary for the recital five of the six guns were in the hands of the enemy. T h e guns were subsequently retaken—four o f them b y Gen. Willich and the other by another command—in paign o f the following year; t h e remaining gun being saved by a single horse,—" old Sam— t h e only survivor of the splendid team belonging to it. T h e same sillade which wrought all this disaster to the battery killed its brave commander, First Lieut. George IV. Van Pelt, of Coldwater At Chickamauga, Battery A fought its last battle. I n its dismantled condition i t retreated with the army nooga. W h i l e here twenty-two of the men of the battery re-enlisted as veterans, and the battery remained here till the close of the war, when i t returned to ing at Jackson on the 12th of July. O n the 98th of that month i t was mustered o u t o f service, and its members were paid and discharged soon after. MEMBERS OF BATTERY A FROM BRANCH COUNTY. ryr.to 0. Loornia, Coldwater, rep?.; enl. May IS, 1861; . 1 . , Oct. 9, 1862 ; bvt. brig.-gen., June MI, 186.5; must. ont .lely OtiN I I G i l l , , Coldwater, lot lieut.; enl. May 28, 1861 ; rm. March Roland Root, Coldwater, 2.1 lieut. ; r i l l . May 28, 1861; l o t lieut., Ott. rem. Nov. Robert 0 . Chandler, Coldwater, 21 ; enl. May 28,1861; l e t lima., 0,1. 6, 1861; rm. Nov. George W. van Pelt, Coldwater, 24 lieut.; enL Oct. 6,1861; l o t hoot., 1002; killed in action at Chicktunsogs, Tenn., Almenek W. Wilber, gaiety, 21 lieut.; enl. Nov. 11, 1862 ; 1st lieut., 1861; amt., Sept. 5, 1864; moat. Oct July 231, w i t h bat rery. Juba M. Tilton, Cokhader, 94 ; s i s i , 1s1 lieut , Sept. 6, 1166; rea Month JrAto W. Streeter, Union City, 211 lieut.: en!. Sept. 6,1964; 1s1 lieut., M a ; mead. net July 11,1865, with battery. I I M b i a IL Peet, Coldwater, N Heat,; i n s t . ont July 28, 1915, with battery. Illaaeltialt L larolard, Malt. to menet m vet, Feb. William H. Mail, Medi. et end of mrvlee, Rabert J. Ilemlbry, M a i . tor disability, March Juba 1Mteemar, Mech. al sad of eerelite, Stay Coeds Samba* I . larda, Mach. Mead of genie% May 31, ISM. kilweed M. Mama. Mack. .6 ,84 of esweleia, Map Infayette M. Mailman, darts. at end of service, May Levi Beiard, most. ont July Jisnitih Rilliug.Iy.died in relisil I n -Inn. Aariiti KBorniii,rhs, (oust. out July .Jun-o B. Burliest, mom. ont July Peter H e r t a . , died of dateme at Chattani.ign, Tenn., June Aimee Borneo, .litoOt at end of ...yr/cr....pi Chart.. Barns., moat. not 1 . 1 4 . Martin Bind% disci]. ;It i s e r r i e s , May .11 Ls61. gager If liarcilistr roust ..iir July 1., kdoert1 P Clerk 8 9 Augustus A. Clothier, must. out July Jesse Culver, must. out July 28,1861. Harvey Crawford, must. out J u l y Contarini Crawford, meet. out July Don P. Cushman, disch. at end o f service, Sept. Wilbur B. Crawford, diock, by order, Slay Simon L. Culver, must. out July Asa B. Cornell, ditch. at end o f service, Sept. Cornelius Claus, diach, at end of aervice, May Renown Cory, moot. out Jolly Bradley Oilmen, disch. at end of service, Oct. William J. Culp, meet. out July ',eater Carson, dioch. for disability, May Wm. Dubendorf, ditch. for disability, Oct. Selo R. Day, disch. et end of service, May John Dillon, died at Stone River. Tenn., Jan. 6, 1863, of wounds. Dattiel DeJJJJJrest, died in A ndersonville prison, June Edward F. Davie, must. out Win. II. Eldred, died of disease at Nashville, To l l . , Aug. Edward E. Ellis, must. omit July Mmtin V. Elliott, must. out July George L. Freenlyer, must. out July Bradley C. Furman, meat. out July Samuel NV. Finuey, ditch. for disability, John Golden, d i . h . et end of service, M a r c . A. Gage, died at Stone River, Tenn., Jan. 13, 1863, of wounds. Andrew Grosse, dioch. at end of service, May Warren J. Gould, disch, at end of service, Leman B. Gibbs, disch. at end of service, May Isaac Groesbeck, died in action itt Chickamauga, Tenn., Sept. Archibald Grove, disch. at end of service, June John ( l a c k ' s , Andrew J. H a n . , disch. at end of aervice, Thomas J. Harris, meet. out July James Haynes, disch. at end of service, May 31.1864. Jantes B. Haggerty, died of disease, .1an. John Heller, died at Champlin Hills, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1811, of wounds. Sheldon Havens, ditch. et end o f service, Sept. Chmles E. flamingo, dioch. March Joseph R. Barrio, disch. at end of men-vice, May Clinton A. Hutchinson, meat. out July Wm. H. Haynes, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., Slay Alonzo C. Hayden, disci,. at end of service, St-pt. : Bruce G. Hawley, disch. at end of service, May Charles E. Judd, must. out J ttly Henry If. Kellogg, disci,, at end of aervice, May 31,1864. Martin Kelly, must. out July John W. Kennedy, most. out Jely Charles A. Lee, moist. out Stillman E. Lawrence, meet. out July Francis J. Lewis, ditch. for disability, Iviltuom Lynde, meat. tett July Alikiah P. t y k e , tnust. out July Clark Miller, must. out July Jerome Mather. Leander A. McCrea, disch. at end of service, Mit), John A . Mosher, ditch. at end of service, John H. Menion, dloch. at end of service, Sept. Peter Moutavon, moat. old Jely James P. McCarty, died in mtiou at Chieltamaega, Tenn., Sept. John J. Martin, must. out July David C. Mclean, died at Stone River, Jan. 1:1, 1863, of wound,. Jared Nichol.. Bernard O'Rourke, I r e . to Vet. Res. Corps, May M I . Patten, Mech. for distibility, D . . William Peet, moot. out Cornelius J. Patten, clinch. at end of service, Sept. William J. Pattioon, (Erich. for promotion. William A. Poet, . 0 0 1 Lewis R i c h a r d s o n , moot. out Robert Roulotone, Must. out July T h o m . A. Robinson, moot, out !leery St. !Upright, must. out Joly Lines H. Stevens, must. out Gmrge W. Smith. John W. Watson Spencer, disch. at end of oervice, May Byrne H. Smith, disch. at end of eery im., Sept. :114 MM. Semite' .1. Smith, moot. out July M a r l a I . Smith, mime out July Charlet! K. Stemma, must. tont July Sylvania Titus, ditch. for disthIlity. Merck 18, Mill. Sylvester Taylor, meld. out lowirto 51. Touoley, must. out Jely A s G. Van Blareom, Mach. at end of seer lee, Sept. Ira (7. Van Alen, muse out !leery Yoakum, meet. owl �90 H I S T O R Y OF BRANCH E d w a r d M . Va n d e r h o u f , m u m H e n r y W e l l s , iSeek. e t e n d , 51.. A l v a H . W i l d e r . m u s t . o u t J u l y 28, 1865. I t r. . . - I • o l .•. _ W e b s t e r N . W i l b u r , m o a t . 001 J o l y 2 5 , 1865. H e n r y W h e e l e r , disCh. b y o r d e r, J u n o 9 , 1865. Lorenzo Winegard. CHAPTER XXI. B A T T E R Y D . Its O t h e r N a m e s - F o r m a t i o n a n d F i r s t Officers- I t Army- F i r s t u n d e r Fire at P e a Ridge, Miss.- B a c k to Louisville, and thence t o Chattanooga- I t s Engagements- L o s s of Guns at Chickamauga-Manning's Twenty-pounders at Chattanooga- T o Nashville and Murfreesboro'- I n COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . nooga, where the men were placed on duty in to until a battery of twenty-pound Parrott guns, used with effect on the enemy in the actions Mountain and Mission Ridge, Nov. 24 and 25. The battery moved from Chattanooga, December 5, for Nashville, where it went into winter quarters. O n the 3d of March, 1864, it proceeded to Murfreesboro', there as part of the garrison of Fortress Rosecrans until the end of its term of service. A t that place it eral times (from Dec. 12 t o 16, 1864) with the extreme right o f the rebel army of operating against Nashville. O n the 15th of July, 1865, it left Tennessee for Michigan, and on the 22d of month arrived at Jackson, where it was soon after discharge Garrison at Fortress Rnseerans to E M B E M O F B AT T E R Y D F R O M B R A N C H 0 0 E N T Y. the E n d o f t h e W a r - S l i g h t l y E n g a g e d w i t h H o o d - R e t u r n H o u l e - L i s t o f Officers J o s i a h W . C h u r c h , C o l d w a t e r, l e t l i e u t . ; m i l . Se 11 . 1 , 11 , 1 ; c a m . , A u g . 2, 1 8 6 2 ; n i n j v r, M a r i b 1 4 , 1664 ; r m . M a r c h 1 4 , 1864, f o r d i s a b i l o t y. Tins organization- t h e first official designation was the 4th Michigan Battery, but which was monly mentioned a s " Church's Battery"- h a d vous at White Pigeon, with that of the 11th Infantry, the recruiting and organization of the regiment and the battery being nearly simultaneous, and t h e two commands leaving White Pigeon together for the front. F u l l y three-fourths of the members o f the battery were recruited i n Branch County (the recruiting stations being at Coldwater, Quincy, and Union), but Calhoun, St. Joseph, and ties were also represented in it. The first officers o f the battery were William drews, captain; Josiah W . Church, o f Coldwater, and James M . Beadle, o f Union C i t y, first ward S. Wheat, of Quincy, and Henry Corbin, of Union City, second Captain Andrews was soon after superseded Alonzo F. Bidwell,-formerly major of the 1st Michigan three months' regiment,- w h o resigned August 2, 1862, and was succeeded i n the command of the battery siah W. Church, promoted to captain at the The Battery left Michigan on the 9th of in company with the 11th Infantry, as before mentioned, and proceeded to join t h e army of General Buell tucky. W i t h that army i t moved southward to nessee River, arriving a t Pittsburg Landing near of the fierce conflict of Shiloh, and too late to take the battle. F r o m Pittsburg Linding i t moved forward with the army t o the neighborhood o f Corinth, where Lieutenant Church's section was slightly engaged with the enemy at " Pea Ridge," Mississippi, this being its perience under hostile fire. A f t e r this i t took part operations around Corinth until M a y 29, 1862. L a t e r in that year i t marched with Buell's army in the "chase" o f the rebel Gen. Bragg to Louisville, Ky., and thence hack to Nashville, Murfreesboro', Tullahoma, and During these campaigns it was present and engaged ville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862; at Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862, to Jan. 2, 1863; at Hoover's Gap, Tenn., June 26, at Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 1 9 and 20, 1863, where its guns and entire equipment were captured b y From Chickamauga i t retired w i t h the army J a n i e e B . B e a d l e , U n i o n S t y . 2,1 h e a t . , e e l . S e p t 2, 1 8 6 1 ; res. J u n e 90, 1812. H e n r y I t . C o l b i n , U n i o n C i t y , 2 4 l i e u t . ; e b b S e p t . 10, 1861; l o t h e a t , , 1862; c a i l t , M a r c h 23, 1 5 6 4 ; m u s t . o u t a t e n d o f e e r v i c e , F e b . 5,11162. E d w a r d S. W h e a t , O n i n c y , t a t H e s t ; c u b J u u e 2 0 , 1862 ; m u s t . v a t a t e n d o f s e r v. o r. F e b . 8, 186.5. D a n i e l W . S a w y e r , Q u i n c y , 2 d l i e u t . . . 1 . A u g 2 , 1 5 6 2 ; l e t h e a t . , M a r c h 23, 1864; m o a t . o u t a t e n d o f s e r v e r , J a n . 31, 1865. J m e e B . F u l l e r , C o l d w a t e r , 2 4 l i e u t . ; e e l . S e p t . 2 4 . 1 6 8 2 ; a p t . , F e b . 8, 1 8 6 2 ; must. o u t A u g . 3, 1865, w i t h b a t t e r y. S o l o m o n E . L a w r e n c e , U n i . C i t y , 311 l i e u t . ; e n ) . M a r c h 2 2 0 8 6 4 ; l e t h e a t . , F e b . 8, 186.5; r e s . J u n e 2 1 , 1 0 6 3 . S a m u e l A . B l o d g e t t , 2d l i e u t . ; e n l . F e b . 8 , 1 8 6 5 ; l e t l i e u t . , J u n e 2 1 , 1 8 6 8 ; m o o t . o l d M t g . 3, 1865, w i t h b a t t e r y. G e o r g e W . A n n l s , 2 d l i e u t . ; e e l . F e b . 8 , 1 8 6 2 ; m u s t . o u t A u g . 8.156.5. w i t h b a t t e r y. A l b e r t J . B a l d w i n , 2 4 l i e u t . ; c a l , J u n e 2 1 , 1 8 6 5 ; m u s t . o u t A u g . 21,1865, w i t h l a i t t e r y. George S e y m o u r, l o t b e a t . ; m l . J a n . 31, 1 8 6 5 ; m a s t . o u t A u g . 3,2868, w i t h b a t t e r y. E d w a r d ' . A l l e n , d i e d o f diastase a t N a s h v i l l e , T e e n . A p e d 22,31815. L i v n a r d A u s t i n , M a c h , f o r d i a a b i l i t y, M a y 2 7 , 1 9 6 8 . M y r o n A u s t i n , m u s t o u t A u g . 3,1865. George E. A i k e n , n m e t . m i t A u g . 3,1565. H e n r y C. A t l a n t a d i s c h . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, M a y 27, 1862. B e n j a m i n F. B a r b e r , d i e . , a t e n d o f e e r v i c e , Sept. 17, I A . . W i l l i a m H . B e c k , u t a s t . . 0 1 . 1 e n d o f s e r v i c e , Sept. 17, 1564, H a r v e y B a r r y , d i e d , . f o r d i s a b i l i t y, O c t 28, 1862. W i l l i a m H . B u e l l , d i s c l i . n t r i o l o f e e r r i r e , Sept. 17, 1864. S i d n e y B u e l l , t r a n s . t o V e t . Ree. C or ps , A p r i l 30, 1864. ( b o d e s B u r n e t t , m a s t . o a t A u g . 3, 1560. E n t s t m B a r b e r, d i e d o r dieetiee a t NVIiite P i g e o n , M i c h . , Dec. 11 , 1861. H e n r y B a r r y , d i e d i d d i n e r . , a t T r i u n e . Te e n . , A p r i l 1 5 , 1 8 6 8 . Leatoler 1 1 1 0 6 t . 1 1 o t A u g . 3, 1865. J e r r y R i k e r , m o s t . o u t A u g . 21,1968. D e w i t t C. B o m b , m u s t . o u t A u g . 3 , 1 5 6 3 . L a f a y e t t e B a r t l e t t , d i e d o f &tweet. a t M u r f r c e s t a r k i ' , Te n n . , A p r i l M a r t i n F. l l e v u a r , d i e d u f disease a t St. L o u i s , M o . , D e c . h i , 1861. F r a n k C. Beek, m a s t e e l A u g . 3.1863. H a r v e y B i l l * , d i e r k . f o r d i s a b i l i t y. A u g 1 , 1862. A l b e r t J . hlut,twiu. m a s t . o a t A v g . 1, 1 8 6 3 I r e . B . B u e l l , motet. o u t A u g . 3, 1865. M e n l y BuckneII, meet. oat Aug. 3,1868. Channcey I f . B u l k y, m e e t out A u g . 3,1868, A r t h u r K. B a r t l e t t , m u s t . o u t A u g . 3, 1865. H e a r y J . B a r t o n . m a s t . o u t A u g . s, n e s . A a r o n B a g l e y, J r. , m a s t o u t A u g . 3, 1862, Austin Bur nett, roost. a i l A u g . 1.1660. Henry I t o v : 1 , C h a r t . . I V. C h a n g a n , ' C. n o . John thivols, ditch. for . , Ve t , I t o - I d i l e , A p r i l t o , l i f e l . A pi i 1 0 2 . J o h n H . C h i e n ' s , M a l i . a t e n d 01 , Sept. 17, 1 '.64. C o l b o r n , M a c h . a t end o f s e n i c . • , N i v 2 , 1884. J e r e n e l a l t A . ( l a r c h , diech. f o r t h . , , ; l i n t y. J u l y 0 , 1063. R i d . e r t C r a w 6 a l , o i n A , . a t A u g . 2,106.".. l a , .1 e I d f .110010e, a t t ' l l a t t a t i d e g i t , Te n n . . Sept. 2.1. 1863. l r o i r d a t i l I, l i y e r d e r , J u l i e 311, 10115 J o h n C M . . O n . a n , ' 111 A u g - t . 106A. Stephen W. C h a p m a n , i n s e t . o u t A u g . it, 1 , J u l . , C 11 0 111 , M i l e . o u t A u g 3 , 18t16. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Gilbert D. elute, must. out Aug. George W. Chaffee, ditch. Feb. Ansel J. Doris, slowh. at end of service, Sept Eber L. Dodge, died, for dimbility, Jody to,1862. Albert Durfee, hod,. at end of service. Sept. George B. Davis, died i d d . . e at M rfreesboro', Tenn., March Clinton Dewey, died o f disease at Nashville, Tenn., March Marvin M. Denison, must. out Aug. William J. D I M * moot. out Aug. Lyman J. Dane, moot. out Aug. Guitar N. Denison, climb. for disability, July Triacie Try, mast out Aug. Laub; Gardiner, died of disease at Gallatin, Teun., George W. Gates, must. out Aug. Hiram T. Grant, must. out Aug. Judson Guernsey, must. out Aug. ileafamin Hess, dIsch. at end of service, Sept. Norman S. Hawes, disch. at cod of service, Sept Honeee N.H. died,. for disability, April Asliael Hill, diech. for disability, Dec. Abner Hillman, most. out Aug. John Henry, must. out Aug 3,1013. Andrew J. Hawes, must. out Atiz. Elias /lively, disch. foe dimbil ity Joby James N. Holiday, disci!. at end of service. Sept James A. Harding, olie!,. at mid of service, Sept. Henry Harmon, must. out Aug. Henry Hecatharm, must out Aug. 3,1065. Leensrd Hulbert, must. out George Haymaker, dim!,. at end of service, Sept Trunk Haymaker, must. out Aug. Levi B. IliaLsted, disch. for diaddlity, April Wells lisrrison, must. out Aug. Lewis, Henry J. Jones, must not Aug. Nathaniel Joan, most, out Aug. Varney B. Jones, most. out Aug. Samue Ansel Knowles, &rich. for disability, Aug. Peter J. Kidney, died of disease at Monterey, Tenn., May Atones C. Kimball, diech. by order, June Josiah Kimball, most. out Aug. Samuel Kilburn, dimh. at end of service, Sept. George W. Kilburn, died of disease at Corinth, Miss., June William H. Kellogg, trans. to Vet, Res. Corps, April Caleb H. Liacoln, died of disease at Nash•ille, Tenn., Jan. Wm. H. Lincoln, moot. out Aug. Cornell rus D. Leech, most. out Aug. 3,1862. Riley Layhm, most. 1Jut Aug. Henry W. Lock, must. out Aug William Loucks, must. out Aug. Frank Lilley, moat. mit Ana. James M. bock, must. not Aug. 1,1865. Darla W. Momm, disch. at end of service, Sept. Horace Maxon. disch. for disability, July JAWS L. Maxon, ditch for dimbility, Ma. 13,1862. Jame R. Mathews, must. out Soy. Byron L. Mitchell, must. out Ana_ 7,1061. George V. Mmeroll, disci, at end .4 service, Sept. Tates McDonald, disch. at end of service, Sept. William A. Morley, diech. at end of service, Sept. 17, 1884. John T. llforford, meat. out Aug. William H. Norford, most. out Aug. Comeline J. Myers, must out Aug. Marrollue Morrell, most. out Aug. John W. Norton, Mach. at end of service. Charlm Norton, moot. out A ug. 3,1063. ilmanel H. Nichols, mum. out Aug. Dliehael O'Ronrite, must. out Aug. 31 o r m s h y , Harvey 1. ortnaby,died of disease at Paducah, Ky., Jnly Our l' or-m.1,y. Aberm 0 nivisod, Mad of disease at Camp Flalleek, Tenn., April P o r t , ool Instead, Moult at end of terrier. Sept. P a r k a '0 Rourke, Misch. by order, May George Olmstead, mese out Aug. Laors Olmsted. J o n i Polsk, MOM. out Msg. Aftnn liskereso, mum. oat by order, lone R a m A. Teton, mum net Aog. A r g i l WAWA, alsW. wit Aug. 3, 1665. • W W I I = lieberst, diwiln. stood of mrvlee, Sept. Ammo Made, aum. net Aug. NINO* Y. Boum, amt. out Aug, Chocks N. liktitarda, must, out Aug. B.nr7 Wwww, weft. out AAA. Winton, W. @warm uttest. net A n a 3, Ji Martin Swayne, most out Aug. George M. Si,.., died of disease at Louisville, B y. Henry Seymour, ditch. at end of service, Sept. Albert Shehnire, disci). at end of service, Sept. William H . Studley, disch. at end of bonito, Sept. Charles W. Stafford, must. out Aug. Daniel B. Sounders, must. out Ang. Andrew Shafer, ditch, for disability, Dec. 1,1861. Joseph M. Snyder, moat out Aug. 3,1865. George W. Swift, died of disease at Cutup Gilbert, By., Joan. Carl ide Smith, most. out George H. Shell, most out Aug. David FL. Spencer, most. out Aug. John Staldnecker, must. out Aug. 3,1865. George Soymotir, most. coat at end of service, Sept. John Studley, must, out at end of service, Sept. Isaiah William Sutton, died of disease at Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. Caleb Simon:um, died of dixesse et O h i o , Ethan D. Starks, died of disease at Gallatin, Tenn, Dec. Augustus F. Taylor, disch. at end of service, Sept. Albert D. Tyler, disci.. for disability, July Joseph Taylor, died of disease at Murfreesboro', Tenn, July John Titylor, mutt. out Wake!!! Taylor. must out Aug. 3,1865. Charlet T. Torrey, most. out Edwin A. Tenney, must. out Charles Van Vlict, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 24,3863, John P. West, disch, for disability, George E. Wolcott, disch. at end of service, Sept. Loren I L Waldo, disch. for disability, Italy Joseph 11. Wisner. Homan Wedensann, disch. at end of service, Sept. George Warren, died, for diiability, Sept, Storm Wilbur, disch. at end of service, Sept. Martin V. Wright, ditch. for disability, April Albert D. Wetherloy, must out Aug. Hiram C. Wilber, must. out Aug. 3,1511. John H. Wilber, moat. out Aug. AsoII. Wilber, must. out Thomas e. Wintery, most. out David Wetherell, must. out Aug. CHAPTER XXII. B A T T E R Y F. Its Names, Place o f F o r m a t i o n , and Officers— To K e n t u c k y I862— A Detachment a t I l e n d e r s o n — A D a s t a r d l y Murdor tion o f Guns, etc.— D e f e a t a t R i c h m o n d and Loss o f Guns— A g a i n Equipped at L o u i s v i l l e - - O i l e Section acts against Morgan—On D u t y in K e n t u c k y — C a p t . H a l e m a d e M a j o r —Over tains—On D u t y at K n o x v i l l e — I n the Georgia Campaign o f 1864 Ito a f t e r Vi c t o r y — F i r s t S h e l l i n t o A t l a n t a —Silencing R e b e l B a t t e r i e s a t ! H o y Creek— A f t e r H o o d — B o c k t o Chattanooga and Columbia— C u t off from Thomas' A r m y — A L o n g D6tour t o j o i n h i m — I n B a t t l e s o f F r a n k l i n a n d N a s h v i l l e — To Washington i n J a n u a r y, 1865—Thence to N o r t h Curolina—Home at L a s t — I t s Officers THIS battery, first known (like its A) as the "Coldwater Light Artillery," nated as the "Sixth Michigan Battery," and still as tery F, First Michigan L i g h t Artillery," largely of* men of Branch County, recruited at Coldwater i n October, 1861, and mustered into the service o f the United States, by Lieut.-Col. J . R. Smith, U. S. A., Jan. 9 and Feb. 14, 1862, for the term of three years. T h e original officers o f the battery were John S. Andrews, captain; Luther F. Hale, Norman S. Andrews, first lieutenants; George B . Tyler, Henry second The company, full in numbers and in excellent condition, left the State on the 3d of March, 1862, ceeded to Louisville, Ky., where they were to receive their �92 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O V N T Y, M I C H I G A N . equipments. W h i l e awaiting these, they were drill and instruction, at West Point, Ky., about below the city o f Louisville. F r o m that place ment of the company, acting as infantry, was sent in the latter part of June with the Louisville Guard, Capt. Daly, —all being under his couttuand,—to Henderson, Ky., on • the Ohio River, to protect that place and disperse of guerrillas who were reported to have made an incursion there. W h i l e on this duty, Lieut. George B . Tyler was shot and killed in cold blood by a guerrilla or pathizer with rebels. T h i s cowardly and treacherous act was consummated while Lieut. Tyler was quietly sitting upon the steps of a house in Henderson, in company with Capt. Daly and Lieut. Daly, of the Louisville Guard. T h i s was the first casualty sustained by Returning from the Henderson expedition, their horses, guns, and other equipments, and became a battery in fact as well as in name. I m m e d i a t e l y following this it was moved by railroad to Lexington, Ky., where it was for the time attached to Gen. and with that command marched towards Richmond, Ky., to meet the invading force under the rebel Gen. E. Kirby Smith. The battle of Richmond opened in the morning of the 30th of August by a tremendous attack of the the brigade of Gen. Manson, who was about four miles in advance of Gen. Cruft. T h e latter, hearing the noise battle, pressed up with all speed to the assistance son. T h e 6th Battery was soon in position doing good service; b u t notwithstanding the bravery o f officers and men, not from a n y limit o r shortcoming o f theirs, but from lack of sufficient infantry support, a result of the general disaster and rout of the day, they lost all their guns, the greater part of their horses, and all their camp and garrison equipage. T h e y also killed and wounded, and a large number of men oners, but paroled on the field. The remainder of the company fell back with Cruft's command to Lexington, which was evacuated by the Union forces, and all retired to Louisville, where the mand was encamped about three miles outside the city. Here, after a time, they received a partial equipment, and the battery was reorganized. T h e vacancies caused by the death o f Lieut. Tyler, as before mentioned, and by the resignation o f Lieut H e n r y A . Hutson, J u l y 19, 1862, were filled b y the promotion o f Byron D . George Holbrook to be second About this time a guerrilla raid through Elizabethtown and adjacent portions of Kentucky was made by Gen. John Morgan, and one section o f t h e battery, under Lieut. Paddock, was ordered to join Capt. Gay, of the cavalry in their pursuit. T h i s service and upon its return this section was moved acmes the Ohio to Jeffersonville, Ind., but soon after returned t o Louisville and joined the remainder of the Battery. T h e Battery remained at that place until the close of and while there completed its equipment. T h e of Capt. Andrews was here tendered and dated Dec. 5 , 1862, leaving Capt. Luther F. Hale moted from first lieutenant, December 5) her seil ion o f the Battery, under Lieut. matimied at Bowling Green. and on the 13th o f the other two sectiollIs, under Capt. Hale, were 11/Ored to N1111146 ilk 1),r the protection of the great railioad bridge at thnit point. I n these positions thi• two portions irf the Batter) ronaiiied through the winter, spring. and early part the summer Of 1863. A l s i u t the first o f July. year, the section of Lieut. Paddock moved to tions at Glasgow, Ky., and taut long the other sections at Munfordville. I s October command moved hi Glasgow. where it remained until near the close of the year. D u r i n g this year (Aug. 3) order of the War Department had been issued the several Michigan batteries as eampotiing the F i n d Regiment Michigan Light Artillery," in which Capt. Hale had been made major, by promotion dated Sept. Lieut. Paddock being advanced to the captaincy of tery, made vacant by Capt. Hale's promotion. I n regimental organization the battery was designated as tery F, 1st Michigan Light Artillery." On the 24th of December, 1Sfi3. the Battery gow, and proceeded by way of Loui,iville to Nicholasville, Ky., and thence over the Cumberland Mountains, Gap and Burnside Point, to Knoxville, where it the 22d of January. O n this march both men suffered severely from the extreme cold and the scarcity of rations and forage. A t Knoxville the Battery remained on garrison duty until the 24th of April. when i t was newly equipped with ten-pounder Parrott guns and assigned to the 2d Division of the 23d With that division it left Knoxville and to join the army of Gen. Sherman. then preparing against Atlanta. T h e route ran through Charleston and Cleveland, Tenn., to Red Clay, Ga. (which lastwas left on t h e 7 t h o f M a y, and thence by Ridge through Snake-Creek Gap to Resaca, Ga., Battery did good service in the battle o f May 12. in which the 2d Division lost nearly one-third of its numbers. T h e battery was also engaged in skirmishes almost daily. O n the 17th i t moved south, across the Ostanaula watchie Rivers, and on the 20th tamped at maining there t i l l t h e 23d, when i t again niol) d south. crossing the Etowah River and engaging it) a lively fight with the It crossed Pumpkin-Vine Creek on the 26th. constantly Nig:Qv(' in skirmishing, marching m a r l i n g until the 9th of June. when i t was engaged in i the 11th. the fight at Lost Mountain. A g a i n . in engaged, and on the 14th shelled the enetny out ( i f his works. F r o m this time the skirmishing was continuous until the 22)1, when the battery took part in the action at K u l p ' s I i . ii . i i i W h i c h t i l t • 2 11111 :11111 . 2 3 11 C l , I T S gaged. 1 1 11';‘, 111 Ihe battle of Kenesaw Mountain on the 27th of June, and on the 8th of July drove a tery from its position it to abandon °tie o f its t:iniq. T h e battery Chattahonehee on -lie 11th. and i t t i l i i v i t r ; the etiEtl:\ ' i i , . 1 •2i,t .1111% t i was b e t w e e n Decatur and , , ! , h a u l il).• a ' I hi, f i r - . t �'HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 9 -. the Union lines into t h e latter city. O n t h e 22d, the Battery took position fifteen hundred yards enemy's works, and from that time kept u p a slow but steady and constant fire upon the city, until the August 1, when with the 23d Corps i t moved around the rear of the army and took position on the extreme right, at East Point. O n the 4 t h the Battery was engaged i n a severe fight at Utoy Creek, in which the wheels of two of its guns were destroyed, notwithstanding which it held the position and succeeded in silencing two of the enemy's batteries. O n this occasion the tracted much attention and favorable comment on account of its stubborn and effective fighting, and from until the fall of Atlanta i t was almost in skirmishing with Upon the evacuation o f the city by Hood, Battery F took part in the pursuit, following the retreating enemy to near Jonesboro'. I t then returned to Decatur and went into camp, b u t resumed pursuit on t h e 4th o f October, crossing the Chattahoochee River, striking the railroad near Marietta, following the track to Kingston, and then crossing to Rome. I t left Rome on the 14th, through Resaca and Snake-Creek Gap, where and remained until the 19th. I t then marched t o t h e westward, crossed the Alabama line, and reached Cedar Bluffs, on the Coosa River, on the 21st. L e a v i n g Cedar Bluffs on the 27th, on the 30th of October the rived at Chattanooga, where i t was newly equipped, after its arduous campaign of six months' duration, in which it had moved and fought through the hills and passes o f Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, a distance of more than eleven hundred miles. Early in November the command, in company with the 23d A r m y Corps, was moved b y rail t o Nashville, and thence to Johnsonville, on the Tennessee River, where i t was encamped from the 11th to the 24th of that month. I t then broke camp and marched with the 1st Brigade of the 2d Division in the direction of Columbia, in the field near that point until December 1, the approach o f Hood's army, i t commenced the retreat with its brigade from near Beard's Ferry, on the Dutch River, to Nashville, making a forced march, in which i t became necessary to impress the horses and mules mers along the route, to supply the places of which were "cut out" and left by Arriving within seven miles of Nashville on the night of the 2d, the enemy was found to be in force in front pying the roads to the city. I n short, the itself cut off from the army of Gen. Thomas. In came necessary to fall back, and under cover asuccessful retrograde movement was accomplished, the brigade capturing two of the cavalry pickets of The march was continued in good order and without halt during dm "bole of the night. I n the morning a rest hour was takes, sad the march then resumed to Charlotte, where the Battery encamped, after a almost unbroken march of thirty-six hours, in which tance of sixty miles had been Again, early in the morning of the 4th, the men the road and pressing 40 with all praeti,..1.1, t o w a r d s Clarksville, which place was not reached until of the 5th, when the Battery, with the other the Cumberland River and camped. T h e y remained there during that night and the following day, then, resuming the march, proceeded along the right bank of land and arrived a t Edgefield, opposite Nashville, evening o f the 8th. Recrossing the river, the battery moved to the south o f Nashville, and participated actively and gallantly in the operations from the 12th to the 16th of December, including Thomas' great and decisive battle which crushed and routed the army of Hood. its service i n the field f o r 1864. I t s equipment plenished a t Nashville, and in its reorganization of the battery had re-enlisted Early in 1865 (January 19), Battery F left Nashville with Geu. Schofield's corps, under orders to move ington, D. C. I t s equipment-except horses- w a s turned over to the proper officer at Louisville, and proceeded by river to Cincinnati, and thence by rail ington, arriving there February 2. Seventeen days later (having i n the mean time received a new armament o f Rodman guns) the Battery moved to Alexandria, and on the 20th took transports for Fort Fisher, N. C., but arriving there on the 24th, after the reduction of that ceeded without disetnbarking to Morehead City, by railroad t o Newbern, reaching there on the 26th. O n the 3d of March, Battery F left Newborn with the vision, and on the 10th was engaged with the enemy at Wise's Forks, in which action i t maintained its previous high reputation for gallantry and efficiency. Kingston on the 15th, and on the 21st arrived boro', remaining there until the 5th of April, when, having become short o f men, it was ordered back to Newbern to refit for field service; being at the saute time detached from the 1st Division. B u t its field service was over, Confederacy was crushed and its warlike power gone. T h e battery, then under command o f Lieut. George Hawley (Capt. Paddock having resigned April G, at Newbern until June, 1865, when i t moved to Washington, and thence to Jackson, it arrived on the 24th, and was mustered out of the 1st of July. T h e record of its service from first was a good and an M E M B E R S O F B A T T E R Y F F R O M B R A N C H C O U N T Y. John 14 A IA rens, C o l d w a t e r, r a p t . ; e e l . Oct. 15, 1861; r e e . Dec. 5, 1862. L u t h e r F. H a l e , C o l d w a t e r, l e t l i e u t . ; m l . O c t . 1 5 , 1 8 6 1 ; r a p t . , D e c . 5, 1 8 6 3 ; m a i . , Sept. I , 1 8 0 1 ; l i e u t . - c o l . , M a r c h 1 4 , 1 8 6 4 ; res. N o v. George I t . Ty l e r, C o l d w a t e r, l o t e e l . Oct. 15, 1861; k i l l e d I n a c t i o n , J u n e 2S,1842, a t H e n d e r c o n , K y. , by g u e r r i l l a s . Byron D . P a d d o c k , C o l d w a t e r, 2.1 e n l . J u l y 1, 1862 ; l e t l i e u t . , D e c . 5 , 1862; r a p t . , Sept. 1, 186.1 ; m e e t . t a t end o f service, A p r i l 6 , 1 8 6 6 . George H o l b r o o k , C o l d w a t e r, a d B e n t . ; e n l . S e p t . 1 , 1 8 4 2 ; 1 s t l i e u t . , S e p t . 2 , 1801; m e e t . o u t a t end o f c e r v i c a l . . 111,1865. W i l l i a m H . B r o w n , C o M w a t e r, 2.1 1 1 . 1 ; e n l D v , . 0 , 1 8 0 2 ; r o c M a r c h 15, 1804. M a r s h a l l M . M i l l e r , C o l d w a t e r, 2.1 m l . D I . . 1 5 , 1 8 8 4 ; l e t D e n t . , Jan. 19, 1865; w o u n d e d I n a c t i o n a t M a r i e t t a , Ga., J u n e 2 7 , 1064; m u e t . t i l t J u l y I , 1863, w i t h b a t t e r y. George H a w l e y, C o l d w a t e r, 2.1 ; . 1 . Sept. 2,1067 ; let Bent., rapt., A p r i l 6, 1 8 6 0 ; m o n k o u t J u l y I , 1815, w i t h b a t t e r y. John H u g h e s , O d d water, 24 m a 1805, w i t h b a t t e r y. B.. alearlee B r a y t o n , moat. o u t J u l y I , t r a . c e r g t . , A p r i l 6 , 1 8 6 6 ; m e e t . o u t J u l y 1, �94 I H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Daniel Burleson. Jouseph Bedell, died of diusease at Quincy, Mich., March Cherie. Bridge, died of dliease at Glasgow, Ky., Gideon 8. Baker. George 0. Bush. Martin L. Dudgeon, must. out July Samuel Butcher, must. out July William H. Brown. David H. Carter, m u t . out July Albert Cumonugs, disc& for disability, Sept. Levi Coup, diach. at end of service, Jan. Francis C. Corneille, must. out July 1,1865. Charles D. ('hristian. Levi Cory. George W. Clark, diech. for disability, June Wetson R. Cole, diech. by order, June 7,1865. James I). Cole, disch. for pro. to 12th U. S. Col. Heavy Art. Harvey Dart, died of tinsel., at Bowling Green, Ky., Antbroee David, disch. at end of eervice, Jan. Leman Dibble, discb. ut end of nervier, April Calvin J. Dort, disci.. at end of service, April Hervey 1)11111.111, most. out July Isaac C. Estlow, mmt. out July 1,1866. John G. Gould, must. unit. July 1,1866. Webster Goodrich, diech. f r disability, Sept. Liam Grundy, must. out July John Graham, must. out at end of service, Ilenry A. Hutson. George It. Hawley, disch. to re-onl. as vet., Feb. W i l i a m E. Holmes, ditch. for disability, Jdne Joseph J. Hartwell, nimt. out July 1,1862. John Hughee, must. out July 1,1865. Georg James M. Hulbert, most. out July William H. Howe, ditch, for disability, Feb. Michael Holweg, must. out July Marquis L. Hayuer, disch. to take com'en in 12th U. S. Col. II. Art. Frederick Keeler. Joseph Lapointe. Leverett Lee, must. out July Willard Leone, must. out July Gideon L e e , disch. at end of service, Jan. Marshall M . Miller, disch. to re-enl. as vet., Fob. Joseph McKinney, mud. oult July 1,1865. David C. Myers, meet. out by order, Jan. George W. Misner, diach. for disability, Nathan Morme, disch. for disability, Peleg S. Mencheeter, died of disease at Louisville, Ky., Jan. Aeher M. Miller, disch. for dieability, Nov. Phil, P. Miller, disch. for disability, Feb. 26,1863. William W. Khmer, must. out July 1,1865. James H. McCauley, ditch, at end of eervice, Jan. Sanford H. McCauley, disc& at end of eervice, Aug. James McCrea, <Busch. at end o f service, Jan. Isaac McCrea, disch. at end of service, Jan. John W. McGinnias, diech. at end of service, Jan. Samuel B. McCourtee, disch. to re-enl. OA vet., Sylyeeter W. McNutt, mull. out July Wm. N. Millard. James Morrill, must. out July 1,1865. Wesley J. Nichols, must. out July William It. Pratt, diech. at end of service, Jan. 28,1862. Gideon Ebeu Palnieter, diech. for dleability, Jan. Joneph Palninter, diech. by order, Mny James T. Porter, diech. at end of service, Jan. Benson W. Paddock, discb. for disability, Nov. Cyril. W. Parker, must. out July 1,1865. Sherman B. Ransom, (Mich. to accept com'sn in 121h U.S. Col. It. A r t . J a n . . M. Ransom, died.. for disability, May Andrew J. Shook, disch. at end of Invoice, Jan. Almlnas L. Sharp, died o f Meow° at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. Stephen D. Sherman, disch. for disability, Nov. Abram E. Stowell, dutch. for disability, Oct. Truman A. Smith, diech. at end of service, Jan. Samuel L. Stowell, died, at end of service, Jan. William Taft, disch. by order, July 1,1866. Merriam Taylor, disc& at end of service, Jan. David 13. Thompson. Rowland F. Underhill, Mech, for disability, March I I , Abner T. Van Vorst, diech. for disability, Oct. Nicholas Von Alstine, mull. out July Anna Vanderpoel, must. ont Ammo' Wrught, mull. out July 1,1865. Lome H. White, disvh .,1 .u.1 ..f 106 William II. White. 1 Abram L. Webb, diech. for disability. April David X. Wedu.,111..cli. fur disabiliiy, Carlene Wakefield, iouat. out J u l y CHAPTER X X I I I . B A T T E R Y CE Raised a t Coldwater a n d l i a l u m a s o o - - l i r s t Officer* anal misoioned Offieers--To Louisville, IC y.,in V t h s w y , — To Cumberland Gap in M a y — T o West Vi r g i n i a To the Yazoo R i v e r in December— T h e Battle of Chickasaw Bayou — To Arkansas Post— To Vicksburg and Carrolton, L a . — To Texas in November, 1883— I t s Services there—Back to Louisiana in Jane, 1874— To Mobile in October—Operations i n A p r i l , 111415—Manere4 out i n August— L i s t of Officers THIS battery was made up chiefly of men belonging in Branch County. Recruiting for i t was commenced a t Coldwater by Capt. Charles H . Lauphere, in the fall o f 1861. A t the suggestion o f Col. Charles E . Stuart, o f the "Stuart Rifles" (afterwards designated as Michigan Infantry), the rendezvous of Lanphere's Battery was established at Kalamazoo, where its ranks were filled, and i t was mustered into the United States hundred and sixty-six strong (officers and mend, Jan. 16, 1862. T h e original officers of the battery H. Lanphere, captain; Edwin 0 . Lanphere, Alvin T. Lanphere, first lieutenants; James H. Burdick, Robert M. Wilder, second lieutenants. I t s nonwere Orsemus Doty, orderly sergeant; George quartermaster-sergeant; Alanson Conkling, Horace Smith, Ira G. Wisner, Edwin E. Lewis, Simeon H . dore F. Garvin, sergeants; Elliott M . G. Waltham, Adam V. Thompson, Abraham Moyer, James S. Brim, Sylvester B. Wright, lin, Hiram L . Brace, Joseph Woolston, Richard Hart, Moses A. Hewitt, Under a misconstruction of orders (which to apply only to the 13th Infantry, but which preted as including also Capt. Latiphere's command ). the battery, in company with the 13th, left Kalamazoo on the 12th of February, 1862, and proceeded to Louisville, Ky., where it arrived February 14, and soon after received the equipment which it should have received at which had followed the battery from that. point by way of New Albany, Ind. O n the 4th of March it was West Point, Ky.; thence, April I . to Louisville; May 3, by way of Lexington. Ky., to Cumberland Ford. where it arrived May 18. F r o m this place it moved, with the forces of Brig.-Gen. 'Morgan. by way o f Big Creek Gap,- - a distance of one hundred and fifty miles.— berland Gap, where i t arrived on the 18th o f enemy having evacuated the gap the Here the battery remained until September 17, when i t was moved northward, and arrived at Greennpuburg, Ky., on the Ohio River, Oct. 4, having used but one ration in a march of sixteen days. and having skirmhed with the enemy at Caney Bottom, K y. F r o m Greenupsburg moved to Portsmouth, 0 . , and in November, 1862, t h e battery fia-ined a part o f the forces of Gen. up the valley of the Great Kanawha, in West Virginia, to �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . (holey Bridge, which had been evacuated b y the enemy one day before their arrival. O n this eanipai;ii tery d i d excellent service. F r o m West Virginia i t was moved to Cincinnati, where i t arrived November moved thence t o Memphis. Tenn., reaching that cember 3. T h e r e i t joined the command o f man, and left on the 20th with the expedition destined for the Yazoo River, i n Mississippi. O n this expedition i t took part in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou,—December 28 and 29,—in which action it used two thousand and sixty rounds of ammunition and performed good and gallant service. H e r e Capt. Lanphere was ing the Battery temporarily i n command o f First Lieut. Robert M . Wilder, who had received promotion t o that grade Oct. 22, 1862, First Lieuts. A . T. Lanphere and E. 0. Lanphere having resigned,—the former on t h e 5th of June and the latter on the 24th of October, 1862. The Battery embarked Jan. 2, 1863, to move with the expedition against Arkansas Post, under command MeClernand. D u r i n g the fight there and the that place it was not engaged, but was held in reserve. I t was then moved to Young's Point, and thence to Milliken's Bend, where i t was on duty until April 8, when on ttansports and successfully ran the blockade at Grand Gulf, after which i t took part i n the campaign i n which Gen. Grant moved his army to the rear of Vicksburg. O n the 23d of April i t participated in the sharp fight taw Bayou, and was engaged in the battle of 'Port Gibson (or Thompson's Hills) on the 1st of May, 1863. B a t t e r y G acquired much distinction in the latter contest, thus mentioned in the report o f Gen. "The splendid practice of Lanphere's and teries disabled two o f the enemy's guns and contributed Largely to Again the Battery was engaged at Champion Hills, May 16, and at Black River Bridge on the following day. 19th i t arrived at Vicksburg. I t was among which first opened fire on the works and town, present and actively engaged in the operations against the place until t h e surrender, on t h e 4 t h o f July. Ta k i n g part i n the movement 011 Jackson, it was engaged i n the skirmishes of the 8th, 9th, and 10th o f July, and on the 11th took position before the tbrtifieations of the gave valuable aid towards the defeat and expulsion of the enemy After the evacuation of the rebel works the turned to Vicksburg, and in August was moved ports to Carrolton, La., where i t remained stat.e d there through the months of September and October. E a r l y in November it was transported to New Orleans, where on the 13th of that month i t was embarked for Brazos Santiago, Texas. O n reaching there it was ordered to where it arrived November 20, and marched Fort 1..:speranza, on Matagorda Island. I t arrived works on the 27th, and on the 29th was with t h e enemy. F r o m t h a t time i t remained i n t h e vicinity until December 30. wilon i t iiitivot t o Deerow's Point Jan. 4, 1864, it moved up the bay to Indianola, posted there till the latter pert o f May, having 9 times engaged i n skirmishes with the enemy during that time. T h e n it was moved back to Fort Esperanza, the 13th o f June embarked on transports to New Orleans and Carrolton, La. I t remained ton t i l l October 9, when it was moved by water to Mobile Bay, arriving at Fort Morgan on the 11th, and 80011 after went into camp at Navy Cove. T h e Battery remained in the vicinity of Fort Morgan until the 10th of April, 1865, when i t was moved up in front of Mobile, and took part in the operations against the city until the surrender of that place. I t was then ordered to garrison the B a y Battery defenses" o f Mobile, and continued on that duty till the 19th of July, when, under orders to that effect, it bile Bay for Michigan, and was mustered out and discharged at Jackson, Aug. 6, 1865. M E M B E R S O F B A T T E R Y 0 F R O M B R A N C H C O U N T Y. Charles H . L a n p h e r e , C o l d w a t e r, capt.; e n l . Oct. 3,1861 ; res. Sept. 1 , 1 8 6 3 . A l b i n T. L a n p l i e r e , C o l d w a t e r, l o t l i e u t . ; e n l . Oct. 3, 11161; res. J o n e 5, 1862. J a m e e H . B u r d i c k , C o l d w a t e r, 21.1 l i e u t . ; e n l . Oct. 3 , 1861 ; Capt., Sept. I , 1 8 6 1 ; m o s t , taut a t e n d o f service, J a n . 17, 1865. R o b e r t N . W i l t , . , ' , C o l d w a t e r, 2 d l i e u t . ; o u t . O c t . 3 , 1861 ; l e t l i e u t . , O c t . 2 2 , 1862; r t . M a y 3 , tsca. G e o r g , L . M i l l m a n , 1.*!!Idwater, 2,1 l i e u t . ; e n l . F e b . 15, 1 8 6 3 ; l e t l i e u t . , Sept. 1863 ; m u s t o n t A n g . 6 , 1865, w i t h b a t t e r y. E d w i n E . l e e is, C o l d w a t e r, 2 d l i e u t . ; e n l . J11110 Cr, 1 8 6 2 ; 1 s t l i e u t . , A p r i l 1 9 , 1564; c a n t . , J a n . 7 , 1 8 6 5 ; m o s t . o u t M t g . 6 , 1 8 6 5 , w i t h b a t t e r y. E l l i o t t ) 1 . I l i i r d . e k , C o l d w a t e r, 2d l i e u t . ; m i l . A p r i l 1 9 , 1864; m o s t . m i t A n g . 6 , 186.3. w i t h l a t l e r y . Theodore F. G a r v i n , C o l d w a t e r, 2,1 l t r o t . ; a n t . us s e r g t . , A p r i l 6 , 1863; m u s t . o u t A u g . 6, 1863, w i t h b a t t e r y. George I I . A b b o t t , Mach. a t end o f service, M a r c h 4, 1865. R o b e r t H . A b b o t t , disci). f o r d i s a b i l i t y, J a n e 1 6 , 1 8 6 3 . Philander I.. A l d e n , must. out A u g . 6,1865. E l i j a h C. B r a n c h , disch. f o r d i s a b i l i t y, N o v. 4 , 1 8 6 2 . Clinton J . B a l l , died o f disease a t F o r t Gaines, A l a . , N o v. 2 5 , 1 8 6 4 , George B u s i e r, died o f disease. A p r i l 25, 1862. H i r a m L . Brace, trans. to Ve t . R m . C o r p . , A p r i l 18,1864. Aaron Barnes, m m t . o a t A u g . 6,1865. N a t h a n i e l I t . Barnes, must. o u t A u g . 6, 1865. George N . B r o w n , untat. out A u g . 6 , 1 8 6 5 . A r c h i b a l d D . Cooper, m u s t . o u t A u g . 6 , 1 8 6 3 . George W . C l a r k , must. o a t A ag. 6 , 1 0 6 5 . D a n i e l J . Cook, must. o u t A u g . 6, 1865. Franci. L . Cain, must. out Aug. 6,1862. E z r a S. C o r e y, disci). a t e n d o f service, J a n . 28, 1865. E d g a r A . C r a f t , Mech. t o enl. i n r e g u l a r service, N o v. 25, 1862. Step! en B . Csiniphell, disch, f o r d i s a b i l i t y, J u l y 1 6 , 1 8 6 2 . Daniel B . Campbell, Mech, f o r disability, A p r i l , 1862. R e u b e n C o r n e l l , ditch, f o r d i s a b i l i t y, A p r i l 11 , 1862. D a n i e l Doliglims, taunt. m i t A u g . 6, 1865. W i l l i a m ! A l l e n , disch. a t e n d o f eervice, Jan. 28, 1865. B e n j a m i n F. D.11110114 fli$1,11. tit e n d of service, Jan. 28, 1865. A o s t i n E n g l e , d i s c i , for d i s a b i l i t y, M a r c h 4, 1564. J e r e m i a h F e r g u s o n , t r a m . to Ve t . Res. Corps, M a r c h 5,18134. W i l l i a m 8. Gibiein, t r a m . t o Ve t . Res. C a r l a , Sept. 25,1084. Charles M . G o y, m u s t . o u t A ag. Ly m a n J . Goodell, m a s t . o u t A i i g . 6 , 1 8 6 5 . Daniel J . Gibson, trans. t o Ve t . R m . Corps, Sept. 25, 1864. Moses A. H e w e t t , trans. to Ve t . Rea. C o r p . A p r i l 10, 1864. Daniel H i g g i n e , died.. f o r disability, M a r c h 1, 1862. George W , H a r r i s , ! n o e l , b y sentence o f 0 . C. 31., Sept. 6, 18' Tobias 1110 nes, el101 o f di0same a t P a m Cavallo, Te x a s , J u n e 7 , ; ; E d w i i i I t . H a a s e , 1Iifql 14 disease at N e w Orleans, J u l y 21,1063. Francis H a r v e y, d i s c i , e t end o f crevice, Jan. 28, 186.5. James D . C. H a r v e y, died o f daemon n e a r Perkle's P l a n t a t i o n , L . , M a y i t , 1 8 . 1 . W i l l i a m H u r s t , m u s t . o u t A u g . 6,1862. A l b e r t Johnnon, most. o u t A tut. (1, 1865. Elias Johnson, m u s t o a t A u g . 6 , 1 0 6 5 . B e n j e m l n K u i c k r r b o r k e r, disci!, f o r disability, A u g . 10, M M . F r e d e r i c k K a l r k e r b o c k r r, i i . , I,. a t end IA 1111,11,, J a n 2 0 , 1866. P h i l a n d e r K n a p p , m a s t . o u t A lig. 6,10115. Somers L e l a n d , M e e k f o r d i s a b i l i t y. J a n e 16,1863. Sidney L e l a n d , Mech. s t end o f !service, Jet,. 26, 1865 H e n r y L I n d e n b u r g . must. out A u g . 6,18115. Thaddeus E . l a a r e n c r . s t I . rte. !!1!, 10, n, 11011, f J a m e . A . Mason, n o i e Charles R . M o m s , a r Charles! Hydrous., must Emanuel 0 . M i l l e r, mart. oat Aug. 6, Is. 4 �HISTORY 9 , I ) , J o h n W . M c D o n a l d , d i e t a t P e r i m -Ali, K y. , J a n . 18, 1861, o f wounds. M o r g a n M a r q u e t t e , died o f illmorre a t C u m b e r l a n d Gap, Te e n . , A u g . 3, l e i i , B e n j a m i n S. thiburn. Cortlatelt Olds, d i n t . f o r d i o a b i l i t y, Oct. 2 0 , 1864. John i i s l a r i n t e , .10.1 o f direttatt D e a r V i c kaltorg, Te n n , J u l y I , 1863. J10011.11. B . Y../10110. C.. • Pcotr Snook., disch. a t entl ot c , Jae . : W i l l i a m Snooks. Fred S c h n o o s t i n e , d i . h . t o e n l i s t i n r e g u l i n s t V i c e , N o v. 25, 1802. F r e i l e r 0 k :Schmidt, disci.. a l e n d f aervirie, J u n . 20, 1805. George W . B a r r y, O . I . Charles W . H e w i t t , . • Jtheph W . F a y e t t e N . S w i f t , d i s t i l . u t e n d o f s e r v i c e , J a n . 20, 186.5. S e y m o u r S i n s i g h t , t i l e d o f .110.3..t a t 1011rig's P o i n t , t o . , M a r c h 3 , 1 8 0 3 . S a m u e l S u i t t ! , dutch. f o r d i s i t h i l i t y, A u g . 19, I t i t t . Lorenzo I . . V a n t i l y k e , Co. I B e n j a m i n W h e a t o n , Co. I ; I l i R o m a n 8. W h i p p l e , Co. K ; disy ii. 1 3 o r d e r, J u l , 2 4 , Dn.:. Cheater I , . S t e p h e n . , 0 0 0 1 . . i 0 1 A u g . 0,18403. S m i t h Ta y lor, 114.11. f o r d i s a b i l i t y, A u g . 27, 1002. TENTH INFANTIPT W i l l i a m I i , T h o r l i e r, i l i s c h f o r d i s i d i l l i t y, A u g . 2 8 , 1 8 0 2 . T h u r t i e r, dia, h. f o t d i s a b i l i t y, N o t . 2 0 , 1002 Charlet. W . B r a y, Cu. K • m o l t o u t J u l y J o h . J . V ickory, tlisch. f o r a t t i t u d e , A p r i l 1 7 , 1200. J a l t e r (Stellate, Co. A . .1itton V o n . 1 M w e t i t , m u s t . o n t A n g . ti. 1805. Joitoph E c h t i n a w , Co A Sy Decal., I t . \ F r i g h t , h a d . . a t .11111 o f a e r y i c e , J a n . 17, 1865. J o h n H u f f m a n , Cu. C ; i n . 1 u 0 , 19, In,, TWELFTH INFAN 1I W i l l i a m B u c k , Co. C ; b y o r d e r, O c t . 12, 1 R o b e r t Cosgrove, Cu. 11; dioch. b y G . C. M . , Dec. 14, CHAPTER X X I V. A l b e r t L . Gibson, Co. I I ; m o a t o u t F e b . 15, 1866. L e w i s H o u s e , Co. I t ; d i e d o f [Hamm a t D u v a l l ' . M a l ; A r k . , A u g . 1, 1464. O T H E R B R A N C H C O U N T Y S O L D I E R S . N a t h a n A . J o h n s o n , Co. 11; d i e d o f dimease a t L i t t l e R o d s . A r k . , J u l y L i , M A P a t r i c k K e e l e y, Co. D ; m o o t . l i n t F e b . 15, 1866. S o l d i e r s o f t h e 2.1 I n f a n t r y — O f t h e 3 d 1 n f a n t r y - 4 1 h I n f a n t r y - 6 1 h Infantry—lOtti I n f a n t r y - 1 2 t h Infantry-13th Infantry—I4th Duesler's S h a r p -Shooters- 5 t h United States N e w necticut I n f a n t r y — l o t C a v a l r y - 2 d T H I R T E E N T H I N F A N T R Y. York Infantry— Cavalry— I d Cavalry- 7 1 h Cavalry—Merrill liorse—Battery C— l e t Light Artillery—Battery E—Battery 1 —Battery W i l l i a m 11. S a v a g e , Co. A ; d i . h . a t e x p i r a t r o n o f service, Sept. 8 , 1 8 6 5 . D a n i e l T i c e , Cu. B ; m o t h . o a t F e b . 1 5 , 1 8 6 6 . In100try-24th Infantry- 2 5 t h Infantry- 2 6 t h fantry-31ith I n f a n t r y - 1 0 2 d T h o m . , M c E v o y, Co. F. ; d i e d , . b y o n l e r, O M . K —Battery L —Battery M —Cleveland Light Artillery— F i r s t Engineers and Mechanics. Abel E . B a r b e r, Co. E ; d i s c h . b y o r d e r, J u n e 8 , 1 8 8 5 . Stephen Brooks, Co. I ; dine),. b y o r d e r, J u n e 8 , 1 8 6 5 . Sine B a l n l , C o . ! ; d i s c h . by o r d e r, J u n e 8 , 1 8 8 6 . Benj. C l e v e l a n d , Co. I C ; d i e d o f disease a t S a v a n n a h , G . , F e b . II, 1665. Joseplius C l a r k , Cu. 1 ; disch. b y o r d e r, A u g . 4, 1865. H i r a m E v a n s , Co. IC; d i a l o f disease at S a v a n n a h , Ga., J a s . 9 5 , 1 W . BESIDES the regiments and batteries of have been given, there were many others, each o f which contained a few soldiers from Branch County. soldiers we give a list in SECOND I N F A N T R Y . John Q. Adonis, Co. B ; d i e d a t Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C., J u n e 10, 1864, o f w o u n d s . F e r m i A n d e r s o n , Cu. B ; d i e d o f woundo, J u l y 1 8 , 1864. F l e t c h e r A l f o r d , Co. Cu; dirrely a t e x p i r a t i o n o f service, J u l y 12, 1884. Wo r l e y B o n f i e l d , Co. B ; m i s s i n g in a c t i o n n e a r P e t e r s b u r g , Va . , Itoliert A . B e l t o n , C o . 13; d i l a ' a t P o r t s m o u t h G r o v e , R . I . , J u n e 1 7 , 1 8 6 4 , o f wounds. W i l l i s . , B a l d w i n , Co. A ; m u s t . m i t J u l y 28, 1865. )11111.1...111.111111.1. t o . D . m u s t . o u t J u l y 2 8 , 1 8 0 5 . Edward K t : l b s . . , Co. D ; dllech, f o r d i s a b i l i t y, Sept. 30, 1864. \ i t d r e w G r u n g e r, Co. A ; n o w t . o u t A u g . 8, 186.1. I n . ) Ion' A . H o l l e t t h e c k , Co. A ; 111.01. 1.1• d i s a b i l i t y, A u g . 16, 1864. E l i j a h H a m n i o n i l , Co. I I ; m o a t . o u t J u l y 28, 1001. C h a r l e s . / M o o r e , Co. I I ; t w i s t . o u t J u l y 2 8 , 180.1. George A l e K e w n , Co. I I ; d i e d i n 11 . . 0 0 , 1 1 . 1 D i v. , 911, A . C., J u l y 25, 1804. C a l v i n B . F e r r i s , Co. I ; d i e d o f dieeave, B a r a k 3, 1605. L e v i I t . F e l l e r , Co. I ; disch. b y o r d e r. Charles W . H o x i e , Co. 1 ; t e n e t . o u t J u l y 2.5, 1865. H o r a c e J u n e , Co. I ; d i e d o f diocese a t Tr o y, N . T. . A p r i l 2 , 1 8 8 1 . James 114110111111, CO. 1 ; d i e d . . b y o r d e r, J a m e 8, 1065. Peter It. T i n d a l l , Co. ; d i s c h . b y o r d e r, J u n e r s , 1686. m i t t . I t . T h o m p s o n , Co. 11; M e c h . b y onlisr, J o s e 26, M S . FOUBTECNTH I I I F A N T R Y. J o h n W . A r n o l d , Co. ( 2 ; m i x t . a n t J u l y 18, 1886. A r c h i b a l d Bates, Co. G ; m e e t o u t J u l y 1 8 , 11 6 9 . J o h n L . Bowers, 0 o . B ; m u s t . o u t J u l y 1 6 1 8 6 6 D w i g h t L . D e v i a n t , Co. B ; M a c k . b y U M W . L e g . 2 , 1 8 6 5 A n d r e w D o y l e , Co. 0 ; d i d , b y a c h e , l a m . 16, M O . Jeffenrun 1.. F r i e n d , Co. A ; m e e t . o n t J u l y 18, 1865. Thomas C. h nig. ; m u s t . o u t . l i t l y 1 , 1061. S y l v e s t e r K i l b o l i r n , Co. I I ; m u s t . o u t Jelly 6 , 106:.. W i l l i a m K e l s o , Go. G ; w a i t . o u t J u l y 1 6 , 1 8 6 6 . W i l l i a m L u k e , Co. C ; m u d . o a t J u l y 12,11165. George M c K n i g h t , Co. Cu;dbnrl, t . . r i l l v a b i l i t y. J o v e 1 2 , 1 , 0 1 . Robert M c A l o r r t y . t 1 t . I I . m u s t . o u t J u l y I s , 1 , 6 1 . C h a r l e e R e y n o l d , Co I ; m o a t . o u t .1111y I s , 1801. ' W i t h T r u a x , Co. D ; m u s t . o u t 31 Irptoo, Co. ; C h r i s t i a n P e r k in., c o . J l ; m o s t o u t J u l y I s . 1801. J e r e m i a h 11.100.1., C.. 1 . ; d i n -It f o r d i s a b i l i t y. N o v 1 1 , 1801.. THIRD INFANTRY Anders, .. , /11101111g I n a c t i o n , J a n . 4, I s t b . Sidney J . B u r l i n g t o n , Co. F ; t r a c e . to 5 t h I n f . , J u n e 10, 1864. FOURTII I N FA N T R Y. David H . W o o d , Q u l a c y, 241 e n l . J u l y 2 6 , 1 8 6 4 ; l o t l i e u t . Oct. 2 4 , 1 8 6 5 ; must. out M a y 20,1884;, w i t h r e g i m e n t . Amos A l d r i c h , Co. E ; d i e d o f another. a t San A n t o n i o , Te x a s , F e b . 8 , 1 5 6 0 . A m b r o s e Stevens, Co. G ; d o t t l o f i l i a , tee a t N e w l s • r n , 8i. C., H a y 2 7 . 1861. J o h n J . S m i t h , I 1. G ; m o a t . o u t J u l y 1 5 , 1805. A tagustua T h i e s , H ; m e e t out July 18,1865. Lewis W a r n e r , Co. B ; m u s t . o u t J u l y 1 8 , 9 8 6 6 . F r a n k l i n W a r r e n , Co. C ; d i s c h f o r worinds, J a n e 18,188.1.. T W E N T Y- F O U R T H I N F A N T R Y. Anetin Btreb,Ca. — ; 0 1 0 . 1 M a J u n e 20.1043. J o n a t h a n W . C r a w f o r d , Cu. ; m u s t . m i t J u n e 3o, 1566. C h e r i e . B r o w n e l l , Co. IC, m u s t . o u t A u g . 2 1 , 1 8 0 5 . T h e o d o r e D i c k i n s o n , Co. — ; m u s t . o u t J n n o 30, 1865. H e n r y R . Beide, to,. C ; rliseh. a t ' s p i r i t , hot o f eervice, Jan. 2 9 , 1 8 6 8 . George F r e e r, Cu, K ; t a r o t . out J o n e 30, 1861. Samuel I I , Curbue, Co. ; J o h n F r e n c h , Co. F ; m u t t o u t I n n . . m e e t . o u t B a y 26, 1866. Canfield A . F i s k , Co. C ; M e c h . a t impartation o f service, S i m o n , G a n a . ( ' a . — ; 0111.1..111 J u n e 31,,10&c. W i l l i a m I I . H o l c o m b , Co. B ; d i e d o f w o u n d . a t Wo r t h i n g t o n , D . C., F e b . , D E M P e t e r IY. G i b s o n . Co. — ; m o a t o u t J o n a 30, 186.3. John A . H u m o r, Co. C ; d I s e h . f o r t i u s l . i h i t y, A p r i l 2 8 , 1 8 5 3 . C a r l t o n G r e e n l e a f , Co I t ; m u s t . . . t i t J u n e T h o m e , J u n e . , Co. E ; m o o t . o u t M a y 26, 1806. C h a r t . L e i g h , Cy. E ; t o n a l . t o t t J o n a 30,186.3. �HISTORY O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Malvin O. Lincoln, Co. E; must. out June Ezra Lewis, Co. 1; must. out June William A. Peavey, Co. —; must. out June John Sterling, Co. A ; died of disease at l'ulpeptor, Va., April George Vandine, Co. E ; must. out June 30, 180. George E. Walcott, Co. 1E; mast. out June Julius M. Ward, Co. E ; must. out June 9 7 Henry M. Lily, Co. A; must. out Theodore Oliver, Co. A; died of d o e . e at Brownsville, Ark., Aug. Mike Reynolds, Co. 0 ; moat out Job., V.orherw, Co. K, died of disease at Brownsville, Ark., Aug. Martin Vanderboof, Co. /11; mud. out Feb. Jasper L. Wooden, Co. A; must out March SEVENTH C AVA L RY. TWENTV•FIFTil I N FA N T R Y. Oliver it. Blanchard, Co. E; Io,el of oliseots., at Nashville, Tenn., J. S. Manning, Co. 1); died of H e w . at Knoxville, Tenn.. April 1,1864. Edward P. Whitmore, Co. D ; d i . h . for di.bility, March Bruce C. Wiloon, Co. E; must. out June TWENTY-SINTH I N FA N T RY. Nelswit Kenney, Co. G; died of liille0.110 at Alexandria, Va., TWENTY-SF.VENTII I N FA N T R Y. Edwin P. Warren, Co. 14; m . t . out July 1,1863. T H I R T I E T H I N FA N T RY. Abnun R. Colburn, N. C. S.; must. out June Oscar Denning, Co. 0 ; must. out June 10,1063. Thaddeus Eddington, Co. A; must. out June Thomas II. Farley, Co. A; must. out James E. Foster, D o must. out 4'1:laded A. Gilbert, Co. A; must. out J a m . A. Kent, Co. D; most. ant June 30,1865. Ales. Lawrence, Co. I); m u d out June Floyd Moulton, Co. A; must. out June John Sullivan, Co. A ; must. out Jnue 1 8 6 5 . Peter H. Van Ellen, Co. A ; mutt. out June Asa Woolcott, Co. H ; must. .out June ONE HUNDRED A N D SECOND U . S. l • h t i ! M a n y, 15. I t ; n o t . 0iit 4.30, George 11 c e B : must out Sept. Gctorge C Smith, B . S e p t . John Snowden., Co. 17; mow. out John H. Thum., I'.,. C; most. 011t. Sept. Chart. Johns, Co. 1 most. out DUESLER'S SHARPSHOOTElti. JAM.V 0.11'1114 Benjamin Carter, Eliaha R. P1,112, Wallace W. Root, Byron E. ' I f n i N E W YORK I N FA N T RY {DURYEA'S ZOCA T. D Newberry, "rot. in April, 18011; Mutt. Alt May 14, 1863; with regiment III the principal hattlno of the Army of ELEVENTH CONNECTICUT I N FA N T RY. C. V R . Pond, artiog q.-m. Sept. 30, 1811; cormnissiiined i n Inf.; took part in the naval engagement at Fort J.koon and in ture of New Orleans ; disci.. March FIRST C AVA L RY. Samuel L. Brass, Ovid, Al lieut., April 11,1865; must. out. March 10, 1866, with regiment 11111/i/111 9. Takata Coldwater, A l lieut. (as send.), July 10, 1803; t o l d . out north 10,1886, moth regiment. William Bronson, Co. B; must out March John D e n o * Coo. G ; must. out Dec. E l i a s Danarmt, Co. 58; must. out March Edwin Fos, Co. G; moot. out Dec. Charles h e a t * Co. 1; mutt. ont Dec. Jones J. Pandill, Co. K ; moot. not May L o d . Stony, 0o. K; must. out March SECOND C AVA L RY. William H. Tarlatan, Goldwater, 24 l o o t , March I , 1861; . . . t , Oct. U , , Jame 8, 1866, to 136th U. S. C. T. /Mary W. W a n . , Caid, 1st lieut. and woortermaster, July 31, 106.5; not mutt Wrsibliegent Relms, Co. 0 ; moot out Jobs V. Colwell. Co. I; died of O w n . . et Menet Blot., Aug. George W. Nand, 0o. X ; mint. out Aug 17,1085. M a r y 0. Jobasos, Co. 13; moat. not Notoon lierftst, C . H ; must. ont Aug. Feuds SaIrataryer, Co. ; must. out June T H I R D C AVA L RY. imam C. Paimr, Oft ; Mod of O r o . at Rt. roods, Ho., A r i l 7,1684. O k r a s A. O n * , Ce. 86; MON. 000 Vol, Tbeisimi D a b , Co. 1 ; died of diaosoo at Riau., M I . . , Jot; Tsai lOssetorml, Oa • ; 1119.9 of & w a r at Duvall's Bluff, Ark., acerroge nowter. Co 0 : n e t t out rob. Edward Carr, Co. P; trans. to let Mich. Cat, Noe EUulon Demorest, Co. H; Dane to lot Mich. Con., Nov. Peter N. Dobendort, Co. 10; must. out Jsmes Eldred, Co. C; must. out Charles Goodrich, Co. ; trans. to 1st Mich. C or., Nov. Michael Kauouse, Co. F; must. out Moil. Hermosa, Co. F; moot. out D . . Spencer Leigh, Co. H ; must. out Den. Wiltium Marshall, Cu. H; must. out Dec. William Milliman, Co. 11 ; must. out Dec. Charles H. Osterhout Co. L; must. out Doc. William S. Page, Co. A; tram.. to lot Midi. Coe, Nov. 17,1863. Minor.' 0. Van Gilder, Co. H ; must. out Dec. Colbert VIM Gleson, Co. E; must. out George 0. Vali Gieson, Co. E; must. out Dec. MERRILL HORSE. Henry H. Lai kin, Co. I.; must. out BATTERY C, FIRST L I G H T A R T I L L E RY. Harry Brown. John F. Button, mustered out Benjamin Cole, died in hospital at Camp Cleor Creek, July George W. Cole, moot. out June Warren R. Corey, must. out June Merrill Fuller, must out June Ilintn. Ferguson, must. out Hine Albridge F. Ilalilley, most. out June William H . Harris, must. out June William A. Hall, died in l,00pilul at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. George W. Houck, must. out June Seymour H. Hoyle, must. out June Amos Hunt, disci.. for disability, L o r e n . LefRngwell, mud 001 L o r e n . Mosher, must. out June Adelbert Mudge, must out June John C. 111eLeilll, moat. out by older. John S. Nichols, must out June Sineeney, inset.. to re-enlist as veteran, Dec. Thomas J. 806art, •lioch loy order, J0se1,li . 0 0 0 0 . eta Henry 11 Wilber. Hirai. Wiser, 0000. ' ' I t June Ira A. Wright. lichit 000 I ' v e . 1.•r. July 6,1863. George Winter, must. out .111110 BATTERY E . William H. Barry, must. out Ails. Fart C. Clime, •liseli. l'y order. May P o r t . B. II...Olt, trews. to Vet. Ilea. Corp8, Oct. Alonzo 1401.1all, 0004. out Atog. BATTERY I . Thum.. Briely. Tberel.•re I ',nig, ruumt. out July W. c l i n c h . for dboubilliv:. Der. must. oot Jolly 14,1813. Bluer,. Crux 6.01, munt. oil( Only II,1865. finvi•,•1106•11 10,6.40410y, April 27. Elijah lhateei, rimer not Forbes, most. cut Henry 11000t, inuet. out July John Jordan, 'mint. mit July WI • . 01 I Alfred Reynold.% mot. . f i l l y 14, Ovoris finiford, died of a t Washington, D.C., March William P. Itmith, must. out July William I - . . • . . 1 John Harvey M. a i l . . . , . . . 1 1 I I, A B . Zimmerman, Hach. for 418/0110y, (let. BATTERY I . M o r o i . Miller, must. out July Ransom Sitillf110118, m o t out At,, 1 �98 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH of speculation, and the adversity whit& in common with the rest of the United States; but, briar in the very home of the ferocious "wild-cat" and "red-dug" o f forty years before, there is a opportunity to tram the financial resemblances of B A I l ' E RY L . Le.nue Barjuron, ili•ell. f i r J u n . Stephen AI I ' . Rites, .lied of &ova,- iit Knoxville, Get. limed. ..tit Aug Alliert w o n t o u t liy order, Mo Benjamin Doloilaen, munt. etit l.y oider, July Calvin D u i , in. 111.1. out John m u s t . out John Granger, aim Ii. for A p r i l I, 1o.i JII/II.'D 2111111., l i y order. I ...........M..5 tleor I l o i . k i i i • , I . y order, h i , 21, 1,61. Bet., t M. 1134.ird, intot. nut Aug. John Magnum, twist, out David Hopkins, died of disease at Camp Hellion, Ky., Sept. Orrin J. Harding, runi.t out. Aug. Daniel C. Larrabee, must. out by order, May Maraden Miller, must. out. Peter Nagle. Haines Rudd, died of .1160(1410 at Ashland, Ky., Sept. Isaac A. Rapright, must. out Aug. Van Rensselaer Sherman, elect. out Aug. Vickery Jacknon, died, by order. Stephen Wilcox, must. out Aug. peril AS. BATTERY M . George It. Moulton, Coldwater, 2d ; enl. July 16,1963 ; l e t lieut., 1863; must. out Aug. 1,18115, with battery. George Stewart, disc), by order, May CLEVELAND L I G H T A R T I L L E R Y. Levi Fish, enl. A p r i l 18, 1861; disci, July 28, 1861 ; in battle of Carrick'. Ford. FIRST REGIMENT ENGINEERS A N D MECHANICS. Hi mm A. Blackman, Co. K ; disch. for dimbil ay. Levi II. Curtis, Co. F ; disci,, at end of service, Feb. 15,1865. CHAPTER X X V. BRANCH COUNTY SINCE T H E COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . WA R . The R e t u r n i n g VolUnteers—Businoss Speetilation—The Panic parison w i t h " W i l d - C a t " Ti t n e s — M a n s t i e l d , C o l d w a t e r a n d L a k e Michigan R a i l r o a d — A i r - L i n e D i v i s i o n . . f M i c h i g a n C e n t r a l Cereal P r o d u c t s o f B r a n c h C o u n t y — T h e L a s t Census— Ta x a b l e L a n d a n d I m p r o v e d L a n d — P r i n c i p a l P r o d u c t i o n s i n 1874— E n d of Consecutive H i s t o r y. AFTFAt the war the volunteers who came by thousands to their old homes indulged i n b u t a brief interval o f recreation, and then plunged with t h e usual American ardor into the various avocations of peace. T h e facilities were ample for business of all kinds,— than safe. T h e currency had become both inflated by the war, so that money was plenty and property was high. T o a sanguine people i t seemed as i f every enterprise which was proposed must There were few left to tell how speculation with an inflated currency resulted in 1835, '38, and '37, and to erable extent the people followed the old ment, over-trading, extravagant expenditure, speculation became the order of the day. ing-land rose to prices varying from fifty to one lars per acre, and village property advanced still more in proportion. N e a r l y everybody became rich— A t length, in the fall o f 1873, speculation reached its utmost limit o f expansion, the bubble burst, and a panic ensued. T h e reign o f ‘. hard times'. ensued, from which even now the country is only barely beginning Branch County shared the seeming prosperity of There was one material difference. I n t h e panic o f 1837 nearly the whole currency o f the absolutely worthless within a short period after the firm alarm was given. I n that of 1873 the currency tained by the pledge o f the Government that it redeemed in coin, which the people generally which has just been carried out. Consequently, rency stood firm amid t h e surrounding wreck, disaster was not half as severe as that inflicted in the financial monsters before alluded to. Among the enterprises begun during the and brought t o a t least a temporary stand-still b y t h e "hard times," the most important one affecting Branch County was the Mansfield, Coldwater and Railroad. T h i s road, beg,ineing at Mansfield, in the State of Ohio, was designed to traverse that State and Indiana in a northwesterly direction, cross the old line of igan Southern a t Coldwater, and continue i n t h e same general direction to Lake Michigan, at Grand Haven. Large subscriptions were obtained i n Branch County, and a line was surveyed through the townships Alg,ansee, Ovid (the northeast corner), Coldwater. and Girard. M o s t of the track through those graded, and i t was confidently expected that a period would give the farmers of Branch County another outlet to the markets of the East. B u t "hard too great an obstruction for the financial engineers Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad come o r evade; t h e work was abandoned, and a long, dreary embankment i s all that now remains i n Branch County to remind the traveler o f that intended highway of commerce. A large section of the road is, however, in use in Ohio, and a small one near its northern there is reason to believe that, as the financial the country shall improve, mean.: will he found this important wok. Another, and a more sueoes.sful undertaking., vras the construction o f the A i r -Line Division o f the Michigan Central Railroad. T h i s division extends from Jackson to Niles, traversing in Branch County the townships and Sherwood, and t h e northwest corner o f Mattison. This, being the shortest, is now the main line of travel for that road. But though railroads, as well as prises, undoubtedly enhance the prosperity of the in which they art. situated, yet the main reliance County is and must ever be its fertile soil, deep, almost inexhaustible, and abundantly supplied with water by the numerous lakes and streams which diversify face. T h i s ito u hard times" can take away, and naught but a reversal o f the order o f nature will prevent warding the labors of the farmer with an ample harvest. The following table shows some of the principal products at the date of' the last attainable report: �IIISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 9 Cereal P r. l e e t e o f B r e a d , County r a i • o i 1. 1877, a n d ott the G r o u n d CHAPTER XXVI. is 1978. THE PRESS OF s B R A N C H C O U N T Y. General R e m a r k s - T h e Basis o f t h i s Chapter- T h e 8 a The Coldwater Observer - T h e B r a n c h C o u n t y Democrat- T h e Coldwater S e n t i n e l - T h e B r a n c h C o u n t y J o u r n a l - T h e B r a n c h 5 Whole County Al g a t ' s . Bethel B a i l e r ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . California C u l t i v a t o r. _ C i t y. . . . 1 l i t ward ...... Gilead 2 , 2 5 K inderhook Mattison Quincy Sherwood Cui.,n ( i n t i m a t e d ) 39,573. 520,9031 11.16' 40,981 3 0 , 7 8 2 8794 5 4 2,e,89 4 0 , 2 2 3 1 4 . 9 6 : 3 , 1 2 8 2 , 6 1 8 8 3 2 . . . 32.:90; 1 4 . 4 W 2 , 6 4 2 2 , 4 7 5 6 7 7 . . . 2,316. : 1 , N 4 ] 1 ; 1 . 7 5 ' 2 , 6 5 6 2 , 1 8 5 6 6 6 . . . 44:14,. 1 4 . 7 9 ' 3 , 1 0 7 2 , 2 1 5 5 7 4 . . . 2.629, . 7 9 , 4 0 3 , 0 0 1 2 5 1 9 4 5 7 2 3 1,969 • 4 , 4 , 3 4 1 4 . 9 7 1 , 5 7 7 9 0 7 2 1 6 1 3 004 3 0 , 4 1 1 1 5 . 1 8 , 2 , 2 4 1 2 , 0 9 4 6 3 0 6 5 15015 ; 8 4 1 1 . 3 . . . 150 1 0 , 8 1 5 40. 3 . . . 32,,l72 • 14.90 2 , 5 0 2 1,911 2 2 2 . . . : 1 44,747 1 4 . 7 3 3 , 6 2 9 2.236 9 1 3 1 5 2,250 1,653 15.89. 1 , 5 5 9 , 1,214 2 4 4 2 4 36,010 1 3 2 , 8 7 7 2,268 7 3 8 . . . 2,715 1,519 2 . 4 0 , . . . 28,857 14.0,1 2 , 1 0 6 2,057 39,281114.42! 2 , 9 5 5 1,921 6 8 2 1 3 2,725 2,977 32:033 1 3 71 2 5 1 5 4 2 . 4 2 1 , 11 0 2 " . . 3,601. 45.399: 12.61, 4 , 0 0 9 . 2,375. 5 4 7 . . 2,5.8 33,927: 2624 246 169 208 165 208 9 3 193 8 8 100 203 9 2 192 111 212 227 177 The last complete census of the State was taken A t that time the population of Branch County five thousand seven hundred and twenty-six. O f these, eleven thousand two hundred and forty-two being thirty-four and six-sevenths per cent, of the whole number The amount of taxable land at that time was dred and seventeen thousand three hundred and eighty-six acres; the number of acres of improved land was dred and sixty-eight thousand f o u r hundred and three. The following table shows the principal productions of the county at that time, and we presume there has been n o great change since then: Bushels o f wheat Bushels o f potatoes Toes of hay Pounds o f wool Pounds of pork (marketed) Pounds o f cheese Pounds o f butter Barrett of eider Gallons of wine test.) Pounds of mople-soger Horsey 1 y e a r old and over Mules W o r k ones B M A cows Other cattle, 1 year old e n d over Swine, over 6 w r a t h y Sheep, over 6 menthe 486,689 135,366 23,489 191,648 2,613,828 49,636 539,444 7,920 4,000 51,908 9,890 94 318 10,504 11,140 16,1132 16,604 A t the same time there were twenty-two flouring-mills in the county, three being run by steam and nineteen by water. T h e y contained sixty-five runs of stone, 41need &snag the year one hundred and thirtysand nine hundred and fifty-four barrels of Waw aloe, besides seven planing•mills, filly-two idditrilms propelled b y steam and seventeen by water, the whole number producing fourteen million one e17411 r thousand feet W.: have new given a rough consecutive history o f Branch Consty frost the earliest times to the To this we wia sow subjoin a few chapters devoted ial subjects which could r, , t well lie node a part of the ( titin..etect a i v o m i t County R e p u b l i c a n - T h e B r a n c h C o u n t y G a s e t t e cratic U n i o n - T h e S o u t h e r n M i c h i g a n N e w s - The C o l d w a t e r Union S e n t i n e l - T h e R e p u b l i c a n - T h e B r o n s o n H e r a l d - T h e Union C i t y Independent- T h e Q u i n c y Ti m e s - T h e U n i o n C i t y Register- T h e L i t e r a r y R e p o r t e r - T h e G r e e n b a c k e r - T h e Quincy Herald- T h e Coldwater We e k l y Press. THE press is so widely recognized as an institution o f unrivaled importance, arid its influence, either for evil, in each county is of such a general nature (extending certainly to the farthest limits of the county, if that it is the practice of the publishers of this and similar works to consider the various newspapers of a county not as local matters pertaining to the places in which published, but as subjects o f general interest, to which a chapter of the general history of the county should case be devoted. I n this chapter of the present work is given a concise sketch of' the various newspapers County. I t is based on an article published by vey Haynes, of Coldwater, on the same subject, siderable portions o f that article are incorporated i n i t . Some additions and changes have been some reminiscences of' early newspapers have from Hon. E . G . Fuller and others, and several journals have been carefully examined f o r facts on this subject THE MICHIGAN The first newspaper published in Branch County Michiga it Star, the first number o f which was the "Branch County Printing Company," at the village of Branch, then the county-seat, in May, 1837. I t was under the editorial supervision o f M r. Charles P. West, then county clerk, who edited the paper with spirit and ability. But i t was generally conceded among the that when anything extremely cute was to be written, the pen of his sister, Miss Laura West, was called tion. T h e life o f this paper, however, like "terrestrial happiness," was of abort duration. T h e population of the county was sparse, much sickness prevailed among neers, and the rival village gave it no less than a year (we believe it barely lived through winter) ended the career o f the Michigan Star. Democratic in politics, though rather friendly to who had no organ of their own in the county. THE COLDWATER The people of Coldwater knew full well that never do to let the rival village monopolize the printing of the county. T h e y were striving at every opportunity to procure the removal of the comity-seat to their and it was quite likely that the existence of a Branch, and the non-existence of one in decide the result of the struggle. Thomas N. E. G. Fuller (the former being one of the the latter the only lawyer, of Coldw..i.. ...irculated �1011 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH scription paper, and the loismess men or (',,id %vater subscribed— i t Was in the flush times, just before panic—enough to buy a press and a supply of type. D r . Calkins was to be the principal editor and manager, but Mr. Fuller assisted largely in the editorial work. The proprietors procured t h e services o f J. Ketchum Averill, the foreman o f the ..Ilieldgan Star, and the new paper was issued in his name as publisher, the being those who had subscribed t o purchase There was much excitement over the new paper, and great anxiety t o get out the first number. D r . enough knowledge o f printing t o set u p type,—after a fashion,—and h e frequently worked busily a t One day, when the hurry was greatest, he called on M r. Fuller to help set type, and the latter, who had tempted such a task before, managed, with much tribulation, to arrange a " stick-full" in the course o f an hour. H e afterwards set u p type enough t o print one column, but this closed his experience as a printer. At length the first number was issued, on the 18th day of July, 1837, and great was the rejoicing of people thereat. I t was called the Goldwater Observer. A considerable part o f the first number was devoted to scription of the celebration of the Fourth of July, then just past, at Coldwater, including a remarkably good oration by Dr. Calkins. T h e doctor was a fine speaker, and a peculiarly able writer, but these gifts were but doubtful benefits to him, as he was fonder of making speeches and writing editorials than of attending to the more lucrative duties o f fessio The Observer was a journal o f Democratic and the doctor's vigorous editorials attracted wide attention from his brethren of that party. I n less than a year he was offered a position as editor, or one o f the editors, of the Detroit Free Press, then, as now, the cratic journal i n Michigan, at a salary o f one thousand dollars a year, which was a t that time considered a very large sum. H e accepted the offer, but only remained on the Free Press one year. H e afterwards edited a paper at Ann Arbor. He was succeeded as editor of the Observer by another physician, Dr. Bement, who changed the name of nal t o the Branch a u n t y Arews, and under him i t was about as much Independent as Democratic. left the county i n a few months, and though the paper maintained a feeble existence a little longer, its publication was soon entirely THE BRANCH COUNTY n E s i o c n a y. Some months after, two young men named Jocelyn and Horton, took the material i n charge, and published a very clever journal, under t h e name o f the Branch a u n t y Democrat; but some misunderstanding them and the owners of the press, the type into "M." T h u s ended the second attempt to establish a paper in Coldwater. T h e Democrat was cratic T H E C O L D W AT E R S E N T I N E L . These repeated failures were rather discouraging, and for a while Branch County was without a newspaper; but in COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . April, 1841, M r. Albert Chandler, then an mail and a praetical printer, was induced t o take hold of tlw business. O u or about the 12th o f that mouth he iromed the first number of a Democratic journal, CohleraIrr Sri,/ ittel t h a t number being dressed ti account of the death of 1'ro5ident Harrison. F r o m that time t o the preaent Branch County has never been without at least Mr. Chandler was young, active, industrious, and, withal, blessed w o a - i i i 1 1 . and pern, . , 1 , . I , 11 , . . 11 ! . 11 . : 1 , , . for nearly eight years. F i l e s have been preserved in the office o f the present Coldwater Republica's, beginning April 12, 1844, that number being designated as Vol. I V. , No. 1. I t was a four-page sheet, twenty inches two, filled with good reading matter, and Democracy, as distinguished from Whigism. nation of Polk and Clay took place shortly after, and the Sentinel did yeoman service throughout the campaign i n favor of the former. T h e firm-name of the then Chandler & Haynes, Mr. Albert Chandler being the editor and John T. Haynes the In the forepart of 1846 the firm became Chandler Stillman, the junior partner being Dr. Henry B. Stillman, who had recently been county clerk. I n September of the same year Dr. Stillman gave way to Mr. David Waterman, and the firm-name became Chandler St Waterman. I n the month o f November, 1847, the office and material were leased for a year to Mr. Samuel K . Christy. that Mr. Chandler retained an interest in the paper until 1849, when M r. Elihu B. Pond became editor prieto Mr. Pond began a n e w series" of the Sentinel. No. 1, Vol. I . was dated on the 7th o f December. 1849. He was an active, able man, and made the paper success. I t was now somewhat increased in size, being under M r. Pond's administration twenty-two inches b y thirtyIn June, 1854, S. W. Drkgs and the late Col. H . C. Gilbert purchased the paper. and Col. Gilbert wielded the pen as editor with tact and talent. H e was an of Coldwater, having moved thither from New York i n 1841. H e was a lawyer by profession. whatever he undertook was sure to succeed i f within his power. I n 1862 he enlisted i n the cause o f as colonel o f the 1 tnli Michigan Infantry, and after two years o f active service was mortally wounded Ga., while leading his regiment upon the After a few days o f suffering h e was relieved by death. His remains were brought home and interred in Cemetery, there, b y the side o f father, mother, sister, brother, and son, to sleep the sleep that knows no waking. In t h e fall o f 1856, Messrs. Drig,gs & Gilbert sold to Barrett & Reynolds. who conducted the paper some two years, Mr. Reynolds being the editor. H e , too, was neer boy, a son of the late Deacon Reynolds, Barrett & Reynolds in turn tald the & s a n d to J a k e J. H . Gray, also a Branch County pieneer, bat now ident of Virginia. B y him the press was sold, and went to Port Huron, where it was used to print the Port Huron �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Press. T h r o u g h all its change's the Sentinel cratic in politics. THE BRANCH COUNTY JOURNAL. This, the first Whig newspaper in the county, at Coldwater on the 11th day of November, 1851, by B. F. Thompson. I t was a four-page sheet, with on a page. I t s first number announced that the running over the Southern Michigan Railroad as as South Bend, Ind., and stated that, from the rapid rate of progress i n road-building, i t was expected they would reach Chicago by the 1st of January following. A l t h o u g h that work went on with extraordinary rapidity yet i t did not quite make good the hope o f the newspaper, being finished to Chicago in the spring Mr. Thotupson's father became part owner of the Journal in June, 1852. the firm-name being C. A. & B . son. O n the 8 t h o f March, 1853, i t was transferred t o E. J. Hard and H . B. Robinson. T h e s e ducted i t about two years, and sold it to Messrs. Barns & Way, who published i t for a year or more, when i t to Bates Dewey and Clinton B. Fisk. T h e s e in to E. B. Dewey, who removed the press to Elkhart. Up to 1855 the Journal continued to advocate Whig principles, but on the disbanding o f the Whig and ganization o f the Republican party, the the latter's views, and thenceforth supported them with fairness and ability. 1 0 1 until 1861, when patriotism induced him to go to the war, and the paper was discontinued. I t was a spicy Democratic during its THE SOUTHERN M I C H I G A N NEWS. The Southern Michigan News was brought out lic favor at Coldwater in 1863, by T. G. Turner, Esq., but its existence was short, for its editor went t o the the publication was suspended. T h i s paper in politics. T H E C O L D W AT E R U N I O N S E N T I N E L . In 1864 the fixtures of the News were purchased V. Smith and W. G. Moore, who started the Coldwater Union Sentinel, and published it several years. I t was full of local news, and it is safe to say that in that department it has never been excelled by any paper printed i n the county. I t was of large size and printed in fine type vier and nonpareil), and for a country paper immense amount of reading matter. I t supported the Union cause, but was most thoroughly Democratic in politics, full of vim, and waged hot warfare with the and Republican. In 1870, Messrs. Smith & Moore sold out t o Gibson Brothers, who continued the Sentinel as a cratic journal until the building i n which i t was printed was partially burned and the press seriously the publication of the THE BRANCH COUNTY REPUBLICAN. In the fall o f 1857, Messrs. Eddy & the publication of the Branch County Republican, which, as its name implied, supported the principles o f the party of freedom. I t s proprietors being active and attentive to business, the Republican was soon a power i n the county, and took a decided lead under the editorial control competent gentlemen, Mr. Eddy acting as editorIn about a year and a half Mr. Eddy sold to Mr. J. who after a short time sold to Judge Gray. H e , with his BOOHorace J. Gray, continued to make a good paper until 1861, when they sold to F. B. Way, who changed to the Branch County Gazette. THE BRANCH COUNTY GAZETTE. Notwithstanding the change of name, this paper cidedly Republican in politics, and throughout the the leading and almost the only Republican paper in the county. I t supported the administration of coln with untiring zeal, and its columns were use to urge the maintenance of the Union and prosecution of the war. Mr. Way, being in poor health, at length sold Brewer & Burr. J . H. McGowan, 1,1.9., now member of Congress from this district, was editor a part o f the time that the paper was owned by Messrs. Brewer & was succeeded by C. P. Benton. I n 1868 the sold 10 the owners of the present Republican, idated with T H E D E M O r R AT I C U N I o N . 1 8 9 a journal with the above name Ceidtrater, by J. L. Hacktoaff, und by THE REPUBLICAN. On the 23d o f August, 1866, Major D . J . Easton then lately from the ranks o f the 19th Michigan Infantry, in which he had done gallant service for three years The Republican, at Coldwater. L i k e all its it was a weekly paper, but was more ambitious as to size than any o f them, being an eight-page sheet, each page having five columns and being twelve inches by twenty in dimensions,—the whole paper being twenty-four inches by forty. I t was from t h e start a thoroughly Republican journal, and has so continued from that time till this. In December, 1866, D r. P. P. Nichols purchased an interest in the Republican and became one of Messrs. Easton & Nichols issued a widepaper for about a year, when they sold out to Messrs. W. J. St 0. A . Bowen. T h e latter is understood to the editor-in-chief, although the former also contributed to the editorial In 1868, as before stated, the owners of the Rtpublicau purchased the Branch County Gazette, and since then thi consolidated paper has held the unquestioned the principal Republican journal of In a short time, Mr. 0 . A. Bowen sold out hi to go to Montana. T h e new firm was Moore, and these were ere long succeeded by Bowen, &Skeels, the last-named gentleman, Mr the larger part of the editorial work. I ) standing all these changes, the Republican continued to is an able and interesting paper in both its political and ii,. news Early in 1873, Mows. A . J. Aldrich & Co. Iv �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O I natn.i pi.,intaktr2 o f the a n d have ever since remained i t s owners, publishers, and editors. On the 23d of August, 1875, Aldrich & Co. made a new venture i n Branch County journalism, bringing out their paper as a semi-weekly. T h e enterprise proved and the Republican has appeared twice a week Although strongly devoted to its party, i t is noted for its independence of thought and expression,—an alike creditable t o its proprietors and rially speaking, the Republican is now a fourfour column sheet, twenty-four inches b y thirty-six, well printed on good paper, and presenting a appearance to the eye as well as the mind o f Tit E BRONSON H E R A L D . This was the first paper published in the of Coldwater, except that pioneer of journalism, gan Smr, at Branch. T h e Herald was established in the fall of 1865 a t the village o f Bronson, by T. Babcock & Co., who brought the press from Hudson, Lenawee Co. I t was neutral i n politics, b u t must have been a very acceptable paper, as its circulation was a t one time, we believe, between six hundred and seven hundred. the star of empire was moving westward rapidly, prietors of the Herald suspended its publication in the fall of 1871, and made their way toward the setting ing in Adams Co., Neb., where, at the latest advices, they were publishing a journal called the Adams zette, on the press formerly employed TILE U N I O N C I T Y I N D E P E N D E N T. This pioneer o f Union City journalism was in that village i n October, 1867, b y D r. Alexander H . Pattee. I t closed i t s brief existence i n the summer o f 1868 , It ‘, b in its pulitim. interest, since ?Al and proprietor. pen, and cuss, and i t now , , The Register is printed on a steata-prem, and is in respect up to the times, and a credit to the • supports it. T H E C O L D WAT E E R E P O R T E R . This journal was first issued as as at Coldwater, i n 1872, by J . S. Conover. I t ducted by him f o r a little over a year, when be sold J. A . Hull. I n the year 1874 M r. Hull disposed of the Reporter to Messrs. Knowles and Thorpe. I n part o f 1876 M r. Thorpe sold his interest t o Mr. J. S. Egahroad. O f late, M r. Egabroad, as sole editor, has given the paper a decidedly Democratic turn; and, being a forcible and vivacious writer, has made i t quite a lively and militant THE L I T E R A RY REPORTER. This six-column monthly quarto, employed largely advertising medium, has been issued by C. W. Bennett, at Quincy, since December, 1872. I t has a circulation o f six hundred THE GREENBACKER. The Greenbacker was established a t t h e village o f ' Quincy, in May. 1878, by L . E . Jacobs; and, as may be inferred from its name, was devoted to the principles "Greenback' party. I t advocated the success of back" doctrine with great vigor until October 1 of year, when i t ceased fur lack o f TILE Q U I N C Y T I M E S . This paper, the first journalistic venture in the village whose name it bears, was established on the 11th tember, 1868, as a six-column folio, weekly, b y K • W. Lockhart, being then, as ever since, non-partisan ment. A t the end o f six months i t was purchased b y Ebenezer Mudge, S. Mowrey, and L . L. Briggs, lished i t under the firm-name of " T h e the first-named gentleman being the editor. administration the number o f columns per page creased from six to seven, and then to eight. T h e paper was managed to the satisfaction of the community, attained a circulation o f about On the 25th o f March, 1876, M r. A . C. chased the Times, and became the sole editor tor. H i s course has been equally satisfactory, and although it 1 , 4 ii, F..1•rwiry. 1S77 THE QUINCY HERALD. On the 1st o f November, 1878. M r. C . V. 11. Pond, having obtained the material of the late Gee:rebut/ tablished a small b u t lively weekly at Quincy, called the Herald, which still enjoys an apparently healthy existent* at that C O L D WAT E R W E E K LY P R E S S . This journal began i t s existence in October, 1877, four-page, six-column weekly; i t s founders being B. L Kingston and J. L. Dennis. O n the 17th of ing month M r. D. D. Waivott bought the share o f Mr. Dennis, and on the 1st of March, 1878, parehmei that of Mr. Kingston, becoming sole proprietor and editor, and remaining so until the present time. k ) + . . f f i o • f r Jnitmirt- �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . CHAPTER XXVII. THE S TAT E P U B L I C SCHOOL.* Its U n i q u e Character— I t s F u n c t i o n s —Nature o f o t h e r Charitable I n s t i t u t i o n s — G o v e r n o r B a l d w i n ' s Action— A Special Commission Their Report— J o i n t Committee i n t h e Legislature— M r. Randall Chairman— T h e i r R e p o r t — A c t i o n o f t h e G r a n d A r m y — dall's Vi e w s — H e presents a B i l l — I t s Supporters—Passage o f t h e L a w — T h e B o a r d o f Commissioners a n d B o a r d o f C o n t r o l tion o f t h e S i t e — B u i l d i n g s o p e n e d — D e s c r i p t i o n o f T h e m — T h e Law r e g a r d i n g A d m i s s i o n — L a r g e Numbers Come— N e w B u i l d i n g s — L . P. A l d e n , S o p e r i n t e n d e n t — T h e W o r k done b y the Children Religious Services—Dress and Appearance o f t h e C h i l d r e n — T h e i r H e a l t h — G o i n g i n t o F a m i l i e s — L e t t e r s f r o m C h i l d r e n —Specimen Letters— I m p r o v e m e n t s m a d e s i n c e 1 8 7 5 — N u m b e r o f C h i l d r e n who have been a t School—Names o f Officers n i t s institution, " T h e Michigan State Public School for Dependent Children," located at Coldwater, to be the only one o f its kind i n the world,—that is, the only combined school and asylum established tained by a State or nation which admits all dependent children having no efficient natural supporters, and which is without any o f the attributes o f a penal institution. We have called it a combined school and asylum, for such it i s ; its official as well as common title o f "State Public School" only describes a portion o f its functions. There have been numerous asylums which have also afforded education to orphaus and others; b u t supported b y private charity, and were generally local i n their beneficence. States, too, of' late years lished reformatory institutions whither children o f evil tendencies were sent to be reclaimed to upright lives; but it was reserved for Michigan to take the lead i n establishing an institution in which every child within the jurisdiction of the State, who has no property and no one to take care of it, may be received, supported, and educated at pense of the State until a private home can be provided for it. W h e t h e r any evil will finally result t o munity by promoting the "shiftlessness' or imprudence of parents is yet t o be seen; thus far the effect upon the children themselves, and indirectly upon t h e State, has been unquestionably good— The first official action in the chain of proceedings which resulted in the establishment of the State school water was taken by Hon. H. P. Baldwin, who, in the fall of 1868, before assuming the duties of the office ernor, to which he had been elected, visited several State institutions and some of the county jails houses, and h1,1.111/C convinced of the necessity ment in their general management, and of a revision laws relative to them. H e , therefore, in his sage recousmeaded such a revision and the appointment of a commission to examine and consider the connected with our punitive and reformatory * T h e facts in this chapter are derived from a paper on t h e school, prepared, at the requeot of the State Board of Centennial Managers, for the Centennial E x h i b i t i o n , by Ron. C. R a n d a l l , from a n address by Superintendent L. P. Alden on T h e School and its Parposes," from the fifth annual report of tint l a i r d of Control, and from doroments. I n many Cases we bass stool the language of the papers mentioned. 10 which should report on or before the meeting of the next Legislature. I n accordance with this rectutinendation joint resolution (Laws o f 1869, page 442) the Governor appointed, the commission during sion. T h e appointees were Dr. S. S. Cutter, Hon. C. I . Walker, of Detroit, and Hon. F. H. Rankin, of Flint, gentlemen eminently qualified for the difficult work allotted them. T h e y spent several months in their investigations, visiting many o f the county and State institutions o f Michigan, and also those o f other States. T h e i r report t o t h e Legislature o f 1871 was drafted by Hon. C. I. Walker, and was able and covering most of the questions in social reform which had attracted public attention, showing careful research, and containing many valuable In submitting this report, Gov. Baldwin, in in January, 1871, called especial attention to the recommendations therein relative to dependent children, in and out of the county poor-houses, and asked for for their relief. T h i s report gave the nuniber of dren under sixteen years of age, and gave a vivid account of their lamentable condition in the county I t showed very plainly that there was not, nor could there be, in such asylums, any separation o r classification mates, so that from necessity the children were kept in close contact with t h e adult inmates of' both sexes, who were often the physical, mental, and moral wrecks of their own excesses. T h e y also had to associate daily, rooms, with the diseased, insane, and idiotic. I n such a school o f ignorance and vice as this, which county poor-house afforded (and they are no worse in this than in other States), with all these evil influences about them, the prospects for the young were gloomy indeed. These influences, too, operated strongly to attach the child permanently to the pauper and criminal class in which he was reared ; the system thus working most effectually to propagate and perpetuate, from one generation a dependent and criminal class of very low mental ical type, the ratio of increase in that class being greater than in the community The commissioners suggested three plans of on the experience of other States and countries, but none going as far in the way of State action as adopte When the Legislature of 1871 convened, it was erally understood that the matters treated b y commission would furnish some of' the most important work of the session. I t was early decided there should be a joint committee of the Senate and House, composed of mittees on the reform school and State prison in and the like committees in the House, thrilling a body of sixteen members. A t the request of the chairman of the special commission, Senator C. D. Randall, accepted the chairmanship of the Senate committee reform school, which would probably make him chairman of the joint committee. T h e joint committee him to that position. D u r i n g the usual vacation of days, the joint committee visited the State and reformatory institutions, and on its return meetings, discussing freely what �I 11.1 I r : 1\41 be made. A f t e r a full discussion, the cuwwittee instructed the chairman to report as he did Feb. 15, 1871. port largely adopted the views and conclusions of commission in regard to needed improvements in the penal and reformatory institutions of the State, and also to proposed aid for dependent children. T h e following language was then used in this report, which was the pearance of the subject in that or any previous Legislature: Your committee also recommend that among tions of this State there be established, at an early day, a State Public School, after the plan of that in for the maintenance and education o f indigent children. This class is now generally kept in our poor-houses, which are unfit places in which to rear and educate boys and whence it cannot be expected they will go bettered in mind and morals. I t would be a noble work for the State to do, and it is to be hoped that it will soon take them in its fostering care." W h e n this report was drawn the writer was not aware that the Massachusetts mended, was partially penal and reformatory. A t this same time the association o f ex-soldiers, known as the Grand Army of the Republic, were making have the Legislature establish an asylum for the children of deceased and indigent soldiers. T h e leading men o f the Grand A r m y, however, readily assented to that the proposed institution should be open to all pendent children of the State, and thus another and ful influence was added to those tending in the direction of the proposed institution. The special commission appointed by Governor Baldwin, though presenting very convincing testimony and strong arguments, accompanied them with n o bill as ment of their scheme in regard to legislation for of the class of children referred to. T h e joint committee of the Senate and House in its first report, other bills at that time, presented none for the dependent children. B u t subsequently in the session, Mr. Randall, after giving the subject as careful a study as he could, became strongly impressed with the idea that time the State should assume control of these children. T h e first fifty days of the session, after which no bills introduced, were rapidly drawing to a close, when, without the aid of precedents, for none existed for the institution desired, he prepared such a plan as to him right as an educational preventive project based on our common-school system, having no regard to our penal o r reformatory systems. Reports o f commissions o f various States, especially i n O h i o and Massachusetts, furnished useful suggestions, but not a basis for the organic law of the proposed school, for they all treated o f institutions of a mixed character, partly penal or reformatory, none having treated of an institution purely preventive, beginning with children before they had become criminal. Michigan already had a reform school, so there was no good reason for establishing one of a mixed character. M r . Randall felt that governments, through all ages, had never treated t h e dependent-children question correctly. T h e poor-house, the work-house, the industrial schools have always, especially in England, received the innocent and criminal alike, and p u t them under the same treatment, I I Wit I t I C sane, associations i ider this children became criminals, and the governments. not as a saved to a better fate. A s education was tamouded t o be the best preventive of pauperism and crime, assisted by moral and religious training, it was Mr. Randalfs aim, in drafting the plan o f the permed nasal, struct the scheme directly on the educational Weis of our common-school system, combining temporary support of the younger dependent children in a home a n d sion o f the State during minority. O n that ingly, was the bill drawn,—a plan disconnected entirely from our penal system, so that no taint of crime or suspension of sentence, should attach to any inmate; so that none in after-life should ever have cause to blush that he or the had been a ward of' the State in a school where the house had been built and the school maintained by the same system of taxation that supports the of the The law thus drawn was on the 22d day of February, 1871, the last day of the session for introducing sented in the Senate and referred to the joint committee. On the 3d day o f March, after a full discussion of visions, the chairman, by the unanimous instruction of his committee, returned the bill t o the Senate with a inendation for This measure soon found in the Legislature many friends and no active opponents. W h i l e it was under the following gentlemen visited Lansing, and i n public addresses favored it, viz.: Z . R. Brockway, Esq., Hon. C. I. Walker; Rev. E. C. Wines, P.D.. LL.D.. the thropist of international reputation; Rev. Dr. dent of Adrian College; and Rev. Dr. Gillespie, of the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Western Michigan. No address was made in either House in opposition to the bill. I t had in the main been recommended by commission, by the joint committee, and the press. O n its final passage in the Senate there were twenty-three four noes. I n the House there were seventy-three ayes and ten noes. I t received the signature of win on the 17th of April, and thus was established what is believed to be the first government institution lished exclusively for the children o f the poor to which poverty alone The law appropriated t h i r t y thousand dollars t o the school, and commissioners were appointed t o locate i t . erect t h e buildings, and take charge o f the institution. The first commissioners were Gov. H . P. officio, C. E . 'Mickley, and N . G . Isbell. M e s s r s J . S. Barber, C. D. Randall, and D r. S. S. Cutter ward members o f the board o f commissioners. I n 1874 the board of commissioners was superseded by a "bused of control" of three members, appointed by the Senate for six years, one every two yearn. T h e bers were C. E . Mickley, President; C. D. retary and Treasurer; and Dr. 8.8. Cutter. The beautiful site, salubrious climate, and roundings of C.oldwater marked that city as a �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1 0 5 tion for the proposed institution, and when, in addition, the From that time to this, the school has continued citizens donated a site for the school and twentyform its beneficent functions with great sand dollars i n cash, the commissioners had no hesitation ently succeeding most admirably in the purposes for which in locating i t at that point. it was instituted. The site chosen was on an eminence a mile north of the About one-third of the children are too small to work, centre of the city, and just outside of the corporate limits, but every child large enough has some work t o occupy it commanding a fine view of the city and its suburbs, and of from two to three hours per day, either on the farm, in the a wide-spread succession of smiling fields, stretching far up laundry, shoe-shop, sewing-room, knitting-room, or and down the fertile valley of forming some domestic work. E a c h child A further appropriation was made by the Legislature in from four t o five hours per day, and the very 1873, and the buildings were ready for use in May, 1874. most experienced teachers are employed. O n l y These consisted of the main or "administrative" building, mon English branches are taught. Telegraphy has lately which was in the shape of a cross, three stories been introduced, and bright children who are the basement, having a frontage of one hundred weak to labor on the farm, or who have been in eight feet, and in the central part a depth of one hundred crippled, are so instructed as t o become self-supporting. and seventy-five feet. I n this were located the rooms All of the larger boys are taught the manual of superintendent and his family, and other are furnished rooms, dining-room, school-rooms, shoe-shop, The food is simple and plain b u t of the best quality of for the employees, etc. N e a r i t were several "cottages," its kind, and the variety is sufficient to stimulate as they are called, although they were two stories high, and tite. A garden of eighteen acres furnishes a large amount their dimensions were nearly forty feet b y thirty. T h e s e of vegetables for the use of the institution. were designed to accothmedate thirty children each, under hundred bushels o f apples were grown on the farm last the charge of a lady manager; the lower stories year, but not enough t o supply the school with all that being fitted with a room for the manager, sittingcould be used to advantage. A few cows are kept on the the children, and a bath-room, while the upper grounds, but not enough to supply the wants of divided into dormitories for the children. A l l the buildings as there is but little pasture, and over one worth of milk is purchased each year. were of brick. From this it will be seen that the plan o f the institution The moral culture of the children receives tion in both the cottages and the school-rooms, was of a mixed description, containing, as is believed, so far services are held for them every Sunday in the as possible, the benefits of the congregate system with that conducted by the superintendent, assisted by ladies of separate families. T h i s plan has been continued t i l l tlemen o f various religious denominations from the city. the present time, and no doubts have been expressed but The older boys, in charge of a teacher or manager, attend that i t is the best that can services each Sabbath a t one o r another o f t h e c i t y The school was opened on the 21st of May, 1874, with churche Zelotes Truesdell as superintendent. T h e law provided for The boys wear a plain, coarse, but neat the admission of children between three and consisting of dark jacket and gray trousers; the girls are of age, on t h e certificate of the judge o f probate habited in an equally plain costume suited to their sex. T h e county from which each might come, only to be issued to children of both sexes have a hearty, healthy, cleanly look, dependent children, ascertained to be o f sound mind and as different as can well be imagined from the free from any chronic or infectious disease. T h e y were to pearance of many of the youthful inmates o f remain a t the school until sixteen, provided homes could and which has come to be known as a "poor-house look." not be found for them before that time in The health o f the children is above the average. N o After the children were sixteen the board o f ailment, however slight, is treated at the cottages ; vested with discretion to retain them in the school or return valid, on the appearance o f the first them to their being removed to the hospital. B y far the g r As soon as the school was opened the children were tion, however, are speedily returned cured, without rapidly sent in from all parts of the State, and in leas than ministration o f medicine, through the employment o f a year the accommodations of the buildings proper hygienic regimen. P o r i n g the year Further legislative aid was obtained during the session o f her 30, 1878, 1875, and durino• the following summer several hundred children who tages were erected, bringing the whole number up constant membership being about besides a hospital. T h e latter was forty-eight feet b y , I . 1 I I , 1 i , I thirty-three, while the new cottages were forty three. L i k e the first buildings, these were also can be placed in families which are As thus increased, the buildings accommodated The Governor has appointed agents in dred and wrineitwd counties of the gbite to find homes for the In July, 1875, Mr. Lyman r •.1 and a successful man Widest, and having , seinii•I i n regard Io this bratii'li .it tin. work. has been retained in it 1 AI 4 �-• 11,1 h l ll means, and by the voluntary application o f citizens, part o f t h e children are provided f o r i n t h a t manner. Numerous letters arc received from agents and guardians regarding the children thus cared for, generally shrilling favorable results; though sometimes serious faults covered i n the children, and sometimes harsh treatment is inflicted by those who should be their The children thus sent away from the institution encouraged t o write t o the superintendent, and many o f their letters are decidedly interesting in their plicity. F r o m those published verbatim et literatim, i n the last report of the board of control, we select apparently by a girl, and the other by a boy: •h t i i So s i t i l o w n t o w r, l i 3 0 0 a f e a lines t o let y o u k n o w that I a m well, a n d g e t t i n g a l o n g v e r y n i c e l y. N o w I w i l l t e l l y o u all about i t . I t h i n k t h a t I have g o t A good h o m e . I a n g o i n g to t r y t o k e e p t o y place t h i s t i m e . T h e y h a v e been v e r y k i n d t o m e and I w i l l t r y t o please them. I h a v e great deal o f fun. T h e y have got a l i t t l e boy here. H e makes lots o f fun. I like h i m very mulch. I l e i s a n i c e l i t t l e b o y. S h e i s a v e r y nice l a d y. S h e h a s a g r e a t deal o f c o m p a n y a n d s h e has g o t a great m a n y k i n d f r i e n d s . T h e y all seem t o be glad t o see h e r . I l e is a nice m a n . T h e y h a v e g o t a y o u n g man. I l e is always g e t t i n g o ff s o m e t h i n g to m a k e f u n . t h e y :Ire all g o o d c h r i s t i a n p e o p l e . t h e y h a v e g o t a v e r y pleasant place. We all go t o church b u t we d i d not go t o - n i g h t because she was sick. This l a d y ' s sister t h i n k s of coming out there to get A g i r l n o t over ten years old. S h e w i l l hav e a good home f o r her. S h e has got an organ anhl she w a n t s o n e t h a t c a n l e a r n t o p l a y. I l i k e m y home v e r y match. I cannot t h i n k o f a n y t h i n g more to w r i t e no good b y t o all. " M — H — . " " December 12, 1877. " D E A R M R . ALDEN : — I received y o u r n i c e l e t t e r some t u n e a g o and was v e r y m u c h pleased w i t h i t . S h o u l d h a v e answered i t before this h a i l t h e r e n o t been s o m u c h sickness i n t h e f a m i l y. I like it hiore. T h e r e a r e t w o children i n t h e f a m i l y — a l i t t l e b o y 16 months oId ( h i s name is B a r t l e ) a n d a g i r l f o u r years old, her name is M e d i c ; she goes w i t h m e t o feed t h e c a l f a n d h o g s . I used t o see R o b b c r t Gambol a t S u n d a y school, b u t I guess h e h a s r a n a w a y . H e n r y H u n t l y i s i n t h i s place. I go to school— l i k e my teacher ever so well. I belong to the singing school, but can't read notes yet. M y guardian let m e h u s k c o r n o n s h a r e s ; I have g o t 12 bushels. I am g o i n g to b u y s p i g a n d feed i t . I helped p u t i n the wheat last fall, a n d ! have 14 a c r e s o f m y own. I was t o v i s i t y o u a b o u t t w o weeks a g o , b u t you was n o t there. I saw a l l the new b u i l d i n g s ; t h i n k i t looks nice. I f you g e t a letter from all t h e children i t w i l l keep y o u busy reading, so I guess t w i l l n o t w r i t e much. W i l l close b y h o p i n g y o u w i l l send a nice l e t t e r again sometime. " A Boy Friend, " J — G—." Since 1875 there has been but one cottage added, but this is a large one, sheltering sixty children, so that now full three hundred are cared for in the institution. A new building f o r an engine-house and laundry has also been erected lately. The whole number of children received into tion down to the let day of February, 1879, was dred and ninety, of whom three hundred and ten placed i n families. F o u r hundred and twelve for last year, including those placed out during the time; lie expense for each being eighty-one dollars and cents, which is stated to be very little more than have been in h i t '•• i I 'f lie principal euipluyem of the institution are intendent, matron, clerk, teachers, cottage managers, and hospital manager. A complete but simple set of been prescribed for their government, and of the institution seems to go on with considering the number and age of the children. Thmegit corporeal punishment is not absolutely interdicted, care is taken that i t shall not be harshly or ministered, and we believe no complaint leas ever that such is Such is the history and some of the characteristics "Michigan State Public School for Dependent an institution which i s certainly unique in and which its friends believe is destined to take in a n important reformation in the treatment o f each children throughout this country i f not throughout the world The State Public School exhibit at the a quarto volume, including the papers by and Alden, mentioned a t the beginning o f embracing a lithographic view of the buildings, graphic views (exteriors and interiors), plan plan o f grounds, outline plan o f all the reports of the boards of control for 1874 t o Upon the exhibit thus made, a diploma and awarded. N o other institution having any resemblance to this received The following is the text of the report of the accepted by the United States Centennial in conformity with which an award of diploma was decreed -to the State Public School: * T h e having examined the product herein described, recommend the satue t o the United States Commission for award, for the following reasons, viz. : F o r the exhibit o f plans, drawings, historical sketches and reports, advantage of the separation of children untainted from those more properly cared for in a tion ; for the adaptation of the separate housesystem to the needs of said State Public School; and for the evidence of thoughtful planning and careful work in the establishment." T h e report o f the judges and diploma adorn the walls of the principal office of the school, and the medal is carefully preserved in We close with a list of the present officers ployees of the institution,—Board of Control: Burns, President, Detroit; Hots. Henry H. Hon. C. D. Randall, Secretary and Superintendent, Lyman P. Alden. C l e r k and S t e m s * Daniel G . Blackman. M a t r o n , Mrs. Lena P. Aides. Cottage Managers, Mrs. Lucretia Champs, Mew Mardis Bissell, Mrs. Agnes McCollum, Mm. Sarah Wation, Mts. Mi., S- r . 1 , n,,, Mr ' Staple Agh, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . CHAPTER X X V I I I . COUNTY SOCIETIES. Branch C o u n t y A g r i c u l t u r a l Society— F i r s t M e e t i n g — F i r s t Officers First F a i r — P r e m i u m s o n S t o c k — P r e m i u m s A w a r d e d to Ladies The F a i r i n 1 8 3 2 — E x t e n s i o n o f F a i r i n 1 8 3 4 — N e w Ft:atoms i n 1855— P e r m a n e n t F a i r - G r o u n d — L e g a l I n c o r p o r a t i o n in 1857 j o u r n m e n t in 1561— S c a n t P r e m i u t n s in 1 8 6 2 — A N e w F a i r - G r o u n d — A Sheep- S h e a r i n g F e s t i v a l — B u i l d i n g o f F l o r a l H a l l —Receipts in V a r i o u s Ye a r s — M o r e L a n d — P r e s e n t Officers— L i s t dents— T h e County Grange— I t s Organization— F i r s t ings—Object— B r a n c h C o u n t y P i o n e e r S o c i e t y — T h e t i o n — F i r s t Officers B R A N C H C O U N T Y A G R I C U L T U R A L S O C I E T Y. THE first meeting looking to the formation of cultural society i n Branch County was held, pursuant t o notice, on the 17th day of October, 1851, Asahel Brown being chosen president, and E . B. Pond secretary. F . V. Smith, Alvarado Brown, and J . B . Tompkins pointed a committee t o draft a constitution, while John Root, Darwin Wilson, Oliver Burdick, J r. , and William P. Arnold were made a committee to nominate officers f o r the proposed association. T h e y made the tions, which were confirmed by the James B. Tompkins; Vice-President, John tary, F. V. Smith ; Treasurer, H. W. Wright. A corresponding secretary was also named in ship, as follows: B u t l e r, Jason Bowen; Quincy, Elijah Leland; Algansee, Asahel Brown; California, Israel R . Hall; Ovid, Daniel ; Girard, Solomon L . Lawrence; Union, J. C. Leonard; Batavia, Joseph Peterson; Bethel, E. B. Williams; Gilead, Emerson Marsh; Noble, Darwin Wilson; Bronson, John Holmes; Mattison, John Culver; Sherwood, B. F. Ferris. A constitution was also adopted for the government of the society. B y its association the society was to the Branch County Agricultural Society, its design being declared t o be to promote improvement in the kindred arts. T h e r e was to be an consisting of the president, vice-president, urer, and two other members, who were to have management o f the affairs o f the society. T h e officers already chosen were t o held office until the meeting, which wa.s fixed f i r the 11th of November year. I t was provided that any person might become a member by paying one dollar, and might continue so by paying half a dollar annually. T h e payment of made the payer a life-member, and authorized him tend the annual meetings of the executive committee and participate in the The first annual meeting was held at the above, when the following permanent °them! President, J . B . Tompkins ; V i c e -President, William Smith; Secretary, F. V. Smith; Treasurer, Elijah Leland; Executive Committee, Daniel Wilson and L . 1'. Austin. Corresponding secretaries were again named, most before designated The first annual fair of the society was held village, on the 7th of October, 1s'52. T h e whole propriated for premiums was only two 1 0 7 - — Joseph R. Williams, of Constantine, St. Joseph chosen to deliver the Brief and meagre indeed was the premium-list. A m o n g the premiums offered were Class 1, short-horns: for the best bull, three years old or over, $3; for the best cow, $3. Class 2, Devous : the Class 3, grades: Class 4, natives: Class 5, working oxen and steers: best yoke oxen, four years old, $2; best five yoke, from one town, $3; three-year old steers, $1 ; best two-year old steers, $1. Class 6, fat cattle: best steer or ox, copy mer Class 7, horses: best stallion for all work, four $2 and R u r a l New Yorker; best brood-mare, old, $1 and Rural New The premium offered for the best cultivated farm in the county was a set of silver teaspoons worth $6. 'When the time came, the executive committee had their headquarters in the court-house, while the crowd and the exhibits occupied the ground outside. Members, and their children under eighteen were admitted on cent tickets of the members, while single tickets at the moderate price of The principal awards to ladies at this first fair following: T o Miss C. H . Williams, for best bread, " Miss Leslie's Receipt Book"; to Mrs. for best hop-rising bread, same; to Mrs. L. R. milk-rising bread, the same; t o Mrs. J. G. Brooks, ten pounds butter, $2 and copy " Modern Housewife"; t o Mrs. Jane Lee, for best variety of wines, jellies, copy " Modern Housewife"; to Mrs. Roland Root, cheese, copy " Modern Housewife"; t o Mrs. L. for best catsup of domestic manufacture; to Lewis, for best ten yards white flannel; t o Mrs. Hanchett, best ten yards rag carpet; to Mrs. best pair knit stockings; to Mrs. E. Martin, best quilt; to Mrs. E. G. Parsons, for best specimen worsted work ; t o Mrs. N . T. 'Waterman, best worked collars ; t o Mrs. L . D. Crippen, for best variety o f dahlias; t o Mrs. J. H. Beach, for best variety of house-plants; to ward Chapman, best dressed flannel ; to Mrs. D. house, best pair linen stockings; to Mrs. N. D. ment needle-work; t o Mrs. F. V. Smith, same; to Mrs. 0 . R. Clark, for beautiful, white, quilted spread; t o Mrs. C. B. Fisk, for worsted work ; t o Mrs. S. M . Denison, for woolen stockings; t o Miss Harriett A. Crippen, ful embroidered shoes; t o Miss R. A. Champion, dressing-gown; to Mrs. I I . N. Hubbard, for to Mrs. C. B. Fisk, for a parlor bouquet; to Miss Amelia Noyes, for the same; to Mrs. David Rice, ten carpet; to Mrs. 'f. J . Webb, for fancy work-box; Mm. W. H. Hanchett, one coral card-basket; Mrs. J. R. Hall, one pair worked ottomans; Mrs. E. G. Parsons, stoo The prise for the best farm was given to of From these modest beginnings the progress has but steady up to the present time. A t the second A �los i n s T o n y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1853, four hundred dollars were allotted for the prises for the best cattle were advanced t o Hon. Charles E. Stewart delivered the address. vision in the constitution for corresponding secretaries in each town was stricken out. In 1854 the time of the fair was extended to The premiums remained at about the same also as the year before, but a larger number In 1855 t w o o r three new features were introduced, premiums being offered for the best performances on the piano, melodeon, and dulcimer, and also for the mens of female horsemanship, both in riding and in driving one or At the annual meeting, in 1854, i t was resolved to b u y land for a permanent fair-ground. A bargain ingly made with Mr. Bradley Crippen to purchase on the Battle Creek road, near the north line o f lage of Coldwater, the price being seven two hundred i n cash, and the rest i n three equal annual payments. A s the society was not legally incorporated i t could not hold land itself, and the contract was made by Darwin Wilson to hold the tract in question in trust. In 1857 the society was incorporated, the thority being vested in a president, secretary, five directors. T h e first officers under the new were Asahel Brown, President ; Hiram R. Alden, C. B. Fisk, Treasurer; and Samuel Morey, Philo man Milieu, Jas. Clisbee, and Oliver Burdick, A t the fair i n 1857 no prizes were offered for female horsemanship, but several ladies volunteered to grace the occasion. T h e judges praised their proficiency, gave thanks to Capt. Andrews and the members of water Light Artillery, for the gentlemanly escort afforded by them to the ladies. S o m e perhaps laughed at tary semblance o f the gallant militiamen ; but when the time of trial came nearly every man of the Coldwater Light Artillery was to be found in front of The report made in June, 1858, showed that the ceipts during the second year of the society's two hundred and seventy-one dollars and nine cents, while in 1857 they had increased t o nine hundred and sixty-nine dollars and seventy-one cents. A t that time (1858) the association numbered five hundred and fifty bers. T h e r e was then a debt o f two hundred seven dollars,—one hundred and forty dollars being still due on the land contract and one hundred and for At the fair of 1858 new buildings were and were erected. T h e r e were six hundred and entries, but on account of bad weather the number 1,er:46p-tickets was comparatively small. T h e bership-fee was raised to one dollar, where it has tinued There were fairs held in 1859 and 1860, but there is no record of them on In 1861 the attention of the people was so completely taken u p b y the great war, and so many o f the active young farmers had o n e forth to meet their oti,-, that i t was determined t o adjourn the fair till the In 1862 a fair was held, but the 'society seems to have been very much cramped for money. judging from lution passed by the board of' directors. I t provided that the treasurer should pay, first, the current expensitt year for labor, etc., next the debts of the society, mod last the premiums which might be awarded. T h i s left but a poor chance 6,r the prize-takers, but they were allowed the privilege of applyite4 the unpaid amounts in tickets the re•xt year. In 1863 the Dumber of directors was increased to six. these being elected for two yens, the terms of piring each year. I t was about this tine that sold its land on Grand Street, and bought twenty acres on Marshall Street, near the north line o f the city water,—that is, the Agricultural Society sod the Hone Breeders' Association bought. it i n company, the former fitting up the track and grand stand, while the the ground. built walls. etc. T h i s arrangement has been maintained till the present time. In 1864 t h e exigencies o f the war, then i n the very crisis of decision, again prevented the bolding of either a fair or an Just after the close o f the war the jubilant farmers. whose sons and brothers were then returilite: leant, ho t h e hundreds. held a peculiar festival under the auspices of the authorities of the association. I t was called a ing festival, and occurred on the 7th of June of that year. Premiums were offered f o r the best sheep and one dollars for the best shearer. A large number attended with their sheep, b u t probably the thought to be greater than the enjoyment or profit, scene was The following year, 1866, a large hall was built for the exhibition o f flowers, fruits, and other delicate products, and called Floral Ilall. T h e cost was about four hundred This year a premium o f ten dollars was offered for the best span o f draft horses, while the prizes for choice cattle were somewhat reduced. T h e total receipts were about eight hundred The institution was now well started on the road cess; and i n 1867 the receipts were much larger than the year before, and the debts of the assetiation paid up. I n 1867 the total receipts were and twenty-seven dollars and ninety-nine eents; o f which nearly a thousand dollars was applied i n payment This necessarily involved a very meaere premium list, and the neat year the receipts fell to three hundred three dollars :old 6,rty-seven eents, A very decided effort was made to improve Oil this situation, a judicious premium list was offered and the affairs of the institution put in the proper train. In 1871 t h e number o f the board ,,f directors commonly called the executive committee) was increased to ten, the terms of tive expiring every year. From this time to the present the society has perous both in regard to its funned enditioa *ad as interest excited amenk the flowers. T I ' I the Neaps amounted t o $1809.34 ; in 1876, to $2968.84; i s 1877, to $2983.70; and i n 1878, $2682.71. F o r the lest �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . years the society has employed the same secretary (Mr. J. I). W. Fisk) continuously ; a fact which has conduced much to its In 1878 the association bought eight acres more on the north side of its former purchase, for sixteen hundred dollars, and two acres on the south side for eight hundred dollars. thus making a tract of thirty acres in all. The following are the present officers of the President, William Joseph; Secretary, J . D . W . F i s k ; Treasurer, Charles H . A u s t i n ; Board o f Directors, John H. Jones, A. M. Drumm, E. C. S. Green, ton, A . C. Fisk, Myron A. Holway, J. M. W. Vanaken, R. E. Copeland, and E. W. Treat. We close with a list of the previous presidents: James B. Tompkins, 1851-52; Darwin Wilson, 1853; Alvarado Brown, 1854; Elijah Leland, 1855; Darwin Wilson, 1856; J. H . Culver, 1S58; Harvey Warner, 1 8 5 9 ; James S. Antisdale, 1861-62-63; J. B. Crippen, 1864-65; Luce, 1866-67; Albert Chandler, 1868-69; John Allen, f870; George W . Va n Aken, 1871 ; H e n r y C. Lewis, 1872; Charles Upson, 1873; Cyrus G. Luce, 1875-76; Henry B. George, 1877-78. THE COUNTY GRANGE. Branch County Pomona Grange, No. 22, on the 21st o f March, 1878, by C. L . Whitney, general deputy for Michigan, on a retition presented by George W. Van Aken, John G. Parkhurst, Mrs. J. G. I'arkhurst, Eli Bidleman, H. B. George, Mrs. H . B. George, Charles H . Austin. D. C. Fonda, A . S. Archer, J. C. Pierce, Mrs. J. C. Pierce, Wm. Joseph, Wallace E. Wright, John Mrs. John H. Jones, Darwin Thompson, and John Bell. The first officers were as follows: Worthy Master, Henry B. George, of Coldwater Grange; Overseer, son, of Gilead Grange; Lecturer, John G. Parkhurst, o f Batavia Grange; Steward, C . H . Austin, o f Batavia Grange; Assistant Steward, J . C . Pierce, o f Coldwater Grange; Treasurer, George W . Va n A k e n , o f Girard Grange; Secretary, Wallace E . Wright, o f Champion Grange; Ceres. Mrs. William Joseph, o f Flora, Mrs. J. G . Parkhurst, o f Batavia Grange; Lady Assistant Steward, M r s . H i r a m Horton, o f Coldwater Grang The worthy master, secretary, and four constitute the executive committee. T h e were William Joseph, G. W. Van Aken, and I). Regular annual meetings are held on the day of March in each year, at the hall of Regular quarterly meetings are held on the the full moon, in the first month of each quarter, sante place. T h e r e are now fortyThe society is designed to promote social among the members, and especially to form a the State granges and the subordinate granges, and thus conduce to the beneficent workings of the order of B R A N C H C O U N T Y P I O N F.ER s o c i r r v . Meetings of the pioneers o f Branch County held for several years, at which the remnant of 10 led the way in the conquest of the widerness to revive their recollections of the olden time, them with the facts or the present day. On the 16th of August the organization of the Branch County Pioneer Society was perfected, its object being to promote the social intercourse of the old settlers, and to preserve whatever relates to the history of the county, and especially to its early settlement. T h e present officers are as follows: President, Harvey Warner; Recording Secretary, Harvey Haynes; Corresponding Secretary, T. C. urer, S. N. Treat; Executive Committee, H. D . Miller, and H e n r y Lockwood; V i c e Algansee, F. D. Ransom; Batavia, M. P. Olds; son Card; Bronson, Wales Adams; Butler, Milo White; California, James H. Lawrence; Coldwater gen F. Bingham; First Ward Coldwater City, William B. Sprague; Second Ward, D . I . P. A l g e r ; T h i r d Ward, Allen Tibbits ; Fourth Ward, D r. J. H. Bennett; Gilead, Samuel B o o t h ; Girard, J . B . Tompkins; Kinderhook, George Tr i p p ; Mattison, William W . McCarty; Noble, Walter W. Smith; Ovid, Stewart Davis; Quincy, W. P. Arnold; Sherwood, Isaac D. Beall; Union, day; village of Quincy, Samuel P. Mowry ; village of Union City, David Cooley; village of Bronson, B R A N C H C O U N T Y B A R A S S O C I AT I O N . This is a very youthful society, having been formed in February, 1879. I t s object is not only to promote good feeling among the members, but to elevate the tone of the profession and to frown down all unworthy practices which may possibly p i n ground among the lawyers o f Branch County. T h e following were t h e first President, Noah P. Loveridge ; Vi c e -President, M . A . Merrifield; Secretary, A . J. McGowan; mittee, Chas. Upson, F. L. Skeels, and H. H. Barlow. CHAPTER XXIX. B R A N C H C O U N T Y C I V I L L I S T. State Officers—Representatives in Congress—Judges of Probate Judges—Proseenting A t t o r n e y s —Sheriffs— C o u n t y Clerks —Registers o f Deeds—Cuonty Treasurers— C o u n t y Comm issionere —Associate J u d g e s o f C i r c u i t C o u r t —County J u d g e s and Second Judges— C i r c u i t C o u r t ton,, ,nissillll ,s— C o u n t y S u r v e y o r s —State Senators—Representatives i n L e g i s l a t u r e —Members tional Conventions. S TAT E O F F I C E R S . Charles G . Hammond, A u d i t o r -General (appointed), A p r i l 13,1842, to M a y 31, 1845. George A . Coe, L i e u t e n a n t - G o v e r n o r ; elected i n 1804 f o r two years; served in 1855-06; re-elected i n 1856 for M u l e s U p s o n , A t t o r n e y -General ; elected f o r t w o years, i n 1 8 6 0 ; served i n 1801-62. J. I I . McGowan, Regent of State University; elected in A p r i l , 1869, for eight years. Charles A . Edmonds, L a n d Commissioner ; elected f o r two years, In 1870; served in 1971-72. C. D . Randall, Conunissioner o f State Politic School; appohited i n 1873; o n Popenression o f tommimioners by Board o f Control in 1874; appointed member of that board for six y e l p �110 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 8. 8 . Cutter, appointed Commissioner o f State School i n December, 1873; appointed member o f Board of Control i n 1874; resigned. REPRESENTATIVES I I I Charles Lipson, elected i n 1 8 6 2 ; re-elected i n 1 8 6 4 - 6 6 ; served from March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1869. • J. H . McGowan, elected i n 1 8 7 6 ; re-elected i n 1 8 7 8 ; service began March 4, 1877. JUDGES OF COI !ITV Wales Adams, elected i n 1833; s e r v e d t o e n d o f 1 8 3 4 ; re-elected i n 1834; served Oa 1835 and 1836. C. P. W e d , e l e d e l 1 8 1 1 8 ; werved i n 1837 a n d 1 8 3 0 ; re-elected i n 1838; served i s I N , sad 1040. M a l i B . S t i l l i m a , d a e l i & i n 1 0 4 0 ; served i n 1 8 4 1 a n d elected 1e 1 4 4 2 ; served in 11543 and 1814. C. P. Bente*, eisgead in 1844 ; served in 1845 and 11946; re-elected in 1844; served i e 1847 and 1848. S. C. R o m , elected i s 1848; served in 1849 and 1850. P. P. Wr i g h t , sleeted i n 1650 s e r v e d in 10351 and 1852; re-elected i s Charles U p s o n , elected i n s p r i n g o f 1869, for s i c years, from Jan. 1, 1870. D a v i d Thompson, t o 611 vacancy, 1878. John 11. Shipman, elected in 1178, for six years, from Jan. 1, 1879. PROBATE J U D G E S . Peter M a r t i n (appointed), 1833-37. M a r t i n Olds (appointed), 1837-40. Edward A . Wa r n e r (appointed), 1841. W i l l i a m B . $prague (appointed), 1842-44. Esbun G . F u l l e r (appointed), 1844-48. Harvey Wa r n e r (appointed), 1849; a f t e r w a r d s elected b y t h e people; 1892; served in 1863 and 1.54. Elven 0 . Leach, elected i n 1854; served in 1155 sad 1856. Benjamin C . Webb, elected i n 1 8 4 6 ; sees-rd i n 1837 a n d elected i n 1 8 5 8 ; served i n 1 9 5 8 a n d 1 8 6 0 ; re-elected i n 1 8 6 6 ; served i n 1861 a n d 1862. H e n r y N . L a w r e n c e , elected i n 1 8 6 2 ; served i n 1863 and elected in 1 8 6 4 ; served i n 1 8 6 5 a n d 1 8 6 6 ; re-elected i n 1 8 4 6 ; served i n 1867 and 1868. Francis M. Bissell, elected in 1868; served i n 1969 and 1870; re-clueted in 1 8 7 0 ; served in 1871 a n d 1872; re-elected in 1872; served i n 1873 and 1874. F r a n k D . N e w b e r r y, elected i n 1 8 7 4 ; served i n 1873 a n d elected i n 1876; served i n 1877 a n d 1 8 7 8 ; re-elected i n 1878. held t i l l Dec. 31, 1856. Jonathan H . G r a y, elected i n 1856, f o r four years, f r o m J a n . I , 1857. Nelson D . Skeels, elected i n 1860, for f o u r years, f r o m J a n . 1, 1861. REGISTERS OF DEEDS. D a v i d Thompson, elected i n 1864, f o r four years, f r o m J a n . 1, 1865. Seth D u n h a m , elected i n 1 8 3 3 ; served t o end o f 1 8 3 4 ; re-elected i n D a v i d W . Green, elected i n 1868; re-elected i n 1872-76. PROSECUTING Esbon G . F u l l e r, a p p o i n t e d i n 1837; r e a p p o i n t e d i n 1840. 11. C. G i l b e r t , a p p o i n t e d i n 1843; r e a p p o i n t e d i n 1846. Eton G. Parsons, appointed i n 1849; s e r v e d t i l l close o f 1850. James W. G i l b e r t , elected i n 1850; served i n 1851 a n d 1852. John G. P a r k h u r s t , elected i n 1852; served i n 1833 a n d 1854. John W . Tu r n e r, elected i n 1854; s e r v e d i n 1855 a n d 1856. E g b e r t K . N i c h o l s , elected i n 1 8 5 6 ; served i n 1857 a n d elected i n 1 8 5 8 ; served i n 1 8 5 9 a n d 1 8 6 0 ; re-elected i n 1 8 6 0 ; served i n 1861 and 1862. L. T. N. M i l l e r, elected i n 1862; served i n 1863 a n d 1864. George A . Coe, elected i n 1864; served i n 1865 a n d 1866. Wallace W. B a r r e t t , elected i n 1866; served i n 1867 a n d 1868. Jorm.4 11. McGowan, elected i n 1 8 6 8 ; s e r v e d i n 1869 a n d elected i n 1870; served i n 1871 a n d 1872. F r a n k L . Skeels, elected i n 1372; served i n 1873 and 1874; re-elected in 1 8 7 4 ; served i n 1875 a n d 1876. Simon B . K i t c h e l l , elected i n 1 8 7 6 ; served i n 1 8 7 7 a n d elected i n 1878. SFIER/PFS. 1834; served i n 1935 a n d 1838. Leonard E l l s w o r t h , elected i n 1 8 3 6 ; served i n 1 8 3 7 a n d elected i n 1 8 3 8 ; served i n 1 8 3 9 a n d 1 8 4 0 ; re-elected i n 1 8 4 6 ; served in 1841 and 1842; died i n October, 1842; George A . One acted t i l l Dec. 31, 1842. Jared Pond, elected i n 1842; served i n 1843 and 1 8 4 4 ; re-elected i s 1844; s e r v e d i n 1945 Selleck Seymour, elected in 1846; served i n 1847 and 1848; re-elected in 1648; s e r v e d i n 1849 a n d 1850. A l b e r t L . P o r t e r, elected i n 1850; served ID 1851 a n d 1852; re-elected in 1852; served i n 1853 a n d 1854. Curtis S. Yo u n g s , elected i n 1854 e e r v e d i n 1855 and 1856. Francis B . W a y, elected i n 1 8 8 6 ; s e r v e d i n 1857 and 1858. F r a n k l i n T . E d d y , elected i n 1 8 5 8 ; served i n 1 8 5 9 a n d elected i n 1 8 6 0 ; s e r v e d i n 1861 a n d 1862. Phineas P. Nichols, elected i n 1 8 6 2 ; s e r v e d i n 1 8 6 3 a n d elected i n 1864: served i n 1885 and 1866. Charles A . Edmonds, elected i n 1866; served i n 1 8 6 7 acid elected i n 1 8 6 8 ; s e r v e d i n 1869 and 1870. Daniel A . Douglas, e l e c t e d i n 1 8 7 0 ; served i n 1871 a n d elected i n 1 8 7 2 ; served i n 1873 and 1 0 7 4 Franklin T . E d d y, elected i n 1 8 7 4 ; served i n 1 8 7 5 a n d elected i n 1876; served i n 1877 and 1878. Wi l l i a m 11. Donaldson, elected i n 1878. W i l l i a m M c C a r t y, elected i n 1833 ; served to e n d o f 1834 ; re-elected in 1 9 3 4 ; served i n 1835 a n d 1836. James B . Stewart, elected i n 1836; served i n 1837 a n d 1838. J o h n H . Stevens, elected in 1038; served i n 1939 a n d 1840; re-elected in 1 8 3 0 ; s e r v e d i n 1841 a n d 1842. Anselm A r n o l d , elected i n 1842; served i n 1343 a n d 1844; re-elected in 1 8 4 4 ; served i n 1845 and 1846. H i r a m Shoulder, elected i n 1846; served i n 1847 and 1948. James Pierson, elected i n 1848; served i n 1849 and 1850. P h i l o Porter, elected i n 1850; served i n 1851 a n d 1852; re-elected i n 1852; served i n 1953 and 1854. Daniel Wilson, elected i n 1854; s e r v e d i n 1855 a n d 1856. D a v i d N . Green, elected i n 1856; served i n 1857 a n d 1858; re-elected in 1858; s e r v e d i n 1159 a n d 1860. John W h i t c o m b , elected i n 1860; served i n 1861 and 1862; re-elected in 1862; s e r v e d i n 1863 and 1864. Charles Powers, elected in 1864; served in 1965 and 1866. Lamina H . Wing, elected i n 1966; served in 1867 and 1868; re-elected in 1868; served in 1869 and 1870. Lewis B. Johnson, elected in 5870; served in 1871 and 1872; re-elected in 1872; !creed in 1973 and 1874. Jason T. Culp, sleeted i n 1874; served i n 1875 and 1 8 7 6 ; re-elected in 1 8 7 6 ; served in 1877 a n d 1878. L o r i n g P. Wilcox, Coldwater, elected i n 1878. COUNTY Seth Dunham, elected in 1833; served in 1833 and 1884.4 J. G . Corbus, elected i n 1840; served i n 1841 and 1842. John T. Haynes, elected in 1842; served in 1843 and 1844; re-elected in 1 9 4 4 ; served i n 1845 and 1816; re-eleeted in 1°46 F e r v e d i n 1947 a n d 1 8 4 8 ; re-elected i n 1848; served in Hiram I t . Alden, elected i n 1860; eerve.1 i n 1 5 1 Wales Adams, elected i n 1852; Hiram Shoudler, elected in 1854: in 1856; served i n 1847 and 1848. Cyrus G. L i m e , elected i n 1858; served in 1 8 6 0 ; served i n 1861 Moses V. Calkins, elected in 1^62 in 1864; served 1867 and 1868. John Whitcomb, sleeted is 1• in 1870; served in 1871 Loring P. Wilcox, elected in , ie 1874; served i s 187.. James H. Dickey, sleeted In in 1878. �HISTORY O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. COUNTY C O N V I S S I o N E R S . N 1 1 1 Atnasa I t . D a y, elected i n 0462; re-elected i n Norman S. Andrews, elected i n 1086; re-elected i n l o p . Ti t u s Babcock, eleeteil i n 1870. 1838.- C h a r l e s G . H a m m o n d , c h a i r m a n ; E n o s 0 . B e r r y , W a l e s Adams. 1839.- S a m e commissioners. J. 11. Bennett, elected i n 1872; re-elected i v 1871. 1840.- E n o s 0 . B e r r y, c h a i r m a n : Wa l e s A d a m s , H i r a m Sboudler. M u r r a y K n o w l e s , elected i n 1876; re-elected i n 1878. 1841.- W a l e s A d a m s , c h a i r m a n H i r a m S I v i m i l e r, O l i v e r D. C o l v i n . S U P E R I N T E N D E N T S O P C o l d l i o N 81.11110L9. 1842.- H i r a m Shoudler, c h a i r m a n 0 . D . C o l v i n , H i r a m 0 u r d n e r. ANSOCIATE J t D i ; Es o f ' C I RCC IT t o t ' K r. Silas A . H o l b r o o k i a l i p o i n t e d I S 3 : 1 - 3 6 . William A. Kent appointed Wa l t e r S. P e r r y, elected f o r two years i n A p r i l , 1867. A l b e r t A . Jones, elected f o r two years i n A p r i l , 1868. Albert A . Luce, elected f o r two years i n A p r i l , 1871. M i l o D . Campbell, elected for two years i n A p r i l , 1873. W i l l i a m B . Sprague ; a p p o i n t e d ) , 1437 t e l Chester 0 . H a n i u m n i l a p p o i n t e d i , 1 0 3 7 - 4 0 . Enos G. B e r r y ( a p p o i n t e d ) , 1839 and 184n. W i l l i a m A . K e n t ( a p p o i n t e d ) , 1841-44. COUNTY D R A I N C o M N I S s i o N E I L e . J o h n H . Bennett, elected f o r t w o years i n A p r i l , 1669. George W. F i s k , elected f o r two years in A p r i l , 1871. M a r t i n B a r n h a r t Girard (appointed), 1841-16. J e h i a l H . H a r d , 1845 and 1846. COUNTY J U D G E S A N D SECOND J U D G E S . W i l l i a m A . K e n t , county judge, 1O47-50. Jacob Shook. second j u d g e , l o 4 7 - 5 0 . S TAT E S E N AT O R S . Samuel Etheridge, Coldwater, elected in 1838; served in 1839 and 1840. E d w a r d A . Wa r r e n , Coldwater, elected i n 1 8 4 1 ; served i n 1842 a n 1843. George A . Coe, Coldwater, elected i n 1845; served in 1846 and 1847. Enos G. B e r r y, Q u i n c y, elected i n 1847; served in 1848 and 1849. J u s t i n L a w y e r, county j u d g e , 1851. A l f r e d French, Bronson, elected i n 1850; served i n 1851 and 1852. D a r w i n L i t t l e f i e l d , second Joseph C. Leonard, U n i o n , elected i n 1852; served i n 1853 and 1854. L . T. N . Wilson, Coldwater, elected i n 1854; served i n 1855 and 1856. LIRCITIT COITRT COMMISSIONERS. Rabin G. F u l l e r, elected in 1 8 5 0 ; served in 1851 and 1852. John G . Parkhurst, elected i n 1850; served in 1851 and 1852. Justin L a w y e r, elected i n 1852; served i n 1853 and 1854; re-elected in 1854; served in 1855 and 1856. Joseph B. Clark, elected i n 1866; ' w e e d in 1857 and 1858. Wallace W. Barrett, elected i n 1 8 5 8 ; marred i n 1859 a n d elected in 1860; served i n 1861 and 1882. David Thompson, elected in 1862; served in 1863 and 1864. Franklin E . M o r g a n a n d W i l l a r d J . Bowen, Coldwater, elected i n 1864; served in 1865 and 1866. Wi l l a r d J. Bowen and Jonas H. McGowan, Coldwater, elected i n 1866; served in 1867 and 1868. Willard J . B o w e n a n d A s a M . T i n k e r, elected i n 1 8 6 8 ; served i n 1869 and 1970. F r a n k S. Shoals end Z a r a Berry, elected in 1870; served in 1871 and 1872. Ears B e r r y and Charles D . Wr i g h t , elected i n 1872; served i n 1873 and 1874; b o t h re-elected in 1874; served in 1875 and 1876. Charles D . Wr i g h t a n d Charles N . Legg, elected i n 1876; served i n 1877 and 1878. Charbss N . Legg and Norman A . Reynolds, elected in 1878. conostena ( a w e s 1854). Ilene M i d d a u g h a n d I s r a e l R . H a l l , elected i n 1854 for two years, from the following l a of January. 1. C. Fisk sad Charles D . Brown, elected i n 1858 for two years, from the ! Wo w i n g l i t of January. ' A * H . Bennett and Charles D . Brown, elected i n 1858. 'mega W. Johnson and Elmer Pecker, elected in 1860. Va n e s Byrnes sad S k e e t Packer, elected in 1862. Miller and John C. H a l l , elected i n 1864. Asses E . Chanassy end Barnabas B. Sboeereft, elected in 1866. i h a M . l e s s e e t and G80. W . Jolson's, elected i n 1868. "apromr B. kralsert and N a t i o n 'latterly, elected i n 1870. 'hen I L L a w s o n sad J a m e Kincaid, sleeted in 1872. ' h e a I . Lorowsll and Edward P u r d y, deeded in 1874. To m e i Wolsett sad A m o s A . Va n Ortlawiek, sleeted i n 1876. 11•64 nag Dalaiesos J . Sprague, elected i n 1878. s w i m strwerrons (sines 1866). ' 1 1 1 V 4 l e p r a r r a , allatad in 1864 I . serve t w o yews, from k * et h i s e a r y. 81 d e , d I s 1866 for two p i o n , from eke fallowing 1st Of .1antiorr r a , p o l a Asahel B r o w n , Coldwater, elected i n 1858; served i n 1859 and 1860. Darius M o n r o e , Bronson, elected i n 1860; served i n 1861 a n d 1 8 6 2 ; re-elected i n 1862; served i n 1863 and 1864. Cyrus G. Luce, Gilead, elected i n 1864; served i n 1865 and elected i n 1866 ; served i n 1867 a n d 1868. John 11. Jones, Q u i n c y, elected i n 1868; served i n 1869 and 1870. Caleb D. Randall, Coldwater, elected in 1870; served in 1871 and 1872. Jonas H . McGowan, Coldwater, elected i n 1872; served i n 1873 a n d 1874 John H . Jones, Q u i n c y, elected i n 1874; served i n 1875 a n d 1876. F r a n k l i n E . M o r g a n , Coldwater, elected i n 1876; served i n 1877 and 1878. R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S I N L E G I S L AT U R E . H i r a m A l d e n , Coldwater, elected for one y e a r in 1835 ( t e r m began i n November o f t h a t y e a r ) ; re-elected i n 1836 t o serve i n 1837. W i l l i a m A . K e n t , P r a i r i e R i v e r (now B r o n s o n ) ; elected i n 1836 t o serve i n 1838. • Jared Pond, B r a n c h , elected i n 1838, served i n 1839. Charles ( 3 . H a m m o n d , U n i o n , elected i n 1 8 3 9 ; served i n elected i n 1840 to serve i n 1841. Justus Goodwin, U n i o n , elected i n 1841; served i n 1842. M a r t i n Olds, B a t a v i a , e l e c t e d i n 1842; served i n 1843. Wales Adams, Bronson, elected i n 1843; served in 1844; re-elected i n 1844; served i n 1845. William B. Sprague, Coldwater, elected in 1845 ; served in 1846. Alvarado Brown, Quincy, elected in 1846; served in 1847. Justus Goodwin, Union, elected in 1846; served in 1847. Alvarado Brown, Quincy, elected in 1847; served in 1848. B. F. Ferris, Sherwood, elected in 1847; served in 1848. George A . Coe, Coldwater, elected i n 1848; served i n 1849. Oliver 1). C u l v e r, K i n d e r h o o k , elected i n 18-111: served i n 18..0. Roland Root, Coldwater, elected i n 1849; served i n 1850. Sol. L . Lawrence, G i r a r d , elected i n 1850; served i n 1851 and 1852. Rolend Root, Coldwater, elected i n 1850; served i n 1851 a n d 1852. a William P. Arnold, Quincy, elected in 1852; nerved in 1833 and 1 8 5 4 r Jas. B . Touipkins, Girard, elected i n 1852; served i n 1053 and 1854. Cyrus G. Luce, Gilead, elected i n 1854: ' H . C. H u r d , Union City, elected i n 1854; Elijah Leland, Quincy, elected in 1858; saw . . Edward Perry, Union City, elected i n 1006; served in 1857 end 1858. Augustus S. Gleaner, Coldwater, elected in 1858; served in 1859 a n d 1860. Edward Perry, Union C i t y, elected in 1858; served in 1859 and 1860. W m Chase, Kinderhook, elected in 1800; served in 1861 and 1862. Homer C. Herd, Union City, elected i n 1800; served in 1861 and 1862. Jesse Bowen, Quincy, elected in 1962; served in 1843 and 1861. Charles W. Wetherby, Gilead, elected i n 1 8 6 2 ; ' e r r e d i n n e s a n d 11/1 �112 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCII COUNTY, MICHIGAN. John H . Jones, Quincy, elected in 1 8 6 4 ; served i n 1865 and 1666. Darius Monroe, Bronson, elected in 1864; served in 1865 and 1866. Julius S . B a r b e r, Coldwater, eleuted i n 1 0 6 6 ; s e r v a l i n 1 8 6 7 a n d 1868. Isaac D . Beall, Sherwood, elected i n 1866. John I I . Jones, Quincy, elected i n 1866. Nano D . Beall, Sherwood, elected in 1868; served i n 1869 and 1870. Earn Bostwick, Union C i t y, elected in 1868. James A. Williams, Quincy, elected in 1868. J. A . Williams, Quincy, elected i n 1870; served i n 1871 and 1872. Harvey Haynes, Coldwater, elected in 1870. Geo. F. Gillam, Bronson, elected i n 1870. Geo. W . Va n Aken, Coldwater, elected i n 1 8 7 2 ; served i n 1 8 7 3 a n d 1874. Erasing J . Welker, Kinderholik, elected in 1872. Geo. P. Robinson, Noble, elected i n 1874; served i n 1875 and 1876. Geo. W . Va n A h o y, Coldwater, elected i n 1874. I:restos J. Welker, Kinderbook, e l a t e d i n 1 8 7 6 ; 'served i n 1877 sad $78. Rodney K . Tw a t i d e l l , Quincy, sleeted i n 1 8 7 6 ; served i n 1 8 7 7 a a d 1078. Rodory K . Twatidell, Quincy, elected in 1878. Calvin '1'. Thorp, Sherwood, elected In 1678. klemBeits o r c o N N T I T U T I M I A L Coriveulion o f September, 1836, H a r v e y Wa r n e r, Coldwater. Convention of December, 1836, Jamee B. Tompkins, G i r a r d . . Convention o f 1 8 5 0 , W a l e s A d a m s , B r o n s o n ; A l v a r a d o B r o w n , Quincy; Asahel Brown, Algansee. Convention o f 1867, Cyrus G . Luce, G i l e a d ; Anabel water. • D i d n o t t a k e Lu. l e n t . ��; „zifvf.ro A If! f i 1,• t' ' - 4 1 1 am ,„ii.*,.-.3-----. ...=,:imigic... '1 ' i l l i t i l i l d ' I f " API I , p j 1 0 I N { C I H I NH1 ( I I W I ! . , 1,11,0.0,111; �CITY O F C O L D WAT E R . THE early associations of Coldwater, as of the entire region surrounding it, are inseparably connected with the Indian; and yet this peculiar race enter but little into the actual history of the early settlement of the hamlet. T h e foremost pioneers came but a few years before ment had consigned them to their Western and they were but passive characters in the accompanied the first clearing of the country,— nomadic life, pitching their wigwams here and there as pleasure or abundant supplies of game might continually living in the fear of the edict remove them from their native forests and consign them to the hunting-grounds of the far West. T h e of the village have so far perpetuated the memory Indian as to have christened i t in their I t was originally called Lyons, one o f the having named it after his native town of that name in New York State. B u t , upon conferring with others, who, like himself, were emigrants, it was decided to give it it at present bears, of Coldwater, from the acto-ya-Lish. I n the bed o f the little river, which runs through the western portion of the city, were stantly bubbling up of very much lower the surrounding water. T h e Indian placed his hand in this water and exclaimed chuck-sew-yu-bish! Hence the derivation of As early as 1830 there was no thoroughfare the Chicago road. T h i s ran through the of the present city, and was simply the Indian by them in their westward wanderings, and marked out in the year 1829. I t was not worked until 1832, sisted before that time of simple guides or marks, were employed by the tribes; t h e blazing o f trees and cheering o f brush furnishing the only intimation to the traveler that his course was a direct one. O n sow covered by the cemetery and one and a half was a trading-past, and another was located two and a half awls emit. I n 1830, Hugh Campbell located new otampied by the Lewis Art Gallery on sad tweeted a log house, living there until yaw. Allerwards came Abram F. Bolton, who died i n Nepsissm, Jackson Co., some years since, and A s k i s a hotel two miles east and twenty rods south of the p a w * Chicago road. T h e n came and Amily, Robert J . Cross, and William H . Cross, and esimed t h e land on section 22, with the exception of taw Isis O b e wed side of EMI. L a t h e s was the first justice of the 011111majwswistleg his appointment in the fall of 1830; beiwgillbe second, of whom i t titit nelliblitg. propound thr the wffice he at but on being pressed accepted on condition that one of friends, better versed in judicial lore, teach him mice between a summons and a subpuma. by jury was also held before the colonel, in the y i n ' who did not recognize ally absolute his commission before dispensing justice, and sentenced the culprit, who was a mulatto, and had I convicted of larceny. Joseph Hanchett took up the east half of quarter of section 21, and Robert Abbott took up the ,, half o f the northeast quarter o f the same section. A t this time the whole of Branch County was knowi . as the township of Green, and attached to St. Joseph County for judicial purposes. T h e county-seat in the year Masonville, on the Coldwater River. I t was removed t o Branch, and finally Coldwater bore laurels. T h e strife connected with the question of seat is familiar to the early residents, and the for this distinction were uncertain as to the issue until 1842, when a decree o f the Legislature fixed i t Allen Tibbets, one of the earliest pioneers, who ill Coldwater, and retains a vivid recollection of entered the west half of the southwest quarter 22, and at the same time owned the west half of west quarter o f section 22. M r . Tibbets the lug house built by Hugh Caluitell, a very primitive affair, with no floors, and the beds resting on Rude and uncomfortable HS this shelter seems later days of luxury, Mr. Hancliett was glad to s, comforts which its limited quarters afforded. M r . Tibbets, who was a clergyman, has the distinction of first sermon in Coldwater. H e is now in his year, and in many interesting conversations with t has given a very remarkable record of his life. I I the following: ° I never swore au oath or took a tobacco or smoked a whole cigar. I never bought or " a drink of whisky or brandy for myself. I or carried a pistol. I never made a kite or played of marbles. I never sung a song or played a game o f checkers, billiards, or croquet, nor a game of cards. I n a travel of over one hundred thousand miles by veyances I never met with HII accident or was a late when i t depended upon m y own exertion. I never skated a rod or struck a man a blow with my fist. repeat more of the Bible than any man living of whom I have any knowledge. I have given instruction than two hundred thousand pupils. I am the only of the persons who composed the first church in and esointy. I have given away mire real estate to city than all its other inhabitants. I preached for fin years and traveled more than five hundred �114 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . funerals, and all die salary I ever received was a pound of tea worth seventy-five cents." S u r e l y a record The village o f Coldwater was laid out in 1832. T h e post-office at this time was one and a half miles west, at Masouville, with Harvey Warner as the first but i t was later removed to Branch, and the taining his office, also removed to that point. I n 1833 an office was established at Coldwater, with Silas A . Holbrook as postniaster. I n July of 1832, those of the who had children were desirous of having them instruction as was possible in an unsettled country, and Miss Cynthia Gloyd opened a school in a cabin one mile east of the public square, with nine pupils. I n 183-1 the school building was erected on the corner of Hudson and Pearl Streets, and this was aeon after superseded by the " old red school-house," which stood on the north end of the same lot on Hudson Street, and was later used as a blacksmith-shop. T h e original site o f this school building was intended t o be on t h e corner o f Chicago and Clay Streets, which a t that early day was an unbroken piece of woods, but M r. Tibbets made a proposition to change the location to one more convenient and accessible, to donate a lot six by twelve rods in size for which offer was accepted, and the school-house was erected. P e t e r Martin, who has since died in Wisconsin, erected a saw-mill in 1839, and for a time furnished most of the material which the settlers used in making selves comfortable habitations. B e f o r e that time age to the Pocahontas mills, one mile south of the village of Branch, was necessary when timber was t o be dressed and made ready for use. A t the latter mills was sawed the timber for the construction a the first frame was built by Harvey Warner for Silas A. Holbrook. In 1832 the villa A was platted, the survey made by James B. Tompkins, who still survives in the township o f Girard. T h e previous Hanchett erected what for the times was a residence far in advance o f the log houses o f the day. I t was simply a block-house, the timbers o f which were hewn outside, and gave it a more finished aspect than was common among its less pretentious neighbors. I t stood on ground by a portion o f the east side o f Monroe Street, north o f Chicago Street, and opposite the A t this era there were no grist-mills nearer or Constantine, and the meal used fisr food, which cipally corn, was ground by a novel and An oak log, about two and a half feet in chopped to a length of three feet and placed on end. B y chopping and burning, a mortar-like hole was made in the top o f it, after which, by means o f a spring-pole with a pounder attached to the end, the corn, which was placed in the depression made at the top of the log, I t was then sifted, the finer portion being made bread and the coarser into samp. I n this did the early pioneers of this now flourishing city Wild animals were frequently to be seen, and not uncommon visitors at the door-yards of the inhabitants. Early in 1832 the little community was thrown into the greatest excitement and alarm by the startliag report that Black Hawk, a noted chief o f the leading the Indians of the West and North on tion o f plunder and massacre. T h e report, alas! pared too true. A call upon the acattand seeders was "richly wade, and all capable of bearing arias were summoned to the field. I n a few days the quiet village with soldiers and resounded w i t h the strains o f martial m Soon the little army, augmented by all the neighbors for miles around, took up the line of march for the mediate scene of strife, commanded by Gen. Brown, cumseh, who acted under Gen. John R. Wilhelm, of the regular army, then stationed a t Detroit. A few days o f intense anxiety supervened. O n e sultry day in seen approaching in the distance a single with the dust and foam of hard travel. T h e of the inhabitants who remained at home was the stranger proclaimed the fact that T h e burned Chicago, massacred a l l t h e inhabitants, and are sweeping through the settlements and rapidly us!" T h i s intelligeuce, which, for the tune, was not contradicted until the following day, when brought the glad tidings that matters were safe at the West. Gen. Brown and his command went as far as Niles, and there encamped. A n engagement occurred cago, and the desperate chief was captured. T h e troops then returned to The only communication between Chicago and Detroit at this time was by stage. T h i s mode of primitive it may seem to us, was in early days regarded not only as speedy but luxurious. T h e s e stages were pointed, and stopped at all the The first death that occurred in the village was that child of Allen Tibbets. aged about two years, who 1831, and was buried on M r. Tibbets' old farm. T h e remains were, later, removed to the cemetery. A occurred previous to this, but none in the *Adelman water. T h e first child born in the village was a Allen Tibbets,—Harriet Maria,—and the date June 11, 1832. T h e first marriage was that o f Dr. and Miss Ellsworth, the doctor having been surgeon and adjutant of the battalion commanded by Maj. Jones in the Black Hawk war. T h e first physician in Dr. Wm. Henry, who arrived in the summer of Cayuga Co., N.Y. H e was a gentlemen of This was before the tide of emigration had wet is, grants to the.Territory were principally attracted to side. A n arrival at that time was an event, and appearing with the intention of making a tio0 was welcomed with a degree of cordiality leave no questimi o f its genuineness. J o h n Wilson and wife came in 1 2 . and located on the ground by Dr. John I I . Beach's residence, M r. Tibbets offering them the lot as an inducement to build. S i l a s A. Holbrook opened a store in 1831. the goods having been Glover Hibbard, who came the following year, aod died, after a very brief residence, of congestive chills. O n e of the old residents describes the v i e at this time as little Inure than a vast farm, with hills of corn and • �* 0 A �CC,' 2 2 ‘ , , / i . 1e-1 a - X : e ,„‘" 4/1 4 ,4, 4 e c i 4 4 4 •4%-c, f i v. 1 - L / / - d e l - I - 1 4 - 7 &&-l-ece.A„ ,e9Q 4 2 0 . / p , /74 Af7' et/ 17 ej-zw"-e,4 e e A-- ezuri,frt-re (k. lr i t t # i 7 - , _ �HISTORY O F B R A N C I I C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. ing the present squares o f the city. M a n y were obliged t o camp out until suitable could be afforded them, though there was certainly no lack of such hospitality as was possible to offer. The year 1835 was rendered memorable by the advent of a colony from the East, some of the leading spirits of which, by their enterprise and business capacity, materially influenced the destiny o f the future city. A m o n g them were Bradley Crippeu and his four sons,—Lorenzo D. (who died i n this city in 1864), Philo I L , Benjamin, and Rev. Elliott M.,—Jame; Fisk, Thomas Dougherty (who vives), Francis Smith, D r. William B . Sprague (living in the c i t y, Dr. Darwin Littlefield, James Haines and John T. w h o died on shipboard while en route nia \ Levi, Harvey, and James. J a m e s Haines, on val, erected a very comfortable abode, one and a high, Harvey Warner being the carpenter. previous to this time had been built without tions,—there being no stones on the open prairie, and eupposed.none on the timber-land which had not I t was also very difficult to construct wells, as i t impossible to obtain stone with which to wall them. About 1 8 3 5 t h e village assumed a more progressive aspect, improvements were marked, and new life fused into the hamlet by the increasing emigration. A l l e n Tibbets built during the year a frame house, which was not only spacious but imposing in comparison to bler neighbors. S . A . Holbrook erected a building, and Dr. Chase also b u i l t on a lot sold him by Mr. Tibbets, on condition that he would erect within two years upon it. B u i l d i n g s were in such demand that it cult to keep pace with the wants of the community. E v e r y new structure that rose had an immediate tenant, and the want of lath and plaster was no obstacle to Parley Stockwell, who still survives, and resides i n the city. came i n 1835, and engaged for a while i n buying cattle and supplying the residents with fresh meat. H e speaks with much satisfaction o f the generosity Hanchett, who, soon after his arrival, loaned h i m money with which t o buy fourteen head o f cattle, for which he paid fifty dollars apiece, and refused any security loan Chauncey Strong came during this year, and entered eighty acres of land where a portion o f the buildings now stand. H e inclosed one hundred dollars with which to make a payment on this land, and placed i t in the post-oibee at Mason. B u t the money its destination, payments for land then being made /moo. M r . Strong being little able to hear the citizens raised a subscription, and the land was for, precautions having been taken to guard the against postal The agitation of the point at which to locate es liselly induced the Governor to appoint Osdetermine upon the site. T h i s Hairy Diabrew, Daniel O'Keefe, and Charles Grant. They minded Branch, it being the geographical centre of' the county, and entered a considerable tract o f land at that poise. n a p e lauds were offered later at such rum that it was not easy to become a purchaser, .••• 11 dissatisfaction enseed. F i n a l l y a petition was circulated praying fbr the retuoval of the seat, and after it was ultimately changed t o its present location. O n so slight a tenure as this a t one time hung the destinies o f Coldwater. Between the years 1836 and 1840 ness prevailed, fever and congestive chills being mon, and often fatal. Twenty-five a n d t h i r t y month were not uncommon. T h i s was generally attributed to a mill-dam south o f the city. T h e people resolved to rid themselves of the nuisance, and one morning in charged upon the offending structure and tore i t down. Mr. Frink, one o f the proprietors, having they threw h i m into the water without ceremony. T h e sanitary condition o f the place improved from that time, and ultimately became perfectly healthy. In 1836, L. D. Halsted came from New York opened a tailor-shop. B r i n g i n g with him nothing but a thimble as the badge of his craft, he has continued in Coldwater, where by industry and application he has earned a In 1837 the village of Coldwater was organized, with a president, board of trustees, and other officers necessary to a village government. W e have been so fortunate after much research and labor as to find the original the first election, and herewith afford our readers lent fac-simile of The same year the Coldwater Bank was forms so important a part o f the early history of the city that we have devoted some space to i t under the head of the " Banks." The first ball given in Coldwater occurred Jan. Hull and Arnold's orchestra furnished the music. M r . Hull taught the first dancing-school, in the winter and gave the music at the inauguration ball of son, in 1841, of James K. Polk, in 1845, at the American House, and of Gen. Taylor, in 1849, at the Franklin Hotel. They have continued from that time to the present nish excellent music on a l l prominent being now in the forty-second year of their At this time there were two hotels,—the Eagle and Arnerican,—both of which did a flourishing first Methodist church was also erected at this was a substantial structure, built o f wood, and six years later the first Baptist church was constructed. at this time were brought from Detroit, the round a distance of two hundred arid forty miles. Prices —a barrel of salt costing twelve dollars to deliver, eight dollars, with three dollars added for The first brick building was erected for Messrs. Porter AzWendell and Skeeb, & Lewis, who occupied i t as the site being the present location of the ern Bank. L a t e r, Dr. Wm. B. Sprague erected, Street, a pretentious residence, whieh is One of the events of the year I', 10 I , campaign. T h e citizens Log Cabin ieilebration, which rival.) here the political rallies e f the present day. I t was the great eceasion of the yrar, and the growing village was the centre of much an teithusiapitie crowd of patriots Us dom gathered together in the Territory. �I I STOlt 1' 0 1 , 1111 ASCII Farmers from the East came in numbers, and adjacent to the village was rapidly settled In 1842 the wheat crop was almost entirely blasted by insects, and prices rose correspondingly; but, as tion for this disaster, the year following produced wheat crop ever known since that period. I n 1848 brick houses became more numerous, Bradley Plato having established a brick-yard at Branch, and increasing demand. Roland Root had previously built a house which had a stone foundation, and was regarded as one of the finest residences of We give a résumé of the business aspect of the village at this time. T h e r e were four hotels,—the Morse, kept by Christopher Dickenson; the Eagle, kept by John tis, and standing on the site of the present igan; the American, kept by Anselurn Arnold ; arid the National, at the west end o f the village, kept Bacon. These, with one exception, were all burned a t later periods. T h e Franklin was built in place o f the American, and kept by D r. Hanchett, and the present Southern Michigan superseded the Eagle. T h e leading business men were Lockwood & Williams, M r. Williams having died in 1849; Bullard & Cole, A. Roland Root, John T. Haynes, Asa Parish & Co., and Coon Brothers. T h e lawyers were E. G. Fuller, who still survives and is in active practice; George A. Coe, in this city in 1869; John W. Turner; H . C. Gilbert. T h e physicians comprised the Drs. William I L Hanchett, H. B. Stillman, field, and Napoleon Byron 1Velper. D r . Isaac P. Alger began practice in 1848, Dr. S. S. Cutler, the viously, and Dr. John H . Beach in 1850. A tended review o f the medical profession and the bar of the city will be given in its appropriate place. were William H. Harpham, John D . Wood, D. Halsted. T h e druggists were Drs. and Stillman. T h e r e were two newspapers, the Sentinel, published by Albert Chandler; and the Branch aunty Journal, issued by The first school, of nine pupils, had developed bers so rapidly that three district schools were of this early effort; and, after some agitation of by the citizens, the present Union school its roll now embracing eleven The painters Were Silas Bellamy, Morris Ilowe, Melvin. T h e wagon-maker was Burt Etheridge, enjoyed a considerable reputation as a millwright. T h e machinists were 0. C. Graham and William Walton. T h e blacksmiths, Levi Burdick and John Hyde. was watchmaker for the citizens of the little village, and his work bore evidence that he had learned his oughly. Ramsdell, Pelton & Co. were the proprietors of the only oil-mill and distillery. A n event of in 1849 was the first general training. commanded the brave militia, who performed tions on this occasion much to the delight of the youth of the neighborhood and the amusement of the In 1852 the rreftent court-house was built, COI'NTY, ) 1 I C H I G A N . ward arrangement of certain appointments eouseetad with the court-room elicited from one øf thepiliteitka a m * that the architect who desii,:tied it deserved to be GOthe ra•nitentiary About this time occurred the robbery of the ury. T h e atilialrer had drawn sixteen hundred dollars distributed among the various schtiiil districts. H e funds in his sal, which was apparently 110 wore the cunning of the skillful crackup= this are them asks present day. D u r i n g the night the lock was broken and the money abstracted. Se% one Sandy art. -t-1 penitentiary. ' 1 paid, but the logs fell heavily townships. B y a special act of Legislature the reassessed back t o the State, and the were reimbursed, the State sustaining 1850 is remembered from the dimitions fir. on the south side o f Chicago the early records o f the office. T h i s was but the forerunner, h. gration on the opposite side of the street sweeping the whole block in its havoc among the inhabitants. A s a of the energy and ambition of the business men of it may be st,,, buildings rose 1.i l x i . 1 1 0 in a very brief time all evidence of the late efface During that year the Michigan Southern Railroad track o f which had been laid the preceding year—v, completed, and the road , i , t • r i t i . it W i t h t h i , came an era an outlet for their produce, and at t.. ordinary cost of transportation, while the little Yiltar rendered easily accessible to The inhabitants of Coldwater were thrown nation Ittriniz the huildinEr t h i . r.ad by a riot amontr the of the company was one Sargent, who had allowed his finances to become sadly entangled, and the men, for some hoister , roa track HUI catne so cessar the b1o and the it, pay At this period money was not es p i n t o e s -It afillrailla became. M r . John Roberts elites at fact that he and }mother pnrehaaed a tract of a mortgage tl, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H Peckham, who came from Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1836, and located upon a tract of, land one mile south of the city. They have been united i n marriage sisty-seven years, and are still hale and active, though this man is able t o indulge i n a retrospect embracing nearly ninety years. T h e y now reside in the city, having retired from the busy cares of the farm. The good citizens of the village were resolved tain the moral character of the community, as the following ordinance indicates: " AN ORDINANCE TO PREVENT N I B L I N H . follows: " S e c r u e r 1. I f a n y p e r s o n s h a l l k e e p , o r k n o w i n g l y suffer t o b e kept, i n a n y house, b u i l d i n g , y a r d . garden, o r dependency t h e r e o f b y him a c t u a l l y used o r occupied, w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s o r t h i s c o r p o r a t i o n , any t a b l e for the purpose o f p l a y i n g a t B i l l i a r d s , or suffer a n y person to resort to the s a m e for t h e p u r p o s e o f p l a y i n g ' : i t B i l l i a r d s , Cards, Dice, o r any u n l a w f u l game, e v e r y person so offending. shall. M r each e l Dollars. "SectrioN 2. I f a n y p e r s o n s h a l l k e e p , o r k n o w i n g l y s u ff e r t o b e kept, i n a n y house, b u i l d i n g , y a r d , garden, o r dependency thereof, o r in a n y field b y h i m owned o r occupied, w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s o f poration, a n y N i n e - P i n A l l e y, o r a n y A l l e y t o he used i n the p l a y i n g of N i n e Pins, o r a n y other l i k e gatee, w h e t h e r to be played w i t h one or more balls, or w i t h nine o r any o t h e r number o f pins, or shall suffer any person t o r e s o r t to t h e s a m e f o r the p u r p o s e o f p l a y i n g a t a n y such game, every such person so o ff e n d i n g s h a l l , f o r each a n d e v e r y such offense, f o r f e i t the sum o f One H u n d r e d Dollars. "Sat-rmsr 3. A l l p e n a l t i e s a n d forfeitures tuentianed i n nance w a y he recovered i n a n action o f Debt, before a n y Justice o f the Psacri. to•si l i n ! , i l l finns Village. i n the name o f t i r e ' President and Trustees i l l - r ` . . 1 . 1 w : r t r • r , • f o r the use / i f the I 'orporation. o SE. TI 4 . T h i s 01.1itroti,i.. shall take effect a r i a he i n diately oftrir i t s t r o l l h a r e be,11 p u b l i s h e d i n the Coldwater Sentinel three week suri.ressivr.ly. "Pas.44,1 S, pt. I " , W maven, President. " E . 0 . FCLLER, R e c o r d e r. " The c o n t i n u e d In increa-e in dinicmsieins portance, t h o u g h o r : s p e c i a l l i n i m e n t tran61.ired. The churches were relotilt, and new and took the places of tie! I n HO one thing indicate her ativatice and thc moral sentiment vades the community more than in the devotion of zens to church interests. T h e various denominations vie with each other in the ele,:itice o f e d i f i c e s , and an unusual proportion o f the whoh. 1 ' ' p i l l i o n are regular attendants on divine service. D u r i n g many public and private buildings were erected enterprises established, which aided greatly the interests of the place. Some of these are more fully as separate organizations in this history. In 1861 the citizens, having become more ambitious in tlie science of government, obtained a city charter, became front that time known as the city water, with its regularly-elected mayor and board me The followinz are the original entries made on territory now coni1sri-,-1 within the city limits: L. L . B i n g h a m , all iroi co,. J a n . 27, 1832. John Morse, OD acres, Dec. 11, 1632. Enach Chase, 60 acres, J u l y 15, 1634. Robert J. Cross, 80 acres, J a n . 21, 1831, Robert 11. Abbott, 80 acres, J a n . 6, 1831, James F i s k , 80 acres, J a n 12, 1835. SECTION SIXTEEN—PUBLI(' SCHOOL LAND. Harvey Wa r n e r, 5 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. E. G. F u l l e r, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. W. H . H a n c l i e t t , 5 acres, Sept., 1842. 1). Wa t e r m a n , 2 A I ) acres, A u g . 8 , 1837. C. H . W i l l i a m s , 2-505 sores, A u g . 8, 1837. James Pierson, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. James Pierson, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. " T h e President a n d Trustees o f the V i l l a g e o f C o l d w a t e r ordain as and every such offense f o r f e i t t h e sum o f o n e I I COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . John T. Haynes, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. Win. H . Cross, S acres, A u g . 8, 1837. Roland R o o t , 5 acres, Sept., 1842. L . D . A P. H . Crippen, 1 7 M acres, Sept. 1, 1842. J. T. I l a y n e s , 2 a c r e s , A p r i l 20, 1847. L . D . P . 11, Crippen, 4/50,0. acres, Sept. 1, 1842. Wm. L . G i l b e r t , /4020 acre, Feb. 27, 1843. L . D . P . H . Crippen, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. L. D . A P. H . Crippen, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. I r a Paddock, 10 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. Thos, D o o h e r t y, 10 acres, A u g . , 1837. W m . L . G i l b e r t , 10 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. A . Chandler, 5 acres, Sept., 1842. Roland Root, 5 acres, Sept., 1842. L . D . Crippen, 10 acres, Sept., 1842. E. W. Crippen. 10 acres, Dec. 7, 1842. P. H . Crippen, 10 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. P. I t . Crippen, 16 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. Isaac Pierce, 20 acres, Sept. 1, 1842, Joseph H . H a n c h e t t , 20 acres, M a y I , 1843. J o h n A . McCrea, 40 acres, A p r i l 26, 1855. W. H . Paddock (admin.), 20 acres, A p r i l , 1855. George Quick, 20 acres, A p r i l , 1855. Asa Parish, 20 acres, A p r i l , 1855. D. L i t t l e f i e l d , 2 0 acres, W. Chapman, 20 acres, A p r i l , 1855. S. A . Holbrook, 20 acres, A p r i l , 1855. B. C r i p p e n , 3-54 a c r e s , A u g . 8, 1837. I t . Buell, 10 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. Isaac Pierce, A m , acres, A u g . 8,3037. B. Crippen, 10 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. J. H . H a r d , 10 acres, June 10, 1846, T. D o o g e r t y, 10 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. James Pierce, 20 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. B. Crippen, 20 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. J. G. Wa r n e r, 20 acres, Sept. I , 1842. B. W. Crippen, 20 acres, Sept., 1842. A. P a r i s h , 20 acres, Sept., 1842. J . F. Haynes, 40 acres, Sept., 1842. J. F. Haynes, I M acres, J a n . 15, 1851. J. F. Haynes, 5 acres, Jan., 1851, George Quick, 5 acres, Jan., 1851. B . G. Parsons, 2 Ti a acres, Jan., 1851. J. 0 . P a r k h u r s t . I Aldirtin F. ' Junius I I . I I r Junius H . Hat, Sylvester Smitt E. A 5 I t Oloel Joe J./.9111 q , Elisha Warren, 00 a Peter M a r t i n , 80 acres, A l a , 11 �Juseph l l a n a l e t t , 40 acres, l i s t . U, E p h r a i m Priest, 40 acres, N o v. 18, 1834. Elijah Ferguson, 40 acres, J an. 6, 1835. A n d r a i n A b b o t t , 80 acres, J u n e 6, 1831. Hobert J. Cross, 80 scree, J u n e 21, 1831. L. C r i p p e n , 40 acres, J u n e 12, 1835. Joseph H a n c h e t t , 40 acres, J u n e 12, 1835. L. D . & P. I I r r i p p e a , 10 acre+, J u l y 18, 1835. H u g h Cam! Robert J. I c , W i n . H . Cross, 811 acres, ((et. Robert J. erode, 80 acres, N o v. I , 1830. Wm. H . Cross, 80 acres, N o v. 1, 1830. Allen Tibbetts, 80 acres, J u n e 21, 1831. Among the chief attractions of the city is the Lewis A r t Gallery, an extensive collection o f foreign and American works of art, which b y the munificence o f the owner are enjoyed by the public at stated times. T h e ence of such a collection can scarcely be measured, and its effect in creating taste for art and a correct eye for color is very apparent in the immediate parts of the State the gallery is easily accessible. A comprehensive idea o f the enterprise and its merits will be given elsewhere. T h e Ladies' Library Association, which was time after, in its quiet way has accomplished equally and merits a more extended history in its I t is the province o f the city historian not so much to relate facts and occurrences that have come within servation o f present inhabitants, or trace the of the city, which is to most readers already as "household words," b u t to bring down from the musty records of the past such early pioneer experiences as will enable us to connect the past with This we have very briefly done, and the little nearly half a century gone was but the germ and encouraged by the spirit of enterprise born in the sturdy hearts of the early emigrants, has developed into ive and beautiful city o f Coldwater, with i t s long, wide streets, lined with elegant residences and rich foliage, its costly churches, its well-developed business enterprise, and the refinement and culture of its inhabitants. M E T H O D I S T E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H . The first society of the Methodist Episcopal Coldwater was organized by Rev. E. H . in charge of Tecumseh circuit, June 19, 1832, in the log house of Allen Tibbits. I t s membership consisted of four persons, Viz., Allen Tibbits, local preacher, Caroline M . Tibbits, his wife, Joseph Hatichett, and Nancy Hanchett. This was the first religious society organized County The first sermon preached in what is now city o f Coldwater was delivered by Allen Tibbits, in his own little log house, on the fourth Sabbath of July, 1831. In October, 1831, Rev. E. H . Pilcher preached the first funeral discourse ever delivered in Branch County. the funeral of a daughter of Allen Tibbits, the person who had died in the county. In the fall of 1832, Rev. William Sprague became the pastor o f this little flock, and during his Amelia Harrison was added t o the membership. R e v . Henry Colclazer became the pastor in 1833, • of a colony o f Methodists, eimaraing o f nalmed persons • Bradly Crippen and family, Lorenzo I). Crippen, Philo H . Crippen, and Elli,,t 3 Crippen, and their wives; D r. Wm. B. Sprague and wife; Dr. D. Littlefield and wife; Thomas Daugherty and wife; James Fisk and wife; and Rev. Francis Smith Some of the children belonging to these families connected with this society at the same time. year Coldwater Mission was organized, with rence as missionary. I t was embraced in what was then known as the Ann Arbor district,—Henry siding elder. I t only remained a mission one At the close o f the year 1835 the society ceased to mission, and was organized into a selfand remained so until 1846, when i t became In 1836, Peter Sabin was preacher-in-charge, and Lewis Smith assistant. I n 1837, Peter Sabin was charge, and Lorenzo Davis assistant. I n 1838 water Society was attached t o Marshall District, E . H . Pilcher presiding elder, Jas. F . Davidson charge; and Levi Warriner assistant. I n 1839, Roswell Parker was preacher-in-charge, and Jonathan ant. I n 1840, Roswell Parker was preacher-inBenjamin Sabin In 1840, James Fisk and several others withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church, in consequence difficulty in regard to the use of instrumental music church, and organized what is now the in this city. The first house of worship built in Coldwater was this society in 1836-38. I t was a wooden structure about thirty three hundred dollars, and stood upon ground now occupied by the present edifice. I t in June, 1838, Rev. Henry Colclazer preaching sermon. T w o sessions of the Michigan were held in that building. T h e first IISE held in 1844, Bishop Hemline presiding. T h e second was held Oct. 1-7, 1856, Bishop T. A. Morris p r i d i n g . D u r i n g this session o f the Conference the present pastor, Rev. J. I . Buell, was received on trial into the itinerant ministry of the Methodist The second house of worship built by this the one it now occupies. I t is a beautiful having an auditorium with a seating capacity of a commodious lecture-room, two clam-rooms, a tee smite of parlors, an organ-loft. and a pastor's study. I t with stained glass o f the most elegant design manship, the front window unsurpossed b y any i n the State. T h i s building was erected in 1865-69 at a east of twenty-five thousand dollars. I t was deaficated Jan. 26, 1869, by Rev. F. M. Eddy, D.D. In 1878 an addition to this building was erected. T I s i s addition is eighteen feet by thirty-.ev••n feet. and dives the suite of parlors, the _ • beautiful study for the pastor. I t was huilt at a ��ALONZO ALONZO W AT E R M A N . The l i f e o f M r. Waterman was comparatively uneventful, marked b y few incidents save such as occur in the life of every successful merchant and business man. H e was emphatically a " m a n o f who died i n Detroit while attending ture When the county-seat was changed and that promised to be the important point in the affairs," industrious, sagacious, enterprising, a n d county, Mr. Waterman moved there, and engaged in public-spirited, early developing those qualities the hardware business for several years, and there which s o largely contributed t o h i s success i n died, July 29,1877. I n 1845 his wife died, leaving after-life, and made him so apt in two children,—Mrs. H . C. Fenn and Miss A l m a prompt and efficient i n carrying out his Waterman plans He was born A p r i l 1 0 , 1810, In 1849 he married Mrs. Adelia Williams. who departed this life in 1870. M r . Waterman had b y N. Y. , and came to this county in 1832, settling in his active, industrious, and frugal habits Bronson. H e engaged i n mercantile a large property, and f o r the last twenty- with his brothers, but during the next two years thirty years of his life his time was spent some of the time East. I n 1834 up in loaning money and renting his property. H e for a permanent was very unpretending, and never made a display While living at Bronson he married over what he contributed to public enterprises. H e tilda, daughter o f D r. Hiram Alden, one o r the was always liberal i n his gifts to the church of his early settlers and prominent men o f Coldwater, choice,—the Methodist �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 11 -• about thirteen hundred dollars. D u r i n g this year, also, an t h e residence of Dr. Alden, on Chicago Street, elegant pipe-organ was placed in the church. T h i s was a gift a n d occupied by Deacon Matthias Van Every, to the church f r o m t h e estate of one o f its honored, but t h e propriety of forming a Baptist church. Nathan Strong now sainted members, Alonzo Waterman, arid h i s t w o w a s appointed moderator and D r. Alden clerk. A f t e r daughters, Mrs. Mary C. Fenn and Miss Allie A . Water- p r a y e r and mature deliberation, on motion man. I t cost two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; S t r o n g " t h e clerk was directed t o draft an article is very highly appreciated b y the society, and stands as a c i r c u l a t e d among the members of the Baptist speaking monument to the generosity of' its donors, i n this vicinity desiring to form a conference for At different periods since 1835 this church has received p o s e o f maintaining the regular worship o f God, and for valuable accessions by immigration, though nearly a l l o f t h e edification and growth in grace of each other." those who came during the few years that immediately fol- T h e following article, " We the undersigned, lowed have passed to their heavenly home. D a v i d Holmes s i r o u s o f maintaining the visible worship o f God, agree to and a few others o f this class still remain t o honor the f o r m ourselves into a conference for that church, t o attend t o all the regular appointments for that object Of the large number of those who have been converted when circumstances will permit," was signed in this church, and who, from the active part which they Strong, Nathan Strong, Wm. D. Strong, Geo. W. Arnold, take in bearing its burdens and sharing its responsibilities, H. Alden, Parley Stockwell, Ann Logan, Melita Alden, may be honorably mentioned, are Albert Chandler and wife, Prudence Arnold, Eunice Strong, Sally Strong, Betsey William S. Gilbert, John Roberts, and L. Vanvalkeriburg. Strong, Sarah Strong, Nathan H. Strong, Some of the men who have been converted in this church The conference met, Jan. 17, 1835, at the and counted among its membership have arisen to places of House, at the corner of Hudson and Pearl Streets, and by distinction i n the nation and i n the ministry. General the advice of Rev. E. Loomis, missionary of the American Clinton B. Fisk may be mentioned i n connection with the Baptist Home Mission Society, agreed to invite former, and Rev. L . R . Fisk, D.D., president o f Albion of Clinton, Swainsville, and Napoleon to hold a council in College, and Rev. M. A . Daugherty among the latter. Coldwater, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1835, t o take into The church has been favored with several consideration the propriety of constituting a church. R e v. vivals of religion. O n e i n 1839-10, under the labors o f E. Loomis was empowered to invite such other ministering Rev. J. F. Davidson; one in 1843-14, under the labors of "brethren as he might deem proper to take part." At a meeting o f the conference, Feb. 9, 1835, Brother Rev. John Erconbeck and Benjamin Sabin; one in 1854-55, Hiram Alden was appointed to represent the conference in under the labors of F. B. Bangs and J. Adams ; arid one said council, and the articles of faith arid covenant of the in 1876, under the labors of Rev. I. Baptist Church o f Malone, N . Y. , were adopted as the This church has always been growing and articles of faith and covenant of in all departments o f Christian effort. I t s membership "Feb. 11, 1835, i n pursuance o f letters missive from in 1 8 7 8 was four hundred a n d thirty-six. I t has a the Baptist conference in Coldwater, a council assembled at Sunday-school, including officers, teachers the house of H. Alden to consider their of about three hundred members. A s a etc., and i f thought proper t o give them fellowship as a ing fact, this church once had enrolled among church. O n examining credentials i t was found that the ship four of the persons who were members of the first following brethren were authorized to act in the council: society of Methodists ever organized i n this State. T h e y Clinton Church, Rev. It. Powell, Deacon Reuben Downs; were Robert Abbott, Betsey Abbott, William Rev. W. T. Hall, from the church i n Greenfield, Indiana; Maria C. McCarty, and their memorable dust now lies and Rev. E . Loomis, agent of the American Baptist Home buried in our Mission Society. T H E B A P T I S T CHI7RFEI. "Council organized b y appointing Rev. W . T. H a l l moderator and Rev. E. Loomis clerk. P r a y e r by Rev. R. The history of the Baptist Church o f Coldwater is like Powell. B r o t h e r H . Alden, of the conference and acting that of most other churches i n the West. F r o m as their representative, presented to the council and discouraging beginning, made by a "faithful few," ceedings thus far and the letters of the members. dependent upon the Baptist Home Mission Society for amination i t was found that the following brethren and moppet and aid, i t has grown to be one o f sisters were prepared t o enter i n t o t h e church, viz.: elmiseltss of the denomination in the State, and Brethren Chauncey Strong, Nathan Strong, W m . D . returned to the House Mission cause, Strong, Gen. W. Arnold, Hiram Alden, In July, 1833, Parley Stockwell, the first arid Nathan I I . Strong; Sisters h u t h Strong, Thankful up his 1411Milliellea here. H e was soon followed by Ferguson, Melita Alden, Prudence Arnold, nold and Prudence, his wife,—parents of Writ. Sally Strong, Betsey Strong, Sarah Strong, and Sarah of Quisey,—Dr. Hiram Alden and family, and limbos Strong and rowdies. D u r i n g year they were visited by several Baptist being the Bor. Z . Loomis, agent of the enisty. Out the 314 of Dercrnber, 1834, a meeting was held at Sheldon. The council examined their proposed articles of faith and covenant, and, after MUM amendarients, Apia, them and " Thlarieeri, That we recognise the abr., brethren and sisters as a regular Baptist church." R e v. R. �120 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Powell preached on the occasion, and Rev. W. 'I'. H a l l presented the hand of fellowship. The church was without a nettled pastor until October of the same year, being supplied part of the time by Rev. E. Loomis, of the Home Mission Society. J u n e 8, 1835, the church voted to unite with the L a Grange tist Association, requesting Rev. E . Loomis t o represent them, and raising seventy-five cents for the minutes. During this time four members were received b y letter. O c t . 3, 1835, Nathan Strong and Geo. W . Arnold deacons, and Hiram Alden clerk. R e v . Reuben Graham was admitted as a member, and officiated as pastor from that time until Sept. 12, 1837, preaching part of the time at Branch. N i n e were received by letter and one tism. A f t e r closing his pastorate he lived on his form n e a r Branch, preachingein the neighborhood and at subsequently uniting with t h i s church. H e died a few years ago, and is buried with his wife on the Baptist church burial-lots in Oak Grove Cemetery, where the church and society erected a suitable tombstone in memory of their first pastor From September, 1837, to December, 1842, the records of the church show that Rev. Wm. B. Brown was called to be the pastor Dec. 1 8 , 1838, and again i n June, 1842. During this time, in March, 1840, Rev. John Southworth, of Tekonsha, father of W. S. Southworth, of this pastor, preaching half of his time here and the other half at Bronson. A b o u t this time he held a revival-meeting at Ovid, in the Lockwood neighborhood. H e at Colon, founding the Baptist church there, in building up the church at The records show that an " E l d e r Carter" was we are informed that a minister by the name of Mallory officiated as pastor. W h i l e W. B. Brown was pastor, Rev. T. Z. R. Jones assisted i n a revival-meeting in the "Red schoolIn the fall of 1838, John T. Haynes and wife, Armilla (present wife of Emerson Marsh), united with the church by letter from the church a t North Penfield, N. was a man of enterprise and untiring energy, devoted t o the church o f his choice. L i b e r a l t o a fault, fice was too great for him to make, and when he built his large residence at the corner of Division and Washington Streets (now owned b y D r. Cutter), he made one large room of the first story to accommodate the of the church. H i s house was the home of the their families for months at a time. Dec. 18, 1838, the Rev. William B . Brown was called as pastor, remaining until July, 1842, the church receiving twenty-one members by letter, ten b y baptism, and one by experienc During this time he was assisted in a revivalRev. T. Z. In December, 1842, the Rev. James Davis was settled as pastor. H e was a man o f pre-eminent piety and great moral worth. H e married the widow of Rev. who gave t o the ministry three sons who have a national reputation, and one daughter, Mrs. Haswell, to the Foreign Mission Cause. O n e daughter was married to A. From here Bev. Mr. Davin removed t o chasing a farm near the village. I l e preached there, and aided materially in building u p the church a t During his pastorate, which closed i n July, 1844, twenty were added t o the church b y letter, seven by and fourteen by baptism. W h i l e he was pastor, the church united with the Presbyterians, under ltev. Mr. Mills, in a aeries o f remarkable revival-meetings held i n the second story of a frame building at the northeast corner o f the public square and Chicago Street, known as the Pen," so called beam?* the Whig party held its ings there. U p to this time the church bad place o f worship, meeting a t private houses, in house at the corner of Pearl and Hudson Streets rejected by the school district, and in the schoolClay, a few rods south of The Baptists and Presbyterians met together for a long time, the cong,regations joining when their officiated. I n June, 1843, the clerk reported fifty-three members. O n the 12th of August, 1843, the society was organized under the statutes of Michigan. and on the 20th o f December following voted to build of worship, and purchased the lot where Seely's Block now stands. J o h n T. Haynes. Samuel Etheridge, and Henry Lockwood were appointed a committee t o circulate scription to raise the necessary funds. T h e trustees, Elisha Jennings, Harvey Haynes, Samuel Etheridge, A . Va n Blarcum, Calvin Pratt, A . Richards, and John T. Haynes were the building committee, and were authorized tract to build a meeting-house with the subscription and to use it at their discretion." A fine frame church thereafter Nov. 10, 1844, the church settled Rev. J. A . pastor. H e remained until August, 1845. received by letter, one by experience, and three by baptism during this time. A Sabbath-school was organised under his In October, 1845, Rev. Oliver C. Comstock as pastor, and remained with the church until June, 1848. Thirty-five members were received b y letter and three by baptism. under his ministrations. H e was an able and powerful preacher, having been a physician in the State of New York, and was elected t o three successive terms o f Congress front that State; was ordained to the ministry in Washington City; he returned home and declined ination, and was called to the pastorate of the Church i n Rochester. I n 1834 he was chaplain gross, and after coming to this State was twice elected to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, presented Branch County one term i n the From here he removed to Marshall, where he died is 1860 at the age of seventyIn November, 1848, the church called the Rev. Amos P. Tucker, who was pastor until May, 1800. H e was a man o f superior talent, and an attractive preacher. H e belonged to the noted Tucker fanny ao wee knows in New York, there being five brothers, Baptist clergymen, of them men of lar_m experience and reputation. D u r i n g this time there were received twenty-two by teen by baptism, and seven by �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Oct. 20, 1850. the chureli F . 0 . Marsh t o the pastorate, and he was ordained :is a minister by a council held with the church, Dee. 19, 1850. l i e remained with the church until October, 1853, ditriTwhich time eight were received by baptism, thirty-otie by letter, and two by experience I n June, 1851, the church having been a member o f the St. Joseph R i v e r Association, asked for and received a letter of dismission, to unite with dale Association. I n the winter o f 1852-53 the church sold their lot on Chicago Street and bought the lot on the corner of Monroe and Pearl Streets, removing ing there. W i t h the surplus money a parsonage chased, being the present residence of Dr. Marsh, on West Chicago From December, 1853, to June, 1856, Rev. E. was pastor, and during this time thirty-five by baptism, fifty-four by letter, and two by In January, 1857, Rev. A. A. Ellis was called and remained until April, 1858. the church receiving four members by baptism, ten by letter, and two by June 3, 1858, Rev. Edwin Eaton, of Monroeville, Ohio, was chosen pastor, continuing until April, 1866. an able and popular man, and greatly beloved While he was pastor one hundred and forty-two to the church by baptism, seventy-seven by letter, and two by experience. F r o m here he was called to at Muscatine, Iowa, and the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him. H e died at La Grange, Mo. During his ministry the present church edifice ted. I n March, 18'55, the question o f building a larger church was diseussed. and a committee appointed sider and report thereon : but not until Jan. 19, 1863, did the subject assume a tangible shape. A t a meeting church and society, on motion o f Rev. E . Eaton, " Resolved, that in the opinion of this meeting, it practicable and expedient for us to build a this present B. Etheridge, E . H . Dunks, A . S. Glessner, Harvey Haynes, and B . S. Webb were appointed a committee to select a site, and on motion of H. C. Lewis, it that a church be built, costing not less than dollar At a subsequent meeting, Feb. 2, 1863, the at the corner o f Division and Pearl, was Mr. Lewis giving half the ground and &Dam, and M r. Allen the other half o f the land and N M I ltuarhed dollars. A . Allen, A. S. Glessner, and E . U. D u k e WSW. closes building committee. ad H a y n e s , T. C. Etheridge, and D. wens allurwanis added to Umille the management of the committee, the work o f W e i n pregremed rapidly, so that on Sunday, Nov. 13, W I * Sac N. Eaton gnashed the that lemon in 11111041,10. I n August, 186b, the audience-room aid hmuished, and the church dedicated, free from 11014 I L O a t h pemelting the dedicatory mention. I t um deo Ilma Aw a i t striae erected in Coldwater p r i i s i o l y m e i % hemialiag included, about 111111111111Ciallhis & a f t the' time a bell, weighing two ti,. 12 and last year one of Johnson & Son's best pipebuilt in the church at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars After the close of the pastorate of Rev. E. Eaton, Rev. E. Curtis, who is well and prominently known in Michigan, supplied the church for a time, and was settled as pastor in September, 1866, continuing until September, 1868. Sixteen were received by baptism, thirty-one by one by experience during From Oct. 25, 1868, to December, 1870, Rev. was pastor. Forty-one were received by nine by letter, and four by experience during his ministry. From here he was called to the Baptist church field, Ill., where lie died a few June 11, 1871, Rev. W. T. Lowry, of Minneapolis, the present pastor, commenced his labors. D u r i n g the church has been very prosperous, enjoying one of the greatest revivals in its history. U n d e r his ministry there have been added to the church one hundred six b y baptism, forty-nine by letter, and nineteen perienc From its first organization the church with its members some of our most prominent and useful citizens, beginning with Dr. Hiram Alden, who at the time of his death was one of the prominent men in the State; Samuel Etheridge, father of Theo. C. Etheridge; William Winans, who was elected deacon Jan. 10, 1846, and filled the office until his death ; John T. Haynes, whose name appears more frequently on the records o f deeds i n this county than any other name, and whose proverbial. C a l v i n Pratt was elected deacon April and Mathias Va n Every A u g . 4, 1849, and faithfully filled their offices The present officers of the church are William T. Lowry, Pastor; D. B. Purinton, Clerk; Henry T. Nathan Harlow, Sabbath-school Superintendent ; Calvin Pratt, L u t h e r F. Hale, Mathias Va n Every, J . H . D. Warren, Joel N . Brink, and R . M. Reed, Deacons; Geo. Starr, B . L . Webb, George W. Fisk, J. Clark Pierce, A. S. Messner, and P. P. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The Sessional Records of the First of Coldwater contain the following entry: COLDWATER, Sept. 30,1337. " Agreeable t o public notice, a meeting was held o n t h e above. named d a y in t h e schoul-liouse i n t h e village o f Coldwater, Branch County, State o f Michigan, for the purpose o f organizing terian church, a t which time t h e R e v. P. W. Warenor presided a n d preached a sermon, after which t h o following individuals presented letters of their regular standing in other Presbyterian churches, and were regularly organized into a church of Christ, viz.: L u t h e r Stiles and Clarissa his wife, James Smith a n d A b i g a i l h i s wife, Edmond Sloan and Catheron (inn?) his wife, E . 0 . Fuller, Ambrose Eliza h i s wife, M r s . Reynolds, w i f e o f Alexander Reyn. Ann Reynolds, Sophronia Reynolds, M r s . A m a t y C r, , Smith, James Smith, Jr., Ly d i a Smith. " T h e church t h e n proceeded t o t h e ehoice o f Luther R i b James S m i t h OM ruling elders, and Edmund Sloan was elected demean. O n motion ( i t was) resolved t o have t h e Sacrament of the Lord's Sapper administered to-morrow afternoon. C l o s e d with player by the " P. W . W �122 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . In a sermon by Rev. S. C. Hickok, pastor of 1844-47, i t is stated that before the above 'the Methodist and Baptist Churches were among the people were found some of our During the winter of 1837-38, the was blessed with a good number of additions, whom wire several who afterwards became strong pillars in the church. A m o n g this number were Silas William I I . Cross, and Alexander Reynolds, who nized among. the early pioneers of this county. enor, who organized the church, seems to have been of itinerant, for by the record bearing date Jan. 8, 1838, we find that Charles W. Girney was moderator of of the session, and report says that he stopped here over Sunday, in October, 1837, while on his way to quartering at the old Eagle House, he made inquiries i f there was a Presbyterian Church in the place. Receiving an affirmative answer, he made arrangements to the Sabbath. W o r d was sent out that preaching expected in the old red school-house, which was Hudson Street. The people were pleased with Mr. Girney, and an arrangement was perfected by which he was a year, dividing his time between the infant church water and the Congregational Church at Union City. services each church was to pay him one hundred and fifty dollars,—making a yearly salary of three Mr. Girney was in early life a blacksmith in N. Y. H e was not an educated man, but was possessed of good natural abilities, and any amount of tact. extemporaneously, and was practical in his application o f gospel truth to his hearers. H e was also a man who seemed to feel, in an excessive degree, his ness. I t is said of him that at one time shortly death he, in company with another (" Father" James Fisk, who told the writer the story), visited a woman just at the point of death. I n an adjoining room band lay in a stupor, beastly drunk. T h e y went in and tried to arouse him, telling him that his wife The poor man just barely raised himself; and mand his senses only long enough to say, "Yes, me so," and then fell back again to his insensibility. S a i d Mr. Girney " T h e r e is but ference between that man and tne. Nothing but of Christ has made me what Jam." I n 1838, went away, and for two years the little church seems to have been without a stated preacher; and in the interim the names of Rev. J. P. Cleaveland, Rev. and Rev. William Littlefield are recorded in records as having acted as moderator, and it to infer that they preached while in the village. I n 1838, we find that Silas A. Holbrook was chosen a and William 11. Cross a deacon, in the church. I n 1841, a conmiittee was sent to visit Rev. Charles W. sec i f lie could not be induced to return as I t is reported that he gave the church a sound scolding for placing so much confidence in him ; and i n J u l y of that same year M r . Girney died, and t h e church felt most deeply its sore bereavement. R e v . S. C. Hickok, in his sermon dedicating the first church, says o f his loss church : 4‘ His prospects for usefulness were high ; pectations of the church were high; and a t when they seemed i n pommies of a Ads isessiwo. treasure they loved most w i n d y and siscroskr-0•11 interposed and took him knee." M i s pave, m e t a by a plain marble slab, may be found is the aid berlieg-frened on what is now known as M e w Street. I n 1842, Rev. Louie Mills, who had been associated with M r. Girney, while in New York, in the blackamith trade, and West with him to Oberlin (Ohio), where they for the ministry, was called to act as stated preacher ceed Mr. Girney. H e occupied the pulpit until in the summer of 1844. Daring these early years, from 1837-44, held its meetings sometimes in the red school-home on Hudson Street, sometimes i n the school-house i n Clay Street back of the brick store, so generally known as the " Crippen store," and sometimes in the courtwas in the upper story of a wooden building Street, which occupied the ground where the late Dr. J. H. Buch's residence now stands. T h i s building known as the Coon Pen,- which took this name from the fact that the first floor was occupied as a store, and many coon-skins were taken there On Wednesday, Aug. 9, 1843, at five o'clock P.n., a meeting was held at the "regular place of meeting" (the old "Coon Pen"), to organize a church and the statute. U n d e r the resolution the society was to be known as the F i r s t Presbyterian Society of and, as the law required, ail trustees were elected, and the period of their office fixed by lot, as follows: for Milton H. Fuller and Edson Bundict ; for two nelius Van Aken and Orsamus B. Clark; for Henry C. Gilbert and Silas During the same year the idea of building a conceived. I t was a difficult task to undertake, more difficult to accomplish. B u t , somehow or other, the sturdy pioneer always looks difficulties in the face forward. A l l of these early settlers had little property great deal less ready money. Produce and timber in abundance. T h e former was worth but little, and was actually valueless; but money—they hadn't any. T h e y did have brave hearts and strong hands, and with themselves able to build a church. A was started, and produce and timber and labor and as much money as each thought he might be raise. O n e man paid his subscription i n bay, another promised to turn a certain amount of tailoring towards its erection, and others promised to do a certain amount o f work upon t h e building. I n this way the church was built,—a church that, in those days. would have bees a credit to a much larger and older and richer In the spring of 1844 some of the members o f the church living in • Kinderhook desired to organise of their own, which was done with the fall eonsent of the church in Coldwater,—the psitor, Bro. Lois ing Moses J. Peck as ruling skim and Jam deaco In the fall of 1844 Be,. Louis Mills bad gene and Bev. S. C. Hickok had been employed a l stated minima, B e was spoken of as "a very fine scholar." T h e stank kid �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . eighty-seven persons i n its communion when he entered upon his work. A t this time the new churchdedicated. I t was not a pleasant day. I t was der foot and cloudy overhead. B u t , reader, could I have been in some out-of-the-way corner we seen the people coming in from every road, bringing their children with them, that they all might rejoice together in the work o f their hands. W e might have felt, too, the silence and solemnity of the whole congregation as mister ledledhis people to the throne of grace in for all the mercies o f the past, which had reached their culmination in the joy of their hearts that day. I t occasion full of that eloquence which speaks in than human utterance,—and when the minister came to these words, A n d now, brethren, repenting o f our sins, and humbly imploring pardon, that, with clean pure hearts, we may enter into this house of God, dering thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God for his goodness, let us dedicate this house t o H i m ;" and when the congregation all arose, as they did arise when ister pronounced these words, we can imagine that up forces o f many hearts gave vent to tears o f joy and thanksgiving, whose incense went up before God as petual Rev. S. C. Hickok served the church so acceptably that at the end of a year measures were taken to install pastor. T h i s was done some time i n October, 1845, and for his services he was to receive the sum of four hundred dollars per annum. I n the month of August, 1845, M r. Hickok desired the church to unite with him in a request to the Presbytery that the relations existing between them might be dissolved. T h i s request was granted. of his pastorate completed the first decade of of the First Presbyterian Church of Coldwater. D u r i n g this ten years the membership had increased from sixteen to one hundred and five. From this time forward the church continued In the spring of 1818 a call was extended to Rev. Elihu P. Marvin, who remained here until the summer of 1851, when he removed to Milford, Mass., and the editor o f the Boston angregati,malist His salary was four hundred and fifty dollars. R e v . Mather was called, in the summer of 1851, to occupy the pulpit for one year, at a salary of five In May, 1853, Rev. R. S. Goodman was settled over the church, at a salary of five hundred dollars for the first year and six hundred dollars per annum His pastorate continued until the fall of 1860, when the relations were dissolved. H e is now pastor of terian Church at Kendallville, Ind. D u r i n g the 1869 several members were dismissed to form tion/id Church. A t the end of the second decade, in 1857, the membership of the church had reached and eighty In November, 1860, Rev. Horace C. Hovey accepted a call and labored with this church two years. H e preaching in Fair Haven, Conn a suburb of New Haven. Early in 1863, Rev. G. h. Foster heeame the ter, and remained nearly three years. H e died some two r a m sines at Holly, in this State. I n December, 1865, a 0' 12 mil was extended to Rev. W. C. Porter, who had chaplain in the Union army from 1861 t o August, 1865. He remained until December, 1871, when he removed to Fort Scott, Kan., where he has since labored. when called, was nine hundred dollars, which quently increased t o twelve hundred dollars. A t of the third decade, in 1867, there were two twenty-eight members in communion and fellowship with this church. On the 1st of April, 1872, Rev. J. Gordon upon his labors as minister at a salary of fifteen hundred dollars, and continued to perform the duties of until Oct. 1, 1878. H e is now visiting the home o f his youth, in Wales, Great Britain. I n October, 1878, was extended to Rev. H . P. Collin, of Oxford, N . Y., to become pastor of the church, at an annual salary teen hundred dollars. H e is now acting in that capacity. T h e present membership of the church numbers two hundred and ninety-three, and show that eight hundred and seventeen persons since the organization of the church in 1837. In 1864 the society canvassed the question of building a new church edifice. A s a committee to plans and to enter into a contract for labor and materials the following were appointed: R . F. Mockridge, John 0 . Felton, Shelby A . Harrington, Ives G. Miles, and David B. Dennis. T h e work was begun, prosecuted, pleted under their general direction a t a cost o f $32,000, and the present elegant and substantial edifice is the result, which was dedicated Oct. 12, 1869, Rev. Charles toon, D.D., of Monroe, preaching the The following are the names of the different have served as officers since the organization of with the time o f their election, b u t without noting the length or terms DEADONS, 1 8 3 7 - 7 9 . Edmond Sloan, elected Sept. 30, 1837. William H . Cross, elected Feb. 2, 1839. Alexander Reynolds, elected A p r i l 3, 1841. David R. Cooley, elected Jan. 13, 1844. Alvin Upson, elected Jan. 18, 1052. James Smalls, elected Jan. 27, 1856. Daniel Gilbert, elected Jan. 6, 1861. Ransom E. H a l l , elected Jan. 3, 1867. ELDERS, 1837-79. L u t h e r Stiles, James S m i t h , elected Sept. 30, 1837. Silas A . Holbrook, elected Feb. 2, 1839. Seth C. Hanchett, elected A p r i l 3, 1841. Daniel Gilbert, elected Jan. 4, 1845. David I t . Cooley, I r a Lee, elected Jan. 31,1646. Hiram Moodier, Nelson D . Skeels, elected March 27, 1849. Alvin Upson, W m . H . Beach, John H . Phelps, elected Feb. 10 T 6 .l . E b b s M a t h e r, W m . MeMechan, elected Jan. 4, 1852. John F. Rogers, elected A p r i l IS, 1051. Emerson Marsh, elected Jan. 28, 1855. John Chandler, elected Jan. 27, 1856. Wm. T. Knowlton, elected Jen. 15, 1957. David 11. Davis, Joseph D . W. Fisk, elected Jan 11, 1861. I I . I t . Moore, H . N . Lawrence, elected Dec. 21, 1805. John T. Gilbert, elected Jan. 7, 1869. Thomas H . Vance, elected Jan. 5, 1871. David Remiss. Abram J . Aldrich, elected Dee'. 31, 1874. George H . Barber, elected N o v. 8, 1877. Isere N . Shaw, elected Jan. 2, 1879. �I2 4 I I 6. I )IIII••li BRANCH C o C N T V, M I C H I G A N . Y : . • cl.,11.,•••,,, • a L . l ' o r t e r, elected J u l y 36, 1641. C. Hanchett, D e W i t t C. Ransom, e l , I: I . 5 i . I I " ; 1 1 % , pr. ,,ding :'arc, I n hi, handwritint we find mane ‘alliahle ree,,rd,.eovering the pert.' ai ), I - f.. " Tiii. lit W ted A u g . 3, ,.ted I , 1641). elected J u l y 22, 1850. 'I. t i e . . . y e n , James W. O i l b e r t , J o h n C h a n d i e l , , I . •51. I \ ' . . v, 3, 1851. leeted Sept. 7, I . ' s”, elected J u l y 2 ,, 21, 18.54. .1. interim exists between A u g . 6, 18.55, and Dee. 16,1861, wherein the y . . . t o be lust. Joseph D . W . F i s k , R a n s o m E . H a l l , D a v i d H . D a v i s , R i c h a r d H . Drake, elected Dec. I , 1861. J u l i u s H . Barber, elected Oct. 26, 1863. John O. F e l t o n , elected Oct., 1861. Lorenzo D . Halsted, I l e n r y B . Moore, elected Dec. 3, 1866. Thomas H . Vance, elected N o v. 11, 1867. Thomas W. D i c k i n s o n , elected N o v. 14, 1870. A l b e r t A . Dorrance, elected Oct. 23, 1871. De W i t t Cook, elected Dec. 8, 1873. Abram J . A l d r i c h , elected Dec. 6, 1875. James Carleton, elected Dec. 18, 1876. D a v i d F. Cole, W m . A . K n o w l t o n , elected J a n . 4, 1878. ST. M A R K ' S P R O T E S TA N T E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H . * "Organhution.—Pasted upon the fly-leaf o f parish register is a much-faded document, a copy of which is transcribed into the parish history. U p o n this document gives the information that a held February 9, 1848, ' at the White School-house in the village of Coldwater in the county o f Branch (that being the place where the society statedly attend for ship)' by certain qualified voters for the purpose izing a parish under the name o f 'St. Mark's Church.' The organization was effected in accordance with and the following "Wardens—Joseph H . Moss, S. W . ; wood, J. W. "Vestrymen.—Luman Howe, Ezbon G. D. Crippen, James Pierson, George " I t further appears from t h e records that ment was executed on the first day of March, 1848, was not received for record until the sixteenth day following,—just thirty years ago t o -day. T h e warden of the parish, who is now the only living member of the original corporation still worshiping with formed me that he is of the opinion that an organization was effected a year or two earlier than this, but that the records were lost and so never placed "Rectorships.—In parochial history, the torates furnish convenient periods for recording events of n1'1'reo i n d A t t i i to the Rev. Joseph Wood 4 , 1 1 1 1 i i • f . t h e 1"115. tir-t m•l‘ici- held a t I l Y i o d I,, i i i t k n o w n 1,11..N t s t . a t e l o r : z y n i u t , nuitt.,r , lir rue. neither do we t h e 1 p i n t w e r it, tills. r Paw „ . . 1 ,,,.. of d i d hold ,er\ leen a t an early day P . , -.11.1 w a - true of other, 61ci,. B u t . - t v i e e , irregular 1 , 1 1 - t i I l i . • 1 4 11 ' 1 4 ' a n d , - e r v. ; c e s , t W a y q u i t . C U S t i i l l i a l ' ! , ' for want of such for the first junior warden to walk to Jonesville "The first rector o f Bt. Mark's was the Willard, first sent here as a ini,,-i,nary i n I bishop of the diocese. N r , V lit'] emained here six years. A part of that time lie held servic, it, lic-scho,,I houses and a part of the titiw in the house. M r . Vcillard u n t i l t h , early part r, f the year 1.-5:). Jutting i o ,ta.\ w . • r e report.,1 torty-,even baptisms, twenty•two coutirtnatt,ii-. thirty niarriaze-. and twenty" The second rector was the Rev. to, )1. Skinner. wh,, came after an interval of a few months. Beurgaaisatiou of the parish under the revised statutes was erected Aug. 10, 1855, the Rev. M r. Skinner presiding at The officers chosen at that time were: " Wardelis.—Juseph H. Moss, S. W. ; J. B. J. W. " Vestryrneit.—Dsvis Smith, Richard A. Coe, Marcellus H. Parker, John "Mr. Skinner was rector until 1859. D u r i n g services were held in the court-house. A lot on Hancliett Street and a foundation laid, but from fective title the enterprise "The statistics of the four years are: eight, confirmed eleven, married eight, "After Mr. Skinner's resignation, lay services up by the then senior warden, who holds also at the present time. T h e Rev. M a i m Barker, Comm, and Etheridge also officiated occasionally. M u c h intense was developed during the Lenten season of 1860, and a large class - • ' i1 I II W I church, which thliswed when the heart is interested the band wi w o . an , • ' t i _ I I I : . . manifested itself in t h a t Lent o f / which, kept in sausisa, rote ailaVadif. This building was she on wa- of woA. twenty font- by sixty feet, with a •,,.••,, ' , I 1 1 . . 1 : • i _it ! , _ �ol V s ,X12V". ' ST MAFTs Erisco ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . that period there were recorded twenty-eight baptisms, forty-four confirmations, twelve marriagea, burials The Fosrth Rector.—On the fifteenth o f the Rev. Joseph Wood became rector of the parish. A t this point a fact appears upon t h e records which well to bear in mind in our missionary work,—especially in reference to diocesan missions. T h e parish had attained the age of fifteen years, and it is recorded that Coldwater, had received missionary aid t o the amount of two thousand dollars and upwards. S i n c e that time the parish has been self-supporting and has contributed largely to mission work. We notice in t h e rectorate o f M r. Wood modification of the parochial organization t o conform to the act o f Feb. 15, 1857. I t was at this time, also, that the old cabinet-organ was purchased for five fifty " A t the time o f M r. Wood's resignation, December, 1865, the statistics o f his ministry were as tized, forty-seven; confirmed, twenty-two; buried, twenty. "The next (fifth) rector was the Rev. Ray. T h e number o f worshipers had increased that more room was desired i n the church,—the former plan o f building on the corner having been given up on account of the sale of a portion thereof. T h e ing two more rows of slips, were accordingly added, and the capacity of the church increased to upwards of dred sittings. M r . Ray left the parish on A l l 1868, having been rector nearly three years. F i f t y - t w o baptisms are reported, thirty-nine confirmations class ready), twenty-nine marriages, and "The sixth rector of this parish was the Rev. George P. Schetky, D.D., who entered upon the rectorship Feb. 7, 1869. T h e Ladies' A i d Society, though not organized at this time, appears more frequently on the records, since, as before, it has been an efficient helper work. N o t seldom the ladies' organization is the ginning of a parish, and such, I believe, was the case with the Ladies' A i d of St. Mark's. W e learn that mentality liquidated the parish i , b t o f two seventy-five dollars iin the Feast o f the Ascension, 1869. Later a rectory was bought with the funds of and on April 9, 1876, the rector entered the thus provided on East Chicago Street. D r . ing accepted a call to Trinity Church, his charge Sept. 12, 18.70, arid renewed his resignation September 21, which was accepted by the ber 29. Baptisms reported are firty-seven ; confirmations, thirty-five; marriages, seven ; burials, twelve. "The rectorship was filled f o r the seventh time Rev. Henry Safford, who was recalled at the beginning of the winter o f 1870. H e entered upon his duties on Christmas-day, and continued rector until the spring of 1874. D u r i n g this period the parsonage by the rector, and the vestry, feeling the veaience of the old location, remedied the difficulty purchase of our present most desirable lot. T h e (three rheseaad five hundred dollars) was nectesaiily a 12 large one, and a debt o f some twelve hundred mained until a recent date. B u t as years go by trally-located sites are taken up, the wisdom o f securing this property will appear to all, if indeed it does not Twenty-nine baptisms are recorded in the second rectorship of M r. Safford, also seventeen confirmations, marriages, and thirty-eight burials. " For various reasons the parish remained vacant year "The eighth rector, the Rev. Herbert J. Cook, who is the present incumbent, was elected to the position in April, 1875, and entered upon his duties in June following (the sixth day). " Within the last three years the parish of St. undergone some important changes, and these changes, let us hope, are in the line of advancement. E a s t e r saw a large offering of some twelve hundred dollars the altar f o r the erection o f this chapel. T h e carried to completion during the summer, and the ladies came forward with two hundred dollars additional for the purchase o f substantial reversible seats. T h i s gives comfortable auditorium and a fine SundayNext came the sale of the rear portion of the old church lot, in 1877, and fivally, in the autumn of the of the balance of the property. B u t the work did with our removal. T h e Ladies' Aid Society an organ which has proved a most valuable help i n our worship. T h e total outlay will be six hundred arid forty dollars, together with the old organ. T h e chapel, had some much-needed improvements. A with furniture, has been added by individual generosity. The ventilating-windows, both useful and beautiful, have been placed in position in the same way. N o r should we forget the fact that the Easter offering of above dollars, with additions since made, have put the parish practically out of debt, and the pledges and made for current expenses lack b u t a little of quate for all the necessities o f the year. I t gives great pleasure, also, to be able to add that our ings have also materially increased. I t is to be hoped that this will continue to be the case, and that this parish may be a practical illustration o f what can be accomplished by regular and systematic offerings. Y o u may to know the amounts given f o r objects outside in the year just closed. Diocesan missions, missions, $39.16; Christmas fund for aged and indigent clergymen, $18.50 ; foreign missions, $12.04; sion, $1210; Freedmen missions, $9.45; increase istry, $6.59; Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society, $5.50; diocesan assessment, $28. To t a l , " I Tpon examination of the register the tics appear of the past three years: baptisms, mations, 49 , marriages, 16; burials, 24. W e report this year 139 conitormicants, of whom, I regret to say, only about one-fifth " 'Fe summarize the statistics of thirty years, that the eight rectorships have averaged II little 1.1ir year. each. I n the parish, besides a few ministeral rya lien. collated. wItieli hay,. been lierli,rinol while the parish has been vacant, we find the sum total to �126 H tisms, 336; confirmations, 2 3 9 ; marriages, 187. O t h e r items of interest, such as at church, Holy Communion, and Sunday-school, must be omitted for lack of time in this hasty sketch." The present vestry of St. Mark's Church are as follows: Mr. D. S. Harrington, Senior Warden ; Hon. N. ridge, Junior Warden; H . C. Safford, Secretary; Hon. C. D. Randall, D . C. Powers, M.D., M r. Elijah Ball, M r. George Fitch. Since the date o f that discourse, the list o f parochial statistics has been extended i n a l l departments. S t e p s have been taken and plans secured for a new church. T h e architect is M r. Henry Dudley, of' New York. fice ( o f which we give a sketch) is t o be located b y the side o f the chapel, fronting on Chicago Street. terial i s stone, and accommodates about four hundred. The style is Gothic, with massive tower. vestibule, approached through tower and porch, opens into a nave eighty by thirty-three and a half feet. O r g a n and vestry rooms are each sixteen by fifteen, and the chancel in twenty by twenty. T h e approximate cost o f the building will be ten The following extract from a letter recently received by the rector from the Rev. D. Barker, of Paw Paw, Mich., will throw additional light upon the early history of the parish stated occasious, held service, :sad b y a too lance over the young men e r the village, mho an d m & were fit subjects of' this watchfulness, had obnoxious to them. E x p e c t i n g him on Sabbath morning to say mass, and presuming that he would arrive as he had done before on Saturday evening and lodge in the church building, they placed kegs of' powder, stolen from store of' M r. Rufus Kibbe, under the building, and during the night of the 7th of' June, 1859, it was blown ments. F a t h e r Rychaert, with the help o f the citizens, who subscribed $900, built the present brick structure in 1860. P r e v i o u s t o 1860. there had been n o resident pastor, services having been conducted b y pastors f r o m neighboring parishes, who came at stated periods water, and held their services at private homes before the erection of a church building. T h e first pastor in the parish was Rev. Father C. Korst, who, in 1967, built the present He also officiated as pastor at Mendon, where he built a commodious church, and others at White Pigeon. Sturgis, and Bronson, all o f which are in a The Sabbath-school of St. Charles Remains) bers sixty-five children and one hundred and families. T h e pastor contemplates buildiutr a new church edifice at an early day. " CLAREMONT, N . H . , J u l y 22, 1878. W E S L E YA N M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H . "REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,— I one by ' o u r dioceses' that you are i n doubt whether I or M r . Corson was t h e first man who preached in Coldwater. " I performed service a n d preached, not i n ' t h e white,' but in the little, old, red school-house, on the first Sunday in January, administered t h e H o l y Communion t o s i x persons, o f whom three were D r. Wi l l i a m Bacon, Mrs. Bacon, and their daughter, con; a n d I think M r . Joseph H . Moss was another. M r . Moss was there, and so was M r . Coe, though n o t a communicant. D r . Bacon moved to Jonesville that year, and so had nothing further to do with historic church matters i n Coldwater. I continued t o occasionally t i l l M a y , 1843, when I went i n t o a distant p a r t o f the diocese. E v e n then, I came a l l t h e way from D e x t e r i n a carriage, and spent one S u n d a y in Coldwater. I n 1813, measures menced for the organization o f a parish. A meeting was called and the legal notice given i n c a l l i n g a formal m e e t i n g t o t h a t effect. " I n consequence o f M y distance, I gave u p t h e care o f sion. a n d t h e R e v. R i c h a r d S. A d a m s n o w of B r o o k l y n , N . Y. ) , who was then m i s s i o n a r y a t Battle Creek, took charge o f it, and completed t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , u s I SLIIIDOr,ed. " I should suppose M r. Moss would remember those facts. . . . " Yo u r s truly, " D. BARKER. " T h e R e v. I I . J . Conk, R e c t o r o f St. M a r k ' s C h u r c h . " The facts correspond with the recollection of Mr. referred t o i n the beginning o f the rector's course, and the statement of the Rev. Mr. Barker less correct, thus completing our ST. C H A R L E S B O R R O M E O R O M A N C A T H O L I C C H U R C H . The history o f this church, which is located rison, between Clay and Pierson Streets, i s among the oldest i n the city, the society having been organized i n 1849 b y Rev. Father Smoulders, of Monroe, Mich. T h e lot at present oecupied NMI bought i n 1856, and Inane church erected upon i t , which was destroyed the IAowing year. R e v . Joseph Kindikens, at that An old school-house, one and a half miles south of the village o f Coldwater was, in 1850, the scene of the first service held by this denomination. T h e i r numbers were at this early date small, and the first church was effected with but six members. three of whom living. N o t having a church building, the service was still conducted in a school-house within the village limits, until a plain but substantial building was of Church and Hudson Streets. which they and maintain i n excellent condition. E l d e r Soddy for a time officiated as leading elder, and the present pastor is Elder Williams, who resides in the suburbs o f the city. There has been a Sunday-school maintained with the church, until i t was recently pende Since the above facts were furnished us we ered among the records in possession o f the county clerk the following "articles of association" of the First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Coldwater: " This is to certify that we, the undersigned, a i m i n g o f Coldwater, in t h e county of Branch a n d State of Michigan, do hereby a s i e l a t o together for the purpose of forming a Wesleyan Methodist A m a r a i n this city, with a view of becoming a body corporate, to the end that this church may enjoy all the rights and privileges ewileered by low logos religious bodies and societies in the State of M i s l a y ' s . Rader the wet entitled ' A n a c t concerning ebarchon a n d religious licking uniform rules for the setioieitioa, tomer, sootrol, s a d digpasitioa of property eonreyed or dedicated For religious purposes, sad Is raped chapter fiRv-tvro t h e Reviiierl Ststlitcg, arrINNVY4 r@breilLry for n Scripture, i n I. it m a y appear. T h , by timi a b o r t * �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . leyan M e t h o d i s t Connection o f A m e r i c a . T h e c o r p o r a t e n a m e o f t h i s s h u s h is the First Wesleyan M e t h o d i s t Church o f Coldwater. " Dated COLDWATER, November 27, A.D. 1861. " S . B. Smith. Salmon C h a p m a n . " O l i v e Bullock. E. Paine. J o h n P. B r a d l e y. Fanny Chapman. Aaron B u r r i t t . James F i s k . C. B . F. B e n n e t t . Wm. C. Wo o d w a r d . Silas B u r t o n . C. Coffman. D. J . S m i t h . " This certifies t h a t o n t h e n t h day o f N o v e m b e r, a m . of the persons whose names are subscribed [utile foregoing articles of aseciation assembled together at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the eity ef Coldwater (that being the regular place o f worship for the Society) for t h e purpose o f i n c o r p o r a t i n g themselves a s a church o r religious society ander the act of the Legislature of the State igan, entitled ' e n act concerning churches and acquisition, trol, and disposition o f property conveyed or dedicated f o r religious purposes, a n d to repeal chapter fifty-two o f t h e Revised proved F e b r u a r y 13. A.D. 1S5.5; and i n pursuance of notice d u l y g i v e n fifteen days prey ions to said 2 7 t h d a y o f November, 1861, a n d suecessive S u n d a y s i n t h e place where s a i d c h u r c h m e e t f o r p u b l i c worship n e x t preceding said 27th d a y o f November, 1861, t h e persons belonging to said c h u r c h w o u l d meet a t the t i m e a n d p l a c e aforesaid for t h e p u r p o s e o f i n c o r p o r a t i n g themselves a s a c h u r c h , u n d e r t h e provisions of the set aforesaid a n d f o r t h e purpose o f tees and transacting such other business as m i g h t be necessary. A n d we f u r t h e r certify t h a t S. B . S m i t h was b y a m a j o r i t y o f t h e said p e r 0,55 so Inet. as aforesaid, chosen C h a i r m a n , a n d S . Chapman, C l e r k , and J . P. B r a d l e y a n d S . C h a p m a n were appointed Inspectors. O n motion i t was resolved t h a t the n u m b e r o f trustees f o r t h e church be fixed a t six. T h e m e e t i n g then proceeded t o elect b y ballot tees, w h i e h resulted i n t h e election o f t h e f o l l o w i n g persons, v i a . : " C. B . Pe,•khatn. James F i s k , S. Burton. A. M u n y o n , A . B u r r i t t , C. 12 came to Coldwater every third Sabbath to bold service. I n 1868 the society purchased the church building formerly belonging to the Presbyterian congregation, and it to the present location, corner of' Jefferson and Perkins Streets, thoroughly repaired i t ; M r. Flandernieyer having been very active in accomplishing this result. I n April o f 1878, Rev. F. Hauser was settled as resident still continues i n this relation. T h e Sabbathnected with the church, though not large, is in a perous condition. I t s present officers are, Elders, Herman H. Flandermeyer and Ernst Leaders; Trustees, Charles Monacrow, C O L D W AT E R C I T Y S C H O O L S . The first authentic records of the history of of the city of Coldwater date back to 1839, the time when a new district, known as District No. 11, was set apart in accordance with the following copy of a notice to notify the taxable " To J. J . CURTIS, el taxable inhabitant , i f S'rhool D i s t r i c t NO. Eleven ( I t ) , o f the township o f Coldwato r : " S t n , — Yo u w i l l h e r e b y t a k e notice t h a t we, A l l e n Ti b b i t s , H e n r y Burl, a n d H e n r y B . S t i l l m a n , School Inspectors o f t h e said township of Coldwater, have formed a School D i s t r i c t i n s a i d bered i t , and b o u n d e d i t a s follows, to w i t : S a i d d i s t r i c t prise all o f sections n i n e and sixteen, a n d t h a t p a r t of section number twenty-one l y i n g west o f Division Street, i n t h e v i l l a g e o f Coldwater. " T h e first meeting o f said D i s t r i c t w i l l be held at the change i n the v i l l a g e o f Coldwater, on Saturday, t h e 1st day o f J u n e Coffman. T h e trustees then elect were d i v i d e d into three classes by lot, which dray, log resulted as follows, C. B. Peckham a n d C. Coffman, for one y , t r J a m , F i s k and A . B o r r i t t . for two years; A . M u n y o n and S. next, a t four o'clock P.N. o f that day, A.D. 1830; a n d you will, auance o f the laws, n o t i f y every qualified v o t e r o f said personally, o r b y l e a v i n g a w r i t t e n notice at his place o f residence, o f the t i m e and place o f meeting, a t least live days before said m e e t i n g ; Burton, f o r three years. T h e said m e e t i n g determined a n d declared that th... said etioreb s h o u l d h e k n o w n i n law as ' t h e First Wesleyan Church o f C o l d w a t e r. ' then and there to transact such business as t h e law directs. " G i v e n under o u r hands this 20th d a y o f M a y, 1839. •• I n t e • t i to,.ny w h e r e o f we, the said J. P. Bradley and S. Chapman, who were "hoses inspectors of the election aforesaid, have hereunto vet our hands a n d seals t h i s 27th d a y o f November, A.D. 1861, a t (Signed) " HENRY E . STILLMAN, & h o o f " ALLEN TIDBITS, "HENRY B e i m , It .pectors." Coldwater, B r a n c h Co., Mich. "Joins P. BRADLEY. [ S E A L . ] SALMON CHAPM•N. [ S E A L . ] " I n presence o f A m m o } B u r r i t t , Charles nett, W m . C. Wo d w a r d . " S TAT E OF M t , MOAN, 1 B e sNrw l o v e l y . " O n t h e 27th d a y o f November, (.o. 1861, before me, a Be in a n d f o r s a i l c o u n t y, personally appeared J o h n P. B r a d l e y and Matson Chapman, known t o tne t o he t h e persons who executed t h e above esaillents and acknowledged t h a t they executed the same for the rem sod r u p e e s therein mentioned, and as their free net and deed. " F . T . EDDY, " N o t a r y Publie. " P i l e d and retarded Dee. I t , 1961. " B . C . Wean, "Clre GERMAN LIUTFILRAN CHURCH. The denomination above mentioned first themaelms is Coldwater in 1861, not having at that church ediftm, but holding their first services in County Court-Rouse, Rev. H . Speckhart being the first palter. I n 1866, Rev. J. Hahn, now of sesseeded hiss, soder whom a permanent @Owed. D u r i n g hie pestorate he resided at At the meeting, nothing was done except to elect lowing officers: Silas A . Holbrook, B. Clark, Director; and Henry Lockwood, Assessor. A t a meeting held eight days after it was that the District Board be authorized t o purchase from Robert Abbott a part o f village lot No. 104 ; and at the next meeting, June 29, 1839, the board was authorized to raise by tax four hundred dollars, which, with dollars due from the old district, was to be expended in building a sehool-house and paying for the lot for At a census o f the district, taken Sept. 27, 1839, there were found to be sixty-eight children between the ages of five and seventeen. I I . S. Shoudy was employed four months and a half at eighteen dollars per month. A t the census taken the following year (1840), the number of children of school age had increased to ninety-three. meeting held in October of this year it was voted sending scholars should furnish one-quarter cord for each scholar, arid M r . Etheridge was employed as teacher, at fourteen dollars per month, boarding with his employer The first building erected was situated upon the cant lot in the Second Word; but at a meeting 27, 18-17, it was voted to raise fifteen hundred dollars to �128 H I S T O R O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. Y -- • build a new school-house. T h i s house is still standing, and is now used as a ward school-house. T o the tion of our community it will be better known as the " O l d Brick School-house," situated on Clay Street, in the Third Ward Besides this building there are now in the city the High School or central building, southwest corner Pearl son Streets, and the Fourth Ward building, cago and Pearl Streets. I n the central building ployed thirteen teachers, and the seating capacity hundred and ten. I n the Third and Fourth ings are employed four teachers each, and the city o f these buildings is respectively two hundred and thirty and one hundred and ninety-eight, making a total of twenty-one teachers and a seating capacity of dred arid twenty-eight. T h e length o f the school year is forty weeks. T h e graduating class o f 1878 numbered twenty. The following is the corps of instructors for the present year, 1 8 7 8 - 7 9 : J . S . Crotnbie, B . A . , Superintendent, Higher Mathematics and Chemistry; F. A. Barbour, B.A., Principal, Latin and Greek; Miss E. Pruden, French, Botany, etc.; M r s . L . A . \ V. ant Preceptress, Mathematics, English, etc.; M i s s Cora F. Titus, Grammar Department; Miss Flora C . Titus, Grammar Department ; Miss Ermine Howe, mediate Department; Mrs. Mary A. Pratt, mediate Department; Miss Anna E . Howe, mediate Department, Third Ward; Miss Mary E. Cutter, First Intermediate Department; Mrs. Franc P. Card, First Intermediate Department, Third Ward ; Mrs. Lucia bert, First Intermediate Department, Fourth Ward ; Miss Flora J. Burns, Second Primary Department; Miss Flora Oakley, Second Primary Department; Miss Nellie L. Orr, Second Primary Department, Third Ward; Miss Dell Root, Second Primary Department, Fourth Wa r d ; Miss Belle Stevenson, First Primary Department; Miss L . dick, First Primary Department ; Miss Anna L . Cook, First Primary Department, T h i r d Wa r d ; Miss E m m a Krichbaum, F i r s t Primary Department, Fourth Wa r d ; Miss Mary 0 . Hyde, First Primary Department, Fourth Ward. The general statistical information for the year to April is as follows: 1875-77. 1 8 7 7 - 7 8 . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Popolation o f city (about) & M O 5 0 5 1 0 N u n d o , of children between A r e and t w e n t y 12111 1 2 , 5 To t a l e n r o l l m e n t 1 0 3 2 9 6 , . N u m b e r Irf m i n - r e s i d e n t s t u d e n t s 9 0 Cash raluntion o f property $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 0 0 $311000 t i t A . C o s t 14 i m p e r i n t e n d e n c o a n d i n s t r u c t i o n 9 , 1 4 4 . 6 0 6 , 1 6 0 0 0 g C o q ,if incidentals 5 ' 1,306.33 2,225.11 Cost o f ediiration p e r capita for auperintendance and i n s t r u c t i o n 1 2 . 3 9 8 . 3 7 1 9. C o s t o f e d u c a t i o n p e r c a p i t a f o r I n c i d e n t a l s 3 0 1 1 . 7 7 I t ' . A v e r a g e p e r c a p i t a eoat f o r w h o l e s c h o o l 1 5 . 4 0 1 0 . 1 4 ' y , s 7 _ i r 1876-77. r. 6 t:C.5 11. A b s o l u t e e n n i l l m n n t 12. A v e r s g o n u m b e r I s l o n g i n g 13. A v e r a g e d a i l y a t t e n d a n c e 14. N u m b e r m e n t e a c h . • 15. N u m b e r w o m e n t e a c h e r s IS. N o p u p i l s t o each t e n c h • r , based o n ber b e l o n g i n g ei 677 775 400.7 101.8 436.4 146.1 III 42 7 1117 132 95 93 li 2 . 1f27 737.5 674 2 111 37 11171411 11. a b s o l u t e e n r o l l m e n t M IL. A v e r a g e n u m b e r 1.eluaglug 4 6 i t A i erage d a i l y a t t e n d a n c e 6 9 14 N i e n i b e r no.,, t e a c h e r . I l'.. N timber w o m e n t e a c h e r s I I t . N o . p u p i l s to each l e a c h e r, lasewl to. ber b e l o n g i n g 4 O 6 . 1 l 1 I 1 9 4 0 5 9 1 3 1 981) 199 1 9 3 719E3 1 4 4 1 11 6 1 4 1 1 6 . 9 e 2 6 2 3 8 8 6 2 9 3 8 In classifying teachers in the above table, question 15, the four years prior to entering the high school ered the grammar The high school i s organised i n four courses (the first three arranged with special reference t o quirements of the university, the fourth a purely English course). T h e Classical, Latin and Scientific, and Scientific and Engineering are each four years i n duration, lish course three years. T h e graduates of the courses are admitted to the freshman class of the University of Michigan without further Admission.-Applicants for admission to above the primary must give evident* of their fitness t o enter that department. A l l candidates should be present promptly the first day of the term, as any delay is a loss to themselves and a serious hindrance to Examiaations.-Examinatiens are held in all elasises i n the High School Department during advance work, and oral daily reviews and examinations are also made, and on t h e completion of a study, or a t the end of the term, a final examination of the entire subject is had. T h e average o f the monthly and final examinations eonstittite standing i n scholarship. A standing o f seventy-five per cent. i n each term's work o f c-ach study pursued quired before the pupil will The classes i n the other departments are examined by the superintendent as often as A t the close of every year there are public of the classes to be promoted in the several Diplontas.-Students completing any of the prescribed courses of study in the high school will receive a certificate of graduation signed by the superintendent and members of the board o f education. T h e r e are two kinds plotnas,-t he ordinary diploma, given the same fore, and the regular diploma, which entitle-, the bolder to enter Michigan University without further examination. Candidates receiving the latter will have the fact admission stated on The following are the members of the school 1839: 1839-40.-S. A . Holbrook, Moderator; 0 . B . Clark, Director; R . 1840-41.-S. A . Holbrook, Moderator; ( . B . Clark, Director; G . 1841-42.-S. Etheridge, Moderator; J . Wilson, tor ; A Parish, 1842-43.-L. Stiles, Moderator; I I . Warner, Director; A. Chandler, 1843-44..-L. Stiles, Moderator; R R o o t , Director; J. Pierson, 1844-45.-41 A . Holbrook, Moderator; A . L . Potter, Director: C. B. ��Photo.). by E. Kilt.huArk. MILS. THOMAS T H O M A S D O U G H E R T Y. THOMAS D O U G H E R T Y. The name o f Thomas Dougherty was one o f the best the first mill at Coldwater. and was a valuable known among the early citizens of Coldwater. H e the embryo city. S o m e ten years later, as the demand for for more than forty years so closely identified with lumber increased and the water-power decreased. terial interests of this city and county, that a sketch erty built a steam saw-mill, which was the first steam life will be as appropriate at this time as i t is entitled to any kind in Branch County. T h i s mill he fair record. H e was born at Cambridge, Washington Co., fully for thirteen years. H e was at one time in N. Y., Feb. 29, 1800. W h e n he was eleven years tile business, and one of the chief actors in Coldwater in his his father, with the family, consisting of a wife day. Contributed liberally t o the erection o f the first children, moved to Penfield, N. Y. . where he Methodist Episcopal Church, o f which himself and wife farm. T h e subject of this sketeh lived at home until he were first members, and helped to organize. attained his majority, when he went to Masadon, where he uted liberally to the erection of the present edifice. T h e y became acquainted with Harriet Aldrich, daughter of Abram have been the parents of five children, of whom Aldrich, whom he married, Jan. 1, 1823. I n 1825 now living,—two sons and chased a farm at Penfield, immediately took remained there some ten years, when he sold out After a long and industrious life, this O m a r back to the small beginning and laying of the to Michigan with his wife and four children, arriving i n of most of the early manufactories, schools, Coldwater, Sept. 10, 1835, where he purchased a farm o f of Coldwater, and feel the satisfaction of haring two hundred and eighty acres, which included the present their share. M r . Dougherty came to Coldwater ,ite of the State School. H e also entered some six hundred siderable means, and with it assisted in most of :Ivrea of land in the county. public enterprises of his day.. A f t e r a married life In the spring of 1836 he formed a partnership with Rev. than a half-century, this veteran ample find themselves in Francis Smith and Dr. Sprague, which firm erected the enjoyment of good health, an ample mill, and the fidlowing year built a flouring-mill, the respect o f all, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1845-16.—J. T . Haynes, Moderator; A . Chandler, Director; J . D. 1346-17.—H. Warner, Moderator; A . Parish, Director; A. Chandler, 1847-48.—T. Daugherty, Moderator; F. I ) . Crippen, Director; G. A . 1848-49.—G. A . Coe, Moderator; A . T. Groendycke, Director; J . D. 1349-50.—D. Waterman, Moderator; J . T. Haynes, Director; H . M. 1850-51.—G. A . Coe, Moderator; A . rector ; J . 0 . 1851-52.--G. A . Coe, Moderator; A . rector; I t . 1852-53.----G. A . Coe, Moderator; A . rector; H . Dickson, 1853-54.—J. Chandler, Moderator; E . B . rector; J . D. 1854-55.—W. H. Beach, Moderator; J . G. Parkhurst, Director; J . 0 . In 1855 the number of the board was increased ing four 1855-56.—G. Willard, Moderator ; rector; D . Thompson, Assessor; A . Chandler, 0 . S. P. Noyes, A. L 1856-57.—D. B . Dennis, Moderator; T . N . Wilson, Director; J . 0. Pelton, Assessor; A . Chandler, G. A Coe, J. Chandler, A . L. 1857-58.—A. A l l e n , Moderator; C . S. rector; C. Pratt, Assessor; A . Chandler, I . P. Alger, J . Chandler, A . L. 1858-59.—D. Smith, Moderator; C . P. rector; L . D. Brewer, Assessor; A . Chandler, C. B. Fisk, J. Chandler, I . P. 1859-60.—C. S. Tucker, Moderator; A . tor; J . A . Brookins, Assessor; J . Chandler, D. house, I. P. Alger, C. B. 1860-61.--S. S . Cutter, Moderator; D . B . Dennis, Director; C . D . Randall, Assessor; D . C . Powers, C . Upson. C. P. Benton. 1861-62.—S. S . Cutter, Moderator; D . B . Dennis, Director; C. D. Randall, Assessor; D. C. Powers, A. Allen, J. 0 . 1862-63.—A. Allen, Moderator; S. S. Cutter, Director; J. 0 . Pelton, Assessor; C. D. Randall, D . B . Dennis, C. S. Tucker. 1863-64.—A. Allen, Moderator; S. S. tor; 0 . Pelton, Assessor; J. B. Crippen, D. B. Dennis, C. S. Tucker. 1864-65.--J. B . Crippen, Moderator; S . S. Cutter, Director; F. T. Eddy, J . Murphy, D . B . Dennis, C. S. Tucker 1865-66.—F. T. Eddy, Modbrator ; J . Director; J. B. Crippen, J. Murphy, E. Eaton, S. 1866-67.—F. T. Eddy, Moderator; J. %actor; J . Murphy, D . H. Davis, A . Allen, 1867-68.--A. Allen, Moderator; J . H . McGowan, Director; F. T. Eddy, D . H . Davis, J . H . Beech, A . eAssodl 1116W--q) —A. Allen, Moderator; F. T. 12 A. Chandler, N . I'. Loveridge, D. H . Davis, T. ridge 1869-70.—T. C. Etheridge, Moderator; N . ridge, Director; J . H. Beech, J. H . McGowan, son, A . Chandler. 1870-71.—J. H . Beech, Moderator; N . P. Loveridge, Director; H . C. Lewis, I t . F. Mockridge, Justin Lawyer, D. 1871-72.—J. H . Beech, Moderator; N . P. Loveridge, Director; H . C. Lewis, I t . F. Mockridge, Justin Lawyer, D. 1872-73.—J. I I . Beech, Moderator; N . P. Loveridge, Director; R. F. Mockridge, T. C. Etheridge, George Starr. 1873-74.—J. H . Beech, Moderator; T. C. Etheridge, Director; R . F. Mockridge, D . Thompson, George Starr, H. B. 1874-75.—R. F. Mockridge, Moderator; T. ridge, Director; George Starr, 1). Thompson, H. send, A . 1875-76.—D. Thompson, Moderator; A . Director; R . F. Mockridge, D . Cook, J . Murphy, D. C. Power 1876-77.—R. F. Mockridge, Moderator; J . Murphy, Director; A . A . Dorrance, D. C. Powers, M. Mansfield, J. F. Pratt. 1877-78.—F. V . Smith, President; J u s t i n Lawyer, Clerk; D. W. Tinkham, H. D. Robinson, G. S. Foster, 0. B. Moore, G. W. Stevens, J. L A D I E S ' L I B R A R Y A S S O C I AT I O N . During the year 1865 a number o f ladies instituted a movement to secure the presence of some of the nent names in the lecture field in Coldwater, and to insure the success o f their undertaking, they determined to first raise a fund which could be drawn upon to make deficit that might be occasioned by adverse This was done with a series of' entertainments,— netting the sum o f about five hundred dollars. lowing year a course of lectures was duly furnished, but the eagerness for platform eloquence had and no regular course was given thereafter, but. put at interest until the amount aggregated six hundred dollars. T h e establishment o f a library with the money was a favorite idea with the ladies, and on the evening of Dec. 13,1869, the members o f the Lecture Association, and those more particularly interested in having raised the funds in their hands, met at the residence of F. V. Smith, Esq., to consult about the formation of a Ladies' Library Association, to which, i f formed, they would turn money in their possession. Several gentlemen present al advocated the plan. I t was decided to form such ciation, and articles drawn up by a committee akprelitalbary meeting were signed b y twenty-two ladie The Lestislatnre was petitioned for and the association duly organized with ter members: Margaret L . Powers, Marietta ridge, Georgiana L. Cutter, Emcline Barber, Mary Mariet Smith, Harriet D . Morgan, Mary Mary Shipman, Alma Lewis, Alice C. Randall, Lissie P. �lIl-fl\ o r 1;1; \ \ C H I ()I \ 11' N M 1116 Woodward, Ardeasa Crippeii, 11,1,t, L . L.wrie.tc, I I a n t L Mookridge, Olivia Safford, Josephine P. Mt.:Gowen, Addie Wing, Sallie G. Nichols, Mary A. Rase, Ann Van Valkenburg. By an article o f the constitution, any lady of legal age paying one dollar into the treasury becomes a member of the association, and is entitled to a vote at the ing. N o gentleman is permitted t o vote o r is eligible to office, but the annual payment o f one dollar affords any gentleman the privileges of the library. T h e payment of thirty dollars constitutes the individual a life together with wife or husband, is entitle(' to the privileges of the library during the existence of the December 20, the first board of directors was elected by the association. T h e y are fifteen i n number, in office three years, and the arrangement is such third of them retire from office each year, to give place to new members. T h e institution now had a being and a name, and the board set about furnishing the objects which had called for the existence o f the organization, viz., the establishment and maintenance o f a library for affording and encouraging useful and entertaining reading, and the furnishing literary and scientific lectures, and for intellectual improvement in the city of Coldwater. The city was patiently canvassed to procure and over three hundred annual memberships were sold, and twenty-three life memberships. A s the result of their persistent efforts, the ladies at the beginning of 1870 found themselves possessed of twelve hundred and The selection of a suitable room was a matter of much solicitude, which Dr. Beech promptly set at rest, by offering the parlors in his own house for the use of the library, rent free. T h i s offer was gladly accepted, and books to the value of one thousand dollars were immediately Upson and Lewis kindly transacting the in Detroit. Five hundred dollars more were expended the same year for books. A t the end or the first year the bered twelve hundred volumes, around which nucleus the succeeding years have deposited their contributions. The officers of the board for the first year dent, Mrs. Alma Lewis; Vice-President, Mrs. ter; Treasurer, Mrs. N. Harrington ; Mrs. Z . P. McGowen ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. G. L. Cutter. A t the beginning of its career, the library was tunate in receiving liberal support. B e s i d e the material aid furnished by those gentlemen who purchased berships, the city papers did all the necessary printing the first year gratuitously, Mr. F. V. Smith catalogues, etc. D r . Beech more especially earned ing gratitude of the association by both his early continued The library occupied h i s parlors until the summer of 1874, when he further evinced his good-will the association with a building in the rear of and a lease for five years o f the ground upon tod I l e board repaired and furnished i t at a cost three hundred and fifty dollars, and the library occupied its pleasant and accessible nsdns. T h e money for repairs was all obtained b y donations o r entertainments. This it hos come to pass that, while other like have had to pay out a large percentage of their income fur reni, awl depend upon volunteered services in the office of librarian. the Coldwater Library has always had a home without charge, and the board have been enabled first year to pay a regular salary to a librarian, who not only attends to the circulation, sale of tickets, collection of final, etc., but has such a personal supervision of as tends in no small degree t o their preservation. T h e "stitch i n time," etc., needs frequent illustration in culating library. T h e board h o c al," been enabled the price of tickets at the nouunial sum of' one dollar, bring the advantages of the library within the reach Present officers: Mrs. G. H . Turner, President; Coe, Treasurer; Mrs. G. Van Valkenberg, retary ; Miss Kittie Cutter, T H E L E W I S A R T G A L L E R Y. Coldwater derives much importance in the tion of the State from its extensive collection o f works of art, known generally as the Lewis Art Gallery. ing is very centrally located on Chicago Street, ing the residence of its founder, Mr. H. C. Lewis. I t is unnecessary t o indulge in fulsome praise o f t h e munificence which inspired the establishment of this gallery, or to discuss the public spirit and generosity displayed by its projector. I t is sufficient to say that it has given great pleasure not only t o the citizens, but to tho,e- who are enabled by close proximity to the city to visit it frequently, and its influence upon the taste of the community more apparent here than in larger cities, where a love of art is fostered and encouraged by the pre.seuce of good pictures. The collection is thrown open to the public on Saturday of each week, and during the winter the apartments fortably heated, and no restrictions are placed upon visitors other than are demanded b y the observance o f the rule; which govern The gallery is divided into two compartments, the first being principally hung with foreign pictures. and copies of the famous pictures of artists of repute abroad. T h e farther compartment embraces a collection o f portraits o f much merit,—many of them originals, others the subjects being celebrated English, French, can characters. 'These portraits, tot-ether with a portion or the pictures. are from the Thompson very well known to Bostonians, and which were originally intended to form the nucleus of a gallery to donated to the city o f Boston. S o m e slight circumstance diverted the collector from his original purpose signed them t o the auction-room, from whence many o f them came to Coldwater. T h e remainder of adorned the palatial halls of the late Le residence at We regret that i t is not possible to obtain from M r. Lewis, who is abroad, a history of the pictures and many incidents relating to their purchase, which would be o f much intermit to the reader. A brief maim of m i m e tin. „ . , _ „ ,;. „ . . • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H under the circumstances. A m o n g the copies of the old masters in the first :..7allery, and perhaps the uf the collection, is a superb copy o f tion,- displaying not only the individuality t h i s great master, but his remarkable grace of' out line and harmony of color. T h e r e is also a fine copy of 11•Iphael'8 ration,- and three copies of l'orregio.— an "Adoration," -Christ and Mary M.plaletie,- and C h r i s t and of Samaria at the Well,”—all in.lieating the of this artist in the wonderful effects produced by ful handling of light and shadow. T h e r e is an dxcelleut copy of the ' A u r o r a ' o i l iuido, and another of raine's •• Harbor of Civita Vecchia," I n this gallery a charming little interior of modest proportions," The First Attempt to teach a Child how to Walk," full of life and warm color of the Among the pictures which we are informed belonged to the Lockwood collection are Eastman Johnson's of' Lincoln," a work which considerably enhanced t h e already wide reputation o f the artist, and which regarded, perhaps, as second t o none i n the gallery i n point of merit. " A Roman Beauty" is one of the most superb bits of coloring, and near i t hang ture of •• Admiral Farragut i n the Shrouds of at the Battle of Mobile," a work of considerable repute, and a '• Chimney Swcep Making his Toilet," remarkable for its spirit and conscientious drawing. Among the portraits are an excellent copy of Gilbert Stuart's "Washington," the original of which adds to the fame of the Lennox Gallery, New Yo r k ; a strong drawing of Benjamin Franklin, and another of President Wayland, and many admirable portraits of female celebrities. Indeed, the whole collection of portraits is so excellent as to add greatly to the interest of Among the larger pictures are an "Emigrant Train Attacked b y Indians," by Charles Winsor, a work siderable reputation, remarkable for its vigorous handling and its truth to nature. I t is regarded as one of valuable in the collection. N e a r it hangs " Mary Queen of Scots Accusing John K n o x of Treason," a work historical interest, and " T h e Angel Appearing to Hagar in the Wilderness," said to have been faultless as an anatomical study. "The Sleeping Beauty," by Wight,—the from one of Tennyson's poems,—attraets :ittention not only from its size, but from its fine coloring and its of drapery. O n e of the most conspicuous gerii,.t. collection is a picture of the Dusseldorf school, taken Prisoner to the Castle of Wartburg." val tone of the picture, the fine drawing, and character all combine to make it one of the upon the walls of the Lewis Gallery. T h e r e are choice bits of statuary both in bronze and marble, but our limited space does not admit of so extended a notice of this very pleasant and instructive place o f resort as its merits MASONIC LODGES. FIVSIMIMOOTy first had a permanent foothold water in 1847, there having been many Masons i n the village prior to that time, but no organized lodge. F r o m i COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 13 that period to the present the institution has grown and prospered until i t has become an established power city. N o special events have marked its ever, other than participation i n occasional monies to which the various lodges Tyre Lodge, No. 18.—This lodge, whioh ranks as the oldest in the city, holds a charter bearing date April 1, 1847, its first officers having been John T. Haynes, W. M.; Henry Buell, S. W . ; Amos Bacon, J. W . ; Samuel P. Noyes, Treas. ; Andrain Abbott, Sec. I t s were Ieliabod Davis, James Shoecraft, Myra! Cotustock, Elisha Warner, Bradley Crippen, William Etheridge. I t s officers have been from that sively: 1848.—George W. Davis, W. M.; E. G. Parsons, S. IV.; D. Haynes, J. W. ; Dorset J. Goff, Treas.; Henry bert, Sec.; J . S. Davidson, S. D . ; L . D. Halsted, J . D.; S. C. IIanchett, Tyler. 1849.—George W. Davidson, W. M . ; Harvey Warner, S. W. ; Elisha Warren, J. W. ; D. J. Goff, Tress.; Henry C. Gilbert, Sec.; Lucius E. Mills, S. D.; L . D. Halsted, J. D. ; E. Lawrence, Tyler. 1850.—John T. Haynes, W. M . ; Albert L . Porter, S. W.; L . E . Mills, J . W . ; Daniel Mill.',, Tress.; N . T. Waterman, See. ; John H. Stevens, S. D. ; L . D. Halsted, J. P. ; D . Haynes, Tyler. 1851.—Lucius E. Mills, W. M. ; Elijah C. \V.; A . T. Macary, J . W . ; D. J . Goff, Treas.; N . T. Waterman, Sec. ; M . Mansfield, S. D.; L . D. Halsted, J. D.; B . H. Cutler, Tyler. 1852.—A. T. Maeary, W. M . ; Mortimer Mansfield, S. W. ; Louis T. N. Wilson, J. W. ; Harvey Warner, Treas.; Corydon P. Benton, Sec.; S. P. Noyes, S. D.; D . J. Goff, J. D.; B . H. Cutler, Tyler. 1853.—Wales Adams, W. M.; Albert L. Porter, S. W.; C. P. Benton, J . W. ; Daniel Mills, Treas. ; Seaman L . Dart, Sec.; D . Littlefield, S. D.; E . C. Sternes, J. H. Cutler, Tyler. 1854.—Mortituer Mansfield, W M . ; C. P. W.; A . F. Bidwell, J. W. ; Elihu Mather, Tress.; Franc. B. Way, Sec.; S. L . Dart, S. D . ; G. I L White, J . P. ; E. C. Sternes, Tyler. 1855.—Corydon P. Benton, W. M . ; S. L Dart, S. IV.; Origen Bingham, J . W . ; Elihu Mather, Treas. ; J. C. Montgomery, Sec.; R. H. Drake, S. P. ; A . Pierce, J. D.; J. G. Buff ham, Tyler. 1856.—Corydon P. Benton, W. M.; S. L. Dart, S. W.; Wm. J. Jones, J . W. ; A . McCrea, Tress.; J . F. Pratt, Sec.; J . B. Stevenson, S. D.; B . M. Bordine, J . P. ; B . H. Cutler, Tyler. 1857.—Seaman L . Dart, W. D.; W. J. Jones, S. W. ; R. H. Drake, J . W. ; A . McCrea, Treas.; David Boyce, Sec.; J . It. Stevenson, S. P. ; H . W. White, J. D.; B. M. liord n(', Tyler. l858.-8eaman L . Dart, W. M . ; John I I . Beech, S. W. ; Almon L. Lytle, J. W. ; A . Allen, Tress.; See.; E . W. Markham, S. D.; John G. Buff ham, J. D.; Arid l Pierce, Tyler. 1859.—Seaman L . Dart, W. M. ; A . L. Lytle, 8. W. ; David Dove, J. %V C . P. Benton, Treas.; P. �I 132 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, w e s i s m a r . Sec.; Frank Plogart, S. D. M . Mansfield, J . D . ; Ruff ham, Tyler. 1860.—Seaman L. Dart, W. M.; A . L. Lytle, S. W. ; 1). Boyce, J. W. ; A . Allen, Tress.; John Murphey, Sec.; F. Plogart, S. D.; Wm. H. Abbot, J. I).; R. H. Drake, Tyler. 1861.—Seaman L . Dart, W . M . ; A . L. Lytle, S. W. ; 1). Bovee, J. W. ; A . Allen, Tress.; John F. Plogart, S. D . ; 0 . C. Graham, J . B . ; R . H . Drake, Tyler; Rev. H. Safford, Chaplain. 1862.—Seaman L . Dart, W. M . ; A . L. Lytle, S. W. ; D. Boyce, J. W. ; A . Allen, Treas. ; John 0. C. Graham, S. D. ; N. Rosenbaum, J. D. ; R. H. Drake, Tyler; Rev. H. 1863.—Seaman L . Dart, W. M . ; A . L. Lytle, S. \ V. ; D. Boyce, J. W. ; A . Allen, Treas.; George 0. C. Graham, S. D.; N . Rosenbaum, J. D.; gel, Tyler. 1864.—D. Bovee, W. M. ; 0 . C. Graham, S. W. ; Geo. Ferguson, J. W. ; A . Allen, Treas. ; C. J . Mativel, Sec.; D. Cooley, S. D.; J . L. Hill, J. D. ; Geo. Mansell, Tyler. 1865.—D. Boyce, IV. ; 0 . C. Graham, S. W . ; N . Rosenbaum, J . W. ; R . H . Drake, Treas. ; C. J. Manvel, Sec.; N . 0 . Townsend, S. I ) . ; J . L . H i l l , J . D . ; Geo. Mansell, Tyler. 1866.—D. Bovee, W . M . ; J o h n Murphey, S. W . ; Nathan Rosenbautn, J. W. ; R . H. Drake, Treas. ; Geo. M. Dumon, Sec.; I I . J . Woodward, S. D . ; Win. Anderson, J. P. ; H . Toland, Tyler. 1867.—David Bovee, W . M . ; 0 . C. Graham, S. W. ; N. Rosenbaum, J . W . ; A . McCrea, Treas.; R . A . Hall, Sec.; H . E. Maeary, S. D. ; Z . C. Cheeny, J. D . ; row, Tyler. 1368.—D. Bovee, W. ; D . B. Purinton, S. VT.; R . A. Hall, J . W. ; R . I I . Drake, Tress.; Geo. M . Damon, Sec.; Z. C. Cheeny, S. D.; J . L. Hill, J. D . ; Geo. Firth, Tyler. 1569.—D. Bovee, I V. N . ; W m . C. Burns, S. W. ; R . A. Hall, J. W. ; R . H . Drake, Treas. ; Geo. M . Dimon, Sec.; J . A . Ashbaugh, S. D . ; A . Smith, J. B . ; D . Fox, Tyler. 1870.—D. Bovee, W. M . ; W. C. Burns, S. W. ; R. A . Hall, J. W. ; George Starr, Treas. ; G. M. Dumond, Sec.; J. A . Ashbaugh, S. B . ; A . Smith, J. B . ; G. H. Taylor, Tyler. 1871.—D. Bovee, W . M . ; J . A . Ashbaugh, S. I V. ; G. II. Taylor, J . W. ; R. A . Hall, Tress.; C. Sec.; H . A . Wolcott, S. D . ; W i n . Draubaugh, J . D . 0. Firth, Tyler. 1872.—D. Bovee, W. ; J. Ashbaugh, S. I V. ; G. H . Taylor, J. W. ; R . A . Hall, Treas. ; D. B. Purinton, Sec.; II. A . Wolcott, S. D . ; A . J . Foster, J. D . ; Geo. Firth, Tyler. 1873.— 1874.—D. Boyce, W. M . : A . J. Foster, S. W. ; G. H., Taylor, J. VT.; R . A . Hall, Treas.; D . B. Purinton, Sec.; D. S. Phinney, S. D . ; Geo. Firth, Tyler. 1875.—D. Boyce, W . M . ; A . J. Foster, S. W. ; Wm. C. Burns, J . W . ; R . A . Hall, Treas.; D . B . Purinton See.; D. S. Phinney, S. D . ; Wm. Draubaugh, J. Firth, Tyler. 1876.—D. Bosse, W. N . ; A . J. Boskw,11. W. ; L W . Holmes, J. W. ; B.. A. Hall, Tows. ; D. B. Powioiss, les.; D. 8. Phinney, S. D.; J . W. Brews, J. D.; % m i d Fos, Tyler. 1877.—D. Boma, W. N . ; A. J. Basler, J. W. ; B . W. Holmes, J. W. ; R. A. Hall, Tram; D. B. L. A . Peckham, S. B . ; W . Brows, 3 D . ; D . Yea, Tyler. The following statistics give as ides o f the workisg of the lodge since its Decemb " " " " id St 1 6 S 1 6 1 CI 4 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 . 1857 1858 18S9.. 18611.. 1861 1869 1863 1864 1865 166 1867 1668 1869 1870 1taiseL bled. 10 24 3 2 1 5 3 1 1 II 9 4 12 1 1 22 22 29 1 1 2 6 2 1 6 3 4 5 5 5 2 2 0 • I 1 2 1 1 -1 34 3 2 9 5 5 1 8 1 8 5 1 1 9 2 26 44 2 22 30 1 26 8 4i 4. it 1872 ..... 1873. 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 6 3 4 9 a 2 1 o 1 2 1 1 3 0 0 1 2 4 2 4 2 1 4 2 3 4 3 3 3 5 3 3 From idiot Total motaVo 1o4ip 4 24 63 8 et 1 1 40 II 6 3 50 6 6 6 8 60 3 94 5 0 89 77 0 104 1 119 6 118 2 4 150 5 174 204 7 226 6 228 r 251 9 1 245 1 243 3 251 25 2 250 1 247 6 3 252 249 3 5 249 237 0 222 3 It will be seen by the foregoing table that the total membership the first year of its (wganization war ing a decided growth from that time to Its officers are D. Boyce, W. M . ; A . J. Foster, S. AV.: E. W. Holmes, J. W. ; R . A. Hall, Tr a m ; D . ton, Sec.; Charles E. Flowing, S. D.; G . W. Fox, J. B.; Daniel Fox, Tyler. The following impressive dirge is used by the lodge in ceremonies attending the burial of " &AVM n , t r i k e s t h e f u n e r a l a l i n e . Note, , , f o u r d e p a r I n g t i m e : As w e j o u r n e y here below. Through a pilgriinage of woe! Mortals, now i n d u l g e s tear, For m o r t a l i t y i s n e a r ! See how w i d e her trophies w a r e O'er the slumbers o f t h e g r a v e ! Here another guest we b r i n g , Seraphs o f celestial w i n g . To o u r funeral a l t a r come. w . r t t h i s F r i e n d and B r o t h e r home. " Lord o f a l l b e l o w F i l l o u r hearts w i t h T r u t h and L o r e ; When dissolves t h i s e a r t h l y tie. Ta k e us t o t h y L o d g e cm h i g h . " eadtratee Lodge, No. 260.—This lodge from Tyre Lodge. No.18. Several members to establish another lodge in fkadwater, made �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . to the officers of the Grand Lodge o f the State for pensation, which was granted Feb. 10, 1869, w i t h t h e following gentlemen as its first officers: Thomas W. M. ; Nathan Rosenbaum, S . W . ; George Ferguson, J. W. ; H . J. Woodward, Sec.; S. S. Its present officers are N . Rosenbaum, I V. M . ; A . E. Thompson, S. W . ; E . S. Taylor, J . W. ; S. Sec.; John P. Fiske, Treas. The regular communications are held the first Monday evening o f each month. T h e lodge has a and well appointed, in which the meetings Jacob's Commandery, No. 10.—The men first applied for a dispensation to organize cry in Coldwater: Franklin T. Eddy, Wales man L. Southworth, Asa G. Rose, Joseph A. H. Putnam, Richard H . Drake, Artenaus L. Dart, Lyman Sleeper. T h e application bore date March 3,1860, and the charter was granted June 6 o f year, with its first officers as follows: Franklin E. C . ; N . L Southworth, Gen.; Arternus Gen. ; S. L. Dart, Recorder. I t s present officers are R. A. Hall, E. C.; S. S. Scovill, Gen.; R . G. Gen. ; D. B. Purinton, Recorder. I t s numbers Temple Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M.—The eharter chapter bears date Jan. 13, 1859, the having applied for a dispensation: Edwin Perry, John H . Beach, N . L . Southworth. D a v i d Burns, E . Mather, Samuel Etheridge, Wales Adams, Abram McCrea, S. L. Dart. Levi Daggett. I t s 'first officers were High-Priest; John H . Beach, K i n g ; N . L . Southworth, Scribe Its present officers are A . J. Foster, High-Priest; W m . C. Barnes, K i n g ; Sylvanus S. Scovill, Scribe; J . Wesley Brown, Treas. ; David B. This chapter has been prosperous since its and increased its list of members until i t now hundred and twenty-seven on its rolls. T h e ings are held the first Wednesday of Mount ..Woriah a i m e d , N o . 6 , R . and S. i f —This organization was formed November, 1859, under sation granted by the T. I. G. P. of the State of Michigan. Its first officers were S. L. Dart, T. I. G. M . ; field, D. I . G. M . ; R. H . Drake, 1'. C. of W.; J. enson, C. of G.; D . Boyce, G. S.; F. T. Eddy, Recorder; A. Allen, Its present officers are D. B. Purinton, T. I. M . ; John P. Fisk, D. I . M.; J . A. Ashbaugh, P. C. of W. ; I V. C. Barnes, C. o f G.; M . H. Parker, Treas.; S. B. Kitchel, Recorder; A . A. linanpt, S. and S.; D . Its regular meetings are held the first Thursday month I N D E P E N D E N T O R D E R O V O D D -FELLOWS. Coldwater Lodge, N o . 3 1 . —The Order had i t s first organization i n the city as early as the year water Lodge, No. 31, having been formed i n February of that year. N o authentic record of the transactions of the body cue be obtained, but from one of the we learn that it was for a time prosperous, but which a t firm characterised its sessions 13 tinted in discord, and the lodge surrendered its charter in 1855, and for u time was practically defunct. I t at this time owned sonic property, which was scattered among its members, and four cemetery lots which had to i t b y t h e corporation reverted again t o the donors. Dec. 1 7 , 1871, t h e lodge was resuscitated w i t h t h e following officers: Gilbert Sherman, D. D. G. M. ; Warren, N. G. ; J . A . Brookins, V. G.; A . cording Sec. ; H . N . Moore, Treas. ; Hiram manent The lodge having been again established on a basis, an effort was made to redeem the lots which had been awarded t o t h e original body b y the These i t was learned had been sold and were already in use, but a compromise was effected by which other lots of equal value were given the new The present officers of the Coldwater Lodge are Alfred Milues, D. D. G. M . ; L . A . Peterson, N . G.; J . over, V. G. ; C . W . Johnson, Recording See.; W . H . Allen, Permanent See.; Alfred The present membership is Bethesda Lodge, No. 268.—This lodge November 5, 1875, by George Dean as Grand Master o f the Grand Lodge of Its first officers were Theodore Lyman, N. Anderson, V. G . ; Charles D . Wright, Recording See.; James A . Brookins, Permanent See. ; Thomas Smith, Treas. Trustees: James Anderson, Thomas Smith, J. H. D. Warren. Its present officers are S . Egerbroad, N . G . ; David Bartlett, V. G . ; J . H . D . Warren, Recording Sec.; M . H. Parker, Permanent Sec.; James Anderson, Treas. Trustees: G i l b e r t Sherman, Charles Chapman, James Anderson O A K G R O V E C E M E T E R Y. The original plat comprised in this cemetery by individual parties, and embraced about The deed conveying i t to the Oak Grove ciation bears date J u l y 15, 1854, and the party making the conveyance is George In the year 1869 i t was deemed best t o enlarge the dimensions of the inelosure, and about one more were added, t h e deed o f conveyance given b y C. V. L. Kibbe to the city of Coldwater in that yea The original association included the following its first officer": Orsamus B . Clark, President; Coe, Clerk; James Pierson, Collector; George A . Coe, Treasurer; John The following description of the ground embraced original plat is found in the records: " A l l piece or parcel of land situate, lying, and being in of Coldwater, in the county of Branch and State el igan, described as fhllows, to wit: Beginning at ar the north line of the Chicago Road, on Coldwater River, at a cedar stake; t and southerly, along the centre of the ditch at the hill, and around the sante until it intersects ti line o f the Chiciego Road, awl from along the north line or the Chicago Road, about one how �134 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH m u m - , MICHIGAN. ilred r i ids, t o the place Of begintiing, containing about eighteen acres, more or less, and being a part of the north half of the w e s t fractional quarter of "The object of' such assiiciation or corporation to be the dedication or said piece or land fbr a cemetery or burying-ground, and the fencing, improving, ornamenting, and keeping the satue for the Oak Grove Cemetery is remarkable for its location and its varied natural beauties. I t s walks and drives—which are numerous and traverse nearle slr, extent o f the grounds—are lined with trees, and the beautiful sloping hills of the north out upon an expansive sheet of water, which to the attractiveness of the location. T h e in the central portion of the grounds, is bordered with a very tasteful arrangement o f hedge, and displays much taste. T h e r e are also various plans for improving and beautifying the inclusure, which will from time to carried out. M a n y fine monuments and mark the graves, and the attentive care given lots i s evidence o f the tender memories friends have Altogether, this cemetery impresses the visitor not only by its exceedingly beautiful natural advantages, but by the admirable manner i n which art has added to traction T U E B A R O F C O L D W AT E R . While the bar o f this county has a Cicero, or a Demosthenes, a Webster o r Clay, i t i s thought that i t will compare favorably with the bar o f any interior county in the State. I n the spring of 1837, E. G. Fuller, Esq., a young attorney from New while journeying westward towards Chicago in search o f a place to locate, was induced by of Coldwater and the surrounding country, to rest Sabbath. H e discovered that there was no and was finally induced to settle in the young village of Some amusing incidents occurred at this to the bar. A committee of three gentlemen, "learned in the law," was appointed to examine the young report as to his legal The first question asked was as to his politics. told that he was a "Jackson Democrat," two of mittee expressed entire satisfaction ; the other had a question or two more to ask. " Did he. to run for the Legislature? and i f so, did he expect elected ?" A f t e r this question was answered, the trio of "legal lore" were entirely satisfied, and the first attorney of Branch County was duly admitted to practice in all the august courts of the State. V e r y soon after he missioned by the Governor of the State as torney of the county, and held the office for In 1844 he was elected judge of probate for and served four years to the entire satisfaction of stituency. Since his retirement from the he has devoted his time mainly to the practice of fission and i n supervising the culture o f a farm which he owns in the south part of the city. H e is a yer, still in excellent health, and practicing in California, where he is temporarily sojourning with In 1838, or about that time, another attorney found Coldwater a place of sufficient attraction to" pitch his tout? This was Edward A. Warner, Foki., an agreeable gent young man. H e soon obtained a good was constantly working his way upward in the hearts of the pioneers, when death claimed him as her own. been sleeping in the " silent city," over the thirty-five George A. Coe, Esq., fresh from his studies in ter, N. Y. , found the quiet little village o f Coldwater, in 1839 or 1840. P o l i t i c s ran high i n those days, and Mr. Coe, being a good W h i g , was doubly welcomed b y the Whigs, as hod] o f the ftirmer gentlemen Possessed of fine personal appearance and social attractions, he at once became a great favorite. and business flowed in uPon him abundantly. H e was soon after elected justice of the peace, member of the Legislature in 1848, State senator, and lieutenant-governor in 1854 and siding i n t h e Senate chanabar w i t h great satisfaction. Indeed, as a presiding officer Ise had few equals. A f t e r his retirement from legislative duties h e was again elected justice of the peace and supervisor, both of he held at the time of his death, in 1869. H e was lawyer and a general favorite Louis T. N. Wilson, Esq., a pioneer boy, entered of Lieutenant-Governor Coe, and commented the study of law, Jan. 16,1843. B e i n g a bright and active full of ambition, he soon acquired a sufficient knowledge of the profession to procure Ills admission to In the spring of 1851 he was elected justice of in 1854 State senator, and in 1870 all of which positions he filled with marked cial positions, however, interfered with his and he now devotes himself strictly to his profession. H e possesses a bright, active mind and great brilliancy added to a thorough knowledge of the law. Judge David Thompson. also a pioneer the study of the law in Coldwater. at an early day. H i s studious and thoughtful habits soon gave him a edge of the profession, and in due time he had a tice. Pleasant and agreeable in his intercourse around him, he was held in esteem by all. S o m e he was elected justice of the peace, but its duties interfered with his professional petunias. elected judge of probate in 1864, and served tion. H e was afterwards appointed circuit judge, ernor Judge Thomas N . Cooly. for many years past Supreme bench o f this State, stopped i n Coldwater a short time at an early day; but clients were too scarce for men of his genius and ability. H e left to others, much to the regret of those beet acquainted with his eminent learning and ability. General J. G. Parkhurst, came from Central New York about 1850, and entered into partnership with the late Lieutenant-Governor Cue. H e was elected attorney in 1852, and served with credit to himself. Marty in the Rebellion he was appointed a II • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . of the Michigan regiments, and served till the cud of the war. H e was brevetted brigadier-general for in the army. S i n c e the war he has given but little the practice of law, having other business to take his entire time Justus Goodwin, Esq., practiced i n t h e county early, though he lived on a large farm just outside the county. Union City, in an early day, was called after wiuville." I n later years he moved to Coldwater, obtained a great practice, as he preferred outto a sedentary life. H i s death occurred some years ago. He was considered an able lawyer and a Cephas B . Dresser came here many years ago, a young man, but remained only a short time. H e was called a well-read lawyer. W e understand he now resides dale — Harris, a good, sound lawyer, came early. H i s stay was short. Cause, doubtless, the want o f wellclients,—a very Caleb D. Randall. also a pioneer boy, came previous to 1840. with h i s father's family, D r. Alvah Randall, and settled i n Bronson. A f t e r be was admitted to the bar he came to Coldwater. and entered upon a good practice. H e was elected State senator in 1870, and drafted the tablishing the S t a t e Public School." A l t h o u g h lawyer, his practice of late years has been limited. B e i n g president o f the Miehiean Southern National Bank, his time is occupied with Edward J. Hard, an industrious lawyer, settled here in an early day. H i s career was short, however, for death soon claimed him as E. G. Parsons, one of the early lawyers, was attorney for several terms, l i e was a shrewd lawyer and a social gentleman, we believe. H i s present far as known, is in the State of Missouri. In 1841 or 1842, Daniel Gilbert, Esq.. moved here from Western New York with two sons, H. C. and J . bert. T h e father, through age and infirmities, practiced but little, but was a good counselor, and may been " A 6 n e old E n g l i s h gentleman, A l l o f t h e olden t i m e . " He died many H. C . Gilbert, the elder son, was a man o f untiring perseverance, and an able and eloquent lawyer. Indian agent for the State under President istration. A f t e r the expiration o f his term o f office he purchased a large farm i n t h e town o f Coldwater, and planted an extensive nursery. H i s farming, no more profitable than that o f the distinguished Horace Greeley. I n other words, he enriched his coffers way. U p o n the breaking out o f the Rebellion appointed colonel o f one o f the Michigan regiments, serving with great gallant py and giving up his life for the Union he loved so well. H i s remains were brought home and interred in Oak James W., the younger of the two Sons, was also Layer, has paressed o f a leas reheat I W O * bersiost. B a r d study *ought OD dhows, and in A i r b a g sol latemty of asswhood his life was 1 3 5 Justin Lawyer, Esq., was an early attorney in Many years ago he was elected county judge, but lature, we believe, dispensed with his services the law under which lie was elected. H a v i n g in other business a large portion o f the time since, his practice has been limited. H e is a gentleman of qualities and a sound attorney. E. S. Jennings, Esq., came here many years ago, and, though able and eloquent, his stay Egbert K. Nichols, Esq., was an attorney in the county years ago. H e was elected county prosecuting attorney, but his stay was not sufficiently long to form as to his abilities. W e understand he went East from this State Hon. Charles Upson, when a young man, came from the land of wooden nutmegs, and settled i n the county of St. Joseph. H e was there elected State senator, but later be settled i n Coldwater. A s his fame had preceded him, he at once entered upon a large and lucrative practice. I n 1862,1864, and 1866 he was elected to Congress from the district o f which Branch formed a part,.and served with great acceptance to his constituency. H e also served as circuit judge, but resigned on account, we believe, quate Hon. J. W. Turner came to Coldwater from part of the State many years ago. H e had served i n the Legislature of the State with much ability, and had been appreciated by the people o f this county. H e entered a t once upon a good practice. W h e n lican party was organized at Jackson he was entered heartily into the work. B e i n g a fine services as a " stumper" were in brisk demand. several times elected prosecuting attorney of the county, and i t is not too touch to say that no man ever office more acceptably to the people or with greater credit to himself. — Howell, Esq., an earnest and thorough attorney, stopped in Coldwater at an early day. Clients too scarce, doubtless, influenced Joseph B. Clarke, Esq., one of the best-read lawyers i n the county, remained a few years in Coldwater. a brother o f " Grace Greenwood," and possessed many traits of character in common with that distinguished lady. H e left twenty years or Willard J . Bowen, Esq., an early pioneer boy o f this county, Bettled in Coldwater years ago. H e a good lawyer, but his time being too much occupied in other pursuits, his practice was neglected in Moses S. Bowen, Esq., a lawyer o f fair ability, great tact, and perseverance, practiced i n t h e county several years. H e left many years ag,, a - 1,-211,1,1 ' I ' social, pleasant t% ‘ . . Hon. F. E. Morgan was a th in the law. H e was elected State senator in 1876, served with ability. H e was a quiet gentleman and au able Hon. J H . MeGowen mime to Coldwater i n 1859 or 1860. A f t e r super he enlisted in the celebrated chase alter the great rel �136 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . through Indiana and Ohio, and very nearly lost his life i n the " Morgan raid." A f t e r peace was restored h e was elected prosecuting attorney, and served f o u r years. I n 1872 he was elected State senator, served one term ; i n 1876 was elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1878. H e is a flue speaker and Noah 1'. Loveridge, Esq., came to Coldwater tral New York some 'fifteen years ago. H e soon entered upon a successful practice, and by strict attention ness soon merited the esteem o f the people. H e i s a thorough student, genial and affable in manner, and enjoys the confidence of the community. David 11. Dennis, Esq., came to Coldwater five years ago. A l t h o u g h a good attorney, he has given but little time t o professional pursuits. H e has supervisor and justice of the peace, but his private affairs claim his closest attention. Judge John B. Shipman came to Coldwater years ago, from St. Joseph County, where he studied office of Hon. H . H . Riley. H i s pleasant manners soon brought him hosts o f friends as well as a lucrative practice. W e think i t safe to say that there is no more thorough student of the law to be found, and none more highly respected. I n the fall o f 1878 elected circuit judge for the district composed of and Branch Counties, and is now clothed with a judicial gar Timothy G. Turner, Esq., who came about ago, was lawyer and editor, and finally enlisted war. H e is now residing in Wallace W . Barrett, Esq., studied in ago. W a s elected prosecuting attorney in the fall but on the breaking out of the war he resigned and went to the front as a captain o f infantry. lant services in the army won for him a commission in the regular army, a position few obtained who were a military education at West Point. W e think he now ranks Levi Sprague, Esq., an attorney of untiring perseverance, practiced i n Coldwater years ago, from here to Chicago, and now, as we understand, speciality of police-courts practice of that city. Frank D . Skeels, Esq., studied law i n Coldwater, and soon after his admission to the bar was elected attorney for the county, and was re-elected in four years with ability. H e still practices in the city. Simon B . Kitchel was elected prosecuting attorney in 1876, and re-elected in 1878. H e possesses a knowledge o f the law and has a good degree anc John It. Champion, Esq., came to Coldwater at an early day with his father's family, the late Reuben Esq. I l e was in the army several years, and after the swords were returned t o their scabbards, in addition t o other duties he studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He has twice been elected mayor of Coldwater is a man of fine There are several young attorneys in Coldwater tion to the above. A m o n g them we may name Henry C. Clark, Esq., or, as they call him, Alderman N. Legg, Esq., Charles D. Wright, Esq., N. A . Reynolds, Fag., A. T. Lasopkere, Req., A g a t e , J . McGowan, FAN., and Harry C. Safford, Bay. T h e m am all young men of fair abilities, and have a promising flame before PH YBICIANII. "Doctor, forgive see, i f I dare prosodies A r u l e for thee thyself, sad all thy tribe, Iusertiag a few serious words Above a l l price TS, B o d y ' . jettel,—not for mirata p r o f s . , Or ;moth, o totopto w i t h im praelice Like to o W001001.4 r i r t n e in H u n ' . M e s t a , A betteenty rpft c d holy shrine!, To be opproaehell and tonch'd with serioes j e e r hl y hand. ;node pore, attel heart. o f f . . : ? . never.. E'en I h e Prieethood o f the U N E divine !" Boon. The physicians who settled i n Coldwater previous t o 1840 were men o f very good ability, and some of quite marked character.—leaving all impress upon the community which has long outlived them. extended far over the sparsely-settled country; and many are the tales of hardship and suffering they the early pioneers o f this county. : M a n y time.s they had to be physician, nurse, and adviser ; and by their sympathy and cheerfulness, and by their advice in business and family matters, they gave condhrt and hope to the, homedesponding whose Inalth Mid 1-ivacity had been taken from them b y the enervating influence of t h e with scarcely an exception, more or 1,-se affected all. T h e physician, better than any one else, knows the trials and hardships of the pioneers who had t o battle and sometimes almost famine. The first physician who settled i n Coldwater William Henry, from Scipio, Cayuga Co., N . Y., in the summer of 1830. H e was about seventy years of educated, and a man o f acknowledged ability. ticed medicine here about two years, and then removed to Sturgis. Mich.. where he died. Dr. 11 ill, of' Indiana, aged about fifty-five years, in 1830 settled at Pocahontas, now " Mills," above Branch. H e was a practical business man, and built the first in the county, at t h e place where he lived. H e left i n 1832, and went to Lagrange, Ind. Dr. Enoch Chace came to Coldwater from Vermont in the fall of 1831, and practiced medicine until he removed to Milwaukee. Wis., where he has in farming and making the celebrated Milwaukee white brick, an extensive bed o f the clay for which he his farm. H e is still living there, and has Dr. Chace was the only physician of this place, so is known, who went before the Board of Censors o f "The Medical Society o f the Territory o f Michigan,tained a license to practice medicine and surgery in the Territory. T h i s society was established and given according to statute "made and provided ;" and this legal supervision o f medical matters in those may explain why all the pioneer physicians were men of fair ability. A copy of the license of Dr. Chaoe is inserted as teresting relic of the �HISTORY O F ' B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . " TERRITORY O r MICHIGAN. " To a l l t o w h o a t h e s e p r e s e n t s s h a l l come, o r m a y i n a n y w a y concern. t h e President, Secretary, a n d Censure o f the Medical Society o f t h e Te r r i t o r y o f M i c h i g a n " Whereas, E n o c h Chaste b a t h e x h i b i t e d u n t o n o mony t h a t h e b a t h s t u d i e d P h y s i c a n d S u r g e r y f o r the t i m e a n d i n the m a n n e r directed b y l a w. " N o w , k n o w ye, t h a t by v i r t u e o f t h e p o w e r vested i n u s b y l a w, W e DO GRANT u n t o t h e said E n o c h Chase t h e p r i v i l e g e o f p r a c t i c i n g Physic a n d S u r g e r y i n t h i s Te r r i t o r y, together w i t h all t h e r i g h t s and i m m u n i t i e s w h i c h m a y p e r t a i n t o P h y s i c and S u r g e r y. " I t . S. Rice, " WILLIAM C H tPIN. " J o a n S . WHITNEY, " I n testimony o f w h i c h we h a v e caused t h e seal o f Society to be affixed a t the c i t y o f D e t r o i t , t h i s 7 t h d a y o f J u l y, " STEPHEN C . H E N RY, "Preeitleut. " R . S. R i c a , " S e c r e t a r y. " T h e above is a true copy o f said license. " JOHN MORSE, " C l e r k o f the town o f Green. "COLDWATER, A ag. 1, 1831." Dr. Wm. H . Hanehett came from Summit Co., 0., in the fall of 1832, just after the close o f the Black Hawk war. H e was a most energetic, indefatiLrable worker for the advancement of the interests o f Coldwater, lished a reputation and character that made him, years, the largest and most successful practitioner cine in the county. F r o m 1846 t o 1850 he was nership w i t h D r . S . S . Cutter, now o f this c i t y. I n 1851 he emigrated to California, and after a residence o f several years i n that State he removed to Eugene City, Oregon, where he died. Dr. Hiram Alden came from Westfield, N. Y., He was a well-educated and energetic man ; a n active Democrat; entered into politics; was elected to lature of Michigan, on a local issue, in 1837, and t o the office of Commissioner of Internal Improvement in 1838, which office he held until his death in 1839. H e was the father o f Mrs. A . Waterman, Mrs. R . Root, Mrs. H . Haynes, Mrs. H . C . Lewis, o f Coldwater, and o f Mrs. John Lewis. of Jonesville, Mich.; and of four burn, Isaac, Philander, and Willis, nearly all of been prominently identified with the society of Coldwater from its earliest Dr. Bigsbee, botanic physician, a kindworking man, did what he could to cure disease here from 1833 to 1845, when he had to succumb to the Destroyer, and died i n the west part o f the township o f Quincy, where he had gone to live some Dr. Darwin Littlefield, of Vermont, after the medical c,llege at Castleton, tame here from Penfield, N. Y., in 1535, and engaged in the practice in which he continued until a few years preview; t o his death, when h e had to abandon i t almost entirely count of failing health. H e died in 1870, aged sixty-five, Dr. Littlefield's wife, who survives him, is sister of L. D. Crippen and Philo Crippen, now resident with their families, have been largely identified with the growth and prosperity of this city front early times. D r . Litt lefield was always lively, social, and kind1 13 took great delight in being a prominent leader of the choir in the Methodist Dr. Wm. B . Sprague, graduate from Albany Medical College, New York, settled on the farm where he in the east part of this city, in 1835. H e engaged extent in the practice of medicine for a few on account of poor health, he changed his occupation to fttrming; but his counsel and advice have often by other physicians i n consultation for many years since he ceased Dr. Corwin, frotu Lyons, N. Y., practiced in 1838. H e was an old man, well educated, and died in a short time after coating here, at Mansonville, on the river, in the west part of the city. Dr. D. Clark, front Rochester, N. Y. , practiced here a short time in 1837, when he left for St. Louis, he died. H e was the father o f Mrs. Satupson, who now lives with her cousin, Wm. Scovill, i n the township o f Coldwater Dr. Calkins, from Albion, N . Y., was a partner of Dr. Wm. H. Hattchett in this city for a short time i n 1838, when they dissolved, and he, Dr. Calkins, edited water Otserver for a year or so, and then left Dr. H . B. Stillman resided in early life at ley, N. Y. , where he studied medicine and surgery with the celebrated D r. White o f that place. A f t e r finishing his studies,—graduating from Castleton New York,—he commenced the practice of in Toledo, 0., where he lived two years, and removed to Branch, which was then the county-seat of this county, in 1838, and i n 1844 he permanently settled in Coldwater, which place had then been for several years the principal town, and had been established the county-seat against its rival, the village o f Branch. D r . Stillman county clerk while living at Branch, which office he held for several years after removing to Coldwater. H e Democrat until the breaking out of the war of lion, when he united with the Republicans. H e was an active politician, particularly well read in all ters pertaining to this country, and gave his to such subjects than t o medicine, but in all matters his judgment Dr. Bacon, from Ithaca, N. Y., in 1841 commenced the practice of medicine here. H e was a finelyof fine personal appearance and cultivated left in about a year and a half afterwards for Illinois. Dr. Matthew G i l l came here from Albany, N . Y., in 1840, where he graduated, and in about two years left for Battle Creek, where he has since resided and practiced medicine until two or three years ago, since when be has been in the role of " traveling physician," rhoidal diseases. H e married while here Miss Susan Fiske, daughter o f James Fiske, a very worthy pioneer, and father o f Rev. Luther R. Fiske, president o f Albion College, Michigan, and o f D. W. J. Fiske and Mrs. I . G. Miles, of Dr. Peter Sprague, elder brother of Dr. Wm. of this place, and father o f Philander Sprague, Esq., of Batavia, i n this county, came here from N. Y., in 1844; and after following his profession here 4 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTS', M I C H I G A N . for a few years he went t o live on his farm in Batavia, Michigan, where he died i n 1860. H e married while here Mrs. R. Hull, owner of Hull's addition to the city of Coldwater; but she, preferring to live in Coldwater, did not go with her husband to Batavia. Dr. N. B. Welper practiced the "healing art" here from 1846 to 1856, when he removed to Hillsdale, he subsequently edited a Democratic paper. H e died a t II Dr. William L. Clarke, graduate from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, emigrated from Rochester, N. Y. , to this place in 1848, and followed his profession here until 1852, when he went t o Chicago, where he now lives and has a very fine practice i n medicine and Clarke was an unusually well-educated physician when he came here, and was considered one o f the who had ever resided here. H i s father was a cian, and he i s brother o f Mrs. Sarah E . Lippincott, of Philadelphia, whose once de plume is " Grace From 1845 t o 1848, Coldwater could boast o f having what the regular educated doctors called a noted quack i n Dr. Fasey, who did quite a large business, part oble families, for which he charged enormous fees, erally managed t o collect them. H e kept a ment, dressed well, and made a fine personal He was an Englishman. H e was ruined i n his practice here by the discovery of a medicine he was using largely for a patient, who soon died. Dr. Stocking, facetiously called "Socks," held as a" Thompsonian doctor" from 1845 to 1850. H e had only the simplest rudiments o f any kind o f education, and yet there were people here in those days, some of them " w e l l to do" and reasonably well informed, who were to red pepper, lobelia, and " No. 6," that they would trust their health and their lives in the hands of i f he were only called a Thompsonian. D r . being asked i f he had ever studied anatomy, physiology, or chemistry, replied," No; I am not the kind of doctor that has t o study them things. I t i s the other fellers—the regulars—that have to do that. I know Didn't h e say i n t h a t t h a t l i e learnt h i s anatomy on himself and his botany in the hayfield ? A n d I know is all right, because there was a patent issued on i t by the Patent Office o f the United States which is authority enough for me. B y that book I tried for malpractice i f I am accused." S a i d ator, " D o you feel the pulse and examine your patients to ascertain the nature of their complaints?" " Well, just j i f f the looks o f the thing. B u t it makes no for I give them a "regular course" any way. " W h a t is I hat?" said h i s questioner. " Why," said the regular course o f medicine, according to Thompson, is to cotnnience at No. 1 and go right through to No. 6." pose that fails ?" " I ' l l give him another course; on, over and over, until my patient gets well or dies, if he will let me; and that's all I profess; and that's all in Thompsonianism." T h e -doctor was very plain He hlt all the light that was in hint shine ; and lived up to bin prof-ssion 14,,,,s119. --which a as t o give his patients from N”. 1 ti, No. 6. aciairdilig to Thompson, and repeat, if they would let h i m or i f they did riot die! all such quacks Void of all honor, The daring tribe oseepicuol lIuor h.,asted — All tempt the oda to trust the is i There are among them those who And yet they'll buy a patent and mewed; Will dare to promise dying For who, when dead, can threaten With cruel avenue still More draughts, more syrups to the ' I feel it n o t . " Then take it ' I t malice me worse." Why then it 'hone I fear to d i e . " Let not your 'You're always safe while you beliree and drink " " Dr. S. S. Cutter studied medicine in this mencing in the fall o f 1842. H i s preceptor SIM Dr. W m H. lIancliett, w i t h whom he commenced practice after graduating from Geneva, N. Y., Medical College is 1846. He was a partner o f Dr. Hanchett's until which time he has continued io the pursuit of sion here alone, except in 1851 and a part of 1852 in partnership with Dr. S. H. Estabrook, his brotherand has sustained a high reputation professionally as a social position. He was a member o f the board o f trustees, whey this place was under a village charter, and member o f the common council, since i t became a city, several times. He was president of the village corporation from March 1, 1859, to April 1, 1860, when this place was a city, since which time he has had the office of year. F r o m 1858 to 1864 he was a member of of education, during which time the Central ing was erected, and the schools thoroughly As moderator for two years and director tor three years. he gave a large portion o f his time to the work of elevating the standard o f the public schools, and i n making their work more thorough In 1862 he was appointed United States geon for pensions, which office he now holds. I n 1 • 6 9 he was appointed b y Gov. H . P. Baldwin chairman o f a special commission, authorised by joint resolution o f the Legislature of this State, on penal, pauper, institutions. T h e object of' this commission was tain by investigation the imperfections of such institutions, in this State., and reconimend any changes Ile, with the other nieuabers. spent a large portion of time in traveling in this and other States, and made a report to the Governor, which was presented t o the Legislature in 1870. T t , report rocommomieti m a n y maioal citanzus i n the administration of these affairs, some of whieh adopted, and among them i s the State located i i i this place. I l e was a member o f the board o f control of this institution for six months previous, and for a year and a half after its opening, in 1874, and gave a �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . — Dr. C . S. Tucker came f r o m Portage Co., Ohio, i n 1S40, and settled on a farm in Kinderhook, in this county, and in 1814 lie located i n this place, where he has since lived. I l e has had a large and lucrative practice, and has accumulated thereby a haudsome fortune, which he is now eujoying in his tine residence i n the second ward o f this city. Dr. J. H . Beech came from Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y. , to this place in 1849, and resided here until his death, in the fall of 1878. D r . Beech was, during the time he lived here, one o f the most accomplished and cians of this city. H e had an extensive practice, surgery being for a long time his specialty, i n which he servedly noted, net only in this place, but out the State. I l e was surgeon o f the 24th Regiment MichLean Veleeteers f o r nearly three years during the war i t the Rehellion, and during that time served of die principal surgeons on the operating board i n the Army of the Petoniac. H e was for several years of the li..ard o f education of this city, and for two years he held the office of mayor. H e was always active in work, and very liberal in .1ofiatittns for all worthy ments. B y his industry in his proft.,-it tit alone, mulated a reasitilahle se/epee:nee, awl died honored and respected by hi.Dr. I . P. Ahzer n e , d i e i r i o i n t h i s place w i t h Dr. W i n . I I . I I 1111..111.111111t1 P r. H . B . ment:el the 1.ractice in 1 9 , and still holds forth as ciple of Esculapitis. I L e has been always an tieiati.._tt•intrally fettiiez with th.• Republicans; and ever re.oly rt. t i f f , - t tint!. i n any political though he always speaks from motives of principle and not thr personal ends or emoluments, as he has never been a caniliiiatiLi for or a seeker itrt.tr office. ' r h o iiiiiitor i, quite fluent and witty ill Ill.- 711,1,1:1151,1, a very ;rood stiir. and never severe upon his opponents, but quite Va.4.,tr3 both sides of a que,tion. H e has been very active it} h i a t i e z fiers of the pioneer life of this county, iti.utft,..r t i e , State Pioneer Society. I tr S. I I . E,taltrook, after studying medicine with his 1.r tie rdudaw, Dr. S. S. Cutter, and graduating from the ritedietil department of the University of New menited tire ractice of medicine here in 1'451, a:, a partner ttl h r Ctirt.tr, an.] l a ' , I I 1..,11,1.1 III (lqiHey, Wield, where h.- went 1,de drld- and niedieines. 1 i i L I - . .1. L. 1,:orter V.-A. i v , , I d .oil ftd t . it przietitioner. H e I, d 5r i i tan K r e l i e r e h,,-1 re,dle.I for ...vent i n l Dr. K 111111. l i - r e I.1".111 L It ) 1 1 1 whir' •1111 hall all .1NI.111-1... 1111.I p r s • t a n d ell .111..4,11111-' l i n t , and • 41 tlii• cornia. in ; iiiry now r i i i o 1 k e r latin A l i ! , a ante prtperty r t • t i r t . l from th it • an'! e n , r a : l v d more or l i r i i h . lli. I l k , Unlii 111, 11.-fatill, in I l l . )r Tuttle, . . 1 . . r 1 1 1 1 - .•... f0111.Vilal i o left for Texts, Wi ion: he died dtiriti4 t l i c war t i t . ben. 1 3 9 Dr. Nathan Ilewitt, now residing i n Gilead, i n this county, was a partner of Dr. D. Littlefield Dr. P. P. Nichols, after graduating from ical College, Pa., came here from Philadelphia, where lie was born and educated, and located in Coldwater in 1856. After practicing about a year he entered into partnership with Dr. H. B. Stillman. A l t h o u g h he was for his profession, and possessed natural ability for it, after continuing in practice about three years, lie relinquished it for other pursuits,—he having been elected to the office of registrar for Branch County. The doctor has always been esteemed very highly as a citizen, possessing genial social qualities that have made him a universal favorite. Dr. Geo. K . Smith read medicine with Drs. Hanchett and Cutter, of this place, and, after graduating from the Cleveland (Ohio) Medical College, commenced in 1852; and the same year he went to he followed his profession until 1863, when h e pointed post surgeon at Fort Yatultill, Or., and he held the same position at Fort Lapwai, Idaho, and latter place he was appointed by the Governor ton Territory, physician to the Nez Perces, at near that place. I n 1866 he resigned his returned to this place, and was engaged in suits until 1869, when l i e resumed the practice cine, and still continues it. Dr. L . C. Marsh has practiced medicine here since 1853. In 1864 his brother, D r. D. C. Marsh, was a partner of' his for a short time, when he left for Texas, but returned here, after several years, to die at his Dr. L. C. Marsh has always sustained a good reputation here as a gentleman and a reputable practitioner. Dr. Maxon, eclectic and botanic physician, flourished here, in what he called the " healing art," from to 1855. T h e last urgent call he had, so far as was from the sheriff of the county, who was " after him" on account of some bank-notes he had passed that were not properly engraved Dr. D. C. Powers graduated from Berkshire lege, at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1848, and very soon went t o California, and returned t o Cayuga Cu., N. Y., where he had lived and studied medicine, and located i n Auburn, N. Y., in 1850, where he pursued for two years, and then left for California again. H e left that State i n 1855, and located here as a physician. H e acted as surgeon i n the army from April, 1862, to July, 1864. H e has been a member of .4f education for six years; and for two years lie mayor o f this city. H e has held position of one of the directors in National Bank. T h e doctor has had, during all the time he has lived here, a large and lucrative practice. 1,..•ii an active supporter, by work and ri t l e ..1,1Ireh and many enterprises f in.all i l l his profession lie is held in hi_ le, i - W e a l confreres and his patrons for and skill, and by the community generally he lonetrable and lii I t t i l l v, a " water- �I 40 H I S T O R Y O F ' B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . al,out l s 5 6 , i n O w ohl Exchan:.n. 11,0,1 o n Sto,I. h . , 1 0 1 . I o I t I i , 11111 1.111 very al dent d e i t , l e . N. T. W:11,1'11E111, I Ii, 1,1111111,11 " 1.1111it• 1.) 1 ; . 1 ' iht• WEIDt o f support and heels, .ind had i l l I•11.1", i i a p.m. or Dr. George Ferguson commenced the practice cine i n Ovid, i n this county, in 1854, and i n 1859 ho located in this place in the business o f selling drugs and medicines, which he closed out i n 1868, and resumed his proftission, in which he still continues, and is doing able Dr. Ford, eclectic, "cancer and corn doctor," with no preparation o r education except mostly what could b e gained by filing saws," went into" the credulous stious o f this plaee iind vicinity, from 1855 t o 1860, and succeeded in making quite a large number—some quite respectable people—believe he had the power to "Heal a' their ills WI' ready art." Dr. J. H. White and Dr. Gregory, who together i n the practice o f homeopathy, came i n 1854. Dr. W h i t e remained u n t i l 1861, when h e removed t o Chicago, and accepted a professorship in the medical college located in that city, and from to New York. I n Coldwater he enjoyed an tation as a physician and a large practice, and is suing his profession in New York, where he ranks among the leading physicians of the homoeopathic school i n that city. D r . Gregory removed t o Ohio after a two years' residence Dr. B. F. Benham came in 1861, and opathy for two years; and Dr. J. M. Long, the, same year, succeeded Dr. J. H. White, and is now one of the leading homceopathic practitioners. D r . Long has an extensive practice, and has established a reputation not only as a skillful physician, but as a man o f much integrity acter. H e is a firm believer in the school o f represents, and enjoys an enviable reputation among his professional brethren o f the Dr. John H. Bennett commenced the practice in Algansce, in this county, in 1854, and in this place in 1864, where lie resides now, still practicing his profession. T h e doctor displayed great energy ing his medical education. U n a i d e d and alone he to,k the study of civil en.;iin,rile_!. and so f i r that, he states, in 1852 lie was appointed di .viston r in the construction of the Binghamton and road in New York, and that he MI1111441 It, 11:1Stnne{11111e,111.1.%111.2111. 'Ii, ii,. in 1858, and -.ill,. I t i i I , 11:1, .1.1 11,11 A I , :Ind the 11ffirl• o f oollity › a r . . r ee-1)1.\ 4...n 111111,1,1N. I l e A A D r . II1•1111 1111111111/H "1111_1,1111' 11/1 011. 1111111r by I : , y praeliee. but he always takes time in political couttmn, t o stump' t h e county, and SIM11141111114bey01/11 it. l i e is an 111,1•ise. nergetic speaker, arid very v e r e upon ponent Br. Bunker. honororath and orleetie. and D r. ii,,,pathist. were 1.,eatell here fl,r111 w h e n the I t I l i , pho-o,—tho latter w i t h another luan't, wife. Dr 1 1 , 3 t , d considerable sensation here from to 1,1'11/1 e l a i r e , o y a u t doctor. a i d i n ao.ount killed, and applied to the sore while they were eases. T h e r e was great destruction o f cats in those days; upwards a t eighty of the feline species having been killed to sore leg! Dr. George W. Whetford, eclectic, located here in 1967, and still continues to practice medicine. H e is working man; and has done miarge amount more especially in the country. Dr. N. S. Daniels and Dr. H . W. of Dr. Whetford, practiced wore or less with the latter frau 1873 to 1877. Dr. R. B. Jefferds located where he now lives, a mile half east of this city, in 1867. H e studied medicine Edward Moore, of Rochester, N. Y., and in ated from Berkshire Medlin! College, at Piasheld, Mats. He practiced in Orleans Co., N. Y., and in Marshall, Midi., until 1858, when he removed to Lansing, Mich., gaged in selling drugs and medicine until 1961, Thee be raised a company for the war. B e was Company G, 3d Regiment Michigan Volunteers, subsequently To, onmed to the captaincy. D r . Jeffords is a well-educated man, and successful Miss S. Fiddle Baker, M.D., after graduating from the Woman's Medical College, Philadelphia, located bens le 1872, and remained for about three yews, when unwed to Chicago, where she is doing a large business, and is weaned very Myjkly for her esheledy at. t:ii onients, and for her thin 4 i f i l l t y i n sueeee.bsi well uldh. In.re and left a lar,:c nitudwr of friends who -ii,eerely regretted Br. i n g s t o n , lionnisquithist. practiced medieine ii d u r i t r . : 1875 and 1876. Dr Frank a f t e r graduating from 'cut rie lit o f the University of New York, :erved geon in the away a t i l 1 M M I Z i l t cated in this place in 1 e A v. 7 c r ben. fo,, yt-,i1', l'el111,VVII to Illinois. whore d i r d . 1 Te 'e, 1,1 1 1 1 I- . r . . . 1 . 1 . .1111 I I I, I I C11 .1. 1111.1 . I I I , , 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 11111 1,I 111 111 . ...111I.11 1 1 1 t i l l ' . 1 : 1 . 11111 . ' 1 1 ' 1 I 111. 1111011S, W I , i i i ,At.. Hen( reputation i n the 11Ve i i 111 . 1)r. Itogers. honut,patlitst. practiced here from 1 Sr) t o �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1865. H e was an upright, honorable gentleman, and had a fair amount of business in his Dr. H. B. Townsend came here in 1860 where he had been in the drug and medicine eogaged in the practice of his profession, in which doned until 1875, when he removed t o Ann Arbor, der to facilitate the education o f his daughter, who had been admitted into the classical course i n t h e university there. T h e doctor, while here, was an active member o f the board o f education for several years; and he always took a deep interest in all matters pertaining to cation. H e was successful i n practice, and always was a thorough student, giving much o f his time to study, not only in his profession, but in general literature. Dr. Collins, " I n d i a n doctor," but not an quite a sensation here from 1860 to 1862. A part of this time he had as co-worker a Dr. Stevens, who, as well as his confrere, could net have been charged with overtaxing his brain with bard study or knowing too much. Dr. Whitehorn located here in 1866, and practiced here one Dr. L. Wurtz. graduate from the Cincinnati lege. established himself here i n t h e practice of fession i n 1875. I l e came here from Jackson, Mich., where he had lived and practiced medicine f o r several years. H i s attention has been given largely to ment of diseases of the eye and ear, in which he successful. F o r two years he has held t h e position o f health officer of this city. Dr. Charles Lovewell studied medicine here, and then graduated from the medical department of the Michigan in 1871, when he commenced practice here with Dr. J. H. Bennett. I n 1875 he removed to he is doing Dr. Wm. Burdick, homeopathist, practiced ship with Dr. D. C. Powers for one year, in 1874 and 1875 Dr. L. Womb° commenced here as a "doctor" in 1875, and still Dr. Charles E. Smith, homeopathist, practiced a year, as a partner of Dr. I. M. Long. in 1875 and 1876. Dr. — Cady, eclectic, has been ii. practice two years previous to this time. andDr. G. V. L : r a d n a r o frow College. New York, contrnetic,,,1 prn•tico in Adrian, Mich., in 1,470, and five years after he removed t o Ind.. Where he pursued his profession until the fall when he settled in Th- h , , t . . r, I . Infripy : A r k nr.whiihr. hi, iruli.titininnin to BANK.* E A R LY W I L D C A T B A N K ' N O I N C O L D WAT E R . " You do not yet know, my son, with how the world i s froverned ,'" maid ONcrp,tiorna in 164-i, the rni.folfin as art el.,rin•nt o.'contr.,1 in • h r i , o %as tively ut,known. A n d when we ,all I.. mind the !MI that have been pr imulgated. the many laws cir,cred f.v tut, critic, arbitrary authority which during the ages have 1 4 1 submissively and blindly obeyed b y the people, though bringing- them irreparable injury in estate and of civil and religious liberty, we are, seeing this, painfully impressed that history proves only too conclusively the truth o f this remarkable saying o f Sweden's cellor, that it takes very little wisdom to govern mankind. The laws of all countries for all time since has been used have been remarkable in attempting a value where none existed. P a p e r currency, which only promised to pay motley, has been confounded with money itself so much and so long that it has been as money itself. B u t whenever the issue of this currency materially exceeded the money i t promised to pay, in any country, its value depreciated down t o the amount of the actual money in that country, or lower, and worthless. T h e examples of' France and England, and of our own country, fully illustrate this. W h e n Michigan was a Territory, there was no general banking law, being incorporated by special charters, which tially the same. T h e capital i n each case was nominally one hundred thousand dollars, with the right the same to three hundred thousand dollars. tion could be three times the amount of the capital paid in, and in case of an excess of circulation beyond the directors permitting i t became personally For this issue no security was required by mortgages, or anything else. B y such a law national bank could issue with its one hundred thousand dollars capital three hundred thousand dollars of and one Southern Michigan national bank, with its one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars, could hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars,—nearly million. T h i s excessive circulation must have not on the ability to redeem on presentation, but the ability to pay when the bills discounted were collected, which had been taken for the bank-bills issued. S u c h an amount of currency would have made banking very profitable i f the bill-holders had not asked to have their paper deemed, which they did, thus bringing ruin upon them in the great panic o f 1837-38. T h e following-named were Territorial banks: Bank of Michigan, chartered 1817; capital Bank of Monroe, chartered 1827; capital Bank of Pontiac, chartered 1835; capital Bank of River Raisin, chartered 1832; capital Bank of Washtenaw, chartered 18:15; capital Bank of Wisconsin, chartered 1 3 5 ; capital Bank of Erie and Kalamazoo, chartered 1835; capital $100,000 Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank, chartered ital $200,000. All thee banks failed, mainly for want of a ital as compared with their In January, 1837, Michigan WAS admitted into the Vnion as a State. T h i s was an era of the tion. T h e pioneers of that titne yet. living, relate vividly t le e t -repeated story of excessive prices of wild .1 lands, and of lots i n prospective villages and ell. which now have nothing but the recorded plat rif the registrar of deeds to indicate their location. T i n s �142 I I [STORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . - — - - - - - — speculation was no doubt largely owing to the of paper money afloat on the State. I t took a of currency to buy property, and thus property high when i t really was the money which had In March, 1837, a general banking law was enacted, making the business free to all. U n d e r this law was the early banking i n Branch County, o f which t h i s paper treats T h e general provisions o f this l a w were fairly drawn, except t h a t i n t h e two important features t h a t concern most the public—security to the bill-holders and a hontt fttle capital t o secure the depositors—they were inadequate. T h e capital must not be less than sand dollars or more than one hundred thousand dollars. The issue could be two and one-half times t h e capital paid in. T h e interest should not exceed seven per cent. on discounts, and the banks were required t o annual dividends, thus assuming the banks' to do this. T h e security for the payment o f the banks' obligations were to be bonds and mortgages on to be held by the bank commissioner, and the specie in the vaults o f the corporation. F e w banks had t h i s specie, though the law required thirty per cent, of the capital paid in "legal money of the United States." deposits furnished little reliable security. T h e fact was the bank commissioner, whose duty i t was t o examine these banks once in three months was often deceived, as would inform another when the commissioner was coining, and the banks would borrow money to exhibit to missioner and return i t when he went away. I n ner the same specie would often serve for the use banks. Surely our financial pioneers were not wanting in skill to bank without money. A good story is told of ernor Felch to the effect that when he was State missioner going from one bank to another on his round trip he noticed a familiar look in the boxes containing After reaching the end of his route, though finding banks supplied with specie, he suddenly turned re-examining the banks, found them John Alden, an old and respected citizen of Coldwater, relates how, when a young man, between Detroit tiac, lie drove the team which carried the coin from bank to bank for the commissioner This was the system of banking which was in the early days of Michigan, the overthrow o f which so shocked this State, financially, that many before a recovery from I t was under the general banking law of 1837 that Branch County took never-to-be-forgotten lessons i n financiering. T h e county then had a population o f four thousand, and the village o f Coldwater numbered about five hundred souls. Coldwater was ambitious. T h e men of business who planned and worked were full of activity. T h e r e were many men o f firstability and sterling worth. T h e history of the water Bank illustrates the system of banking in in the early days. S o m e of the facts here are from the public records and others are from the lips of old II Doughert The capital named was ono knadrod The books of the bank, whieb cannot be famed, would so doubt correct some of the figitsas bee* given. holders were Hanchett k Holbrook, William A. Kam, L. D. & P. H . Crippen, James H . Hanebett, Robert, Bab:, R. J. Champion, William Reynolds, H. Cowles, B. Crippen, Lewis Goddard, of Detroit, John Loren Marsh, John Conley, Mattis Olds, Harvey Warner, Lot Whitcomb, J. S. Ware, Enoch Jones, L E. G. Fuller. The first board of directors were L D. Crippen, Crippen, Win. I I . Cruse, Loren Marsh, Thomas Morgan L . Collins, Walter W. Prentice, Daniel 0. Hoyte, and Lewis Goddard. L D . Crippen was Nichols, Cashier; and • M r. Mandel, Telkw. T h e bank was located in a little one-story building on the of Chicago Street, where Mr. L. Sloman's and meyer's stores now stand. T h e following is a copy of the bonds given t o secure general creditors holder '• Know all m e t b y these percents, t h a t w e , L o r e n e ) D . Crippen and P h i l o I I . Crippen, o f Coldwater, o f the County o f Branch a n d State of Michigan. stockholders i n t h e b a n k o f Coldwater, are h e l d and firmly bound unto ROBERT A a n o r r, A u d i t o r -General of of Michigan, and h i t successors in office, for and in behalf of the people of said State, in the penal sum o f five thousand four lawful money of the United States of America, to be paid to the said Robert Abbott, A ud itor-Oeneral as aforesaid, or his successors inn office; for which payment well and truly to be made, we bind oueselres, our heirs, executors, and administrators firmly b y "Sealed with o u r seals, and dated the 8th o f December, sand eight hundred and thirty-seven. " Whereas, an association h a s been formed u n d e r an act entitled an A c t t o organize a n d regulate B a n k i n g Associations; approved March 15, 1837, with a capital stock o f one hundred and whereas, the said association is to be k n o w n a n d designated b y the name of the B a n k of Coldwater, and the office for the of the business o f said bask is located a t the village of Coldwater, i n the County of Branch, in the State of Michigan; a n d whereas Lorena° D. Crippen. Philo D . Crippen, W i n . H . Cross, L o r e n Marsh, Thomas Dougherty, Morgan L . Collins, Wa l t e r W. Prentice, Daniel 0 . H o y l e , and Lewis Goddard have been d u l y elected t h e direeten of the said Bank of Coldwater, by the subscribers to the capital nook of sociation, i n the mode presented i n said a c t ; n o w, therefore, dition o f this obligation is such, that i f the said B a n k o f Coldwater, punctually, on their becoming due, pays all debts white* I I I I f hêl trocted by said association Sr its agents, and shall discharge all ties which may exist against it, and i f the said Bank of Coldwater shall faithfully redeem a t the t i m e , and i n t h e manner prescribed b y the act above referred to, all notes and obligations issued b y it, thee, and in t h a t case this obligation t o b e void. O t h e r w i s e i n f e l virtue. E x e c u t e d the day and year aforesaid. I n p r e m i s e of "LORMISO D. " P I M A H . Ceirmuo." The career of the Coldwater Bank was not by the times. T h e r e were other and more which determined results in its case. T h e specie bank was pimilar to that of others under the I t existed only on r i p e r i t never t h e hank T h e certificate of a M r H site specie in \ hank t o O w �HISTORY O F B R A N C H directors was had, b y which a majority o f the directors were non-residents it) the interest and control of Goddard and Ware. I t had been agreed in the organization of the bank that Coldwater should have a majority of tors, and the Detroit parties a majority of the stock, and this new election was a violation o f the arrangement. George Nichols rvinoved here before lie was rector. and was i n Goddard and Ware's interest, and being cashier gave t h e D e t r o i t parties inside control. Goddard was the ruling spirit. I t was the le.SS o f Goddard ;ool Ware to organize banks, as they had done in other places, for the sake o f what might be made from them. Goddard was a man about of age, while most of the other directors were under thirty. He had established one batik at Brest, just north roe, on the lake, and intended making it a and maritime centre. U n d e r this regime and in trol o f these men, the bills o f the Coldwater issued io the amount allowed by law, as the writer int4uod. I n legitimate banking these bills would have been properly paid o u t i n making loans. T h e r e was no specie in the vaults to redeem them. Goddard had another theory with regard to these new bills, just fresh and crisp from the printer,. I l e was a man of financial too much so fur our Coldwater merchants, and dectors. H i s system, which he promulgated t o the pioneers of Branch County, especially directed to tors of the bank, was as follows: he declared i t was not necessary for a bank to have specie o f its own; a hank should create specie. T h e pioneer stockholders tors living t o -day will tell you how he bewildered and influenced them by bis logical reasoning on " What." said he, " i s a bank good for unless it enoteJi conducted to create its own specie? I n order to create specie of your own you must exchange lation for i t ; you must take your bills away from they will be slow in returning for redemption, taking away the specie you have created. T h e way to obtain by exchange is to get the bills of other banks bills, take these bills of other banks to their the gold on them and bring it home, and put i t i n your own vaults. I n this way you have created specie, provided the bank with the niaterial fur redeeming your bills; and I can show you how to do it." M. L. Crippen, a gentleman of rare business the fallacy of Goddard's plan, and objected; and Ware had a majority of the directors, and controlled the bank. Goddard very generously offered t o give the bank his valuable time to go urn the pilgrimage to exchange bills for bills and bills for gold, thus creating specie. S o he and his coadjutors had their way, and he was permitted t o take away twenty thousand ,dollars to create specie with, and also five thousand dollars personal loan. T h i s event happened die winter of 1838, most of i t being taken the day the About forty-one years have gone into history since that eventful day to the Coldwater Bank, when its sod able financier, Louis Goddard, taught sod stockholders of that corporation how to Forty-one years since the day in the early COUNTY, M IC I G A N . 1 4 3 — Louis, with a l l due complaisance and gathered u p the new, crisp bills before the signature o f cashier and president were scarcely dry, and graciously taking leave o f officers and directors, of t h e l i t t l e one-story, wooden bank-building w i t h twenty-five thousand dollars, one-fourth the of the batik, into the streets of the embryo village, with its wooden stores, wooden hotels, and wooden benignantly to chance acquaintances on the street, no doubt from the " Central Exchange," the stage for the West, for the generous purpose of creating specie for his friends and the Coldwater Bank. A b o u t forty years have passed away since then, and Bank and the Coldwater people, who once knew him so well, have known him no more forever. L o n g e r than the Israelites wandered in the wilderness has he been his Coldwater home. H e never returned or sent of the bills he took away, payment in whole or part for them on any of the precious specie he had created. O f course he was an honest fellow, and is no doubt. some of the Western tribes, creating specie. H i s friend Ware, o f Detroit, believed implicitly i n t h e system o f Goddard. and for the good o f the corporation also took away twenty-five thousand dollars, o f which was a loan, the twenty thousand t o b e used t o create specie with. B u t he took i t some little time after depletion. I t had depreciated in value, so that seven thousand dollars he could not pass, teen thousand dollars for his own use. E a c h of the Detroit stockholders made a loan of five thousand dollars the of the day the bank opened. S o did a Mr. Collins, ledo. I l e also took two thousand dollars to exchange for specie, which was the next week restored to the bank for redemption in the original package, he having paid debt with it. George Nichols took enough with which to build a new house opposite the present Mr. Mandel, the teller, from Detroit, truly said, " T h e y broke the bank the.first night." T h e president, Mr. L. D. Crippen, and his brother, Philo H. Crippen, struggled hard to keep the batik afloat, even becoming sible to the amount of twenty thousand dollars, but without success. T h e bills were finally taken for twentyon the dollar, and in 1838 the bank failed entirely. L i k e all t h e wild-cat bank-bills o f the day, they were never redeeme Beside the Coldwater Bank there were three efforts to orga, nize one in the village of Branch, the principal mover in the niatter beili!, M r. Joel Burlingame, the father o f Hon. Ansou Burlingame. H i s financial never met The financial highway traveled b y our neers, described i n this paper, illustrates the dangers o f the system described, and, as a out the strong piints in the national banking system. T o reach our present system, with its sound basis currency, we have pissed along a road which strewn with the ruins of corporations, business individuals. I t is to he seriously hoped. we shall not have to travel i t again, and that by a more m vie can .nv that OXPloOlerils would he in error 4 �144 H I S T O R uf us, " My son, i t takes very little wisdom t o govern the world." The foregoing interesting and comprehensive history embraces copious extracts from a paper on early banking in Brunch County, by Hon. C. 1). Randall, the tuanuseript of which he has kindly E C O L D WAT E R N A T I O N A L B A N K . The Coldwater National Bank was organized May 30, 1865, by Henry C. Lriwis, David B. Dennis, George Starr, A l u m s Allen, Charles Upson, Charles B. Jones, Alonzo Waterman, Daniel Thompson, o f Coldwater; D a v i d R . Cooley, of Union City ; and Cyrus G. Luce, of Gilead,—a preliminary meeting for the purpose of subscribing ital stock having been held May 20, 1865. S e v e n directors were elected at the meeting held May 30, and the following officers were elected, namely: Henry C. Lewis, President; Daniel B. Dennis, Vice-President; George Starr, Cashier; and they still contiuue t o act i n their The stock of the bank has changed hands frequently, but, singularly, the number of' stockholders has just twelve. T h i s bank succeeded the Exchange Bank of Dennis & Starr, and was the outgrowth of the ing institution i n Coldwater, t h e " wild•cat" Coldwater Bank having closed i t s doors i n 1838, along w i t h all others o f that i l k in Michigan. L o r e n z o D. Crippen and Clinton B. Fisk opened the first office, doing banking and exchange business, under the name and style of the " Exchange Bank of Crippen & Fisk." pended payment in the fall o f 1857, and by Fisk & Lewis (Clinton B. Fisk and Henry C. Lewis); they by Lewis, Bidwell & Miles (Henry C. Lewis, Alonzo F. Bidwell, and Ines G. Miles); they by Lewis & Kellog (Henry C. Lewis and George A. Kellogg) ; they by Lewis & Starr (Henry C. Lewis and George Starr); they by Clarke & Starr (Edwin R. Clarke and George Starr); they by Dennis & Starr (Daniel B. Dennis and George Starr); they b y the Coldwater National Bank. M r . Starr, t h e cashier of the present bank, was with Crippen & Fisk as book-keeper, i n 1856, and has continued with cessive firm Previous to the organization of national hanks rency i n use i n this locality was issued b y batiks doing business under State laws. T h e r e were about dred kinds o f bills, and nearly as many more raised and altered, every business man being supplied with "bank-note reporters," for ready reference. F e w taken without being critically examined and by a good judge as t o their genuineness Exchange on New York on such mixed money was from one to three per cent, at a time. W h e n the currency was nearly all from Illinois and Wisconsin, exchange went up to seven per cent.; this Illinois and was based upon Southern State stocks, and as "Red Dog," so much red i n k was used on them. T h e minimum rate for loans on business or paper was two per cent, per month; from that rate five per cent. per month was taken to supply and erodit of the borrower influencing the rate. T r i 1856, which le per cent. I , M. Gibson. Crippen rk Fisk suspended payment in Joel, time there was a panic arid general ,rash all over the I'nited States. B u t few banks wen( '1,1 I _ specie payments.. General resumption was in a few months b y popular demand arta t h e inherent strength of the banks. 1 upon the county by the failure of the Ohio Life and Trust Company, doing businers i n New York, end sound. C r i p p e n & Fisk settled w i t h all in full, no loss having been sustained by any them or any of their BUCCEINSONS. T h e first "fireglar"-proof safe in this county Fisk, and is now in the judge of probate's Lats.!. 3lessrs. Lewis /X Kellogg. considering better security against I r e and thieves desirable, had a cal, in the banking-office, and purclia, safes then made, and placed i t inside el Coldwater National Bank wanting still • purchased i n 1870 a small burglar s a t inside of the safe bought b y Lewis & Kellogg. I t t . necessa thieves, tio safe made with all the key or key-hole; the eater has two of the beat watch , to lock and unlock at matically, eight hours. T I 1 so that the s, this time of the b i t . of the • which indicates 44 surplus 91....opitAl for thia hanks have burn of great benefit to this county in far ing ing and facilitating basinosergeherally. , T h e of directors of the dOhleiles` l i t a r t o r a i r s i l i V ~ I g Coldwater ; Wm. 1'. Hurd, tit Litton I a s i and Juuslut, Holmes. o f Itruneutt. T h e terniklalleifintleillifIllliii THE 801 This bank was organised í a somirdenee wish & A t o l l pt•nuit frum the romptrollor of the currency betore.iiii ul as.suciutiun are dated the Tith 1871, and are sigsed by dell, Julius S . Betimr, Orme Leskw E. awn, Sevin 4 11 * * * 4 4 111 * C. POWLVI, Lusher P. )! . W I r11,141. �A PI I i'•"...„,.... [ 1 . , 1 . . , , -• g r i f t r ' l 1- .,. 1.4 4___f - i 5G:t4.,• : . . - -:‘:114"2• , i i t t i . .• - • lizvoma • W i ' V ofisw.Z. •••••••.:77,....,_,,'"......".. . •iii 1:•.'4.1 }1144 '',' ' ' ' ' ' ' , 4 • ; - : . " . : : . . . •-•.̀Z .".....:... .... .. , , . : , t,.... ipiiiiiiiiiiiii!!! lirsiotoct or N. C. FINN, COLDWATERBRANCH ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Thaws W. Dickinson, and Hibbard F. Jones. ital wets Sled at $110,000, with t h e right to increase the MUM to $200,000. A l l t h e parties above named were originally stockholders in the bank, except Dr. S. S. Cutter, who signed for Robert Reade, Esq., of New York. T h e other original stockholders, for whom other the articles, were Daniel E . Dyer, o f Dansville, D. C . Smith, Shelbyville, i l l . ; J . Sterling Smith, New York City; Lois Smith, of Bethel, Vt. , Olivia Safford, of Coldwater; M a r y Rodman, of' Cleveland; Isaac Mains, Coldwater; Emeline Barber, Coldwater; Thomas Smith, Coldwater; N . P. Loveridge, Coldwater; Orlando Wilder, Orland. Ind. Inland R. Hubbard, comptroller of the currency, under date o f Jan. 16, 1872, issued his certificate, the association to The first board of directors consisted of E. R . Clarke, J . S. Barber, C. D . Randall, L . F. Hale, D. C. Powers, and C. G. Luce. T h e first were C. D. Randall, President; C. G. Luce, Vice-President; lesaer E. Rose, Cashier; and A . Sidney Upson, BookThe bank opened for busine.ss in the banking-rooms i n the Southern Michigan Hotel block, on the 19th day o f February, 1872, and continued there until the new bank buildiria. erected by the association, on the corner ca!ro and Monroe streets, was completed, t o which the business was removed in the fall of 1872. The officers of the bank continue the same, and the board o f directors, except that on the resignation of of Rev. Henry Safford, M r. R. F. Mockridge ta the On the 27th day o f June, 1373, b y a vote of' the directors, t h e capital stock o f the bank $55,000. making the capital 8165,000 T h e r e has been a surplus fund created, by additions each six months, to the amount o f $18,000, making t h e capital a n d surplus $183,000. T h e capital is the largest o f any in the State math of Detroit. T h e correspondents o f the batik are, in New York, the Importers' and Traders' National Batik ; in Detroit, t h e Second National B a n k and the American National Bank ; and in Chicago, the First National Bank. At this date the circulation of the batik is the loans and discounts, 8178,756.15. T h e bank has $110,000 in bonds, to secure circulation, deposited with the United States FABAKERS. M U T U A L I N S U R A N C E C O M PA N Y O P B R A N C H C O U N T Y. The mutual plan, as indicated by the title o f pany, is the foundation-stone of its organizition, effected Jan. 21, 1863, no policies having however, until July of the Its first officers were Philo Porter, President; Strong, Secretary; Directors, And Brown, Stuart Davis, Moses V. Calkins, George W . Van Aken, Edward W. Pliettiplace. T h e number who b y insurance tatted members of the company are two thousand may, and the amount of property at risk is The officers are John Allen, President; J . C. Pierce, 1 1 4 5 Secretary; Directors, John J o n e s , tutu, L. D. Clark, James Ritchie, William M. Tyler. C O L D WAT E R O A S - L I G H T C O M P A N Y. This company was first formed in 1860, the been divided among five shareholders, namely, Parkhurst, H . C. Lewis, I. G. Parkhurat, D. ton, and Arternus Allen. T h e capital stock at that time was 25,000 dollars, whiclt was, i n 1868, increased t o $40,000. T h e company has seven miles o f pipe and 250 consumers. T h e y have also a machine for crushing coke, for which there is a in t h e city. T h e works were b u i l t i n 1861, and are located on Chicago Street, with a well-appointed office facing The present officers are I . G. Parkhurst, A. J . Crippen, Secretary; D . B . Dennis, rectors, R. M. Reed, C. G. Johnson, N. T H E F I R E D E P A R T M E N T O F C O L D WAT E R . The first effort t o establish a fire department water occurred i n the year 1856, and in August of' that year, after several preliminary meetings, the .E.ceelsior Fire Company, No. 1, was organized, with the on its early roil: J . T. Pratt, James Bame, Henry B. M. Bordine, Frank Marsh, J. H. Edwards, R. ridge, A . M . Gibson, E. W. Markham, W. It. Foster, L . C. Marsh, Albert Chandler, J. W. Gilbert, M. J. R . Champion, J . S. Gibson, David Thompson, C. B. Fisk, D . W. Barns, C. Vanness, Jacob Smith. mittee, consisting o f C. B. Fisk, It. F. Mockridge, and J . H. Edwards, was chosen to draft a constitution laws. L a t e r the following officers were elected: C . B . Fisk, Foreman ; I I . C. Fenn, F i r s t Assistant; James Baum, Second Assistant; R . F. Mockridge, Secretary ; E. W. Markham, Treasurer; Jacob E . Smith, Steward. We find, by the records, that front time to time were enrolled, until the company became i n numbers a powerful The following uniform was, by unanimous " Red jacket, w i t h double-breasted blue turned over a t the wristband and trimmed with blue; pleated on the back, with belt at the waist, a white star on each side o f the collar and a figure one on breast. In October of the same year a hose company limited t o twenty boys, as follows: Finch Skeels, N. R . Champion, B . J . Wood, Orland Noyes, C. Edward Beach, James Swails, Geo. Holbrook, B. bets, A . Burns, George Baker, Henry Peckham, James Raymond, Gay Bennett, R. G . Chandler, later additions having completed the From the rather obscure minutes we gather that time the engine was purchased, the manufacturer, Mr. L. Button, having come with the machine, placed i t ing order and instructed the firemen regarding The records contain further mention of the that occurred during a series of years, together complimentary allusions to the valorous by the firemen on �146 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O I . N T Y, Ni it ' l i l t About the same date, or soon after the organization o f the first engine-company, a hook-and-ladder formed. T h e records o f this company are but from all the facts at our disposal i t appears that J. G. Parkhurst was its first foreman. I t s members well-developed, robust men and represented a element in the city, and on occasions of parade or on visits to neighboring cities their distinguished appearance was a matter of much gratification. During the summer of 1857 the department was invited to Hillsdale to participate in a grand firemen's the following year the same courtesy was extended thew by the citizens o f .South Bend, Ind. O n the sion, Hon. Schuyler Colfax delivered the address come. T h e event i s especially memorable as one which reflected great credit upon t h e Coldwater elicited from their entertainers very warm expressions o f admiration The hook-and-ladder company boasted among bers twenty men who weighed two hundred In 1864 another company was organized, called dine, o f which D r. W. W. Whitten was foreman, and i n connection with i t the Hope Hose Company No. 2. T h e engine belonging to this company was purchased at of three thousand two hundred dollars, being regarded time as a fine piece of mechanism, and the howespecially elegant in its appointments. T h i s finally disbanded, and the engine disposed of at reduced price. In 1866 we find in the records • 3 11 - . 0 1 , . I I I , I It a o1.1f. Among the most extensive and profitable industry in the city is the nessafasture of cigars. I t h e oldest o f these establishments i s the Aneeriems C r e w Company, which was organised in January, 1873, with • capital of thirty thousand dollars. I t s Akers a n L . I t . Wing, President; George Starr, Vies-President urer. I t employs from forty to sixty RMO and supplies principally the markets of Michigan, Ohio with its products. I n 1878 one million thousand cigars were manufactured, and dollars paid f o r labor during t h e year. T h e leading brand of cigars is the "American," and the company are also wholesale dealers in fine-cut, smoking, and B. 8 . T I B B I T S . C I G A R M A N U F A C T O R Y. This establishment was organised Oct. 20, 1874, by B. S. Tibbits, who was, previous to that time, asomiary of the American Cigar Company of Coldwater. I t is Chicago Street, and occupies a building than and eighty-four feet deep, and employs on an m e w seventy men and women, who are engaged in ture o f cigars. T h e business t i r - t , , r . f y. ployed but four persons in its manufacturing department, but since that time has increased so steadily and rapidly that the above force is required to fill In 1878 the number o f cigars made was one million nine hundred thousand, and the present year it to reach three millions. I t ranks, in capacity, fourth State in this branch of industry. " I n e r e a s , the F i r e D e p a r t m e n t o f Coldwater has k e p t pace w i t h the growth o f the c i t y, t i l l i t now numbers t w o fire- e n g i n e two h o s e c o m p a n i e s , A n d , whereas, t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f various cities of the U n i o n has demonstrated t h e u t i l i t y o f i n g organisations k n o w n as " F i r e Associations :" B e i t resolved, t h a t a committee of two be appointed from each company to consider priety of f o r m i n g T h e F i r e Association o f the C i t y o f Coldwater,' f o r the purpose of m a i n t a i n i n g that perfect h a r m o n y w h i c h has PO h a p p i l y existed i n t h e department f r o m i t s earliest organization, and t o secure to a l l m e n t h a t m a y be i n j u r e d i n t h e l i n e o f t h e i r d u t y as firemen, t h a t every care a n d a t t e n t i o n so requisite i n t h e d a y o f m i s f o r t u n e . " In July, 1872, a total change occurred in tion of the department. T h e Undine Company before stated, disbanded, a new steam-engine of brated Silsbee & Co.'s manufacture was purchased, and christened " T h e City o f Coldwater," and t h e Excelsior Company lapsed into a new organization called "The City of Goldwater Steam Fire-Engine Company." under this reconstruction has proved its efficiency, and is justly a source of pride to the city fathers. T h e gineers have been successively R . F. Mockridge, E . W . Markham, M. M. Mansfield, I. P. Alger, William R. Foster, and the present incumbent, H. J. Drake. I t s beside the chief engineer are W A . Hall, First Assistant Chief Engineer; F . Schaeffer, Second Assistant C h i e f Engineer; L . A . Dillingham. Foreman; C. I I . Wharton, Assistant Foreman; Charles Lamb. Secretary; man, Treasurer; George Wendell, Chief of Hose; C . S. Ball, Pipeniati ; George Hathaway, Engineer o f Steamer; L. L. Johnson, W. G. Moore, George O'SHACGRNESSY a c o . This firm are located at 92 Chicago Street, and lished their business in 1876. T h e y employ in facture of cigars fifteen Men, and produce during the year about four hundred and twenty-five thousand. fine themselves exclusively to th.• and find a market for them in . F. A . F A I R B A N K S . The establishment o f F. A . Fairbanks i s located as Monroe Street, and produces cut tobacco and cigar& I t was started in 1877, and its present proprietor amended the following year. T h e y make annually three hundred thousand cigars, beside finding sale for much CIGAR B O X M A N U FA C T U R E R S . H. D. Robinson & Son.—'Ehc extem.kt manufacture of cigars i n Coldwater creates a new branch o f industry by the demand for cigar boxes which, of Ainon:-, the largest o f these establishments is that o f H. D. Robinson & Son, who succeeded to the business o f Atkins, Gilbert & Co., which was begun in the year 1870, Mr. Robinson being t h e company. T h e y manufacture cigar boxes exclusively, and employ in their teen Their present capacity is about two the home-trade being the The building and steam-power used are both he firm. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Mondler & Wood.—This firm employs twelve women in the manufacture of cigar boxes. T h e been established but a short time, but has already a large trade, which is rapidly increasing. ture two hundred thousand annually, and find a Coldwater and other parts of the State, as well as diana FLOURING- A N D G R I S T-MILLS. William A. Countbs' Mills.—The history of these mills dates back to the organization of the village, in 1837, in which year they were built by a stock of Francis Smith. Thomas Dougherty, and Dr. William B. Sprag.ue, the location being at the west end of Pearl Street, in what is now known as the Fourth Ward. I n 1838 they were sold to John I. Curtis and 0 . B. Clark, Jr., mained proprietors until 1841, when they passed into the bands of L . D. ik P. H. Crippen. I n 1844, P. pen disposed of his interest, and the firm & Dougherty, after which L. D. Crippen became He conducted the mills for a period of years, time i n I t h e y were destroyed by fire, but were rebuilt tle. . w i n z yoar by the owner. J a m e s B. ce,!.1c,1 a- proprietor and sold to E . R. Clark, who owned thi to until w h e n they passed into the hands of the pres.mt owner William A. Coombs. T h e y have three s o m e l i t the proprietor intends and inakiiiz otier improvements during the They hive t i , water- and steam-power, and produce flour and (),1,Ilcater Star .Mills.—These mills are owned by David Harris, and were formerly known as the O i l -Mills, having been built in 1866. T h e y occupy a commodious building, sixty feet square and three stories high with have three run T H E C O L D W AT E R L I G H T G U A R D . The Coldwater Light Guard was organized and was mustered into the State service on the 11th day of November following, b y Adjt.-Gen. John Robertson, with forty-one members. T h e commissioned officers were: Captain, George H . Turner; First Lieutenant, A b e E . Stowell; Second Lieutenant, C. H. De Clute. I n January (1872) t h e company was supplied with the Springfield breech-loading rifles and accoutrements by the at otns• entered upon a course of April 9, 1s72, it was ordered to Detroit, to take the cerem,oics .,f the unveiling of the soldiers' neinumiinf i n that city T h i s vv, the company's p..arinc,!. i i i public, n,,twithstarehiez which fact rut-b credit for their s.Iiiirrly bearing and portment O n t h e I n I, o f July t h e s u n , year, the larzfir Guard, b u i l t of the ei tk,releql r n .111Vitarir.fl t . . , t r i . , 1 1 4 0,1n11..trii.., I t t" p r -,en' and take part iu a Zr 111,1 milit , , n r n a m e n t t o b . - f i , • 1 , 1 i i , C o l d w A r P r , , n r u m . 1 : t ) were p r -writ. :irel annaez tlean the Adrian Ltzht I wh, were awarded a beautiful silk banner, offered by the eitizefe- te the l t - t d Damer the bti.o.vitil )ear the company made great in drill, espeeially in the inautiad 1 4 7 In June, 1873, First Lieut. Stowell and Second Lieut. De Clute resigned their commissions, and Clarence L . Hunter was elected as first and Edward R. Root lieutenants, to fill The 4th o f July, 1873, was spent by the company in Union City, as the guests of the citizens of In the early summer o f 1873, the State Agricultural Society offered a premium of two hundred dollars to the best-drilled military company in the State, to for at the State fair to be held in Grand Rapids ing September. T h e Coldwater Light Guard ingly entered for the contest, and set to work preparation for the event. O n the 15th day they started f o r the scene o f action, but with little real hope o f success. T h e y were hooted a t as through the streets i n their cheap uniforms beside the elegantly-dressed companies from Adrian, Kalamazoo, and other places. B u t fine uniforms did not win, as was very soon ascertained when the Coldwater to drill, and the first premium was awarded them close of' the contest, t o the utter astonishment o f every one. O n the 3 1 day of October, 1873, the present and took part in the ceremonies of laying stone of the new State capitol In the spring of 1874, the companies in the vice having increased from seven (at the time Light Guard was mustered i n ) t o twenty, the military authorities determined to organize them into regiments, which was accordingly done, and the Coldwater L i g h t Guard was assigned to the 2d Regiment, " Troops," and designated as "Company A " o f ment. I n t h e regimental formation, Capt. George I " . Turner was selected for the majorship of the whereupon First Lieut. Hunter was promoted to the office of captain, Second Lieut. Root to the first and Ord. Sergt. Franklin Eaton to be second lieutenant. Under these officers the company made rapid progress in military tactics, attaining great proficiency i n the manual of arms, and was acknowledged to be the bestpany in the State of Michigan. Wherever i t went always the recipients of the highest praise for lent drilling and soldierly discipline. A t this time the company was about seventy strong, rank and file. During the summer of this year (1874) the received the new uniforms which had been adopted by the State Military Board for the State troops, and greatly to their The Light Guard decided to again compete for mium of two hundred dollars offered by the tura! Society to military companies at the East Saginaw, in September, and in active training, in which they were by the lively interest manifested by water, who seemed as anxious for their success soldiers themselves, generously contributing the for the payment of their expenses to and from East S . ; The day o f their departure, September 15, that will ever be remembered by each member of' 'hi mand as one of the moat agreeable in ite history. S h i a before the hour for depart-Ore the company was �148 1 1 1 6 4 0 1 1 1 • the elegant residence of Mr. F. V. Smith, where collation was spread upon his spacious grounds water's fairest daughters, who were present in full force to administer to the wants of the "inner man." was beautiful in the extreme, and with the and gay attire of the ladies, the glittering arms of the soldiers, enlivened b y the excellent music o f the celebrated Constantine Band, which accompanied upon their trip, a scene of brightness and gayety sented that i s rarely equaled. A s soon as ments had been partaken of, Mrs. Josephine of Capt. Hunter, stepped forward, and in behalf sisters, and sweethearts o f the Coldwater presented to the company a magnificent stand wrought by their own hand. T h e beautiful gift cepted by Capt. Hunter, in behalf of the company, in a very appropriate speech. T h e colors and the were saluted by the guard with three rousing cheers, the band playing" The Star-Spangled Banner." then marched to the depot, where a large concourse ple had assembled to witness their departure, and train for East Saginaw, where they arrived late The following day the five companies present for the premiums were marched to the Fair the contest began at two o'clock P.m., the confined to company movements and the manual All the companies exhibited exceptionally good drilling, and were heartily cheered. W h e n the Coldwater Light Guard took the field they were greeted with rounds plause by the thousands of Throughout their entire drill they exhibited ough training by the promptness and precision every movement was executed, their splendid manual o f arms calling forth especial prai.se. A t the close of test the companies were marched to the front of stand, and it was soon announced that the had been awarded to the Coldwater Light Guard. T h e good news was immediately telegraphed to the next morning (17th) the victors were en route for home, where they arrived at two o'clock P.M., and were greeted by a salute from one section of the Battery, and met by the mayor and common a vast concourse of citizens, and escorted to their armory, where they were welcomed home in a very speech by Mayor Champion. T h e following company headquarters were removed from Noyes' Hall, which they had occupied from the time of their Seely's Hall, which was the company's armory cember, 1877. in J o occurred during the year 1675. T h e regular weekly dials were maintained throughout the instituted, in which the company were r and acquired considerable skill. T h e only trip made by the company this year was to Qiiitivy and Hillsdale d i , ' 3d and 5th of July, dollar In January, 1876, the commissioned Aosta. I t The forepart of camp, with the rest _ • , i t near the city of Grand Rapids, s undergoing the most rigid militar) thorough soldier, Col. I . C. Smith. ' 1 , pany's first experience in camp life, but the hard work, the long battalion drills in the hot the severe discipline, they returned the better fur there is not a member of Company A who does many pleasant remembrances of Camp Custer in '76. The 11th of September the Guard gave a excursion to Put-in-Bay, Lake Erie, which was cessful, netting them nearly four In January, 1877, the faithful and efficient Hunter and Lieuts. Hoot and Eaton, relinquished their respective positions to other hands, after filling them with honor and credit to the State, to the company, and selves for nearly four years. and were succeeded INT. Legg, as captain; Frank J. Dart, as first, and Lilburn P. Palmer, as second lieutenants. T h i s election bably the most exciting One III the whole history of the company. T h e ballotting continued until after midnight, and resulted in the election o f the abovesioned officers. R . M. _Atuidon, who had served in the volunteer service during the war, and had been for five years a non-commissioned officer in the regular army, was elected orderly sergeant. D r i l l s continued regularly during the spring and early summer, and a was maintained among the members of In July came the Pittsburgh riot and the of railroad men throughout the country. T h e of being ordered into encampment had been abandoned, but on the night of July 24, Capt. Legg received telegram " DETROIT, July 24, 1877, 6.30 r. n . " Yo u r company w i l l start t o -morrow morning f o r the campment. T h e quartermaster-general w i l l g i v e y o u authority t o make contract f o r transportation. B r i n g blankets. A c k n o w l e d g e receipt of this at onoe. " By order of the commander-in-chief. " J o n a BORRITION, " juknot-Ges," Capt. Le,”, telegraphed the following reply: " Order just received. W i l l start early. " C . N . Leos, "Captain O . A , 2 4 Itagiressi." h 11), I t �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 14 a matiein. B o t h , however, urged to be allowed tbe eassamad in any capacity in which they could be I t had become generally knowu that the bees ordered to Grand Rapids, and soon rumors and bloodshed along the route and at the point ties Med the city. W h e n the command reached escorted by the City Band, a large concourse of friends had gathered to witness their departure. time for leaving arrived, there were many byes to anxious mothers and friends, whose fears raised by these floating rumors. S o o n the train and proceeded on its journey without let or The mobs disappeared as by magic in advance of the flying train. W h i t e Pigeon, which rumor had filled thirsty strikers, and through which i t was prophesied the company would have to fight its way, was found quiet as upon a Sabbath morning, and the train took northward journey calmly and peacefully. its onward course, and about half-past seven P.M., pany reached Grand Rapids, and marched to Sweet's Hotel for supper. A f t e r supper the command took up for the camp in column of fours, with flag flying beating. A crowd of workmen from the factories, from the streets, and loungers from the saloons, the sidewalks and street, and commenced an ing. C r i e s of Y o u don't dare shoot !" and ing and abuse were indulged in, but onward moved the company with regular step and quiet mien. the cars prepared to carry them to the camp-ground. Arrived there, they found six companies of the 21 in camp, and by the following morning all had reported. T h e following four days were fully in company and regimental drill, parades, and duties of camp-life, and on the 30th the to its armory with a feeling of satisfaction in formed its mission In November of this year a civil organization the Coldwater Light Guard Company was duly with the following officers: President, Frank Vice-President, Chas. N. Legg; Secretary. son. T h e y at once purchased the vestry of Church their property on Hanchett Street, and fitted for an armory. Fifteen hundred dollars VMS the for the property, and it was soon decided to make tion for a stage at the rear o f the building, and fit with scenery and properties for a public hall. pany issued its bonds, which were readily the sum of five hundred dollars, and went forward with its improvements. I n February, 1878, A r m o r y H a l l was opened to the public, and since that time has been the porkier hall of the city for theatrical sorts, lectures. its. I t has a manes capacity of hundred, sad is flirty supplied with amesery properties. Other improvements are contemplated, and the cowpony is jusdy proud of its success in securing of its ewe and at the same time affording a good hall for she aossesasodetios of citizens. • 16 January, Freak I). Newbury was elected ameba 1 . Legs and Alamo Thompson lieutenant'. T h e year was only fairly prosperous Q u i t e a number older weathers were lost by expiration of term of and the incentive to work afforded by the prospect of the annual encampment disappeared, as it was known that the military fund had been exhausted the previous that the company would not be called out 88 fortune also attended the annual excursion, which tofore been highly successful and brought funds into the hands of the company. T h e was rainy and forbidding, and when the train moved away in the morning i t was still pouring in torrents. pany lost about forty dollars i n t h e undertaking. I n November the company again rallied.. New enlisted,—among them one or two veterans of tiow—and the spirit and enthusiasm once more revived. The squad and company drills were well attended. T h e prospect o f annual encampment, and a feeling that their work in the past and usefulness to the State were beginning to be better appreciated b y the people and the led the members to take new interest in their duties and labors. I n September Sharp's rifles were the Springfield army rifle, and gave general the company. A t t h e annual election, Jan. 13, 1879, Frank D . Newbury was re-elected captain b y mous voice of the company, and Frank J. Dart and Wm. M. Mix were elected first and second lieutenants, Thus far, in 1879, the company drills have been better attended than at any former period in the tory, and thc outlook for the future of the Coldwater Light Guard is extremely SKETCH O F T H E T U R F A N D F I E L D . A traveler through Branch County, even i f his mind is fully occupied with mercantile pursuits, cannot fail serve that the breeding, development, and sale of is a very prominent interest, and that the farmers, such as Hon. Geo. W . Van Aken, John Allen, Esq., and many others o f that class, have, for the past quarter of a century, followed the good advice contained in the old couplet: " L e t this be s t i l l the farmer's creed, Of stock seek out the choicest breed." The profitable results of their experience encouraged smaller farmers to follow their the business grew rapidly in extent and importance until the present day, when we find it has become a dustry, which materially adds to the resources of perous In some communities there is a class of persons disposed to underrate the value and character of' ing; but no such class exists in Branch, nor could representing the views o f those persons, receive a patient hearing within its„precinets. D a i l y transactions changing hands a t remunerative prices— two hundred t o two thousand dollars per head thoroughly convinced rich and poor here that terest exerts a highly beneficial influence on the manufactures of the city of Coldwater and county Everybody appears to take • deep interest and feel a just pride in the superior class of horses of which eon boast. T h e farming class alone are not permitted to �150 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . monopolise the business ; " all ranks and conditions o f men," from the wealthy banker down t o the humble artisan, engage, more or less extensively, in the each one vieing with the other in raining a highmal, and nearly all report a profitable experience. I t is true, that it takes many generations in the equine, as well as the human family, to breed high qualities; b u t the hereditary principle in this, as in other things, be relied upon. T h e production o f a superior horse for speed, pleasure-driving, or busineis, is no longer hazard undertaking, but can be brought about with sonable degree of certainty, by the judicious mingling o f the blood o f the best &rallies of horses, most have valuable representatives in Branch County. This county is to Michigan what Orange County is to New York State,—a grand nursery for the finest strains of blue blood in horse heraldry. Scattered all over the Union, and even in the neighboring dominion of Canada, may be found, for stock improvement, for road and horses of great excellence claiming Branch County as their birthplace Coldwater and other towns of Branch are widely known as horse-marts for enterprising purchasers from the large cities, East and West, and the names of its horsemen, A . C. Fisk, E . C. Walker, F. L . Skeels, and others, are familiar at home and abroad. T h i s contributes, directly and indirectly, more fast to the regular racing-meetings than any other county that we know of, in Michigan or the adjoining States. sult of the enviable position occupied by the county gard to stock-raising is to bring in a large amount from other places, and all classes reap a benefit from dustry, which adds so largely to the county's wealth. T o give an idea, we may mention that one breed of has produced stock which has yielded one dollars and The foregoing truths are self-evident to those who have looked into the matter, b u t may require those who have not. W e will therefore take a cursory view of the progress of the industry. A thorough history would demand an amount and research requiring a special work to do it justice. I t is not within the scope of this article to trace from pillar to foundation-stone," or enter into of the breeding problem. W e leave that duty to writers and inquirers after knowledge bearing on We must content ourselves with a brief outline of the rise and progress o f the horse interest i n the county through the principal importations, and record some o f the more important events. O u r field o f choice will have limited to brief mention of stock horses whose names are ." as familiar as household words." I t e , art i t is beg things are necessarily few, but on investigating the horse question in Branch County we find that will not apply. T h i s county has a galaxy of , Matiihrino Chief, To m Hunter, and Hambletonian Star, but etc,' these do not cast a deep shadow upon among them Green Mountain Black Hawk, mont, Independence; and the solliTen o f information regarding the early horse history o f the county are, unfortunately, for the most part of the unwritten memories of itants. F r o m them we learn that the horses of time" whose names are still current and popular. specimens o f Morgan blood. which family formed t h e ground-work of the county's horse structure. Green Mountain Black Hawk, first i n point lence, was imported in the year 1851, by A. C. Fisk, from Bridport, Vt., the home of the Black Hawks. sire was Sherman's Black Hawk (the North by Gifford Morgan. I l e was a golden eheetnut, with record of 2.39, and was sold for seven thousand dollars to E. Dorsey and J. Burk, of Jefferson Co., Ky., where The late Wm. Conant accompanied him to Kentucky. Vermont Hero was next in order of been brought to Coldwater i n the fall o f 1852 port, Vt., where he was bred by B. Myrick. H i s also Sherman's Black Hawk, and his dam by bletonian. H e was a substantially-built black was owned while here by Messrs. Fisk and 0 . B . Clark. They sold him for two thousand dollars, and he sequently owned i n Kalamazoo. H i s record was 2.37. This horse was the sire of the famous Gen. Knox. sold for ten thousand dollars when sixteen Othello or Black l'eince was bought b y A. C. Fisk, o f Ryder & Myrick, Bridport, Vt., and arrived in the spring of 1853. H i s sire was the celebrated Hill's Black Hawk (sire o f Ethan Allen- 2 . 1 5 with running mate—and hosts of other famous horses), dam by Young Hambletonian. Black Prince stood fifteen and a high, and was a spirited, fine-looking animal, with of 2.39. Moscow Or Defiance, Jr., comes next in order o f portance according to date of importation, which was 1855. His sire was called Defiance, bred in Canada thoroughbred stock. Moscow's dam was also the dam d old Lady Moscow, record 2.32. Moscow was little bay horse, remarkable for great longevity. humanely killed a t Centreville, Mich., what fortrtiot years old. H e was the sire of Frank Moscow, sire of McLane's In addition to the above-mentioned Eamon of an early day, the following importations, W o e & does to the year 1860, probably require a &resider to mite& the memory of those in whose day they lived mad . , q l , o r m n n Mor:an w a . T ��c •;" • • • ? . r . attit „ 4.4 75 74L- -r-X.E.V.LL 1 - 1 _ 1 a • • ...a...ca....v=1r • • a • . , O • r • o • . ��i i 1 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H bred i n Vermont, and owned by Capt. Butterworth. H e lost his life by the burning of a stable in Coldwater a year after his arrival here. _Morgan Black l l a w k was brought t o Coldwater in the spring o f 1854. H e was b y Hill's.Black Hawk; dant, a Canadian mare. H e remained here one season was sold to parties from Chicago, Ill. Wirfield, Lacy, and S i r Archy, Jr., were bred horses, from pure bred Kentucky families of running stock. T h e y were not kept long in Coldwater. Returning t o homes of national fame brings us order t o Mayan Charta, a marvelous little bay horse, of beautiful form, admirable style and way of traveling. H e is of Morgan descent, dam's breeding oink/town. bought when four years old by H. C. Lewis, S. M. Seely, aud two other Coldwater gentlemen f o r six thousand five hundred dollars in the year 1859, and after passing through the hands of Chicago and Detroit parties to Branch County to "lay his bones." H e is still living in Girard, Branch Co., and has been eminently successful i n building up this county's horse reputation. Belmont, by Irish Hunter, was next in order tion. H e was brought from Boston, Mass., in he got a record close to 2.30. H e was purchased water by A . C. Fisk, who had just imported Mambrino Chief as a two-year old from Kentucky, and divided the honors of Mr. Fisk's stable with Belmont, until finally the latter was sold to parties near Detroit, was a solid-built gray horse, of much courage The importation of Manila-in° Chief, in 1864, marked an epoch i n progressive stock-raising i n Branch County. He was got by Clay's Mambrino Chief; sire of Lady Thorne (2.18i), and his dam was almost thorough-bred. Mambrino has been at Coldwater ever since 1864, save three years in Boston, Mass, and was brought back from there in 1874. He can be seen almost any day on the streets He is a large, rangy, dark-bay home, remarkable for good breeding and great endurance. H e was sold for $12,000, which has given him considerable prominence, and contributed largely t o t h e advancement o f the county's reputation After M r. Fisk sold Maintain° Chief he bought three other valuable sires, viz., Lexington C h i e f and Mambrino Patehen, Jr., in 1870, and Hatubletottiati Star the following winter. As Lexington Chief came earliest, we shall mention him first. H e was brought from Kentucky. H i s tucky Clay ; his dare, Lady Warfield. H e is a bred horse, and shows it in his appearance; a bloodof medium size, and is still owned by Mr. Fisk. Mambrino Patchett, Jr., next demands attention. H e was bred by D r. Herr, Lexington, K y. ; sire, Mambrino Patchett ; dam, Kentucky Maid. T h i s horse is a formed animal ; dark bay. I s at present at Angola, Intl., but remains the property of Mr. Fisk. Banddetonian Star is the next in point of time. H e is well known thoroughout Michigan. W e regret of space forbids full description. H e was bred Comity, N. Y. , and his sire was Rysdyk dam, Lady Irwin. H i s color is light hay, two COUNTY, M I C H I G A N , 15 ings behind and star in forehead. H e is a very formed home, and well bred. Independence deserves the next, place in He was bred at New Yo r k Mills, Oneida Co., N. comes from Ahdallah stock, both his sire and dam tracing to old Abdallah. H e is a very dark bay, about three-quarter hands high, closely made and Gray Fearnanyht was the next valuable importation. He was brought here in the bill of 1874, by E C. Walker & Co., proprietors of the Mambrino Fearnaught waiter, and remained here three years, when be to his old home East. H e was a dapple-gray home of fine size and breeding, proud carriage. H i s sire was Fearnaught ; dam's pedigree unknown. S h e was a gray mare; now owned in Trenton, N. J. Pathfinder was a very stylish horse, brought City from New York State, and after remaining at Union about two years was sent back to New York State. a fine-looking dark-brown horse, of' the average do not know the name of' his sire, but understand finders trace to Hill's Black Hawk. Ilanddrtonian Hunter was kept at Union City for He is by Rysdyk's Hambletonian, dam's pedigree Color bay, and well proportioned; rather steep back inclined t o roach. H e is now owned i n Marshall, Mich. Beach's St. Lawrence, although not an importation, is worthy of particular mention. H e was bred by the late Dr. Beach. T h i s horse was a strongly-made animal, of great nerve and power; color, blood bay; sire, old He was sold to parties in a remote part of this finally drifted back to Coldwater, where he died harness on," in the Marshall Chief, or the Goodrich Horse, was in his latter years in this county, and died near Union City in 1878. H e was a small dark-chestnut horse, a type o f the old-time Morgan, and was a grandson o f Hill's Black Hawk. Sparkle, commonly known as Charles, was by Tippo. H e was a large bay horse, with bald thee; was quite a per, and sold by L. Darrow to parties in Rochester, N. Y. The thorough-bred blood calls for special mention. Tr u e , this county does not raise stock f o r the running turf, but some race-horses from the best families have been imported into it as a refining influence on the trotting and Caledonia and Surprise were both by the great sire of race-horses imp. "Bonnie Scotland," and their strictly thorough-bred. T h e y were owned at Bronson, Mich. Brin-go-Bragh, also thorough-bred, was Liverpool, another thorough-bred, son o f land, is kept at Mattison, in this county. Rolfe Hunt, a finely-formed bay horse, is bred, his sire being Lightning, he by the great Lexington. His dam Nora Creina, by imp. Mahomet. H e is Messrs. E. C. Walker & Returning to sires of general utility we find which merit favorable mention, horses of intrinsic valuable to First is Tont Hunter, formerly called Billt• Jay, bred in Indiana, got by Becor's Black Hawk. Dam's �152 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . — - -—traced. T h i s horse was large and shapely, color gray. H e had quite a reputation in Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana ; Was owned by A. T. Short, of Coldwater, here i n August, 1878; his body occupies a stall o f clay near the track of the Coldwater Driving Park. Marker was bought b y F. L . Skeels & ('o., o f Alden Goldsmith, Orange Co., N. Y. , in the fall of 1874. a blood-bay; stands sixteen hands high; a rangy horse, with plenty of substance. H i s sire is Volunteer, he by Rysdyk's Hanibletonian. H i s dam, Misfortune, by Plow-Boy, son of Long Island Black Hawk. Royal Fearnaught is last, but not least, of the of this county. H e was imported by E. C. Walker of Coldwater, from Boston, Mass., in the fall o f broken to harness in 1876. H e is a golden sixteen hands high, and weighs eleven a horse of remarkably fine appearance and action. was the chestnut horse Old Fearnaught, winner of the first ten thousand dollar purse a t Buffalo. H i s dam, Lady Name of Horse. Color and Sex of Horse Name of Sire. By whom Owned In Michigan. Magna M o l e Srnithers, by Old Columbus, granddala by ton ian. R o y a l is still owned by Messrs. Welker Finally, as a matter of general inforandon, we to throw some light on the breeding of the dams of the great trotters that Branch County has been the mans of sending out, via., Albemarle, 2.19; Edward, 2.19; and 1larnbrino General, 2.25k; but, unfortunately, enshrouds the colthood of these horses, and when tion was directed to them we found the landmarks of their origin "Overgrown w i t h black oblivion's duet." We have thus rapidly traced the growth o f interest in this county, and trust that our brief review will assist in stimulating this Appended is a table of the valuable trottingand present, either owned or descended front in Branch County, classified according to their cords of 2.50 Residence of Owner. This berm Is new 24 yens eld, end ho a h e m . been identified with Branch County. Owned is Owned in Milwaukee. Owned to littaage. Girard Hannah D Mollie Young M e g . Royal Magna Judge Withey Jennie Moore P. H. Baker Bay Charlie Little I l a w k Roanoke Loldweter Now owned in Cloreland, 0. Now owned is Ligonier, Ind. Said to here trotted in New York In 2.26. Could trot Mambrino Chief I Mambrinu General Mambrino Charta Novice Ju. Kitty Fisk Chief Mambritio Walker George B MambrIno Chief, Jr Walker's Hand,. Chief, l a y g C h a s . H. Knowlton " c h . a J o h n Allen " " " b a y mare W. G. Davis •• Wandering Jew Mambrino Oceanic Woodchuck Captain Tom Hunter Albemarle Alcyone Beim of Gilead Blue Buck " " " " " 1 bay m A. C. Fisk hayn J. D. Meaner bay g E. C. Walker c h . t, Jas. Lewis bays E . C. Walker & Co Quincy 2 . 2 5 ' 4 Coldwater, 2.34 Colon 2 . 3 6 HYannis. Rasa.' 2.31 Coldwater 2 . 3 4 Burr Oak 2 . 2 4 0 Coldwater 2 . 4 0 Bettie Creek-- 2 . 1 0 :oldwator 2 . 1 1 ! 4 bay a M r . Holmes Marshall 2 . 4 0 ch. P . O Livermore 2 . 4 0 4 bay g A . C. Fisk. C o l d w a t e r 2 . 3 2 . b a y. J . I). Meaner B u r r OakI 1.46 Secure Black Hawk gray sA . Tom Hunter g r a y g W a s a g r a y m. A . c h . g A . g r . • M r . Or. Mount. Black Hawk. Sherman Black Hawk.. ch. a A SherwoodG r . Mt. Black Hawk... c h . . P Benny . cli. a i Watchmaker " " " . . . ch. g H Rider Sniffles " " " . ch. g John K e e l e y. " " . ch. g Vermont Hero Sherman Black Hawk b l a c k a-. Upend Lip Vermont Hero b a y g Lady Id " " 1409' III Gen. Knox " ' ' ........ black a T. ShortC o l d w a t e r 1 2 6 h . PulverB e t h e l 2 3 9 T.Rhort G. Beater G i l e a d i 2.45 Burieide 2 . 4 1 This horse was formerly wooed by A. C. sold tor 512,0.01; bar 5.soile NOW owned in Brooklyn, N. Y. Now owned in St. Juba, Mode %hen fire Owned by G. L. Timone, B r e d la Beste Owned in Weeleingtos. Trotted at Hodson Trotted at Cambridge City, I s e , 2.S. When four yeera old *bowed a trial Si 129. Trotted In 1.45 when three yeas cid, and add he Alle Oarned aWeetersa. O R. Cleinett, • When earned This horse died at Coldwater Is ebeeareteererliTh. Now ebbed is Rochester, N. Y. Bow °weed by B y. /heeler. Has trotted In 2.32. C Flak H. Daniels L a n d . H. L. &Beck Quincy . N. Moore. ...... ........ teldwater F. V. Smith a . Fisk & Clark Coldwater L I 2 S Othello, or Black Prince. Hill's Black H a w k Fannie Black Prince Sachem black AC.. Flak Coldwater black m " b. g IL Van Velkenburgh... Hillsdale....—. LC, Frank Moacow Lady Moscow Moscow F. Moscow b. a b. m W. Came S. McLane Burr Oak Coldwater 2,3 2.11% c i Belmont. Belle It Irish Heater g AC.Flak J. Hadley Coldwater. LIP Lfil , Hambletonlan Star Mann R. Hamblatonlan H. Stu bay A 0 Flak Pearce A Co Coldwater Niles Independenc Abdallah, Jr b r o w, . H Halley Pathfinder Pathfinder h r. . A. P. West Lady Beach Orley & I n a Old Tel Illantbrine Warner B. St Lawrence ha. A T Short- C o l d w a t e r F. V. Smith t �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . The early and complete records of Coldwater we able to give, from the fact that there are none extant. I n the year 1851, the fire t o which we have swept away the archives of the village. M r . E. G. Fuller was at that time village clerk, and the records were kept in his office. T h e building i n which he was among the first to yield t o the devouring flames, it was destroyed every full and complete chronicle o f the civil organization and growth of Coldwater. T h i s is but another of the many instances that illustrate of placing valuable documents where they may against the ravages o f the fire. H a d similar been taken in the instance before us, we might gratify the interest of our Branch County readers with a record of the city since its first inception in 1837, was a little more than a hamlet. T h e following list o f officers, from 1837 to 1851, is as complete as to make it. A m o n g the old papers in the rooms o f the City Council were found statements o f the and the oaths of office that had been filed by the city clerk. From these we have gleaned such fragmentary information as would enable u s to give an imperfect record o f the officers of the village of Coldwater until 1851, after which time it 1837.—Hiram Alden, President; Hiram corder; E . T. Paxton, Clerk; E . Sloan, L . D. Crippen, Francis Smith, B. J. Champion, James H. liam Reynolds, 1838.—L. D . Crippen, President; E . A . corder; William H . Cross, J . J. Curtis, John T. Haynes, R. J. Champion, E . G. Fuller, Thomas tee 1839.—Silas A . Holbrook, President; E . A . Warner, Recorder; J o h n J . Curtis, E s b o n G . Fuller, Thomas Dougherty, Joseph Hanchett, Robert Wood, craft, Trustees; James H . Hanchett, Treasurer; J . T. Haynes, Marshal. 1841.—James Shoecraft, Darius Littlefield, A . ner, 1842.—David Williams, President; George A . Coe, Recorder; H e n r y F. Pelton, Deputy Recorder; D . S. Williams, Treasurer; J . H . Waterman, A . W. Gilchrist, Albert 1843.—James Pierson, President; G . A. L. T. M. Wilson, Deputy Recorder; William H . Kellogg, Treasurer ; George Quick, Marshal; W i l l i a m Gilchrist, Overseer of Highways; A . S. Glessner, Kimball Parrish, Amessors ; 11. G. Gilbert, J. W. Davis, J . H. Waterman, J. B. Ramsdell, 1844.—Henry Lockwood, President; George A . Coe, Recorder; J o h n Root, Deputy Recorder; David Wood, Treasurer; George Quick, Marshal ; Thomas Dougherty, Assessor; A . Chandler, -James Pierson, William chett, Harvey 1845.—John Root and L. T. N. Wilson, ers; S. A . Holbrook, A . L. Porter, Assessors; D . liams, Henry Lockwood, H. C. Gilbert, C. Wendell, David R. Cooley, George A. 1846.—A. L . Porter, President Corydon P. Benton, Recorder; L . T. N. Wilson, Deputy Recorder; Cornelius 2 15 Wendell, Treasurer; S. Perkins, C. P. George Quick, Marshal; Isaac Pierce, Overseer ways; Christopher Dickenson, Asa Parrish, wood, William Walton, Nelson D. 1847.—Harvey Warner, President; Corydon Recorder; D . C. Morehouse, Deputy Recorder; ins, Marshal; George A . Kellogg, Treasurer; Myron A. Dougherty, S. A . Holbrook, Assessors; William logg, Overseer of Highways; Christopher Dickenson, Hiram Shoudler, Henry Lockwood, James Van Duser, George A. Coe, William H. 1848.—Harvey Warner, President; C . P. corder; D. S. Williams, Marshal; Albert W. Gilbert, Assessors; James Pierson, Harvey Warner, Overseers o f Highways; W i l l i a m H . Hanchett, Henry Lockwood, Fred. V. Smith, James Van Duser, George A. Coe, C. Dickenson, 1849.—Jared Pond, President; Henry C. corder; A . A. Awidon, Deputy Recorder; Hiram R. Alden, Treasurer; H . Lockwood, Marshal; F. V. Smith, wood, Assessors; George Quick, Asa Parrish, Overseen of Highways; Matthias Van Every, Jasper Parrish, E . G . Fuller, John R. 1850.—Jared Pond, President; L . T. N . corder; Phineas P. Wright, Treasurer; John Root, David Thompson, Assessors; David S. Williams, Marshal; Henry C. Lewis, Asa F. Groendycke, Overseers of Highways; M. A . Dougherty, S. Perkins, F. V. Smith, A. L. Porter, L. D. Crippen, 1851.—Harvey Warner, President; E . G . corder; F. V. Smith, D . Littlefield, \ V. E. Clark, Dennison, R. F. 1852.—Albert Chandler, President; James bert, Recorder; Robert F. Mockridge, vey Warner, John Chandler, Assessors; L . T. N. Wilson, Marshal; Homer M . Wright, Albert L . Porter, Stephen S. Cutter, Sterling Perkins, Nelson D. Skeels, Chester S. Tucker, 1853.—Hiram Shoudler, President; George A. Kellogg, Recorder; R . F. Mockridge, Treasurer; F . V . Smith, Marshal; Phineas P. Wright, James B . Crippen, W m . H. Beach, Augustus S. Glessner, William A . Jackson, John Root, 1854.—Alvin H . Burdick, President; Elihu P. Bond, Recorder; R. F. Mockridge, Treasurer; Jared shal; John Root, F. V. Smith, Assessors; Matthias Van Every, Robt. M. Wilder, Edwin R . Clark, Isaac Pierce, James W. Gilbert, Davis 1855.—Hiram Baker, President; Justin corder; Geo. A . Coe, Treasurer; John C. shal ; Roland Root, F . V . Smith, Ati96980114; Leonard Bowker, Calvin Pratt, Morris Howe, 0. Bingham, M. I I . Parker, Isaac P. 1856.—Roland Root, President; Franklin T. Eddy, Recorder; Nelson D . Skeels, Treasurer; Cyrus ning, Marshal; Edwin R. Clark, Cornelius Wendell, Henry C. Lewis, Philo H. Crippen, Daniel B. 1857.—Augustus S. Glessner, President; Franklin T. Eddy, Roomier ; A . F. Bidwell, Treasurer; can, Marshal; John Root, David S. Williams, �154 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Nelson D . Skeels, Mortimer Mansfield, James Pierson, Charles Upson, Jonathan H . Gray, John Trustee 1858.—Alonzo F. Bidwell, President; Ovid A. Coe, James A. McCarty, James I I . Marsh. Stephen S. Peckham, Geo. W. Johnson, Trustees ; NVallace rett, Clerk; Mortimer Mansfield, Marshal ; yer, Treasurer; John Root, D . S. Kimball Parish, Roland Root, I . P. Alger, missioners; Robert M. Wilder, 1859.—Charles Upham, President; Devereux rington, Tyler M . Parish, Luke H . Whitcomb, Luther F. Hall, William H . Abbott, William Van tees; James A. McCarty, Marshal; Justin urer; Hiram Shoudler, Assessor ; Mortimer Mansfield, Street Commissioner; Daniel Chapman, 1860.—Stephen Cutler, President; U r i Blodgett, S. T. F. Bullard, Ephraim A. Knowlton, David G. Ketchum, George B. Tyler, Trustees; P. P. Nichols, Clerk ; John S . Youngs, Treasurer; William H. Abbott, Marshal; David B . Purinton, Assessor; Street Commissioner; Herman I I . D. Ford, Fire-Wardens; John Luck, 1861.— I n this year Coldwater obtained a with the following municipal officers: Albert Chandler, Mayor; Robert F. Moekridge, Clerk; John S. Youngs, Treasurer; Isaac Van Ness, Marshal ; Matthias Van Every, Street Commissioner; Franklin D. Marsh, Root, Justice. First Ward: Frederick V. Smith, Julius S. Barber, Alderman ; Isaac Van Second Ward: Corydon P. Benton, Supervisor; Isaac P. Alger, Alderman; Eli W. Boyce, Constable. Third Ward: L. D. Crippen, Supervisor; Ephraim A. man ; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. Fourth Ward: David N. Green, Supervisor; John D. Wood, W. Bowker, 1862.—Albert Chandler, Mayor; Robert Clerk ; John S. Youngs, Treasurer ; Isaac Van shal ; Matthias Van Every, Street Commissioner; Franklin D. Marsh, Collector; John Root, Justice o f First Ward: Frederick V. Smith, Supervisor; Alderman ; Isaac Va n Ness, Constable. Second Wa r d : Corydon P. Benton, Supervisor; E l i W. Third Ward: Lorenzo D. Crippen, Supervisor; Ephraim A. Knowlton, Alderman; Andrew S. Fourth Ward: David N. Green, Supervisor; John Alderman; George W. 1863.—David B . Dennis, Mayor; Hiram D. Upham, Clerk ; Ives G. Miles, Treasurer; Isaac Va n shal; Winslow II. Sawyer, Street C. Etheridge, Collector; Benjamin C. Webb, Justice Peace, to fill vacancy; the same for full term. First Ward: Frederick V. Smith, Supervisor; John W. man; Isaac Van Ness, Constable. Second Ward: Cory. P. Benton, Supervisor; A. S. Woollier, Earton, Constable. Third Ward: Daniel W. visor; Abram McCrea, Alderman; Andrew S. stable. Fourth Ward: Franklin T. Eddy, 0. Pellet], Alderman ; George W. I $64.—Justin Lawyer, Mayor; John George K . Bowker, Marshal; Amorist' G. lector; Roland Root, Street Commissioner; George Justice of the Peace; George Starr, Treasurer. First Ward: Frederick V. Smith, Supervisor; Julius S. man; George S. Gibson, Constable. Second dore C. Etheridge, Supervisor; Phineas P. man ; Walter II. Lathrop, Constable. T h i r d Ward: D. B. Purinten, Supervisor; Nelson H . Lansing M. Gray, Constable. F o u r t h Ward: Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor; Edward W . Markham, Alderman; George W. 1865.—Justin Lawyer, Mayor; John Robert M. Wilder, Marshal; Edward W. George Starr, Treasurer; David B. Dennis, Justice of the Peace; Matthias Van Every, Street Commionioner. F i r s t Ward: George S. Sweet, Supervisor; Hiram man ; George C. Gibson, Constable. Second Ward: Ovid Allen, Supervisor; Edwin R. Clarke, der Oderin, Jr., Constable. T h i r d Ward: George Supervisor; Allen Tibbits, Alderman, full term; James A. McCarty, vacancy; Lansing M . Gray, Constable. F o u r t h Ward: Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor; Franklin Alderman; Darius 1866.—John H . Beach, Mayor; William G . Moore, Clerk; Gorge Starr, Treasurer; John shal; Henry C. Williams, Collector: Matthias Van Every. Street Commissioner; Wallace W. Barrett. Justice Peace. F i r s t Ward: George S. Sweet, Supervisor; Byron D. Paddock, Alderman; George C . Second Ward: Theodore C. Etheridge, Supervisor ; P. P. Nichols, Alderman; Alexander Oderin, Constable. T h i r d Ward: George A . Coe, Supervisor; William Alderman; Lansing M. Gray, Constable. F o u r t h Ward: Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor; John H man; Stephen 1867.—D. C . Powers, Mayor: P. J . Easton, Clerk ; George Starr, Treasurer J o h n Whitcomb. Chandler, Collector Matthias Van Every. sioner ; Benjamin C. Webb, Justiee o f tlie Peace. F i r s t Ward: J. McGowan, Supervisor; Lewis B. man; John Whitcomb, Constable. Second Ward. T. C. Etheridge, H . 0 . Mosher, Aldermen ; A . ble. T h i r d Ward : George A . Coe. Supervisor: L . T. N. Wilson, Alderman ; L. M. Gray. Constable. F. T. Eddy, Supervisor G . W. Watson, Alderman : .1. S. Wolcott, 1868.—David C. Powers, Mayor: John Murphey. Clerk; John P. Youngs, Treasurer; Roland Root, sioner ; David B . Purinton, Justice of the Peace ; Henry N. Moore, Marshal ; Gilbert H . Taylor. Collector. F i r s t Ward, Jonas I I . McGowan, Supervisor; Alderman; Ansel E. Thompon, Constable, Second Ward: Theo. C. Etherhh,e, Supervisor; David N . man ; to fill vacancy, Parley G. Benton ; Constable. T h i r d Ward: George A . Cue, David Thompson, Alderman; William G. Fourth Ward: Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor; John H . Bennett., Alderman ; Jerome P. I 869.—I'llineas P. Nichols, Mayor; John Murphey, Clerk; Lester E. Rose. Treasurer; Isaac P. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . of the Peace; Thomas Harrison, Marshal; Corydon P. Benton, Collector; J o h n M . Saunders, sioner. F i r s t Wa r d : Geo. S. Sweet, Supervisor; Lewis B. Johnson, Alderman; Silas L. Devens, Constable. Second Ward: Theo. C. Etheridge, Supervisor; Thomas enson, Alderman ; f u l l term, Nathan Rosenbaum, t o f i l l vacancy. T h i r d Ward: George A. Coe, Supervisor; Abram McCrea, Alderman; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. F o u r t h Ward: S. S. Scovill, Supervisor; Bleeker L. man; George W. 1870.—Justin Lawyer, Mayor; W m . H . H . Halsted, Clerk; Lester E. Rose, Treasurer; David tice o f t h e Peace, full term and t o fill Thompson, Marshal; John W. Saunders, sioner; Cornelius Van Ness, Collector. F i r s t Ward: David N. Green, Supervisor; Hiram Shoudler, Alderman; Silas S. Devins, Constable. Second Ward: Theo. C. Etheridge, Supervisor; Parley Burton, Alderman; Jeremiah Rogers, Constable. T h i r d Wa r d : David Thompson, Supervisor; Wm. R. Foster, Alderman, full term; Hiram to fill vacancy; A n d r e w S. Rowell, Ward: S . S . Scovill, Supervisor; J o h n R . Champion, Alderman; George W. 1871.—David B . Dennis, Mayor; W . H . H . Halsted, Clerk ; Willard J . Bowen, Treasurer; Hamilton S. Miles, Marshal; John M. Saunders, Street L. Truesdell, Collector; Benjamin C. Webb, Justice Peace. F i r s t Ward: David N. Green, Birdsell, Constable. Second Ward: William Supervisor; J . F r a n k l i n P r a t t , A l d e r m a n ; Jeremiah Rogers, Constable. T h i r d Ward : Roland visor; Robert M . Wilder, Alderman; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. F o u r t h Ward: S. S. Scovill, ker L. Webb, Alderman; George W. 1872.—Henry C. Lewis, Mayor; Wm. R. Foster, Clerk; Willard J. Bowen, Treasurer; Gurdon L. Howe, Collector; David B. Purinton, Justice o f the Peace; John ders, Justice of the Peace. F i r s t Ward : David Supervisor; George Cauwriter, Alderman; Geo. head, Constable. Second Ward: Theo. C visor; Uri Blodget, Alderman; Jeremiah Third Ward: Roland Root, Supervisor; Alderman; Andrew S. Rowell, Constable. F o u r t h Ward: Franklin T. Eddy, Supervisor; Jeremiah man; John C. 1873.—Henry C. Lewis, Mayor; William R . Foster, Clerk; Willard J. Brown, Treasurer; Roland tice of the Peace; John M. Saunders, Street D. P. Cushman, Marshal. F i r s t Ward: I . D. W. Fisk, Supervisor; William Burns, Alderman; Spencer Birdsall, Constable. Second Wa r d : T. C. Etheridge, Supervisor; Henry C. Whitley, Alderman; Jeremiah Third Wa r d : Roland Root, Supervisor; T I n e r Smith, Alderman ; Andrew S. Rowell, Henry C. Williams, Supervisor; Lester E. Charles Weller, 1874.—John R. Champion, Mayor; Charles dell, C l e r k ; W i l l a r d J . Bowen, Treasurer ; A l f r e d Thompson, Marshal; John M . Saunders, 1 5 5 sioner ; Daniel Bowe, Justice o f the Peace. F i r s t Ward: Daniel N. Green, Supervisor; Anthony It. man; K . Parish, Constable. Second Wa r d : Theo. C . Etheridge, Supervisor; D a v i d B . John Ray, Constable. T h i r d Ward: Allen pervisor; Smith W. Fisk, Alderman; Lansing •M. Gray, Constable. F o u r t h Wa r d : D a v i d S . visor; John E. Allen, Alderman; Isaac 1875.—John R. Champion, Mayor; Charles dell, Clerk; Willard J. Bowen, Treasurer; Job Williams, Marshal; A s a Waterhouse, Street Commissioner; Benj. C. Webb, Justice o f the Peace. F i r s t Ward: Jacob E . Smith, Supervisor; William H. Abbott., Alderman; John Lerman, Constable. Second Ward: Levi W. visor; Alfred Foster, Alderman ; Charles M. stable. T h i r d Ward: Roland Root, Supervisor; Thomas Smith, Alderman; Frederick Schaffer, Constable. F o u r t h 'Ward: Albert F. Chandler, Supervisor; Herman dernaeyer, Alderman; Henry 1876.—Stephen S. Cutter, Mayor; L . P. Palmer, Clerk; Wm. Job Williams, Marshal; David B. Purinton, Justice of the Peace; Willard I . Bowen, Treasurer; John M . Saunders, Street Commissioner. F i r s t Ward: Jacob E . Smith, Supervisor; Henry Ray, Alderman; Hamilton S. Miles, Constable. Second Wa r d : L e v i W . visor; William A . Coombs, Alderman; Wm. R . Waden, Constable. T h i r d Wa r d : Roland Root, fred Milnes, Alderman; Calvin J . Dart, for seph H . Montague, Constable. F o u r t h Ward: David S. Williams, Supervisor; M . H. Parker, Alderman; John C. Hall, 1877.—Charles Upson, Mayor; L . P. Palmer, Clerk; Alfred Thompson, Marshal ; George Starr, Treasurer; Roland Root, Justice o f the Peace; John Street Commissioner. F i r s t Ward: Daniel pervisor; Henry C. Clark, Alderman ; Spencer Birdsell, Constable. Second Wa r d : D a v i d B . visor; Clark Pierce, Alderman ; George S. stable. T h i r d Ward : Roland Root, Supervisor; Isaac McColom, Alderman; Joseph H . Montague, Constable. Fourth Ward: Wm. H. Donaldson, Supervisor; Sylvanus S. Scovill, Alderman; Lyman J. 1878.—A. J. Foster, Mayor; Albert 0. Wood, Clerk; Orlando G. Noyes, Marshal ; John W. Turner, Justice of the Peace; Ransom E . Hall, Treasurer; J o h n Keely, Street Commissioner. F i r s t Ward: A r t h u r 11. Burrows, Supervisor; Fred. H . Flandertneyer, Birdsell, Constable; Frederick V. Smith and Darius W. Fridliam, members of School Board. Second Ward: David B. Purinton, Supervisor; George Firth, Alderman, f u l l term; P. P. Nichols for vacancy; Geo. W. George S. Foster and Harvey D. Robinson, member; o f School Board. T h i r d Ward: Roland Root, Supervisor; Alfred Thompson, Alderman; Joseph H. stable ; George W. Stevens and Oscar B. of School Board. F o u r t h Wa r d : Charles V. L. Hibbee, Supervisor; I . S. Wolcott, Alderman; Fred. C. Meyer, Constable; John R. Champion and Justin bers of school �156 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. JOHN 11. BEECH, M.O., was born Sept. 24,1819, at Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y. H e was the son of Dr. Jesse Beech. H e prepared at Gaines Academy, and graduated a t Albany Medical College i n A p r i l , 1841, immediately entering upon t h e practice at Gaines, in partnership with Dr. Martin Mason, an old practitioner at that place, with whom h e continued two years; thenceforward pursuing t h e practice singly, member o f t h e Branch Comity M e d i a l Society; the Peninsular Medical Society, which he reprieended is 1854 and 1855 i n the American Medical Amotiation, sod o f which he was elected president i n 1858; the American Medical Association, to which he made in 1855 on the "Topography and Kpidemies of Michigan ;" t h e Southern Michigan Medical Society, which he founded in 1873, and o f which h e was elected president i n July, 1874; the Alumni Association of Albany of which he was elected president in 1874; ican Public Health Association., was elected, April 12, 1870, corresponding member of the Detroit Academy of Medicine, and Nov. 7, 1871, of the of Boston, Mass.; and in 1876 was appointed spondent o f the Michigan State Board of Health, nection with which i t may be stated the law of Michigan prohibiting the tying of the feet of small animals in transit for slaughter was t h e result o f petitions originated and distributed b y him. T o each (if the organizations above named be contributed practical papers arid journals. In A p r i l , 1866, h e was elected mayor i ( f the city of Coldwater. I n the same year he was elected president o f the board o f the trustees o f the Coldwater nary, and from 1870 to 1875 (inclusive) was nealerater the Board o f Education o f the city. He was married. Jan. 20, 1842, to Miss Eliza (' Crowns. of Guilderland, Albany Co., N . Y. , who died June 5 , 1859. J a n . 5, 1861, he married, at Clarkson, N. Y., Mary Jane Perry, who died June 24, 1872. A u g . 26, 1875, he married Mrs. Sarah E. Skeels, who is a sister of Henry C. Lewis. D r . this life Oct. 17, 1878, leaving I .) 1 . h n , , I s n a l JOHN H. until October, 1850, at which time he removed water. Meantime he attended several courses and spent one winter in New York, and one in delphia During the war he rendered valuable service in ous hospitals and positions assigned him. H e was acting assistant surgeon in the Army of the Tennessee in June, 1862; was commissioned surgeon of the 24th Michigan Infantry, Aug. 15, 1862; appointed member o f ating board of the 1st Army Corps before Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 12, 1862; Dec. 21, 1863, made surgeon-in-chief ( pro tern.) o f the 1st Division o f the 1st A r m y Corps, confirmed by special order April 12, 1864, and continued in the discharge o f this duty, though the brigade (styled by Gen. McClellan the " I r o n Brigade") was changed i n divisions and corps, until Feb. 18, 1865; when i t was broken up, and i t s veteran regiments sent North. A t Gettysburg, Pa., he was appointed surgeon-in-charge o f the Express Office Hospital, July 4, 1963, to hold the position until the 5th of' the following August, when illness compelled him to give i t up. H i s as surgeon of the 24th Michigan Infantry April 4, 1865. After the war he confined himself to consultations in medicine, operative surgery, and gyn:renlotrv. COIOWATER, me a., March MESSRS. EVERTS DEAR SIRS,- A s I was among the early comers into this part of Michigan, I am requested to contribute something to the history of Branch County, which you are about to publish, by giving some account of myself, and b y stating some of the incidents of its early settlement, with which I am familiar. I was born Feb. 28, 1797, in the State of New York. and was never outside of its limits till thirty-eight wards, when I set out for Michigan. I have lived under the administration o f all the Presidents, but for six days only under that of Quite early in life I was ambitious to become Having always to depend upon myself, the fruition of that desire was deferred somewhat beyond my wishes, but with such means as 1 could obtain, after I became of age, a preparatory course, and started for Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y.. t., „ . 1 . 1 , • ,;•.i-I, ing condition that selesil between three and four years, until 1 in the winter of 1826. Going into the western part of the State in the fall o f 1827. I settled in m y profession at Webster Corners, es t..i, , e 1 Q 1 fr,m, o i t y ,,f �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . I remained a t that point three years, then removed t o Honeoye Falls, some sixteen miles south from that city, where I lived till I came to Michigan, in 1835. T h e Rev. Francis Smith, whose eldest daughter I married i n 1831, having disposed of his home and other property, I duced t o set out with h i m on a tour West, in quest of a new home, intending to proceed as far as the Mississippi River, should nothing be met with t o suit before we got there. W e left our homes about the middle o f Photo. by E. Kindmark, W. B . S P R A G U E , M . D . had for our companions in travel Mr. Bradley Philo H . Crippen, his son, who also had married of Mr. Smith. W i t h two horses and a light, we took our course by the way of Buffalo, the inevitable Black Swamp, and, after crossing at Perrysburgh, went down that river a few miles, and turning north, crossed the plains to Dundee, on the River Raisin. T h i s route was chosen to escape Swamp, through which the road was reputed t o be about as bad as that o f the Black Swamp. B e f o r e Coldwater we fell in company with M r. James Fiske and L. D. Crippen, who had started from their homes east from Rochester, about the same time we had set out. There were six persons now in our company, and decided to stop when we should arrive at at the country, and learn the chances for buying, etc. O u r Stoppage at this point resulted in the purchase of acres or more of land, •lying on sections 21 and 22,--all of is now included within the limits of our city. These lanis w.,r,! parceled out by mutual th,, six purchasers respectively. M y portion fell w...q ball of the esat half of section 22, where I with but little change Thii w h i i sold in this transaction were Robert J. Cross anti Win. H. Cross, his brother, Allen Hanchett. arid Peter Martin. T h e conveyances were all completer!. I t i e r s , in the first week of June, 1835. 15 The parties on both sides in this matter, except myself, were men o f more than ordinary ability and experience financially, and it would have been a paper of much interest to-day, had a journal of all that passed between before t h e negotiations were completed been k e p t and handed down to the present generation. M r . Fiske, L. D. Crippen, and P. H . Crippen, his brother, ments to take possession immediately, while M r. Bradley Crippen, Mr. Smith, and myself returned East, intending to remove with our families in the fall. Ott our return to Coldwater, we started the 8th tember, and arrived at our destination the 24th day month, passing through Canada on our route, having sent all our heavy goods by way of the Erie Canal and the Lake to Detroit. Early in the season o f 1836 a partnership was formed, consisting of Francis Smith, Thomas Dougherty, self, with a view of building both a saw-mill and mill, at the west end of what is now Pearl Street, in our city. Work on the saw-mill was begun the same season, by a Mr. Worden, of the State of New York, and was finished some time i n the fall. T h e flouring-mill quite early in the spring of' 1837, and completed early in the following winter. T h e late Samuel Ethridge, well known to all our citizens, served us as chieftect, and builder. Both of these structures were built in what was then the modern style, and were calculated to be o f great value to the public, as well as to the Twenty years or more afterwards these mills sumed by fire, after having changed hands The flouring-mill, occupying the place of the and now owned b y W. A . Coombs, was built by L . D . Crippen and Rathbun Alden, but not until some elapse I t was during the second term of Jackson's tion that we bought a home in Coldwater, at a the Democratic party had become exceedingly strong The population flowing into Michigan that year following one, having been mainly from the State of New York, consisted very generally o f men belonging t o the Democratic, or Jacksonian party. This was especially true of Branch County. W h a t few belonged t o the opposite party on our arrival largely outnumbered, and the principle that the spoils of office belonged exclusively to the party in power to be rigidly believed in, and enforced on Although I never preferred to hold a public office kind, or take a very prominent part in politics, deemed by my political friends to be necessary for me to share a part of the spoils. T h i s was owing in to the great profusion of offices to he filled immediately after Michigan was made a State, and to the sparseness o f the population at I was first made clerk of the township That was at the spring election of 1836, and at ber election succeeding I was appointed an having for my chum in office the late Hon. mond, of Union City. �158 6 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . The first term of the Circuit Court in was held a t the village o f Branch, which continued for a time t o be the county-seat. H e r e Judge Epaphroditus Ransom, who was soon afterwards elected Governor of' our State, The court convened in a school-house, standing then on a delightful eminence sonic twenty rods west from the old hotel, where all received their rations, and where Judge Ransom lodged while he stayed. T h e judge was a man of a dignified appearance, and o f an affable turn. from Vermont, having removed to Michigan while i t was yet a Territory, settling But the people o f Branch County, like all other new communities where the population is sparse and the country unimproved, were unfortunate; they could not boast o f a solitary lawyer, while parties i n litigation were driven to import that article from a distance in order to pearances, i f from no other motive. Howe, from Lima, Indiana, another lawyer and the indomitable little man, Columbia Lancaster, treville, put in their appearance at this first session Circuit Court. After Coldwater became the county-seat, courts ducted in a rickety old building that stood where the brick residence o f the late D r. J . H . Beach is now seen. B y that time, however, the Hon. Alpheus Felch presiding During the Harrison campaign this old the name o f "Coon Pen." I t was well entitled t o this name, and bore it long after it was given up for poses. L a w y e r Van Arman, who has since become criminal lawyer, now living in Chicago, Abner Pratt, Gov. Gordon (all these o f Marshall), and John Chipman, o f Niles,—familiarly known as "Black Chip," from the dark color of his skin,—all of these were at one time to in court at the Coon Pen. The next office that fell to my lot was that of judge of Probate, to fill the unexpired term of E. A . Warner, who had been elected a State senator. I was notified election b y H . B . Stillman, then county clerk, Jan. 20, 1842. M y time expired in January, 1845. I think that Peter Martin, already mentioned, was the first one this office after the county was regularly organized. H e bore that title, I know, at the time we came here on our first tour. H e was succeeded by Martin Olds, of ship of Batavia. M r . Olds bore other offices in his day with much credit to himself and the county. G r a n d juries were required in those days, and I remember that appointed foreman o f the grand jury a t the of the Circuit Court for the county after the adoption o f the State constitution. E . A . Warner, before ceeded Judge Olds, I think. At the November election, 1845, I was chosen sent our county in the Legislature by a small majority over another Democrat, who had received a regular I believe, at a caucus some time before the election. ceived notice o f this election from C. P. Benton, county clerk, dated Nov. 13, 1845. But I shall find it pleasant here to refer again to visit to Coldwater. I remember that I lodged at of Joseph Haneliett the first night of our stay. built a conifi,riable log house, which stood just alley passing the north end o f K R. Clarke's Mr. Hatichett had a well a few feet from the east side o f his house (which WU then the front side) that furoished the coolest and purest water that we had met on our journey. Indeed, our town might justly rived its name from the fact, that at nearly every point within the corporation water of the same excellent quality way always be obtained at but My bed-fellow was James, a son o f Mr. H., lad, then o f some eighteen years. H e known as a genial and very active business man i n our midst, staying here a number His forte lay principally in originating large structures to be used for hotels and the like, fondly anticipating that they would be in immediate demand from the rapid growth of our population and an increase in travel. B u t bition soon carried h i m far ahead o f the age. I t come a disorder with him, contracted perhaps in his youth, a few years before, when the effects o f the wild-cat plague bore so heavily everywhere on the business and morals o f the community. H e went to Wisconsin many years ago, to remember only with regret, perhaps, the of his younger days. O f the capacious structures he built there is not one now left. T h e y were too balloon-like and subject to fire, which i n those times was an progress and improvement that always lingered around any premises ef that character. T h e log dwelling built and occupied b y his father survived them a l l f o r many years, but was at length nearly consumed by fire. Scores o f lasting memorials, however, were snatched from its ruins. F r o m some of the logs only a large number of nice canes were made by our ble and public-spirited citizen D r. I . P. Alger. tributed b y him among many o f the pioneers that were then living. The writer was presented with one o f these, which he wished to be preserved as an heir-loom in his family, taken perhaps from the identical timber upon which he rested the first night after a tedious journey o f some miles, and from the walls o f a tenement where after his arrival here he took his first repast. T h e house in the near vicinity of a spot destined to be his own future home perhaps as long as be lived. M a n y reminiscences of' much more value than these I have mentioned will, be furnished by other pens much better qualified the pages of your book interesting to Being unwilling to exceed my proper limits, I must defer at this point. In many, i f not indeed i n all o f the advantages which our State has conferred upon the people, the citizens o f Branch County have been sharers. I can b y no means look at any o f my public acts with half the satisfaction I find in thinking of this fact. T h a t these been duly appreciated is attested by what may now on every side. B u t i f for no other reason I can boast a t all, I find not a little pleasure when I remember the honor my fellow-citizens bestowed on me b y placing Inc on the list with others who were the first ones elected t o ���HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . official place among them after the Territory of' Michigan had assumed the dignity o f Yours truly, W32. B. LORENZO I t . CHUTE'S was one of the earliest settlers in Coldwater. H e came in the spring of 1835. A d o p t i n g this as his future home, he did what he could t o build up the town, and all lic enterprises of his day felt the benefit of his capital and the influence o f his advice. H e was born Herkimer, Co., N . Y. . Aug. 29, 1806. S o n o f Bradley and Esther Crippen, who came to Coldwater in the fall of 1835. T h e Crippen family were an important accession to Coldwater. Possessed of considerable means, a large tract of land adjoining the public park hous Lorenzo D. Crippeu, being an active business gained a prominent and influential position in the the county. H e early engaged in the was interested i n t h e first furnace, the early mills, etc. When the tide of emigration came, and men situations, Mr. Crippen could find just the place Whether it was for a day's work o r to establish portant business,—in locating the county-seat, a railroad depot, or any important public enterprise,— gacious and prompt action, parties always found in him. H e was married, Dec. 13, 1827, to Miss Ruth H. Haynes, daughter of James and Abigail Haynes, formerly of Highland, on the Hudson. T h e y removed to Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1825. where they remained until the spring of 1836, when they came to Coldwater and settled on the farm now the hotne.of their son, Politically, M r. Crippen was a Democrat; i n religious belief a Spiritualist, although h e contributed t o tion o f all churches i n Coldwater i n his day. H e died April 20, 1864, leaving a wife and three children,—James B., who died October, 1869; Jeanette, who married Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, of New Yo r k ; and J. D., HON. HARVEY HAYNES. Among the pioneers of Branch County who ous not only as identified with the early reminiscences county, but from the fact that by their form and intelligence they have commanded positions is the name of Hon. Harvey Haynes. T h e good of Ulster, i n New York State, claims him as her son by birth, though Branch Co., Mich., presents a by adoption. M r . Haynes was born Jan. 24, 1817, and is early life moved to Monroe Co., N. Y., and panied his father, James Haynes, to Michigan, the spot where be now resides, in 1836. I n early life he. studied law, and during the time engaged in teaching; but his tastes having inclined him to farming pursuits, always been absorbed in that 'Many dices of trust in connection with have hewn hounwed upon him, he having for 15 held the positions of assessor and supervisor. I n was chosen b y his e,listittierits to represent them i n the Legislature, and this honor was conferred upon in 1870. D u r i n g the latter term the bill locating Public School was passed, and the to choose a site, determined upon Coldwater as spot. M r . Haynes took an active interest in the position as chairman of the State Prison ing him an opportunity of exercising a ence in the matter. T h e land on which the located was purchased o f him, and adjoins He is also secretary of the Branch County an important organization in the county. Mr. Haynes was married, March 4 , 1840, t o Eliza, daughter o f Dr. Hiram Alden, one o f the sentatives to the State Legislature, and State missioner at the time of his decease, in 1838. HARVEY WARNER, ESQ.,* one of the very oldest of the pioneers of Branch born a t Glen's Falls, Warren Co., N. Y., April In 1818 t h e family left that county and settled i n the town o‘Petifield, Monroe Co., in the same State, which the father died, leaving the family in rather limited circumstances. B y t h i s event Harvey was under t h e necessity of looking after his own fortune. limited education as he was able, be went at an to learn the carpenter and joiner trade, and made such proficiency t h a t a t the age o f twenty h e was a ntaster workman. T h e r e was much talk a t that time about the Michigan Territory," and the young man seizing of emigrating to the wilds o f the Territory, accordingly, July 12, 1830, found his feet treading the Indian trails of his future I t was then that 'he began t o fully realize that life i s an active and earnest warfare. Stopping a short time i n Tecumseh, then a mere hamlet, he pressed on the following winter to this beautiful valley, where he resolved to stop and commence life's work in earnest, and has lived water township ever since, being the oldest inhabitant in the township. H i s services as a mechanic were soon brought into requisition, and he had the pleasure ing the first frame dwelling-house, as well as the store, ever erected in Coldwater. A few years later ted the Methodist Episcopal church i n Coldwater, which was the first and only church i n the county years At early morn and dewy eve the sound of his hammer was heard, intermingled with the sounds o f his cheery laugh and jocund voice. B u t official positions were filled, and the young mechanic was soon favored a of honor and responsibility. H e was the the township, having received his commission in January 1832, and served in that capacity a number • ' 1834, while Michigan was yet a 'dotted tt justice of the peace by the Governor and * Written by b i t friend, Hun. Harvey Bayne,. �160 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C I I C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Council. A f t e r Michigan became a State, the him to the same important position, which he continued to hold for twenty-four years, and during all this time emphatically a man of peace. I n only one instance did he deviate from the golden rule, and we hope to for referring to it. I n the early settlement o f one of the towns o f the county there was a small but there was no place to hold their meetings except in a very rude log school-house, and one o f the district board held the key, fully determined that this sued! Christian band should not occupy Iu this dilemma good Deacon I I . sought the advice o f the young justice o f the peace. H i s Honor refused to give advice (which was very proper), but, with a twinkle of his eye, said, " T h e members of your church and society own by far the larger part of that log house, and i f I were in your place I would go on Sunday morning next and ask the director respectfully for the key; i f he refuses to give ticT, when he repeated to them the oonvermation he the good deacon the previous week. T h i s so ovajoyed the attorney that his sides fairly shook with laughter, while the district officer took his hat and sullenly left the office a wiser, i f not a better, man. T h i s in the only time quire was ever known t o disregard the beautiful s " Blessed are the peace-makers," etc. In 1848, Mr. Warner was elected judge the county; he was also re-elected in 1852, and eight years of aervice in that , h after the business with more t. a delegate from Hillsdale and Branch Counties to tion held in September, 1836, to take into c,,!:-.:•1•-ruti.,!, !I,,• propriety o f our admission as a State by r, _ claim t o the "disputed tract," upon which ated. H e has also held the position o f president e f the village board before the town put on at the age of seventy, living on his beautiful farm, on Photo, by E. Kitehuark, Ckohlwat,r. H A R V E Y W A R N E R , ESQ. it up. I would get several members of the church, and, with a good oaken rail, I would batter the door off its hold meetings as usual." N o further suggestions cessary, for the good deacon was of the Cromwell put their trust i n God, but kept their powder dry. T h e next day the house was filled with ardent few meetings were ever held b y the little church, we will venture to say. where each could sing, with more Christian devoti " Shall we g a t h e r at t h e r i v e r, " etc. Early on the following morning the district ened t o the village o f Coldwater, sought the prosecuting attorney (the law Governor Coe), and the twain started for Enquire Warner's office, who, by the way, was anticipating a call from the litigious gentlemen, and was for the emergency. A f t e r the usual salutation that had brought them to the office was laid before MRS. H A R V E Y W A R N E R south of the city, engaged largely in the cultivation of fruit. He is at present president of the Branch County Pioneer Society. I n 1831 he married Miss Henrietta Anderson, one of those noble pioneer wives whose words of comfort often gladdened the hearts t.f their bors. T h e y have had six children, five of whom living. T h e y have fourteen grandchildren and grandchildren. T h e i r eldest daughter, Mrs. P. P. Wright, of New Jersey, was born May 25, 1832, and is living white child ever born i n Coldwater. W h e n this child was but a few days old the father, with nearly all others who were old enough to bear arms, to the field i n what was known as " Black leaving the women and children of the settlement t o the i tender mercies of the This aged couple are IloW enjoying good health. Mrs. Warner doing the entire work of ��MRS.ANDREW on72.-,f/ !ORS A S A PARRISH t �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . JAMES M . LONG, M.D., was born in the city o f New York, Nov. 14, 1828, lish and Scotch-Irish parents. H i s grandfather, on h i s father's side, was a ship-owner and shipping possessed o f large landed estates. H i s father and two brothers ( o f his father) entered college and graduated as physicians and surgeons. O u e o f the brothers settled in London, the other in Liverpool, England, in the practice of their chosen profession, but his father settled in New Yo r k City, in charge of the large shipping interests of the firm. Photo. by E. Kimlukutk, Cultist uter. J.k NI ES M . L O N G , M . D . In the year 1833, at the age of five years, he his mother on a visit t o his grandfather, a t Liverpool, where he remained for two years. O n the death o f his father he, with his mother, returned to New Yo r k ; and in 1837, on the death of his mother, he was left in care uncle, and in the same year removed to Windsor, Vt. A t the age of sixteen, having chosen medicine as a he entered the college a t Woodstock, V t . , graduating in 1850, and married his present wife, Mary J. Emerson, at Beene, N. II., Nov. 27, 1851, locating in the practice profession in the city of New York. W i t h a view a more perfect knowledge o f surgery and i t s practice he matriculated in the Fourteenth Street Medical University, and also became a private student cjf the late Dr. Valentine Mott, attending two full courses of lectures, with to the hospitals. Continuing in the practice of sion, in the year 1857 he suffered severe looses by fire, and having about that time become interested i n the West, removed to Detroit. H i s attention was drawn opathy, and he became so strongly impressed in its favor that he became associated with D r. Day, a cian of considerable note, placing his knowledge ease in surgery against Dr. Day's knowledge and practice of homoeopathy. T h i s partnership proved both profitable, but, being discontinued, Ile was induced to take the practice in Coldwater vacated by Dr. White, and in the 2 1 6 1 year 1861 removed to Coldwater, where he has tinued i n active practice. H a v i n g been pared in the schools of medicine and surgery, endowed by the Creator with an active, well-balanced mental capacity, which is constantly gathering strength by daily enabling him to render that enlightened and ment so essential at the bedside o f the sick, together with an ardent love for, and untiring devotion to, his fession, has early placed him in high esteem with His practice has been large and varied. F r e q u e n t have been t h e calls from professional brethren for counsel, o r from the sick for his services, in neighboring towns tant cities. H e is largely known and highly esteemed b y leading men i n his school o f practice i n and out o f the State As a citizen, he is ever solicitous for the public health, having served many years us a member of the city board of health, and ready to lend a helping hand, by material o r personal aid, to every good enterprise calculated others or improve the city. ANDREW S. PARRISH, the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 15, 1834, in the town of Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y. I n 1836 h i s father, Asa Parrish, moved with his family to what is water, and was among the early settlers o f that beautiful little city. H e r e M r. Parrish grew to such education as could be obtained at that early day. H e early showed a natural ability as a mechanic, and he set himself to work to make himself a master of the had chosen. S o well did he apply himself, that he one of the best machinists and mechanical engineers found in our State. W h e n the Rock Island and Illinois Central Railroads were built, he was employed by those companies, and was connected with the civil engineers in the construction and building o f the same. S o o n after the completion of these roads he was for six years a marine engineer. H e is now, and has been for ten foreman o f the locomotive department of division of the Lake Shore and Michigan road, located at White Pigeon, in this State, which position he fills with marked ability. F o r many years has been a member of the Masonic order, and is ing the office o f Junior Warden in of Knights Templar, held at Coldwater. F o r his he married Miss Sarah E. Hale, daughter of Andrew Hale. She was born in New York, Sept. 22, 1833, and 12, 1859. T h e i r union was blessed with one child, Nellie E., who was born Nov. 25, 1858. O n the 16th day of January, 1861, Mr. Parrish was again married; being Miss Sarah A . Whitcomb, daughter of S. comb, one of the early settlers of Coldwater. comb was born in Vermont, Jan. 3, 1834. T o and his second wife there has been born eight follows: A u L., born Feb. 13, 1862; Junior, born Sept. 10, 1864; Eda A., born April 19, 1867; Laura July 21, 1869; Tessy G., born Feb. 2, 1871; K . Otis, born Oct. 26, 1872 ; I d a K A born March and Mar. C., born May 10, 1876. M r . Parrish and family 1 p 4 �162 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, : now reside at White Pigeon, where his duties demand his presence. B u t he still looks with pride and affection upon Branch County, the home of his childhood and hood. I n politics Mr. Parrish is an ardent Republican. to Albany, where he r-upirtuurd he haul a brother h e w, Arriving in the strange city, sod not lading 114 bream..h im ,a p ly d n fo e and too rapidly to suit hie boyish idees of seestotny I solved to enlist in the navy, a recruitingof the government ASA PARRISH was born at Mendon, N . Y. , March 4, 1811, sou of Abram Parrish, who raised a family o f twelve children. A s a Parrish was married, in 1832, to Ann Eliza of Dr. William B . Sprague, one o f the early settlers o f Coldwater. S h e died, Aug. 27, 1837, leaving Andrew, who resides at White Pigeon, St. Joseph Abram, who died i n 1844 when eight years o f age. M r . Parrish was married, Jan. 1 , 1839, t o Lois E . Gilbert, sister of William S. Gilbert. S h e came to Coldwater May, 1838, and kept house for her brother, who married M r. Parrish's sister at the same time and place. M r . Parrish and his wife were members of the church in New upon the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Churds of Coldwater united with that body, where active and consistent members. H e was a class-leader fur many years. T o them were born four children, ters and one son. L o i s E., wife o f J. Mussell White, of Chicago, is the only one now living. Mr. Parrish came to Coldwater in 1836, and i n the fall of that year contracted with Dougherty, Sprague & Co. to run a saw-mill they had just completed. H e r e he worked for a year or two. T h e demand f o r a furnace great ; there were no plows made at that time nearer than Ypsilanti. M r . Parrish built the first furnace County; w i t h h i s limited means i t was a taking. S o o n L . D. Crippin took an interest w i t h him. A few years later h e built a steam flouring-mill, run of stone. W h e n the Michigan Southern being built, he took contracts for building most of their important bridges, and also for the Michigan Central road, including the pile-bridge at the grand crossing, ten miles east of Chicago, which is three arid three-fourths From this time Mr. Parrish's health gradually gave way, and he died Nov. 18, 1855. H e was in politics a Whig, and strongly favored the abolition o f slavery. When the recruiting officer applied the stand, found that the young tailor wanted about two 111, Ic reaching the required altitude. W h e r e there i s a will there is a way. Remembering that he had a sister water, Mich., then a wild wilderness country, be face in that direction. B y driving a horse on the of the Erie Canal, was enabled to reach 1, purse Upon arriving in that city he boarded by doing odd jobs paid his way to Detroit. When he reached that city, he came acroas a w h LORENZO D. HALSTED. One of the successful business men o f this renzo 1). Halsted, was born J u l y 12, 1820, in Tompkins Co., N . Y. W h e n Lorenzo was b u t five years mother died, and the family was practically broken up. A t the age of ten years he went to reside with an uncle in Chernung Co., N . Y., and there at that early required to learn t h e tailor's trade, at which l i e worked diligently until he was a little past sixteen years during which time he acquired a fair knowledge o f the • business. His uncle was so exacting with him that he resolved t o leave and "paddle his own canoe." W i t h just five dollars in his pocket, which lie had earned by working at night, he took leave o f his uncle, and wooded I 1 1 ' . , 7 I r • . ! I I Wa vilhng plying his needle; but, as the people were sick, he stni_ he married ‘ i years, when away Dec. 8 , 1858, he married M t s . Loomis, (Laughter o f Emerson Marsh, Esq., also a pioneer. A b o u t the time of his marriage with Miss Lake he eitablished in a a ready-made clothing-stets, and was thereby the pioneer leth i s y .B e fd o c rn b a coupled with industry and m o o n y, he was soca ea the road to For twelve years he has added each p a r • b o w sod lit �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . to his possessions, taking his net profits only from tensive trade. T o his large clothing business he gaged extensively in the mauutheture of furs with eminent success, thus showing what may be done from nings by industry, sobriety, and economy. W h o 16 never attended school since he was eight years old better By his latter marriage he has had two children,—a son and a daughter; the former of whom died when about two years old; the latter, a young lady, Miss Laura Halsted. Ne f l a i r. Photos. by E. is O f 0 f 1 LUKE H . WHITCOMB. MRS. L . H . W H I T C O M B . LUKE H . WHITCOMB Edwin P. married Melissa Parker; Mercelles L. married Augustus Gilmore. M r . and Mrs. Whitcomb united with the Congregational Church a t Brandon, and transferred their membership to the Presbyterian Church They have always taken a deep interest in church matters. Mr. Whitcomb taught the first singing-school County, and for ten years was chorister in the Methodist church at was born Feb. 6, 1808. H e is the son of comb, o f Brandon, V t . , who died there Feb. 25, 1830, leaving six children,—three sons and three daughters. T h e subject of this sketch began to learn the when nineteen years of age. W h e n he was twentycommenced business for himself, at Brandon. May 26, 1831, t o Miss Abigail McConnell, daughter o f John McConnell, o f Rutland, Vt. I n J u l y, 1836, M r. Whitcomb came to Coldwater, where he worked at a short time, then commenced for himself, making doors. W i l l i a m S. Gilbert soon arrived from they united their interests and added the manufacture of furniture to the small business just started b y comb. T h e firm o f Whitcomb & Gilbert twelve years, and became an important industry in Branch County. S i n c e that time Mr. Whitcomb has continued in the manufacturing Mr. Whitcomb came to Coldwater some two he brought his family; meantime he had built a where they now live. H e r e they commenced keeping, but soon sickness entered their new home, and for several months they and their children were all sick, more or leas; but, all recovered, and in after-years three other children were born to them, being six in all,—three three thiughters. M a r i a n B . married George Hawley, a farmer in Kansas; Sarah A . married Andrew Of Ass Parrish, a prominent pioneer of Coldwater; William W. died April 28, 1862 ; Laura M. 4lied Nov. 20, 1856 ; WILLIAM S. GILBERT is one of the pioneers who have witnessed tion of the primeval forest into cultivated fields, growth of the city of' Coldwater from a small hamlet. H e was born in Warren, Vt., Nov. 23, 1809. years o f age he went t o learn the carpenter and joiner trade, and followed that calling in his native town until 1836, when he emigrated West. H e worked On what is now the International Hotel a t Niagara Falls for a time, and arrived at Coldwater Sept. 11,1836. H e r e a copartnership with L. H. Whitcomb for the of sash, doom, and furniture. T h i s association tinued some twelve years. I n 1850 he engaged with Asa Parrish in the construction o f railroad-bridges, ued in that occupation some four years, during which time they built several o f the most important. bridges for the Michigan Southern and the Michigan In 1 5 4 he pureliamed a farm three tuile.s from • �I6& H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . he carried on for seven years. Preferring mechanical work to the arduous labor of the farm, he returned and engaged in building houses for himself, eadl .SeaS.”11 -S 7avingone ,8 0 .1 lfD rtis a p d e h ward I'., who resider at Coldwater, having buried ter in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert united with the W I L L I A M S . G I L B E R T. MRS. W I L L I A M S . G I L B E R T. Mr. Gilbert was married, Jan. 1, 1839, at Bronson, Mich., to Miss Hannah Parrish, sister o f Asa Parrish, who was married at the same time and place to Lois E., sister of Mr. Gilbert. M r s . Gilbert was the daughter of Abram Parrish, of Mendon, N . Y. , where she was born, Sept. 20, 1816. copal Church in 1840, and soon took a prominent position in that body. M r . Gilbert has been a class-leader for many years I n social relations he is genial and in business matters prompt and reliable: as a spected and influential. in Coldwater, and Miranda C.. who married Wallace M . Youngs. S h e died i n 1851. M r . Allen was married. in 1826, to Ester Blackmer, of Brandon, Vt.. with whom he lived for nearly forty years. S h e departed this life March 25. 1866. M r . Allen was married. Dec. 3. 1816, to Mrs. Britanna Phetteplace, formerly Miss Jackson, N. Y. , she and her former husband having emigrated to Coldwater in 1S36. where he died in 1 6 3 . In 1S32, Mr. Allen left his native town, and moved to Orleans Co., N . V. where he purchased a farm mained eleven years, when he sold out and came water with his wife and ten children, arriving here Sept. 27, 1843, and purchased one hundred acres of included ill, 1,n•-..•n1 -if,. 1).1.•1 W E , • ! , I 1 . 1 S . , 1,7,5 I ,t). ! i . t 7 111 r I i r, .11,11 \ \ 1,11 \ 1 I I HIV C111, , 111 \ I . H , ! 11 I , I i •11 i L w hi 0 1 1 \ l i i i 1 1 1 11 �• �4111111 ,.f W M r NORICIN I 1 1 1 4 , 0 ' 1 N �• H I S T O R Y OF T H E TOWNSHIPSAND VILLAGES OF C O L D WAT E R . THE township of Coldwater derives its chief interest from the city of Coldwater, which is located very nearly at its central point. T h u s the early history o f the city is in 's measure repeated in a review of the township history, the same parties having been identified with both and having been also active spirits in the growth prise of the one as of the other. We find that Abram F. Bolton and John Morse, who were with one exception the earliest settlers in the village of Coldwater, were also the early pioneers in the township. Col. Bolton purchased a tract of land, in 1829, on side of the Coldwater River, where the Chicago it, and now comprised within the city limits. A year later he came to the township, but did not locate on choosing another tract, on the east part o f section 2 3 . With him came his wife and John Morse and wife, the ladies having been sisters. O n this location the first house ever built on the Coldwater Prairie. a rough log cabin of two rooms, with an open them, which was roofed over and afterward inclosed. H e r e in June they opened a grand Intel, and it was indeed attractive resting-place to the weary traveler on trail. T h e r e was at this time no house west o f Reed's, at Marble Spring, ten miles east, and Bronson's, ten miles west. H e r e Bolton and Morse kept a house on the Chicago trail as is the Palmer or the Grand Pacific in Chicago, a place where the worn and tired emigrant or land-hunter was certain to find a tempting repast and comfortable resting-place, accompanied always with greeting. I n the spring of 1831, Col. Bolton removed with . h i s family to his first purchase, and left M r. family. upon the • Throughout 1831 there Was much travel on trail or road, as it began t o be called by emigrants to the Western prairies and land-seekers, and in June of that year a land-office was established at White Pigeon by ment. I n 1830 a daughter was born in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Morse, whom they christened Henrietta, was the first white child of any settled resident in ship. A Welsh family named Bonner had remained for a brief time i n the Indian village on the east end o f the prairie, and while there a child was born; but were not regarded as settlers, having soon after left the neighborhood. M r . and Mrs. Morse were ites with the travelers i n this new country, for mine host was a man of most genial character, and could nish an inspiring melody upon the clarionet, while cellent wife broiled the venison and supplied from store such a repast as would tempt the palate of She had also the especial merit of getting i t up quick. T h i s famous host, finding a snore favorable finally purchased the ground now covered by the present Oriental Hotel in the city of Coldwater, and it a building which was for many years the place of entertainment in the vicinity. As early as 1831, Masonville, on the Coldwater now embraced within the city limits, was the point at which all the business enterprise and most of the tred. J a m e s B. Stuart and Roland Root were then actively engaged i n trade, much o f their traffic having the neighboring Indians. T h e preceding year was appointed by the Governor and Legislative sisting of Musgrove Evans, of Tecumseh, Reuben Pierce, of .Clinton, and James Olds, o f Jonesville, t o locate a county-seat. Masonville seemed for a brief to bear away the laurels, and the officials did indeed claim that the mandates of justice should be issued from within her boundaries; but in their zeal to complete the worthy members o f the commission had forgotten t o take the official oath, and their action was thus rendered void. A protest arose from the eastern part of and a petition for a new commission was presented, which finally occasioned the rentaval of the county-seat where it was ultimately established in 1832. W i t l i at once picturesque and possessing location, there were many indications that it woul.l i i not only the legislative seat but the centre Of cial interests o f the county, had not some stances influenced its destiny and consigned it to tion of obscurity from which no future enterprise rescue it. In the year 1832, Mishit Warren came with his family to the township and located at Branch, erecting dwelling. Soon after he brought from the East a limited stock of goods and opened a store in his house. lowing year the county treasurer, Seth Dunham, 185 �nt HISTORY O P BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the settlement, having previously located at the asthe Pocahontas Milk A t this time Elisha Dunham, and Harvey Warner, with their families, only residents of E. T. Paxton came in 1833 and established a keeping such a limited supply as would satisfy of the meagre population. T h e postmaster at this time WasHarvey Warner, who at first settled at the finally removed to Branch when the office was ther In the year 1835 emigration greatly increased, became for the time being a centre of trade. newresidents were Joel Burlingame, David P. West, and Louis Pollay. Robert and William at the same time and established a distillery.. •need of educational facilities for the younger population, a school-housewas built and the services teacher procured. Several mechanics and induced by the flattering future which was predicted for the new settlement to cast their fortunes with and for a time their hands were kept busily occupied. N o church had been built, service having been conducted in the school-house. T h e brief career of this wassoon ended, a decree of the Legislature having county-seat at Coldwater, as more fully stated in history. I n 1842 it was officially located there, wasdoomed to a decline more speedy than its Many of the buildings which had been so were as hurriedly dismantled, and the material taken to various portions of the neighborhood to do duty in lar capacity. A few scattered houses, a grocery, and the vacant field where justice was dispensed from court-house bench, are all that remain of the seat of Branch At the time that Branch was the county-seat, fair to be the centre of commercial importance in a road was projected and built, running to the survey of which " Established by the commissioner of highways o f the township of Coldwater, beginning at corners o f sections 4 and 5, on the township line, between towns 4 and 5 south, range 6 west; thence south 183 chains to a section line; thence south on section line to Coldwater River ; thence south 19, west 6.17; thence south 34, east 35 to section line; thence south on section line 123 50 links to the town line between towns 5 and 6 south; thence south on section line 53.00 chains; thence south 24, west 23.25 chains; thence south 28, east 21.50 to section line; thence south o n seetion line 140 chains to the ' J . O r s B . TO M P K I N S . S e I r r e y o r. "MARTIN "JAMES B. TOMPKINS, I C°°""..."°"" of Hi0.°^Y.• "JOSEPH C. COMMITS, " COLDWATEn, March 29, 1834." As the fortunes of the little settlement began a new road was projected, styled the Battle Three commissioners were appointed, viz., Justin Goodwin, and Sands McCamley, to make andchoose the route. They performed their labors in 1836, and a road beginning at the southeast corner of section 16, and running north and northwest water, Girard, and Union, was marked out This road finally superseded the one built to Branch in 183 As early as 1836 the township assumed the aspect of a well-populated district, many of the emigrants central and western portions of New York entered lands and made for themselves homes. These settlers presented the advantages of the new country attractive a light to their glisten' Maeda desirous Westward that they speedily followed them and b e * * * residents of the county. Among these early C. B. Peckham, who came from Cayuga County cated one mile south of the city, Joseph Zeluff near him; James Haynes and his sons, who in the north portion of the township; Hart Wilson J. Cooley, who resided in the western Warren, who settled in the southwest, as did Canright and Isaac Middaugh. Rice Arnold, Fisk, and Detmati Tiukham purchased land on side of the township, Lemuel Bingham having far from them, as did also Christopher Hartsough. Curtis Prentice came in 1834 and chose a tract of northeast, arid James Fisk, Timothy Phelps, head, William Scovill, and Robert Waggott in the southeastern border. Clark H. Parish, Daniel N. Wilson, and James R. Wilcox the south portion or the township. Francis his two sons. John and Stephen, came and loaded southeast portion of what was known as Mr. John Roberts planted the first nursery, and regarded as the pioneer nurseryman of The following entries were made on ground the Lost Crane, 80 acres, May John Dow, 3 2 5 M acres, May John Dow, 84M, acres, May Samuel H. Hill, 80 acres, May Samuel H. Hill, 80 acres, May John McMann, 80 acres, Nov. John MeMann, 80 acres, N . William McCarty, 80 acres, Dee. Silas Crane, 40 acres, April Silas Crane, 40 acres, April John McMahon, 80 acres, April Ed. H. Macy, 40 acres, April Ed. H. Macy, 84M, acres, April H. G. Rice, 40 acres, July Allen Tibbets, 80 zeros, June Philo Dibble, 165,81, sores, Sep 1 8 3 5 . Peter Martin, 80 acres, Peter Martin, 80 acres, Nov. 1 1 8 3 5 . Selleck Seymour, 40 scree, Nov. Wm. McCarty, 40 acres, Dee. Margaret Cross, 169IM, acres, March Win. M. Fuller, 80 acres, June Loren. D. Crippen and Philo H . Crippaa, 160 acres, 183 Joseph Tilton, 168M, sores, July Joseph Tilton, 80 mires, July Joseph Tilton, 80 acres, July Philo Dibble, 8 4 , , acres, Sept. Sell,. I, I I i Wm. M. Watkins, ssija, Hiram Lewis Smith, Was. N'. Tilton rind I.. _ �s HISTORY O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 6 7 James H . H a n e h e t t , 40 acres, J u l y 13, 1833. Charlotte S m i t h , 80 acres, J u n e 12, 1851. D a v i d St. J o h n , 40 acres, Sept. 29, 1835. J. W . K i n n e n , 40 acres, A u g . 5, 1851. George H a y d e n , 40 acres, Feb. 29, 1836. C. S. Tu c k e r, 40 acres, Oct. 30, 1851. George Hayden. 40 acres, F e b . 20. 1936. L. T. N . W i l s o n and W . M . M c C a r t y, 40 acres, M a y 16, 1852. Isaac B a r n h a r t , J r. , 81-1.% acres, M a r c h 28, 1836. Ilayoes, 40 acres, Dec. 11, 1852. M a h l o n B a r n h a r t , 80 acres, J u l y 16, 1836. P. P. W r i g h t , 40 acres, Dec. 24, 1852. Thos. D o u g h e r t y, 80 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. A. C. G a r d n e r, 40 acres, J a n . 3, 1853. R. J . C h a m p i o n , 40 scree, J u n e 22, 1837. P. P. W r i g h t , 40 acres, 'Feb. 1, 1853. Lorenzo D . C r i p p e n , 40 acres, A p r i l 1, 1847. W. H . Anderson, 40 acres, N o v. 14, 1853. Jesse Brooks, 40 acres, J u n e 11, 1835. G i l l m a n D a v i s , 40 acres, N o v. 2, 1853. Jesse Brooks, 40 acres, J une 11, 1935. G i l l m a n D a v i s , 40 acres, N o v. 2, 1853. Jesse Brooks, 160 mores, June 11, 1835. G i l l m a n D a v i s , 40 acres, N o v. 2, 1853. Joseph Giles, 40 acres, J u n e 12, 1835. A b r a m F. B o l t o n , 1 1 9 M acres, Dec. 21, 1820. J o h n We s t , 4 6 M acres, N o v. 6, 1835. H a m i l t o n S m i t h , 80 scree, J u n e 16, 1835. Jesse Brooks, 80 acres, J u l y 16, 1835. J o h n Cooley, 80 aeres, Feb. 24, 1834. 9auiuel Brooks, 40 acres, J u l y 15, 1835. J o h n Cooley, 40 acres, J u n e 16, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 40 acres, A u g . 27, 1935. Joel Wo o d w a r d , 160 acres, A u g . 15, 1835. W i l l i a m Rood, 80 acres, Oct. 22, 1835. W m . H . Cross, 40 acres, Oct. 22, 1935. Ethvard Campbell, 40 acres, Oct. 30, 1835. L y m a n Sherman, 80 acres, Oct. 31, 1835. E d w a r d Campbell, 40 acres, Oct. 30, 1835. Seymour L . B i n g h a m , 641, acres, J u l y 28, 1835. J o h n West, 40 acres, N o v. 6, 1835. James B . Stewart, 4 8 M acres, A u g . 10, 1835. Solomon W h i t e , 40 acres, J u l y 18, 1836. W m . 11. Cross, 1 4 6 - M acres, Oct. 22, 1835. L. D . and P. H . C r i p p e n , 40 acres, J u l y 18, 1836. R. J . C h a m p i o n , 40 acres, J u l y 7, 1837. Peter M a r t i n , 65/1000 acres, N o v. 18, 1835. Je.se S m i t h , 5 4 / Va stores, Feb. 29, 1836. M a r t i n B a r n h a r t and B e n j . H . S m i t h , 80 acres, Oct. 4, 1831. E l i s h a Wa r r e n , 80 acres, O c t 8, 1831. W i l l i a m M a r t i n , 160 acme, J u l y 8, 1834. W i l l i a m M a r t i n , 40 acres, J u l y 8, 1834. Peter M a r t i n , 40 acres, Sept. 6, 1834. H a r t Wa r r e n , 40 acres, N o v. 10, 1835. E. S. Sibley a n d D . G . Jones, 80 acres, J u n e 6, 1831. Lorenzo P r a t t , 80 acres, J u l y 29, 1831. Wm. 11. Cross, 80 acres, A u g . 27, 1831. Elisha Wa r r e n , 80 acres, Oct. 8, 1831. Elisha Wa r r e n , 80 acres, Oct. 8, 1831. I l a r v e y Wa r n e r, 40 acres, J a n . 7, 1833. Peter M a r t i n , 40 acres, Oct. 14, 1834. Isaac Bowers, 40 acres, J a n . 7, 1833. Peter M a r t i n , 40 acres, J u n e 12, 1835. James I I . H a n c h e t t , 40 acres, J u n e 19, 1833. Peter M a r t i n , 80 acres. Oct. 10, 1835. L . D . C r i p p e n a n d P h i l o H . C r i p p e n , 80 acres, Dec. 11, 1835. Charles Fletcher, 80 acres, Sept. 5, 1833. George H a u c h e t t , 40 acres, J u n e 11, 1832. W m . M a r t i n , 40 acres, J u l y 8, 1834. Chauncey Strung, 80 acres, A u g . 15, 1835. L . . D . a n d P. H . C r i p p e n , 80 acres, Oct. 15, 1835. D a v i d Haynes, 80 acres, Sept. 16, 1835. Peter M a r t i n , 80 acres, Oct. 10, 1835. H i r a m Barnes, 160 acres, N o v. 23, 1835. M a r g a r e t C r a w, 80 acres. M a y 15, 1834. A b r a m C. F i s k , 40 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. W m . B . Whitehead, 40 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. P h i l i p Olmsted, 40 acres, Feb. 24, 1834. Isaac M i d d o u g h , 5 3 - M acres, Oct. 3, 1834. Oliver Johnson, 9 8 , y, acres, J u n e 3, 1835. L. D . a n d P. H . Crippen, 61-1205, acres, J u l y 18, 1835. James Ruggles, 1 0 0 i % acres, Dec. 18, 1835. W m . H . Cross, 53111,5, acres, J a n . 6, 1836. D e w i t t C. R a n s o m , 40 acres, A u g . 8,1837. Joseph H i c k o x , 80 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. John C. Curtis, 40 acres, A u g . 8, 1837. P. H . Crippen, 3,209, acres, A u g . 8, 1837. Peter M a r t i n , 80 acres, Oct. 10, 1836. Francis Smith, 80 acres, Dec. 2, 1840. Barnabas W i n g , 40 acres, A u g . 27, 1841. J o h n Pearsall, 40 acres, Oct. 31, 1835. Sophia T h u r b e r, 33/30,0- acres, Oct. 28, 1842. Caleb T. F a l l e r, 80 acres, N o v. 12, 1835. D. D i n s m o r e , 40 acres, J u n e 7, 1844. Sylvester S m i t h , 160 acres, N o v. 12, 1835. L y m a n C h a p i n a n d J . L . Rathbone, 160 acres, Feb. 15, 1836. Jesse Mason, 80 acres, June 1,1844. Henry Been, 40 acres, F e b . 17,1836. Jobe P u m a , 40 seven, Oct. 31, 1835. George Fowler, 160 serer, N o v. 28, 1835. G. W . Newcomb, 46-16040- acres, J a n . 28, 1847. H. F. Babcock, 40 acres, A u g . 4, 1849. H . F. Babcock, 40 acres, A u g . 13, 1849. Henry l e e % 88 acres, Feb. 17, 1836. C. B . W i l l i a m s , 40 acres, M a r c h 3, 1853. Chas. Sut6n, 40 acres, M a r c h 10, 1853. M a r n a 11211, SO N M I , M a y 3, 1836. Alamos fkaaner, 160 scree, and Stephen Clark, 80 acres, M a y 6, Nelson B a k e r, 40 acres, Oct. 31, 1853. Enoch Foster, 40 acres, N o v. 12, 1853. 1836. Oliver M i n e r, 40 acres, M a y 11, 1836. A. J . L o c k , 40 bares, A u g . 6, 1861. 31. Bents, 40 acres, N o v. 20, 1852. O r g a n = B . Clark, 40 acres, J a n . 3, 1853. D s W. Pratt, 40 acres, Jan. 3, 1853. Woe. A . Anderson, 48 scree, Jan. 27, 1853. Matthew B r i n k , 40 acres, A p r i l 9, 1835. Allen Tibbets, 40 acres, J u n e 12, 1835. 0 . B. Clark, 40 semi, Feb. 11, 1853. J. H . Carsootbwiek, 40 acres. Mareh 10, 1853. 01' 1 Amor Lock, 441 serer, A p r i l 19, 1853. H . S h a r d ! . . , 40 sores, Aug. 19, 1853. Clinton B . Fisk, 40 sores, Oct. 15, 1853. Perry Smith, 40 scree, Oct. 22, 1863. A . A . Carsoothwiek, 40 serve, Oct. 29, 1853. (1. H . Clerk, 40 acres, N o v. 2, 1853. Wing, 441 owes, Dee. 31, 1863. k. A . Oseneetbwlek, 40 serer, Jae. 6, 1864. 11. A r k , 40 agree, Jan. 23, 1854. r i g a Proodlso,40 berm, Nevelt 25„ 1844. El. Beach. QS acres, M a y 13, 1861. H e n r y McConnell, 40 acres, Oct. 12, 1835. A l l e n Tibbets, 80 acres, Oct. 22, 1835. Allen Tibbets, 80 acres, Oct. 22, 1835. Allen Tibbete, 80 acres, O c t 22, 1835. Wm. Johnson, 40 acres, N o v. 6, 1835. Abraham P h i l l i p s , 80 acres, A p r i l 23, 1836. Prince A r n o l d , 160 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. Prince A r n o l d , 40 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. Rice A r n o l d . J r. , 40 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. Francis Roberts, 80 acres, Oct. IS, 1835. Aaron Packer, 40 acres, Oct. 13, 1835. John P a c k e r, 40 acres, Oct. 13, 1835. A l l e n Tibbets, 40 acres, Oct. 22, 1835. Wm. P. A r n o l d , 40 acres, Oct. 29, 1835. Reuben Whitehead. 80 nem!, N o v. 7, 1835. John (1. Wa r r e n , 40 sores, N o v. 16, 1 8 2 i J o h n G. Wa r r e n , 40 acres, N o v. 16, I H e n r y McConnell, 40 acres, Jan. 19 ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H knife and other implements of war carried by Sauthe first of which he believes t o be the identical which the usurper wet his fate. The summer o f 1556 was rendered memorable as the smoky season, from the burning of the pine lands cent parts of the State. I t continued for a period of two mouths, and at times the smoke was so dense as the sun for days, while it was impossible to discern objects but a slight The county house and farm are established in ship of Coldwater. in the north-central portion, 9, and embrace capacious and well-appointed 140 acres of excellent land. T h e southern portion ersed by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, which runs east and west, having its nearest depot in the city of Coldwater. A n o t h e r railroad, styled Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad, was projected, its course being north and south through the bonds for its construction were issued. T h e road proached completion farther than grading and has at this writing no existence other than is traced upon county maps, or reminders to the stockholders in of unmarketable The surface o f Coldwater township is undulating, the prairie land being varied b y occasional declivities, and being composed o f equal portions o f cleared and timber land It has two lakes, Long Lake being a small sheet o f water on the western border of the territory, Lake, which, with its bayous, forms a considerable sheet of water. T h i s in winter forms a splendid track for cise o f the many fine horses i n the vicinity, and scene o f many very spirited encounters, while the water affords in the summer very fine sport to the lover catorial The soil is a gravelly loam, with occasional cropping,s of clay, and the abundant harvests it yields are evidence of its superior quality. W e append a list o f the cers since its organization: A t the first annual meeting o f the township water, the following officers were elected for the year 1833: Silas A . Holbrook. Supervisor; Joseph C . ship Clerk; Allen Tibbets, John Corbus, Seth Dunham, Assessors; Robert J. Cross, Justice o f the Peace; James B. Tompkins, Martin Barnhart, Lemuel missioners of Highways; Seymour L. Bingham, Collector; S. L. Bingham, Constable; William H . Cross, ham. Allen Tibbets, Enoch Chase, James B. Tompkins, Martin Barnhart, School Inspectors; Lemuel Bingham, Director of the Poor; Robert J. 1834. —Ja mes B. Steward, Supervisor; Wm. Township Clerk; Seymour L . Bingham, Peter Martin, Hart Warren, Assessors; John Wilson, John liam P. Arnold, Commissioners of Highways; Seymour L. Bingham, Constable and Collector; Lemuel Bingham, Joseph Hanchett, Directors of the Poor; William McClerg, William H. Crosq, John Wilson. l'orninissioners Seth Dunham, Glover Ilihtiar,1 .S I n Tihio.t., !tit, . William Merlerg, IrispectoN of Seliools ; S I art iii Barnhart, Coroner 2 COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 1 6 9 1835.—Matthew Brink, Supervisor; William Township Clerk; John Wilson, Christopher Hartsough, Elisha Warren, Assessors; W i l l i a m P. Arnold, Harvey Warner, William H . Cross, Commissioners o f Highways; Seymour L. Bingham, Collector; Joseph Hanchett, Lemuel Bingham, Directors o f the Poor; Seymour L . Bingham, Edwin Milbourn, Constables; A l l e n Tibbets, Matthew Brink, Hiram Allen, Walter Loomis, Silas A . Holbrook, John Cooley, Overseers of Highways. 1836.—Allen Tibbets, Supervisor; William Township Clerk; Christopher Hartsough, Daniel Bronson, B. Lampson, Hart Warren, Assessors; John vey Warner, John Cooley, Commissioners o f Highways; Edward Paxton, Collector; John Wilson, Rice Arnold, J. Conger, Commissioners o f Schools; Lemuel Bingham, Joseph Hanchett, Directors of the Poor; Edward Paxton, Harvey Bronson, J o h n B . Hartsough, Elmon Packer, Constable 1837— W i l l i a m H. Cross, Supervisor; Hiram Shoudler, Township Clerk; Jared Pond, Jotham Conger, L. pen, Assessors; Philo H . Crippen, Treasurer; boy, Charles P. West, Edmund Sloan, Commissioners o f Highways ; Edward Paxton, Collector; Matthew Brink, Justice o f the Peace ; Edward Paxton, James Pierson, Nelson Card, Elnion Packer, Constables; place, Ira Paddock, Allen Tibbets, Inspectors o f Schools; Joel Burlingame, James Fisk, Directors of the Poor. 1838.—The record is incomplete, giving only Harvey Warner as Justice o f the Peace, and E . A . Warner as Township Clerk. 1839.—Reuben J . Champion, Supervisor; Edward A . Warner, Township Clerk ; Charles P. West, Justice Peace; Silas A. Holbrook, Treasurer; Dewitt Lorenzo D. Crippen, Philo H . Crippen, Assessors; James Shoecroft, Samuel S. Curtis, Commissioners of Highways; Henry B. Stillman, Allen Tibbets, Henry of Schools; I r a R . Paddock, Luther Stiles, Directors o f Poor; James Pierson, Collector; Anselm Arnold, Elias Wilbur, 1840.—Jared Pond, Supervisor; Edward A . Warner, Township Clerk ; Lorenzo D . Crippen, Justice o f the Peace; Dewitt C. Ransom, Charles P. West, wood, Assessors: William McCarty, Treasurer; Henry B. Stillman, Albert Chandler, Abram Deyo, Inspectors o f Schools; Elijah Ferguson, Edward W. Phetteplace, Philo H. Crippen, Commissioners of Highways; Jacob Hamblin, John T. Haynes, Directors o f Poor; James Shoecroft, Collector; Oliver P. Wasson, Elias Wilbur, croft, 1841. —Elijah Ferguson, Supervisor; Township Clerk; James Fisk, Treasurer; A . T. Herrick, Sellick Seymour, Albert Chandler, Assessors; Dewitt C. Ransom, Edward A . Warner, Darwin Inspectors; John T. Haynes, John J. Curtis, Directors of the Poor; James Shoecroft, Collector; Joseph Edward W. Plietteplace, Marcus Scovill, miseioners ; Harvey Warner, Justice o f the Peace; Wm. H. Draft and Jared Pond, ditto, to fill vacancy; James Shoecroft, Ezra T. Faxton, TI10111101 Foster, Ansel!), Arnold, Constable �17 HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . .184.—Dewitt C. Ranson', Supi•r‘ isor; Clark Williams, Township Clerk; James Shoecroft, Treasurer; W i l l i : i n ' H. Cross, Justice of the Peace ; Henry Buell, Matthew Gill, Jr., Darwin Littlefield, Inspectors of Whitehead, Augustin J. Goddard, Commissioners ways ; L . D. Crippen, Jesse Brooks, Jacob Hamblin, Burt Etheredge, Overseers of the Poor; Ezra T. Faxton, Hiram Alden, James Peirsou, Anselin Arnold, 1843.—Henry Lockwood, Supervisor; Geo. A . Coe, Township Clerk ; Harvey Dixon, Treasurer; Clark H . Williams, Justice of the Peace; Silas A. liam H. Hanchett, Inspectors of Schools; Augustus T. Goddard, Curtiss Prentice, Commissioners of Highways; Edward W. Phetteplace, Roland ant Assessors; John T. Haynes, Esbon G. of Poor; Anselm Arnold, Jonathan Packer, David Haynes, 1844.—Christopher Dickenson, Supervisor; dler, Township Clerk; David S. Williams, Treasurer; Oliver P. Wasson, Justice of the Peace; Darwin Inspector; Edward W. Phetteplace, Warren sessors; George Haydon, William K e e s , head, Commissioners o f Highways; William McCarty, Abram C . Fisk, Overseers o f Poor; Kimball Parish, Aaron Keyes, George Quick, William I I . stable 1845.-Lorenzo D. Crippen, Supervisor; John Township Clerk ; George A . Kellogg, Treasurer; Harvey Warner, Justice of the Peace; John of Schools ; James Shoecroft, Jacob Assessors; Joseph H . Moss, William Keyes, Daniel N . Wilson, Commissioners o f Highways; Dorset J . Goff, James Mosher, Directors o f the Poor; David Wood, James N . Pierce, William H . Kellogg, Abram C. Fisk, Constabl 1816.—David R . Cooley, Supervisor; S . S . Cutter, Township Clerk ; David S. Williams, Treasurer; George A. Coe, Justice of the Peace; John Root, tor; Curtiss Prentice, Joseph H. Moss, Jonathan Strickland, William Keyes, Daniel missioners of Highways; Dorset J . G-off, James Mosher, Directors of Poor; Sterling Perkins, Amos W . Parish, Hiram H. Alden, George Quick, 1847—Henry Lockwood, Supervisor; Elon Township Clerk; Hiram R. Alden, Treasurer; George A. Kellogg, Justice of the Peace; Henry Buell, spector; Oliver P. Wasson, Joseph H . William Keyes, Jonathan Stockton, William Commissioners of Highways; Dorset Goff, Directors of the Poor; Elijah Perry, Abram C . Fisk, George Quick, Chas. G. Kenyon, 1848.—Henry Lockwood, Supervisor; Elon Township Clerk; A. Arnold, Treasurer; Oliver Justice of the Peace; Isaac Middaugh, Dewitt Commissioners of Highways; Albert Chandler, Spector; Harvey Haines, Thomas J . Edmund Chapman, Oliver S. Van Derheyden, Directors of Pour; A . Arnold, Abram C. Fisk, Alpheus B . Thomas J. Bridge, 184 9.—Ileitry Lockwood, Supervisor; Frederick V . Smith, Township Clerk; Anseltn Arnold, vey Warner, Justice o f the Peace; Jonathan John Allen, Commissioueni of Highways; James bert, School Ineyetlor ; Harvey Haynes, Thomas Assessors; Augustus S. Gleaner, H a n y C. tors of' Poor; Henry Lockwood, Ansel= J. Bridge, Dorset J. Goff, 1850.—Asa Parish, Supervisor; Daniel Township Clerk; David Thompson, Treasurer; &Hick Seymour, Justice of the Peace; Isaac goner of Highways; Harvey Haynes, Thanes J . Bridge. Assessors; Loren Batman, School Inspector; Edmund Chapman, Jame@ Mosher, Directors of Poor; wood, Ansehn Arnold, Thomas J . Bridge, Constabl 1851.—John Root, Supervisor; John G . Parkhurst, Township Clerk; David Thompson, Treasurer; Louis T. N. Wilson, Justice o f the Peace; William sioner of Highways; E . M . Crippes, Schaal Peter Sprague, Daniel Gilbert, Directors of Poor; Henry Lockwood, Milton H. Fuller, William H . Jackson, 1852.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; John Township Clerk; Lorenzo B. Brewer, Treasurer; Daniel C. Morehouse, Justice of the Peace (full term); Edward W. Phetteplace (to fill vacancy ) ; Alonzo Duncan, of Highways; Joseph D. W. Fish, School mer M. Wright, William Smith, Assessors; Daniel Mills, James McConnell, Directors o f Poor; worth, Benjamin C. West, Augustus A . Perkins, 1853.—John Root, Supervisor; Edwin R. ship Clerk; George A. Coe, Justice of the Peace; Loren R. Austin, Treasurer; John I I . Beach, School Inspector; Abram C. Fisk, Daniel N. Wilson, Commissioners ways; John Allen, H. C. Lewis, Directors o f phael S. Gibbs, James Curtiss, David West, 1854.—Corydon P. Benton, Supervisor; Homer M . Wright, Township Clerk; Sellick Seymour, Treasurer; Edward W. Phetteplace, Justice of the Peace; Loren R . Austin, Isaac Middaugh, School Inspectors; John tis, William Anderson, Directors of the Poor; Raphael S. Gibbs, Orin Crippen, Sellick Seymour, David West, Constabl 1855.—George A. Coe, Supervisor; Benjamin C. Webb, Township Clerk; &Mick Seymour, Treasurer; Franklin T. Eddy, Justice of the Peace; Elijah C. Inspector; Alonzo Duncan, Commissioner o f Highways; William S. Gilbert, Morris Howe, Overseers of lick Seymour, Raphael S . G i l l . . Franklin Daniel S. Pratt, 1856.—Harvey 11;t nes. Super C Township Clerk 11,latid l l a v i a Justice of' the Peace ; D . W. 1:1-k. Dispeot,r Schools; Abram C . Fisk C.mtnis,ioner o f H i g l i w a s George A . Stillman. A It.x3rolor I leytiold,, Director, o f Poor; Roland Root St,llick Sevinolir. David S. Pratt. James 1857.— J o h n Roo', \ 1 , 0 , 1),1 . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . ship Clerk ; James Pierson, Treasurer ; Dauiel house, Justice o f the Peace; Elijah C . Branch, School Inspector; James B. Southworth, Commissioner ways; John Gray, Mortimer Mansfield, Overseers Poor; W i l l i a m H . Brown, David B . Puriutou, James Barnes, L. I). Halsted, 1858.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; David Township Clerk; David B . Purinton, Treasurer; J o h n Root, Justice o f the Peace; Joseph D . W. Inspector; Barnabas B. Shoecroft, Commissioner ways; Alexander Reynolds, John Gray, Overseers o f the Poor; Sellick Seymour. Foster Bowker, John Whitcomb, William H. Brown, 1859.—David B. Dennis, Supervisor; Robert ridge, Township Clerk; D a v i d B . Purinton, Treasurer; Corydon P. Benton, Justice of the Peace; Elijah John Murphy, School Inspectors: William B. nabas Shoecroft, Commissioners of Highways; John Gray, Alexander Reynolds, Directors o f the Poor; George W. Johnson. Harvey D . Miller, George W . Bowker, John Whitcomb, 1860.—David B. Purinton, Supervisor; Robert ridge, Township Clerk; Cornelius Va n Ness, Treasurer; Alvin T. Lanphere, Justice o f the Peace; David ers, School Inspector; James B. Southworth, George W. Smith, John Kent, Commissioners of Highways. 1861.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; A . D . Eldridge, Township Clerk ; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer; Oliver P. Wasson ( full term), William S. Gilbert, Peries Lincoln, Joseph W . Whitney, Justices o f the Peace; H e n r y C. Fenn, Commissioner o f Highways; Joseph A . Haight, Charles A . Goddard, School Inspectors; Joseph Fetterly, Norman W. Case, George B . Williams, Lucius B . Wing, Constable 1862.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; George H. White, Township Clerk; Timothy White, Treasurer; Joseph M. Whitney, Henry C. Fenn, Justices of the Peace; John W. Turner, Commissioner o f Highways; William Charles A . Goddard, School Inspectors ; Joseph terly, John G. Munson, Sterling Perkins, Augustus P. Tucker, 1863.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; Ira W. ship Clerk ; William Bennett, Treasurer; Peries Lincoln, Justice of the Peace; John W. Turner, School Inspector; James B . Southworth, Commissioner o f ling Perkins, A . A . Va n Northwick, Nathan Fetterly, George W. Nye, 1864.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; William Township Clerk; Charles J. Fonda, Treasurer; Henry C. Fenn, S. S. Scoville, Justices o f the Peace; Daniel C. Morehouse, School Inspector; Horace W. sioner o f Highways; Sterling Perkins, Nathan Fetterly, Jeremiah Cox, George Holden. 1865.--Sylvanus :4. Scoville, Supervisor; C l i i k liams, Township Clerk; Charles J. Fonda, Treasurer; Elijah S. Carpenter, Justice o f the Peace; Barnabas croft, Granville Stowe, Commissioners of Highways; Harvey Haynes, School Inspector; Nathan Fetterly, Artemus H. Legg, Samuel V. Cornell, 1866.—Sylvanus S. Scoville, Supervisor ; Clark I I . W 1 7 1 Hams, Township Clerk ; Elias Gage, Treasurer ; James B. Southworth, Robert Lynd, Justices of the Peace; Mahlon A. Smith, Cyrus A. Hand, Orson Randall, of Highways; Gilbert McFarland, School tin Elliott, George S. Allen, Hiram P. Mason, Constable 1867.—Henry C. Fenn, Supervisor; C . H . Williams, Township Clerk ; Elias Gage, Treasurer; Peries Lincoln, Thomas Fetterly, Justices of the Peace; Charles Legg, M. A. Smith, School Inspectors; Isaac Mains, Commissioner of Highways; A m o s Sanford, Norman Case, Oscar F. Burdick, David Lynd, 1868.—Isaac Mains, Supervisor; Charles N. ship Clerk ; William B. Mason, Treasurer ; Jeremiah Cox, Justice o f the Peace; George W. Fisk, School Inspector; William H . Webster, Abram C. Fisk, Commissioners o f Highways; David Lynd, John Stewart, Adelbert ling Perkins, 1869.—Isaac Mains, Supervisor; C l a r k H . Williams, Township Clerk ; William B . Mason, Treasurer; Barney B. Shoecroft, Daniel C. Morehouse, Justices of the Peace; Mahlon A . Smith, School Inspector; 0 . S. cius Phetteplace, Commissioners of Highways; croft, Alonzo Eaton, William King, 1870.—Isaac Mains, Supervisor; C l a r k H . Williams, Township Clerk; William B. Mason, Treasurer; Jacob L. Munson, Joseph W . Whitney, Justices o f the Peace ; George W. Fisk, School Inspector; James B. Soutworth, Commissioner o f Highways; Abram Branatnan, Nathan Fetterly, Theophilus Rockwood, Henry Fox, 1871.—Isaac Mains, Supervisor; Jonas H . McGowan, Township Clerk ; Edward J. Moss, Albert N. tices o f the Peace; W m . B . Mason, Treasurer; Jacob Andrews, School Inspector; Lucius missioner o f Highways; Nathan Phetteplace, Hiram P. Mason, Theophilus Rockwood, Alva Clark, I872.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; Jonas Township Clerk; Elias Gage, Treasurer; Edward Justice of the Peace; Mahlon A. Smith, George W. Fisk, Origin Bingham, Commissioners o f Highways ; Harvey Haynes, Drain Commissioner; Nathan Fetterly, Norman Case, William P. Benton, 1873.—Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; Clark H. Williams, Township Clerk; Elias Gage, Treasurer; Edward Daniel C. Morehouse, Justices o f the Peace; Mahlon A . Smith, School Inspector; James B . sioner of highways; Harvey Haynes, Drain Commissioner ; Nathan Fetterly, 1874.—Alonzo B. Allen, Supervisor; Clark H. Williams, Township Clerk; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer; Jacob L . Munson, Henry C. Fenn, E l i Bidleman, Justices o f the Peace; Jay Brooks, Mahlon A . Smith, School Inspectors; William P. Norton, Highway Commissioner ; Nathaniel C. Gardner, Drain Commissioner; Nathan Fetterly, Adelburt Wicks, Nathaniel C. Gardner, George W. stables. • 1875.—Alonzo B. Allen, Supervisor; Clark liams, Township Clerk; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer; Albert N. Bunton, Henry C. Fenn, Frederick J. of the Peace; Mahlon A. Smith, School �1111 ill t I k 1 1 4 %S. 401,11111,4,/ Superintendent of Schools; I I Shoecroft, Solomon Sherwood, John Btu 1876.—Alonso B. Allen, Supervisor; Township Clerk; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer; William B . Mason, Jacob C. Andrews, Justices of the Peace; Mahlon A. Smith, School Inspector; Harvey Haynes, ent of Schools; William T. Norton, Commiasioner ways; Jeremiah Cot, Drain Commissioner; terly, George Whitehead, Solomon Sherwood, Constabl 1877.—Henry C. Fenn, Supervisor; Harvey Township Clerk; Charles Shoecroft, Treasurer; Isaac M . Selover, Justice o f the Peace; George W. tendent o f Schools; Mahlon A . Smith, School Inspector; William P. Norton, Commissioner of Highways; Jeremiah Cox, Drain Commissioner; Francis Granger, Jr., William B. Fisk, Eli Bidleman, Samuel Fisk, 1878.—Alonzo B . Allen, Supervisor; C l a r k liams, Township Clerk; George W. Fisk, sell Rice, Commissioner of Highways; Robert P. Jefferds, Superintendent o f Schools ; Barney B . Shoecroft, Drain Commissioner; C. Perry Woodard, Justice o f the Peace; A. B . Hemingway, School Inspector; J o h n B u r r e l l , Thomas T. Williams, Solomon Sherwood, Nathan Fetterly, Constable in the int' was among flo ; t. miles from the only o f cutting the fa!, • BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ABRAM C. FISK was born i n Monroe Co., N. Y. , Feb. 19, 1815. W h e n twenty years of age he came to Michigan, arriving water Sept. 7, 1835. H e worked in the hotel for during which time he took forty acres o f land from the government. H e soon bought another forty. H e married Catherine Smith, daughter o f Rev. Francis Smith, who settled in Coldwater in 1835. Being a man of and large means, he contributed largely to the prosperity and development of the country. M r . Fisk he now resides, in 1840, where he has made of the finest farms and homes in Branch specialty has been blooded horses, in which h e eminently successful. T h e first celebrated horse to Branch County was Green Mountain Black Hawk, in 1851. A m o n g the valuable horses he has since owned may b e mentioned Vermont H e r o , Othello o r Black Prince, Black H a w k Morgan, Moscow, Manibrino Chief, Boyce Horse, Messenger ( a thorough-bred), L a c y ( a thorough-bred), Belmont, Sir Archie, Lexington Chief (a trotter), Mainbrino Patelien, Hambletonian mally Alasterlode, as recorded in the stock hooks. A m o n g the many valuable horses owned by Mr. Fisk, this home may be placed at the bead o f the list, and as of his worth w e w i l l say t h a t h e has refused fifteen thousand dollars for him. H e sold Mambrino twelve thousand dollars, and several other horses prices. B r a n c h County and Michigan have a putation for fine horses, and t o I l r F l -k ! i or.. J A M I L W 11 . . assisted in I L r,,ad t l a 1 1 . born in Cayuga Co., N. V., Jan. 4, 1609. B e was of Jesse and Mary Wilcox. who came to St. in 1840, wh,r. H 1-11. i 1 . 2 The subject of this sketch lived with his father grew to manhood, when he curried as doe t a w N i s . 9, 1834, he was married to M i i i Anna Paeans, lianglabor ef ( a l b r , c i d i n t t . b) Coldwater. at Mt Coldwater, with his wife and one ekild, Jaw purchased the land when, he has since re:aided. died Oct. 17, 185). - i x .11iH!.!..--1 •,I! : 1 1 , 1 t died at Rolla. Mo.. of fever. I Mr. W ( , x 111 : 1 ! ! ' , 1 . C. Bu. ..\1,,•r, 1 , , I R A �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 173 MRS. J O H N R O B E R T S . JOHN ROBERTS is the sole survivor o f one of the representative pioneer families o f Branch County. I l e is o f Welsh extraction. His grandfather was an early settler i n New Hampshire, and served in the Revolutionary war. F l is father, Francis . Roberts, was born i n New Hampshire, May 28, 1777. When eighteen years o f age he left the paternal roof to mark out a path o f life, which has been changing and eventful. J a n . 5, 1805, he was married t o Lois Lay i n Georgia, Vt. I n 1811 h e took his wife and two children in a wagon and journeyed to Upper Canada, a distance of six hundred miles, stopping near Coburg, where he was drafted as a British subject. N o t fancying the idea o f , fighting against his native land, he took an open others and crossed Lake Ontario, worked i n Rochester, , N. Y., eighteen months, when he recrossed the lake, family, and crossed to Niagara Co., N. Y. I n April, purchased forty acres of land in Hartland the immediate subject of this sketch was born, March 14, 1818. H e r e the family remained until 1829, time there had been noi,11 ,iektiess in the Mg to try a different locality, Mr. Nigkerts mine Michigan, returned to New Yore,—lorated i n Chautauqua County, where he became crippled for life with In the fall o f 1835 he came to Branch County, chased from the governincrit eighty acres of land, which is DOR a portion o f the Roberts farm i n Coldwater. H e returned to New York, awl the next April, with hold effects and his family in a wagon. started gan, arriving at Coldwater April 23, 1836, after journey of eighteen days, and eonmeneed the cutting himself a home from the unbroken forest. W i t h only a small payment 011 his land, himself 3 ple, the itutlin,k was WA a bright one T h e two boys six teen and eighteen yearn of age, were his main reliance. A small log house and a few acres of land, cleared with wheat, were the important improvements the first season. W h e n t h e wheat was harvested i t was threshed in the house, there being no other floor on John, with a thoughtfulness which has characterized him through life, had brought a quantity of apple-segs from the East, which were planted as soon as the ground could be prepared. F r o m these seeds quite a nursery lished, and several hundred dollars realized. T h e grand old orchard which has supplied the farm with f r u i t for forty years was from Francis Roberts* died A u g . 26, 1855, eight years, and his wife March 17, 1865, eight years. T h e y had four children,—two two sons; the oldest daughter, Betsy, married of Coldwater; she died Feb. 18, 1863. T h e and John, and the daughter, Anna, remained at the old home, where Stephen died April 13, 1868, and 29, 1868. J o h n , the only survivor o f the family, was married, April 20, 1869, to Mrs. Adaline merly Adaline Brooks, daughter of Samuel and and granddaughter o f John Cooley, who settled water Jan. 1,1834. Mr. Roberts and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church o f Coldwater, and take a warm interest and an active part i n its affairs and contribute liberally to its support. T h e y have one child, There have been no sudden accessions o f property, but steadily year by year, by frugal and industrious wavering industry, and sagacious management. the original eighty acres of land have expanded to one of the in Branch County, and its proprietor is ranked among its substantial and wealthy men. M a n y o f the local public enterprises and charitable institutions have received from him liberal gifts • Francis Roberts WSIg n member o f tic. 11 0 1 - 1 c h u r c h , and his wife. Lois, was a member of the Presbyterian Church: t h e remainder of the family were Methodists. �-. 174 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH W11.1.IANI I ' . Ni,I;110. kali at Goshen, Conn.. June 21, 1s2-i. I I i . the ,..on of ;Jeremiah Norton, who died in 1s31, leaving and three children. I n 1845 they moved to I I Ohio, where William P. wvtit to learn the trade. Before he was tweiity-one years of age he menced building a shop fur himself at Oleau, he carried on the businesssome three years, time, and on the 29th of December, 1851, he ried to Miss Mary A. Angel, daughter of of Olean, Ohio, formerly from Providence, B. I. spring of 1853 Mr. Norton moved to Norwalk, he worked at the carpentering business until hewent to Kansas, and hicated on land near Emporia. I l e C O U N T Y, MIC1114; A N - i n the political o f that time, and vote to wake that a free State. H e also met his vote to make Nevada a State, he having spent some three that State and California,—returning to Ohio in of 18iltl ; then cattle to Coldwater, sad settled on the Ii where he now resides, two miles south of the lie has spent his time in improving his farm substantial buildings, a view of which may be seen work. M r . and Mrs. Nodes X* ! P M . = . Episcopal Church of ( w u I s thrifty citizens o f the county. They bon blessed with children of their own, but have ter r i m one or more children in their family, who for as their Q U I N C Y. °CUTTING a central position on the east border of Branchlt ounty is Quincy township. andAlgansee townships, respectively, adjoin it on west, and south, while Hillsdale County forms boundar It has a comparatively level surface, which originally was heavily timbered in the north and south small prairies and oak (wings extended through The site of Quincy village and its vicinity was a prairie of several hundred acres The soil consists of a sandy and gravelly loam, occasionally with clay loam. I t is of an and produces bounteous crops of hay, corn, other vegetables, fruits, and the various cereals, live stock and wool, are the chief agricultural Farm oduce, live stock, lumber, staves, and the chief articles In the amount of farm products it takes the among Branch County townships, excelling all Coldwater River and Hog Creek are the courses. T h e former flows from Marble Lake, and northwest course, intersecting the southwest corner of the township. T h e latter enters the town front the the centre of the east border, and, flowing in a direction, crosses the Marble, Berry, and Quincy Lakes include portions of sections 21, 28, 29, 32, and 33. T h e y are west of Quincy village, and contain an area of acre FIRST L A N D E N T R I E S . Horns Willson, in June, 1830, entered the first land in this township. His purchases included the west half southwest quarter of section 12, the northwest quarter tion 1:i, and the east half of the northeast quarter 14,-320 acres in all. John Cornish concluded for lands on section 15, Oct. 16, 1832; and James G. Corbus a few days later, on The following list, arranged by sections, names of the original owners of Sect ion 1, 1835.*—Alnion Nichols, Washburn Wight, Jacob Shook, Jr., Ansel C. Section 2. 1835.—Thomas Wheeler, William J. Delavan, Solomon Wood, Section 3, 1836.—Wilt,e; .1 Irl; strong, Section 4, 1836.—William Black, Thomas Arts.,- • Joseph Berry, Richard B. Gay, Jose M a w r * LiveRobertH ,'T y B ia h p r.S e m o tw Hopkin Semi°, 5. 1Russ , . s Line-in - 1 4 ' t • phew William; Almon Summer,' . Locke. . •• i t z ; Section 8, 1836. Berry, George P. Babcock, Chit ,t W 0 , 1 . / 1 J . Burlinga Section 9, 18:;t, L .1 i t . S. Mudge, Alva Clark, Griswold Burnham, Section 10, 1835.—James Adams, William J. Miami, Matthew Armstrong, Herr,S 5 .3 ,8 1 n to c e •Th �JOSEPH, QUINC Y,BRANCHCOUNTY, ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . John J . Duerler, Robert Wood, Tompkins C. Delavan, Solomon Wood. Section 12, 1830.—Horns \Vinson, Griswold Burnham, Alva Burlison, Joseph T. Burnham, Lyman Cole, Ansel Crowell Section 13, 1830.—Horns Willson, James G. Corbus, Elisha Warren, Griswold Burnham, Enos G. Berry, Robert S. Ticknor, David W. Baker, Section 14. 1830.—Horns Willson, Ellis wold Burnham, Elisha Warren, Joseph L . Hartsough, John B . Hartsough, Richard Morey, John J . Duerler, Joseph Hanchett, Lewis B. Hanchett. Section 15. 1832.—John Cornish, Walter Hamilton, Enos G. Berry, John Broughton, James Adams, Warren Bill, Lyman Chapin, Jared L . Berry, Caleb Brown. Section 16, 1837.—Rice Arnold, Enos G. Berry, William P. Arnold, Alfred Wilniarth, James Davis, Israel Waters, Nicholas Dailey, John Joseph, ter, Fiorello P. Williams, Cynthia M . Etheridge, John Broughton, Charles Arnold. Section 17, 1834.—Henry Van Hyning, Bartholomew Hewett, Elmer Packer, Thomas McCarty, George cock, John Law, Griswold Burnham. Section 18. 1834.—Conrad Rapp, Elmer Packer, David Newell, Elisha Hartsough, Thomas McCarty, Hamilton G. Rice, Dorcas Hewett. Section 1 9 , 1833.—Joseph L . Hartsough, David B . Hartsough, Conrad Rapp, David Hartsough, nell, Thomas McCarty. Section 2 0 , 1834.—Abraham Vesschius, Henry Va n Hyping, James Ransom, Bartholomew Hewett, George Ransom, J o h n Broughton, Alanson H a r g e r, Thomas 1 Do,isi:egctheior 1835.—Bartholomew Hewett, Samuel Berry, Enos G. Berry, Alanson Harger, Pearson Anson, Ansel Crowell Section 22, 1835.—John D. Burroughs, James Adams, Ira S. Mudge, Hamilton G. Rice, John kiah D. Mudge, Joseph Berry, Section 23, 1835.—William Laughlin, Richard bus, Abner Harris, Joseph Hanchett, L a v r a Hibbard, Samuel Eddy, Luther Briggs, Section 24, 1835.—Abraham Vesschius, James Clizbe, James M. Burdick, Luther Briggs, Benjamin Pierce Section 25, 1835.—Philo H. Crippen, Lorenzo pen. Mem) Barber, Allinson Sumner, Stephen Ambler. Section 26, 1836.—Harrison H. Scott, Abram C. Fish, Lewis W. Decker, Joseph Section 28, 1836.—John Broughton, Hamilton Silas Furgeson, Calvin Snow, Schuyler Matteson, James Taylor, Thompson Section 27, 18365—James Feller, Sumner & Law, William Joseph, Section 29, 1836.—Peter D. Shook, John Broughton, Joseph W. Kinnen, Albert Starr, Peter A . ard Starr, Enos G. Berry. SectiAm 30, 1835.—Thomas McCarty, Cyrus Champlin, 17 Abraham Phillips, Rhoda Woodard, James Fisk, James Hall, Calvin Section 31, 1836.—Walter P. Van Vechten, Thomas Armstrong, Jacob Bennett, Russell Packard. Section 32, 1837.—Frederick Myers, Lorenzo stead, Peter A . Drake, Richard Starr, George Section 33, 1836.—Eliphalet Tower, Ira S. son N. Section 34, 1836.—Eliphalet Tower, Samuel Egnew, Ira S. Mudge, Sumner & Clark. Section 35, 1836.—John S. Belote, Sumner & Clark. Section 36, 1836.—Sumner & Clark, Lorenzo pen, Dan Barber, Joseph H. Belote. FIRST S E T T L E M E N T S . Horns \Vinson, the first settler in this township, Scotch origin, and accounted for the strange orthography of his name b y claiming that i t was the Scotch method of spelling it. H e was a native o f Batavia, N . Y. , and during the war of 1812 served with the New York State troops, under Capt. Parrish. H e was captured at tle of Black Rock, and held as a prisoner of' war treal for nine months. A t an early day he settled i n Berlin, Ohio, where he remained until about 1825, when he removed to Detroit. In June, 1830, he made the first purchase of lands township, buying 320 acres, which embraced portions o f sections 12, 13, and 14, and contiguous to a broad Indian trail, afterwards known as the " Chicago Turnpike." M r . Willson was a carpenter by trade, and soon after chase, assisted by a hired man named George structed a small block house, which was situated very near the site o f the present Andrews residence, on section 14. This first house is described as having been built logs, the corners nicely dove-tailed together. H e companied here by his wife—who afterwards married David W. Baker—and two children.* S o o n after of his house i t was opened t o t h e public as a tavern o r "place o f entertainment." T h e following is a literal copy of the bond entered into by him and his sureties for ful observance of law and order: " Yo u , H o l l i s Willson, do acknowledge t o owe t h e U n i t e d States of Ameries t h e sum o f fifty dollars, and you, A b r a m F . John Morse, do severally acknowledge t o owe t h e U n i t e d States o f America t h e sum o f twenty-five dollars each, t o b e levied several goods a w l chattels, lands and tenements, upon condition t h a t , Whereas, the above-bound Burris Willson is admitted and allowed by Ike Township Board t o keep a tavern f o r the space o f one year next ensuing, and no longer, in t h e house and place now occupied b y the said Berrie Willson, and no other. " N o w, therefore, i f the said Burris Willson, during the said, shall keep and maintain good order and rule, and shall suffer no disorder nor unlawful game to be used in his said house, or in any o f the dependencies thereof, and shall not break any of the laws for the regulation o f taverns, then I b i s recognizance shall b e null a n d void, otherwise in full force. " T h i s you acknowledge. T a k e n a w l acknowledged a t ship Board, hold f o r t h e Township of tlreen, in t h e county o f S t . Joseph, a w l Territory o f Michigan, this 2341 day of March, 1832." Mr. Willson began t h e construction o f a small frame * L y d i a Ann, widow 41f the late D r. Enos I I . Berry, and son, Jr., both o f whom are residents of Quinsy a t the present time. • �176 H I S T O R Y O F l i l t %NCH C O U N T Y house, but died before its etaupletion, his being the first death to occur in the township. James G. Corbus, the youngest of four pioneer brothers (Joseph C., John, Richard W. , and James G.), was born in Detroit in 1804. A t an early age he married Mims label Eddy, o f the former city. H i s wife died shortly after the birth o f a daughter, now Mrs. Abel Coon, o f lage. I n 1827, M r. Corbus became a resident land, 0 . , where h e remained u n t i l June, 1832, when (having meanwhile married Miss Nancy M . Moore, the daughter of one of Cleveland's pioneers) he came to Branch County. D u r i n g the summer of 1832, as a contractor, he was engaged in the construction of that portion of cago turnpike which crossed Bronson's Prairie. ber of the same year he purchased lands of the which were situated upon section 13, in this early in the spring of 1833 he became an actual resident. Here he built the first framed house. I t in 1833 and finished the following year. M e n were hired to come from Ypsilanti to raise the frame, and the lumber with which i t was completed was obtained at Orangeville. His house was also opened as a tavern, and during the years from 1835 to 1840, when emigrants via road were streaming into the county by thousands, he and his good wife were kept busy night and day, to entertain them. A g a i n , during the building of the Lake road, in 1850, his house was filled to overflowing workmen.. H e was the second treasurer elected in Branch County, and occupied many official positions i n ship. I n 1852 he made an overland journey to California, and again i n 1859. H e died i n 1872. H i s surviving children reside as follows: Mrs. Nancy Quincy, Mich.; H . J. Corbus, Adrian, Mich.; Mrs. R. R. Morse, Angola, Ind.; and J. L. Corbus, St. Louis, Mo. John Cornish, one of the first settlers in ship, bought the first land upon section 15, Oct. and became the first settler upon the site of lage in the fall of 1833. H i s house, a small log shanty, stood upon t h e site ,of Clark's " Quincy House." H e erected t h e first framed house and barn i n 1834. H e also kept tavern, and the first was held at his house in 1836. Ellis Russell, another very early pioneer, came i n a t about the same time, and leased of Mrs. Willson the son tavern." H e afterwards purchased lands of ment, and settled upon section 14 in 1834. Among the settlers of 1835 were Henry Van Ilyning, who was one of Girard's very first pioneers; from England; Alanson [larger, frOm Madison Co., N. Y. ; John S. Belote, from Orleans Co., N. Y. ; Walter Loomis, from Ashtabula, Ohio; David Newell, Monroe Co., N. Y. ; Peter Shook, Wayne Co., N. Y. ; David W. roe Co., N. Y. ; William Laughlin, Alva Burlison, Huron Co., Ohio; Bartholomew Hewett, Knox Co., Clizbe, Steuben Co., N . Y. ; Pearson Anson, Livingston Co., N . Y. ; Griswold Burnham, Orleans Co., N . Y. ; Joseph T. Burnham, Lenuwee Co., M i c h . ; ton and Conrail Rapp. James M . Burdick, a native o f Livingston Co., N. Y., emigrated at an early day with his father's family • I l i the -uninier 1 tdmuiT 1.1 h i , O h i i i arryim.: kuapsaek t , t i t e n t . , of w } i i i , i I l 4 , 11 ) 4 1 - .41 art. 41.011 fp.1 frau OA htt.,r county t o Buffalo, thence b y steamer t o Detroit. I S M Detroit he took the broad Indian trail that led him teem& the isout1. -1 a n d 1.411,44A,41 i i , 4•,,r444 u n t i l Allen's, i n Hillmiale County, where he months. J a n . 1,1831. he proceeded to Coldwater. gaged t o split rail f r .1 loam J. Ii4/1t4.n T i l t , 44day.- lat,r he moved into the woods, one aud one-half miles north u f Coldwater City, and began his labors. T h e r e was a gnat depth of snow, and his first work wan to fell tree, split it, and hew out a shovel, with white be &mud away the snow from the spot Wasted to hold When his house was completed, be Isegna aplilliwg n i p and a t t h e expiration o f four months had enough t o fence, and d i d 1.1,4 410 tir44 a e r e , Branch County. H e obtained some of his Mr. Bolton, who lived four slier seadafteat I l i A N I L but his rifle supplied him with amat, while an of wild honey could be found in the woods. R e soya tint be took 200 pounds of honey from a cherry-tree, only fifty yards distant from his shanty. In February, 1832, M r. Burdick, accompanied b y his father, Ichabod H . Burdick, who had come out the fall previously and purchased lands in A l l . , turned totoNew York, driving th44 wle4h• and cutter. T h e y traveled . , 1 , 4 1 Canada. A t the crossing of the Detroit River, fifteen miles troit, they experienced a very narrow escape into Lake Erie. T h e y had arrived at about the maid& ef the river, when the ice broke up, became detached from both shores, and with a strong, steady current them towards the great lake. T h e piece they were a r i a was nearly h a l f a mile square, yet i t was covered with water t o the depth o f three o r four inches. ing down some t w o o r three miles, young Ilur.liek covered that the eastern edge of their ice-raft from the firm ice on the eastern shore b y an of about ten feet i n w i l d , . T h i , n e a r c r than t h y had yet been. and. as a lai-ze e f seen d..wn the rii4•1-, he concluded that i t w.e44. i w He had a good active young horse,- - , . n , in which lie had great confidence as to his jumping qualities, asoh, 1,01 bt,TI tested on the frontier many times W e a k I n h . r u t i n g his father o f his intentions, they returned to the cutter (for they had left i t and separated somewhat, fearing that the accumolaied “ f thein,elves. their hon., might cause all t o break through), sprang in, and lotting his horse well in hand, starting briskly forward, and away they sped f o r the leap. T i e . 11.,r.,• p,rfortned hi.. ',art nobly, and at the instant o f makimt. . i t i n a p the linrdiek. threw themselves thrward. and by their momentum him greatly, besides saving themselves from bails ammo backward into the swift, deep curtest, d i m * which the rear part of their vehicle was dragged. T h e y a s e e d i e i Whi wiener i n g , th f.March,1832, B o a t d s a k Y w N n m iro e ( father and eon) and Abigail Moshar, James M., returned to Kithira, ' W i n in �•A • •It • . !minim! , m i n a L . 111111 C T ' • frat.13111111111111111111111111111111ui•.:i'iiiiii'iifluiiIflflllhIUflhI11.1111111,1111111111 4ifAtij 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 ra•* 1 I r y ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Hillsdale Co. H e r e , on section 15, James M . Burdick opened the first tavern i n 1832. I n the spring he removed t o Quincy township and located upon section 24, where he resided f o r many years. I l e was present at the first town-meeting in Quincy, where lie a school commissioner, also an inspector of schools, and is perhaps the only survivor of those elected at the meeting. H e also served with Capt. James Olds company during the Black Hawk war, having been summoned to take the field while returning to Michigan, in when, with his young wife, he was yet fifteen from his During the year 1836, Samuel H. Berry and Joseph, Enos G., and Ezra. became residents. from Barrington, N. H., originally, but had resided ferent periods in Wayne Co., Pa., Niagara Cos., N. Y. Joseph, the oldest son, was the first one family to visit Michigan. and was the leading spirit in the removal of his father's family from Chautauqua, N. Y., to Quincy, Mich. H e settled first on an 8 0 -acre ning near the old cemetery, running north on what is now known as Main Street, one hundred rods north of road, and eastward about one-fourth of a mile, and began the pursuits of a farmer. H e also, at an early day, engaged in the hotel business on the site of the Quincy tinuing only a year or so. H e gave his attention ing on a large scale, adding many acres to his Mr. Berry has also been largely interested in the mercantile business of the village, first with his brothers Enos Ezra, and William J. Briggs, then with G. 0. as only proprietor, then with Mr. Ludlam as manager, and lastly with Oscar Williamson as superintendent of The brick block now standing on the southwest corner of Chicago and Main Streets was built by him during his last years of business. I n 1877 he made an extensive trade with Daniel Larzelere, o f Tekonsha, whereby the owner of about 400 acres o f valuable land and M r. Larzelere of his store, mercantile business, with erty in Quincy. M r . Berry at once removed where he still resides, though he is a heavy taxpayer on property in He was married in 1837 to Miss Sophia S. Brown, of Quincy. A s a citizen be has always been among most in aiding improvements, and where new been entertained for building up the village his generally preceded a large sum as a Dr. Enos G. Berry, the first supervisor, first and first resident physician in the township, was during his lifetime a most prominent man. H e settled tions 21 and 22. H i s portrait and with those of his widow,—the eldest child of settler,—will be found upon Ezra Berry, the youngest of the brothers here, was sixteen years old when the family removed to Michigan, and was required to drive two cows distance, himself on foot. T h e journey days, sad his total expenses amounted to $7.50. arrival he was made an 'existent of his father in isasinem. T h e hostelry was the building now Sigma Mowry, ou Were Chicago Street. I n 1837 his 17 brother, Dr. Berry, being made postmaster, Ezra in charge of the office, the contents o f which were at first kept in a bushel basket, and continued in that service until 1840, when he commenced preaching as a ister, traveling this circuit as an employee of the presiding elder, i n connection w i t h Revs. Roswell Parker, Peter Sabin, and others. F r o m 1842 t o 1844 he in the mercantile business i n Coldwater with I r a Bidwell. He again engaged in ministerial labor in 1844; in 1847, mercantile business again ; i n 1851, lumbering; during 1852, superintendent of a railroad corps, running a line o f road through the Kankakee Swamp; I n 1854, in 1855, merchant a t B u r r O a k ; burned out i n 1857. Then removed to Quincy and sold goods until 1866, since which time he has practiced law. H e took u p the study of law early in life, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. John Broughton and Lester Broughton, of Vermont, removed a t an early day t o Western New York, thence to Lorain Co , 0., and t o Quincy in 1836. John Broughton kept tavern f o r some years upon t h e brick-yard farm, between Coldwater and Quincy. speculated to some extent in government lands, and was a contractor during the building of the Lake Shore Railroad. He was a strong and vigorous man, accustomed t o having things move his own way, impulsive and ardent i n h i s views, but always maintained a high position among his neighbors. H e cast the first vote township, on the morning o f April 4, 1836, and was one of the founders o f the Methodist Episcopal Church o f Quincy village. T h e i r first meeting was held at He died Feb. 2, 1879; was born Nov. 8, 1793. George Boon was born i n Philadelphia, July 27, 1802. His parents removed to New York City in 1806, kill i n 1810, and t o West Point i n 1812. I n 1814 to Ontario Co., N. Y. I n 1836 he removed to purchased a wild farm o f Griswold Burnham, where he now resides. D u r i n g the years 1836 and 1837 a great many settlers came in, and houses sprang up on tion i n the township. A m o n g them were liams, from Niagara, N. Y. ; Philander and from Canada; Thaddeus E. Ball, from Oneida Co., N. Y. ; Russell Darwin and Ebenezer L. Donahee, from N. Y. ; Ansel Nichols, from Oswego Co., N. Y ; Peter M. Newbery, from Saratoga Co., N . Y. ; Caleb Burlingame, Chenango Co., N. Y. ; Jeremiah B . Whelan, Livingston Co., N. Y. ; James Ashton, England; L . G. Co., N . Y. ; J o h n Sinclair, Seneca Co., N . Y. ; David Blood, Onondaga Co., N. Y. ; George P., II. F., Babcock, Orleans Co., N. Y. ; Chauncey E. ingston Co., N. Y., and many others, whose names will be found in the alphabetical list of pioneers, first statistical reports, lists of township and village to which the reader is William P. Arnold, a native o f Rutland Co., who had previously resided i n Niagara and Chautauqua Cos., N. Y., came to Branch County in June, 1833. H e first settled upon the premises now occupied Fisk, in the town of Coldwater; here he built a small log house, which stood between M r. Fisk's and the road. H e also built the farm-house �II I T t i l 1 " o r I:11A NCII C O U N T Y, ..11 . . . 1 1 i . 1 . . l • 111. a l . . . \ t1•111.1111..11..1 l a n d i occupied b y h i m . H e r e io Lodi a -111111 1.1,111.. 1 1 , 1 which he now uses as a corn-house. I i i i 1 . I his becoming a citizen o f Quincy until N I I Arnold has been active and prominent in all pohlo .k.as private matters, which had in view the advao... prosperity o f his village and township. l l e t o , , , 1 worthily filled many positions o f trust and was chosen supervisor i n 1840, and received the honor of being re-elected in consecutive years to 1859, inclusive. I n the latter year he was elected to the ing his district for one term. H e was again visor in 1867, 1868, 1871, 1874, 1875, and 1876. QUINCY'S PIONEERS. Alphabetical list of the pioneers of Quincy with a few exceptions, were all settled here in years 1840, showing also the sections upon which they resided: se • Allen, B e n j a m i n 2 1 Alger, Squire 9 Adams, James 1 0 . 13 Anson, P e a r s o n 1 5 Arnol d, W i n . P 1 6 A roo1.1, R i c e '1' 1 9 Arnol d, A u s e l i o n 1 9 Armstrong, M a t t h e w 3 Ashton, James 3 Broughton, J o h n 2 9 Broughton, L e s t e r 2 8 Blood, D a v i d 8 Brown, M a d i s o n 8 Bahcoek. 11. F 1 7 Babcock, Geo. P 5 Babeoek, S i m o n 5 l i n k e r, D a v i d W 1 3 , 11 Boon, George 1 2 , 1 3 l i i i r d i e k , J a n . , 31 2 1 Iiiirlison, A l v a 1 2 , 13, 21 Berry, Samuel 2 1 B e r r y, Enos G 2 1 , 22 B e r r y, Joseph 1 5 Bagley, D a n i e l S 1 5 B e r r y, E z r a Burlingame, Caleb 8 Burnham, G r i s w o l d 9 Bowen, A . C 1 Bowen, S i u i t h 2 Ball, Thaddeus 6 Briggs, L u t h e r 2 3 Barber, A n s e l 2 5 Bennett, Jacob' 1 1 Belote, J n o . S 35 Bhrber, D a n 3 6 B u r n h a m , Joseph T 1 2 B i l l , Wa r r e n 1 5 Brown, C a l e b 1 5 Brown, A l v a r a d o 1 4 Carson, G e r r e t Cornish, J o h n 1 5 Craft, A b r a m 2 0 Curless, H i r a m 1 7 , 18, 19 Curless, P h i l a n d e r 1 8 Cole, L y m a n 1 2 embus, James G 1 3 Curtis, Marcus 1 9 , 20 Clark, A l v a 9 Clisbe, J a m e s 2 4 Carter, Benoni.. 1 6 Chain, H i r a m b Curtis, M i l e s C. Corless, P h i l o 1 8 Chabot, James 1 5 Chittenden, H o r s t * Darling, J a m e s 2 3 Deyoe, W m . P D a r w i n , Russell 5 Donahee, Ebeneser L 5 Dailey, Nleholas. 1 6 Etheridge, S a m u e l 1 6 Grow, Ambrose 1 4 Cheer, Simon 1 1 Grovendyke, A s a T 1 3 Howell, J a m e s Iliiurod, John 2 8 l a r g e r, Manson 2 0 , 21 H o w e l l , Joseph 1 8 Hawes, M o r r i s F Ilewett, B a r t h o l o m e w 1 7 , 21 H a m i l t o n , Silas 1 5 Hartsough, Joseph L 1 4 Joseph, W i l l i a m 2 7 Joseph, Lucas 2 7 K l i m e k , Joseph W 2 9 Loomis, W a l t e r 1 5 Lincoln, Ponies 6 Locke, A 6 Leland, E l i j a h 1 3 Laughlin, William 2 3 McConnell, I l e n r y 1 9 Mudge, I r a S Mudge, I l e z e k i a l i 11 2 2 Mudge, Ebenezer Morey, R i c h a r d 1 4 M i l l e r, T i m o t h y 2 8 M a c k e y, M a r c u s 9 2 Newell, 1.111V141 1 8 , 19 Nicholas, Ansel 1 Newberry, P e t e r M 1 0 Otis, I s a a c 1 9 Odell, H a r v e y 3 Perry, E d w a r d Prentiss, W i l l i a m 1 3 Ransom, James 2 0 Rice, L e v i G 1 8 Reynolds, A l e x a n d e r 1 9 , 30 Rosa, George 7 Russell, E l l i s 1 4 Russell, W i l l i a m S 1 3 Bopp, Conrad 1 8 Roe, W i l l i a m S 1 3 Sinclair, J o h n 9 Smith, James 5 , 19 Shook, P e t e r s 1 Swan, Joseph S 2 6 Starr, A l b e r t 2 9 Towle, L e m u e l 2 0 To u r t l e t t , A l d e n S Tr i m , Moses Vessehius, A b r a m 24 Vessehing, W i l l i a m Vo u c h i n g , John Va n H y n i n g , H e n r y. . . . . . . 1 7 , 20 W i n g , Barnabas 7 Williams, Alpheus 7 W h i t n e y, Chauncey E . Willson, H o r n s . . . . . . . . Wi..-10. i r, 111 . 1 r n ... l' Woo.I Why. t:1 V I I , I l l s T o R Y . 1 r e m o v e d t o Q u i n c y , m i d "01111.111 111...11 111.- 1.1. i n t - . TI,, , , 1 0 1 lion.... flei,rreelitati%,• u f of \ l i , i t approled March 2 3 1 , 3 6 erected ..,1,1o.,1 l—wol,ole- .4. II. a w 1,1,111,..2 hit, flint township- l thr 1 1;r:Lrt•!, .1. fht 3 of rft•ge 1 - t . into a twparat. sh.1 . I • c 1 , t I II,- t c . g 0 o h I L , - ; . / ' t 1 d , :not : 1 1 , 1 : i t 1 , • 1 1 1 1 : , L . . . . •.,f \I. thus f i n d l i t I ; a porio.1 .,f to. p-ar, it- hunt- the p r n t and Cali I n t h e i r p e t i l i t o t I t ; 111h 1,2.11...1:11U1,,a`k1.112 f r l l l c tion of a new tess t i i i , i , t h . s i t t ti,rmard the nauli• of Springfield or Springville. B u t as another the State had already adopted the name mentioned by the petitioners, Dr. Hiram A1.1..t, l t . . th.,o ri,r,:s...uted t h e county o f liraneh. o . d o . was adopted. I t i , 1 , 7 0 1 1 1 , to dericed from Quincy, Masa, the torn. r . . f Mr inclu.litv.: I:AC.111i, was •et a . a s,parate township April 2. 1 PROCEEDINGS At th, the t FIR,T l i t -N -1111.-31F.Ell c l . . , • ( 1 , 1 1 t h e t h e t i , • , -t.,1%," a S , . . 1 i i i d t , d a t 4t1i day of April., 1,36. a n d o r g a n i z e d l i l t . 111..11111._: 1 . y (.11....-111': J o h n C o r n i s h . E s q . . Moderator; T h o i n , C h • r i s ; and Erws G. licrry. Assistant Moderator. A s a result o f this meeting. the following-named p("rsnns were Armen inirn•Itip (Meer- ! . serve for II viso G. Peace; Assessors Adams. 11 i st.. Poo 1' �, hihm 7 1 _, 1 ! ! ! ! ! �WIPP' L �HISTORY O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of highways. Thirty-five dollars were appropriated repair of the bridge across Hog River At a meeting of the assessors, convened at the house of Enos G. Berry, May 18, 1839, the were selected to serve as jurors for the town David W. Baker, Joseph T. Burnham, William S. Rowe, George Boon, Luther Briggs, sell, Alpheus Williams, James Howell, George C. Curtiss, Alexander Reynolds, Hiram Corless, Gerritt Carson, Jones Smith, George P. Babcock, Harvey cock, Hiram Clizbe, Philander Curless, Peter tholomew Hewett, Peter M . Newberry, Moses Trim, Edward Perry, Horace Miller, Lester Broughton, Perim Lincoln, James Clizbe, Jr., James G. Corbus, Elijah Nichols, John Supervisor 1873. J o h n I I . Jones. 1 Town Daniel W. Sawyer. 7 9 Jostles* or Ezra Berry. George B . K n i g h t . Altneron J . Wr i g h t . 1874. W i l l i a m P. Arnold. 1875. 1876. 61 Zebedee Swan. " Almeron J . Wr i g h t . " Aaron W . Barber. Clark C. Sears. 11 11 1877. Jacob Kincaid. 1 11 . 6 4 Rogers W. Berry. 1 1878. E d s o n Blackman. i t Treasurers. Assesso 1836. ( N o record.) Samuel H . Berry. 1837. " Henry D . Pessel. Highway Joseph T. Burnham. Luther Briggs. Pearson Anson. James Adams. John Broughton. James Adams. Israel R . H a l l . Asahel Brown. Geo. P. Babcock. William Prentiss. George Boon. Lemuel Sowle. John Cornish. 1838. J o h n Broughton. Solomon Wood. James Adams. Rice Arnold. Barnabas Wi n g . l'eter M . Newberry. Lester Broughton. William Prentiss. Winsor 0 . Campbell. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 1839. Joseph Berry. Tabular list of the principal township officers to 1878, Supervisor. Lester Broughton. " 1838. " " 11 1841. " 44, Peter M . Newberry. Peter M . Newberry. Ansel Nichols. E. L . Donahue. Lester Broughton. Lyman Cole. Alpheus Williams. Alpheus Williams. Samuel Beach. John Broughton. Lester Broughton. Enos G . Berry. Alva Burlison. Harvey F. Babcock. Lyman Cole. George Boon. Peter Shook. David IV. Baker. J o h n Cornish. , James G . Corbus. 1837. 1840. Town Clerks. J u s t i c e s of 1836. E n o s G. Berry. i t 1 Luther Stiles. 1 Ellis Russell. 41 1842. " Alpheus Williams. James G. Corbus. Solomon Wo o d . James Smith. Enos G. Berry. " Alva Burlison. C1 Elisha 41 1 4 Aaron McGinness. 64 1843. 41 1844. 1848. 11 1946. di id C. E . Whitney. di 11 di 11 Ebenezer Mudge. Stephen Edmonds. di Dan. M . Thomas. 1847. 1846. 11 1849. 1 8 5 4 . 1 1 S James G . Corbus. Joseph Berry. Nathan B. Hewett. A l l e n C. Culver. Job W. Briggs. Alanson Harger. 6 1 1 6 t d i C i Peter M . Newberry. M o m s A . Hewett. t- ' . E b e n e z e r Madge. B e n j . F. Clark. 1057. W i l l i a m Newberry. M o s e s A. Hewett. 1858. " i d 1859. O r r i n M . Bowen. J u l i u s J. Gregory. 1860. o I A 1881. " Milan M . Brown. 44 1882. " 1863. J o h n H . Jones. 11 1864. " 1885. " 1866. " 46 id 4 4 J M o s e s a y A . Hewett. L . Taylor. 1867. W i l l i a m P. Arnold. D a n i e l W. Sawyer. 1868. 1969. 1870. 1971. len. " J o b e Sebring. M e l . B. EtImonston. Milan M . Brown. W i l l i a m P. Arnold. " John H . Jones. D a n i e l W. Sawyer. " 14 W. B. Foster. 1846. Joseph T. Burnham. A l v a h Burlison. James G . Corbus. Ebenezer Mudge. John H . Jones. A bijah Mosher. 1847. " 1848. " (Supervisor.) Id John Nichols. Lyman Cole. Lucas Joseph. I L F. Babcock. 4 1 A l v a h Burlison. John Nichols. 1849. I r a Cliche. ( S u p e r v i s o r . ) 1850. T i m o t h y Lockwood. 1851. A a r o n McGioness. 1852. " P e t e 1853. Jacob C. Boon. r Shook. John Nichols. (Supervisor.) Amos Culver. Ezra Perry. John H . Jones. Martin Hawley. 1854. D a n i e l Williams. 1855. Hosea J. Corbus. Ames Culver. Charles A . Edmonds. Rodney K . Twadeil. Msrra.s Knowles. Jamb Kincaid. Aaron W . Barber. 1856. Otis Gager. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 R. N . T. D . Decker. James E . Gould. John Nichols. Delevan Tiukham. John Broughton. Stephen S.Lamptuan. George W. Chase. F. P. Williams. Lewis Linendol. Joseph T. Jones. 1857. M i l a n M . Brown. 1858. H e s % B. Ed niimston. 1859. Jacob Weaver. Joseph S . Swan. Joseph T. Jones. i t CI 1800. H a r l o w W. Williams. 11 1861. W i l l i a m P. Arnold. 11 Martin Hawley. Clark C. S e a m George B. K n i g h t . Aaron W . Barber. A venni,/ Clark C. Sears. Harvey F. Babcock. Smith Bowen. Alfred Willmarth. Joseph W . Kennon. Wesley Lockwood. Aaron McGinness. Winsor 0 . Campbell. David W . Baker. John H . Edwards. J a m e s 0 . Corbus. Samuel Etheridge. 1851. 1852. 1882. L y m a n Cole. 1845. Job H . Moore. George Boon. Lucas Joseph. Winsor O. Campbell . Harvey F. Babcock. Asa C. Bowen. Lucas Joseph. Smith Bowen. Lyman Cole. Lucas Joseph. 1844. James Clizbe. Alvarado Brown. 1841. 1842. George Boon. David Perry. 1843. James G. Corbus. M o s e s Tr i m . Peries Lincoln. 1839. J a m e s Adams. 1840. W i l l i a m P. Arnold. Joseph T. Burnham. Peries Lincoln. Florello P. W i l l i a m Walton J. Barnes. William Newberry Nathan Swan. Joe. I I . Withingtoi, • Ellie R u m e n was eleeted eolle,tor i n Iftnis end .Tneeph B e r r y in 1837. N o treasurer wns elected during thi. �r• p i t 4 ' 1 1 C O I N ' f , !if lt 'I 116 18 T r e a s u r e , A S W i l t h e l l a I S 1862. Thomas N. Barnes. (Supervisor.) 1863. Orlando 1864. William 1865. Lyman Witter. 1866. Daniel 1867. Lyman Witter. 1868. Zadock 1869. " 1870. Guy 1871. " 1872. Jay L. Taylor. 1873. Zailock 1874. Martin Hawley. 1875. Zadoek 1878. " 1877. Almeron J. Wright. 1878. Cyrus Wilcox. 11101066y Nathan William William Aaron W. Jeremiah di sit id 41 George Z. G. Rolla M. William Jacob Reuben A. Rella M. Reuben A. Levi Peter M. Newberry. Rodney K. Toadish. di John R. Morey. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. Chicago Road.—The United States military road, which extends from Detroit t o Chicago, better known as the "Chicago turnpike," enters the town from t h e east, and running due west through the centre of sections 1 3 and 14, thence bears off to the southwest, intersecting in its further course sections 15, 16, 21, 20, and 19. I t passes through the centre of Quincy village. the first highway projected and completed township, and this portion o f i t was finished summer First Highways Established by Turnpike Authorities. In August, 1836, James Adams and Pearson posing a majority of the first board o f sioners, established five roads, described by surveyor, as follows: " 1st. Beginning 'on the north side of township 6, south of range 5 west, at the northwest corner of section the northeast corner of section 4, thence south on tion line to the " 2d. Beginning at the northwest corner o f section 4 , and the northeast corner of section 5 , township 6 south, range 5 west, thence south to the " 3d. Also a road i n township 6 south, range 5 west, beginning a t the northwest corner o f section 5 , and the northeast corner of section 6, thence south to road "4th. Also a road in township 6 south, range 5 west, beginning at the quarter post OD the north side 2, and running south to the " 5th. Also a road i n township 6 south, range beginning at the quarter-post on the centre of section 7, thence running south to the Chicago road." Railroads.—The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad enters the town from t h e east, and runs i n a ,outhwest course through the central part. Q u i n c y village is its only station i n the township. I t was completed i n 1851-52. T h e building of this railroad was the wan 1.nui, i n , .1 p u r p o s e . , a t the present tittle. Ii . a o l t o low and IV.,..Ori, every stick o f I,, a n i n iii u i I d i t i r. T h e earth and apple:ohms t i th.• letildimf were built by Dr Enos G. (terry, who -eh r a t .1 from Spe1.1 1 " i f i i i - 111:11,'ill S o u t l i r r i i l i h t g u t i a n d N o r t h e r n Indiana the reader will nitre-rev that a chain or tends in a southwestern direction frium Oisiods Orland, Ind., the distend, Wines" des Mtn about forty miler. Theme I . Lake Erie. Several of than an i m e g i b t a i r k especially is it so of Marble sod Odilmsier. • % S I P S are deep and clear, and to 101nee i f dm apart gittuddlid afford excellent fishing-grenade far a k i n die pickerel, bass, and white-fsb which Rhona in their Those ineluded i n the first twenty miles from all on the vain, l v i . are separated I Ine from another by but ,I19rt i l i t , n , . . n i r p , z land and, no doubt, until within a very reeerit period of the world's history, tinuott,. I i 1 ' Ii, the iwnitli i i i Mareli, 1 t•.,78, Mr. Jaltitz, Donovan, of Quincy, conceived the idea of eannecting d i e r 4 . 1 0 1 . 0 0 navigating them by dredging a channel from one C011111111111C11(111•,r 1,1,5 Ic15, I,. It. W. B e r r y, E q . . they decided it to be practical, and s t once omilad civil o g i m p r f l i v i practical dredging,' men to the survey of the who prutli i i i lie . 1 . . ale] a O r , the 19th of April, 1878, Messrs. Donovan the canvass for subscriptions to fora a Mask a n w p i * June their purpose was accompininak main stockholders being called, a company was the corporate title of " Quincy Chain Like pany," with nine directors, James Donovan It. W. Berry, Secretary and Treasurer. J u n e 24. were received for doing the dred,:iti. and t i e finally awarded to Wilcox Brothers I t Stock, of Takao, Ohio. W o r k on the drecl,?.e.boat was menced, and Augu,r :; the dre40 •• Chameri launched from the foot of' " Hog's Back," there sembled about eight thousand people.—an if ever equaled in MOO', C . o i n t y . August 16, work was commenced on the channel, greased until the frosts o f winter compelled a e i e e d M At this time ahem nine mil.- e o m p l e t e d . with ti,. • Lake Sliore stt.am 13t-III l i e . 1;11111c115,i 11,,011115.1* 1:, which. when finished, will :ie....num...ate three hundred p.s1,1e, and a larger L,al i • I. be placed up.,i) the lakes s p r i n g . Ace !dim: to p r e , nt emit raet. twenty miles will .11111,. 1 1,79,1111d w h i t i all 1I,' , X , • 1 1 N i , . 1 1 1 , t s . spiirtstiirti. am] ers teili 11,1-,• find u n s u r p a s s e d b y Toledo and t'litemm. �1 t In, qiu, . 1 '- RESIDENCE OF HORACE P JEFFREY. ODLEBRANCH �, L, �HISTORY O F B R A NCH C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Ly m a n Cole, Section 12, 120 acres, one c o w. Ansel Nichols. Section 1. 240 acres, two cows, t w o oxen. Peter Shook, Section 1, 186 acres, 1 cow. Benjamin A l l e n , Section I , 160 acres. David W. B a k e r, Sections 13 and 14, 330 acres, one cow. Ambrose Grow, Seetion 14, 379 acres, two cows, one horse. Ellis Russell, Section 14, 80 acres, one cow, two oxen. Wi l l i a m S. Russell, Section 13, 80 acres. George Boon, Sections 12 and 13, 160 acres, two cows, two oxen. Wi l l i a m Laughlin, Section 23, 20 acres, one cow. James M . Burdick, Section 24, 80 acres, one cow. James Darling, Section 23, 20 acres, one cow. Abram Vessehius, Section 24, 80 acres, t w o horses. James G. Corbus. Section 13, 120 acres, one cow, one horse. A l v a B u r l i s o n , Sections 1 2 . 13, a n d 2 4 , 240 acres, o n e cow, one horse, t w o iixen. W i l l i a m Prentiss, Section 13, •10 acres. M o r r i s F. Hawes. Marcus Curtiss, Seetions 19 a n d 20, 7 acres. 1 8 1 Bushels potatoes h a r v e s t e d , 1 8 7 3 1 3 , 1 1 3 Tons hay I I 2 , 4 4 7 Pounds wool sheared, 2 6 , 7 0 9 " p o r k marketed, , . . 2 3 9 , 4 9 4 cheese made, 2 1 , 0 1 4 butter, i t 1 2 5 , 4 4 0 " f r u i t dried f o r m a r k e t , " 3 2 , 3 0 1 " m a p l e -sugar made, 6 , 6 5 0 Barrels c i d e r made, I d 1 , 2 0 5 Acres i n f r u i t s , 1 d 8 2 2 Va l u e o f f r u i t and vegetable p r o d u c t s , 1873 $ 1 9 , 4 4 0 Horses over one year old,'1874 8 5 1 Mules 9 Work oxen 3 3 M i t c h cows 9 7 4 Cattle over one y e a r o l d o t h e r t h a n cows and oxen 7 4 7 Swine over six mouths o l d 9 4 2 Sheep " " 6 , 4 6 2 " s h e a r e d , 1873 5 , 6 6 3 N u m b e r o f m a n u f a c t u r i n g establishments 1 6 " u s i n g steam-power 8 " p e r s o n s employed 1 0 8 Capital invested $ 1 1 0 , 3 0 0 Va l u e o f products$ 2 0 7 , 0 0 0 Alva Clark, Section 9, 80 acres. SCHOOLS. Bartholomew H e w e t t , Sections 17 and 21, 220 acres. Squire Alger, Section 9, 80 acres, one cow, t w o oxen. Enos G. B e r r y, Sections 21 a n d 22,160 acres, one cow, two horses. Joseph B e r r y, Section I S , 75 acres, three cows, t w o horses. James Adams, Sections 10 a n d 15, 120 acres, t w o cows, t w o oxen. Pearson A n s o n , Section 15, 1 acre. D. S. B a g l e y. Section i s , 1 acre, t w o cows, one horse. Simeon Gager, Section 15, 1 acre. J o h n B r o u g h t o n , Sections 2 2 , 2 8 , 2 9 , 1 6 0 acres, t w o cows, t w o horses. John H i m r o d , Section 28, 40 acres. Lester B r o u g h t o n , Section 28, 40 acres, one cow. Wa l t e r Loomis, Section I s , 80 acres, one cow, one horse, two oxen. John Cornish, Sections 6 a n d 15, 200 acres, one cow, t w o horses. H e n r y Va n H y n i n g , Sections 17 a n d 20, 120 acres, t w o horses. A b r a m Craft, Section 20, 40 acres, one cow. Lemuel Sovrle, Section 2 0 , 4 0 acres. James Ransom, Section 20, 160 acres, one cow. Alanson B a r g e r, Sections 20 and 21, 120 acres, one cow. Levi G. Rice, Section 18, 80 acres, t w o cows. James S m i t h , Sections 5 and 19, 90 acres, one cow, t w o horses. Alexander Reynolds, Sections 18 and 19, 450 acres, two cows, one horse. H e n r y McConnell, Section 19, 80 acres. D a v i d Newell. Sections 18 a n d 19, 160 acres, one cow, two horses. John S i n c l a i r, Section 9, 8 0 acres, t w o oxen. Joseph H o w e l l , Section 18, 80 acres, t w o cows, t w o oxen. George Ross, Section 7, 80 acres, one cow. Barnabise W i n g , Section 7, 40 acres, t w o oxen. Alpheus W i l l i a m s , Section 7, 120 acres, one cow, t w o oxen. Philaioler Corium, Section 18, 80 scree, two cows, t w o oxen. Hiram t S e c t i o n s 17, 18, and 19, 680 acres, three cows, one horse, f o u r oxen. The first school-house erected in the township in the spring o f 1837. I t was a log structure, and stood upon the grounds now owned by the railroad company in the village of Quincy. M i s s Anna Roberts, of Coldwater, taught the first school in this house during the mer. D u r i n g the fall of 1837 a small frame was built i n the " Hog Creek district," and i n 1838 the third school-house- a log one- w a s built on the line Chicago road, two miles west of Quincy village. A l t h o u g h school commissioners and inspectors have been annually elected since 1836, no record of their proceedings, prior to 1847, are April 24, 1847, certificates to teach primary granted to Minerva Smith, Sarah Mudge, Charlotte bus, Dorisca C. Howe, and Mary From a report made M a y 25, 1847, we find total number o f children o f school age residing i n the township, and the amount o f money apportioned, was as follows: District. No. 1 Scholars 5 Si 5 4 7 3 3 2 c 3 o 5 " 7 Money Apport'd. $16.59 17.53 15.97 12.84 22.86 9.71 6,58 32 To t a l $102.08 Doe id Blisel, Section A, 80 acres. Madison B r o w n , Seetion 8, 80 acres. H. F r a n c i s Babcock, Section 17, 160 acres, one cow, t w o oxen. George P. Babcock, Sections 5 and 8, 240 acres. Chasweey B. Whitney, Section 8, 160 acres, one cow, two oxen. Simeon Babeoek, Section 5, 80 acres, Caleb Burlingame, Section 8 , 9 0 acres. Rowell Darwin, Section 5, 60 acres. E. L . Donahoe, Section 5, 92 acres, one sow, two oxen. Anseliiin I t . Arnold, SeetIons 1 8 a n d I V, 108 acres, two horses, two oxen. Isaac Otis, Sections 19, 10 acres. Populist ion Number o f farmers Acres i n f a r m Iamb. " improved " w h e a t g r o w i n g June, 1871 " h a r v e s t s e l , ". e o n s Bushels wheat " " corn " " o t h e r grain harvested, 1873 2,49 27 19,176 14,73 3,11s 2,635 2,390 13,00 74,356 31,315 From the report of the school inspectors of made for the year ending Sept. 2, 1878, we take ing statistics: Whole number of d i s t r i c t s and parts o f districts. 1 0 Whole districts 5 Parts o f d i s t r i c t s Sohool-honsee i n the township 1 0 Brick school-houses Frame school-houses Seating rapacity o f all the school-houses 8 0 5 Value of school property 9 2 1 , 1 2 9 . 0 0 Children o f school age residing in the township. 7 6 0 Children attending school during the year 0 6 6 Number of graded schools 1 Rale teachers employed during t h e year 1 0 Female teachers employed during t h e year 1 6 Aggregate n u m b e r o f months t a u g h t b y m a l e teachers 6 0 ? , Aggregat, somber o f months taught b y female tesc.lc r. 7 6 1 Salary p a i d t o m a l e tenchera 9 2 , 0 6 3 . 6 0 Salnry ' m i d t o female teachers $ 1 , 4 1 6 . 2 0 Total payments to teaehern $ 3 , 4 7 8 . 7 1 1 • �182 H I S T O R Y Moneys on hand Sept. 2, 0877 Taro-mill tax Primary sehool fund Tuition, non-resident scholars District tales for all purposes Raised for all other purposes O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICH1GAH. 11642. 8241. A, 2 4 7 . 7 7 94.6 3,915.2 52.9 Total resources for the year $ 6 , 0 7 4 . 0 5 EX PENDITURES. Teachers' wages Building and repairs Bonded indebtedness All other Amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878 Total expenditures including am'nt on hand $3,478.7 44.6 1,209.3 771.3 571.6 $6,075.6 Excess of expenditures over receipts 1 . 0 2 Total indebtedness of the districts to District No. 2) Sept. 2, 1878 $ 1 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 QUINCY V I L L A G E . Quincy, an incorporated village o f about tants, is centrally located in the township of the I t is a station on the line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, eighty-three miles from Toledo, one hundred and sixty-two from Chicago, and six miles east of Coldwater City, the county-seat. I t is also on the line of the old "Chicago turnpike," one hundred miles southwest of Detroit. Situated in the midst of as fine an agricultural can be found in Southern Michigan, and in cation with the great markets East and West, ance as a commercial centre increases largely year by year, and its business men are enabled to compete with those of neighboring towns and cities for the trade of those who reside in I t contains five churches,—Presbyterian, copal, Baptist, Adventists, and Disciple,—Union School Building, two hotels," Quincy" and " Fayette" newspapers,— Times, Herald, and Literary Reporter, stave- and heading-factory, one sash- and blind-factory, one flouring-mill, one saw- and planing-mill, one saw-mill clusively), one foundry, one wire bed-spring broom-factory, two carriage-factories, two banks, goods stores, four drug-stores, five grocery-stores, ware-stores, one furniture-store, one clothing-store, stores, one agricultural-store, two boot- and shoe-stores, two harness-stores, three jewelry-stores, four millinerypicture-frame and moulding store, two cies, three sewing-machine agencies, one bakery, markets, one marble-cutter, one news-depot, two two photograph-galleries, two livery-stables, shops, two barber-shops. three earpenter-shopc, op alientalliddikiipli has hew sold. IN" MAO; and fang artidee, and undertaking, M i e r pool* picture$1300; books, The sales of the $100,000. T h e snivels 1878, as shows by the m i t e " mot six months ending Dee. 1, H I M lber -NAV change sold, $218,814.23; assasissai. posits, $669,016. The express-office, under the etamagemeut of G. B. Knight, sent out during the year, 2000 minx& 30,h T post-office, M. M. Brown, parameter, Mood I N / money-orders; and sold cards, tamps, envelopes, ear., to the amount o f $1807. The railroad station, Thomas R. Rathleara, ishe.s a report of business unequaled by any wanes of the samepopulation on the line. T h e meant shipped during eleven months eliding Dos. 1, M t , we 8,885,803 pounds; freight received, a revenue to the company, front Drat* alieself The freight shipped amoieted grain, 1,222,950 pounds of apples, m o w s r i p i e r y manufactured articles, 980,116 pesells O r e e n * D a r 700 pounds of lour, 205,4111 pavade 698,281 pounds of miseellansuus Seight. ceived from sale of tickets The live stock trade Ine repsemend bp Church, Andrew Torbron, Jemph Drawn, mid Preddy, who purchased during the yunr cattle, 795 sheep, for which they p i l o t 11811.1K.,.• Messrs. Daniel Landers end ff.J.Ihdad* tives of the grain market, bars dud% out: for wheat and cam, $11,123; tad, seedand buckwheat, $14411; In the shops and meaustastisies 111' ployed, and about the ammo business l i v o r e . ing I. 4 r t . 8 s r n s inc �Tif.i11111116,1111. _ mill. 1 I i - I O W " • • • -a a * * * 0111kg-,••••• -7,••• . . . ,. • .. - - i Z z - ' - ' 1 - - I RESIDENCE & PROPERTY Of CHARLES ti , • - ' -'----.‘ ��HISTORY O F BRANCH C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . I T S P I O N E E R S A N D E A R LY. H I S T O R Y. The original owners of its site were John Cornish, John Broughton, Joseph Berry, Dr. Enos G. Berry, William P. Arnold, and others, whose names will be found in the list of "first land entries,"—land sections 15, 16, 21. The first house was built by John Cornish in the 1833 and was of logs. I n the summer of 1834 a frame house on the site of Clark's Quincy House, which was opened by him as a tavern. H e seems to here alone u n t i l the Berrys and John Broughton came in, in 1836. I t i s claimed that the only residents here in 1842 were Joseph Berry, Enos G. Berry, Daniel ley, blacksmith and pettifogger, John Broughton, farmer, Alfred Wilmarth, A b e l Coon, shoemaker, and W m . P. Arnold, farmer. J o s e p h Berry kept tavern i n the house erected by Cornish, and was also interested in a which stood on the site of Turner's drug-store. office was one mile west o f the village, D r. E . G. Berry, P. M . The building and completion o f the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad and t h e establishment o f a station here, gave a slight impetus toward making this a central point. S t i l l w e f i n d t h a t i n village contained b u t about a dozen a tavern o n t h e Quincy House site, kept b y Windsor Campbell, while Charles Caswell kept the only was situated where t h e agricultural store now stands. Benjamin F. Wheat was postmaster; Drs. — — Hewett the physicians. M r . Wheat settled here in 1852, and the following year built a store upon the site of J. C. Bennett's Block. T h e building then erected is now occupied by L. B. Vaughn, on South Main Street. B . N. Shelden came from Lenawee County, and settled here in October, 1853. H e soon after engaged in the sale and groceries, occupping the building before standing on the site of Turner's drug-store. H e claims to have purchased the first wheat that was unloaded top of the embankment into the at $2 per The wooden row on the southeast corner of Main Streets, was built in 1855. T h e first brick erected the same year by Charles Caswell and num, Ebenezer Mudge doing the mason-work. bur built his store about 1858. M a r t i n Hawley built his saw-mill about three years previously. T h e village porated in 1858, and according to the votes given dates for the Presidency, it then contained a population of about 400 inhabitants. T h e Souring-mill was erected by — Spearman in 1863. T h e stave- and —from which should be dated the commencement o f Quincy's career of growth and prosperity,—one The post-office was made a money-order office i n 1869. In 1870 the village contained a population of itants. I t s population has doubled sines that sessed valuation o f real estate, 1878, $522,485; total amount of taxes collected during the same year, $1200. The village is now free from debt, and has a fund o f $1375.81 in Among those who have done much towards building up the village, advatioed its prosperity, and made it 1 8 3 of those who claim it as their residence to-day, we should mention the names o f Joseph Berry, William P. Arnold, Enos G. Berry, Benj. F. Wheat, Simon Mowry, Horace Lownsberry, Cornelius Shear, Charles N. Mudge, Havens Wilbur, A. D. Young, H. D. Donovan, Mr. Conley, J. C. Bennett, Thomas liam Joseph, Lewis P. Swift, C. V. R. Pond, M. M. Brown, J. B. Sutton, and B. I N C O R P O R AT I O N . At a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors for the county of Branch, held at the court-house in the village of Coldwater, i n said county, on Thursday, Oct. 14, 1858, they enacted as follows: " T h a t so much of the township of Quincy, in the county of Branch, as is included within the following boundaries, to wit : Commencing at tre of section No. 16, and running thence east t o a point eighty rods east o f the centre o f section No. 15, thence south to the section-line between sections 15 and west on said line eighty rods, thence south eighty rods, thence west to the quarter-section line running north and south on section No. 21, thence north on said quarte section line t o the place o f beginning, shall be, and the same is hereby constituted, a town corporate, by the name and title of the village o f Quincy.* "The first election of said corporation shall be the house o f Emory W. Fillmore, i n said village, on the third Monday of November next, and William P. Arnold, Ebenezer Mudge, and Moses A . Hewett are pointed inspectors thereof. T h i s act to take immediate effect. FIRST C O R P O R AT I O N E L E C T I O N . At t h e first corporation election, which was Monday, Nov. 15, 1858, the whole number o f votes cast for the candidates for the office of village president being 112, of which Ebenezer Mudge received 90, and Havens Wilbur 22. The following-named village officers were chosen a t this election : Ebenezer Mudge, President; Moses A . Hewett, Clerk; Cornelius Shear, Havens Wilbur, David C. Myers, John Sebring, William P. Arnold, Martin tees; Harlow W . Williams, Julius I . Allen C . Culver, Marshal ; A l d e n Gregory, Treasurer; Harlow W. Williams, Austin Brown, Charles N . Wilcox, Street Commissioners; Stephen Van Camp, The following is a tabular list of the and treasurers of the village of Quincy from 1858 inclusive: Clerks President 1858. Ebenezer Mudge. 1859. W i l l i a m P. Arnold. 1860. A l d e n Gregory. 1861. Cornelius Shear. 1862. Joeeph B e r r y. 1863. J o h n Sebring. 1116 Moses A . Hewett. 6 Benj. F. Clark. Ebenezer Madge. 1865. Charles N . Wilcox. 1866. Cornelius Shear. 1867. D a v i d C. Myers. * B y recent additions the corporate l l w i about 700 a q u a e "ores. Treasurer Alden Gregory. William J . Briggs. Barber N . Sheldon. Benj. F. Wheat. Gideon 0 . Bailey. Thomas Clark. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H 1 Treasurer.. Thomas Clark Clerk Preehient 1888. I ' v i J I . M) er, 1889. " 1870. " 1871. Horace 187 1873. Jacob 1874. " 1875. " i d 1876. " 1877. Walton 1878. " Ebenezer Grurgo B . l i n i g h t . 1.• 1879. " 4 4 i i A l e r " r i .1. W r i g h t . it 4 Al 4 .111“ 1 A . 11"...u. L . L.,t1r. Stephen I I . 14411 4 i Ueorge IS. 4 Village Officers, 1879.—Walton J . Barnes, President; Ebenezer Mudge, Recorder; Cornelius Shear, man, Lewis P. Swift, James Donovan, Edwin Benjamin F. Wheat, Trustees; Milan M. George B. Knight, Treasurer; Robert Martin, Marshal; Robert Martin, Street Commissioner; Francis Fire-Warden; Philander Mead, A TREASURY T I L T. At a meeting of the board of trustees, held March 12, 1860, it was resolved, "That A. Mosher be, and authorized to take such measures as he may to collect the balance of the money remaining in of the treasurer on settlement, and which he refuses to pay over; and if he thinks proper the suit that has already been tried, wherein the village of Quincy was plaintiff and said treasurer "Provided, That said Mosher is to prosecute at expense i f he should fail i n the collection. B u t i f he should succeed the village is to bear PEACE A N D O R D E R M U S T B E M A I N T A I N E D . May 19, 1866, the president was instructed by of trustees " t o obtain satisfaction o f A . Schofield for breaking the village pound,—peacefully i f h e can, b y resort to law if F I R E D E P A R T M E N T. Before the village was incorporated, or very after, it became possessed of seine hooks, a ladder, which were kept on hand in readiness to fight the ment when necessary. B u t just when or how obtained the records fail At a meeting of the board of trustees, held March 18, 1862, it was voted that $125 be raised to defray pense of building a suitable structure to be used as a jail or lock, and to store hooks, ladder, pails, etc., for lage o f Quincy. T h i s vote was rescinded a t the next meetin Jan. 21, 1863, E. Mudge was authorized to procure 8 ladders, two to be 40 feet in length, two 30 feet, two 24 feet, and two 1 6 feet in length. F e b . 2 , same year, he COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . board of trustees held Jan. 24, 1871, B. F. the following resolution: " T h a t the Common Connell of the village of Quincy do hereby authorise berry, Guy E . Bennett, Edward Hewett, E . S. Throop, George Day, H . B . Ednionston, I ) . W. Young, and 3 2 others to organize themselves into a fire the village charter, and to be known by the name Quincy Union Fire Company; their apparatus to certain of hooks, ladders, and fire-buckets." The following-named persons received certificates bers of this company, Feb. 13, 1871 : Horace Low/ Guy E . Bennett, Ed. Hewett, George Day, J. W. M o m , E. Throop, H. B. Bthoonstoo, David Young, man, James Mackleru, S. L. Dorris, T. J. Cooley, D. 1111132, B. Bush, W. H. Cole, A. S. Hanka, Moses Limping, Green Arnold, D. W. Cong. bias, L Tr o n a , CCommiago, J. L Wilmr, W. ber, F. Downing, M. Crater, J. Salisbury. S. Avery, E. A. Turner, F. P,,block. Byroil 1.1.11,-titie. A. J. Wright. Hiram Bennett, C. W. Brownell, I). Harding, John B. F. Wheat, Reuben Cole, J a m Greeting, K . Heiden, George Chambers, M . Bodine, W. H . Warren, Lyman Palmer, H . Wilkinson, Ed. Haight, H . C . Porter, and H . H . H u r t . D a t i n g the months o f April and May, 1871, the beard caused the construction of a house, wagon, ate., chased 21 dozen new fire-buckets, all a t an $395 June 2, 1871, the apparatus was formally turned over to the care of the new A few weeks later W. H . McIntosh and lem were paid $100 reward for the prosecution tion of G. W. Ryan, an In November, 1873, an engine, hose-carriage, and 300 feet of hose were purchased of the city of Adrian for $700. Nov. 24, 1873, Horace Lownsberry was elected the first chief engineer of the fire Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1 , W. J. man, was organised with 1 3 seembers, Dee. 1 2 , 1873. "Protection Engine Company, No. 1," J. K. man, with 28 members, was organised and aseepted by the village council the Alert Hose Company, Moses Lanipmaa, organized Dec. 24, 1873. T h e fire department apparatus was then committed to the eare of neer Lownsberry, and the old hook-andwas disbanded by order of the June 14, 1875, 1150 was appropriated ts for the engine company. A fine bell, weighing was purchased in May, 11476. at a oast of :boat 1101. C . V. R. l ' an fi �wi • 1; , , °All 4 . luIL.tIHft.S• .%4 • • , • • • • • xlmg • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • �L �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . Blake, Secretary; E . A . Turner, Treasurer; 0 . J. Reber, Steward; Charles Haight, Warden. Alert Hose Company.—Green Arnold, Foreman; D. W. Young, Assistant Foreman; M o r r i s Crater, Treasurer; Charles Skinner, Secretary; George W. Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1.—S. H . Loveland, Foreman; A . J. Hill, Assistant Foreman; S. ton, Secretary; S. S. Leland, Treasurer; William Markel, Stewar NEWSPAPE The newspapers o f the village are the Times, Herald, and L i t o a r y Reporter. T h e reader is referred for further particulars to the chapter on the press of Branch County. 1 8 5 Miss May Wilson, Second Primary Department ; Mrs. Belle Wendell, Intermediate Department. MEDICA As before mentioned, Dr. Enos G. Berry was the first resident physician, and enjoyed a successful practice for many years. D r . Hewett was the next to locate. A m o n g other physicians who have practiced here were Drs. John C. Miles, J. H. Wood, R e m i n g t o n , L . A . Herrick, and G o u l d . T h e medical staff of the present resented by Drs. F. E. Marsh, Richard Wood, Charles E. Smith, Edson Blackman, and H . A . King. D r . Marsh came here in 1860; D r. R. Wood a year or so later. BA The banking-house o f Charles R . Hannan lished under the firm-name o f Lee & Hannan 1877. T h a t this house has enjoyed a of prosperity is evinced by a partial statement found upon a preceding Mr. J. B. Sutton, merchant, also does a large banking business under the title of " Citizens' Bank." QUINCY STAVE- AND This establishment, the most important manufacturing enterprise i n the village, was established by H. L. and E. 0. Lownsberry and L . P. Alden i n the spring of 1864. Willard Kidder, J . B. Sutton, J . M. and J . have, at various periods, been interested as partners. T h e business is now controlled by Messrs. H . L . and E . G. Lownsberry and J. M. Quereau, under the firm-name L. Lownsberry & Co. T h e y use an engine o f power, employ 50 men, and have a capacity for making 20,000 staves and 200 sets of heading per day. UNION The Union Graded School of the village is an institution of which her citizens may well feel proud. T h e contrast afforded between the present condition o f school matters and the time when the little log school-house stood down near the railroad is so great that the generations of have no appreciation of the difficulties under dren o f flarty years ago labored to obtain a educatio The present. substantial brick edifice was erected in 1869, at a cost o f $9000. F r o m the last school Sept. 1, 1W75, we obtain the fitllowing of school-age in the district, 320 ; children during the year, 280 ; average daily attendance. ing capacity of school building, 300 ; value of erty, $15,000; male teachers employed, 2; employed, 4; paid male teachers, $1154 ; paid ers, $988. nt,ard E d u c o t i o n , 1879.—J. Kincaid, Moderator; Alvarado Brown, Director; M . M . Brown, Assessor; E . Blackman, R. W. Berry, L . Joseph, M . M . Brown, A . Brown, and J. .Tearhers.—Prof. H. M. Fish, Principal ; Miss Ada A . Newton, Preceptress; Miss Minnie Gilchrist. partioem. ; Miss Ella Gregory, First Primary 2 The village bar of the present is represented Ezra Berry, I t . W. Berry, M . D . Campbell, and B . F. Clark SECRET BENEVOLENT Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 166, F. and A. M. tion granted Dec, 21,1864. F i r s t meeting held pensation, Dec. 24, 1864. F i r s t Worshipful Master under dispensation, Bro. Martin Hawley. D a t e o f charter, Jan. 13, 1865. T h e first election o f officers was held 1865, with the following result: Worshipful Master, Bro. Thomas S. Dorsey; Senior Warden, Bro. Martin Hawley; Junior Warden, Bro. Alvin W. Gould; Treas., Bro. Jacob C. Bennett; Sec., Bro. Ralph D. M. Turner; con, Bro. James H . Woods; Junior Deacon, Bro. Henry D. Daggett; Tyler, Bro. A. Judson Burroughs; Stewards, Bros. Francis M . Bissell and John H . Jones; Chaplain, Bro. Levi Daggett. The Masonic Hall was erected in 1867. The following is a list of the W. M.'s from 1866 March 1 , 1879: 1866, Bro. Thomas S. Dorsey; 1867, Bro. Martin Hawley ; 1868, Bro. Martin Hawley; 1869, Bro. Martin Hawley; 1870, Bro. L. Jay Carrell; 1871, Bro. John W. Mason; 1872, Bro. John W. Mason; 1873, Bro. A. Reuben Knowles; and 1874, Bro. A. R. Knowles, until June 2 4 ; 1874, from June 24, Bro. Edward 1875, Bro. Edward S. Throop ; 1876, Bro. Edward S. Throop ; 1877, Bro. Henry D. Pessell ; 1878, Bro. Henry D. The following are the officers for 1879: W . M., Francis E. Marsh ; S. W., Cornelius V. R. Pond; J . W., Warren J. W i l b u r ; Sec., Dan W . Sawyer; Treas., H e n r y D . Young; S. D., John W. Mason ; J . D., George W. Dills; Tyler, Alexander Cummings; Stewards, Merritt Charles D. Skinner. Regular communications, Thursday evening on the full moon in each month. EOYPTIAN MASONIC RITE Sharon Rose-Ciroix Chapter, No. 36.'. E.•. M.•. R : . o f M.•. was organized May 10, A.L. 5878, A.D. 1878, under a charter dated a t the Sovereign Sanctuary, in the Valley of Chicago, bearing Tin. following-named Knights were duly elected, installed by he M W . Grand Master, (7alvin C. Burt, 96°, of Jackson, Mich. : Most Wise, Reap. Kt. C. V. o r �186 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH - 95°; Senior Warden, Reap. K t . F. E. Marsh, 950; Junior Warden, Reap. K t . I I . D. Powell, 9 5 ° ; Orator, S i r K t . R. W. Berry, 900; Archivist, Sir Kt. Dan W. Sawyer, 90°; Treas., Sir. K t . Horace Lownsberry, 90°; Conductor, Sir Kt. 11. H. Hunt, 9 0 ° ; Capt. of the Guard, Sir Kt. C. D. Skinner, 90' ; Guard o f the Tower, Sir Kt. J. 900; Sentinel, Sir Kt. George W. DiIts, 90°. Regular conclave, first Tuesday evening each Masonic Hall. C. 0 . L O O M I S P O S T, * N O . 2 , D E P T. O F M I C H I G A N , U . A . R . Post organised Jan. 22, 1876, with the ter members: D a n W. Sawyer, B. F. Clark, D. C. Myers, W. H. Thurber, Thos. Lennon, C. D. Skinner, E. ner, Geo. W. Rathbun, F. M. Rustine, J. C. Nichols, Wm. Wilson, A. M. Turner, H. H . Hunt, and Hiram Rustine. At the first election o f officers the were duly elected and installed: P o s t rade Dan W . Sawyer; Sen. Vice-Coru'r, Comrade B. F. Clark; Jun. Vice-Coru'r, Comrade D. C. master, Comrade Thos. Lennon; Surgeon, Comrade E. A . Turner; Chaplain, Comrade C. D. Skinner; Officer Day, Comrade G . W . Rathbun; Officer o f Comrade F. M. Rustine; Adjutant, Comrade W. ber Post Commander for 1877, Comrade Dan W . Sawyer; • 1978, Comrade W. H. Thurber. Officers, 1 8 7 9 . — Post Commander, Comrade H . H . Hunt; S. V. Com'r, Comrade A . J. Belote; J . V. Com'r, Comrade Ransom Corey; Quartermaster, Comrade Thos. Lennon; Surgeon, Comrade M. D. Wood; rade B . N . Sheldon; Officer o f the Day, H. Palmatier ; Officer o f the Guard, Comrade mings The post meets every other Friday evening at lows' Hall. Q U I N C Y C H A P T E R , N O . 3 0 , O R D E R O P T H E E A S T E R N S TA R . This lodge was instituted Jan. 12, 1875, with ter members, b y Deputy Grand Secretary, Sister A l m a Mansfield, of Coldwater, Mich. T h e first board was—Miss Neil E . Hannah, W . President; M r s . Mary Skinner, Sec.; Miss Sarah M. Throop, Tress.; Mrs. S. L. Marsh, Conductor; Miss E. A . Whelan, 1st Patron; Mrs. E. W. Dommyre, 2 d Patron; Mrs. Josephine Cole, 3d Patron ; Miss Jennie Johnson, 4th Patron ; Mrs. M a r y White, 5th Patron; Miss Clara Hedge, Guard; M r. Lewis Higgins, Officers, 1879.—Mrs. S . L . Marsh, Worthy Matron ; Mr. Lewis Higgins, Worthy Patron; Mrs. Associate Matron ; Mrs. Mary R. King, Sec. ; Miss Clara Hedge, Treas. ; M r s . M a r y Skinner, Conductress; M r s . — Wilson, Associate Conductress; Mrs. man, 1st Patron; M r s . Alice Wilbur, 2d Patron; M r s . Norah Sawyer, 3d Patron; Mrs. Corlyn Sellick, tron; Mrs. — Mason, 5th Patron ; Mrs. E . ington, Warder; M r. Nathan • Comrade I . V. R . Pond, o f this P o o , is Cornmainier of the De. pertinent of !Michigan, 0 . A . R . , at the present time. COUNTY, M I C H I ( M N . _ QUINCY C E N T E N N I A L c o a x . r * L 5 L . This organization was formed as a corporation, Aug. 9, 1876, with the and members : Z . W. Shepard, President; F. E. Marsh; Vice-President; C . W. Bennett, Leader; C . H . Young, Secretary; Fred. Culver, Treasurer; W. H. Warm, C. R. Wilcox, N. C. Skinner, James Donovan, E. H . Kinyon, Frank E . Marsh. D . W . Young, E d . S . Throop, and Frank At this date—March 1, 1879—the members are lows: Frank E . Marsh, B -flat principal cornet ; N . C. Skinner, E -fiat cornet; E . 8. Throop, B-fiat cornet; Hugh C. Alger, &fiat olarionet; I ) . W. Young, solo N. Salisbury, B -fiat trombone; Frank Thompson. baritone; Fred. Culver, tuba; C. R. %Vilma, E fiat a l , . C. H . Young, alto; A . Delarnater, B -fiat tenor Kinyon, tenor; W i l l i s Campbell, tenor drum ; Samuel Weller, bass drum; Love Officers.—N. C. Skinner, President; D. W. President ; F r a n k E . Marsh, Secretary ; E . S. Throup, Treasurer; C . W. Bennett, Leader; Frank E. sistant Leader. T h e officers also constitute the of Though llboring under the many to all amateur bands, the organization has been perous, and met with liberal encouragement from zens. T h e y now have a complete set of new are uniformed, have a handsome wagon. a band-ball own, and are free from debt. Rathbun Lodge, No. 167, I. 0 . U. F.. hold meeting every Monday evening a t O d d -Fellows' H a l l C. B. Hayes, N. G.; Herbert M. Lusk, R. S. Victoria Lodge, No. 56. o f the Degree o f Regular meeting on the first and third of each month. L e w i s Higsins, N . G. ; M r , Laura M . Stuart, No further data could be obtained of these though the " N. G.'s" were respectfully requatted to furnish the VILLAGE CHURCHES. M E T H O D I S T E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H . The pioneer work done in Quincy and its vicinity by the Revs. Peter Sabin, Roswell Parker, Levi F. Davidson, and Isaac Bennett are matters with only a few now residents Their labors, missionary in character, a period of eight or ten yeasts, in which they laid dations o f the Methodist Church in Quincy and other towns The first religious services held under the auspices Methodists were at the residence of the late ton in 1836, in which year a class was of John Broughton and wife, Bartholomew Hewitt and wife. James Clisbe (called Father Cliche) and wife, and Dr. Berry. T h e r e was another clam east of the village a half miles, then called Hog Creek clam, of white Ames Clizbe, now of this village and a member of was the principal supporter. T h i s elate about the same time, in 1836 • - - ! 7 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H This Quincy society, from i t s organization up to 1854, had probably an ecclesiastical relation to the Litchfield and Coldwater circuits, from which i t received its ministerial supply In the year 1854 Quincy appears i n the conference minutes as an independent charge, and Isaac S. pastor. I n 1855 and '56, L. W. Earle; 1857 and '58, S. C. Woodward; 1859 and '60, William Doust ; 1861, W. W. Johnson; 1862, A . Coplin ; 1863, T. J . Congdon; 1864 and '65, N. M. Steele; 1866, David Thomas; 1867 and '68, Isaac Bennett; 1869, James N . Dayton; 1870 and '71. Win. M. Paddock; 1872 and '73, Geo. S. Barnes; 1874, Thomas Lyon; 1875 and '76, Geo. L. Haight; 1877 and '78, C. C. Olds. T h e society built the church i n 1854, at a cost of about $1800, with capacity of 150 persons. I t was dedicated on the of January, 1855, by R e v. J. K . Gillett, presiding elder of Coldwater district. In September, 1853, two ministers were appointed t o Litchfield charge, one residing i n the former other, B. N. Shelden. now a merchant of W i l e y, made his residence in the latter place and devoted his leisure time to the building of the church, and through his the enterprise was Under the pastorate of Rev. J. N. Dayton, in 1869-70, the church was thoroughly renovated, repaired, larged, at a cost o f $4000. A l t h o u g h the records show great changes, from deaths and removals, yet i t had from the first a healthy and steady growth, and now has bership of 159. The Sunday-school of this church was when Quincy became an independent charge, with pastor, in 1853 or 1854. I t is thought Dr. Hewett first superintendent. I t has now a flourishing bering about 100, with George Tibbitts as FIRST B A P T I S T C H U R C H . The history o f this society goes back to June 27, 1846, when the following-named members, t o wit, tuarth, George Boon, Marcus Mackey, I. W. Gager, Francis Ransom, Ansel Nichols, Samuel Etheridge, Stillman Hedge, Mrs. T. H. Wilmarth, Mary Boon, Almira Brown, Lucetta H . Pratt, Rebecca Gager, Susan Nichols, Cynthia M . Etheridge, Aseneth Nichols, Sally Mackey, and Mrs. Asa Bowen, met in house of Hog Creek district, and resolved to organize a church, to be known as the Quincy Baptist Church. T h e y further resolved, at this meeting, to request dekgmee of the Coldwater, Litchfield, Allen, Algansee churches to meet them in council, at mentioned school-house, Aug. 20, 1846. R e v. A . Town presided at the first meeting, and before its Samuel Etheridge was elected deacon, and Samuel Etheridge, Francis Ransom a ministerial The clerk o f the council records as follows : "Having sent their letters missive to several Baptist churches in the vicinity, requesting them to meet as a council in said town of Quincy, on the 20th day o f August, 1846, lowing churches responded by their delegates, water, Rev, O. C. 1.1umstoek and I . T. Haynes; Allen, A . COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 1 8 7 Coon; Reading, Rev. A . Town ; Algansee, I . S. Corey. R e v. C. Frey, who was present on invitation, composed one o f the council. T h e brethren o f Quincy presented their articles of fiiith and covenant, unanimously approved, and the council recognized a regular Baptist church, and as such gave them the right hand of fellowship." O n this occasion Rev. C. from Acts xi. 22. The society was admitted to the Hillsdale Association during the same year, and it enjoyed a steady growth from that time until September, 1855, when i t numbered 127 members. F o r t y members were then dismissed to form the Second Algausee Baptist Church. A steady decrease i n numbers then took place until June, 1866, when numbered but 64 members. since which time a crease has again been witnessed, the being 121. Rev. A. Town, the first pastor, preached onethe time, and remained one year. R e v. Levi M . Mack came in 1847. H e preached one-half of the time, mained two and one-half years. A n s e l Nichols, and Joel Hand, of Allen, removed M r. Mack, his family, and household goods, with sleighs, from Toledo t o this place. R e v . L . Fuller succeeded M r. Mack in mained one year, preaching one-half the time. H e was succeeded by Rev. Truman Burroughs, who remained five years. J . C. Covey, 1855; Philo Forbes, 1856; J. Kelly, 1860; D . D. Walden, 1864; C. G. Purrett, 1865; S. S. Wheeler, 1866 ; R . W . Lockhart, 1867 ; H . C. Beall, 1870; Isaac Horton, 1874; J. H. Crooker, 1875; and R. D. Clark, the present Soon after the organization of the society, their place for holding meetings was changed to the school-house in Quincy village, and finally the meetings were held i n school-house and the Mudge school-house, alternately. I n 1853 the present church edifice was commenced, pleted in the spring o f 1854. D r . E. G. Berry and Wm. P. Arnold, although not members of the church, and earnest workers during its construction. I t has since been repaired a t various times, to the amount o f about 82000, and has sittings f o r 3 0 0 persons. A m o u n t o f contributions during the year 1878, $775. N u m b e r o f scholars i n Sabbath-schools, 112. H . M . tenden The Second Baptist Church o f Quincy township was admitted into the Hillsdale Association in 1851. I t had an existence f o r five years; was then many of the members joined the FIRST P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H . Pursuant to notice, the friends of the Presbyterian order in Quincy met, Feb. 27, 1857, to take into the wisdom and practicability of organizing a Church i n said town, to be called the First Church of Quincy. On motion of Rev. H. L. Hanley. Rev. R. was called t o the chair, and Elijah Leland secretar After due deliberation and a full expression of tif throe present to he organized into a church, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H (X./LINTY, M I C I l i t I I I 11 , 1 1 1 1 4 I i i , I l i t 1 1 1 1 1 I l e a C 0 1111 Ve t e d W i t h I I I , Presbytery of Coldwater were read and assented to liam N. Carter, Julia Carter, and Marcia Potter, sented letters from other churches, and b y Mrs. J . W. Chapin, William Hughes, Jeremiah B. Whelan, and Elijah Leland, who were present, but had not yet I,btaified letters from their respective churches. These persons into covenant with each other, according to the usual forms of the Presbyterian Church. A t the same meeting Elijah Leland and Jeremiah B. Whelan were chosen and William N . Carter, William B . Potter, and Elijah Leland, To this number o f seven original members four more were soon added, o f whom were Mrs. William Hughes, Mrs. J. B. Whelan, and Mrs. Withington. But so unpropitious was the condition of the ing the first years of its existence that, at one Hovey was authorized by Presbytery to disband the little company. B u t one of their number refused to consent to any such proposition, and instead of carrying on the work assigned him, the doctor began his labors, and too, f o r the building up and enlargement o f the feeble church Dr. Hovey and Rev. Mr. Goodman, both o f Coldwater, often preached here In 1861, Rev. Charles Adams became pastor, dividing his labors between this church and the church in California. He remained three years. H e was succeeded b y Rev. A . Schofield, who also remained three years, giving only a portion o f his time. D u r i n g the summer o f 1867 Rev. Mr. Porter, of Coldwater, preached here every bath, and in the autumn o f the same year, Rev. W. W. Collins—whose wife and daughter are now members of this church—gave his undivided labors as pastor, preaching to them as often as a n audience-room could be obtained. Succeeding pastors were G. B . Barnes, E . C. Olney, and J. H. Ritchey. M r . Ritchey left in the fall o f the church was vacant until May, 1876, when liam Foulkes, the present pastor, was called. bership a t present i s 135, over 60 having been added during the past A church edifice was erected i n 1869, December 5 of the same year. I t has sittings for sons, and cost, with grounds, furnishing, etc.. nearly 88000. A large and flourishing Sabbath-school is in charge J. B. Sutton, Officers, 1879.—Pastor, William Foulkes; Elders, J . B. Sutton, F. E . Marsh, C. V. It. Pond, C . C. Sears; Deacons, M. D. Campbell, A. B. Halstead ; ace Lownsberry, J. B. Sutton, F. E. Marsh, C. V. A. B. Halstead, J. Weaver, S. Mowry, L . Cole, zalere; Treas., J. B. Sutton. T H E C H U R C H O F C H R I S T. This society was formed i n 1867, with 1 4 members, among whom were John A . Hutchinson, T. G . K i n g , T. P. Smith, Greenville Stowe, and their wives; lor and Lydia Brown. T . G. King was elected Elder, and T. P. Smith, Deacon. T h e i r first meeting was held in the village school-house. R e v. D . C. Hanselman, the pr..,.I. ration In 1871 the which they for repairs about Present membership, 50. T h e uth.. writing are John A . Hutchinson, J . .%1 Eldred, Elders; Thomas P. Smith and H . Deacon - SEVENTH- D AY During the summer of 1873, Revs. L V a u b a n . , of Battle Creek, and H. M. Kenyon, of Allegan, visited this locality, erected a large tent, and by their ated an intense religious feeling among many people. A s a result, this society was formally organised, Oct. 24, 1874. with the following-named members: Theodore right, M . M. Canright, William R . Bennett., Lan, I Gideon Ernst, Adelaide Wood, R u t h C. Melvin, t I, Reading, Amanda Weatherwax, Treaaa Inga/le. Woods, Helen Clark. Louisa Evans, Polly Willia! Walter Ernst. P r e s e n t membership, 25. bath-school, 40. M r . J . Superintendent; Theodore V. Canright, Elder. I n L e i f . a brick church edifice was erected; i t has sittings for 250 people, and cost 81400. R e v . J. H . Waggoner the dedicatory ST. J O H N ' S M I S S I O N ( P R O T E S TA N T E P I S C O PA L ) . About 1853 the rector o f St. Mark's Church o f water first began preaching here, which tuinistrations been continued b y h i s successors t o the present time. Although no regularly organized society exists, gation o f some 2 5 communicants resides here. Services are held in the Baptist church the second and days in each month, and they have adopted the title of St. John's Mission. Among the first and most active members in tion were Mrs. B . F. Wheat, Mrs. Abigail Flagler, Mrs. H. Button, Dr. Hewett and wife, and Dr. Jones Rev. Herbert J. Cook, of St. Mark's present rector. C EId ETERI The first board o f health was appointed at township-meeting held in 1839. and consisted of Peter M. Newberry, James Smith, Bartholomew Hewett. sell, and John Broughton. A t a meeting o f the board o f health, convened at house o f Joseph Berry, Mardi 7 . 1840, they contracted with said Berry for one acre of ground for at 830. T h e y also eontracted with John Broughton t o clear the same, and make a good and sufficient post and rail fence around it for the consideration of $30, to be six rails high, and t o make a permanent gate six feet wide. on the west side, and to be done by the 6th of April followiri,. At the annual town-meeting of 1840, $60 was voted to pay ti,r the ground, and the clearing and fencing of the same. J a n . 21, 1841, the work was examined, according c o n t r a c t , This was the old ��Its. S . N I C H O L S . ANSEL NICHOLS. 44101MR, ' Photo.* by Y. I. W. P . A �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . May 23,1855, the board of health purchased from Enos G. Berry four acres of ground, and at the same date, from Timothy Howe and D. B. Purinton, a like amount, all of it for the consideration of $50 per acre. T h i s plat ated upon section 21 southeast, one half-mile from lage proper, and within the corporate limits. I t in the survey as follows: B e g i n n i n g upon the north and south quarter line of section 21 in Quincy south of the north quarter post, and running thence west at right angles, to said line, four chains; thence south parallel with said line, ten chains ; thence east at right angles line, eight chains; thence north parallel with said line, ten chains; thence west at right angles to said line, to the place of beginning, and containing Upon t h e completion o f necessary improvements t h e bodies were removed from the old buryingmentioned to the A cemetery is also located upon section 25, in east part of the township. We desire to return our thanks to Hon. Wm. P. Arnold, Horns Willson, James Donovan, Lucas Joseph, James M. Burdick, Ebenezer Mudge, Benjamin F. Wheat, B. N. Sheldon, C. V. R. Pond, A . C. Culver, C. nett, R. W. Berry, Charles R . Hannan, J. B. Sutton, M. M. Brown, Thomas Lennon, D. W. Young, E. berry, Dan W. Sawyer, Drs. F. E. Marsh, and man, Revs. C. C. Olds and William Foulkes, Mr. John Hutchinson, Mr. J. H. Thompson, Mr. Thomas Clark, Mrs. J. G. Corbus, Mrs. Ansel Nichols, Mrs. Mary R. very many others, for the valuable information the kindly consideration accorded us during our stay in the BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. HON. W31. P. ARNOLD. In 1833, while Michigan was yet a Territory, and while the interior o f the great peninsula. was y e t a n almost unbroken forest, inhabited by Indians and wild animals, with here and there, a t long distances apart, the l o g shanty o f some adventurous settler, and while the only roads into the wilderness were the Indian trails, it must have required a vast amount o f hopefulness as well as pluck" i n those early forerunners o f civilization t o cut loose from society, friends, and home associations, and with nothing but an unlimited stock o f energy " pitch t h e i r tents" in the midst of a region many miles removed from all the comforts and conveniences to which they accustomed, and, with the hope of building up able home i n the bright future, brave t h e dangers and hardships of a pioneer life. One of the most notable of these hardy old now living i n Branch County, is Wm. P. Arnold, o f Quincy. H e was born a t Clarendon, V t . , on the 23d of August, 1806. H i s father, Rice Arnold, was of Vermont, and in 1818 removed to Niagara Co., N. Y. , -ttled on a farm, and i n 1828 sold out and removed to 1 8 9 Chautauqua County. I n 1833 he removed to Michigan, where, at the home of his son, lie died in 1836, at of fifty-three years. H i s widow survived his death three years, dying in 1839, at the age of fifty-two were the parents of ten children, named Wm. Jonathan, Rice, George, Greene, Edward. Hannah, Sally, and Teresa; o f these Win. P., Greene, and Hannah alone are now living. The boyhood days of our subject were spent in of farm life and i n school, u n t i l he was a young man. After reaching his majority he worked out by the month for a short time, and then entered into a partnership for life with Miss Theresa Hewitt, of Hartland, Niagara Co. They were married on the 19th day of' February, 1829. After his marriage lie purchased his father's farm, and from that time until their death he had the care of his parents. I n 1833 he and his brother Anselum came t o Michigan i n quest o f a location for a home. to Coldwater, which a t that time consisted of a tavern, and a barn. T h e y each selected and "squatted" on eighty acres of what was known as "University lands," which they afterwards purchased, situated two miles east of the present city of Coldwater, on the prairie of and on the survey of the United States military as the Chicago turnpike, which was in course tion at that time. On their arrival i n Michigan they had between them twenty-five dollars. D u r i n g the summer they log house, raised two acres o f corn, and a small patch o f potatoes. I n the following October the father and mother, with the wives and children of the two brothers, from New York, and for a few months all lived together in the same In 1836, Wm. P. bought of the government acres of land in the same town, which he afterwards sold. In 1839 he sold out his original purchase, and hundred acres in the township of Quincy, which i s now embraced in the corporate limits of the village o f Quincy, where he has ever since resided. H i s out his long arid useful life has always been that of and his plain and unassuming mariners and with all men, large-hearted generosity, and kindness position have won for him a most enviable and place in the confidence of all. A s an evidence of all this it may be mentioned that, unsolicited by hini and against his repeated protests, he has been nearly all his life until recently, kept in positions of' official trust, such atynember of' the State Legislature and county superintendent of the poor, and has served his town as supervisor for twenty terms, giving in all positions entire satisfaction to stituents. I n politics he has always been at Democrat, with liberal national views, and loyal to the MN. Arnold, the faithful and devoted wife ate mother, has nobly performed her full share o f life' duties t o her husband and children, and equally with her husband enjoys the love and confidence of a wide circle of admiring friends. O n e of the most memorable of days in the lives of this venerable old couple was sion of their golden wedding, which occurred on the 191Ii day of February, 1879, at which over �1;1;1 ' M I I 1)1 N'T\ m i t i i i i ; N N them oh t l i . ii Ott. ill milli . . 1 1A..1,1, 1.1. Among the guests were many old pioneers of the and the tokens of respect and esteem in which old couple are held assumed the form of many appropriate gifts, accompanied by Nine children have been born to them, whose names are Edward R., George, Charles, Charlotte, Hiram, William, Nancy B . , Pearl A . a n d Greene. O f these Charles, Nancy, Pearl, and Greene are all that are now they are all married, and reside i n the village o f Quincy and its vicinity. The patrons o f this work, as well as the numerous friends and relatives of' this honored old pioneer couple, will be gratified t o find on another page the the Hon. Win. P. Arnold and his excellent wife. ANSEL NICHOLLS was born a t Crown Point, Essex Co., N. Y., on the 14th of M a y, 1804. H i s father, A s a Nicholls, died when Ansel was four years old. H e lived with his mother until he was fourteen, when, owing to the fact that his mother was in limited circumstances, and that there was a family of eleven children to provide for, he sought and found a home in the family o f Judge Shepherd, o f dison Co., V t . , w i t h whom h e remained until h e was twenty-two years o f age. D u r i n g the next two years he engaged i n farming for himself, and married Johnson, o f Panton, May 18, 1828. A f t e r his marriage he returned t o his old home, and managed the farm o f Judge Shepherd for the next three years. T h e n for the next two years he worked h i s own farm, when h e sold out and purchased a small farm i n Oswego Co., N . Y., where he remained four years, when h e was seized with the " Western fever." I l e made a visit to Michigan, liked the country, returned to New York, sold out, and with his family (in 1836) came to the township of Quincy, in Branch County, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of mostly wild land. T h e first week after their they were erecting their log house, they camped out in the woods. M r . Nicholls, being i n possession o f a strong and robust constitution that had been built up among the Green Mountains, leveled the forests under the sturdy stroke of his pioneer axe. A few years of toil tion, assisted by his active and energetic wife, made a great change in their circumstances. T h e wild forest had given place to fields of waving grain, the rude log hut to fortable residence, barns, and out-buildings, and pioneer emigrant o f 1836 had become one of well-to-do farmers of Branch County. H e was worker, but, with all his business activity, he found ti,e ell—onnity I i eent,ileite ti. and - t.,1 , t , 11,, 1,....•1. m i d ...Al, .d. Wl a r u , L i a t . i n I, I.. I i I -if,- o u t h i , farm. wit h t , i .-,. ,,i I1,-.11-11rz h u t Ili 1:ioodlalid 0111 W 1 , 1 , • i i I t , . • • • 1 1 i , - . 1 : 111 . 1 1 ` . . r . 1 1 . out anti 1,•11.1-1,, ,1 1., .1..• , , 15th o f Aprii. I -77 l i . i i l l . - IA u f seventy-three yeai -. leAvin:_, a I s and chiidr.•Fs i i comfortable eireolo-1,:h.,-, and 1 hr i f ) , f a hon. T l i . • i i i l l 11, iliz ..- 11,, w.1., T a a . . 1 at G00.11,001. I n d , Setnautlia L . ii. tiiii wife o f Lyman Cerrow, of Ovid, &stab Co., I l i a . ; Bolos is the Aaron Van Orthwiek, of Bader, is the ammo oarsiy; i P i a A. is the wife of William Buns, of L o ' s ! , Co., Mich.; Myra, is ti,.. , t ' S . . u t h w , . r t h . i t Allen, Hillsdale Co., t I t , . in Goodland, Ind. Mrs. Susan Nicholls, the vesaraide old. times. sides in the village of Quincy, and has a vivid of the early privations and . i f tli first Branch County. O n one ocasion she was by a " b i g Indian," who had entered the house without her notice. H e r little daughter first saw hiti. a lid all in great fright; but he proved to be friendly, parted with a huge slice o f bread and a smile factio Ti,e le.e,ler will find on ara.tlicr t h . • worth, old till.!.- .1 DANIEL H . The ancestors of Daniel H . Snot!, o r , a n d emigrated to the New World at an t h y ,lat. it, tii, of the English colonies. T h r y s.trt.,1 a t first, but afterwards removed to tie r a t , i f N.,u. Askum Smith, the father of our subject, was born and reared in New York, and in early life was married Hayes, in Essex Co., N . Y. I n 1832 he removed to ing Co., Ohio, where, in the following year, he died. learinz his wife with three ehildren,—Dani,! I L k Whir w t o i n t ha, siii.i.• Mrs. )label Stnith-41t.,1 in r i , . • • A t N - t h r t v years Daniel H. VMS boo, ..11 111,..11/th .1aN iif I 1 , 2 1 . in Jay, N . Y. I l e atti•itd.i.1 u n t i l I I , years o f age, when the r , • 1 1 1 , , V A t., ()hi,. and I l l , fatlier'S dt•atli. Which .4.1•1111...1 A r t . r aicc,,•11,1 t., se I, • I ` I ow I .\ _ i l l awi 0 • cc.; 11 �stiograllimow•ftftewsk D. H. "Or • RESIDENCE Or D . H S M I T H , QuiNcr BRANCH CO., MICH. �L �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . In 1360 he erected a large frame barn and dence. I n 1862, when the Rebellion broke out, he was among the first to respond t o the call f i n left his farm and family and enlisted i n the 50th Ohio Infantry. H e served all through the war, participating in numerous battles and skirmishes, in all of which without a wound. A t the close of the war he ably discharged, and returned t o his family. The following year he sold his farm in Shelby a tour through several of the Western States in quest of another location, finally purchasing a farm of and forty acres in the town of Quincy, Branch Co., Mich., where he has ever since resided. I t is situated just out of the western suburbs of the village of Quincy, and is finely adapted t o the production of all the fruits and grains for which Quincy is so justly celebrated, is provided venient and comfortable barns and o u t -buildings, and a beautiful Gothic farm-house surrounded w i t h evergreen trees and shrubs, making altogether one o f the most desirable farm-homes in that part of the county. Mr. Smith and his esteemed wife are the parents ehildren.—Mary A., who is married and resides in Ohio; James R . , who i s married and resides i n Kansas; and Martha J., also married and living in Quincy. Mr. Smith has been for over thirty years an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and whether tice, master, or companion of the Royal Arch has known and esteemed by the craft as that best and truest type of a Mason—an honest man, l i e has at held positions of trust and responsibility, among be mentioned that of superintendent for many years of the Shelby Turnpike Company. A Republican i n politics, honorable and liberal i n all his dealings, a kind husband and father, he commands the confidence and esteem of all. By reference to another page of this work may be found the portraits o f M r. Smith and his wife, with a view of their beautiful DR. EDSON BLACKMAN. Adam Blackman, one of the ancestors of Edson, of the early emigrants from England to the New World. He was a graduate o f Oxford i n 1620, and settled i n Connecticut, where he was engaged in the ministry. T h e Blackman family remained in Connecticut until Eli W. Blackman, the father of our subject, emigrated to Michigan, and settled at Morenci, Lenawee Co. engaged at that place in farming up to 1852, when out and removed to Allen, Hillsdale Co., where until his death, in 1866, aged seventy. H i s widow died in 1876, at the age of eighty. T h e y were the parents of four children,—Sarah M., John, Edson, and Viola. Sarah M . and Edson are living. E d s o n Blackman was born Nov. 22, 1839, at Morenci. H e was reared on the C,trna, but obtained a fair education in the tad after he was twenty years of age, he was engaged in ',setting rehools in various places in Ohio, Indiana, and Airing's, and i n attending the college a t Hillsdale f . r Amend terns. H e had decided on the medical 19 and all his spare time in and out of college was devoted to that study. H e entered the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, i n 1864, and graduated a t t h a t institute i n 1866. S o o n after, he commenced the practice P h o t o . h y E . K i n d w a t I., C o l d w a t . • r. DR. E D S O N B L A C K M A N . at White Pigeon, Mich. I n March, 1866, he was united a in marriage t o Miss Melinda A . Morehouse, N. Y. H e remained in practice at White Pigeon for ten years, and bad built up a lucrative business, when out with the intention o f removing to Saratoga; b u t the illness of his aged mother at Allen prevented him, finally decided t o settle in Quincy, where he has sided, and established a lucrative practice, as well as won the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. The doctor is known and appreciated among ous patrons as a patient, sociable adviser, and among the citizens generally as a gentleman. H e i s a t this time supervisor of Quincy, and i s regarded as a rising man i n his profession. T h e doctor and his estimable in a cosy home on Chicago Street. T h e y are of four children,—Mary G., Jesse E., J. Morehouse, and Cora M.,—all at home with JOSEPH S. SWAN. The ancestors o f Mr. Swan were among the tlers of New England. N a t h a n Swan, the father WWI a native o f Connecticut, and in early life to Beulah Gates, of Washington Co., Ohio, to he had emigrated from Connecticut. I l e was engaged i n farming in Ohio until 1850, when he removed to Michigan and bought a farm i n Quincy, Branch Co., where he still resides. H i s wife died in 1865, at the age of They were the parents of six children, named Joseph 8., Amy, Elizabeth, Levi. Zebedee, and Beulah, who are all married arid have , , x e e p t Zelowtse the township �192 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Joseph S. was born i n Washington Cu., Ohio, on Nov. 7, 1824. H e was reared on a farm, and grew u p t o manhood with a strong, vigorous constitution, inured t o hard labor and industrious habits. H e remained with his father until he reached his majority, when he struck out for himself. H e left home in 1846, and came to Quincy, Branch Co., possessing, upon his arrival, two dollars and fitly cents. H e then hired out to work by the James Clizbe, with whom he remained two years, during chopped and cleared over two hundred acres of ber laud in Quincy. B y incessant toil and ment he in a few years became known as a wellfarmer, and as he prospered in his financial resources, he made many improvements on his farm. I n 1861 a fine farm-residence, and at this time he has one finest situations in that part of the county. H e has cultivated farm, on which he raises all the various grains and fruits and stock for which Southern Michigan • JOSEPH S . S W A N . MRS. J O S E P H S . S W A N . which time he married Miss Louise Mowry, the daughter of Samuel Mowry, an old settler of Quincy, April 9, 1848. For the next two years he worked the farm of in-law on shares, meanwhile having purchased of wild land i n the township o f Quincy, upon which, in 1852, he erected a log house, moved in, and commenced to clear off and improve his own farm. F o r the next few years he was engaged alternately in jobbing and clearing lands for himself and others. H e has, with his In 1862 his wife died, and left him young children,—the youngest an infant ten days old. I n the following year he filled the vacancy in his home by a marriage with Miss Elizabeth Weaver, daughter o f Jacob and Charlotte Weaver, old settlers o f Quincy. B y this second union there are no offspring. T h e names o f his children are Lydia M.. May A., and Nathan S. L y d i a is a teacher in one of the Detroit schools, and the at home with their father. CHARLES N . WILCOX. to relinquish his business in consequence of ill health. After a two years' rest he engaged i n the same business in the same place, and, selling out, was for the next four years engaged in the same business at Angola. I l e a tour through the Western States in quest of for business, and finally decided to locate i n Michigan. settling in the village of Quincy, Branch Co., which at that time was a small hamlet consisting of a hotel and a few small business houses. H e had on his arrival a dred dollars with which to commence business, and first to open a boot- and shoe-more is Quincy. F o r the next twenty years he steadily pursued that business, he was at the same time actively engaged is and fitting them up for sale by ensuing buildings, growth and prosperity of the village may be cienridered as largely due to his enterprise and activity in all (lie improvement of the town. H e is at this time of a large amount of reel estate in the allege, eartimingIf Jehiel Wilcox, the father of our subject, was a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y. , and when a young man went mont to work at his trade as a shoemaker, where Miss Chloe Nicholls. I n 1827 lie removed to Western New York, and the town of Evans, Erie Co filially home, where he and his wife still reside on their farm. T h e y are the parents of thirteen children,—seven sons and six daughters. Charles N. is the eldest of this large family. Six of the sons became engaged in the boot and Charles N. was born Oct. 13, 1824, at Sandgate, Vt. H e obtained a fair education i n the English branches, and, in the intervals of attending school, worked at shoemaking in Evans and its vicinity until he was twenty-one years when he was married t o Miss Maranda I I . Jackson, o f Evans, FA . 6, 1851. A f t e r his marriage business hi,r himself in a boot- and shoe.store in the village of Pontiac, Erie Cu. A f t e r about two years he AL. I ��Piiiit... byE. Kindal Irk, t'olchoster. A LVA R A D O B R O W N . MKS. A L V A R A l i i m t o W N. i` • MKS. R . F . W H E A T . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . lots, residences, stores, etc. H e has been a member of the village board almost continuously, o f t h e school board for many years, and has always been active i n perance reform. H e i s an attendant a t t h e Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is an They are the parents of three children, named forest, Francis Delos, and I d a May. F r a n c i s died a t ten years of age. L e r o y and Ida are at home with Leroy is i n business for himself in the sale of boots and shoes in Quincy. The residence of Mr. Wilcox and his worthy lady is on Chicago Street, and is a beautiful and B. F. W H E AT is of English extraction. H i s ancestors emigrated to this country at an early date and settled i n the colony, where the family remained u n t i l Benjamin, the paternal grandfather o f o u r subject, removed w i t h h i s family to the State of New York, and settled in Phelps, in Ontario County. H e died in 1817, at the age three. H i s son Benjamin, who was born i n a farmer and also a mechanic. H i s wife's maiden name was L u a n y Sprague. T h e y were the parents o f eight children, as follows: Submit, Julia Ann, Sydney, Louise, Benjamin F., Jane, Charlotte, and Corydon. O f these all are living at this time except Submit, Julia, Benjamin was a volunteer in the war of 1812, and died in 1844, at sixty-four years of age, his widow dying in 1859, at seventy-five years Benjamin F. , who was born a t Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y. , Aug. 18, 1817, was reared a farmer, alternately assisting i n the farm labors and attending the common schools until he was nineteen years of age, desirous of going West, he removed to Lenawee Co., Mich., and f o r the first t w o or three years was engaged carpenter business in what was known as the Bean Creek country. D u r i n g this time he formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary D . Hermance, a native o f Fredonia, N . Y. Their acquaintance resulted i n marriage, and they were united on t h e 5th day of May, 1839. T h e y soon after settled on a farm between Canandaigua and he remained six years, and then moved into he engaged in the lumber arid saw-mill business. I n 1852 he removed t o Quincy, Branch Co., where he erected a building for a store on the corner o f Main and Chicago Streets, and engaged in the sale of goods. A t tion of three years, being compelled in consequence ing health to relinquish that branch of business, he sold out the store, and since that time has been engaged ing arid selling produce. H e was also postmaster for eight years, and in 1 6 2 was in the mercantile trade again for a year, since when until a year ago, buying arid selling grain and produce has been his principal Mr. Wheat has been generally successful in ventures and has accumulated a comfortable for old age. H e is held i n great esteem by all who know him for his sound judgment, unflinching rind honorable dealing. I n polities he is a 1.,emoerat of the .1.1 ehool; in religious sentiment liberal in his 1 9 3 ant and charitable to those with whom he ing in his life and character all the traits of an American gentlema Mr. and Mrs. Wheat are the parents of Luany, the eldest, being the wife o f Thomas II. Smith, a lawyer of Los Angeles, Cal. In 1861, Edward S., at the age of nineteen, was one of the first to respond to the call for volunteers, and enlisted at the first call for three months' men, i n Loomis Coldwater Battery, and when i t was found that the war was likely to continue he promptly re-enlisted and assisted in enlisting the men and organizing the gan Battery, i n which h e became lieutenant, and w i t h which he remained during the war, a portion o f the time serving as chief o f ordnance on the staff o f Gen. Va n Cleve. H e participated in many of' the hardof the war, among which were Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro', and many others, in all of which he proved himself a hero. A t the time stationed a t Murfreesboro' l i e became acquainted w i t h Miss Emma Spence, the daughter of Hon. of that place, t o whom, at the close of the war, he was married, and they settled on a plantation boro'; but soon after, being appointed revenue assessor, he ceased farming, and for the last seven or eight years resided at Nashville, serving as United States marshal f o r that district. Mrs. Wheat is a life-long, honored member of copal Church ; she was confirmed i n t h e city o f Adrian many years ago, and is to-day a zealous pected and esteemed by all her The reader will find b y reference t o another this work the portraits of Mr. Wheat arid his wife, which, together with this brief sketch, will stand as a tribute to their lives and ALVARADO BROWN. Nicholas Brown, the father of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts. H e was in early life married nah Johnson in Herkimer Co., N. Y. H i s that of a mechanic and machinist. I n 1813 he removed to Ontario Co., N. Y., and settled on a farm in the town of Farmington, where he remained until 1825, when moved to Orleans County, and the same year died at the age of forty-eight years. H i s widow died the next the age o f forty-eight years. T h e y were the parents o f seven children,—four sons and three daughters,— Alvarado was next youngest. H e was born Jan. 15,1809, in Newport, Herkimer Co., N . Y. H e and worked a t farm labor until after the death o f his parents, when the family became dispersed, and each went out to seek a living After his mother's death, Alvarado attended at Gaines for a short time, and then was engaged three years i n working out by the month. D u r i n g this time he married Miss Almimi Davis, of Ridgway, 1833. A f t e r his marriage he bought. a small farm, on which lie was engaged for the next three year. A b o u t �194 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . that time, determining to "go West," he sold out to Indiana, where, in the town o f York, Elkhart Co., he bought five lots of government laud. H e remained there four years, and then exchanged his lands in Indiana farm in the township of Quincy, Branch Co., has been his home ever since, although he has sold changed farina and residences many times since. M r . Brown has all his life been engaged in farming, gaging in uncertain projects of speculation, and it due to his shrewdness and sagacity, as well as and economy, that he has been uniformly successful business, and that he is now, in the closing years of and active life, able to retire from laborious pursuit with a competency for old age. A b o u t four years ago he farming and contemplated making his home in Colorado, where his children are located ; b u t after visiting that country he decided that he liked his old home which time he and his esteemed wife have resided in the village o f Quincy, where they are appreciated by a wide circle o f friends and acquaintances. M r . Brown a t this time, although seventy years of' age, has the appearance o f a healthy old gentleman, and, with his excellent to enjoy life with as keen a zest as in their more youthful days. T h e y are both honored members o f the Baptist Church, in which they have been active workers wards of They are the parents of three children, named Helen M., Mary M., and Florence Ina. T h e y are all married, citizens of Colorado. H e l e n is the wife of and resides on a farm twenty miles from the city ver. M a r y is the wife o f L. H. Cole, who is gaged i n stock-raising, and resides in the city of Denver; Florence i s t h e wife o f A . J . Williams, a banker o f Denver Mr. Brown has, a t various times, occupied important positions, which he has filled w i t h honor to profit to his constituents, such as magistrate, tive terms i n the State Legislature, and member o f the convention that revised the constitution of the State. H i s private character is without reproach, and he has known as a just and His wife was the daughter of Joseph and Dolly Davis, of Ridgeway, N. Y., and was born on the 27th day cember, 1811, at Goshen, Madison Co., Vt. S h e to her husband a helpmeet indeed, fully sharing pathizing with him in all the toils, sicknesses, through which he has passed in a long and active it may be said of her that "the heart of her safely trust in her." LUCAS JOSEPH. Among the hardy old pioneer settlers of Branch County we notice Lucas Joseph, of Quincy. H e resides one mile south of the beautiful village of Quincy, on the he first selected in 1837, and i s living in the erected by him i n 1844, which was the first ho t between Quiney and Ilanchetes, i n Alg,ansee. I n this hou.se he was married, and has ream] a large family of children, and :ilthough he has bought, sold, many treats of land, it is remerkahla a . . WOWS N M dad in all these yaws he boa sower ebraged hie isidiuma. Matthias Jneeph, the father o f Laois, a u s • m i m e o f Strasburg, France, and is 1817 eseigaraid ailb his Sway to the United States, and .1.the 1 . iseMa, Pa. N o s of six years afterwards he removed to Tosapkios Co., N. Y., where he remained about eight years, aad the. Chili, Monroe Co., N. Y. , where, is 1850, be died five years of age. H i s widow died in the eity e 1 Barkmar in 1864. T h e y were the parents of eight children, lows: Rose, Martha, Lucas, Mary, Jobs, rem*, and William. O f these all are living Lucas, the eldest son, was born Oct. 14, 1817, at Fartos, Pa. H i s opportunities for acquiring even a education were very limited up to his thirteenth year. after which his school days were over, and he was put to work out by the mouth and year at farm labor, his ing his When Lucas was nineteen his father gave him his time. and he went t o work for himself, l i e worked out a few months and got together a small sum of money, and then started for the West. I l e came to Michigan, and when he arrived i n Adrian he had but three dollars, of which he expended two dollars and seventy-five cents for a boots, and the remainder He then went to work for Ira S. Mudge. south of Adrian. He made a bargain with Mudge for eighty acres of wild land, in the township of Quincy. F o r this land eight months, and also cleared off eighteen acres After paying for his land he went to work clearing off a small piece of four acres on his own land, which he put into During the next few years he was engaged alternately in working out by the month and clearing and improving his land. I n 1844 he erected the house in which he has ever since lived. T h e first year he lived alone and lor's hall," when Isaac Coon moved into his house and Mr. Joseph boarded with the family until his marriage with Miss Phebe F. Coon, Oct. 20, 1547. M r . Joseph was for many years engaged in the nursery and fruithe being the first to establish a nursery in and the first t o sell fruit-trecs T h i s . for about twenty years, was his principal oct•upation. although at time he carried on fanning. and :it interval, bought, exchanged lands. and occasionally dealt i n bought and sold stock and produce. M r . of Franco-German origin, presents a fine type of versa! Yankee, in the multiplicity and variety tions he has been engaged in, and in the energy verance with which he carries through to he undertakes. H i s whole life has been characterised by determination and push. T h e village of Quincy to his energy and foresight., for soon after the of the Michigan Southern Railroad, the question a railroad station would be located at Quincy or at three miles east depended upon the ability of the build a freight-house. M r . Jo.seph, with his took hold o f the matter, erected the building, and thus secured the location. H e is widely knows over as one of the solid, aulgessatial old pettiers of �••••••• HISTORY O F B R A N C H is held in great esteem by his fellow-townsmen, and their confidence in him has been frequently manifested by placing him in positions of responsibility. H e is at this ing his second term as drain commissioner. I n is a Democrat o f the Jackson type, and believes i n the maxims of the fiithers of Mr. Joseph and his worthy wife are the parents o f ten children, named Francis J., Irvine E., Eugenia, Duella, COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 1 9 5 May, Maud, Ray, Orr, Iva, and Clint. A l l are cept Irvine, May, Ray, and Orr. E u g e n i a is the wife o f Amos Gould, and resides i n t h e township o f Quincy. Duella is the wife of M. S. Segur, and resides in the village of Quincy. F r a n c i s is at present located in the others are at home with their parents. H i s consists of one hundred and forty-six acres, and he owns in various other places six hundred and twenty-two Photos. by E. Rindmark, Coldwater. PETER 31. N E W B E R R Y. MRS. P E T E R B . N E W B E R R Y. PETER M . NEWBERRY. by his noble and energetic wife, who, besides attending to her household duties, went out and helped pile and burn brush on their new land. S h e also, at the solicitation o f her neighbors, taught school i n her cabin f o r some time, until a school-house was erected. F r o m this time berry was steadily engaged in farming up to 1869, when he sold his farm and moved into the village of Quincy, lived three years. H e then repurchased his old moved back. I n 1870 he made a trip to the with the intention of settling there i f he liked the country, but he decided not to remain. O n the 27th day ary, 1879, Mrs. Newberry died, after a brief illness of four days, of an attack o f They were the parents of three children—Warren H., who was a soldier in the Rebellion and died in ville hospital; Clarissa, the wife o f A . M . Etheridge, of Quincy; and Emma, the wife of R. B. Etheridge, residing at the old home with the Jonathan Newberry, the paternal grandfather of ject, was a native of Orange Co., N. Y. , and removals he finally settled in Saratoga Co., where he an advanced are. H e reared a family of eleven children. Nathaniel, t h e father o f Peter M . , was born i n 1783. He was reared and educated a farmer, and in 1810 married Miss Jane Mack, i n Saratoga County. H e became the owner of the old homestead in Saratoga, and reared a family of eight children, named Peter M . , William, Mary A . , Nathaniel, Jr., John, Nelson, Alzina, and Pliebe Jane, all now living except Mary and Nathaniel. Peter M., the eldest, was born at toga Co., Dee. 14, 1810. I l l s youth was passed ing school and assisting on the home-farm. at home with his father until he was twenty-six years o f age. H e was married at the age o f twenty-four to Miss Hannah Stmberry, of the same place, Nov. 10, 1834. I n 1836 he decided to go West. H i s intention was to settle in Ohio, but their passage up Lake Erie was so rough and boisterous that they could not land at Toledo, ceeded to Detroit. T h e y decided to settle in the interior of Michigan. and located in Jonesville, where Mr. Newberry remained one year, working a farm on shares T h e next year he purchased eighty acres o f wild land, in ship of Quincy, Branch Co., erected a log house, menced clearing off and improving it. H e was DR. ENOS O. BERRY. The late Dr. Enos 0. Berry has a prominent place in the history of the State of Mich;gan as well as Branch County. Residents of the township of Quincy, who are but thirty years of age, know of Enos G. Berry The early metiers and pioneers knew his ability, worth, and influence in the prime of life. �^7' 196 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . Jan. 10, 1877, the funeral services were held at deuce, when an appropriate, calm, and course was delivered b y the Rev. G. L Height, o f the Methodist Episcopal Church, Jacob Kincaid, Esq., i n charge. L l K I N Joseph, Wm. P. Arnold, Alvarado Brown, Nicholas Daily, Cyrus Lusk, and William Tibbitts,—early settlers and old acquaintances,—were pall-bearers. T h e s e aged men gave a solemn impression as they so tenderly laid him t o rest where he now " sleeps his last sleep." T h e attendance was large and the occasion most solem Samuel H. Berry, father of a number of whom was E. G. Berry, born Sept. 5, 1814, moved i n an early day from the State of New Hampshire vania; thence to the State of New York, and i n 1835 t o Branch Co., Mich. The deceased studied medicine in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., came to Quincy at the age of twenty-two, was admitted to practice as a physician and surgeon, and entered upon the duties of his profession with zeal and selftion. H e visited the poor and destitute without charge, and took no mortgages or other securities o f those unable to pay, but gave them such time as their required; and, with other duties, continued the practice of medicine for about When E. G. Berry came to Quincy there was but one log cabin on the prairie. The prominent early settlers were intimate friends of Dr. Berry, knew his character, influence, and ability, of them understood that the value of their property here was greatly advanced by the influence of Mr. Berry, who, more than any other, moved the Senate, in 1849, the Extension Bill, by which the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad, now Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, was built. Dr. Berry was the first supervisor in Quincy; justice of the peace in the town twelve years, the magistrates in the surrounding towns in making forms for conveyances and contracts, warrants, and writs o f all kinds, and was the first to give form to legal this part of the county. T h e constables, and road district officers, depended upon him for direction, which was always freely given, and i n ner he became familiar with the Territorial laws, and also with the statutes afterwards passed. H e was a member of the House of Representatives i n 1842, and of in 1848, and well prepared i n 1849 t o act with edge of the rules of the House He was appointed, in 1849, chairman of the mittee on In 1849 he accomplished that which was the crowning glory of his life, viz., the passage of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad Bill, he being the leader of that measure in the Senate by In 1849, Branch County had a representation i n the State Legislature creditable to itself, one that uously to the front at the commencement of Enos G. Berry in the Senate; Geo. A . Coe and 0 . C. Comstock in W11..11 this bill came to its passage it. the Senate, Mr. Berry was musts &Ceded; wham the vote mimese was almost paralysed; when, on the n t h , the W I p o n d the Senate over the veto, be was amble hur11111141,11 leave his room; and when the aM b y bosoms a was completely overwhelmed. B e appeared h i e a semin a trance for two days, and was maimed to his ream ter some time. H i s temperament proved to be me sanguine, and he did not know himself till this event, A g a not only surprised but alarmed him. S a y s the HOD. Jobe W. Turner, member of the Howe at the same time, " I have listened to his appeals in the Senate in behalf of kit constituents with much interest; not that he for he did not aspire to be; but in a his address was impressive. T a l l and commanding, with a clear, soft voice, a sparkling eye that fairly glowed; he became nervous and more excited, his features grew full of expression, while he gave to his plain monosyllables a strong force, with his long and trembling seemed to understand what h e said, and came sweeping down upon the desk in support of But the great object was accomplished, and proved o f inestimable value t o Southern Michigan. T h e r e is no doubt but what its success was due to the indomitable will, perseverance, and impressive eloquence of Dr. Berry. S a y s Mr. Turner, " T h e appeal o f Mr. Berry in behalf of this measure WU one of the most intensely interesting and soul-stirring speeches I ever listened t o in a deliberative assembly. Now comes t h e winter o f his discontent." I n 1858 his only daughter, Serena, fourteen years of age. affectionat, beautiful, and promisinz. was taken sick, and in July died I f a father can love too dearly his own child, that his. H e was at that period fifty years o f age, that time until the day of his death, thirteen he declined steadily. By this shock his nervous system became permanently disordered, and there was no recovery frotu the despondency that constantly enshrouded him. " T h e bright sun was extinguished, and the moon did wander darkly in the eternal space, rayless and pathless. 7klorn came and went, and came and went and brought no day.no further ambition, desired no further promotion. had i i wish to appear in public. gradually lost his taste and public gatherings, and became more retired as h e neared "His WIWIno tongue Within whosebosom, No kindlier He occupied many other public positions, and was many times sent t o the Legislature. H e was at one dered and urged t o accept t h e position o f " Manager o f Internal Affairs of M i c h i n n . - but t h i s being in his later years, and the position being one of great thought best tint Ht. was also appt.inted. by President Lincoln. mew Commissioner ill the army, aud entered upon charge of his duties; but being soon after taken severely ill in Washington, was eompelle<I t o abandon t h e enterprise and seek rest anti quiet �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . He was an earnest worker 6,r General the latter ran for President ; and in case of tiou, was to be appointed Governor Dr. Berry was a. man of very uncommon intellect, which, aided by his great energy and sleepless without doubt, have elevated him to a position among the foremost men o f the nation. H e was an intimate friend and associate o f Zaehariah Chandler, Jacob M . Howard, Governor Ransom, Chas. G. Hammond, and the various Governors of Michigan during his active days. many intimate friends were, also, Gen. Cass, Governor Blair, Hon. Benjamin F. Wade, United States Senator from Ohio. These were among the many friends of Mr. Berry, he was highly respected ti,r his acknowledged superior ability and elevated In D r. Berry we find a man o f strong passions the keenest perceptions of right and wrong. H e was 1 9 7 long member and supporter of the Methodist Churches, always kind and affectionate in his a man revered and beloved by all. H e left a large property, wife, and tine son, the pride and idol o f his whom he lived just long enough to see a graduate from the Michigan University and a lawyer before the Supreme bar of his State, and just budding into bright and proinisin manhoo Dr. Berry died happily, with a full and enduring faith in Jesus. A n upright man has passed away. T h e A l l -Wise Father has seen fit to call him home to his haven rest. A life of usefulness is closed ; the places that once knew him will know him " N o more f o r h i m t h e r i s i n g sun Salutes t h e w a k i n g m o r n . " His was, indeed, a character worthy Photo.. by E. Kiadmark, Coldwater. JOHN S. B E L O T E . JOHN S. fiF.I.OTE. The ancestors of John S. Belote were of John Belote, the paternal grandfather, was a settled i n Western New York, and when a married Dorcas Mack. I l e reared a large family dren. o f whom Harris was t h e eldest. H e became a machinist, and when a young Mall went 0 , the city o f Albany and was engaged in a machine-shop. H e r e married t o Rebecca Spencer, and after a few years moved to Connecticut and then back t o the State York, settling in Penfield. Monroe Co., and in Orleans County. i n 1838 they migrated t o Oakland Co., Mich., where, in 1847, at the age of sixty-four year.. he died. H i s widow died i n 1863. at the age year.. T h e y were the paronk ” f firt...•11 l i i l d r e , , t r i t m d as folirms C a r o l i o c , Job.•tte. Janie, lioreas R o t h . g 'barb, I \ Eho.ro MRS. L O I S M . B E L O T E . and two infants not named. O f this large family still living. John S., the second child, was born in the city of Albany, N. Y., Nov. 24,1813. H i s boyhood was spent his father, with whom he remained until five he was twenty-one, when he bought his time, paying his father thirty dollars. H e then went to work for himself by the month. I n 1835 he came to Michigan, and went to work on the Brie and Kalamazo Railroad. tinued at that labor five months, when he went County and selected and bought a government lot in the township of Quincy. H e then worked at for two years, when he commenced clearing his land and built a log house, and on the 29th day of August, 1841, he wm united in marriage to Miss Lou M . daughter of Alva Burleson, so old settler of Quincy. After MI esstertare he mrerni t o ilia new Berm, where �" • • • • 11 . ^ 198 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . ever since resided. B y industry and economy Mr. Belute has acquired a handsome property, and is regarded of the solid and reliable farmers of Branch County. H e lives in a fine, commodious house, and has convenient barns and out buildings tinr grain and stock. They are the parents of James W., Julia M., Alva R , Mary J., Martha G., and Amanda M., who are all living except James and Julia, who died in infancy. H i s son Alva owns and resides on a farm adjoining his father's. JOHN R . MOREY. Wm. P. Morey, the father of John R., was a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y. H e was born in the town lus, and reared a farmer. I n 1840 he came to Michigan, and bought and settled on a farm i n Reading, Hillsdale Co., on which now stands the village o f Reading, then known as Basswood Corners. I n 1842 he was married to Miss Lucy Rising, of the same place. H e bought several farms i n Branch County, and in 1865 he died at his residence in the town o f Quincy, at the age o f fifty years. H i s wife died at the age of thirty-four, in 1856. They were the parents of three children, named John R., Lucinda, and William H. John R. was born in Reading on the 17th day 1844. H e obtained a good education i n t h e common schools and at the Albion College. H e was reared and when not in school assisted i n the farm labors until eightAmm years of age, when, at the call fur volustasni to fight the battles for the Uoiou, he maimed is Co. 11, 5th Michigan Cavalry, and served with honor all through the great struggle. H e became sergeant of his compaay, at various times auet.tensively under the outlawed celebrated generals, Custer. Kilpatrick, and Sheridan. H e participated in many of the hard-fought battles and merous skindoihisi and raids, such as the tysburg, Boonaborough, Fredericksburg, Wincheater, etc. He VMS taken prisoner near Richmond, under was an inmate of Libby prison for four months, changed. A t the close of the war he returned and engaged in farming. On the 17th day of March, 1868, he was united riage to Miss Amanda Bickford, daughter of ford, of Algansee, Branch Co., one of the old lies in that locality. A f t e r his marriage he settled cm the old homestead of his father, in the town o f he has since resided. H e has made purchases, so that his farm now consists of one hundred and twenty acres of fine, fertile land, well adapted for grain, grass, and fruit growing, with good, comfortable farm-buildings. M r . Morey and his wife are the parents of one child, a bright little boy of four years of age. M r . Morey is a man of energy tivity, and is highly esteemed by all his acquaintances for his integrity and social qualities. O n another page work may be found a view of the beautiful farm-home of Mr. Morey, and the portraits of this worthy UNION. THE township of Union, which comprises township number 5 south, o f range 7 west, of the principal meridian, was organized from a part o f Sherwood by an act of the Legislature approved March 11, 1837. I t lies on the northern boundary of the county, being surrounded by the towns o f Girard, Batavia, and Sherwood on the east, south, and west, respectively, and Burlington on the north, in Calhoun County. This township was originally very heavily timbered, and was consequently not settled in the interior until after the prairie and oak-opening lands i n other localities had all been taken; for although the idea long held by rather in favor of timbered lands and against the prairies and openings for agricultural purposes, it was in pletely overthrown b y actual experience. B y f a r t h e greater proportion o f the timber in Union has been cut away, even though much still remains. T h e surface i s usually quite level, the only depressions of importance being the valleys of the various streams. A judicious system of drainage has reclaimed some lands which were at one time of a marshy nature, and but very little waste land found in The St. -Joseph River crosses the northwest corner of k the town, flowing in a southwesterly direction, at Union C i t y with t h e Coldwater River. t h e outlet o f numerous lakes to the south. B o t h these their junction, were called St. Joseph a t one time, the name having been given by the Jesuits, in honor of the husband o f the Virgin Mary, whom they regard as the patron saint of " N e w France," as the was then known. T h i s river, also, to distinguish it from the "Miami o f the Lakes" (now the Maumee a n d the "Miami o f the Ohio." was called f o r a greater o r less period the M i a m i of the North." T h e name Coldwater is also o f French origin, the stream bearing that name being represented upon an old map under the title L E r ' Froiri," Or "Cold Water." In t h e immediate vicinity o f Union C i t y are many mounds, by many supposed t o be the work o f terious people, the "mound-builders," whose existence is briefly discussed in the general history of the county. O n the banks of the Coldwater River are ommicreal eireshr mounds, whose origin was not known to the ider h a m s . and which, from their similarity no others which examined in various parts of the coustry, are be burial-places. O n the right (or earth) beak of �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . H Joseph, something over a mile above Union C i t y, and i n Calhoun County, is an ancient earthwork, semicircular in form, located upon a bluff which juts upon the stream, and the highest point in the immediate vicinity. I t s position for defense is admirable, and testifies to the tion of those b y whom i t was constructed. I t covers an area of perhaps an acre, is about four feet in height, and has quite heavy timber growing upon it. I t is well known that these fortresses and mounds are invariably found near to a prominent stream or large body of water, and as the St. Joseph is among the principal rivers o f the southern peninsula of Michigan, it is easy to see why it as a highway for the canoes or other craft of the habitants, whoever they may have been. I n ties are found extensive gardens, regularly laid out and walks. Va r i o u s plats o f these gardens have been made, and printed copies are inserted in several interesting works pertaining to this region. T h e y were hundreds of acres in extent. The student of history learns that early French explorers and missionaries traversed the peninsula forming ern part o f Michigan many years ere i t s begun by the descendants of the Anglo-Saxon race. I t is stated—with what show o f truth cannot be learned, but in all sincerity as f a r as known—that a French existed on t h e present- site o f Union C i t y very early, on the north side o f the St. Joseph River, below its union with the Coldwater; and immediately preceding ment of the place it is known that a small tradingestablished here by an American, who stayed but a short time Hon. William H. Cross, of Centreville, St. Joseph authority for the statement that one John Clawson, from near Mongoquinong Prairie, in what is now La Ind., was the first white man who made his home mouth of the Coldwater River. Clawson would therefore be entitled to the credit of THE FIRST SETTLER in what a t present constitutes Union township. J u d g e Cross came into Branch County i n 1829, and made his home in i t in 1830, at Coldwater. I t is stated on other authority that Clawson was the proprietor of a or trading-post, where he bartered with the Indians, this being the establishment mentioned above. T h e site o f the early French trading-post which i s said t o located here is fixed at a point south of the school building in Union City, and north of the River. The survey of this township was made for ment i n 1826, by Robert Clark, under instructions from Edward Tiffin, then United States Settlements were made at Union City in 1833, of which more will be said farther on, and for a few years nearly all who came into the township located there. M e n t i o n o f them will be found in the sketch of the place a The year 1836, however, witnessed the arrival families, who located in the dense wilderness to the south and east, a few of whom have continued their residence in he township until the present time. T h e majority of the 1 9 9 first settlers i n this township were very probably agara and Chenango Counties, in the State of New York. From the former, in t h e spring o f 1836, there came the following persons: Alpheus Saunders, Lewis Kilbourn, Archibald Mitchell, and W. M . Mitchell, who took up government land i n the southwest part o f town and returned f o r their families, bringing them t o their new homes i n t h e forest the following September. T h e families were all large, yet, as the weather was mild, but two temporary habitations were erected f o r tion. T h e s e were constructed out. of lumber split out of basswood logs,—very simple and uninviting, yet swered all purposes for the time being, and who shall say that their occupants were not as happy as in tious edifices, with all that wealth could furnish for their enjoyment? M o r e than one of the great army has expressed, in later years, the fact that he was pier in his rude cabin of logs o r slabs, with i t s bark-roof and simple accompaniments, than i n the elegant dwelling which his accumulated means from years of toil him to build and furnish. T h e r e was something i n a free and unrestrained life in the vast and almost derness which possessed great charms for these builders nation, and the delight they feel in relating scenes dents o f other days is manifest i n the sparkling eye, the always ready tongue, and the elastic step which even t h e most aged possess on occasions calling forth from houses of their memory the recollections of Alpheus Saunders, one of the above party, was born in Tolland Co., Conn., March 1, 1793, and had lived i n both Monroe and Niagara Cos., N . Y. , coming t o Michigan from the latter, as stated. T h e place upon which tled in Union is now owned by Daniel Groesbeck and David L. Buell. A line of blazed trees was followed by him t o his farm when he returned with his family after cating his claim, and the same was the experience of the others. M r . Saunders was one of the original members of the First Congregational Church a t Union City, and long a deacon in that organization. H i s death occurred uary, 1879. Henry Blazer and Lloyd H . Sims located early in the eastern part of the township,—probably in the beginning of 1836, as they had shanties built and clearing begun i n May of that year. T w o o f Mr. Blazer's sons, Jacob M . and Peter Blazer, yet reside in town. Charles A . Lincoln and Justus Buell, Co., N . Y. , came together t o this town i n May, 1836. Neither of them was married,—both being young men, but Buell went back t o New York the same ried, and returned with his wife i n the fall. M r . Lincoln located at Union City, and f o r several years worked there at his trade,—that o f carpenter and joiner,—aiding i n building many o f t h e early structures i n t h e village, among them the " Union City House," the " Red School. house," etc. H e entered considerable land southwest o f the village, and is now residing on section 17. removed after several years' residence in Mr. Lineole's brother, Caleb Lineoln, came on in June, 1837, and i,topped at Ilnion City until fall, when moved to land which his brother Charles had entered. I l e �200 F l ISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, Mlt.1111;1 is now residing in Union City, which has been for many Darius Buell, brother of Justus Buell, came to Union late in the fall of 1836, leaving his family in New York. Two other brothers, Thomas B . and Chauncey lowed him later in the season. A l l were single Dariu The family o f the latter accompanied those of Caleb Lincoln and Curtis S. Youngs to Union City in of 1837, and each of these families had an infant child. Mr. Youngs buried his on the way. M r . Buell's an infant, is George W. Buell, now in the ness at Union City. T h e journey was made from their old home to the new with teams, the household goods having been shipped by water t o Detroit, from which Lincoln drew them, during the summer, with his team. Mr. Youngs was a carpenter by trade, and he A. Lincoln worked together on numerous buildings in the village, where he is still residing. The house into which Caleb Lincoln moved i n the fall of 1837 i s yet standing, half a mile north of the present (farm) residence of Charles A. Lincoln, and is occupied by a grandson o f the former. I t is a frame building, a log house never having been erected here for the use of the Caleb Lincoln and the Buells brought horses with them to Michigan, having purchased them in the East a t what were considered reasonable rates, b u t soon after arriving they sold them for about half what they had cost, oxen i n their places. T h e reasons for such a numerous: grain o f all kinds was of too great value to horses; oats were 12 and 13 shillings per bushel, wheat $2, etc.; and salt, although comparatively cheap at Detroit, commanded the heavy price of $11 per barrel b y the time it reached the embryo settlement a t Union ! Therefore oxen were substituted for horses, and did the quired for a considerable number of years. A t this day, however, the sight of an ox-team is almost a rarity, while fine horses are David Ripley was an early arrival i n the southwest part of the township. H e was noted f o r being a hunter, and also made considerable money b y trapping wolves and presenting their scalps for the bounties, which in those days were quite large. H e settled probably i n 1836, and is Deer were exceedingly plenty in this region when first the white settlers began their improvements, and many a rifle dealt death among them, but few failing to this sport,—then almost a necessity. Wolves, bears, and smaller game abounded, the former so thickly that pens suffered severely from their Ezra Bostwick, now of the village, settled in the township in 1846, coming from Onondaga County, N . Y. Charles A. Lincoln piloted many land-hunters town during the first years o f his residence, and mately acquainted with all the settlers. T h e task any given tract of land in a dense forest, with no other guides to go by than lines of blazed trees, was by the pleasantest, as many will testify who 1.eeatite lost i n their journeys and wandered miles from their destination before being able to being obliged to remain in tl. r A. Lincoln and M a r y A n n Saunders, which = r,l*T b m v N o y a d fin e th formed by Rev. Charles W. G a m y, mai d i e s • time he had over been tailed epee I d web &gimped, had but a few mops to go, for the parties ra Nutelk same house, including the sainimer. A eider i t Saunders bad been married in Niagara Conley (N. Stewart Hawley, brother of' Lewis Hawley, who is tioned as one of the settlers of 1836 in From the best recollection, it is probably correct that the first white child born in Union township of Isaiah W. Bennett, his birth occurring at the village ., 1835 or 1836. The first death was that o f the only child of couple named Olmstead, also living in the village. Some time in the full of I n 7 it was playing near the " of the saw-mill, fell in, and o t t A N C I E V I L L E P O S T- O F F I C E . This settlement is located on the east line of at the junction o f the Coldwater River with Hog Creek,t and the former stream furnishes valuable power. early utilized. The first settler i n this locality was a Abraham Aldrich, who, it is stated, came front N. Y., in the spring of 1833. H e built his house in Union township, but utost of his land lay in Girard. H e small saw-mill, and in 1836-37 built a grist-mill4: a half stories i n height, in which grinding was done in 1837. T h i s was the first grist-mill i n the supplied a great want, for the settlers had previously to go to Constantine. Marshall, or other distant points. mill had been b u i l t i n 1832, south o f the old village o f Branch, by K i r k , Allen, and others; b u t i t ground so slowly and was such a poor apology for a mill, were fain to go farther for the sake o f getting better and quicker work. The old mill at Orangeville was known as the Mill," from the prairie adjacent. T h e name was ,Lriven to the prairie by the Indians, and means pork. or hog. evidently applied from the fact that i n this "hogs ran wild without a pen," as the inimitable rhyinster, Capt. Norton, relates in his "Restoration.' T h e at last destroyed by tire, and the present ture, five stories high, was built by Roland Root Mr. Aldrich's sons-in-law, M a r t i n Barnhart, Benjamin Smith, and Hiram Shoudler, were also interested i n tie property at The settlement took unto itself the same euphonious title borne by the prairie, and as such was known until expressive name o f " H",114/1k.. was given it, and by the latter it is yet most commonly known. T h e rifle was given upon th-e establishment hen of a po-t-.fft, The office was originally in the township o f Girard. north • tettbrItmlb.n b y M r. t O r -Cermish I Other autimrity states t h a t t h i s mill was b u i l t as early its 34, but i t most have brew the isaw-mill, �CHARLES A. LINCOLN. This gentleman, one of the pioneers of the town of Union, was born i n Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., Jan. His father, Caleb, was a merchant, and in Maine, July 9, 1769. H e did business many years in Albany, whence he removed to Norwich about the year 1814, and died in nango Co., in 1828. H e married Miss Martha Hobart, and reared a family of At the age o f thirteen, Charles, being thrown upon his own resources, passed the earlier part of his life upon a farm, receiving meanwhile common-school He learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which occupation he followed many years. he tame to Union City in company with Curtis S. Youngs, Charles Gardiner, and Justus Buell. The party were eight days in coming from Detroit, and found in Union but a few shanties. S h o r t l y after his arrival M r. Lincoln began to work for Gilbert dr Chase, who had purchased a tract o f land and located the village, which M r. Lincoln assisted in surveying. H e oontinued in ploy about one year, but continued to work at his trade until 1841, when he moved upon the farm where he now resides, and which he in 1836. Mr. Lincoln has been prominently identified with Union City and township. H e assisted i n surveying, locating, and cutting out most o f the roads in the township. H e built the house, and helped to erect the first and hotel. H e is emphatically a self-made man. Coming into a new country, with only ral resources f o r h i s capital, h e has attained success i n all departments o f life. T o his first purchase of land he has added two and i s considered t o be one o f the thrifty and successful farmers of the town. H e in 1838 t o Miss Mary A . , daughter o f Martin Saunders, by whom he had two children. M r s . Lincoln died in 1844, and he was married to Miss Elizabeth Cagwin, by whom he had two of whom are living. H i s second wife died in 1860, and in 1861 he was married to Harriet L. Kilbourne. Mr. Lincoln is a member of the Church, and a liberal supporter of �IMIP"' �HISTORY OF B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . and east of its present location, and the postmaster in 1837 was one Mr. Parkinson. I t was finally removed to dunk' and a new office established at Girard Centre. T h e present incumbent o f the office at Orangeville Shuts, who owns a good brick store building at A tavern was built here early by II. Kelso, who kept it two years. H e settled on the south line of the 1836, and is now a resident o f California township. T h e tavern has been in many hands since, and has refitted and added to. FIRST T O W N - M E E T I N O - T O W N S H I P C I V I L L I S T, E T C . " A t a meeting of the electors of the township being township 5 south, of range 7 west, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, held at the house ter Hammond, in said township, on the 3d day of April, 1837, in conformity with an act of the Legislature o f the State of Michigan, approved March 11, 1837, for pose of organizing "Chester Hammond was appointed Moderator; Briant Bartlett, Clerk; and Lewis Hawley, Isaiah W. Alpheus Saunders, Inspectors of said election; all were duly sworn in conformity with the law in made and provided."* The following were the officers chosen, viz.: Supervisor, Isaiah W. Bennett; Town Clerk, Chester sessors, Alpheus Saunders, Solomon Parsons, Constables, Henry Reaser, Rufus Hill, Thomas lector, Rufus Hill (removed, and Solomon Directors of the Poor, Chester Hammond, Henry W. Potter; Commissioners o f Highways, Lewis Hawley, dell, Isaiah W. Bennett; Justices of the Peace, de11,1- Archibald M. Mitchell, Isaiah W. Bennett., Briant Bartlett; Inspectors of Common Schools, Carpenter Chaffee, Briant Bartlett; Overseers Carpenter Chaffee, Gideon Smith, Chauncey Buell. At this meeting i t was Voted, That the Overseers of Highways shall be Fence-Viewers and Poundspectively; that $100 be raised for the improvement o f roads; that a lawful fence be four and one-half feet high, and no space more than four inches wide within two feet of the ground; that a .bounty o f $5 be paid on each wolf caught and killed in this township; that the meeting be held at the house of Alpheus Saunders township. The following jurors were chosen from June 7, 1839: Asa Hawley, Archibald M. don Dunks, Solomon Parsons, Darius Buell, John merman, Hiram Marsh, John N. Stiekney, Franklin Burnett, Timothy Itohitomn. Fr.',l.ri,I I dull Morrell, Carpenter ('haffee, Ilenry W. Potter, At a meeting of the towriMip hoard. held Sept. it " T h relitAited to the c a n , . of ..r r i a t D r . . T. C. h u e . W P . Hurd, sod D . Wilson b e forniPI, tho tow ri.thip h , , r 1 w d i their opinions respecting the Pickne•..11 11lb:06f:toll i n „ 1 . r y . i . r t i e u l a r l y, whether they suppose t h e logs i n ' Town- h i p ItocordP. 1837. t Removed front township, and hip office o f highway commissioner tilled Nov. 5, 1837, by the election o f Jacob M . Maser. 2 2 0 1 the m i l l -race, o r a n y t h i n g connected w i t h t h e mills i n s a i d village, are the cause o f disease, and t h a t the c l e r k o f the board b e directed to communicate this resolution to the above-named physicians." On the 28th of November following " Reeolreti, T h a t no logs be allowed t o lie i n the m i l l -race or pond connected w i t h t h e mills i n U n i o n C i t y inure t h a n three days a t a time, between t h e l e t d a y o f M a y a n d t h e l o t d a y o f November i n each year, and the clerk is directed to n o t i f y the owner of the passage or adoption o f this resolution.'' It seems this last resolution was finally due notice had been given as directed, for on the 10th of May, 1841, it was so modified as to allow logs to remain in the race not longer than In the spring o f 1843 a bridge was built across the Coldwater River, near the corners o f sections 14, 15, 22, and 23, the first one crossing the stream at 'rite St. Joseph had been bridged a t Union City much earlier. ( S e e " Memoranda," by The following is a list o f the principal officers o f the township from 1838 to 1877, inclusive: SCPERVISO 1838-40. C u r t i s S. Youngs. 1841. H i r a m Marsh. 1842. H i r a m Shoudler. 1943-44. Corydon P. Benton. 1845. Joseph C. Leonard. 1846. H i r a m n e e d i e r. 1847. Joseph C. Leonard. 1848. M a h l o n B a r n h a i t . 1849-51. Joseph C. Leonard. 1852. L l o y d 11. Sites. 1853-51. M a n n a Olmsted. 1855. Silas i t . Nye. 1856. M a h l o n B . Barnhart. 1857. M a n n a Olmsted. 1858. E z r a Bostwick. 1859. Silas I I . Nye. 1860. Tr u m a n Olds. 1861. C u r t i s S. Youngs. 1862-65. L e B o y Judd. 1866. E z r a Bostwick. 1867-71. J o h n D . Ackerman. 1872-73. B y r o n L . Mitchell. 1874. Lawrence Rheubottom. 1875-77. M o r t i m e r Vosburgh. TO N CLERKS. 1838-39. Chester Hammond. 1840-42. Corydon I ' . Benton. 1043-44. Joseph C. Leonard. 1845. H o r a t i o N. Blakeman. 1816-47. C u r t i s S. Youngs. 1840-52. M e l v i n L . Youngs. 1853. Jason L . Lee. 1854. J o h n S. Youngs. 1855. H e n r y F. Ewers. 1856. George T. Moseley. 1857-60. George W. Shelmire. 1861. Jonathan I L P a r k h u r s t . 1802. G . W. Shelinire. 1863. J . G. Parkhurst. 1864-65. Jatnes T. Leonard. 1866-69. Chauncey W. Saunders. 1870-72. Batas McDonald. 1073. 1). J. Easton. 1874. R o b e r t F. Watkins. 1875-77. H i r a m H . Chase. ASSESSc 1838. Alpheus Saunders. Timothy Robinson. Darius Buell. 1839. C u r t i s S. Youngs. Gideon Smith. Alpheus Saunders. 1840. Charles 0 . Hammond. Archibald M . Mitchell. William D . Robinson. 1841. B r i a n t Bartlett. A. N . Mitchell. H. Richardson. 1942. N o record. 1943. A . M. Mitchell. Hiram Richardson. 1544. Solomon Parsons. 1844. D a n i e l Cornell. 1S45. D a n i e l Cornell. William Mitchell. 1846. E . Wilder, J r. Daniel Cornell. 1847. M a n n a Olmsted. William Olds. 1849. S i n d a l l Morrell. Rom Bostwick. 1849. H i r a m Studley. Daniel Cornell. 1850. M a n n a Olmsted. George Lee. 1551. N o record. 1852. George W. L i n c o l n . M. Barnhart. COLLIS1918. Humphrey L . Mitchell. I 1830-11. Thomas L. Acker. �202 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1.1%,rISKS THEASURIRS 1838. Alpheus Saunders 1852. Joseph C. Leonard. 1339-43. Carpenter Chaffee. 1858. B i s h o p Burnett. 1844. Cassius A . Mills. 1845. W i l l i a m P. H u r d , M . D . 1857-80. Constant. A . Seymour. 1Di:int 1853. H o a r y S. H a r d . 1861-84. W i l l i a m Druunn. Timothy Robinson. 1854. H e n r y C. M u r a t 1555. I s r a e l W . Clark. 1839. A l p h e u s Saunders. 1816-47. Solomon Parsons. 1885-117. H e n r y C. Morse. 1848. Carpenter Chaffee. 1888-70. L . (1. Lincoln. Corydon P. Beutton. 1849. M a n n a Ghosted. 1850-53. M . Burnett. 1971-72. W i l l i a m C. Smith. Hiram Shoudler. 1854. M . I I . Barnhart. 1855. Lorenzo G. Lincoln. 1875-77. Samuel Wi l b u r. 1873-74. Chauncey W.Saunders. 'Giant Bartlett. 1839. H i r a m Shoudler. 1840. H i r a m Marsh (removed i n 1842). 1857. R e u b e u Hatch. 1840. A r c h i b a l d M . Mitchell. Horace A . Corbin. 1858. Iteultesi H a t a , Corydon P. Benton. Horatio N . Blakeman. JUSTICES OF T i l e PEACE. 1838. W i l l i a m Aldrich. John I t . %Vellum, 1858. W i l l i a m P. H a r d . 1857. E d w i n P e r r y. Curtin Prentiss. 18L8. A s a Waters. Truman Olds. 1859. Constant M . Swan. 1859. H o r a c e A . Corbin. 1811. W i l l i a m P. H u r d . Horatio N . Blakeman. 1880. E d m u n d G . B . Wa i t . Corydon P. Benton. 1861. Sereno W. Streeter. 1862. E . G . It. Wa i t . 1842. C . P. Benton. W. P. H u r d . 1883. S . W . Streeter. John N . Stiekney. 1884. E . 0 . I t . Wa i t . 1865. S . W . Streeter. 1843. H o r a t i o N . Blakemen. L. Smith H o b a r t . 1866. J a i n . 4 D . Studley. 1841. A r c h i b a l d M . Mitchell. 1860. T h o m a s B. Buell. 1844. Theodore C. H u r d . 1867. S . W. Streeter. 1842. J o h n 1). Zimmerman. 1861. E d w i n P e r r y. 1845. L . Smith H o b a r t . 1843. N o record. 1862. A s a Waters. 1888. J . T. Leonard. J. D . Studley. 1844. J o h n W . Norton. 1863. C . M . Swan. 1846. W . S. Hale. 1847. H o r a t i o N . Blakeman. 1845. A r c h i b a l d M . Mitchell. 1864. T h o m a s B . Buell. 1848. Theodore T. G u r n e y. 1869. J . T. Leonard. 1870. C . W . Crocker. 1846. L e v i Lee. 1865. E d w i n P e r r y. 1549. J u s t i n Lawyer. 1871. J a m e s T. Leonard. 1047. D a n i e l Cornell. 1848. W i l l i a m H . Lincoln. 1806. D a v i d R . Cooley. 1849. O l i v e r French. 1850. M i l l i o n ° l i n k e d . Marlin Burnett. 1867. E . G . R . Wa i t . 1868. T h o m a s B. Buell. 1869. E d w i n P e r r y. 1871. l I a r r i s o n Downs. 1852. W i l l i a m Mitchell. 1872. N o record. 1853. O l i v e r French. 1873. E d w i n P e r r y. 1854. M e l v i n L . Youngs. 1855. Charles M . W h i t i n g . 1874. N o record. 1875. L e w i s M . Swan. 1856. W i l l i a m Mitchell. Charles T. H o p k i n s . * Darius Buell. Franklin Burnett. 1839. M a r l i n Burnett. Charles G. Hammond. A. M . Mitchell. 1840. B r i a n t Bartlett. Hiram Shoudler. 11. L. Mitchell. 1841. I I . L . Mitchell. I I . Shoudler. William I t . P e r r y. 1842. M a h l o n B . Barnhart. John W . Norton. Sindall Morrell. 1843. J o h n W . Norton. Humphrey L . Mitchell. Hiram Shoudler. 1844. Carpenter Chaffee. 1875. Joseph Va n Schaick. 1849. H i r a m R i c h a r d . " , 1850. Charles A . Lincoln. Bishop Burnett. Henry A . Kelso. 1851. H e n r y A . Kelso. 1852. P e t e r Grove. Bishop Burnett. 1853. Silas I I . N y e . 1854. T h o m . B. Buell. 1855. C u r t i s Prentiss. 1857. Thomas B. Buell. 1858. Tr u m a n Olds. 1859. D a r i u s Buell. 1860. B e n j a m i n Nelson. 1861. James R. Vosburg. 1862. D a r n e l Buell. 1863. B e n j a m i n Nelson. 1864. James I t . Vosburg. 1867-69. N o record. 1870. Charles A . Lincoln. 1871. Silas H . N y e . 1872. D a r i u s Buell. J. R . Va n Sehaick. George Strong. 1847. M a h l o n B . Barnhart. 1873. P a r k e r Harter. 1874-75. Sylvester Feller. Jeremiah Morrell, J r. William Mitchell. 1848. George Strong. 1876. Sylvester Feller. Robert M e r r i t t . 1877. Sylvester Feller. • Failed t o qualify ; M . L . Yo u n g s resigned; A s a Wa t e r s a n d Augustus Bentley chosen to I 1876-77. The officers chosen for this township i n 1878 were the following, Supervisor, James D . Studley; To w n Clerk, H . H . Chase; Justices of the Peace, Joseph Spencer, son ; Treasurer, Samuel A . Wilbur; School Inspector, Ira Dufer ; School Superintendent, George E . missioner o f Highways, Sylvester Feller (resigned, and Heber S. Crissey appointed to fill vacancy); ruisioner, I r a Buell; Constables, D . E . Young, David B. Buell, Hiram Sackett. 1856. M a r t i n Knowles. 1866. B e n j a m i n Nelson. I I . A . Kelso. 1 8 7 7 . M i l t o n W . Lee. George L . Palmer. 1865. Silas H . N y e . Hiram Shoedler. 1846. M . B. Barnhart. I DRAIN 1877. E d w i n P e r r y. Hiram Studley. John W . Norton. OWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENTS 1875-76. J . Delos Studley. 1874. Chauncey Buell. G. Palmer Olmsted. 1845. I l u m p h r e y L . Mitchell. 1874-77. Charles W. Crocker. Henry S. H u r d . 1851. H e n r y S. h a r d . 1876. T h o m a s B. Buell. COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. 1838. D a v i d Kilhourn. 1850. S . G. M . Haninioud. 1870. Jerome Bowen. 1851. D a n i e l Cornell. Horace Longshury. 1872. C . W . Crocker. 1873. J . T. Leonard. William M c 3 l e c h t i n . scltooLs A t a meeting of the board o f school inspectors, held at the house of Carpenter Chaffee, April 26. 1837, ship of Union was divided into four school districts, lows : District No. 1 included sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and the south half of 3 ; No. 2, sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18, and the north half of 3; No. 3, sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33; No. 4, sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36. J a n . 17, 1838, District No. 5 was formed front parts o f Nos. 1, and 4 , tions 13, 14, and 15, from the f o r m , and 22, 23, and 24, from the latter. D i s t r i c t No. 6 was formed April 21, 1838, front parts o f Nos. 2 and 3 ; and No. 7 was form n o 27, 1838, from parts of Nos. 1 and 4. O t h e r chan,,,,Were made the some year, and numerous others have since. T h e apportionment of school moneys to districts in Union township, in 1838, was $51.38 ; $35.20 i n 1840; $27.10 in 1 8 4 1 ; $45.50 i n 1842; and $46.62 in 1844. The number of scholars in the first four years, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . was 71, 88, 138, 147 ; in 1843, four districts reporting, 126; and three districts in 1844 reporting an attendance of 118. D i s t r i c t No. 2, which included Union City, was as a matter of course•credited with The first school in the township, after the organization of' districts, was taught at Union City. T h e teacher Ellen E. Hammond,* daughter o f Deacon mond, and now the wife of Dr. Henry S. Hurd, burg., Ill. T h i s was a summer school, and was taught in the summer of 1838. M i s s Hammond's brother, Henry L. Hammond, taught here in the winter of 1838-39. I n the winter o f 1839-40 a school was taught across the line in Calhoun County, in the office of Justus Goodwin, by Miss Sarah Sargent. I t was attended b y those living near i n Burlington, and probably from Union. In 1837 the first school-bouse at Union City The frame was raised by Briant Bartlett, and the building finished by Charles A . Lincoln. M r . Bartlett lived here but a few years, finally removing to Detroit. T h e building was painted red, and long went by the name of the school-house." I t is now used by Curtis S. Youngs for a dwelling, and occupies the same lot upon which built. I t s position has been changed, an addition built, and white paint substituted for the red. I t s location is near the northeast corner of Ellen and Ann of the Farmers' National Bank. T h e schoolalso used by the Methodist and Congregational alternate Sundays before they built houses Schools and meetings had been held, too, in the building known as the " sub-treasury," at the northeast corner o f Broadway and The present elegant and substantial was erected in 1877, at a total cost of over 819,000, although the original contract price was 814,700. Heating apparatus has been put in by a Toledo, 0., between 82000 and 83000. T h e building is high, including basement. T h e latter is of stone and the balance o f red brick, with cut-atone trimmings. rangement of the interior of the building is complete and convenient. T h e attendance is over 400, of less than 100 are "foreign" pupils, or those of the district. T h e departments are six in number, with teachers, as follows : High School, M. V. Rork, Principal; Webster Cook, Assistant; Grammar department, Miss Mary Proudley ; Intermediate, Mary Intermediate, Miss Adelle Sager; Primary, Cross; Second Primary, Miss A. M. Coleman. ent sdlool board consists of Joseph C. Silas H . Nye, Director; D r. H . F. Chaurwey Saunders,11. F. Buell, M. D . Slocum. D r . Eweri has been a member o f the board nearly twenty years. M r . Leonard served about fifteen years teriali•iii. arid is now a second time a member, having In th, -anna,r or 1838 a school was taught in ber L i n c o l n ' s frame house, southwest o f • T h e f i r e eehool was taught here by Mies Sarah Sargent of H 3 4 - 3 7 , awl ,he tooght probably la the erseanser of 1537. 2 0 3 law, by Margaret Baxter. T h i s house was the dwelling in this part a the town. T h e next year school-house was built i n what i s now District No. 6, the women helping to raise it, and preparing a supper in i t after it was up, to which all present did full justice. A t the school held in M r. Lincoln's chamber 11 tended, being sent from three families. A m o n g teachers in the school-house were Miss Miss Abigail Mitchell, and Miss Eliza Sims, probably being first. UNION O R A N G E , N O . 9 7 , PAT R O N S O F H U S B A N D R Y, was organized Oct. 27, 1873, with 22 members, by pensation from the National Grange, and soon ceived its charter. I t s first principal officers were: Muter, Thomas B. Buell; Overseer, Ithamar B. Craw; Lecturer, Charles A. Lincoln; Chaplain, Elijah Kilbourn ; liam E. Day. I t now occupies the school-house in District No. 6, has a membership o f about 40, and is officered as fellows: Master, Charles A. Lincoln ; Overseer, Lecturer, Thomas B. Buell ; Chaplain, Ithamar Steward, Alfred Armstrong; Assistant Steward, D. coln ; Sec., James D. Studley; Treas., D. V. Gatekeeper, S. E. Lee; Ceres, Mrs. A. Mrs. Weimar B. Craw; Flora, Mrs. Elizabeth Clay ; Lady Assistant Steward, Mrs. Charles A. Lincoln. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. METHODIST E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H , U N I O N C I T Y. The Methodists and Congregationalists selves into bodies for public worship at nearly the the former, however, preceding the latter by a The first Methodist class in the township was organized at Union City in the winter of 1836-37, and its leader man named Hull, a cabinet-maker by trade, who in the place the same winter. Antong the members class were Isaiah W. Bennett and family and ter Chaffee. T h e presiding elder of the district when the Union City class was organized was Rev. and some of the early minister were Revs. and Crippen. T h e present frame church was quent to 1840. T h e membership of the church ary, 1879, was 90, and its pastor, Rev. Amos M. Gould. A flourishing Sunday-school is sustained, with from 100 members and 12 classes. I t has a good library and is superintended by J. It is said that when the first quarterly meeting at Union City there were scarcely enough Methodists in the place to entertain their guests, and the hospitality of other families was made manifest when they aided them in their predicament by offering food and shelter to such as were unprovided for. A Maihodiat society in the south part of the township is of much later origin, and has a fair membership. brick church has been erected and services are held by the pastor at Union City. FIRST C O N O R E G AT I o N A L C H U R C H , U N I O N C I T Y. In 1844 the manual of this church contained ing historical items: �204 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . " Sixteen persons, having letters of dismission mendation from other churches, were constituted the F i r s t Congregational Church o f Union,' March 7 , 1837. A standing committee was chosen, and t h e connected with the Marshall Presbytery, on the ' Plan o f Union,' March 16, 1839, and this relation until Dec. 5 , 1840. J a n . 13, 1841, the church united with the Marshall Conference of Congregational Ministers and " A t the organization of the church, Chester Hammond was elected deacon, and i n the J u l y following, Alpheus Saunders was also chosen to the " I n November, 1837, Rev. Charles W. Gurney ployed by the church t o labor in the ministry, which he continued t o do until June, 1839. D u r i n g the of this period he preached but half the time. I n lowing October, Rev. Elijah Buck was employed, tinued his labors until September, 1840. T h e ministry of Rev. L. Smith Hobart commenced the first Sabbath vember, 1840. I n the ensuing January he was ordained by an ecclesiastical council, and installed as pastor o f the church "The house o f worship occupied b y the church was completed and dedicated Dec. 24, 1840. I t with a bell in May, 1843." This church stood on H i g h Street; i t was enlarged i n 1850, and sold in 1869, after the erection of the The latter, a fine brick structure on Broadway, in 1858, and completed and dedicated Feb. 5, 1862. I t s cost was about 814,000. The original members of this society were mond, Fanny Hammond, Ellen E . Hammond, Alpheus Saunders, Lucinda Saunders, Lewis Hawley, Charlotte Hawley, David Kilbourn, Clarinda Kilbourn, Justus B . Buell, Emeline Buell, Thomas B. Buell, Charles A. Lincoln, Charles H . Coates, Esther Maxfield, Sarah Mary Ann Saunders, Charlotte Bernard. J u l y 22, 1837, the list was increased by the reception of Curtis S. Youngs, Lucy Youngs, Caleb Lincoln, Chloe Lincoln, lett, and Comfort D. Bartlett. M a n y more o f the early settlers became members in the years from 1838 t o 1842, and in 1844 the membership was 139. O t h e r prominent members were J. N. Stickney, Alonzo Collins, Israel W. Clark. The successive pastors since M r. Hobart's time have been Revs. C. H . Morse, from November, 1848, to March, 1853; A . C. Kedzie remained t i l l September, 1854; M r. Edwards, supply i n winter o f 1854-55; Reuben Hatch, pastor from late i n 1855 t o April, 1859; S. W. Streeter came late i n 1859, VMS installed i n February, stayed until November, 1869; E. G. Chaddock Jan. 25, 1870, and was installed May 5 , 1871, during which latter year the church was reseated and raised and extended. M r . Chaddock was succeeded b y Rev. W. F. Day, and he by the present pastor, Rev. H. H. Van Auken, who came Jan. 1, 1878. The membership of this church on the 11th of February, 1879, was 240. A Sabbath-school is sustained, with 16 officers and teachers, and 200 members. H o r a c e Corbin is superintendent. T h e school possesses a library of about 300 volumes. D u r i n g the past five years the raised for various purposes an annual stun of $2800. I t s early records have been destroyed by fire. c i l l A r E C H U R C H ( E P I S O O P A L ) , C311041 C I T Y . The organization o f this society was effected Dec. 23, 1864, in a room in the house of H. F. Ewers, sons (ten males and eight females) becoming members. hate in the sanue year, or ...,rly ill 1 t h e pr,,,tit was begun, and was t i i i t , h , d a w l d e d i c a t e d i n Idn. idtb,r Its cost was about $4000. T h e first rector was Verner, from Detroit, who came in the spring of stayed about two years. L a y services were then held until some time in the year 1868, when l t e r. 8. W. sumed charge as second rettor. H e remained about a year and a half, or until early in 1870, and was succeeded, in 1871, by Rev. Charles I t . Hughson, who retnained also about a year and a half. S i n c e then lay services have mostly been held, with occasional clerical service, and the parish is without a rector The church has a capacity for seating about The present number of corm unicasts is about ilies belonging to the parish. Sunday-school has tained most of the time since the organization, and four teachers and a library of some 250 volumes. perintendent is Dr. H. F. Ewers. P O P U L AT I O N - S T A T I S T I C A L . The following figures are from the State census and show the growth o f the township for its years of existence: Population (1151 males, 1099 f e t n a l ) 2 , 2 5 0 No. o f acres o f t a x a b l e l a n d 2 2 , 7 8 3 " l a n d owned b y individuals a n d companies 2 2 , 9 2 0 di improved l a n d a V l u e o f same, i n c l u d i n g improvements,No. o t l-u h in s re c fa di di 11 , l a n d e tfro p m x $45,410 6 2 3 " c h u r c h a n d parsonage sites " b u r y i n g -grounds R. K . r i g h t o f w a y e n d d e p o t grounds 6 6 farms i n t o w n s h i p 2 7 6 acres i n f a r m s 2 0 , 5 3 8 Average number o f acres i n farms. N i1874............ 2 7 , 4 8 . 8 4 7 1 tn h w s re c .fa o " ii id " harvested i n 1873 " corn " - ' 1 2 , 5 6 4 3 0 2 busheh o " . . . ....... 3 . 5 , 2 4 6 " f wheat " c o r n raised i n 1873 6 6 , 7 4 0 " a l l other grain " " potatoes " 1149:517957 tons o f h a y c u t " ....... 1 . 9 0 7 lbs. o f wool sheared " 1 8 , 3 1 2 " p o r k marketed " . . . . . . . . . . . - 11 8 , 6 8 0 " b u t t e r made " . . - .... 7 8 , 9 . 5 0 " f r u i t dried f o r m a r k e t i n 1873. 2 4 , 4 6 6 bids, o f c i d e r made " . . ..... 4 4 6 lbs. o f m a p l e -sugar made i n 1 8 7 4 - - ...... 3 0 , 1 5 1 sores i n orchards " 5 1 7 " b u s h e s , vines, melons, o p t garden vegetables 7 1 " b u s h e l s o f apples raised i n 1872 1 9 . 1 5 5 in 1873 1 8 , 8 4 5 Va l u e o f a l l f r u i t a n d garden vegetables i n 1872 f o 8 , 1 0 1 in 1673 1 7 , 9 " No. o f horses, one year old and over, owned in 1874 7 1 4 " mules i n 1874 4 2 w o r k o x e n i n 1974 mileh sows " t o e neat cat/le, one y e a r o l d a n d over, ether 84 than oxen a n d cows id 694 swine over six months old id 4,581 sheep " di 4,535 " s h e a r e d i n 1673 lonring-ntills I n township. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. Na. ot persona employed i n same 1 1 Atnount o f capital invested . . . . . . . . . $20,200 No. o f r u n s o f stone I I " b b l s . o f Sour made i n 1473 6 , 6 1 5 Value o f products o f Nouring-mills i n 1473 $ 4 6 , 3 0 5 No. o f saw-mills i n operation i n 1873 5 " p e r s o n s employed i n saute 1 5 Amount of capital i n i ested $ 2 3 , 0 0 0 No. o f feet of lumber sawed 9 2 0 , 0 0 0 Value o f products $ 2 9 , 7 5 0 No. o f p l a n i n g -wills. 1873 1 " p e r s o n s employed 5 Capital invested $ 5 , 5 0 0 Value o f products $ 3 , 6 0 0 No. o f agricultural i m p l e m e n t works ries • 1 No. o f persons employed 1 0 Capital invested $ 1 8 , 0 0 0 Value o f peodsets $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 N . . o f carriage•factories 1 " p e r s o n s employed 1 3 Capital invested 8 9 , 0 0 0 Value o f products $ 1 1 , 7 0 0 No, o f furniture and c h o i r -factories 1 . " p e r s o n s etnplo e d 4 Capital invested $ 4 , 0 0 0 Value of product $ 5 , 0 0 0 No. o f elothes-pin- a n d ,la,'e-fLctorieo 1 " p e r s o n s employed 1 0 Capital invested $ 8 0 1 1 0 Value o f products $ 1 0 , 5 0 0 Total n o m b e r o f manufacturin4 establishments, 1873 1 3 To t a l number o f persons employed i n satne 6 8 " a m o u n t of capital invest. d $ 9 5 , 7 0 0 " v a l u e o f products 0 1 2 6 , 5 5 5 V I L L A G E O F U N I O N C I T Y. John Clawson has been mentioned as the man who located at the mouth o f the Coldwater River, now within the limits of Union City. T h e place early noticed for its elegibility as a village site. perhaps, as 1831, Isaiah W. Bennett, a native of of New York, a man possessed of considerable means, and a roving disposition, passed on a tour along the St. Joseph River, and was greatly struck with the advantages for a village site which this locality possessed. H e r e was the junction of the two rivers, both of which would furni,li extensive power; here all dian trails centred; and here, in all likelihood, would be the point at which a canal from the East would lock into the river. H e and Jeremiah Marvin purchased erable tract of government land in the vicinity. t Bennett was the founder of Jacksonburg, now the flourishing and beautiful city of Jackson, in the county of the and had become a man of prominence in that coming here. H e had kept public-house also, both son and Ann Arbor, and was among the earliest settlers in the interior of the State. H e had the unfortunate occasionally taking rather a larger quantity of liquor could carry with ease, and at such times was very His most common remark was, "Boys, I came here on a squaw trail r Nothwithstanding his faults, however, he was well liked, and was several times elected supervisor of Union township. H e was commonly called nett, an abbreviation of " Chemokamin which title had been given him by the Indians, on casion when be had delivered to them an address, the name o f Jackson, then President, was Mr. Bennett kept the 1,1,1 Union City House a short time • This lastitotion is now miteh more extensive. S t e description. • I t is Mid b y some t h a t t h e whole t r a c t was entered i n M a r v i n ' s B&W, to MVO i t from Bennett', creditors elsewhere. 2 0 5 in 1837. H i s first location was on the flat where Manufacturing Company's works now are. T h e r e he built a log house and lived in it for a time, north o f the river, upon property now owned B. Buell, and later, to the southeast corner and High Streets. H e lived also in numerous of the village. H e finally removed to where he died. H i s old log house was used in 1838 blacksmith-shop b y John D. Zimmerman. Bennett d i d not settle here The first permanent settler upon the site of was Justus Goodwin, a native of Lenox, Mass., wards a resident of Oneida Co., N. Y., where he uated, in 1821, from Hamilton College, afterward reading law for a time, and finally entering into practice. he emigrated to Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co., he remained two years. I n 1833 he purchased Marvin 568 acres o f land, located on sections 4 and 5 in what are now Union township, Branch Co., and Burlington township, Calhoun Co., paying for the same the sum o f $2000. H e immediately moved here and ments, his purchase including the site of Union City. H e built a house—or small shanty—immediately on line north of the village, and lived in i t until a tentious frame structure was raised on the now stands the residence of Isaac N. Tower. P a r t house is yet in use as a dwelling, having been moved to a location near the entrance to Riverside Cemetery. a narrow raceway from the Coldwater River to site of the plow-works and foundry, and there, in of 1834, began building a saw-mill, finishing i t that year or the Mr. Etheridge, an early settler at Coldwater, ceased, used to tell of making a trip on horseback from the latter place down the river to see the wonderful village lie had beard of, or which, in its prospective condition, had been made t o appear to strangers as a very Arriving below the mouth of the Coldwater, he saw at work upon a building, and approaching 'him, inquired the way to the village. H e was surprised at being was then in its midst! T h e man was Justus Goodwin, at work upon his saw-mill.* The following memoranda were furnished by win to Chester Hammond, about 1846, the a history of the place up to that time, which he the lyceum which then existed. M r . Hainniond's article cannot now be found. ' M r. Goodwin wrote: °1S31.—Union C i t y, embracing t h e west h a l f o f section 4 , a n d north h a l f o f northeast q u a r t e r o f section 5 , i n township 5 rout!), range 7 west, and also the west h a l f of the cart h a l f of section 33, i n township 4 south, range 7 west. " T h e former location embraces t h e present site of most of Union City and t h e f a r m o f Chester Hammond. T h e l a t t e r description in now p e r t of t h e farm o f J. Goodwin. T h e same year the entire farm of E. W i l d e r was located by Gentlemen Swain and Marsh. T h e mine year also the east h a l f of southeast quarter of section 5, the west h a l f Of southeast quarter a n d east half o r southwest quarter of section 6, township b south, range 7 west, w e r e located b y 0 . B r o w n . T h e • This story is given i s related to us. I t seems a little o u t of the line of executes., for the iiaw-tnill was begun i n 1834, and the village OM n o t I n i l out t i l l l 3 5 . 4 c e farther deseription. �206 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . former o f these d e s c r i p t i o n s i s t h e p r e s e n t W. P. H u r d lot. T h e s e a bridge Oil t h e i e e i n t h e s e r y ,'eldest e l t h e w i n t e r, and eevered i t locations were among t h e e a r l y locations m a d e at the W h i t e Pigeon office, the patents being from 800 t o about 700 o f t h e whole Western w i t h l o g s , a n d f i n i s h e d t h e whole i n f o u r days. T h i s land-office. I n t h e same y e a r M c C a i n l y ' s P r a i r i e w a s u n t i l 1843. " I n t h e f a l l o f 1835, M r . Jeffries mese with h i s wife to the plum, bracing seven lots. and built a log cabin just i n f r o n t of D . BiselFs house, and oceupied " I n 1832, a b o u t J u l y, E l e a s e r M c C a m l y botight t h e M c C a w l y it a few month, and thee ran a w a y. I n November, 1834, the fami ly Prairie o f M r . Stoddard, t h e original purchaser, a n d commenced of J. G o o d w i n a r r i v e d , a n d occupied his house 1=61 he sold to C. G. plowing and improving; built a log cabin,— t h e one now occupied by Hammond, w h i c h was on t h e 30t1, d a y o f J a n u a r y, 1834. F. kleCionly,—and i n t h e following f a l l moved on to it, followed by M r. I t . Tu c k , w h o b u i l t another cabin a t the present P h e l p s place. " I n M a r c h , 1833, J . G o o d w i n b o u g h t a l l t h e M a r v i n l o t s , a n d i n " A b o u t t h i s t a u t t h e m a s or the country was absorbed b y locations and settlements, w h i c h w o u l d t a k e a long t i m e t o notice, and which are p r o b a b l y k n o w n to ethers as w e l l as b y me. " J . fiounw M a y o f that y e a r came to U n i o n C i t y to commence operationa. W i t h the exception o f M c C a w l y a n d Tu c k , t h e c o u n t r y Irons H o m e r to t h e farm DOW occupied b y M r. K e l l o g g , and a few families on D r y Prairie, was a n u n b r o k e n wilderness, chiefly g o v e r n m e n t l a n d , a n d made, n o r even l a i d out. M r . Goodwin irs J u l y come on t o ent C. H a m m o n d f a r m , w i t h a s m a l l f a r m i n g establishment, u n d e r charge o f N a h u m S a r g e n t , w h o was h i r e d b y t h e y e a r, assisted b y Horton Wa r r e n a n d wife, w h o k e p t s h a n t y a n d d i d t h e cooking fur the f i r s t t h r e e m o n t h s . A s h a n t y, t h e f i r s t one i n U n i o n made a b o u t s i x t y rods west o f C. Ilammond's present residence, b y n a i l i n g boards to t h r e e trees and one post. A f e w acres o f land were plowed and g o t i n t o wheat, a n d i n t h e f u l l t h e s h a n t y was t o r n down and removed to near where C. H a m m o n d resides. I n the mean t i m e a small b o a r d b u i l d i n g was erected i n t h e northeast corner o f w h a t is The localities mentioned by M r. Goodwin in this article are now occupied by different persons, but they within the present limits o f Union City, and this bufficient for On the 8th of November, 1833, Mr. Goodwin sold to E. W. Morgan the west half of section 4, township 5 south, range 7 west,- 3 2 2 acres,*—and the latter person laid out the village o f Goodwinsville in 1835, as the tifies "TERRITORY OF MICHIGAN' ) . WASHTENAW COUNTY, • now t h e H a m m o n d f r o n t yard, i n t o which Goodwin put up a small lot, say f r o m $1000 t o $1500 w o r t h o f staple goods. " I hereby certify t h a t the 3 0 t h day o f June, 1835, R . W. Morgan. " A b o u t t h i s t i m e t h e p r e s e n t F r e n c h l o t was located b y L . Fish, of the v i l l a g e o f A n n A r b o r, i n s a i d county, personally acknowledge' and soon a f t e r t h e Parsons p l a c e was located b y one H a m i l t o n , a n d before me t h a t he, a s the proprietor o f the village of Goodwinaville. the l o t west o f i t b y W m . M . L a m b . T h e l o t where D a v i d s o n n o w executed t h i s p l a t f o r the uses and purposes therein expressed. resides Was located t h i s year b y E . Olmstead, who commenced a small improvement on i t i n 1833,— i n t h e f a l l , — a n d b u i l t a c a b i n o n i t III " G i v e n under m y band. ° W . R . Ta r n o w + . "Jestice o f the Peace i u e a i d Commiy.'• 1834. A f t e r the commencement of 1834 locations began i n Te k o n s h a , Girard, Sherwood, <Ike., and also i n B u r l i n g t o n , w h i c h w o u l d r e q u i r e too l o n g a t i m e t o mention,— I shall therefore only notice U n i o n C i t y, " T h r o u g h t h e w i n t e r, s p r i n g , a n d s u m m e r o f 1833-34 J . G o o d w i n went o n w i t h h i s i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e H a m m o n d f a r m , a n d i n t h a t w i n t e r t h e State r o a d was f i r s t l a i d f r o m J a c k s o n t o near the site o f t h e old Washtenaw t r a i l . " M r . a n d M r s . Wa r r e n , above mentioned, were the first at U n i o n t h e y o n l y resided there t w o o r three m o n t h s i n Goodwin's employ, and t h e n e x t w h i t e f a m i l y was t h a t o f B u r r Goodwin, w h o was h i r e d b y J . Goodwin i n J u n e , 1834, t o c o o k f o r t h e m e n , l i e resided i n G o o d w i n ' s s h a n t y, souse t w o or three m o n t h s a n d m o v e d away t o H i l l s d a l e C o u n t y. Early i n t h e f a l l o f 1834, J . Goodwin, h a v i n g a g r e e d t o build, and sell a saw- m i l l a t U n i o n t o I . W. Bennett, commenced i n s p r o v i n g t h e water-power b y snaking a race and b u i l d i n g a saw- m i l l ( t h e old m i l l which i s n o w t h e mechanics' shop near t h e furnace). I n d o i n g t h i s work,— o r r a t h e r all t h e first p a r t o f i t — t h o u g h f r o m t e n men were a t w o r k , there was n o woman a t U n i o n . D u r i n g t h e same time G o o d w i n w a s c a r r y i n g o n t h e H a m m o n d f a r m , f i f t y which w e r e t h e n c u l t i v a t e d , and also b u i l d i n g a l a r g e f r a m e house, near t h e p r e s e n t H a m m o n d H o u s e , w h i c h w a s p u t u p and inclosed d u r i n g the' summer of 1834, and occupied w h i l e b u i l d i n g the saw- m i l l and race. " I n September o f t h a t y e a r D a v i d D e x t e r a n d f a m i l y came t o Goodwin's; M r s . D e x t e r cooked f o r a b o u t a m o n t h . D e x t e r t h e n agreed f o r an acre o f l a n d near I . W. B e n n e t t ' s present place, and i n November a n d D e c e m b e r o f t h a t y e a r b u i l t a s m a l l f r a m e h o u s e there a n d m o v e d i n t o i t , r e s i d e d t h e r e a f e w m o n t h s e n d l e f t the place a n d w e n t t o B u r l i n g t o n , where t h e A d a m s ' were ginning. " A b o u t t h e f i r s t o f December o f t h i s year a p o s t -office lished, b y t h e n a m e o f Goodwinsville, a n d J . Goodwin appointed P. M . , who held t h a t office until 1848. " O n the 2 8 t h o f December, I . W. Bennett arrived a t U n i o n with his f a m i l y, and i m m e d i a t e l y the old l o g house j u s t west of the furnace (now t o r n a w a y ) was erected i n three days, i n t h e dead o f winter, and moved i n t o the t h i r d d a y. " D u r i n g a l l t h i s tissue t h e r e was n o b r i d g e across t h e r i v e r, a n d nssthing b u t a footway, usadis upon wooden horses. I n J a n u a r y, 1835, G i l l foot-bridge was carried away b y t h e rise o f t h e r i v e r and anchor ice. T h e r i v e r r o l e t o a g r e a t h e i g h t a n d f r o z e o v e r. A l l h a n d s volunteered to build abridge and at °TICE went at it, framed and raised This plat was recorded in the Branch County records Aug. 27, 1835, by Seth Dunham, register. I n shape it twat much different from that now laid on the same ground. located on both sides o f the St. Joseph River, extending north to the county line, and south to include a tion of the southwest quarter of section 4. In the early part of 1836, James Crane, of N. J., purchased water-privileges and various tracts in this vicinity from E. W. Morgan, William Henry Potter, and Hiram Thompson, and i n January, 1836 (same season), Charles G . Hammond purchased a large tract here, including the site of the village, for a company which had been formed in New York City for the purpose of improving the water-power at and founding a village. T h i s firm, Messrs. Crane ruff, finally sold to another company from t h e composed of Messrs. Richard L. Clark, Lyman W. Gilbert, Isaac M . Diamond, and Israel W. Clark. T h e latter two soon became proprietors, and finally M r . Diamond's share. I n time be added to the erty for the purpose o f securing more water-power. I l e also sold a large portion to Crane & Woodruff, and they in turn disposed of i t to Col. Thomas Moseley, who prominent man in The four proprietors—the Clarks, Diamond, bert—laid out on the " t w o -hundred-acre tract," as called, the village o f (Won City, in the spring o f 1837, the acknowledgment t o the plat being dated A p r i l 10 o f that year. I t was surveyed by O. Wilder, who made the following minutes upon the margin of " T h e town is l a i d o u t on section 4, i n t o w n s h i p S s o u t h , o f range 7 west. T h e Coldwater R i v e r i s a stream o f great power. and with • S e e transcribed Record o f Deeds, liber A R , pp. 37, IS. 39, 40. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. a dent o f t w o feet h i g h w i l l g i , c a f a l l o f about eighteen feet,—a power equal to the greatest requirements o f the country. " T h e c o u n t r y a r o u n d i s o n e o f surpassing beauty a n d o f g r e a t f e r t i l i t y, wheat being t h e staple product, b u t equally good growing. C l i m a t e is healthy ; waters pure, lively, and transparent. " 0 . WILDER. " T h e r e i s also a q u a r r y o f b u i l d i n g stone o f excellent q u a l i t y, sufficient i n extent for all the purposes o f the town, i n v i c i n i t y. " Messrs. Israel W. Clark and Isaac Diamond came here in 1838, with a large force of men, and began provements. T h e old saw-mill race was enlarged ened, and a new saw-mill and a grist-mill built. mill occupied the site of the present one, below mill, and the latter is yet standing, now the property of Ezra Bostwick. I t has been refitted and improved in the interior, while the frame remains the same.* T h e saw-mill built by the company was burned down. builder was John W. Norton, from Rochester, N. remained in the village. H i s death occurred in the fall of 1878, from the effects of injuries received from tea Mr. Clark, after getting his Improvements well under way, went to New York for his fhmily, leaving John N . Stiekney, then in the company's employ as clerk, of affairs. M r . Clark returned with his family York City in the spring o f 1839, and has sinc The company had brought on a considerable stock o f goods for the use of their men, and after they posed o f Mr. Stickney established a store on his count, the building he occupied standing very nearly on the present site o f Henry Seymour's brick store, on the cast side o f Broadway. Stickney afterward returned t o the East. H e is now at Rockville, Conn., editing the Tolland The store of Mr. Stickney was the first one of in the village. A man named Hiram Marsh,t here as early, probably, as 1835, owned a small store. T h e one owned by " the company" stood on the ner of Broadway and High Streets, opposite the City House." I t was a heavy, hewed frame its upper floor was used for school-room, court.rootn, awl every purpose which a public needed for at that time. T h e supply o f good money in time became !,,tritewhat limited, and a general system o f bartering was conducted at the store, which place came to be known as the " Subtreasury," by which name it is yet familiarly Josiah Judd, from Cortland, N. Y. , settled in Union City in the month of May, 1838, with his wife, and one daughter. T h e y had stopped a short time lington, until they could finish a house i n which had been framed. T h e elder son, Ira J. married and brought his wife with him. H e died tember following their arrival. T h e younger son, LeRoy, • For • abort thee tbe griet-mill contained b u t two runs o f stone.: tmr, Mon, were soon added, however. and four is t h e number i t n o w .ntatn, t Marsh Arayed herr bar a few t i t u t l l y , , , , , ring to mem other part of t hr ;;tate. 2 0 7 was then but eighteen years of age. T h e family lived in the village until 1853, and then moved to the place now occupied by L. R. Judd, half a mile east, at the turn of' the Coldwater road. H e r e the latter has His mother died many years ago, and his occurred in February, 1865. T h e y moved upon in July, John D. Zimmerman, from Fairfield Co., Conn., Union City in the early spring of 1838, bringing with him a set of blacksmith's tools. Isaac M. Diamond, partner, had promised that a shop should be all ready for him upon his arrival, but the only eligible building on reaching here was the deserted log shanty which had been erected on the flat by Isaiah W. Bennett. I n began work, and had all the custom of the company, with whatever outside business that happened to come in. A f t e r two months' stay he went after his family, returning with them in the following September. I n the spring of 1839 he built a shop of Mr. Zimmerman, in eon:anon with all the of the village, was imbued with a hatred of slavery and its attendant disgraceful features. U n i o n City was one many stations on the fatuous " underground railroad," and Mr. Zimmerman was a self-constituted station-master, for more than one refugee from the " land of through his instrumentality. T h e spirit of the lander rebelled against an unholy traffic in human blood, and even though the Fugitive Slave Law was in full force, many a descendant of Revolutionary heroes set it at defiance by aiding in every possible way the escape o f the unfortunate During the year 1839 a mulatto named William Smith, from the banks of the Pedee River, in North to Union City ; and, being a blacksmith by trade, was hired by and worked in the shop with M r. Zimmerman. T h e owner o f the plantation he had left was his own father. The latter, thinking very much of him, had given papers and sent him North. H e finally came t o Union City, and in 1842 his son, Andrew, who had escaped by having his own name substituted in the free-papers of his father, also appeared upon the scene, with two or three others T h e man who had helped him get away was a neighbor to his master, and had been made to pay of the runaway to his irate owner. T h e man came North to claim his property and take hint back, and tained for several days at M r. Zimmerman's, for all o f which kindness he never paid a cent. H e left after attempt to induce Andrew to go back with him; and the latter was then sent to Canada, where he remained till the atmosphere was more quiet, when he came back. T h e pompous slave-holder Was armed with revolvers and bowie knife, and took great pains to exhibit but was too shrewd to attempt to frighten anybody with them in the land where already the iron heel uneasy t o set itself with crushing force on the neck a slavery. Y e t it may he imagined how great was appointment at the necessity of returning Mr. Zimmerman in recent years prepared a long artiele on this subject for insertion in the village paper, unable to complete it, and i t never was published. T h e �208 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . foregoing account contains the main facts in the M C , and evinces the pluck and determination o f not only merman but all who were ever interested earnestly lar schemes. M r . Zimmerman i s still a resident o f the village Joseph C. Leonard, from the town of Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in June, 1842. troit to Ann Arbor his trip was by rail; thence to Marshall by stage, from which latter place he walked to Athens, or Dry Prairie, where a cousin of' his was living. A t h e n s seemed to be an unknown locality to the farmers along the road, and the few that had heard of i t imagined i t to be a great distance away. B u t when asked the whereabouts of Dry Prairie (in Athens township, Calhoun Co.) instantly. S o o n after reaching the Prairie, Mr. Leonard came over t o Union C i t y to visit some friends from t h e neighborhood o f his old home. H e finally stay here, purchased the l o t upon which h e now lives, cleared it up, and has lived upon i t Mr. Leonard has held numerous positions of importance in the village and township, arid was twice postmaster, his commission being the second one sent to Homer C. Hurd, brother t o Dr. W. P. Hurd, of Union City, visited this region in 1832. T h e next year tered a quantity of government land in the ship o f Burlington, and received his patent therefor i n 1834, i n t h e spring of' which year he settled. J u s t u s Goodwin was then making preparations t o build mill a t the village. M r . Hurd is now deceased, and his widow has moved from her farm to a lot near of D r. W. P. Hurd. S h e came very early to Michigan with her father, Thomas McGee, from the shore o f Lake George, in Warren Co., N. Y., settling in what is now the township of Concord, Jackson Co. Deacon Chester Hammond, also from the town Chenango Co., N. Y. , came to Union C i t y in 1836, and became largely interested in the affairs of the place. H i s son, Charles G. Hannnond, has already been mentioned. The latter i s now a prominent citizen o f Chicago, I l l . Another son, Henry L. Hammond, who taught winter school in the village, became a rioted divine, and the flintily was one o f the most influential ones which found a home in this locality. Solomon Parsons, who had been here in the spring o f 1836, settled with his wife in the fall of the Carpenter Chaffee, a blacksmith b y trade, located early in the spring of 1836, and during the same A. Lincoln helped him build a shop which was one of the first frame structures in Curtis S. Youngs, who settled i n 1837, coming from Chenango Co., N . Y. , i n company with t h e families o f Caleb Lincoln and Darius Buell ( M r. Buell having come in 1836), was here in 1836, and built a two-story planked house, into which his own family and that of Mr. Lincoln moved upon their arrival the next year. T h i s on the north side of Hammond Street, east of Broadway, arid east o f the present marble-shop. M r . Buell's family moved into the log house he had built, which stood i n what is now the middle of Broadway, west of' gational church. H e afterwards built the house opposite, in which his widow now resides. M r . Lincoln, as d a t v d , t o 0 , 11 t l i o ) 1 1 lii. farm The 1;•w 1,,w• owned i n the village in 1837 were comunint•rs," and at night were wont to congregate around the house of Mr. Youngs, which had the effect ing the slumbers of his family. I f the cows were driven away they took up a "bee-line" for Darius and would l i e there the balance o f the night, quently these two families had nighdy benefits horned Charles A . Lincoln had a couple of p i p in a one night he was aroused from sleep by a terrific one of' them. S p r i n g i n g from bed and putting out of the window, he was just in time to see a lift one of the pigs from the pen and trot off with the west. T h u s the supply o f pork i n neighborhood was lessened In t h e days o f the early settlement o f this place wild strawberries grew in great profusion in the of the river, and, while their season lasted, supplied habitants with at least one luxury. T h e woods south river contained great numbers of the sugar-maple, Spring witnessed numerous settlers wending their way into the forest, guided by lines of blazed trees, for of making maple-sugar. M r . Youngs and Mr. theirs together, and excellent sugar it was, too. ship is still noted for the amount of maple-sugar In the year 1874 Union manufactured over or nearly one-half the entire amount made in the county. Mr. Youngs served one term as register o f deeds for Branch County. PHYSICIANS. In the year 1834, Dr. Theodore C. Hurd. Co., N. Y. , purchased a farm n i n Burlington, arid settled upon i t i n 1837. H e had come his brother, Homer C. Hurd, who has been tioned. T h e doctor moved into Union C i t y afterwards, and died here in 1845. Previous to 1810 he was the only practicing physician in this vicinity. I n the latter year his brother, Williatu P. H u r d , also a physician, and still a prominent citizen of the place, located here and ticing. T h e s e two had a large ride, especially in the fall of the year, when there was much sickness. A n o t h e r brother. Henry S. Hurd, came here in 1838, and after i-enit• trine spent in reading medicine he returned t o New Viol: arid attended lectures, subsequently settling at Homer. Callieun Co., Mich. I n the spring of 1846, after the dteell el D r. T. C. Hurd, Henry removed to Union City, where and practiced until 1854, in which year lie went burg, Knox Co., Ill., where he still resides and enjoys an extensive practice. H i s wife i s a daughter o f Chester Hammond, and, as mentioned, tatielit a n early summer school i n Union City. H e n r y M . Hurd. M.D., a stilt o f Theodore C H i e d t h e . i i t .rii,r, i i r • r 11,, Eastern years previous to taking that position he was one of the physicians at the Kalamazoo Asylum. One Dr. D. Wilson lived and practiced here one se, —1840—and is now in the south part of the county. D r . W. P. H u r l was 1111e of the five original members �66,6 *ad:: le4kr r , I I I! 7 II 1 7 ' 1 . 1 1 4 1 1 : , 13,1,1, �L �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C I I I G A N . "Branch County Medical Society," organized in the winter of 1841-42, and after some years allowed to lose its identity. Dr. H. F. Ewers came here in 1854 from N. Y., and has been engaged i n practice iu this locality since. H i s brother, C. E. Ewers, came in 1855, two gentlemen comprise the well-known drug has been so long in Dr. W. P. Hurd has not practiced since the close of the Rebellion (1865). Numerous physicians of the other schools have been located in the village times, and those now in practice here are Drs. H. J. W. Wellman, — Fitzgerald, — Hale, filed (eclectic), F. Baker (homoeopathic), — E. H. Burd, the latter a nephew of Dr. W. P. Hurd. LAWYERS. The first member of the legal fraternity who was Justus Goodwin, who became a man of nence in both the county and State, and but serious faults might have been honored even more. I t is not in the province of this work to speak disparagingly man, and those who best knew him can discuss his merits or demerits as they choose. A s the founder of Union City he is at least entitled to a considerable share Charles G. Hammond now Col. Hammond, was the second lawyer who made his domicile in Union City, and to him is due more credit, perhaps, lishing the town and furthering its enterprises than t o any other man. H e purchased the village site in January, 1836 Justin Lawyer, a barrister by name as well as fession, had an office early where the barber-shop between the •• Union City House" and the drug-store of the Messrs. Ewers. A b o u t 1853 he went from here fornia. returning subsequently to Coldwater, where he is at present The lawyers now in practice in the village Styles, George E. Smith, Mare A . Merrifield, and Ware. O f these the first named is a native of England. UNION C I T Y P O S T-OFFICE. A post-office was established at this place 1834, and named Goodwinsville, by which title was then known. T h e first postmaster was win, under whom Chester Hammond, Corydon and Joseph C. Leonard acted at different times M.r. Beaton TIM subsequently elected county clerk, moved to Coldwater. M r . Leonard was cessor, his commission having been sent in 1845 or 46. H e held the office until 1849, when H . H . Smith pointed. Melvin L. Young was also a deputy at Mr. Smith's successor was probably Jason L. Lee, tarn was succeeded by Dr. Smith Rogers. was a second time appointed (to succeed Rogers), the dies until the beginning of Lincoln's when Edwin Perry, Esti., received the appointment. T h e neat incumbent was Jerome Bowen, and the eighth flortimer Vasbusgh, who is still This i n t mail contractor was Henry Bluer, father of Jacob DI. sled Peter Bleier, and one of the arm 2 2 0 9 the township outside of the village. A good story is told relating to the time when the office was first during Goodwin's term as A certain person named John Palmer was going water, and Goodwin gave him a pair of saddle-bags, him to bring back any mail which might be there winsville. T h e trip to Coldwater was made in safety, secured, and the journey back begun. Somewhere in the neighborhood of what is now Orangeville or' mer became aware that he was lost, and as twilight ening into darkness lie concluded not to go farther ing. H e was quite a musician in his way, and on any trip without his faithful violin. Therefore, pony loose, leaving the saddle-bags and mail upon him, he sat down on a log, tuned up his fiddle, and woke echoes with strains of music that must have delighted the wild animals which there abounded. H i s tireless arm wielded the bow, while his voice kept company, and not till the " streakings of the morning light" tinged the Eastern sky and showed him his position did lie cease With dawn came a knowledge of his location; but and saddle-bags were nowhere in sight, nor within hearing distance. Placing his fiddle •under his arm he started for home, and in due time arrived at the bank of the about where the south end of the bridge in Union is. H i s story was soon told, and Goodwin and started after the missing pony and the saddle-bags, which were finally found in different places late in Palmer seemed not very anxious about the mail, for there was "only one letter, and that was a dunning letter for Jack Bennett!" N o members of Bennett's win's families are now The first frame house in Union City was the Justus Goodwin, which has been described. Carpenter Chaffee's blacksmith-shop was one of the first tures in the place, but the most important among ones was the "Union C i t y House." T h e residence o f Curtis S. Youngs was built about the same time. T h e " Union City House" was erected in 1836 by tors o f the village.* I n August, 1837, Israel W. Clark and his wife came to Union City on a short visit, and stopped overnight at this hotel, which was at that time kept by Isaiah W. Bennett. T h e building was not yet finished; the outer doors were hung, but the inner doors were all o f cotton cloth, which, although but ineffectual barriers, answered all the purposes travelers were as safe behind them as though the partition walls were of solid ma.sonary. Israel W. Clark was of the company when this was built. In March, 1837, previous to the time Bennett ing the hotel, i t was i n charge o f Chester Ilammond.f The first regular landlord of this house—or the first in it any great length of time—was Thomas L. was a well-known hotel-keeper of those days. days of the famous steamboat excitement its a man named Morton, who changed its name to " T h e Steamboat Hotel." A large, four-sided sign words was set upon a pole in the middle of the street in • Information by Cheri... A. Lim-oln, at," helptiol I., hitiM it. Information hy M m . n o m , e. Hunt. �210 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . front of Ow building, where it stood for a number Ezra Wilder afterwards kept i t f o r a time. T h e present proprietor is Stephen Paddock. T h e long addition in the rear o f the main building was erected by John myre and the upper part was long used as a ball. since been partitioned o ff into rooms, and t h e sound o f music and the tripping of merry feet are heard i n i t no more On the corner, one block north o f t h e " Union C i t y House" (southwest corner of Broadway and Ellen Streets), a frame hotel was built in 1842 by Thomas L. Acker, who has been mentioned as the firat regular landlord "Union City House." I t was b u t a small went by the names of " A c k e r House," " Cottage House," etc. I t is a t present i n use as a dwelling, and removed t o the western part o f the village. M r . Acker was afterwards engaged in tavern-keeping both in Marshall and The hotel now known as the " Titlow House" was built in 1845 b y Jacob Blazer and Silas Marble, for use as stores. A store and a meat-market were long located in it. In 1867 the building was purchased by J. S. Rowell, who converted i t into a hotel. H e at present occupies ment. A f t e r some time h e sold the property t o Isaac Maltby, o f Sherwood. T h e present proprietors, Messrs. Titlow Brothers, have owned i t seven years. ing is a large frame structure, located on the corner south of the "Union City House." J. S. Rowell, who established t h e building as a hotel, came to the township of Sherwood in 1845, with his father, Jared M . Rowell, from Naples, Ontario Co., N. Y. T h e elder Rowell was a veteran o f the war o f 1812, and for many years postmaster o f Sherwood. H e died Jan. 13, 1874, at an The "Johnson House," located near the railway station, in the southern part of the village, has been erected within recent years,—since the completion of the railroad,—and from the fact that it is a new building is the best in town for hotel purposes, although i t s custom i s perhaps great as i f i t were nearer to the business of the place. I t s location is a John J. Freemyre, for some time the proprietor of the " Union City House," is now a resident of Cass County. Numerous internal improvements were projected during the infancy of Michigan as a State, and all were to at enormous cost. A s the population was very meagre i t became necessary to stop such legislation o r sacrifice every acre o f public lands, for otherwise the people would have been placed hopelessly in debt, and immigration ceased. T h e scheme o f a ship-canal across the southern peninsula was long a matter o f discussion, and various routes were surveyed. O n e o f the projects tained was that o f the "improvement o f the Si. Joseph River to Union City, and a canal b y the way of Homer, and across the counties of Jackson and Washtenaw Huron, at Dexter." U n d e r the direction of of Internal Improvements of the State of F. Smith, in t h e summer o f 1838, made a survey of the river, from which i t appears (see his report, page 262, Senate Doeuments, 1 838 t h a t at Branch County, 7 west, a distance by the river of ooe huudred and sixty wiles,—forty-three of which were through the state diana,—the elevation its two hundred and eightyThe survey to determine the feasibility of a mud and the use of the Kalamazoo River and lakes in ity as feeders, in a distance o f twenty miles o f further ascent, was made, making the Kalamazoo and II atter. in (.%11boon County, three hundred and feet above the level of Lake Michigan, which is higher than Lake Erie. " Mr. Cyrus Holmes, a gentleman o f this party, ran for the citizens o f Jackson and vicinity a line to the Huron. from Homer, and favorable report was made without a cut of more than twenty feet. T h e report o f that portion of the survey we fail to find in the archives of the State. but from the surveys as shown since for railroads we doubt that the report is correct, and that the that route is about three hundred and ninety of four hundred and ninety feet, as given by veys."* At Union City, then, was declared to be the h a i l of navigation on the St. Joseph river," and the a time were nearly delirious with excitement over their prospects, especially as an appropriation o f $50,000 was made for clearing away obstructions and tion i n the stream, $10.000 o f which were pended at this place, being t h e proceeds of the sale of a certain amount of public lands. Justus Goodwin agent appointed to oversee the work and attend to penditure of the funds. S o confident were the people that their pet scheme was to be realized, that Hammond, on t h e 7th o f March, 1838, laid out addition on the west side of the village. T h e route proposed canal is shown on the recorded plat, a 'steamboat basin." T h e following title " A map o f Hamtnond's addition to Union City, at the head o f steamboat navigation and proposed junction o f Erie Canal with St. Joseph's River, Branch Co., Mich.!" Portions of this addition have since been vacated of the Circuit Court, and others have since been made by Messrs. Lee, Moseley, The wave of excitement over the contemplated canal rolled harmlessly over, and f o r a time the subject lowed to rest. O t h e r influences were (ittietly however, and a new plan for increasing the prosperity village was in time proposed. I n the vicinity of considerable quantities of "bog" and " kidney" iron ore were found, and the townships of Girard and even richer in the deposit. Therefore a blast be constructed which should accomplish the salvation o f the city of the St. Joseph. T h e •• Union City pany" was formed, having among its Chester Hammond, Theodore C. Hurd, M.D., Charles G. Hammond. Darius Buell, Col. Thomas Moseley, and others t A. M. Hurd was the company's agent, and the • Extract from a paper prepared by I I . k S l a w , of Eaton Rapids. on the early efforts o f the S t a t e t o demonstrate t h e practicability o f a ship canal across the Peninsula. The company was incorporated by act o f the Legislature, march 17, I 1 4 ' . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C I G A N. were all residents of this locality. T h e furnace was built in 1846, and in the month of May, 1847, it is stated that the first pig-iron ever made in Michigan was here. Col. Moseley afterwards became sole proprietor furnace, and was one of the most prominent business men in the place for many years. H i s remains lie in Cemeter The old furnace continued in operation a number during the last seven of which Silas H. Nye was ager. M r . Nye is a native of a locality near Painesville, 0., and learned the trade of a moulder at Brownton, Lorain Co., working afterwards a t Cleveland, when twenty-one years o f age. I n 1847, when twenty-two, he came to Union City, and worked from their start i n business with the Union City Iron Company. H e finally property and continued the manufacture o f had been begun under his management, the furnace not having proved the great source of profit its projectors had calculated N e w buildings have been erected, and pacity of the works greatly enlarged. T h e present firm is known as the N y e Manufacturing Company," and has a capital stock of 850,000, with a paid-up capital From twenty to thirty men are employed, the principal article manufactured being the Nye chilled plow. Some job-work and machine-work is also done. T h e officers o f the company are Thomas B . Buell, President; H . F. Ewers, M.D., Vice-President ; George W. S. H. Nye, Treasurer. T h e manufactory is located on the "flat" at the site of Goodwin's old saw-mill, ing now does duty as a machinery-room. tures of this firm are first class, and many has won a wide reputation for them, of which pany is justly Union City Ind an equal chance with other places for securing both the Michigan Southern and tral Railways; but the ideas of the people were yet fixed on a canal, and nothing else would satisfy them. W h e n , however, the two railroads mentioned passed, one to the south and the other to the north o f them, and Marshall arid Battle Creek became of' among the cities of' the State, the citizens of Union City realized their mistake. T h e old hobby o f a w e d and steamboat navigation was not lost sight of, and i n the neighborhood of the year 1850 it was proposed to at least utilize the river, and a company was formed, with of $3000, for the purpose o f building a steamer. T h e boat was completed at this place, ready for She was 95 feet keel, 10 feet breadth of' beam, and on the day she was launched pushed off with 156 persons on board, drawing with that lorul but 13 inches They poled her down to the bend, half a mile or back again. I t is estimated that the draught would be but 15 inches with a full load after the machinery was in place. T h e model was exeellent, and ranch credit was reflected upon the builder. T h e boat was floated down to Mishawaka, Ind., and there received her machinery, the boiler having been procured at Cleveland, Ohio. time she plied as far up as Three Rivers, never returning to Union City. S h e was finally capsized and. by her stern swinging around and striking a bridge. 2 1 1 person—the captain—was drowned, and others escaped but narrowly. T h i s ended the navigation o f the upper St. Joseph. A m o n g the stockholders o f the company that built the boat were Darius Buell, Ezra Wilder, Curtis S. Youngs, Sylvester Strong, Chester Hammond, and D r. Theodore C. Hurd. The Michigan Air-Line Railway was finally and from the time its route was definitely settled lage has grown and prospered. M i x e d trains were run over the road in the fall o f 1870, and the next season i t had put on regular trains, and a new era had the region it passes through. I t s route is said to identical with one surveyed many years previous for the Michigan Central Railway, which now owns this INCORPORATION O F V I L L A G E , E T C . In the fall o f 1865 the following petition, signed by numerous citizens of the place, was sent to the Board o f Supervisors of Branch County: the Honoroble tho,rd S t y e , ixorc l i r d mat canary, State of Mich;gan : T h e undersigned citisens o f Union C i t y, and freeholders, would respectfully petition y o u r honorable body to incorporate Union City, as prescribed b y l a w, t a k i n g i n a l l t h e t e r r i t o r y commencing with the quarter line on the east a n d county line o n t h e ning south o n t h e q u a r t e r l i n e three-fourths o f one m i l e ; t h e n c e west parallel w i t h the c o u n t y line t h r e e -fourths of one m i l e ; thence north parallel w i t h the quarter line t o t h e county l i n e ; thence east to the quarter line from the place o f s t a r t i n g . " The territory included contained a population o f 545, and in pursuance of an act entitled " An A c t to provide for the Incorporation of Villages," approved Feb. the petition was granted by the board and the porated under the name of " The Village of Union City." The starting-point of the survey of the territory was at the quarter-post on the north line of section ship 5 south, range 7 west. I t was ordered by the board that George W. Buell, David R. Cooley, and James T. Leonard be appointed inspectors to hold the ration election, at the town-hall in the village. tion was held Jan. 25, 1866, and choice made o f the following officers, viz. : President, Isaac II. F. Ewers, J . D. Hathorn, J . W. Smith, coln, Anson Knowles, Richard Avery; Assessors, ber, Hiram Crissey ; Clerk, George W . Buell ; Street Commissioners, S. B. Sims, C. E. Ewers, I. urer, C. At the regular election, held March 6, 1866, ing officers were chosen: President, Silas I I . tees, J . C. Leonard, H . F. klivers, A . P. West, A . B. Aiken, S. Parsons, Charles M. Whiting; ward Barber, Hiram Crissey ; Street dell Morrell, Asa Hawley, J. M. Rowell; Treasurer, Jas. T. Leonard; Clerk, Chauncey W. Saunders; C. E . Ewe's, G. W. Buell, Richard master, Sindall Morrell. 1867.—President, Silas H. Nye; Trustees, A. H. F. Ewers, Joseph C. Leonard, A. B. Aiken, Charles M. Whiting, Solomon S68.—President, H. F. Ewers; Trustees, Silas I I Nye, II i ram Crimey, Kdwiti Perry, A. B. Aiken, S. George W. Buell. �212 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH 1869.—President, Solomon Parsons; Trustees, William Kerniebrook, D a v i d Gifford, Charles W h i t i n g , D a v i d Church, Silas Lusk, Lawrence Rlicubottom. The village was granted a new charter by the Legislature, March 23, 1869. T h e territory incorporated included the west half of section 4 and east h a l f of section 5 , town 5 south, range 7 west. A t a special election under charter, held April 13, 1869, the following officers were chosen, viz.: President, Ezra Bostwick : Trustees ( t w o years), J o h n B . Tucker, Joseph C . Leonard, William Kennebrook (one year), Charles M . Whiting, ford, Solomon Parsons. T h e newly-elected board m e t April 20, and appointed James T. Leonard, cey NV. Saunders, Marshal; James Antisdale, Assessor; Sindall Morrell, Street Commissioner and Poundmaster. The presidents and trustees of the village, since been the following, but three trustees being elected each year, and those for the term o f two years: 1870.—President, Ezra Bostwick; Trustees, David R . Cooley, Silas H . Nye, Edward Barber: 1871.—President, H e n r y F. Ewers, M l ) . ; Trustees, George E. Aiken, Amos P. West, Lawrence Rheubottom. The latter removed from the village in the fall o f 1870, and Joseph C. Leonard was appointed in 1872.—President, M . A . Merrifield; Trustees years), Martin F. Buell, Samuel M . Chase, merman (one year, to fill vacancy), James 1873.—President, E z r a B o s t w i c k ; Trustees, A . P. • W e s t , Edwin L. Lee, H . F. Skinner. 1874.—President, E z r a Bostwick; Trustees, M o r r i s Zimmerman, M. F. Buell, S. 1875.—President, Ezra Bostwick ; Trustees, Amos P. West, Henry F. Ewers, Edwin L. Lee. 1876.—President, Silas H. Nye ; Trustees, Isaac Tower, Martin F. Buell, Silas H. Lynn. 1877.—President, Silas H . Nye; Trustees, Stephen A . Warren, Joseph Spencer, H. F. Ewers. 1878.—President, Charles W. Crocker; Trustees, Frank C. Rheubottom, Hiram H. Chase, Asa Hawley; Clerk, D. J. Easton; Treasurer, Henry T. Carpenter; Attorney, M. A. Merrifield; Marshal, Dwight E . Youngs; dens, Judson W. Buell, Heber F I R E C O M P A N Y. - Union City has suffered severely upon from the ravages of the fire fiend, much having been destroyed. A f t e r considerable preliminary maneuvering, an appropriation of $1500 was voted by the town council on the 28th of May, 1872, for of procuring a hand fire-engine. I n the one was purchased o f Messrs. Rumsey & Co., Falls, N. Y. , together with 500 feet of rubber sary hose-couplings, and a hose-cart, t h e latter costing $150. T h e engine arrived in July, and was named " T h e St. Joseph." Several capacious cisterns had previously been constructed for use in cases of emergency. T h e total cost of the engine and its appurtenances was A fire company was organized Feb. 4, of 43 persons. I t s officers were M . F. Rowe, Foreman ; George W . Hinkle, Assistant Foreman ; E . B . Wheeler, COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . Secretary; F. C. Rheubottom, Treasurer; Pipeman ; It. F. McCoy, Steward. A hose company formed, and the two were uniformed in June, 1873. tember, 1874, 300 feet of new rubber hose A new fire company, with 3 3 members, in January, 1875, and called the "St. Joseph pany, of Union City." I n 1876, a lot was purchased o f Mrs. A. P. West, and an engine-house built thereon at a cost o f $2150. A reorganisation o f the company was effected Feb. 13, 1877, when the list of members creased to 49. T h e engine-house is located on east o f Broadway, and i s a substantial two-dory brick building. I t is surmounted b y a small belfry, in triangle has been hung in lieu of a bell. T h e fire in the business portion of the village has been greatly lessened by the erection of brick buildings. The newspapers o f the village have been t h e Union City Independent, Union City Register, and port (with several other names subsequently). the only one now in existence is the Union published b y Maj. D. J. Easton, formerly o f the Sturgis Journal and Coldwater Republican, which latter lished in 1866. M o r e particular mention of will be found i n a general chapter on the press of this count TRE U N I O N C I T Y CORNET B A N D was organized early in 1878, under the leadership of Win. H. Barsby, who i s still i t s teacher, and under whom the band is making rapid advancement i n the musical arena. I t consists of twenty-one pieces, and the members have a very neat and tasty uniform. The township owns an excellent library. the volumes of which are for free circulation among its residents. I t is located at the music-store of Mr. Golliforl i n The present iron bridge across thc Sr. Joseph River. on Broadway, was built in the fall of 1878, by the King Iron Bridge Company, o f Cleveland, Ohio. T h e total cost. including mason-work, was about $2000. I t s length is one hundred and four feet, width, twenty-one feet; and i t has two sidewalks. Before this bridge was built the use was a double-span wooden-trine bridge, which about eight THE UNION C I T Y N AT I O N A L B A N K was organized i n April, 1871, with a capital o f Its first officers were David R. Cooley, President; Wni. P. Hurd, Vice-President ( and acting President ) ; Ira W. Nash, Cashier. T h e present officers are William P. dent; Ezra Bostwick, Vice-President ; Charles T. Allen. .Cashier. D u r i n g the period from 1872 to 1875 put up a surplus o f $10.000, aside from paying annual dividends of ten per cent. I t s capital is the same organized. Interest has always been paid on deposits. T h e directors are William P. Hurd, Ezra Bostwick. Israel W. Clark, Isaac Tower, Alexander C. McCreary, John mond, and Samuel P. Williams. THE FA R M E R S ' N A T I O N A L B A N K o r U N I O N C I T Y was organizett, Oct. 12, 1877, with a capital o f S50,000. the saute as at present. I t s first officers. who still hold the a �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . positions were Thomas B. Buell, President; H . M.D., Vice-President; H. T. Carpenter, Cashier. of directors consists of Thomas B. Buell, H. F. Ewers, II. L. Bisbee, Homer Ramsdell, and D. K. Crawe. Before either of these banks was established a general was conducted by Messrs. Buell, Bowen T H E U N I O N A G R I C U LT U R A L S O C I E T Y I. was organized in 1867, consisting of the following sons as stockholders : Samuel Rowe, Franklin Burnett, Wm. Kennebrook, H . F. & C. E. Ewers (as firm), West, Thomas B. Buell, Ezra Bostwick, G. W. Buell, J. J. Freetnyre, and A. C. Moseley. Tw e n t y acres of purchased o f Charles Wilkes, for the sum o f about the same sum was expended in preparing a racing track, inclosing and fitting the grounds for use. single exception of the year 1878, from one to three fairs have been held here annually. F o r the first five fairs were held by the society in the interest o f ships o f Union and Sherwood, i n Branch County, and Burlington and Athens, in Calhoun, and tory was subsequently taken i n . T h e society i s not at present sustained, and the grounds are owned b y Ezra Bostwick and Thomas B. Buell, who purchased them in 1874, and rent them t o parties desiring t o hold fairs. Trotting exhibitions have principally been held some of the finest coursers in this region have tested their speed upon the track at Union City. UNION L O D G E , NO. 2 8 , F . A N D A . M . , was organized under dispensation, Sept. 14, 1848. I t s officers were: Worshipful Master, Harley P. nior Warden, George S. Nichols; Junior Warden, Marlin Burnett; Sec., H. H . Smith; Treas., Justin Lawyer. T h e latter gentleman, now of Coldwater, where he was gaged in the banking business, is the only one of five officers now living. A . B. Aiken, a of the lodge, was elected Master twelve years in He came here in the spring of 1846 with his father, John Aiken, from Vermilion, Erie Co., 0. H i s father and two sons (John and Spencer) were employed at the owned by the "Union City Iron Company." M . a member o f the old lodge, has been (since about 1858) Grand Lecturer of the State of Wisconsin. E d w i n Perry, Esq., came here in 1851, iron) Concord, Jackson and through his influence the beige was placed upon a firm footing and brought to a condition of prosperity. wan seven times elected Master. I n 1855 he Sergeant-it-Arms of the State Legislature, and in 1857 and 1859. I n 1862 he received the of postmaster at Union City, and held the office year The present membership o f the lodge is 125, and its officers are: Worshipful Master, C. B. Knight; Senior Warden, J. D. Black; Junior Warden, George W. Buell; Sec., Frank Caughey ; Treas.. E Roe. UNION C I T Y C H A P T E R , N O . 5 3 , I t . A . N . , was organized under dispensation i n 1867, with Edwin Perry as High-Priest. I n 1868 a charter and Dr. Ii. F. Ewers chosen High-Priest, 2 1 3 he has since continued to hold. T h e officers under pensation were: High-I'riest, Edwin Perry; Simons; Scribe, W. I I . K e r r ; Captain o f Host, Albert Ferris; P. S., A. B. Aiken; R. A. C.. S. Rogers; M. 3 V., Ira E. Hitchcock; M . 2 V., 0. A. Cogswell; M. 1 V., J. D. Spoor. T h e present membership is 70, and are: H . F. Ewers, High-Priest; R. Simons, W. Buell, S.; M . A . Merrifield, C. o f H . ; R. A. C.; John R. Lee, M. 3 V. ; It. E. McDonald, V. ; David Merrell, M . 1 V. ; Elmer Roe, Sec.; A . P. West, Treas. ; Lewis UNION C I T Y C O U N C I L , N O . 5 2 , was organized in 1870. I t s membership is than that o f the chapter, and hs principal officers are: Rodney Simons, T. I. G. M.; H . F. Ewers, D. I. G. M.; A. B. Aiken, P. C. W. UNION C I T Y L O D G E , NO. 4 1 , I . 0 . 0 . F. , was organized in the winter of 1848-49. A b o u t California gold-fever reached its maximum here, and more than half the members o f the lodge left to pick up their fortunes i n the "diggings." T h i s so crippled it that, the charter was surrendered, and i t was not until A p r i l 21, 1871, that a new charter was received. T h e bership of the lodge is about 30, and its officers are F. C. Rheubottom, Noble Grand; D . T. Wilson, Vice-Grand; H. R. Daniels, Permanent Sec.; A . E. Sec.; M . Vosburgh, Treas. and District Deputy. STAR E N C A M P M E N T, NO. 5 1 , I . 0 . 0 . F. , was organized December 21, 1871, and has a bership o f 21. I t s first officers were Silas H . P.; W. A. Moseley, H. P. ; P. D. Wilbur, S. W. ; D . B. Morehead, Scribe ; N . B . Engle, Treas.; man, J. W. T h e present officers are Silas H. Nye, D. B. Morehead, H. P. ; Mortimer Vosburgh, S. W. ; F. C. Rheubottom, Scribe; Joseph The rooms occupied by the Odd-Fellows are in brick building known as the " Cooley Block," at west corner of' Broadway and Ellen Streets. Hall is in the brick block on the opposite (east) side of the street. B o t h are very neatly Union City contained, in February, 1879, about 2 5 stores o f various descriptions, several saloons, meat-markets, livery-stables, and the usual complement o f mechanic shops. A m o n g her manufactures, aside from those mentioned, are those of lumber, beewagons and sleighs, etc., all o f greater or less extent. A large steam grist-mill was built south of the river in 1873, by the " Union City Flour Company," composed of Elmer Roe, C. W. Crocker, and D . A. !Duck, the ing in the firm but a short time. T h e building is structure, containing four runs o f stone. custom business are both conducted, and five stantly employed. T h e present proprietors are Roe & Crocke R I V E R S I D E C F, M F, T E RY. During tlet inlitney or the village an. sere and of land was purchased of' Messrs. Clark & Diamond, within �214 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . the boundary o f the place, and lying on t h e River, and another acre was purchased from Eliza Wilder, in the adjoining township o f Burlington, and the whole surveyed i n May, 1845, into 448 lots f i g by L. S. Hobart. T h e lots, avenues, and alleys were laid out on the rectangular plan. L o n g before this survey was made the ground had been used for cemetery purposes, the first burial being that of little Sally Gifford, the old daughter of Isaac and Roxey Gifford, her ring July 11, 1838. Solotua, daughter of fee, died Dec. 3 , 1838, and h e r brother William on t h e 3d of January, 1839. In 1864 an additional lot of land was purchased by the township from Henry F. Ewers, Joseph C. Leonard, and Col. Thomas Moseley, and a new survey made. I n making the new plat, that part o f the old cemetery which lay in Burlington was changed materially, having been b u t little used, while the portion in Union remains the same. T h e total amount o f land n o w inclosed i s about 7 acres, o f which 1 acre is owned by the township of houn Co., that being the amount purchased of Ezra Wilder in 1845 When the addition and new survey were made, of "Riverside Cemetery" was given as most appropriate. Col. Moseley died i n 1865, and lies here, as do many o f the pioneers o f the town. A more fitting could not, perhaps, be found than this one in sight of the village they founded and built up, and the carved marble bears full many a name which awakens fond recollections of the past, when Union City was much greater than in reality ; when the forest surrounding it echoed the ring of the woodman's axe, and when the wild beasts were so plenty in the vicinity that the occupants of the few pens i n the settlement were i n constant danger. Peace to the ashes of the brave pioneers! will long be cherished, for the days of their deeds of valor in subduing the wilderness are but In compiling the foregoing article many o f the older residents of the township and village have and it is with much confidence in its accuracy that it is now submitted. A m o n g those who have opened houses o f their memory and gleaned therefrom facts and incidents here incorporated are Deacon Israel W. wife, William P. Hurd, M.D., H . S. Hurd, M.D., and wife, o f Galesburg, Ill., Mrs. Horner C. Hurd, John D . Zimmerman, H F . Ewers, M.D., Caleb Lincoln, Charles A. Lincoln, Curtis S. Youngs and wife, Edwin Joseph C. Leonard, Silas H. Nye, L. R. Judd, and various members of the churches, proprietors factories, members o f different societies and orders, and many whose names are not recollected. T o all dered sincere Aside from personal interviews, the records o f lage, township, county, and State have been examined, and by renitence t o the "pedigree" o f Union City, as here given, it will be seen that the facts derived from the county records are of a somewhat different nature than opinion of the origin of the village of " Goodwinsville" arid the subsequent stages passed through before Union City blossomed out in all its glory. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. EZRA BOSTWICK was born i n Otisoo, Onondaga Cu., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1826. He was the son of Oliver and Hannah Bostwick who had a family o f eight children. T h e elder Bostwick was a native of New Milford, Conn. B u t little is known of his early history further than that his parents wen- poor. and he thrown upon his own rerrourees at au early age. Shortly after he attained h i s majority he married Miss Hannah Goodwin. emigrated t o Onondaga County, and settled i n Otisco, where he resided until his death, in 1866. • possessed of more dog, ordinary amount o f business ability, and was a man o f inflexible integrity, and getic amid industrious. I n 1835 h e came t o Michigan and purchased two thousand acres of' land in the town o f Union. E z r a spent the early part o f his life upon his father's farm, and, like many of the prominent cessful business men of' to-day, received the rudiments of his education at the district school; and although cational advantages o f those early days were meagre, still he succeeded well, and subsequently entered where he acquired a thorough education that well fitted him for his subsequent successful business career. A f t e r completing his education, Ire worked as a farm hand by the month until 1846, when he was married t o Miss Marietta McFarlin, of Iris native county, and came ti, Fillet] and settled upon his farm previously purchased. T h e land wa, entirely new and heavily timbered, arid the construction o f a farm and a home was a task of no small magnitude. A s showing what can be done by energy and industry, it can be said that he has improved over one thousand acres o f new land, most of which is in the town of Union. Mr. Bostwick has been prominently identified with Union City and township. and has filled many positions and responsibility, the duties o f which he with fidelity, with honor to himself, and t o tion of the public. I n 1869 he was elected to sentative branch of the Legislature. F o u r years sented Union upon the Board o f Supervisors, and for the same length o f time has officiated as the president o f the village Mr. Bostwick is possessed of' more than an ordinary amount o f perseverance, industry, and ambition. H e has conquered success, and it may be truly said o f him that his entire career is one worthy of the emulation of He has not toily witnessed the transition o f a ment into a busy and populous community, o f wilderness into a fertile and productive region, but i n his own person has typified so admirably the wrought many of these changes, that no history of Union would be complete without some sketch of Iris lit, FRANcIS EWERS. M.D. Branch County is noted for the proficiency standard of its medical men, and none occupy a servedly popular position than D r. H . F. Ewers, of Union City. A residence o f over a quarter o f a ���HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . during which time he has been in the active practice profession, has fully demonstrated his general assigned him a conspicuous place in the history of Union City. H . Francis Ewers, son of Henry Ewers, one prominent citizens and pioneers o f Onondaga Co., N. Y. , was born in the town o f Manlius, Onondaga Co., 1830, second in a family of three boys and two girls. H e received an academical education, and at the age teen entered the Sophomore class of where he graduated with honors i n 1850, receiving the degree of M.A. A f t e r his graduation he made a choice of his profession—that of a physician—and commenced the study o f medicine with the late Dr. A. B . Shipman, o f Syracuse, one of the most eminent surgeons of New York, with whom he remained four years. H e then took of lectures a t the Albany Medical College, graduating, however, at the Castleton Medical College o f Vermont. In 1854 he came to Union City, where he tablished himself in the practice of his profession, he has been eminently successful. I n 1857 he president of the Branch County Medical Society, of Southern Michigan Medical Association, and nent member o f the American National tion. T h e doctor has been prominently Union City. H e was one o f the originators nently connected with the construction o f the Railroad. H e has taken a deep interest in educational matters, and has been a member of the board since 1858. I n 1855, in company with his brother, C. E. Ewers, he opened the first drug-store in Union his religious and political affiliations he is an and a Democrat. I n January, 1858, he married Miss Lotta E. Waggoner, of Syracuse. H e has two children,—Lotta E. and Lizzie A. D r . Ewers is a gentleman well ably known, and one who is highly respected He possesses the necessary qualifications o f other than knowledge,—geniality o f disposition ness blended with kindness and compassion. I n mestic relations he is kind and affectionate, a father, and friend, and in every sense a THOMAS H. B U L L . The Buell family are o f English extraction. Thomas Buell. the grandfather of our subject, was a native Hampshire. H e was a farmer and miller by and had a family o f twelve children,—ten boys and two girls. T h e eldest, Darius, was the flither of Thomas was born in New Hampshire in 1784. F r o m shire the elder Buell removed to Lebanon. Madison Co., N. Y. H e r e Darius married, and shortly after removed to Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y. , where he resided until his death, in 1866. H e was blessed with a family 2 1 5 children, three o f whom grew to maturity. Thomas B . was the seventh, and was born at Sherburne, N. Y., in 1815. A t the age of ten he went to live with a paternal uncle, a man o f remarkable energy and thrift. Thomas early imbibed much o f his zeal and attributes much of his success to the lessons taught him by his uncle. L i k e most farmers' boys, he had l ' 11 0 1 A S B . B l J E L L . of the district school for about two months in the winter, and finished his education at the Sherburne Academy. A t the age o f twenty he started in life for himself; and for a time worked on the Chenango Canal and as a In 1836 he resolved to come to Michigan, and of that year, in company with his brothers Justice, came to Union City. W i t h his he purchased three hundred and twenty acres o f land in section 30. I n 1840 he was married to Miss Mary E. Blakeman, of Union City. S h e was born i n Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y., March 20, 1814, and came to Michigan in 1838, with her father, David W. Blakeman. tled in Union City, where he died in 1848, and wife died Mr. Buell has been a very successful farmer, been prominently identified with Union City. H e was elected president of the Farmers' National Bank of Union upon its organization, which position he still holds. also president of the Nye Manufacturing Co., of Union City. In political matters M r. Buell is a Republican. been blessed with five children, three of whom living. �BRONSON. THE present township of Bronson includes township 7 south, in range 8 west of the ian o f Michigan, and i s but a small part o f the original town By an act o f the Legislative Council o f proved Nov. 5, 1829, the township of Green including the counties o f " Branch, Calhoun, and Eaton, and the country lying north of the county of Eaton, which are attached t o and compose a part o f the county o f St. Joseph," and the first township-meeting was directed held at the house of Jabez Bronson.t By an act, dated June 29, 1832, the township of Prairie River was formed, including "all that part of the county of Branch known as townships numbered 5, 6, 7, tional township numbered 8 , south of' the base line, i n ranges numbered 7 and 8, west of the principal meridian," or the west half of Branch County. T h e meeting was also to be held at The stream flowing through Bronson township, the Chicago road, was called Hog Creek, or in the Indian dialect " Cocoosh-sepee." A n o t h e r stream in Girard bore the same name, and when Mr. Farmer made his early map of Michigan he corresponded with \Vales Adams, son, asking what name should be given the stream in his township, in order not to confound the two. M r . Adams wrote him to call it Prairie River, and as such i t was p u t down o n t h e niap. T h e township, being subsequently formed, received the same name. J u s t when ship was changed t o Bronson we have not been able t o learn, but i t was done i n honor of the first Bronson Prairie River, or " H o g Creek," furnishes very good power, but as even a small dam causes flow i t is but little utilized. S w a n Creek, the northern portion o f the township, is a much better stream i n this respect. A grist-mill and a saw-mill have been b u i l t upon i t near the line between Bronson and Matteson townships, iind farther down are the mills o f Jonathan The surface of Bronson is usually quite level, although a sandy ridge crosses i t diagonally from northeast west. T h e village of Bronson is located i n the midst of what is called " Bronson Prairie," although, ing, the name is inapplicable, from the fact that it nally a burr-oak plain and not a prairie. The famous "Chicago road" crosses the township from east to west, and was the first highway laid out limits. A l o n g i t passed the emigrant trains of the early • According to the testimony of those who knew M r. Bronson, and by h i s own signature, i t appears t h a t his name was n e v e r written Jabez, but simply Jute, and as Jobe Bronson he was always known. 21 days, and i n after-years the rumbling o f the and the merry winding of the driver's horn its course. T h e Chicago road" was for many years the main thoroughfare o f this region, but the stream freight which pamed over it has never been equaled sines the time when the West was being peopled by families from New York, New England, and other portions of the East. Railway facilities are afforded b y the main line o f the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern road. F o r a number of years the settlers were obliged to go to Adrian, wards to Hillsdale, to find a railroad-market for duce. W h a t e v e r o f surplus was raised b y the farmers commanded but a very small price, and it was necessary to transport it a long distance to get anything. B u t vent of a railroad changed the aspect of affairs, pects brightened. P r i c e s raised, and market to be had close at home, and from that time the development of the township have been The following statistics from the census o f 1874 will give an idea of the present status of the in many respects the figures Population (males, 1101; feinales, 1013. 2 , 1 1 4 Number of acres of taxable l a n d 2 2 , 5 3 3 land owned by individuals and companies 2 3 , 0 0 0 " i m p r o v e d land 5 , 4 5 0 land exempt from t a x a t i o n 67 Value of same, including improvements 6 1 7 , 2 0 0 Number o f acres in school-house sites 3 4 church and parsonage s i t e s 1 4 " C C b u r y i n g -grounds 8 " R . R . right of w a y and depot grounds 5 4 farms i n township 2 4 2 acres in farms. 2 1 , 4 6 6 Average number of acres in farms 8 8 . 6 9 Number of acres of wheat raised i n 1474 2 , 8 7 9 2,619 " h a r v e s t e d in 1873 1,693 1873 " c o r n 33,681 1873 bushels of wheal " " 39,947 1873 " corn " " a l l other grains raised i n 1873 1 4 . 0 1 9 potatoes raised i n 1873 6 , 8 5 4 " tons o f hay cut in 1873 1 , 1 9 0 pounds of wool sheared in 1873 5 , 6 8 4 pork marketed in 1873 6 1 , 3 8 6 - c h e e s e m a d e i n 1873 4 0 0 m' b u t t e r made ill 11 ' 3 4 3 , 9 3 6 " f r u i t dried for market in '73 1 1 . 1 3 4 barrels o f eider made in 1873 3 5 5 pounds of maple-sugar made ha 1874_ 3 0 0 acres in orchards in 1874 2 5 0 bushels of apples raised in 1872 1 2 , 4 8 4 1873 1 4 . 4 3 0 peaches " 1 8 7 4 1 4 1 1873 s e dl 44 •• " p e a r s " cherries " " 1 8 7 2e o 1 8 7 2 1 0 6 1873 1 4 4 Value of a l l fruit and garden vegetables raised i s 1872 $ 4 , 1 1 4 2 Value of a l l fruit and garden vegetables Z e a l Is 1873. „ $ 4 5 7 1 3 Number of horses i n township, one year old s a d over, 1874 4 $ 1 1 5 �t HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Number o f mules 1 4 work oxen 1 6 e 'elicit cows 4 3 8 neat cattle, o n e y e a r old a n d over, other than oxen and Cows 5 6 4 Number of swine over six months old 9 9 4 44 s h e e p 1 , 3 9 1 shearel i n 1573 1 , 4 6 9 flouring-mills in township 4 persons employed in same.. 3 Amount of capital invested $ 5 , 0 0 0 Number of barrels of flour made Value of products Number of saw-mills (including 1 stave- f a c t o r y ) 7 persons employed in same 2 7 $16,000 Amount of capital invested 1,795,00 Number of feet of lumber sawed. Value of products $ 2 4 , 6 5 0 Other saw- and grist-mills had previously been tion in the township, but from various causes discontinued, and possibly there are other which were not enumerated in the census returns. I t will be seen by reference to the figures that a larger amount of lumber was cut in the saw-mills of Bronson i n 1873 than in any other township in the county except Quincy, which cut over 2,000,000 feet. T h e grist-mill given is operated by steam at E A R LY S E T T L E R S . The first permanent settlement within the limits of the county of Branch was made in 1828. in by the man whose name it bears,—Jabe Bronson. M o r e extended notice of him will be given in another place. T h e beauty of Bronson Prairie, and its advantages for site, together with the fact that i t was located on of the Chicago road, made it a desirable place at which to locate, and although the surrounding region beg-an soon to fill up, it was not until after many had located at or other places along the road. Coldwater was the next township to attract attention, but Bronson was time the place of most importance in the county, and from it were chosen many of the first county officers, being generally men of marked ability. The following " Historical Sketches of Branch County" were prepared by Hon. Wales Adams, and inserted in a directory of Branch County published in 1871: "About the middle of September, in the year young men, travelers, who had experienced varied in the Eastern States, halted for the night at the door log house situated two miles east o f where the city o f Coldwater now stands. T h e house was occupied by A. F. Beulton and John Morse, and supplied comfortable for the accommodation of man or beast. A lodge of several hundred Puttawattarnie Indians camped about one and a half miles in a t., which place the travelers, who had stopped for the night, repaired. T h e Indians occupied their time ing, dancing, and speech-making alternately. discussing the subject of their removal beyond sippi. T h e earnest appeals o f several young orators t o their superiors to resist the aggr,.-i•ai, o f the United States Government were strikingly beautiful. I t was a lovely evening; the main shed a pale and melancholy light upon the wild and pieturesque landscape. • ' i n c m i l l not repiirted. 2 2 1 7 yelpings of the Indians, their guttural chantings, notonous roll of the drum, and the-rattling of berating through the forest, added enchantment t o the scene. A t this tittle not more than 10 or 12 families lived in the county of Branch. There was not a west of the village of Clinton. A solitary log a short distance east of where the city of Coldwater now stands, and was occupied by M r. Bonner, a Mr. Bonner first settled i n the town o f Batavia, batik o r Four-Mile Creek, a few miles below where M r. Shinnamon now lives. C a p t . Kirk, a millwright, from the State or Maryland, lived with his family in trading-house on the west batik of Coldwater River. I l e was a first-class mechanic, a man with fine proportions, with a cultivated intellect. Unfortunately, Capt. Kirk come accustomed to the habit of tippling, and before the close of the succeeding October he died with the' delirium tremens. H i s bones now rest on the west bank o f the river. M r . Toole, a gentlemanly young man from the State of Virginia, was then engaged in building a saw-mill on a site now called Black Hawk. H e had brought hundred dollars with him, purchased 80 acres of land, but before the mill was completed his money He became disheartened and abruptly left the Territory, and never again returned t o claim any portion o f his property " At this date there were 6 families living Prairie, to wit: Seth Dunham, supervisor o f the town o f Green ;* Jabe Bronson, justice o f the peace; John J . Richardson, constable and collector; Samuel miah Tillotson, and Samuel Hazlet. A Mr. with Mr. Tillotson, and was cultivating a patch of potatoes without a fence about three miles east at a place now called 'Snow Prairie.'t . . . "The following morning the travelers proceeded on their journey. T h e y were in search quiet nook or dell, where they hoped to pass the their days in peace, away from bustle and strife. T h e i r natures were the same, and their appearance so similar that one was often mistaken for the other. They had from infancy without the softening influences care. They were orphans. They had become familiar with the cold gaze o f the world, and had no desire to mingle with it again. T h e y traveled through the counties of St. Joseph and Kalamazoo, and saw many beautiful cupied locations; but unaccustomed to and country life, they knew not in what business After much reflection they concluded to retrace Accordingly, about the 1 4 of October, they left Prairie Ronde in the morning, followed the trail and reached the Chicago trail about an hour five miles west o f Bronson Prairie, and near where the Chicago road now creases Hog Creek. T h e road son was circuitous and difficult to follow) the moon pale and mellow light through a hazy atmosphere, but the dense forest and thick foliage along their pathway hid the light from their view. T h e y groped their course * T h e tetivriFhip of Green ineludeil the entire county. f h e r o M r. Adams gives a Ilexeription of M r. Snow, who made the the first improvements in Bethel township. • �218 I I I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. gloomy way ; no noise was heard except shrieking of the owl or the hellish yelping of They had Dot proceeded far bell,re they were aroused their reveries by the tinkling of a cow-bell. from experience that an emigrant family had far distant; directly they saw a bright through the interstices of the forest-trees; cautiously within a few rods of the encanipmeut to take a view of the arrangement. T h e trunk of dry ash was well on fire; the blaze and smoke mid-heaven, which contrasted beautifully with ing forest. Tw o men in red shirts were seated at ful distance from the blazing mass, earnestly engaged in conversation. One of them was a tall, lank, man, apparently twenty-five or thirty years of age. T h e other was of common size, with a sedate and countenance, a few years the senior of the first. mastiff lay growling in the rear. Tw o females sionally appeared from behind a blanket, which pended upon two poles. The older, about twentyof age, appeared to be a good, solid, dressed in linsey-woolsey. T h e other was years of age, and was the exact opposite of the first. H e r model figure was robed in the most approved style; the graceful and majestic ease with which she among the foliage, the witching smile which her lovely lips, the flushed and dimpled cheeks, eye, the profusion of jetty locks which swept developed bust, gave to her, amid the wildness of the scene, an exceedingly interesting appearance. T h e artist could not have imagined a more lovely view pencil. T h e two travelers, although they were hausted with fatigue and weak for the want nourishment., gazed from their place of the interesting group before them with wonder tion "They did not remain in that situation long, from the brush, approached the emigrants, and asked supplied with refreshments and for permission by their fire till morning. T h e men looked upon elers with unconcealed suspicion. T h e dense forest in which they were located, the gloom of the night, and the distance from habitation, all went to confirm that banditti were lurking around. A f t e r a tion with the women, it was decided that the be complied with, and soon a panful of wellrels was in condition to satisfy and refresh Confidence was restored, the parties became social, and their intentions were made known. T h e names of elers mentioned at the commencement of this Willard Pierce and Wales Adams. T h e y came direct to Michigan from New York City, where they had lived several years. T h e names of the emigrant Resin Holmes and Thomas Holmes. They were from Marion " The next morning the parties examined ing country, and before night it was stipulated and Adams should build a saw-mill where trail at that time crossed Hog Creek, and that should settle in the immediate vicinity. Accordingly, in the course of a few days, Pierre went on foot where the laud-office was then located, entered returned by the way of Detroit, purchased the and shipped them around the lakes to the mouth of Joseph Ricer, and from thence up the river The following July the mill was in operation. becamedissatisfied with the country and with of making lumber, sold his interest in the saw-mill liam A. Kent, and returned East. M r . Pierce, in portment, was gentletuanly and dignified. H e was class machinist, had been employed in some of manufacturing establishments ill New England, capable of superintending the construction of the plicated machinery. A s a draughtsman he could excelled. I l e had not been lung East before he ployed by a company of rich Quakers, who extensively in building cotton machinery, at R. L They soon appreciated his services, and unlimited control of their establishment, and also interest in " I n the course of two years Mr. Pierce married complished and lovely daughter of one of the at once embraced their unostentatious form In the year 1840 he retired from business rich, and the same year came to Michigan with his wife, to where he had suffered the inconveniences of frontier life. and to induce Adams to return East and occupy the tion in business he had left. Since that time he been engaged in any kind of business, except of the Pawtucket Bank. . . . There are now than finir men living within the bounds of the recollect him as a citizen. A l l others who knew have emigrated, or their bones are now mingling with mother earth. T h e names of those four men Warner, Allen 'fibbets, J. B. Tompkins, and Resin Holuies the following spring sold the laud entered, to EIJOSGragg, and emigrated to "The first inhabitants of every new country composed of every variety of character, from those moved in the most refined society to those who moved in any. T h e latter are well adapted to ment of a forest life; they have no wants except arc within their grasp, and seldom any such as are connected with the chase. They are rous,and sympathetic. Although they will of' the opportunity to make an honest penny out of they will not turn from their doors those who They look with unutterable contemptuponthose consequential airs, unless they are fully satisfied are abundantly supplied with pecuniary means. pioneers have received but little, and perhaps no cation, but their conversationalpowers are often.good. They cultivate from infancy a propensity to relate egotistical yarns, and whatever may be the character or taste of their auditory, they will not willingly submit attention during the rehearsal. T h e natures of are similar to those of the men ; they are and masculine in their appearance, but, exceedingly prolific, and produce a vigorous progeny. T h e loud. ,=harp vi lees of many of them contrast �IIISTORY O F B R A N C I I C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . the soft, musical accents of city and village But they have good lungs; they know nothing pepsin nor neuralgia, nor any of the fashionable sounding diseases which now prevail in high life. M a n y of them are industrious and frugal, but the large which they are surrounded occupy their whole prevent them from cultivating a desire for dress ment " The writer was acquainted with a pioneer lived in Branch County in the year 1830. S h e and raised in the woods in the State o f Ohio. S h e knew nothing about society. S h e cared but little about or cut o f her dress, whether it was long or high or low neck; whether it was drawn snug around her person so as to expose her real form like a coat, or hung with a graceful and lovely swell; whether it concealed o r exposed her extremities; whether her feet were bare or shod. B u t she had an to be the possessor o f a clean, white cap, structed ; none o f the close-fitting, comely caps which so often adorn the heads o f females in fashionable answer, but the crown of hers must be of sions, which would sweep, as she walked, the beams of her log house, and when she had her cap fairly placed upon her head, she assumed airs which no prude of the present day could imitate. S h e had no objection to boys receiving some education,—it would not for them to read and write,—but no pedagogue should fret the heads of her girls with books; they had enough else to attend "As soon as the country begins to fill up tion takes place the pioneer becomes restless. T h e r e range for his cattle and hogs; he suffers severely from the restraints and annoyances of society; the gator of Divine laws, with his black coat countenance, designates a place f o r meeting; gatherer haunts his house; a disciple o f Galen appears in the neighborhood with his stove-pipe bat, capacious p i l l bugs and fiddle-baek pony; the peddler, with his tin trunks filled with nostrums and tape, solicits patronage; foo•cer, with his head filled with quotations from is clamorous for a client. T h e pioneer will stand i t no longer, his peace is at an end; he sells at the nity, and departs for a Western Territory. "The county of Branch was organized into a township by the name of Green, in the year 1829, and was attached to St. Joseph County for judicial purposes. T h e was located at White Pigeon, where all legal transacted for the two counties. T h e law made upon the Territorial Governor to appoint justices of lab. Bronson received the appointment Case, and was consequently the first judicial otter County. & q u i r e Broasoe loaded in the county on the pinkie bearing h i name, in the year 1828. T h e dein, pray leeks which- bung in disader over his his furrowed cheeks and dimmed eyes, able evidence that he had gee,, at last half a century. H e was small in stature, and walked with a Brat step. H e was unostentatious in his bearing, DOprominent traits of character. I n firmness be 2 1 9 fully deficient, but, like many great men of a date, h e watched the breeze and set his sails Esquire Bronson was born i n the State o f and had received a very limited education. the trade of a ship-carpenter, and followed i t for nearly a quarter of a century. H e had been employed in some of the best ship-yards in New York, and caulk and repair many an old hulk in the dryated as he was, he permitted the fire of his youth out without joining in wedlock. A t length rambling, and in the course of time reached he met a buxom and wholesome-looking widow who had four children with her, and he soon contracted nent matrimonial engagement. T h e y turned West, lived several years in Brownstown, in the Territory of Michigan, and finally landed in Branch Bronson was not studious. H e seldom opened the lids o f his Territorial Statute, unless his attention was directed to some particular section or act. H e presumed that not have been appointed to a responsible situation had he not been fully fitted by nature to discharge the his office. H e relied more upon his judgment rounding circumstances than upon written quently, in the course of his official acts, he committed many amusing "The early settlers of Branch County were fond gation. T h e y would not submit to the slightest real or fancied wrong without appeal to a legal tribunal. Indeed, justices' courts in a new country are able. T h e y operate as theatres, or places No class of people, whether savage or civilized, Christian or Pagan, can live contented without excitement, man who has lost all relish for amusements and exciting scenes becomes indifferent to the cares of life and waits impatientl Until just death, k i n d umpire o f men's miseries, With sweet enlargement doth dismiss him.' "The justices, litigants, pettifoggers, and jurors were the actors. T h e pettifoggers personated the tragedian and comedian in the same play, and often performed admirably well, amid tumultuous applause. therefore, were formerly places o f resort for all classes of people. T h e clamor of one suit scarcely died another was commenced more interesting than which had the happy effect of keeping the inhabitants in a constant state of excitement, thereby rendering tented, however straitened may have been condition. I n a community where there were a score or more of male adults, generally two or three of assumed to he advocates. Although at that time little about law or common sense, yet they had eral law terms, which they used with fluency on sions, whether they were adapted to the points at issue or not. T h e incomprehensible language and ner in which they were quoted had a tremendous ing effect upon the court "The Territorial law o f Michigan would not tavern-keeper to hold the office of justice of the peace, nor would i t allow a justice to hold his court in a �220 H I S T i f i t Y O F BRANCH But justices o f the peace tatittl little or no tlitliceltyui evading this law when occasion roq i 0 . 1 , . S , i o I was manifestly a tavern-keeper. a jte.tiee t t l tle• p...1,•. a postmaster, and he invariably held his cow I III a but never, according t o his construction, ill the t-liglite,t degree violated t h e law. A b i e l Potter, wino livt,d w i t h Bronson and was h i s step-son, claimed t o Ito landlord. When the time arrived for a suit to commence, glasses, and toddy-sticks were removed from the bar to the kitchen, and when all was clear Bronson would exclaim, in a loud and distinct voice, A b i e l Potter, is this a we now occupy?' A b i e l Potter answered, unequivocally, ' No, sir; i t is not.' Bronson would then call the proceed to trial. W h e n the court adjourned the bottles were replaced, and the hall o f justice was verted into a bar-room. J u s t i c e s ' courts were held i n Bronson Prairie more than a year anterior t o any other place i n Branch County, and they were tinued. Consequently the inhabitants o f that vicinity, in the course o f time, became familiar with all the tricacies of law. Bronson's Prairie, for more than years after the days of 'Squire Brouson, was emphatically the law focus for the county of Branch, during which time several men of acknowledged genius had made the practice of law i n justices' courts their prineipal business, and had become notorious advocates. T h e i r fame the precincts of Branch County. They relied, upon innate knowledge o f the fundamental principles o f law and common justice than upon laborious research in voluminous and antiquated books. M a n y of lawyers in Coldwater, who plumed themselves upon their pre-eminent sagacity and depth of legal ally attended t h e Bronson sessions. T h e y went f u l l o f assurance; returned humiliated and crestfallen. not successfully face a Bronson Cicero. E v e r y point they attempted to make was met with logic and arguments, condensed and beautiful, and unless pecuniary considerations had a controlling influence, scarcely a lawyer in Coldwater could be found who had the audacity a second effort. T h e law focus was finally Quincy, where the sessions have been kept up zeal. When Mr. Bronson catue to the Prairie lie built sized log house, and in i t kept tavern. Jeremiah Tillotson followed the same business, as, i n fact, did man who located here,—not from choice alone, but from necessit An amusing anecdote i s related o f 'Squire Bronson, which occurred during his residence and official term here. He was at one time called upon t o marry a man named hunt and the widow of Moses Allen, o f Allen's Prairie, and, proceeding the twenty miles to that the ceremony to the satisfaction of all concerned. I n the mean time, Esquire Benaiali Jones, of Jonesville, heard of the affair, and i t caused him much uneasiness and excited him not a little. M o u n t i n g his Indian pony, he rode over to see about it. T h e newly-married couple had retired when he arrived, and he found Bronson sitting by the fire drinking hot punch and making himself able. H e burst forth excitedly in speech with • what have you been about? Y e n Me Oat diction ; this is Lenawee County I I ma ibis Mrs. Allen is not legally married, and I will mutest itl" The anxious bride overheard Jones' remarks, mad loan wade her appearance err dershaloille in the ber-• (I dear! ' S q u i r e Jones, what shall I do? tion i s ruined ! C a n i t be possible that I ain't legally married? Jones pacified her, however • • Never iii iii']. Mrs. Allen: just stand up Itere, un,nIl 1 4 ten dollars I will marry you over again and make it all right." By this time Hunt appeared on the seette; the up, and Jones soon performed the eeretuony, picketed his fee, took a " n i p " o f "something warming," and departed with satisfaction beaming in his countenance. tation o f the widow was preserved. Ler hold was twenty dollars out o f pocket, and t w e worthy magistrates made happy by the acquisition of fees and the draught o f hot punch. The heroine o f that occasion—whose Moses Allen, had been one of the surveying party which traced the route o f the Chicago road, and iilterwaril- • in 18271 became t h e first settler i n Hillsdale rating on the prairie which beam his name—was, at the date of the latest information,—.1anuary, 1879,— her husband's old farm near Brownstown. below Detroit, aged over " Dr. Alvah Randall, the first physician i n ship, came t o Bronson in 1835. H e was a graduate o f Castleton, Vt., College, from which State he eatne son. H e was a fine scholar in general history. H e had a retentive memory, and read hiMory from boyhood up. H e died in the year 1851, at the age of fifty-one. H e was a very ardent Methodist, and one of the most straightforward and conscientious men be found. H e was a man of strong physical constitution, and really died from overwork. H i s ride there being no other physician within ten miles son either way. "There was a great amount of sickness in those —ague, fevers, etc— a n d the care of with die responsibility of having the charge of ing up of a large fitrin, undermined his constitution at that early a:,e. I l e belonged to a long-lived race. 11k iin,thor living to the age of eighty-seven. l l i s wife still survives hint, having reached the advanced age of He was the flither o f Hon. C. D. Randall. who four years of age when they moved to Bronsiin. " He was always identified with the 'Ad Whig was once a candidate for the Legislature on their ticket. His farm was just east of Bronson village, where Stcpliett Reed and sonic other parties now live. T h e old house in which they lived in that early day is still standing."* Michael Smith, from the State of New York, settled on the f i l m where Inc now lives, Hon, Wales Adams, one o f the wheol•horses o f the Branch County Democracy, served twenty years visor or Bronson, took the census I if ten townships * sketeh iii(1.1shencer Rintblienn. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. was county treasurer one term, represented his district in the Legislature two terms, and was a member of stitutional Convention of 1850. I l e is as holding the office of ensign i n the company raised in this town for the famous Black hawk war. O f this company Seth Dunham was captain and lotson Levi Calhoun settled in Bronson in 1837, and in worked i n a saw-mill a t Coldwater, which stood on the present site o f Coombs' grist-mill. U p o n h i s farm i n Bronson have been disinterred the remains of of gigantic stature, undoubtedly belonging to mythical race called "prehistoric," whose mounds and occasional fortifications are found in this interest Nelson Russell settled i n the township in Indians were yet numerous, locating on his Enos Gregg was one of the earliest settlers township, coming in 1832. T h e family was accustomed to trade with the Indians for venison, sugar, and buckskin. Mr. Gregg died in 1856, aged sixty-eight years. James and Charles still reside in David Taggart and Jonathan Holum.: passed through some exciting experiences during their first year On one occasion they were returning from the village with a quarter of beef on a pole, and a noisy pack kept up a none too melodious serenade, while the feet of the men beat quick time to the music until they had reached Ephraim Lindley has lived i n the county His father was one of the pioneers of Matteson township, and cut the road leading north .from Bronson village to Swan Creek,—two and one-half miles. M r . into Bronson township in 1865. Bgfore Holmes' was built, milling was done at J. E. Niftier' came to the township with his father in June, 1842, and even at that day deer and wolves were exceedingly plenty. J . H. Green came with his father in 1843, and settled where he at present resides. I l l s father built a saw-mill, but died before the farm D. J. Sprague arrived with his family in 1843. T h e y were accompanied b y three other families, and time all suffered severely from sickness, several dying. M r . Sprague aryl his brother-in-law were kept busy making eidfins and burying the dead. M r . Sprague's wife died in 1848 D. S. Lockwood, now o f Bronson, settled i n Ovid i n 1836, and removed to this township in 1874. Isaac H a n n a moved to Brunson in 1833, in the heavy timber two miles from any human His i n t home wee a temporary log hut covered and bet little better than no shelter at all. H e acres Jonathan Burch fine settled in Sherwood in at the time the Indians were removed (1840) with them as far as Stm7is, St..Inseph Co. M r . Burch is mow a resident Stephen Ittssi. l, in M I a part o f the old farm of Dr. Reedall, settled with his father in Bethel township ile. Roieht mama resideme wen !milt by Hon. C. dall, and, as a remarkable circumstance, was raised without 2 2 1 the aid o f whisky, to the chagrin of the topers and the triumph o f the temperance men who aided in It had been said that his timber would lie and rot before it would be raised, unless whisky was plenty, but proved the contrary. M r . Reed helped raise Morgan Thompson settled in Bronson in 1834, and, in common with many others, suffered privations nature. One winter he was forced to cut the grass over the top of the ice, in order to Obtain his stock; and his wife lived three days on water-gruel on one occasion, while he was away hunting employment. l I e r four small children were taken as good care of at the time, the mother depriving herself* that they might not Daniel Tice settled with his parents at Fawn River in 1843, and is now living in Bronson. H i s wife is of Morgan Thompson, now Asa Willman settled in the southwest part of ship in 1835, purchasing his land o f a Mr. Stewart. H e was accompanied by his wife and one child. H e dollars for the first barrel of flour which he bought, and the first wheat he sold brought him but thirty-seven and a half cents per Hon. Wales Adams is now the oldest living settler o f Branch County, and is a native of Medway, Mass. I n 1828, when twenty-four years of age, he the city of New York, where he remained two years. O n the second day of September, 1830, he left New arrived in what is now Bronson the same month. H e and his partner, Willard Pierce, came together and entered the west-half of the northwest quarter of section 29, their saw-mill was built. T h i s saw-mill was the in the county (the first being at " Black Hawk," west o f Coldwater), and did quite an for sonic years, but was finally abandoned on account overflow caused by the dam. N o t h i n g now remains o f it, but a portion of the old dam is yet to William A. Kent, who purchased the interest of Pierce in the sawmill, came here in the spring of 1831, with Mr. Adams, who had been East at that time Alfred L. Drigg,s, from the State of New York, came to Michigan at an early day, and i n the winter of 1831-32 made his appearance at Mr. Adams', and was hired as a sawyer, and commenced work in the niill. I l e was of much energy, but possessed no means with which t o enter into business o f any nature. H e the idea of building a saw-mill, and was aided in by Mr. Adams, who signed a note with him in order that he might procure mill-irons at Detroit. They around the lakes to the mouth of St. Joseph boated up to Mottville, from which place Mr. them up for him with a yoke of oxen. D r i g g s built the frame of his mill on Swan Creek, where Holmes' mill now stands, and went to White Pigeon for nails to be used in roofing. T h e merchants at that place reflised hi trust him, and in high dudgeon lie walked back, bored holes in the timbers, and fastened the roof on with wooden pins. I l e was chosen justice of the peace 11.r the township of Prairie River, and afterwards represented his district once in the Legislature. I l e finally sold his mill �222 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Holmes. and removed to Constantine, St. Joseph he now The following, from the i•ounty records, explains itself': ec a , , , t s , I'M i i i I t F l i t i 0 . I .• l o - r e h y ...•rta'y t h a t o r, t h e 12th . l a y o f AuguNt, 1833, Wales AA:km, a r i d P o l l y Wa t e r m a n , 1.0111 B r a n c h C o u n t y, P r a i r i e R i v e r ••,,no• l o • I n i , A l f t . . . . 1 1 . . Driggm, one o f t h e jinitiees o r tIii' p e a . , i n a n d o r t h e c o u n t y o f B r a n c h , an.1 w i r e lair fully j o i n e d in m a r r i a g e . ALFRKD I , . D a m n s . " This was the first marriage which occurred in ship, and is the first recorded in the county. T h e Prairie River was that o f Abiel Potter and Clarissa J . Booth, July 3, 1834. Joseph D. Fields and were married July 31, 1834. In t h e fall o f 1831 a man named Judson arrived in the township with h i s family, and was by Wales Adonis. B e f o r e leaving the State of New York he had been employed as teacher and clerk, and sessed of a good education, but no means. H e came into Bronson with one horse, his wife, and several children. H e boarded Messrs. Adams and Pierce and the men employed by them around t h e saw-mill. D u r i n g t h e memorable " Black H a w k war," in 1832, he enlisted as a volunteer, and soon after was taken sick with the cholera and died. He was buried i n the woods close by his home, and stone was ever erected at his grave its location is an uncertainty. Wales Adams, who received in the spring of 1831 the appointment of ensign in the Bronson militia,— of which were appointed by Governor Cass,—was too sick to go with his company when the Black Hawk war broke out. H e had then lived here a year and a half, utterly prostrated with the ague. H e thought when he first came and worked i n water up t o his build the dam and doing other necessary work around the mill, that the ordeal was too severe for him to survive; but he was fortunate enough t o bear up safely under now, at the age seventy-five years, can look back upon the experiences of' his younger days and wonder that he had a sufficiently strong constitution t o weather hardships of a pioneer life. ln the spring of 1.832, Bishop Chase, of Ohio, pany with M r. Wells, an extensive m'anuf'acturer o f the satire State, and father of Hon. Hezekiali G. Wells, then of' Prairie Ronde, called one Saturday at the house of Mr. Adams, and stayed over Sunday. O n the morning of the following Monday the three, together with To m Holmes, started on a journey into what i s now the township of' Gilead. T h e bishop was i n search f o r land, and finally selected a section in that town, entered it at the land-office at White Pigeon, built a log cabin upon i t , contracted for having 80 acres broken, and moved upon it with his family in the fall. . To Bishop. Chase does Gilead owe also, as will bit seen b y reference to the history of that township The first white child born i n Bronson was one family of John G. Richardson, some time in the year 1829. Mr. Richardson was the first collector for the Prairie River, in 1832. A man named Crawford squatted early cia the where James Buggies now lives, and one of Us eltildi it was the first white person who died iu tbe towtiabip; this wall previous On the 8th o f June, 18:16, the property o f Alfred L Driggs, including the saw-will said 400 acres of purchased by Jonathan and Samuel litanies, borough. N. 11. T h e elder brother (Samuel) here, but 'Jonathan returned for his family them back w i t h him, arriving at the new home Sept. 19, 1837. D a v i d Taggart had been left in charge of the w i l l during M r. Holmes' absemxi, ind had come here in June, 1836, front Dublin, N. I I . H i s wife, who came with him, was a sister of Jonathan Holmes. I l e is now of M r. Holmes' place, on the In t h e fall of' 1837 timbers for a grist-mill ready, and a raceway commenced. but sickness i n t h e family necessitated the abandonment of the work until the next year. T h e raceway wit, finally finished, and month of August, 1838, the frame of the mill Two runs of stone were set i n place, and i n 18:39 ready for use. I t was extensively patronised, as no other custom-mill for many niiies. People mune from near Coldwater, and from all the surrounding towns, their grinding done, and the mill proved }Rite: run about thirty years the machinery was taken out and the grist mill was transfornwd into a planing ing-mill and chair-factory. A t the present time it is not in use for any manufacturing purposes. T h e sawstanding is the third one on the ground, the ture and one other having been worn out b y much use. The present mill cuts an annual average of 300,000 feet, manufacturing oak, whitewood, ash, blitek walnut, maple, beech, and lynn (basswood) lumber, of which part is o f whitewood. A very heavy growth ( i f timber extended through this portion of the township, and part of the trees consisted of whitewood (tulip I and black walnut. H e a v y inroads have been made in years, and although there i s y e t considerable left, the supply is limited. Mr. Holmes' brother, Samuel Holmes, was f o r some time interested i n a machine-shop and comm-factory at Springfield, Windsor Co., Vt., but snbsequently returned to l'eterborough, N. H., where be died. H e left David A. Holmes, in charge of his interest in the property i n Bronson upon his return t o Jonathan Holmes is yet living on the old place, and has been a wan of' much prominence in the township. W h e n he came to the farm but 2 acres had been cleared spas it. The nearest neighbor on the north was Amos Matteis" Esq., on the west shore of Matteson Lake, is the t o m * of the same name. Between him (Mr. Holmes) and a i l , Oak not a house had been erected, and the forest was hots, in its virgin beauty. T h e nearest home south or westakas that of Wales Adams, easy the spot wises Chicago turnpike crossed Prairie River. The first persons to settle between Matteson Lake were Robert Smith sad a sus m o d nell, who located on the north Sae of the taersalp 1837. S m i t h died massy yams age, sod his phis �MR RESIDENCE O F JONATHAN f l OLM S ��H [STORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. occupied by Christopher Shaffulaster. Cornell moved out of the township. T h e first to locate nearer the Robert Thompson, who settled three-fourths of a about 1844, and afterward removed from Considerable parties of Indians were wont to the banks of Swan Creek, near the mill, and hunt and fish for a number o f days i n the neighborhood. always peaceable and friendly, and upon their removal, in 1840, were greatly missed by Solomon Haight settled one and a half miles west of the villa:re of Bronson in 1842, and for several years owned part of the old French farm William Lamoreux came to Detroit in 1828, and resident of that county (Wayne) was a portion of the time deputy-sheriff and constable. H e removed t o Branch County in 1844. The records o f Prairie River town.ship, and those o f Bronson up to 1867, were destroyed by fire in year when the store of Messrs. Powers & Gillam Gillatn was at the time township clerk. I t is possible to give a list of officers previous to this date, items of interest which would undoubtedly have in the early records could they have been preserved. T h e first supervisor o f Prairie River township was Jeremiah Tillotson. T h e following are the principal officers of the township of Bronson from 1868: Supervisor.-1868-77, Christopher 71Araxhip Clerks.- 1 8 6 8 , R . Van Ness; 1869, B. F. Trigg; 1870, no record; 1871-72, Lucien J . Driggs; 1873-77, W. Justices o f the Peace.- 1 8 6 8 , H. Williams, M. Clark; 1869, J. Holmes; 1870, no record; 1871, Smith Wood; 1872, Wales Adams; 1873, Marshall Morrill; than Holmes; 1875, Smith Wood, Henry Brooks; 1876, M. D. Wolff, David Taggart; 1877, David Taggart, C. L. Fitch. Treasurers.-1868-69, Leonard D . Clark ; 1870, no record; 1871-74, Cyrus J. Keyes; 1875-77, Spencer E. Bennet M o o t Inspectors.- 1 8 6 8 , John T. Holmes; 1869, B. P. Taggart; 1870, II0 record; 1871, B. P. TT.gart ; 1872, Xenophon Gilson; 1873, John T. Holmes; jamin Taggart; 1875-77, John Township Superintendents of jamin P. Taggart; 1877, Commissioners of Ilighways.-1868, J. G. Sheffield, C. Hinebangh ; 1869, M. Blow; 1870, no record; 1871, Allen Turner, James G. Sheffield; 1872, 1873, George Carpenter; 1874, Allen Turner; bert Russell; 1876, Amos J. Anderson; Drain Commissionera.-1872, Henry Brooks; 1873, Christopher G. Babcock; 1874-76, Allen Turner; 1877, Benjamin Officers for 1878.-Supervisor,, Christopher cock; T w o Clerk, W. H . Compton; Treasurer, S. K Bennett; Justice of the Peace, J. Kline; of Highways, Henry Brown; Drain Mews; Soperiatsodeot of Schools, J . Inspector, C. A. Gay; Constables, D. Hinebaugh, G. M a , William 2 2 3 softotu.s The first school in the township, as well as in Branch County, or i n the entire distance between Clinton and White Pigeon, was taught at Bronson Prairie in ter of 1830-31, by Columbia Lancaster. I t by the six families then living at the Prairie, and some 15 pupils attended,-among them three young of Mrs. Bronson and Mr. Tillotson, and a son Jones, EMI., of Jonesville. T h e school was taught in a log tenement which stood near the present residence o f James Ruggles. M r . Lancaster was here three officiated as pedagogue, lawyer, physician, and In 1830 he practiced law at White Pigeon, and in the fill of 1831 built the first log house at Centreville, Co. H e afterwards became a prominent lawyer, dent o f the St. Joseph County Bank. I n 1838 elected to the Legislature, and about 1840 sold out and started overland f o r Oregon Territory. W h i l e i n t h e Rocky Mountains his child died, and the party grants with whom he was traveling deserted him, or left him to the tender mercy of the Indians. V e r y for him, they proved friendly, and aided him in returning to the settlements. H e located for a time in but finally came back to Michigan, and about 1845 went through to Oregon, and settled on the shore of bia River. I i i 1856 he was a delegate in Oregon, and became prominently identified with ests of his I t is stated that the first summer school Prairie was taught by the wife of David Waterman. H e r maiden name was Cynthia Lloyd. I n her husband owned the first and only frame had been built at the Prairie up to The present school district No. 4 was organized b y Jonathan Holmes, in the fall o f 1839, and a taught the following winter by a Mr. Ward, who New Hampshire, and lived at Three Rivers, Co. H e had previously taught in Canada. Smith taught a school i n the neighborhood during the summer and fall of 1839, in a frame school-house on the Chicago road. T h i s was the first school building in the district, and was used until the increasing number demanded that a new and larger house should The site was changed, and the present school-house built on the cross-road, a short distance northwest of of the old one. B o t h Mr. Ward and Miss Smith are remembered as having been excellent teachers for The union school a t BrOnS011 village about 1858, when a two-story frame school-house was erected. I n 1878 a brick addition, also two was built in front of the old edifice, and cost about $3500, making the total value of the building as it some 64500. T h e enrollment of pupils in 300, and in March, 1879, was about n o . consists of four departments,- h i g h school, mediate, and primary. T h e teachers are J . Principal ; Elizabeth McMann, Untmmar Louisa Lowell, Intermediate Department; Mary Brown, Primary Department. M r . Burton is now serving his second year �t H I Cell!1.4..1 4. I t . S T I . O 4.1 R 4 Y 1 - 1 W B R A N C H C O U N T Y N I I ( 111 ( ; . \ - 0 4 14 . 4 ill. county, and o i p . 111 , . . 1 . 4 1;1..11-.01 i..1%111111. -11,... has been a tuember of the school board a number and Jason Shepard, who has resided here since also long a member. I l e retired in the full of 1877. T h e present board consists of A. J. Anderson, Moderator; liant H. Carpenter, Director; C. J. Keyes, Treasurer; and Christopher G . Babcock, E l i j a h Holbrook, and H e n r y Knott, other V I L L A G E O F BRONSON. Jabe Bronson, t h e first settler i n t h e county, has been mentioned ; also Jeremiah of the earlier arrivals here. John G. Richardson and John Potter settled in 1830. Among those who came later and became prominently identified with the place were David and man, who settled in 1833, erected a building in one part of which they lived, and i n the other established the first store of any kind at the Prairie. T h i s was in part of what is now the village, and their father afterward kept a small grocery establishment still Conceiving the idea that a town must sooner o r later spring up and flourish a t this locality, platted a village to which they gave die name o f Yo r k ; the portion owned b y David. being situated on the south side of the Chicago road, and that of Alonzo on the north. This plat is the eastern portion o f the present village o f Bronson, and when property is transferred within its limits it is stated as being in the " o l d village o f York." T h e Watermans finally disposed of their property here moved to Coldwater. A l o n z o sold to E. G. Bennett and David to other parties. T h e latter died at thirty years since, and Alonzo's death occurred at place i n 1877. H e had amassed considerable property. The place at Bronson now owned b y Joseph E . E a r l was the property of Mrs. Waterman, Sr., mother of David and Alonzo. Additions have been made to the village by E. nett, C. G. Randall (now o f Coldwater, and son o f Dr. Alvah Randall), S. C. Rose, and Mrs. Holbrook. T h e name Bronson was adopted in honor of the pioneer of the plac Samuel Smith, a native o f Acton, Mass., who settled at Bronson about 1829, and purchased a farm for some years by Lorenzo Rose, and now by Mr. Randall Smith, was a cooper b y trade, but worked a t i t little, if any, after coming here. H e lived at Gross Isle, near Detroit, four years previous to his removal to the Prairie, and was there employed in making fish-barrels. T h e land he purchased on coming to Bronson is now within porate limits o f the village. I l e subsequently traded i t with S. C. Rose for a farm i n Noble township, to which he removed and where he died. A b o u t 1837-38 two acres of land at Bronson to E. L. Rose, who, in 1838, built upon i t the present frame hotel, on the ally opposite the " brick block." M r . Rose kept during his life, and after his death i t was conducted f o r some time by his son, Lorenzo Rose. Joseph D. half an acre in addition t o that purchased o f Mr. Smith, Smith's land all lay west of the north sad south road extending through the village. H i s daughter, Mr11. i r a Field, now living at the village, came here with dren, from Erie, Pa., in 1836.* H e r husband, Valeatiac Streeter, had died with the cholera in 1832. to Bronson she was married to Joseph D. Field, who dicti in April, 1850. H e had come several years previous to 1836, and aided in the construction of the pike. H e and his brother, Horace W. Field, canoe here together ; the latter then married, and is living at present in Rockford, Ill. Joseph 1). Field was a blacksmith by tradc. and had a shop on the turnpike two Loam west of lage. H e afterward moved into and kept the " old log tavern," a short distance east o f the residence Adatus The Attawattmnica used to camp in large the northern edge of the prairie. T h e y would go son's tavern, which stood about opposite the mill, fill themselves with whisky, and then proceed night hideous with their demoniac yells and They always walked into the settlers' houses mony, and stretched themselves by the fire leave. M r . Smith never objected t o their entering his house at any time, but Mrs. Field never could repress a feeling o f fear when they were present. T h e y called Mr. Smith "good chemokamati" (good white man). James Ruggles, from near Toronto, Upper viously a resident of New York and Massachusetts, Branch County in October, 1835, and bought land near the village of Branch. in Coldwater township. H i s died in Canada before he left there. I n 1836 his mother to Michigan. H i s brother, Charles Ruggles, who had bought land in Michigan in 1834, settled ben Co., Ind., i n 1835. I n 1836, James chased 1000 acres o f land, principally from ment, and lying mostly in Steuben Co.. Ind.. with portion i n L a Grange. I t included an ground in what is now Otsego township, Steuben Co. I n the winter o f 1836 he moved to Bronson, trading laud in Indiana for a part o f the present homestead, chasing the balance. I n 1837 he built the frame house he now occupies, and kept tavern i n i t for sixteen years. A barn was built at the same time. T h e material from Detroit by a team o f two yokes o f oxen. A l l the hotels were full, so that Mr. Buggies found it impossihlo to get accommodations, and was forced t o camp out. O a t s were then 22 shillings per bushel. T h e round pied two weeks, including two days in Detroit. In 1811, Mr. Ruggles' parents were living on Island, sixty miles from Mackinaw, and during that was in Detroit and saw Governor Hull and his though but a boy at the time, he remembers the incident well. I l e visited P u t -in-Bay Island, i n Lake Erie, the • T h i s d a t e is g i v e n on M r s . F i e l d ' s a u t h o r i t y. A s s h e ried to M r. Field a f t e r r a i n i n g here, a w l as t h e marriag,e record i n the court-home at Coldwater gives t h e d a t e o f t h e m a r r i a g e as J u l y M , 18:14, there is eon.' discrepancy, w h i c h i t tort f o r t h e terested t o unravel. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C A I G A N . same year, on the British brig "Caledonia." father was a native of Elijah Hanks, from near Painesville, 0., settled in the village in the spring of 1835, and bought out son, who removed in 1836. M r . Hanks' son, George W. Hanks, is at present living in the northern part of near the E. L. Rose, from Pekin, in the town of Co., N . Y. , came to Bronson i n the fall o f 1836, and soon moved into the log hotel which had been vacated by Jabe Bronson, and which stood on the north side Street, in the eastern part o f the village. T h e they occupied on their arrival was one which was owned by David and Alonzo Waterman. I t had been occupied days by the family of Jeremiah Tillotson, who rented it, but they moved to Batavia, and the Roses took possession o f the house. T h e y afterwards moved into a house which Elijah Hanks had purchased o f Bronson. M r . Rose, in 1538, as mentioned, built and occupied the hotel on the corner, which still bears his name. T h i s was a house," and here the stages stopped to change feed their teams, and business was Jabez Clark, originally from the State o f and after 1816 a resident of the town of Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio, came t o Bronson i n 1835, arriving on the evening of Christmas-day. H e was accompanied by his wife, two sons, and three daughters. T h e sons were Milo (the elder then fourteen years of age) and both in business at Bronson. F r o m their home in Ohio they came through i n sleighs drawn b y horses. I n the summer of 1836 the whole family, with the exception of Milo, was sick for nearly three months, the entire volving upon him. D a t e in the fall of the same year, Mr. Clark, who had become somewhat discouraged of sickness and other causes, and whose means went back to Ohio with his family, and stayed one turning to Bronson in 1837. When he first came to the place (winter of he went into a hotel in the eastern part of the had been built about 1834 by David Hartsaw. A f t e r a short time he removed to another, which stood two half miles mutt, near Swan Creek. T h e latter was built of hewed logs, and was not disposed o f by Mr. Clark until after his return from Ohio. T h e hotel he had pied was a frame building, painted with Venetian red. T h e elder Clark died Feb. 14, 1851. When the Clarks came to Bronson village, it is were but eight houses in it, and these were occupied by David Waterman, Alonzo Waterman, E. L. Rose (?), John G. Richardson, David Lermont, Mr. Jones, Dr. dall, and Daniel Powers. J a h e Bronson had awa Milo Clark and a Mr. Sellers were at one time gether on a hunting expedition. T h e y had become distance separated, and Mr. Clark suddenly heard cions noise near him. H e made ready to shoot, see nothing. A stick snapped, and on Its,k ing around he beheld a panther standing within eight reds of though an excellent shut he dared not risk tiring, along, keeping his eye on the animal, until he reached a 2 2 2 5 neighboring clearing, when the panther ran off into the forest, uttering angry screams. T o say that Mr. frightened would undoubtedly be 'putting i t mild." A s for Sellers, his senses nearly left him its too, and he ran all the way to Holmes' mill and reported that a after Mr. Clark, with what other stories is not known. I t is very likely the latter gentleman did not wish of the Both Mr. Clark and his brother are the proprietors successful business,—Milo dealing in hardware, and Leonard in dry-goods. F r o m the fact that means were very limited, they deserve great credit ing so much success in the face of difficulty. has a very fine collection of specimens of stone and copper implements, etc., among them pipe and a piece of copper from a mound on the farm of Noah Shaw, in Matteson township, at the foot of The various stone axes, flint arrow-heads, etc., mostly gathered in the country immediately surrounding Bronso On one occasion, while following the track o f a deer, Joseph Hunks came upon the animal so suddenly that i t jumped into a fallen tree-top in such a manner as to be unable to extricate itself. H a n k s seized and attempted to hold the deer, and succeeded i n doing so; but his victory was dearly bought, for the alarmed and infuriated animal used its feet t o so good advantage that i t kicked M r. Hanks' clothes clean from his body, leaving nothing but Iris boots and Daniel Powers, from Otselic, Chenango Co., N. to Bronson in the summer (probably) of 1835, and for a time lived in a log house owned by Samuel Smith, which stood where George Ellis' frame residence now is. A f t e r four or five weeks he purchased the farm east of now owned by Lewis Earl, and moved upon it. H e had started from home with the intention o f locating in the State of Illinois, but on arriving at Bronson was forced to stop on account of sickness in the family, and cluded to settle here. H i s wife and three children sons and one daughter—were with him. T h e sons and Henry) are now in the mercantile business and the daughter is Mrs. George F. Gillam, Dr. Alvah Randall, who was also intending to settle in Illinois, had shipped his goods to Chicago, and on overland stopped a t Bronson to rest. F i n d i n g i t point for a physician he determined to locate hired M r. Powers to go to Chicago and bring back his goods, which was done. T h e widow of Dr. Randall residing at Coldwater, and their son, C. D. Randall, is a prominent banker of the same place. T h e a very extensive practice throughout this portion o f the State, and is remembered gratefully by those and received his services, and with great respect by had the honor of his In the winter o f 1866-67 Henry Powers entered into business at Bronson with Genrge Gillatn. T h e i r burned Jan. 9, 1867, and after this disaster the moved t e another building. Subsequently M r. Pewers purchased Gillam's interest, conducted the for one year, and then admitted Joseph Kean �226 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Mr. Powers' brother, Charles Powers, who had been serving as sheriff of the county, at the expiration of his chased Kean's interest, since which time the finn known under the name of C. St Samuel Keyes, from Rutland County, Vt., came with his family to Michigan in the spring of 1835, the journey being made b y teum through Canada, and settled a t Adrian, Lenawee Co., where he lived until 1844. I n the latter year he removed t o Batavia, Branch CO, and bought the fitrut known as the •' New York farm," now owned bias Sliirtz. A b o u t 1848 he came to Bronson, in hotel-keeping i n the old village o f York, in a building which had been erected by a man named Tisdell. I t had been in use several years at the date of Mr. Keyes' arrival. In 1856 be entered into mercantile business in the village, and in 1861 the property passed into the hands of C. J. Keyes. T h e latter has in his possession which were issued by the government to his father-in-law, Joseph D . Field, and t o Elias L . Rose, the former dated Sept 10,1838, and the latter May 1,1839, both signed by President Martin Va n Buren. Samuel Keyes has been dead but about four years. T h e double store occupied by C. J. Keyes was built i n 1857-58, by Samuel Keyes and Joseph E . Earl. T h e latter gentleman is from Monroe Co., N . Y. , mid lived for some time also i n Ohio. I I I 1842, while a resident o f the latter State, he visited this region, and in 1847-48 came to Branch County in Batavia. H e is now living in the southern part of the corporation As early as 1829-30 a post-office was established at the village, with Esquire Bronson as first postmaster. Rose held the position while keeping tavern, and ceeded by his son, Lorenzo A. Rose. D a v i d F. postmaster a short time, and was succeeded by Charles Carr, who died in office. H i s widow next held the ward L. A. Rose was a second time appointed, in office from 1860 to 1863. H e was succeeded shall Morrill, and he by the present incumbent, C. bertson Another post-office, called Prairie River, was in the Adams neighborhood early in 1832, and who has been previously mentioned, received the pointment as postmaster. A f t e r his death William A. Kent was appointed, and held the office until the construction o f the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, when i t was discontinued. T h i s was a distributing point offices,—Colon, Lima, etc.,—the mail being carried to them on horseback. T h i s office was o f much settlers in the neighborhood at that time. One of the first stores in Bronson village was Davi4,1 F. Gates, who placed a board across one corner of a room i n his log house, and kept a small stock,—a few dollars' worth of tobacco, pipes, etc. H e afterward kept a much larger establishment, having an extensive general store, and was in business a number o f years. H e living south of the village. Bronson was incorporated b y t h e Board o f of Branch County i n t h e fhll 'of 1866, the cluded being one mile square. A t (lie first held Nov. 26,1866, the following officers President, Warren Bynis ; Trustees, ('. J. Shepard, A. Pixley', Lorenzo A. Rose, Leonard D . Clark. Henry Powers ; t'orp,oation Clerk, Andrew Treasurer, Joseph K Earl ; Marshal, Spellman Denni,-; Assessor, George F . Galan) ; H i g h w a y Cotuttlissi.tuer, Joseph E. Eatl. For the government of the village, the by-laws of Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co., were adopted, with some ments. A new charter was received i n 1873, and mime then but three trustees have been elected annually two years. T h e presidents and trustees of the village, from 1867, have been the 6,) lowing persons, viz.: 1867.—President, Cyrus J . Keyes ; Trustees. Lorenzo A. Rose, M i l o Clark, Joseph E. Earl, Allen Turner, Eli G. Bennett, Leonard D. Clark: 1868.—President, Oscar B . Nichols; Trustees. M i l o Clark, Lorenzo A . Rose, R . Van Nes, 1). A . Whittaker, William H. Compton, Joseph E. Earl. 1869.—President, Lorenzo A . Rose ; Trustees. Jason Shepard, Joseph Kean, E . W. Benton, Cyrus J . Keyes, 0. B . Nichols, Milo Clark. 18711.—President, Jason Shepard : Trustees, Oscar B . Nichols, Darius Monroe, Augustus Pixley, David H. Whittaker, 1871.—President, M i l o Clark; Trustees, Amos derson, Joseph Kean, Leonard D. Clark, Darwin S. Fellows, Albert J. Trigg. 1872.—President, Oscar B . Nichols; Trustees, Anson J. Horton, Henry Powers, C. A . Bartlett, James Ruggles, Darwin. S. Fellows, William Lanteraux. 1873.—President, Oscar B . Nichols; Trustees, C. A . Bartlett, Henry Powers, .Anson J . Horton, Leonard D . Clark, Joseph Kean, Amos J. Anderson. 1874.—President, Oscar B. Nichols; Knapp, Augustus Pixley, William H. Teller. 1875.—President, Anson J . Horton; Trustees. Elijah Holbrook, Leonard D. Clark, George H. Warner. 1876.—President, Milo Clark; Trustees, Amos derson, Jacob Stailey, Anson J. Horton. 1877.—President, Jason Shepard; Trustees, H e n r y Powers, Quincy A. Drew, D. E. Winegar. 1878.—President, Christopher G . Babcock; Trustees. Lafayette Corey, Joseph E. Earl, L. M. Godfrey. 1879.—President, D r . W . Byrne ; Trustees, H e n r y Powers, Amos J . Anderson, M i l o Clark ; Clerk, W. Ira Beesmer; Treasurer, Jason Shepard: Assessor, Oscar B. Nichols The territory incorporated includes the south half of the northeast quarter and the southeast quarter of section 11 : the south half of the northwest quarter and quarter o f section 1 2 ; the north h a l f o f the northwest quarter of section 13; and the north half of quarter of section 14. HOTEL Of these there are three in the.village at present. T h e "Bose House" has been mentioned. A b o u t 1852-53 a hotel was built by a man named Foster, now of Coldwater, on the ground where the "Bronson House" 'file building was de,troyed by fir, .and ���HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. front part o f the present structure, which had been built and used as a store by Wesley Wright, was moved to the same site and eonVerted into a hotel. I t has by an addition in the rear, and has recently and painted, and numerous improvements added. T h e store stood a short distance east o f the site of The latter is now the property of John Q. Adams. T h e first house was built immediately atter the route o f the railroad was definitely located, but ibout two the track was laid. T h e " Exchange Hotel" was built previous to the war o f the Rebellion, by James Bennie, now o f Gilead township. H i s son-in-law, was its first landlord. T h e present proprietor Farr Both the "Exchange Hotel" and "Bronson large frame buildings, located near the depot, and about half a mile from the business portion of the village. F o r a place no larger than Bronson, these hotels are well kept and deservedly The present steam grist-mill in the eastern part of the village was built about 1858-59, by Ransom Compton. I t contains two runs o f stone, dues a large business, and is owned by Soon after the close o f the war a foundry here by a man named Van Every, now of Coldwater. I t stood south of the corners, on the east side of below the site of the present brick block. M r . Van Every afterward sold the building to a Mr. 51eNett, his tools, moulds, etc., to the east part of the the foundry of Reynolds & Fowler is now located. T h i s firm is doing a good business, operating in connection with their foundry, a saw- and About 1863 a tannery was built south of the village, by Charles R. Garrison, who had previously kept a store building now occupied by C. J. Keyes, which he rented. In time he sold his tannery to Williams & it was afterwards destroyed by fire. T h e present building is the third one on the ground, and is not now Quite an extensive business was conducted in this line for a time, but it was The fine brick business block on the south side cago Street, east of the Corners, was begun by L. in 1867. H e that year built the east filly feet, balance was erected in 1869, by James Weatherby, Milo Clark, and Leonard D. Clark. Weatherby, completing his share, sold to L. A. Rose, and that now owned by Lafayette Corey. Messrs. C. & own and occupy the next room east, and Milo the easternmost room, and the one he occupies. room is owned by L. D. Clark. These are all on floor. T h e building is three stories in height. O v e r L. D. nark's store the second floor is occupied by the third by the Masonic fraternity. M i l o the three floors in his part o f the building store, store-room, and tin-shop. O v e r Corey's store are justice'-office and Grange H a l l ; over C. & offices and Odd-Fellows' Hall; over east part, and public hall. T h e block is an ornament to and reflects much credit upon the enterprise of nes 2 2 7 MASONIC. Mystic Lodge, No. 141, F. and A. i f . , was organized in 1862, with 11 members, under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge. I t s master was Darius Monroe, and the first one under the charter Was Charles R. Garrison, succeeded by Milo Clark. T h e latter held the position six years, and was at the same time high-priest in The present membership of the Blue Lodge is about 150, and its officers are the following, viz.: Worshipful Master, B. P. Taggart; Senior Warden, Ira D. Hull; den, Oral Crampton ; Senior Deacon, J . K . P. Keyes; Junior Deacon, Anson J . Horton; Sec., George Ellis; Treas., Henry Siroc ('Inspire, No. 41, R. A. i f . , was organized with 10 members in 1866. I t s first high-priest was Milo Clark. The membership at present is about 40, and the High-Priest, Ira D. Hull ; King, Jason Leonard D. Clark; Captain of Host, George pal Sojourner, Milo Clark; Royal Arch Captain, Henry Powers; Master 3d Veil, William H . Compton ; Master 2d Veil, L . W. Lewis; Master 1st Veil, Amos son; Sentinel, Peter Potts; Sec., G. H. Warren; Treas., Milo Clark. Bronson Council, No. 40, was organized about 1874, with Ira D. Hull as T. I. G. N . I t s membership ent is in the neighborhood of 25. T h e officers are: Thrice Illustrious Grand Master, Henry Powers; ous Grand Master, L. W. Lewis; Principal Conductor o f the Work, Joseph E . Pullman; Captain o f the Guard, Milo Clark ; Sentinel, Peter Potts. Among the Masons at Bronson and vicinity are a few Knights Templar. T h e s e are Milo Clark, I r a D. Hull, Leonard D Clark, Cyrus J. Keyes, B. J. Trigg, and John T. Holmes. T h e y are members o f Jacobs No. 10, K . T., of Coldwater, with the exception of Mr. Holmes, who belongs to Columbia Commandery St. Joseph ODD- F E L L O W S . Bronson Lodge, No. 227, 1 0 . 0 . F. , was instituted April, 14, 1874, with 14 members, o f which number 5 had taken their degrees a t Burr Oak, and mental i n organizing the lodge a t Bronson. T h e first principal officers were: Noble Grand, D. R. Sherman; Vice Grand, E. A. Gay; Recording Sec., A. F. nent Sec., Seth Monroe; Treas., Jason Shepard. T h e present membership is about 35, and the following are the present officers: Noble Grand, J. Q. Adams; S. Dennis; Recording Sec., J. 1'. Borton; Thomas James; Treas., T I I E BRONSON C O R N E T B A N D was organized in the fall of 1877, and at of 11 members, with Samuel Holmes as leader. time after its organization the band employed Charles Rogers, o f Constantine, St. Joseph Co., as teacher, and made rapid advancement under his tutorship. F o r the length of time i t has been it) practice i t has markably �228 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. M E T H O D I S T E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H . The first religious organization i n Bronson was formed by the Methodists about 1836, with Peter leader. G a b r i e l Smith, now deceased, was the preacher at that time, and organized the society. T h e old class was allowed t o lose its identity, the members uniting w i t h churches at Burr Oak and elsewhere, and for some years there was no Methodist organization i n the place. T h e present society was formed in 1857 b y Rev. John Clubine, its pastor at this time. I t was then a station on the Burr Oak Circuit, from the east half of which the cuit was formed i n the 11111 of 1866, at which time Rev. Mr. Doust was pastor. T h e r e are three on the circuit— a t Bronson, Batavia Centre, and i n the Shaw neighborhood, on the west line of Bronson township. The only house o f worship on the circuit i s t h e brick church at Bronson, which was erected i n 1871, the cost of t h e property, including sheds, parsonage, etc., being $5500. T h i s i s the first church t h e erected herd, their meetings having previously been held in the school-house or in Clark's Hall. A t the other two appointment, services are conducted in school-houses. T h e membership o f the Bronson society in March, 1879, was 86. A Sunday-school is sustained, with an ance of 62; S. S. Reed is superintendent. ship of the entire circuit is 112, and the pastor is Rev. John Clubine, who came with his father, John Clubine, from Pittsburgh, Pa., to St. Joseph Co., Mich., in 1836. BAPTIST CHURCH. The first Baptist society at Bronson was 1860, at the house o f Wildman Bennett, where the first meetings were held. T h e school-house was subsequently Ilse* as it was also by other denominations. T h e present frame church owned by the society was built in mer of 1864, those -mainly instrumental i n having being Mr. Bennett and his 2011, E l i G . Bennett. 0 . B . Nichols, although not a member, aided largely, and Dr. W. Byrns and Deacon D . M . Johnson were also prominent and influential members. T h e y are yet residing in lage. T h e first pastor was Elder Monroe, who charge about two years. T h e pastors since have been Elders Southard, Pease (now of Burr Oak), John Kelly, R o d a n , — Post, — Gay, and the cumbent, Elder William Remington, who came i n 1875. Elder Fish had preceded him for a short time The church has been repaired at considerable expense cimined, frescoed, and painted), and i n 1878 a was purchased of the Baptist Society at Coldwater, which cost, when new, $650. T h e present membership o f the church i s 152. T h e attendance a t t h e averages about 70, and the superintendent o f the latter is Wesley Dunn, whose wife is a daughter o f Wildman Bennett C O N G R E G AT I O N A L C H U R C H . A meeting to take into consideration the organization of a Congregational Church i n Bronson was held hall, M a y 7 , 1868, numerous delegates being present. COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . The church was organised in the eke/moon of the with five members, via., Mrs. Lobelia Waite, Shepard, Mrs. Harriet Nott, Mrs. Hirriet Fellows, and Mrs. Cornelia Babcock. A Congregational satiety ganized March 21, 1870, the first °Seers chosen being die following: Treasurer, Christopher G. Babcock; Clerk, F. A. Waite; Trustees, George F. Gillam, Reuben erts, Jason Shepard. T h e first pastor was Rev. J. ney, who had previously been in charge of • tion in Matteson township, the members of which the church a t Bronson upon i t s formation. Meetings in Matteson had been held in a school-house. aided in organizing the Bronson church, and was ten years. H i s successor is the present pastor, Rev. Frank B. Olds. T h e membership is now about 60. school i s sustained w i t h an attendance o f about 5 0 ; its superintendent i s John V . Allen. T h e present frame chapel, standing west o f the school-house, was built in 1872. T h e entire cost o f the property, including the lot ($200), was a trifle less than ST. M A R Y ' S C A T H O L I C C H U R C H was built i n the summer of 1877, during the pastorate of Rev. Father C . Curst, o f Coldwater. who has been i n charge about thirteen years. T h e lot on which the church (a frame building) stands, had been purchased a Meetings were first held i n a small building near the Bronson contains at present in the neighborhood of twenty stores of various descriptions, with the usual complement of shops, such as are found in a place of the size. T h e has a population o f nearly 1000. A s i d e from the manufacturing establishments already mentioned is tensive stave-factory near the depot, which turns out amount of work. T h e physicians of the place Among those who have imparted information, which has been woven i n t o the foregoing account, are Hon. Wales Adams, Jonathan Holmes and wife, James Ruggles, Mrs. Eliza Field, Milo Clark, Henry Powers. L . A . Rose, C. J. Keyes, Revs. William Remington, F. B. Olds, and bine, other members of churches and societies. George Farr, William H . Compton (town clerk), and numerous others whose names are not recollected. T o all are cere thanks. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. WALES ADAMS, the youngest son o f Eliakim Adams by his second wife, was born the 2d o f March, 1804. in Medway, Norfolk Co., Mass., twenty-five miles from Boston. H i s father Revolutionary soldier and died i n the fail o f 1808, aged fifty-four years. H i s mother died soon after. ian, who was a fatherly, philanthropic man, and deacon o f a Presbyterian church, sent him to a country three months each year, till he was sixteen years From that time (1820) till the spring of 1828 he �HISTORY OF B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . gaged in mechanical employment., most of the time chine-shops, constructing cotton machinery. F i n d i n g that the business was injurious to his health he abandoned i t and went to New York City, where he lived until the 2d WA L E S A D A M S . of September, 1830, at which time he started and reached Branch County about the middle of month. I n the winter of 1830-31, in company lard Pierce. they built a saw-mill, which was propelled by the water which meandered along the classic Prairie River. The saw-mill was located on the west half, of section 29, in town 7 south, range 8 west, in the town of Bronson. Since that time, for more than forty-eight years, the place he first settled has been JONATHAN HOLMES. In a volume composed principally of of pioneer families in Peterborough, N. H., mention of Nathaniel Holmes, the great-grandfather of man whose name appears above. H e and his (Hunter) Holmes, lived and died in Coleraine, Antrim Co., Ireland. T h e y were the parents of five children, one, Nathaniel, emigrated to America in 1740, :it Londonderry, N. H., where he married of the same place. -Their son, Deacon father of Jonathan—was the ninth of a family children, and was -born a t Londonderry, N. H., Sept. 5, 1759, the same year that witnessed the fall of of Quebec and the death of the gallant officers, Montealm. H e married Catherine Allison, daughter of Samuel and Janet McFarland) Allison. M r . Allison native of Londonderry, N. H., where he was born and his death .iceurred at Weathersfield, Vt., in 1809. H i s wife, also a native of Londonderry, died April aged seventyIn 1784, Deacon Nathaniel Holmes removed 2 2 9 borough, N. H., soon after his marriage, and there he and his wife continued to live until their death. H i s title o f " Deacon" was given to him from the fact that he held that position i n the Presbyterian Church. W h e n quite young he rendered much service during the war of the In 1775 he went out as a waiter to Lieut. to Cambridge, and after that to his own father-in-law, Maj. Duncan, o f Londonderry. I n September, 1776, urged by his brother-in-law, William Moore, t o enlist in Capt. Finley's company, Mr. Moore promising to pay as good as ten dollars per month. However, on the plea that his clothes were worn out. H i s Moore, overhearing the conversation, said, " Billy, nish the shoes and I will furnish the clothes." A s there were but two pounds of wool in the house, it was how she could do so. B u t the next morning were brought to the barn, and four early lambs shorn o f their fleece. T h e wool was colored, spun, woven, into clothing within twenty days, arid when Capt. Finley came through town on his way t o Saratoga, the young soldier was ready to join the company. H e and Mr. Moore made good his promise regarding man's pay. Deacon Holmes died in 10, 1832. H e and his wife were the parents children, of whom Jonathan Holmes, of is the youngest, his birth occurring at Peterborough, N. H., June 8, 1807. O n the 4th o f February, 1830, married to Jane F. Moore, who was born Feb. 8, 1810. She survived but a few monthsrher death occurring April 19, 1831. I n the winter following, on Dec. 24, 1831, Mr. Holmes married Mary Taggart, widow o f Cicero Robbe. She was born Oct. 10, 1807, and is now living with her husband in Bronson township. T h e i r children are six i n number, as follows: Mary Jane, born Oct. 15, ried Truman Surdam, June 1, 1854, and removed to fornia in 1856; had two children, Ellen A. and Emma A. Her husband died and she married William C. Dougherty, and is now living in Winona Co., Minn. J o h n T., born Dec. 4, 1836; married first to Helen McMillan, ceased; second, to Sarah Van Alstine ; now living father. H i s two children are Nat. Leeson and Byron Nathaniel, born Oct. 10, 1840 ; died Cicero J., born Nov. 13, 1844 ; living with his father. Sherman, born Nov. 24, 1848; died Aug. ence Amelia, born Dec. 16, 1853 ; married to sley, Oct. 21, 1874; now living south of her Their children are Walter Holmes and Jonathan Holmes lived on his father's farm borough until he was nearly twenty-nine years of age. T h e care of his parents devolved upon him, and most faithfully did he attend -to their comfort until the last sad rites had been performed for them and they were consigned to their final resting-place. A f t e r their death he sold and in company with his brother, Samuel Holmes, came to Michigan. T h e two purchased four hundred acres from Alfred L . Driggs, including the place where M r. Holmes now lives, the water power, and the sawDriggs bad erected. T h i s purchase was effected Me Holmes was twenty-nino years of age,--June Samuel Holmes never settled here. H e was �230 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . — in a machine-shop and cotton-factory at Springfield, Windsor Co., Vt., but subsequently returned to Peterborough, N. H., where Jonathan Holmes returned t o New Hampshire for his family, leaving the saw-mill i n charge of David Taggart, and arrived with them a t their home in the wilds o f the Peninsular State on the 19th of September, 1837. Samuel Holmes' son, David A . Holmes, assumed charge o f his father's interest i n the property in Bronson. I n 1839 a grist-mill was ready for use, and this was operated about thirty When Mr. Holmes came to this place but two acres had been cleared upon it. T h e nearest house to the that o f Amos Matteson, on the west shore Lake, in the township o f the same name. We s t w a r d i t was a complete wilderness until Burr Oak was reached, and the nearest house south or southwest was that o f Wales Adams. T h e Chicago road was the only one in borhood. T h e members o f the household were made familiar with the sight of' numerous bands of Indians, who encamped often on the banks of Swan Creek, and fished and hunted in the vicinity. T h e y were - and,fuiet, and no trouble was experienced with them a! any time. Politically, M r. Holmes i s a Democrat, his first vote having been cast for the electors of has served four terms as justioe of the peace. two visor, several as hi ,41 way eotutuis,sioner, etc. I I , reached t h e age of seventy-two years, forty two of' alibi, have been spent in his present home. H e is surrounded by comforts, the product of his untiring industry, in the quiet and serenity of a happy old age, one greatest Mrs. Holmes' great-grandfather, John Tagtart, in Ireland in 1720, and settled in Roxbury, he removed to Peterborou0, N. H., in 1752. H e died in Dublin, N . H . , in 1813, aged ninety-three. father, John Taggart, J r. , was horn i n Feb. 11, 1750, married Anna Barnes, removed to Dublin, N. H., in 1797, and died there Nov. 15, 1832, two years and nine months. H e was an ensign in the Revolutionary war. Her father, John Taggart, was born May 20, died Sept. 20, 1835, aged fifty- --sswkw=1010wals- G I R ARD. THIS township, which is designated by the survey as township 5 south, o f range 6 west., is situated upon the north border of the county, east of It is joined on the north by Calhoun County, and east, south, and west by the townships, respectively, of Butler, Coldwater, and Union, in Branch County. It has a uniformly level surface, yet to afford good surface drainage into its natural and lakes. T h e principal streams are Coldwater Hog Creek. T h e former flows from the lake of natne, and dividing in its course sections 29 and the township on the west border. T h e latter the town from the cast, and running in a general westerly direction, passes through the central part, and effects a junction with the former river, just over the border, i n Union township. T h e major portion of Coldwater Lake is situated within sections 29 and 32, while Vincent Lake lies mainly within section 4 . T h e lake surface i n t h e township comprises an area of about 650 acres. T h e soil is a gravelly loam, alternating occasionally with I t is very productive, easily cultivated, and annually reward the husbandmen for their toil. are chiefly engaged i n agricultural pun.uits, the cultivation o f corn, potatoes, fruits, and the various cereals being the specialties; and it is but fair to say that in the quality of its productions, and the it stands second on the list among Branch ships According to the census of 1874 (the latest) it total area of 22,562 acres, of which 12,740 were improved. and had a population at that period of 1313 inhabitants. THE PIONEERS In t h e summer o f 1828, the brothers Joseph C. and Richard W . Corbus. accompanied b y their tuother,* and the wife and seven children of Joseph C.. started troit,—the place of their nativity,—and, with 01heavily-loaded wagons, slowly wended t h e i r way to t h e southwest in search of a new home. T h e i r route led them along the Indian trail, afterwards known as the road." A f t e r passing Saline, but very few settlers were to be found. A t Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., was Jones. alone in his glory, and Moses Allen. the sole white inhabitant on Allen's Prairie. H e r e , on Sand Creek, and a short distance east o f Allen's. the Corbus family tled, and remained together Early in the spring of 1829, Richard W. Corbus, unmarried man, accompanied by his mother and Sarah Ann Corbu.s,t then a child of about seven years of * M r s . Sarah McCombs. S h e was one o f six o f the first Mctbmiisni formed in the Territory o f Michigan. Now k n o w n as M r s . Sarah A . Smith, and a resident o f Quincy, Mich. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . age, removed to the territory low known as Girard. T h e y located temporarily near the northwest corner of section 22, and thereby became the first white residents in ship The Pottatonlamic Indians had a small village on the prairie, about one-fourth of a mile east of the here for the first six weeks Corbus, his mother, and niece lived in an unoccupied wigwam i n the Indian village. During this time young Corbus had prepared a sufficient quantity of logs to build a log house, which was finally erected with the assistance of his Indian neighbors brother Joseph, who came over from Allen Prairie for that purpose. M I N . Smith relates that the Indians were very friendly to the early settlers, and freely divided of provisions with their newly-arrived white but for this timely aid, would many times have suffered fbr the most common necessaries of life. " O n the of the road, or near the northwest corner of section an Indian village of some twenty huts, and a house; opposite the village, on the north side of was a small cornfield, and near the creek, north of field, were f o u r apple-trees. T h e i r burial-ground was situated on section 15, about midway between residence of Mrs. B. I I . Smith and the corners of Girard village." The house built by Richard W. Corbus was situated upon section 21, near the present residence of Vanblarcom. H e r e he remained until the spring of 1831, when, having exchanged claims and property with Joseph, Richard returned t o Allen, while Joseph took up his residence in Girard. In October, 1830, Edward S. Hanchett settled tion 22, and Henry Van Hyping, of Medina, section 20. M r . Van Ilyning's wife was the first this life among those who settled upon the" West Prairie," and at her death he deeded one-half acre o f land t o the public for burial purposes. T h e plot i s now adjoins the grounds of the West Martin Barnhart, from Wayne Co., N. Y. , settled upon section 17, Jan. 1, 1831, and during the month of the same year John Parkinson, from Wayne, N. Y., settled upon section i t , Benjamin II. Smith 20, and the brothers Samuel and James Craig upon the same Joseph C. Corbus, his brother John Corbus, and John Cornish settled i n the central part, or on the rie," during the Benjamin I I . Smith was a native o f New Jersey. A t an early period of his life he removed to Wayne Co., N. Y. He settled i n Ypsilanti, Mich., in June, 1829, and from thence came to Girard i n 1831. H i s VIM the first female child born on the " West built the first framed house in the township during year of his residence, and, assisted by Abram Aldrich, built the first framed house in the city of Coldwater.. in company with J. W. Mann, Lyman Fox, and James B. Tompkins, built the first saw-mill, in 1837. H e se:rved his township in various official capacities, and was an active • The reader le referre.I to the general hietory for full particulars of the In.lista necupancy, etc. 2 3 1 participant in all matters relating to the public welfare. His widow and several NODS survive him, and of the township at the present time. M r s . B. H. Smith says that during the first years of their residence no grist-wills were nearer than White Pigeon, and that people very often ground their buckwheat i n a coffee-mill and pounded their corn, with which they made hominy. Subsequently, Benjamin I I . Smith, drich, and Martin Barnhart erected a small gristflog Creek, on the " West Prairie." J o h n the first Samuel Craig came from Morristown, St. N. Y. , and settled i n Allen, Hillsdale Co., Mich., 1829, his being the third fitfully to settle in that the spring o f 1831, together with his family and h i s brother James Craig, he removed to Gitsrd and settled upon the West Prairie. T h e family moved into a which had been partially completed by Henry Van Hyning the fall previously. W h e n occupied, it contained neither doors, windows, nor floor. H i s son, Samuel who was born Sept. 4, 1831, was the first white in the township; the second birth being that daughter o f Joseph C . Corbus, who was born Sept. of the same year. M r . Craig built the first log 1833, and to erect it required the strong arms of nearly all the inhabitants of Girard and Joseph C . Corbus and his brother John, with their families, settled upon the north part o f section 21 i n March, 1831. J o h n Corbus died about 1833, from an awkwardly-performed amputation, necessitated by an injury to his leg, received on a public conveyance, while from Detroit to Girard. T h e demise o f his but two weeks later than his own. Joseph C., or "'Squire Corbus," as he was more familiarly known, was of the township for many years, or until his death. H e was the first town clerk elected i n Coldwater township (1832), when its territory comprised the east half of the the county, and was also the first clerk elected township in 1834. I l e served in the latter as justice of the peace, for a score or more of years. Through his care and keeping a large portion of the records of the old township of Green are still preserved in the of Girard John Cornish did not purchase any land in He removed at an early day to Quincy, where prominent as one of the first settlers in James B . Tompkins came from Schoharie, Scholtaric Co., N. Y., and in the fall o f 1830 arrived Mich., where he remained until July, 1831, passing six months of this time in the wilderness, while following his occupation as a surveyor. A t the date last mentioned he removed to Girard, and bought 80 acres upon section 15, where he now resides, and the same number o f acres on section 22. H i s recollections of the Indians and the white families then residing i n t h e township are as follows: Upon the " West Prairie" were the families H. Smith, Martin Barnhart, Samuel Craig, Henry Van Hyning, and John Parkinson. U p o n the " East Prairie" were those o f Edward S. Hanchett, Joseph C. Cork's, John Corbus, and John Cornish. T h e Indians were itron �232 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . section 22, where they had some 1 2 o r 1 5 shanties, and about 8 acres of nice corn growing. A f t e r the removal o f the Indians their shanties were torn down b y the early settlers, and used to make shelters for their cattle. U p o n that portion o f section 15 purchased by Mr. Tompkins the squaws had planted four apple-trees. A year o r so h a d passed away after his settlement; many other white families were coming in; and the Indians had learned that at a day not far distant they were to be removed away, and forever, from the scenes of their childhood days, their village, and the beautiful little prairie they had ever considered as all their own. A fate they so touch dreaded very naturally exasperated them to such u degree that they determined to destroy the apple-trees, and all other things which they thought might be of value to the whites. M r . Tompkins was accosted by a neighbor one day, and informed that the squaws were cutting down his apple-trees. to the spot and found that three trees were into fragments, while a young squaw, with axe i n hand, and urged on by an older one, had already made an attack upon the fourth and only remaining tree. H e shouted to them t o stop. T h e y did stop, and then the old squaw began a noisy harangue and denunciation o f the whites; how the Indians had been cheated, their lands from them, and old squaw had not received a dress. I n the mean time several of the bucks had gathered around. Anger and hatred were depicted by face and gesture. T h e squaws demanded to be paid for sparing the tree. A t this juncture William McCarty came up, and as the Indian dialect he acted as mediator, and peace was once more restored b y Mr. Tompkins agreeing to give the squaws a certain amount of flour. In February, 1832, Mr. Tompkins proceeded seh and married. O n his return, via the Chicago road, he found H o g Creek so swollen by rains and a recent thaw that a t the point where he wished t o cross i t twenty-five rods in width. R e e d ' s tavern was and one-half miles east o f the creek, where married pair tarried overnight. M r . Tompkins relates that his financial resources were i n a just then, and he felt it incumbent on himself to cross and resume h i s journey homeward as early as possible. T o another unwilling guest at the tavern, who also wished t o cross, Mr. Tompkins proposed that a raft should structed, and thus ferry themselves and their effects to the opposite bank; the man assented, and until wife, horses, etc., were safely over. A t daybreak next morning M r. Tompkins was up and a t work on a raft, which was completed a few hours later. A trial made t o test t h e capabilities o f the craft, but the very instant they touched the opposite shore his off and made rapid strides towards Willson's Mr. Tompkins alone. S o o n , however, the mail-carrier from Bronson's Prairie rode up and volunteered his while at about the same time Benaiali Jones, with the mail from the East, appeared on the east bank, also D r. Enoch Chase. W i t h all :is:68611g, the crossing o f the mails, the female, and the horses b y swimming) was in Nearly half a century has elapsed since M r. Tompkins made Girard his home, and d e r * all these years ,1 a tinuous residence be has ever taken an b a k e pert and been prominently identified in all matters looking to the welfare of his township. H e was the first in the township (1834), and has served his townsman iu that capacity for a period o f sixteen years. H e resented his county in the State Legislature in 1854. In the fall o f 1831, William McCarty, of Wayne Co., Mich., settled upon section 15, and soon as the first sheriff of Branch County. Joseph Fowler, a soldier of 1812, from New York State, settled 21 at about the same time. Abram and Asa Aldrich, brothers, each with families of sons and daughters, came from Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Y., and located i n the town i n 1833. C h a u u m y Stephen H i c k o x also settled here a t about t h i s time. Among others who came in in years prior to Samuel and Christian Estlow, John Worden, John B . Mason, Lyman Fox, Stephen Birdsall, David Staunton, Timothy Robinson, the lust six all from Monroe Cu., N. Y. Allen Cobb, John Moore, Sereno B . Ames, David den, Thomas Brewer, William 1). Rose, Beal and John Strong. Iii the fall o f 1835, William Variblareom and his Joseph started from Andes, Delaware Co., N. Y., A11,1. a t ) a single horse and light wagon, drove the entire distance to Girard. T h e i r route was taken via Queenstown. through Canada to Detroit; thence along the Chicago road their point o f destination. T h e i r expenses during t h e journey amounted t o $14.42. Joseph asserts that t h i s amount would have been considerably lessened had they not fallen among thieves at the tavern kept by whose house was located on t h e Chicago road, near the line dividing Hillsdale and Branch Counties. I n a strong box, which was strapped upon the back part of young Vanblarcom had placed his wearing apparel; in fact. the major portion o f his earthly possessions were packed therein, as he had intended to remain in nently. D u r i n g the night some one broke open the box and stole its contents. T h e landlord tendered and, apparently, was much concerned and interested i n hunting up those who had committed the robbery upon his premises. M a n y people were then emigrating Westward over this road, and several families had encamped in the vicinity during the night-time. T h e tavernyoung Vunblareom that, beyond a doubt, some had stolen his clothing, and advised that he among their wagons. T h i s was done, but he met with no success. S o m e two or three days were passed in hunting for the lost goods, but nothing resulted other than their expenses at the hduse of the rascal who perpetrated the robbery himself. A f t e r viewing the country and concluding to settle his family here, the on his return to New York, accompanied by his was i n a condition worse than Joseph of old. H e had a coat, though i t was " o f many colors," while had none a t all. I n December, after outfit, Joseph began another journey t o Michigan. H e paid $5 to ride in a cutter with a man who was far as Eric, Pa. T h e remaining distance was ��tillibutot , RESIDENCLOF PFTE9 i . MANN, GIRARFI, B9ANC4 ._.-411111111111 �P1 MRS F' PETER I . MANN. PETER I . MANN was born in Mrs. Mann have had eight children, bane Co., N. Y. , Feb. 27, 1815. H i s are as follows: Catharine E . , who died a t five born in the same county. H i s great- years o f age; Mary, married t o John came from Germany, and settled i n Schoharie liams, merchant, a t Girard Centre; Jamb W. , County about 1711. M r . Mann's mother is of married t o Emma Prentice, farmer, near Girard Dutch and Scotch extraction, her ancestors having Centre; Belinda, married t o Lester Newland, also been early settlers i n Schoharie. H e r father living a t Coldwater; Mark, who lives a t home; was a soldier i n the Revolution. I n 1836, M r. Charles F. , who died i n infancy; Charles, who Mann's parents, himself, two brothers, and sister died i n infancy; and Nina, who lives with her came to Branch County, and settled in the town of parent Girard. M r . Mann lived with his parents His father died September, 1846. H i s mother, when he built the house where he now lives. J a n . Polly Mann, still lives a t Girard Centre, aged 13, 1842, he married Lavine, daughter of eighty-two, hale and hearty. P e t e r i s t h e only Elisabeth (Putnam) Grove, of Girard. remaining child who came here forty- parents emigrated from Herkimer Co., N. Y. , to ago. I n polities M r . Mann i s a Republican, Western New York, and from there to having cast his first vote for James G. the winter of 183.5-36, passing through Canada with 1840. M r . Mann owns four hundred a sleigh, and settling near Orangeville. M r . and acre) of finely �4 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . foot. T h e following spring (1836) William Vaublareow, —the father,—accompanied by his sons John, Abram, and William W., returned to the township and made nent During the years 1836-37 the population of ship was largely increased b y the arrival o f principally from the State o f New York. A m o n g them were Jacob W . Mann, from Schoharie Co., N . purchased a large tract of land. H i s sun, Peter I. Mann, is a most worthy citizen o f the township a t time. James Pierce, from Rutland, Vt., who drove his own team the entire distance. A . N. Bradley Crippen, from Jackson Co., Mich. A u r a and Rodney 0. Smith, brothers, f r o m Saratoga Co., N . Y . A b r a m Tompkins, Samuel Butcher, William Bidwell, William Barker, B. McDonald, William Olney, Backus Fox, George Rosecrans, Andrew Shaver, Levi Kingston. John Rose, John Abram, Robert Gorball, Benjamin P. Whitney, Samuel White, Moses Johnson, Elias Gage, Duncan 31e Vean,—the latter Cu., N. Y. James Pendill and Sanford Sherman, esee Co., N. Y. Daniel C. Bennett, from Jefferson Co., N. Y. James G. Gorball, Wayne Co., N. Y. Robert hark Co., N. Y., settled on section 10. James Monroe Co., N. Y. , settled on section 27, in 1840. Moses Tompkins settled on section 15, i n 1838. Philander Gould, from Steuben Co., N. Y. , settled on section 26, in 1840. George A . Russell, the first Cheshire, N. H., settled in 1844. D r . Moses the first resident physician, came from Co., N. Y., and located in the village in 1843. H e is in active practice at the present writing. Many worthy representatives o f those whom we have mentioned still reside here. T h e i r lands are in state of cultivation, and their farm-houses and indicate a degree o f taste, thrift, and prosperity which would astound the pioneers o f forty-five years they once more revisit the scene of their early toil and hardship FIRST L A N D E N T R I E S . The first purchase of lands of the United ment in township 5 south, of range 6 west, was 30, 1830, by Robert Clark, Jr., o f St. Joseph Co., Mich., and Edward S. Hanchett. Clark's lands were sections 15 and 22. Hanchett's upon 22. I n October of the same year Abram F. Bolton made a purchase upon section 15, Martin Barnhart upon 17, Henry Van Hyning upon 20, John Corbus and Hugh Campbell upon neetkon 21. During the year 1831, William McCarty, in purekme upon section 15 ; John Parkinson, the utem 1`4 a r, , l Bcejamin H. Smith and James 20. I n November of the same year Lot Gage, purchased upon sections 15 and 22; Maria Forid,r and C o r b u s upon 21. 'l'l, 6 , l I w l n , i a list —arra 11,zeri by ,eetionis-who made the first purchasea in the town4lip. T i o , land was bought pa, the niost part during the years from 1831 3 2 3 3 to 1838, and the list embraces the names of the owners of its entire area during that period: Section 1, 1836.*—John S. Rockwell, Jesse W. Doolittle, Jeremiah 0. Dennis, Sanford Sherman, Jacob Patterso Section 2, 1835.—Asa Aldrich, A. N. Sherman, Roswell Crippen, Erastus Allen, Section 3, 1835.—William Fraser, Daniel T. Olney. Section 4, 1835.—Abram Aldrich, William W. Mann. Section 5, 1835.—Thomas Dougherty, Asa mon H. White, Clinton Olney. Section 6, 1836.—Egbert N. Edmonds, ingham, Almon H. White, Daniel E. Lewis, Thos. Olney, Charles D. Smith, Section 7,1835.—Ezekiel Barnhart, Levi Grant, Thomas Dougherty, Section 8, 1834.—Asa Aldrich, Christian Eslow, Abram Aldrich, Asa White. Section 9,1835.—Jacob W. Mann, James B. Tompkins, David Stanton, Asa Aldrich, Harlow S. Wright, William Vanblarco Section 10, 1835.—Sereno B. Ames, Duncan MeVean, Jacob W. Mann, Robert Rowley, Linard Boon, David D. Whitney. Section 11, 1835.—Duncan MeVean, Frederick Turner, Hiram Barnes, Artetnus Humeston, Muses Johnson, Erastus Allen. Section 12, 1836.—Wm. N. Johnson, Elias Gage, Uriah Church, Nathaniel Swarth ou t, Sanford Sherman, Wm. Section 13, 1835.—Ezra F. Faxon, Archibald Lewis, Elias Gage, Moses Johnson, Thomas Olney, Asa White, Milo White, Wm. Section 14, 1835.—Win. D. Rose, Elder Taylor, Abram Tompkins, Frederick Turner, Artemus Swarthout, Samuel Section 15, 1830.—Robt. Clark, Jr., Abram F. Bolton, William McCarty, L o t Gage, James B. Tompkins, John Stron Section 16, 1837.—Aura Smith, Joseph Aaron P. Rose, Backus Fox, Harvey Spring, Franklin Barnes, Job Jordon, Benj. 11. Smith, E. Section 17, 1830.—Martin Barnhart, Benj. 11. Smith, Abram Aldrich, Section 18, 1831.—John Parkinson, Timothy Robinson, Abram Aldrich, Martin Barnhart Section 19, 1833.—A. and W. Aldrich, hart, W. Aldrich, E. S. Barnhart, Wm. Kelso, Content Smith, James Pendill, John Root., Wm. Rose, Hannah M. Allen Section 20, 1830.—Henry Van Hyning, Benj. James Craig, Samuel Eslow, Section 21, 1830.—John Curbus, Hugh Campbell, Maria Fowler, Smith Ic Corhns, Joseph C. Corbes, Jim. John Lyon, Section 22, 1830.—Edward S. Hanehett, Robert Clark, • Denotes the year the first purchase wee made apse each caution. �234 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Jr., Lot Gage, Stephen Hiekox, John 1Vorden, Joseph C. Corbus, Joseph Vanblarcom. Section 2 3 , 1835.—James B . Tompkins, Jacob W . Mann, Obetliah Downing, Ambrose W. Downing, Jonathan Taylor, Robert Gorball. Section 24, 1835.—Ambrose W. Downing, Marconi, Ezra T. Faxon, Jacob W. Mann, David R i l e y, Cephas W. Clapp. Section 25, 1836.—Lorenzo Winslow, George Nctliaway, Peries Lincoln, John Worden, John Abram, Jacob 0 . Birteli, Jehosaphat Gorball, Section 26, 1836.—Margaret Beckman, low, George Nethaway, John Cole, Robert Gorball. Section 27, 1835.—Beal H . Randall, Daniel Bronson, John Worden, Benj. P. Wright, Anthony renzo Winslow, Mason Chase, Aura Smith. Section 28, 1834.—Stephen Hickox, Allen Pierce, Lyman Fox, James B . Tompkins, John Moore, Daniel Section 2 9 , 1831.—Henry Va n H y n i n g , D a v i d B . Ogden, James Craig, Asa Aldrich, Allen Cobb, Thomas Brewer, John Moore. Section 30, 1833.—William Aldrich, Stephen Birdsall, Job Barnhart, Abram Aldrich. Section 31, 1833.—Asa Aldrich, Israel Hoag, Harris Aldrich, H. H. Aldrich, Lyman Sherman, Joel Woodard. Section 32, 1835.—Israel Hoag, William tavus Mason, Elijah Murray, Asa Aldrich. Section. 3 3 , 1836.—Oetavus Mason, E l i j a h M u r r a y, Philo Dibble, Joseph Vanblarcom, Samuel Kingston. Section 34, 1836.—Charles P. Dibble, George Turner, Cornelius Vanaken. Section 35, 1836.—Andrew Shaffer, Aura Fox, Lorenzo D. Crippen, Philo H. Crippen. Section 3 6 , 1836.—George Nethaway, Ly m a n F o x , George Rosecrans, David L. Hutchinson, Horatio roe, James H. Vanaken, Zelick W. Baker. CIVIL HISTORY. By an act of the Legislative Council o f the Territory of Michigan, approved March 7 , 1834, Girard was formed from Coldwater and Prairie River townships. Its boundaries originally, and the place for holding the first township-meeting, were by that act defined "Sscrom 9. All that part o f the eounty of Branch comprised i n surveyed townships 5 south, in ranges 5, II, 7, and 8 west, he ship by the panic of Girard, and the lirst township-meeting be held at the school-house in said township." We thus find that, beginning with the old Green,* Girard was the fourth township organized i n the * Until Juno 29, 1932, Green township included all the territory in the county o f Branch. T h e Legislative Council o f Michigan Territory, b y an a c t approved a t t h e date aforesaid, enacted a s fellows " All that part of the county of Branch known and on the survey of the United States as townships numbered 5, and fractional townships, south of the base line, in 5 and 6, west of the principal meridian, be a township by of Coldwater, and the first township.ineeting shall be held house of John Morse, in The remainder of the county was formed into a Prairie River, and the first township-meeting therein was county, and, until 1 8 3 6 , COntalited W i t h i n I s l i l u i t o t h e present towns of' Butler, 11irard, I itininn, Sherwood, including Colon, was set ofi as township in 1836, and Butler in 1838. The inhabitants, in the petition t o the ing for the foluation of a new township, sent forward the name o f Fairfield" as the one which suited Lenawee Comity, however, anticipated the ency it, this particular, and their representive then gested t h e name o f Girard, which was adopted. I t i s derived, no doubt, front the Philadelphia name was widely known at FIRST TOWN ELECTION. "Proceedings of the Erst annual township-mecting, held at the school-house i n Girard township, Monday, April 7, 1534, ance with the law organising said township. T h e meeting ganized b y choosing John Parkinson Moderator, and Joseph C. Corbus, Clerk, who were duly sworn according "The following-named town officers were then chosen James B. Tompkins, Supervisor; Joseph C. Corbus, Town Clerk Benjamin 11. Smith, John Parkinson, JOEL. Goodwin, of Highways; James G. Corbus, William Aldrich, Robert Waldrop, Assessors; James McCarty, Collector and Constable; Stephen Samuel Craig, Am Aldrich. Commissioners of Schools James Craig, Asa Aldrich, Overseers of the Poor; Benjamin H . Smith, James B. Tompkins, Joseph C. Corbin, Martin Barnhart, John spectors of Schools; District 1, Stephen Riches; District 2, Martin Barnhart; District 3, AEZ Aldrich, Overseers "Moved and carried that the Overseers of the Poor master '• Itesared, That for all wolves killed within the town. over four months old, there be paid one dollar, and for all under four moat cents " Ite.01,(1, That the next town-meeting be held at the house of Mr. Aldrich, at the mill. (Signed .1005 PARKINSON. JOSEPH C. "litres B. TOMPKINS, J. P." A t an election held in Girard township, April 4, 1835, for a delegate to the convention to form a tion, Lewis T. Miller received 15 votes, and Silas brook, TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Collector Supervisors. James 1834. James B. Tompkins. Joseph Lyman Aldrich. 1835. " Beal II. Randall. 1836. ° Aura Smith. R o b e r t Gorball. 183 Joseph C. Corbus. R o d n e y O. Smith. 183 Treessit Sorn L. 1539. Martin Barnhart, Mason 1840. James B. Tompkins. Peter " 1841. " A u r a Aura 1842. " 0 Daniel 1843, J o s e p h Robert 1844. " 1845. " 1846. Martin BarnbarL H a r v e y L. Ward,. 1847. Elias Gage. D a n i e l T. Olney. 184g. James B. Tompkins. Peter I. Mann. 1842. Sol. L. Lawrence. Joseph C. Cortina. i 4 1850. Aura Smith. M o s e s 1851. James B. Tompkins. " 44 46 di I t 46 44 44I 44 be held at the house of Jabea Bronison. I n other words, the oast half of the oounty was formed into a town eilled Coldwater, and half was Prairie River �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . Supervisor.. T o w n Clerks. T r e a s u r e r s . 1852. A u r a Smith. J o s e p h C. Corbin). J o s e p h Hudson. 1853. " S t e p h e n D . Rainier. 1854. " " J e r e m i a h H a r d i n g . D a v i d Chauncey. 1855. " ' • J e d e d i a h Tompkins. George B. Johnson. 1836. James B. Tompkins. S. B . Corbus. A Z 4 L Perry. 1857. " C h a r l e s I I . B u r r. M i c h a e l Shannon. 1s5S. A . It. D a y. J e d e d i e h Tompkins. 1859. Ambrose B a l d w i n . P h i l a n d e r George. M i c h a e l Shannon. 1860. A u r a Smith. 1861. " l • 1862. Enos T. To d d . 4 A. C. Williams. 18113. " 1844. " A . J. Chauncey. M i c h a e l Shannon. 1865. " • • 1866. J . C. Pierce. J . It. Williams. C . A . Tompkins. 1867. " " D a n . S. Vanblarcom. Sherman Osborn. 1868. Ambrose Baldwin. J . B. Williams. J a m e s E. Perry. 1869. George W. Tanaka°. 1870. " a d 1871. " 1872. 1873 1874. " 1875. 1876. 1877 1 1878 " di A. C. Williams. G a o l S. Vanblarcom. Cassius H. Brown. Stillm'n E. Lawrence. Wm. S. Vanblarcom. 4 4 4 James E. Perry. 1 Id JUSTICIGI O T T O E P E A C E . 1819. A l l e n Cobb. 1830. J o , p h C. Corlms. Ambrose Baldwin. Joseph Spenoir. 1851. A l e x a n d e r Lailow. Alexander C. Williams. 1452. A l e x a n d e r C. Williams. 1433. Ambrose Baldwin. 1851. E n o s T. Todd. Allen Sheparilsim. Joseph Iludson. 1854. Allen C. Shepardson. John H . Clements. 1856. John Demarest. Joseph 1857. Ambrose Baldwin. 1858. Enos T. Todd. 1959. Allen C. Sbepardson. 1860. Jedediah Tompkins. 1861. Philander George. 1862. Enos T. Todd. 1864. J . D . Smith. 1865. J . C. Pierce. 1866. Enos T. Todd. 1867. A . R. D a y. 1868. Allen C. Sbepardson. S. E. Spencer. 1869. Sylvegter E. Spencer. Ames Markham. 1070. George A. Russell. 1871. A . L . Smith. John Wa l k e r. 1872. A . H . D a y. 1873. A m o s Markham. 1871. h e n r y Pierce. C. E. Peer. 1873. Jonathan D . Smith. 1476. A m a s s R. D a y. 1077. Reuben A . M i l l i g a n . 1878. George A . Russell. C. E. Peer. Roads.- T h e following is the description o f the first highway laid out by township authorities: " Commencing at the county line at the corners tions 33 and 34, township 4 south, range 6 west, tions 3 and 4 of township 5 south, range 6 west, and runs thence south on section line nine miles to the corners of sections 15, 16, 21, and 22, of township 6 south, range 6 wes "Surveyed by J. B. Tompkins, July, 1831. W i l l i a m H. Cross and Edward S. Hanchett, Highway of the township o f Green, St. Joseph Co., Territory o f Michigan." Railroad- T h e road-bed o f the proposed Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad enters front the south, and intersecting sections 33, 28, 21, 16, 9, 8, 5, and 6, leaves i t near the northwest corner. , T h e work was performed i n 1872. Residents o f Girard b y subscriptions paid in about $17,000 to assist in struction Ditches.- O f late years a system o f ditching inaugurated, which has greatly increased the value The work is superintended by a drain is elected S TAT I S T I C A L - I 1838. Joseph Vanblarcom. Martin Barnhart. 1839. Solomon I,. Lawrence. Benjamin H . Smith. 1440. James B. Tompkins. Peter I . Mann. Abram Vanblareion. 1441 J a m e s B. To m p k i n s . Joseph Veliblareom. Cornelius Vanaken. 1842. J o b s B . Clement. V s = Tompkins. 839-1874. A comparative statement of the number of acres owned and improved, live stock, etc., of 1839 1839 ooloossorvens o r HIGHWAYS. 1834. B e n j a m i n I I . Smith. John Parkinson. Justus Goodwin. 1835. N a t h a n Sargent. Benjamin I I . Smith. Abram A l d r i c h . 1836. H a r r i s Aldrich. John Warden. Benjamin I I . Smith. 1837. A . N . Bradley. Boohoo Pox. Cornelius Vaniiken 1857. J o h n H . Clement. 1858. R o d n e y 0 . Smith. 1859. Backus Fox. Sylvester E . Spencer. 1860. B a c k u s F o x . 1861. Ambrose Baldwin. 18112. A l l e n C. Shepardson. 1863. S . E. Spencer. 1864. Ambrose Baldwin. 1865. J . D . Smith. 1866. A l l e n C. Shepardson. Sylvester E. Spencer. 1867. A m b r o s e Baldwin. 1868. Sylvester E. Spencer. 1869. A l l e n C. Shepardson. 1870. Ambrose Baldwin. 1871. W i l l i a m Rose. Dueler Barnhart. 1872. D u r f e e B a r n h a r t . 1873. C u r t i s Prentiss. R. F. Parker. 1874-77. Prosper C. Johnson. 1878. I r a L . Nye. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. John B . Williams. J a m e s E . Perry. James E . Perry. W m . S. Vanblarcom. 183 L James B. Tompkins. 1836. James B. To m p k i n s . John B . Mason. Joseph C. Corbin. 1837. James B. Tompkins. 1838. Joasph C. Corbus. 1839. Allen Cobb. William Aldrich. 1840. Cornelius Vanaken. A. N . Bradley. 1,11. E l i a s Gage. 1812. Joseph C. corbus• A. N . Bradley. 1,14. . \ II.in Cobb. Pi ter I . Mann. 1,13. .trobrose Baldwin. George W. Stray. 1,46. Joseph C. 1817. P h i l i p Mandie.ister. 1814. Thomas F.. champion. 1842. I l a r r i s A l d r i c h . 1844. J o h n I I . Clement. Elias Gage. Joseph Vo 1845. L e v i Butler. Henry Pierce. Cornelins V Limit ken. 1846. P h i l a n d e r Gould. Joseph Vanblarcom. 1847. Joseph C. Corbus. George W. Stray. David C. Gould. 1848. A b r a m To m p k i n s . David C. Gould. 1849. D a n i e l Cornell, J r. 1850. R o d n e y 0 . Smith. Alexander C. Williams. 1851. A b r a m Tompkins. 1852. J a i n . Spencer. 1853. Robert Goebel'. 1854. E d w i n Wheeler. 1855. James Spencer. I r a Markham. 1856. W i l l i a m Babcock. 23 Martin Barnhart, 3115 acres w i l d land, 85 improved, 4 h o r s . . John Parkinson, 215 acres wild, 25 improved, 1 horse, I wagon, 3 cows J a b . Aldrich, 110 acres wild, 70 improved, 1 horse, 1 wagon. Harris H . Aldrich, 160 sores wild, 2 horses, 1 wagon, Heins Aldrich, 2110 acres wild, 40 improved, I on, Samuel Butcher, 2 cows. Stephen Birdsall, 7 2 acres wild, 8 improved, 1 wagon, 2 oxen, 2 COW Benj. Fl. Smith, 320 acres wild, 120 improved, 4 berms, 1 wagon. oxen, William Bidwell, I borne, I wagon. �236 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O I : N T Y, M I C H I G A N . D. I t . Ogden, 38 acres w i l d , -1 i m p r o v e d , 2 Cows. Ass A l t I r i c h , 6 8 0 acres wild, 80 i m p r o v e d , 3 horses, 1 wagon, 4 oxen, 3 cows. Ly m a n A l d r i c h , 130 aeres a i l l , 311 improved, 2 oxen, 3 cows. bared H o a g , I A acres w i l d , 2 horses, 1 w a g o n , 2 cows. Samuel E s t l o w, 102 acres w i l d , 8 i n t r o , rut, 2 cows. W i l l i a m A l d r i c h , 385 acres w i l d , 15 i m p r o v e d , 1 h o r s e , 1 w a g o n , 2 oxen, 1 cow. W i l l i a m B a r k e r, 85 acres w i l d , 9 i m p r o v e d . Number o f pounds o f f r u i t dried fee moduli, 1 5 7 3 4,rrels e i d e r made pounds maple- s u p : Horses over one year old, 1874 ......... ...—.... ..... Mules Wo r k -oxen Milk r o w s Cattle o t h e r than cows a n d oxen Swine over s i x m o n t h s old Sheep " Sheep sheared, 1873 34,T/5 417 4,011 708 I' NI 403 1,017 3,843 3,740 D a v i d Stanton, 80 acres w i l d , 2 horses, 1 c o w. VILLAGES. Samuel and J a m e s C r a i g , 130 acres w i l d , 70 i m p r o v e d , 2 wagon, 2 oxen, 15 cows. J o h n Strong, 120 sores w i l d , 3 cows. Dennis D a y, 2 cows. A l l e n Cobb, 120 acres w i l d , 2 oxen, 1 cow. B. M c D o n a l d , 2 cows. Christian E s t l o w, 200 acres w i l d , 2 oxen, I cow. W i l l i a m E l d r i d g e , 160 acres w i l d , 2 horses, 1 wagon, 2 oxen, I cow. W i l l i a m Rose, 110 acres w i l d , 10 improved, 1 wagon, 2 oxen. Chauncey Barnes, 80 acres w i l d , 1 horse, 2 oxen, 1 c o w. M. B . B a r n h a r t , 170 acres w i l d , 1 wagon, 2 oxen, 1 cow. J o h n W o r d e n , 1 0 0 acres w i l d , 2 i m p r o v e d , 3 horses, 1 w a g o n , 3 Cows. John Moore, 120 acres w i l d , 2 horses, 1 w a g o n , 2 oxen, 3 cows. Thomas Olney, 840 acres w i l d , 2 horses, 1 w a g o n , 2 cows. Backus F o x , 80 acres'wild, 2 horses, 1 w a g o n . B. I I . R a n d a l l , 80 acres w i l d land. Stephen H i c k o k , 120 acres w i l d , 2 oxen, 2 cows. James Pierce, 240 acres w i l d , 1 wagon, 2 oxen, 1 cow. Heorge Roseerans, 40 acres w i l d , 1 c o w. A u r a Smith, store a n d goods, valued a t $880. Rodney 0 . S m i t h , 80 acres w i l d land. Cornelius Va n a k e n , 240 acres w i l d , I wagon, 2 oxen, 3 cows. A n d r e w Shaver, 200 acres w i l d , 1 wagon, 2 oxen, 2 cows. Joseph C. Corbus, 154 acres w i l d , 44 improved, 2 horses, 3 cows. The village o f Girard oocupies a central position in the township. I t is built upon the corner of sections 15, 16, 21, and 22, and i s on the line of the Coldwater and L a k e Michigan Railroad, six miles due north from Coldwater. I t contains three (Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, and Free-Will Baptist), three stores of general merchandise, a poet-offiee, a daily mail, a district school-house with two dep,rtusm.,. several small mechanic-shops, and about 15(1 inhabitant,. The first settlers on o r near i t , site were Itiebard Edward S. Hatichett, who erected the first frame the township, on the northwest corner of section 22. J o h n and Joseph C. Corbus, William McCarty, and James B. Tompkins. A u r a Smith located on section 16, and sold the first goods i n the township, about 1837. the first physician, came i n September 1 9 , Clizbe has been a resident physician since 1870. D r t , . Arnold, Coleridge, Burnham, Allen, Brewster, have also practiced here at John B . Mason, 160 acres w i l d , 2 oxen, 1 cow. Jacob W. M a n n , 965 acres w i l d , 35 i m p r o v e d , 1 w a g o n , 4 o x e n , 3 cows. Joseph Va u b l a r c o m , 160 acres w i l d , 2 horses. Abram Va n b l a r c o m , 150 acres w i l d , 10 improved, 1 cow. John Va n b l a r c o m , 160 acres w i l d , 2 horses. W i l l i a m Va n b l a r c o u s , 6 1 0 acres w i l d , 5 0 i m p r o v e d , 1 h o r s e , 2 wagons, 4 cows. L e v i K i n g s t o n , 2 horses, 1 w a g o n , 1 c o w. James B . To m p k i n s , 3 0 5 a c r e s w i l d , 2 5 i m p r o v e d , 2 horses, 1 wagon, 2 cows. J o h n Rose, 80 acres w i l d h i n d . Robert Gorball, 120 acres w i l d , 2 oxen. L y m a n F o x , 4 0 5 a c r e s w i l d , 2 5 i m p r o v e d , 2 horses, 1 w a g o n , 2 oxen, 3 cows. John Corbus' estate, 115 acres w i l d , 45 acres i m p r o v e d . B e n j a m i n P. W r i g h t , 40 acres w i l d l a n d . Peter I . M a n n , 160 acres w i l d land. A d d i c t B r a d l e y, 200 acres w i l d , 2 oxen, 1 c o w. Roswell Crippen, 73 acres w i l d , 1 c o w. Joshua W h i t n e y, 475 acres w i l d , 1 w a g o n , 2 oxen, 1 cow. A b r a m To m p k i n s , 240 acres w i l d , 2 oxen, 2 cows. Samuel W h i t e , 80 acres w i l d , I cow. Moses Johnson, 120 acres w i l d , 1 wagon, 2 o x e n . A r c h i b a l d Lewis, 80 acres w i l d , 2 oxen, 1 cow. Elias Gage, 200 acres w i l d land. 1874 Population 1 , 9 1 3 Number of farms 2 7 7 0 a c r e s i n f a r m lands 2 2 , 5 1 8 " o f w h e a t g r o w i n g , June, 1874..... 3 , 7 7 6 " h a r v e s t e d , 1873 3 , 0 7 3 corn 1 , 7 3 3 bushels o f w h e a t " 1 4 4 1 , 2 7 4 corn " C I 5 7 , 6 7 8 w a l l other grain, 0 2 7 , 7 1 2 II p o t a t o e s , 7 , 7 5 3 tons b a y , , . 2 , 0 7 4 p o r d e w o o l sheared, 0 1 5 , 2 6 0 p o r k marketed, " 1 7 4 , 8 3 2 cheese made, w 2 4 , 4 0 8 butter made, " 7 S , 5 9 0 SCHOOLS. I t is stated by early residents that the first in the township was situated near the northwest corner of the village, and was built about 1832 or 1833, and that the first teachers were Miss Laura Tibbetts; and John The following is the earliest written record we can find concerning " A t a meeting of the inhabitants o f school district No. 1, in the town of Girard, called for the purpose o f taking action in regard to building a s,11,..1-1,,u•.. son was elected moderator, and J o h n B . M.L,, .11 clerk. whereupon i t was voted t o build a school-bow,. 2 0 feet long and 18 feet wide, said hello, to be 'wilt a n d erected on the northwest corner of lauds new bel,,ning John B. Mason. T h e building is estimated 1‘; c,st “ G i t t x r u i , N o v. 19, 1834." The following statistics are gathered from the report o f the board of school inspectors, made Sept. 1, 1872': Whole N o . o f districts a n d parts o f districts Number of whole d i s t r i c t s part, t • 4 " O w I a 1 4 " fraito.1 Va l . . i . r . ......... . . . . . . . . . . . : s s s 9 r , 111 , I l l p 11111111 , 1 , 1 1 1 1 , 1 1 , 1 1 1 . • i i V g : Ntio,l ' ' c i 1t5,.1,4 ii,te44.11t r, • ' 11 . ' - I h d u r i n , , . . t . the N a n d . , I c t a a t o ttaoh. e t n p l o p • t i d , n t o L I l h r • �HISTORY O F BRANCH C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Aggregate n u m b e r o f m o u t h s t a u g h t b y m a l e teachers.. 2 9 1 Aggregate number o f m o n t h s t a u g h t b y female teachers 6 0 1 Amount o f salary p a i d t o male teachers $ 1 1 1 9 . 7 5 salary p a i d to female teachers 7 6 4 . 3 0 Total amount p a i l to teachers $ 1 8 5 4 . 2 3 Whole number o f volumes i n township l i b r a r y 2 3 6 61. " a d d e d during the year. 2 8 Amount o f fines received from county t r e a s u r e r Amount p a i d f o r hooks for township library $ 3 3 , 5 1 , Total receipts for the year, including en,ls on hand Sept. 2, 1577, two- m i l l tax, p r i m a r y school fund, tuition o f non-resident scholars, a n d d i r e c t taxation $ 3 2 6 6 . 6 6 PATRONS O F H U S B A N D R Y. Girard Grange, No. 136, P. o f I L , was organized b y Grand Deputy C. L. King with 60 charter members. Nov. 25, 1873, and the following officers were duly chosen by ballot and installed for the year 1373 : G. W. Vanakin, Master; G. A. Russell, Overseer; S. E. Spencer, Lecturer; G. W. Jones, Steward; T. L . White, As.st. Steward; R. B. Hollinbeck, Chaplain; Amos Markham, Treas. ; A . L. Smith, See.; J. M . Baldwin, Gatekeeper; Mrs. G. W . Vanakin, Ceres; M r s . I . L . Nye, Pomona; Miss Eva Paddock, Flora; Mrs. J. M. Baldwin, Lady The grange has elected the same Master each succeeding year to and including the The following persons compose the board of officers for the year 1879: G . W. Vanakin, Master; I t . F. Parker, Overseer; G . W. Jones, Steward; Warren Walker, Asst. Steward; J . M. Walker, Chaplain; S. E. rer; Wm. V. Worden, Treas.; A . L . Smith, Sec.; M. Dyon, Gatekeeper; Miss Ida Vanblareom, Ceres; Miss Cynthia Downs, Pomona; Miss Adic Phillips, Flora; Mrs. J. M . Baldwin, Lady Asst. Steward; G . L . Palmer, Business Agent; B . H. Smith, Chorister; G . Asst. Chorister; Miss Eva Number of present members, 102. The grange meets i n the Girard Union town-hall on Wednesday evenings once in CHURCHES. METHODIST E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H . The Methodists were the first to hold meetings of ligious character in this township. A s early as '32, meetings were held at the residence of John Cornish, and in the school-house in later years. A t the pioneers listened to the preachings of Rev. Mr. Colelasure, and other circuit preachers, as to several o f their own local preachers, John being among the The organisation o f the church as it exists toback t o about the year 1840. T h e records kept complete and meagre. F r o m them, however, we learn that the first board of trustees was composed o f the following members: Lyman Fox, Mason Chase, Joseph John Parkinson, Lyman Aldrich, Benjamin I L Smith, John The first church edifice was erected in the costing not far from $1090. L e v i Butler, one of the first members, was the builder, and Rev. Mr. during the • 2 3 7 The circuit in which the Girard charge was situated, thirty-five years ago, embraced the following East Girard, \Vest Girard, Bronson, Clizbe's Brooks School-house, York's house, Branch, Day's, and Union The first quarterly conference for the was held at the Girard meeting-house, Nov. After the usual exercises, on motion, Joseph was appointed secretary. T h e following names are marked "p,' were present: A. M. Fitch, P. E., p.; W . E. Biglow, I'. C., p.; Jacob Hamlin, Ex., son Chase, C. L., p.; E . Barker, C. L., p.; S . L., p.; John Reynolds, a. ; D. Powers, a.; Abram Smith, p.; Elisha Day, p. At this conference the following persons stewards of the church : Lyman Fox, Hiram Clizbe, John Parkinson, David Powers, Jesse Brooks, Joseph and John The following receipts were reported to this East Girard, 88.45; West Girard, $14.35; $1.00; York House, $0.00 ; Bronson, 80.00; Clizbe, $0.00; Public Collection, The settlement of the board of stewards with Rev. W. E. Biglow, at the close o f the same year (1846) was as follows: "Quarterage, $216; table expenses, $50; house-rent, $10; moving and fire-wood, $29." Mr. Biglow has been succeeded by the pastors: Revs. D. C. Jacokes, 1847 ; H . Penfield, 1849; V. G. Boynton (who was promised, in addition to salary, " a glorious good donation"), 1851 ; Nathan Mount, 1853; Noah Fassett, 1855; I . I . Buell, 1857 ; I . N. Thomas, 1858 ; I . Taylor (the Chrysostom of Conference), 1859; T. J. Hill, 1860; George Lee, 1861; J. J. Clubine, 1862; T. J. Congdon, 1864; 1865 ; I . Taylor, 1867; W. H. Ware (the 1868; A . A. Dunton, 1869; F. Gage, 1871 ; E . H. Day (who, because of his genial qualities, remained 1872; W. M. Paddock, 1875; and W. M. Colby, ent pastor, The church edifice was repaired in 1848 at a cost o f about $700 ; and again in 1876, making i t substantially a new structure, at a cost of $3000. I t has sittings people, which are a l l taken. T h e present membership numbers 160. Number o f pupils in SabbathIra Nye, Sunday-school Superintendent. M r . George W. Stray served as superintendent o f Sabbath-schouls for a period of THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. The first meeting of this society was held at of William Vatiblareom, in Girard, Wednesday, June 8, 1851. Those present formed themselves into a looking to the formation of an independent church. R e v. Edwin Eaton, o f the Coldwater Church, offered prayer, and delivered a brief discourse as to their ilutirs. T h e ' T h e i r 111 . 11111 - $ I V el . a . 4 1 1 1 w , . . ' a r d i l m , o m , M. Waldo, George B. Johnson, Amass R. Day, E . T. Todd, Mary Smith, Harriet C. Day, Sarah Burr, Mary �238 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I CI! Pi Vanblaremn, Matilda B. Waldo, A l v i v a Todd, Eunice L. Burr, and Mary Olney. E. T. Todd was the first deacon elected, and remains as such a t t h e present time. D u r i n g the first year existence, Elder Eaton preached to the society once in four weeks; R e v. John Sage was called i n Daniel Peace came 1862 ; Thomas Robinson, 1863 ; I I . C. Beals, 1868; William H . Prentiss, 1870; A . M . Buck, 1872; William Remington, 1874; J . H . Crooker, 1875; and E. R. Clark, the present pastor, in April, 1878. Soon after the formation o f the society M r. William Vanblarcom bought the old district school-house l i i r the sum of $300, and presented i t t o the church. I t paired, reseated, and, until the partial completion o f the new church-edifice, was in use as their house The lot on which the present church edifice is purchased o f H. E. Carle, i n October, 1872, at a cost o r 8200. N o v . 27, 1875, E. T. Todd, Reuben Milligan, and J. J. Hudson were appointed a building committee, " t o mature and carry out plans for building a church edifice." The structure was commenced i n 1876, and at time the exterior and basement story only are completed. I t has cost thus far about $2000. P r e s e n t membership, 40. N u m b e r o f scholars i n Sabbath-school classes, 50. Mr. 0 . L. Smart, Sunday-school superintendent. FREE—WILL B A P T I S T C H U R C H . This society was organized M a y 10, 1849, by Elders Elwood, Whitcomb, and J. J. Wilkins. T h e bers were thirteen in number, as follows: L . Y. Limbocker, Diadatua Limbocker, John Loring, Mary Loring, N . M. Millard, Cynthia Millard, Charles Lane, H e n r y Aurend. Matilda Aurend, Alexander Ladow, John Smart, Anna Cutler, and M ary E . Cutler. T h e present church edifice was erected i n 1856. I t cost, with bell, $1600, and has sittings for 225 persons. T h e building of Elder Elijah Cook, James B. Tompkins, H. Coddington, A. hoard, and S. Kingston. Their first pastor was Rev. J. J. Wilkins, four years. H e has been followed i n subsequent years by Revs. Elijah Cook, L . B. Whitcomb, F. P. Anger, E . G. Chadock, I I . E . Whipple, M . R. Kenney, E . J. Reville, and Elder Morey. The society is small in numbers, and without a pastor at the present writing. Our acknowledgments are due to Hon. James kins, Peter I . Mann, Joseph Vanblarcom, D r. Moses E . Chauncey, Rev. W. M. Colby, A . R. Day, Henry E. Cade, N. M. Millard, James E . Perry, Mrs. B. H. Smith, Mrs. S. A . Smith ( o f Quincy), the Misses Craig, and many others, t o a l l o f whom we desire t o return o u r sincere thanks for the valuable information derived from them. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. DR. MOSES E . CHAUNCEY. Among the prominent physicians f o r whom Branch County Is noted, none occupy a more than Dr. Moses I.:. Chauncey. A residers* of six years in Girard, during which time he has engaged in the duties of his profuries, hos mut demonstrated his ability as a physician, but his worth as a citize He was born in Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 1809. H i s parents were New England people, settlers in Saratoga. M r . Chauncey lived at them on the farm summers, and attending acquiring a fair education. I n the winters of 1842 and 1843 he attended the Albany Medical with honor, and afterwards graduated a t the Cincinnati Eclectic He came to Girard, Mich., Sept. 19, 1843, menced practice immediately. H e married ter of Abraham and Sally (Cook) Hudson, of Galway, N. Y., who died Nov. 8, 1S1i4t. l i e married again in May, 1862. In politics Dr. Chauncey is a staunch Democrat of the Jacksonian type. HENRY PIERCE. Henry Pierce was born among the Green Mountain- o f Vermont, Dec. 5 , 1808, the eldest of ten children. H e accompanied h i s father, when a lad o f eight years, to Orleans Co., N. Y. , where they were occupied with farming pursuits. H e was married Nov. 9, 1834, to Mis:s Betsey. daughter of Silas and Lavinia (Clark) Beebe, don, Orleans Co., N. Y. M r s . Pierce was also a Vermont lady, having been born in Clarendon, in that State. M r . and Mrs. Pierce were lured b y the charms o f the West to emigrate, and in 1839 came to the township of Girard, and purchased forty acres of land on section 7, honie a t that point. T h e y have had three children. all of whom are now deceased. M r . Pierce passed through some interesting experiences during his early pioneer life. The land he purchased cost t w o hundred and fourteen dollars, and when paid for left him b u t fourteen dollars, the money being i n bills of a broken bank. F o r months they were reduced to one silver sixpence, all their cash capital. H e cleared twenty acres without a team, and the remainder with a pair of young oxen. L a t e r he disposed of his fart'', which contained one five acres, and moved to Girard Centre, in 1868. M r . and Mrs. Pierce are now in comfortable circumstances, joying in advanced years the result of their enterpris MRS. E L I Z A CRAIG. Among the pioneers of Branch County the nm f Mrs Eliza Craig, of Girard, deserves conspicuous mention. S h e was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Downes, born May 25, 1795, i n the county o f Armagh. Ireland. Determining to emigrate t o the new l'I'1111nry :icross the Atlantic, she sailed in Apra, 1821. and took up deuce i n Morristown, St. 1.,awrerwe C‘,.. N . V. W h i l e there she no arri,-,1 Samuel Craig, Deo. 2, 1!•, having a desire to explore the prairie land, they started for the West. and 6rst located in the township �DRNOSES E MRSELIZA w•fres w ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . of Allen, Hillsdale Co., two years later coining to Girard. Mrs. Craig enjoyed the proud distinction of giving birth to the first white male child in Girard, who was born the 4th of September of the same year. W e clip ing from a leading county paper, as giving a of the character of Mrs. Craig: " S h e him always upright, conscientious, Christian lady, joining terian Church in this city in 1843. S h e was a kind and considerate mother, an excellent neighbor, and whom all o f her acquaintances loved. S h e was specimen of the pioneer mothers of our county, and willing to extend a helping hand to the poor and God had spared her life to see the prairie that was her home for so many years become one of the 2 3 9 and fertile parts o f our county, dotted with and surrounded by schools and churches, whose bells rang out sweet music to this aged Christian mother. M a y her memory remain green in the hearts of all who knew her !" Mr. and Mrs. Craig had six children, namely, Janice, David, Daniel, Samuel, and Eliza. James and Daniel died the 28th of August, 1841, in Girard. Samuel died the 2d of January, 1856, in Eureka, Cal. remaining children are residents o f Girard, and live on property left them by their parents. Samuel grated from the same locality with his wife earlier, and died March 2, 1847. M r s . Craig at the time of her death had reached the good old age of year A L G A N S E E . ALOANSEE, designated i n the United States township No. 7 south, o f range No. 5 west, is situated upon the east border of the county, southeast water City. I t is hounded on the east by north by Quincy, west by Ovid, and south by townships in Branch County. Its surface is rolling, and well drained by creeks. O r i g i n a l l y i t was heavily timbered, except the southwest corner, where were found several of burr-oak The principal streams are known locally as Bickford Creeks, I leriving their names from those settlers. T h e former flows in a northwest course through the centre o f the township, and empties its waters into Marble Lake. T h e latter takes its rise from a situated upon section 27, and flows thence the southwest Bartholomew L i k e lies wholly within section 7, while Middle Lake and the southern part of' Marble portions of' sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. O t h e r are found upon sections 9, 23, and 27. T h e entire lake surfisce of the township includes an area o f about 700 acre The soil consists o f a sandy loam, intermixed with a dark vegetable mould. I t is of good quality, and in the amount and nature of its products compares favorably with other townships in FIRST LAND The first entries for lands in this township were Jedediah Jessup, o f Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. being the northeast one-fourth of section 30; ler, of New York City, bought all tsf section 1, and the north one-half of section 12, Nov. 9, 1835; past of peetions 31 and 32, Jan. 1, 1836; Nathan Austin, the same date, 160 acres of section 32; Luther acres on section 9, Jan. 6, 1836; and Ludovicus Robbins 720 acres on sections 15 and 22, Mar. The following list embraces the names of those chased of the government Section 1, 1835.*—Charles Butler. Section 2, 1835.—Allen Hubbard, Sumner & Clark, Jason Ransom, George Smith. Section 3, 1836.—Moses Hill, Jesse Hill, Elijah H i l l , Nelson N. Sprague, Sumner & Clark. Section 4, 1836.—Sumner & Clark, Zenas C. Conley, Ralph Grow, Zito. H. Hastings, Mary Ann Josep Section 5, 1857.— Section 6, 1836.—Eli Gray, Roswell J. Hayward, John Easton, Norman Barber, Alexander S. Berry, Charles W. Felt. Sec/ion 7, 1836.—Hiram Alden, Roswell J . Hayward, A. S. Moss, Sardis Johnson, Eli Culver. Section 8, 1836.—William S. Hawkins, comb, Sumner & Clark. Section 9, 1836.—Luther Stiles, James H . Hancliett, Ira S. Section 10, 1836.—Daniel Williams, Cicero Webster, Peter D. Post, Cornelius Post, Jr., Jacob Nichols, Isaac Ambler Section 11, 1836.—Abraham Phillips, Charles Powell, Sumner & Clark, Almon H. White. Section 1 2 , 1835.—Charles Butler, Charles Powell, Samuel H. Gale, Harvey Carpenter, Thomas Section 13, 1836.—Morris Crater, Lazarus Culver, Henry Phelps, William Johnson, • T h e figures denote the year the first purchase was each motion. �240 c t i l ' N T Section 14, 1836.—Abraham Phillips, Sumner & Clark. Section 15, 1836.—Ludovicus Robbins, William R. Hawkins, Sumner Section 16, 1849.—L. Section 17, 1836.—Richard Abbey, William Easton, Nancy Barber, Section 18, 1836.—Roswell J . Hayward, Sumner & Clark, C . B . Jones, John F. Packard, ford, Jasper Underhill, Section 19, 1836.—Orrin Wyllys, Benjamin Tindall, Azatu Purdy, Isaac George, Samuel M. Whitehouse, Oliver Fuller, Reuben Section 20, 1836.—John Ackerson, Philip Henry Buell, I I . D. Mudge, Anson Beardsley, Carlton V. Clark, Aaron Section 21, 1837.—William Prentiss, Eleazer Baker, Jonathan Bickford, H i r a m Thompson, Lucas Joseph, Aaron Simpkins, Benjamin Craig, Enos G. Berry. Section 22, 1836.—Ludovicus Robbins, Allen Hubbard, William R. Hawkins, Section 23,1836.—Allen Hubbard, Isaac Dougherty, Silas Crane, William Johnson, Isaac Section 2 4 , 1836.—James Patterson, Henry Phelps, Ezekiel Section 25, 1836.—James Patterson, Orange Dean, Jr., Ansel Nichols, Ezekiel Gardiner, Henry Phelps, David Johnson, Section 2 6 , 1836.—James Patterson, A. Mosely, Avory Farnham, William Lawson Coe, Harry Teal Section 27, 1836.—Joseph I t Williams, ner, Alvah N. Jones, Isaac Quimby, Samuel Mowry. Section 28, 1836.—Joseph R. Williams, Horace Purdy, Joseph Farrar, Silas Crane, Section 2 9 , 1836.—William Martin, Horace Purdy, Jesse Craft, Otis Wilter, David Tift, Benjamin mond, James Nichols, Isaac George, Benjamin Craig, Daniel Section 30, 1835.—Jedediah Jessup, William Martin, Orrin Wyllys. Section 31, 1836.—Asahel Brown, Samuel Mulhollen, Joshua Baker, Section 3 2 , 1836.—Nathan Austin, Asahel Brown, Thomas Section 33, 1836.—Thomas Pratt, Ezra S. Abigail Shumway, As:did Brown, Joseph Section 34, 1836.—Sumner & Clark, Joseph rence, Jr., Joseph W. Lawrence, Ezekiel R. Section 35, 1836.—Sumner & Clark, Ezekiel Gardner, Jesse Doyle, Orsamon Horton, Gideon Draper, Arunah Mosely, Charles Peaslee, Joshua Pridgeon, Carbon V. Clark, John Section 36,1836.—Rodolphus E. Knight, row, Ezekiel FIRST SETTLEMENTS. From the hest sources of inflirmation now obtainable, it is believed that Luther Stiles and Ludovico Robbins were the first settlers in the territory Y NlIt'11.1G.VN as Algatisee township. T h e y bad limited Life viously, had purchased their h o e et the geettilleillatillil erected, or caused to be erected, atit geokathetestatifig dwelling-house. Stiles' perdue, seaelleted i f P O elite upon section 9, and Bobbies of 560 s e m 15 and 22. Although not traveling together, the same locality, nor in ally way concerned as a curious coincidence, both moved their families into the township the Until after leaving the Chicago road the elder had the lead, but by his team becoming" mtalled,---a occurrence in those days,—Stiles passed hint, his domicile--which had neither floor, doors, — Mr. Robbins came from Erie Co., N. Y., and panied by some four or five sons. H e was a minister, a tall, muscular man, a devout Christian. and noted among the early settlers for his many Luther Stiles in the fall of 1836, iu partnership with Morris Crater, began the construction of a sawwas finished in February, 1837. T h i s was the first mill erected in the township, and stood upon the sit,. of the present old mill, known as the Tompkins saw-mill. During the year 1837, Stiles sold out his one-half interest in the mill to Crater, and removed from Morris Crater came from Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y. , and arrived i n the township t h e day after the Fourth of July, I did," 1836. H e p u r l ! - . 1 Lied- UlItsection 13, but after a period of about t u a n d removed to his present residence iu Asahel Brown, for many years the wie among all others in the township, came from Monroe Co., N. Y., and settled in Lenawee Co., Mich., in he remained for about four years, when, 800 acres of the government, situated upon sections 31,32, and 33, he removed his family to their July 3, 1836. H i s purchase was largely composed oak openings, easily brought into cultivation. and . i n t h e possessor of two strong yoke of oxen, seed, and sary amount of capital, which he had gained by the Sall' of his property in Lenawee, he was enabled to plow to wheat forty acres during the fall of 1836. I l e was the first supervisor of the township, and was re-elected, and served in that capacity for a period of twentyHe also represented Branch County in the State Lejslatnre and i n constitutional iirtentions, referenee t o which is more particulaily made in a 1.10g-raphtcal ing his John Ackerson, who purchased the first land tion 22, Came from the southern part o f Ohio. and a few weeks later than Mr. Brown. H i s son an adopted daughter, Katy, were the first to be married in the township. T h e y were married by Samuel Beach in the spring of 1837. I n S e p t e m b e r , 1 8 3 6 . 1 1 7 . 1 i r . 1 ' . . 5 1 1 5 1 t i • , 1 by his wife and two ville, Wyoming Co. o l e o Getikzee cu.), N. 1., and with an ox-team and wagon drove to B u d s ; Detroit the journey was aataapriabed by teemeilbut; Jaw w i t h t b u , i • 1111 , 1 1 1 • 1 w i , 1 . . . T. .101 1 1 . 1 1 I q r �'Mgr` • 4 ��HISTORY OF B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . where he arrived Oct. 7 , 1836. H i s under Mr. Ackerson's roof for five or six weeks, or could put up a log dwelling on the 80 acres occupied by him. Thomas Pratt, a brother-in-law of Mr. Brainard, had visited Michigan in the spring of bought of the government two 80-acre lots, 33, one for himself and one Mr. Pratt settled in the township about six than Mr. Jesse Craft and his step-son, James Nichols, came in during the same season, and sowed wheat upon section 29. But they did not settle permanently until the spring of 1837 David Till came from Niagara Co., N. Y., in settled first near Saline, Washtenaw Co., Mich., remained until the summer of 1836, when he removed to Kinderhook, in this county. I n the fall of the he sold out to John Waterhouse, purchased of ment 160 acres situated upon section 29 of and became a permanent resident soon after. H e the age of fifty-three years. During the war of lion, five sons, viz., Allison A., Albert J., B., and Roswell D., served in the Union army. Horace, a member of the 5th Michigan Cavalry, was starved in the Andersonville The year 1837 witnessed the arrival and Leonard Nelson upon section 13, Almon Nichols tion 25, Nathan Austin upon section 32, Horace Purdy upon sections 28 and 29, and Isaac George 19, 28, During the year 1838 the settlement was still further increased in numbers by the settlement of huff and Eli Gray, upon section 6. S e t h E. Samuel B . Hanchett, brothers, upon section 9 ; Barney Smith, section 13; Andrew Crater, a brother section 15; Jasper Underhill, section 31; section 29; S. L. Bradley, section 25; H. 25; Thomas Goodman, section 22; Jesse Doyle, tion 35, and George 'ift. Among other quite early residents who settled quent years were Jonathan Boyce, Roswell Jesse Doyle, Asel Withey, John Kenyon, Jonathan K . Bickford, Charles Bickford, James Nichols, Benjamin Craig, Ralph Bailey, Samuel T. Fales, Ebenezer T. Goodman, Sylvenns Clark, Harrison Scott, Carlton V. Clark, Benjamin Hobbs. Sylvester Fisher, Erastus Bradley, Thomas Clark, William Thomas Clark, Jr., Samuel M. Dennison, D. J. Sprague, John P. Pettibone, William Orton Thomas Clark, a soldier of 1812, accompanied sons and three dang,hters, came from Erie Co., N. 1833, and settled first near Amden's Corners, Ohio, where he remained three years. H e then Lagrange, Ind., and remained In 1841, William, one of the sons, settled Corners, in Algansee township. T h e following year the father and Thomas. Jr., came into the township. Thomas, Jr . worked for Nathaniel Fisher On,, year, and at piration of his time was assigned to take for his 3 2 4 1 acres of' land, where Samuel H. Keeler now resides. I n 1851 he sold out his farm and removed to dale Co., where he opened the first store in 1854. A f t e r a short residence in Van Buren County, he removed to Quincy village in 1860, and for some years in keeping an eating-house, also a drug-store, which he traded for the Barnes farm. T w o years later he farm for the hotel property where he now resides. H e built his present commodious hotel, "The in 1877, which supplies a want long needed in villag Francis D. Ransom, the first settler upon the tions which comprise the northeast corner of came from Elbridge, Onondaga Co., N . Y. , where he at present resides, in 1842. H i s on the north, for some years, was John S. Belote. J o h n H. Ransom, a brother, settled south o f him in 1847. Jason, another brother, had visited Michigan in purchased lands upon section 2, but did not settle until years later. Daniel Ransom, a fourth brother, settled in the same vicinity in April, 1842.. H e was killed in July following, by a tree falling Samuel H . Keeler, from Sterling, Cayuga Co., N . Y., settled upon his present place of residence in chasing of Dr. James A . Williams, the first resident physician in the township, came from Conquest, Cayuga Co., N. Y. , and settled where he now resides in 1854. H e is an honored and respected citizen in the.cominunity he is a member. H e has served his townsmen visor for a period of ten years, the county as of schools, and two terms in the State Isaac George built the first framed house. Frederick T. Gallup the first brick house, in 1873. Aaron the first store, in 1878. The Wakeman steam saw-mill was erected by his son, Eli Wakeman, in 1854. T h e y came Co., The grist-mill now in operation and adjoining mill, was erected by Eli and his son, Mortimer man, in 1878, at a cost of $5000. T h e structure modious, fitted u p with the best and machinery, and supplies a want long needed in ship. A s a comparison between the present condition of affairs and forty years ago, we here make mention of Mr. Andrew Crater's milling About 1840, grist-mills were few and at from many o f the settlements. T h e farmers blessed with an abundant harvest, grain was cheap, and the millers were unwilling to do work and receive pay the customary toll; they could make more flouring grain for shipment to distant markets. A s of their cupidity, many of them combined and do grinding for those living near them until such suited their convenience, or a lack of orders for flour sent abroad permitted. M a n y neighbors had visited the nearest mills only to return with their It became a matter o f necessity to Mr. Crater that he should liavc some flour and nieal, ned lie Ilmennitied to have it. I n the early part of the week lie placed �242 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH wagon some thirty bushels of wheat, corn, and buckwheat, and, w i t h an o x -team which he was wintering for their work, departed, after telling his family that he should not return until his grain was converted into flour. ceeded t o Coldwater, then to Branch and t o Girard, but was refused at each mill in succession. H e then journeyed on to Union City, where he met with partial success, the miller refusing to grind the wheat and corn, but not the buckwheat. O n his return homeward, and a bridge over the stream which connects Bartholomew and Middle Lakes, at three o'clock Sunday morning, his team and wagon broke through. B u t , as the bridge, a ture, rose b u t three o r four feet above the bed o f the stream, he was enabled, by throwing aside the logs, tricate his team, wagon, and precious load i n safety, and finally reached home all right, after an absence five or C I V I L H I S T O R Y. By an act of the Legislature of the State o f Michigan, approved April 2, 1838, Algansee was formed from Quincy township. T h e act was as follows: " A l l that portion of the county of Branch designated in t h e United States survey as townships Nos. 7 and 8 south, of range No. 5 west, be and the same is off and organized into a separate township, by the name of Algansee, and the first township-meeting shall be held at the house of Horace Purdy in said township." The inhabitants, in their petition when asking for the formation o f a new township, sent forward t h e name o f Canton as the one which best suited them. B u t , unexplained reason, the august legislative body which then represented the State selected its present Its significance is unknown. California-township 8 south, range 5 west- w a s set off as a separate township March 25, 1846. First Township-Meetinys.-The first for the election of officers was held, as ordered, at of Horace Purdy, early in M a y, 1838. B u t the records of this meeting, as well as of subsequent meetings inclusive, cannot be found. Officers Elected in 1844.-Asahel Brown, Supervisor; Ezra S. E. Brainard, Township Clerk; Samuel tice o f the Peace; George Monlux, Treas. ; James H . Lawrence, Jonathan K . Bickford, Samuel B . Hanchett, Highway Commissioners; Benjamin Hobbs, J. T. Bailey, School Inspectors; I r a Cass, Morris Crater, Directors o f the Poor; C. T. Goodman, S. Jordan, James stables; Morris Crater, Asahel Brown, J . Jr., Joseph T. Reynolds, S. L . Bradley, Andrew Crater, S. P. Bronson, James T. Bailey, John Vanderhoof. Cyrus Gillett, David Tift, Stephen Noble, John Kinyon, William G. Scott, Jesse Doyle, Harvey Brockway, James Craig, Nathaniel Fisher, S. Jordan, Jr., Samuel Beach, Nehemiah Boss, Overseers of Highways. COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . Supervise'.. 1840. A s a l i e l B r o w n . Township Oierks. Y r E S S O N Y S . Jasper U n d e r h i l l . 1841. Ezra S. E. Brainzwd. " o 1844. " di 1846. 1848. " " .14 1847. 1848. " o 1849. " 1850. " J 16 di a s p e r •1 E r a s t l i f B r a d l e y. 61 Robert M a g d e n . 1853. A s a h e l B r o w n . 1854. J u n e s U n d e r h i l l . A bijah M o s h e r. The following i s a l i s t o f t h e supervisors, township clerks, and treasurers, from 1838 to 1878, inclusive: Supervisors 18311. A s a h e l B r o w n . 183S, " Township Clerks. T r e a l i n r e r s . Jasper U n d e r h i l l . G e o r g e M o n l u x . 64 Isaac F. Camp. " 64 1856. A s a h e l B r o w n . 1857. " N a t 11 66 h a n d i id 6 4 Niv,ison. James U n d e r h i l l . di d it i t 1858. B r u t u s B r a d l e y. " " Ezra S. E . B r a i n a r d . Lemuel P r a t t . 6 1 H e n r y Wa l b r i d g e . i L e v i I ' . F u l l e r. 1861. A s a b e l B r o w n . 1862. 1863. ° " 41 N a t h a n Nielson. 1864. " 1865. J a m e s A . W i l l i a m s . L o r e n z o R e y n o l d s . i t " " d 1868. " L v i " " Mahlon W. B r a i n a r d . Robert C r a w f o r d . i 1869. E r a s t u s B r a d l e y. 1870. " i d 1871. Ezra S. E . B r a i n a r d . Charles J . U n d e r h i l l . 1866. 1867. O e l n I ' . F u l l e r. 6 e y 1 6.1 W. D r a p e r. James R . Crawford. 1872. J a m e s A . W i l l i a m s . . ‘ Robert C r a w f o r d . 1873. " 1874. " .14 1875. " 41 1876. " i t M o r t . B . Wa k e m a n . di 41 64 dd 1877. " 1878. S e r e n e B r a d l e y. •4 t 6 4 . L e v i A . S h u m w a y. ROSWeli I ) . T i f t . JUSTICES O F T H E P E A u E . 1844. S a m u e l Beach. 1860. F r a n k l i n R o u n d y. 1845. A s i t h e l B r o w n . F. D . Ransom. 1862. W i l l i a m T i b b i t t , 1846. N a t h a n i e l Fisher. 1863. F r a n c i s D . Ransom. 1861. A n a h e l B r o w n . D. J . Sprague. 1847. S t u r g i s L . B r a d l e y. W i l l i s Potter. 1864. S a m u e l H . K e e l e r. 1865. A s a h e l B r o w n . 1866. S e r e n e B r a d l e y. 1848. D . J. Sprague. 1849. A s a b e l B r o w n . 1850. J o h n P. Pettibone. 1851. S . L . B r a d l e y. S. B . H a n e h e t t . W i l l i a m Ti b b i t t s . 1867. F r a n c i s Eli Wa k e m a n 1868. J a m e s H . Stowe. A l m o n W . T h o r p , J r. 1852. W i l l i a m Ti b b i t t s . 1869. S a m u e l H . K e e l e r. 1853. A s a h e l B r o w n . 1870. Joseph Poets. 1854. R o b e r t Magden. 1855. E r a s t u s B r a d l e y. 1871. F r a n c i s D . Ransom. 1856. J a m e s Wa t e r b u r y. James A . W i l l i a m s . 1873. Samuel H . Reeler. 1872. J a m e s H . Stowe. 1874. J o e l Barnes. 1857. A m a d e i B r o w n . 1875. F r a n c i s D . Ramses. W i l l i a m Ti b b i t t s . 1858. W i l l i a m Ti b b i t t s . 1876. Joseph W i l m e r * 1859. F r a n c i s D. Ransom. 1878. A l b e r t G. Barnes. 1877. Samuel 11. Reeler. H I G H W A Y COVIN111111011119 1844. J a m e s H . L a w r e n c e . TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. i t Underhill. B e n j a m i n HoLbe. 1859. 1860. 5 5 66 1851. " 1852. L y m a n W i t t e r. 1855. " Of 1842. 1843. Jonathan K . Bickford. Seth B . H a n a h e t t . 1845. S a m u e l B . H a n e h a t t . Jonathan K . Biekford. Talent& M o r r i e . 1846. J o n a t h a n K . B i o k f b r d . Benjamin Hobbs. 1847. Jonwthea Benjamin Sytvesier 1848. Nathaniel 1849. J o h n Whilensp. ISM. J a m b i & K . liaidarti. M a s a ikodt. 1863. M a u i N . Clerk. �RESIDENCE OF JOHN - • RESIDENCE OF F . T. G A L L U P, A • �IlIPP1111111 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1853. Carlton Clark. 1854. Orton H o a k . John Russell. 1855. Joel Campbell. 1858. Calvin V. Clark. 1857. Jonathan K . Bickford. 1858. O r t o n l l o s i e . 1858. E z r a S. E . Brainard. 1859. E z r a S. E. B r a i n a r d . Samuel H . Keeler. Harrison Craig. 1860. D a v i d Rhoades. 1061. Cornelius Streeter. 1862. L y m a n W i t t e r. 1063. W i l l i s Potter. 1864. O r t o n Hoxie. D. S. Silliman. Joel Campbell. 1865. Samuel 11. Keeler. 1866. Thomas Nixon. 1867. O r t o n Genie. 1860. J o n a t h a n K . Bickford. 1869. George B r i g g s . 1870. O r t o n f o o l s . 1871. Thomas Nixon. 1872. B e n j a m i n Culver. 1873. O r t o n H o x i o . 1874-77. Thomas Nixon. 1878. Stephen Knecht. A town-hall was erected upon section 16 in 1877, at a cost of STATISTICAL- 1 8 3 7 Algansee residents o f 1837, showing their location by sections, the number of acres owned, and the kind of live-stock possessed by each at that date: 2 4 3 Pounds wool sheared, 1873 1 1 1 , 2 3 6 " p o r k marketed, 1873 1 4 8 , 5 7 5 " c h e e s e made, 1873 3 0 0 " b u t t e r made, 1873 4 7 , 6 8 0 " f r u i t dried f o r m a r k e t , 1873 3 1 , 6 5 7 Barrels cider made, 1873 1 , 0 4 5 Gallons wine made, 1873 6 0 0 Pounds maple-sugar, 1874 7 , 2 2 5 Acres devoted t o f r u i t ' 9 7 6 Value o f f r u i t product, 1872 $ 1 1 , 0 0 0 Horses over one year old, 1874 1 , 2 6 3 Mules " " " " 1 0 Wo r k oxen 3 8 Mdch cows 1 , 2 3 0 Cattle over one year old, other than much cows and Oxen 2 Swine over six months Sheep " " Sheep sheared, 1873 , 3 2 3 4 , , 2 , 5 1 5 1 6 2 5 0 6 9 The township has no village. Algansee, a station, is situated in the southern part, eight miles soutii of Quincy The road-bed of the proposed Mansfield, Lake Michigan Railroad crosses the extreme southwest corner SCHOOLS. Leonard Nelson, section 25, 40 acres, two cows. Almon Nichols, section 25, 160 acres, two oxen. Lodovico R o b b i n s , sections 15 a n d 22, 560 acres, t h r e e cows, t w o oxen, one horse. Morris Crater, section 13, 50 acres, one-half saw.tnill. Lather Stiles, section 9, 240 acres, one•half saw- m i l l . M a b e l B r o w n , sections 31, 32, and 33, 800 acres, t h r e e cows, f o u r oxen, two horses. Nathan Austin, section 32, 80 acres, one cow, two oxen. Thomas Pratt, section 33, 80 scree, one cow, one ox. Earn S. E. Brainard, section 33, 80 acres, two cows, one ox. Horace Purdy, sections 28 and 29, 200 acres. Isaac George, sections 19, 28, and 30, 230 acres, three cows, two oxen, two horses. Jesse Craft, section 29, 80 acres, two cows. James Nichols, section 29, 40 acres, two oxen. David Ti f t , section 29, 160 acres, two cows, two horses. The foregoing list comprises all who were owners in the township at the period During the year 1838 the following together with those just mentioned, appear upon the first assessment-roll of Algansee township: John Vanderhoff, section 6, 73 acres, two cows, two oxen. Eli Gray, section 6, 80 acres. Seth E. Manche% section 9, 125 acres, one cow, two oxen. Samuel B . Hanchett, section 9, 125 acres, two oxen. Barney Smith, section 13, 160 acres, one cow, two oxen. Andrew Crater, section 15,00 acres. George Ti f t , one cow. Jasper Underhill, section 31,80 acres, two cows, two oxen. Daniel Bickford, section 28,80 acres, two cows, foor oxen, two horses. Horace Purdy, sections 25 and 29, 1110 acres, six rows, two oxen, two horses Abram Aokereon, section 20, 80 acres, one cow, one horse. 8. L . Bradley, 80 acres. EL Hildrell, tuition 25, 40 acres, Thomism Goodman, section 22, 80 acres, three cows, two oxen. Jesse Doyle, !Nation 35, 80 acres, one 00II, two oxen. 1874 Population Total area (serail) Aerie of wheat growing Jane, 1874 " e a r n " " Baalhal• Miami herniated, 1873 " earn " b yaa w r vImes a s t a d , 1873 " p1 h i a 6l * m7i n d , 3 Tons hay latiaad, 1873 1,48 22,71 3,12 2,13 31,21 81,32 20,21 11,11 2,31 I t is probable that the first school in the taught by Miss Jane Woodard, in the summer of 1838, in a small log shanty, which stood near the of Wesley Merritt. A m o n g her pupils were Mrs. Emily Barnes, Alonzo George, Roswell D. Tift, Erial Purdy, Mrs. Erial Purdy, Alexander Purdy, Mary Underhill, ley Brown, all of whom are living at the The first school-house, a log structure, was Asahel Brown's residence in 1843. M r . Ezra S. ard was an early teacher in this house, also Miss Sarah Beac At a meeting of the board of school inspectors held May 16, 1846, certificates to teach primary schools Misses Arvilla H. Clark, Silena Hard, Mary L. Eliza Ann Bryant. Benjamin Hobbs was designated as the one t o visit schools during the year. A t meeting the following apportionment of school made Whole amount on hand To District No. 3 , 41 scholars IS, 19 " 6,21 " " " " 7, 27 " $33.17 12.7 5.8 6.5 8.0 $33.17 , School statistics for the year ending Sept. 2, districts, 9 ; fractional, 2. Children of school in the township, 473; children attending school during the year, 430. School-houses in the township, I L —brick, 1; framed, 10. Seating capacity of' school-houses, 621. Value of school property, $8800. M a l e teachers ctnployed (luring the year, 8 ; female, 14. Aggregate number taught by males, 29; by females, 49. P a i d $765; female, Rrceipts.—Total resources from moneys on 3, 1877, two-mill tax, primary-school fund, for all purposes, and raised from all other sources, Expenill ures.—TeacherR' wages, $1353.20 ; repairs. $336.17; on bonded indebtedness, $901.90; for all other purposes, $129.07 ; amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878, $192.26 �244 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . RELIGIOUS AS early as 1838 the Methodists held at the house of Andrew Crater. T h e i r preachers Roswell Parker, Peter Sabin, and James Clizbe. A m o n g the members of the first class were Jesse Craft, who exhorter, David Ti f t and his wife, and Mrs. Asahel Brown. The present society o f the North Algansee Methodist Episcopal Church was organized i n 1854 or 1855, as part of the Quincy charge, Rev. Isaac S. French pastor, and their meetings for several years were held i n the Fisher schoolIn 1870 a commodious church edifice was erected. a brick structure, has sittings for 300 people, and cost with furniture, furnaces, etc., complete, $4400. C . B . Newton was the builder. T h e church site of 98 square donated by Samuel H. Keeler. The society forms part o f t h e Quincy charge a t t h e present time. R e v . C. C. BAPTIST A t a meeting of certain members of the Baptist Church of Quincy, held at the Jordon school-house, Dec. 29, 1855, it was unanimously resolved t o request letters from t h e Quincy Church for the purpose of organizing a church i n Algansee. I n pursuance of the same, letters were granted to the following-named members, viz.: Francis Phares Chitteuden, Jason L . Ransom, John John Ransom, Zebina G. Trim, Joel Campbell, man, John C. Perring, Benjamin Bishop, Amos Hough, Peter Leighton, Nathan Leighton, Spencer Cory, John Cory, Henry W. Waterbury, James A . Ransom, William W. Potter, David Robb, and sisters C. Ransom, tenden, C. Ransom, H . Ransom, U . Trim, M . Campbell, H. Hillman, L. Perring, L. Bishop, 0 . Hough, S. Jordon, L. Fisher, 0 . Cory, S. A . Barber, J . A. Ransom, Margaret Hillman, M. Hoxie, and L. Robb. T h i s first styled the Second Baptist Church. A t the nant-meeting Francis D. Ransom was chosen Phares Chittenden church clerk. T h e church nized March 13, 1856, by a council o f ministers gates, representing the First Quincy, Second Quincy, First Algansee, Reading, Ovid, a n d B u t l e r Churches; R e v. Truman Burroughs presided as moderator, and D. Tinton served as clerk. Rev. Truman Burroughs, the first pastor, came soon after the organization was effected, and preached one-half the time. H e was followed b y Elder Philo Forbes, who reinained about two years. O t h e r pastors were Revs. B. MeLouth, who came in 1858; G. Terry as a supply; W . N. Welker, January, 1861 ; Truman ber, 1862, who remained until January, 1866; then Elders Schofield, Conover, and Prentice as supply ; R . hart, January, 1868; I I . K. Simpson, January, 1870; E . M. Ney, January, 1871 ; W. M. Welker, August, 1873; W. B. Chapel, January, 1877; R . P. Jones, tor, April, 1878. A church edifice was erected in 1868 at a cost of $2000. I t has sittings for 200 people. Present membership, 56. Scholars in Sabbath-school, 56. Cornelius W. hat h -sehool Sit DISBANDED B A P T I S T CHURCHES. In 1840 or 1841, a Baptist society was organised in tbe east part of the town. T h e i r usual place of at the house of Nathaniel Fisher, and at one time they numbered about 4 0 members. A m o a g than thaniel Fisher, wife, and three daughters; Ebenezer Kelly and wife, James Waterbury and two daughters, John Kinyon and wife, the elder Mrs. Reynolds, field and wife, Horace Avery and wife, Samuel Cory and wife, and Deacon Lewis and wife. The First Baptist Church of Algansee was organized in 1854. T h e i r meetings were held in the house. N a t h a n Nivison and wife, Ebenezer K e l l y and wife, James Dewitt and wife, William Hungerford and wife, James Waterbury and daughters were constituent members of the society. I t was disbanded after ence of about CEMETERI The first burial-ground in the township was owned by Jasper Underhill, and the first was a child of Underhill's. A f t e r some years the bodies were removed to the present cemetery, situated tion 30. The North Algansee Cemetery Association porated i n 1856, with Andrew Crater. Samuel chett, Sydney W . Snyder, Ly m a n B . Robbins. J o h n Streeter, J . Wright, Cornelius Streeter, Francis som, and John Joseph as members. Samuel B. Hauchett, President; Samuel H . Keeler, Clerk. T h e tains 11 acres, and i s situated upon section 1 0 . T h e first interment was that o f the body of Mrs. H. manc In the preparation of' Algansee township history received much valuable information and the tesy from Messrs. Andrew Crater, Morris Crater, Ezra S. E. Brainard, Roswell D . Tift, Francis D . Chittenden, Samuel H . Keeler, Mortituer Mrs. Asahel Brown, Mrs. Jane Ti f t . and others, to all of whom we take this manner of returning our BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. D. L . ( R AY. This gentleman, one o f t h e prominent citizens a n d pioneers o f Algansee, is descended from good tionary stock. I l i a grandfather, Robert Gray, was of Pelham. Mass., and served with that sanguinary struggle. A t the close of the war tled inn Ashfield, Mass., where the father of was born. H e reared a family of eight Lydia, Sarah, May, Darwin L.. Jerome, Ralph, and Edwin. In 1827 the elder Gray emigrated with his family tenaw County, where he remained eight years, removed to Toledo. A f t e r a residence of two they came to Branch County and milled ��MRS DAVID ES E 4 mRsWAA Wm ' , f r o ; r , . . , / d • R A . 4 ' P �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . where he purchased the farm upon which Darwin resides. H e r e the old people died, full of years and highly respected by a large circle o f friends. H e was man o f sterling ability, and possessed o f many o f the virtues and but t w f the faults o f humankind. H i s worthy wife was a devoted helpmeet, a lihal mother, valuable friend. S h e was born in Connecticut. M r . Gray was married, in 1860, to Mrs. Julia A. Fales, daughter o f Benjamin Archer, Esq., one of the oldest settlers County. T h e y have been blessed with two children, Perry D. and Cynthia J. M r s . Gray was first married age o f sixteen to Mr. Fides, o f Algansee. H e of the honored dead who went to do battle in defens Mr. Gray is an admirable type o f the original settler, and possessed o f that indomitable energy and hardihood that was necessary to remove the original forest and the foundation for the present wealth and prosperity county. I t is to such as he that the are indebted, and i t is with pleasure that we give him a position i u this work among the representative men and pioneers of S. E. BRAINA.RD. 1 More than a century ago the father o f M r. Brainard was born in the good State of Connecticut, the date of his birth having been 1744. H e followed farming pursuits, and at the age o f twenty-one removed t o Madison Co., N. Y., where his son was born. A t the expiration o f a few years he removed to Genesee County, and engaged in labor incident to the life of a pioneer, such as clearing the land. O n becoming of age he left labored for four years; and Feb. 28, 1832, was married to Miss Sabina Woodman, of Orleans Co., N. Y. A f t e r his marriage he purchased a farm in Genesee County, mained upon it four years. N o t being satisfied with their condition, they determined to come to Michigan, and in accordance with this purpose began the journey with all their household goods. O n reaching Detroit an ox-wagon with their possessions, and started County, where Mr. Brainard purchased eighty acres o f land in Alpacas), arriving in 1836, and still the same tract. A t the first township-meeting elected commissioner, and the next five years office of township clerk. L a t e r he was treasurer, having filled each successive office Mr. and Mrs. Brainard had two children born in New York State and five i n Branch County. T h e first two were M a l e s W. (who married Miss Duffee, in Calmat") and Frances L. (who is married to John Wood, and resides in Madison township) ; shortly alter her marriage; Roxby I. married sad lives in Algansee township; A n n George Caldwell, and resides in Coldwater; Penh Dewey, and lives in Algansee; while -.41, Seboonville, resides with his parents on h a y * istarried Delia Birch. M r . Brainard is Ditradietin 2 4 5 WILLIAM Casper Kraiser, the father of the gentleman appears above, was born in Lebanon Co., Pa., the pursuits of a farmer. H e was the father of dren,—five sons and William Kraiser remained on his father's farm until he became of age, when he went to Northumberland County, in the same State, and engaged with a farmer at lars per month. H e stayed with him five years. I n 1838 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Sell, daughter Sell, who was one of the pioneers of Berks* Co., Pa. H e came the same year to Ross Co., Ohio, and worked for two years at the same wages as above, his wife proving votion by washing and sewing, in order to earn of their scanty livelihood. I n time Mr. a team of his own, and for three years farmed In 1843 he took a lease to clear a farm in Ohio, and stayed upon that place eight and oneIn 1851 he drove through to Michigan, with his family of seven children, and settled where he now lives. dren have been born in this State to Mr. and Mrs. Kraiser, the names o f all being as follows: Amos Franklin, now married and residing i n Wilson Co., Kan.; Christian, married and living in Genesee Co., Mich.; liam, married and living in Quincy, Mich.; Sarah Jane, deceased; Solomon Henry, living in California township, Branch Co.; Mary Jane, married, husband David Porter, deceased ; Granville Washington, married and living near his father; Randolph Rodgers, married and living in Quincy; Lavinia and Matilda, In 1866 Mr. Kraiser was so unfortunate as to have his house destroyed by fire, together with all goods. H e is the owner o f a fine farm, containing two hundred and sixty-five acres, and although tunes have at times befallen him, he has prosperous since his removal to Michigan, and at present by DAVID TIPP was a native of Allegany Co., N. Y., and a farmer. H i s children were six in number, viz., Fanny E., Roswald D., Albert J.., Jerome B.„A., and Horace N. I n the fall Mr. Tift left New York and settled in Calhoun Co., Mich., where he entered land arid resided four years. H e out and removed to K inderbook township, Branch he entered eighty acres of land. A b o u t three months later he disposed of his place to Mr. Waterhouse, and removed to Algansee township. I n the latter he' took up" and sixty acres of land, and upon i t passed of his days. Politically be was a Republican, and ligion a Baptist. H i s wife, whose maiden name was Man Mainier, was born i n Seneca Co., N. Y. , Dec. 20, Ism, and married to Mr. Tilt in Niagara Co., same State. S h e was the daughter o f a farmer and one o f nine children. During the trying days when her husband was rearing for his family a home i n the wilderness she was ever at his side, a faithful wife and a devoted helper, through all the • FluekA. 1 �246 H I S T O R Y OF BRANCH C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . struggles incident t o the life o f a pioneer. S h e died i n November, 1858, and he who had so long held bowed beneath the stroke and closed his days of mortality Feb. 21, 1859, surviving her loss but Roswald Tilt, who had lived with his father until moved at that eventful period upon the place where resides. A t t h e age o f twenty-seven h e was married t o Permelia A. Mason, a widow, by whom he had Elizabeth E. P a r t o f his present farm in land longed to her. M r s . Ti l t died April 3, 1866, and 1870, he was married t o Lucy R. Shumway, daughter o f Alfred and Nancy Shumway, a pioneer couple i n t h i s township. B y this marriage he has had three children: Levi S., E l i D., and Riley D. U n t i l the autumn o f 1878 Mr. Tift was a Republican, but at that date he township clerk o n the Greenback ticket. A l t h o u g h a professor of religion, he i s a member of no Mrs. Ti l t is a member of the Advent Church. Jerome B. Ti l t was born upon the old homestead gansee, and upon i t he still resides. O n the 18th vember, 1860, he was married to Frances A. ter of Peter Grice, one of the early settlers of Kinderhook township. H e is the father of three children : Clara M . , Dora A., and Horace J . B o t h he and his wife bers o f the Methodist Episcopal Church. M r . T i l t is a Republican in politics. ALFRED S I M M W AY. History records the persecutions t o which the French Huguenots were subjected nearly two hundred years ago, and the flight of many of them to climes where atmosphere was more congenial to their belief. I n the year 1695 a vessel arrived a t Boston, Mass., and landed Peter Shumway, Peter Faneuil, t h e Sigourneys, and others. Shumway was one o f the devoted band o f Huguenots, and i n company with others of his own people founded a colony at Oxford, where are yet standing the remains of a fort they built f o r defense against t h e Indians. P e t e r Shumway, it seems, assumed this name after arriving in this country, as none such can be found among the French. He married an English lady, a Miss Smith, and the parents o f seven sons, viz., Oliver, Jeremiah, David, John, Jacob, Samuel, and A11108. Undoubtedly in the United States bearing the name of descended from the worthy Peter. Levi Shumway, son o f Oliver and grandson o f Peter Shumway (1st), was born at Oxford, Mass., April 8, 1727. His son, Isaac W. Shumway, was born a t Oct. 12, 1761. W h e n seventeen years of age, or in 1778, he volunteered in the American army and served He was present at the execution of Maj. Andre and at the surrender o f Cornwallis. D e c . 18, 1785, he was married to Patience Pratt. Their son, Levi Shumway, was born a t shire Co., Mass., June 11, 1788, and i n 1804 removed t o Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Ir., where, on the 16th tember, 1817, he was married to Abigail Smith. I n 1829 he removed to Lenawee M i n h . , and died Aug 3, 1834. A Ifred S l i uniway, a son o f the ala,ve, was born i n Macedon, Wayne Co., N. Y. , July 12, 1818, awl came with his parents t o Lenawee Co., Mich., in September, 1829. A t that time i t is stated t h a t b u t t w o log houses were standing where now is the flourishing and beautiful Adrian. M r . Shumway was married, Jan. 2 2 , 1845, t o Nancy M . Davis, o f Palmyra, Lenawee Co., Mich., and removed t o B r a w l County, Feb. 19. 1849. way, who was a daughter of Charles and Polly born a t Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., July 24, 1823, and was one o f a family of seven children. H e r moved to Palmyra, Lenawee Co., Mich., in July, 1836, and there, as above stated, she was married t o M r. Shumway. Their children were three i n number,- M a r y E., born i n Madison, Lenawee Co., Feb. 19, 1846; Levi A . , born a t the same place, Oct. 25, 1847; and Lucy R., born myra, Lenawee Co., Sept. 10, 1850. Levi A . Shutuway was married t o Annie M . Gallup. Sept. 17, 1873. T h e i r children are Alfred T. , born i n Algansee, Branch Co., Dec. 9 , 1876, and Dennis B u r r, born i n the same township, July 5, 1878; died Feb. 13, 1879 Lucy R. Shumway was married to Roswell D. Tift, May 15, 1870. Alfred Shumway was i n his religion an Adventist; i n politics, a staunch Republican and an untiring worker. H e was the oldest of a large family of children, and when but sixteen years of age was left to care for them b y of his father. H i s first crop of corn in his was entirely destroyed by wild game. T h i s descendant of a zealous Frenchman lived a comparatively uneventful life, yet his death was a most tragic one, being mused by a buzz-saw, and occurring April 26, 1874. H e WM a worthy, upright man, and an esteemed citizen, and his death was sincerely ANDREW CRATER. Mathuyas Crater, the father of the above, was born i n Geneva, N. J . and became the father of sixteen children, - n i n e sons and seven daughters. I n the spring of 1825 he removed with his family to Wayne Co.. N. Y. Andrew Crater, who was born i n Hunterdon Co., N . J., June 28, 1813, went West with his father t o New York, and remained with him until twenty-one years when he started for the then ' f a r West" to make for himself a home. I n the spring of 1837 he came to ship, Branch Co., Mich., bought eighty acres of then returned East and was married on the 28th ber, 1837, to Hannah Waterbury. I n the fall of 1838 he brought his wife to Michigan and settled upon acre lot he had purchased in Algansee. B y Mr. Crater became the father of four children, Martha R., Henrietta E., and Delos. M r s . Crater died in 1848, and in 1851 h e was married t o Elizabeth Craig, by whom he also had four children, and on the 28th of June, 1861, he was again left a mourner by the death of his wife. March 12, 1863, he married Catharine Depue, and by her had t w o children. A t h i r d time the fell destroyer o f human happiness entered his household, and the third time In' mourned the loss o f a faithful partner, for on the 21st ••. �MRSA SH AC M R s S B . PA N C . H E r t I MRS A CRATER SB ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. of August. 1869, his wife was called to the "land o f the hereafter." H i s present wife was Mrs. Caroline lock, to whom he was married Feb. 1, 1873. name was Wright, and she was born in the town o f Clay, N. Y. A t the age of fifteen she removed with to Brighton, Ill., where she was married to Mr. Bullock. After his death she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Saginaw, Mich., and finally to Quincy, Branch she was "wooed and won" by Mr. and Mrs. Crater are members of the of which they are ardent supporters. M r . Crater has, in the course of nearly half a century of patient close economy, become the owner of a farm of and seventy-eight acres, of which and its is justly proud. H e has seen the wilderness the rose," and in his age is enabled to peacefully fruits of S. B. HANCHETT. The father of Mr. Hanchett was reared in and at the surrender o f Burgoyne his mother was three years of age. T h e subject of our sketch was born atoga Co., N. Y., and was the youngest of three children. 2 4 7 His father and mother died early, with an interval of but two days between them, the first being seventythe latter sixty years Mr. Hanchett remained upon the farm for two years after the death o f his parents, and during that time his sister and brother were both married, Seth moving t o Gibraltar, about twenty miles from Detroit. Having some desire to take up his residence farther West, he started, at the age of twenty-one, on a prospecting tour in Ohio. N o t being well pleased, he repaired and engaged to work with his half-brother, Mr. later was employed i n a saw-mill. H e with t h e typhoid fever and t h e smallpox in With eighty dollars in silver he emigrated to Michigan, his brother Seth having meanwhile sold the homestead and come t o Algansee township. M r . Hanchett arrived i n Coldwater in May, 1838, and went directly After some pioneer experiences incident to of a new country, at the age of twenty-eight, he married Ruth C. Thompson, daughter of an old resident nia township. T h e y have had seven children, three o f whom are dead. M r . Hanchett was formerly a afterwards espoused the principles of the Republican party. He has held many offices of trust in his township, and is highly esteemed as a citizen and 1. D . R A N S O M . MRS. 1 ' . D . R A N S O M . FRANCIS R A N S O M . Francis D. Ransom was born i n Onondaga Co., N. Y., Jan. 5, 1816, and was the son o f James birthplace was New London, Conn.. and who WM carpenter by trade. H i s grandfather was a machinist by occupation, and in the Revolutionary war ranked geant under (7ol. St. Leger. M r . Ransom, farming in early life, at the age o f twentythrough Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, exploring the country, and finally returned and married Miss Chloe, Benjamin Stinter. T h e y have seven chiliten. som bought o f his brother, John Ransom. fort,/ acres o f land in 1837, and continued to add to his sions until he had accumulated two hundred and he now owns in Algansee township. H e connected himself with the Baptist church at Elbridge, N. Y., when nineteen years of age, and has been an ardent its cause since that period. H e was one of the builders of the Baptist church in Algansee, and has continued to fill the office of deacon since that time. M r s . Ransom has also been a member of the church since the age of fifteen year They reside in Algansee township, and are enjoying the regard of the many friends that a life of integrity, plete with kindly deeds, has �248 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY ! F. '1'. GALLUP, one of Algansee's worthiest citizens, was born March 11, 1823. H i s father, Ezekiel Gallup, was born in Hartland, Vt., August, 1787, and at the age of twenty-one removed, with his father, Joseph, In t h e autumn o f 1834 h e migrated t o Monroe Co., Mich., and settled on Stony Creek, whence, after a brief stay, he moved over to Medina, Lenawee Co., in the fall of 1837, and died in the latter place, January, 1860. His son, F. T. Gallup, accompanied him to Michigan in 1834, and i n 1849, marrying Miss M. L. Sanderson, took possession of a new farm in Medina, and entered active agricultural Mrs. Gallup was the daughter o f Jesse and Lucretia Sanderson, who were born in Hartland, Vt., in 1787. H e r father served through the war of 1812, and not wards removed t o Oneida Co., N. Y. , where he died i n 1843. M r s . Sanderson went, in 1866, t o Algansee, and there died, June 19, 1878, in the ninety-first year ag Mrs. Gallup was born i n Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1825. and in 1847 took up her residence in Michigan. After remaining upon their farm in Medina until 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Gallup located in Algansee, where, upon the broad acres o f their rich agricultural domain, they have ever since continued ASAHEL B R O W N . MRS. A S A H E L B R O W N . .18.111EL BROWN. Asaltel Brown, One of the earliest settlers Mich., was born i n Stafford, Monmouth Co., N. J., April 9, 1803. H e was the eldest SOB o f Abner and Hannah Brown, and with his parents removed to the State of New York. His father was born in Stafford, March 14, 1781 ; and that too was the birthplace o f his mother—her maiden name being Birdied, and the date of her birth, Sept. Young Asahel spent the early years of his life in the then new country of Western New York, and save sional term a t a district school, enjoyed n o educational privileges He labored on his father's farm the most of his time until h e reached h i s thirtieth year,—in 1833,—having meanwhile married Deborah, daughter of who assisted in the construction of the first canalLock In that year he determined to " g o West" in search fartn,—fur his ambition had long been to own one,--aud so he set out with his wife and four children for Michigan. transporting them as well as his household goods in berThey settled first at Palmyra, Lenawee Co., Brown bought an eightpacre farm, but fied with the location, removed, in 1836, to chased a farm there, and became a permanent settler. T h e first town-meeting was held i n his log cabin, which stood near the old "State road." H e grew prosperous.as time passed, and became a man o f mark as well For twenty-one years he served as supervisor, and years he held the office of justice of He was a strong anti-slavery Whig. and i n 1849 was defeated, by a small majority, as a candidate of that party for the Le:,islature. In 1850 he was a member o f the State Constitutional convention, was State Senator i n 1856 and 1858, and served also, in 1S67, as a member o f the tional lie was for sonic time president o f the Branch County �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and in all his business and social relations commanded wide recognition as a man of sterling integrity, principles, and unflagging industry. To his original farming possessions he added from time, and at the period of his death he owned 2 4 9 acres of land, of which three hundred were improved. I n religious belief he sympathized with Unitarianism, and deeply revered the faith o f his Quaker ancestors. A f t e r a long life of active usefulness, Mr. Brown died, June 8, 1874, leaving to survive him his widow, who upon the old lionistead GILEAD.* TowNsiiir 8 south, range 7 west, as designated by the United States survey, is a fractional township, six miles lon!• from east to west, and three and one-half from north t o south, lying on the southern border o f Branch County, adjoining the State of Indiana, tains an area of about 13,500 acres. I t is bounded on the north by Bethel, cast b y Kinderhook, south town and Mill Grove, townships of Steuben Co., west b y Noble. F o r purposes o f description, the town may be divided into three portions. A line it from north t o south, beginning two miles from the northwest corner, and terminating two and onefrom the southwest corner, and another starting near the middle of this line and running to the eastern boundary; separate these parts from one another. T h e part west of this first-described line is lightly-rolling in its of the class of lands known as burr-oak plains and has a mixed soil, composed o f a sandy or gravelly loam, which is easily tilled and very fertile. east part o f the town is mainly heavily-timbered lands, with a level surface, and quite wet and swampy in many places. T h e soil i s a dark, sandy loam, intermingled with sonic pretty heavy clay. T h e southeast portion town is composed o f white 'oak or timbered openings, a little timbered land, and about one-quarter o f the whole is open marsh. I t s surface is varied, being quite hilly in the west and more level in the east, and the soil quite diversified. T h e soil of the town is with loose stones of many kinds, some of which are plainly the work of some animal like the coral insect, are quite as evidently petrifactions. Among others are often found large bowlders, from one to two feet ter, f6rnzed of smaller stones, varying in size from a pea butternut, which seem to have in some manner firmly cemented together, as to form a solid 11111 Among the natural curiosities and peculiar tures of the town are some relics of the past, is hidden in the dark recesses of the That they indicate, and indeed substantially prove, that • Prepared by Omuta' W. Brown. some race of intelligent people once lived, loved, and died upon these fertile and beautiful plains must be apparent to every one who will give the subject careful The Indians have no traditions which relate to and have always shown perfect ignorance regarding their origin and significance. O n the shores o f Gilead Lake, and at other places in the town, are found remains have been generally regarded as ancient fortifications. They are invariably circular i n form, and elevated, from one to two feet above the general surflice ground. T h e principal o f these are the two which are found on the shores of Gilead Lake, one on the the other on the east side, very nearly opposite each other. A description of the one on the east side, which by the writer, will answer as a general description all. T h e one on the west shore is the largest one. N e a r the north end of the lake an arm runs out to and on the south shore o f this bay lies the work we are about to describe. T h e shore at this point is a steep bluff, about fifteen feet above the average level of the waters of the lake, and a plateau extends from the edge o f this bluff some thirty rods in every direction, and ally descends to a lower level. O n this plateau, with its two extremities touching the edge of the bluff, is circular arc, eighteen or twenty rods in diameter, on so true a circle that it proves almost conclusively that it was laid out before the trees which now occupy the there. A l o n g this line is an elevation about six eight feet in width and eighteen inches high in The great age of this work is attested by the upon the top of the elevation, whose appearance they sprang into existence after it was made, and evidences an undisturbed growth of from one fifty to two hundred years. T h a t they are remains tifications is by no means dear to the mind of writer, and can never he conclusively shown until the habits and mode of life of their former inhabitants made known. T h a t they may simply mark the site o f sonic dwelling-place of a gregarian raw seems able when we consider the fact that they largely built up of the shells of fresh-water abounded in these lakes. B u t whatever their origin or 1 �1111111t ( I v wt.\ c o u v r y • u:ie, we are lea ta. look upon them io .1 purely light, and the imaginative mind may weave about them a web of romance, and dream o f the lives and the hopes and fears, the loves and hates, o f the unknown people who once roamed these plains and forests, and lived upon the products of the soil and upon the animal life that peopled its woods and waters. I n other parts of the town are found burial-mounds similar t o those so frequently found in this section of' the State, arid relics of the Indian race, and pieces of ancient pottery that have lain long i n the soil, are frequently brought to light by the farmer's plow Another natural curiosity, and one which may possibly be connected with the history of this past ram, is always been known as the " Gilead Sugar-Woods." Whether it had its Origin i n some natural cause, or whether sulted from human effort, is a matter o f conjecture. T h i s piece of maple-woods stands upon section 17, but originally extended upon sections 7, 8, and 18. I t was, in 1830, a fine piece of maple woodland i n the form o f a about three-quarters o f a mile in diameter. T h e Indians used to tap the trees every spring and make maple-sugar in their rude way, and the whites also fell into the tice, and continue it down to the present time. but a very light sprinkling o f other trees i n and the maples were of an apparent growth of' a a half. T h e soil at this point does not seem to rially from that of the rest o f the west part o f the town, except that it is freer from stone, and the vegetable tnould formed b y decaying leaves and timber has added t o its depth and The principal water-course o f the town is the outlet of Hog Lake and Lake Pleasant. I t is called " Prairie River" on the maps, but has locally obtained the name o f " Hog Creek." W e are inclined to look upon this as for " Hog Creek" proper rises in the town o f Reading, in Hillsdale County, flows through the towns of Allen, Quincy, Butler, and Girard, and empties into the Coldwater River at Orangeville. P r a i r i e River is also the outlet of Lavine. Pleasant, and Crooked Lakes in Kinderhook. Throughout most o f its course i n this town i t i s bordered b y wide marshes. I n section 3 its course becomes more sufficient N I i s afforded t o make a mill-site, which was occupied as early as 1835, and has continued in use until the present spring (1879), when the pond ( which to have been an obstacle in the way of securing age of the swamps and marshes) was condemned as ance, and the dam is about to be torn down. of' drainage, here incidentally referred to, was introduced in the town some eight o r ten years ago, and has tended more or less every year since that time. of i t the level o f the waters of the lakes has about three feet, and a large quantity of hitherto has been redeemed, and is, or soon will be, tbin. T h i s system has also had a marked p o d the health o f the citizens, for the draining of and swamps has relieved the air of a load of that each spring and fall used to bring with great regularity. This result alone is ample recompense for all incurred in cutting ditches and ileepening the channels of , h , a l a , I - . . 1 a l , , - waiL iii,, citla,I..1 I . 'Tr/ 1 0 4 11 i l l . - a l / , a l , , yoking great expenae without results. O n e of these was Samuel Arnold, his views on the subject in a abort poem, which, forring a local interest, we here give for the benefit a: air "tot. The East Gilead Canal, you will please Is at worolt•rful work, nay I :a. -ii,, 6.11 ( 1 , 1 1 .all .,,ii Awl our 1-11c a..ccg II.I•11 .1, - • 2d. But this great Canal, tbougl.., a al, lu still but a fooliab * L i u : 'Twat planned by the mighty East Gilead To favor the gray"3d. But this gray-headed Squire will nos EMI, work To keep out the dirt As along the Canal be walks to Ills long-handled hoe in " 4 tb. A very wire man made this statement Speaking like some 'The hind the ditch drains, at a Is north sixty dollars '.5th. But, i f this swampy land has risen Since this wonderful ditch 'Tis plain to he seen, if they EA, snap, Our farmers are bound to "6th. IV hoe° travels this way, whether woman Or gallant young 'beau' with his 'gal,' Should make a short stop, anal the And sew the East The only large body of water lying wholly in this town is Gilead Lake, which lies in sections 6 and 7. irretlular in f.ertli mid e e r - r, an area of ah-lit Its Nr tl'I'S are clear and cold, and e \wile a how principally o f clear, white sand iir gravel. depth of the water is probably net far frern fort feet. T h e great peculiarity of this hike is that it Lis or outlet. I t is undoubtedly fed by hi,blen . what becomes o f its overflow is an About a mile and a quarter distant, i n a direction, a large and never-failing spring bursts from the ground, which is looked upon by many as the outlet lake; but this theory, though plausible, is lative, as no means have yet been tried to verify sition. T h e banks of the lake rise in bluffs from fifteen feet high, and the shores are bold mostly o f sand and gravel. T h r o u g h the efforts . i f the "Grangers" of this town, some twe years :e_na the stocked with 20,000 young white-fish,, whieb by the Fish Commissioner of In the south part . r thac t . w . , in sea-mien 24, hen the greater part of Hog Lake. a portion I.f which yond the State line into Indiana. T h i s lake by marshes, and has a muddy shore and bottom. [ions 22 and 2 3 i s a part e f Lake Pleasant, whiell lies mostly in Indiana. i t is like Gilead Lake as regards its main Tile township, taken as a Wittak. ranks Wen i n fertility anal adaptability to the raising ,,r general enaps with any other town, anti in the western part an some as as well stocked, and furnished with as :rood ��• MR8. S . A R N O L D . \ciI E l . .\1(N1/1.1., S A M U E L ARNOLD. I t has ever been the situ of the historian to preserve in history the names and deeds of kings and men and warriors, and i t i s meet t h a t t h e names and deeds o f the pioneers, t o whose endurance, energy, and perseverance we o f the present age owe so much, should be preserved and handed down t o the coming Of the pioneers o f Gilead none are deserving credit, or are held in higher esteem, than Samuel Arnold, the subject of this sketch. H e was born i n Middletown, Conn., where his parents resided until he was eleven years old, when they moved to Granby, Oswego Co., N. Y. M r . Arnold's education was obtained a t the district schools, except one term a t the Cazeuovia Academy; yet quired what was then considered a fine riving at manhood, he worked o n t h e farm o f his father summers and taught school winters, his wages for teaching being from nine t o twelve dollars per month. H e taught in all thirteen terms. A f t e r his maturity he started out in life, at times jobbing in the woods winters, and running a canal-boat owned by him durin,, the summer ; at teach district schools. A f t e r his marriage he bought a small farm. I n the fall of 183i; lie was seized with the western fever, and sold his farm and came t o Michigan; where the ensuing winter he taught school Corners, which was the first school taught township. I n the spring of 1837 he bought of ment the west h a l f of southeast quarter section eleven in Gilead, upon which he at once moved his family, and living four years in a small shanty, exchanged it for a log house, which Mrs. Arnold declares was better than the frame house they afterwards built. Mr. Arnold was a great worker, and in clearing new land and cutting hay in the marshes (often to his waist in water) he engendered the diseases which culminated i n Sept. 30, 1838. M r . Arnold was a member of odist Church fifty years. Before the days of and churches religious services were often held i n h i s shanty by the pioneer circuit riders. D u r i n g the last ten or twelve years o f his life he was a great sufferer, but his sufferings were borne with true Christian fortitude. I n early life Mr. Arnold was a Democrat, but on r•ot% Is ii11.•.1 i t - t m k , the °thee of school inspector and justice of the peace, and was also town clerk and postmaster. P o t his fret wife lie William W., A u g i _ a t l i e l l o c E. Mary A . , Feb. 18, 1836; Adeline B., John W. , Dec. 13, 1840; Samuel A., _ in t h e Union army, at Chattanooga, 1865 T H E P O O R IllfDIA.N. IlY S A M U E L A R N O L D . On P l y m o u t h R o c k o u r fathers landed I n sixteen h u n d r e d a n d t w e n t y ; The I n d i a n s t h e n were able-handed, A n d l i v e d i n peace and p l e n t y. Our fathers d r o v e them f r o m t h e i r land, T h e i r aged sires a n d mothers: A n d y e t we venerate t h a t band Of noble P i l g r i m Fathers. Rut w e are t o l d t h a t W i l l i a m P e n n T h a t nolile-hearted Q u a k e r A t r e a t y made w i t h the red men, T h e i r land b o u g h t b y t h e sere. The I n d i a n s have been d r i v e n b a c k , A n d s h a m e f u l l y been t r e a t e d ; A l t h o u g h i n courage t h e y ne'er lack, T h e y ' ‘ e often been defeated. T h e y once roamed o v e r these beautiful plains W i t h o u t molestation They trapped and fished, enjoyed t h e i r And hunted t h e i r f a v o r i t e deer. W i l l t hey ever revisit t h i s spot Where the bones o f t h e i r f a t h e r / now lie Alt, n o ! t h e y surely w i l l n o t O'er them oast a t e a r o r a s i g h . Ye t the Great S p i r i t watches t h e i r dust T i l l H e shall b i d i t a r i a e ; A l l t h e great h u m a n f a m i l y meet Soon meet t h e i r l e a r Lirrrl i n t h e s k i c ' . We are COP V And the rough h o c k ) Where the wild limos peed peer at thie beet 19 the tough grively hear and the rabbit ' �AFOOLLiSCONES.RLSOr ARNOLD I S O . / 0 : 1 f , i I I A l l H4•1.1.-.P r n r o , r m �ffr; . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . any in the country. I s the quantity o f wheat and corn raised in proportion to its area Gilead takes the according to the returns of the census The town o f Gilead received its name at the hands of Bishop Chase. Coming here in the spring-time, when the openings were carpeted with the verdant grass, with a glorious profusion o f bright-hued and fragrant blossoms, he saw the country at its best. A s upon a gentle eminence in the early morning, and looked through the vistas of the woods, marking the swelling knolls and undulating hollows into which the broken, he is said to have expressed his admiration and exaltation in the words, " T h i s is surely the try my eyes ever beheld! H e r e will I make my home, and I will call this beautiful spot Gilead." A n d was and is still very appropriate, when we consider that it was first applied to the fairest portion of the " Promise." I t was probably suggested to the bishop by the place from which he came, Mount The first settler in this town—and he was also settler in the southern tier of towns—was John Croy. H e was a young man about twenty-five years of' age, a wife named Margaret, who was a rosy and young woman, and two or three children. H e came with a party from Monroe, and turned north Prairie. W h e n next heard o f he was at went from there to Pretty Prairie, and front came to Gilead early in the spring o f 1831. H e built a small pole shanty near the north line of the ter of section 7, about one hundred rods west and a little south of the present Methodist Episcopal churoh. a rude and rough affair, about twelve feet square, nished the pioneer family with shelter for when it was supplanted by a log house built on the north side o f the road, about fifty rods east and north o f the shanty. W h i l e living in the shanty, and but a after their arrival, the young wife gave birth to who was the first white child born in the town. christened Mary, and, reaching maturity, was married to Andrew Fuller, of this town, and both are still Croy did not long remain a resident o f this town, but in 1834 removed with his family to Iowa. A t a he returned to Williams Co., Ohio, but finally went Iowa, and died there some four or five years ago. very eccentric in his ways,—restless, uneasy, of changeable mind, and much given to moving about. I t is said that he went West three times, arid twice did main long enough to unpack The next settler was one who figured largely in history of the town, and whose name, from its riety, is perhaps the best known o f any which ever was connected with the town. W e refer to Chase. H e came from Mount Gilead, in the State where he had been interested in a His object in coming here was to found an college, and he thought that here he could, by starting from the very foundation, build up not only a school. but also a community, over which he, by virtue of authority, and superiority, could wield a -ace. H e case quite early in the spring of 1831, 2 5 1 accompanied, or rather piloted in, by Wales Adams arid Thomas Holmes. T h e y found Croy on his place, and the bishop selected his land and entered it at the land-office at White Pigeon. H e took up somewhere from 800 to 1000 acres o f the choicest lands in the township. Procuring boards from Wales Adams' mill in Bronson, erected a shanty in the form of a letter A , in which he lived, using his carriage for sleeping apartments. O n the 5th of May he went to White Pigeon and wig:aged Awasa Miller, ' D r a w Humphrey, and Thomas Thurber and build hint a house. T h i s house was the house erected in Gilead, and stood on the of section 9. O n e peculiarity of* this house lay in that it was built without the use of liquor. F r o m perimental knowledge, in his own family, of the liquor drinking produces, the bishop had learned to hate it with a holy horror, and would not allow it to be used on the premises, saying he " would not dare to live in in which liquor had been used." T h e materials for this house, such as nails, screws, glass, putty, etc., from White Pigeon by a man employed for His name was Raymond, and, with the rest of the things, he brought an old wagon-cover, under which the and stored their utensils and provisions during their stay of three weeks. T h e water to satisfly the thirst of had to be brought from Gilead Lake in tsix-quart tin pail. The bishop's family at this time consisted of his wile and four children,—Dudley, Henry, Mary, and Philander, Jr., —the eldest being about twenty, and the youngest about eleven years or age. D u r i n g this same season he house near the middle o f section 8, for a Glass, who assisted him in his farming operations. there many years, and was called the " Glass House." The next season the bishop erected another and and moved his family into it, and that year he acres of wheat, which he had sown the fall before, which was the first 40 acres of wheat grown in In furtherance of the object which brought him here the bishop built a school building in 1833. I t was about 20 by 30 feet square, and two stories high. I n this school was taught by the bishop's nephew, The bishop's niece, Mrs. Russell, and her were at this time members. of his family, and an ardent affection sprang up between the nephew arid which resulted in their marriage. T h i s wedding—the first in the town—occurred on a Sabbath morning iii the latter part of the summer, immediately after the The attendance on that occasion was unusually coming front a distance, among them several Prairie, Ind. O f those present at the ceremony— performed by the bishop, clad in all the dignity of cial robes, and which lasted a very long time—but son is now living in Gilead. That one is Mr. Soon after this Bishop Chase went on a mission to solicit aid to build his college, and while still dwelling caught fire, and in spite of all efforts to save it burned to the grouts]. A large share of the household effects were saved by the exertions (if and servants. N e w s of this disaster at last reached the bishop in the mother-country, and the report �252 I I HAM;V l i l that Bishop Chase's "mansion" in America had burned with all The result proved beneficial to the bishop's through sympathy, many large sums o f money nated to assist him in rebuilding and in carrying out his pet project. O n e widow lady is said to have given $1100 i n a lump. T o secure such munificent donations as bishop could well afford to lose (WC!) a much tious " mansion" than the one h e had erected When h e came t o this country from Ohio, the bishop brought a large drove of cattle numbering about one hundred head, and also brought sonic grass-seed, which broadcast in the openings as he rode through them back. T h i s grass was different from any o f the native grasses, and resembled somewhat the famous "blue grass" of Kentucky. I t was easily propagated and hard t o kill, soon spread throughout the region, and became known as " bishop grass." I t is still found here, and is considered a valuable grass. I n person the bishop was tall and portly, and when dressed i n the flowing robes o f his sented a dignified and majestic appearance. tion was a little inclined t o haughtiness, especially toward those who refused to show what he considered erence for " t h e bishop." l i e had a full appreciation o f the dignity o f his office, and i n requesting favors o f his neighbors never used any other formula than this: " Te l l such a one that t h e bishop' wants such a thing." T h i s air o f superiority no doubt had a marked effect upon the state of feeling existing between the bishop and bors, many of whom were Methodists, and had with anything that savored of aristocracy or hinted play, and made the opposition to his enterprise more stern and uncompromising. N o doubt this apparent hostility and spirit of independence had something to do with the bishop's change of location, when, in the spring of 1836, lie sold out his interests here and removed to near Peoria, Ill., where he succeeded i n establishing his college and received the appointment of bishop of cese. A l t h o u g h his enterprise here was in a unsuccessful, yet the effect upon the people was ficial, stimulating them to live upon a little higher plane than the frontiersmen generally felt called upon t o adopt. Who shall say how much o f the intelligence ture, the advanced moral and religious feeling, and the public spirit and t h r i f t which mark the town o f Gilead, found their b i r t h i n the spirit o f emulation which the bishop's life here fostered and encouraged? building which was erected b y the bishop ing on the present farm o f Joseph Keeslar, on section 9, until about two years ago, when i t was torn down. T h e bishop also built the first saw-mill i n town, River, near the east line of section 4, in 1834-35. Following Bishop Chase, in June, 1831, came Abishai Sanders, with h i s wife, Rachael, and children, Charity, Keturah, Josiah, Levi, John, Jesse, Elijah, min, the youngest being only two or three years old. T h e y came from Big Island, Marion Co., 0. T h e i r consisted of two wagons, one of them drawn by of oxen, and the other by one yoke o f oxen and Traveling by the way o f Sandusky and Toledo, l \ lowed the Territorid reed sad the allege turnpike son's Prairie, and thew turning eovehriesd, Ireliewed the Indian trail leading to Jerkin Prairie, lad., WI to the land M r. ganders had mitered i s the f e l previous year. T h i s land was as asetiema 8 mod consisted o f 240 acres. T h e family hastily a pen o f rails, covered i t with a shake recot arid i s this primitive dwelling found shelter while they ground, planted some potatoes, and sowed They had brought with them a " b u l l -plow," which had to be wooded before i t could be used, and the not got into the ground until the 4th o f July. T h e n logs were cut and prepared and a comfortable built, into whielt the fond), ttio‘ed early in the fall and found i t an argreeable change from their and unconifiartable quarters. Abishai Sanders was one of the substantial citizens of the town for about and was the first supervisor, holding that office cessive years. H e sold his property here and removed to Vermilion Co., Ill., where he died about twelve His widow returned to this town and made her home with Josiah till her death, in 1872. I n the fall o f 1846 thcre was a great deal o f typhoid fever among the John and Jesse Sanders died o f that disease. K e t u r a h married Elsley W. Fuller, removed to Steuben Co., hid., and died there. C h a r i t y is still living near the tween Indiana and Illinois. L e v i became a minister gospel, was appointed chaplain o f the 125th fantry, and was killed in a skirmish at Park's Ford, on the Tennessee River, during the Rebellion. E l i j a h is now a resident of Nebraska, and Benjamin lives in Oregon. T h e only one o f the family still residing in Gilead i s Josiah. who, in 1840, married Mary Miller, of Indiana, bought a farm o f eighty acres on section 17, and has since lived there, rearing a family of children and improving the land. About t h e same time with Sanders came a bachelor named D o w n e r , from some o f the N e w England States, and entered three lots of land on the north shore of Gilead Lake. H e built the first log house in on section 6 , about twenty rods south o f what has since become widely known 29 Marsh's Corners. T h i s house stood there for several years, and furnished a temporary home for the families o f several o f the pioneers, among them t h e Booths, Clarks, and Eastmans. I t was t o m down about 1842. D o w n e r did n o t remain here long. The Clark here mentioned built a house on the opposite side of the road, and soon after removed to near Elkhart, Ind. In t h i s same season, or early i n the succeeding year. Benjamin Leverich settled in the southwest part of t h e town. l ' h e t'amilv consisted o f father and eight children. O n e t i t h e daughters was ;qrs. \ I ' m . McClerg, and her husband and two children to the party. T h e y came from Columbiana Co., Ohio. Benjamin and his oldest son, Thomas, were premiums m e . hers o f the Methodist Episcopal C h u t e . T i r e former, especially, was highly esteemed b y his neighbors. and was a thorough farmer as well as an energetic ati,1 ceti,i,tcht Christian. I n 1852 the entire family (with of one daughter who had married Daniel ��MRS DANIEL DANIEL D A N I E L MARSH. Among the early settlers o f Gilead was Daniel Marsh, who came to Michigan from the town o f settlers i n the township. S h e was born i n Ohio, February, 1817. T h e i r union has Clay, Onondaga Co., N . Y. , i n the fall o f 1834. He was born i n E r i e Co., Pa., M a y, 1812, and while Daniel was yet a lad his father moved t o with four children as follows: M a r t h a J., born Jan. 16, 1837; Cilicia A . , born September, 1840; Onondaga County, where he worked at day labor to support his family. A s soon as Daniel was old enough he, too, was compelled to go out to work, and his earnings went to help support the family. His chances for an education were very he attended school but three months; still he was a great reader and a close observer, and i n time fitted himself to do any When he arrived i n Michigan his sessions consisted o f fifty dollars in money half-interest in a yoke of oxen. I n the spring of 1834 he entered the southeast quarter o f northwest quarter section 18, in Gilead, and handed, the northeast quarter of northwest quarter same section. T h e land was unimproved, but the energy and perseverance o f Mr. Marsh came all obstacles, and the wilderness was made to "blossom as a rose." Soon after his arrival he was married t o Miss Mary Leverich, whose father was one o f the first Lester M., born Oct. 6, 1845; and Alma S., born Aug. 4, 1855. A l l are now living. Mr. Marsh i s spoken o f b y his neighbors and friends as an upright, industrious citizen, a kind friend, and an esteemed neighbor. T o the small tract he first bought he has added, until time he owns a well-improved farm o f dred and sixty acres, acquired by hard work and good management. In early life he was i n politics a W h i g ; h e is now and since the organization o f the Republican party has been a n ardent Republican. H e has been several times supervisor o f his has always taken a deep interest i n educational matters, his own experience making him desirous that his own and his neighbors' children the advantages o f which he himself was deprived. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are members of odist Church, to which they have belonged over forty years, during all which time their daily walk i n life has been that of devoted, earnest �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. to Oregon. W h i l e crossing the Humboldt River on their way to the Pacific coast one son, Abishai, In the spring of 1832, Benjamin Booth left his former home in Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and c,ante as far West as Niles' Corners, in Oakland County, where his stepson, William Purdy, was living, and leaving his family there, he and Purdy started West to look for land. W h e n they arrived at Bronson they heard of Bishop decided to make him a visit. T h e y did so, and when they had looked upon the openings Booth said he desired no farther, for this country was "good enough for him." They then procured a map, and finding what lands were not yet taken up, made their selections, and going to office entered them i n July. M r . Booth then returned and brought his family from Oakland County, arriving in Gilead in August. T h e y first moved into house, and about two months later into the house built on the south shore o f Gilead Lake. A couple o f years later Mr. Booth built the second frame house in the town, and the principal room was for a few years a place for holding elections and religious meetings. T h e Methodists, of which denomination Mr. Booth was ber, held circuit-preaching there very frequently. M r s . Booth died in 1850, and Mr. Booth in February, 1853. Their children were five in number,—two sons daughters. O n e daughter died i n Gilead, and two are living in Iowa. O f the sons, Jesse removed to Oregon in 1854, and is now living there, and Samuel is an honored citizen of Gilead, having a fine farm and resicknce tion James Kelly, whose wife was a sister of the John Croy, settled near the southeast corner of section 7 in the spring of 1833. H e came from Marion In 1836 he sold his farm to Elisha B. a crop o f 11 acres o f wheat, which he leaving the town, and then went to Williams Co., Ohio, where be died some thirty John McKinley was a descendant of seven of John McKinley's, each of whom was an eldest all of whom were blacksmiths. H e came from Scotland in 1826, and lived at Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., until he 'awe here in 1833. H e was accompanied by his own family and his wife's mother, brother, and sister, Margaret, James, and Christina Bennie. James Bennie went t o work f o r Bishop Chase, and three years later settled on the farm i n Bethel which is now occupied by his son-in-law, Judson Sweeting. M r . McKinley the farm he took up on section 8, till his death, which occurred Feb. 5, 1876. H i s wife died i n 1878. T h e i r children, John McKinley, Jr., and Mrs. Margaret Love, are living on the estate, the latter occupying the stead. T w o children, born after the family came some ten or fifteen Francis Bull, with his wife and three children, in 1833 or 1831, from Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. settled near Gilead Lake, on the town-line between Noble and Gilead. T w o daughters were born to them settled here, and the youngest, Emma, was drowned in the lake when two or three years old. H e r mother beside the lake doing her washing, and went to 2 5 3 after sonic soap, leaving the children on the beach. W h i l e she was gone Emma ran out on the plank oh which they stood to dip the water, fell into the lake, and drifted out of reach. H e l p was secured as soon as possible, was taken from the water, but life was extinct. and every effort to resuscitate her proved o f no avail. S h e was the only person ever drowned i n Gilead Lake. Francis Bull, his two sons, George and William, and his daughter, Mrs. Mary Merritt, died in this town at different times from 1859 to 1860. H i s other daughter, Ellen, married Dwight C. Marsh, a physician, who served in the army as during the Rebellion. A f t e r the close of the war appointed collector o f customs at E l Paso, on the R i o Grand River, in Texas. H e died in Coldwater about five years ago, while on a visit there, and his widow still live at El Paso. M r s . Bull went there to live with her daughter and died At about the same time that Mr. Bull settled lies named Crain and Sterne came in; but they a short time before they again "moved on." A man by the name of Charles Richards settled on the town-line in the southwest corner of the town in 1832. H i s built in the town of Noble, but, lest i t should tion, we notice i t here, for i t is still standing, and as a dwelling. I t is the oldest residence in the vicinity, having been in constant use in that capacity for upwards of forty-six The Marsh family, consisting o f Mrs. Marsh, her four sons, Wallace, Daniel, Ebenezer, and John, her daughter, Polly, and her son Wallace's wife and two or came from Clay, Onondaga Co., N. Y. , in the fall They lived in the unoccupied Clark house through ter until December, having Isaac Freeman and his family with them. D a n i e l Marsh and his mother took up and purchased 200 acres in the north part of section 18. A year later he married Mary Leverich. T h e y are now living in Oregon, where they went in the hill of 1873. Wallace settled on the west half of the northwest quarter 18, and died here but a few years later. John also secured farms and became respected citizens of the town. T h e former died here in February, the latter removed to Oregon. Lester M. Marsh and Mrs. Alma S. Luce are the only representatives o f the family remaining in Gilead. T h e y are children of Lyman W. Lyon also settled here in 1834. H e was a one-legged shoemaker, and built himself a shop on line road, a little south o f Gilead Lake, where at his trade. H e was the first shoemaker in the died here many William Sweeting also settled in the northwest corner of the town that same season. H i s son Judson is now living in the adjoining town o f Bethel. T h e from Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y. In the year 1835, Jeremiah Bogardus, his nephews, Eli and Joseph Bogardus, and Ezekiel Fuller, with his sons, Elsley W., Jared, Merrill, Franklin, Chauncey, and his daughter Lucia, became residents o f Gilead. T h e Fullers settled in the east part of adjoining Kinderhook. Ezekiel afterwards moved ana, and died in that State. A l l the rest, arm �254 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Andrew, removed from t h e town, b u t they still remain here William Purdy was one o f the pioneers o f the State, landing i n Detroit on t h e 4 t h day o f July, 1824. H e came from Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y. , and, with his wife and one child, settled in Oakland County, near the lage o f Auburn. A year later lie moved to die town o f Troy, in that c )unty, and lived at a place now called" Nibs' Corners" till he came t o Gilead in January, 1835, cupied the land he had taken up in 1832. H e rented t h e vacant house built b y Francis Bull, and lived there one year, during which time he had a log house built on h i s land, and twenty acres broken up and sown to wheat. H e then moved on t o his place. H e was the in the town, and b y working for the settlers and portion of his pay in " breaking," he managed very soon to get his farm under cultivation. H i s land was the east half of the southwest quarter of section 9, and his house, barn, and shop were b u i l t so that when an accurate made, they were found to be partially in the highway. Mr. Purdy is still living on the same place, with Wheeler and daughter Mary A . H i s wife died some twelve years ago. T w o sons died in Oakland County, and four George, James, Blue, and Robert—died here. T h e last of these died o f consumption, and at the time of his death, in 1869, was serving his seventh term as town other son, Thaddeus, studied law and was admitted t o the bar, but getting the California fever, emigrated t o t h a t State, and was soon after elevated to the office ing attorney. A matt had committed a murder and was placed under arrest, and a crowd o f miners had gathered for the purpose of taking him from the officers and lynching hitn. T h e officers, among them being Purdy, ing t o defend the life o f the prisoner, when, in handing about the firearms, a revolver was accidentally discharged, and the bullet struck Purdy in the back of the head, making a fatal wound. C o r n e l i a , one o f the daughters, married Benjamin Sanders, and is now living in Oregon. T h e last of this tlimily o f children, Edward, is now living bama. H e was town clerk o f Gilead for several held the office of constable for eighteen Job Williams became a resident of this town i n 1836, arriving here with his wife and h i s children, Elisha B., Warren C., S. Zelotus, Lawrence B . , Edward lotte D . , and Susan J . , on t h e 2 5 t h o f May. H e had previously bought 300 acres of land on the north shore of Gilead Lake, and here he built a log house, into which h e moved with all of his family except Elisha B., who, with his wife and three children, moved into the house on the Kelly place, which h e had purchased. T h e house J o b built stood about twelve rods from the lake-shore. H e bought his land o f a lawyer living in Manlius, N. Y. , who had allowed Bishop Chase to have what he could it, to assist in carrying out his College scheme. had allowed James Bennie and John McKinley to part of i t t o wheat. W i l l i a m s , however, not gained to do so, would not allow the bishop to harvest the crop, and this made the bishop very angry. W h e n t h e bishop sold out, Williams wanted to buy a cow of' hint, but he would n o t sell t o h i m under any consideration. S o Williams g o t William P u r d y t o buy the cow f u r hint, which he did, arid whet, the Irishup found out how he had been circurnvemeAl h i s righteous indignation knew n o bounds. I n t h e spring of 1837 Mr. a cast-iron plow at Clinton and brought i t to Gilead. I t was the first improved plow brought into tlie town. a great amount o f work t h a t seiutoit, running from early dawn till dark, and on moonlight nights running all night long. J o b lived i n t h i s town u m i l March 2 4 , 1857, when lie died o f heart-disease in the old house, then used as a shop, where he had gone to fix something the farm. H i s wife died October 1, 1852. T h e oldest and die youngest sons, Elisha B. and Edward M. ‘Villiains, are still residing in Gilead, engaged in farming and ufacturing a plaster and grass-seed sower, invented b y the latter, and patented June 13, 1876. T h e firstthese brothers claims t o have raised t h e largest wheat ever sown i n Branch County. I t was on what is known as "Kane's Prairie,- on section 32, in the town o f Bethel. T h e first year he broke u p and p u t 100 acres, and the next year he broke up 150 the other 100, and sowed t h e whole 250 acres Charlotte D. and Susan J. are both living in Z. in Coldwater, and Lawrence B., when last heard California. T h e other son, Warren C., died Feb. 14, 1843, and was buried in the ground near the Union church. H i s was the first interment there. T h i s burialing about one acre, was given for the purpose by Edward M. Williams. Benjamin S. Wilkins, from Marion CO., Ohio, was the first settler (except the Fullers) east o f in Gilead. H e came first i n the summer o f located some land on the southeast quarter of section 13. He then returned to Ohio and was married there, coating to Gilead again in the month of September, 1836, and he and his wife hired out to work for Abishai Sanders year. B e f o r e commencing work for Sanders he built a log house on his land, his wife meanwhile remaining at the house of a relative in Indiana. A t the expiration of their year at Sanders' they moved into their house. was not a great distance from Hog Lake, and, when short of provisions, Mr. Wilkins often went to the lake turned in a few minutes with fish enough for meal. M r . Wilkins, assisted by his son John. cleared and brought under cultivation his farm of 160 acres, to it by subsequent purchases. H e died on Aug. 17, 1872. H i s wife, Melinda, still survives lives on the homestead with her soil John H . T w o other children, Mrs. Keturah E. Walter and Mrs. Susan Bixley, are also residents of die town. F o u r sons and have died in this town since the family Samuel Arnold, in the fall of 1836, left his wife children in New York and came to Kinderhook, where through the winter with his wife's uncle, •Itilin at what is known as" Waterhouse Corners " T h a t winter he taught the first school kept in the town of During the winter lie looked for hind, and selected half of the southeast quarter o f section 11, in this town, went to the land-office and entered it. H e then returned to his home i n New York, and in th, fall o f 1 3 7 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. with his family and lived for a few weeks in a house on the shores of Hog Lake, which had been built in 1836 man named Brady, who soon after left the town. built a shanty on his land, moved into it, and lived there four years, when he moved into it log house he had little east of the shanty, near the State road. M r . Arnold was the first settler at East Gilead, and the its name--still in common use— o f " Arnold's him. H i s farm was on the timbered opening. and it, so that at the time of his death he owned the south half of the southeast quarter of section 11 and the 40 joining it on the west. H i s widow and son, John at present living on the homestead. F o r a sketch of Samuel Arnold the reader is referred to of Ohm! Dickinson was a native of Massachusetts, from Amherst, Hampshire Co., to Michigan in the spring of 1836. Leaving his family with a son, who was living in Macomb County, he came on West in search of till he reached Taylor & Stephens' tavern, on road, in Batavia. T h e r e he was told that they desirable land to dispose of, and they brought him arid sold him four 80-acre lots, two in Bethel and two in Gilead. 3 1 r. Dickinson then purchased an acre of land at 3larsh's Comers, and built there the largest log house In this part of the county. H i s family, consisting of Experience, and his children, Obed, Jr., Abigail B., Richard C., and Julia A., then came on and moved into the house. T h e eldest son, Obed, was educated at Andover Theological Seminary, near Boston, Mass., was ordained as a Congregational minister, and in 1853 went to Oregon as a home missionary. H e is now living Joel, with his brother ()cram, who never resided in Iowa a few years later, and is now living in that State. Richard devoted his life to suits, and is now engaged in the produce trade Ohio. A b i g a i l , now Mrs. Samuel Booth, and Mrs. Cyrus G. Luce, are still residing in Gilead. O b e d Dickinson died in the full of 1838, of disease caused climate, and his wife survived hint about Peter Keeslar. who, with his wife, is still living in the south part of Gilead, en the firm he originally here with his wife and four SODS in 1837. Joseph and Mrs. Sarah Immels, are also living in Don C. Mather also settled in the south part of in 1837. I l e was a mill-wright by trade, and was Mall and an estimable citizen. H e died here about ten years ago, leaving a son, Frederick, who lives on stead, and a daughter, Mrs. Loretta Wheeler, who lives at Orland, Ind. Burr D. Gray was also a settler of' 1837. H i s that of carpenter and joiner, and he assisted in of many houses and other buildings in Gilead. I l e died in Coldwater several years ago. H i s children all town. M r s . David N. Green, of Coldwater, was one Emerson Marsh, after whom "The Corners" on lino of the town was named, was the first Gilead. H e eame frein the tilW11 o f Camden, in Oneida Co., N. V., in the spring. or IS3S, and brolOtt with lii in a peddler's wig ui, well stocked with such pods as he 2 5 5 would be in demand among the settlers. W i t h this rig he traveled about the country for two or three years, and then traded his horses and wagon for forty acres of land in the north part of' the town. T h i s land lie for forty acres in the northeast corner of section 6, that, in 1841 or 1842, he built a large store, and with a fine stock of goods. H e continued in till 1856, buying large quantities of grain and running a large "ashery" in connection with the then removed to Coldwater, where lie is now living. W h i l e living here his wife (formerly Maria Dickinson) he was afterwards married to Mrs. Haynes, He was a valuable citizen, being a man of energy cellent judgment i n business matters, arid a firm sistent member o f the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a deacon. T h e store building has been one utile and a half south of its former location, and by Mr. E. B. Williams as Horace B. Williams, who was a nephew of Job Williams, settled here about the year 1833. H e was for a prominent citizen o f the town, and held several town offices, among them supervisor, treasurer, and justice peace. H e is now living in Bronson. H e is said introduced the first threshing-machine, ever used about the time of his Jared Fox, Isaac Adams, and Chester Adams settled in the east part o f the town i n the fall o f 1338, Ferguson and George D. Lods in 1839. . The latter was the first blacksmith in this part of the town. H e in the west part of the town. Rev. Jehiel Ii. Hard settled here about 1840. a local preacher of' the Methodist Church, and supervisor o f the town. H e held the office He was also what is known as 'side-judge" of He subsequently removed to the north part of and was killed by a kick from Joshua Callum was one of the "characters" of ern part of Gilead. Settling here about 1840, his time and attention to hunting and trapping, very successful, having command of' the mysterious arts of woodcraft in a degree seldom possessed by any, those children of the forest, The Green faintly left Akron (Ohio) on the 19th o f April, 1841, arrived in Gilead on the 9th o f June, and moved into the h a l f -finished house o f D . C . Mather. " Uncle Dave," as the head o f the funnily was familiarly called, had bought 200 acres of land on the State line at $3.80 per acre, of David Waterman. B u t five acres had been improved. Assisted by Cornelius Irving, M r. Green built, a small frame house, into which the flintily moved about the middle of July. T h e eldest son, David N., had come West with his father, when the land chased, and, while his fhther was gone East after he plowed and planted the itnproved land. M r . a man of great powers I if endurance and mon energy. F o r twenty-six years he resided in and then removed to Coldwater, where he is now living. David N. Green has risen to considerable prominenee in the field of political and public life. H e removal about twenty ycars'ago, and is still living there. �256 H I S T R R Y O F B R A N C H c 0 I I N T Y, MICH It; held the offices o f sheriff, United States assessor, deputy provost-marshal, and judge o f probate, which he now holds, having entered upon his " t h i r d term" i n that position. A n o t h e r son, Elijah C. S. Green, is cessful farmer, and has a fine limn and pleasant location on section 9. h i s brother, Alexander H., lives i n the south part of the town. Constant Voinett, Warren Tyler, Peter Gino, Barrett settled i n t h e east p a r t o f the town i n 1842, Leander Merrill in 1843, Win. J. Phelps in 1844, John G. and James Bartlett in 1845, and John, and Benoni Sinclair about that time. T h e s e all took up and improved, new farms. T h e Phelps here mentioned was blessed with a religious experience rather more varied and extensive than falls usually t o the l o t o f mankind. Ile was converted and baptized three times before Gilead. T h e first t i m e he was baptized as then immersed as a Free-Will Baptist, arid lastly a member of that immaculate sect, the Latter-day Saints or Mormons. A s a member o f this denomination hibited great zeal, and anxiously sought the conversion of his friends to that peculiar belief. A m o n g others nestly pleaded with Samuel Arnold and his wife to join the Mormons. M r s . Arnold, somewhat curious to learn in regard to such matters, said t o hint, " Mr. Phelps, you have been baptized as a Methodist, Baptist, and Mormon. Now, where is the difference in the efficacy of the rite ?" '• Mrs. Arnold," he replied, " the difference is this: when I was baptized as a Mormon I received the H o l y Ghost in the water." Considering the habits o f life and savory practices of the Mormons, it seems very improbable that many of the members of the sect ever met with the same Lemuel L . Graham came from Sturgis t o Gilead i n 1845, and bought a large tract of land that had formerly belonged to Bishop Chase. H e had lived in years, and died the year after he settled here. H i s son, Lemuel L . , now lives on t h e homestead, which i s the southwest quarter of section 17. Professor once president of Hillsdale College, and now a resident of Chicago, and A . J. Graham, of New York, short-hand reporter, author of a number of works nography, and inventor of the phonographic system which bears his name, were sons o f Lemuel L . , Sr., and lived in Gilead a portion o f their lives. T h e history of A . J . Graham is quite peculiar. I t is thus briefly ally sketched by Mr. T. Cowell in a series of lished in the Coldwater Rtpublican in the winter of 1879: " With a great love for study and mental had no aptitude or liking for farm work, and acquired the reputation of being lazy. I l e was, however, trying cipline his mind and store i t with useful knowledge, and when finally, by accident, lie came across an treating upon the art o f stenography, he a t once set a t work, without any tutor, t o master the science. T o a young friend he said, ' I have commenced the study of the art of phonography, arid I shall never rest satisfied until I have sealed the loftiest heights o f the profession.' T h e results have more than justified the assertion. in the old world or new has ever achieved in tiii I I , h a n he. I l i d i s e i p l e s call be numbered b y A 111.i1P.f I I I , later settlers we find Hon. Cyrus who first t e L u p h i s resident, i n Gilead 1849. H e has become l b , ' 111.4 distinguished citizen of the town, one o f i t s i i i ,-t sticees-ful farmers. and receives, even as he merits, the atieetionate regard. perfect confidence, and hearty esteem o f his neighhors quaintances. A sketch of hi,' life will he found in another part of this work. The experiences of the pioneer. of Gilead sarily very l i k e those o f all pioneers. T h e y had t h e i r peculiar trials, troubles, hardships, and privations t o undergo, and enjoyed. also. their peeuliar pleasures. T h e s e reminiscences will long be preserved as traditions among their descendants, but their preservation i n the pages o f history would involve a superhuman task, and h.ad down the library shelves with unread volumes. Cons-quently. we are obliged to confine ourselves to nientionitc.: "illy the most essential facts and Ow most unusual ineidetits. One Indian trail crossed this town front east t o west. leading from an Indian camp or village in Kind,a les.k to English Prairie, i n Indiana. T h e r e were many Indians here, pursuing their peculiar occupations. associ at i t r . e l y , and always on perfectly friendly terms, with the trading with them whenever opportunity offered. B e f o r e the whites had been long here these Indiana to their reservation in the Indian Territory. About the first and most important work that had to perform was that of breaking up the soil This was usually done with what was called a " plow, a brief description o f which may not out o f place here T h e base, or foundation, of the plow was a flat plate o f iron about 30 inches long, wide, thick on one edge and thin on the other, the thick edge forming a landside. T h e forward end o f this was laid with steel and made very sharp. O n this a strong wooden post stood, reaching t o , and niertised n t o , the beam, the whole being fastened firmly together bolts. T h i s beam was o f wood, about 9 feet long, and some 5 by 7 inches in size. A coulter, made of steel and ground sharp, was el:11111,0a t e the lieain and reached t o a notch i n the share. T o the beam and share board, rived o u t of a log having the proper twist, tached. T h i s mould-board was generally protected with a covering of sheet-irm. T I I d l _ nes Wer, attached to the ta .ie beam and to the muild-hoard. A i s and wheel at the forward end of the beam completed this heavy brous piece o f agricultural machinery. I t would weigh between 200 and 300 pounds, and, when drawn by from 6 to 12 yoke of oxen, would break u p from 1 t o of land i n a day, cutting a furrow about 18 inches wide and from 6 to 10 inches deep, and cutting o f roots and stumps u p t o t h e thickness o f a man's thigh without seriously checking the progress of the team. I t required two men t o use i t , one to drive and the other to hold the plow. I t is said that a man named Chaunocy the first breaking plow i n Gilead. E l i s i o Samuel Booth, and others, elm, a good deal o f this kind of work. 1 �As Srn 00iHui IP 11111111 , 11111ill k \ \ \ \ A I I , \ I A „ I pi 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Ill' I l 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 I I RESIDENCE o r E .C. S. CRECN. QIEEAD,BRANCH I �t �HISTORY O F B R A N C H Bishop Chase brought the first carriage into when he Caine, in 1831. Benjamin Booth brought the first single carriage when he came, in 1832. T h i s vehicle was in great demand throughout the region by those to ride out in style. I t met with a tragic fate about two years after. M r . Booth kept it sheltered in a near which stood a large black-oak tree. T h i s tree came necessary to cut down, and the work being done the tree began to fall. B u t (the best-laid plans, to expectations, the tree in falling met with tion that caused it to sway from its proper fall with a thundering crash upon the shed and ill-fated carriage. A couple of years later Mr. Booth replaced the carriage with another, after which he drove N. Y., and then drove back here, driving all the from Detroit to Buffalo and from Buffalo to Detroit. T h i s carriage lasted him as long as As illustrating the perfect confidence the early settlers, we relate the following incident: Elisha B. Williams once wished to use $100 in his went to Abishai Sanders to borrow that amount. ders was at work at a distance from the house, Mr. Williams had made known his errand, said to him, " I guess I can let you have it. Yo u ' l l find the pocketthe mantel-shelf over the fireplace. G o and get it, what you want, and then put the book back." liams preferred to have him go and get it, but to do so. S o he went to the house, took down book, which contained $500, and counted out the wanted. M r s . Sanders was present, but refused to money, saying she was "no hand to count it." W h e n Mr. Williams went to pay back the borrowed money, Mr. Sanders, in the woods, and tendered him Sanders refused to take it, saying, " Yo u borrowed the money of the pocket-book, now you must pay it back pocket-book." A n d so he did. I n the present age of the world such a method of conducting business would seem very novel indeed. I s i t because people are less honest now than they The first post-office in town bore the name and was established in 1834, with Bishop Chase as the postmaster. I t was kept afterwards for many years by Emerson Marsh at his store at "The Corners." cessors were Robert Ward, Theron Spring, and Dr. N. B. Hewett, who is the present incumbent. James the first contract for carrying the mails over which was then only from Bronson to Gilead, and let it to Samuel Booth. T h e compensation was $30 per year. T h i s office is now on the route from Bronson to Orland, Ind., and is supplied with a daily mail. Gilead post-office was eetablished in May, 1857, uel Arnold was first commissioned as served ten years, and was succeeded by Almond who is the present The first school in the town was the one kept Chase; but the first public school was kept by Kinley, about 1836-37, in the first school-house erected in the town, a primitive structure occupying the site present residence of D . C. May, near the cast shore of i Med LAP. T h e building was not over 15 by 20 COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 2 5 7 size, and built of logs hewed to some semblance Incas upon the inside o f the room. M i s s phrey was also an early teacher there. T h e first the east part of the town was kept by Viola a mile east of Arnold's Corners, as early as 1840. I n the matter of education Gilead keeps pace with the times. H e r schools are numerous and well sustained, and buildings indicative of good taste as well of a taken by the people in the cause of intellectual It is told by some people, whose powers of back to the earliest existence of the town, that once platted a village on the shore o f the lake; and they find much amusement in recalling the fact that on his plat a lot reaching to the lake was designated " a mill-seat." I t is probable that the bishop referred to a steamBut, however this may be, no village ever existed there. Within a few years a little hamlet sprung up at Arnold's Corners, which bears the name o f East Gilead, a dozen dwellings, a store, blacksmith-shop, church, and steam saw-mill. T h e saw-mill was a portable one, and was brought to its present location in the summer by Messrs. Quimby Bros. I t is now owned by Luke J . Carpenter and Thomas Clay, and is doing a The blacksmith-shop was opened in 1871, by A wagon-shop was added b y Franklin Platt, i n 1873. John Haynes opened the first store (a small kept i t a year, commencing in the winter o f 1875. T h e present store o f Charles Carroll was opened by him i n June, 1878, i n the building fitted u p i n 1877 purpose by L. The town o f Gilead was separately organized by the Legislature o f 1836-37. Previously i t had been part of the town of Green, and then either of Batavia or a township called Prairie River. T h e r e are no records or traditions that have enabled the writer to what its political and civil relations were previous to its erection as a town by itself. The first town-meeting was held on the third April, 1837, and, though the place o f meeting is not recorded, was probably held a t the house o f Benjamin Booth. A b i s h a i Sanders was elected Supervisor, and Albert W . Glass, Town Clerk. T h e names o f others elected to office will be found elsewhere. A m o n g others the following resolution was passed: " That all elected at that election should (so far as they were entitled by virtue o f their offices to draw compensation from the town) serve gratis." T h e record shows that the highest vote polled by any one candidate was 35. W i l l i a m Purdy was elected Poundmaster, and Jesse Booth and Daniel Marsh, FenceThe bounty on wolves was fixed at one, two, and three dollars, respectively, for whelps, males, A cursory examination o f the records reveals a few amusing entries, among them the following in of " estraym," viz.: " A dark sorel or light with dark mane and tail supposed to be three or Oalti." A n d , again, " a bay mare three white feet Star in the forward ;" and almo, o n e heifer Read white under her," etc. I n the record of the town-meeting o f 1851R is the fellowing lucid paragraph : " Resolved, that all Backs �bk• t i . o n : 1 1 l a , t 6 , 1 . th.,1 • Breach thereof, alter one day's Notice, Shall G a t dollars for the same am every day i t runs at large," further, " voted that i t shall be fifty cents for every horse rutting a t large.'' P h e school inspectors, too, do not seem t o have been selected entirely for their educational acquirements, f o r they are reported t o have granted certificates t o persons whom t h e y, " sighned," had examined in " Othography, raphy, and Arithtuatic." S a i d certificates were to for two years, unless " tumid acording t o law." once in the past the town i s credited with having elected " Overeeers" o f highways. On the question of liquor selling, and liquor well, the town of Gilead has ever opposed the taken a bold stand for temperance. S h a l l we say that this fact, coupled with that o f the material growth perity o f the town, has no significance, and observant student o f cause and effect no useful lesson? In 1850 the town voted against license, and June 20, 1853, the vote on the adoption of the Maine law stood 65 to 14 in favor of it. When the question o f adopting the first tion WaS being agitated, a convention was called to meet in Branch, and this town sent Elisha B. Williams Booth as delegates. T h e y traveled with one horse. O n e of them would ride i t a couple o f miles, then dismount, hitch the horse beside the road, and press forward on foot. The other one coming up would then mount the horse, pass the first, and riding a couple of miles leave the horse for the other when he came along. I n this way they progressed till they reached their The political history of Gilead has not been o f a very exciting character. M o v i n g along in the even tenor of her way, paying more regard to the personal qualifications than to the personal political affiliations o f candidates for town officers, she has, in the main, chosen wisely, any serious maladministration of her affairs. P r e v i o u s to 1854 the political sentiment i n t h e ascendancy was the Whig principle, though the strength o f the parties was pretty evenly balanced. I n the fidl o f 1854 some Gilead people became inquisitive t o know something about the "American" party, but their queries were always met with the stereotyped phrase, " I don't know." T h i s served to stimulate their curiosity, and some o f them resolved t o solve the mystery by bearding the bugbear in his dim— t h a t is, they resolved t o go t o Coldwater, where a lodge had been started, and join i t . I n pursuance o f this resolve David N. Green, George J. Langs, and presented themselves at the proper time and degrees each, arid were vested with authority to lodge in Gilead. U p o n their arrival home they began to talk privately with t•heir friends rind a meeting upon, which was held i n an upper room in the Seminary building erected by Bishop Chase, and a lodge with twenty-five members. T h e meetings were and the membership rapidly increased, until before election came off they had a majority of the voters o f the town in their ranks. T h e y carried that election by a fair majority. B u t the thoughtful members of the 1,ilit I strength, until they existence for the I of IsT shim o t i „ "Know-Nothings," and they curried the town by an majority of' about eight votes. \ I however, the tables were revers, •I • publicans, 1(16; Nationals, 89; Demoerr While tlit• " K I , 112- I I ing of those who were witnesses. B e v. of the Free-Will upon to send in i. himself for initiation along with Robert Purdy other candidates. T h e meetings were then being held is a partially finished house, and the floor of the first was covered with shavings. O n e o f the workmen had is some way injured himself, and on t h e shavings which strewed the floor there was considerable blood. Headley was a somewhat nervous ail.] quite a wag, so, to beguile t he detailed, for the benefit of his Headley, all the horrible tales he moi'. awful and lawless procedures o f tl, Headley grew nervous and fidgety under tio arid several times declared that 1, better '• back out." A t the sanguinary appearance of the no doubt that it was caused by the 1,1 • •" 1. the order, whose throat had duplicity and treachery. J u s t at this molueut and the candidate:, were ushered into another room. ! being in a free perspiration and fairly shaking wi, As they entered, a sepulchral voice from some rolled forth the words, Guards, do your duty !" T h i s capped the climax, and with a yell of fear, not to reveal anything he had learned, through the doorway, rushed down the stairs horse, and dashed away through the night as it i L . % a thousand spirits During the war of the Rebellion, Gilead seat out “ ; its citizens to battle for the Union cause. O f about one-third never came back, but gave their' lives al noble sacrifices upon the altar of their country. I t y epee to the list of soldiers published is mother pretat 460 work, thcit w t 1 1 1 “ . ,t4`11 B l i t in the hearts of their friend • what ni,,, o u t i n g ( I l e k1.. ���HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. 259 The following civil list of Gilead shows the names and 1 8 7 0 . Lester M. Marsh is. v.i. 1 8 7 4 . date of election of all the town officers from 1837 to 1878: 1 8 7 1 . John IV. Arnold If. Ii. 1 8 7 5 . Allen Emanuel Gilbert I . E. C. S. Green Is. v i . 1 8 7 8 - 7 7 . E . C . 8. Greeil i v. a u i l C I V I L L I S T. SI.10511V ISIIRS. 1 8 7 3 1858-59. E d w a r d Webb, J r . t 186r462. J u l A . Smith. 1883-65. C y r u s (I. Luce. 1837-42. A b i s h a i Sanders. 1813-15. Jebiel I I . Hard. 1,46-47. D a n i e l I l a r 8 h . 1•18. Eli.ley W. F u l l e r. 1818-51. J o h n 1853. C v r o s G . L i m e . 1853. D a v i i l N . Gree,,. 16,51. Lewiir W h i t e -nth. 1855. 11aniel Marsh r r i s . i . David N. Green . a p p . . 1866. L e m u e l L . Graham. 1867. A l b e r t A . Luce. 1868-71. George J . Langs. 1872. J a r e d Fuller. 1873. George J. Langs. 1874-75. C y r u s G. Luce. 1876. Thomas Lasenby. 1877. C y r u s G. Luce. 1878. Joseph Keeslar. 1856. Horace B. Will ama 1857-58. Cyrus GI. Lime.* Tow CLERKS. 1837-38. Albert W. Glass. 1839. L e v i Sanders. 1840. Risley W. Fuller. 1841-12. Emerson Marsh. 1,15-18. W i l l i a m IleClergi. 1855. George J. Lange. 1856. E l i j a h Sanders (rem.). Benjamin Sanders (app.). 1857-58. E l i a b S. H i l t o n . 1859-62. D wight e. Marsh (res.). 1862-63. R . P u r d y (app. 1862). 1864. E d w a r d P u r d y. 1865-69. R o b e r t Purdy (died). 1869-75. E . P u r d y (app. 1869). 1876-77. Giles A . B i s l e r. 1978. George J. Langs. 1.48. A b i i i h a t 8auili44 1850-51. M i t c h e l l Birce. 1952. Benjamin Sanders. 1853. Homer A. Loomis. 1854. Jared Fuller. T R E A SUR ERR. 1839-41. A b i s h a i Sanders. 1842-48. I Vi l l i a s , P u r d y. 1847. Joseph Freeman. 1818. E d w a r d 1Vebb. 1849. J a l , n Campbell. 15513-51. Horace B. W i l l i a m , . 1852. D a v i d N . Green. 1853. J o h n Whitcomb. 1854. Lorenzo C. I I , , el. 1855. E d w a r d IV his. 1857. Joseph Baker (res.). Daniel Marsh I app.). 1858-59. Jared Fuller. 1880-61. B e n j a m i n S. W i l k i n s . 1862-63. V i r g i l L i t t l e . 1864-68. H u g h IV. M a r t i n . 1869. W i l l i a m Heeslar. 1870-71. E d w a r d Webb, J r. 1872-74. A l e x a n d e r R. Green. 1873-77. D a r w i n A . Thompson. 1878. Chauncey I I . Brooks. 1856. Joseph Keeslar. JUSTICES 0 V TIRE PEACE. 1837. James Glass (4 years). Thomas Gothrop (3 years). ohed D i c k i n s o n 12 years). Wr0. M e t i e r ; I 188. Horace 11. Wr(liams f . r. i . Benjamin Booth v . , . 1839-40. N o record. 1811. Samuel . l r i m l i l . 1642. Horace B. Williams. 18-13. W i l l i a m MeClerg. 1844. Emerson Marsh. 1845. Esekiel Fuller I t t.). John Marsh I v. ) . 1846. Horace B. Williams. 1817. Lorenzo C. H u r d . 1848. B a s e l N . G 1419. Samuel 18514 Mordeear Leverieh. 1851. C . G. L u r e r e s . 1852). 1852 A d a m I f . t . i . John A . . I . Metrgar. 1851. J o h n I I . W i l k i n s .1. t i . Lorenzo c . H a r d ( V. P. 1851. J o h n S. M e r r i t t Arunah Ransford eaver. LesIiir I I . Starch 1 . 1.). 1 8 7 8 . 1855. .4 4 1 M e t z g e r I t 1.). Arunah Ransford ( v. ) . 1856. M i t c h e l l Biree f t t.). James Morrell i v. ) . 1857. A l m o n d S. Graves If. t.). Arunah Ransford ( v. ) . 1858. J o h n S. M e r r i t t (f. t.). James Foglesang I v. ) . 1859. A r u n a h Hansferd (f. t.). Benjamin Sanders (v.). 1860. M i t e h e l l Biree. 1861. .Ivines Foglesang If. t.). 1...orge .1. Lange (I. V.). 1861-02. A . Blass (e. v. l i m i t L). 1863. Benjamin S. Wilkins. 1864. Stephen Krum 1(.1.4 Robert Pnrdy ( v i . 1885. James Fogleeang (1. L i . Squire G. Beers ( • . ) . 1866. Horatio N. Richards (f. I ) . James Foglerang (I. v.). Job A. Smith (s. v. ) . 11117-69. N o record. 11170. John Waterhouse (f. t.). Robert Ward (I. v.). Eleeted ...rutty treasurer and resigned. Appointed i n 1658, litre 1.1.0,, resigned. 1872. L e s t e r M . Marsh. . A l b e r t A . Luce. I 1878, J o h n I t . W i l k i n s . ( . 4 11111 0 . 1 S I O N E R S O F / M G R W A Y, 1$51. Johnston Ferguson. 1852. E d w a r d Webb. 1837-39. D a n i e l Marsh. Elisba B. Williams. Benjamin S. W i l k i n s . 1838. James Mills. Jesse Booth. 1839. Joseph Freeman. Samuel A r n o l d . 1840. Chekter Adams. Win. MeClerg. Benjamin Leyerich. 1853. Dfirjor 1854. loam. Adams ( f . S(lim Headley i v.1. 1855. Bcnimnin S. 1841. L e a n d e r M e r r i l l . Daniel Marsh. Joseph Freeinan. 1842. D a v i d Green. Jared F o x . Jesse Booth. 1843. Joseph Freeman. John Marsh. Benjamin S. W i l k i n s . 1844. D a n i e l Marsh. Horace B. Williams. Samuel A r n o l d . 1845. James M e We t h y. 1845-16. Jesse Barrett. Benjamin Leverich. 1846. H a r r i s o n N a s h . 1847. B e e j . S. W i l k i n s (3 years). David N . Green (2 years). Mord. Leverieh (1 year). 1848. Joseph Keeslar. 1849. Simon Z. Williams. 1850. I s a a c Adams (1. t.). Isaac Freeman ( v. ) . John Freeman ( a p p . ) . 1856. A . W. M i l l e r JO F o g l e • s t o g I v. ) . 1857. George M o l t i f . t.). J o v i a l Keeslar v . ) . Samuel A r n o l d 1858. Constant Voinett. 1859. J o h n F e l l e r i f . 1859-60. J . Ferguson v . and 1861. V i r g i l L i t t l e . 1862. J . A . J. Metzger. 1863. B e n j a m i n S. W i l k i n s . 1864. S q u i r e G. Beers. 1865. D a n i e l Marsh. 1866. V i r g i l L i t t l e . 1867. Squire G. Beers. 1868. J o b A . Smith (f. t.). William Meek ( v. ) . 1869. George J. Langs. 1870. S q u i r e G. Beers. 1871. J o b A . Smith. 1872. W i l l i a m Meek (f. L ) . Darwin A . Thompson ( v. ) . 1873. S q u i r e G. Beers. 1874. D a r w i n A . Thompson. 1875. M i l e s Wheeler. 1876. H i r a m Brown. 1877. Chauncey H . Brooks. 1878. E d w a r d M . Williams. ASSESSORS. 1842-43. Samuel Arnold. 1843. J o h n M o K i n l e v. 1844. J o h n Marc) 1,11 1 7 , C o i l 1i 1837. W i l l i a m MeClerg. 1837-38. Thomas Leverich. 1037-39. Joshua W. Marsh. 1838. E l i s h a 11.1Villiams. 1839. Samuel A r n o l d . Jesse Booth. 18411. F. C. Ball. Isaac Freeman. William M e f l e r g . 1841-42. J o h n Marsh. Chester Adams. John M c K i n l e y. 1847. J a r t d 1848-49. J o h n M c K i n l e y Jared Fox. 1850. Ezekiel Fuller. Lorenzo C. H u r d COLLECTORS. 1837-38. L y m a n W. Ly o n . 1 8 4 0 . 1839. Samuel Booth. 1 8 4 1 . OVERSEERS O F 1837. J o b Williams. Benj. Leverich. 1838. J o h n M c K i n l e y. 1038-39. B e n j a m i n Booth. 1840-41. B e n j a m i n Leverieb. 1841-42. Ezekiel F u l l e r. 1842-44. J o h n M c K i n l e y. 1843. Benjamin Leverich. M t Emerson H a n k . 1845. W i l l i a m Purdy. Daniel Marsh. 1846. John Marsh L y m a n W. Ly n n . J a r e d Fuller. T R E 1818. B l i t h e 11. Williams. 1817. J o h n M c K i n l e y. 1448. D a v i d Green. t • Iv i i o A T , 1 1 ' 0 1 1. o II. o l m e d . �260 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH 5511001. I N S P E C TO R S . 1837. W i l l i a m McClorg. 1858. H . A . L o o m i s (removed). George J . L a n g e ( a p p . ) . Thomas Gothrop. 1837-38. Ober' D i c k i n s o n . 1857. R o b e r t P u r d y (app.). 1838. A l b e r t W. Glass. Cyrus G. Luce ( a p p . ) . 1858. D a n i e l S p r i n g (f. t . ) . 1838-39. L e v i Sanders. Samuel A r n o l d ( v. ) . 1839. E m e r s o n M a r s h . 1840. W i l l i a m M c C l e r g . 1859. J o b A . S m i t h . 1860. J o h n A . Blass. 1840-41. O b e d Dickinson. 1881. M i l o H . M o t t . 1839-40. E l s l e y W . F u l l e r. Gideon D . B a g g e r l y. 1841. B . D . G r a y. 1862. J a m e s M . B i r c e . W. J . Phelps. 1842. E s l e y F u l l e r. W i l l i a m Meelerg. 1883. S q u i r e G. Beers. 1842-44. S a m u e l A r n o l d . 1843. J a r e d F u l l e r. 1885. A l b e r t A . Luce. 1888. M i l o I I . M o t t . 1844-45. J e h i e l H . H a r d . 1887. A l b e r t A . Luce. 1846. S a m u e l A r n o l d . 1868. L e s t e r M . M a r s h . 1847. E l i j a h Sanders. 1869. J o h n W. A r n o l d . 1848. E d w a r d Webb. 1870. L e s t e r M . M a r s h . Abishai L e v e r i e h . 1849. R o b e r t B . Sawyer. 1871. J o h n W . A r n o l d . Samuel A r n o l d (app.). 1864. W i l l i a m H a g u e . 1872. D a n i e l S p r i n g . 1873. A l b e r t A . L u c e (f. t . ) . 1850. J a m e s B . Robertson. 1873-74. L e s t e r M. Marsh (v. and 1851. S a m u e l A r n o l d . I'. t.). 1875. S e w e l l M a y. 1852. C l a r k R . D o w l i n g . 1853. J a r e d F u l l e r. 1878. B y r o n H o o p i n g a r n e r. 1854. L e w i s J . W h i t c o m b . 1877. E d w a r d P u r d y. 1855. F . E . M a r s h . 1878. C h a r l e s E . G r i ff i n . 1856. D . F. D a y t o n . SCHOOL S U P E R I N T E N D E N T S . 1875. A l b e r t A . Luce. 1878. C h a r l e s S. Dean. 1876-77. Sewell M a y. D R A I N COMMISSIONERS. 1872. W a l t e r B . Carpenter. 1 8 7 8 . J a r e d R . Prestos. 1873-77. S q u i r e G . Beers. CONSTABLES. John M a r s h , Joseph B o g a r d u s , H e n r y H . Glass, 1837; ders, 1837, 3 8 ; E d w a r d M . Green, 1838; Samuel Booth, 1838, '39 ; M a j o r D . W i l l i a t n s , 1838, '41, ' 4 2 : J a r e d F o x , 1839, ' 4 5 ; O b e d Dickinson, 1840; L y m a n W. Ly o n , 1840-42, '48, ' 4 9 ; ler, 1841 ; J a m e s Sweeting, 1841, ' 4 4 ; Cornelius Freeman, 1842; Perry I I . B o w e r, 1842, ' 5 1 , ' 5 2 ; G e o r g e F e r g u s o n , rence B . W i l l i a m s , 1843, ' 4 4 ; J o h n G . B a r t l e t t , 1 8 4 4 ; D o n C . Mather, 1845; Chauncey H . B l a n c h a r d , 1845, ' 1 6 ; son, 1845, '51, ' 5 2 ; C a r p e n t e r T . 5 Vi l l i s m e , 1846: I s a a c A d a m s , 1846-50; P h i l i p L e n t , 1846, '47, '49, ' 5 0 ; E l i j a h Sanders, James Bartlett, 1 8 4 7 ; E d w a r d H . W i l l i a m s , 1 8 4 8 ; J u d s o n S w e e t i n g , 1848-51; Ebenezer Marsh, 1850; H i r a m Stiles, 1851, ' 5 2 ; Charles H . Blass, 1852, ' 5 3 ; H i r a m Palmateer, Constant Vo i n e t t , Samuel Davis, 1853; I l e m a n B . W i l l i a m s , Clarkson Blass, 'Henry Shaw, 1854; J o h n S k i n n e r, 1854, '55, ' 5 7 ; G . D . Blame, T i m o t h y L a n e , 1855; R o b e r t P u r d y, 1 8 5 5 - 5 8 ; G e o r g e J . L o n g s , R i c h a r d I t . Clark, W i l l i s C a r p e n t e r, 1 8 5 6 ; N o a h N a s h , 1 8 5 7 ; B a r t o n C . Robinson, 1857-60; V i r g i l L i t t l e , 1858, '511; L e w i s Pierson, 1858, '60: E d w a r d P u r d y, 1859-77; J a m e s P i e r s o n , 1859; W a l t e r S . Ernst, 1860: Lorenzo Ta y l o r, Gideon D . B a g g e r l y, Enoch D a v i s , 1861 ; W i l l i a m M a r t i n , D a n i e l M a r s h ( 2 d ) , 1882; H u g h tin, 1 8 6 2 , ' 6 5 , ' 6 7 ; H u m p h r e y F o s t e r, B e n j a m i n S . W i l k i n s , F r a n k l i n S m i t h , 1863; P h i l i p M a r q u e t t , 1864; T r u m a n 0 . Ta y - , lor, 1884, ' 8 5 ; M I D A I R A . Hague, 1885; Charles S. Dean, D a n i e l Spring, 1866; Charles W . I l a r t w e l l , 1866, ' 6 7 ; J o h n W . A r n o l d , 1888-70; E p h r a i m Deeds, J o b A . S m i t h , 1 6 7 8 ; G e o r g e I n m a n , F. E . H e a d l e y, 1871; J o n a t h a n K n i g h t , 1871-73; ris, 1 8 7 2 ; S a m u e l S . R u p r i g h t , 1 0 7 2 - 7 5 ; L u k e J . C a r p e n t e r, 1873; E m a n u e l G i l b e r t , J o h n Beers , 1874; T h e o d o r e Carpenter, Daniel I n i m e l , 1875; A a r o n D a v i s , 1 8 7 6 ; Charles N . Carpenter, A l b e r t W. Foglesang, 1 8 7 8 - 7 7 ; J e r o m e B . Va n d e v a n t e r, 1 8 7 7 : James P o v y, Gilbert Hoopingarner, Elisha B. W i l l i a m s , Frederick Pothoof, 1978. COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . The first religious meetings held i n Gilead were those conducted b y Bishop Chase, a his house. SOUR after, Methodist itinerants began preaching at the homes o f the settlers, many of whom belonged to that denomination. A s a result of this, about the 20th of May, 1836, a formed at the house of Benjamin Booth. T h e r e were then but three members, and thow were Benjamin Booth and Mary, his wife, and a Mrs. Jones, who afterwards moved to Ohio. T h e next Sabbath the class was increased by the adding to it of Job, Philenia. Elisha B.. Eleanor, Major D. and Warren Williams, Eli and Maria Bogardus, and Mrs. Elsie Smith. E . B . Williams was appointed and steward, and held these positions, the former fifteen years, and the latter ten years. T h i s class then appointment on the Coldwater circuit, and held once in two weeks a t school-houses or in the west part of the town. S i n c e that time it longed t o Gilead, B u r r Oak, and Bronson circuits for a time, and i n 1869 was organized i n connection with four other appointments as Gilead circuit. T h e names we have been able to ascertain have been Nathan Mount, - Corey, Seth Finch. John Clubine. Albert H. Torrey, William Dou.st, N . M . Steele, - Swift. John Hoyt, B . W. Smith, F. N . Jaynes, E. A . Tanner, G. W. Hoag, J . W . White. T h e latter has been pastor since September, 1878. The class steadily increased in numbers, and about 1860 began t o think of building a church. I n the fall of that year a meeting was held at the house of E. B. Williams, and the following board o f trustees elected, viz.: Daniel Marsh, Elisha B . Williams, Samuel Booth, John Feller, Edward M . Williams, Don C . Mather, Horace liams. T h e incorporation being thus effected, M r. E. B. Williams donated a site, containing 100 square rods, on which to build a church, and work was begun o n i t the following spring. T h e foundation was laid, the frame raised, and t h e building inclosed t h a t season, and t h e inside work and plastering was done during the spring of 1862. T h e building is 3 2 b y 50 feet i n size, and cost about $2000. I t was dedicated by M. Eddy, of Chicago,- a t that time editor of the western Christian _ldrocate,-on the 19th of His text was from the First Epistle to Timothy, ter and 16111 verse: " A n d without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest i n the flesh justified i n the Spirit, seen o f angels, preached Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." At this time a division of the class took place, and what is known as the North Gilead class was formed. T h e y united with the Congregational Society in the erection of a union church, a mile farther north, a year or two later. This class is now under charge o f Warren W. Williams. class-leader, and has a membership of about 25. one of the appointments on Gilead circuit, Under the preaching o f Rev. William Donst a revival occurred, which, in the interest manifested, in of conversions, and in its far-reaching and for good, was never equaled in this town. I t occurred i n the winter of 1864-65. T h e precept membership is 4 parsonage was 14.101t in the spring �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . B. F. Brown. at a cost o f $850. I t is located near the north end of Gilead Lake, in a very The present officers o f the church are Samuel Booth, L. M . Marsh, Daniel Sharp, Miles Wheeler, Thomas J. Fester, Orlin Dean, Nathan B. Hewett, Trustees; Nathan B. Hewett, Class-Leader; Samuel Booth, N. B. Hewett Warren Sayles, J . E . Hathaway, Stewards; Nathan B . Hewett, Recording The Sunday-school connected with this church was the first one organized in the town. I t was formed about the spring o f 1840, in what was called the house, and Elisha B . Williams was elected as the first superintendent. T h e attendance varied according to the state of the weather and the roads, sometimes being as low as 30, and again running up to 80. U p o n of the church edifice, the school was reorganized spring of 1864, with Charles Williams as and a membership of 70 scholars. A t present numbers about 40 scholars, and has a library of volumes. I t s present officers are Emory 0. tendent; Nathan B. Hewett, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. Alma Luce, Treasurer .1 2 6 1 In 1876-77 the church withdrew from its connection, and became a purely The meetings for several years were held principally at the school-house in District No. I , Bethel and Gilead, until, in 1863 or 1864, an arrangement was made Methodists, and a union church built half a mile south of Marsh's Corners, on section 5. T h i s church is about 30 by 45 feet in dimensions; cost about $1800; and was dedicated i n the November following its completion, by Rev. Mr. Gallagher, of Hillsdale. T h e church held b y a board of 9 trustees, 3 elected by each church and 3 by The present membership o f the church is twenty, and its present. clerk is Mrs. Mary E. McCourtie. The Sabbath.school was organized many years ago, and Emerson Marsh, H . 0. Tibbets, and Theron among its earliest superintendents. A t present bership is about 40, but in the summer season ance averages from 6 0 to 75. T h e present Willis Brown, Superintendent; Parmenio A. sistant Superintendent; George Brown, Secretary ; and George Lazenby, T U E CONGRECiATIONAL C H U R C H A N D S O C I E T Y O F G I L E A D ZION C H U R C H O F T H E E V A N G E L I C A L A S S O C I AT I C N was next formed. A meeting was held at the near John McKinley's residence, on Christmas-day, 1847, at which a number of persons belonging to the church at Orland, Indiana, decided to ask letters sion and organize a church i n Gilead. A t this meeting Rev. Jacob Patch acted in the capacity of Emerson Marsh officiated On the 30th of the month another meeting was held, at the house o f Emerson Marsh, and a church was ganized, with the following members: Emerson, Martha E. Marsh, George W., Francis C., Mary, becca Bull, William S. and Sarah W. Evans, Jason and Polly R. Harris, John. Jeanette, and Margaret McKinley, Stephen and Margaret McMillan, Emeline. Caroline, and Polly Ried, Katharine and Deborah Freeman, Betsey, Clarissa, and Elects Smith, Richard C. Dickinson, Walter 0. Richards, Elizabeth Hale. Eunice Fuller, and Hannah Gaines, in all 29 members. T h e y then adopted the fession o f Faith and Covenant" recommended b y the Marshall Presbytery, but also adopted the form of Jan. 22, 1848, the church met at the school-house near Esquire Hale's, and elected William S. Evans Marsh as a standing committee, and E Marsh The first deacon, Stephen McMillan, was chosen office April 1, 1848, was ordained on Sunday, April 2, and is still holding the office, whose duties he halt cessfully and worthily performed for a period of thirty-one yeast H i s associates in office have been Hiram Theron Spring, Thomas Martin, and Albert A. latter being the Rev. Jacob Patch was the first pastor, and he succeeded in regular order by Revs. Isaac C. Patch, A. G. Martin, William Ellers, A. 0. Patch, C. Kidder, John R. Bonney, and Mr. Olds, he present is located a t East Gilead. T h e society was organized in the winter o f 1859-60, by Rev. Frederick Geisel, sionary on the De Kalb Mission. Indiana Conference. There was then a membership o f about 15 persons. ' r l i e first meeting was held i n the school-house in District No. 4. Chandler S. Brown was appointed The first pastor was Rev. Frederick Geisel, Revs. George Hartle, William Buckman, and Charles Sharno. A b o u t tins time the Michigan organized, and this appointment was detached from diana Conference, and Rev. M. Alspaeh was sent until the conference met in April, 1865. T h e n the Fulton Circuit was established with this as one of its and Revs. Jonas Borouglif and Joshua Paulin cessively preachers in charge, with Rev. C. S. Brown as junior preacher. T h e n the circuit was divided and the present 'Fremont Circuit organized, to which has since belonged. Since that change the been Revs. Saumel Copley, B. F. Wade, and C. S. Brown and Jacob Rote, C. S. Brown and D. land, Christian Thomas, E. K. Dewitt, Elias B. Miller, J. W. Loose, and George Heltar, R. Reagle, J. A. ington White, and C. S. Brown, the The meetings were held in the school-house at Arnold's Corners—which was purchased soon after the was effected—until the church was built, in 1867. T h i s building, the dimensions of which are 33 by 46 about $1800, and was built under the supervision o f Jacob Doer, William Kanouse, and Thomas ing committee. I t was dedicated in February, on that occasion Rev. M . J . Miller, presiding elder, preached the sermon. T h e incorporation o f was not effected until about eight years ago. Doer, William )(minim% Thomas Davis, Josiah one other person, whose name we have not been able certain, were �262 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . At the present time the membership is about 40, and the following persons are officers of the church, viz.: Enoch Davis, Class-Leader; J o h n Doer, Steward; Jacob Doer, J. J. Doer, Levi Davis, John Doer, Chas. Davis, Trustees. Previous to the formation o f the church school was a union school, but at that time i t became an Evangelical school, with C. S. Brown as superintendent, and has existed in a prosperous condition t i l l the present time. J . J. Doer is the present T H E U N I O N C O N G R E G AT I O N A L C H U R C H O F E A S T G I L E A D AND B E T H E L . This society was organized at the Zion Church, East Gilead, by Rev. Jacob Patch, on the 6th o f May, 1865, with 10 members. I n July following it assumed of the Presbyterian Church o f East Gilead, and adopted the articles o f faith o f the Presbytery of Coldwater, and the Congregational form of Their first meeting for public worship was held 30, and on that occasion Rev. Jacob Patch ministered t h e sacrament, and baptized E d g a r Vi r g i l , infant son of Stephen and Rebecca Tifft. Feb. 20, 1867, a meeting was held a t t h e house o f William N. Carter, at which the present name and new articles of faith and covenant agreed upon. A t this time William N . Carter and Hugh W. Martin were chosen as deacons. Theodore J. Carpenter has chosen in place of Mr. Martin. The pastors have been Revs. Jacob Patch, C. Kidder, L. P. Rose, and the present one, John R. Bonney. The society incorporated about ten years ago by electing three trustees, but no steps toward erecting a house ship have yet For a couple o f years after its organization meetings were held alternately at East Gilead and Bethel, that time they have been held a t the school-house i n Gilead, a mile north of The present membership is about. 25, and the present officers, aside from those already named, are William T. Ammerman, Clerk; Stephen Tifft, Treasurer; William N. Carter and Theodore J. There are three cemeteries in Gilead: the one already mentioned, near t h e union church ; one on garner farm, in section 18; and one called the East Gilead Burying-Ground, near Arnold's Corners. T h i s taken from the farms of Samuel Arnold and Mr. Carpenter several years ago, and the title vested in a board These grounds are all pleasantly located, and show marks of the taste and care bestowed upon them by loved and lost lie slumbering quietly beneath their gently. waving verdure. the grange, and has since been occupied aa their hal; The grange has proved t o be a source o f great interest and profit t o its members, and has exerted a fluence upon the community. O w i n g to removals its list of members has become reduced to 38, which is number. T h e following list shows the names of the first, and also of the present officers: First Offuwrs.—Master, Cyrus G. Luce : win A . Thompson ; Lecturer, George J . ',wigs ; Steward, Squire G. Beers; Assistant Steward, J. B. lain, Albert A . Luce; Treas., Alexander R. Lester M. Marsh ; Gate-Keeper, Sewell M a y ; Ceres, Mrs. A. R . Green; Pomona, Mrs. J . Sweetiug ; Flora. Miss Louisa Kt*slar ; Stewardess, Mrs. D. Present Officers.—Master, Darwin A . seer, Alexander R. Green; Lecturer, Lemuel L . Graham; Steward, W. H . Olmstead; Assistant Steward, J. devanter ; Chaplain, Albert A. Luce; Treas., E. C. Sec., Cyrus G. Luce; Gate-Keeper, Judson Mrs. J. Sweeting ; Pomona, Mrs. A . R. Green; Flora, Mrs. E. C. S. Green; Stewardess, Mrs. L. We now come to the closing words of our sketch of tory of Gilead. W e have traced its rise and progress through nearly a half-century of its existence, and its wild lands—prairie, forest, or swamp—improved, brought under cultivation, and made to produce the fruits o f the earth for the use o f its citizens. W e have seen how the hardships and privations that beset the pioneers met, endured, and overcome, and how from poverty, or a t least from lowly circumstances, these same people to competence or wealth. T h e rude log hut and have given place to comfortable houses and commodious barns, and t h e evidences o f a permanent prosperity are patent to even the most casual observer. B u t the hand of the grim destroyer has not been spared, and but few of the original settlers remain to testify to the facts and relate the tale of the first opening up of this country. a few of them in the order in which they settled in Gilead: Mrs. Mary Fuller, Josiah Sanders, 1831; Samuel Booth, 1832; William Purdy, 1835; Andrew and Jared Fuller, Elisha B. and Edward M. Williams, Mrs. Melinda Wilkins, Mrs. Abigail C. Booth. Mrs. Julia A. Luce, 1836; Mrs. Peter Keeslar, and Mrs. Catharine S. Arnold, 1837. The writer desires to acknowledge his obligations who have rendered their assistance i n the preparation t t f this history, and returns them hearty thanks, hoping that their experiences in Gilead may be as pleasant as his hayy bee BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. GILEAD G R A N G E , N O . 4 0 0 , P. O F H . HON. CYRUS O. LUCE. This society was instituted A p r i l 18, 1874, by George W. Vanakin, special deputy, with 5 0 The meeting was held a t the Webb House, on section 16. Regular fortnightly meetings have been held from that time to the present. T h e meetings were held at until June, 1876, when a room i n t h e Don C. Mather house, then owned by Albert A . Luce, was fitted About the middle of the seventeenth century. nuong the emigrants coming across the ocean t o found homes and eventually governments in the then newlytry which now holds first rank amott, the nations world, came a family hearing the Dant(' o f ',nee, tled i n Tolland Co., Conn., and the homestead they then established remained in the family ftir nearly ��261 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . by E. Elwinlurk, 0.1.1watar. JOSEPH K EESLAR. JOSEPH KEESLAR. Joseph Keeslar, the subject of this sketch, was born in Sullivan, Madison Co., N. Y. , April 6, 1825. H i s father, Peter Keeslar, was a native of Montgomery Co., N . Y. , where he was born i n 1800. I n 1838 he emigrated t o Gilead, Branch Co., Mich., and settled on section 2 0 , where he still resides, a hale and hearty man nine. Joseph Keeslar came to Michigan with his father when he was a lad of thirteen, and was at once set to work with his brothers clearing the new farm. H i s chances for an education were very limited, yet he obtained enough to lit Min for the active business life he has pursued riving at man's estate. A r r i v e d at maturity life for himself, working on a farm, and receiving for his first year's wages one hundred and thirty dollars. H e then bought forty acres o f new land, running i n debt for the same. T h i s land was a part of section 8, and was cleared and improved by him. H e r e he commenced his married life. T h i s small farm he afterwards sold, and then bought ninety acres where he now resides. T o this he has added until he now owns a farm o f one hundred and seventy acres, under good improvement, with a fine house outbuildings. A m o n g his fellow-townsmen M r . Keeslar very deservedly stands high as a neighbor man. I n politics he was formerly a Republican, but in the spring of 1878 he joined the National party, came its standard-bearer at the ensuing town was b y them elected supervisor, filling the office entire satisfaction o f his party. P r i o r t o t h i s he was elected town treasurer by the Republicans. I l e taken an active interest in school matters, and is of the school board. O n the 29th day of February, 1849, he married Miss Mary Ward (daughter of Rebecca Gray Ward). T h i s estimable lady was born i n Ashtabula Co., 0., Feb. 12, 1831. T h i s union blessed with seven children, as follows: Julia, born Jan. 5, 1854; Eliza, born A u g . 17, 1857; Charles, born Dec. 3, MRS. J O S E P H K EESLAR. 1859; Adelia, born Jan. 1, 1862; Edwin, born Feb. 18. 1865; Homer, born Nov. 6 , 1869, and Willie D., born Oct. 30, 1872. E. C. S. GREEN. David Green was born i n Queenstown, N . Y. , Jan. 5, 1802. H e r e Mr. Green resided until after his marriage to Miss Miranda Chalker. T o them were born nine children. After his marriage he moved t o Chautauqua Co., N. Y. . and thence to Savona, in the same county, where for he kept a hotel. T w o years afterwards lie moved age Co., Ohio, and for two years had charge of ary, at a salary of six hundred dollars per annum W e next find h i m i n Akron, Ohio, where h e 1841, when he came t o Gilead and bought two huildred acres of land on the State line, paying ter i t and eighty cents per acre. T h i s he cleared and impreved, but has since sold i t t o different parties. M r . Green is still a resident of the county, living in Coldwater. E. C. S. Green, the second of nine children, was born in Tyre, Seneca Co., N. Y., Sept. 16, 1825. and resided with his father until after they came to Michigan. a fair education, enough at least to t i t for an active and successful business life. J u l y 16, 1850, he married Miss Nancy N. Keyes, who was born Feb. 15, 1831. T h e i r union was blessed with three children, as follows: Isabel G., born Feb. 16, 1851; A n n Eliza, born Sept. 18, 1853; Baseman R., born Dec. 21, 1854. M r s . Green died Feb. 28, 1861. M r . Green remained a widower until April 15, 1863, when he married Miss Lydia H. of George and Sally S. ( J o n ) Thurston. S h e Jan. 22, 1837. T o them have been born two children: Harry J., April 1 , 1867; and Homer J., Nov. 18, 1874. A t the age of twenty-three Mr. Green commenced life for himself, teaching school in the winters and working farm during the summers. T h e farm be then rented is now his own. H i s first real estate purchase WIla acres now owned b y his brother, A. R. H i s father paid �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . toward this farm two hundred dollars, and hired He had given his father two years' work after of age. H e kept the farm five years, and then sold i t for two thousand two hundred and eighty dollars, which fair start for a young man at that time. H e then went to Clinton Co., Iowa, and bought over two hundred acres o f land, part o f which was improved. T h i s farIll he kept nine months, and then sold it at a profit of over dred dollars. M r . Green then returned to Bethel, Branch Co., and bought a heavy-timbered farm, entirely unimproved, living in a log house which he built on the same. I n one winter he placed upon the line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad three hundred and eighty cords o f wood, and then sold land and wood to L. D. Crippen, making by the transaction more than dred dollars. H e then bought one hundred 2 6 5 acres o f the farm he now owns, to which he until he owns one hundred and seventy-four acres, one of the best farms in his town. O n this he has built house, and a barn seventy-two by fifty-four finished inside and out. T h e great secret of success has been in his always "striking when the iron was hot." F e w men have taken as much pride fying their Ironies as Mr. Green, who has exhibited in ornamenting his grounds, which now present ful appearance. W e take great plc.:lilac in presenting our readers with a fine view o f this home on In politics M r. Green is, and has always been, an ardent Republican, believing i t to be the party of progress and pure government. H e has held at different offices, was four years deputy sheriff, and has many times been a delegate to its B A T A V I A . * THE township which now beam the name of Batavia is situated in the third tier of towns from the ary of Branch County, and is the second town north from the northern boundary. I t is designated in the United States survey as township 6 south, range 7 west, prises a territory six miles square, bounded on the north by Union, on the east by Coldwater. on the south by Bethel, and on the west by Matteson. T h e surface of the town is generally flat, or gently undulating, in no place to anything rough enough to deserve the name of hills. I n its original state the town was quite equally the kinds of land known as "timbered" and Through the centre o f the town, running from near the northeast corner to a point a little east of corner. was a strip of low, marshy, or swampy ersed by a sluggish stream, and containing several small ponds or lakes. Running nearly parallel with this, and a couple of miles farther east, was another similar tween these, and extending a little ways beyond them to the east and west, was a tract of oak openings, covered with a scattering growth of fine white-oak trees. O n and 14 WM a "burr-oak opening," containing about 100 acres, and on sections 32 and 33 was another of same size. Beyond the growth of oak timber of the timber changed to a heavy and dense growth of all the kinds of hard woods indigenous to this part of the country, maple and beech being the A good deal of black walnut of a very superior also found, and a moderate sprinkling o f basswood and whitewood. Adjoining t h e open marshes • Preparwl by C. 3 quantities of' tamarack grew. T h e timbered the northwest part and the southeast corner of the town. The soil is o f the varied character usual to Michigan lands, the openings being o f a sandy or gravelly nature, while the timbered lands have a black-loam soil, mixed with a little clay, and in some parts quite stony. I n point of' fertility, the lands of Batavia will compare very favorably with those o f any other town i n the county. The waters of the town divide on a line running from the southwest corner of section 2 to the southeast corner town. R i s i n g in section 10, and passing through till it enters Swan Creek in section 31, is a Mill Creek. I t was formerly known as " Mud forms the outlet of' Cook's Lake, and also o f a couple of small ponds lying in section 15. F o r several years nished power to operate a saw-mill on section 28, and this fact gave i t its present name. R i s i n g in section passing through section 33 into Bethel, where into Swan Creek, is a small stream (the outlet small lakes in section 33) which received the name Creek from the fact that along its course a dense growth of flags was found by the early settlers. Another in section 26, forms the outlet of Lime Lake, into Cary's Lake in section 34. I t is known as Four-Mile Creek, and probably derived its name from the fact that the placewhere i t crosses the Chicago road is about west of the Coldwater River. There are ten ponds in the town, the largest being Cary Lake, which lies in the south part of section 34, and extend across the town line into Bethel. I t s outlet is Swan Creek. T h e next largest is Cook's Lake, near the centre of the town, tions 22 and 27. I t s outlet is Mill Creek. I n sections 1, �266 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH 2, 11, and 12, is a body o f water known as Miller's Lake, whose outlet runs north and east, and finally the Coldwater River. T h e only other lake which given a name lies in the northwest corner of section 26. I t was called Lime Lake, because along its shore i s found a deposit of marl, which, upon being burned, yields a very good quality of lime. T h e most of these bodies of water are characterized by a marshy shore (in SOUICS ever, presenting a bold, sandy shore), and have a muddy or sandy bottom. B y the improved system of duced a few years since, the level o f the waters lakes has been lowered about two feet, and the tation about their shores is making more or ment upon their size, so that there is a prospect of their eventually being filled u p entirely, or, at least, duced in size. T h i s system o f drainage has also resulted in greatly improving the lowlands o f the town, rendering them fit for cultivation. I n the first years o f ment of this country these lakes obtained the reputation of being almost or quite unfathomable; b u t since duction of more modern and more effective ratus than the clothes-lines or bed-cords then used purposes, this reputation has in most cases been The average depth is probably f t o m t h i r t y t o forty feet, though the small pond near the turnpike in section 3 3 is very deep. T h e waters o f these lakes formerly teemed with fish o f various kinds, and there are still many remaining to tempt the angler to attempt While the primeval forest yet held sway over this tract of country, i t was one of surpassing beauty. T h e timber was dense and full of underbrush, but when the openings were reached everything was changed. T h e trees were large and grew widely apart, and the sward between them —kept clear of underbrush by the annual burning by the Indian hunters—was smooth and green. W i l d flowers o f bright colors and beautiful forms grew in great profusion and loaded the air with their fragrance. I n time the grass sprung up fresh and green, and before the frosts of autumn came to stop its a height of seven feet. Before the grass grew to obstruct the view, the eye could glance down and passages o f the forest and note the varied colors o f the flowers, t h e verdant herbage, the mystic terious flickering lights and shadows, the flitting wide-eyed deer, the leaping rabbits, the chattering, frisking squirrels, and the car could listen to the thousand voices of the woods, while the nostrils drank in the air, and the soul reveled i n the soft, mysterious delight afforded b y so much o f beauty, sweet concord, mony Such was the situation a t the time when these lands were thrown open for settlement, and the rapidly swelling tide of emigration was sweeping so steadily onward from the East. T h e government had opened a turnpike reel from Detroit to Chicago near the this to quarter-line of section 24, and, crossing i t in a southwest direetion, passed into the town o f Bethel, at east corner o f section 32. T h i s was the ulent made in the township. A l o n g this road the settlers came, some stopping along the route when they found a COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . location to :m it them, but most of them passing on tc, the prairies of Illinois and Iowa to settle there. date this constantly-moving throng many publicneeded, and the first settlers i n this town here which they deemed to be valuable as sites for inns. From the fact that most of the earliest settlers have either died or removed to other localities, it cannot be definitely ascertained to whom a i s due the honor of having been the first settler in the town, so we are obliged to lesve this as an uncertainty, and pass on t o the time when settlers o f whom we know came and began their pioneer lives here. The new-comers generally chose laud on the garding them as superior in quality of the soil as being so much easier to subdue and bring tion, but once in a while some bolder man struck out into the timber and located a farm far away Irian from the line of travel. The settlers fiiund oti section 22. on the farm owned by L. H. Austin a n d also in other places ous formation of the surface of the soil, and one never been fully explained. T h e soil was there thrown up in a manner similar to the arrangement of bedsit' ble garden, the raised parts being about fifteen and elevated about a foot above the general tween these beds ran paths about two feet wide, and from each corner a wider path opened to the centre. Scattered about were several white-oak trees, the largest being and a half to two feet in diameter, which would growth of something near one hundred years. I t is supposed by the inhabitants that it was an Indian this is by no means certain, and what it really was,— fication, garden, or foundation for dwellings,--what its age, and by whom i t was made, are interesting tier's, the answers to which are still shrouded in mystery. Timothy R. Wallace is supposed t o have settled on the Chicago road, in section 25, us early as the year 1832. I l e came from some place in the State o f New York, the owner of the first hotel in the town, which was his land, but whether by him o r by some other person is not definitely known. I t was for some years called names of its successive landlords, and in later known as the "Batavia House." T h e hotel, or was a log building, some eighteen or twenty feet square. with a "lean-to" some twelve feet widest the back ; the front part being a story and a half high. M r . Wallace did not keep the inn himself, but rc•tited it to others, and finally lie devoted his life to clearing and cultivating his remained a respected citizen of the town till his occurred July 14, 1841. N o n e of his here. H i s wife died March 18, 1849, and his children, four sons and one daughter, removed to Oregon a year or two A year after Wallace's settlement, a man by the name of J.•reiniali e o t e r e d a piece of land on which is now known us the York farm. and i n it lie built a log tavern that became a famous stall ug- place ou the from Detroit t o Chicago. and was called the •• New Y.•rk House." T h e stages running from Tecumseh to Niles both stopped over night at this tavern. Tillottson kept i t or two, and then sold it t o the Reynolds', he removing t o �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. Willow Prairie, Ind. h i s two brothers, Marius who had accompanied him here, also removed from town about the same time. In the fall of 1833 a family by the name o f from Orangeville, Genesee Cu., N. Y., and settled land near the Reynolds tavern. T h e party was made up of Perkins Shay, his sons George W., William, Amos, David, Perkins, and John, and their families. George and Stephen were married, and William Cook, at Oxbow Prairie, Ind., soon after coming here. T h e old man died in September, 1834, and i t is believed his was the first death in the town. H e was buried near the York House corners, and i t is supposed the road running north from the Chicago road passes over the spot bones lie. A l l the sons except George remained here years, and then removed at different times to other George went to Bronson in the spring o f 1834, lived two years on the Ruggles farm, removed to Bethel, to Branch, and in the spring of 1837 settled on east quarter of the northeast quarter o f section he remained. H i s widow is now living with Mrs. William R. Card, in the south part of the town. T h i s whole family were great lovers of the chase, and prided themselves upon their quick and accurate aim; never, it is said, shooting a deer except upon the run. Abel Olds settled on the west half of the ter of section 24 in the spring of 1.834. I l e had come to Michigan about four years previous, and lived till he came here. I n 1848 he removed to the town of Ovid, and died there about a year later. H i s brother, Martin Olds, was the next settler, and, as he was one most prominent of the early pioneers, we have selected his experience as a type of the experiences of the relate i t somewhat in detail. H e was a native of the old " Bay State." being born i n the township o f Bolton, in Berkshire Co., Mass., and lived emphatically a pioneer life, taking an active and sornewhett prominent part in the settling up o f the country i n four His boyhood was spent in the town o f daga Co., N . Y. , and he then came with h i s father's family to Huron Co., Ohio, and after the death o f his parents located i n Seneca County in that State. F r o m that place he emigrated to Michigan, and later crossed the great plains a the West, and became a citizen of the (now) State of Oregon. W h i l e living i n Ohio he was married, and at the time of their removal here, the of father, mother, and five sons, the eldest a lad years. H a v i n g decided to leave Ohio for rations were made accordingly. A was procured and loaded with the household goods, covering being stretched above thmn to protect sun and storm; two yokes of oxen to draw the two comsto assist in furnishing provisions for were p i in readiness, and about the middle of little cavalcade moved slowly out of the town on its way to the West. T h e journey was The season was quite dry, and the roads as a were unusually good. B U M the muchSwamp wan mused with very little trouble. weeks were consumed in the jourfwv, and they arrived at 26 their destination on the 7th o f -June. T h e y found no bridges across any of the streams until they reached the Coldwater River, and there ( a t Masonville) they bridge had been completed the day before their arrival. They reached the top of an elevation a short of the river just as the summer's sun was the western horizon. I n front of them, at the foot of the hill, was a tamarack swamp, and the thick vapors were already rising i n a cloud from the marsh. O n this the sun cast its ruddy beams, giving it the form and color of sulphurous flame and smoke, which rolled among the trees as the light breezes tossed i t thither i n gentle play. M r s . Olds, who was very tired from the long journey, and not exceedingly with the country, looked upon this lurid picture, said, " I have often heard of ' Tophet,' but I ed to see it before." T h e y descended the hill, and an hour later, in the twilight of the long summer evening, at the door o ' Allen's tavern ( a t Wallace's stand), and halted for the night. A n d here, too, they remained until about the last o f June or the first o f July; M r . Olds, in t h e mean time, being engaged in 'selecting tering his land, and i n building a house for the family residence. T h e land he selected was 160 acres on the openings on sections 13 and 14. H e entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 13 and half of the southeast quarter o f section 14. W h e n he went to the land-office at Bronson (now Kalamazoo), he had three locations in view, the one most pleasing taste being the Lockwood place in the northwest part town of Ovid, but he found that two of the pieces selected had already been entered, and he had to take son's choica," "this or none." T h e house he built slab shanty, which was to give them shelter while of preparing ground and planting and sowing was A little piece of ground was prepared, and some tatoes, and a little garden-sauce planted. T h e n the work of preparing for fall-sowing began. T h e land being burr-oak openings, the work o f fitting i t for comparatively slight, and before seeding-time acres were ready f o r sowing. B u t there was to be had nearer than a t Pigeon Prairie (now White Pigeon), and Mr. Olds prepared to go there for some. H i s family was also nearly out of flour, and he must at the mills at that place. S o , hitching up his oxstarred off, expecting to be absent three days. B u t arrived at his destination he found that the wheat had not yet been threshed, and he was obliged t o assist in fbrmance of that operation. I t was done in fashion. A piece o f ground was leveled and pounded smooth with heavy mauls. T h e n the strewed upon this floor, and the oxen driven round upon it until their continued tread had separated the wheat from the stalk. I t was then winnowed in the wind by tossing in a basket, and finally put. into bags portation. O n account of this extra and the three days had lengthened into six before appeared at his cabin with fifteen burthels of seedawelcome supply o f flour. T h o wheat was sown at the rate of one bushel to the acre, and the crop, when �268 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . to be harvested the next summer, yielded an average of thirty bushels to the acre. A f t e r the wheat to the care of mother earth, the next business was to put up a log house for the use of the family. T h e slab shanty answered very well for a pioneer summer residence, but the storms of autumn and winter would inevitably crack and crevice, and render i t an tion. S o a log house o f comfortable dimensions was put up a few rods east o f the southwest corner of section 13, and the family moved in. N o other settlers are known to have come in until the next spring. T h e n Leonard Taylor and John H. Stephens came i n the month of rented t h e tavern o f Timothy R. Wallace. E t h a n Allen had been keeping it for a while, but he now Leonard Taylor, accompanied b y his wife and three children, left his home, twenty miles east of Buffalo, N. Y. , in March, 1834, and came to Michigan. H e lived ton a year, and then came t o this town i n company with John I I . Stephens, as above related. M r . Taylor kept the tavern about ten years (having purchased it in 1837 or 38), and then moved on to a farm near Lime Lake arid devoted himself to agriculture. I l e continued i n t h i s business throughout h i s life, living i n different parts of the town, and finally settling on section 29, where lie died His widow, two sons, and a daughter are still living in this town John H . Stephens remained i n the tavern a while and then removed to a farm o n the State road, in section 14, the one now occupied by Jacob Daharsh. U p o n tion t o the office o f sheriff he removed t o Branch, from there to Coldwater, and a few years later to sonic place in the West. In August following Taylor and Stephens' corning, the Reynolds family came and bought the York farm arid tavern stand of Jeremiah Tillottson. T h e party was made up o f Alpheus Reynolds and his wife, his son John arid his wife, and his other children Alpheus, Jr., William, Lewis, Mary, Phcebe, and Betsey. T h e y came from Co., N. Y. O n this farm Tillottson had built another log house beside the tavern, so the party divided, William and Iris wife occupying the tavern, and the rest of moving into t h e other building. J a c o b , another son o f Alpheus, came on with his family a few years later. O f this family, but one, John, is now living i n this town. Alpheus, Sr., and Jacob died here, and the to different parts of the country. In the spring of 1835, Martin Olds returned to home i n Ohio, to buy a drove o f cattle to bring into this country. H e collected a small drove and hired ley to assist him in driving them t o this town. U p o n his arrival here Ensley was so well pleased with the looks o f the country that he entered the southeast fractional quarter of section 15, in June, and then returned to Ohio preparations for removal. I n September he came ox-team, bringing his wile and two children, a babe which Mrs. Ensley carried in her arms most of the way. S h e traveled all the way on foot, and made ney from Jonesville t o this place i n one day, the 9th day of September. A r r i v e d here, they built a log house and commenced clearing Some time during this same fall Allen Stoddard aided about a mile moth o f Mr. Olds' clawing, and sett moved on t o his laud; the northeast fractional quarter of section 34. J o h n Bassett formerly resided in the town of Andes, Delaware Co., N . Y. , and traveled the entire distance to this place in a covered wagon &awe by of horses. I l e was accompanied by his wife, six sons, and one daughter. I l e had started West with the intentiou o f seeking a home on the fertile prairie lands of Illinois, arid had shipped most o f his goods b y way of the canal and lakes to Chicago. I t was afterwards air expensive atious task to get them back t o this place. T h e party, iii due time, arrived a t Barney Wing's tavern, about three miles east o f Coldwater, arid stopped there for the night. They were then traveling in company with six loads o f emigrants, and two besides their own stopped at Wing's, while the test pressed on to the New York House, and stopped there. W i l l i a m Reynolds, whose wife had formerly known the Bassett at the East, while conversing with the new arrivals learned that Mr. Bassett at Wing's, arid was looking a t the land along the route with a view of possibly settling here. S o h e sent word back by some eastward bound travelers for Mr. Bassett to COML. on t o his place and look around from that base of operations. I n accordance with this invitation, the family cattle on the next day, and i n a few days the selected and entered, and the work o f preparing a home begun At about the same time a blacksmith b y the name o f John Woodruff came and built the first blacksmiththe town on section 28. H e was an ardent lover of field sports, and devoted a considerable part of his time ing the forest with his gun, in search of game, beside the lakes with rod and line, endeavoring to finny inhabitants of the waters. I n pursuit of he traveled over almost every foot o f the surrounding country, and learned the fact that the "opening" in the southern centre of the town was ahuost or by water-courses and marshes. F r o m this fact he gave it the name of " The Island," by which name i t has since been commonly known. S o m e ten o r later he removed from the town to some point Shirlock C4.8)k CUM! to Michigan in company with the Shay family, the party in all numbering and having one wagon drawn by a yoke o f oxen. H e at that tinae went to Oxbow Prairie, Ind., rind lived of years, returning to this town and settling on section 28 in the summer of 1835. T h e lake to which his land ran was named after him. H e died in this town two years The spring o f 1836 brought in other settlers. A m o n g them were Timothy Miller, who settled on sectiou Linie Lake; John M. Chapin, on the eag half of east quarter of section 29; Benjamin Olmstead, 27; and Philo Porter, on a Win of 120 acres, lying tion 27. Timothy Miller died while still a resident of t W a s , sonic twelve or fifteen years ago. Benjamin was a pntminent Methodist, and ever active in the cause of religion, alp who was regularly the candidate fee, �E. ; ., - - , . , . . . ...,A-1,,,S2' 7.4C-7 -- ,--,,•••-•. , 1- , " ' • ' z i i i i i n . .i.,,... - , - . , . o l , . . I . . ' . ' ' ' 1 L..2_,..,*— -.... l ' ' . . . ' ..:*" RESIDENCE or LOUISA SAWIN OUESLER, �L �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. regularly elected to, the office o f poortuaster years, died here about twenty-seven years ago. J o h n M. Chapin was a single man when he came here, but ried in July following his arrival to Miss Barthena Smith, a niece o f Martin Olds, who was living with family. H e remained here but a few years before to Illinois. H e returned to this town several and died here about 1845. P h i l o Porter came the town of Alexander, Genesee Co., N. Y. H e once (in 1834) came West to look up a location, and of the way on foot. H e had heard much said about the beauty of the country near the Coldwater River, about the beauty of the river itself. H e reached the river bank we:try, footsore, discouraged, and, seeing growing flags and rushes that covered its banks, far out into the stream, he became disgusted; and, telling his companions that, " i f that was a specimen of of the country, he wanted to see no more of it," his heel, and started on his return to New York. B u t he was desirous to secure a home o f his own, and paratively high price of land at the East rather forced him to take his second journey to this State, which he made in the fall of 1835, and on which occasion, in entered the land on which he afterwards settled. married March 17, 1836, in Byron, Genesee Cu., N. Miss Martha Hosrner, and a few weeks later, May they started for their home in the wilderness, having a wagon loaded with provisions and household by a yoke of oxen. A t Buffalo they embarked on for Monroe, and from there came to this town with conveyance. T h e y arrived at their new home, the rude log hut which they had purchased Shay occupied by a family of squatters, whom out, but allowed to remain there till the next day. T h i s house was covered with a bark roof, which M r. placed with a shake roof, and otherwise improved ing before the next winter came on. M r . Porter's wife died soon after their pioneer life began, and a second wife lived but a year after her marriage; so that it will that he has been called upon to suffer great losses, Pain arid sorrow, in his efforts to carry WI the work deeming this country from the dominion of the garding his experiences, more will be found in graphical sketch published in another part of this work. I l e is now living with his third wife on the place he up, in the enjoyment of the respect and affection o f his fellow-men, and the quiet and peace which he has earned by his life of industry and devotion to ment o f the best interests of the commonwealth and its citizens. D u r i n g the two terms he held the office of sheriff he resided in Coldwater, but all the rest of the time has resided on his farm. As early as this, and perhaps earlier, Jabez settled on section :15. I l e settled in the town which was Halms] after him) in 1828, and sold when he came to this town. H e remained here the rest of his life. In the fall of 18::1;, Francis Bassett, a brother of John Bassett, settled on section 35. H i s wife and dren, five sons and two daughters, Caine with him. T h e y 2 6 9 — were from Kortwright, Delaware Co., N. Y. H e died a year after conning here (Aug. 24, 1837), and ants have all removed from the town. T w o sons and one daughter are living The settlement o f the town had thus rather slowly, but for the next few years it was We refer briefly to a few of these Morgan L . Tyler came to Michigan i n the spring o f 1836, and selected a farm i n the timbered land on the south half o f the northeast quarter o f section 5. T h e journey here and back to his home in Mexico, N. Y., was made on foot, except occasional rides lie was fortunate enough to catch. h a v i n g completed tions for removing his family, he left his former home, and came as far west as Monroe Co., N. Y., in of 1837, and remained there till the full, when his journey, inn company with Archibald Grove, Daniel Sprague, and M . B. Barnhart. A f t e r crossing the lake, they landed at Toledo, and came from there by traveling b y way o f Adrian, Jonesville, and Coldwater, leaving the Chicago road at the latter place, eight miles northwest to " Hodunk," now ville, where Peter Grove, a brother-in-law o f Mr. Tyler, was living. A t this point they left their families while preparing homes for their reception, and then their places. M r . Barnhart settled in Union, the others in this town : Archibald Grove on section 4, on the northwest quarter of section 4, and M r. the land he had previously entered on section 5. Mr. Tyler's family at that time consisted of a wife and four children. T h e i r daughter met with a from serious injury or painful death while on the She was sitting in the front part of the wagon, when the forward wheels ran into a deep rut and threw her out of the wagon into the road. T h e wheel ran over her foot and threw her again to the ground, and the heavy hind wheel passed so close to her head as to catch some of her hair beneath its iron circumference, and tear it from her head. M r . Tyler and his wife are still of the town in which they settled at such an Daniel Sprague was accompanied by his wife, one child, and his brother John. D a n i e l continued to live in this town until his death, which occurred in 1873. J o h n went away and served in the Black Hawk war. returned to this town, settled on section 4, and several Archibald Grove died in Batavia about 1853-54. H i s brother, Peter Grove, came from Orangeville about 1840, and located at North Batavia. Sonic ten or later he removed to Girard, and died there in 1876. Evan Davis located a farm on the northeast quarter of section 5 in the spring o f 1838, returned to his home in Pittsford, Monroe Co., N. Y., was married, and in the fall came on to his place. A f t e r living here a few years he removed Samuel H . Cary, with his wife, three children, and his wife's sister, Miss L u c y Woodard, came from Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and in June, 1838, settled tion 34, where he opened an inn, and kept i t years. A b o u t the year 1850 he removed �270 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH and subsequently to a farm south of the village of Branch, where he died about ten Elijah Thomas was a son-in-law of Moses Paine (who settled in Bethel at an early day), and came here from Genesee Co., N. Y., in the fall of 1838, for the purpose of engaging in the mercantile business at York. a family consisting of his wife and two children, ing the addition that Reynolds had built on the east end of the tavern (which had been used as a store for nearly a year), opened a stock of goods there. A b o u t later he removed to Mishawaka, Ind., where Hiram Brink and his wife came to this town i n May, 1839, from Urbana, Steuben Co., N. Y. , and settled west half of the southwest quarter o f section 33. T h e journey was made by way of the Erie Canal to Buffalo, from there to Detroit by steamer, thence to Ypsilanti by railroad, and the rest of' the distance by. stage-coach. T h e land had previously been entered by a Mr. Ferguson. M r . and Mrs. Brink still live to enjoy the home they built up in the Among the other early settlers we find the Samuel Woodard, Amasa W. Miller, Mr. Perrin Sons, James L . Young, I r a Gifford, George D . Babbitt, Horace Field, Benjamin Parker, Jeremiah David Fonda, who settled here as early as the Lot Whitcomb, Samuel Fairbanks, Augustus Miller, Smith Dow, Joel and Commodore P. Woodard, as early as 1837; Ira P. Strong, as early as 1838; Charles Hiram Hadley, George Hoag, Lewis Kingsbury, thaniel Woodard, as early as 1839; and Albert Dudley, Thomas Davis, and Hiram C. Welch, as early Benjamin Parker died in June, 1844, from the effects of a gunshot wound accidentally received. H e owned of land in the north part of the town, and that day look at it, carrying his axe on his shoulder. pleting his survey he started homeward, taking a bring him around the north end of the marsh, and, was passing through the bushes, was shot by a John White, who mistook him for a deer. W h i t e had, while out hunting only the night before, seen a in the bushes at the same place, arid waiting to be sure that it was a deer, lost his game. S o , on this occasion, at the first indications of the presence of game. entered M r. Parker's right side just above the hip, and passed through the abdomen in a quartering ing the intestines. T h e shooting occurred about three o'clock in the afternoon, and help being procured, Parker was taken to Mr. Miller's and a physician summoned from Coldwater. I t was all in vain, for, in spite of all prevent a fatal result, he died at two o'clock the ing. Before his death he exonerated White from in the matter, declaring the shooting to have been purely accident It is related o f Joel Woodard that he came to this town dressed in ragged and uncouth clothing, with his shoes under his arm instead of upon his feet. G o i n g to Martin Olds, he told him he was a total stranger to the country, and, not having had any experience in ing of land, desired his assistance and judgment him to select a good piece o f land for his • COUNTY, M ICHIG Mr. Olds was struck by the appearance of the believing him to be a poor main anxious to du the best h t could with the little means he bad to invest in great pains to go about with him, showing him desirable lands in the vicinity, and carefully explaining to him the qualities of each particular piece that made or less valuable than the others. A f t e r the " done he rested in the self-conscious satisfaction done a good, kiud, and generous deed. W h a t , his surprise and chagrin when, after Woodard's the land-office, it became known that his ‘• little to consist of' eighteen lots selected from the best lands in the vicinity. T h e land thus entered included, the present farms of L. R. Austin, Samuel Smith, John M. Gray, H. S. Hill, and We will now gather up the threads o f our story and trace the subsequent history of those of the whose record has thus far been left Martin Olds at once became a prominent man in the town and county. Elected as the first surpervisor town, he continued to hold that office fin' years. H e also held several other town offices. A t election of' county officers,inn November, 1836, he to be probate judge, and held the office for two years inn all. I n the session of 1843-1-4 he this district in the State Legislature. I n polities a Democrat, and unflinchingly maintained held by that party inn the face of all opposition. ness he was energetic and industrious, and conducted his affairs with good judgment. H i s simple, of' purpose and strict integrity of character is trated by an incident connected with the history of the " Bank of Branch." W h i l e that village was the metropolis of' the county a bank was organized the stockholders elected Mr. Olds as its president. A l l the preliminaries connected with the opening of the been gone through with, the bills had been engraved and printed, and only lacked the officers' signatures to make them ready for issue. A meeting of the called to complete the business, and they met at pointed time. T h e State law under which the organized required that a certain percentage of of bills issued should be deposited in specie by holders as a guarantee fund to provide for of the bills. T h a t this provision of the law was erally disregarded is conclusively shown by history of the panic of 1837. I n this case was held, and M r. Olds went to i t with his share of the guarantee fund in his pocket ready for deposit. did not come similarly prepared, and, when the bills sented to be signed, he refused peremptorily to sign one until the required deposits had all been made. position neither threats nor persuasion could move the result was that the bank came to naught. I n tercourse with his fellow-tuen M r. Olds was erate, and obliging. Through the troublous times first three or four years after the settlers began to In,. was erten called upon to render material assistance to (lie poor families who had not yet been able themselves with the necessaries of life, and i t �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. willingly and generously furnished. I l e well deserved the name he bore, of a kind neighbor and a generous friend. By his enterprising public spirit he was led to take inent part i n schemes for advancing the interests of the county, and entered heartily into the efforts to build village at Branch, then the county-seat. H e eral lots there, and was elected president of a pany organized for the purpose of publishing the "Eastern Star," ir paper devoted to news, politics, and literature. The inception o f this project is to be credited to him. This piper, the first i n the county, was edited Pond, and had but a brief existence. I n the spring o f 1851, Mr. Olds and his son, James H., went by land route to Oregon, with a view to settling there. B e i n g satisfied with the country he sent his son back to in February following, and the next spring (1852) all o f the family except one son, Martin P., who still resident of this town, emigrated across the plains to their new home on the Pacific coast, in Yam H i l l The overland journey occupied eight months' time, the party often traveling farther from the trail in search turage and water than they advanced along their the same day. M r . Olds held the positions of probate judge, and member of the tion in his new home, and died in the fall of 1873, full o f years and honors, loved and respected by all who knew him and who hold his many virtues in fond John Ensley continued to reside in this town until the spring of 1852, when he was taken with a desire to go to Oregon, and, with one of his daughters, joined d emigrants then starting across the plains and ties to the Pacific coast. H e never returned to and is still residing in Oregon, where he has joined by others o f his children. M r s . Ensley, with five BOWand one daughter, remained on the farm, and, with their assistance, has succeeded in making i t one o f the best in the township. S h e is still living on stead, and two sons and one daughter still of the Allen Stoddard's wife died soon after they settled here and he then returned to his John Bassett lived in this town t i l l his occurred April 27, 1874. H e was an excellent man of great and untiring energy, and of the ity o f character. O n e son, Adam, is still a resident o f this town, and another, George H., resides in town of Bronson. T h e rest of the children to different parts of At the time of settlement the woods were well filled with wild game of the various kinds usual to the the lakes and streams were full of fish. T h e r e was abundance of the small fruits, including, in the berries, blackberries, cranberries, crab-apples, wild plums, and frost-grapes. F r o m thew sources the pioneers drew largely for their sustenance, and by relieved oftentimes from the pangs o f hunger, which, without them, would have been inevitable. F o r a two it was impossible to raise sufficient crops to for the subsistence of the inhabitants, and i t was cessary t o dispatch teams t o White l'igeon, Jonesville, 2 7 1 Adrian, o r even sometimes t o Detroit, f o r provisions. Trading-posts were soon established at nearer thus these long and tedious journeys were cessary. T h e r e were a good many roaming who came from their village at Nottawa to hunt, make maple-sugar. T h e y were always friendly ful, and ready to trade with the whites. W h e n to visit the taverns, and could exchange some of modities for "fire-water," they often made the through the hours of the night with the hideous yells that accompanied their drunken orgies, but they never came into collision with the whites, and were a few years ferred to their reservations west of tire" Father The woods were full of nut-bearing trees, the walnut, hazel, and oak, and their annual crop of forded the settlers the means of fattening their hogs both cheaply and without any During the progress of the work of reclaiming these wild lands there was a great and general prevalence diseases among the nullifies living here. Indeed, to be looked upon as a matter of course that as soon as the fall opened, sickness should break out in the This was supposed to result from various causes, or from a combination of them. T h e extensive marshes, where the frost killed vegetation lay and rotted, the breaking up crude, rank soil, the decaying timber in the these and other causes were assigned as the reasons for the sickness, and all, no doubt, contributed more or less to that result. T h e fall of 1838 was especially marked by than usually severe sickly season. E v e r y family vaded, and scarcely a person in the settlement escaped the ravages of the disease. A t the period when reached its climax there were scarcely well to care for the sick. Several deaths occurred. stance is related of a family, composed of a man and his wife and three children, every member of which was sick with the fever. A l l were lying in one room, the mother in one bed, and the children in another. D u r i n g the night the wife died i n her husband's arms, and he, being too sick to allow of his helping himself in ner, was compelled to spend the weary, hours till the morning, lying beside the cold remains companion of his joys and sorrows. I n this situation they were found by the neighbors, who came the next morning to see how they were getting along. O t h e r stances, though perhaps none of such a could be related describing the hardships endured by the pioneers of this town; but it is not necessary to do so, for all know of these things, and are not likely soon to forget them Regarding the scarcity o f food a t certain times, i t is asserted that, while waiting for the first some o f the settlers' families lived on greens days; and before the wheat was dry enough to thresh, took some o f it, and picking the unripe wheat from the straw, boiled and ate it. P o r k at some times was high as twenty-five cents per pound, and was not always to be had even at The winter o f 1843-44 was especially hard upon the settlers, because of its extreme severity and the �272 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . of snow. T h e snow fell to a depth of about two the cold froze a hard crust over its surface, 80 that the cattle could not get at the grass in the openings they were usually dependent for a large part of ter's subsistence; and the supply o f fishier many perished o f cold and starvation, and the rest were kept through only by felling maple, chit, trees, and letting them browse the tender twigs in their top The settlers started orchards us soon as the cleared and under cultivation, some by sowing with them from the East, and others setting out brought from the same quarter. A m o n g the first out an orchard was John Ensley, who bought of a man who brought a lot to the " New York House," and set them out near the corner of section 15. T h r e e of these trees are still to be seen in The first hotel, as has been said, was the afterwards called the Batavia House. I t was variably the stopping-place for intending settlers, and the place for holding public meetings of the citizens. D u r i n g the sickly season before referred to, tnany there; though, the most of Mr. Taylor's household being sick, they had to attend to themselves and do cooking. S o m e of these people died there before reality begun their pioneer lives. T h e next hotel " New York House," and this was followed by and then by " Dudley's" taverns. F o r many were the only hotels in the township. T h e y were the Chicago In the fall of 1835 the few families in the eastern part of this town and the western part of Coldwater their minds that they needed a school for The towns had not been organized, and such things as school districts were as yet unknown ; so the men o f the neighborhood met together, at a time appointed for the purpose, and put up a small log house, finishing it a puncheon-floor and a chamber-floor of the tion, covered with leaves, and over them a coating The chinks between the logs were stopped in the usual manner; the seats were made of slabs, flat side round sticks for legs; the desks were formed of on pegs driven horizontally into the walls; and one end of the building was devoted to a huge fire-place. H e r e , in the winter of 1835-36, a Mr. Southworth kept the first school in the township, and though the scholars had to come long distances afoot, bringing with them but the scantiest and most frugal mid-day meal, and had but few books (Webster's spelling-book being the only text-book used, and an average o f half a book to each scholar rather being over than under the still they derived a great benefit from even this rude, primary, pioneer school. T h i s school-house stood on the quarter-line a quarter of a mile south o f the north line o f section 13. D a v i d Fonda taught there the next winter. It is related regarding this school that a Dobson, who lived some distance from the school, owned a mule, and all the five children they sent to often rode the mule to the school-house, and then loose and let him return home. A s the school whenever these five children were late it was necessary to delay the class till their arrival. O n e day lesson outwitted the phrase, "we often await the arrival of the mail." A lad named Newville, whose turn t o read came with the verse containing this expression, what waggish in his ways; and, with a and a sly look towards the Doiston children, it. "we often await the arrival of the—muk." At the spring election in 183C the town commissioners, and they set to work to organize the town into school districts. T h e first record of their as nisvitter ! s r . " We, t h e c o n missioners o f COO1U1013 S c h o o l s , o f To w n s h i p o f Data VIA, d o h e r e b y e4tablish a School D i s t r i c t , t o b e c a l l e d D i s t r i c t No. 1 , i n c l u d i n g Sections t w e n t y - s i x . teetity-seven & t e e n t y - e i g , h t & t h i r t y - f o u r, t h i r t y - f i v e , & t h v east h a l f Of t h i r t y - t h r e e , a n d h a l f of twenty-one & l e enty-tao, i n t o t - h i p S i x South, L a n g e Se‘t-n west. A n d t h e taxable i n h a b i t a n t s o f Said D i s t r i c t are fied t o Meet a t t h e House o f 1;citjamin Olmsted's, i n Said Wensday, t h e eighth D a y o f June N e x t , at one o'clock P. M . , t o choose the officers o f . S a i d D i s t r i c t f o r t h e E n s u i n g Ye a r. a n d such o t h e r bu9iness as m a y Come before Said m e e t i n g . " BATAVIA Ton-Nstite, M a y t h e 27th, "JOHN M . e l l • P I K , I Common .gekools. " J . H . STEVENS, T. ('leek.'' In the fall a site was purchased on the Chicago road, in section 27, of Benjamin and Catharine Olmstead, sum of $25. T h e deed was dated Nov. 15, 1836, and the title was to revert to the original owners when should cease to be occupied for District No. 2 was also formed that first meeting on the 12th day Taylor's tavern. T h e record of its action reads aatievers, viz. "Chose Leonard Taylor moderator, and Pratt..-- Benett clerk of " Resolved, T h a t t h e s i t e O f t h e school-house I . , ..ri t h . L a n d o f Ti m o t h y R . Wa l l a c e , N e a r l y iipposite t h e P e r r i n . . 11n.1 W a l l a c e agrees t o G i v e sufficient L a n d t o accommodate P. "Resolved, T h a t A b e l Olds, T i m o t h y R . Wallace. sod I r a Gifford serve as Trustees the Ensuing year. " Resolved, T h a t t h i r t y D o l l a r s . b y Ta x , b u i l d said House, to be of Logs, 16 b y 1S feet. " Reso/ved, T h a t L e o n a r d Ta y l o r Serve as C l e r k a n d Collector the present y e a r. " Resolved, T h a t $12 o f the Ta x be p a i d i n cash and t h e Remaind, r in L a b o r and Materials, i f Performed b y S a t u r d a y evening N e x t , u less the Trustees G i v e f u r t h e r indulgence. Resolved, T h a t the Trustees make o u t the a p p o i n t m e n t by T I . • day N e x t . " This plan was subsequently modified, and a small frau, house was substituted for the proposed log home. I n this Miss Caroline Brink kept the From time to time, as the increase of the manded, and the development of the new districts were formed, until at present there arc !lit,' districts and six fractional districts in the town. nine school-houses, three are of brick, the hags. T h e first apRortionment of school " Y record is in eniglisee was made July 10,1843. T i , , number of soholars was then 134, and the tributed was $49.58. T h e amount expended �JOHN D JOHN D . I M B E R . John D . Imber was born in land, Nov. 24, 1815. H i s father and natives of the James Imber was married to Miss Sarah Burt, only a few days i n the city, he went t o Pekin, N. Y., and engaged in carriageing there a year, he went to Royalton ing his trade. Shortly after he returned to Pekin, and the result r f that union was a family and July 5, 1852, married Juliet, daughter of Orrin teen children, M r . John D . Imber being t h e and Camille Bayles. T h e result o f this union is youngest of the family. A l l are deceased except a family o f four children: Sarah, born March John D. and one sister, Ann, who resides 20, 1853; Thyrza A., born Jan. 13, bury, Berkshire, England, the wife of a Methodist beth C., born Jan. 6, 1857; James 0., born Aug. clergyman. M r . Imber was apprenticed at 2, 1858. A l l o f whom are living. of fourteen to a carriage-maker in Shrofton. H e in Pekin about two years, and then removed t o remained there five and a half years, when the town o f Batavia, Branch Co., Mich., in the to the city of Salisbury and worked at his trade. year 1854, settling on section 2 . H i s He remained there about four years, and from of unimproved land he purchased of there went to Andover, and continued to work at his By perseverance and energy M r . Imber trade i n that place about three years, whence he cumulated an abundance of this world's returned t o Dorsetshire. I n 1849 he set sail for is now enjoying the fruits o f his labor. H e i s America in the "Royal George," and landed i n in politics a Republican. H e has been justice of New Yo r k City, March 20, 1849. Remaining the peace for ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . purposes in 1878 was $2395.74. A m o n g the of the schools in this town were Amanda Porter, Bethany Smith, Caressa Smith, C. P. Woodard, Martha Sherwin, Peter B. Porter, Joseph A. Albertson, Harriet Roxana Hoag, Philo Porter, Miami Patchen, sett, Amelia Woodard, Evan Davis, Samuel Taber, Harriet Demarest, Julia Brink, and Probably the first white child born i n this Nancy A.. daughter of Martin Olds. She was born ber, 1834, and grew to young womanhood in this town. At the age of eighteen she went with her father's flintily to Oregon, was there married t o I I . S. Jacobs, and in 1860 returned East. A f t e r living a couple of years in New York they removed to Clyde, Ohio, where she now resides with her husband and The marriage of Israel Mudge to Miss Melissa sister o f Martin Olds, is supposed to have been the first wedding in Batavia. T h e affair took place at of Martin Olds in the fall of 1835. T h e records show that there were two other weddings the next summer, the following July 27, 1836. Gave Jirris Parker License to Mary* Sarah Wilder." July 29, 1836. Gave John M. Chapin License Bethany Smith." Among the earliest deaths was that of Franklin Taylor, a son of Leonard and Caroline Taylor, which occurred in August, The first saw-mill in the town was a water-mill on Mill Creek, then called Mud Creek, and was built William, and John Reynolds, in 1836. T h e mill was built under the supervision of Charles W. Weatherby, an accomplished millwright. I t was subsequently twice rebuilt, and owned by several different parties, Philo Porter and Samuel Woodard (from whom the mill obtained its name," the Woodard Mill"), and is by Henry C. Lewis. I n 1871-72 the mill was fitted with steam machinery. F o r nearly twenty years it was mill in the town, which now boasts four, all run powe The population of this town has ever been classed as rural, no villages having grown u p within Probably its proximity to the city of Coldwater, and thriving village of Bronson, is largely responsible for this state of things. I n the first few years after the House was opened a little hamlet grew up about at one time contained about a dozen or fifteen various characters. T h i s has, however, all the old tavern itself has been out of existence a score At a subsequent date an attempt to found a village on section 28 was made. A plat of ground was laid out in streets and lots. I t was near the pond Woodard saw-mill, and was named "Lawtonville," man who owned the land. I t is said that nolds was also interested in the project to That the scheme was entered upon in good faith probable when the nature and hteation of the land 'Marry. 2 7 3 sidered. T h e lots were largely sold to Eastern people, who bought them probably in most eases for purposes ulation. N o village over had even the most istence I t is said that one afternoon a weary, traveldusty individual, mounted on a jaded horse, rode up to the Woodard saw-mill, and, hailing one o f the where the village o f Lawtonville was. T h e tioned pointed in the direction of the pond and said, " I t lies right out there, sir." T h e traveler lous, and then, as the truth of the situation dawned upon his imind,—disg,usted and muttering angrily to himself, wheeled his horse, ejaculated the single word " sold," and rode away in the direction whence he cam Is i t possible that the immortal Dickens was familiar with the history of Lawtonville, and drew therefrom the lugubrious situation which afforded Tapley the of knowing that at last he had reached a point in istence where there was sonic merit in being "jolly?" The next symptom of village growth was manifested in 1855, at the centre o f the town. F . A . Hall, water, in that year built a steam saw-mill there. T h r e e or four years before, Melchor Reik built an addition to his log house (formerly built by the first settler on John Grable) and opened it as a tavern. I t kept by Peter Grove, and was discontinued when ent hotel was built by Curtiss Sterne, in 1865-66. F r o m this the hamlet has grown until at present it has mill, blacksmith-shop, hotel, fine brick school-house (built in 1869, at a cost of $2200), and about a The next effort at forming a village was made when the railroad station was established at the northwest corner of section 35, in 1875. T h e railroad company required 10 acres of land to accommodate their buildings, to make a stopping-place in the town it' the furnish the land. A subscription was started, thing over 8200 raised. T h e r e were two locations one a t Barnes' Crossing, on t h e turnpike, and the one finally fixed upon. Barnes, whose location the most desirable, would not accept the amount raised in payment for his land, and the other site was purchased o f Aaron J. and Hubbard F. Buffhant. T h e pany have done but little to improve the site ously donated for Soon after this, E C. Bowers put up a small the station, where he opened, a small stock of goods. H e was also the railroad company's agent at this place. T h e other store was built and occupied by Benjamin S. Wilcox, who was then appointed postmaster. A blacksmith and wagon-shop was also erected by a Mr. Wessel!, and a little hamlet has sprung up there containing some half dwellings inn addition to the buildings About 1837 or 1838 the State authorized the laying of a State road, which passed through the centre of the town from east to west. I t . was surveyed by Jared Martin Olds was one of the commissioners in charge work. T h e line was surveyed and marked, but was not improve very notch until some years later. then worked by the inhabitants along its route. W h e n the �274 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Michigan Southern Railroad reached Hillsdale, quite a traffic passed over this road from the mills to which sent their flour by teams to Hillsdale, there shipped east on the railroad. I n bad weather would come with four barrels of flour till they had got through the timbered lands, when they would return for four more. When they returned with would reload the first lot and proceed on their way dale with the eight barrels. T h e road through was generally bad, while on the openings it tively The first post-office was established at the house H. Cary, who was the postmaster, about 1840. I t Batavia, and has been located in that part of the since. Upon the completion of the railroad the removed to the "Dudley" tavern, near the Mr. Barr was commissioned as postmaster. H e ceeded by William Barnes, and upon the establishing railroad station at its present location, the postremoved there. T h e only other post-office in the established at North Batavia in the spring of 1877, with Gideon D. Baggerly as THE C I V I L A N D POLITICAL HISTORY of this town properly begins with the meeting held New York House in the fall or winter of 1835-36, it was resolved to petition the Legislature to town under the name of Batavia. T h i s name in accordance with a request of William Reynolds, sired to have the town named after his former home in western New York. I n accordance with this Legislature passed an act erecting the town, the first town-meeting at the house of The meeting was held accordingly, and the script from the town records shows what action at it. Following this will be found a civil list of showing the names and dates of election of all officers from 1836 to the present time. T h e record of the first meeting is F I R S T T O W N.11EETING I N B A T A V I A . ( C o p y. ) Amount of one thither for aate mad every mai", i f Provided X e s e d i m lam, t h a t i t be osopbt W e f t the Comity of D a m * mat by • C l a i m of the tows of B a t a r l a l a amid Comity. " O a motion, Howolved, t h a t this M e d i a s l i a j o a r a to L . Ta y l o r % in B a t a v i a , fur Use neat e m s * / year." C I V I L L U S T. SUPERVISORS. 1836-42. M a r t i n Olds. 1861-412. B a r r i o s Cary. 1843-47. I l o i l o P o r t e r. 1868-68. D a v i d D e e d & 1848. S m i t h D o w. 1806. I l o r i p s a I Ty l e r. 1849. P h i l o P o r t e r. 1850-SI N a t h a n i e l Woodard. 1867-70. James Campbell. 1871-72. Charles W. Pairbmaka. 1852. S m i t h D o w. 11173. H i r a m Simmons. 1853-54. J a m e s M u r p h y. 1874. W i l l i a m U . Ty l e r. 1855. D a v i d F o n d a . 1875. James Campbell. Stevens, Jabs. Bronson, Clerks, unanimously chosen to form the Board o f Election, t h e f o l l o w i n g Persons were d u l y Elected to Office, 1859. W i l l i a m S k i n n e r. stable and Collector: J a m e s L . Yo u n g , I r a Gifford, George 1). Babbet, TOWN C L I M E S . 1858. M a r t i n P. Olds. 1839. E l i j a h Thomas. 1859. C a r t s . Dunham. 1840-41. S a m u e l I I . C a r y. 1860. H i r a m S i m m o n s . 1842-44. L e w i s K i n g s b u r y. 1845-46. M a r t i n Olds. solved, t h a t the t o w n be D i v i d e d i n t o D i s t r i c t s for the Accommodation of the P a t h Masters. " I n D i s t r i c t N o . 1, B e n j a m i n P a r k e r, P a t h M a s t e r ; N o . 2, T. R . Wa l l i s , * P a t h M a u l e r ; N o . 3 , S h i r l o c k C o o k , P a t h M a s t e r ; N o . 4 , J o h n Woodruff, Path M a s t e r ; N o . 5 , Moses Olmsted, Jr., Path Master; No. 6 , I r a Gifford, Path Master; N o . 7, J o h n Woodruff, P a t h Master. on m o t i o n , l t e o l , e d , t h a t Constables are elected fence viewers. ° a onotion, Ite.01, col, t h a t there be A B o u n t y up wolf scalps to the Wallace. 1861-62. L u t h e r C. Stour. 11 8 6 3 - 6 6 . James Campbell. 1847. S m i t h DoW 1867-09. F u l l e r Mobilises. 1848-49. J a m e . M u r p h y. 1870. M a r s h a l l D . Bonney.* 1850-51. D . G. Olds. Aaron J. B a r h a m . t 1871. B e n j a m i n F. Dolph. 1852-53. H a r r i s o n C a r y. 1854. M a r t i n P. Olds. 1872-74. George M i l l e r. 1855. H a r m o n M . Loomis. 1875-76. A d m i r a l B u r c h . 1877. P L n y W . Ti t u s . 1856. M a r t i n P. Olds. 1878. L i b b e u s M . Bowers. 1857. C a r l o s D u n h a m . TOWN T R E A S C R L R S . 1839-41. S h i r l o c k Cook. 1863. J o b E l d r e d . t 1842. S a m u e l I I . C a r y. 1843-46. T i m o t h y L . M i l l e r. 1864. W i l l i a m N i v i s o n . : 1847-48. M a r t i n Olds. 1865. D a v i d C. Gould. 1849-52. G e o r g e H o a g . 1853-54. S a m u e l D . Parker. 1866. H i r a m Simmons. 1867. G e o r g e M i l l e r. 1855. J a m e s D . Cole. 1868. M a r s h a l l D . Bonney. D a v i d C. F o n d a . t 1856. S a m u e l D . P a r k e r. 1869-70. George M i l l e r. 1857. Jesse C. M a r t i n . 1871-72. L e r o y E . Graves. 1858. H i r a m B r i n k . 1873. Jeclediah W i l c o x . 1859. W a r r e n Holcomb. 1874. A d m i r a l Bureh. 1860. S a u n d e r s Richardson. 1861. W i l l i a m M . Ty l e r. 1875. A r c h i b a l d H . G r i m 1876. H o m e r F. & w a d e r & 1862. E l i j a h C. Sterne. 1877. P e t e r Mangum. 1578. B e n j a m i n S. W i l c o x . 1863. Jaeolo Dabarsh..t. JUSTICES O F T E E P E A C E . 1848. T i m o t h y L . M i l l e r. 1836. H o r a c e Field. Leonard Ta y l o r. 1849. S m i t h Dow. 1850. M o r g a n L . Ty l e r (f. t.). John Bassett. Benjamin F. Pend ( v. ) . M a r t i n Olds. 1851. W i l l i a m L . P o r t e r (L t . ) . 1837. L o t W h i t c o m b . Jesse C. M a r t i n (I. v. ) . James M u r p h y (a. v. ) . 1838. P h i l o P o r t e r. 1839. M a r t i n Olds ( 4 years). Semi. Woodard ( 3 years). Tim. R . Wallace (2 years). Constables; H o r r a c e F i e l d , L . Ta y l o r , J o h n Bassett, M a r t i n Olds, Magistrates; J . 11. Stevens, To w n C l e r k ; J o h n M . C h a p i n , J o h n Bassett, M o s e s O l m s t e d , S c h o o l C o m m i s s i o n e r. ; A b e l O l d s , Moses ° h o s t e l , Directors o f P o o r : a n d on f u r t h e r consideration i t Bennett L . Tr i p p . t 1836-38. J o h n H . Stevens. Anexed t o t h e i r N a m e s : S a m u e l W o o d a r d , L . Ta y l o r, A b l e O l d s , Assessors; M o r g a n S w a m i , S h i r l o c k C o o k , A m a m i sioners o f H i g h w a y s ; M a r t i n Olds, S u p e r v i s o r ; T . R . .1878. M a h l o n W . Brows.* 1860. D a v i d Fonda. " A t a To w n s h i p M e e t i n g h e l d a t t h e House o f W m . Reynolds, i n the To w n o f B a t a v i a , A p r i l 4 t h , 1836, W h e r e a s A l p h e u s R e y n o l d s , Esq., wits called t o t h e c hai r. M a r t i n O l d . chosen M o d e r a t o r. J . I I . 1876-77. W i l l i a m U . Ty l e r. 1856. P h i l o P o r t e r. 1857-58. M o r g a n L . Ty l e r. Elijah Thomas (1 year). 1840. S m i t h D o w ( f . Samuel H . C a r y ( v. ) . 11852. James M u r p h y. 1653. S m i t h Dow. 1854. W i l l i a m Skinner (1. t.). William Webb (v.). 1/155. D a n i e l M i l l e r (f. L ) . Samuel V. M a t e y ( v. ) . 1841. T i m o t h y R . Wallace. 1842. T i m o t h y Larrabee. 1843. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. D a v i d Fonda. S m i t h D o w. T i m o t h y I t . Wallace. T i m o t h y Lerrabee. M a r t i n Okla. • Resigned. t 1856. W i l l i a m Webb. 1857. S m i t h Dow (f. t . l . George Cl. Gilbert ( r. ) . 1858. W i l l i a m Smith (f. L ) . Isaac Sprague ( v. ) . 1830. N o r t h r u p Sweet. APPoialed. t P. 4 1 . 4 1 . spontr. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1860. D a n i e l M i l l e r. 1861. M a r s h a l l I / . Bonney (f. t.). David Fonda ( v. ) . 1862. N o record. 1863. N o r t h r u p Sweets 1864. D a n i e l M i l l e r. 1865. Leonard Adams (f. t.). Fuller Atchinson v . ) . David Fonda (s. v.). 1866. D a v i d F o n d . 1867. Delanson J . Sprague. 1868. D a n i e l M i l l e r. 1869. L e o n a r d Adams. COMMISSIONERS 1870. A u s t i n Noyes (f. I L Leonard Adams ( v. ) . 1871. J o h n Reynolds. 1872. J o h n 13. l m b e r (f. t.). James Wilson ( v. ) . 1873. L e o n a r d Adams. 1874. Sidney F i e l d (I. t.). David J. Perrin ( v. ) . 1875. J o h n Whitcomb. 1876. J o h n B. L u b e r. 1877. D a v i d J. P e r r i n . 1878. L o r. I ) . Walsworth ( f . t.). Bennett L . Tr i p p ( v. ) . OF H I G H W A Y S . 1847. N a t i ) . Woodard (1 year). 1848. N a t h a n i e l Woodard. 1849. Jesse C. M a r t i n . 1836. M o r g a n S. Smead. Shirluck Cook. Aumsa W. M i l l e r. 1837. Samuel Fairbanks. Abel Olds. Augustus M i l l e r. 1838. L e o n a r d Ta y l o r. Joel Woodard. John Reynolds. 1839. J o h n Bassett. Martin Olds. Abel Olds. 1840. A l b e r t Dudley. Joel Woodard. Thomas Davis. 1841. H i r a m B r i n k . Thomas Davis. David Fonda. 1842. M o r g a n L . Ty l e r. Abel Olds. Samuel Woodard. 1313. L e o n a r d Ta y l o r. William L . Parker. Lewis K i n g s b u r y. 1844. W i l l i a m L . Parker. Samuel H . Cary. Thomas Davis. 1845. P e t e r Grove. Nathaniel Woodard. Isaac Sprague. 1846. Jesse C. M a r t i n . William L . Parker. I r a Thurston. 1847. W m . L . Parker (3 years). Jesus C. M a r t i n (2 years). 1850. W i l l i a m L . Parker. 1851. S m i t h Dow. 1852. Jesse C. M a r t i n . 1853. A r c h i b a l d B a n k s . 1854. S m i t h Dow. 1855. Jacob Reynolds. 1856. A r c h i b a l d Hanks. , 1857. Isaac Sprague. 1858. N o r t h r u p Sweet. 1859. H i r a m B a r r e t t . 1860. Isaac Sprague. 1861. H i r a m B r i n k . 1862. N o record. 186:3. D a v i d C. Fonda. 1864. H i r a m B r i n k (f. t.). I r a M a r t i n ( v. ) . 1865. D a n i e l M i l l e r. 1866. J o h n C. Thayer. 1867. W i l l i a m I t . Card. 1868. D a v i d C. Fonda. 1869. J o h n C. Thayer. 1870. W i l l i a m R . Card (f. t.). Edward P. Gates ( v. ) . 1871. E l i j a h Grove. 1872. J o h n C. 'Thayer. 1873. H . F. 1874. Ransom W. Covey. 1875. J o h n M a r t i n . 1876. Nelson H . Saunders. 1877. W i l l i a m R. Card. 1878. A l o n z o Olmstead. OVEIISEERS O F 1841. E v a n Davis. David Fonda. 1845. Joel Woodard. Evan Davis. 1846. D a n i e l Sprague. David Fonda. 1847. N o record. 1848. M o r g a n L . Ty l e r. John H. Stevens. 1849. M o r g a n L . Ty l e r. Daniel M i l l e r. 1850. D a v i d Fonda. I I . N. Hubbard. 1851. M o r g a n L . Ty l e r. Benjamin F. Pond. 1852. A r c h i b a l d Hanks. James M u r p h y. COLLECTORS. 1836. Ti m o t h y R . Wallace. 1837. Ti m o t h y L . M i l l e r. 1838. I r a P. Strong. 1839. H i r a m Hadley. 1840-41. Coni'dore P. Woodard. T H E 1836. A b e l Olds. Moses Olmstead, 1837. Jabes Bronson. Benjamin Ohnstead. 1838. N o record. 1839. George Hoag. 7 5 POOR. 18511. I . W. Howd. 1851-52. W i l l i a m Webb. George Hoag. 1853. L e o n a r d Ta y l o r. W i l l i a m Webb. 1854. Jesse C. M a r t i n . Morgan L . Ty l e r. 1855. J o h n Reynolds. William P. Morey. 1856. Isaac Sprague. John Bowers. 1857. J a h n Reynolds. Benjamin Buell. 1858. D a v i d Fonda. John Reynolds. 1850. J o b Eldred. John Reynolds. Benjamin Olmstead. 1840. Shirlock Cook. Benjamin Olmstead. 1841. L e o n a r d Ta y l o r. Abel Olds. 1842. J o e l Woodard. Abel Olds. 1843. George Hoag. Abel Olds. 1844-19. B e n j a m i n Oluisteud. 1844-50. George Hoag. 85 11 0 0 1 . 1 5 8 1 4 - C 7 0 1 1 S . 1836. J o h n M . Chapin. John Bassett. Moses Olmstead. 1837-38. N o record. 1839. Samuel I I . Cary. Lewis K i n g s b u r y. Smith Dow. 1840. L e w i s Kingsbury. Smith Dow. Philo Porter. 1841-42. Samuel H . Cary. Lewis K i n g s b u r y. Philo Porter. 1843. E v a n Davis. Smith Dow. Ti m o t h y M i l l e r. 1844. P h i l o Porter. 1845. S m i t h Dow. 1846. P h i l o Porter. 1847. D a v i d Thompson. 1848. Ti m o t h y Larrabee. 1849. Philemon S. Field. 1850. P h i l o Porter. 1851. Philemon S. Field (f. t.). David J. Perrin ( v. ) . 1852. D a v i d J. Perrin. 1853. H e r m a n M . Loomis. 1854. W i l l i a m Skinner. 1855. Carlos Dunham (f. t.). Philander I t . Sprague ( v ) . 1856. L o r e n R . Austin. 1857. N o record. 1858. P h i l a n d e r 11. Sprague. 1859. J o h n R . Bonney. 1860. Carlos Dunham. 1861. L o r e n R . A u s t i n . 1862. N o record. 1863. F u l l e r Atchinson. 1864. J o h n I t . Bonney. 1865. D a v i d I I . Crittenden. 1866. J o h n R . Bonney. 1867. A a r o n J . B u ff ham. 1868. J o h n R . Bonney. 1869. L o r e n . D . Walsworth. 1870. I I . F. B u f f ham. 1871. Nelson H . Saunders (f. t.). Charles B. Noyes ( v. ) . 1872. W i l l i a m M . Ty l e r. 1873. Nelson I I . Saunders. 1874-76. P l i n y W. Titus. 1877. B e n n e t t L. Tr i p p . 1878. P h i l o Porter. SCHOOL S U P E R I N T E N D E N T S . 1875. L o r e n R . Austin. 1 8 1876-77. O r r i n A . Vanderbilt. . 11 3 111 E 5 0 0 0 5 . 1836. Samuel Woodard. Leonard Ta y l o r. Abel Olds. 1837-38. N o record. 18:39. J o h n Bassett. Samuel Fairbanks. Charles W. Weatherby. M O . E v a n Davis. Samuel Woodard. Martin Olds. 1841. J o e l Woodard. Samuel Woodard. Evers Davis. 1942. N o record. 1843. Samuel Woodard. Elijah Thomas. Peter Grove. 2 7 8 . P l i n y W. Ti t u s . 1515.115 C O M M I S S I O N E R S . 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. C a l v i n Burrows (upped). 1 8 7 5 . George Whitcomb (res.). W i l l i a m S. Card. J o h n Bowers (appCd). Leonard Ta y l o r, J r. 1 8 7 6 - 7 7 . A v e r y S. N e u t . A v e r y S. P r o d . 1 8 7 8 . A d m i r a l Burch. C O N S TA B L E S . Timothy R. Wallace, James L . Young, I r a Gifford, George bitt, 1836; H i r a m Hadley, 1839, '40; N a t h a n i e l Woodard, 1839; Commodore P. Woodard, 1839-42; H i r a m C . Welch, 1840, '41, '51 ; A l b e r t Burgess, 1841; E v a n D a v i s , 1842, ' 4 3 ; M a t t h i a s Woodruff, 1042; E p h r a i m Case, Benjamin I I . Parker, 1843; A . W. M i l l e r, L . Warner, Peter Grove, 1844; George 92; Samuel D . Parker, 1845, '46, '53, '54, '56; D . Wilcox, 1845; Job Eldred, 1845, '46, '55, '57, '64; J o h n Reynolds, 1846; J o h n Bassett, 1847; L e w i s Wilcox, 1847, '48, '52, '54, '56; D a r w i n ( I . Olde, 1847, '48; Horace Wilkinson, 1848, '49, '53; John Sprague, W i l l i s ! . Smith, 1849; M a r t i n P. Olds, 185/142; J o h n C. Thayer, 1850, '58-60; M a r s h a l l M i l l e r, 1850; I r a M a r t i n i 1851; James Martin, 1852, '53; N i c h o l . ' Va n A l s t i n e , 1853, '59; tin, George P a r d y, 1 8 5 4 ; J a m e . D . Cole, M . C . Powers, C. C. Brown, 1855; Jisooli Dahnorsb, James S. Mille, 1858; nolds, 1857, '80; Peter Manguse, George Clark, 1857; W i l l i a m M . �276 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH Tyler, 1858, ' 6 7 , ' 7 0 ; H i r a m B r i n k , R a y 1859; Joseph R . H a r r i s ; I m i o ; I s a a c I . B a i r, c o i l , ; omril, Ji,lin Skinner, Lucius Hibbard, 1861 ; Ly m a n Grove, 1863; Charles C. Lippincott, 1863, ' 6 4 ; L e o n a r d Ta y l o r, 1863, '76; E l i j a h Grove, Jr., 1861, '68, '77; Alunso Olmstead, 1864, '76, '77; rill, H i r a m Simmons, D a v i d C. Gould, 1865; George M i l l e r, 1867, '69; E z r a B a i r, 1867, '74, ' 7 5 ; Silas F . Wilkinson, shall D . B o n n e y, H e n r y H . H a l l e e k , 1 6 6 8 ; A l l e l l C . Andrews, 1669, '70, ' 7 2 ; Mariiir. Castle, I r a H o l d r i d g e , 1 8 6 9 ; A l p h o n s u Tyler, Sylvester D . Bailey, 1870; M a h l o n W. Brown, ward D . S m i t h , 1 8 7 1 - 7 3 ; B r u n s o n H a w l e y, 1871, ' 7 6 ; A l f r e d Williams, 1871; L e r o y E . Graves, John I . M a r t i n , 1972; Nelson E. W i l l i s , Jedediali W i l c o x , W i l l i a m W i l c o x , 1 8 7 3 ; A a r o n J . Bulfhain, Peter Pitcher, P h i l o Porter, 1 8 7 4 ; D a n i e l W . Bates, Edwin F o x , 1 8 7 5 ; A r c h i b a l d R . G r o v e , 1875, ' 7 8 ; H o m e r F . Saunders, 1 8 7 6 ; L e w i s l'ieree, Simeon C u l v e r, 1 8 7 7 ; A l a n s o n Miller, Peter Sprague, Mason Shenneman, 1878. No record exists o f the constables elected in 1837, 1838, 1862, and 1866. The bounty on wolves was increased to $5 per head in 1839, to $10 i n 1840, and t o $25 in 1841. T h i s rapid increase was owing t o the fact that the settlers were then introducing sheep-husbandry as a branch of and, us the flocks increased in size and number, were enabled to do much greater damage, so that necessary to exterminate them. May 13, 1841, t h e assessors met and made o u t the following jury-list to serve a t the sessions o f the Circuit Court, viz.: " I s a a c Sprague, Timothy Larrabee, Smith Dow, Esq., Leonard Taylor, Esq., grand jurors; M a r t i n Olds, Esq., Elijah Thomas, Esq., Timothy I t . Wallace, Esq., William Webb, Esq., petit jurors." In 1842 the town granted licenses to keep of course to sell liquors, to Samuel Keyes, A . G. Moore, and Samuel H . Cary; a n d again, i n 1844, t o William Reynolds and Samuel 11. Cary. A vote was taken at the town-meeting, April 7 , 1845, on the questions of licensing the sale of liquor and o f building a jail. T h e for license, 65; against license, 6 ; for a jail, 27 ; against a jail, 59 ; thus showing conclusively that the people either held very crude notions regarding the relations o f dram drinking and crime, or desired that there should be straint o f personal liberty on account o f offences against good order and In i t s political status t h e town was f o r many years strongly Democratic. I n d e e d i t was exceedingly difficult for a candidate of any other political organization t o be elected to office previous to the organization o f Nothing or. American party i n 1854-55. T h e corded vote a t a general election was i n November, 1839, when the Democratic candidate for governor received 47 votes, and the W h i g candidate received b u t 6 . I n t h e year above mentioned the opposition t o t h e Democratic party resolved to form an organization to overthrow it, and a Know-Nothing club was formed in the south part of the town, which held its meetings at the house of nolds, and also a t the "Cary" tavern, then kept by John Acker. T h e membership was quite large and tributed throughout the town. I t formed a nucleus about which the entire opposition to the dominant lized, arid, at the town-meeting of 1855, swept the town, and elected David Fonda as supervisor. I t also carried the town at one general election. I n 1856 a sort COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . tion set in, and the Democrats were once more But MAY tile Republican party *prang into received large accessions from the Kuow-Nothings. I t at once as.sunied political control of the town, and maintained it until the Notional party was orptnized. S i n c e the spring of 1878 that party has had a majority of from 5 0 to 80 YOW8. The first religious meetings i n Balite is were the summer or 1836. E l d e r Parker, who lived near the town line i u Coldwater, held preaching services i n t h e school-house in what is now district No. 8 , simultaneously, Rev. George Shay and Rev. Israel Millard held services in different private houses in the south part of the town. A s a result, two Methodist were formed, with Jesse Brooks and Benjamin class-leaders in their respective localities. kept up in the school-houses for several years,- i n the milt part till about 1869, and in the south part till the ministers being supplied from neighboring circuits, principally the Girard circuit. A n o t h e r copal class was formed a t Batavia Centre, in the fall o r winter o f 1876, by Rev. A . Eldred. I t consisted o f 10 members, and Philo Porter was appointed A t present the class numbers 11 members, and ing is supplied from the Bronson Church, Rev. J. Clubine being the present pastor. R e v s . D . S. lde, Gage, and - Bonney preached here previous t o the regular organization. I n the north part of the town there is a large number of members of this denomination who belong to the North Batavia class, whose church is located in the town of Haim'. T h i s class numbers about 50 members, and i n 1873 erected their very edifice at a cost of about $7000. The only other denomination that has entered upon this field is the Wesleyan Methodists, who formed a class about 1858-59 in the south part of the town. I t was organized by Rev. S. B. Smith. and Daniel Olmstead was the first class-leader. T h e y kept up regular meetings once in two weeks, a t the brick school-house near the station, until 1877, when, b y the removal and death o f many o f its members, the class became so reduced in numbers as no longer able t o sustain preaching. and was disbanded. The society was incorporated about 1867, and intended to erect a church, but having some trouble about securing a suitable site, no church was built. T h e pastors o f this church were generally hired i n connection w i t h other churches o f the denomination i n t h i s vicinity. A m o n g them were Revs. S. B . Smith, Albert Olmstead, Wheelock, R o s s , J . K. Welltran, - Pryor, Pixley, Joseph Hague, Joseph Selltvk. The Sabbath-school work begun very early, were organized a t every school-house as fast they were built. A m o n g the earliest was the one connected with the Methodist Episcopal class in district No. 8, o f Brooks was the first superintendent- M a n y of were organized through the efforts of Deacon Upeon, of Coldwater., who was very active in that work. years the several schools of the town were in the habit of holding an annual picnic together, and out of this grew a town Sunday-school association, which was ��MAJOR T U T T L E . ‘I I t , N I I I I I I I_ •• M a r i e . I.y K n , l L . 4 ..1 PHILO PORTER. II E N R V I LI. KR. MRS. H E N R Y M I L L E R . . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. ten years ago, and of which Philo Porter was president for several years. I t s annual meetings are still held regularly, but the monthly meetings have been abandoned since 1875-76 The order of Patrons of Husbandry had one society in this town. I t B A T A V I A G R A N G E , NO. 9 5 , P. O F H . It was instituted at the house of James Taylor, ber, 1873, with 47 charter members. T h e first officers were Philo Porter, Master; M. II. Brown, Overseer; Loren R. Austin, Lecturer; L . M. Bowers, Steward; E . R. Clam, Assistant Steward; — Card, Chaplain; James Murphy, Treas.; C. H . Austin, Sec.; Mrs. Eunice Mrs. J . Shenneman, Pomona; Miss Oua Murphy, Flora; Mrs. Emma Chun, The grange held its meetings at the hall of dine's house, and was very prosperous for about after which time the interest began to decline, tinued to du so till the charter was surrendered during the present winter (1878-79). A t one time was 113. During the war of the Rebellion this town, like towns throughout the land, gave liberally of its treasure to sustain the Union cause. A list of will be found in another part of this work. of the town, too, took a very active part by furnishing supplies o f clothing, and similar articles for the use o f the soldiers, which contributed largely to their comfort. The first war-meeting in Branch County was held Union school-house in this town soon after the fall of Fort Sumter, i n April, 1861. I t was peculiar, particular notice from the fact that it was called ducted under the auspices of the Democratic party of the town. L . R . Austin took the initial move, and rode through the town notifying the inhabitants of meeting. A t the time set, a large and ing was assembled at the place of meeting, and were ad. dressed by General J. G. Parkhurst, Hon. George Dr. 1. P. Alger, and others. T h e excitement and the patriotic spirit manifested argued well f o r the patriotism and devotion to the Union cause of of Batavia. Q u i t e a number o f enlistments among them being Joseph Harris, Asa Covey, and Knappins Many of the brave boys who went into the army did not escape seotfree, but either left their bodies lying on the sanguinary field of battle, or returned to their and disfigured by wounds, broken down by the disease, or wasted to skeletons by the horrors tion endured i n the "prison-pen," those damning blots upon the escutcheon o f the South, whose memories will never " down at its bidding," but will rise continually in its path, like Banquo's ghost, reminding of the inhumanity of the past. W e have not the means to enable us to give a list of the heroes furnished by this town, but mention a few of them. H i r a m C. killed at Gettysburg, and William L . Parker Ga. T w o Knappins and two sons of M. L. Tyler died in the service. L e r o y E. Graves, Charles Webb, William R. 2 7 7 Card, F o n d a , and — Dunham were wounded in action. E z r a Bair, the only drafted man who entered the service, was present a t the capture o f Jefferson Davis. Upon his return home the town voted to pay him of $100 for his military services, to place him upon an equality with all other soldiers credited to the who received a With this we bring to a close our brief sketch satisfied if we have been able to put into a shape something that may prove of benefit to any of its residents or their BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. HENRY MILLER. George Miller, father of Henry Miller, was born sylvania about the year 1769, and died in Portage Co., Ohio, March, 1839. H e was married to Miss Elizabeth Barber. B y this union was born a family of dren, five sons and six daughters,—Jacob, Susan, Henry, Samuel, Catharine, Rebecca, eon, and George,—all deceased except Henry and Samuel. Mrs. Elizabeth Miller died in Portage Co., Ohio, Oct. 9, 1856, aged seventyHenry Miller was born i n 1813 in Lancaster He came with his parents at all early age to Ohio. H e resided there until he reached the age when his parents again removed to Portage Cu., resided there until the death of his father. H e chased the old homestead, which he afterward sold moved with his family to Branch Co., Mich., about 1860. H e married Rachel, daughter o f Frederick and Rachel Canis, the 22d of September, 1839. A family of eight children blessed the union,—George, Henry S., Joel F., Laura, Dorcas V., and Hiram W.,—all living except Joel and Laura. J o e l was killed in Texas by a man in whom he reposed confidence as a friend. buried at Mr. Miller has always followed the occupation of and has by his industry succeeded in obtaining tency sufficient to place him i n easy circumstances, and is surrounded by the surviving members of his family. H e has always been a staunch Republican in politics. other page are the portraits of himself and wife. PHILO PORTER. Philo Porter was born i n the town of Co., N. Y., April 26, 1813, and lived with his father in that town until about his thirteenth year. H i s moved to the town o f Alexander, and March Philo was married t o Martha, daughter o f Simeon and Achsah Hosmer, o f the town o f Byron. M a y 9 they started with an ox-team for Batavia, Branch Co., Mich., where in November previous young Porter of the government one hundred and twenty acres Mr. Porter thus relates their �278 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . _ " We reached our destination May 17. the realities of settling a new country five from any person with whom we were acquainted. W e commenced to paddle our own canoe, with ular to mar our prospects until June 17, 1837, when my wife died and was buried in the town " I was married again, March 2 6 , 1838, to Marietta, daughter of Timothy and Ilarriet Miller. S h e died Jan. 6, 1839. I was married a third time to Wheeler. W e have raised a family of five children, daughters and two sons,—all of whom "April, 1838, I was elected a justice of' the peace in said town. I n 1844, 1845, 1846, and 1847 I supervisor. I n November, 1850, I was elected sheriff of Branch County, and re-elected in 1852. M y first cast for Andrew Jackson at his second election. identified with the Democratic party up to 1876, and am now supporting the measures of the party that believe a greenback dollar it as good as a gold or silver dollar, and a little more " A t the breaking out o f the Rebellion I was a war Democrat, and assisted to the extent of my ability taining "Last, but not least, when about fifty years old a profession of religion as a member of the copal Church of Batavia. M y sympathies have with the Sunday-school cause, where I have labored perintendent for the last sixteen years; and now, at of sixty-six years, I say to my co-laborers in school, to brothers and sisters in the church, and to the friends whose kindness and tokens of respect I preciate, i f my efforts have been acceptable to you and pleasing to my Heavenly Father, the height of has been B E T H E L . THE township of Bethel was a wilderness till the year .1830, when the first white man began the work ing the land from its wild state and bringing it tivation. T h e only public improvement in the the Chicago turnpike, which had been laid out by the government to facilitate travel from the East great, and at that time wholly undeveloped, has risen in one generation to high rank among ent sections of our glorious Union. T h i s road, then mere trail through the woods, entered Bethel at east corner of section 5, and ran a crooked course to near the middle of the west line of section 7, where into the town of Bronson. A l o n g this highway the tide of emigration swept on its westward course, marking of progress by an occasional cabin, where pleased with the looks of the country, or weary of and privations of the slow and tedious journey, had left the company of his fellow-travelers and commenced a home in the forest or on the openings. T h e burr-oak openings, of which there was a considerable area in this town, were, to the eyes of these weary travelers, a welcome sight; and delightful Arcadia; or, to use a phrase which they very commonly used to describe them, "the country the sun ever shone upon." Mingled forests, in which wild game of all descriptions was found in great abundance, with small lakes of cool, pure, water, in which myriads of fishes of various themselves in playful gambols, or darted swiftly of the smaller fry that served for their food, with of many crystal-clear, rippling, babbling brooks • Prepared by C. 4 surface in divers directions, and with a !7reat variety fruits and nuts to furnish palatable food for man it surely was a country possessing many and offered many advantages as inducements for grants to make for themselves and their amid such beautiful surroundings. A n d these and these pleasant scenes, did not display their beauty in vain, for, at an early date, the lands began to be occupied, and, as soon as the placed in t h e market by the government. were rapidly taken up by the incoming pioneers. T h e first bit turned over by a white tiller of the soil was located a little north of the centre of the town, on a very burr-oak opening, so nearly devoid of trees that called a prairie, and was first brought under cultivation in the summer of 1830. The man who thus became the first inhabitant town was Eleazer Snow. l i e was a former resident o f some part o f New England, and had a wife and family there. F o r sonic reason best known to through a restless desire for change, which seems been a characteristic of his life, or possibly because drunk to satiety of the cup of matrimonial bliss joy, he had determined to shake off the ties him, and came to the Western wilds, leaving his children in their Eastern home to mourn or rejoice departure. as the circumstances of the case them in doing. I l e came to Bronson's Prairie his home with Jeremiah Tillotson, who was a tavern there. H e was a man who took in hunting and trapping, and, looking about for in grow some corn and potatoes. he found t h i , small piece of �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. open land above referred to, and set about getting up and planted. T h i s piece o f land was near west corner of section 16. and he subsequently built hut, about 12 feet square, on it, and lived there self for a time. F r o m him the lmality received of " Snow Prairie," and has ever since retained it. I n the fall o f 1831, Snow sold his claims and improvements to Moses Olmstead, a native of New England, who a resident of Oakland County, in this State, for a previous t o his removal here. F o r a while this family seems t o have been the only one living in the town, but after a little, others began to settle, and in a few were a number of families residing in different parts of the township. T h e names of these settlers, given as may be in the order of their settlement, with the date o f their arrival (where it has been ascertained) following the name in each case, are as follows, viz.: Eleazer Snow, spring o f 1830 ; Moses Olmstead, f i l l of 1831 ; the Youngs family and Isaac Freeman in 1834, —the latter in the fall; Albert Dudley, John J. Richardson, Moses Paine, and David M. Clark in 1835,—the two former in the spring; Daniel gan L. Sawed, Lyman Smead, Lauriston if reen, Amos Green, Silas S. Green, in the Bennie in June, and Mrs. Margaret McMillan, Stephen and James, ana her daughter Margaret, Philander Olds, Hetuan Lake, Thomas Judson, Lyman Seymour, Timothy Colby, Otis Davis, Caleb N. Bates, Hiram G. Wiser. Origin Bingham, and Adam Bower in the fall o f 1836; Lemuel Bingham and Matthew H . Bingham i n the winter or spring, Ebenezer McMillan in January, William Reed, David Cummings, and James Thurston i n the spring o f 1837; Uriah Mallory, Levi Thompson, and Charles M. Gallap in 1838,—the latter in the fall ; Walter Roe in the fall of 1839; in 1840 ; William Bradway, George Gallap, Gallap in 1842; Roswell barabee in 1844 ; John Wiser in 1847; and William T. Amtuerman Of course this list does not include the names of all the settlers in each year, but for the first few years settlement it has been our aim to make the list as complete Of the first settler, Eleazer Snow, we can say was a very restless individual, and was his location. U p o n selling his property in Bethel to Mr. Olmstead he purchased 8 0 acres o f land i n St. Joseph County, and lived there until the breaking out of Hawk war, in 1832, when be became frightened as far east as the State of New York, having posed of his land for two yokes of stags and an vania wagon. U p o n the return of peace and good returned, and repureharted the land he had parted with at such a low price. Subsequently, he owned for a time the land upon which the village of Burr Oak now stands, but under the impulse of his desire f i r change, limposed and entered upon a wider range o f travel. I l e to Iowa, from there to the hills o f Arkansas, years later returned from that State t o his old home in Branch County, poor, decrepit', and infirm from of age and the hardships he bad been called upon t o 27 endure. A short time after, he once more left this part of the country and went t o Minnesota, since which time nothing has been heard from him. I l e was, at the time of his settlement here, apparently between forty and fifty years of age. Ta l l and spare in build, with ders, tightly-compressed lips, and deep-set, black furtively glanced at one from underneath his and always evaded the gaze of those he chanced his appearance was, on the whole, singular, and almost repulsive. H i s life was mainly devoted t o hunting and trapping, the solitude and seclusion o f the forest seeming best to accord with his taciturn, hermit-like disposition. W h i l e in this locality scene of his operations was along the course of the l'rairie River, sometimes called Moses Olmstead, who purchased Snow's came originally from some o f the Eastern States, quite probably from New Jersey, and settled in Oakland County, in Michigan, at an early day. F r o m that county here, late in the full o f 1831, with his wife, Moses, Jr., Philip, Gideon, and Lyman,—and —Abby, Eliza, and Hannah. They moved into the log lint built by Snow, and built another hut of rails, covered with hay, in which the men found a lodging-place while the women occupied the log hut. I n this manner the first winter was pamed, and then a larger and house was b u i l t f o r the accommodation o f the flintily. Moses Olmstead was a thorough-going man, resolute and energetic, and carried these qualities into his tions. B y reason of this lie rapidly brought his farm into splendid condition, and his stock was always noted for the sleek and well-fed look that characterized it. the first frame building in the township. I t was and commodious barn, built in 1834-35. I l e inently connected with the work o f organizing the town, but died soon after the first town-meeting, in the summer of 1837. H i s wife died about a year later. O f his children, Gideon died about two or three years family settled here. H i s was in all probability the first death of a white person in this town. was married to Sarah A n n Cummings, and was, so far as now known, the first one occurring township. T h e necessary license was procured of clerk, David M . Clark, on the 25th o f April, the ceremony was performed at the residence of father, David Cummings, on the present by David M . Clark, Esq. (who bore the dual acter of town clerk and justice of the peace), on the 30th day o f the same month. T h e bridegroom years old and the bride was fifteen. T h e party, made up of the families of the bride and groom and a few invited guests, numbered thirty persons, o f whom only two are now living. These two are the bride—now Lease, of Bethel—and Solomon Smith, of Gilead. Ly m a n Olmstead died i n this town i n October, 1864. M o s e s Olmstead, Jr., removed to Missouri many years died there in 1872. P h i l i p Olmstead at about time removed t o Utah, and is still living there. Moses Olnuttead's three daughters all died The Youngs family consisted of a mother and �280 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH —James, John, Benjamin, David, and Seth. T h e mother and t h e three sons first named came from some Indiana and squatted on Snow Prairie i n 1834. T h e y built a small cabin there, and the men spent their time in the woods and along the banks o f the streams hunting, trapping, and fishing. T h e other sons this town about five o r six years later. N o n e remained here any great length o f time. T h e y citizens, but not at all active in the work of bringing the wild lands of Michigan into their present fine state tivation. T h e mother, it is thought, died while they lived here. J a m e s was a married man, and after remaining here a few years returned to Indiana. T h e rest also removed to different parts, David returning to Indiana. Benjamin died in the town o f Bronson a few years since, and Seth is still living in that town. Isaac Freeman started from the town of Co., N. Y. , in the fall of 1834, on h i s way to this State, where he had, in June of' that year, entered a tion of timbered land in the Bean Creek Valley, County. T h e party consisted o f M r. Freeman and wife, and their family of eight children; his inother-in-law, Mrs. Marsh, and her sons and daughter,—Ebenezer, Daniel, Wallace, John, and Polly; and Wallace Marsh's wife and two or three children. T h e route traveled was over the Erie Canal, and up Lake Erie to Detroit. T h e r e man hired a team o f horses and a wagon t o convey his family and goods to Ypsilanti, expecting to go south from that place to his land in Lenawee County. H e there met a man living at Jackson Prairie, Ind., who, learning of his intention, told him it would be fully to go into the timbered lands with his family, to suffer the necessary hardships and privations that must conic before the land could and made to produce anything, when, by going a few miles farther west, till he reached the burr-oak region, he might have his choice of the fairest lands the eye of man ever looked upon, where the soil was all ready for the plow, and where sufficient crops could be raised the first furnish subsistence for the &Daily. B e i n g these statements, he left the family at Ypsilanti, came on to Bronson, and from there went south along the road leading from Bronson to Jackson Prairie. H i s most pectations were fully realized by the looks of' the opening, and he immediately returned to Ypsilanti for his family. The Marshes had come on with him, intending in Indiana, their goods being brought by two oxof them belonging to the man from Jackson Prairie. These two teams Mr. Freeman engaged to go and bring hold and effects, and the journey to Ypsilanti and made without adventure or mishap. T h e y reached their destination November 1, and moved with the Marshes into a vacant house they found on section 5 , in Gilead, about one-half mile south o f the town line. T h e r e was another vacant house in the vicinity, which was left i n charge o f Bishop Chase. M r . Freeman tried t o hire this house for the winter, but the bishop, who, i t would seem, what given to proselyting, made i t a condition o f that the tenant should—LW he phrased i t — " read service with him." Freeman retorted that, h e never had been a slave to any man, and he would be plagued i f he would be COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . now," and the bargain fell through. F o r i r e or the cabin occupied by Mr. Freeman and the sented something like the appearance usually credited to the tenement-houses a the great cities of the world. I t swarmed with l i f t , for tweuty permons would f i l l flowing a much larger mansion than the first settlers o f this country usually indulged in. M r . Frcitian selected a site on the Bronson road, in section 30, and immediately began building a cabin, which was completed sufficiently to allow of' the family's moving into it in Dezember. I n that winter he purchased the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 5, in Gilead, and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 32, in Bethel, of who had previously entered the land. H e gave him $150 for the 80 acres. I n June lie entered 40 acres adjoining it on the north, and a year later traded his land for the 80 acres on which he had built his had been entered, meantime, by another person. man lived in this town about two years, and then to his land in Gilead. Some seventeen years ago to the town o f Quincy, and died there in March, 1870. Two of his children are now residing in this county, Delius, in Bethel, and Mrs. Hannah Adams, Another son, John, who was a respected citizen of died in 1877, from the effects of a kick from a horse. F i v e of the ten children are still living in different parts of the country. Albert Dudley lived on section 8, near the the highway crosses Swan Creek, and the bridge across the creek lia.s always been called Dudley's Bridge on He removed to the adjoining town of Batavia, and kept the public-house known as the Dudley stand for David M . Clark was one o f the most peculiar men o f the town, and was also one of its most Being a man of fair educational attainments, lie was thereby fitted f o r the posts he held among them : teacher, clerk, magistrate, and surveyor. B y nature quick-tempered, imperious, and irascible, and are told of him that illustrate these traits o f his character. Among them the following : a man named Isaac Adams purchased a farm in Indiana, and hired Clark t o survey it for him. S o m e time afterwards Adams and pened to meet at the York House, where Samuel H. Cary was then keeping tavern. A d a m s , i n the course o f the conversation t h a t ensued, said t o Clark, i n a bantering tone Well, Clark, do you remember the time I saved your life?" " No," said Clark. " When and where was it? like to know." " Why," said Adams, " it. was the time you came down to Indiana to survey toy farm for me. D o n ' t it now ?" "Oh, yes," said the unsuspicious surveyor, " that perfectly well ; but what has that t o do with your saving my life?" " Why, can i t be possible," replied the incorrigible joker, as lie east a sly look over his interested audience, and winked to seine of his cronies, "can it be possible have forgotten how you, with all your compasses �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . apparatus, got lost in the woods, and would to death i f I hadn't piloted The crowd burst into a loud laugh at this original sally, which so irritated Clark that he seized a billet of wood from the wood-box, and rushed at his tormentor, intent upon sudden vengeance. C a r y sprang from behind the interfered in time to prevent a collision, and was soon Mr. Clark came from Grosse Isle, near Detroit, the county surveyor for several years. H e did a of surveying for the inhabitants of this region during his life-time. T h e land he entered was on the of section 7, and there he lived, died, and Milton Beesruer settled on the east half of quarter of section 16. I t being school-land he could not enter it, but had to wait till the lands were offered before getting a title. H e built a small log house on i t and lived there till his death, which occurred some ten years later. • On the fifth day of September, 1835, a party consisting of eleven persons,—Daniel Suicad and his wife (father and mother of the others), Morgan L. Stnead and wife and one child, Lyman Smead and wife and dren, and Lauriston Smead and wife,—left their former home in Middletown, Delaware Co., N. Y., and an overland journey to the West, intending to Rock River, in the State o f Illinois. T h e y traveled by leisurely stages, stopping frequently at the homes living at different places along their route, Taylor's Tavern, in Batavia, about the 20th Here the progress of the party was checked by prostration o f Daniel Smead, who was attacked by ease that prohibited any further travel, and reed his life. S o the party made themselves as as possible under the circumstances, and settled down for the winter. O f course, the sons spent a good portion o f their time in looking about the country, and they grew to Ilk. i t pretty well,—enough so, at least, as to lead them t o think o f abandoning the idea of going on to settling here As soon as the old gentleman had from his sickness they took him t o see some of they had selected, and he, too, was pleased with ance. T h e y then determined to stop here, and to Bronson (now Kalamazoo) to enter the land. early in January, 1836, and entered 446 acres lying in sections 3, 4, and 9. T h i s was divided up, Lyman and Lauriston having 63 acres each, and Morgan living with the old folks on the east half o f section 4. T h e party remained a t Taylor's through t h e winter and George Dunham and John Masters were hired to build which they got finished about the 7th of' March, flintily did not move into it until the 5th of April. A f t e r it was finished and before the family moved in, nual burning of' the marshes and openings took the new boom was endangered. Daniel Smead Worden luckily happened to visit i t at this started a counter-fire that saved the dwelling. A s the family had got settled in their new home, Umlaut set at work to prepare homes of their 3 2 8 1 man moved into his house during the but Lauriston did not get to living in his until of 1837. D a n i e l Stnead died March 9, 1847 ; his wife, Lucy, died Oct. 9, 1848; and Lauriston died April 2,1845. Morgan L . and Lyman are still living on their original farms in this town. T h e y are the two oldest surviving settlers of the town. Ebenezer Green was the father o f Amos and Silas S. Green. H e came in company with thew, bringing his wife and a younger son. H e settled on the south halt' of the northeast quarter o f section 30, and died i n this town a few years later. A m o s Green and his wife located north half of the same quarter-section, and returned to Ohio, from which State the Greens Silas S. Green, with his wife and two children, took up the northwest quarter of section 30. H e lived here twenty years ago, when he removed to Cass County in this Stat In the year 1828 a vessel crossed the Atlantic, which brought from Glasgow to New York a Scotch emigrant named James Bennie. U p o n landing in this country he at once went to Amsterdam, on the Mohawk River, New York, and engaged in doing farm work. there for about five years, and then, having accumulated a sufficient amount o f money to pay the expenses of their passage, sent to Scotland for his mother and sister, who, as soon as possible, joined him and then all came on to this State, where a Mrs. Jeanette McKinley, was then living, in the town of Gilea They arrived in this locality in 1833, and M r. Bennie hired out to work for Bishop Chase, his mother going to live with Mrs. McKinley. M r . Bennie this vicinity without a dollar, having expended all ings to get here. H e became quite an important member of the bishop's household, and was intrusted with ment of a large part of his business affairs. lived with him, the bishop went on a visit to during his absence the residence was destroyed by fire. A large part of the furniture and household saved from the conflagration. T h e news went across the sea that Bishop Chase's mansion had been he was presented with large amounts of money ing several thousand dollars) by his English friends and acquaintances, who seemed t o have no of the intrinsic value of a nutossiem in the " wilds gan." I n this fire Mr. Bennie lost all the property sessed except the clothes he was wearing. working for the bishop till he had saved enough chase an eighty-acre lot of the government, and then, in June, 1836, he went to the land-office and entered half of the southeast quarter of section 31, and became a resident of Bethel, his unmarried sister house for him. I n 1852 he was married t o Robinson, formerly o f Syracuse, N. Y., who still survives him and resides on the homestead. H e was a trious and energetic man, careful and thorough kind and considerate to all with whom lie C.11111C and benevolent to a fault. D u r i n g his life he competency of worldly goods, and added to his �282 I I ISTORY OF B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . sessions until he owned 160 acres of the choicest lands in this part of the county. I l e was often intrusted with the management of public business in the town, his duties with careful fidelity. W h i l e on a visit tives in Utah h e was taken sick, and died there May 1, 1872 Moses Paine cattle from Batavia, N . Y. , in t h e early summer of 1830, and went as far West as Pigeon Prairie (now White Pigeon), where he bought a farm. I l e grew dissatisfied with i t in a few months, and, instead ing his family West, he returned to the East and his former home for the space of six years. A t tion of that time he had once more made up his mind t o come to Michigan, had completed his preparations moving his flintily, and having performed the safety and without any unusual incident, arrived on the place his son Thomas had entered f o r him during the preceding winter. M r . Paine's family consisted o f a wife and six children. T h o m a s had preceded raim, Moses, Jr., and Catharine accompanied hint ; and his wife and daughters Jane and Sophia followed them later. T h e land on which he settled was on the north part of section 5 , adjoining the Chicago road, and consisted o f 80 acres of timbered opening land. A s 8000 as the land was got in proper condition M r. Paine planted seeds he had brought from the East. T h e orchard thus commenced was one of the earliest raised in the township and is now a fine and fruitful one. M o s e s Paine died in this town i n August, 1871, at the ripe age of years. O f his children, Ephraim lives on Thomas i n Batavia, Moses i n California, Jane in Girard, Sophia in Plymouth, Ind., and Catharine Heman Lake, Origin Bingham, Adam Bower, uel Bingham, w i t h their respective families, traveled i n company from their homes i n E r i c Co., N. Y. , till they arrived at Coldwater, when Lemuel Bingham left the party. The others came on along the State road till this town. Hemati Lake entered the northeast quarter of west quarter of section 13. I n the summer of 1839 Mr. Lake was taken with a severe attack of the bilious fever, and was attended by Dr. Corwin. H e took an scribed by the physician which i t is thought hastened his death, which occurred in the latter part of August. Origin Bingham located on the west half of east quarter of section 25, and died there some six years later. H i s widow, his sou Origin, and a daughter are now residents of Coldwater. Adam Bower took up 40 acres in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 25. H e died there about the year 1847. H i s family of ten children have all died or removed from the town. Lemuel Bingliant remained i n Coldwater through t h e winter o f 1836-37, while his son, Matthew H., ing a log house on the land they had entered on ,•ast quarter o f section 25. T h e y owned i n addition t o this a 40-acre lot in section 30 in Ovid. T h e lake on that section was called Bingham Lake on that account. T h e family moved on t o their place i n the spring o f 1837. Matthew married a daughter o f Hunan Lake, and about - two porn afterwards died. Leniuel then sold the went to live with his son, Seymour, in Coldwater. During the same fall (1836), Thomas Seymour, Timothy Colby, Job Devol, and Otis front the town a Collins, Erie Co., N. Y., and settled in this town. Thomas Judson settled on section 23, and seven years, when he returned to his former home, and is now living there. O t i s Davis, who located on section 24, sold his farm to Peleg Brownell, Jan. 1,1846, and too, returned to New York to live. Lyman Seymour took u p the southeast quarter tion 23, and lived there till the summer of 1839, when be died Timothy Colby entered the east h a l f o f the northeast quarter of section 26, and lived there t i l l about 1850-51. He became somewhat prominent in town matters, treasurer of the town for three years before he removed to Ottawa County. A t the time of leaving he was indebted to the town t o a considerable extent. A few years ago he left this State and settled Caleb N. Bates came t o Michigan in 1835, and bought five and a half 80-acre lots, located on sections 2,13, 14, and 23 i n this town, and then went back t o prepare his family f o r removal. T h e next fall (1836 h e , with his wife and five children, his son Peleg, with a wife children, and his son-in-law, Hiram G. Wiser, with his wife and three children, all embarked on a steamboat on Lake Erie, at Buffalo, with all their household goods, two horses, and two yokes o f oxen. W h e n the vessel had arrived within sight o f the Toledo lighthouse, a heavy head wind sprung up, which rapidly increased t o a gale, and drove the vessel back down the lake. W h i l e storm was at its height, the rudder of the vessel gave way, and the boat was driven helplessly at the mercy and will o f the winds and waves. A f t e r many hours o f anxiety and terror to the crew and passengers, the vessel at Port Clinton, near Sandusky, 0. T h e taken ashore in boats, and the cattle and horses, being thrown overboard, swam ashore. T h e wagons, too, were thrown into the water and towed ashore by means of ropes. O u r company of emigrants hitched u p their teams, and leaving their goods t o be carried t o Toledo by the boat after the storm should have subsided, pressed on by land toward their destination, where they arrived i n due time, rienced all the pleasures o f a passage through the Black Swamp in the muddy season. T h e y came from the town of Newstead (then a part of the town of Clarence), N. Y. C a l e b was a veteran of the war of 1812, and drew a pension for his services. H e died in this town Sept. 5, 1867. P e l e g lives on the farm on which he Benjamin, another sou, lives i n the town, and Hiram G. Wiser and his wife are 8611 living, though well advanced in years, on a farm on section 14. Mrs. Margaret McMillan, with her sous Stephen and James, arid her daughter Margaret, came from Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., and arrived in Bethel early in stopping temporarily with Silas S. Green, while preparing a home for themselves. T h e y bought (the southwest quarter o f section 2 9 and �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . quarter o f section : l 0 I a M r. Tuttle, who lived i n Batavia, N. Y. , and had purchased i t from ment. T h e MeMillans b u i l t a house on the Bronson road about forty rods north o f the seetion line. T h e house was 18 by 22 feet in size, and was ready for pants in the latter part o f October. I n the latter part of the season, Philander Olds (a son-in-law of Mrs. McMillan) with his wife and four children, joined the party, and in January, 1837, Ebenezer McWilliams and his also. D u r i n g the winter the little cabin teemed with life, for, i n addition to those already mentioned, William and Andrew Reed, Anson Vaughn, and Joseph pied it, making in all a family of 16 persons. T h e land cost them $4 per acre, and i t was divided through the centre. Ebenezer taking the north half and Stephen the south half Ebenezer built a house about eighty rods north of the first one, and moved into it some time Philander Olds purchased a couple of acres 29, and built a dwelling and cooper-shop there. H e r e he worked at his trade for a couple of years, and then, his wife having died, he removed to Union City, and is now livin.! there. James, some time about 1840, moved on to a farui on section 17, in Batavia, and lived there till he went on a visit to some relatives in Washington Co., N. Y., about nineteen years ago, and while there was taken sick and died. Ebenezer sold his land in 1850 and acres on section 31, where he is now living, at the age o f sixty-eight years. Stephen still lives on the he first settled. H i s mother died about thirty and he was married about the same time to Gruver. H e was the second supervisor of the held the office four successive years. H e is eighty years Of the others mentioned as members of this drew Reed and Anson Vaughn returned to the State York, and Joseph Campbell went farther West. William Reed, settled here permanently. I n the spring of 1837 he bought the west half o f the southeast quarter of section 29. H e went East, was married, and returned with his wife i n the fall of that year. A b o u t later he sold his property here and moved to he is now living. David Cummings came from Niagara Co., N . Y. , to • Ypsilanti i n the fall o f 1832. I n December, 1835, he came to Bronson, and kept a tavern there on place. A b o u t a year later he moved to this town, and lived on the Van Alstine place, on Snow Prairie. I n 1838 he went t o Indiana, and remained about then returned here for a short time, and then moved to bIasonville, where he kept the Schick tavern for about three years. H e then removed to Quincy, and upwards o f twenty years ago. Several o f his children, among them his son William, removed to California; one is living at L a Grange, Ind., and another, Lease, is residing in Charles M George, and JaIllef4 Chihli), came from Clarenee, Erie Co., N. Y., the first i n of 1838, and the two latter i n the fall o f 1842. Soon after his arrival here, Charles married Mimi Olive Bates, „ r Ovid, a daughter of Francis Bates, and settled on 2 8 3 half of the southwest quarter of section 23. H e is now living in the northeast part of the town. to Erie County, N. Y., and is now living there. James married a daughter o f Roswell Larabee, in 1846, and is now living at Bethel Centre. H e has been nected with the conducting o f town affairs, having held several o f the most important town offices, among them that of town clerk for Levi Thompson, formerly a citizen of Co., N. Y., came to this town from Rome Co., in 1838, and settled on 120 acres on quarter of section 13, where he lived till his death He has two sons and one daughter still living in Walter Roe, in the fall of 1839, settled in part of the town. H e died i n 1850. H i s wife survived him many years and died in 1873, at the age of years. A son, David, is now living on Willard Cranson came from Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1831, and settled in Lenawee County, near city of Adrian, where he remained five years, removing, at the expiration of that time, to Moscow Plains, in Hillsdale County. I n the spring of 1840 he again changed tion, and settled on a firm of 240 acres lying 32 and 33 in this town, which he purchased of lory, who had bought it of the government about previous. H i s family at that time consisted o f his wife, two sons, and one daughter. M r . Cranson is still living on the farm he then bought, has reached the age of ninety years (on the 7th of April, 1879), and is the of the township. H i s wife died A p r i l 24, 1855. H i s sons, Parmenio A . and Asa, and his daughter, nelius Freeman, are still living in this town. A n o t h e r daughter, who married before the family County, is now living Charles W. Weatherby settled in the adjoining town of Batavia, as early as 1835-36, and after living there years removed into this town. H e lived here until about fifteen years ago, when he removed to Shelbina, Mo. D u r i n g his residence here he was to official positions, and is the only person who, while living in Bethel, was honored with official position outside of the town offices. I l e was elected a representative in Legislature in 1860, and served Roswell Larabec was a settler in Lenawee County early day, and came from there to this town in on section 13. I n 1850 he returned to Lenawee County. H e brought to this town a wife, four eons, and Of these sons, Roswell P., Horatio B., and in this town, and Erastus in Ovid. Roswell enlisted in the Union army dining the war, and died of at Cumberland Gap on the 23d o f April, 1864. Horatio was killed by the cars while crossing the railroad Austin and Mrs. James (lanai) are still residents During the first five or six years of the experience of the pioneers in this town, they were called upon to privations and to endure many hardships. B u t were soon brought to produce an abundance of material for food, and the settlera grew into easier they had to make long journeys to reach a mill, where their corn and wheat could be made into meal and Hour, and �284 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . thus fitted for their use. !bogs, which were allowed the woods at will, fatted upon the acorns and or Inc nuts, and the settlers, to secure their supply of pork. had but to go into the forest and shoot what liog.s There were numerous families of Indians living about the town, who were friendly towards the ready to go with them upon fishing or hunting and ever open to trade. O n e morning arose very early and went out to a runway to watch for deer, leaving his wife in bed. S h e neglected to get fasten the door after him, and soon fell asleep. rise she again awoke, and was very much startled a formidable arid repulsive-looking Indian standing at the bedside. W i t h o u t betraying her fears, she inquired what lie wanted? H e said he wanted to get warm, and she told him t o go to the fireplace, then, and not be to frighten her. H e obeyed, and her husband returning soon after, relieved her fears. U p o n another occasion her husband had gone away in company with a young Indian with whom h e was on very friendly terms, and did not return. B e d -time came, and Mrs. Olmstead retired with a female friend who had come to spend the night with her. Some time in the night there was a rap at the Mrs. Olmstead, arising, went to the door and asked wanted. A voice, which she thought was her husband's, replied in the Indian language (which he could talk quite fluently, and often used i n conversing with her) wanted her to open t h e door. S h e did so, and the door was scarcely opened, when the Indian who had gone o u t with her husband glided its, and, closing the door behind him, went to the fireplace to warm. B e i n g to Oluistead's whereabouts, lie replied that he did not know. The women were frightened at his strange made preparations to leave the house on pretext o f going for water, intending to go t o some o f the neighbors for protection. B e f o r e t h e y left, however, t h e door again opened, and Olmstead, who had been standing outside all the time, stepped i n , and h e and the Indian enjoyed a hearty laugh over the effect their ruse had produced upon the These Indians drew a pension from the ment for services rendered during the war o f 1812, and made an annual pilgrimage to Canada to draw their annuity. In t h e month o f August, 1837, a party o f them were returning honie from this annual pilgrimage, for the night near the present residence of James Taylor, in Batavia. A party o f whites, consisting o f Morgan, Lyman, and Lauriston Smead, Hezekiah Terry, and Philip Olmstead, had been t o Coldwater, to Cross & Holbrook's store, for a keg o f whisky t o use while cutting hay on the marshes. T h e y were in a lumber-wagon, along the Chicago road, on their way home, saw the light of the Indian camp-fires, and the shadow-like figures of the dusky aborigines flitting to and fro before who was a new-comer, and curious to learn all about the Indians and their ways, proposed that they should see them for a while. S o they all alighted. hitched the team, and went forward to the camp-lire. W h i l e conversing with them, the Intlians, who had in learned that there was whisky in the vicinity, asked the whites for some of' their wuch-loved "fire-water," each given a small drink from the keg. A l l to tile camp, arid the visitors stood by looking at as they prepared the food for their•evening meal. apparently quiet and peaceful, when suddenly was leaning against a tree, felt something strike his side, filloweil by a sharp pain. L o o k i n g around, he saw Indian had struck him with a knife, penetrating and inflicting a slight cut i n his side. I n s t a n t l y began, in which fists, clubs, arid knives were arid i n which t h e whites were victorious, driving t h e i r enemies from t h e field. T e r r y especially himself by his activity and prowess. A t the (Aube of the engagement the whites mounted their vehicle and to their homes. Benjamin Olmstead, of the camp the next moruing, and he described as very much demoralized and badly punished. dians seemed to have a good sense of justice, and never held a grudge against any one for a punishment justly inflicted upon them. T h i s is illustrated by the case of an Indian who went to the house o f Mrs. Corwin, ville, and asked for something to eat. M r s . his request, telling him that what little food she needed for her own and her children's use. H e at this, and telling her that he would have it, ing for it. M r s . Corwin ran across the road to for help, and Morgan Smead, who had just driven over to see to the matter. H e found the Indian head and shoulders in the cupboard, and his very favorable, made a very effective attack upon ishing him severely before he succeeded i n making his escape. S o m e time after, he again met the same Indian, who, to show his friendly feeling,s, made him a present of some pewter finger-rings,—ornaments which the Indians were fond of wearing and which they highly prized. A few years later, these Indians were removed to vation in the Indian Territory. In the fall of 1835 some of the settlers clubbed together to buy salt for the purpose of putting down their yearly supply of meat, and sent a tuan with a team of homes to bring i t from Detroit. I l e came back with a load of eight barrels, which cost the settlers ten dollars The scarcity of wheat was greatest in 1835-36, when it sold for two dollars a bushel. I n 1842 it was the lowest it ever has been here, being drawn to Coldwater and sold for two shillings and sixpence Among the later settlers was William T. came from Chesterfield, Fulton Co., 0 . , and, after hying two years in Ovid, settled, in January, 1853, on the fine farm he now owns, in the east part of the town. tion to the important town offices to which he elected, he has held the office of notary public four years, and has always been foremost in all tending to advance the interests of the town and of its citizen Another was William llradway. a settler of 1842, still living in town on a fine farm in The town of Bethel is designated i n the United States survcy as town 7 south, range 7 west, and eetnprises ritory six miles square, bounded north by Batavia, Ian �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Ovid, south b y Gilead, and west b y Bronson. I t was originally pretty evenly divided between timbered lands and openings. T h e timber lands extended i n a strip nearly three miles wide .from near the northeast corner of the town to the south line in section 34. A n o t h e r strip, about a mile :ma a half wide, started from a point a little west o f the centre and extended west into the town o f Bronson. T h e rest o f the town was either tiutbered o r burr-oak openings. T h e timbered openings lay nearest the water-courses, and in the eastern part, along the The burr-oak opening on section 16 has before tioned as Snow Prairie. A n o t h e r, on section 31, known as Katie's Prairie. T h e best lands in the in the southwest part. T h e land along the course Creek was quite marshy, and was bordered Back from this was a light growth of black-oak timber. The surface of the ground is generally level or gently with a little land of a more rolling nature in the of the town, along the State road. T h e soil on ings is a sandy or gravelly loam, and on the it is a rich black loam, often somewhat intermingled with clay. T h e subsoil is a heavy blue clay of a great depth. The soil is fertile, easily worked, and suited to tion of general crops. I t is quite stony in mostly on the At the time of settlement the niarsh lands about one-sixth of the area of the town, but by ing o f land, the removal o f obstructions in the form o f fallen and decayed timber, and the improved system o f drainage, a large share of these have been reclaimed, now undergoing a process that will eventually fit them for cultivation. Though some parts of the town are paratively new, Bethel is not greatly behind the of the county in the value of its lands or the amount annually The principal stream is Swan Creek, which forms the outlet of Cary's Lake, the southern portion of tends a little into this town. T h e creek enters the town at the northeast corner o f section 4, runs in a course, and, after a brief dkour in Batavia, passes into Bronson half a mile south of the town line. is its principal tributary in this town. Prairie the southwest corner of the town, touching sections and 33. I t is sometimes called Hog Creek, but, we to think, incorrectly. A small part of Bingham in section 25 in this town. T h e r e are three small lakes in the north part of the town, the largest being in section 4, and bearing the name of Sruead's Lake. T h e y are 30 or 40 feet deep, and have a mucky bottom. have lowered considerably since the lands o f the vicinity have been better drained, and there is firm, now on the very sites where the first settlers used their boats Of the canoes which led to and the steps taken. to bring about the ,yrg.anization of the town we are left The name " Elizabeth" was selected, and it is probable that this name was selected by and that the name was taken from that of the town of the same name in New Jersey. I t was erected into township natter that name by the Leaiftiatare of 1836-37, 2 8 5 and the first town-meeting was held in accordance with the provisions o f the act. T h e following transcript o f the records shows what transpired at FIRST T O W N - M E E T I N G . ' A t a meeting held at the house o f Moses °instead, being the first township-meeting f o r the township o f Elisabeth, for t h e purpose of electing officers for the year 1837, Monday, A p r i l 3, 1837 " E l i j a h Thomas was elected Moderator; D a v i d M . Clark and Silas S. Green, Clerks; Isaac Freeman, David Cummings, Assistant Judges. " The f o l l o w i n g were elected b y ballot t o serve as officers ensuing y e a r E l i j a h Thomas, Supervisor; D a v i d M . ship C l e r k ; D a v i d M . ( l a r k , Ebeneser Green, Daniel sors; I s a a c Freeman, Moses Omstead, J r. , L o r e d o n * missioners o f H i g h w a y s ; S t e p h e n M c M i l l a n , D a v i d C u m m i n g s , Elijah Thomas, D a v i d M . C l a r k , Justices o f t h e Peace; M o r g a n Stuead, D a v i d M . C l a r k , E l i j a h Thomas, School Inspectors: Moses (Instead, Sr., Daniel Smead, Overseers of the Poor; P h i l i p °Instead, Constable and Collector M o r g a n Johnston, O. Dickinson, Constables; Samuel I l a n d y , Stephen M c M i l l a n , J a m e s T h u r s t o n , a n d E l i j a h Thotnas, Moses Omstead, Overseers o f Highways. ELIJACI THOMAS, Slept. DAVID H . CLARK, 7'. a " EBENEZER GREEN. ISAAC FREEMAN." (Attested.) " N e i n M . CLARK. S. S. G i m e s . On the 10th of April the justices met and cast lots to determine their respective terms o f office. T h e result will be seen by referring to the civil list wher September 22 a caucus was held " a t the house of the widow °Instead, for the purpose of sending to the convention at Taylor's tavern." Samuel Fowler was chairman, and Elijah Thomas secretary of ing. E l i j a h Thomas and David M. Clark were gates The following extract from the town records shows a rather curious way that people then had of difficulties met in the work o f conducting elections. I t reads: " A u g ' Notify' the Township for an election for a Representative t o Congress, t o be held at the widow omsteads. t h e Supervisor being sick, and not sufficient officers to form a board, whereupon said election continued. The town raised 875 by tax " t o meet all charges against the Township" for the year 1837-38 ; and even this sum was found too large to be all expended, for the bills audited amouted to but The first general election occurred on the 6th days of November, 1837. T h e polls were held open days,—the first day at the widow Olmstead's the second day at the house of David M. Clark. Ebenezer Green, Stephen McMillan, and David M. Clark were the inspectors o f election, and Samuel Handy and Silas S. Green were the clerks. Notwithstanding this formidable array of officials, and the length of time consumed, polled was not exceedingly heavy. F o r the office ernor, Stevens T. Mason received 18 votes, and Charles C. Trowbridge received 11 votes. O n the other for, the vote was about The Legislature in 1838-39 changed the name of the town, and milled it Bethel. T h e reasons for the • �286 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . well as the derivation of the new name, are n o t known, though it is said it was brought about mainly through the efforts and influence of David M. Clark. There were many applications presented t o t h e town board for licenses t o keep tavern by the settlers ent localities during the four or five years erection of the town. I n 1840 the board refused &Boni Burch and l'erez A . Tisdall. A p r i l 2 3 , 1842, they licensed " John Painter and Timothy burgh" to keep public-houses, but made a proviso that they were "riot to sell ardint spirrets." T h i s policy does not, however, seem t o have been i n accord with the wishes of the people, or else their views met with a radical change, for a t the town-meeting held A p r i l 5 , 1847, a vote was taken on the question with the following result: 61 votes; against license, The following table, compiled from the census returns of 1838 and 1874, tends t o show the material growth of the town during the first forty years of its 183 187 Population 1.348 17 Wheat, bu. raised. 94 28,587 Corn, " 151 53,352 Oats, " 1158) 11 1000 Buckwheat, " Horses 3 600 Neat s t o c k Hogs Sheep Mules Mileh c o w s W o r k oxen 183 167 15 187 1,4247 1,40 2,415 7 684 4 In t h i s connection we will also mention that ized assessed valuation o f the real estate in Bethel is about $200,000, and that the total amount of taxes for the year 1878 was $4437.58. O f this amount $1306.87 for school purposes, and $924.66 for town ing $154.66 for building drains. In 1857 steps were taken towards building a and $200 were voted for that purpose. I t was pleted t i l l the fall o f 1859, and was b u i l t by Leverett Keyes for the sum of $369.75. T h e site selected the Cranson road, eighty rods west o f the centre o f the town, and the building committee consisted o f Calvin J . Dart, James Gallap, and Samuel Fowler, under whose supervision t h e building was planned arid built. T h i s building is still used f o r town purposes, arid all o f the elections are held there. A t an early day the State opened a road from Marshall to Fort Wayne, Ind., which passed through the part of this town, and furnished a highway along which the pioneers o f that part of the town passed on their way to their Along this road, i n t h e town o f Ovid, a settlement was made b y the Bateses, Cards, and Lanpheres, which received the name of "South America." T h i s settlement has extended southward into this town, and t h e name has followed i t , until i t i s now commonly, rectly, applied to the eastern part of this town. The following list shows the names of the officers of the town from its organization to the present., and also the date of their election to the respective offices. I t has piled with great care, arid may be relied upon as correct in all C I V I L L I S T. E r PEILVISORS. 1837. E l i j a h Thomas. 1838-41. S t e p h e n M c M i l l a n . 1863. T h o m a s Goodrich. 1864. W i l l i a m T. A l a m e r m a a . 1866. D a v i d Stephenson. 1866. C h r i s t o p h e r (i. Babcock. 1842-47. J e r e m i a h H o l l y. 1848-49. J a m e , Bennie. 1859. J e r e m i a h H o l l y. 1851-54. 14'illiain L a m o r e a u x . 1067-69. W i l l i a m T. A azazerinaa. 1855. C h a r l e s W . We a t h e r b y. 1871. J a m e s Gallap. 1856-57. Roswell P. Larabee. 1872-73. N a t h a n i e l P l a t t . 1858. N . 0 . E l l i e . 1859-1;1. W i l l i a m T. A uituerulao. 1874-76. L u m e n Lumpiness. 11177. R i c h a r d T. M a r t i . . . 1870. N a t h a n i e l P l a t t , 1 8 7 8 . L u m e n Lasopusae. 1862. I t u e w e l l 1'. Lisrabee. To w s CLERCS. 1855-57. W m . T. A m m e r m a n . 1858-59. M y r o n F. G i d d i n g s . 1837. D a v i d M . C l a r k . 1838. D a v i d L a r m o u t . 1839-40. J o h n P r o u d f i t . 1869. J a m e s 1841. J e r e m i a h H o l l y. 1861. J a m e . H . R i p p e y. 1842-44. J o h n P r o u d f i t . 1862-65. M y r o n F. G i d d i n g s . 1845. R i c h a r d S a u l s b u r y. 1866-70. J a m e s G a l l a p . 1846-47. S a m u e l K e y e s . 1848-49. W i l l i a m L a m o r e a u x . 1871. E d w i n G . Wheeler. 1850. R a n s o m C o m p t o n ( r e e d ) . 1872-74. J a m e s G a l l a p . 1876-76. W i l l i a m U . T h u r b e r. Amass W. M i l l e r ( m e t a ) . 1851. C h a r l e s W. We a t h e r b y. 1878. W i l l i a m G . T h u r b e r. 1877. J a m e s G a l l o p . 1852-54. P a r m e n i o A . Cranston. TOWN T R EASI-REIES. 1839. O t i s D a v i s . 1560. I t o e w e l l P. Larabee. 1840-41. S a m u e l F o w l e r. 1561. J o h n F r e e m a n . 1842-43. M i l t o n Beesmer. 1844. N a t h a n i e l Wo o d a r d . 1862. J o h n We b b . 1845. S t e p h e n 51eMillan. 1865. J o h n H e n r y Thompeon. 1846. G e o r g e G a l l a p . 1866. A l b e r t H a r t . 1563-64. J u l i a n L . H a r t . 1847-49. T i m o t h y C o l b y. 1867. L u m e n W . H a r r i s 1850-51. P a r m e n i o A . Cranoon. 1852-55. R o s w e l l P. Larabee. 1868. J u l i u s L . H a r t . 1856. A . W . P l u m l e y. 1871-72. J u l i u s L . H a r t . 1873-74. C h a r l e s A l l e n . 1857. James G a l l a p . 1869-70. G e o r g e W. Jules, J r. 1875. H e n r y F o w l e r. 1858. J o h n C a r t e r. 1859. W i l l i a m Va n Orman. , 1 5 7 6 - 7 8 . E d g a r A . M i n e r. JUSTICES OF T H E P E A C E . 1837. D a v i d M . C l a r k ( 4 y r s . ) . D a v i d Cummings (3 y r s . ) . E l i j a h T h o m a s (2 yrs.). Stephen M c M i l l a n (1 y r. ) . 1838. S i l a s S. Green ( 4 y r s . ) . 1851. J a m e s Thompson. 1552. E l w o o d R a n d a l l . 1853. J e r e m i a h H o l l y (1. t ) . 0 . I L C u m m i n g s ( v. ) . 1854. W i l l i a m L a m o r e a n x ( v. ) . 7 H o m a n L a k e (2 y r s . ) . A. C. Te r r y ( v - ) . t I l e z e k i a h Te r r y (1 y r. ) . George Smith ( f . t.). James T u r n e r ( e . ) . 1839. J o h n P r o u d f i t . 1840. A d a m T h u r s t o n . 1841. T h o m a s Judson ( I . t.). 1855. W i l l i a m Harkness (f. t.). It. G . Picked ( L v. ) 0 . F. P a r k e r (s. v. ) . Jeremiah H o l l y ( v. ) . 1842. W i l l a r d Cranson. 1856. C h a s . W . We a t h e r b y. 1843. O r i g i n B i n g h a m ( ( . t.). 1857. G e o r g e S m i t h . Silas S. Green ( • . ) . 1844. R o s w e l l P. L a r a b e e (f. t.). 1838. W i l l i a m Lamoreatax ( t . 1.). B e n j a m i n P e e d ( v. ) . John Proudfit 1845. J e r e m i a h H o l l y. 1859. W i l l i a m H a c k s a w 1846. J a m e s Foster ( f . t..). N e w m a n Canfield Joseph D . F i e l d ( v. ) . * Sherod M o o r e ( v. ) . * 1847. P e l e g B r o w n e l l . ' R. G. P i e k e l ( v. ) . 1810. D a v i d Revitalises ( f . t.). Silas N . Card ( v. ) . 1861. N e w m a n Caw/reek! ( L 1848. C h a s . W. Weatherby ( f . t.l. Paramus A. Crams. 1962. W i l l i a m I s u n o r e a n x ( f . t..). Lorenvo C. H a r d ( v. ) . Dennie H o r t o n (v.1. 1849. J e r e m i a h H o l l y. 1863. S i l a s N . Card ( E t . ) . Beejamie Pond v . ) . 1850. O s c a r F. P a r k e r. 1864. R o b e r t Stephenson. • I n c l u d i n g a l l o t h e r grains. • Special steeliest, Oct. 7 I n c l u d i n g m i l c h cows a n d oxen. 7 Spezia! election, J a s . 7 , 1 8 5 4 . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875. W i l l i a m G. T h u r b e r. S i l a s N . Card. N e w m a n Canfield. M a r t i n L . Sweet. W i l l i a m N . Carter i f . t.). Lucius Williams ( v. ) . 1876. Silas N. Card (f. Frank Hofacker (v.). 1877. George Fuller. 1878. J o h n E . Strong. 1865. A l v a h A . Philbriek. 1866. W i l l i a m Lamoreaux (f. t.). I Newman Canfield Wm. T. Ammerman (s. v.). 1887. S a w N. Card (f. t.). E l i B a l d w i n ( v. ) . 1868. Charles M . Strong. 1869. N e w m a n Canfield James Gallup ( v. ) . 1870. J o h n Q. Adams. COMMISSIONERS OF H I G H W A Y S . 1837. I s a a c Freeman. Moses Olmstead, J r. Lauriston Sweatt. 1838. N . P. Eakins. John G. Richardson. Origin Bingham. 1839. N . P. F i l k i n s . Origin Bingham. Samuel Fowler. 1840. C . N . Bates. Samuel Fowler. N. P. F i l k i n s . 1941. Moses Olmstead. John 0 . Richardson. Caleb N. Bates. 1842. N a t h a n i e l Woodard. James Bennie. Ti m o t h y Colby. 1843. M a t t h e w H . Bingham. Nathaniel Woodard. James Bennie. 1844. Stephen M c M i l l a n . M. H . Bingham. Nathaniel Woodard. 1845. W i l l a r d Cranson. Moses Paine. M. H . Bingham. 1846. W i l l a r d Cranson. Newman Canfield. James GmIlap. 1847. Charles Webb (3 years). Sherod Moore (2 years). James Bennie I I year). Pi IS. G u y E. Bennett. 1849. J o h n ( i . Richardson (1. t.). John Carter ( v. ) . 1850. L y m a n M . H a r t . 1851. JSUIeS Bennie (f. t.). John Dunlap (v.). 1852. J o h n Carter. 1853. James Gallop. 1854. J o h n Freeman. 1855. J . R . 13rown. 1856. James Bennie (f. t.). M. F. Bower ( v. ) . 1857. H e n r y B o o k e r (f. t.). George Borne ( v. ) . 1858. A r v i n Bates. 1859. Cornelius Freeman (f. t.). Charles Gallop ( v. ) . 1860. George Smith (1. t.). John Webb ( v. ) . 1861. H e m a n Harris (f. t.). Lucius Williams ( v. ) . 1862. A s a Cranson (1. t . ) . 1362-63. M a j o r Tuttle. 1864. George W. Webb (f. t.). Henry C. F o w l e r ( v. ) . 1865. P a r m e n i o A . Cranson. 1866. D a v i d S. Lockwood. 1867. W . A . Chamberlain. 1868. Chas. F. Houseman (f. t.). George W. Webb (v.). 1869. George M . W h i t e (f. t.). George W. Joins, J r. ( v. ) . 1870. P e r r y H . Bower. 1871. George 11. H a r t (f. t.). Andrew Zuver ( v. ) . 1872. Josiah Wa l k e r. 1973. Parinenio A . Cranson. 1874. E d w a r d Odren. 1875. O r a l Cramton. 1876-77. J o h n Freeman. 1878. B e n j a m i n Pond. ASSESSORS. 1837. D a v i d M. Clark. Ebenezer Green. Daniel Flamed. 1838. James Bennie. Thomas Judson. Samuel H a n d 1839. Stephen M c M i l l a n . Thomas Judson. OVERSEEILS O F 1839. A l f r e d Luce. 1840. A . I I . Hanchett. E. M c M i l l a n . John Proutlfit. 1841. James Bennie. Ashbel Thorp. Thomas Judson. T H E 1837. M o m s Olmstead, Sr. 1 8 4 6 . Daniel Sniesd. M o s e 1838. Moses Olmstead. 1 8 4 7 . Ebeneser Green. J a m e 1839. L e v i Thompson. 1 8 5 3 . Moses Olmstead. S a m u 1940. James Thurston, Sr. 1 8 5 5 . Samuel Fowler. S a m u 1841. James T h u r. t o n . 1 9 5 6 . Joseph Hozie. H o s e 1842. James Thurston. 1 8 5 7 . Daniel Smelt& 1 8 5 8 . 1043. Moses Olmstead. W i l l i 0 . 8 . Dickinson. 1 8 5 9 , • 111 4 4 - 9 9 . Joseph Horde. W i l l a James M a n t o n . e o n s . James Thurston. s Paine. L o w e l l Rawson. s Thurston, Sr. W i l l a r d Cranson. e l Fowler. Heman Harris. e l Fowler. W i l l i a m Evans. a Harris. Samuel Fowler (app'td). Samuel N. Rawson. a m Short. 8 . R . Burleson. r d Crimson. 2 8 7 SCHOOL I N S P E C T O R S : 1837. M o r g a n Sawed. David M . Clark. E l i j a h Thomas. 1838. l i e s e k i a l i Te r r y. Thomas Judson. David L a m o n t . 1839. Stephen M c M i l l a n . Thoinas Judson. B H A M a l l o r y. 18411. Stephen M c M i l l a n . Jeremiah H o l l y. Ashbel Thorp. 1811. Thomas Judson. Ashbel T h o r p . I L S. Dickinson. 1812. Thomas Judson. G. R . G r a n t . Jeremiah H o l l y. 1843. James Bennie. Jeremiah H o l l y. 1844. James liennie. 1945. Jeremiah H o l l y. 1846. N e w m a n Canfield. 1847. H a r l o w Jackson. 1848. D a v i d M . Clark. 1849. J o h n Dunlap. 1850. T h o m a s J. Brownell. 1851. N e w m a n Canfield. 1852. R . H . Drake. 1853. Horace Baldwin. 1854. J o h n Dunlap. M o r t i m e r Horton. 1855. A l v a r u s D e r t h i c k . 1856. R . G. Pickel. 1857-58. James H . R i p p e y. 1850-59. W i l l i a m Harkness. 1860. James I t . Rippey (resg'd). James Gallup ( a p i a d ) . 1861. W i l l i a m Harkness. 1862. D a n i e l Spring. 1863. Gideon D . Baggerly. 1864. A . W. Plumley. 1865. Gideon D . 13aggerly. 1866. C . G. Babcock. 1867. W . A . Chamberlain. Win. T. A mmerinan (app.). 1868. George Fuller. 1860. P e r r y H . Bower. 1870. George M . White. 1871. W i l l i a m G. Thurber. 1872. W i l l i a m H . Page. 1873. George W. Webb. 1874. W m . G. T h u r b e r (f. t.). Henry Fowler (v.). 1875. Parmeuio A . Cranson. 1876. George W. Webb. 1877. Jacob S. Kayser. 1878. Cortes Pond. SUPERINTENDENT 1875-76. E l i a s B . Green. 1877. Orlando D. Cure. O F SCHOOLS. 1 8 7 8 . 'Elias B . Green. COLLECTORS. 1837. P h i l i p Olmstead. 1838. E . M c M i l l a n , resigned. N. P. F i l k i n s , appointed. 1830. M a t t h e w I I . Bingham. 1840. A a r o n C. Te r r y. 1841. M a t t h e w I I . Bingham. DRAIN COMMISSIONERS. 1872. A s a Crimson. 1873. Parmenio A . Cranson. 1874. J o h n Freeman. 1875. N a t h a n i e l P i a t t . 1876-1877. E d w a r d Odren. 1878. E l i a s G. Tozier. C O N S TA B L E S . Philip Olmstead, Morgan Johnston, 0. Dickinson, 1837; N. P. Filkins, Alford Bingham, Zebulon Dural!, Samuel H a n d y, 1838; A s h b e l Thorp, 1839,50; Albert Glass, 1839; Matthew H. Bingham, 1839, '41, Aaron C. Te r r y, 1839, '40; A. D. Bates, 1840, ' 4 2 ; Ebenezer Gifford, 18.10; Seth Yo u n g , 1841, ' 4 2 ; R i c h a r d S . Cook, 1841, '42, ' 4 5 , ' 4 6 ; B e n o n i B u r c h , 1 8 4 1 ; T h o m a s S m i t h , 1 8 4 2 ; V . Smith, A l v i n L e e c h , J a i n . : Thompson, H o s e a H a r r i s , 1 8 4 3 ; John Painter, J . J . Richardson, H i r a m T r i p p , 1844 ; O r r i n B . Cummings, 1844, ' 4 7 ; A l l i n s o n Gifford, O r l o w Jackson, 1 8 4 5 ; Augustus P i x l e y, 1845-47; Jacob Gordinier, 1846, ' 6 3 ; Perry H . Bower, 1846-48; Parmenio A . Crention, 1847; Jacob raim Paine, 1848; Nelson Richardson, 1848, '54; IMme, 1849; Collins Fenner, 1849, '65; P e r r y Lambe°, 1849, ' 5 0 ; I r a W h i t m a n , 1840-52; S t u k e l y B o z i c , 1850; E d w i n G o r d o n , 1851-56; A b r a m G o r d i n i e r, 1851, '61, '62; Roswell L a r a b e e , 1851, ' 5 5 ; J . G . Stone, 1852, '53, '56, '57, ' 5 8 ; James Gallup, 1852; George K e n n e d y, L e v i Thompson, 1853; H e n r y Sinead, 1854; H . B . A v e r y, 1854, '57, '59, '69; R . Fowler, ington Olmstead, 1855, '58; Sherod Moore, 1856; I I . 11. Smith, 1856, ' 5 8 ; H i r a m Eggleston, C . L . Bates, 1 8 5 7 ; D a v i d R o o , 1858, ' 5 8 ; A h s t i n Larabee, 1859-61, '66, '69, '70, '71, '73, '75; William A . Buffhain, 1859, '62; S. D. Sowle, H u g h M a r t i n , 1860; George H a r r i s , S . S . Brocklebank, 1861; D a n i e l Ti c e , 1 8 8 2 ; Gideon D. Baggerly, 1862, '63; R o w l a n d M a r t i n , Perkins Shay, 1863; J o h n Brown, M i l l a r d Olmstead, David Dickinson, Webster Goodrich, 1964; W i l l i a m Short, J u l i u s L . Hart, 1865; P h i l o D . Smith, 1886, '77; L e v i Gifford, Nicholas Vanalstine, A n d r e w J. Bair, 1866; John Q. Adams, Samuel Trayer, Daniel Card, John �288 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . Webb, 1867; E d g a r A . M i n e r, 1868-71, ' 7 5 : D a n i e l C. 1,nrabee, 1868, ' 6 9 ; S i l a s N . Card, 1868, ' 7 0 ; H i r a m A . Swan, 1660, ' a y ; C. J . Bates, 1870, ' 7 3 ; D a n i e l C. Card, 1871, '72, '76, '77; Chester N . Canfield, 1 8 7 1 ; B e n j a m i n Sweet, H e n r y I I . field H o n e y w e l l , 1872; T h o t i n v F o I lee, W i l l M i n A . Charles Jordan, J o h n B . A l l e n , A d r o n B u r l e t u n , 1874; H e n r y S. ! t a r t , 1874, ' 7 6 - 7 8 ; A n t B u f f haw, G i l b e r t Itoseboom, tin B o w e r, S t e p h e n M e C u r l e y, 1 8 7 6 ; J a c k s o n C h a p i n , 1 8 7 7 ; I l e n r y F r i c k , Reuben Cole, Vo l t n i r e Rote, 1878. For many years the political complexion of the generally Democratic, but by a small majority. stated, at the first general election the vote was cratic and 11 Whig. S t i l l closer was the vote i n 1847, when i t was 33 Democratic, 32 Whig, arid one cast for another candidate. A t the town-meetings tion of political affinity was not regarded as of importance, and more regard was paid to the fitness and qualifications of the candidates. I n the early part of the winter of 1854-55, a Know-Nothing society under the leadership of Charles W. Weatherby well P. Larabee. T h e y fitted up a vacant house Austin Larabee, on the farm now owned by Morrill Elliott, and held their meetings there. T h e y their membership until they had a majority of the voters of the town in their ranks. O n the Saturday the town-meeting they initiated no less than 75 bers. A t that meeting a "slate" was made up, and on the day of town-meeting much merriment was created among the knowing ones b y the appointing of a " committee to make nominations" according to the usual practice. B u t the strength o f the Know-Nothings waned as it had waxed, and front dissatisfaction and internal strife their organization was quickly broken up. I t s ence had, however, served to create a partial front which the Republican party, when i t came ence, like a magnet in a box of mixed iron-filings drew to itself the best and most valuable part. gained t h e political control o f the town, and held i t sometimes having a majority as high as 130—until the spring of 1878, when the National party, which organized in a mariner very similar to that o f Nothings, carried the town b y a majority of 73. A t the fall election of 1878 they were again victorious, having a plurality of 16 votes, and a majority of 7. In the winter of 1857 a case o f smallpox occurred in the southeastern part of the town, which created sternation among the authorities, who met in of a board o f health, and took measures to prevent the spread o f the disease. H i g h w a y s were blockaded, pital established, travel over the blockaded roads o r past the hospital forbidden t o all who were not vested with a permit from the physician o r the authorities, and constable was appointed to enforce the rules adopted by the board. T h e disease obstinately refused to spread, and in spite of all the formidable array but one arrest was made. This unlucky individual, who suffered restraint of erty for one night, had not the fear of the smallpox or of the constable before his eyes, and attempted to walk past the house where the disease was located. A g a i n , in 1871, the disease broke out in town, and proved more three persons died from The first school i n Bethel was kept b y Perrine in the summer of 1837, and a subsequent one by David M . Clark, during the winter of 18:37-38, in a log house that had lbrmerly been used b y the Yo u n p family as a residence. I t stood on the east bank of In t h e following sulumer Morgan. L . S u l t t l and Milton Beenner built the first school-house i n the town, same locality. I t wa.s a log building, arid the briels tiff the chimney were brought from Barney Wing's brickyard. east of Coldwater. The first post-office in the town was established in May, 1857, at the house of the postmaster, William man. I t was called Bethel, and was on a special from Coldwater to Flint, Ind. M r . sion was signed by Aaron B. Brown, who was general under Buchanan. T h e postmasters who ceeded Mr. Anamerman have been Daniel K . jamin Pond, Allen C. Townsend, and David F. Misenar, the present incumbent. T h e mail-route was changed t o a "regular" one in 1867. A n o t h e r post-office was at Bethel Centre i n 1868, with L . E. Van ValkingburA, as postmaster. I t was called Bethel Centre for a then the name was changed to Snow Prairie. I n office was Among the earliest enterprises having for their object the material growth of the town was one which was liar in its inception and carrying out. I t proposed deem a quantity of waste, marshy land, and build thereon a populous and thriving city. T o William Reynolds, Island, the credit of this scheme is due, and the to bring it about were also made by him. sessed o f a quantity o f land near the place Creek crosses the Chicago road, he caused a fine map prepared, showing the streets, alleys, blocks, etc.. of town, and arming h i m w i t h t h i s map, he dispatched an agent to the East to sell lots i n the "city of the Swan River, a navigable stream," etc. may be said of the place it is certain there could no misrepresentation as to the number of " water lots" the city contained. T h e agent was quite successful. turned from the East with the price of many lots in his pocket. T h e sequel may be inferred from the following incident: One dux a nicely-dressed gontknian alighted from the stage-coach at the New York H. use, and sued his way along the turnpike on foot. A t last to the place where Morgan L. Srnead was engaged in the work of breaking u p a piece of land on the the stranger, accosting "Can you tell me where the city o f Wheeling cated ?" " About a mile west., where the road (Tomes the creek, is the place where they have platted a village," replied M r. Smea " A r e there many residents in the place r " No, sir! not unless they have come very recently." The traveler waited to hear no more, but, determined to know the full extent o f his poor harnin. went on down the road. N I < agai so, �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Mr. Smead replied, in Yankee fashion, with " You don't see a great many holding the plow, do you ?" " No," was the reply; " y o u are the first one seen." A n d then, as his thoughts turned t o pointment and loss, he continued, " I t is the parent swindle I ever heard of. C d y of' Why, it's nothing but a This closed the interview, and the wouldof city lots returned on his homeward way, a poorer and sadder, but evidently a In t h e matter o f villages the town i s very deficient, though in two localities small settlements have grown up. The settlement near the centre o f the town, called Bethel Centre, was first started b y Timothy Colby, there i n 1844. H e was the first settler on road. between Milton Beesmer's place and plac The saw-mill, which was the first in the town, was built by Benjamin Pettengill about 1851-52. I n 1862 burned, and i n 1863 was rebuilt b y Thomas Goodrich. It is now owned by James Stevenson. A b o u t time that the mill was built, Hiram B . Avery opened a blacksmith-shop there. A tavern was opened Bowker in 1864, in the house he had purchased of Avery, and to which he built an addition. L . E. burgh started a store there in 1868. A t present about eight dwellings, one tavern, one saw-mill, smith-shop, one store, and a school-house in this Three-quarters of a mile north another steam sawbuilt in the spring of 1856, by Calvin J . Dart and John Ayres. D e c . 24, 1856, on account o f imperfect working of the safety-valve, the boiler exploded and aged the mill. O f the persons about the mill, all injured to a greater or less extent. M r . A. the most serious injury, his leg being broken near the hip, and he being also badly scalded by the Adelbert Short had his wrist broken and skull fractured, Calvin J. Dart was blown about ten rods by the force of the explosion and injured about the head, and William Short and Lyman Hart were slightly injured. T h e mill was repaired and commenced running again in About 1867-68 the mill burned and was rebuilt by John Kent and Michael Hofaeker. I t is now owned by W. H. H. Bates and C. S. H. Austin. There are two other steam saw-mills in this town. .John C. Dubendorf has one on the State road, in section 13, which is also a shingle-mill, and Arthur H . one on section 35, which also manufactures and lath. A small hamlet has sprung up on the State road, tion 25, which bears the name o f Bethel, half' a dozen Ilwelling.s, a church, a school-house, and a harness-shop. T h e post-office is located a quarter of a mile south. T h e first settler on the site or the Benjamin Rolf. The war record of Bethel is very similar to that towns. I t held special meetings, voted bounties, out over one hundred of its citizens to fight under banner o f the Union. Roswell P. Larabee, George and Stephen Bates, Henry Wiser, Samuel Fowler, Martin F. 3 2 8 9 Bower, Charles Jordan, and no doubt others, have not been given us, died noble martyrs in a Their memories will ever be cherished by their grateful fellow-citizens, and their achievements will ever adorn the pages of' their " How sleep the brave, who sink to rest By a l l t h e i r Country's wishes blest! When Spring, w i t h dewy lingers cold, Returns to deck t h e i r hallowed mould, She then w i l l greet a fairer sod Than Fancy's feet have ever trod." The first church organized in the town was of Will Baptist denomination, and is THE NORTH B E T H E L F R E E - W I L L B A P T I S T CHURCH. It was organized Aug. 28, 1853, with Two others were baptized and added to the church day The council which organized the church of Revs. Daniel Durniond and Silas Headley. 0 . mings was Among the earliest members were Orrin B. and Martha S. Cummings, James and Abigail Thurston, C., and Mercy Bates, Alanson and Anna Harris, Hiram Olmstead, and Mrs. On the 10th of September James Thurston deacon, and he and 0 . B . Cummings were appointed as delegates to attend the Steuben quarterly meeting quest membership in that body. T h e request and the church was connected with that meeting. Since that time changes have been made in the boundaries, and at present the church is connected with Branch quarterly meeting and St. Joseph Valley yearly meetin Peleg C. Bates was elected treasurer at. a meeting held Nov. 5, 1853. The pastors o f the church have been as follows: Revs. Silas Headley, Stephen Clark, Silas Headley, S. E. G. Rosencranz, William B. Chaple, A. B. Cummings, R. Cooley, E. J. Keeville, and William Taylor, who is the James Thurston, Arwin Bates, John Webb, L. A. Carmer, and C. J. Bates have served as deacons, the three last named holding the position of The present membership The present officers are John Webb, Deacon and Clerk; C. J. Bates, The meetings have always been held at what as the Butcher A Sunday-school was organized about ten years ago, of which Collins Fenner was the first superintendent.. been kept up, down to the present time, and about 40 scholars. I t s officers are L. A. tendent; C. J. Bates, Secretary; and Charles brarian The Methodist Episcopal denomination first ings in this town about 1854. A missionary by of Mosier preached a few times, and Charles local preacher, held services until the class was formed, in the fall of 1857, by Rev. �290 I I L S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. It was organized in November, and took the name of T H E S N O W P R A I R I E M E T H O D I S T E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H . The first class numbered five members. were, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Warburton, Mr. and Mrs. John Dingman, and Mrs. William Latuureaux. T h e first named was the class-leader Among the most prominent of the early Charles Warburton and wife, Father Wallace, and wife, Stephen Brook and wife, Frederick Brook Charles Brook, Jr., and wife, Charles Allen and wife, S. N. Card, Mrs. Ira Gifford, Mrs. William Bradway, Mrs. l'olly Larabee, M. M. Olmstead and wife, Thos. Wilson Lucius Williams and wife, and Owen Paltnatier Although so small at the beginning, the class to a respectable size. Under the preaching of Rev. Albert Torrey, in 1862, there was a spirited revival, 30 converts into the fold of the church, and this lowed by another, under Rev. William Doust, creased the membership to about 60, the highest point i t has ever reached. A t present (1879) the number bers is In 1863 the church was incorporated, a church taining about one-eighth of an acre, on the of the four corners on section 16, was donated Tuttle, and a church, capable of affording tings for from 250 to 300 persons, was erected, at a cost of about $1700. I t was dedicated in the fall, and on that occasion was preached by the presiding Jacok The first and present trustees were, and are, First Trustees.—John Reynolds, Lucius Bassett, Chas. Brook, Charles Warburton, Nicholas Ebenezer McMillan, Collins Fenner, Moses Present Trustees.—Collins Fenner, Charles Brook, Jr., Stephen Brook, Frederick Brook, Charles Allen, Henry Fowler, Thomas Wilson, M. Stephen Brook is the present class-leader, Brook the The pastors have been, in the regular order of ice, Revs. John Clubine, W. M. Copelin, E. George D. Lee, Albert Torrey, William Doust,S t e e l e , W. J. Swift, J. Hoyt, I . Bennett, B. W. Smith, J. E. White, J. W. White, John Clubine, George W. J. W. White, the This was formerly an appointment on the circuit, but is now on the In 1857 the denomination known as began to operate in this field. Rev. J. N. once or twice in the early part of the year, and ber Rev. Richard T. Martin began a that lasted three weeks, and resulted in the conversion number of persons. These meetings were held at what was known as the Block School-house, and at first adeep spirit of opposition from the ungodly portion of the community. A s a result of the BETHEL CHURCH O F TIIE U N I T E D BRETHREN I N CHRIST was organized in January, 1858, by Rev. R. with 46 members. Among the most prominent were George Misenar and wife, Aadrew Zuver George Zull and wife, George F. Witter and Lake, Mrs. Hunan Lake, Mrs. Mary Palmer, and Richard T. Martin George Miseuar was chosenclimes-leader, Zuver For a space of ten years the meetings continued held at the school-house, and the It then began to be felt that a house of worship andsteps were taken looking toward the that object. T h e society was incorporated by of James Foglesang, Edward Junes, and George astrustees; a site was procured of containing half an acre of ground, for which paid, and work begun on the church in 1867. which is 34 by 46 feet in size, and affords about 300 people, cost about $1800, and was till the summer of 1868. I t was dedicated on the of August by Bishop Weaver, of Dayton, 0 . wasthe twelfth verse of the thirteenth chapter of Epistle to the Corinthians: " For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know but then shall I know even as also I am known." ance o f debt incurred in building, which amounted to about 8700, was liquidated by subscriptions taken meeting. T h e church is located at Bethel, on road, in section 25. Soon after the completion building a bell was procured and placed in The membership at one time rose to over 100, arid at present is about 40. There were revivals under ing of Revs. C. Crossland, D. Bender, R. T. Martin, J. Waldorf, Andrew Zuver, and J. The church is an appointment on the and belongs to the North Ohio Annual The names of the pastors of this church from ization to the present time are Revs. Richard Andrew Zuver, J. W. Martin, — Barnard, Richard T. Martin, Andrew Miller, Joseph Brown, C. Crossland, D. Bender, Joseph Waldorf, J. Johnston, S. W. Redman. J. Johnston, Richard T. Martin, — McLouth. G. W. Hill. J. P. Kester, and The present officers are Henry Frick, Class-Leader; John C. Dubendorf, Steward; L. W. Cure. John George Zull, Thomas Clay, R. T. A Sabbath-school was organized in the spring .f 1 S5, which has kept up its organization until the During die winter season its meetings have suspended for The first superintendent was George Misenar present one is Rev. R. In December, 1877, the late pastor, Rev. G. W. Hill, withdrew from the church, and was by about 20 of the members. T h e reason of this lie held views and advanced ideas that did not the established usages and doctrines of the He was subsequently tried for these offenses by Ohio Annual Conference at its meeting held at Poplar Grove, Fulton Co., Ohio, and the charges his name was erased from the conference-roll conformi ��In SAMUELA Ns.4 4,21 MRS.SAMUEL MRSANNA ( PRESENT I C CAS E D DL W11101.1A., REV SAMUEL - • • .t R E S I D E N C E * - SAMUEL A.WHITCOMB. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . A class of the denomination known as the E VA N G E L I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N was organized at Bethel a year or two ago, and fortnightly meetings at the school-house there. tor is Rev. Mr. White, who resides at Fremont, Ind. Their class-leader is Josiah Snyder, and John Kanouse is the stewar THE SOUTH B E T H E L F R E E - W I L L B A P T I S T CHURCH was formed at the school-house in District No. 6, by Rev. Silas Headley, in May, 1860, with 9 members. I t grew out of a protracted meeting he had commenced in March previou The first officers were Austin Larabee, Deacon; William T. Ammerman, Clerk Rev. Silas Headley was the first pastor, to supply the pulpit throughout the existence of which was disbanded THE F R E E - W I L L B A P T I S T CHURCH O F SNOW P R A I R I E was organized in January, 1871, by Rev. A. B. Taylor, with about 30 members. H e had been holding of meetings for sortie six weeks, which had been cessful. A n s e l Norton and Austin Larabee deacons and Nicholas The services have been held regularly once in 2 9 1 at the Methodist church. A t present the membership is reduced The pastors have been Revs. A. B. Taylor, dington, Calvin Cummings, It. Cooley, E. J. William Taylor, the The deacons have not been changed, but Hiram Swan is the present The Sabbath-school at Snow Prairie is a and was organized i n April, 1852, by Deacon Upson, o f Coldwater. Newman Canfield was the first and Frederick Brook has held that position for It now numbers about The burying-ground on the State road, in section 24, is the principal as well as the oldest one in the town. formerly a part o f the farm taken up by Otis Davis, in 1836, and was given by him for a public burial-ground, i f the citizens would clear and fence it. T h i s they did, but the work was not completed and the deed given when Richard Salsbury, who then owned the it to S. K. Burleson, Levi Thompson, and Charles B. Lake, who were appointed to receive it. T h e present have charge o f it are Gurdon Patch, President ; Wm. T. Ammerman, Secretary ; Daniel Dubendorf, Treasurer. T h e first burial was that o f Heinan Lake, who died Aug. 24, 1839 With this we close our sketch of Bethel's if it shall receive the approval of or-4 K I N D E R H O O K . THE township o f Kinderhook is what is known as a fractional township, comprising but twentyand lying on the southern border of the county on diana line. I t is known as township 8 south, range and was originally a part of Ovid, but the residents of the township being ambitious to form an tion, the portion now embraced in Kinderbook was as a distinct township, with a separate civil government, in 1842. T h e r e are various speculations as to the origin of the name. T h e correct facts having been given by one of the older residents, who held official position at the time, can be vouched for. T h e Van Buren paign was then at its height. A bill was presented t o the Legislature praying that the portion of set apart as a new township be granted a name. Several names, some o f them more or less absurd, and voted upon, when one of the members gested Kinderhook, the birthplace o f Martin Van Buren, as not only appropriate, but as a happy ing the matter in a humorous light, the name open and unanimously adopted, and has since by the township, though the result of the The impression, which has obtained sonic degree hotity,tbat it was called by some o f the after their native village in New York State an erroneous The following land was originally entered from t h e government, and is embraced in the present township: John Shaft, 40 acreo, M a r c h 8, 1836. Joshua Baker, 80 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Joshua Baker, 80 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Joshua Baker, 80 acres, J u l y IS, 1836. Alum I I . White, 158.53 sores, J u l y 10, 1836. Henry C. Lewis, 40 acres, Dec. 13, 1853. William B . Whitehead, 80 acres, March 30, 1836. B. Lampoon, 81.55 acres, A p r i l 21, 1836. B. Lampoon, 80 acres, A p r i l 21, 1836. B. Lampoon, 80.65 acres, J u l y 16, 1836. Silas Cram, 16.81 acres, June 16, 1837. David Ti l t , 80 acres, Atig. 24, 1835. George Tr i p p , 69.115 acres, Dec. 7, 1835. George Tr i p p , 80 acres, Dee. 7, 1835. Boas Lampoon, 91.17 acres, A p r i l 21, 1836. Boas Lampoon, 80 sorer, A p r i l 21, 1036. Jonhua Baker, 80 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. George Tr i p p , 69.70 acres, Jan. 17, 1835. H i r a m Canwright, 80 memo, June 5, 1835. Boaz Lampoon, 80 acreo, Jane 15, 1133. Nathan Look, 80 sores, Sept. 5, 1835. George Matthews, 69.81 w e e , Nor. 5, 1835. George Matthew% 4.11 awes, Now. 5, 1836. ellaa A. Holbrook, 80 Isere% Marsh 98, 1836. �292 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Joshua B a k e r, 40 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. linger W. Holton, 80 acres, Feb. 25, 1836. Joshua Baker, 80 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. John Vuolires, 80 acres, M e r r i l 17, 1836. George Te r r y, 40 acres, Feb. 1, 1837. A brain Andrew•, 110 acres, March 17, 1836. William Chase, 40 acre*, N o v. Lot brig, 41. Fish, gh acres, M a r c h 23, 1836. Alma H . White, 40 acre., July 19, 1836. William M a r l i n , 80 acres, J u l y 10, 1836. Aaron Bagley, 40 acres, Sept. 18, 1837. Joshua Baker, KO acres, J u l y 19, 1834. John Grooves, 40 acres, M a r c h 9, 1846. William Chase, 40 acres, A u g . 20, 1846. John Wa i t e r, W i e n s , N o v. 34, 1/02. Oliver Johnson, 20.75 afros, Sept. 17, 1835. John N . Chase, 67.72 acres, Feb. 4, 1848. Joshua Baker, 160 acres, July 19, 1836. A. C. Hough, 40 acres, Feb. 4, 1848. Abram Andrews, 154.31 acres, M a r c h 17, 1836. Ferdinand Lewis, 40 acres, A u g . 21, 1848. H i r a m E d d y, 80 acres, Aug. 18, 1849. Joshua Baker, 88.42 sores, July 19, 1836. Henry C. Lewis, 80 acres, D e c . 16, 1853. Isaac Bslow, 46 sores, F e b . 17, 1817. William Chase, 4 0 acres, Sept. 13, 1853. Henry C. Lewis, 40 merge, Dec. 16, 1853. Charles M . C o o p e r, 40 acres, J u l y 15, 1835. Horace White, 80 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Clark C. Baker, 40 acres, Dec. 22, 1835. Horace White, 80 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Alma I I . W h i t e , 80 acres, J u l y 19, 1838. Oliver Burdick, J r. , 42.23 acres, N o v. I , 1853. Wiley K . Peirce, SO acres, March 17, 1837. Oliver D . Corbin, 57.75 acres, N o v. 1, 1853. Wm. Oardineer, 40 mires, Oct. 20, 1843. Charles M . Cooper, 46.42 acres, J u l y 15, 1835. L. D . Crippin, 74.42 acres, July 19, 1836. Harvey G . Fox, 40 acres, A u g . 23, 1844. H i r a m R . Alden, 111.46 acres, Dec. 15, 1853. Henry Lockwood, 40 acres, A p r i l I S , 1853. Oliver Burdick, J r. , 29 acres, Feb. 24, 1854. William P. M o r e y, 40 acres, June 20, 1853. John Waterhouse, 135.58 acres, Aug. 8, 1837. Jacob U p p , 38.64 acres, Oct. 13, 1853. John Waterhouse, 80 scree, N o r. 14,1845. Eli Foglesang, 78.94 acres, Oct. 17, 1853. A. G. G r a y, 40 acres, March 6, 1852. Asa Waterhouse, 40 acres, Feb. 14, 1853. Clinton B . Fisk, 40 acres, Oct. 21, 1853. C. C. Cox, 60 acres, J a n . 1, 1836. Asa Waterhouse, 40 acres, M a r c h 14, 1853. C. C. Cos, SO acres, Jan. 1, 1836. A. C. B u r d i c k , 40 acres, June 2, 1853. Nelson L . Bowen, 80 acres, March 1 0 , 1836. A. F l i n t , 40 acres, Sept. 10, 1853. John Lane, 75.37 acres, June 7, 1837. Win. Low, 40 acres. N o v. 2, 1853. John Boyd, 75.55 acres, Oct. 24, Oliver Burdick, 40 acres, N o v. 2, 1853. Lorenso D . Crippin, 40 acres, Oct. J. I t . Graves, 40 acres, Feb. 9, 1854. Aaron Bennett, 40 acres, M a r c h 15, 1853. Oliver Burdick, Jr., 40 acres, March 16, 1854. Clinton B. F i s k , 40 acres, A p r i l 2, 1853. J. It. Groves, 40 acres, A p r i l 15, 1854. Jame, Ferguson, 40 acres, June 20, 1853. Willis M . Bowen, 80 acres, Dee. : 2 , 1835. Samuel A . Whitcomb, 40 acres, Oct. 15. 1853. Hiram Baker, 00 tierce, Dec. 22, 1835. Jacob Peer, 121.22 acres, Dec. 22, 1835. Clinton B . F i s k , 49 acres, Oct. 21, 1053. Howard B r a d l e y, 58.24 acres, Jan. 21, 1836. Willis H . BOWCH, 46./01 acres, M a r c h 10. 1836. Joshua Baker, 54.23 acres, July 19, 1836. Willis M . Bowen, 42.15 acres, March 10, 1836. Joshua Baker, 94.59 acres, July 19, 1036. Willis H . Bowen, 78.77 acres. M a y 4 , 1 8 3 6 . Alum I t . White, 120.66 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Wm. Ingalls, 75.13 acres, J u l y 13, 1838. J. W . Curtis and D e Grasse Thornton, 40 acres, Jan. 11, 1853. Jesse Smith, 308.54 acres, Feb. 23, 1836. Henry C. Lewis, 37.89 acres, Dec. 16, 1853. Joshua Baker, — acres, June 5, 1835. A. B . Williams, 80 acres, June 5, 1835. Benj. Tucker, 160 acres, M a y 26, 1836. ' A s h e r Moon, 51.40 acres. J u l y 19, 1836. Harvey 0 . F o x , 73.32 acres, Aug. 23, 1844. A. B . Williams, 40 acres, June 5, 1835. John D e Pue, 79.74 acres, Jan. 23, 1836. Boas Lampoon, 109.65 acres, June 15, 1835. Boaz Lampoon, 80 acres, Dec. 7, 1835. Asher Moon, 171.60 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Asher Moon, 86.79 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Sheldon Williams, 40 acres, Dec. 22, 1835. Dennis D e Pue, 85.86 acres, N o v. 3,1835. Howard Bradley, 80 acres, Jan. 1, 1836. Asher Moon, 125.68 acres, July 19, 1836. Rachel Williams, 40 acres, J u l y 25, 1836. Asher Moon, 85.90 acres, July 19,1836. John Waterhouse, 40 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. Joshua Baker, 80 acres, June 5, 1835. Was. Bancroft, 53.70 acres, Sept.12, 1835. Dennis D e Pue, 99.11 acres, N o v. 3, 1835. Joseph H a w k s , 151.54 acres, July 21, 1835. I I . D . Mason, :,7.211 acres, N o v. 21, 1835. L. I / . & P. I I . Crippin, 329.54 acre,, J u l y 19, I s n a . Oliver Johnson, 156.22 acres, Sept. 17, 1835. George T i l t , 80 acres, Oct. 0, 1835. Wm. M a r t i n , 80 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Joshua B a k e r. 2311.21 acres, July 19, 1836. Ellery Patterson, 30.95 acres, Sept. 16, 1841. Asa Parrish, 80 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. Boger W . Holtain, SO acres, Feb. 25,1635. H i r a m Green, 80 acres, Aug. 24, 1835. Joshua B a k e r, 83.32 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. James 0 . Mason, 88.111 acres, N o r . 19, 1846. Cortes Pond, 80 acres, Aug. 24, 1835. Cortes Pond, 40 acres, Aug. 24, 1835. Oliver Johnson, 40 acres, Sept. 17, 1835. Oliver Johnson, 80 acres, Sept. 17, 1835. BOW. Lonpson, 160 acres, A p r i l 21. 1836. Boas L a m m " , 80 acres, A p r i l 21, 1830. A b r a h a m A n d r e w s , 80 acres, M a r c h 17, 1836. Jacob H a l l , SO acres, N o v. 27, 1835. Thomas I t , , , borson, 100 acres, ' t i troll 17, 1836. 1 ; I I 10 • N I 1, 1,16. Win. W i t h i n g t o n , 40 acres, N o v. IN, 1836. Dwight I l it,00rr. 80 acres, M a y 4, 1837. Dwight Gilmore, 40 acres, Dec. 21, 1849. 10. ' f . E d d y, 40 acres. Joshua Baker, 80 acres, Dee. 22, 1835. James 0 . Mason, 40 acres, Feb. 9, 1847. John Wa l t e r, 40 acres, June 17, 1553. I t is our purpose to give the record o f only since t h e organization o f Kinderhook, though i n tracing t h e first settlement and following the emigration i t will be necessary t o recall an earlier date, when i t s neighbor, Ovid, claimed t h e territory i t now covers. T h e oldest l i v i n g resident o f the township i s George Tripp, who may be regarded, i f not absolutely the first settler, as among the first who muse and made manent location here. H e left his house in Otsego Co., N.Y., in 1835 and located in Brandt Comity, purebming 190 ��ENOS • U , 0 M N . 0 0 4 . 4 4 . 1 . 111 i l l n a m a l l 1 1 1 . / NOINIM,IND" • 4 4 , 4 " . : FARM .0 RESIDENCE �MRS .. HAEL, , I ,,,„„ __. ,,, , L i k . l i i i • ,. , ..L . . . . . , .. ,.. ' 111111111 , _ �L �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . acres on sections 3 and 4 in the present township, that time a part of Coldwater. I n 1837, Ovid was from the original township, and later, Kiuderhook clared an independent organization. W h e n M r . Tripp arrived, t h e country was a n unbroken wilderness, vast stretches of timber land greeting the traveler's eye. T h e r e were no roads and no suggestions of civilization, no indication o f the presence of a white than that afforded by an occasional lug house, 80 entirely isolated t o be practically beyond the reach of borly courtesy. A n o t h e r indication o f life was found i n the Indian trail followed by the tribes in wanderings, and used for a time as a highway until more improved opportunities of travel were Here M r. Tripp erected a log house, which, rude as it was, afforded shelter for himself and family, and was a home embracing all the comforts absolutely necessary to their primitive life. T h e wolves at this time could tinctly heard at night, and deer and wild turkey abundant as t o have lost all sense o f fear, and quently seen feeding with the rattle. M r . Tripp followed by his brother David, who, in 1836, located north-central portion o f section 4, where he died after a useful life, during which time he filled many offices in the township. H i s son, Lester Tripp, who came with his father in 1836, now resides on the Three families had already located here when Mr. Tripp arrived,—Joshua Baker,, Sheldon Williams, and Boaz Lampson ; the latter having located on section 9, and until his death filled many responsible offices in connection with the township. H i s widow subsequently located on land embraced i n section 3 , and a t present owned by Henry Knauss and Charles D . Brown. I n 1836, house came from Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y., the land surrounding the present Kinderhook The presence of Mr. Waterhouse and his family nucleus around which a little settlement grew, additional importance from the fact that a postestablished, a school-house built, arid much introduced into the hamlet. A s a matter o f deference to its founder, it was by common consent known Corners. I t is now K 1 N D E U O O K P O S T-OFFICE, and boasts two churches, a Baptist arid pal, each of which has a parsonage with the in it; a school-house, with M r. Langworthy as in charge of the school ; one physician, Dr. B. who is in active practice, and another, Dr. David has given up the busy cases of the profession for life; one store, kept by Osborn & Jones, Mr. also the courteous postmaster; one blacksmith-shop, kept by John D . Cornell ; One wagonmaker ; David Patterson ; and a machine-shop and BAPTIST C H U R C H . The first organization of' a Baptist Church occurred in 1837, and embraced 12 members, with Freemen Burroughs acting as pastor. H e by Rev. B. I t . Spear. W h e n the township 2 9 3 the church was transferred to North Ovid, and ship was without a Baptist Church until the Baptist Church o f Kinderhook was organized, Oct. 25, 1856. T h e constituent members were Hiram MeNall, John Stokes, Polly Stokes, Charles It. Levering, Levering. T h e first pastor was Elder George ministered to the charge until 1860, when he by Elder Needham, who remained but one year, succeeded by Elder H. C. Schofield, who continued tor until 1862, and his successor, Elder Benjamin MeLouth, officiated until 1867. E l d e r W. N. Welker Caine after him arid continued two years, and was succeeded by Elder H . K. Stimpsou in October o f that year, who labored i n the field until Aug. 19, 1871, when Elder 0. D. Taylor installed as pastor, Jan. 6, 1872, and remained until Jan. 1, 1873. O n the 29th o f March, 1873, Elder Nathan Wright succeeded, and filled the pulpit for one him came Elder A. Virgil i n May of 1875, Aug. 29, 1876. R e v. J. C. Lemon was called as pastor, Jan. 13, 1878, for one year. T h e present incumbent is Rev. A. W. Gower, who was settled Feb. 23, 1879. T h e first meeting for the election o f a board o f held Dec. 23, 1867, and the following Daniel Hoyt, Alfred Cheney, Hiram MeNall, William Chase, George Tripp, arid E. J. Welker. METHODIST CHURCH. We regret to be obliged to omit the history of odist Church o f Kinderhook other than the facts at command. A n effort was made to obtain a history of the organization from some older church from the pastor without success. I n the winter 37, Israel Millard, an exhorter, connected with known as the Coldwater Circuit, formed the first the Methodist Church i n Kinderhook. Preaching was supplied by the Coldwater Circuit for a period o f eight years until Nov. 15, 1845, when the Gilead set apart and organized, and the class o f cluded in this circuit, Rev. George Smith being presiding elder at the tinie, and Rev. Peter Sabin, The class has from that time continued to increase bers and influence until a flourishing church is the result. T h e present pastor is Rev. John Waterhouse died i n 1867; b u t h i s son, John Waterhouse, Jr., survives, and still resides at known as the Corners. Though a gentleman years, he retains a vivid recollection of pioneer his early experiences. H e has been active during his long life in promoting enterprises for the growth o f ship, and has occupied many official positions, postmaster for nearly The year 1836 is memorable not only for the advent of many families who became permanent settlers, identified with the interests of the township, hut for the erection o f the first school-house. T h i s erected by public enterprise, was no departure from the prevailing style o f architecture o f those primitive times, but was built of logs, and its inmates were itiljoetnd to all the discomfiirts incident to so rude and milinhh i.o, W . I n !lc i.or �294 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . number—made rapid progress under the direction o f the pioneer pedagogue, one Samuel Arnold, who was the first instructor in the vicinity. T h i s rude school building, which stood near the place now occupied by the Baptist Church, later gave place t o one o f more considerable proportions. The first religious meeting was held A p r i l 18 o f year at the house o f Joshua Baker, the man being Israel Willard, a Methodist exhorter. Services at this early period were held a t the homes of the settlers, there being no houses of worship at that early day. The writer has made considerable effort t o ascertain the first death i n t h e township, and has different sources, facts which conflict. F r o m one learn that the death o f Miss Ann Lock was the occurred. S h e was a young lady of seventeen resided with her family on a farm located on section 4 . From another source we learn that the first death of a child of Lucas Withington ; and one informant brings several circumstances to corroborate the tioning among other facts that the family resided in a log house on the farm now occupied by Amos Flint, and that at this funeral were present sixteen ox-teams and of horses owned b y John Waterhouse, and which were regarded not only as a novelty but a positive luxury i n those days. Notwithstanding the detailed statement o f our latter informant, we are inclined to the belief that there is an error with regard to time and not to facts, and that the first statement may be regarded The first marriage service was performed by George Tripp, Esq., then justice of the peace, in June, 1837. T h e parties made happy on this occasion were M r. David Sines and Miss Craft. W e are not informed by the justice what fee he received, but it was doubtless in keeping with surroundings Joseph S. Hawks came from Otsego Co., N . Y. , in 1836, and located one mile from the corners, and nearly at the geographical centre o f the township. H i s farm dered by Silver Lake. M r . Hawks, after a long and useful life, during which time he filled a considerable the township history, died in the fall of 1868. still survives him and resides near the post-office, and her recollections of pioneer life are very interesting. arrived in the county, her husband and herself, by a young lady, rode from Toledo on a wagon laden with goods which were designed as a part of their equipment. T h e i r path, i f not rough and at least a very muddy one, for during the progress o f the journey the wagon tipped over, and this episode Mrs. Hawks t o this day a very lively recollection o f the quality of the Michigan soil. A t one time the the road was so deep that M r. Hawks was obliged to ford the place with Mrs. Hawks under his arm. W i t h cares attending the first settlement these were soon forgotten, and are only now recollected the novel experiences o f pioneer life, and related for the diversion of inquiring friends. M r . Hawks with .his family returned to the East after a four years' residence in Kinder. hook, or Ovid as it was then called, and alter remaining ten years moved again to his Western possessions. W i t h all the deprivations incident t o their first settlement, were riot iinly again attracted t o Michigan, but fbutid the charnis i f a Western life superior to the conalbrts they had left behind. Among the names that figure conspicuously in ship records, the bearers of which may be regarded the oldest residents, is that of Silas Bret. who came to the township before i t was set apart front Ovid. and located upon section 24. H e later purchased and now section 14. M r . Eret, by perseverance and gained a competence, and has followed farming pursuits during his lifetime, having been actively engaged ing in early days. M r . Eret has vivid reeillections o f the deprivations endured by the pioneers, and regards the diet of those days as more frugal than luxurious, not so abundant as A. W. Case, who died i n 1877, came from Livingston Co., N. Y., very early, and located on the northeast portion of section 3, and may be regarded as among the neers of the township. W i l l i a m Chase came Co., N. Y., and located in the north-central portion of the county, on section 4. H a v i n g been a pioneer in New York State, he was inured to the hardships involved in the first settlement of a new country. H e was by trade and joiner, and though following agricultural ing his lifetime, never relinquished his trade. H e is the architect of both the Methodist and Baptist churches, and turned his skill t o good account in many Besides many minor offices in the township, Mr. Chase, in 1860, represented his district in the State Legislature. H i s memory is well stored with interesting facts gathered from an experience o f nearly forty years. A life o f industry has gained for him an abundance to which lie was in early John V . Chase a n d family came from N. Y., in 1848, and they have since that time lived on the farm he at first purchased, where M r. Chase died fall of 1878. • Samuel N. Whitcomb came from Vermont to this State in 1840, but did not at once come to Branch County. H e chose the township of Kinderhook as his home, on section 5, where he still resides. H e cannot as a pioneer, but i s quite familiar with the early history of the locality, and has an extended military experience, havim!, served in the Mexican war and also in where he passed through some bitter experiences as oner at Andersonville, but they have not obliterated from his memory still earlier experiences as an early settler in this Another pioneer is Henry Huyek, whose advent in the county occurred i n 1644, having been i n t h e State two years before choosing his present home. distinctly the early struggles of the pioneer and tions he endured. M r . Huyek frequently appears on the records as the incumbent of offices of trust. Charles D. Brown came to the township when it was still a part o f Ovid and the country was one vast wilderness. No roads had been cut, and the Indian trail, consisting of blazed trees, was the only !.tiiide that directed the traveler. The land he and his father purchased, it was impossible to reach until they had fought their way through ��- - I eYer..e.fil III RESIDENCEOFGEO . E S Q . , KINDERHOoK,BRANCH �(1EORflE GEORGE T R I P P. GEORGE TRIPP. Among the honored few who by their industry laid the foundation of the and enterprise of Branch County, none prominent mention than George Tripp. H e was born in the town o f Decatur, Otsego Co., N. Y. , April 10, 1809. H i s father, David among the prominent nun for which Otsego is justly noted. H e was a member o f the branch ,if the Legislature of New York terms, and served in many other with fidelity to the trust reposed in him credit to himself. H e married Miss son, and reared a family o f fifteen girls and five boys. George lived in until he attained his majority, when he went toga County; whence, after a stay of five moved to Genesee Co., N. Y. There he stayed until 1835, when he decided to emigrate to came accordingly to Kinderhook, and purchased the farm where he now resides. A t that time only three permanent settlers in the town, none of whom are now living, thus leaving M r. Tripp the oldest living resident of the town. M r . at this time unmarried, and at the expiration of two years he paid a visit to the old home County, and on his return he married, Co., N. Y. , Miss Mary, daughter of William and Lovis (Humphrey) Winans. Returning to his new home with his young wife, they commenced the improvement of the farm. L i t e at this early day was beset with many obstacles and replete with privations and hardships, of which they had a full portion Mrs. Tripp was born in Rensselaerville, Albany Co., N. Y. , Feb. 6, 1812. S h e is a splendid type of the pioneer woman, and is in fact all that is expressed i n the term "amiable and intelligent." This venerable couple have had two and George, both of whom Mr. Tripp has been prominently identified with the development o f Kinderhook. H e has filled many positions o f trust and responsibility to the satisfaction o f his fellow-citizens. H e was the first township clerk ; has been justice; the latter filled acceptably many years. M r . Tripp ically a self-made man. Starting in life with only his natural resources for his capital, he success and secured a competence, the result of life of strict integrity and honorable dealing. H i s record is untarnished, and he has earned heholm Is among the -pioneers and of Branch �TI �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. timber-land with axe in hand. M r . Brown, cleared this tract, and ultimately not a vestige of wild condition was to be found. H e is a skillful hunter, and his stories of deer-stalking in early times would delight the ears of the modern hunter. O n one as he supposed, killed a deer, he proceeded with his knife to dress him fbr food, when the buck recovered from the shock the wound had given him and sprang upon him. None but an experienced hunter understands of the deer when driven to defense. A fierce the result, and for a time the chances of life with ageous marksman were extremely uncertain, when finally a dexterous use of the knife dispatched his opponent; not, however, until he had inflicted sundry wounds tos of the'struggle. L a t e r, Mr. Brown removed from his original location and purchased his present farm, which is not only large, but well Another old resident is John Boyd, familiarly known as Father Boyd, who is now advanced i n years, and can distinctly recall a life of thirty-five years i n Kinderhook, and has during that period resided upon the farm he at present occupies. Calvin Strong is also an and numbers MOM years than M r. Boyd He had a succession of unfortunate experiences during his early life in Branch County, but has survived them reached the good old age of eighty-two years. ley may with truth be spoken of as one of the pioneers of Branch County, having come to i t in 1834 from Wayne Co., N. Y. H a v i n g lived for two years in Ovid, he later came to Kinderhook and located on the farm he pies H e relates some interesting encounters with wild animals during the early settlement of the country, and entertains a lively recollection of an encounter with in which lie bore away all the trophies of victory. Oliver Burdick came in 1845, purchasing the mills built by John Waterhouse and improving them. on section 16, one mile south of the post-office. came to the State in 1835, and to the township With the exception o f an interval of a few years, resided there since that time. H i r a m Canright and located on section 4, and Ira Bonner settled 7. H e has been dead many years. located on section 10, on the farm now occupied Richey. H i s father resided on section 3. owned a tract of land on section 6, which he lived upon. C a l v i n Strong came in 1843 and located on what is known as Strong's Island, in the of the township. Jacob Mincer established himself on the extreme northwest corner, and William Lewis occupied for years the farm now owned by Martin Manger. H e was a prominent official in the township, having for years honorable position of justice of the peace. A b r a m Walter owned a farm in the extreme southeast, and established a reputation as a successful famier. Hiram MeNall, who died some years since, came in the fall of 1842, and purchased 40 acres on section 11. B y industry and frugality he increased his possessions until his farm numbered Another old resident was Oliver D. Colvin, who was a eating of much 2 9 5 We have thus given a brief review of many of settlers in the township, not attempting b y any means to make the list a thorough one, and perhaps names quite as deserving of mention that have suggested t o us. M o s t o f these individuals, with their families, have endured privations and want, and verance and toil succeeded i n bringing the township o f Kinderhook to the degree o f prosperity i t Though having the reputation of being the smallest of' the townships of Branch County, it is by no means the most inconsiderable in importance or The surface of Kinderhook is rolling, with stretches o f level land varied by occasional slopes and interspersed with several small lakes, chief of which are Silver Lake, Fish Lake, Sabine Lake, Pleasant Lake, and a portion of Coldwater Lake on the line. T h e r e is considerable marshy land, but the quality of the remainder is excellent. T h e soil is a loam, with very little clay. T h e r e is not a of timbered land, and oak is the prevailing other varieties are to Coldwater being within easy reach o f the ref.idents o f the township, and the roads usually in it absorbs the larger portion of its There is no hotel in the township, the finding a welcome at the inviting home of any or all townspeople, where hospitality is regarded as one o f the cardinal virtues. T h e temperance sentiment is strong in Kinderhook, and no trafficker in ardent spirits in the eyes of its The first annual election was held i n the Monday, the 4th day of April, 1812. O l i v e r D. Colvin and George Tripp were, i n accordance with authorized to act as inspectors of election, and terhouse, Jr., was elected as a We give the result of this election, together succeeding one to the present time: Oliver D. pervisor; George Tripp, Township Clerk ; Altheron W . Case, Treasurer; William Chase, Ira Bonner, David Tripp, Justices o f the Peace; Ellery Patterson, George Tripp, Inspectors of Schools; Isaac Eslow, John D. Depue, Arba L. Lambson, Highway Commissioners; Lathrop G. Fish, Directors of the l'oor ; Ira Bonner, Jr., Hiram Canwright, David Tripp, I r a Bonner, Jr., John Waterhouse, Jr., Johan Bradley, L. G. Fish, 0 D. Colvin, Overseers 1843.—George Tripp, Supervisor; William ship Clerk ; Almeron NV. Case, Treasurer; Oliver vin, David Tripp, Assessors; Eller), Patterson, Augustus P. Tucker, Inspectors o f Schools; Isaac Eslow, John D . Depue, Hiram Canwright, Commissioners o f Highways; George Tripp, Justice o f the Peace; Alba L . Walworth, Lathrop G. Flail, Directors of the Poor; James Winter, Arba L. Lambson, Constables; David Tripp, Assessor; Arba L. Lambson, Freeman Home, John Waterhouse, Augustus P. Tucker, Ellery Pattersen, Overseers of Highways ; Oliver D. Colvin, I r a Bonner, William Chase, Inspectors 1844.—Oliver D. Colvin, Supervisor; Township Clerk ; A lmeron W. Case, Treasurer �296 F H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Joseph S. Hawks, Assessors; Oliver D. Colvin, Justice of the Peace; James H . Hugenen, School Inspector; Alba L. Walworth, Augustus P. Tucker, Norman Van Winkle, Highway Commissioners; William Withington, son, Directors of the Poor; Anson Hough, Arba son, William P. Lawrence, Edwin Withington, Ebenezer P. Stuart, Freeman Waterhouse, John Bradley, Ira Canwright, Augustus P. Tucker, Ellery Patterson, Dewitt MeKinstry, Overseers o f Highways; Oliver D . Colvin, George Tripp, Wm. Chase, Inspectors of Election. 1845.—Oliver D . Colvin, Supervisor; William Chase, Township Clerk; human Gibbs, Treasurer; John Justice of the Peace; Joseph T. Hawks, Ira sessors; A l m e r o n W . Case, School Inspector; D a v i d Tripp, Lyman Tripp, Samuel A . Towsley, missioners; A . Bonner, C. Havens, Overseers of the Poor; Dwight H . Gilmore, Harmon Towsley, A . Bonner, Hiram Canwright, Constables ; Dwight H . Gilmore, Ira Bonner, Jr., Freeman Waterhouse, Hiram Eddy, Dwight Kinstry, Joseph Towsley, Samuel A . Towsley, rick, James 0. Mason, Overseers of Highways; Ira Bonner, George Tripp, Oliver D. Colvin, Inspectors of Election. 1846.—Oliver D . Colvin, Supervisor; George Tripp, Township Clerk ; William Chase, Deputy Clerk ; Lunian Gibbs, Treasurer; James 0 . Mason, School Inspector; Joseph S. Hawks, Arba L . Lambson, Assessors; Alvinza Bonan, Constable. T h e record further than this plete 1841.—David Tripp, Supervisor; A . W . Case, Clerk; human Gibbs, Treasurer; P. C. Hopkins, Justice o f the Peace; Henry Huyck, Joseph Hawk, Assessors; William Cathcart, School Inspector; Ira Bonner, Jr., Orange Potter, Highway Connuissioners ; human Gibbs, Joseph Towsley, Directors o f the Poor; H e n r y Huyck, human Gibbs, Orange Potter, Constables; Curtis Williams, H. McNeil, Win. F. Waterhouse, Hiram Eddy, William Chase, S. Whitcomb, J . Waterhouse, J r. , Aaron Dobson, Edwin 1Vithington, James Winters, Overseers ways 1848.—Oliver Burdick, J r . , Supervisor; James H . Hugenen, Township Clerk; Henry F. Hayek, Treasurer; Daniel Ent, Justice o f the Peace ; Win. F. Waterhouse, School Inspector; J o h n D . Depue, H i r a m Canwright, John Waterhouse, J r. , Highway Commissioners; human Gibbs, Joseph Towsley, Overseers o f the Poor; human Gibbs, Asher Ent, Hiram Towsley, Anson stables; H . N . Walworth, P. C. Hopkins, H. Canwright, D. Tripp, D. C. McKinstry, J. B. Potter, A . T. McCanry, John Groves, Henry Huyck, A . W. Case, Geo. D. Avery, Overseers of Highways. 1849.—David Tripp, Supervisor; George ship Clerk ; Henry F. Huyck, Treasurer; Samuel comb, Oliver D. Colvin, Arba L. Latnbson, Justices of the Peace; William Cathcart, School Inspector; Calvin Strong, Highway Commissioner; Daniel E n t , Joseph S. Hawks, Directors o f the Poor; A . P. Cutter, Alex. Cole, Hiram Towsley, Avery Ferguson, Constables ; Solon Cathcart, A . W. Case, D. C. McKinstry, Samuel A. Gray, Daniel Ent, Joseph S. Hawks, Overseers ways 1850.—Oliver Burdick, Supervisor; George Tripp, Township Clerk; Henry F. Huyck. David Trim,. .1,tiees of the Peace; Solon M. Cathcart, School lo,pe,:tor l a s Ent, William Chase, Assessors; L. J. Gibbs, John Timothy Clark, John D . Depue, John Groves, Silas Eut James K. Howell, Win. F. Waterhouse, Overseers ways 1851.—Oliver Burdick, Jr., William Waterhouse, Jr., Township Clerks; William Chase, Treasurer; John V . Chase, Highway Commissioner; David Tripp, Willard H . Pond, School Inspectors; William Lewis, Justice of the Peace; Baldwin B . Waterhouse, Director o f Poor; John Groves, William K Pierce, William Chase, B. house, Constables; William Lewis, A. W. Case, Samuel A. Whitcomb, Abram Gray, Oliver Burdick, Stephen Kirby, Alfred A . Bates, Overseers of Highways; Oliver Burdick, George Tripp, Abram L. Lambson, Inspectors of Election. 1852.—Oliver Burdick, Supervisor; W i l l i a m Chase, Township Clerk; Joel D . Lindsay, Justice of the Peace; Lewis Whitcomb, School Inspector; A . Flint, Archibald Dunn, Highway Commissioners; David Tripp, house, Overseers of the Poor; William R. Pierce, Andrew J. Critchfield, Willard H . Pond, Silas E n t , Archibald Dunn, Almeron M . Case, John Waterhouse. Samuel Whitcomb, Abram Gray, John Groves, Stephen Kirby, Alfred C. Bates, Timothy Clark, Joseph S. Hawks, Overseers of Highways; Oliver Burdick, Oliver D. Colvin, Win. F. Waterhouse, Inspectors of Election. 1853.—Oliver Burdick, Supervisor; W i l l i a m Chase, .Township Clerk: Almeron W. Case, Treasurer; John D . Depue, Justice o f the Peace; James K . Inspector; A r c h i b a l d D u n n , H i g h w a y Commissioner; Daniel Tripp, J o h n Waterhouse, J r. , Directors o f the Poor; Alexander Odrin, M y e r Rutter, Orange Potter, Abram L . Reamer, Constables; Hiram Canright, A . W. Case, A . Flint, Avery Ferguson, Wm. R. Pierce, Angelo Dobson, Abraham Holbroke, Lester Tripp, Timothy Clark, H. F. Huyck, Overseers o f Highways; Oliver Burdick, S. A . Whitcomb, Wm. Chase, Inspectors of Election. 185.4.—David Tripp, Supervisor; Win. Chase, Township Clerk ; Almeron W. Case, Treasurer; George Tripp, Oliver D. Colvin, Justices o f the Peace; Ambrose C. Burdick. School Inspector; J o h n V. Chase, John way Commissioners; David Tr i p p , E d w i n Wit.hington, Directors o f the Poor ; Alex. Colvin, Lester Tripp, Alvin C. Lawrence, Nehemiah Rutter, Constables; Peter Orice, A. W . Case, John Waterhouse, John Bradley. Win. R . Pierce, Joel D . Lindsay, John Walter, A . C. Lawrence, Calvin Strong, H . F. Huyck, Overseers of Highways. 1855.—Oliver Burdick, Supervisor; W i l l i a m Chase, Township Clerk ; A . W. Case. Treasurer; William Lewis, Justice of the Peace; James K. Howell. Daniel Hoyt, Highway Commissioner; David Kipp. Alfred S. Bates, Directors of Poor; Alvin C. H. Rutter, Farmer Gapp, James Groves, ram Canwright, A . W. Case, Lester Tripp, A . Ferguson. Wm. R. Pierce, N. H . Butter, James K. Waterhouse, Calvin Strong, Oliver I). Colvin, Overseers of Highway 1856.—David Tripp, Supervisor; Wm. �HON. WILLIAM CHASE. In compiling the history of the township derhook, we find that the subject of has been prominently identified with all and to such an extent that it would not withont a sketch o f his life. H e was born in the town o f Westford, Otsego Co., N . Y. , Nov. 12, 1815. H e NVELS the son o f John Chase and Lucy Houghton, both natives o f the "green mountain State." W h e n William was eight years of father removed with his family to where he died at the age of sixty-three. W i l l i a m was thrown upon his own resources at an and his educational advantages were limited district school. A t the age of twenty he trade of a carpenter and joiner, and followed year In 1839 he was married to Miss Marcia M. Flint of his native county, where she was born Nov. 16, 1815. T w o years after their marriage they came to Kinderhook, and purchased the farm upon which they now Mr. Chase's settlement in Kinderhnok was prior to its organization as a town, in which he took nent part; and was elected its first office he filled acceptably eight years. F r o m that time until his age and business cares forbade his serving his constituency, he faithfully positions o f trust and responsibility. I n 1860 he was elected t o the Representative branch o f the Legislature. F o r seven years he was of the poor, and for eight years represented upon the Board of Supervisors, officiating man in 1860, where he was considered a valuable and efficient member. F o r over thirty years he served his town, county, or district in capacity, and his record as a public officer tarnished and worthy of emulation. H e is entirely devoid o f ostentation. nomical, possessed of good judgment and ception, and as a consequence successful; he ing a competency the result of a long ized by strict integrity and honorable dealing. M r . Chase is emphatically a self-made man. won success i n all departments of life, and is an example of the capabilities o f character hood �_ L �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Clerk ; John Waterhouse, Sr., Treasurer; James ell, Justice of the Peace; Ambrose C. Burdick, spector; John Walter, Highway Commissioner; Bates, Israel Lucas, Directors of' Poor; Alfred S. Bates, Lafayette Hodges, Silas Ent, John J . Lewis, Peter Grice, A . W. Case, Israel Lucas, John Bradley, Abram Gray, Lafayette Hodges, Willard Howell, Henry F. Huyck, Stephen Hungerford, Timothy of Highways. 1857.—William Chase, Supervisor; David ship Clerk; John Waterhouse, Sr., Treasurer ; Oliver D. Colvin, Justice of the Team ; Amos Flint, Peter Grice, D. Ent, Directors of Poor; Freeman Waterhouse, Nehemiah H . Rutter, Wm. Doty, Constables; Peter Grice, Israel Lucas, Lewis Buck, Abram Gray, Lafayette Hodges, Edwin Withington, Henry Hoyt, Robert Lucas, Henry F. Huyek, Stephen Hungerford, Overseers of Highways. 1858.—William Chase, Supervisor ; Farmer ship Clerk ; John Waterhouse, Treasurer; Oliver Burdick, David Tripp, Justices o f the Peace; Henry School Inspector; De Witt Hoyt, Henry F. way Commissioners ; Alfred C. Bates, Farmer rectors o f Poor; Theodore Lucas, William Doty, M . P. Mott, Hugh Harrison, Constables; Hiram than Frow, Israel Lucas, David John, Abram Gray, N. K. Rutter, Seth Hansford, George Tripp, Calvin Strong, J. S. Hawks, Hiram Canwright, Overseers I859.—Wm. Chase, Supervisor; George ship Clerk ; Daniel Hoyt, Treasurer; William Michael, Wm. Lewis, Justices o f the Peace; Lindly H . Gripman, School Inspector; Hiram Norton, missioner; Alfred S. Bates, Abram Gray, Directors o f Poor ; Noah Jones, Woodbury Sooks, Joseph Miller, Constables; Joseph Miller, A . Israel Lucas, Wm. H. Black, Abram Gray, N. H. Rutter, John Walters, Henry Hoyt, Jacob Tripp, Henry F. Iluyek, A. C. Lawrence, Overseers 1860.—Wm. Chase, Supervisor; George ship Clerk ; Daniel Hoyt. Treasurer; Stephen School Inspector ; Enos Michael. William of the Peace; John Walter, Highway W. Stokes, Joseph Miller, Noah F. Jones, George comb, Constables; Hiram MeNall, Wm. Miller, Noah I I . Jones, A . Ferguson, John Graves, N. K . Rutter, Abram Walter, Henry Hoyt, Timothy Clark, Joseph S. Hawks, A. C. Lawrence, Overseers 1861.—Stephen Hungerford, Supervisor; Z. Town Clerk; William Walters. Treasurer; School Inspector; Enos Michael, Justice of the Peace; A. S. Bates, A. Gray, Directors of Poor; N. H . Jones, J . Miller, S. Skalea, U. Gripman, Constables; A. W. Case, Rollin Flint, John Bradley, John W. Stokes, David L. Pheaieie, Henry Hoyt, H. F. Huyek, Frank S. Sprague, Overseers 1862.—George Tripp, Supervisor; Z. G. ship Clerk; William Walters, Treasurer; George Tripp, Justice of the Peace; U . Gripman, School inspector; Abram Gray, Highway Commissioner; Rollin Flint, David Boyd, J. W. Stokes, 3 2 9 7 Grice, A . W. Case, Rollin Flint, John Bradley, Adam Ireland, J. W. Stokes, David Miller, M. E. Strong, Joseph Hawks, Charles Brown, Overseers way 1863.—George Tripp, Supervisor ; William ship Clerk ; Noah H. Jones, Treasurer Samuel comb, Justice of the Peace ; David Boyd, School Inspector; Charles D. Brown, Highway Commissioner: L . B. Brown, Henry Gripman, Jacob Burk, M. E. Peter Grice, A . W. Case, Rollin Flint, Watson Burk, Adam Ireland, Silas Ent, A. Walters, H. Hoyt, Timothy Clark, Jos. Hawks, Chester Porter, Overseers 1864.—William Chase, Supervisor; Zelotes Township Clerk; Noah I I . Jones, Treasurer; Charles D. Brown, Justice of the Peace; Uriah Gripman, spector; Joseph S. Hawks, Highway Commissioner; L . B. Brown, Joseph Miller, Albert Flint, David stables; J . W. Sweetland, Abraham Mosher, S. A . Whitcomb, Win. W. Case, Charles Ritchie, D. L . Plienicie, Lester Tripp, M. W. Strong, Hiram Colvin, A. C. Lawrence, David Perine, Overseen,' 1865.—W ill iam Chase, Supervisor.; Z. G. ship Clerk; Noah H. Jones, Treasurer; Enos Richey, Justices of the Peace; David Boyd, tor; Joseph Miller, Highway Commissioner; Peter Outwater, Lindley Gripwan, Joseph bles; Peter Grice, N. H. Jones, Watson Burk, John Burk, N. H. Butler, Abram Walters, Geo. Tripp, Timothy Clark, Joseph Hawks, Freeman Waterhouse, Alpheus McIntyre, Overseers of Highways. 1866.—William Chase, Supervisor; Amos ship Clerk; James Richey, Treasurer; George D. Conklin, Justice of the Peace; Uriah Inspector; William Branyan, Highway Commissioner; Marvin C. Munger, William Branyan, George Brown, William H . Lemmon, Constables; J. Brown, Samuel Whitcomb, Thomas May, 0. N. H. Butler, David Miller, Z. G. Osborne, Harley Jones, Henry Huyek, M. C. Munger. Dana Terrine, Overseers of Highways. 1867.—William Chase, Supervisor; Anios ship Clerk ; James Richey, Treasurer; Joseph Miller, Justices of the Peace ; Win. School Inspector; Noah H. Jones, Highway Albert Flint, Jacob Terry, Chas. B. Taylor, Constables; J . W. Sweetland, N . H . Jones, Uriah Gripman, Thomas Mum, Woodbury Stokes, K . Rowlmon, Z . Harley Jones, Joseph S. Hawks, Isaac Richey, rine, Overseers I868.—Amos Flint, Supervisor ; James ship Clerk ; Z . G . Osborne, Treasurer; Harley Jones, School Inspector; Charles D. Brown, sinner; Wm. H. Lemmon, Justice o f the Peace; Albert Flint, David L . Phenicie, John W . Stokes, Erastus .1. Welker, Constables; Chas. Alexander, Noah S. A . Whitcomb, David Johns, Enos Michael, Abram Waken, Z. G. Osborne, Chas. B. Taylor, Isaac Richey, J. J. Crandall, Overseen 1869.—Amos Flint., Supervisor; James ship Clerk ; Z . G . Osborne. Treasurer ; Charles D. Brown. Justices of the Peace ; John �298 L H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . dall, School Inspector; Z . (3. Osborne, dotter; Noah I I Jones, Sylvester Jones, John Ira F l i n t , Constables ; J . P. Alexander, N . I I . Jones, Samuel Whitcomb, Thomas Magg, Enos Langworthy, H e n r y Hoyt, A l v a Jones, Joseph Hawks, Jas. D. Conkling, John Bachman, Overseers of Highways. 1870.—Amos Flint, Supervisor; James ship Clerk; Z . G. Osborne, Treasurer; Geo. Tripp, Enos Michael, Justices o f the Peace; Harley Jones, Spector; Noah H . Jones, Highway Commissioner; Noah H. Jones, Joseph Miller, John W . Stokes, John Flynn, Constables; J o h n F l y n n , J o h n V . Chase, Samuel A . Whitcomb, Wm. W. Case, Enos Michael, Daniel Melends, Henry Hoyt, Alva Jones, Silas Ent, A. C. Laurence, John Bachman, Overseers of Highways. 1871.—Amos Flint, Supervisor ; William ship Clerk ; Wallace Clark, Treasurer; Samuel comb, Justice of the Peace; David Fox, School Inspector; Charles D . Brown, Highway Commissioner; A l v i n D . Bonner, Noah H . Jones, Overseers of Highways. 1872.—Z. G. Osborne, Supervisor; Win. ship Clark ; Wallace Clark, Treasurer ; Chas. G. Brown, Justice of the Peace; David L. Phenicie, School Inspector; John V. Chase, Highway Commissioner; Lindley Gripman, Drain Commissioner; Noah H. Jones, Elmer Stocking, Levi Riggles, Constables; Royal lace Clark, S. A . Whitcomb, Daniel Wedge, Enos Michael, Ellis C. Mandy, George Tripp, Harley Jones, Moses Hawks, M. C. Munger, John Bachman, Overseers of Highways. 1873.—Z. G. Osborne, Supervisor; William ship Clerk; Wallace Clark, Treasurer; Enos tice of the Peace; Amos Flint, School Inspector; Noah H. Jones, Highway Commissioner; Enos Michael, missioner; Noah H. Jones, Levi Riggles, Horace Stocking, D. L. Phenicie, Constables ; Hiram Adams, Wallace Clark, Harlo S . Pannalee, Henry Quint, Enos Michael, D . L . Plienicie, Henry Hoyt, Timothy Clark, Silas Ent, James Richey, Wm. Hunt, Overseers of Highways. 1874.—Enos Michael, Supervisor; James ship Clerk; Wallace Clark, Treasurer; Enos bert Flint, Justices o f the Peace; David Fox, James D. Conkling, School Inspectors; Charles Richey, Highway Commissioner; Enos Michael, Drain Commissioner; Peter Outwater, John Flynn, Noah H . Jones, Judson Bradley, Constables; John Babb, Wallace Clark, S. A . Whitcomb, John Burk, Enos Michael, David Miller, Alfred Alva Jones, Silas Ent, Marvin C . Munger, Wm. H u n t , Overseers of Highways. 1875.—Not 1876.—Z. G. Osborne, Supervisor; James ship Clerk; Wallace Clark, Treasurer; M a r t i n S . Upp, Justice of the Peace; Lindley Gripnian, School Inspector; Martin Upp, School Superintendent; A l v a Jones, Drain Commissioner and Highway Commissioner; John nell, Noah H . Jones, Judson Bradley, Wm. W. stables ; James P. Alexander, Wallace Clark, Henry Hoyt, Thomas Osborn, Judson Bradley, John Burk, Daniel Hoyt, Samuel Kananss, K i m Michael, Dana of Highways. I 877.—Zelmus G. Osborne, Supervisor ; James Richey, Township Clerk ; Wallace Clark, Treasurer; David L Phenivie, Justice of the Peace; Martin L . Superintendent ; L . H . Gripmau, School Inspector; Noah II. Jones, Highway Commissioner; John liana Walters, Thomas Osborn, Judson Charles D. Brown, Henry Hoyt, Elmer Bond, Uriah Grip man, Ira A . Flint, Daniel Hoyt, Silas Ent, man, Enos Michael, Christopher Whistler, Overseers o f Highways 1878.—Z. G. Osborne, Supervisor; James ship Clerk; Samuel Knauss, Treasurer; Albert tice of the Peace; Lindley Gripman, Superintendent o f Schools ; H a r k S. Parmalee, Drain ham Walter, Highway Commissioner; John D . Cornell, Judson B . Bradley, George N . Jones, Barney Constables; George E l y, Wallace Clark, Henry Hoyt, John N . Norcott, Lindley Gripman, William Case, Albert Flint, James Patterson. W i l l i a m Crooser, Enos Michael, William Hunt. With this brief sketch we take leave of one of Branch County's most progressive townships, wishing i t all t h e prosperity that earnest industry and steady virtue will surely bring to it. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ENOS MICHAEL. Enos, son o f Philip and Susannah Michael, was born in the town o f Susquehanna, Dauphin Cu., Pa., Nov. 4, 1824. The elder Michael was a weaver by occupation, and gave his children such advantages as his limited means would allow. Enos was the eldest in a family of thirteen children. eleven of whom grew to maturity. H e learned the trade of a weaver and dyer, which occupation he years subsequent to his emigration t o Tremont, Lid., in 1848. I n 1858 he moved upon the farm where he now resides, which embraces four hundred and seventyof highly-productive land under a high state of a view o f which i s presented elsewhere i n this work. Upon his removal to Kinderhook he at once took inent and influential part in the political affairs of He was elected justice o f the peace, and filled acceptably until 1878. I n t h e years 1875 and I87p he represented the town in the Board of Supervisors, where he was considered an able and efficient member. Mr. Michael i s one o f t h e prominent farmers of the county, and in connection with tural ,Terations be is extensively engaged in the and loan business, which reaches into Ohio, Michigan. In 1848 he married Miss Barbara Dutikle, of his native county, where she was born July 14, 1s25. S h e is one of the most thrifty, energetic. and industrious of in every sense a Politically, Mr. Michael is a Republican; religiously, a Methodist. A l l in all, be is one o f those public-spirited, enterprising men whose identification with is always productive I ��b y E . K i l i d i n a r k , U01.1.,Atcr. MRS. M . M . C A S E . U T F I V N W E B S T E R CASS. ALMEliON WEBSTER CASE. This gentleman, for many years one o f teemed and valued citizens o f Kinderhook, was remained i n Livingston County one year, when they decided to emigrate to Michigan, born in Livingston Co., N. Y. , Feb. 6, 1808. H e brothers, George and David Tripp, was t h e son o f Lieutenant and Polly (Webster) located there. U p o n h i s arrival i n Kinderhook, Case, who had a family o f four children,—three Mr. Case purchased from the government boys and one girl. T h e maternal grandfather o f dred and twenty-five acres o f land, now our subject, Aaron Webster, was a Revolutionary erty o f Walter Musselwhite. H e r e h e resided soldier, and served as a scout under until his death, i n November, 1877. nam. H e fought through the war, and settled i n Livingston Co., N. Y. , where h e died a t vanced Lieutenant Case, our subject's father, was The l i f e o f M r . Case was eventful. Unostentatious, he shunned rather than courted political preferment.' S o c i a l l y h e w a s genial and courteous, winning the regard o f all in the war of 1812, and was killed in the battle of with whom he came in contact. H e was a man Lundy's Lane, July 25, 1814. B u t little is known of much public spirit, and h i s hospitality was of his history, farther than that he was a brave proverbial. H i s whole l i f e was devoted t o his soldier and a valued citizen. A l m e r o n family and his business, and in his by a maternal uncle, and worked a t h i s trade hook lost a valuable citizen. T h r e e children were of a carpenter and joiner born t o him, and o f them two died i n infancy. In 1836, Mr. Case was united in marriage with The remaining child, M r s . Walter Musselwhite, Miss Marcia M . Tr i p p , o f Decatur, Otsego Co., was born i n A p r i l , 1849, and was married i n N. Y. , where she was born May 13, 1813. T h e y March, 1806. �MRS. N A O M I JOSEPH S . H A W K S . A ‘1 K s . JOSEPH S. H AW K S . This gentleman, for many years one of nent farmers and valuable citizens of born in Richfield, Otsego Co., N.Y., April His grandfather, Daniel Hawks, emigrated from Worcester Co., Mass., in 1788, and settled two years of age, when he was married to Potter, of Burlington, Otsego County, where born June 24, 1813. Shortly after they came to Kinderhook, and purchased from the government one hundred and fifty-seven acres of He had taken an active and zealous part in the land on Silver Lake, where he resided until struggle for independence, and had lost an ample Oct. 5, 1874. H e was a model farmer, fortune in upholding the credit of the prominently identified with the development of the He bore an active and influential part in town, and his name is indelibly stamped upon its affairs of the county, and for eight years early history. H e was one of those men the district in the State Legislature. H e died nection with any community is always productive of ripe old age of eighty- good,—a man of broad charity, generous liberality, Moses Hawks, father o f our subject, was also prominently identified with the county. and manly In politics he was a Republican, but had Catherine Striken, and reared a family of for political preferment, the cares of his Joseph being his business receiving his whole attention. The early life of Mr. Hawks was Mrs. Hawks were blessed with two children, both of marked by few incidents save such as occur in the whom are living in Kinderhook. M a r y C., lives of was horn in Otsego; Moses L. was born He remained with his father until he hook �L �— HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . SILAS ENT. This gentleman, one of the old settlers of Kinderhook. was born in Essex Co., N. J., Nov. 20, 1820. H e was the son of Enoch and Susan (Gorden) Ent, who had a family of eight children. W h e n Silas was four years o f age his father emigrated with his family t o Cayuga Co., N . Y. After remaining there six years, he went to Livingston County, tarried there about the same length of time, and in 1835 removed t o Michigan with his family, settling i n Wayne County. Thence he passed over to where he died. S i l a s remained in Washtenaw County, but upon the decease of his father went to Lenawee. I n 1842 he came to Kinderhook, and in company with his brother David purchased eighty acres of land in the southeast part of the town. T h e y were successful in their to the first purchase added two hundred and In 1869 they purchased the property where Silas sides, a view of which is presented on another which is justly considered to be one of the and productive farms i n the town. I n 1850, M r. E n t D AV I D T R I P P. D AV I D T R I was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., July 1, 1807; son Tripp, a prominent man of that county, who raised of fifteen children, of whom the subject of this the tenth. I n 1829 he married Miss Sally Flint. T h e y removed to Branch County in 1836, with their dren, settled in what is now the town o f commenced the arduous task o f making a fann from the unbroken forest. U p o n this farm Mr. Tripp resided until Oct. 2, 1875, when he departed this life, leaving a wife and two children,—Lester H., who lives on the I t H e l e n E., now Mrs. J. Wesley Brown, lly, Mr. Tripp was a Democrat, and a 2 9 9 married Miss Louisa Dobson, o f Kinderhook. born in Lorain Co., Ohio, in April, 1832. T h e y blessed with a family of ten children, five of whom living. M a r y (now Mrs. Henry Flint) was born Jan. 1, 1851. E l l a was born i n September, 1853, and died i n 1854. Eleanore was born in December, 1854, and died Oct. 21, 1863. H a t t i e L. was born i n March. is now the wife of Charles Smith, of Kinderhook. F l o y d was born March, 1860, and died in August, 1863. F l o r i n e was born in September, 1862. A l d e r s was 1864. V i o l a was born October, 1867. E r n e s t was born January, 1872, and died in infancy. M r . Ent has never sought political preferment, preferring the retirement farm, and devoting his life to matters o f He started in life with only his natural resources for his capital, and by his own energy and industry has competence, and although his life has been uneventful he has won a proud position in the history of Kinderhook, and is in every way worthy of the signed him among the old settlers and best men of Branch County MRS. D A V I D T R I P P. porter of General Grant during the late war of lion. H e herd several offices of trust, among supervisor and justice of the peace for SAMUEL A . WHITCOMB. Samuel A . Whitcomb was born i n the town umberland, Saratoga Co., N. Y. , March 4, 1815. the youngest of the family of Samuel and Nancy Whitcomb. which consisted o f eight children. I n 1835 the elder Whitcomb emigrated to Michigan, and Cook's Prairie, Calhoun Co., where he lived He was a Baptist minister, preached in different parts of �30 HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . the county, and was everywhere known as an and a devout and consistent Christian. At the age o f seventeen Samuel was apprenticed to the trade of a tanner and shoemaker. A t twenty his time of his employer, and had a balance o f lings and sixpence, with which t o start business self. I n 1839 h e came t o Michigan, and purchased i n Kinderhook one hundred and sixty acres o f wards a part of his present farm. H e worked at his trade for about five years, and employed a man t o farm. I n 1854 he was married t o Miss Anna Mugg, of Steuben Co., Ind. S h e died in 1872, and in 1876 married to Mrs. Mary E. Turner. Mr. Whitcomb is out of the asueneful and farmers of Branch County. T o his b e t purchase hundred and sixty sem he has added OW Commencing life at twenty, with a capital of two and sixpenoe, his success its au evidence of what can be done by energetic industry and good management. political belief, M r. Whitcomb is a sincere an inveterate enemy of human slavery in every form. H e was formerly an Abolitionist, and voted the ticket polled in Kinderhook. A friend of every enterprise having for its object the advert/mums o f the interests o f his town finds i n him a porter BUTLER. BUTLER, the northeast corner township o f Branch County, is designated b y the first survey as 5 south, of range No. 5 west. I t s boundaries County on the north, Hillsdale County on the east, Quincy and Girard townships respectively on the south Its surface is a rolling upland, which, with of some 300 acres of oak-openings, known a t an early day as Shook's Prairie, was covered originally with heavy growth of timber. The water-courses are St. Joseph River, Hog konslia Creeks. T h e former takes its rise from Quaker Lake, and flows north, crossing section 1 . enters the township east of the centre on the south border, and, flowing i n a northwest course, leaves i t south centre on the west border. Tekonsha Creek rises in the north part o f the township, and flowing the northwest corner. Quaker Lake, comprising an area of about 150 acres, is situated upon section 12. The soil is of a productive quality and similar to that of surrounding townships. T h e people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits, and are noted, many of them, for their proficiency in and the encouragement given the practice of wrestling The township contains a total area of 22,642 acres, and in 1874 had a population of 1389 inhabitants. FIRST L A N D E N T R I E S . Jonathan H a r t , o f Washington Co., N. Y. , wards settled in Calhoun Co., Mich., entered the in this township July 25, 1835. H i s purchase included a part of section 1. During the months o f October and November o f the same year, Lyman Rogers, Solander Rossman, ley, Ambrose J . Nicholson, Jeremiah Bennett, Robert Wood, Jacob Devoe, Jacob Shook, J r. , and Benjamin McVey became purchasers. A l l the remaining lands in the township were bought of the general sequent to Jan. The following list embraces the names of the original owners of the township: Section 1,1835.5—Jonathan H a r t , David F. Farley, Fittalan Gardner, John Hart, William D . L. Howard, Joseph Merritt. Scction 2 , 1835.—Lyman Rogers, Jacob Roseerantx. John Redfield. Robert Brown. David F. Treads' Se,t ion 3, 1835.--Lyman Rogers, Nelson Rogers, Jacob Roseerants, H e n r y Bowers. Abraham L e t t s , Benjamin Richards Sect ion 4, 1836.—Henry Bowers, Joseph Gibbs, Victor D. Riggs, Abraham Letts. J r. , Orrin Hadlock, Cook & Waldron. Section 5, 1836.—Michael Briggs, John S. Rockwell, Nelson Aldrich, Jedediah Tompkins. James V. Burch, Charles Curtis, Orrin Stringham, Russell Aldrich, Michael Brigs Sect ion 6, 1836.—Mieliael Briggs, Ira Dennis, Ira Sheldon, Section 7. 1836.—George Brims, Michael Briggs, John S. Rockwell, Artemus Humeston, Timothy A . Hopkins. Section 8 , 1836.—Abraham Letts, John S. Reetwell, William Stearns, L e v i Mead, William Letts, J r. , John Tompkins, Delia Jane Curtin), James &Trion 9, 1836.—William Stearns, David Bader, Benjamin Richards, John Fabrique, son, Linus Weller. A p t • The figiaros denote t h e y e a r t h e each section. ��L �HISTORY .OF B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. Section 1(1, 1836.—Julia S. Heath, A m y Livingston, Henry Bowers, Fanny Stearns, Alexander Coon, John S. Heath, Milton Barney. Section 11, 1835.—Solander Rossnian, den, Nelson Rogers, John Hart, David F. Farley, Hiram Ward, Jonathan Hart. Section 12, 1835.—Levi Manley, David F. Farley, Joseph Merritt, John M. B. David Decker, Jonathan Hart. Section 13, 1835.—Ambrose J . Nicholson, John A . Wright, Solander Rossman, Sylvester W. ward Tyler, Elisha Thornton, John M. B. Section 14, 1836.—Abram Failing, David Lindsay, Henry Bowers, Henry Van Giesen, Henry S. Lampmau, Nelson Rogers, Sanford Lacy, Calvin Chase, Azar ton, David Lindsay. Section 15, 1836.—Abram Failing, Joseph Failing, David Lindsay, John P. Parker, A m y Livingston, John Parker, Jacob Rosecrantz, Benj. Rogers. . Section 16, 1852.—R. D. Warner, D . L. Burbank, H . It. Calkins, W. H. Weller, Sidney H. Dolph, W. Ira S. Warren, A. Smith, Hugh Welch, Charles Howe, I. Haight, Abram Smith. Section 17,1835.—Jeremiah Bennett, ton, Jr., Milton Section 18, 1836.—Jacob W. Mann, Thomas Powell, Michael Briggs, James B. Tompkins, Section 19, 1836.—Jacob W. Mann, Stephen Grant, Peries Lincoln, Milo White. Section 20, 1836.—Charles Butler, James D. Merrill, Milo White. Section 21, 1836.—George Biggs, Lions Evarts, Jr., Oscar Howell, Eliza L Weatherwax, Section 22, 1836.—Charles Kennedy, Robert Brown, Oliver Allen. Section 23, 1836.—Jeremiah 0 . Dennis, Linus Evarts, Jr., Jacob Norris, Benjamin Bader, Dan Casey, Henry Shelp, John P. Cook, Henry Waldron. Section 24, 1836.—Jno. A . Holmes, John A . Wright, John T. Wisner, Ansel Nichols, Enos G. Berry, Parley M. Shelp, Cook & Waldron. Section 25, 1835.—Robert Wood, Robert liam Remington. John T. Wisner, John G. Shelp (son of Henry). Section 26, 1835.—Robert Wood, Jacob Shoo Section 27, 1835.—Jacob Shook, Jr., Henry Churchill, Linus Evans, J r. , Henry P. Alexander, John M . B . Weatherwa Section 28, 1836.—Alexander Frazier, Lewis & Section 29, 1836.—Charles Butler, James D. Merrill, David Riley, Section 30, 1837.—Am White, Smith W. Thornton, Thomas Holmes, John Warner, Section 31, 1836.—Dwight Smith, Edmund Howell, Lorenzo D. Crippen, Philo 32, 1836.—Owen Coleman, Franklin Lakey, 'eatherwax, Dwight Smith, Edmond Howell, I a t e r s o n , Joseph Weatherwax. Jacob 0 . Bureli. 3 0 1 Section 33, 1836.—Owen Coleman, Richard E. Gay, Franklin Lakey, Limns Evarts, Jr., Daniel S. M. B. Weatherwax, Elisha Thornton, Henry Abraham Section 34, 1836.—Solomon Wood, Henry Churchill, Jacob Shook, Jr., Jacob Snyder, William W. Wright, James Ashton. Section 35, 1835.—Robert Wood, Smith mon Wood, Section 36, 1835.—B. J. McVey, Robert Bowen, Solomon Wood, John T. Wisner, Jacob Shook, Jr., Jacob Snyder, Jesse Bowen, Asa FIRST S E T T L E M E N T S . The reader will observe, by referring to the list entries," that a few tracts o f land were purchased in the township in the fall of 1835. Settlements had lished in all adjoining townships some four or previous to the latter date. B u t the heavy which covered all its surface, except some acres o f openings on sections 26 and 27, or Prairie," seems to have deterred very early settlements in township 5 south, range 5 west. A n d the smoke from the rude fireplace o f the first log cabin did above the tops o f the gigantic trees which surrounded it, until the spring of 1836. Caleb Wilcox, the came from Wayne Co., N. Y., and settled upon section 2. He did not purchase his land of the government, but, it is supposed, o f John Redfield. A f t e r a residence two or three years he sold out to Charles C. removed from Jacob Shook, Jr., and Robert Wood, also from Wayne Co., N. Y., settled in the southeast part, a few days later than Wilcox. B o t h o f them had visited the township in .the fall of 1835, and each had purchased large tracts o f the choicest land. M r . Wood, the brother of Richard S., both well-known pioneers of Quincy ler, remained here until 1839, when, having sold out his land interests t o John T. Wisner and S. L. removed farther West, and is now a resident of St. Louis, Mo Jacob Shook, aged eighty-six years, a veteran of the war of 1812, still resides in the township in which forty-three years ago. F o r many years he was one of the most prominent. men in Butler, and as sioner, assessor, supervisor, and county judge, his constituents worthily in all these capacities. at one time 8110 acres, and the locality known as Prairie" derived its name from him. I n the fall he was joined here by his father, Jacob Shook, Sr., a soldier of the Revolution. A year or so later the elder Shook met with a painful death by the of a rifle, which was set by hint (Shook, Sr.) for pose of killing deer. T h i s was the first death to the George Lockwood, a native of Duteliess Co., N. Y., at an early age settled with his father's family in Wayne County of the same State. I n November, 1836, in this township, purchased 12(1 acres o f land Wood, avid engaged to pay for the mine by paying down a �31)2 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . certain amount o f money and working two years for Wood farm labor. A t the expiration i f fifteen -.,Id out his lands and other interests, together wood's unexpired time, to Wisner & Willmer, for whom Mr. Lockwood finished h i s contract. M r . Lockwood now resides on t h e fine f a r m thus purchased. residence, t h e first stone dwelling-house erected township, was built i n 1836. H e married Miss Louisa A. Rice in February, 1839,—theirs being the riage celebrated in Butler township. Nov. 26, 1835, Solunder Rosman purchased lands o f the government situated upon sections 11 and 12, and, late in the fall o f 1836, became a resident o f Butler (then Girard township). Isaac Roseman, the- father o f Thomas J., William, came from Vermont and settled in ,iga Co., N. Y. , in 1815. I n 1832, the .1. and Solander, settled i n Homer, Calhoun Co., Mich., were joined there in 1833 b y their father and brother William. T h o m a s J. became a resident o f Butler in the -pring of 1837, and his father (Isaac) and younger brother (William) in 1839. Henry S. Lampman, a native o f Greenville, Green Co., N. Y., was born in 1810. I n 1816 his father's in Denby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and there suffered all the privations i n common w i t h other families i n that region during t h e summer following the cold season o f 1816. After a residence of eleven years in Tompkins County. the family returned to Green Co., N. Y. On the 13th day of October, 1831, Mr. Laniptuan left his home in Green Cossnty, and b y boat proceeded up the Hudson River to Albany, thence by railroad to riding on the first twelve miles of railroad the United States. F r o m Schenectady he traveled via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, which he purposed as the farthest limit o f his journey. B u t meeting with some congenial spirits in the latter city, who were traveling to Detroit, he was induced t o accompany them t o that city b y a lake steamer. F r o m Detroit he walked t o Kalamazoo County, and worked at lumbering during the winter o f 1831-32. In the spring of 1832 Ile went to Washtenaw worked at brick-making for one year, and here he married Miss Iluldah Bonner, of the latter county. During the spring of 1833, Mr. Lamptuan made ney to Chicago, which h e says then contained but three framed houses, and he there made the bricks for the first brick house ever erected i n Chicago. I n the fall o f the same year he returned t o Homer, Calhoun Co., where he remained until December, 1836, when he settled in Butler. Ile purchased 8 0 acres upon section 14, which l i e has cleared and brought up to its present fine state tion, and upon which he at present resides. was elected a highway commissioner at the meeting, and has served with honor in other ties since that time. A t the time o f M r. Lituipman's settlement, t h e only families then residing in the township were those Wilcox, Jacob Shook, J r. , Robert Wood, and Solander Roseman. E l d e r David Lindsay, f r o m Onondaga Co., N. Y., had visited the township i n t h e spring o f 1836, purchased lands situated upon 8(..ctiou. 14 and 15, and, with the assistance of neighbors who resided in Homer, had rolled up the body of a log house, but lie did not settle with his family until in the spring of 1837. Daniel Shook—a brother o f Jacob—arid strong came from Wayne Co.. N. Y., in the spring and settled in the southeast part of Jesse Bowen, from Herkimer Co., N. Y., because dent in 1837. H e was a prominent citizen, and served his townsmen many years as supervisor and justice of Others who settled during the years 1837, 1838, and 1839 were Milo White, upon section 20; Charles C. Hays, section ; I r a Sheldon, from Calhoun County,—he was the first cooper, and located upon section 6 ; I r a Lenawee County, also lowed upon section 6 ; rence and Richard D. Decker, brothers, from N. Y., settled upon section 9; Benjamin Lyman son Rogers, from Calhoun Co., Mich. ; Lyman Putnam, who settled upon section 3 ; John S. Heath. from Calhoun Co., Mich., section 10 ; John Hart, froni Hillsdale County, section 15 ; Charles Kennedy, from Madison Co.. N. Y. ; Dan Casey, on section 2 3 ; John T. , Asa R., and Charles M. Wisner, from Oakland Co., Mich., all settled i n the southeastern part of the township. J o h n was a owner. A s a was t h e first township clerk. Miss Emily Bills in 1838, which was the first the settlement. I t is related that Miss Bills was the only marriageable young lady in the neighborhood at Charles M . Wisner was the first school-teacher. Wilmer, E l l i s S. Tillsou, Richard S. Wood, Whorter (who was county surveyor in 1 8 4 5 , William P. Deyoe, Allen Purdy, Benjamin McVey, and house were also located i n the township within the time before Merrill Morehouse b u i l t t h e first framed Alvin Bowen t h e first brick house. the first framed barn. T h e first saw-mill was Nathaniel Knowles about 1849. L y m a n Calkins built a saw- and grist-mill at Herriekville, in 1858. say kept the first store at Whig Centre. in Deniming and J o h n Steele were also early merchants. The early settlers and their laniilies during attended b y Dr. Clemens. id' Allen's Prairie. D r . Jacob \Yelpers was the first physician to reside in the township. John Lantputan became a resident in 1841, and in 1848 Abraham P. Lampman, accotupanied by his Lumen, and .Ambrose, came in from Greenville, Green Co.. N. Y. , settling in the south part of the township. For names o f many other early settlers, the reader is respectfully referred to the accompanying list THE PIONEERS O F BUTLER. The following is an alphabetical list of the of Butler township, which includes the name o f nearly every lusts who become a resident tax-payer prior to 1846, and of sonic who settled a few years later: A nilst mug, A a r o n . A l g e r, W i l l i a m . Biggs, Silas. Allen, Delos. Bowen. Jesse. D e r e k Janes Bagley, Daniel Bobibaok, D w i �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Burch, Jacob 0 . M o u n t , Nathan. Bennett, H i r a m H . M c V e y , Benjamin J. Bowers, Charles E. N e w t o n , Timothy M . Burch, Jonathan. N e e d h a m , William. Casey, Dan. N i c h o l s , S. Crandall, P h i l o . . N o r r i s , Jacob. Crandall, Thomas. P u r d y , Allen. ('randall, John. P a r d e e , George 1). Calkins, H . R . P u t n a m , Lyman. Calkins, Moses V. P a t t e r s o n , David. Calkins, B. I I . P e n n o c k , Henry H . Clark, C. P. P e b b l e s , Henry W. Collar, Hugh. R o s s m a n , Solender. Copeland, I . R o s s m a n , Thomas J. Dennis, I r a . R o g e r s , Benjamin A . Demining, William. R o g e r s , Hiram. Decker, David. R o g e r s , E. Decker, Lawrence. R o g e r s , Nelson. Decker, Richard D. R o g e r s , Lyman. Deyoe, William P. R o g e r s , Alamein. Dayton. Amon. R e d f i e l d , Dolph, Sidney H . R o g e r s , Seth. [levee, Jacob. R o s e c r a n t x , R. Day, Chauncey. R i c h a r d s o n , George W. Dolph, D . R o s m a n , William. Day, Abram. S h o o k , Jacob. Evens, Charles. S h o o k , Daniel. Evens. Thomas P. S w a r t , B. D . Edwards, Thomas J. S h a r p , John S. Floyd, Richard U. S u m n e r , I r a . Ford, Daniel R . S h e l d o n . Ira. Fuller, Tina. S h e l p , Henry. Hayes, Charles C. S h e r m a n , Porter. Heath, John S. S m i t h , Abram. Hager, John. S h e l p , Parley M . Hager, Joseph. S h e l p , John G. Hopkins. A . C. S n y d e r , Jacob. Hart. John 11. S a w y e r , Thomas. Hadlock, Orsino. S i m m o n s , T. Hopkins, Timothy A . S t e e l e , John. Howe, Charles. T h o m p s o n , Isaac. Haight, I . T i l l s o n , Ellis S. Hayes, I . T u r n e r , E. Hager, D. D . V a n Giesen. Thomas J. Holie, Orton. V a n Giesen, H e n r y. James, B. F. W i l c o x , Caleb. Joslyn, John W. W o o d , Robert. Kennedy, Charles. W o o d , Richard S. Lindasy, David. W i s n e r , John T. Lampman, Henry S. W i e n e r , Asa R. Lockwood, George. W i e n e r , Charles M . Langdon, George. W e a v e r , Daniel. Lampman, Abraham P. W h i t e , Milo. Lampman, Epenetus. W e a t h e r w a x , John T. Lampman, Ambrose. W a r r e n , Alanson D . Umpteen, John. W a r n e r , George V. Lewis, I . W i l l i a m s , Emmor. Lindsay, Blithe.. W i l l m a r , S. L . Lindsay, Joel. W e l l e r , Lima Lafferty, I . W e l l e r , W. H . McWhorter, Tyler. W a r r e n , W. L . Storehouse, Merrill. W a r r e n , I r a S. McIntosh, Duncan. W e l c h , Hugh. Mead, Philander. W e a t h e r w a x , Joseph. Mann, Stephen. W r i g h t , Obed W. Mansfield, I ' . W o o l e v e r C I V I L H I S T O R Y. 3 0 3 of range number five west, he sod the same in hereby set off ganised into a separate township b y the name o f Butler; and t h e first township-meeting shall be held at the house o f David Lindsay in said township." At the time the township was organized, its territory contained a voting population of but about A majority of them were from Butler, Wayne Co., N. Y. ; and at a preliminary meeting they decided by ballot to name the new township Butler, in remembrance o f their old home in the First Township Election.— A t a meeting o f itants of the township of Butler, held at the of David Lindsay, April 2, 1838, for the purpose township officers, John T. Wisner and Jesse chosen Judges of the Election, Asa R. Wisner, Tyler McWhorter, Assistant Clerk. T h e were as follows: David Lindsay, Supervisor; Asa ner, Township Clerk; Jacob Shook, Jesse Bowen, and T. Jefferson Rossman, Assessors; Charles M . lector; David Lindsay, Jesse Bowen, Tyler McWhorter, and Solander Rossman, Justices of the Peace; Charles M. Wisner, Constable; Jacob Shook, John T. Wisner, and Henry S. Longman, Highway Commissioners; Whorter, Charles M. Wisner, and Daniel of Schools; Caleb Wilcox and Jacob Shook, Overseers of the Poor; Jacob Shook, E A R LY T O W N S H I P L E G I S L AT I O N . Wolf-Bounties.—" At the anuel Townshipin the Township o f Butler in the year A.D. and carried that the Township oirButler will pay three dollars for ever full-grown woolf's bedd and ears and one dollar and fifty cents for every Whelp grown woolf caught by an inhabitant of " Moved St carried that there be nine Dollars Raised in the Township o f butler for the year A.D. 1844, for the purpose of paying a bounty on Wolves." Educational.—April 6, 1846, it was "voted to Raise 50 cents per Hedd for every child over four and under eighteen years of age in the Township of Butler." TO W N S H I P OFFICERS. The following is a list of the principal from 1839 to 1878, inclusive: 8upervIsonr. T o w n Clerks. T r e a s u r e r s . 1839. David Lindsay. A s a R. Wisner. T h o s . J. Rosman. 1840. Manson D . Warren. " D a n i e l Shook. 1841. David Decker. T . J. Va n Oieson. 1842, Jacob Shook. A s s , R. Wisner. 1 4 I t 1843. Jesse Bowen. T . J. Va n Olden. L a w r e n c e Docker. 1844. Jecoli Shook. 1845. " " 1846. " 1847. Jesse Bowen. 1848. Jacob Shook. Epenotue Lampman. 1849 T. .1. Va n Giesen. Charles E. Bowers. 1851. Moses V. Calkins. Henry S. Umpteen. 1852. " R. U . F l o y d . ' 1853. Jesse Bowen. " JO.. M . Alexander. 1115 Charles E. Bowers. Dwight I,. Burbank. 1855. Mesas V. Calkins. 11 t1 1 1 16 ea 116 4 6 11 4 4 41 The Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, by an act approved March 6, DaGirard township, dein t h 22, sevrioo 21. A l l that part o f 0 0 0 n t y , i t Biondi e United States survey i.e township number five south 11 it 18511. " 1857. 0 1 1 ti 6 1 . �304 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Superviaars. T o w n Clerks. T r e a s u r e r s . 1858. Moses V. Calkius. C h a r l e s E . Bowers. 0 . 11. H a d l o c k . 1859. J e s s e Bowen. 1860. " " R . U. Floyd. M o s e s J o y Ta y l o r. V. C a l k i n s . 1861. M o s e s V. Calkine. C h a r l e s W. Bennett. " • ' 1862. C h a r l e s E . Bowers. R . U . F l o y d . 1863. " " H i r a m 1864. " " I r a H . Bennett. " S. L a m p o o n . G e o r g e W. C l a r k . 1864. B a r z i l l a H . C a l k i n s . * 1865. " Daniel C l a r k . 1866. 1867 1868. " 1869. Moses V. C a l k i n s . 1870 F I r a S. L a m p n i a n . B . 0 . Moore. 66 " .los. A . Weatherwax. 46 6.6 A. A . Va n Orth wick 41 1 4 . M . Bissell. A . B . L a F l e u r. 4 6 1871. J o h n W . H e n r y. J o s e p h A . Bowen. 1872. Marcus M . C a l k i n s . 1873. Barzilla H . C a l k i n s " Horace B . Powers. 1874. A. A . Va n O r t h w i o k . Thomas S i n c l a i r. 1875. Bradley O. M o o r e . J. E . Moore. 1876. J o h n M . D a v i t ' s . A. W. E a t o n . 1877. Bradley 0 . Moore. Dwight L. Burbank. 1878. John M . D a v i d e . Thomas S i n c l a i r. " JUSTICES O r THE PEAL'S. 1839. C h a r l e s C. I l a y e s . 1861. Jesse Bowen. 1842. D a v i d Decker. 1844. D a n i e l Shook. Ti m o t h y M . N e w t o n . 1845. Jesse Bowen. 1846. H i r a m H . Bennett. Joel D . L i n d s a y. 1862. H . B . Powers. M M . Fox. L. L a m p m a n . 1863. M o s e s H o s k i n s . D a v i d D e c k e r. 1847. H i r a m H . B e n n e t t . 1864. J o h n M . D a v i d e . 1865. I r a S. L a m p m a n . 1849. A b r a h a m P. L a m p m a n . 1866. H o r a c e B . Powers. J o h n T. Wiener. 1856. D a v i d D e c k e r. J. Pardee. 1868. L . B . Ramsdell. 1851. G . R . C u l v e r. 1853. George Elmore. 1869. J o h n M . D a v i d e . Daniel Dresser. John M . Davide. 1870. H o r a c e B . Powers. Ira Allen. 1871. C o r n e l i u s D e n h a m . 1854. M o s e s V. Calkins. Jacob J . Bush. 1872. M o s e s V. C a l k i n s . Horace B. Powers. Gardner H e r r i c k . 1856. R i c h a r d U . F l o y d . H e n r y S. D e l a m a t e r. 1873. J o h n M . D a v i d . 1874. H o r a c e B. Powers. 1857. D u n c a n M c I n t o s h . 1858. Jesse Bowen. 1859. H o r a c e B . Powers. Jesse B o w e n . John M . D a v i d e . 1860. R i c h a r d U . F l o y d . H o m e r Moore. Charles W h i t e . 1875. M . T. Lucas. 1876. 0 . D . Curtis. 1877. J o h n M . Davide. 1878. Wa l l a c e A l l e n . Torrence C. D e r y. Thomas J . R o o m f u l . Charles C. Hayes. 1840. J o h n L a m p m a n . B. D . Swart. Milo White. 1841. C h a r l e s C. Hayes. John Lampman. Charles Evens. 1842. J o h n H a g e r. John T. We a t h e r w a x . 1843. Jesse Bowen. 1844. J o s e p h H a g e r. J o h n T. We a t h e r w a x : 1853. M i l o W h i t e . John 0. Lampman. 1854. J o h n H a g e r. 1056. L . B . Ranzadell. 1840. J a c o b Shook. David D e c k e r. 1857. W i l l i a m Roseman. H e n r y S. L o m p u t i u . 1858. W . R . Kisson. 1841. J a c o b Shook. George L o c k w o o d . F. H . Ross. 1550. L o r e n z o D . R a m s d e l l . 1860. D w i g h t L . B u r b a n k . D a v i d D e c k e r. 1843. H e n r y S. L a m p o o n . Thomas I . Edwards. 1844. H e n r y S. L a m p o o n , 1861. C h a r i o t E . Bowers. 1862. L a w r e n c e Decker. 0 . W. W r i g h t . 1883. D w i g h t L . B u r b a n k . John H a g e r. 1864. H a r l o w W i l l i a m . George Lockwood. 1865. T h o m a s I . Edwards. Romanto L a k e . 1845. T . J. Roseman. W i l l i a m H . Ta y l o r. Duncan M c I n t o s h . J o h n H a g e r. 1866. D w i g h t L . B u r b a n k . 1846. D u n c a n M c I n t o s h . T. J . Roseman. John H a g e r. , 1 8 6 8 . T h o m a s P. E v a n s . 1869. D w i g h t L . B u r b a n k . 1870. H i r a m B o r n e o ° . 1847. M i l o W h i t e . 1871. L a w r e n c e Decker. I r a S. L a m p o o n . 1872. E d w a r d W. P e r r y. B e n j a m i n A . Rogers. John O'Neil. 1873. E d w a r d W. P e r r y. 1848. B . A . Rogers. Milo White. 1874. L a w r e n c e Decker. John L a m p o o n . 1875. E d w a r d W. P e r r y. 1849. D u n c a n M c I n t o s h . 1876. J o h n B i g n o l d . 1850. D a n i e l Shook. 1877. A a r o n A . Va n O r t h w i c k . 1851. J o h n H a g e r. 1878. D a n i e l C l a r k . WA R L E G I S L AT I O N . " 7'o the To w n s h i p H o a r d o f the Township o f Butler : W e signed, electors o f t h e t o w n s h i p o f B u t l e r, r e s p e c t f u l l y r e q u e s t t h e To w n s h i p B o a r d t o c a l l a special t o w n - i n e e t i n g , f o r t h e purpose o f voting on t h e subject o f r a i s i n g a t a x f o r t h e payment o f a b o u n t y t o encourage e n l i s t m e n t on t h e c r e d i t o f said t o w n s h i p . S i g n e d liam H . H a g e r, H o r a c e C u r t i s , S y l v e s t e r R o g e r s , L e v i C u r t i s , J r . , H e n r y Curtis, W i l l i a m Winne. Josiah M c D o n a l d , Daniel land M c D o n a l d , J o h n M c D o n a l d , E d w a r d McDonald, G. 1.. Germond, E. W i l t s e . W i l l i a m Rogers, Stephen M a n n , R . L a k e . " We, t h e To w n s h i p B o a r d o f t h e t o w n s h i p o f B u t l e r, on r e q u e s t made b y t w e l v e o r m o r e electors o f said t o w n s h i p , d o h e r e b y order that a special t o w n s h i p - m e e t i n g be held f o r t h e purpose o f n o t i n g on the subject o f r a i s i n g a t a x t o p a y bounties t o volunteers who m a y enlist a n d be credited t o s a i d t o w n s h i p o f B u t l e r. T h e eaid special meeting to beheld on Thursday, the 19th day of January, /865. G i v e n under our hands this 0 t h d a y o f J a n u a r y. 186O. " B. H . CALKINS, H . B . Powcias, ‘ / - T t r p . Booted." .• IRA L . L s croons, ) ASSESSORS. 1839. Jesse Bowen. R i c h a r d S. Wo o d . 011IMISSIONEK Francis H . Ross. 1848. C h a r l e s E . Bowers. 1855. J o h n M . D a v i d e . D a v i d Decker. George L o c k wood. 4 6 HIREIR A T 1839. H e n r y S. L a m p o o n . 1845. J o s e p h H a g e r. Chauncey D a y. 1846. J o s e p h H a g e r. H i r a m H . Bennett. 1847. D u n c a n M c I n t o s h . H e n r y S. L a m p l o a n . 1848. C h a r l e s C. Hayes. Richard U . F l o y d . 1849. J o h n T. Weatherwax. Charles C. I l a y e s . 1850. J o s e p h H a g e r. Charles C. Hayes,. 1851. J o h n T. We a t h e r w a x . Joseph H a g e r. t A t this meeting 8 5 votes were east i n favor o f bounty and 26 votes against bounty. I t is unknown how much money was raised at this period for the payment Feb. 24, 1864, 81600 was paid to 8 TAT 1 S T I C A L - 1 8 3 9 vs. 1 8 7 4 . The following is a complete list of those assessed in 1839: Charles C. Hayes, section 2, 80 acres. I r a Sheldon, section 6, 7 0 acres. I r a Dennis, section 6, 80 acres. D a v i d Decker, section 9, 160 acres. Ly m a n Rogers, sections 2 and 3, 120 scree. Ly m a n P u t n a m , section 3, 80 acres. John S. H e a t h , section 10, 180 soma. • To t i l l vacancy. t Since t h e date last nomniontol the supervisors have performed t h e donee o f assessors. H e n r y S. L a m p o o n , section 14, 80 acres. 2 .men, 1 Benjamin Rogers, seating I S , 80 acres, Thomas J . R o s m a n . m i l l i o n I t , 16U R C M . �NAA PHOTOS BY RIRDOLARM COLDWATER. DAVID ' L I N S D AY MRS DAVID L I N S D AY RESIDENCE O r L U C I N D A R L I N S D AY, BUTLER, BRANCH CO,MICH ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . David Lindsay, sections 14 and 13, ISO n o r m 2 oxen. 1 cow. John H a r t , section 15, 10 acre.. Charles Kennedy, section 15, 40 sores. Milo White, sections 19 and 20, 480 acres. Alanson Rogers, section 22, SO acres. Dan Casey. section 23, 88 acres. Charles M . and Asa R. Wisner, section 24, SO acres. Daniel Shook, section 26, 160 acres. S. L. W h i n i e r, section 25. SO acres. Ellis S. Tillson, section 25, 40 acres. John T. Wisner, sections 25, 26, 33, and 36, 500 cores. Richard S. Wood, section 34, 80 sores. Ty l e r W M ' horter, section 35, 100 seers. George Lockwood, section 36, 120 acres. William P. Deyoe, section 34, 40 acres. Allen Purdy, section 34, Merrill Morehouse, section 35, 80 acres. Jean Bowen, section 36, 200 acres. Jacob Shook, sections 26 and 27, 480 acres, 1 wagon, 2 oxen, 1 cow. Solander Roseman, sections 12 and 13, 240 acres, 1 wagon, 2 oxen, 1 cow. 1874 Population 1 , 3 8 9 Partners 2 6 5 Acres in farm land/ 1 9 , 6 4 1 Acres of wheat growing, June, 1874 2 , 7 8 0 " h a r v e s t e d i n 1873 2 , 3 2 8 " c o r n 1 , 3 7 3 Bushels of wheat " 4 4 2 7 , 4 6 2 I 67,17 " o t h e r grains harvested in 1873 1 4 , 0 0 0 41 p o t a t o e s 7 , 7 3 5 To n s o f h a y 4 4 . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 , 8 1 4 Pounds of wool sheared in 1873..... 1 2 , 6 0 5 pork marketed in 1873 1 2 5 , 2 2 0 " c h o o s e made in " 1 7 , 1 3 1 " b u t t e r " 5 7 , 7 2 5 " fruit dried for market in 1873 2 5 , 1 1 3 Barrels o f eider made in 1873 4 2 9 Pounds o f maple-sugar made in 1873 6 , 7 1 9 Acres in fruits in 187:1 5 6 5 Value of fruits and vegetables sold i n 1873 8 5 , 0 0 0 Horses over one year old i n 1874 6 3 0 Mules 2 Work oxen 2 6 Mitch cows in 1874 7 6 9 Cattle over one year old, other than oxen and mach cows 8 2 4 Swine over six months old i n 1874 8 7 8 Sheep" " 2 , 7 6 1 . s h e a r e d in 1873 2 , 6 5 4 Mills and feed:oriel s Operated by steam 3 Persons employed 3 1 1 Capital invested $ 1 1 , 0 0 0 Value o f products $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 SCHOOLS. The first school-house was built upon Shook's Prairie in 1838. Charles M. Wisner was the first teacher, and taught in the school-house mentioned daring the winter 39: M i r e Rhoda Hewett, of Quincy, taught school in the same house during the fiAlowing summer. T w o more log school-houses were erected soon after; and school reports did not flourish t o any within a very From a school report, for the year ending Sept. 2,1878, are taken the following statistics: Number of districts, 7; frame school-housem, 5; stone, 2 ; seating capacity Value of school property, $3700. Children of 388; attending school during the year, 371. employed during the year, 4 ; female, ill. by male teachers, 12; by female, :19. Paid to female, .-Total resiourissi from moneys sit „ t a x , primary-school fund, tuition 3 3 0 5 resident scholars, district taxes for all purposes, and from other sources, Expemtit res. -Teachers: wages, $ 1 ( 0 1 ; repairs o f school buildings, $86.50 ; a l l other purposes, $276. Amount on hand, Sept. 2. 1878, $184.11. MASONIC. Butler Lodge, N o 88, E and .1. M., under a dispensation from the Grand Master in immediately commenced work as a Masonic lodge. T h e hall first occupied was situated over store, Herrickville. I n t h e dispensation, Bro. Gardner Herrick was named as Worshipful Master, Bro. Peter Swart, Senior Warden, and Bro. M i l o Cragin, Junior Warden The first election o f officers was held 1855, which resulted as follows: Gardner Herrick, W. M. Peter Swart, S. W . ; Miles Warren, J . W. ; Lawrence •Decker, Sec.; David Lindsay,•Treas.; Alonzo Mead. S. D.; George W. Elmore, J. 1); Jothani G. Casey, Tyler; Frederick Herrick, Steward. • The lodge received its charter in 1857. Herrick was continued as master of the lodge until 1859, when, in consequence of his removal from the township, Bro. Peter Smart was elected master. H e by Bro. Miles Warren, who was master in 1860. At the election of officers in December, 1860, brose Lampman was elected worshipful master, and elected, and filled the office continuously until declining to serve longer, John C. Hager was ter, and served for a period o f eighteen months; B r o . Ambrose Lamptuan was then again elected master, been continued as such to the In 1867 the lodge was incorporated, and purchased the building occupied, also a lot in Herriekville. T h e building was removed to the lot, and considerable in repairing and furnishing. T h i s property was sold in 1875, and in 1877, in connection with Butler Grange, the lodge purchased a lot in the centre o f the caused to be constructed upon it a hall 20 by 40 feet, two stories in height. I t cost about $1000. T h e is owned by the Masonic lodge, the lower by the Grange societ Regular cotuniunications are held on or before the full moon in Present Officers.-Ambrose Lampman, W. M.; J o h n C. Hager, S. W. ; Rowland McDonald, J . Bogue, Sec.; Horace B. Powers, Treas.; Samuel dekarr, S. D.; Madison T. Lucas. J. D.; Silas C. Purdy, •Tyler. PATRONS O F 11 U S B A N D RY. Butler Grange, Nu. 88, Patrons o f I Instatully, was organized Oct. 10, 1873, with Ambrose Lampman and wife, A. W. Eaton and wife, John W. Rogers and wife, William I. Farwell and wife, Walter R.. Kesson and wife, Ezra Lott and wife, Theater H. Cook and wife, Charles I). Kennedy and wife, Horace G. McIntosh and B. Dresser and wife, Edward W. l'erry and wife, Orval P. Geer, and Miss Maggie Rainey as the Theater H . Cook was elected Master, and Ambrose �306 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Lampman, Secretary. T h e y were continued i n offices until 1876, when Ambrose Lampnran was elected Master, and A . W. Eaton, Secretary. D u r i n g the years 1877 and 1878, Thester H . Cook served as Mager and Ambrose Lamptuan Officers fin. 1879.—John M . David, Worthy Master; Charles H . Chase, Overseer; Charles D . turer; Thester H . Cook, Steward; Thomas P. Evens, Asst. Steward; M r s . John M . David, Chaplain; William I. Farwell, Trees ; Nathan B . Dresser, Sec.; Walter R . Beason, Gatekeeper; Mrs. Etneretta Warren, Ceres; Mrs. Charles H . Chase, Pomona; M r s . I r a V. Kesson, Flora; Mrs. Charles D. Kennedy, Until the completion o f their new hall i n 1877, the grange meetings were held in the town-hall, which ated one-half south of the centre of the township. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The Methodists were the first t o hold meetings organize a religious society in the township. A s 1838, Reverends John H. Pitzel, William H. James Clizbe preached i n the school-house on Shook's Prairie.* A m o n g the members of the first class odism formed here were Jacob Shook and his wife Polly, Mrs. Aaron Armstrong, William P. Deyoe and wife, Daniel Shook, John T. Wisner and wife, and During the past forty years religious societies of different denominations have had their rise and fall in the township. The latter result caused mainly by dissensions selves and their antagonism to the progressive spirit of the age. A b o u t 1854 the Baptists erected a church Dayburg,—the first and only house of worship ever the township,—and f o r a brief period they were strong in numbers and seemingly prosperous. B u t at time not a vestige of the society can The church edifice, which will seat about still remains. I t is contemplated t o repair it thoroughly and use it as a union church, open to all Ashley, Bro. John Blake, and Father West composed the council; Rev. E. Cook presided as moderator, Rev. John Ashley as clerk. U p o n inquiry, i t was ascertained that eight brothers arid ten sisters desired to go into zation, arid Rev. E. Cook extended the right hand lowship. T h e society then adopted t h e name o f ' T h e First Free-Will Baptist Church of Butler." J o h n Smiley was chosen Deacon; M . R . Thompson, Clerk; W i l l i a m Vicory, Treas. ; arid Rev. John The members of this organization were William Vicory, S. V. Pierce, M. It. Thompson, Richard Abrams, S . Wilcox, 1). M . Casey, J . W. Rogers. A . J . Macomb, Thomas J . Rossman, William ROtifilMill, M . T. Lucas, G. Coleman, Nathan Haight. Anna line Vicory, A n n M . Storms, Harriet Wilcox, Elizabeth Abrams, Eliza Casey, Ezra Rogers, Polly phia Roseman, Eunice Thompson, Melissa Va n Giesen, Laura Ford, Mary Lucas, Sarah Haight, Flora — Jordan, arid Mary J. Cory. Since Mr. Ashley, Revs. Boynton, Ensign, inson, Marshall, Caville, and Limbocker have assumed the pastorate of' this church. N o pastor at the present time. Present membership, 50; pupils school, 4 0 ; J o h n A . Lamptuan, Sundaytendent The Methodist Episcopal and other tions, hold meetings in school-houses in various parts of the township, but we have no data Our thanks are due to Henry S. Larupman. George Lockwood, William Rossman. Richard D. Decker. Peter Shook, Ambrose Lampman, and many others, for their uniform kindness and courtesy, and the tion received from them. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, FIRST F R E E - W I L L B A P T I S T C H U R C H . The first society o f this church was organized school-house i n Butler Centre, April 10 and 11, 1858, by a council o f ministers and delegates f r o m surrounding churches, represented by Revs. F. P. and 0. D. Angier, of Hillsdale; H . Cook and I I . B. Hayes, from Cook's Prairie; Edwin Rosecrautz, from the Clarendon church ; and — Warner, from the The first members were as follows: Louisa L . Herrick, Stewart Wilcox, Mrs. Wilcox, John Busley, Anna Busley, William Rogers, Elanor Rogers, S. V. Pierce, John Hall, Cynthia Wood, Barbary Percopine, Mahala Stark weather, Harriet Floyd, Caroline E. Brown, and Maliala Warren. T h i s organization maintained istence until about 1861 or 1862, when it died out. The present society was organized at the school-house in Whig Centre, Sept. 7, 1867. R e v s . Elijah Cook, John * R e v. I r a B o n n e r, a ( l h r i s t i a n , Illso preitehei.1 h e r e a t a v e r y early ' l a y. i n J o h n H a r t ' s l o g house, a w l , i t i s c l a i m e d , was t h e f i r s t preacher. DAVID LINSDAY. The ancestors o f David Linsday were among the early English settlers o f Massachusetts. A s early as 1790, Isaac Linsday, the father of David, emigrated Co., N. Y., and settled at Camillus. H e erected frame house in that locality, kept the first tavern lus, and died at an advanced age. H i s son David youngest of seven children, and was born at April 30, 1803. H e was reared a farmer, received common-school education, and a t the age of united in marriage to Miss Anna Dayton, of the Soon after his marriage he removed t o Co., where lie built a saw-mill, and was engaged i n the lumber business at that place for ten years. I n 1826 his wife died, leaving him with three young children, Joel D., James B., and Susan, who died i n infancy. O c t . 14, 1827, he was married t o Miss Lucinda K . Kennedy. In the winter of 1836 he made a Viftit of a location for a home, l i e purchased one h sixty acres of government land in �AMMER HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Butler, Branch Co., made a small clearing, erected of a log house, returned to New York, and in the fall of the same year moved his family and settled on his For some years before leaving New York he had been in the habit of preaching at various places to the as Christians, and after his settlement in Butler he held himself' i n readiness for a l l calls o f that nature. H e preached the first funeral sermon, married the was the first justice of the peace, and the first supervisor in the township of Butler. T h e first town-meeting Butler was a t his house, a t which there were fourteen voters. H e was magistrate for a number In those days he was known as a Whig, but on ruption of that party and the organization of party he became a staunch adherent of the latter. tinued all his life a farmer-preacher, acknowledging n o creed, but " taking the Bible as the man of' his its precepts as the rule and guide of his conduct in all his transactions with mankind. B y his second union the father of five children, named Anna K., k1:1 F • F I I., 1:11.111LES Henry Bowers, the father o f our subject, emigrated from New Hampshire and settled at Co., Mich.. where he died in 1878, at the age o f eighty years. H i s widow is still living, at the age of years. T h e y were the parents of six children, beth, Charles K , John S., Caroline, Hudson, and Viola. Charles K was born on the 28th day of March, 1826. H i s boyhood was spent in obtaining a fair education and in farm labor. I n after-years he was engaged in teaching district school in the winter season, and in working at farming in the He taught several terms i n Washtenaw County, and afterwards i n Branch County. I n 1847 he settled on eighty acres of wild land in the township of Butler. H e e r s m a l l frame house, and improved his lands during r and taught school in the winter for o f W FL. became attaehed to one of his 3 0 7 Achsali F., John K . , and Tyler H . O f these, Minerva alone are living. A n n a is the wife Powers, and resides on their farm in Butler. Minerva is the widow of Charles E. Bowers, who, in the lion, was a Union soldier. O i l the march of through Georgia he was taken ill, became fell out of the ranks. H e was supposed to be the pain and anguish of the widowed and at home were augmented by the uncertainty of After eleven long years of uncertainty it was by letters front the Southern lady who found him in condition, that he was cared for and kindly nursed until his death. T h e old pioneer preacher and farmer, died on the 24th day of March, 1862, leaving the old home-liirm, and in good, comfortable The venerable lady resides with her daughter, in Butler. T o the relatives and friends, and the patrons of this work, we dedicate this brief notice of old Father and Mother Linsday, and on another page is presented traits and a view of the old home of this old MRS. C H A R L E S E . R O W E R S . Minerva 1). Linsday, daughter of the old of Butler, and they were united in marriage Jan. Mr. Bowers was a man of much consideration, and highly respected and esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, fested their confidence in his ability and worth him for many years in an official position in his as inspector of schools, clerk, supervisor, etc. I n entered the army, and, on the " March to the from his command, and for eleven long years his unknown by his sorrowing widow and friends But, after years of uncertainty, the full history of death was revealed. H e became sick and exhausted on the march through Georgia, and, delirious with dered away from his comrades. H e was found people in almost a dying condition, and was taken to the house o f Mrs. Bryson, the wife o f a Confederate soldier. This kind lady procured a doctor and nursed him until his death, which occurred in November, 1864. H e gave Mrs. A �308 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Bryson the address of his tinnily in Michigan, but, owing to some mistake in the name, the several letters she wrote to Mrs. Bowers never came to hand, and i n after-years, by advertising in the Detroit papers, the whole sad to light. H e was buried i n the cemetery at Conyers, Ga., but was afterwards removed to the National etery at Marietta, Ga. A t the time he entered t h e army he left his witl2 and one son, named Don Juan. T w o weeks after for the war his wife gave b i r t h t o a daughter, to whom she gave the name of Jane L. A t the age of seven months the babe died, leaving the mother and little boy alone i n the world. M r s . Bowers still lives on the old home-farm, and i s i n comfortable circumstances. H e r son, who has grown up into an intelligent young man, lives a t home with his mother, and old Mother Linsday is also member of the family. The numerous friends and relatives will be pleased t o find in this work the portraits of Charles E. Bowers and his esteemed widow. DWIGHT L. BURBANK. 4 The ancestors o f M r. Burbank were among the early settlers o f the Connecticut Valley. J o s e p h R . Burbank, the grandfather, was a millwright, and i n early life was married t o Esther Metcalf. T h e y were t h e parents o f Roby, Lucius, George, Theodosia, and Clarissa. L u c i u s was born i n Suffield, Conn., in 1798, and i n his boyhood obtained a fair education. H e engaged i n ware, which h e delivered from a wagon a t t h e towns throughout the country. I n 1825 he was married to Miss Prism Thwing. H e continued i n t h e stone-ware trade until 1830, when he removed to Geauga Co., he bought and settled on a farm. H i s death occurred Oct. 6, 1846. at Ow age o f kwty-eight. H i s venerable widow is still living at the age o f seventy-seven years, and i s all honored and cherished member in the family of Dwight. T h e y were the parents o f five Edwin, Dwight L., Hiram, Oscar, and Clarissa, who are at this time all living. Dwight L. was born at Suffield, Conn., March 8. 1829. Ile was reared on a farm i n Geauga Co., Ohio, tained a good education i n the English branches. W h e n Dwight was seventeen years old his father died. H e then began active life on h i s own amount, and when twenty-one he came t o Michigan, where he worked i n a saw-mill and at teaming fur two years. T h e n , with ner, he bought and operated a steam saw-mill for He then bought eighty acres of wild land i n the township of Butler, about six miles north o f the village of Quincy. April 22, 1853, he was married t o Julia A.. daughter of William Rogers, an old settler o f Butler. H e 80011 after built a log house, and was busy enough clearing proving his land. I n 1864 he entered the army, until the close of the war, when he was honorably He was i n the 14th Michigan Infantry, participated i n many battles and skirmishes, and was in " March to the Sea." H e was wounded in the arm at the fight of Silver Creek, N. C. H e has been successful farmer, aud has a finely-cultivated farm. with and convenient barn and out-buildings. Mr. Burbank and his esteemed wife have had three children, named A l v i n , A l b e r t R . , and Frank. A l v i n died at the age o f seven years, and the others are with the parents. M r . Burbank is a man o f sideration i n his township, and has for many years held various local offices, such as clerk. commissioner. urer. O n another page of this work may be found a view of his residence and ha ��• , ..•;.?4., . •', . .-..,•,..,,,,t...::.?..- .... ' 14,4 ,14.,?.; r -',71k..., ,. • '... J ' .' ' . , • ‘ : T. . , ',Zikis ."1 , - A.. j* 1 2 ESIDENCE o r SAMUEL M TREAT, OVO, BRANCH �0 V I D. THIS township, which lies directly south is known as township 7 south, range 6 west, and described in a prominent county work as first Parley Stockwell. Desiring t o authenticate, this statement, the historian sought this and stated the facts to him, but Mr. Stockwell, ing to have been an early resident, and done much t o advance the interests of Ovid, disclaims the honor the first to break soil in the township, and names that bear date some years prior to his. H e might with propriety be termed the first pioneer on section portion of which land he entered when it was a ness, and where, during the few years of his witnessed the clearing o f the country around him, the erection o f comfortable houses, and the rapid march o f improvemen 'File good residents of Ovid are not Its eminent quarian pursuits as for hospitality and good while the historian is always sure of a very good dinner and a very cordial welcome, it is by no means certain that he will find an equal store o f information The almost total loss of the township records will clude the possibility of giving so comprehensive as is desirable. O v i d was a vast stretch of land in 1834, and, as nearly as can be Bradley and Richard and Nelson Salsberry were the first settlers. O n e o f the very earliest pioneers, who came in 1834, states that Mr. Bradley's family, and those o f the Salsberry's were the only ones in the township, and that they were living in an exceedingly primitive subjected to all the discomforts attending the Howard Bradley entered the southeast quarter and the northeast quarter of section 7. H e not greatly impressed with the charms of pioneer life in Ovid, for very soon after he sold all his interest to Uriah Lockwood. T h e Salsberry brothers took up ing. U r i a h Lockwood was at the time a owner, having, in addition to the greund purchased from Bradley, entered the northwest quarter o f section the west half of the southwest quarter o f section 6 , in 1835, controlling i n all 560 acres. M r . accompanied by his son Henry, who still survives, not only one of the pioneers, but one of the men of Ovid. O n the harm purchased of Bradley a log house had been erected, which M r. Lock There was also a barn built of logs, and a stable for the cattle, which comprised all the improvement that made. P a r t of the timbered land had been MOM f improvement were perceptible. but M r. kweed describes their condition as One aliti..-t allswilaw desolation after the departure o f du family, having been in the midst of a vast wilderness, with no neighbors and hardly a trace of civilization From the little hamlet of Branch as far south eared to travel the territory was one unbroken stretch of wilderness. T h e Indian trail was the only guide to the traveler, arid the bill of fare for the noonday meal was not so elaborate as to require much time in perhaps the rich saddles of venison might even tempt the palate of* the modern epicure. A dish regarded as very inviting was made of green corn planed up or baked into a sort of bread. T h i s was not adopted for its attractive qualities as because i t was There were no grist-mills near by, and wheat was not as abundant as at present. A t a later date, built a plank house, which superseded the one of logs he had occupied, and which was more commodious venien The following original entries o f land embraced in the township of Ovid were made from the government: William D. Popple, 160 acres, M a y 4, 1836. A lanson Sumner and Stephen Clark, 157.12 acres, M a y 4, 1836. Ichabod Wheaton, 80 acres, M a y 25, 1836. Dana Show, 157.36 acres, Feb. I , 1837. Alva Ketchum, 80 acres, A p r i l 16, 1851. Prentice Burlingham, 157.74 acres, M a y 14, 1836. Henry Reed, 80 acres, M a y 25, 1836. Hulbert Read, 80 acres, M a y 25, 1836. Silas Wilson, 80 acres, Feb. Nathan Bates, 40 acres, Feb. 16, 1837. Wa y n r i g h t Babbit, 78.18 acres, Oct. 29, 1850. Justin L a w y e r, 120 acres, Feb. 11, 1854. Wm. Thomas Green, 80 acres, J u l y 20, 1835. Henry T. Te r r y, 157.32 acres, M a y 16, 1836. Henry T. Te r r y, 40 acres, M a y 16, 1836. John W. Fox, 79.57 acres, M a y IS, 1836. John W. Fox, 40 acres, M a y 18, 1836. John W. Fox, 80 acres, M a y 18, 1836. Benjamin H u n t i n g t o n , 80 acres, M a y Benjamin Huntington, 80 acres, M a y 18, 1836. Wm. T. Green, 80 acres, J u l y 20, 1835. Horatio J. Oleott, 317.23 acres, J u l y 21, 1835. Horatio .1. Olcott, 160 acres, J u l y 21, 1835. Horatio J. Olcott, 80 sores, J u l y 21, 1835. Silas Hutchinson, 40 acres, N o v. 21, 1835. /Mahe Spencer, 80 acres, N o v. 21, 1835. Alex. Marshall, 40 acres, N o v. 21, 1835. Alex M a r s h a l l , 80 acre., N o v. 21, 1835. Chic. 1,1. Marshall, 80.31 acres, N o v. 21, 1835. Chas. M . Marshall, 79.91 scree, Nov. 21, 1835. Chas. M . Marshall, 40 acres, N o v. 21, 1835. Stephen Bates, 40 acres, Jan. 29, 1836. Edward Gilbert, 80 acres, April 20, 1836. John Allen, 40 acres, April 30, 1830. L. D. and P. II. Crippen, 40 acres, July Howard Bradley, 180 sores, May 24, 1834. Isaac T. Dudley, 40 acres, May Isaac T. Dudley, 79.80 acres, May "liver Johnson, 80 acne, Sept. 17, 1835. 30 �310 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. U r i a h Lockwood, 86.52 scree, Sept. 19, 1835. 11. W. Steveur, 40 acres, A u g . 15, 1849. Francis Bates, 16.5.20 acres, J a n . 1, 1830. J. 1'. Scofield, 40 acres, Dee. L. D . a n d P. 11. C r i p p e n , 40 mires, J u l y 19, 1830. Samuel Otis, 40 acres, Sept. 8, 1852. H o w a r d B r a d l e y, 160 acres, M a y 24, 1834. A. Scofield, 40 acres, Sept. Oliver Johnson, 80 mires, Sept. 17, 1835. F. I l e i s r o d t , 40 acres, t h e . 10, 1852. H . R . A l d e n , 40 acres, Dec. 27, 1853. Oliver Johnson, 80 acres, Sept. I T, 1835. U r i a h L o c k w o o d , 166.12 acres, Sept. 19, 1835. W i l l i a m M a n n , 160 acres, M a r c h 8, 1836. Win. T. P e r r y, 48 acres, Feb. 24, 1836. W i l l i a m M a n n , 80 acres, M a r c h 8, 1836. Wm. M a n n , 85.20 acres, A p r i l 2 0 , 1836. A. 11. W h i t e , 79.97 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Danl. T. Sootield, 40 acres, M a y 18, 1848. Jal1113$ Nichols, 2611.84 sores, M a r c h 17, 1837. Stuart Davis, 160 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. J o h n U . West, 151.16 sores, Feb. 15, 1836. Stuart D a v i s , 40 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Joshua Bates, 80 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Jared D . Brooks, 320 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Jesse Russell, 00 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Jared D . Brooks, 40 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. W i l l i a m Cord, 80.20 acres, A p r i l 2 0 . 1836. Daniel T. Scofield, 40 acres, A u g . Silas Cord, 84.00 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Reuben Scofield, 4 0 acres, J u n e Nelson Cord, 80 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Moses H a w k s , 80 acres, J u l y 21, 1835. Joseph B r y a n t , 68.58 scree, J u l y 11, 1836. Charles F o x , 320 acres, J u l y 21, 1835. H e n r y H o w e , 211.31 acres, M a y 19, 1836. Charles F o x , 160 acres, J u l y 21, 1835. Samuel H . Gale, 149.45 acres, M a y 19, 1836. Charles F o x , 80 acres, J u l y 21, 1835. Joseph W . A l g e r, 247.17 scree, N o v. 27, 1854. Moses H a w k s , 80 acres, J u l y 21, 1835. W i l l i a m M a n n , 160 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Isaac T. R a y m o n d , 160 acres, J u l y 12, 1836. D a v i d H e r r o n , 80 acres, A p r i l 23, 1836. Levi D . S m i t h , 157.86 acres. M a r c h 14, 1837. Isaac T. R a y m o n d , 160 acres, J u l y 19, 1836. Elias B . W r i g h t , 80 acres, A p r i l 23, 1836. Isaac P. A l g e r, 49.97 acres, N o v. 29, 1854. James H a l l , 160 acres, J u l y 10, 1836. Joel L . P u t n a m , 160 acres, A u g . 10, 1835. L o r e n t o D . C r i p p e u , 80 acres, J u l y 18, 1836. Reuben W i l s o n , 160 acres, N o v. 5, 1835. W i l l i a m M a n n , 80 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Allen } E b n e r, 40 acres, M a y 11, 1836. Reuben W i l s o n . 80 acres, N o v. 5, 1835. James C a r y, 80 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. Silas Wilson, 40 acres, Feb. 1, 1837. John 0 . P o t t e r, 40 acres, Oct. 29, 1044. Freeman Burroughs, 40 acres, J u n e 18, 1846. E d w a r d W . Benson, 10 acres, M a y 1, 1850. Clinton B . F i s k , 40 acres. Jan. 23, 1854. Samuel M . Dennison, 40 acres, Feb. 22, 1837. L . 0 . Schofield, assignee, 80 acres, Dec. Clinton B . F i s k , 40 acres, J a n . 23, 1854. Silas Swift, 80 acres, Dee. 2, 1852. Joel L . P u t n a m , 80 acres, J u l y 20, 1836. Charles S. W r i g h t , 40 acres, N o v. 22, 1853. J u s t i n L a w y e r, 80 acres, Feb. 11, 1854. Joel L . P u t n a m , 80 acres. Dec. 14, 1835. L. B . Woodard, 80 acres, M a y 3, 1836. H i r a m Donaldson, 40 acres, M a r c h 9, 1837. Joel L . P u t n a m , 40 acres, J u l y 20, 1836. R. J . H a y w a r d , 80 acres, M a y 3, 1836. Francis L . A k i n , 80 acres, J u n e 13. 1837. I t . J . H a y w a r d , 80 acres, M a y 3, 1836. A n d r e w A . A k i n , SO acres, J u n e 1 3 , 1837. Wm. D . Popple, 160 acres, M a y 4,1836. John E . Gates, 80 a e r o , Dee. 22, 1849. H o r a t i o D . Wo l c o t t , 160 acres, M a y 18, 1836. I,. 0 . Scofield, assignee, 80 acres, Dec. W i l l i a m Wolcott, 152.12 acres, A p r i l 1, 1837. L. B . Woodard, 148.75 acres, M a y 3, 1836. John E . Gates, 80 acres, Dec. 22, 1049. Alanson Sumner, Stephen C l a r k , 5 4 . 4 8 acres, M a y 3, 1836. Dennis Lancaster, 25 acres, A p r i l 20, 1852. John 0 . Peltou, 55.06 acres. A u g . 2, 1853. Ly m a n B i l l s , 53.86 acres, J u l y 10, 1852. Oliver Davenport, 109 acres, Feb. 1, 1837. Dennis Lancaster, 65 acres, A p r i l 20, 1852. James L . M a x i m a , 39.27 acres, Oct. 11, 1852. J o h n 1'. Cook and H e n r y Wa l d r o n , 78.40 acres, M a r c h 1. 1854. Abraham M a n t a s t o c k , 5 69.47 acres. 1.40 acres, Oct. 1, 1853. 1.evi W i l s o n , 40 acres, Feb. 1837. L e v i W i l s o n , 80 acres, Feb. 20, 1837. Levi D . S m i t h , 160 acres, M a r c h 14, 1837. James H a l l , 160 acree, J u l y 9, 1836. James H a l l , 80 scree, J u l y 9, 1836. B e n j a m i n Tindall, 80 acres, A p r i l 11, 1837. Alfred Bartholomew, 80 acres, J u n e 2, 1846. Wm. B . Whitehead, 40 acres, J u n e 6, 1837. Maria H a l l , 40 sores, A p r i l 22, 1848. W i l l i a m K e l l i s o n , 157.40 acres, J u l y 8, 1852. Benjamin C o r y, 127.06 acres, A u g . 8, 1839. Joseph S. M e r r i l l , 90 acres, A u g . 22, 1853. De Soles Lake, 40 acres, A p r i l 21, 1846. James H a l l , 240 acres, J u l y 9, 1836. Thomae Burns, 40 acres, J u l y 9, 1849. Thomas B u r n s . 40 acres, Feb. 15, 1850. Gideon S. Wells, 80 acres, M a r c h 28, 1837. Rachel Rush, 40 acres, A u g . 26, 1853. Elias B . W r i g h t , 80 acres, A p r i l 23, 1836. Roswell F. D a v i s , 80 acres, N o v. 17, 1836. Roswell F. Davis, 40 acres, N o v. 1 7 , 1836. M a r t i n S t r a i t , 80 acres, Feb. 14, 1837. L e v i D . S m i t h , 80 acres, M a r c h 14, 1837. L e v i D . S m i t h , 80 acres, M a r c h 14, 1837. David D o t y. 160 acres, A p r i l 1, 1837. John C u m m i n g s , 40 acres, Oct. 11, 1849. J O % H i n k l e y, 40 acres, A u g . 20, 1851. Nicholas Stand, 80 scree, (Set. 21, 1852. Isaac George, 63.47 acres, M a r c h 6, 1837. John D o o l i n , 107.57 acres, March 8, 1837. Win. W . Johnson, 79.25 acres, March 28, 1837. Wm. W . Johnson, 75.25 acres, March 28, 1837. Freeman B u r r o u g h s , 40 mires, J u n e 18, 1846. E d w a r d F. M u i r , 160 acres, .lan. 15, 1850. Wm. Bookea, 101.62 acres, June 24, 1835. John T. I l a y n e s , 40 acres, J an. 17, 1844. Bockes, 40 acres, J u n e 24, 1835. Oliver Johnson, 126.12 acres, Sept. 17, 1835. E. Heiehrodt, 40 acres, N o v. 16, 1844. G. W. Stevens, 40 acres, A p r i l 21, 1847. E. K i m b l e , 40 mires, A p r i l 22, 1847. S. W. Halsted, 40 acres, J u l y 21, 1847. Wm. Bockea 111.63 acne, J a n e 24, 1835. John Patterson, 78.80 acres, M a y 19, 1836. John Wilson, 80 acres, June 24, 1835. John Wilson, 80 acres, J a n e 24, 163.5. Jerome L a k e , 40 acme, A u g . 12, 1847. Hansford, 40 acres, Oct. 22, 1847. Otho L a k e , 40 acres, Oct. 27, 1847. 0 . W . Stevens, 40 acres, Oct. 30, 1847. D. Scofield, 40 acres, M a y 1.. I . . 4 o . ��SM M S S . M TREAT. S A M U E L M . T R E AT. This gentleman, one o f the prominent farmers is a portion o f his present farm o f and pioneers of Ovid, was born in acres. H e then returned East, and i n the autumn Co., N. Y. , March of 1837 returned t o Ovid, where h e has since His parents, Hosea and Hannah Treat, were reside Connecticut people and emigrated t o Oneida at an In 1838 he married M i s s Fanny Ives, o f his early day. T h e y had a family o f eight children, native county. S h e died i n 1839, and in 1840 he Samuel being the eighth child. T h e elder Treat married Miss Harriet Brooks. S h e died in 1866, was a farmer and clothier by occupation; but little and i n 1868 he married Miss A n n I . Wildee, o f is known o f his history, as he died when Samuel Lorain Co., Ohio, where she was born N o v. 19, was but two years 1840 As a boy, Samuel evinced much Mr. Treat i s the architect o f his own fortune, mination, and enterprise; and when having commenced life with only a strong pair of of age he determined to come to hands and an unlimited amount o f energy. H e ing i n Detroit he had b u t five dollars, has achieved success i n a l l departments o f life, walked t o Adrian, where f o r t w o years h e was and his career is evidence o f the inevitable result engaged i n clearing land. H e saved an amount of industry and economy, coupled with sufficient to purchase eighty acres in Ovid, which ment and executive ability. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Isaac Quinby, 40 sonea, Nov. 7, 1853. Clinton B. Fisk, 40 acres, Jan. 16, 1884. Samuel Towsley, 40 acres, June 18, 1853. Jacob Alger, 160 acres, Nov. 21, 1854. Jacob Alger, 40 awes, Nov. 27, 1854. Matthew H . Bingham, 64.24 acres, M a y 11, 1837. Amasa W. Miller, 82.10 acres, Dec. 7, 1837. Joseph C. Stowell, 40 acre., April 16, 1844. George Featherby, 40 acres, July 14, 1851. Charles Barlison, 40 acres, Sept. 13, 1853. Joshua W. Alger, 247.17 acres, Nov. 27, 1854. Samuel M . Dennison, 80 acres, April 20, 1836. Hiram Baker, 80 acres. April 20, 1836. Wm. I I . Johnson, 81.40 acres, M a y 14, 1848. H. and M . M . Miller, 40 acres, June 6, 1850. Charles I t . Miller, 160 sores, July 10, 1849. Alexander McNeal, 80 acres, Dec. 6, 1852. Hiram R . Alden, 120.44 acres, Dec. 7, 1853. Samuel M . Dennison, 40 acres, A p r i l 20, 1836. Hiram Baker, 80 acres, April 20, 1836. George H. Hoard, 80 acres, Aug. 10, 1838. Augustus S. Glee/fuer, 40 acres, Feb. 7, 1848. Hiram Eddy, 80 acres, Aug. 18, 1649. Clinton B. Fisk. 40 acres, Dee. 28, 1853. Amos and Joseph Hough, 80 acres, June 4, 1835. Don Alonzo Dewey, SO acres, Aug. 7, 1835. Wm. Martin, 80 urea, April 20, 1836. Joel Woodard, 40 acres. M a y 11, 1836. Joel Woodard, 40 acres, M a y 11, 1836. Amos Hough, 40 acres, June 5, 1835. Calvin Griswold, Jr., 80 acres, July 9. 1838. George H . Hoard. 80 acres, Aug. 10, 1838. David Tripp, 80 acres, N o v. 21, 1845. Luther L. Morgan, 40 acres, Oct. 25, 1850. Amos and Joseph H u g h , 193.62 acres, June 5, 1835. Joel Woodward, 59.60 acres, M a y 11, 1836. Richard J. A t Lee, 13 nerve, Feb. 10, 1837. Isaac George, 104.83 acres, March 6, 1837. Charlotte W. Edwards and A n n i e M . A t Lee, 79.39 acres, Feb. 14,1837. Alvin Crowell, 40 acres, Oct. 12, 1849. In 1836, Samuel Treat, Jared G. Brooks, and Stuart Davis came from Oneida Co., N. Y. Brooks entered the land they settled upon in his own name to prevent the delay consequent upon the large demands for entries land-office. H e then apportioned it to each member trio, giving deeds of the same. Davis took Treat 80, Henry Treat 40, and he retained Samuel Treat, who is one of the survivors of days, and who still resides on section 8, where lands were located, being anxious to establish his newly-acquired possessions, turned his attention erection of a house. Expedition being more essential to him than elegance, he succeeded in two days ing a shanty, which he occupied until it was fire, when a more substantial one of logs took its which now stands as a monument of His present spacious residence was built in brick with which i t was constructed having near Branch, in Coldwater township. N e x t Spencer and one Ilutehintton, and located on section 5 , where Mat. Nellie now resides. T h e y a shanty and proceeded to clear the land After these early settlers had been here a short need of a school was apparent, there being in the neighborhood, and a achool-house was erected on the northwest corner of section q. T h e first teacher 3 1 1 township was Caroline Green, though Harriet taught at an The first sermon was preached at the house Spencer. R e v. Wm. B. Brown was visiting in borhood, and an invitation was extended to him service, which h e willingly accepted. having been a resident of New York State, word was the settlers in the vicinity, who were nearly all from State, and the occasion is described by one who as a most enjoyable one. T h e devotional exercises garded as a great privilege, and the reunion of afforded a social epoch in the early history of The first marriage was that of Miss Elects Mr. Silas Hutchinson. T h e justice of the peace at this period was J. G. Brooks. I n a private journal which he kept with great regularity during his life, and been kindly loaned us, we find this entry: "Went county clerk's office and qualified as justice of Performed the marriage ceremony between son and Electa Salsberry in the evening at This bears date April Au early death in the township was that of though the first funeral is believed to have been that of Mrs. Marshall, who lived one mile northeast of Baptist Among other early settlers were Gardner came during the first settlement of' the township a saw-mill on section 8 ; Jeremiah Lockwood section 7, but has since moved elsewhere; settled on section 5, as did also Stephen Bates and Henry B. George; Francis Bates cleared a tract on section far from another tract owned by Among the prominent residents of the township who deserve honorable mention, and whose names ous as having filled offices of trust in the gift of are Daniel and Levi Wilson, the first having located southern, and the latter in the eastern portion of ship. T h e son of the former gentleman, James also resides near him. Among other settlers on section 5 are Benjamin Ferguson, Joseph Curtis, Stephen Wood, Nathaniel Batchellor, and Charles Brown. Section forded homes, among others, to Niles Baldridge, Peter Thornton, Harry Baldridge, and Edward Smith. O n the northeast quarter of section 10 settled Benjamin who came to Ovid in 1837, and has removed since water. Jacob Gregg and J. W. Zeluff were on section 9. Jesse Russell located on the northwest side, Frederic, and William P. Morey on the eastern Fowler Quinby was near the southeastern boundary, tion 25. A l l e n Hibner located a tract on section 11. E . D. Corwin purchased on section 28, and and his son on section 21. Z a r a Warner was one earliest to locate on section 23, and Jonas Basconi and Harlow Wright established themselves tions 10 and 15. Wild animals were abundant at this early day, were especially annoying. Deer were also and venison was so plentiful that it ceased to be a luxury, while wild (taker adorned many a tabl 1 �312 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . — One of the first pioneers was one day plowing oxen. T h e time for the noonday meal having arrived, be removed the harness from the animals and left it the ground. O n returning, he found i t had been almost entirely demolished by wolves, which had torn i t in their efforts to devour it. Ass amusing story is told of two pioneers figure in this brief sketch, but who shall here They were hunting game o f a less pretentious size, when suddenly their eyes were greeted with a spectacle which was not calculated to inspire their courage. B e f o r e them at some little distance were the formidable proportions o f an ugly black bear. T h e y were appalled, but after consultation decided t h a t their only safety was i n t h e i r trusty muskets. F i r i n g simultaneously, they deadly wound upon the animal, when, upon approaching, they found i t to be one of the brave Nirurod's black hogs that had been feeding in We copy a few of the entries made in the journal o f Mr. Brooks, which will enable the reader to form sion of that period: " J u l y 2 , 1837, t o t h e v i l l a g e o n S u n d a y. H e a r d E l d e r W . B . Brown p r e a c h . " " J u l y 31 t h e engineers passed t o t h e west o n t h e southern r o u t e for a r a i l r o a d . L i t t l e d i d I t h i n k when I purchased m y l a n d t h e r e would ever be a r o u t e for a r a i l r o a d so near m e . " " O c t o b e r 25, attended caucus. H e n r y L o c k w o o d a n d ointed delegates to County C o n v e n t i o n . " " N o v e m b e r 6, attended e l e c t i o n ; t h i r t e e n votes— b u t o n e o f t h e m Whig." " Feb. 18, 1838, w e n t t o meeting. H e a r d B r o t h e r D a v i s , a c i r c u i t preacher." " J u n e 20, attended association p r e a c h i n g b y E l d e r H a l l , mazoo; a n E p i s c o p a l w e d d i n g a t t h e i n t e r m i s s i o n . " September, had q u i t e a t i g h t p u l l w i t h t h e chills a n d f e v e r. " " N o v. 3, 1840, w e n t south t o e l e c t i o n ; t o o k t h i r t y - t w o votes: frotu six t o t w e n t y - t w o m a j o r i t y o n t h e Democratic t i c k e t i n t o w n . " " M a r c h 4, 1841, E l d e r l ' a r k i n a n d B r o t h e r G r a h a m here, g e t t i n g subscriptions for a meeting-house a t B r a n c h . " " J u n e 4,1842, great celebration a t C o l d w a t e r ; s i x bath-school scholars s a t down t o d i n n e r : t a b l e set f u r n i n e h u n d r e d , probably t w e l v e h u n d r e d t o d i n n e r on t h e square." Many of the records i n this carefully-kept journal are personal. I t is remarkable to observe the cles of rainy weather, and the prevalence of fever Among a file of old papers was discovered list of voters in the township for the year 1838, which we annex: Ichabod Davis, Reuben Wilson, Orris F. Cory, Stewart Davis, Henry Lockwood, Stephen Shaw, Charles B . Wright, Francis Bates, Isaac Marshall, Oren B. Cornine, John Waterhouse, J. G. Brooks, wood, Silas Hutchinson, Silas Wilson, Elisha Spencer, Alexander Marshall, Roswell F. Davis, John Jr., John L. Depue, George Minnier, Jacob man Waterhouse, Robert J . Hughes, Ira Canwright, Wm. Bockus, S. W. Zeluff, S. S. Sortee, Miron Towsley, G . Baker, George Terry, Charles Congdon, Howard Bradley, Lathrop G. Fish, Hiram Canwright, Joshua Baker, Hough, Amos Hough. Occasionally appears the statement that a lost in the woods and found after vigorous there is frequent mention of Isousse-rniainms and aid given to settlers, who were later arrivals than the writer of nal Laud-hunters were abundant at this time, a few of them (sousing with t h e intention o f settling, but the majority being speculators, who eventually made the settlers their victims. O n e early resident carried on a very lucrative business in showing these parties about and for them, and i t is told as a fact that he would criminate between the speculative individual, and who desired to locate, and invariably turn the upon the former. Snow-squalls were frequent, and often did cattle becoming bewildered and often lost. M r . Henry Lockwood lost two yoke o f oxen, and tuted a diligent search for them. A f t e r raneb labor they were found at Fort Wayne, Ind., a distance of In h i s search f o r them he went as far as Toledo, day traveled from morning till night without seeing a living face or a human habitation. Indians were numerous and paid the settlers frequent visits, often exchanging game f o r the more substantial articles of food. T h e y were always decorous lously honest. I t is related of them that in passing through the fields tl, y would invariably take the fences down and leave them in that condition, regarding it as a their trail to build fences. A certain degree in their bargains was often apparent. A n Indian called upon the wife of an early settler for a loaf of gdas-kau or bread, which he desired t o exchange for venison. U p o n receiving i t be squeezed i t to a small and and exclaimed, ‘• Small piece." T h e same lady prepared a dinner for an Indian who offered game in exchange. I l e went away leaving the meal untasted because she would not accept the half of what he had. and refused to I t VMS common in these early times in clearing the land to burn the brush that accumulated, and this with some danger. Samuel Treat related to the writer his own experience i n this particular while clearing a portion of the land he had purchased. when the smoke dense that he was prostrated and found relief possible, narrowly escaping Parley Stockwell came to Ovid. in 1842, and the northeast corner o f section 16, which was for a time known as Parley's Corners. T h i s portion of the township was still uncleared, no settler having entered land within its boundaries. H e purchased a tract and clearing the land, established an ashery for the of potash. T h e year following a post-office was with Mr. Stockwell as postmaster. W h i l e performing the duties of this responsible office he would carry the mail in Isis pocket, and deliver letters as they were milled for. This was i n t h e day of high postage rates, and invariably the remark would be made on receipt of a letter, to-day,--bring i t next time ;" thus establishing a sort of postal credit between t h e official and the eventually because 80 irksome t o the postmaster that he resigned, when James Hawks became his successor. T h e office was finally Soon after, Mr. Stockwell built a school-house, �0 , 0 9 • • Kiwpoo•gw, Cow w a T, frIRS DANIEL DANIEL DANIEL WILSON, M.D. Among the old practitioners o f Branch County who, by their ability as physicians and their worth as citizens, have made not only but have stamped their names indelibly upon the pioneer history of the county, is Dr. Daniel Wilson. He was born Dec. 6, 1810, in Berkshire and was the son of Reuben and Sabrah son, who had a family of The elder Wilson was a carpenter and joiner by occupation, and in medium circumstances. Daniel lived with his father until he was eighteen, and by his own unaided efforts acquired an cient to enable him to teach a common school in the town o f Barrington, Yates Co., N. Y., whither his parents had removed when he was two years and this pursuit he followed at intervals years. W h i l e very young he decided a physician, and as soon as his admit he went into the office o f D r. Spence, o f Dundee, N . Y. H e afterwards studied with Drs. Whitney and Huston, of Yates his diploma from the medical society of He practiced medicine in New Yo r k until 1836, when he came to Branch County, whence his father had emigrated with his family in 1835. T h e elder Wilson settled in Ovid, where he purchased three hundred acres of land. Daniel bought of his father, in the autumn returned to New York, and in 1839, with his family, which consisted of his wife and his son, James R., settled in Union City, where he established himself in the practice of his profession. H e returned to Ovid in the fall, and there he has since resided. H e r e he carried on his farm, in connection with his professional duties, until incapacitated by bodily infirmities. T h e been prominently identified with a l l interests o f Ovid. H e was supervisor for many years, was sheriff of the county, surveyor, an act of the Legislature appropriating acres of land for the improvement of he was appointed commissioner to locate and sell the land and expend Feb. 9, 1834, he married Miss Mary Sprowla, o f Yates Co., N. Y., who was born in New 25, 1810. T h e y have been blessed with dren, James R. and Marian, now Mrs. A. A. Abbott. She was born in Union City in 1840. James R. was born in Starkey, Yates Co., N. Y. , �L �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. mry structure, ten feet b y twelve in dimensions, nished i t with stove and other appointments ready for occupation. M i s s Allen, from Coldwater, was the first instructor, having about twenty year following, Mr. Stockwell taught the school himself, and as he facetiously expresses it, " he erected the first university in Ovid, and was its first service and a Sabbath-school were occasionally held in this little ten-by-twelve school-house, a clergyman from Coldwater, being the preacher, whose most practical and excellent. James Hawks was the next pioneer who located in the neighborhood, and came soon after and opened a blacksmith-shop. H e n r y K Barber and William Armstrong came later, the first having bought 20 acres of Mr. Hawks, which lie paid for and the latter having located on section 15. Roswell F. Davis located east of Armstrong, on the same section. H e was killed by the falling of a tree while felling timber for his cattle to feed upon. N o t coming in from the woods for many hours after he had left his home, the alarmed and went i n search ,,e hini. T h e .accident had already proved fetal. Gardner Scofield came about this time and erected a saw-mill upon land on section 8, whiah Stuart Davis had given him. H e afterwards sold the mill to Martin Kinsley. George Chamberlain came with his wife i n 1845, and Mr. Stockwell allowed them land enough on which to erect for themselves a comfortable dwelling-place, and which took just a week to construct. H e then gave them each and saucer, a knife and fork, and other for housekeeping, and with this scanty outfit life in their Western home. M r . Stockwell declares that they presented the most perfect picture of domestic bliss that has ever come under his observation, and that rowly escaped following their example and discarding his bachelor There are two churches in Ovid, the First Baptist and the Church of the United Brethren, the latter a strong organization, which, together with a in Bethel, absorbs a large proportion of the population of' the township. W e are unable to complete history of The First Free Regular Baptist church edifice in 1871, and the first organization was effected with Henry Lockwood, Eli Cheney, Henry B. George W. Reed as its first trustees. F o r Ferguson and Henry Lockwood were elected to office; for 1865, J. C. Smith and Henry Lockwood; for 1866, H. B. George and Nathaniel Batchelder; for 1867, H. R. Wilson and Henry Lockwood; for 1868, for 1871, Henry Lockwood and Henry B. George; William Walker; for 1873, Henry B. George; for 1874, Henry Lockwood; for 1875, William Walker; for 1876, Henry B. George; for 1877, Henry Lockwood; Henry B. George. T h e organization is a and the services well attended. W e are unable to names of the pastors since the establishment of with the exception of the present incumbent, who is Rev. Simon D. Burlingame, who resides The meat* of Ovid is somewhat undulating, - 3 1 3 vennifien1 by several small lakes,—a portion o f Coldwater Lake extending into its southern boundary, while Lake o f the Woods lies on the west side, and Long Lake and Mud Lake on the east. T h e Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad is represented on county maps ning through the northeast portion of the township, with Fuller's Station as the important depot, but neither have other than an The soil of Ovid is a gravelly loam, and well adapted to the raising o f grain, though also regarded as valuble for grazing purposes. F o r farming pursuits it may as one of the most desirable townships in Branch County. The records of the township of Ovid are as to afford very little information to the reader. W e are able only to give a list o f the supervisors, together with such other township officers as we are able to outside sources, arid a complete list after 1869 ; of the township. after that period, having deemed them ficient importance to preserve and maintain in Undoubtedly there must at some time i n the past have been records as full and complete as this, arid why they should have been consigned to oblivion, without regard to their importance, is beyond the comprehension of the investigating historian. F r o m the oldest as well as from the present clerk, we are informed records of the township's past history are The following is the 1837.—John Waterhouse, Supervisor; George Matthews, Hiram High, School 1838.—Joseph Rudd, Jr., Supervisor; Clerk ; John H. Stevens, Martin Olds, School John Waterhouse, Jr., Stuart Davis, From 1838 until 1842 the county formed the duties of the 1839.—Oliver D. Colvin, J . G. Brooks, B.. F. Davis, Inspectors 1840.—George Tripp, Levi Wilson, J. 1842.—J. G. Brooks, Supervisor; H e n r y Lockwood, Joseph Bryant, School 1843.—J. G. Brooks, Super-visor; E . B . Wright, L . Wilson, School 1844.—E. D. Corwin, Supervisor; Daniel Wilson, Levi Wilson, John Wilson, Inspectors 1845.—E. D. Corwin, 1846.—Daniel Wilson, 1847.—Daniel Wilson, 1848.—Daniel Wilson, 1849.—E. D. Corwin, 1850.—E. E. Corwin, 1851.—Levi Wilson, 1852.—E. D. Corwin, 1853.—Daniel Wilson, 1854.—Daniel Wilson. Supervisor; C. D. of the Peace ; Levi Wilson, 1855.—F. D. Corwin, Supervisor; (I. W. ship Clerk ; W. F. Bristol. Justice of 1866.—Levi Wilson, Supervisor; A. R. ship Clerk; Charles G. Abbott, Washington Russell, �\ E l ; \ 111 1857.—Levi Wilson, Supervisor, I t . 1 . , of the Peace; H . A. Russell, Jesse Max.'', I I ' I ' W. W. Russell, 1858.—Daniel Wilson, 1859.—E. D . Corwin, Supervisor; A . R . Bingham, Township Clerk; Sylvanus Wilson, James D . Conkling, Silas N. Card, Justices o f the Peace; David Armstrong, Township Clerk; Thomas Heisrodt, Charles G . Abbott. Constable 1860.—Jeremiah Cox, Supervisor; ham, William F. Bristol, Justices o f the Peace; E . J . Lockwood, H e r m , Russell, A l v i n Norton, rodt, 1861.—E. D. Corwin, Supervisor; Levi D. Brown, Charles R. Whitehead, Justices o f the Peace; William Pound, Alvin Norton, Charles Wilson, Ahaz Brown, Constable 1862.—Daniel Wilson, Supervisor; 0 . L. ship Clerk; Martin Kinsley, Charles R. tices o f the Peace; A . L . Wright, Nelson stable 1863.—Daniel Wilson, Supervisor; 0 . L . ship Clerk; A l v i n Norton, Gideon Houseman, Samuel Sweet, 1864.—Levi Wilson, Supervisor; 0 . L. Davis, Township Clerk; Charles R. Whitehead, Justice of 1865.—Levi Wilson, Supervisor. 1866.—Levi Wilson, Supervisor; Jerome Corwin, H . A. Russell, Charles Wilson, T. Heisrodt, 1867.—Daniel Wilson, Supervisor; Martin iel Wilson, Justices of 1868.—Sylvanus Wixon, Supervisor; C. B. Whitehead, Justice of the Peace; Francis M. I869.—Levi Wilson, Supervisor; George ship Clerk ; Amos R . Bingham, Treasurer; Levi Wilson, Justice of the Peace; William F. Bristol, A. R. Bingham, School Inspectors; William F. Bingham, Jesse Maxon, Highway Commissioners Samuel G . Treat, lIeman A . Russell, Edwin S. Frederick, Albert M . stable 1870.—Henry B. George, Supervisor; son, Township Clerk; Thomas Heisrodt, jamin Ferguson, Justice of the Peace; James R. Wilson, School Inspector; James H. Smith, Jerome way Commissioners; Rufus R. Harris, Luther A. Russell, Albert Thompson. Joseph Wilson, 1871.—David Wilson, Supervisor; M a r t i n Kinsley, Township Clerk ; .1. I t Wilson, Treasurer; son, Justice o f the Peace ; Sylvanus \Viso°, Highway Commissioner ; David Wilson, School Inspector; Rufus R. Harris, L . A . Russell, Thomas Ileisrodt, J o h n A . Rubler, 1872.—Charles R . Whitehead, Supervisor ; M a r t i n Kinsley, Township Clerk ; James R . Wilson, spector; Martin Kinsley, Justice o f the Peace ; Daniel Wilson, William N . Conover, Highway Luther A. Russell, Rufus R. Harris, 1873.—Charles R . Whitehead, Supervisor; M a r t i n Kinsley, Township Clerk ; Adelbert M. Fuller, Treasurer; Charles R. Whitehead, Justice of the Pence; \ I \ Clo1111111,..i.,11.1 \ k 1 1 1 1 1 1 . I I I, 1 1 , 1 — • ther A. Russell, 1874.—Charles R. Whitehead, Supervisor; Wallact E Wright, Township Clerk ; Adelbert M . Levi Wilson, Justice o f the Peace: Charles B. Wright, E. W. Treat, School Inspectors; William P. C. Waldron, George W. Lobdell, Highway Heinen A . Russell, Carlisle Smith, 1875.—Charles R. Whitehead, Supervisor; Wallace E. Wright, Township Clerk; Stuart Davis, Justice o f the Peace; James I t . Wilson, School Inspector; Charles S. Wright, Treasurer; Leroy Lockwood, Superintendent o f Schools; William P. Morey. Highway commissioner; Sylvanus \Viso'', Drain Commissioner; lietnan Washington Russell. Niles Baldridge. Delos stable 1876.—Charlis R. Whitehead, Supervisor; Wallace E. Wright, Township Clerk ; Charles S. Wright, Treasurer; George W . Lobdell, Justice o f t h e Peace; Egbert W . Treat, School Inspector; Leroy E. Lockwood, ent o f Schools; W i l l i a m P. Morey, sioner; Heman A . Russell, Charles Parrish, Washington Russell, Carlisle Smith, 1877.—Charles R . Whitehead, Supervisor; H e n r y B . George, Township Clerk; George H . Allen, Treasurer; Carlisle Smith, Justice o f the Peace; William ham, Superintendent o f Schools; Adelbert M . Fuller, School Inspector; Lewis C. Waldron, sioner; Llewellyn Daniels, Rufus R . Harris, George W . Tindall, Geo. H. Reed, 1878.—James R. Wilson, Supervisor; Rufus R. Harris. Township Clerk; George H. Allen, Treasurer; Charles R. Whitehead, Justice of the Peace ; Alfred Inspector; William F. Bingham, Superintendent Lewis C. Waldron. Highway Commissioner: Adelbert M . Fuller, Drain Commissioner; George W . ellyn Daniels, Charles Parrish, Joseph Wilson, - - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. HENRY LOCKWOOD. This gentleman, one of the old settlers and zens of Ovid, was born i n the town of New Co., N. Y., Nov. I , 1812. H e was the son of wood and Charity Terwilliger, who had a family ch ildren,-5ve boys and five girls,—Henry being The elder Lockwood was a farmer, and gave his children such advantages as his limited means would permit. H e n r y acquired a fair common-school education, anti up to the time he came to Michigan, in 1835, his lit materially from must farm boys. W o r k em h L a u , summer was succeeded by the usual term a t school in winter. W h e n Henry was twenty-three years of age his father emigrated to Michigan and settled where he purchased six hundred and forty WM. of Led. Henry also purchased eighty acres. 1 1 I T . �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . I 11.,b, by E . Kindmark, H E N RY L O C K WOOD. privations and hardships, and, did space permit, narrate many an incident that, to the present would sound more like fiction than fact. T h e wood was a gentleman o f the old school, of integrity, and possessed of more than an of energy and industry. H e died in Ovid at age. H e n r y was married, at the age of twenty-seven, to Miss Laura A. Davis, by whom he had ten children. S h e died Nov. 18, 1852, and in 1853 he was married to Miss Lucy Otis, who died in 1854, and for his third wife he married Mrs. Lydia E. Fisher. M r . Lockwood prominently identified with the history o f Ovid, justly considered to be among the representative men o f the MATTESON. BY an act of the Legislature approved March the town o f Matteson was organized from a portion o f Bronson, including township 6 south, in range 8 west of the principal meridian, as designated on survey Matteson is exclusively an agricultural being no village in its limits, nor any lishments other than saw-mills. T h e soil is sandy, add the improvements are for the most lent. P a r t of the town is rolling, or gently while in the southwestern portion is an Many excellent farm residences are seen, which that the pursuits of agriculture and stock-raising without The St. Joseph River and the Air-Line Division Michigan Central Railway crosses the northwest corner of the township. Matteson hake, a large and of water lying prineipaily on section 23,1 a at the proper seem for varieties of wild fowl, and summer is visited by many pleasure and picnic spend the time in boating on its waters, enjoying rounding scenery and fishing. B o t h the inlet and of the lake are lined with quite extensive marshes, shores otherwise are usually high, sloping gently to and affording a most pleasing view. T h e lake is partly surrounded by fine groves, and in the one on shore very neat picnic-grounds have been fitted up J. M. Cushman, who has on hand boats for the'use wishing to venture on the " rolling deep." are also arranged, and many parties visit the the summer months. T h e outlet o f Matteson Lake is known as Little Swan Creek, and is a stream able size and depth. Swan Creek proper crosses east portion of the township, and a few smaller lend their aid and Evidences that the vicinity o f Matteson Lake Was a favorite dwelling-place of an ancient race are ous, in the shape of various mounds, etc. �316 I I !STORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y. !%1 ICHIGAN. have been exhumed from wounds at the head of the lake, on the farm of Dan Cushman, and from their size indicated that the persons whose frame-work they comprised were very tall in stature, and of fine physical proportions. F r o m a mound on the farm of Noah Shaw, at the foot of the lake, were taken several implements of very fiicture, among them a stone pipe, smoothly polished, and a copper instrument (hardened) presenting of having been used i n dressing skins. T h e s e are now in the possession of Milo (lark, at Bronson. On the farm now owned and occupied by C. C. Bennett was found a circular earthwork, about 100 feet in diameter and three or four feet high, when the place was settled i n 1838. O a k -trees three and one-half feet in growing upon it, their entire growth having been since the work was built. I t was finally leveled by the plow, traces of i t now remain. That this region was inhabited by a mighty, and in many respects very intelligent, race, antedating any tory, is evident from these mounds, earthworks, covered implements o f war, the chase, and domestic life; and it is well known that the savages, or Indians, pied the country when it became known to the sessed no knowledge o f their predecessors other than that imparted b y myths and legends, which had been handed down to them through many generations. T h e history of that remarkable people is locked i n oblivion, and imperfect idea can be formed of it by the aid of as they have left behind them,—traces which from the great lakes to the border r the great posit i n the Southern Mississippi Valley, b u t which are fast disappearing before the ruthless pleasure seekers, or the carelessness of those on whose land found. I n the Southwest their monuments are ing, the heavy-walled cities, once-gorgeous temples, and substantial buildings there being less susceptible o f ruin except by the action of the elements—than the more lowly mounds and fortifications o f the northern Could some powerful magician conjure up from his eternal sleep a proud chieftain of this extinct race, and bid him relate the story of his people, then would the researches of the historian and archaziologist be rewarded; but jecture, building on the foundation o f the little that is known, can at this period be brought into play, jecture is most uncertain and unsatisfactory. S TAT I S T I C A L . The following table, compiled from the State census for 1874, will afford an idea of the present status of ship, its resources and valuable Population (644 males, 578 females) 1 , 2 2 2 Number of acres o f taxable l a n d 2 2 , 5 6 3 " l a n d o w n e d by individuals and companies 2 2 , 5 8 3 . 3 0 improved l a n d 1 1 , 3 1 7 " l a n d exempt from t a x a t i o n 2 0 . 3 0 Value of game, including improvements 1 1 , 0 3 1 Number of acres in school-house sites 4 . 5 0 " b u r y i n g -ground 3 " r a i l r o a d right of way 1 farms i n township 228 sores in farms 19,915 Average number of scree in farms 88.11 Number of acres of wheat on ground i n 1 8 7 4 3,175 " r a i s e d in 1573 2,780 N 1 4 111 / . / e r 1 / 1 11 4 1 , 4 1 0 1 / I u r n r a i n e d i n bushels of wheat raised i n L P L corn " all o t h e r g r a i n raised h s 1873 1 1 , 0 7 7 bushels of potatoes raised in I 8 7 3 7 , 7 8 . , tone o f hay cut in 1873 1 , 3 8 6 pounds of wool sheared in 1873 1 4 , 2 5 8 pork marketed in 1 8 7 3 2 8 6 , 7 1 0 butter 'wide in 1873 3 7 , 8 9 4 fruit dried f o r m a r k e t i n 1873 2 0 , 2 8 7 barrels o f cider made i n 1873 5 5 9 pounds of maple-sugar made in 1 8 7 4 6 , 7 1 5 acrec in orchards i n 1874 5 9 0 bushels of apples raised i n 1 8 7 2 1 2 , 6 8 0 1873 1 2 , 6 6 5 hundred w e i g h t o f grapes raised i n 18-3 3 hundred w e i g h t o f grapes raised i n 1872 3 Value of a l l f r u i t and garden vegetables, 1 8 7 2 $ 4 , 5 6 3 11 1 1 " 1873 $4,629 Number of horsed) in township, one year old a n d over, 1874 6 4 5 mules work oxen I I milch cows ......... . . . . . . . . . . 6 3 5 neat cattle, o n e y e a r o l d a n d o v e r, other than oxen and cows 7 1 2 swine over six mouths old 1 , 2 9 6 sheep " 3 , 3 3 2 " s h e a r e d i n 1873 1 , 1 5 8 saw-mills in township 3 persons employed i n mine 1 0 Amount o f capital invested 8 , 0 0 0 Feet of lumber sawed 4 8 0 , 0 0 0 Value of products / 2 , 2 3 0 11 These :figures will have changed materially by the time the census of 1880 ORIGIN O F N A M E . The name of the township is very often but in order to prove conclusively that this is incorrect it is only necessary to state that the man for whom i t WU named spelled his name Matteson. A m o s Matteson, Esq., was a native o f the State o f Rhode Island. and moved quite early into the town of Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y. In the spring of 1836 he came with his family to Michigan. and settled on the west shore of the lake which his name. H e had held the office o f justice of while living in New York, whence his title E s q u i r e . " A t the time o f his removal t o this township h e was about fifty-five years o f age, and when t h e subject o f township was discussed his name was given t o he was the oldest and most experienced man then living in it. M r . Matteson was a person of much influence township while he lived, and those who knew him well revered his memory after death. H e died a short time previous to the breaking out o f the great civil war, and his reniains rest i n t h e cemetery near his old home. T h e orchard on the Matteson farm is yet to be near the west shore of the lake. H e chose a esque situation for his home, and his days were passed in peace on the shore of one of the loveliest of lakes in this region, abounding in such gems of nature. 41 14 E A R LY S E T T L E M E N T. . . . Although t h e township was named in honor o f M r. Matteson, he was not its first settler, notwithstanding be came before a road had been cut through the before it had became of much importance in of the pioneers of ��MARY A . TURNER • 41A try— • l'itti,v+ V.r " ' • . „ • • . , , • X 4 4 , • . • ; . • - • • • RESIDENCE of ASHLEY TURNER, MArtrsow BRANCH Z = 11111 . 111 . 1 . 111111 0 1 0 11 . 11 . 1 g a p e ' r n • - - • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. The first entry of land in what is now ship included the south half of the southwest quarter of section IS, and was made in November, 1834, Watson, who still resides upon the place. H e here at that time on a land-inspecting trip, and after locating the above-described lot returned East, to in Venango Co., Pa., in the midst of the since-famous oil region. I n September, 1835, he brought his sisting o f his wife, two sons, and two daughters, to their Michigan home. A log house, one and a half stories high, was Won built and occupied; i t stood west of frame dwelling, where the orchard is located, and was 18 by 20 feet i n dimensions. O i l their arrival, went t o Colon, St. Joseph Co., purchased some lumber, returned with it, and built a small temporary shanty, in which they lived until t h e log house was ready. T h e latter was occupied a number The old Kalamazoo trail passed close by house, and this lie followed when lie came in. 'Sometimes as many as 300 or 400 Indians passed along it, and the members o f the family became well acquainted with the appearance and habits of the red dwellers in When Mr. Watson came West with his family by wagon as far as Erie, where he shipped his wagon, a yoke of oxen, two cows, and himself and family to Detroit, from which place he took the Chicago road to the interior. His household goods were sent around by water from Erie to Niles, and from thence drawn by team to tion in Matteson. A f t e r his house was built, commenced clearing his land and preparing i t vation. A " breaking team" consisted of four or of oxen. Crops were put in during the spring Mr. Watson, who is a native o f Centre Co., Pa., will be seventy-nine years of age May During the time intervening between the date o f the entry of his land and his return to the township with his family, Nathaniel Turner and Abiather Culver with their families and taken up the balance of and when Mr. Watson returned he aided them in building their houses, which they had begun, and they in sisted him to construct his. M r . Turner and M r. Culver are both deceased. T h e farm of the former is occupied by his son, Ashley Turner, who struck the first improvement in the township of* Matteson. farm is occupied by his youngest son, Oliver Culver. A l l three families experienced much sickness during the fall for several years, principally ague, fevers, etc., lent in all new countries to greater or It... During the spring following their Watson, Culver, and Turner helped to break each other's land, and in the fall following sowed the first wheat in the township. T h i s part o f town was in the with occasional tracts of two or three acres on only thick willow brush. T h e timber consisted principally of several varieties o f oak, with occasional hickory and black-cherry trees. Some of the finest farms in ship are in this vicinity. Before coming to Michigan, Mr. Watson had worked, when a young man, at milling, eabinet-making, rind the carpenter's trade, A f t e r his marriage he entered into the 3 1 7 mercantile business. Subsequent to his arrival gan he worked a little at carpentering, building a saw-mill for a man named Eberhardt, etc. T h e first year came he cut a large cherry-tree, seasoned the made several articles o f household furniture, among them a table and a stand, which are still in use. T h e table has been in constant service since it was first made, and sound as when new. M r . Watson says he has "raised two families at its side." H i s present wife is his the first having been taken from him Nathaniel Turner and Abiather Culver were from the same town in Ontario Co., N. Y., owning land in ships of Bloomfield and Victor, and both settled in the fall of 1835. The first birth of a white child in the township of Leroy Turner, son of Nathaniel Turner, Dec. 27, 1835. M r . Culver's son, Oliver, who is the present township clerk, was born just five Among the first marriages were those of Culver arid Mary Celinda Matteson, daughter o f Amos Matteson, Esq., and Deborah Turner and a Mr. Travis. The first death is thought to have been that of of James K. Bennett, occurring in the neighborhood year 1840. H e r coffin was made by Robert she was buried on her father's farm. The first road through Matteson township about 1837, being laid out by Charles C. Ferrin, who had settled in 1836, and been chosen a commissioner ways in what was then Bronson. M r . Ferrin lived near the road, which passes in places over the same by the Indian trail. T h e latter, however, passed south of the lake instead of' north. T h e road extends from a point three miles west o f Coldwater to Constantine, Co., and was opened by the settlers living along It is known as the "State Road," and is yet the principal highway of The Pottawatiamie Indians who occupied this region were very generally peaceful and quiet, and in even gentlemanly. T h e i r chief; a tall, noble name was Sau-quette, walked with the pride of born to lead and rule, arid was in every way, except the polish of a civilized life, a perfect gentleman. O n casion he and three of his warriors, who had from a visit to Maumee, Ohio, stopped at and asked for some dinner. T h e y were dressed cloth, arid covered with jewelry. M r s . Watson asked what they would have, and they said they would like She prepared them some dinner, including tea, arid after they had finished the chief asked what was to be paid. Mrs. Watson replied " nothini." A t this the chief arose in his dignity and wanted to know i f she thought they gars. Ta k i n g out his purse he paid her twentyfor each warrior and himself and departed. Sau-quette was some years afterward murdered by another Indian at Coldwater. H i s murderer was arrested and placed in jail at Branch, remaining about a year. A s the laws of the whites could not be applied in his case, he was leased and turned over to his tribe, who in their own way, and he The same trouble was experienced by the settlers uf this �318 4 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH town which fell to the lot of those living i n all localities far removed from a prominent market. F o r any surplus raised by the farmers there was no market nearer troit, and as produce brought but small prices at there was practically no market whatever. Occasionally a few bushels of grain o r other produce were sold to settler. S a l t sold here as high as six cents per pound. I t was brought from New Yo r k t o Detroit, and thence by team into the country settlements. U p o n the completion of a railroad a good market was opened. H o r s e s were very seldom seen, all work being done Hiram Gardner, from Otsego Co., N. Y., came son in the fall of 1836, purchased the place where now lives, cleared about two acres, and built a log house at the southwest corner of the present orchard. W h i l e living in New York, Mr. Gardner had married daughter of Amos Matteson, Esq., who settled in as previously described. I n 1837, Mr. Gardner returned with his wife and three children. H e became one o f the prominent men o f the township, and performed a great amount o f labor. Physically he was very strong, merous anecdotes are related where his power wa.s called into requisition. D u r i n g his later years he was an acute sufferer; and when the writer called upon him i n March, 1879, he was lying upon his dying bed, as i t proved, for his death occurred a few days later, or March 16, 1879. H i s son, Amos Gardner, is the present supervisor of ship When Mr. Gardner moved t o his farm in Matteson, the only families living in the township were those of Robert Watson, Nathaniel Turner, Abiather Culver, Isaac Gilson, and Amos Matteson, or with possibly one or two others. T h e settlement of all these, except Corson and Gilson, has been mentioned. T h e former located tion 24, in 1836, and his widow and two sons, L . W. and D. Corson, are yet residents o f the township. T h e farm lies south of the corners, east of Matteson Lake. Isaac Gilson lived i n the western part of the township, and had been a resident o f St. Joseph County, on the banks of t h e " Nottawa-sepee." H e was from the State of Ohio James K . Bennett, from Ontario Co., N. to Matteson i n the fall o f 1838 with his family, arriving on the 19th of October, and locating on the farm where his son, C. C. Bennett, now lives. H i s family consisted of his wife and three children. M r . Bennett purchased his farm (160 acres) from Horatio L . Folbes; but the latter had made no improvements upon i t , and Mr. obliged to commence by making his own clearing, therefore strictly a pioneer. H e built a log his widow is now living, one hundred and twenty of the corners. C . C. Bennett occupies a fine dence on the west side of the farm, and his sister, Eleanor Allen, also resides in town. John Colmbs, the father o f Mrs. C. C. Bennett, front Seneca Co., N. Y. (town of Romulus), was among settlers in the interior of Michigan. H e moved vious to the year 1830, and located in Wayne County. H i s father, Thomas Colmbs, who was with him, died within a few years, and the son subsequently moved COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . County (about 1837-39), where he died. H i m widow sem: time afterwards married Comfort Thompson, and came with him to Branch County in 1846, locating on section 36, in Matteson. M r s . Thumpson's brother and her soldiers during the war o f 1812, and the latter the early settlers of Lenawee Co., Mich. James 0. Johnson, a native of Rutland O h , ward a resident of New Jersey, New York City, and Ohio, living i n Lorain County, i n the latter State, for fifteen years, took a load o f people t o old F o r t Meigs, above Toledo, i n June, 1840, where a celebration was held i n honor o f Gen. William I I . Harrison, t h e nominee f o r President. S e n d i n g his team home, he came to what is now Matteson, and purchased land on section 12. I n February, 1841, he and his brother, Francis Johnson both unmarried,—came out and began improvements on the place which, although purchased from second hands. was yet in a state of nature. T h e present north and south road leading by the place had been laid out, but was net worked, and a team could w i t h difficulty make over it. Mr. Johnson built a log house on his place, which is yet standing near the residence o f his son, Rollin Johnson. His brother-in-law, A l l e n Turner, a son o f Nathaniel Turner, one o f the first settlers i n the western the town, l i i ed with M r. Johnson i n 1841 i n mentioned house. H e was a carpenter by trade, at i t while his family remained with M r. Johnson. I n 1842 he built f i r h i s own use a log house, stands in the rear of the residence of Homer F. Johnson. In t h e fall o f 1851, James 0 . Johnson started on a journey to the newly-discovered land o f gold—California reaching there in March, 1852. H e stayed and his experience in that region was of a with t h a t o f all others who were there during the first years of the Mr. Johnson's grandfather, Adam Johnson, came to the United States from Nova Scotia during the Revolutionary war, and espousing the American cause took up Washington, and served through t h e remainder o f the struggle. F o r his services Congress granted him a warrant for 400 acres of land, which ineluded the site of city of Columbus, capital o f Ohio. B e f o r e getting ready to move to i t he died in Rutland Co., Vt., in which he had made his P. H . Sheldon, who settled i n St. Joseph County i n 1835, has been a resident of Matteson since 1873. J a m e s E. Fisk, who died i n 1862. came t o this township i n 1835(1'), when his only neighbors were Indians and wild game. G . W. Tilton settled i n Coldwater i n upon his present farm on the State road i n Matteson in 1841. I t . C. Gwin, whose parents were among of Cass County, came to Matteson in 1844; J . W. Turner in 1841; H . McLean i n 1845; R . E. Copeland i n 1848; E. S. Faxon in 1846; and John Baker in 1848. W. M . McCarty located i n Coldwater i n 1831, and helped raise the second house in the place (.?). to Matteson in 1855. C . A . Dufee settled on farm in 1838, and Francis Reynolds in 1846. William Alger settled near Dayburgh, Butler township. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. in 1834, and felled the first tree i n that portion county. H e removed to Matteson in 1859. D u r i n g his residence in Butler he became acquainted with foot of ground about his home, and is authority points relating to the settlement o f and incidents which transpired early in C I V I L O R G A N I Z AT I O N . On the 23d of December, 1837, the inhabitants ship 6 south, range 8 west, met at the house of ver and proceeded to business, as follows: " Mr. A. Culver was chosen moderator for the meeting; M r. J. chosen secretary for the meeting. 1 s t , it was voted petition would be presented to the Legislature to be set off for a separate town b y the name o f Matteson."* T h e following is the act organizing the township: " All that portion of the county of Branch designated in the United States survey as township number 6 south, of 8 west, be and the same hereby is set off into a separate township by the name of Matteson; first township-meeting therein shall be held at of Abiather Culver, in said 31 nrrnsim, A p r i l 2,1838. "Agreeable to the above act, and in pursuance o f the same, Amos Matteson was chosen as moderator; Robert Watson as clerk; John Corson, James Gillis, and Hiram Gardner for inspectors of said election; and after being duly sworn according to law proceeded to elect by Supervisor, Joseph Rudd; Township Clerk, son; Assessors, Ephraim Cline, John missioners of Highways, Lazarus Everhart, John Stailey, Robert Watson; Justices o f the Peace, and others names so dim on record they could not be deciphered 1; Collector, Charles F. Jackson; Charles F. Jackson, Ashley Turner; School Thomas B . Watson, Hiram Gardner, James L . Gillis; Overseen of the Poor, Hiram Gardner, James L . Gillis; Fence-Viewer, Abiather Culver; Poundmaster, Lazarus Everhart; Pathmasters, John Vaughan. The number of voters was so small that, as will by reference to the above list, several (Aced sarily given to one person in some instances, in order that all might be filled. T h e records are missing for from 1839 to 1842, inclusive. Beginning with 1843 the following is a list of the principal officers of to the present time: SUPERVISOR 1843. H i r a m Gardner. 1844. J . H . Culver. 1845-46. H i r a m Gardner. 1847-19. James I L Fisk. 1850. H i r a m Gardner. 1851. A l l e n Turner. 1852. Jame. B . Fisk. 1953-54. J o n a t h a n I I . Culver. 1855. Jones B . Fisk. 1856. J . H . Culver. 1857-54. David Anderson. • Township reeords. t Township reword.. ' 1880. J . H . Culver. 1861. G r a n v i l l e S. Burnett. 1862. .7. H . Culver. 1863. A . J . Richardson. 1864. G . 8. Burnett. 1865-67. D e r r i c k c o 1868. G . 8. Burnett. 1889. J . H . Culver. 1870. %mum! B. Corson. 1871-76. A n i a i Gardner. 1877. O. W. Shamir. t Laws o f Michigan, 1838. : TOIV500II CLERKS. 1843. J o n a t h a n H . Culver. 1844. James 0 . Johnson. 1859. E . S. Faxon. 1860. Charles M . Benedict. 1861-64. M o r r i s Howe. 1865. O r r i n F. Oliver. 1866-67. M o r r i s Howe. 1868. Samuel B. Corson. 1869. E d w i n S. F a x o n . 1870. M a n t o n E. Sawins. 1871-73. A l b e r t D. Fisk. 1874. D a v i d Shiumiel. 1875. A . D . Fisk. 1876-77. George W. Fulton. 1845. J o h n G r a y. 1846. James E. Fisk. 1847. Samuel E . Faxon. 1848-50. Robert Watson. 1851. S . E . F a x o n . 1852. J o e l H . Legg. 1853-54. James E. F i s k . 1855. Samuel I I . Beach. I S A . R o b e r t E. Copeland. 1857. E d w i n S. F a x o n . 1858. A l l e n Tu r n e r. T 1843-45. Charles F. Jackson. 1846. J o n a t h a n H . Culver. 1847. Jesse Monroe. 1848-50. A r c h . G. Thompson. 1851-52. Charles F. Jackson. 1853-54. J o h n W. Tu r n e r. 1855. Jacob L . Everhart. 1856. Columbus C. Bennett. 1857. A r n o l d H . Corson. 1858. A s h l e y Turner. 1859. B e n t l e y Benedict. 1060. f a r a d Wheeler. 1861. J o h n P. Fisk. 1862. D e r r i c k Corson. 1863. R o b e r t E. Copeland. 1864. D e r r i c k Corson. 1865-70. R o b e r t E . Copeland. 1871-72. George W. Fulton. 1873. F r i t s Shaffuiaster. 1874-77. D a n i e l F. Rich. JUSTICES o r THE PEACE. 1843. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. N o record. J o h n Stailey. Jefferson Hallett. N o record. Joseph Rudd. Stephen Edwards. 1848. R o b e r t Watson. A. D. Coleman. 1849. N o record. 1850. A . D . Coleman. C. A . Dufoe. 1851. J o h n Corson. 1852. R . Watson. B. Benedict. J. Frederick. 1853. H i r a m Gardner. Charles F. Jackson. 1854. J . Frederick. Allen Tu r n e r. 1855. A l l e n Tu r n e r. Adnit H . Smith. 1856. G r a n v i l l e S. Burnett. 1857. James E . F i s k . 1858. M . L . Smith. Jefferson Ballou. 1859. James 0. Johnson. I 1860. G . S. B u r n e t t . A. W. Plumley. 1861. A r c h i b a l d J . Richardson. 1862. M . L . Smith. Ashley Turner. 1863. P h i l e t u s Shaw. 1864. G . S. Burnett. 1865. A . J . Richardson. 1866. M . L . Smith. 1867. J . Ballou. Chauncey H . Noyes. 1868. G . S. Burnett. 1869. P h i l e t u s Shaw. 1870. Charles Bothwiek. A. J. Richardson. 1871. S . B . Corson. 1872. G . S. Burnett. 1873. D a v i d Kibbs. 1874. D a n i e l Q u i n b y. John V. Allen. 1875. J . V. Allen. J. S. Ly t l e . 1876. Selleck Sharrer. 1877. R . E. Copeland. D. L . Oroutt. ASSESSO 1843. A s h l e y Tu r n e r. Joseph Rudd. 1844. A s h l e y Tu r n e r. Alvin Monroe. 1845. E p h r a i m Cline. Alvin Monroe. 1846. N o record. 1847. H i r a m Gardner. Joseph Rudd, J r. 1848-49. N o record. 1850. Josiah Frederick. F. W . Latta. COMMISSIONERS OP HIGHWAYS. 1843. B e n j a m i n F i s k . Jacob L i n d l e y. Ephraim Cline. 1844. A l l e n Tu r n e r. John Cronbaugh. Jacob Everhart. 1945. James B. Fisk. Chauncey B legible). Orrin Te r r y. 1846. Jacob Saibry. A l v i n Monroe. 0. .1. 1847. A b r a h a m L o w r y. James F. Dunbar. J. 8 . H u n t . 1848. J . F. Dunbar. Allen Turner. 1849. E r v i n C. Fink. Hiram Gardner. �• 3241 H I S T O 1850. Bentley Benedict. R Y ' 1863. I r e W Crandle Birch. O r B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . , Copeland ; Justices off the l'eace, Ashley Lilly; Commissioner of Highways, C. C. Bennett; Drain ('ottlinissioner, William Anderson ; School Jay C. Corson ; School Inspessor, Samuel stables, James Fisk, Charles Culver, Willitun lain, Jason . 1864. J . L . Everhart. 1851. Janob L . Everhart. 1852. Jacob Liter. Daniel Rich. 1865. J o h n P. Fisk. 1853. Joseph S. H u n t . 1866. F r a n c i s Reynolds. Daniel F. Rich. 1854. F r a n c i s Reynolds. 1855. N e l s o n Bradley. 1867. J . L . E v e r h a r t . * 1856. Comfort Thompson. 1868. J a m e s 0 . Johnson. 1869. A l e x a n d e r Anderson. 1857. A . J . Richardson. 1870. J . L . Everhart. 1,. K . Lewis. J. L . Everhart. 1871. J a m e s O. Johnson. 1858. J . L . Everhart. 1859. L y m a n K . Lewis. 1872. A l e x . Anderson. 1873. G e o r g e Keyes. 1860. Samuel B. Corson. 1874. J a m e s 0 . Johnson. 1861. J . L . Everhart. F. Shaffmanter. 1875-77. George Keyes. 1862. C . A . D o t e r. 1863. Samuel Conlon. SCHOOL INSPECTORS. 1861. Samuel E . Faxon. 1862. D a , id A n d e r, o n . 1843. H i r a m Gardner. 1844. H i r a m Gardner. Joseph Rudd, J r. James D . Studley. 1845. Joseph Rudd, J r. Richard Dougherty. 1883. I s a a c A . G r a y. 1846. Jefferson Ballou. 1861. S e y m o u r S. Sage. 1847. H i r a m Gardner. 1865. Hudson M i l l e r. 1866. M a n t o n E . Sawins. 0. White. 1848. F r a n c i s Johnson. 1849. H i r a m Gardner. 1867. Jonathan C u l v e r. 1808. C . D . Robinson. Nelson D . Dufoe. I ' A . N . 1). Dufoe. M. B . Wa r n e r. 1869. Hudson M i l l e r. 1851. E . S. Faxon. Robert Watson. 1870. L . E . Wilcox. 1852. F r a n c i s R . Johnson. D. Corson. 1871. D . Corson. 1853. H i r a m Gardner. 1854. W i l l i a m F. M i n n e r l y. 1872. L . E . W i l c o x . 1855. H i r a m Gardner. 1856. D a v i d Anderson. 1873. A . J . Richardson. Edward P. Sande. 1857. Charles M . Benedict. 1874. E . 1'. Sande. J. Corson. 1858. C . M . Benedict. 1075-76. E . P. Sands. D. Anderson. 1877. C . A . Baxter. 1859. D . Anderson. 1860. H i r a m Gardner. TOW NSII I P S I ' PERI STEN DENTS O r s c u r s u . s . 1875-76. J a y C. Corson. I 1 8 7 7 . I I . M . Fish. OVERSEERS OF T H E P O O R . 1843. James 0 . Johnson. 1852. J . H a l l o o . 1844. John B. Dougherty. 1853. S a m u e l Beach. W. H . H a m m o n d . George Wilcox. 1845. Jacob Lindley. John S . Dougherty. 1854. Samuel Beach. 1846. Joseph H u n t . Jonathan H . Culver. 1855. A s h l e y T u r n e r . W. H . H a m m o n d . 1847. H i r a m Gardner. Amos Matteson. 1856. A l l e n Tu r n e r. James E. Fisk. 1848. N o record. 1857. H e n r y Wa n r e y. W. I I . Hammond. MATTES.ON P O S T - O F F I C E fidorgan 1858. elk W. Tilton. 1849. Jefferson Balton. Jesse Monroe. 11450. N O record. 1851. R o b e r t Copeland. J a n R . Winans. 1859. H e n r y Winans. Welcome H a m m o n d . William G. M c C a r t y. 1852. J . F r e d e r i c k . OR A IN " R U N ISO 1872. C . H . Noyes. Carey Dunn. Lyman K . Lewis. Charles 4 . tioodnian SCHOOLS. On the 8th o f April, 1839, the school commissioners suet, and divided the township into four viz., No. 1 ; west district, or Nu. 2 ; northwest district, or No. 3; and southeast district, or No. 4. " T h e inhabitants of school district No. 2 met at the house of ver, pursuant to notice, Nov. 19, 1839, for the purpose o f electing district officers and other purposes belonging to the annual meeting...* A m o n g other business transacted i t was voted to raise/ire dollars to purchase a district library, a like amount to b u y a library Lase, and that the library should be kept at the residence of Abiather Culver. with Jonathan H . Culver as librarian. I t was also voted t o raise $75 to pay for a six About 1838-39 a log school-house was built in what is now district No. 2, on the ground where stands stone school building. A school was made u p from the families o f Robert Watson, Nathaniel Turner, Abiather Culver, and Isaac Gilson, and taught by Jonathan H . Culver. T h i s was the first school i n the was sustained by private On the north side of the State road, on section 14, school-house was built about 1841-42, and a ducted b y Melissa Webster. I t was a winter attended by the children of Hiram Gardner and others in the vicinity. M i s s Webster lived in Colon, St. In the fall of 1848 the school-house in district No. built, and t h e number attending at the log considerably diminished. The families in the neighborhood of Matteson sent their children for a time to the log schooldescribed. I n the spring o f 1855, however, the present frame building at the Corners was erected, and Miss Maria Monroe employed as teacher. S h e had in a building which stood about where the smith-shop is, and which had been used, as quired; as a blacksmith-shop, school-house, law- 1874. R . E . Copeland. 1875. N o record. 1876. F . Shatimaster. 1877. H . E . Copeland. 1 was established about 1854-56, with Edwin Faxon postmaster. H e was succeeded by C. C. Bennett about 1858, the latter retaining charge seven jean. gentlemen kept the office at their houses. successor was Hammond Sawing, and he was followed by Mrs. Orcutt, who kept the office in the grocery at the Corners. Those since in charge have been Anthony Sands, Mrs. Orctitt a second time, and incumbent, William In the fall of 1852 a saw-mill was built at by Nichols & Shepard, of Battle Creek. T h i s mill wen ��II. I I I L I i - a ELLEN A J i l l : :1, r i . t i U • - • ' " M I M U M 134:14..14111.471:1,11111 • 1 4 4 " - : 1 1 h S ' 7 1 1 ; : g " - : 1 1 1 - aer - 4 - 1 ' t * iiMOENCE Or AMOSGARDNER . : �- AMOS ,ta ,- ON,BRANCHCOUNTY, ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . afterwards passed into the hands of Hammond Sawing. A third mill on the same site has been burned since prietor o f the present one, John Wood, purchased the property. T h i s mill has done a large business in recent years, but is now used but little. A general store was established here in 1865 by Daniel Orcutt, but was finally discontinued. A n o t h e r established farther east by W . H . Bennett, postmaster. Besides the post-office, saw-mill, store, and school-house, the settlement contains one wagon-shop and The cemetery, northwest of Matteson Lake,. was laid out about 1855, and contains 3 acres. I t is very cated, and the only one in the township. B u r i a l s were made, before this cemetery was provided, in private lots in different parts of town, one of which was on of Amos Matteson. M a n y were removed from ent resting-places and transferred to the new it had been The following article from the pen of John McLean, of Athens, Calhoun Co., was written descriptive of during the pioneer days, and is worthy of perusal. Those who experienced the trials o f life in the wilderness will appreciate " Let us take a review of the times from the ment of the counties of Branch, Calhoun, St. Kalamazoo. I have not the exact date of the ment of these counties, but I think the greatest tide migration was in 1836. T h e land was mostly taken by actual settlers from 1835 to 1840. T h a t which was taken was mostly gobbled up by speculators. B u t little capital was brought into these counties. Generally tlers came from New York and Pennsylvania in which were their effects, and barely money enough to pay for their land, which had previously Michigan was as well adapted to pioneer life as any country in the world, with the exception of fever The country was diversified with timbered land, prairies, openings, and marshes, the latter affording hay to winter the stock. T h e openings only had to have the trees girdled and broken up in order to produce Wild game and fish were abundant. T h e openings were first settled. T h e principal overcome were the ague and t h e distance t o m i l l and market, many having to go to Detroit for After this the railroad came to Jackson, which was then their nearest market. I t then took three days to go to mill and return. O n e o f these pioneers, living ground corn in a coffee-mill, which was all a family or eight had to live on for a week. Others made in a solid stump, into which the corn was placed and pounded to meal by a pestle. A combination and industry are sure roads to wealth and influence. I n point I instance the Wagners, of Colon. T h e eldest Ron of the family came there with barely money enough 160 acres of land, at $1.25 per acre, in 1835 or 1836. H e erected a log cabin, and the hardware used in tion cost less than $2. A s soon as this was done ance of the family followed with barely money enough to get there. I n 1850 the family was worth from $30,000 to 4 3 2 1 $40,000. ' t h i s accumulation was made after supporting a family o f eighteen children. ( M r . Wagner was twice married, and had nine children by each wife.) came here in 1836, and brought with him $4000 and a family of healthy boys, four of whom were able to do the work of as many men. I remember his saying to me, in 1845, There is Mr. Turner, whose family is about of mine, who came here at the saute time that I did, with barely money enough to get here; to-day he is worth as much money as we are.' I saw one of Mr. the other day, and he told me that he struck the in " In those days the new-conier was hailed with delight. All the capital he needed was two strong arms to wield the axe or guide the breaking-plow. I f ' he brought a family with him there was plenty of wild land lie could time. T h e neighbors would club together and help him put up a log cabin. A l l that was needed to be a few pounds of nails, to make a door and case and twelve lights of 8 by 10 glass, and lie had as good as his neighbor. T h e door was hung with wooden hinges and a wooden latch. G i r l s and boys went to dances with ox-teams. I f a man chanced to have a horse or pony lie would make a pang or jumper out of poles, put on crate for a box, and have a grand time sleigh-riding. not know but the young folks enjoyed themselves well as they do now. Neighborhoods extended Men would go from three to five miles to help a a log cabin. W h e n a frame barn was raised it ered a holiday. T h e y would get together at an early hour, some going at least five miles. T h e barn raised in the space of two hours or less, and a game jumping, wrestling, etc.-, followed, then served, after which they went home, feeling that a good " A few sheep were kept by the early settlers, and their wool was carded and spun, a few pounds of cotton yarn purchased for warp, and the wool and cotton for clothing. T h e r e was many a poor woman made quite a comfortable living with her loom. S h e generally took produce for her pay, sometimes getting an order on the store; and by those that lived in the timber, and anything she could make use of in the family for pay. B a r t e r VMS the general custom of the country. Men paid for breaking up the openings with steers Maple-sugar was swapped for pork, corn, or wheat ; lumber and shingles for produce; oxen, cows, or horses by the mechanic for the building o f houses o r barns. Wheat was about the only thing that brought for that they were sometimes forced to take part I have heard men tell of' drawing wheat from the town of Sherwood to Jackson, and selling it for 35 cents and having to take half their pay in goods out of and the rest in wild-cat money. W e talk of' to death. T h i n k o f drawing wheat from forty to eighty miles and selling it for from 35 to 50 cents per paying from 12} to 25 cents for prints, 12 to 15 cents for brown sugar, from 75 cents to $1 for ten, and having from 4 to 8 bushels of wheat for a pair of' and those hardly worth bringing home; or going six �322 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH miles with a few dozen eggs, and haying to sell them for 4 cents per dozen, and pay four times as much for we do " What would the young married folks think of going in the woods and throwing up a log cabin, covering i t with shakes, and building a stone back wall and a stick chimney for a fireplace; constructing a table out of a dry goods box; making their bedsteads out of poles and using bark and slabs with holes bored in the poles or sticks This is the way many o f the first settlers Michigan." To those who have aided in the compilation o f going sketch are returned sincere obligations. A m o n g them are Robert Watson, Oliver B. Culver, Hiram Gardner (since deceased) and wife, James O. Johnson, C. nett, Mrs. Comfort Thompson, and others. A few items have been taken from the articles published during the winter o f 1878-79 in the Coldwater Republican, and the existing records and other sources of information, consulted. I t is confidently believed .that the history township will prove generally satisfactory. COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . where he spent a few months; thence be west to Kamm, where he took up some land, and made mese imp or He then sold out and returned t o Michigan, and worked his father's farm on shares for the next three years. H e then made a purchase o f one hundred acme of wild land adjoining his father's farm i n the town of ) on Jan. 1, 1863. he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen A., daughter of En Whelan and Hannah Whelan, tlers o f Lenawee Co., Mich. B y purchases be added t o his farm, until now it consists of two hundred and forty acres of finely-cultivated, fertile lands, well adapted to the production o f all kinds o f grain, grass. and fruit. M r . Gardner has been very successful as a farmer, and pays much attention to the rearing o f stock. H e in high esteem in his town, and is at this time serving his seventh term as supervisor. H i s wife. who is intelligent and fine-looking lady, has borne him dren, named Ella M., Gertrude B., and Lonna Inez. By reference to other pages of this work may be found a large double-page view of the farm o f Amos Gardner, and the portraits of himself and wife. JAMES O. JOHNSON. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. AMOS GARDNER. Samuel Gardner was a native o f Vermont, and when a young man emigrated to New York, and with his tled on a farm i n Otsego County, where he lived all his life, dying at an advanced age. H e reared a family children, named Mehitable, David, Hiram, Edward, and Benjamin. H i r a m was born Dec. 12, 1805, a t the old home in Burlington, Otsego Co. H e was reared a farmer, and obtained a good education, and when a young man taught school for a number of terms. I n 1830, at of twenty-five years, he was married t o of Amos Matteson, who was afterwards one of the tlers in the township that bears his name in Branch County. In 1836, Hiram came to Michigan, purchased dred and forty acres of government land in the township o f Matteson, and the following year moved h i s family and settled on his new land, where he has ever since resided, and where the venerable old pioneer couple are ing. T h e y are t h e parents o f eight children, named Dewitt, Amos, Samuel, Diadamia, Jonas, Delia, Celinda, and Pamelia, who are all living except Dewitt damia. A m o s was born a t t h e o l d Otsego home, i n New York, March 18, 1833. H a v i n g been reared on the new farm i n Matteson, his advantages for obtaining an education in his boyhood were limited indeed, so far as a book education went; but chopping, logging, and clearing up his father's new farm, and afterwards his oped a strong, robust, physical capacity, which, united t o more than ordinary natural mental endowments, him a man o f much consideration and influence locality. H e remained at. home with his father until he WOOtwenty-one years of age, when he worked out by the month for a year or two, and then. in 1856, went to Iowa, Adam Johnson. the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1750, and when a very young man, at ment o f the war between the Colonies and t h e British government, became a refugee from N o v a Scotia. H e escaped from t h e British authorities, joined the patriot forces, and fought all through that great struggle. A t the close of the war he was married, and became the father of five children. H e died i n 1804, at fifty-five years His son James was born Oct. 14, 1790, was reared and on the 22d day of November, 1815, was married t o Sarah Ashley, of Fair Haven, Vt. T h e y emigrated from Vermont t o Ohio i n 1825, and i n IS41 they came t o Michigan and settled on a farm in the township son. H e afterward moved into the village of in 1865, he died, at the age o f seventy-five years. H i s wife died the same year, at the age of seventy-one. T h e y were the parents of four children. named Fanny E., James 0., and Francis B. O f these only James and Francis are now living. Francis resides on his farni in the town of Sherwood, James 0 . was born A p r i l 1 6 , 1820, at Castleton, Vt. He received a f a i r education i n t h e common English branches, was brought u p a farmer, remained w i t h and assisting his father until his majority, and for after continued with his father, all l i v i n g and working together as one family. July 25, 1843, he was united in marriage to Lindley, o f Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio, and the next year he settled on a farm of his own i n the township of Matteson. O c t . 30, 1854, he mourned the death of h i wife and loved companion. S h e WON the mother children, named Homer F. , Adelaide, Preemie M . , mid Rollin A. J u l y 15,1855, he filled the vacancy in M e h . by a marriage with Miss Julia Lindley, a Mater of MS fita wife, by whom he has had four children, named Sarah E., Laura H., and Nita L . l a M e be went to ��u I • gthrilr _ ' i r, c 2 h 1 s t a 4 , , r • INAJOHNSON O L D BUILT. J0 — .............. „ ............ ;; A ••• A i3ESIDENCE O F J A M E S �-1 ,,214r_14191 III XII I I I I MRS J. 0 ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . California, where he remained three years. I l e is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of ing land, which he and his enterprising sons cessfully. I n addition to farming Mr. Johnson attention to the rearing o f line improved stock, both i n cattle and horses, being at this time the owner of one of the finest Norman stallions in die State, and for has obtained many premiums. M r . Johnson has been for many years an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and whether as entered apprentice, master, companion, or 3 2 3 member of the council, he has ever been regarded by the craft as a Mrs. Julia Johnson was b o p a t Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio, on the 30th of July, 1822. S h e has honored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for over thirty-five years, and has borne her full share duties to her husband and children. W e are able sent our patrons a fine view, on another page of of the home and farm o f another old settler o f Branch County Phidos. by E . K i n d m a i r k , Cohlwater. JESSE M E R E D I T H . JESSE MEREDITH. While the quiet, unassuming citizen, the farmer, who remains at honie and attends to his never pushing himself' forward in political strife, tionable schemes o f speculation, may be overlooked and unnoticed in the pages of general history, it is proper that in a work of this kind some of the real representatives of the people should have a place. O f this class may tioned Jesse Meredith, who was a native of His father's family emigrated to Ohio when he was man, where they were engaged i n farming in Summit County. H e was born on the 5th day of April, reared a farmer, which occupation he followed and he remained single until quite late in life, when united in marriage to Miss Caroline Sessions, who on the 6th of January, 1818. T h e y were married on the 6th day of February, 1848. T w o years after he removed to Michigan, and settled on a farm in ship of Matteson, two miles north of the village son, in Branch County. T h e i r first house was, as usual in those days, constructed of logs, and they passed the transitions from a pioneer commencement logging, and clearing off the forest, to the vated fields, orchards, and comfortable residence buildings of to-day. M r . Meredith was in poor health for moseyyears before his death, which occurred Sept. 1,1871, at the age o f fifty-nine years, leaving his widow MRS. J E S S E M E R E D I T H . fortable circumstances. T h e y have one child. who is married and has two children. S h e resides on the old home-farm, with her mother. M r s . Meredith tributed the portraits o f herself and deceased husband to this work, as a memento o f his unblemished life and characte ASHLEY TURNER. The ancestors of Mr. Turner were among the of New England. Nathaniel Turner, the father of Ashley, was a native of Massachusetts, and when a young to Ontario Co., N. Y., and settled in the town o f Victor, where he was married to Miss Asenath Culver. chased a farm and remained there until 1835, when his eldest son came to Michigan in quest of a location for their future home. T h e y were accompanied by Abiathar Culver, an uncle of young Turner. T h e y arrived gan, June, 1835, and made a selection in the ship o f Matteson, about nine miles northwest of ent village of BrOlISOII. T h e Turners bought of ment one hundred and sixty acres, and Culver hundred and eighty acres. A f t e r making the elder Turner and Culver returned to New York for their families, leaving Ashley to make a beginning on their new laud. I l e commenced by cutting the logs for which was the first stroke ever made in the a view to a perznament settlement. H e cut �324 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the logs fie their house, but was unable to procure draw them together until quite late in the fall, when the families arrived with two ox-teams. • Nathaniel Turner died in 1846, at the age of years, and his widow followed him in 1849, at the age of fifty-nine years. T h e y were the parents o f dren, named as follows: Ashley, Allen, Mary Jane, Erneline E., Jonathan C., Eunice L., Nelson, and Leroy. O f these, Eunice, George, and Leroy are dead ; the others are all living, married, and Ashley Turner was born Feb. 5, 1813, at Cu., N. Y. A t the age of fifteen years he was to Jonathan Ransom, of Grafton, Ohio, with whom mained until he was twenty-one. H e then hired worked for Ransom for eighteen months. H e then, pany with his father and uncle, came to Michigan. Ashley 1 and his parents lived sad worked together all es wail the death of the inmate. After that Mr. ried Miss Mary Ann Jonas, of Portage Mr. Turner has tardily pained farming all t h i n , , in which he has been sumeeeful, and he still owes sidesupon the original me hundred and slaty bought of the government in 18:35. O n the 18th day of February, 1879, his wife died, after a brief Aims of a few days. Two children have been bore es Edwin Leroy and Asenath P. Edwin died in the age of nineteen years. T h e daughter, fine-looking young lady of fourteen years, is at her Mr. Turner is held in high tatteetu by all his a wide circle of acquaintances. T h e view of the the old pioneer, and the portraits of himself wife, may be found on another page of N O B L E . ON the 19th of March, 1845, an act was passed Legislature of Michigan, creating the township to include fractional township 8 south, in range 8 west of the principal meridian. T h i s territory had a part of Bronson township, and before organized many of its citizens had aided in the official affairs of Bronson. T h e naming of ship of Noble has been attributed to numerous persons. I t is said that Darius Wilson proposed the name, also that it wassuggested by William Rippey, who had traveler speak of the region as a " noble ably, however, the credit is due to James Anderson, Coldwater, who had previously worked in Noble and suggested the name to A "noble country" this town certainly is, with its "oak openings," fertile soil, charming landscapes, and numerous water-courses. I t lies but a northeast of the beautiful Mongoquinong, Pretty Prairies, in Indiana. Much of the more face was originally covered with a thick growth while in places no underbrush whatever obstructed range of vision for considerable distances. in wonderful profusion, and the description of openings generally given by those who saw them in primitive beauty is such as to create in the mind a view of a tuiniature paradise. Y e t it was not number of years that people from the East could duced to locate in the open lands, they expressing that where timber failed to grow it would be tempting to Although Noble is but a small township, many large and excellent farms. Across the ner of the town flows Fawn River, or as it is often called. I t s shores are though not to so great an extent as in Indiana. is exceedingly tortuous, whence its most Several smaller streams water other portions of ship, and are fed by a number of small lakes, some of which are very beautiful. Among these lakes son, in the southeast corner of town, covering, the map, about 20 acres; Mud, on section some 25 acres; Fish, principally on section S. area of about 60 acres; Long, on section 7, nearly in length, and considerably larger than Fish Honey Lake, a fine body of water. on section nearly 160 acres. Beside these there are ones, not given names on the map. These the spring and autumn, are the resort of bers of wild fowl, though not to such an extent larger ones farther east The improvements throughout the town of generally excellent, although in places the house is seen, or the deadening" lifts its trunks in sad array, as if mourning their fate. is usually free from large stones, rendering it easy vate. T h e soil is a sandy loam, with some gravel and is well adapted to the growth of wheat grains, while fruit of most kinds yields abundantly. Clay isseen in but few The township is inhabited entirely by those devoted to the pursuit of agriculture, and has not a village limits. T h e nearest railway station is at thither, or to Orland, Ind., do the farmers repair to de most of their �- 7 11111111 / 11 Wa t s m : imm 40. , 4 - I — ' iiIiIIiIIIIlll ' 4 0 1 6 1 . 11111111111 4 1111111 RESIDENCE o r HON. G.P ROBINSON , Nost.c, BRANDI ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . L A N D E N T R I E S A N D S E T T L E M E N T. The first entries o f land i n the township about 1835, by William Robinson and a Mr. the former locating an eighty-acre lot and t h e latter a quarterIn the fall of the same year (1835), Walter W. Smith, from Caledonia Co., Vt., came to Michigan, and ary, 1836, entered the northwest quarter o f section 10, upon which he now resides. H e remained i n the State until the fall succeeding, staying at Niles, Berrien Co., and then returning to Vermont. I n the spring of once more came to Niles, and for some time lived in Indiana. H e subsequently removed t o the State o f New York, and in 1842 located permanently on in Noble. H e was among the first to take up land township, and although he did not settle until others had built their cabins and made their clearings, yet he familiar with the region from the time it began to upon with favor by The first settlers i n Noble came i n the During that spring the families of William Rippey, John Grove, and William Butts came to town,—all tered land except Mr. Rippey, whose father had taken up nine lots. N o n e o f these persons are now living in the township except the widow o f Mr. Grove and Francis N. Grove. M r . Grove settled on the his son now resides, and was long one o f the prominent men of the township. H e held numerous offices, in 1851, aged fiftyDarwin Wilson entered laud i n Noble i n 1836, but i t was not until 1843 that he moved his family upon it. T h e farm he located was the one now owned by Hon. George P. Robinson on section 14. D u r i n g the time from 1838 to 1840, Mr. Wilson was engaged in trade at David F. Gates being his only competitor there at that time (although others had previously been in business at the place). M r . Wilson kept two teams upon peddling goods, salt, etc., and taking produce as money was exceedingly scarce or of little value days o f " wild cat" and ' r e d dog" banks speculation Before removing to his farm, Mr. Wilson built and barn, and sowed twenty acres of wheat. O n the 17th of November, 1842, snow fell to a considerable the weather became very cold and severe. D u r i n g days of moderate weather, beginning about Jan. he moved his family t o the farm. T h e wisdom o f his taking advantage of the pleasant days was very apparent, for it turned cold again and a very deep which was not melted until early in April. T h a t season is remembered by the old settlers as "the hard winter." When he first moved to Noble, Mr. Wilson by persons with little Faith i n the soil that would not grow here; but he, being loath to ace .pt such a statement without proof, seeded fourteen acres t o clover the first year he occupied his farm. T h e result tirely satisfactory to him. T h e season was very while Mr. Wilson's neighbors were obliged to cut on the marshes and carry it off with poles, he fourteen tons o f excellent clover. N o t h i n g 32 heard as to the tame-grass growing properties of and a complete revolution i n this respect followed M r. Wilson's In 1861, Mr. Wilson removed to Coldwater in the grocery business, an accident, resulting in limb, having rendered him unable to attend to his farm duties. H e remained in trade On one occasion, in the days o f the early while Mr. Wilson was on his way from Tecumseh son to look for land, he stopped at the tavern of Mr. Taylor, five miles west of Coldwater, to get some dinner. Ta y l o r said the women were about to go for a visit, but could get him something to eat. Somewhat to of Mr. Wilson the bell rang in a very few minutes, surmised that they must have remarkably smart women or very little to eat. U p o n sitting down at the table still more greatly surprised at the array of him. T h e courses consisted of a single pickle, one slice of dry, black bread, a glass of water, and three pieces meat, which had the appearance of having been used by children to wipe a dusty floor with. T h e inner volted, and he drew back. J u s t then the landlord, who had been feeding Wilson's horse, came in from the barn and said," Why, why, you haven't eaten your dinner yet l" " No, sir," replied Wilson, " I never eat such a ner I" T h e reader is at liberty to fill the blank word or words as he chooses to imagine Wilson said. H e ordered his home, paid his bill,—which was five and proceeded on his way, with the intention, of finding some place more suited to his taste he felt the pangs o f hunger. M r . Wilson is living in John Grove, before mentioned, married a sister liam Rippey. Sidney Matthews, who came also in 1836, settled in the same neighborhood with Grove, Butts. A few located the same year in the western part of town, among them Thomas Shane, now deceased. T h e latter is thought to have been the first actual settler in the townshi The Stewarts located about 1836 in the south the Indiana line, and John Curtis came in 1837. P e t e r Mallow bought land in 1840 and settled in 1841. Robert Burnside and William H. 1Veaver (latter from St. Joseph Co.) were also S. S. Bushnell located in Noble in 1838. H e chased his land two or three years previously. H e died in 1873, at the age of seventy-five years. H i s son, Ephraim B. Bushnell, is yet a resident of' the township, and was but a boy when his father came. M r s . E. B. father's name was Bennett, came with him to awee Co., in 1836. Benjamin Depue, who settled in Noble in 1836, died in May, 1852. H i s son, Henry Depue, is living in ship When, in 1841, Peter Mallow built his house, he per chased his lumber at the mill of Adams & Kent, in Br's, son township, paying thetn at the rate of six dollars per theusand feet. Some time in 1844, Mr. Mallow one day saw some kind of an animal wade through the ef his house and plunge into the lake. Seising �326 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . pole which lay near by, Mr. Mallow hurried around to the opposite side o f the lake to head i t off, and found i t to be a bear. T h e animal turned back on seeing Mallow, and the latter sent his son to Mr. Shane's, requesting him over and bring his gun. S h a n e arrived in due gether with a number o f other men, and Bruin was soon driven into a tree. A shot from the rifle deprived life, and he fell into a fork i n the branches, his removal therefrom by main strength. A man climbed the tree and dislodged the carcass, which fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Mr. Mallow has been prospered to a large degree during his residence of nearly forty years in Noble, and has a 6iie farm of Isaac Brooks, whose son, I . H . Brooks, i s still dent, settled i n Noble in 1836, and died i n the spring of 1866 D. Blanchard, who located two and one-half of Bronson village in 1838-39, at present occupies a farm in Noble C. R. Smith, who passed through this part of the county before i t was surveyed, settled i n town about 1840-42. His father, Joseph Smith, made the first the farm a t Hickory Corners, now owned b y Calvin H . Flanders. T h e latter has lived upon the place since March 4, 1857. The log house now standing at Hickory Corners, on the south side o f the road, was built originally by Ambrose Hale, Esq., one of the early settlers of the town, and who has been dead many years. I n the political matters of the township he was long prominent. North of the Corners, and east of the road, is now living Mrs. Mary Henderson, in the log house which Thomas Henderson, built many years since. H e also took up the land. M r . Henderson died in 1846. H e was from Rochester, N. Y., and settled first at Co., in 1835, removing t o Noble in 1836. H i s sides with their son, Thomas William Robinson, who settled i n 1836, lived on an eighty-acre l o t on section 2, north o f the farm o f M r. Flanders Two reasons are given for naming the locality "Hickory Corners." Several hickory-trees stood where the two roads cross at the time the first settlers of these but one is now left. I t is also stated that habitants o f the vicinity were principally Democrats for many years, and the hickory-tree is the wellof that party; from these two circumstances—or either of them—the name probably originated. I t is i n the midst of some of the best farming country in the occasional clusters of trees lend their beauty to scap John H . Lane, from Syracuse, Onondaga Co., N . Y. , came to Michigan in 1833, and for several stage over the Chicago turnpike; first and Jonesville, and afterward for three years water and Bronson. H e also drove into Detroit for a short time. T h e ,zrenter portion of the time he spent as driver was on the line between Bronson and Niles. I n \l arch, 1811, he Mile to Noble township and bought the laud where be now lives, end bulk a base imam mediately after, making the O m ismearearmite en the place. H e had previously (1837) entered lend is the tone of Ovid, and for two years lived in the southern pert d De Kalb Co., Ill., before moving to his premat pine e t resident*. H i s farm lies i n t h e beaatiful region east of Hickory Corners, and is among time ban is the neighborhood. H i s son, F. H. Lane, is the clerk o f the township. William Butts, a blacksmith b y trade, and one o f the first settlers in Noble, met his death in a A boy came into his shop with a rifle, wishing taken out. T h e breech was unscrewed and the powder poured out, after which the boy took an iron it red-hot, and endeavored t o melt the bullet. ceeding i n his efforts, Mr. Butts took the rod. heated i t again, and placing i t in the barrel, with the outer end against his breast, undertook t o push o u t the ball. I t seems that a little powder had been left, for followed, driving the rod through M r. Butts' body. killing him on the spot. I t is seldom that such an in any locality, and the extreme carelessness of such ceeding is apparent John Croy, the first settler in Gilead afterward i n Noble, but finally went ,West. before unloading William S. Willer settled i n Noble in 1843, up a farm. H e held office to some extent while of the township, being town clerk six years i n He is now living in Burr Oak, St.. Joseph C . James Miller settled with his parents i n 1830-31, and i n 18411 removed to the farm he pies in the west part of Noble. David Foster, in the year 1830, came to St. Joseph Co., stopping on his way at Lima. Ind.. with a man named Foltes, who lived at that place in a which is yet standing. A f t e r staying at White Pigeon a month, Mr. Foster endeavored to persuade his brother to go with h i m to Chicago. I n this he failed, and started alone. H e stopped for the night at a place sixteen miles east o f La l'orte, Ind., and was informed that the future "Garden ('ity" was but an embryo settlement, containing a fort and It; houses. built principally of logs, ited by halfbreeds ;Ind foreigners. I l e was dissuaded from journeying farther in that direction and returned to White Pigeon, and thence east through Branch County. N e a r Hog Creek or Prairie River, he became lost i n the forest near Adams' & Pierces saw-mill. Finding a man chopping he inquired the way out, and was directed to the from there t o Brouson, finally coming out o f safely. I n the titll of 1835 he located at Bronson village, near the present site of the union school building, and in August, 1837, removed to a location i n Noble township, half a mile east o f Janies Anderson, now a prominent marble dealer i n Coldwater, settled h i Noble i n the fall o f 1842, i n the southeast, corner o f the township, where i s now lake bearing his name. Previous to locating here been employed as teamster i n Noble Co., Ind., and is accredited the honor o f naming Noble township. M r . ��WALTER VY SMITH qESIOENCE p i - WALTER W S M I T H . t , �_ ���E 0 QA II II • ?Is n - I s : I - a d " _ ii.:;S-14111",--127.411r11,11111iMililliil:%je 9110114;11111111111$2111:1111111111111MIIIMI -r, . w_ tli11Lagm it 1 1 1 1 1 . f E S 1 D I C E O F T H E LATE E . D. & A t ; �pOstz T . ElFeAMCM CO MICH ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Anderson is a native of Scotland, and came to the United States i n 1333. I n his youth he learned the typo's art, and when standing at his case was a very Arriving in New York City, he worked for Bennett, Sr., before he established the New York Herald, and surprised his fellow-printers b y his dexterity, they having taken him for a person entirely without of the business. I n 1848 he removed to Coldwater and engaged i n business, and has remained there up to the present. M r . Bennett was himself much surprised when he learned of the young man's worth, and was ward his staunch friend. Lewis Burgess settled in Monroe County in afterwards removed to Noble, bringing both his gvandparents with him. H i s grandfather died at vanced age of ninetyJohn Curtis, now of Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co., settled in Noble about 1844-45, on the place where his Curtis, In the northwest part of the township is what as the "Dutch Settlement," from the fact that the first settlers in the neighborhood were families of from the State of Pennsylvania. T h e first family was that of Daniel Hinebaugh ( or Hitnebaugh), who settled in of 1836. T h e temporary shanty which he erected was the first building put up between the turnpike and the Pretty Prairie, in Indiana. H e is still residing on the farm he first entered. T h e father of Emanuel Hinebaugh an early arrival. During more recent years a number of have settled in the township, east of the old their Mennonite society has built a frame their religious meetings are held according to customs. T h e society was organized about the church built about 1869. Recently-about 1874-a new society was formed with views of a more under the leadership of John Crupp, one of The church is located on section 2, and the congregation is quite NOBLE P O S T-OFFICE was established about 1854, with William Butts as master. I n 1857 the office was kept by Darwin the present George P. Robinson farm. H e by S. S. Bushnell, and he by E. T. Gardner, following whom came John Lane. H i s successor, and incumbent, is Henry Teller, who keeps the office i n his house at Hickory The first school in Noble was probably taught in a log sehool-house which stood a quarter o f a mile north of' Hickory Corners. T h i s was while the township a s part of Bronson, and the children o f the few families then living in the neighborhood attended. T h e name of the teacher is forgotten. T h e site of the schoolbeen moved to a location a short distance east of ners, where a neat brick building has been erected. T h e old log structure long ago became a thing of School was also taught early in the hood, and by some i t is thought that was the first townshi Alter the first town-meeting. in the spring of 3 2 7 board of school inspectors met on the 26th of April at the house of Sidney Marble, and granted a teacher's to Miss Rhoda Wheeler. O n the 3d o f M a y following they met to organize the township into school viding it into five. Certificates were the same to Hannah M. Gaines and Loretta Bullock. of Noble number five at present, and are all in flourishing condition C I V I L RECORD. " A t a meeting of the voters of the town of vened at the house o f John Grove, on Monday, the 7th day of April, 1845, for the purpose o f organizing a town board agreeable to an act of the Legislature of "The meeting was called t o order by Ambrose Hale nominating E . W . Craig moderator pro tem., who was elected. I t was then voted that A . Hale, A . Hale (2d), William Butts, William Rippey, and Sidney tute the town board of election. Vo t e d , that ble serve as clerk. T h e board was then sworn by Ichiel Driggs, Esq. T h e polls were opened at ten o'clock A.M."* The following were the officers chosen at viz.: Supervisor, Thomas Shane; Township Clerk, William Rippey; Justices o f the Peace, John Grove, Elijah W . Craig, Cyrus Beardsley, Jared Fuller; S. Bushnell; School Inspectors, Sidney Marble, William Shane; Commissioners of Highways, I. H. S. Bushnell, J. H. Smith; Constables, William Milliman, Sidney S. Matthews, John Curtis, James seers of the Poor, Ambrose Hale (2d), S. S. masters, David Foster, Levi M . Curtis, Andrews Watling, Walter W. Smith, Moses Strong, I D . ter, William Butts. Thomas Shane was unwilling to accept the supervisor, and therefore neglected t o take the required oath. Ambrose Hale was appointed in his plaice, jamin B. Rood received the appointment of overseer in the place of Ambrose Hale The principal officers o f the township o f Noble from 1846 to 1877, inclusive, were the following, viz.: SUI•ERYISORS. • 1860. W i l l i a m Rippey. 1861. M i s h i t T. Gardner. 1862-64. W i l l i a m Rippey. 1865-67. Blights T. Gardner. 1860. Sheldon W. Sharp. 18611-71. E l i s h a T. Gardner. 1872. N o record. 1873-74. George P. Robinson. 1875-77. Horace P. Jeffrey. 1846-48. Ambrose Hale. 1849. Samuel S. Bushnell. 1850-52. D a r w i n Wilson. 1853. S. S. Bushnell. 1854. D a r w i n Wilson. 1855. Samuel S. Bushnell. 1856-57. W i l l i a m Rippey. 1858. Jeremiah Shane. 1859. L e v i Calhoun. TOWNRIII I C L E R K S . 1846-47. W i l l i a m Butts. 1848. W i l l i a m Rippey. 1849-50. W i l l i a m Butts. 1851. Robert F. K o r t r i g h t . 1852. Erastus Crofoot. 1853. D . S. Crofoot. 1854. W i l l i a m R i p p e y. 1855. Jeremiah Smith. 1856. Marshall Morrill. 1857. M i l t o n Humphrey. 1858. W i l l i a m S. Willer. 1859. W i l l i a m Rippey. 1860. Horace P. Jeffrey. 1861-66. W i l l i a m S. W i l l e r. 1867. J o h n Eisler. 1868-69. John Snyder. 1878. Culbert It. Smith. 1871. John Snyder. 1872. N o record. 1 8 7 2 - 7 7 . . / 0 11 / S c , v o . Township record, ; �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . JUSTIFIES O P T H E P E A C E . 1846. M e I s a r Russell. 1662. W i l l i a m P a t t e n . 1847. C y r u s Beardsley. William Butts. 1863. D a r w i n W i l s o n . 1848. E l i j a h W . Craig. Elisha T. G a r d n e r. Sheldon W . Sharp. 1849. W i l l i a m B u t t s . 1850. W i l l i a m R i p p e y. 1864. J a k o b Tr a y e r. Sheldon W . Sharp. 1851. J o s e p h H . S m i t h . 1865. M . S. B o w d i s h . Horace P. J e ff r e y. 1852. N a t h a n i e l Sanborn. 1866. M I A s T. G a r d n e r. 1353. W i l l i a m B u t t s . A. B o y i e r. M . S. B o w d i s h . 1854. J o h n F u l l e r. 1867. J o h n F u l l e r. 1860. E p h r a i m Shane. 1 1 1 6 8 . 1861. H o r a c e P. J e ff r e y. John L a n e . J 1 9 4 1862. A l b e r t N . S u n d i a l ] . 1863. H o r a c e P. J e ff r e y. 1864. J o h n Snyder. 1 Homer Shane. J 8 C u 1 A. L . Stevens. 1 1867. C o r y d o n Sharp. 9 C a r l o w Sharp. l . o 7 1 l a FOINIC A w a i t R o a m e r. b . b e H o r a c e P. Jidtrey. s 'Cider. C o r y d o n ffeasy. r t K . Smith. 1 8 7 2 . N o reseed. 8 C u l b e r t R . Smith. 8 1 H e n r y Bogardus. l 1 8 7 0 . 1865. L o w e l l C. Ransom. 1866. E . 0 . Lei:union. o 8 7 7 7 3 . 4 . B y r o n Calhoun. 5 . J o h n Snyder. 1 8 7 6 - 7 7 . J o h n Snyder. 1868. J a c o b Tr a y e r. S. S. M a t t h e w s . To W NNE I P P E R I N T E N D E I I T S O F SCHOOLS. E d g a r Wa r d . 1855. J o h n M c C l u n g . 1856. W i l l i a m P a t t e n . 1869. M . S. B o w d i s h . Jacob Tr a y e r. Jeremiah S m i t h . Sheldon W . Sharp. J o h n K e l l e r. M i l t o n H u m p h r e y. 1870. J a m e s L W a l k e r. 1857. J o h n F r y. N. S. F a i n ! . 1858. E l i s h a T. G a r d n e r. 1846. E . W . C r a i g . 1873. M i l e s W h i p p l e . 1847. M a r v i n Babcock. Jacob L i l l y. 1874. I I . 13ogardus. 1859. J o h n M c C l u n g . 1860. J a c o b Tr o y e r. Seth M i l l i m a n . , 1 8 7 5 . J a c o b C. L i l l y. 1861. M . S. B o w d i s h . i 1 8 7 6 . J a c o b Tr a y e r. 1877. J o h n F u l l e r. George H e a t s . 1862. E l i s h a T. G a r d n e r. TREASURERS. 1846. S a m u e l S. B u s h n e l l . 1860. Chester E . P o r t e r. 1847-49. D a v i d Foster. 1861-62. W i l l i a m Patten. 1850. J a m e s Sweeting. 1863-64. C u l b e r t R . S m i t h . 1851. S i d n e y S. M a t t h e w s . 1865. A n d r e w B o y i e r. 1852. S a m u e l S. B u s h n e l l . 1866-67. J o h n Swain. 1853-55. L e v i Calhoun. 1868. D a v i d B l a n c h a r d . 1856. N o record. 1869-71. J o h n F u l l e r. 1857. L e v i Calhoun. 1872. N o record. 1858. W i l l i a m R i p p e y. 1873. C o r y d o n Sharp. 1859. C u l b e r t R . S m i t h . 1874-77. T h o m a s J . L i n k . COMMISSIONERS OF H I G H W A Y S . 1846. W i l l i a m P. Patterson. W i l l i a m Shane. 1861. J a c o b Tr a y e r. J o h n Lane. John C u r t i s . 1862. J o h n Lane. 1863. D a v i d L i n k . 1817. M a r v i n Babcock. J o h n Grove. 1864. A n d r e w B o y i e r. E l i j a h W . Craig. I 1877. W i l l i a m McMillan. liVERSEERS o r r i t e POOH. 1871. S h e l d o n W . Sharp. 1872. N o record. Wa i t e r W. S m i t h . M. S. B o w d i s h . 1873-76. W i l l i a m S. M i l l e r. 1849. E g b e r t Gaines. Thomas Shane. A. H a l e . 1850. J e r e m i a h Bogardus. B e n j a m i n B . Rood. E. W . C r a i g . 1848. M a r v i n Babcock. P R A IN COMMISSIONERS. 1873. E p h r a i m 11. Bushnell. 1876. E p h r a i m B . Bushnell. 1874. N o record. 1875. E m a n u e l H i m e b a u g h . 1977. N o record. The following officers were elected in 1878 : Supervisor. Horace P. Jeffrey; Township Clerk, Frank H. tices o f the Peace, Edgar A . Ward. William Treasurer, John Snyder; Commissioner of liam Mallow; Township Superintendent o f Schools. John T. Stryker; School Inspector, Merritt Calhoun ; Drain Commissioner, D a v i d L i n k ; Constables, I r a Cleveland, Roman L. Whipple. William Mallow, David Burdett. Among those in Noble township who have formation which is embodied in this article are Walter W. Smith, John Lane and son, Calvin H. Flanders, Numerous minutes have been made also from articles in the Goldwater Republican. 1865. U r i a h R u t h r o ff . 1848. C . P a l m i t e r. 1866. J a c o b Tr a y e r. 1849. J o s e p h H . S m i t h . 1850. E g b e r t Gaines. 1867. D a v i d B l a n c h a r d . 1851. P e t e r M a l l o w. 1868. J o h n Swain. Jacob L i l l y. John 1852. J o s e p h H . S m i t h . Nathaniel F i l k i n s . 1853. J o h n F u l l e r. 1869. E d g a r A . Wa r d . 1870. D a v i d B l a n c h a r d . 1871. C o r y d o n Sharp. 1854. J a c o b Tr a y e r. 1855. G e o r g e C. Wa r d e n . 1872. N o record. 1873. E d w a r d Cummins. 1856. J o h n F u l l e r. 1874. D a v i d L i n k . B y r o n Calhoun. 1857. J a c o b Tr a y e r. Culbert R . S m i t h . 1858. J e r e m i a h S m i t h . 1875. D a v i d L i n k . 1859. C . W. Flanders. 1860. D a v i d L i n k . 1876-77. D a v i d L i n k . SCHOO 1846. C h a r l e s Wheeler. 1847. W a l t o n 0 . Richards. 1848. W i l l i a m M i l l i m a n . INSPECTORS. 1853. W i l l i a m Anderson. 0. F. P a r k e r. 1854. J a m e s H . R i p p e y. 1855. H o r a c e P. J a ff r e y. Wa l t e r W . S m i t h . Daniel Foust. 1949. James H . R i p p e y. 1856. J e r e m i a h Shane. 1857. H e n r y Bogardus. 1850. D a v i d Smith. 1861. Jamas 11. R i p p e y. Ephraiiti I I . Bushnell. 18514. E p h r a i m Shane. 1852. W i l l i a m R i p p e y. Doet. C l a r k . 1859. H e n r y Bogardus. Hunter P. J e ff r e y. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. GEORGE P. ROBINSON. the subject of this sketch, was born in Franklin Co., Vt., June 7, 1827. H e r e , among t h e Green Mountains, he ,gTew to manhood, following the business of A joiner. I n 1864 he moved t o Noble township chased the fine farm now owned b y him. upright 'course and business qualities soon won for him the esteem and respect of his fellow-townsmen, and in was elected supervisor of his township, which office two terms. I n 1874 he was elected b y the Republican party (to which he has always belonged) to represent his district in the State Legislature, filling the office He then moved to La Grange, had., and engaged he being one of the directors of the First of that place. H e also oversew hits farm in Noble. O n the 9 t h o f J u n e , 1 8 5 9 , h e was m a r r i e d t o M i r e M a r i e t t a C. Spaulding, of Lima, Intl. �C I Among the in the west part of the town of Noble was Mrs. Christina Chase and her Mrs. Chase's husband, Ariel Chase, was born in Vermont, Jan. 18, 1789, where to manhood, business of a They were married Jan. 30, 1823. M r s . Chase was born in Durham, Maine. A f t e r they moved to roe Co., N . Y. , where M r. Chase engaged He died July 12,1830. There were born to M r. and Mrs. Chase two sons, Russell W., 1I IN( I MILS. C H R I S T I N A C H A S E . '11.%8E. agent. T h i s office he tilled two years with great credit. H e then retired from the road, where he died Mardi 27,1877. I n 1846, Mrs. Chase and her came to Michigan, and bought the west half f tie. 11,P1'111,a7.t ,Itterter of section eight which ‘v:is ti;;; o,•\\ m i i m p r. v, 4 1 , \%ith“,it any June 16, 1826, cey, Sept. 19, 1828. A f t e r her husband's death, Mrs. Chase remained son t w o years, and moved to Parma, Monroe County, where she educated The eldest, Russell ed railroading as holding the positions of mail agent, express agent, a n d traveling agent o f different railroads in Vermont, ing these places with such marked ability that, completion o f the Northern Pacific Railroad, he by its president to accept the position o f general freight l i t - s 5 E I . 1 . W . c 11 . 1 S E . road to i t ; b u t under their good management i t was soon cleared, and has ever since been their home. M r s . Chase earned with her needle a part of the money to improve the farm. S h e is now seventy-four years of age, is hale and is spoken of by her neighbors as a a true friend, and a lady of ���4 , 4 - , . . . , 1 " • ' • , . s ..k'rA..% ,` ' A N , . , RESIDENCE o r EPHRAIM B BUSHNELL, NOBLE, BRANCH ..- • ) 1 1 0 / 4 * L ''' ' ' , • • , ,1 ".• ip r't,$ A 0 �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. HORACE P. JEFFREY. Gurdon Jeffrey was born in New London, he resided until he was o f age. H e married for his first wife Miss Esther Butts. T h i s union was blessed with six children, Horace P., the subject of this sketch, being the fifth. M r s . Jeffrey died i n 1832. M r . for his second wife Miss Happy Smith, to whom born one child. Soon after his first marriage he moved to Oswego Co., N. Y., where he engaged in farming. F r o m Oswego County he moved to Monroe Co., N. Y. Horace P. Jeffrey was born i n New Lisbon, Oswego CO., N . Y., June 24, 1827. I n Lisbon and in Monroe Co., N. lived till he was twenty-seven years old, working on His opportunities for acquiring an education were limited mostly to common schools. S t i l l he obtained sufficient to fit him for the active business life he has On the 27th day of' September, 1853, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mariette Clark, who died the next April. After his wife's death M r. Jeffrey remained single four years, when he was again married, Jan. 27, 1858, his choice being Miss Laura A . Coulter. M i s s born Dec. 26, 1836, and was the daughter of John randa Rawson) Coulter. T h e r e have been born to them six children, as follows: John M., Nov. 8, 1858; Elda J., Sept. 2, 1861; Sarah E., Dec. 10, 1863; Mary 14, 1865; Samuel G., Nov. 10, 1867; and Esther L., Feb. 12, 1869. M r . Jeffrey got his start in life ing his father's farm. I n 1854 he was seized with the Western fever and came to Michigan. B e i n g pleased with the country, he purchased the southetist quarter 5, in Noble township. I t was then almost but is now under good improvement, with ings, etc., all the work o f Mr. Jeffrey. T o this fine farm lie has added until he now Owns two hundred and thirty acres. M r . Jeffrey has always been.a member of cratic party, and has been several times its in town elections, having held the office of and for four years that of supervisor, filling the office with credit t o himself and t o the satisfaction o f townsme WALTER W. smiTir. the subject of this sketch, was born in the town wick, Caledonia Co., Vt. H e is descended, on side, from an old family in Holland named Webber. A n immense fortune was left by a member of this should have been ere this obtained by the Edward C. Smith, the father o f Walter W., was born i n New Hampshire, where he lived till after his marriage to Mitts Susannah Webber, Nev. 1, 1800. H e to Vermont. T o them were born thirteen children, the sixth of whom was Walter W. Smith, who resided mont till he was twenty-five years o f age, when West, stopping in New York. In April, 1837, he was married to Miss Frances Ann Shannon, who died Aug. 20, 1838. O n the 3d day o f March. 1841, Mr. Smith was again married, taking for his le Miss Sally Warren, daughter of' Ethan and Eunice (Owen) Warren. S h e was born in Hampton township, 4 3 2 9 Washington Co., N. Y. , Dec. 26, 1813. T h e r e born to M r. and Mrs. Smith five children, George W., Dec. 2, 1841 ; Edward, Dec. 25, 1843; Emily F., June 24, 1846; Walter S., Sept. 18, 1849, died Nov. 7, 1849; and Marshall F., Sept. 26, 1853. I n 1836, Mr. Smith came to Michigan, and after tramping over deal of the southern portion of the State, looking for finally selected the northwest quarter of section 10 township, which lie bought of the government. F o r this land he paid two hundred dollars, part o f which rowed. A f t e r making his purchase he went to Niles, Mich., where he worked several months, and then returned mont, but stayed only till spring, when he again and found employment in Niles and Goshen, Ind. H e r e two years were passed, when he was taken sick returned to Vermont, trying hard to sell his land; tunately for him, he could not find a purchaser, and he moved with his family on to his farm in Noble, has since resided. A t that time his land was all new, not a stick having been cut; but his untiring energy the wilderness blossom as a rose, and lie has now, in the evening of his life, an improved farm of over acres, one of the finest in the town, with buildings, all the work of his own hands. M r . always been an ardent Republican since the formation of that party, believing it to be the exponent of ment and liberal ideas. H e is and long has been of the Methodist George W.. Mr. Smith's eldest son, enlisted in bott's company o f three-months' men, and served in the first regiment which left the State. and was discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment. O n the of January, 1865, he was mustered as lieutenant in Co. K, 123d New York Volunteer Infantry, and took part in the battles of' the Wilderness. H e was mustered out June 8, 1865. A f t e r the war he went to Texas, and engaged in the mercantile business. H i s energy and qualities soon gave him prominence in the and he was elected a delegate to the State convention. H e was afterwards nominated by his a prominent office, but was murdered by the election, his body being riddled with eighteen bullets. Thus died a noble young man,- o n e who was destined to make his mark in SAMUEL S. A N D EPHRAIM B . BUSHNELL. Among the early settlers o f Noble township, there are none deserving o f more credit, or none who more to advance the best interests of his town, S. Bushnell. H e was born July 21, 1799, in Vermont. There he grew to manhood, working on a farm. ried Miss Lury Butts, who was born i n Their union was blessed with six children. I n 1836, Mr. Bushnell came to Michigan and bought of one hundred and twenty acres o f land on section 11, in Noble township, and settled upon i t in 1838. H e had nothing to commence with but energy and an will, but with the help of these qualities he soon made for �330 I I I ISTOR Y O F B R A NCH C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . himself a fine home in the wilderness. I n Bushnell was in an early day a Democrat, and by was elected town treasurer. A t the formation of publican party he joined its ranks, and became one o f its prominent members. H e was for many years many times represented his township in the conventions of his party, and became widely known throughout He died July 21, 1872, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, highly respected and esteemed by the citizens o f the township Ephraint B . Bushnell, the second child o f Samuel S. Bushnell, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y. , Oct. 12, 1825. Ile came to Noble township with his father in be has ever since resided. H e has grown up with the township, and has seen it change from an wilderness into pleasant homes and fine farms, and he has done his share in bringing about these happy results. O n the 13th day of April, 1848, he was married to Adeline Hale, daughter of Ambrose and Elizabeth (Larcum) Hale. Their union was blessed with four children : William B., born Feb. 21, 1849; Lury Ellen, born July 21, 1852; Ella Maria, born Jan. 11, 1858; and May Ardell, born July 30, 1860. M r s . Bushnell died Sept. 30, 1861. M r . Bushnell was married on the 6th day of November, 1862. to Esther A., daughter of Jacob and Leah nett, who was born Oct. 19, 1825. T h e r e have to them three children, as follows: Ambrose, Dec. 14, 1863; Jessie, July 17, 1866; and Grant, July 23, 1868. Soon after his first marriage, Mr. Bushnell commenced himself, working a farm on shares, by which means his start in life. H e afterwards bought a farm with his father, with whom he remained in partnership until 1867, when he became full owner of the fine farm on which he now resides. I n politics he is an ardent has been many times the standard-bearer of his party in the township, but i t being largely in the minority, he has never been ELISHA T . GARDNER. Elisha '1'. tiardner, the subject of this sketch, in the township of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., NOT. 7, 1814. W h i l e Elisha was yet a boy his father moved to Sandusky CO., 0., where he resided till he hoo Mr. Gardner's chancre fur acquiring au limited; still he made the most of his fitted himself to do any ordinary business. tion was that of a farmer, and he always proved cessful one. O n the 13th day of August, 1840, married t o Miss Catherine Alexander, who was born in Flint, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 19, 1824. A t the time of his marriage he owned a farm in Ohio. which he sold in 1847 In 1850 he went to California, taking the He remained in the land o f gold two years, engaged in mining, at which he was quite successful. nia he returned to Ohio, but soon after emigrated gan, arriving in 1854. He bought the farm he owned at the time of being part o f sections 1 2 and 1 3 i n The farm at t h e time h e purchased i t was nearly new, but his it dustry and good management 800D made of the fine places of the township. with fences, In polities, M r. Gardner was always a Democrat. H e was elected, while in Ohio, one of the county which place he held three years. S o o n after in Noble his abilities were recognized b y his and he was elected supervisor, which office he filled to the satisfaction o f his constituents, holding t h e office seven years. H e was also, for many years, a justice of Mr. Gardner was a man of sterling qualities, and business abilities. H e died June 7, 1878, mourned by a large circle of friends. S H E R W O O D . THE township of Sherwood occupies .the ner o f Branch County, and includes township number 5 south, in range 8 West of the principal meridian, as laid down on the government maps. I t was surveyed in 1826, by John Mullett, and the islands in the St. Joseph River were surveyed in 1845, by Noah Brookfield. John Mullett was long in the employ of the and surveyed many townships in the Western ing the memorable Black Hawk war he was engaged with his party in Northern Illinois, and they were from their work b y reported incursions o f Although Irrelevant t o tht• history o r shorwood, the lowing extract will prove interesting, as illustrating the fright which many, even in Michigan. experienced during the troublous times of 1832. I t is from the pen Jerome, who was one of Mullett's party in Illinois. T h e y reached Chicago early in (jet-bet', 1831. and eight days "Our survey ounnuenced and was prosecuted then an extreme cold night froze the prairie too deep for raising the requisite mound for a landmark, and was abandoned, to be renewed April 1, 1832. " The l i o n . Lucius Lyon was prosecuting a job veying from the Illinois State line northward, the t;uirtli principal meridian. O u r work was his, running east t o the Indian boundary-line at & l b w �! r. , 011,11'11;,-1,1F7- t " ;r1111111-111-111111111 RESIDENCE Or E . F. HAZEN, SHERWOOD , BRANCH �i L �H ISTOR Y O F BRANCH C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. River. A t each tier o f townships M r. Lyon left a letter on the northeast corner-post of the town, telling us of the progress o f his work and the progress of' the The day after the memorable Stillman battle with Black Hawk we were crossing the Blue Mounds with a town line leading us near the residence of Mr. Brigham, an Indian half-chief who had just arrived from minee camp with the details of the battle, stating to be three Indians and eleven whites. T h e long shaking of hands and the extreme cordiality of the Mullett for our safety, but he locked the fact in bosom and went nearly five miles east with our line and camped. T h e next morning we went two and a south and brought up an unfinished line, and formed and built a mound for a "On the completion o f this mound, Mullett gave the first hint of his fears by raising himself to full ing, 'Boys, r a i going in; I ' l l not risk my scalp for paltry shillings!' T h i s laconic speech was a tric spark to the whole company. M y own as i f every hair o f my head instantly became quill, raising my hat in air, myself from the ground—my head sore as " The Indian trail from Galena to Fort here, which Mullett instantly struck into on a doglowed by his frightened men, seeing a foe in sound or rustle of prairie grass, bounding involuntarily to right or left to avoid the rushing legions of Indians. F i v e miles brought us back to Brigham's T h e of the day before was all bustle, with a large number of' families gathered from the surrounding country, and lug fort was fast approaching " A short distance farther on we met with fifty mounted horsemen, going t o camp to have a talk, where the city of Madison Arriving at Willow Springs, we found the congregated for self-defense; regular guards were set for the night, who attested their vigilance two or three times during the night by seeing large bands o f proaching, firing into their midst, rushing into ade, and demanding a forlorn hope to go out and the case. T h e next day we arrived a t Oak found the neighborhood stockading the fort with pickets twelve feet high, split from trees, and set i n a trench, making a formidable defense. T h e guards were set, the fires extinguished in the stockade, and every and child camped down as best they might; and just as all bad become hushed as the house o f death the loud report of a gun from one of the sentinels sounded the the fort instantaneously became a bedlam. Impromptu officers hauled us about, jammed us against the pickets, bidding us stand there while they sought the stock o f arms, knocked open the barrel of' cartridges and them. I n the darkness and fright I cannot say cartridges found the inside of our muskets, but all nounced in perfect defensive order. T h e was brought into council, and testified that sixty Indians came over the fence a few rods from the fort, the butts o f their guns rattling on the top rail. A volunteer forlorn hope was obtained t o investigate the situation. T h e y 3 1 1 1 found the unyoked oxen used for hauling picketing had jumped over, and were feeding in the corner of All became quiet, but soon another sentinel came rushing in ; he was crawling along a fence, watching for Indians. and another was doing the same thing from direction, and on spying him had, as a snapped his piece at him, and he escaped death only by the missing of " Next day we arrived at Galena, and found part o f the town picketed. A guard was set as usual, and at about eleven o'clock came the crack o f a gun, and rushed i n a t the gate. H e had been watching in the bushes at the brow of the hill overhanging the of the town; a cautious crawling and crackling approached him ; he leveled his piece, and watched time the approach of the Indian, till he at length sighted him, oil all-fours, took deliberate aim, fired, and silent. A forlorn hope, piloted to the spot by our faithful guard, found his unerring aim had planted a ball in the brain of a two-hundred"The Galena Rangers, a company of 80 oughly equipped by the government, were dispatched to Atkinson Camp, at Rock River ferry. O n nightfall, at Buffalo Grove, twelve miles from Rock River, it was deemed unsafe to pass through before morning; therefore they encamped on the open prairie about two miles from timber. N e a r midnight one of the and reported a large band of Indians just crossed camp. Notwithstanding the earnest protestations o f the next sentinel that they passed b y h i m of three deer, this valiant band b y one o'clock were in their saddles in full retreat for Galena, riding the entire distance,—near 80 miles,—and arriving at four o'clock in the afternoon, roguishly reporting that Black coming in rear with 5000 Indians, and would In five minutes the intense fright of' the country fested in the screeching and screaming of women dren from one extremity of the town to the other. O n e man, catching the report, ran home ten miles into the country, and hurried his family and a neighbor's down a lead-mine shaft, thirty feet deep, having a good side-drift. After two days' incarceration, hearing no noise ventured his head to the top, and seeing a man traveling, learned from him that the story was "The friendly Blue Mound, Menominee half-chief, true to the instincts o f his nature, sent nine o f his tribe to slaughter us; they killed two men traveling near landmark. H e r e lived Phileo, a mail contractor, whom the public journals o f our county dubbed the scalping editor, owing to an article published in his 7 by giving an account of a hand-to-hand fight o f eleven white men against eleven Indians, in which he boasted scalped two Indians. T h e nightly alarms hairbreadth escapes continued during our twenty in Many incidents as ludicrous perhaps as occurred in Michigan, even though farther removed from the "seat of war." People yet living in this of numerous frights which they experienced during the name time, when fears that the dusky warriors o f Black �332 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Hawk would penetrate to their defenseless ply the tomahawk and fire-brand in merciless many hearts. L u c k i l y for them, however, the decided in time to prevent such proceedings, and the tinnily of the pioneer once again rested i n peace, while the roof above remained intact. T O P O O R A P H Y, S O I L , E T C . Nearly through the centre o f Sherwood township flows the St. Joseph River, which, although it has a rapid current. winds along in the midst of a swampy valley, filled heavy growth of black ash and other trees peculiar to such a soil. I n places this valley narrows, and everywhere its confines are high, bold banks, showing that t h e stream once occupied its entire breadth. A w a y from the vicinity of the river the soil i s usually sandy. Several smaller streams flow into the St. Joseph, some of them outlets o f large ponds. A c r o s s t h e extreme northwest corner of the township flows the Nottawa sepee in the Indian tongue). I t s characteristics are same as those of the St. Joseph. T h e latter in its course a broad, magnificent river, and was one of the great highways o f the prehistoric people, as well as the early French explorers and the numerous traders pers who traversed this region ere it was by the white race. A n d after the latter event i t as a channel i n which to transport household chandise, machinery, etc., which had been sent" around the lakes" to its mouth. F l a t -boats were principally used for such purposes. T h e St. Joseph, whose very name recalls to mind t h e efforts o f the missionaries who gave i t this appellation and established a mission at its mouth, along its entire course with most interesting history; not only that which has been made since the pioneer built his log cabin and commenced his clearing, but that o f other days, still more remote, when warlike nations contended for the mastery o f the region with all their savage skill, o r when the devoted bands of men from foreign to establish claims for their respective governments, and build a powerful empire in this beautiful "land all o f which were destined to be frustrated, and tutions o f a noble republic t o rise in their stead. T h e development of the country since its first ment has been wonderfully rapid, and the person who can recall its appearance forty or fifty years ago, and with the present, can truly be amazed at the though he has witnessed them all. The township o f Sherwood was organized i n the year 1836, by act of the Legislature, and included also ent township of Union, which was separately organized the succeeding year (1837). Sherwood was named at stance o f its first settler, Alexander E . Sherwood Forest, i n England. W h e n i t that less than half a century has passed since this township was settled, the following figures from the State census of 1874 will be significant. T h e township, like all bors, has had a remarkable growth. P O P U L AT I O N A N D O T H E R S TAT I S T I C S . Total population in 1871 (575 males, 4118 females) 1 . 0 7 3 No. or ,,,'r f t a x a b l e land 9 2 , 1 2 2 Na. o f *mem o f land owned b y individuals a n d uoinpanies 2102,8, •• i m p r o v e d land " l a n d exempt from t a x a t i o n - . 9 3 Value o f latter, including iesprovensents- $ 1 6 , 1 0 4 1 No. o f acres in school-house sites 7 " • • c h u r c h and patronage sites 1 . 5 e burying-grounds 3 . 5 4 .• " r a i l r o a d r i g h t o f way a n d depot rounds 7 8 Acres o f property used o r i n t e n d e d f o r o t h e r public purposes 3 No. o f farms i n township 1 8 3 " a c r e s in farms 20'299110.92 Average number a c r e s i n farms No. o f acres o f wheat raised in 1874 3 , 4 2 3 3,314 " c o r n " 1 8 7 3 1,885 •' b t o h e l s o f wheat " 3 7 , 0 5 9 corn " " 5 0 , 8 8 7 all other grain raised i n 1 8 7 3 9 , 2 4 4 potatoes " 5 , 5 5 9 I n c o f hay cut i n 1873 18,088 pounds id wool sheared i n 1873 144,574 pork marketed " 47,995 butter made fruit dried for market i n 1 8 7 3 24,739 599 barrels o f cider made in 1873 1,300 inaple-sugar made in 1874 39 times in orchards bushels o r apples raised i n 1079 15,625 4.1 1 8 7 3 1 5 . 6 2 5 3 .‘ plums " 1 0 7 9 It cherries melons a n d garden vegetableu raised i n 1872 3,009 melons a n d garden vegetables raised in 1873 2,900 Total value of fruit and garden vegetables, 1 8 7 2 $3,822 1873 $3,022 No. o f horses, o n e y e a r old a n d over, owned i n 54 1874 mules owned i n 1074 8 work oxen 51 milch cows neat cattle, one y e a r old a n d over, other 68 than oxen and cows 1 , 4 0 3 swine over six months old 4,534 sheep " 3,61. " s h e a r e d in I saw-mills ( i n c l u d i n g o n e l u m b e r a n d 4 shingle m i l l ) 6 persons employed in same $4,900 Amount o f capital invested 430,009 Feet of lumber sawed $2,210 Value of products No. o f planing-nulls " p e r s o n s employed i n g a m e 2 Capital invested $ 2 , 0 0 0 Value of products I M O C. 4.4 64 S E T T L E M E N T. In t h e northern part o f Sherwood and the southern part o f the adjoining. township of Athens, Calhoun what was known as the " D r y Prairie Settlement." from the prairie upon which it was located. T h e portion in Atlict, received the first arrivals, and quite a cluster o f had been improved ere little of the surrounding entered, or the cabins o f other pioneers quently " D r y Prairie" was familiar to those who settled later, and after the name of Athens was adopted tion of that particular town.hip was for some to many living in adj. % d n . 11:1.1 e . t familiar with the name •• Dry Prairie,- and as such knew it. The following persons, with their families, were it the portion o f the prairie itill.riced viz.: Warren Nichols, I l i r i t u t Doubleday. Benjamin "I' Ferris, Alfred Holcomb, Isaac Crossett. L o t I% I, and Amlirose Nichols. I n the month o f July, 1.-O2.. the cholera made its iippearanee in the settlement, ous families were caused t o mourn the lost of Warren Nichols, his wife. and three children nere ('urns) \virtu!. ���MRSOSCAR ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The name of Sherwood Forest, in England, is all. There, i n the "days o f Auld Lang Syne," Robin Hood and his " merrie men" held high carnival; bold Little John" and " Friar Tuck" won each a page tory, and those knights o f the bow and wondrous deeds beneath the shades o f the There stands Newstead Abbey, the birthplace of' the poet whose lines have thrilled the nations o f the world,—the immortal Byrom—he who espoused the Greek finally laid down his life in their territory. Forest. however, are his remains resting, far from where he witnessed scenes of strife and carnage. B u t little of the original forest now remains, although the name still clings tenaciously to the region so historic Itild so dear to the heart of every Briton. The first white man who made a in Sherwood township was Alexander E. on the 14th of March, 1832, left his home in "Sherwood Forest" and set forth for the United States. H e is of Nottingham, in the shire of the same name, at the Dry Prairie settlement in the month of July of the same year he left England (1832. W h e n , in 1836, the organization of a new township was discussed the name of Sherwood was proposed by Mr. Tomlinson, in of the home of his earlier years. W h e n , the Mr. Tomlinson settled, the cholera made such roads in the Dry Prairie settlement, he was building house, the first one in the township. L o t his place in Athens and removed to Sherwood, and built a house about the same time Mr. Tomlinson The following persons located in Sherwood in 1833, viz.: Joseph D. Lane, Clement Russell. Robert Waldrom—the latter had been out previously and purchased his up a small spot, sowed some apple-seed in it, it with a pen four rails square. T h e trees from these seed are HOW growing on his old place, believed by Mr. Tomlinson to have been the first Branch County. A f t e r arranging his pen, M r. Waldron returned to New York State for his family, and ing season came back with them, driving the in a cart drawn by a yoke In 1834, Joseph Russell and William Minor arrived in town, and in 1835 the number of the settlers by the arrival of Thomas West, Sr., and family, jamin Blossom and family. J o h n Giltner and family, Thomas Lee, John and Nahum Sargent, David Keyes, David B. Cooley, Sr., and l r a Palmer Came in 1836-37, and after this the immigration was very rapid, so that in 1839 and 1840 the township had become F. R. Johnson has lived upon his present farm F. C. Watkins first came to the State i n located in Calhoun County, following front Jackson made by a Mr. Doubleday, who came through with some two ntenths before. T h e track left by enabled Mr. Walking to keep the trail. I n 1835 removed to Branch County, and is now residing, on 'farm in the northeast part of Sherwood, where years Its kept what was known as the John Btanton settled in 1835 and died in Ilenjanain Shaw erne 33 Thomas Lee located i n Sherwood i n 1836, with his family, on the farm where his son, Horace 0 . resides. T h e elder Lee died in 1851. O n this been exhumed the bones o f two Indian children, parently about ten years of age and the other older. Those of the younger were found when Mr. Lee excavated the cellar over which his house now stands, and the other in the fall o f 1878. Those o f the former are now in the possession of a physician residing at Athens, Wolves were very troublesome during the early days in this township, and neither life nor property was them. T w o young men named Lanning,, living 17, were on one occasion visiting at Mr. Lee's, mained until after darkness had set in. They for home, and soon the long-drawn and lugubrious howl of a wolf greeted their ears and struck terror to Anon it was answered from another direction, and quickly the hungry brutes gathered upon their pathway, feasting on bunion flesh and blood. T h e situation of the young men was extremely perilous; they were a mile and a quarter from home and pressed close by brutes. T h e i r feet moved rapidly in frantic endeavor to tarry their owners to a place o f safety, and at last they stopped, yelled shrilly a t the wolves and clapped their hands. T h i s had the effect of frightening the porarily, and enabled the boys to gain upon them. T h e manieuvre was kept up until finally they pale and terribly agitated, and with no desire to like experience as long as A young Indian, fifteen o r sixteen years o f age, was killed and devoured by wolves within a mile o f present residence, but not before be had brained seven or eight of them with his hatchet. W h e n his found the dead wolves were discovered lying around the tree which he had undoubtedly stood with his while delendim, A man named Perry, who lived half a mile east of Mr. Lee's, had four or five pigs in a covered log pen, and they would weigh perhaps 100 pounds each. One night of wolves Caine prowling around and frightened the badly that one finally ran out through a hole in the pen. The wolves seized him and made off towards The load was pretty heavy for them, however, and M r. Perry, hearing the squeals o f the luckless " shote," and discovering its predicament, seized his gun and ing one of the wolves, upon which they abandoned their burden and were soon lost in the forest. T h e pig limped back to the pen, sore trona A fine two-year-old heifer, belonging to Mr. Walbert, in the same neighborhood, was frightened into the woods by wolves and given up for lost. S h e returned dome time afterward, however, lint badly bitten. O n sions dead animals were dragged into the their carcasses became food for the omnipresent fangs stripped the flesh from them and left their bones to bleach and crumble, while other prey George Moyer is yet living on the farm where in 1835, and farther north is John R. Lee, who came the same year. J . B. Havilaud, now a reeident of ship, settled in the county in 1841. John �334 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C U M A N . in 1832 O h I. M. Palmer in 1837, Perry Ansley in 1836. with h i s father, who owned the titran where his son now lives, and L. R. Ford in 1836. Hon. I . D. Beall settled i n 1837, on the farm where he at present resides. H e has twice represented his district in the Legislature. U p o n his arrival i n the township t h e Indians were yet very numerous and generally quiet and peaceful. O n c e , however, Mr. Beall refused t o give food to an Indian who had lied to him, and aroused the warrior's enmity to such a degree that he could scarce restrain his passion. N o t long afterward, Mr. Beal was a t work in h i s field, when t h e report o f a heard in the adjoining fitrest and a bullet whistled over his head. T h i n k i n g it a chance shot, lie paid no attention t o the matter ; but soon another leaden messenger passed most uncomfortably close to his ear, and he "stood not upon the order of his going," but made the liveliest time credited to his record, and i n a few minutes reached his house. H e took down h i s rifle and loaded i t , with t h e shooting his would-be assassin, when another Indian came in and begged t h e privilege of going in his stead. T h e request was granted; soon the Indian came back and said, "Bill, no shoot," and M r. Beall was never lested. W i t h this exception, his dealings with were of the most friendly nature. One o f the Pottowattamies, named Pam-tamuch attached to the settlers, and when i t was arranged to remove the Indians West he felt very badly about it, and used to come to Mr. Lee's and complain about such ceeding. M r . Lee, Sr., gave one o f Pana-ta-pee's boys a suit of clothes and a name. W h e n Gen. Brady's soldiers were expected to escort the Indians to their Pam-ta-pee fled with h i s family to a large swamp houn County, where they remained concealed until some days after the others had departed. H i s infant child cried a great deal, and the father, fearful of discovery quent removal, seized it by the heels and dashed its brains out against a stump. H e and his squaw lived of their days in this neighborhood. O n e of their appeared suddenly, and i t was supposed he was eaten by wolves, as his gun and pieces of his clothing were afterward found An ugly-tempered Indian, named Muck-ahimself o f a rifle with a very long barrel, and said tended to kill Gen. Brady with i t when he came them. I n order to show what he would do he loaded the gun in the presence o f a number o f Indians and whites. and aiming at a charred stump about eight rods off, fired. The bullet failed to penetrate the stump, and rolled t o the ground, amid the derisive laughter o f the loading with a heavier charge o f powder, he fired again, when the bullet barely stuck in the stump. Chagrined and mortified, he gave up, and made no trouble when the troops arrived N. Wilcox settled in Sherwood i n 1837, where lives, on the farm next west of I. D. Beall's. H i s son, L. P. Wilcox, was at the autumn election i n 1878 chosen t o fill the office of sheriff for Branch County. It is related that at Joseph Lane's houseof liquor was used, according to the custom o f The article was very cheap, and of a quality to the poison now in use. S i x t y pounds of corn chase twelve quarts, and, as it was not considered to indulge, it way be inferred that were poured down the throats of the N. A. Billings came to Michigan in 1837, and settled is 1842 where he now lives. P e t e r Renew settled in 1840. A. W. Kinyou entered his land in 1835, but did upon it until The first road in Sherwood township was what 118 the Territorial road," running from Union City to Leonidas, and laid out by commissioners appointed Territorial Lyman Studley and his brother. Hiratu W. among die early settlers of this township. T h e y a locality six miles north o f Batavia. Genesee CO., N. Y. Lyman came to A t hies, Calhoun Co.. Mich.. in to Sherwood in 1S3K. H i s brother probably came to the township the latter year also. B o t h are During the first o f the California gold went to the " N e w El Dorado," and was followed by his brother in two or three years. T h e latter died on home. H i s son, Jerome J. Studley. is the ship clerk, having held the position Ryan Williams, also from Genesee Co., N. Y. , came to Sherwood in 1838, with his wife and six children, and settled on section 28, about a mile from his dence. I n 1848 he returned to New York, where mained until 1858. when he settled permanently wood. U p o n his arrival in 1838 he could not enough to help him raise his log house, and was obliged to accomplish the work with the aid of a yoke of oxen cable The first settler on the south side of the River in Sherwood was John Onderdonk, who New York City in 1836. A man named Lowry lived about the same time on the south line of the Ephraim Plank came probably the same year. two years after this no others came, but by 1838 ern portion of town commenced Hiram Doubleday was one of the first settlers, the office ef supervisor twelve or fifteen years. H e was the second to fill that office in Chauncey Bartlett. now living east of settled early in Union township, subsequently removing to Sherwood. J a b i n Hazen came to the State in settled in Calhoun County, between Homer and Marshall. In 1841 he removed with his family to his son, E. F. Hazen, The first frame house in Sherwood township was built by John Onderdonk, who has been mentioned as settler south of the river. H i s house stood on section 28. The first white child born in the township was ter of Robert Waldron, which died in infancy. T h e first death was that of the father of Joseph D. Lane. a veteran of the Revolution, and came on a visit to accompanied by another son, Asher Lane. H e was very old and infirm, and used a cane in walking. sonic weeks he started alone, though nearly the woods to visit an old friend named Gilbert, living �HORACE 0 . LEE. The Lee family are good old Revolutionary stock, the maternal grandfather of having been a soldier in tionary war, while his father did good service in of the British from Horace 0 . Lee was born i n the town of Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 9, 1823. H e was the son of Thomas and Anice (Beaman) Lee, who had a family of The elder Lee was a joiner by occupation, and a ing man of excellent habits. born i n the town of July 18,1779. I n 1836 with his family, which consisted of his wife and six children, and settled upon the farm by his son Horace, where until his death, in 1851, in second year of In 1854 his wife died. born June 18, 1786, in Con Horace's early days were his father's farm, sharing and privations o f a pioneer family. Upon his father's decease the homestead upon which he now reside 1 HORACE In 1854 he married daughter o f Nathaniel Gilbert, Esq., one of the early settlers St. Joseph County. T h e y blessed with three children, one o f whom died in infancy. Mr. Lee has been tified with Sherwood for having filled acceptably the office o f justice, and for four years that treasure In his religious and ations he is a Methodist and lican He has devoted himself to the cares of the farm arid matron; sonal concern, and his life comparatively uneventful; but i n his chosen calling he has and enjoys the esteem and of his fellow- HIRAM D O U when he started for Michigan In 1676, Elisha family, then composed of his from Yorkshire, England, with his three children,—Harvey M., Harriet two 801718, Elijah and Elisha, and (now Mrs. D. D. Riley), and Myron. settled in Boston, Mass. The entire journey was made with without children, and an ox-team. T h e y arrived safely in the progenitor of the the town of Athens, Calhoun County in (the fourth family in the town), in the Hiram Doubleday, the subject of forepart of the month of this narrative, was bore in Mr. Doubleday purchased of Westfield, Washington Co., N. Y., of land about a mile and a Feb. 20, 1802. H e was the son of the present village of Athens. A t the Elisha, of the fifth Do BLED time o f M r. Doubleday's settlement Mercy Bement, who had a family of in Athens, Michigan was a ten ness, with here and there a Elisha ( the fourth), grandfather of our subject, was pioneers, who had erected their cabins and made of the Revolution, and was engaged in the defense of New but not a tree had been felled where Union City In 1836, Mr. Doubleday came to Sherwood London, Coun., against the burning by Benedict Arnold, three hundred and twenty acres of land, one hundred and sixty In 1804, Elisha, father of Hiram, emigrated acres on section 2, and one hundred and sixty on section 4. From ton County to Onondaga County, and settled in the town of that time until his removal to Union City, in 1872, no Fabius, where he was an early settler. H e was a more prominently identified with the town. H e assisted in the became one of the prominent citizens of that county, present organization of the town, and was elected its in Fabius in the sixtieth year of his age. H e was a man of visor, which position he filled acceptably two terms in unquestioned integrity and of temperate and and afterwards satisfactorily served in the capacity for As was customary in those days, Hiram of terms. H e is a man entirely devoid of tion to his parents in his labor until he attained of strong, natural common senile, of positive opinions, When he went to Yates County he had acquired a spirited, his line of action in all matters is always school education, which he made practically useful and followed with tenacity. M r . Doubleday is one of and others inent and successful farmers of the township. I n In 1825 be married Miss Betsey, daughter of ters he is methodical, his word in considered as good as of Pulteey, Steuben Co., N. Y., where she was born and none stand higher in the esteem of the people than After their marriage they purchased a farm in the town of to his family he will leave that priceless jewel, an Italy, Yates County, where he remained until March ��HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. town of Leonidas, St. Joseph Co. H e was missed by the neighbors, who inquired i f he was sick and he had gone. T o them the action of the son the father to start alone on such a journey seemed criminal, and much excitement was created. A messenger sent to Gilbert's brought back word that the old man had there, and immediately the men in the settlement instituted a search for him, which WM long kept up, but cess. I t is stated on some authority that bones and bits of clothing were long afterwards found, which to be his, while others say that nothing was which would lead to an intimation of his fate. finding themselves in much disfavor, to the State Mr. Bowers and David Kilbourn were early settlers in the township. T h e latter located in 1836 on a wile northeast of Sherwood village, where he died Of his nine children all but one are living, and offered his life upon his country's altar during the great civil war, having been killed in battle at Dr. A. P. Mitchell and G. W. Mitchell came into the county in 1836, and both now reside Joseph Failing, who had been given up by as a certain victim o f consumption, came early into the township, cleared up the farm where he now lives, and regained his health entirely. Ephraim Cline and a Mr. Dunks were also and both have since passed to the shadowy "land o f the hereafter. The first school-house built in the township by Joseph D. Lane, on the southwest corner o f section 5. One end stood on land owned by Joseph Russell. T h e name o f the teacher who was employed to instruct the children o f the pioneers in this building is not collecte The early settlers of Sherwood were in general a class of honest, upright, fearless, truthful, kind, and people, and their faces and deeds are cherished faithfully in the memory of those who knew them, while their children have proved most worthy descendants o f the reared them. B u t few o f the original settlers are now living. TO W N S H I P O R G A N I Z AT I O N , E L E C T I O N S , E T C . When i t was definitely settled that a should be organized the settlers met at the house of their number, and found there were not enough to fill all the offices. F o r that reason the two townships Sherwood and Union) were set off as one, and it that an equal number of officers should be chosen Alexander E. Tomlinson was secretary of the meeting. T h r o u g h some dexterous manoeuvring on the part of Robert Waldron it was so managed that of the east half of the township voted for one man who was about to move into the west half, thus k i n g the latter the majority of officers. T h i s was attributed by some to the influence of Mr. Tomlinson, and i t is said that Waldron finally had a scuffle over i t and gave bloody noses! M r . Waldron is now living somewhere in the 3 3 5 As the records of the township previous to the have been destroyed i t is impossible to give a list of the officers for that period. A t the first township-meeting, in 1836, the following were a few of those chosen, ship Clerk, Phineas P. Lee; Justices of the Russell, Williatu Minor; Commissioners of Russell, Joseph J . Libliart, Nahum Sargent. of the first supervisor is not Beginning with 1855, the following have been cipal officers of the township 1•1,11 I S J i 1855. Lorenzo L i t t l e . 1856-57. I s a a c D. Beall. 1858. D a v i d I t . Cooley. 1859-60. James S. Antisdale. 1861. R i c h a r d I t . W i l l a r d . 1862. J o h n 13. Havanna. 1863. D a n i e l D. R i l e y. 186I-65. I s a a c D. Beall. 1866-67. H e n r y L . Bisbee. i 1868-72. L o r i n g P. W i l c o x . 1873-74. James Gwin. 1875-77. Charles E. Swain. 11.10.111(S. 1873. R o b e r t Fraser. W. C . Stearns (appointed same year, b u t resigned, and Charles E. pointed i n his place). 1874. W i l l i a m L e h r. 1875. Jerome J. Studley. 1876-77. H e n r y Sayers. 1855. A l e x . E. Tomlinson. 1856-60. E . F. Hazen. 1861. James S. Antisdale. 1882. Isaac D. Beall. 1863-66. L o r i n g P. W i l m a . 1867-85. E . F. B a s e r, 1869-71. C l a r k C. L a k e . 1872. Isaac I ) . Beall. JUSTICES O F T H E PEACE. 1853. J a r e d M . Rowell. 1 8 6 5 . Horace 0 . Lee. Warren H e n r y. E . F. Hazen. 1856. J . H a v a n n a . 1 8 6 6 . Isaac 1). Beall. 1857. Lebbeus Rowe. 1 8 6 7 . L o r i n g P. Wilcox. 1858. Isaac D. Beall. 1 8 6 8 . I r a Lake. 1859. B u r r Osborn. 1 8 6 9 . h e n r y L . Bisbee. 1860. H e n r y Duncan. 1 8 7 0 . I s a a c D . }teal]. 1861. Lehbeus Rowe. 1 8 7 1 . James Gwin. 1862. Isaac D. Beall. 1 8 7 2 . M a n t o n E. Sawins. E. F. Hazen. 1 8 7 3 . Horace 0 . Lee. 1863. B u r r Osborn. 1 8 7 4 . H . L . Bisbee. Edward K . Wileox. R o b e r t Barton. Peter P. Gardner. 1 8 7 5 . Horace 0 . Lee. 1864. I r a Lake. S a m u e l Kilbourn. Burr Osborn. 1 8 7 6 . M . E. Sawins. 1877. R y a n Williams. THEASURNIIS. 1865. F r a n k l i n C. Watkins. 1856-57. Chester C. D o t y. 1858-59. Joseph Failing. 1860. S. W. Blackman. 1861. E . F. Hazen. 1862. D a n i e l D . Riley. 1863-64, L u c i e n E. Rowe. 1865, H e n r y Bullock. 1866-68. C l a r k C. Lake. 1869-71. Horace 0 . Lee. 1872. F r a n k l i n I I . Fisher. 1873-74. F r a n k Thorns. 1875-77. M a r i a n C. Hazen. COMMISSION/LOX O r 1855. Wilson MeSpeneer. 1856. P. Clark. 1857. B e n j a m i n F. Ferris. 1/458, James H e i n . 1859. Pelatiah Clark. 1860, Reuben P. Coddington. 1861. Benjamin Blossom. 1862. Ly m a n Studley. 1863. Marrie Zimmerman. 1864. Pelatioli 1865. J o h n M . L a m y. Benjamin H I G H WAY S . 1066. E d w a r d Stanton. 1867. B u r r Osborn. 1868. J a b i n G e M . 1869. E d w a r d Stanton. 1870, B u r r Osborn. 1871. J a b i n G a i n . 1872. L u o i e n B. Howe 1873. Clark C. Lake. 1874. Jesse O a t . . 1875. Jabin 1876. ' 1877. J a r. • �336 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH 151.31100L 1/18PA4.'TORa. 1866. B r u c e C. Wilcox. 1855. W i l l i a m Tr a f t o n . 1856. M o r r i s Z i m m e r m a n . 1867. C l a r k C. Lake. 1868. B r u c e C. Wilcox. D. D . R i l e y. 1857. J a m e s S. A n t i s d a l e . 1858. M o r r i s Z i m m e r m a n . 1869. B r u c e C. Wilcox. 1859. J a m e s S. A n t i s d a l e . 1870. J u l i u s S. Dunks. 1871. D a n i e l D . R i l e y. Julius S. D u n k . . 1860. H e r m o n H . Johnson. 1861. R . C. B l a c k m a n . 1872. J u l i u s S. D u n k s . 1873. C l a r k C. L a k e . 1874. F r a n k F i s h e r. 1862. S e y m o u r S. Gage. 1883. C l a r k C . B l a c k m a n . 1864. W i l l i a m E . To m l i n s o n . 1875. J u l i u s S. D u n k s . 1876 0 . S. B a t h r i c k . Clark C. L a k e . 1877. H a r v e y B . S m i t h . 1865. C l a r k C. L a k e . Steven J . C l a r k . SCHOOL S U P K R I N T E N D E N T S . 1875. C l a r k C. L a k e , re-elected each year since. I A N ,1111MISSIONERS. 1873. E . F . Hazen. 1 1874. G e o r g e B l a c k w e l l . 8 7 1 8 8 7 . 7 George Blackwell. . N o record. 1875. G e o r g e Osborn. The officers chosen for Sherwood township in the following, viz.: Supervisor, Charles H . Mann ; Town Clerk, Jerome J . Studley; Treasurer, Horace 0 . L e e ; Justice of the Peace, Thomas B. K i r b y ; Commissioner of Highways, John Stafford; School Superintendent, Clark C. Lake; School Inspector, Asahel P. Spencer; missioner, Robert Fraser; Constables, James Draper, Cyrus Pierce, John Studley, Herbert V I L L A G E O F SHERWOOD. • b When the A i r -Line Railway became a certainty of laying out a village to be called Hazenville and finally E. F. Hazen and Manton E. Sawin platted lage of Sherwood, on land previously owned by the former. Mixed trains began running over the road in the fall of 1870, and mail trains were put on the Before the village was platted the only house on the south side of the railroad was that o f E. F. Hazen, and on the north b u t two were stunding,-those o f Lyman Studley and S t . Clair Leatherberry. S i n c e then the place has grown so rapidly that now it contains a population 250. I t is located on a picturesque plain, and surrounded by excellent farming country. In the fall o f 1870, Frank M. Warner built ture now used as a hotel, and i n i t opened a grocery, the first store of any kind in the place. H e was bought 1871 by Jerome J. Studley. I s a a c Maltby purchased the store from Studley, and finally converted i t into In the fall o f 1878 he disposed of i t to the prietor, C. D. Leech. Jonathan Hare erected the second store in the building now occupied by the post-office,- a n d the third one was built by Wm. Palmer. T h e two stores next north were built,- t h e one occupied b y a drug establishment y Ezra Bostwick, of Union City, and the other by J. W. Spencer, of the same place. T h e s e are all frame buildings. A steam grist- and saw-mill was built for J. W. French & Son, and is now in operation, owned by that firm, as planing-mill built and owned by Messrs. Sawin The first post-office in the township was upon the suggestion of A . 1.1. Tomlinsl)n, after the famous Newsteud Abbey, in England. J a r e d M. Rowell COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . master for many years. T h e office at 13berwoud established in the summer of 1871, and Jerome J. Studley received the appointment of first postmaster. l i e ceeded by Isaac Maltby. and he by the present incumbent, Henry I t is thought t h a t the first resident physician township was Dr. Mason Spencer, who practiced two years, and was killed by the cars i n the summer o f 1878. D r s . R. Fraser, L.11. Daniels, and A . P. Mitchell are at present practicing, the former having loaded here in 1870 M E T H O D I S T E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H . A Methodist class was organized here i n ing o f six members, viz., Lyman Studley and wife, John Onderdunk and wife, and Ryan Williams and wife. A young missionary by the name o f Jones held services at that time. T h e society increased i n members to extent that about 1856-58 the present frame built. A t that tittle the membership was between 90 and 100, while now i t numbers only about 20. T h e present pastor is Rev. 0 . S. Paddock, who also has charge o f a church in Athens. CHURCH O F S H E RW O O D . In 1 8 7 7 a revolution took place i n t h e Methodist Church, and many of its members withdrew themselves into a body with the above name, under the leadership o f M . V. Rork, a former Methodist minister, who had conceived ideas so liberal as not to conform to the strict rules of Methodism,-ideas which i n the estimation of himself and many others were the true foundation for human happiness. S o popular is M r. Rork that lowers here number 130, and a society with the same belief has recently built and dedicated a church in ing $5000. which i s the only one i n the United States erected b y a society o f this denomination. A s yet the society at Sherwood has no church, but holds in Red-Ribbon Hall. A F R E E METHODIST SOCIETY was organized here about 1867, and has a limited number of members at present. A small frame church erected, and meetings are held once i n two weeks. T h e pastor is Rev. Mr. Tompkins. T h e church is located on the "corners,' south of the railroad. The growth of the village of Sherwood has able, and illustrates what m i g h t have been- had road been constructed through here many years ago. as originally surveyed. A s an agricultural wood ranks high, and those o f her first settlers now living can view with pride the home of with its broad and fertile fields and excellent Alexander E. Tomlinson, the first settler has kindly furnished u s with many facts and incidents which are embodied i n t h e foregoing history, and among others who have lent their aid i n this respect are J . S. Rowell, o f anion City, whose father, J . M . one o f Sherwood's pioneers; Jerome J . Studley, Ryan Williams, Dr. R. Fraser, and others. Numerous have been taken from the articles published the pass winter in the Coldwater ��FM. t \Ill" III 1 11 •11111 1:0 . 1 ' q.t.. i . , . , : l i : . • - r i'A n ...A..-..........rd, -:.-ie.ora t i., 11/1/1 il 1111 1M . • , '111:), ill ' ' . : - " . " . . r 4 4 11 I I 1 H i ,a ., ,!:•1;17,,r.... ..,..iiii Till ' H i i 4 i l l i 1 . 4r o O X. ,..,...„ • ,!; •., - 1 — i l M I • �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . 3 3 7 and toy his ,ovit individual ethins he :tyliieved suycess in all departments, and became one of the prominent valued citizens o f the county. Devoid o f shunned political preferment, and hie whole life 11-1N to his farm and matters of personal concern. I n This gentleman was for many years ious convictions he was a Methodist and did much fied with the towns o f Matteson and Sherwood, vance religious interests. Socially. h e was genial and born i n Binghamton, N . Y., Nov. 12, 1812. H i s early pleasant, winning and retaining the regard of all life was spent upon his fitther's form, receiving only limited he came in contact. H i s house was open to all, and his advantages for edwattion. A t the age of sixteen hospitality was proverbial. A l l charitable died, and he went to live with an uncle, with whom enterprises found in him a warm friend and mained fifteen years. I n 1831 h i s uncle any project that had for its object the advancement of the Michigan, and settled in the town of Nottawa, material interests of his town or county received Co. T h e following spring Eplirahn joined his coshortly after went to work for Judge Connor, Mr. and Mrs. Cline reared a family of with whom he remained about two years. D u r i n g this five boys and three girls,—all of whom are now time he made the acquaintance of Miss Mary ' w i t h the exception of two .sons in Montana, all he married in June, 1834. M r s . Cline was a native o f dents of this county. Oscar, the eldest of the Ohio, where she was born in 1816. A f t e r born in Nottawa, St. Joseph Co., July 12, 1836. they rented a farm for a limited time, and by ollection of the pioneer times is vivid, and lie is entitled to economy saved a sum sufficient to enter eighty acres the appellation o f an old settler. H e remained with his in the town o f Matteson. U p o n this farm he resided six father until he was twenty-four years of age, when ried Miss Samantha, daughter of Jabin Gwin, years, when he sold and purchased three hundred and They commenced life upon a new Nun in twenty acres in the north part of the town, where he improved, and upon which he resided until, in 1868, sided until his death, in 1874. M r . Cline was a man o f he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. I l e is indomitable energy and perseverance, of temperate habits, possessed o f many i f the prominent characteristics of his and possessed o f a hardy constitution and father, and like hint is entitled to a foremost of will. H e became noted for his industry and the representative men and successful farmers perform a vast amount of hard labor. L i k e most men, he commenced life at the bottom round of I County. BIOGKAPHICAL S K E T C H E S . . TA B I N R . ( ( W I N . MRS. . J A B I N I t . ( ) W I N . JABIN It. GWIN. Among the OUCCesERII and self-made men the subject o f this narrative occupies a tion. H e was born i n Green township, Richland Co., Ohio, Jan. 17, 1816. H i s father, Joseph Gwiti, a farmer, had two sons, Jabin R. and Calvin W. J a b i n lived at home until he was qeventeen, when 4 life for himself as a farm laborer. A t the age two he was married to Miss Lorinda Pease, of N. Y., where she was born Nov. 22, 1820. I n 1840 he came to Michigan and purchased a farm in His venture proved unprofitable, and in 1849 to Wisconsin. A f t e r a residence of two years to Sherwood and purchased the farm now owned by Frank 9 �338 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Ensign. T w o years subsequently he sold the farm where he now resides, which at present consists of two hundred acres. T h e land was entirely new, and the line farm of to-day is the result of his own energy dustry. A view of his place we present on in connection with portraits of himself Mr. and Mrs. Gwin have been blessed with ren, three o f whom are now dead. B o t h through the ordeal of the construction o f a farm and a home from the wilderness, and are nodded to tion of old settlers. M r . Garin has never nought Oaths] preferment., nor has his name been known in Ile has pursued aline of life where the goal has satisfaction. A m o n g the people of Sherwood higher for integrity and those ennobling qualiti• s that make the true man. B o t h himself and wife of the Methodist Church and are liberal supporters of church • Photos. by E. Kindroark, Coldwnter. WILCOX. VI 1,C0 one of the pioneers d , was born in tario Co., N. Y., Nov. , 0 3 . H e was the son and Sally (Kibbee) Wilcox, who had a family of dren. T h e elder Wilcox was a carpenter and joiner cupation ; but little is known o f his history further than that he was an industrious man, of' excellent habits, and a worthy citizen. W h e n Newcomb was thirteen years of his father died, and he was thrown upon his He pursued various avocations until 1825. at which time he was married to Miss Maranda Stearns. A f t e r riage, in company with a brother, he purchased a farm near Naples, which they carried on i n connection with mill until his emigration to Michigan, whither his brother Edward had removed the year previous, settling in of Leonidas, St. Joseph Co. I n April, 1837, Mr. Naples with his family, which consisted of his wife and four children, in a wagon drawn b y two yoke o f oxen. T h e journey was made in thirty-one days, and was marked b y MRS. N E W C I 1 M B W I L C O X. many eventful incidents. Previous t o his removal exchanged his farm in Ontario County for eighty acres of land in Sherwood, which is a portion o f the farm on which he now resides. T h e land was entirely new, and had no improvements save the body o f a log house, into which the flintily moved before its completion. I n addition many hardships and privations incident t o pioneer life, the family were all sick with chills and fever. T o Mrs. Wilma the situation was trying in the extreme, but. with tude that was characteristic of pioneer women. -he bore up bravely, and as time passed on her load was lightened. M r s . Wilcox was born i n St. Lawrence Co.. N . Y. , Jan. 14. 1808. H e r parents, Phineas and Mary t emigrated to Oneida County in 1812. H e r father died in Illinois, at the advanced age of eighty-five. M r . and Mrs. NVileox have been blessed with a family of five daughters and two sons. T h e y have lives, and have done much in advancing the best society. B o t h are worthy members of the Baptist Church. �aMMI C A L I F O R N I A . CALIFORNIA, a fractional township, is situated in the southeast corner o f the county. I t is designated by the United States survey as township number 8 south, number 5 west, and is bounded on the north and spectively by A lgansee and Kinderhook townships County, east by Hillsdale Count!, and south by of Indiana. Its surface, which i s claimed to be the highest on the line of the proposed Mansfield, Coldwater and gan Railroad, is of a level character, yet sufficiently rolling to afford good No streams of any importance cross its borders, and its area of swamps and Water surface is less in than that of any other township in the county. Sections 5 and 18 each contain small lakes o f about 30 and 50 acres The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam, very and for agricultural purposes compares favorably with other portions of The people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Their lands and buildings evince taste, intelligent culture, and general prosperity. I t contains a total area acres, of which 11,625 acres are in farm lands, and in 1874 had a population of 841 ITS P I O N E E R S . In the latter part o f the month o f December, 1835, Samuel Beach, accompanied by his son William, teen years o f age, and James H . Lawrence, a law o f the elder Beach, started from Co., Mich., and traveling via the Chicago road arrived at Coldwater without incident. The village o f Coldwater then contained some 6 or 8 dwelling-houses, 2 stores, 2 taverns, and a few ings, and a rickety saw-mill down by the river. rounding country was a wide, desolate, almost which, swept by the wintry winds, and covered snows, presented to the travelers a most They could not think of stopping on the and after remaining overnight, started the ing for " Waterhouse Corners.- A f t e r fording the river, they purchased 200 feet of boards at the mill, which, with one half-barrel of pork, two bags of wheat flour, one bag of buckwheat flour, a few bushebs of potatoes, bedding, axes, rifles, etc., made a pretty good load horse-team and wagon. T h e journey to accomplished by nightfall, after much labor in roads, unloading and loading again in marshy their team got " stalled.' M r. L a w r e n c e relates t h a t t h e y were n e t ceived by Messrs. Waterhouse and Lumis,n, and were feasted upon venison steak and cranberry sauce, and then, after talking of game and range, of quarterfriends, and everybody's connections, they lay down upon the floor, sleeping the sound, refreshing sleep follows a day of honest toil. T h e next morning routed out early b y their indefatigable leader (Samuel Beach), and after partaking of a good breakfast, bade their hospitable friends good-by and struck out for tion, which was six miles due east. O t t account they were obliged t o make a wide &tour to avoid them, which added greatly to the distance and difficulties of the undertaking, and i t was long after noon ere the point they intended making their home. reaching their journey's end, their team ran a steep place into the marsh. T h e bag of buckwheat flour fell out, and, striking on the frozen ground, losing nearly one-half its contents. T h e y could not affiird time then to gather up what had run out, but their way. W e now quote from " Mr. Beach struck a fire and began cooking his son unharnessed and fed the team, while I took an axe and began cutting logs for our house, and I suppose I cut the first tree ever cut in this township by an After eating we went to work to construct a shelter for the night, and we worked as only men will work when driven by that stern taskmaster, neceasity, for we had only hours to prepare for a wintry December sight. some three or four inches of snow nk.the ground coming, and with all our effortikillanly succeeded ting and rolling up twelve logs, or enough to make our house three logs high on a side. W e then took a few of our boards for a floor and threw the rest on the top of the logs f o r a shelter. T h e r e was just room enough to sit upright under them. A fire was built in one corner hduse against the logs. W e then sliced up some of our pork, and were cooking it on a forked stick when startled by a voice from without shouting, Had the voice come up out of the earth, or from we could not have been more concerned, for we did not suppose that a white person was nearer Corners. A f t e r recovering a little from our fright, plied, Who's t h e r e ? " Friends,' was the response. W e said Come in.' T h e y did so by stepping over They proved to be Amahel Brown and Nathan had %ward of us at Coldwater, and taking our followed us in. O f course we were glad to see after a pleasant evening's visit, which commenced long acquaintance, we lay down on our boards soundl " The next morning, after breakfast, our guests and Mr. Brown was ffirtunate enough to find and 33 • �340 • H I S T O R Y OF BRANCH of the finest farms in the county. T h e second day was finished high enough to admit a man standing upright under the boards used as a shelter. T h e team had gone back to the world, and Mr. Beach and myself were Our house was at last finished. I t was twelve and contained one room, which served as parlor, kitchen, sitting-, and bed-room. O u r provision chest was and our bedding, rolled up, served as chairs. T h e pork barrel stood against the outside o f the house n o fear o f neighbors robbing it). T h e potatoes had been upon the ground, and were frozen as hard When they were wanted for eating we would take a hatful of them, and, raking open the ashes, would heap coals of fire upon them, which softened them as effectually ing coals upon an "Soon after the completion of the small house tioned a larger one, some twenty feet square, in anticipation of the arrival of Mr. Beach's family in the spring. T o raise it, the neighbors six miles away vited. T h e y came t o a man. I t was not completed the f i r s t d a y, and the neighbois—though to remain through the night, as a blinding snow-storm had commenced—determined t o return t o t h e i r wives and homes. T h e y lost their course, and were forced in the woods all night. T h e y built a rousing fire, it through the night, finally reaching home i n safety the next morning. T h e y returned the next week, to complete the walls of the Mr. Lawrence says that " M r . Beach and myself put on the roof one of the coldest days of the year. T h e nails would stick to our mittens, would break and fly and our fingers were pounded black and blue. D u r i n g all this time our flour wasted away, and a t last was went six miles to borrow a loaf o f bread, following section lines through swamps amd marshes. W e were not quite ready to go home, as we did not want t o leave our work, but we could not work without bread. I n this dilemma we happened to t h i n k " ) the buckwheat flour that of the bag when i t fell from the wagon three viously, and we thought that possibly some of it good. W e returned t o the place and found that had formed a thin crust over it. W h e n this was taken off the flour was as nice as when i t ran from our was gathered u p as carefully as i f i t had been gold-dust. I t was manna t o us. T h i s timely supply enabled us t o finish u p our work 90 that we could leave and But what should we do with our household goods? T h e r e were plenty of Indians about. I t is true, we had formed their acquaintance and were on very friendly terms with them, and could almost any day get a nice ham for a lump of salt. B u t we dared riot leave in their We at last hit upon a plan : the ashes were gathered up from our hearth, a hole was dug underneath, i n placed our treasures, the ashes were replaced and a good fire kept up for a day and night, which effectually ' cache.' T h e n we lay down on our bed of dried slept, intending to start early on the morrow. H o w long we slept we had n o means Or knowing. W e had n o ancient time-piece on the wall. COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . ' No clarion e v e t , w i t h w i n d i n g burn, From h i s a i r y perch i n n e i g h b o r i n g barn To umber i n a p p r o a c h i n g w o r n , Fur hie acenebancd f e t a o f gulden s o n , : But we slept by guess, and after sleeping as we thought our usual hours, we arose and started tie: the which was ten miles distant iu the direction we intended to travel. Ta k i n g our Indian trail, we set our and homeward. T h e r e were a few inches o f snow upon the ground, which enabled us to follow the trail without difficulty, b u t i t took us a devious, roundabout HOUle twelve miles ere we reached the house we had i n view. O n arriving there the inmates were We thought we would not disturb the family ; so we kept on o u r way to Allen's Prairie, six miles farther. W h e n we came there no one was stirring, and there were signs o f morning than when we started from our shanty eighteen miles distant. S o we kept on, and just as we stood on the heights overlooking Jonesville light was breaking. W e walked on t o the and called f o r breakfast, to which we did The victuals disappeared like frost befbre the 'Twas a bitter cold morning, our walk o f twenty not decreased our appetite, and we had a long us ( for we were determined to reach home, fifty before sleeping), so we ballasted accordingly. B u t that poor landlord, he didn't want to feed us again, nor did he ask us to c a l l again.' W e left him t o recover from the attack as best he could, and reached our home in Saline that night, having traveled during the day a distance of seventy " After remaining a short time in Saline we loaded up a sled-load of household furniture and started back, leaving the family to complete further arrangements for removal. We came to Allen's Prairie, on the Chicago turnpike, then southward towards our home in the woods. O n bank of Long Lake, six miles south o f Allen's Prairie. lived a family by the name o f Carpenter. T h e of five brothers and three sisters. T h i s was the on our route from Allen's. W e arrived there i n ing, after having forded the outlet of the lake. was about thirty feet wide, and frozen on either side. W e broke the ice, and then our oxen went down and through to the other side. T h e y were most likewise our furniture. T h e next morning we started out to accomplish the remaining part o f our journey, which was a distance o f eleven miles, and over a route hitherto untraveled Mr. Beach arid son looked out and cut a road as thccould l i i i i t t l e rile, lee1 r I t e 6a cutting howeler. for I drove the team, anti kept snug up to them all when nightfall came on we had, by following a crooked Indian-trail, worked o u r w e through. B u t w e had a sadly-demoralized load o f tnrniture, fttr I had frequently driven over logs a foot or more jut diameter, and was e l i a i r s w i t h h r i i k i , n a n d tables w i t h k g ' , a n d leaves wrenched iron' their Ile:telling, \ V e thund i n the cabin all right. Althoo.41, w e were not through with our trouldt, A n elephant woe iiti our hands in the shape o f the llIeLl, which had served us ��MRS. . 1 . I L L A W R E N C E . H. L . 1 W R E N C E . • T H E L AW R E N C E F A M I L Y. The father and mother of J. H. Lawrence were born in Connecticut, i n 1779 and 1774 respectively, and were united in marriage in 1794. S o o n after they emigrated to Western N e w Yo r k , going all t h e way from U t i c a t o Rochester b y " m a r k e d " trees, traveling b y team, and settling in Genesee, Livingston County. H e would taken the whole city plot o f Rochester at that time as a gift had it been offered him, for i t was a perfect quagmire, and footmen had to jump from one bog to another. H e was in the war of 1812, at Black Rock and the burning of Buffalo; was taken prisoner by the British, but leased. A f t e r peace was declared he pursued of blacksmithing at Genesee, customers coming fifty miles to get work done. T h e y were three times burned only the clothes on their backs, and i n addition suffered all the privations and hardships of pioneer life. T h e Indians were warlike and troublesome; and a t one time while a council was being held in the place, at which was required the presence of every white man and Indian (and i t was supposed every Indian was present), there came a couple of Indian braves into the house where Mrs. Lawrence was staying, alone with t w o young children, whisky. S h e told them she had none. T h e y said they would kill her i f she did not give it, and drew their knives and started for her. H e r little girl ran and hid herself. Mrs. Lawrence swung her cradle containing a n infant against the cupboard in which was the whisky, a chair, backed u p against it. A s the Indians came up, she gave one of' them a blow that felled him to the floor, which cooled the courage of' the other; a t the same time she called to a boy who was passing, and told him to run to the council-house and tell her husband that the Indians were killing her. T h e Indians begged h e r not t o t e l l " Shamokaman," praised h e r courage, called her "good squaw," etc. T h e one she floored was ever after Indian friend she had. T h i s incident made and beloved by all the tribe, and saved tin; settlement much trouble Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence were the parents o f dren, all o f whom (save two) reached years o f maturity. There were six boys and six girls. T w o of the eons were ordained ministers o f the gospel; one went out as an early missionary t o the East Indies, and ended h i s life there. One of the daughters was the wife of Rev. Chas. Hall, for many years secretary of the American Tract Society, and all of their children became honored and useful members of society. Mrs. Lawrence's parents were descendants of the Pilgrim Plymouth Flock. M r s . Lawrence's father, man, was born i n Massachusetts i n 1789. Roxy Upson, was born i n Connecticut i n 1788. T h e y were the parents of nine children, most of whom reached mature years; the parents living to the age of fifty-eight and eighty-seven respectively. T h e y emigrated to Michigan in an early day, while yet i t was a territory and an almost unbroken wilderness, suffering all the hardships vations of pioneer life, patiently enduring the want and toil incident to three removals, and three times commencing in the Her Grandfather Upson served five years in lutionary war, and was intimate with Washington. Several anecdotes are related of him, never before of which is as follows: It was customary with Washington t o go the rounds of his army every night. as far as he could, to comfort and cheer his soldiers. H e says on one occasion. Washington came into his tent when the whole army was dispirited with half rations and hard fare, and said, " Boys. I hope we'll all soon see better times, and have plenty to eat." J u s t then a fine, fat wether stuck his head out from blanket., and said " B-a" Boys," said Washington. " 1 guess you a r c doing pretty well now; when you dress that fellow, They did remember hint, and sent up a ington sent out the next morning and paid the owner for the �HISTORY O F B R A N C H COUNTY, MICHIGAN. so faithfully. W e had nothing for them to eat. proceeded to Waterhouse Corners, and found that one neighbors there had cut some marsh hay during mer. H e had not drawn it in. I t still lay on some in the cock, some in the swath ; this he would $5 per ton, if we would draw it. T h i s poor stuff, stood the fall rains and winter snows, was and was the only subsistence for our animals during the remaining part of "Early in the spring, Mr. Beach arid his son Saline to bring in the family, leaving me alone in There were plenty of Indians, wolves, and other mals, but I did not feel as i f they added much One morning a middle-aged Indian came along just as cooking my breakfast. A s Indians are always hungry, I invited him to stop and take breakfast with me. nished him the best the house afforded. H e ate like a savage, and seemed to relish all of it except which was made by stirring water and flour baking before the fire. W h e n baked, it was about as an oaken shingle. A f t e r eating a while, he broken English, N o good bread.' I laughed heartily at his praise of my cooking. W e wade a pretty however, when my Indian guest shouldered his departed. H e returned an hour or so later with casses of two deer, of which he gave me a Mr. Lawrence then relates of a terrible alone in his cabin, when the wolves by about him till daybreak. A f t e r an absence of Mr. Beach, with his family, returned. A over the scene, for a dozen Beach sprouts had around the parent stem, and the wild woods were echo with their shouts " When the spring opened, the 'land-lookers' ing in by scores, as ours was the only house within of six miles, and our latch-string was always out. 'en pretty bad. W e kept eight, ten, and many as fifteen persons overnight, in addition to famil "Ira Purdy was the next settler, and the first one after us. H e came early in the spring of 1836, and built a small log house on section 3, 16 by 18 feet. had to go into the hotel business, and declares nights he kept as many as forty people. M r . Purdy with us, and his experiences of pioneer life are relating. T h e same spring we went to Quincy, north of us, ' t e n d town-meeting,' when Mr. elected a justice of the peace. O u r route lay through an unbroken wilderness, and our only guide was which were followed through swamps and marsh, brakes; not a house to be seen the "Soon the welcome settlers began to come in us. O f coarse we had all kinds of inhabitants. and the bad were gathered in, and many saw times for a few animus. W e paid 18 shillings for oats; pork was 25 cents per pound; potatoes $1 per bushel, and flour could only be obtained by going tances to mill, and then paying very Ira Purdy, a native of St. Andrew's, Canada. but who leel resided in Sesieeti Co., Ohio, since 1818, came 3 4 1 latter place in the fall o f 1835, and settled first Prairie, May 10, 1836. H e became a resident of of Quincy township now known as California. Stillman Ellwell came with him, and settled upon section 10. days later Amon and Horace Purdy, brothers of' in from Ohio. Azam located upon section 23, became one of' the first settlers in Mr. Ira Purdy was the one man in the wasdepended upon by his neighbors to do the he had a good team of horses, and knew how to care for them. During the year 1837 a great scarcity of breadstuffs existed among the settlers in Thousands of families had come in from the States York and Ohio. Those who had settled had already disposed of their stock on hand, and be obtained unless by traveling a long distance Indiana. M r . Purdy's experiences and difficulties on one of these trips is well worth relating, and is In June, 1837, Mr. Purdy had completed ments, and was just on the point of' driving off in search of flour for his starving neighbors, when he by one John Perrin, a settler of Camden said, " Mr. Purdy, if you have anything in your the shape of food, for God's sake and my let me have it; my family are starving! W e eaten a mouthful of food, except what greens I ered from the woods, in three weeks, and we are starving to death" (his family consisted of a wife and two children). M r . Purdy had a bushel o f wheat on his wagon, with which he intended to feed his team his journey. H e said, "Take this wheat and family." The poor man took it on his back, weak as and carried it seven miles to his home, where it and fed his starving wife and Mr. Purdy then proceeded on his way in quest or flour. H e went to English Prairie, to Pretty Ox-Bow, Lima, and to White Pigeon, but not a kernel of grain could he procure at either, except a peck of oats at the latter place, for which he paid $2. From he proceeded on to Three Rivers, thence to Mottville, to Bristol, Ind., and Elkhart; but be obtained for love or money until he Ind., where he found a mill with a small supply on hand S a y s Mr. Purdy, " I asked the miller if any flour to sell. H e replied, I guess so; do you want?' I answered, A t o r t . ' I don't know have wheat enough to make it; I'll see.' H e looked in his bins, and then said, I guess we have enough, can have it.' T h i s was Saturday noon. I asked when he would have it ready for me. H e answered, I we can get i t out to-day.' ' I wish you would, for my neighbors are starving.' ' I ' l l do the best I can,' miller. H e then started another run of stone. the boss' of the mill came in, to whoni the case He said, ' We can't get it out before Monday morning. W e don't grind Sundays; it's agin my principles.' ing on his heel, he walked off, and, while wrapped up in his self-righteommess, was willing to leave a borhood to suffer with hunger rather than to The miller then said; Feed your uerun and �342 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . bags. I ' l l grind this wheat before sleeping; will weigh i t , set it there by the back door, and you can drive around i n the morning as early as you choose. I ' l l be there, will throw i t in your wagon, take the pay, and we'll let the old boss whistle about the " I was at the mill-door before daylight next morning, took on 2000 pounds of flour, for which I paid then started homeward rejoicing. I met a man day, who was also hunting for flour. H e offered me per cwt. for my load. I told him, N o ; money can't buy it.' That night I stopped at the hotel in Mottville. lord had a flaming sign out, but his barn was a pound of hay nor a peck of grain had he, with which to feed a team. I told him I thought i t was a pretty poor show. I know it,' says he; b u t can't help it. I can't get it.' I had seen a man mowing and putting up some hay, back on the other side of the river. Ta k i n g my halter, I walked over, and asked him i f he could sell me a shilling's worth of hay. H e said, ' Yes; lay down your halter, and I will give you all you can carry.' H e was an man. W h e n h e had filled m y halter with a l l thought I could carry I cried out enough, but he ing up and pressing it down, saying, P y gracious! i f you cannot carry him, I w i l l help you. P u t him o n your wagon,—you will need him.' N e x t morning the landlord charged me one dollar f o r the use o f his empty barn, a dollar for supper and breakfast, and 25 cents for lodging. This was a fair sample o f the hotel ceived all along my route. W h e n I reached home, after an absence of ten days, the neighbors caine down upon me from far and near, seine a distance of ten miles away. T o each family I dealt out about forty pounds of flour." This timely arrival no doubt saved many i n ment from the verge of starvation. T h e y were driven to the direst straits to procure a few of the very necessaries of life. S o m e even dug up and ate the potatoes they had planted, while others cut down t h e timber, burned i t to ashes, from which "black salts" were made, and carried to Coldwater and Jonesville, and sold for a pittance or a few pounds o f flour. M a n y stout hearts at the prospect before them, not knowing where coming from to carry them, their wives, and little children through u n t i l t h e i r first harvest. I n before the wheat was ripe i t was cut, dried, shelled b y hand, boiled, and eaten to sustain life. The spring and early summer o f 1837 will always he remembered by those who were here at that period; yet, when the trying ordeal was passed, amid an vest which followed, their trials and privations heeded. and ever after those who were industrious, and who practiced habits of economy, have had a During the spring and summer of 1836 was still further increased i n numbers by the arrival of' Ira Cass, George Monlux, Israel R. Hall, Theodore G. Holden, John W. Harris, William Thompson; arid early in 1837 b y Joseph W. Lawrence, a soldier o f 1812, his son Joseph W., Jr., Jonathan Hall, and Jacob B. Broom. W h i c h list, together with those previously mentioned, comprised all the resident t a x -payers ship 8 south. range 5 west, ill the fall of 1837. Ira Cass, a veteran of the war o f 1812, and who had also served in the United States army as fife-major, native o f Vermont. I n M a y, 1836, accompanied by his brother-in-law, George Mordant, and a family composed of Iris sons Lewis. Ezra, Ira, Jr., Martin, and six daughters, he started (*ruin MusLiriguw Co., O., and arrived here during the same month. T h e i r journey o f some three hundred miles abounded i n many difficulties. I t i s during the latter part o f it they became involved i n the almost bottomless morasses o f the famous Black Swamp, where they were three days in gaining a distance of three miles. M r . Monlux was a Virginian, and became the first supervisor o f the township. I r a Caw was a character in the settlement, and perhaps no historical reminiscence o f the pioneers would be considered complete that did n o t allude to him and his characteristics. H e WBB the father of 16 children, a majority o f whom are still living. H e claims to be a relative of the Hon. Lewis Cass, that he might have been "one of his pups" i f but he chose t o strike out and depend upon his sources for a living, and many were the to by him t o gain an honest livelihood fur his numerous family. H e was frank and generous to a fault, patriotic in the fullest sense of the word, and many a tale of frontier life and b.irder warfare d i d h e unfold t o his neighbors during leisure hours. A n d the hardships and privations lie had there endured most admirably fitted him life in his Michigan home. H e was very fond —an inveterate chewer. T o use his own words, he had a " remarkable swallow." A threepenny paper ficed to make two good chews. I t was his habit his sojers," by laying them upon a stump, log, or wherever he chanced to be, when he disgorged in favor of a fresh one. I t is related that a hunter was out in the woods one day in quest of' game, and discovered away off at a long & s w i m what he supposed was a wild turkey sitting on a log. A f t e r cautiously approaching to within gun-shot range he fired, and the object fell to the ground; but what was his chagrin and disappointment, on walking up, to find that instead o f shooting a turkey he brought down one of Uncle Cass' In t h e latter years of' his life he became a convert to Christianity; was very zealous, and appeared anxious to make the very best use o f the time left hint. chosen class-leader, and one evening, while in the midst of an earnest exhortation, entreating his hearers to and join the army o f the Lord, he whipped e t of his pocket a plug of tobacco, and cramming nearly one-half of it into his capacious mouth, exclaimed, " A n d room." T h i s expression, coupled with the banished all seriousness during the remaining part of that sessio Alexander Odren, who settled upon section 1 i n the early part of the year 1836, was born in Detroit in 1791, and without doubt is now the oldest native living in the State of Michigan. H i s life has been an eventfill one sod his recollections are worthy of some spate is these r i f t s He remembers when the city of Detroit was a tows of about 80 rode &fume, 1 L , the whole inclosed by �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. front. E v e r y third post o f the stockade was through which the garrison could fire at an foe. A t sunset the guards with fife and gather up the Indians, and send them outside tions to their camp at Springwells. Tecumseh with h i s braves was encamped near the city, and at one joined by thousands o f the Stinks and Foxes, down the river in their birch-bark canoes, under ship o f Dickinson. M r . Odren describes Tecumseh as having been a tall and very ugly-looking Indian. W h e n Mr. Odren was a young man he went to Malden the baker's trade. W h i l e there he knew that Simon Girty. O n e evening young Odren, in company with a number of other young men, went out from Malden to attend a social party. O n their return they were by a British press-gang, who captured five of ing Odren. T h e y were taken on board the British war "The Queen Charlotte." T w o o f the young men, who were native Canadians, were released, but Odren and the other two young Americans were impressed into the Briti..1: service. H i s employer came on board, to furnish another tnan i f they would release Odren, but the officer in command would not part with him, was kept in the enemy's service more than a year, at the expiration of which time he was captured Perry, at the battle of Lake Erie. Previous to and during this sanguinary conflict he was the second in command 21-pound gun. W h e n the battle commenced the manned by nine men; a t its close Odren and one other man were the only survivors, and the other man had an arm shattered. H e describes this as having been desperate engagement. Perry's force was nf deserters from Barclay's command at Niagara, and they fought with the greatest desperation, knowing well that if captured by the British their lives would pay the penalty. Mr. Odren helped rig Perry's disabled fleet at Put-in-Bay, after which, with other prisoners, he was taken cothe, 0. One day he was permitted to leave camp for when he started out to find Capt. Dryson, who was from Detroit, and had known him while a boy. T h e object of his search eluded him for some time, but finally he captain and accosted him. T h e officer did him until he was reminded of the many times he Odren fight battles with the other boys. W h e n had been established, the captain accompanied him to the quarters of Gen. McCarty, the officer in command of Odren then made affidavit as to his nationality, when released, and immediately enlisted in the Second iment, and did what he could to repay the enemy ing him to fight against his countrymen. H e did ever, see much more active service, as the war ended. H e remained in the army, doing garrison duty for several months after the clot* of the war, and was charged. W h e n the war of the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Odren, then seventy years of age, offered his services to help defend the Union, but was not accepted. T o oruiting-officer who refused him he said that he in garrison and handle a musket as well as any man. H e had four sons in the Union army, one of whom gave up 3 4 : 1 his life in defense of his country's flag. A n o t h e r the company which captured Jeff. Davis in petticoats. A grandson, in charge o f a wagon-train, was with Custer at the time of the massacre. M r . and Mrs. were married in 1815. M r s . Odren is eighty-two years of age, the mother o f thirteen children, ten o f whom are living Hiram Ellis, with his sons, Willard T. and Harley H., came from Livingston Co., N. Y., and settled 15 in 1844. T h e father and sous have been prominent men in the Henry Kelso, the present supervisor, came ston Co., N. Y., and settled first in Clinton, Mich., in 1833. I n November, 1835, he became of Girard township. T h e following spring he removed to section 36, Union township, where he remained fifteen years, since which time he has been a citizen of James Craig—a Girard pioneer—settled here at day, and built the first framed house, on section 15, J. H . Lawrence erected the second framed house, 1845. The first brick house was built by Ira A. Adams, in 1873. Mr. Adams has resided in California thirty-eight years. Sereuo Gillett is also one o f the earliest pioneers o f the township, having been a resident since 1837. H e poor when he came, worked day and night, and he would chop down trees for his cattle to The first marriage in the settlement was that Ackerson and Katy, his adopted sister. T h e a sou of Ira Cass, now a stalwart blacksmith. T h e wife of Israel R. Hall was the first to depart this life in The residents in 1847 were as follows: Section 1.—Alexander Odren, Ridgway min George, Sereno Gillett, Jonah Gillett, John Odren, Theo. G. Holden, William Weston, William Section 2 —Ira Cass, Samuel Doyle, Henry Doyle. Julius Luse, Joshua Pridgeon, Section 3.—Ira Purdy. Section 4 . —Israel R . Hall, Samuel Beach, William Dunlap, George Monlux, William Talmadge, John Doyle, Henry Doyle, Jr., Adolphus Wells, Abel Parker. Section 5.— Section 6.—Isaac Bailey, Thomas Bailey, Isaac Bailey, Jr., Benjamin George, Section 7.—Lyra Moltroup, Thomas Pahnateer, G. D. Avery Section 8.—Stephen M. Talmadge, James Gordinier Section 9.—W. H. Lathrop, 0. N. Chapin, J. I I . Hall, Hart. Section 10.—J. W. Lawrence, J . W. Lawrence, Jr., James H . Lawrence, Lucian B . Hall, John V . Burt, Cephas B. Dresser, Nathan Austin. Section 11.—Chauncey Miles, Joseph Reynolds, T. H. Reynolds, Joseph F. Reynolds, Daniel Diamond, Lewis Car Section 12.—Henry Trumbull, Isaac N . Miner, John M. Miner, Charles Reynolds, AZalli Purdy, William G. Thompson, Ebenezer Section 13.— N,etion I 1.--Rani.dell, Bradley Goodman �344 H I S T O R Y O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . Section 15.- H i r a m Ellis, Section 16.- N o r m a n Melendy, Taloot Merwin, John Paul, David Paul, John W. Harris. Section 17.- E d w a r d Shay. Section 18.- A n d r e w J . Critchfield, Delos Richard E. Palwateer, Martin Til!orison, ton, Lucas Withington, Section 19.-Zebina Broughton. Section 22.-Thomas Hall, J. M. Hall. Section 23.-Charles Section 24.- R o b e r t Merrill. Others here were William Palmateer, rick, George Hall, Cephas W. Beach, and George Bryant. C I V I L H I S T O R Y. California, the last township organized i n the county, until June 29, 1832, formed p a r t o f Green township, which then included the whole o f Branch County. I t then became a part o f Coldwater township, remaining as such u n t i l March 23, 1836, when i t was set off with the present towns o f Quincy and Algansee, as ship. A p r i l 2, 1838, i t became a part o f Algansee, and continued under that name until March 25, 1846, when, by an act of the Legislature o f the State o f Michigan, i t began a separate existence as California township. The act reads as follows: " All that part of the county of Branch designated by the United States survey ship No. 8 south, of range No. 5 west, be, and is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name o f California,' and the first shall be held a t the school-house i n school district No. 3, in said township." Proceedings o f First Township-Meeti»g.-At of the inhabitants o f the town o f California, held a t the school-house i n school-district No. 3, in said town, on the 4th of May, 1846, Samuel Beach was elected Moderator; Isaac N . Miner, Talcott Merwin, Ly r a Moltroup, Joseph W. Lawrence, Sr., Inspector o f Election ; and Cephas B . Dresser, Clerk. The people then proceeded to the election o f township officers, by ballot, which resulted as follows: lux, Supervisor; W i l l i a m Beach, Township Clerk; I r a Purdy, Treasurer; Samuel Beach, George D. M. Hall, Robert Merrill, Justices o f the Peace ; James Craig, Talcott Merwin, Assessors o f the Poor; Isaac N. Miner, Talcott Merwin, Thomas H . Reynolds, Highway Commissioners ; Chauncey Miles, Cephas B. Inspectors ; Alexander Odren, Jr., Andrew J. Critehfield, John C. Reynolds, Constables. Overseers o f Highways: District 2, Isaac Purdy ; district 3, Hart Hazen ; district 4, Thomas H. Reynolds; district 11, Sereuo trict 12, Ebenezer Adams ; district 17, James Hall ; district 21, John C. Reynolds; district 20, At this time 60 votes were cast for the candidates office of supervisor, o f which George Monlux received 29; Israel R. Hall, 18; and Hiram Ellis, 13. I t was resolved, " T h a t no licenses be granted for the sale or intoxicating liquors for the ensuing year ;" also, "That we will pay five dollars bounty for every wolf or bear caught and killed in this town." I s 4 6 . - - I l i r m E l l i s , David Graham, Grand ; Hart Hazen, Lyra Moltroup, Petit. At the gubernatorial election, held Nov. 2, M. Edmonds received 2 6 votes; Epaphroditus Ransom, 21; and Chester Gurney, In 1856, Kinsley S. Biughaui received for the office of governor, 64 votes; Alpheus Felch, for the same office, 51 The gubernatorial candidates for 1860 received lowing number of votes : Austin Blair, 87 ; John S. Barry, 66 4 0 . ,ISH IP O F F I C E R . , Town Cl.rks. T r e s . . . t r e n t Beach. I r a P u r d y. Supervisors. 1846. G e o r g e M u n l u x . 1947. " 1848. D a v i d P a u l . Joseph 11. H a l l . 1849. G e o r g e M o n l u x . Hiram Ellie. 1850. " 1851. " Joseph H . H a l l . Wm. D . M e r w i n . 44 1852. D a v i d P a u l . Hiram Ellis. 1853. Joseph H . H a l l . " 4,4 I r a P u r d y. W. H . L a t h r o p . 1854. G e o r g e M o n l u x . 1855. D a v i d P a u l . 1856. H e n r y Kelso. 1857. 1859. H e n r y Kelso. H. N . Lawrence. James P a u l . John H i . c o c k . Henry C. Wells. James P a u l . H. N . Lawrence. I r a P u r d y. 1859. D a v i d P a u l . 1860. I l a r l e y H . E l l i e . 1861. " 1862. " David P a u l . •S. .4• 1863. H e n r y Kelso. 1864. W i l l a r d T. Ellis. W i l l a r d T. E l l i s . Calvin I . M e r w i n . 1865. James N . A v e r i l l . " Win. Carithers. 44 Robert M . Cairns. 1866. D a v i d P a u l . 1867. J o h n P a u l . 44 1869. D a n i e l A . Douglass. 1870. Peter D . Gibson. " 1871. J o h n P a u l , J r. 04, 4 1 , William L . Monlux. 1872. H e n r y Kelso. 1873. " E d w a r d P. Wa l l a c e . " 44 1874. E d w a r d P. Wallace. M . D . C o l v i n . A . W . Bates. 1875. J a m e s N . A v e r i l l . J o h n P a u l . J r. R o b e r t M . Cairns. 1876. " 1877. " 1978. H e n r y Kelso. H o w a r d W . M i l l e r. S t a n . S. L o t h r i d g e . JUSTICES o r T H E P E A C E . 1846. S a m u e l Beach. ie0 rge D . A v e r y. James M . H a l l . Robert M e r r i l l . 1847. G e o r g e D . A v e r y. 1848. H a r t 1Iasen. Benjamin George. 1849. J a m e s M . H a l l . 1850. C h a r l e s W. Lawrence. 1851. B e n j a m i n George. Wa l t e r H . L a t h r o p . 1852. I s a a c N . M i n e r. 1853. J a m e s M . H a l l . 1854. H a r t Hazen. Lester Broughton. 1855. H e n r y Havens. 1896. I s r a e l R . H a l l . Ly r a Moltroup. 1857. J a m e s M . H a l l . 1858. H i r a m E l l i s . 1859. J a m e s P a u l . 1860. J a c o b G . M o l t r o u p . 1861. D a v i d P a u l . W i l l i a m Bates. 1962. H e n r y N . L a w r e n c e . 1862. J o h n Hismek. 1863. James Paul. Peter 0 . Decker. 1864. J a m e s Paul. H i r a m Ellis. 1865. D a v i d Paul. I 1 8 8 6 . Samuel H a m e r. Edward E . Gibson. 1867. D a v i d Paul. 1868. W i l l i a m Bates. 1868. George I . . ( h a y. James P a u l . 1870. Joseph W . Lawrence. 1871. D a v i d Pant. Hiram Therapies. 1872. J a m e s Pan1 Charles G . Seeley. 1873. Charles Raymond. 1874. W i t h a m Stootdale. 1875. D a v i d Peel. 1876. A . C. Stokes. 1877. Charles Raymond. 1878. R o b e r t Charles 0 . Seeley. �HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, M I C H I G A N . coMMISSILOPIRS 111 0 11 w AY S . 1846. Isaac M . Miner. Taleott Merwin. Thomas Reynolds. 1847. John V. Burt. Thomas H . Reynolds. David Gibson. 1848. Lester Broughton. 1$49. Thomas I t . ReynOlds. 1850. Nathan Austin. 1551. Stephen Tahuadge. 1852. Charles W . Lawrence. 1553. W i l l i a m 0 . Thompson. 1554. Stephen M . Talmadge. 1855. Norman Melendy. 1856. Thomas Hall. 1857. Charles W. Lawrence. 1558. Thomas 11. Reynolds. 1859. Wi l l a r d T. Ellis. Hiram Thompson. 1,1;0. Oilman Withington. 1861. Orrin Whitten. 1862. Joseph W. Lawrenoe. 1863. Thomas H . Reynolds. 1864. Gilbert Gordinier. 1865. Joseph W. Lawrence. 1866. Orrin Whitten. 1867. H u g h McMurray. 1868. Jeremiah Depue. 1869. Orrin Whitten. Joseph W. Lawence. 1870. I l u g h McMurray. 1871. Joseph W. Lawrence. 1872. Orrin Whitten. 1873. Archibald Bates. 1874. R . E . Comstock. 1875. J . H . Lawrence. 1876. Alexander Vance. 1877. E . B. Forbes. 1878. Robert 111. Cairns. S TAT I S T I C A L - 1 8 3 7 - 1 8 7 4 . The resident land-owners of California township their location by sections, number of acres owned, and the number and kind o f live stock possessed by each at that date is shown by the following list: Samuel Beach, section 4, 160 acres, 3 cows, 6 oxen, 2 horses. Israel R . Hall, sections 3 , 4, and 9 , 430 acres, 3 cows, 3 oxen, 2 horses Ira Purdy, section 3, 80 acres, 2 cows, 2 horses. Alum Purdy, section 23, 80 acres, I cow, 2 horses. Ira Cass, sections 2 and 3, 80 acres, 1 horse. George Monlux, section 4, 80 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. Alexander Odren, section 1, 160 acres, I cow. Theodore G. Holden, sections 1,2, and 12, 640 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. John W. Harris, section 1, 40 acres, 1 cow. William Thompson, section 12, Stillman Elwell, section 10, 160 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen, 3 horses. Joseph W. Lawrence, Sr., sections 5 and 34, 240 acres. Jacob B. Brown, section 6, 80 acres. Jonathan Hall, section 6, 80 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen. In addition to those before mentioned, the peared upon the rolls Fowler Quimby, section I , tO acres, I cow. Ridgeway Craft, section I , 10 acres, 3 cows. Justus Lease, section 12, 40 acres, I cow, 2 oxen. Joseph F. Reynolds, section I I , 40 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. John Vincent, section 11, 40 acres, I Cow, 2 oxen. Gilbert Goniinier, section 8, 40 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen. James H . Lawrence, section 10, 80 acres, 2 oxen. J. W. Lawrence, Jr., seetion 5, 80 acres, 1 cow. James Craig, sections 15 and 21, 404 scree. Rev. George Bryant, section 16; n o taxes levied. Asel Whitney, seetion 6, 160 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen. Isaac Withey, section 6 , 70 acres, I cow, 2 oxen. Population Total area (twee) ......... . Acres In farm lands " improved Farmers Acres of wheat growing, Ione, 1074 " harvested, t873... " w e n harvested, 1 Bushels wheat h a r t , 84 13,27 11,62 6,080 14 1,84 1,56 1,10 32,03 38,62 10,43 5,358 1,02 6,892 101,38 3 4 Pounds butter made, 1873 " f r u i t dried for market, 1873 Barrels cider made, 1873 ............... ....... Pounds maple-sugar made, 1873 Horses one year old and upward, 1874 Mules Work oxen Milch cows Cattle other than oxen and mileh cows Swine over six months old Sheep over six months old . s h e a r e d , 1873 5 32,568 15,63 36 1,30 31 2 1 37 34 53 1,84 1,72 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. The Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw the township from the south, and running in erly direction, intersecting in its course sections 22, and 13, it leaves the town south of the centre on border. S t a t e Line, a station on the route, is situated partly in California township, and partly in the State of Indiana The road-bed of the proposed Mansfield, Lake Michigan Railroad enters the township south of the centre, on the east border. I t s course is intersects sections 13, 12, 11, 10, 3, and 4, leaving the town west of the centre, on the north border. California village is a station. T h e work was performed in 1872. The people of California subscribed very liberally to aid in its construction, paying in an amount of about $10,000, of which Willard T. Ellis paid $1500, besides granting the right of way across his lands and four acres of land for depot VILLAGES. California, a small village o f about 100 inhabitants, is situated north of the central part of the township. ten miles due south of Quincy village, and three tant from State Line, its nearest railroad station. tains one church edifice (Presbyterian), two stores eral merchandise, one drug-store, steam saw-mill, district school-house, post-office, which receives mail triblacksmith-shop. ' f i l e first settlers in the on and near its site. T h e first land plowed in was upon the extreme southwest corner of section Samuel Beach and James H . Lawrence cultivated and raised one-half acre of potatoes in the summer of 1836. Mr. Beach traveled fifty miles and paid. $1 per the potatoes he planted. Originally, the land in ity consisted of oak openings, which was generally throughout Joseph Hall sold the first goods here in 1846. Lawrence, Sr., was the first blacksmith, and NV'. H. Lathrop and a Mr. Morgan were the first carpenters. Thomas Morrow erected the first saw-mill (steam) Cephas B. Dresser was the earliest law practitioner. D r . Isaac N . Miner was the first resident physician township. T h e present ones are Drs. Ayres and Mitchell, who are both located in SCHOOLS In the winter of 1838-39, Miss Sarah Beach, ter of Samuel Beach, taught the first school. T h e room occupied was one part o f Ira Purdy's double This house is described as having been " cobbed off" with a shake roof, chinked and plastered with mud in �346 H I S T O R Y O F BRANCH style of the olden time. T h e writing-desks were made by boring holes into the logs,—composing the side walls building,—in which were driven projecting pins slanting downwards. U p o n these pins was laid a slab o r puncheon of wood, split and hewn from a forest-tree. T h e seats and floors were constructed in the same During the following summer a log school-house was built, which for many years stood near the site of school-house in At the first meeting of the inspectors of was held at the town clerk's office, May 23, cates to teach primary schools were granted Dolly R. Weeks and Rosalia Moltroup. From an annual report made i n 1847 t h e following statistics are taken : Number o f school districts i n t h e township, 5 ; children of school age residing in ship, 186; children attending school during the year, 186. Male teachers employed, 3 ; female, 4. Av e r a g e wages per month paid male teachers, $12.50; female, $4.50. Total amount of money received from the urer, $44.33; total amount raised by tax in the township for school purposes, $97.63. A t the annual township-meeting in 1848 it that we raise 371 cents for each scholar under the age of four years, or over the age o f eighteen, for the ensuing year." School statistics, 1877.*—Whole districts, 4 ; parts o f districts, 2 ; school-houses, 6 ; frame schoolseating capacity o f school-houses, 2 7 0 ; value property. $2400. C h i l d r e n of school age residing in the township, 283; -children attending school during the year, 291. M a l e teachers employed during the year, 4; female, 7. M o n t h s taught b y male teachers, 1 4 ; b y female, 25. Paid male teachers, $423.75; female, $505.95. Receipts.—Mouey on hand, Sept. 4, 1876, mill tax, $209.09; primary-school fund, $135.74; tuition of non-resident scholars, $ 7 ; district taxes, f o r all other purposes, $894.95; from all other sources, $121.14. Expenditures.—Teachers' wages, $929.70; repairs, 88.25; bonded indebtedness, $226; other purposes, $351.86. O n hand Sept. 3. 1877, $95.98. SOCIETIES. Lodges of the Masonic and Odd-Fellow fraternities exist in the township, and both are of recent organization, have no data concerning them, though the respectfully requested to furnish CALIFORNIA CORNET BAND. This band was organized June 23, 1877, the following-named members: W . A. Depue, Leader E . 1) 1 \ COUNTY, M I C H I G A N . CHURCHES. FIRST P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H . The society composing this church was organized Ozias Littlefield, i n the school-house a t April 11, 1840. T h e original members were 11 ber, ati fulloWS : Joseph W. Lawrence, Sr., Thomas Pratt, A l m a Pratt. Joseph. W. Lawrence, J r. , Susan N. Lawrence, Ezra S. E. Brainard. Sabrina Brainard. Walter I I . Lathorp, Emeline Lathorp, and Mrs. L u c y Robbins. A t t h e first meeting, Thomas W. Lawrence, Jr., and Walter H . Lathrop ruling Mr. Littlefield, the first pastor, supplied the January, 1843. H e was succeeded by Mr. Page, mained but a few months. R e v . Louis Mills also came in 1843, and was succeeded b y O. N . Chapin, November. 1844. O t h e r pastors were as follows: Daniel Jones. April. 1849; George Brown, March, 1856: A . T. ruary, 1859; Charles S. Adams, January, 1862; Alanson Scofield, April, 1864; E . F. Tanner. June. 1873: J . F. Donaldson, January, 1877; and W. F. Mathews. the last pastor, April 1, 1877. T h e pulpit is now supplied by Rev. Joseph A . Ranney, Present membership. 42. N o of pupils in classes, 40. W i l l a r d T. Ellis, Sunday-school ent. T h e i r church edifice was commenced in pleted and dedicated i n 1/471. I t has sittings for about 300 people, and cost $2600. M r . W. T. Ellis contributed the site. CHURCH O F T H E U N I T E D B R E T H R E N . The society composing this church was organized i n June, 1868, with a membership of eight, of Copeland was appointed leader. T h e i r first pastor was Rev. J. K . Swihart. H e has been succeeded by Revs. It. T. Martin, J . Waldorf I . Johnson, R . T. Martin, again, S. Redman, G. W. Hill, J. P. Kester, and J. ent membership, 49. Pupils in Sabbath-school classes, 45. A. C. Stokes Sunday-school A church edifice was erected in 1873, at a cost of $1200, and has sittings for 200 people. I t is 32 by plan, and of that peculiar style of architecture a "stick UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. This society was organized J u n e 1 6 , 1865, by Rev. Samuel Wallace, of Piqua. 0 . . under the care Presbytery The session was composed of Elders William son and Alexander Gillis, together with Rev. as modorritor. and William A Hntehinnn. eleriz. �A HISTORY O F B R A N C H C O U N T Y, MICHIGAN. G. A. Duguid and wife, Mrs. Mary Stewart, Jane E. Paul, Mary Tillotson, Sallie Wendy, Minerva Ford, Misses Mary Melendy, Joanna Ford, Libbie Paul, and Rebecca William C. Thompson was installed as a ruling elder June 16, 1865. Thomas Hall was chosen as a at the same time, but was not installed until Sept. 19, of' the same The society has been furnished with stated supplies by the Presbytery, the first being William A . licentiate. T h e i r only settled pastor was Rev. J. who remained two years. A union Sabbath-school with the Reformed Presbyterians, and is very Present membership of the CHARLES R AY M O N D . CHARLES RAYMOND. Nathaniel Raymond settled in the city of Adrian, Mich., when the ground i t now embraces was a wilderness. Charles Raymond, his son and one o f eight children, was toin July 23, 1836, and spent his early life upon a farm with his father. A t the age of twentylearned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and soon after married Miss Carrie E. Golden, of Medina, Mich. REFORMED P R E S B Y T E R I A N S . This denomination has a large membership in but their church edifice is situated at State Line, Rev. John French, their pastor, settled here in has preached to his people in this vicinity to time To Messrs. James I I . Lawrence, Ira Purdy, Alexander Odren, Henry Kelso, Willard T. Hall, S. B. Dickinson, A . C. Stokes, W. A . many others, we desire to return our thanks for courteous treatment, and the valuable reminiscences. etc.. received MRS. C H A R L E S R AY M O N D . short residence in Adrian, Mr. and Mrs. to Chicago, and later returned t o Michigan a upon the farm Mrs. Raymond now occupies I, township. T h e y had two sons, thirteen and fouri. of age respectively, both of whom are pursuing Mr. Raymond died in November, 1877, leaving and two sons t o survive him. M r s . Raymond erecting a suitable monument to 34 ������ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County History Books Description An account of the resource Books about the history of Branch County, Michigan. Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Branch County, Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers Subject The topic of the resource Branch County (Mich.) Coldwater (Mich.) Quincy (Mich.) Bronson (Mich.) Algansee (Mich.) Girard Township (Mich.) Sherwood (Mich.) Kinderhook (Mich. : Township) Union City (Mich.) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Philadelphia: Everts & Abbott. Press of J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1879 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource text Additional Item Metadata The additional item metadata element set, consisting of all item elements created by an administrator and not assigned to an item type, and item elements created by plugins and not assigned to an item type or other element set. Additionally, the metadata element set that, in addition to the Dublin Core element set, was included in the `items` table in previous versions of Omeka. These elements are common to all Omeka items. Spatial Coverage Michigan Branch County https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/c918bf75a87e5245ed06136dcd19a545.pdf c3276c5880ef806f83bf34114f2f541e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County Directories Description An account of the resource Historical address and eventually telephone directories of the Branch County, Michigan, area Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater City Directory 1860-1861 Description An account of the resource A business and residential directory for Coldwater, Hillsdale, and Monroe Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available George W. Hawes, Detroit, Michigan. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1860-1861 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/d3316279ceab984c28e02cef871db3bf.pdf 9d426e100fa843a74c7f886f4331483e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County Directories Description An account of the resource Historical address and eventually telephone directories of the Branch County, Michigan, area Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater City Directory 1882 Subject The topic of the resource Bronson (Mich.) Directories Coldwater (Mich.) Directories Quincy (Mich.) Directories Union City (Mich.) Directories Description An account of the resource An alphabetically arranged list of businesses and private citizens in Coldwater, including the villages of Union City, Quincy, and Bronson Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available A. G. Nedham & Co., Coldwater, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1882 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/04ecba7d5492632ae586b2c188cfe824.pdf 6ea5d345793c07ebd81e6de2993c2827 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County Directories Description An account of the resource Historical address and eventually telephone directories of the Branch County, Michigan, area Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater City Directory 1894 Subject The topic of the resource Coldwater (Mich.) Directories Description An account of the resource An alphabetically arranged list of businesses and private citizens in Coldwater Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Conover, Coldwater, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1894 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/23d4f6a16d7062df6753c34e6b3c0ae2.pdf 95bcaf1b78aafa758d2c9b3bd3a4716f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County Directories Description An account of the resource Historical address and eventually telephone directories of the Branch County, Michigan, area Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater City Directory 1900 Subject The topic of the resource Coldwater (Mich.) Directories Description An account of the resource An alphabetically arranged list of businesses and private citizens in Coldwater Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1900 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/1e781d008064b8fbd938fd49b0210fcf.pdf 1ca38b1e46dab0eee2a9262671c14fb0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County Directories Description An account of the resource Historical address and eventually telephone directories of the Branch County, Michigan, area Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater City Directory 1902 Subject The topic of the resource Coldwater (Mich.) Directories Description An account of the resource An alphabetically arranged list of businesses and private citizens in Coldwater Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Bailey and Bradley, Coldwater, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1902 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/e3c63f0e1338c3c23c6dd63c8cebdc30.pdf 036523d1369375b98da9bc3057c19079 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County Directories Description An account of the resource Historical address and eventually telephone directories of the Branch County, Michigan, area Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater City Directory 1905 Subject The topic of the resource Coldwater (Mich.) Directories Description An account of the resource An alphabetically arranged list of businesses and private citizens in Coldwater Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available W. C. Bailey, Coldwater, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1905 https://branchdistrictlibrary.org/archive/files/original/702d4798738be2d5451459429459b198.pdf aa00794594e42aa9d4ff529eccb19ecc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Branch County Directories Description An account of the resource Historical address and eventually telephone directories of the Branch County, Michigan, area Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coldwater City Directory 1907 Subject The topic of the resource Coldwater (Mich.) Directories Description An account of the resource An alphabetically arranged list of businesses and private citizens in Coldwater Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available W. C. Bailey, Coldwater, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1907