USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Ypsilanti > Chronology of Ypsilanti from 1787 to 1865 > Part 1
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C H R 0 N O LG Y
C F YPSILANTI
FROM
1787 to 1865
Compiled by Foster L. Fletcher City Historian 1978
Page One
CONDENSED HISTORY OF YPSILANTI
Chronology by Foster L. Fletcher, City Historian
1787 Northwest Ordinance by Congress establishing North- west Territory, the area which today includes Wis- consin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. October 5. Gen. Arthur St. Clair appointed first Governor of the Northwest Territory ..
1805
Territory of Michigan organized (lower peninsular) with Gen. Wm. Hull the first Governor of the Terri- tory and Detroit as the seat of Government. Two thirds of Detroit's inhabitants were French. Fire destroyed most of the log structures of the village the day Gen .. Hull arrived to begin his administrat- ion.
1809
River Huron, easily navigable for most of the 25 miles inland from Lake Erie, brought three explor- ing Frenchmen who established a Trading Post on the west bank of the River Huron. This log structure was the first building built in what is now Washtenaw County. A plaque on the entrance of. the Detroit Edison office building commemorates the 1809 Trading Post. The Frenchmen were: Col. Gabriel Godfroy, Romaine LeChambre and Francois Pepin.
1811
: June 11, deeding of 2,632 acres running west from the Huron, to the three French explorers and known thereafter as the French Claims. F.C. 690 to Gabriel Godfroy, 612, acres; F.C. to Romaine LaChambre, 622 acres; F.C. 680 to Godfroy's children, 556 acres; F.C. 681 to Francois Pepin, 562 acres.
1812
June 18. Congress by a small majority, voted a Declaration of War against Great Britain. William Webb Harwood from Palmyra, New York, came to what is now Washtenaw County and Ypsilanti but did not stay. The Godfroy Trading Post was the only structure in the area.
1819
September. General Lewis Cass, second Governor of the Michigan Territory, concluded a treaty at Saginas with the Indians, whereby most of the land in the present south-eastern Michigan, passed to the United States Government. U.S. Survey began and thousands of acres of land were put up for Public Sale by Act of Congress in 1820.
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1822 Boundries of Washtenaw County defined. July 1, Eli Kellog bought" " " ... a portion of Section 9 & 10, Town 3 South, Range 7 East". , containing 132 acres and on the east side of the River Huron, William Webb Harwood bought the 132 acres from Kellog and also some adjoining acres from Hiram Jones in 1822. Ezra Lay visited the area, prospect- ing for land in May of that year. In June, Eldridge Gee, age 21, visited the area with his father-in-law, Epaphras Matteson, Joseph Young and Giles Downer.
1823 1-
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February, Eldridge Gee "squated" on land in Sec- tion 13. April 22, Benjamin Woodruff, John Thayer, Robert M. Stitts, David Beverly, and Titus Bronson arrived on the high banks of the Huron where Ben- jamin J. Woodruff took registered title to 114 acres in Section 15 and 22. He established Woodruff's Grove on his land, the location being a mile below the present Michigan Avenue. There is a memorial boulder at the present intersection of South Grove and South Prospect. Hiram Tuttle settled further south and on the south bank of the river. Titus Bronson bought two fractions in 1823, and May 24 1824, bought 160 acres in Section 32 in Ann Arbor Township. Thomas Sackridge was a purchaser of land and built a house in 1824, later moving to Lenawee County. Orante Grant bought land and brought his family to the area in April 1824.
October 23, John Bryan and family arrived at Woodruff' Grove, bought land and built a house. Bryan was a carpenter and in the fall of 1827, built the first bridge across the River Huron, about where the 1825 US Survey placed the Detroit to Chicago Military Road.
1824
There were 14 purchasers of land in our area during this year. Hiram Jones was the 7th purchaser, loc- ating on the east side of the Huron adjoining what had been the land of Eli Kellog.
David McCord and Robert Fleming bought land and Robert Fleming built a sawmill in Section 25, Ann Arbor Township, in the summer, on what is now Fleming's Creek. He soon removed to lands west of Washtenaw County ..
Harvey H. Snow was the 10th buyer and owned Snow's landing, now Rawsonville. A year later he sold out to Abel Millington. Erastus Guilford was the 11th purchaser; David Cross the 12th and he sold out in 1825 and moved to Saline, then Manchester and back to Ypsilanti where he died February 15, 1875.
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George Noyes was the 13th purchaser but soon moved to Ann Arbor.
February, Alpha Washtenaw Bryan born at Woodruff's Grove, son of John Bryan. First white child born in County of Washtenaw.
July 4. First Independence Day celebration at the Grove.
September 9. John Stewart bought French Claim #691, from LaChambre, a total of 622 acres.
First October 22. Walter Oakman died at the Grove. death in the settlement. Judge A. B. Woodward bought French Claim #690 containing 612 acres. Each Claim 1/2 miles wide and two miles long from the bed of the Huron west to the present Hewitt Road.
1825
May . Rev. Elias Potter of Ohio Conference of the Methodist Church, a Circuit Rider, visited Woodruff's Grove.
- It has been assumed that the old Godfroy Trading Post built 1808-09, had burned soon after it opened. NOV comes verification through the thoughtful help of Mary Campbell, that the log structure was in use in 1825. From the Territorial Papers:
Poll list and register of votes as given in an Election held at the Old Trading House of Gabriel Godfroy on Tuesday the 31st of May A.D. 1825
May 31. Election held at the site of the old Godfroy Trading Post to elect a delegate to Congress. June. Lyman Graves bought 320 acres in Section #28 ( South of Textile, east of Hitchingham, north of Merritt Road). on both sides of the old Monroe Road, Whittaker .. John P. Kelly and son, Christian age 16, came to the area with Graves. Kelly was a blacksmith from Berne, Switzerland, and had emigrated to America in 1818. He had the first blacksmith's shop in Wash- tenaw County.
Spring-United States surveyors placed the Detroit- Chicago Road across the Huron where the present Michigan Avenue is; nearly a mile up the river from Woodruff's Grove.
July- Village platted on each side of the Huron where the Survey placed the new road. It was recorded in Detroit by three men: Judge A. B. Woodward; John Stewart and William W. Harwood. The Judge named the Village "Ypsilanti", honoring the Greek Patriot, Demetrius Ypsilanti. Settlers, now arriving overland on the new road, bought village lots and nearby land, causing the decline of the "Grove".
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John Stewart planned the West Public Square and gave the land for it. It was bounded by Adams St. to Hamilton St. on both sides of Congress with Pearson St. as boundary on the north and Michigan St. (Ferris) on the south. (Michigan St. was changed to Ferris St. in 1914).
William Webb Harwood gave the land for the East Public Square, bounded by Lincoln, Babbitt, Park and Parsons Streets.
William Wilson, age 30, bought 160 acres from his uncle, John Shaw: NW 1/4 Section 22 (south side of Huron River,3/4 mile west of Tuttle Hill Road - "about a mile south of Woodruff's Grove.".
August 29. Judge A. B. Woodward sold 526 acres to Lucius Lyon.
October 26. Erie Canal opened, establishing a com- plete water route from New York to Detroit and Michigan Territory.
September 12. Deed for Lot 110 in original plat of Ypsilanti to Jonathan G. Morton. Consideration
of $5.00. Morton had first store in Village of Ypsilanti at NW corner Huron and Pearl Streets on Lot 110.
December 7. "Wednesday, the schoolhouse in Wood- ruff's Grove entirely burned". ( "Detroit Gazette", December 13, 1825) .
December 3. Convention held in Ann Arbor to nom- inate County Officers - Delerates : "B. J. Woodruff and Thomas Sackrider from Woodruff's Grove: Dr. Rufus Pomeroy from Ypsilanti Village: Oliver Whitmore, Mulletts Creek: Roswell Britton, Cyrus Beckwith, Dr Cyril Nichols and David E. Lord from Ann Arbor : Sylvanus Noble, Mill Creek; Anthony Case from Simes settlement; Capt. John Dix, Dixborough. Nominees were: S.W.Dexter, Ist Judge; Oliver Whitmore, 2nd Judge, Henry Rumsey, 3rd Judge : Anthony Case, Judge of Probate: B. J.Woodruff, Sheriff: David E. Lord, Register and Recorder". ( "Detroit Gazette", December 13, 1825).
January. Party of young people from Ypsilanti visited Rumsey's Tavern in Ann Arbor. First Post Office established at Dixborough. Major John Dix first Postmaster.
May. Military Company organized with Andrew Mckinstry, Captain; Jonathan Kirk, Lt .; Alvin Cross, Ensign. May 17. Messers Ely and Mckinstry killed an enor- mous bear at the Grove that weighed 350 pounds. August. Lyman Graves and Olive Gorton married.
1826
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1826 August. John Stewart established the first sawmill, west bank of the. Huron Aver at Forest Ave .. August 26. Bethuel Farrand, one of the original members of the Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor . Noble character, and enterprising business man worthy of notice served as Elder of the Church for 21 years ... " (from the 'Reminiscenes of Lorrin Mills' ) "Deacon Bethuel Farrand drove the stage (a lumber wagon) from Detroit to Ann Arbor and also brought the mail ... ' 11 Bethuel Farrand bought acreage in Section 33, Ann Arbor Township, East 1/2 of SW located 2 miles East of Ann Arbor on Dixboro Road. He was made Judge of Probate for Washtenaw County and his portrait is in the Ypsilanti Historical Archives.
November. Michigan Legislative Council establishes Washtenaw County. Prior to this time, Washtenaw was part of Wayne County for administrative purposes.
1827
January 2. Lucius Lyon sold his land. holdings to Jacob Larzalere.
June. Mark Norris arrived, having walked from Detroit to Ypsilanti. Michigan Legislative Council set off original Township of Ypsilanti, comprised of Town 1,2,3 &$ South of Range 7 East, And Sections 23,24, 25,25, 5 and 36, and South 1/2. of . Sections 13 & 14 in Town 3, South of Range 6, East (part of Pittsfield Township). This covered Salem, Superior, Ypsilanti, Augusta Townships, and Southeast corner of Pitts- field Township.
The first Hawkins House - the nucleus of this Hotel, known as Tolland's Trading House, was built by Tolland, son-in-law of John Stewart, about 1827. Abiel Hawkins bought the site and structure in 1834. Old Colby House - two miles east of Ypsilanti, erected by Zolva Bowen - became "most pretentious building between Detroit and Ypsilanti .. Wm. Colby later conducted the business and sold to E.D. Lay who in turn sold to Wiard.
Isaac Powers appointed Post Master by President John Quincy Adams. Ypsilanti's first Post Master.
1828
Pioneer Historical Society established by Governor Cass. The Historical Society of Michigan ranks in the first nine Historical Societies formed in the Colonies, Territories and States and was the first Historical Society in the Middle West.
Loyal Sprague, in 1901, said that in 1828, William Hornbeck kept one of three stores in Ypsilanti.
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1828 Ypsilanti Mill built by Harding and Reading, east side of River Huron and North of East Cross at the end of the Mill Race.
A third Flouring Mill was built on the east bank of the river and south of Congress Street bridge. The mill was built by William Webb Harwood.
Isaac Kimball arrived in Ypsilanti and worked for Philander Stevens in the grocery store on the south side of Congress and west of Huron. June 30 .. The Michigan Legislative Council set
off Towns 1 & 2 South of Range 7 East, as a separ- ate Township known as "Panama". "That from and after the passage of this act, all that part of the Township of Ypsilanti, North, including Town- ship #1 and //2 South ... shall be known by the name of Panama ... and that the first Township meeting be held at the house of John McCormick". This new Township of Panama comprised the present Townships of Salem and Superior. In 1831, the southern part of Panama organized the Township of Superior, a name selected by Henry Kimmel.
July. First Methodist Church Sunday School es- tablished in a log structure on North Huron Street.
1829
July . Presbyterian Church organized by Rev. Wm. Page of Ann Arbor (Foster-pp 22)
October. Mark Norris succeeded Isaac Powers as Post Master: October 1st to December 31st- Report of Mark Norris, Postmaster, to General Post Office: Total Receipts $45.49 - Balance due to General Post Office $30.43.
December 18. Presbyterian Temperance Society formed by Rev. Wr. Jones (Foster pr 12).
1830
January 3. Meeting at Oliver Whitmore Hotel to adopt measures to select candidate for Delegate to Congress. Solmon Champion, Jr., Chairman; Marcus Lane, Secretary. ( "Emigrant" 1-19-1830) . Judge Jacob L. Larzelere built first brick house in Ypsilanti. (Present address: 202 S. Huron) SW corner of South Kuron and Woodward Street. June. Rev. Ira M. Wead became second Pastor of Presbyterian Church but was not formally installed until October 1834.
October 4. The First Congregational Society ( Foster pr.2) of Ypsilanti formed for Church government. Jacob Larzelere had a race dug and a sawmill er- ected near the later site of the Cornwell mill. Larzelere continued his sawmill until 1842 when it was converted to a paper mill, after a felt-
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1830 woolen mill was operated there. April 6. Joseph Smith organized the Mormon. Church in Fayette, Seneca County, w_w York.
strong in the country.
Anti-Masoni^ escern Emigrant", published in Ann Arbor, led the attack on the Masonic Order.
December 25. First regularly scheduled passenger train service in the United States, using steam power, opened at Charleston on the South Carolina Railroad with a 3 1/2 ton U.S. built locomotive. Stackhouse built a Hotel on Last Congress (Michigan) beyond the river and on the north side of the street. A log structure was put up by one Tolland on the NW corner of Congress (Michigan) and Wash- ington Street prior to 1830. It was sold to one Foster who made the building into a crude hotel. In 1830 Foster built a single story frame building
west of the log building. These buildings were
sold to a Coy and then to Dr. Millington. Abiel Hawkins bought the property in 1834.
First Cemetery owned by the Village of Ypsilanti. It was located at the corner of Summit Street and Chicago Road (Michigan Avenue).
William Webb Harwood built a small single story brick building on the north edge of the East Public Square of the original plat, midway between River Street and Mill (Park) Street. This building be-
came the first School House. It was a girl's school.
In the election for candidate for Territorial Con- gress, the Masonic candidate won, but there was a large 'anti' vote cast. By 1835 the Masonic issue was forrotten.
Edwin Jerome, with a party of Surveyors on their way to survey the Northwest Territory west from Lake Michigan, wrote: "The first day's march, on a graded road, with a French pony team and a buffalo waron to carry our tent, blankets and equipment, brought us to Ypsilanti where we found good fare and a choice of the softest boards on the barroom floor for our beds during the night ... ".
John Stewart sold his holdings to Jason Cross and moved west.
September 8. An adv. in the "Detroit Free Press" states: "Two Stage Lines are now running from Detroit to Ann Arbor, Jacksonburg and Tecumseh, via Ypsilanti". The Michiran Legislative Council set off the South Half of Panama Township and named it Superior.
1832
April-September. Black Hawk War pushing the Indians
1831
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1832 across the Mississippi. First Public Schoolhouse was known as the "White" schoolhouse on the west side. A one room structure was on the lot now numbered 137 North Washington Street. Chauncey Joslin taught there in 1837 and continued to 1845.
Salmon Champion erected a building near the SW corner of South Adams and Congress Streets on the South edge of the West Public Square.
1833 August 13. Public meeting held to open navigation on the River Huron.
August 27. Construction of flat bottom freight boat started by Hiram and James Ashe, to be called "The Enterprise".
October 5. Seventeen members of the Ypsilanti Pres- byterian Church seceeded to form the Presbyterian Church of Stoney Creek.
April 1. Michigan Legislative Council set off the north half of Panama Township and named it "Salem". April. William R. Post came to the Village from Stephentown, New York and located 3 1/2 miles south of town.
Abiel Hawkins arrived with his son Walter. Miss Emily Wead became the teacher in the school, then married Salmon Champion. She was followed in 1834 by Miss A. G. Nichols.
1834
John Bryan moved to Ann Arbor - built a County Court House that year - then moved to Constantine and died there in 1871.
House built by Arden Ballard on North Huron the SW corner of present Washtenaw.
May 10. Timothy Showerman and family arrived in Ypsilanti.
July 8, 1834- to Mark Norris, Postmaster, Ypsilanti, Michigan Territory -
Dear Sir: - I have at length engaged in the wood business and shall be glad to get your boat if you can spare her ... hope you can rig her with a sail ... If you can let me have her I should like for you to send her to the mouth of the Huron or Detroit ... In haste, T.S. Schooler Mongaugon, M. T. (Grosse Ille)
The original letter is in the files of the Ypsilanti Historical Archives.
The old boat never left Ypsilanti but was abandoned in the river.
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1834 September. Miss Ruth Parker opened "Ypsilanti Young Ladies Select School" in a room over the shop of Mr. Vanderbilt. (Miss Parker later became the wife of Rev. Worthington). October. Rev. Ira M. Wead formally installed as Pastor of Presbyterian Church.
July 6. Gov. George B. Porter dies in Detroit as 2nd Cholera epidemic begins.
July. Isaac Kimball and Harry Gilbert discover a mysterious underground room about 20 rods south of the Chicago Road on Prospect Street, 10 feet square and 8 feet high. Supposed to have been made and used by counterfiters in the early days of the Godfrey Trading Post.
Toledo War over boundary between Ohio and Michigan. ( Toledo is shown as being in Michigan on the 1834 maps ). Michigan was not admitted to the Union be- cause she would not surrender the Toledo Strip. The area was finally surrendered in exchange for the western section of the Upper Peninsular.
1835
March. Troop of Calvary fror Ypsilanti mobilized by Capt. Forsythe to fight in "Toledc War". Went to Tolede and came back home in a few days. April 6. 2nd Town Meeting of Pittsfield Township held at school house near McCracken's Inn. October 25. John Scott Horner, unpopular Secretary and acting Governor of Michigan Territory, appointed by President. Andrew Jackson, stopped overnight in Ypsilanti. During the night, his lodging place was pelted with stones and other missiles and treating the distinguished ruest to the indignity of an old time chariviri. (see "Life and Tines of S. T. Mason" by Lawton T. Herans ) .
Road between Detroit and Chicago opened. It was known as the Sauk Trail. Dr. Parninio Davis arrived and also James Hutchinson, father of Shelley B. Hutchinson.
The Tax Roll was rade up by Willian R. Post and the list named 121 Tax payers in the Village, the largest tax was for $86.50 and for A. Lagullun. December. "Ypsilanti Sentinel" newspaper established by General John VanFossen.
1836
Benjamin and Freelove Sanford Woodruff came from New York State and settled on 80 acres at Carpenter's Corners, Pittsfield Township. This family in- cluded their son Charles Woodruff who had a trex- endous influence on higher education in the State of Michigan as well as in the local schools.
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1836 Rev. John D. Pierce becane first Superintendent of Public Instruction. He lived in Marshall, Michigan at that time - and is buried there. Dr. Fairchild lived in the 2nd house south of the Starkweather-Ladies' Library (130 N. Huron) . The Doctor had built this frane structure. First Bank, Legislation passed chartering the Bank of Ypsilanti. Incorporators were: Henry Champion, Arden Ballard, Marcus Lane, Mark Norris, Silas French, Grove Spencer, Timothy Treadwell and David Ballentine. The bank operated for three years but the manarement changed and bankruptcy followed the next year.
June 15. Conpress accepts Michigan's Constitution; agrees to admit Michigan as a State upon condition that Michigan accept Ohio's boundary.
September 26. At Convention of Assent held in Ann Arbor, Ohio's clains are refused.
October 1. Michigan Southern (Erie & Kalamazoo) Railroad is first to operate in Michigan. Horse- power train travels between Toledo and Adrian. First locomotive in State is put in operation on this line the following year.
First meeting of the Baptist Church Society held in school house on east side. Elder S. Twiss from Ann Arbor presiding. ( "Ypsilanti Press" 2/19/1937) . November 23. Presbyterian Church on Pearson Street dedicated ( Colburn pr 99).
December. Quaker preacher 'employs underground rail road' to bring slaves into Cass county, and move- ment of furitive and freed slaves into States begins.
Michiran is admitted to the Union as a free State. United States Government orders removal of the Indians from the States west of the Appalacians and also Michigan.
Georre King came from England in 1837 to Ypsilanti. Other prominent names arriving in 1837: Walter A. Bucklee, lawyer, John Van Cleve and Chauncey Joslin who are mentioned elsewhere, Francis K. Rexford, M. D. who formed a parnership with Richard F. Morse, M. D. and it lasted until 1850.
The Village of Ypsilanti had 121 houses with a popu- lation of about 600.
February 2. Michigan flap first introduced. Origin- ated ty Governor Lewis Case before Michigan became a State.
April 3. Journeymen carpenters ro on strike and parade in Detroit Streets. The beginning of the economic depression.
October 4. Dr. Richard Morse succeeded Mark Norris
1837
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1837 as Postmaster and continued for four years. October 18. Benjamin Woodruff died.
Post and Larzelere Addition, south from Catherine on both sides of Huron, added to the Village.
1838 Colonel D. C. Mckinstry contracted to build the railroad from Detroit to Ypsilanti and moved to Ypsilanti that year. He bought the Champion house, SE corner Congress and South Adams.
. February 8, Single tract with wood burning loco- motive reaches Ypsilanti.
April. Detroit elects first school board in Michigan under State Law.
July 3. St. Luke's Episcopal Church dedicated (spire and pews finished 1842).
First newspaper "Ypsilanti Republican" started by John W. Wallace.
December 15. Ypsilanti Vigilante Society organized at home of Aliel Hawkins. James R. Gillis, President, James M. Edmunds, Secretary, M. V. Hall, Treasurer, Chauncey Joslin, Mark Norris, Abraham Sare, Marcus Lane, D. C. Mckinstry, Arden Ballard and W. B. Hewitt, Executive Committee.
Mark N Gris built the Western Hotel anticipating the railroad, located on the triangle formed by Maple (old Mill Street) , River Street and the rail road right of way, and north of East Cross Street. The early railroad station was on the west side of the track and north of East Cross Street. Platted real estate additions increased the size of the Village and were as follows : Case & Perry Addition, SW of Forest and Hamilton; the Norris Addition which included land between East Cross and Maple Streets, and from River Street to Prospect; Larzelere added land between Race ( Catherine) and Spring Streets, east of South Huron; the Clarkville Addition was south of the Larzelere Addition and west of South Huron.
1839
The Morse and Ballentine Addition included land west of Ballard between Cross and Ellis ( Washtenaw) Streets. Arden Ballard opened the Earle Flouring mill near Forest Avenue.
1840
The State population was listed 212,267 with 500 sawmills operating in the State. Reverend. H. P. Powers came as Rector of St. Luke's Chruch.
George Kins built a frame structure for his grocery store on the SW corner of Congress and South Huron,
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1840 having, been located for a short time on East Congress Street.
A Plank Road was planned from Ypsilanti to York. William R. Post was offering to buy; butter, eres and other farm produce.
S. Ostrander advertised as a blacksmith and wagon maker.
Francis Griffin established a school. He used the meeting room of the Presbyterian Church on Pearson Street and later located in the 'Nunnery' on Con- press Street. Griffin was followed by a man named Landreth who established an academic school in the Larzelere block (201 W. Michigan) . Both Griffin and Landreth advertised the teaching of Latin and Greek, but they were not successful, and Charles Woodruff undertook carrying on the academic school in that location.
1841 April 17. Memorial funeral services for President William Henry Harrison. The Invocation was given by Rev. I. M. Wead,; prayer by Rev. Simmons; sermon by Rev. H.P. Powers; benediction by Rev. Alvin Billings. A crowd of several hundred men, women and children, headed by a band, paraded from the Hawkins House to the Methodist Church on River Street, and back to the Episcopal Church and then to the Presbyterian Church.
May 3. William R. Martin became Postmaster. October 24. Dr. Parmenio Davis married Carlistra Showerman, daughter of Timothy Showerman.
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