USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
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ILLSDALL COUNTY
MICHIGAN
VERTS & ABBOTT
HIS
HILLSDALE COUNTY
MICHIGAN
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
>
4
HILLSDALE COLLEGE.
HISTORY -OF-
HILLSDALE COUNTY, 5
MICHIGAN,
WITH2
Illustrations and Biographical ketcheg
SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
PHILADELPHIA: EVERTS & ABBOTT.
-1879.
PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL.
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY.
CHAPTER
PAGE
I .- Introductory
9
II .- Early French Discoveries 10
III .- The Pottawattamies 12
IV .- The Pottawattamies (continued) 16
V .- The Pottawattamies (continued) 36
VI .- The Era of Preparation
32
VII .- The Pioneer Era 35
VIII .- The Era of Development
45
Fayette
119
Scipio
149
Litchfield
157
55 Pittsford
170
Wheatland
188
Wright
200
Hillsdale
215
Adams
219
Somerset
230
Moscow
241
Allen
251
XVII .- Second, Fourth, and Seventh Cavalry
71
XVIII .- Eighth and Eleventh Cavalry and First Light Artil- lery
75
Ransom
283
XIX .- Other Soldiers 79
Amboy
295
XX .- Since the War 80
Camden
301
XXI .- Hillsdale County Civil List
81
Reading
311
XXII .- The Press of Hillsdale County
83
Woodbridge
328
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
Hon. John P. Cook, Hillsdale
facing 94
Wm. S. Van Fleet, Wright
214
Lewis Emery,
105
W. H. and Henry M. Pratt, Wright
215
Asa G. Edwards, Hillsdale
between
216, 217
Joseph J. Jones,
218
Garry Sarles,
218
The Gray Family, Adams .
226
Oscar A. Janes,
115
226
Benjamin P. Shepard,
115
Nicholas Schmitt,
227
William Wright,
227
Furman Huff,
227
William Kirby,
228
Lemuel Roberts,
228
Gen. C. J. Dickerson,
Samuel Stevens, ..
229
John W. Falley, M.D.,
117
Vining Barker,
229
Arvin F. Whelan, M.D., Hillsdale
118
Levi Vanaken,
230
.
.
.
148
Charles M. L. Andrus, Somerset
238
Charles P. Osius,
149
239
Charles Mosher, Scipio
155
239
Lyman Johnson,
William Mercer,
240
Isaac Smith,
157
Robert McGregor,
241
William J. and Otis Bettis, Litchfield
facing 161
Daniel McNabb, Moscow
facing
249
Horton Mann,
between 162, 163
Israel Buck,
249
Azariah Mallory,
250
James Valentine,
Alexander Hewitt, Allen
262
Thomas O'Hanlon,
262
The Glasgow Family,
263
John Herring,
263
L. P. Roode,
264
Laban A. Howard, M.D.,
167
Roscius Southworth,
264
S. Sabin Fairbank,
Jonathan W. Whitney, Allen
265
Milton P. Herring,
William McConnell, Wm. S. Hosmer and Abner W. Pearce, Cambria
271
James B. Linsday,
Hon. Charles D. Luce, Jefferson
282
Reuben W. Freeman,
Thomas Hutchings, Jefferson
283
Samuel Day, Pittsford
between 184, 185
Samuel B. Brown, Ransom Nelson Doty,
292
Hon. John M. Osborn, Pittsford .
185
Orsamus Doty,
292
John H. Keagle,
Oliver T. Powers,
293
James H. Miner,
=
187
Gilbert Howland,
294
Zebulon Williams, Wheatland
facing 191
George Camp,
294
Samuel Combs,
197
Augustus G. Mcclellan, Amboy Elihu Ferrall,
300
Seth Wood,
Henry Loutsenhizer, "
300
Almon Goff,
Andrew J. Wigent, Camden
310
Nelson R. Rowley,
¥
199
John Cole, Reading
325
Albert B. Slocum,
Hiram B. Chapman, Reading
325
Harvey McGee,
199
Harrison Bailey, Reading .
326
Thomas Robins,
200
Charles Kane,
326
James N. Wilcox, Wright .
212
A. D. Southworth, "
327
Robert B. Sawyer, "
213
Henry K. Abbott,
327
William Brewster,
213
Hon. Frederick Fowler, Reading
328
.
114
William Waldron,
114
Daniel L. Pratt,
114
.
Asher B. La Fleur,
115
Robert A. Weir,
116
George W. Bullock,
116
147
Andrew McDougal, Somerset Seth Aldrich,
between
234, 235
Hon. Levi Baxter,
147
238
Seth D. McNeal,
Hon. Stephen Canniff,
164
Samuel Riblet,
164
Horatio N. Rowley,
250
Gideon Stoddard,
Hon. William Stoddard,
165
Miles Rorabacher, M.D.,
166
Warner Bunday,
166
167
168
265
William J. Barnard, Litchfield
168
168
169
291
Aaron Clement, "
facing 185
186
Thomas Burt, Sr. and Jr., Ransom
293
299
Dr. John W. Steward,
197
198
198
199
.
7
PAGE
XXIII .- Hillsdale County Agricultural Society
86
XXIV .- The County Grange and the Pioneer Society 89
XXV .- Hillsdale College
90
.
CITY OF HILLSDALE .
94
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF HILLSDALE COUNTY.
IX .- The First and Second Infantry X .- The Fourth Infantry .
49
XI .- The Seventh and Tenth Infantry
XII .- The Eleventh Infantry
58
XIII .- The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Infantry
80
XIV .- The Eighteenth Infantry
62
XV .- The Twenty-Fourth, Twenty-Seventh, and Thirtieth Infantry . 65
XVI .- The First Sharpshooters and First Engineers and Me- chanics
69
Cambria
266 272
Jefferson
PAGE
Harvey B. Rowlson,
108
Hon. Henry Waldron,
Corvis M. Barre,
116
Oliver E. Mosher,
Deacon James Brezee,
156
*
165
165
186
John Perrin,
116
Col. F. M. Holloway, Fayette
Horace P. Hitchcock, "
47
8
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
View of Hillsdale College (frontispiece)
facing title page facing 9
Map of Hillsdale County
View of Hillsdale County Fair Grounds (double page) between 88, 89
HILLSDALE.
Portrait of Hon. John P. Cook .
Portraits of Lewis Emery and wife
108
Portrait of Harvey B. Rowlson . Hon. Henry Waldron
William Waldron
Daniel L. Pratt
Oscar A. Janes .
116
George W. Bullock
Robert A. Weir
A. B. La Fleur .
Corvis M. Barre
66 Gen. Christopher J. Dickerson .
John W. Falley, M.D.
" Arvin F. Whelan, M.D.
between 216, 217
Residence of Garry Sarles (township)
216, 217
Residence of J. J. Jones (township) .
FAYETTE.
The Gay Homestead
Residence of Chas. P. Osius (with portraits)
128
First Presbyterian Church, Jonesville
.. 142
Carriage Mnf'y, J. J. Deal, Jonesville (with portrait)
145
Residence of Col. F. M. Holloway
between 146, 147
Portraits of Levi and Witter J. Baxter
146, 147
Portrait of Seth D. McNeal
148
Residence of 0. Palmer, Jonesville
facing 149
SCIPIO.
Residence of Samuel E. Johnson
« Isaac Smith (with portraits) .
153
Portrait of Charles Mosher
156
156
LITCHFIELD.
Residence of Warner Bunday (with portraits) facing 157
158
Portraits of William J. and Otis Bettis
=
161
Residence of W. J. Barnard
" 162, 163
Portrait of Hon. William Stoddard
Hon. Stephen Canniff
164
Samuel Riblet .
66
164
" Gideon Stoddard
facing
.
.
Residence of Milton P. Herring
R. W. Freeman (with portraits)
169
J. B. Linsday
PITTSFORD.
Residence of J. H. Miner .
Hon. J. M. Osborn
J. H. Keagle (with portraits), double
between 176, 177
John Perrin
facing 180
" Winslow H. Day
between 184, 185
Portraits of Samuel Day and wife
" 184, 185
Aaron Clement and wife
facing 185
WHEATLAND.
Residence of Nelson R. Rowley (with portraits)
188
Portrait of Zebulon Williams
Residence of Hon. A. B. Slocum (with portraits)
192
Property of William Curtis and sons (double page) between 194, 195 Portrait of Harvey McGee facing 197
Dr. John W. Steward
197
Almon Goff
197
Samuel Combs
197
Portraits of Seth Wood and wife
198
Residence of Thomas Robins
facing
200
WRIGHT.
Residence of L. H. Root
facing
200
Bird's-eye View of Prattville
Residence of E. C. Brewster (with portraits)
208
ADAMS.
Residence of William Wright
between 220, 221 " 220, 221
Lemuel Roberts
66
Levi Vanaken
facing 223
223
Portrait of Horace P. Hitchcock
226
Residence of Furman Huff (with portraits)
facing 227
228
Portraits of William Kirby and wife. " Vining Barker and wives
facing
229
SOMERSET.
Residence of Robert McGregor .
facing 230
D. M. Lyons .
.
between 234, 235
Manufactory, etc., of H. C. Aldrich.
facing 237
Portrait of Seth Aldrich
Charles M. L. Andrus
238
Portraits of Oliver E. Mosher and wife
239
Portrait of Deacon James Brezee
240
William Mercer
MOSCOW.
Residence of Israel Buck
H. N. Rowley (with portraits)
244
Portraits of Daniel McNabb and wife
249
"
Israel Buck and wife
249
Azariah Mallory and wife
250
ALLEN.
Residence of Hon. Alex. Hewitt (with portraits)
facing 251
R. Southworth
254
Wm. McConnell
257
Jonathan Whitney
6.
257
Property of John Herring, Herring & Avery, etc. (with portraits) .
260
Portrait of Thomas O'Hanlon
262
Portraits of John Glasgow and wives between 262, 263
William Glasgow and wife
262, 263
¥ S. W. Glasgow
L. P. Roode
264
CAMBRIA.
Residence of Hosmer and Pearce
facing 271
JEFFERSON.
Residence of Charles D. Luce (with portrait)
facing 272
Thomas Hutchings
facing 284
Thomas Burt, Sr. " Jr.
286, 287
Gilbert Howland
facing 288
Portrait of Samuel B. Brown
291
" Oliver T. Powers
. 293
Residence of George Camp (with portraits)
facing
294
AMBOY.
Residence of Elihu Ferrall (with portraits)
Henry Loutsenhizer (with portraits)
66
298
Portrait of Augustus G. Mcclellan .
300
CAMDEN.
Residence of A. J. Wigent (with portraits)
facing 304
READING.
Residence of Harrison Bailey (with portraits) .
facing 311
Charles Kane
66
318
John Cole
George G. Cone
" 322
Samuel C. Dodge
322
" H. B. Chapman
325
A. D. Southworth
326
326
Wm. Terpening
Col. F. Fowler
PAGE
Residence of S. H. Smith
facing 212
Mrs. Persis Wilcox
212
Robert B. Sawyer (with portraits)
213
W. S. Van Fleet
214
William T. Lyons and Son
66
215
facing
94
105
114
114
..
116
George and William Gray
George Stevens (with portraits)
224
Benjamin P. Shepard
116
116
116
116
117
118
118
Portraits of A. G. Edwards and wife (township)
facing 218
Lyman Johnson
S. S. Fairbank
between 162, 163
late Horton Mann (with portraits)
facing 164
164
¥ James Valentine
165 166
Residence of Dr. M. Rorabacher (with portrait)
167
Portrait of Laban A. Howard, M.D.
168
Portraits of Milton P. Herring and wife
facing 168
170
RANSOM.
Residence of Orsamus Doty (with portraits)
between 286, 287
facing 296
314
Henry K. Abbott
320
page
facing 170
172
facing " 191
205
328
240
facing 242
232
Andrew McDougal (with portraits)
238
116
facing 119
facing 149
262, 263
278
MAP OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Engraved expressly for this Work.
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HISTORY
OF
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
BY CRISFIELD JOHNSON.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
. Makers and Writers of History-Interest Attached to all Beginnings -Interest in Pioneer Life-History hitherto Written long after Death of Actors-More Rapid Custom of the Present Age-Evidence from Living Lips-Plan of the Work-Books Consulted-The Result Submitted.
THE individuals more or less connected with history have long been divided into two classes : " those who make his- tory," and " those who write history." In one sense, the former class comprises the whole human race, for every human being contributes something to that great stream of events, the course of which is mapped and the flow of which is recorded by the pen of the historian; but the ex- pression is commonly applied to the actors in the more im- portant or more interesting scenes in the drama of life.
Among these scenes a deep interest has always attached to the conquest of the wilderness by civilization, to the foundation of new nations, states, cities, and communities, and to the first critical years of their development. The trivial wall, over which according to tradition Remus leaped, and which Romulus stained with his brother's blood, still interests the imagination of mankind-because it was the first of Rome's defenses-almost as strongly as do the Pantheon, the Coliseum, and all the other mighty ruins of the seven-hilled city. Thus, too, the little band of Puritans, who amid poverty, hardship, and danger, planted the banners of civil and religious freedom on the rock-bound coast of New England, still live on the page of history, more conspicuous than any of the swarming millions who have since occupied the land.
For the same reason, though in lesser degree, the pioneers of every State and county, who with adventurous steps have defied the wilderness and endured the toils of frontier life, have been objects of especial interest to all who came after them, and enjoyed the blessings which they secured:
Hitherto, however, it has generally been the case that those who " made history" had long been in their graves, sometimes for centuries, ere those who " wrote history". began their work. The latter could only rely upon doubtful traditions, or at best upon a few worn and scattered manu- scripts, for the material from which they were to construct their enduring records. Endless mistakes were naturally
2
the consequence, numerous conflicts were waged over dis- puted points, and many of them are unsettled even to the present day.
But in our more rapid age the muse of history often stands, pen in hand, beside the pioneer, the workman, and the soldier, ready to record their deeds ere yet the hunter's antlered victim ceases to quiver beneath his fatal shot, ere yet the echoes of the woodman's axe die away in the dis- tance, ere yet the foeman's blood is wiped from the warrior's steel.
In harmony with this spirit of the age, the publishers of this and other similar works seek to obtain the greater part of their history from living lips. In the county of Hillsdale this can be done with great facility. Many of the men and women who led the vanguard of the army of civilization in its attack on the forest still live to testify of the scenes through which they passed. From these we have sought with all possible diligence to obtain the facts regarding the development of every township in the county, and of the county at large.
Besides the evidence thus procured from original sources, we give a succinct account of the early discoveries which gave the French what they considered a title to all this region, and a more complete narrative of the actual early possessors of the soil,-the Pottawattamie Indians.
Going into detail as much as we do, our plan is neces- sarily somewhat different from that of ordinary histories. It embraces : first, a general history of the county ; second, a special history of the city of Hillsdale and of each of the eighteen townships. The general history, in the first place, comprises a consecutive record of everything of importance that has occurred in the territory of the present county of Hillsdale, or has been done by the inhabitants of that terri- tory, whether red or white, from the earliest accounts down to the present time, including the savage deeds of the Indians of the St. Joseph Valley, the treaties by which the land was acquired by the whites, the early development of the county, and the gallant achievements of Hillsdale sol- diers in the war for the Union. This record occupies twenty chapters, and adheres closely to the chronological order. The remaining five chapters of the general history are occupied with statistical and miscellaneous matters, which could not well be worked into the continuous record.
The histories of the city of Hillsdale and the various
9
10
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
townships each begin with the settlement of the territory which now constitutes the city or the township, and traces its development to the present time, giving the names of early settlers, numerous incidents relating to each locality, separate sketches of all the churches and societies, an ac- count of the manufactures, etc. Interspersed with these are portraits and biographies of various citizens, with views of their residences, etc., giving variety to the printed page, and satisfying the eye as well as the mind of the reader.
For the early history, which was necessarily obtained from books, we have consulted the following works, to which we beg leave to acknowledge our indebtedness : Parkman's Discovery of the Great West, Parkman's Conspiracy of Pontiac, Smith's Life and Times of Lewis Cass, Holloway's Sketch of Hillsdale County in the proceedings of the State Pioneer Association, Drake's Life of Tecumseh, Sargent's History of Braddock's Expedition, Lossing's Field-Book of the War of 1812, Lanman's Red Book of Michigan, the very valuable reports of Gen. John C. Robertson, Adjutant- General of the State, for the years 1861 to 1866, Schoolcraft's Report on the Indians, the published Indian treaties of the United States, the territorial and session laws of Michigan, Pierce's History of St. Joseph County, and some minor works.
Among the many who have favored us with information regarding the later history, we would especially mention F. M. Holloway, Esq., who is one of the early pioneers of the county, who has long given particular attention to the subject of local history, and who has been indefatigable in his efforts to aid us. Many others will be found mentioned in the various township histories.
With this explanation of our plan of action we submit our work to the candid judgment of the public of Hillsdale County. That in so voluminous a work, entering into so many details, we have entirely escaped error, no one can reasonably expect, but we have taken great pains to avoid mistakes, and we believe there are as few within the fol- lowing pages as in any other volume of this kind. That it contains a large amount of information regarding Hills- dale County is very certain, and we trust it is so arranged and presented as to meet the approbation of our patrons, and be a subject of interest to them and their posterity for many years to come.
CHAPTER IL. EARLY FRENCH DISCOVERIES.
Arrival of the French on the Upper Lakes-Champlain in 1615-The Franciscan Priests-The Jesuits-Hunters and Traders-Raymbault and Jogues in 1641-The Wyandots and Ottawas-Father Mar- quette-The Lake Country formally taken Possession of for the King of France-Marquette Discovers the Mississippi-Discovers and Explores the St. Joseph-La Salle and the " Griffin"-A Fort on the St. Joseph-Loss of the " Griffin"-La Salle's Subsequent Career and Murder-French Dominion-Influence of Fort St. Joseph- Founding of Detroit-The Pottawattamies.
THOUGH the French were unquestionably the first ex- plorers of the shores of all the great lakes of North America, yet it is somewhat doubtful at what precise time they first -reached the peninsula of Michigan. As early as 1615,
Samuel de Champlain, then governor of the infant province of Canada, which he had founded, visited the Huron tribes on the shores of Lake Manitouline. Almost or quite as early, priests of the " Recollet" or Franciscan order estab- lished Catholic missions in the same locality, and it is not improbable that some of them visited the shores of the great peninsula a little farther westward; for all, whether friends or foes, admit the extraordinary zeal and unflinching courage of the Catholic missionaries in their efforts to make proselytes among the savages of North America. In 1625, however, there arrived on the banks of the St. Lawrence the vanguard of a black-gowned host, to be sent to America by a still more vigorous, zealous, and highly-disciplined order,-the far-famed Jesuits. These fiery champions of the cross were destined to crowd aside the more peaceful or more inert Franciscans throughout the whole lake region, and substantially appropriate that missionary ground to themselves.
French hunters and fur-traders, too, made their way into the West far in advance of their English rivals, and doubt- less reached the confines of Michigan early in the seven- teenth century. Their course, however, was not along the great watery highway through Lakes Ontario and Erie and the Niagara River, for there dwelt the fierce, untamable Iro- quois, the bravest and most politic of all the Indians of North America, whom Champlain, by an ill-advised attack, had made the deadly enemies of the French. With the Hurons, or Wyandots, who though a branch of the same race were the foes of the Iroquois, the French were fast friends, and had no difficulty in penetrating westward as far as their domain extended. Their seats were on the eastern side of Lake Huron, while our peninsula was occupied by Ottawas, Ojibwas (or Chippewas), and Pottawattamies, not perhaps as friendly as the Hurons, but standing in fear of the conquering Iroquois, and therefore disposed to be on good terms with the French foes of that confederacy.
The course of the intrepid missionaries and traders was up the Ottawa River from Montreal; thence across to the western division of Lake Huron, otherwise known as Lake Manitouline, and thence coasting along the northern shore of that body of water to the Saut Sainte Marie and the Straits of Michillimacinac.
In the year 1641, the Jesuits Raymbault and Jogues reached the former point, preached to a crowd of savages, and raised the flag of France, in token of sovereignty, beside the rushing outlet of Lake Superior. Doubtless other mis- sionaries and numerous voyageurs and fur-traders explored the outskirts of Michigan, and possibly penetrated its in- terior, but there are few records to show their adventurous deeds.
In 1659, the Wyandots, or Hurons, fled from the valley of the St. Lawrence before the attacks of the Iroquois, seeking shelter in the islands of Lake Manitouline. The Ottawawas, since called Ottawas, who had previously re- sided there, retired to the northern part of the main penin- sula of Michigan. The Wyandots, or a portion of them, again assailed by the Iroquois, fled to the Straits of Mich- illimacinac, and still again to the shores of Lake Superior. Being again followed by their implacable enemies, however, they were enabled to repulse them, and thenceforward, being
11
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
to some extent protected by the French, the Wyandots dwelt on the borders of the great lakes which surround the peninsula of Michigan.
In 1668, the celebrated Father Marquette, accompanied by Father Claude Dablon, founded a mission at Saut Saint Marie, at the northern extremity of Michigan; and in 1671 established that of St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mich- illimacinac (now spelled Mackinaw).
In 1670, a French officer, Daumont de St. Lusson, raised the flag of France at the Saut Sainte Marie with pompous ceremonies, and, so far as words could do so, took possession of the whole region of the great lakes in the name of "the Most High, Mighty, and Redoubtable Monarch, Louis, Fourteenth of that name, Most Christian King of France and of Navarre."
1673
But the French were by no means disposed to rest con- tent with sounding proclamations. Still eager to spread the reign of the cross among the heathen, and doubtless not unwilling to extend the domain of King Louis over new empires, the intrepid Marquette puslied forward into the wilderness, and discovered the mighty stream which has since borne the name of Mississippi. Shortly afterwards, in (1773, while coasting along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, Marquette discovered a stream which he explored for several miles, and to which he gave the name of St. Joseph. This was, so far as known, the first acquaintance of Europeans with the fertile valley, the eastern part of which lies in the county of Hillsdale.
But a still greater explorer than Marquette was about to traverse the lakes and lands of the great West, though, un- like Marquette, he did not subordinate all other objects to the spread of his religion. In the month of August, 1679, the wonder-stricken savages on the shores of Detroit River saw what seemed to them a huge canoe, with immense wings, stemming the powerful current without the aid of oars or paddles, and swiftly traversing the placid sheet of water now known as Lake St. Clair. This was the " Griffin," a schooner of sixty tons, built the preceding winter and spring on the shore of the Niagara, just above the great cataract, and which on the 7th of August had set forth on the first voyage ever made by a sail vessel over the waters of the upper lakes. Its commander was Robert Cavelier de La Salle, the most hardy and adventurous of all the gal- lant Frenchmen who explored the wilds of North America, and the one whose discoveries did the most to extend the dominions of his royal master.
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