USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Combination atlas map of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 5
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Rev. C. G. Clark often preached in this township. The first church building erected in Dexter was by the Roman Catholics, near the centre of the town, about the year 1838. This edifice was burned some years after, and instead of rebuild- ing on the same site, built in Dexter Village. The Methodist society built & house of worship in the North Lake neighborhood a few years since; and in 1871 the German Evangelical association erected a church building on Section 33, in both of which services are regularly held.
This Township is broken and hilly in the north, but rolling, with openings, in the central and southern parts. There are several lakes, of which Portage and North Lakes are the principal. The Huron River furnishes power for several mills.
BASE LAKE, otherwise known as DOVER, is a small hamlet about four miles north of Dexter Village, on the stage route to Howell. The flouring-mill of Thomas Birkett is the principal business interest of the place.
HUDSON, & mile south of Base Lake Post-office, is a settlement of about same size as Dover, and contains a grist- and plaster-mill, of which Thomas Birkett is proprietor.
WEBSTER TOWNSHIP.
This Township is rolling, with openings in the central and plains in the southern portions. Base and Independence Lakes are situated in the north, while the Huron River crosses its southwest corner. Webster was settled cotem- poraneously with Dexter. Judge Dexter located land in Section 31, in October, 1824. John F. Grisson was also an early settler, and Charles Starks came in at an early day. The first birth in the town was that of John A. Boyden, son of Luther Boyden, of Boyden's Plains; and the first birth after the town was set off was Edward P. Clark, April 26, 1833.
The earliest settlers were Luther Boyden, Peter Sears, Thomas Alexander, Israel Arms, Salmon H. Matthews, and Charles Starks, followed soon after by John Williams and Henry Scadin.
Rev. Charles G. Clark was one of the earliest preachers, but his ministrations were not confined to Dexter Village or this town alone, but extended to all the adjoining towns. Samuel W. Dexter built the first saw-mill in the Township. The Township was organized in 1832.
This town is a good farming district, wheat being the great staple. Among the illustrations of this work will be found those of many of the finest farms and farm residences in Webster Township.
WEBSTER Post-office is situated on the line of the Michigan Central Railroad, about ten miles northwest of the County-seat. It has a tri-weekly mail.
LYNDON TOWNSHIP.
The pioneers of this Township were Selah B. Collins and his Brothers Josinh H. and Harrison W., who came to Lyndon in August, 1833. They cut s stack of hay that summer, and in November following built the first bouse whose walls were raised in the town. Although but a simple log house, its construction was no little of an undertaking, as brick, lime, and boards-everything needed for it except the logs-had to be hauled from Ann Arbor. This house was located on what, from that time forward, was called Collins's Plains, a little west of Collins's Lake. Mr. S. B. Collins was married on Christmas (1833), and one week later, (New Year's Day, 1834,) moved into the above-mentioned house. Thus was effected the first settlement. During the succeeding summer forty acres were fenced and cultivated in wheat, from which s bountiful harvest was gathered, and which sold for seed, principally to near settlers, who came from far and near to procure it. Such a delightful and productive section did this prove, that for many years it received the title of "Promised Land." During the years 1834-5 these pioneers were joined by John Green, Henry G. Holmes, Michael Gilman, Nathan Rose, Abraham Burgit, John Twambly, Dr. John Cooper, Alfred Bruce, Samuel Boyce, William Watts, Abner Bruin, and their families, in the north part of the town; and John and David Coleman, Hugh Wade, William Wilcox, Jasper Moore, James Stryker, and others, with families, in the southeast part of the town. On "New Year's," 1836, Josiah H. Collins settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his brother Sidney. He was followed the same season, by Horace Leek, Eli Rockwell, Orman Clark, Jesse Rose, Owen MeIntee (yet a resident, and upward of one hundred years old), John and Hugh Cassady, Joseph Yocum, John and Ira Gifford, John Davidson, Joseph Webster, Stephen Dow, and others. Patrick Haggerty, William Botts, and Washington Beeman made purchases in 1836, but no improvements until 1837. Many of the
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early settlers of Lyndon came from other portions of the County, and after once getting a good start, the town settled up rapidly.
Until 1838 the wolves were very destructive; so late as 1837 they made a clean sweep of the settlers' pigs and calves. But in 1838, J. H. Collin's and Horace Leek succeeded in trapping nine large fellows, after which no further trouble was had. Mr. Leek also, the same year, dug out from their den a litter of whelp wolves, which his daughter, eight years old, fed and cared for until they were large enough to claim the legal bounty of seven dollars per head.
Lyndon Township was organized in the spring of 1837. The first election was held at the house of John Green, and forty-two votes were cast. Horace Leek was elected the first supervisor and justice of the peace, and Jesse Rose the first town clerk. The first school-house, a log one, was erected near the present resi- dence of William E. Wessels, in the summer of 1837, in which, the following winter, John K. Yocum taught the first licensed school. About the time this house was being built, Miss Angeline Green (now Mrs. Elnathan Skidmore) taught a private school in a log house near her home. The first marriage ceremony per- formed in this Town is said to be that which made "twain one" of a Mr. Turner, from Seio, and Harriet Gifford,-Horace Leek, the first justice, "tying the knot" at his residence. The first birth was that of Edwin O. Collins, December 11, 1835; and the first victim of the "King of Terrors" was Mrs. Abraham Burgit, about 1837. Elder Sayers preached the first sermon at the house of Michael Gilman.
Lyndon is populated by a mixed people, of whom about one-half are American; of the foreign portion, the "sons of Erin" predominate. The town has some tamarack swamps, and is dotted all over with small lakes, of which Collins, South, and Island Lakes are the largest. The principal timber is yellow oak and hickory. Shell marl and tufa are found in some portions of the Township. The leading productions are wheat, potatoes, wool, and fruit. It is essentially an agricultural Town, and very fertile,-one of the surest of wheat-raising districts in the State, the soil being a light sandy loam. It is surrounded on two sides by short hills, devoted principally to pasture, and which sustain a large amount of stock.
CHELSEA Village, with a population of about 1100, was incorporated some twenty years ago. The railroad station was originally at Davison, further west, but not being an eligible location for a village, after the station-house was destroyed by fire, the Central Company located their new buildings on land owned by the brothers, Elisha and James Congdon, now the site of Chelsea. They had, prior to this, taken up a large tract of government land at that point. John C. Winans put up the first house, and the place settled up very rapidly. The principal land- owners are the Congdons, Mr. Winans, and Reuben and C. H. Kempf. To com- pensate for lack of water-power, it has railroad facilities, and a large and fertile rural district tributary to the village, fostering its trade and manufactures. It has five churches, four being brick edifices, belonging to the Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic sects; a fine " Union" school-house, also of brick; a bank ; a weekly paper (the Herald); and a fair proportion of stores, shops, eto. The MeKune House, of which T. McKune is "mine host," affords hospitable cheer to the wayfarer. Should the County be divided, as has been proposed, this enterprising village would be likely to become the County- sgat.
SYLVAN AND LIMA TOWNSHIPS.
The first settlement in Sylvan was probably that known as the "Vermont settlement," in the southeast portion of the town. Among her earliest settlers were Nathan Pierce, since deceased ; Darius Pierce, still living, and father of the present supervisor; and Thomas Godfrey, now of Chelsea, an early settler of Sylvan Centre. Cavender Lake is named after an early Irish resident of that name, who came in 1835. Grain and fruit have here a suitable soil. The sur- face is undulating and broken,-rolling gravel hills in the north, short hills in the southwest, and openings in the southeast. The Michigan Central Railroad runs obliquely through the center of the town.
SYLVAN P. O., the only one in the town, is half a mile south of the railroad, and about four miles southwest of Chelsea. It has a daily mail.
Lima Township is gently undulating, with oak openings, and has a fertile, sandy soil. Grain, potatoes, and fruit are the staple crops. Mill Creek, with its two branches, waters nearly the whole Township, and furnishes power for several saw-mills. The Michigan Central Railroad crosses Lima in the north. William Lemon purchased, in his son's name, the first land in this town, in 1825, near Four-mile Lake. Samuel Clemens and Azel Burden were also early settlers. The Township was organized about 1835-6.
LIMA CENTRE is but a rural hamlet, with s population of about 150. It is about eleven miles west of Ann Arbor, on a confluent of the Huron. It has a post-office which receives a semi-weekly mail.
SCIO TOWNSHIP.
- This town derives its name from the Greek island of that title,-& name associated with the great and successful struggle of the Grecian patriots for their independence. Scio is somewhat hilly and broken in the north, but otherwise gently rolling, with alternate openings and timber in the centre and south. The soil is mostly sandy and gravelly loams. The Huron River flows through the north portion of the town, into which empties Honey and Mill Creeks from the south. The old "Territorial Road" was its first public highway, running east and west through the centre of the town. It now has as many and as good highways as any of her neighbors, while the Michigan Central Railroad runs across the Are Township, following the course of the river, which it crosses several times. Among the earliest settlers of Scio were Samuel Clemens, George Peters, Elias Smith, and Robert McCartny. Ass and Enos Leek settled here as early as 1827 ; Abram Croman, Sr., and Horace Leek in 1829. George and Abram Croman, Jr., brothers, aged respectively nine and twelve years (and who are now influential farmers in Waterloo Township), sawed the shingle blocks with which to cover the first school-house in Scio,-built in 1831, near the present residence of Supervisor Tuomy. Lorenzo Lyon is said to have been the first teacher. The first attempted murder in the.County, and it is thought in the State, occurred in this town, in 1837, when Isaac Stoddard shot at, with an intent to kill, David Sloat, a very early settler. The " Phelps Burying Ground" was opened about the year 1848-9.
Judge Dexter probably located the first land in the town, on Section 6, in October, 1824,-the site of the village of Dexter. Charles G. Clark, of Webster, and now deceased, was one of the earliest preachers in Scio. The town was organised about 1831-2, prior to which it was under the civil jurisdiction of Dexter Township. Scio is one of the best farming districts in the State.
DEXTER VILLAGE has a population of 1161, and is situated at the confluence of Mill Creek and the Huron River, about nine miles northwest of the County- seat. Its streets are wide and bordered by fine walks and shade-trees, which have & picturesque and pleasing effect. The Union School building, a three-story brick, has provision for three hundred and fifty pupils. Its five churches are wed for worship by the Congregational, Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic denominations. Some of the edifices are very fine, particularly that of the Roman Catholic society, which is a neat and substantial building, con-
structed of brick with stone dressings, at a cost of forty thousand dollars. A fine view of this church may be seen among the Dexter views, to be found on the following pages of this work. The business portion of the village is well built. The manufacturing interests are represented by two grist-mills, a plaster- and feed-mill, saw-mill, woollen-factory, planing-mill, sash- and blind-factory, vinegar- and cider-works, and four wagon-manufactories. It is one of the oldest villages in the State, dating from 1824. Judge Dexter, from whom it was named, pur- chased about one thousand acres of government land up and down the Huron River, and here planted the town. For many years this was an extreme frontier village, and the records of all new roads to the westward had to be sought here for a long period. The village has had a steady and very satisfactory growth. It enjoys railroad and telegraphic facilities, being situated on the Michigan Central Railroad,-forty-seven miles west of Detroit. Within a few miles of Dexter, one hundred and forty thousand barrels of flour. are manufactured annually, and six thousand tons of plaster ground. Views of the "Dexter and Scio Mille," of Evarts & Co., stores of F. Jaeger, W. F. Schlanderer, etc., will be found elsewhere.
Scio, s hamlet on the Huron, about five miles west of Ann Arbor, and on the line of the Michigan Central Railroad, is a fine rural district. It contains grist- and saw-mills, some stores and shops. Its two hundred people are favored with & daily mail. Their leading exports are flour, apples, pork, and lumber.
ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP AND CITY.
The first settlement was made in 1824 by John Allen and Elisha W. Rumsey, both of whose wives were named Ann;" and this coincidence, together with the grove-like appearance of the site selected by them, gave the name to the settle- ment,-" Anns' Arbor." In course of time the possessive plural was dropped, and ever since it has been simply Ann Arbor,-a little more euphonions, but full of mystery to the new-comer unacquainted with its derivation. Clark Sills and Hiram Putnam came about the same time, and Asa L. Smith and wife soon after. Among the pioneers of this Township we may name John and Robert Geddes, Orrin White, Epaphras Matteson, George Rash, Elnathan Botsford, James Allen, and Amos Hicks. Samuel Van Fausen was Mr. Rumsey's successor. ' The first land located in the Township was that known as the " McClosky fraction (fourteen acres), south of Orrin White's, in 1823. Orrin White made the first purchase of land, Moses Clark was one of the early ministers, and Dr. David Lord the first physician. The first recorder of deeds is said to have been Cyrus Beckwith. Martin Davis was an early dispenser of justice, and " Esq." Arnold officiated at a time when his jurisdiction embraced the towns of Ann Arbor, Scio, and Dexter. Elias M. Skinner was a pioneer attorney and magistrate. At that period Cephas Hawks figured as Township clerk, and Edward Mundy presided as circuit judge. Among other early enterprises of this period, the "Michigan Manual Labor School," located near the city, figures. It started off with a great flourish, under charge of Rev. Samuel Hair, but it went up like, a bubble.
The first marriage was that of George Allen to Miss Temperance Morton, about 1825-6. The first birth was a son of E. W. Rumsey, born in the early part of the year 1824, and named in honor of the territorial governor,-Lewis Cass Rumsey. There are other contestants for the honor, among whom are John S. Nowland, son of Andrew Noland, and a child of a Mrs. Herrington. But as Mr. Nowland, Sr., did not come until 1825, and as we can get no authentic data in regard to the other claimants, we give L. C. Rumsey the palm. t
The first saw-mill was put up in 1824 by Daniel Fleming, on the creek bearing his name. This mill has gone to ruin long since. The first grist-mill was built in 1826 by G. W. Noyes (who was subsequently killed at a "raising"), and com- pleted by Isaac Hull. It is known as the "Sinclair Mills," and is now owned and operated by Deubel and Swift. Henry Rumsey kept tavern in 1826, on the old territorial road, near the Hudson.
Ann Arbor was made the County-seat in 1824, and the village was platted, under the laws of the territory, May 25, of the same year. The first County court was held in January, 1827, but the court-house was not erected till 1833-4. The village was incorporated in 1833, and the city charter granted in 1851, the city at that time containing about 4000 inhabitants. In 1834 the village contained a population of 830, and the town about 1700.
The post-office was established in 1826, with John Allen as first postmaster. In 1833 Anson Brown succeeded him, who removed the office to "Lower Town." In 1835 Captain Thayer, his successor, moved it back to " Upper Town," where it has since remained. The present postmaster is There
is no other post-office in the Township. The topographical features of this town are gravelly plains and "openings" in the north, rolling in the centre, with open- ings and gravelly hills in the south. The Huron River flows through it in a southeasterly direction, through a narrow valley, bordered by hills. There are several chalybeate or mineral springs near the river. The soil is sandy and gravelly clay.
THE CITY OF ANN ARBOR,
the County-seat, contains a population of between 8000 and 9000. It is pleasantly situated on both banks of the Huron, thirty-seven miles west of Detroit, with which it is connected by the Michigan Southern Railroad. Its location, upon the hills enclosing one of the most picturesque river valleys in the State; its broad streets, well shaded with oaks and maples, many of them remnants of the ancient forest; its fine public buildings, elegant private residences, and pleasant surround- ings, combine to make it one of the most beautiful cities in the State. The growth of the place has been slow, there being nothing in its situation or cireum- stances to induce that rapid increase characteristic of so many western towns.
As a business point, Ann Arbor is not pre-eminent, its chief interests being educational. It is the seat of the "Michigan University," which occupies a fine elevated plateau in the eastern part of the city, its campus embracing forty acres, well laid out. The "Observatory" is further to the northeast, overlooking the river valley. The public schools include the Central Union, a fine building, and six ward schools, most of which have fine structures. The Union school has a high reputation, and every year a large class passes from it to the University. The value of school property is about $160,000. There are several other schools viz. : the incorporated Seminary for Young Ladies, known as Miss Clark's, the Catholic school of St. Thomas, two German and one infant school. A more ex- tended account of the University will be found in the County history.
There are a dosen churches, distributed among the following sects: Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Protestant Episcopal (St. Andrew's), Congregational, Baptist, Unitarian, Catholic (St. Thomas's), German Lutheran, German Methodist, African Methodist, and African Baptist, the first-named denomination having two edifices. The Catholics have also a convent. Value of church property, nearly $250,000.
Secret societies are represented by the fraternities of Masons, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars; and among other associations are the "German Laboring Men's
* Ann Isabella Allen. Mary Ann Rumsey.
t It is claimed by some that Dr. Strong, subsequently chaplain of the Fourth Michigan Infantry during the rebellion, was the first birth in the settlement, but the date in his case is not given.
Association," and the Turn Verein, the " Ladies' Library Association," possessing a library of 1500 volumes, and s Ladies' Christian Union, organized for benevo- lent purposes. There is also a flourishing Lecture Association. The publications of the city embrace two weekly and several miscellaneous journals. "The former are entitled " The Peninsular Courier and Family Visitant," published by A. R. Beal (republican in politics), and the " Michigan Argus," E. B. Pond, editor and proprietor (democratic). In connection with the former office is a book-publish- ing establishment, formerly known as " Dr. Chase's." Dr. Kellogg has a small printing-office, from which he issues a "Local."
The court-house square, in the centre of the city, is a neat little park, enclosing the court-house and County buildings. The former, however, is an old, small, and inconvenient building. Washtenaw deserves a more creditable structure for its temple of justice. The fire department is composed of two engines and a hook- and-ladder company. A fine engine house is located on Huron Street, in which the sessions of the common council are held. The leading hotels are Cook's, the Gregory, and the Leonard House. Beside the University Hall, recently dedicated, -the largest in the State,-there are several fine public halls, including Hill's Opera House, capable of seating 1500 persons, Hangster's and agricultural halls. The abundant springs in the western part of the city sre impregnated with iron, sulphur, magnesis, etc. A large "Mineral Springs House" has been fitted up, and is under the supervision of Dr. Hale.
There are but few manufactories, but the most notable are the six breweries, manufacturing about 9000 barrels annually, two tanneries, two foundries, four planing-mills, a woollen-factory, two furniture-manufactories, doing & business of from $30,000 to $40,000 per annum, and an agricultural-works, turning out some $50,000 worth of machines, etc., annually. The river furnishes a fine water- power, which, at this point, runs three grist-mills and other factories. There is also a steam grist-mill. The average quantity of wheat purchased annually is 150,000 bushels; of flour manufactured, 30,000 barrels; of apples bought for ship- ment, 15,000 barrels; of wool, 300,000 pounds.
The city officers of Ann Arbor for 1873-4 are :
Aldermen.
Mayor, Hiram J. Beaks.
1st Ward, Selick Ward.
Recorder, Adam D. Seyler.
2d
= John G. Grassman.
Justice, Edward Clark.
3d
William H. MeIntyre.
Marshal, James Parshall.
4th
William Deubel.
Treasurer, Stephen M. Webster.
5th
George H. Rhodes. " Charles B. Porter.
SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP.
This town is generally level, with alternate timber and openings. Four creeks water every part of the Township, and the Huron River crosses the southwest corner. Superior is a fine agricultural town; it is noted also for its numerous
mills. Henry Kimmel, who came overland from Pennsylvania, was the first settler. He had the honor of naming the town when it was set off; it was to be superior to all the rest,-so thought its pioneer founders. We place upon record the names of the following early settlers: Isaac and Philip Sines, Captain John Dix, Joseph Mayo, Mr. Freeman, Olney Hawkins's father, John McCormack, Esek Pray, Jonathan Thomas, Burden Hicks, William Eddy, Eldridge Gee, Colonel Brewer, Mr. Tooker, Dr. Black wood, John Worden (father of A. and John S. Worden, of Ypsilanti), and Abel Parkhurst. Most of these men have long since been gathered to their fathers, while many others have gone to remote parts. Captain Dix, the founder of Dixboro, emigrated to "Dixie" (Texas), and died there. John Worden, Sr., died in the fall of 1873. Mr. E. Gee is now a resident of Dundee, in this State. Esek Pray for many years kept the pioneer tavern of Superior. One of Henry Kimmel's sons now resides upon the place his father located, and on which he died. Superior was organized about 1830-1.
At the present time there is no post-office within the limits of this Township.
LOWELL is a small settlement on the Huron River, which affords & power that has not been utilized until quite recently ; a large paper-mill is now in course of construction, which, when completed and in operation, will largely aid the growth and prosperity of this section.
DIXBORO, & village in embryo, is situated on Fleming's Creek. In former years it received the patronage of " Uncle Sam," but its post-office has long since been discontinued.
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP.
As early as 1809 a trading-post for barter with the Indians was established here by Gabriel Godfrey and his associates. The country along both banks of the Huron" was full of Indians, and for several years a flourishing trade was " carried on with them at the post. In 1811 about 25,000 acres of land were patented to these traders under the seal of President Madison, and in 1820 the post was moved farther west. During this early period the site was known as " Godfrey's, on the Pottawattomie trail."
In the spring of 1823 Major Benjamin Woodruff, Robert M. Stitts, John Thayer, and David Beverly came in as settlers; afterward Jason and Daniel Cross, and Mr. Peck. The following autumn John Bryan and family arrived, and Leonard Miller brought the first ox-team and wagon through from Detroit the same season.f The first baby was Alpha Washtenaw Bryan, born February 27, 1824. The first mill was built by Major Woodruff, of logs, in 1824, and the 4th of July of that year was celebrated with great eclat.
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