USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > Combination atlas map of Washtenaw County, Michigan > Part 6
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In the summer of 1825 Judge Woodward, of Detroit, John Stewart, and William Harwood bought out the French traders, and laid out a village plat, which they called Ypsilanti, from Demetrius Ypsilanti, the famous Greek patriot, whose name was then sounding throughout the country. The town was first attached to Wayne County, and its officers were appointed by the governor of the territory. The first town-meeting of which any record can be found was held at Andrew Mckinstry's house, in 1827, and Dr. Abel Millington elected supervisor, and Asa The town then comprised
Reading town clerk. The total vote was fifty-nine. what has since been divided into four. At the next town-meeting a bounty was offered for the scalps of bears and wolves. It is evident, from the records pre- served, that the Ypsilantians of those days were not very religious or tem- perate. In the fall of 1829 a temperance society was started, which soon became popular, and was productive of much good. The first Sabbath-school was com- menced in July, 1828, in a small log house; there were fourteen children present, taught by Mrs. W. Norris and Mrs. Doolittle. The Methodists held services here as early as 1825, and Rev. Elias Pattee was the pioneer preacher of the settle- ment. In 1828 a Mr. Cornish, from Detroit, was accustomed to assemble a few persons and read the Episcopal service to them ; in 1838 the society, which has since grown into a large and prosperous one, erected a church. The Baptist Church was organized in 1836. The first Presbyterian doctrines were preached by Rev. Noah M. Wells, at Detroit; in July, 1829, a church was organized, in- cluding twelve persons in all.
The first school-ma'am was Miss Hope Johnson, in 1826. Other small schools followed, and in 1845 the Seminary was incorporated. There are now several ward schools, and one of the finest Union buildings in the State,-a fine view of which will be found further on. The State Normal School is located here,-an honor to the liberality of her citizens, and an earnest of thelr estimation of a . liberal culture. The first paper, the Republican, issued in July, 1838, was con- ducted by John Wallace. It only lived two years. In 1843 the Sentinel was started, still published by C. Woodruff. Ypsilanti has another publication en- titled the Commercial, Charles R. Pattison, proprietor. A lodge of Free Masons was organized in 1846, one of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows in 1845. The Mechanics' Mutual Protection, instituted in 1850, had but an ephemeral. existence.
Ypsilanti Township is an excellent farming country, producing wheat, wool, corn, oats, etc.
YPSILANTI is now a pretty and flourishing city of some five thousand inhabi- tants. The Huron River flows through it, furnishing power well utilized by several flouring-mills, three paper-mills, and one now building,-larger than either,-& woollen-mill, a manufactory of paper-mill machinery, three sash- factories, two whip-socket-factories, one extensive carriage-factory (managed by a stock company), a general agricultural- and wood-working-factory, manufac- tories of egg-carriers, brooms, etc. Its railroad facilities consist of the Michigan Central, and the Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railroads, while its ease of access and convenience for landing freight are seldom excelled. The trade transacted by its business houses is a large and steadily increasing one; as an evidence of their enterprising spirit, we refer to the illustrations of the public buildings and business blocks, given elsewhere, as well as the advertising cards of her merchants. We wish to mention particularly the marble-works of D. C. Batchelder, an old settler, and a pioneer in this branch,-his establishment dating from 1849. He
* The river was named after the Indian tribe of that name; also known as the Wyandots. They were defeated and dispersed by the terrible Iroquois in 1649. A fragment of the Hu- rons settled about Detroit in 1680. The name originated from the French " hures," applied to their fantastic mode of dressing their hair,-bristling over the crown like the back of a hyena.
t Mr. Thayer drove across from Detroit, with a two-wheeled cart.
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deals extensively in all kinds of American and foreign marbles, granite, etc. ; and manufactures monuments, head-stones, table-tops, etc. Employs some ten or twelve hands. There are seven hotels, two banks, a library association, and a military company, known as the " Light Guards." The city is lit by gas,-being almost the first inland city in the State to erect gas-works, in 1858. The re- ligious societies of the city embrace the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist, Metho- dist, German Lutheran, Adventist, Roman Catholic, African Methodist, and African Baptist sects,-all having church edifices except the last-named.
RAWSONVILLE and post-office, on the east line of Ypsilanti Township, is partly within the limits of Wayne County.
LODI TOWNSHIP.
This town was organized in 1836. The first purchase of land was in 1824, by Hugh Christie, it being the southwest quarter of Section 36. In the following spring the following entries were made : R. Knight, R. McCartney, Jonathan B. Coykendall, Alexander and Allyn Williams, Benjamin H. Packard, Joseph Moss, Aaron Austin, A. Spoor, Russell Riggs, and Orrin How; and in the following summer and fall (1825), by Matthias C. Arnold, Jacob Smith, Porter Lathrop, Daniel Allmandinger, Jesse Mechand, Smith Lapham, and Samuel Camp. James Swick and Duncan Walker also purchased in 1825. Merrit Perry came to Lodi in November, 1827, and is the oldest living settler now in the town, having lived for forty-six years in the same section. Horace and Virgil Booth and Timothy Hunt (now in Manchester) were also early settlers. Most of these early pioneers have long since passed to their reward. Lodi nor the County should cease to revere their memory, or that of John Lowery, whose enterprise and patriotism is yet fresh in the memory of ber people. Lodi consists mainly of level plains, with a gravelly-clay soil. Saline River crosses the southern part of the town. Its one church is located at "Lodi Plains." It is an agricultural Township, and contains neither village nor post-office.
FREEDOM TOWNSHIP.
Organized in the spring of 1834, the first election being held April 7, at the house of H. M. Griffin, he being elected the first supervisor, and D. C. Raymond the first town clerk. Thirty-eight votes were cast at the first election. At the meeting to organize the town, a dispute arose as to the name; finally a compro- mise was affected. Some one thought a good deal of freedom should be exercised in such matters; whereupon Samuel S. Peckens said he thought that the best name proposed, and it was adopted. In the early days of this Township, super- visors received for their services one dollar per day, school teachers fifty cents per day, female teachers only one dollar per week, hired men fifty cents a day, and servant girls seventy-five cents per week.
Dr. Porter, now of Ann Arbor, says he went through Freedom about 1831, camping out at Lake Pleasant, and that he did not see a habitation in the town. James W. Hill came in the summer of 1831, settled on a farm now owned by John M. Alber, built a house, cleared and sowed to wheat about five acres the same fall, and thus won the honor of being the first settler of Freedom. During the following fall, Mr. Robert Myers settled on Section 12, and remained there in the woods, six miles from any neighbor, until the next spring. Hugh Campbell and Jason Gillett came in the same fall, settling near Mr. Hill. In the spring and summer of 1832 the tide of emigration brought reinforcements, until there became a settlement of sufficient numbers to ensure the building of a school-house near Mr. Hill's, aside from as many more new-comers who took up their abode in the north part of the town. Among these early pioneers we name Alexander Falkner, Obadiah Force, Levi Thomas, Cyrus Pierson, Daniel Kent, James W. Tyler, Henry M. Griffin, William Douglas, Archer Crane, Reuben Wellman, Levi Rogers, Lyman Williams, Ebenezer Boyden, Henry Smith, Edward Litchfield, Jacob Cook, Noah and Henry Smalley, John Schnebarger, Elisha Adams, James and Festus Fellows, Cornelius Polhemus, Jacob Haas, Sr., Roswell, Jacob, and William Preston. In 1833-4 the following, among others, came in : Amos Coy- kendall, Barnard List, George Hohenberger, Manasseh B. Wellman, William Ossius, Thomas Roth, John Haab, Edward Polbemus, Samuel Wood, Martin Grauer, D. C. and J. G. Raymond, Henry and George Lindensmith, Alexander and Samuel S. Peckens, etc. As may be seen, the first settlers were in a major- ity Americans, whereas now the larger portion of the landholders are German.
Benjamin F. Burnett made scriptural exbortations at the house of Mr. Hill as early as 1832, but the first ordained minister was Elder Frederick Smith, from Wittemberg, whose first sermon was at the residence of William Schulte, in 1835. James W. Hill taught the first school at his own house, and afterwards in the first school-house erected in the town. M. B. Wellman did the first cooperage, in 1833. Antoinette Gillett, born November 6, 1831, was the first birth. The first marriage license given in the town was issued to John Lewis and Miss Sarah M. Weller. The first death was a case peculiar to new countries. In the winter of 1831-2, Edward Campbell started, with his neighbor, David Cook, to go from Bingham's Mill, in Lima, to their homes, and lost their way.
Not knowing how to use the pocket-compass, they wandered in the woods, until Campbell, exhausted and benumbed, laid down in the snow. Mr. Cook kept on until he found & settle- ment, and returning with assistance, found Campbell just alive. He was brought to his senses, and taken to his father's, Mr. Hugh Campbell, in Freedom, where he died in a few days, after untold sufferings.
Freedom is undulating, with alternate plains and openings. There is but one lake, and that is " Pleasant." It is entirely an agricultural town, and has a large population, being divided into a large number of small farms. Its people are industrious and forehanded. It stands to the credit of Freedom that seldom has a pauper gone to the poorhouse, and never but one person to jail, from this town. It has five churches,-three Lutheran, one Evangelical Association, and one Roman Catholic,-the first of which (the " Thomas" Lutheran), yet standing, was built of logs, in 1843. The steam saw-mill, on the north side of the lake, is the only one in the town.
Wheat and wool are the principal staples.
FREDONIA, the only post-office in the town, is ten miles southeast of Chelsea, from whence it has a semi-weekly mail. William F. Pfizenmaier, postmaster.
PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Pittsfield, memorable not alone for its unsurpassed fertility and location, but for its many self-denying early pioneers. This town was first settled in 1824, in which year Samuel MoDowell, Ezra Maynard, Lewis Barr, and Oliver Whitmore, with their families, came and occupied the land. Mr. Barney settled in 1825, in the Whitmore settlement. On the books of the United States Land Office at De- troit we find the following entries of land for this year, viz : June 4, Ezra Barr, in Section 2; Ezra and Charles M. Maynard, the south half of Section 3; John Hiscock, Sections 4 and 9; Claudius Britton, Jr., Section 3; June 7, Oliver Whit- more, Section 11; Samuel McDowell, southwest half of Section 2; June 14, Luke H. Whitmore, Section 2; July 29, Joseph Parsons, Jr., Section 2; September 21, Charles Anderson, Section 2. In the spring following (1825) Eri Higby Jocated on Section 4, Dr. Kellogg on Section 3, Robert Geddes on Sections 7 and 18, and John Gilbert and Jonathan Kearsley on Section 31. These were the first pur- chases. David Hardy came in 1825. Thomas Wood was also an early settler in the south part of the town, and one of the most successful farmers in the County. Of him it is said : "He made the most money from small beginnings of any one in this section." He died some eight years or more ago.
Pittsfield was organized in 1836, prior to which it was included in the civil jurisdiction of Ann Arbor Township. When organized, it was christened " Pitt," after the celebrated statesman and orator; but, subsequently, "field" was very appropriately added, as it is truly a region of fertile fields. In the early day her people not only went to Ann Arbor for marketing, blacksmithing, etc., but to church, with ox-teams. The Indians supplied them the first year or two with cranberries and venison. "Quinine and marsh-hay" were also valued allies in those days. Mr. Maynard says the boys of that time used often to go hunting and fishing with the Indians.
Oliver Whitmore was the first justice in Pittsfield; Miss Brooks the first school teacher, in 1826-7. The first birth was that of a daughter of Samuel D. McDowell, now Mrs. A. R. Hall, in 1824. The records inform us that "the mem- bers of the First and Second Wesleyan Societies of Pittsfield Township met at the school-house in District 3 on the 22d day of September, 1845, and organized a society known as the "First Wesleyan Methodist Society of Pittsfield." David Page bought the farm, and sold it to the County, about 1836, upon which the poorhouse was built. The first structure, a frame building, was commenced in the summer and finished in the fall of 1836, and two years later the stone build- ing was constructed. Its first superintendents were Lewis Barr and Samuel D. McDowell, of Pittsfield, and Job Gorton, of Ypsilanti. Moses Boylan was its first keeper.
Pittsfield is noted for its grain, stock, and excellent fruit, its fine farms and
. thrifty farmers. There is neither village, hamlet, nor post-office, in this town.
SHARON TOWNSHIP.
To David I. Sloat and family must be given the honor of the first settlement of this Township, they having come in and put up a log house, near the present residence of Mrs. Robison Sloat, in the summer of 1831. They were followed in a few weeks by John Bessy and family and Amos Bullard, then a single man, but who, one week later, became the first bridegroom of the Township. Mr. Bullard is the oldest settler now living in Sharon. Still later in the season they were followed by Henry and Gilbert Row, Leonard Fellows, David Cook, Francis A. Gillett, John H. Heart, Joseph Gilbert, Sidney Dewey, Henry Smith, James W. and Aaron B. Goodwin, and their families, and James W. Tyler and Edward Campbell, both single men. These pioneers, finding the country superior in fer- tility and a desirable location, heralded the facts, and new-comers flocked in rapidly. A few seasons brought Oliver Kellogg, John Mills, Dr. H. Conklin, Lewis Allen, Micah and Daniel Porter, James Erwin, Daniel Cross, Nicholas and Conrad Row, Nicholas Becker, Oliver High, Abijah Marvin, Amasa Gillett, Wait Peck, J. H. Fellows, Roswell Perry, Abram Selfe, Philo Hitchcock, Ashley Parks, Ira Annibal, Marvin Burk, and many others, prior to 1834.
The town was organized in the spring of 1834, the first election being held in the frame school-house near "Row's Corners," which had been built the year previous. Lewis Allen (now deceased) was the first supervisor. Miss Mira Winchester (afterwards Mrs. Philo Hitchcock) was the first teacher in the above- named school-house, subsequently known as District No. 1. The first church (Methodist) was built near the residence of Henry Row, in 1839. Elder Pilcher, still living at Detroit, and the oldest living representative of this conference, preached the first sermon in-that church. But Elder John Campbell was the pio- neer preacher of Sharon, having discoursed to the settlers at the house of Joseph Gillett as early as the winter of 1831-2. Death found its first victim in this Township in David I. Sloat, the first settler, and very soon after his coming to Sharon. Norman Row was the first white child born in the Township, September 29, 1832.
Since the war the citizens of Sharon have erected a beautiful memorial monu- ment, near the Town Hall, in the centre of the town. It was raised by volun- tary and general subscription, and commemorates the names of President Lin- coln and twenty-four "volunteers" from Sharon,-martyrs to the imperishable cause of Freedom !
The residents of Sharon are mostly of American birth, and are noted as good farmers. Is wholly an agricultural town. Wool is the predominating staple. Has two fine churches, a saw-mill (built in 1834), and a good flouring-mill at "Sharon Hollow," built the same year. The surface is generally level or undu- lating plains; and the North Branch of the Raisin and South Branch of Mill Creek, with their tributaries, must sufficiently irrigate the soil. Has no post-office.
BRIDGEWATER AND MANCHESTER T'NSHIPS.
Bridgewater was organized about the year 1832, and then included the present town of Manchester. 'Squire Hixson, since deceased, was, no doubt, the first settler of this town, coming up from Tecumseh, on the "trail," at a time when that set- tlement contained but two houses. George Lazelle (living) came in 1829. Other early settlers were William Van Horn, Robert Powell, "Squire Ayers, William Ruckman, 'Squire Palmer, and Mr. Short. This town is undulating ; has consid- erable timber. The North Branch of the river Raisin runs through Bridgewater, parallel to which is the Jackson and Palmyra Branch of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. Iron Creek joins the Raisin in this town. The only lakes are the two named "Columbus" and "Joscelin." The old "Chicago Road" crosses the southeast corner. Deposits of bog-iron and marl. Soil mostly clay. Wheat and apples are the principal products.
RIVER RAISIN, & small village,-the only one in the town,-is situated on the river from which it takes its name. It is also on the Jackson Branch of the L. S. & M. S. R. R., and contains a number of mills, stores, and shops, with the substantial backing of a rich agricultural country. It has a daily mail.
BRIDGEWATER is a station on the Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railroad, in the northeast corner of the town. It also contains a post-office.
Manchester Township was settled about the same time as Bridgewater, both of which were, prior to 1832, within the boundary of Dexter Township. Manchester was set off from Bridgewater in 1836, and its first supervisor was James H. Fargo. Among the early settlers we name James Sowles, Benjamin R. Wal- worth, Levi B. Pratt, Daniel Cross (now of Ypsilanti), B. F. Root, Joseph S. Clark, Luther Field, and John Howland. The first Baptist church was orga- nized February 17, 1836, and their house of worship was erected and dedicated in 1839. The "First Universalist Society of Manchester" was organized in 1846, with Thomas Spafford, Alanson Case, and Chandler Carter as trustees. At this date Henry Penfield, of Sharon, was preacher in charge of the "Manchester cir- cuit" of the M. E. Church ; Thomas Wakelin in 1848. The Presbyterian church was started about the year 1856. Elder Powell used to go afoot from Bridgewater to Manchester, twelve miles, to preach in the early day. Charles G. Briggs was the first licensed auctioneer,-April 10, 1839. The burr-oak plains of this town are watered by a branch of the Raisin and Iron Creek. The town also enjoys the facilities of two railroads, and has in its northeast corner a very considerable village, bearing the name of the Township.
MANCHESTER, the third place of importance in the County, is on the "Jackson" Railway. The Raisin propels its three fouring-mills, a saw-mill, woollen-factory, paper-mill, basket-manufactory, foundry, and machine-shop, while steam-power adds two breweries and a planing-mill to the manufacturing list. The Enterprise is a weekly paper, that does not belie its name. Two hotels accommodate the public. A splendid Union school, costing over $30,000, seats over 300 pupils. Seven churches afford religious instruction to her people, while a natural mineral spring, the curative properties of which have been known upwards of thirty years, may have something to do with the health of her citizens. This "River- side Spring" water-cure, and its surroundings, are well patronized. There are two banks. This village, first settled in 1832, is now an incorporated "burgh" of two thousand population, and contains many fine residences and brick struc- tures.
SALINE TOWNSHIP.
Saline, noted for its salt long before Saginaw was heard of. Hence its name. It is said that General Wayne's army wintered here during the period of the Indian troubles. Traditions of its Indian Village and French traders are still preserved. The Indian town so long located here was the largest, with one ex- ception, in the territory. The mounds in the old Pottawattamie burial-ground near the York mills are yet traceable. The Indians were drawn to this section by the salt-springs, in the northeast part of the town, coming far from the west- ward for that purpose; and the French traders came here, as to Ypsilanti, for the purpose of barter with the red man. But aside from all this, it was one of the earliest-settled towns in the County. The first entry of land was in 1824, by Samuel Douglas, June 16; Orange Risdon, the northeast one fourth of Section 1, August 12; Friend Whitlock, northwest one-fourth of Section 1, same date; Aaron Bugbee, Section 13, August 21 ; John Gilbert, Sections 11 and 12, June 18, 1825; and John Butterfield, Section 12, September 16, 1825. The first actual set- tler was Leonard Miller, who built the first log house in Saline in 1826, on the "Salt Springs Reservation." The second house was put up by Daniel Cross (now living at Ypsilanti), on the " Chicago Road," near the present village of Saline. Orange Risdon came here first in September, 1823. He walked through the woods from Detroit. At that period there were no settlers in the south part of the County. Although one of the first to locate land, he did not settle on it with his family until two or three years later. To the public spirit and labors of this pioneer, still living on the land be first purchased, Saline and the County are greatly indebted. As a government surveyor from 1825 to 1853, and after- wards for several years as surveyor for the State, he has tracked all over the pe- ninsula, laid out most of the public highways,-"running lines" through the wilderness, where for weeks and months he never saw a white face. William M. Gregory purchased in 1831, and settled in the fall of 1833. Orrin Parsons was a pioneer, an early supervisor, and an energetic, influential man in the settlement. The south one-half of Section 1 and the north one-half of Section 12 was reserved "for Saline purposes," by letters patent, dated February 9, 1848.
The first birth was that of Louisa Miller, in October, 1826; first marriage, in 1830, was that of a Mr. Cole, living near Clinton, to Miss Fuller; the demise of Leonard Miller, January 2, 1830, was the first in Saline Township. Orange Risdon was the first magistrate. The first saw-mill was built by Orrin Parsons in 1827. Two years later a grist-mill was added. The second mill Mr. Risdon put up in 1828. It was burned in 1833, while he was on a visit to his son in California, but his energetic wife had it rebuilt and running in three weeks. This mill is not now in operation. There was in former years a plank-road from Saline to Monroe, but the company failed, and the road ran out. In the civil history of Washtenaw County, Saline is contemporaneous with the towns of Pan- ama and Jacksonburg, its organization dating from about 1830.
The Presbyterian society, the first religious organization in the Township, was organized in May, 1831, in Wayne County, New York, and moved bodily into Saline, even electing their pastor before they started for Michigan. They chose Rev. John Kanouse, who followed them to Saline as soon as he could make
arrangements to emigrate. The Baptists erected the first church in the place about 1831-2. The Methodists first held services in the building now occupied by E. Helber. They subsequently put up an unburnt-brick structure, which they occupied some eight or nine years; then, deeming it unsafe, they tore it down, and rebuilt in a more substantial manner. In 1837 Rev. Richard Lawrence preached in Saline. In 1840 Rev. George Bradley had charge of the "Saline Circuit," and Rev. William P. Judd in 1849. The "Union District Burial-Ground Society" was incorporated March 8, 1852. "Oak Hill Cemetery" was the first established in the town.
Saline Township is generally level. Its soil, clay in the north, sandy in the south. The Saline and Macon Rivers rise in and flow through the town. On the former are two grist- and four saw-mills.
SALINE, & flourishing village of about 700 inhabitants, on the Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railroad. It contains a fine three-story Union school building; churches of the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Evangelical Lutheran per- suasions; three flouring-mills, two tanneries, a foundry, two hotels, a newspaper, and several stores and shops. It is situated in the midst of a beautiful and well improved farming country. It has a daily mail.
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