USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > History and biographical record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Volume II > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
(6)
46
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
In '42-'43 wheat had become quite plenty, but very low in price- 45 to 50 cents per bushel being all it would bring in Hudson and Adrian, and part of the time only half cash at that. These were very close times-so close that some men were under the necessity of cutting green timber, burning it to ashes and selling the ashes for six cents a bushel to get money to pay their taxes-that was the case with the writer of this article. I never go by the spot of ground on which that big timber pile was made without thinking of the difference between the times then and now.
Since writing the statement of the first meeting held by the Metho- dists, a more definite one has been handed me by Orson Green. On July 2, 1836, William Rhoades attended a meeting held at the Tecum- seh circuit, and requested the Presiding Elder to aid in establishing a meeting. In compliance, Washington Jackson and Allen Jackson visited Rollin. On the 25th of July Washington Jackson preached a sermon from Psalms xxvii., 14. This meeting was held at the house of Daniel Rhoades, and was the first sermon ever preached in town by a Methodist traveling preacher. After a while they continued their course down the Bean Creek valley, preaching several times and formed several societies, and gave the name of Bean Creek Mission to the work. In September, 1836, Lorenzo Davis was appointed mission- ary of the Bean Creek Mission.
At what time the Friends held their first meeting I have not been able to learn, but probably as early as 1836-7. Their first house of worship was built on Thomas Brownell's farm, about one mile east of Addison; a place for burial was established there at an early day.
In 1837 or '38 Thomas Kealey exchanged his farm for one half in- terest in the village and mill property of Rollin. Robert Taft pur- chased Azel Hooker's interest in the store and was appointed Postmas- ter. Timothy B. Baker settled in the village and established a chair factory, which business was kept up for several years. Kellogg Still, N. L. Parish, Edwin Kealey, and a number of others moved into Rol- lin about this time. In 1840 James Patrick came to Rollin village, and in 1841 settled permanently there, and is the oldest and only set- tler of that early day.
On the 5th day of July (the 4th being Sunday), a Fourth of July celebration was held in this village. It was largely attended ; a free dinner was given ; speeches were made ; all were well pleased with the entertainment. About this time Thomas Kealey and William Baker established a store with Stephen Eaton as clerk. In 1843 Dr. James Powers settled in the village. Woodburn and Marvin, William Rice, Brooks Haines, William Smith, H. B. Howd and others settled in the village. Mr. Haines established the wool-carding and cloth-dressing business, and continued it for a short time. At no other time had there been so much activity manifested as at this time. There were several very good houses put up; the church was commenced ; the mill enlarged to accommodate its large custom ; a good tavern build- ing was put up ; thrift and activity were the order of the day. There
47
OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
was some little hope of their getting the railroad, Rollin being situ- ated on a direct line between Adrian and Hillsdale, and the distance several miles less than by the way of Hudson. It was considered that the extra amount of railroad iron on the longer route would grade the road on the shorter route, or by the way of Rollin ; but this idea was soon abandoned.
Rollin possesses one of the finest mill privileges there is on Bean creek. It is seldom the water is so low that grinding cannot be done. If cir- cumstauces had been favorable for a village, it would undoubtedly have proved a healthy and beautiful one, the land being light and rolling, with a good farming interest around it.
Mr. Beal, as soon as he had completed the Rollin mills, made prep- arations to build the Quaker mills ; the saw mill was built in 1837-8 ; the grist mill a short time afterward. William Beal was the fourth settler in town. Previous to his moving to the town of Rollin he had lived in the township of Adrian some three years, working at his trade (millwright and carpenter). He possessed in a large degree the native energy that is so requisite to a pioneer ; no looking back, but always forward ; no hindrances so great but his fertile mind would overcome them ; considerate in counsel, warm hearted and generous to his friends and neighbors ; of the most rigid honesty and exactness in all his deal. He lived to see the town he settled in when all a wilderness, changed to cleared fields, happy and contented homes, smiling in peace and plenty. Many of the first settlers have passed away; their children are enjoying the fruits their pioneer fathers labored to secure for them. It is a rich inheritance worthy of their gratitude and care.
It is now forty-seven years since the first log cabin was built in this township-the first move from savage to civilized life. For centuries the wild forester had held undisputed sway, but there was no advance- ment; it was not necessary; the wild game furnished him food, and their pelts furnished him raiment; that was all he asked for-it was all he needed ; these beautiful lands could be his no longer; the time had come when the savage must give way to the civilized. The log cabins have gone and beautiful structures have taken their places. The woods are gone, and in their places are pleasant fields ; orchards laden with golden fruit and fields of waving corn all tell us of the great benefits secured. In many respects this section of the country had benefits that other sections did not. The milling and railroad facilities were of very great advantage to it, saving travel and much exposure. Another was in the activity and enterprise of the people, giving close attention to their business; this is the great secret of suc- cess everywhere. The country was nearly all taken by actual settlers, and the most of the land settled within a few years, thus avoiding the inconvenience of unsettled tracts of land in the making of roads, and the convenience of dividing the town into school districts. Our school system is one of great advantage to the people of the State, not only to the wealthy but to all classes of society. In the district school there are no charges for tuition or buildings; the property of
48
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
the town pays all the expense; with this system there is some fault found, but undoubtedly it is the best ; under our form of government all should be educated, for in this lies the future of our common coun- try.
---: 0: -
RAISIN.
DDRESS delivered by Alexander Richard, in October, 1878 : The first settlement was made in the territory now included in the township of Raisin, in 1825, by Noah Norton, who built a cabin in the western part of the township, and made some improve- ments.
Darius Comstock settled on the farm where the Valley school now is, in 1829. About this time there was also a settlement made east of the river in the vicinity of Tecumseh, by William Tilton, Joseph Grey, Thomas Sisson, John Lovett, Aaron Comfort and others.
In the spring of 1830 that part of this township lying east of the river Raisin, was an unbroken wilderness. There were no settlements between Champlain brook and the village of Blissfield.
Those who saw the country in its natural state, tell us that it pre- sented to the eye a very beautiful appearance. The northern part rolling with scattering timber, the ground clear from underbrush, and in the spring covered with flowers in an almost endless variety. The southern part a majestic forest, standing in all its glory in which as yet the woodman's axe had never been heard.
The variety of soil and the general appearance of the country of- fered many inducements to those seeking a home in what was then called the far west.
. The river Raisin, winding its way through nearly the center of the town, was recognized by early travelers as a motive power, which in no distant day would be utilized and made to serve the interests of a farming community.
Nature had not been sparing in her gifts, and hill, valley and plain had been waiting for ages for the industry of man to develop them into productive farms.
In the spring of 1830 Robert Boyd, Fulton Jack, Reubeu Satterth- waite and Thomas Tate, with Gen. Joseph Brown as a guide, started
1
49
OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
from Tecumseh to look at land in this vicinity. When they arrived at about the locality of this church, some of the party having heard of the wet prairie east of here, expressed a desire to see it, and accord- ingly they started, following the section line running east from Hol- loway's Corners. They found a hard road to travel, and not caring to stay in the woods over night, they returned to Tecumseh without seeing the prairie.
Soon after, Robert Boyd and Fulton Jack located the land where the former and Fulton McLane now live, which was the first land occupied in East Raisin, south of Champlain brook. In fact, there were no set- tlers south of them, nearer than the village of Blissfield.
They were both young men, and unmarried, full of life and energy, fond of adventure, and ready for any emergency. They built a cabin on the line between their farms, and kept bachelor's hall until fall, spending their time in improving their land, hunting and fishing. Game was plenty, especially deer and wild hogs, and they had no dif- ficulty in supplying their table with meat.
In the same year another pioneer made his appearance-Deacon O. Rogers. He located the land where he ever after lived. Most of us re- member him as a feeble man, bowed down by the weight of years. He came to the wilds of Michigan a strong, active and energetic man, in the prime of life, ready to grapple with any difficulty, and possess- ing a will that enabled him to overcome every obstacle that came in his way. He and a companion by the name of Fish, who bought the land now known as the Spencer farm, built a shanty, spent the sum- mer in clearing land, and returned in the fall to Massachusetts after their families. Fish never returned. Also, during the summer of 1830 Reuben Satterthwaite settled on the farm now occupied by Mich- ael Smeltzer; Mr. Vanasdell on the farm where Benjamin Kelley now lives ; Blanden where Mrs. William Satterthwaite lives ; Daniel War- ring on the farm now owned by Horace Brewer or the Wing Kelley farm ; Jasper Howard on the Libni Kelley farm, and Mr. McNorton where the parsonage now stands.
Thus began the settlement of East Raisin. But little progress was made the first season in clearing the land, most of the immigrants being young men, and those who were married having left their families in the east, their sojourn here was simply an experiment. They were not sure that they would like the country well enough to locate perma - nently. Many went back to their eastern homes in the fall to spend the winter and make preparations to bring their families in the follow- ing spring.
In 1831 the tide of emigration again flowed towards Michigan, and East Raisin having been well reported of by those who had been here during the summer of 1830, received her share of fortune seekers. There began at this time to be some stir in the woods; wagons ladened with household goods, women and children, might frequently be seen plodding slowly along-not on the road (for roads were not then known), but wherever they could find a path. Numerous log houses
50
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
made their appearance, and little neighborhoods were formed. The settlers would frequently hear the sound of an axe ringing through the woods, and traveling in the direction of the sound, find much to their surprise that a family had just arrived, and the men were cutting logs with which, to build a house. During this year John Cleveland settled on the farm now occupied by Horace Holdredge, and Gabriel Wells on the farm occupied by Richard Beamish.
Bingham Pattison came all the way from the State of New York, with a span of horses and wagon, which was no small task in those days, and settled on the farm now occupied by Daniel Anthony. Isaiah Colvin settled where George Lyster lives, Reuben Hall on the farm occupied by Henry Wilson, Richard Horton settled where Joseph Billmyre now lives. He spent his life where he first located, and we all remember him as a good neighbor and an exemplary man. In this year also, Obediah Rogers returned from the east with his family, built what was then a good house of logs, and began in good earnest to make improvements. The next February his house was burned, together with all his goods and provisions, but he soon with the help of the neighbors built another and moved into it.
The improvements of this year made quite a show ; openings were made in the timber, and soon fields of wheat were sown.
The spring of 1832 came and with it came new additions to the lit- tle settlement. We notice first Frederick W. Wickwire. He settled on the farm where he now lives, and is here to-day. He bore well the hardships of a pioneer life, and although his head is frosted with age and his step not so nimble as when he chased the deer through the forest, he is yet a strong man and enjoys a good joke as well as he ever did. He came from Connecticut, the State where they go to mill on horseback, and put a stone in one end of the bag to balance the grist. When the country was new Wickwire and Blanden had a lawsuit before Deacon Rogers, who was Justice of the Peace. The Deacon issued the summons for 1 o'clock, omitting to mention P. M. Blanden, think- ing to get the start of Wickwire, went to the Deacon's house and got him out of bed at 1 o'clock in the morning, and the court was opened. In the meantime, Wickwire having heard of the game, went to the Deacon's house on the evening before, and retired to bed in the chamber. When his name was called at 1 o'clock in the still hour of the night, much to Blanden's surprise a good, strong response was heard echoing through the cracks in the floor, and Wickwire made his appearance as fast as a Jadder would permit,
In this year Hugh Grey settled on the farm now occupied by Alvah Raymond ; Mr. Bancroft on the James Kennedy farm. Lucius Jud- son bought the farm now owned by his son L. W. Judson, and Dr. William Holloway and his sons Edwin, William, Silas and Butler located the farms now known as the Holdredge farm, and now occu- pied by W. J. Holdredge; the farm owned by John Proctor and the farm where Butler Holloway now lives. A school-house was built in this year in the district now called the Conkling District, and in the
51
OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
winter of 1832 and 1833, Reuben Hall taught the first school in the settlement.
Sylvanus Westgate settled in this year on the farm now occupied by William Westgate, and the township was christened at a meeting held in his house.
William Ash settled where he now lives, and Stephen Mitchell took up his abode down far in the woods on the banks of the swampy Rai- sin.
The next year, 1833, was a great year for the little settlement. A larger addition was made to it than on any previous year. People in the east had now ascertained that this was really a good country, and that folks could live in it, and made haste to secure farms.
Daniel Raymond came in this year. He used to be called Uncle Daniel by everybody. Those of us who are middle aged men remem- ber him as our Sunday-school teacher when we were little boys, and his kind and genial manner toward us made us all love him. He is said to have been the first man in the settlement who raised a log house without whisky. When told by his neighbors that he could not raise without it, he said, "Then I won't raise at all." He tried the experiment and succeeded, giving the men instead of whisky a good supper.
Uncle Daniel was noted for his hospitality. One night when his house was filled with travelers looking for land, and he had neither meat nor butter in the house, his wife asked him how she was going to feed so many in the morning. His reply was, "The Lord will pro- vide," and sure enough He did, for in the morning before breakfast Uncle Daniel killed a fat deer within a few rods of his house.
Samuel G. Conkling settled on the farm still owned by him ; also, Dr. William Holloway and Butler Holloway, Archibald Richard, John Richard, Deacon Josiah Chatfield, James Boyd, Samuel Mur- dock, Amos Hoag, and Morrison Sackett. These all settled on farms, most of which are now occupied by them or their descendants, making a large addition to the settlement. Nearly all the land was now taken up by actual settlers, men who proposed to make homes for them- selves and their families. They worked with a will and for an object, and their labor began to tell on the forest.
In this year also began a settlement in the southwestern part of the township of the followers of William Penn. The pioneers mostly consisted of a few families-Westgate, Haviland and Bowerman. They came here with the view of founding a colony of their own re- ligious denomination, and immediately organized a society and held meetings in the house of Sylvanus Westgate, until they were able to build a meeting-house. They were always an enterprising people, although the pioneers are now nearly all gone, and their descendants are enjoying the fruits of their labors.
A saw mill was built in this year by Amos Hoag and others, on the farm now owned by James Simonds, which was the first in the town- ship, and a great convenience to the settlers.
52
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
In the year 1834 Lucius Judson came on with his family, and set- tled on the land which he had bought from the government some years before. He was a useful man in the settlement, and occupied a prom- inent place in society. He filled many positions of trust in the town- ship.
Nooney Simonds, an enterprising, active man, settled where James Simonds, his son, now lives. He selected his land on the river with the view of using the water power for manufacturing purposes. He died in the prime of life before he had time to carry out the many en- terprises he had in view. 1834 also brought to the settlement Rufus Raymond, Allen Haight, William Colvin and Benjamin Faxon.
The first township election was held at the house of Amos Hoag, April 7, 1834, and the first officers were elected.
The first brick were made this year by Judson and Wickwire.
The first Sunday-school in the settlement was held in May of this year in a shanty on the farm now occupied by William E. Doty, and the same organization has been continued until the present time.
In 1835 changes of a different kind began to take place. Some of the pioneers became discouraged and returned east, and others, actu- ated by the same spirit of adventure which brought them to this set- tlement, sold their land and journeyed farther west, their places being filled by immigrants.
Alvin Doty settled in this year on the farm where he died a few years ago. He lived to a good old age, and died beloved and respected by all who knew him. Edmund Hall also took up his abode where he now lives, and has made a splendid farm in one of the wet- test places in the township. Libni Kelley also came here in this year, and is one of the few pioneers who remain with us.
In 1836 many came to this settlement, who have had much to do with improving the country and building up society. We will only mention two as being particularly identified with this neighborhood. Felix Holdredge and Eleazer Holdredge, his son. Both are now dead. The former died when he first settled, and the latter spent most of his days on the same farm which is now owned by his son Warren Holdredge.
A log school-house was built at Holloway's Corners in the spring of 1835, and the first school was taught in it by Mary Ann Simonds. It was a rude structure, with a large fire-place in one end of it. The seats were made of slabs with the flat side up, supported by legs rest- ing on the floor, and the few desks it contained were made by driving pins into the logs and laying boards on them. In that uncouth and uncomfortable building many of us as well as others who have gone from here to other parts of the country, learned the rudiments of an education, and if we live to be as old as some of our fathers who are here to-day, we will never forget the impression we received in the log school-house, especially those made by the slabs. .
The First Congregational Church of Raisin was founded in March, 1855. The inhabitants of the settlements having provided rude habi-
53
OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tations for themselves and their families, and erected many of them an altar therein around which they gathered their households, morning and evening to worship God, began to think of something further. A bond of union had grown up among those who together had struggled through the difficulties of pioneer life. They had learned the value of associations in temporal things, and found that united efforts accomplished more than the efforts of single individuals.
Reasoning thus in regard to spiritual things, they resolved to organ- ize a church, and thus secure for themselves, their families and the whole community the advantages which can be obtained in no other way. The church was organized in the log house of Deacon Rogers, with seventeen members, seven men and ten women, of whom only two are now living, Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Eli Chatfield.
The Rev. Ashbel S. Wells, of Tecumseh, was present at the organi- zation, and two other ministers, Rev. Reuben Armstrong and Rev. J. G. Kanause.
Meetings were held every Sabbath in private houses and in the log school-house, for about ten years, when the brick church was built on the site of the present more commodious building.
The Rev. William Wolcott was the pioneer minister in this commu- nity. He was the first who preached regularly in Raisin church. He was a man possessed of strong powers, both of body and mind, and well fitted to share the hardships and privations of the early settlers, and received only a mere pittance for his ministerial services; like Paul he ministered to his necessities and those that were with him. He labored diligently for the Master, and when the followers of Christ were too poor to give him a living, he thought it not beneath him to work with his hands that he might supply his family. The records of this church show that most of its growth during thirty-two years of its existence may be attributed, under God, to his labors.
Many and varied were the scenes through which our fathers passed in their pioneer days.
Those of us who now live in this pleasant neighborhood can hardly realize the changes which have taken place during the last forty-seven years. The log cabins have been replaced by more comfortable dwellings, and these again in many instances by fine mansions.
The log school-houses and also the modest frame school-houses are gone, and their places occupied by beautiful and commodious edifices. We are to-day enjoying good homes, surrounded by every advan- tage necessary to make us comfortable and happy.
The pioneers to whose indomitable energy and untiring industry we are indebted for our present prosperity, are nearly all gone. " One by one the angel boatman" has rowed them across the river, and a few only remain to tell the story of pioneer life in East Raisin. In yonder cemetery the names of many of them are carved on marble. We learn there that they died and when they died, but their marks are stamped on everything that surrounds us, and we learn here that they lived and how they lived.
(7)
RIDGEWAY.
ORTIONS of an address by Justus Lowe, in January, 1878.
Ridgeway was named from a ridge of land extending across the northwest corner of the township. On this ridge the pleas- ant village of Ridgeway is situated.
Many believe from the geological formation of this ridge that it was at some remote period the shore of Lake Erie.
The township of Ridgeway was set off from the township of Ma- con, and organized as a new township by act of Legislature, approved March 15, 1841. The first township election was held April 5, 1841, and the records show eighty as the whole number of votes cast. Augustus Montgomery received eighty votes for Supervisor, and of all the officers elected at that time, or holding office, Augustus Montgomery, Sanford Hause and Joshua Waring now remain. All others have since died or removed.
In the eastern part of the township is the land known as the Big Prairie, being about five miles long by one mile wide, and running nearly parallel with the ridge.
It produced a coarse grass known as blue joint, mixed with wild pea vine, and made very good hay, that was valuable to the early set- tlers of this and the surrounding towns for wintering stock, and what was not mown was burned in the fall or spring, making a fine illumi- nation for several days in succession, leaving the land clean for a new crop.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.