History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 68

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : H. R. Page
Number of Pages: 380

USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 68

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The first square log house, with comb roof, was erected by Amos Culver. He was assisted in building it by Mr. O. N. C. White, now a resident of Monitor. Mr. Culver's family reached there January 3, 1855, when the house was partially finished, the roof on one side only being completed.

PERSONAL REMINISCENCE.

The following personal sketches of some of the early settlers of Williams, include also many pioneer experiences which depict life at an early day.

JOHN GAFFNEY. was born in Ireland, 1824, lived there until the age of twenty-seven and came to America. He landed at Boston and stopped for two years and a half at West Newton in the busi- ness of foreman for A. J. Allen, building contractor. From there he went to Detroit in 1853, thence to an uncle's in Livingston Co., Mich., and worked two years at farming, the last year for Chas. Bradford, by the month. In October, 1854, with Mr. Bradford and four others he came to the town of Williams, viewed the land, re- turned to Flint, and all bought land, Mr. Gaffney buying on Section Thirty-four, where he now lives. On the 16th of November, 1854, he came on to the land and commenced improvements. Being the first and only person in Williams, he had his bread and other pro- visions cooked out at Mr. Porter's, on the Tittabawassee, to which place he made weekly trips for supplies. He erected a shanty and occupied it alone, chopping down his timber and making a clearing. His brother Thomas having been wounded by a gun shotin Saginaw, Mr. Gaffney left to take care of him for two months. He then re- turned, but was destitute of means, yet he had credit. On the 6th of April he started for Bay City, by compass, through the wilderness. Striking an Indian trail leading eastward he eventually found a tree marked "C. C. C. Chillson," continued onward and reached the river; at the present site of Third Street Bridge, found a house of entertainment kept by John Hayes, and at the Drake mill a small

skiff was kept to run as ferry. He crossed over to Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, stopped at Putnam's Hotel on the northeast corner of Third and Saginaw Streets, and was charged a dollar and fifty cents for bed and breakfast. Not finding work he returned by way of the farm to Saginaw and hired out at a mill, for one month. He paid out his wages for seed potatoes and provisions and returned to the farm. He planted the potatoes among the logs and bushes and raised one hundred and seventy-five bushels that season. He worked most of the Summer in mills at Lower Saginaw for Moore & Smith and Frost & Bradley. He built the first fire for the first sawing that Frost & Bradley ever did, being their fireman. He worked for them in the lumber woods the following Winter, also the following season, 1856. He sent to Ireland for his father, mother, two brothers and a sister, and paid their passage. They arrived here in the month of June, and in the Fall he built a log house on the farm where he now lives. In November, 1864, he was drafted into the Union service, and furnished a substitute for two hundred dollars. He was married in 1862 to Miss Frances Gallagher, of Irish birth, then a resident of Milford, Oakland County. He has had five children, one son and four daughters. The son and two daughters are now living. Mr. Gaffney's farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres, under a good state of cultivation. The log house has been replaced by a tasty farm cottage surrounded by fruitful or- chards. Although it was in early times a hard row to hoe, he has stuck to the manor, and is now reaping the results of his patient labor and perseverance.

CHARLES BRADFORD was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1816. He lived with his father until eighteen years of age, when he left the paternal roof to carve out a living for himself. He went with a brother to Fredonia, N. Y., stopped one year and then came to Michigan in 1836. He lived at Port Huron two years, engaged as a laborer, thence to Iosco, Livingston Co., and worked on a farm by the month. In 1842 he married Laura S. Beach, a native of Ham- ilton, N. Y., then a resident of Iosco. In October, 1854, he came into the woods of Saginaw Valley and bought 320 acres on Section Twenty-six, and in February, 1855, in cold weather he came on the lands and erected a small house, manufacturing flooring from split logs, and roofed it over with oak shakes. In April Mrs. Brad- ford arrived at their new home, having to walk seven miles with snow on the ground and a large part of the distance covered with water from six inches to a foot in depth. A cousin of her's, Mr. Lyman Brainard, another of the early pioneers of Williams, ac- companied her, carrying her daughter, one and one-half years old, the entire distance. This daughter is still living, their only child, Andella, to whom they gave every educational advantage possible, placing her in the Bay City schools at an early age where she made rapid and successful progress. At the age of seventeen she com- menced teaching and for fourteen consecutive terms taught the young ideas of Williams how to shoot, when she was married to John Russell, Jr., of English birth, and has now an interesting little family of one daughter, Orrie E., and a son, Charles Bradford. She resides on the Bradford homestead with her parents, her husband having the management of the farm, which consists of 320 acres, 125 under improvement. Mr. Bradford has a handsome brick house, large barns and out buildings, and one of the finest orchards in the town- ship, having been to great pains and expense to grow choice fruits of various kinds. Mr. and Mrs. Bradford were among the very first pioneers of the town, subject to many privations and hard- ships, but are now well situated to enjoy the remainder of their lives in comfort and plenty. Mr. Bradford was first supervisor of the township, highway commissioner five years and treasurer one year. He traces his ancestry back to the Pilgrim Fathers, being a direct descendant of the seventh generation of the illustrious Wil-

241

HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.

liam Bradford, second governor of the Plymouth Colony, who came over in the Mayflower.

IRA E. SWART was born in Hadley, Lapeer Co., Mich., in 1848. At the age of five years his father removed to Goodrich, Genesee Co., At the age of fourteen he went to New York to live with an uncle. At seventeen he came to West Bay City, engaged in the business of painting and glazing, which he followed for two years, and then commenced the inspection of lumber for H. W. Sage & Co., continu- ing that for two years.

At twenty-one years of age he engaged in general mercantile business in the township of Williams, in company with a brother to whom he sold his interest and re-established with J. B. Burtless, who was succeeded by William E. Burtless for two years, since which time Mr. Swart has carried on the business alone, his being the only store in the town. He has succeeded in establishing a good and profitable business.

He married Miss Hattie E. Burtless in 1871, who died in Feb- ruary, 1877, and in May, 1878, he married Miss Emma J. Soule, of Syracuse, N. Y., by whom he has had two children, both daughters. In 1870 Mr. Swart was appointed postmaster for the office of Skin- ner, township of Williams. This name was subsequently changed to Auburn, which office he has held up to the present time. He was appointed township treasurer during the first year of his resi- dence in Williams, and was elected township clerk for the four succeeding years, after which he was elected supervisor and has held that office up to the present time. He has been elected by the chairman of the Board of Supervisors as a member of the most important standing and special committees of said Board. He is now comfortably situated with a commodious store for a country town, a fine residence and outbuildings. He has a well-improved farm of sixty-three acres, at his place of residence and owns ninety acres aside from the home farm and a half interest in 280 acres, besides making a branch business of buying and selling land. He has seen the town progress from little but a howling wilderness to one of the most productive of the county, dotted with many fine frame resi- dences and a number of handsome brick ones. Much credit is due Mr. Swart for the rapid growth and development of this township. To his personal energy and enterprise and strict devotion to its in- terests on the Board of Supervisors, its prosperity is largely due.

SAMUEL ROWDEN was born in Devonshire, England, in 1829. He left England at the age of twenty-two alone, and came to Amer- ica. He landed at Quebec, thence in Detroit in 1852. He lived in Wayne and Oakland Counties until 1856. He purchased a farm on Section Eleven, township of Williams in 1855, and com- menced improvements, and moved his parents on the land in 1856, being the fourth family in North Williams. He experienced many hardships and inconveniences in his early pioneer life, there being no roads through an almost unbroken wilderness for ten or fifteen miles to the nearest settlements. He married Miss Prudence Myers, of Wayne County, who had recently become a resident of Williams in 1861. He has had two children, one daughter and one son, both living. He was elected supervisor of the township in 1860. He held the office for six consecutive years, and two years subsequently. He has also served as justice of the peace nearly the whole time of his residence in Williams, thus showing the es- teem in which he is held by his fellow townsmen. Mr. Rowden is a practical and thorough farmer. Fifty acres of his land is under a high state of cultivation. His buildings, orchards, farming imple- ments, etc., are among the best in the township. He has made a specialty of fine and choice fruits and proven the adaptation of the region for their successful culture.

JOSIAH PERRY was born in Erie County, N. Y., in 1827. His parents moved from there when he was two years old to Ashtabula

County, Ohio. Lived there until 1855; thence to Williams, and bought a farm on Section Two and commenced improvement, having no roads, making his trips to Lower Saginaw, now Bay City, by the way of the south branch of the Kawkawlin, the main Kaw . kawlin, across the bay, and up the Saginaw River, a distance of twenty-five miles, in a dug-out, to carry home his supplies. In 1856 he moved his family on the place where he now resides. He has at present 100 acres under improvement, good, substantial buildings and extensive orchards of various fruits. He was the second settler in the north part of the town four years previous to the survey of the Midland road. He married Miss Sarah J. Phelps, of Ashtabula County Ohio, in 1855, by whom he had seven children, five sons and two daughters; all living. He buried his first wife in 1872, and married Mrs. Caroline Smith. Mr. Perry held the office of town treasurer three years and school assessor a number of years. By hard labor and economy he has attained a condition of inde- pendence, and is a man that is highly respected in the commu- nity where he resides.

WILLIAM W. SKELTON was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1826. He left England at the age of twenty-three, and came to America alone and landed in New York, thence to Michigan direct. He lived in Milford, Oakland County, three years, and in October, 1854, bought land on Section Eight, and on the 9th day of January, 1855, after cutting a sled road through the woods and swamps, for a distance of ten miles, to his land, he commenced clearing a place to build him a cabin, being the first man to strike a blow in the then unbroken wilderness of North Williams. There is now a fine farm of fifty acres under improvement, handsome brick residence with large detached brick cellar, commodious barns, good orchard, producing a plentiful supply of fine fruit, both for home consumption and for market. He was married in 1855, to Miss Maria Ann Luther, of Milford, by whom he had six children, four sons and two daughters, all living. He married again in 1879, Mrs. Ann Eliza Catlin, of Bay City; birth place, Erie County, N. Y. In Jan- uary, 1883, Mr. Skelton met with death under sad circumstances, which were narrated by the Bay City Tribune of January 29, 1883, as follows:

"William W. Skelton, of Williams Township, met with a very sad death at his residence on Friday last. He was one of the most prosperous farmers in that locality, and during the past season had raised considerable fruit and vegetables, many of the latter being kept as food for his cattle during the Winter. These he had stored in his cellar, and to prevent their destruction by the late cold weather, placed coal fires in the cellar. There was no stove or fur- nace used, but he simply had the coal burning in open kettles, keep- ing the cellar closed as tightly as possible. By this process it was inevitable that a large amount of gas would be generated, and when he went in on the occasion of his fatal visit, he was at once over- come and almost instantly suffocated. When discovered by mem- bers of his family, he was to all appearances dead, though every ef- fort to restore life was promptly resorted to. Dr. Snyder, of Au- burn, was summoned as quickly as possible, but the unfortunate man was beyond all human aid. The occasion of his death and the circumstances attending it were so apparent that a coroner's inquest was deemed unnecessary and was dispensed with. His remains were difficult to keep, because of his having died in a state of perfect health, and the funeral occurred as soon as the necessary arrange- ments could be perfected.

The deceased was the first settler in North Williams, having come there in 1855. Since that time he has developed a splendid farm, and was surrounded with the results of his industry and conse- quent prosperity. He was a man highly respected in the communi- ty, and besides a wife and grown up family of children to lament

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HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.

his sudden death, his loss will be sadly felt by all who knew him. He was a man fifty-six years of age, and from appearances would have lived many years, had no fatal casualty befallen him."

JOHN C. ROWDEN, was born in England, in 1844. At the age of seventeen his father came to America, and landed at Quebec, and thence to Montreal. He soon came to Michigan, and settled in Oakland County. He remained there two years, and came to Wil- liams in 1855. He remained with his father until 1862, when he enlisted in the Union Army for the term of two years, in Company F. Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, as a private. On the battle field of Franklin, Tenn., he was promoted from the ranks to the office of second sergeant, and about one month afterward to orderly sergeant. He was in the battle of Campbell's Station, Lenore and siege of Nashville, Strawberry Plains, Roxford Ridge, Resaca, At- lanta, Allatoona and Lovejoy's Station, in Georgia. From Allatoona he returned with Gen. Thomas to Tennessee, and was in various engagements against Gen. Hood. He engaged in the capture of Wilmington and Goldsboro, and was with his regiment in op- posing the Morgan raid in Ohio, till he was captured. He was wounded in the hip at the battle of Allatoona, Ga., and received a scalp wound on the top of the head at Franklin, Tenn.

During a service of three years, he lost no time only when wounded and in the hospital a short time. He bought forty acres of land on Section Four, before enlisting, and forty acres while in the army, and has since bought 160 on Section Nine. He married Miss Alice Moore, in 1865, a native of New York, then a resident of Williams. He has three sons, all living. He buried his first wife in the Spring of 1880. He married the latter part of 1881,' Miss Selina Gilbert, of West Bay City. Mr. Rowden was supervisor of Williams in 1866 and 1867, and has held the office of justice of the peace for several terms. He has built a new house recently, and is one of the substantial influential men of his township.

WILLIAMS IN 1866 AND 1868.

We find the following jottings made in 1866:

- "We have a saw mill at what is known as 'Spicer's Corners,' in successful operation, owned by Messrs. Hotchkiss & Mercer. It was built for the purpose of sawing the plank for the road leading from Bay City to Midland; but I am informed it is their design to keep the mill running after that job is done. From what I hear of them they are thorough going men and will do what they say. It is also their intention to put in a run of stone for grinding, as soon as the plank for the road is all cut. It will be a good thing for the inhabitants of Williams, and the country west of it, as it will be the nearest grist mill by several miles; besides, I think it will be a good thing for the owners.

"And while we are having improvements of this kind spring up among us, we are not altogether lacking in institutions of religion and ethics. We have in the north part of town an organized Methodist class, and preaching every two weeks, also Universalist preaching every four weeks. We have a Sunday-school kept in successful operation most of the time with a good library.

"In the south part of the town they have an organized Sunday- school, and occasional preaching.

"And so far as temperance and good morals are concerned, that will be better understood when I tell you that we have a lodge of the order of Good Templars established here, which numbers more than thirty members."

In the Winter of 1868 the township of Williams was described by a local writer as follows:

The township of Williams is six miles square, its western line bounded by the county line of Midland, and the eastern line lying

seven miles west from the Saginaw River. It is directly west from Bay City.

This township contains a fine body of timbered land. The soil, most of it, is a rich loam and susceptible of being converted into superior grazing farms. The land, with the exception of a small portion, does not lie too level for tillage.

Up to 1855, this township was a wilderness, there being no in- habitants in it nor road through it. On the 18th of November, 1854, John Gaffney felled the first tree within its boundaries, and became the first settler.

During the same month Alonzo J. Willse and William Skelton were added to the number of settlers. In the Spring of the same year Levi Willard and Charles Bradford bought land and settled there.

The township was organized in 1855, being then a part of Sag- inaw County. For the present year the taxes assessed upon the property of the township amount to $2,898.14. The population at present exceeds 300 in number. The highest number of votes yet polled is forty-seven. There are at least sixty farms in progress of improvement, some of which are in good condition and show care and thrift. There are two saw mills and one shingle mill within the township. They are near some splendid pine forests that fur- nish good lumber for building.

The town has two saloons and a blacksmith shop, but is as yet without a postoffice. We hope the inhabitants may be favored in this particular. They will before long, we doubt not.

First rate wild land may yet be bought within this township, for $5.00 per acre. This affords a good opportunity for those seek - ing a home, and who desire to invest their funds in good land.

The plank road recently built to Spicer's Corners, the center of the township, furnishes an inestimable advantage to the people of the town. They can now bring in their produce, lumber, and staves to market at any time.

Their farms are really worth double as much as they were be- fore the building of the road. The day may not be far distant when a railroad may find its way through the town. We are quite confident that Williams will yet be found to contain the richest and most productive land within Bay County. Its energetic population have no reason to be discouraged. Their condition is improving every day.

Let them combine and introduce improved stump-pullers; get their lots smooth, and then the reaper and the mowing machine will make farming comparatively easy.

FIRST HAPPENINGS.

The first marriage in the township was that of William Hendrick to Mrs. Arvilla Story. The ceremony was performed by Otto Rao- ser, a justice of the peace, at the house of Mr. Charles Bradford.

The first school was established on Mr. Bradford's farm, in 1856. The teacher was Mrs. Charles Fitch, wife of one of the pioneers.

The first" white child born in the town was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Culver, in 1855.

The township is one of the best in the county. Fully two- thirds of the North half of the township and one-half of the South half is under improvement. The soil is productive and easily tilled; the farm buildings are universally good, and there are several fine brick dwellings in the township.

The population of Williams, in 1880, according to the Govern- ment census, was 866. Total valuation of real and personal estate, in 1882, was $207,375.

HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.

243

TAXES FOR 1882.

Contingent fund.

$300 00

Highway fund

500 00

Bridge fund

232 02

Statute labor { of 1 per cent, 1882

468 00

School District No. 1.

235 00

do 2.

180 00

do 3.

200 00

do 5.

161 10

Amount spread on township for highway and sanitary purposes on Dell ditch . 350 00

AUBURN.

is situated on the Midland road, one mile from the east line of the township. There is one store, belonging to Mr. Ira E. Swart, a postoffice, two churches, Methodist and Catholic, the Auburn House, a good brick hotel owned by W. P, Root, and some other buildings. There are two physicians located here. Auburn Lodge of Good Templars, No. 312, was organized February 6, 1880, with eighteen members. It now has thirty-five members, among whom are some of the best citizens of the place. The organization is in a flourishing condition.

There was formerly a postoffice in North Williams, but it has been discontinued.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

WORTHY PERRY was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, 1838. Remained at birth-place until 1862, when he enlisted in the Union army, Company I, 105th Ohio Infantry, and served to the close of the war. Was in various engagements with the enemy, including the battle of Perryville, Ky., in which he received a gun-shot wound, which disabled him for about two months in hospital; then returned to his regiment, and, unlike many others, has never ap- plied for a pension, to help swell the millions for the people to pay. After the close of the war, Mr. Perry came to the township of Williams and bought a farm in Section Three, and has since bought the north half of southeast quarter of southeast quarter of same section, making a farm of 100 acres, of which sixty acres are under improvement; good, substantial dwelling, commodious barns, fine orchard, the product of hard labor and economy. Married, in 1865, Miss Carrie Anderson, of Wisconsin. Has had three children, two daughters and one son, only one daughter of whom is living. Lost his first wife in March, 1872, and in October of the same year mar- ried Miss Delia Milican, of Wisconsin. . Mr. Perry is one of the substantial men of the township.

ANDREW J. COLE was born in Steuben County, N. Y., Novem- ber 16, 1831. In 1839 he moved with his parents to Hector, Penn., and engaged in lumbering. In 1863 he came to Bay City. In 1870 he purchased a farm in the town of Williams, Bay Co., and erected a saw mill. He has several steam threshing machines and receives orders for threshing. He was married, February 8, 1868.

WILLIAM P. Roor was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1842; lived there and in Painesville until the age of twenty-one; thence to Cleveland, and followed sailing for six years, when he came to the township of Williams, Bay County, still sailing until 1874, when he purchased a farm in Section Fifteen, at the time of settling in Williams; subsequently bought the south half of said quarter, and in 1874 bought the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section Twenty-three, Fourteen north, Three east, where he has since resided, having been engaged in keeping a hotel. In 1879 his house

was destroyed by fire; loss not heavy, being mostly covered by insurance; he rebuilt with brick the following season, and has since kept a well appointed and exceedingly popular house, the result of strict attention to the wants of his patrons. He enjoys the confi- dence and esteem of the people of his town, having been elected township treasurer each successive year for five years. Was mar- ried to Miss Eliza Shepard, of Cleveland, in 1864, by whom he has had three children, two sons and one daughter; the sons being now living. Has been engaged to some extent in lumbering and dealing in real estate. Mr. Root enlisted in the Union army in 1862, in Company D, 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Was wounded in February, 1863, at the battle of Dunfries, Va., by gun- shot wound in the right shoulder, and still carries the ball. Was in hospital six weeks, but honorably discharged in consequence of the wound. It was nearly two years before he had much use of the arm, and it is still troublesome.

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History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 68

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : H. R. Page Number of Pages: 380

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : H. R. Page
Number of Pages: 380