USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 100
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 100
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In 1842 the township was organized, and the few settlers that had become residents assembled to choose officers for the ensuing year. The accessions to the population had been so small that but 14 electors were present on this occasion. They were William N. Taylor, James G. Coch- ran, Emory O. Briggs, Joseph Ives, Morrison Heath, Major Heath, James Stevens, Allen Briggs, William Bridges, William Dyckman, William H. McGeorge, James T. Hard, Alvinzy Harris, and Conrad Hogmire. Of this number but three survive,-William N. Taylor, who resides at Law- rence ; Emory O. Briggs, living at Paw Paw ; and James G. Cochran, who is still a resident of the township. The latter gentleman had become a resident of Arlington the year previous, having removed from Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1838, and settled at Breedsville, from which place he removed two years later, and purchased 40 acres on section 29 from Martin Brooks, and afterwards located upon sec- tion 9, where he now resides. Mr. Cochran retains a vivid recollection of the hardships he endured as a pioneer. On his arrival in the county there were no mills in Van Buren County, and a journey in search of provisions involved a pilgrimage of forty-two miles, and consumed seven days in going and returning. Afterwards a mill was built at Paw Paw, which diminished the distance.
A melancholy event caused much grief to Mr. Cochran's family soon after their settlement. Samuel Watson, the father of Mrs. Cochran, while on his return home from Paw Paw lost his way and died in the woods, in the north por- tion of the township, before succor could reach him. In the family of Mr. Cochran occurred the earliest birth in Arlington, that of his son, Andrew M., in 1844.
397
TOWNSHIP OF ARLINGTON.
William Dyckman, another of the early pioneers, settled in 1840 upon section 24, where he cleared and cultivated a large farm, upon which he lived until his death. He was active in promoting the interests of Arlington, and held important township offices. To quote the language of one of the old residents, " he was justice of the peace since he could remember." Adjoining, and upon the same sec- tion, was the farm of an early pioneer named Delong. Mr. Delong was somewhat distinguished as a man of means who had money to loan,-a fact which was so uncommon as to make him a central figure in financial transactions. His sons now occupy the land he improved.
At very nearly the same time came E. B. D. Hicks, who located upon section 25, where he still owns a large and productive farm and enjoys the reputation of being one of the most successful tillers of the soil.
The family of Hogmire, from their early settlement and . the large share they have had in the growth and develop- ment of the township, may be regarded as worthy of dis- tinguished mention. Daniel Hogmire left the attractive land of Western New York for a home in the wilds of Van Buren County in 1842, and selecting Arlington as a favor- able point of location, entered 40 acres on section 9. Wil- liam Bridges was a near neighbor, with whom he enjoyed a temporary shelter until he had erected a log house on his land. For a while he followed his trade of carpenter, re- turning to the East during the interval to bring his family to their primitive home. In the breaking up of the land, oxen were in general use, as being better adapted to the work than horses, but one of the latter being in use in the neighborhood.
Mr. Hogmire purchased an interest in the pineries of Columbia township, and engaged in the manufacture of shingles, for which as the country became populated there was a considerable demand. Later he purchased 80 acres on section 21, where he built a fine brick residence and where he now resides.
Conrad Hogmire left Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1842, and located with William Bridges, on section 8. He pur- chased 40 acres of land, but died soon afterwards.
Henry Hogmire purchased 80 acres on section 8, cleared and built upon it a frame house. Later he removed to Paw Paw, where he died.
John Hogmire settled in 1850. He bought 80 acres upon section 20. This he soon rendered productive, and continues to reside upon it.
The name of Bigelow is also a prominent one in the annals of the township, and Livingston Co., N. Y., the former home of so large a proportion of the early pioneers, included this family in the number it sent to cultivate the forests and prairies of the West.
Rufus Bigelow came to the township during the severe winter of 1843, and purchased from a settler who had pre- ceded him, 80 acres on section 17. Some slight improve- ments were made, but no habitation had been built by the former owner. He remained two years in the family of Daniel Hogmire, meanwhile building a comfortable log house. Allen Briggs and Daniel Hogmire were his nearest neighbors. The lands around him were mostly uncleared, and no roads near him were yet improved.
The tax-paying residents of the township in 1844 were James T. Hard, William Bridges, William N. Taylor, James M. Bierce, Joseph Ives, Charles Hall, William Dyckman, Samuel Goodenough, Morrison Heath, Alvinzy Harris, Allen Briggs, Emory O. Briggs, Robert Mcclintock, James G. Cochran, Major Heath, Amos R. Kellogg, Henry Delong, William Delong, Daniel Hogmire, Isaiah T. Hunt, E. B. D. Hicks, Elisha W. and Melancthon Gage.
Additional residents mentioned in 1845 were William Dyckman (3d), Calvin Goodenough, Rufus Bigelow, Isaac Drake, Conrad Hogmire, and Timothy Bewley.
In 1845, Calvin J. and Samuel Bigelow arrived, the latter of whom purchased 80 acres of J. R. Monroe, on section 21. Calvin J. bought 80 acres on section 20, and later, 40 additional on section 21, and 160 on section 17, a part of the latter being afterwards disposed of to J. Bridges and David Massey. Samuel lived for some years with his brother Rufus, and ultimately erected the frame house he at present occupies.
A school was early held in the Bigelow neighborhood, at the houses of the residents, Miss Ann Eliza Fisk being the presiding genius of the school-room. The first school is, however, conceded to have been in the Heath neighborhood, with Miss Mehitable Northrop as the earliest teacher. The log school-house was located upon the southeast corner of section 25, of Bangor, portions of the two townships form- ing a fractional school district. Early religious services were held at the houses of Mr. Bigelow and other settlers, Elder Knapp being the expounder of sacred truths to the little band of worshipers. With his sacred calling he com- bined the versatile gifts of an itinerant tradesman (he was sometimes familiarly spoken of as a peddler), and the excel- . lence of his pots and kettles inspired much praise from the good housewives of his parish.
George Meabon removed from Livingston County in 1845, and remained with Daniel Hogmire while he built a log house upon 40 acres he had purchased. The industry with which he persevered in his pioneer labors has been re- warded, and his farm now embraces 200 acres of well-tilled land,
Homer Adams came from New York State in 1845, and located on section 20. He was active in the public interests of the township, and held many offices of trust. Though now a resident of Breedsville, he still owns his farm.
Ira Orton claimed Orleans County as his former home, from which he emigrated in 1845, and exchanged with A. S. Barnum land in New York State for 40 acres on section 20. With Mr. Adams, his brother-in-law, he oc- cupied a log house that had been built and vacated by Eaton Branch, on section 29, until he could erect one on his land. Not a tree had been chopped on his purchase, excepting those felled by the Indians in search for honey. His neighbors were Melancthon and Elisha Gage, who were located on section 29, but have since removed to Lawrence. Deer were abundant, and seemed to have no sense of fear. They would frequently be seen feeding with the cattle.
Henry Earl came from New York State, and purchased on section 24, where he resided until his removal to South Haven.
398
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Samuel Hoppin early purchased 80 acres on section 5 of Ransom Kellogg, a portion of which had been improved. He has rendered it very productive, and has erected upon it a fine brick residence, which he at present occupies.
Amos Hamlin located upon 80 acres on section 36, and still resides upon this farm, which has been perceptibly improved by his labor.
J. F. Kidder, formerly of Orleans Co., N. Y., purchased of the Ostrom Company 80 acres on section 27. An aban- doned blacksmith-shop, not far away, afforded shelter for his family until more comfortable quarters were secured. He followed his trade of carpenter, and found ready em- ployment in the erection of houses and barns for the later settlers. He was followed soon after by a pioneer named Magoon, who very speedily became weary of the privations experienced in the wilds of Michigan and departed.
EARLY ROADS.
During the early settlement of the township of Arling- ton highways were not abundant, and pioneers were occa- sioned much inconvenience by the obstacles that met their progress in traversing the country. The earliest surveyed highway was known as the Monroe road, which followed a diagonal course through Arlington, and connected Paw Paw with South Haven. This was followed by the Bridges road, described as " commencing at the quarter stake on the east line of section 8, township 2 south, of range 15 west ; thence running north five degrees, thirty-eight chains, and eighty-five links; thence north eighty-five and a half de- grees, seventy-nine chains, and fifty links to the northeast corner of said section." Surveyed July 20, 1842, by Charles U. Cross. Recorded Sept. 25, 1842, by E. O. Briggs, township clerk.
Another early road between Arlington and the town- ship of South Haven was surveyed Oct. 10, 1843, by A. Crane & Co. A road designated as the Brown and Taylor road began at the quarter post on the east side of section 7, running thence south eighty-five and a half degrees west, seventy-two and twenty-five one-hundredths chains, on the quarter line through the centre of section 7, and ending at the quarter post on the west side of said section 7. Sur- veyed Oct. 12, 1843, by A. Crane & Co. Other roads followed these as the presence of settlers made them in- dispensable.
CIVIL AND POLITICAL.
Township number 2 south, of range number 15 west, by an act of the State Legislature, approved March 11, 1837, became part of Lawrence township, and continued as such until 1842, when by an act of the Legislature, ap- proved February 16th of the latter year, it was erected as a separate township under the name of Arlington.
FIRST TOWNSHIP-MEETING.
The first meeting of the electors of the township of Ar- lington was held at the house of Allen Briggs, on the 5th of April, 1842. James T. Hard, Allen Briggs, Morrison Heath, and Alvinzy Harris served as inspectors of election. The officers elected were Major Heath, Supervisor ; Emory O. Briggs, Township Clerk ; Allen Briggs, Treasurer; Al- vinzy Harris, William N. Taylor, Assessors ; Major Heath,
James T. Hard, Emory O. Briggs, School Inspectors ; William Bridges, James T. Hard, Directors of the Poor ; Joseph Ives, Alvinzy Harris, James T. Hard, Highway Commissioners ; William Dyckman, Allen Briggs, James T. Hard, Major Heath, Justices of the Peace; James G. Cochran, William N. Taylor, Constables.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1843 TO 1880.
SUPERVISORS.
1843-45, Major Heath ; 1846-47, Isaiah F. Hunt; 1848, Abram Lewis; 1849, Major Heath; 1850-51, Homer Adams; 1852, Al- vinzy Harris; 1853-55, Homer Adams; 1856, Sidney Fuller ; 1857-60, Emory O. Briggs ; 1861, Marquis Woodward; 1862-65, Emory O. Briggs; 1866, Homer Adams; 1867, Arvin Heath ; 1868-69, J. D. Harris ; 1870-76, Arvin Heath ; 1877-78, J. D. Harris ; 1879, Orton Schermerhorn.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
1843, Alvinzy Harris ; 1844, Emory O. Briggs ; 1845, Alvinzy Harris ; 1846, Homer Adams; 1847-54, Calvin J. Bigelow ; 1855-56, M. Woodward; 1857-59, Calvin J. Bigelow ; 1860-61, James B. Cushman ; 1862, Calvin J. Bigelow; 1863, John Stanley ; 1864, Calvin J. Bigelow ; 1865, J. W. Gray ; 1866, Calvin J. Bigelow ; 1867, W. A. Burlingame; 1868-70, C. J. Bigelow ; 1871-76, G. W. Monroe; 1877, Levi De Haven ; 1878-79, M. D. Trimm.
TREASURERS.
1843-45, Allen Briggs ; 1846-47, Homer Adams; 1848, Clark Lewis ; 1849, Homer Adams; 1850-51, Alvinzy Harris; 1852, Homer Adams; 1853-56, N. D. Richardson ; 1857-59, Homer Adams ; 1860, Marquis Woodward; 1861, Homer Adams; 1862, William A. Burlingame ; 1863, J. D. Harris ; 1864-66, John Stanley ; 1867-76, Mitchell H. Hogmire; 1877-78, Miles Monroe; 1879, G. W. Monroe.
SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
1843, Amos R. Kellogg, Major Heath ; 1844, Emory 0. Briggs; 1845, Amos R. Kellogg, Duane D. Briggs; 1846, Hezekiah More ; 1847, Amos R. Kellogg ; 1848, Ira Briggs; 1849, Simeon M. Heath ; 1850, Enoch White, Henry Earl; 1851, Marquis Woodward, Du- ane D. Briggs; 1852, Marquis Woodward ; 1853, William A. Burlingame ; 1854, S. M. Heath ; 1855, Gideon Hall ; 1856, Levi W. Heath ; 1857, Emory O. Briggs; 1858, Levi W. Heath ; 1859, J. D. Harris; 1860, Emory 0. Briggs; 1861, Homer Adams ; 1862, Levi W. Heath, Emory 0. Briggs ; 1863, J. D. Harris ; 1864, Emory 0. Briggs; 1865, James Washburn ; 1866, J. D. Harris; 1867, Alfred B. Palmer ; 1868, James Buckley ; 1869, William A. Burlingame; 1870, James Buckley; 1871, A. B. Palmer ; 1872, B. F. Ewing ; 1873, John B. Wilcox ; 1874-75, William A. Burlingame; 1876, John B. Wilcox ; 1877, John E. De Haven ; 1878, M. Hogmire; 1879, John E. De Haven.
ASSESSORS.
1843, W. N. Taylor, Daniel Hogmire; 1844, William Dyckman, Dan- iel Hogmire; 1845, Hezekiah More; 1847, Benjamin Herring- ton, James M. Bierce ; 1848, A. M. Hamlin, Benjamin Herrington.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1843, William H. McGeorge, James T. Hard; 1844, William Dyck- man, Isaiah F. Hunt; 1845, Duane D. Briggs ; 1846, Major Heath ; 1847, James T. Hard ; 1848, Allen Briggs ; 1849, Daniel Hogmire, Samuel Hoppin; 1850, Henry Earl; 1851, Isaiah F. Hunt; 1852, L. H. Bailey, Allen Briggs; 1853, Daniel Hogmire; 1854, Henry Earl ; 1855, Allen Briggs, William Dyckman ; 1856, Charles Hurbert, Abram Lewis; 1857, Mitchell S. Smiley ; 1858, William Dyckman, E. O. Briggs; 1859, Robert C. Smith; 1860, Homer Adams, O. E. Barnum; 1861, Henry Earl; 1862, Arvin Heath, Marquis Woodward; 1863, R. C. Smith, A. M. Hamlin ; 1864, Duane D. Briggs; 1865, D. Van Antwerp, W. N. Taylor ; 1866, Moses L. Kidder, Erastus Cutler; 1867, A. G. Russell, Moses L. Kidder ; 1868, Duane D. Briggs ; 1869, John B. Wilcox ; 1870, J. N. Pritchard, Jeremiah Bridges; 1871, A. G. Russell ; 1872, Joseph W. Gray ; 1873, A. W. Scrimger ; 1874, Joseph W. Gray ; 1875, Arvin Chapman ; 1876, Joseph W. Gray; 1877, E. B. D. Hicks, James Wright; 1878, C. J. Bigelow ; 1879, Andrew Whitman, Joseph Dage.
399
TOWNSHIP OF ALMENA.
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS.
1843, J. T. Hard, Joseph Ives ; 1844, William Bridges, Daniel Hog- mire, Joseph .Ives; 1845, E. W. Gage, J. M. Bierce, A. R. Kel- logg ; 1846, John P. Fisk, William N. Taylor, Elisha W. Gage; 1847, H. F. Bewin, Abram Lewis, R. M. Bigelow ; 1848, William Dyckman, Joseph Ives; 1849, William Dyckinan ; 1850, L. H. Bailey ; 1851, Marquis Woodward; 1852, William Dyckman ; 1853, John Simmons; 1854, Robert Smith, Arvin Heath ; 1855, Henry Earl ; 1856, Arvin Heath, Samuel Hoppin ; 1857, E. M. Preston, A. A. Holly ; 1858, A. A. Holly, J. D. Harris ; 1859, Duane D. Briggs ; 1860, G. W. Monroe ; 1861, Joseph W. Gray ; 1862, A. A. Holly, Samuel Smiley ; 1863, Samuel Monroe ; 1864, A. A. Holly ; 1865, J. H. Nichols; 1866, Samuel Monroe; 1867, Henry F. Northam ; 1868, Philip Eckler; 1869, A. B. Palmer; 1870, Charles E. Monroe ; 1871, Alanson Ives ; 1872, S. S. Fuller ; 1873, C. E. Monroe; 1874-76, Alanson Ives ; 1877, John Stanley ; 1878, C. E. Monroe; 1879, Judson J. Moses.
DIRECTORS OF THE POOR.
1843, Allen Briggs, Joseph Ives; 1844, Isaiah F. Hunt, Alvinzy Harris; 1845, J. T. Hard, Isaiah F. Hunt; 1846-47, William Bridges, Samuel Goodenough ; 1848-50, Morrison Heath, William N. Tay- lor; 1851, Joseph Ives, E. Eaton.
DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
1875, George Pryne; 1878, S. P. Johnston.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
1875-76, William A. Burlingame; 1877, A. B. Palmer; 1878, M. Hogmire; 1879, A. B. Palmer.
CONSTABLES.
1843, Conrad Hogmire, Henry Delong, William N. Taylor, Rufus Bigelow ; 1844, J. G. Hamilton, W. N. Taylor, J. M. Bierce, Conrad Hogmire; 1845, William N. Taylor, Duane D. Briggs; 1846, E. B. D. Hicks, D. D. Briggs, B. F. Stafford; 1847, Theo- dore Hunt, E. B. D. Hicks, Calvin Goodenough ; 1848, B. F. Staf- ford, Thomas F. Gray, Emerson Magoon, Watson Durand; 1849, Benjamin Herrington, Duane D. Briggs; 1850, George W. Heath, Titus Kellogg, Clark Lewis, Isaac P. Ives; 1851, Samuel Bigelow, Isaac P. Ives, W. N. Taylor, D. D. Hathaway ; 1852, Rufus M. Bigelow, E. M. Preston, Clark Vandervort, William Washburn ; 1853, E. M. Preston, Emerson Magoon, Samuel Smiley, William Washburn ; 1854, E. M. Preston, J. P. Ives, William N. Taylor, Samuel Smiley ; 1855, J. P. Ives, William Delong, Asa Durin, Samuel Smiley ; 1856, Asa Durin, Warren Babcock, James Kid- der, J. P. Ives ; 1857, Samuel Smiley, Ignatius Denoon, L. W. Heath, T. M. Hamlin; 1858, Henry Howe, A. M. Hamlin, Reu- ben Putney, Samuel Smiley ; 1859, O. E. Barnum, A. E. Hamlin, R. M. Bigelow, Isaac Shaver; 1860, H. K. Nichols, Michael Dyckman, Nathan Whitney, John Stanley ; 1861, E. C. Hazard, James Gilbert, M. T. Kidder, C. M. Bridges ; 1862, O. A. Church, C. B. Babcock, David Massey, James Gilbert; 1863, Michael Dyckman, J. F. Bridges, J. E. Drake, Miles Monroe; 1864, L. A. Orton, Miles Monroe, Michael Dyckman, Theodore G. Hunt ; 1865, O. A. Church, Theodore G. Hunt, E. P. Orton, E. C. Hazard ; 1866, C. B. Babcock, E. S. Delong, G. E. Brainard ; 1867, E. C. Hazard, Sherburn Kidder, G. E. Brainard, T. G. Thomson ; 1868, Dighton Eckler, Philetus Hathaway, Charles C. Monroe, David Hogmire; 1869, C. E. Monroe, Sherburne Kidder, E. C. Hazard; 1870, E. C. Hazard, Russell Chubback, Abraham Helms, G. W. Monroe; 1871, E. C. Hazard, H. K. Wells, S. B. Crawford, C. I. Wright; 1872, Jasper Burrell, E. C. Hazard, Wilbur Drake, C. I. Wright; 1873, C. I. Wright, Wilbur Drake, Jasper Burrell, Abraham Helms ; 1874, Russell Herring- ton, James Gilbert, Wilbur Drake, Myron Sanborn; 1875, A. W. Wilcox, Edward Crannell, W. W. Gurnsey, E. C. Hazard ; 1876, Russell Herrington, James N. Drake, A. W. Wilcox, G. R. Heath ; 1877, George Bronner, B. D. Hicks, Gabriel Dage, Perry Johnson ; 1873, Frank Burrell, James Washburn, M. Thompson, Sylvester Meacham ; 1879, Julian Harris, Andrew Cochran, Barney Hicks, Milon Thompson.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
ALVIN CHAPMAN
is descended in a direct line from Robert Chapman, the first settler, who came from Hull, in England, to Boston, in August, 1635. He removed in the following November to Saybrook, where some of his descendants still remain.
Alvin Chapman was born in the town of Westbrook, May 26, 1827, and on the 22d of October, 1848, he mar- ried Laura Wright, also a native of Westbrook, where they continued to reside until 1855. In the year last named they removed to their present home, in Arlington, Van Buren Co., where they have since made their residence.
Mr. Chapman has been a very successful farmer ; pos- sessing a farm of great fertility, he has, by industry and good management, brought it into a high state of cultiva- tion, with fine improvements,-a better estimation of which can be obtained from a view of them, which we give on another page.
CHAPTER LIII.
ALMENA TOWNSHIP.«
Description of the Town and its Early Settlements-Early Mills and Mill-Owners-Township Organization and Civil List-Churches in Almena-Schools-Almena and Paw Paw Telegraph Company.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWNSHIP AND ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT.
ALMENA, originally a portion of Clinch, lies upon the eastern border of Van Buren, and is known as town 2 south, range 13 west. Its boundaries are Pine Grove on the north, Antwerp on the south, Kalamazoo County on the east, and Waverly on the west.
At least one-third of the township is covered by a great swamp which extends in a northeast and southwest direc- tion. The earliest settlements were made in the territory lying south of the swamp, although pioneers penetrated soon afterwards into the northern and western sections. Good water-power, which attracted the attention of the first white settler, is found on a fork of the Paw Paw flowing through the town towards the west, and suffices now to supply two mills.
Although the town has two post-offices, it has no village, the nearest approach to a hamlet being at Almena Mills, where there is a grist-mill and store. In the south the soil is sandy and productive. In the north there is much heavy timber and a clayey soil, although one may find in that portion also many excellent farms.
Almena's population in 1874 was 1009. Its assessed value in 1879 was $324,000.
Tradition has erroneously referred to one Joseph Dero- sier, a Canadian Frenchman (probably a half-breed), as the first white settler in Almena. Derosier was doubtless the first white man who came to the township, but he was scarcely a settler. He had an Ottawa squaw for a wife
* By David Schwartz.
400
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and squatted in 1833 upon section 23, near the swamp, where he put up a cabin, but his business was simply that of an Indian trader, guide, rover, trapper, and interpreter, but not a settler in the full meaning of the term.
There was another French Canadian (with a deaf-mute squaw for a wife), called Mousseau, who was a companion of Derosier, but, like the latter, he was nothing above an Indian hunter. Derosier was known in the town until 1854, when he died in Waverly. Mousseau died in South Haven.
The great Indian trail from Chicago to Grand Rapids passed through Almena. It was on this trail that Derosier lived, and in the vicinity of his place, until 1845, numer- ous Indians of the Pottawattamie and Ottawa tribes en- camped from time to time. They were chiefly hunters, fishermen, and beggars, but never occasioned the whites any trouble or even concern. Two of them tried their hands at farming, but made failures of course. Finally the red men left the region and were seen no more. The first road of any consequence laid out was the Kalamazoo and Paw Paw road, which was in its time a thoroughfare of considerable traffic. It is yet the mainly traveled high- way running east and west through the southern portion of the town.
The first actual settler in Almena was Jonas Barber, of Prairie Ronde, who came hither in the spring of 1835, and built a saw-mill on the stream flowing through section 28. Barber had land near the present grist-mill, and lived there in a shanty. He intended to build a grist-mill at that point, but abandoned the idea.
Before Barber's advent, however, Junia Warner, Jr., Horace Bonfoey, and one Potter came from New York to Almena, in the spring of 1834, in search of land. Warner entered 240 acres, lying in both Almena and Antwerp; Bonfoey located a tract on section 29, in Almena ; Potter declined to make a location, and with Warner and Bonfoey returned to New York.
In the spring of the following year (1835) Warner, his father (also named Junia), and Horace Bonfoey came again to Almena, for the purpose of preparing their land for permanent settlement. Warner and his father bought a few boards at Jonas Barber's mill, and putting up a cabin on section 31 began at once to clear some land, and having put in a crop and built a double log house, Junia, Jr., went back to New York for his family, while the elder Warner concluded to remain at Kalamazoo, where he labored at his trade as mason until September of the same year, when Junia, Jr., reaching Kalamazoo with his fam- ily, on his way to Almena, the old gentleman joined them, and all were soon installed upon the Almena farm, where they found a fairly comfortable home in the log house built by father and son the previous summer. The widow of Junia Warner, Jr., lives now in Paw Paw, and in describ- ing their trip from Detroit to Almena says, " We traveled in a wagon drawn by three oxen, and although we made but fifteen miles a day, we were kept mighty busy at that." Junia Warner, Jr., who had been a Methodist circuit preacher in New York, continued to preach more or less in the West from the time of his settlement in Almena until
his death there, in 1847. He was known far and wide as Elder Warner, and although averse to preaching, because of ill health, he was so persistently called, from here and there, to preach a funeral sermon or organize a church, that he could not well avoid ministerial labor, and, as a con- sequence, he was almost as busy as a preacher as he was as a farmer. His widow now lives in Paw Paw, hale and vig- orous, at the age of seventy-four. His father died in Al- mena in 1841. His mother died in Paw Paw, January, 1880, at the advanced age of ninety-six.
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