History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 109

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 821

USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 109
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 109

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).

The present officers (January, 1880) are L. D. Town- send, N. G .; George Rossman, V. G .; George R. Heathe, Sec. ; Abner D. Enos, Permanent Sec. ; James M. Gray, Treas. Regular meetings are held Saturday evenings of each week, in their lodge-rooms opposite Snell's hotel.

Bailey Lodge, No. 287, F. and A. M., was chartered Jan. 13, 1871. The first officers were Duane D. Briggs, W. M .; P. C. Hathaway, S. W .; and P. A. Dulerrow, J. W.

Damascus Lodge, No. 6, K. of P., was chartered March 21,1873.

These lodges all have their lodge-rooms in the village of Breedsville. Further data concerning the Masonic and

Wells G. Brown

Knowles & Barrows .. 4, 33

RESIDENCE OF W. J. DENNIS, COLUMBIATP., VAN BUREN CO., MICH.

433

TOWNSHIP OF COLUMBIA.

Pythian lodges, and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church, were earnestly solicited, and promised by official members, but we failed to obtain the desired information.

EDUCATIONAL.

As previously mentioned, the first school-house was built in the Breedsville settlement in 1838, and Lorenzo D. Cate taught the first school.

From the township records we learn that School District No. 1, comprising sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33, was formed Jan. 31, 1845. Fractional District No. 2, including sections 1 and 12 in this township, and portions of Trowbridge and Bloomingdale, was organized Dec. 26, 1845, by Jonathan N. Howard, Hervey Manley, Daniel Foster, Sidney Smith, William H. H. Myers, and Henry T. Houghton, school inspectors of said townships. This meeting was held at the house of Horace Humphrey.

Lewis Van Vliet was granted a certificate to teach the school in District No. 1, Nov. 29, 1845, and one year later, Dec. 16, 1846, John Roby was licensed to teach the same school.

· The sum of $7.36 was received from the county treas- urer in July, 1847, which was apportioned to District No. 1, it having 23 children of school age. Also during the same year Miss Adelia Sexton received a teacher's certificate.

The teachers licensed in 1848 were Miss Minerva Brown, Miss Mary R. Platt, Miss L. L. Gray, and Joel Camp.

The apportionment of school moneys received in March, 1848, was as follows: total received, $42 ; paid to District No. 1, having 25 scholars, $42. In July of the same year $19 was received. The apportionment gave to District No. 1, $14.41; to Fractional District No. 2, $4.59.

Miss Harriet Brown received a certificate in 1849, and the following was the July apportionment same year : Dis- trict No. 1, 25 scholars, $8.25; Fractional District No. 2, 22 scholars, $7.21. Other early teachers, from 1850 to 1853, were Miss Sarah A. Peacock, Miss H. D. Peacock, William B. Hathaway, Miss Minerva Brown, and Miss Harriet N. Ladd.

SCHOOL STATISTICS OF 1879.

Number of districts (whole, 7; fractional, 2). 9

Children of school age residing in the township. 432

attending school during the year. 354

Frame school-houses.

Seating capacity 528

Value of school property. 14

$5360

Number of teachers employed (male, 3; female, 11) Paid male teachers

$601.00

" female

$979.25

Total expenditures during the year .. $2172.90

Cash on hand, Sept. 1, 1879.

$679.86

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

A. S. BROWN.

One of the first four families that located in the town- ship of Columbia was that of A. S. Brown, Sr .; this oc- curred in the fall of 1835. Mr. Brown came from the town of Essex, Chittenden Co., Vt., where the subject of our sketch, A. S. Brown, was born in the year 1819. The members of Mr. Brown, Sr.'s family who came to Van

Buren County with him, besides A. S. Brown, Jr., were his wife, Mrs. Eliza (Bullock ) Brown, Welles G., Jesse R., Minerva, and Sarah,-the latter remaining in Paw Paw, where she still resides. Besides these who came with him, there were Amasa M. and Luman (who remained in Ver- mont). Amasa is a practicing physician there. Luman, at a later period, followed the family to Michigan, entered the army, was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and died from its effects. Sarah, Minerva, and Amasa M. are the only surviving children.

A. S. Brown, Sr., purchased upon his arrival a farm of eighty acres, and with the three younger boys, A. S., W. G., and J. R., continued the working of this farm until his death, which occurred in 1842, at which time the boys formed a copartnership, and remained with interests united until the beginning of the Rebellion, when W. G. with- drew. Previous to this, in 1860, A. S. had married Miss Sarah Deming, daughter of Roswell and Mariana U. (Boughton) Deming, who were married in Avon, Livings- ton Co., N. Y., where Philena C., Amos, William, Sarah, Almena, Martha, and Catharine were born, the last named dying in infancy. The others are still living, the first four in Michigan, Almena in Livingston Co., N. Y., and Martha in Minnesota. Mrs. Brown's mother had died in Livings- ton County, March 3, 1841, Mr. Deming removing with two of the children to Arlington, Van Buren Co., where he remained until Sarah's marriage to Mr. Brown, after which he made his home with them. The two brothers finally dissolved partnership, and in the division of property A. S. became owner of the homestead, a view of which appears in this work, and where the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born, the dates and names as follows : Sarah E., born April 3, 1862; Henry A., born Aug. 8, 1863; Ella C., born April 28, 1865, died July 30, 1867 ; Amos S., born May 3, 1867, died Aug. 8, 1869.

Mr. Brown, from time to time, added to the original pur- chase until his farm contained over two hundred acres. His health failing him, he proceeded to Minnesota, hoping the change would be beneficial, but such was not the case, and on the 4th of September, 1872, he died. By his pre- eminent abilities he arose from comparative obscurity, and has bequeathed to his family a handsome fortune. The soundness of his judgment and sterling integrity had se- cured for him a high place in the estimation of his fellow- citizens, whose voluntary suffrages had for nearly thirty years retained him almost constantly in some official posi- tion. During the years 1867-68 he represented his dis- trict in the State Legislature on the Republican side with fidelity and ability. Public enterprises and improvements always found in him a liberal and efficient patron. Mrs. Brown resides at the old home, using the means her hus- band provided for her in the education of their children.

J. N. HINCKLEY.

Dexter and Elizabeth (Doty) Hinckley were natives of New York, and were married in Monroe County, where J. N., Levilla, Marenus, Nancy, and Betsey Jane were born. J. N. was born in 1819, received a limited education, and at the early age of fifteen was compelled, of necessity, to

434

HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

become the support and mainstay of the family. He worked upon the Erie Canal six seasons, and then removed to Columbia township, Van Buren Co., Mich., his mother, Marenus, Levilla, and Jane accompanying him. Nancy had previously married and settled in Columbia, and Mr. Hinckley bought an adjoining farm of forty acres, for

living. Charlotte married B. W. Cornwall, and lives on the home-farm. Flora married R. Holland, and lives in Charle- voix Co., Mich. Ella married Joseph Baxter, and lives in Bloomingdale township. The others are living at home.

Mrs. Hinckley died May 2, 1873 ; she was a devoted wife, a faithful mother, and loved and respected by all who

WILLIAN

Photos. by L. L. Northrup, Bangor.

J. N. HINCKLEY.

MRS. J. N. HINCKLEY.

which he paid one hundred dollars. Several years later he bought forty more, and has continued adding to the orig- inal forty until now he is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres.

He married Miss Harriet L. Bessey and settled upon the place now occupied by him. Of this union seven children were born, viz., Charlotte A., Flora E., Orrin N., Ella J., May E., Perry N., and Harriet A., all of whom are still

CHAPTER LVII. COVERT TOWNSHIP .*

Deerfield changed to Covert-Description of the Township-Pioneer Settlers in Deerfield-The Village of Covert-Resident Tax-payers in 1856-Civil History-The Congregational Church.

DEERFIELD CHANGED TO COVERT-DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

THE township of Covert was for many years after its organization known as the township of Deerfield. This name proving inconvenient, from the fact that there were other towns and villages of the same name in the State, a bill was introduced into the Legislature in 1876, by W. O. Packard, Esq., praying that it be changed to Covert, which was accordingly done. It is designated as township 2 south, range 17 west, and is located on the western side of Van Buren County, its western border being washed by the waters of Lake Michigan. On its northern side lies South Haven, on the east Bangor, while Berrien County joins it on the south.

knew her. Mr. Hinckley afterwards married Mrs. Eliza- beth Leathers.

When Mr. Hinckley first came to Michigan he had four hundred dollars, and by good management, economy, and industry has secured a competency, and now, in the after- noon of life, takes the world easy. He is a Republican in politics, and much interested in the grange, of which he is a member.

Its name was suggestive of the early pioneer days, when the deer roamed unharmed through its forests ; and when circumstances rendered a change in its cognomen necessary these reminiscences were not ignored in its subsequent christening. The soil of Covert presents a very attractive field of labor to the agriculturist, and is especially well adapted to the growth of fruit. It is a mixture of sand and clay, which is very productive, and yields abundant crops of corn and wheat. Notwithstanding this fact settlers were tardy in availing themselves of its advantages, and it was not until 1844 that the first settler broke the soil and began clearing the forests. The surface is gently undulat- ing until the lake-shore is approached, when it becomes broken and uneven, abrupt and often picturesque hills adorn- ing the landscape. One or two of these have from their height and striking appearance something of the dignity of mountains, and are objects of some interest to the traveler. From their summits is afforded a view of the lake, which is at once commanding and expansive. Covert is well watered by numerous streams which meander through its limits, principal among which is Brandywine Creek, a con- siderable stream, which flows west of the centre of the town-

* By Edgar O. Wagner.

ISTLE

WM. PACKARD.

W. O. PACKARD.

WILLIAM PACKARD.

The grandfather of this gentleman was born in Bridge- water, Mass., and at the age of fourteen years entered the Revolutionary army. At twenty-four he was married to Miss Edson, and by her became the father of eight children, -five sons and three daughters. His occupation was that of a farmer. Among his children was Amasa Packard (father of William), who, at the age of eighteen years, married Lucinda, daughter of John Ford, her parents being also natives of Bridgewater,-where Amasa Packard was born, Jan. 6, 1788. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Packard occupied a tract of wild land, which they improved and resided upon until 1832, when they removed to Ohio.

William, son of Amasa and Lucinda Packard, was born in Plainfield, Mass., July 23, 1808, and was the first in a family of eight children,-five sons and three daughters. Until he had reached his majority he assisted his father on the home farm, and for two years subsequently hired "by the month." May 19, 1831, he married Mary F., daughter of Thaddeus and Mary Rude, a native of Massachusetts. The wedded pair removed to Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and occupied a farm which Mr. Packard had previously pur- chased. In 1836 they changed their residence to Chatham township, Medina Co., Ohio, where Mr. Packard bought and cleared a farm, and remained upon it until 1859. In the latter year he removed to Allegan Co., Mich., and in 1870, to the place he now occupies in Covert township, Van Buren Co.

Mr. and Mrs. Packard are the parents of the following children : William O., born Sept. 14, 1832 ; Alfred S., born Sept. 22, 1834; Mary P., born August 18, 1836; Helen

Celestia, born Oct. 28, 1842, died at the age of six months. July 14, 1863, Mr. Packard was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died and was buried in Allegan Co. Sept. 5, 1864, Mr. Packard was married to Mrs. Mary F. Rood, widow of Marshall Rood. Her death occurred in Covert township August 25, 1875; and on the 19th of September, 1876, Mr. Packard was married to Josephine L. Seymour, daughter of William H. and Ruth Seymour. This union has been blessed with one child,-Ruth Celestia, born Oct. 5, 1879. Mr. Packard united with the Congre- gational Church in 1844. He is a staunch Republican in politics, and has been the recipient of numerous favors from his fellow-citizens, in the shape of offices of greater or less importance. While a resident of Ohio he occupied all the official positions in his township, and was twice chosen to the Legislature from Allegan Co., Mich. Since he settled in Michigan, Mr. Packard has, in company with his sons, been extensively engaged in the lumber business, their pos- sessions at one time including upwards of four thousand five hundred acres of timber, with four saw-mills in full operation. In 1877, Alfred S. Packard withdrew from the firm, and is now individually engaged in business. William Packard and his son, William O. Packard, are yet asso- ciated, and own and operate the saw-mills at Covert, one saw- and planing-mill having a run of stone attached for the purpose of grinding feed. Mr. Packard's brother, Josiah Packard, with his son-in-law, belonged to the firm of Packard, Sons & Co. for eight years. William O. Pack- ard was elected to the State Senate in 1876, from Van Buren County, serving one term.

435

TOWNSHIP OF COVERT.

ship, and finds an outlet in Lake Michigan at the north west corner of section 8.

On section 30 is Mud Lake, which, though not of large size, is the only lake of consequence, and affords attractions to the lover of piscatorial sports. Covert, however, derives its importance from the fact that it lies adjacent to Lake Michigan, and is thus afforded commercial facilities which are denied its inland neighbors. The last census, 1874, does not indicate a flattering yield of grain, but since that time much additional land has been cultivated and its pro- ductiveness greatly increased.

PIONEER SETTLERS IN DEERFIELD.

The township is a comparatively new one, and very little progress was made in its development until after 1860. Its timbered lands, until the enterprise of later residents made them the chief sources of its revenue, offered many obsta- cles to the pioneer, and retarded rather than promoted its advancement. It contained no rich prairie land, and every acre of tillable soil was obtained at a cost of much labor in clearing. The coming of the earliest settler occurred in 1845. In that year Benoni Young migrated from the dis- tant State of Maine and located upon section 13, where he entered 160 acres. Here, with his family, in the midst of the forest, he lived for seven years an isolated life, with no other settler in the township, and for a long period no in- dication of an increase in its population. His nearest neighbor, Mason Wood, resided in the township of Bangor, and became a resident after Mr. Young's arrival. Isaac Swain, another neighbor, lived in the township of Water- vliet. Mr. Young was obliged to depend chiefly upon his own exertions for the improvement of his farm, and realiz- ing this fact, he began with a will the preliminary work of chopping and erecting the necessary buildings for the com- fort of his family. By industry he soon rendered a portion of this land productive, and proved the fine quality of the soil in the abundant crops which he produced. Mr. Young, however, seems not to have been strongly attached to the scene of his early pioneer experiences, for in 1861 he made the township of Hartford his home, and still resides there. In his family occurred the earliest birth in Covert, that of his daughter, Marietta Young. His home was the scene during the year 1859 of a very merry gathering, which celebrated the earliest marriage in the township, that of Miss Jane Young, his daughter, to Mr. Allen Fish. They still reside in Covert.

The next settler was John Peters, who purchased a farm and located upon section 32, the land having been previously owned by one Ingraham. He did not, however, remain long to improve his purchase, but removed to Berrien County. He afterwards entered the United States army and died in the service.

Matthias Farnum's settlement soon followed that of Mr. Peters. He chose section 7 as a location, and built upon it a saw-mill, the first in the township, in which for a period of years much of the lumber was sawed which was used in the construction of the frame houses and barns of the township. Mr. Farnum later removed to Benton Har- bor, where he now resides.

On the site of this early mill was built in 1857 a saw-

mill, which formed the nucleus of an extensive enterprise under the direction of a settler named Paul. The scheme of this ambitious company seemed to have been one of no small magnitude, contemplating the running of 60 saws which were to be propelled by steam furnished by three huge boilers. The settlement was christened Paulville, and boarding-houses were erected for the numerous choppers. The enterprise, however, proved a failure, and the decline of the little village of Paulville on the shore of Lake Michigan was scarcely less rapid than its mushroom growth. No vestige of its former importance remains, and other mills have performed the labor that was intended by its projectors to have been accomplished by this.

Canada sent a pioneer to the township in the person of James Dobbyn, who arrived in 1854 and entered 280 acres on section 32. John Peters and family extended to the Canadian settlers a cordial welcome, and offered them such shelter and hospitality as was possible in their limited quar- ters. This was gladly accepted during the interval of six weeks in which Mr. Dobbyn was engaged in constructing a cabin for his household, and sixteen souls at this time com- posed the family circle.

Mr. Dobbyn at once began the work of clearing and improving his land, and with the aid of the axe and the fire about five acres were soon cleared. During this period he suffered much from illness, which seriously impeded his progress, but a sufficient tract had been improved to render the family a modest subsistence. Arriving without a team their early labors were made the more arduous, and indeed this fact was the more apparent in their progress towards their new home, when all the household goods they possessed were borne upon their backs. Very great aid was afforded Mr. Dobbyn in his early struggles as a pioneer by the abundance of game to be found. Not only did this supply their larder with fresh and dried meats, but much of it was shipped to Chicago, where good prices were realized.

The earliest school-house was built in the neighborhood of Mr. Dobbyn's farm, by the side of the highway, on sec- tion 33. The young lady who guided the youthful minds of Covert at this early day was Miss Geraldine Taft, who had just attained the age of fourteen summers, maturity of years not being deemed an essential element in the qualifi- cations of a district school-teacher. The years of her oldest pupil fully equaled her own, while the youngest had seen but four summers.

The pupils at this early school were Josephine Lee, Henry Wygent, Violetta Wygent, John Dobbyn, Jane Dobbyn, Emma Dell, Isabella Dobbyn, William Lee, David Lee, William Wygent, Richard Dobbyn, Lita Fish, Mary Dell, Sarah J. Dobbyn, and Solon Ingraham.

In connection with this it may be stated that the town- ship is now divided into five whole and one fractional dis- tricts, the directors of which are William Y. Trafford, Henry Curtis, Franklin Ganson, David Leslie, D. Ballen, and Bryan Everhan.

The number of children receiving instruction is 287, who are taught by 1 male and 9 female teachers, to whom in salaries the sum of $1366 is paid. The value of school property is $4375, and the total resources are $2065.67, of which $172.12 is derived from the school fund.

436

HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

John Wygent arrived during the winter of 1854, with his family, and settled upon section 32, in the house vacated by John Peters. He cultivated and improved his land, converting it into a valuable property, but finally was at- tracted by the flattering prospects held out to the emigrants who were fast populating Nebraska, and became a resident of that Territory. Archibald Wygent arrived soon after, but ultimately made Watervliet his home, where he still resides.

Hiram Fish was another of the New York State pioneers who came in 1854. He selected section 21 as a home, where he became a considerable land-owner, having entered 360 acres. This he began early to improve, his first efforts being devoted to the building of a log house. During the interval he remained at Watervliet. Mr. Fish was among the most active of the early pioneers, and manifested a deep interest in affairs pertaining to the welfare of the township. This, however, did not conflict with the more pressing business of cultivating his farm, to which he de- voted himself with an energy which was afterwards amply rewarded. His three sons-Allen, Miram, and Draper- still reside in the township.

Frank Beal entered, in 1855, 80 acres under the gradu- ation act. He found his land entirely uncultivated, and began at once the work of chopping a sufficient space on which to erect a house, meanwhile remaining in Berrien County. His land lay upon sections 34 and 35. With him came William Kelley and W. W. Lampson, who en- tered 160 acres on section 35. William and J. McConnell took up their abode on section 36, where they still reside.

The settlers were principally occupied at this time in lay- ing out and improving highways. For this service fair wages were paid by the commissioners, which greatly aided them in living, and afforded them means to carry on the work of clearing and improving their lands. Often while engaged in this labor at a remote distance from their home night overtook them, and such shelter as the woods afforded was gladly accepted. With a log for a pillow and a cluster of boughs for a couch, they would enjoy the rest which toil had made sweet, regardless of the howling of the wolves around them. The first highway cut through the forests of the township was probably the one leading to the saw- mill of Matthias Farnum. James Dobbyn and his neigh- bors also cut an early road in the immediate vicinity of their own homes.

William A. Dell, who enjoyed the distinction of having been chosen as the first supervisor, was a former resident of New York State, from which he emigrated in the summer of 1855 and purchased 80 acres in Covert, on section 29. Mr. Dobbyn's log house afforded him a temporary abode, while the neighbors made a " bee" for the purpose of build- ing a cabin for his family. His experiences were not un- like those of other pioneers, but Covert seems not to have offered permanent attractions, as later years found him a resident of Watervliet, where he died.

The same year came Reuben Lee, who settled upon sec- tion 33, where he purchased and improved 60 acres. He seems to have found the township a more congenial abode than his neighbor, Mr. Dell, as he is still a resident upon the farm he purchased.

Ohio sent to Deerfield a pioneer in the person of J. Enlow, who purchased of John House, in 1857, a farm on section 12. This land was entirely uncultivated, and no settlers had located in the immediate vicinity, the nearest neighbors being Mason Wood, in Bangor, and a settler upon section 11. His family were left in Lawrence while he engaged in the construction of a log house, he himself making Bangor his temporary abode during its progress. After the house was completed Mr. Enlow removed his family, and at once found an extended field of labor in the clearing of his land. The southern portion of the township having been earliest settled, the centre and northern sec- tions were at this time almost in their primitive condition. No roads were visible, those originally surveyed having been covered by a heavy growth of brush, which, from want of travel, made them almost impassable. The Indian trail was the highway most used until late emigration made good roads a necessity. Mr. Enlow succeeded in improving this land and developing its resources, and ultimately cleared a fine farm, upon which he now resides.

Dawson Pompey came from Indiana in 1866, and pur- chased of William Sherburne 160 acres on section 13. This farm had previously been owned by Benoni Young, and was the first land cleared in the township. Mr. Pom- pey had, therefore, to undergo none of the severe experi- ences of his pioneer neighbors in its early improvement. He has by his industry added greatly to its productiveness, and is esteemed as one of the most successful farmers in Covert.

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History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 109

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 821

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 821