USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 121
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 121
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TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND LIST OF OFFICERS.
An act of the Legislature was approved March 11, 1837, to divide the township of Lafayette into seven towns. The township of Covington was one of the seven towns, and comprised what is now Keeler and Hamilton. In 1839, Covington was divided into separate townships, and in the division, Keeler not only embraced the territory of town- ship 4 south, range 16 west, but township 3 south, same range (now Hartford), that prior to that time belonged to Lawrence,-being embraced in that township when the township of Lafayette was divided into seven towns. At the first township-meeting 29 votes were cast and the fol- lowing officers were elected : Supervisor, James Hill; Town Clerk, E. H. Keeler; Justices of the Peace, Lyman G. Hill, B. F. Chadwick, B. A. Olney, and R. B. Everett ; Collector, Thomas Conklin ; Highway Commissioners, W. H. Keeler, R. B. Everett, and Tobias Byers.
Part of these first officers lived in Hartford and part in Keeler, and in the spring of the next year Hartford was set off as a separate town. No vote was cast in the town- ship limits while it was in the township of Lafayette, and when Covington was formed, in 1837, the first election of that town was held at W. H. Keeler's tavern, in Keelers-
A. E. GREGORY.
MRS. A. E. GREGORY.
RESIDENCE OF A. E.GREGORY, KEELER, MICH.
481
TOWNSHIP OF KEELER.
ville, and later, when Keeler and Hamilton were formed and Hartford was attached to Keeler, the elections still continued to be held there until about 1847. Mr. Tobias Byers says that in 1843 the snow was so deep that men came on snow-shoes to the election.
The township records from 1839 to 1846 are missing. From the latter year until the present time, the principal offices of the township have been held as follows :
SUPERVISORS.
1846, Theodore E. Phelps; 1847, George Bartholomew ; 1848-52, Ly- man G. Hill; 1853, James A. Lee; 1854-56, Lyman G. Hill; 1857-59, Charles Duncombe; 1860, Charles G. George; 1861, Isaac J. Cox ; 1862-64, Charles Duncombe; 1865, Albert E. Gregory ; 1866, Charles Duncombe; 1867, William Tuttle, Jr. ; 1868, Charles Duncombe ; 1869-70, Orendo M. Sikes ; 1871, Charles Duncombe; 1872, John Baker; 1873, Isaac J. Cox ; 1874-75, John V. Rosevelt; 1876, Henry S. Keith ; 1877, Charles Duncombe; 1878, Henry S. Keith; 1879, John V. Rosevelt.
TOWN CLERKS.
1846-47, Lucius E. Buck ; 1848, John S. Buck ; 1849-50, Lucius E. Buck ; 1851, C. A. Buck ; 1852, Lucius E. Buck; 1853, Daniel M. Thomas; 1854-55, Lucius E. Buck ; 1856, David A. Buck ; 1857-58, Pliny P. Sikes; 1859, Andrew Armstrong; 1860-61, Stephen W. Duncombe; 1862, Mursell M. Merritt; 1863, Joseph E. Sweet; 1864-70, Mursell M. Merritt; 1871, Willard S. Hill; 1872, J. Elliot Swett; 1873, Charles G. George; 1874-77, Wil- liam E. Draper; 1878, James W. Thomas; 1879, William E. Draper.
TREASURERS.
1846, James A. Lee; 1847-54, Ira Gould; 1855, John F. Buck ; 1856, Marquis F. Buck ; 1857, Albert E. Gregory ; 1858-59, Benjamin D. Sill; 1860-62, Merritt Haynes ; 1863, Newton T. Foster ; 1864, Merritt Haynes ; 1865-67, James W. Thomas; 1868-69, Henry B. Babcock ; 1870-71, Lorenzo D. Robertson ; 1872-77, John F. Taylor; 1878, Amos Irish; 1879, Franklin Hill.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1846, Henry S. Keith; 1847, Tobias Byers; 1849, Samuel Robertson ; 1850, Luther Chapin ; 1851, Tobias Byers; 1852, Ira Foster; 1853, Charles G. George; 1854, Charles N. Poor; 1855, James G. Haynes; 1856, John Baker, O. M. Sikes; 1857, Charles G. George; 1858, Ira Foster, William Tuttle; 1859, John G. Haynes, Simeon P. Tuttle; 1860, Orendo M. Sikes, William J. Merwin; 1861, Simeon P. Tuttle ; 1862, John L. Harrison; 1863, Robert B. Thompson ; 1864, Orendo M. Sikes; 1865, Simeon P. Tuttle, Ephraim Warren, Stephen M. Miller; 1866, James H. Haynes, Jacob I. Rosevelt; 1867, Ephraim Warren, Aaron M. Knight, Isaac S. Rosevelt; 1868, Orendo M. Sikes, Edward M. Cook, Jamies E. Durden ; 1870, Charles G. George, John Baker ; 1871, Samuel Robertson, Oscar Adams; 1872, Orendo M. Sikes, Horace B. Clover; 1873, Horace B. Clover; 1874, Charles G. George; 1875, Isaac S. Rosevelt ; 1876, O. M. Sikes; 1877, Horace B. Clover, Charles W. Daily ; 1878, George G. Scott, Truman D. Pitcher; 1879, Charles Duncombe.
SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
1846, Eleazer H. Keeler, Linus Warner ; 1847, Charles O. Buck ; 1848, Charles Duncombe, Loren W. Sikes; 1849, David Foster; 1850, John H. Haynes ; 1851, J. G. Haynes, Aaron Rowe; 1852, James H. Haynes; 1853, M. Kimball; 1854, John G. Haynes; 1855, Henry M. Farnham; 1856, Hiram Baker; 1857, Hamilton J. Willmoth, Henry A. Starr; 1858, Henry M. Farnham; 1859, James H. Haynes; 1860, Henry M. Farnham; 1861, James H. Haynes; 1862, Henry M. Farnham; 1863, James Thompson; 1864, James H. Haynes; 1865, William M. Campbell; 1866, James H. Haynes, Albert E. Gregory ; 1867, Albert E. Gregory ; 1868, James H. Haynes ; 1870, Alfred H. Cook, Henry B. Bab- cock ; 1871, J. Elliott Swett, Seth Felt; 1872, William O. Cook; 1873, Albert E. Gregory; 1874, Albert C. Thompson, Horace B. Clover; 1875-77, William O. Cook ; 1878, Lucius E. Buck ; 1879, William O. Cook.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
1875-76, John Baker; 1877-79, George W. Baker.
THE VILLAGE.
The first store kept in the village was by Loren W. Sikes; the first school was taught by Maria Head; the first church was built in 1860. Dr. J. Elliot Swett was the first resident physician.
The village contains about forty families, two churches (Methodist and Congregational), one store, two groceries, post-office, hotel, school-house, two blacksmith-shops, cooper- shop, cabinet-shop, two wagon-shops, paint-shop, harness- shop, and shoe-shop.
The First Post-Office was established at Keelerville in 1836, on the opening of the stage-route by John Allen, of Lawrence. Wolcott H. Keeler was the postmaster. The office remained there until 1856, and was removed to Keeler village. The postmasters who succeeded Mr. Keeler were John Buck, S. W. Duncombe, Mrs. Caroline Wheeler, and John F. Taylor, who now holds the office.
SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.
Salathiel Lodge, No. 233, F. and A. M .- This lodge received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Michigan, Jan. 8, 1868, with the following-named persons as officers : Stephen W. Duncombe, Worshipful Master; Willard S. Hill, Senior Warden ; J. Elliot Swett, Junior Warden. The present number of members is 41, and the present officers are George E. Scott, Worshipful Master; William E. Draper, Senior Warden ; G. E. Rider, Junior Warden ; O. M. Sikes, Sec. ; Henry S. Keith, Treas.
Keeler Lodge, No. 204, I. O. O. F .- This lodge was chartered March 27, 1873, with the following charter members : James E. Dusden, Rossiter Kappin, Jacob High, James Shearer, Charles Lambert, Estel Smith, and Isaac Cox. The present members are 41 in number, and the officers for 1879 are Alfred Lamont, Noble Grand ; Al- bert Brown, Vice-Grand; John Nostrand, Rec. Sec. ; Chester Irish, Per. Sec. ; Franklin Hill, Treas.
Carmel Rebekah Lodge, No. 21, I. O. O. F .- The lodge was instituted Feb. 22, 1879, with the following as charter members : Robert K. Evans, Alvah Tuttle, S. Zimmerman, Charles G. George, Franklin Hill, John S. Rosevelt, John Ashman, Alfred Lamont, James Shearer, A. Campbell, J. M. Babcock, G. L. Rathbone, William Sikes, Justus Irish, Mrs. R. K. Evans, Emily Tuttle, Anna Zimmerman, Dolly George, Molly Hill, Harriet Ashman, Sarah Lamont, Polly Shearer, Mary Babcock, Jane Fowler. The present officers are William A. Sykes, Noble Grand ; Mrs. Jane Fowler, Vice-Grand ; Charles G. George, Rec. Sec. ; Alfred Lamont, Per. Sec. ; Mrs. Sarah Lamont, Treas. The present membership is 23.
Women's Christian Temperance Union .- This society was organized Nov. 14, 1879, with Mrs. Charles Duncombe, President ; Mrs. Lucius E. Buck, Vice-President; Mrs. Henry Thomas, Second Vice-President; Mrs. Beulah Keith, Sec. ; Mrs. Isaac Cox, Treas.
Patrons of Husbandry .- This grange was granted a dis- pensation, Dec. 24, 1873, as " Keeler Grange, No. 139." The charter was granted, March 21, 1874, as " Gilman of
61
482
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Keeler Grange, No. 159." The following are the con- stituent members : Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Cox, Mr. and Mrs. Tobias Byers, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Keith, Mr. and Mrs. William O. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Rosevelt, Mr. and Mrs. John Baker, Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Sikes, Dr. George Bartholomew and Mrs. Bartholomew, Mr. and Mrs. K. B. Martindale, J. I. Rosevelt, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac S. Rosevelt, Mr. and Mrs. P. Peters, Ira Foster, Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Hills, Rev. J. Webster, Mrs. J. Webster, O. Bartholomew, Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Sikes.
The officers for 1879 are William Warren, Worthy Master ; John Baker, Overseer ; De Witt C. Warren, Steward; G. A. Abbott, Asst. Steward ; Elmira Abbott, Lady Asst. Steward; Franklin Conklin, Sec. ; Tobias Byers, Treas.
The society now numbers about 75 members.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first class of this denomination was formed at the house of Samuel Pletcher, who lived on the west part of section 19, near the town line, in July, 1840. The members were Ira Foster and Carolina Foster, Adrian Manley and wife, Thomas Conklin and Martha Conklin, - Griffin and wife, and Mrs. Fer- dino Olds. Ira Foster was the class-leader.
The first preacher on the circuit through that section was Henry Worthington, who was followed by E. L. Kellogg, -- Van Order, - Knox, - Granger, - Shaw, - Whitlock, - Jones, Thomas McCool, J. D. Robinson, Milo Corey. At this early time meetings were held at the school-houses in the Haynes and Hill neighborhoods. The first meetings held at Keeler Centre were in the school- house, and the Revs. John Hoyt, T. T. George, and Henry M. Joy preached there. During the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Colwell, in 1860, a church edifice was erected, and dedicated in 1861. Mr. Colwell was succeeded by the Revs. G. A. Buell, -- Hoag, E. Beard, John W. Miller, - Fowler, - Webster, - Force, C. Woodward, Sparling, and George Elliot (the present pastor). The church now numbers 40 members.
Congregational Church .- This church was constituted July 7, 1850, by the following persons, who brought letters from different churches : Joseph Haynes and Mrs. Mary Haynes, James H. Haynes, Jonathan W. Haynes, Luther Chapin and Mrs. Louisa Chapin, Mrs. Mary Gregory, and Mrs. Harriet Pletcher. Joseph Haynes was chosen deacon, James H. Haynes clerk. The services were conducted by the Rev. Sidney S. Brown.
The first pastor of the church was the Rev. E. Andrus, who was succeeded by the Revs. W. H. Osborne, William Campbell, Charles E. Moon, and N. G. Lamphere (who is the present pastor). Services were held for the first few years at the Haynes school-house, afterwards in the school- house at Keeler village. In 1865 the present church was built at a cost of $3500, and it was dedicated in 1866. The church at that time was under the charge of the Rev. William Campbell, and contained about 40 members. It now has a membership of 26. A union Sunday-school of the Congregational and Baptist societies contains about 80 pupils. William O. Cook is the superintendent.
Baptist Church .- In 1843, Justus Hill, Emily, his wife, and William Everett and wife were dismissed from the Baptist Church of Lawrence to form a church in Keeler. This handful of Baptists gathered a few around them, but did not become a regularly organized body, being simply a branch of the Lawrence Church. Preaching was held in the school-house in the Hill neighborhood by the Rev. Moses Clark, Wm. T. Dye, and others. At a later date a church was organized, with about 15 constituent members. The Rev. Harvey Munger was the minister at the organi- zation, and was pastor for a year or two afterwards. He was succeeded by the Rev. Albert Gore, who remained till 1861, Wm. Simons, J. B. Ross, and James G. Portman. The church has a membership of about 40. A Sunday- school, of which Wm. O. Cook is superintendent, is taught in connection with this and the Congregational society. Services are held in the Congregational church.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was taught about 1839 by Miss Wood- man on section 19, on the Territorial road between the residences of Tobias Byers and Zenas Sikes. The children who attended were of the families of Pletcher, Sikes, and others.
As early as 1842, Mrs. Prudence Williamson, daughter of William Everett, taught school on section 11, in a house that belonged to James Hill, and had been occupied by his brother, Lyman G. Hill. The pupils of that early school numbered but 12.
The precise time when the township was formed into school districts cannot be accurately ascertained, but the township records, commencing in 1845, contain this entry:
" School Districts as recorded in Old Book.
" Dist. No. 1 contains Sections No. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 9; Dist. No. 2 contains Sections No. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; Dist. No. 3 con- tains Sections No. 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, and the west half of 21, 28; Dist. No. 4 contains Section No. 13 and east half of Sections 24, 25; Dist. No. 5 contains Section Nos. 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 21."
An annual report of the school inspectors to the county clerk, made Oct. 17, 1845, by David Foster and Orendo M. Sikes, shows as follows :
Total number of districts 5
District District District No. 1. No. 3. No. 5.
Reports received from three districts.
1
3
5
27
29
18
Number of children of school age " " attending in each dis- trict
30
40
qualified teachers
2
...
1
months school taught
8
8
3
volumes in township library
129
Amount raised for library purposes.
$25
Books used in school : Elementary Spelling Book, Eng- lish Reader, Hale's History of the United States, Olney's Geography, Kirkham's Grammar, Daboll's and Adams' Arithmetic.
The following persons were granted certificates by the school inspectors, after passing examination : Miss Mary A. Bragg and Miss Harriet McKein, May 2, 1846; Martha Baxter, Aug. 7, 1846 ; Charles A. Bush, Nov. 7, 1846, to teach in District No. 1; Emily Gould, April 8, 1848, to teach in District No. 5.
In 1845, 187 volumes were purchased for a library. Additions were made from time to time, till in 1858 the
RESIDENCE OF O. V. ROOSEVELT , KEELER, MICH.
FOREST HOME 1878.
CAMPING GROUND OF E. PARDEE, KEELER, MICHIGAN. SITUATED BETWEEN SISTER LAKES.
483
number had reached 521. For the past few years the township has been without a library.
SCHOOL REPORT FOR 1879.
The school directors in 1879 were John McAlpine, Sam- uel Hammond, Alfred Lamont, Hiram Baker, M. B. Keith, A. E. Gregory, John Baker, W. J. Britton, James Shearer, H. B. Clover.
Dis- trict.
Children of School Age.
Franie School- Houses.
Seating Capacity.
Value.
Number of Amount of Teachers.
No. 1 ..
24
1
30
$400
2
$132.00
No. 2 ..
33
1
45
300
2
200.00
No. 3 ..
65
1
40
50
2
141.50
No. 4 ..
20
1
50
500
1
116.00
No. 5 ..
32
1
30
500
1
90.00
No. 6 ..
29
1
30
250
3
87.20
No. 7 ..
92
1
100
3000
2
192.00
No. 8 ..
37
1
60
450
2
100.50
No. 9 ..
35
1
70
1000
49.00
No. 10 ..
34
1
68
600
2
136.00
Total .... 401
10
523
$7050
20
$1245.20
RECEIPTS.
District.
Money on hand Sept. 1,1878.
Two-Mill Tax.
Primary- School Fund.
District Tax.
Total Re- sources.
No. 1
$29.56
$91.31
$14.88
$65.00
$201.78
No. 2
32.72
99.30
21.52
105.00
272.56
No. 3.
128.59
65.61
33.00
79.00
308.51
No. 4
252.72
146.59
12.88
412.19
No.
5
4.68
20.90
14.88
238.70
371.45
No.
6.
34.34
124.90
17.28
10.00
195.00
No. 7
69.96
171.20
44.16
285.80
612.66
No.
8
28.57
85.40
25.00
138.97
No. 9
36.46
79.25
18.24
59.43
230.02
No. 10
31.90
75.76
.......
100.00
211.46
Total.
$649.50
$1030.22
$176.84
$967.93
$2954.60
EXPENDITURES.
District.
Teachers' Wages.
Sept. 1,
and Re-
purposes.
ing amount on hand.
No. 1
$132.00
$30.02
$39.76
$201.78
No. 2
200.00
14.06
$35.00
23.50
272.56
No. 3.
141.00
135.06
26.33
6.12
308.51
No. 4
116.00
295.79
240.63
30.95
371.45
No. 6.
87.20
66.55
41.25
195.00
No. 7
192.00
104.64
108.12
612.66
No.
8
80.00
40.60
18.37
138.97
No. 9
49.00
77.67
23.35
230.02
No. 10.
136.00
53.96
21.50
211.46
Total.
$1223.20
$828.22
$301.96
$313.32
$2954.60
FOREST HOME CAMPING-GROUND.
On the opposite page is given a view of " Forest Home Camping-Ground," the property of E. Pardee. The grounds are situated between the Sister Lakes, on section 31, Keeler township, Van Buren Co., and are about eleven miles northwest of Dowagiac, and the same distance south of Hartford. As is shown in the engraving, this camp is located on a narrow strip of land only about twenty-five rods wide, yet it is high rolling ground, heavily timbered with forest-trees and some twenty-seven feet above the lakes, whose pure, limpid waters wash the beautiful gravel beach on either shore. The place was first used as a camping- ground by E. Pardee and A. Maykes in 1868, who camped there two weeks in a tent nine feet square. The next year C. L. Sherwood and Thomas Rix, with their families, joined the party, and in 1872 it was still further increased by the accession of J. H. Smith, A. L. Rich, A. Jones, and B. L. Dewey, with their families.
In 1876 the grounds were bought by E. Pardee from B. D. Sill, for which he paid $100 per acre. Mr. Pardee
at once proceeded to clear off the underbrush and fit up the place as a permanent summer resort, erecting substan- tial buildings, improving its great natural advantages until now parties visiting these grounds find not only the pic- turesque beauty with which it was endowed by nature, but all the conveniences of our noted summer resorts, such as cottages, tents, and boats, while excellent facilities for fish- ing are provided.
In the foreground may be seen a large hall which is for the use of the occupants of the cottages and tents, which form a circle across the grounds from lake to lake.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
DR. GEORGE BARTHOLOMEW*
was born at Brownsville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., May 2, 1821. He worked on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, attending the district school about three months in each year. From the age of seventeen to twenty his time was
-
leo, Bartholomeus
occupied in attending and teaching district and grammar schools. At the age of twenty he commenced to read medi- cine with Dr. Duncan, at Plessis, Jefferson Co., N. Y., with whom he remained one year, teaching school four months of the time to raise means to meet his expenses. The two succeeding years he read medicine with Dr. Amasa Trow- bridge, President and Professor of Surgery at Willoughby University, Lake Co., Ohio, where he attended two courses of lectures, teaching four months in Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y.
After his second course of lectures he commenced the
* By Capt. J. R. Hendryx.
Amount on hand
Building
All other iture, includ-
1879.
pairs.
40
412.19
No. 5.
90.00
9.87
Paid for
Total Expend-
TOWNSHIP OF KEELER.
Number of
Wages.
484
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
practice of medicine at Stone Mills, Jefferson Co., N. Y., under the general supervision of Professor Trowbridge, of Watertown, N. Y. He remained there five months, and married Minerva E. Keith, of Brownsville, N. Y., July 31, 1845. Immediately after he went to the Castleton, Vt., Medical College, where he received his third course of medi- cal lectures, graduating at Willoughby University the follow- ing spring. He then, with his bride, removed to Keeler, Van Buren Co., Mich., and commenced the practice of medicine and surgery. He remained in Keeler one and a half years, then removed to Paw Paw, and formed a copartnership with Dr. Henry C. Clapp, which continued two years. From Paw Paw he went to Decatur, and put up the third building erected in that place, on Front Street, for a drug- store, and also practiced medicine until late in the fall of 1849, when he accepted the position of surgeon, and took charge of the hospital at Panama, for the Panama Railroad Company, remaining until the road was completed across the Isthmus, when he returned to Michigan completely broken down in health and unable to follow his profession. He then moved on a wild farm in Berrien township, in Berrien County, cleared it up, and planted the largest fruit farm in the township. After ten years of rusticating and digging in the earth he regained his health, sold the farm, and returned to his old stamping-ground, in Keelerville, and resumed his profession, where he still remains, and where he intends to spend the remainder of his days.
The taste the doctor acquired for fruit culture when in Berrien he did not convey in the deed to the purchaser of his fruit farm. He, some four or five years ago, bought forty acres on an elevated site, two miles north of Keeler- ville, improved it, and planted it all to fruit. This farm is managed by his sons, under his close inspection and man- agement. The doctor's counsel is often sought by amateur fruit-growers, as well as in public assemblies of pomolo- gists.
His skill in his profession, his devotion to his patients, his well-known integrity, large-heartedness, and his ever genial face, have given him an extensive practice, and made him a favorite wherever he is known. As a public speaker he is correct, logical, and often eloquent. In the summer of 1877 he built a fine residence in the village, where he and his amiable and accomplished wife, with their family of three boys, on a fair competency, live most happily. The doctor says he has no religion or politics,-the religion he practices is that of the golden rule. He votes for who he pleases and asks no favors. The doctor is of French de- scent, his wife of Scotch. His grandfather and mother were Vermonters. Mrs. Bartholomew's father served three terms in the New York Legislature. The doctor's grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and served all through the war. In the war of 1812 he, with three of his sons,- Ebenezer, Augustine, and Oliver, Jr., the latter the father of the subject of this notice,-were the first mechanics engaged in building fortifications at Sacket's Harbor.
Oliver, Jr., was born March 18, 1793, and married Mary Everetts in the year 1819. The fruit of this union was seven children,-four sons and three daughters,-Dr. George being the oldest. His mother died in Hamilton township, Sept. 19, 1867, after which event his father came to live with
him at Keelerville, Mrs. Bartholomew vying with her husband in kind care and attention to this venerable and worthy sire, who passed to his reward calmly and peace- fully on the 6th of March, 1877. The doctor's family at present consists of himself and noble wife and his sons,- George, born Sept. 20, 1857; Flurey K., born Feb. 14, 1851; and Estes, born April 13, 1866.
ORRENDO M. SIKES.
This gentleman is a descendant of Richard Sikes, who was born about 1600, and emigrated to America from London, England, in company with Governor Winthrop and William Pynchon, Esq., two of the noted pioneers of Massachusetts. He settled first at Roxbury, in that State, and in 1641 removed to Springfield, five years after the latter colony was founded. He had two sons,-Jonathan and Titus. In 1660 a settlement was commenced at Suffield, to which place Jonathan removed. His sons-Jonathan, Sam- uel, and Victory-all settled in the same place. Jonathan Sikes, Sr., was a master carpenter, and built each of his sons a house, that of Samuel being still in existence, and a fine specimen of the architecture of that day. It is still in the possession of his descendants. Jonathan Sikes, Sr., was born about 1640; his son Samuel, in 1675; the latter's only son, Victory, in 1710 ; and his son, Samuel, in 1752, who also had a son named Samuel, born in 1773. Victory Sikes (1st) had but one son, Titus, who sold his possessions and removed to Bennington Co., Vt., becoming one of its first settlers. His descendants are numerous and respect- able. Jonathan Sikes (2d) was the father of two sons,- Jonathan and Posthumous,-and lived to an extreme old age. Jonathan (3d) had five sons,-Lot, Jonathan, Paul, John, and David. Posthumous Sikes had four sons,- Amos, Stephen, Shadrach, and Gideon. Victory had two sons and six daughters, viz., Samuel, Victory, Mehitable, Demarius, Mary, Mercy, Lucy, and Eleanor. Samuel (2d) had eight sons and four daughters, viz., Samuel, Eunice, Chloe, Oliver, Martin, Lucinda, Uriel, Wealthy, Silas, Ezra, Orrin, and Reuben. Victory (3d) had eight sons,-Alex- ander, George, Ambrose, Alfred, Jesse, Theodore, Frank- lin, and James. Lot had three sons and three daughters,- Jemima, Lot, Lovisa, Calvin, Ashbel, and Mehitable. Lot, Jr., had three sons and eight daughters,-Ashbel, Fred- erick, Julia, James, Calista, Maria, Arabel, Sarah, Emeline, Lovisa, and Cynthia.
Benjamin Sikes, the great-great-grandfather of Orrendo, died Aug. 2, 1781, aged seventy-seven years. His son Abner, one of a family of nine children,-three sons ( Abner, Benjamin, and John) and six daughters,-was born Oct. 12, 1729. He was married, June 13, 1757, to Mercy Parson, who was born Feb. 20, 1733. They became the parents of seven children,-Mary, Abner, Experience, Increase, Pliny, Lois, and Zenas. Abner Sikes, Sr., died June 24, 1800, and his wife, March 24, 1818. Increase Sikes had nine children and Pliny four, those of the latter being Zenas, Orrin, Arna, and Lucinda. Zenas was the father of eight children, as follows: Orrendo, Loring, Lucina, Pliny, Samuel, Zenas, Charles, and John.
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