History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 99

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 99
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 99

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).

ORANGE STEPHENS.

This gentleman was born April 11, 1822, in Chittenden Co., Vt., and was the second child and oldest son in a family of seven. His father, Royal Stephens, was born also in Chittenden County, on the same farm upon which the son was born. Mr. Stephens' mother, Sally (Richardson) Ste- phens, was born in Addison Co., Vt., and married his father about 1818. In 1832 the family removed to Niagara Co., N. Y., and located on a farm. His father sold out in May, 1836, and came to Michigan, and purchased two hundred and eighty acres in Ingham County. At the age of twenty years Orange Stephens left home, and found employment for about five years by the month, after which he was mar- ried to Miss Mary A., daughter of R. S. and Esther Arm- strong, who was born in Addison Co., Vt., Sept. 2, 1823, being the second in a family of five children. Mrs. Ste- phens came to Michigan in the spring of 1844, and engaged in teaching school, making her home with her sister. Her

* John Hunt, of Antwerp, also went his security for' hardware to finish his log house with, whom he also remembers with gratitude.

ORANGE STEPHENS.

MRS. ORANGE STEPHENS.

MRS. F. E. STEPHENS.

F. E. STEPHENS.

RESIDENCE OF ORANGE STEPHENS, ANTWERP TP, VAN BUREN CO., MICH.

393

TOWNSHIP OF ANTWERP.

mother died in Vermont, Oct. 12, 1841. Her father came to Michigan about 1854, settled in Lawton, Van Buren Co., and kept hotel until his death, in 1863.

After Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were married they consol- idated their earnings and purchased one hundred and twelve acres of land in Sandstone township, Jackson Co., Mich., upon which they resided until 1853, when Mr. Stephens went to California. In July, 1855, he returned to his family, who in the mean time had sold the farm, and coming to Van Buren County purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in the township of Antwerp, to which he has since added a like amount. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are the parents of two children, as follows : R. E. Stephens, born May 16, 1848, married and living in La Crosse, Ind., and being employed on the railroad; Frank E., born July 10, 1857, married, Dec. 3, 1878, to Miss A. A. Beardslee, a native of Pennsylvania. Her parents came to Michigan in 1866, and are now residing in Mattawan. Frank E. Stephens and his wife live on the farm with his parents.

During his stay in California Mr. Stephens engaged in mining, with fair success. His father died April 17, 1867; his mother is now living on the old homestead in Ingham Co., Mich. Mr. Stephens is a Republican in politics, as is also his son, and has held the office of highway commis- sioner, but has never been a seeker for office. In his re- ligious views he is liberal, and has been a member of the Masonic order since 1864. His advantages for obtaining an education were limited.

N. L. SURDAM.

Among the early pioneers who migrated from the far East to build up a home and fortune in the then. almost pathless wilds of Western Michigan came Nathaniel L. Surdam, who in September, 1835, located a farm-his present home-in Antwerp township, Van Buren Co.

Of his ancestors, his paternal grandparents resided in Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., where they followed the occupation of farming. Among their three sons was Chris- topher, the father of Nathaniel, who was born in Salisbury, in October, 1773; learned the mill-wright and ship-carpen- ter's trades, working at these principally through life; was married, about 1794, to Miss Elizabeth Lock wood, who was born at Sharon, Litchfield Co., Conn., May 20, 1775, where her parents, in affluent circumstances, had lived as farmers for many years. Christopher S., while yet a young man, moved with his family to New York City. As fore- man in the navy-yard, he worked at ship-building for sev- eral years ; but disliking the many evils, restrictions, and contagious diseases of the city,-his wife having nearly died with both smallpox and yellow fever,-they returned to Sharon, Conn., which was ever afterwards their home. His subsequent life was principally devoted to mill-wright work, building foundries, forges, mills, etc. He died in 1825, at the age of fifty-two, his wife surviving him many years. They had five sons and three daughters : William, born at Sharon, Conn., Sept. 17, 1795, where he still lives; Betsey, born Nov. 16, 1797, at Sharon, where she died ; Eunice, born in New York, died when a child ; Trowbridge

L., born at Sharon, June 8, 1806, moved from Broome Co., N. Y., to Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1833, and died in 1876; Lewis L., born at Sharon, June 25, 1808, moved to Illinois, purchased three farms, and died in Michigan in 1878, when on a return trip from Connecticut; Eunice, the second, born at Sharon, March 31, 1813, lived and died on a farm in Illinois ; John W., born in Sharon, Sept. 2, 1815, located at Manchester, Mich., and died in 1865. All the brothers were carpenters and joiners, excepting William, who was a master-millwright.

Nathaniel L. was born in New York City, Jan. 26, 1803. He spent his early life in Western Connecticut, received a common-school education, and worked five years as an apprentice to Daniel St. John, a master-builder. He continued at the business there five years longer, erecting some of the finest dwellings, school-buildings, and churches in that country. He went to Broome Co., N. Y., in 1830, worked at his trade, and was married, Sept. 16, 1832, to Miss Caroline Fuller. He bought a farm near the Pitcher mineral springs, Chenango County, and resided there two years, carrying on his farm and trade, until the death of his wife, in April, 1835, when he sold out and returned to Broome County. In the following September he came to Michigan, and located his present farm in Van Buren County.

Mr. Surdam married, May 4, 1836, as his second wife, Miss Nancy Dickinson, of Broome County, whose paternal grandparents resided in East Windsor, Conn., where her father, Seth, was born in 1772. He emigrated to Broome County in 1800, where he carried on a farm, tannery, and shoemaker's shop, and where he resided until his death. Himself and family, and his brothers' and sisters' families around him, were peaceable, industrious, moral people, mostly Baptists, and himself a deacon of that church. The ancestors of his wife, Rhoda Elton, came, generations back, from Switzerland to Connecticut, where she was born in 1773; she died in Broome County in 1820. They had three sons and two daughters,-Rockwell, born March 5, 1798, deceased; Horace, born in November, 1800, de- ceased ; Linus, born May 14, 1812 (settled near them as farmers, tanners, and shoemakers) ; Pamelia, born in 1796, moved on a farm in Hillsdale, Mich., and died there in 1838; and Nancy, born June 8, 1809.

Shipping their goods by water to Detroit, Nathaniel Sur- dam and wife started Oct. 11, 1836, in a top-buggy, with one horse, for Western Michigan, more than six hundred miles distant ; after a weary journey through the almost im- passable swamps of Canada they reached Genesee Prairie, Kalamazoo Co., November 16th, where they stayed through the winter. They built a small frame house and moved on their farm the next spring.

There, far from childhood's home and friends, among Indians, wild beasts, and an occasional white settler, they endured the hardships of pioneer life, felling trees and clearing land, going to Little and Big Prairie Ronde, " Egypt," for grain, and to Kalamazoo and Portage to get it ground ; experiencing many privations and a thorough " seasoning" with ague and malarial fevers; laboring hard on the farm, mostly unaided for many years, beside build- ing barns, dwellings, and doing much shop-work for others.

394

HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Looking back over the forty-four years that have passed, they can now see the vast change which time and labor have wrought. Kalamazoo had then but three frame houses, Paw Paw a few more, the forests of Mattawan and Lawton had barely heard the echo of a pioneer's axe, and a steam-whistle was unheard for many years. Although age has crept over the pair, having lived in the spirit of the motto, "pay as you go and live within your means," the slow accumulations of years of honest toil have gath- ered round them, and they are no longer poor.

They have traveled but little since coming to Michigan, and have joined no secret societies or church organizations here, although members in good standing of Methodist Episcopal and Baptist Churches in the East. Mr. Surdam never was an aspirant for political honors. They have had two children, both born in Michigan,-Julia Ann, Sept. 21, 1837, died Nov. 17, 1855 ; Frederick W., youngest of the family and writer of this sketch, has spent his life thus far upon the old place, in educating himself and helping to improve the homestead farm.

CHAPTER LII.

ARLINGTON TOWNSHIP .*

Location and Topography-Settlements and Settlers-Early Roads- Civil and Political-First Township-Meeting-Township Officers, 1843 to 1880.

THE township of Arlington, otherwise designated as township No. 2 south, of range No. 15 west, is an interior division, and situated near the centre of Van Buren County. It was formerly part of the old township of Lawrence, and became a separate organization in 1842, the name of Ar- lington having been suggested by one of its earliest resi- dents,-a Revolutionary veteran named James Stevens, to whom it brought pleasing recollections of his native town in the Green Mountain State.

Contiguous township organizations are Columbia on the north, Waverly on the east, Lawrence on the south, and Bangor on the west.

The most important water-courses are the Black and Paw Paw Rivers. The former, in its flow to the southwest, crosses section 6 ; while the latter, flowing in the same direc- tion, cuts off a large portion of section 36, the same being attached to Lawrence township. Several small creeks also traverse the township, Elizabeth Creek being the largest of these. A number of lakes are observed, the largest, Scott's Lake, being situated mainly upon section 1.

The soil of Arlington has by the industry of its inhab- itants been brought to a high degree of cultivation. It is naturally of great productiveness, being composed of a rich sand and clay loam, admirably well adapted to the growth of corn, fruit, wheat, and other cereals.

The last census (1874) reported 1664 acres of wheat and 1529 acres of corn harvested in 1873, of which the products were 24,794 bushels of the former, and 54,070 bushels of the latter grain.

The surface is undulating, and in some localities these elevations and depressions are marked. The township was especially rich in timbered land, and from that fact the labor of the early pioneers was more arduous than in many other portions of Michigan, where the prairies and " oak openings" greatly modified their toil. Trees of black walnut, ash, whitewood, and oak grew to enormous proportions, one of the former, it is said, having measured at a point 3 feet above the earth 35 feet and 8 inches in circumference.

Limestone, utilized to a considerable extent, has been found in the eastern part of the township. The census of 1874 returned a total of 1362 inhabitants.

SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS.

The first settler within the limits of the present town- ship of Arlington, William N. Taylor, when twenty-two years of age, joined his fortunes with the party composing the Breedsville pioneers (see history of Columbia township) and came to Michigan first in the fall of 1835. His remi- niscences regarding the journey from Detroit to Breedsville are most amusing. The oxen purchased in Detroit were both " off steers," and he as their driver, had a most diffi- cult time guiding them around stumps, over logs, etc. The men, women, and children of the party, except Wells G. Brown, walked the entire distance, and following directly behind the other, or after the manner of Indians. The women and smaller children, however, generally mounted the wagon when fording streams. In crossing Elizabeth Creek, the young wife of Jonathan N. Howard, Elizabeth, was by a sudden lurch of the vehicle thrown from her seat into the creek. From this incident the stream derived the name it bears to-day.

Soon after their arrival in Breedsville, Mr. Taylor pur- chased 120 acres of land, situated on section 8, in town- ship 2 south, of range 15 west. He remained with his friends in Breedsville nineteen days, assisting them to erect houses, etc. Then, as they could afford to pay him but 50 cents a day for his labor, and their food consisted almost wholly of potatoes roasted, frequently eaten without salt, he turned his footsteps to Kalamazoo, where he worked for some time in the old Kalamazoo House. A few weeks later he went to Comstock,. Kalamazoo Co., where he "'tended tavern." Afterwards he worked in the Comstock grist-mill, and upon Caldwell's farm. In the winter of 1836-37 he returned to Hinckleyville, Monroe Co., N. Y., where he married Miss Philinda Kelsey, of Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., N. Y., who was then visiting friends in Hinckleyville.

With his wife, he came back to Michigan in the spring of 1837, arriving at Comstock in May. Here his wife re- mained until he went forward and built a small bark-roofed shanty upon his land-purchase. Upon its completion it was occupied by himself and wife. He cleared several acres the same summer, but the season was so far advanced that he was only able to raise a small crop of turnips, and the major portion of that crop was destroyed by his neigh- bor's cattle, the " off steers" owned in the Breedsville set- tlement. Charles U. Cross, living one mile west of him, and where, Mr. Taylor thinks, he settled in the fall of 1836, was his nearest neighbor.

* By Edgar O. Wagner.

FIRST RESIDENCE

MRS. ALVIN CHARMAN.

ALVIN CHAPMAN

RESIDENCE OF ALVIN CHAPMAN, ARLINGTON TP, VAN BURENCO., MICH.

395

TOWNSHIP OF ARLINGTON.

Illustrative of life in the back woods at an early day, Mr. Taylor relates that a few months after his settlement he was able to cover his cabin with a shingle roof. The blazing logs in the huge corner fireplace would so heat the cabin's interior in midwinter that the water from the melted snow ran down the outside of the logs, and again freezing formed icicles. The one-legged bedstead occupied by the pioneer couple was fastened to the cabin walls, into and through the chinks and crevices of which the water made its way, and coming in con- tact with that portion of the bedding next the walls, would so freeze them together that for days Mrs. Taylor, in the performance of her household duties, was unable to take off the sheets and spreads while " making the bed." In- deed, Mr. Taylor says that on awakening one morning the dire necessity awaited him, in his attempt to arise, of either tearing loose from his sole undergarment, or of being thawed out with a kettle of hot water !

The house of " Uncle Bill," as he was familiarly called, was noted among the youth of pioneer days as a jolly place for dances, fun, and conviviality. In the mean time he de- voted all his energies to the clearing and improvement of his lands. By persevering efforts he overcame all obstacles, and eventually converted a fair portion of Arlington's for- ests into a productive farm. He built the first framed barn, many who assisted in the "raising" coming from distant settlements. In 1868 he removed to his present place of residence, in the village of Lawrence.

The next settler in this township was James T. Hard, a son-in-law of Elder Hinckley. He, too, came from Hinck- leyville, Monroe Co., N. Y., and settled upon a portion of section 5 in the fall of 1837. Afterwards he removed to the farm now occupied by A. Heath, and ultimately migrated to the State of California.

One of the most active spirits in the early pioneer ex- periences of Arlington was Major Heath, who removed from Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1837, to Jackson Co., Mich., and two years later, being much impressed with the quality of the land and the fine timber, entered a farm on sections 19 and 30, choosing the latter as a point upon which to erect a log house. The country was still in a very primitive condition when Mr. Heath arrived. No roads led to his possessions, and they were accessible only after he had, with his axe, made a highway through the forest. His house of logs was roofed with troughs after the fashion of those early times. He desired, however, to have some reminder of civilization in its construction, and secured, after a walk of six miles, a board with which to construct a door, thus rendering his home more pretentious in its appointments than those of his neighbors.

While building this house he remained with Mansel M. Briggs, who located in the township of Bangor adjoining. Mr. Heath took an active interest in public affairs. He was chosen the first supervisor, and filled other offices of importance. His judgment and experience made him a person of influence in the neighborhood and a useful citizen. He subsequently removed to Iowa, but returned again to Van Buren County, and purchased land in the extreme southeast corner of Bangor, where he resided until his death. His son, Charles E. Heath, now lives on section 25 of the latter township.

The little circle of pioneers was not broken by the death of one of its members until the winter of 1841. The family of Major Heath was first invaded, and Mrs. A. H. Heath, the partner of his early toil, was the chosen one. Her remains were buried in the cemetery on section 30, and the funeral services were the earliest held in the town- ship.

Among other pioneers who were here prior to making the assessment of Lawrence in 1839, and who were desig- nated on that roll as resident tax-payers of township No. 2 south, of range No. 15 west, were R. Gillman on section 5, Ransom Kellogg on section 5, S. M. N. Brooks on section 29, and Robert Christie, an inn-keeper, and the owner of 22 village lots.

The following statistics show the total number of tax- paying inhabitants in the township in 1839, also the loca- tion of their lands, value, etc. :

Names.

Section.

Acres.

Real and Per- sonal Estate.

Taxes to be paid.

James T. Hard

114

$344

$2.75

R. Gillman

112

388

2.70

William N. Taylor.

8 120

360

2.88

Ransom Kellogg

160

480

3.84

Major Heath.

136

420

3.75

S. M. N. Brooks

120

Robert Christie

village lots

110

1.60

Allen Briggs was a native of Bennington, Vt., from which point his parents removed to Oneida Co., N. Y., and subsequently to Lewis County. After again changing his New York residence, he, in 1838, visited Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, and devoted some time to prospecting in the latter State. He entered, in company with his two sons, the following summer (1839) 40 acres on section 19, and began the arduous task of hewing out a home in the dense forest with which the township was then covered. In the summer of 1840, after having in the mean time constructed a house of logs and otherwise arranged for the comfort of his family, he sent for them. After a long and tedious journey by canal to Buffalo from Orleans Co., N. Y., and thence by lake to Detroit, and the remaining distance of one hundred and eighty miles by wagon, they reached their wilderness home. Mr. Briggs from his first settlement in the township took an active and leading interest in all public enterprises. His education was superior to that of most of the early pioneers, and he was thus enabled to be of signal service to them in the transaction of matters of busi- ness. He also held many offices of importance in the town- ship, which he filled with ability. Mr. Briggs' death oc- curred at his home in Arlington in the year 1868; he having reached the advanced age of eighty years.

His son, Emory O. Briggs, preceded his father to the township by a few months. Together with his brother, in February, 1839, he left the paternal roof, and, with many blessings besought for them and their undertaking, started for Michigan. One horse carried their luggage and pro- visions for the journey, while the would-be pioneers, aged respectively seventeen and nineteen, wended their way on foot. Their route lay, first, from their starting-point to the Niagara River at Lewiston, where the stream was to be crossed, and thence through Canada to Detroit, whence they were to proceed to Van Buren County. On landing in Canada, these two beardless youths, with no arms save pocket-knives, and with their solitary steed, were, on pre-

396

HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

tense of being recognized as rebels in the so-called " Patriot war," then hardly closed, arrested by a squad of Her Bri- tannic Majesty's soldiers, armed with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets, and triumphantly marched through the streets of Queenstown to the headquarters of the command- ing officer, by whom they were ordered to the guard-house.

This last order was, however, countermanded before their arrival at the guard-house, and they were returned to the august presence of the commander, by whom they were questioned and searched. The ferryman who brought them was also closely interrogated. After much more delay in examinations and other formal proceedings, they were suf- fered to depart, the sage verdict having been rendered that they were not regarded as dangerous or hostile to her Ma- jesty's interests. After ten days of tedious travel through slush and mud, snow and frost, they reached Detroit, and ultimately, Van Buren County. They were at first em- ployed in cutting a highway through the dense wilderness of the county, and receiving for this labor the sum of $50, expended it in the purchase of 40 acres of land, on which their parents subsequently settled, and which was entered in the name of Allen Briggs.

William N. Taylor and James T. Hard were their nearest neighbors in Arlington. With the exception of a very circuitous road, which followed an Indian trail, and ad- mitted the passage of but one vehicle at a time, there was no highway.

Emory O. Briggs employed his winters as a teacher, and found plenty of labor to occupy his hands during the sum- mer months. His skill as an engineer was early called into requisition, and many of the first roads of the townships were surveyed by him. To the land originally purchased Mr. Briggs has added from time to time until he has be- come one of the largest land-holders in the township. He has also filled many official positions, both in the township and county. His present residence is Paw Paw, where he is largely engaged in commercial pursuits.

The same year (1840) came Alvinzy Harris, who located upon 53 acres on section 19, having come from St. Law- rence Co., N. Y., and become a resident of the State two years previously. He was a man of much force of char- acter and good judgment, and was the recipient of many local offices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen. Mr. Harris found his land entirely uncleared, and depended upon his own sturdy arm for the improvements that were made. His son, Jefferson D. Harris, now lives upon the homestead, having added to it by a purchase of 80 acres.

With Mr. Harris came Morrison Heath (also a native of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y.), who settled upon 40 acres on section 30, which he improved. He was one of the small band of early voters when Arlington became an inde- pendent organization, and on that occasion was appointed inspector of elections.

The year 1840 brought with it other accessions to the little colony of settlers. William Bridges came from Livingston Co., N. Y., to Breedsville in 1837, and in the spring of 1840 he entered 40 acres on section 8. The land was en- tirely uncleared, and, like many pioneers who had preceded him, he erected his shanty in the midst of the forest. Deer were abundant, and the wolves were nightly prowlers about

his humble habitation. Mr. Bridges was, however, unde- terred by difficulties or discouragements, and very soon after his settlement had many acres cleared and under cultivation. He was a man of quiet, unobtrusive habits and unfailing industry, and was much respected by his neighbors.

James Stevens was one of the pioneers of 1840, having emigrated in that year with his wife from Livingston Co., N. Y., and made his home with Allen Briggs, whose step- father he was. He was an octogenarian, and was accorded the privilege of naming the township.

Mr. Stevens possessed a prouder claim to the regard of his friends in that he was one of the bravest soldiers of the Revolution, having served for six years and seven months under Washington's immediate command. Nor did he lay down his musket until the last gun was fired and the sur- render of Cornwallis at Yorktown insured not only victory but peace to the infant republic. With the entertaining reminiscences of the conflict fresh in his recollection, it may be imagined that Mr. Stevens was always a central figure in the family group during the long winter evenings de- voted to social intercourse. He died in 1847, much es- teemed by all.

Joseph Ives was another of the New York State pioneers who arrived in 1840, and located on section 29, where he improved a farm. He was one of the earliest voters and an office-holder the first year of the township's existence. Soon after came a settler named James M. Bierce, who lo- cated upon the same section, where he cleared land and built a log house.

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History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 99

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