USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
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Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert united with the Methodist Epis-
WILLIAM S. GILBERT.
MRS. WILLIAM S. GILBERT.
Mr. Gilbert was married, Jan. 1, 1839, at Bronson, Mich., to Miss Ilannah Parrish, sister of Asa Parrish, who was married at the same time and place to Lois E., sister of Mr. Gilbert. Mrs. Gilbert was the daughter of Abram Parrish, of Mendon, N. Y., where she was born, Sept. 20, 1816.
copal Church in 1840, and soon took a prominent position in that body. Mr. Gilbert has been a class-leader for many years In social relations he is genial and companionable ; in business matters prompt and reliable; as a citizen, re- spected and influential.
Photo, by Jas, Tripp, Coldwater. JOHN ALLEN
was born April 29, 1801, at Sudbury, Vt. Ile lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. When he was twenty-two he married Miranda Kelsey, who died in 1825, leaving two children,-John E., who is a farmer
in Coldwater, and Miranda C., who married Wallace M. Youngs. She died in 1851. Mr. Allen was married, in 1826, to Ester Blackmer, of Brandon, Vt., with whom he lived for nearly forty years. She departed this life March 25, 1866. Mr. Allen was married, Dec. 3, 1866, to Mrs. Britanna Phetteplace, formerly Miss Jackson, of Otsego, N. Y., she and her former husband having emigrated to Coldwater in 1836, where he died in 1863.
In 1832, Mr. Allen left his native town, and moved to Orleans Co., N. Y., where he purchased a farm and re- mained eleven years, when he sold out and came to Cold- water with his wife and ten children, arriving here Sept. 27, 1843, and purchased one hundred acres of land, which included the present site of the Michigan Southern Railroad Depot grounds. When the depot was located, Mr. Allen sold out, September, 1855, and purchased the farm where he now resides.
Farming has been the business of his life, and blooded stock his specialty. This he has exhibited at the State fairs some twenty years, and always secured premiums on his Devon cattle. He has been an active man in the County Agricultural Society, and is now president of the Branch County Insurance Company. In business matters he is prompt and reliable; as a citizeu, respected and influential.
RESIDENCE OF WM. P. NORTON, COLDWATER, MICHIGAN
-
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES OF BRANCH COUNTY.
COLDWATER.
THE township of Coldwater derives its chief interest from the city of Coldwater, which is located very nearly at its central point. Thus the carly history of the city is in a measure repeated in a review of the township history, the same parties having been identified with both organizations and having been also active spirits in the growth and enter- prise of the one as of the other.
We find that Abram F. Bolton and John Morse, who were with one exception the earliest settlers in the village of Coldwater, were also the early pioneers in the township. Col. Bolton purchased a tract of land, in 1829, on the east side of the Coldwater River, where the Chicago road crosses it, and now comprised within the city limits. A year later he came to the township, but did not locate on his purchase, choosing another tract, on the east part of section 23. With him came his wife and John Morse and wife, the ladies having been sisters. On this location they erected the first house ever built on the Coldwater Prairie. It was a rough log cabin of two rooms, with an open space between them, which was roofed over and afterward inclosed. Here in June they opened a grand hotel, and it was indeed a very attractive resting-place to the weary traveler on the Chicago trail. There was at this time no house west of Reed's, at Marble Spring, ten miles east, and Bronson's, ten miles west. llere Bolton and Morse kept a house as celebrated on the Chicago trail as is the Palmer or the Grand Pacific in Chicago, a place where the worn and tired emigrant or land-hunter was certain to find a tempting repast and a most comfortable resting-place, accompanied always with a cordial greeting. In the spring of 1831, Col. Bolton removed with his family to his first purchase, and left Mr. Morse and family upon the prairie home.
Throughout 1831 there was much travel on the Chicago trail or road, as it began to be ealled by emigrants to the Western prairies and land-seekers, and in June of that year a land-office was established at White Pigeon by the govern- ment. In 1830 a daughter was born in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Morse, whom they christened Ilenrictta, and who was the first white child of any settled resident in the town- ship. A Welsh family named Bonner had remained for a brief time in the Indian village on the east end of the prairie, and while there a child was born; but this family were not regarded as settlers, having soon after left the
neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Morse were universal favor- ites with the travelers in this new country, for mine host was a man of most genial character, and could readily fur- nish an inspiring melody upon the clarionet, while his ex- cellent wife broiled the venison and supplied from her scanty store such a repast as would tempt the palate of an epicure. She had also the especial merit of getting it up quick. This famous host, finding a more favorable location desirable, finally purchased the ground now covered by the present Oriental Hotel in the city of Coldwater, and erected upon it a building which was for many years the most famous place of entertainment in the vicinity.
As early as 1831, Masonville, on the Coldwater River, and now embraced within the city limits, was the point at which all the business enterprise and most of the emigration cen- tred. James B. Stuart and Roland Root were then actively engaged in trade, much of their traffic having been with the neighboring Indians. The preceding year a commission was appointed by the Governor and Legislative Council, con- sisting of Musgrove Evans, of Tecumseh, Reuben Pierce, of Clinton, and James Olds, of Jonesville, to locate a county-seat. Masonville seemed for a brief time destined to bear away the laurels, and the officials did indeed claim that the mandates of justice should be issued from within her boundaries; but in their zeal to complete their labors the worthy members of the commission had forgotten to take the official oath, and their action was thus rendered void. A protest arose from the eastern part of the county, and a petition for a new commission was presented, which finally occasioned the removal of the county-seat to Branch, where it was ultimately established in 1832. With a site at once picturesque and possessing superior advantages of location, there were many indications that it would become not only the legislative seat but the centre of the commer- cial interests of the county, had not some slight eircum- stances influenced its destiny and consigned it to a condi- tion of obscurity from which no future enterprise will ever reseue it.
In the year 1832, Elisha Warren came with his family to the township and located at Branch, erecting a small dwelling. Soon after he brought from the East a limited stock of goods and opened a store in his house. The fol- lowing year the county treasurer, Seth Dunham, moved to
165
166
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the settlement, having previously located at the mills known as the Pocahontas Mills. At this time Elisha Warren, Seth Dunham, and Harvey Warner, with their families, were the only residents of the hamlet.
E. T. Paxton eame in 1833 and established a small store, keeping such a limited supply as would satisfy the demands of the meagre population. The postmaster at this time was Harvey Warner, who at first settled at the river, but finally removed to Branch when the office was established there.
In the year 1835 emigration greatly increased, and Branch became for the time being a centre of trade. Among the new residents were Joel Burlingame, David Pond, Charles P. West, and Louis Pollay. Robert and William Lind came at the same time and established a distillery. There being need of educational facilities for the younger and growing population, a school-house was built and the services of a teacher procured. Several mechanics and tradesmen were induced by the flattering future which was predicted for the new settlement to east their fortunes with the pioneers. and for a time their hands were kept busily occupied. No church had been built, service having been conducted in the school-house. The brief career of this little village was soon ended, a decree of the Legislature having fixed the county-seat at Coldwater, as more fully stated in the city history. In 1842 it was officially located there. and Branch was doomed to a decline more speedy than its recent growth. Many of the buildings which had been so hastily erected were as hurriedly dismantled, and the material taken to various portions of the neighborhood to do duty in a simi- lar capacity. A few scattered houses, a grocery, and the vacant field where justice was dispensed from the primitive court-house bench, are all that remain of the early county- seat of Branch County.
At the time that Branch was the county-seat, and bade fair to be the centre of commercial importance in the county, a road was projected and built. runuing to the hamlet. the survey of which we append :
" Established by the commissioner of highways of the township of Coldwater, beginning at corners of sections 4 and 5. on the township line, between towns 4 and 5 sonth, range 6 west ; thence south 26, west 1:3 chains to a section line : thence south ou section line 1$0.50 chains to Coldwater River: thenee south 19, west 6.17: thence south 34, cast 33 to section line : thence south on section line 123 chains and 50 links to the town line between towns 5 and 6 south : thenee south on section line 53.00 chains: thence south 24, west 23.25 chains; thenee south 2s. east 21.50 to section line: thence south on section line 140 chains to the Chicago road.
" JAMES B. TOMPKINS. Surreyor.
" MARTIN BARNHART. Commissioner's of Highways.
" JANES B. TOMPKINS,
" JOSEPH C. CORBY'S, ToIn Clerk.
" COLDWATER, March 29. 1834."*
As the fortunes of the little settlement began to wane, a new road was projected, styled the Battle Creek Road. Three commissioners were appointed. viz .. Matthew Brink, Justin Goodwin, and Sands MeCamley, to make the survey and choose the route. They performed their labors iu 1836, and a road beginning at the southeast corner of section 16, and running north and northwest through Cold- water, Girard. and Union, was marked out and completed.
This road finally superseded the one built to Braneh in 1834.
As early as 1836 the township assumed the aspect of a well-populated district, many of the emigrants from the central and western portions of New York State having entered lands and made for themselves homes. These settlers presented the advantages of the new country in so attractive a light to their Eastern friends desirous of moving Westward that they speedily followed them and became residents of the county. Among these carly settlers were C. B. Peckham, who came from Cayuga County and lo- cated one mile south of the city. Joseph Zeluff also settling near hitu ; James Haynes and his sons, who entered land in the north portion of the township; Hart Warner and Wilson J. Cooley, who resided in the western part ; Elisha Warren, who settled in the southwest. as did also John Canright and Isaac Middaugh. Rice Arnold. Abram C. Fisk, and Detman Tinkham purchased land on the eastern side of the township. Lemuel Bingham having located not far from them, as did also Christopher Hartsongh. Curtis Prentice came in 1834 and chose a traet of land lying northeast, and James Fisk, Timothy Phelps, Reuben White- head, William Scovill, and Robert Waggott eleared lands in the southeastern border. Clark H. Williams. Kimball Parish, Daniel N. Wilson, and James R. Wilcox located in the south portion of the township. Francis Roberts and his two sons, John and Stephen, came and located on the southeast portion of what was known as Coldwater Prairie. Mr. John Roberts planted the first nursery, and may be regarded as the pioneer nurseryman of the county.
The following entries were made on ground covered by the township :
Loel Crane, SO aeres, May 2. 1836.
John Pow, 325155 acres, May 2. 1536.
John Dow. $4155 acres. May 2. 1836. Samuel II. Hill, 50 seres. May 2, 1836. Samuel H. Hill, SO seres, May 2. 1836.
John MeMann. So acres, Nov. 12. 1535.
John MeMann, SO acres. Nov. 12. 1835. William MeCarty, 80 acres, Dec. 11, 1835. Silas Crane, 40 acres, April 21. 1836. Silas Crane. 40 acres, April 21. 1836. John MeMahon, SO acres. April 25. 1836.
Ed. H. Macy, 40 acres, April 29. 1536. F.d. H. Macy, $426, acres. April 29. 1536.
H. G. Rice, 40 acres, July 13, 1836. Allen Tibbets, SO acres, June 12, 1835.
Philo Dibble. 164x56 acres, Sept. 25. 1$35.
Peter Martin, 80 acres, Oct. 10, 1835. Peter Martin, 80 acres, Nov. 18. 1835. Selleck Seymour, 40 acres, Nov. 23, 1835. Win. MeCarty. 40 seres, Pec. 11. 1$35.
Margaret Cross, 162135 acres, March 25, 1:36.
Win. M. Fuller, $0 acres, June 12, 1:35.
Lorenzo P. Crippen and Philo Il. Crippen. 160 seres, June 12. 1835.
Joseph Tilton, 163115. acres. July 13, 1835.
Joseph Tilton, So acres, July 13. 1835. Joseph Tilton. 80 acres, July 13, 1435. Philo Dibble, 8415's seres, Sept. 25. 1$35.
Joseph Tilton, 66135 acres. July 13, 1535.
Selleck Seymour, 117,36 acres, Nov. 23, 1835.
Win. M. Watkins. $6135, acres. Feb. 14, 1837. Hiram Donaldson. $2,6% seres. March 9, 1837. Lewis Smith, $0 acres, April 13, 1537. Wm. W. Tilton and George W. Tilton. 103155 acres. June 3, 1-37.
167
HISTORY OF BRANCHI COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
- James H. Hanchett, 40 aeres, July 13, 1833. David St. John, 10 acres, Sept. 29, 1835. George lleyden, 10 neres, Feb. 29, 1836. George Heyden, 10 neres, Feb. 29, 1836. Isaac Barnhart, Jr., $1 ,3% acres, March 28, 1836. Mahlon Barnhart, SO aeres, July 16, 1836. Thos. Dougherty, 80 acres, Nov. 17, 1836. R. J. Champion, 10 acres, June 22, 1837. Lorenzo D. Crippen, 40 acres, April 1, 1817. Jesse Brooks, 40 acres, June 11, 1835. Jesse Brooks, 40 acres, June 11, 1835. Jesse Brooks, 160 acres, June 11, 1835.
Joseph Giles, 10 neres, June 12, 1835.
Hamilton Smith, 80 acres, June 16, 1835. Jesse Brooks, SO aeres, July 16, 1835. Samuel Brooks, 40 acres, July 15, 1835.
Parley Stockwell, 40 acres, Aug. 27, 1835. Win. 11. Cross, 40 aeres, Oet. 22, 1835. Edward Campbell, 10 neres, Oct. 30, 1835. Edward Campbell, 40 acres, Oet. 30, 1835.
Seymour L. Bingham, 643 neres, July 28, 1835.
James B. Stewart, 48 5% acres, Aug. 10, 1835.
Win. Il. Cross, 146,16 neres, Oct. 22, 1835.
Peter Martin, 65,16 aeres, Nov. 18, 1833.
Jesse Smith, 51275, uvres, Feb. 29, 1836. Martin Barnhart and Benj. Il. Smith, 80 acres, Oct. 1, 1831. Elisha Warren, 80 aeres, Oet. S, 1831. William Martin, 160 acres, July 8, 1834.
William Martin, 40 acres, July 8, 1834.
Peter Martin, 40 acres, Sept. 6, 1831.
Peter Martin, 40 acres, Oct. 14, IS34.
Peter Martin, 40 acres, June 12, 1835.
Peter Martin, 80 acres, Oct. 10, 1535.
L. D. Crippen aml Philo 11. Crippen, 50 acres, Dec. 11, 1835. ʻ
- George Hauchett, 40 acres, June 11, 1532. W'in. Martin, 40 neres, July 8, 1834. Chauncey Strong, 80 acres, Aug. 15, 1835.
L. D. and P. 11. Crippen, 50 neres, Det. 15, 1835.
David Haynes, SO uvres, Sept. 16, 1835.
Peter Martin, 80 aeres, Oct. 10, 1835. 1Tiram Barnes, 160 acres, Nov. 23, 1835. Margaret Cross, 80 acres, May 15, 1834.
Abramo C. Fisk, 10 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. Win. B. Whitehead. 40 acres, Sept. 28, 1835.
Peter Martin, 80 acres, Oct. 10, 1835. John Pearsall, 40 acres, Oct. 31, 1835. Caleb T. Fuller, SO aeres, Nov. 12, 1835.
Sylvester Smith, 160 acres, Nov. 12, 1835.
Lymau Chapin and J. L. Rathbone, 160 acres, Feb. 15, 1836. llenry Buell, 40 aeres, Feb. 17, 1836. Jobn Pearsall, 40 acres, Oet. 31, 1835. George Fowler, 160 neres, Nov. 28, 1835.
Henry Buell, 80 acres, Feb. 17, 1836. Warren Hill, 80 neres, May 3, 1836.
Alansou Sumner, 160 acres, and Stephon Clark, 80 acres, May 6, 1836.
Oliver Miller, 40 acres, May 11, 1836.
A. J. Lock, 40 neres, Aug. 5, 1851. M. Sutfin, 10 acres, Nov. 20, 1852. .
Orsamus B. Clark, 10 aeres, Jan. 3, 1853. Ira W. Pratt, 40 acres, Jun. 3, 1×53.
Wm. A. Anderson, 40 acres, Jan. 27, 1853. O. B. Clark, 40 acres, Feb. 11, 1853. J. H. Carnoothwick, 40 acres, March 10, 1853.
Amos Lock, 40 acres, April 19, 1853. 11. Shandler, 40 aeres, Aug. 19, 1853. Clinton B. Fisk, 40 acres, Oct. 15, 1853. Perry Smith, 40 acres, Oct. 22, 1853.
A. A. Caruoothwick, 40 aeres, Oet. 29, 1853. O. B. Clark, 40 Heres, Nov. 2, 1853. S. Wing, 40 neres, Dee. 31, 1853. A. A. Carnoothwick, 10 acres, Jan. 6, 1854.
C. B. Fisk, 10 aeres, Jan. 23, 1454. Justin Prentice, 10 acres, March 23, 1814. J. II. Beach, S0 acres, May 13, 1>51.
Charlotte Smith, 80 acres, June 12, 1851.
J. W. Kinnen, 40 acres, Aug. 5, 1851. C. S. Tucker, 40 aeres, Oct. 30, 1851.
1 .. T. N. Wilson and W. M. Mel'arty, 40 acres, May 16, 1852. HI. Haynes, 40 acres, Dee. 11, 1852.
1. 1. Wright, 40 acres, Dec. 24, 1852. A. C. Gardner, 40 acres, Jan. 3, 1853.
P. P. Wright, 40 acres, Feb. 1, 1853.
W. H. Anderson, 40 acres, Nov. 14, 1853.
Gillman Davis, 40 acres, Nov. 2, 1853.
Gillman Davis, 40 acres, Nov. 2, 1853.
Gillman Davis, 40 acres, Nov. 2, 1853.
Abram F. Bolton, 119555% acres, Dec. 21, 1829.
John West, 46,30 fog acres, Nov. 6, 1835.
John Cooley, 80 acres, Feb. 21, 1831.
John Cooley, 40 acres, June 16, 1835.
Joel Woodward, 160 aeres, Aug. 15, 1835.
William Rood, 80 acres, Oct. 22, 1835.
Lyman Sherman, SO acres, Oct. 31, 1835.
John West, 40 acres, Nov. 6, 1835. llurt Warren, 10 acres, Nov. 10, 1835.
Solomon White, 40 acres, July 18, 1836.
L. D. and P. I. Crippen, 40 acres, July 15, 1836.
R. J. Champion, 40 acres, July 7, 1837. E. S. Sibley and D. G. Jones, 50 acres, June 6, 1831.
Lorenzo Pratt, SO neres, July 29, 1831. W'in. II. Cross, 80 acres, Aug. 27, 1831.
Elisha Warren, 80 acres, Oct. S, 1831.
Elishmn Warren, SO aeres, Oct. 8, 1831.
Harvey Warner, 40 acres, Jau. 7, 1833. Isaac Bowers, 10 acres, Jan. 7, 1833.
James II. lauchett, 40 acres, June 19, 1833.
Charles Fletcher, 80 neres, Sept. 5, 1833.
Philip Olmsted, 40 acres, Feb. 24, 1831.
Isaac Middough, 53155% acres, Oct. 3, 1831.
Oliver Johnson, 98,33 acres, June 3, 1835.
L. D. aud P. 11. Crippen, 6128% acres, July 18, 1835.
Jutnes Ruggles, 10019% acres, Dec. 18, 1835.
W'm. Il. Cross, 53,15g acres, Jan. 6, 1836. Dewitt ('. Ransom, 40 acres, Aug. 8, 1837.
Joseph llickox, 80 acres, Aug. 8, 1$37. John C. Curtis, 40 aeres, Aug. 8, 1837.
P. H. Crippen, 3,22% aeres, Aug. 8, 1837.
Francis Smith, 80 acres, Dee. 2, 1840.
Barnabas Wing, 40 acres, Aug. 27, 1841.
Sophia Thurber, 3326% neres, Oct. 28, 1842.
D. Dinsmore, 40 aeres, June 7, 1844.
Jesse Mason, 80 acres, June 1, 1844.
G. W. Newcomb, 46,65 acres, Jan. 28, 1847.
11. F. Babcock, 40 acres, Ang. 4, 1819. 11. F. Babcock, 40 aeres, Aug. 13, 1849. C. B. Williams, 40 acres, March 3, 1853. Chas. Sutfin, 40 acres, Mareb 10, 1853. Nelson Baker, 40 acres, Oet. 31. 1853. Enocb Foster, 40 acres, Nov. 12, 1853. Matthew Brink, 10 acres, April 9, 1835. Allen Tibbets, 40 acres, June 12, 1535. lleury MeConnell, 40 aeres, Oct. 12, 1535. Allen Tibbets, 80 acres, Oct. 22, 1835. Allen Tibbets, 80 aeres, Oct. 22, 1835. Allen Tibbets, 80 acres, Oct. 22, 1835. Win. Johnson, 40 acres, Nov. 6, 1835. Abraham P'billips, 80 acres, April 23, 1836. Prince Arnold, 160 acres, Nov. 17, 1836. Prince Arnold, 40 neres, Nov. 17, 1836. Rice Arnold, Jr., 40 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. Francis Roberts, 80 acres, Oet. 13, 1835.
Aaron Packer, 40 acres, Oct. 13, 1835. John l'aeker, 40 aeres, Oet. 13, 1835. Allen Tibbets, 40 aeres, Oct. 22, 1535. W'm. P'. Arnold, 40 aeres, Oct. 29, 1835. Reuben Whitehead, 80 acres, Nov. 7, 1835.
John G. Warren, 40 aeres. Nov. 16, 1835. John G. Warren, 10 acres, Nov. 16, 1835. Heury McConnell, 10 acres, Jan. 19, 1836.
16S
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Henry McConnell, 40 acres, Jan. 19, 1836. Thos. Dougherty, 80 acres, March 9, 1836. Thos. Dougherty, 40 acres, March 9, 1836. Francis Smith, 80 acres, July 18, 1835. L. D. Crippen, 80 acres, Aug. 15, 1835. P. H. Crippen, 80 acres, Aug. 15, 1835. Israel Millard, 80 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. Israel Millard, 40 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 40 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. Darwin Littlefield, 40 acres, Oct. 22, 1835. Reuben Whitehead, 40 acres, Nov. 7, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 40 acres, Nov. 7, 1835. Canfield Fisk, 40 acres, Nov. 7, 1836. James H. Hanchett, 80 acres, Jan. 6, 1836. Ifiram Alden, 80 acres, Oet. 9, 1834. Ephraim Preiss, 40 acres, Nov. 18, 1834. Parley Stockwell, 40 acres, June 16, 1835. Elisha Jenuings, 40 acres, June 24, 1835. Wm. D. Strong, 40 acres, June 24, 1835. Elijah Ferguson, 40 acres, June 24, 1835. Lucas Withington, 40 acres, July 7, 1835. Moses Hawks, 40 acres, July 21, 1835. Jobn Carnrike, 80 acres, July 22, 1835. Francis Smith, 80 acres, Nov. 7, 1835. Marcus Terwilliger, 40 acres, Dec. 14, 1835. Philo II. Crippen, 40 acres, March 9, 1836. Chas. G. Johnson, 80 aeres, June 9, 1834. Henry Dishrow, 80 acres, June 9, 1834. Ebenezer Marsh, 5325, acres, Nov. 1, 1834. Oliver Johnson, 160 acres, June 3, 1835. John Carnrike, 6057, acres, July 22, 1835. John West, 60,69% acres, Nov. 6, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 105-16 acres, Nov. 7. 1835. Francis Smith, 53180 acres, Nov. 7, 1835. Thomas Toole, SU acres, Jan. 8, 1830. E. S. Sibley and D. G. Jones, 80 acres, June 6, 1831.
Abram F. Bolton, 80 acres, Sept. 3, IS31. Abram F. Bolton and Jeremiah Tillotson, 80 acres, Oct. 8, 1831. Elisha Warren, 80 acres, Oct. 8, 1831. Robert Clark, Jr., 80 acres, Oct. 8, 1831. James S. Brooks, 40 acres, June 7, 1834. Hiram Smith, 80 acres, May 30, 1835. Jacob Hamlin, 40 acres, Oct. 17, 1835. B. Warner, 40 acres, May 11, 1835. Oliver Johnson, $0 acres, June 3, 1835. Oliver Johnson, 80 acres, June 3, 1835. Ilerman Keyes, 80 acres, June 29, 1835. Henry C. Billings, 40 acres, Sept. 15, 1835.
llenry C. Billings, 80 acres, Sept. 15, 1835. Henry C. Billings, 80 acres, Sept. 15, 1835. Henry C. Billings, 80 acres, Sept. 15, 1835. Henry C. Billings, 80 acres, Sept. 15, 1835. Herman Keyes, 160 acres, June 29, 1835.
Henry C. Billings, 160 acres, Sept. 15, 1835. Henry C. Billings, 105 acres, Sept. 15, 1835. Joseph W. Zelaff, 40 acres, July 30, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 40 acres, Aug. 27, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 121154 acres, Nov. 7, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 10468 acres, Nov. 7, 1835. O. C. Nichols, 80 acres, Sept. 5, 1835. Richard J. Paddick, 80 acres, Sept. 5, 1835. Samuel Narramore, 80 acres, Sept. 28, 1835. Oliver Johnson, 80 acres, Sept. 17, 1835. Jacoh B. Smith, 80 acres, Sept. 29, 1835. James Mosher, 80 acres, Nov. 7, 1835. Lorenzo D. Crippen and Pbilo HI. Crippen, 80 acres, July 19, 1836. John Terwilliger, 80 acres, Oct. 15, 1835. Lyman Conerse, 40 acres, Oct. 19, 1835. Lyman Conerse, 40 acres, Oct. 19, 1835. Daniel Parsons, 40 acres, Nov. 17, 1835. Thomas V. Ladd, 40 acres, Nov. 21, 1835. O. S. Van Derheyden, 40 acres, Dec. 12, 1835.
O. S. Van Derheyden, 10 acres, Dec. 12, 1835. L. D. and P. Il. Crippen, 80 acres, Jan. 21, 1836. Philo H. Crippen, 80 acres, Jan. 22, 1836.
Benj. Huntington, 40 acres, May 16, 1836. Jonathan Jackson, 40 acres, Feh. 10, 1837. Philo H. Crippen, 40 acres, March 28, 1836. Henry McConnell, 80 acres, Oct. 12, 1835. John Pearsall, 80 acres, Oct. 21, 1835. Henry McConnell, 80 acres, Oct. 29, 1835. Lyman Sherman, 80 acres, Oct. 31, 1835. Robert Patrick, 80 acres, Oct. 31, 1835. John Pearsall, 80 acres, Nov. 6, 1835. Alvin B. Iland, 80 acres, Jan. 15, 1836. Bradley Crippen, 80 acres, May 18, 1836. Ilenry McConnell, 80 acres, Oct. 12, 1835. John Pearsall, 80 acres, Oct. 21, 1835. John Hopkins, 80 acres, Oct. 31, 1835. William Johnson, 40 acres, Nov. 6, 1835. Thomas Armstrong, 80 acres, April 23, 1836. John O. Pelton, 80 acres, March 9, 1837. Ilenry McConnell, 40 acres, June 12, 1837. Walter H. Pelton, 40 acres, Nov. 17, 1852. Walter H. Pelton, 40 acres, Nov. 17, 1852. Peter Fox, 40 acres, Dec. 13, 1852.
During the early settlement of the township, the pres- ence of the Indian was not uncommon, several bands of the Pottawattamies still continuing to roam the forests and plant their wigwams within sight of their white neighbors. They kept up a regular system of trading with the settlers, and gradually became very familiar in their intercourse with them. A very vivid recollection of this tribe is retained by the older residents of the township, who did much in the way of barter with them.
The chief of these bands was Sau-au-quette, who ex- ercised a most imperious sway over his followers, which was the more galling from the fact that the position of hereditary chief was never conceded to him, and few of the tribe regarded him other than as a nsurper. The fear that this chief inspired, and the arrogance with which he wielded the dictatorial power he had assumed, inspired a desire on the part of the bands to rid themselves of the yoke of bondage he had fastened upon them. This disaffection was height- ened by the fact that he had been a leading spirit in the treaty which had ceded their lands to the government, and the additional fact that he was a member of the tribe of the Ottawas. One of the older settlers describes him as a man of majestic mien and commanding presence, possessing a will that acknowledged no superior, and a firm conviction that he was born to rule. With a few members of his own tribe he was spending a brief time among the bands in the vicinity, and had located his encampment just northwest of the city.
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