USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 60
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Luther Stiles in the fall of 1836, in partnership with Morris Crater, began the construction of a saw-mill, which was finished in February, 1837. This was the first mill erected in the township, and stood upon the site of the present old mill, known as the Tompkins saw-mill. During the year 1837, Stiles sold out his one-half interest in the mill to Crater, and removed from the township.
Morris Crater came from Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., and arrived in the township " the day after the Fourth of July, I did," 1836. He purchased lands upon section 13, but after a period of about five years he sold out and removed to his present residence in Quincy township.
Asahel Brown, for many years the one prominent man among all others in the township, came from Monroe Co., N. Y., and settled in Lenawee Co., Mich., in 1832, where he remained for about four years, when, having purchased 800 acres of the government, situated upon sections 31, 32, and 33, he removed his family to their present location, July 3, 1836. His purchase was largely composed of burr- oak openings, easily brought into cultivation, and being the possessor of two strong yoke of oxen, seed, and the neces- sary amount of capital, which he had gained by the sale of his property in Lenawee, he was enabled to plow and sow to wheat forty acres during the fall of 1836. He was the first supervisor of the township, and was re-elected, and served in that capacity for a period of twenty-one years. He also represented Branch County in the State Legislature and in constitutional conventions, reference to which is more particularly made in a biographical sketch accompany- ing his portrait.
John Ackerson, who purchased the first land upon sec- tion 22, came from the southern part of Ohio, and settled a few weeks later than Mr. Brown. His son Abraham and an adopted daughter, Katy, were the first to be married in the township. They were married by Samuel Beach in the spring of 1837.
In September, 1836, Ezra S. E. Brainard, accompanied by his wife and two small children, started from Gaines- ville, Wyoming Co. (then Genesee Co.), N. Y., and with an ox-team and wagon drove to Buffalo; from thence to Detroit the journey was accomplished by steamboat ; then with the same team and wagon to John Ackerson's house,
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE ASAHEL BROWN, ALGANSEE, MICHIGAN.
-
241
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
where he arrived Oet. 7, 1836. Ilis family remained under Mr. Ackerson's roof for five or six weeks, or until he could put up a log dwelling on the 80 acres at present occupied by him. Thomas Pratt, a brother-in-law of Mr. Brainard, had visited Michigan in the spring of 1836, and bought of the government two 80-acre lots, upon section 33, one for himself and one for Brainard.
Mr. Pratt settled in the township about six weeks later than Mr. Brainard.
Jesse Craft and his step-son, James Nichols, came in during the same season, and sowed wheat upon section 29. But they did not settle permanently until the spring of 1837.
David Tift came from Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1831, and settled first near Saline, Washtenaw Co., Mich., where he remained until the summer of 1836, when he removed to Kinderhook, in this county. In the fall of the same year he sold out to John Waterhouse, purchased of the govern- ment 160 acres situated upon section 29 of this township, and became a permanent resident soon after. Ile died at the age of fifty-three years. During the war of the Rebel- lion, five sons, viz., Allison A., Albert J., Horace, Jerome B., and Roswell D., served in the Union army. Horace, a member of the 5th Michigan Cavalry, was starved to death in the Andersonville prison-pen.
The year 1837 witnessed the arrival and settlement of Leonard Nelson upon section 13, Almon Nichols upon sec- tion 25, Nathan Austin upon section 32, Horace Purdy upon sections 28 and 29, and Isaac George upon sections 19, 28, and 29.
During the year 1838 the settlement was still further increased in numbers by the settlement of John Vander- hoff and Eli Gray, upon section 6. Seth E. Hanchett and Samuel B. Hanchett, brothers, upon section 9; Barney Smith, seetion 13; Andrew Crater, a brother of Morris, section 15; Jasper Underhill, seetion 31 ; Daniel Bickford, section 29 ; S. L. Bradley, section 25 ; II. Hildreth, section 25; Thomas Goodman, section 22; Jesse Doyle, upon sce- tion 35, aud George Tift.
Among other quite early residents who settled in subse- quent years were Jonathan Bovee, Roswell J. Hayward, Jesse Doyle, Asel Withey, John Kenyon, Jonathan K. Bickford, Charles Bickford, James Nichols, Benjamin Craig, Ralph Bailey, Samuel T. Fales, Ebenezer Adams, C. T. Goodman, Sylvenus Clark, Harrison Scott, Carlton V. Clark, Benjamin Hobbs, Sylvester Caufield, Nathaniel Fisher, Erastus Bradley, Thomas Clark, William M. Clark, Thomas Clark, Jr., Samuel M. Dennison, John Whitney, D. J. Sprague, John P. Pettibone, William Hlouek, and Orton Hoxie.
Thomas Clark, a soldier of 1812, accompanied by five sons and three daughters, came from Erie Co., N. Y., in 1833, and settled first near Amden's Corners, now Bellvue, Ohio, where he remained three years. He then removed to Lagrange, Ind., and remained five years.
In 1841, William, one of the sons, settled at Fisher's Corners, in Algansee township. The following year the father and Thomas, Jr., came into the township. Thomas, Jr., worked for Nathaniel Fisher one year, and at the ex- piration of his time was assigned to take for his pay forty
acres of land, where Samuel II. Keeler now resides. In 1851 he sold out his farm and removed to Reading, Hills- dale Co., where he opened the first store in 1854. After a short residence in Van Buren County, he removed to Quiney village in 1860, and for some years was engaged in keeping an eating-house, also a drug-store, which he traded for the Barnes farm. Two years later he traded his farm for the hotel property where he now resides. lle built his present commodious hotel, " The Quincy House," in 1877, which supplies a want long needed in that thriving village.
Francis D. Ransom, the first settler upon the four see- tions which comprise the northeast corner of the township, came from Elbridge, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and located where he at present resides, in 1842. His nearest neighbor on the north, for some years, was John S. Belote. John H. Ransom, a brother, settled south of him in 1847. Jason, another brother, had visited Michigan in 1836, and purchased lands upon section 2, but did not settle until years later. Daniel Ransom, a fourth brother, settled in the same vicinity in April, 1842. He was killed in July following, by a tree falling upon him.
Samuel II. Keeler, from Sterling, Cayuga Co., N. Y., settled upon his present place of residence in 1852, pur- chasing of Thomas Clark.
Dr. James A. Williams, the first resident physician in the township, came from Conquest, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and settled where he now resides in 1854. Ile is an honored and respected citizen in the community of which he is a member. He has served his townsmen as super- visor for a period of ten years, the county as superintendent of schools, and two terms in the State Legislature.
Isaac George built the first framed house. Frederick T. Gallup the first brick house, in 1873. Aaron Hall opened the first store, in 1878.
The Wakeman steam saw-mill was ereeted by John and his son, Eli Wakeman, in 1854. They came from Huron Co., Ohio.
The grist-mill now in operation and adjoining the saw- mill, was ereeted by Eli and his son, Mortimer B. Wake- man, in 1878, at a cost of $5000. The structure is com- modious, fitted up with the best and latest improved machinery, and supplies a want long needed in the town- ship. As a comparison between the present condition of affairs and forty years ago, we here make mention of Mr. Andrew Crater's milling experience.
About 1840, grist-mills were few and at long distances from many of the settlements. The farmers had been blessed with an abundant harvest, grain was cheap, and the millers were unwilling to do work and receive for their pay the customary toll; they could make more money by flouring grain for shipment to distant markets. As a result of their cupidity, many of them combined and refused to do grinding for those living near them until such time as suited their convenience, or a lack of orders for flour to be sent abroad permitted. Many neighbors had visited the nearest mills only to return with their grists unground. It became a matter of necessity to Mr. Crater that he should have some flour and meal, and he determined to have it. In the carly part of the week he placed in his
31
242
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
wagon some thirty bushels of wheat, eorn, and buckwheat, aud, with an ox-team which he was wintering for their work, departed, after telling his family that he should not return until his grain was converted into flour. He pro- eeeded to Coldwater, then to Branch and to Girard, but was refused at each mill in succession. IIe then journeyed on to Union City, where he met with partial success, the miller refusing to grind the wheat and corn, but not the buckwheat. On his return homeward, and when crossing a bridge over the stream which connects Bartholomew and Middle Lakes, at three o'eloek Sunday morning, his team and wagon broke through. But, as the bridge, a log struc- ture, rose but three or four feet above the bed of the stream, he was enabled, by throwing aside the logs, to ex- tricate his team, wagon, and precious load in safety, and finally reached home all right, after an absence of some five or six days.
CIVIL HISTORY.
By an act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, approved April 2, 1838, Algansee was formed from Quiney township. The aet was as follows :
" All that portion of the county of Brauch designated in the United States survey as townships Nos. 7 and S south, of range No. 5 west, be and the same is hereby set off aud organized into a separate township, by the name of Algansee, and the first towuship-meeting shall be held at the house of Horace Purdy in said township."
The inhabitants, in their petition when asking for the formation of a new township, sent forward the name of Carlton as the one which,best suited them. But, for some unexplained reason, the august legislative body which then represented the State seleeted its present name, Algansee. Its significance is unknown.
California-township S south, range 5 west-was set off as a separate township March 25, 1846.
First Township- Meetings .- The first township-meeting for the election of officers was held, as ordered, at the house of Horace Purdy, early in May, 1838. But the records of this meeting, as well as of subsequent meetings to 1843, inclusive, cannot be found.
Officers Elected in 1844 .- Asahel Brown, Supervisor ; Ezra S. E. Brainard, Township Clerk ; Samuel Beach, Jus- tice of the Peace; George Monlux, Treas. ; James H. Lawrence, Jonathan K. Bickford, Samuel B. Hanchett, Highway Commissioners ; Benjamin Hobbs, J. T. Bailey, School Inspectors ; Ira Cass, Morris Crater, Directors of the Poor ; C. T. Goodman, S. Jordan, James McNitt, Con- stables ; Morris Crater, Asahel Brown, J. W. Lawrence, Jr., Joseph T. Reynolds, S. L. Bradley, Andrew Crater, S. P. Bronson, James T. Bailey, John Vanderhoof. Cyrus Gillett, David Tift, Stephen Noble, Johu Kinyon, William G. Seott, Jesse Doyle, Harvey Brockway, James Craig, Nathaniel Fisher, S. Jordan, Jr., Samuel Beach, Nehemiah Boss, Overseers of Highways.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The following is a list of the supervisors, township clerks, and treasurers, from 1838 to 1878, inelusive :
1838. Asahel Brown.
Supervisors. Township Clerks. Jasper l'uderhill. George Monlux.
IS39. ..
.. ..
Supervisors.
1840. Asahel Brown.
1841.
=
1842.
1843.
1844.
1845.
1846.
..
Jasper Underhill.
Ezra S. E. Brainardl.
1847.
..
..
..
1848. 6€
Erastus Bradley.
16
1849.
=
Robert Magden. ..
1850.
=
1851.
=
Benjamin Hobbs.
1852. Lyman Witter.
Lemuel Pratt.
1853. Asahel Brown.
Abijab Mosber.
Isaac F. Camp.
1855. 14
1856. Asahel Brown.
=
Nathan Nivison.
1858. Erastus Bradley.
1859.
1860. ¥
=
Henry Walhridge.
Levi P. Fuller.
1861. Asahel Brown.
1862.
1863.
Nathan Nivison.
Ezra S. E. Brainard.
1864.
16
Mahlon W. Brainard.
1865. James A. Williams. Lorenzo Reynolds.
1866.
..
1867.
1868.
Levi P. Fuller.
=
1870.
.
.€
46
1871.
1572. James A. Williams.
46
1873.
46
..
1875.
16
IS76.
..
06
46
.4
..
1877. $4
1878. Sereno Bradley.
Roswell D. Tift. Levi A. Shumway.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1844. Samuel Beach.
1860. Franklin Roundy.
1845. Asahel Brown.
1861. Asahel Brown.
F. D. Ransom. 1862. William Tihhitta.
1846. Nathaniel Fisher. 1863. Francis D. Ransom. Willis Potter.
D. J. Sprague.
1847. Sturgis L. Bradley. 1864. Samuel II. Keeler.
1848. D. J. Sprague. 1865. Asabel Brown.
1849. Asahel Brown. 1866. Sereno Bradley.
1850. John P. Pettibone. 1867. Francis D. Ransom.
1851. S. L. Bradley. S. B. Hanchett.
1868. James 11. Stowe.
William Tibbitts. Almon W. Thorp, Jr.
1852. William Tibbitts. 1869. Samuel 11. Keeler.
1853. Asahel Brown. 1870. Joseph Poats.
1854. Robert Magden. 1871. Francis D. Ransom.
1855. Erastus Bradley.
1872. James HI. Stowe.
1856. James Waterbury. James A. Williams.
1873. Samuel H. Keeler.
1874. Joel Barnes.
1857. Asahel Brown.
1875. Francis D. Ransom.
William Tibbitts.
1876. Joseph Wilmarth.
1858. William Tibbitts.
1877. Samuel HI. Keeler.
1878. Albert G. Barnes.
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONEnS.
1844. James H. Lawrence. Jonathan K. Bickford. Seth B. Hanchett.
1845. Samuel B. Ilanchett.
1848. Nathaniel Fisher.
Jonathan K. Biekford.
1849. John Whitney.
1850. Jonathan K. Bickford.
William Honck.
Benjamin Hobbs.
1852. William M. Clark.
44
1854. James Underhill.
1857.
James Underhill.
46
66
Charles J. Underhill. Robert Crawford.
1869. Erastus Bradley.
Olney W. Draper.
..
James R. Crawford. Robert Crawford. Mort. B. Wakeman.
1874. 66
1859. Francis D. Ransom.
1847. Jonathan K. Bickford. Benjamin Hobbs.
Sylvester Canfield.
Treasurers. Talcott Mervin.
Township Clerks. Jasper Underhill. Ezra S. E. Brainard.
Treasurers. George Monlux.
=
€6
1846. Jonathan K. Biekford.
Eli Wakeman.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN JOSEPH , ALGANSEE, MICH.
RESIDENCE OF F. T. GALLUP, ALGANSEE, MICH.
2.43
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1853. Carlton Clark.
1864. Orton lloxie.
1854. Orton Hoxie. D. S. Silliman.
John Rassell.
Joel Campbell.
1855. Joel Campbell.
1865. Samuel II. Keeler.
1856. Calvin V. Clark.
Is66. Thomas Nixon.
1807. Orton Hoxie.
1858. Orton lloxie.
1868. Jonathan K. Bickford.
1858. Ezra S. E. Brainard.
1869. George Briggs.
1859. Ezra S. E. Brainard.
Samuel HI. Kecher.
1871. Thomas Nixon.
Harrison Craig.
1872. Benjamin Colver.
1860. David Rhoades.
1873. Orton lloxie.
1861. Cornelius Streoter.
1874-77. Thomas Nixon.
1862. Lyman Witter.
1878. Stephen Knecht.
1863. Willis Potter.
A town-hall was erceted upon section 16 in 1877, at a cost of $600.
STATISTICAL-1837 vs. 1874.
Algansee residents of 1837, showing their location by sections, the number of acres owned, and the number and kind of live-stock possessed by cach at that date :
Leonard Nelson, section 25, 40 acres, two cows.
Almon Nichols, section 25, 160 acres, two oxen.
Ludovico Robbins, sections 15 and 22, 560 acres, three cows, two oxen, one horse.
Morris Crater, section 13, 80 acres, one-half saw-mill.
Luther Stiles, section 9, 240 acres, one-half saw-mill.
Asnhel Brown, sections 31, 32, and 33, 800 acres, threo cows, four oxen, two horses.
Nathan Austin, section 32, 80 acres, one cow, two oxen.
Thomas Pratt, seetion 33, 80 acres, one cow, one ox.
Ezra S. E. Brainard, section 33, 80 acres, two cows, one o.x.
Horace Purdy, sections 28 and 29, 200 aeres.
Isaac George, sections 19, 28, and 30, 230 acres, three cows, two oxen, two horses.
Jesso Craft, section 29, 80 acres, two cows.
James Nichols, section 29, 40 acres, two oxen.
David Tift, section 29, 160 acres, two cows, two horses.
The foregoing list comprises all who were resident land- owners in the township at the period before mentioned.
During the year 1838 the following additional names, together with those just mentioned, appear upon the first assessment-roll of Algansec township :
John Vanderhoff, scetion 6, 73 acres, two cows, two oxen.
Eli Gray, scetion 6, 80 acres.
Seth E. Hanchett, scetion 9, 125 acres, one cow, two oxen.
- Samuel B. Hanchett, section 9, 125 acres, two oxen. Barney Smith, section 13, 160 acres, one eow, two oxen.
Andrew Crater, section 15, 80 acres.
George Tift, one cow.
Jasper Underhill, section 31, 80 acres, two cows, two oxen.
Daniel Bickford, seetion 29, 80 acres, two eows, four oxen, two horses.
Horace Purdy, sections 28 and 29, 160 acres, six cows, two oxen, two horses.
Abram Ackerson, section 20, 80 aeres, one cow, one horse.
S. L. Bradley, 80 acres.
11. Hildreth, section 25, 40 acres, one cow.
- Thomas Goodman, section 22, 80 acres, three cows, two oxen. Jesse Doyle, section 35, 80 acres, one cow, two oxen.
187.1.
Population .. 1,491
Total area (acres) 22,740
Acres of wheat growing June, 1874. 3.126
corn 2,130
31,217
81,321
uther grain harvested, 1873 29,216
potatoes raised, 1873 11,115
Tons hay housed. 1873
2,317
Pounds wool sheared, 1873. $0,236
.. pork marketed, 1873.
118,575
cheese made, 1873 300
46 butter made, 1873.
47,680
fruit dried for market. 1873.
31,657
Barrels cider made, 1873
Gallons wine made, 1873. 600
Pounds maple-sugar, 1874. 7,225
Acres devoted to fruits. 976
Value of fruit product, 1872
$11.000
lorses over one year old, 1874
10
38
Milch cows.
1,230
Cattle over one year old, other than milch cows and oxen
2.341
Swine over six months
2,560
Shecp
3,126
Sheep sheared, 1873.
2,559
The township has uo village. Algansee, a post-office station, is situated in the southern part, eight miles south of Quiney village.
The road-bed of the proposed Mansfield, Coldwater, and Lake Michigan Railroad crosses the extreme southwest corner.
SCHOOLS.
It is probable that the first school in the township was taught by Miss Jane Woodard, in the summer of 1838, in a small log shanty, which stood near the present residence of Wesley Merritt. Among her pupils were Mrs. Emily Barnes, Alonzo George, Roswell D. Tift, Erial Purdy, Mrs. Erial Purdy, Alexander Purdy, Mary Underhill, and Wes- ley Brown, all of whom are living at the present time.
The first school-house, a log structure, was built near Asahel Brown's residence in 1843. Mr. Ezra S. E. Brain- ard was an early teacher in this house, also Miss Sarah Beach.
At a meeting of the board of school inspectors held May 16, 1846, certificates to teach primary schools were granted Misses Arvilla H. Clark, Silena Hard, Mary L. Beach, and Eliza Ann Bryant. Benjamin Hobbs was designated as the one to visit schools during the year. At the same meeting the following apportionment of school moneys was made :
Whole amount on haod. $33.17
To District No. 3. 1 scholars. 12.77
.. " 10. 19 5,89
46
6. 21
6.51
.. 7,27 8.00
$33.17
School statisties for the year ending Sept. 2, 1878 : whole districts, 9; fractional, 2. Children of school age residing in the township, 473 ; children attending school during the year, 430. School-houses in the township, 11,-brick, I ; framed, 10. Seating capacity of school-houses, 621. Value of school property, $8800. Male teachers employed during the year, 8; female, 14. Aggregate number of months taught by males, 29; by females, 49. Paid male teachers, $765 ; female, 8588.20.
Receipts .- Total resources from moneys on hand Sept. 3, 1877, two-mill tax, primary-school fund, district taxes for all purposes, and raised from all other sources, $2864.24.
Expenditures .- Teachers' wages, 81353.20 ; building and repairs, $336.17 ; on bonded indebtedness, 8901.80 ; for all other purposes, $129.07 ; amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878, $122.26.
1,045
1857. Jonathan K. Bickford.
1870. Orion Iloxie.
1,263
Muleg
Work oxen.
Bashels wheat harvested, 1873. corn
244
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
As early as 1838 the Methodists held religious services at the house of Andrew Crater. Their preachers were Revs. Roswell Parker, Peter Sabin, and James Clizbe. Among the members of the first class were Jesse Craft, who was an exhorter, David Tift and his wife, and Mrs. Asahel Brown.
The present society of the North Algansee Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1854 or 1855, as part of the Quincy charge, Rev. Isaac S. French pastor, and their meetings for several years were held in the Fisher school-house.
In 1870 a commodious church edifice was erected. It is a brick structure, has sittings for 300 people, and cost with furniture, furnaces, etc., complete, $4400. C. B. Newton was the builder. The church site of 98 square rods was donated by Samuel II. Keeler.
The society forms part of the Quiney charge at the present time. Rev. C. C. Olds, pastor.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
At a meeting of certain members of the Baptist Church of Quincy, held at the Jordou school-house, Dec. 29, 1855, it was unanimously resolved to request letters from the Quincy Church for the purpose of organizing a church in Algansee. In pursuance of the same, letters were granted to the following-named members, viz. : Francis D. Ransom, Phares Chittenden, Jason L. Ransom, John H. Ransom, John Ransom, Zebina G. Trim, Joel Campbell, David Hill- man, John C. Perring, Benjamin Bishop, Amos Hough, Peter Leighton, Nathan Leighton, Speneer Cory, John Cory, Henry W. Waterbury, James A. Ransom, William W. Potter, David Robb, and sisters C. Ransom, L. Chit- tenden, C. Ransom, H. Ransom, U. Trim, M. Campbell, H. Hillman, L. Perring, L. Bishop, O. Hough, S. Jordon, L. Fisher, O. Cory, S. A. Barber, J. A. Ransom, Margaret Hillman, M. Hoxie, and L. Robb. This organization was first styled the Second Baptist Church. At the first cove- nant-meeting Francis D. Ransom was chosen deacon, and Phares Chittenden church clerk. The church was recog- nized March 13, 1856, by a council of ministers and dele- gates, representing the First Quincy, Second Quiney, First Algansce, Reading, Ovid, and Butler Churches ; Rev. Truman Burroughs presided as moderator, and D. B. Pur- rinton served as clerk.
Rev. Trumau Burroughs, the first pastor, came soon after the organization was effected, and preached one-half the time. He was followed by Elder Philo Forbes, who remained about two years. Other pastors were Revs. B. MeLouth, who came in 1858; G. Terry as a supply ; W. N. Welker, January, 1861 ; Truman Burroughs, Decer- ber, 1862, who remained until January, 1866; then Elders Schofield, Conover, and Prentice as supply ; R. W. Lock- hart, January, 1868; H. K. Simpson, January, 1870; E. M. Ney, January, 1871 ; W. M. Welker, August, 1873; W. B. Chapel, January, 1877 ; R. P. Jones, present pas- tor, April, 1878.
A church edifice was erected in 1868 at a cost of $2000. It has sittings for 200 people. Present membership, 56. Scholars in Sabbath-school, 56. Cornelius W. Myers, Sab- bath-school Superintendent.
DISBANDED BAPTIST CHURCHES.
In 1840 or 1841, a Baptist society was organized in the east part of the town. Their usual place of meeting was at the house of Nathaniel Fisher, and at one time they numbered about 40 members. Among them were Na- thaniel Fisher, wife, and three daughters; Ebenezer Kelly and wife, James Waterbury and two daughters, John Kinyon and wife, the elder Mrs. Reynolds, Seneca Can- field and wife, Horace Avery and wife, Samuel Cory and wife, and Deacon Lewis and wife.
The First Baptist Church of Algansee was organized in 1854. Their meetings were held in the Wakeman sehool- house. Nathan Nivison and wife, Ebenezer Kelly and wife, James Dewitt and wife, William Hungerford and wife, James Waterbury and daughters were constituent members of the society. It was disbanded after an exist- ence of about twelve years.
CEMETERIES.
The first burial-ground iu the township was upon grounds owned by Jasper Underhill, and the first interment therein was a child of Underhill's. After some years the bodies were removed to the present cemetery, situated upon see- tion 30.
The North Algansee Cemetery Association was incor- porated in 1856, with Andrew Crater, Samuel B. Han- chett, Sydney W. Snyder, Lyman B. Robbins, John Streeter, J. Wright, Cornelius Streeter, Francis D. Ran- som, and John Joseph as members. Samuel B. Hanchett, President ; Samuel H. Keeler, Clerk. The inclosure con- tains 13 acres, and is situated upon section 10. The first interment was that of the body of Mrs. H. D. Her- mance.
In the preparation of Algansee township history we have received much valuable information and the greatest cour- tesy from Messrs. Andrew Crater, Morris Crater, Ezra S. E. Brainard, Roswell D. Tift, Francis D. Ransom, Phares Chittenden, Samuel H. Keeler, Mortimer B. Wakeman, Mrs. Asahel Brown, Mrs. Jane Tift, and others, to all of whom we take this manner of returning our sincere thanks.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
D. L. GRAY.
This gentleman, one of the prominent citizens and pioneers of Algansee, is descended from good old Revolu- tionary stock. His grandfather, Robert Gray, was a native of Pelham, Mass., and served with distinction throughout that sanguinary struggle. At the elose of the war he set- tled in Ashfield, Mass., where the father of our subject was born. He reared a family of eight children, Betsey, Lydia, Sarah, May, Darwin L., Jerome, Ralph, and Edwin. In 1827 the elder Gray emigrated with his family to Wash- tenaw County, where he remained eight years, when they removed to Toledo. After a residence of two years there, they came to Branch County and settled in Algansee,
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