USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 71
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These Indians drew a pension from the British Govern- ment for services rendered during the war of 1812, and made an annual pilgrimage to Canada to draw their annuity. In the month of August, 1837, a party of them were returning home from this annual pilgrimage, and camped for the night near the present residence of James Taylor, in Batavia. A party of whites, consisting of Morgan, Lyman, and Lauriston Smead, Hezekiah Terry, and Philip Ohinstead, had been to Coldwater, to Cross & Holbrook's store, for a keg of whisky to use while cutting hay on the marshes. They were in a lumber-wagon, and coming along the Chicago road, on their way home, saw the light of' the Indian camp-fires, and the shadow-like figures of the dusky aborigines flitting to and fro before them. Terry, who was a new-comer, and curious to learn all about the Indians and their ways, proposed that they should stop and see them for a while. So they all alighted, hitched the team, and went forward to the camp-fire. While they were conversing with them, the Indians, who had in some way learned that there was whisky in the vicinity, asked the
whites for some of their much-loved " fire-water," and were each given a small drink from the keg. All then returned to the camp, and the visitors stood by looking at the squaws as they prepared the food for their evening meal. All was apparently quiet and peaceful, when suddenly Olmstead, who was leaning against a tree, felt something strike his side, followed by a sharp pain. Looking around, he saw that an Indian had struck him with a knife, penetrating his clothes and inflicting a slight cut in his side. Instantly a battle began, in which fists, clubs, and knives were freely used, and in which the whites were victorious, driving their enemies from the field. Terry especially distinguished himself by his activity and prowess. At the close of the engagement the whites mounted their vehicle and proceeded to their homes. Benjamin Olmstead, of Batavia, visited the camp the next morning, and he described the Indians as very much demoralized and badly punished. The In- dians seemed to have a good sense of justice, and never held a grudge against any one for a punishment justly inflicted upon them. This is illustrated by the case of an Indian who went to the house of Mrs. Corwin, at Mason- ville, and asked for something to eat. Mrs. Corwin refused his request, telling him that what little food she had she needed for her own and her children's use. He grew angry at this, and telling her that he would have it, began search- ing for it. Mrs. Corwin ran across the road to Mr. Stewart's for help, and Morgan Smead, who had just driven up, went over to see to the matter. He found the Indian with his head and shoulders in the cupboard, and his position being very favorable, made a very effective attack upon him, pun- ishing him severely before he succeeded in making his escape. Some time after, he again met the same Indian, who, to show his friendly feelings, made him a present of some pewter finger-rings,-ornaments which the Indians were fond of wearing and which they highly prized. A few years later, these Indians were removed to their reser- vation in the Indian Territory.
In the fall of 1835 some of the settlers clubbed together to buy salt for the purpose of putting down their yearly supply of meat, and sent a man with a team of horses to bring it from Detroit. He came back with a load of eight barrels, which cost the settlers ten dollars a barrel.
The scarcity of wheat was greatest in 1835-36, when it sold for two dollars a bushel. In 1842 it was the lowest it ever has been here, being drawn to Coldwater and sold for two shillings and sixpence per bushel.
Among the later settlers was William T. Ammerman, who came from Chesterfieldl, Fulton Co., O., and, after living two years in Ovid, settled, in January, 1853, on the fine farm he now owns, in the east part of the town. In addi- tion to the important town offices to which he has been elected, he has held the office of notary public for twenty- four years, and has always been foremost in all enterprises tending to advance the interests of the town and of its citizens.
Another was William Bradway, a settler of 1842, who is still living in town on a fine farm in section 9.
The town of Bethel is designated in the United States survey as town 7 south, range 7 west, and comprises a ter- ritory six miles square, bounded north by Batavia, cast by
285
HISTORY OF BRANCHI COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Ovid, south by Gilead, and west by Bronson. It was originally pretty evenly divided between timbered lands and openings. The timber lands extended in a strip nearly three miles wide from near the northeast corner of the town to the south line in section 34. Another strip, about a mile and a half wide, started from a point a little west of the centre and extended west into the town of Bronson. The rest of the town was either timbered or burr-oak openings. The timbered openings lay nearest the water-courses, and in the eastern part, along the State road. The burr-oak opening on section 16 has before been men- tioned as Snow Prairie. Another, on section 31, is locally known as Kane's Prairie. The best lands in the town are in the southwest part. The land along the course of Swan Creek was quite marshy, and was bordered with tamarack. Back from this was a light growth of black-oak timber. The surface of the ground is generally level or gently undulating, with a little land of a more rolling nature in the east centre of the town, along the State road. The soil on the open- ings is a sandy or gravelly loam, and on the timbered lands it is a rich black loam, often somewhat intermingled with clay. The subsoil is a heavy blue clay of a great depth. The soil is fertile, easily worked, and suited to the cultiva- tion of general crops. It is quite stony in some places, mostly on the timbered land.
At the time of settlement the marsh lands constituted about one-sixth of the area of the town, but by the clear- ing of land, the removal of obstructions in the form of fallen and decayed timber, and the improved system of drainage, a large share of these have been reclaimed, or are now undergoing a process that will eventually fit them for cultivation. Though some parts of the town are still com- paratively new, Bethel is not greatly behind the other towns of the county in the value of its lands or the amount of erops annually produced.
The principal stream is Swan Creek, which forms the outlet of Cary's Lake, the southern portion of which ex- tends a little into this town. The ereck enters the town at the northeast corner of seetion 4, runs in a semicircular course, and, after a brief détour in Batavia, passes into Bronson half a mile south of the town line. Stony Creek is its principal tributary in this town. Prairie River crosses the southwest corner of the town, touching sections 30, 32, and 33. It is sometimes called flog Creek, but, we are led to think, incorrectly. A small part of Bingham Lake lies in section 25 in this town. There are three small lakes in the north part of the town, the largest being in section 4, and bearing the name of Smead's Lake. They are all about 30 or 40 feet deep, and have a mucky bottom. The waters have lowered considerably since the lands of the vicinity have been better drained, and there is firm, tillable ground now on the very sites where the first settlers used to anchor their boats to fish.
Of the canses which led to and the steps takeu to bring about the organization of the town we are left in ignorance. The name " Elizabeth" was selected, and it is thought most probable that this name was selected by Moses Olmstead, and that the name was taken from that of the town of the same name in New Jersey. It was erected into a separate township under that name by the Legislature of 1836-37,
and the first town-meeting was held in accordance with the provisions of the act. The following transcript of the records shows what transpired at that time :
FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
" At a meeting held at the house of Moses Omstead, being the first township-meeting for the township of Elizabeth, for the purpose of electing officers for the year 1837, Monday, April 3, 1837 :
"Elijah Thomas was elected Moderator ; David M. Clark and Silas S. Green, Clerks ; Isnac Freeman, David Cummings, Assistant Judges.
" The following were elected by ballot to serve as officers for the ensuing year : Elijah Thomas, Supervisor; David M. Clark, Town- ship Clerk ; David M. Clark, Ebenezer Green, Daniel Smead, Asses- sors ; Isaac Freeman, Moses Omstead, Jr .. Loreston? Smead, Com- missioners of Highways; Stephen McMillan, David Cummings, Elijah Thomas, David M. Clark, Justices of the Peace : Morgan Smead, David M. Clark, Elijah Thomas, School Inspectors; Moses Omstend, Sr., Daniel Stend, Overseers of the Poor; Philip Omstead, Constable and Collector ; Morgan Johnston, O. Dickinson, Constables; Samuel Handy, Stephen McMillan, James Thurston, and Elijah Thomas, Moses Omstead, Overseers of Highways.
(Attested.) " DAVID M. CLARK. Flere. "S. S. GREEN.
" ELIJAH THOMAS, Supt. " DAVID M. CLARK, T. C. " EBENEZER GREEN. " ISAAC FREEMAN."
On the 10th of April the justices met and cast lots to determine their respective terms of office. The result will be seen by referring to the civil list published else- where.
September 22 a caveus was held " at the house of the widow omstead, for the purpose of sending Two delegates to the convention at Taylor's tavern." Sanmel Fowler was chairman, and Elijah Thomas secretary of the meet- ing. Elijah Thomas and David M. Clark were the dele- gates selected.
The following extract from the town records shows a rather curious way that people then had of surmounting difficulties met in the work of conducting elections. It reads : " Augt Notifyd the Township for an election for a Representative to Congress, to be held at the widow omsteads. the Supervisor being sick, and not sufficient officers to form a board, whereupon said election was dis- continued."
The town raised $75 by tax " to meet all Expences and charges against the Township" for the year 1837-38; and even this sum was found too large to be all expended, for the bills audited amouted to but $50.373.
The first general election occurred on the 6th and 7th days of November, 1837. The polls were held open for two days,-the first day at the widow Ohinstead's house, and the second day at the house of David M. Clark. Ebenezer Green, Stephen McMillan, and David M. Clark were the inspectors of election, and Samuel Handy and Silas S. Green were the clerks. Notwithstanding this formidable array of officials, and the length of time consumed, the vote polled was not exceedingly heavy. For the office of Gov- ernor, Stevens T. Mason received 18 votes, and Charles C. Trowbridge received 11 votes. On the other officers voted for, the vote was about the same.
The Legislature in 1838-39 changed the name of the town, and called it Bethel. The reasons for the change, as
* Lauriston.
286
IIISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
well as the derivation of the new name, are not known, though it is said it was brought about mainly through the efforts and influence of David M. Clark.
There were many applications presented to the town board for licenses to keep tavern by the settlers in differ- ent localities during the four or five years following the erection of the town. In 1840 the board refused to license Benoni Burch and Perez A. Tisdall. April 23, 1842, they licensed "John Painter and Timothy Van Voltain- burgh" to keep publie-houses, but made a proviso that they were " not to sell ardint spirrets." This policy does not, however, seem to have been in accord with the wishes of the people, or else their views met with a radical change, for at the town-meeting held April 5, 1847, a vote was taken on the question with the following result : for lieense, 61 votes; against license, 10 votes.
The following table, compiled from the census returns of 1838 and 1874, tends to show the material growth of the town during the first forty years of its existence :
1838.
1874. 1,348
Neat stock
167 1,424+
Wheat, bu. raised. 945
28,587
Ilogs
152
1,401
Corn,
1518
55,352
Sheep
2,415
Oats,
1188 )
11,732#
Milch cows
684
Ilorses
37
600
Work oxen
40
Iu this connection we will also mention that the equal- ized assessed valuation of the real estate in Bethel is about $200,000, and that the total amount of taxes for the year 1878 was $4437.58. Of this amount $1306.87 were raised for school purposes, and $924 66 for town purposes, includ- ing $154.66 for building drains.
In 1857 steps were taken towards building a town-house, and $200 were voted for that purpose. It was not com- pleted till the fall of 1859, and was built by Leverett Keyes for the sum of $369.75. The site selected was on the Cranson road, eighty rods west of the centre of the town, and the building committee consisted of Calvin J. Dart, James Gallap, and Samuel Fowler, under whose supervision the building was planned and built. This building is still used for town purposes, and all of the elections are held there.
At an early day the State opened a road from Marshall to Fort Wayne, Ind., which passed through the southeastern part of this town, and furnished a highway along which the pioneers of that part of the town passed on their way to their homes.
Along this road, in the town of Ovid, a settlement was made by the Bateses, Cards, and Lanpheres, which received the name of "South America." This settlement has extended southward into this town, and the name has followed it, until it is now commonly, though ineor- rectly, applied to the eastern part of this town.
The following list shows the names of the officers of the town from its organization to the present, and also the date of their election to the respective offices. It has been com- piled with great care, and may be relied upon as correct in all partieulars :
# Including all other grains.
+ Including milch eows and oxen.
CIVIL LIST.
SUPERVISORS.
1837. Elijah Thomas. 1863. Thomas Goodrich.
1838-41. Stephen McMillan. 1861. William T. Ammerman.
1842-47. Jeremiah HIolly. 1865. David Stepheusoo.
1848-49. James Bennie. 1866. Christopher G. Babcock.
1850. Jeremiah Holly. 1867-69. William T. Ammerman.
1851-54. William Lamoreaux.
1870. Nathaniel Piatt.
IS55. Charles W. Weatherby. 1871. James Gallap.
1856-57. Roswell P. Larabee. 1872-73. Nathaniel Piatt.
1858. N. G. Ellis. 1874-76. Luman Lampman.
1859-61. William T. Ammerman. 1877. Richard T. Martin.
1862. Roswell P. Larabee.
1878. Luman Lampinan.
TOWN CLERKS.
1837. David M. Clark.
1855-57. Win. T. Ammerman.
1838. David Larmont. 1858-59. Myron F. Giddings.
IS39-40. John Proudfit. 1860. James Gallap.
1841. Jeremiah Holly. 1861. James Il. Rippey.
1842-44. John Proudfit.
1862-65. Myron F. Giddings.
1845. Richard Saulsbury.
1866-70. James Gallap.
1846-47. Samuel Keyes.
1871. Edwin G. Wheeler.
IS48-49. William Lamoreaux.
1872-74. James Gallap.
1875-76. William G. Thurber.
1877. James Gallap.
1851. Charles W. Weatherby.
1878. William G. Thurber.
TOWN THEASTRERS.
1839. Otis Davis. 1860. Roswell P. Larabee.
1840-41. Samuel Fowler.
1861. John Freeman.
1842-43. Milton Beesmer.
| 1862. John Webb.
[844. Nathaniel Woodard. 1863-64. Julius L. Hart.
1845. Stephen MeMillan. 1865. John Henry Thompson.
1846. George Gallap.
1866. Albert Harl.
1847-49. Timothy Colby.
1867. Lumau W. Harris.
1850-51. Parmenio A. Cranson.
1868. Julius L. Hart.
1852-55. Roswell P. Larabee.
1869-70. George W. Joles, Jr.
1856. A. W. Plumley.
1871-72. Julius L. Ilart.
1857. James Gallap.
1873-74. Charles Allen.
1858. John Carter.
1875. Ilenry Fowler.
1859. William Van Orman.
IS76-78. Edgar A. Miner.
JUSTICES OF THIE PEACE.
1837. David M. Clark (4 yrs.).
1851. James Thompson.
David Cummings (3 yrs.). 1852. Elwood Randall.
Elijah Thomas (2 yrs.). 1853. Jeremiah llolly (f. t.).
Stephen MeMillan (1 yr.).
O. B. Cummings (v.).
1838. Silas S. Green (4 yrs.). Hemau Lake (2 yrs.).
Hezekiah Terry (1 yr.).
1854. William Lamoreaux (v.).t A. C. Terry (v.).t George Smith (f. t.). James Turner (v.).
1839. John Proudfit.
IS40. Adam Thurston.
1841. Thomas Judson (f. t.). Jeremiah Ilolly (v.).
1842. Willard Cranson.
1856. Chas. W. Weatherby.
1857. George Smith.
1858. William Lamoreaux (f. t.). Benjamin Pond (v.).
IS44. Roswell P. Larabee (f. t.). John Proudfit (v.).
1845. Jeremiah Holly.
1846. James Foster (f. t.). Newman Canfield (v.).
1860. David Stephensou (f. t.). Silas N. Card (v.).
Joseph D. Field (v.) .** Sherod Moore (v.).#
1861. Newman Canfield (f. t.). Parmenio A. Cranson (v.).
1847. Peleg Brownell.
1848. Chas. W. Weatherby (f. t.). Dennis Ilorton (v.).
1849. Jeremiah Holly.
1850. Oscar F. Parker.
1863. Silas N. Card (f. t.). Bonjamin Pond (v.). 1864. Robert Stephenson.
Special election, Oct. 4, 1846.
Special election, Jau. 7, 1854.
Population 177
1838
1874.
1850. Ransom Compton (res'd). Amasa W. Miller (ap'td).
1852-54. Parmenio A. Crauson.
7
Buckwheat, "
1000
Mules
1855. William Ilarkness (f. t.). R. G. Pickel (1. v.) O. F. Parker (s. v.).
1843. Origin Bingham (f. t.). Silas S. Green (v.).
1859. William Harkness (f. t.). R. G. Pickel (v.).
1862. William Lamoreaux (f. t.). Lorenzo C. Hurd (v.).
287
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1865. Alvah A. Philbrick.
1871. William G. Thurher.
. SCHOOL. INSPECTORS.
1837. Morgan Smead. 1853. Horace Ballwin.
David M. Clark. 1854. John Dunlap.
Elijah Thomas. Mortimer Horton.
1867. Silas N. Card (f. t.).
Eli Baldwin (v.).
Lucius Williams (v.).
1868, Charles M. Strong.
1869. Newman Canfield (f. t.). James Gallap (v.).
1877. George F'uller.
1870. John Q. Adams. 1878. JJohn E. Strong.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
1837. Isaac Freeman.
1851. James Bennie (f. t.).
Moses Olustend, Ir. John Dunlap (v.).
Lauriston Smead.
1852. John Carter.
1841. Thomas Judson.
1864. A. W. Plumley.
1838. N. P. Filkins.
1853. James Gallap.
John G. Richardson.
1851. John Freeman.
Origin Bingham.
1855. J. R. Brown.
1842. Thomas Judson.
1867. W. A. Chamberlain.
G. R. Grant. W'm. T. Ammerman (app.).
Jeremiah Holly. 18GS. George Fuller.
Samuel Fowler.
1857. Henry Bowker (f. t.).
1810. C. N. Bates. George Borne (v.).
Sminuel Fowler.
1858. Arvin Bates.
N. P'. Filkins.
1859. Cornelius Freeman (f. t.). Charles Gallup (v.).
1846. Newman Canfield.
1873. George W. Webb.
John G. Richardson. Caleb N. Bates.
1860. George Smith (f. t.). John Webb (v.).
1848. David M. Clark.
1849. John Dunlap.
1850. Thomas J. Brownell.
1876. George W. Webb.
1851. Newman Canfield.
1877. Jacob S. Kayser.
1852. R. Il. Drake.
1878. Cortes Pond.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
1875-76. Elias B. Green. 1878. Elias B. Green.
1877. Orlando D. Cure.
COLLECTORS.
1837. Philip Olmstead. 1839. Matthew H. Bingham.
1869. George M. White (f. t.). IS3S. E. McMillan, resigned. 1840. Aaron C. Terry.
1816. Willard Crauson. Newman Canfield.
1870. Perry II. Bower.
James Gallap.
1871. George Il. Hart (f. t.). Andrew Zuver (v.).
1847. Charles Webb (3 years). Sherod Moore (2 years). James Bennie (1 year).
1873. Parmenio A. Cranson.
1848. Guy E. Bennett.
1874. Edward OJren.
1819. John G. Richardson (f. t.). John Carter (v.).
1875. Oral Cramton.
1876-77. John Freeman.
1850. Lyman M. Hart.
1878. Benjamin Pond.
ASSESSORS.
1837. David M. Clark.
1839. Alfred Luce.
Ebenezer Green.
1810. A. I]. Hanchett.
Daniel Smcad.
E. McMillan.
1838. James Bennie.
John Proudfit.
Thomas Judson.
1841. James Bennie.
Samuel Hand
Ashbel Therp.
1839. Stephen MeMillan.
Thomas Judson.
Thomas Judson.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
IS37. Moses Olmstead, Sr. Daniel Smead.
1846. James Thurston. Moses Paine.
1838. Moses Olmstead.
1847. Lowell Rawson.
Ebenezer Green.
James Thurston, Sr.
1839. Levi Thompson.
Moses Olinstead.
1853. Willard Cranson. Samuel Fowler.
1810. James Thurston, Sr.
1855. Ileman Ilarris.
Samuel Fowler.
Samuel Fowler.
IN11. James Thurston. Joseph lloxic. 1812. James Thurston.
1856. William Evans. Hosen Ilarris. 1857. Samuel Fowler (app'td).
Daniel Smead.
1843. Moses Olmstead.
O. S. Dickinson.
1844-15. Joseph Hoxie. James Thurston.
1872. Silas N. Card.
Newman Canfield (1. v.).
1873. Newman Canfickl.
Win. T. Ammerman (s. v.).
1874. Martin L. Sweet.
1875. William N. Carter (f. t.).
1838. Hezekiah Terry.
1855. Alvarus Derthick. 1856. R. G. Pickel.
1857-58. James Il. Rippey.
1858-59. William Harkness.
1839. Stephen McMillan. Thomas Judson. Uriah Mallory.
1560. James H. Rippey (resg'd). James Gallap (app'ul).
1861. William Harkness.
1810. Stephen McMillan.
Jeremiah Holly. Ashbel Thorp,
1863. Gidcon D. Baggerly.
Ashbel Thorp. 1865. Gideon D. Baggerly.
Il. S. Diekinson. 1866. C. G. Babcock.
1839. N. P. Filkins.
Origin Bingham.
1856. James Bennie (f. t.). M. F. Bower (v.).
1843. James Bennie. 1869. Perry II. Bower.
Jeremiah Holly.
1870. George M. White.
1844. James Bennic. 1871. William G. Thurber.
1845. Jeremiah Holly.
1872. William II. Page.
1811. Moses Olmstead.
James Bennie. Timothy Colby.
1862. Asa Cranson (f. t.).
1813. Matthew Il. Bingham.
1862-63. Major Tuttle.
Nathaniel Woodard. James Bennie.
1864. George W. Webb (f. t.). Henry C. Fowler (v.).
1865. Parmenio A. Cranson.
1866. David S. Lockwood.
1867. W. A. Chamberlain.
1845. Willard Cranson.
Moses Paine. M. Il. Bingham.
George W. Joles, Jr. (v.).
N. P. Filkins, appointed. 1841. Matthew II. Bingham.
DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
1872. Asa Cranson. 1875. Nathaniel Piatt.
1872. Josiah Walker.
1873. Parmenio A. Cranson. 1876-1877. Edward Odren.
IS74. John Freeman. | 1878. Elias G. Tozier.
CONSTABI.ES.
Philip Olmstead, Morgan Johnston, O. Dickinson, 1837 ; N. P. Filkins, Alford Bingham, Zebulon Durall, Samuel Handy. 1838; Ashbel Thorp, 1839, '50 ; Albert Glass, 1839; Matthew Il. Bingham, 1839, '41; Aaron C. Terry, 1839, '40; A. D. Bates, 1840, '42; Ebenezer Gifford, 1840; Seth Young, 1841, '42; Richard S. Cook, 1841, '42, '15, '46; Benoni Burch, 1841; Thomas Smith, 1842; V. Smith, Alvin Leech, James Thompson, Ilosca Harris, 1843; John l'ainter, J. J. Richardson, Hiram Tripp, 1814; Orrin B. Cummings, 1841, '4Y: Alanson Gifford, Orlow Jackson, 1845; Augustus Pixley, 1843-47 ; Jacob Gordinier, 1846, '63 ; Perry I1. Bower, 1846-48; Parmenio A. Cranson, 1847 : Jacob Roe, Epb- raim Paine, 1848 ; Nelson Richardson, 1848, '54; Henry C. Wil- liams, 1849; Collins Fenner, 18-19, '65; Perry Larnbee, 18-19, '50; Ira Whitman, 1849-52; Stokely Hoxie, 1850; Edwin Gordon, 1851-56; Abram Gordinier, 1851, '61, '62; Roswell P. Larabee, 1851, '55; J. G. Stone, 1852, '53, '56, '57, '58; James Gallap, 1852; George Kennedy, Levi Thompson, 1853; Henry Smead, 1854; II. B. Avery, 1854, '57, '59, '60: R. Fowler, 1855; Wnsb- ington Olinstead, 1855, '58; Sherod Moore, 1856; HI. H. Smith, 1856, '58; Iliram Eggleston, C. L. Bates, 1857; David Roc, 1858, '59; Austin Larabee, 1859-61, '66, '69, '70, '71, 73, '75; William A. Boffham, 1859, '62 ; S. D. Sowle, Hugh Martin, 1860; George Harris, S. S. Brocklebank, 1861; Daniel Tice, 1862; Gideon D. Baggerly, 1862, '63; Rowland Martin, Perkins Sbay, 1863; John Brown, Millard Olmsteadl, David Dickinson, Webster Goodrich, 1864; William Short, Julios L. Hart, 1865 ; Philo D. Smith, 1865, '77; Levi Gifford, Nicholas Vanalstine, Andrew J. Bair, 1866: John Q. Adams, Samuel Trayer, Daniel Card, John
1858. Samuel N. Rawson. William Short. 1859. S. K. Burleson. Willard Cranson.
Thomas Judson.
1876. Silas N. Card (f. t.). Frank Hofacker (v.).
David Larmont.
1862. Daniel Spring.
1847. Ilarlow Jackson.
1812. Nathaniel Woodard.
1SGI. leman Ilarris (f. t.). Lucius Williams (v.).
1811. Stephen MeMillan. M. II. Bingham. Nathaniel Woodard.
1868. Cbas. F. Houseman (f. t.). George W. Wehh ( v.).
1874. Wm. G. Tbarber (f. t.). Henry Fowler (v.). 1875. Parmenio A. C'ranson.
1866. William Lamoreaux (f. t.).
288
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
Webb, 1867; Edgar A. Miner, 1868-71, '75 : Daniel C. Larabee, 1868, '69: Silas N. Card, 1868, '70; Hiram A. Swan, 1868, '69; C. J. Bates, 1870, '73; Daniel C. Card, 1871, '72, '76, '77 ; Chester N. Canfield, 1871 ; Benjamin Sweet, Henry HI. Troutwine, Win- field Honeywell, 1872; Thomas Fuller, William A. Bower, 1873; Charles Jordan, John B. Allen, Adron Burleson, 1874; Henry S. Itart, 1874, '76-78 ; Asa Buffham, Gilbert Roseboom, 1875 ; Mar- tin Bower, Stephen MeCurley, 1876; Jackson Chapin, 1877; llenry Frick, Reuben Cole, Voltaire Rose, 1878.
For many years the political complexion of the town was generally Democratic, but by a small majority. As before stated, at the first general election the vote was 18 Demo- cratic and 11 Whig. Still closer was the vote in 1847, when it was 33 Democratie, 32 Whig, and one vote was cast for another candidate. At the town-meetings the ques- tion of political affinity was not regarded as of the utmost importance, and more regard was paid to the fitness and qualifications of the candidates. In the early part of the winter of 1854-55, a Know-Nothing society was organized under the leadership of Charles W. Weatherby and Ros- well P. Larabee. They fitted up a vacant house owned by Austin Larabee, on the farm now owned by Morrill Elliott, and held their meetings there. They steadily increased their membership until they had a majority of the voters of the town in their ranks. On the Saturday night before the town-meeting they initiated no less than 75 new mem- bers. At that meeting a " slate" was made up, and on the day of town-meeting much merriment was created among the knowing ones by the appointing of a " committee to make nominations" according to the usual practice. But the strength of the Know-Nothings waned as rapidly as it had waxed, and from dissatisfaction and internal strife their organization was quickly broken up. Its brief exist- ence had, however, served to create a partial political chaos, from which the Republican party, when it came into exist- ence, like a magnet in a box of mixed iron-filings and sand, drew to itself the best and most valuable part. It soon gained the political control of the town, and held it- sometimes having a majority as high as 130-until the spring of 1878, when the National party, which had been organized in a manner very similar to that of the Know- Nothings, carried the town by a majority of 73. At the fall election of 1878 they were again victorious, having a plurality of 16 votes, and a majority of 7.
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