USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 75
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
SILAAS ENT.
This gentleman, one of the old settlers of Kinderhook, was born in Essex Co., N. J., Nov. 20, 1820, He was the son of Enoch and Susan (Gorden) Ent, who had a family of eight children. When Silas was four years of age his father emigrated with his family to Cayuga Co., N. Y. After remaining there six years, he went to Livingston County, tarried there about the same length of time, and in 1835 removed to Michigan with his family, settling in Wayne County. Thence he passed over to Lenawee County, where he died. Silas remained in Washtenaw County, but upon the decease of his father went to Lenawee. In 1842 he came to Kinderhook, and in company with his brother David purchased eighty acres of land in the southeast part of the town. They were successful in their operations, and to the first purchase added two hundred and forty aeres. In 1869 they purchased the property where Silas now re- sides, a view of which is presented ou another page, and which is justly considered to be one of the most valuable and productive farms in the town. In 1850, Mr. Ent
married Miss Louisa Dobson, of Kinderhook. She was born in Lorain Co., Ohio, in April, 1832. They have been blessed with a family of ten children, five of whom are now living. Mary (now Mrs. Henry Flint ) was born Jan. 1, 1851. Ella was born in September, 1853, and died in 1854. Eleanora was born in December, 185-1, and died Oct. 21, 1863. Hattie L. was born in March. 1857, and is now the wife of Charles Smith, of Kinderhook. Floyd was born March, 1860, and died in August, 1863. Florine was born in September, 1862. Aldera was born December, 1864. Viola was born October, 1867. Ernest was born January, 1872, and died in infancy. Mr. Ent has never sought political preferment, preferring the retirement of his farm, and devoting his life to matters of personal coneern. Hle started in life with only his natural resources for his capital, and by his own energy and industry has secured a competenec, and although his life has been comparatively uneventful he has won a proud position in the history of Kinderhook, and is in every way worthy of the place as- signed him among the old settlers and best men of Branch County.
4
DAVID TRIPP.
MRS. DAVID TRIPP.
DAVID TRIPP.
was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., July 1, 1807 ; son of David Tripp, a prominent man of that county, who raised a family of fifteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the tenth. In 1829 he married Miss Sally Flint. They removed to Branch County in 1836, with their two chil- dren, settled in what is now the town of Kinderhook, and commenced the arduous task of making a farm from the unbroken forest. Upon this farm Mr. Tripp resided until Oct. 2, 1875, when he departed this life, leaving a wife and two children,-Lester II., who lives on the old home- stead, and Helen E., now Mrs. J. Wesley Brown, of Cold- water.
Politically, Mr. Tripp was a Democrat, and a warm sup-
porter of General Grant during the late war of the Rebel- lion. He held several offices of trust, among which were supervisor and justice of the peace for several terms.
SAMUEL A. WHITCOMB.
Samuel A. Whiteomb was born in the town of North- umberland, Saratoga Co., N. Y., March 4, 1815. He was the youngest of the family of Samuel and Naney (Jacobs) Whitcomb, which consisted of eight children. In 1835 the elder Whiteomb emigrated to Michigan, and settled on Cook's Prairie, Calhoun Co., where he lived many years. He was a Baptist minister, preached in different parts of
300
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the county, and was everywhere known as an estimable man and a devout and consistent Christian.
At the age of seventeen Samuel was apprenticed to the trade of a tanner and shoemaker. At twenty he purchased his time of his employer, and had a balance of two shil- lings and sixpence, with which to start business for him- self. In 1839 he came to Michigan, and purchased in Kinderhook one hundred and sixty acres of land, after- wards a part of his present farm. He worked at his trade for about five years, and employed a man to improve the farm. In 1854 he was married to Miss Anna Mugg, of Steuben Co., Ind. She died in 1872, and in 1876 he was married to Mrs. Mary E. Turner.
Mr. Whitcomb is one of the successful and enterprising farmers of Branch County. To his first purchase of one hundred and sixty acres he has added over five hundred. Commencing life at twenty, with a capital of two shillings and sixpence, his success is an evidence of what can be done by energetic industry and good management. In his political belief, Mr. Whitcomb is a sincere Republican and an inveterate enemy of human slavery in every form. Ile was formerly an Abolitionist, and voted the first Abolition ticket polled in Kinderhook. A friend of improvements, every enterprise having for its object the advancement of the interests of his town finds in him a generous sup- porter.
BUTLER.
BUTLER, the northeast corner township of Branch County, is designated by the first survey as township No. 5 south, of range No. 5 west. Its boundaries are Calhoun County on the north, Hillsdale County on the east, Quincy and Girard townships respectively on the south and west.
Its surface is a rolling upland, which, with the exception of some 300 acres of oak-openings, known at an early day as Shook's Prairie, was covered originally with a dense, heavy growth of timber.
The water-courses are St. Joseph River, Ilog and Te- konsha Creeks. The former takes its rise from Quaker Lake, and flows north, crossing section 1. HIog Creek enters the township east of the centre on the south border, and, flowing in a northwest course, leaves it south of the centre on the west border. Tekonsha Creek rises in the north part of the township, and flowing westerly, crosses the northwest corner.
Quaker Lake, comprising an area of abont 150 acres, is situated upon seetion 12.
The soil is of a productive quality and similar to that of surrounding townships. The people are chicfly engaged in agricultural pursuits, and are noted, many of them, for their proficiency in and the encouragement given the practice of wrestling.
The township contains a total area of 22,642 acres, and in 1874 had a population of 1389 inhabitants.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES.
Jonathan Hart, of Washington Co., N. Y., who after- wards settled in Calhoun Co., Mich., entered the first lands in this township July 25, 1835. His purchase included a part of section 1.
During the months of October and November of the same year, Lyman Rogers, Solander Rossman, Levi Man- ley, Ambrose J. Nicholson, Jeremiah Bennett, Robert
Wood, Jacob Devoe, Jacob Shook, Jr., and Benjamin McVey became purchasers. All the remaining lands in the township were bought of the general government sub- sequent to Jan. 1, 1836.
The following list embraces the names of the original owners of the township :
Section 1, 1835 .*- Jonathan Hart, David F. Farley, Fitzalan Gardner, John Hart, William D. Popple, Samuel L. Howard, Joseph Merritt.
Section 2, 1835 .- Lyman Rogers, Jacob Rosecrantz, John Redfield, Robert Brown, David F. Farley, Asher Treadwell.
Section 3, 1835 .- Lyman Rogers, Nelson Rogers, Jacob Rosecrantz, Henry Bowers, Abraham Letts, Benjamin Richards.
Section 4, 1836 .- Henry Bowers, Joseph Gibbs, Victor D. Riggs, Abraham Letts, Jr., Orrin Stringham, Orseno Hladlock, Cook & Waldron.
Section 5, 1836 .- Michael Briggs, John S. Rockwell, Nelson Aldrich, Jedediah Tompkins, James V. Burch, Charles Curtis, Orrin Stringham, Russell Aldrich, Michael Briggs.
Section 6, 1836 .- Michael Briggs, Artemus IIumeston, Tra Dennis, Tra Sheldon, Porter Sherman.
Section 7, 1836 .- George Briggs, Michael Briggs, John S. Rockwell, Artemus Ilumeston, Timothy A. Hopkins.
Section 8, 1836 .- Abraham Letts, John S. Rockwell, William Stearns, Levi Mead, William Letts, Jr., John Tompkins, Delia Jane Curtiss, James B. Tompkins.
Section 9, 1836 .- William Stearns, David Decker, Benj. Bader, Benjamin Richards, John Fabrique, David Patter- son, Linus Weller.
* The figures denote the year the first purchase was made upon each section.
..
RESIDENCE OF SILAS ENT. KINDERHOOK, MICHIGAN .
4.i.
RESIDENCE OF D.L. BURBANK, BUTLER BRANCH CO., MICH.
30]
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICIHGAN.
Section 10, 1836 .- John S. Heath, Amy Livingston, Henry Bowers, Fanny Stearns, Alexander Coon, John S. IIeath, Milton Barney.
Section 11, 1835 .- Solander Rossman, Nathan Haren- den, Nelson Rogers, John Hart, David F. Farley, Hiram Ward, Jonathan Hart.
Section 12, 1835 .- Levi Manley, Solander Rossman, David F. Farley, Joseph Merritt, John M. B. Weatherwax, David Decker, Jonathan Hart.
Section 13, 1835 .- Ambrose J. Nicholson, John A. Wright, Solander Rossman, Sylvester W. Hotchkiss, Ed- ward Tyler, Elisha Thornton, JJohn M. B. Weatherwax.
Section 14, 1836 .- Abram Failing, David Lindsay, Henry Bowers, Henry Van Giesen, Henry S. Lampman, Nelson Rogers, Sanford Lacy, Calvin Chase, Azar HI. Day- ton, David Lindsay.
Section 15, 1836 .- Abram Failing, Joseph Failing, David Lindsay, John P. Parker, Amy Livingston, John Parker, Jacob Rosecrantz, Benj. Rogers.
Section 16, 1852 .- R. D. Warner, D. L. Burbank, H. R. Calkins, W. II. Weller, Sidney H. Dolph, W. L. Warren, Ira S. Warren, A. Smith, Hugh Welch, Charles Howe, I. Ilaight, Abram Smith.
Section 17, 1835 .- Jeremiah Bennett, Andrew Hunting- ton, Jr., Milton Barney.
Section 18, 1836 .- Jacob W. Mann, Thomas Powell, Michael Briggs, James B. Tompkins, Robert Rowley.
Section 19, 1836 .- Jacob W. Mann, Stephen Grant, Peries Lincoln, Milo White.
Section 20, 1836 .- Charles Butler, James D. Merrill, Milo White.
Section 21, 1836 .- George Biggs, Linus Evarts, Jr., Oscar Howell, Eliza L Weatherwax, David Patterson.
Section 22, 1836 .- Charles Kennedy, Robert Brown, Oliver Allen.
Section 23, 1836 .- Jeremiah O. Dennis, Linus Evarts, Jr., Jacob Norris, Benjamin Bader, Dan Casey, Henry Shelp, John P. Cook, Henry Waldron.
Section 24, 1836 .- Jno. A. Holmes, John A. Wright, John T. Wisner, Ansel Nichols, Enos G. Berry, Parley M. Shelp, Cook & Waldron.
Section 25, 1835 .- Robert Wood, Robert Brown, Wil- liam Remington, John T. Wisner, John G. Shelp (son of llenry).
Section 26, 1835 .- Robert Wood, Jacob Devoe, Jacob Shook.
Section 27, 1835 .- Jacob Shook, Jr., Henry Churchill, Linus Evarts, Jr., Henry P. Alexander, John M. B. Weatherwax.
Section 28, 1836 .- Alexander Frasier, Lewis Post, Letts Weatherwax.
Section 29, 1836 .- Charles Butler, James D. Merrill, David Riley, Nathan Baker.
Section 30, 1837 .- Asa White, Smith W. Nelson, Elisha Thornton, Thomas Holmes, John Warner, John Bush.
Section 31, 1836 .- Dwight Smith, Edmund Howell, Lorenzo D. Crippen, Philo 11. Crippen.
Section 32, 1836 .- Owen Coleman, Franklin Lakey, John T. Weatherwax, Dwight Smith, Edmond Howell, David Patterson, Joseph Weatherwax, Jacob O. Burch.
Section 33, 1836 .- Owen Coleman, Richard E. Gay, Franklin Lakey, Linus Evarts, Jr., Daniel S. Bagley, John M. B. Weatherwax, Elisha Thornton, Henry II. Pennock, Abraham P. Lampman.
Section 31, 1836 .- Solomon Wood, Henry Churchill, Jacob Shook, Jr., Jacob Snyder, William Dayton, Obed W. Wright, James Ashton.
Section 35, 1835 .- Robert Wood, Smith Bowen, Solo- mon Wood, Jacob Snyder.
Section 36, 1835 .- B. J. McVey, Robert Wood, Jesse Bowen, Solomon Wood, John T. Wisner, Jacob Shook, Jr., Jacob Snyder, Jesse Bowen, Asa C. Bowen.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The reader will observe, by referring to the list of " land entries," that a few tracts of land were purchased in the township in the fall of 1835. Settlements had been estab- lished in all adjoining townships some four or five years previous to the latter date. But the heavy timber growth which covered all its surface, except some three hundred acres of openings on sections 26 and 27, or "Shook's Prairie," seems to have deterred very early settlements in township 5 south, range 5 west. And the smoke from the runde fireplace of the first log cabin did not ascend above the tops of the gigantic trees which surrounded it, until the spring of 1836. Caleb Wilcox, the first settler, eame from Wayne Co., N. Y., and settled upon section 2. He did not purchase his land of the government, but, it is supposed, of John Redfield. After a residence of some two or three years he sold out to Charles C. Hayes, and removed from the township.
Jacob Shook, Jr., and Robert Wood, also from Wayne Co., N. Y., settled in the southeast part, a few days later than Wilcox. Both of them had visited the township in the fall of 1835, and each had purchased large tracts of the choicest land. Mr. Wood, the brother of Solomon and Richard S., both well-known pioneers of Quincy and But- ler, remained here until 1839, when, having sold out his land interests to John T. Wisner and S. L. Willmer, he removed farther West, and is now a resident of St. Louis, Mo.
Jacob Shook, aged eighty-six years, a veteran of the war of 1812, still resides in the township in which he settled forty-three years ago. For many years he was one of the most prominent men in Butler, and as highway commis- sioner, assessor, supervisor, and county judge, has served his constituents worthily in all these capacities. He owned at one time 800 acres, and the locality known as "Shook's Prairie" derived its name from him. In the fall of 1836 he was joined here by his father, Jacob Shook, Sr., a soldier of the Revolution. A year or so later the elder Shook met with a painful death by the accidental discharge of a rifle, which was set by him (Shook, Sr.) for the pur- pose of killing deer. This was the first death to occur in the settlement.
George Lockwood, a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., at an early age settled with his father's family in Wayne County of the same State. In November, 1836, he arrived in this township, purchased 120 acres of land of Robert Wood, and engaged to pay for the same by paying down a
302
HISTORY OF BRANCHI COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
certain amount of money and working two years for Wood at farm labor. At the expiration of fifteen months Wood sold out his lands and other interests, together with Lock- wood's unexpired time, to Wisner & Willmer, for whom Mr. Lockwood finished his contract. Mr. Lockwood now resides on the fine farm thus purchased. His present residence, the first stone dwelling-house erected in the township, was built in 1836. Ile married Miss Louisa A. Rice in February, 1839,-theirs being the second mar- riage celebrated in Butler township.
Nov. 26, 1835, Solander Rossman purchased lands of the government situated upon sections 11 and 12, and, late in the fall of 1836, became a resident of Butler (then Girard township).
Isaac Rossman, the father of Thomas J., Solander, and William, came from Vermont and settled in Sterling, Cay- uga Co., N. Y., in 1815. In 1832, the brothers, Thomas J. and Solander, settled in Ilomer, Calhoun Co., Mich., and were joined there in 1833 by their father and brother William. Thomas J. became a resident of Butler in the spring of 1837, and his father ( Isaac) and younger brother (William) in 1839.
Henry S. Lampman, a native of Greenville, Green Co., N. Y., was born in 1810. In 1816 his father's family settled in Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and there suffered all the privations in common with other families in that region during the summer following the cold season of 1816. After a residence of eleven years in Tompkins County, the family returned to Green Co., N. Y.
On the 13th day of October, 1831, Mr. Lampman left his home in Green County, and by boat proceeded up the Hudson River to Albany, thence by railroad to Schenectady, riding on the first twelve miles of railroad constructed in the United States. From Schenectady he traveled via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, which he purposed as the farthest limit of his journey. But meeting with some congenial spirits in the latter city, who were traveling to Detroit, he was induced to accompany them to that city by a lake steamer. From Detroit he walked to Kalamazoo County, and worked at lumbering during the winter of 1831-32. In the spring of 1832 he went to Washtenaw County and worked at brick-making for one year, and here he married Miss Huldah Bonner, of the latter county.
During the spring of 1833, Mr. Lampman made a jour- ney to Chicago, which he says then contained but three framed houses, and he there made the bricks for the first brick house ever erected in Chicago. In the fall of the same year he returned to llomer, Calhoun Co., where he remained until December, 1836, when he settled in Butler. Ile purchased 80 acres upon section 14, which he has cleared and brought up to its present fine state of cultiva- tion, and upon which he at present resides. Mr. Lampman was elected a highway commissioner at the first township- meeting, and has served with honor in other official capaci- ties since that time.
At the time of Mr. Lampman's settlement, the only families then residing in the township were those of Caleb Wilcox, Jacob Shook, Jr., Robert Wood, and Solander Rossman. Elder David Lindsay, from Onondaga Co., N. Y., had visited the township in the spring of 1836,
purchased lands situated upon sections 14 and 15, and, with the assistance of neighbors who resided in Homer, had rolled up the body of a log house, but he did not settle with his family until in the spring of 1837.
Daniel Shook-a brother of Jacob-and Aaron Arni- strong came from Wayne Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1837, and settled in the southeast part of the township.
Jesse Bowen, from Herkimer Co., N. Y., became a resi- dent in 1837. He was a prominent citizen, and served his townsmen many years as supervisor and justice of the peace.
Others who settled during the years 1837, 1838, and 1839 were Milo White, upon section 20; Charles C. Ilays, section 2; Ira Sheldon, from Calhoun County,-he was the first cooper, and located upon section 6; Ira Dennis, from Lenawee County, also located upon section 6; David Law- rence and Richard D. Decker, brothers, from Orleans Co., N. Y., settled upon section 9; Benjamin Lyman and Alan- son Rogers, from Calhoun Co., Mich. ; Lyman Putnam, who settled upon section 3; John S. Heath, from Calhoun Co., Mich., scetion 10 ; John Hart, from Hillsdale County, section 15 ; Charles Kennedy, from Madison Co., N. Y. ; Dan Casey, on section 23; John T., Asa R., and Charles M. Wisner, from Oakland Co., Mich., all settled in the southeastern part of the township. John was a large land- owner. Asa was the first township clerk. Ile married Miss Emily Bills in 1838, which was the first marriage in the settlement. It is related that Miss Bills was the only marriageable young lady in the neighborhood at that period. Charles M. Wisner was the first school-teacher. S. L. Wilmer, Ellis S. Tillsou, Richard S. Wood, Tyler Mc- Whorter (who was county surveyor in 1845), William P. Deyoe, Allen Purdy, Benjamin McVey, and Merrill More- house were also located in the township within the time before mentioned.
Merrill Morehouse built the first framed house, and Alvin Bowen the first brick house. Solander Rossman the first framed barn. The first saw-mill was erected by Nathaniel Knowles about 1849. Lyman Calkins built a saw- and grist-mill at Herrickville, in 1858. David Lind- say kept the first store at Whig Centre, in 1843. William Demming and John Steele were also early merchants. The carly settlers and their families during sickness were attended by Dr. Clemens, of Allen's Prairie. Dr. Jacob Welpers was the first physician to reside in the township.
John Lampman became a resident in 1841, and in 1848 Abraham P. Lampman, accompanied by his sons Epenetus, Luman, and Ambrose, came in from Greenville, Green Co., N. Y., settling in the south part of the township.
For names of many other early settlers, the reader is respectfully referred to the accompanying list of pioneers.
THE PIONEERS OF BUTLER.
The following is an alphabetical list of the early settlers of Butler township, which includes the name of nearly every man who became a resident tax-payer prior to 1846, and of some who settled a few years later :
Armstrong, Aaron. Alger, Wiltiam. Allen, Delos. Bowen, Jesse.
Biggs, Silas. Bagley, Daniel S. Burch, James B. Burbank, Dwight L.
303
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Burch, Jacob O. Bennett, Hiram Il. Bowers, Charles E. Burch, Jonathan.
Mount, Nathan.
McVey, Benjamin J. Newton, Timothy M.
Needham, William.
Casey, Dan.
Nichols, S.
Crandall, Phineas. Crandall, Thomas. Crandall. John.
Purdy, Allen.
l'ardee, George D.
Calkins, 11. R.
Putnam, Lyman.
Patterson, David.
Calkins, Moses V. Calkins, B. H. Clark, C. P.
l'ennock, Henry II. l'ebbles, Henry W.
Collar, Ilugh. Copeland, 1.
Rossman, Thomas J.
Dennis, Ira.
Rogers, Benjamin A.
Rogers, Hiram.
Demming, William. Decker, David.
Rogers, E.
Deeker, Lawrence.
Rogers, Nelson.
Decker, Richard D.
Rogers, Lyman.
Deyoc, William P.
Rogers, Alanson.
Dayton, Amon.
Redficht, John.
Dolph, Sidney 11.
Rogers, Seth.
Deyoe, Jacob.
Roscerantz, R.
Day, Channeey. Dolph, D.
Rossman, William.
Day. Abram.
Shook, Jacob.
Evens, Charles.
Shook, Daniel.
Evens, Thomas P.
Swart, B. D.
Edwards, Thomas J.
Sharp, John S.
Floyd. Richard U.
Sumner, Ira.
Sheldon, Ira.
Ilayes, Charles C.
Sherman, Porter.
Heath, John S.
Smith, Abram.
linger, John.
Shelp, l'arley M.
lInger, Joseph.
Shelp, John G.
Ilopkins, A. C.
Snyder, Jacob.
Hart, John Il.
Sawyer, Thomas.
Hladlock, Orsino.
Simmons, T. Steele, John.
Ilopkins, Timothy A.
Thompson, Isaae.
Ilowe, Charles.
Haight, 1.
Tillson, Ellis S.
Hayes, 1.
Turner, E.
lager, D. D.
Van Giesen. Thomas J.
Hoxie, Orton.
Van Giesen, Henry.
James, B. F.
Wilcox, Caleb,
Joslyn, John W.
Wood, Robert.
Kennedy, Charles.
Wood, Richard S.
Lindsay, David.
Wisner, John T.
Lampman, Henry S.
Wisner, Charles M.
Lockwood, George.
Weaver, Daniel.
Langdon, George.
White, Milo.
Lampman, Epenetus.
Lampman, Ambrose.
Lampman, John.
Lewis, 1.
Williams, Emmor.
Lindsay, Elisha.
Williner, S. L.
Lindsay, Joel. Lafferty, 1.
Weller, W. H.
1842. Jacob Shook. Asa R. Wisner.
1843. Jesse Bowen.
T. J. Van Giesen.
Lawrence Decker.
1844. Jacob Shook.
1845.
18.16.
..
44
46
ISIS. Jacob Shook.
..
..
1849. =
Epenetns Lampman.
Charles E. Bowers. 6 llenry S. Lampman.
1854.
.Jos. M. Alexander.
Charles E. Bowers. Dwight L. Burhank.
1857.
of range number five west, be and the same is hereby set off and or- ganized into a separate township by the name of Butler; and the first township-meeting shall be held at the honse of David Lindsay in said township."
At the time the township was organized, its territory contained a voting population of but about twenty voters. A majority of them were from Butler, Wayne Co., N. Y. ; and at a preliminary meeting they decided by ballot to name the new township Butler, in remembrance of their old home in the latter State.
First Township Election .- At a meeting of the inhab- itants of the township of Butler, held at the dwelling-house of David Lindsay, April 2, 1838, for the purpose of electing township officers, John T Wisner and Jesse Bowen were chosen Judges of the Election, Asa R. Wisner, Clerk, and Tyler McWhorter, Assistant Clerk. The officers elected were as follows : David Lindsay, Supervisor; Asa R. Wis- ner, Township Clerk ; Jacob Shook, Jesse Bowen, and T. Jefferson Rossman, Assessors; Charles M. Wisner, Col- lector ; David Lindsay, Jesse Bowen, Tyler Me Whorter, and Solander Rossman, Justices of the Peace ; Charles M. Wisner, Coustable ; Jacob Shook, John T. Wisner, and Henry S. Lampman, Highway Commissioners ; Tyler Me- Whorter, Charles M. Wisner, and Daniel Shook, Inspectors of Schools; Caleb Wilcox and Jacob Shook, Overseers of the Poor ; Jacob Shook, Road-Master.
EARLY TOWNSHIP LEGISLATION.
Wolf. Bounties .- " At the anuel Township-meeting, held in the Township of Butler in the year A.D. 1844, voted and carried that the Township of Butler will pay three dollars for ever full-grown woolf's hedd and ears entire on, and one dollar and fifty cents for every Whelp or half- grown woolf caught by an inhabitant of said Township.
" Moved & carried that there be nine Dollars Raised in the Township of butler for the year A.D. 1844, for the purpose of paying a bounty on Wolves."
Educational .- April 6, 1846. it was " voted and carried to Raise 50 cents per ledd for every child over four and under eighteen years of age in the Township of Butler."
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The following is a list of the principal township officers from 1839 to 1878, inclusive :
Supervisors. Town Clerks.
Treasurers.
1839. David Lindsay. Asa R. Wisner.
Thos. J. Rossman.
184D. Alanson D. Warren.
Daniel Shook.
1841. David Deeker.
T. J. Van Giesen.
MeWhorter, Tyler.
Warren, W. L.
Morehouse, Merrill.
Warren, Ira S.
Melntosh, Duncan.
Welch, llugh.
Mead, Philander.
Weatherwax, Joseph.
Mann, Stephen.
Wright, Ohed W.
Mansfield, l'.
Woolever -.
CIVIL HISTORY.
1850.
T. J. Van Giesen.
..
1851. Moses V. Calkins.
1852.
1853. Jesse Rowen.
R. U. Floyd.
..
=
The Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, by an act approved March 6, 1838, erected Butler from Girard township, as follows :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.