USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 79
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The old Kalamazoo trail passed close by Mr. Watson's house, and this he followed when he came in. Sometimes as many as 300 or 400 Indians passed along it, and the members of the family beeame well acquainted with the appearance and habits of the red dwellers in the forest.
When Mr. Watson came West with his family he moved by wagon as far as Erie, where he shipped his wagon, a yoke of oxen, two cows, and himself and family to Detroit, from which place he took the Chicago road to the interior. His household goods were sent around by water from Erie to Niles, and from thence drawn by team to their destina- tion in Matteson. After his house was built, Mr. Watson commeneed elearing his land and preparing it for culti- vation. A " breaking team" consisted of four or five yokes of oxen. Crops were put in during the spring of 1836. Mr. Watson, who is a native of Centre Co., Pa., will be seventy-nine years of age May 11, 1879.
During the time intervening between the date of the entry of his land and his return to the township with his family, Nathaniel Turner and Abiather Culver had come with their families and taken up the balance of the section, and when Mr. Watson returned he aided them in building their houses, which they had begun, and they in turn as- sisted him to construct his. Mr. Turner and Mr. Culver are both deceased. The farm of the former is oceupied by his son, Ashley Turner, who struck the first blow toward improvement in the township of Matteson. Mr. Culver's farm is occupied by his youngest son, Oliver Culver. All three families experienced mueh sickness during the fall for several years, principally ague, fevers, etc., diseases preva- lent in all new countries to greater or less extent.
During the spring following their settlement, Messrs. Watson, Culver, and Turner helped to break each other's land, and in the fall following sowed the first wheat in the township. This part of town was in the oak openings, with occasional tracts of two or three acres on which grew only thick willow brush. The timber consisted principally of several varieties of oak, with occasional hickory and black-cherry trees. Some of the finest farms in the town- ship are in this vicinity.
Before coming to Michigan, Mr. Watson had worked, when a young man, at milling, cabinet-making, and the carpenter's trade. After his marriage be entered into the
mercantile business. Subsequent to his arrival in Michi- gan he worked a little at earpentering, building a saw-mill for a man named Eberhardt, etc. The first year after he came he cut a large cherry-tree, seasoned the wood, and made several articles of household furniture, among them a table and a stand, which are still in use. The table has been in constant service since it was first made, and is as sound as when new. Mr. Watson says he has " raised two families at its side." His present wife is his second one, the first having been taken from him by death.
Nathaniel Turner and Abiather Culver were from the same town in Ontario Co., N. Y., owning land in the town- ships of Bloomfield and Victor, and both settled in Matteson in the fall of 1835.
The first birth of a white child in the township was that of Leroy Turner, son of Nathaniel Turner, which occurred Dec. 27, 1835. Mr. Culver's son, Oliver, who is the present township clerk, was born just five years later.
Among the first marriages were those of Jonathan Il. Culver and Mary Celinda Matteson, daughter of Amos Matteson, Esq., and Deborah Turner and a Mr. Travis. The first death is thought to have been that of a daughter of James K. Bennett, occurring in the neighborhood of the year 1840. Iler coffin was made by Robert Watson, and she was buried on her father's farm.
The first road through Matteson township was opened about 1837, being laid out by Charles C. Ferrin, who had settled in 1836, and been chosen a commissioner of high- ways in what was then Bronson. Mr. Ferrin lived near the road, which passes in places over the same route taken by the Indian trail. The latter, however, passed sonth of the lake instead of north. The road extends from a point three miles west of Coldwater to Constantine, St. Joseph Co., and was opened by the settlers living along the route. It is known as the "State Road," and is yet the principal highway of the township.
The Pottawattamie Indians who occupied this region were very generally peaceful and quiet, and in some cases even gentlemanly. Their chief; a tall, noble Indian, whose name was Sau-quette, walked with the pride of a person born to lead and rule, and was in every way, except the polish of a civilized life, a perfect gentleman. On one oe- casion he and three of his warriors, who had just returned from a visit to Maumee, Ohio, stopped at Mr. Watson's and asked for some dinner. They were dressed in broad- cloth, and covered with jewelry. Mrs. Watson asked what they would have, and they said they would like some tea. She prepared them some dinner, including tea, and after they had finished the chief asked what was to be paid. Mrs. Watson replied " nothing." At this the chief' arose in his dignity and wanted to know if she thought they were beg- gars. Taking out his purse he paid her twenty-five eents for each warrior and himself and departed. Sau-quette was some years afterward murdered by another Indian at Coldwater. His murderer was arrested and placed in jail at Branch, remaining about a year. As the laws of the whites could not be applied in his case, he was finally re- leased and turned over to bis tribe, who administered justice in their own way, and he suffered death.
The same trouble was experienced by the settlers of this
318
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
town which fell to the lot of those living in all localities far removed from a prominent market. For any surplus raised by the farmers there was no market nearer than De- troit, and as produce brought but small prices at that place, there was practically no market whatever. Occasionally a few bushels of grain or other produce were sold to a new settler. Salt sold here as high as six cents per pound. It was brought from New York to Detroit, and thence by team into the country settlements. Upon the completion of a railroad a good market was opened. IForses were very seldom seen, all work being done with oxen.
Hiram Gardner, from Otsego Co., N. Y., came to Matte- son in the fall of 1836, purchased the place where his widow now lives, cleared about two acres, and built a log house at the southwest corner of the present orchard. While living in New York, Mr. Gardner had married Pamelia Matteson, daughter of Amos Matteson, Esq., who settled in this town, as previously described. In 1837, Mr. Gardner returned with his wife and three children. He became one of the prominent men of the township, and performed a great amount of labor. Physically he was very strong, and nu- merous anecdotes are related where his power was called into requisition. During his later years he was an acute sufferer ; and when the writer called upon him in March, 1879, he was lying upon his dying bed, as it proved, for his death occurred a few days later, or March 16, 1879. His son, Amos Gardner, is the present supervisor of the town- ship.
When Mr. Gardner moved to his farm in Matteson, the only families living in the township were those of Robert Watson, Nathaniel Turner, Abiather Culver, John Corson, Isaac Gilson, and Amos Matteson, or with possibly one or two others. The settlement of all these, except Corson and Gilson, has been mentioned. The former located on sec- tion 24, in 1836, and his widow and two sons, L. W. and D. Corson, are yet residents of the township. The farm lies south of the corners, east of Matteson Lake.
Isaac Gilson lived in the western part of the township, and had been a resident of St. Joseph County, on the banks of the " Nottawa-sepee." He was from the State of Ohio.
James K. Bennett, from Ontario Co., N. Y., emigrated to Matteson in the fall of 1838 with his family, arriving on the 19th of October, and locating on the farm where his son, C. C. Bennett, now lives. His family consisted of his wife and three children. Mr. Bennett purchased his farm (160 acres) from Horatio L. Folhes; but the latter had made no improvements upon it, and Mr. Bennett was obliged to commence by making his own clearing, and was therefore strictly a pioneer. He built a log house, where his widow is now living, one hundred and twenty rods east of the corners. C. C. Bennett occupies a fine brick resi- dence on the west side of the farm, and his sister, Mrs. S. Eleanor Allen, also resides in town.
John Colmbs, the father of Mrs. C. C. Bennett, from Seneca Co., N. Y. (town of Romulus), was among the earlier settlers in the interior of Michigan. He moved West pre- vious to the year 1830, and located in Wayne County. His father, Thomas Colmbs, who was with him, died within a few years, and the son subsequently moved into Lenawee
--
County (about 1837-39), where he died. His widow some time afterwards married Comfort Thompson, and came with him to Branch County in 1846, locating on section 36, in Matteson. Mrs. Thompson's brother and her father were soldiers during the war of 1812, and the latter was among the early settlers of Lenawee Co., Mich.
James O. Johnson, a native of Rutland Co., Vt., after- ward a resident of New Jersey, New York City, and Ohio, living in Lorain County, in the latter State, for fifteen years, took a load of people to old Fort Meigs, above Toledo, in June, 1840, where a celebration was held in honor of Gen. William H. Harrison, the nominee for President. Sending his team home, he came to what is now Matteson, and purchased land on section 12. In February, 1841, he and his brother, Francis Johnson, - both unmarried,-came out and began improvements on the place which, although purchased from second hands, was yet in a state of nature. The present north and south road leading by the place had been laid out, but was not worked, and a team could with difficulty make its way over it.
Mr. Johnson built a log house on his place, which is yet standing near the residence of his son, Rollin Johnson. Ilis brother-in-law, Allen Turner, a son of Nathaniel Turner, one of the first settlers in the western part of the town. lived with Mr. Johnson in 1841 in the above- mentioned house. He was a carpenter by trade, and worked at it while his family remained with Mr. Johnson. In 1842 he built for his own use a log house, which now stands in the rear of the residence of Homer F. Johnson.
In the fall of 1851, James O. Johnson started on a journey to the newly-discovered land of gold-California- reaching there in March, 1852. He stayed three years, and his experience in that region was of a nature common with that of all others who were there during the first years of the excitement.
Mr. Johnson's grandfather, Adam Johnson, came to the United States from Nova Scotia during the Revolutionary war, and espousing the American cause took up arms under Washington, and served through the remainder of the struggle. For his services Congress granted him a warrant for 400 acres of land, which included the site of the present city of Columbus, capital of Ohio. Before getting ready to move to it he died in Rutland Co., Vt., in which he had made his home.
P. H. Sheldon, who settled in St. Joseph County in 1835, has been a resident of Matteson since 1873. James E. Fisk, who died in 1862, came to this township in 1835(?), when his only neighbors were Indians and wild game. G. W. Tilton settled in Coldwater in 1832, and upon his present farm on the State road in Matteson in 1841. R. C. Gwin, whose parents were among the pioneers of Cass County, came to Matteson in 1844; J. W. Turner in 1841; H. McLean in 1845; R. E. Copeland in 1848; E. S. Faxon in 1846; and John Baker in 1848.
W. M. McCarty located in Coldwater in 1831, and helped raise the second house in the place (?). He moved to Matteson in 1855. C. A. Dufoe settled on his present farm in 1838, and Francis Reynolds in 1846.
William Alger settled near Dayburgh, Butler township,
319
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
in 1834, and felled the first tree in that portion of the county. He removed to Matteson in 1859. During his residence in Butler he became acquainted with nearly every foot of ground about his home, and is authority upon all points relating to the settlement of and incidents which transpired early in that township.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
On the 23d of December, 1837, the inhabitants of town- ship 6 south, range 8 west, met at the house of Abiather Cul- ver and proceeded to business, as follows : " Mr. A. Culver was chosen moderator for the meeting; Mr. J. Corson was chosen secretary for the meeting. Ist, it was voted that a petition would be presented to the Legislature to be set off for a separate town by the name of Matteson."* The following is the act organizing the township : " All that portion of the county of Branch designated in the United States survey as township number 6 south, of range number S west, be and the same hereby is set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Matteson ; and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house of Abiather Culver, in said township."+
" MATTESON, April 2, 1838.
" Agreeable to the above aet, and in pursuance of the same, Amos Matteson was chosen as moderator; Robert Watson as elerk ; John Corson, James Gillis, and Hiram Gardner for inspectors of said election; and after being duly sworn according to law proceeded to eleet by ballot :" Supervisor, Joseph Rudd ; Township Clerk, Robert Wat- son ; Assessors, Ephraim Cline, Jolin Vaughan ; Com- missioners of Highways, Lazarus Everhart, John Stailey, Robert Watson; Justices of the Peace, Robert Watson and others (names so dim on record they could not be deciphered); Collector, Charles F. Jackson ; Constables. Charles F. Jackson, Ashley Turner; School Inspectors, Thomas B. Watson, Hiram Gardner, James L. Gillis ; Overseers of the Poor, Hiramu Gardner, James L. Gillis ; Fenee- Viewer, Abiather Culver; Poundmaster, Lazarus Everhart ; Pathmasters, John Vaughan, Nelson Washburn.
The number of voters was so stuall that, as will be seen by reference to the above list, several offices were neces- sarily given to one person in some instances, in order that all might be filled. The records are missing for the years from 1839 to 1842, inelusive. Beginning with 1843 the following is a list of the principal officers of the township to the present time :
SUPERVISORS.
1843. Hiram Gardner. 1860. J. II. Culver.
18441. J. 11. Culver. 1861. Granville S. Burnett.
1815-46. Iliram Gardner.
1862. J. H. Culver.
1547-49. James E. Fisk. 1863. A. J. Richardson.
1850. Hiram Gardner.
1864. G. S. Burnett.
IS51. Allen Turner. 1565-67. Derrick Cu. son.
1852. James E. Fisk. 1868. G. S. Burnett.
1×53-51. Jonathan Il. Culver.
1869. J. Il. Culver.
1855. James E. Fisk. 1870. Samuel B. Corson.
1856. J. H. Culver. 1871-76. Amos Gardner.
1857-59. David Anderson.
1877. 8. W. Sharrer.
Township records.
+ Laws of Michigan, 1838.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
1843. Jonathan H. Culver. 1859. E. S. Faxon.
1844. James O. Johnson. 1860. Charles M. Benediet.
1845. John Gray. 1861-61. Morris Howe.
1846. James E. Fisk.
1565. Orrin F. Oliver.
1847. Samuel E. Faxon.
1866-67. Morris Howe.
1548-50. Robert Watson.
1868. Samuel B. Corson.
1851. S. E. Faxon. 1869. Edwin S. Faxon.
1852. Joel H. Legg.
1870. Manton E. Sawins.
1853-54. James E. Fisk.
1871-73. Albert D. Fisk.
1855. Samuel HT. Beach.
1874. David Shimmel.
1856. Robert E. Copeland.
1875. A. D. Fisk.
1857. Edwin S. Faxun.
1876-77. George W. Fultun.
TREASURERS.
1843-45. Charles F. Jackson.
1×59. Bentley Benedict.
1846. Jonathan H. Culver.
1860. Israel Wheeler.
1847. Jesse Monroe. 1861. John P. Fisk.
1848-50. Arch. G. Thompson.
1862. Derrick Corson.
1851-52. Charles F. Jackson.
1863. Robert E. Copeland.
1853-54. John W. Turner. 1861. Derrick Corsun.
1855. Jacob L. Everhart. 1865-70. Robert E. Copeland.
1856. Colmubus C. Bennett.
1871-72. George W. Fulton.
1857. Arnold II. Corson.
1873. Fritz Shaffmaster.
1858. Ashley Turner.
1874-77. Daniel F. Rich.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1843. No record. 1860. G. S. Burnett.
1844. John Stailey. A. W. Plumley.
1845. Jefferson Ballou. 1861. Archibald J. Richardson.
1846. No record.
1817. Joseph Rudd.
1862. M. L. Smith. Ashley Turner.
Stephen Edwards.
1863. Philetus Shaw.
1848. Robert Watson.
1864. G. S. Burnett.
A. D. Coleman.
1865. A. J. Richardson.
1866. M. L. Smith.
C. A. Dufoe.
Chauncey II. Noyes.
185]. John Corsun.
1868. G. S. Burnett.
1852. R. Watson.
1869. Philetus Shaw.
J. Frederick.
A. J. Richardson.
1853. lliram Gardner.
1871. S. B. Corson.
Charles F. Jackson.
1872. G. S. Burnett.
1854. J. Frederick.
1873. David Kibbs.
Allen Turner.
1874. Daniel Quinby. John V. Allen.
Ana 11. Smith.
1875. J. V. Allen.
1856. Granville S. Burnett. J. S. Lytle.
1857. James E. Fisk. 1876. Selleck Sharrer.
1858. M. L. Smith. 1877. R. E. Copeland.
Jefferson Ballou.
D. L. Oreutt.
1859. James O. Johnson.
ASSESSORS.
1843. Ashley Turner.
1816. No record.
Joseph Rudd. 1817. Hiram Gardner.
1814. Ashley Turner. Joseph Rudd. Jr.
Alvin Monroe. 1848-49. No record.
1845. Ephraim (line. 1850. Josiah Frederick.
Alvin Monrue. F. W. Latta.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
1843. Benjamin Fisk. 1816. Jacob Saibry.
Jacob Lindley. Alvin Monroe.
Epbraim Cline.
C. J. Ballou.
1811. Allen Turner. 1817. Abraham Lowry. James F. Dunbar.
John Cronbaugh.
Jacob Everhart.
J. S. llunt.
1845. James E. Fisk. 1848. J. F. Dunbar.
Chauncey B- (name il-
Allen Turner.
legible). Orrin Terry.
1849. Ervin C. Fisk.
Township records.
lirain Gardner.
1849. No record.
1850. A. D. Coleman.
1867. J. Ballon.
B. Benedict.
1870. Charles Bothwiek.
1855. Allen Turner.
1858. Allen Turner.
320
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1850. Bentley Benedict.
1863. Ira Williams.
Crandle Birch.
1864. J. L. Everhart.
1851. Jacob L. Everhart.
Daniel Rich.
1852. Jacob Liter.
1865. John P. Fisk.
1853. Joseph S. Hunt.
1866. Francis Reynokls. Daniel F. Rich.
1854. Francis Reynolds.
1867. J. L. Everhart.#
1868. James O. Johnson.
1856. Comfort Thompson.
1869. Alexander Anderson.
1857. A. J. Richardson. L. K. Lewis. J. L. Everhart.
1870. J. L. Everhart.
1871. James O. Johnson.
1858. J. L. Everhart.
1872. Alex. Anderson.
1859. Lyman K. Lewis.
1873. George Keyes.
1860. Samuel B. Corson.
1874. James O. Johnson.
1861. J. L. Everbart.
F. Shaffinaster.
1862. C. A. Dufoe.
1875-77. George Keyes.
1863. Samuel Corson.
SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
1843. Hiram Gardner.
1861. Samuel E. Faxon.
1844. Iliram Gardner.
1862. David Anderson.
Joseph Rudd, Jr. James D. Studley.
1845. Joseph Rudd, Jr.
1863. Isaac A. Gray.
Richard Dougherty.
O. White.
1846. Jefferson Ballon. 1864. Seymour S. Sage.
1847. Hiram Gardner.
1865. Hudson Miller.
1848. Francis Jobnson. 1866. Manton E. Sawins.
1849. Hiram Gardner. 1867. Jonathan Culver.
Nelson D. Dufoe.
1868. C. D. Robinson.
1850. N. D. Dufoe. M. B. Warner.
1869. Hudson Miller.
1851. E. S. Faxon. Robert Watson.
1870. L. E. Wilcox.
1852. Francis R. Johnson.
D. Corson.
1853. Hiram Gardner.
1871. D. Corson.
1854. William F. Minnerly.
1872. L. E. Wilcox.
1855. Hiram Gardner.
1873. A. J. Richardson.
1856. David Anderson.
Edward P. Sands.
1857. Charles M. Benedict.
1874. E. P. Sands.
1858. C. M. Benedict.
J. Corson.
D. Anderson.
1875-76. E. P. Sands.
1859. D. Anderson.
1860. Hiram Gardner.
TOWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
1875-76. Jay C. Corson. 1877. H. M. Fish.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
1843. James O. Johnson. 1852. J. Ballou.
1844. John B. Dougherty.
1853. Samuel Beach.
George Wilcox. W. H. Hammond.
1845. Jacob Lindley. 1854. Samuel Beach.
John S. Dougherty. W. H. Hammond.
1846. Joseph Hunt. 1855. Ashley Turner.
Jonathan H. Culver. Amus Matteson.
1847. Iliram Gardner.
1856. Allen Turner.
James E. Fisk.
W. H. llammond.
1848. No record. 1857. Henry Wansey. 1849. Jefferson Ballon. Morgan L. Smith.
Jesse Monroe.
1858. G. W. Tilton.
1850. No record. John R. Winans.
1851. Robert Copeland.
1859. Ilenry Winans.
Welcome Hammond.
William G. MeCarty.
1852. J. Frederick.
DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
1872. C. 11. Noyes. 1874. R. E. Copeland.
Carey Dunn. 1875. No record.
Lyman K. Lewis. 1876. F. Shaffmaster.
Charles A. Goodman.
1877. R. E. Copeland.
1873. Hector McLean.
Officers eleeted in 1878 .- Supervisor, Amos Gardner ; Township Clerk, Oliver B. Culver; Treasurer, Arthur G.
Copeland ; Justices of the Peace, Ashley Turner, Samuel Lilly ; Commissioner of Highways, C. C. Bennett ; Drain Commissioner, William Anderson ; School Superintendent, Jay C. Corson ; School Inspector, Samuel Gardner; Con- stables, James Fisk, Charles Culver, William G. Chamber- lain, Jason Baldwin.
SCHOOLS.
On the 8th of April, 1839, the school commissioners met, and divided the township into four school districts, viz., No. 1; west district, or No. 2; northwest district, or No. 3; and southeast district, or No. 4. "The inhabitants of school district No. 2 met at the house of Abiather Cul- ver, pursuant to notice, Nov. 19, 1839, for the purpose of eleeting distriet officers and other purposes belonging to the annual meeting."* Among other business transacted it was voted to raise fire dollars to purchase a distriet library, a like amount to buy a library ease, and that the library should be kept at the residence of Abiather Culver, with Jonathan H. Culver as librarian. It was also voted to raise $75 to pay for a six months' school.
Abont 1838-39 a log sehool-house was built in what is now district No. 2, on the ground where stands the present stone school building. A school was made up from the families of Robert Watson, Nathaniel Turner, Abiather Culver, and Isaac Gilson, and taught by Jonathan Il. Culver. This was the first school in the township, and was sustained by private subscription.
On the north side of the State road, on seetion 14, a log school-house was built about 1841-42, and a school con- ducted by Melissa Webster. It was a winter term, and attended by the children of Hiram Gardner and others in the vicinity. Miss Webster lived in Colon, St. Joseph Co. In the fall of 1848 the sehool-house in distriet No. 5 was built, and the number attending at the log building was considerably diminished.
The families in the neighborhood of Matteson Post-Office seut their children for a time to the log sehool-house above deseribed. In the spring of 1855, however, the present frame building at the Corners was ereeted, and Miss Maria Monroe employed as teacher. She had previously taught in a building which stood about where the present black- smith-shop is, aud which had been used, as occasion re- quired, as a blacksmith-shop, school-house, law-office, ete.
MATTESON POST-OFFICE
was established about 1854-56, with Edwin Faxon as first postmaster. He was sueceeded by C. C. Bennett about 1858, the latter retaining charge seven years. Both these gentlemen kept the office at their houses. Mr. Bennett's sueeessor was Hammond Sawins, and he was followed by Mrs. Orcutt, who kept the office in the grocery at the Corners. Those since in charge have been John Allen, Anthony Sands, Mrs. Oreutt a second time, and the present incumbent, William Harrison Bennett.
In the fall of 1852 a saw-mill was built at the Corners by Nichols & Shepard, of Battle Creek. This mill was destroyed by fire, and a second one was ereeted by Amos Matteson, Esq., which was also burned. The property
" Recards.
: Also spelled Ererheart and Eberhard on the records.
1877. C. A. Baxter.
1855. Nelson Bradley.
ELLEN A. GARDNER.
RESIDENCE OF AMOS GARDNER
** ,
AMOS GARDNER.
TESON, BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
321
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
afterwards passed into the hands of Hammond Sawins. A third mill on the same site has been burned since the pro- prietor of the present one, JJohn Wood, purchased the property. This mill has done a large business in recent years, but is now used but little.
A general store was established here in 1865 by Daniel Oreutt, but was finally discontinued. Another has been established farther cast by W. H. Bennett, the present postmaster. Besides the post-office, saw-mill, store, and school-house, the settlement contains one blacksmith- and wagon-shop and several dwellings.
The cemetery, northwest of Matteson Lake, was laid out about 1855, and contains 3 acres. It is very pleasantly lo- cated, and the only one in the township. Burials were made, before this cemetery was provided, in private lots in different parts of town, one of which was ou the premises of Amos Matteson. Many were removed from their differ- ent resting-places and transferred to the new cemetery when it had been made ready.
The following article from the pen of John MeLean, of Athens, Calhoun Co., was written descriptive of the times during the pioneer days, and is worthy of perusal. Those who experienced the trials of life in the wilderness will appreciate his words :
" Let us take a review of the times from the early settle- ment of the counties of Branch, Calhoun, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo. I have not the exact date of the first settle- ment of these counties, but I think the greatest tide of im- migration was in 1836. The land was mostly taken by actual settlers from 1835 to 1840. That which was not so taken was mostly gobbled up by speculators. But little capital was brought into these counties. Generally the set- tlers came from New York and Pennsylvania with wagons, in which were their effects, and barely money enough to pay for their land, which had previously been entered.
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