USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 82
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
George W., Mr. Smith's eldest son, enlisted in Capt. Ab- bott's company of three-months' men, and served in the first regiment which left the State, and was discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment. On the 12th day of January, 1865, he was mustered as lieutenant in Co. K, 123d New York Volunteer Infantry, and took part in the battles of the Wilderness. He was mustered out June 8, 1865. After the war he went to Texas, and engaged in the mercantile business. Ilis energy and good business qualities soou gave him prominence in the Republican party, and he was elected a delegate to the State constitutional convention. Ile was afterwards nominated by his party for a prominent office, but was murdered by bulldozers before the election, his body being riddled with eighteen bullets. Thus died a noble young man,-one who was destined to make his mark in the world.
SAMUEL S. AND EPHRAIM B. BUSHNELL.
Among the early settlers of Noble township, there are none deserving of more credit, or none who have done more to advance the best interests of his town, than Samuel S. Bushnell. Ile was born JJuly 21, 1799, in Vermont. There he grew to manhood, working on a farm. IFe mar- ried Miss Lury Butts, who was born in Windham, Conn. Their union was blessed with six children. In 1836, MIr. Bushnell came to Michigan and bought of the government one hundred and twenty acres of land on seetion 11, in Noble township, and settled upon it in 1838. He had nothing to commence with but energy and an indomitable will, but with the help of these qualities he soon made for
42
330
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
himself' a fine home in the wilderness. In politics, Mr. Bushnell was in an early day a Democrat, and by that party was elected town treasurer. At the formation of the Re- publican party he joined its ranks, and became one of its prominent members. He was for many years supervisor, many times represented his township in the conventions of his party, and became widely known throughout the county. He died July 21, 1872, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, highly respected and esteemed by the citizens of the township and county.
Ephraim B. Bushnell, the second child of Samuel S. Bushnell, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Oct. 12, 1825. He came to Noble township with his father in 1838, where he has ever since resided. Ile has grown up with the township, and has seen it change from an almost unbroken wilderness into pleasant bomes and fine farms, and he has done his share in bringing about these happy results. On the 13th day of April, 1848, he was married to Adaline Hale, daughter of Ambrose and Elizabeth (Larcum) Ilale. Their union was blessed with four children : William B., born Feb. 21, 1849; Lury Ellen, born July 21, 1852; Ella Maria, born Jan. 11, 1858; and May Ardell, born July 30, 1860. Mrs. Bushnell died Sept. 30, 1861. Mr. Bushnell was married on the 6th day of November, 1862. to Esther A., daughter of Jacob and Leah (Conklin) Ben- nett, who was born Oet. 19, 1825. There have been born to them three children, as follows: Ambrose, Dec. 14, 1863; Jessie, July 17, 1866; and Grant, July 23, 1868. Soon after his first marriage, Mr. Bushnell commenced life for himself, working a farm on shares, by which means he got his start in life. He afterwards bought a farm with his father, with whom he remained in partnership until 1867, when he became full owner of the fine farm on which he now resides. In polities he is an ardent Republican, and has been many times the standard-bearer of his party in the township, but it being largely in the minority, he has never been elected.
ELISHA T. GARDNER.
Elisha T. Gardner, the subject of this sketeh, was horn in the township of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1814. While Elisha was yet a boy his father moved to Sandusky Co., O., where he resided till he reached man- hood.
Mr. Gardner's chances for acquiring an education were limited; still he made the most of his opportunities, and fitted himself to do any ordinary business. His oeeupa- tion was that of a farmer, and he always proved a sue- cessful one. On the 13th day of August, 1840, he was married to Miss Catherine Alexander, who was born in Flint, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 19, 1824. At the time of his marriage he owned a farm in Ohio, which he sold in 1847.
In 1850 he went to California, taking the overland route. He remained in the land of gold two years, engaged in mining, at which he was quite successful. From Califor- nia he returned to Ohio, but soon after emigrated to Michi- gan, arriving in 1854.
He bought the farm he owned at the time of his death, being part of seetions 12 and 13 in Noble township. The farm at the time he purchased it was nearly new, but his industry and good management soon made it one of the fine places of the township, with good buildings, fenees, etc. ,
In politics, Mr. Gardner was always a Democrat. He was elected, while in Ohio, one of the county commissioners, which place he held three years. Soon after his settlement in Noble his abilities were recognized by his party friends, and he was elected supervisor, which office he filled to the satisfaction of his constituents, holding the office seven years. Ile was also, for many years, a justice of the peace. Mr. Gardner was a man of sterling qualities, and of good business abilities. He died June 7, 1878, mourned by a large circle of friends.
SHERWOOD.
THE township of Sherwood occupies the northwest cor- ner of Branch County, and ineludes township number 5 south, in range 8 west of the principal meridian, as laid down on the government maps. It was surveyed in 1826, by John Mullett, and the islands in the St. Joseph River were surveyed in 1845, by Noah Brookfield.
John Mullett was long in the employ of the government, and surveyed many townships in the Western States. Dur- ing the memorable Black Hawk war he was engaged with his party in Northern Illinois, and they were all frightened from their work by reported incursions of the savages. Although irrelevant to the history of Sherwood, the fol- lowing extract will prove interesting, as illustrating the
fright which many, even in Michigan, experienced during the troublous times of 1832. It is from the pen of Edwin Jerome, who was one of Mullett's party in Illinois. They reached Chicago early in October, 1831, and in twenty- eight days reached Galena.
" Our survey commenced and was prosecuted two days; then an extreme cold night froze the prairie too deep for raising the requisite mound for a landmark, and the survey was abandoned, to be renewed April 1, 1832.
" The Hon. Lucius Lyon was prosecuting a job of sur- veying from the Illinois State line northward, and adjoining the fourth principal meridian. Our work was founded on his, running east to the Indian boundary-line at Sugar
RESIDENCE OF E.F. HAZEN, SHERWOOD , BRANCH CO., MICH.
331
IHISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
River. At cach tier of townships Mr. Lyon left a letter on the northeast corner-post of the town, telling us of the progress of his work and the progress of the Indian war. The day after the memorable Stillman battle with Black Hawk we were crossing the Blue Mounds with a town line leading us near the residence of Mr. Brigham, meeting here an Indian half-chief who had just arrived from the Meno- minee eamp with the details of the battle, stating the slain to be three Indians and eleven whites. The long shaking of hands and the extreme cordiality of the Indian alarmed Mullett for our safety, but he locked the fact in his own bosom and went nearly five miles east with our line and camped. The next morning we went two and a half miles south and brought up an unfinished line, and formed and built a mound for a town corner.
" On the completion of this mound, Mullett gave the first hint of his fears by raising himself to full height, say- ing, ' Boys, I'm going in ; I'll not risk my scalp for a few paltry shillings !' This laconic speech was a frightful elec- trie spark to the whole company. My own sensation was as if every hair of my head instantly became a porcupine quill, raising my hat in air, myself from the ground-my head sore as a boil.
" The Indian trail from Galena to Fort Winnebago passed here, which Mullett instantly struck into on a dog-trot, fol- lowed by his frightened men, seeing a foe in every imaginary sound or rustle of prairie grass, bounding involuntarily to right or left to avoid the rushing legions of Indians. Five miles brought us back to Brigham's The peaceful hamlet of the day before was all bustle, with a large number of families gathered from the surrounding country, and a large log fort was fast approaching completion.
" A short distance farther on we met Governor Dodge, with fifty mounted horsemen, going to the Menominee camp to have a talk, where the city of Madison now stands. Arriving at Willow Springs, we found the neighborhood congregated for self-defense; regular guards were set for the night, who attested their vigilance two or three times during the night by seeing large bands of Indians ap- proaching, firing into their midst, rushing into the stock- ade, and demanding a forlorn hope to go out and investigate the case. The next day we arrived at Oak Springs, and found the neighborhood stockading the fort with pickets twelve feet high, split from trees, and set in a trench, making a formidable defense. The guards were set, the fires extinguished in the stockade, and every man, woman, and child camped down as best they might; and just as all had become hushed as the house of death the loud report of a gun from one of the sentinels sounded the alarm, and the fort instantancously became a bedlam. Impromptu officers hauled us about, jammed us against the pickets, bidding us stand there while they sought the stock of arms, knocked open the barrel of cartridges and distributed them. In the darkness and fright I cannot say how many cartridges found the inside of our muskets, but all was pro- nounced in perfect defensive order. The faithful guard was brought into council, and testified that sixty Indians came over the fence a few rods from the fort, the butts of their guns rattling on the top rail. A volunteer forlorn hope was obtained to investigate the situation. They 1
found the unyoked oxen used for hauling picketing had jumped over, and were feeding in the corner of the fence, All became quiet, but soon another sentinel came rushing in ; he was crawling along a fence, watching for Indians. and another was doing the same thing from an opposite direction, and on spying him had, as a faithful guardian, snapped his piece at him, and he escaped death only by the missing of a firelock.
" Next day we arrived at Galena, and found part of the town pieketed. A guard was set as, usual, and at about eleven o'clock came the crack of a gun, and a sentinel rushed in at the gate. Ile had been watching in the bushes at the brow of the hill overhanging the north side of the town; a cautious crawling and crackling of bushes approached him ; he leveled his piece, and watched for some time the approach of the Indian, till he at length sighted him on all-fours, took deliberate aim, fired, and all beeame silent. A forlorn hope, piloted to the spot by our faithful guard, found his unerring aim had planted a ball in the brain of a two-hundred-pound porker.
" The Galena Rangers, a company of 80 horsemen, thor- oughly equipped by the government, were dispatched to Atkinson Camp, at Rock River ferry. On arriving, near nightfall, at Buffalo Grove, twelve miles from Rock River, it was deemed unsafe to pass through before morning ; therefore they encamped on the open prairie about two miles from timber. Near midnight one of the guard fired, and reported a large band of Indians just crossed near the camp. Notwithstanding the earnest protestations of the next sentinel that they passed by him and consisted of three deer, this valiant band by one o'clock were in their saddles in full retreat for Galena, riding the entire distance, -near 80 miles,-and arriving at four o'clock in the afternoon, roguishly reporting that Black Ilawk was coming in rear with 5000 Indians, and would spare none. In five minutes the intense fright of the country was mani- fested in the screeching and screaming of women and chil- dren from one extremity of the town to the other. One man, catching the report, ran home ten miles into the country, and hurried his family and a neighbor's down a lead-mine shaft, thirty feet deep, having a good side-drift. After two days' incarceration, hearing no noise outside, he ventured his head to the top, and seeing a man traveling, learned from him that the story was a canard.
" The friendly Blue Mound, Menominee half-chief, true to the instincts of his nature, sent nine of his tribe to slaughter us; they killed two men traveling near our last landmark. Hlere lived Phileo, a mail contractor, whom the public journals of our county dubbed the scalping editor, owing to an article published in his 7 by 9 paper, giving an account of a hand-to-hand fight of eleven white men against eleven Indians, in which he boasted of having scalped two Indians. The nightly alarms and astounding hairbreadth escapes continued during our twenty days' stay in Galena."
Many incidents as Indierous perhaps as the foregoing occurred in Michigan, even though farther removed from the " seat of war." People yet living in this region speak of numerous frights which they experienced during the same time, when fears that the dusky warriors of Black
.
332
IIISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Hawk would penetrate to their defenseless settlements, and ply the tomahawk and fire-brand in merciless fury, possessed many hearts. Luckily for them, however, the issue was decided in time to prevent such proceedings, and the family of the pioneer once again rested in peace, while the roof above remained intact.
TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL, ETC.
Nearly through the centre of Sherwood township flows the St. Joseph River, which, although it has a rapid. current, winds along in the midst of a swampy valley, filled with a heavy growth of black ash and other trees peculiar to such a soil. In places this valley narrows, and everywhere its confines are high, bold banks, showing that the stream once occupied its entire breadth. Away from the vicinity of the river the soil is usually sandy. Several smaller streams flow into the St. Joseph, some of them being the outlets of large ponds. Across the extreme northwest corner of the township flows the Nottawa River ( Nottawa- sepee in the Indian tongue). Its characteristics are much the same as those of the St. Joseph. The latter stream becomes in its course a broad, magnificent river, and was one of the great highways of the prehistoric people, as well as the early French explorers and the numerous traders and trap- pers who traversed this region ere it was permanently settled by the white race. And after the latter event it was used as a channel in which to transport household goods, mer- chandise, machinery, etc., which had been sent " around the lakes" to its month. Flat-boats were principally used for such purposes. The St. Joseph, whose very name recalls to mind the efforts of the missionaries who gave it this appellation and established a mission at its mouth, is replete along its entire course with most interesting history ; not only that which has been made since the pioneer built his log cabin and commenced his clearing, but that of other days, still more remote, when warlike nations contended for the mastery of the region with all their savage skill, or when the devoted bands of men from foreign shores sought to establish claims for their respective governments, and build a powerful empire in this beautiful " land of lakes,"- all of which were destined to be frustrated, and the insti- tutions of a noble republic to rise in their stead. The development of the country since its first permanent settle- ment has been wonderfully rapid, and the person who can recall its appearance forty or fifty years ago, and contrast it with the present, can truly be amazed at the changes, even though he has witnessed them all.
The township of Sherwood was organized in the year 1836, by act of the Legislature, and included also the pres- ent township of Union, which was separately organized the succeeding year (1837). Sherwood was named at the in- stance of its first settler, Alexander E. Tomlinson, from Sherwood Forest, in England. When it is remembered that less than half a century has passed since this township was settled, the following figures from the State census of 1874 will be significant. The township, like all its neigh- bors, has had a remarkable growth.
POPULATION AND OTHER STATISTICS.
Total population in 1874 (575 males, 498 females) 1,073 No. of acres of taxable land
22,122
No. of acres of land owned by individuals and
companies
..
improved land.
4. land exempt from taxation .. 93 Valne of latter, including improvements. $16,100 7 No. of acres in school-house sites.
:
church and parsonage sites
1.50 3.50
Acres of property used or intended for other public purposes ..
3
No. of farms in township
183
" acres in farms
20,299
Average number of acres in farms
No. of acres of wheat raised in 1874
1873
..
corn
bushels of wheat ..
..
eorn "
all other grain raised in 1873 .. potatoes
5,559
..
tons of hay ent in 1873 1.440 18,088
pounds of wool sheared in 1873
pork marketed
butter made
fruit dried for market in 1873 ..
24,739
harrels of cider made in 1873 590
maple-sugar made in 1874.
1,300
acres in orehards.
393
bushels of apples raised in 1872
1873.
15,625
3
cherries "
44
melons and garden vegetables raised in 1872. 3,000
..
melons and garden vegetables raised in 1873 2,000
Total value of fruit and garden vegetables, 1872.
$3,822
.. 1873.
$3,822
No. of horses, one year old and over, owned in 1874.
541
¥ mnles owned in 1874.
2
work oxen
milch cows
516
neat cattle, one year old and over, other than oxen and eows
687
swine over six months okl.
1,403
sheep " .€
" sheared in 1873.
3,618
saw-mills (including one lumber and shingle. mill). persons employed in same ..
1
Amount of capital invested
$4,900
430,000 Feet of Inmber sawed.
Value of products. $2,210
1
No. of planing-mills. persons employed in same
2
Capital invested.
Value of products.
$2,000 $800
SETTLEMENT.
In the northern part of Sherwood and the southern part of the adjoining township of Athens, Calhoun Co., was what was known as the " Dry Prairie Settlement," from the prairie upon which it was located. The portion in Athens received the first arrivals, and quite a cluster of farms had been improved ere little of the surrounding land was entered, or the cabins of other pioneers erected. Conse- quently " Dry Prairie" was familiar to those who settled later, and after the name of Athens was adopted the loca- tion of that particular township was for some time unknown to many living in adjoining townships, who had grown most familiar with the name " Dry Prairie," and as such knew it.
The following persons, with their families, were living on the portion of the prairie embraced in Athens in 1832, viz. : Warren Nichols, Hiram Doubleday, Benjamin T. Ferris, Alfred Holcomb, Isaac Crossett, Lot Whitcomb, and Ambrose Nichols. In the month of July, 1832, the cholera made its appearance in the settlement, and numer- ous families were caused to mourn the loss of loved ones. Warren Nichols, his wife, and three children, and Isaac Crossett were buried within six days.
22,215 10,887
44 burying-grounds.
16
railroad right of way and depot grounds
110.92
3.423
3,364
1,885
37.059 58,467
9,244
144,574 47,995
15,625
plums
1872
4,534
PHOTOS BY KINOMARK
FROM TH
OSCAR CLINE ..
RESIDENCE OF OSCAR. CLI
CARTH WEST
MRS. OSCAR CLINE
UNE, HERWOOD, BRANCH CO ., MICH
333
IHISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The name of Sherwood Forest, in England, is familiar to all. There, in the "days of Auld Lang Syne," Robin Hood and his " merrie men" held high carnival; bold " Little John" and " Friar Tuck" won cach a page in his- tory, and those knights of the bow and quiver achieved wondrous deeds beneath the shades of the friendly trees. There stands Newstead Abbey, the birthplace of the poet whose lines have thrilled the nations of the world,-the immortal Byron,-he who espoused the Greek cause, and finally laid down his life in their territory. In Sherwood Forest, however, are his remains resting, far from the land where he witnessed scenes of strife and carnage. But little of the original forest now remains, although the name still elings tenaciously to the region so historie and so dear to the heart of every Briton.
The first white man who made a permanent settlement in Sherwood township was Alexander E. Tomlinson, who on the 11th of March, 1832, left his home in " Sherwood Forest" and set forth for the United States. He is a native of Nottingham, in the shire of the same name, and arrived at the Dry Prairie settlement in the month of July of the same year he left England (1832). When, in 1836, the organization of a new township was discussed the name of Sherwood was proposed by Mr. Tomlinson, in remembrance of the home of his earlier years. When, the same summer Mr. Tomlinson settled, the cholera made such terrible in- roads in the Dry Prairie settlement, he was building a log house, the first one in the township. Lot Whitcomb sold his place in Athens and removed to Sherwood, and built a house about the same time Mr. Tomlinson erected his.
The following persons located in Sherwood in 1833, viz. : Joseph D. Lane, Clement Russell. Robert Waldron, -the latter had been out previously and purchased his laud, dug up a small spot, sowed some apple-seed in it, and inclosed it with a pen four rails square. The trees which sprang from these seed are now growing on his old place, and are believed by Mr. Tomlinson to have been the first grown in Branch County. After arranging his pen, Mr. Waldron returned to New York State for his family, and the follow- ing season came back with them, driving the entire distance in a cart drawn by a yoke of oxen.
In 1834, Joseph Russell and William Minor arrived in town, and in 1835 the number of the settlers was increased by the arrival of Thomas West, Sr., and family, and Ben- jamin Blossom and family. John Giltner and family, Thomas Lee, John and Nahum Sargent, David Keyes, David R. Cooley, Sr., and Ira Palmer came in 1836-37, and after this the immigration was very rapid, so that in 1839 and 18-10 the township had become well filled.
F. R. Johnson has lived upon his present farm since 18.10.
F. C. Watkins first came to the State in 1832, and located in Calhoun County, following from JJackson a trail made by a Mr. Doubleday, who came through with a wagon some two months before. The track left by the wagon enabled Mr. Watkins to keep the trail. In 1835 the latter removed to Branch County, and is now residing on a fine farm in the northeast part of Sherwood, where for eighteen years he kept what was known as the " log tavern."
John Stantou settled in 1835 and died in 1852, and Benjamin Shaw came in 1840.
Thomas Lee located in Sherwood in 1836, with his family, on the farm where his son, llorace O. Lee, now resides. The elder Lee died in 1851. On this farm have been exhumed the bones of two Indian children, one ap- parently about ten years of age and the other older. Those of the younger were found when Mr. Lee excavated the cellar over which his house now stands, and the other in the fall of 1878. Those of the former are now in the possession of a physician residing at Athens, Calhoun Co.
Wolves were very troublesome during the early days in this township, and neither life nor property was safe from them. Two young men named Lanning, living on seetion 17, were on one occasion visiting at Mr. Lee's, and re- mained until after darkness had set in. They finally started for home, and soon the long-drawn and lugubrious howl of a wolf greeted their ears and struck terror to their hearts. Anon it was answered from another direction, and quickly the hungry brutes gathered upon their pathway, bent upon feasting on human flesh and blood. The situation of the young men was extremely perilous; they were a mile and a quarter from home and pressed elose by the rapacious brutes. Their feet moved rapidly in frantic endeavor to carry their owners to a place of safety, and at last they stopped, yelled shrilly at the wolves and clapped their hands. This had the effect of frightening the animals tem- porarily, and enabled the boys to gain upon them. The manœuvre was kept up until finally they reached home, pale and terribly agitated, and with no desire to undergo a like experience as long as they lived.
A young Indian, fifteen or sixteen years of age, was killed and devoured by wolves within a mile of Mr. Lee's present residence, but not before he had brained seven or eight of them with his hatchet. When his remains were found the dead wolves were discovered lying around the tree which he had undoubtedly stood with his back against while defending himself.
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.