USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 85
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tra Purdy, a native of St. Andrew's, Canada, but who had resided in Seneca Co., Ohio, since 1515, came from the
latter place in the fall of 1835, and settled first on Allen Prairie, May 10, 1836. He became a resident of that part of Quiney township now known as California. Stillman Ellwell came with him, and settled upon section 10. A few days later Azam and Horace Purdy, brothers of Ira, came in from Ohio. Azam located upon section 23, while Horace became one of the first settlers in Algansee township.
Mr. Ira Purdy was the one man in the settlement who was depended upon by his neighbors to do the milling, as he had a good team of horses, and knew how to drive and care for them. During the year 1837 a great scarcity of breadstuffs existed among the settlers in Southern Michigan. Thousands of families had come in from the States of New Vork and Ohio. Those who had settled years previously had already disposed of their stock on hand, and none could be obtained unless by traveling a long distance into Northern Indiana. Mr. Purdy's experiences and difficulties on one of these trips is well worth relating, and is as follows :
In June, 1837, Mr. Purdy had completed his arrange- ments, and was just on the point of driving off in search of flour for his starving neighbors, when he was approached by one John Perrin, a settler of Camden township, who said, " Mr. Purdy, if you have anything in your house in the shape of food, for God's sake and my suffering family let me have it; my family are starving! We have not eaten a mouthful of food, except what greens I have gath- ered from the woods, in three weeks, and we are sick and starving to death" (his family consisted of a wife and two children). Mr. Purdy had a bushel of wheat on his wagon, with which he intended to feed his team while on his journey. Ile said, " Take this wheat and save your family." The poor man took it on his back, weak as he was, and carried it seven miles to his home, where it was boiled, and fed his starving wife and little ones.
Mr. Purdy then proceeded on his way in quest of wheat or flour. He went to English Prairie, to Pretty Prairie, to Ox-Bow, Lima, and to White Pigeon, but not a kernel of grain could he procure at either, except a peek of oats at the latter place, for which he paid $2. From White Pigeon he proceeded on to Three Rivers, thence to Schoolcraft, to Mottville, to Bristol, Ind., and Elkhart; but nothing could be obtained for love or money until he reached Mishawaka, Ind., where he found a mill with a small supply of wheat on hand. Says Mr. Purdy, " I asked the miller if he had any flour to sell. He replied, 'I guess so; how much do you want ?' I answered, ' A ton.' 'I don't know as we have wheat enough to make it; I'll see.' He looked in his bins, and then said, 'I guess we have enough, and you can have it.' This was Saturday noon. I asked when he would have it ready for me. He answered, 'I don't think we can get it out to-day.' 'I wish you would, for my neighbors are starving.' 'I'll do the best I can,' replied the miller. He then started another run of stone. Soon after the ' boss' of the mill came in, to whom the case was stated. lle said, ' We can't get it out before Monday morning. We don't grind Suridays ; it's agin my principles.' Then, turn- ing on his heel, he walked off, and, while wrapped up in his self-righteousness, was willing to leave a whole neigh- borhood to suffer with hunger rather than to help them. The miller then said, ' Feed your team and bring your
342
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
bags. I'll grind this wheat before sleeping; will weigh it, set it there by the back door, and you can drive around in the morning as early as you choose. I'll be there, will throw it in your wagon, take the pay, and we'll let the old boss whistle about the Sunday business.'
" I was at the mill-door before daylight next morning, took on 2000 pounds of flour, for which I paid $100, and then started homeward rejoicing. I met a man the same day, who was also hunting for flour. He offered me $8 per ewt. for my load. I told him, 'No; money can't buy it.' That night I stopped at the hotel in Mottville. The land- Jord had a flaming sign out, but his barn was empty. Not a pound of hay nor a peck of grain had he, with which to feed a team. I told him I thought it was a pretty poor show. ' I know it,' says he ; ' but can't help it. [ can't get it.' I had seen a man mowiug and putting up some hay, baek on the other side of the river. Taking my halter, I walked over, and asked him if he could sell me a shilling's worth of hay. He said, ' Yes ; lay down your halter, and I will give you all you can earry.' He was an honest Dutch- man. When he had filled my halter with all that I thought I could carry I cried out enough, but he kept fill- ing up and pressing it down, saying, 'Py gracious ! if you eannot carry him, I will help you. Put him on your wagon,-you will need him.' Next morning the landlord charged me oue dollar for the use of his empty barn, a dollar for supper and breakfast, and 25 cents for lodging. This was a fair sample of the hotel accommodations re- ceived all along my route. When I reached home, after an absence of ten days, the neighbors came down upon me from far and near, some a distance of ten miles away. To each family I dealt out about forty pounds of flour."
This timely arrival no doubt saved many in the settle- ment from the verge of starvation. They were driven to the direst straits to procure a few of the very necessaries of life. Some even dug up and ate the potatoes they had planted, while others cut down the timber, burned it to ashes, from which " black salts" were made, and carried to Coldwater and Jonesville, and sold for a pittance in cash, or a few pounds of flour. Many stout hearts grew faint at the prospect before them, not knowing where food was coming from to carry them, their wives, and little children through until their first harvest. In many instances, before the wheat was ripe it was cut, dried, shelled by hand, boiled, and eaten to sustain life.
The spring and early summer of 1837 will always be remembered by those who were here at that period ; yet, when the trying ordeal was passed, amid an abundant har- vest which followed, their trials and privations were un- heeded, and ever after those who were industrious, and who practiced habits of economy, have had a sufficiency.
During the spring and summer of 1836 the settlement was still further increased in numbers by the arrival of Ira Cass, George Monlux, Israel R. Hall, Alexander Odren, Theodore G. Holden, John W. Harris, William Thompson ; and early in 1837 by Joseph W. Lawrence, a soldier of 1812, his son Joseph W., Jr., Jonathan Hall, and Jacob B. Broom. Which list, together with those previously mentioned, comprised all the resident tax-payers in town- ship S south, range 5 west, in the fall of 1837.
Ira Cass, a veteran of the war of 1812, and who had also served in the United States army as fife-major, was a native of Vermont. In May, 1836, accompanied by his brother-in-law, George Monlux, and a family composed of his sons Lewis, Ezra, Ira, Jr., Martin, and six daughters, he started from Muskingum Co., O., and arrived here during the same month. Their journey of some three hundred miles abounded in many difficulties. It is related that during the latter part of it they became involved in the almost bottomless morasses of the famous Black Swamp, where they were three days in gaining a distance of three miles. Mr. Monlux was a Virginian, and became the first supervisor of the township. Ira Cass was a character in the settlement, and perhaps no historieal reminiscence of the pioneers would be considered complete that did not allude to him and his characteristics. He was the father of 16 children, a majority of whom are still living. He elaims to be a relative of the Hon. Lewis Cass, and asserted that he might have been "one of his pups" if he would, but he chose to strike out and depend upon his own re- sources for a living, and many were the expedients resorted to by him to gain an honest livelihood for his numerous family. He was frank and generous to a fault, patriotic in the fullest sense of the word, and many a tale of frontier life and border warfare did he unfold to his neighbors during leisure hours. And the hardships and privations he had there endured most admirably fitted him for pioneer life in his Michigan home. He was very fond of tobacco, -an inveterate chewer. To use his own words, he had a " remarkable swallow." A threepenny paper scarcely suf- fived to make two good chews. It was his habit to preserve his " sojers," by laying them upon a stump, log, rail fence, or wherever he chanced to be, when he disgorged in favor of a fresh one. It is related that a hunter was out in the woods one day in quest of game, and discovered away off at a long distance what he supposed was a wild turkey sitting on a log. After cautiously approaching to within gun-shot range he fired, and the object fell to the ground ; but what was his chagrin and disappointment, ou walking up, to find that instead of shooting a turkey he had only brought down one of Unele Cass' big quids.
In the latter years of his life he became a convert to Christianity ; was very zealous, and appeared anxious to make the very best use of the time left him. He was chosen class-leader, and one evening, while in the midst of an earnest exhortation, entreating his hearers to come forth and join the army of the Lord, he whipped out of his pocket a plug of tobacco, and cramming nearly one-half of it into his capacious mouth, exclaimed, " And yit there's room." This expression, coupled with the application, banished all seriousness during the remaining part of that session.
Alexander Odren, who settled upon section 1 in the carly part of the year 1836, was born in Detroit in 1791, and without doubt is now the oldest native living in the State of Michigan. His life has been an eventful one, and his recollections are worthy of some space in these pages.
He remembers when the city of Detroit was a towu of about 80 rods square, being bounded by the fort and river, the whole inclosed by a stockade, except along the river
343
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
front. Every third post of the stockade was loop-holed, through which the garrison could fire at an approaching foe. At sunset the guards with fife and drum would gather up the Indians, and send them outside the fortifica- tions to their eamp at Springwells. Tecumseh with his braves was encamped near the city, and at one time was joined by thousands of the Sauks and Foxes, who came down the river in their birch-bark canoes, under the leader- ship of Dickinson. Mr. Odren describes Tecumseh as having been a tall and very ugly-looking Indian. When Mr. Odren was a young man he went to Malden to learn the baker's trade. While there he knew that human fiend, Simon Girty. One evening young Odren, in company with a number of other young men, went out from Malden to attend a social party. On their return they were set upon by a British press-gang, who captured five of them, inelud- ing Odren. They were taken on board the British man-of- war " The Queen Charlotte." Two of the young men, who were native Canadians, were released, but Odren and the other two young Americans were impressed into the British service. ITis employer came on board, and offered to furnish another man if they would release Odren, but the officer in command would not part with him, and he was kept in the enemy's service more than a year, at the expiration of which time he was captured by Commodore Perry, at the battle of Lake Erie. Previous to and during this sanguinary conflict he was the second in command of a 24-pound gun. When the battle commeneed the gun was manned by nine men ; at its close Odren and one other man were the only survivors, and the other man had an arm shattered. He describes this as having been a most desperate engagement. Perry's force was largely composed of deserters from Barelay's command at Niagara, and they fought with the greatest desperation, knowing well that if captured by the British their lives would pay the penalty. Mr. Odren helped rig Perry's disabled fleet at Put-in-Bay, after which, with other prisoners, he was taken to Chilli- cothe, O.
One day he was permitted to leave camp for four hours, when he started out to find Capt. Dryson, who was from Detroit, and had known him while a boy. The object of his search eluded him for some time, but finally he met the captain and accosted him. The officer did not recognize him until he was reminded of the many times he had made Odren fight battles with the other boys. When his identity had been established, the captain accompanied him to the quarters of Gen. McCarty, the officer in command of the post. Odren then made affidavit as to his nationality, when he was released, and immediately enlisted in the Second Rifle Reg- iment, and did what he could to repay the enemy for oblig- ing him to fight against his countrymen. He did not, how- ever, see much more active service, as the war was nearly ended. lle remained in the army, doing garrison duty for several months after the close of the war, and was then dis- charged. When the war of the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Odren, then seventy years of age, offered his services to help defend the Union, but was not accepted. To the re- eruiting-officer who refused him he said that he could stay in garrison and handle a musket as well as any man. Ile had four sons in the Union army, one of whom gave up
his life in defense of his country's flag. Another was in the company which captured Jeff. Davis in petticoats. . 1 grandson, in charge of a wagon-train, was with Custer at the time of the massaere. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Odren were married in 1815. Mrs. Odren is eighty-two years of age, the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom are living.
Hiram Ellis, with his sons, Willard T. and Harley 11., came from Livingston Co., N. Y., and settled upon section 15 in 1844. The father and sons have been prominent men in the township.
Henry Kelso, the present supervisor, came from Living- ston Co., N. Y., and settled first in Clinton, Lenawee ('o., Mich., in 1833. In November, 1835, he became a resident of Girard township. The following spring he removed to section 36, Union township, where he remained fifteen years, since which time he has been a citizen of California.
James Craig-a Girard pioneer-settled here at an early day, and built the first framed house, on section 15, in 1839. J. H. Lawrence erected the second framed house, 1815. The first brick house was built by Ira A. Adams, in 1873. Mr. Adams has resided in California thirty-eight years. Sereno Gillett is also one of the earliest pioneers of the township, having been a resident since 1837. He was very poor when he came, worked day and night, and on Sundays he would chop down trees for his cattle to browse upon.
The first marriage in the settlement was that of Abraham Ackerson and Katy, his adopted sister. The first birth, a son of Fra Cass, now a stalwart blacksmith. The wife of Israel R. Hall was the first to depart this life in the town. The residents in 1847 were as follows :
Section 1 .- Alexander Odren, Ridgway Craft, Benja- inin George, Sereno Gillett, Jonah Gillett, John Odren, Theo. G. Holden, William Weston, William P. Holden.
Section 2 -Fra Cass, Samuel Doyle, Henry Doyle. Julius Luse, Joshua Pridgeon, James Wade.
Section 3 .- Ira Purdy.
Section 4 .- Israel R. Hall, Samuel Beach, William Dunlap, George Monlux, William Talmadge, John Doyle, Henry Doyle, Jr., Adolphus Wells, Abel Parker.
Section 5 .- David Gibson.
Section 6 .- Isaae Bailey, Thomas Bailey, Isaac Bailey, Jr., Benjamin George, David Graham.
Section 7 .- Lyra Moltroup, Thomas Palmateer, G. D. Avery.
Section 8 .- Stephen M. Talmadge, James Gabb, Gilbert Gordinier.
Section 9 .- W. HI. Lathrop, O. N. Chapin, J. H. IFall, Hart. Ilazen.
Section 10 .- J. W. Lawrence, J. W. Lawrence, .Fr., James II. Lawrence, Lucian B. Hall, John V. Burt, Cephas B. Dresser, Nathan Austin.
Section 11 .- Chauncey Miles, Joseph Reynolds, T. II. Reynolds, Joseph F. Reynolds, Daniel Diamond, Lewis Cass.
Section 12 .- Henry Trumbull, Isaac N. Miner, John M. Miner, Charles Reynolds, Azam Purdy, William G. Thompson, Ebenezer Adams.
Section 13 .- Chauncey Reynolds.
Section 14 .- Ramstell, Bradley & Goodman.
1
344
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Section 15 .- Hiram Ellis, James Craig.
Section 16 .- Norman Melendy, Taleott Merwin, John Paul, David Paul, John W. Harris.
Section 17 .- Edward Shay.
Section 18 .- Andrew J. Critchfield, Delos Greenfield, Richard E. Palmateer, Martin Tillottson, Gilman Withing- ton, Lucas Withington, Abram Palmateer.
Section 19 .- Zebina Broughton.
Section 22 .- Thomas Hall, J. M. Hall.
Section 23 .- Charles W. Lawrence. Section 24 .- Robert Merrill.
Others here were William Palmateer, James Kirkpat- rick, George Hall, Cephas W. Beach, and George Bryant.
CIVIL HISTORY.
California, the last township organized in the county, until June 29, 1832, formed part of Green township, which then included the whole of Branch County. It then became a part of Coldwater township, remaining as such until March 23, 1836, when it was set off with the present towns of Quincy and Algansee, as Quincy town- ship. April 2, 1838, it became a part of Algansee, and continued under that name until March 25, 1846, when, by an act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, it began a separate existence as California township.
The act reads as follows : " All that part of the county of Branch designated by the United States survey as town- ship No. 8 south, of range No. 5 west, be, and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of 'California,' and the first township-meeting shall be held at the school-house in school district No. 3, in said township."
Proceedings of First Township-Meeting .- At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of California, held at the school-house in school-district No. 3, in said town, on the 4th of May, 1846, Samuel Beach was elected Moderator ; Isaac N. Miner, Talcott Merwin, Lyra Moltroup, Joseph W. Lawrence, Sr., Inspector of Election ; and Cephas B. Dresser, Clerk.
The people then procceded to the election of township officers, by ballot, which resulted as follows : George Mon- lux, Supervisor; William Beach, Township Clerk ; Ira Purdy, Treasurer ; Samuel Beach, George D. Avery, James M. Hall, Robert Merrill, Justices of the Peace ; James Craig, Talcott Merwin, Assessors of the Poor; Isaac N. Miner, Talcott Merwin, Thomas II. Reynolds, Highway Commissioners ; Chauncey Miles, Cephas B. Dresser, School Inspectors ; Alexander Odren, Jr., Andrew J. Critchfield, John C. Reynolds, Constables. Overseers of Highways : District 2, Isaac Purdy ; district 3, Hart Hazen ; district 4, Thomas H. Reynolds ; district 11, Sereno Gillett ; dis- trict 12, Ebenezer Adams ; district 17, James Hall ; district 21, John C. Reynolds; district 20, Samuel Beach.
At this time 60 votes were cast for the candidates for the office of supervisor, of which George Monlux received 29; Israel R. Hall, 18; and Hiram Ellis, 13.
It was resolved, "That no licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors for the ensuing year ;" also, " That we will pay five dollars bounty for every full-grown wolf or bear caught and killed in this town."
Jurors, 1846 .- Hiram Ellis, David Graham, Grand ; Hart Hazen, Lyra Moltroup, Petit.
At the gubernatorial election, held Nov. 2, 1847, James M. Edmonds received 26 votes; Epaphroditus Ransom, 21;'and Chester Gurney, 3 votes.
In 1856, Kinsley S. Bingham received for the office of governor, 64 votes ; Alpheus Felch, for the same office, 51 votes.
The gubernatorial candidates for 1860 received the fol- lowing number of votes : Austin Blair, 87 ; John S. Barry, 66.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisors.
Town Clerks.
Treasurers. Ira Purdy.
1847.
Joseph II. Hall.
16
1848. David Paul.
1849. George Monlux.
Hiram Ellis.
Joseph H. Hall.
1850.
1851.
W'm. D. Merwin.
1852. David Paul.
Hiram Ellis.
1853.
Joseph 11. Ilall.
1854. George Monlux.
W. Il. Lathrop.
..
1855. David Paul.
1856. =
Henry Kelso.
James Paul.
1857.
Il. N. Lawrence.
Johu Iliscock.
1858, Ilenry Kelso.
Henry C. Wells. ..
James Paul. .. 4.
1859. David Paul.
1860. Harley I1. Ellis.
H. N. Lawrence.
Ira Purdy.
I861.
..
.4
IS62.
David Panl.
1863. Henry Kelso.
Willard T. Ellis.
Wm. Carithers.
1864. Willard T. Ellis.
Calvin 1. Merwin.
=
1865.
James N. Averill.
..
Robert M. Cairns.
1867. John Paul.
1868. 44
1869. Daniel A. Douglass.
66
Peter D. Gibson.
1871. John Paul, Jr.
4 .
William L. Monlux.
1873.
Edward P. Wallace.
1874. Edward P. Wallace. M. D. Colvin. A. W. Bates.
1875. James N. Averill.
John Paul, Jr. ..
Robert M. Cairns. = 66
1876. ..
1877.
1878. Ileary Kelso.
Howard W. Miller. Stan. S. Lothridge.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1846. Samuel Beach. IS62. John Hiscock.
George D. Avery.
1863. James Paul.
James M. Ilall. Peter G. Decker.
Robert Merrill. 1864. James Panl.
1847. George D. Avery.
Hiram Ellis.
1848. Hart Hazen. Benjamin George.
1866. Samuel Hamer.
1849. James M. Ilall.
Edward E. Gibson.
1850. Charles W. Lawrence.
1867. David Panl.
1851. Benjamin George. Walter H. Lathrop.
1869. George L. Gray. James Paul.
1852. Isaac N. Miner.
1853. James M. Ilall. 1870. Joseph W. Lawrence.
1854. Hart Hazen.
1871. David Paul. Hiram Thompson.
1855. Ilenry Havens.
1872. James Paul.
1856. Israel R. Ilall.
Charles G. Seeley.
Lyra Moltroup.
1873. Charles Raymond.
1857. James M. Hall.
1874. William Stockdale.
IS58. Iliram Ellis.
1875. David Paul.
1859. James Paul.
1876. A. C. Stokes.
1860. Jacob G. Moltroup.
1877. Charles Raymond.
1861. David Paul.
William Bates.
- 1862. Henry N. Lawrence.
1878. Robert M. Cairns. Charles G. Seeley.
..
=
1870.
44
1872. Henry Kelso. ..
1866. David Paul.
Ira Purdy.
46
1846. George Monlux.
William Beach.
1868. William Bates,
Lester Broughton.
1865. David Paul.
345
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
1846. Isanc M. Miner.
1861. Orrin Whitten.
Talcott Merwin.
1862. Joseph W. Lawrence.
Thomas Reynolds. 1863. Thomas II. Reynolds.
847. John V. Burt. 1861. Gilbert Gordinior.
Thomas I1. Reynolds.
1865. Joseph W. Lawrence.
David Gibson.
1866. Orrin Whitten.
1848. Lester Broughton.
1867. Hugh MeMurray.
1849. Thomas II. Reynolds.
18GS. Jeremiah Depne.
1850. Nathan Austin.
1869. Orrin Whitten.
1851. Stephen Talmadge.
Joseph W. Lawence.
1852. Charles W. Lawrence. 1870. Hugh MeMurray.
1853. William G. Thompson.
1871. Joseph W. Lawrence.
1854. Stephen M. Talmadge.
1972. Orrin Whitten.
1855. Norman Melendy.
1873. Archibald Bates.
1856. Thomas Hall.
1874. R. E. Comstock.
1857. Charles W. Lawrence.
1875. J. 11. Lawrence.
1858. Thomas II. Reynolds.
1876. Alexander Vance.
1859. Willard T. Ellis.
187 *. E. B. Forbes.
lliram Thompson.
1878. Robert M. Cairns.
1860. Gilman Withingten.
STATISTICAL-1837-1874.
The resident land-owners of California township in 1837, their location by sections, number of acres owned, and the number and kind of live stock possessed by each at that date is shown by the following list :
Samuel Beach, section 4, 160 acres, 3 cows, 6 oxen, 2 horses.
Israel R. llall, sections 3, 4, and 9, 430 acres, 3 cows, 3 oxen, 2 horses.
Ira Purdy, section 3, 80 acres, 2 cows, 2 horses.
Azam Purdy, section 23, 80 acres, 1 cow, 2 horses.
Ira Cass, sections 2 and 3, 80 acres, 1 horse.
George Monlux, section 4, 80 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen.
Alexander Odren, section 1, 160 acres, 1 cow.
Theodore G. Holden, sections 1, 2, and 12, 640 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen.
John W. llarris, section 1, 40 acres, I cow.
William Thompson, section 12, 40 acres.
Stillman Elwell, section 10, 160 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen, 3 horses.
Joseph W. Lawrence, Sr., sections 5 and 34, 240 neres.
Jacob B. Brown, section 6, 80 acres.
Jonathan Hall, section 6, 80 acres, ] cow, 2 oxen.
In addition to those before mentioned, the following ap- peared upon the rolls in 1838 :
Fowler Quimby, section 1, 10 acres, 1 cow.
Ridgeway Craft, section 1, 40 acres, 3 cows.
Justus Leuse, section 12, 40 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen.
Joseph F. Reynolds, section 11. 40 acres, 2 cows, 2 oxen.
John Vincent, section 11, 40 acres, I cow, 2 oxen.
Gilbert Gordinier, section 8, 40 neres, 2 cows, 2 oxen.
James 11. Lawrence, section 10. 80 acres, 2 oxen. J. W. Lawrence, Jr., section 5, 80 acres, I cow.
James Craig, section< 15 and 21, 101 acres.
Rev. George Bryant, section 16: no taxes levied.
Asel Whitney, section 6, 160 acres, I cow, 2 oxen.
Isaac Withey, section 6, 70 acres, 1 cow, 2 oxen.
1874.
Population ...
841
Total area (acres).
13,275
Acres in farm lands
11,625
improved.
6,080 1-19
Farmers.
Aeres of wheat growing, June, 18744
1,842
.. harvested, 1875.
1,567
corn harvested, 1873
1,104
Bushels wheat harvested, 1873 ..
32,036
corn harvested, 1873.
38,624
.. other grain harvested. 1873
10,130
potatoes harvested, 1873.
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