USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 42
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In 1836, Abram Hadden, a brother of Amos, took up his residence in the vicinity, and, simultaneously, several of his old neighbors from New York settled in Clarence, Sheridan, and Marengo, thereby forming what has since been known as the " Rice Creek Settlement." Benjamin Thomas, a settler of 1836, in Ma- rengo, from Sardinia, Erie county, New York, removed in 1839 to a farm situated in the central northern part of the township. A dense growth of timber covered the land, to reach which it was necessary to clear a road with the axe. A log house was built, and sufficient land cleared to get in a corn crop during the next season. During the fall of 1840 Thomas was away assisting some settlers at their harvest- ing; his wife, fearing to remain alone, went to a neighbor's two miles away to remain till his return. While there the fire went out, and to obtain a light they started for a house four miles distant. Their light was carried back in a lantern, along a route indicated by marked trees. A day was occupied in making the journey. The house had no door, and by night wolves gathering from the forest kept up a continual howling ; at times they ventured near the entrance, from which they were barred by dread of a good fire well maintained.
It is related by Mrs. Thomas that on one occasion, her husband being away, his father, an old man, and herself were the sole occupants of the house. A loud outcry was heard among the hogs in the pen, and on going to ascertain the cause a large bear was found in the pen trying to lift out a hog. Bruin paid no heed to her demonstrations, but when the old gentleman appeared with an axe in hand retreated to the woods. The hog was so badly injured that it soon died. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas still reside on the old place, grown dear by association and changed by the progress of time. B. S. Ward settled near the Eaton line, in the northern part of the town, and lives there at this time. In 1840, D. P. Wood, for one or two years a resident of Albion, desirous to improve his condition, set out for Clarence, and made his way around Duck lake into Lee. He settled about a mile from Thomas, on the same road. Not having money to pay for his forty acres, he found work by the day, and so acquired possession. A cow was bought by the same means. A log hut was built, and, unchinked, occupied till fall. It was his home for two years. In August, 1840, some land cleared was in crop, when Mr. Wood was married to Maria Payne, of Jackson county. Joseph Gardinier hauled his goods to the marsh edge, and Wood drew them across upon
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
an ox-sled. These were the preliminary movements to the acquisition of one of the best farms in the township,-a present valuable and comfortable home.
Among those of other early settlers we find the names of Stephen Aldrich, F. Garfield, John Weaver, T. S. Havens, Charles R. Thomas, and Jesse Ackley. Early in 1836 Sidney S. Alcott located the major portion of sections 6 and 7. During the year following he built a saw-mill on a branch of Indian creek, -a small stream running through the northwest part of the township. The mill was operated for several years by F. Garfield, but being burned was never replaced. It was the only water-power saw-mill built in the township. Illustrative of Lee's natural attractions and condition on April 5, 1836, it is related that Colonel Charles Dickey, in company with S. S. Alcott and others, started into Lee to look out land. In attempting to cross a morass the colonel got in up to his neck. There was not a settler in the northern part of the town, and the explorer was obliged to wear his wet clothing throughout the day. The party having left their horses in the woods near the creek, experienced considerable difficulty in finding them when ready to return. Late at night Lane's tavern was reached, and a supper made upon dried beef and shortcake baked before the fire. Colonel Dickey pronounces it the most palatable supper he has ever enjoyed.
As a result of this expedition the colonel located six lots on section 5, two on section 4, and one each on sections 8 and 9. These lots were entered in the names of different parties. A stock company was formed in 1844 by G. W. Dryer and others, and known as the " Dover Company." They purchased a large body of land in the vicinity of what is now called Partello Post-Office, and began the erection of a mill, which they failed to complete. The frame having stood for years finally fell through decay. In time the property was purchased by J. R. Partello and a saw-mill erected. The mill was destroyed by fire within a year or two, and, another succeeding having burned, none other has been built. At this point quite a hamlet sprung up. Here are some eight or ten dwellings, a store kept by Charles Osborn, the present town clerk ; a shoe-shop, in which is kept the post-office, and a small cider-mill, owned by D. W. Murray and erected in 1872. It was run by horse-power. In 1876 the mill was supplied by a run of stone, and a steam-engine superseded the horse-power. The capacity is equal to the requirements of the neighborhood.
In 1856 a mill was erected by Messrs. Fisher & Bean, at Lee Centre. It was scarcely completed when Mr. Greenough, purchasing a large interest, took charge of the business,-sawing and stave-making. The structure, burned in 1862, was rebuilt as a stave-mill by L. B. Fisher and J. S. Scarlett. It is now owned and run by Martin Dedrick. Anticipating a village, a store and a number of dwellings were built contemporary with the first mill; these buildings, save those removed, are falling into decay through disuse. The store building is utilized as a town-house for the transaction of public business.
Settlement here is a question of time ; it was premature, but will be permanent. Large deposits of iron ore exist in the vicinity, but so far no movement towards mining has been made. Its presence has been ascertained on sections 4, 5, 9, 10, and 12,-lands belonging to O. W. Miller, D. P. Wood, N. W. Paine, H. B. Thomas, M. Kelly, and D. O. Codwise. The time approaches when these deposits will prove a source of great wealth to the townspeople. Undeveloped resources will ultimately give this section prominence. In addition to mineral wealth, the great marsh, comprising nearly one-half of the township, will, when drained, con- stitute most valuable farm lands. The project of drainage is under consideration, and, when realized, will give Lee as good soil as exists in the country. Small streams flow through the town ; of these, Big Creek, rising near the centre, flows to the northeast into Eaton county; Indian creek crosses the northwest corner. A southern branch of this stream rises in School lake and Lake of the Woods, which, together with Pardy lake, are situated in the western part of the town- ship. All three are amply stocked with excellent fish.
CHRONOLOGY OF EARLY BIRTHS.
Events of to-day, lightly regarded, gain value with the lapse of time. Authenti- cated statement, timely chronicled, renders honors only to the deserving. The first white child in Lee was James, son of Nicholas Stanley, born July 31, 1836. The first female child was Dorcas J. Hadden, daughter of Amos Hadden, born October 4, 1838. She now resides in Barry county, and is the wife of M. F. McCormick. The second birth in the township was of Nathaniel Hadden, August 7, 1836. Mr. Hadden is a present resident of Sandusky, Ohio. The first birth in the northern settlement was of Elijah J. Thomas, in May, 1840.
However balmy the air, whatever the fertility of the soil, there is no locality exempt from death. This was exemplified in Lee by the decease of the child lost in the woods, and by the violent death of his father, Nicholas Stanley, killed by the caving well on January 19, 1838. The first grave-yard in Lee was located about 1837, in the extreme southeast corner of the town. A second was laid out
in 1845, in the northern part of the town, and the first person there buried was named Ezra Pierce.
EDUCATIONAL.
The people of Lee have not been dilatory regarding the establishment and sup- port of schools. The first school building was erected in 1839, on land owned by Amos Hadden, and situated in the southeast corner of the township. The walls were composed of hewn logs, and the interior was destitute of the apparatus known to the houses of to-day. Into this pioneer structure Miss Elizabeth Farrer, now living in Marshall, was introduced as teacher, and there was a school in Lee. The first school in the northern settlement was opened in 1845, by Sophia Stowell,. later the wife of Henry Crittenden, of Albion. The old log building used stood near the centre of the township. The area of Lee is apportioned into seven dis- tricts, which maintain a corresponding number of schools.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Methodism, early planted, has shown healthful and vigorous growth. In 1841-42 Amos Hadden and wife, B. H. Carrier and wife, Silas Wood and wife, C. Han- chett and wife, D. H. Miller and wife, and Abram Hadden and wife, residents of Marengo, Sheridan, Clarence, and Lee, united to form a society, and, choosing Silas Wood for class-leader, erected a church edifice in the northeast part of Marengo.
A Sabbath-school was organized in 1845, by Albertus Green, in a school-house located on the land of J. Wetmore, in section 9. The school was maintained and well attended for a number of years.
A Methodist Episcopal society was formed in 1847, in the school-house at Lee Centre. It numbered six persons, viz., Mrs. Luff, Henry Harris, D. P. Wood and wife, and Leander Curtis and wife. The last named was class-leader, and H. Harris was their first preacher. The society numbers twenty members, and, under the management of the pastor, Rev. A. M. Finch, much interest is manifest. The school above noted is connected with this society.
Partello Methodist society was organized by Rev. Nichols during April, 1875, with A. L. Gipson, Charles Osburn, Charles Miller, and their wives, as members. Services are held by the pastor, Rev. Miller, in the school-house at Partello Post- Ofice. The society is prosperous, and maintains a Sabbath-school during the summer season.
A society entitled " Church of the Living God" was formed by Elder Rhodes, and numbers forty members. Services are held in the school-house on section 16. An essential to their belief is the efficacy of faith and prayer to cure the sick without assistance from physicians.
A society of United Brethren exists in the eastern part of the township. Meetings are held in the school-house on section 10. Their discipline excludes from membership all persons belonging to secret societies.
TOWN-MEETINGS.
The first annual town-meeting of the township was held on Monday, April 6, 1840, at the house of F. Garfield. F. Garfield was chosen moderator, and Sidney S. Alcott clerk for the day. The following-named officers were then duly elected : Supervisor, John Weaver; Town Clerk, F. Garfield; Treasurer, Jesse Ackley ; Collector, Benj. Thomas ; Assessors, F. Garfield, Amos Hadden, Stephen Aldrich ; Justices, F. Garfield, T. S. S. Holmes, Amos Hadden, Chas. R. Thomas; Over- seers of Highways, Amos Hadden, Chas. Thomas, F. Garfield, J. Ackley; Com- missioners of Highways, Amos Hadden, J. Ackley, Oliver Thomas; School In- spectors, Amos Hadden, Stephen Aldrich, Benj. Thomas; Poor-masters, John Ackley, Wm. Garfield; Constables, John Clough, E. Aldrich.
The whole number of votes cast was twelve. The largest number at a town election, two hundred and ten ; at general election, two hundred and seventy-two.
SUPERVISORS OF LEE.
The following-named gentlemen have held the office of supervisor and town clerk :
Supervisors .- 1840, John Weaver; 1841-42, Benj. Thomas; 1843-48, Andrew Sneider ; 1848, Benj. Thomas ; 1849, R. B. Wood; 1850, R. Balcom ; 1851-54, D. P. Wood; 1854-59, Daniel Tabor ; 1859, A. S. Ford; 1860-65, D. Tabor ; 1865, D. P. Wood ; 1866-69, D. W. Murry ; 1869, H. M. Thomas; 1870, D. S. Tabor ; 1871, L. C. Handy ; 1872-73, H. M. Thomas ; 1874, Henry A. Clute ; 1875, D. W. Murry; 1876, David Bennett ; 1877, H. A. Clute.
Town Clerks .- 1840-44, Frederick Garfield; 1844, Barney Brannagan ; 1845, F. Garfield; 1846-47, B. Brannagan ; 1848, F. Garfield ; 1849-50, D. P. Wood ; 1851-54, M. Woodmanson ; 1854, Benj. Thomas ; 1855, M. Woodmanson ; 1856- 59, D. P. Wood; 1859, A. C. Jewell; 1860-61, Benj. Thomas; 1862, William Duryee; 1863, J. T. Scarlett ; 1864, C. B. Wood ; 1865, J. T. Scarlett ; 1866- 77, Chas. Osburn.
MRS. MARY JANE HADDEN.
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AMOS HADDEN.
RESIDENCE OF AMOS HADDEN, SEC. 36. LEE TP., CALHOUN CO., MICH
RESIDENCE OF H. A. CLUTE, SEC. 31. LEE TP, CALHOUN CO., MICHIGAN.
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RESIDENCE OF S . S. WARE, ATHENS, CALHOUN COUNTY, MICH.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
PRESENT OFFICERS, 1877.
Supervisor, H. A. Clute ; Clerk, C. Osburn ; Treasurer, S. H. Jewett ; School Inspector, A. C. Jewett; Highway Commissioner, C. H. Short ; Justice, D. P. Wood; Constables, Richard E. Smith, Gilbert Cooley, Emery Thomas, Geo. Win- negar. R. A. Johnson has been justice of the peace for eighteen years, the longest time the office has been held by any one person in the township.
Population of Lee .- Males, 612; females, 503; total, 1115.
Live-Stock .- Horses, 357 ; work oxen, 53; milch cows, 330; neat cattle, other than work oxen and cows, 426; swine, six months old, 568; sheep, six months old, 2373; sheep sheared 1873, 2820; mules, 10.
Wheat on the ground May, 1874, 1850 acres; wheat harvested 1873, 1503 acres; corn harvested 1873, 746 acres ; wheat raised 1873, 22,443 bushels ; corn raised 1873, 41,428 bushels ; other grain 1873, 13,680 bushels ; potatoes raise ; 1873, 6834 bushels ; hay cut 1873, 1239 tons ; wool sheared 1873, 9165 poundsd pork marketed, 31,404 pounds ; cheese made 1873, 50 pounds ; butter made 1873, 35,690 pounds; fruit dried 1873, 4528 pounds ; cider made 1873, 352 barrels ; maple-sugar 1873, 340 pounds ; orchards, 306 acres ; apples raised 1873, 10,003 bushels ; peaches raised 1873, 3 bushels; pears raised 1873, 51 bushels ; cherries raised 1873, 146 bushels ; grapes raised 1873, 14 hundredweight ; garden veget- ables, 450 bushels.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
AMOS HADDEN.
A leading man in the Rice Creek settlement, so called, was and is Amos Had- den, the subject of our sketch. He settled therein, in what is now known as Lee township, on the 31st day of October, 1835, with his wife and one boy, Smith Hadden, locating on section 36, township 1 south, range 5 west, purchas- ing one hundred and twenty acres, and adding subsequently thereto, until his pres- ent farm contains two hundred acres. His nearest neighbor then was four miles distant. His farm was situated in the midst of heavy oak openings, which he has. cleared off and built him a snug comfortable home, and commodious barns for his stock and grain, a view of which improvements we present on another page. Mr. Hadden was born in Windham, Schoharie county, New York, February 9, 1810. His parents, Smith and Susanna (Townsend) Hadden, were natives of the same State, and Amos was one of ten children who lived to maturity. The family resided in Windham for six years after the birth of Amos, and then removed to Mentz, Cayuga county, New York, where they remained for twelve years, removing thence to Oswego for eight years, and from thence to Michigan ; Amos remaining the whole period with his father, engaged in farming. On the 30th of September, 1830, Mr. Hadden was married to Mary J., daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Waldo) Dutcher, natives of New York. She was born in Washington township, Dutchess county, New York, November 5, 1811. The fruits of this union were the following-named children : Smith, now of Olivet, Eaton county, Michigan ; Jerome, now deceased; Nathaniel A., of Sandusky, Ohio; Dorcas J., now deceased ; Newton D., who died of typhoid fever in the war for the Union, while a corporal of Company F, Ninth Michigan Infantry, at Elizabethtown, Kentucky, February 8, 1862; and Leonora L., now Mrs. M. F. McCormick, of Nashville, Barry county. In politics Mr. Hadden is a Repub- lican, and was a member of the Whig party formerly, but cast his first vote for General Jackson. He has been a member of the Methodist church for half a
century, and his excellent helpmeet but four years less. He contributed largely to the building of the Methodist church in the Rice Creek settlement. He has held the office of justice of the peace for four years, and other township offices.
TRUMAN PLINY WALKER,
the subject of the present sketch, was born in Huron township, Lorain county, Ohio, February 3, 1830. His father, Truman Walker, was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Anna (Carpenter) Walker, was born in Massachusetts. The lad lived at home with his parents until he attained his majority, attending the com- mon schools of the country and assisting on the farm. When he was twenty-one years of age he removed to Michigan and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Lee township, to which he brought his father and mother, and duti- fully cared for them till their decease. His farm was wild and unbroken when he bought it, but by his industry and good management he has brought it up to one of the many good farms of the county.
On the 16th December, 1856, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Caroline Smith, who was born June 15, 1839, and whose parents, Frederick I. and Parnell (Joyce) Smith, natives of the eastern States, removed to Ohio and from thence to Lee. The father is living in Illinois with his oldest daughter. Three sons have blessed Mr. Walker's marriage,-Artemas, James H., and John F. Mrs. Walker died December 1, 1864, and Mr. Walker has never re-married, but keeps his first faith unbroken. She was a faithful wife and able and efficient helpmeet.
In politics, Mr. Walker is a Democrat. We present our readers with a view of Mr. Walker's fine residence and portraits of himself and wife on another page of our work.
ATHENS TOWNSHIP.
THE township of Athens is located in the southwestern extremity of the county, and is geographically designated as town 4 south, of range 8 west. About one- sixth of its area is fine prairie land, about ten sections of heavily-timbered land, and the balance oak openings. The principal streams are the Nottawa-seepe and Pine creeks, which unite in section 29, and form a large tributary to the St. Joseph river, which they enter in Kalamazoo county, a few miles below. On the south side of the Nottawa, and touching its banks, is the prairie, and on the opposite side was one of the finest tracts of timbered land in the county, consisting of whitewood, black cherry, and black walnut, besides an abundance of oak and other domestic timber.
Much of genuine historic importance and interest clusters around old Athens, for it was within its boundaries that some of the earliest settlements in the county were made. The first name for the township was Berlin, and was suggested by Alfred Holcomb ; but, on finding that there already existed in the State a town or township by that name, Athens was substituted. It originally included the present congressional townships of Athens, Le Roy, and Burlington, but was con- stitutionally formed as at present by the subsequent organization of Le Roy, in 1837, and of Burlington the same year.
On the 3d of June, 1831, a party composed of seven hardy pioneers, namely, Warren Nichols, and Ambrose and Othorial, his brothers, Benjamin F. Ferris, Alfred Holcomb, Isaac Crossett, Asahel Stone, and a Mr. Brown,-to the latter of whom is accredited the honor of discovering the prairie,-came into the township. The prairie was not laid down on the surveyor's map, and the party, supposing it to be situated in the St. Joseph valley, of which they had heard marvelous stories, went too far west. Mr. Brown, who was a genuine son of old Vermont, left the party at Ypsilanti and proceeded alone on a tour of discovery, taking the northern trail, and struck the prairie, and reported his good fortune to the rest of the party at Prairie Ronde. They started and came through the same day, and located their claims the day following, taking nearly the whole of what is now called " Dry prairie," in Athens township.
Mr. Holcomb relates an incident illustrative of the noble red man's fondness for glittering show. When he came in he had a stove belonging to Mr. Nichols on his wagon, and when they came through the Indian village warriors, squaws, and pappooses piled upon the vehicle to examine the tinware on the stove, which they supposed was silver. After satisfying their curiosity they alighted and went their way with mingled feelings of cupidity and surprise. When their hunters returned in the evening they related what they had seen, giving a description, doubtless, that would have excelled the most flowery story in the " Arabian Nights." The next day, while the Holcomb family were enjoying their frugal midday meal, lo! some score of braves, war-paint, tomahawks, and all, came riding along, in single file, on their ponies. The first thought that presented itself to the family was that they were trespassing on the Indians' hunting-ground, and momentarily expected to be ousted, minus their scalps. But their fears were happily unfounded, for the savages only came to procure ocular demonstration of what they had heard concerning the stove and its adjunct utensils. After a care- ful inspection and much wonderment they departed. The next day they came again, and brought with them a fine quarter of venison, as a token of their friend- ship and good-will.
Warren Nichols was the first one to complete his house, which was a hewn log structure of rather pretentious proportions for those days, although the dwellings of the others, except Mr. Brown, were contemporaneous with it. This was in the fall of 1831, and all went well with the little band of pioneers for a brief period, -a very brief period indeed. Then a visitation came upon them that in its melancholy nature was sufficient to appal the stoutest heart, and to cause the strongest mind to stand in awe.
It was in the summer of 1832, at the close of a series of sultry days, that the little settlement was thrown into a state of the profoundest consternation by the sad intelligence that a young daughter of Warren Nichols was down with the cholera. This feeling of dread was intensified by the reports that had reached the little party from the east, where the fell disease had made its fearful ravages. Within a brief period from its first appearance six persons had succumbed, and the tranquillity of the settlement was disturbed by death, and the painful task of burying their dead became their sorrowful duty. The awful visitation was the
more keenly felt in the absence of that medical aid `so requisite in such cases. The only doctor who visited the scene of the contagion was a Mr. White, a stu- dent of Dr. Brown, of Prairie Ronde. In speaking of him, Mrs. Ferris, widow of Benjamin F. Ferris, who was present through the whole duration of the dis- ease, says, "He was so scared that he did not dare stay in the house only just long enough to deal out their medicine, which consisted of calomel and laudanum, administered in small doses. Then he came down to our house and stayed all night, dealt out medicine for himself, and gave us directions that if we heard him make any fuss in the night to get right up and give it to him."
The victims of the malady were Warren Nichols and wife, and three children, -Margaret, Philena, and Phoebe,-and Isaac Crossett. The Nichols family were interred on the farm now the property of A. C. Waterman, in the village of Athens ; and Mr. Crossett was buried by Messrs. Alfred Holcomb and Ben- jamin F. Ferris, on the place now owned by the widow of the latter, also within the limits of the village.
In speaking of these times, Mr. Holcomb says, "The first prayer-meeting held in Athens was during the cholera period, at our house. Those present were Ben- jamin F. Ferris and wife, myself and wife, and Lot Whitcomb, nearly all the well persons in town. All knelt down, and Lot Whitcomb offered a fervent, heartfelt prayer, and one can imagine far better than I can describe the need each of that little band felt for the comfort and consolation of prayer. After the prayer-meet- ing was over we agreed that those who survived the night should go around in the morning and visit those who were sick."
The children of Mr. Nichols who survived the cholera married as follows: Mary, the eldest, married Robert McCamly; Lydia married Milton McCamly, then of Burlington township, and subsequently of Battle Creek; Jonathan mar- ried Jane Watkins; Albert, Belinda Lee; and Mercy, the youngest, married Solo- mon Hicks, of Pennfield township.
The family of Isaac Crossett removed to Nottawa township, St. Joseph county, soon after his demise, where his widow married Mr. Amos Howe, of that place. One of the sons edited a paper in Three Rivers, and another is a lumber-merchant in Grand Rapids. The only living representative of the Nichols family is Am- brose Nichols, who resides in Leonidas, St. Joseph county; and of the band of pioneers who first settled Athens only two remain on the scene of their early toil and care, and those are Alfred Holcomb (who resides on the farm where he first settled ) and the widow of Benjamin F. Ferris, who is his next-door neighbor in Athens village .*
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