USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 47
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SCHOOLS.
In the house of Erastus Kimball, in 1833, a Mrs. Skinner opened the first school taught in Marengo. On the completion of her house, then being built, the school was removed thither. Mrs. Parks, of Marshall, then known as Mary E. Neal, was a pupil in attendance. Other schools were taught in the houses of S. Neal and E. Kimball. In 1834, S. Powers taught in a school-house erected on the land of Thomas Chisholm. The original school in Marengo village was conducted in a board shanty, which stood on land owned by Benjamin Wright, on the site of the present brick school-building. Miss Sarah Dennis, the teacher in 1836, is now the wife of Francis Peck, of Barry county.
The township contains eight district school-houses; half the number are of brick, and the value of school property is estimated at fifteen thousand dollars.
RELIGION.
The first religious services in Marengo were conducted by Rev. R. Hobart, a Methodist, at the house of S. Neal. The minister was also employed at Marshall. There were many Presbyterians among the settlers who attended meetings at Marshall, to which they made the required journey, often on foot, at times by ox-teams. A non-sectarian church was erected in the summer of 1853, by an association comprising men of no particular religious denomination. The edifice, in dimensions forty by fifty feet, was built by John Evans in the same year, at a cost of one thousand dollars.
The sermon of dedication was preached by Rev. L. H. Moore. Thirteen men constituted the association, and each contributed to the enterprise one hundred dollars. They are named as follows : John Evans, S. G. Pattison, G. W. Dryer, R. B. Porter, Milo Soule, Alden Boughton, Augustus Lusk, Lorin Maynard, Jacob Gardanier, Joseph Otis, O. D. Rogers, William Hewitt, and William Hos- kins.
THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH,
now known as the Methodist church, was formed at the Rice Creek settlement, in 1842. The society was organized by the Revs. Pratt and Barrie, with the following members,-B. H. Carrier, Abram Hadden, Silas Wood, C. Hanchett, D. H. Willey, Amos Hadden, and their wives. S. Wood was the first class- leader. A church building, thirty by forty feet, was erected in 1853, at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars. The pastor at present is L. Mills. A Sab- bath-school was organized with the formation of the society ; members, sixty scholars. The first superintendent was D. H. Miller, and the present officer is
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
E. A. Carrier. The church has been favored by several revivals. In 1860, twenty persons were converted; in 1872, thirty, and in 1875 Rev. Nichols bap- tized forty persons on the same day in Duck lake.
POSTAL FACILITIES.
A post-office was established during the winter of 1831-32, Seeley Neal being postmaster. The first mail was brought by Elijah Pilcher, a circuit-rider, and among the missives was one containing Neal's appointment as justice of the peace. During the first year the mail was brought by travelers whose journey lay in this direction. A stage began to run in 1833, and mails became regular. Colonel Maynard was appointed deputy postmaster, and the office was removed to his tavern. Successive postmasters have been Charles George, Enos Houck, Peter Mulvaney, and John Evens, who has held several terms and kept the office at the village store.
IMPROVED STOCK.
A contrast of cattle and swine of the native and foreign breeds indicates progress in stock-raising. S. G. Pattison early introduced the Durham short-horn cattle, imported by a Mr. Weddel, and hence known as the Weddel stock. The cattle are favorites, and few farmers but have them in their fields. The first sheep in Marengo were natives, but about 1850 Messrs. Pattison, Dryer, Maynard, and Ainsley brought from the east some of the best blooded sheep there found. Their distribution throughout the county and State marked a great improvement in the flocks. In 1857, Charles A. Miller purchased of Daniel Kleborn what were known as Spanish Merino sheep, and with them obtained the following : " This is to certify that I have this day sold to Charles A. Miller, of Marengo, Calhoun County, Michigan, a number of ewes, bred by R. J. Hall, of Addison county, Vermont. These ewes are of the pure Infantado breed." The purchaser has maintained the purity of his flock, which are noted for large size, fine form, and heavy fleece, as well as strong constitution, qualities which make them sought after by the wool-growers of the surrounding country.
Among swine the favorites are Sussex, Suffolk, and Berkshire. No one in the town makes a specialty of breeding. No particular effort has been taken to improve the breed of horses, yet an interest now awakened promises to result in great progress in this respect.
TOWN GOVERNMENT.
The first annual town-meeting was held on the first Monday in April, 1833, at the house of S. Neal. Joseph Ames was chosen moderator, and S. Neal clerk pro tem. The following named were then duly elected: S. Neal, supervisor ; Harmon Neal, town clerk; Alfred Kellam, Reuben Abbott, and S. Neal, asses- sors ; Joseph Ames, S. Neal, and Benjamin Wright, road commissioners ; Harmon
Neal, constable and collector; J. Ames and R. Abbott, directors of the poor, and J. Ames, overseer of roads. The paucity of settlement was well indicated by the cumulation of offices upon one and the same person. Election being over, it was voted to pay a bounty of three dollars for the scalp of each wolf killed in the township. In 1835 the bounty was increased to five dollars. The appointment of George W. Dryer to be justice of the peace was made in 1833 by Stevens T. Mason, acting governor of the Territory. For the year 1837, we have the first record of votes polled. It is given at ninety-one ballots for supervisor. It was increased by 1838 to one hundred and forty-nine. At the first election for jus- tices, in 1836, J. Townsend, William E. Wells, A. Kellam, and Benjamin Wright were chosen. The original town record is still in use, and chronicles the minutes of the meetings of forty-four years.
LIST OF MARENGO SUPERVISORS.
The following have filled the office of supervisor : Seeley Neal, four years ; Benjamin Wright, William E. Wells, Rufus Hartwell, John Lusk, Absalom Nelson, Lorin Maynard, Thomas Chisholm, four years; Milo Soule, four years ; Nathan Pierce, W. Haskins, four years; Isaac Hewitt, George Mckay, Lewis Townsend, eleven years ; B. F. Withee, Henry N. McCormic.
In 1834, Horace Brace was elected supervisor ; he died before he had qualified, and Seeley Neal was elected to fill the vacancy.
PRESENT TOWN OFFICERS.
Supervisor, Henry N. McCormic ; Town Clerk, O. Clark Johnson ; Treasurer, Peter O'Brien, Jr. ; School Inspector, W. Raesley ; Superintendent of Schools, Petar Mulvaney ; Commissioner of Highways, Joseph Loehr ; Justices, Charles E. Southwell, Samuel S. Deforest; Constables, Luther Wallace, Adrian Jennings, David D. Lewis, Ruggles Rotherick. A full Democratic ticket.
Population of Marengo .- Males, 678; females, 575 ; total, 1253.
Live-Stock .- Horses, 474 ; work oxen, 32; milch cows, 475 ; neat cattle, other than work oxen and cows, 442; swine, over six months old, 764; sheep, over six months old, 5714 ; sheep sheared, 6500; mules, 2.
Wheat on the ground May, 1874, 5115 acres; wheat harvested 1873, 3959 acres ; corn harvested 1873, 1744 acres ; wheat raised 1873, 63,416 bushels ; corn raised 1873, 58,530 bushels ; other grain 1873, 24,480 bushels; potatoes raised 1873, 7949 bushels; hay cut 1873, 1835 tons; wool sheared 1873, 27,776 pounds; pork marketed 1873, 48,316 pounds; butter made 1873, 37,765 pounds ; fruit dried for market 1873, 860 pounds ; cider made, 491 barrels ; orchards, 364 acres ; apples raised 1873, 16,530 bushels; pears raised 1873, 148 bushels; plums raised 1873, 32 bushels ; cherries raised 1873, 201 bushels; grapes raised 1873, 12 hundredweight; strawberries 1873, 16 bushels; currants and gooseberries, 17 bushels ; melons and garden vegetables, 1639 bushels.
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S . G . PATTISON
MRS. MARIA S. PATTISON
RESIDENCE OF S.G. PATTISON, MARENGO TP. CALHOUN CO., MICHIGAN.
CALEB HANCHETT
MRS. ESTHER HANCHETT.
RESIDENCE OF CALEB HANCHETT, MARENGO TP, CALHOUN CO., MICH.
SAMUEL CHAPIN.
MRS. SAMUEL CHAPIN.
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL CHAPIN, SEC. 9. MARENGO TP, CALHOUN COUNTY MICHIGAN.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
NATHAN PIERCE.
MRS. NATHAN PIERCE.
NATHAN PIERCE
was born in Cheshire, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, September 27, 1790, being the oldest of a family of four sons and four daughters, and died in Marengo, in Calhoun county, of paralysis, March 29, 1862. He was of Scotch descent on his father's side, and on his mother's, Irish, her maiden name being McLouth. When young Nathan was at the tender age of five years his father removed to Farm- ington, now Manchester, Ontario county, New York, to a tract of four hundred and fifty acres of densely timbered land, and thus the subject of this sketch com- menced his pioneer life in reality amidst the howling of wolves and the whoops of the savage Indian. But other sturdy settlers with stout hearts and strong arms arriving soon, the forest disappeared before them, and the comforts and conveni- ences of life followed. Schools and churches were established, and at the common school, with a couple of terms at the Canandaigua academy, the pioneer of two States received his education. He was drafted in the war with England in 1812, and promptly responded to the call of his country and fought in the battle of Queenstown, being present at the storming of the fort where General Brock, the British commander, was killed. In another battle afterwards he was taken prisoner and sent to Fort George, where he was soon paroled. His father died in 1814, at the early age of forty-four, and soon after Nathan returned home and assisted his mother in the management and settlement of the estate.
His father enjoyed largely the confidence of the community, it being recorded in the history of Ontario county that he held the offices of supervisor and justice of the peace for nearly a score of years. This mark of respect was extended to his son, who was elected to the same offices, made vacant by the death of his father, for many years.
In 1817 he married Miss Amy Aldrich, and, while mainly occupied in agricul- tural pursuits, he undertook some other ventures, in which he lost money,-a large contract on the Erie canal, and an interest in a woolen-factory which was burned, being among the number. After living for thirty-seven years in the town which he had seen transformed from a wilderness to fertile and beautiful farms, he resolved to become a pioneer in the settlement of the then Territory of Michigan. As early as 1831 he made a journey to the country, and traveled through it quite extensively, his sound judgment leading him to conclude that it had natural advan- tages which only needed perseverance and enterprise to develop them, and make
it in time one of the most prosperous States in the Union. He made a second visit early in 1832, and located thirty lots of land, principally in this and Wash- tenaw counties, and settled with his family near Chelsea, in the latter county, in July of the same year. He lived there twelve years, and with his untiring in- dustry and the experience acquired in his early pioneer life soon made the wil- derness again blossom as the rose. He left a fine farm of four hundred acres there in possession of a son, who now owns and lives on it, and in 1841 moved to the fertile and beautiful lands that he located in Marengo, where he lived the remainder of his days. He was six feet in height, strong and muscular, and gave a practical illustration of his respect for the dignity of labor by always being occupied, even to the day he was stricken down, in the multifarious duties pertaining to farm life. He was a member of every constitutional convention in Michigan, and served frequently in the legislature as representative and senator. He had a strong will and great practical common sense, and was eminently honest in public and private life, despising everything that savored of trickery in the ordinary dealings of man with man, or the scheming of politicians.
MRS. NATHAN PIERCE
was born in Rhode Island, and died in Marengo, February 28, 1861, aged seventy- four years. When yet a child her father moved to Massachusetts, where the family lived several years. When her father died, she, with her mother and several brothers and sisters, moved to Ontario county, New York, where she married Mr. Pierce, in 1817. She was one of those sweet and amiable characters who are con- tent to pass life's pilgrimage in ministering to the wants of others. Modest and retiring in manner, she sought not display nor the praise of the world, but gently and quietly exercised her noble powers in her family circle, or in benevolent acts to the needy. She was the mother of three sons and four daughters, all of whom are yet living. In religious sentiment she was a Friend, and the quiet simplicity of her life and character was truly in harmony with the principles of that excel- lent sect. She had enjoyed good health the most of her life, and by her industry and practical economy materially contributed to her husband's prosperity, bravely and patiently enduring with him all the trials and privations of their earlier and later pioneer life.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
LONGACHE-
MORRISON SACKETT.
Morrison Sackett was born October 24, 1811, in Martinsburg, Lewis county, New York. His parents, Justice and Fanny (Faxon) Sackett, at an early date removed to Raisin, Lenawee county, Michigan. At the district schools, on the farm, and in the tannery, Sackett's early years were passed. Up to January, 1842, life was uneventful; but at that date marriage was consummated to Miss Mary A. Brooks, daughter of Abram and Esther G. Brooks, formerly of Steuben, Oneida county, New York, and new responsibilities called to activity ; resulting, ten years later, in the purchase, in the town of Marengo, of an improved farm of eighty acres,-the present home of his family. Governed through life by strong religious principles, he connected himself, at an early period, with the Baptist church, and exemplified the doctrine of " peace and good will towards all men." A Democrat in politics, he was a stanch advocate of the party, although no aspirant to public position. Unassuming in demeanor and firm in convictions of duty, his judgment, when pronounced, was unalterable. Through life his strong nervous temperament and ceaseless activity combined to cause the ac- quisition of wealth he was not destined to enjoy. He was stricken in his prime during the year 1872, and departed lamented by loving kindred and regretted by an extensive circle of friends. His widow resides with her only daughter, Frances A., wife of D. S. Van Blecum, to whom she was married March 18, 1873. The son-in-law occupies and works the old farm.
GALEN SAMSON.
Galen Samson, whose portrait and sketch of residence appear in this work, ยท was born August 8, 1822, at Duffield, Oneida county, New York. His parents, Joseph and Martha (Crossman) Samson, soon after his birth removed to Herki- mer county. The routine of the farm had grown familiar, and he had thorough knowledge of the manufacture of brick. When at majority he took up his bundle and proceeded on foot to Hammond, St. Lawrence county, where he labored for a year as a farm hand. For five subsequent years, in different places, the same experience befell him, and finally June 6, 1850, found Mr. Samson in Marshall, Michigan. After a year's labor for L. G. Crossman, he purchased eighty acres adjoining that person's farm, and has since known a permanent home thereon. He paid fifty-nine dollars as the first installment of purchase money, and realized the remainder from products of the farm. Returning to New York in 1852, Mr. Samson there married Nancy Hartness, native of the same village as himself, and at once returned with his young wife to his western home. By united effort the farm was soon cleared from debt, but the faithful helpmeet was not long permitted to enjoy the fruits of her labors. Her death occurred in 1858, after a brief illness. Mr. Samson has ignored politics, and given sole time and attention to a farm whose cultivation and improvement mark him one of Marengo's best agriculturists.
To Mr. and Mrs. Samson six children were born. Their names and date of birth are given as follows : Eliza, March 21, 1853 ; Elenetha, May 4, 1855 ; Seymour, February 13, 1857; Galen, June 14, 1858; Adelaide, May 19, 1860; and Curtis, July 16, 1862.
WILLIAM C. WHITE.
The above-named is one of those men who have made life a success, and towards its close can lay aside care to enjoy the honest gains of a long period of active usefulness. His birthplace is Ames, Montgomery county, New York ; the date, September 15, 1813. He was three years of age when his parents removed to a farm in Manchester, Ontario county, New York. Achel White, the father, sold out in 1835, and, accompanied by his two eldest sons, came out to Michigan to secure a new home. He located a farm near the centre of Marengo township, and was joined in 1836 by the rest of the family. William, being of age, chose the trade of house carpenter, at which he worked for two years in the township of Eckford. Returning to New York in 1840, he remained a year, when he came back to Michigan, and, in 1844, was married to Bethania, daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth Hathaway Johnson, formerly of Onondaga county, New York. He now purchased from his father his farm, on which he has continued to reside. The estate numbers two hundred and five acres ; it is beautiful of location, care- fully cultivated, and produces abundant crops.
In politics, Mr. White is a strong partisan, of Democratic principles, and takes a live interest in the questions of the day. He has served in positions of minor importance, but declines to accept those more responsible, for which he has not the leisure to give requisite attention. Would that this and like examples of persevering industry had the power to inspire in the young a resolution to " go and do likewise!"
MILO SOULE.
New York having received the enterprising, ambitious population of other States, and developed by their industry, acknowledged her obligations, and gave of her best sons and daughters to plant healthful settlements in western States. Among these was Milo Soule, born July 3, 1804, in Madison county, New York. In 1805 his father removed to Freehold, Green county, New York, and engaged as tanner and currier. His son attended the village school until his twelfth year, when he went to reside with a farmer uncle. At fifteen he returned home, and alternated summer and winter in farming for his father and teaching school, until 1830, when he married Irena, daughter of Sardius and Sabra Blodgett, formerly of Vermont. Mr. Soule now purchased a farm located in Murray, Orleans county, New York, and worked thereon until 1835, when he resolved to go west. He came the same year to Marengo, bought land, returned for his family, and brought them to their new home.
He paid for his land, and had besides a wagon, a span of horses, and ten dol- lars cash. Settling down to farm life in earnest, he cultivated his fields till 1869, when he sold, and bargained for the place now his residence.
Mr. Soule, while active in private life, has rarely been exempt from public duty. A justice of the peace for thirty-six years, county treasurer six years, township supervisor four years, town clerk several years, and delegate to the constitutional convention in 1850, we may truly characterize him a prominent public man. No neutral in politics, he was not a partisan Democrat, and in the construction of public works he has ever been found in the van. He is seventy-three years of age, yet hale, hearty, and active as many men of forty.
His disposition calls for employment, and he continues in business not as a source of revenue, but to counteract the ills of idleness. He will wear out, not rust out, and he will preserve to the last those faculties-sound sense and sober judgment-which have challenged the esteem of all who have his acquaintance. He has five children living, three sons and two daughters, all married, and active in life's duties.
The following is the record of their births and marriages: Harrison, born August 4, 1831 ; married November 24, 1855, to Mary Parker. Sabra, born June 27, 1833 ; married June 22, 1867, to L. C. Richardson. George H., born August 12, 1839 ; married October 29, 1861, to Emeline Higgins. Lester, born June 15, 1843 ; married December 13, 1867, to Cornelia A. Day ; and Alice, born July 27, 1849 ; married December 7, 1872, to Leander Emery.
S. G. PATTISON.
We may truthfully name the above a representative man of Marengo township, having been an early settler and closely identified with the public interests from the start. He has not found it necessary to accept public position to enable him to promote any scheme looking to the welfare of the community of which he is a member.
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MRS. MILO SOULE.
MILO SOULE.
RESIDENCE OF MILO SOULE, MARENGO TP, CALHOUN CO., MICH.
WM. C. WHITE.
MRS. WM. C. WHITE.
RESIDENCE OF WM. C. WHITE, SEC. 9. MARENGO TP, CALHOUN CO., MICH.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
He was born of Quaker parentage, September 30, 1811, in the township of Farmington, Ontario county, New York, and when fifteen years of age commenced running a line boat on the Erie canal, between Albany and Buffalo, and continued so employed four years. He, on September 11, 1831, married Maria Smith, also a native of Farmington, and for a year or two thereafter engaged in a grocery and milling business. Influenced by the reports of fine opportunities to be secured in Michigan, he removed thither in 1834, and settled upon a farm which has since been his home. Arrived at Marengo, he put a team on the road between Marshall and Detroit, and engaged in transportation of goods until the completion of the railroad to Jackson. As stated in township history, he was, in connection with G. W. Dryer, largely engaged in the cattle trade. He was for some time the main reliance of early settlers for their supplies of provisions.
Of active temperament, he has until recently engaged constantly in business pursuits. A retrospective view presents a life useful to self and fellow-men. Active in affairs of political import, his first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson, and thenceforward he has advocated the principles then enunciated. Mrs. Pattison has for several years been an invalid. Six children were born to the family; one died an infant, the others grew to maturity, and of them the following record is made :
Albert S. Pattison, born April 6, 1833; married April 26, 1854, to Helen Hopkins.
Ruth D., born October 18, 1835 ; married October 19, 1858, to H. B. Smith. Elizabeth G., born February 20, 1838 ; married September 12, 1855, to Isaac D. Comstock ; died July 25, 1857.
Adda M., born April 18, 1843 ; married April 7, 1863, to Frank L. Gunnison, of Eckford.
Georgianna, born June 5, 1840; married May 21, 1867, and died March 19, 1869.
Thus briefly are noted the cardinal points of human existence. Unconsciously to many the intervals glide by, and they soon pass from the cradle to the grave. Here are seen the marriages of five children,-happy occasions to their parents, times of festivity and joy. Thrice has the summons come to the Pattisons, and still in old age the parents survive. It is well for them that their lives are rich in improved opportunities,-the remembrance of kind acts and useful deeds is a precious treasure to those advanced in years.
ISAAC HEWITT.
The subject of our present sketch, Isaac Hewitt, is one of the leading and representative farmers of Marengo township, which justly claims the best farmers in Calhoun County. He was born in Palmyra township, Pike county, Pennsyl- vania, February 1, 1819, where, and in Wayne county, he resided until 1836, when he came to Calhoun County with his father, Dethic, and mother, Louisa (Ainsley) Hewitt, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a jus- tice of the peace in Pennsylvania, and also in Calhoun and Cass counties, Mich- igan, for several years, and is at present a resident of the latter county, being aged eighty-two years. His father and the family located in Marengo in 1836. Isaac learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, and followed it until 1854, when his shop burned down, whereupon he turned his attention to farming. His first land purchase was eighty acres of his present location, to which he has added subse- quently until now he owns two hundred and thirty-seven acres in a body, on section 16, which he has brought from its wild and primitive condition to one of the best- tilled farms in the township of Marengo. We present to our readers, on another page, a view of the valuable improvements Mr. Hewitt has placed upon his farm, together with portraits of himself and his estimable wife, Olive (Miller) Hewitt, a daughter of David H. Miller, now of the city of Marshall, but a native of New Jersey.
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