USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 59
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When Mr. Briggs came with his family he sowed ten acres of wheat, on land he had broken up during the summer. He is now deceased, having been dead a number of years. His mother, Mrs. Audrey Briggs, who died in 1842, was the first person buried in the cemetery near the Methodist Episcopal church.
George W. Briggs moved to the farm upon which he now lives in 1846, having the same season married Miss Phebe A. Blue, daughter of Ezekiel Blue.
Frank B. Wright came from Washington county, New York, and removed to Michigan in 1836. June 1 of that year he arrived in Marshall, then a young man. Most of the time for nine years he lived in Marshall, and on the 6th of July, 1845, removed to the farm where he now lives, on section 14, Fredonia. He purchased the land-eighty acres-five or six years before he moved upon it, and had made considerable improvements. While in Marshall he worked at milling. March 23, 1845, he was married to Miss Amanda A. Blodgett. His brother Julius, now living on the northeast quarter of section 14, came in the fall of 1836, and for a few years worked in Marengo township. He was also a young man when he came west. He did not settle in Fredonia until some time after his brother did. Both their farms are on the beautiful "Palmer's plain."
When F. B. Wright started for Michigan his father took him as far as Saratoga Springs ; and from thence to the junction of the Erie and Northern and Cham- plain canals he came over a railway, the cars of which were drawn by horses. This was built to accommodate travel to and from Saratoga. The cars had three seats, and were capable of carrying nine persons each. After reaching the canal he took a line-boat to Buffalo, the trip taking six days. From there he came to Detroit on a Lake Erie boat, and from Detroit he walked to Marshall, making much better time than the stages possibly could, on account of bad roads.
Mr. Wright's wife (then Miss Blodgett) came originally from Genesee county, New York, to Ohio, where her people lived for some time. In 1837 she came to Homer, Calhoun County, Michigan, in company with the family of her brother- in-law, Harry Grovenburg. A few years later Mr. Grovenburg removed to Eck- ford township, where he lived a number of years. He is at present living near Lansing. Miss Blodgett (Mrs. F. B. Wright) is the mother of five children, who are all living,-the youngest two at home. One son lives in Kansas, where he is teaching school, and a daughter lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Giddings Whitmore settled on section 6, on the farm now owned by H. N. Ryder, in 1834 or 1835, having previously located his land. He was from the State of New Hampshire, and is now living at Battle Creek. The farm is highly improved, and among the best in the neighborhood.
A man named Sheldon settled a forty-acre lot, adjoining the Whitmore place on the east, as early as 1834. A Mr. Van Valen and his son located the same year, as did also Edward M. Kingsbury, the former on section 4 and the latter on section 5. The Van Valen farm is now owned by George Bills, who is him- self an old settler in the county. Van Valen built a log house on his place. He left the township about 1836-37. Mr. Sheldon, who located on section 6, died in the township of Newton, about 1836 or 1837.
David Jager came to Michigan from Sussex county, New Jersey, in December, 1836, with his wife and child. They came the entire distance from New Jersey by team, being five weeks on the road, and coming through Canada instead of northern Ohio. Mr. Jager is the father of eight children, of whom three are now living, two sons and one daughter. Mr. Jager had located his land-the northeast quarter of section 36-in July, 1834. In May, 1836, he came out again, and built a log house on the place, and returned for his family, coming back
with them in December, as stated. While he was building his cabin he boarded with E. M. Humphrey, who lived on the present John Fredenburg farm.
Sydney Deuel located a fractional eighty on section 6, in 1836. He was from the State of New York, and did not settle on the place until some time after he entered it. He is now living upon it.
Most of the land in this neighborhood was entered in 1834, principally by New York people, who did not settle until a year or two afterwards.
G. G. Collins was born in Rensselaer county, New York, but for ten years previous to the time he moved west he had lived in Rochester, Monroe county. In November, 1835, he came to Michigan, and for a few years thereafter had his home in Marshall. He purchased the farm where he now lives, on section 17, in Fredonia, in 1834, from the government, locating one hundred and sixty acres. About 1840 he removed to it from Marshall, with his family, and has resided upon it most of the time since. When he came from New York he was accom- panied by his wife and four children,-one son and three daughters. Four chil- dren were born in the family after settling in Michigan. Of the eight there are five now living,-one son, Charles J. Collins, on the old farm with his father. When Mr. Collins first arrived in Marshall he opened a shoe-shop in that place, and has worked at the business, both in town and on his farm, most of the time since.
The farms owned by Norman and F. P. Ellis were settled by Calvin Cole, about 1836.
In 1842 Oliver Bailey came from Ontario county, New York, and settled on the farm now occupied by his family. He was afterwards married in Bedford, Ohio, and his wife is yet living. Mr. Bailey died February 8, 1875, aged fifty-eight years.
Solomon Platner settled on the shore of Lyon lake as early as 1834. Previous to coming to Fredonia township he had kept the old " Exchange Hotel," at Mar- shall, for about one year. His farm is now owned by D. Annis, and is located on section 26.
David Aldrich came from Massachusetts in July, 1833, and located land on section 8, but did not settle upon it until June, 1834.
The first death in the township is supposed to have been that of the wife of Edward M. Kingsbury, who died some time in 1835.
Putnam Root and Hiram Carey settled in the northwest part of the township in 1834, also Thomas Chambers and Arnold Markham. Ebby Hyde located in 1835, on section 23, where his son, E. V. B. Hyde, now lives. Another son, A. O. Hyde, resides in Marshall, and is the proprietor of a drug-store on State street. In the spring of 1836 Alvin T. Bush located in the southeast part of the town- ship, and is now deceased. During this year quite a number came in, most of whom have been already mentioned.
Among the early settlers of the township may also be mentioned W. J. Acker, D. M. Fox, G. W. Hoyt, J. W. Harrington, Thomas Begole, O. M. Easterly, and others, some of whom are not now living in the township.
Iron ore abounds to some extent, and is principally of the quality known as " bog ore." On the farm of Nathan H. Hollon, on section 2, a bank of "red ore" was opened at one time and a considerable quantity taken from it and'manu- factured, both at Marshall and Union City. Stoves, plows, etc., were among the articles made from it, and while the supply lasted it undoubtedly paid the owner of the land.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-house built in the township was erected on the corner of David Aldrich's land, in the spring of 1837,* in what is now district No. 1. It stood on the north side of the road, in the corner where the orchard now is. The first teacher in it was Miss Jeannette Baldwin, now the widow of Elisha Gilbert, of Marshall. This school-house was constructed of logs, and stood a number of years, being used as a place in which to hold schools, meetings, elec- tions, etc. It was finally torn away and a neat frame building erected on the south side of the road, a quarter of a mile farther east.
In fractional district No. 4, schools were taught in private houses previous to 1850, and during that year in Mr. Jager's house, where Miss L. Gould taught. The first teacher in the district was probably a Miss Sophia Fish. Miss Laura Kimball, now Mrs. John Fredenburg, also taught in this district. The present school-house is a substantial frame building, on section 5, on the farm of W. Lee.
In fractional district No. 7 a school was taught about 1839-40, in a house built for a dwelling, by Stephen Case. It stood on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 2. The first term was a winter school, taught by Jeannette Baldwin. The next summer Miss Laura Mason was the teacher. Miss Baldwin has already been mentioned in connection with district No. 1. Miss Mason was married to a Mr. Haskell, of Fredonia,
* Another authority says in the summer of 1836.
164
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and is now deceased. Shortly after 1840, a school-house was built of logs, on land owned by Jesse Thurston, south of Caleb Tilton's place; also on section 2. It stood for a number of years, and was finally torn away. The present school- house in this district stands on the town line, eighty rods west of the northeast corner of section 2.
The first school-house in district No. 6 was built by Ezekiel Blue, about 1838- 39. It was a log edifice, and stood on the east shore of Lyon lake, distant but a few rods from the water. It was used for school purposes a number of years. Jane Markham, Halsey Southworth, and others were among the early teachers in it. The frame school-house now standing on section 13 is the third one in the district, and was built in 1853.
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In district No. 5 a school-house was built some years after the one in No. 6, and is yet standing on section 26, south of Lyon lake.
Fredonia township is at present divided into thirteen districts and fractional districts, and contains eight substantial school buildings, which are a credit to the township.
THE LYON LAKE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
of Fredonia, has a history nearly identical with that of the one at Tekonsha vil- lage, and for the early history of it the reader is referred to the sketch of Te- konsha.
A new organization was effected at Lyon Lake, in 1871, and a subscription taken for funds with which to build a church. Trustees and a building committee were appointed, and the contract for erecting the church let, in 1872, to Franklin Ed- gerton, of Marshall. The building and furniture cost a total of four thousand five hundred dollars, and is the finest country church in the county. It is tastily finished on the inside,-frescoed and carpeted, and will seat about three hundred persons. It is surmounted by a neat spire, and is a credit to the architect and to the projectors. The society, when newly organized, had twenty-three members, and on the 1st of April, 1877, the membership was fifty-one. The first pastor in the new church was Rev. I. R. A. Wightman, and he has been followed by Revs. Aaron Hunsberger, M. S. Merritt, G. C. Draper, and E. L. Kellogg, the latter being the present pastor. The appointment is on the same charge with Tekonsha.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
of Fredonia was organized some thirty years ago, Rev. James Verney being the first minister of this denomination who preached here. The original congregation was small, and was finally disbanded. In 1861 a reorganization was effected, and it is at present in a flourishing condition. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Strong.
The church is a neat and substantial frame building, standing on rising ground, and was built in 1862-63. It will seat from one hundred and fifty to two hun- dred persons.
A Sabbath-school was organized early, and has been kept up most of the time since. Its first superintendent was John Young.
At different times libraries have been in use in the school, but at present they have none, and take Sabbath-school papers instead. The church stands on the . south side of the road, near the school-house, on section 22.
THE EVANGELICAL SOCIETY
held its first regular meetings about 1862-64, although Rev. Mr. Young had preached to them eight or ten years previous. Rev. Mr. Ansbach also minis- tered to them. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Kimmerling. The membership is about thirty. Sermons are preached both in German and English, so that all members may understand. A Sabbath-school is kept up, and the society is in good condition.
In December, 1876, a fine frame church building was completed and dedicated, having been built at a cost, including labor, of between two and three thousand dollars.
A LUTHERAN CHURCH
has also been organized a considerable number of years, and the substantial frame building owned by this society stands on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 31.
The town hall, a frame building on the northeast corner of section 22, was built in 1870, at a cost of about nine hundred dollars. Previous to this elections had been held in school-houses.
THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING
in Fredonia township was held April 2, 1838, at the house of Ebby Hyde.' John Houston was chosen moderator, and James Winters and Abel H. Blakesly clerks of the board. At this meeting the following township officers were elected, viz .:
Supervisor, Solomon Platner; Town Clerk, James Winters; Assessors, David Aldrich, Calvin Cole, John B. Fredenburg; Commissioners of Highways, Thomas
P. Briggs, William Miller, Lotham Hatt; School Inspectors, James Winters, A. H. Blakesly, John Houston ; Collector, Putnam Root; Overseers of the Poor, Solomon Platner, John Houston ; Constables, Putnam Root, Lynos West, Henry A. Woodruff; Pound-keeper, Hiram Charter; Path-masters and Fence-viewers, James Case, James E. Salisbury, David Aldrich, Calvin Cole, Thomas P. Briggs.
At a special election held January 7, 1839, Ebby Hyde was elected supervisor, Increase A. Pendleton justice of the peace, and Thomas P. Briggs director of the poor.
The supervisors of Fredonia from 1839 (regular election) until 1877 have been as follows: 1839, John Houston; 1840, John B. Fredenburg; 1841, John Houston ; 1842-43, J. B. Fredenburg; 1844, John Houston ; 1845, J. B. Fre -. denburg ; 1846, Joseph Hollon ; 1847, Enos Gillis ; 1848, John Houston ; 1849- 50, Enos Gillis ; 1851, David Aldrich ; 1852, Putnam Root; 1853-54, David Aldrich ; 1855-56, David Jager; 1857, James A. Polhemus; 1858-59, David Jager ; 1860-62, J. A. Davis ; 1863, David Jager ; 1864, O. C. Comstock ; 1865- 66, John Fredenburg ; 1867-69, David Jager; 1870, Arthur M. Odell; 1871- 73, William A. Powell; 1874, George W. Thwing ; 1875-76, David Jager ; 1877, William A. Powell.
Town Clerks .- 1839, Putnam Root; 1840, John W. Briggs; 1841, Putnam Root; 1842, Thomas J. Briggs; 1843-44, Abel H. Blakesly ; 1845-48, Henry A. Woodruff; 1849-55, John B. Fredenburg; 1856-57, Putnam Root; 1858, Abraham Van Vorhees; 1859-60, Simeon P. Rowley ; 1861-63, John Freden- burg; 1864, A. Van Vorhees ; 1865-66, Nathan P. Aldrich ; 1867, James A. Polhemus; 1868, Frederick A. Rowley ; 1869, William A. Powell; 1870, F. A. Rowley ; 1871-74, Charles H. Bailey ; 1875, Frederick P. Ellis; 1876, Charles H. Bailey ; 1877, Franklin R. Good.
Justices of the Peace .- 1839, Calvin Cole; 1840, Ebby Hyde, Putnam Root; 1841, David Aldrich ; 1842, Increase A. Pendleton ; 1843, Putnam Root; 1844, Benjamin Rowley, Alvin T. Bush ; 1845, Fernando C. Rathbun ; 1846, Alvin T. Bush ; 1847, Clark Brockway ; 1848, Thomas V. Begole ; 1849, F. C. Rath- bun, Oliver Bailey ; 1850, Eliphalet Emon, George W. Briggs; 1851, A. T. Bush, Clark Brockway; 1852, George W. Briggs; 1853, Giddings Whitmore; 1854, Clark Brockway, Alonzo Acker; 1855, Isaac Van Vorhees, Julius Davis ; 1856, J. A. Davis, Isaac Van Vorhees, Oliver Bailey ; 1857, Samuel Swartwout, Putnam Root, M. J. Lathrop ; 1858, George W. Thwing, Samuel Fayerweather ; 1859, John B. Fredenburg ; 1860, David Jager, Cyrus Spencer; 1861, Samuel Fayerweather, Thomas J. Edmonds, David Jager; 1862, W. J. Acker, Charles Alexander ; 1863, W. J. Acker; 1864, T. J. Edmonds ; 1865, A. G. Lester, P. Root, Samuel Fayerweather ; 1866, P. Root, S. Fayerweather, C. A. Spen- cer; 1867, W. J. Acker, A. Van Vorhees ; 1868, A. Van Vorhees, Thomas E. Brakey ; 1869, S. Fayerweather, C. A. Spencer; 1870, Putnam Root, George W. Thwing; 1871, W. J. Acker, David Jager; 1872, David Jager; 1873, Ben- jamin Fredenburg, S. Fayerweather ; 1874, E. V. B. Hyde, F. R. Good, S. Fay- erweather; 1875, Putnam Root, F. R. Good, S. Fayerweather; 1876, G. W. Briggs, J. B. Arnold; 1877, Joseph Eddy.
Constables .- 1839, Putnam Root, J. F. Sykes ; 1840, Hiram Cary, J. F. Sykes, William Rowley; 1841, L. West, Levi Cary, Henry Fredenburg; 1842, William Miller, L. West, H. Cary, T. V. Begole; 1843, L. West, Levi Cary ; 1844, Levi Cary, Ebby V. B. Hyde; 1845, Oliver Bailey, Charles Gillis, Geo. W. Briggs ; 1846, Oliver Bailey, Sydney Robinson ; 1847, W. J. Acker, Benj. Fredenburg ; 1848, G. G. Collins, B. Fredenburg, O. Bailey, W. J. Acker ; 1849, B. Freden- burg, W. J. Acker, Sydney Robinson, Samuel Keyes; 1850, W. J. Acker, S. Robinson ; 1851, same as 1850; 1852, S. Robinson, W. J. Acker, Lyman Root ; 1853, W. J. Acker, G. G. Collins; 1854, O. M. Easterly, Benj. Fredenburg ; 1855, Gilbert G. Collins, S. Robinson, John Peck ; 1856, Philander Chapin, S. Robinson, Ezra Hoyt ; 1857, J. M. Rice, Philander Chapin ; 1858, S. Robinson, D. H. Snyder ; 1859, T. J. Edmonds, J. Houston, Jr., Squire Loomis, H. A. T. Watrous; 1860, P. Snyder, J. Houston, Jr., Wm. Burland, J. H. Sanders; 1861, P. Snyder, Wm. Fredenburg, H. H. Armstrong, J. Houston, Jr. ; 1862, Charles J. Collins, P. Snyder, Richard S. Schooley, David H. Snyder ; 1863, P. Snyder, N. P. Aldrich, D. H. Snyder, William Fredenburg; 1864, D. H. Snyder, P. Snyder, C. J. Collins, Wm. Fredenburg; 1865, D. H. Snyder, J. L. Bean, W. F. Blossom, W. H. Peck; 1866, Peter Decker, Stephen Lansing, A. J. Burrows, Leroy Montcalm ; 1867, C. G. Collins, D. H. Snyder, Deforest Snyder, William Fredenburg; 1868, Jesse Cary, Patrick Melloy, William Lee, Thomas Annis ; 1869, Wm. Lee, David Annis, Jesse Cary, James Bush ; 1870, J. D. Snyder, William Thunder, Jesse Cary, Milton Remsen ; 1871, M. W. Wright, A. J. Bur- rows, Samuel Lee, William Lansing; 1872, W. F. Lake, H. A. Snyder, Lewis P. Tower, Charles Smith ; 1873, W. Lansing, Andrew Sutherland, Jesse Annis, Jr., Zephaniah Welton ; 1874, William Lansing, Herbert Snyder, James Lee, Jr., Montgomery Cowen ; 1875, Harrison McLaflin, A. J. Rowley, George W. Covey, Stephen Lansing; 1876, A. J. Burrows, Stephen Lansing, Lorenzo Root, Corne-
Palm Heanotar
MRS. JOHN HOUSTON.
RESIDENCE of JOHN HOUSTON, FREDONIA TP, CALHOUN CO, MICH.
165
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
lius Wilson ; 1877, David Vroman, Charles Richfield, Cornelius Wilson, Ezra Jones.
The grade of the proposed Marshall and Coldwater railway crosses the town- ship from north to south, and if the road is ever completed it will afford an imme- diate market for the products of the farms along its route. Several thousand dollars have already been paid by the citizens of the township to aid in its con- struction, and the grading has been done and ties brought to the ground, all ready for the laying of the rails.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
JOHN HOUSTON,
the subject of our present sketch, is justly reckoned among Calhoun's thrifty and energetic farmers and business men. He was born May 16, 1824, in the town of Clarkson, Monroe county, New York. His parents were natives of New Hampshire, and emigrated to Michigan in 1833, and located in Fredonia. They were both sterling pioneers, and have, after the toils incident to border life, passed
peacefully to their rest. John Houston received his education at the public schools of Calhoun County, and resided in the old homestead until he attained his majority, when he began the business of farming for himself. He now owns a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on sections 9 and 16, in Fredonia township, a view of which, together with portraits of himself and excellent wife, we present to our readers on another page. In politics, Mr. Houston is a Repub- lican, and has filled many official positions with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, the people of Calhoun County. He was the sheriff of the county from 1862 to 1866, four years, and was a member of the lower house of the State legislature in 1875 and 1876. He is now the vice-president of the City National bank, and is largely engaged in the manufacture of cider and vinegar in the season, having the most complete cider-manufactory in the county. He is also engaged in buying and selling live-stock, and keeps a fine herd of blooded cattle and fine-wooled sheep.
On the 3d of July, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Hurd, who was born in the town of Yates, Orleans county, New York, February 20, 1827. Her parents, Josiah and Mila (Portrage) Hurd were natives of the State of New York, and settled in Michigan in 1843, and are now residents of the city of Marshall. Mrs. Houston is a member of the Baptist church of that city.
LE ROY TOWNSHIP.
THE congressional township of Le Roy is designated as town 3 south, range 8 west, and is bounded on the north by Battle Creek township, on the east by Em- mett, on the south by Athens, and on the west by Climax township, Kalamazoo county. It originally belonged to the township of Athens, from which it was constitutionally divided in the spring of 1837. As to soil, no township in the county possesses a greater diversity, being aptly described as containing good, bad, and indifferent. On the west are fine burr-oak plains, and what was formerly heavily-timbered land, the soil of which is of the best and admirably adapted to agricultural purposes. There is some marsh land, no considerable streams, but three small lakes, which, besides affording fine facilities for procuring pure water, also plentifully abound with all kinds of fish generally found in the smaller lakes. The marsh land originally extended through the centre of the township, which caused its nominal division-East Le Roy and West Le Roy. A large portion of it has been redeemed and is now practically under cultivation. We are credibly informed that this marsh at an early day used to subject the settlers to great difficulty and annoyance. Indeed, it is said that oftentimes the pioneers had to take their oxen from their wagons, tie their legs together, and roll them over, then disjoin their vehicles and carry them across piecemeal. Besides this, the mias- matic effluvia emanating from its stagnant waters caused a great deal of sickness, such as ague, and other bilious ailments. These disagreeable results were, how- ever, partially recompensed by the pasturage which the marsh afforded the early settlers. The name "Le Roy" for the new township was suggested by Mrs. David C. Fish to Silas Kelsey, who circulated the petition for the division of old Athens ; not, as has been erroneously stated in a recent publication, for the reason that Mr. Fish and family came from a place of that name, for we are assured by this venerable couple that they were never in or ever heard of a place called Le Roy prior to the naming of the township. The origin of the name is this : Mrs. Fish was under the impression that her son, whom she had named Le Roy, was the first birth in the township; and hence, in honor of the event, she, with a mother's pride in her first-born son, suggested that the township be named in his honor. The fact remains, however, that her son was not the first child born in the township, and as there has been considerable dispute as to the priority of birth of Le Roy Fish and Charles E. Baker, we have taken extra pains to ascer- tain the facts, which we submit as follows : Charles E. Baker, born June 17, 1836; Le Roy Fish, born August 26, 1836.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Ira Case came in 1835, and located a farm on section 7, but did not settle on it till February, 1837; David C. Fish made a permanent settlement on section 1 in 1836; Heman Baker and wife, in the spring of the same year, on section 7; Timothy Kelsey, the summer following, remaining in the house of Ira Baker until the next year ; Jonathan Sprague, with his six sons and two daughters,- namely, Philetus, Levi C., Argallus, Thomas, Vedder, Caleb M., Hannah, and Ruth,-came during the year 1836, and located on section 2, a short distance northeast of the present residence of the Rev. Thomas Sprague, the only one of the family remaining in the township; Wright J. Esmond came in the same year, and settled on section 1.
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In 1837, several families came in ; among others, Dudley N. Bushnell, wife, and two children, who arrived June 12, accompanied by Silas Kelsey, who had been in the township as early as 1835, but had made no permanent settlement. Dea- con John H. Bushnell came within a month of his brother ; T. B. Barnum came during the year, and settled on the banks of Lake Copanocon, on section 14, where he has since resided ; John E. Mulholland settled on section 2 the same year, and also Isaac Hiscock, who came in and settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Seth E. Hiscock, on section 4; Thomas Wilson came in and kept bachelor's hall for nine months, and was afterwards joined by his large family. John E. Robbins arrived the same year, and settled on section 12; and Jeremiah Drake on section 25; Polydore Hudson, who had formerly resided some years in Battle Creek, removed to Le Roy, and settled on section 1 in 1837; Harlow Burdick took up his residence on section 10 in the spring of the same year.
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