USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 47
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Lane Markham, Cass County, Mich , Oct. 2, 1832. 40
Thomas Clyborn, Cass County, Mich., April 23, 1833 80 James Ilopkins Hatch, New York t'ity, April 8, 1834 80.
Stephen Paine, Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1835. 80
W. G. Straw, Cass t'ounty, Mich., Oct. 31, 1835. 40
Welthy Hartwell, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835 40
Reuben Haynes, Worcester t'ounty, Mass., Nov. 29, 1836. 40 Samuel Markham, Worcester County, Mass , Feb. 2, 1837. 40 James Husted, Worcester County, Mass., March, 1837. 1'20
SECTION 28.
Samuel Markham, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 ... 80 Israel Markham, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829. 80
Squire Thompson, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80
Samuel Markham, C'ass County, Mich., May 11, 1830 .. 80
Davis Sink, Cass C'ounty, Mich., Nov. 14, 1830. 40
James Hopkins Hatch, New York City, June 27, 1835. 240
214
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
SECTION 29.
ACEEB,
Israel Markham, Jr., Lenawee County, Mich .. June 22, 1829 80 Samuel Markham, Lenawee County, Mich., June 29, 1829 ... 80 Baldwin Jenkins, Lenawee County Mich., June 29, 1829 ...... 320 Israel Markham, Jr., Lenawee County. Mich., July 16, 1829 80 Samuel Markham, Lenawee County, Mich., July 27, 1829. 80
SECTION 30.
Alex Rodgers, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 144
Archibald Clyborn, Lenawee County, Mich., Nov. 5, 1829.
183
Baldwin Jenkins, Cass County, Mich., March 11, 1830. 45
Alex Rodgers, Cass County, Mich., April 13, 1830. 42
Delonson Curtis, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1830. 65
Isaac Sumner, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 4, 1830 80
SECTION 31.
Alex Rodgers, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 212
Lewis Edwards, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829. 104
Joseph Gardner, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829. 98
Jesse Toney, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829. 83
Samuel Morton, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 25, 1831 7 3
SECTION 32.
U. Putnam, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 .. 80
A. Clyborn, Lenawee County. Mich., June 19, 1829, 80 Uzziel Putnam, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80
Archibald Clyborn, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 ... 80
Isaac W. Duckett, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 .. 80
L. Edwards, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829. 80
J. Gardner, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829. 80
J. Gardner, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80
J. W. Duckett, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 80 Nathan Haines, Cass County. Mich., Oct. 6, 1829. 80
Jonas Rible, Cass County, Mich., Feb. 7, 1832 80
SECTION 33.
Joseph Garwood, Lenawee County, Mich., June 19, 1829 160
Uzziel Putnam, Cass County, Mich., April 10, 1830.
80
Joseph Garwood, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 19, 1831 80
Samuel Markham, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 5, 1832. 40
Henry Sifford, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 19, 1832. 40
James Beverly Hobart, Cass County, Mich., May, 11, 1833 .. 80 Lewis Edwards, Cass County, Mich., Jan. 2, 1834. 120
HIenry Sifford, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 11, 1836. 40
SECTION 34.
Nehemiah C. Sanford, Litchfield County, Conn., June 25, 1835. 160 William L. Clyborn, Cass County, Mich., July 13, 1835. 40
John Collins, Cass County, Mich., Oct. 31, 1835. 160
Nathan McCoy, Cass County, Mich., Dec. 29, 1835. 40 Charles Barton, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 30, 1836 .. 80
Gillman Witherell, New York State, Nov. 30, 1836. 160
SECTION 35.
Nehemiah C. Sanford, Litchfield County, Conn., June 25, 1835. 400 John Collins, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835. 240
SECTION 36.
Elizabeth Lowe, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 1, 1830. 80 Joseph Mel'herson, Cass County, Mich., Nov. 1, 1830. 80 John Boon, Cass County, Mich., April 24, 1835 .. 40 Nehemiah C. Sanford, Litchfield County, Conn., June 25, 1835. 160 Jacob Silver, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835. 120 John Collins, Cass County, Mich., Sept. 28, 1835. 80
There is a diversity of opinion as to who the par- ties were to the first marriage contract. The records in the office of the County Clerk show that in May, 1830, Mr. Lane Markham was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Griffen. They were undoubtedly the first couple to enter the hymenial state from Pokagan. and the second in Cass County. James Kavanaugh and Miss Amy Townsend, of La Grange, being the first. One of the first matters to receive the attention of the pioneers was the construction of roads. This was especially the case where the land was heavily timbered. On the prairies and oak openings, there was, of course, not the necessity, for regular thorough- fares, and the roads in such districts ran wherever the convenience of the pioneers could best be subserved. The Indians had direct routes of travel from one point to another, and many of the first roads followed these trails for their general direction. There were two of these Indian roads in Pokagon in the early days, that in railroad parlance might be called trunk lines. One was called the Kankakee Trail, and entered the town- ship on Section 31, and took a northerly course through the western part of the township, and entered the present township of Silver Creek on Section 31 ; from this point it bore to the northeast, and interseeted the Territorial road in Van Buren County. The other entered the township about two miles further east, and traversed the township diagonally from southwest to northeast. The old stage route from Niles to Kalamazoo followed this trail very nearly in its course through Pokagon.
For nearly ten years Niles was the market town for Pokagon people, and a road from Sumnerville to this point was opened about 1831. The next road of importance was that running from Cassopolis to Ber- rien, which was laid out the following year. None of these early roads are in existence as they were origi- nally surveyed, the location of villages and the demands of settlers necessitating continued changes. The angling road from Dowagiac to Pokagon was sur- veyed in 1833, and cut out in 1834. Two years later, it became a part of the stage route from Niles to Kal- amazoo, which was one of the prominent advantages of the township until it was superseded by the main line of the Michigan Central Railroad. The follow- ing embraces the names of all who were assessed for road tax in 1831. As Pokagon at that time embraced the north part of Howard, many of the names given resided south of the present southern boundary. Joseph Gardner, Joseph Garwood and Squire Thomp- son were Commissioners of Highways, and John Ray and Samuel Markham, Overseers :
William Boon, John Clark, William Morris, Joseph Harter, Peter Barnhart, Jacob Kinsey, Solomon
215
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Landes, John L. Kinsey, Jacob L. Kinsey, Adam Michael, Isaac Murphy, Joseph Garwood, Isaac W. Duckett and Uzziel Putnam, Archibald Clyborn, Henry Sifford, Samuel Morton. Alexander Rogers, Jerre Toney, William Garwood, Lewis Edwards, Jacob Landes, Joseph Gardner, Martin Reed, Edward Markham, Jacob Nye, John Pool, Thomas Phillips, William Kirk, James Kirk, John McDaniel, John Woolman, William Griffis, Phillip Baltimore, William Farris and George Holloway.
Postal facilities, like everything else, have passed through successive changes, commensurate with the development of the county, and the demands of the people. The mails were first carried by a man on foot, then came the post-boy, the stage coach, and the railway train. The first post office was an exceedingly primitive affair. It was never required, excepting when there was no settler's house central enough to accommodate the inhabitants. It consisted of a small box, with two parts inside and lid on top, and nailed to a tree located as stated above. In this box the boy left the mail, and took the letters to be sent away. This box was never tampered with, which is evidence of the good character of the people of those days. The first Postmaster in Pokagon was Samuel Mark- ham. He received his mail at Niles, and carried it to his house where the office was kept. About 1832, the Government established a post route, and for about four years the mails were carried by an English boy, by the name of George Cook, who is still remem- bered by the " early settler" as a character ; he rode one hundred miles of the route and was as brave as he was hardy. Letters were a luxury in the pioneer times ; they were written on foolscap paper, and so folded that one side was left blank, so as to form its own envelope, and they were sealed with wax or a wafer. The postage was invariable 25 cents, and many a letter " from the old folks at home" was kept for weeks in the office, for the single reason that the party to whom it was addressed was unable to pay the postage. The first post office was established at and called Pokagon, and subsequently one was estab- lished at Sumnerville. In April of 1832, the people were startled by the report that the Indians had begun a war of extermination, and that all Western settlements were in imminent danger of annihilation.
One report was that Chicago had been burned, and its settlers massacred ; and that three or four thon- sand Indians were on the march castward, with torch and tomahawk, destroying everything on their route. and slaughtering the inhabitants. The news spread with lightning rapidity, and the excitement that fol- lowed was indced terrible. The settlers were called out with orders to rendezvous at Niles, and to bring
such arms as were attainable. Among those who reported for duty were Joseph Gardner, Joseph Gar- wood, Samuel Rodgers, Jesse Garwood, W. S. Clyborn, Henry Sifford, Solomon Landes, Jonathan Dewey, and a number of others whose names we have not been able to obtain.
The people of Pokagon, from their close proximity to the Indian reservation at Niles, where there were several thousand Pottawatomies, would have been in greater danger perhaps than any other portion of the county, and this fact, no doubt, added to the intense excitement that prevailed for about two weeks, when first reports were contradicted and people returned to their business. For a detailed history of this event, which might be designated as a scare, as the hostile Indians did not come within a hundred miles of Chi- cago, we refer the reader to the general history.
Mitchell Robinson was a Virginian by birth ; he removed to Kentucky with his parents when a young man, where he married a Miss Maria Caldwell ; after a residence of five years in Kentucky, he removed to Greene County, Ohio, where he lived eight years. In April, 1832, he came to Cass County in company with Edward Powers and son, and Joseph Caldwell, his wife's brother. He located about one mile north of the present village of Pokagon, where he resided many years. But few men left a better record, or identified themselves more prominently with Poka- gon's history than he.
The first settlers in the east central part of the township were Henry Dewey and Joseph Stretch. Dewey entered 160 acres on Section 13 in October, 1830, and in July of the following year, Stretch located eighty acres on Section 14. The family of Mr. Stretch consisted of his wife and four sons-John, William, Henry and Isaac. He first stopped on Mckinney's Prairie, where he built a cabin and put in a crop. In the fall, he removed to Pokagon, and, during a portion of the winter, occupied a cabin built by Mr. Dewey in the spring. The winter following was extremely cold, and the family suffered many privations and hardships. The land was heavily timbered, and for two or three years he was obliged to raise crops on the prairie. He was a Pennsylvanian by birth, but was reared in Virginia ; he lived several years in Ohio, and from thence removed to Wayne County, Ind., where he lived until his removal to Cass County in April of 1831, in company with Mr. Dewey and his family, consisting of his wife and eleven children-Isaac, Jonathan, Solomon, Aaron, Nathan, David, Enoch, Eliza, Rebecca, Nancy and Lucinda.
1n 1832, Mr. Dewey went to La Grange, where he remained a short time, when he returned to Pokagon.
216
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN,
Some time after, several of his old neighbors from Wayne County came to look at the country, and with them he visited the northwest part of the township of Silver Creek. He was so well pleased with the land in the vicinity of the lake that now bears his name, that he concluded to make it his home. He accordingly purchased 160 acres on Section 8, to which he removed with his family, with the exception of Isaac and Jonathan. Jonathan resided on the land entered by his father on Section 13 until his decease, which occurred in 1878. Jonathan had four children-Albina, now Mrs. John Mater; Lucina, now Mrs. Hiram Dillman ; Levi and Henry ; the latter lives on his grandfather's original purchase.
John Stretch, now one of the prominent farmers of the township, was a lad of seven years at the time of his father's emigration to the county, and now resides just north of the place where his father first settled. Henry is dead; Isaac went to California and William lives in Pokagon, on Section 29. Henry married Mary E. McCoy, and moved to the farm where his widow now resides, which was then unimproved. He died in 1871.
The first settler on Section 27 was Richard McCoy. He arrived on Pokagon Prairie in June of 1832, where he spent the summer. In the fall he went on to his purchase where he built a cabin. His family was composed of his wife and three children-Emily, Mary and W. H. McCoy. John Sifford, a brother- in-law, came with them; also his brother, Henry Mc- Coy, who subsequently returned to Virginia. Mrs. McCoy lives on the old farm, and refers with evident pleasure to the early days. Her husband was a great hunter. In 1852, he started for his old home in Vir- ginia, and died before reaching his destination. Four of his sons are residents of the township-George A., W. H., Richard and Delavan.
The early settlers did not escape the usual diseases consequent upon opening the lands to the sun, the decomposition of vegetable matters, and the existence of miasmatic swamps. Previous to 1833, the general health had been excellent, but this season was prolific of an unusual amount of sickness, especially fever and ague, and malarial diseases generally, and 1833 is remembered by old settlers as the sickly season.
October 18, 1833, David True, Spencer Robinson and Eli W. Veach, arrived in Pokagon from Warren County, Ohio. They came with horse teams, and the journey occupied eighteen days. Mr. True was a boy of sixteen, and for a few months made his home with a brother-in-law, Whipple Carpenter, who at that time was living in a cabin near the present residence of William Baldwin. In 1844, he bought one hun-
dred and sixty acres of land on Section 15. He removed to his present farm in 1865.
Samuel Marr was a pioneer, and emphatically a gentleman of the " old school." He was one of the early Justices, and very zealous in the performance of his duties. He evidently believed in the enforcement of all the laws on the statute books, as we find by ref- erence to the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of 1834, that he informed the board that as Justice of the Peace he had fined three persons $6 for Sabbath breaking, and had collected the money which awaited their order.
In 1835, James Dickson, one of the prominent pioneers of La Grange Township, and whose history is there recorded, entered two hundred acres of land on Sections 25 and 26. He settled on Section 26, about one-half mile west of where his son, Robinson J. Dickson, now resides. He was an extensive and suc- cessful farmer, and widely known for his liberality and hospitality. He did much to forward the devel- opment of this section of the township, and he will long be remembered as one of the prominent charac- ters in its history. Robinson J. Dickson was a lad of about ten years of age at the time of his father's removal to Pokagon, and his recollection of early times is vivid and accurate, and to him the historian is indebted for much valuable data. Perhaps but few men have interested themselves more largely in mat- ters of public interest than he. Coming into Pokagon when a mere lad, he has been identified with its his- tory for nearly a half century.
Giles County, Va., furnished its quota of the early settlers of Pokagon. Archibald Clyborn was the first to emigrate from that State, and among the families from the county of Giles were the Emmonses, John K., James and their parents. The family of James consisted of his wife and four children-Eliza- beth, John I., James E. and Charles W. They arrived in September of 1834, and built a cabin on land owned by William Kirk. James remained about a . year, when he removed to Section 10. Of his family, there are still living in Pokagon Charles W., Wesley, Martin L. and Frank P. One son, James E., lives in Iowa. John K. resided on the Kirk place nearly a year, when he removed to the place where he now resides. The day after their arrival in Pokagon, a daughter, now Mrs. Myers, was born to them, and in honor of the- place of the nativity of her parents, was named Virginia. In the spring succeeding their arrival, Mr. and Mrs. Emmons made sugar on the land they had entered the November previous. Mr. Emmons made the troughs for catching the sap, one of which was appropriated by Mrs. Emmons, as a cradle in which she rocked her baby while at work.
W. A. RODGERS.
MRS. WA RODGERS.
WILLIAM A. RODGERS.
Among the pioneer families of Pokagon, perhaps no one is more deserving of special mention than that of Alexander Rodgers, whose history in Cass County dates back to 1828. The eller Rodgers was of Scotch parentage, his father having emigrated from Scotland and settled in Rockbrilge County, Va., where Al- exander was born. The progenitor of the family was a typical Scotchman, determined, resolute, and possessed of that keen judgment and discrimination that is one of the prominent characteristics of the fam- ily. He was a physician, and was in active practice for many years. Alexander was reared in Virginia. where he was married, in 1809. to Miss Peggy Culton. of his native town. The following year he. with his young wife, emigrated to Preble County, Ohio. where William, the immediate subject of this sketch. was born, October 27. 1827, and was therefore a babe of one year at the time of the family's emigration to Pokagon in 1828. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm, alternating the summers' work by a few weeks at the log schoolhouse in winter, where he received such advantages as wore offered by the first school in Cass County. He remamed with his father and brothers, whose interests were in common,
until the death of the former, which occurred in 1867. He owns 400 acres of the original purchase of his father, which comprised 700 acres. His farm, a view of which we present on another page, is evidence of his success and enterprise. In 1857. he was married to Miss Hannah C., daughter of Franklin and Eliza- beth Shaler. She was born near Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio, October 11. 1534 ; her father was a native of Massachusetts ; her mother was born in Penn- sylvania, where they were married. They reared a family of six children, five daughters and one son. Mrs. Rodgers received an academical education, and for some time was engaged in teaching, which voca- tion she followed after the families emigrated to Mich- igan in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers have been blessed with four children-Ella V., Ida May. Schuy- ler C. and Mabel. The life of Mr. Rodgers has been comparatively uneventful and marked by few iner- dents, save such as occur in the lives of most success- ful business men. While taking a proper interest in political matters, he has never sought office, but has devoted his energies and talents to his business, in which he has been highly successful. He has iden- tified himself with the best interests of Pokagon, and has perfected a valuable record as a citizen.
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM A.RODGERS, SUMNERVILLE, MICH.
217
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Thomas P. McCool.
1,000
5 00
Thomas P. McCool, administrator of the estate George ('herbert ..
100
3 00
James B. Herbert.
250
1 25
William Emmons.
133
09
John Pollock
130
65
Charles Thoroughman
175
87
Thomas Clyborn
135
92
Richard McCoy.
525
2 62
Charles B. Tucker.
125
62
James Dickson.
225
1 12
William W. Welch
200
1 00
Joseph Stretch
325
1 62
John Clifton
200
1 00
William Taylor.
225
1 12
Henry Dewey.
700
3 50
Uzziel Putnam.
1,480
7 40
Jonathan Hartsell came from Stark County, Ohio, in 1826, and settled in Elkhart County, Ind., where he remained until he came to Pokagon, and he bought the " betterments " of Eli W. Veach, and, in Decem- ber of 1835, entered eighty acres on Section 21. Ile resided in Pokagon until his decease, which occurred in 1865. Of the nine children who came with him, eight are now living in the county, five of whom are in the township of Pokagon.
One of the first settlers on Section 23 was George Van Vlear. He came in 1833, and, after locating his land, returned to his home, near Dayton, Ohio. The following year, 1834, he returned with his family, which consisted of his wife and three children-John, Phebe A. andCatherine. The Farrises-Robert, Will- iam, James and Phebe-also came with the party. In 1835, he built a cabin on his land, where he has since resided. John lives on a part of his father's original purchase.
On the 17th of June, 1836, the village of Shakes- peare was laid out by Jonathan Brown and E. B. Sherman on Sections 8, 9 and 17. Brown was a sort of an adventurer, a book-binder by trade, and at the time resided in Niles. At this date the land office was located in Kalamazoo, and Sherman and Brown early in the month went there for the transaction of business. On their return they fell in company, and as they were riding along the conversation naturally turned upon the country, its development and the probable location of villages. Sherman owned forty acres of land in Pokagon, and alluded to its natural advantages, its fine water-power, and suggested it as a fine location for an embryo village. Brown coincided in his opinion, and Sherman suggested that Brown purchase forty acres adjoining, and that they should lay out a town; his proposition was accepted, and a surveyor by the name of Starr platted the new vil- lage with broad streets, two avenues six rods in width, numerous public parks, and a contemplated canal
53 from one point of the Dowagiac River, as it was R
Mrs. Myers is the only one of the children now living in Pokagon. Mrs. Nancy Crandall resides in Silver Creek ; Charles W., the only son, lives near Cassopo- lis ; the eldest daughter resides in Iowa. William Emmons arrived in the spring of 1834, with his family of five children. He was also from Giles County, Va., and settled on the northeast corner of Section 9, where his son, William L., now lives.
Henry Houser came in August of 1834, from Preble County, Ohio, and settled on Section 36, on lands bought the previous year of John Boon. His family consisted of his wife and three sons, Solomon N., Michael B. and Eli. Mr. Houser occupied a prominent position in the early affairs of the town- ship. He took a lively interest in political matters and in 1837 was a member of the county Legislature, and was re-elected the following year. He was a suc- cessful farmer and acquired a comfortable competency. He died in Dowagiac in 1879, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
The following is a copy of the assessment roll of 1834, and gives the names of all resident taxpayers in that year, their assessment followed by the tax. From it the reader gets a very correct idea of the status of things at that time, and the advancement made in eight years.
Joseph Garwood
$1,691
$ 7 95
Jesse Garwood
505
2 52
Isaac W. Duckett.
1,418
7 09
Louis Edwards.
1,596
7 98
Joseph Gardner.
1,281
6 40
Samuel Morton
341
1 70
Gehial Ludington
100
50
Archibald Clyborn.
1,458
7 29
Ann Robinson
40
20
Edward Powers.
1,068
5 34
John Powers
90
45
Samuel Markham
1,254
6 27
John Van Vlear.
103
51
Baldwin Jenkins.
1,519
7 59
Squire Thompson.
2,400
12 00
Whipple Carpenter.
117
52
David Sink
317
1 58
Henry Sifford
484
2 42
Mitchell Robinson
430
2 15
Israel Markham, Sr.
350
1 75
Nathan McCoy
75
37
Joseph Cald well.
65
32
Ludwell Robinson.
40
20
Thomas True ..
20
10
Adam Salladay
285
1 42
Ilenry Salladay ..
105
52
Sraxton Robinson
100
50
David Robinson
50
$25
Daniel Youngblood.
100
50
Alexander Rogers.
1,460
7 30
William Burk
290
1 45
Andrew L. Burk
240
1 20
Thomas Burk
450
2 25
Samuel Rodgers
107
218
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
called, to another, with a number of reserved lots on the water front for manufacturing purposes. A litho- graphic view was made of the prospective town, rep- resenting vessels lying at the wharf, and many of them were sent to distant points for the purpose of selling lots. A large spring was named after the chief, Topennebec, and was represented as being powerful enough to furnish an ample supply of water for two-thirds of the town. After the completion of the plat and the views, Sherman and the Browns went to Chicago to sell lots. The representations of the Browns in regard to the property were so far from the actual facts that Sherman became disgusted with the whole scheme. The Browns made him a proposition for his interest which he accepted, the consideration being two shares in the Lockport Manufacturing Com- pany at Three Rivers, another " wild-cat " specula- tion in which the Browns were largely interested. Nothing was ever done in the development of the " paper town " further than the survey, although lots were sold in every direction, and for many years after- ward the County Clerk was continually receiving let- ters from parties who had bought lots asking informa- tion in regard to their investments in the city of Shakespeare.
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