USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 74
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The first post office was established in Wayne about 1839-40. It was kept at the house of Justus Gage, he being the only Postmaster until the office was dis- continued. Selah Pickett was Postmaster at Pickett's Corners until it was removed two miles east and kept in Volinia. When Model City Post Office was estab- lished the first Postmaster was Amasa Worden ; next Worden Wells, and succeeding him was Henry Crego. When the name was changed to Glenwood, Craigie became Postmaster, then -- Burns. Thaddeus Hampton is the present Postmaster.
The first tannery was started in 1839, by S. B. & J. Clark, on a little brook on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 11. The business was carried on about twenty-five years and then discon- tinued.
George May, the owner of a large tract of timber land situated about three miles west of Tietsort's Sta- tion, began getting out timber for the erection of a steam saw-mill at the station. While this work was going on he conceived the idea of building a railroad to transport logs from his land to the saw-mill. Acting upon his idea, he began work on the west end by get- ting out and laying down ties, upon which were fas-
tened wooden rails for the car to run on. After com- pleting a small portion of the road, he put a car upon the track to carry the ties and rails as the work pro- gressed. About two miles of this road was built, and then work ceased for want of funds. The saw-mill was not completed for the same reason.
Craigie Sharp afterward built a plank road over the same route.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOSEPH SPENCER.
Joseph Spencer, one of the pioneers of Wayne, was born in Madison County, N. Y., August 27, 1811. His parents, Jacob and Anna Spencer, reared a fam - ily of ten children. He received an ordinary com- mon school education, and in 1836 was married to Miss Laura Foster, of his native county. The fol- lowing year he emigrated to Michigan with his family, which consisted of his wife and one child, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son Edward R., a view of which is presented on another page. He re- sided on this farm until his decease, which occurred in February of 1881. He was a man of unquestioned integrity, and possessed of more than an ordinary amount of perseverance and industry. He detested simulation, and was a man of strong convictions. He had a heart full of sympathy for the weak and op- pressed, and his benevolence was proverbial ; an Aboli- tionist of the old school, he did much in the anti-slavery cause in its early days, when the name was a reproach. He was one of the founders of the North Wayne M. E. Church, and was one of its prominent members until his decease. He reared a family of five chil- dren - Francis, now Mrs. Hungerford, of Kansas ; Helen, wife of J. M. Bell ; Edward R .; Mattie L., now Mrs. Dr. Weed, and Emery J .; the latter died in 1857. Edward R. was born on the old homestead in March, 1842. He received an academical education, and was one of the " brave boys in blue." He en- listed in the Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, and was with Sherman on his "march to the sea; " he was captured in March of 1863, and confined in Libby Prison, where he spent his twenty-first birthday. He returned to Wayne at the close of the war, and in 1866 was married to Miss Frances E., daughter of Eli Rich, of Decatur. Two children have been born to them-Fred E. and Beulah B. Mr. Spencer takes an active interest in politics, and is a zealous Repub- lican, a successful farmer, and in every way a worthy citizen.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
RANSOM DOPP.
By tracing the Dopp family back three genera- tions, we find that the progenitor of the American branch came from Holland.
John and Permelia (Reynolds) Dopp, parents of Ransom, were both natives of New York State, where they were united in marriage, and where Ransom was born in Geneseo, Livingston County, November 10, 1828.
In 1840, he accompanied his parents to Hillsdale, in this State. The family consisted of eleven chil- dren, and his parents being in moderate circumstances, the opportunities afforded him for advancement were very limited, and at the age of sixteen years started out on the voyage of life on his own account as a stage-driver, which was at this time the only public conveyance for travelers. He was in the employ of B. Humphrey & Co. for between four and five years, and then engaged in the livery business at Niles, where he remained four years. He then ran a stage line on his own account from Niles to South Bend, Mottville and La Porte for about three years, when he removed to his farm in Wayne, forty acres of which had been purchased while residing at Hillsdale. He now devoted his whole attention to his chosen avocation, and to his indomitable energy and perseverance can be attributed his remarkable success, which has far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. His farm of 1,400 acres is the largest in the county, and the larger portion of it is under a high state of cultiva- tion, and he is acknowledged to be one of the most successful farmers in the county. On another page will be found a view of his home, which attests his thrift and success. But few men have applied them- selves more assiduously to business than he; politics he has avoided, and his agricultural operations have received his entire attention. In matters of educa- tion, he has endeavored to give to others the advan- tages that he was denied of, and for many years has been a member of the school board.
In July of 1848, he was married to Miss Jane, daughter of Samuel Barnhouse, a native of Virginia.
They have been blessed with five children-Willie, Latecia, Louella, Augusta and Jane. Willie and Latecia are dead.
GEORGE WHITBECK.
George Whitbeck was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., November 29, 1820. He was the eldest of a family of eight, the children of Peter G. and Dorathy (Van Buno), who were of Holland descent. They emigrated to this country on board the same vessel, although not acquainted at that time. In 1842, George Whitbeck started out on the voyage of life, ; he had attained his twenty-first year. December 25,
first going to Western New York, against the advice of his old employer, who presented him with $20, with which to return home when he made a failure ; but he little knew the material of which his young employe was composed, for he never had occasion to avail himself of the opportunity offered. In 1845, he accompanied Mr. Gideon Allen to Cass County, and worked for him three consecutive years, and then pur- chased the land known as the E. O. Taylor farm of the State at $4 per acre, making the first purchase in this section. Having made some improvemonts, this was disposed of to good advantage four months later, and he then purchased forty acres of the farm on which he now resides, and to which he has added from time to time as his means would admit, until he now has 330 acres of as good wheat land as can be found in the county. It is known as the " Five Oak Farm," is under a high state of cultivation, and has fine farm buildings, as will be seen by an illustration on an- other page. His success in life has been wholly due to his own exertions, and shows that industry, economy and good management bring a sure reward.
In political belief, Mr. Whitbeck is a Republican, his first Presidential vote being cast for Henry Clay. He has, however, devoted little attention to politics.
In the fall of 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Allen, who died in 1854. Three children blessed their union, Charlotte, now Mrs. A. Berch ; Sarah, now Mrs. D. Blish ; and John A., who deceased when a young man of great promise in 1872, in his twenty-second year. March 4, 1855, he was married to Mrs. Maria Crossman, who was born in Broome County, N. Y., February 21, 1830. Mr. Whitbeck commenced life with only a strong pair of hands and a robust constitution as his captial, and has not only acquired a competency but attained a prominent posi- tion among the successful farmers of Cass County.
ADOLPHUS T. HARDENBROOK.
Adolphus T. Hardenbrook, one of the pioneers of Cass County, was born in the village of Lisbon, Md., in 1823. His parents were Samuel and Sarah Ann (Bell). The elder Hardenbrook was a Virginian, and was born in 1794; his wife was three years his junior ; they reared a family of eight children, four boys and four girls. In 1828, the family removed to Richland County, Ohio, and in 1832 came to Cass County, and settled in the township of La Grange, where they resided many years. The elder Harden- brook and his wife, however, died in Berrien County, the former in 1862, and the later in 1856. At the age of fourteen, Adolphus went to live with Hiram Jewell, of La Grange, with whom he remained until
ADOLPHUS HARDENBROOK.
unce suUt
SILAS PITCHER,
MRS. LYDIA PITCHER.
RESIDENCE OF E. R. SPENCER, WAYNE, MICH.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1879, at the age of twenty-seven, he was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of Capt. Isaac Shurte, one of the first settlers of the county. Mr. Hardenbrook resided in La Grange until his removal to Wayne in 1861. He followed agricultural pursuits during his life time and was regarded as one of the successful and progressive farmers of the county. He acquired a competency and endeared himself to a large circle of friends by his kindness and liberality. He died in Wayne in December of 1880. His wife is still living on the farm which for so many years was his home. They had a family of twelve children-Wallace M., Mary A., Isaac S., Susan E., Martha E., Sarepta R., William E., Ada Z., Francis E., Henry D., Azalia D. and Iris E. Of the above, only two are now living, Azalia D. and Isaac S., the latter is living on the old place. He married Miss Josephine Gwilt in 1875.
EMERY O. TAYLOR.
Emery O. Taylor was born in Rodman, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1820. At the age of twelve, he was thrown upon his own resources, and commenced life as a farm hand. In 1836, he came to Michigan ; spent the summer in Calhoun County. He returned in the fall of the year, and was engaged in farming up to 1841, at which time he was married to Miss Sally L., daughter of Charles and Laura Parmenter, of Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y. She was born in Rodman, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1822. In 1844, he came to Michigan with his family, and in company with his brother, Howland C., and settled in Hart- ford, Van Buren County, where he purchased a farm the following year. In 1851, he changed his location to the southern part of the county, and five years later came to Wayne and bought the farm where he resided until his decease, which occurred in May of 1881.
Mr. Taylor was an energetic and successful farmer and a worthy citizen in every respect. He identified himself with Wayne and its interests, and was re- garded by those who knew him best, as an honest man, and a valuable friend. In Berrien County he was Justice of the Peace for eight years ; filled the office of Highway Commissioner. He left three chil- dren-Addie, Sanford G. and Herbert E.
SILAS A. PITCHER.
Silas A. Pitcher was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 23, 1814. He was the youngest in the family of Fredrick Pitcher and Ann C. Iler, which consisted of six. When Silas was a babe, the family removed to Hocking County, where he spent his youth like that of most farmer boys, alternating the summer's work upon the farm with a term at the
district school in winter. The elder Pitcher was a native of Switzerland, and came to this country a few years after the close of the Revolutionary war. He stopped for a time in Philadelphia, where he followed his trade, that of a tailor, and where he was married. His wife was also from Switzerland, and, not having the money to pay her passage, was sold, in accordance with a custom of those days, to a Quaker, for a period in which her services liquidated her indebtedness. They removed to Ohio about 1800.
On attaining his majority, Silas decided to come to Michigan. He first stopped in Van Buren County, where he remained until 1839, which is the date of his settlement in Wayne. He purchased a new farm, which he improved and where he has since resided. He married Miss Lydia, daughter of Richard Holmes, of Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo Co. She was born May 2, 1826, in Ohio. They have reared a family of four, three of whom are living-Cynthia (now Mrs. John Lilly), George W. and Allen R. Mrs. Lilly was born February 1, 1845; George W., July 4, 1847; and Allen R., November 14, 1850. Mr. Pitcher is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in many ways has identified himself with the best interests of Wayne.
L. C. HOWARD.
L. C. Howard was born in Jefferson County, N Y. His parents, Orrin and Sarah Howard, were sturdy people and reared a family of nine children, five boys and four girls. The elder Howard was a me- chanic, and to avail himself of the cheap lands of Michigan, and to give his family the consequent ad- vantages, emigrated with his family to Cass County in 1834.
L. C. received a common school education, and married Miss Clarinda Pickett in Wayne Township, they have one child, a daughter, Florence W. Mr. Howard is a Republican, and both he and his wife are exemplary members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Howard is a substantial farmer, and occupies a prominent position among the citizens of his locality.
We present on another page a view of his home.
CHAPTER XXXII. HOWARD.
Early belief in it- Unproductiveness-William Kirk, the Ilrst Seltier- The Settlement, including Social Amusements-First Manufactur- ers-Low Prices of Farm Products-Characteristics of Pioneers Land Entries-Poll List of 1837-Yankees vs. Hoosiers-Stalisties and Productions-Schools-('ivil List-Biographical.
W HEN the earliest emigrants came into Cass County they first settled upon the prairies and, when they were all occupied, selected the heavily
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
timbered portions of the county, where an infinite amount of labor was required to bring it into cultiva- tion, in preference to the oak openings, or barrens, as they were sometimes denominated, for they labored under the delusion that the soil was unproductive for it, and its productions, differed from what they were accustomed in their Eastern homes.
Being impressed with this belief the first settlers of Pokagon expected Howard township would never be settled and that they would have it for a cattle range, for which purpose it was peculiarly adapted, owing to the existence of a certain kind of wild grass known as " barren grass," which attained a most luxuriant growth all through the woods and afforded abundant sus- tenance for troops of wild deer that ranged through the ' forests which were unobstructed by small underbrush, such as now can be found in great abundance, for the annual fires kindled by the Indians for this purpose, ran through the woods each autumn destroying all the small vegetation.
At this time it was a beautiful sight to look for a long distance under the leafy covering which was clean and trim, with no fences, roads, or even track, save the deer paths and Indian trails, that meandered through them to obstruct or break the view. At a later date in the stilly night, from some leafy covert, could occasionally be heard the lone howl of the wolf or the growl of a bear as he went foraging through the cornfields or snuffing around the betterments for a pig, while the wily fox paid his nightly devours to some hen-roost.
This township, however, possessed too many attrac- tions to remain long without receiving the attention of the adventuresome pioneers, who were at this period flocking to this Western country by the thou- sands, in search of homes.
As near as can be ascertained the first settler in this township was William Kirk, a native of Virginia, who before coming here stopped for several years in Stillwater, Ind., and after disposing of his property there, removed to where Niles now is, and for a time occupied the same house with Squire Thompson, but the two families not getting along amicably in one small log-house, Mr. Kirk built a log cabin at the foot of the hill on the top of which Mr. Thompson resided. Not long after, while out hunting for his cattle, he found the spring on the farm now occupied by Mr. John W. Timmons, in Section 18, and true to his Southern education, which was to locate near a spring, regardless of roads or neighbors, he immedi ately decided to make it his home, and erected his log cabin to which his family were removed far from those with whom they could have intercourse.
Mr. Kirk frequently told his son-in-law. Mr. HI.
Lamberton, now a resident of Section 19, that he lived but a short time at Niles, and as Squire Thomp- son moved to Pokagon in 1826, Mr. Kirk must have removed here as early, if not prior to this time, and therefore to him belongs the honor of first locating in this township, and performing the initial labors in behalf of civilization.
When coming here Mr. Kirk possessed $600, six yoke of oxen, ten cows and twenty hogs, and was therefore what might be called a wealthy pioneer, for but few possessed even enough money to enter their land, and as for stock were entirely destitute of it. Notwithstanding his start in this new country, when the land was placed in market, he did not possess money enough to enter bis, for it had been dissipated in a large measure by extending the hospitalities of his home to every hunter, land looker, and specula- tor who came his way, for in him was united pioneer and Southern hospitality.
He was what might be denominated a genuine frontiersman, kind and open-hearted, fond of fishing, hunting and the wild woods ; and little did he care for his isolated condition, or for the fact that he was obliged to go to Fort Wayne, Ind., to mill, and put up with many other inconveniences. Thirty-two or thirty-three years ago some of his stock was killed on the railroad, which then extended through this town- ship, and becoming piqued at the manifest unfairness of the company in paying him for them, coupled with the fact that neighbors were getting inconveniently near, and the country too much developed to gratify his hunting proclivities, he disposed of his property and again started westward, and did not stop until he reached the Pacific Ocean, and located in Oregon, where he died in March, 1881, at the ripe age of eighty-nine years. His wife still survives bim.
In 1830, Joseph Harter moved his family from Preble County, Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by S. C. Thompson, and there remained until his death. None of his children now reside in the county. About 1833 or 1834, he built a saw-mill on a small stream on his farm, the first and only one in the township run by water-power, there being a few portable mills of little note now in the township.
Peter Barnhart accompanied Joseph Harter to this township, he then being a young man twenty-two years of age. He worked for Mr. Harter about three years and then commenced work on his own land, entered by Mr. Harter for him in Section 8, and which he still retains, and the eighty acres has been increased to 153. Mr. Barnhart was drafted when the cele- brated Sauk war so frightened the people, and started with his neighbors for the seat of war, which it is need- less to say they never reached, as will more fully be
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
made to appear in the general chapters of this work to which the reader is referred for any item of interest pertaining to this township not treated of here. Plenty of hard work and coarse fare was the lot of Mr. Barnhart in common with other pioneers in an early day, and the monotony of his existence was varied by dances at which he frequently officiated in the role of fiddler, receiving compensation then very acceptable. His first wife, Catharine (Sink), by whom he had - children, one still living, having deceased he married Lovina Brooks, who still survives.
Among the early settlers was William Garwood, a Virginian, who settled on Section 6, and remained there until his demise; and cotemporaneous with him was I. W. Duckett, who entered land in Section 5, in 1829, and then removed to Section 2, but sub- sequently disposed of his property and removed to California.
John and Jacob Kinsey, with their families, ac- companied with their widowed sister, Mrs. Sally Stoner and children, came to Howard in 1830, and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. J. Wood, in Sec- tion 18, and here made the first brick in the town- ship. John K. remained here until his death, while his brother and sister removed to Valparaiso, Ind., where they remained until their deaths.
Isaiah Carberry, who was born in Mason County, Ky., in 1800, removed with his parents, when six years of age, to Brown County, Ohio, and although while a resident of this State, engaged in manufactur- ing tobacco and whisky, never indulged in the free use of either. In 1831, he removed his family, con- sisting of his wife, Susannah (Pickett), and two chil- dren to Michigan with an ox team, and stopped for two years near Beeson's Mill, in Berrien County, where he built a log cabin, but in 1833 moved on the farm now owned by Thomas Moran, which he pur- chased of Government and largely cleared up. After several changes he, in 1840, moved on his present farm of eighty acres, which was purchased for $400, when in a wild state. He is the father of five chil- dren by his first wife, two of whom still survive and are residents of California. It is largely due to as- sistance of his second wife, Mrs. C. Kinsey, that his present farm has been cleared up and improved. She is one of the pioneer women to whom the succeeding generations are largely indebted, for her part, by no means a light one, has been well done in connection with the arduous labors of pioneering. Their days of hard labor were relieved by dances, at which Mr. Carberry used frequently to preside as fiddler. The settlers, one and all, met on a common level at these times and entered heartily into the festivities of the occasion. These dances were most frequently held in
the evening after logging, husking or quilting bees, and the settlers were not particular as regards their costumes, homespun for the ladies and coarse boots for the men being plenty good enough to be consid- ered among the elite.
William Young and his wife, Elizabeth (Christie), came to Howard Township in 1831 or 1832, and located on Section 24. He was born in Vermont in 1796. Mr. Young was foully murdered December 16, 1879. His lifeless and charred remains were found lying in the old-fashioned open fire-place of the humble house in which he had, for twenty-five or thirty years, with little exception, lived a solitary life. The affair caused quite an excitement. It was sup- posed he had been murdered for a small sum of money, something between $100 and $200, which he was known to have had in his possession. This supposi- tion was found to be correct, and William S. Hobart, on trial, was found guilty, and is now serving out a life sentence in the Michigan Penitentiary, in punish- ment for the crime. Mrs. Young died in 1868. . WO descendants of these pioneers now reside in the county. Lorena C. (Messenger) in La Grange Township and Ann (Curtis) in Howard. Robert C., Orrin S. and Nancy E. (Coates) are deceased.
John B. Timmons came from Butler County, Ohio, with Squire Edwards, who settled in Pokagon, and for whom he worked, and after a time, purchased land in Pokagon, and, after clearing up about twenty acres, he disposed of it, and in 1850 moved on the farm now owned by Mrs. Berden, in Section 2, which was origi- nally settled by three brothers-Samuel, Robert and William Faries, who came from Middletown, Ohio, in 1834. Samuel and Robert ran a blacksmith and gun- shop on this farm, and were skilled artisans. They also manufactured plows, and formed quite an im- portant adjunct to the new settlement, for it ob- viated the necessity of their going to Bertrand for this class of work, which, with the poor roads and slow methods of locomotion, usually by ox team, was quite a tax on the early settlers. Robert left the county and ultimately located in Milwaukee, Wis. Samuel returned to Ohio where he deceased, and William went to the land of gold, California, where he also deceased.
John B. Timmons, before referred to, died in July, 1876, while his wife, Phebe (Faries) resides with her son, John W., on the old William Kirk farm, which is now supplied with good farm buildings. Another son, George W., resides in Niles. Mrs. Elizabeth (Parker), wife of John W., is a daughter of the pio- neers, Albert and Lucinda Parker who, while Mrs. Parker lived, resided on the farm owned by her grandfather, Cyrus Mowry, who died in 1861, his
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
former home being in the State of New York. " Grandma " Mowry, as she was affectionately called, used to relate to her children some of the incon- veniences to which they were first subject, such as pounding their corn on a stump, and baking their corn-bread on a board before the fire.
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