USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 102
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On the 15th day of February, 1844, he married Miss Mary C. Bills, daughter of Zelotia and Polly (Ellsworth ) Bills. She was born in Erie Co., N. Y., April 28, 1827. The names and record of their three children are as follows : Harriet C., born Feb. 2, 1846; married to Edwin A. Seeley, March 7, 1865; Sarah A., born Sept. 28, 1850; married to Geo. P. Seib, Feb. 10, 1873; Charles O., born March 4, 1864, and now living at home with his parents.
AMASA CARRIER.
MRS. AMASA CARRIER.
AMASA CARRIER
was born in Marlborough, Hartford Co., Conn., March 25, 1792. His father was a farmer, and with him he resided until he arrived at his majority, when he commenced life for himself. He went to Canada, engaged as a peddler and teacher of singing-schools during winters, and working at farming summers. On the 25th day of November, 1818, he married Sophronia Ackley, who was born in Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., Aug. 16, 1792. Their marriage was blessed with the following children : Cornelia Jane, born Sept. 10, 1819; Stephen A., born June 20, 1822; George B., born Jan. 21, 1825; Olive S., born Ang. 3, 1827 : Joseph, born Nov. 23, 1830; and Emma C., born Aug. 28, 1835. Mrs. Carrier died Nov. 4, 1847. Five years after his wife's death, Mr. Carrier again married, his bride being Mrs. llarriet S. Brainard, who was born in Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., Nov. 8, 1792. She was the daughter of Thomas and Jerusha Selden. They were married Feb. 18, 1852. There have been no children by this marriage. After his first marriage, Mr. Carrier lived on the farm of his wife until 1842, when he moved to Colchester, Conn., where he built a house, his object in moving thither being to give his children the benefit of the fine schools located there. After a residence there of six years he returned to Marlborough, and went on to the farm formerly owned by his grandfather,-a property then owned
by himself, and which is now owned by his son, Joseph Car- rier. The farm has been in the Carrier family more than a century. In 1836 he came to Thetford, Mich., and bought of the government three eighty-acre lots. In 1852 he moved on to his farm, building upon the southwest quarter of section 28. Here he made his home until his death, which occurred Sept. 25, 1878. Mr. Carrier was an energetic, industrious man, and won the respect and es- teem of all who knew him. He was in early days a Whig, and when the Republican party was formed joined its ranks, and is a firm believer in its prineiples. He was for more than hall' a century a member of the Congregational Church, which in his death lost one of its most ardent supporters. Mrs. Carrier has been a member of the same church for sixty-four years.
JACOB W. WHITE.
Among the self-made men of Thetford township, there is none who can better claim this title than Jacob W. White, who was born in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., on the 25th day of August, 1836. He was left an orphan at the tender age of six years, with no relatives or friends to care for him. Three years later found him in Alden, a few miles from Buffalo. Here he resided with different families, working summers at whatever he could find to do, and winters working for his board and going to school, until he was
JACOB KURTZ.
MRS.JACOB KURTZ.
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RESIDENCE OF JACOB KURTZ , THETFORD, MICHIGAN.
397
THETFORD TOWNSHIP.
twenty years of age, when he came West and settled in the town of Thetford. He at once engaged in teaching, alter- nated with laboring on a farm and making shingles. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Ist Michigan Engineers, as a private. Mr. White was promoted through the grades of sergeant and orderly sergeant to the rank of lieutenant. He was in the battles of Mill Springs, Perryville, etc., and was mnstered out of the service Oct. 31, 1864. After the war he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, being part of see- tions 15 and 16 in Thetford, partially improved and now under good cultivation, with good house, barns, etc. Mr. White is an ardent Republican, and has always taken an
active part in political matters. He has held some town- ship office the most of the time since his residence in the town ; has been three years clerk, two years treasurer, and eight years supervisor,-filling the offices with credit, and considered by his fellow-townsmen one of the best super- visors the town ever had. In the fall of 1878 he was nominated by his party for the office of register of deeds, but was defeated by the combined efforts of the Democratic and Greenbaek parties. In 1862 he married Miss Lonisa Scott. She died in January, 1870. To them was born one daughter, Winnie, born Feb. 21, 1865. On the 12th day of December, 1878, Mr. White was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Laura Riddle,
DAVISON.
THE township of Davison, designated by the United States survey as township No. 7 north, of range No. 8 east, is situated upon the east border of the county. It is bounded on the north, west, and south by the respective towns of Richfield, Burton, and Atlas, in Genesee County, and east by Lapeer County.
Its surface north of a line drawn diagonally from the northeast corner to the centre of the west border is com- paratively level. That portion lying south of the above- described line is rolling, with an altitude of perhaps forty- five feet above the former.
Kearsley and Black Creeks are the principal water-courses. The former enters the township from the south, and, flow- ing in a general northwest course, leaves it on the west border of section 7. The latter takes its rise from Potter Lake, and, flowing thence north, describes, in its passage through a portion of Richfield township, the arc of a circle. It then enters Davison from the north border of section 2, and continues in a southwesterly course until it effects a junction with the Kearsley, on seetion 7.
Potter Lake, containing an area of about 150 acres, lies mainly within section 1 of this township, the remainder in Lapeer County. Hlasler Lake, considerably larger in extent than the former, lies also across the line dividing the coun- ties of Genesee and Lapeer, though the greater portion is within section 36.
Vast tamarack-swamps, comprising hundreds of acres, extend across sections 1, 12, 13, 14, 23, and 24, making an almost continuous water-way between the two lakes.
The soil is of the same character as that of surrounding townships,-a sandy loam on the knolls and higher portions, a dark alluvium mixed with vegetable mould on the low- lands.
A system of drainage has been inaugurated by many land-owners within the past few years, by which the value of their hitherto tillable acres has been vastly enhanced and many other fields reclaimed and rendered productive which, but a few years since, were considered valueless.
This was a timbered township originally, oak, beech, maple, and other varieties of deciduous trees predominating. Small groves of pine were found on portions of sections 14, 27, and 33.
The people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits, stock-raising, wool-growing, and the cultivation of fruits, corn, potatoes, and the cereals being the specialties. The imports consist principally of live stock, wool, pork, and wheat. Although this is a new country, compared with some other portions of the county, many fine farms, residences, and commodious out-buildings already dot its landscape, giving evidence of the enterprise and thrift of the people who reside here, and that they are rapidly surrounding
themselves with all the comforts, conveniences, and many of the luxuries of life. Its population at the taking of the last ceusus (1874) was 1294.
LAND ENTRIES.
The first to enter lands in this township was James Hosie, frous Essex Co., N. Y. His purchase was made Nov. 14, 1835, and consisted of the northeast quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 20, also the west half of the northwest quarter of section 21. Thomas L. L. Brent, of Virginia, entered the northeast quarter of section 18, March 16, 1836. Andrew J. Seelye, of Charles- ton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., purchased the northeast quarter and east half of the northwest half of section 33, a tract of 240 aeres, in May, 1836. His brother, Alson Seelye, entered the west half of the last-mentioned quarter-section in July of the same year. The greater portion of the township was owned originally by speculators and others, who never became residents. The following list comprises the names of all those who purchased from the general government lands situated in Davison township:
1836, section 1 : Robert J. S. Page, John Clark, Ira Potter, James H. Jerome, Samuel M. Spencer.
1836, section 2: Francis G. Macy, Robert I. S. Page, Frederick G. Guenther, Joseph M. Leon.
1836, section 3: Francis G. Macy, Edward Fortune, Andrew J. Seelye, Cyrus Comstock, James Hadley, Charles W. Henderson, John McClellan.
1836, section 4: Edward Fortune, Walter Davenport, Isaiah Davenport, Martin Paint, Cyrus Comstock.
1836, section 5: Thomas P. Sawyer, Jesse S. Church, Josiah Willard, Robert F. Stage, Walter Davenport, Isaiah Davenport, Enoch Jones.
1836, section 6 : James C. Alexander, Peter A. Palmer, Jesse S. Church, Josiah F. Willard, George W. Metcalf, Thomas Aplin, David Phelps.
1836, section 7 : James HI. Titus, Oliver E. Maltby, Amon W. Langdon, Francis G. Macy, Robert II. Stone.
1836, section 8 : Oliver E. Maltby, Amon W. Langdon, Ramsey McHenry, B. B. Kerchevel, Mark Healey, F. O. T. Smith, Francis G. Macy.
1836, section 9: Joseph Crandell, Francis G. Macy, Thomas Aldrich, James H. Jerome, Samuel M. Spencer, Daniel Eastwood, George W. Wiłther (laud-warrant).
1836, section 10: William Odell, Thomas P. Sawyer, Numan C. Griswold.
1836, section 11 : Francis G. Macy, Samuel J. Ashley, Numan C. Griswold, Thomas P. Sawyer, Walter Davenport, Isaiah Davenport, Ira Potter.
1836, section 12: Samnel M. Spencer, James II. Jerome, Walter C. Weeks, Eli Ewell, 1Ienry B. Ewell.
398
399
DAVISON TOWNSHIP.
1836, section 13 : Charles Holton, John Bownes, Eras- tus Short, Elisha G. Langworthy, Levi Beecher (land- warrants), Adell Bates, Benajah Rich, Henry C. Walker, Anson Rich.
1836, section 14: Charles Holton, Thomas W. Allis, Levi True, Samuel M. Spencer, Harrison G. Conger, Ho. ratio Cummings.
1836, section 15: John W. Young, Jesse S. Church, Josiah F. Willard, Abraham Lane, Huldah Davison, Duty Cummins, Lewis Cummins.
Section 16: school lands.
1836, section 17 : John McDonnell, Francis G. Macy.
1836, section 18: Thomas L. L. Brent, Francis G. Maey, Robert R. Ilowell, Abraham V. Ayres, Robert I. S. Page. 1836, section 19 : Franeis G. Macy.
1835, section 20 : James losie, Francis G. Macy, Oliver E. Maltby, Amon W. Langdon.
1835, section 21 : James Hosie, Francis G. Maey, Ger- shom M. Williams, Peter Desnoyers, John McDonnell, James G. Crane.
1836, seetion 22: Gershom N. Willimus, Peter Des- noyers, Francis G. Macy, John Taylor, Goodenough Townsend.
1836, section 23: Goodenough Townsend, Edward Covell, Joseph Gihuan, Elisha S. Robbins, Horatio Cummings.
1851, section 24: William Scott Irons, Levi Ketchum (land warrant), Milo N. Miller, Edwin Gridley.
1836, seetion 25: Eli Ewell, Martin W. Fairfickl, John W. Farrar, Dudley Glynn, Clark Sanford (land. warrant ).
1836, section 26 : Aaron B. Adams, Christopher Miller, Abel Seelye, David Hartwell (land-warrant).
1836, seetion 27 : Robert F. Stage, Douglas Houghton, Oliver E. Maltby, Amon W. Langdon, Francis G. Macy, Samuel Gilman, Thomas Martin, Iliram Andrus, Adams P. Woodford, Jonathan D. Bean.
1836, section 28: Josiah Beers, Stephen D. Beers, Fran- cis G. Macy, Oliver E. Maltby, Amon W. Langdon.
1836, section 29: Oliver E. Maltby, Amon W. Lang- don, Francis G. Macy.
1836, section 30: Oliver E. Maltby, Amon W. Lang- don, Nathan Bradley, Justin Sheldon, Thomas Durfee.
1836, section 31: Luey Langdon, Francis G. Macy, Samuel March, Abalino Babcock.
1836, section 32: Francis G. Maey (entire seetion).
1836, section 33 : Andrew J. Seelye, Maltby and Lang- don, Francis G. Maey, Alson Seelye.
1836, section 34: Douglas Houghton, Amos II. Fisk, Maltby and Langdon, Francis G. Macy, Edmond Perry, Jr., Thomas Martin.
1836, section 35 : Elijah Canner, Elmund Perry, Jr., John C. Miller, Jacob Miller, Christopher Miller, Ariel A. Woodworth, Ebenezer Ford, William Walker, Sarah Aun Miller, Mathew Walker, John Tharrett.
1836, section 36: Isaac Adams, Lewis Cummins, Chas. Piquette, Noah Ferris, William Walker (last two land- warrants), Daniel T. Hartwell.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Andrew Jesse Seelye came from Charleston, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in the fall of 1835, and passed the following
winter with his cousin, Seeley larger, who then resided in Waterford, Oakland Co., Mich. In May, 1836, he pur- chased 240 acres, locating the same upon section 33, in this township. His brother Alson and sister Debby ar- rived in Oakland County a few weeks later, where they continued to reside until the spring of 1837. Previous to this time, however, the brothers-then young, unmarried men-visited the land purchased by Andrew Jesse, and in the fall of 1836 erected a small log house, eleared and sowed to wheat some two or three acres of land. Early in the spring of 1837 the brothers and sister began a perma- nent residence here, and the first, we believe, in the town- ship .*
In September, 1837, the father, Abel Seelye, aceom- panied by his wife, Abigail, and children, Abel, Jr .. Abner, Arsena, and Aaron S. J., came from Saratoga and settled Dear those of their family already here. Andrew J. Seelye commenced the erection of the first framed building in the township, a barn, in 1838, and died before its completion, in the spring of 1839, his being the first death of an adult to occur in the settlement. He was buried upon the land purchased by him from the government, and there his remains still repose. Miss Debby Seelye was married to Seth J. Wieker in June, 1842. They resided in Oakland County until 1848, when Mr. Wicker removed to Davi- son. In 1852 he erected the first hotel, the property now owned by his son, Seth J., and also sold the first goods in the same building. He established an ashery, and received the appointment of postmaster upon the accession of Frank- Jin Pierce to the Presidency. IIe died at an early age, and his widow again married her cousin, Scelye larger. She is again a widow, and still resides near the centre of a town- ship which was her home at a time when she had no other female associate. The other surviving members of this pioneer family are her brothers, Abel and Aaron S. J. Scelye, all residents of Davison. During the journey of Alson Seelye and his sister, which was accomplished by horse- team and wagon via the usual route from Saratoga to Ni- agara, thence through Canada to Detroit, they met with a fearful experience near Canajoharie, N. Y., where they, with wagon and horses, fell through a canal bridge some fifteen feet in height. Alsou was severely injured, but was ena- bled, after a slight detention, to proceed on his journey. The horses, strange to relate, received no injury whatever by their unceremonions manner of reaching the towing- path beneath.
Christopher Miller, together with his sons, John C. and Jeremiah, came from Chautauqua Co., N. Y. They pur- chased of the general government lands situated upon see- tion 35, in September, 1836, and it is believed settled upon
* It is stated that during his life-time Christopher Miller claimed to have been the first settler in the township. We find that he, with bis sons, purchased lands situated apon seetien 35 in September, 1836. If he began n residence here prior to March, 1837, then he was the first settler. But Mrs. Debby Harger (formerly Miss Debby Seclye) still resides here. She is apparently in tho possession of all her faculties, and is quite positive in the assurance that at the time of her settlement here in the spring of 1837, Mr. Miller's family had not yet come in. As the distance between the two families was but little more than one mile, it would seem that they would know of one another's presence at a period when families living ten miles distant were termed " neighbors."
400
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
their purchase in the summer of 1837. He erected the first framed house in the township, in 1839, and the first school was taught in his vaeated shanty at about the same time by Miss Sabrina Barnes.
Ira Potter, a native of Vermont, accompanied by his wife, Clarissa, and children, Robert E., Ira W., James A , Mary E., and Francis, came from the city of Rochester, N. Y., and settled at Knapp's Mill, on Black River, distant twenty- two miles from Port Huron, Mich., in 1834. The father and sons were aceustomed to all the duties pertaining to saw-mills, and were so engaged on Black River. In 1836 the family removed to Flint, and shortly after to a mill on the Kearsley, in the present township of Genesee. While en- gaged here in the manufacture of lumber, in August, 1836, he purchased of the government the east one-half of seetion 1, Davison township.
In September, 1837, Mr. Potter, assisted by his son Ira W., Samuel Johnson, James Wood, and Roswell Petten- gill, started from the mill in Genesee with the purpose of opening a road to, and commeneing an improvement upon, his new purchase in Davison, then Richfield. From the ronte known as the Irish road to the west bank of Potter Lake-a distance of four miles, nearly-a road was opened through the unbroken wilderness, and the party were three days in traversing the distance of some ten or twelve miles. They arrived upon the ground at midday, and before dark- ness set in had erceted the walls of a substantial log house, 12 by 14 feet inside, although Wood and Pettengill started on their return home about 3 o'clock P. M.
Mr. Potter and family finally took up their residence here in January, 1838, thus becoming the first settlers in the north half of the township. He died Sept. 29, 1839, at the early age of forty-seven years. His widow survived until May, 1870, having attained the age of seventy-seven years.
The surviving members of his family still own and oe- cupy the original purchase, have added many aeres thereto, and at the present writing no family in this portion of Michigan are more comfortably and pleasantly situated.
Ira T. Potter, son of Robert E., was born in October, 1840, and is believed to have been the first male child born in the township, a daughter having been born to S. M. Fisk and wife a few months previously.
Ira Potter's family did not suffer the wants and priva- tions so common to the lot of many pioneers, as he pur- chased in Detroit and brought in here with him sufficient flour and pork to last one year. Still for many years they were far from markets, Pontiae being the principal point, and but little money comparatively was received for farm products. Mr. Ira W. Potter recalls the fact that he very frequently made the journey to the latter city, hauling with an ox-team thirty bushels of wheat, for which he received five shillings per bushel, the journey occupying three days' time. All other early residents here can relate the same experience, and recall with great animation the terrible condition of early roads and the conseqnent struggle to ob- tain a few dollars in money at far-away markets.
Among other settlers of this period (1838) were Justin Ilenry and William Sheldon, from Erie Co., N. Y., who located upon section 30; Abelino Babcock, from Oakland
Co., Mich., who settled on seetion 31; Jacob Teachout, upon section 5; Harrison G. Conger and Samuel Crandall, upon seetions 11 and 14.
Goodenough Townsend was born in Wheelock, Caledo- nia Co., Vt. His grandfather, Thomas Townsend, marched with Benedict Arnold to Quebec, and two grand-uneles served with the Continental army during the long and bitter struggle for national independence. During the year 1832 the father of Goodenough, with his family, removed from Vermont to Monroe Co., N. Y. In 1836, Mr. G. Townsend visited various portions of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, in search of a traet upon which to make his future residence. He at last decided to locate in this township, and in September of the same year purchased 120 aeres situated upon section 22, and 40 aeres upon see- tion 23. Ile then engaged in the occupation of school- teaching, which he continued until the winter of 1838 and '39, when he erected a log house upon his purchase, mar- ried Miss Mary Ann Fisk, of Genesee township, and became a permanent resident of Davison thenceforth.
Mr. Townsend immediately became identified with the publie interests of Davison. He was largely instrumental in the passage of the act for the organization of the new town, and at the first election for township officers, held at his house, April 6, 1840, was elected supervisor. Again, in 1843, when Davison, with other townships on the east border of Genesee County, was detached from Lapeer and annexed to this county, he was prominently conspicuous in the consummation of the project.
From the organization of the township until within a very recent period, he has served his townsmen in many other official capacities, as will be seen by reference to the list of township officers. During the Whig administration, -Taylor and Fillmore,-from 1849 to 1853, he was ap- pointed the first postmaster. The office was then known as Davison Centre. He established the first Sabbath-school in 1842, and succeeded, by the aid of small contributions from his neighbors, in purchasing at the same time a Sabbath- school library of 100 volumes. Much more might be added concerning Mr. Townsend, of his individual worth, and the esteem in which he is held by his townsmen, as well as by a wide circle of acquaintances throughout the county ; but we suffice with the remark that he is still a hale, active, well-preserved gentleman, the possessor of a fine property, the broad acres of which were cleared of their primeval growth by his own strong arms, and that he bids fair to attend pioneer meetings many years hence.
Calvin Cartwright, for many years supervisor of the township, and ever an active business man, came from Avon, Livingston Co., N. Y., and settled in Grand Blane in 1836. In 1842 he removed to Davison, which town- ship has since been his place of residence.
Prior to 1844 the following additional settlers were resi- dents : James A. Kline, Aheron Perry, William Phillips, Ilenry Hastings, Thomas Park, William Thomas, Clark Potter, Eleazer Thurston, Samuel Johnson, Abram Hotel- kiss, Samuel J. Ashley, Abner Hotchkiss, Robert Knowles, John Austin, David Casler, John Casler, Daniel Dayton, HJart W. Cummins, Silas S. Kitchen, Iddo H. Carley, S. M. Fisk, Fra Cobb, Elias Bush, and Thomas O. Townsend.
401
DAVISON TOWNSIIIP.
Among those settlers who purchased land of the govern- ment at quite an early period, and not previously mentioned, were Daniel Eastwood, William Odell, Benajah Rich, Wm. Scott Irons, Milo N. Miller, Edwin Gidley, Hiram Andrus, Adams P. Woodruff, Jonathan D. Bean, Edmund Perry, Jr., Jacob Miller, Ebenezer Ford, Mathew Walker, and John Tharrett.
The following is a complete list of the resident tax- payers in 1844, showing also the sections upon which they resided, or upon which they were assessed for taxes :
Ira W. Putter, 1 and 2. Robert E. Potter, 1. Clark Potter, 1.
Hart W. Cummins, 36. Daniel Dayton, 36. Ahelino Babcock, 31.
John Caslor, 29.
David Caslor, 30.
John Austin, 31 and 32. Ilenry Sheldon, 30.
Robert Knowles, 33.
William Thomas, 31.
Thomas Parke, 6. Jacob Teachont, 5.
Goodenough Townsend, 22.
Henry Hastings, 6. William Phillips, 5. Almeron l'erry, 20. James A. Kline, 20.
Thomas O. Townsend, 23. Christopher Miller, 26 and 35. John C. Miller, 26.
Calvin Cartwright, 20.
Jeremiah Miller, 35. Ira Cobb, 25.
Alson Scelye, 33.
William Sheldon, 30.
- Churchill, 5.
- Davis, 5.
CIVIL HISTORY.
Prior to 1840 the south half of this township was at- tached to Atlas, and the north part to Richfield. During the session of the latter year, Goodenough Townsend, with other residents, sent in their petition to the State Legisla- ture, praying for the organization of a separate township within the boundaries of the territory designated by the United States survey as township No. 7 north, of range No. 8 cast, and also requested that the new township be named Middlebury. Their petition as regarded the forma- tion of a new township was granted by the august body then in session. But as the people of a township in Shia- wassee County had already possessed themselves of this hon- ored and ancient appellation, and as it was designed that each township in the State should bear a dissimilar title, the Legislature saw fit to bestow the name of Davison, in honor of the Davison family, of Atlas.
Section six of an act to organize certain townships reads as follows :
" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That all that portion of the county of Lapeer des- ignated by the t'nited States survey as township number seven (7) north, of range number eight (8) east, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Davison, and the first township-meeting therein shall be hold at the house of Goodenough Townsend, in said township."
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