USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 109
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113
In June, Mr. Smith, with his wife, one son, and one daughter, left their home in Troy and came to Forest, by way of Fliut and the Stauley settlement, and followed the road made by Mr. Ilicster until they reached his cabin. The family remained there two days, while the men were selecting a route for a road to reach their land, and then the march was resumed. Mr. Smith went ahead with his axe, cutting off all the young saplings that stood in the way, his son-in-law, Walter Johnson, drove the team, and his son, William R., drove the cows they had brought with
427
FOREST TOWNSHIP.
them. The road wound about through the woods in a very eccentric manner, in order to avoid the large trees and the largest logs, and the wagon pitched, rolled, and tumbled about, as it passed along the rude thoroughfare, in a manner that sometimes grew almost alarming. The journey of four miles occupied the whole of one day, and at its close the party-having built a fire, cooked and caten their supper- unhitched the cattle and turned them out to graze, stretched themselves out to sleep, wearied and worn by the toils and exertions of the day. Work was at once begun on a log house, which was soon ready for occupancy. It was built of unhewn logs, had a floor made of pine logs split, edged, and hewn to some degree of smoothness on the upper side, and a roof of elm-bark. The three men did the work alone, with the exception of putting on a few of the top logs, in which they were assisted by a wandering Indian who hap- pened along and volunteered his services. There was but one window, and in this was placed a sash that had been provided for the purpose before leaving Pontiac. The building completed, Johnson and William Smith returned to their homes in Oakland County, leaving Mr. Smith to devote himself to the task of clearing and cultivating his land. This house served the family as a place of residence for about five years,-having the bark roof replaced by a shake roof in the interval,-and was then exchanged for a larger and more pretentious log house.
In the fall of that same year, Vandorus, William R., and Carlton M. Smith, with their respective families, came from Oakland County, and settled on the lands they had taken up; and in February following (1838), Walter Johnson and his family came and settled near the town-line, in section 34, on 40 acres of land he had purchased of his father-in-law. To protect himself against the claims of his Eastern creditors, all the lands belonging to Nathaniel Smith had been entered in the name of his son Vandorus. The new-comers at once erected log dwellings, and quite a settlement sprang up at Smith Hill, there being four houses within a stone's throw of each other at the corners.
The Smiths seem to have been endowed by nature with a roving disposition, and, as will be seen, this was in some way communicated to the son-in-law as well. Nathaniel Smith was a man of a religious turn of mind, steady and indus- trious habits, and upright, straightforward, irreproachable character. His religious principles caused him to affiliate himself with the Baptist denomination, but there being no church of that denomination here he united with the Prot- estant Methodist class (of which his last wife was a mem- ber) some time before his death. About nine years after his settling here he sold out to his son. Vandorus and went to Indiana, intending to settle there, but, on account of there being so much sickness there, remained only a few weeks before he returned to Michigan and settled in the town of Highland, Oakland Co. Early in the winter of 1847-18 he returned to this town, and lived at Smith Hill. In May of that year his wife died. llis second wife was a Mrs. Fuller, and his third wife (who survives him) was a Mrs. Branch. He died Feb. 1, 1861, at the age of seventy-two years. Of his family of four sous and four daughters, but one-Henry-is now living in Forest.
Vandorus Smith was born in 1813. After living in
this town about eight years he removed to the State of New York, and settled near Lockport, where his wife's relatives lived. In 1848 he came again to Forest, and, remaining about five years, once more returned to Lockport. In 1867 he settled at Flint, in 1876 he removed to Clayton, and in 1879 returned to Flint, where he now resides. Hle had five children, only two of whom lived to maturity. One of these, a son named Horace, went to the Lake Superior mining regions, was employed on a railroad there, and was killed by falling between the ears. The other child, a daughter, Mrs, Jeanette Adams, is now living in Clayton.
William R. Smith partook less of the movable nature than the rest of the family, because his second wife, Sarah Begel, was opposed to a migratory life. With the excep- tion of one year spent at Royal Oak, Oakland Co., abont the year 1840, he remained a resident of this town until his death, Nov. 29, 1866. Hle married Patience Johnson, of Oakland County, and they had one child at the time of their settlement in this town. While living in Royal Oak his wife died, and, returning here, he married Sarah, a daughter of Stephen Begel, by whom he had three children, only two of them living to maturity. Ilis son by his first wife was named Charles. He eulisted in the Union army during the Rebellion, and died, of disease, in the serviec. Ilis children by his second wife were Calvin and Martha. The former is dead. The latter married William II. Begel, and lives in this town a mile south of Otisville. William R. Smith was a man respected and beloved by his neigh- bors and friends. They placed the utmost confidence in his striet integrity of character, and it was never betrayed. As an instance illustrative of this we cite the following incident : He was treasurer of the town for several years. Being rather illiterate,-school privileges not being as abun- dant in his youth as at the present day,-he was in a meas -. ure dependent upon others to get his accounts into proper shape for settlement with the town board. On one such occa- sion the officers had got the accounts made out to their sat- isfaction, when he refused to accept it as correct, saying, "I have twenty dollars here that does not belong to me. It must belong to the town." The accounts were gone over repeatedly, but the error was not discovered. Still he persisted in his assertion that the money was not his, that it belonged to the town, and insisted on its being so reported, which was finally done. Ile was a religious man, conscientions and consistent in his walk and conversation, and belonged to the Protestant Methodist Church. He also, at one time, was a member of the Christian Church.
Carlton M. Smith remained a resident of Forest about six months, and then returned to Oakland County, settling in Royal Oak. Two years later he returned to this town, remained a year, and again returned to Royal Oak, where he lived until about fifteen years ago, when he removed to the town of Clayton, where now resides.
Walter Johnson married Caroline, daughter of Nathaniel Smith, while the family was living in Oakland County, and removed to this town as before stated. The history of his life shows him to have been of a very restless, uneasy disposition, and few, if any, have ever changed their place of residence so frequently as did he. He lived in Forest some six or seven years, and then removed to Indiana.
428
IIISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
A year and a half later he left that State and settled in Highland, Oakland Co. Lived there one year and then returned to Forest. In 1852 he again moved to Indiana ; from there to Wisconsin, near Milwaukee; and from there to Beaver Island, near Grand Traverse. Some time after, he returned to Forest and lived in Otisville three or four years. During this time his wife died, and he went again to Indiana, and from there to Beaver Island. After a year's absence he again appeared in Otisville, and lived there till his death, which occurred in November, 1870. He en- joyed the distinction of having east the first Whig vote in the township now known as Forest, at that time a part of the town of Richfield. It was at the Presidential election of 1810. The election was held two days, one at Richfield Centre and one at Otisville (as the places are now known), and Mr. Johnson east his ballot for "old Tippecanoe" on the last day. All the other residents of the township at that time (some twelve in number) were Democrats, and depos- ited their votes for " Little Van," who consequently had a large majority in this town. Mr. Johnson's first child was a daughter, named Electa J., who was born about the month of August, 1838, and was the first white child born in the town. From the somewhat roving life led by her parents, she may be said in a manner to have grown up on the road. She married a man named Van Wert, who is supposed to have perished in an accident on a rail- road, and subsequently joined her fortunes with and as- snmed the name of Mr. Flavius Smith. She is at present living in Detroit.
Next after the Smith family came the Begel family, from the town of Howard, Steuben Co., N. Y. The head of the family was Stephen Begel, a native of Rensselaer Co., N. Y. At the time of his removal to this State, he had recently married for his second wife a widow lady, Mrs. Phoebe Beach. By his first wife he had nine children, and Mrs. Beach had four, so that the united family numbered thir- teen children. They left Howard in two wagons, one drawn by two yokes of oxen and the other by a span of horses. They also brought two cows with them. One of his chil- dren, his eldest son, Amos, was married and brought a wife and one son with him. The route they traveled was by way of Buffalo, through Canada to Detroit, where they crossed the river and first set foot on the soil of the State they had selected for their future homes. Leaving Detroit they traveled twenty miles to Birmingham, where Ira Begel, a nephew of Stephen, was living. The family stopped there while Stephen and Amos came on, selected their locations, returned to the land-office, and entered their land, which consisted of 200 aeres, on seetions 21 and 28, near the present site of the village of Otisville. They then made preparations for getting settled on the land they had selected. It was decided that only part of the family should go on at first, and Stephen, Amos, Luther, Sarah, and Ann Begel were chosen to make the journey. Uriah Beach, Stephen's step-son, and two hired men, Lorenzo Begel and one familiarly known as " Old Charley," but whose name is not now remembered, completed the party. They followed the route opened by Hiester and Smith until they reached Iliester's house. From that place they had to cut their own road, and found it a tedious and exhausting job.
They arrived at their destination at the close of the day, on the 7th of Angnst, 1837. Turning the cattle into the woods to graze and browse, they pitched a canvas tent they had brought with them, and, after cooking and cating their suppers, resigned themselves to sleep, forgetting in secret slumber the thousand worries and the wearying tasks of the day. In the morning the bells of the cattle were not heard, and a hasty search failed to find any trace of them. Lu- ther was sent back along the road they had traveled to see if their tracks could be discovered in the mnd where, in coming, they had crossed a swampy place, but was unsuc- cessful in finding any signs. While in a quandary regard- ing the proper thing to do next, the party were surprised at receiving a morning call from Nathaniel Smith and his daughter Merey, then a girl of eleven years. Mr. Smith had heard the sound of cow-bells in the woods, and, expect- ing Mr. Begel's people about that time, had come through the woods to see if his neighbors had arrived. From his report it was certain that the cattle had gone south, and search was instituted in that direction, as withont them the work of building could progress but slowly. It was two weeks before the eattle were recovered. They went sonth to the Flint River, and followed the course of that stream till they were found about four miles from Flint by some men who were drawing a load to the mill of' Draper & Witherbee, in Genesee. They unhitched their own oxen, yoked the estrays to the load, and drove them to the mill. Mr. Witherbee had heard of Begel's loss and sent him word where his cattle could be found. After the cattle were re- covered the work of building progressed more rapidly. It was, however, nearly a month later before the house was ready for occupancy, and even then it had no floor. The door was made from a pine board purchased in Flint for that purpose. The house, which was the third ereeted in Forest and the first one in Otisville, stood on the north side of the outlet of the lakes, a few rods west of the State road. The log house afterwards built by Mr. Begel on the same site is still standing on the lot owned by William Simmons, and was used as a dwelling until the fall of 1878. While the first log house was building the family remained in eamp (about one half-mile south of Otisville), which, con- sidering the warmth of the season, was not very disagreea- ble. They were not molested by wild beasts, though sev- eral times some of them were heard prowling about the camp, and one, approaching closely in a thicket, was fired upon, and vanished with a terrifying shriek, leaving the pioneers in doubt as to its nature and power to do them harm.
As soon as the house was ready the rest of the family were sent for and came on, following the same route passed over by the others. Work on the clearing was then pushed forward with all possible vigor, to get some ground ready for crops. During the fall Amos built a log house on his land on section 21, and moved his family there from the somewhat crowded house of his father, where twenty per- sons had been domiciled during the time that had thus elapsed.
Stephen Begel was a plain, unpretending, practical farmer, and devoted his life to the pursuit of that industry. Of the lands he entered he cleared about one-third (a little more
429
FOREST TOWNSHIP.
than 50 acres). His habits were frugal and industrious and he was of a religious turn of mind. He enjoyed the re- spect and friendship of all who knew him, and his death, which occurred Feb. 11, 1852, caused heartfelt sorrow in the breasts of his numerous friends and acquaintances. Ilis family consisted of fourteen children, six sons and eight daughters. Nine of theus are still living. They are Luther and John R. Begel and Mrs. Nancy Clapp, of For- est ; Almon Begel, of Pine Run ; Mrs. Eliza Valentine, of Mount Morris ; Mrs. Phobe Richmond, of North Branch, Lapeer Co .; Leonard Begel, of Jackson; Calvin Begel, living in Indiana; and Mrs. Clarissa Compton, living in Minnesota.
From the fact that Stephen Begel's family, at the time of his settlement here, comprised among its members five marriageable daughters, it may be inferred that, as other settlers began to make homes in this locality, Mr. Begel's family came to be very popular and influential, especially among the young men. It is stated that soon after his first house was finished he built another small building close by, which was used as a kitchen. Overhead in this build- ing he stowed away a lot of pine staves he had worked out for the purpose of making some sap-buckets, thinking they would get thoroughly seasoned there before he wanted to use them. Now the girls (so different from the girls of to-day) thought that this isolated building was a much nicer place in which to entertain their beaux than the log house where the rest of the family were sitting, and used frequently, nay, almost invariably, to retire thither with them. The woods at this period were full of bears and wolves, and it required a good stock of courage on the part of the "sighing swains" to enable them to tempt the terrors and dangers of the for- est, even in the laudable endeavor to win the affections of the bright-eyed beauties who had captured their hearts. So to fortify their sometimes failing courage, to protect themselves from the dangers of the forest, and to light them along the dark and gloomy way, they often carried torches. It did not take them very long to discover Mr. Begel's stock of staves, nor to learn by experience their utility as torches. It is said the old gentleman remonstrated strongly against this misapplication of the fruits of his toil; but his most earnest remonstrances failed either to save his staves or to frighten away the beaux.
Amos Begel died in this town Nov. 28, 1864, aged sixty years. His first wife, Phobe, died June 26, 1855 ; his second wife, Mary, June 16, 1853 ; and his third wife still survives him, residing in this town, as does one of his daugh- ters, Mrs. Dolly Graham.
Late in the fall of 1839, Matthew McCormick, an Irish emigrant, who had for some time been living in Washtenaw County, took up his residence in Forest, locating his first house, which was the third in the vicinity of Otisville, on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 28, about 40 rods west of the present residence of Mrs. C. E. Osborne. He was accompanied by his mother (Mrs. Jenny McCormick) and his wife. Their first child was a son, John HI., and he was the second white chikl and the first male white child born in Forest. He was born in 1840, removed with his parents, and a few years since again took up his residence in Forest, at Otisville, where he is now
living, engaged in the milling business. The MeCormeks remained here about six years, and then removed to Flint. After living in several different places they finally settled in Davison, where Matthew is still living. His mother died in Groveland, Oakland Co., about 1856.
The next settler was Stephen J. Seeley, who, with his wife and five sons, settled in this town in July, 1841. A daughter, wife of II. G. Conger, remained in Genesee. They came from Gallatin Co., Ky., in the fall of 1836, and lived in Pontiac until February, 1838, when they moved to the town of Genesee, and settled on Kearsley Creek, where two of the sons, Chauncey W. and Judson, had purchased an interest in a lumber-mill. From that place they came to Forest, and engaged in the business of agriculture.
Stephen J. Seeley was a man of fair education, good nat- ural abilities, and had acquired a considerable knowledge of the law from a somewhat extensive course of reading. IIe was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1846, and served in that capacity nearly a score of years, doing most of the legal business of the town during that time. Ile also served as clerk of the town for several years, besides holding other town offices. ITis wife died on the 19th of January, 1869, and he survived her a little more than two years,-till the 18th of May, 1871,-when he, too, crossed the bounds of time and entered the eternity that lies be- yond. Ilis age was eighty-three years. Of his children three are still living in Forest. They are Chauncey W.,* Judson, and Norris Seeley, and are all engaged in farming. Chauncey W., who married Mary A. Dickinson, of Rich- field, in 1844, lives on the homestead, where he has re- cently erected a fine brick dwelling. Another son, Alanson A., was killed in a saw-mill in February, 1860. Ilis cloth- ing got caught and drew him into the machinery. Ile lived about two hours after the accident occurred.
The next settler was John Nixon, who located on seetion 25, and about the same time Harvey Perkins, of Oakland County, attempted to settle on 80 acres of land he had located on section 11. He came by way of the Territorial road through Lapeer to Marathon, and from there ent a road some four or five miles through the woods to his land. IIe had eut some timber and got the body of a log cabin rolled up, but for some reason gave up his project and re- turned to his former home.
John Crawford was the next settler. He was of Scotch- Irish extraction, being a native of County Antrim, Ireland. In 1827 he married Jane Mccullough, and in 1830, with her and two children, emigrated to this country. On the voyage, when near Quebec, the youngest child, Mary, a babe of four months, died, and was buried at Quebec. Mr. Crawford came up the river and settled in Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he engaged in farming. Being dissatisfied with his progress there, and thinking he should be able to better himself by coming West, he, in 1833, brought his family to Ypsilanti, and hired a farm of Mr. Gibbs, in the town of Pittsfield, which he worked on shares for several years. In 1837 he entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24 in this town, and in April,
# Since this history was prepared Chauncey W. Sceky has passed from life. this death was very sudden, being caused by disense of the heart, and o curred at his home in Forest, on the 15th of August, 1579.
130
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICIHGAN.
1842, moved his family to it, and began the work of clear- ing. At this time his family consisted of eight sous and two daughters. Mr. Crawford continued to reside on that place until about eighteen years ago. After clearing about 20 acres of it, he bought a 40-aere lot on seetion 25, and cleared 30 acres of that. In 1861 he exchanged with his brother David for the farm on seetion 22, where he now re- sides. Ilis wife is also still living, and they are enjoying on their pleasant farm, in their good old age, the comforts so well carned by the privations and toil of their younger days. The family of ten children are all living, and are residents of this town with the exception of William, who resides at Alpena, in this State.
James Crawford, John's father, came to this town in 1844, from Pittsfield, Washtenaw Co., where he had lived for about three years after coming to this country. His family consisted of his wife, two sons, and one daughter. They settled on section 24. James died there about the year 1858, and his wife about a year later. Of his ehil- dren, William, and Mrs. Betty, wife of William Davidson, are still residents of this town, and David lives in Flint. William has been quite prominent in town matters, and has served a good many terms as elerk of the town, besides holding other town offices.
. Jeremiah Olds came from Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1844, and purchased a new farm on section 35.
William H. Dimond, from Canada, settled on section 18 in 1845, and has there made himself a nice, comfortable home.
John 11. Fry, also from Canada, settled on a new farm on seetion 7 a few years later. Ile still lives on the place which he has cleared and improved, enjoying the reward for his toil and privations.
John Darling settled, in 1852, on seetion 18, coming to this town from Macomb Co., Mich.
Quartus W. Clapp, now a resident of this town, first settled in Thetford, in 1840, on section 20. He was from Genesee Co., N. Y.
During the first years of the settlement the pioneers were called upon to do and suffer to a degree that would astonish the citizen of to-day were the same lot awarded him. The heavy timber had to be felled and burned before any erops could be raised, and it often occurred that the stock of provisions ran low, and had to be eked out with wild fruits and herbs until more could be brought from the distant market. And not only was the market distant, but often almost beyond reach because of the horrible condition of the roads, which storms and heavy loads had made prae- tieally impassable. Sometimes in going to mill, a distance of twenty to fifty miles, from three days to a week's time would be taken up in the journey. On one occasion Mat- thew McCormick and Amos Begel started early in the morning with Stephen Begel's wagon, drawn by two yokes ol' oxen, and loaded with ten bushels of wheat. The ground was frozen sufficiently to form a crust, but when the wagon woukl reach a mud-hole this would break, and down into the mud would go the wheels. Then the bags would have to be taken out, and the wheels pried up till the slough was passed, when the bags would be reloaded and the wagon proceed till another mishap would cause the same
proceeding to be gone through with again. In this way the journey progressed through the day, and the falling shades of night found them still only about four miles from home.
During times of scareity it would often happen that the only food to be had would be pounded corn (or samp) and potatoes, sometimes only potatoes and salt, and onee in a great while potatoes without salt. The finest of the pounded corn-meal would be sifted out and made into "johnny- cake," and the coarser part was boiled into a sort of mush and eaten in milk. Many incidents connected with such experiences are vividly remembered by those who partici- pated in the events, but the present generation ean never fully appreciate the disadvantages under which their fathers labored before the railroads and telegraphs, postal facilities and improved roads, brought the frontier and the centres of trade into such near contact.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.