USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 113
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1856 .- M. W. Smith, Supervisor; S. W. Ensign, Town Clerk ; John McKenzie, Treasurer; William Nichols, Jus- tice of the Peace ; George Foltz, Samuel Smith, Highway Commissioners ; George Farrand, Orrin Slade, School In- spectors ; John McKenzie, Archibald Morse, Poor- Masters; Mason Ide, Nathan Wood, James R. Brewer, Francis Ober, Constables.
1857 .- William Hulburd, Supervisor; S. W. Ensign, Town Clerk ; John McKenzie, Treasurer; Orrin L. Slade, Benjamin F. Waterman, Justices of the Peace; William Streeter, Highway Commissioner; Reuben L. Smith, School Inspector; John Francisco, Francis Ober, James R. Brewer, Jacob L. Miller, Constables ; Charles Hartshorn, Nathan Wood, Poor-Masters.
1858 .- William Hulburd, Supervisor ; Seymour W. Ensign, Town Clerk; M. M. Bliss, Treasurer ; Harvey Miller, William Stufflebeam, Highway Commissioners ; Reuben L. Smith, William Hulburd, Justices of the Peace ; John Crawford, School Inspector; William Nichols, Har- vey Miller, Poor-Masters; John O. Stufflebeam, John Crawford, Nathan Wood, John Francisco, Constables.
1859 .- William Hulburd, Supervisor; Seymour W. Ensign, Town Clerk ; M. M. Bliss, Treasurer ; William Ilulburd, Levi Wells, Poor-Masters; Orrin L. Slade, Geo. MeKenzie, School Inspectors ; Orriu L. Slade, Charles K. Patterson, Highway Commissioners; William Hulburd, George Mckenzie, Justices of the Peace; Nathan Wood, W'm. Nichols, Wm. Deal, Jacob L. Miller, Constables.
1860 .- Wm. Hulburd, Supervisor ; Seymour W. Eu- sign, Town Clerk ; M. M. Bliss, Treasurer ; Chas. K. Pat- terson, Reuben L. Smith, Justices of the Peace ; Chas. K. Patterson, Highway Commissioner; George Mckenzie, School Inspector; Jacob L. Miller, Ephraim Ensign, Ben- jamin F. Waterman, Nathan Wood, Constables.
1861 .- Wm. Hulburd, Supervisor; Seymour W. En- sign, Town Clerk ; M. M. Bliss, Treasurer ; Wm. Hul- burd, Highway Commissioner; Reuben L. Smith, School Inspector ; M. M. Bliss, Justice of the Peace ; Edward L. Levitt, Ephraim Ensign, Benjamin F. Waterman, Ephraim Summers, Constables.
1862 .- Wm. Hulburd, Supervisor; Seymour W. En- sign, Town Clerk ; John Mckenzie, Treasurer; Morris M. Bliss, Highway Commissioner; George Mckenzie, School Inspector; Reuben L. Smith, Justice of the Peace ; John H. Francisco, Joseph Wilson, James Shanks, Mason Ide, Constables.
1863 .- William Hulburd, Supervisor ; Seymour W. Ensign, Town Clerk; John McKenzie, Treasurer ; Wil- liam Ilulburd, Seymour W. Ensign, Justices of the Peace ; Benjamin F. Waterman, Ephraim Sommers, High- way Commissioners; Reuben L. Smith, School Inspector ; John HI. Francisco, Elnathan Beebe, Ebenezer Baldwin, John A. Stuffebeam, Constables.
1864 .- William Hulburd, Supervisor ; Seymour W. Ensign, Township Clerk; John Mckenzie, Treasurer ; Charles K. Patterson, Justice of the Peace ; Wm. Hulburd, Highway Commissioner ; Hiram Wetherell, to same, to fill vacancy ; George MeKenzie, School Inspector ; John O. Stufflebeam, John E. Wells, Benjamin F. Waterman, Eben- ezer Baldwin, Constables.
1865 .- M. W. Smith, Supervisor ; John Berry, Town- ship Clerk ; John MeKenzie, Treasurer; Morris M. Bliss, Highway Commissioner ; W. H. Smith, Justice of the Peace : M. W. Smith, School Inspector; James Herring- ton, Walter Larkins, Nelson Wilcox, John Francisco, Cou- stables.
1866 .- M. W. Smith, Supervisor; John Berry, Town-
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MONTROSE TOWNSHIP.
ship Clerk; John McKenzie, Treasurer; George W. C. Smith, Justice of the Peace; George MeKenzic, Highway Commissioner ; Orrin L. Slade, School Inspector ; James Shanks, Walter Larkins, William Gilman, John O. Stuffle- beam, Constables.
1867 .- Menzo W. Smith, Supervisor ; John Berry, Township Clerk ; John Mckenzie, Treasurer; J. H. Streeter, Orrin L. Slade, Justices of the Peace; John R. Farquharson, Highway Commissioner; M. W. Smith, School Inspector ; Walter Larkins, James Shanks, Sey- mour W. Ensign, Constables.
1868 .- Wm. Hulburd, Supervisor : John Berry, Town- ship Clerk ; John McKenzie, Treasurer ; William Wier, Justice of the Peace; Orrin L. Slade, George Mckenzie, School Inspectors ; George Parmelee, Highway Commis- sioner ; James Shanks, Samuel Parks, James Merwin, Wm. Anderson, Constable.
1869 .- Iliram Wetherell, Supervisor; George W. C. Smith, Township Clerk ; John McKenzie, Treasurer ; Henry Herring, Justice of the Peace ; William Corwin, William Dorwood, Highway Commissioners; T. W. Pettee, School Inspector ; Walter Larkins, John Francisco, James Pollock, Edward L. Levitt, Constables.
1870 .- Iliram Wetherell, Supervisor ; John McKenzie, Treasurer ; John Berry, Town Clerk ; Thomas W. Pettee, Justice of the Peace ; George Mckenzie, School Inspector ; Edward Eckles, Highway Commissioner; James Shanks, Constable.
1871 .- George Mckenzie, Supervisor ; John McKenzie, Treasurer ; John Berry, Town Clerk ; Hiram Wetherell, William Streeter, Justices of the Peace; Seymour W. En- sign, School Inspector; Morris M. Bliss, Highway Com- missioner; George Miller, James Shanks, Crandall Love- less, Constables.
1872 .- George Mckenzie, Supervisor; Iliram Weth- crell, Treasurer ; Simeon L. Moon, Clerk ; Seymour W. Ensign, Orrin L. Stade, Justices of the Peace ; George Millard, School Inspector ; George Patterson, Highway Commissioner.
1873 .- George Mckenzie, Supervisor ; Stephen M. Kent, Treasurer ; John Berry, Clerk ; John Dunham, Justice of the Peace ; William R. Goff, School Inspector ; John McKenzie, Ilighway Commissioner; William Streeter, Drain Commissioner; James Shanks, Iliram Horning, Ilorace Gillett, Constables.
187 4 .- George Mckenzie, Supervisor; Rufus Swartz, Treasurer ; John Berry, Clerk ; William Hulburd, Justice of the Peace; Simeon L. Moon, William Hulburd, School Inspectors; M. M. Bliss, Highway Commissioner ; James Shanks, Benjamin F. Waterman, Calvin Stafford, Osear Gallup, Constables.
1875 .- George Mckenzie, Supervisor ; Rufus Swartz, Treasurer; John Berry, Clerk ; Orrin L. Slade, Justice of the Peace; Lewis P. Compton, School Superintendent ; Simeon L. Moon, School Inspector ; John McKenzie, Iligh- way Commissioner ; James Shanks, Charles L. Slade, Miles Predmore, Constables.
1876 .- George Mckenzie, Supervisor; Rufus Swartz, Treasurer ; John Berry, Clerk ; Nathan W. Marble, Jus- tice of the Peace; Abraham Horning, School Inspector ;
Thomas W. Pettee, School Superintendent; M. M. Bliss, Highway Commissioner; Nichols D. Vanarnam, Drain Commissioner ; Charles M. Slade, James A. Shanks, Elijah Joslin, Calvin Stafford, Constables.
1877 .- George MeKenzie, Supervisor; William Dor- ward, Treasurer ; John Berry, Clerk ; John Dunham, Jus- tice of the Peace ; Allen Richardson, School Inspector ; Simeon L. Moon, School Superintendent ; James Mackey, Highway Commissioner ; James Shanks, Willard Johnson, George Patterson, George Phillips, Constables; Walter Larkins, Drain Commissioner.
1878 .- John M. Spear, Supervisor ; William Dorward, Treasurer ; John Berry, Clerk ; William Hulburd, Justice of the Peace ; Nathan W. Marble, School Inspector ; M. M. Bliss, Ilighway Commissioner; James Shanks, James R. Brewer, Solomon Powell, John E. Sharp, Constables ; John W. Barber, Superintendent of Schools ; Louis Feller, Drain Commissioner.
1879 .- John M. Spear, Supervisor ; William Clements, Treasurer ; John Berry, Clerk ; Orrin L. Slade, Justice of the Peace ; Seymour W. Ensign, School Inspector ; John E. Taylor, School Superintendent ; James Huggins, Highway Commissioner ; John Wier, N. P. Vanamon, James P. Quick, James Shanks, Constables.
Should errors be found in the spelling of names in the foregoing list it may be attributed to the illegible manner in which the records have been kept.
POST-OFFICE.
The Montrose post-office was first established in 1854, William Streeter, postmaster. He was succeeded by Sey- mour W. Ensign, under Buchanan's administration, and William Hulburd, under Lincoln's. John Berry, the present incumbent, has occupied the office since 1866. Mail received weekly.
EDUCATIONAL.
The boundaries of the first school district were established by Russell G. Hurd, George T. Bingham, and Daniel N. Montague, of Vienna, in the spring of 1845, and the dis- trict included sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 3G, or the exact southeast quarter of the township. The first school-meeting was held at the house of George Wil- cox, April 11, 1845, and was then adjourned to the house of Amos M. Woodruff. An organization was effected by electing William Wilcox, Moderator, Amos M. Woodruff, Director, Richard Travis, Assessor. At this meeting it was voted to raise $80 to build a school-house, and the site of the same to be one-half acre, situated on the northwest corner of the cast one-half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 26, or nearly opposite the present residence of R. Swartz. It was further voted to have the school opened the fourth Monday in June, 1845. The school-house, a log structure, was duly completed, and a school opened at the appointed time by Mrs. Barnes, the wife of Albert Barnes, a Mor- mon. They were young people, and lived in the school- house. Seymour W. Ensign taught in the same house in 1850. Among other carly teachers were Jane Pettengill, who taught the first school in district No. 2 in 185t, Jane Ewing, Olive M. Dodge, Eliza J. Cobb, Lydia Balentine, and Louisa Wright.
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HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICINGAN.
The number of children of school age residing in the township in 1856 were in district No. 1, 25; in district No. 2, 19; in district No. 3, 14; in fractional district No. 1, 10; in fractional district No. 2, 17; total, Sã. The amount of primary-school money to be apportioned for the same period was $12.62.
The following is a summary of the township school report for the year ending Sept. 2, 1878: Whole districts, 7; fractional districts, 1; children of school age in the township, 352; children attending school during the year, 295 ; frame school houses, 8; seating capacity of school- houses, 418; value of school property, $3300. Male teach- ers employed during the year, 2; female teachers, 11. Months taught by males, 7; by females, 45. Paid male teachers, $185.04 ; paid female teachers, $772.15 ; total, $957.19.
Receipts .- From moneys on hand, Sept. 3, 1877, two- mill tax, primary-school fund, tuition of non-resident schol- ars, district taxes for all purposes, and raised from all other sources, $2016.54.
Expenditures .- Paid teachers, $957.19; building and re- pairs, bonded indebtedness, and all other purposes, $811.94 ; amount on hand, Sept. 2, 1878, $247.41 ; total, $2016.54.
The township possesses no buildings dedicated to religious worship. Meetings of various denominations are held in the school-houses. Albert Barnes, the Mormon, preached the first sermon in George Wilcox's house in 1845. Rev. Mr. Bradley, a Methodist divine, was also an early preacher.
The Montrose Cemetery was laid out Nov. 14, 1859. It is situated in the central part of the township, and contains three acres.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
SEYMOUR W. ENSIGN, SR.
There can be but one first settler in a township, and around his name there will always cling pleasant and cher- ished memories. Pleasant, to think he was the first to break in on the solitudes of the forest. Strange, why he should leave the settlements, and go alone into the wilderness to start a new town. Perhaps, what will in time be a great city ! It may be only a rural township, yet the pioneers all testify to the fact that their first years in the new homes were happy ones; that each stroke of the axe, with its answering echoes, spoke to them of cleared farms and beau- tiful homes. Such a man was Seymour W. Ensign, Sr.
He was born in the town of Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 22, 1801. There he grew to manhood, working at his trade,-that of a willer. Mr. Ensign married Miss Tamma Hlusted, and their union was blessed with eight children. In 1838 he emigrated with his family to Sagi- naw Co., Mich., where he rented a farm. At that time his means were very limited, having only money enough to take his family to Saginaw. By working rented farms he was enabled to get. a small start, and in 1842 bought of the
Brent estate forty acres on section 22, in Montrose town- ship. At that time there was not a person living in the township; there were no roads nor clearings. Mr. Ensign tied two canoes together and built a platform upon them, on which the family, goods, and stores were piled. This primitive vessel he towed up Flint River, to what was called the Floodwood farm. Here the floodwood prevented further advance, and they waited ten days for the river to be cleared, when they went on to the Brent farm, just beyond the town of Montrose, where they resided one year. Their stock had to be driven by the way of Flint, as there was no way of going direct to Montrose. During the fol- lowing winter Seymour W. Ensign and his brother George built a shanty on the forty acres in Montrose, and spent the winter months in cutting down trees for the cattle to browse upon, to keep them from starving. In the spring of 1843 a small house was constructed, and the family moved into it. Thus Montrose saw its first white family. Mr. Eusign at once commenced to improve, and at his death his small farm was under a good state of cultivation. He died Aug. 21, 1854, highly esteemed and beloved by his fellow-towns- men.
Seymour W. Ensign, Jr., was born in Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1826. Up to the time he was sixteen he had never been to school, but after coming to Michigan he worked for Thomas L. L. Brent, who taught school in his own honse; for his services Mr. Brent gave him four hours' schooling daily. After that he attended school three winters ; he then taught school three winters, work- ing on the farmu summers. In 1850 he bought on contraet the balance of the eighty-acre lot from which his father's forty was taken, and paid for it by teaching and lumbering. He now owns the old homestead, working in all eighty acres of well-improved land, with good house, barns, etc. In politics Mr. Ensign is a Republican, and has been many times elected to the different offices in the gift of bis town- ship. Was town clerk ten years, commissioner of high- ways six years, and justice of the peace two years. Sept. 20, 1864, he was drafted, and was assigned to Company I, 15th Michigan Infantry. He joined Sherman's army at Beaufort, S. C .; in January, 1865, was at the battle of Bentonville, although his corps did not become actively en- gaged. He took part in the grand review in Washington, at the close of the war,-a scene long to be remembered by him. He was discharged May 30, 1865.
Hle was married to Miss Hannah Vernon, July 4, 1851. She was born June 22, 1851, and was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Vernon) Garside. Their family em- braced the following-named children : Anastasia A., born March 14, 1852, died Aug. 11, 1856; Engene EL., born. Aug. 18, 1853; Clarence S. W., born Aug. 2, 1855, died Jan. 26, 1873; Isabella E., born April 2, 1858; Ida S., born March 2, 1861; Alice E., born Sept. 25, 1862; and Cora L., born July S, 1867. Mr. Ensign's sister Amanda was the first white child born in the town of Montrose. His sister Mary's marriage to Benjamin II. Morse was the first marriage in the town.
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