USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 62
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The first bridge across the Shiawassee River at Linden was a log structure which stood about a hundred rods above the present dam, and was built at some date between 1836 and 1840, probably in 1836 or '37, as, when the dam was raised, it was carried off by the water. Soon after, a frame bridge was thrown across at the same place where the stream is now spanned, and since then several have been built, all, inchiding the present one, frame.
The first marriage in the village was that of Jared Ball and a Miss Sage, which was solemnized about 1840-41. Lafayette Fairbank and Almeda Hunt were also married early, as were Walter Davenport and Lucinda Hunt, and Alden Tupper and Louisa Lamb.
The first school in Linden was taught in a long, low- roofed, one-story shanty which stood in front of the grist- mill, by a daughter of Abel D. Hunt, in the summer of
1839. Ilunt had settled here the same year .* The house was a temporary affair which had been used as a boarding- house by the men at work building the saw-mill. Walter Brown taught at the same place the following winter. This school, although the first in the main settlement, was not the first in the vicinity, as another had been taught in 1838, three-fourths of a mile east, by Walter Brown. The first building erected purposely for a school-house in what are now the corporate limits of the village was a log cdifice which stood in the southeast corner thereof. A frame structure was afterwards built on the street running south from the hotel and " Union Block," and about thirty rods south of the hotel. The log house was built about 1840. Louisa Hillman and John Morris were among its early teachers. It was used but about two years, or until the frame building was erected.
North of Linden the first school was taught in the sum- mer of 1840 in a small frame school-house, built by the district on the north end of Morris Ripley's farm. The teacher was a lady, whose name is forgotten. This school- house has been removed and a new one erected farther east.
The Linden post-office was established in the fall of 1850, principally through the efforts of Seth C. Sadler, and Claudius T. Thompson received the first appointment as postmaster. His successors have been William II. Cook, Frank Fry, Charles Brown, and the present incumbent, N. B. Cochran.
James Fairbank, now in Nebraska, about 1865-66, built the first brick store in Linden, and opened a hardware es- tablishment in it. The building is now owned by Myron Harris, who has enlarged it to accommodate his business. It stands opposite (west of ) Springer's Hotel.
The brick " Union Block," on the north side of the main street and opposite the hotel, was built in 1868-69, under the superintendence of I. B. Hyatt. The parties owning the property and who built the block were William Mid- dlesworth, Hyatt & Moshier, J. J. Johnson, Charles Brown, W. H. Cook, and Allen Leonard, beginning at the west end. Of these, Middlesworth is dead; Moshier went out to take charge of the hotel; and Leonard's part is owned by Asa Whitehead. The others still remain.
James B. Moshier came to Linden in January, 1852, and in 1860 engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued until May 1, 1879, when he relinquished it in order to attend to the affairs of the hotel. He is from Warren Co., N. Y.
I. B. Hyatt also located here in January, 1852, and en- tered into business with his brother, Jacob Hyatt. Their stock-considered large in those days-consisted of a wagon- load of goods which had been purchased at and brought from Detroit. I. B. Hyatt subsequently entered partner- ship with J. B. Moshier, with whom he long continued. Ile is the present owner of the grist-mill, and was the first Master of the Linden Masonic lodge.
Charles Brown, still in business in the Union Block, started the first drug-store in the place, in 1858, and has continued since in the same line of trade. He came from the State of New York.
$ A. D. Hunt, Jr., informs us that he came in 1838, and his father in 1836. The above was obtained from other parties .- IHISTORIAN.
233
FENTON TOWNSHIP.
About 1858-59 a foundry was built and started by Stephen Clark, who did general furnace work, and in two or three years added a steam stave-cutter. The foundry is now the property of Sadler & Lobdell.
The addition laid out by Walter Davenport near the railroad is called North Linden. About 1857, a hotel was built near the depot by Mr. Davenport, since deceased. The present proprietor is William Gamber. The frame elevator and warehouse near by was built about 1868, by Joseph Middlesworth, and is still owned by him. Grain, lime, salt, land-plaster, etc., are handled. Mr. Middles- worth's father, John Middlesworth, settled in Argentine township in 1838, coming from New Jersey. He pur- chased 1600 acres of land in the southwestern part of said township from second hands. He is now deceased.
Linden Cemetery .- Perry Lamb, at an early date, gave to the township half au aere of land, to be used for burial purposes, and afterwards sold an additional half-acre for $10. Subsequently F. C. Fairbank added half an acre on the east side, laid it out into 40 lots, and sold it for $20. J. Z. Fairbank and his sister, Mrs. Mary E. Fisk (widow of Perry Lamb), have since added 181 lots, and the cemetery now contains about 34 acres. Of this one acre-that given and sold by Perry Lamb-is free to the township, while the balance is owned by the individuals who made the additions. The first person buried in it was James Ball, a millwright by trade, who, in August, 1836, while building a mill at Shiawasseetown, in Shiawassee County, fell about eight feet, striking on a rock and killing him. Hle lived at Linden, where the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Iliram Madison, a Free-Will Baptist minister, and one of the first of that denomination who preached in this neighborhood.
Linden Lodge, No. 132, F. and A. M., was organized under dispensation early in 1861, and chartered Jan. 10, 1862. It started with 7 members and has at present about 90. Its first Master was I. B. Hyatt. The hall is in Union Block. Three of the members belong to Fenton Commandery, No. 14, K. T., and several are Royal Arch Masons. The officers for 1879 are: Worshipful Master, A. II. Beach ; Senior Warden, George West; Junior Warden, A. B. Hyatt ; Sec., James McFarland ; Treas., James B. Moshier ; Senior Deacon, John Sleman ; Junior Deacon, L. Fairbank.
Strict Account Lodge, No. 276, I. O. O. F., was organ- ized March 17, 1876, with 11 members. Its first executive officer was E. R. Parker. The present membership is about 40, and the officers are: Noble Grand, Warren G. Ripley ; Vice-Grand, Albert Billings; Treas., J. G. Hicks; Sec., E. D. Webber ; Permanent Secretary, Frank Luee ; Treas., J. G. Hicks.
Linden Division, No. 103, Sons of Temperance, was organized Jan. 25, 1877, with about 30 members, and had at the beginning of May, 1879, abont 150, with the following officers, viz .: Worthy Patriarch, E. D. Webber ; Worthy Associate, William Collins; Past Worthy Patriarch, John G. Snook ; Recording Scribe, William Hyatt ; Assistant Re- cording Scribe, Miss Jenny Cooper; Treas., Thomas Gerow ; Financial Seribe, Arthur Webber ; Chaplain, Mrs. Alfred Cooper; Conductor, Silas Henry ; Assistant Conductor,
Miss Annie Gerow ; Inside Sentinel, Joseph Miller ; Out- side Sentinel, L. M. Howe.
The first religious society in the village was organized previous to 1838 by the Free-Will Baptists, and kept up for a considerable number of years. Its first minister was Rev. Mr. Jones, from Holly, Oakland Co., who preached his first serman here as early as 1837, from a pile of saw- logs ju the mill-yard. Rev. Hiram Madison was also early, -having preached a funeral sermon in August, 1836, as mentioned .* The carly meetings were held in the log houses and barns of the pioneers, and afterwards the school- houses were pressed into service. The Baptists have no organization here at present.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The second religious or- ganization in the place was formed by the Methodists, who organized a class about 1838-39, and had services in con- nection with the church at Fenton. An early minister was Rev. Daniel Miller, a local preacher, who was sent here as a missionary from Miller's Settlement, now Hamilton Sta- tion, on the Chicago and Lake Huron Railway. Among the pastors since the organization of the society have been Revs. O. II. P. Green, R. McConuell, P. O. Johnson, James Armstrong, Joseph Shank, John G. Whitcomb, T. J. Joslin, D. W. Hammond, Orlando Sanborn, John ITam- ilton, and Mr. Sanborn a second time, he being at present iu charge. " Linden Circuit" has charges in Fenton, Ar- gentine, and Mundy townships. The only church edifice among the Fenton township charges is at Linden. It was commenced in the summer of 1867 and dedicated Oct. 18, 1868. The other two churches on the circuit are located, one at Argentine, built and dedicated in 1873, and the other at South Mundy, dedicated in December, 1872, hav- ing been built that year. All three are frame buildings. The appointments on the circuit are at the following places, viz. : Linden, head of Long Lake, and "Sand Bar" school- house, in Fenton township ; Argentine and Dodder school- house, in Argentine ; and South Mundy church, in Mundy .. The membership of these is as follows : Linden, 149; Long Lake, 53; Sand Bar school-house, 25; South Mundy, 90; Dodder school-house, 27; Argentine, 34. Mr. Sanborn has the supervision of the entire circuit, and by the aid of local preachers all the appointments are regularly filled.
The Long Lake class was first organized in 1837, at or near the Odell school-house in Mundy; it was afterwards changed to a location near the township line, where a log church was built, and was finally transferred to Long Lake. The South Mundy class was organized in 1840; the Ar- gentine class in February, 1869, by Rev. J. W. Holt, with B. G. Whitney as first class-leader, attached to Linden circuit in 1870, having been previously on Oak Grove circuit ; Blair school-house class, in Fenton, organized in February, 1867, by Rev. James Berry, B. F. Hitchcock first class-leader, changed since to Dodder school-house iu Argentine.
Linden circuit was organized in the Conference of 1869,
# There seems to be some disagreement in dates. It is stated that Mr. Jones was the first Baptist minister here, and so generally con . ceded, and that he first preached from the saw-logs. If the mill was built in 1837 this statement would seem to be at fault. Perhaps the mystery may be solved by some old settler, although the above infor- mation is vouched for by numerous persons.
30
234
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
and Rev. D. W. Hammond appointed pastor. The classes then connected were Linden, Long Lake, South Mundy, Kennedy school-house, and Blair school-house. Rev. Or- lando Sanborn was appointed to the eireuit in 1870, and remained three years. During that time a debt of $1000 on the church at Linden was cleared up, and the churches built at Mundy and Argentine, at a cost of $2500 each. The organizations of this denomination in Mundy and Ar- gentine, belonging to the Linden circuit, are the only ones of the kind in those townships. The church at Fenton is separate from this circuit .*
The Presbyterian Church at Linden was organized about 1863, during the war of the Rebellion, and the present frame church built at the same time, at a cost of about $1700. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas Wright. Those since have been Revs. - Herrick, --- Wallace, and D. H. Taylor, the latter now in charge and living at Fenton, being the pastor also of the church at that place. The membership of the Linden church is about 55. A good Sabbath-school is sustained with an attendance of abont 70. It possesses a library of 200 volumes or more, and is super- intended by A. B. Hyatt. Both church and school are in good condition.
INCORPORATION.
The village of Linden was incorporated by act of the Legislature in 1871. The first village election was held on the 6th of March of that year, when the following officers were chosen, viz .: President, William II. Cook ; Clerk, L. D. Cook ; Marshal, E. H. Spencer ; Treasurer, Myron Harris; Assessor, James B. Moshier ; Trustees (two years), John J. Castle, I. B. Hyatt, L. II. Pierce (one year), Parley Warner, L. A. Curtis, J. Z. Fairbank.
The presidents and trustees of the village since have been the following :
1872 .- Presi leat, William H. Cook; Trustees (two years), O. F. Jame- sou, Parley Warner, James R. Cooper.
ยท 1873 .- President, Y. E. Benton ; Trustees (two years), John J. Castle, Michael W. Johnson, Julius P. Warren.
I874 .- President, Beach J. Whituey ; Trustees (two years), Y. E. Benton, Silas K. Warner, James R. Cooper.
1875 .- President, Ilomer B. Smith; Trustees (two years), Allen Leonard, Allen J. Beach, Julius Warren. 1876 .- President, Silas A. Cook ; Trustees (two years), Silas K. War- ner, Charles Brown, James R. Cooper.
1877 .- President, Myron IIarris; Trustees (two years), Eugene S. Cram, Morris L. Groom, Alonzo B. Hyatt.
1878 .- President, Alfred Cooper ; Trustees (two years), Anson More- house, John J. Castle, George W. Davenport.
I879 .- President, Leonard H. Pierce; Clerk, William II. Johnson; Treasurer, John H. Leal; Assessor, Stephen T. Davenport ; Marshal, Lorenzo M. Nowe; Trustees (two years), Alfred Cooper, Seth C. Sadler, Jr., George West.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
A fire company was organized June 24, 1871, with 17 members, and buckets were supplied for use at fires. In the spring of 1879 the company was furnished with hand extinguishing pumps, the utility of which is to be demon- strated. Fire wardeus are appointed each year, and the company is kept up to the regulation standard, 18 members. The village has suffered from but few fires, none of which
were extensive, and all except one or two occurred before incorporation.
In May, 1879, the village contained thirteen stores, a foundry, a wagon-factory (Linden Wagon-Works), a ear- riage-factory (property of Joseph Beach & Son), Beach Platform Truss Gearing Company's factory, an axe- and piek-handle factory (owned by Gerow & Orton), a saw-mill, a grist-mill, two churches, a graded school, with one brick school-building and a small frame one, a newspaper called the Linden Record, edited and published by Orlando White, t several physicians, of whom the oldest is Dr. Leonard H. Pierce, who has practiced here twenty-five years, and the usual number of blacksmith- and other shops found in a place of the size. Its population is estimated as being in the neighborhood of 800.
Immediately north of the village of Linden resides Par- ley Warner, who came to the township with his father at an early date, and who happened unfortunately to be absent from home when called upon for information.
Farther north is the farm of Morris Ripley, who came from Queenstown, Warren Co., N. Y., to Michigan, in 1836, and located land where he now lives. In the fall of 1839 he returned to New York and was married, and in the spring of 1840 brought his wife with him to their future abiding-place in Michigan. He had then a log shanty built and one field cleared on the place. At that date (1840) no one lived in Fenton township north of them, and a road had not yet been cut through the timber. Mr. Ripley's brothers, Anson and Alanson Ripley, followed him to the township, the former locating three-fourths of a mile east of him, and the latter next south. Anson Rip- ley is since deceased, and Alanson resides at present in the township of Mundy.
MOUNT PLEASANT.
John and Solomon Cook were probably the first settlers in the immediate vicinity of this village, which was laid out by the former Aug. 8, 1840, and an addition platted by him Oct. 27, 1845. John Cook died many years ago ; his brother still resides here.
In August, 1856, Capt. Charles Bennett, an old lake sailor, came from Washtenaw County and located here. He was formerly from the State of New York. Since set- tling at this place he has entertained many persons in search of pleasure, having fitted grounds and built boats purposely for their accommodation. He is the owner of " Bennett's Island," in Long Lake, containing about 23 acres, which has been supplied with tables, sheds, and all necessaries to make it a most desirable pienie-ground. He owns the boat " Mettic Helm," formerly a steamer, now used for the accommodation of Sunday-school parties, etc. It is towed by the gay little steamer " Evening Star," which contains the engine formerly in use on the first-named boat, and which was built in 1874 by the captain's son, Capt. W. H. Bennett. The latter also sailed a number of years on the lakes, and during the winter of 1860-61 he stayed with his father on the island of St. Ignace, in Lake Superior.
t See chapter on the press.
# Sve Fenton churches.
JEROME Z. FAIRBANK .
PHOTO BY J. H. PHIPPS
SETH C. SADLER
( J H PHIPPS, PHOTOGR )
MRS.G.W. BERRYMAN
G. W. BERRYMAN.
-
RESIDENCE OF GEO. W. BERRYMAN, FENTON , GENESEE CO., MICH
235
FENTON TOWNSHIP.
Capt. W. H. Bennett and his brother, Charles J. Ben- nett, are the proprietors of a saw-mill at the place, where the latter built and still owns a small hotel. The present " Long Branch House" is a large frame hotel which was erected in 1876 by Ilugh McKean, who is still the owner. It is open every season for boarders and visitors. A small grist-mill has been recently built on the northeast shore of the lake, and is owned by Mr. Judson.
"IDLEWILD."
On the eastern shore of Long Lake, below the " nar- rows," Philip II. McOmber settled in 1834, and long kept a publie-house known as the "Long Lake House." A line of stages plying over the road, passing through Fen- ton to Flint, brought business to the door. This house was kept in 1867 by John Snow. In the fall of 1868,
N. T. Thurber purchased the property with the view of repairing or rebuilding the house and opening a summer resort which should become popular throughout the imme- diate region. Extensive repairs were made, and in June, 1869, the house was thrown open to the public with D. W. Denio as landlord. The latter has remained in charge since, with the exception of one year, when he occupied the " Fenton llouse," at Fenton, Cornelius Bergen admin- istering the affairs of Idlewild. This has become the pop- ular resort desired by its projector. A commodious steamer was built in the spring of 1875, named the " George C. Langdon," after the then mayor of Detroit, who comes here with his family every summer. No finer sheet of water for its size ean be found in the State, and " Idlewild" and " Long Branch" and "Mount Pleasant" have become widely and favorably known.
Report of Township Schools for the Fear Ending September 2, 1878.
Number of Children
between Five and
Attendanco during
Non-Resident Pupils.
Number of Days School
during Year by Quali-
fied Teachers.
Number of Seatings.
Value of Property.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
No. 1
762
694
47
2000
...
560
$10,000
3
$2,000
$2,800
180
108
...
143
1
40
500
1
I
86
32.50
53
49
...
160
1
60
600
I
1
41
$3
22
15
160
1
45
400
7
41
44
3
162
1
60
800
1
1
120
36
S
32
29
...
165
1
40
200
1
157
10
10%
44
36
160
1
1,000
1
1
150
36.60
11#
91
19
1
157
1
44
600
I
1
100
45
Total receipts for school year, $10,000.94; amount on hand Sept. 2, 1878, 8903.54 ; expenditures, less amount on hand, $9097.40; number of private or seleet schools in township, 3; number of pupils attending saure (estimated), 50.
Those who read the foregoing history of Fenton town- ship, with its villages, etc., will readily perceive that its eom- pilation has been a work of no small magnitude. To those who have furnished information earnest thanks are hereby tendered, and if, in the mass of matter presented, there should be a few inaccuracies, it must be remembered that to straighten a mass of conflicting testimony and place facts in print is an almost impossible task. However, the belief of the historian is that his labors have not been in vain, and he feels confident that a reliable history is here presented. Among those who have aided him in his researches are the following, viz. :
At Fenton, Alonzo J. Chapin and wife, Robert Le Roy, Dr. Isaac Wixom, Elisha Larned, Charles HI. Turner, Wil- liam Remington, Maxwell Thompson, Joseph Thorp, Mrs. Dustin Cheney and family, the pastors and many members of churches, members of various societies, proprietors of newspapers, manufactories, ete., and many whose names are not rcealled.
At Linden, Seth C. Sadler, J. Z. Fairbank, Myron Har- ris, I. B. Hyatt, Rev. Orlando Sanborn, James B. Moshier, and others.
In various parts of the township, J. P. C. Riggs, Mrs. Mor- ris Ripley, D. W. Denio, the family of Capt. Charles Ben- nett, and many others.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JEROME Z. FAIRBANK.
Jerome Z. Fairbank, son of Zenas Fairbank, was born in the town of Rose, Wayne Co., N. Y., Dec. 10, 1827. When eight years of age his father removed with his family to Michigan, settling in Washtenaw County, where he re- mained until the following May, when he removed to the town of Fenton, whither his son Jerome had preceded him, and where he resided until his death, which oeeurred in December, 1852.
The early life of Mr. Fairbank was replete with hard- ship and privation, and as showing their impecunious eon- dition on their arrival in Michigan, and what they had to contend with in consequence, Mr. Fairbank relates that their household goods were held in Detroit for a freight bill of nine dollars. But industry and energy seldom go unrewarded. In a comparatively short space of time they were in easy circumstances. When nineteen years of age he made his first purchase of thirty-nine aeres of land, running in debt two hundred dollars. On attaining his majority he found himself free from debt, and possessed of a yoke of oxen and some farm implements. From this
* Fractional districts.
1
29
22
...
1
1
140
1,200
1
450
390 20
5.
Twenty Years,
Year.
NUMBER OF SCHOOL- HOUSES.
NUMBER OF TEACHERS.
TEACHERS' WAGES.
DISTRICTS.
Brick.
Frame.
101.62
236
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICIHGAN.
time success attended his efforts, and the little farm of thirty-nine acres has increased in size until he now counts one hundred and eighty acres of valuable land under a high state of cultivation.
In December, 1857, Mr. Fairbank was married to Miss Amelia Clark, of Linden. She was born in Eaton, Madi- son Co., N. Y., March 27, 1825. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are now living.
Mr. Fairbank has been prominently identified with Lia- den in all its interests, and occupies an enviable position among its more prominent citizens. Ile has taken a deep interest in educational matters, and has been an active member of the school board for years. In his religious affiliations he is a Presbyterian, and a zealous supporter of church interests. All in all, Mr. Fairbank is one of those courteous, Christian gentlemen, whose identification with any community is always productive of good.
SETII C. SADLER
was born in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Mass., March 12, 1809. Ile was the son of John and Sarah (Church) Sadler, who had a family of nine children. When a child his father removed to Madison Co., N. Y., where he remained until Seth was seven years of age. The elder Sadler was a blacksmith by trade, and a steady-going, industrious man. Seth remained with his father until he was twenty years of age, when he married Miss Sarah Anderson, and bought a small farm, upon which he remained uutil 1831, when, desirous of bettering his fortunes, he exchanged it for eighty aeres of new land in the town of Bloomfield, Oak- land Co., Mich., and in September of that year moved on to it with his family, then consisting of his wife and one child, Seth C., Jr. Mr. Sadler remained upon this farm until the following spring, when he sold it. After several changes, he bought, in 1835, one hundred and twenty acres of land in the town of Fenton. He immediately removed, and has sinee been a resident of the town. In 1850 he exchanged his farm for sixty aeres, which comprised nearly all of what is now the business portion of Linden. The laud was for the most part unimproved, there being only six or seven families in the town. In connection with the property there was a saw- and grist-mill, which he operated successfully until about 1864.
Mr. Sadler has been engaged in various business enter- prises, and has probably done as much as any other man in building up the village of Linden. Since 1850 he has been actively engaged in business. Owing to his energy and good management he has been successful iu all his un- dertakings. Mr. Sadler has filled many responsible posi- tions with fidelity to the trust reposed in him, and with eredit to himself. For over forty years he has served his fellow-townsmen in various capacities. He has been prom- inent in politieal matters, but has always shunned rather than eourted political preferment.
He is now in the seventieth year of his age, and is still hale and hearty, and possessed of much of his old-time energy. He has achieved success in all departments of life, and is an exemplar of the capabilities of character and mauhood.
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