USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 63
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GEORGE W. BERRYMAN,
one of the prominent farmers of Fenton, was born in the town of Aurelius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 24, 1822. Ile was the eldest in the family of John and Catherine (Covert) Berryman, which consisted of five children. The elder Berryman was a prominent farmer, and met his death by accident when George was eleven years of age. Although a mere boy, he assumed control of his father's affairs, which he conducted successfully. At the age of sixteen he started in life by taking jobs of various kinds, among which were several contraets on the New York Central Railroad. Although young, what he laeked in years and experience he made up by energy and application ; and all bis projects were successfully carried out.
In 1849, Mr. Berryman was united in marriage with Angeline, daughter of James and Sally Seymour, of Vestal, Broome Co., N. Y., where Mrs. Berryman was born July 28, 1825. After their marriage, he purchased a farm in Aurelius, where he resided until his emigration to Miehi- gan in 1867, at which time he purchased the farm where he now resides,-a view of which we present on another page.
Mr. Berryman is a prominent and successful agriculturist, and his highly-cultivated fields and commodious buildings attest bis thrift aud enterprise.
RESIDENCE OF HON. ALEXANDER P. DAVIS, GRAND BLANC, GENESEE CO., MICH.
GRAND BLANC.
GRAND BLANC, the oldest township organization in Gene- see County, is situated upon the south border, and is desig- nated by the United States survey as township No. 6 north, range No. 7 cast.
Its boundaries on the north, east, and west are the re- spective townships of Burton, Atlas, and Mundy, in Gene- see County, and Oakland County on the south.
The surface is a rolling upland. Originally, the northern part was covered with dense forests of the deciduous trees so common to Michigan, while the central and southern parts of the township afforded a fair representation of the lands called hazel-brush openings.
Thread River, its principal water-course, takes its rise in Oakland County, and flowing to the northwest, leaves the town near the centre of the north border. This stream in its course affords good water-power privileges, which are not utilized, and, with its numerous small tributaries, renders feasible the complete system of ditching and drainage now being adopted where swampy lands exist.
Grand Blane Lake includes a small portion of section 31; Slack's Lake, of sections 34 and 35. A small lake of some 20 acres in extent, called Smith Lake, is situated upon seetion 22. Numerous springs are found in various parts of the township, some of them quite strongly impreg- nated with magnesia.
The soil is of au excellent quality, and consists of a dark, sandy, and gravelly loan, alternating with clay loam and alluvial deposits of a vegetable character.
Peat beds are found in some portions of the township, also brick and potter's clay of a good quality. Iron ore, in small quantities, exists iu the northwest and eentral parts.
The people are agriculturists chiefly, the staple pro- duets being live stock, wool, pork, corn, fruits, and the various cereals. ' In the cultivation of winter wheat they are especially successful.
The population in 1874 was 1389.
LAND-ENTRIES.
The first entry for land in township G north, range 7 cast, was made by William Thompson and Charles Little, of Livingston Co., N. Y., and Samuel B. Perkins, from Ontario Co., N. Y .; all of whom muade purchases at the same date, viz. : June 17, 1824.
Thompson's purchase embraced the northeast quarter and cast half of the southeast quarter of scetion 9, and the southwest quarter of section 10, in all a tract of' 500 aeres, Little's the southeast quarter of section 15; while Perkins chose the west half of the northwest quarter of the same section. All of section 15 was taken up prior to July 4, 1829. Edmund and Rowland B. Perry purchased the cast
half of the southwest quarter of section 11 Oet. 20, 1825, and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 14 eight days later. Other early entries were by Augustus M. Dutton, on section 11, Sept. 15, 1827; Edward II. Spencer, section 9, May 25, 1827 ; Simeon M. Perry, scc- tion 14, Sept. 25, 1827; Caleb Embury, seetions 12 and 23, June 2, 1829 ; Caleb S. Thompson, section 23, June 2, 1829; George E. Perry, section 13, June 3, 1829; same, on seetion 12, Sept. 25, 1829; Jonathan Dayton and Ezekiel R. Ewing, on seetion 9, June 2, 1829; Charles Butler, the northeast quarter of section 35, Oct. 12, 1830.
The following list, arranged by seetions, embraces the names of those who purchased in this township from the government :
Section 1, 1836 :* Jacob Snapp, Rowland B. Perry, Norman Burgess, Warren Annable, Sylvester Day, Samuel Day, Francis G. Macy, Alvah Bishop, William Fairhurst.
Section 2, 1835 : Samuel Colby, Xury Williams, Elihu Remington, William W. Paul, William Roberts, Rowland B. Perry, David Lyon, Samuel Thompson, Francis G. Macy.
Section 3, 1832 : Alfred Brainard, Alvah Brainard, John Remington, Peter Van Tifflin, Uriah Short, William Allen, Elihu Remington.
Section 4, 1828 : John Tupper, Jonathan Kearsley, Jonathan Davison, Alfred Brainard, Oliver Short, Justus Smith.
Section 5, 1832 : Edward Brooks, Alonzo Ferris, Justus Smith, Chauncey Chapin, Tobias Stoutenburgh, Nicholas Bowns, Benajah Tupper, Nathaniel Ladd.
Section 6, 1835: Joseph M. Irish, Grant Watkins, Tracy W. Burbank, Zenas Goulding, James A. Kline, John A. Kline, William Blades.
Section 7, 1835: James II. Williams, Thomas Beals, Nathan Watkins, Arthur L. Ellsworth, Horace W. Bron- son, Chauncey Bronson, John W. Moore, Erastus Webber.
Section 8, 1833: Daniel R. Williams, Philander Williams, Abial L. Shaw, William Blades, John Richards, Asa Bishop, Charles D. W. Gibson, Elisha S. Frost, Thomas Sheldon, Ira Davenport.
Section 9, 1824: William Thompson, Edward II. Spencer, Jonathan Dayton, Ezekiel R. Ewing, Polly Day- ton, George Dibble.
Section 10, 1824: William Thompson, Jeremiah Ketchum, Ellis Miner, Joseph MeFarlen, Jr., Awasa Short, John Richards, John Remington.
Section 11, 1825 : Edmond and Rowland B. Perry, Au- gustus M. Dutton, John P. Fritz, Xury Williams, Gilbert Phelps, Thomas Barger, Simcon M. Perry.
* The figures denote the year of the first purchase upon each section.
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238
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Section 12, 1829: Caleb Embury, George E. Perry, Pearson Farrar, John I. Carr, George E. Perry, Sylvester Day, Joseph Charters.
Section 13, 1829 : George E. Perry, Nehemiah T. Bur- pee, Thomas Cartwright, William Fairhurst, Samuel C. Robinson, William Collins, Silas Titus.
Section 14, 1825 : Edmond and Rowland B. Perry, Simeon M. Perry, Benjamin Perry, Cyrus Baldwin, Ed- mond Perry, Jr., Ira Davenport.
Section 15, 1824 : Charles Little, Samuel B. Perkins, Eurotas P. Hastings, Henry Howard, George E. Perry, Jeremiah W. Riggs.
Section 16: School-lands.
Seetion 17, 1833 : Philander Williams, Sephrona Straw, Daniel Williams, Asa Bishop, Nathan P. Wells, Fred- erick F. Riggs, Gilbert Phelps, Amos Hallock, Augustus W. Hovey.
Section 18, 1835 : Othniel Williams, Asa Bishop, Horace W. Bronson, Chauncey Bronson, Ira Justin, John W. Moore, James M. Wilcox.
Section 19, 1836: Gilbert Phelps, Almira Phelps, James W. Wilcox, James I. Opp, Ely T. Marsh, Alfred Putnam, Prentice Yeomans.
Section 20, 1835: John Tupper, Silas Smith, James M. Wilcox, Gurdon G. Cook, Ira Davenport, Seth Beck- with, James Adams.
Section 21, 1834: John H. Waterous, Jeremiah R. Smith, Lucy Roberts, William Roberts, Gershom Lewis, Ira Davenport, Seth Beckwith, Russell Bates.
Section 22, 1829: Jeremiah W. Riggs, Silas Smith, Moses II. Lyon, Phineas Thompson, Elbridge N. Johnson, Washington Thompson, Jeremiah R. Smith, Silas Smith, Edward Parsons.
Section 23, 1829 : Caleb Embury, Caleb S. Thompson, Washington Thompson, Hiram Stevens, Robt. McCartney, David Forsyth.
Seetion 24, 1834 : Caleb S. Thompson, John M. Wine- gar, Caleb Embury, Russell Forsyth, William Collins.
Section 25, 1834 : Nicholas West, Leonard Carlton, Jean Pier Dat, Alanson P. Hurd, Wilson McCarty, Phineas Thompson, Samuel Thompson.
Section 26, 1831 : Robert McCarty, Sarah Miller, Ira Dayton, Reuben T. Dayton, Emmons Owen, Moses P. Butler, Charles C. Hascall, Samuel Thompson.
Section 27, 1832: John M. Coe, Levi Parsons, Moses P. Butler, Peter De Graff, Joseph P. Worden, Stephen Grant.
Section 28, 1832 : David M. Lawrence, Charles Little, Edward Parsons, Gurdon Waterous, Robert Pollock, Ili- ram Brown.
Section 29, 1835 : Alpheus Chapman, Nelson H. Em- mons, Abial L. Shaw, Barrage Rice, Levi Parsons, Joel Rice, Ira Davenport, Iliram Brown.
Section 30, 1835 : Daniel R. Williams, David La Rue, Levi Parsons, Ira Davenport, Eliza Ripson, Ely T. Marsh.
Section 31, 1835: James Van Valkenburgh, Henry Straight, Caleb Embury, David La Rue, David Handy.
Section 32, 1831 : Paul G. Davison, William Eames, Alvah Kennedy, Caleb Embury, Henry Brusie, Samuel Thompson.
Section 33, 1832 : Benjamin Chase, John H. Waterous, Nathaniel Wood, Lewis Kennedy, Gurdon Waterous, Ira Davenport.
Seetion 34, 1835 : Peter De Graff, David Butts, Charles Butler, Samuel Thompson, Ira Davenport, Jacob Parsons.
Section 35, 1830 : Charles Butler, Ezekiel R. Ewing, John Butler, Marston W. Richards, Mary Booge, Samuel Thompson.
Section 36, 1830: Charles and John Butler, John M. Coe, Anson Dayton, Caleb Embury, Charles C. Hascall, Samuel Thompson.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Jacob Stevens and family, the first white family to reside in Grand Blane township, and in all the territory now known as Genesee County, came from the State of New York, and arrived at Detroit during the month of August, 1822. The family consisted of Mr. Stevens and wife, sons Rufus W. and Sherman, and daughters Eunice, Martha, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and another daughter, the youngest, then some six years of age, whose name is now unknown.
They first settled in Oakland County, on the old Saginaw trail, about twenty-five miles northwest of Detroit. Here they remained until the following spring, built a log house, dug a well, and made other improvements ; but, finding that the title to the land they were upon was defective, they sold out their improvements to Oliver Williams, the future father-in-law of Rufus W., and removed to Grand Blane in the spring of 1823.
Mr. C. P. Avery, in his history of the Saginaw Valley, speaks of Jacob Stevens as follows : " He was a true type of the gentlemen of the old school, to whose moral and physical courage as a pioneer was united a rare intelligence marked by a literary taste, showing itself conspicuously even in the few scattered remnants of his correspondence which have come down to this day."
The following interesting letter, written by Mr. Stevens while his was the only white family in the present town of Grand Blanc, will prove of great interest to many read- ers, as it preserves to present generations facts of history which otherwise would have been lost :
"GRANBLAW, July, A.D. 1825.
" HONORED PARENTS,-The period since I wrote you I acknowledge is a long one; and I have net sofficient reasons to offer to justify so shameful a neglect. Varions, indeed, have been the changes and vicissitudes of my life since that time. An attempt to describe them in a single letter would be unavailing. No family, perhaps, the size of mine enn have enjoyed better health, say for twenty years past. Our doctors' hills have scarcely exceeded that number of dollars.
" I sold my farm in Lima, soon after the close of the war, for $4000. I was some in debt, and my intention was to have waited a few years to see what the turn of the times might be, and then purchase some- where quite within the boands of my capital; hut fate er fortune de- termined otherwise. The family soon became uneasy at having no permanent home of their own. Indeed, I disliked a state so inactive to myself, and determined to purchase, and did, to nearly the amount uf my money. It was well Inid oot, but at a bad time.
" I was sensible a depreciation on property must take place, but put it off till by and by, and some way or other was blind to its approach. The farm admitted of great improvements being made, and a good house among the rest would be very convenient ; and, accordingly, the best means we had were taken to procure materials, viz. : stone, brick, Jamber, etc. Aboot this time the amazing fall in the value of real estate, as well as of all other property, and the many emmaplaints
CHARLES DE WITT GIBSON.
MIRS. ARTEMISIA GIBSON.
CHARLES DE WITT GIBSON.
Charles De Witt Gibson was one of the earliest of the pioneer business men of Genesee County. His long, active career and inti- mate connection with the development and improvement of the county from the time it was almost an unbroken wilderuess, peopled almost exclusively by Indians and wild animals, with here and there at long distances apart an embryo settlement of a few hardy and adventurous pioneers, make it proper aud fitting that he should occupy a con- spicuous place in the annals of a county in which for forty-two years he had horne so distinguished a part.
The ancestors of Mr. Gibson were of Welsh and Irish origin, and settled in the United States at an carly date. Jobn Gibson, the father of our subject, was a native of Montgomery Co., N. Y., where, in early life, he was married to Catharine Wasson, of the same county. They reared a family of nine children,-five sons and four daughters, -of whom Charles De Witt was the second son. He was born at Pala- tine, Montgomery Co., on the 4th day of January, 1800. Ilis boy- hood was spent in assisting his father in the labors of farm life, and in obtaining a limited common-school education. He also learned the trade of cabinet-making. After reaching his majority he started out for himself, went to Western New York, and settled at Avon, Livingston Co., where he engaged in cabinet making. IIere he be- eame acquainted with Miss Artemisia Frost, daughter of Elisha and Artemisia Frost, old residents of Lima, in the same county. This acquaintance ripened into courtship and marriage, and they were united on the 11th day of August, 1831. Soon after his marriage Mr. Gibson began to look with longing eyes to the new and unsettled territories lying west of Lake Erie, which at that time presented a fine field for the activity and enterprise of the daring adventurer.
Accordingly, in 1833, he left home with the purpose of securing a location somewhere in the Territory of Michigan. He finally decided on settling in the interior. lle purchased at second-hand one hundred and sixty acres on which there was a small improvement, and soon after two hundred and forty acres more of the government, in the present township of Gran 1 Blanc, Genesee Co. IIe then returned to New York and purchased a stock of goods, which he shipped to the Territory, and then with his wife and child, his widowed mother, and a sister, came on to the new home in the wilderness. They were also accompanied by Chauncey S. Marvin, now deceased, who was for many years an inmate of Mr. Gibson's family. After his arrival Mr. Gibson opened a store and sold goods to the few early settlers, and traded with the Indians, who at that time were very numerous. Be- sides selling goods and clearing off and improving his lands, he in a few years became extensively engaged in other enterprises, such as building and running saw-mills, asheries, etc. Ile was also for many
years engaged in the purchase and sale of lands in various parts of the State, both for himself and as the agent of others, and through- out his long and active life was uniformly successful in his business undertakings. Ilis keen insight into the motives that govern human nature, sound, practical judgment, shrewdness, sagacity, and ripe ex- perience in so many branches of business, united to unflinching in- tegrity, honorable dealing, and unassuming manners, commanded the unlimited confidence and esteem of all; and he was known all his life as a man whose word was as good as his bond.
Besides conducting and managing his many business interests, he at various times served his town and county as magistrate, supervisor, county treasurer, etc., and in all positions of trust and responsibility acquitted himself with satisfaction to his constituents. During his life he lost many thousand dollars by fire and otherwise, but at his death there still remained a handsome fortune for his widow and chil- dren. He was for many years a member of the order of Odd-Fellows, and in religious faith was a Protestant, with ultra-liberal views of the Unitarian and Universalist type. Mr. Gibson lived to the age of nearly seventy-seven years. His death occurred on the 3d day of May, 1876, his being the only death in the family since that of an infant daughter forty years before,-a remarkable fact in a family of eleven children.
The memory of Mr. Gibson is fondly cherished in the hearts of his children and bereaved wife, and although the kind and indulgent father, the tender and affectionate husband is no longer here, the wise counsels, useful lessons, pure life and example of one of nature's noblemen is ever present with them. A far richer legacy is an honor- able name and blameless life than silver and gold, or houses and lands.
Mrs. Gibson, who is still a remarkably fine looking and intelligent lady, has nobly performed her full share of life's duties to her husband and children, and is hell in great esteem by a large circle of warm and admiring friends and relatives. She resides at the old home, in the midst of kind friends and pleasant surroundings, in the peace and tranquillity of a long life well spent. Mrs. Gibson and her de- ceased husband were the parents of eleven children, named as follows : Thornton W., Jane W., Charles F., Chauncey W., Caroline A., Coro- don De Witt, John E., Mary A., Sarah J., Frances A., and Stanford S. All of whom are now living except Jane W., who died in infancy, and all are married except Mary and Stanford, who reside with their mother at the old home.
This page, containing the portraits of this veneruted old pioneer couple, with a brief notice of their life-work, will be greeted with pleasure and pride by all their old friends and acquaintances, and with love and reverence by their children and descendants.
239
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP.
from other people, whom I thought forchanded, but in debt to me, was alarming. I told Rufus (who seemed the boy destined to live at home) my fears, and I thought we had better sell off our lumber, etc., and endeavor to back ont. Naturally ambitious, this idea he could nut brook. He preferred to drive the building, and risk the conse- queneus. We finally did, and it is only necessary to observe that it tlung us completely in the background in bad times. Since that we have had many shifts, and but few shirts. Tov proud to bo poor among my old friends, I determined to try a new country ngain. Michigan seemed the most proper, being about the same latitude, and easiest of necess. We arrived in Detroit the latter part of August, 1822, with about $800 in cash and some other property. Misfortune, however, seemed unwilling to quit us at this point. Rufus had been in the country ono year previous to this, and had contracted for a piece of land, second-handed, and bad dono considerable labor on the same. I did not altogether like the land, but concludlel to make a stand and go to work. We built a good log house, dug a well, and mado some other improvements, but before one year had passed wu found wo could get no title to the land. This place was about twenty- five miles northwest of Detroit [probably in the vicinity of Pontiac], undl what to do in this case was n material question. Our expenses drew hard upon our little capital, and to spend more money and more time there was preposterous. Eventually, we agreed to try another venture. At this time there were troops stationed at Saginaw, a place about seventy-five miles northwest of Detroit, and on our route. A settlement had been commenced there, and the spirit of settlement svemed bent for the northwest. We sold our improvements to Mr. Oliver Williams, and took his notes for $35 a year, for five years, re- serving the use of the house for one year. In March, 1823, Rufus and 1 started to explore to the northwest. Wo were much pleased with the country and prospects at this place. The road thus far had no obstacles to impede a team with a reasonable load for any country, and at this time was considerably traveled by officers, Indians, traders, und settlers at Saginaw. We believed that an establishment here might not only be beneficial for ourselves, but convenient for travelers and emigrants.
" It is an old Indian settlement, situated about twenty miles from our first place, aud about the same distance from the farthest white settlement northwest of Detroit. There are some French families seven miles northwest of us [Flint], and no more until we reach Fag- inaw. Rufus and I flung up a small log house, and on the 23d of May, 1823, Eunice, myself, two youngest children, Rufus and Sher- man, with a good tenm, and as many goods as would make us com- fortable, arrived here. We cleared, plowed, and sowed with wheat and onts about ten neres, completing the same June 10th.
" Mrs. Stevens and the children then returned, and one of the girls kept house, and so through the season. At this time wo felt morally certain of having neighbors the next spring; bat here, sir, I must inform you that the government saw fit the winter following to evac- nate the post at Sagiunw, which measure has, so far, completely par- alyzed all settlements to the northwest, turning the tide of emigration, which has been very great, to the south and west. This was, indeed, very discouraging, but for us there was no fair retreat." .
After speaking of his Indian neighbors, who were very friendly, he concludes as follows :
" Several purchases have lately been made of premises adjoining us, und, we have little doubt, will be settled next spring ; and preparations seem to be making once more for a settlement at Saginaw. We have this year 170 shocks of wheat and about 9 neres of corn, the stoutest growth of corn I ever raised. If nothing befalls, I anticipate 50 bushels to the acre. We havo two yoke of oxen, two horses, five cows, plenty of hogs, and a number of young cattle; nad such is the country that they keep fat summer and winter. The winters are sur- prisingly mild. Last winter, in fact, was no winter at ull. We did not spend three tons of hay with all our stock. A large portion of the country is openings, nudl the cattle get their living in old fog and basswood sprouts in the swales. The greatest country for wild feed and hay I ever saw. We can summer and winter any number of cattle if we had them. Blue point is the principal grass in the low meadows. On the higher parts is found considerable red-top and foul meadow grass. Jemima? has a family, nud lives in the State of New
* Jemima ( Mrs. Samuel B. Perkins), Horatio, and Augustus were children of Jacob Stevens, who remained in the State of New York.
York. Horatio and Augustus are merchants in that State. Horatio, I understand, is quite forehanded. Augustus is also doing well. Eunico and Charlotte are there at present on a visit. Patty keeps school this summer in the Territory. Tho rest of the family are in the woods."
The elder Stevens is described by those who saw him here in 1826 as a gentleman of fine proportions, about sixty years of age, who was then living in a comfortable log house which stood upon the site of Col. Sawyer's pres- ent residence. Ilis son, Rufus W., had built a small log house upon the site of the present hotel, and was engaged in trade with the Indians,-trading whisky, tobacco, flints, cheap brooches, and such articles, for furs.
The log trading-house of Rufus W. Stevens was replaced in 1828 by a more pretentious one, the walls of which were constructed of timbers hewn square and placed upright side by side. This building, inclosed by clapboards, now forms part of the present Grand Blanc Hotel. He then, besides following his vocation as an Indian trader, became the post- master of Grumlaw, and opened the doors of his house to the publie as a " place of entertainment."
Many Indians were still located hereabouts. It is related by Mr. Brainard, in his pioncer sketches, that the Canadian government at this time gave every male Indian, young or old, a yearly bounty of fifty cents in silver, besides blankets, etc. On their return to Grumlaw they would spend it all with Stevens for whisky. To catch their half-dollars he sold them whisky for fifty cents per gallon. They would appoint one of their number to take charge of their guns, knives, and hatchets, whose duty it was to secrete the weapons and remain sober. A general drunk would be inaugurated, which lasted some two or three days, during which time they fought, shouted, and performed all manner of antics. Stevens would then begin to water the whisky he sold them, and by degrees they became sober. This was his way of getting rid of them.
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