USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 87
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WHITMAN F. CLAPP.
This gentleman, one of the prominent farmers and a pioneer settler of Genesee, was born in the State of New York in 1821. His father, Benoni Clapp, was one of the
carly settlers of the town of Thetford, and came to Mich- igan with his family in 1836, since which time the family have been prominently identified with the history of Gene- see and Thetford. The life of Mr. Clapp has been com- paratively uneventful, and marked by few incidents save such as occur in the lives of most farmers. Ile is the architect of his own fortune, and his fine farm (a view of we present on another page) is the result of his own energy and industry. Ile has well and honorably carned the position he occupies,-that of one of the most prominent and successful farmers of the county. Mr. Clapp has been married four times,-first, to Miss Cornelia Ann Stevens, daughter of A. T. Stevens, of Genesee, one of the town's first settlers. Mr. Clapp is a man of decided opinions and tastes, liberal in all matters, public-spirited to a fault, gen- crous to the extreme, and well worthy of the prominent position he holds in the town of Genesee.
IIIRAM HI. BARDWELL.
Genesee County is noted for the proficiency and high standard of its medical wien, and none occupy a more de- servedly popular position than Dr. ITiram II. Bardwell, of Mount Morris. A successful practice, extending over a period of fifteen years, has fully demonstrated his general worth and assigned him a conspicuous position in the his- tory of the medical profession of the county. Hiram II., son of Joel and Ilarriet Bardwell, was born in the town of Burton, Genesee Co., Mich., April 2, 1839. IIe spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm, sharing the priva- tions and hardships of a pioneer family. Ile received a good common-school education and acquired the trades of wheelwright and carpenter and joiner, which occupations he followed until he was twenty-two years of age, when he enlisted in Company K, 23d Michigan Infantry, as a pri- vate. Ile was soon detailed for the medical department, in connection with the hospitals; he served in this capacity during the war, and at its close returned home and went to the State Medical College, at Ann Arbor. Ile first estab- lished himself in the practice of his profession at Genesec- ville, where he remained about three years, in which time he built up an extensive practice. Ile then went to the " Rush Medical College," at Chicago, where he graduated with honors in 1868. On his return to Genesce County he established himself at Mount Morris, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Ile has been eminently successful.
In 1859, Dr. Bardwell married Miss Jemima E., daugh- ter of Isaac I'. and Miranda W. Allen, of the township of Burton, who were prominent among the pioneers of that town. The doctor has taken a deep interest in educational matters, and has identified himself prominently with the best interests of the village, of which he has several times been president. Dr. Bardwell is a gentleman well and favorably known and very highly esteemed. Ile possesses the necessary qualifications of a physician other than knowl- edge,-geniality of disposition and firmness blended with kindness and compassion. In his domestic relations he is kind and affectionate, a good husband, father, and friend, and in every sense a worthy citizen.
GAINES.
THE township of Gaines lies on the western border of Genesec County, and is bounded north by Clayton, east by Mundy, south by Argentine, and west by Shiawassee County. It includes township 6 north, in range 5 east, as located on the United States survey. Its surface is gen- erally very level, and was originally covered with a dense growth of heavy timber. In places slight undulations are met with, but nothing rising to the dignity of hills. Tbe soil is very good, and adapted to the growth of all grains raised in this region. The township has a large acreage of timber, and its development has been perhaps less rapid than that of most of the other townships in the county. That its resources are abundant, however, is evident from the fine improvements in its older settled portions. It has no streams of consequence, a branch of Swartz Creek, in the northern part, being the principal one. Along the banks of the latter, in early years, were extensive groves of maple, and a trail reached from Flint, which was used by the Indians, who manufactured here large quantities of maple-sugar. A small amount is made each year at the present time, but the ancient trail has disappeared, and the dusky people who threaded it forty years ago and more have sought homes more suited to them, or been laid to rest beside their fathers, and entered upon the happier hunt- ing-grounds of which they dreamed.
The following is a list of the entries of land in the town- ship, as shown by the land-office records :
SECTION 1.
Acres.
William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836 160 Daniel Miller, Livingston Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 47.46 Elijah Bishop, Jr., Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 177.40
Charles Heal, Genesce Co., Mich., June, 1836. 47.46 Hugh Birckhead, Baltimore, Md., July, 1836. 240
SECTION 2.
Philander MeLean, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June, 1836 93.91
94.23
Seth Hathaway, Genesec Co., Mich., August, 1836.
SO
Marvin Williams, November, 1838 46 40
Ebenezer Morse,
January, 1846. 40
Calvin Morse, 46
66 February, 1846. 40
Thomas M. Bowles, 44
44
March, 1846. 40
Willard Eddy,
September, 1816. 40
Henry King, =
46 May, 1819
40
120 Swamp lands.
SECTION 3.
Chauncey EIson. Cayuga Co., N. Y., June, 1836 95.49
Alam Miller, Oakland Co., Mich., August, 1836. 95,59
Paul Hildreth, Worcester, Mass., September, 1836. 160
Simon Law, Genesee Co., N. Y., March, 1837 .. -10
Peter Acer, .. November, 1849 10
E. B. Dewey, .. July, 1851. 40
Charles C. Deeker, Genesee Co., N. Y., October, ISIS. 40
160 Swamp lands
SECTION 4.
David Smith, Ontario Cn., N. Y., August, 1836 ... 93.50 Charles B. Hlatch, Macomb Co., Mich .. August, 1836. 91.18 Paul Hiblreth, Worcester, Mass., September, 1836.
John Warriner, New York City, November, 1836. 160 Nathan Rublee, Gencsee Co., Mich., March, 1837 80 Lambert Acer, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Detober, 1850. 40
Swamp land 40
SECTION 5.
Joseph Yerkes, Wayne Co., Mich., March, IS36. 320 Wm. and B. B. Morris, Oakland Co., Mich., July, 1836 .. 80 David Johnson, land-warrant, January, 1850 133.47 Abraham B. Knight, land-warrant, October, 1852 46.33
George Crocker, Genesce Co., Mich., July, 1853 40
SECTION 6.
William Yerkes, Oakland Co., Mich., February, 1836. I60 Win. and B. B. Morris, Oakland Co., Mieb., July, 1836 80
Charles Keckinson, Ontario Co., N. Y., August, 1836. 71.72
Charles S. Boughton, J
Hiram Sibley, Monroe Co., N. Y., August, 1836. 348.85
SECTION 7.
Jacob L. Woodruff, Ontario Co., N. Y., July, 1836. 160 Perry Gardner, Oakland Co., Mich., May, 1837. 80 Clarinda Gardner, May, 1837 67.20 Charles R. Yerkes, Genesee Co., Mich., November, 1844. 40
Swamp lands
270.24
SECTION S.
Joseph Yerkes, Wayne Co., Mich., March, 1836. 210
John Cook and L. G. Gordon, Wayne Co., Mich., July, 1836. 160 Win. and B. B. Morris, Oakland Co., Mich., July, 1836. I60
SECTION 9.
William Thompson, Sencen Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 210 Paul Hildreth, Worcester, Mass., September, 1836. SO Benjamin Tounly, land-warrant, January, 1852. 40 Shahnuhnuhguhum, Genesee Co., Mich., January, 1854. 40
Swamp lands 210
SECTION 10.
Sylvanus Hour, Wayne Co., Mich., September, 1836. 160 Paul Hildreth, Worcester, Mass., 160 Shawwannaquawum, Genesee Co., Mich., April, 1847. -10
Masbaquit,
Sawgoossway, Genesce Co., Mich., February, 1850. 40
Waulitshewunt,
Henry Willcox,
January, 1851 40
Swamp lands.
160
-
SECTION 11.
Ilugh Birekhead, Baltimore, Md., July, 1836 .. 320
Henry Willcox, Genesee Co., Mich., April, 1846. 40
Rufus Case,
July, 1849. 40
Henry Willcox, 44
46
May, 1819. 10
Erastus P. Holge,
October, 1853 40
Henry Willcox,
46 November, 1853. SO
- Swamp land
SECTION 12.
William Thompson, Sencea Co., N. Y., April, 1836. IGO lugh Birekhead, Baltimore, Md., Inly, 1836 .. 160 Jacob L. Larzalear, Sencea Co., N. Y., September, 1836 320
SECTION 13.
Maxwell Thompson, Ontario Co., N. Y., May, 1836. 160
Hugh Birekhead, Baltimore, Mdl., July, 1836 .. 320
Elijab Kent, Wayne Co., N. Y., September, 1836 160
.. ..
November, 1853. 10
October, 1848 40
Henry King,
Acres.
46.34
1
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM JOHNSON, GENESEE, GENESEE CO., MICH.
RESIDENCE OF PUTNAM BURTON , GAINES, GENESEE CO., MICH.
335
GAINES TOWNSHIP.
SECTION 14.
Acres.
Maxwell Thompson, Ontario Co., N. Y., May, 1836. 80 Charles Sprague, Broome Co., N. Y., May, 1836. 320 James Turner, New London, Conn., June, 1836. 86 llenley & Korcheval, United States, Jone, 1836. 160
SECTION 15.
Ephraim Fletcher, Orleans Co., N. Y., June, 1836 160 Jared Turner, New Loudon, Conn., June, 1836. 320 Jacob L. Larzalear, Seucca Co., N. Y., September, 1836 160
SECTION 17.
John L. Eastman, Seneca Co., N. Y .. April, 1836. 160 William B. Young. Genesee Co., Mich., June, 1836 160
William Langley, Wayne Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 160
Ilcalcy & Kurcheval, United States, June, 1836. 160
SECTION 18.
William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 320 Cook & Gordon, Wayne Co., Mich., August, 1836. 131.56 l'aul Hildreth, Worcester, Mass., September, 1836. 160
SECTION 19.
William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 160
William Hay, Wayne Co., Mich., April, 1836. 116.16
Don C. Cooper, Oakland Co., Mich., June, 1836. 160
Mosty Stoddard, Genesce Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 116.76
SECTION 20.
William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 160
Orrin Rose, Herkimer Co., N. Y., June, 1836 .. 160
Barzillai Waldron, Oakland Co., Mich., September, 1836
Morgan Baldwin, Genesee Co., Mich., September, 1836. 210
SECTION 21.
John Carroll, Seneca Co., N. Y., June, 1836 IGO
Marens S. Marsh, Ontario Co., N. Y., June, 1836. IGO Elihu Morse, Jr., 46 160
Healey & Kurcheval, United States, June, 1836. 160
SECTION 22.
John Turner, New London Co., Conn., June, 1836 80
66 46 320
Willard Osgood, Oneida Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 80 Eben B. Morehouse, Otsego Co., N. V., July, 1836. 80
Elijah Kent, Wayne Co., N. Y., September, 1836. 80
SECTION 23.
Maxwell Thompson, Onlario Co., N. Y., May, 1836. 160
Ward Gazly, Orleans Co., N. Y., June, 1836 160 Ward Hazlay, Jr., " 80
Julın Turuer, New London Co., Conn., June, 1836. 210
SECTION 24.
John Demott, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 320 Maxwell Thompson, Ontario Co., N. Y., May, 1836. 160 Isaac E. Frisbee, Hartford, Conn., June, 1836 .. 40 Eben B. Morehouse, Otsego Co., N. Y., Joly, 1836 120
SECTION 25.
Abijah B. Dunlap, Sencea Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 80 Charles Smith, Genesee Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 160 Mellenry, Kurcheval, etc., United States, May, 1836 80 James B. Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., Juue, 1836. 320
SECTION 26.
MelIenry, Kurcheval, Healey & Smith, United States, May, 320 1836
Eben B. Morchoose, Otsego Co., N. Y., July, 1836 .. 320
SECTION 27.
Mellenry, Kurcheval, etc., United States, May, 1836. 320 Sannel Nash, Niagara Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 160 John Myors, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 160
SECTION 28.
Win. HI. II. Shildon, Oakland Co., Mich .. April, 1836. SO lliram S. Banker, Seneca C'o., N. Y., June, 1836 160 Josiah Wilson, 160
Lyman Turner, Livingston Co., N. Y., June, 1836 80 George Dunlap, Seneca Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 160
SECTION 29.
James Edwards, Albany City, N. Y., June, 1836. 160 Healey & Kurcheval, United States, June, 1836. 100 Abel Aplin, Livingston Co., N. V., June, 1836 So John Turner, New London, Conn., June, 1836
Eben B. Morchouse, Otsego Co., N. Y., July, 1836 100
SECTION 30.
Acres.
Isaac E. Frisbee, Hartford Co., Conn., June, 1836. 307.32 Orrin Rose, Herkimer Co., N. Y., June, 1836 .. 160 Eben B. Morchoose, Otsego Co., N. Y., Jaly, 1836. 147.16
SECTION 31.
Martin M. Toms, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. 147.68 Isaac E. Frisbee, Hartford, Conn., June, 1836 160 Horaco Parmelee, Clermont, N. Y., July, 1836. 160 Robert Covell, Jr., Tioga Co., N. Y., July, 1836. 118.76
SECTION 32.
James Edwards, Albany City, N. Y., June, 1836. 80
Joseph S. Whitcomb, Orleans Co., N. Y., June, 1836 120 Erastus T. Hatch, Madison Co., N. Y., June, 1836. 2.10 James Bogert, Orange Co., N. Y., July, 1836. SO Nelson Bosworth, Worcester, Mass., September, 1836 120
SECTION 33.
Ilartford Cargill, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. 160
Algernon S. Ilollister, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. 80 Miles V. Rood, Genesee Co .. N. Y., June, 1836 200 Erastus T. Jlatch, Madison Co., N. Y., June, 1836 80 Charles J. Woolson, Clermont, N. 11., July, 1836 SU William Durfee, Newport Co., R. I., February, 1837. 40
SECTION 34.
Isaac E. Frisbco, Hartford Co., Conn., June, 1836. 160
Charles J. Woolson, Clermont, N. II., JJuly, 1836 .. 210 James Wadsworth, Livingston Co., N. Y., July, 1836. 100 Hartford Cargill, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. 10 William Dorfee, Newport Co., R. I., February, 1837. 10
SECTION 35.
Amos Jones, Oakland Co., Mich., June, 1836 160 James Wadsworth, Livingston Co., N. Y., July, 1836. 160 George Van Valkenburgh, Oakland Co., Mich., February, 1837 80
April, 1837. 10
Henry V. Main, Geneseo Co., Mich., February. 1854. 80 Swamp lands
Not entered 40
SECTION 3G.
John Turner, New London Co., Conn., June, 1836. 80
Eben B. Morchouse, Otsego Co., N. Y., July, 1836 .. 320 Abijah B. Dunlap, Seneen Co., N. Y., April, 1836. 80 Thomas Evans, Wayne County, Mich., April, 1836 80
In the northern part of the township is the extensive and well-ordered stock-farm belonging to the Crapos, of Flint, and which is one of the most important of the kind in the State.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in what is now the township of Gaines was Hartford Cargill, who moved in from Bloomfield, Oakland Co., in 1836, and located on the farm now owned by Mr. Yerkes, on section 33. Of Mr. Cargill very little can now be learned, as none of his family live in the township. It is related that in 1839 he built a frame barn, and went as far as Linden for help to raise it. In 1846 he built a new house on his place, the carpenter- work being done by Abel D. Hunt, Jr., of Linden, then but twenty-two years of age.
Ephraim Fletcher, from the State of New York, settled in 1836, in the locality known as " Fletcher's Corners," and on the opposite (west) side of the road from his pres- ent residence. The first town-meeting for the township of Gaines was held at his house iu 1842, and Mr. Fletcher was chosen township treasurer.
William Gazlay settled half a mile south of Fletcher's Corners, in 1810, on the place now owned by Mr. Lowther.
Of the Indians who formerly occupied this region, but few are left. Three families are living in Gaines, and all have small farms. These are Wabaness and two sons of
336
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Chief Fisher,-Joseph and Madison. The land of the former lies south of the Crapo stock-farm, and the Fishers live still farther south. Occasionally an Indian family comes to the township and stays a short time, visiting with those mentioned, but the latter are the only permanent residents who are representatives of the red race.
Edward S. Dart, now living east of Fletcher's Corners, is the son of Joshua Dart, who settled, on the place now owned by the former, in September, 1839. He, with an- other son, Martin Dart, purchased 80 acres from James Turner, who had entered from government, but made no improvements. Martin Dart had a three-fourths interest in the place, and for him E. S. Dart cleared twenty acres, afterwards buying it. Another son, George Dart, had come in the fall of 1838, and purchased a quarter-section of Turner, located a mile north of Fletcher's Corners. Part of a tract of land at the corners which Martin Dart purchased of James Turner is now owned by Ephraim Fletcher, and part by J. T. Williams. Mr. Dart is now a resident of California, and his father is deceased. The only member of the family now living in the township is Ed- ward S. Dart, who was one of the many to suffer from the effects of the great civil war of 1861-65. lle was a member of Col. Fenton's Eighth Michigan Infantry, and during his term of service lost his left leg at James Island, South Carolina.
When the Darts moved in, a man named James Wil- liams lived opposite the western part of the place, upon which Edward S. Dart now resides.
Philander Mclain, from the town of Fleming, Cayuga Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in June, 1836, and pur- chased the farm on section 2, in Gaines, where he now re- sides. In the summer of 1838 he moved his family to Oakland Co., Mich., where they remained until December of the same year, when they moved into the house he had made ready for them. Mr. MeLain thinks the only set- tlers in town at that time were Hartford Cargill, the Fletchers, and the Darts, but, as the Dart family did not move in until the following year, Cargill and Fletcher were all. It is said that at the first town-meeting in Mundy (which then included Gaines), in April, 1837, but eighteen votes were cast, and of these only three were from the portion of which Gaines was afterwards formed. Mr. MeLain mentions the fact that Joshua Dart, being the old- est man in the township at the time of its separate organi- zation, was given the privilege of naming it, and did so, after an acquaintance of his,-General Gaines.
James Van Vleet, now of the city of Flint, came from Romulus, Seneca Co., N. Y., to Michigan, in April, 181-1, to examine land he had previously purchased in Gaines. Ile returned for his family, and soon settled with them on section 21, where he still owns a farm. He has land also on sections 22, 27, and 28. He purchased from second hands, but no improvements had been made upon the place, and at that time no road had been laid or eut near it. 'The nearest improvement was then on Hartford Cargill's place, one mile south.
Since he first came to the county, Mr. Van Vleet has continuously held office of some kind. While residing in Gaines he was its supervisor for eighteen years, and from
1865 to 1869 held the position of representative from the First Legislative District of Genesee County. In January, 1869, he removed to Flint, and since then has been for four years county treasurer and three years a deputy in the same office, and is now serving on the fourth year as supervisor of the Third Ward of Flint.
Putnam Burton, now living on section 5, in Gaines, came from Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y., to Michigan, in the fall of 1831, with his father, Jacob Burton, who settled in Lyons township, Oakland Co., and is now a resident of Ingham County. Putnam Burton came to Gaines in the fall of 1850, having purchased his land in May preceding. No improvements had even at that late day been made upon the place, and the only road was where the bushes had been cut away to enable teams to get through the woods. Mr. B. built a log house near the site of his present frame house, and lived in it a year and a half alone, raising 12 acres of wheat during the time. Before the brush was burned on his place he set out the present fine orehard west of his house, consisting of 126 trees. Of this orchard he is justly proud, as it has proved an excellent producer and a considerable source of profit.
The following is a list of the tax-payers in Gaines for the year 184.4, as taken from the assessment roll of that year. It was not so arranged that the residents coukl be selected with certainty, and the entire list is therefore given :
Allen, James P.
Alpin, Abel.
Bartlett, Erastus lì.
Hlateb, Charles B.
Blackburn, John.
lowe, Sylvanns.
Beebe, Constantine.
Hay, William.
Beers, Walter B.
Ilatch, Erastus T.
Bowles, Josiah W.
Joslin, Moses A.
Bishop, Elisha.
Joslin, Charles W.
Burkhend, llenry.
Jones, Amos.
Baldwin, Morgan
Kent, Elijah.
(of Mundy).
Law, Samuel.
Banker, Hiram S.
Larzalear, Jacob L.
Bryant, James.
Langley, William.
Bosworth, Nolson.
MeLain, Philander.
Cargill, Hartford.
Cargill, Nathan.
Cook & Gordon.
Mellenry and others. Morse, E., Jr.
Carroll, Robert.
Morehouse, E. B.
Decker, Aaron. Dickson, John M.
Myers, John. Nash, S. Parmelee, Moses.
Dart, Joshua.
Rood, Miles V. Rood, Carlton A.
Dart, Luey M.
Rood, John.
Dart, Edward S.
Root, Erastus.
Dickerson, Charles F.
Root, John W. Ruhleo, Nathan.
Dunlap, John.
Rose, Orrin.
Duffee, William.
Smith, David.
Eastman, John L.
Sibley, Iliram.
Edson, James.
Sprague, ('harles.
Fletcher, Ephraim. Frisbie, .I. E. Gazlny, William.
Stoddard, Mores. Stood, William O. Thomas, Joseph P.
Grogory, David.
Tomlinson, David.
Thompson, William.
Gardner, Clarinda. Gardner, Perry.
Thompson, Maxwell.
Turner, James.
Gazlay, Miles. Gazlay, Ward.
Turner, John.
Cooper, Dan C.
Martin, Elisha.
Morris, William & B. B.
Carroll, John.
Marsh, M. F.
Dart, Martin.
Davis, Marvin.
Dunlap, Elijah.
Stedman, S. P.
Edson, Chauncey.
Hathaway, Seth. Hildreth, Paul.
337
GAINES TOWNSHIP.
Tarner, Lyman.
Whitcombe, Joseph S.
Wheeler, Willinm.
Wilson, Charles.
Williams, Marvin.
Wadsworth, James.
Wilcox, Frederick.
Yerkes, Jonathan.
Waldin, B.
Young, William B.
Warner, Thomas.
Yerkes, Joseph.
Wilson, Josiah.
Yerkes, William.
It will be seen from this list, which includes both resi- dents and non-residents, that the population of Gaines, in 1844, was very small as compared with the present. For the sake of comparison the following items from the State census of 1874 are inserted, as pertaining to this town- ship
Population (736 males, 664 females). 1,100
Number of neres taxable land.
22,910
improved land 6,439
" land exempt from taxation. 114
Value of saine, with improvements.
$6,175
Number of acres in school-house sites .. 44 44
church and parsonage siles.
2
=
burying grounds
=
44 railroad right of way and depot grounds
=
farms in township
of aeres in farins
wheat raised in 1874 14
1873
1,124
bushels whent 4
18,657
41
corn
12,572
=
5,556
tons hay cut in 1873
1,170
pounds wool sheared in 1873.
8,758
" pork marketed
29,290
botter marle
33,065
=
barrels cider made
5,950
bushels apples raised in 1872.
10,265
1873
7,220
Value of fruit and garden vegetables, 1472.
$1,106
1873
$2,612
Number horses, I year old and over, 1874.
113
= milch-cows.
555
neat cattle, 1 year old and over, other than oxen and cows.
413
swine over 6 months old
741
= sheep over 6 months old
2,350
sheep sheared in 1873.
2,302
Number saw-tills in township, 1874. 1
Number persons employed in same. 10
$8,000
Nulaber of feet of lumber sawed.
500,000
Value of products
$4,000
Number planing-mills
1
l'ersony employed.
$15,000
Value of products.
$500
Stave-, heading-, and barrel-factory
1
Persons employed
25
Capital invested
$12,000
Value of products
$8,000
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-FIRST TOWN-MEET- ING-CIVIL LIST.
On the 16th of February, 1842, it was enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Mich- igan, " That all that portion of the county of Genesee designated as township number 6 north, of range number 5 cast, be set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Gaines, and the first township-mecting therein be held at the house of Ephraim Fletcher, in said township."
From the records of the township is made the following extract descriptive of its first election :
" At a Township Meting held April 4, 1812, at the hoos of Ephraim Fletcher, in pursuant to an Act of the Legeslature setting off and organizing into a separate Township all that tract of Country known and described in the United States Survey as Township No. six (6) north, of Rang No. five (5) cast, into a separate Township by
the name of Gaines,-Wm. Gasley " was chosen Moderator,-and ad- journed to meat at the School-house fourthwith.
" Mct pursuant to adjournment.
" Made chois of Win. B. Young, Frederick Wilcox, Martin Dart, ani Walter B. Bearst as a Board of Inspectors, and James P'. Allen, Clark. The Board being aworn, it was Voted, To have Accessory; Fotod, To have two Contables for the year ensuing, and no more; Posted, That this Board, for the time being, shall receive no frer.
" The poles being open, an I ballot Given for those officers required to be chosen by billot ; Overseers of highways choren; Voted, To Canvace; Pote, That no Hours shall be alowed to run at large he- tween the mounthe of May and December, on pain of fifty cents fine and all damage ; Voted, To rais the som of eighty dollars for contin- gent Township expences for the year enso'ng."
At this election 21 votes were polled and the following officers chosen, viz. : Supervisor, Wmn. B. Young; Town- ship Clerk, Martin Dart; Treasurer, Ephraim Fletcher ; School Inspectors, Martin Dart, Marvin Williams, Walter B. Beers; Directors of the Poor, Martin Dart, Ephraim Fletcher ; Commissioners of Highways, James P. Allen, Lyman Perkins, William Gazlay ; Justices of the Peace, James P. Allen, Philander Melain, Walter B. Beers, Frederick Wilcox ; Constables, Elisha Martin, Lanman Davis; Overseers of' Highways, Wm. B. Young, Jonathan Yerkes, Marvin Williams, William Gazlay, Walter B. Beers, John Rood, Hartford Cargill, Fred. Wilcox, Elijah Lyman.
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