USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 90
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CONSTABLES.
Edward Eldridge, Lorenzo T. Frost, Charles Pettie, Perry Judd, 1856; Ilarrison G. Conger, Albertus Crapser, Charles Pettis, Lorenzo T. Frost, 1857; John Covert, Henry F. Ilill, David R. Smith, John McAllister, 1858; John C. Covert, Rufus Chase, Lorenzo T. Frost, Russel J. Enos, 1859; Norman F. Decker,
Abalino Babcock, John Webb, Jonathan Cuen, 1860; Abalino Babcock, Jesse J. Beasley, Caleb Gillett, Edward Eldridge, 1861 ; Jesse J. Beasley, Caleb Gillett, Rufus Chase, Erastus K. Carrier, 1862; Rufus Chase, John Webber, Jesse J. Beasley, John E. Covert, 1863; Erastus K. Carrier, Jesse J. Beasley, Romaine Putnam, Palmer A. Green, 1864; Jesse J. Beasley, Nelson Nor- ton, John E. Covert, Erastus K. Carrier, 1865; llenry D. Frost, Thomas C. Bush, George S. Lum, Jesse J. Beasley, 1866; Thomas C. Bush, Henry Enos, Adelbert C. Schram, George S. Lum. 1867; Thomas C. Bush, Jesse J. Beasley, Miło Goodrich, Edwin Van Tuyl, 1868; Andrew D. Holford, Alexander O'Rourke, George H. Robinson, Daniel Gillett, 1869; Harrison Parker, Daniel Gillett, Amos Crapser, Alfred S. Skinner, 1870; James Monti- more, Robert W. Day, Alexander O'Rourke, 1871; no record for 1872; Amos S. Crapser, Hiram W. Biddleman, Alexander O'Rourke, John Webber, 1873; Alexander O'Rourke, James Pierce, Leonidas II, Green, Thomas C. Bush, 1874; James Pierce, Alexander O'Rourke, Adelbert C. Sehram, John Perry, 1875; Alex. O'Rourke, Elbert T. Rettis, James Pierce, George H. Rob- inson, 1876; James Pieree, Alex. O'Rourke, Daniel Gillett, Wm. W. Merrill, 1877; Anson Parks, Danvers W. Farrar, Thomas Bush, 1878.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-house was built in the Atherton district in the summer of 1836, and the first school was taught by Miss Betsey Atherton, daughter of Adonijah. She was a most estimable young lady, and her death, which occurred a few months later, was the first in the settlement.
From 1836 until 1856 the schools and school-reports are so interwoven with those of Flint township, of which this then formed a part, that no intelligible data can be gathered as to the condition of early schools.
The following statisties are taken from the school inspec- tor's report for the year ending Sept. 2, 1878 :
Number of whole districts, 4; fractional districts, 4. Children of school age in the township, 328; attending school during the year, 249. Frame school-houses, 8. Seating capacity of school-houses, 437. Value of school property, 84850. Male teachers employed during the year, 2; female teachers, 15. Months taught by male teachers, 52 ; by female teachers, 55}. Paid male teachers, $67.75 ; female teachers, $942; total, $1009.75.
Receipts .- From moneys on hand, Sept. 3, 1877, two- mill tax, primary-school fund, tuition of non-resident scholars, district taxes for all purposes, and raised from all other sources, $1832.09.
Expenditures .- Teachers' wages, $1009.75 ; for building, repairs, and all other purposes, $644.04 ; amount on hand, Sept. 2, 1878, $178.30; total, $1832.09.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
During the year 1836 some thirty families settled in the township. A majority of them were, or became soon after, members of the Baptist and Congregational societies. Shubacl Atherton was a deacon of the Baptist Church. His brother, Adonijah, was a deacon of the Congregational Church. The first religious meeting in the township was held in Shubael Atherton's dwelling-house, some time during the summer of 1836. The following winter a re- vival took place. Meetings were held in the school-honse. Baptists, Congregationalists, and Methodists joined in the services, and, as a result of these meetings, except one family, every man, woman, and child of the thirty families was converted and baptized.
1862.
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Jesse J. Beasley. George M. Curtis. John Webber. Elbert T. Pettis.
1878. John C. Wolverton. Lewis Hiller.
Treasurers. Robert Chambers. Gust. A. Atherton. David A. Salisbury.
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN C. WOLVERTON, BURTON, MICH.
RESIDENCE OF ROBERT CHAMBERS, BURTON, GENESEE CO., MICH.
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BURTON TOWNSHIP.
BURTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This society was organized in December, 1838, Rev. Mr. Hazen and Mr. Whitney were early preachers. Their first meetings were held in the Atherton school-house. During the winter of 1838-39 they held meetings in Har- mon Clark's log house, and continued them there for about two years. The Cole school-house was then occupied as a place of worship, nud still later the Donelson school-house.
The members of the first class were John Hiller and wife, Pliny A. Skinner and wife, Tunis Cole and wife, John Schram and wite. Harmon Clark and wife joined soon after. This class was kept up with indifferent success until the spring of 18-16, when a second class was formed in the township, called the Southeast Methodist Episcopal Class in Burton. This latter class was composed of the follow- ing original members, viz. : Ira Lum, Catherine Lum, Da- vid Estes, Elijah Estes, John Stephens, Jr., George Alger, Mark M. Jerome, Daniel Estes, and Mariam Estes. Peter A. Montgomery and his wife, Matilda, joined a few weeks later. Those remaining in the okl organization then united with the new one.
The first meetings were held in the dwelling houses of Ira Lum and P. A. Montgomery, afterwards at the Donel- son school-house, where they were continued until the completion of their present church edifice in 1858-59. It cost $1400, and has sittings for 175 people.
Among the first preachers were Revs. Mr. Bell, Whit- more, and Seth Read. Other pastors settled as follows: Wm. Blades, 1851; George Bradley, 1852; S. P'. le, 1852; G. N. Belknap, 1853; I. P. Cawthorne, 1851; R. C. Crane, 1855; A. Allen, 1857; - Frazer, 1858; Joseph S. Sutton, ISGO; J. W. Crippen, 1861 ; S. T. Seel- ye, 1863; J. W. Crippen, 1864; T. J. Joslin, 1865 ; A. C. Shaw, 1866; C. Mosher, 1867, O. Whittemore, 1868; II. N. Brown, 1871; E. Westlake, 1872; H. W. Hicks, 1873; John Hamilton, 1876; Rodney Gage, pres- ent pastor, 1878. George Howe, superintenlent of Sab- bath-school.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF EAST FLINT.
On the 25th of March, 1842, a meeting of those favor- able to the organization of a Baptist society in the " Ather- ton settlement" was held at the house of Shubael Atherton. At this meeting Elder Chase presided as chairman, and Elihu N. Atherton served as clerk. Committees were ap- pointed to visit brethren and sisters, and to prepare articles of faith and covenant. The meeting was then adjourned for two weeks, and again was adjourned from time to time, on account of the " bad going," until April 28, 1812, when, at a meeting held in the school-house, presided over by Rev. Joseph Gambell, chairman, and Shubael Atherton, clerk, articles of faith and covenant were adopted. It was further resolved " that this church be known as the Baptist Church of East Flint, and that the churches of Grand Blanc, Highland, and Pontiac, and the churches presided over by Elders Grow and Barnes, be invited to meet us in council on the last Wednesday in May next at ten o'clock in the forenoon." Shuback Atherton was then elected dea- con, James M. Skinner clerk, and Perus Atherton and Ovid Hemphill a standing committee of the church. The original
members were 19 in number, as follows : Shubael Atherton, Randall Colvin, Perus Atherton, Ovid Hemphill, James M. Skinner, Elihu N. Atherton, Adin 1. Allen, Henry Col- vin, Franklin Alexander, I. Childs Atherton, Sarah Ather- ton, Lucy Atherton, Ennice Skinner, Cynthia Skinner, Susan Colvin, Elizabeth Read, Deborah A. Sweet, Sarah Gambell, and Philinda Chambers.
This small church then went forward, and continued in an active state of existence until January, 1851, when, at a special meeting, it was resolved " that we deem it a duty we owe to flod and our fellow-men, and the best interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, to dissolve this church by voting all the members in good standing letters of dismis- sion and recommendation, and that the following persons have letters, to wit : Elder Wmn. H. Fuller and wife, Eller Stillman, T. Grow and wife, Perus Atherton and wife, P'hilo Miner and wife, 1. C. Atherton and wife, Samuel R. Ather- ton, Sarah Atherton, Ovid Hemphill, Elizabeth Read, David Smith, Sarah Smith, Louisa Van Wormer, Sally Overton, Wm. D. Chambers and wife, Mary Alexander, Isaac Allen and wife, Tirzah Allen, Thomas Sweet and wife, and Cephas Carpenter; and that if any brethren or sisters have been overlooked, the clerk be instructed to give such letters." A large portion of those just mentioned then joined the Flint and Grand Blanc Baptist churches.
During the continuance of this society 88 members were achnitted, and a parsonage was erected on Deacon Shubael Atherton's farm. The meetings were hell in the school- house usually, though very frequently in Deacon Atherton's house. Their first pastor, Rev. Joseph Gambell, continued with them until October, 18-15. Rev. S. Barnes commenced his labors Nov. 1, 1816, and remained until August, 1849. Rev. Stillman T. Grow then supplied until the coming of Rev. William HI. Fuller, Jan. 1, 1850, who remained until the disbandment of the society, in 1854. Rev. Israel C. Atherton, son of Shubach, one of the constituent members of this church, became a Baptist minister, and at different periods was pastor of the Novi, Grand Blanc, and Atlas churches.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
The Second Congregational Church of Flint, situated in the " Atherton settlement," was formed in the school-house in the same settlement, Sept. 19, 1839. Rev. Orson Parker and Barnabas Norton presided at the first meeting, and Asahel Robinson, Asahel Curtis, and Henry Schram were elected trustees.
This society was reorganized as the First Congregational Society of Burton, Feb. 2, 1859, and among the prominent members were Asahel Robinson, Fra Chase, Talman Frost, Henry Schram, Heman Robinson, C. G. Curtis, II. D. Frost, and David A. Salisbury. The trustees then elected were Heman Robinson, Heury Schram, and Ira Chase. This society still exists, and is connected with the Grand Blanc Church, services being held at either place alternately.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
A society of this denomination was formed and incorpo- rated in the southeastern part of the township, Dec. 28, 1854. Present : Rov. John W. Courthorne, Ira Laum, Peter A. Montgomery, Rufus Chase, Delos Short, Uri Pratt, Isaac
348
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Jennings, David Estes, and Lorenzo Stevens. A church edifice has since been erected, and the society is in an appa- rently flourishing condition.
PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCHII.
This society was formed in 1813 by the Rev. Lorenzo Warren, at the Horton school-house, in Atlas township, the first members being Harmon Clark, Harris Hibbard, and Phoebe Surryhine. Among other early members were Warren Annable and wife, Samuel Day, and John Anna- ble. A church edifice was built in the southeast part of this township some ten years ago. Present membership about SO; Rev. Mr. Wright pastor.
Other data were respectfully requested from official mer- bers of the churches last mentioned, but they failed to furnish them.
Our thanks are due to Messrs. Henry Schram, Samuel R. Atherton, Pliny A. Skinner, John Hiller, Peter A. Mont- gomery, Daniel Estes, Harmon Clark, Perus Atherton, Mrs. Diana E. Parker, and many others, for valuable information and courteous treatment.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THE ATHERTON FAMILY.
Nearly a century and a half ago, there came to the shores of America, in company with a small colony of people who had left England to seek homes for themselves in the wilds of the New World, a man named Atherton, who was the first of that name in this country, and the ancestor of numerous descendants, among whom are the members of the Atherton family of Genesee County, to whom this biographical sketch has especial reference. Neither the Christian name of this ancestor nor anything of his history is known, except that he settled among the hills of Massachusetts, and at his death (the date of which is not recorded) he left a son named Shubael Atherton, who at the breaking out of the " old French-and-Indian war," in 1755, was a farmer at Greenfield, in that State. The settlers in that exposed re- gion at that time lived in such constant dread of the in- eursions of the savages, that the words of Scripture (Nehe- miah iv., 17, 18), might well be applied to their condition : " They which builded on the wall, and they that bare bur- dens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded." And so it was with the farmers of the Connecticut River Valley at that time. They worked in their fields in companies, leaving their loaded rifles in charge of one of their number, who acted as sentiuel, to give timely alarm in case of the sudden appearance of danger. But upon one such occasion, when Shubael Atherton was working with the others in a field of corn, the red fue crept upon them unawares, notwithstanding their precautions, and he, with some of the others, was killed and scalped.
Ile left one son to perpetuate the family name. This son (born in Hampshire Co., Mass., Aug. 6, 1750) was named Adonijah, and became a farmer, as his father had been. Ile married Temperance, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Worthington, and from this marriage there were born five sons and six daughters. Of the sons, two died in childhood ; the three who survived were named, respectively, Adonijah, Shubael, and Perus. During their childhood their parents removed to Shelburne, Franklin Co., Mass., where the family all became inured to the hardships of the life of the New England farmer.
As the sons approached the years of maturity they saw that the farm was too narrow for all, and that some of them must eventually seek other homes. As the parents had become advanced in years, the eldest son, Adonijah, had very naturally assumed the head of affairs on the farm, and it was mutually understood that the second son, Shubael, should leave the homestead and try his fortunes in the new country lying farther west. So, in the year ISOS, at the age of twenty years, he left the home of his childhood, with little or no capital save an honest purpose, a good name, and the ben- ediction of his fond, Christian parents, and, facing west ward with a stout heart, found himself in due time near the shore of Lake Ontario, in Jefferson Co., N. Y. (then regarded as the " far West"), where he located a tract of land in the town of Henderson, near Henderson Harbor. Here he ap- plied himself with untiring perseverance to the task of clearing the farm which he designed for his future home, and had so far progressed by the autumn of 1810 that he returned to Massachusetts for a wife. On the 10th of Oc- tober, in that year, he was married in Shelburne, to Miss Clarissa Childs, a young lady of his own age, with whom he had been acquainted from childhood. The newly-mar- ried pair set out in a lumber-wagon to make the trip of two hundred and fifty miles to their future home in the wilds of Northern New York, where they arrived safely, and com- menced life in an humble, earnest way, and where, not long after, the eklest and youngest brothers, Adonijah and Perus, with their aged parents and surviving sisters, joined them, all settling in the town of Ilenderson.
Adonijah Atherton had married, in Shelburne, Miss Esther Long, daughter of Dr. John Long; and the younger brother, Perus, married, subsequent to his removal to Hen- derson, a young lady named Lucy Bogle, of that place. The younger (and now the only surviving) sister and her husband, Mr. Jonathan Cole,-whose united ages number one hundred and sixty-six years,-are still residents and prominent members of society in Henderson, retaining and occupying the same farm upon which they commenced life sixty years ago.
Adonijah Atherton, Sr. (son of that Shubael who was killed by the Indians at Greenfield, Mass., and father of the family who are here especially mentioned), died at IIen- derson, on the homestead,-then occupied by his son Adon- ijah,-Sept. 17, 1822, at the age of seventy-two years. His widow, the honored mother of the family, passed her later years with her daughter, Mrs. Cole, and died June 24, 1844, aged eighty-eight years.
The three adult sons of this venerable couple all pro- fessed their faith in Christ in early manhood, and became
J. C. ATHERTON.
P. ATHERTON.
MRS. S.R.ATHERTON
S.R.ATHERTON.
3449
BURTON TOWNSHIP.
eminently useful in their practical devotion to the interests of Christianity. Adonijah became a member and deacon of the Presbyterian Church ; Shubael and Perus were chosen to the same office in the Baptist Church, with which they had become identified as members; and these positions of trust and confidence they ever continued to fill with fidelity. All of these three brothers were also en- gaged in the military service of their country during the " last war with England," serving with credit in the ope- rations at Sackett's Harbor and other points. Perus, the youngest, now aged eighty-four years, is among the few honored survivors of that memorable war.
The household of Shubael Atherton was early invaded by death ; and by the month of October, 1818, he had followed to the grave the partner of his youth, and four beloved children. In the following year, 1819, he was again married at Shelburne, Mass., to a sister of his first wife, Miss Sarah Childs, who became a mother to his daughter Clarissa, then eight years old, and the only sur- vivor of his five children. This child afterwards became the wife of Jacob Wilkinson, of Vernon, Shiawassee Co., Mich., where she spent many years of usefulness, and died a sincere Christian, Oct. 30, 1865, aged fifty-four years. The first child of Shubach and Sarah Atherton was a son, Israel Childs Atherton, born Sept. 7, 1823.
In 1825, Shubacl Atherton, with his wife and two children, and his nephew, Pliny A. Skinner (who had made his home with his uncle, after the death of his mother, Mrs. Dr. Skinner), left New York, and emigrated to Michigan to settle on a farm which he had acquired by exchange. This new home (where the family arrived May 9, 1825) was in the " Donelson neighborhood," in the east- ern edge of the present town of Waterford, Oakland Co., and about two miles west of Pontiac. When the township was organized the name Waterford was given to it at Mr. Atherton's suggestion, on account of the numerous beau- tiful lakes within its borders. During their eleven years' residence in Oakland County, Mr. and Mrs. Atherton were members of 'the church in Pontiac, and fully identified with its interests and Christian work. Two other children were born to them there, viz., Sarah, born Oct. 31, 1829, died May 20, 1834, and Samuel Rufus, born May 10, 1832; the last-named being now the only surviving mem- ber of the family.
In 1836, Mr. Atherton caught the then prevailing fever which was setting a strong tide of emigration towards the new lands of Genesee County, and he concluded to leave his fine farm in Oakland to seek a newer country. So, in company with his brother Perus (who had emigrated from New York and settled in Waterford some two years prior to this), he started out on a prospecting tour. The two soon found themselves in the town of Vernon, Shiawassee Co., where their nephew, Pliny A. Skinner, had then just commenced clearing a tract which he had selected. They, however, concluded to look further, and Mr. Skinner, being desirous of remaining with his uncles, dropped his axe and accompanied them. The three then took an Indian trail, and soon found themselves at Flint River village, where the land-office had then just been established. After exploring the Flint River region for a few days, and being much
pleased with its appearance, each one finally located for him- self a tract of government land on the Thread River in the present town of Burton. The two brothers then returned to Waterford to secure the crops, which Shubael had not included in the sale of his farm, and which would all be re- quired for the support of the families and their stock in Gen- esce County during the succeeding winter. About this time the eldest brother, Adonijah, arrived in Michigan from the State of New York ; he also being on a prospecting tour to find a Western home for his family. Upon examining the lands in Genesee, he too became greatly pleased with the prospect, and decided to remove and settle with his brothers, provided he could obtain a farm on the Thread River, but was not disposed to content himself with a location away from it. Ifis two brothers and Mr. Skinner had taken all the eligible lands in their immediate vicinity on that beauti- ful stream, but to remove the difficulty Shubael Atherton gave up one-half his claim on the west (supplying himself by additional purchase on the cast), and so made a place for Adonijah on the stream, between his two brothers. Thus these four men formed " the Atherton settlement," a name which it has borne for more than forty years, and which it will bear for many a year to come.
After about twelve years of happiness and prosperity upon his new farm, Adonijah Atherton followed to the grave the wife of his youth, who had been for many years the light of his home, and a devoted Christiau mother to his children. Iler death occurred Sept. 4, 1848. Some three or four years later he married Elizabeth Phelps, a maiden lady in middle life, who was constantly devoted to the promotion of his happiness and comfort during the remnant of his declining years. Becoming unable, by reason of increasing age, to continue the management of his affairs, he finally sold his farm, and removed to a home which he had purchased in the city of Flint, and there he died Aug. 20, 1853, at the age of seventy years. A few years after his death his widow removed to West Lebanon, N. H., her former home, and there closed her peaceful and eminently useful life.
For nearly thirteen years after his first settlement on the wooded banks of the Thread River was Shubael Atherton, the second brother, permitted to live in his prosperous and truly Christian home. In all these years " the names of Uncle Shubael and Aunt Sally Atherton were among the most familiar household words with all classes and condi- tions of people, old and young, regardless of distance or ter- ritorial lines. Always identified with every enterprise that promoted the industrial, moral, and religious interests of the community, his home became both the asylum and the chapel. Ilis confidence and counsel were constantly songht, and both were the spontaneous outgrowth of his generous nature." But his years of pioneering toil had told upon his naturally vigorous constitution, and at last, early in the year 1842, he was prostrated by an attack of inflammation of the lungs, from which he never recovered. " lle readily accepted the fact that his earthly work was done, and but little time was required to place his business matters in satisfactory form, when, releasing himself from all anxiety, he calmly entertained the prospect of his dissolution as a most welcome theme, and became wholly absorbed in the
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HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
unveiled view of the wondrous work of redemption. In the morning of March 6, 1849, he bade his friends a cheer- ful farewell as the welcome message came and released his willing spirit." The farm was sold by mutual consent of the family, in 1854, and in November of that year Mrs. Sally Atherton, widow of Shubael, set out with her young- est son to visit the home of her childhood in Shelburne, Mass., which she had not seen since she left it, a bride, thirty-five years before. Ou her arrival the first place she visited was the old cemetery, where she knew there were more of her old acquaintances than she would find in the homes of the living. But the emotions awakened by the thronging memories of the place proved too much for her strength, and almost immediately afterwards it became apparent that she had returned only to die in her childhood's home. A brain fever set in, which a week later resulted fatally, and Dee. 1, 1854, this Christian mother passed to her heavenly reward.
Perus Atherton, the youngest of the three brothers, lived on his Thread River farm until well advanced in years and enfeebled in health, when he sold this property, and purchased a home in the city of Flint, where he re- moved with his wife, and where, within convenient distance of their place of religious worship, they anticipated an en- joyment more precious to them than they could ever ex- perience from increase of worldly goods. And these hopes were being realized when, in the morning of Aug. 26, 1872, the last summons came to Mrs. Atherton, and she passed away, at the age of seventy-six years ; fifty-six of which had been spent with the companion whom she left behind, and who now, at the age of eighty-four years, waits patiently his appointed time, ever firm and joyful in the Christian faith.
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