USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 33
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Hon. Ebenezer O. Grosvenor, now of Jonesville, came to Michigan in 1837, when but seventeen years of age, and located at Albion, Calhoun Co., where he was employed in the store of an older brother. In 1839 he removed to Monroe, and in 1840 to Jonesville, in which latter place he was employed for four years as clerk in the dry-goods store of H. A. Delavan. In April, 1844, he became a partner with R. S. Varnum ; having in February of the same year married a daughter of Hon. Elisha P. Champlin, one of the first settlers of Lenawee County. In 1847, Mr. Champlin pur- chased Mr. Varnum's interest, and entered into partner- ship with his son-in-law. From 1857 to 1864 Mr. Gros- venor conducted the business alone. In 1875 the firm- name was changed to Sibbald, Spaulding & Co., Mr. Gros- venor remaining a partner. In April, 1854, he established the banking firm of Grosvenor & Co., which has been con- tinued to the present time, with Mr. Grosvenor as manager and principal owner. Early during his residence here he was chosen to all the principal offices in the township, and in 1858 was elected State Senator. In April, 1861, he was commissioned colonel on the staff of Governor Blair, and became president of the Military Contract Board, to which he was appointed. Was elected to the State Senate again in 1862, and Lieutenant-Governor in 1864, on the same ticket with Governor Crapo. By virtue of this office he was president of the State Board of Equalization in 1866, during which year he was elected State Treasurer, holding that office until 1871. Numerous other prominent positions have fallen to his lot ; he was the first treasurer of the Jonesville Cotton Manufacturing Company, and was in- strumental in directing the route of the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railway, with which company he is prominently connected .*
Elisha P. Champlin came to Michigan in 1824, and lo- cated at Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., where he stayed two years, returning thence to New York. About 1830 he again came to Tecumseh, and in 1834 sold his property at that place and removed to Jonesville, where he engaged in the mercantile business with George C. Munro, building a block of stores on the northeast corner of West and Chicago Streets. He remained in business until 1851, when ill health obliged him to retire. He owned a farm adjoining the village on the east. Between the date of his settlement here and 1840 he was twice elected to the House of Rep- resentatives, and in the latter year to the Senate of the
State. From 1840 until 1844 he was the postmaster at Jonesville. When he came here he was interested in the mill property, probably disposing of his right in it to Hon. Levi Baxter, who, in company with Cook Sisson, erected the mill the same year (1834). Mr. Champlin died in 1855 ; his widow, now seventy-eight years of age, resides in Jonesville with her son-in-law, Hon. E. O. Grosvenor, whose wife is her oldest daughter.
The following article, from the pen of Mrs. Roscius Southworth, daughter of Thaddeus Wight, is copied from the records of the Hillsdale County Pioneer Society .; Her husband was from Windham Co., Conn., and was an early settler in Litchfield township, in January, 1837, where Mrs. S. now resides.
" I was born in November, 1819, in Hope, Montgomery Co., N. Y. When about two years old my father, Thaddeus Wight, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Euclid, Geauga Co. Here passed eight years, the happiest of my child- hood ; with a kind father and the best of mothers, home was bright and cheerful for the little ones composing our group. Then a dark cloud of adversity settled over home. Father had signed with other men, and to pay the notes, as he had to do, took his farm, after which he packed up his household goods and shipped them to the mouth of the St. Joseph ; put a bed, cooking utensils, his wife, and seven children in wagon, which was drawn by two yoke of oxen, and started by land for Michigan, my oldest brother, Washburn, then thirteen years old, driving four cows and some young cattle. Thus we started for St. Jo ,-the land that flowed with milk and honey. In going down a steep hill my little brother, William, six years old, fell from the wagon, and both wheels ran over him. We took him up for dead ; upon examina- tion we found his shoulder badly broken. Laid by a week at the first house, where, fortunately, lived a physician, who set the broken limb and kindly cared for him. He helped fix a swing bed in the wagon, and we started again. On arriving at the 'cottonwood swamp,' a settler persuaded father to go through, as it would save many miles of travel. So two men volunteered to go with oxen, axes, and guns to pilot and help us through, as no wagon had as yet ventured. Well do I remember the water and mud into which the wagon plunged every few steps. The dark, gloomy woods were to us children a constant source of terror, and when sister Alvira got lost we were all dismayed ; but stopping the team the men and dogs returned the lost child in about two hours. At night our tent was spread, four large fires built to keep the wolves at bay ; father with his gun, on one side, and the men with theirs on the other, quieted our fears. It was the first howling of wolves we had heard.
" In the morning my brother, myself, and two older sisters started ahead with the cattle, the marked trees being our guide, wading through water all day. Just at night we reached a tavern on this side the swamp, which we hailed with great joy. Here, too, we found friends among stran- gers. After washing, they furnished us with dry clothes, and prepared supper for twelve. The wagon with mother soon came up. Rested one day ; started again on our slow, toilsome journey. When we left Tecumseh we left the road
# Principally from Representative Men of Michigan.
t See ante.
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
too ; took the marked trees for a guide, and reached Jones- ville on the fourth week. Here father was obliged to stop, having only 12 shillings left, with eight children depend- ent on him for every comfort of life, and nothing but his hands to do with. He finally squatted upon the place now owned by Isaac Gaige. On this was a cabin 12 feet square, built by trappers the fall before .* Into this he put his family and went to plowing for crops, it being the last of April, 1830. Mother soon saw it was impossible to live in this 'pen,' as she called it, and knowing father had no time to build one, commenced herself: with the help of my- self and an older sister she had the logs all cut and ready by the time his crops were in. As we had never used an axe, you can judge how they must have looked; but they were long enough, so father and uncle Stephen Hickox, who had come to ' look' land, with the help of us children raised it. Father sawed off the ends of the logs, save one, which he preserved as a memento and curiosity ; the top of this he flattened, and it served as a wash-stand. Previous to raising the house, father went for the goods which had been sent by water. There was no road-only an Indian trail-and no bridges over streams. His feet became sore with walking, and for the last three days he had to be helped on and off his wagon. Mother had waited long and patiently for these goods, to make her children comfortable for the coming winter. The boxes were opened-when, alas ! everything was mildewed and spoiled. Nothing of all these precious things she so much needed was left except a large box of dishes. The boat had been wrecked, the goods wet, and laid in that condition three months. Now dishes were plenty, but food often scarce, especially when father would be detained at Tecumseh in getting grinding done. At such times mother would send me and my brother five miles to the prairie with a small bag of corn, to pound in a stump dug out and fitted for the purpose. The pestle was like a well-sweep. We would mount the stump, and with our combined strength pound out the little grist and hasten home before sundown, for then the wolves began to howl. We would often meet or see them on our way, and always carried a club to defend ourselves with. Many times the first season we should have suffered for food had it not been for the Indians coming in with venison or turkey. Once mother bought, as she supposed, a turkey, and cheered us up with the promise of a pot-pie for supper. As it was placed on the table father came in, and pro- nounced it a crane! Mother's appetite vanished, and we lost our pie.
" We learned to appreciate the Indians, especially Baw Beese,-that noble old chief. Shall ever remember his kindness to us. He knew mother was afraid of them, and he tried to make her understand that he was a friend and would keep the rest back from the door until she gave her consent for them to come in. We soon learned to trust him, and always found him truthful and honest.
"In September or October,; Mr. James Olds came in, giving us two neighbors. About this time the Siouxt came here, 600 strong, on their way to Canada for presents, old Black Hawk with his six sons sleeping in the house, much
against our wishes. On their return they had many pres- ents, and were highly painted with black stripes,-a token of war. In the month of November following my youngest sister was born. While mother was yet sick our cattle broke out and strayed. On Tuesday morning father started with his dog to find them. Noon, night, and next morning came, but no father. News spread that he was lost. Even as far . as White Pigeon men came, searched three days, and gave up in despair. The morning he started he struck their trail near Allen, going southwest ; followed all day, crossing streams ; slept at night by side of a log, with wolves howling and rain falling in torrents ; followed trail as best he could next day, and found them just at night. From one he milked his hat-crown full and drank it, and half full again for his dog,-a very good relish after fasting two days. Started to return with his cattle next morning; drove all day and the next, coming each night to the place of starting in the morning ; finally, about noon on Satur- day, he heard the report of a gun. Soon it was followed by another still nearer, and in a few moments ' Wagh, wagh !' said an Indian just behind him. By signs he made him understand that he was ' lost,-must go to Jones' wigwam.' The Indian would take him there for his dog; would not do it for money, being ignorant of its value. The bargain concluded, the Indian turned the cattle in a different direc- tion, and after going about five miles came to Jones'. Mother had given up all hope of seeing him again alive, for it had been a cold, rainy week, and if he had escaped the wolves must have perished with cold and hunger. Pa-ma-saw took the dog on his pony and left us. This same night my uncle, Stephen Hickox, came, being the fourth family in Jonesville.
" Father sold his cattle to a man in Saline; took his money to pay for land, and found it all counterfeit. A struggle ensued to get his cattle again. As he got money the second time to start for the land-office, a certain man in- formed him that the home he had started was his and he should take possession in two weeks. In March, 1831, my father and uncle bought their land two miles west of Jones- ville, built houses and moved in, using blankets for doors and windows until crops were put in. Wolves were very troublesome here, attacking the swine in their pens. Our house was completed as soon as possible,-' shake' roof, mudded sides, puncheon floor, and stone chimney. Despite all drawbacks we were a happy family.
" News came that the Indians were coming east and kill- ing the whites as they came. Mother became very timid. Father said if the danger became great he would bury the goods and go back to Detroit; but the war ended and we did not leave.
" In 1833 father built a barn, made many improvements, and in August refused $3000 for his farm, when lo! Death enters and takes from him his loving wife and our mother. Our family circle was broken, one going here and another there. I was about thirteen then. I clothed and educated myself from that time. I taught the first school in Bass- wood, the second in what was then called the Mickle neigh- borhood. In 1840 was married, which event closed my separate record.
" L. L. SOUTHWORTH."
* Fall of 1829. + October 13, 1830. # Should be Sacs and Foxes.
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
John Sinclair, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, settled in Jonesville in September, 1836. Until 1843 he followed the business of cabinet-making, then for twenty years con- ducted a farın ; was subsequently a merchant. The fol- lowing article from his pen is recorded in the archives of the Pioneer Society :
" Becoming a resident of Jonesville in 1836, I had an opportunity of witnessing emigration as it poured into and through our county, the Chicago turnpike being the only thoroughfare at that time. Along this road came the emi- gration that settled some of the counties of Northern In- diana, turning southward at Allen's Prairie and other points ; a line of wagons almost continuous passing through the village daily. This was then the county-seat,-county jail occupying the public square north side of Chicago road. A grist-mill had been erected the year before (1835*). An Indian trail up the valley of the St. Joseph, branching towards Baw Beese and Sand Lakes, was the only road south to Jonesville. The first saw-mills were built-one a mile and a half up-stream from Jonesville, and run by the late Jaduthan Lockwood ; the other, still a mile above, by James Olds and others.
" In the spring of 1837 flour sold at $9 per 100 pounds ; oats as high as $2.50 ; corn was scarce, a frost the previous summer, on August 27, killing most of it. Flour, pork, butter, cheese, dried apples, in fact, most of the necessaries of life, were imported from Ohio.
" In a few years improvements were so rapid, and no outlet for surplus produce, wheat sold for 35 cents per bushel ; pork and beef, $2 and $2.50 per hundred, in goods or store pay-could not get salt for it ; oats, 10 cents, and corn, 20 cents per bushel ; butter, if very good, brought 5 cents in 1843.
" The embryo city of Hillsdale was located near where the county fair-grounds now are. A saw-mill had been erected by Messrs. Cook & Ferris, and I remember of at- tending a celebration of the glorious 4th of July up there amongst the oak-grubs. The matter of the removal of the county-seat from Jonesville to Hillsdale was before the Legislature at Detroit. A committee from Jonesville urged the unfitness of the location, it being, as they said, in a swamp; but they were met by our representative, B. B. Willett, who arose in his place and said that Hillsdale was not in a swamp at all, but situated in a beautiful oak- grove, with a sand and gravel soil. At the next town-meet- ing William T. Howell was elected Justice of the Peace to mete justice to them.
" In 1840 the old Indian chief, Baw Beese, with the remnant of his tribe, was called upon to depart and leave their hunting-grounds and the graves of their fathers, and take up their abode in a distant country. As they passed through Jonesville, escorted by a few United States soldiers, they looked sad and dejected. This was on a beautiful Sabbath morning, and it was sad to reflect upon the neces- sity of such a measure in the interests of civilization."
Hon. Henry Packer, now a resident of Jonesville, emi- grated here from the State of Connecticut, arriving in May, 1835, and purchasing a farm on the Adrian road, a mile
east of the village. He returned to Connecticut, and the following September brought his family back with him. One Thomas French had built a log house on the place the previous year. In the spring of 1840 Mr. Packer moved into Litchfield, where he resided until the spring of 1864, when he returned to Jonesville, and has since made it his home. When he first came to this village the only frame buildings in it were the stores of Charles Gregory and Cook & Ferris, and the frame part of the "Fayette House." Mr. Packer has held the principal offices in the gift of his townsmen,-highway commissioner, justice of the peace, and supervisor,-and in 1844 represented his district in the State Legislature. He was afterward judge of the Probate Court of Hillsdale County. While justice of the peace, soon after his arrival here, he was called upon to issue a warrant for a fugitive slave from Kentucky. When the negro was brought into court and the case was about to proceed, W. W. Murphy, then practicing law here, spoke to Mr. Packer, and the latter decided that in order to re- cover the negro his alleged owners must bring satisfactory proof that Kentucky was a slave State. It was necessary for the prosecution to go to Detroit to decide the matter, and failing in finding sufficient evidence the man was dis- charged ! A similar case was not long afterwards brought up in Philadelphia, Pa., and the decision of Mr. Packer, " of Jonesville, Mich.," was there cited, and the same de- cision rendered in that instance also. It was a mere matter of form, but it was enough to secure the negro's freedom, to the undoubted chagrin of his owners.
In 1850, Mr. Packer and a few friends organized the first agricultural society in the county, naming it the " Hillsdale Agricultural Society." Mr. Packer was elected President, and Isaiah McCollum, Secretary. This was the starting-point of the present flourishing society, and the organization had an existence of several years.
Judge Packer's father-in-law, Amaziah Wright, from Colchester, Conn., settled in Jonesville in 1837. His old log house was standing until within recent years, occu- pying a position a short distance north of the present resi- dence of the judge.
The first permanent merchants in Jonesville were Messrs. Cook & Ferris, t who established themselves in business here in 1834. Chauncey W. Ferris, of this firm, a native of Cato, Cayuga Co., N. Y., settled in Jonesville in May, 1834. His partner, John P. Cook, removed to Hillsdale in 1836, and, in company with Mr. Ferris, built a flouring- mill in 1837. He became quite prominent in that place, and was a large contractor during the construction of the Michigan Southern Railway. He has also been largely interested in banking, mercantile, and lumber business ; was the first treasurer of Hillsdale County ; postmaster of Hillsdale in 1838, and has represented his district in the Senate and House.
Following these gentlemen in the trade at Jonesville were Messrs. Delavan & Attwater, and Charles Gregory, as early as 1835-36.
Gen. George C. Munro came to Jonesville Aug. 20,
# 1834, by Baxter & Sisson .- HISTORIAN.
t See account of first mercantile establishment, in this chapter, as given by George C. Munro.
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1834, from Elbridge, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and engaged in trade with the Indians, which he continued until their removal in 1840. Until 1862 he remained in the mercan- tile business, and was also manager of a farm and a grist- mill. Soon after his arrival here he was commissioned colonel of militia, and afterwards brigadier-general, the title still clinging to him. He had begun as fourth corporal while living in the State of New York, and worked his way upward through the various military grades. The first and only military muster ever held at Jonesville was about 1837-38, when the companies belonging to the county assembled here, numbering some five or six hundred men. Gen. Brown was here, and Mr. Munro had the honor of forming the motley crowd in order to receive the general and his staff, although he was then not connected with the militia. Maj. Aiken and the other officers of the " barefoot companies" were ignorant of all tactics, and but for the aid of our well-trained New Yorker, the body would have made a sorry show. Mr. Munro soon after this re- ceived from Gen. Brown a colonel's commission, which was in a short time followed by that of a brigadier-general. Previous to the Rebellion, an independent company was organized here, and in his honor named the " Munro Guards." Many of them volunteered during the war.
Gen. Munro has always been prominent and active in business, and has held numerous civil offices. Aided in organizing the County and State Agricultural Societies ; also in forming the first union school in the State, the building for the use of which he erected in 1847. This was a brick structure, which occupied the site of the pres- ent elegant building. He was eighteen years a member of the School Board, and was the first president of the village after its incorporation, in 1855.
D. A. Wisner, now of Jonesville, came with his brother, Calvin Wisner, to Moscow township from Livingston Co., N. Y., and settled in 1836 about two miles south of the present village of Moscow. In 1839, another brother, Horace, settled in the same town. Calvin Wisner is since deceased. D. A. Wisner moved out of Moscow and re- sided one year at North Adams, coming from there to Jonesville, at which latter place he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits for 14 years. A fourth brother, A. R. Wisner, is also in business in Jonesville, having located here while the others were living on their farm in Moscow. The father of these gentlemen, Daniel Wisner, removed about 1821-22 from Cayuga Co., N. Y., to Livingston, with probably four children. Some years after his sons came to Moscow he followed them, and died in that town.
A man named Taylor, who came to this region in 1829, lived a short distance southwest of the village of Jonesville, near a large spring. William N. Guy and Maj. Daniel Aiken occupied the place at different periods afterwards. Aiken was previously a resident of Moscow.
When Benaiah Jones settled here he brought with him a small iron mill, about two feet across, in which he ground his grain until the Sibley grist-mill was built in 1831. Aside from the " stump-mortar" in Allen, it was the first mill for grinding in the county.
Allen Purdy, from Allegany Co., N. Y., came to Michi- gan in April, 1835, and located in the township of Butler,
Branch Co. That winter the Indian chief, Baw Beese, with a portion of his tribe, encamped within a quarter of a mile of Mr. Purdy's cabin. The latter gentleman moved into Litchfield about 1848, and to Jonesville in 1853, spending the remainder of his days in this village. He was a very strong man, physically, and his wonderful feats in lifting and handling heavy articles were surprising. Some of the family yet reside in Butler, and a daughter, now Mrs. A. E. Babcock, has her home in Jonesville.
Hon. Levi Baxter, father of Hon. Witter J. Baxter and Gen. Henry Baxter, was a native of East Windsor, Conn., and a son of a captain in the Revolutionary army, also named Levi Baxter. When he was a boy his father re- moved to Delhi, Delaware Co., N. Y., and in 1803 to Sid- ney Plains, in the same county, on the Susquehanna River. Hon. Levi Baxter removed to Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich., where he built the " Red Mills," famous in the early history of this region, and to which customers came from distances of 20, 40, and even 50 miles. While a resident of Tecumseh, he was appointed by Gen. Cass, then Terri- torial Governor, as chief-justice of the court for the county of Lenawee. The mill erected at Jonesville, in 1834, by Mr. Baxter and Cook Sisson, was the first one in this por- tion of the State west of Tecumseh. In 1836, Mr. Baxter removed to White Pigeon, and built extensive mills at that place. In 1840, while building a large addition to his mill at Jonesville, he had one of his limbs severely crushed and broken by the fall of a heavy timber, and from that injury he never fully recovered. In 1848 he removed again to Jonesville, and was the same year nominated and elected State Senator from his district, then including the counties of Monroe, Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Branch. Through Mr. Baxter's efforts, the village of Jonesville was made a point on the extended route of the Lake Shore and Michigan Railway, that road having long terminated at Hillsdale. He died in 1862 .*
Gen. Henry Baxter, who died Dec. 30, 1873, was one of the citizens of Jonesville who became prominent in the history of the country, and was the third son of Judge Levi Baxter. In 1849 he commanded a company of emigrants from this vicinity, who crossed the plains to Cal- ifornia. He returned after a few years, and in 1861 en- listed, and was chosen captain of Company C, 7th Michigan Infantry. For his bravery he was rapidly promoted until he reached the rank of brevet major-general. He was several times wounded while in the service, twice supposed fatally. After the war he returned to Jonesville, and in 1866 was elected register of deeds of Hillsdale County. In 1869 he was appointed, by President Grant, United States Minister resident at Honduras, holding that position until the Central American republics were consolidated, when the office was no longer necessary. He returned again to Jonesville, and engaged in the lumber business, but died before he had become fairly established, at the age of fifty-two years. He was a general favorite with the citizens, and had the faculty of making himself dear to all his acquaintances, either in civil, military, or private life.t
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