USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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Horace Case.
1866. S. E. Johnson.
1867. Washington S. Sawyer.
1868. James Mosher.
H. Jones Culver.
1846. Silas E. Ganyard.
1869. H. J. Culver.
Samuel E. Smith.
1870. Thomas Spencer.
Daniel Birdsall.
1871. Isaac Smith.
1847. Londras Goodwin.
1872. Samuel E. Johnson.
Asa Mosher.
1873. Hugh Gilbert.
Samuel M. Stillwell.
1874. F. M. Culver.
1848. Edward J. Olds.
1875. Francis M. Culver.
1849. John N. Hastings. .
1876-77. Ezra J. Hodges.
COLLECTORS.
1838. Isaac Ambler.
-
1840. Ezra Smith. 1841. Samuel M. Stillwell.
TREASURERS.
1839. Jesse Button.
1840. Jonah G. Tyler.
1841. Jonathan B. Graham.
1864. Wesley Flinn.
1842. Hamlin Tyler.
1865-66. Hurlbert Riggs.
1843-44. Stillman Ralph.
1867. Lewis Burlingham.
1845. Lyman Nethaway.
1846. Harley J. Olds.
1871-72. William Fogg.
1847. William H. Tuller.
1873-74. Day Conklin.
1848. Harley J. Olds.
1875-77. James F. Owens.
The officers of Scipio for 1878 are the following, viz. : Supervisor, John S. Kirkwood; Town Clerk, William P.
Baker ; Justices of the Peace, David Culbert, Harmon P. Wheeler; Commissioner of Highways, Archibald Stormes ; Township Superintendent of Schools, Lee Conklin ; School Inspector, Joel Walker; Constables, John Williams, James Nichols, James Gregan, Daniel Burr.
The first general election in Scipio was held Nov. 5 and 6, 1838, the following vote being cast :
Isaac E. Crary, for Member of Congress. 51
Hezekiah G. Wells, for Member of Congress. 29
Elisha P. Champlin, for State Senator 61 William L. Greenly, for State Senator. 21 Daniel C. Stillwell, for Representative in Legislature. 64 Elijah B. Seeley, for Representative in Legislature. 17 Abram Vandebogart, for Sheriff. 52 Ambrose I. Nicholson, for Sheriff. 19
Jonathan B. Graham, for Sheriff. 1 Ambrose Nicholson, for Sheriff.
2
Clinton E. Attwater, for County Clerk. 65 Wolcott G. Branch, for County Clerk 15 Salem T. King, for County Register 66 James K. Kinman, for County Register 15 James Olds, for County Treasurer. 66 Rockwell Manning, for County Treasurer 13 Gustavus Stephens, for County Surveyor. 65 ... Otis Briggs, for County Surveyor.
Harvey Eggleston, for County Commissioner. 64
James Fowler, for County Commissioner. 76 John McKnight, for County Commissioner. 64
Jesse Stoddard, for County Commissioner. 14 Isaac A. Calvin, for County Commissioner. 13
Joshua M. Lindsley, for Coroner. 79
John Bailey, for Coroner 79
In 1836 the township of Scipio was divided into seven road districts, of which the following were the respective overseers : Silas Benson, Wilson Gage, Oliver Bates, Eli B. Sales, Uriah B. Couch, Stillman Ralph, and Cyrus Smith.
The first road laid out by the commissioners of the town- ship is recorded as follows :
" Scipio, May 12, A.D. 1836 .- Commenced running road at corner of sections 19 and 30 on west town line ; thence east between sections 19 and 30, 20 and 29, 21 and 28, 22 and 27, 23 and 26, and 60 chains between sections 24 and 25; thence south between E. } of N. E. } and W. ¿ N. E. } of section 25, to intersect with Chicago road."
Among some of the marks by which owners could recog- nize their stock when running at large, the following were recorded May 25, 1838: "J. G. Tyler's cattle-mark-the left ear cropped and split ; Simon Drake's cattle-mark-the write ear cut off; Gera Hastings' cattle-mark-round hole through both ears." The devices for marking stock were many and ingenious, yet the ears of the poor animals were badly mutilated, and the "society for the prevention of cruelty to animals" would, in the new settlements, have found an ample field for work. Fortunately the custom of " cropping" and "splitting" and "punching" the ears of sheep and cattle has nearly gone out of date, and that relic of barbarity is now only known to the pages of the records, where the skill of the embryo artist is found exerted in delineating the heads of sheep, with various lines and circles and " swallow forks" illustrating the accompanying descrip- tions. The paint-brush and branding-iron have taken the place of the knife, where it is necessary to mark stock, which necessity seldom occurs.
Nov. 6, 1838, a license was granted by the town board to Elijah Clark, " to keep a common victualing-house, with the privilege of retailing fermented liquors, on the Chicago road, two miles west of the Scipio House, being the house
1845. Horace Case.
Henry E. Drake. Richard Starr.
1863. William Case.
1864. Joseph J. Cleveland.
George W. Proper.
1860. Ephraim Barkman.
Jonathan B. Graham.
1856. Thomas Luce.
(Latter failed to qualify, and Oliver C. Pope was chosen instead.)
1839. Ezra Smith.
1849-1859. Ezra Smith.
1860-61. Alex. T. Kirkwood. 1862-63. William Dryer.
1868-1870. William Case.
20
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
he now occupies, being in the said town of Scipio ;* said license to commence the first day of January, 1839, and continue one year."
May 18, 1839, a license was granted to A. and R. Gaige, to keep tavern in the house on the Chicago road formerly occupied by Artemedorus Tuller. This was probably the building on the southeast corner of Chicago and West Streets, Jonesville, afterwards known as the "Waverley House," and in a recent year destroyed by fire.
In 1839, at the annual town-meeting, it was " Voted, That any Boar Pigg running at large, two month old, shall pay A fine of five Dollars !" The "Piggs" undoubtedly took warning.
VILLAGE OF MOSHERVILLE.
A Quaker named Samuel Mosher, born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., and afterwards a resident of Rensselaer County, made a trip to Michigan in 1835, and entered about 1000 acres of government land in Hillsdale County. A portion of this was where the city of Hillsdale now stands, but the greater part-over 800 acres-was in what is now Scipio township, including the present site of Mosherville. Part of this land was purchased from second hands. Mr. Mosher's object was to secure the valuable water-power afforded by the south branch of the Kalamazoo and by the St. Joseph. An Indian chief named " Leather Nose"-from the fact that he had lost his nose and wore a leather patch in its place, and whose headquarters were at the site of Hillsdale- aided Mr. Mosher materially in taking a level of the power at that place. Mr. M. never settled in this State, and died in Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1840.
David G. Mosher, a son of the above, came West in the fall of 1838, and built a shanty of planks set endwise and roofed it in, returning subsequently to New York. A younger son-Charles Mosher-came in June, 1842, and repaired the shanty, to make it habitable. He had been married in 1841, when but nineteen years of age, to a young lady of fifteen, and after remaining here four weeks went to his home in New York and returned with his family. They had two children-a son and a daughter. Mrs. Mosher lived but a few years after their removal here, and her little boy followed his mother to the grave in four weeks, his death being caused by the bite of a " massasauga." The daughter is now Mrs. Herbert Riggs, of Scipio township.
In 1843 another son, James Mosher, arrived, and these were followed by their brother, Giles C. Mosher, in 1848. A copartnership was entered into by the three, under the name of G. C. & J. Mosher, for the purpose of building mills. A saw-mill was erected in 1849, and a grist-mill in 1850. This was at the present village of Mosherville, which was laid out by the same parties April 14, 1852, on the southeast quarter of section 4. An addition to the village was platted by Giles Mosher, April 17, 1856.
The grist-mill at Mosherville was the second one built in the township, the first having been the "Genesee Mills," on the St. Joseph River, erected by John Gardner,t and standing near the line of Fayette township. The Messrs. Mosher had at the time they built their mills but a small
capital to work with, and performed a large share of the labor themselves, digging their own raceway, etc. The power here is one of the finest in Southern Michigan. The Kalamazoo River has been turned from its natural channel in such a manner as to receive the drainage of three small lakes in the vicinity,-or rather to flow through them,- and an unfailing supply of water is the result. These lakes are fed by springs, and contain large numbers of excellent fish. They are known as the " Mosherville Lakes," and their name in the Indian tongue signifies "The Twin Sisters." The one at the outlet of which the dam is built lies immediately south of the village, and is a perfect gem of beauty. Its banks are bold and its shores free from marsh, and picnic parties find here a most pleasurable resort.
The machinery placed by the Moshers in their saw-mill was purchased of George C. Munro, of Jonesville, who had used it in a saw-mill he had built at Litchfield in 1842. The grist-mill originally contained two runs of stone, the same as at present ; its interior has been ex- tensively repaired and remodeled, and improved machinery inserted, while the frame remains the same. Charles Mosher built a new saw-mill in 1867, and this, together with the grist-mill, was purchased by Luther N. Tyler, the present proprietor, in 1867 or 1868. A very good business is done at these mills.
After Mosherville was surveyed and platted, and the proprietors had erected their own buildings, a man named Dwight Gilmore, who was employed in the saw-mill,-and in that way secured his lumber,-erected a small shanty in which he kept public-house,-the first institution of the kind in the place. The next building was a dwelling erected by D. W. Finch, and is still standing north of Charles Mosher's house, the latter being the oldest one now in existence in the village, which was built for a residence. The old tavern was recently destroyed by fire, and at present the place lacks the necessary accommodations for travelers to be found in a hotel.
Of Samuel Mosher's family, four sons are now residents of the township, all at Mosherville. These are David, Charles, Edward, and George Mosher.
When the firm of G. C. & J. Mosher commenced their mills at the village, they also erected a separate building, placed therein a stock of goods, and opened the first store in the place. This was burned about 1860-70.
Passing across Scipio township, and through the village of Mosherville, in a northeasterly and southwesterly direc- tion, was an old Indian trail when the country was first settled. It was known as the "Spring Arbor" trail, and united with another one in the bend of the river, west of Mosherville. In digging the "tail-race" for the mill, a causeway was found by the Messrs. Mosher, two or three feet beneath the then surface of the ground, and a piece of plank, four or five feet in length, and with a hole bored in each end, was also exhumed.
Upon the site of Mosherville the Indians had numerous " tanning-sinks," consisting of holes scooped in the ground about the size of a potash kettle. These holes were lined with stones, like pavement, and the marks of the fires which had been built in them were yet to be seen. Charles Mosher, in plowing his garden, found several of them.
* Now Fayette. t See history of Fayette township.
155
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
When Charles Mosher came to Scipio (1842) he was accompanied by Clark Weldon, who is now residing east of Mosherville. Mr. Weldon was from Rensselaer Co., N. Y., -later a resident of Cayuga County,-and had lived until he became of age with Charles Mosher's father. The two came on foot from Lyman Blackmar's hotel in Moscow, crossing the Kalamazoo River about four miles east of Mosherville, having been guided thus far by blazed trees. At the river they took the Indian trail which joined the "Spring Arbor" trail west of what is now Mosherville.
A. P. Mosher, a cousin to the proprietors of the village, settled in 1845, and is still living a short distance west. When he first came, he set a wheel at the " beaver-dam" at the outlet of the lake, near where the mill now stands, built a shop, put in a lathe, and manufactured chairs. The building is now used as a dwelling by Thomas Camp- bell, and is the oldest structure in the village. The boards for its construction were split from logs by its proprietor and Charles Mosher, they being unable to procure the necessary lumber for it in any other manner.
The first school in this vicinity was taught in 1847, in a log school which stood half a mile west of the village, and the logs for which were chopped by Charles Mosher. The name of the first teacher is not now recollected. This building was also long used as a place in which to hold religious meetings.
The first school-house in the village was a frame struc- ture, erected about 1857-58. It is now used as a paint- shop, a very tasty frame school building having been put up in 1872, at a cost of $2800. The school has two de- partments, and an attendance of about 100. The teachers for the winter of 1878-79 are George W. Howe, Principal ; Miss Cora McDougall, Assistant. The school is located in the northeast part of the village, east of the Methodist church.
The population of the township in 1838 was 469, and it contained also a saw-mill, a merchant, 294 head of neat stock, 70 horses, 20 sheep, 356 hogs, and a post-office called Scipio. This post-office was on the Chicago road, in the southeast corner of the present township. About 1846 another office, called "Scipio Centre," was established on the " Concord road" (leading from Jonesville to Jackson), and Samuel E. Smith was the first postmaster. About 1853-54 it was moved to Mosherville, and the name changed to correspond, and John Long appointed to take charge. It was afterwards called " Tylerville," but was finally changed back to Mosherville, which name it has since retained. The present postmaster is David G. Mosher.
The Mosherville Cornet Band was organized in the spring of 1878, and has about 15 members. A teacher has for some time been employed, and under his tutelage the band has made rapid advancement. Its leader is Frank Case.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MOSHERVILLE.
The first Methodists in this neighborhood were probably James Sturgis and family, who settled very early in the township. A class existed for a number of years, but a society was not regularly organized until 1860. A frame church was built in 1861, and during the present season (1878) has been repaired at an expense of about $1200.
At its organization this society was on the Litchfield circuit, and was made a station on the Mosherville circuit about 1869. The remaining appointments are at East and West Pulaski, Jackson Co., and in Homer township, Calhoun Co.
The old class had but few members. The society was organized with about 70 members, by Rev. Henry Penfield, who became its first pastor. Those since in charge have been Revs. H. Long (who fell dead in the pulpit), John Clubine, H. H. Parker, George W. Hoag, Mark Browning (first pastor of Mosherville circuit), J. F. Wallace, C. H. Ellis, A. L. Crittenden, and the present incumbent, Rev. E. D. Bacon, now serving his third year. Others had con- ducted services previously while the small class was in ex- istence. The present membership at Mosherville is about 75. A flourishing Sabbath-school is sustained, with a mem- bership of probably 100. Charles Mosher has been its superintendent for thirteen years. The school has a small library and eight classes and teachers.
Mosherville contained in September, 1878, two stores, a church, a school-house, a post-office, a shoe-shop, two black- smith-shops, one wagon-shop, a carpenter-shop, and an estab- lishment owned by D. G. Mosher, who manufactures a patent " potato bugger," one cabinet-shop, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, and a population of between 100 and 200.
EAST MOSHERVILLE
was laid out by Charles Mosher, Dec. 5, 1870, on the south- east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 2. It con- tains a few dwellings, a small grocery, and a station on the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railway, with Mr. Mosher as agent for the company.
To Charles Mosher and numerous others who have fur- nished us with valuable information in this town we return sincere thanks.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHARLES MOSHER.
The progenitors of this family were Quakers, and came from England about the year 1600, and settled in Connec- ticut. Samuel Mosher, the father of our subject, was a native of Columbia Co., N. Y., where he resided until the year 1825, when he married and moved to the town of Nassau, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., where he purchased a farm. He remained upon this farm about ten years. In 1835 he came to Michigan, and being favorably impressed with the soil and the natural advantages, he located eight hundred acres in the northern part of the town of Scipio, on which there was a fine water-power; he also located one hundred and sixty acres in what is now the village of Hillsdale. Completing his business, he returned to Wayne Co., N. Y., where he then resided, and where he died in the year 1840. He was an estimable man, with a firm, unswerving devotion to the right. In his religious convictions he was a Quaker; politically, he identified himself with the Abolition party, and for the ten years previous to his decease he did not purchase or use anything that was the product of slave labor. He
156
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
left a family of ten children, our subject being the third son. He was born near Chatham village, Columbia Co., N. Y., Jan. 2, 1822, and came to Scipio in the spring of 1842, with his family, which consisted of his wife and one child. The northern part of the town was at this time a wilderness, and the construction of a home was a work of no small magnitude, but by dint of energy and perseverance the usual improvements were made, and matters were progres- sing favorably when he lost all by fire; this occurred in
Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. CHARLES MOSHER.
1845. In 1849 and 1850 he, in company with his brothers James and Giles, laid out the village of Mosherville, naming it in honor of their father. They built a saw- and grist- mill. Mr. Mosher was a practical miller, and for twenty years followed this avocation. He has been twice married, first to Polly Seaver, who died in 1848, and next to Miss Elvira M. Stoddard, of Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y. By his first wife he was the father of two children,-Samuel and Sarah Jane. The son met his death from the poisonous fangs of a " massasauga," and the daughter is now the wife of H. Riggs, Esq., of Scipio. By his present wife Mr. Mosher has one child, a son, Charles T. Mosher. Politi- cally, Mr. Mosher was originally a Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party identified himself with it, and has continued an ardent supporter of its prin- ciples to the present. His qualities have not been over- looked by an appreciative people, and he has been honored with numerous positions of trust in their gift. In 1863-64, he occupied a seat in the representative branch of the Leg- islature, and was again elected in 1876, being chairman of the State committee on public schools, and also a member of the committee on supplies and expenditures. In 1878 he was again nominated and re-elected. He is a member of the Methodist Church, in the affairs of which he takes much interest.
LYMAN JOHNSON.
This gentleman, for many years one of the valuable citizens and prominent farmers of Scipio, was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 1812. His father, Roswell Johnson, was a ship-carpenter by occupation, and when Lyman was a mere lad moved to Rochester, N. Y., with his family, where he lived many years. Upon the death of his wife he became discontented, and removed to Wis- consin, where he died. Lyman resided in Rochester until 1837, when he came to Scipio, and " took up" one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 10. He erected the
Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale. LYMAN JOHNSON.
body of a log house, put in two acres of wheat, and returned to Rochester. The following March he returned with his family. Here he resided until his death, which occurred Feb. 27, 1869.
Mr. Johnson was emphatically a self-made man. Pos- sessed of more than an ordinary amount of energy and determination, he overcame all obstacles. His early life was replete with hardship and privation, and although he started in life with only his natural resources for his capital, he acquired a competency which was the result of a long life of industry, frugality, and honorable dealing. He was a devout and consistent Christian, a member of and one of the founders of the Baptist Church in Jonesville, and a liberal supporter of church interests. Mr. Johnson was married June 22, 1832, to Miss Fanny, daughter of Samuel Benedict, of Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y., where she was born, Sept. 10, 1813. When five years of age, her parents removed to Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y., where they re- sided until they died.
Samuel Johnson, the present supervisor of Scipio, is the only child. He was born in Scipio, on the farm where he now resides, Feb. 19, 1842. He is prominently identified with the town, has filled all the offices in the gift of his fellow-townsmen to their entire satisfaction, and is one of the progressive and successful farmers of the county. He is the owner of the old farm, which now consists of two hundred and twenty acres. The improvements are of a
WARNER BUNDY.
MRS. WARNER BUNDY .
RESIDENCE OF WARNER BUNDY, LITCHFIELD , MICHIGAN.
157
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
high order, and it is justly regarded as one of the best and most valuable farms in this part of the county. A view of it can be seen elsewhere in this work.
ISAAC SMITH.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1813, and was the youngest child in the family of Isaac and Hulda (Atwood) Smith, which consisted of six,-three boys and three girls. The elder Smith was a native of Connecticut, and was born in the town of Southington, Hartford Co. In 1772 he was a farmer in limited circumstances. Isaac, when a lad of ten years, was thrown upon his own resources. Up to the age of sixteen he worked upon a farm, attending the dis- trict school during the winter. By the aid of a retentive memory, and by close application, he acquired a good com- mon-school education. At this time he went to learn the trade of a copper- and tinsmith, but the avocation not being congenial to his taste, he returned to his former occupation; he, however, learned the trade of a cooper, at which he worked about ten years. In 1839 he resolved to seek " a fortune and a home" in the West. He came to Hillsdale
County and purchased lands in the town of Allen, which he subsequently exchanged for a farm on section 13 in the town of Scipio ; he moved on to it in the spring of 1843. Here he remained until 1848, when he sold it, and purchased the farm upon which he now resides. Mr. Smith can justly be considered a self-made man. Starting in life with only his natural resources for his capital, he has conquered success in every department of life, and is classed among the thrifty, energetic, and successful farmers of Hillsdale County. By a long life of industry, economy, and honor- able dealing, he has acquired a competency. His beautiful farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres, well fenced and under a high state of cultivation, attests his skill and thrift, a view of which, in connection with portraits of himself and wife, we present on another page. Mr. Smith has been twice married : first to Miss Artemisia McClelland. She died in 1853, and in 1856 he was again married, to Miss Margaret Kiefer, of Homer. She was born in Germany, July 4, 1828. In 1831 her parents emigrated to the State of New York. One child has been born to them, Willis J .; he first saw the light in the town of Scipio, Oct. 26, 1868. Mr. Smith in his political and religious sentiments is a Methodist and a Republican ; his wife belongs to the same church, and is in every sense a worthy helpmeet.
LITCHFIELD.
EARLY HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD.
UNTIL the spring of 1834 Litchfield, as well as most of Michigan west of Detroit and Monroe, was an uncultivated wilderness. Before that time birds warbled in the trees, flowers bloomed, and the sun sent his enlivening rays upon the surface, and the limpid waters flowed in the channel of the St. Joseph without any mill-dams to obstruct it in its passage. But there were no eyes nor ears to enjoy the beauties of the scene except those of savage beasts and a few scattering Indians as savage as they.
In the spring of 1834, Henry Stevens and Samuel Rib- let made the first settlement in the township,-Henry Stevens on section 13 and Samuel Riblet on section 15, his present place of residence. They were soon followed by several others, among whom were John Crandall, Sr., who settled on section 24; Otis Bettis, on section 25; Andrew K. Bushnell, on section 9; David Hiller, on section 5 ; John Woods, on section 15; Lambert Allen, on section 22; Mr. Murray, on section 5; Nathan Herendeen, on section 1; Jesse Stoddard, on section 3; James and Harvey Eg- gleston, on section 9; Freeman Blair, on section 14; M. P. Herring, on section 22. James Jones, Wm. Smith, Samuel Frisbee, and the three Todd brothers made the first settle- ment in the timbered land west of Sand Creek in 1836, and
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