USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 50
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John Timms, originally from England, and later a resi- dent of Wayne Co., N. Y., came to Wheatland in October, 1836, and settled with his wife and six children a half-mile north of Church's Corners, on land now owned by his son, William Timms. Mr. Timms died in August, 1838; his widow, who is living in town with her son, William, has reached the advanced age of eighty-five years, yet is in full possession of her faculties, and to her we are indebted for much information. She is the only one now in the neigh- borhood who was a member of the original Baptist society at the Corners.
John Timms' son, Daniel, became a prominent physician in the township. He aided in raising the first frame barn therein. The Timms family arrived in New York, from Oxford, England, July 1, 1832, and in Wheatland, Oct. 20, 1836.
Mrs. Timms states that when they came to this town the only settlers living in the neighborhood in which they lo- cated were S. S. Douglas, Almon Goff, and Harvey McGee.
The first physician who settled in Wheatland was Dr. Zachariah Derbyshire, who was living at Wheatland Centre in 1836, on the corner now occupied by Dr. John Stewart. These two were in partnership for some time, and the latter has practiced in the township in the neighborhood of thirty years.
Jacob Robins and wife, and his brother, William Robins, came to the town of Wheatland in October, 1835. They were originally from the State of New Jersey, but previous to their removal to Michigan had lived ten years in Pal- myra, Wayne Co., N. Y. Their father, Jonathan Robins, had located the place now owned by his son, Thomas Rob- ins, in June, 1835, and William and Jacob came to it for the purpose of making improvements. The latter had been married but a month when they came. These two brothers stopped at first three and a half miles east of this place, with Jyra Wilcox, who is still living on his old farm, in the southeast part of town. From Mr. Wilcox's they cut their way to their own land, built a log house, and moved into it some time in November. For ten weeks thereafter they saw not a solitary human being except each other. The elder Robins came on with the rest of his family-four
sons and one daughter-in the spring of 1837. He sur- vived but a short time, his death occurring in June, 1838. His son, Thomas Robins, is the present supervisor of the township.
The brothers, William and Jacob Robins, were the first settlers in the southwest quarter of what is now Wheatland township.
John Bailey came in the fall of the same year, or early . in 1836.
Edward L. Way settled in 1836 on the farm next west of the Robins place, and was from near Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y. His old home is at present owned by James White.
The second white male child born in Wheatland, and the first who lived,* was William C. Robins, a son of Jacob Robins, whose birth occurred October 2, 1836. He is still a resident of the township.
The first white female child born in town is thought to have been a daughter of Thomas N. Bailey, born in May, 1835, and now living in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey afterwards died within a few weeks of each other, and left an infant daughter, who is now the wife of Maxwell Davis.
Nathan P. Colwell and Nelson R. Rowley, from the town of Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., came together to this town in the fall of 1835; Mr. Colwell was married, and Mr. Rowley single at the time. Mr. Colwell and wife are both dead. Mr. Rowley still owns his farm in Wheatland, but stays upon it but a portion of the time, his wife being de- ceased, and he having broken up housekeeping. A son is living in Adrian, with whom he makes his home.
The brothers Harry C. and William Tucker were early arrivals in the township. The latter is deceased, and the former yet occupies his old place near the west line of town.
Col. Levi Treadwell, from the State of New York, lo- cated on section 33, in Wheatland, in 1841 ; the old home- stead is occupied by his son, Chauncey Treadwell. Col. Treadwell received his title from having held the position of colonel in the New York State militia.
Albert B. Slocum, from Wayne Co., N. Y., settled in Wheatland in October, 1843.
John McLouth, Esq., living east of Wheatland Centre, is an old resident of the township, and a reference to the list of township officers will show his popularity.
The following, from the pen of Charles C. Fowler, now deceased, is copied from the records of the Hillsdale County Pioneer Society :
" I came to the Territory in the fall of 1836, in company with my uncle, Ransel Wood, with but $10 in my pocket. When we arrived at Monroe, we had to pay a sixpence apiece for the privilege of lying on the floor of a deserted grocery-store. We remained there three days, waiting for a team to take us to Adrian. I did not stay long, but started for Tecumseh, and there took the Chicago turnpike, and came as far as Gambleville, in the township now Somerset. I then left the turnpike, determined to go to the southern part of the town, now Wheatland. I came as far as Francis Hill's, who then lived on the farm now
* Mrs. Cook's child has been mentioned as living but a few months.
ALBERT B. SLOCUM.
MRS. ALBERT B. SLOCUM.
MRS.ALBERT B.SLOCUM. (DECEASED.)
(PHOTOS.BY CARSON & CRAHAM. HILLSDALE .)
RESIDENCE OF HON. A. B. SLOCUM, WHEATLAND, HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICH .
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
owned by Charles Doolittle. There was no road, and our only guide was blazed trees. I was now at the end of my journey ; had spent my $10 and owed $1 more. I immedi- ately set to work chopping and logging for Deacon John Bailey. I followed this business for several years, conse- quently I have helped to clear nearly every farm in this vicinity. I also helped to clear the track for the Michigan Southern Railroad. I helped to build the first saw-mill in this vicinity, and many of the first dwellings. My first farm was opposite Charles Doolittle's, now owned by John Wilson. In 1843, I built a log house, and cleared four acres. I did most of my chopping evenings, and days I helped some one else. Kept this farm three years, then sold to a Mr. Dunmore. I then bought the farm on which the Wheatland town-house is now built; kept this six or seven years and sold to John L. Williams; then bought the farm I now own, 1 mile north and 80 rods east of the present town-house."
Mr. Fowler died in May, 1874.
Jesse Hill, from Wayne Co., N. Y., settled in Wheatland, June 2, 1834. He possessed $200, which he invested in his present farm .* He was unmarried at that time ; built a log house 12 by 14 feet in dimensions, and covered it with bark. The novelty of bachelor life in the woods soon wore off, and, like all who seek a remedy for such a state of affairs, he proceeded to get married. He and his bride began house- keeping with an outfit consisting of a tea-kettle, a skillet, and a teapot, for cooking utensils; and for furniture, a pole bedstead, a set of three-legged stools, and a table which he had manufactured out of a log with the aid of his axe. For stock, he owned a cow and a yoke of oxen.
Robert Cox, from the State of New Jersey, settled on a farm in this township in 1835, and is still an honored resident of the town in which he has lived nearly forty-four years.
Isaiah Straw, a native of Seneca Co., N. Y., settled in Wheatland, in November, 1836.
FIRST TOWN-MEETING, CIVIL LIST OF TOWNSHIP, ETC.
Although the township of Wheatland was erected on the 17th of March, 1835, the earliest record of a town-meeting which we find is for the one held at the house of David Barnard, on the first Monday in April, 1836, at which the following persons were elected to the various township offices : Supervisor, Heman Pratt ; Township Clerk, John McKnight; Justices of the Peace, Heman Pratt, Nelson R. Rowley, Elias Branch, and Aaron Van Vleet ; Assessors, Edmund B. Brown, Alvah Foster, and Job A. Moore ; Collector, Wm. Hart; Commissioners of Highways, Lyman Pease, Orson Herrington, and Jyra Wilcox ; Directors of the Poor, Eli Eastman and Cornelius Millspaw ; Constables, Wm. Hart, Lyman Wilcox, and Thomas Jolls ; Overseers of Road Districts, Elias Branch, Thomas Gamble, Heman Pratt, John McKnight, Thomas Farmer, Jacob Brown, Jesse Jackson, Harvey McGee, Lyman Pease, Edward S. Bascom, Thomas Hill, Emery Ferguson, Thomas N. Bailey, and Louden Coleman. At a special meeting Elias Alley was chosen highway commissioner in place of Lyman Pease,
who refused to serve; and Timothy Gay, Francis Hill, Edmund B. Brown, William Weaver, and Daniel Strong were appointed overseers of road districts in place of those who refused to serve in that capacity.
At the election in 1836 it was " Voted, That there be raised by the town a bounty of five dollars on woolves of the age of six months or over; those under that age half that sum." In 1837 the wolf-bounty was raised to ten dollars, and in 1838 it was voted to have no bounty upon them whatever.
At an election held in this town on the second Monday in September, 1836, to choose a delegate to the State con- vention at Ann Arbor, Heman Pratt received 33 votes, and Zachariah Van Duzar, 9.
In the record of the town-meeting, as given above, it will be seen that many were elected from what is now Somerset. The latter was not created a separate township until the spring of 1837, and while it was yet a part of Wheatland its citizens received a goodly share of the offices of the township.
The principal officers of Wheatland township, from 1837 to 1877, inclusive, have been the following persons, viz. :
SUPERVISORS.
1837-39. John Bailey.
1840-41. Lyman Pease.
1842-44. John Humphrey.
1845-47. Zebulon Williams.
1848. John Humphrey.
1866. Benjamin F. Tabor.
1849-50. Zebulon Williams.
1867. John McLouth.
1851. John L. Taylor.
1868-70. B. F. Tabor.
1852. John Livermore.
1871. John McLouth.
1853-54. John Humphrey.
1872-73. Myron McGee.
1855. Ebenezer Trumbull.
1874-76. Benjamin F. Tabor.
1856. John F. Taylor.
1857-58. John McLouth.
1852. Daniel Timms.
1839. Zebulon Williams.
1853. William W. Jennings.
1840. Lorenzo Church.
1854. Judson A. Church.
1841. Zachariah Derbyshire.
1855-56. William W. Jennings.
1842. Zebulon Williams.
1857-59. John Thomas.
1843-45. John Bailey.
1860-70. John L. Williams.
1846-48. Heman Doolittle.
1871-72. Albert H. Moore.
1849-50. John J. Comstock.
1851. Heman Doolittle.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1837. Elias Branch.
1838. No record.
1839. Lorenzo Church.
1853. Clinton A. Pease.
1854. Edmund Childs.
Abram Viele.
John S. Adams.
1840. Nelson R. Rowley. John Barnes.
1855. Thomas Robins. William Barnes. Bartlett Bump.
1841. Edward Lumley.
1842. Thomas Fitzsimmons.
1843. Edson Witherell.
1844. Bartlett Bump.
William Timms.
1845. Robert Cox. Seth Wood.
1857. C. A. Pease. Henry Clement.
1846. Horace N. Barnes.
1847. Joshua Eaton.
1848. Levi Treadwell.
1860. Bartlett Bump.
1861. Clinton A. Pease.
1862. John McLouth.
1851. William Patrick. Homer C. Davis.
1852. Homer C. Davis. L. M. Wood.
1856. B. Bump.
John McLouth.
1858. John McLouth.
1859. Henry Clement.
1849. Justus Barber.
1850. Horace N. Barnes.
1859. A. B. Slocum.
1860-61. John McLouth.
1862. Thomas Robins.
1863-65. John McLouth.
1877. Myron McGee.
TOWN CLERKS.
1837-38. Ebenezer Trumbull.
1873-77. Francis G. Church.
1863. Henry Clement.
* Records Pioneer Society.
25
193
194
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1864. Bartlett Bump. 1865. Clinton A. Pease. 1866. John McLouth.
C. A. Pease.
1867. Henry Clement. 1868. Bartlett Bump. 1869. Clinton A. Pease.
1870. John McLouth. 1871. Lovell Hutchins. 1872. James R. Dillon.
1873. C. A. Pease. Rev. E. M. Lewis. 1874. John McLouth.
1862. Horace N. Barnes.
1868. Robert Cox.
1863. B. F. Tabor. Perry Knapp.
John W. Stewart.
1869. Abram Stafford.
C. N. Pease.
1870. Robert Cox.
1871. John Peck.
1872. A. Stafford. 1873. Robert Cox.
1865. Robert Cox. 1874. A. H. Moore.
1866. Thomas Robins. 1875. Abram Stafford.
1876. Robert Cox.
1867. John H. Havens. Abram Stafford. 1877. James Humphrey.
ASSESSORS.
1837. Alvah Foster.
Lyman Pease.
Thomas N. Bailey.
1838. Francis Hill.
Lyman Pease. Thomas N. Bailey.
Homer C. Davis.
1839. Thomas N. Bailey. Lyman Pease. George W. Brearley.
1846. H. N. Barnes. Benjamin A. Farnsworth.
1847. No record. 1848. D. W. Barber.
Henry Clement.
1849. Ebenezer Trumbull. Albert B. Slocum.
1850-51. No record.
Thomas N. Bailey. John Humphrey.
1852. Henry Clement. H. N. Barnes.
COLLECTORS.
1837. Emery Ferguson.
1840. Hiram Hatfield. 1841. Gershom Willmarth.
1839. John Robins.
TREASURERS.
1839-40. Eli Eastman.
1841. John Bailey.
1842. No record.
1843-44. Zebulon Williams.
1845-46. Joshua Eaton.
1847-50. Eli Eastman.
1851. James O'Neil.
1852-53. Lafayette Church.
1854. Abram Stafford. 1855. Philo Hallock.
1856. Lorenzo Saunders.
1875-77. L. A. Sweezy.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
1837. Jyra Wilcox.
Eli Eastman.
Elias Alley.
1838. Eli Eastman.
Jyra Wilcox. John Brearley.
1839. Jyra Wilcox.
Eli Eastman. Lyman Pease.
1840. Same as previous year. 1841. Eli Eastman.
Lyman Pease. Homer C. Davis.
1842. H. C. Davis. Lyman Pease. Edson Witherell.
1843. John Brown. David P. Herrington.
Jacob Robins.
1844. Same.
1845. Phineas P. Randolph. Jacob Robins. Daniel Van Etten.
1855. Lorenzo Saunders. Lyman Pease. 1856. Lyman Pease. 1857. Thomas Robins. 1858. Harding Hallock. 1859. William S. Humphrey.
1860. Robert E. Ferguson. 1861. Harding Hallock.
The officers for Wheatland for 1878 are : Supervisor, Thomas Robins; Town Clerk, Francis G. Church ; Treas- urer, Benjamin F. Brisbin ; Justices of the Peace, M. M. Comstock, O. W. Haynes; Commissioner of Highways, Nelson W. Giddings ; Township Superintendent of Schools, Daniel W. Barber; School Inspector, John M. Timms ; Drain Commissioner, Samuel H. Oaks ; Constables, Matthew Lewis, Myron G. Wood, Herbert H. Barron.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
School districts Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were formed at a meeting of the township school inspectors, held May 27, 1837 ; district No. 7 was formed on the 6th of November following; and No. 8 in the fall of 1838. The township has been re-districted and changed several times since. The apportionment of school-money for the districts in this town for the year 1844 was $102.49.
During the year 1837 three log school-houses-the first in the township-were built, one in what is now district No. 5, near the residence of G. S. Wells, another on the land now owned by Ira Carmichael, and the third near Thomas N. Bailey's, in the southeast part of town. The north building was erected in thirteen days, by Charles Carmichael. He cut out the logs, split and prepared the flooring, and completed his task, all for the sum of $70.
The first teacher in the Carmichael district was Mrs. Nancy Herrington, wife of David Herrington, to whom she had been married the previous winter. She taught a sum- mer school, and in the following winter the services of Daniel Bush were secured. He was paid $13 per month, which was considered an extra price in those days. Mr. Bush was afterwards ordained as a Methodist minister, and began preaching on the Jonesville circuit. He is now located in Grand Rapids.
The first school in what is now district No. 5 was taught in the winter of 1837-38, by a man named Boodry. The old log school-house in this district gave place to a frame building, since moved away, and now used as a dwelling. The third school-house on the site is the present fine brick structure, which was built in 1870, by Richard W. Williams, and cost about $1450. It stands 80 rods west of the spot occupied by the original log edifice, and is one of four brick school-houses which have been built in the township. It is probably the best of them all.
The log school-house in the Bailey neighborhood was built late in 1837, and was used also as a place in which to hold religious and other meetings. It was finally removed, and a frame building erected in its place.
In the Robins neighborhood, the first school was taught about 1843, by Miss Mary Wells, a sister of Abel Wells,
1858. Edmund Childs. 1859. R. Maynard. 1860-63. John Livermore. 1864-65. Leman Sweezy.
1866. Melvin M. Bailey. 1867. John Livermore. 1868. Judson A. Church. 1869-71. Leman Sweezy. 1872-73. Seth H. Haynes.
1874. J. M. Livermore.
1857. George H. Pease.
1846. Walter Culver. Daniel Van Etten. Phineas P. Randolph.
1847. Daniel W. Barber. Walter Culver. John Robins. 1848. Thomas Fitzsimmons. 1849. Jacob Robins.
1850. Minor Swick. C. A. Pease. 1851. Henry Carmichael. 1852. Edmund Childs. 1853. Jacob Robins. Henry Carmichael.
1854. Gideon S. Wells.
1864. Perry Knapp. Isaac Gates. Robert Cox.
Charles I. Wirts. 1875. William Yaxley, Sr. 1876. J. G. Lyon. E. S. Brown.
1877. C. A. Pease.
Horace N. Barnes.
1843. Ebenezer Trumbull. John Bailey. 1844. Ebenezer Trumbull. Levi Treadwell.
1845. Horace N. Barnes.
1840. Thomas Fitzsimmons. Thomas N. Bailey. Gideon S. Wells. 1841. Thomas Farmer.
1842. Lyman Pease. Henry Clement.
1838. Robert E. Ferguson.
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VIEW FROM THE NORTH EAST.
TENANT HOUSE.
A.G.S
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM CURTIS AND SONS, WHEATLAND, MICH.
195
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
now of Adams township. Since the war she has been teaching in Georgia. The building in which this school was kept was a log house, which stood on the site of the present residence of Thomas Robins. It was built for a dwelling by Joseph Aumock, a half-brother of Jonathan Robins, and occupied by him a few years. A log school- house was built in this district about 1845.
The days of log school-houses are numbered in this region, and soon those who in their youth were well ac- quainted with the rude benches and desks, huge fireplaces, and primitive chimneys, will have passed away, and their history, with that of the early schools and teachers, will have been laid away in the storehouse of the past, while at best but a feeble record of them can be preserved to delight the future generations who shall peruse it.
STOCK-RAISING.
The farmers in this township are generally the owners of excellent stock, as the need has been demonstrated for them in the experience of years. William Curtis and sons have for some time been engaged in raising and dealing in the improved short-horn cattle, with such success, financially, as may be inferred by a visit to their elegant farm-residence and its surroundings,-the finest in the county. The Messrs. Curtis are probably the owners of the best herd of short-horns in the State, and their reputation as breeders and dealers in this variety is congratulatory in the extreme.
WHEATLAND GRANGE,
of Patrons of Husbandry, was organized early in 1874. Its first Master was William Timms. Its meeting are held in the hall at Church's Corners, which was built in the summer of 1878, by a stock company, for general purposes, at a cost of $500. The Sons of Temperance also hold their meetings in it. The principal officers of the grange in December, 1878, were the following, viz. : Master, L. A. Eaton ; Overseer, Francis G. Church ; Treas., J. F. Taylor ; Sec., James Humphrey ; Lecturer, A. B. Slocum.
The present membership is something over 50.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
BAPTIST CHURCH, CHURCH'S CORNERS.
The following account of this society, known as the " First Baptist Church of Wheatland," is taken from its records. Some time in the latter part of 1837, or early in 1838, " There met at the house of John Bailey, in the town of Wheatland, Hillsdale Co., Mich., John Bailey, Lewis Gillet, Moses Densmore, John Timmins, Adna Lull, Mary E. Lull, Polly Bailey, Ann Timms, Matilda Gillet, Roxana Densmore, Harriet Bailey, Joseph H. Padelford, holding letters from Baptist Churches, and, on consultation, mutually agreed to organize themselves into a conference for the sup- port of the worship of God and the order of his kingdom."
" Wheatland, Feb. 3, 1838 .- Met according to appoint- ment.
" 1st, Voted, That Joseph H. Padelford serve as clerk.
" 2d, Voted, To constitute or form ourselves into a church.
"3d, Voted, To send to three different churches for
council,-1st, the church in Somerset; 2d, to the church in Rollin ; 3d, to the church in Rome.
" 4th, Voted, That brethren John Baily, Lewis Gillet, and Joseph Padelford be a committee to represent the church.
" 5th, Voted, That the 23d instant be the day appointed for the day to meet at the school-house in District No. 6, at 10 o'clock, A.M.
" Done by order and in behalf of the conference. " JOSEPH H. PADELFORD, Clerk."
The meeting was held Feb. 23, 1838, as appointed, and the delegates from the other churches, after examining their records, received them as a sister church. Elders Ezra Rum- meray (of Somerset), Moses Bennett (of Rollin), and Rus- sell Hervey (of Rome) were present. Among the other early members of the church were Lorenzo Church, Mary Bump, Asenath Gustin, and Minerva Lull. The first dea- cons were Hugh Ludlam and John Bailey.
Rev. Moses Bennett, who was present at the organiza- tion, became the first pastor, in connection with the church at Rollin, Lenawee Co. Elder A. S. Ames preached here once in two weeks in 1841, and was paid at the rate of $75 a year,-half in produce. He stayed several years ; in 1843 his salary was raised to $200,-half in money. Erastus C. Gere was licensed by this church to preach in 1843, and took charge of the Baptist Church at Osseo, in Jefferson township.
Mr. Ames resigned from his charge Oct. 1, 1843, and was followed by Rev. J. M. Coe, who resigned in March, 1846. Elder Z. A. Alford was next installed, and dis- missed in November, 1847. Elder Levi Fuller preached here in 1848, and Elder William Smedmer in 1849. Among those since have been Revs. P. Forbes, 1854; V. Church, 1856, preaching half the time; William Bassett, 1862; J. B. Kemp, same year; B. T. Bailey, ordained a minister April 14, 1870; took charge of this society same summer ; M. A. Blowers, 1871; E. R. Bennett, 1874; present pastor, Rev. H. P. Eldridge, who began preaching here June 16, 1878, and has charge also of the church at North Adams. The membership of the Wheatland Church in December, 1878, was 38. A good Sabbath-school is sustained.
The first meetings of this society were held in a school- house in the southeast part of town .* A log church was built in 1841, on land belonging to Thomas N. Bailey, and occupied for several years. The present frame church at the Corners was begun in 1850, and completed in 1853, and in January of the latter year it was dedicated. The society was legally organized in 1842.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CHURCH'S CORNERS.
This society was organized March 4, 1843. Among its early members were Nelson R. Rowley, Henry Clement, G. S. Wells, John Robins, William Robins, Mrs. Jane Hum- phrey, Mrs. Eliza Wells, Mrs. Barbara Robins, Miss Mary Robins (now Mrs. Crater), Miss Joanna C. Vandervolgen (now Mrs. James Robins), Mrs. Nancy Hetfield, B. A. Farnsworth, Aaron Clement, Jacob Robins, Jedediah
* The log school-house in the Bailey neighborhood.
196
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Tucker, Mrs. Elizabeth Clement, Miss Catalina Clement, Miss Jane Clement, Mrs. Mary Robins (mother of Mrs. Crater), Mrs. T. F. Douglass, Mrs. Lovina Colwell, Mrs. Margaret Wilcox, Mrs. Mary Vandervolgen, Mrs. Harriet Clement, Miss Margaret Clement.
The society was organized in a frame school-house in the southeast part of the town. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Pierce, who preached also at Hudson, and stayed about one year. Among those who have since had charge of the con- gregation are Revs. - Root, of Dover, Lenawee Co., Robert Laird, William Wolcott, Josephus Morton, Prof. Churchill, - Porter, Edwin Shaw, Elisha M. Lewis, and the present pastor, Rev. R. Woodworth. Others have preached here as supplies for a few months at a time.
The first house of worship was a frame building, erected probably during the pastorate of Mr. Laird. The present substantial and elegant brick church was built in 1874, and cost, including furniture, etc., about $9000. It is said to be the best church in the county outside of the villages. The old church is now occupied as a grocery and private school building, the store and school being conducted by the wife of the present pastor and her brother, Mr. Hopkins.
The membership of the society is at present between 80 and 90. A flourishing Sabbath-school is maintained, with an average attendance of 100; its superintendent is A. W. Douglas. It possesses a library of about 200 volumes.
FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This society has its church in the north part of the town, and is known as the " First Free-Will Baptist Church of Wheatland." It was organized at the house of Eli Eastman, Feb. 19, 1838. The original members were the following persons, viz .: Francis Hill and wife, George Nokes and wife, David Alverson and wife, Eli Eastman and wife, Isaac Lamb, Sr., and wife, and possibly their daughter, and John Thomas. The organization was effected by Elder -- Whitcomb. George Nokes was chosen deacon and Francis Hill clerk. Elder Whitcomb lived at Cook's Prairie, in Calhoun County. After the organization an extended revival was held, and a considerable number of the residents of the township be- came members. Before this, Charles Carmichael says, " there was more rifle-shooting done on Sunday than any other day."
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