USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 56
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In the spring of 1832, Asa G. Edwards enlisted as a private in a regiment raised at Tecumseh for service in the Black Hawk war, and experienced soldier life for four weeks. He was also a lieutenant in the famous " Toledo War" of 1835, wherein the State of Ohio and the Territory of Michigan exhibited great valor over a small matter, and which war resulted harmlessly, except that the temper of the people was aroused to a great degree. Those were the days, however, in which the venturesome settlers would brook but illy any hostile demonstrations, from whatever quarter, and all were ready for the fray.
Mr. Edwards was married in the township of Adrian, on the 30th of January, 1834, to Margaret Peters, daughter of Joseph and Anna Peters, who emigrated from New Jersey. After his marriage, Mr. Edwards began prospect- ing for a home for himself and his bride, and finally found it in the township of Adams, Hillsdale Co., where he located one hundred and twenty acres in March, 1837, and settled upon it. There he lived and was prosperous for many years. In March, 1868, he purchased his present home, situated a short distance east of the city of Hillsdale. When he first located in Adams there were no neighbors within one mile of him.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have been blessed with six children, as follows : Martha Matilda, who died in infancy ; Rachel, also died in infancy ; Susan Angeline, who became the wife of David Emery, and is now residing in Titusville, Pa .; Andrew C., who lives on the old homestead; Welcome C., died in infancy ; and Asa A., at present residing on a farm in Jefferson.
Mr. Edwards is a staunch Democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. In religion he upholds the Congregational creed. He has been prominent among his townsmen from his earliest settlement, and has filled all the important offices in his community ; is at present the super- visor of Hillsdale township. He was several times super- visor of Adams, and for some time a justice of the peace, both in that and Hillsdale townships ; also a director of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. In him is seen an example of the fruits of a life well spent, and his forty- seven years' residence in the " Peninsular State" have been replete with all the varied experiences of the anxious pioneer and the well-to-do citizen, and the happiness of age has settled upon him as a rich bounty for the deeds of the past.
217
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
surfaces of rich land, gravelly clay ridges predominating, and forming the principal ground which has been broken by the plow.
Three railways traverse the surface of the township,- the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, which runs through its southeast corner ; the Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railroad, which passes through the easterly and south westerly portion ; and the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Railroad, which cuts through the western portion.
The list of officers from the organization of the township to the present time is as follows :
For 1858 .- C. W. Ferris, Supervisor ; Chas. F. Cooper, Township Clerk ; James N. Mott and C. H. Churchill, School Inspectors ; Morgan Lancaster, Constable; W. S. Hosmer, S. Gilmore, Highway Commissioners; A. F. Whelan, Deputy Clerk.
For 1859 .- John Gilmore, Supervisor; Joseph J. Clark, Township Clerk ; I. J. Fowler, School Inspector ; John Rorhig, H. J. Ranny, Geo. Banker, Wm. L. Ribley, Con- stables ; John Peck, Highway Commissioner ; G. W. Lum- bard, Justice ; S. J. Coon, C. B. Dresser, Deputy Clerks.
For 1860 .- Benjamin Fisher, Supervisor; A. F. Whelan, Township Clerk ; Joseph J. Clark, Treasurer ; E. H. White, Justice ; E. L. Coon, School Inspector ; Hugh Cook, High- way Commissioner ; W. L. Ripley, Geo. Banker, Benjamin Dreesler, and B. E. Brown, Constables.
For 1861 .- Wm. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; A. F. Whelan, Township Clerk ; Samuel Gilmore, Highway Com- missioner; G. W. Warren, Deputy Town Clerk ; C. B. Dresser, School Inspector ; W. L. Ripley, Geo. Banker, J. Odell, Peter Strunk, Constables.
For 1862 .- Wm. R. Montgomery, Supervisor ; Edward R. Potter, Township Clerk ; John S. Barber, Treasurer ; Timothy E. Dibell, Justice ; C. B. Dresser, Justice, to fill vacancy ; John Peck, Highway Commissioner; Geo. Mc- Millan, School Inspector ; Peter Strunk, W. L. Ripley, G. Z. Hood, M. H. Saviers, Constables.
For 1863 .- W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor ; E. R. Pot- ter, Township Clerk ; J. S. Barber, Treasurer ; C. B. Dresser, Justice ; Henry S. Farnam, School Inspector; John C. Swift, Highway Commissioner; Wm. L. Ripley, James D. Winchel, Geo. Banker, Joseph J. Jones, Constables.
For 1864 .- Wm. R. Montgomery, Supervisor ; Jacob O. Ames, Township Clerk ; E. C. Campbell, Treasurer; Eu- gene White, Justice; Geo. McMillan, School Inspector ; Elihu Davis, Highway Commissioner ; David Forbes, High- way Commissioner, to fill vacancy ; Geo. Banker, John Mil- ler, E. H. Pennel, J. J. Jones, Constables.
For 1865 .- W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; J. O. Ames, Township Clerk ; E. C. Campbell, Treasurer ; Elisha Davis, Justice ; Isaac P. Christiancy, Associate Justice; H. T. Farnam, School Inspector; Hugh Cook, Highway Com- missioner ; J. D. Winchel, E. H. Pennel, J. J. Jones, Geo. Banker, Constables.
For 1866 .- W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Eugene Rowlson, Township Clerk; M. H. Saviers, Treasurer ; Henry T. Kellogg, Justice; Z. D. Thomas and Geo. W. Burchard, Justices, to fill vacancies ; Geo. McMillan, School Inspector ; W. L. Ripley, James D. Winchel, E. K. Pen- nel, M. H. Saviers, Constables.
For 1867 .- W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Eugene Rowlson, Township Clerk ; E. C. Campbell, Treasurer ; Edwin J. March, Justice; Geo. E. Smith, School Inspec- tor ; W. L. Ripley, E. Rowlson, E. K. Pennel, M. H. Saviers, Constables.
For 1868 .- W. R. Montgomery, Supervisor; Harvey Montgomery, Township Clerk ; M. H. Saviers, Township Treasurer ; C. B. Dresser, Justice; Geo. McMillan, School Inspector; Hugh Cook, Isaac Cole, Highway Commissioners; Eugene Rowlson, F. J. Wilson, M. H. Saviers, E. K. Pen- nel, Constables.
For 1869 .- John Gilmore, Supervisor ; Charles H. Mor- gan, Township Clerk; Edward W. Brigham, Treasurer ; Eugene H. White, Rufus Filleo, Joel South, Asa G. Ed- wards, Justices ; Horace H. Johnson, Anson B. Ranney, School Inspectors ; John Stone, Highway Commissioner ; Geo. Banker, Franklin Stone, J. Byron Still, Hiram Filleo, Constables.
For 1870 .- John Gilmore, Supervisor; Charles H. Mor- gan, Township Clerk ; Edward W. Brigham, Treasurer ; John C. Swift, Eugene H. White, H. S. Parmelee, Justices; J. P. Cole, Highway Commissioner ; L. S. Ranney, School Inspector, to fill vacancy ; Horace H. Johnson, School In- spector ; F. A. Stone, William Wilson, Samuel O. Morgan, Edwin Camp, Constables.
For 1871 .- Eugene H. White, Supervisor; Chas. H. Mor- gan, Township Clerk ; John M. Warren, Treasurer ; Joseph J. Jones, Justice; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner ; Darius P. Crane, School Inspector; Edwin Camp, Franklin Stone, Vinton W. Warren, Constables.
For 1872 .- Eugene H. White, Supervisor ; A. B. Ranney, Township Clerk ; J. M. Warren, Treasurer ; John G. Reilay, Justice ; John C. Swift, Drain Commissioner ; John F. King, Highway Commissioner ; William Bishop, School Inspector ; Lemuel S. Ranney, School Inspector, to fill vacancy ; Henry L. Pierce, William J. Alles, Franklin A. Stone, John Pickering, Constables.
For 1873 .- L. S. Ranney, Supervisor; Anson B. Ranney, Township Clerk ; Wm. F. Young, Treasurer ; Darius P. Crane, Eugene H. White, Joel Smith, Justices ; George Banker, Highway Commissioner ; Chas. H. Morgan, School Inspector ; Willard H. Gaines, Grain Commissioner; Wil- liam P. Alles, Fred. W. Gould, Franklin A. Stone, Orrin Gray, Constables.
For 1874 .- Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor; A. B. Ran- ney, Township Clerk ; William Bishop, Treasurer ; John M. Warren, Justice; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner ; Samuel G. Wright, School Inspector; John M. Warren, to fill vacancy ; Chas. H. Morgan, Drain Commissioner ; Gilbert B. Hart, Isaac P. Cole, L. A. Alles, Samuel Mor- gan, Constables.
For 1875 .- Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor; Eugene H. White, Township Clerk ; William Bishop, Treasurer ; Joseph J. Jones, Justice; Elihu Davis, Highway Commis- sioner ; Chas. H. Morgan, Superintendent of Schools; Frederic W. Gould, School Inspector; Hugh Cook, Drain Commissioner; Henry Bellany, L. A. Alles, John M. War- ren, James Gould, Constables.
For 1876 .- Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor ; Eugene H. White, Township Clerk ; Wm. Bishop, Treasurer; Hosea
28
218
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
W. Folger, Justice; Isaac P. Cole, to fill vacancy ; Wil- liam C. Barns, Superintendent of Schools ; Elihu Davis, Commissioner of Highways; Fred. W. Gould, School In- spector; John M. Warren, Drain Commissioner; Isaac N. Baker, Charles Carter, Samuel O. Morgan, Charles L. Ter- williger, Constables.
For 1877 .- Lemuel S. Ranney, Supervisor ; Eugene H. White, Township Clerk ; Isaac P. Cole, Treasurer ; John F. King, Justice; Hosea W. Folger, Justice. for three years ; Darius P. Crane, Justice for two years; Hugh Cook, Highway Commissioner; Zeria R. Ashbaugh, Super- intendent of Schools ; Frederic W. Gould, School Inspec- tor; Elihu Davis, Drain Commissioner ; Willard Hallett, Constable.
For 1878 .- G. Edwards, Supervisor ; William Bishop, Township Clerk ; Isaac P. Cole, Treasurer ; John M. War- ren, Justice; James A. Burns, Justice, to fill vacancy ; Shepherd Bellamy, Highway Commissioner ; Joel R. Stone, Superintendent of Schools; Cyrus King, Drain Commis- sioner ; Wm. T. Lyons, School Inspector; Isaac Baker, William Hallett, Ambrose C. Fyle, William Platt, Con- stables.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOSEPH J. JONES.
New England was the birthplace of Mr. Jones, and Massachusetts his native State; the date of his birth April 27, 1834. When three years of age he removed with his parents to Huron Co., Ohio, and at the age of eleven years was left fatherless, and dependent upon his own labor for a livelihood. He worked by the month, and by fru- gality and strict truthfulness he established a reputation and credit among his neighbors. In November, 1854, he married Luana Gleason, at Ripley, Huron Co., Ohio; but Mrs. Gleason's married life was of short duration, she hav- ing died in February of the following year.
In August of 1856 he was married again, to Charlotte
Gleason, and Mrs. Jones died June 22, 1863, leaving two boys. Mr. Jones was married the third time, to Betsey M. Bradley, of Hillsdale, Aug. 11, 1864, and four more children were born. He moved with his second wife to Michigan, in March, 1857, and settled at Woodbridge. After a two years' residence in that township, disposed of his property, and located at his present home, in Hillsdale township, before it was improved.
He has one hundred and seventy acres of highly-im- proved land, a view of which is given in this work. Mr. Jones has made a specialty of raising a fine grade of Spanish Merino sheep. In this department of farming he has established a reputation, and stands at its head in the county. During the last fall he shipped twenty-six rams, many of them going out of the State. Mr. Jones is noted for fair dealing, moderate prices, and close application to business.
At the county fair, held in 1877, he was awarded every premium for fine sheep. He is a Republican in politics, and has held many offices of trust in the township.
GARRY SEARLS.
Mr. Searls was born in Seneca County, in the central part of New York State, Oct. 24, 1824, his ancestors hav- ing been descended from old Dutch stock, and residing along the banks of the Hudson. He remained for six years on the home-farm, and then removed to Bradford Co., Pa., and remained there four years. His parents, then, following the course of emigration, came to Michigan, and located in Hillsdale County, on the then Chicago turn- pike, three miles west of Jonesville. Mr. Searls married May 16, 1858, the family of Mrs. Searls having moved from Dutchess Co., N. Y., to Michigan, in 1855. Their children are six in number,-Frederick, Jr., Edward V., George W., Charles H., Anna M., and Albert E.,-all liv- ing, and members of the home circle. Mr. Searls resides upon a finely-cultivated farm of one hundred and ninety- five acres, lying in Hillsdale and Cambria townships.
RESIDENCE OF J. J. JONES, HILLSDALE, MICHIGAN.
ADAMS.
THE original township of Adams included all of range 2 west in Hillsdale County, south of the present township of Moscow, from which it was formed by act of the Legis- lature, March 23, 1836.
This town differs from those to the north in the fact that it was originally heavily timbered; much of it is still cov- ered with a sturdy forest, and the supply of wood is not liable to be exhausted for many years. The surface is similar to that of the neighboring townships and the soil good. Numerous small streams and lakes furnish abundant water, the largest of the lakes being Lake Adams, on sections 21 and 28.
The only village in the township is North Adams, in the northeast part. It is a station on the Detroit, Hillsdale and Southwestern Railway (formerly Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana), which connects the Fort Wayne, Jackson and Saginaw Road at Banker's with the Michigan Central at Ypsilanti. This road has not proved a paying investment, and it is rumored that trains are to cease running upon it during the season of 1879.
The following list shows the persons who had entered land in this township previous to April 27, 1838. This includes only the present township; Jefferson, Ransom, and the east half of Amboy having been formed from what was originally Adams :
Section 1 .- William Warren, Almon Green, Ralph and Polly Douglass, James Foot,-654.08 acres.
Section 2 .- Salmon Sharp, Stephen Birdsall, Gershom Noyes, W. W. Jackson, Milton Foot, John M. Foot, Gabriel H. Todd,-649.21 acres.
Section 3 .- Henry Wilcox, Stephen Birdsall, Asa Eddy, J. S. Northrop, Ralph Pratt,-647.07 acres.
Section 4 .- John and Mary Eddy, William Gage, Foster St. John, Sarah Eddy, William Durant,-641.56 acres.
Section 5 .- Daniel D. Sinclair, George C. Van Horn, James Anderson, Solomon Jordan,-642.79 acres.
Section 6 .- Daniel Parks, S. P. Jermain, Samuel Covey, Abraham Converse, William Durant, Alfred Brown, Richard Dobson,-587.26 acres.
Section 7 .- Erastus Gay, Simeon Carr, Seba Murphy, -621.88 acres.
Section 8 .- V. Barker, Francis A. Fisk, William Du- rant, Alanson Jermain,-640 acres.
Section 9 .- Francis A. Fisk, Thomas Rowarth, William Durant, Alanson Jermain, Lemuel Cobb,-640 acres.
Section 10 .- William Cutler, Seth Kempton, Wesley Batcheller, Roswell Barker, William S. Fuller, Reuben J. Fuller,-640 acres.
Section 11 .- Mahlon Brown, Robert T. Brown, Marcus Terwilliger, John M. Foot, S. P. Jermain, Joseph B. Dawley, Ralph Pratt, Peter Meach,-640 acres.
Section 12 .- Simon Jacobus, G. W. Brown, S. P. Jer- main, John De Mott, Benjamin Sutton, Pharis Sutton,- 640 acres.
Section 13 .- S. P. Jermain, Nathaniel Dawley, Alfred Brown, Caleb N. Cransby, Ralph Pratt,-640 acres.
Section 14 .- Joseph B. Dawley, Alfred Brown, Darius A. Ogden, Pharis Sutton, William W. Avery, Ralph Pratt, John McVickar.
Section 15 .- Roswell Parker, John Benedict, David Bagley, Wesley Batcheller,-640 acres.
Section 17 .- A. Wright, H. Packer, James F. Stark, N. Worthington, Tompkins C. Delavan, Israel Daniels, Ralph Pratt,-640 acres.
Section 18 .- Myron McGee, Erastus Gay, Enoch Ward, Wright, Packer, Stark, and Worthington, Thomas Denny, Joseph Randall, Zadock Randolph,-627.40 acres.
Section 19 .- Julius O. Swift, John Gregg, Ransom Gardner, Uriah B. Couch, H. S. Platt, John W. Miller,- 632.44 acres.
Section 20 .- Lydia Swift, William C. Swift, Thomas Denny, Jeremiah Arnold, Nathaniel Hewitt, Simon Jaco- bus,-640 acres.
Section 21 .- Thomas Denny, Sizer L. Stoddard, David Bagley, Roswell Cheney, E. W., Jr., and Seth Hastings, Elijah Daniels,-640 acres.
Section 22 .- David Bagley, E. W., Jr., and Seth Has- tings, George W. Jermain, John Mc Vickar, William Hea- cox,-640 acres.
Section 23 .- William Heacox, E. W., Jr., and Seth Hastins, Ralph Pratt, Josiah Southerland,-640 acres.
Section 24 .- Admiral L. Martin, William Burton, Amy Hawkshurst, Calvin Carr,-640 acres.
Section 25 .- E. W., Jr., and Seth Hastings,-640 acres. Section 26 .- Joseph Purdy, Robert Hill, Ephraim P. Purdy, E. W., Jr., and Seth Hastings, Job L. Albro,- 640 acres.
Section 27 .- Joseph Purdy, John Moore, Harry Wood, Stephen Perkins, Ralph Pratt, Ephraim P. Purdy, Samuel Van Gorden, S. P. Jermain,-560 acres.
Section 28 .- William Plimpton, L. M. Janes, Betsy Young, Asa G. Edwards, Thomas Denny, Abagail Hall, Ralph Pratt,-600 acres.
Section 29 .- Daniel Peck, Luther Bradish, Norman B. Carter, Easton Wilber, Nathaniel Hewitt, Seba Murphy,- 640 acres.
Section 30 .- Richard , William Kirby, John B. Brockelbank, Daniel Peck, Salem T. King, James B. Murray,-636 acres.
Section 31 .- Daniel Peck, Austin Westover, H. S. Platt, J. H. Miller, Lonzo G. Budlong, Norman B. Carter,- 640.64 acres.
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220
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Section 32 .- Daniel Peck, James B. Murray, G. L. Crane, John Bradish, Thomas Denny,-640 acres.
Section 33 .- B. B. Moore, James B. Murray, John Moore, Lewis M. Jones, William Plimpton, Peter Gates,- 640 acres.
Section 34 .- David Capont, Joseph W. Atard, B. B. Moore, Marshall Huntington, Howard Weaver, Elihu L. Clark,-640 acres.
Section 35 .- David Capont, entire section,-640 acres.
Section 36 .- E. Wilder, Jr., and Seth Hastings, Henry Howe, H. B. Scovell,-640 acres.
From this list it is seen that only 120 acres of land re- mained in the hands of the government in this township at the date given. The same year (1838) it contained a population of 279. There were also owned 217 head of neat stock, 12 horses, 40 sheep, and 276 hogs. For pur- poses of comparison, we give the following figures from the State census of 1874, to show to what proportions the town- ship has developed :
Population (830 males, 844 females) 1674
Total acres of taxable land.
22,816
Lands owned by inhabitants and companies. 22,916
Number of acres of improved land .. 14,790
land exempt from taxation 100
Value of same, including improvements $20,250
Number of acres in school-house sites
66
66
church and parsonage sites 5
66
burying-grounds .. 6
66
railroad right of way and depot grounds 38
" acres in same .. 21,528
Average number of acres in farms. 71.04
Number of acres of wheat sown in 1874. 3,413
harvested in 1873. 3,090
1,962
Bushels of wheat raised in 1873. 42,430
81,628
all other grain raised in 1873. 8,642
potatoes raised in 1873.
2,325
Tons of hay cut in 1873
Pounds of wool sheared in 1873 ..
20,464
¥
cheese made in 1873.
butter made in 1873
89,639
" fruit dried for market in 1873. 32,257
Barrels of cider made in 1873. 603
Pounds of maple-sugar made in 1874. 642
Number of acres in orchards in 1874
Bushels of apples raised in 1872. ..
in 1873. 24,449 60
67
66
plums raised in 1872.
1,099
1873.
919 42
grapes raised in 1872.
1873 43
strawberries raised in 1872. 41
" 1873. 37
"
currants and gooseberries raised in 1872 208
1873 167
melons and garden vegetables raised in
342
melons and garden vegetables raised in 1873 3,179
Value of all such fruit and garden vegetables for 1873
$11,281
Value of all such fruit and garden vegetables for 1874.
$10,772
Number of horses owned in township in 1874.
mules
work-oxen
milch-cows "
824
neat cattle, one year old and over, other than oxen and cows. 689
swine, over six months old
1,376
sheep
sheep sheared in 1873. 3,704
saw-mills in township in 1874. 3
persons employed in same. 9
Amount of capital invested in same .. $4,700
Feet of lumber sawed. 275,000
Value of lumber sawed. $3,200
Egg-carrier factories .. 1
Persons employed in same 3
Capital invested in same ... $2,000 $3,000
Value of products
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The township of Adams was not settled as early as those along the Chicago turnpike, yet it was but a few years after they had begun to fill with a white population before the woods of Adams rang to the blows of the pioneer's axe, and the typical log cabins were reared where now are the tasty dwellings and excellent improvements of her citizens. When once the work of developing her resources had begun it was rapidly pushed along, and the foregoing figures show that in the lapse of years the township has become one of the foremost in the county in the amount of many of its productions.
A period of forty-four years has rolled over the country since the stillness of the forest was broken by the sound of the pioneer's voice,-forty-four years fraught at first with great toil and many privations, and since with mingled joy and anxiety, until at present the outlook is cheerful and the times are prosperous.
The first settler in what is now the township of Adams was Salmon Sharp, who came with his son, Norman S. Sharp, from Auburn, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in the spring of 1835. He selected his land in the month of April of that year, and while his son stayed upon it he went on foot to Monroe, recorded his entry at the land-office, and returned in the same way. While Mr. Sharp, Sr., returned to New York for his family, the son and Samuel Healey, who had also come, kept " bachelors' hall" in a log house which was erected by Salmon Sharp and son, and his brother, Sheldon W. Sharp, with the aid of George Omens, who was at that time stopping at the "Scipio House" in Moscow, on the Chicago road, at the west line of the township, where Lo- renzo Benson now lives. Mr. Omens made the shingles for Mr. Sharp's house, and afterwards for others in the vicinity. This rude dwelling was 10 logs high, and 18 by 24 feet in dimensions, and was the first one erected in the township for the use of a white family.
Salmon Sharp is now residing in Wayne Co., Ia., aged eighty-six years, and his brother, Sheldon W. Sharp, in Cal- ifornia. Norman S. Sharp, who is still living in Adams, is consequently its oldest resident settler, and occupies land entered by his father, on section 2, west of the old farm. His wife is a daughter of Sylvester Twogood, who settled a mile farther north, in Moscow, in June, 1836. He was from Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and has been dead over thirty years. His widow is still living.
At the same time Salmon Sharp selected his land in Adams, his brother, Sheldon W. Sharp, S. A. Whittaker, and Samuel Healey located close by in Moscow. They were conducted to it by Zachariah Van Duzar, of Moscow. Lot Fulkerson also settled in Moscow, in the same neighbor- hood (section 35), at about the same time. In the fall of the same year (1835) the families of S. A. Whittaker, James Fitten, and Anthony Ingham came to their new homes in the forest, from near Lawrence, Mass. They all located on the tract taken up by Mr. Whittaker.
peaches raised in 1872.
pears raised in 1872. 1873.
71 8
cherries raised in 1872.
22,770
of pork marketed in 1873. 311,630
6,490
5,445
26,357
1872.
675 7
14
4,431
7
farms in township .. 303
corn
corn
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM WRIGHT, ADAMS, MICHIGAN.
RESIDENCE OF LEMUEL ROBERTS, ADAMS, HILLSDALE CO., MICH.
221
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Salmon Sharp's original location was on the northeast quarter of section 2, in Adams, and that of his brother on the southwest quarter of section 36, in Moscow. Whit- taker's tract was the farthest west.
William Warren, who lived in the northeast part of town, on land at present occupied by George Combs, located also in the year 1835, very soon after Mr. Sharp had made his entry.
Albert Kenyon, now of North Adams, came to Hillsdale County, from Sempronius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1841; he was at that time but eighteen years old. He afterwards purchased the Sheldon W. Sharp place, in Moscow. After arriving in the county he taught school for ten successive winters. On one occasion he went to Cambria township, in company with Esq. Salmon Sharp, to look at a piece of land he (Kenyon) had purchased. This was in April, 1842. They came in the course of their journey to the border of a large swamp, and missed the section line. So much time was spent in endeavoring to find the blazed trees which marked it, that darkness came upon them and they found themselves alone in the forest. The night was quite cold, and they concluded to build a fire and remain by it until daybreak. Their disappointment was sore enough, when on searching they found they had not a single match between them. They had heard that if a person lost in the night will take a stick and swing it up and down before him, and follow in the direction he thinks is right, he will arrive safely at his destination. This they tried, and wandered on and on in the darkness, scratching their hands and faces with briers, stumbling over fallen logs, and tear- ing their clothing in the brush, imagining all the time that they were pointing towards Adam Howder's tavern, at Hillsdale. What was their surprise, after several hours' tramp and anxiety, at finding themselves at the house of the widow Bird, in Jefferson ! They had done what lost people invariably do, circled to the right, and brought up several miles from their intended resting-place.
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