USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 73
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The records show that delegates have very generally been appointed to represent the church at meetings of associa- tions. During the first of the eighteen years of the history of the church there were additions of members nearly every year, chiefly by letter. Four of the members of the church served during the war of the Rebellion, and of these but one returned. They were John Schermerhorn, killed Sept. 24, 1864, at Athens, Ala .; Henry Mabbs, died also in
1864; Collins J. Wilcox, died July 29, 1864, of wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia; and Ovid M. Thompson, the only one who returned.
For the first seven years the congregation held its meet- ings in what was known as the "red school-house," two miles northeast of Ransom village. At a meeting held at that place April 12, 1853, a society was organized called the " First Congregational Society of Ransom." Five trustees were chosen, and instructed to take measures pre- paratory to building a meeting-house. During the next year and a half several meetings were held, but no decisive action relative to building took place. Those interested had but limited means, and all were not agreed as to the best site for a house. On the 2d of November, 1854, the society convened at the house of A. Thompson, when the latter was appointed a building committee, and it was decided to build at the Centre. Application was made for aid from the church erection fund, and $250 procured. The balance, $950, was raised by subscription, and all paid within three years. About the middle of the following summer the building was so far completed as to be occupied for worship. In the spring of 1865 the house was repaired and improved on the interior, at an expense of $100.
June 18, 1848, Caleb B. Shepard was elected church clerk, and held the office twenty-four years. Lemuel J. Squire was elected a deacon in this church April 6, 1850, and has continued to hold that office to the present. The only ones of the original members of this church who are still connected with it are Caleb B. Shepard and wife. L. J. Squier and wife became members in 1849, and Mrs. Nancy Thompson in 1854, and are yet connected with it.
Rev. Mr. Boughton preached here nearly five years, and for about sixteen months after he left the church was with- out a pastor. Rev. J. F. Husted assumed charge Jan. 1, 1871, and preached about eighteen months. Oct. 1, 1872, Rev. Charles Warburton became pastor, also remaining about eighteen months. Rev. Reuben Everts began his labors here Oct. 25, 1874, and stayed one year. April 1, 1876, Rev. K. H. Crane took charge. At present there is no regular pastor.
The membership of the church in January, 1879, was 58. A good Sabbath-school is sustained, with a large at- tendance; its superintendent is J. W. Hile.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, RANSOM.
The present society at the Centre was organized in 1857, during which year John F. Schermerhorn built the dwel- ling which he afterwards sold to the society for use as a parsonage. The present frame church was built in 1868- 69, and dedicated July 4 of the latter year, by Rev. Mr. Doust, of Hillsdale. Previous to that time meetings had been held in the school-house. The present membership is about 50, and the pastor, Rev. George Donaldson. Before the church was built here meetings were also held in the Hall school-house, in the northwest part of the town. The oldest class in the township was organized in the Doty neighborhood, and had a considerable membership in 1848. One of the early ministers was Rev. John J. Andridge, still a resident of the township. It is related of him that after a hard week's work upon his farm, he would start
* By Lewis Thompson, clerk ; prepared in 1878.
37
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Sunday morning and walk to Jonesville, where his first appointment was, and hold services at 10.30 o'clock in the forenoon ; thence walk to Litchfield and preach before an afternoon audience; travel from there to Allen Prairie and hold evening services ; and finally walk back to his home in Ransom and be ready early Monday morning to take his axe into the woods and swing it uninterruptedly till night- fall; and in the language of an old settler, " it took a good man to keep up with him." His second year was attended with a trifle less travel, his appointments being at Hudson, Pittsford, and Osseo. Rev. William E. Warner was also an early preacher of this denomination, and a very eloquent and much-esteemed man. Mr. Andridge preached at the time the class was organized at the Centre.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES.
Of these there are three in the township. The oldest is located in the southern part of the township, where a society was organized about 1863-64, by Rev. Joseph Gear, and has a present membership (January, 1879) of 47. The frame church in which its meetings are held was built about 1868-70. A second church, to which has been given the name " Otterbein," stands on the east town-line, adjoining Wright, where a society was organized at a somewhat later date than the one first mentioned. It has a membership of 79. The third and latest society was organized at the village of Ransom about 1875, by Rev. Wesley Lilly, and a brick church built in 1876. The membership of this latter society is 19. Rev. G. W. Crawford is pastor of all three churches, and also of two others on his circuit,-one at Pioneer, Williams Co., Ohio, and one called " Olive Branch," east of Pioneer.
THE FREE METHODISTS
have a class near "Tamarack Corners," organized in 1878, and another south of the Centre, which has been in exist- ence ten or eleven years. The membership is small, and meetings are held in school-houses. Rev. Mr. Lynn is the present pastor.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS .*
One of the two churches of this denomination in Hills- dale County is located at Ransom village, the other being at Hillsdale. The society in Ransom was organized in 1866, with about 20 members, and a frame church built in 1869. This church was organized by Elder John By- ington, from Newton, Calhoun Co. Among its early mem- bers were Andrew J. Emmons and Samuel S. Jones, with their families. Truman Ramsey came to the township in 1868, and has been a member since that time. This soci- ety employs no settled pastor, but is supplied by missionary ministers of the denomination. The present membership is 52. It is in good condition, and its members appear fully in earnest in their belief and work.
MILITARY RECORD.
The assertion that the inhabitants of Ransom are imbued with a spirit of valor and a genuine love for their country, is proven by the fact that the township furnished 143 men
for the Union army during the war of the rebellion. Out of the number, 40 laid down their greatest offering-their lives-in defense of the Union their fathers had cemented, and the wailing cypress and spreading live-oak shower dewy tears upon the graves of the fallen martyrs. Five men en- listed for three months in the 4th Michigan Infantry, the first that received recruits from this township. On the 15th of April, 1861, the day the first call was made for volun- teers, James Tarsney, of Ransom, was in Hillsdale and there enlisted, being the first person from this town to enroll himself in the list of national defenders. On the next day Riley Ainsworth, Hiram L. Hartson, Ira Williams, and Avery Randall enlisted from Ransom. Of these five, Hiram L. Hartson was the only one who returned, the others having found eternal rest from the fatigues of march and engagement, and the anxieties of the soldier for the success of his loved standard. Those who volunteered from this town were the following persons, viz. : James Tarsney, t Riley Ainsworth, Hiram L. Hartson, Ira Williams, Emery Yost, - Yost, John Williams, Horace Doty, Darius Howe, Marshall Tooth, Ephraim Baker, Charles Baker, C. Sutton, Samuel Wheaton, William Kelley, John Durgan, William Palmer, William Britton, Sidney Palmer, Hall, Andrew Booth, Hollis Hammond, - Higley, Charles Coppins, Samuel Halstead, George Dewey, Orrin Olds, E. H. Goodrich, J. M. Bailey, William Doyle, Oscar Barnes, William Clark, Amos Smith, Charles Hartson, Ed- gar Ainsworth, Richard Hart, James Burt, William Pettit, S. Bliler, John Smatts, Hiram Hurd, H. Perkins, Charles Olds, Captain Hill, William Rose, George W. Van Gauder, Loren Hammond, George H. Cornell, John Palmer, Isaac Brown, James H. Thiel, Kincaid Shepardson, D. W. Litch- field, J. Schermerhorn, William H. Shepard, Michael How- land, Lewis Deuel, John Croop, Alfred Deuel, William Sid- dall, Willis Woods, Loren Whitney, John Williams, Sidney Dodge, Daniel Clemens, Sheldon Carey, Daniel Brogan, Henry Common, John C. Cooper, William Manning, John Tarsney, Thomas Plumley, George Brewster, Thomas Tar- sney, Andrew Tarsney, Quincy Britton, Aaron Boyer, Michael Helmick, James D. Cornell, Horace Gay, Warren Perham, William Mapes, George Mapes, Aaron Smith, Cornelius Boyington, James Hoover, Samuel Kingsley, George R. Palmer, Benjamin S. Ward, Collins Wilcox, William Youngs, T. C. Baker, Charles Hannibal, Isaac Smith, H. Bailey, Orsamus Doty, Harry Mott, David Litch- field, John Ainsworth, William H. Allen, Samuel Cressey, Edwin Camp, George Casterline, Jeptha Casterline, Henry Tary, John Hosman, George Hart, Frank Hoover, Elias Hoover, Thomas Lozier, Israel Lozier, Benjamin Olds, Asahel Parks, Charles Parks, Frank Runell, Lewis Smith, Orville Thompson, E. W. Warner, Fred Olds, Jacob Ror- rick, William Agnew, George W. Booth, William Lile, Andrew Crandall, Aaron Stocker, Jonas Smith, William Young, A. Howell, W. Young, E. P. Barson, George N. Sacrider, I. C. Hinds, Frank Smith.
VILLAGE OF RANSOM.
The first post-office in the township of Ransom was estab- lished in 1847, and Albert T. Kimball appointed post-
* From information by Truman Ramsey.
t Also spelled Tarseney.
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
master. Mail was delivered weekly, and the route extended from Hillsdale to Likely's Corners, or " Wood's Corners Post-Office," in Wright township, the latter office being named from the postmaster. Lemuel J. Squier was ap- pointed to the office in Ransom about 1851, and some two years later it was removed to the village and kept by one Dr. Lord. About 1855, Ichabod Stedman opened the first store in Ransom village, and the next year Mr. Squier moved from his farm-having been severely injured by a horse-and entered Stedman's store as clerk. He was soon after a second time appointed postmaster. The present in- cumbent of the office is David Carpenter.
Lemuel J. Squier, now of Ransom village, came with his father, Noble Squier, from Wayne Co., N. Y., to Michigan, in 1839, and settled at Locust Corners, in Pittsford. The elder Squier lived there a few years and removed to Hud- son, and about 1846 to Ransom. His son followed with his own family in November, 1848. Both families lived on section 9. Noble Squier is now also a resident of the village, and has reached the age of ninety years.
The store built by Ichabod Stedman is yet standing in the south part of the village. Lemuel J. Squier has been engaged in the mercantile business here for twenty years, and only recently sold out to his son-in-law, George A. Hicks, who also has a store at South Wright. The estab- lishment at Ransom is managed for Mr. Hicks by Mr. Squier's sons.
The village now contains 5 stores of various kinds, 2 blacksmith-shops, 3 millinery-shops, 1 harness-shop, 2 boot- and shoe-shops, 2 wagon-shops, a hotel, 4 churches (Con- gregational, Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren, and Seventh-Day Adventist), a good brick school-house, and a population of about 200.
The Ransom Cornet-Band was organized in the fall of 1876, and has thirteen members,-twelve instruments belonging to the band. Its leader is C. H. Moore.
Leonard Lodge, No. 266, F. and A. M., was organized in January or February, 1869, with eight members. It was named for its first Master, Chauncey Leonard, then living at Osseo, in Jefferson township. Hiram Hartson was the first Senior Warden. The lodge was organized at the Centre, and occupies the same room as at first, that in the building where the drug-store is located. The present membership is in the neighborhood of thirty. The oldest Mason now connected with the lodge is Newton Russell, who was first initiated in Franklin Lodge, at Litchfield, in 1854. The next oldest is Orsamus Doty. The officers of Leonard Lodge are,-W. M., A. R. Knowles ; S. W., Ferris Hill ; J. W., - Lawder ; S. D., Hiram Hartson ; J. D., Wm. Palmer ; Treas., Bradley Phillips; Sec., Joseph Ed- inger ; Tyler, Mr. Dillen.
Ransom Centre Grange, No. 181, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized about 1874, with some thirty members. The first Master was Oliver T. Powers, now deceased. The grange occupies the old frame school-house at the village.
Ransom village is more commonly known as " Ransom Centre," from its position in the township. The place was started on the south side of Ransom Creek, and has gradu- ally spread to the northward, until as much lies on the north side as the south.
Among those to whom we are greatly indebted for favors extended while gathering the foregoing items are Lemuel J. Squier, Orsamus Doty, Lewis Thompson, Thomas Burt, Newton Russell, Rev. G. W. Davis, E. H. Goodrich, George Coppins, and numerous others.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SAMUEL B. BROWN.
Joseph Brown, born April 11, 1785, in Heath, Franklin Co., Mass., was married in 1810 to Miss Polly Dix. The same year he settled in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and in 1833 he removed to Niagara County, same State. His son, Samuel B. Brown, the subject of this sketch, was born in
Photo. by C. H. Mead, Lansing.
SAMUEL B. BROWN.
Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1820, and was the fifth of a family of ten children. He lived with his father until he was of age, having, before his majority, learned the wagon- maker's trade. His educational advantages were limited to the district schools of his time. At the age of twenty-one he started out in life for himself, working at his trade. Oct. 1, 1846, he was married to Miss Sally Sophronia Lathrop, who was born Feb. 14, 1819. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born five children, Curtis Lathrop, born Nov. 11, 1847; Joseph Dix, born Feb. 25, 1849; Myron Eudelmer, born Dec. 7, 1850; Charles H., born July 21, 1852 ; and Henry Truman, born Jan. 24, 1854, died Jan. 2, 1861. April 20, 1862, he came to Lenawee Co., Mich., and in the spring of 1864 he moved to the town of Ransom, in Hillsdale Co., Mich., and engaged in farming, where he still resides. In politics he is a Republican, having formerly belonged to the Whig party. In 1865 he was elected justice of the peace which office he held ten years. In 1873 and 1874 he was
292
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
chosen supervisor of his township, giving such satisfaction that, in 1876, he was elected to represent the Second Rep- resentative District of Hillsdale County in the State Legis- lature, filling the office with credit both to himself and his constituents, and in 1878 was re-nominated and re-elected to the same office. In religion Mr. Brown is a Congrega- tionalist, and has been for many years a member of that church.
NELSON DOTY.
Among the first settlers of Ransom township there was none who took a more active part in all that pertained to the advancement and improvement of the town than Nelson Doty, the subject of this sketch. Born in Wallingford township, Rutland Co., Vt., June 7, 1816, he grew to manhood among the sturdy yeomanry of the Green Moun- tain State. His early life, training, and education were such as would naturally fit him to bear the hardships and priva- tions of a pioneer life. His education was such as could be obtained at the district schools of his native town during the winter months, yet he acquired enough to fit him for the active business life he afterwards led. One of the leading traits of Mr. Doty's character in early life was perseverance, and this trait, combined with an indomitable will, made him one not easily discouraged by adversity or hardships. He lived with his father, who was a farmer, until he was sixteen years old, when he left home to com- mence life for himself, with no other assistance than a strong constitution and the traits of character above referred to. He worked at jobbing around the factory towns of Massa- chusetts until the fall of 1838, when he, in company with his brother, Orsamus Doty, emigrated to what was then called the township of Rowland (now Ransom), Hillsdale Co., Mich. Here the brothers, who were almost inseparable companions, determined to settle, and in the midst of a forest which extended almost unbroken for miles, they bought the southeast quarter of section 8, which they at once commenced improving. They soon after bought the southwest quarter of section 9. In 1843 the brothers divided their land, Nelson taking as his share the southeast quarter of section 8. It is said of the two brothers that up to the time of division they had always worked together, owning everything in common, and that when one made a dollar the other had half of it. To the land thus obtained Mr. Doty added from time to time, until at the time of his death he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land, the greater part of it under cultivation.
April 4, 1841, he was married to Miss Priscilla Bird, daughter of Rowland and Lydia (Ford) Bird, who was born June 6, 1823. There were born to them three chil- dren, as follows: Horace B., born Dec. 8, 1842 ; Eveline P., born Aug. 30, 1845; and Mahala, born Dec. 10, 1854. Horace B. Doty enlisted Aug. 16, 1861, in the 7th Michi- gan Battery, and died in hospital April 24, 1863.
In politics Mr. Doty was formerly a Whig, but at the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and was, to the day of his death, an ardent Republican. He always took an active part in political matters, and at the second town-meeting held in the town he was elected super-
visor, holding the office five terms, and to the entire satis- faction of his fellow-townsmen. At different times he held other minor township offices. He was also active in school matters, and did much to advance the educational interests of his town. Died Jan. 10, 1859.
ORSAMUS DOTY.
Orsamus Doty, the subject of this sketch, was the tenth of thirteen children, and was born Sept. 20, 1815, in Wal- lingford township, Rutland Co., Vt., where he lived with his father until he was nineteen years old, working at shoe- making and as a miller. He then left home, and in Wor- cester Co., Mass., worked on a farm two years, earning the money which was his start in life. While living in Wor- cester he rode on the first train which ran from Boston to Worcester. Sept. 20, 1838, Mr. Doty, with his two brothers, came into Ransom township, Hillsdale Co., Mich., then an almost unbroken wilderness, and with his brother, Nelson, located the southeast quarter of section 8, after- wards buying the southwest quarter of section 9. They worked on these two lots together till 1843, when they divided,-Orsamus taking the southwest quarter, section 9, which he still owns. On this farm he built a log house, carrying the window-sash for the same twenty miles on his back, paying for them his last cent, and going home with- out any dinner. At that time his neighbors, aside from his brother's family, were Indians, with whom he lived on the most amicable terms. At the second town-meeting held in the town Mr. Doty was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for ten years. Few if any of the early settlers deserve more credit than Mr. Doty, coming into the town as he did with limited means and clearing up a large farm, carrying his supplies forty miles on his back, enduring the hardships of a frontier life, and raising a family and acquiring more than a fair competency, although he has had many misfortunes, among them the loss of three wives, and being now in his sixty-fourth year, a strong and well-preserved man. Oct. 31, 1844, he was married to Miss Lydia Ingersoll. To them was born one child, Albert W., born Aug. 4, 1845. Nov. 5, 1846, he was again married, to Miss Sarah B. Squier; the result of this mar- riage was three children, Theressa Maria, born Dec. 1, 1851; Adelaide B., born March 9, 1854; and Susan E., born June 13, 1858. For his third wife he married Mrs. Annie E. Fenton, and May 11, 1878, he was married to Miss Maggie Palmer. Although Mr. Doty was not liable to a draft, he enlisted, Aug. 16, 1861, in the 7th Mich. Battery, Capt. Chas. Lamphier, as sergeant-major. At Rich- mond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862, his company was engaged with the enemy and nearly all were captured ; Sergt. Doty and a few others escaped. Discharged on account of disability, March 9, 1863. In politics he has always been a Whig and Republican, in religion a Universalist.
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HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
OLIVER T. POWERS.
Oliver Powers was born Aug. 5, 1792, in the State of Connecticut, and was a farmer. March 9, 1813, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Sprague, who was born May 4, 1793. From Connecticut he moved to Erie Co., N. Y., where he died. They had nine children, the fourth of whom, Oliver T. Powers, the subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 7, 1821, in Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y., where he
Photo. by Carson & Graham, Hillsdale.
OLIVER T. POWERS.
grew to manhood, receiving such educational advantages as were to be had in the common schools of that day, with one year in a Pennsylvania academy. At the age of twenty-one he commenced life for himself on a farm, which business, and that of grafting, he followed through life. Feb. 21, 1850, he was married to Miss Elvira Cunningham, daughter of Lyman and Julia (Parmalee) Cunningham. Mr. Powers was father to nine children, Philander, born Dec. 9, 1847, by his first wife ; Mary C., born April 12, 1851 ; Julia E., born May 25, 1853 ; Almon C., born Jan. 19, 1856 ; Henry C., born Aug. 17, 1858; Calvin E. and Melvin E., born Sept. 2, 1861 ; Clara E., born May 28, 1864 ; Eva H., born April 16, 1867; Oliver G., born Dec. 16, 1870 ; Lucy V., born Nov. 16, 1873. In 1852, Mr. Powers, with his family, moved to the town of Ransom, Hillsdale Co., Mich., and bought eighty acres of land, on which he settled. He since added to it until it now consists of one hundred and eighty acres of fine soil, the most of which he cleared and improved.
Mr. Powers was an enterprising, energetic man, respected and esteemed by all. He took great interest in educational matters connected with his township, and filled several local offices with credit, among them that of township treasurer. In politics he was always a Republican, and in religion liberal. His death occurred March 4, 1875.
THOMAS BURT, SR. AND JR.
James Burt was born in the parish of Marnhull, Eng- land, July 28, 1780. He followed agriculture, and occu- pied a farm which had been in possession of his family for more than a century. He was married to Elizabeth Burge, who was born Oct. 4, 1780, in the market-town of Stal- bridge, England. There were born to them eleven chil- dren, Thomas Burt, the subject of this sketch, being the second, and born Nov. 28, 1805. His education was lim- ited, being obtained mostly at a day school prior to his twelfth year. At the age of nineteen he went to London to seek his fortune, where he learned the baker's trade. After learning the trade he was in business for himself four years. He was married, Oct. 29, 1829, to Miss Sarah Bartlett, daughter of John and Sarah (Martin) Bartlett ; she was born at Weymouth, Dorset Co., England, April 10, 1803. Miss Bartlett's parents were wealthy, and up to the time she left home and friends to come to America, she had never done any menial labor. Eight children have blessed their union,-Sarah, born Dec. 4, 1830 ; Edward, born June 30, 1832 ; Thomas, born Oct. 12, 1833 ; James, born March 25, 1837; Betsey and Nancy, born Sept. 1, 1839 ; George, born Aug. 12, 1833; and Mathew, born April 9, 1846,-all of whom are still living. Of these James, Edward, and Mathew all served in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion,-James in the 2d Mich- igan Cavalry over three years, Edward in an Ohio regiment, and Mathew in the 30th Michigan Infantry, running away from home to enlist.
In 1833, Mr. Burt embarked in a merchant-ship for New York, where he arrived March 25 of the same year, and the next May he purchased a farm of wild land two miles from Toledo, Ohio. On this farm he lived for three years, in a shanty, improving his farm and getting along as best he could. The first year he cleared off three acres of land and sowed it to wheat; he cut, harvested, and thrashed the same, and in a small boat took it to mill, had it ground into flour, which he baked into bread and sold, a feat per- formed by but few. In May, 1836, he returned to Eng- land, and in the following October, with his family, he again landed in Toledo, with but seven dollars in his pocket. He sold his farm and lived on a rented one until the fall of 1838, when he started with his family for the then wilderness of what is now Ransom. In a cold night in midwinter he arrived at a hotel kept by a Mr. Finney, at what is now Hudson. His money was exhausted, but he was kept by Mr. Finney, to whom he gave his note the next morning for three dollars and fifty cents. On Christ- mas-day of that year he took his wife and four small children into a shanty he had erected on his new farm. The farm (now consisting of three hundred and sixty acres) was a wet, swampy one, but has been made into one of the finest in Ransom.
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