History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 134

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772


USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 134
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 134


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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" This church has never had a regularly installed pastor. During Mr. Ladil's ministry an ccelesiastical society was formed and duly in- corporated, with the title of 'The First Congregational Society of Alivet.'


" The Following have served as deacons: William Hosford. James Douglass, Carlo Reed, Oramel Hosford, C. M. Cady, Eben Curtis, Jobn B. Barnes, Phineas A. Ilager, Samuel F. Drury, Flavel Danforth, Orra Wilder, Julius Keyes, Jonathan B. Chapin, Benjamin Follett, J. Clark Parsons, Albertus L. Green, John M. Barrows, John S. Reed, Horace Ilulburd, James B. Porter, D. Page Reed, Hiram Burroughs, Luman Shepard, Hiram C. Barnes, Henry Heydenburk, Mordecai L. Meads.


" The clerks have been Wilson C. Edsell, Flavel Danforth, John S. Reed, Nathan J. Morrison, Charles William Storr, George W. Keyes. " In May, 1846, n Sabbath-school association was formed in con- neetioa with the church, the first officers of which were: Superia- tendent, W. C. Edsell ; Assistnat Superintendent, A. L. Green ; See- retary nad Treasurer, C. Jenison ; Librarina, C. M. Cady. The follow- ing personas have served as superintendents of the Sunday-school sinee that time : A. L. Green, F. Danforth, S. F. Drury, C. W. Storrs, Julins Kryes, Alex. B. Brown, George W. Keyes, E. L. Sargent. Since 1862 the officers of the Sunday-school have been elected by the church.


" The church has never owned or controlled a house of worship. Its first incetings were held in private houses und in the college chapels. It naited with the college in erecting the present place of worship, which was built in 1852 and calarged ia 1865."


The membership of the church, July 23, 1880, was 289, and the average attendance at the Sunday-school, 150.


The following were the original members of the church : Carlo Reed,* Mrs. Sally Reed,* George Andrus, Mrs. Su- san Andrus, William Hosford, Mrs. Linda Hosford,* Wil- son C. Edsell, Mrs. Julia A. Edsell, P. Julia Edsell, Mrs. Adaline Chapin, Samuel N. Mahan, John B. Barnes,* Mrs. Emilia Barnes,* Orville Barnes, Mary Barnes, IIar- riet Barnes,* Willard Chapin .*


The officers for the church for 1880 are the following : Ministers, Rev. Horatio Q. Butterfield, D.D., Rev. Henry M. Goodwin, D.D .; Deacons, Henry Ileydenburk, Luman Shepard, Mordecai L. Meads, Hiram Burroughs ; Clerk and Treasurer, George W. Keyes; Trustees of the Society, Henry Herrick, Fitz L. Reed, E. N. Ely, Albert Topping, Henry Heydenburk, Charles Stone ; Clerk of Society, Asa K. Warren ; Treasurer of Society, E. B. Green ; Superin- tendent of Sunday-school, George W. Keyes.


Methodist Episcopal Church, Olivet .- The first Meth- odist sermon preached in the place was delivered in the fall of 1851, by Rev. E. H. Day. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Gore, who organized a class of seven members, with himself as leader. Mr. and Mrs Mark Dowler and Mrs. Mary Roberts were members of this class. Feb. 18, 1853, Olivet class was reorganized by Rev. S. P. Parker, with the same membership. The class had up to that time been a part of Charlotte Circuit. In 1854 it was supplied from Bellevue by Rev. T. J. Congdon, with Mark Dowler as leader. Nov. 22, 1858, the class was again reorganized by Rev. G. W. Hoag, with twenty-two members. He was followed by J. J. Buel and Rev. T. II. Bignell, the class remaining the same until 1860. From 1860 to 1868 it was without regular preaching. Nov. 7, 1868, it was reorganized by Rev. D. D. Gillett, Presiding Elder of Albion District, Michigan Conference, with nine members, Mark Dowler leader. J. F. Dowler, preacher in charge of Dover Circuit, supplied the work. In the fall of 1869, at a session of the Michigan Conference, Olivet Circuit was formed, and Rev. George C. Cole appointed preacher in charge. The society was permanently organ- ized, and Olivet was made the head of the circuit. Mr. Cole was succeeded by Rev. Aaron Hunsberger, who re- mained from September, 1871, to September, 1873. Dur- ing his pastorate (March 27, 1872) the basement of the present frame church building was dedicated, the dedication of the auditorium occurring Oct. 27, 1872. The total cost of the church and lot was $6575. The pastors succeeding Mr. Hunsberger have been Revs. Franklin W. Janes, Sep- tember, 1873, to September, 1874 ; F. I. Bell, September, 1874, 10 September, 1875; Thomas Lyon, September, 1875, to September, 1876; A. M. Fitch, September, 1876, to September, 1877; J. T. Glover, September, 1877, to September, 1878; and P. J. Mavecty, since September, 1878.


The present membership of the church is about ninety ; attendance at Sunday-school averages about sixty ; Super- intendent, S. G. Wright. The other places for meetings on the circuit are at the Stevens school, in Walton; at Lee Centre and Dover, in the township of Lee, Calhoun Co.


ยป Deceased.


WINDSOR.


NATURAL FEATURES.


GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, SOILS, ETC.


THE township of Windsor* occupies a position on the east side of the county of Eaton, and is bounded north, south, and west respectively by the townships of Delta, Eaton Rapids, and Benton, and east by Ingham County. A considerable portion of the well-known " Old Maid Swamp" lies in this town, and was a terror to the early settlers. The township was named by the Messrs. Skinner, who were from Windsor Co., Vt., and wished to perpetuate the memory of their old home by giving its name to the new. Grand River flows across the township and affords a good power, which is utilized at Dimondale. Two vil- lages are located in the town, -West Windsor, on the Battle Creek and Lansing State road, sections 17 and 18, and Dimondale, on Grand River, section 15. The Lansing Division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Rail- way crosses the township north and south, passing east of Dimondale. The Chicago and Grand Trunk Railway is constructed across the northwest corner of the township, and a station is located at the west line, where the road enters from Benton. This station is called Sevastopol. The soil of Windsor is of a sandy nature, and the surface generally rolling and in places hilly.


LAND ENTRIES.


Following is a list of land entries in what is now the township of Windsor (town 3 north, in range 3 west), as shown on the tract-book in the office of the county register :


Section 1 .- 1839, J. Cutler, Heirs of John Silvey; 1847, Frederick Hall, George Chappell, William Foreman.


Section 2 .- 1836, J. F. Lawrence, W. Page.


Section 3 .- 1836, J. F. Lawrence, H. H. Russell, S. S. Alcott, M. A. Wright.


Section 4 .- 1837, Richard Fogg, S. Davis; 1838, R. Moreau; 1849, E. Harris, J. H. Harris.


Section 5 .- 1848, C. B. Ives, Daniel Barney ; 1854, L. S. Lovell, V. Wright; 1855, A. M. Preston; 1865, F. M. Cowles and M. A. Howell.


Section 6 .- 1852, H. Ladue, Barna Harned; 1854, D. Munger; 1861, Adolpbus Bassler, Gottleib Frederick Waasser.


Section 7 .- 1837, B. F. Bailey ; 1839, J. Laughlin ; 1848, A. Sloan, J. D. Burns, J. A. Doane; 1849, Samuel Cased ; 1850-51, H. Cook.


Section 8 .- 1837, S. Squier ; 1848, S. R. Smith ; 1849, Samuel Cased, D. Sabin ; 1858, Hiram P. Whitcomb, Philander and Sarah A. Doane; 1865, F. M. Cowles and M. A. Howell.


Section 9 .- 1836, S. S. Alcott ; 1848, C. B. Hungerford ; 1858, Taylor Hance; 1865, F. M. Cowles and M. A. Howell. Section 10 .- 1836, Wm. Page, S. S. Alentt.


Section 11 .- 1836, Charles Osgood; 1837, J. B. Mills; 1847-48, E. Spears; 1853, J. F. Cody.


* The boundaries of this township were surveyed in 1825,-that on the south by John Mullett, and those on the other three sides by Lucius Lyon. In 1827, Musgrove Evans surveyed the subdivisions.


68


Section 12 .- 1838, M. P. Burtch ; 1839, J. Jackson, J. Wells, J. Cutler, C. Gladding ; 1848, L. Bradish, James E. Trigg.


Section 13 .- 1837, C. P. Austin (entire section).


Section 14 .- 1836, William Page, John M. Gordon; 1837, A. Beers ; 1849, G. W. Newman.


Section 15 .- 1836, W. Page (entire section).


Section 16 .- 1853, P. Phillips, A. Flagler, J. Flagler, T. J. Ilunting- ton ; 1854, W. T. Martin, J. S. Phillips, J. Gallup, H. Flagler, William Flagler, M. A. Flagler, W. Hull, E. A. Phillips, B. Hull, J. Rockfellow, Robert J. Bell.


Section 17 .- 1837, P. R. Howe, J. Geddes ; 1838, R. T. Cogswell ; 1847, P. Whaley ; 1848, C. Ilavens; 1849, J. P. Lewis.


Section 18 .- 1837, J. Seaburn, N. Edmunds, A. Squier ; 1838, W. H. Cogswell, R. B. Buel; 1846-47, S. H. Cogswell.


Section 19 .- 1839, J. Laughlin, Jr .; 1846-47, J. Christian ; 1847, George P. Carman ; 1847-48, R. Carman; 1848, E. Spears.


Section 20 .- 1837, I. Giles, A. Brown, J. Geddes, A. McAfee; 1838, W. Mckinstry ; 1849, M. S. Cogswell; 1854, W. 1I. S. Winchell. Section 21 .- 1837, D. Jacot, L. Courter, J. Courter, B. Barton, S. Willett ; 1849, E. Harris.


Section 22 .- 1836, William Page, P. French, J. M. Gordon. Section 23 .- 1836, William Page, J. M. Gordon.


Section 24 .- 1836, A. Beers, F. I. Ford, D. Coleman & Co. (Daniel Coleman and George P. Cooper), W. Page, C. Zabriskie.


Section 25 .- 1836, J. Ford, William Page; 1837, Peter Robinson. Section 26 .- 1836, E. Brown (2d) ; 1837, P. Robinson.


Section 27 .- 1836, E. Brown (2d) ; 1837, P. Robinson, E. Eston ; 1838, J. Loomis ; 1839, R. J. Bradley ; 1854, O. Hurlbut.


Section 28 .- 1837, O. Towslee, C. Wright, A. Mills, E. Eston ; 1847, J. B. Rozell ; 1849, M. Norton ; 1851, M. De Waters.


Section 29 .- 1837, A. Brown, N. H. Pray, J. Fairmand ; 1848, Milton Hammond ; 1854, Mark King; 1858, N. H. Pray.


Section 30 .- 1836, T. J. Dudley ; 1847, R. Carman ; 1849-50, J. King ; 1850, J. M. King, P. King; 1851, J. N. Potter.


Section 31 .- 1836, S. S. Alcott ; 1851, J. J. Doud, J. M. King, Geo. N. Potter; 1868, Oliver B. Johnson ; 1871, G. N. Potter.


Section 32 .- 1837, N. Kellogg, S. Gould, P. Baker, W. Huston, Jr., N. H. Pray ; 1858, John Leisenring, Sylvanus L. Root.


Section 33 .- 1837, W. Huston, Jr., N. Chaffee, L. H. Brown, R. Mc- Redfield, W. Berrien; 1849, Jane W. Foote; 1851, M. Long- mate; 1854, Calvin Coon.


Section 34 .- 1836, E. Brown (2d) ; 1837, William Berrien; 1852, S.


Frees; 1854, William C. Taylor, George N. Potter; 1855, S. Frees.


Section 35 .- 1836, E. Brown (2d); 1837, Charles Davis; 1849, M. Belding, Thomas Treat.


Section 36 .- 1836, C. D. Ward, J. B. Ames, D. Gould; 1837, P. Rob- inson, J. S. Trowbridge.


Much of the land in this township was purchased by speculators, and the settlement was somewhat delayed on that account. When the pioneers began making improve- ments in the township they encountered many serious diffi- culties, and seemed to have had greater hardships in their battle with the wilderness than the inhabitants of any other town in the county. But they were a hardy, persevering class, and were not discouraged at drawbacks nor fearful for the future when adversity was upon them. Their energy and perseverance enabled them to overcome all obstacles, and the thrift and prosperity of to-day are the fruits of their years of toil.


537


538


HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


In the summer of 1869, Esek Pray and others furnished valuable articles upon the history of the township of Wind- sor, and from them are gleaned the following facts :


Before Windsor could boast of having a settler within her limits, a Mr. Lewis and his son-in-law, Mr. Billings, with their families, from Ohio, passed into this town on their way to Mr. Ingersoll's, on Grand River, in Delta township, in November, 1836. They had a train of two yokes of oxen and two wagons, followed by two cows, and in time reached the north part of section 16 and a point leading into what has since become known as the " Old Maid's Swamp," which seemed to extend in all directions except the one from which they had come. They became lost in the forest, and finally Mr. Billings left them to search for help, and was gone two days without success. He started again with a brother-in-law, and on the second day heard a cow-bell, and, proceeding towards the sound, ar- rived at Mr. Ingersoll's, and found the assistance they so much needed. A party started after the bewildered ones, and after several days rescued them, finding them with very little to eat. After about a month Mrs. Lewis died, and upon her daughter fell the duty of preparing her remains for the grave. A wagon-box was made into a coffin, and Mr. Burnet (one of the first settlers of Windsor) and Sawyer Ingersoll dug the grave. Messrs. Lewis and Bil- lings were not settlers in Windsor, however.


The first settlement in Windsor was made on the Ist of October, 1837, by Orange Towslee, who moved his family in from the north by way of Delta, following the Billings trail until opposite his own land, to which he ent his road, two or three miles. Mr. Towslee owned the north half of section 28 except the east fourth. For six weeks the family lived in a tent while a house was being built. On the 6th of October the settlement was increased by the arrival of Oramel D., John D., and William P. Skinner, who owned twelve lots in the eastern part of the township. They built a house, and afterwards cut a road from Spicer- ville, and by the following spring had moved their families up from the south part of the State. William P. Skinner was at the time a single man. These men were from Windsor Co., Vt., and by their influence the name was per- petuated in the township which they had chosen for a home.


Nathan II. Pray, a native of Rhode Island, moved when quite small with his parents to Allegany Co., N. Y., and in 1825, when twelve years old, accompanied them to Wash- tenaw Co., Mich. In the spring of 1837 he was married, and in October following came with his bride of eighteen years to Eaton County, and settled in Windsor. He had moved from Superior, Washtenaw Co., by way of' Jackson and Spicerville, and from the latter place to Wall's settle- ment, near the town-line between Eaton and Eaton Rapids. From there he cut his road to IIenry Boody's place in Eaton Rapids. Mr. Boody had raised and covered a log house, and gave Mr. Pray the privilege of occupying it. The latter's land was two or three miles beyond, but a bad swamp lay between, and he unloaded his goods and pro- visions and the team returned. Aided by John Worthing- ton, Mr. Pray built a house, and moved his goods to it


upon a hand-sled. The first three families who settled in Windsor had no previous knowledge of each other, and accident revealed to each the fact that others had settled. On the 9th of March, 1838, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Pray, and, in honor of his grandfather, was named Esek. He was the first white child born in the township ; has been president of the County Pioneer Society, and now holds the responsible position of county treasurer. Mr. Pray, Sr., built first on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 32, and remained there one year, then building on his intended homestead on section 29.


Samuel Munn, Charles Wright, and Andrew Mills, all single men, or unaccompanied by their families, came into the township in the fall of 1837, and located land on section 28. They lived with Mr. Towslec. In the spring of 1838, Mr. Mills built a shanty on land afterwards (1869) owned by David Dicksou, and was preparing to build a house when his shanty caught fire and burned down, de- stroying his provisions, clothes, and the clothes of a man who was at work for him, besides about seventy dollars in money, and his misfortune so discouraged him that he left the township.


In the spring of 1838, T. C. Cogswell came in from the south part of the State, following the road made the pre- vious fall by Mr. Pray, and from the latter's place cut a road, about three miles, to his own land on section 17. He was accompanied by his wife and one child. During the same spring his brother Harrison moved in from the north and settled on section 18. In the spring of 1839, Mr. A. Torrey, a middle-aged man with a considerable family, settled on section 26, and with him came Chauncey Bohannon, who purchased on section 24. Charles Hinkley located on the latter section at the same time, and, like Mr. Bohannon, was unmarried. John Courter settled in the spring of 1839. Martin Stevens and the Messrs. Murphy came about 1840, but soon removed. In 1841, Robert McRedfield settled on section 32, having purchased the land at a previous date. These constitute probably all who settled in the township during the first five years of its history. In 1842, Azro More made a commencement on the south towo-line, and about the same time a young man named Sylvester Derby arrived, accompanied by his younger brother and their mother. In 1849, B. F. Bailey settled near the northwest corner of the township, owning land also in Bentou. Other early settlers coming in the first decade of its civil history were Edmond Lewis, Thomas Hinkley, D. B. Searles, Horace Skinner, and S. D. Reeves in the eastern part of the town; J. P. Lewis, T. J. Sloan, George P. Carman, Solomon Pearce, David Nettleton, and Harmon Cogswell in the west, and Mr. Galvin in the north.


The early inhabitants of the township seem to have had almost more than their share of adventures and hardships. Orange Towslee started one Friday morning for Eaton Rapids or Spicerville to purchase lumber for his house. Not finding the men at home he started back, lost his direction, and wandered in the woods till Monday, and when he arrived at home he was so nearly worn out and starved that his family was frightened at sight of him. They supposed he had made a purchase, and was rafting it down the river. In the month of November, 1837, as Mr.


539


WINDSOR.


Towslee was on his way home from Delta night overtook him, and again he became lost. In his wanderings he plunged into a creek up to his arms. Wolves were howling in every direction, and being more comfortable in the water than out with his wet elothes, and deeming himself safer from the wolves in that situation, he remained standing in the creek all that long, cold November night, and when in the morning he reached home his voice refused to respond to his efforts to speak.


Mr. Pray, who was quite deaf, started one Sunday even- ing after his eattle, his wife pointing in the direction where she had heard the bell. Ere long the cows came home, but Mr. Pray did not, and he was finally heard to " whoop." Three men started to guide him home, or rather to his re- lief, supposing he had treed a bear. They had some fun at his expense for getting lost, but when they started for home their laughter gave way to soberness, for they found they were all lost. Fortunately they succeeded in starting a fire, by which they remained through the night, and reached home the next day.


John D. Skinner, who brought in his family in the month of March, concluded to drive down on the river from Eaton Rapids, as the sleighing was poor, but he found he had to deal with a very treacherous stream, and had many hairbreadth escapes before he reached his destination. It is perhaps needless to state that he kept off the ice with his family afterwards.


C. Bohannon, who boarded on the side of the river op- posite his land, often when going to the landing found his boat on the other shore. He frequently pulled off his boots and socks and waded part way across, going the remainder of the way on the ice. On one oceasion in March, in company with two friends, he started to cross, but thought something was wrong ahead, and in trying the ice went through. Fortu- nately he was able to reach the hole he had fallen through, but left a tin pail of butter and six small traps at the bot- tom of the river. He then forded the river at the rapids, secured his boat, and conveyed his friends aeross. The next day he found his lost property in seven feet of water. On another occasion he, in company with Charles Hinkley and Albert Mckinley, in returning from town-meeting in the evening, found the ice, upon which they had erossed safely in the morning, so rotten that they had to cross by taking three poles apiece, keeping on two and shoving one after the other. MeKinley, the heaviest of the party, broke through and declared himself to be drowned, but that was an equivocation under the pressure of fear and surrounding circumstances.


Mr. Courter, who moved in with his wife and child when the water was high, came by way of Delta, and was met part way by Mr. Towslee, who went down with his team to help him along. A wheel broke down and they were in a dilemma. Several miles were yet to be traversed, and a swollen creek to be crossed. Mr. Towslee said, " Mrs. Courter, how are you to get across the creek ? The water is midside to my oxen." She asked, " How did you cross this morning ?" " I rode an ox across," Mr. Towslee re- plied. " So can I ride an ox across," said Mrs. Courter, and so she did, mounting behind Mr. Towslee, but admitted that it was a difficult matter to keep her feet dry. After


Mr. Courter had built his house, and split out lumber for the floors and casings, he lacked a board for a door. Mr. Towslee, happening at Eaton Rapids, called at the mill to buy a board for Mr. Courter, but was informed there was none to spare. He, however, insisted upon having one, as the weather was getting too eold to be without a door, and finally found one, which he walked away with in spite of opposition, laying down a quarter of a dollar to pay for it.


Mr. Courter, while one day engaged in hoeing corn, heard one of his hogs squealing lustily, and running to the spot found a large bear walking off, with piggy folded affec- tionately under one arm. At sight of Mr. Courter the bear dropped his prize and ran, but soon returned, and was killed by a bullet from the rifle of Mr. Burnet, who had come to the assistance of Mr. Courter. The bear weighed 200 pounds and was very fat. Mr. McRedfield was also called from his hoeing at one time in a similar manner, his dog accompanying him. The bear was exceedingly troubled by the dog, but was determined to keep his prospective meal. At sight of the man he dropped the pig and made his eseape, while the pig, badly hurt, ran one way and its owner another. The pig reached home first, but Mr. Mc- Redfield was loth to admit that he was frightened, stating that he was going to the house for hot water, thinking the pig would go by a cireuitous route and be about ready to scald by the time he reached home.


R. T. Cogswell acquired fame as a hunter and trapper. One afternoon he killed a large bear which he found fast in a trap, about half a mile from his house, and called for his wife, who soon came with a blind horse (blind horses, it is asserted, are best to carry bears on). The bear was finally loaded upon the horse's back and they started for the house, Mr. Cogswell on one side and his wife on the other, having much difficulty in guiding the horse and keeping the bear on. Night came on and they lost their way, but shouted for assistance, and Mr. Cogswell's brother heard and piloted them out.


C. Bohannon used strychnine and killed a number of wolves with it. He secured three in one night, and their hides, with the State and county bounties, brought him forty-eight dollars. William P. Skinner brought the first shecp into the township, but their increase was slow on account of wolves. The Skinners killed the first wolf. Mr. Derby was a noted hunter and trapper, and experienced nu- merous exciting adventures.


Several persons were lost at different times, and the set- tlers turned out to search for them. The most noted case was that of a young son of Charles Wright, aged five years, who lost his way when starting for the school-house, having been gathering beech-nuts. It was one hour over five days before the child was found, yet he was alive, aud, after a month of suffering, recovered. He had built for himself a small peu of sticks, and was found lying within it. His exposure resulted in the loss of all the toes from one foot (having removed the shoe and been unable to put it on again), and the ends of those on the other.


Consistency is illustrated in the fact that settlers were obliged to pay two dollars a bushel for seed-wheat, while the crop that was raised from it was worth but three shil- lings a bushel.


540


HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


In February, 1840, a Methodist class was formed at the honse of A. Torrey,* Elder Bennett presiding. In Febru- ary, 1846, the First Congregational Church of Windsor was formed at the house of N. H. Pray, Rev. J. W. Smith, of Eaton Rapids, presiding.


The first bridge was built at the crossing of the Eaton Rapids and Lansing road in 1847, and cost $238. About ten years later a bridge was built at Dimondale, which was taken down in 1868 and a new one built at a total expense of about $3000.


One of the earliest marriagest was that of John Worth- ington and Mrs. Derby, who a few years later removed to Brookfield township. Samuel Munn and the mother of the Messrs. Skinner died in 1847, Azro P. More in 1848, and Mrs. David Nettleton in 1849. Mrs. Oramel D. Skin- ner died suddenly in 1851, and Mrs. Charles Wright in 1853, her husband soon after moving to Texas. Mrs. Towslee died in August, 1854, and was followed by her husband about a month later. Many others of the early settlers have since laid down the burden of life and gone to




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