History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 50

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 50
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 50

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).

Mr. Dryer was formerly a Free-Soil Democrat, but upon the passage of the fugitive-slave law united with the Re- publican party. He has held several offices of trust and honor; assisted to organize the township of White Oak ; was its first town clerk, and held the office of supervisor for several years; was elected county commissioner, and held the office until it was abolished ; has been supervisor of Lansing for several years; has taken a deep interest in educational matters, and given his children all good advan- tages, several of them having been successful teachers.

Mr. Dryer was again married, in August, 1861, to Mrs. Sarah Britton. He united with the Methodist Church when a young man, and has since been an active and con- sistent member, and for more than thirty years has held office in the church. His wives were also members of that church. And now, after years of toil and hardship, he is rewarded by the possession of a fine property and the respeet of all.

CITY OF MASON .*

THE city of Mason, the seat of justice for the county of Ingham, occupies a position near the centre thereof, in the township of Vevay, out of which it takes four sections,- viz., 4, 5, 8, and 9. The small stream known as Sycamore Creek flows through the city from south to north, and in days gone by the limited power which it furnished was utilized, but for the better health of the citizens the dam was removed and the mill-pond drained. Bordering the creek on the east is a high gravel ridge, or moraine, which is mentioned elsewhere. From it is obtained a plentiful supply of gravel, for use upon the streets of the city. Many excellent improvements are noted within the limits of this city, and its business buildings rank with those in much larger places in point of architecture and size. Enter- prise is nearly everywhere manifest, and the aini of the citizens appears to be to place their home in the front rank among the lesser cities of Michigan. Constant improve- ments are being made, which require liberal outlays of the wealth which in forty years has here accumulated.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler at Mason, or in what is now the town- ship of Vevay, was Lewis Lacey, who came here in Feb- ruary or March, 1836, to build a saw-mill for Noble & Co., of Monroe, and to chop twenty aeres on seetion 8. Upon the completion of the saw-mill, Ephraim B. Danforth, a member of the firm above named, settled at the place and assumed charge of their interests. He located in 1837. The firm owned seven-eighths of the land in the old village plat of Mason. In 1838 they erected the first grist-mill in the county, the saw-mill having also been the first institu- tion of the kind in the county.

Mr. Danforth was elected one of the first associate judges for Ingham County in 1838, and was re-elected in 1842. He was twice elected to the State Senate, and in 1848 was appointed by the Governor and Senate a commis- sioner to lay out and construct a State road from the village of Mason to Lansing. In 1850 he was a delegate to the convention which framed the present constitution of the State. While a member of the Senate he, together with Hon. Joseph H. Kilbourne, of the House, worked with un- tiring zeal to secure the location of the State capital at Lan- sing, and, as is well known, their labors were erowned with success.

In 1850, Mr. Danforth sold his interest in the village of Mason and removed to Lansing, where he died, Aug. 17, 1853. He was engaged in the milling business in the latter city, and during his residence in the county was one of its most useful and prominent citizens.

Chauncey A. Osborn, a native of Attica, N. Y., settled at Mason, Sept. 18, 1838. He purchased lots the same fall and built a house, the location of the latter being on lot 6, block 14, and the sale being made by E. B. Dan- forth. Mr. Osborn's wife, who was a native of Madison Co., N. Y., died at Mason in 1872. One son, Andrew, died in Sierra Valley, Cal.

Mareus Whitney, from Naples, Ontario Co., N. Y., set- tled in the township of Rives, Jackson Co., Mich., July 14, 1835. The nearest mill was then at Ann Arbor, and he speaks of having purchased flour in Detroit, during the first years of his residence in the State, paying for the same as high as twenty-five dollars per barrel. Mr. Whitney removed to Ingham County in March, 1870, and is now residing at Mason.

Daniel L. Case was born at Three Rivers, in the province of Upper Canada (now Ontario), in 1811, his parents

# Compiled by Pliny A. Durant.

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HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

being New England people, who had emigrated to Canada a few years previous to the war of 1812, and who returned to the United States upon the breaking out of the war. In October, 1829, Mr. Case came to the Territory of Mich- igan, and in July, 1843, settled at Mason.

Oliver Griffin, who died in August, 1874, in the nine- tieth year of his age, was a nalive of Tewksbury, Mass. IIe learned the trade of a shoemaker in the city of Boston, and afterwards started in business in Washington Co., N. Y. In 1836 he removed to Michigan and settled at Napoleon, Jackson Co., and in 1840 came to Mason .*

The following obituary notice of a former prominent citizen of Mason, and an early settler in the county, is preserved in the records of the Pioneer Society :

" Amos E. Steele was born at Queensbury, Warren Co., N. Y., June 28, 1806. lle was married to Roxana Cranson at Lockport, N. Y., May 1, 1834. They emigrated to Michigan and settled in the town- ship of Onondaga, Ingham Co., in the month of August, 1836, and were among the pioneers of the then new county of Ingham. At a special election, held in 1838, Mr. Steele was elected associate judge of the Circuit Court for Ingham County. At the general election in December, 1839, he was elected as representative in the State Legis- lature from the representative distriet composed of the counties of Ingham and Livingston. In 1840 he was appointed United States marshal to take the census that year in Ingham County. At a special election for that purpose, held on the 10th of February, 1846, he was elected to the office of judge of Probate, to fill a vacaney in that office caused by the death of Hon. Henry Fiske. In April, 1844, be removed to Mason, where he continued to reside until his death. During his life of more than forty years in Ingham County he was frequently called upon to fill various offices of responsibility and trust in his township and village, and held the office of justice of the peace twenty-seven years. He was widely known and universally respected. llis official duties were discharged with fidelity. He was a kind and good neighbor, a devoted husband and father, and as a companion and friend always courteous and genial. During the last eight years of his life he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and maintained a consistent Christian life. Ile gave liberally for the sup- port of the gospel and the various claims of charity and benevolence.

" His family consisted of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters. Ilis youngest son and the three daughters were spared to bless and assist him in his declining years. His first born died in his youth, at his home in Mason. His next two sons sacrificed their lives for the preservation of the Union in the late war of the Rebellion. Col. A. E. Steele fell at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, and Capt. Henry V. Steele in one of the battles of the Wilderness, May 24, 1864. These were the saddest events of his life; but, being a man of strong force of character, he was enabled to hear the severe loss with fortitude and becoming resignation.

"IIe died at his residence on the morning of the 15th of March, 1878. The funeral service was performed by Rev. William Reilly, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, assisted by Rev. G. W. Barlow, of the Presbyterian Charcb, amid a large circle of sympathizing and mourning friends."

William H. Clark, a native of Elba, Genesee Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in November, 1835, with his father, Abijah L. Clark, the family settling at Rollin, Lenawee Co., and removing to Bunker IFill township, Ingham Co., in March, 1843. Abijah L. Clark is now deceased. IIis son William commenced learning the printer's trade at Mason, in 1845, in the office of the Ingham Herald. He worked several winters at Lansing, and in 1855 went to Illinois, in which State he published a paper until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted. IIe served

three years in the army and was twice wounded. In De- eember, 1864, he returned to Mason.

One of the most prominent citizens of Mason, during its entire history, has been Dr. Minos MeRobert, now residing in the place. He came here-a young man-in June, 1837, and continued the practice of medicine, which he had begun in the East. Ile was formerly a resident of Clinton Co., N. Y. Upon his arrival in Mason be built an office, which was soon recognized as headquarters for nearly all business pertaining to the village or the county. It was used as the county register's office, and from the multiplicity of other uses was almost a court-house. Dr. McRobert has else- where been mentioned as the second physician who settled in Ingham County. He early engaged in other business, and since he made Mason his home has devoted his energy and capital towards the furtheranee of its interests.

George W. Shafer, from Colchester, Delaware Co., N. Y., came when unmarried to Michigan, in June, 1839, and set- tled at Mason. He brought a stoek of goods with him, and for two years was engaged in mercantile business. He placed his goods in a small building which had previously been used as a grocery by Zaccheus Barnes, now of Mason. Mr. Shafer's store was the first of importance in the place.

When Mr. Shafer came the frame of a hotel was up, on the southeast corner of Ash and B Streets, opposite the court-house square. He purchased it the same year (1839), finished it during the fall and winter, and became its land- lord as soon as it was completed. It was known as the " Mason Exchange," and was the first regular hotel in the place. It was a two-story building, and was kept by Mr. Shafer about ten years ; he built an addition to it in 1847. The second proprietor of the house was Isaac Horton. II. J. Donnelly was one of its later proprietors. The building was finally moved to the eastern part of the city, where some one set fire to it and burned it down.

The first man who entertained travelers in the place was James Blain, whose log house was an approach to a hos- telry. It stood in the middle of the road, about at the southwest corner of what is now R. F. Griffin's place, and was a resort for land-lookers and immigrants generally on their way to other localities. It was torn down in the fall of 1842. James Blain and his son David afterwards built and kept as a tavern the house subsequently owned by Amos E. Steele, and now occupied as a dwelling by the widow of the latter. James Blain exchanged his property in Mason for the farm of Mr. Steele, in the township of Onondaga, to which he removed ; he and his wife are both now deceased.

George W. Shafer was married in 1842 to a sister of Wright Horton, the latter having also married a sister of Mr. Shafer. The Hortons had come to the place in the fall of 1838, and settled on a farm in what is now the northern portion of the city. Mrs. Shafer thinks that there were then three frame buildings in Mason,-viz., Dr. McRobert's office, which was afterwards used as the county treasurer's office, and the dwellings of E. B. Danforth and Nathaniel Blain,-the latter then occupied by Iliram Con- verse. Mr. Blain, who was a brother of James Blain, re- moved subsequently to Jefferson village, in the township of Alaiedon. Wright Horton, whose wife died here, lived

. R. F. Griffin, his son, says winter of 1841-42.

MRS. MINOS McROBERT ..

MINOS McROBERT, M.D.

Dr. McRobert may with justice be regarded not only as a pioneer in the settlement of the flourishing city of Mason, but as the advance-guard in that profession of which he has for a long series of years been the able representative in the county. His birth occurred in Springfield, Vt., Feb. 4, 1804, and four years later the family removed to Clinton Co., N. Y., where he resided until his twenty-fifth year. Having been attracted by the prospective advantages offered to settlers in the West, he, in 1837, departed for Michigan and located at Mason. He was, in 1841, married to Miss Nancy, daughter of William

Abbott, of the township of Ingham, whose birth occurred in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., Vt., in 1813, and whose family emigrated to Michigan in 1839.

Dr. McRobert was the second physician in the county, and extensively engaged in practice at a period when long and tedious rides and arduous labor were required in his vocation. Since 1850 he has relinquished his professional duties for active business employments. He is prominently identified with the growth of Mason, and with its present commercial interests.

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CITY OF MASON.

on his farm about thirty years, and is now residing in Kansas. Several of his children also died here.

Rosalvo F. Griffin, of Mason, came to the village Oct. 2, 1842, with his father, Oliver Griffin, from Washing- ton Co., N. Y. The latter had been here the previous winter. His death occurred in September, 1836. When the family arrived the vicinity of Masou was still covered with the heavy timber which abounded so plentifully in all this region, and the village then, although six years old, had all the characteristics of a pioneer settlement.

Perry Henderson, a native of the town of Tully, Onon- daga Co., N. Y., came to Michigan with his wife and three children in 1844, and stopped during one summer in Oak- land County. In the fall he removed to Ingham County, and settled in the township of Leroy. In 1854, having been elected sheriff of the county, he removed to Mason, where he has since resided, and where he is at present eu- gaged in the hardware trade.

Peter Linderman and William H. Horton, who are men- tioned at length in the history of Vevay township as having settled respectively in 1836 and 1837, were both within what are now the city limits, having resided on farms north of the then village.

John Rayner, from Cayuga Co., N. Y. (a native of Or- ange County), visited Michigan about 1837-38, and pur- chased a large amount of land in Ingham County. In the spring of 1840, accompanied by his wife, two sons, and a daughter, he settled at Mason, where several of his children are now living. Mr. Rayner engaged at once in farming and speculated in land to a considerable extent. At his death, which occurred in the month of May, 1879, he left a large amount of property. Six of his children are living in the State.

The following is a list of the resident taxpayers in the village of Mason in 1844, as shown by the assessment roll for that year : George W. Shafer, William Tweedy, Oliver Griffin, John Rayner, Hiram Converse, Issachar Hammond, Hiram II. Smith, James H. Wells, Raney & Wells, John Coatsworth, John S. Griffin, E. B. Danforth, Oliver S. Osborn, John W. Phelps, Jason B. Packard, Chauncey A. Osborn, James Turner, James Turner & Co., Daniel L. Case, Amos E. Steele, Hiram HI. Smith.

PLATS AND ADDITIONS.

The original plat of Mason, by Charles Noble, was ae- knowledged Feb. 6, 1838, and recorded June 23, 1838. The only clew given by the plat to its location is the state- ment thereon that " Mason is situated on sections Nos. 8 and 9 of town 2 north, of range No. 1 west." The origi- nal town was laid out in thirty-one blocks, the western boundary being near the east side of Sycamore Creek.

The " Consolidated Plat of the Village of Mason," in- cluding the old plat, Pease & Smith's, McRobert & Sack- rider's, Holt & Steele's, Barnes', Condon's, and Price's additions, was conveyed by Louis D. Preston, and acknowl- edged Dec. 26, 1866. Smith & Pease's addition had been laid out April 20, 1865 ; Congdon's addition, by R. D.and Richard Congdon, June 4, 1866 ; Steele & Holt's addition, Sept. 21, 1866.

Additions have since been made as follows : Griffin's ad-

dition, by R. F. Griffin and others, acknowledged Dec. 7, 1869; Pratt's addition, by Iloratio Pratt and others, Aug. 12, 1871 ; Bush's addition, by Alex. Bush and others, Nov. 10, 1873; Darling & Barnett's addition, by Nathan Darling and William S. Barnett, May 2, 1873.

MASON POST-OFFICE.

A post-office was established at Mason in the summer of 1838, with E. B. Danforth as postmaster. An office had previously (probably in the same year) been established at Leslie, and Mr. Danforth employed William H. Horton to carry the mail from the latter place to Mason, making the trip once a week. Mr. Horton performed that labor for six months, carrying it at first in a handkerchief, and after- wards in an old coffee-sack, following the trail between the two places. He received one dollar and twenty-four cents for each trip, making the return journey the same day. In six months the mail had increased in amount to half a bushel, and it was then necessary to use a conveyance. The postmasters have been, since Mr. Danforth, William Hammond, John W. Phelps, Peter Linderman, D. B. Her- rington, Frank Sigfried, and F. T. Albright, the latter having held the office since 1867. It is possible that Hi- ram Converse was also an early postmaster here, and that the foregoing list may not mention all in their order; but it is from the best recollection of those who should know.

VILLAGE AND CITY INCORPORATION, ETC.

The village of Mason was incorporated by act of the Legislature, March 9, 1865, including the southwest quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 4; the south half of the southeast quarter of section 5; the east half of the southeast quarter of section 8; the northeast quarter of seetion 8 ; the northwest quarter of section 9, and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 9. The charter was amended Feb. 27, 1867, and March 25, 1871.

The first village election was held March 27, 1865,-John Dunsback and Perry IIenderson, Inspectors, and Ilenry Linderman, Clerk. Thirty-six votes were cast, and the following officers were elected : President, Minos McRobert ; Trustees (two years), John Dunsback, Orlando M. Barnes ; Trustees (one year), Peter Lowe, Philetus R. Peck ; Clerk, Rosevelt H. Davis, M.D .; Assessor, Perry Henderson ; Treasurer, Jesse Beach ; Marshal, Joseph L. II untington.

The officers of the village, from 1866 to 1875, inelusive, were as follows :

1866 .- President, Peter Lowe; Trustees (two years), P. R. Peck, H. L. Ilenderson ; Clerk, G. M. IIuntington ; Assessor, William II. Van Vranken ; Treasurer, Jesse Beach ; Marshal, Chaun- cey A. Osborn.

1867 .- President, George M. Huntington ; Clerk, Charles S. Lowe; Trustees (two years), Horatio Pratt, George D. Pease ; Assessor, John Rogers; Treasurer, John H. Sayers; Mar- shal, Levi C. Parker.

1868 .- President, Amos E. Steele; Clerk, Henry L. Henderson ; Trustees (two years), R. F. Griffin, I. B. Woodhouse; Asses- sor, Peter Lowe; Treasurer, Henry L. Henderson ; Marshal, William II. Clark.

I869 .- President, Joseph L. Huntington; Clerk, Kendall Kittredge ; Trustees (two years), H. L. Henderson, William F. Near ; Assessor, John L. Isherwood ; Treasurer, Arehibald O. Mills- paugh; Marshal, George G. Whipple.

206

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

1870 .- President, John A. Barnes; Clerk, George W. Bristol ; Trus- tees (two years), John E. Spencer,ª Collias D. Huntington ; Assessor, Lucian Reed; Treasurer, Andrew D. Kingsbury ; Marshal, George W. Sackrider.

1871 .- President, Minos MeRobert; Clerk, William II. Francis ; Trustees (two years), P. R. Peck, A. Bush, G. D. Pease ; (one year), Horatio Pratt : Assessor, George A. Sackrider ; Treasurer, Benjamin Leek ; Marshal, Josiah J. Tyler.

1872 .- President, Mason D. Chatterton; Clerk, William II. Card; Trustees (two years), E. A. Barnes, Il. L. Ileaderson, C. H. Sackrider; Assessor, John A. Barnes; Treasurer, Samuel W. Hammond; Marshal, Washington S. Sherman.

IS73 .- President, Samuel J. P. Smead ; Clerk, John C. Squiers; Trus- tees (two years), John HI. Sayers, Lewis C. Webb, Henry II. Parker; Assessor Daniel J. Darrow ; Treasurer, S. W. Ifam- mond ; Marshal, Daniel L. Cady.

IS74 .- President, Rosalvo F. Griffin; Clerk, John C. Squiers; Trus- lees (two years), William Spears, Loren W. Lincoln, Ira I. Barber; Assessor, David W. Halstead; Treasurer, Edwin Terwilliger ; Marshal, Ellzey Flora.

IS75 .- President, William Woodhouse; Clerk, N. R. Van Vranken ; Trustees (two years), Daniel Campbell, William W. Merritt, William M. Van Vranken; Trustee (000 year), Andrew J. Bartlett ; Treasurer, Samuel P. Stroud ; Marshal, Andrew Farren; Street Commissioner, Philip Nice; Assessor, Wm. W. Root ; Constable, Chauncey A. Osborn.

In 1875 the city of Mason was incorporated with two wards, including sections 4, 5, 8, and 9, in the township of Vevay. The first city election was held April 5, 1875, when the following officers were chosen :

1875 .- Mayor, Rosalvo F. Griffin ; Marshal, Charles G. Ilantington ; Clerk, N. R. Van Vranken ; Treasurer and Collector, Wm. W. Merritt; Street Commissioner, Philip Nice ; School In- spectors, D. J. Darrow, Il. Il. Terwilliger, O. F. Barnbam ; Justices of the Peace, Peter Lowe, S. W. Hammond, Ilarry 0. Call, W. A. Teel; Aldermen at Large, Charles E. Eaton, Nelson A. Dunning. First Ward Officers : Supervisor, Joba II. Sayers ; Aldermen, Lorea W. Lincoln (two years), Henry M. Williams (one year); Constable, Francis M. Lyon. Second Ward Officers : Supervisor, Amos E. Steele; Alder- men, Daniel Campbell (two years) ; Jesse Beech (one year) ; Constable, Alanson K. Potter.

1876 .- Mayor, Daniel J. Darrow ; Marshal, William Gutchess; Clerk, N. R. Van Vranken ; Treasurer and Collector, William W. Merritt; Street Commissioner, Dighton Wait; Justice of the Peace, Whitfield A. Teel ; School Inspector, William W. Campbell ; Alderman at Large, Thaddeus Densmore. First Ward : Supervisor, John II. Sayers ; Alderman (two years), Martin W. Tanner; Constable, S. D. Neeley. Second Ward : Supervisor, Ilenry L. Ilenderson; Alderman (two years), Jesse Beech : Constable, Alanson K. Potter.

1877 .- Mayor, William Woodhouse; Marshal, Harry O. Call ; Clerk, Selah Il. Worden; Treasurer and Collector, Langdon B. Rice; Street Commissioner, Pbilip Nice; Justice of the Peace, Milton Ryao; School Inspector, Theron Vaa Os- trand ; Alderman at Large, Benjamin F. Rix. First Ward : Supervisor, John Il. Sayers; Alderman (two years), Spen- cer II. Beecher; Constable, F. M. Lyon. Second Ward, Supervisor, Seth A. Paddock ; Alderman (two years), Aaroa V. Peck; Constable, Andrew Farren.

1878 .- Mayor, Elias G Hant ; Marshal, Joha T. Mosher; Clerk, Wil- liam I[. Van Vranken ; Treasurer and Collector, Lansing E. Lincoln ; Street Commissioner, Philander Christian ; Justice of the Peace, Joha W. Day ; School Inspector, Verner J. Tefft; Alderman at Large, Asa I. Barber. First Word: Supervisor, Nelson A. Danaing; Alderman (two years), Georgo W. Shafer; Constable, Solen D. Neeley. Second

Ward : Supervisor, S. A. Paddock ; Alderman (two years), A. J. Bartlett; Constable, L. J. Smith.

1879 .- Mayor, John HI. Sayers ; Marshal, Ilarry O. Call; Clerk, Wil- liam W. Van Vranken; Treasurer and Collector, Pbiletus R. Peck; Street Commissioner, Philip Nico; Justice of the Peace, Samuel W. Hammond; School Inspector, Alexander MeLain ; Alderinan at Large, Edwin C. Russell. First Ward : Supervisor, N. A. Danning; Alderman (two years), Micajah Vaughn ; Constable, Marcus D. True. Second Ward: Supervisor, George G. Mead ; Alderman (two years), Aaron V. Peck ; Alderman, to fill vacancy, Il. J. Wilson ; Constable, John Flora.

1880 .- Mayor, John H. Sayers; Marshal, Harry O. Call; Clerk, Jo- seph P. Presley ; Treasurer and Collector, Augustus A. Ilow- ard; Street Commissioner, John A. Barnes; Justice of the Peace, John W. Royston ; Alderman at Large, Andrew W. Mehan. First Ward : Supervisor, N. A. Dunning; Alder- man (two years), ITarper Reed ; Constable, Seneca R. Curry. Second Ward : Supervisor, Lewis C. Webb; Alderman (two years), Smith Williams; Constable, John Flora. Appointed Officers : City Attorney, V. J. Tefft ; City Surveyor, A. P. Drake; City Eogineer Fire Department, W. W. Root ; City Fire Wardens, William Rayner, First Ward ; John A. Barnes, Second Ward ; Health Officer, W. W. Root ; Cemetery Trustee, John C. Squiers; Poundmaster, J. A. Monroe; Assessors J. C. Squiers, First Ward; E. Terwilliger, Second Ward; School Inspector, James L. Fuller.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

An ordinance providing for organizing a fire department was passed by the village council, July 29, 1867, and a hook-and-ladder company was organized, and wagons and buckets procured. The ordinance was repealed March 21, 1870, after which the company was disbanded, and the implements and appurtenances were ordered into the care of the marshal, to be used in case of fire. The city is now without a regular department.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 50

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

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