History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 63

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 63
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 63

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).

* This mill, at what is now known as " Podunk," was erected about 1851, for the purpose of cutting lumber for the plank-road then build- ing between Howell and Lansing.

t The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad is now laying a side track to this place, which will facilitate its extensive shipping business.

256

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Taylor, the latter of whom was awarded the contract for construction. The church was began in 1879 and dedi- cated July 17, 1880, with impressive ceremonies. It is located at Webberville. The present trustees are James Monroe, Nathaniel Pamment, and Edmund Alchin. Rev. J. W. Ilenry is the pastor. A Union Sabbath-school, under the auspices of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal denom- inations, is held each Sabbath, with Daniel Kingsbury as superintendent.

A class of the Methodist Episcopal Church holds its meetings in the school-house at Webberville. They are increasing in strength and numbers at a rate sufficient to warrant the erection of a church edifice at an early day. The minister sent to Webberville by the Conference of 1880 is Rev. L. H. Houghton.

CONGREGATIONAL.

A society under the auspices of the Congregational Church, and known as the " Congregational Church of Leroy," was organized April 14, 1880, with the following members : Mrs. David Putman, Mrs. Theodore Dietz, Mrs. Oren Corey, Mrs. - Wolcott, Mrs. Chester Barber, Mrs. Moore, Miss - Barber, Mr. Oren Corey, Mr. Nor- man Bement.

The church was organized under the ministry of Rev. Casimir B. Ludwig, of Williamston, who is the present pastor. Services are held in the Lee school building, and a flourishing Sabbath-school has been organized with about sixty scholars and a well-selected library of 200 volumes. The society is sufficiently prosperous to warrant the crec- tion of an edifice in 1881.

BURIAL-PLACES.

The earliest burial-place in use among the inhabitants of the township of Leroy was known as the Meech Cemetery. Though quite generally used by the early settlers in the latter township, it was located in Wheatfield, adjacent to section 18. Mr. Meech assisted in its clearing, and other- wise contributed to its improvement, thoughi no especial reason existed for calling it after his name. Mrs. Carmer, the settler whose death occurred in 1839, was interred in this lot, her remains having been removed from the farm of Mr. Meech. It has since been improved and beautified, while many graceful tablets and monuments have added to its attractions. The remains of Mr. Ephraim Meech also slumber here.

A lot on section 23, known as the Alchin Cemetery, has been in use for many years as a burial-place, the first in- terments having been those of Nathan Jones and the children of Daniel Frecman, whose deaths occurred many years since.

In 1873 the township purchased of Edmund Alchin one acre of ground embracing the above spot for the sum of fifty dollars; it was neatly inclosed, and is now used as a township burial-place. It is under the supervision of a board of trustees embracing Edmund Alchin, William Askell, George Fear.

A lot was more recently purchased on section 10 of H. P. Webber, which has been inclosed and devoted to pur- poses of burial. It is known as the Webber Cemetery,

and is intended for the use more especially of residents of the northeast portion of the township.

SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

Belle Oak Lodge, No. 178, I. O. O. F .- The lodge of Odd-Fellows now established at Webberville was insti- tuted at Belle Oak, Jan. 6, 1872, and was removed to its present location in response to a universal desire of its members, the majority of whom resided in Leroy. Its charter members were B. W. Brown, A. N. Colburn, Hiram R. Carnes, George Fisher, Jr., George F. Casteline, Thomas A. Lowrie, William Casteline. Its first officers were George Fisher, Jr., N. G .; Benjamin W. Brown, V. G .; Thomas A. Lowrie, Sec .; H. R. Carnes, Treas. Its present officers are Ira Merrill, N. G .; William F. Mead, V. G .; G. H. Galusha, Sec .; W. R. Dunlap, Treas .; Charles E. Jones, Per. Sec. A spacious and well-appointed hall is the place of its regular meetings.

1 .

Edson Lodge, No. 1461, Knights of Honor .- This lodge received its charter Oct. 9, 1879, its first officers having been J. L. Lloyd, Dictator ; William Taylor, Vice- Dictator ; L. B. Smith, Treas .; G. H. Galusha, Fin. Sec. ; R. J. Hammond, Rec. Sec. Its present officers are C. W. Chapman, Dictator ; R. B. Smith, Vice-Dictator ; L. B. Smith, Treas. ; D. D. Kingsbury, Rec. Sec. ; Albert Angel, Fin. Sec.

Cedar Lodge, No. 25, Daughters of Rebekah, is an organization of considerable numbers and strength. Its charter was granted Feb. 22, 1879.

Leroy Lodge, No. 84, Independent Order of Good Templars, received its charter Nov. 20, 1878, and was at one time flourishing, but has since declined.

A flourishing grange exists in Leroy, with a constantly- increasing membership. A commodious hall has been erected, in which their meetings are regularly held.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

ALBERT T. HORTON.

Among the many biographies that we append to the history of this county and its townships, no subject is more worthy than the one whose name heads this sketch. Ile is in the truest sense self-made. Coming to the State in an carly day when to exist required a struggle, his only capital energy, willingness, and strength, he has indeed achieved success, and is to-day enjoying the reward of an industrious, well-spent life.

He was born in Lake Co., Ohio, July 21, 1828, the second in a family of four children. His father, Franklin S. Horton, was a native of Connecticut, and a blacksmith by trade. His mother was Betsy (Tucker) Horton, a native of the same State, where they were married, and started for Ohio the next day on their wedding-tour with a team and covered wagon in company with his brother and others, who had located land on the Western Reserve, locating in Lake County, where he followed farming combined with the

RESIDENCE OF ALBERT T. HORTON, LEROY TP. INGHAM CO. MICHIGAN.

LEROY.

257

manufacture of hay-forks, scythes, and carriage-springs, up to the time of his death. The mother is still living in the old homestead. After the death of her husband, she rented her farm and kept her family together, teach- ing them by her example industry, economy, and sociability. Of them and the success of her precepts, she never had canse to complain, as they have all become prosperous and respected citizens. Albert, at the age of fourteen, in com- pany with his younger brother, took the farm under his supervision, remaining at home until he was twenty-four, when he hired out by the month to a man who bad pre- viously worked for him. June 25, 1852, he married Miss Maria L. Bennett, who was born in Ohio Nov. 13, 1832, and the fifth representative of a family of eight, all living. Her parents were both Vermonters, passing the early part of their married life there, afterwards removing to Ohio, where they followed farming until the death of the father, the mother surviving him three years.

Mr. Horton continued working by the month until the spring of 1853, when he removed to Michigan, living in Lansing through the summer. In the fall they bought their present home of one hundred and sixty acres on sec-

tion 16, to which have since been added eighty acres. On their arrival they lived with a neighbor, Knapp, until they could build a comfortable though not spacious log house, moving in in March when it was only chiuked on two sides. On their way to their new home their household goods were capsized in a small stream while crossing, deluging everything, more particularly their straw-beds, which they had to spread and dry, straw being more scarce then than now and no more to be had. Mr. and Mrs. Horton were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are living. The eldest son and daughter are married and settled ncar homc.

Politically, Mr. Horton was formerly a Republican, lat- terly a Democrat ; has been supervisor of his township for six years, clerk three years. He takes an active interest in schools, having been director twelve years, and knowing from past experience the necessities for an education; for, though possessing a large amount of practical knowledge, his advantages for education were limited, like those of many of the early pioneers and settlers of the Western States.

In religion his views are liberal.

PAVID GORSLINE.

DAVID GORSLINE.

This gentleman has nearly reached his fourscore years, which have not been vouchsafed him alone by reason of strength, but because a strong constitution protected by a temperate use of the good things of life, an even tempera- ment, and a husbanding of his resources has enabled him to endure the hardships of pioneer experiences and the ex- bansting exposures and trials of a frontier life.

He was born in New Town, Long Island, May 3, 1802. His father, also a native of the same place, was killed in the battle of Queenstown, in the war of 1812. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wood, was a native of New York, and one of a family of eleven children. After 33

MRS. DAVID GORSLINE.

the death of his father, David, being then only ten years of age, took his first lesson in farming in Sullivan Co., N. Y., living there with his grandparents, and pursuing dil- igently this avocation until he was sixteen years of age, when be embarked for himself, receiving for his services three dollars and a half per month at the outset. In 1824 he married Miss Clarissa Worden, a native of Sullivan County, where she was born Dec. 5, 1803. Her parents were both natives of Orange Co., N. Y., and the parents of eleven children, Clarissa being the seventh. Her father died there in 1828, and her mother in Ohio, in 1871. After their marriage David labored by the day or worked land on shares as the opportunity afforded in Sullivan and after-

258

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

wards in Niagara County, until 1836, when, with his wife and six children, he turned from all the scenes of his child- hood and early years, and friends and relatives, journeyed through the lakes to Detroit, and thence by his own con- veyance to Wheatfield township, where he located one hundred and twenty aeres on sections 34 and 35, he being the only white man in four townships. In 1837 they re- ceived their first neighbor in William Drown, who lived in the house with them. Their first home was a house twelve by sixteen feet. Poles covered with shakes were substi- tuted for doors. These he made by lamp-light, and all carpenter-, mason-, and other work was done by himself. To Mr. and Mrs. Gorsline were born ten children, of whom six are living : Elizabeth, born Nov. 7, 1824; Catharine, born April 24, 1826; Parden E., born Feb. 24, 1829;

Richard A., born March 8, 1831; David, born Feb. 24, 1833; Edwin, born Dec. 29, 1840.

In 1872 they left their old home, which contained two hundred and forty acres, and which they had transformed from a wilderness to blossoming fields by thirty-six years of hard labor and privation, and moved to Williamston. In 1873 he sold his farm, and the year following moved to Leroy township, where they now live in the enjoyment of ease and comfort.

In politics Mr. Gorsline is a Democrat ; has held all the various town offices, including that of supervisor, which he held six years, and has proven himself worthy of the con- fidence reposed in him. Mrs. Gorsline is a worthy member of the Baptist Church, Mr. Gorsline being liberal in his religious views.

LESLIE .*

NATURAL FEATURES.

GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.

THE township of Leslie occupies a position on the south- ern border of the county of Iogham, and is bounded west by Onondaga, north by Vevay, east by Bunker Hill, and south by Jackson County. The eastern and southern boundaries were surveyed by Joseph Wampler, in 1824; the northern and western boundaries by John Mullett, in 1824-25 ; and the township was subdivided by Hervey Parke, in 1826.

The surface of the township is level or gently rolling, and its soil is capable of yielding largely of the various pro- ductions of the region. The principal stream is Huntoon Creek,-named for an early settler,-which flows in a general southerly course nearly across the centre of the township. Its principal sources are in Mud Lake, on seetions 3 and 10, and Huntoon Lake, on sections 13 and 14. There is light power on the stream, which was formerly utilized at Leslie village, but the dam was torn away and the mill-pond drained for the promotion of the health of the inhabitants. The power had been used to drive a saw-mill.

An outlet by rail is furnished by the Saginaw division of the Michigan Central Railway, which unites at Rives Junction, in Jackson County, five miles south of Leslie, with the Grand River Valley road, or Grand Rapids divis- ion. The village of Leslie is situated in the southern part of the township, and North Leslie is a hamlet lying north- west from the Centre.

PREOCCUPATION.

The occupants of the territory included in the township of Leslie, when it was first settled by white people, were of the copper-colored race generally known as Indians. Evi-

denees, however, exist pointing to the occupation-long previous-by a people superior in many respects to the Indians, notably in the art of defense against the attacks of hostile forces.

Sidney O. Russell, of Leslie, while hunting on a certain occasion, in the winter, discovered an embankment on what is now the J. W. Wilcox place, near North Leslie, and when the snow had gone he examined it closely. It was rectangular in form, with entrances at the northern and southern ends, and when discovered by Mr. Russell was about eighteen inches high. Upon it were growing trees which were equal in size to those standing in the surround- ing forest, which were very large. In the immediate vicinity of Leslie were discovered other curiosities in the form of small mounds and pits. About half a mile west of the vil- lage was a traet of fifteen or twenty acres, from which were plowed up large numbers of human bones, many of which were left exposed. A piece of hardened copper was also found in one locality, and among the bones which were un- earthed was a skull, which was so large that not a hat could be found in Leslie large enough to fit it; a thigh- bone which was found to be three inches longer than the thigh of the tallest man in the place, and he was very tall. The Indians had no knowledge of these bones, nor of the works which abounded in the vicinity ; and it can only be concluded that they were relies of that mysterious people whom archaeologists call the " prehistoric race." Rev. W. W. Crane, an early minister of this region, who lived in Eaton County, was an enthusiast in the study of these an- tiquities, and familiar with all treatises upon the subject, yet he could only offer a theory as to their probable origin and the time when this portion of the country was occupied by them, for nothing definite could be known of them more than the evident fact of their being a warlike race, and con- siderably versed in mechanics.

* By Pliny A. Duranl.

259

LESLIE.

LAND ENTRIES.

The following is a list of those who entered land in what is now Leslie township (town 1 north, range I west), show- ing dates of entry :

Section 1 .- Dorman Felt, May 25, 1837; Francis Curtis, June 7, 1838; Asher Robinson, Nov. 1, 1839; Nathaniel Searl, 1847; Stephen Verrill, William Potter, no date; Augustus Finney, 1857.

Section 2 .- William W. Dewey, July 23, 1836; Stephen Kirby, David Lockwood, April 17, 1837; Joshua Odell, May 11, 1837; Isaac Kirby, May 13, 1837; Dorman Felt, Sept. 20, 1848.

Section 3 .- John Sample, Sept. 13, 1848.

Section 4 .- Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836; R. Kirby, July 23, 1836; William Doty, Nov. 1, 1836.

Section 5 .- William Page, entire section, July 23, 1846.

Section 6 .- Henry Finn, Dec. 12, 1836; Runyan Churchward, May 23, 1837 ; Ira 11. Cole, May 24, 1837; William Jones, June 14, 1837; Stephen Edwards, Jan. 15, 1845; Lucretia Davis, no date. Section 7 .- Nathaniel B. Kingsland, John Jones, William Page, July 23, 1836 : Ira Hare, Sept. 23, 1836; Noah Phelps, May 23, 1837 ; William G. Van Cleef, April 1, 1839; Thomas Dunlap, July 17, 1839.

Section 8 .- James Royston, May 18, 1836; Benjamin Tuttle, James MeCrary, July 14, 1836; Thomas Squiers, Bethel S. Farr, July 23, 1836 ; William W. Andrews, Oet. 29, 1838.

Section 9 .- Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836; James Armstrong, July 14, 1836; Jacob Leomis, April 4, 1837.

Section 10 .- Restecome Kirby, July 23, 1836.

Section 11 .- Benjamin Tuttle, July 14, 1836; S. W. Reed and Elijah Hunt, June 19, 1837 ; William C. Longyear, July 15, 1837.

Section 12 .- William W. Dewey, July 15 and 23, 1836 ; Dorman Felt, May 25, 1837.

Section 13 .- John Penson, June 9, 1837; Ifiram and Thomas God- frey, Dec. 26, 1837; Thomas Godfrey, Sept. 20, 1838; Samuel H. Kimball, Dec, 21, 1838; John Whiting, March 12, 1842; Henry O. Hodges, no date.

Section 14 .- John Davy, Jr., May 23, 1836 ; Prentice J. Miner, July 23, 1836.

Section 15 .- Benjamin Damoth, April 27, 1836; Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836 ; Abram Kirby, July 23, 1836; William G. ITarmen, no date.

Section 16 .- P. H. Davis, William Doty, Walter HI. Cheney, Henry Dennis, Amasa Hall, N. B. Backus, M. N. Armstrong, F. Shaver, no dates.

Section 17 .- James Royston, May 18, 1836; Benjamin Tuttle, Elijah Woodworth, July 14, 1836.

Section 18 .- James Royston, May 18, 1836; N. B. Kingsland, no date; Daniel Cook, Sept. 26, 1836.

Section 19 .- George W. Tower, May 12, 1836; John C. ITempsted, May 13, 1836; David Darrah, May 14, 1836; Sidney O. Russell, May 18, 1836; Daniel Cook, Sept. 26, 1836; William O. Long- year, July 15, 1837.

Section 20 .- David Darrah, May 14, 1836; Sidney O. Russell, May 18, 1836; Benjamin Davis, May 20, 1836; Joshua F. Freeman, David F. Dwight, Zadock Washburn, July 23, 1836.

Section 21 .- Amos Wortman, March 11, 1836; Ezekiel T. Critchett, March 18, 1836; John N. and D. F. Dwight, March 21, 1836; Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836; Amos Wortman, July 23, 1836. Section 22 .- J. N. and D. F. Dwight, March 21, 1836; Charles Tupper, April 28, 1836; Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836; Thomas and Dennis MeMahon, May 23, 1836; Restecome Kirby, July 23, 1836.

Section 23 .- Jacob F. Cooley, May 16, 1836; William W. Dewey, July 5, 1836; Prentice J. Miner, July 23, 1836; Enoch Scovell, May 7, 1840; Jacob Straight, May 12, 1841.

Sections 24, 25, 26, 27 .- John Western, March 30, 1836.

Section 28 .- Denzil P. Rice, Feb. 23, 1836; Henry Meeker, Feb. 23, 1836; Jacob Loomis, John C. Burnell, April 18, 1836; Hiram Lane, April 28, 1836; Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836.

Section 29 .- D. P. Rice, Feb. 23, 1836 ; John C. Burnell, April 18,

1836; Sidney O. Russell, May 18, 1836; George II. Freeman, May 20 and 23, 1836; Joshua F. Freeman, May 23, 1836; Zadock Washburo, July 23, 1836; Gilbert II. Valentine, Nov. 1, 1836.

Section 30 .- James McCray, April 26, 1836; Joseph Compton, April 26 and July 23, 1836; Ingham County, June 2, 1837.

Section 31 .- Daniel Perry, Jasper S. Wolcott, Joseph Perry, Jan. 21, 1836; Jeduthan Waldo, March 3, 1836; John Eaman, May 6, 1836; Tra Nash, July 13, 1836.

Section 32 .- William W. Harwood, Nov. 3, 1835; Sylvanus P. Jer- main, Feb. 23, 1836 ; Theodore Clark, Jr., Feb. 11, 1836 ; Austin Church and Frederick Clark, Feb. 11, 1836; Austin Church, March 25, 1836; Thomas Godfrey, Nov. 17, 1838.

Section 33 .- William W. Ilarwood, Nov. 30, 1835; John Western, March 30, 1836.

Section 34 .- Jeremiah Marvin, Feb. 2, 1836; John Western, March 30, 1836.

Sections 35 and 36 .- John Western, March 30, 1836.

From the foregoing it will be scen that the first entries in the township were made by William W. Harwood, Nov. 3, 1835, at which date he purchased the southeast quarter of section 32. On the 30th of the same month he pur- chased the west half of the southwest quarter of section 33, the balance of the section being taken by John West- ern, a heavy purchaser.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The records of the County Pioneer Society contain the following items of interest regarding some of the settlers of the township of Leslie: Jacob Armstrong, a native of Charlestown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., removed to Michi- . gan in the fall of 1837, arriving at Detroit September 3d. Mr. Armstrong relates his experience as follows : " I hired a man and team to transport my goods; arrived at the Freeman bridge, on Grand River, the 9th of September. Found the river impassable on account of heavy rains. The causeway, some thirty rods long between the bridge and the north bank, was afloat. I left my goods on the south side, and my wife and I crossed on the floating logs, jumping from one log to another, and came to Leslie that night, five miles, on foot. Next morning I started with an ox-team for my goods, the river still impassable for a team. By the help of three hired men we loaded in a wagon what we could draw, and drew it across on plank laid on the floating cause- way, and by taking two sets of plank we could shift them every length of the wagon, and by working faithfully all day, part of the time up to our waist in water, we got them over, and arrived at our home in Leslie some time after dark."

The Freeman bridge mentioned by Mr. Armstrong is well remembered by the pioneers, as it was at the place where many of them crossed the river when on their way into Ingham County with their families.

Elijah Woodworth,* a native of Mayfield, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and afterwards a resident of Cayuga County, and a soldier of the war of 1812, removed to Michigan from Aurelius, Cayuga Co., in the fall of 1835. His route lay through Canada, and the journey occupied twenty-one days of time. During the winter the family remained in Jack- son County, with Mr. Woodworth's cousin, George Wood- worth. In March, 1836, Elijah Woodworth cut his road part way through to Leslie, and finally arrived in the latter township. He crossed Grand River on a raft. He says : " My nearest neighbors north were at De Witt, Clinton Co .;

# Mr. Woodworth was the first settler in Leslie township, and is now residing in Wheatfield.

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HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

south, four miles, and east and west none but natives that I koew of. During the summer new-comers in pursuit of homes found my habitation. Each had his name booked as he came to the door, and his turn of choice of land fol- lowed his registry. Amos Wortman, Jasper Wolcott, and myself became their guides in the wilderness. Our pro- visions were transported some distance and were very dear. I assisted D. F. Dwight to build the first saw-mill in Ing- ham County, a water-mill at Leslie, in 1836. The mail was brought from Jacksonville. We had no sawed timbers about our mill. Our land was located at Kalamazoo in the order the applications were made.

" Henry Meeker located his land and mill site, and left the same year. When we went out to look land we had to camp in the woods over-night or stay at some Indian lodging. During 1836 among the new settlers were James Royston, S. O. Russell, and E. T. Critchett, of Seneca Falls, N. Y. Plenty of wild animals then roamed our forests, such as bear, wolves, deer ; cats, rats, and mice we had none."

During 1836, before a bridge was built over Grand River, it was crossed by incomers on a log raft. Some time in that year, Mr. Oaks was treed by wolves near the river, on his return from Jackson, and remained all night on his perch, badly frightened. Wolves were quite troublesome until the settlers began trapping them for the bounty of seven dollars per head, and their numbers were soon greatly lessened. Bears were also plenty, and it is related that David Ackley killed one with his rifle, one Sunday morn- ing, that was seven feet two inches in length. He and his wife were out taking a walk, and she at first mistook the animal for an Indian pony.

The first law-suit in the town of Aurelius was between E. T. Critchett, plaintiff, and Elijah Woodworth, defendant. The first death in Leslie is thought to have been that of a daughter of Stephen Kirby. From 1838 to 1840 the settlers were all sick with bilious fever and the ague, and they were so badly shaken up that many became disheart- ened and returned to their former homes.

Thales W. Huntoon, a native of Claremont, Cheshire Co., N. II., settled in Leslie, Nov. 12, 1840. Ifis parents also came to the township, where they both died. IIis father's name was Isaac F. Huntoon. When T. W. Hun- toon first came to the township the village of Leslie con- tained but few houses, while he expected to find a thriving town. On arriving there and inquiring the distance to the village of Leslie, he was greatly surprised to find that he was then in the midst of it.

Benjamin Davis, from Jefferson Co., N. Y., removed to Michigan in October, 1836, and remained in Wayne County until Jan. 1, 1837, when he settled with his family in the township of Leslie, Ingham Co., where he lived for thirty years, and died at the age of seventy. His son, Richard II. Davis, was but ten years old when the family came to Michigan. The wife of R. H. Davis came to Ingham County in 1841 with her parents, Asa and Orvilla Dubois, who settled in the township of Vevay.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 63

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