USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 80
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 80
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146
# This name was chosen by Ephraim Meech, the first settler in what is now Leroy township, who was from Brutus, Cayuga Co., N. Y.
324
HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
changed the name to the present one of Wheatfield, exhib- iting good taste on the part of Mr. Gorsline and the other inhabitants. It is also very appropriate, for a better wheat- growing region is not found in the State .*
The records of the township, including the original ones of Brutus, from 1837 to 1846, inclusive, were, unfortu- nately, destroyed by fire in the log dwelling of George Beeman in the winter of 1846-47. II. C. Davis was then town clerk, and was occupying Mr. Beeman's house. There is now no means of procuring the names of the township officers previous to 1846, except through the recollection of the " oldest inhabitants."
According to the recollection of David Gorsline, whose memory of events is good, the first town-meeting for Wheat- field was held in the spring of 1841, at the house of Wm. Tompkins, on the southwest quarter of section 10, at what was then, and still is, known as " White Dog Corners,"-so called from the fact that there were three white dogs owned in the vicinity, one of which, belonging to George Hay, was killed by a falling tree. Hay was something of a wag, and when he had buried his defunet canine, with some cere- mony, he named the place White Dog Corners. Sanford Olds was the first supervisor of either Brutus or Wheat- field after the name was changed, and the first town clerk was Rufus Carle. Other early supervisors were Wm. Tompkins, David Gorsline, and Joseph Whitcomb. David Carle was also among the early clerks. The first treasurer of Wheatfield was David Gorsline, who was also among the early justices.
The officers for 1846, so far as ascertained, were as follows :
Supervisor, Joseph Whiteomb; Town Clerk, H. C. Davis ; Justice, Manford Felton.
1847.1-Supervisor, David Gorsline ; Town Clerk, Elijah Hammond, Treasurer, Stephen B. Olds; Justice, Joseph Whitcomb.
1848 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline ; Clerk, David L. Cochran ; Treas- urer, Joseph Whitcomb; Justice, James Sloan.
1849 .- Supervisor, E. E. Cochran ; Clerk, Philip Howard ; Treasurer, Joseph Whitcomb ; Justices, Gardner Fletcher, Michael Christion.
1850 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline ; Clerk, Henry Lane; Treasurer, Joseph Whitcomb ; Justices, no names given .;
1851 .- Supervisor, George Beeman ; Clerk, D. L. Cochran ; Treasurer, Michael Christian ; Justices, no names given.} 1852 .- Supervisor, George Beeman; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, Elijah Hammond ; Justices, no names given.}
1853 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline : Clerk, Oscar A. Everden ; Treas- urer, Michael Christian ; Justice, Joseph Gilbert.
1854 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline ;¿ Clerk, O. A. Everden ; Treas- urer, M. Christian; Justices, Benjamin Cole, Gardner Fletcher.
1855 .- Supervisor, David Holmes; Clerk, O. A. Everden ; Treasurer, M. Christian ; Justice, John Pollok.
1856 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline; Clerk, S. D. Watson ; Treasurer, James MeGowan ; Justice, William B. Barber.
1857 .- Supervisor, James Sloan ; Clerk, S. D. Wutzon ; Treasurer, David Goreline; Justice, George A. Gillit.
. The name of Wheatfield was proposed by Mr. Gorsline from the township in Niagara Cu, N. Y., from whence he emigrated to Mich - igan.
t The whole number of votes east in 1847 was twenty-two.
* For these three years it is stated in the preamble to the annual election that justices were elected, but no names are given.
¿ Mr. Goreline resigned, and Daniel Holmes was appointed in his place, Sept. 9, 1851.
1858 .- Supervisor, Joseph Dennis; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, Merritt Chappel; Justices, M. J. Pollok (full term), Silas Butler (two years), Irving Brown (one year).
1859 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, William Beekman ; Justice, William B. Barber.
1860 .- Supervisor, W. Beardsley ; Clerk, Joseph A. Snow ; Treasurer, William Beckman ; Justice, William Stewart.
1861 .- Supervisor, W. Beardsley ; Clerk, James Wilson; Treasurer, David C. Raymond ; Justice, George A. Gillit.
1862 .- Supervisor, Wetmore Beardsley ; Clerk, Myron J. Pollek ; Treasurer, L. M. Dennis; Justices, Albert D. Pollok, Wil- lium Beekman.
1863 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline: || Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, L. M. Dennis ; Justice, Josiah B. Sherman.
1864 .- Supervisor, Joseph Dennis; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, William S. Frost ; Justice, Harvey Hammond.
1865 .- Supervisor, Harvey Hammond ; Clerk, S. D. Watson; Treas- urer, William Carr; Justice, George Amy.
1866 .- Supervisor, Harvey Hammond ; Clerk, James Wilson; Treas- urer, William S. Frost ; Justice, A. D. Pollok.
1867 .- Supervisor, Harvey Hammond ; Clerk, Jaines Wilson ; Treas- urer, William S. Frost; Justice, George A. Gillit.
1868 .- Supervisor, John C. Granger; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treas- urer, A. D. Hatch ; Justices, Il. Hammond, James B. Frost. 1869 .- Supervisor, George D. Spaulding; Clerk, William S. Frost ; Treasurer, George Beeman ; Justices, George Amy, Daniel Putman.
1870 .- Supervisor, Harvey Hammond ; Clerk, Benjamin Cele ; Treas- urer, Stephen A. Bigelow ; Justices, A. D. Pollok, S. D. Watson.
1871 .- Supervisor, William S. Frest ; Clerk, John W. Butler; Treas- urer, Jacob Rehle ; Justices, Harvey Hammoud (full term), Silas Butler (two years), William Beekman (one year).
1872 .- Supervisor, George II. Edgerton; Clerk, Francis B. Cole; Treasurer, John J. Rehle ; Justiec, William Beekman.
1873 .- Supervisor, F. R. Rockwell; Clerk, John W. Butler; Treas- urer, George Carr ; Justice, William S. Frost.
1874 .- Supervisor, Frederick R. Rockwell ; Clerk, Erastus L. Tuttle ; Treasurer, George Carr ; Justices, Daniel Putman, John C. Cannon.
1875 .- Supervisor, F. R. Rockwell; Clerk, E. L. Tuttle; Treasurer, John C. Cannon ; Justices, Silas Butler, George Carr.
1876 .- Supervisor, F. R. Rockwell; Clerk, E. L. Tuttle; Treasurer, J. C. Cannon ; [ Justice, William H. Coryell.
1877 .- Supervisor, Martin V. Jessop ; Clerk, Charles A. Rehle ; Treasurer, William E. Dennis; Justice, A. D. Pollok.
1878 .- Supervisor, M. V. Jessop; Clerk, Charles A. Rehle; Treas- urer, William E. Deanis; Justice, John Yocum.
1879 .- Supervisor, Martin V. Jessop ; Clerk, Charles A. Rehle; Treas- urer, James Apsey ; Justice, Theodore Van Horn.
1880 .- Supervisor, M. V. Jessop ; Clerk, Charles A. Rehle; Treas- urer, James Apsey ; Justices, William Beekman,## George Curr;## Superintendent of Schools, Myron J. Pollok ; School Inspector, J. E. Westgate; Highway Commissioner, G. Ed- win States; Drain Commissioner, Jehn W. Butler; Consta- bles, Simeon Kent, ** Walter Phillips, ** George Haddy, ** Jacob Rehle .***
The following list of persons liable to military duty in the township in 1848 is from the record, and may be of interest to the younger generation :
William Spaulding, Sheffield Crippin, Admiral B. Camp, Perry Crip- pin, Sanford Demerry, Sherman Fairchild, Alford II. Keyes, Henry Price, Stephen B. Olds, Samuel Thompson, George Meech, Philo Otis, Abram Hendrie, Gardner Fletcher, Edward Cochran, Jacob Demerry, David L. Cochran, James Sloan, Tunis Taylor, William Hammond, Perry Rocker, George Hay, J. M. Burney, Manford Felton, M. Otis, Elijah Hammond, David Gorsline,-27.
" Resigned Oct. 6, 1863, and Harvey Hammond appointed in his place.
" Elected register of deeds, and resigned Nov. 23, 1876. W.Iliam S. Humphrey appointed in his stend.
** Nove of these have qualified.
MRS. GEO. BEEMAN.
GEO. BEEMAN
STOVER
R
-
325
WHEATFIELD.
EARLY ROADS.
The first highway laid out in the township was on sec- tions 34 and 35, about 1839, and in this neighborhood was organized the first road district, and called No. 1.
The number of road districts in 1848 was fourteen ; in 1860, seventeen ; in 1870, nineteen ; in 1880, thirty.
MANUFACTURES.
These, as will be readily understood, have been neither very many nor very important. Brick have been made to a considerable extent on seetion 2, within the corporate limits of the village of Williamston, but at present nothing is being done in this line.
A steam saw-mill was ereeted by Frederick R. Rockwell on the northwest quarter of section 15 about 1870, which has been operated to a greater or less extent since, the bulk of business being transacted during the winter months. In 1876, Mr. Rockwell removed to Williamston, where he is engaged in the furniture business, under the firm-name of Rockwell & Tuttle. Since that time his son, George B. Roekwell, has managed the mill. When in full running order the mill employs five hands, including Mr. Rockwell. The product, entirely of hard-woods, is sold at the mill. Mr. Rockwell, Sr., was from Ohio, and first settled in White Oak township, where he operated a steam saw-mill for about two years, when he removed it to Wheatfield in 1870. M. H. Bowerman was for a time in company with him in the mill business.
In 1864 the township voted considerable sums at various times for the payment of men who enlisted in the army, but the record does not show the amounts actually paid.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The first school in the township was kept in a log build- ing, on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 34, by Susan Cochran, about 1840. Another early teacher was Saphronia Worden, a niece of Mrs. David Gorsline, in 1841-42. The school-house in the Whitcomb neigh- borhood was built in 1841 or 1842. It was a shed- roofed log building, and the second in the township. The third was probably built in what is now District No. 3, about 1846. Mahala Blanchard taught in that dis- triet the first, or among the first. Among early teachers, but later than those already mentioned, were the follow - ing, who were examined by the board of school inspectors and received certificates as follows : Lodema Tobias and Betsey A. Cummings, April, 1850; Martha H. Barber, December, 1850 ; Lorama Camp, April 1, 1851 ; Henry N. Palmer, November, 1851 ; Louisa R. Sherman, April, 1852; Sarah Ann Fletcher, May, 1852; Catherine Dubois, April, 1853; Almira Pitts, November, 1853; Mary L. Gillit, May, 1854.
As early as 1850 the township possessed a considerable library, and about 1860 the number of volumes had in- ereased to nearly 500. Since that time it seems to have declined, and there is now no regular library in existence, so far as known. As late as 1860 the town records showed a long catalogue of well-selected books, but the matter seems to have been greatly neglected for many years.
The present number of school districts in the township
is eight (five whole and three fractional), with two brick and six frame buildings. One of the brick buildings is the fine one recently erected in Williamston village, which is within the limits of Wheatfield. This district, the bulk of which is in Williamstown township, is reported in Wheatfield, and adds largely to its school statistics. The other brick build- ing is in District No. 2, on section 36, and cost $2200.
The number of children between the ages of five and twenty, including Williamston village, is 678. Value of school property, $19,425 ; total expenditures for 1879-80, $5594.40.
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
There have never been any church edifices erected in this township, but religious meetings have been held for many years in the various school buildings. The religious de- nominations represented in the township are Methodist Epis- eopal, Wesleyan Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, Catholics, and perhaps others. Many of these attend re- ligious services at Williamston. The first Protestant min- ister who visited the township is said by the oldest settlers to have been Elder Fero, a prominent Baptist clergyman.
BURIAL-PLACES.
These are three in number, and located on seetions 13, 23, and 34. The one on 13 was probably the earliest. The first burials were on the old homestead farm of David Gorsline, but these were subsequently taken up and re- interred in the public grounds. The first burial-ground was established about 1842-43, on the town-line on section 13. The latest one, located on section 23, has been in use since about 1877.
Thanks are due to the following among others who ren- dered assistance in the compilation of this history of the town- ship : David Gorsline, Gardner Fletcher, W. M. Spaulding, J. J. and C. A. Rehle, Wm. Beekman, Daniel Putman, and George Becman.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
GEORGE BEEMAN.
George and Washington Beeman were twin brothers, born March 8, 1816, in Wheeler township, Steuben Co., N. Y. Both are still living, Washington in Linden, Wash- tenaw Co., Mich., and George, the subject of this sketch, in Wheatfield, Ingham Co. All of the other children of their parents, James and Eunice (Chase) Beeman, died in infancy. The father was a native of the Old Bay State, the mother of the State of New York, her father having been a soldier of the Revolution under Washington.
George's parents being poor and his mother in ill health, he, when but twelve years of age, commenced the battle of life for himself. Hiring out to a man by the name of Glass for his clothes and schooling winters, he remained about two years, wearing out the clothes he had and having to work in the woods lumbering instead of attending school winters. Subsequently he commenced working by the month summers and attending school winters. The first
324
HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
changed the name to the present one of Wheatfield, exhib- iting good taste on the part of Mr. Gorsline and the other inhabitants. It is also very appropriate, for a better wheat- growing region is not found in the State .*
The records of the township, including the original ones of Brutus, from 1837 to 1846, inclusive, were, unfortu- nately, destroyed by fire in the log dwelling of George Beeman in the winter of 1846-47. H. C. Davis was then town clerk, and was occupying Mr. Beeman's house. There is now no means of procuring the names of the township officers previous to 1846, except through the recollection of the " oldest inhabitants."
According to the recollection of David Gorsline, whose memory of events is good, the first town-meeting for Wheat- field was held in the spring of 1841, at the house of Wm. Tompkins, on the southwest quarter of section 10, at what was then, and still is, known as " White Dog Corners,"-so called from the fact that there were three white dogs owned in the vicinity, one of which, belonging to George Hay, was killed by a falling tree. Hay was something of a wag, and when he had buried his defunet canine, with some cere- mony, he named the place White Dog Corners. Sanford Olds was the first supervisor of either Brutus or Wheat- field after the name was changed, and the first town elerk was Rufus Carle. Other early supervisors were Wm. Tompkins, David Gorsline, and Joseph Whiteomb. David Carle was also among the early elerks. The first treasurer of Wheatfield was David Gorsline, who was also among the early justices.
The officers for 1846, so far as ascertained, were as follows :
Supervisor, Joseph Whitcomb; Town Clerk, H. C. Davis; Justice, Manford Felton.
1847.1-Supervisor, David Gorsline; Town Clerk, Elijah Hammend, Treasurer, Stephen B. Olda; Justice, Joseph Whitcomb.
1848 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline ; Clerk, David L. Cochran ; Treas- orer, Joseph Whitcomb; Justice, James Sloan.
1849 .- Supervisor, E. E. Cochran ; Clerk, Philip Howard ; Treasurer, Joseph Whitcomb; Justicea, Gardner Fletcher, Michael Christian.
1850 .- Soperviser, David Gorsline ; Clerk, Ilenry Lane; Treasurer, Joseph Whitcomb ; Justices, no names given .;
1851 .- Supervisor, George Beeman ; Clerk, D. L. Cochran ; Treasurer, Michael Christian ; Justices, no names given.} 1852 .- Supervisor, George Beeman; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, Elijah Ilammond ; Justices, no names givee.}
1853 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline : Clerk, Oscar A. Everden ; Treas- urer, Michael Christian ; Justice, Joseph Gilbert.
1854 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline ;¿ Clerk, O. A. Everden ; Trcas- urer, M. Christian; Jastices, Benjamin Cele, Gardner Fletcher.
1855 .- Supervisor, David Holmes; Clerk, O. A. Everden ; Treasurer, M. Christian ; Justice, John Pollok.
1856 .- Supervisor, David Goraline; Clerk, S. D. Watson ; Treasurer, James McGowan; Justice, William B. Barber.
1857 .- Supervisor, James Sloan ; Clerk, S. D. Watson ; Treasurer, David Gorzline; Justice, George A. Gillit.
1858 .- Supervisor, Joseph Dennis; Clerk, James Wilson : Treasurer, Merritt Chappel; Justices, M. J. Pollok (full term), Silas Butler (two years), Irving Brown (one year).
1859 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, William Beekman ; Justice, William B. Barber.
1860 .- Supervisor, W. Beardsley ; Clork, Joseph A. Snew ; Troasurer, William Beekman ; Justice, William Stewart.
1861 .- Supervisor, W. Beardsley ; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, David C. Raymond ; Justier, George A. Gillit.
1862 .- Supervisor, Wetmore Beardsley; Clerk, Myron J. Pollok ; Treasurer, L. M. Dennis; Justices, Albert D. Pollok, Wil- lium Beekman.
1863 .- Supervisor, David Gorsline: | Clerk, James Wilson; Treasurer, L. M. Dennis ; Justice, Josiah B. Sherman.
1864 .- Supervisor, Joseph Dennis ; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treasurer, William S. Frost ; Justice, Harvey Ifammond.
1865 .- Supervisor, Harvey Hammond; Clerk, S. D. Watson ; Treas- urer, William Carr; Justice, George Amy.
1866 .- Supervisor, Ilarvey Hammond ; Clerk, James Wilson; Treas- urer, William S. Frost ; Justice, A. D. Pollok.
1867 .- Supervisor, Harvey Hammond; Clerk, James Wilson ; Treas- urer, William S. Frost; Justice, George A. Gillit.
IS68 .- Supervisor, John C. Granger; Clerk, James Wilson; Treas- urer, A. D. Itatch ; Justices, Il. Hammond, James B. Frost. 1869 .- Supervisor, George D. Spaulding; Clerk, William S. Frost ; Treasurer, George Beeman ; Justices, George Amy, Daniel Putman.
1870 .- Supervisor, Harvey Hammond ; Clerk, Benjamin Cele; Treas- urer, Stephen A. Bigelow ; Justices, A. D. Pellek, S. D. Watson.
1871 .- Supervisor, William S. Frost; Clerk, John W. Butler; Treas- urer, Jacob Rehle; Justices, Harvey Hammond (full term), Silas Butler (two years), William Beekman (one year).
1872 .- Supervisor, George II. Edgerton; Clerk, Francis B. Cole; Treasurer, John J. Rehle ; Justice, William Beekman.
1873 .- Supervisor, F. R. Rockwell; Clerk, John W. Butler; Treas- urer, George Carr ; Justice, William S. Frost.
1874 .- Supervisor, Frederick R. Rockwell ; Clerk, Erastus L. Tuttle ; Treasurer, George Carr ; Justices, Daniel Putman, John C. Cannon.
1875 .- Supervisor, F. R. Rockwell; Clerk, E. L. Tuttle; Treasurer, John C. Cannon ; Justices, Silas Butler, George Carr.
1876 .- Supervisor, F. R. Rockwell; Clerk, E. L. Tuttle; Treasurer, J. C. Cannon ; f Justice, William II. Coryell.
1877 .- Supervisor, Martin V. Jessop ; Clerk, Charles A. Reble; Treasurer, William E. Dennis; Justice, A. D. Pollok.
1878 .- Supervisor, M. V. Jessop; Clerk, Charles A. Rehle; Treas- urer, William E. Dennis ; Justice, John Yocum.
1879 .- Supervisor. Martin V. Jessop ; Clerk, Charles A. Rehle; Trees- urer, James Apsey ; Justice, Theodore Van Horn.
1880 .- Supervisor, M. V. Jessop ; Clerk, Charles A. Rehle; Treas- urer, James Apscy ; Justices, William Beekman,"# George Carr ;** Superintendent of Schools, Myron J. Pollok ; School Inspector, J. E. Westgate; Highway Commissioner, G. Ed- win States; Drain Commissioner, John W. Butler; Consta- bles, Simeon Kent, ** Walter Phillips, ** George Haddy, ** Jacob Rchle .**
The following list of persons liable to military duty in the township in 1848 is from the record, and may be of interest to the younger generation :
William Spaulding, Sheffield Crippin, Admiral B. Camp, Perry Crip- pin, Sanford Demerry, Sherman Fairchild, Alford II. Keyes, Ilenry Price, Stephen B. Olda, Samuel Thompaun, George Meech, Philo Otis, Abrain Hendrie, Gardner Fletcher, Edward Cochran, Jacoh Demerry, David L. Cochran, James Sloan, Tunis Tayler, William Hammond, Perry Rooker, George Hay, J. M. Barney, Manford Felton, M. Otis, Elijah Hammond, David Gorsline,-27.
* The name of Wheatfield was proposed hy Mr. Gorsline from the township in Niagara Co, N. Y., from whence he emigrated to Mich- igan.
t The whole number of votes cast in 1847 was twenty-two.
¿ For these three years it is stated in the preamble to the annual election that justices were clceled, but no names are given.
¿ Mr. Goraline resigned, and Daniel Holmes was appointed in his place, Sept. 0, 1851.
| Resigned Oct. 6, 1863, and Harvey Hammond appointed in his place.
f Elected register of deeds, and resigned Nov. 23, 1876. William S. Humphrey appointed in his stead.
** None of these have qualified.
MRS.GEO. BEEMAN.
GEO. BEEMAN
ASTOVER
ttit
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE BEEMAN , WILLIAMSTON, INCHAM CO. MICH.
326
HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
summer he worked on a farm, the following two summers in a brick-yard. He continued working by the month until he was twenty years of age, when he came to Michi- gan. This was in 1836. llis first stopping-place was in Washtenaw County, where he passed the first winter thresh- ing with a flail and getting for his pay the wildcat money current in those days, but on which he never realized any- thing. Nothing daunted, he, with a will, worked at mak- ing brick summers aud tending saw-mill winters. This continued until 1840, when he came to the then township of Brutus, where he tended mill sawing by the thousand and still working at brick-making during the summer months.
.
In the spring of 1843 he made his first purchase of real estate, consisting of one hundred and ten aeres on section 2, about ten acres of which was improved and having a log house and barn. To this he has added until his home- farm contains two hundred and seventy acres, with one hundred and sixty improved. After his first purchase he rented his farm and continued at his old business of brick- making, hiring improvements made on his land. In 1846 his mother came and kept house for him, remaining until her death, some two years later. His father lived with Washington in Washtenaw County until his death, which occurred in 1853, leaving the two brothers the only surviv- ing members of the family.
July 2, 1849, George married Miss Mahala, daughter of Benjamin and Charity Taylor, residents of Grass Lake township, Jackson Co., Mich. The parents of Mrs. Bee- man were natives of New York and had a family of four- teen children, of whom Mrs. Beeman is the youngest and also a native of New York, where she was born, Nov. 15, 1821, coming to Michigan with her parents when about
twenty-five years of age. She was possessed of an excel- lent education, and followed teaching to the time of her marriage. After their marriage they settled on the farm where they now live, and upon which Mr. Beeman had erected a frame house opposite on the road from the first one, which had been burned, together with most of his household effects and the records of the township and of his family.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beeman have been born eight children, of whom five are living, three married and settled near their parents. Mr. Beeman has been an active business man and taken a lively interest in all public improvements, not forgetting his own, possessing one of the finest farm- residences in the county, a sketch of which we give upon an adjoining page.
In politics he is a staunch Republican, and, though his party is in the minority in his township, he has three times filled the office of supervisor, besides serving as township treasurer, highway commissioner, and in minor offices.
Mr. and Mrs. Beeman are not members of any church, but have contributed liberally to all, assisting in the erec- tion of the several church edifices in the village of Wil- liamston.
They are eminently sociable people and enjoy the world as they find it, not confining themselves strictly to their home or to the associations surrounding them, but improving the opportunities they have for traveling and seeing the world. In this connection we might mention such expedi- tions as trips up and through the lakes, excursion to the White Mountains, and a long trip to Philadelphia and other Eastern cities during the Centennial year. To such people life is worth the living and the world the better for their being.
WHITE OAK.
NATURAL FEATURES.
THE township of White Oak, which lies on the eastern border of the county, is designated by the United States survey as township No. 2 north, of range No. 2 east. The exterior lines were surveyed by Joseph Wampler in 1824, and the subdivision survey was made by the same hand in 18_5. It is bounded on the north by the township of Leroy, south by Stockbridge, east by Livingston County, and west by the township of Ingham. White Oak has few streams or large bodies of water. A rivulet in the southwest corner-one of the branches of Doan Creek- flows from Ingham township through section 19 and passes out at section 32. Two small lakes are found on section 26, generally known as Fulcher's Lakes. No other waters are discovered in the township. The surface of White Oak is undulating, presenting occasionally sudden elevations,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.