History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 100

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 100

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NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP.

The act of the Legislative Council of Michigan Territory, ap- proved March 29, 1833, declared that all that part of the county of Jackson comprised in surveyed townships 3 and 4 south, in ranges 1 and 2 east, should be called Napoleon, and the first town- ship meeting be held at the house of Aaron B. Goodwin. The township was first settled in 1832, but was not set apart as a sepa- rate township until 1859. The first township election was held on the 4th of April, 1859, and Roswell B. Rexford was chosen super- visor, with Bijah Bently, town clerk.

Mr. A. B. Goodwin was the first settler in Napoleon village, coming into the town in May, 1832. He was an Indian trader, and was led into this part of the country while following his busi- ness. He brought his family, a wife and adopted daughter, with him. His nearest neighbor was Charles Blackman, who had set- tled on the Chicago road in Lenawee county a few years previous. Mr. Blackman had taken up land in Napoleon in 1831, but did not settle upon it. Mr. Blackman, Mr. Goodwin and Abram Bol- ton. of Coldwater, commenced quarrying stone from the quarry afterward owned by Morgan Case and William Allen.

The first postoffice was opened in December, 1832. Samuel Quigley was postmaster. The town was named after Napoleon Bonaparte, at the request of Mr. Bolton.

Abram F. Bolton settled in Napoleon in August, 1832, and built a log house. His daughter, Caroline, born in November, 1832, was the first child born in the town.

Chauncy Hawley came to Napoleon from Washington county, October, 1832. Mr. Hawley located the southwest quarter of sec- tion 31. Morgan Case came here in company with Mr. Hawley in 1832, and Horace Dean came at the same time.

Among others may be mentioned Henry Hawley, Israel S. Love, Roswell B. Rexford, John T. Ford, Wm. Hunt, Lyman Hunt, Samuel Quigley, and George L. Dinsmore, all of whom came in the spring of 1833. Dr. Benjamin S. King came in the summer of this year, and was the first physician.

Louisa M. Swain taught the first school in 1833, at the house of Samnel Quigley.

Napoleon sent out her quota at the call of the nation in the de- fense of her flag. On the 28th of October, 1862, Sergeant Oscar E. Miller, Corporal G. Myron Hawley, and Privates Dwight C. Slack, Alonzo D. Palmer, and George D. Peck were buried in one grave with military honors at Napoleon. They fell on the battle- fields of South Mountain and Antietam.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

The village is situated on the Jackson branch of the Michigan Southern railroad. It occupies a pleasant position upon a plateau, surrounded by a rich and highly cultivated agricultural section. Stone lake is one and a half miles from the depot. A very fine and substantial school building was erected in 1869. It is brick, and two stories. The village contains two churches, Baptist and Methodist Episcopal.

Lewis Case plowed the first furrow.

The town embraces some of the finest farming lands in the county. The soil is well adapted to wheat, and the water facilities are such that the farmers have a ready market at home, where the proprietors of the mills are prepared to purchase all that they will sell.

The first supervisor of the township, as it existed in 1833, was Harvey Austin; the first clerk, J. H. Otis; the first assessors, Isaac Sterling, A. F. Bolton and William Hunt; first highway commis- sioners, James Loke, A. B. Goodwin, Isaac Sterling; the first school commissioners, John Emmons, J. H. Otis, Harvey Austin; the first overseers of the poor, A. F. Bolton, George L. Pear, William Babcock and James Loke, with the latter as township collector.

The first district school was built in 1835, on section 6, 4 S., 2 E. The first church was built at Napoleon for the Methodist society. Since that early day the Baptist, Congregational and Free Metho- dist societies have erected pretentious houses of worship. Now there are two brick and four frame school-houses in the township.

John Dewey opened the first store in the village during the spring of 1835, and the last important branch of industry was inaugurated in 1875 by Hawley & Co., the owners of the steam grist-mill. This company also run a grain-cradle factory. The present township officers include C. R. Palmer, S. V .; T. E. Curtis, Clerk; J. Caldwell, Treasurer; William Smith and H. C. H. Dean, Drain Commissioners; R. R. Cooper, Amos Phillips, T. T .Towns- end, Justices of the Peace.

Methodist Episcopal .- The first sermon preached in Napoleon township by a Methodist Episcopal minister was in the evening of Nov. 13, 1833, the night of the great "star-fall," or meteoric shower. The preacher was probably Rev. Colclazer, whomn night had overtaken while traveling through this section. After this, meetings were held in private houses until 1838. They effected a permanent organization April 1, 1845, under the charge of Rev. Hiram Law, Jr., pastor of what was then the " Albion circuit," Michigan Conference, and comprised the following members: Ralph and Margaret Covert, Elsy Meeks, John and Miranda Chapman, John Logan, Peter Storin, Charles C. Dewey, Priscilla Green, Julia Ann Smith and Mary Elliott. Of these 12, six are still living. Soon afterward they were added to the Jackson circuit, still later to the Grass Lake circuit, and finally to Napoleon, as this place be- came more populous.

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NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP.

In the summer of 1845 the society resolved to build a church, although it numbered but 18 members. They appointed as trustees, E. Manly, J. Bivins, R. W. Squires, R. Covert, J. H. Chapman, Gardner Gallup and C. C. Dewey. A lot was do- nated by W. S. Blackmar. They erected a building, which they used until 1875, when they commenced a new one, now nearly completed, at a cost of $6,000. The present Board of Trustees are, Joseph Colwell, I. Wood, S. W. Palmer, W. S. Blackmar, Samuel Finch, R. W. Square, E. P. Lapham, and the minister is Franklin Bradley. The society is now comprised within the Detroit Con- ference.

The First Baptist Church of Napoleon was organized in June, 1834. The constituent membership consisted of the following: R. B. Rexford, Betsy Rexford, Horace Dean, Lucina Hawley, Louis Ann Hawley, Lucy Hawley, Lonisa M. Swain, C. S. Swain, Paulina Austin, Morgan Case, Betsy M. Case, Elijah Weber, Sarah Weber, Joseph King, Peleg King, Ransom Jones, Day Jones. J. S. Love, Nancy Love and Lewis Case. The first board of trustees consisted of R. B. Rextord. Horace Dean, Simon Holland, Morgan Case, J. H. Burroughs and J. S. Love. R. B. Rexford and Horace Dean were the first deacons elected. Rev. C. H. Swain preached the first Baptist sermon in the town, two years before the organization of the Church, and became its pastor. The following pastors suc- ceeded him : J. D. Fulton, Salmon Morton, Norman Chase, Ezra Rumnery, D. Babcock, J. A. Keyes, Peter Vanwinkle, Robert Powell, V. Church, J. P. Wade, H. B. Fuller, Heury Davis, D. B. Davis, D. E. Hills, Frank S. Lyon. The Church dedicated its first house of worship in 1845, and the second in June, 1871. The present membership is 150.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Following are biographical sketches of many of the representative citizens of Napoleon township.

Solomon D. Alcott, farmer, sec. 23; was born in Lorain county, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1823, son of Seth R. and Lucy Alcott, nee Frost. They were natives of Connecticut, and moved to Lorain county, Ohio, in 1820, where they engaged in clearing up a farm among the heavy timber, in which he continued to farm until his death, May 8, 1856. His mother died Feb. 15, 1869, on the birthday of her son. The subject of this sketch received what education he has by odds and ends, -some days at school and some in the timber chopping with his father, until he was 21 years of age. He went South and worked on the railroad four months; and, concluding that occupation was not suitable to him, he returned to Ohio, and concluded to try a trade. Accordingly, he went to Connecticut and entered a bolt factory, where he remained six months. He then went into the Collins Ax Factory, in the same State, where he remained from 1845 till June, 1847. He then returned to Ohio, where he again engaged in chopping for a few months, in that big

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

timber where his father lived, and then in the summer he farmed for several months; took sick, and for one year he was compelled to sit by and recover sufficiently to enable him to farm, which he followed until 1850; he then returned to the Collins Ax Factory, where he again worked for 14 months, and in the spring of 1851 he got the California fever and started for the golden coast. After he arrived in port he started out chopping wood the first winter, and in 1852 he took up gardening for the summer, and his luck was to lose a summer's work through the sharpness of his partner. He then had to tug through the winter, working at whatever he could find to do, until the spring of 1853, when he entered the mines, where he remained three years and a half. He then re- turned to Ohio, satisfied with the gold regions of California, and bought 50 acres of land, on which he commenced to farm.

In 1858 he married Elizabeth Atkinson, who was born in Eng- land, Sept. 25, 1828, and was the daughter of Richard and Martha Atkins, nee Nettleton. They came to America in 1850, and located at Ridgeville, Lorain Co., Ohio, where they engaged in farming and still reside. The family consisted of 2 children-Seth R., born Jan. 7, 1859, and died Jan. 14, same year; and Mary M., born Jan, 4, 1871.

In 1862 Mr. Alcott enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, in the 103d Ohio Inf., and served three years. He was in a good many engagements during the time; was wounded at the battle of Resaca, Ga., in the right thigh and thumb, which disabled him from duty for a number of months. He was confined in the hos- pital and was home on furlough a few months, and, returning to the army, he was transferred to the invalid corps, and guarded the prison at Camp Douglas for several months. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in farming; in the fall of 1866 he sold out his farm and moved to Jackson county, Mich., and located on a farm of 240 acres of land, which he has well im- proved and is quite valuable, with good, new buildings. He is a solid Republican.

Wm. S. Blackmar was born in the town of Wales, Erie Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, 1814, and was the son of Charles and Ellen Black- mar, nee Rice. His father moved to Ohio in 1826, where he fol- lowed farming until 1829, when he removed to Lenawee county, Mich., and began a residence among the wild woods, with the sav- age Indian for his neighbor, and the wild howl of the wild ani- mals. He was one among the earliest to locate the stone quarry in Napoleon tp., which he figured in largely. Aug. 24, 1834, he died at his home in Lenawee county, and in 1856 his mother died at the old home. The subject of this sketch did not have the facilities in his day to educate himself, and had to obtain his edu- cation by odds and ends. In 1844 he was married to Catherine Loucks, and they had 2 children-Octavia, now Mrs. W. H. Loo- mis, and Howard, who died in 1847. Mr. Blackmar lost his wife, and in 1851 he was again married, this time to Pyra Blair, by whom he had 2 children-Ellen, now Mrs. C. Richards, and

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NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP.

Charles, who died in 1854. He again lost his wife, and in 1857 was married to Christiana Bulkin, and of their 4 children the sur- viving are-Anna and William S. He came to Jackson county in 1857, and located in the town of Brooklyn, and continued to carry on his farming for a few years. He then moved near the town of Jackson, and began land speculation in connection with his farm- ing. He then moved to the town of Grass Lake, where he located and began to improve the farm and keep a hotel, which he now owns. He owns 180 acres of land, besides town property in Na- poleon. He is now engaged in the mercantile business in Napo- leon. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

Bethuel Bromley, farmer, sec. 4, was born in Clinton county, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1815, son of Eli and Deborah Bromley, nee Sherman, who were natives of Vermont. They moved to New York State in 1815, where they engaged in farming and lumbering. His mother died in 1852, and his father in 1874, in New York. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common-schools of New York State, and was raised on a farm; remained with his father until he was 25 years of age. In 1839 he was married to Mary Ann Lewis, who was born in the same county and State, Jan. 13, 1818. He moved in 1840 to the town of Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, where he entered land and farmned for one year. He then moved into the town of Chazy, where he engaged in lumber- ing for four years. He then moved to Franklin county, town of Chateaugay, where he purchased 120 acres of land and began farm - ing again, on which he lived two years. He sold out and bought another farm of 103 acres, which he cultivated four years, selling out again and purchasing another farm of 40 acres, which he im- proved, and where he lived two years; trading this place for his old farm, he continued for a number of years, and in 1855 he sold out his farm and came to the State of Michigan, locating in Jackson county, Napoleon tp., on the farm he now owns. At that time it consisted of 100 acres, which was partially improved. He went to work, cleared up his farm, and he has added 60 more acres to it, and now owns 160 acres, which he has nicely improved with good honse and barns of modern style, and which is worth $75 per acre.

He had 2 children-Adelaide, now Mrs. A. C. Lester, and Ale- dero (deceased). In 1862 he was again married, this time to Lucy Blood, who was born Nov. 11, 1837, in Vermont, the daughter of Truman and Brintha Blood, nee Burt. By this marriage there is 1 child-Ernest R., born Oct. 31, 1864. Politically, Mr. B. is a Democrat.

Richard H. Brunk, farmer, sec. 32, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., Feb. 16, 1842, the son of Peter and Mary Ann Brunk, nee Todd. They were natives of New York State, and he is a farmer by occupation. The father died in New York State and his mother in Western New York July 4, 1871. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native State, and was reared on a farm; at 22 years of age he came West and lo-

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

cated in this county, where he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade under A. J. Vanwinkle; he followed that occupation from 1864 to 1875 He was married March 25, 1868, to Emeline Smith, daughter of Channcy C. and Harriet Smith, nee Vanwinkle; they have 1 child-Minnie E., born Dec. 30, 1875. In 1875 he bought a farm consisting of 40 acres of land, situated on sec. 32, which he now has under a fair state of cultivation, and which is worth $50 per acre. In politics he is and has always been identified with the Democratic party.

G. W. Burtless, grain dealer, was born in Seneca county, N. Y., Ang. 29, 1828, second son of John and Sarah Burtless, nee Huff. His father's occupation was that of farming. He came to Wash- tenaw county, Mich., in 1836, where he continued to farm until 1877, when he moved to the town of Napoleon and retired from labor. He died May 17, 1878, in his 82d year. His mother still lives in the town of Napoleon. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Michigan; at the age of 21 he began working for himself. In 1852 he was married to Hannah Bostedor, who was born in Allegany county, N. Y., in 1832. Their family consists of 1 child, Etta N. born in 1859. Mr. D. came to the county in 1856, bought a farm, and returned to Washtenaw county in 1861, where he continued to farm until 1865. He again returned to the town of Napoleon, where he carried on farming in connec- tion with the grain business. He now is engaged principally in the grain and coal and lime business. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church.

Jacob V. Carmer, Napoleon, was born in Orange county, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1802. His ancestors were Protestant emigrants from the confines of France and Germany, who were driven from their homes by the persecutions of the Romish Church, and established them- selves on Manhattan Island, when it was called New Amsterdam. Jacob V. was the son of Thomas Carmer, and his grandfather's name was Henry Carmer; the latter married Martinta Vanderhoof and resided on a farm in New Jersey. When Thomas was 14 years of age he learned the tinsmith's trade in New York State and commenced business at Goshen, Orange Co. Here he became ac- quainted with, and married, Miss Mary Gale, daughter of Abraham Gale, Jr., whose ancestors came from England and purchased large tracts of land from the Indians.

Jacob V., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of his native county, and of Sussex connty, N. J. When he was 12 years old he went to live with his maternal grandfather, and remained with him six years; then rented the homestead farm, containing 316 acres, nearly all of which was under improvement. He remained on the farm six years, but was not successful. He had saved $1,200, and with this capital went into the mercantile business with James C. Havens, and continued in the same two years. In 1827 he married Eleanor Van Anken, daughter of Elijah and Cath- erine (Cole) Van Auken. In October. 1828, went to housekeeping

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NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP.

in New York city, and engaged in the grocery business under the firin name of Adams & Carmer. The next spring his wife's brother-in-law, John Dunning, was admitted to the firm and a feed and flour store was added to their business. In the fall of 1831 he started a wholesale trade in butter and cheese, under the firm name of Van Auken & Carmer. In 1834 Mr. Carmer's health failed and he was obliged to give up business for nearly two years; visited Niagara and Buffalo; came to Detroit by steamer, and to Ann Arbor by stage; visited several points and finally made a small invest- ment in Jackson; then went to Illinois in the employ of the New York and Illinois Land Company, looking up their patent lands, grading lands, and entering other wild lands for their company; re- mained in Illinois five months; returned to New York in October and engaged in the dry-goods business nine years.

Mr. Carmer was originally a Democrat, but after coming to Michigan he acted with the Whig party until the organization of the Republican party, and has voted that ticket ever since. In 1873 he lost his wife, who was in the 77th year of her age. Their family consisted of 7 children, of whom 3 are living, viz .: Lewis A., now living in Olean, New York; Ann Adelia, now Mrs. Rex- ford, and Jennie M., now Mrs. Colgrove, of Mason, Inghani Co. The deceased were James H., Adelia, Catherine S. and Jesse V. A. Mr. Carner still resides on the home farm where he first located ; his daughter, Mrs. Rexford, lives with him. Her husband died at Nashville, Tenn., Ang. 3, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. C. and their an - cestors were Presbyterians, but after coming to Michigan they were two of the 13 who organized the first Congregational Church at Napoleon. Mr. C. has been a very active business man, and suffered all the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. He has done much to relieve his country from political oppressions. A portrait of Mr. Carmer will be seen on page 967.

Albert Case (deceased) was born in Washington county, N.Y., July 18, 1812. He was the son of David and Abigail Case; was raised on a farm and received his education in the common schools of New York, and was among the pioneers of the county who came to Jackson county in 1833, and located on a farm, which he began to improve until his death, Nov. 3, 1877. He was married in 1837 to Lucy Horth, who was born in Washington county, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1820. They had a family of 4 children-Delos. Adelbert F., Laura Ann, and William Elgar, all of whom reside in the county except the latter, who resides in Chicago, a barber by occupation. She still resides on the homestead, which consists of 100 acres. Her son carries on the farm for her. She is a member of the Baptist Church of Napoleon.

Morgan Case was born in the town of Hartford, Washington county, N. Y., March 16, 1807. He was the son of Daniel and Abigail Case, nee Harden ; his father was a native of Connecticut, and a farmer by occupation. He came to New York in an early day and continued to carry on farming until his death in 1848. He

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

was in his 65th year, and his mother died in 1845, in her 60th year. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of New York, and at the age of 20 years he began to do for himself. He worked out by the day and month, as he could, until he was 25 years old; he then, in 1832, took to himself' Miss Betsy Nelson, who also was born in Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y., in 1810, and immediately after their marriage they moved West and located in Jackson county, Napoleon tp., on sec. 6, where they began to open a farm among the wilds of a new country. He entered 120 acres of Government land, on which he built a log house and lived for many years; at that time there were only three other honses in the tp. Their family consisted of 3 children-Warren was the first male child born in the tp., and now lives in Columbia tp .; Emeline was born in 1837, and died in 1838; and Walter was born in 1839, and died in 1859. Mr. C. now resides on the spot where he first located in the county; he is now 74 years of age, and his wife is 70. Thus two old pioneers still live to see the vast amount of changes taking place daily. They have been members of the Baptist Church in Napoleon, since 1831. Mr. Casc has held nearly all the tp. offices. In these he used good judgment. He now owns 500 acres of land in Napoleon and Columbia tps., which is worth at a fair valuation $30,000.

J. H. Chapman (deceased) was born Feb. 15, 1809, and was the son of Amasa and Lydia Chapman, nee Hunt, natives of New York. Mr. Chapman was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of New York. He was first married Dec. 27, 1827, to La- vendee Hoxie, who was born Dec. 1. 1810, in New York State. Mr. C. came to Michigan in 1837, where he engaged in farming. Their family consists of 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls-Minerva J., now Mrs. Sam. Cox: Amasa J., Franklin B., Angusta H., John D., and Lavandee, now Mrs. William Wall. July 6, 1843, he lost his wife, and was again married, to Amanda Russell, who was born in New York Oct. 1, 1821, and was the daughter of Tartillus and Anna Russell, nee Hall. They had 6 children, 3 of whom are now living: Lydia M., Laura F .. now Mrs. Sylvester Warner, and Clar- ence C. The 3 deceased are Jacob R., Lawrence H. and Anna. Mr. Chapman died May 25, 1878, in his 70th year. Mrs. C. still lives on the homestead with her son Clarence C., who carries on the farm.

A. C. Clarke, farmer, sec. 5, was born in Erie county, N. Y., July 29, 1816, son of Archibald S. and Chloe Clarke, nee Thayer. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and mother of Western New York. His father was a lawyer by occupation, and was prominent among the early settlers of New York State, and at the time of his death was a Representative in Congress. He died while home on business Nov. 3, 1821. The subject of this sketch received a common-school education, enough to enable him to carry on any branch of business. His mother moved upon a farm in New York, where they lived until 1840. He, together with his mother and 2

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NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP.

brothers, came to Michigan, where they purchased a farm and car- ried on agriculture together for two years. He then bought out his brother's interest in the farm and continued to carry on the same. He was married to Jemima Litchfield, who was born in Chesterfield, Mass., Dec. 17, 1813, and was the daughter of Ensign and Mary Litchfield, nee Haden. They have had 7 children, 5 of whom are now living-Augustus C., Renben R., Emeline, Ellen Sophia, now Mrs. Hyde, and Ida, now Mrs. Preston. The 2 deceased are Oscar L. and Engene B. He has held the office of Constable and been Deputy Sheriff for over 30 years, and was also Town Treasurer. He now has 159 acres of land, which his 2 sons cultivate. In poli- tics Mr. Clarke is and always has been a Democrat.

Byron Cooley, telegraph operator, freight and United States Express agent, at Napoleon, was born in Oakland county, Mich., Jan. 28, 1834, the son of Samuel L. and Electa Cooley, nee Wood- ruff. His father's occupation was always farmning, at which he is still engaged, in Hillsdale county, Mich .; his mother died in 1846, when Byron was only a sinall boy, and his father afterward was married to Lydia Carter. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Hillsdale county, and remained with his father on the farm until 23 years old, when he chose the occupation of railroading, and commenced as teamster on the M. S. & N. I. R. R., and now the L. S. & M. S. R. R., and continued to work, first, at one thing and then another, until now he has charge of the present office, having continued in the employ of said road from the first until the present. He was married in 1860 to Sarah E. Collins, who was born in New York. Their family consists of 4 children-George, Jennie, Charles and Grace. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Hillsdale, Lodge No. 93.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 100

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166