History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 104

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 104

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James Hay, Jr., was born in Onondaga county, Ng Y., Septem- ber 1827. His parents, James and Mabel (Satterlee) Hay, came from New York and settled in the town of Pittsfield, near the village of Saline, in 1834, where they lived till the spring of 1841, then re- moved to the eastern part of Norvell tp. where they have since continued to live. June 18, 1855, Mr. Hay was married to Miss Caroline Pease, daughter of Warren and Fannie Pease, of Manchester; she died in November, 1865, and is buried in the Manchester cemetery. Oct. 3, 1866, Mr. Hay married Julia V. Pease, a sister of his former wife, who was born in Tecumseh, Mich., her parents having moved there from Ludlow, Mass., at an early day; they have had 2 children-James W., who died in April, 1874, and Eda, born Ang. 14, 1874. Mr.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Hay came to his farm on sec. 9, this tp., in the spring of 1861, and has since improved it until he now owns a fine farm of 120 acres. Both he and his wife are worthy members of the Baptist Church at Norvell.

Stephen W. Holmes was born in the city of New York, May 24, 1837. When an infant he was brought by his parents to this county, where he has since lived. His parents are Henry and Lydia Holmes, the former a native of England. Mr. Holmes was married Dec. 5, 1861, to Miss. Caroline A. Smith, of Napoleon, who was born in Caynga connty, N. Y., in March, 1840, and ac- companied her parents, Chauncy C., and Harriet (Van Winkle) Smith, to this county, when about 10 years of age; they have had 2 children-Hatty B. and Maud (deceased). Mr. Holmes is en- gaged in farming; both have been worthy members of the Baptist Church for several years.

Alvinzie Hunt was born in Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1809. His parents, John and Parley Hunt, were among the pioneers of that county, where Mr. Hunt passed his boyhood days on his father's farm. He was married in January, 1830, to Naney Converse, who died in June, 1831, leaving 1 child, now Mrs. Jason P. Merrillon, of Jackson county. Oct. 20, 1831, Mr. Hunt married Miss Phebe Converse, sister to his former wife; they had 2 children-Byron C., Mortimer B .; the former died at the age of 19 years. In the spring of 1836, Mr. Hunt removed his family to this county, and in May of that year he took up 292 acres of land on sec. 10, and has since added to and improved it until he now owns as fine a farm as the town can boast of, consisting of 324 acres. Feb. 9, 1877, death again entered his family and took from him the wife who had been the stay of his life, sharing with him the privations of a pioneer life, as well as the pleasures that they had labored for in their younger days. Mr. Hunt has at times held all the various offices of his tp .; has been Supervisor six years, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the past 12 years.

Duncan Hyndman, M. D., was born in Argylshire, Scotland, Marchi S, 1845. His parents, Peter and Margaret (McKillop) Hyndman, left their native country in 1857, settling in Elgin county, Canada. Their voyage across the waters was long, the vessel on which they sailed being wrecked; but after a time they were safely landed in the country which was to be their home. After living in Elgin county for a number of years they came to Michigan, settling in the village of Brooklyn, where they still live. Of the family of 4 boys, 3 are graduates of medical colleges. Dunean, the subject of this sketch, grew to the years of manhood under the paternal roof in Canada; several years were spent in teaching school, and then, coming over to the Buckeye State, he spent several years in the Western Reserve College at Hudson. In 1868 he married Miss Alice E. Mason, daughter of Samuel and Alice Mason, who came from England and also settled in Elgin

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county, Canada. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Hyndman finished his college course, and the same year came to Norvell and began the practice of medicine; in this he has been quite successful, and is now one of the leading physicians of Jackson county. A portrait of Mr. Hyndman will be found on page 471.

George Ladd, son of John and Lucy Ladd, of Windham county, Conn., was born in that county Feb. 23, 1814. His parents moved to Oswego county, N. Y., when he was a small child. When he was seven years of age they removed to Oneida county, where he grew to manhood, and Oct. 2, 1845, he married Julia J. Bur- leigh, daughter of Luke and Lucretia Burleigh, who was born in Oneida county in 1820. Their family consists of 2 children -- George and Harry; the latter married Clara Fielding. Mr. Ladd came to Michigan in the spring of 1846, settling on the farm where he now lives, in this tp. Prior to this time Mr. Ladd had visited various parts of Michigan, and had taken up land in differ- ent sections of the county; he now owns several hundred acres of fine farming land. P. O., Brooklyn.

S. B. Palmer was born in Madison county, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1817. His parents, Stephen and Huldah Palmer, were natives of Connecticut; the former was born in New London, Nov. 22, 1793, and the latter in Windham, Dec. 28, 1797. They moved to Madi- son county, N. Y., about the spring of 1812, were they were married Aug. 8, 1813; of their 12 children, 9 are yet living-Charles H., Lucretia, Sylvanus B., William C., Noyes G., Mariette, Jackson A., George M. and John J. The family left Madison county in the spring of 1836; came to this county, settling on the farm near the village of Norvell, where a portion of the family still reside. He entered a piece of land here, opened a hotel some years after- ward, and for many years before the village of Norvell was started he was Postniaster. He was truly one of the pioneers of his county. Although coming here poor, he succeeded in amassing together enough of this world's goods to enable him to live comfortably in his old age. During his life he had held many tp. offices to the satisfaction of all. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, having been called out when the British invaded Sackett's Harbor. He died May 24. 1879.

Mrs. P. is still living on the old homestead, at an advanced age; her memory is still bright, and she loves to recall many of the inci- dents of her early life in Michigan. The family are scattered over different parts of the country: William S. is a Baptist minister at Manchester; Noyes and G. W. are in the city of New York; Jack- son is in Flint; and Charles H., at Pontiac. Mrs. Palmer has 9 children, 24 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren living.

Sylvanus B., the subject of this sketch, now occupies the old farm, to which he came with his father when 18 years of age, and lived till there till November, 1839, when he married Sarah Fish, daughter of Josiah and Cynthia (Barrows) Fish, born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1819. She came with her parents to this

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

county in June, 1836; of their 7 'children, 6 are living-Harmon S., Marion E., Schofield, Laura J., Albert and Alice (twins), and Minnie E. Mr. Palmer is engaged in farming; when a young man he taught school winters for a number of years. The family are members of the Baptist Church at Norvell.

John W. Pardee was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1813. His parents, Sheldon and Sally Pardee, were natives of Con- necticut. He spent his boyhood in his native county until he had reached the age of 18; went to Medina county, O., and about five years later removed to Portage county, of the same State, where he lived until 1840, then he came to Michigan, settling in Jackson county. Previous to this time Mr. P. had been engaged in the mer- cantile business, and had at different times traveled over different parts of Michigan on business. He was married in Lenawee county, Mich., in the fall of 1839, to Miss Caroline Tyler, daughter of Lemuel Tyler, formerly of Jackson. She was born in Madison county, N. Y., in 1821, and came with her parents to Michigan in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. P. have 5 children-Sheldon J., Frances, Ellen, Charles and George. Ellen, now Mrs. Seth Smith, lives in Fulton county, Ohio. Mr. Pardee settled on a wild piece of land in the woods; has improved it until he now has a fine large farm. P. O., Norvell.

Thomas Rhead, son of Thomas and Mary Rhead, was born in Staffordshire, England, June 26. 1819. When he was a boy he was put out to learn engraving and modelling in earthen-ware. After learning his trade he went to the city of Manchester, where he fol- lowed his occupation about nine months, but on account of the depression of trade about this time, many of the manufacturing establishments were closed, and he was thrown out of work. He had a friend in Marseilles, France, whom he had known while he was serving his apprenticeship; they had been corresponding, and now he offered him a place in that city: he went thither, and soon excelled his companion in lettering, and his wages were raised in consequence; he worked hard, early and late, hoping to be repaid for the expense and time that he had spent in learning his trade; but close application to work caused his health to fail, and his phy- sician advised him to give up his trade if he wished to live. He left France and returned to his sisters in England, his father hav- ing died while he was yet young. He staid there but a short time, as the excitement of emigrating to America was then very great. In company with three companions he left England, May 16, 1842, and in the September following came to the Plains in Norvell tp., and for several years was engaged in working by the month on the farms. He worked for several years for Mr. A. Hunt.

July 3, 1845, he married Elsie M. Chaffee, daughter of Wilson Chaffee, who was born March 11, 1827, in the State of New York. After their marriage they lived in Norvell tp. until in 1849, when they moved near the village of Ionia. He bought a farm here of 160 acres, on which he lived about nine years, then sold out. In

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1862 he enlisted in the 21st Mich., Inf., and was Second Sergeant in Co. A. On account of ill health he was discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in January, 1863; then returned to this county and pur- chased the farm on which J. D. Scott now lives; resided here until the spring of 1872, when he removed to the village of Norvell, where he has since made his home. Mr. and Mrs. R. have 2 chil- dren-George B. and Charles. He has been a member of the Bap- tist Church for a number of years; has been a Deacon at Norvell since the organization of the Church at that place.

Thomas Rushton, son of John and Hannah Rushton, was born · in Lincolnshire, England, Jan. 29, 1825. He left his native coun- try in April, 1850, coming to Manchester, Mich., where he learned the brewer's trade, and followed it for some years. In December, 1863, he enlisted in 30th Mich. Inf., Co. D; served till June the following year, when he was discharged, and returned to Manchester, where he lived for a couple of years; went to Chau- tanqua county, N. Y., where he married Mrs. Sarah Borger, of that place, whose husband had been killed in the late war; she had 1 son-Seth Borger. Mr. and Mrs. R. lived here a few years, then went to Virginia where they staid but a short time, and returned to Manchester; the spring of 1870 came to the farm he now occupies in Norvell tp., and has since lived on it. Mrs. R. died in May, 1876. Mr. R. has a good farm and pleasant home. P. O., Norvell.

Dealon Schutt, farmer, see. 26; P. O., Brooklyn; was born in Ontario county, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1817. His parents, John and Jane Sehutt, were natives of Dutchess county, N. Y .; his mother died when he was a small child, and his father, after a few years, mar- ried again and continued to live on the old farm in Ontario county, whither he had come when a young man, until the time of his death somne years ago. His widow still occupies the old homestead.

Here Mr. S. spent the days of his boyhood as most New York farmer's boys do. April 5, 1840, he was married to Miss Cynthia Aylesworth, daughter of Henry Aylesworth, of the same county; she was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1819; their 2 children, Sylva, now Mrs. Ethan Hay, and Florence, now Mrs. S. B. Ashley, are living in Norvell town.

In June, 1844, Mr. Sehutt left his native home to seek one in the " far West." He came first to Steuben county, Ind., where he re- mained till the fall of that year, then came to Hillsdale, where he spent the winter, in the spring of 1845 came to his farm in Norvell tp.

Jacob D. Scott was born in Ossian, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1838; son of John and Eleanor Scott, of that place; the former was born on the Cheviot Hills, in the south of Scotland, and came to New York while he was yet a young man. Mr. Scott continued to live in his native place until in April, 1861, when he came to Branch county, Mich., where he staid until December of the same year, then came to this county. On Christmas day, 1861, he married Susan E. Blanchard, daughter of David and Mary A. Blanchard, of

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Dexter, who was born in Springwater, Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1844; they have 1 child-Emma Jennett. Mr. S. came to his farm in March, 1873, where he has since lived; has a good farm of 120 acres; is a member of Grange at Norvell, No. 227; is a farmer and car- penter. P. O., Norvell.

Alonzo C. Shekell was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in No- vember, 1825. Attheageoffour years he was taken by his parents, John and Joanna Shekell, to Seneca county, where he grew to the age of manhood, surrounded by the influences of a good home and spending his boyhood as is common for most farmers' boys to do. Here, in April, 1849, he married Lydia Corden, daughter of Dennis and Elizabeth Corden, who was born in the same county, August, 1825; this family consists of 5 children-Anna E., Lucretia, Flor- ence, Amie and John. Anna E. has been engaged in teaching for several years, in the schools of Manchester; Lucretia married Adelbert Culver. In May, 1851, they left Seneca county, coming to Michigan and settling in the town of Saline, Washtenaw Co., where they lived until they came to their present farm in Norvell, in the spring of 1878. When he left New York, his father accom- panied him, and lived with him until he died in 1871, at the advanced age of 81 years. Mr. S. has a good farm of 160 acres, on sec. 16. P. O., Norvell.

E. R. Shuart was born in Ulster county, N. Y., Mar. 6, 1806. When he was about six or seven years of age he was taken by his parents to Ithaca, Tompkins Co., where he was reared, receiving his education in the schools of that town. Nov. 19, 1829, he was married to Phebe Scisson, born in Cayuga county, N. Y., Nov. 20, 1812. When she was a small girl her parents went to Indiana, where in a few years her father died, and in a short time after this her mother came to Ithaca, N. Y., where she grew to woman- hood. Mr. Shuart first visited Michigan in the summer of 1832, but staid only a short time, and returned to his home in New York. In the spring of 1836 he removed his family to Syracuse, N. Y., and in the fall of the same year came to Michigan, settling at Clinton, Lenawee Co. In September, 1836, he took up the 80- acre lot on which he now lives, and the same fall had some im- provements made on it and sowed a piece of wheat. He lived in Clinton, working at the carpenter and cabinet trades until about 1850, when he moved his family to the farm which he had located in this town, where they have since resided. He has improved his land and since added to it, until he now owns a fine farm of over 200 acres of well-improved land. Of their family of 12 children, 9 are yet living-Mary, Henry, Oliver, Edward, George, Will- iam, James, Addie and Alice. Chauncy was in the U. S. Army, going from Adrian with the band and accompanying the 3d Cav .; returned at the close of the war, but his health was gone and he lived but a short time after his return. Mr. Shuart has been one of the pioneers of Michigan, and is a man respected by all.

George W. Sweezey was born near the village of Norvell, in May, 1845. His father, Samuel Sweezey, had come to Michigan,

AK Austin

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taking up the old farm near Norvell from the Government in the summer of 1834, and soon after moving his family on the place. He was born on Long Island in 1805; at an early age went on the ocean, and for a number of years before coming to Michigan had been a ship Captain. He was married in the city of New York to Maroni Horr, who was born on the banks of the Onion river, in Vermont. Of their family of 9 children, 7 are yet living- Mary J. Chapman, John T., William H., Julia A. Bunker, George W., Judson S. and Lurena A. When he came to Michigan he entered several hundred acres of land in the town of Norvell, which he improved and continued to live on until his death in Octo- ber, 1865. He had been a member of the Baptist Church for 40 years, and for a number of years before his death had been a Dea- con in that Church. George W., the subject of this sketch, was raised on the farm he now occupies, and in December, 1864, en- listed in the 15th O. V., Co. G., for 100 days; again enlisted in 11th Mich., Co. E, where he served until the close of the war. Com- ing home, he went to Eaton Rapids, where he engaged in the hardware business for the next two years; in 1868, sold his inter- est and purchased the farm on which he now lives. He was mar- ried in December, 1868, to Mary Watkins, daughter of Freeman Watkins, of this town. He was married a second time, June 19, 1877, to Emma Masten, daughter of S. J. D. J. Masten, of Grass Lake; she was born in the town of Grass Lake, Dec. 28, 1848; her family came here from New York in 1836. They are members of the Baptist Church at Norvell.

William Sweezey is among the pioneers of Michigan, and was born on Long Island, May 7, 1803. His parents, Jeremiah and Dortha (Baylyss) Sweezey, were natives of that place. He grew to manhood, and for a number of years was en- gaged in sailing on the waters of Long Island Sound. In 1827 he was married to Hattie Weeks, born in Westchester county, N. Y., in 1810. They lived on Long Island till the spring of 1835, when they sought their fortunes in what was then the wilds of Michigan. They arrived in Jackson county in May of that year, took up a piece of land in Napoleon tp. Mr. S. improved the farm and it was his home 33 years, when he sold it and removed to the village of Norvell, where he still lives, a hale, hearty old man, enjoying the pleasures and fruits that a life well spent will always bring. They had a family of $ children- James A., John M. and William, were born on Long Island; Lydia, (deceased), Dora A., Stephen (deceased), Baylyss and Debby (deceased), were born in Michigan. James is a lawyer; John and William are doctors; Baylyss was a dentist, and died in the late civil war at Nashville, June 18, 1865; Dora graduated at a medical college in Philadelphia, and practiced medicine for a few years; she married Mr. McGregory and lives in Southern Indi- ana. May 17, 1859, Mr. Sweezey lost the wife of his youth, and in November of that year was married to Eliza Griffeth, widow of Luther Griffeth, formerly of Brooklyn, this county, who was born

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

in Woodbury, Conn., in 1810, and came to Michigan in 1845. They are both worthy members of the M. E. Church in Napoleon. In his business Mr. Sweezey has been successful to a reasonable ex- tent, and is now enjoying the competence he earned in former years. He has traveled quite extensively over different parts of the United States, and is among the host of influential and intelli- gent men that reside in Jackson county.

L. D. Watkins, banker, Manchester, Mich.

PARMA TOWNSHIP.

The organization of this township was effected under an act of the Legislative Council, approved March 11, 1837, directing that " All that portion of the county of Jackson, designated in the United States survey as township 2 south, of range 3 west, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township, by the name of Parma, and the first township meeting therein shall be held at the house of John Graham, in said township." The first township meeting was held at the house of John Graham, in April, 1837, at which time John Barnum was elected supervisor. At a subsequent election, held Aug. 21 and 22, 1837, for representa- tive 77 votes were polled in the township, 41 for Isaac S. Crary, and 36 for Hezekiah G. Wells.

The township of Parma was comprehended originally in the dis- trict known as Spring Arbor, which included what are now desig- nated as the townships of Pulaski, Hanover, Concord, Spring Arbor, Parma, Sandstone, Springport, and Tompkins.

The first land entered in the township was located by George Ketchum, being the farm now owned by B. F. King, better known as the Barber place. Here was kept what was known as " Ball's Tav- ern," the name of the occupant being emblematically made known by a large wooden ball placed on the top of a tamarack pole. This land was located in 1831, but was not settled upon immediately. The first permanent settler was Elihn M. Goold, who located a farm, now owned by Horace King, in the fall of 1832, and came on with his family June 19, 1833. He was soon surrounded by neighbors, and Parma now took her place among the prosperous and enterprising settlements of Jackson county. Henry Nichol- son came in 1835 and located land, and became a settler in 1837.

The first railroad station in this vicinity was opened in 1845, and was known as Gidley's Station, situated on the line of the Michigan Central railroad, 86 miles west of Detroit, and 10 miles west of Jackson.

Ontside the village there is an old Quaker church, which, however, is not now occupied, the sect having become almost extinct in this section, and the Campbell church near the north line of the town. There are four school districts in the town and six fractional districts.

The surface of the township is generally rolling, it is very well watered and has a soil unsurpassed in fertility. All crops raised in Michigan are grown here with certainty and abundance.

On the 25th of January, 1866, a great conflagration visited Parma village and destroyed much valuable property. The busi-

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

ness portion of the village was entirely destroyed. Since that time, however, the Aldrich Block and other substantial business blocks have been erected, and the place is rapidly growing in wealth and population.

The plat of Parma village was made by James M. Gould, on April 5, 1848. It was first called Groveland. This was, however, changed to the present name in 1849. The village was not incor - porated until Dec. 31, 1864. The first election of village officers took place in Washington Hall, on the first Tuesday in March, 1865. Parma was for years widely known as Cracker Hill, and even letters for Parma were often so directed.

The first store in Parma was erected by William Kassick in 1846. Lyman Warren and Lafayette Fisher were associated in the grocery business, and Walter Fergurson was also engaged in the same kind of trade at an early day. In 1849 R. E. Aldrich moved his store here from Gidley's Station, where he had been both postmaster and merchant. J. P. Robbins, Esq., moved his store to Parma the same year, and carried on the manufacture of boots and shoes. Mrs. Zimri Laurence moved in also from Gid- ley's. The first warehouse was built by Isaac Cushman, in 1848, the growth of the county in agricultural wealth demanding a place where goods could be stored, and where grain and produce could be exchanged or shipped away. Levi Summers erected a blacksmith shop in 1849, and Asa Caswell had a shop of the same kind in 1848. Dr. R. K. Gibson was the first physician in Gidley's, and Dr. Brown at Parma. Dr. A. B. Crawford and Dr. D. W. Arm- strong came shortly after.

The Union church was built in 1851, and was owned jointly by the Presbyterians and Methodists, one society occupying the house one week and the other the next. They continued to worship in this way until 1868, when the Methodists sold out their interest, and erected a very fine brick church. This church is in the town- ship of Sandstone, as is also the fine high-school building. The Baptists have a very good house of worship also.

The village is a pretty and lively place, located mainly on the south side of the Central railroad, which passes through it. It has a population of 1,000 people, and is well built up with excellent private and business houses. It contains three churches, thirteen stores, a lodge of Masons, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars, a Grange, one steam flouring-mill, one sash, door and blind factory, a splendid Union school-which stands among the best in the State -and the usual number of shops, etc.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Biographical and family sketches of several of the representa- tive citizens and pioneers follow here as a fitting close of the his- tory of this part of the county:

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 104

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