History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 106

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

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Merritt Peckham, son of Benjamin Peckham, was born in Parma, Feb. 11, 1841. When he was 18 years of age he went with his father's family to Albion; in a short time he returned to the farm, where he resided until Aug. 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. E, 20th Mich; served through the war, and was discharged in May, 1865. The next three years he spent in traveling in different parts of the United States; the summer of 1868 he spent in the State of New York. Here he became acquainted with Helen M. Wilcox, daughter of Charles Wilcox, of Sterling, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and Oct. 28, 1868, they were married. Mrs. P. was born in Lansing, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1848. Soon after their marriage they came to Parma, where they have since lived. They have 1 child-Benjamin. Mr. P. is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising and farming.

Oliver W. Perry was born May 22, 1815, in Canada. His father, James Perry, was born in 1784, in Malone, N. Y., and died in this township, Aug. 8, 1849. His mother was a native of Rut- land, Vermont, where she was born in 1787, and died in 1835, in Murray, Orleans Co., N. Y. Mr. Perry came to this State from Orleans county, in June, 1837. In 1839 he bought 40 acres of land, which he sold in 1845, and the next year purchased the present farm, consisting of 107 acres of land in secs. 29 and 32; it is con- sidered among the best farms in the vicinity, and is located three miles east of Albion. There are two dwellings on the place, one of which is occupied by Mr. Perry's son, O. H. Perry, who works the farm. Mr. Perry married Sophronia Graham, Mar. 16, 1843, and they have had 3 children, as follows: Daniel M., born June 28, 1844, and died Oct. 18, 1863; Mary E., born in February, 1846, and died, aged one day; Oliver H., born Jan. 16, 1847. The

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

mother died Aug. 10, 1849; she was the daughter of John and Chloe Graham, of Parma, Sept. 16, 1852. Mr. Perry married Mrs. Sarah Graham, widow of Lorenzo Graham, of Parma; their 5 children were-Olivia, born Jan. 11, 1858, died Aug. 31, 1865; Ida, Feb. 10, 1860, died Feb. 2, 1861; Sobina, Jan. 7, 1862, died Aug. 30, 1865; Jennie M., Marchi 7, 1864, died Ang. 27, 1865; William P., Feb. 29, 1868; Mrs. Perry died Oct. 11, 1880; she was the daughter of Isaac and Phebe Lewis, of New York. Oliver H. Perry was married July 2, 1871, to Mary J. Williams, of Brookfield, Eaton Co., Mich; she died Sept. 6, 1872. Nov. 5, 1873, Mr. Perry married Mary Verplank, of Albion. Their chil- dren are-Sobina, born Jan. 26, 1875; Jessie M., June 21, 1877; and Daniel H., Nov. 26, 1880. Mrs. Perry is the daughter of D. H. and Abigail Verplank, and was born Dec. 6, 1848. Her mother died Feb. 2, 1881. Mr. O. H. Perry is a member of the Odd Fel- lows order of Albion. His family descended from four brothers who came from England at an early date, and three of whom settled in the Southern States.

Daniel D. Petrie, Parma village, was born April 15, 1830, and is a son of Peter D. Petrie (deceased) who was a shoemaker by trade, and emigrated from his native town, Little Falls, Herkimer Co., N. Y., where he was born Dec 29, 1800. Peter D. was a son of Peter D. Petrie, who was a native of Germany and one of the early pioneers of Western New York. He was a miller and mill owner, and was murdered by a band of Mohawk Indians in his own mill, but not until he had killed seven of the savages with his only defensive weapon, a sled stake. Peter D. Petrie, Jr., had 4 sons : Sherman, Austin, Daniel and Asa. He was a shoemaker by trade, which business he followed until he came to Michigan in 1838, locating 560 acres of land in Concord tp. He married Mrs. Ann Bucher, widow of Sherman Bucher; her maiden name was Ann Merrill, her people being Jersey Dutch. Daniel D. was married May 27, 1855, to Miss Charlotte Walker, daughter of Asa Walker, a business man of New York city, and they have 5 children, viz .: Alice M., Carrie A., Lawrence B., Ward L. and Eva.

Asa M. Petrie was the fourth and youngest son of Peter D. Petrie, Jr., and was born in Lenox, Madison Co., Aug. 16, 1832, and came West with the family as above stated. He received his first schooling at Concord, and finished at Albion, Calhoun Co. He learned the shoe and harness maker's trade of his father, and came to Parma and entered business in that line in 1854, where he has since lived, commanding a lucrative trade. He married Feb. 2, 1853, Miss Caroline F. Brunson, daughter of William Brunson, an early settler, having come to Parma in 1837. They have had 6 children-Orlando M., Emma M., Carrie A., Myrtie M., Edith Grace and Mary A.

Frederick F. Richardson, a retired farmer of Parma village, was born in Leroy tp., Genesee county, N. Y., March 21, 1815. His father, Jared Richardson, was a native of New England, and a

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PARMA TOWNSHIP.

farmer by occupation. Jared Richardson married Lovina Butter- field, a native of New Hampshire. Their family consisted of 6 sons and 2 daughters-Jared L., Frederick T., Abram C., Sophia L., E. Wesley, Manly B., Lenora L. and William N. They lived in Leroy tp. until 1826, and moved to Chautauqua county, where they remained until 1834, then came to Michigan and settled in the town of Romeo, Lenawee Co. Here they remained but two years, and came to Sandstone. Frederick moved to Parma tp., and settled on sec. 26; lived there until 1881, when, owing to loss of health, he sold, and has retired to Parma village. He was married Jan. 14, 1844, to Miss Emma C. Fellows, daughter of Silas Fellows, a farmer of Washington county, N. Y. He came West in 1840 and located in Sandstone. They have had 4 children -Mary J., now Mrs. William Conant; Charles F., Mabel, now Mrs. Franklin Sampson; Sophia is deceased.

Philip Smith was born May 2, 1805, in Camborough, Canada. He was the son of Jabez and Charity Smith; father was born in 1766, in Massachusetts, and died in Canada in 1849; mother was a native of New Jersey, and died when Philip was five years of age. The latter removed to this State in 1868, previous to which time he pursued the vocation of farmer and builder. He purchased 72 acres in sec. 33, on which he lives, and also owns 105 acres lying in Concord, opposite his residence in Parma. Politically he is a Republican. Feb. 21, 1833, he married Ann Eliza Hurd, of Yates, Orleans Co., N. Y., danghter of Isaac and Phebe Hurd, natives of New Jersey, and was born Jan. 5, 1809, in Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y. From this marriage they have 3 children-Orris, born Feb. 16, 1835; Wells, July 20, 1836; and Henry J., June 18, 1838. The last named enlisted in the 17th Independent Battery, N. Y. Vol., under Capt. Geo. P. Anthony. His period of enlist- ment was three years, and the war closed bnt three months pre- vious to its expiration. P. O., Albion.

Lewis Ver Valen is the youngest of a family of 6 sons, and was born in La Grange, Dutchess Co., N. Y., Sept. 2, 1838. His father, Abram Ver Valen, was a farmer of Dutchess county, and mar- ried Catharine Dubois, daughter of Lewis Dubois, a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., as was also her father. Lewis received his schooling at Lagrange, and acquired the wagon-makers' trade. He came West and located at Parma village in 1865, and established his present wagon manufacturing and general repairing business. In 1868 he married Miss Hattie Ward, daughter of Deacon F. B. Ward, one of the earliest and most highly esteemed pioneers of Spring Arbor tp. They have 1 son-Ward.

John Woodliff is the son of John and Mary Ann (Raisin) Woodtiff, natives of Lincolnshire, England. His father was born in 1813 and died in this tp. Nov. 7. 1860; his mother was born about the year 1811, and is still living in Sunimit. Mr. Woodliff was born in Lincolnshire, England, June 12, 1843, and came with his parents to this country when eight years old. He learned the trade of builder and has pursned it with success. He owns 40

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

acres of land in sec. 34, valned, with the buildings, at $4,000. Five years ago he built a handsome and commodious honse which is an ornament to the place. He married March 17, 1872, Julia Hammill, of this tp .; a sister of James Hammill, attorney of Jackson. They have 3 children, as follows: Mark, born Feb. 11, 1873; James H., March 30, 1876, and Mary V., Jan. 14, 1878. Mrs. W. is the daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Higgins) Hammill, both of whom are still living. She was born at Springport, June 23, 1847. Mr. Woodliff is located five miles from Albion, one and one-fourth from Concord station, and three miles from Parma. He is National in politics. P. O., Parma.

Deodutus E. Wright was born April 27, 1812, in Williamstown, Mass. His father, Frederick Wright, was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in 1785, and died in 1859, in Sheridan, Calhoun Co. He came to this State in 1836 and settled in Concord. His wife, Sophia (Thomas) Wright, was born in Massachusetts in 1781, and died in Parma in 1848. In 1837 Mr. D. E. Wright came to this town, re maining a part of a year, then returned to New York to dispose of his property and remove his family, which he accomplished in May, 1839, settling on sec. 30. Oct. 12, 1836, he married Serena Fox, of Huron, Wayne Co., N. Y .; born May 25, 1816, in Huron. Her father, Roswell Fox, was a native of Connecticut, and died when his daughter was two years old. Her mother was born in Canada, and died in March, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have had 10 chil- dren, whose births occurred in the following order: Nathan E. was born April 26, 1838, and died April 11, 1874; Charlotte E. was born April 6, 1840; Hannah was born Oct. 12, 1843, and died March 22, 1844; James R. was born March 3, 1844; Asahel P. was born Ang. 15, 1846; Albert S., March 9, 1848; Smith W., Nov. 30, 1851, and died Sept. 27, 1873; Philo D., Feb. 14, 1854; L. T. A. I., June 25, 1856; Ida A., Feb. 29, 1864. James R. and L. T. A. I. are attorneys, practicing law at St. Louis, Mich. A. P. is engaged in the hardware trade in the same place. Albert is a farmer in Huron county, and Philo D. is on the homestead with his parents. Mr. Wright purchased 50 acres of land on his first journey to Michigan, to which he has added from time to time un- til he now owns 160 acres, beside 40 acres in Eaton county. He has been Supervisor 11 years, and Justice of the Peace 33 years. He belongs to the National party. P. O., Albion.

Lonaws- Náldo

PULASKI TOWNSHIP.

The Township of Pulaski was organized in April, 1838, by the election of James Cross, supervisor, Warner I. Hodge, town clerk. with other officers provided by the statute. Mr.Cross having resigned his office as supervisor, a special election was held in October, when Rev. J. B. Burroughs was elected supervisor. At the organization of the town there were some 20 voters.

The earliest settlers were John Wilber, Col. Luther L. Ward, John Howard, Michael, Harvey and Harry Nowlin, Warner I. Hodge, J. M. Chatfield, the Fisher and Pennoyer families and a few others. The town has now 1,168 inhabitants-Supervisor William Goffe, Town Clerk, Hiram L. Mason, a grandson of W. I. Hodge, the first town clerk.

The following history of this township is taken from the valuable paper prepared by Ira A. Willis :-

" Pulaski in its primitive state was what is known as an oak opening township of land, and the first settler in it was John Howard, who located in the south-west part of the town in 1834, on what was subsequently called Howard's Island. Although a inan had come into the township previous to Mr. Howard and built a shanty, he did not make a permanent settlement, and therefore should not have the honor of being named the first settler. Soon after, other settlers came in. Among the first were -- Cornelius Fisher, Reuben Pennoyer, Renben Luttenton, Sylvester Daniel, Stephen Cheesboro, James Cross, Benjamin Stookey, Joel Fiske, Charles Guile, Isaac N. Swain, Jesse Burrows, Michael Nowlin, Harry Nowlin, Isaac P. Wheeler, John Wilbur and Col. L. L. Ward. The Colonel being quite a military man, gave the name to the town, naming it after the celebrated Polish chieftain, Count Pulaski.

"The first birth in the town was that of Goodell Wilbur, a son of Mr. John and Mrs. L. Wilbur. This son is now nearly 46 years of age, and was a prosperous farmer in Iowa in 1874. The first death also was in Mr. Wilbur's family,-a son about 13 years of age who was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun.

" Among the first settlers were Henry and Eli Woodin, John Thorn, John Chatfield, Aslıur Grover, Cyrus Daniels, Ira Jacobs, Henry Turner,F. D. Turner, Elijah and Barnett Dickson, Erastus Wyllis, Luther Miner, Cheney Day, with a large number of young Days, and many others; so that in 1840 we were able with a little assistance from the surrounding towns, to run two old-fashioned Fourth-of-July celebrations at the same time. I would not wish to be understood that we had become so numerous that we could not all be

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

acc , modated at one place; but through the influence ofhard cider in these days of ' Tippecanoe and Tyler too ' and ' little Van, a used-up man' party spirit ran so high that, I am sorry to say, we could not unite to celebrate our natal day together.

"About 1840 Rev. Wm. Page came into town and settled on quite a large farin on sec. 17, and organized the first religious society, it being a Presbyterian or Congregational Church, which was of very short duration, lasting only about two years. In 1841 he established a classical school on the manual-labor plan, attended to his farm, and preached at Jonesville; but did not succeed very well in any of his callings, and soon failed in all except, perhaps, his preaching. In 1841 there were established two Methodist societies, Protestant and Episcopal, and in the winter of 1842-'3, the year the world was to come to an end, there were numerous accessions to each of them; but as the world did not come to an end as was expected by some, there soon commenced a strife for the predominance in a religious point of view. The Methodist Epis- copals carried matters, and the Protestants soon became extinct as a religious oganization.

" The town was organized into a township for civil or legal pur- poses, with Concord and Spring Arbor, in 1837, and into its present limits the succeeding year. At the first township meeting Jesse Burrows was chosen supervisor. The town was settled by people from New York, New England and Pennsylvania, and some from other places, New York furnishing more than all other places to- gether. They have always been peaceable and industrious, gaining their subsistence from agricultural pursuits, and in point of im- provements will compare favorably with her sister town. Some of the time since the settlement of the town, farming has been rather an up-hill business, especially in those years when we had to draw wheat to Jackson over rough roads, and sell it for 40 or 45 cents a bushel, and take 'dicker' or 'part dicker' for that. There have been times since the settlement of Pulaski when the dealers here at Jackson would take a whole hog dressed, and weighing 200 or 300 pounds, for one barrel of salt. Yet we have stuck to the family, although we have been invited into a more southern conn- try, that is, to join Hillsdale county.

" Physically, Pulaski has a rolling surface, but no very bad hills, interspersed with a few lakes, Wilbur's and Swain's lakes being the largest. Pulaski has some marsh ground along the Kalamazoo river, which flows through the town in a northwesterly direction, and the northwest part of the town is erossed by two railroads; one the Air Line, on the northwest corner, and the other the Fort Wayne, on the southeast corner, having no regular station in the town, except at Pulaski, on the Air Line, and the passenger house for that is in the town of Homer. Some might infer that we are not well located for markets, but that is not the case; for we are so situated that we can go north, south, east or west, and soon strike a railroad We can hear the whistle from five different railroads every day.

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PULASKI TOWNSHIP.

"Some thinking that God dwelt in temples made by hands, have called Pulaski a "no God" town; but they have no occasion to call it so now, for we have one church building in town, a nice Methodist Episcopal church, situated one and one-half miles from the main traveled road, running north and south through the town. The town has six whole school districts, and five fractional ones; and for the amount of school property stands third in the county. Pulaski makes no boast of being more patriotic than her sister towns, but is not ashamed of her record during the war for the suppression of the Rebellion, sending her quota of men, 25 of whom went to return no more; but, thanks be to God, a goodly number returned, among whom we have one who saw the presi- dent of the rebel confederacy taken in the last ditch, and stripped of his peculiar armor.

"To bring my brief history to a close, Pulaski presents her greeting, pledging her fidelity and constancy, promising not to be barren, but fruitful, and claims the right hand of fellowship from her fair sisters of the family to which she belongs."

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Following are personal sketches of well known residents of Pulaski township:

Eugene Burditt came to Michigan in the winter of 1872 and settled in Pulaski tp., on a farm of 80 acres in secs. 9 and 10. He was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in June, 1824; was mar- ried March 12, 1845, to Miss Cordelia Stone, and they have 8 children living; 2 are dead. Mr. Burditt moved to New York in 1831, and, until he was 16 years of age, worked on a farm with his father. By trade he is a carpenter, and is building himself a handsome residence; his farm is a good one, and with his energy and tact he will make a success of his calling in Michigan.

William Butters was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 20, 1829; emigrated to America in the fall of 1849; in 1853 he moved to this tp. He was married to Sarah Van Wort in 1856, and she died the same year. In March, 1859, he went to Pike's Peak, being attracted by the gold excitement then raging, but finding it not a prosperous move, returned to his home in Pulaski, where he had a farm of 100 acres in secs. 16 and 21. In June, 1861, he was married to Elizabethi Gill, of Jonesville, Hillsdale Co .; they have 3 children living-Wm. F., born April 2, 1864; Nellie May, born March 22, 1877, and Nettie A., born Oct 1, 1878; 2 children are dead. Mr. Butters is a Greenbacker, and has voted with that party since its organization; has held the office of Postmaster several years, and is in every respect a consistent member of society.

J. W. Clark was born in Pulaski tp., Nov. 13, 1839. His father settled about 160 acres of Government land, and cultivated the ame about 11 years; he died in August, 1850, and in the division

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

of the estate the old home place, which had been increased to 170 acres, was left to the subject of this sketch. In 1862 he improved the place very much by building quite a nice residence and other buildings. He enlisted as a private in Co. C. 2d Mich. Cav., in November, 1863, and served about one year. He is a Republican and has always voted that ticket. For six years past he has paid special attention to raising fine stock, and has some of the best breeds of short-horned cattle in the State. He has 1 child living- Maud C., born July 2, 1868. His wife, Miss Mallock, daughter of James Mallock, of Pulaski tp., has been dead a number of years.

Benjamin Daun is a native of Connecticut, where he was born July 10, 1807. In 1816 he moved to Monroe county, N. Y., with his parents, and Jan. 8. 1846, he was married to Miranda Richard- son. In the fall of 1848 he came to this State; lived in several places before settling permanently; came to Pulaski in the spring of 1862, where he had bought a farm of 160 acres, in sec. 1. He has 2 children living; as a farmer, is one of the most prosperous in his tp.

Curtis D. Dixon was born in Ohio, Nov. 17, 1828. He came to Michigan with his parents in July, 1837; his father had bought a farm of 80 acres in this tp., on sec. 12. He was married July 11, 1852, to Miss Susie Fitton, and after the death of his father in August, 1857, came into possession of the farm which he lias culti- vated ever since. They have 4 children living. His mother is still living and makes her home with him; though now in her 82d year, still maintains, to a remarkable degree, her strength and vigor. Mr. Dixon is politically a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic order.

John Fritz was born Nov. 5, 1828, and came to this State in the fall of 1855, settling in Concord tp .; lived there about 10 years, working as a farmer. He was married in April, 1860, to Julia Ruth, of Jackson cit -. In 1863 he enlisted as a private in Co. I, 6th Michigan Artillery, and served in that capacity till the close of the war. In 1865 he bought a farm of 80 acres in sec. 3, where he has lived ever since. They have 6 children living. Mr. Fritz is a Republican and has always voted with that party. His farm is one of the best in Pulaski tp .; his buildings present a neat and substantial appearance.

Thomas Goffe, Jr., the present Supervisor of Pulaski tp., was born in Hanover tp., Oct. 24, 1838; he lived there, assisting his father on a farm, until 1862, when he moved to this tp. He was married in August, 1865, to Harriet A. Rogers; they have 3 children living. He is a Greenbacker, and for four years has held the office of Supervisor of this tp. Mr. Goffe cultivates 80 acres of land in sec. 33; he is one of the most popular men in the community in which he lives, and his capacity, integrity and fidelity to duty as a public officer, and in all his social rela- tions, have been universally recognized and admired.

Allen W. Grover was born in Monroe county. N. Y., Nov. 20, 1810; came to Michigan in June, 1836, and settled with his father

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PULASKI TOWNSHIP.

on a tract of land, sec. 11, Pulaski tp. In the spring of 1840 he was married to Miss Jane E. Phipps, and in the fall of the same year moved to a tract of 40 acres in sec. 13 of this tp. Mr. Grover has been exceedingly successful in his farming operations, and now owns over 300 acres of the best farming land in his tp. He is a Greenbacker and has always been since the organization of the party. His father died in August, 1859, and his mother in the spring of 1843. He has 6 children living, and 3 dead. He has improved nearly all of his lands, and his residence is one of the most beautiful in Pulaski tp.

Milton H. Hodge, son of Warner I. and Sarah Hodge, was born in Adams, Berkshire Co., Mass., Nov. 12, 1825. He was 11 years old when his parents removed from Massachusetts to Michigan, and has since then resided in Pulaski, on the 160 acres of land which his father bought of the Government in 1835. He and his maiden sister own the old homestead; it is described as the south- west quarter of sec. 28, town 4 south, of range 3 west, State of Mich- igan. Mr. Hodge is a careful and successful farmer, is a brother of Hon. Hiram C. Hodge, of Concord, in the same county. He has been twice married; his present wife was Eveline Holmes, born in Springwater, Livingston Co., N. Y. His father, Warner I. Hodge, died in Pulaski in 1851. He was the first Town Clerk of Pulaski, and for many years was Supervisor or Town Clerk of the town, a good officer and an upright man.

D. C. Holmes was born in Berkshire county, Mass., Feb. 24, 1836. He came to this State in the fall of 1848, and worked by the month until he had accumulated enough to purchase a farm and start in life on his own account. He was married to Lydia Chapman in May, 1857. He bought a tract of land of 80 acres in sec. 34, this tp., where he has resided ever since. They have 2 chil- dren, both living with him. Politically, Mr. Holmes is a Demo- crat. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years; he has cleared up most of his lands, and altogether he is one of the most prosperous men in Jackson county.

Simon King, Jr., was born in Monroe county, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1827; came to Michigan in October,1848, and lived with his brother- in-law, Mr. Everts, in Oakland county, during the following winter; in April, 1849, came to Pulaski, where his father had bought a farm of 240 acres in secs. 30 and 31. He was married to Miss Emily Tiffney, Dec. 19, 1851; they have 5 children living.

Mr. King is a Greenbacker; has held the office of Justice of the Peace and School Inspector. His father bought this farm after it had been cultivated several years, for $12 per acre, and now it would easily bring $50, if not more. His mother, Isabel King, died in October, 1863; his father is still living in Gencsee county, this State, nearly 80 years of age, but still actively engaged as a farmer. Mr. King is a strong temperance man, none of his family ever having formed the habit of intemperance in any form.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 106

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