History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 112

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 112

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William Todd, Vice-President of the Pioneer Society, was born Dec. 9, 1807, in Jefferson N. Y. ; came to Washtenaw county, Mich., in 1832, and to Spring Arbor in 1836. He married Sept. 6, 1835, Marietta French, who was born in Ontario county, N. Y., July 13, 1817, and came to Ann Arbor in May, 1833, with her parents, Cyrus and Hannah French. Her father died June 6, 1856, aged 68 years ;. her mother died Aug. 22, 1855, in her 58th year; they were buried in Spring Arbor cemetery. Mr. Todd descended from New England stock; Mrs. Todd dates her ancestors in Scotland. . Their children

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SPRING ARBOR TOWNSHIP.

are-Lewis R., born June 28, 1836, now on the old homestead, sec. 20; Harriet M., born Aug. 16, 1839, now Mrs. George W. Chapel, P. O., Parma; Charles W., born Sept. 1, 1842, residence, Jack- son; Rufina U., born Sept. 11, 1845, now Mrs. Edwin Hotchkin, Jackson. Mr. Todd has several hundred acres of splendid_ land, lying just west of Spring Arbor village, sec. 20.

William H. Turpening, of Schoharie county, N. Y., came to Michigan in 1861; June 18, 1863, he married Sarah Maria Snyder, oldest daughter of Lewis Snyder, an old settler of Spring Arbor, and pioneers of Jackson county remember his genial ways, and hospitable home on sec. 23, the first brick house in this part of the country. Mrs. Turpening's parents gave part of the old home- stead to her. Their children are-Lester Lewis, born Aug. 13, 1865; Cad Eliza, born Ang. 15, 1866; George E., born Dec. 26, 1868; Pearlie Ellie, born Feb. 21, 1871; Victor Albert, born April 25, 1879; little Pearlie died Nov. 21, 1879, a pearl of great price. Mr. Turpening went to Colorado in 1880, engaged in mining for some time, but is now on the Santa Fe R. R., in New Mexico. Mrs. Turpening has charge of Snyder's station, which was named after her father for the interest and liberality he manifested in having the Air Line run on this route. The station is becoming of con- siderable importance as a shipping point, as this is the only ship- ping station in the tp. Mr. Snyder has lived in Hanover for some years. Mr. Turpening purposes to remain in the West, min- ing and railroading, until he gets what he went for-wealth.

John Weaver was born Feb. 22, 1812, in Tompkins county, N. Y .; was married to Esther N. Hollister, Dec. 28, 1837; she was born in Livingston county, N. Y., March 30, 1818; their children are Eliza E., born Feb. 7, 1843, now Mrs. Geo. S. Dart, of Spring Arbor; they have 1 son, John W. Dart, only grandson of John and Esther (Hollister) Weaver; Sarah Ann, born Dec. 30, 1849, died July 17, 1865. Mr. Weaver died May 12, 1875. His father and mother came to Michigan in 1843, and settled on sec. 28. Mrs. Weaver lives with the daughter, Mrs. Dart, surrounded by old neighbors and friends.

James Worth was born March 9, 1805, in Warren county, N.Y .; came to Michigan in 1837 and settled on sec. 28, where he now lives. March 2, 1842, he married Ruth R. Knapp, who was born Dec. 15, 1816; her parents, Ezekiel and Temperance (Wilder) Knapp, came to Michigan from the New England States in an early day and settled in Spring Arbor, on sec. 20. Mr. and Mrs. Worth have had 7 children-Hannah Maria, now Mrs. J. M. Cham - berlain; James Chauncy, born June 7, 1847; Temperance A., born Sept. 16, 1848, and died Jan. 13, 1854; William Augustus, born Oct. 8, 1850; Amasa DeWight, April 27, 1856, died March 5, 1876; Albert and Alfred (twins), born July 10, 1860. Mr. Worth is now in his 77th year, retaining his vigor remarkably well, lives on his beantiful farm on secs. 27 and 28; P. O., Horton. His father, Wm. Worth, came to Michigan in 1831, one of the first settlers, and he came from New Jersey to New York, Sencca county, in 1821.

SPRINGPORT TOWNSHIP.

The act of the State Legislature of 1837-'8, organizing this township, took effect April 2, 1838. An election held on that day, at the house of Isaac B. Gates, resulted in the choice of Josiah Whitman for supervisor, and W. V. Morrison, town clerk.

Ebenezer Brown located the place now occupied by George Lan- don and known as the "Landon Farm" in 1834, and was the first settler in this town. Mr. Landon, however, came in 1835, and bought the place of Mr. Brown. In the spring of 1835 John S. Comstock and H. Fitzgerald moved in. Mr. Comstock located his farm in the southeastern part of the town.

The following year the territory settled up quite rapidly, O. V. Hammond, Edward Ferris, John Oyer and others finding homes for themselves here. Henry Chase also located the place now owned by Stephen H. Ludlow, either in the fall of 1835 or early part of 1836. Isaiah Whitman located this year (1836) one lot north of the school section. Marcus Harrison built this season the first saw. mill, which was located on section 26. Among the old settlers who came in about this time or the season following were Isaac B. Gates, David S. Mallory, James M. Jameson, Levi Hoffman, Stephen S. Ludlow, M. S. Brown and George Landon.

The first schools in town were taught by Julia Mallory and Lu- ther H. Ludlow. The first frame school-house was erected in dis- trict No. 1, in 1838.

The first sermon was preached in the town by Rev. Mr. Harrison, in a large log house, 30 feet square, standing in the road directly in front of the present residence of M. S. Brown. The Methodist Episcopal denomination has a church here, the only church in town, though there are two or three just on the township lines.

John S. Comstock, who came, as we have stated above, in 1835, built the first barn that was erected in the town. He also broke the first piece of land.

Maria J. Comstock, now Mrs. Josiah Whitman, Jr., and a daugh- ter of John S. Comstock, was probably the first person born in the town.

The first postoffice was established in the village of Springport,- "Oyer's Corners,"-in the early part of January, 1838. Augustus Gaylord was the first postmaster. The Cayuga postoffice was es- tablished the next spring, and for 20 years M. S. Brown officiated in that office as postmaster. The Otter Creek and Springport offices are now the only postoffices in the town, the former having been opened in 1839, with Daniel Griffith as the first postmaster.

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SPRINGPORT TOWNSHIP.

The village of Springport, formerly called Oyer's Corners, is a flourishing little place that has sprung up quite rapidly since the railroad came in. It has over 400 inhabitants, some three dry- goods stores, two drug stores and groceries, a hardware, furniture, and agricultural stores, and a good hotel. There are also two steam-mills, and the prospect is good for the future prosperity and growth of this little village.

The following election returns for November, 1880, show the political strength of the township: Electors-Hancock, 52; Gar- field, 198; Weaver, 134; Governor -- Holloway, 48; Jerome, 193; Woodman, 139. Congress-Pringle, 25; Lacy, 182; Hodge, 172. Senator-Wilson, 49; Goodwin, 193; Palmer, 127. Judge of Pro- bate-Powell, 48; Gould, 192; Anderson, 138. County Clerk- Covert, 40; Van Horn, 195; Moe, 136. Register of Deeds-Town- ley, 80; Ray, 169; Hinshaw, 131. Sheriff-Winney, 50; Lock- wood, 187; Terry, 142. Treasurer-Wheeler, 43; Ludlow, 192; Townley, 144. Prosecuting Attorney-Barkworth, 51;Sharp, 191; Hewlett, 137. County Surveyor -- Bean, 48; Crowl, 195; Cook, 136. Circuit Court Commissioner-Merwin, 48; Blair, 195; Merwin, 136; McDevitt, 47; Welsh. 196; McDevitt, 136. Coroner-Finn, 48; Bedford, 195; Cook, 136; Sammons, 48; Thurman, 195; Curtis, 136. Representative-Chapel, 46; Belvin, 185; Strong, 143.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Personal sketches of many of the representative citizens of Springport township are given on the following pages:

John Baker, son of Christopher and Mary Baker, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., March 20, 1825. He received his educa- tion in the schools of that county, and in the fall of 1855, in company with his brother, F. O. Baker, he came to this county, settling on the farm he now occupies. March 24, 1857, he mar- ried Amy Bennett, daughter of Stephen and Louisa Bennett; she was born in Springport, in March, 1842; Mr. Bennett came here in 1838. They have 6 children-Sarah J., Benjamin, Bertha O., Oscar, Jessie M. and Lizzie. Mr. Baker came to Michigan in the fall of 1848, and remained here until the spring of 1850; then went the overland route to California; he returned in the spring of 1851 by the way of the Isthmus, and went to his native home in Tomp- kins county, N. Y. He has always been engaged in farming; has met with good success, and now has a good farm with a pleasant home.

John E. Barton was born in Putnam county, N. Y., June 14, 1813, and when 15 years of age he, with his father, removed from that place to Lyons, Wayne Co., in the same State. His home in Putnam county was back on a mountain, five miles from Cold Springs, opposite West Point; remained seven years on the farm with his father. In the fall of 1835 he married his cousin, Eliza- beth Barton, and May 5, following, they started for Michigan with

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

the view of making for themselves a home in the West. They came by the way of the canal and steamboats to Detroit, and the journey from the latter place was made by wagons. The newly married couple stopped until in the fall with James Jameson, then a bachelor, Mrs. Barton keeping house for that gentleman, and Mr. Barton worked by the month for David Adams. In June Mr. B. had located his land, the 80-acre lot on which his house now stands, and in December, 1836, he put up his log house. While working on it, the wolves were howling in the woods but a few rods from him, and he often amused himself in mocking them. Indians were common in those days, and it was three months after moving into the log house before Mrs. Barton saw the face of a white woman. Although Mrs. B. is nearly 68 years of age, she is still hale and hearty. She was born July 2, 1813, near the place where her husband was born, and moved to Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are about the only pioneer husband and wife who came to this part of the country, both of whom are still living. Of their 10 children, 7 are yet living- Almira, Delia A., Jane, Helen M., Ida, Mary and John J. The land which Mr. B. located was known as opening land, and is sufficiently undulating to afford good drainage and impart a pleas- ing variety to the landscape. Here he has carved from the wilder- ness a farm, which has grown from 80 acres to 300, most of which is improved land.

C. V. Bockoven, son of John and Sarah (Vanderbilt) Bockoven, was born in Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 30, 1818. They were both natives of New Jersey, where they had married and moved to New York while yet young. His father's family had come from Holland many generations back and settled in New Jersey. His mother was a cousin of the late Commodore Vanderbilt. Mr. B. grew up to the years of manhood on his father's farm, in Wayne county, N. Y. In November, 1838, he came to Michigan, and worked at his trade in Jackson until July 3, 1840, when he again returned to New York. While at his home, in Wayne county, Oct. 1, 1840, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry

Lombright. She also was born in Wayne county, in 1819. Soon after their marriage they came to Jackson county. He had located some land in Ionia county, and was intending to go there to live; but while stopping with some friends in the town of Springport, they persuaded him to locate land in that town which he did, and settled the same season on the farm which he now oc- cupies. Here 7 children were born to them, 4 of whom are yet living- Maria, now Mrs. Geo. Wilcox; Henry, living at LaPorte, Ind .; George E., who is still at home, and Carrie E., now Mrs. J. C. Tracy, of Illinois: William G. was a member of the 42d Ill. Vol., Co. E, and was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun at Warsaw, Mo., Oct. 27, 1861. Mrs. B. died Jnly 31, 1864. He was married a second time, in April, 1865, to Hattie C. Irons. She died in February, 1868, leaving no children. Dec. 1, 1868, he mar- ried Maria A. Ford, youngest danghter of William Ford, one of the

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pioneer men of the city of Jackson. Mr. Ford was born in the city of Hartford, Conn., in 1828. His father, Benjamin Ford, had been a soldier in the Revolution, and fought at the battle of Bun- ker Hill. He afterward accompanied Arnold on his famous march from New England to Canada. Mr. Ford was married in Ran- dolph county, Vt., to Rebecca Flint, and shortly after their marriage came to Wavne county, N. Y., settling on a farm where he lived until 1836, when he removed his family to Jack- son, Mich. Eleven children were born to them, some of whom had preceded him to Jackson. All are now dead except Mrs. Bockoven. Mr. Ford had come with his son William to Jackson in 1835, and having considerable capital he purchased a large tract of land on which the city is now built. He made use of the fine water-power he found in the river, and put up what is known as the Etna Mill, which he ran for a number of years; but during the financial crisis of 1839-'40, the property fell into other hands. Mr. Ford was one of the founders of the city of Jackson, and died here in April, 1845.

William Boss, son of Green and Marian Boss, was born in Oneida county, N. Y., May 11, 1824. At 10 years of age, the family removed to Erie county, Pa., where he lived until the spring of 1843, when he came to Michigan, stopping at Ypsilanti; he lived near here some 14 years; then he spent the next 10 years in Van Buren county, Mich .; then a few years in Wayne county., and finally came to the farm in Jackson county, where he now lives. He was married near Ypsilanti, June 8, 1852, to Alsina Mayo, danghter of Lyman and Charlotte Mayo; she was born in Erie county, N. Y., June 8, 1822, and came with her parents to Washtenaw county when she was six years of age. Her father, during the late war, enlisted, at the age of 61 years, in Co. D, 12th Mich .; was brought home from the battle of Shiloh, and lived but a short time after reaching home. Mr. Boss has 4 children-Hat- tie, William, Clarence and Ellen. Mrs. Boss and her youngest daughter are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Boss enlisted in Co. A, 13th Mich., and after serving a year, was discharged on account of sickness. He now has a good farm of 90 acres.

William G. Brown, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Brown, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., March 9, 1821. His par- ents were natives of that county. At the age of 15 years, he accompanied his father and three brothers, Anios H., Lewis and George D., to Michigan. They settled in Parma. His father had visited Michigan in the summer of 1835 and located a large tract of land in the south part of the town of Springport; a short time after returning, he sold this and made another purchase in the town of Parma; both of his selections proved to be good, and now constitute some of the best farming land in the county. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and well fitted for the pioneer work in which he took an active part. He died Ang. 16, 1853, at Spring Arbor, at the age of 65. A few years after coming to this county, Mr. Brown returned to New York, where he spent several

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

years, attending school most of the time. Returning again to Jackson county, he was married in January, 1848, to Lucinda Landon, daughter of Herman and Betsey Landon; she was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in February, 1829. They have had 5 children-Mary, Benton G., Herman L., Louisa (deceased), and Carrie. Mr. Brown and his family are members of the M. E. Church, at North Parma. In 1867, he was elected Representative in the State Legislature; he had been Supervisor of the town of Parma, seven years. In his business he has been quite successful, and owns one of the largest farms in the country. He is known by all as an honest, upright man.

A. Bryan, son of John and Sophia Bryan, was born in Camden, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 4, 1815. He lived here until he reached the age of 18, when he removed to the neighboring village of Clinton, where he spent some time in learning the carpenter's trade. After becoming the master of his trade he again returned to his native town of Camden, but soon after, in the spring of 1835, came to Michigan, stopping near Farmington, Oakland Co. Here on the 6th of July, 1836, he was married to Louisa Comer, daughter of David and Betsey Comer, of that county. She was born in Middlesex, Yates Co., N. Y., in 1817. She came to Michigan with her father in April, 1830, when abont 13 years of age, and kept house for him until in July, when he returned and brought the rest of his family.

After his marriage Mr. Bryan continned to live in Oakland county until 1840, when they went to Lapeer connty, settling on a piece of land 10 miles from any settlement. They lived here improving their land until 1844, when he traded it for a piece of wild land in the town of Tompkins, Jackson Co. When they moved on this piece of land they found that their nearest neigh- bors were a mile and a half distant. They continued to live here until in the summer of 1872, when they came to the village of Springport, where he is now living, engaged in dealing in flour, salt, lime, etc., also the business of undertaking. Their family consists of § children-Elizabeth (deceased), David, Comer (de- ceased), Pulaski J., Rosa Ann, Adelaide, Ruth (deceased) and Louis.

Mr. Bryan has held many of the offices of the town where he has lived to the satisfaction of all. Since he has attained the age of 21 years he has not been free from some of the offices for a year. He is now Justice of the Peace.

William Champlin, son of John and Ann (Ray) Champlin, was born in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Conn., Oct. 4, 1807; when he was 12 years of age his family moved to Seneca connty, N. Y., where they remained for about three years, when they went to Freedom, Cattarangns Co., N. Y. They lived here for 10 or 12 years, when they went to Genesee county, N. Y., where they remained until 1851, when he came to Michigan, stopping for three or four years at Michigan Centre, then came to his farm in

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Springport tp., where he now lives. He was married in January, 1856, to Lucinda Nelson, daughter of Calvin Nelson. She was born April 12, 1833, in Canandaigua county, N. Y.

They have 6 children-Lucian, Leslie, Orson, Erastus, Dora (deceased) and Anthon (deceased). Mrs. Champlin died in Jan- uary, 1870, and is buried in the cemetery at Springport. In January, 1878, Mr. Champlin married Louisa Vanorder, widow of Charles Vanorder. She had a family of 10 children-George, Louisa, Emma, Martha (deceased), Julius, Eugene, Jennie, Henry, John and Mary. When Mr. C. was a young man he had learned the tailor's trade, and worked at it for some years, when he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and followed that for some time. Since coming to Michigan he has devoted his time to farming, with good success, having now a good farm of 240 acres.

Rev. John S. Comstock was born in Montville, Conn., Feb. 20, 1801, son of Joshua and Mary (Holmes) Comstock, the former of whom died in Salem, Conn., in 1828, and the latter in September, 1856, in Sandstone tp., this county, at the age of 88. They have had 11 children-Caleb C., Samuel H., Mary, Sarah, Joshua B., John S., Anson L., Fitch B., Ebenezer W. and William Pitt,-all dead but 3. John S. emigrated to this State in September, 1830, by the Erie canal and lake steamboat, coming from Detroit to Ann Arbor on foot. In 1833 he married Ruth Eastman, and they have had 4 children. Mr. C. is a minister of the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ. He has held many offices; had some experience in the Black Hawk war. P. O., Springport.

Wilson Cox was born in Lincolnshire, England, Feb. 8, 1836, son of Joseph and Jane Cox, natives of same place. When 13 years of age he came with his uncle, William Cox, to Ainerica, and settled in Tompkins county, N. Y. Here he lived until May, 1863, when he came to Michigan, settling on the place in Jackson county, where he now lives. April 4, 1863, he married Miss Mary E. Mack, daughter of Daniel and Eliza Mack, of Tompkins county, N. Y .; She was born in that county in 1844. They have 3 chil- dren-Jennie, Fred M. and Robert W .; all are living at home. With the exception of a few years spent in the livery business in New York, Mr. Cox has always been engaged in farming, with fair success, and now owns a good farm of 80 acres in the south part of the town of Springport.

Allen Crawford, son of Stephen B. and Malinda Crawford, now of Albion, was born on the farm he now occupies in the north part of the town of Springport, in March, 1839. His father had come to Michigan in 1834 from Vermont, his native State. He married in Michigan and in 1836 took up the farm in Springport and a few years later moved on and began improving it. They had 3 children-Al- Ien, Lucinda and Stephen. 'Allen has spent most of his time on the old farm. He was educated in the district schools and academy of Albion. From 1855 to '57 he spent in Adrian, Mich., in the hardware business. After that he came to the farm and has since been engaged in

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

farming. He was married Feb. 1, 1860, to Annetta Onderdonk, daughter of Henry P. and Maria Onderdonk. She was born in Eaton county, Mich., Feb. 1, 1839. They have 3 children-Orrin F., Millard D. and Allen, Jr. Mr. Crawford is one of the most successful farmers of his town and owns a good farm of 360 aeres.

Joseph I. Dey, son of Lawrenee I. and Margaret (Rose) Dey, was born in Allegany county, N. Y., Aug. 26, 1824. Mr. Dey grew to the age of manhood in his native county, and by diligent appli- cation to his books received a good education in the schools of his county.

While he was a young man he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and for a number of years taught school during the winter months and worked at his trade during summer. Since his removal to Jackson county he has filled some of the offices of his town con- tinuously for a number of years. He is also a Notary Publie.

On the 7th of June, 1848, in Allegany county, N. Y., he was joined in holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Lovina A. Thompson, of the same county. She was born in Allegany county, Oct. 5, 1828. They have 1 child, James W., born Oet. 11, 1850, who now lives in the town of Parma. In 1863 Mr. Dey removed his family from Allegany county, N. Y., to Jackson county, Mich., settling in the town of Parma, where he continued to live until 1875, when he re- moved to the village of Springport. where he is now engaged in the furniture business. The greater part of his life has been spent in farming, with good snecess.

Merton S. Dey, son of John E. and Maria Dey, was born in this town in October, 1838. His parents had come a year or two pre- vious from Allegany county, N. Y. He lived here for some years, when he went to the town of Parma. When he grew up he en- gaged in teaching school, which vocation he followed for several years; and when he became of age he went to the West. Here he spent his life in various pursuits, being for one year clerk in a justice court. Returning in 1877, he married Adeline Higgins, daughter of William L. Knowles, of this town. They have 2 ehil- dren-Harry W. and Clara. Mr. Dey is now serving his second term as Supervisor. Mrs. Dey's first husband, S. R. Higgins, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., and came to Jackson county with his father, Samuel Higgins, when a boy five or six years of age and settled on what is known as the Higgins farm, where he grew up, and in 1860 married Adeline Knowles; they had 2 children- Eugene and Annie Higgins. He was well-known over the town and had held many offices. He died in February, 1870.

J. W. Dixon is a son of Archibald and Esther Dixon, who came to Michigan with their family and settled in this tp. in the sum- mer of 1836. Their family consisted of 6 children, 4 of whom are yet living-Samantha, Caroline, Reliance and Joseph W .; Lueins and Harriet died while yet young, the former being killed by the falling of a tree. The daughters taught some of the first schools in this tp. and Parma. They were natives of Cortland

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county, N. Y. The parents died in Springport about the year 1847. Joseph W. was born in Cortland county, N. Y., in Novem- ber, 1825, and had come with his parents to this county; he lived here until after their death, then returned to his native county in New York, where he spent several years, attending school part of the time. In August, 1854, he was married to Miss Zenobia Bell, daughter of Newton and Phebe Bell; she was born in Westchester county, N. Y .; they have 2 children -- Phebe, now Mrs. J. Comstock, and Armetta, now Mrs. Frank Hahn. In March, 1874, Mrs. Dixon died and was buried in the cemetery at Springport. Ang. 21, 1877, Mr. Dixon was again married, to Charlotte Hungerford, daughter of Stanley and Char- lotte Hungerford, of this county; she was born in Fairfield, Con- necticut, in 1841; they have 2 children-Maggie and Charles. Mrs. Dixon is a member of the M. E. Church at Springport. Mr. Dixon is now living on the farm on which his father settled. In

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 112

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