USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 19
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Reuben Croman.
Reuben Luttenten.
John G, Perry. John Hitchcock.
Soloman Croman.
Stephen Morehouse.
Almon Cain.
Joseph McCloy.
Alvin Whedin.
Ezra Brown.
Elias Carwin.
John Dunning.
Asa M. Clark. .
Wm. Gould.
D. H. Mills.
S. L. Videtto.
W. W. Wetherly.
Joseph C. Watkins.
Thomas Tanner.
Eleazer Finley.
Geo. Denmark. Anson Willis.
Geo. B. Fuller.
Henry Laycock.
Joel Clemens.
Washington Irving. Geo. Kemble. Harry Denison.
Alanson Woodwatt.
Joseph B. Lock wood.
Samu. 1 Higgins.
David Osborne.
Geo. W. Stolp.
Ira Wheaton.
John M. Root.
John A. Bacon.
Thomas Godfrey.
N. N. Hayden.
H. S. Gregory. James Graham.
R. S. Armitage. H. N. Rider. Robert Monier. Ben. Huntley. John Maxon.
Leona d A. Waldo. John N. Dwight. D. F. Dwight .
Hiram Anson. Peter Brown. Asa C. Thompson.
Ansel Bissell.
Almus V. Main.
Silas Titus.
John C'oun'ryman.
Jacob Waikle.
Margaret Chapin. F. W. Peters.
Charles Ferry. David B. Dwight.
John Russ.
Charles P. Woodruff. Chauncey Hawley. Samuel Upton. Wm Pool. Phillip Cook.
Hilas Hayes.
James H. C'ase. Samuel Sheldon.
M. C. Patterson.
John Kern.
Daniel Porter.
Otis Cranson.
Washington Hewitt.
Henry Ackley.
Sam. R. Feeks.
Ira Petrie.
P. D. Hall.
Geo. Cogswell.
Edwin Perry.
Erastus Wolcott, Jr.
Isaiah Croman.
Geo. Field .
Ed. Arnold
David Finley.
Horace Wheelock.
James Tullman.
J. Sugendorf. Paul B. Ring.
John Crego. M. B. Thomas. Geo. Hall.
Francis Woodbury.
B. P. Hutchison.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Isaac Giles. Alex. Richmond. Sterling Wentworth. Joe. Wightman, Jr. Nelson McArthur. John Tate. Stephen C'hesebro, Jr. H. Phillips. F. C. Watkins.
J. Wood. John W. Pardee.
Fred. Johnson.
John Smiley.
Mason Cabine.
James Weekes.
Abraham J. Crego.
Samuel B. Darrow.
Bissel Humphrey.
D. H. Rogers.
Caleb Osgood.
Lyman Ha rington.
Barzilla Mutler.
Wm. B. Mills.
Joseph Patch.
T. J Lewis.
P. B. Ripley.
Simon Davidson.
Amasa B Gileson.
John E Barton.
J. and A. C'hesebro.
L. W. Douglass.
Geo. W. Bush.
Alfred Draper.
M. J. Hudler. Norman Allen.
Hiram A. Barber. Chauncey S. Cross. John J. Crout
Joseph Avery.
Wilson Spencer.
Edward Smith.
Sarah S Chapel.
Adelia C'rout.
Wm. Killicut.
Abraham H. Bennett.
Marlin Anstin.
Aaron Preston.
De Witt Knowlton. Wm. Showerman. H. Spaulding. Benj. Sneden.
Wm. M. Sullivan.
Edwin Adams.
John A. Schmidt .
Alamon Carpenter.
John S. Hurd.
Wm. H. Boland.
Sincler Bean.
John G. Blanchard.
Geo. Huxford.
Lester P. Beebe.
Orson Lnderwood.
Jesse Gardner.
Josephus Darling. B. B. Bradford. Jas. Loranger. Jolın Worth.
Eri E. U'nderwood.
A. J. Williamson.
Andrew Smith.
John Barber.
Sidney A. Updike.
Edward Strong.
Fannie E Maltby.
Lathrop L. Sturgess. Lois Swain. W. W. Carter.
Oliver B. Ford. P. ter Knauff.
Morman Sanford.
D. H. Lockwood.
James R. Wisner.
James Slayton. Leander McClain. S. Patrick.
Barney Christopher.
J E. Parham.
Nicholas McCann.
Charl. s Townley.
CHAPTER IV.
REMINISCENCES OF EARLY SETTLEMENT.
One of the results of pioneer organization is shown forth in the following series of old' settlers' recollections. That within six years, such a number of historical papers could be collected from the pioneers is equally a subject of surprise and congratulation- surprise, because for a period bordering on half a century. such an important labor was forgotten, and congratulation for the reason that the influence of the organizers of the pioneer society, and the tendency of such an organization to effect some good, drew forth from old settlers a statement of their coming and their stay. No one but he who knows what the want of a pioneer history is can thoroughly appreciate such memoirs; yet enough will be found in the pages devoted to them to interest and instruct.
JACKSON COUNTY IN 1830.
Henry Little, a pioneer of Kalamazoo county, and well ac- quainted with the early history of this section of the State, read a paper at the pioneer anniversary meeting of June 18, which was subsequently lost; and to gratify numerous friends he has repro- duced it for publication. It will be read with much interest. He said :-
" It affords me great pleasure to be with you upon this very interesting occasion, to exchange friendly greetings and congratu- lations with you, and to listen to the recital of pioneer experiences which you passed through during those diversified and trying scenes which marked your progress all the way onward and upward, from the first log cabin to the crowning glory of the achievements which are now so conspicuously apparent all around us as to excite the admiration, if not the profound astonishment, of every beholder; while seeing our populous county, with its productive farms, manufacturing interests, thriving villages, and this beautiful city,-all having sprung into existence within the last 50 years. While Jackson is justly celebrated for the intelli- gence, morality, thrift and enterprise of its inhabitants, its unin- terrupted growth and prosperity, its beautiful public and private buildings, and its excellent public institutions. It is not renowned for great antiquity. Jackson is a young city, and still in its infancy, but what an infant! There are still some persons remain- ing with us who well remember when it was born. I distinctly remember the time when that little youngster which had been christened Jacksonburgh was being cradled or nurtured in its little
(192)
193
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
rude log erib or cabin. But that child grew with astonishing rapidity, and soon became an active and precocious youth, and the next moment he was a mature man; and after a brief space of time, a few revolutions of our earth, instead of that feeble, tottering child, a powerful giant, walked forth by his own inherent strength, dispensing his favors in all directions and commanding the respect and admiration of all. I had known many villages in the Eastern States which were 150 years old, with but 5,000 or 6,000 in- habitants, and we supposed that a much longer time would be required in this county to reach similar results; but by the magic power of science, aiding and impelling forces in these modern times, a city, a nation, is born in a day!
" In the early days of Jacksonburgh, the old Washtenaw trail was the only traveled route from East to West through this section of country for many years. Between Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo county, as then called, the log-cabins of the pioneers were located only upon the Indian trail. The distance between those primitive dwellings as found by me 45 years ago, was 14 miles in some cases and 7 miles in others, with no improvement whatever be- tween them. Mr. Allen was located at Grass Lake, from which place an unbroken wilderness extended ten miles to Jacksonburgh, where a wide belt of heavily timbered land extended up and down on the east side of the river. When we passed over that route the river had overflowed its eastern bank, and the water extended over that low timbered land abont 80 rods, partially concealing many large and small stones, and many large roots of trees, which caused our wagons to be contorted most fearfully, as they plunged up and down and rocked from right to left. By much time and careful management three of our wagons passed over without much harm, while two wagons became fast: but by the as- sistance of Mr. Blackman and two pair of oxen, they were brought over. The bridge across the river was a rude structure of logs, and the east end, being much lower than the other, was under water. At that time (1831) Jacksonburgh contained about a dozen log- cabins. Among the number was that of Mr. Blackman, the double log cabin, used for a tavern by William R. Thompson, Hiram Thompson, the postmaster of Jacksonburgh. Mr. Hogan, the merchant, and Mr. Richey-a schooll-house and blacksmith's shop-all being of logs.
"While stopping a few days with Mr. Thompson, I learned that he was about to send out teams to White Pigeon Prairie for flour and other provisions. Therefore, two of my teams returned to the East and Thompson's took their places, the postmaster of Jacksonburgh having charge of one team, and Mr. Richey the other. Do you still send out ox teams on a three or four weeks' trip for your provisions ? And do you now obtain your meat as you did a few months later, when Mr. Thompson brought a drove of 100 hogs from Indiana ? As we had good teams, good weather, and no detentions, we made the run to the place now called Gales- burg in six days ; two full weeks having been required in passing
194
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
from Detroit to Galesburg. We stopped over night with Mr. Allen, of Grass Lake, Thompson Blashfield, and Roberts at Sand- stone Creek, Crane and Abbott, a few miles west of Rice Creek, where the Rev. John D. Pierce was located ; having stayed over night at every cabin on the route from Grass Lake to Rice Creek, except at Jacksonsburglı.
.. In those good old times, the latch-string always hung ontside every door, if they had a door, and however poor and destitute the inmates might have been, they willingly entertained all tray- elers, who were then very few. Some of the dwelling places on that route were nothing but shanties, sheds or pens, without doors, windows, floors or chimneys, and no furniture except such as was made on the premises; the whole ontfit being novel apologies for human comfort. The picture is not as gloomy and disheartening as some might suppose ; but it is a very hopeful and eneonraging state of things for those times.
"In 1832 Roswell Crane, formerly of Jackson county, called at my residence on Gull prairie, and informed me that he had located near to, and on the west side of, Battle Creek, and was therefore my neighbor. It was very gratifying to learn that I had a neigh- bor 14 or 15 miles in an eastern direction; because J. D. Pierce at Rice Creek had thus far been my nearest neighbor in this direction. Whoever thinks that the movements of the world are slow, let him compare matters and things of the present time here with those of a few years ago, when it might have been said that even since the dawn of creation, when the morning stars sang on that glorious event, that the greatest part of Michigan was unoccupied, unknown and avoided, because it was supposed to be a pestilential waste.
"It is within the recollection of many persons still living, when Ann Arbor was the extreme west end of the habitable world, be- yond which the sun went down into a bottomless morass; where the frightful sounds of yelling Indians, howling wolves, croaking frogs, rattling massasaugas, and buzzing mosquitoes added to the awful horrors of that dismal place. But very fortunately for ns, that illusion was dispelled, so that out of that worthless region there arose one of the most beautiful, productive and prosperous States in the Union. Michigan has the largest lakes, which are literally alive with delicions fish, the best climate, soil, crops, minerals, timber, schools, colleges, churches, laws, smart old men and women, bright boys and good girls.
" While we have a grateful sense of rich profusion of the various inexhaustible natural resources of Michigan, I am not at liberty to withhold the merited meed of praise from the hardy, energetic, persevering pioneers who patiently submitted to great and long continued hardships and privations; while they utilized the great works of nature, by converting a great wilderness, previously the abode of wild beasts and wild men, into fruitful fields and gardens, so that it became a land of corn and wine, and of the finest of wheat,-a land of milk and honey. They beautified the face of nature with the decorative works of art; founded cities, villages.
195
DISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
towns, and elegant rural palaces; highways and railroads through- out our broad domain; caused the light of science to illuminate every corner, gave us laws and educational and religious and char- itable institutions, which would be an honor to the older States; and instead of a Territory of less than 30,000, we now have a State containing over 1,500,000 inhabitants in the full enjoyment of all the rich bounties of nature and art. But has Michigan arrived at the zenith of its prosperous progression, and hereafter to remain stationary ? . No!' will be the emphatic exclamation of every one, because the history of the past and the present indication in regard to the future are such as to justify a firm belief in a steady and continued onward movement in all the good, ennobling character- isties of a great and prosperous commonwealth.
"Veteran pioneers, respected fathers and mothers, yon do not need monuments of brass or marble to proclaim the re- membrances of your glorious achievements to coming generations; because your footprints are deeply and indelibly impressed upon this fair land, where the result of the magnificent work of your hands are the best of testimonials for yon. Ilere yon not only hewed out and laid those deep and broad foundations, but you were the architects and builders of a grand superstructure, whose lofty, imposing towers and pinnacles greet the rays of the rising sun, and afford shelter and protection to life and property."
HON. DAVID ADAMS
was one of the earliest settlers in the northwestern portion of Jackson county, where he located in Tompkins, in the spring ot 1833. At that time, in that now prosperous township, there was but a handful of people, and Adams' nearest neighbors were Abel Lyon, who lived half a mile away, Joseph Wade, one mile, Deacon Townley, two miles. Mr. Adams, J. M. Jamieson, Henry Hecox and D. W. Parchal came into the county together, and located lands for future homes. Adams and Jamieson were the only ones of the company who had means enough to move their families, and the following fall they made clearings and put up houses. Jamieson kept batchelor's hall; and the next summer Adams's family came on ria the Erie canal to Buffalo, whence they took steamboat to Detroit. From the latter place they were conveyed to their future home in a wagon; a three days' journey over rough logways, and through almost bottomless marshes, with mosquitoes swarming about them in clouds. They often got stuck in the swales, when they were forced to unhitch and double teams to pull them out. One of the drivers on this trip declared that "his team went in out of sight, but he kept whipping and hallooing at the hole, and they eventually came out all right on the other side!"
Of the many disconragements and hardships of those early days it is unnecessary to speak, as the old settlers have had experience in that direction and know all about them; while the younger gon-
196
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
eration could not realize how great they were, even it told them. But those early days were not without their pleasures of a social nature. The oxen would be yoked to the large Inmbering ox-sled; there were no horses in those days; straw would be used to sit upon, and a buffalo robe or a few bed-quilts employed to wrap women and children, and off would start a family to spend the day or evening with neighbors, taking other families on the way along with them. There were no broadcloths, no silks, no " fuss" in the way of preparation; they were ready at a moment's warn- ing; there was no necessity to notify anyone, as they were every day alike, and went just as they were, as regards their personal outfits. Nor was it deemed necessary to apprise the family they intended visiting that they were coming, as "pot-luck" was the word in those days,-there being no luxuries to offer. What was lacking in high living was made up in good feeling. All went in for a good time generally-singing, dancing, telling stories, and merry-making; and often an entire night would be thus spent, as it was found difficult. seemingly, for the settlers to separate early when they got together on such occasions. They were hail fel- lows well met, and ready with a helping hand in time of need.
Mr. Adams was thrown upon his own resources at an early age. While a boy he learned the shoemaking trade, and later learned the jeweler's trade, in the days when spoons were made by hand. IIe located and opened a shop in Lyons, N. Y., where he married Hannah Perrine, who proved to be a help indeed, cheering and assisting in every womanly way to make their home bright and happy. She was noted for never complaining, but always making the best of everything as it came. In his younger days he was one of those generous, wholesouled men, to whom a dollar's worth of fun was worth five dollars of cash at any time; consequently he was not overburdened with this world's goods. He often re- marked that had he not married a prudent wife he would probably never have laid up anything. When he came West he was not rich, but had enough to keep the wolf from his own door, and some to help his less prosperous neighbors; for he was no niggard, but generous to a fault, often putting himself out to accommodate a friend. Ile never turned any away hungry from his door; his "latch-string" was always out; his unvarying price for a meal was "$14." He was always an earnest politician. He and T. E. Gidley, with a few others of like political faith, met at Slab City. a little west of where Parma now stands, and organized the Whig party in this county. He remained in that party until it went to pieces, or was merged into the Republican party of which he was an earn- est worker.
In the early days the circuit court consisted of a judge and two associates. Mr. Adams was one of the associates, hence his title of "Judge." In Woodbridge and reform times he was appointed "agent" of the State prison, then in its infancy, which office he held two years, when the political complexion of the State changed, and he was rotated out for another, returning to his farm. Shortly
197
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
after this time he joined the M. E. Church, of which he remained a consistent member, ever ready with his talent, time and money to help on the cause he espoused. His temperament was of the nervous, sanguine order, which always made him look on the bright side of events ; consequently he was always cheerful and happy, with a good word for all. Although an earnest Christian, he was no bigot ; his charity was large, always contending that there was much more good than evil in man. Ile had many warm friends and but few enemies. The latter never questioned his honesty of purpose or the purity of his intentions.
JOHN L. MOORE,
now of New York State, but formerly of this State, was recently interviewed as follows :
"I suppose," said the interrogator, " that your journey from New York State to Michigan at that early day was not a very lux- urious experience ?"
"Well, we certainly did not come in a palace ear, nor did we go to bed at home and awake next morning in Detroit," was the reply ; " however, we got here. I particularly well remember that we crossed into Canada at Lewiston, May 14, 1831. The next day we dined at Brantford, with Brandt, a son of the renowned chief of the Mohawks. Our host on that occasion was educated, I believe, in England, and although he held a commission from the crown he was himself chief of his tribe. He was one of the most perfectly formed men I ever saw. At dinner he was in military undress, and he acted the host with all the possible graces and re- finements of the oldest civilization.
" The next point that especially attracted my attention, and that lives freshest in my memory, was the town of Oxford, which seemed to me one of the most beautiful portions of the country I had ever seen. We crossed the Thames at Moravian Town, not far from which place both of my horses were poisoned. One of them died right there, and the other lived only about long enough to reach Detroit. Goodale took my wife in his wagon, and through his good nature we were enabled to get our stuff through. I never knew who poisoned my horses, but I always believed it was the work of a female tramp who had taken offense at my re- fusal to allow her to make one of our party."
"How long did you remain in Detroit ?"
"Let's see. We arrived here Sunday, May 21, 1831, and I left for Jackson on the following Wednesday-three days. I left Goodale here and went on alone. I say alone, but of course had my own family. Ann Arbor was our first halting place-forty miles I believe they eall it-but we made it in one day ; and the end of our second day's journey, after crossing Detroit river, brought us to Jackson, where I had decided to settle. There was no road or sign of a road west of Ann Arbor, and the only families in Jackson were those of William R. Thompson and his brother,
13
198
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Mr. Bennett and Mr. Blackman. I was the fifth married man that settled in that neighborhood, and I put up the first frame building in Jackson county. When I arrived there, the town of four houses-two of which were taverns and all built of logs- boasted two physicians whose names I have forgotten. Half a mile out of the 'city' lived a man named Deland. I believe there were no other settlers near Jackson then.
"On the path from Ann Arbor a Mr. Sloat kept a tavern at Honey creek, five miles west of Ann Arbor, and nine miles further on a man named Garliek had built a house. There was only one family at Grass Lake. and not a building from there to Jack- son.
In the further course of conversation Mr. Moore said that he re- mained in Jackson less than a year, owing to both his own and his wife's ill health.
On leaving Jackson he moved to the town of York, Washtenaw county, and became one of the founders of Mooreville, at which place he was the first postmaster, and carried the first mail through from Saline to Raisin. He subsequently returned to the East, and since 1843 has lived in New York. During the many years of his proprietorship of the Madison Square and other hotels in the metropolis, Michigan people always found a hospitable wel- come. He is now living in retirement at Mt. Vernon, on a beau- tiful place not far from the city, in the serene enjoyment of a hale and happy old age. with all his faculties as bright as they were half a century ago, and his genial love of human kind in no de- gree abated.
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PAST.
BY REV. ASAHEL A. KING.
Rev. Mr. King, at present pastor of the Lone Star Baptist Church, at Chepstow, Kansas, prepared the following interesting paper for this work. The subject is well treated, although it claims to be a plain, unvarnished tale:
"My grandfather, Asahel King, was born in Massachusetts. Sept. 15, 1781. In the 12th year of his age he was hired to go as a drummer in the State militia. He was drum-major in the war of 1812. Ilis company was ordered to Sacket's Harbor in 1814. Before it got there the British surrendered. An important event happened at the harbor, which is worthy of record. As the Brit- ish were surrounding the harbor, led by their general, and shout- ing ' the victory is ours,' the American soldiers were few in num- bers and expected defeat; a young boy lay sick in a log cooper- shop; but seeing the danger, he leveled his musket at the general, fired, and he fell dead. The British became terrified, and suppos- ing the building to be full of soldiers, they fled in dismay. This, added to other defeats, proved to be a great event in the closing of the war. This was in 1814.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
" My grandfather had eight daughters and four sons. Ile moved from Lafayette, N. Y., to Rives, Jackson Co., Mich., in 1837. Ile was a tanner and currier, also a shoemaker and a farmer. His boys were all farmers here except my nnele, Asahel King, who lived on a farm at Cardiff, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where the famous Cardiff Giant was exhumed.
" When my father and grandfather settled here, Michigan was a wilderness; no clearing for miles around: the wolves howled around during the night, and Indians prowled about by day; they suffered for food, they lost cattle, etc .; they used to go to Detroit for all their provisions and to sell their wheat, ete., driving oxen instead of horses, and there soll their wheat for 35 cents per bushel. Jackson was only a small village then. My father has often mired fast in Main street, his oxen not being able to extricate the wayon.
"When grandfather came here in 1836, in company with lIorace (. Cole, the soldiers were just returning from the Toledo war. Of course they had done 'exploits.' My father had been all through Michigan to Chicago, the year before, in company with two other men named Caleb Jackson and Hiram Anderson (I bc- lieve); they rode Indian ponies, going through Canada on their re- turn to New York. When my father returned to his wilderness home he was yet a single man, in 1838. He was married to Miss Rebecca Emily Smith, daughter of John Smith, who came from Dover, England. Mr. Milton J. Draper was then justice of the peace, and he married our parents according to the Methodist rule. which ceremony occupied a whole hour.
" When father was living in his log house, and my brother Jef- ferson was about eight years old, a black bear came into his wood- shed and tried to get a ealf-skin hanging there. My brother thought it was a dog, and whistled to call it. My father shot at it, but it only shook itself and ran off. One day when my mother was alone, two large, fat deer came and stood side by side in front of the door and very near. A rifle was loaded in the house, but she dared not shoot it, although they needed meat very badly. Father often started large herds of deer away from his cellar while digging it. Ile shot a large turkey just where he built his house; the turkey -an his head into a brush heap and supposed he was safe.
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