History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 82

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

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

and pleasant homes, which are yet mostly owned by the first set- tlers and their descendants. They became attached to each other as relatives, and this tended to overbalance the hardships endured.

In the years 1836-'7, the enactment of a general State banking law secured the redemption of their circulation by mortgages on real estate. These banks were organized all over the State, in nearly all of the new villages, and secured the redemption of their notes principally by almost worthless land, and simultaneously they flooded the country with their worthless issnes, which enhanced the value of all property far beyond the intrinsic value, producing wild excitement and rapid improvements, causing almost all to make debts, until suddenly a mistrust of the solvency of banks caused a simultaneous suspension of redemption and the crash of the banks, which left business without currency, and compelled all our busi- ness to be carried on by barter; every species of property became almost valueless, and caused great distress. Real estate and other property was exchanged to liquidate debts at one-fourth of its for- mer value; and, to procure goods, groceries, and other necessities for the support of their families, they would have to buy of the merchants on credit, and by the time the wheat was harvested and fitted for market, the crops were anticipated by the demands of the merchant who floured or shipped the grain to pay the Eastern mer- chants for their goods. It was almost impossible to come ont square at the end of the year, even by practicing the most strict economy, and dispensing with everything that could possibly be dispensed with. This economy cannot be imagined by the present generation. When the pioneers first settled here, the country ap- peared to be very healthy, but the land in summer was covered with an abundant growth of grass and herbage, and the settlers made rapid improvements from 1834 to 1837, plowing large tracts of land, girdling the timber, building mill-dams, plowing much new land, all of which caused an immense amount of decomposi- tion of vegetable matter, filling the atmosphere with miasma, causing a great amount of sickness; in 1840, in many cases, it be- came difficult to procure help enough to take care of the sick. After those causes ceased, the town became healthy. At that sea- son, the deprivations and distress were great, but it is past, and the pioneers succeeded, and have homes surpassed by no country for health, beauty and productiveness.

CHURCHES.

All Saints (Episcopal) Church, of Brooklyn village, had its origin at a meeting held in Felt's Hall, Aug. 12, 1858, at which meeting an organization was completed in the election of the fol- Jowing officers: L. S. Austin and A. P. Cook, Wardens; W. S. Black- man, M. W. Ferris, Day Jones, George I'. Cook and S. L. Austin, Vestrymen; S. L. Austin, Secretary and Treasurer. A committee was appointed to take preliminary steps for the erection of a

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church edifice, and on Easter Monday a building committee of the following named members of the parish were chosen: W. S. Black- man, A. P. Cook, George Bestrain, Walker B. Sherman, S. Spaul- ding. Rev. N. W. Lyster was chosen chairman, and S. L. Austin, secretary. This committee with the valuable aid extended to them by the Ladies' Society of the parish, made purchase of a lot front- ing 200 feet on Main street, and commenced the erection of their building in 1861, and completed it the following year. It is 40x80 feet in size, Gothic in style, coustructed of brick. It contains sit- tings for about 200, finished inside with oil, heated with furnace, and is surmounted with spire and bell. Financially the Church owes its success largely to the enterprise and efficiency displayed by the ladies of the parish. Sept. 19, 1871, they started a find of $600, which, by holding fairs and festivals, was gradually increased to $1,600. This amount was expended in the finishing of the church, purchase of an organ, and, lastly, purchase of a rectory.

The spiritual life and light of the parish was for many years the lamented Rev. Willaim N. Lyster, a native of Sion, Wexford Co., Ireland. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and later of the Theological University of Edinburg. He came to the United States as missionary in 1832. In 1850 he came to Brook- lyn in a missionary canse, and from that time remained there until his death in 1875. His successors have been Revs. S. W. Frisbee, I. I. Morton and I. H. Eichbaum, its present rector. They have a thriving Sunday-school, with W . S. Culver as its present superintendent. Value of the property of the parish, including rectory, is $2,500.

The First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn village was organ- ized April 14, 1838, with a list of 13 members, as follows: G. J. Chapman, Lorinda Chapman. Daniel Howland, Gulinda Howland, Lucretia Howland, Elisha Cole, Lucretia Cole, Horace Phelps, Sarah E. Phelps, Thomas Cotton, Sarah Cotton, Mary Boyers and Zilpha Clark.

The first installed pastor was Rev. C. W. Gurney, who com- menced his duties as such in 1841, continning through the year 1842. Next came Rev. J. E. Boyd, 1842-'9; Rev. C. W. Smith, 1849-'54; Rev. N. H. Barnes, 1849-'54; Rev. Periah King. 1854.'7; Rev. Angustus Marsh, 1857-'60; Rev. O. W. Norton, 1860-'5; Rev. Thomas Sherrard,. 1865-'74; Rev. W. S. Coulter, 1874-'77; Rev. J. H. Phelps, 1877-'80; and Rev. W. S. Price, the present pastor, 1880-'1. The original elders of the Church were Harvey Austin, Guy Chapman, Herman Walbridge, Thomas Cotton and Thomas Jerrett. The present membership is 109; 395 is the total number of names as members on the Church records. The society is ont of debt and owns a comfortable church edifice, well furnished, with organ, bell, etc. They have a well-attended Sunday-school. conducted by Superintendent George W. Green, also efficient ladies' and young people's societies, which contribute much to the life of

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the Church. The building occupies two lots fronting on Main street, is 40x60 feet in size, and seats 300 people.

First Methodist Episcopal Church of Brooklyn owes its origin to the assembling of 11 residents of the village at the home of Dr. L. M. Jones, on Main street Aug. 13, 1865. Those present were Dr. and Mrs. Jones, G. B. Markham and wife, James Brink and wife, Mrs. Hattie Parker, Mrs. Felt, Mary Murdock, Mrs. Hetty, Seth W. Bartlett and wife. G. B. Markham was chosen chair- man and a class consisting of the above-named persons was formed. Felt's Hall was settled upon as being the future place of meeting, and Rev. Mr. Belknap, of Napoleon, served as their first pastor. Services were continued every Sabbath in Felt's Hall until 1870, when they removed to Ambler's Hall for two years, and since 1872 have met in Ennis's Hall. The society have no church edifice, but own a location upon which they hope to build. Eleven pastors have succeeded Mr. Belknap, viz .: Revs. George Barnes, W. Q. Burnett, E. Wigle, Mr. Newton, O. B. Hale, Mr. Hazen, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Allman, Mr. Priestly, Mr. MeLaughton and H. Brad- ley. The society is out of debt and numbers 26 members. Dr. L. M. Jones has faithfully served as their class-leader for eight years past.

Baptist Church of Brooklyn .- This was the first religious body organized in the village, and its edifice the first erected. In June, 1834, with the Rev, Calvin H. Swain at its head, the first Baptist Church of Swainsville (this being the name of the village at that time) was organized. The original members of this society were: C. F. Swain, Lonise Swain, Panlina Swain, Elijah Webber and wife, Joseph King, Polly King, Ransom Jones, Day Jones, Calvin Love and wife, Rufus Tiffany, Joseph Townsend, Daniel Wright and others. The legal organization of this society took place Dec. 26, 1838, and was effected by a resolution as follows: " That we form ourselves into a society, to be known as the ' Brooklyn Baptist Society,' " and elected Joseph Townsend, J. L. Butterfield, R. Tiffany. R. Jones and Henry W. Ladd as trustees.

The contract for the erection of the church edifice was signed May 10, 1841, the contracting builders being Vernon French and William Ambler. The consideration for the erection of the building 40x30 feet in size, 20 feet ceiling, built of wood, was $650. Elder Calvin H. Swain was their first pastor, and he was succeeded by the following: Elder Griswold in 1838, John I. Fulton in 1839, C. L. Bacon, 1841-'6, Revs. Kies and Jennison until 1850. P. F. Jones 1851, A. A. Ellis until 1856, J. M. Wait until 1859, C. G. Purritt until 1861, Elisha Kimball until 1864, T. G. Lamb until 1867, Cyrns B. Abbott until 1869, J. Bloomer until 1870. During 1870-'1 the Church was without a pastor. In 1872-'4 Rev. D. B. Davis filled the pulpit, and in November, 1877, the Rev. S. F. Lyon, the present pastor, commenced his labors. The present membership is about 90. The church is finely located, is comfort- ably furnished, surmounted with a bell and belfry, and the society is out of debt.

ADX DeLamater

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP.

Clark's Lake Baptist Church Society was first organized May 2, 1868, by a small company of citizens assembled for the purpose at Clark's Lake school-house. The meeting was called to order and presided over by the Rev. Dr. Luther R. Cook, of Jefferson village, and appropriate resolutions were adopted and preliminary steps taken toward a permanent organization of a Church society. Articles of faith were drawn, to which the following persons assented, signing their names: Luther Dean, Benjamin Reed, Alfred Russell, Forester Cook, Jefferson White, Miranda Dean, Betsey Reed, Helen Russell, Mary C. Cook, Ange White, Lydia Reed, Mary Hill. A Church and covenant meeting was appointed for May 9. June 20 the preliminary steps were taken toward building a church edifice, and the following were the building committee chosen: Alfred Russell, Jefferson White and Byron Hill. Funds for the purpose were raised in the following manner: By subscription, $1,200; festivals, $500; work and material con- tributed, $300; making the total cost of the building $2,000. It is 31x41 in size, constructed entirely of wood, seats 200, is well carpeted and furnished with an organ. Its first pastor was Rev. Dr. Luther R. Cook, who served them several years. Has a Sunday- school organization, with Jay Reed as superintendent until the present time, and an average attendance of 40 pupils. The society is free from debt and in prosperous condition.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

The rest of the history of Columbia township is in the form of personal sketches of its leading citizens, as follows:

George W. Adams, of Brooklyn village, was born at Lenox, Mass., Aug. 27, 1832. His father is Capt. Joseph Adams, a miller by trade, and a mill owner in Rensselaer county, N. Y., of which county he was a native. Capt. Joseph Adams was a public-spirited man of strong temperance principles, and a Whig of decided character. George W. received at his home a thorough common- school education, and afterward attended Pittsfield Seminary, in Massachusetts. He afterward learned the milling business of his father, and has since made it his life's occupation. He left Pitts- field, Mass., and came West to Binghamton, N. Y., in 1873, where he remained one year, and in 1874 came to Marshall and followed the milling business there one year. Ile then went to Brooklyn and purchased the mill property there of Mrs. John L. Butterfield, consisting of the title to the power, upright muley saw-mill and grist-mill of three run of burrs. This mill is one of the best custom and flouring mills in Central Michigan, being equipped with modern wheat-cleaning and flour-separating and finishing machinery, and turns out first-class manufacture of straight grade and process flour. Its propelling power is taken from two 36-inch turbine water-wheels, running under a 20-foot head. The saw-mill is of modern muley construction, and is driven by a 36-inch turbine

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wheel. Mr. Adams finds a local market for nearly all of his mill- ing product, but ships some of the best brands of flour to Detroit.

He was married in 1852 to Sarah Jane Vary, danghter of J. R. Vary, a pioneer of Rensselaer county, N. Y. She died in 1861, leaving 4 children-George H., Walter J., William E. and Clark B. He married a second wife in 1865, namely, Miss E. L. Cleveland, daughter of Nelson Cleveland, of Otsego county, N. Y., and they have 2 daughters-Mary B. and Carrie J.

Dr. N. H. Barnes, Brooklyn, was born Nov. 10, 1816, at Graf- ton, Worcester Co., Mass. Nathaniel Barnes, his father, was a boot and shoe manufacturer of Hopkinson, Chautauqua Co., and was a native of Connecticut, as was also his mother. Dr. Barnes received his education in Chautauqua county, and afterward studied medicine under Dr. Stephen Eaton, M. D., in 1833, and soon turned his attention to the ministry, and graduated at the Auburn Theo- logical Seminary, in 1844, and then assumed his first pastoral charge of a Church in Portland, Chantauqua Co., then successively in Olean, Versailles, Sinclairville, in New York, and then came to Brooklyn, and in four years removed to Dowagiac, and remained seven years, a portion of the time practicing medicine there with snccess. In 1861 his health failed, and he resumed the ministry, in which profession he has spent 37 years of his life, liis time hav- ing been divided between the East and the West. He returned East and spent several years, and came to Brooklyn a second time, in 1875, and since that time has practiced medicine. He was first married Oct. 16, 1847, to Miss M. Ann Bennie, of Olean, N. Y. She died at Sinclairville, N. Y., May 25, 1853. Jan. 16, 1856, he again married Miss Sarah E., daughter of John Ladd, a farmer of Columbia tp. They have 1 daughter, Eleanor Gertrude, born Nov. 24. 1865, and 1 son, Ernest H., born May 10, 1873.

Morgan Booth was born Nov. 25, 1819, in Delaware county, in the town of Tompkins. His father was Erastus Booth, a farmer and a native of that county. His grandfather was also Erastns Booth, and was a pensioner of the Revolution at $96 per year. Morgan remained at home until 30 years of age and acquired a lib- eral education, and came to Michigan in 1835. He made a brief trip through Central Michigan and first settled in Columbia tp., on sec. 6, where he remained two years. He then sold and bought 50 acres of George Stranahan on the north bank of Clark's lake, where he has developed a productive farm. In 1850 he married Miss Mary Lewis, daughter of Thomas Lewis, a farmer, of Erie county, N. Y., town of Clarence, and an old pioneer of that section. Her grand- father was Jacob Lewis, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Booth have 3 children -- Edgar, George and Carrie.

Edward Boyers, one of the early settlers of Jackson county, and one of the most thrifty farmers of Columbia tp .. was born in Erie county, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1816. His father, John Boyers, was a shoe- maker by trade, but devoted most of his time to farming. He was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1835 he came to Michigan, on a pros-

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pecting trip, and returned to Erie county, where he purchased a farm, settled and lived until his death in 1869. Jacob Boyers, his father, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and died in Erie county, in 1826. His widow for some years after his death, drew his pension of $96 per year. The Boyers family are of New England and Pennsylvania German descent. Edward received his early education at Newstead common schools, and finished at the Newstead Seminary. He came to Michigan and settled in Colum- bia tp., in 1837, when he located land on sec. 30, being the premi- ses on which he has lived for over 35 years. In 1852 he made a trip to California for his health and returned in 1853, having been absent one year. Mr. Boyers married Miss Betsy Ann Lester, daughter of Gideon Lester, of Newstead, Erie Co., N. Y.

Betsy Ann died in 1835, leaving.1 child-Matilda Ann, now de- ceased. In 1839 he again married, this time Mrs. Mary Polk, widow of Samuel Polk. Her father was C. Wright, a mechanic, who came West and settled in Illinois, where he died in October, 1855.

Mr. Boyers owns 159 acres of good farming land, mostly under improvements.

Charles A. Cary, one of the earliest residents of Columbia tp., was born Aug. 11, 1811, in the town of Lenox, Madison Co., N. Y. His father, Aaron, was of Scotch descent and a native of New Eng- land. Charles A. received his schooling in the town of Lenox, and there learned the woolen manufacturer's business. He came to Michigan in 1835, and located on a tract of 160 acres of Govern- ment land, on sec. 22, Columbia tp., in the present village of Jef- ferson. In 1858 he purchased an interest in the water-power at that point, and commenced making woolen cloth, and spinning. Owing to an unexpected lack of power to run his factory, he sold out, and the machinery was removed to Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co. Since that time Mr. Cary has devoted his time to farm- ing. He married Miss Caroline Hone, in 1836, daughter of Moses Hone, a resident of the town of Smithfield, Madison Co., N. Y. They have 1 son, Byron, who assumes the responsibilities of the farm etc. He married Miss Nancy White, daughter of Tenny White, a carpenter of Columbia tp., and they have 2 children -Charley and Addie L.

Warren Case, son of Morgan Case, a farmer of Napoleon, and a pioneer of the county, was born Nov. 3, 1832, in Napoleon tp., this county, where he received his early schooling, afterward finishing in Brooklyn village. Mr. Case is a thrifty and industrious far- mer, and owns one of the largest and best cultivated farms in this tp. It comprises 350 acres of land, is well stocked and has good buildings. Nov. 4, 1859, he married Miss Delia Stout, daughter of John W. Stout, a farmer of Liberty tp. He is a pioneer of this county, having settled in Liberty in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Case have 3 children-Ella, Emma and George.

Asa Charles was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., Nov. 12, 1816, son of the next mentioned. He lived at home until 1836,

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and then came West to Michigan, and settled in Columbia tp. at the age of 20 years. He is a man of thrift and industry, and has developed a handsome farm, which is kept well stocked and npon which stands a beautiful residence and good farm buildings. Jan. 4. 1877, he married Mrs. Marinda (nee Foster) Quirk. widow of William Quirk. Her father was David Foster, a farmer and pioneer of Napoleon tp., and they have 3 children-Charles, Rosey and Minnie.

Bliss Charles was born in the State of Maine, in Oxford county, in the town of Fryburg, Jan. 29, 1815. His father, Bliss Charles, was a farmer and a native of the Pine Tree State, from where he moved in the same year to Genesec county, N. Y., and purchased a farm in the town of Wethersfield, and here resided until he came to Michigan with his family in 1836. He located on sec. 9. and bought 300 acres of land on which his son Asa now lives. Bliss Charles, Jr., received his education in New York, and came to Michigan when 21 years of age. He was married March 11, 1842, to Miss Marsha Marsh, daughter of Samuel T. Marsh, and sister of the late S. T. Marsh, a pioneer of this tp. She was born Feb. 14, 1822, in Onondaga county, N. Y., in the town of Pompey. Her father was a tanner and shoemaker by trade. They have 4 children -Thevenette W., Sylvester A., Lavant M. and Mary M. The homestead now consists of 120 acres on sec. 10.

Franklin Clark was born in the tp. of Columbia, Aug. 19, 1844, a son of Archibald Clark, who was one of the earliest pio- neers of this county. He was a native of Clarence county, N. Y., and was a butcher and a drover. Being possessed of a progressive spirit, he came West in 1835, purchased 40 acres of land of Geo. S. Stranahan, and located on the north side of Clark's lake. His family consisted of 7 children-4 sons and 3 daughters. Two of the family, however, died when they were young before Mr. Clark came to Michigan. Franklin is the second son of the family, and received his schooling mostly at the Clark's lake district school-honse, and was brought up a farmer. Archibald was married to Miss Betsy, daughter of George S. Stranahan, then of Erie county, N. Y., in 1831. She died in Columbia in 1852. In July, 1861, Frank- lin enlisted in the 9th Mich. Inf., and commenced a five years' hazardous service for the preservation of the Union, in the war of the Rebellion. In October of the same year his regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Cumberland in Kentucky, and soon entered battle at Bowling Green. During his service he was engaged in several hot contests, and at the battle of Murfreesboro, received a wound in his left thigh, and was taken prisoner by the Confederate troops, and remained in their custody three months, when he was paroled, returned home, and was afterward exchanged, and soon returned to dnty under Gen. Thomas, and from that time served on his General's staff until the close of his service. March 25, 1866, he married Miss Dorlisce Myers, daughter of

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Alexander Myers, of Columbia tp., now deceased, and they have 3 children-Hester, Betsey and Nevah. He owns SS acres on sec. 20.

Joshua G. Clarke, whose name as a tax-payer and a prominent settler appears on the roll among the first of the county, is one of the honored list of pioneers who justly deserve the title. The trials and discouragements of a pioneer's life are such that only those who possess iron wills, strong constitutions and stout hearts can expect to win the laurels that justly fall to the subduers of the kings of the forest and soil of an unbroken wilderness. Joshua G. Clarke was born April 24, 1820, in Cattaraugus county, in the town of Elliottville. His father, Archibald, was a native of Mary- land, a man of letters and acknowledged legal ability. In early life he removed from Maryland to Erie county, N. Y., from which district he was sent to Congress, and upon the completion of his services in that capacity, was called to the Circuit Court Judge- ship in his county. Joshua devoted his early life to study in a district school and out-door pursuits, and after finishing his studies at Springville Seminary he adopted his chosen calling, that of a farmer. In the spring of 1840 he came West and located on sec. 19, this tp., 150 acres, on which land he commenced life in rather humble circumstances, and here he has lived, except seven years in which he lived in Jackson city during the Rebellion, and four years previous to 1873 he did a lumbering business in Kent county. Oct. 6, 1842, he married Miss Nancy W. De Lamater, but in 1843 was called upon to mourn her loss. He again mar- ried, next time Miss Hannah H. De Lamater, March 4, 1845, and they have 1 son, Anson D., who married Miss Emma Bartlett, daugh- ter of Seth W. Bartlett, of Brooklyn village, and they have 3 children-Sarah E., Anson W. and Mary J.

Rev. Luther Cook, of Jefferson village, Columbia tp., was born Aug. 8, 1821, at Belleville, Jefferson Co., N. Y. His father, Rev. Martin E. Cook, was a native of Shelburne Falls, Franklin Co., Mass., and a Baptist minister of some note in his locality, having served the cause for 26 years, and during that time baptized over 700 converts into the Church. He was the father of 15 children, and was of the seventh generation from Plymouth Rock stock. The eldest son of these seven generations bore the Christian name of Josiah, and these were all Deacons of a Baptist Church. Luther Cook's great-grandfather, Josiah, lived to be 1163 years of age, and his wife 1123, and they lived together as man and wife for 873 years. Luther's mother was Betsey Burge, descendant of Rev. Dr. Burge, who was a Scotchman, and the first Presbyterian minister of Boston, Mass. Dr. Cook's boyhood was spent at Belle- ville, where he received his early schooling. He commenced his academic course at the age of 15, in Dayton, Ohio, and completed it in Portage county. He read medicine with Dr. Mordecai Mor- ton, in Kent county, Ohio, and commenced practice in that county, at the age of 23. In 1849 he came to Adrian, Mich., and in 1856 removed to South Jackson, where he assumed the pastorate of the South Jackson Baptist Church, remaining there five years. In

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1861 he removed to Jefferson village, where he has since been a resident, and entered upon the duties of pastor of the Baptist Church at Kelley's Corners, dividing his attention between that Church and that at Clark's lake. This arrangement continued eight years, when he resumed the practice of medicine, which he has since continued with unusual success. He was married June 2, 1844, to Miss Hattie M. Osgood, daughter of Emory Osgood, a lawyer by profession. Patriotic Puritan blood coursed freely in the veins of the Osgoods. Mrs. Cook's Grandfather Osgood was captain in the American Revolution, and a brother, Major R. E. Osgood, served in the war of the Rebellion. She was born at Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., July 12, 1825. They have had 1 son-Martin E., who lost his life by falling through the ice on Brown's lake at Michigan Center, on New Year's day, at the age of 15. He was a young man of exemplary life and much esteemed by all who knew him.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 82

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