History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 91

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

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J. M. Sandford was born in South Westport, Mass., Oct. 20, 1811; is the eldest son of Philip and Phoebe (Casteno) Sandford, and of English and French descent. He removed with his parents to Ontario county, N. Y .. in 1818, where he attended common school. After reaching the age of 21 years, he attended select schools. He was married in 1835 to Mary Ann Thomas, born in Woodstock, Vermont, in 1817. They are the parents of 10 chil- dren, of whom 7 are now living- Philip H .. George N., Phoebe A., Emma J., Mary A .. Francis A .. James M., Eugene M., and William M. Mr. Sandford visited Michigan in 1832, and entered

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GRASS LAKE TOWNSHIP.

160 acres of land in Van Buren and Wayne counties, returning to New York State in the fall of 1835; removed his family and re- mained there three or four months, then sold out and moved to Grass Lake tp. the same year. He improved the land from a wil- derness, built a beautiful residence, set out 50 acres of orchard, and planted 2,000 trees in the spring of 1836; he has been an extensive frnit-raiser. He sold out in 1876 and purchased a farm of 134 acres a little south of his old residence. Mr. S. is a self-made man, having no start in life. Mrs. S. is a member of the Baptist Church.

P. M. Shearer, a well-known farmer of Grass Lake, was born Jan. 18. 1816, in Saratoga county, N. Y., the son of Martin M. and Susanna (Shaffer) Shearer, natives of New York State and of German ancestry. Mr. S. received such education as the com- mon schools of those early days offered. At the age of 18 he en- gaged in the manufacture of wooden-ware, jointly with farming; had purchased his time from his father at the age of 15. He was married in 1837 to Samantha Whitehead. They have 2 dangh- ters, now residents of the Eastern States. Mrs. Shearer died in 1841. Mr. S. removed to New York State, where he resided until 1844, conducting a woolen mannfactory. March 9, 1843, was married to Miss Pamelia Taylor, born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1817. They are the parents of 6 children, as follows: John H., born Jan. 6, 1844; Alonzo M., Oct. 7, 1845; Mary S., Oct. 15, 1847, now Mrs. Taylor, of Ingham county; Rush, April 10, 1849; Elliott, Jan. 9, 1851; Helen M., June 8, 1860. Mr. Shearer re- mained in New York State about one year after marriage, and in the spring of 1844 came to Michigan; worked the Jonathan B. Taylor farm on shares for one and a half years, then purchased wild land, which he improved and resided upon for 19 years; sold out there; purchased the Jacob Longyear homestead in 1863, where he has since remained. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Baptist Church of Grass Lake.

Eli Smith was born in Scoharie county, N. Y., April 11, 1838; is the second son of Noah and Eliza (Borst) Smith, of New York, and of English-German descent. He was brought up on a farm, and received a common-school education. He purchased the old homestead and conducted the farm until coming West. He was married Dec. 14, 1860, to Miss Jeanette Yonng, born in Scoharie county, N. Y., in 1834; they are the parents of 8 children, 3 danghters and 5 sons. Mr. S. remained in New York four years after his marriage, when he sold out and came to Michigan in the spring of 1865, locating in Grass Lake. He worked a farm for Samuel Dwelle in 1866, then purchased a farm of 160 acres, where he now resides; has built a spacious residence and made other improvements. He makes a specialty of raising hops, and finds it profitable.

Horatio S. Smith was born Feb. 20, 1839, in the village of Grass Lake, son of Hiram M. and Mary L. (Hall) Smith, of Ver- mont. He was educated at the schools of Grass Lake, and studied the ordinary courses taught in the common schools of the dis-

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

trict, as well as the higher branches of the Grass Lake Academy. On leaving the academy he labored on the farm two years, and at the age of 18 commenced the dry-goods business in the village. The trade was established in 1858, under the firm name of Smith Brothers & Co. The business has been continued uninterruptedly, but the partners of Mr. Smith have been varied. For a period of 22 years H. S. Smith has posted all accounts, and it is said that during that time he inserted every word and figure now to be found in the office ledgers. He has filled the position of Tp. Clerk, Su- perintendent of the Poor, and other offices. In 1867 he married Lavinia Dwelle, a native of Ontario county, N. Y. Hiram M. Smith, the father of H. S., came to Michigan in 1831, and to this county in 1833, settling in Grass Lake in 1835. He died in 1851, bequeathing to his son, Horatio S., the property which he rendered so valuable.

Hon. Sidney T. Smith (deceased) was born in Chenango county, N. Y., Oct. 27, 1809, the youngest son of John and Lydia (Shef- field) Smith, natives of Rhode Island, and of English descent. He received his preliminary education in the common schools until 16 years of age, when he was engaged in teaching school jointly with farming, until entering into a mercantile business in Pulaski, Oswego Co., N. Y., where he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet B. Wood, born in 1817, daughter of John Wood, an early settler in the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of 12 children, of whom 9 survive, as follows: John G., born Oct. 31, 1836; Lloyd T., April 10, 1838; Stephen Girard, born in Pu- laski, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1840; Frederick E., Nov. 3, 1842; Henry C., Oct. 27, 1844; Sarah Helen, July 1, 1846; Alice J., July 18, 1852; Charles W., Feb. 6, 1859; Harriet L., July 5, 1860. The two latter reside with their mother on the homestead in Grass Lake. Mr. Smith continued in trade in Pulaski, N. Y., for some years. In 1840 he, in company with D. Hale, then his partner in business, now of Ann Arbor, located in Grass Lake, and com- menced trade at Grass Lake Center in 1840. In 1842 they removed their business to the present village of Grass Lake, where they continued successfully until 1855. Mr. Smith was elected a mem- ber of the Legislature in 1856, was afterward elected for another term; was Secretary of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Co .; was a successful business man; his heart was always open to the · needy; brought up in the faith of his parents, who were Baptists; though never connecting himself with any Church, his hand and purse were ever at the service of all. He died April 25, 1878. His last surviving brother, the Rev. Dr. Smith, recently died at an advanced age.

Wm. H. Smith was born in Ontario county, N. Y., April 5, 1831. His parents were Nathaniel and Mary (Yecley) Smith, na- tives of New York State; the former is still living in that State, in the 87th year of his age. Mr. Smith was the recipient of quite a liberal education; was a student at the Canandaigua Academy two years; emigrated to Michigan the fall of 1853, since which time he

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GRASS LAKE TOWNSHIP.

has resided in Grass Lake; attended the Albion College one year, and followed teaching about 12 years. In 1865 he purchased a place on sec. 13, Grass Lake, which he owned for three years; afterward purchased a farm on sec. 10, which he still owns. Dec. 13, 1868, Mr. Smith was married to Mrs. Geo. Clark, born in Ulster county, N. Y., in 1831, widow of George Clark, one of the pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. S. are the parents of 3 children, as follows: Lucy E., born Feb. 5, 1870; Emma G., born Dec. 14, 1871, and Elsie P., born Dec. 7. 1873; both died Nov. 26, 1878. Since marriage Mr. S. has resided on the Geo. Clark homestead. He has been School Inspector al. most constantly; was elected member of the Legislature for one term in 1874; also Supervisor in 1873-'4-'5; again elected in 1880; has been a prominent Granger and an official in that organization during the past few years; also Director in the Jackson County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co., three years; re-elected the fall of 1880, a 2d term. With Mrs. S. he is a member of the Congrega- tional Church; he has been a teacher in the Sabbath-school almost constantly for the past 20 years.

Cornelius Soper, born April 2, 1811, in Dutchess county, N. Y., is the son of John and Ler (Williams) Soper, of New York. He received an elementary education, and at a very early age entered upon the labors of the farm. He left Ulster county, N. Y ., in 1841 for Michigan, and located his present home the same year. In 1834 he married Eliza Wood, of Dutchess county, N. Y., a lady then 21 years old. They have had 9 children, of whom 6 are living, viz .: Hiram, Nicholas, Daniel, Job, David, and Rosella; John died in 1880. Mrs. Soper died in 1879. Mr. Soper purchased 111 acres of land on his arrival at Grass Lake, and is now the owner of 650 acres of valuable land. He has been identified with the school of his district, and during the war was among its ablest sup- porters. Among the many improvements made by him, is his house, which was erected in 1861. His parents were among the early settlers of Grass Lake, having located one half mile east of the village in 1835; their place of burial is on the site of the old homestead.

Mrs. Nancy M. Soper was born June 12, 1822; daughter of Col. James and Martha (McBride) Faulkner, early settlers in Grass Lake, where they located a section of land in the fall of 1833. Col. Faulkner was born July 2, 1779; was a surveyor by occu- pation; a member of the New York Legislature; erected the first. frame dwelling in Grass Lake, which is still in existence and occu- pied as a residence by Chas. Cassidy, Esq .; the homestead he im- proved from a wilderness to fruitful fields; an ardent Republican, he committed himself on the side of freedom; was a man of more than common physical and mental vigor; was self-reliant, inde- pendent, cheerful and deliberate. To such men the present genera- tion are deeply indebted. Col. and Mrs. Faulkner reared a family of 10 children, 9 of whom are living; all but 2 are residents of

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Michigan. Mrs. Faulkner died in 1845, and Col. Faulkner April 24, 1869. Their danghter, Fannie Ann, wife of Joseph C. Watkins, died April 20, 1845, a devout member of the Presbyterian Church; an excellent woman whose memory is still cherished by her many friends.

Ebenezer Taylor was born in Ulster county, N. Y., April 30, 1814. His parents were Benjamin and Charity (Bull) Taylor, natives of New York, and of German-English descent. The family moved to Seneca county about 1816. Ebenezer was brought up on a farm, and attended the common school; remained with his parents until 22 years of age; in May, 1836, he came to Michigan and located in Leoni; entered 40 acres of land, and afterward bought 67 acres. He was married Sept. 15, 1838, to Sarah G. Scidmore, by whom he had 4 children, 1 deceased. Mr. T. remained in Leoni till 1856, when he removed to Grass Lake and purchased the Smith farm, upon which he made many improvements; in 1868 built a fine resi- dence. Mrs. T. died May 17, 1875; was a member of the Congre- gational Church in Grass Lake. Mr. T. sold out in February, 1878; he still owned a farm half a mile east, upon which he built a house and where he now resides; also owns a farm in Leroy, Ingham Co., of 130 acres. He is a self-made man.

Joel Taylor was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1825; is the third son of John and Mary Taylor, of Irish-Dutch ancestry; he was reared on a farm until of age, and received a good business education; he came to Michigan about 1850 and located in Grass Lake tp., where the family now reside. He was married Feb. 25, 1853, to E. Jane Woodin, born in Half Moon tp., Sara- toga Co., N.Y., in 1840. They were the parents of 4 children, 3 of whom are living, viz .: Hiram W. (deceased) Sarah H., Porter and J. Clay. Mr. T. was a successful business man. He died May 29. 1876. Mrs. T. is a member of the Baptist Church in Grass Lake; she owns 280 acres of land in this tp.

William B. Taylor was born July 24, 1807, in New York city, second son of Benjamin and Charity (Bull) Taylor, natives of New York, and of German-English descent. He remained at home until 21 years of age and received a limited education. After leav- ing home he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed eight years; was married in 1834 to Mary La Du, by whom he has had 9 children, 6 of whom are residents of Michigan. After his marriage he came to Michigan and located one mile south of Leoni for one year, then sold out and moved to Grass Lake in November, 1836, and settled on his present premises. Mr. T. has many inci- dents to relate, and met with many privations during his early settlement. Mr. and Mrs. T. are worthy members of the M. E. Church.

Henry Vinkle was born in Washtenaw county, Mich., July 12, 1845. His parents are Henry and Rebecea (Christ) Vinkle, and of German descent. He received an ordinary common-school education; when 14 years of age he commenced to learn the trade of cabinet-maker, which business his father had followed many

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GRASS LAKE TOWNSHIP.

years; commenced clerking for his brother in Dexter in a general store and furniture trade; entered into partnership with his brother, which continued two and a half years, when he dis- posed of his interest to his brother; the following three or four years were spent in traveling, visiting various cities and places of interest in the Eastern States. In March, 1868, he located in Grass Lake and commenced the furniture and undertaking business. Feb. 24, 1869, Mr. V. was married to Miss Aurora Walker, daugh- ter of Wm. H. Walker, an early settler in Grass Lake, a sketch of whose life appears below. Mrs. Vinkle was born in Grass Lake in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. V. are the parents of 3 children, whose names are as follows: Mahlon, Minnie and Maud. After some years Mr. Vinkle added to his former business that of dealing in agricultural implements, which he still continues; has recently disposed of the furniture business; has a large and increasing trade; is the only undertaker in the village, and is a successful business man; has been Marshal two terms, Deputy Sheriff two years; is a member of the M. E. Church in Grass Lake.

Wm. H. Walker was born Nov. 19, 1823, in Barre, Vermont, son of Daniel and Maria (Abbot) Walker, the former of Vermont, and the latter of Massachusetts. The family located temporarily in Pennsylvania, but moving to the Northwest, arrived at Detroit May 10, 1829; settled at Ann Arbor for a short period, and came to Grass Lake in the fall of 1831, where Mr. Walker's father en- tered the land upon which Grass Lake village is now located, 20 acres being still in possession of the present representative of the family. Mr. Daniel Walker was born in 1798, and was one of the first settlers of Grass Lake; was the first Postmaster, first Tp. Collector and Clerk; these offices he held until his decease in 1839. Will- iam II. has held the position of School Inspector; in his earlier years he studied in the common schools, and would have taken a course in the Grass Lake Academy had not the death of his father necessitated close attention to business. He married Miss M. J. Burtch, of Saratoga county, N. Y., and their 2 children are Aurora M., now Mrs. Vinkle, and Daniel B., born in 1850, now in partner- ship with his father. Mr. Walker engaged extensively in the mannfacture of brick until 1866, when he established his drug business; up to the present time he has continued this branch of trade, adding to it from time to time a book and stationery department, a grocery store and wall-paper department. He was one of the first Board of Village Trustees, President of the village, and now serving a second term on the Village Board of Trustees. He is one of the leading citizens of the county; has done much in the inter- est of the village, and, doubtless, to him a great deal of its pres- ent prosperity is due.

Mrs. Sarah T. Watkins, born April 5, 1803, in Massachusetts, is the daughter of James Tracy and Martha (Blackman) Tracy, of the same State. About 1810 her family removed to Tioga county, N. Y .; she married Ira L. Watkins, in 1827, who was born in Ontario county, N. Y., May 8, 1805, and came to Michigan with

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

his wife in September, 1835; settled one mile south of Grass Lake, and died Nov. 15, 1866. He was a practical farmer, and successful in his agricultural dealings. Mrs. Watkins is the surviving par- ent of 7 children, viz. : Laura, born May 17, 1828, now Mrs. Free- man Curtiss; Frances, April 25, 1830; Molina A., April 12, 1833, died Aug. 8. 1848; Miller Y., June 24, 1834; Jerome, Oct. 26, 1836; Jeannette, Oct. 26, 1836, now Mrs. Durand, and Martha M., May 16, 1843, now Mrs. Richard Chapman. Mrs. Watkins moved from the homestead into the village of Grass Lake in 1867, where she now resides. Mrs. Nettie Durand also dwells in the vil- lage, and is a member of the society of Congregationalists.

Jeremiah B. Watson was born July 29 1818, in Yates county, N. Y .; son of John and Eunice (Barber) Watson, of New York city. In 1838 he moved westward; completed a course in the Grass Lake Academy; followed the profession of school-teacher for several years, and ultimately settled on the southeast sec. of Grass Lake Hc married Charlotte E. Moore, Dec. 11, 1845, whose parents settled in Michigan in 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have 5 children, namely : Henrietta E., born Sept. 6, 1846; Frances I., Feb. 9, 1848, now Mrs. J. P. Armstrong; Sarah E. Dec. 29, 1850, died May 13, 1860; Clara J., Jannary, 1852, now Mrs. Scott, of Battle Creek, and Emma B., Aug. 4, 1854. now Mrs. W. F. Bigelow, of Concord. In the fall of 1848 the family mnoved into the village of Grass Lake. Mr. Wat- son purchased lands in Lenawee county, and resided there a few years; returning to this county, he resumed his business in 1858, and has since continued to dwell here. He has filled many tp. offices, was member of the Village Board when first organized, and is a prominent member of the Masonic society.

James Welch, Jr., was born in Niagara county, N. Y., Aug. 10, 1814; is the son of James and Keziah (Barrett) Welch, both natives of New York, and of Irish-English descent. He came to Michigan with his parents in 1825, and located at Ann Arbor; was brought up on a farm, and received a liberal education in the common school; remained at home until his marriage, which occurred June 1, 1836, to Mrs. Susan Taylor, by whom he has had 5 children, viz .: Alplus A., John C., Mary Z., Sarah F. and Orcelea J. The family came to Grass Lake in 1835, and entered land south of the village; they then moved to Leoni, near Michigan Center; after a short res- idence, returned to Grass Lake in 1846, and have since resided at this place. Mr. W. always declined office. Mrs. W. is a worthy member of the Congregational Church.

Isaac Whisple, a native of Grass Lake, Jackson Co., Mich., was born Sept. 16, 1842, the youngest son of Peter and Rebecca (Soper) Whisple, and is of German descent. His parents were among the early pioneers of this county, locating in Grass Lake about 1836. His father died about 1850. Isaac received an ordi- nary common-school education; was reared to farming pursuits, re- maining on the homestead until December, 1860, when he married Miss Melissa Wright, born in Tompkins county, N. Y., in 1841.

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GRASS LAKE TOWNSHIP.

Mr. and Mrs. Whisple are the parents of 4 children, of whom but 2 are living-William E., born June 5, 1864, and Reuben J., born March 21, 1871. Mr. Whisple enlisted in 1862; participated in numerous battles, among which are: Antietam, Fredericksburg and battle of the Wilderness; at Watertown, Va., was captured by the rebels; spent three months in Libby prison; was also in a hospital some three months. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was mnstered out with his regiment at Detroit, the fall of 1865. After the war he purchased the farm upon which he has since resided. Himself and Mrs. W. are members of the Baptist Church in Grass Lake.

Rev. Alva B. Wood was born May 14, 1840, in Macomb county, Mich., son of Andrew and Phoebe Ann (Hines) Wood. The fam- ily moved to Lapeer county, Mich., about the year 1848, where Alva B. attended the common school, and taught school for a few terms; subsequently he attended the Dickenson Institute, at Romeo, and the academy at Lapeer; graduated at the Michigan University in 1866; later, he studied at the Garrett Biblical Institute, after he had served some time in the ministry. About the year 1869 he was placed in charge of the Troy (Mich.) mission. In 1866 he married Miss Ervilla Hollister, who was born in 1840, and is now the mother of 4 children, viz .: Myra, born in 1868; Fletcher, in 1871; Blanche, in 1875, and Andrew, in 1876. After spending some time at Troy, he was removed at his own request, and appointed Pastor of the M. E. Church of Grass Lake in the fall of 1880. His congregation of 265 members includes the M. E. class of Leoni, which, under his administration, is spiritually and socially prosperous.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

William Clapp, of this township, in his historical reminiscences says:

The township of Hanover is designated in the U. S. survey of the State of Michigan as township 4 south, of range 2 west. It was organ- ized into a separate township in 1836, previous to which time it had been embraced, with the seven other western towns of Jackson county, in one township, under the name of Spring Arbor. At the first township meeting, which was held at the house of Amos Brown in May, 1836, Charles Parsons was chosen moderator, and Charles S. Stone, clerk pro tem. Daniel Porter was elected super- visor and Chas. S. Stone was elected clerk. The surface of the town is undulating. The soil is what is known as oak openings.

The first permanent white settler in the town was Abiel Tripp, a native of Rutland, Vt. He moved into the town in 1832, and settled on sec. 3, where he died Feb. 7, 1861, at the advanced age of 80 years. He built the first house in the district.

Amos M. Brown was born Nov. 24, 1834, the first white child born in the town.

Horace Williams, a native of New York, settled on sec. 5 over 48 years ago. He married Miss Elizabeth Sloat, and they were the first white couple married in the town. Mr. Williams died in 1866.

The first death in the township was that of a Mr. Perry, who was accidentally killed while felling a tree in the winter of 1837-'8.

The first interment in the Hanover cemetery was that of a son of O. D. Thomson, who died April 1, 1839.

The first interment in the Baldwin cemetery was that of a daugh- ter of Aaron Reynolds, who died in May, 1839.

The first sermon was preached in the house of Abiel Tripp, by one Elder Fassett, a Methodist minister. The first Methodist quarterly meeting held in the town was in the barn of Gardner Tripp, in 1842, at which there was a number of Pottawatomie Indians, who were being educated at the Albion Seminary. Geo. Smith was the presiding elder.

The first flouring mill in the town was built at Baldwin's, by Geo. A. Baldwin, after whom the place was named.

The first saw-mill was built by Abraham Ramsdell, on section 36, and was propelled by water from a large spring which dis- charges into Farwell lake.

The first church was built at Baldwin by the Methodists and Universalists; it was styled the Union Church. "The First Uni- versalist Parish of Hanover, " is the title of an organization which filed articles of association at the county clerk's office, Jack-

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HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

son, in May, 1879. The officers of the society are James Mitch- ell, Moderator; Charles A. Ford, Clerk; Gordes P. Colgrove, Treasurer; Jonas Laird, Charles P. Goldsmith, James W. New- berry, Trustees.

The Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad was projected and built through the town in 1869-'70. The inhabitants of the town paid $33,000 of the capital stock. The township of Hanover has never furnished a convict to the State Penitentiary or an in- mate to the Reform School. There are now three postoffices in the town-one at Hanover village, one at Baldwin, and one at Stony Point.

F The first justice's court was held by Daniel Porter, one of the first justices in the town, who was alsoits first supervisor, and was 10 times elected to that office. He settled on section 10 over 48 years ago. Mr. Porter died in Wisconsin in 1874; he was a na- tive of New York. James C. Bell came from New York, and settled at an early day on section 15. He was three times elected supervisor of the town. He now lives in the State of New York.

Barnabas C. Hatch settled in the town of Spring Arbor over 48 years ago. Abont 1848 he moved into the town of Hanover, of which he has been elected supervisor seven times. He served one term as representative in the State Legislature. In 1850 he was elected associate judge of Jackson county court. Some 13 years ago Mr. Hatch moved to Spring Arbor, where he died Feb. 22, 1874. He was a native of New York.

Frederick A. Kennedy, a native of England, settled in the town in 1837. He was four times elected supervisor. He served one term as representative in the State Legislature. In 1844 he was appointed marshal to take the State census of Jackson county.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 91

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