USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 94
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" May 15 our second ehild was born, and it was the first ehild born in the township of West Portage, without doctor or doctress, ceremony or eustom, no one to welcome or rejoice with us that a son was born into the family. Sometimes his cries in the house and the howls of the wolves on the outside made matters quite in- teresting. He has grown up to manhood and has prospered, and now since 1862 has been engaged in the itinerant work of the Methodist Episcopal ministry as a member of the Michigan Con- ferenee.
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" THE FIRST TOWN MEETING
was held April 24, 1836; the number of votes cast was seven, by the following :- Jonathan W. Davidson, Nelson Lawrenger. Lewis Stowell, John Ney, Jolin Davidson, Solomon Sprague and Thomas Tan ner.
"The first celebration of national independence held in the Portage was at the cottage of A. H. Pennock. Number present, seven; after a delicious feast of strawberries and cream, we listened to the report of the old shot-gun, as it echocd and re-echoed through the woods. A glorious Independence Day celebrated by a jubi- lant company in the woods.
"In June, 1836, A. H. Pennoek and James Chamberlain moved into town. In the autumn or winter Alfred Hall and Sherlock Patrick came and settled near Pleasant lake. Several more came here the next April. In the winter of 1836 I felled the first tree on what is called Westren's Corners, and took four log houses to build for John Westren. I made the shingles and built two; was taken sick and let the building of the other two to Lorenzo Brown. At the annual town meeting in April, 1837, 16 votes were cast.
"The first wheat raised was on John Davidson's farm in the northeast part of the town.
"In the summer of 1838 a general sickness prevailed through- out the town. Henry Hurd and wife took their team and provisions necessary and went from house to house to administer to their wants. There were not convalescent people enough to take care of the sick."
In the fall of 1839, the subject of the above sketch, with the addition of a daughter, returned to the town of Stafford, in New York State, and in 1859 returned to the State of Michigan, with an addition to the family of four daughters, and they have since re- sided on their farm, about six miles north of Jackson. Mr. Tanner died near his home Jan. 2, 1876, aged 62 years, while Mrs. Tanner, who shared all her husband's early trials with such heroic devotion, died at Onondaga, N. Y .. Sept. 16, 1875, aged 63 years.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Hiram Archer, farmer, sees. 4 and 5; P. O .. Henrietta; was born in Orleans connty, N. Y., Oct. 2, 1829, and lived with his parents in his native State until they came to the Territory of Michigan in 1836; they located on sec. 5, and immediately commenced the erection of the first frame house in the tp .; other improvements were made in due time. Mr. Archer, being a man of untiring energy, soon had quite a tract of land cleared, and the first wheat sold from the place brought him $1.25 per bushel. He remained here until his death, which occurred in 1874; Mrs. Archer died Jan. 7, 1824. Hiram Archer remained with his parents until Oct. 27, 1852 then went to San Francisco, California; he took passage on
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the steamer Northern Light; after a long and perilous voyage he arrived at Aspinwall where he remained two days, then took cars for Gorgonia, a distance of eight miles, for which he paid $32; hired a mule and went to Panama; remained three weeks, paying $36 per week for board; embarked on board the New Orleans, and after a tempestnous voyage of 39 days landed in San Francisco; took a small boat for Sacramento, where he took his second meal on the Pacific coast, standing in water to his knees. Two days after he met Mr. James Justice, who employed him to drive stock into the mining market. On arriving at Auburn the cattle were sold and he started on foot for Nevada; bought for $300 the Mud Flat claims, comprising 300 feet, which were afterward developed and proved to contain immense quantities of gold; selling his claims here he went to Forest City and lost what he had made in Nevada City.
J. L. Conant, physician and surgeon; P. O., Henrietta; was born in Clinton county. N. Y., June 13, 1831. His father, Clark Conant, was a blacksmith by trade, and J. L. learned and followed the same. In 1855 he married Miss Julia Rock, daughter of Charles Rock, of Clinton county, N. Y .; she was born Jan. 28, 1834; their 3 children are-Jessie L., Helen E. and George C. After marrying, Mr. C. followed farming for a number of years, then came to Michigan, where he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Seeley, of Climax Prairie; remained 13 months, then attended a course at Rush Medical College; graduated at Detroit Medical College Dec. 3, 1880; has been in practice 13 years, and is at present located at Henrietta, where he has a large and Incrative practice.
John E. Conlan, physician and surgeon, Henrietta tp., was born in Chelsea, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 19, 1850. His parents, Arthur and Ellen Conlan, were natives of Ireland. His mother came to this country when she was three years old and located in Orange county, N. Y .; in 1835 came to Michigan, and in 1854 located in Henrietta, where his father died in 1863. Dr. Conlan, the subject of this sketch, commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Main, of Jackson, and in the fall and winter of 1875-'6 attended a course of lectures at Ann Arbor, where he graduated in June, 1878. He is a young man of good address and is gain- ing a good practice in the vicinity of Gassburg; he is at present town Superintendent of Henrietta; politically he is a Democrat.
J. D. Cook, farmer and stock-dealer, Henrietta tp. ; P. O., Jackson, Mich .: was born in Sharon, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 11, 1838; was reared on a farm and received an elementary school education; his parents, James and Harriet (Southwell) Cook, immigrated to this State in 1831-'2, and located in Lodi, Washtenaw Co., where he worked by the day and month; they afterward moved to Grass Lake, Jackson Co., where they lived and died, and were buried in the same grave; his grandfather and grandmother are also buried in one grave. After J. D. left home he worked out
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
for some time, then bought 40 acres of land in Clinton county, and worked out and paid for it; some time after, he went to Cali- fornia by water, was detained at Aspinwall, and was there at the time the city was burned to ashes; remained in California about two years and nine months; returned to Michigan and commenced farming; was married in 1866 to Miss Laura A. Southwell, daugh- ter of Edward Southwell, a pioneer and one of the early settlers of the county; she was born in this county April 6, 1843; their - 3 children are-Nellie S., born Jan. 24, 1867; Eddie D., born Dec. 16, 1869; Edith L., born April 26, 1878. Mr. Cook has held sev- eral local offices of trust in the tp. ; for a number of years has been dealing in stock, shipping to Buffalo and Chicago. He came to this county a poor boy, but by his own exertions has accumulated a good property and home; has 245 acres of land under good cul- tivation, valued at 840 per acre; also has lots in the city of Jackson, valued at $3,000.
Frederick Farrand came to this State in 18-, but did not get possession of the property until long after, when he bought his farm, containing nearly 1,600 acres. This was, perhaps, the largest tract of land owned by one man at that time. He came to Amer- ica in the spring of 1847, having on several occasions been to the States; but on this occasion he came to marry his wife; afterward he returned to England, then back to America to live. He pur- chased a large tract of land in the State of New York, where he lived several years previous to his coming to Michigan. Mr. Farrand has been twice married; his first wife had 1 child, now deceased. He is now living with his second wife, in this tp .; he owns the largest tract of land in the tp. ; it comprises about 1,200 acres: he also has other lands in this and other counties in this State, and some in the State of New York. He has never been satisfied since he came to this country, and now meditates a return to his native land. He has been engaged in active life for more than 30 years. While in England, Mr. F. resided in London, where he was engaged in building, and at one time was one of the most extensive contractors in the city, and one of the best archi- tects in England. Since he came to the United States he has been engaged in farming; he employs about 12 men most of the time on his farm; his farm cannot be excelled for thrift, in the county. His parents are both dead; he takes no part in politics, but is naturally inclined toward Democratic views. He is an honored and respected member of the Church of England.
John Fleming was born in Ireland, Aug. 14, 1827. In 1835 his parents immigrated to this country, and after a pleasant voy- age of 15 days, landed in New York city, where they remained two years; in 1837 they came West and located in Washtenaw county; remained until 1841; then came to this county, and located in Henrietta tp., on sec. 14, where his parents lived until their death. There were 5 boys in his father's family, now all de- ceased but John, who was the youngest; he lives within half a mile of the old homestead. In 1853 he went to California to seek
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gold; left New York Jan. 21, 1853, and did not reach his destina- tion until March, 1853. He was twice shipwrecked. He did not find gold in paying quantities, as he had supposed, and, not being satisfied with the country, he returned to Michigan in 1860, where he has since been engaged in farming. In 1867 he married Miss Dorothy Knauf, a native of Michigan. They have 1 child, Philip, who is now attending school. Mr. Fleming's early educa- tion was rather limited. He is a warm supporter of Democratic principles; believing that a change is necessary, he is doing what he can to bring it about.
Isaac Glenn, farmer; P. O., Henrietta; was born in Seneca county, New York, July 27, 1828. When five years of age his parents, John and Jane (Brown) Glenn, emigrated to Washtenaw county, Mich., and took up Government land, made a farm from the virgin soil, and remained on it until his father's death, which occurred in 1869. His mother is still living on the old homestead, at the age of 73. The subject of this sketch has been identified with the interests of the county and State. Since he was five years old he has lived to see it change from a vast wilderness to a beau- tiful, cultivated country. He married Miss Mary Ann Lown, daughter of George and Maria Lown, of New York State. She was born in Monroe county, N. Y., in 1831. There are 5 chil- dren, 2 of whom are living. Mr. G. has 237 acres of land; 100 are under good cultivation and valued at $45 per acre. They are members of the M. E. Church.
Edward Holling, farmer, sec. 6; P. O., Henrietta; was born in Wayne county, N. Y., April 28, 1823, and was reared on a farm. In 1838 he went to Dupage county, Ill., where he followed farming five years; then returned to his native State. Being of a roving disposition he followed the sea 12 years. In 1858 he came to Jack- son, Mich., where he purchased 160 acres of timber land, and made a farm which to-day, with its improvements, is worth $60 per acre. He married Miss Caroline Allen, danghter of Gov. Allen, of New York. They have 3 children, viz .: Arthur, Lillian, now Mrs. D. Finch, of Waterloo, and Minnie. Mr. H. has held several local offices of trust.
Alfred Hall, deceased, was born in Berkshire county, Mass., Jan. 13, 1796; was reared on a farm, and received an elementary school education; when a boy his parents emigrated to Jefferson connty, N. Y. In 1812, at the time of the battle of Sackett's Har: bor, he volunteered with a company and went, but arrived too late to participate. The family moved some time after to Genesee, now Wyoming, county, N. Y., as early as 1820, where hc formed the. acquaintance of and married Sarah Hulbnt, daughter of Wm. and Alice Hulbut, natives of New England; she was born Sept. 16, 1802. There were 4 children, 3 of whom lived to adult life-Mary, A., born in Wyoming county, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1833; Nancy M., born in the same county. Jan. 28, 1835, and John A., born in Jackson county, Mich., Dec. 24, 1837, and is the oldest resident who
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
was born in the tp. who is now living. The family emigrated to this county in June, 1836, and located on the farm where they now reside. There were but few railroads at that time; they came by canal to Buffalo, and thence by the United States, which was dis- abled and had to wait a couple of days, when another steamer came along and landed them in Detroit, where they procured ox teams which took them to their wild home. There were but four families in the tp. at that time. Mr. Hall held several local offices in the gift of the people, holding as many as five offices at one time; was a Justice of the Peace from the time he came here until his death, which occurred Feb. 4. 1851. Mr. H. died in 1864, a sincere Chris- tian, and loved and respected by all who knew him; he was a mem- ber of the Congregational Church.
Edward Malay, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Henrietta; was born in Connecticut, Feb. 15, 1819; was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. When 16 years of age he engaged in peddling pumps, and followed that for seven years. In 1840 he mar- ried Miss Nancy Wheaton, daughter of Reuben Wheaton, of Yates county, N.Y ; she was born in the town of Middlesex, Yates Co., April 7, 1825. There were 10 children, 9 of whom are living, 4 sons and 5 daughters-John E., Chas. C., Ranny, George, Elizabeth, Catharine, Mary, Harriet and Annie. Mr. M. has 100 acres under good cultiva- tion, valued at $45 an acre. He came to this county in limited circum- stances, but by hard work and good management has made a good home; he has been in the State over 30 years.
John A. McConachie, farmer; P. O., Henrietta; was born in England, April 5, 1835, son of John and Mary (Herrin) McConachie, natives of Scotland. Shortly after the birth of John A., his father came to America, landing in New York city in August, and im- mediately came West and settled in Washtenaw, where he resided until 1859, then moved to Jackson county, where he remained until his death. John A. then engaged in the business which his father had so successfully established. Being master of the situa- tion, as well as of the business, he kept the old customers, and to this list he added new ones. His health failed, he sold the shop and tools, and purchased a farm in Henrietta, npon which he has since built a house, has made other improvements, and now is sur- rounded with all the blessings connected with farm life. Mr. McConachie's first birthday was spent on the waters of the Atlan- tic ocean. Oct. 10, 1867, he married Miss Helley ; there were two children-Edith and Elizabeth; shortly after the birth of the latter his wife sickened and died; April 6, 1877, he married Miss Louisa J. Weston, a native of Michigan, and by her has 1 child-Eda May. Mr. McConachie belongs to the Masons, is a member of the Henrietta lodge, and politically is a Democrat; his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860; thinks now that a change is needed and has for several years past cast his vote in the interests of De- mocracy. His early education was obtained in good old-fashioned style, the ferule being used without limit, as was the custom in
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those days. Although his time was spent in pursuit of knowledge while at school, he did not advance as rapidly as he could with the modern educational improvements; he has paved the way with gold for his children, and they are improving the golden opportunity.
William W. Nichol, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Henrietta; was born in Columbia county, N. Y., Jan. 31, 1829. His parents were James and Patience (Warner) Nichol, mother a native of Connec- ticut, and father of Scotch descent, who came to the States at the time of the war of 1812; gwas by trade a weaver. Their family consisted of 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters, all of whom lived to be adults. The subject of this sketch came to Michigan in 1845, where he lived with his brothers. In the fall of 1851, he married Miss Eunice C. Chapman, daughter of E. B. Chapman, one of the first settlers in the county; she was born in Jackson city, in March, 1835, and died in 1861, leaving 4 children-James E., William W., Jr., Julia L., Franklin R. For his second wife Mr. N. married Miss Alice Bates; their 4 children are-Charles, Albert, Cora E. and Jay. Mr. Nichol took his land, once a dreary wilderness and made a farm and home; has 85 acres of land, 60 acres under cultivation, valued at $50 an acre.
Charles R. Pixley, farmer, sec. 16; P. O., Henrietta; is a son of Richard P. and Julia (Sanderson) Pixley; father a native of Berk- shire county, Mass., and mother of Oneida county, N. Y. In 1836 he emigrated to Washtenaw county, Mich., where he remained a couple of years, when he came to Jackson county and located in Waterloo tp., where he remained until 1852, then came to Henri- etta, and lived until his death, which occurred in April, 1880. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and has followed farming and droving since. He married Miss Ella Coulston, daughter of James Coulston, of Henrietta; she was born in the city of Jackson April 18, 1849. There is 1 child-Freddie, born Sept. 23, 1879. Mr. P. has 340 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre ; in politics he is a Republican.
Benona H. Pixley (deceased), formerly of Henrietta tp., sec. 12, was born in Great Barrington, Mass., June 25, 1808; when 25 years of age he came to Lima, Washtenaw Co., Mich., and in 1838 came to Jackson county, when it was one vast wilderness; took up land and made a farm. He married Miss Lucinda Hilton, daughter of Daniel Hilton, a native of New York; she was born in Yates county, N. Y., Feb. 5, 1816. There were S children, 5 of whom are living, viz .: Helen Mary, Alonzo S., George, Richard P. and Daniel HI. Mr. Pixley came to this county in an early day in limited circumstances; began at the lower round of the ladder and worked himself up until he accumulated a fine property ; was a man who always took a lively interest in ali the township affairs, and held several local offices of trust in the gift of the people; was Democratic in politics.
Willard Reed, farmer, sec. 21; P. O., Henrietta; was born in Ontario county, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1801; was reared on a farm, and
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
received an elementary school education. He has been married twice; the first time to Miss Rebecca Holiday, a native of Ontario county, N. Y., who died Sept. 18, 1833, leaving 5 children- Eliza, Esther, John T., Mary and Matilda. After his first mar- riage Mr. R. moved to Genesee connty, N. Y., where he remained 19 years. For his second wife he married Miss Sarah E. Odiorne, who died Dec. 22, 1847, leaving 2 children-Benjamin F. and Willard H. Mr. Reed came to Jackson county in 1842, and located on the same sec. where he now lives. Henrietta was at that time a wilderness, interspersed with here and there a log cabin. He has lived to see his tp. from its infancy to a fine, cul- tivated tp. Ile has at present 360 acres of land, valued at $55 per acre, well stocked and under a high state of cultivation.
S. H. Sperry, blacksmith; P. O., Fitchburg, Ingham Co., was born in Berkshire county, Mass., Oct. 8, 1816; was brought up in a marble mill and quarry. When he was 19 years of age he gave his father $100 for his time, giving his note for the same. After leaving home he engaged in a woolen-mill where he remained one year, then went to work in the marble business for a man by the name of Samuel Millard; then drove stage one year; he came to Chenango county, N. Y., and took up blacksmithing without any instruction, and worked two years, then returned to Berkshire connty and remained one summer. In 1845 he came to Detroit, Mich., where he worked at his trade for Silas N. Kindrick seven years; was afterward employed on a steamer on the lakes as second engineer, and was promoted after the first trip to first engineer. After leaving the lakes he engaged himself to the M. C. R. R. Co., in the shops, and remained two years; was sent as a fireman to Michigan City, Ind., remained one year; came to Gassbury in 1855, there being only one resident in Gassbury at the time. He married Miss Lavy A. Kingsby.
Zenas Stillson, farmer, sec. 34; P. O., Henrietta; was born in Scipio, Caynga Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1819. When a yonng man he followed merchandising, sold goods at auction, and traveled exten- sively over the country. In 1832, at the time of the cholera, he landed in Detroit, and came to Washtenaw connty, where he kept a public house 16 months, and then came to his present home, where he remained one year, then returned to his friends in Wash- tenaw county. In 1837 was driven to such extremes that he had to go into the lakes and gather fresh-water clams and eat them, some- times withont salt; the women joining in the search would wade around and find them with their feet; he also made a hook out of a pail wire to catch fish with, and used to eat them withont any but- ter or lard to cook them in. He has carried pumpkins on a stick four miles, and one-half of a pumpkin would make them a meal; had to live in a cabin without a roof, covering where the bed stood, and a conple of stones put up for a fire-place; he could lie in bed and see the stars through the roof; the owls used to come and sit on the cabin, and the Indians were as thick as the wolves, which
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howled around them. Mr. S. married Miss Catherine Smith, a na- tive of New Jersey. There were 2 children-Eli and Sarah M.
Dr. James Townsend, Henrietta, was born in Berkshire county, Mass., March 23, 1842. His parents, Tartullus and Eliza (Ash- man) Townsend, emigrated to this county and located in Napoleon tp. when the subject of this sketch was three years old; he was reared on a farm until he was 22 years of age; commenced reading medicine with Dr. John R. Crowell, of Brooklyn, and remained with him three years, reading and practicing. He attended two courses of lectures at Ann Arbor. He married Miss Jennie Terhune, daughter of Enoch Terhune, of Ann Arbor; she was born in Ann Arbor Sept. 5, 1845, and died Nov. 15, 1878.
LEONI TOWNSHIP.
The township of Leoni, organized under the act of the Territorial Legislature in 1836, is the most extensive division of the county, containing no less than 50 sections. The new township was formed from the north part of Napoleon and the south-eastern portion of West Portage or Henrietta,-two tracts of land containing over 29,000 acres. The Portage river forms the northern boundary. The town then comprised a part of Napoleon, Grass Lake, as well as all to the north of range 1 and 2, east. The Michigan Central road runs through the town, and has stations at both Michigan Center and Leoni, the only settlements in the town. There are two churches in the town, a Methodist and a Congregational. The Methodists had a college at Leoni village, but it has not been in operation for some time, and the buildings have lately been secured by the citi- zens, who intend starting a Normal school, to be called the Central Normal School. The Methodists first opened their school about 25 years ago. The Congregational church is located at Michigan Center. There are two postoffices in the town, one at the Center and the other at Leoni.
The first election of township officers took place in 1836 at the house of Isaac Howe, and resulted in the choice of Josiah Mills for first supervisor. Many prominent citizens have since filled that position, the last supervisor being A. A. Sullivan. The justices of the peace are John P. Kaywood, John Haylie, Myron Craft and John Stuart. H. P. Gardner is town clerk, and Henry Scofield, treasurer.
Harriet Jacobs, the wife of James Jacobs, who died in April, 1832, constituted the first subject for an obituary notice in the township.
Allen Knight was the first school-teacher, having established him- self in a log building one-half mile east of the present village of Leoni. The first school-house was built the same year, and was located in township 3 south, range 1 east ; the name of the first teacher is not to be found on the record ; nor is that of the teacher who took charge of the school established at Leoni in 1835. There are now 11 school-houses in the township.
The first sermon preached in the township was that by Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher in 1832. The house of Jos. H. Otis was the church on that occasion. The Free-Will Baptists formed a congregation there at a later date, and the Methodist Episcopals in 1835-'6.
Moses P. Crowell was the first postmaster, or incumbent of the office held at present by H. P. Gardner.
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