History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 95

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

USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 95

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This township has been the scene of many of the strange and sorrowful events recorded in the pages of the county history.

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LEONI TOWNSHIP.

The early settlers of Leoni were : Richard Scott, Josiah Mills, John Quick, D. H. Mills, E. G. Mills, M. W. Coolbangh, Julius Sekeil, L. P. Penfield, C. D. Coykendall, Jesse Rosier, Algernon Cooper, John Palmer, A. S. Palmer, Gilbert M. Walldorff, Jesse B. Walldorff, Orlin Walldorff, Jonathan Smith, Geo. A. Smith, Charles H. Smith, Andrew J. Murray, Aaron Murray, Truman T. Lawrence, Solomon Showers, Abram Showers, Edward M. Barnes, Homer Barnes, Lorenzo B. Bagley, Isaac Bagley, Joseph B. Lock- wood, David H. Lockwood, Isaac Sekeil, Calvin Cooper, Joseph Price, E. J. Price, Richard Price, Theo. Updike, Tyler Main, Ezekiel Ladu.

The manufacturing interests are represented at present by a cider-mill, an apple-jelly factory, and a pump factory. Formerly the industries inaugurated and fostered by Col. Shoemaker held a high place among the manufacturing establishments of Jackson and surrounding counties; but as his attention was turned to more extensive works and greater enterprises, he disposed of his in- terests in the manufactures of Leoni.

The following summary of history from the pen of Z. M. Barber deals extensively with township happenings. He states, that in the spring of 1831, Joseph H. Otis, of Vermont, James Jacobs, Ira W. Kellogg, David Laverty and James Lake came from Niagara county, N. Y., and located farms near the village of Leoni, Mr. Otis choosing that part of sections 1 and 2, in town 3 south, range 1 east, npon which the village of Leoni now stands. After the location of their lands and preparing for their future homes, they all returned and brought back their families in the fall of the same year.

"Isaac Barber and Z. M. Barber, the writer of this sketch, came back with their step-tather, Jos. H. Otis. At that time we found that Mr. David Sterling had squatted on the southeast quarter of section 2, which is about 80 rods south of the village of Leoni. He claimed to have located there in the spring of 1829, and with the help of the Indians had built a small log house, and the same year broke up three acres and sowed it in wheat. On the arrival of Father Otis and family, we found in readiness only the body of a log honse; but we all went to work with a will and soon found our- selves comfortably quartered in our new home; and during the fall our new colony got all well settled in small log honses.

"The following winter Joab Page came from Vermont with his family, and occupied a part of our house. He came prepared to build a saw-mill, bringing his mill irons with him. He located his mill about a mile and a half southwest of Leoni village, on the stream running through Leoni. The following spring a number of families came in and settled in the vicinity. Among them were Jacob Sagendorph, Joel F. Parks, Abram, Theodore, John Quick, Elder Limbacker, Josiah Mills and Bildad Bennett. Elder Limbacker preached the first sermon in a small log school-house abont a half-mile east of the village.

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

"In the spring of 1832 we came to Jacksonburgh to attend a township meeting,-the whole county comprising but one town- ship. In 1833 the Territorial Legislature divided the county into four townships-Grass Lake, Napoleon, Jackson and Spring Ar- bor. Leoni village was sitnate in the north part of Napoleon. In the winter of 1833 Ira W. Kellogg commenced getting out timber for a grist-mill. Moses I. Crowell had been appointed postmaster, Father Otis had opened tavern in his double log honse, and a line of stages had been established, running between Detroit and St. Joseph. All these improvements seemed to attract the attention of immigrants. . In the summer of 1834 Mr. Otis secured the services of H. J. Goodale to plat the village of Leoni. In the fall Mr. Kellogg started his mill, which was a joyons event to the old pioneers of the county, as hitherto they had been compelled to go to Dexter for their milling. Abont this time immigrants were coming in rapidly, and our village was filling with speculators and adventurers.

"In the winter of 1833-'4 a gentleman who had quite a business tact came to our place and wanted to form a company to go into the general banking business, and he proposed to furnish a large share of the capital. He found no difficulty in starting the enterprise, and after the company was formed he selected a location three-quarters of a mile north of the village, which was afterward known as Bogus Island. Surrounded by an almost impenetrable swamp, an oak stump was the base of operations. Dies and printing materials were procured, and all the necessary arrangements having been made in the winter, business commenced in the spring. Soon money began to be more plenty. The hotel was crowded with strangers. The circulation of their money increased, and in many cases their paper money was readily exchanged for coin. With this company whisky seemed to be the chief article of trade. Everything seemed lovely, and the future was full of promise, when one day some of the Jacksonburgh officials dropped down on them, causing no little uneasiness among the members of the company at first; but through some arrange- ment between the parties, the money and fixtures were taken to Jacksonburgh, leaving nothing behind but the old oak stump. What was done with the money and fixtures has never been made public. It was then Leoni against the world.

" In 1835 John M. Whitwell commenced selling goods in Leoni, and supplied a long-needed want, and our mothers and sisters could sport in new calico dresses and Navarino bonnets."

Leoni township was organized in 1836, by taking the north part of Napoleon and the southeast part of West Portage, now Henrietta, making the largest township in the county, containing over 29,000 acres. Josiah Mills was elected the first super- visor.

Time passed and the pioneers of Jackson county proved in the main to be an energetic, enterprising and noble race, as is evinced by their public schools, their well-cultivated farms and tasteful, rural homes, with all the comforts and appointments of

teyret Adams

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life. Forty years ago the pioneers of Jackson county were mostly young men and women who came to this county, and set themselves up in business, and commenced the active duties of life, full of hope in the future. Forty years, and one by one they have fallen and been laid aside, and we pass on until the old faces, once so familiar to us, are so seared by time, and so seldom seen, that our greetings are almost as strangers.

In 1836 William Jackson came through Leoni looking for wild land, which was very scarce in those days. Leoni appeared to him a second garden of Eden, and the natural beauty of the loca- tion made such an impression on his mind, that in October, 1838, he chose it for his home, and engaged in the sale of dry-goods, groceries, Sapington's agne-pills, and Peleg White's salve, and subsequently sold Pratt's pills and Lond's ointment. Jackson- burgh was then a mere territory, adjoining the independent State of Leoni.

The villages of the township are Leoni and Michigan Center. The M. C. R. R. passes through each, and on each conferring all those benefits which result from the proximity of the iron way. The dwellings of the people are neat and substantial, the farms extensive and fertile, and the entire face of the country bears evi- dence of prosperity and progress.

The following returns of the November election show pretty clearly the strength of political parties within the township :-- Electors-Hancock, 157; Garfield, 189; Weaver, 52. Governor- Holloway, 169; Jerome, 181; Woodman, 47. Congress-Pringle, 132; Lacy, 186; Hodge, 78. Senator-Wilson, 139; Goodwin, 183; Palmer, 73. Judge of Probate-Powell, 154; Gonld, 179; An- derson, 66. County Clerk-Covert, 152; Van Horn, 187; Moe, 59. Register of Deeds-Townley, 166; Ray, 178; Hinshaw, 57. Sheriff-Winney, 107; Lockwood, 184; Terry, 108. Treasurer- Wheeler, 152; Ludlow, 182; Townley, 63. Prosecuting Attor- ney-Barkworth, 106; Shark, 197; Hewlett, 96. County Surveyor, -Bean, 155; Crowl 186; Cook, 58. Circuit Court Commissioner- Merwin, 205; McDevitt, 211; Blair, 184; Welch, 192; Merwin, 206; McDevitt, 212. Coroner -- Finn, 150; Olmstead, 152; Bed- ford, 188; Thurman, 185; Cook, 60; Curtis, 58. Representative -Bunker, 169; Yarrington, 175; Brown, 50.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Of some of the more prominent pioneers and other citizens of Leoni township, it is proper to speak more in detail, as their lives have been so closely identified with the history of this section of the county.

Mrs. Elizabeth Aldrich was born in Seneca county, N. Y., June 23, 1832, daughter of Jacob and Octavia (Warner) Newkirk, of the same State; came with her parents to Ohio at a very early age: moved to Adrian in 1842; received the education which the schools

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of that day offered, and married Geo. N. Aldrich in 1850. In 1857 Mrs. Aldrich moved to Jackson with her husband. He was em- ployed by Alonzo Bennett, and was subsequently overseer of one of the prison factories in the employ of Mr. Bennett and in that of Col. Withington, which position he held until his death in May, 1873. They were the parents of 2 children-Helen Octavia, born in May, 1851, and died in May, 1875; and Libbie A., born Nov. 23, 1856, now Mrs. E. B. Miller, of Leoni. Mrs. Aldrich moved to Leoni in the spring of 1870, when she caused her present honse to be built.

Lorenzo Bagley, an old and well-known resident of Leoni tp., was born in Seneca county, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1812. His parents were William M. and Elizabeth (Frazer) Bagley, natives of New Jersey, and of German descent. Mr. Bagley received such an edu- cation as was available in the common schools of that early day; was brought up to farming pursuits; came with his mother to Michigan, June 8, 1837; located on sec. 24, which he greatly im- proved. He married Elmira Burkhart, a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., and their children are as follows: Frank F., born in 1849; George, 1851; Minettie E., in 1853; Ida J., Feb. 22, 1856; Dora A., 1859; Nelson W., 1861; Alfred F., 1867; and Mina A., July 30, 1870. Mr. Bagley was a resident of Gratiot county some seven years, then sold out and came back to the old homestead, which he inhabited at the death of his mother in 1863, at the advanced age of 84 years and six months. He has since resided there, and with his family are prominent members of the M. E. Church. During the colonization of this district, Mr. Bagley was oftentimes compelled to travel to Detroit for flour and other articles; during one of such trips, the traveler, oxen and wagon got so completely fixed in one of the many swamps on the old trail, that the horses and oxen of advancing immigrants, numbering two of the former and two of the latter, in addition to his own span, failed to draw that wagon from the bed of mud; the traveler resolved to leave the wagon in its position until the dawn of the morrow, when, with the aid of his horses and stont oaken levers, that which seemed to be lost was saved, and Mr. Bagley was enabled to go his way rejoicing; having reached Detroit he purchased two barrels of flour for $11 each and set out on his homeward journey. During the return trip he disposed of one barrel for $17, and thus were the olden days passed by.

Zimri M. Barber was born Sept. 18, 1816, in Niagara county, N. Y., the son of Benedict and Laura (McNall) Barber. Having received a common-school education, he labored on the farm until the age of 19, when he learned the carpenter's trade. Subse- quently he attended school at Jackson under Hon. H. H. Bingham. His family removed to Michigan in 1831 and located on the site of his present home, in this tp. Mr. Barber on his arrival here, worked at the trade of wheelwright seven or eight years. In 1841 he purchased the homestead from J. H. Otis, his step- father. The barn which stands on the roadside east of the house

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was the second frame building erected in that district. During the earlier years of settlement Mr. Barber brought wheat to the Detroit market, sold it at 75 cents per bushel and lost six days in making the trip. In 1846 he entered into partnership with Peter C. Lawrence, and conducted a store at Leoni for some time. He went to California in the winter of 1850, where he made a stay of five years; returning in 1855 he resumed his farming labors; but found that his former partner had contracted debts amounting to $1,600, including 8300 Government claim; these claims he settled, and soon after married Mrs. Hannah Tinker, a Pennsylvanian; They were the parents of 5 children, 2 of whom are living, viz .: Fred. C., born June 18, 1856, now a telegraph operator at Leoni; and Kate A., born May 12, 1863. Mrs. Barber died Feb. 12, 1878. A reference to the historical chapters of this work will show the important part taken by Mr. Barber in the affairs of the county. His nephew, Albert M. Barber, has for many years labored in the interest of his uncle, and is the recognized inheritor of the property.

L. B. Beardsley was born July 31, 1817, in Monroe county, N. Y., son of Charles and Hannah (Shonles) Beardsley; received a fair education in the common schools of Tompkins county, where the family removed previous to their migration to Michigan in 1836. Mr. Beardsley first located in Rives tp., where he engaged in farming; subsequently moved to Jackson, where he was engaged in buying wheat and wool for Hayden & Co. He married Eleanor Shaw in 1843, and they have had 5 children, 3 of whom are living. Mrs. B. died in 1854, and March 9, 1856, Mr. B. married Miss Mary Ann Walker, born in Monroe county, in 1819. He has re- tired from business, and now resides at the village of Leoni, enjoying well-earned repose.

Ephraim Beebe was born Oct. 11, 1808, in Vermont; is the son of Ephraim and Tryplena (Hale) Beebe. In his early years Mr. B. walked to the district school every morning and returned every afternoon, the journey being six miles to and fro, which was made over an ice-encumbered lake. The family moved to a dis- trict in New York State now called Wyoming county, in 1822, where the education of Mr. Beebe was finished. There, also, he learned the trade of shoemaker, after which his travels led him to Canada, where he married Miss Mary Buck, of Erie county, N. Y., in 1831. They are the parents of 6 children, 5 of whom are liv- ing. Returning to New York in 1833, he purchased a small farm, made several changes, and in June, 1837, came to this county, lo- cating in Pulaski tp. ; came to Leoni in July, 1849, locating on the sec. now occupied by Ansel Norton, and moved to his present home in 1851. He has been honored with several tp. offices, and has contributed to all public efforts.

Chester Du Bois, born Ang. 28, 1822, in Saratoga county, N. Y., is the son of Cornelius and Deborah (Payne) Du Bois; received a liberal education in the common school and the academy of Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y. Following the example of his five

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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

brothers, he taught school for some time, but ultimately turned his attention to farming, and labored on the old homestead until his immigration to Michigan in 1848. That year he bought the premises he now occupies, and returned to New York in 1849, where he married Miss Mary Taylor, daughter of John Taylor, of Saratoga county. They have 3 children, viz. : H. D., born Nov. 18, 1852; Hattie A., July 4, 1854, and William J., Feb. 17, 1858. During the civil war Mr. Du Bois was active in such measures as tended to procure troops, and since that period has taken an im- portant place in the economy of the tp. of Leoni.

Daniel Boynton was born in Grass Lake tp. Sept. 9, 1843, and is the son of Zerah and Permelia (Buss) Boynton, natives of Ver- mont, and of English ancestry. His father come to Michigan in 1835; is one of the old pioneers of Grass Lake tp., where he still resides. Daniel received a very liberal education, attended the Michigan Collegiate Institute at Leoni for a number of years, at which institute he completed his education; tanght school three winters, managing his father's farm during the summer. He was married July 3, 1864, to Mary E. Burkhart, born in Jackson county March 18, 1844; their children are as follows: Edgar M., born Oct. 9, 1865; Lottie E., April 4, 1868; Harry Ward, Oct. 7, 1874. Soon after marriage Mr. Boynton purchased 160 acres of land on secs. 22 and 23, this tp .; went into partnership with Mr. A. Watts in conducting the " Wild-Cat Mill," which firm con- tinned until the purchase of Mr. Watts' interest by Mr. Boynton and his father in the spring of 1876, since which time Mr. B. has successfully conducted the same; he has recently moved from the mill to his farm, where he has erected a commodious residence and is rapidly making improvements. He was elected Supervisor in the spring of 1878, which office he very ably filled for two suc- cessive terms. He is very popular and highly esteemed through- ont the county. Has been Superintendent of Sabbath-schools for a great many years, and, with his family, are members of the Con- gregational Church at North Leoni.

Almon Cain was born April 23, 1806, in Herkimer county, N. Y., son of Barney and Clara (Crane) Cain, of the same State. He received the ordinary common-school education; was a boatman on the Erie canal some 14 years; was the owner of three boats, and a successful carrier until his retirement in 1834, when he began the commission business in produce at Buffalo. He continued a commercial life until 1852, when he came to this tp. to take posses- sion of land which he entered in 1835, aggregating 200 acres. April 14, 1855, he married Dorcas Nicholson, from Monroe county, N. Y., 20 years his junior. Mr. and Mrs. C. have 3 children, viz. : Harriet R., born Feb. 19, 1856: Ida M., June 13, 1858, and Almon H., April 22, 1861. Mr. Cain is a self-made man, ener- getic, and holds a place in the ranks of useful citizens.

Samuel Chappell was born in England, March 28, 1825, the son of Samuel and Mary (Sampson) Chappell. The family emigrated to America in 1836; located in what is now Wyoming county, N.

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Y., where Samuel received a common-school education; was raised to farming pursuits, in Genesee county, N. Y., where his parents resided some years. In 1841 they came to Michigan and located in Columbia tp. After returning to New York State for the purpose of closing up some unfinished business connected with his father's estate, Mr. C. returned to Michigan. He was married July 4, 1849, to Harriet Morton, born in Tompkins county, N. Y., May 23, 1832. They have 5 children, as follows: Alice C., born Jan. 23, 1851; Edgar, Aug. 20, 1853; Eva, April 3, 1855; Barry O., July 30, 1862, and Dora, Nov. 9, 1864. For some three years after marriage, Mr. C. lived in Washtenaw county; in 1852 came to Jackson county; made several removals, and finally located on sec. 35, in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Chappell are prominent members of the M. E. Church; are active workers in behalf of the Sabbath schools, in which Mr. C. is a popular teacher. He was a member of the Barry Horse Guards, at that time a famous organization, a full account of which is given in the chapters relating to the military history of the county, on another page. He was elected Supervisor of Springbrook tp. in 1872, but has always had an aversion to holding public offices.

Joshua Clement, a popular farmer and stock-raiser, of Leoni tp., was born in Orange county, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1818, and is the son of Bartlett S. and Catherine (MeClough) Clement, of English-Irish descent. He received quite a liberal common-school education; was brought up on a farm and taught school several years; clerked in Ithaca, New York; afterward returned to farming pursuits. Upon the removal of the family to this county in the fall of 1843, they located and remained in what is now Summit tp. some two years. Mr. Clement was married March 19, 1845, to Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Elihu and Elizabeth Bennett, who settled in Jackson county in 1836. This marriage was blessed with 3 children, as follows: William H., born May 27, 1846, died March, 1872; Katie E., born May 13, 1848, died in September, 1865; Bartlett E., born May 13, 1850, and is now residing with his father. One year after marriage Mr. Clement assisted his father-in-law in the manage- ment of his farm. In the spring of 1848 removed to his present · home, where he has since resided. He now owns 265 acres of

. valuable land with fine improvements. Mr. Clement has held all the minor tp. offices; has been School Director alinost constantly ; is a staunch supporter of popular education; was elected Supervisor nine terms, and by appointment, to fill a vacancy one term. In the fall of 1870 he was elected a member of the Legislature, and represented his district in the regular term of 1871, and the special term in the spring of 1872. William H. was educated for the medical profession; was a promising student at the time of his death.

Calvin Cooper, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1819, the 2d son of Ferdinand and Charity (Barringer) Cooper, natives of New York, and of Scotch-German

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ancestry. Mr. Cooper received a common-school education and was was brought up on a farm. He was married Nov., 1840, to Polly Caldwell. They have had 3 children, of whom 1 is living-Am- brose, born July 17, 1847. Mrs. C. died in 1849. Mr. C. lived in Washtenaw county, where he moved in 1845; in Lenawee county, where he remained about five years; and in December, 1857, came to Leoni township, where he has since resided. Mr. Cooper was married April 24, 1850, to Sarah Thomas, born in 1826, in Orleans county, N. Y. This marriage was blessed with 7 children, 3 of whom are living, as follows: Ella M., born June 27, 1857, now the wife of Jolin F. Soper; Fred G., born June 17, 1862; and Dora R., Jan. 8, 1864. Mr. C. is a self-made man, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Mrs. Cooper is a devoted member of the M. E. Church.

E. S. Cradit was born Oct. 18, 1812, in Orange county, N. Y., son of Henry and Elizabeth (Seurs) Cradit, of New York; re- moved to Tompkins county, N. Y., with parents in early youth; received a liberal education, and labored on his father's farm un- til the period of his marriage, in 1836, to Miss H. Corwin, of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Cradit were parents of 8 children, 2 of whom are living, viz .: Wm. F., born April 27, 1851; and Theo. R., born Feb. 12, 1859. One of the deceased sons, Charles H., enlisted in the 3d Mich. Cavalry, and participated in the affairs of Corinth and Holly Springs, but was killed April 25, 1865, while en route from New Orleans to Mobile. Mr. Cradit located his present home in the fall of 1836, and, like the other pioneer farm- ers, converted the wilderness into a garden. A portrait of Mr. Cradit will be found on page 417.

Joseph W. Davis, born Oct. 6, 1827, in Niagara county, N. Y ... is a son of George and Polly (Darling) Davis; came to Michigan in 1835, with his parents, who resided for a time at Jackson, and procured a deed of sec. 31, in April, 1837, which document bears the signature of President Van Buren; afterward went to the tp. of Leoni. Jos. W. remained at home until 1850, when he went overland to California, occupying six months in making the trip. There he engaged in mercantile and mining business; returned after a four years' stay, and resumed occupation of the old home- stead in June, 1854. He was married March 17, 1859, to Miss Christiana C. Dutton, and their 3 children are-Adell, born in 1861; Zimri I., 1863; and Horace R., May 18, 1865. Mr. Davis has held a few responsible tp. offices, and is a man of large ex- perience. His father, one of the old settlers, died in 1850.

Mrs. Seloma Bagley Davis was born Aug. 19, 1807, in Cayuga county, N. Y .; attended the common schools of the district un- til the removal of her family to Ashland county, Ohio, in 1818, where she completed her studies, and married John Davis, Sept. 3, 1825. Mr. Davis was born in 1802 in the State of New York; removed to Ohio, and subsequently to Leoni tp. in the spring of 1838, when he settled on the " Rufus" farm, changing in 1844 to his present location, which was then a dense wilderness, with the

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exception of a clearing of two acres. Of their S children, 3 survive: Laura was born May 24, 1824; David S., Jan. 31, 1826, died Sept. 16, 1880; Job T., Oct. 18, 1828, died 1841; Cynthia A., Mar. 24, 1830; Theresa, June 14, 1833, died 1854; Sarah, Feb. 13, 1836; Emily, Oct. 5, 1838; and Roenia A., Nov. 24, 1845, died 1863. Mr. Davis died Oct. 30, 1880, aged 78 years.

H. A. Draper was born July 22, 1838, at Rives, Jackson Co .; his father was F. M. J. Draper, and mother Maria L. (Smith) Draper, of Erie county, N. Y. Mr. Draper passed through the ordinary common-school course and completed his studies under Prof. Ripley, at the West Union high school. In 1860 he married Miss Isabella Anderson, who was born in Tompkins tp. March, 1841. They are the parents of 5 children. viz .: Ida M., born in 1861, now Mrs. D. S. Underwood, of Leoni; Charlie M., born Dec. 29, 1862; Tad Warren, born Aug. 14, 1867; Osmer Cole, born Dec. 11, 1871, and Randall, born May 24, 1875. Mr. Draper purchased a tract of land in Rives, where he dwelt until 1874. That year he bought the Rhodes farm, improved it and made it his home. Mr. and Mrs. Draper are members of the M. E. Church, of Leoni, near which village their farm of 190 acres and residence is situated.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 95

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