USA > Michigan > Kent County > History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 71
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716
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
George W. Teeple was born in Essex, N. J., April 8, 1810. His parents, William and Rachel Teeple, settled in Plymouth, Wayne Co., in 1826, and in 1844 removed to Lenawee county, where they died,-his father in 1866, and his mother in 1863. Mr. T. has made agriculture the purpose of his life. He operated five years on a farm in Plymouth, and in 1836 settled on the place he now occupies, consisting of 100 acres, valued at $60.00 per acre. He was married June 7, 1832, to Samantha Cook, of Covert, N. Y. They have had 12 children, nine of whom are living, whose births occurred as fol- lows: Elbert B., March 25, 1833; Minerva, June 25, 1834; Oscar F., May 29, 1838; Alfred C., May 4, 1842; Marcus D. and Marian E. (twins), Feb. 11, 1844; Almira D., Aug. 27, 1847; Harriet J., Jan. 13, 1853; and William E., Feb. 18, 1855. Politically Mr. T. is a Democrat. He has passed through all the severities of pioneer life. His son Marcus enlisted in the 6th Mich. Cavalry, served three years and four months, and was under fire at Gettysburg, and in the battle of the Wilderness. Mrs. T. is a member of the Disciples Church.
Jonathan Thomas was born Nov. 9, 1830, at Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y. His father, Jonathan Thomas, was a soldier of 1812, born Oct. 29, 1874, and died in 1868. His mother was born March 6, 1786, and died in 1879. Mr. Thomas bought, in 1855, 320 acres of land on sec. 25, this tp., paying for it $3.00 per acre. He still holds 160 acres, at $45.00 per acre. He was married Sept. 13, 1854, to Caroline Thomas, of Fayette, Seneca Co., N. Y. She is the daugh- ter of Samuel and Margaretta Thomas. Her father was born Jan. 23, 1802; her mother, Nov. 22, 1805, and died in 1870. Eight children have been born to them, as follows: Charles H., July 9, 1855; George S., April 25, 1857; Samuel L., Aug. 28, 1858; William E., Sept. 21, 1861; Edwin L., April 11, 1868; Nellie V., May 12, 1870; Norman B., June 26, 1871; and Nettie V., Aug. 27, 1872. Mr. Thomas has been local preacher of the M. E. church for the last 20 years. Politically he is a Republican, and served three years and three months in the war of the Rebellion. P. O., Lowell.
A. B. Town was born June 18, 1831, in Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y. His father, William Town, was born in 1804, in Connecticut. In 1836 he settled in Oakland county, and eight years after in this tp., where he bought 105 acres on sec. 31. He is still living, at Brigh- ton, Livingston Co. Mr. Town's mother was born in New York, April 25, 1806. He was married Dec. 4, 1855, to Minerva, daugh- ter of Geo. W. and Samantha Teeple, of this tp. (See sketch above.) They have four children, born as follows: William, Sept. 28, 1857; Elbert A., April 28, 1863; Samantha, March 5, 1865, and Jennie B., May 4, 1867. In 1864 Mr. Town bought 80 acres on sec. 33, where he has since lived. He has a new and
substantial house, and values his place at $6,000. A mineral spring on the farm has gained considerable notoriety. Mr. Town
is a Democrat. P. O., Alaska.
717
CASCADE TOWNSHIP.
Nathan Weston, son of Nathan and Polly Barnum) Weston, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1818. About 42 years ago he settled at Plymouth, Wayne Co., and after 15 years' residence he moved to Hillsdale county, where he lived 10 years. He was engaged in the sale of drugs, in Elkhart, Ind., eight years, and about 1868 bought 116 acres of land, this tp., now the family homestead. He was married Feb. 15, 1860, to Mary A., widow of Alva Blood, daughter of William C. and Catharine White. Her parents located in Boston, Ionia Co., in 1843; lived there and at Gulf Prairie three years, when they fixed their residence in this tp. Mrs. Weston was a teacher of 21 terms' experience, in this State. She was born in Tunbridge, Vt., also her father's native place. Her mother was a native of Walpole, N. H. De Alton C. Blood, son of Mrs. W. by her first marriage, was born Oct. 27, 1855, and is now living in Cascade. Her first marriage occurred in 1852. Mr. Weston is a Republican.
John H. Withey, son of Solomon and Clementine (Granger) Withey, was born at St. Albans, Vt., Nov. 22, 1831. His father was born Aug. 31, 1787, and died Oct. 6, 1851. His mother was born in 1791, and died March 20, 1869. They came to this State in May, 1836,and located at Grand Rapids. Mr. Withey embarked in business in 1851 as proprietor of a hotel at Ada, and three years later bought a stock of general merchandise and opened trade on the east bank of Grand river, opposite Ada, at that time the only store between Lowell and Grand Rapids. His sales aggregated $120,000 in four years, when he disposed of his mercantile inter- ests and took up his residence on his farm of 160 acres, sec. 3, this tp. He values his farm at $10,000. In 1857 he married Laura O. Abel' of Cascade. She died in January, 1861, leaving one son. In Aprix, 1862, he married Mary L. Duncan, of Ada. Four of six child en are living. Mr. Withey was graduated from Kalamazoo College, and politically is a Democrat. He comes of loyal ances- try, his father having been a soldier of 1812, and under fire at Plattsburg, and his grandfather a soldier of the Revolution.
Clinton A. Wood was born Feb. 5, 1820, in Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y. His parents, William and Sally (White) Wood, were natives of the same State. His father died in 1848; his mother in 1878. In the fall of 1863, Mr. Wood located on 160 acres of land in sec. 25, this tp. (value of farm, $8,000). He was married to Louisa M., daughter of William and Sally (Youngs) Markham, born Jan. 23, 1820. The following is the record of birth of their children : Francis A., Dec. 25,1846; William A., Dec. 26, 1846; Char- lie M., Oct. 31, 1852; Jennie L., June 1, 1857; and Dan. B., Jan. 28, 1860. Mr. Wood is a Republican, and has been School Director nine years and Commissioner three years. He is engaged in rais- ing the famous Lexington horses of Kentucky, and also pure-blooded Suffolk hogs. Mr. Wood is a veterinary surgeon, and has practiced his profession for 35 consecutive years. In his practice he has been very successful, especially in surgical operations. A portrait of Mr. Wood appears in this volume.
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718
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
John Wooding was born in 1835 in Welchpool, Wales, and is son of John and Hannah Wooding. He came to America in 1845, and went to Saquoite, Oneida Co., N.Y., where he found employment as a farm hand. He came to Michigan in 1856, and for three years con- tinued the same occupation. He purchased 40 acres on sec. 26, which he sold nine years after and bought the place where he now lives, 80 acres on sec. 11; aggregate value, about $4,000. He was married April 1, 1861, to Drusilla Fountain, of Cascade. They have had four children: Cora May, born Jan. 25, 1863, died July 4, 1871; Minnie Bell, June 25, 1864, died June 17, 1871; Ida, June 25, 1868, died June 19, 1871; Nellie Edith, March 25, 1870. Mrs. W. is daughter of Ezra and Sarah Fountain, and was born Jan. 4, 1847. Mr. W. is a Republican, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, in the 1st Reg. Mich. Eng's and Mech's, served 23 months and " marched down to the sea" with Sherman.
3
COURTLAND TOWNSHIP.
Portions of this township, especially along the south line, are very rolling and even broken, while in the eastern and central por- tions it is more level or gently undulating. There is some pine in the northern portion, and pine mixed with hard woods. The larger portion of the town, however, is oak openings. There are many highly improved and fertile farms in the town. The town is destitute of any business centers, and is without railroad connec- tion, although the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad runs nearly parallel with its west line, and has three stations within about half a mile of the town line.
There are several handsome lakes in the south part of this town- ship, but no streams of much size.' Silver lake, the largest, is sit- uated on sections 27 and 28. It is triangular in shape, being about one and one-half miles in length by one-half mile in breadth in the widest place. It has fine gravelly banks, and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the county. Johnson lake, a small but fine body of water, is situated on the southeasterly portion of section 22. Big and Little Brower lakes are situated on the southern part of section 34. Both of them are small. A small stream rises in the eastern part and empties into Wabasis lake, in Oakfield township. Another rises in the lakes in the south part, and flowing in a west- erly direction empties into Rouge river at Rockford, in Algoma township, while a third small stream rises in the northwest part of the town, and, running southwest, falls into Rouge river some three miles above Rockford.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first persons to enter lands in the sections of Courtland township previous to 1847, included: Daniel C. Parshall, section 13, Sept. 15, 1845; Philo Austin, section 15, June 1, 1841; Seth Lockwood, section 20, March 23, 1840; Dixe Lockwood, section 20, March 27, 1840; Alexander Dean, section 21, Ang. 10, 1839; Sabin Johnson, section 22, Aug. 10, 1839; Beman Brockway, section 24, Aug. 10, 1839; William H. Cooper, section 26, Aug. 10, 1839; Lucy Beers, section 28, Aug. 10, 1839; Burton Brockway, section 27, Aug. 10, 1839; Nathan W. Rounds, section 31, Dec. 3, 1846, and Charles J. Jaqua, section 31, June 10, 1847.
Barton Johnson settled in Courtland in 1838. as the outpost of a little company of 10 pioneers who followed him the same year, viz. : Philo Beers, Benjamin Botsford, John Austin, Wm. R. Davis, John Barlow, Alexander Dean, Sabin Johnson, Thomas Addison, Anson Ensign and Iram Barney. They located their
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720
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
lands contiguous to each other. They organized the town and re- sided several years alone-a happy, social and moral community. They had enough for fraternity, enough for society, and enough for a school. They were at home in each other's houses, and prided themselves in each other's good name and character.
Mrs. Barton Johnson was the first white woman in town.
It is a little doubtful who taught the first school. It is claimed for three-John Davis, John Austin and Emily Dean. Miss Dean kept a school for a time in a shanty. She was followed by Amanda Loomis and Harriet Patrick. Miss Dean is the wife of John Aus- tin, of Courtland. Miss Loomis is in San Francisco. Miss Patrick died about 1870.
The pioneer preacher was the otherwise mentioned James Bal- lard. About the same time the zealous young Methodist preacher, Frieze, came among the people and made this town a part of his mission.
In 1866 the town was the scene of a fiendish murder, which ex- cited the community at the time. One Durfee, who had been living in Ohio, had a paramour, with whom he had lived some years. He came with her and her child to Grand Rapids, where he hired a livery team and they went on a ride in the rural towns. Having come into a secluded place by the side of one of the lakes in Court- land, he strangled her with a rope, dragged her into the bushes, left the child near a house, returned the team and disappeared. The child was found nearly famished; the murdered woman discovered; the case skillfully worked up; Durfee tracked out, arrested, tried and sent to prison, where he is said to have died. Durfee was a fiend, and marked as such. The child is adopted into a worthy family in the town, and thinks himself their son. The name of his foster parents will not here be given, as we do not wish to dispel the illusion of the boy, whose good fortune it was that his mother was murdered.
It was customary in the early settlement, at first to unite several townships and organize them as a town. One and another would soon be set off. Courtland was shorn of all its dependencies, and reduced to its present limits in 1846. In 1848, by a Legislative blunder, it was re-organized with Oakfield, under the name of Wabesis. The status was restored by the next Legislature.
ORGANIC.
Courtland was originally organized in 1839, and then included six Congressional townships. A town meeting was at once called at the house of Barton Johnson, and the town organized, Philo Beers being elected Supervisor, and Thomas Addison, Clerk.
The record of the meetings held in April, 1840 and 1841, could not be found in the office of the Township Clerk. The books in his possession manifest great care and precision, and appear to be the most orderly town record books in Kent county.
The principal township officers from 1842 to the present time are named in the following list:
721
COURTLAND TOWNSHIP.
SUPERVISORS.
Isaac Tower
.1842
W. H. Myers 1858
Philo Beers
1843-44
Jacob I. Stoner. 1859
John Austin. 1845
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Wheaton L. Hewitt. 1860
Philo Beers. 1846
Calvin Thompson
1861
Nelson Miles 1847
Wm. H. Myers. 1862-66
Philo Beers. 1848-50
Barton Johnson 1867
Horatio N. Stinson 1851
Wm. H. Myers.
1868-77
Philo Bears .. 1852
Isaac M. Hunting 1878
Harry H. Kingin
1853
Charles M. Mann. 1879
Asa P. Ferry.
1854-55
. Elias C. Brooks
1880
Philo Beers.
1856
Charles M. Mann 1881
Isaac T. Worden
1857
CLERKS.
Wm. Thornton, 1842
. George F. Saunders . 1860-61
Thomas Addison. 1843
W. S. Hewitt .. 1862
James Barney 1844
Morgan Hunting. 1863
Thomas Addison 1845
D. W. C. Burch. 1864
Jacob J. Stoner. 1846-47
Thomas Addison 1865
Harry McArthur 1848
John Hughes .. 1866-68
Wm. H. Myers 1849
Isaac M. Hunting 1869-70
H. M. Stinson. 1850
1851
Nelson Graham. 1872-75
Wm. H. Myers .. 1852
Charles M. White. 1876-78
Jacob I. Stoner. 1853-54
Elias C. Brooks. 1879
Thomas Addison 1855
Mortimer B. Dean. 1880
Jacob I. Stoner. 1856
Elias C. Brooks. 1881
W. L. Hewitt.
1857-59
TREASURERS.
Thomas Addison. 1842
Anson Ensign. 1843
David Haynes. . 144
Chester Conant. 1861-62
Chauncey Parker 1845
Joseph Salkeld. 1863
Horace Colby .1846
George F. Saunders 1864-65
Barton Johnson.
1847
Calvin T. Thompson. 1866
Sheldon Ashley.
1848
George F. Saunders 1867
Freeman Burch.
1849
James G. Hunt. . 1868
Barton Johnson.
1850
F. C. Stegmann. 1869-73
John W. Bird. 1851
Isaac M. Hunting. 1874-75
Zenas White. . .1852
Robert Carlyle .. 1876
Barton Johnson
1853
Isaac M. Hunting. 1877
John Stoner. 1854
Robert Carlyle .. 1878
Joseph Hayes 1855
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Thomas M. Cowan 1879
Reuben A. Brown 1880-81
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Barton Johnson, John Austin. .. 1842
Stephen S. Tower, Chauncey Park-
er. . . 1843
Philo Beers, John Austin, David J. Gilbert. 1844
Smith Lapham. 1845
Nelson Miles, Wm. Goul .. .1846
Jacob Snyder, Freeman Burch. .1847 Horace Colby .. . 1848
Almon Thompson. Freeman Burch. 1849 John W. Barker, Jacob I. Stoner. . 1850
Philo Beers, Wm. H. Myers, J. W.
Bird .. 1851
Asa T. Ferry, Jeremiah Robinson, G. L. Rogers 1852
John Austin, Calvin Thompson. .. 1853 Geo. Hoyle, Freeman Burchi 1854 Harry H. Kingin, Henry Spicer. . 1855 Henry Spicer. . 1856
Lester Phelps, Horace Colby 1857
Joseph Salkeld. 1858
Harry H Kingin 1859
George F. Saunders 1860
Wm. H. Myers. 1861
Joseph Salkeld. 1862
S. F. Elkins. 1863
1
Wm. Goff ... 1858
Richard L. Coster 1859-60
John Stoner. 1856-57
Denis G. Davis 1871
Morgan Hunting
722
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Orrin J. Tefft. ..
1864
Wm. H. Myers, Thos. Addison. .. 1873
Wm. H. Myers
1865
Nelson Graham ... 1874
Joseph Salkeld.
1866
Frederick C. Stegmann. 1875
Thomas Addison.
1867
Julius Lewis, Robert J. Brown. 1876
Harvey Mosher
1868
Wm. H. Myers. 1877
Wm. H. Myers.
1869
Nelson Graham 1878
Joseph Salkeld, H. D. Burlingame.1870
M. D. L. Smith. 1879
Samuel Brown.
1871
Harry H. Kingin 1880
Thomas Addison
1872
Jacob Byers. . 1881
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The Stinson school-house, in district No. 1, is situated on the south line of section 28. It is a wooden building, painted white, and was built in 1858.
The Shank school-house, district No. 2, is located on the north line of section 29, near the residence of G. Shank.
The Courtland Center school-house, in district No. 3, is located on the north line of section 22, one-half mile east of the center of the township. It is a fine, frame structure, painted white, and built in 1868.
The Becker school-house, in district No. 4, is located on the south line of section 25, a small, white, frame structure, and was built in 1855.
The Benham school-house, in district No. 5, is located on the west line of section 9. It is a frame building, and was erected in 1860.
The Smith school-house, in district No. 6, is situated on the north line of section 2. Originally it was a small log house, but now a large frame building has taken its place.
The Graham school-house, in district No. 7, a small, frame build. ing, painted white, is located on the east line of section 27.
Rounds' school-house, in district No. 8, is located on the south line of section 30, a small, frame structure, built in 1860.
There are 356 children of school age in the township, and 15 teachers, whose aggregate salary in 1881 was $1,098; value of school property, $3,175; total expenses for the year, $1,847.
OLD MILLS AND MILLERS.
The Becker shingle mill was located on the north line of section 23. It was built in 1868 by Jacob Becker. The Davis steam saw and shingle mill combined was located near the center of section 10. It was erected in 1869 by Hiram R. Davis. The Becker saw-mill, erected by Garrett Becker, in 1867, is located near the northwest corner of section 8. The Anderson saw-mill, is located near the south line of section 7, on Potter creek. It was built in 1866 by John H. Anderson. Other industries have been inaugurated in the township from time to time, but sufficient information could not be obtained for even a brief notice.
723
COURTLAND TOWNSHIP.
COURTLAND CENTER,
on sections 15, 16, 21 and 22, of the township of that name, is 20 miles northeast of Grand Rapids, and three and one-half miles east of Edgerton, a little railroad hamlet in the town of. Algoma. The postoffice is managed by Nathan D. Saunders, who also carries on the hotel and grocery business. W. T. Taplin is the physician of the district.
The new Methodist Episcopal church and the Grange hall are among the public buildings of the township. The church is a neat structure, well located, and a credit to the society in Courtland.
PERSONAL HISTORY.
William Baldwin was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., July 26, 1829. He is a son of Thomas and Baldwin, natives of Sussex, "Old Highland." They emigrated to America in 1828 and settled in Monroe Co., N. Y. Mr. Baldwin was reared on a farm and obtained his education in the Lima seminary. From 1850 to '64 he was foreman in a distillery in Pittsford, Monroe Co .; and up to 1868 was foreman in a powder-mill, in Pittsford, for D. C. Rand & Co. In 1868 he came to Cannon, and in 1873 to his present farm on sec. 32, of Cortland. He was married in Victor, Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1854, to Susan M. Rose, by whom he has had six children; four living-Charles A., Darwin S., Benjamin F., and Emma J. Mrs. B. is a daughter of Wm. and Anna Rose. She was born in Victor, Ontario Co., York State, Feb. - , 1334.
Mr. Baldwin owns 200 acres of land in Cortland and Cannon tps. Politically he is Republican.
Fernando Benham, son of Frederick and Laurane Benham, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 15, 1836. He was mar- ried Dec. 20, 1861, to Melora Parkinson, daughter of Archibald and Betsey Parkinson, born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 17, 1845. They have four children, viz .: Ada A., Samuel H., James F. and Frank E. Mr. Benham is by occupation a farmer. He owns 60 acres of land on sec. 8.
Frederick Benham (deceased) was born in Riga, Monroe Co., N. Y., Jan. 2, 1811. In 1831 he came to Washtenaw county, and in 1847 to Cannon tp., Kent Co. He lived there till 1850, and removed to the present homestead on sec. 9 of Courtland, where he died, July 21, 1861. He was married Jan. 2, 1831, to Lau- rane Wheelock, daughter of Reu and Rosanna Wheelock, born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1814. Of their eight children five are living, viz .; Fernando, Frederick S., Francis M., Elizabeth (wife of Oscar Stout), and Chas. W. Mrs. Benham is a member of the M. E. Church.
B. B. Briggs, a well-to-do farmer of Courtland, was born in Potter, Yates Co., N. Y., April 29, 1826. He is a son of Vaughn and Eliza A. (Andrews) Briggs, natives of New York and Rhode
724
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Island. In 1840 he came to Macomb Co., Mich., and remained in that and other counties, two years. In 1854 he came to this tp., and settled on his present farm. He has since pursued the avocation of farming. He has also lumbered to some extent. He was married in Potter, Yates Co., N. Y., July 4, 1849, to Fanny J. Rector, daughter of Andrew and Dortha (Finger) Rector, born in Benton, Yates Co., N. Y., Jan. 5, 1828. They have three children viz .: Andrew V. (married Della Harding), Elizabeth J. (wife of David Martin) and Alfaretta (at home). Mr. Briggs owns a valuable farm of 200 acres, 80 of which is on sec. 4, of Solon tp., and 120 on sec. 14, of Algoma. Mr. Briggs is an enterprising man and has been quite successful financially.
Harmond A. Burch, son of Freeman and Lucy Burch, was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., in 1836. In 1841 his parents came to Avon, Oakland Co .; Mich., where they resided five years, and moved to Rockford, this county, and remained one year, then removed to Cortland tp., where they had previously purchased 40 acres of land on sec. 20. They cleared 25 acres. When 13 years of age, Harmond left home and traveled through several of the North- western States, prospecting for mineral on Lake Superior two years. He was married in Oakland county, in 1857, to Nancy H., daughter of John and Arabella Frank, born in Avon, Oakland Co., in 1835. Their children are as follows: Mary, Alta J., Belle R., Ruthven R., Sidney, Henry, Lilly and Raye. In 1860 he bought 75 acres of land on secs. 20 and 17, 65 of which are now under cultivation. Mr. B. is a member of the Grange. He served one year in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in Grand Rapids in 1865, in Co. C, 15th Mich. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Chase; was must- ered out at Little Rock, and discharged at Detroit.
Joseph F. Hayes, a leading farmer of Courtland, was born in Albany Co., N. Y., March 7, 1820; is a son of Joseph F. and Sarah (Snyder) Hayes. His grandfather, on his mother's side, served in both the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812. Our subject was reared on a farm, and has always followed that avoca- tion. In February, 1854, he came to Courtland, and purchased 160 acres of land on sec. 22. He was married in Jackson Co., Mich., February, 1843, to Betsey Snyder, by whom he had five children, three of whom are living, viz .: Ora A., Adelbert J. and Catharine A. (wife of Albert Ganung). Chas. L. and Minnie are deceased. Mr. Hayes left the parental roof at the tender age of 14, his father having died several years previous. He started in life alone and with nothing but his own energy. He now owns 200 acres of valuable land on secs. 22 and 3, and ranks with the enterprising citizens of Courtland. He is a member of the Rock- ford Masonic order, also of the Chapter. Politically he is Dem- ocratic.
Barton Johnson, the first settler of Courtland tp., was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., March 23, 1812. His parents, Joseph S. and Jemima (Barton) Johnson, were also natives of New York. Octo-
725
COURTLAND TOWNSHIP.
ber, 1834, he removed to Washtenaw county, and entered 120 acres of land in Sharon tp. where he lived till May, 1838, when he came to Courtland and squatted on his present farm, which he afterward entered. He was the first white settler of Courtland, and many were the hardships and inconveniences that he and his fam- ily suffered in the wild days of Kent county. The now prosperous city of Grand Rapids and the minor towns of Kent have all grown up under the observation of Mr. Johnson. The wily savages, who then were his neighbors, have long since passed westward. Mr. Johnson was a voter at the organization of Courtland, and has since held the office of Supervisor and Township Treasurer. He was married Sept. 24, 1836, to Jane Rhodes, who was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y. This union resulted with six children, viz .: Julia, Ann, Joseph, William, Mary and Frances C. Mrs. Johnson departed this life March 12, 1876. Politically Mr. J. is a Repub- lican. He owns a good farm of 140 acres.
Oliver T. Kingin, farmer on sec. 21, and son of James and Sarah Kingin, was born in New York in 1840. In 1844 his parents came to Michigan, and settled in Courtland tp., and his father located the 80 acres where Oliver now lives. They were among the early settlers of the tp. His father died Feb. 16, 1875, his mother, Sept. 6, 1874. They cleared 75 acres of land. Oliver was married in Court- land tp., to Betsey Shaddock, daughter of Asa and Araminta Shaddock, born in Yates Co., N. Y., in 1840, and died in Novem- ber, 1863. They had one child-Ella.A., born May 4, 1863. He was again married Jan. 14, 1864, to Anna M. Austin, daughter of Dr. Amos and Euphemia Austin, born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1841. They have one child-Minnie E., born May 20, 1880.
George W. Rounds, son of Horton and Araminta Rounds, was born in Yates Co., N. Y., in 1828. Reared on a farm; his father being a shoemaker he learned the trade with him, and has worked at that business a considerable portion of his life. He came to Courtland tp. with his parents in 1844. They took up 160 acres of land on sec. 30. His father died in June, 1877; his mother May 13, 1848. He now owns 40 acres of the old homestead, of which 36 are under cultivation. He was married in Courtland tp. in 1849, to Mary R., daughter of George and Harriet (Chaffee) Shank, born in Portage Co., O.,in 1831. They had one child -- Rena, born in Court-" land tp. Jan. 20, 1853, and died Sept. 1, 1874. Mr. R. has held several minor tp. offices, is a member of the Odd Fellows and Grange societies, and himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
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