USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 3
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1882: Sheriff, William Colerick; treasurer, William B. Hamil- ton; clerk, Henry A. Birdsall; register, Edward T. Woodruff; prosecuting attorney, William B. Williams.
The earliest records in the clerk's office are dated 1838. The election of that year was held November 13 and 14, for the inhab- itants were so scattered and there being no roads, it was deemed necessary to keep the polls open for two days. A law had been passed in the meantime vesting the powers hitherto held by the board of supervisors in a board of three county commissioners, one of which was to be elected at each annual election. At the first election of course three were to be elected for one, two and three years respectively. That law was long since repealed and the power returned to the board of supervisors.
In the winter of 1835-'36 the first board of supervisors for Lapeer County met at the county seat. There were but two mem- bers, Caleb Carpenter, of Bristol, and J. R. White, of Lapeer.
The first meeting of supervisors of which there is any record in the clerk's office was held on the first Monday in July, 1842, and ten towns were represented. At this session of the board the total equalized valuation of the real and personal property of the county was determined to be $500,824.88. The aggregate State and county tax was $4,085.41.
COURT-HOUSE.
The years between 1835 and 1840 brought a wonderful increase of population to this county, mostly an excellent class of people, as regards intelligence and good morals, and natives of New Eng- land and eastern New York, as firm and as unbending as their own granite hills. Being of this description it is not surprising that various feuds and parties arose, and animosities were kindled, which it was the work of many years to subdue. The most serious of these was what has been styled " the court-house war." The first court-house built in the county was destroyed by fire before it was en- tirely finished. It was located at the lower end of the town, a little north and east of the present building. The citizens at the upper part of the town were very anxious to secure the court-house site, and many hard things were said on both sides. When the first court- house was burned it was thought by some to have been the work of an incendiary. A court-house however was a prime necessity, and both factions made a most determined effort to secure the cov- eted building. Hon. A. N. Hart built the house now used by the county, at an expense of $10,000, which was really a beautiful building for the times. The White brothers built a plainer one about 1840 on the site of the present high school building. After a bitter struggle, Mr. Hart's building was accepted by the board of supervisors, at a cost to the county of about $3,000, greatly to the chagrin of Messrs. White, but really they had done a better work for the county than Mr. Hart. Their house had a beautiful loca- tion and soon became known as the Lapeer Academy building. In 1862 or 1868 it became the property of the district and for the next twelve years was the high school building of the city. The district retained the site, and when the old building became unfit for use it was replaced by the present elegant and commodious structure. Thus good finally resulted from the acrimonious contest.
TOWNSHIPS ORGANIZED.
GRAND BLANC .- The first township organized was Grand Blanc, March 9, 1833; composed of townships 6, 7 and 8 north, in range 7 east, and townships 6 and 7 north, in range 8 east. The first town- ship meeting was held at the house of Rufus Stevens.
MIA .- The second township organized in the county was Mia, March 7, 1834; composed of townships 6 and 7 in range 12 east. The first township meeting held at the house of Daniel Black. Dec. 12, 1834, the name Mia changed to Bristol. April 7, 1846, the name Bristol changed to Almont.
LAPEER .- Dec. 30, 1834, the township of Lapeer was organized, including all of the county of Lapeer, not included in the townships of Grand Blanc and Bristol. First township meeting held at house of E. H. Higley. Previous to this the inhabitants of this extensive tract of country were obliged to go to Pontiac to pay taxes and at- tend to all judicial business.
ATLAS .- March 22, 1836, the township of Atlas was organized, embracing township 6 and the south half of township 7 north, in range 8 east. The first township meeting held at Davison's mills.
HADLEY .- March 22, 1836, the township of Hadley was organ- ized, embracing township 6 north, range 9 east, and township 6 north, range 10 east. The first township meeting held at the house of Timothy Wheeler.
Territory attached to the county of Lapeer and made a part of the township of Lapeer. March 28, 1836, that part of the United States survey, lying north of the county of Lapeer, designated as the townships in ranges 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 east, now the county of Tuscola, was attached to the county of Lapeer for judicial pur- poses, and was attached to and made a part of the township of Lapeer.
RICHFIELD .- March 11, 1837, all that portion of the United States survey, designated as the north half of township 7 and town- ship 8 north, in range 8 east, was organized as the township of Richfield. The first township meeting held at the house of Draper and Witherbee.
LOMOND .- March 11, 1837, township 6 north, range 11 east, and township 7 north, range 11 east, were organized as the town- ship of Lomond. First township meeting held at the house of Daniel Smith. Dunham .- April 2, 1838, the name Lomond changed to Dunham. Dryden .- April 3, 1839, the name Dunham changed to Dryden.
METAMORA .- April 2, 1838, township 6 north, range 10 east, detached from the township of Hadley and organized as the town- ship of Metamora. First township meeting held at the house of Tobias Price.
ELBA .- April 2, 1838, township 7 north, range 9 east, was detached from the township of Lapeer and organized as the town- ship of Elba. First township meeting held at the house of Wm. S. Bird.
MARATHON .- March 22, 1839, all that part of the township of Lapeer designated as townships 8 and 9 north, range 9 east and township 9 north, range 10 east, was organized as the township of Marathon. The first township meeting was held at the house of Abijah Willey.
DAVISON .- March 19, 1840, township 7 north, range 8 east, was detached from the townships of Atlas and Richfield and organ- ized as the township of Davison. The first township meeting was held at the house of G. Townsend.
ATTICA .- Feb. 16, 1842, township 7 north range 11 east, was detached from the township of Dryden and organized as the town- ship of Attica. First township meeting held at the school-house near John B. Henderson's.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
FOREST .- March 9, 1843, township 9 north and south half of township 10 north, range 8 east, and south half of township 10 north, range 7 east, was organized as the township of Forest. First town- ship meeting of Forest held at the house of Stephen Beagle.
MAYFIELD .- March 9, 1843, township 8 north, range 10 east, was organized as the township of Mayfield. First township meet- ing held at the school-house near Martin Stiles'. March 15, 1849, the township of Mayfield was attached to and made a part of the township of Lapeer. March 13, 1869, township 8 north, range 10 east, except that portion included in the limits of the city of Lapeer, was again organized as the township of Mayfield. First township meeting held at the school-house near Christopher Farnsworth's.
OREGON .- March 25, 1846, township 8 north, range 9 east, was detached from the township of Marathon, and organized as the township of Oregon. First township meeting held at the house of William Skinner.
IMLAY .- March 25, 1850, township 7 north, range 12 east and township 8 north, of range 12 east, were detached from the town- ships of Almont and Lapeer and organized as the township of Imlay. First township meeting held at the house of Joseph Deneen.
GOODLAND .- Feb. 12, 1855, township 8 north, range 12 east, was detached from Imlay and organized as the township of Good- land. First township meeting held at the house of Calvin C. Symons.
ALISON .- Feb. 13, 1855, township 9 north, and south half of township 10 north, range 12 east, were organized as the township of Alison. First township meeting held at the house of William Brown. Burnside .- March 17, 1863, the name Alison changed to Burnside.
NORTH BRANCH .- Dec. 18, 1855, township 9 north, range 11 east, was organized as the township of North Branch, by the board of supervisors. First township meeting held at the house of Richard Beech, the pioneer of the township. Inspectors of election, James Deming, Richard Beech and David C. Wattles.
DEERFIELD .- Dec. 18, 1855, townships 9 and 10 north, range 10 east, were organized as the township of Deerfield. First township meeting held at the house of Lorenzo Merrill. Inspectors of election, Lorenzo Merrill, Leonard Oliver and Martin Hoffman.
BURLINGTON .- Dec. 18, 1855, township 10 north, range 11 east, was organized as the township of Burlington. First township meeting held at the house of Edward Spencer. Inspectors of elec- tion, Edward Spencer, Henry Bedell and William Kettle.
ARCADIA .- Oct. 15, 1856, township 8 north, range 11 east, was organized as the township of Arcadia. First township meeting held at the house of William Shotwell. Inspectors of election, John B. Wilson, Joseph Wager and Samuel Fitch.
RICH .- Dec. 1, 1859, township 10 north, range 10 east, was detached from the township of Deerfield and organized as the town- ship of Rich. The first township meeting was held at the house of James Miles. Inspectors of election, Simeon Crawford, Horace Fox and James Miles.
This completes the organization of the townships. Of these Grand Blanc, Atlas, Davison, Richfield and Forest now form a part. of the county of Genesee, and township 10 north, range 9 east, once a part of the county of Lapeer, is now the township of Watertown, Tuscola County.
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY.
The first entry of land in the county was by Calvin C. Parks, and John K. Smith, of Oakland County, Michigan Territory, Dec. 12, 1825, the east half of northeast quarter of section 32, township 7 north, of range 12 east, now known as Imlay. The next entries were made by Lydia E. L. Chamberlain and Diana Kittridge, both
of Macomb County, Feb. 15, 1828, and May 27, 1828, respectively, both locating lands in township 6 north, of range 12 east, now know as Almont. None of these persons however became actual settlers.
The honor of being the first settler of the county belongs to James Deneen, from Trumbull County, Ohio, who located 80 acres, the west half of the northeast quarter section 9, township 6 north, of range 12 east, and removed there with his family in the autumn of 1828. For two years he was there alone, but in 1830 he was joined by Jonathan Sleeper, the brothers Oliver and Bezaleel Bris- tol, and Elijah Sanborn, who settled in the same township. Al- mont is therefore the oldest settled town in the county.
PERIOD OF THE LAND FEVER.
The years from 1838 to 1838 may probably be set down as the time when, more than in any number of corresponding years during the present century, occurred the greatest immigration from the Eastern to the Western States and Territories. It is safe to say that Michigan more than doubled her population during that brief period.
The winding trails have disappeared, save here and there they may be traced through the groves of timber, and the broad high- ways have taken their place. The pioneer's log house has been re- placed by others more commodious, ornamental and convenient. Villages have sprung up, and many of them grown into cities; rail- roads have traversed the country and spanned a continent. War has visited its destruction upon our fair land, and a race of people have been converted from slaves to freemen. Many of those who brought civilization to this county now sleep with the fathers, but their children are honoring their parentage in their ways and works.
By 1836 the spirit of land speculation, that had been rising for some time in the country, had reached its highest pitch. After General Jackson, in 1833, caused the deposit of the surplus revenue of the United States to be witheld from the old United States Bank and deposited with the State banks, large amounts accumulated in the vaults of the latter, which President Jackson encouraged the banks to loan to individuals by saying that it was by means of the trade of the merchants in paying the import duties on their mer- chandise into the treasury that the money had accumulated, and it was no more than right that they should have the use of the money to facilitate the operations of their business. But by this hint to the banks they were not particular as to the business which the parties were engaged in who desired loans, and almost any one who was thought shrewd enough to make a good speculation by invest- ing money, could obtain a loan. After the money was borrowed the point was to make a profitable investment of it, and nothing looked more attractive than the virgin soil of the West, where Uncle Sam possessed millions of broad acres which he could dis- pose of in parcels of forty acres, or in other subdivisions of sections, at the rate of $1.25 per acre. Michigan was then considered the El Dorado of the West. A heavy emigration from New York and the New England States had for three or four years previously, di- rected its course to the beautiful peninsula, so that at about the year 1836, parties having money to invest thought it beyond a doubt that if they should forestall those immigrants and purchase the land from the United States, they would receive a large advance from those who wished to make actual settlement. In view of the above mentioned facts it was not likely that those speculators in casting their eyes over the map of Michigan for a place to make their investments, would overlook that part of the State where the deep indentation of the Saginaw penetrates the heart of the penin- sula and the branches of the broad river spread out in every direction like the branches of an enormous tree, the base of which
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
is the medium through which the sap flows, as the outlet of the river is for the trade and commerce of a large portion of northern Michigan. Lapeer County, lying upon the margin of the Saginaw Valley, was proportionately affected with the balance of the Territory.
In the fall of 1836 the land office was removed from Detroit te Flint. The office of the register while at Detroit was situated on Jefferson Avenue, just above the Biddle House, and so great was the rush for land in business hours, that parties wishing to locate lands formed themselves into line and awaited their turn to present their minutes; but a favored few found access by way of the back door or through a window, and would get their locations secured ahead of the crowd. Looking land and furnishing minutes was a lucrative business and furnished employment to many of the early settlers. The description of the land selected was usually kept a secret until it was located at the office. Some parties coming from the East were not so cautious and would generally find when they went to the office to locate their lands that it had already been selected.
After the land office was removed to Flint that place was thronged with speculators. Purchases of government lands were made with gold and silver. "Bill Gifford " kept a small hotel at Flint, and during the autumn of that year there were nights, when, it is said, more than $40,000 in specie was lying in different parts of the house, which had been brought by guests, who were waiting their turn to do business at the land office.
The great financial panic of 1837 most effectually put a check upon the general movement westward, and the wildcat and safety- fund period of 1838 was the culmination of a series of events that brought distress and ruin upon thousands of business men, and con- sequent hardships, want and distress, upon all the inhabitants of the land, which has had no parallel during the present century, with the exception of the time of the rebellion. With all these calami- ties and hardships incident thereto, did the early settlers have to contend, and most heroically did they overcome, as an evidence of which the present prosperous condition of the county bears abun- dant and conclusive testimony.
DESCRIPTIVE.
Lapeer County is bounded on the north by Tuscola and Sani- lac, on the east by Sanilac and St. Clair, on the south by Macomb and Oakland, and on the west by Genesee and Tuscola. It has an area of 666 square miles, and had, in 1880, a population of 30,138. Lapeer, a city of 3,000 inhabitants, is the county seat. The sur- face of the county is quite rolling, with very little swamp land. It is well watered by rivers and spring brooks. There is little avail- able water power except for light work. The principal stream is the Flint River. There are a large number of small lakes and vari- ous creeks scattered over the country.
The soil varies in the different townships from a sandy loam to a clay loam. The subsoil is invariably clay. The prevailing varie- ties of timber are beech, maple, ash, hickory, elm and walnut.
The principal crops are winter wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, clover and timothy. Apples, pears, plums and grapes succeed well; peaches only in favorable localities, and in favorable seasons. The small fruits and berries grow in abundance, and good markets are found at the railroad stations for all the surplus fruit. The cost of clearing averages from $3 to $15 per acre, according as the timber has been burned off, with a good wood market at the mills and machine shops in Lapeer, and along the line of the railroad. There are no government or State lands of any value in the market.
There is considerable unimproved land, with the pine and oak cut off, which can be had at from $5 to $15 per acre. The soil is of good quality, well adapted to agriculture. The "stump lands"
also have a good soil, and are rapidly being taken up. Improved farms range in price from $20 to $80 per acre.
There are three State roads running north and south; one from Imlay City to the forks of Cass River, one from Attica to Cass River, and one from Lapeer to Lexington, via North Branch. The county roads are generally in a good condition.
Snow falls in November, but no sleighing is looked for before Christmas. The average depth is about a foot. When the fall of snow is light, the ground freezes to an average depth of two feet. Spring plowing begins from the 20th of March to the 1st of April.
The schools and school buildings of Lapeer County are all good. Agriculture is the principal industry, though lumbering, charcoal burning, and the getting out of ties, posts and telegraph poles, is carried on to a considerable extent.
Labor is in fair demand, particularly on farms during the sum- mer season. Farm labor brings from $16 to $20 per month with board. From $20 to $26 per month is paid in the lumber camps.
The Chicago & Grand Trunk, the Detroit & Bay City, its branch to Five Lakes, the Almont branch of the Port Huron & Northwestern, and the Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin Railroads enter the county at different points. The Otter Lake extension of the Flint & Pere Marquette, and the Port Huron & North- western, also touch the borders of the county, hence the farmer can find good markets in any direction, for anything he may have for sale.
The numerous railroad facilities found within the borders of this county offer special advantages to many kinds of manufacturing enterprises, and there is every prospect that Lapeer will have its full quota of factories at no distant date.
CHAPTER III.
PIONEER PICTURES-GOVERNOR BAGLEY ON PIONEER LIFE-PIONEER WOMANHOOD-THE VILLAGE, ETC.
The pioneers were not adventurers, but seekers after homes, and comforts for their families. Their endurance of present hard- ships was strengthened by hopes of future rewards.
Back in their home amid pleasant surroundings and social privileges in some Eastern State or in one of the older counties of Michigan, husband and wife have debated earnestly and long the question of seeking a home in some new country where land was cheap. Late at night while the children slumbered and the babe worried in its mother's arms, the anxious parents weighed the hard- ships and privations, and the chances for home and comforts in the future. Often they traced upon the map the line of journey to some fancied spot. It was far into the forest, and as they pictured to themselves the pinched cabin in a little clearing, they could almost feel the loneliness which enveloped it. But while their gaze was fixed upon the painted section the mists of the future cleared away, the clearing expanded, vines crept up the cabin walls, and flowers sprang up about the door; a garden shaped itself beside the house and grain tops waved above the stumps; the forest river ex- panded and the fields grew cleaner, and then a cottage came between them and the pile of logs; into view came other farms and homes, the school-house and the church, and just beyond, the vil- lage with its active life. Thus they saw the picture that fancy drew, and each knew that the question was settled with the other.
In his dreams he hurls the glittering ax deep into the monarchs of the woods, and his slumbers are disturbed by the crash of falling trees. In her dreams she moves about the pictured cabin adding touches here and there, and sighs an accompaniment as she thinks of the sacrifice involved.
The shadows are beginning to deepen in the thick woods, and
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
the family of immigrants come to a halt in front of a cabin that is hedged about with stumps in the cramped clearing. The jaded oxen sink wearily upon their sides; the husband leans upon his ax and looks inquiringly at his wife whose tired gaze is fixed upon the cabin. Both are too much exhausted to talk or to analyze their feelings and see if the feeling that oppresses them is weariness or sadness.
The wagon contains a motley aggregation. There is a stove, beds, a barrel of pork and another of flour, some boxes, and a few small articles that will be needed in the household. Upon an ex- temporized seat sits the wife and mother holding a babe in her arms, and the boy has clambered down to make an examination of the place.
The journey has been a wearisome one. He has cut out the the road with his ax, and ever and anon has had to lift and pry his load out of the "cat holes" which were frequent along the way.
He has been here before to chop the little clearing and prepare a shelter for his wife and little ones when they should come. Now they make such few preparations as are necessary for the night and then rest themselves until the morrow, when a new era of life will begin.
Sometimes the journey has not been made as easily even as this one. Reminiscence is crowded with mishaps and trying situations through which pioneer families had to pass. Perhaps, as has been the case, the mud was deep, the heat intense and flies vicious beyond description. At last when completely exhausted the oxen sink upon the ground unable to proceed, and the immigrants are stalled in the woods five miles from their destination. Leaving the team and load in the path and turning loose the cow that was tied behind the wagon, the husband takes the babe in his arms and continues the journey on foot followed by his wife. Somehow they reach the end of their journey, and a night's rest is the only tonic or liniment needed or used as a restorative.
The shanty has not always been built in advance, and tem- porary shelter is provided until one can be built. The wagon is capable of being made serviceable in many ways, bowers are made, or the shanty of a settler already on the ground, is made literally to swarm with the numerous families that seek shelter beneath its hospitable roof, for the door of a settler's cabin was never closed against a new comer while there was room upon the floor for another bunk.
House building was a simple job and soon accomplished. A few boards or logs hastily put together, some sort of covering for a roof, a blanket for a door, a sheet for window, and temporary quarters were provided.
Once settled in their pioneer home, no matter how rude, the battle of life in the wilderness began, and as a rule was successfully waged. Privations and hardships were the rule rather than the exception. Provisions were scant even amidst the greatest plenty, for markets were far away and money scarce. In one cabin potatoes and salt have been the diet for weeks at a time; in another, sifted bran has been the only food the larder could produce, still other families have subsisted on berries and milk, or possibly only berries composed the bill of fare. But there was sunlight beaming through the rifts of clouds, and life had more of brightness than of gloom. Every family knew their neighbor and the neighborhood was not circumscribed by boundaries. They knew all about the settlers in the next township, whence and why they came, the amount of money in each purse, and the quantity of provisions in each store, and no matter how low the flour in the barrel or the potatoes in the heap, enough always remained to divide until all were gone.
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