USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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1872 -- Supervisor, John T. Rich; clerk, Warren Perry, treas- urer, Alanson Hammond; number of votes, 234.
1873-Supervisor, Joel D. McIntyre; clerk, Sackett Ostrom; treasurer, Henry Gibson; number of votes, 209.
1874-Supervisor, Joel D. McIntyre; clerk, Sackett Ostrom; treasurer, Henry Gibson.
1875-Supervisor, Joel D. McIntyre; clerk, Sackett Ostrom; treasurer, Henry Gibson; number of votes, 254.
1876-Supervisor, Joel D. McIntyre ; clerk, Sackett Ostrom; treasurer, F. G. Bullock.
1877-Supervisor, David Godfrey ; clerk, Martin P. Moor; treasurer, F. G. Bullock.
1878-Supervisor, Frederick G. Bullock; clerk, Martin P. Moor ; treasurer, Sackett Ostrom.
1879-Supervisor, Frederick G. Bullock; clerk, Martin P. Moor; treasurer, Sackett Ostrom.
1880-Supervisor, Frederick G. Bullock ; clerk, Martin P. Moor; treasurer, Melville Inman. 1881-Supervisor, Frederick G. Bullock; clerk, William How- land; treasurer, Robert Stewart.
1882-Supervisor, Frederick G. Bullock; clerk, William How- land; treasurer, Robert Stewart.
1883-Supervisor, Frederick G. Bullock; clerk, William How- land; treasurer, Morris R. Moor.
SCHOOL REPORT.
The report of the school inspectors for the year 1882 of the town of Elba, shows the number of school children to have been 466; number of school buildings, 10. The inspectors for the ensu- ing year were Charles A. Bullock, John Halpin, Peter Piper, John
W. Kile, John B. Hammond, R. Misner, B. F. Kingsbury, P. J. Crankshaw, Enos M. Woodard, Joseph Baxter.
ELBA STATION.
When the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad came through, the settlement of Elba Station sprang up, and has become a business center for that immediate neighborhood. It is a small village, con- taining a postoffice, stores, etc.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM HOWLAND was born in Lapeer Township, Mich., De- cember 7, 1852, and has been a continual resident of the county since his birth. He now resides on section 13, Elba Township, and is the present township clerk. Married in 1876 to Anna Stalker, who was born in England in 1858. Two children-Robert N. and Kate. His father, Ira, was born in Connecticut about the year 1810, and settled in Michigan in about 1836, and has held nearly all the offices of trust or honor in his township, and resides on the same section with his son.
JOHN STEWART was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1799; mar- ried Janet Cook in 1829, who was born in Argyleshire in 1804. Settled in Canada in 1854, and in Elba Township, Lapeer County, Mich., on section 31, in 1856, where they still reside, having passed their fifty-fourth wedding anniversary. They have six living chil- dren-Agnes Black, John, Marian McDougall, Catherine Fraser, Robert, Janet Gleason. They have lost two by death. They reside in their old age with their son Robert, who was born in 1841, and who has been identified as one of Elba's prominent citizens by hav- ing held several township offices.
HENRY N. POTTER was born on section 32, Elba Township, in 1842, where he now resides; married in 1866 Emma Gleason. Has five children-Arthur, Lillie, Edwin, Otis and Duane. His father, Rev. W. D. Potter, was one of the very first settlers in the county, mention of which is made elsewhere.
MYRON SNYDER was born in Wayne County, N. Y., in 1829, and settled in Lapeer County, Mich., Elba Township, in 1866, on section 11, where he now resides and owns 400 acres of land, which he keeps under a fine state of cultivation. He also deals largely in stock and horses, shipping as far West as Dakota. Married in 1851 Sarah J. Hoyt, who was born in Wayne County, N. Y., in 1830. They have three children-Adella, Minnie and Charles. His father, Peter, settled in Michigan in 1869 and died in 1876. Mother died in 1874.
WILLIAM HAMMOND was born in Elba Township in 1847; is a farmer of 160 acres, residing on section 17; unmarried. His father, Alanson, was born in Rutland County, Vt., in 1815, and settled in Oakland County, Mich., at a very early date.
WILLIAM BECKMAN was born in Pennsylvania in 1828; settled on section 22, Elba Township, in 1869. Married in 1850 Elizabeth Geesey, who was also born in Pennsylvania in 1828. They are the parents of seven -children-Charles, Mary, Jane, Elizabeth, Ella, John, Emma.
JOHN WINSHIP was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1825, and moved with his parents to Livingston County, N. Y., in 1830, thence to Atlas, Genesee County, Mich., in 1836, where he remained until 1859 engaged in farming. In that year he went to California, remaining till 1862, when he made one of a party of 100 men who volunteered and paid their own expenses to New York City, where they were mustered into service in the Second Massachusetts Cav- alry, in which he served to the close of the war in the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac. After being discharged, he re- turned to Atlas, where he again engaged in farming till 1872, when he came to Elba Station and built the store he now occupies, in
TER, Photo
WER
JOSEPH TREADWAY, ELBA Tp., LAPEER Co.,
MEESTER, YROCE
MRS. JOSEPH TREADWAY. ELBA TP., LAPEER CO.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
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which he keeps a stock of general merchandise. He is also post- master. Was married in 1865 to Miss Sarah Hyde, who was born in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1840. They have four children.
JOSEPH TREADWAY was born in Shoreham, Addison County, Vt., November 24, 1818, and in 1847 came to Elba, Lapeer County, Mich., and purchased a farm on section 8. He now owns 480 acres of land, upon which he keeps 200 fine wool sheep. He has, un- doubtedly, one of the best stock farms in this part of the State. Mr. Treadway was married in 1848 to Miss Mary Reeser, who was born in New York. They have six children.
JOHN R. HAMMOND was born in Clarendon, Rutland County, N. Y., in 1824. In 1844 he came to Elba, Lapeer County, Mich., and settled on section 16, where he has since resided, with the ex- ception of the time he spent in the service of the United States. He enlisted in 1863 in Company C, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, and served under General Thomas in the Army of the Tennessee. Was married to Miss Amy Ann Thornton, of Rutland County, Vt., where she was born in 1824. They have had seven children, of whom four are living.
JEROME COMPTON was born in Monroe County, N. Y., in 1845, and in 1862 came to Elba, Lapeer County, Mich., and settled on section 6, where he engaged in farming till 1881, when he purchased the hotel at Elba Station, which he has since kept and also managed his farm. October, 1874, he married Miss Addie Price, who was born in Glen Falls, Saratoga County, N. Y. They have three children.
SILAS MOORE was born in Tioga County, Pa., in 1813, and came to Lapeer, Lapeer County, Mich., in 1836, and settled on sec- tion 18, where he remained till 1839, when he moved to the town- ship of Elba and located on section 13, thence to his present home on section 17 in 1846. He has engaged in farming exclusively as a business since he came to the county; but during that time has represented his township in the offices of supervisor, justice of the peace, township clerk, treasurer and highway commissioner. He was married July 17, 1836, to Miss Caroline Pemberton, and they have had a family of eight children.
MORRIS R. MOORE was born in the township of Elba, Lapeer County, Mich., March 17, 1847, and is a son of Silas Moore, whose farm he is now managing. He was married April 22, 1875, to Miss Minora A. Lyons, who was born in Elba. They have two children.
LEWIS BULLOCK, deceased, was born in Sand Lake, Rensellaer County, N. Y., December 1, 1810, and came to Lapeer County, Mich., in 1837. He took up a large tract of land from the govern- ment, and settled in the township of Elba on section 26, clearing up his farm and living upon it until his death, September 26, 1872. He was married May 12, 1836, to Emily L. Davis, who was born in Lewiston, Niagara County, N. Y., March 5, 1821. They had a family of nine children, of whom four are now living.
FREDERICK G. BULLOCK, son of Lewis Bullock, was born in Elba December 16, 1841, and has always resided on his farm on section 26, which en passant is a very fine one, with buildings to compare. In official position Mr. Bullock has served as school inspector two years, township treasurer four years, and supervisor five years, which office he still holds. Married November 11, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth M. Pelton. They have six children.
A. B. GATES was born in Seneca, Ontario County, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1826, and came to Lapeer with his parents in 1836, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which business he followed for a number of years. About the year 1857 he settled on a farm located on sections 13 and 14, in the township of Elba, and in 1864 moved to his present home on section 27. He was married in 1851 to Miss Jane Smith, who was born in Almont, Mich., and died in 1863. He was again married, in 1864, to Mrs. Martha L. Bullock.
HON. JOHN T. RICH was born in Conneautville, Crawford County, Pa., April 23, 1841, and moved with his parents in 1846, to Addi- son. County, Vt., and in 1848, came to Elba, Lapeer County, Mich. He received a common school and academic education, and is by occupation, a farmer; owns a fine farm in Elba on section 19, and is engaged quite extensively in breeding short-horned cattle and fine-wooled sheep. He has been elected four times, in a town- ship that usually gives a Democratic majority. Was elected to the State legislature in 1872 and re-elected in 1874-'76 and 1878. He was chosen speaker of the legislature in 1877 and renominated in 1879. In the first two terms of his legislative service he acquired influence by close attention, sound common sense and personal affability, serving on important committees, while, as speaker, none of his decisions were ever reversed and very few ever appealed from. As a presiding officer his ability, promptness and fairness earned for him the respect of all parties, and he introduced several improve- ments into the methods of business pursued by the house. He was elected to the State senate in 1880, and at the Republican State convention in 1880, Mr. Rich received a strong support as a candi- date for governor, his vote steadily increasing till the tenth ballot, when the vote went to David H. Jerome. The Republican conven- tion for the Seventh Congressional District on March 11, 1881, nominated Mr. Rich by fifty-two out of sixty-five votes, as the suc- cessor of Mr. Conger, who had been promoted to the U. S. senate. Mr. Rich was married in March, 1863, to Miss Lucretia Winship, of Avon, N. Y.
EBENEZER W. POWELSON was born in Groveland, Oakland County, Mich., Aug. 31, 1843, and came to Elba, Lapeer County, Nov. 18, 1868, and purchased a farm on section 22, where he re- mained engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1878. He was married March 25, 1868, to Miss Mary Ramsey, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1843. They had two children. Mrs. Powelson now owns a good farm of eighty acres.
TOWN OF MARATHON.
This town is the northernmost of the western tier of townships, and is bounded on the north by Tuscola County, east by Deerfield, south by Oregon and west by Genesee County. The north and south branches of the Flint River unite in section 23, and the main stream continues in a southwesterly direction across the town- ship line. The township was originally largely covered with pine, and extensive logging and lumbering operations were carried on here at an early day, and are still continued to a limited extent.
The Detroit and Bay City branch of the Michigan Central Railroad traverses the southwest portion of the township.
In 1840 the population of the town was 52, and in 1880, 1,667.
The State census of 1874, gave the following information : Population, 1,308; acres of improved land, 5,581; number of sheep, 941; of swine, 385; of neat cattle, other than oxen and cows, one year old and over, 429; of horses, 313; of mules, 16; of work oxen, 109; of milch cows, 411; products of preceding year, 3,882 pounds of wool; 15,301 pounds of pork marketed; 38,252 pounds of butter made; 12,204 bushels wheat raised; 13,375 pounds of corn; 28,043 of other grain; 2,420 of apples; 6,254 of potatoes, and 1,242 tons of hay; 47 barrels of cider were made.
In 1882 the equalized valuation of real and personal property in the township was $540,000.
ORGANIZATION.
The town of Marathon was organized in the year 1839, the present towns of Oregon on the south and Deerfield on the east be-
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
ing incorporated with it. Silas D. McKeen, then running a saw- mill near the present site of the McKeen bridge and a member of the legislature at the time, named the town Marathon, after the fa- mous Greek battlefield. The first town meeting was held at the house of Abijah Willey on the first day of April, 1839. The list of officers elected contains twenty offices and only twelve names. Those were rare times for office seekers. Horace N. Lathrop was first supervisor, S. D. McKeen, town clerk, and Martin Volentine, collector. Mr. Volentine states that during this and the following year he never took any money except what seemed a silver dollar, and that turned out to be bogus. Almost the only currency to be found in town was town and county orders.
At this first township meeting Silas D. McKeen was moderator, and Richard Bronson, Abraham Hollenbeck, Andrew McArthur and Alonzo Davis were inspectors of election.
Two hundred and fifty dollars were appropriated for improve- ment of highways.
The sum of five dollars was voted as wolf bounty.
The annual report of school inspectors of the town of Marathon for the year 1882 shows the number of school children to have been 672; number of school buildings, seven. The school inspectors for the ensuing year were A. W. Monroe, A. Willey, Peter Hagle, Nelson Sweet, A. C. Robertson, John Wilson, W. C. Cummings, Bradford Johnson.
LAND ENTRIES PRIOR TO 1841.
TOWNSHIP 9 NORTH, RANGE 9 EAST.
SECTION 4. Aaron Rood, November 25, 1836.
Calvin C. Waller, December 19, 1836. Charles Linsley, December 19, 1836. Reuben A. Lamb, December 19, 1836. Minor Y. Turrell, December 19, 1836. Almon Brookins, December 19, 1836. Alva Bishop, January 23, 1837.
SECTION 5. Aaron Rood, November 25, 1836. Cavin C. Waller, December 19, 1836. Reuben A. Lamb, December 19, 1836. Aaron Rood, December 19, 1836.
SECTION 00 William G. Stone, August 24, 1836. Henry Wheelock, December 19, 1836. William Holdridge, Jr., September 6, 1837.
SECTION 9. Albert Lester, September 15, 1836. George Rood, November 25, 1836.
SECTION 10. Henry K. Sanger, January 16, 1837.
SECTION 11. Henry S. Platt, May 2, 1836. Henry K. Sanger, January 16, 1837.
SECTION 12. Henry S. Platt, May 2, 1836.
SECTION 13. Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beech, April 2, 1836.
Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beech, April 7, 1836.
SECTION 14. Henry S. Platt, May 2, 1836. James B. Hunt, January 16, 1837.
SECTION 15. Henry K. Sanger, January 16, 1837.
SECTION 17. David Burritt, June 29, 1836. Josiah Snyder, June 29, 1836. George W. Williams and James Fraser, March 28, 1837. Horace B. Harrison, August 4, 1837.
SECTION 18. Stephen I. Payne, April 15, 1837. SECTION 19. Edward G. Faile, November 24, 1836. George F. Ball, March 10, 1837.
SECTION 20. David Burritt, January 29, 1836. Oliver Olmsted, January 22, 1836. Julius B. Hart, October 17, 1836. Abijah Willey, November 14, 1836. George F. Ball, March 10, 1817. Simon Aurand, October 13, 1838. Truman Farrand, March 27, 1839.
SECTION 21. John Shaefer, June 6, 1836. David Vosburgh, June 11, 1836. Aaron C. Williams, June 11, 1836. Asahel Wise, June 11, 1836.
Abraham Hollenbeck. June 11, 1836.
SECTION 22. Jarvis Hurd, April 6, 1836. Abraham A. Post, April 20, 1836.
SECTION 23. Lewis Goddard and Jonathan R. White, February 13, 1836.
Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and. George Beech, April 7, 1836.
SECTION 24. John R. White, February 25, 1836.
Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beech, April 7, 1836. SECTION 25. Lewis Goddard and J. R. White, February 15, 1836.
Lewis Goddard and J. R. White, February 13, 1836.
Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beech, April 7, 1836.
SECTION 26. Lewis Goddard and J. R. White, February 13, 1836. N. Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beech, April 7, 1836.
SECTION 27. Horatio N. Fowler and Asahel Hubbard, April 6, 1836.
Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beech, April 18, 1836. SECTION 28. Horatio N. Fowler and Asahel Hubbard, April 6, 1836. Sylvanus P. Germain, April 7, 1836.
Abijah Willey and Evart Clute, May 27, 1836. Christopher Logan, June 6, 1836. Henry Waldorph, June 11, 1836. Oliver B. Hart, June 13, 1836. Edward G. Morton, June 14, 1836.
SECTION 29. Abijah Willey and Evart Clute, May 27, 1836. Amasa Nash, June 6, 1836. Samuel Volentine, October 15, 1836. Justus B. Hart, October, 17, 1836. Asa Phillips, June 3, 1839. Nelson Volentine, October 26, 1839. Shubal Volentine, October 26, 1839. Shubal Volentine, November 16, 1840.
SECTION 31. Conckling Carr, February 17, 1837. Nelson Volentine, March 13, 1838.
SECTION 32. Delos Davis, May 21, 1836.
SECTION 33. Cullen Brown, February 27, 1836. Gershom M. Williams and John Winder, March 7, 1836. Thomas L. L. Brent, March 9, 1836. Eurotas P. Hastings, March 9, 1836. Sylvanus P. Germain, April 7, 1836. Abijah Willey and Evart Clute, May 21, 1836. SECTION 34. Thomas L. L. Brent, March 9, 1836. Homer Foote, April 18, 1836. Abraham A. Post, April 20, 1836.
HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
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SECTION 34. Ira Davenport, May 19, 1836.
SECTION 35. Oliver Wiswall, May 2, 1836.
SECTION 36. J. B. White and Lewis Stoddard, February 15, 1836. Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George W. Beech, April 7, 1836.
Eurotas P. Hastings, May 17, 1836.
Moses Dole, May 21, 1836.
EARLY HISTORY.
Dr. William B. Hamilton furnishes the following chapter on the early history of Marathon :
"The love of country is a common and a noble feeling; there are but few minds insensible to its influence. It is a grand passion implanted in the great heart of humanity for the wisest purposes. It renders possible the arrangement of mankind into national com- munities, bound together by powerful ties and securing to their members all the blessings which arise from law and order, and their resulting civilization, personal protection and general diffu- sion of knowledge.
"Akin to this feeling is the love of home. The word 'home' brings a thrill to the coldest heart. There are few who do not feel a tender regard for the spot that witnessed their advent to life; that was the scene of their early toils and struggles, joys and sorrows, trials and triumphs.
"We of this new world have a peculiar history, ard a peculiar mission. Hardly a generation has passed away, since in this and other localities the pleasant land we inhabit was in a state of nature, inhabited by savage men, and scarce more savage beasts; and utterly unfitted, from its wilderness condition, to be the home of civilized and enlightened people. To drive back those savage foes, both brute and human, to subdue the forest and make the wilderness blossom as the rose, was a task that required in those who undertook it, no small development of the elements of heroism. Those gallant men who led the way must need have stout hearts and iron frames. The noble women who accompanied them in those arduous labors, added to the usual feminine virtues, a more than common courage and devotion. The dangers they en- countered, the privations they endured, the work they accom- plished should never be forgotten. Savage men and brutes were not the only enemies they had to encounter. The howling denizens of the forest were trivial foes, compared with the gaunt wolf of hunger. The dreaded red man made fewer victims than the ghastly specter of malaria. Some perished early in the strife and richly earned the palm of martyrdom. To the few who still survive belongs the laurel chaplet.
"The first white men of whom we can find any record or tradition as having 'crossed over Jordan,' the Flint River, into the promised land of Marathon, with a view to settlement, were Ephraim Clute and Abijah Willey. In the spring cf 1836 Mr. Clute and Mr. Willey followed an Indian or hunter's trail down the South Branch of the Flint River, to near the point where Columbiaville now stands; and crossing with some difficulty followed up the creek which comes in here from the northwest, until they reached a point just back of the present site of the Willey school-house. There they pitched their camp and proceeded to spy out the land. While by day they tore their way through thickets, and scrambled over fallen timber in prosecuting their search, by night they cooked their frugal rations and slept the sleep of the weary to the music of such a serenade as has not been heard for many years in Marathon.
"The wolves in hungry droves filled the woods with terrible howlings, approaching so near the brushwood hut of the sleepers as to scratch up the leaves behind the log against which they had
built their evening fire. It seems that the result of the search was satisfactory, and unlike the cowardly Hebrew spies we read of, they found no giant difficulties in the way in comparison with which they likened themselves to grasshoppers, but like Caleb and Joshua of old, men of truth and valor, they told their families that they had seen a goodly land and urged them to go down and drive out the inhabitants thereof and possess it. And they did. Not after forty years' wandering in the wilderness, but the very next spring these two men commenced clearing land on the locations they had chosen ; Mr. Clute on the west half of section 33, and Mr. Willey on the southwest quarter of section 27. Here they burned the brush, stirred the soil a little and planted corn among the logs. They also peeled bark for roofing to the shanties which they expected to build in the fall. In September they returned having with them Mr. Willey's son Seth, and Lyman Phillips. They brought a yoke of cattle and a wagon, cutting a road from one-half a mile north of Lapeer, keeping on the west side of the river. They were several days en- gaged in this work, sleeping under the wagon at night. Then they built their shanties, small affairs thirteen by eighteen, covered with bark. October 12, 1837, Mr. Clute moved in his wife and one child, now Mrs. William Peter. When they reached the point on the river where they wished to cross, they had no Moses with them to part with his sacred rod the turbid waters and let them cross on dry ground. Mr. Clute had to wade the river, swimming his cattle and wagon across; then at several relays, with the aid of a float of logs and a pole, got over his wife and child, two pigs and a cow. The next day, October 13, Abraham Hollenbeck moved in and the next week Abijah Willey, both bringing large families, who still, for the most part, reside among us.
"As an instance of the difference between the past and the pres- ent when we are possessed of so many modern conveniences in the way of roads, bridges and mills, it is stated that late in this fall, Mr. Clute went to the. nearest mill, that of Mr. Hemingway, five miles beyond Orion, a distance of nearly forty miles, to procure flour; not over an elegant turnpike with convenient bridges and comfortable stopping places along the route, but through an almost unbroken wilderness, fording difficult streams and struggling over the worst of roads. While out on this trip a terrible rain storm came on, and on his return the Flint River had risen, covering the flats from bank to bank. Here was a dilemma. By dint of great exertion he succeeded in crossing on a float himself with enough flour to meet the wants of his family; but the team and cargo had to be left until next day, the cattle being fed with a few corn stalks. Then with infinite pains, with the aid of Mr. Willey, he got one of the oxen on the raft and poled him over until he thought he would swim for home and then dropped him. But what was his chagrin to see Buck wheel about and paddle back to his mate. Their work had to be done over again, but next time they took Bright in tow and got them both safely over. Shortly after this, ice a foot thick formed all over the river and flats, while the river fell leaving a deep depression and wide fissures in the ice. Across this Abraham Hollenbeck, who had moved into town the day after Mr. Clute, attempted to pass; but his cattle broke through and but for the lucky circumstance that his sleigh caught and hung on a stump they would have slipped under the ice and been drowned. With the energy and haste of despair he procured the aid of Clute and Willey and their wives, and with axes and levers they succeeded in rescuing the much valued oxen from their perilous position in the water; but not until the last one out had become so chilled that he could not stand up for a considerable time.
"Abraham Hollenbeck had bought the northwest quarter of section 21 in 1836, in which year about three-fourths of the town- ship had been bought up by speculators and those intending settle-
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