USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
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Since 1872, Oregon has been furnished with railway facilities by the Detroit & Bay City Branch of the Michigan Central Railroad, its station, known as Carpenter's Station, being located in section 14.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
From the census of 1874 the following statistics of population, products, etc., are obtained: Population, 1,113; number of acres of taxable land, 21,038; of improved land, 3,282; number of sheep, 1,435; of horses, 227; of cows, 362; pounds of wool sheared the preceding year, 4,513; of pork marketed, 14,828; of butter made, 31,875; bushels of wheat raised the previous year, 11,976; of corn, 9,526; of other grain, 15,117; of apples, 2,382; of potatoes, 5,875; of hay eut, 1,060 tons.
By the census of 1830, the population was 1,420. The aggre- gate value of the real and personal property as equalized by the county board in 1882, was $387,000.
Elizabeth S. Demille, January 30, 1836. Reuben B. Gibson and Jonathan Lund, January 30, 1836. Eurotes P. Hastings, March 14, 1836.
Henry S. Platt, May 2, 1836. John L. Talbot and Walter Dean, May 17, 1836. W. M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 6, 1836. M. Healy and B. B. Kercheval, June 15, 1836. Levi D. Cowles, June 16, 1836.
ENTRIES OF LAND.
The following are the entries of land in the town of Oregon up to 1841:
TOWNSHIP 8 NORTH, RANGE 9 EAST.
SECTION 1. Enoch Jones, February 13, 1836. Geo. Jasperson, March 8, 1836. Henry J. Platt, May 2, 1836. Gardner Dorrence, May 2, 1836. Levi D. Cowles, May 2, 1836.
SECTION 2. Eurotes P. Hastings, March 24, 1836. Walter Hubbell, April 12, 1836. Levi D. Cowles, May 2, 1836. Moses Dole, May 21, 1836. Lionel Tenny, May 25, 1836. M. Healy and B. B. Kercheval, June 15, 1836. Jas. B. Murray, April 8, 1836. Francis G. Macey, June 6, 1836.
Alta E. Mathers, June 16, 1836.
M. Healy and B. B. Kercheval, June 29, 1836. Jonathan Weston, Jr., November 15, 1836. Seth Willey, November 15, 1836. Horace Lathrop, January 16, 1837.
SECTION 3.
SECTION 15. Cyrus Clark, November 9, 1836. Roswell Keeler, November 9, 1836.
SECTION 4. Jabish M. Corey, and Joseph B. Morse, February 25, 1836. Thaddeus O. Martin and Delos Davis, February 27, 1836.
Cullen Brown, February 27, 1836. Moses Dole, May 21, 1836. Ira Davenport, May 25, 1836.
SECTION 18. Cullen Brown, February 27, 1836. James B. Murray, April 8, 1836. W. M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 6, 1836. SECTION 19. Thomas I. Drake, April 29, 1836. W. M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 6, 1836.
SECTION 5.
Delos Davis and Thaddeus O. Martin, February 27, 1836. Cullen Brown, February 27, 1836. Thos. L. L. Brent, March 9, 1836. Ira Curtiss, May 21, 1836. Edwin Bennett, December 1, 1836.
SECTION 20. Ira Jennings, May 21, 1836. W. M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 6, 1836. W. M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 11, 1836.
SECTION 21. Roger Fitzpatrick, May 23, 1836. Charles V. Selkrig, May 23, 1836. William M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 11, 1836.
SECTION 6. Cornelius Vosburgh, May 21, 1836. Earl Collins, May 21, 1836. John S. Martin, May 21, 1836. Edwin Bennett, December 1, 1836. SECTION 7. Cullen Brown, February 27, 1836. Cullen Brown, March 7, 1836.
SECTION 8. Wm. Moore, February 27, 1836. Cullen. Brown, February 27, 1836.
SECTION 9. Cullen Brown, February 27, 1836. Francis G. Macey, June 6, 1836.
SECTION 10. Francis G. Macey, June 6, 1836. Francis G. Macey, July 16, 1836.
SECTION 11. Mason Butts, December 5, 1834. John Shafer, December 18, 1835. Alvin N. Hart, January 30, 1836. Walter Hubbell, April 12, 1836. Liberty Judd, May 31, 1836. Moses Dole, May 31, 1836. Noah H. Hart, June 13, 1836. SECTION 12. Mason Butts, December 5, 1834.
SECTION 22. Roswell Keeler, November 9, 1836. Alfred Warner, November 10, 1836. Thomas Probyn, November 15, 1836. Isaac Wheeler, December 19, 1836. Charles A. Bronson, December 19, 1836. Jesse M. Goodin, December 19, 1836. Horace Lathrop, January 16, 1837. Alfred Warner, January 17, 1837. Roswell Keeler, November 9, 1836. George W. Brooks and Cyrus Clark, November 9, 1836. Charles A. Bronson, December 19, 1836. Increase Van Deusen, January 28, 1837. Lavinia McDowell, December 24, 1838.
SECTION 23.
SECTION 24. Ebenezer Watkins, January 5, 1836. Andrew J. Watson, January 22, 1836. Henry S. Platt, May 2, 1836. Horace Lathrop, December 19, 1836. Jonathan Burgess, December 23, 1836. Horace Lathrop, January 16, 1837.
SECTION 13. Oliver B. Hart, December 3, 1835. John Shafer, December 18, 1835. Richard Arms and Ebenezer Watkins, January 30, 1836. John Shafer and Julius B. Hart, January 30, 1823. A. N. Hart, January 30, 1836. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 2, 1836. Gardner Dorrence, May 2, 1836. N. Dickinson and others, May 16, 1836. Julius B. Hart, January 30, 1836. Minor Y. Turrell, March 28, 1836. William M. Halsted and Richard T. Haines, June 11, 1836.
SECTION 14.
SECTION 17. Cullen Brown, February 27, 1836. James B. Murray, April 8, 1836. Francis G. Macey, June 8, 1836.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
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SECTION 24. Horace Lathrop, February 25, 1837. SECTION 25. Richard Nelson, April 29, 1836.
Edward W. Peck and Oliver R. Adams, May 7, 1836. Luther Smith, June 1, 1836. Thomas Caley, July 14, 1836. Horace Lathrop, December 19, 1836. Jonathan Burgess, December 23, 1836.
SECTION 26. Julius B. and Noah H. Hart, George F. Ball and Ira Howland, May 25, 1836. Allen P. Stewart, June 16, 1836. Roswell Keeler, November 9, 1836. Clark Beardsley, January 18, 1837.
SECTION 27. William M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 6, 1836. William M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 11, 1836. Roswell Keeler, November 9, 1836. Elijah Noble, December 9, 1837. James McDowell, February 23, 1838. Lewis McDowell, October 24, 1838.
SECTION 28. William M. Halsted and R. T. Haines, June 11, 1836.
SECTION 29. Charles and Gasca Rich, May 12, 1836.
SECTION 30. Charles and Gasca Rich, May 12, 1836. Robert Bradford, January 23, 1837.
SECTION 32. Charles and Gasca Rich, May 12, 1836. Charles and Gasca Rich, June 6, 1836.
SECTION 33. Harry St. John, January 24, 1837.
SECTION 34. Hyman H. Lillibridge, May 17, 1836. John Willard, May 27, 1836.
SECTION 35. Jonathan H. Lund and Charles A. Trowbridge, April 7,1836. Maxwell Thompson, May 16, 1836. Edward G. Morton, May 17, 1836. Hyman H. Lillibridge, May 17, 1836. Julius Dean, May 21, 1836.
SECTION 36. John Shafer, October 30, 1835. Alonzo Davis, March 7, 1836. Stephen Grant, April 1, 1836. Alonzo Davis, April 20, 1836. Richard Nelson, April 29, 1836.
EARLY HISTORY.
The settlement of Oregon commenced about 1836. During that year came Richard Bronson, settling near Lake Bronson, which took its name from him. He remained but a short time in the town. Daniel Clark came about the same time, settling on what is now the Peterson farm. He was first treasurer of the town. He also has left. John Caley came in 1836. His name appears prominently in the early records of the town. The same year came Horace N. Lathrop, a native of Connecticut. He was prominent in the civil history of his town. Was first supervisor of Marathon, which at the first included Oregon. In 1837 he built a saw-mill and a grist-mill on section 24, where now is the village of Millville. Mason Butts was the millwright. This was one of the earliest grist- mills in the county and a great convenience to the settlers, as prior to this time the nearest grist-mill was at Orion, Oakland County, about twenty-one miles distant. Mr. Lathrop died in 1871. In 1838 James McDowell settled on section 27. Among other early settlers may be mentioned James Spears, Warren Elliott, Alanson, Jonathan and James Gray, Benjamin and William Skinner, Lafay- ette Warren.
The village of Millville was at one time quite an important point, a considerable amount of business being done here. Besides the mills mentioned as built here by Mr. Lathrop a saw-mill was
built about 1848, which was known as the Parsons' mill. The pine timber in this vicinity having been exhausted the saw-mills, too, have passed away. The grist-mill located on South Branch of Flint River and run by water power, is still in operation. A post- office was at one time established here but continued only for a short time.
CHURCHES.
In 1852 Elder Burgess and William Tomkinson held a pro- tracted meeting in Millville as a result of which a class of the Meth- odist Protestant denomination was organized. This is still in act- ive existence, many of the original members remaining. Services are held at the school-house at Millville once in two weeks, Elder Kellogg being pastor in charge. Classes also meet at the stone school-house in section 15, Rev. Mr. Riley being in charge and at the Vermilya school-house in the northwest corner of the town.
The Christian Association meets at the stone school-house un- der the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Snyder.
The only church edifice in the town is that of the German Methodists, the organization being legally known as the "Salem Church of Oregon." This association was organized January 17, 1874. The names of subscribers were as follows: John Bohnsack, J. Bohnsack, Fred Fick, John Thorn, Henry Bohnsack, Karl Thorn, Henry Ross, John Mundt, Sr., John Mundt, Jr., John Ross, Christopher Ross, Charles Gerwalts, George Berner, Karl Ross, Fred Ross. Officers: President, John Bohnsack; secretary, Joseph Bohnsack; treasurer, Henry Ross. Their house of worship was built the previous year. It is located on the northeast corner of section 17. Services are held every other Sunday.
SCHOOLS.
The annual report of the school inspectors of the town of Ore- gon for the year 1882, shows the number of school children to have been 364; number of school buildings, five. The inspectors for the ensuing year were John Thorn, Henry Ross, George F. Barber, George W. Hollenbeck, J. L. Silsbury, Robert Miller.
RAILROAD AND POSTOFFICE.
Railroad facilities are furnished to the town of Oregon by the Detroit & Bay City Branch of the Michigan Central Railroad, which crosses the northeastern part of the town. This road was built in 1873, and a station established on section 14, which is known as Carpenter's Station. The postoffice, which was estab- lished in 1873, is called Oregon postoffice. S. Carpenter was ap- pointed postmaster and still retains the office.
ORGANIZATION.
The town of Oregon was organized by act of the legislature approved March 25, 1846, which directs that "all that part of the county of Lapeer designated by the United States survey as town- ship number 8 north, of range number 9 east, now a part of the township of Marathon, be and the same is hereby set off and or- ganized into a separate township by the name of Oregon, and the first township meeting shall be held at the house of Wm. Skinner, in said township."
The first town meeting was held April 6, 1846, at the place designated. Alonzo Davis was chosen moderator; H. N. Lathrop, Daniel Clark and Lafayette Warren, inspectors, and Jonathan Sils- bury, clerk. Before opening the polls it was voted, rira roce, that there be two assistant assessors elected.
The polls were opened and upon closing the same it was found that for the office of supervisor Lafayette Warren received fourteen votes; for the office of town clerk, Jonathan Silsbury received nine votes and G. H. Royce, five votes; for treasurer, Daniel Clark received fourteen votes; for justices of the peace, H. N. Lathrop received thir- teen votes; G. H. Royce, fourteen; Daniel Clark, fourteen; Alonzo Gray, eight, and Benjamin T. Skinner, five; for assessors, Jonathan
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Silsbury received fourteen votes, and Orlando Elliott, fourteen; for commissioners of highways, Alonzo Davis received thirteen votes; Alonzo Gray, thirteen; G. H. Royce, twelve, and Benjamin T. Skin- ner one; for inspectors of schools, Alonzo Davis received fourteen votes, and Lafayette Warren, fourteen; for directors of the poor, Daniel Clark received fourteen votes; John Caley, eleven; William S. Graves, one, and Jonathan S. Gray one; for constables, William Skinner received fourteen votes; Orlando Elliott, eleven; Jonathan S. Gray, eight; William S. Graves, six, and Warren Elliott, two.
Jonathan Silsbury was elected overseer of highways for Dis- trict No. 3; Daniel Clark for No. 4, and Jonathan S. Gray for No 5.
It was resolved that the compensation of town officers be fixed at seventy-five cents per day and the services of the same be audited by the town board and the clerk credit the same on a book to be kept for that purpose and a certificate be given for the same, which shall be receivable for taxes.
It was resolved that Alonzo Davis procure the ballot boxes for the town for the sum of six dollars, the boxes to be cherry or black walnut, with a good lock and key.
It was voted to raise fifty dollars for incidental expenses.
The drawing of the justices resulted as follows: For one year, Alonzo Gray; for two years, H. N. Lathrop; for three years, G. H. Royce; for four years, Daniel Clark.
The school inspectors were drawn as follows: For one year, Lafayette Warren; for two years, Alonzo Davis.
At the first meeting of the town board held April 11, the only business transacted was the acceptance of the bonds of officers and the allowing of an account of one dollar in favor of Wm. Skinner.
The first recorded action of the board of school inspectors was November 4, 1848, when rules were adopted for the care and man- agement of the town library. A list of the books shows 418 volumes.
November 27, 1847, the board of school inspectors met for the purpose of examining candidates for teaching primary schools. Sheldon Thomas and Mary E. Smith were examined and received certificates. These are the first recorded certificates.
The record of surveys of highways established for the town- ship of Marathon in that part afterward organized as Oregon, shows under date of February 28, 1836, "highway continued from town 7, range 10, southwest corner of section 31, thence north on range line three miles." This is the earliest highway survey in Oregon.
TOWN OFFICERS.
1846-Supervisor, Lafayette Warren; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury; treasurer, Daniel Clark; number of votes, 14.
1847-Supervisor, Lafayette Warren; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury; treasurer, John D. Bothell; number of votes, 19.
1848 - Supervisor, Lafayette Warren; clerk, Jonathan Sils- . bury; treasurer, John D. Bothell; number of votes, 20.
1849-Supervisor, Lafayette Warren; clerk, John D. Bothell; treasurer, George L. Smith; number of votes, 26.
1850-Supervisor, Horace N. Lathrop; clerk, Lafayette War- ren; treasurer, George L. Smith; number of votes, 25.
1851-Supervisor, Horace N. Lathrop; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury, treasurer, George L. Smith; number of votes, 31. 1852-Supervisor, Horace N. Lathrop; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury; treasurer, George L. Smith; number of votes, 33.
1853-Supervisor, Lafayette Warren; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury; treasurer, George L. Smith; number of votes, 35.
1854-Supervisor, Lafayette Warren; clerk, Jonathan Sils- bury; treasurer, John Caley; number of votes, 25.
1855-Supervisor, Stephen K. Woodward; clerk, Jonathan Silsbury; treasurer, George L. Smith; number of votes, 35.
1856-Supervisor, Stephen K. Woodward; clerk, Jonathan Silsbury; treasurer, George L. Smith; number of votes, 40.
1857-Supervisor, George L. Smith; clerk, Charles D. Wait; treasurer, James H. Gray; number of votes, 48.
1858-Supervisor, Stephen K. Woodward; clerk, Jonathan Silsbury; treasurer, James H. Gray; number of votes, 60.
1859-Supervisor, Stephen K. Woodward; clerk, John D. Bothell; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 80.
1860-Supervisor, George W. B. Graves; clerk; John Caley, treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 81.
1861-Supervisor, Stephen K. Woodward; clerk, Edmund Hollenbeck; treasurer, Wm. H. Bassett; number of votes, 59.
1862-Supervisor, George W. B. Graves; clerk, John Caley; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 72.
1863-Supervisor, George W. B. Graves; clerk, John Caley; treasurer, Delos W. Warren, number of votes, 75.
1864-Supervisor, George W. B. Graves; clerk, John Caley; treasurer, Delos W. Warren; number of votes, 82.
1865-Supervisor, Orlando Smith; clerk, John Caley; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 53.
1866-Supervisor, Orlando Smith; clerk, William Woods; treas- urer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 77.
1867 -- Supervisor, Orlando Smith; clerk, William Woods; treas- urer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 103.
1868-Supervisor, Orlando Smith; clerk, William Woods; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 147.
1869-Supervisor, Samuel Gibbons; clerk, William Woods; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 95.
1870-Supervisor, Samuel Gibbons; clerk, William Woods; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 130.
1871-Supervisor, George W. B. Graves; clerk, James D. Sils- bury; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 129.
1872 -Supervisor, George W. B. Graves; clerk, James L. Sils- bury; treasurer, Stephen K. Woodward; number of votes, 108.
1873-Supervisor, Stephen K. Woodward; clerk, James L. Silsbury; treasurer, Joseph D. Pope; number of votes, 109.
1874-Supervisor, Stephen K. Woodward; clerk, Joseph D, Pope; treasurer, Wm. H. Bassett; number of votes, 94.
1875-Supervisor, Orlando Elliott; clerk, Samuel Gibbons; treasurer, Zabina Rice; number of votes, 146.
1876-Supervisor, Orlando Elliott; clerk, Samuel Gibbons; treasurer, Francis Price; number of votes, 169.
1877-Supervisor, Orlando Elliott; clerk, Samuel Gibbons; treasurer, Francis Price; number of votes, 195.
1878 -Supervisor, Thomas Parker; clerk, James L. Silsbury; treasurer, Geo. W. Hollenbeck; number of votes, 208.
1879-Supervisor, Orlando Elliott; clerk, Marshall E. Smith; treasurer, Norman J. Markle; number of votes, 192.
1880-Supervisor, Geo. W. Hollenbeck; clerk, William W. Hollenbeck; treasurer, James H. Gray; number of votes, 216.
1881-Supervisor, Norman J. Markle; clerk, William W. Hol- lenbeck ; treasurer, James H. Gray; No. of votes 253.
1882-Supervisor, Thomas Parker; clerk, James L. Silsbury; treasurer, Geo. W. Hollenbeck; number of votes, 223.
1883-Supervisor, Geo. W. Hollenbeck; clerk, Sanford M. Col- vin; treasurer, Orlando Elliott; number of votes, 197.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
STEPHEN D. GRAY was born in Fulton, Schoharie County, N. Y. in 1842, and when eighteen months of age came with his parents to Lapeer County, Michigan, and settled upon the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. He has held the office of commissioner
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of highways four years. Mr. Gray was married in 1870 to Miss Ab- bie L. Sanborn, a resident of the township of Hadley, Lapeer County. They have one son.
MYRON FULLER was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1842, and in 1856 came with his parents to Lapeer County, Michigan, and settled in the township of Oregon, upon a farm of eighty acres of new land, which is now owned and occupied by Mr. Fuller. As a matter of fact the ownership of the property has never passed from the family since they settled upon it. He was married in 1869 to Miss A. Pike, formerly of Ohio, but who came to Michigan in 1856. They have one daughter.
JOHN F. Ross was born in Germany in 1849 and emigrated to America in 1871. He was three years in Canada, and then came to Michigan and settled in the township of Oregon where he has since resided, where he owns 120 acres of land, in sections 16 and 9. He was married in Canada to Miss Sophia Bohnsack, a native of Ger- many, who has since died, and by whom he had three children- one son and two daughters.
AMOS GRAVES was born in the township of Washington, Ma- comb County, Michigan, in 1828, and in 1850 came to the town- ship of Oregon, Lapeer County, and purchased a farm of forty acres of new land which he improved and lived upon for a time when he sold it and bought the farm he now resides upon on section 32. He was married in 1851 to Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin who died in 1854, and by whom he had one child. He was again married to his pres- ent wife, Miss Esther Chapel, of Rochester, Oakland County, Mich- igan, in 1857. They have four children.
J. S. GRAY was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., in 1821,and came to Michigan in 1844 and settled in the township of Oregon on forty acres of new land. Two years thereafter he purchased forty acres of land where he now resides. He was married in 1842 to Miss Lydia A. Edwards, of the State of New York. They have six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are married and living with- in a radius of two miles of the homestead with the exception of one daughter.
WILLIAM SPEARS was born in the township of Oregon in 1843, and has since resided there. In 1865 he purchased the farm he now owns and occupies, which he has added to by subsequent purchase until he now owns 120 acres, which he has improved and upon which he has erected buildings. He was married in 1865 to Miss Emily Baldwin of the same township; but formerly of Oakland County. They have two children-a son and daughter.
SAMUEL CARPENTER was born in Vermont in 1814, and came to Michigan in 1835, settling first in Macomb County where he pur- chased land and followed both farming and lumbering. In 1842 he came to Lapeer County and purchased a tract of new land and sub- sequently in 1844 bought and settled upon a farm in the township of Almont. In 1869 lie went to Flint, Michigan, and engaged extensively in the lumbering business; and in 1877 located in the township of Oregon on section 14. He was married in 1846 to Miss Lydia Churchill, of Almont, who was formerly from Ontario, Canada. Mr. Carpenter owns 173 acres of land, a saw and shingle- mill and a general store on section 14, and 160 acres on section 12. He has been married three times and has three children-daugh- ters.
EDMUND HOLLENBECK was born in Columbia County, N. Y., in 1818 and in 1826 moved with his parents to Oneida County, N. Y., thence in 1833 to Wayne County, N. Y., and in 1837 came with his father to Michigan, and settled on section 22 in the township of Mar- athon, Lapeer County. In 1839 he removed to the township of La- peer where he remained three years, returning at the end of that time to the old homestead and soon thereafter purchased 112 acres of new land on section 2 township of Oregon, and has since lived upon
it. He now owns in the township and in Marathon 242 acres. Mr. Hollenbeck has held many of the township offices including com- missioner of highways twelve years, treasurer two years and clerk one year. He was married in 1845 to Julia A. Richmond, of the State of New York, who died in December 1881 and by whom he had four sons. He was again married in 1883 to Mrs. Davis, of Oakland County, Michigan, and who was born near Rochester, N. Y.
THOMAS PARKER is a native of Lincolnshire, England, and was born in 1815. He came to the United States in 1830, with his father and settled in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and in 1833 came to Michigan, and located first in Oakland county remaining there two years, when he came to Lapeer County and purchased a farm in the township of Marathon 'where he resided three years. He then removed to the township of Elba and made that his home for about four years when he came to the township of Oregon and pur- chased a farm on section 27. In 1843 he bought and has since occu- pied his present farm with the exception of six years spent in lum- bering in the township of Mayfield. At present he owns 635 acres of land on sections 14, 22, and 23. He has held the office of com- missioner of highways and has been supervisor of the township two years. He was married in1837 to Miss Eveline Hunt who died in 1861 and by whom he had two children, and was married to his present wife Miss Mary A. Rood, of Oakland County, in 1861. They have three children.
GEORGE W. HOLLENBECK was born in the township of Oregon in 1850 and resided with his father (Edmund Hollenbeck) until he was twenty-one years of age when he purchased 80 acres of land on section 6 where he has since resided and is now serving his second term as supervisor of the township of Oregon, and has also held the office of treasurer two terms. He was married in 1871 to Miss Jo- sephine Tibbits, of the township of Marathon, who is a native of Lockport, N. Y. They have two children- a son and daughter.
JAMES L. SILSBURY was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., in 1835, and with his parents in 1836 came to Michigan and stopped first in Oakland County about eighteen months, after which they came to Lapeer County and settled on section 24 in the township of Oregon, on forty acres of new land. In 1866 he purchased 60 acres of improved land on section 35. He has owned and lived upon several differ- ent farms in the township and for a time was in Lapeer City. In the fall of 1882 he purchased the farm where he now resides on section 27, and is said to have lived longer in the township than any person now residing in it. His father (Jonathan Silsbury) was the third settler in the township. Mr. Silsbury has represented his township in the office of clerk for five years. He was married in 1876 to Miss Maria Talmadge, of Canada. They have two children.
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