USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 45
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THOMAS R. CUSHING was born in Windsor County, Vermont, in 1822. He continued to reside there until 1853, when he came to Michigan and located in the township of Oregon, Lapeer County where he purchased 90 acres of land. In 1858 he sold the farm and engaged in lumbering which he followed two years, and also spent one year in Vermont. He then re-purchased 50 acres of the old farm where he has since resided, and to which he has added 60 acres of adjoining lands. Mr. Cushing has held the office of jus- tice of the peace for two years and was again elected in 1883. He was married in 1847 to Miss Mary J. Davis, of Harper, Vermont, who died in September 1882, leaving one child -- a son.
WILLIAM I. BUCK was born in Middlesex County, Ontario, in 1840, and has been engaged in lumbering in various places in Michigan. In 1867 he purchased a farm in Oakland County, near Pontiac, where he resided four years, when he exchanged it for 200 acres on section 8, in the township of Oregon, to which he has since added 100 acres, making in the aggregate 300 acres, which he has improved and built upon. He has large lumbering interests on
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
sections 19, 20, 21, 24 and 28, to which he has built a railroad three miles in length, which forms a spur of the Chicago & Grand Trunk. Mr. Buck has held the office of commissioner of highways for the township of Oregon. He was married in 1862 to Miss Caro- line E. Thomas, of Mayfield, Lapeer County. They have three children, one son and two daughters.
JOSEPH BOHNSACK was born in Prussia, in 1832, and emigrated to America in 1851. He first stopped in New York six months, after which he was in Canada five years, when he came to Michigan in 1857, and settled on section 16, in the township of Oregon, La- peer County, where he has since resided. He purchased forty acres of land, which he has improved and added to till he now owns 120 acres. In 1864 he enlisted in the Fourth Michigan Infantry, and served three years, going to Texas with his regiment at the close of the war, where he remained a year and a half. He was married in 1857 to Miss Maria Mayborn, and in 1875 to Miss Matilda Grawe, a native of Prussia. He had six children by his first wife, and two by his present wife.
WILLIAM H. TOPHAM is a native of Derbyshire, England, and born in 1823. He came to the United States in 1851, and was two years in Pennsylvania, one year in New York,and one year in Detroit, Mich., when he came to Lapeer County and settled on section 25, in the township of Oregon. He first purchased forty acres of land, then fifty acres on section 30, in the township of Mayfield, to which he subsequently added sixty acres, and afterward purchased ninety acres on section 36, township of Oregon, and other lands on sections 30, Oregon and 32, Mayfield, making in the aggregate 330 acres. He was married in 1852 to Miss Nancy Long, who died in 1877, and by whom he had four sons. Was married to his present wife, Miss Rosanna Perkins, a native of Canada, in 1878.
ORLANDO ELLIOTT was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1823, and came to Michigan in the fall of 1842. He located on section 24, in the township of Oregon, where he at first purchased eighty acres of land, and to which he has added by subsequent purchases, until he now owns 207 acres. He has resided continuously in the township since 1842, and has been its supervisor four years, while he is now serving his eighth year as treasurer. He was married in 1846 to Miss Dolly D. Sawtell, who died in 1850, and was a second time married, in 1851, to Miss Mariette Sawtell. By his first wife he had one son, and by his second wife four sons and one daughter.
ROBERT NELSON was born in Donegal County, Ireland, in 1830, and came to the United States in 1850. After stopping a short time in Pennsylvania he came to Lapeer County, and settled on forty acres of new land in the township of Oregon, on section 35, which he has improved and increased by later purchases to 100 acres, and also owns 110 acres on section 3, in the township of Elba. He was married in Philadelphia, in 1852, to Miss Fanny Long, who was from the same county in Ireland. They have one son. Mr. Nelson has always followed the occupation of farming both here and in Ire- land.
TOWN OF IMLAY.
Imlay belongs to the eastern tier of townships, and is bounded on the north by Goodland, east by St. Clair County, south by Al- mont and west by Attica. It is a good agricultural township and one of the most prosperous in the county.
The township was first settled in 1832, but the town was not organized until 1850.
The following list will show the original distribution of lands in this township:
LAND ENTRIES PRIOR TO 1841. TOWNSHIP 7 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST.
SECTION Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beach, May 10, 1836.
Altha E. Mather, June 16, 1836. Mark Healey and Benjamin B. Kercheval, June 29, 1836. Squire Gray, March 10, 1837. Emory F. Lincoln, March 11, 1837. Henry Hawkins and Van Rensselaer Hawkins, March 11, 1837.
SECTION
3. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 10, 1836. John Woodbury, June 16, 1836. Healey and Kercheval, June 29, 1836. Richard L. Clark, July 15, 1836. Henry Hawkins and Van Rensselaer Hawkins, March 11, 1837.
SECTION 5. David Mack, Jr., and N. Dickinson, March 1, 1836. Nathan Dickinson and Carlton B. Newbury, March 1, 1836.
SECTION 6. David Mack, Jr., and Nathan Dickinson, March 1, 1836. Nathan Dickinson and Carlton B. Newbury, March 1, 1836. Edmund Russell, June 16, 1836.
SECTION 7. Edward Dickinson, March 1, 1836. Luther Root, March 1, 1836.
SECTION 8. David Mack, Jr., and Nathan Dickinson, March 1, 1836. Ira Wilbur, November 17, 1836.
SECTION 10. Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beach, May 2, 1836.
Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beach, May 10, 1836.
James Deneen, November 4, 1836.
Timothy Church, February 27, 1837. Nathan Dickinson, January 5, 1837. John Lamb, March 7, 1837. Orris Smith, March 7, 1837.
SECTION 11. Nathan Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beach, May 2, 1836.
Richard L. Clark, July 15, 1836.
Nathan Dickinson, January 5, 1837. George Taylor, Jr., January 25, 1837.
SECTION 13. Charles C. Trowbridge, E. Farnsworth and Sylvester Sibley, July 13, 1836. Luther Root, August 6, 1836. Edward Dickinson, August 6, 1836.
SECTION 14. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 2, 1836. Trowbridge, Farnsworth and Sibley, July 13, 1836. Nathan Dickinson, February 2, 1837. Nathan Dickinson, February 15, 1837.
SECTION 15. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 2, 1836. Harmon L. Salisbury, July 12, 1836. Luther Shaw, November 4, 1836. Luther Shaw, December 5, 1836. Nathan Dickinson, January 5, 1837. John Shaw, January 18, 1837. Reuben Howland, February 18, 1837. Thaddeus Thompson, March 24, 1837. Olive Ann Webb, April 3, 1837.
SECTION 17. John B. and Calvin A. Shaw, October 10, 1835.
RES. OF RK. FARNUM ALMONT, LAPEER CO.MICH. TEAM FIRST PREMIUM 1880
SHEEP BARNS OF WM. H. BLOW. BREEDER OF THOROUGHBRED, AMERICAN. MERINO SHEEP. SEC. 6. DRYDEN T.P. P.O DRYDEN, LAPEER, CO.MICH.
RES. OF WM. I. BUCK OREGON .T. P. LAPEER CO. MICH.
HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
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SECTION 17. Luther Shaw, October 15, 1835. D. Mack, Jr. and N. Dickinson, March 1, 1836. Anson Parsons, September 23, 1836.
. SECTION 18. Nathan Dickinson and Carlton B. Newberry, March 1, 1836. Levi D. Cowles, March 1, 1836. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, March 2, 1836.
SECTION 19.
Levi D. Cowles, March 1, 1836.
Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, March 2, 1836.
SECTION 20. D. Mack and N. Dickinson, March 1, 1836. . Chillon F. Dickinson, September 20, 1836. Anson Parsons, September 23, 1836.
SECTION 21. Joseph B. Deneen, August 3, 1836. Henry L. Rice, August 3, 1836. Samuel Deneen, August 4, 1836. Anson Parsons, September 23, 1836. Philena Lathrop, February 1, 1837.
SECTION 22. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 2, 1836. Benjamin B. Kercheval, November 29, 1836. Orinel King, November 28, 1836. Philena Lathrop, February 1, 1837. Omon Archer, March 7, 1837. David Sabin and Andrew Bryant, March 7, 1837. William Courter, November 8, 1838. .
SECTION 23. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 2, 1836. Trowbridge, Farnsworth and Sibley, July 13, 1836. N. Dickinson and Sylvester Sibley, December 12, 1836. James Drew, January 31, 1837.
SECTION 24. C. C. Trowbridge, Elon Farnsworth and Sylvester Sibley, July 13, 1836. N. Dickinson and S. Sibley, December 12, 1836. SECTION 26. Henry Waldron, March 7, 1837.
SECTION 27. Amasa Ross, March 5, 1836. George B. Martin, March 25, 1836.
John Taylor, January 25, 1837. Simeon Andrews, January 28, 1837. Dan Sabin and Andrew Bryant, March 7, 1837.
SECTION 28. Luther Shaw, March 24, 1836. George B. Martin, March 25, 1836. Gideon Gates, April 27, 1836. Truman Shaw, August 4, 1836. John I. Hamlin, January 6, 1837.
SECTION 29. Austin Day, June 2, 1835. Henry Rawles, February 16, 1836. George Dexter, February 16, 1836. N. Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beach, March 1, 1836. George B. Martin, March 25, 1836. Marvin Read, January 3, 1837.
SECTION 30. N. Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beach, March 2, 1836. SECTION 31. John A. Everts, October 16, 1835. Henry Porter, December 8, 1835. Horace Mathews, March 1, 1836. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 10, 1836. Dickinson, Imlay and Beach, May 12, 1836. Alvin Cheney, July 11, 1836.
SECTION 32. C. C. Parks and John R. Smith, December 12, 1825. Hiram Wilcox and John E. Beardsley, September 12, 1832. Susannah and Joel Thompson, October 25, 1832. Collatinus Day, June 2, 1835. Fabius Palmerlee, July 3, 1835.
SECTION 32. Thomas J. Potter, September 30, 1835. Henry Rawles, February 16, 1836. George Dexter, February 16, 1836. N. Dickinson, William H. Imlay and George Beach, March 1, 1836. Martin F. Southwell, December 3, 1836.
SECTION 33. William Boles, February 17, 1832. Marshal Cram, January 15, 1833. Alexis Winchell, December 2, 1833. Abner W. Blackman, October 16, 1835. Samuel Deneen, October 16, 1835. Amasa Ross, November 6, 1835. Aaron B. Rawles, February 19, 1836. Almon Penney, May 26, 1836.
SECTION 34. Luther Shaw, October 15, 1835. John A. Everts, October 16, 1835. Amasa Ross, November 6, 1835. Henry Waldron, May 23, 1836. Ebenezer Youngman, May 25, 1836. William Arnold Jr., June 9, 1836. William B. Owen, June 7, 1836. Seth Dewey, October 15, 1839.
SECTION 35.
James Chapman, May 17, 1836.
John W. Dyar, May 26, 1836.
Henry Waldron, May 28, 1836.
Wm. Arnold, Jr. June 9, 1836.
Esther Nichols, June 9, 1836.
SECTION 36. . Henry Waldron, May 28, 1836.
Stephen H, Hanson, December 1, 1836.
EARLY HISTORY.
The first settler in the township of Imlay was William Boles, who came from Portage County, Ohio, in 1832, and located on section 33 near Almont. Mrs. Boles was a sister of the Deneen's one of whom, James Deneen, had settled in Almont in 1828.
The first child born in Imlay Township was Melissa, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Boles.
The next man to come into the township was Samuel Deneen, who arrived in the fall of 1832. He afterward built a house in Almont on section 4, and built a tannery on section 33 in Imlay.
Amasa Ross settled on section 33 in the fall of 1835. Thomas Hughes also located here this year.
Henry L. Rice and Joseph B. Deneen located land in 1836. In 1837 Mr. Rice settled upon his land, and was followed the next year by Mr. Deneen.
The first house Mr. Deneen built was constructed of logs, and by the joint labors of himself and wife.
It is related by Mr. Rice, that being short of flour on one oc- casion, he, after a hard day's work, made a trip to Almont afoot and purchased of Oliver Bristol a bag containing 100 pounds; with this upon his shoulder, he started about dusk for home. When he arrived at Belle River, owing to the darkness he missed the cross- ing, and not daring to wander far in any direction for fear of being inextricably lost, he laid down upon the ground with the flour for a pillow and went to sleep. A feat requiring considerable courage, when it is remembered that the howling of wolves could be heard any night around the cabins of the settler. Late in the night he was awakened by something licking his face. Not daring to open his eyes, he lay quiet for a spell and endured the licking process, when suddenly he gave an energetic yell and sprang to his feet at the same time, nearly scaring to death his- dog, who had come two miles to meet him and who was considerably astonished at his
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
strange reception. Under the guidance of the canine, Mr. R. was enabled to reach home about daylight.
John N. Deneen first visited the township in 1834, and six years later settled here.
1838
Charles C. Rogers settled here in 1836, and Mica Rogers in Nathan Rogers also settled here in 1838.
Heman Holmes, William Churchill and a few others followed, but the township did not settle rapidly.
EARLY ENTERPRISES.
The old Imlay mill, the first manufacturing enterprise of im- portance, was erected by Wilcox & Hovey in 1834, the former from Rochester and the latter from Romeo. It consisted of two muley saws. Some time afterward a factory for turning wooden bowls was started a few rods west of the mill, which, not being a success, was afterward removed to Almont. Wilcox & Hovey were not the owners of any great quantity of pine and undoubtedly expected to make a fortune cutting for others. The mill was begun in the fall of 1833, the timbers being framed by Adam Boles. It was com- pleted in February, 1834. The property afterward passed into the hands of the Imlay Mill Company. It was run for several years as a water mill, but was not a success, and a steam mill was built in its place.
A mill was also erected one and one-half miles north of the pres- ent site of Imlay City, by Crowfoot & Morris, with the intention of working up their timber. This mill was afterward purchased by Tack- les, Mellen & Standish, who operated it for a short time and then on account of the low price of lumber, quit manufacturing and lum- bered the balance of their pine on Mill Creek. The machinery was moved, to what place deponent saith not. The building afterward fell into the hands of Jas. Barstow, who started a tannery and feed mill, which was conducted for a short time with varied success.
ORGANIZATION.
Township 7 north, of range 12 east, was detached from Al- mont and township 8 north, of range 12 east, from Lapeer, and or- ganized under the name of Imlay.
William H. Imlay, from whom the township drew its name, was an eastern capitalist, and who, with Walter P. Beech, then president of a Hartford bank, turned their attention to the immense pine forests of Michigan. Many large tracts were purchased, among them being one which included a considerable portion of the town- ships of Attica and Imlay. It is related of Mr. Imlay that in his boyhood days he was in the employ of an extensive Boston packing house, and that the firm having a considerable number of barrels of beef spoil on their hands, young Imlay was commissioned to empty the beef into Boston Harbor. Instead of so doing, he chartered a lighter, and loading it with the beef together with a barrel of No. 1 prime, which he purchased, he went out to the British fleet and sold the entire lot by sample from the good barrel. Mr. Imlay was a noted Tory, and when the war of 1812 commenced he still continued his beef speculations by selling to the English agents surreptitiously. The war ended and politics running high, Mr. Imlay was placed in nomination by the Tory element for official position. He was, how- ever, defeated through the efforts of the opposition, whose tactics were to parade the streets in large numbers, shouting, "Who sold beef to the British?" then adding in basso tones, "William H. Imlay."
At the date of organization as a township Imlay had a popu- lation of about seventy persons. The first township meeting was held at the residence of Joseph B. Deneen and at which, in accord- ance with the legislative decree, the temporary election board consisted as follows: Samuel Rogers, chairman; John N. Deneen, clerk; Amos Hewitt and Joseph B. Deneen, inspectors. After taking the constitutional oath the polls were opened between the
hours of 9 and 10 o'clock A. M., April 12, 1850, for the first time in the township of Imlay. At this maiden election the crowd, instead of rushing about peddling slips bare-headed, quietly adjourned to a shady place near the sap bush and commenced shooting at a mark, for be it known, at that early day a reputation as a crack marksman was considered of more importance than the highest office in the gift of the township. It being right in sugar season a messenger was sent up to the log house to ask Uncle Joe to "sugar off" for the crowd. The messenger found the election board disregarding the dignity of the position, yawning and fuming over the slowness with which the votes came in and apparently envying the out- siders the fun they were having and which was greatly aggravated by the occasional crack of a rifle. Uncle Joe refused to "sugar off," but offered to sell them the syrup and lend the use of the kettle and sugar house to boil it in. By "chipping in" they man- aged to raise money enough to buy a gallon of syrup which was not near enough to go round, and as there was no more money in the crowd things came to a standstill. However Yankee wit came to the rescue, the gallon of syrup was emptied into the big kettle, a fire started, and perhaps bearing in mind the adage that "a watched pot never boils," the crowd once more commenced shooting; Mr. Robert Rice, then a young lad, scoring the shots. Every time a shot was fired young Rice would go out and examine the spot, and every time he went a gallon of Uncle Joe's syrup found its way into the big kettle. It is only necessary to say that the sugar "went round" at Uncle Joe's expense and was probably all the sweeter for being stolen.
The result of this election when canvassed showed 33 votes in the teapot, of which Samuel Rogers received 24 for supervisor. Amos Hewitt was elected town clerk, Charles C. Rogers, treasurer, and Samuel Rogers, school inspector. At this meeting it was voted to raise $50 for contingent purposes, and $150 for roads and bridges. The November following a general election was held at which the question of universal suffrage, then agitating the whole country, was summarily settled by 12 votes being cast against it and 5 for it. The question of erecting new county buildings was also knocked into a cocked hat by polling 23 votes and all against.
June 15, 1850, the partnership account with Almont was settlel in full, the library books being divided in the proportion of $15 to Imlay and $56 to Almont. The total amount realized by Imlay in full settlement of all joint funds was $103.41. Novem- ber 6, the town board audited an account in favor of Rodolfus Eggleston of $4 for bounty on two wolves. Listen to the descrip- tion of Road District No. 2, as it was in 1850: "Commencing at the southwest quarter stake of section 33, thence east three and a half miles to the southeast corner of the township, thence north twelve miles to the northeast corner of what is now the township of Goodland, thence west one and a half miles, south six miles, west two miles, south three and a half miles, west one mile, south one mile, east one mile, south one and a half miles, to place of beginning." Think of being pathmaster of a realm of thirty-three miles around it.
At the second spring election (1851) but 21 votes were cast, 12 less than the year previous. We can well imagine the sarcastic spirit which actuated the highway commissioners in 1853 to submit a report like the following: "Whole number of days labor assessed and performed, 193. Moneys expended, $66, of which $11 was laid on Belle River bridge. The roads are unusually bad and in the opinion of your humble commissioners $2,000 ought to be raised for high- way purposes the coming year."
The cream of this report lies in the fact that Imlay has never raised in any one year to exceed one thousand dollars for highways. In 1854 Daniel Black erected a saw-mill one and a half miles
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
east of Imlay City. This mill was afterward purchased by Charles D. Smith who ran it three years and then sold it to Mosher & Rood. It afterward burned down, was rebuilt by Robert Rood. Afterward it passed into the hands of Abner Hall, P. Middleditch, and others. The never-to-be-forgotten fire season of '81 totally cleaned up the ruins of this old landmark and to-day it bears no trace of ever being the site of manufacturing industry.
February 12, 1855, the State legislature considering that Imlay and Goodland had been in partnership long enough, dissolved by enastment the firm. This name it is supposed originated in the ecstatic ejaculation of a pioneer who having found a location that tickled his fancy, uproariously exclaimed that he was well pleased and that it was "Good-land." November 30 of same year the town - ships met and made division of all town funds.
In the meantime the pine tracts were being decimated rapidly. Dwight was crowding his timber in the southeastern portion of the township to market by means of the broad bosom (?) of Belle River. He also purchased the machinery of the old Imlay mill and removed it to other parts. The dilapidated old hulk afterward fell into the hands of Peter Ferguson, the irrepressible, who conveyed large portions of it to his farm in Almont. Enough however still remains to mark the historic spot of the first manufacturing venture in this town. April 4, 1859, Imlay had the honor of expressing her disapprobation of the question of erecting fire proof offices and a jail at the county seat, by casting 73 ballots against it and 14 for it. At this election the township library system was abolished by casting 83 votes in favor of the district system.
In 1860 Rexford Rogers and James Harrington erected the Imlay Hotel which is now owned and occupied by the Whitney family. It was confidently supposed that the location was destined to become the commercial center of the township. But we find that from '62 to '65 a considerable settlement was looming up at what was called Black's Corners. The political balance was beginning to center around that august spot and when in 1871 the new Harrington Hotel was erected the thing seemed settled that here was to be the "Hub" of the future. Time demonstrates that nothing in life is certain, for this place with its fine start died the death of inactivity and was almost totally extinguished by a rival whose existence had not been dreamed of until the advent of the P. H. & L. M. R. R. became a settled fact.
In the meantime the war of the rebellion was in progress and Imlay was called upon to fill her quota. September 19, 1864, an election was carried without hesitation to bond the town in the sum of $10,000 to procure substitutes. The bonds were taken principally by citizens of the township, fully characterizing the loyal spirit which actuated our citizens and their confidence in the ultimate success of the Northern armies.
The following advertisement appeared upon the town books May 11, 1864, I give it rerbatim:
"Found on the highway near the residence of Ira Dodge by said Dodge one barrel supposed to contain pork on the tenth day of May." You will please notice that owing to defective punctuation much amusement may be gotten from the above "ad." Ira is very careful to assert that it was supposed to contain pork on the tenth day of May. The next day he caused it to be advertised, but what it contained then he does not state. This perhaps is owing to innate modesty and the fact of his having kept it in his house over night. Whether any owner ever turned up for that barrel "sup- posed to contain pork" the writer cannot say. If he did not it may safely be presumed that the town clerk and Ira secured enough "clear mess" to liquidate all fees and charges.
July 1, 1865, the township voted upon and carried the prop- osition of furnishing aid to the P. H. & L. M. R. R. This aid 1
was asked by virtue of an act of the State legislature authoriz- ing the counties of Lapeer, Genesee, and Shiawasee, to pledge their credit to the extent of five per cent of the assessed valuation of their respective townships. These bonds were to bear interest at the rate of seven per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually, at the city of Detroit, and were to become due as follows, viz. : one per cent of the assessed valuation in eight years; two per cent in nine years and the remaining two per cent in ten years.
Through some hitch in the proceedings, the bonds were never issued. Afterward the R. R. company demanded aid to the extent of ten per cent of the assessed valuation, which, upon being brought to vote, was summarily sat down upon; the whole thing broke up in a row, heads were punched, eyes gouged and blackened and thus ended the question of assisting Brancroft construct the P. H. & L. M. R. R., so far as Imlay City was concerned.
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
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