USA > Michigan > Lapeer County > History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 53
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1873 .- Supervisor, Miles F. Dudley ; clerk, Alexander Johnston; treasurer, Thomas Craig.
1874 .- Supervisor, Elias B. Vanmarter; clerk, Jerome R. War- ren; treasurer, George Tozer.
1875 .- Supervisor, Elias B. Vanmarter; clerk, Jerome R. War- ren; treasurer, George Tozer.
1876 .- Supervisor, Jerome R. Warren; clerk, Henry H. Baker; treasurer, Thomas Craig.
1877 .- Supervisor, Miles F. Dudley; clerk, D. W. Warren; treasurer, Thomas Craig.
1878 .- Supervisor, Seward Redfield; clerk, Edgar Swartout; treasurer, George Cliff.
1879 .- Supervisor, Edgar Swartout; clerk, Archibald Ray- mond; treasurer, Joseph H. Bearss.
1880 .- Supervisor, Edgar Swartout; clerk, Frank Kitterman; treasurer, Joseph H. Bearss.
1881 .- Supervisor, Joseph H. Bearss; clerk, Archibald Ray- mond; treasurer, Edgar Swartout.
1882 .- Supervisor, Edgar Swartout; clerk, A. C. Folsom; treasurer, Wesley Main.
1883 .- Supervisor, Andrew Kester; clerk, A. C. Folsom; treasurer, Wesley Main.
Census of 1874: Population, 611; acres of taxable land, 20, - 227; of improved land, 1,246; number of sheep, 163; of horses, 73; of cows, 134. Products of the preceding year, 586 pounds of wool; 7,983 pounds of butter; 2,026 bushels of wheat; 3,640 of corn; 6,171 of other grains; 115 of apples; 3,136 of potatoes; 408 tons of hay; 240 pounds of maple sugar.
The population of the town in 1880 was 1,001.
Aggregate valuation of real and personal property in 1882 as equalized by the board of supervisors was $265,000.
The annual report of the school inspectors of the town of Deer- field for the year 1882, shows the number of school buildings to have been six;number of school children, 275. The school inspect- ors for the ensuing year were Orvil Koyl, Edgar Swartout, Joseph Burns, Charles Dingman, Nelson Hunt, Andrew Kester.
THE FIRE OF 1881.
The township of Deerfield suffered severely by the great fire of September, 1881. The following list of property destroyed was made at the time and is probably as correct as can be given:
"George Cliff's old shingle-mill property; Michael King, gran- ary and thirty tons hay; Eleazer Wilson, house and stables, fences, hog, $50, insurance none; John Alcorn, getting in logs for A. B. Royce's shingle-mill, house and contents, stable, tools, team, wagon and harness saved; Mrs. Alcorn and children had a very narrow escape from the flames, having wandered about for some hours be- fore arriving at a place of safety; Mr. Labar, house and part of con -- tents, seventeen new bed quilts, three hogs, $125, insurance none; Edmund Wilson, oak lumber and shanties, $100, insurance none; also in Burlington at McKeen mill, 100,000 feet logs, 40,000 feet lumber, $600, insurance none; Stephen Smith, shingle-mill, houses and three hogs, $3,000, no insurance; D. Purdy, household goods, $100, insurance none; L. Oviatt, household goods, $100, insurance none; A. McMann, household goods, $100, insurance none; A. Stockwell, household goods, $50, insurance none; William Putman, household goods, two hogs, $75, insurance none; W. W. Crapo, a quantity of shingles, $300, insurance none; J. F. Parsons, hay and etc., $100, insurance none; John Tozer, barn, hay, grain and fences, $1,000, insurance not ascertained; William Avis, fences, $25, in- surance none; J. Dockham, barn and contents, stacks and fences, $150, insurance none; U. Swift, two stacks hay, barn and contents, two hogs, fences clean sweep, $500, insurance not ascertained; George Hascall, 2 mile fences, $100, insurance none; Alexander Johnston, fences; Joseph Roach, fence; Joseph Warren, fence; Charles Warren, fence; Orin Duman, fence; Richard Robbins, fence and meadows; John Baxter, fence and meadows; Redfield Estate, four miles fence and four thousand rails; F. Kitterman, fences; Walter Perkins, fences; Edgar Swartout, household goods, barn frame, and fences; Mr. Norton lost everything except his family; William Peter, timber; William Putman, all his household goods; Mr. Brown, fences; James Letell, 80 rods fence and corn in field; Mr. Kester, one mile fence, 2,500 rails, corn and timber; Daniel LaBar, all his buildings, goods and fences, three hogs; E. P. Millis, fences and timber; P. Ivory, fences, timber and meadows; J. P. Millis and son, three miles fences, timber, meadows, and three miles tram road. John Bell, fences and timber; F. H. Ivory, fences and timber; H.Kausier, fences and timber; Edgar Horton, fences and tim- ber; Calvin Huntley, fences and timber; H. B. Littlefield, barn, 30 tons hay, fences and timber; Irvin Dockham, building, hay, grain, fences; John Rackle, fences and timber; G. Quada, fences and timber; C. Watz, fences; James Sommers, fences and timber; D. Bliss, fences; Utter Swift, barn, hay, wheat, stock, and all his farming tools, fences, meadows; Sabin Sutton, fences; D. B. Goodrich, fences and meadows; Hiram Storum, barn, hay, straw and fences; John Hugh- son, fences; Vincent, building and fences; William Wilson, oak lumber and buildings; Alanson Bliss, fences and timber; Robert King, timber; A. B. Royce, pole road and trucks; Shubal Smith, mill and buildings, owned by McGiddings; Dennis Brothers, build- ings, lumbering tools, sleighs, etc .; S. S. Lee, fence and mead- ows."
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ANDREW WARREN Was born in Lapeer Township, Lapeer County, Michigan, in 1848. He learned the trade of a painter, but preferred the life of a farmer. In 1864 he enlisted in the Third Michigan In- fantry, serving until the end of the rebellion; was in the south- western department. Was married in 1873 to Minetta Colvin, who is also a native of Lapeer County. They have five children. In 1881 he settled with his family on 100 acres of land he has in sec- tion 3, Deerfield.
GEORGE TOZER was born in 1808 in Monroe County, N. Y. He came to Wayne County, Michigan, in 1837. In 1859 he settled in Deerfield, being one of the pioneers of the township. He was a wagon maker by trade, but after coming to this county was always a farmer. Mr. Tozer was treasurer of the township for two years, and had held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years at the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1878. In 1840 he was married to Miss Alice Cornwell, a native of Canada of American parentage. They had six children, of whom one son and two daughters survive. Mrs. Tozer was born in 1819 and still lives on the homestead in Deerfield.
JOHN TOZER was born in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, in 1843, where he worked when he was young in a saw-mill owned by his father. In 1859 when his parents came to Deerfield he accom- panied them. He has a farm of 138 acres in sections 2 and 11. In 1868 he was married to Miss Caroline Johnson, a native of Ontario.
FREDERICK D. FRICKE was born in Metamora, Lapeer County. in 1849. Was educated in the township schools and brought up on a farm. His family moved to Lapeer Township, and he lived there until 1880, when he removed to Deerfield, where he has 70 acres in section 1, of which 53 are cleared. In Lapeer he served as highway commissioner, constable, etc. Was highway commissioner of Deer- field in 1882, and in 1883 was postmaster of District No. 3. Was married in 1875, to Anna L. Northrup, of Attica. They have had three children, only one of whom survives.
JOHN SUTTER was born in Argau, Switzerland, in 1834. Came to Canada in 1853. He made his home at Danville, but followed a seafaring life in the summer season. Upon leaving there he went to East Saginaw, Michigan, where he worked for a number of years in Whittier's salt block. In 1869 he came to Deerfield, where he had 40 acres of land in section 3. He afterward bought 100 acres more. He was married in 1858 to Catharine Henry, who is also a native of Switzerland. They have two sons and a daughter.
ARCHIBALD RAYMOND is a native of the township of Norwich, Ox- ford County, Ontario, where he was born in 1844. In 1855 came to Marathon Township with his father. Has always followed farm- ing. In 1878 he settled on section 15, Deerfield, where he has a farm of 160 acres, 50 cleared. Was township clerk from 1880 till 1883. Was married in 1866 to Miss Elizabeth Clute. They have three sons and one daughter living.
HENRY B. WILSON was born in Ancaster, Ontario, in 1833, afterwards lived in Burford and Dumfries. In 1872 came to Deer- field, Lapeer County, and settled on section 10, on 80 acres of land, 65 of which are cleared. Served as highway commissioner one year. Married Hannah Grandine, of St. Catherine's, Ontario, in 1856. They have two sons and a daughter living.
ANDREW KESTER was born in Markham Township, York County, Ontario, 1848. He was educated to be a teacher and is a graduate of the Normal School at-Toronto, from which he received a second class certificate, and afterward was given a provincial first class one. He taught four years in Markham, two in Uxbridge and three and a quarter in Whitchurch. In April, 1880, he came to Deerfield, bought 280 acres of land in section 35, and commenced farming.
In November, 1882, he was appointed supervisor, and in April, 1883, was elected to the same office. He has won golden opinions in the township for the able manner in which he has performed the duties of the office. He has been director of School District No. 6 since September, 1880. In 1868 he was married to Miss Mary E. Cliff, of Pickering, Ontario. They have three daughters.
JOSEPH C. SWEET was born in Dunham, Lower Canada, now Quebec, in 1830. Learned the trade of a tanner and currier, and was in business with his brother at Broome, Quebec, for seven years. In 1869 he came to Michigan, farmed for some time in St. Clair County, and then came to Lapeer County, living at first in Elba Township. In 1872 he bought 120 acres of land in section 19, Deerfield, of which he has about 50 cleared. Was director of School District No. 5 for six years, and in 1883 was elected justice of the peace. In 1858 was married to Adelia O'Brien, a native of Vermont. They have had five sons and seven daughters, of whom all but one son are living.
CHARLES DINGMAN was born in Monroe County, N. Y., in 1828, He learned the trade of a mason at Scottsville, near Rochester. He followed it and farming until 1854, when he came to Michigan. For seven years he lived in Pontiac and Birmingham. In 1861 he went to Lapeer, where he had the contract for the mason work on the present jail, which was built in that year. Worked at his trade in Lapeer for about six years, less about a year in the army. He then went on a small farm near that city. From there he moved to the township of Attica, where he farmed it some three years. Was a member of the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics for about a year. Has been a road commissioner and director of School Dis- trict No. 4, Deerfield. Was elected to the latter office in 1881 and re-elected in 1883. Came to Deerfield in 1880 and farms eighty acres in section 30. He has been married twice. He was married to his present wife in 1861, who was a Miss Mary E. Young, of New Jersey. Has had two children by her and two by his deceased wife.
THOMAS C. BAKER was born in Nottingham, England, in 1830. Learned the trade of an engineer in that city. Emigrated to the United States in 1850, and for the first twelve years was a resident of Richfield, Genesee County, Mich., where he was engineer in a saw-mill. Previously, however, to coming to this country, he was an engineer on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. On leaving Richfield he was engineer in the saw-mill of the late Governor Crapo, at Flint, for two years. Held the same position in the old Union grist-mill at Lapeer, for seven years, and then ran an en- gine in a saw-mill, in Attica, and again in Lapeer. In 1876 he bought and settled on 123 acres of land in section 30, Deerfield, forty of which he has since given to his son. Is now, 1883, asses- sor of School District No. 4, which office he has held five years. In 1851 was married to Mary Jane Fenner, who was born in New York State. They have four sons and three daughters. Mr. Baker was one of the charter members of the Lapeer lodge of I. O. O. F.
JAMES McINTIRE was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1853. His parents emigrated to Canada in 1856, settling in Grey County, in Ontario. The son learned the trade of a blacksmith in Simcoe. In 1867 he came to Detroit and was in the employ of the M. C. Railway for some three years. From 1870 to 1874 he was em- ployed at East Saginaw, Mayville and North Branch. In the latter year he came to Deerfield and carried on a shop until 1879, when he bought forty acres of land in section 5, where he now farms it. He has been township drain commissioner since 1877, and mode- rator of School District No 1 since 1878. Was married in 1876 to Miss Eliza Morrison, of Hamilton, Ontario. They have two daugh- ters and one son.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
LEONARD OLIVER was born in Lower Canada in 1803. In 1817 he went to Vermont and lived in Franklin, Chittenden County, until 1833, when he went to Upper Canada and lived in Oxford County until 1859, when he removed to Deerfield Township, Lapeer County, where he bought 500 acres of land, and commenced to make a farm. Deerfield at that time was almost an unbroken wilderness, there being but three other settlers in it. For a number of years he held the offices of justice of the peace, highway commissioner, etc. He was married in 1830 to Mary Persons, a native of Vermont. Mrs. Oliver is still living, and she and her husband make their home at the house of their son-in-law, Wesley Main. Besides this mar- ried daughter, they have two other children, Clark and Barney Oliver, both farmers in Deerfield.
OLIVER CARTER was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in 1822. When four years of age was taken to Trumbull County, O., by his parents. Lived on a farm until he was eighteen years of age. Learned the cabinet-maker's trade at Newton Falls, and worked at it there for twelve years. Afterward he was a farmer in Lorain County, and was in the mercantile business near Columbus. In 1848 he came to Rich Township, Lapeer County, and was one of the first settlers in it. In 1864 he removed to Deerfield, where he farms ninety acres in section 4. While in Rich was highway com- missioner, and in Deerfield has held all the township offices from supervisor down. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, serving until discharged for physical disability. In 1864 he re-enlisted in the Invalid corps, serving at various points in this State until the close of the war, when he returned to Deerfield. Since his return has been connected with the M.E.Church, and occasionally preaches in this and adjoining counties. He was married in 1844 to Miss Orilla Griswold. They have had seven children, five of whom survive. Mr. Carter brought the first threshing machine into Rich Township. His life has been a check- ered one and had its ups and downs. Several times he has had his buildings destroyed by fire, but being possessed of lots of pluck his motto is "Nil desperandum."
E. B. HUGHSON was born in Wolcott, Wayne County, N. Y., in 1831, and in 1844, with his parents, came to Lapeer County, Mich. After he became of age he engaged in farming and lumber- ing in the township of Oregon till 1876, when he removed to Bay City. In October, 1877, he returned to Lapeer County, and settled on section 4, in the township of Deerfield, where he has since re- sided, and has cleared and improved fifty acres of his farm. He enlisted in 1864 in the Ninth Michigan Infantry, and served under General Thomas until the close of the war. Was married in 1854 to Miss Maria Parsons, and was married a second time to Miss Lydia C. Landon in 1865. They have one son.
ABNER C. FOLSOM was born in Alden, Erie County, N. Y., in 1823. He came to Hillsdale, Mich., in 1844. Studied medicine there and practiced in Adams, Moscow and Jefferson Townships. Came to Goodland, Lapeer County, in 1854, where he also prac- ticed his profession. Located in Deerfield in 1865, and lives on section 6, and owns sixty-five acres. Has been a justice of the peace and town clerk for a number of years in both Goodland and Deerfield. Is now postmaster at Drake P. O., to which he was appointed in 1878. In 1850 he married Olive D. Cole, of Farming- ton, Mich. They have had six children; three sons and two daugh- ters now living.
CYRENIUS GALLINGER was born in Brockville, Ontario, in 1840, and came to Lapeer County, Mich., in 1858. He first lived in La- peer. In 1861 he enlisted for three years in the First Michigan Cavalry. At the expiration of his time in 1864, he came to Deer- field, and lives on section 8, where he has 165 acres. Has been township treasurer and highway commissioner. Married in 1866
to Miss Ann Amelia Stevenson, a native of New York State. They have four daughters.
BARNEY OLIVER was born in 1840, in Norwich, Oxford County, Ontario, where he was brought up as a farmer. In 1865 he came to Deerfield and farms it on eighty-five acres in section 7. He was married in 1870 to Miss Elizabeth Vaughan, of Detroit, who died in 1881. Four children survive her.
JEREMIAH JOHNSON Was born in 1836 in Gosfield, Essex County, Upper Canada, now Ontario, of American parents. In 1837 they moved to Wayne County, Mich., afterward to Oxford, Oakland County. In 1854 he came to Marathon, Lapeer County, and in 1856 removed to Deerfield, where he has a farm of eighty acres in section 6. Has been treasurer of School District No. 1, also a con- stable. In 1858 he was married to Miss Mary Allen, of Dutchess County, N. Y. They have had nine children, of whom three daugh- ters and two sons are now living.
LORENZO MERRILL was born in Weston, Oneida County, N. Y., in 1808. Came to Michigan in 1851, and was the first settler in the township of Deerfield, where he has a farm of eighty acres in section 7. Has been a justice of the peace for twenty-one years, also served several years as highway commissioner, and laid out the first roads in the township. In addition to farming was a lumber- man for a number of years. Married in 1831 to Miss Samantha Ingraham. They have four daughters and one son living.
CORNELIUS L. SMITH was born in 1828, in Wayne County, N.Y. Up to his twenty-third year he was .principally employed in saw- mills. Came to Lapeer County in 1853. Bought land in section 6, Deerfield, where he now has 186 acres. Has been a justice of the peace, town treasurer, highway commissioner, etc. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Tenth Michigan Infantry, in which he was third sergeant. Served through the war in the Western Depart- ment. He was married in 1855 to Martha A. Merrill, who died in 1856, and by whom he had a son. In the same year was again married, to Miss Philinda Myers. They have five children, two daugh- ters and three sons.
JOSEPH H. BEARSS was born in 1834 in western Canada. He learned the carpenter and joiner's trade at Aylmer, Ontario, and the wagon-maker's trade in Oxford County. He came to Deerfield in 1871, and farms sixty-five acres in section 5, Deerfield. Has held the office of supervisor one year, treasurer two years, superintendent of schools two years, and has been also connected in other positions with the schools for about six years. Was married in 1860 to Ade- line D'Long, of Oxford County, Ontario. They have one child, a son.
MILES F. DUDLEY was born in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1825. His parents came to Michigan in 1826 and settled in Washington, Macomb County. In 1862 he came to Deerfield, where he has a farm containing sixty-nine acres in section 5. Has been supervisor for eight years, town clerk two years, and in 1883 was elected high- way commissioner. Has been married twice, the first time in 1849. In 1860 was married to his present wife, whose name was Lucretia Merrill. They have two children, a son and a daughter. The house in which they live was the first dwelling erected in Deerfield.
TOWN OF BURLINGTON.
The town of Burlington, described in government survey as township 10 north, of range 11 east, lies on the northern line of Lapeer County. It is bounded on the north by Tuscola County, on the west by the town of Rich, on the south by North Branch and on the east by Burnside and Sanilac County. It is agriculturally
HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
197
one of the best towns in the county, having a gently rolling surface and a fertile soil, generally a clay loam.
But one entry of land was made in this town prior to 1853. This was by Tomlinson Wells in section 31, Jan. 16, 1837. Entries of land were made August 17, 1853, by Ralph C. Smith, in sections 19, 29, 30 and 31; but no entries appear to have been made for act- ual settlement until 1854.
Among the earliest settlers were William O. Smith, whose wife is said to have been the first white woman in the town and to cross the north branch of Flint River, William Barnett, James Day, Charles Ballard, Henry Seaman, Elisha Durphy, David Congdon, Jonathan and Edmond Spencer, Lucius M. Lyon, George Nightin-
The text was John, fourth chapter, twenty-fifth verse: "Say ye not, There are yet four months and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; they are al- ready white to harvest." There were about thirty persons present, coming from many miles around.
The first services of the Methodist Episcopal Church were held by Elder Tuttle and a class organized in 1856. Services have been regularly held ever since, much of the time by Elder Henry Sea- man, one of the earliest settlers, and whose name is thus promi- nently identified with the religious, as it has been with the civil history of the town.
Another pioneer preacher of Burlington was Elder Jesse Shaw,
Imported Cow, ROSA BONHEUR and Calf.
MILK RECORD IN TWO YEAR OLD FORM, 13.411 LLB. 4 OZ. PROPERTY OF WM. WESTOVER, BAY CITY.
gale, Robert Stafford, Nicholas Soper, Alonzo Buckley, Jonathan D. Kennedy, William Bentley, William Clark, Reuben Dickinson, William Kennedy. Among these the entry of William O. Smith in section 33, dated April 25, 1854, is the earliest.
At a very early date death invaded the thin ranks of the pio- neers, taking the father of George Nightingale in 1854. The body was carried about fifteen miles by hand upon a bier and then con- veyed by team to Lapeer for burial.
The first person to be buried in the new cemetery of the town was Thomas Seaman, brother of Henry Seaman. He died March 7,1857.
The first birth was Carlton, son of William O. Smith. in 1855. He is not now a resident of Burlington.
The first marriage was of William Edwards to Ruth, daughter of Edmond Spencer, by Esquire Ballard.
The first religious services were conducted by Elder Matthew McLain, a Baptist minister, at Nicholas Soper's house, in 1855.
a Baptist preacher, who settled on section 3 in 1856, and of whom the following story is related. The elder was one Sunday on his way to hold services in the south part of the town when he met Christopher Middaugh, a mighty hunter in the land, with a saddle of venison on his back. "You are in luck, Uncle Christ," said the elder. "Yes," Mr. Middaugh replied, "and I have got meat to work on through the week." Then, perhaps fearing rebuke for his Sun - day hunting, he hastened to inform the elder that he had left the fore quarters for him, pointing back to the spot where he had killed the buck. It is said the elder's sermon was short that day, for he was out of meat and anxious to secure his prize.
There is as yet no church edifice in Burlington, though it is ex- pected that one, and perhaps two, will soon be constructed.
The Methodist Episcopal class has services every alternate Sunday in the MeKillop school-house, under charge of Rev. George Walker, of North Branch. Services are also held in Oatman's Hall | in the village of Clifford.
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HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY.
The Baptist denomination holds services every other Sunday in the McKillop school-house, also at Clifford: preaching by Elder Parmenter, of North Branch.
North Branch Grange No. 607, of the Patrons of Husbandry, is an active and prosperous organization, having a membership of thirty-four. It meets once a month at the house of Peter Stiver in the town of Burlington. Its officers are, Harrison Bradshaw, mas- ter; Emery E. Owen, overseer; Nathan Stover, secretary; Garrett Teller, treasurer.
THE VILLAGE OF CLIFFORD.
This is an unincorporated village in the northern part of the town of Burlington, situated on sections 3, 4, 8 and 9.
The first building of the village was erected by Arden W. Ly- man, who occupied it as a store, postoffice and dwelling-house. This was about the year 1862, when a mail route was established from North Branch to Clifford. The name was given by Mr. Ly- man, after his son Clifford. Mr. Lyman was first postmaster and was succeeded by John Wilson and he by Moses Middaugh, the present incumbent. This point being the junction of the State road with the center road of Burlington, the main road running north, became a center, not only of trade, but of travel, and in 1871 a hotel was built by Moses Middaugh. In 1875 a steam saw-mill was built by A. W. Lyman, which burned in the spring of 1883.
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