History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 38

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While a large number of its members have dis- tinguished themselves by their skill in marksman-

ship, it will not detract from any to make particular mention of one,-C. G. Jewett.

Mr. Jewett, having excited comment by his par- ticularly fine shooting, entered in the match at Chicago, on May 26, 1879, for the badge offered by Capt. A. H. Bogardus for the best glass-ball shot in America, and won it by a decided victory over all competitors. He was soon after chal- lenged by Capt. Bogardus on behalf of George Buzzard, of Chicago, to shoot for the badge and $500. This match took place on the grounds of the club, in Howell, on Aug. 7, 1879, Mr. Jewett making the unprecedented score of ninety-eight out of one hundred balls, thrown from three Bo- gardus traps set ten yards apart, leaving him the undisputed champion glass-ball shooter of America.

The present officers of the club are : President, H. N. Beach; Vice-President, L. S. Montague ; Secretary, C. G. Jewett; Treasurer, B. H. Rubert ; Executive Committee, H. N. Beach (ex officio), Calvin Wilcox, C. G. Jewett, E. F. Mulliken, and R. H. Rumsey. The club is on a firm financial basis, and has a broad field of usefulness before it which it will not fail to improve.

THE DETROIT, LANSING AND NORTHERN RAILROAD.

The construction of this road and its opening in 1871 have been noticed in the general history of the county. Passing in a northwesterly direction through a corner of Marion, it enters Howell vil- lage across its southern line, a little east of the centre, continues in the same general direction for about one and three-eighths miles through the territory of the corporation, and then crosses its west line into Howell township. Its passenger station is located at the foot of Fleming Street, and contiguous to this are the other buildings of the company. This railroad line has been of great advantage to Howell during the eight years of its operation.

The township and village of Howell together contained 2813 inhabitants, by the census of 1874, and now the village alone contains-by estimation -nearly or quite that population.

There are few villages in this or in any State which occupy better or more eligible locations than that of Howell,-few of its size which pre- sent a more attractive and imposing appearance on approach from all directions. It is well built, containing an unusual number of large and sub- stantial brick structures, and among its mercantile establishments there are some which cannot be surpassed by any, in the same line of trade, in any town or city of Michigan. osted by Google'

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LITTLE

HON. JOSIAH TURNER.

HON. JOSIAH TURNER, JUDGE OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

This distinguished gentleman was born on the first day of September, A.D. 1811, in the old patriotic township of New Haven, Addison Co., in the State of Vermont, and received his academical education at the famous schools of Middlebury and St. Albans, immediately after which he entered his name and commenced his legal studies in the office of his uncle, Hon. Bates Turner, formerly one of the judges of the Supreme Court of that State. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1833, and opened his office in the village of West Berkshire. In January, 1835, he married a daughter of Dr. Ells- worth, of Berkshire, Vt., and in 1840 followed the great tidal wave of emigration to this State, and settled at Howell, the county-seat of Living- ston County, where he at once resumed the prac- tice of his profession.

Two years after taking up his new residence he was elected clerk of the county, and held the office for six years ; and also held in rapid succes- sion the honorable positions of justice of the peace, township clerk, and master in chancery.

Upon the establishment of the County Court system, in 1846, he was elected judge of Living- ston County, and held the position with great credit to himself until the change was made in the judi-

ciary of the State by the adoption in 1850 of the new constitution.

At the general State election in 1856 he was elected Judge of Probate for the same county. His personal popularity was such, added to his professional character, that notwithstanding the Democratic party held a very large majority in the county he was triumphantly elected, although running on the opposition (Republican) ticket.

In May, 1857, he was appointed by the well-de- served favor of his old friend, Gov. Kinsley S. Bingham, to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court bench, and in the same year was elected Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, for the term of six years, at the expiration of which he was again nominated and elected, and re-elected in 1869; and with increasing satisfaction to the profession and to the public, he was again, and for the fourth period, in 1875, re-elected without any opposition,-thus making, if he lives to the end of his present term, a continuous occupancy of a judicial position for twenty-four years and nine months.

Judge Turner has held the Circuit Court in forty counties of the State, and in every circuit but one.

In 1860, with the view of getting nearer the centre of his circuit, Judge Turner changed his residence to Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee. Here he served the municipality of that city as

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Mom Me Pherson

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WILLIAM McPHERSON,

of Howell, Livingston Co., Mich., was born in Gortlich, in the parish of Boleskin, in Inverness- shire, Scotland, Jan. 16, 1804. His parents were Martin and Elizabeth (McIntosh) McPherson.

His father was a blacksmith. In 1813 he re- moved with his family to the city of Inverness, where he carried on his business of blacksmithing for several years. Here William attended school and received a fair common-school education. After leaving school he was employed for about five years as shepherd and as servant and attendant to the minister of the parish. When he was about nineteen years of age he commenced work in his father's shop, and learned the trade of blacksmith of him. After acquiring his trade, he worked for several years as journeyman blacksmith in differ- ent places in the north of Scotland. In 1829, when he was twenty-five years of age, he estab- lished himself in business and opened a shop of . his own in the village of Aberchirder, in Banffshire. April 7, 1831, he married Elizabeth Riddle, of the parish of Grange, Banffshire. He continued in business in Aberchirder for about seven years, during which time, by hard work and constant attention to business, he accumulated a small prop- erty.

Here his three eldest children, Isabella, William, and Alexander, were born. In 1836 he emigrated to America with his family. He came direct to Michigan and settled at Howell, then called Liv- ingston Centre, arriving there September 17th of the same year. The village of Howell at that time consisted of one frame building. This building was used as a hotel. In it were also located the county offices of the new settlement and a small store kept by F. J. B. Crane.

Mr. McPherson at once built himself a log house, and in a log shop adjoining, commenced work at his trade of blacksmithing. In this he continued for about six years.

In 1841 he and Josiah Turner, now circuit judge of the seventh circuit of Michigan, opened a small store, Mr. McPherson contributing part of the cap- ital and Mr. Turner managing the business, Mr. McPherson at the same time continuing his black- smith business on his own account. After contin-

uing the merchandise business with Mr. Turner for about a year, they sold out to Giles Tucker.

In 1843 he bought a half-interest in the stock and store of E. B. Taylor, and, discontinuing his blacksmith business, turned his attention entirely to trade. They did business for about two years together, under the firm-name of Taylor & McPher- son.

After being thus associated for about two years, he bought his partner's interest in the business. From this time he has continued uninterruptedly and with success in the mercantile business.

From 1852 to 1856 he was in partnership with William Riddle in the firm of McPherson & Rid- dle. In 1856 he associated his eldest son, William McPherson, Jr., in business with him, under the firm-name of William McPherson & Co. In 1864 another son, M. J. McPherson, was admitted to the business. In 1867 another son, E. G. McPher- son, was admitted. Since 1864 the name of the firm has been William McPherson & Sons.

From 1856 this firm has had a steady growth and has done an increasing business. It has long been noted for enterprise and reliability. As a business man Mr. McPherson's marked character- istics have been energy, industry, and prudence.

In 1864, when the Detroit and Howell Rail- road Company was organized for the construction of a railroad from Detroit to Howell, Mr. McPher- son was elected a director, and treasurer of the company. In this position he continued for about five years, doing much hard and difficult work. The original company were unable to carry out their project, but a new company composed prin- cipally of Eastern capitalists completed the work, and the road is now known as the Detroit, Lan- sing and Northern Railroad. He assisted in the organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Howell in 1838, and has been a member ever since. He has four sons, William, Alexander, Martin John, and Edward G. All are living in Howell. Three are associated with him in the mercantile business, and one is engaged in banking. He has also four daughters,-Isabella, wife of H. H. Mills ; Elizabeth, wife of E. P. Gregory ; Mary L., wife of H. T. Browning ; and Ella, wife of Fred A. Smith.

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SEYMOUR E. HOWE.

Seth Howe, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Connecticut in 1776, where he spent his early childhood, and from whence his parents moved to Pennsylvania. There he grew to man- hood and married a Miss Washburn, by whom he had several children. Then, hearing glowing stories of western New York, he emigrated thither, accompanied by an elder brother, settling on what was then called the "Holland Purchase." His farm was situated in the town of Elba, Genesee Co. There his family increased to the number of ten children, Seymour E. being the ninth child. Four years after this event his wife died. Mr. Howe had a severe struggle, the country being new, heavily timbered, and sparsely settled, with a large family to provide for, a wilderness-farm to clear, and help scarce. Yet he never faltered. Working hard during the week, on the Sabbath he would gather the neighbors together and preach to them the glad news of salvation. This he kept up for forty years, or as long as he lived. Two years after the death of his first wife, he married a Mrs. Dunning, by whom he had one child, a daughter.

Seymour E., when about six years old, went to live with his oldest brother, who was married and followed farming and painting. With him he was associated until his sixteenth year, and received some knowledge of both occupations. At this time many of his older brothers and sisters were married and scattered. Three of them, having gone to Michigan, had settled at Dexter, Washte- naw Co. Soon after Seymour attained the age of sixteen years, he, too, started for Dexter. He was then living about forty miles from Buffalo, which distance he accomplished on foot, carrying his worldly all in a small knapsack. He took pass-

age on the steamboat " Columbus" to Detroit, the trip taking over six days. He was still fifty miles from Dexter, where his friends lived. This dis- tance he walked, as he had not money enough to hire a public conveyance. Arriving at Dexter, his brothers and sisters gave him a very cordial greet- ing, one of whom, a carriage-maker, offered him employment, which he. accepted and commenced work at once. He soon after went to work for an- other brother, in the clock business. He remained with his brother nearly seven years and then re- turned to the home of his childhood. He found his father and friends well, and received the prodi- gal's greeting. His father wishing him to remain with him while he lived, he concluded to do so, and soon after married Miss P. A. Boutell, with whom he is still living. Here they remained until after the death of his father, which occurred on the 14th of June, 1852.

Oct. 14, 1856, he started again for Michigan, and in due season arrived and located in the town of Howell, Livingston Co., upon section 15. Through the kindness of David Blackman and family, he obtained a comfortable log house free of rent the first winter. But the usual casualties and hard struggles incident to a new country and climate awaited them, and for the first five or six years it was living from hand to mouth. But, by the bless- ings of a kind Providence, a change came; they were again blessed with health. The older chil- dren became helpful, and from that time to the present it has been one continued season of pros- perity. The log house has been displaced, and a large and convenient dwelling erected, and their vessel is now under full sail, with a fair prospect of a happy termination of life's voyage.

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VILLAGE OF HOWELL.

mayor in 1864, and was again chosen in the follow- ing year.

At the Constitutional Convention, held at Lan- sing in 1867, he was elected for the county of Shiawassee, and became at once an active and valuable member,-serving on the committee of the judiciary, and chairman of the committee on schedule.

Throughout the long period of his public and judicial life, from its very commencement up to the present period, Judge Turner has been dis- tinguished by patience and industry, and a de- termination to do what is right whenever and wherever that could be known, and it is this principle which has won from those who admin- ister the law the respect and confidence of the people.

To the members of the bar, whether old or new practitioners, he has ever exhibited a kindliness of disposition, an unwavering courtesy of demeanor, and a display of characteristics which so happily become a judge, whether sitting in equity, at nisi prius, or in the performance of professional duties in chambers. The family of Judge Turner con- sisted of five children, three of whom are now living, viz., Hon. Jerome Turner, of Owosso, State Senator from 1868 to 1870, and now mayor of that pros- perous and enterprising city; Lucia, the wife of Hon. H. M. Newcomb, of Ludington ; and Miss Nellie Turner.

SARDIS F. HUBBELL.

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, has been a resident of the village of Howell for more than a quarter of a century, and is one of the. prominent members of the Livingston County bar. He was born June 10, 1820, at Newburg, Ohio, a place which is now embraced within the limits of the city of Cleve- land. His father, Adoniram Hubbell, was a native of Connecticut. His mother, Laura (Fuller) Hub- bell, born in Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., was a lady of rare intellectual ability and culture. She died April 11, 1850.

In or about the year 1819, Adoniram Hubbell emigrated West and settled in Ohio, where he worked at his trade-that of a hatter-until the year 1835, when he removed with his family to Hartland, Livingston Co., Mich., located a piece of land, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, in connection with the business of his trade, which he carried on in the winter seasons, until 1841, after which he gave his whole attention to farming. He died Aug. 8, 1852. His son, Sardis F., to whom this sketch has especial reference, had at-

tended the common schools of Newburg, Ohio, until he reached the age of fifteen years, at which time he removed with his parents to Hartland. Here he attended a select school for a time, and after leaving it, assisted his father in business until about 1839, when he was nineteen years of age. He then entered the office of Josiah Clark, M.D., for the purpose of studying medicine, but finding this uncongenial to his taste, he abandoned it after a year's trial, and in 1840 commenced reading law in the office of Wellington A. Glover, of Howell, then prosecuting attorney of the county of Liv- ingston. In this he applied himself so closely that at the end of a year he found his health im- paired, and as a consequence he was compelled to suspend study for about two years. On the 15th of May, 1843, he entered the office of Augustus C. Baldwin, of Milford, Oakland Co., where he studied hard for more than three years. He was admitted to the bar in Pontiac, Dec. 16, 1846, and at once commenced practice in Oakland County, where he continued for eight years, having been during that time (November, 1850) elected repre- sentative in the State Legislature. In the spring of 1854 he removed from Milford to Howell, where he at once engaged in the business of his profession. In the fall of that year he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner, and in the fall of 1858 was elected prosecuting attorney of Livingston County. He was again elected to the same office in 1862, and re-elected in 1864.

Mr. Hubbell has been closely identified with the interests of Livingston County, and in particular, with those of Howell. He has filled the office of president of the village for three terms, and that of director of the school board for two terms. He has always taken a deep interest in the advance- ment of education. In religious belief he favors that of the Baptist denomination, and attends the services of that church. In politics he is and always has been a Democrat. In 1854 he joined the Masonic fraternity, and was Master of the Howell Lodge from 1859 to 1863 inclusive, and again from 1876 until the present time. He took part in the organization of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Howell, and was elected its High Priest. He assisted in organizing the Commandery of Knights Templar, and filled the office of Emi- nent Commander for two terms. He was also District Deputy Grand Master for the Sixth Ma- sonic District for the years 1873 and 1874. He has been twice married : first, Aug. 14, 1848, to Miss Emily A. Mowry (who died Dec. 29, 1862), and the second time, to Mrs. Helen M. Carlin, Aug. 14, 1864. Of his three children by the first marriage, two sons are now living.ogle

HOWELL TOWNSHIP.

THE township of Howell is that which is desig- nated on the United States survey as No. 3, north of the base line, in range 4, east of the principal meridian of the State. It is bounded on the west by the township of Handy, and on the north by Cohoctah. Its eastern line-against the township of Oceola-and its southern boundary, on which it joins Marion, are the central lines of Livingston County, the former traversing it from north to south, and the latter from east to west.

The water-courses of Howell are not numerous, nor is their supply more than moderately abund- ant. The principal of these is the south branch of the Shiawassee River, which, taking its rise in the lakes of Marion, flows north, nearly through the centre of Howell, into Cohoctah. This is here a sluggish stream, and for a considerable part of its course through Howell is bordered by swamps ; but it furnishes two water-powers of small ca- pacity, which have, in past years, done some ser- vice to the people of the town, by propelling mills for grinding grain, sawing lumber, and dressing cloth.

The east branch of Cedar River also enters the township from Marion, and, crossing the three southwestern sections of Howell, passes into Han- dy, where it joins the main Cedar.

Thompson Lake lies partly within the original township, but in that part which is now included in the village corporation of Howell, as has already been mentioned in that connection. From the north end of this lake issues an outlet stream, which passes north and east through the north part of section 25 and the southeast part of sec- tion 24 of this township, and enters Oceola, but returns into Howell on section 12, and then flows north, through that and section I, into Cohoctah, where it is known as Bogue Creek, and where it finally joins the Shiawassee River.

The surface of Howell township is undulating, but cannot be termed hilly. The altitude of some parts of it is perhaps nearly as great as that of any part of the county, but the elevations of land are less abrupt, and not so high with reference to sur- rounding country, as is the case in some of the other (particularly the southeastern) townships of Livingston. A great part of the area of Howell was originally covered with " oak-openings," and

in these the soil, although not so strong as that of heavy timbered lands, was of a quality well adapted to the purposes of agriculture, and more profitable for settlers than that lying beneath the denser forest growth, because it could be made available for crops in less time and with less labor. The swampy lands along the streams, and in some other parts of the township, are justly regarded as blem- ishes upon the face of the country, yet they were positive blessings to the pioneer farmers who settled here, for they were enabled to feed their stock on the coarse wild marsh grasses during the time which necessarily elapsed before the lands could be cleared and crops raised for their subsistence.

· LAND-ENTRIES.

The first entry of land in this township was made by Orman Coe, of Genesee County, New York, May 20, 1833, and embraced the east half of the southwest quarter of section 27. The next* was by Checkley S. Palmer, of Genesee Co., N. Y., it being the west half of the northwest quarter of section 25. The later entries are shown by the following list, which is of the names of all pur- chasers from the United States of lands on the several sections in Howell township, with the dates and descriptions of their purchases :

SECTION I.

Bickford P. Hutchinson and Silas Titus, of Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 18, 1836. Southeast quarter and northeast fractional quarter.

Edward Peck, of Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. West half of the southwest quarter.

Joseph Heath, of Monroe Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. Northwest fractional quarter. Daniel Boutell, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1836. East half of the southwest quarter.

SECTION 2.

William W. Shutes, Oakland Co., Mich., Oct. 19, 1835. South part of northwest fractional quarter.

Ezra Frisbee, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Oct. 19, 1835. North part of north west fractional quarter.

# In mentioning this as the next entry in the township after that of Mr. Coe, it is meant that this was the next made in the town- ship, except such as were made on sections 35 and 36, and the south half of sections 25 and 26, which have been named in the history of Howell village. So in regard to all matters pertaining to the history of the township, this is to be understood as a narrative of events occurring in the territory of the township outside the cor- poration limits of Howell village, but embracing nothing within those limits.

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RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM WHITE, HOWELL. LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICH

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185.

HOWELL TOWNSHIP.

William S. Gregory, Wayne Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. South part of northeast fractional quarter.

Patrick Tobin, Livingston Co., Mich., May 28, 1836. Southwest quarter.

Horace Heath and Apollos Smith, United States, June 10, 1836. North part of northeast fractional quarter.

Harvey S. Bradley, Niagara Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1838. East half of southeast quarter.

Joseph Bradley, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 2, 1838. Northwest quarter of southeast quarter.

Maria Bradley, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 5, 1839. Southwest quarter of southeast quarter.

SECTION 3.

John Sanford, Oakland Co., Mich., July 8, 1834. Northwest frac- tional quarter.

William Carpenter, Niagara Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. West half of south west quarter.

Ebenezer Warren, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. West half of southeast quarter and east half of southwest quarter. Henry W. Randall, Niagara Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. East half of southeast quarter.

John Sanford, Livingston Co., Mich., June 8, 1836. North part of northeast fractional quarter.

David Hyde, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 16, 1846. Southwest quarter of northeast quarter ; Feb. 23, 1848, southeast quarter of northeast quarter.

SECTION 4.

Samuel M. Spencer, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 7, 1836. West half of southwest quarter.

Garret S. Lake, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 28, 1836. South- west quarter of southeast quarter.

Mark Healy and B. B. Kercheval, United States, May 28, 1836. East half of southwest quarter, east half of southeast quarter, northwest quarter of southeast quarter.

Purdy Williams, New York City, June 15, 1836. West half of northwest fractional quarter.

William Hyde, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1854. East half of northeast fractional quarter.

Almon Whipple, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1854. East half of northwest fractional quarter, west half of northeast fractional quarter.

SECTION 5.

Nathan Chidester, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 4, 1836. Northeast fractional quarter.

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History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 38

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 617

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 617