USA > Michigan > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 49
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of government land in the same township, upon which he remained until 1845. In the latter year he exchanged for a farm of one hundred and seven acres on the Detroit and Grand River Turnpike. In December, 1850, his wife died, after having borne him seven children. In August, 1851, he married Miss Amanda M. Brown, who became the mother of two children. His children by his first wife were Louisa M., Orston T., Harriet Ann, Wil- liam H., Joseph T., Henry W., and Daniel O .; by his second wife, Albert A. and Charles W. Mr. Van Amburg's ancestors lived for many years in Saratoga Co., N. Y. His parents both died in Michigan, at the home of their son. His children all reside in Livingston County, except two,-a married daughter in Oakland County and a mar- ried son in Ogemaw County. In 1857, Mr. Van Amburg exchanged his last-mentioned farm for one of two hundred and forty acres in Brighton township, Livingston Co., and is now living just across the line from his first building-spot in this county. For ten years he was a justice of the peace, and also for a number of years commis- sioner of highways.
W. C. SEARS.
Mr. Sears was born in Fabius, N. Y., Dec. 20, 1812, being one of a family of six children. His father, who was a farmer, moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1829, and purchased forty acres of land near that place. The son worked for his father several years. At the age of twenty-one he commenced to work at the carpenter's trade, continuing for a short time. In February, 1846, he came to the township of Brigh- ton, Livingston Co., purchased about two hundred acres of land, and built a log house, the remains of which are yet standing. About twelve years later, he built the house he now occupies. March 14, 1853, he married Miss Elvira Toncray, who. bore him a son,-Pitt,-his birth occurring Feb. 3, 1854. The son is now living with his wife on the farm, he having married Miss Ada Traverse, Dec. II, 1878. Mrs. W. C. Sears died July 17, 1878. Even at the date Mr. Sears settled in Brighton the country was yet new, and no improvements had been made on the land he purchased. Deer, wild turkeys, and wolves abounded. Mr. Sears carried his wheat to Detroit, and sold it for fifty cents a bushel, making the trip with his team of oxen. He has at present one hundred acres of land under cultivation.
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MARVIN GASTON
MRS. MARVIN GASTON.
RESIDENCE OF MARVIN GASTON. HANDY , MICHIGAN.
HANDY TOWNSHIP.
THE territory designated in the field-notes of the United States survey as township No. 3 north, of range No. 3 east, was organized as a separate township in 1838, and derived its name from Cal- vin Handy, its first settler.
It is situated upon the west border of Living- ston County, north of the centre.
Adjacent township organizations are Conway on the north, Howell on the east, Iosco on the south, and Leroy and Ingham Counties on the west.
The surface, while comparatively level, undu- lates sufficiently to allow good surface-drainage ; the more elevated portions being found in the northern part.
The principal water-courses are the Cedar River and its branches. The main stream, or that which bears the name of Cedar River proper, enters the town by crossing the south line of section 34; thence it flows in a northerly direction through the central part of the township, until reaching the centre of section 10, when its course is changed to the northwest, finally passing into Conway from the north line of section 5. It again enters Handy, and forms a junction with the west branch in the north part of section 6.
The East Branch enters from Howell township, and intersecting sections 24, 13, 14, and 23, makes a junction with the main stream in the north part of section 22. The West Branch first makes its appearance by crossing the south border of sec- tion 31, and flowing to the northwest, cuts the southwest corner of the same section, and passes into Ingham County. It re-enters the township by crossing the west line of section 19, and thence continues northerly, through the west tier of sec- tions, until joining the main stream near the extreme northwest part of the township.
Springs abound in many places, and, taken al- together, the township is well watered; yet no lakes are found within its borders, and its area of swamp surface is comparatively small.
In a state of nature it was heavily timbered with the deciduous trees common to this portion of the State ; consequently its soil is strong and rich, well adapted to grazing, and the successful culti- vation of corn, fruits, and the various cereals, and in the quality and quantity of its productions per
acre, Handy is not surpassed by any township in Livingston County.
It contains the thriving village of Fowlerville, and in 1874 the census reported a total popula- tion of 2144. The present voters are 600 in num- ber, and the present total population will aggre- gate 3000.
ORIGINAL LAND-ENTRIES.
The following comprises a list of names of those who purchased of the general government lands situated in the township of Handy, with the sec- tions on which they purchased and the dates of the several purchases. Those designated by an asterisk (*) became residents in the township.
SECTION I.
Horace W. Vaughn, Oakland Co., Mich., March 25, 1836. William Barnett, Monroe Co., N. Y., April 1, 1836. Joseph B. Craft, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836. George Curtis, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 9, 1836. Joseph B. Craft, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 13, 1836. Joel Banfield, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836. Richard P. Bush,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836.
SECTION 2.
Waity Smith,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1835. Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1835. Calvin Handy,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 25, 1836. Franklin Moore and Zachariah Chandler, Wayne Co., Mich.,
June 4, 1836
Charles P. Bush,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 9, 1836.
SECTION 3.
Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co , N. Y., Nov. 5, 1835. Charles P. Butler, New York City, April 2, 1836.
SECTION 4.
John B. Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836. Henry W. Delavan, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. Nicholas Grumback, Wayne Co., Mich., April 25, 1838. Phineas Silsby,* Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 7, 1838.
SECTION 5.
Cornelius Israel, Wayne Co., Mich., July 15, 1836.
John W. Edmonds, Columbia Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1836. Gustave De Neven, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, and April 13, 1838.
SECTION 6.
Henry W. Delavan, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. Ebenezer McCormick, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836. Gustave De Neven, Genesee Co , N. Y., April 14, 1838. George E. Adam-, Dec. 13, 1853.
John Thomas, Dee. 13, 1853. Hosted by
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
SECTION 7.
Polly Sanders, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 28, 1835. John B. Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836. Nathan Jenks, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836. John W. Edmonds, Columbia Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1836. Mathew Straight, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1837. George W. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich., April 15, 1853.
SECTION 8.
John B. Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836. Flavius J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., April 23, 1836. Nathan Jenks, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836. William C. Blackwood, Seneca Co., N. Y., July 13, 1836. Samuel Blackwood, Oakland Co., Mich., July 13, 1836. George W. Israel, Wayne Co., Mich., July 15, 1836. Samuel Bryant, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1837.
SECTION 9.
Peter A. Cowdrey, New York City, Oct. 23, 1835. George McIntosh, Oakland Co., Mich., March 26, 1836. Joseph Lawrence, New London, Conn., May 2, 1836. Russell Forsyth, Albany Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1836.
SECTION 10.
Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 27, 1835. Peter A. Cowdrey, New York City, Oct. 23, 1835. Henry W. Delavan, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. Amos Adams, Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 28, 1836.
SECTION II.
Chilson Sanford, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 25, 1834. Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1835. Harvey Metcalf,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 28, 1835. Charles P. Bush,* Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 26, 1836, and April 1, 1836. Loren Tainter, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 7, 1836.
SECTION 12.
Flavius J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 27, 1835. Francis Field, Livingston Co., N. Y., Jan. 11, 1836. William J. Hamilton, Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 25, 1836. Mary Tainter, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 7, 1836. Joel Banfield, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836. James E. Head,* Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1836. Stephen Avery,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Dec. 8, 1836. Charles S. Harrison, Livingston Co., N. Y., Dec. 8, 1836.
SECTION 13.
James M. Hitchings, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 10, 1836. Amos Chaffee, Wayne Co., Mich., July 15, 1836. Morris Tompkins, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. Daniel O'Conner, Columbia Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1836. Wells Brockaway, Ontario Co., N. Y., Oct. 27, 1836. . Victory Curtis and Almon Whipple,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 27, 1837.
SECTION 14.
Sanford Britton, Wayne Co., Mich., April 25, 1836. Peleg Oatman, Orleans Co., N. Y., May 17, 1836. James M. Hitchings, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 10, 1836. James Hanmer, Wayne Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1836. Victory Curtis and Almon Whipple,* Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 27, 1837.
SECTION 15.
Ralph Fowler,* Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 27, 1835. Nathaniel Dorr, Norfolk Co., Mass., Aug. 28, 1835. Nathaniel Jenks, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836.
SECTION 16.
W. H. Miller,* Oct. 5, 1852.
Fowler & Power,* July 26, 1854.
James Hawley,* Dec. 10, 1852.
R. E. Adams, Nov. 23, 1853.
M. W. Fradenburgh, Dec. 23, 1853.
J. T. Sprague, Dec. 23, 1853. Charles Whitney,* 1870. John M. Ruggles,* 1870. James Castillon, Dec. 11, 1852.
D. W. Adams, Nov. 23, 1853.
David Dunn,* Oct. 9, 1866.
P. H. Barber,* Oct. 9, 1866. Jonathan Fox,* Oct. 9, 1866.
N. Coffey,* July 31, 1854.
Edwin Schooley,* March 7, 1854.
Belden Lyman, March 7, 1854.
SECTION 17.
Charles Place, New York City, Dec. 4, 1835.
Henry Barber, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 6, 1836.
John and James Mulholland, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July I, 1836.
David A. McFarlan, Wayne Co., Mich., April 4, 1837, and April 5, 1837.
John M. Ruggles,* Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1857. Daniel S. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 27, 1854.
E. Knickerbocker,* Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1854.
SECTION 18.
Charles Place, New York City, Dec. 4, 1835.
Benjamin P. Vealy,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 14, 1836.
Alanson Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. Hannah Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 18, 1836. George M. Rich, Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 8, 1837. Almira Collins, Livingston Co., Mich., April 14, 1849. Martin Coffey,* Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1854.
SECTION 19.
Alanson Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. Ebenezer J. Penniman, Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. Gabriel Dean, Jackson Co., Mich., June 25, 1836. Hannah Knickerbocker,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 9, 1837. Harry Meech,* Livingston Co., Mich., March 1, 1837. Timothy Lyon, Wayne Co., Mich., March 1, 1837.
SECTION 20.
Leonard Parker," Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. Charles Jennings, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. James McGregor and John A. McGaw, city of Boston, May 24, 1836.
Alanson Knickerbocker,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. Ebenezer J. Penniman, Wayne Co., Mich., June 17, 1836. Charles Strong, Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1836. Timothy Lyon, Wayne Co., Mich., March 1, 1837.
SECTION 21.
James McGregor and John A. McGaw, Boston, Mass., May 23, 1836.
Clark C. Boutwell, Wayne Co., Mich., May 23, 1836. James McGregor and John McGaw, Boston, Mass., May 24, 1836, and June 4. 1836. Nelson Coffey,* Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1854.
SECTION 22.
Hosea B. Thorp, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. James Williams, Wayne Co., Mich., May 30, 1836. Abram Bockhoven, Morris Co., N. J., June 9, 1836. e
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HANDY TOWNSHIP.
SECTION 23.
John Cosart, Livingston Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. Spaulding M. Case, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 1, 1836. Hosea L. Strong, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 25, 1836. Russell Forsyth, Albany Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1836. Samuel Kilpatrick, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836. Hosea L. Strong, Wayne Co , Mich., Jan. 21, 1837. William Guthrie, Washtenaw Co , Mich., July 24, 1838.
SECTION 24.
Marshall Chapin and John Owen, Wayne Co., Mich., July 14, 1836.
Thomas O'Conner, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 25, 1836.
John McKinney, Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1836.
Samuel Kilpatrick, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836.
SECTION 25.
Elijah Crane, Wayne Co , Mich., July 14, 1836. Rufus A. Leonard, State of New York, Dec. 20, 1837. . George W. Hanmer, Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 16, 1837. Charles P. Bush,* Ingham Co., Mich., Nov. 17, 1854.
SECTION 26.
Seth Belknap, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. George B. De Graff, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836. Elijah Crane, Wayne Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. John Cosart, Livingston Co., Mich., July 14, 1836. Jason W. Powers, Madison Co., Mich., Aug. 1, 1836. David Phelps, New York City, Sept. 24, 1836. Russell Disbrow, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 1, 1837.
SECTION 27.
Milo M. Stockwell, Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. Jeremiah De Graff, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836. Hiram H. Slawson, Seneca Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1836. Charles Andrews, Wayne Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. I-rael S Spencer, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1838. Mathew Knowles,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 22, 1839. Leonard Morse, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 27, 1847. Leonard Noble, Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 5, 1853.
SECTION 28.
Alanson Church,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. Clark C. Boutwell, Wayne Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. Andrew King, Orange Co., N. Y., June 1, 1836. Jesse Norton,* Genesee Co., N. Y., July 2, 1836. ,
SECTION 29.
Orson Church,* Genesee Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. James McGregor and John A. McGaw, Boston, Mass., May 24, 1836.
Lewis Westfall,* Wayne Co., Mich., June 27, 1836. James S. Kimberly, New York City, July 16, 1836. Samuel Porter, Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. Richard Parish, Wayne Co., Mich., June 25, 1836.
SECTION 30.
Lewis Westfall,* Wayne Co., Mich , June 27, 1836. John Whaley, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 30, 1836. Richard Parish, Wayne Co., Mich., June 25, 1836. David A. McFarlan, Wayne Co., Mich., March 18, 1837. Losson Gordon, Wayne Co., Mich., March 28, 1837. Alexander Grant, Wayne Co., Mich., April 24, 1838. Flavius J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., June 27, 1836.
SECTION 31.
Lewis Westfall,* Wayne Co., Mich., June, 1836. John Orr, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 23, 1836.
SECTION 32.
John B. Banta, Montgomery Co., N. Y., June 23, 1836. Roswell Shurtluff, Windsor Co., Vt., June 29, 1836. Orestes H. Wright, Addison Co , Vt., July 1, 1836. Flavius J. B. Crane, Livingston Co., Mich., July 5, 1836. Orestes H. Wright, Addison Co., Vt., July 9, 1836.
SECTION 33.
Dennis Conrad,* Oakland Co., Mich., May 21, 1836. Lewis W. Decker,* Ontario Co., N. Y., May 31, 1836. Joseph and Willard Blanchard, Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 1, 1836.
Adolphus Brigham, Wayne Co., Mich , June 1, 1836. William Martin, Wayne Co., Mich., June 1, 1836. Orestes H. Wright, Addison Co., Vt., July 9, 1836. James S. Kimberly, New York City, July 16, 1836. Nathaniel Andrews, Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837. Joseph S. Stockwell, Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837.
SECTION 34.
Dennis Conrad,* Oakland Co., Mich., May 19, 1836. Silas Munsell, Wayne Co., Mich , May 30, 1836. Joel Choate,* Genesee Co., N. Y., July 2, 1836. Joseph S. Stockfield, Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1837.
SECTION 35.
Joel H. Prescott, Ontario Co., N. Y., March 25, 1836. Benjamin Smith, Wayne Co., N. Y., March 25, 1836. Reuben S. Durfee, Wayne Co., Mich., March 25, 1836. Luther Harmon, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. Joseph Morrow, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836.
SECTION 36.
Dana Shaw, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 9, 1836. John A. Buckland, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 9, 1836. Daniel P. Biglow, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 9, 1836. Samuel Hill, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 9, 1836. Francis Middleberger, Oakland Co., Mich., June 11, 1836. Aaron Lawrence, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 17, 1836. James S. Kimberly, city of New York, July 15, 1836.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
On the 25th of March, 1836, Calvin Handy, a native of Bennington, Vt., then of Danby, Tomp- kins Co., N. Y., purchased from the United States government the southeast quarter and the south part of the northeast fractional quarter of section 2 in this township. He immediately began prep- arations for making a permanent settlement upon his purchase. Early in May of the same year he shipped his household goods, together with a wagon and some agricultural implements, via the Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Detroit. His family, which consisted of himself, his wife, Patience, and children, Polly, Homer, and Eliza, traveled by the same route and mode to the City of the Straits. All arrived safely. He then bought a yoke of oxen, loaded his effects and the members of his family upon the wagon, and began a tedious journey over the Grand River Turnpike towards the western part of the newly-organized county of Livingston. During the latter part of May they arrived at the log cabin of Sardis Davis, who was then living a Hosted by
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
short distance south of the present village of Howell. But the last day of their journey was marred by an accident which befell Mrs. Handy. The roads were very bad, full of ruts, roots, stumps, and mud-holes, and on the wagon, perched above the goods, sat Mrs. Handy, with her children. An unusual jolt of the wagon threw her, with her youngest born, to the ground, and before the ve- hicle could be stopped one wheel passed over her foot. A stout shoe protected the member suffi- ciently, however, to prevent dislocation or the bones from being crushed, but she was rendered lame and almost helpless for some weeks after- wards.
Mr. Handy's family remained under the hospit- able roof of Sardis Davis-the pioneer of Marion- for some three weeks, or until his own cabin could be erected and rendered habitable. This was ac- complished on the 16th of June, 1836. The same afternoon Frederick B. and Cecil D. Parsons, with four other men as companions, arrived at the cabin, and, after engaging the services of Charles P. Bush as guide to show them land in the present town of Conway, requested of Mr. Handy the privilege of sleeping on his floor through the night. He an- swered them in the negative. They seemed much astonished at this peremptory refusal ; and when the spokesman had recovered sufficiently to in- quire why, they were quietly informed that his cabin possessed no floor, but that his wife would endeavor to make them as comfortable as possible. Mrs. Handy-the first white woman to reside in the township, and at present a resident of the vil- lage of Fowlerville-relates that she then took from some of the packing-boxes beds and bedding, and spread upon the ground, in the centre of the cabin, a bed, upon which these six weary men reposed their heads and shoulders, while their lower ex- tremities swung around the circle ad libitum. The children, meanwhile, were made cosy by stowing them away in the half-emptied packing-boxes. Thus passed the first night in the first settler's habitation in the township of Handy. Helen, another daughter, was born to them a few years after their settlement here. In 1839, Mr. Handy became the second supervisor of the township which bears his name. In later years he filled many other official stations, and during a long residence was ever held in high and deserved esteem for his genial qualities and obliging nature. He was born in 1798, and died May 29, 1874.
:.: Charles P. Bush reached the settlement one week later than Mr. Handy. He was also from Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., and, after building a log house, clearing land, and sowing a crop of wheat, returned to New York, In June, 1837, he again
came to Handy, and with his family settled upon the northwest quarter of section II. He was a gentleman possessed of a keen and discriminating intellect, which he had matured by reading and reflection. Ready in expedient, and always fore- most when occasion required, nature stamped him as a leader, and he became at once the counselor and friend of the early settlers. A few years later he became one of the most prominent men in this part of the State. In 1840 he was elected to represent Livingston County in the State Legisla- ture, and was re-elected three successive terms. In 1845 he was elected State Senator from the dis- trict of which Livingston County formed a part. He became president of the same body in 1847, and by the election of Governor Felch to the United States Senate, Lieutenant-Governor Greenly filled the office of Governor, and Senator Bush became Acting Lieutenant-Governor of the State. His vote decided the location of the capital at Lansing, and he presided over the last senatorial session in the old capitol in Detroit, as also the first which sat in Lansing. Soon after the location of the capital in Lansing, Mr. Bush removed thither, and until his death was identified with the history and public interests of Ingham County.
Harvey Metcalf, a veteran of the war of 1812, . and son-in-law of Amos Adams,-one of the con- spicuous pioneers of Howell,-purchased the south- east quarter of section II, Nov. 28, 1835. Early in the spring of 1836 he came on from Geneseo, Liv- ingston Co., N. Y., and began an improvement upon his premises. He boarded with Mr. Adams, and succeeded during the summer in clearing a few acres, sowing the same to wheat, and building a substantial log cabin.
James E. Head was another immigrant to the township during 1836. He purchased lands situ- ated upon section 12, and until the settlement of his family, in 1837, boarded, while here, with Calvin Handy.
In the spring of 1836, John B. Bowler and Mar- tin W. Randall set out on foot from Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y., and proceeding through Canada, finally arrived at Howell, Mich. By the aid of Amos Adams, they located lands on section 33, in Conway, and on sections 4, 7, and 8, in Handy.
Mr. Ralph Fowler has recently prepared for publication a comprehensive sketch relating to the early settlement of Handy, from which much val- uable information has been obtained. The follow- ing is his account of the journey, and the sub- sequent settlement of himself and Martin W. Randall during the month of November, 1836.
In September, 1836, the brothers Ralph and
EDWIN NICHOLS.
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TENANT HOUSE.
MRS EDWIN NICHOLS
RESIDENCE OF EDWIN NICHOLS. HANDY MICHIGAN
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HANDY TOWNSHIP.
John B. Fowler, Mrs. Harvey Metcalf, and her sister, Mrs. Winship, started from Geneseo, Liv- ingston Co., N. Y., for a journey to Livingston Co., Mich. Mrs. Metcalf purposed joining her husband already here, while the Fowler brothers were to determine by a view of the country upon the pro- priety of settling upon lands previously located for them by Amos Adams. At Buffalo they took passage for Detroit on the steamer "Commodore Perry," which required three days and nights to accomplish. The United States Hotel, and Eagle Tavern, in Detroit, were so full of speculators, land-lookers, and mud, that they could not obtain lodgings, but these were finally found at the City Hotel. The next morning, after much difficulty, a chance was found for the women to ride through to Howell; while the Messrs. Fowler, and their brother-in-law, J. G. Knight, journeyed along on foot. Their route led them over the Grand River road, upon which government employees were then at work, between Detroit and Grand Haven, and they found the road muddy and lonely. The first night was passed at "Uncle Rodgers'," at the " Home," whom many will remember. The travelers were hungry and weary. So, after refreshing them- selves, they quickly retired for much-needed rest. But Uncle Rodgers, wishing to make things pleasant and agreeable, got out a martial band, which made the wild woods ring, much to the disgust of his guests, however. The second day the team reached Howell, but the pedestrians came short, and sought shelter for the night at Mrs. Lyons', who lived in a little shanty on the shore of Long Lake. A bare floor was all the accommodation the house afforded. A short walk in the morning brought them to the house of Amos Adams, in Howell, where a good breakfast and rest awaited them.
After resting one day, the brothers, accompanied by Amos Adams as a guide, started out to look at their lands in Handy and Conway. We here con- tinue the narrative in Mr. Fowler's own words :*
" When we struck the line between sections 10 and 11 in Handy, Mr. Adams said, ' Boys, if you live to be as old as I am you will see a village here as large as Geneseo, N. Y., called Fowlerville.' We had taken with us a small quantity of bread and pork, expect- ing Mr. Metcalf to come up to his place that day, bringing pro- visions, etc. So we ate our lunch and traveled all day in the woods. Towards evening Mr. Adams started on his return home to Howell. . My brother and myself went to Mr. Metcalf's house that night ; ; he had not yet arrived, but we slept in his house. The next morn- ing we ate the remainder of our lunch, and started for Conway to see our lands on section 33, expecting Mr. Metcalf would come that night surely.
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