History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 53

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HARVEY METCALF,

the second white settler in the town of Handy, was born in Worthington, Mass., Dec. 20,- 1795. After the death of his father, which occurred when

LITTLE

HARVEY METCALF.

he was quite young, he found a home with his grandfather until he was fourteen, when the death of his grandfather left him without a home. He then lived among the farmers, working at whatever he could get to do and for what they chose to give him. Under such circumstances his chances for an education were necessarily very limited. He was drafted during the war of 1812, and served until his company was mustered out at the close of the war. Soon after his discharge he went to West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he found employment on a farm. From there he went to Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y., and engaged in the livery business, which he followed for some

time. But becoming satisfied that an old settled country like New York was a hard place for a poor man to get a start, he determined to go to a new State, where land was plenty and cheap. In the spring of 1836, having sold out his business, he came to the town of Handy and bought of the government one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he paid down. During the summer of 1836 he made a small improvement, sowed ten acres of wheat, and put up a log house. In the fall he returned to Geneseo for his family, whom he at once brought to the new home in the forest. At that time there was but one family in the town of Handy. The country around was entirely new save the small clearing made by Mr. Handy. There were no roads save Indian trails, while deer and all kinds of fish and game were abundant. The wolves made night hideous by their howling, although they were not a source of much danger. With the exception of the Handy family their only neighbors were the Indians, with whom they lived on friendly terms. Although everything was new and strange to them, and they endured many pri- vations and hardships, still they were contented and happy. So says Mrs. Metcalf, who is still living, a hale and hearty old lady of nearly seventy. Under Mr. Metcalf's energy and industry the wil- derness home was soon made to "blossom as a rose," and peace and plenty prevailed. At the first town-meeting held in the township Mr. Metcalf was elected road commissioner. But political offices were not to his taste, and he never held one by his own wish. In the schools of his town he always took an active interest, and was generally one of the school board. In politics Mr. Metcalf was first a Whig and then a Republican. He de- parted this life March 28, 1878, respected and es- teemed by his neighbors and friends for his many good qualities.

On the 9th day of June, 1831, he was married to Miss Eveline Adams, who was born in Geneseo, N. Y., March 26, 1810. She was the daughter of Amos and Elizabeth (Wright) Adams. There have been born to them the following-named children : Theron, born March 25, 1832; Amanda F., born Jan. 18, 1834; Angeline, born April 29, 1836; Adelaide, born Aug. 14, 1840; Edwin A., born June 27, 1844; Cornelia, born March 9, 1848, died June 19, 1872; and Emma L., born Sept. 5, 1851, died Jan. 17, 1878.

Theron Metcalf enlisted in September, 1864, in Company H, 4th Cal. Volunteers, and served one year, mustered out as assistant commissary- sergeant in September, 1865. Edwin A. Metcalf enlisted Aug. 6, 1861, in Company K, 9th Michigan Infantry. Was taken prisoner at Murfreesboro" and

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

paroled ; discharged September 16, 1862; re-en- listed in Company D, same regiment, Sept. 10, 1864 ; discharged May 17, 1865.

RALPH FOWLER

was born in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1808. His father, Walter Fowler, who was born in Massachusetts, was a major in the war of 1812, but saw no active service. David Fowler, Ralph's grandfather, was a captain in the Revolutionary war. Of his services but little is known. Ralph grew to manhood in Trenton, where his father

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RALPH FOWLER.

worked at farming. Unable to give his son an education, Ralph had but a winter's schooling until after his marriage. . When twenty-two years old, Mr. Fowler commenced life for himself. He hired out on a farm for eight months. After his time expired, he, with his brother-in-law, rented a dairy-farm, which they worked for two years very successfully. On the 14th day. of November, 1832, he married Miss Martha Smith, and the following spring, with his wife, moved to Geneseo, Living- ston Co., N. Y. He rented a farm of General Wadsworth, which he carried on for a year and a half, when he became home-agent for the general, having charge of a part of his large estate. The general sent him to a night-school, three nights in . a week, six months each of the two years he was in his service, and in this way Mr. Fowler acquired a fair education. In 1835, Mr. Fowler found him- self the possessor of two thousand dollars, and being anxious to have a home of his own he came to Michigan and bought of the government eight lots of land, on a portion of which the village of Fowlerville now stands. The fall of 1836 found

him with his family in the new home in the wil- derness. There were then only the families of Mr. Handy and Metcalf in the town. With his accustomed energy he at once commenced the improvement of his farm; soon cleared fields, made beautiful with growing grain, took the place of the wilderness. Mr. Fowler took an active part in the organization of the town, and was chosen its first supervisor, which office he held many years. For several years there was no road to his place; but, after the building of the capitol at Lansing, the State road from Detroit to Grand Haven was opened through the county to the Meridian line, a stage-route was established, and a post-office opened at Fowlerville, principally through the efforts of Mr. Fowler and Mr. Williams. Mr. Fowler also took an active part in the building of the plank-road, taking a thousand dollars in stock, and also furnishing the plank to construct the road from Howell to Fowlerville. When the first saw mill in Fowlerville was built he gave six acres of land and boarded the hands free. He afterwards bought and finished the mill. Mr. Fowler has also assisted liberally in building the churches of his village. In 1853 he laid out thirty acres of land in the village of Fowlerville, and gave away every alternate lot to any one who would build a good house thereon. He built the first store in, and has since added many buildings to, the village. Mr. Fowler has filled the most of the offices in his town, and served as a Representa- tive in the Legislatures of 1843-44, of 1851-52, and in the special session of 1854. He served as chairman of the Committee on Claims, on the special Committee on the Liquor Law, and was second on the Committee of Ways and Means, filling the position with credit to himself and his constituents. For his second wife, Mr. Fowler married Mrs. Mary Fowler, Dec. 10, 1846. His children by his first wife were George, born July 22, 1833; Lucy, born Aug. 18, 1835, died July 21, 1842; Charles, born June 11, 1837; Joanna, born October, 1839; Walter B., born Nov. 6, 1843; and Walter, born Nov. 6, 1846. George Fowler served as a non-commissioned officer, subsequently as lieutenant and captain, during the Rebellion, and was twice wounded.

GEORGE LOVELY

was born in the State of Ohio, April 12, 1840. When he was three years old, his father moved to Wayne Co., Mich., where he bought a farm. George lived with his father on the farm until he was nineteen, when the death of his father threw him upon his own resources.d bHe worked among

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HANDY TOWNSHIP.

the farmers around Dearborn until 1862, when he came to Putnam, Livingston Co., without a dollar. The first year he rented a farm. He after- wards bought it; but soon sold it, making a nice profit, thereby getting his start. Mr. Lovely then came to Fowlerville and engaged in business. He has been engaged in various branches of business, and has been successful in whatever he undertook. He built the opera-house, has done much to ad- vance the growth and prosperity of his village, and is ranked among its most enterprising citizens. Mr. Lovely is now engaged in buying and selling agricultural implements, buggies, wagons, etc. He also owns and manages a fine farm of two hundred acres, a view of which appears on another page of this work.

EDWIN NICHOLS.

The ancestors of this gentleman were among the early settlers of New England. John Nichols, the paternal grandfather of our subject, emigrated when a young man to Otsego Co., N. Y., where he was married to Susan Wilson. They were the parents of one child, named Jeremiah, who was born in Otsego in 1801. On reaching manhood he was married to Ruth Tupper, of the same place. In 1831 he emigrated to the Territory of Michigan, and settled at Novi, in Oakland Co., where he re- mained five years.

He then removed to Livingston County, and was one of the first to settle in the township of Iosco. He afterwards, at various times, removed to other places in Livingston County, and for the last eleven years he has resided in the township of Handy. In 1862 he was bereaved in the death of his wife, who died at the age of fifty years.

She was the mother of ten children, viz., Ange- line, Edwin, Eliza, Ezekiel S., Albert, Martha J., Philena, Mary A., Charles H., and Seth A. Of these, Angeline, Edwin, Ezekiel, Mary, and Seth are living, all married, and have families. The old gentleman's second marriage was with Mrs. Amelia Ross, of Iosco, with whom he is now living on his farm in Handy,-one of the few remaining old pio- neers of 1831.

Edwin Nichols was born at the old Otsego home in New York, Aug. 15, 1828, and at three years of age was brought to the wilds of Michi- gan. His boyhood was passed in the forests of Oakland and Livingston Counties, with but poor facilities for obtaining an education. He was early inured to all the rude labor and hardships of a pio- neer life in the woods, and from early boyhood until he reached his majority he remained with his father, bearing his full share in chopping, logging,

burning off the timber, and in breaking up new land. On becoming of age he went out for him- self: for two years he followed jobbing, such as breaking up new land by the acre. During this time he became acquainted with Miss Sarah M. Smith, of Iosco, to whom he was united in mar- riage, Nov. 27, 1850.

He then purchased eighty acres of partially im- proved land, in the township of Handy, about four miles southwest of Fowlerville, on which was a small frame house. After his marriage he moved on to his farm, and since that time has made farm- ing his business, in which avocation he has been very successful,-at different times adding tract after tract to his farm, until he now has two hun- dred acres, of which one hundred and fifty acres are improved and under cultivation. His farm is noted for many miles around as being one of the finest and most fertile in the county, upon which there is one of the finest groves of sugar-maple in the State, and from which he annually makes about one thousand pounds of maple-sugar. The resi- dence, barns, etc., are all comfortable and conve- nient, making one of the most beautiful farm- homes in that part of the county. Mr. Nichols is a man of much influence and consideration in his township, and is at this time (1879) supervisor,- he being the first and only Republican ever elected to that office in the town. He and his esteemed wife are the parents of ten children, viz., Oscar, Jeremiah, Hilliard and Willie (twins), Edwin S., Rhoda J. and Jay (twins), Sarah E., Ariadne, and John R. Of these all are living except Willie and Jay. The three eldest sons have left home to do for themselves, and the others remain with their parents. The family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Nichols has been a member many years.

On another page a view of the farm-home, and the portraits of Mr. Nichols and his wife, may be seen.

MARVIN GASTON.

The ancestors of Mr. Gaston were of Irish origin, and were among the early settlers of Massachusetts. Robert, the paternal grandfather, was born in 1747; after his marriage he removed to Madison Co., N. Y., where he resided until his death in 1829, at eighty-two years of age. His widow died in 1835, at the age of seventy-seven years. They were the parents of eight children, named Rhoda, Electa, Chauncey, Lydia, Phoebe, Elijah, Alanson, and Almira.

Elijah was born at the old Massachusetts home, June II, 1793. He was reared in Madison Co.,

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

N. Y. At the age of nineteen (Oct. 11, 1812) he married Susannah Padelford. She became the mother of three children, named Amanda, Caro- line, and Marvin. Her death occurred Nov. 13, 1829, at the age of thirty-six years. Elijah Gaston, June 16, 1830, married Mrs. Polly North, a sister of his deceased wife. By this union there was one child, named Dwight.

In 1836, Mr. Gaston emigrated to Michigan, and with his son-in-law, George Curtis, located two government lots in Howell, which they exchanged a few months later for some wild land in the town- ship of Handy. In the month of February fol- lowing Mr. Gaston and his son, Marvin, erected a log shanty on their new land. During the five days they were building it they camped out, with some boxes for shelter at night, and their oxen chained to a tree. Caroline, the youngest daughter (now Mrs. Dr. Randall), was installed as house- keeper, as Mrs. Gaston was still in New York. Their nearest neighbor westward, Capt. Scott, of Dewitt, was thirty-five miles distant, but in the next few years settlers poured in, log houses and shanties were erected in all directions, roads cut through the forests and swamps, bridges built over the streams, and where but a few years before all was an almost unbroken wilderness, was now fields of waving grain and the homes of happy and pros- perous families. Elijah Gaston only lived to the age of forty-eight years, dying Oct. 15, 1841. His widow died in 1856, aged sixty-one years.

Marvin Gaston was born Aug. 29, 1820, at Mor- risville, Madison Co., N. Y. His boyhood was passed in attending school, and in assisting on the farm. At sixteen years of age he came with his father and the family to Michigan. From that time he was engaged in active labor, alternately at home and for others, until the death of his father. He was at that time about twenty-one years of age, and by the advice of the other heirs, he took pos- session of the little property left by his father, val-

ued at seven hundred dollars, with demands against it for about the same amount.

About the same time he sought and obtained the hand of Miss Phylinda W. Parsons, daughter of Levi and Phylinda Parsons, old pioneers of the town of Conway, they having settled in Living- ston County in 1837.

After his marriage, Mr. Gaston engaged in farm- ing for two years, and for six years in the potash business, during which time he was twice burned out. About the time he quit the latter business, George Curtis, husband of the eldest sister of Mr. Gaston, died; he was at that time keeping a hotel in Howell. After the death of Mr. Curtis, Marvin Gaston went to Howell and took charge of the business, purchasing an interest therein. He re- mained two years, when he sold and returned to his farm in Handy. Soon after, he purchased more land, becoming for a time involved in debt; but by industry and economy, coupled with good man- agement, he has succeeded in paying all claims, and is to-day the owner of one of the finest farms in Livingston County, beautifully situated, and on which may be found all the modern improvements and conveniences.

The names of the children that have been born to Marvin Gaston are Elijah F., Ellen M., Vienna C., Mary E., Henry L., George H., Charles O., and Ernest C. Of these, but two are living,-Vi- enna C. and George H. Vienna is the wife of Luther C. Kanouse, and they reside on their farm in the township of Cohoctah. George H. is mar- ried to Alice Campbell, of Handy, and lives on the old home-farm of Marvin Gaston. The latter has practically retired from active labor, and his son has the charge and management of the farm.

Mr. Gaston and his excellent wife are respected and esteemed by a wide circle of friends and rela- tives. A view of their farm-home, with their por- traits, may be found in this work, a tribute to the memory of an old pioneer family.

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ISAAC STOW.

MRS . ISAAC STOW

RESIDENCE OF ISAAC STOW, IOSCO, MICH

IOSCO TOWNSHIP.

Iosco, the Chippewa name for the small stream now known as Cedar River, is the present title of territory designated in the field-notes of the United States survey as township number 2 north, of range number 3 east. It is situated on the west border of Livingston County, south of the centre, and adjoining township organizations are Handy on the north, Marion on the east, Unadilla on the south, and White Oak in Ingham County on the west. Its surface is slightly rolling and of the character so common to this portion of the State. The principal water-courses are the Cedar River and the West Branch of the same stream. The former enters the township by crossing the south line of sec- tion 36, and flows on in a general northerly course through the east half of the town. The latter stream flows in the same direction through the western part of the township. These streams af- ford no water-power privileges, are sinuous and sluggish in their course, especially the former, which is bordered by bottom-lands and swamps many acres in extent.

Iosco, or School Lake, containing about 40 acres, is situated upon section 16, and denominated the school section. Another small lake lies upon the line dividing sections 25 and 26.

The lands of this township originally were termed by the early settlers "heavy-timbered openings," and the task of subduing and making farms of them was tedious and prolonged. The different varieties of oak common to Michigan predomi- nated; but elm, ash, hickory, basswood, soft maple, and tamarack were plentiful, while black walnut, whitewood, cottonwood, cherry, beech, sycamore, hard maple, and sassafras abounded in most sec- tions.

The soil is of an excellent quality, and yields large returns as the result of intelligent culture, the principal products being wheat, corn, potatoes, fruits, etc. The soil and grasses are also well adapted to grazing and draining,-one of the two cheese-factories of Livingston County being estab- lished here. This factory was built by John Elliott in 1874, and he first began the manufacture of cheese in May, 1875. At the present time milk is used from 100 cows, though in previous years the factory has received the product of twice that .number. The cheese manufactured is shipped

principally to the New York City market, where it compares favorably with the dairy products of ot' er portions of the Union. The factory, and the large farm upon which it is situated, now belong to the Samuel Medbury estate.

Iosco, a post-office station, otherwise known as Parker's Corners, is situated upon portions of sec- tions 8 and 17. Here are the church edifices of the Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Methodist societies, a store of general merchandise, district school-house, cider-mill, a blacksmith-shop, and some half-dozen dwelling-houses.

The population of the township in 1874 was 943. It now has a voting population of about 275, and the + sent total population will approximate 1150.

ORIGINAL LAND-ENTRIES.

The first land entered in township 2 north, of range 3 east, was by Alonzo Platt, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 12, 1835. His selection embraced the east one-half of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 12, and is now owned and occupied by Joseph Loree, Jr.

Elbert Parker entered the southeast quarter of section 8, Oct. 29, 1835. This location is now known as Iosco, or Parker's Corners.

Samuel and William Ranney, from Franklin Co., Mass., purchased a portion of the same section Nov. 5, 1835. A description of their lands will be found in the following complete list of land-entries.

John Wood, from Washtenaw Co., Mich., pur- chased the southwest quarter, the west one-half of the northwest quarter, and the southeast quarter of the same quarter on section II, Nov. 24, 1835.

On the 27th of November, 1835, Robert J. Barry, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., entered the northeast quarter and the east one-half of the northwest quarter of section 17.

These included all the entries for public lands in this township during the year 1835. The next year-1836-nearly the entire township was lo- cated, or, at least, all the desirable lands.

Emigrants from New York, New England, Penn- sylvania, and Ohio arrived during the spring and fall in considerable numbers, and then began that tedious struggle with the primitive forests which to subdue and transform into pleasant homes, sur- rounded by fruitful fields and orchards, as we see

255

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

them to-day, required years of toil and privation, such as their posterity or successors, now enjoying the fruits of their labor, can form no adequate idea.

The following is a complete list of those who purchased from the general government lands sit- uated in this township; showing also their place of residence, and date of entry. Those whose names are particularized with a star (*) became actual settlers.

SECTION I.

Horace Heath, Wayne Co., Mich., June 10, 1836. Hiram P. Spencer, Columbia Co., N. Y , July 2, 1836. Guy C. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich., July 11, 1836. William M. Olcott, Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1836. Roger Glenen, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 18, 1837, and Dec. 20, 1837. John O'Hara, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Feb. 13, 1838. Henry H. Norton, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 6, 1853, and Dec. 13, 1853.

SECTION 2.

Sterling Armstrong, New York City, May 20, 1836. Hiram P. Spencer, Columbia Co., N. Y., July 2, 1836. Silas B. Munsell,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836. George W. Lee, Livingston Co., Mich., June 15, 1837. Sarah L. Kilborn, Livingston Co., Mich., April 22, 1854. George W. Clark, Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 6, 1855.

SECTION 3.

William R. Spafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. William H. Redfield,* Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. Lewis W. Decker, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 31, 1836. Andrew King, Orange Co., N. Y., June 1, 1836. Erasmus D. Keyes (afterwards major-general), New York City, July 15, 1836.

SECTION 4.

William H. Redfield,* Ontario Co., N. Y., May 30, 1836. Joseph and William Blanchard, Onondaga Co., N. Y., June 1, 1836.

Lucius H. Emery, Erie Co., N. Y., June 11, 1836.

Josiah Loree,* Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1836, and Aug. 3, 1836.

Seth Hart, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. Samuel H. Dodge, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. Cornelius Bonter, Livingston Co., Mich., April 4, 1839. Mathew Knowles, Wayne Co., Mich., June 22, 1839. Joseph B. Cole, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 13, 1839.

SECTION 5.

John H. Northrop, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836. Amos P. Gridley, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836. William Pease, New York City, Nov. 14, 1836. Asa C. Tuttle, Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 24, 1837. Alexander Richmond, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 9, 1837. Henry Nooden, Livingston Co., Mich., June 28, 1848. Merrill Colby, Wayne Co., Mich., July 31, 1853.

SECTION 6.

Patrick Conner,* Livingston Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836. Michael Mulveny, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 1, 1836. William Faulk, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 22, 1836. Jonathan O. Hathaway, Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 31, 1837. John Colby, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 8, 1853. Michael Flinn, Livingston Co., Mich., June 9, 1854, and June 19, 1854. James Lindsey, Livingston Co., Mich,, Aug. 21, 1855.

SECTION 7.

Samuel H. Dodge, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. B. B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 26, 1836. Emery Beal,* Livingston Co., Mich., Jan. 11, 1837. John Foster, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 19, 1837. Joab Grover,* Wayne Co., Mich., July 9, 1836. Dotha Barnum, Livingston Co., Mich., July 17, 1838.

SECTION 8.

Elbert Parker,* Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1835. Samuel Ranney, Franklin Co., Mass., Nov. 5, 1835. William Ranney, Franklin Co., Mass., Nov. 5, 1835. James Abbott,* Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836. Peter Chase, Oakland Co., Mich., Sept. 14, 1836.

SECTION 9.

William Kirtland, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 1, 1836. Seth Spencer, Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 19, 1836. Theodore H. Drake, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 23, 1836. Samuel Carpenter, Allegany Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836. Moses Keyes, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1836. John J. Smith, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 12, 1838. Jonah Poyer, Jr.,* Livingston Co., Mich., Oct. 10, 1844.

SECTION 10.

William Kirtland, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 1, 1836: Henry Brower, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 20, 1836. Sterling Armstrong, New York City, May 20, 1836. Enoch Terhune,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 31, 1836. Henry M. Wood,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836.

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History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 53

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

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