USA > Michigan > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 55
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Gorton, William. 13, 24
Goodrich, H. P.
Glenning, Roger .29, 30 I
Gleason, Warren
Van Brunt, Isaac. 9
Van Blarcom, I. D ..... Personal
Hoyt, Emeline. 12
Hilton, John W II
Wood, John .. 17, 20, 21
Wood, D. T. and Alexander II
Haven, Luther ... ...... 21, 27, 28
Wilhelm, Peter L 7,18 Haviland, L. J .. 21, 22, 28, 32, 33 Wilhelm, Peter. 17 Haviland, Jacob. 18
Ward, Jacob. 22 Hilton, John. Personal
Ward, Eli. 14
Hatfield, James
4
Ward, Alvin 15
Jewell, William
30 Kuhn, Peter J. 26 Wright, Thomas 20, 29 Wright, Isaac T 20, 29 Kuhn, Leonard D. 26 Wright, James .. 29, 30 Loree, Joseph. .22, 23 Wilson, Seth G 26, 27 Loree, George. 4
Wells, Alfred ..
27
Williams, Joseph. .. 28 Lewis, Stephen B. 35
Wing, Washington. 12, 13 Lewis, Isaac .. Personal
Redfield, William H. 3,4
Smith, Ard .. 29
Douglass, S. B .. 17
Fewlass, John.
15
Ferguson, Thomas. 35
Smith, Putnam F. 34
Smith, James. Personal
Tupper, Chelsey Personal Tupper, Simeon
9 13
Himes, William
Van Sickel, D. V ... .. 32, 33 Hartford, Charles. .. 34, 36
Osborn, Ard
30 7
Bradford, Charles. 24
Person, Daniel 24
Parker, Elbert.
8
Post, Joseph S. 29 Palmateer, George ..... Personal Quinn, Patrick. 6
Carson, William
Wright, Walker. 16
Simmons, Wm. H. 9
Stow & Carson. .21, 27, 28
Taft, James. 2
Vanblarcom, John II
Munsell, A. S. 15
Newcomb, Wesley 25
Munsell, Silas B 15
Barber, Caleb.
Bliss, E. and Joseph 2, IC
Additional residents assessed for taxes in 1845 were :
RESIDENCE OF JAMES WOODEN, TOSCO , MICHIGAN
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IOSCO TOWNSHIP.
the bodily afflictions of the people. He believed in the practice of Thompson, and steamed and sweated his patients without stint. Dr. John R. Goodrich was the first regularly educated physi- cian, and began his practice here about 1842 or 1843. He has been succeeded by Drs. Schuyler, Cooper, Cruickshank, and Cannon.
PRIVATIONS AND DIFFICULTIES OF PIONEER LIFE IN IOSCO .*
The trials and privations of those pioneers who settled here from 1836 to 1845 were many and severe. The new-comers usually arrived with very few of the trappings considered indispensable in the ordinary household of older communities ; often with no more than could be drawn on one wagon, together with the family and a few boards. These boards were a necessity, as they furnished the only shelter for the pioneer, his family, and ef- fects until a house could be erected. They were arranged by placing one end on the ground or a convenient log, the other on a pole supported by forks driven into the ground. This, with a fire in front, sufficed until a better could be provided. The dwellings were almost invariably of the same type, and, with the exception of nails and a few boards, were built of logs and such other material as could be obtained from the forests without the aid of mechanics.
With no roads, no bridges over streams, blazed trees or perhaps an Indian trail was the only guide to distant markets and settlements. No flour or other provisions of any kind could be had nearer than Ann Arbor, a distance of thirty or thirty-five miles. Those who had teams frequently drove to Detroit for supplies,-a journey which, in those days of bad roads, required about a week's time to accomplish. Flour at that time was worth $16 per barrel ; pork, from $12 to $15 per hundred ; potatoes, $ I per bushel ; butter, 40 cents per pound, and other articles proportionately high. Those who had exhausted their means in getting here and purchasing their lands had a hard struggle for the following two or three years to keep that gaunt spectre, hunger, from the door, and sometimes suf- fered for the necessaries of life.
The long and disastrous depression of industrial interests, and the depreciation in values which fol- lowed the financial crash of 1837, was a trying ordeal for this township, but yet in embryo. Not until the summer of 1837 had any produce been raised, the few settlers of the previous year not arriving in season to plant any crops, with the ex- ception of four or five small pieces of wheat, prob-
ably not more than twenty acres in all the township, and this was nearly a failure. The prostration of business generally effectually checked emigration, and many disheartened emigrants returned to their former homes in the East, consequently the town- ship increased but little in population during the three succeeding years. After the harvest of 1838, considerable surplus wheat was on hand, but the cost of marketing was nearly as much as could be realized for it when there; a load of wheat, requir- ing four days with oxen to Ann Arbor, would bring from ten to fifteen dollars, but people in those days "cut the garment to the cloth," or, in other words, kept their expenses within their income.
Notwithstanding the many and serious difficul- ties which these brave and dauntless pioneer men and women had to overcome, they were generally happy and contented. It would seem almost as though they were especially designed and prepared for their work. They made little of the dark pass- ages of life, and much of its bright ones. All within a radius of miles were neighbors and well acquainted. No aristocracy then ; the man with forty acres of land had as large a revenue as the one with a half section,-for wild lands produce no earnings,-and was his peer socially. It was a cus- tomary practice to gather together on the long winter evenings at each other's dwellings and have a merry good time. These free-and-easy social gatherings, devoid of the dictum of fashion or pride of dress, were very enjoyable affairs, and no doubt contributed largely to that fraternity of feel- ing and interest in each other's welfare which forms so prominent a feature in isolated and sparsely-set- tled communities.
CIVIL HISTORY.
Iosco was formed from Unadilla by an act of the State Legislature, approved March 6, 1838. The act reads as follows :
"SECTION 44. All that portion of the County of Livingston designated in the United States survey as township number two north, of range number three east, be, and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Iosco; and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house of Jeremiah Nichols, in said township."
Under the provisions of this act, the legal voters of the new township, on Monday, April 2, 1838, assembled at the house of Jeremiah Nichols for the purpose of electing township officers. An organization was effected by choosing Ard Osborn, Moderator; George C. Wood, Levi W. Munsell, and Joab Grover, Inspectors ; and Lawson Judson, Clerk. This election resulted in the choice of the following officers : Ard Osborn, Supervisor ; Elbert Parker, Township Clerk ; Asel Stow, Leview.
* Extract from Hon. Isaac Stow's address to the Livingston County Pioneer Association, January, 1878.
262
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Munsell, Lorenzo Backus, Assessors; Seth G. Wilson, James Wright, Lawson Judson, Justices of the Peace; Joab Grover, Chelsey Tupper, Wash- ington Wing, Highway Commissioners; William Wright, Henry Canoll, Simeon Disbrow, School Inspectors ; Josiah Loree, Collector; Richard M. Guggins, Lawson Judson, Directors of the Poor; Caleb Barber, Josiah Loree, Constables.
Overseers of Highways .- George C. Wood, Dis- trict No. 1; Peter Chase, No. 2; Peter L. Wil- helm, No. 3; Jeremiah Nichols, No. 4; Lawson Judson, No. 5 ; Alfred Denio, No. 6; Ard Osborn, No. 7; Daniel Person, No. 8.
At the general election held Nov. 5 and 6, 1838, the whole number of votes polled was 47, of which Hezekiah G. Wells, a candidate for the office of Representative to the United States Congress, re- ceived 22 votes, and Isaac E. Crary, a candidate for the same office, received 25 votes.
The first township accounts were audited the last Tuesday of September, 1838, when bills to the amount of $39.31 were allowed.
EARLY ROADS.
The highway known at an early day as Wood's road was surveyed by John Farnsworth (since a distinguished politician of the State of Illinois), Sept. 20, 1836, and was the first opened to travel in the township. Other roads, known locally as the Centre, Kuhn's, Backus', Beal's, Osborn's, Dyer's, Smith's, and Carson's, were all laid prior to the formation of Iosco township.
The following is a list of those whose names appeared upon the assessment roll as resident tax- payers of the township of Iosco in May, 1838, and shows also the amount of real and personal estate possessed and the taxes paid by each. Those designated with a star (*) are the only survivors. Miller and Wilson reside in Iosco, Nichols in Handy township, and Denio in Wayne County.
Real and per- sonal estate.
Taxes paid.
Acker, Richard
$120
$0.69
Backus, Simeon
292
1.67
Barber, Caleb.
282
1.61
Barber, Samuel
52
0.30
Backus, Lorenzo
156
0.88
Canoll, Henry
504
2.88
Canfield, Lorenzo.
615
3.53
Caskey, William S.
560
3.20
Chase, Peter.
464
2.65
Disbrow, Simeon
280
1.60
* Denio, Alfred.
612
3.51
Denio, David ...
560
3.20
Davis, William.
564
3.25
Ferguson, S
344
1.96
Grimes, James.
12
0.07
Green, John
1377
8.00
Grover, Joab.
Guggins, Richard M.
1341
7.67
Hilton, John W.
417
2.40
Hoyt, Thomas B
120
0.69
Judson, Lawson,
861
4.92
Real and per- sonal estate.
Taxes paid.
Jones, Nathan
$132
$1.75
Kuhn, Peter J.
426
2.43
Lytle, Andrew
86
0.50
Loree, John
292
1.66
Loree, Josiah
727
4.16
Miller, William.
334
1.90
Munsell, Silas B ..
500
2.86
McIntosh, George W.
51I
2.95
* Miller, James.
324
1.85
Munsell, L. W.
510
2.95
Osborn, Ard
593
3.40
Osborn, Nelson
444
2.55
* Nichols, Jeremiah
561
3.20
Niles, Ansel
260
1.49
Parker, Elbert.
612
3.50
Person, Daniel
594
3.40
Quinn, Patrick
264
1.52
Stow, Asel.
888
5.09
Storms, David.
184
1.05
Smith, Putnam I
52
0.30
Sharp, Henry W
480
2.75
Upton, James ...
280
1.60
Van Sickel, D. V
607
3.48
Wright, James ..
744
4.25
Wright, Isaac T.
650
3.44
Wright, William
252
1.44
Wilhelm, Peter L
252
1.44
* Wilson, Seth G.
572
3.27
Wood, George C.
1177
6.74
Wood, John.
838
4.75
Wood, Henry M.
480
2.75
Williams, Joseph C.
344
1.97
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The following is a complete list of township officers from 1838 to 1879, inclusive ; showing also the whole number of votes polled each year for candidates for the office of Supervisor :
SUPERVISORS.
1838-40, Ard Osborn; 1841, Lawson Judson; 1842-43, Lyman E. Beach; 1844-45, Ard Osborn; 1846, Samuel B. Douglass; 1847, Ard Osborn ; 1848, Joseph Loree; 1849, Martin R. Foster ;* 1850-51, Henry G. Davis; 1852, Dennis Conrad; 1853-54, Darwin A. Palmer; 1855, Henry G. Davis; 1856, John W. Wright ; 1857-58, Samuel A. Mapes; 1859, Ard R. Smith ; 1860, Samuel A. Mapes ; 1861-62, Harry J. Haven; 1863-64, Cornelius H. Person; 1865-67, Isaac Stow; 1868, John W. Wright; 1869-71, Isaac Stow ; 1872, Albert W. Messenger; 1873, Anson A. Stow; 1874, Isaac Stow; 1875-77, Albert W. Messenger; 1878-79, Isaac Stow.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
1838-39, Elbert Parker; 1840-42, Alfred Wells; 1843, Luther Haven ; 1844, David T. Wood ; 1845, William C. Post ; 1846- 48, Peter L. Wilhelm ; 1849, J. R. Goodrich; 1850, Simeon Disbrow; 1851, S. S. Chipman; 1852-55, John W. Wright ; 1856-57, Allen O. Haven; 1858, Martin R. Foster; 1859-60, John W. Wright; 1861-62, Simeon B. Merrill; 1863-66, Russell M. Cadwell; 1867, Albert W. Messenger; 1868, Stephen M. Hayner ; 1869-71, Albert W. Messenger; 1872- 73, John Elliott; 1874-75, R. R. Russell; 1876-78, John Elliott; 1879, Lyman K. Hadley.
TREASURERS.
1838, None elected; 1839-40, Ard Osborn; 1841, Lyman E. Beach ; 1842-44, Alfred Wells; 1845-48, Horace Osborn ; 1849, Darwin A. Palmer; 1850, Jonah Poyer; 1851, E. Bar- num; 1852, Jonah Poyer; 1853-54, Joseph L. Post ; 1855- 56, Peter Lamoreaux ; 1857-58, Simon P. Kuhn; 1859, Peter Lamoreaux ; 1860, Hiram Parker; 1861, Jno. W. Ward; 1862-63, Barnard Denio; 1864-65, Antson A. Stow; 1866,
* Resigned; Dennis Conrad elected to fill vacancy, Sept. 30, 1849. ag 5
WM. S.CASKEY.
MRS.WM.S.CASKEY.
WILLIAM S. CASKEY
was born in Roxbury, N. J., Feb. 11, 1811. He lived with his father, Robert Caskey, who was a farmer, until he was twenty-one years of age. He came to Michigan in 1833, and took up a tract of eighty acres of land. He worked by the month for others until May 11, 1843, when he was married to Clarissa Wasson, who came with her father from Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1836, and settled in Unadilla. In 1844, Mr. Caskey commenced improving his land. He and his young wife moved into a log house on adjoining land and occupied it the first year, during which time a few acres of land had been cleared, and a log house of the rudest sort had been erected on his own land. From this small beginning, by the strictest economy
and industry, a fine farm has been developed from the wilderness. Mr. Clark and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at Plainfield; he assisted in its organization, and was for many years one of its deacons. He was charitable and kind hearted. He died Aug. 21, 1873, leaving four children,-three sons and one daughter. The oldest, Robert W., is a farmer in Iosco. He enlisted in Company L, Third Michigan Cavalry, and served until Feb- ruary, 1866. Jonathan B. is a farmer in Iosco. William S. and Sarah B. live at the old home with their mother, the latter now in her sixty- fourth year, who shares with them the cares and responsibilities of the farm. William S. Caskey was a just man and much respected.
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IOSCO TOWNSHIP.
Jno. W. Ward; 1867-71, Stephen S. Westcott; 1872-73, George Laible; 1874-75, Silas C. Merrill; 1876-77, Free- man C. Peterson ; 1878, Horace Mapes ; 1879, La Fayette Peet.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Seth G. Wilson, James Wright, Lawson Judson, 1838; Lawson Judson, 1839; James Wright, 1840; John Wood, 1841 ; Seth G. Wilson, 1842; Dennis Conrad, 1843; Daniel Person, 1844; Asel Stow, 1845; A. M. Odell, 1846; Levi W. Mun- sell, 1847; Daniel Person, 1848; Everett Douglass, 1849; James Wright, 1850; Levi W. Munsell, 1851 ; Eli S. Bab- cock, 1852 ; Everett Douglass, 1853; Asel Stow, 1854; Levi W. Munsell, Horace Osborn, Ard R. Smith, 1855 ; Lyman E. Beach, 1856; Martin R. Foster, Eli S. Babcock, 1857; John E. Mapes, 1858; Levi W. Munsell, 1859; Eli S. Bab- cock, Robert G. Martin, 1860; Gilbert Caswell, Isaac Stow, 1861; Isaac Stow, 1862; Allen O. Haven, 1863; Hiram Backus, Patrick Cummiskey, 1864; Ard R. Smith, 1865; Elisha C. Wright, 1866; John W. Wright, 1867 ; Daniel Person, 1868; Milton Bradley, William H. Simpson, 1869; Elisha C. Wright, Thomas W. Harford, 1870; Patrick Cum- miskey, Dennis Conrad, 1871 ; Thomas W. Harford, William H. Simpson, 1872 ; Isaac Stow, 1873; Milton Bradley, 1874; Gilbert Munsell, 1875 ; Lyman K. Hadley, 1876; Stephen B. Person, 1877 ; William Willard, 1878 ; Gilbert Munsell, John Oakes, 1879.
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS.
Joab Grover, Chelsey Tupper, Washington Wing, 1838; Joab Grover, Levi W. Munsell, Washington Wing, 1839; Wash- ington Wing, Levi W. Munsell, Joab Grover, 1840; Daniel Person, Asel Stow, John Loree, 1841; Daniel Person, Lu- ther Haven, Dennis Conrad, 1842; Washington Wing, Asel Stow, Harrison P. Goodrich, 1843; James Wright, Martin R. Foster, William Gorton, 1844; Jonah Poyer, Ard R. Smith, Simeon Backus, 1845; Dennis Conrad, Simeon Backus, Isaac T. Wright, 1846; Simeon Backus, Dennis Conrad, A. S. Munsell, 1847; A. S. Munsell, 1848; Ard R. Smith, John Fewlass, 1849; Robert Roberson, 1850; Everett Douglass, 1851; William S. Caskey, 1852 ; Cornelius H. Person, 1853; Dennis Conrad, 1854; Asahel Goodrich, 1855; Charles Cole- man, 1856; Dennis Conrad, 1857; Isaac T. Wright, 1858; Rufus S. Griffin, 1859; Dennis Conrad, 1860; Charles Cole- man, 1861; Myron Parker, Daniel Person, 1862; Ard R. Smith, 1863; Dennis Conrad, 1864; Joseph Loree, 1865; Ard R. Smith, 1866; Dennis Conrad, 1867; Isaac Stow, 1868; Hiram Parker, 1869; Stephen S. Westcott, 1870; Dennis Conrad, 1871; Hiram Parker, 1872; Stephen S. Westcott, 1873; Philander Bull, 1874; Stephen S. Westcott, 1875-77; Freeman C. Peterson, 1878; Leander Purdy, 1879.
ASSESSORS.
Asel Stow, Levi W. Munsell, Lorenzo Backus, 1838; Asel Stow, Lorenzo Backus, John Wood, 1839; William S. Caskey, Asel Stow, Peter Chase, 1840; Peter Chase, Asel Stow, Daniel Person, 1841; Lyman E. Beach, Levi W. Munsell, Peter Chase, 1842; Asel. Stow, Joseph Loree, 1843; John Wood, Lyman E. Beach, 1844; A. M. Odell, Daniel Person, 1845; Asel Stow, D. V. Van Sickel, 1846; Samuel B. Douglass, D. V. Van Sickel, 1847 ; E. H. Noble, William Wooden, 1849; Daniel Person, Asel Stow, 1850; Emery Beal, Asel Stow, 1851, supervisors, have performed the duties of assessors from 1852 to 1879, inclusive.
COLLECTORS.
Josiah Loree, 1838; William C. Post, 1839-40; Ansel Niles, 1841 .*
SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
William Wright, Henry Canoll, Simeon Disbrow, 1838; Lawson Judson, Daniel V. Van Sickel, John Wood, 1839; Alfred Wells, William C. Post, E. H. Noble, 1840; John Wood, Lawson Judson, Elisha H. Noble, 1841; Lawson Judson, David T. Wood, William C. Post, 1842; Jonas W. Wing, David T. Wood, 1843 ; Elisha H. Noble, Cornelius H. Per- son, 1844; Cornelius H. Person, 1845; Thomas Ferguson, 1846; Henry G. Davis, 1847; Cornelius H. Person, 1848; J. S. Wright, 1849; John W. Wright, Cornelius H. Person, 1850; B. F. Chipman, 1851; Harry J. Haven, 1852; Isaac Stow, 1853; Harry J. Haven, 1854; Thomas Wright, 1855; John W. Wilson, 1856; B. F. Chipman, 1857; Henry G. Davis, 1858; James C. Ferguson, 1859; Martin R. Foster, 1860; James C. Ferguson, 1861 ; Cornelius H. Person, Albert W. Messenger, 1862; Elisha C. Wright, 1863; Isaac Stow, Wolcott S. Haviland, 1864; James C. Gray, 1865; Elisha C. Wright, 1866; John W. Wright, 1867; Elisha C. Wright, 1868; . A. W. Cooper, 1869; John Lamoreaux, 1870; John Connor, 1871; William E. Watson, 1872; R. R. Russell, Lyman K. Hadley, 1873; John Lamoreaux, 1874; Frank L. Wright, 1875; Ashbel W. Elliott, 1876-77; William Mapes, 1878; Jonathan B. Caskey, 1879.
TOWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
David J. Odell, 1875; La Fayette Peet, 1876; George C. Brad- ley, 1877; Eugene A. Stow, 1878-79.
DIRECTORS OF THE POOR.
Richard M. Guggins, Lawson Judson, 1838-40; Richard M. Gug- gins, Elbert Parker, 1841; Elbert Parker, Lawson Judson, 1842; Samuel B. Douglass, Joseph Loree, 1843; James Wright, Joseph Loree, 1844; Asel Stow, Washington Wing, 1845 ; A. M. Odell, Joseph Loree, 1846; Simeon Disbrow, Jacob Ward, 1847; Jacob Ward, Peter J. Kuhn, 1848; Jacob Ward, 1849; Daniel Person, Jacob Ward, 1851 ; Joseph Wright, Jacob Ward, 1852; Harry J. Haven, William S. Caskey, 1853; Ard R. Smith, 1854; Jeremiah Nichols, Emery Beal, 1855; Cornelius H. Person, Russell Marble, 1856; Ard R. Smith, Jonah Poyer, 1857; Jeremiah Nichols, Seth G. Wilson, 1858.t
DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
James Sayles, 1872; Silas C. Merrill, 1873; James T. Hoyt, 1874 ; Lyman K. Hadley, 1875-76; Milton Bradley, 1878; John Elliott, 1879.
CONSTABLES.
Josiah Loree, Caleb Barber, 1838; William C. Post, Lorenzo Davis, 1839; William C. Post, Ansel Niles, 1840; Joseph B. Cole, Ansel Niles, 1841 ; Ansel Niles, Chelsey Tupper, 1842 ; Chelsey Tupper, Ansel Niles, 1843; Chauncey B. Clements, Ansel Niles, 1844; Everett Douglass, Putnam T. Smith, Ansel Niles, 1845 ; Everett Douglass, Putnam T. Smith, D. F. Osborn, 1846; Albert Freeman, William Lincoln, J. M. Himes, 1847; Albert Freeman, Thomas Sager, Albert Sleight, William Davis, Jr., 1848; Thomas Sager, Henry Wooden, J. C. Post, William Davis, Jr., 1849; Thomas Sager, Henry G. Davis, S. P. Kuhn, John W. Jewell, 1850; Thomas Sager, Levi Ward, 1851 ; William W. Wells, Jonah Poyer, 1852; James B. Odell, Alvin Ward, Joseph S. Post, Leroy Backus, 1853; Charles Odell, Alvin Ward, Ichabod Chase, William Davis, Jr., 1854; Alvin Ward, Charles Coleman, Thomas Sharp, Peter Lamoreaux, 1855; John W. Ward, Peter Lam- oreaux, Charles Coleman, Ard Osborn, 1856; Gilbert Mun- sell, Simon P. Kuhn, William Simons, Alvin Ward, 1857; Gilbert Munsell, William H. Wilcox, Alvin Ward, Simon P. Kuhn, 1858; William H. Wilcox, Gilbert Munsell, John W. Ward, Thomas Sager, 1859 ; George D. Odell, Hiram Parker,
* Office has since been abolished.
t Office has since been abolished.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Gilbert Munsell, Hiram Perry, 1860; Andy Pearson, John W. Ward, Anson A. Stow, Hiram A. Parker, 1861; Barnard Denio, June Holcomb, Thomas R. Simpson, Anson A. Stow, 1862; Daniel Miller, Barnard Denio, Elias Jackson, Anson A. Stow, 1863; Thomas R. Simpson, Anson A. Stow, Charles Conrad, Joseph Loree, Jr., 1864; Joseph Loree, Jr., Anson A. Stow, Thomas R. Simpson, William F. Mead, 1865; Joseph Loree, Jr., William P. Drumm, Stephen M. Hayner, John W. Ward, 1866; Stephen S. Westcott, John W. Ward, John Witty, Reuben Williams, 1867 ; Anson A. Stow, John Witty, John W. Ward, Jay Redfield, 1868; Stephen S. Westcott, William H. Richmond, William M. Hart, Gilbert Munsell, 1869; William M. Hart, Stephen S Westcott, Watson Lister, Aaron W. Cooper, 1870; Harry J. Haven, Levi Fewlass, Edwin W. Acker, B. S. Person, 1871 ; James Hoyt, E. W. Noble, Gustavus Foster, Freeman C. Peterson, 1872; Philan- der Bull, Gustavus Foster, Jay Redfield, John Dutcher, 1873; James T. Hoyt, Stephen S. Smith, Jay Redfield, Gustavus Foster, 1874; Albert P. Foster, John M. Bradley, James T. Hoyt, John Rathbun, 1875; Gustavus Foster, Charles E. Peterson, William Ogle, Robert Elliott, 1876; William H. Mapes, Silas C. Merrill, David Green, George Phillips, 1877 ; George D. Odell, William Bird, Israel Bennett, Philander Bull, 1878; George D. Odell, William Rector, Haver Lerg, 1879.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school districts were formed Nov. 27, 1837, while this town still formed a part of Una- dilla township. Four districts were organized the same day, three of which are now known as the Munsell, Wilson, and Mapes districts. Others were formed soon after. Which district is entitled to the honor of building the first house for school purposes cannot with certainty be told. However, tradition says it belongs to the Munsell district.
The first records of any schools are for the year 1839, and show reports from four districts as hav- ing had schools for at least three months by a qualified teacher, and this would indicate that several houses were constructed the same season and at about the same time, which is the more probable. The whole number of scholars reported from the four districts was 57, and the amount of public moneys received was $22.80, an average of $5.70 to each district, or 40 cents per scholar. As to the first school taught in the township, however, there can be no question. This school was held in the summer of 1837 or 1838,-probably the former,-in a private dwelling on section 17, and was taught by the lady of the house, Mrs. Henry M. Wood. This does not seem to have been a district school, or if so, the pupils were not con- fined to any particular part of the town, and it was undoubtedly a private enterprise. The first school- houses were usually built of logs, quickly and cheaply, with a large, open fireplace on a hearth of clay or stone, and with planks split from logs for flooring. The seats were benches made from logs opened in halves, dressed on the flat side with an axe, and legs secured in two-inch auger holes
at either end. The desks were long boards or planks fastened to the inside walls. No taxes seem to have been levied for building purposes, or at least no record can be found of any, and it is very probable that the first school-houses were in most cases built by the volunteer labor of those inhabitants residing within their respective dis- tricts. (The foregoing sketch concerning early schools is an extract from a paper prepared by the Hon. Isaac Stow, of Iosco, for the Livingston County Pioneer Society.)
The teachers first mentioned in the records as receiving certificates were Miss Victoria A. Lyman and Miss Margaret Foster, who, on the 9th of May, 1844, were granted certificates to teach primary schools. In November of the same year C. H. Person received a teacher's certificate.
The Inspectors' Annual Report for the year 1845 furnishes the following statistics as to the number of children of school age residing in the township, and the amount of public money disbursed : Dis- trict No. 3, 34 scholars, $10.23; District No. 4, 22 scholars, $6.62; District No. 6, 22 scholars, $6.62 ; District No. 7, 53 scholars, $15.95.
Teachers receiving certificates in 1845 were Charlotte M. Kirtland, Russell Brown, and Jona- than Foster. In 1846, Ellen Richmond, Lucinda Stafford, Polly Stafford and John Wright. In 1847, Charlotte Moon, Emily Clark, Betsey Bliss, C. H. Person, and John Wright. Misses Rhoda Wilhelm, Keziah Woodin, and Mary Beal were also licensed prior to 1850.
At the latter date, districts I to 5 inclusive reported 161 scholars, and the amount of money received from county and township treasurers was $78 36.
Among those who received teachers' certificates during the years from 1850 to 1855 were Isaac Stow, Jonathan Foster, Elisha C. Wright, Mary Ann Cool, Sophronia Haven, 'Annette Chipman, Rhoda Wilhelm, Dennis Wright, Lydia Granger, Daniel Cobb, Thomas Seeley, Harry J. Haven, Mary Smith, Margaret Ferguson, Thomas Wright, Mary. Martin, Emily Emery, Miss H. Smith, and Caroline J. Morrison.
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