History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 60

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" Leland Walker, the owner of the saw- and flouring-mills of North Hamburg, was a man, in those days, who filled a large space in society ; a man of acute mental power, he had much to do in shaping matters of public interest. For many years he was supervisor of the town, and took a strong interest in all educa- tional matters; later in life he took an interest in the study of medicine, and having graduated at a medical school, he removed to Dexter to practice his profession, but soon after died suddenly of heart disease His death was a serious loss to the community. The limits of this paper will not permit even the casual mention of all the worthy dead and gone pioneers of the town; but, with your indulgence, I will mention the names of a few as they occur to me, who have not passed over the dark river, and are still living in the township, and are to-day prominent and active citi- zens, fully abreast with the times, and who, it seems, could as ill be spared as any of the younger generations now on the stage of life.

" There are the brothers, Stoddard W. and Hobart A. Twichell, two men with the proverbial New England thrift, farmers pure and unmixed, who by strict attention to their own business are now possessed of a large competency. S. W. Twichell, the eldest, lives on section thirty-six, where he first located, and Ho- bart A. on section twenty-three, where he first settled. Both have often held the highest offices in town, and had they been ambi- tious in that way, could readily have gone higher. They are of the solid and reliable men of the town.

"Ferdinand Grisson is an educated, genial German gentleman, the only one remaining in Hamburg of the four brothers of that

name, who came from Germany and settled in a very early day on section twenty-five, by whom the town was named for their beloved Hamburg in the fatherland, the founders of Hamburg village. He still remains an indispensable member of our society. He is, and has long been, our postmaster ; for years he has been the only jus- tice of the peace who does much, if any, business. He does the insurance and conveyancing for the country round about; he is the leader of our choir. He occasionally marries a couple, but oftener helps to bury our dead. He makes himself so generally useful that, though a strong partisan and his party in the minority in our town, he can always be elected by a large majority. That is the kind of a man he is. 'May he live a thousand years and his shadow never grow less.'

" George Burnett is a quiet, intelligent farmer, who lives just out of the village, and may well be classed with the most worthy of pioneers. Of genuine merit and probity, he has lived a blameless life, and always is ready and answers to the call of duty.

" There is Thomas J. Rice; the history of Hamburg will never be complete without mention of him. Educated to the law, he is well versed in literature and history, and is himself an author ; but modest, retiring, and unassuming, he hides his light in his study on the banks of Silver Lake, and unless he is dug out by his ad- miring friends he prefers to remain in retirement.

' Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear.'

" A near neighbor of Rice is Charles H. Hankins, who is a very deserving citizen, who, for many long years, has contributed his quota to the industry that has gradually made for Hamburg a reputation for having a law-abiding, industrious, thrifty population. He is a good mechanic, and has a shop on the banks of Silver Lake, where all and any jobs of repairing in almost any line can be done with neatness and dispatch. He owns a fine cider-mill run by steam, and is largely engaged in making cider vinegar. He is always on hand to serve his customers himself, and they are sure to be well served.

" In the winter of '46 I first knew George S. Butler, a farmer, who, then as now, lived about three-fourths of a mile north of Hamburg village. I was teaching school in his district, and he and his wife made their home so pleasant for me that in my memory the hospitality dispensed in the log houses of those days is not surpassed in the sumptuously furnished houses of these latter times. 'The humblest fare where love is, is better than a stalled ox with envy,' and Mr. Butler is a rare man, who for more than forty years has pursued the even tenor of his way with 'Good will for all and offense toward none.' "

The following is from the pen of Col. Edward Bishop, of Hamburg township, and was furnished to the County Pioneer Society in January, 1876. After narrating the events of his first prospecting tour (in 1832) from Yates Co., N. Y., to Michigan, Col. Bishop proceeded :

" In July, 1836, I again started for Michigan, with my wife and eight children, designing to settle in the State. We stayed in Detroit six weeks, when we moved to Plymouth Corners, where we resided three years and a half. In 1836 I had purchased land in Hamburg (sections 10 and 22), and soon after built a house on it, into which I moved on the 2d day of May, 1840, where we have resided the greater part of the time ever since. I think I manufactured the first lumber-wagon, or wagons, ever made in Livingston County. Being in moderate circumstances, I labored early and late to improve my land and to provide for the wants of a large family,-then consisting of ten children (two children having been added to the number since our settlement in Michi- gan), my wife, and myself. We succeeded as well as we could expect. Seven of our children are still living, and all but one are married or have been. I believe my wife and myself are the

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RESIDENCE OF HOBART A.

TWICHELL

AMBURG, LIVINGSTON CO., MICH.

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HAMBURG TOWNSHIP.

oldest couple living in Hamburg,-she being seventy eight last August,* and myself eighty the same month. We were married on the 27th of April, 1816. . . .

" I have in the course of a long life met with a number of gen- tlemen who have been my friends, for which I feel very thankful. I have also seen a few rogues, but from the latter I have been quite exempt ; though while I was sheriff of Livingston County I had a prisoner who was very anxious to escape, but found he was watched too closely, and he offered me in advance one thousand dollars in gold if I would go away from the jail and stay one night. I declined the offer, and told him I should watch him more closely. His name was Elijah Badgero, who was sent to the State-prison for a term of years.

" I have improved two farms, erected suitable dwellings and raised orchards, but at present I own only a house and two lots at Petteysville ; am free from debt and enjoy the comforts of life. I draw a pension of ninety six dollars per year from the United States, for services rendered during the war of 1812-15. My health is now poor, but if my life is spared I think of writing a history of the events through which I have passed since the year 1800."

Elijah Bennett, from Steuben Co., N. Y., settled in the north part of the township in the spring of 1835, on the place now owned by Meyer Davis. His widow is still living, and his daughter is the wife of Nathan Hight, of Genoa.

Abram Bennett settled in Washtenaw County in 1829. At a comparatively recent date he moved into Hamburg, and took up his residence with his daughter, Mrs. George Cole. His wife died here, and his own death occurred at a late date, when he had reached the great age of one hundred and three years.

In the fall of 1835, Garner Carpenter lived in the northern part of town, on a farm he after- wards (1836 or 1837) sold to Samuel Case, who settled upon it. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Case are both now deceased. The latter's sons, Joseph and Elisha, long resided in the township. Joseph is dead and Elisha is a citizen of Brighton at present. The latter's son occupies his father's old farm, and Oren Case, son of Joseph, lives in Genoa. Samuel Case's sons settled in Hamburg before their father came, probably in the fall of 1836. Rodman Case, another son, came later and purchased land from second hands.

Justus J. Bennett, from Steuben Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in the fall of 1833 and located in Washtenaw County, where he remained until the spring of 1835, when he moved into Hamburg township. He located large tracts of land in Ham- burg and Marion. The old homestead in Hamburg is now occupied by George L. Hull, and is owned by Governor Felch, of Ann Arbor. Mr. Bennett had a family of ten children when he came to the county. One son, Daniel S. Bennett, now lives in Ionia County, and another, William H., in Ham- burg. One daughter is now the wife of Seth A.

Petteys, of Petteysville, and she and her brother William are the only ones of their father's children at present residing in the county.

Daniel B. Harmon settled in 1835 north of Pet- teysville, on a farm now owned by Mr. Buek, a German. A year or two later he sold his place to George Mercer and removed to Shiawassee County. The farm was afterwards purchased by Edwin M. Cust.t

Christopher Hoagland and Eastman Griffith, also Timothy Pettit, were early settlers in the north part of town, and all three were residing there in the fall of 1835. Griffith returned to Steuben Co., N. Y., where he died ; Pettit died in Clinton Co., Mich. (his home at the time being in De Witt) ; and Hoagland is also deceased.

George Mercer, a native of England, afterwards for a number of years a resident of New York City, and finally of Rush, Monroe Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in the fall of 1835, and settled a mile north of where his widow now lives, on the place now occupied by Adolph Buek, whose wife is the daughter of Edwin M. Cust, also an Englishman, to whom Mr. Mercer sold in the spring of 1836, Cust moving upon it in the summer following. Mercer had been a merchant in the city of New York, and soon tired of life in the wilderness of Michigan, where there was no society, and his family also were averse to the life of pioneers. The nearest physician was Dr. Halleck, at Whitmore Lake, nine miles away. Mrs. Mercer was born in the city of London, and country life was entirely new to her. The nearest post-office was also at Whitmore Lake. The finishing lumber and brick for the chimney of his house Mr. Mercer procured at Ann Arbor. The nearest mill was at Plymouth, Wayne Co., thirty miles away. The Pinckney and Hamburg mills, built soon afterwards, supplied a great need, and in those days did a large business.

When Mr. Mercer sold out to Mr. Cust, he removed to Swartzburg, Wayne Co., where he remained about one year. Mr. Cust finally pre- vailed upon him to come back and purchase the lot upon which Mrs. Mercer now lives, and a log house was built thereon, into which the family moved. The materials for a frame house had been brought to the site from Ann Arbor; but as it was impossible to find a carpenter at any point nearer than the last-named place, the log house was built instead; it stood a few feet east of the present frame dwelling. The neighbors of the Mercer family, when they first came (1835), were Justus J. Bennett, James M. Davis, and George Galloway,-the first two north and the latter east.

* 1875 .- Both Col. Bishop and his wife have since deceased.

+ See Mrs. Mercer's statement.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Mr. Mercer's business capabilities and fine edu- cation were the means of securing him important positions after his settlement in Michigan. He held numerous township offices, and for a number of years was book-keeper for William S. Maynard, a prominent merchant of Ann Arbor. He died in September, 1873.

Hon. William Ball's father, Samuel H. Ball, was among the early settlers of Washtenaw County, coming from Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1833. The son at present resides in Hamburg, on a fine farm south of the Huron River, and is exten- sively engaged in breeding and dealing in fine stock, his specialties being short-horn cattle and full-blood Merino sheep. Some time during the Rebellion (1861-65) he purchased from parties in Vermont 25 ewes, paying $100 per head, and one buck costing $500, with which he began the business which has been so successful. About 1871-72 he started with a small herd of short- horns, and his private sales of these cattle for two or three years have averaged from 20 to 30 head annually. He has at present 40 head of short- horns and about 250 sheep. His father-in-law, David B. Power, who settled in town with his brother, Anson L. Power, in 1834, dealt to some extent at an early day in French Merino sheep and Devon cattle, and Mr. Ball had a few of that variety when he first started.

David B. Power settled upon and cleared the place now owned by his brother, Anson L. Power, and the latter located upon and cleared part of the place now owned by William Ball. Lupton Cul- ver, brother to Mrs. D. B. Power, cleared the pres- ent homestead of Mr. Ball. He met his death some time afterwards at a barn-raising. D. B. Power is also deceased.

Stoddard W. Twichell, a native of Connecticut, and later a resident of the town of Sullivan, Madi- son Co., N. Y., came to Hamburg in May, 1833, and purchased the place he still owns and occu- pies. The Power brothers came with him and entered their land at the same time, although they did not settle until the following year. Mr. Twichell remained in town during the summer, living with Lupton Culver in a small shanty on the place taken by the latter, who had also come with him, and in the fall he went to New York after his wife, returning with her in November of the same year (1833). A log house was built during the fall, on Culver's place, and the two fam- ilies occupied it till the autumn of 1834, when Mr. Twichell moved into the log house he had erected on his own place. The latter building is yet stand- ing, west of his present frame residence, and is one of the oldest structures in the township. Mr.

Twichell sowed ten acres of wheat in 1833. His nearest neighbors at that time were the brothers Jesse and Daniel Hall, the former already noticed as Hamburg's first settler ; the latter came in 1833, and resided on the place now owned by Jesse Ben- nett. His brother owned a farm which included the site of Hamburg village.

Three brothers from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., viz., James, Lester, and Jonathan Burnett, came at a very early date to this county. Lester settled on what is now the Silsby farm, in Hamburg, but afterwards sold to the Messrs. Grisson, and moved to Highland, Oakland Co. Jonathan settled in Green Oak, where he still lives. James lived on the place, near Hamburg village, now owned by his son, George Burnett, and built the log house still occupied by the latter. He afterwards moved to the place where Jesse Bennett now lives. George Burnett has lived with his own family in the old house since about 1842. His wife came to Michigan in September, 1836, and lived with her sister, Mrs. Ball, in Webster, Washtenaw Co., having come alone from Cayuga Co., N. Y.

The locality known as "Newburg," or "Camp- bellville," was originally settled by Abel Peck and Bradford Campbell, soon after the grist-mill was built at Hamburg village. They built a mill on Ore Creek, which is now owned by Toncray Brothers. Peck and Campbell are both deceased.

Among other settlers in the township were David Hyatt, from New Jersey, June, 1835 ; Mrs. Emily Pullen, New York, same date; James Davis, came with a large family of boys in the spring of 1836; Charles F. Conrad, September, 1839; James Parker, October, 1839; William Williamson, Eng- land, 1840; Hobart A. Twichell, May, 1844; A. Moon, 1837 ; S. M. Whitcomb, now of Pinckney, 1834; W. Placeway, now of Pinckney ; T. Schoon- hoven, 1833,-located the present S. Galloway place.

Following is an alphabetical list of the resident tax-payers in the township of Hamburg in the year 1844:

Abels, Russell.

Bennett, Hammond.

Angell, Cyrus. Bennett, T. R.

Bennett, John. Bennett, Jesse H.

Bennett, Joseph W.

Bishop, Edward.

Bennett, William H.

Bennett, George.

Bennett, Reuben H.

Butler, George.

Bennett, Justus J. Burnett, James.

Bennett, John S.

Butler, Richard E.

Berk, E. A. Bennett, Gershom.

Burnett, John.

Burgess, Hiram.

Culver, John C.

Brown, A. M.

Case, George W.

Brown, Isaac. Crane, F. J. B.

Brown, Erasmund. Crooks, Robert.

Burgess, William.

Cordley, James.

Bennett, David. Hosted by

G Case, Elisha

Butterfield, Abner.

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HOBART A. TWICHELL.

MRS. HOBART A. TWICHELL.

HOBART A. TWICHELL,

son of Joseph Twichell and Phoebe Atkins, was born in the town of Wolcott, New Haven Co., Conn., Aug. 9, 1820. The elder Twichell was born July 15, 1769. He married Electa Hopkins, July 8, 1770, by which union there were three chil- dren,-Polly, Lois, and Hopkins. Jan. 13, 1803, Mrs. Twichell died, and he married Phoebe Atkins, Feb. 19, 1804. To them were born six sons,- Joseph A., Stoddard W., Edward, William H., Dwight, and Hobart A. Mrs. Phoebe Twichell died Dec. 5, 1823, and in March following occurred the death of her husband.

Hobart was reared by his sister Lois. He ob- tained a good common-school education, and was early taught lessons of industry and thrift, which have become salient points in his character. He was bred a farmer, which occupation he has since followed.

At the age of twenty-five he came to Living- ston County and purchased the place on which he has since resided, now one of the most valuable farms in the county, but then entirely unimproved. The finely cultivated fields and commodious build- ings of to-day are the result of his own industry.

Dec. 29, 1844, Mr. Twichell was married to Miss Hannah M. Wilner, of Portage, Wyoming Co., N. Y. She was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1823. She was one of the pioneers of the county, and endeared herself to a large circle of friends by her sterling qualities of mind and heart. As a wife, mother, neighbor, and friend, she performed all her duties and obligations with

personal unselfishness. Mr. and Mrs. Twichell were blessed with four children, three of whom are living,-Alcena P., now Mrs. Henry Depue; Lois C., now Mrs. G. J. Osgood; Deigracia (deceased), and Mortimer H.

Mr. Twichell is possessed of much business acumen, good judgment, and keen discrimination ; these qualifications, added to industry and a laud- able ambition to attain prominence both in busi- ness and social circles, have resulted in his secur- ing not only a well-earned competency, but a marked social position. He is esteemed by all for his innate kindness of heart, liberality, and prover- bial hospitality.

Among the brotherhood of Freemasons, Mr. Twichell occupies an elevated position. He is a member of the "Grand Sovereign Consistory" of the order of "Scottish Rites," a prominent member of the " Ann Arbor Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar," and of "Pinckney Chapter, No. 86, R. A. M." He is one of the oldest Masons in the county, and for four years was Master of the Liv- ingston Lodge, No. 76.

When we consider that he has been the architect of his own fortune, that all his duties both public and private have been honestly and faithfully dis- charged, and that he is enabled to spend the later part of his life in ease and retirement, free from the cares and anxieties of business, in the enjoyment of the undiminished confidence and respect of all who know him, we must pronounce his a useful and worthy life.

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S. W. TWICHELL.

MRS. S. W. TWICHELL.

STODDARD W. TWICHELL.

Among those who may be appropriately called the founders of the town of Hamburg, the subject of this narrative occupies a prominent position. He was born in the town of Wolcott, New Haven Co., Conn., Dec. 27, 1806. He was the second in the family of Joseph and Phoebe (Atkins) Twichell, which consisted of seven sons. The elder Twichell was bred a merchant, but in the later portion of his life became a farmer. When Stoddard was sixteen years of age his father died, by which event he was thrown upon his own resources. He secured a situation in a button-factory, where he remained two years, when he went to Madison Co., N. Y.

From this time until his emigration to Michigan, in 1833, he followed various occupations, in which he was moderately successful. At this time Michi- gan was considered a most desirable portion of the West, and Mr. Twichell, foreseeing the advantages of cheap land and a virgin soil, determined to come West.

Accordingly, in May, 1833, he left his busi- ness and came to Hamburg. Being favorably im- pressed with the southern part of the town, he

located eighty acres of land. He remained during the summer and in the month of October following returned to Madison County, where he married Miss Dorcas Mathewson, a native of Smithfield. She was born April 3, 1810. They immediately returned to their new home, where they have since resided. The life of Mr. Twichell has been comparatively uneventful, and marked by few in- cidents save such as occur in the lives of most men. Two years subsequent to his settlement the town was erected, and he assisted in its organi- zation. He was elected its first clerk, and has since held various positions of trust and responsibility, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow-towns- men.

Prominent points in the character of Mr. Twichell are his energy, thrift, and marked business ability. In his chosen occupation, that of a farmer, he has been eminently successful. Commencing life at sixteen, with only his natural resources for his capital, he has by his own unaided efforts secured a well-earned competency.

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HAMBURG TOWNSHIP.

Case, Joseph.

Larkin, Daniel.

Cunningham, James.

Lytle, Andrew.

Cust, Edwin M.

Lake, Truman.

Case, Ezekiel.

Mercer, George.

Case, Samuel.

Mackey, Francis T.

Case, Spaulding M.

Moon, Amrod.

Case, Ira W ..

Moon, John.

Case, Mitchell C.

Munday, Ezra.

Case, Rodman.

Melvin, Martin.

De Wolf, Jason G.

Newton, Samuel.

Dayley, Thomas.

-Nute, Joseph.

Dunlevy, Felix. Davis, James D.

Olsaver, Martin.

Davis, Elias.

O'Conner, Patrick.

Ferrel, Henry.

O'Mara, Cornelius.

Foster & Walker.

Obran, Matthew C.

Foster, Benjamin F.

Power, David B.

Fagan, James.

Power, Anson L.

Farley, Barney.

. Patterson, Ralph. Petteys, Seth A.

Gallagher, James.

Purvis, William.

Grisson, George G.

Parker, Esther.

Grisson, Ferdinand.

Peck & Campbell.

Gidley, Robert.

Quinn, Joseph.

Gidley, Lorenzo.

Rice, Thomas J.

Gillman, John.

Ryan, John.

Gilbert, Norman M.

Richmond, David. Stewart, John.

Griffith, Eastman.

Gallula, Thomas.

Salmon, Simeon D.

Galloway, George.

Sullivan, Daniel.

Hall, Jesse.

Schmidt, Adolph.

Hall, Daniel S.

Stage, Nicholas.

Shannegan, Andrew.

Hall, Elizabeth.

Teachworth, Rachel.

Hoagland, Christopher.

Hendrick, Peter S.

Wallace, John.

Hines, James.

Walker, Leland.

Inslee, John.

Weller, William.

Jefferds, Luther.

Wilkie, David.

Jordan, Lorenzo.

Williamson, William.

Kirtland, William.

VILLAGE OF HAMBURG.

George G. Grisson.

G. M. Armstrong.

Charles Ormsby.

Revo C. Hance.

David Page.

Isaac De Forest.

John S. Bennett.

John C. Steinman.

W. Nottingham.

John Pickard.

Conrad Epley.

John F. Grisson.

Jason G. De Wolf.

Charles Howard.

NAMING AND ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP CIVIL LIST, ETC.

At a meeting held previous to the organization of the township, to choose a name for it, 19 persons were present ; 8 of them wished to call it Steuben, while 8 others preferred Lenox, and the remaining 3, who were Germans,* had no choice, until finally 8 of those who could not agree, gave the Germans the privilege of naming the township, consenting to vote with them. They chose the name of their native city,-Hamburg,-and as such the town was organized. As originally formed, it included the

present township of Genoa, the organizing act being approved March 26, 1835. Genoa was taken off March 11, 1837.

" The electors of the township of Hamburg met at the house of James Burnett-the place appointed in the law to meet-on the third Monday of April, eighteen hundred and thirty-five, for the purpose of holding their first township-meeting. The meeting organized by choosing Stoddard W. Twichell Moderator, and James Burnett Clerk of the meeting pro tem., and Christopher L. Culver Assistant Clerk, and after being sworn into office by George W. Dexter, Esq., opened the poll for choosing township officers."t

The following were the officers chosen, viz. : Supervisor, Christopher L. Culver; Township Clerk, Stoddard W. Twichell ; Assessors, George Galloway, Daniel Hall, Lester Burnett ; Collector, George Galloway; Directors of the Poor, Justus J. Bennett, Jesse Hall ; Commissioners of High- ways, Justus J. Bennett, Daniel B. Harmon, Au- gustus Hall ; Constable, George Galloway ; Fence- Viewers, James Burnett, Christopher L. Culver, William H. Bennett; Poundmaster, James Bur- nett ; Commissioners of Common Schools, Chris- topher L. Culver, Lester Burnett, Daniel B. Harmon ; Inspectors of Common Schools, Lester Burnett, Stoddard W. Twichell, Christopher L. Culver, James Burnett, William H. Bennett ; Over- seers of Highways, James Burnett, Hiram Mason, Daniel Hall, Miner Kellogg.

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History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 60

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

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