History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 66

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Mr. Shields mentions others who are yet resi- dents of the county, and taking a prominent part in her general affairs, who look back to Unadilla as the home of their earlier years, and remember it when its forests were yet almost unbroken and its inhabitants were very few in number-ogle

* General election.

+ Livingston County organized in 1836.

308

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

In connection with the history of Williamsville, to be found on a succeeding page, will be found va- rious additional facts regarding the first settlement in the township, which was made at that place. The following interesting narrative concerning the early settlement of the township was prepared by James Craig, of Unadilla, and read before the Pio- neer Society of Livingston County. After telling of a preliminary visit made to Unadilla in 1833 with David Holmes, in which they came by way of Ann Arbor to Dexter to find Mr. Nathaniel Noble, to whom they had a letter of introduction, and from thence to where Pinckney village now is, where they found a solitary family residing, Mr. Craig proceeds as follows :

" Alexander Pyper came out in 1835, and built a log house and got a piece broken up. My brother William came in the spring of 1836, and built the first frame house in that section. Rev. James Pyper, D.D., Deacon Holmes, and James McLear, with part of his family, came in 1837. Archibald Marshall and family, and my mother and I, came in 1838. We had to go to Dexter or Ann Arbor to do our trading, and pay $1 for a bushel of potatoes, 20 cents per pound for salt pork, $1 for a hen, and the same for a dozen of eggs, and $10 for a barrel of flour; these were ' Wild- Cat' times. The first wheat I had to sell was in 1842, which I took to Reeves' mill, and sold it for 40 cents per bushel, and had to go three times before I got my pay. I thought then farming was a poor business.

" We have had the very best of neighbors; never had a quarrel in either school or road district. A pettifogger came to settle among us over twenty years ago, and tried his best to get us at loggerheads, but he could not come it, so he pulled up stakes and went to California. We used to have very sociable times in the long winter evenings. Charles Dunkin, Philander Gregory, S. B. Sales, Benjamin Sales, Archibald Marshall, my brother William, myself, and others, with our families, would meet at some one's house and spend a happy evening, and after enjoying the good things of this life, and before we parted, would settle at whose house we would meet next, generally about two weeks hence. I believe Unadilla has cost the county less for the support of paupers and the prosecution of criminals than any township in it, and that it has been effected through the influence of religion and temperance.

"On the 4th of February, 1837, the following-named persons united and organized a church, to be known as the First Presby- terian Church of Unadilla, viz. : Luke Montague, Eunice Mon- tague, Alexander S. Montague, William Craig, Christiene Craig, William Pyper, Agnes Pyper, John Brewyn, Junius L. Field, Maria B. Field, and John Drake. William Craig and Luke Mon- tague were elected ruling elders and acting deacons. A. S. Mon- tague, Mrs. C. Craig, and Mrs. M. B. Field are all that are left of the original members. When I came on in 1838, I brought a trunk full of Sunday-school books, which I got from the school that I was connected with in Connecticut and other schools in the neighborhood, which served the school here and at Williamsville and Iosco for eight or ten years. The Methodists and Baptists soon after organized churches, and now there are two Presby- terian, one Baptist, and three Methodist churches in town. The church members were not generally the richest in this world's goods, and had sometimes to solicit outsiders to help,-those whose worldly interests were most benefited by good society.

" The temperance cause always flourished in our town, at first as Sons of Temperance, then as Good Templars, and now as the Reform Club. The first lodge of Good Templars in Michigan was organized in Unadilla, and named Pioneer Lodge, No. I, over thirty years ago."

James Craig, the author of the foregoing, is a native of Scotland. In 1831 he came to this country and located in New York City, where he remained six months, moving afterwards into Con- necticut. When, in July, 1833, he visited Unadilla and made his purchase of land, not a solitary white person was living in the township, and but forty acres had been entered,-that being the previously described tract taken by Eli Ruggles. Mr. Craig held numerous township offices, among them those of assessor and treasurer, and for thirteen years filled the position of township clerk. He is the present postmaster of Unadilla village.

John C. Stedman came to Michigan from Tioga Co, N. Y., in May, 1844, and settled on section 14 in Unadilla, where Joseph Kirtland now lives. He was accompanied by his wife and five children. In 1854 he moved upon the farm he now occupies. In 1846 he returned to New York for his parents, John Stedman and wife, and piloted them to a new home in the West. The elder gentleman, a former resident of Connecticut, lived to the age of eighty- four years, and died in this township.

Joseph L. Hartsuff, from Seneca Co., N. Y., came with his family to Michigan in October, 1835, and located at Coldwater, Branch Co. A little more than a year later he moved to Washtenaw County, and in 1837 to the farm in Unadilla now owned by Thomas Milligan, north of Unadilla village and next south of the farm on which Mr. Hartsuff's widow and son (Zenas A. Hartsuff ) at present re- side. The place, consisting of 120 acres, had been slightly improved by a Dutchman named Gute- kunst, of whom Mr. Hartsuff purchased; a log house of small dimensions had been built, and stood on a portion of the ground now covered by the orchard. Gutekunst removed to Dexter, Wash- tenaw Co. Mr. Hartsuff bought other land in the township, including several parcels from govern- ment. A number of years later his brother, Henry Hartsuff, located in town, on a farm he purchased of the former. Henry Hartsuff is at present a resident of Port Huron. His son, George L. Hartsuff, entered the Union service during the Rebellion, attained to the rank of major-general of volunteers, and finally laid down his life in defense of the principles of freedom and union. He was the oldest son. His brother, William Hartsuff, also distinguished himself in the same struggle, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general. A third son, Albert, served as surgeon.

The widow of Joseph L. Hartsuff states that even as late as the time of their settlement, Unadilla village was an insignificant place, containing a saw- mill and a store, the latter kept by Drake & Dibble, and a log house. A short distance north of the

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RESIDENCE OF H. & P. GREGORY, UNADILLA TP., LIVINGSTON CO., MICH.

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UNADILLA TOWNSHIP.

village, in a frame house, lived Dr. J. L. Field, who had come the previous fall (1836). He died in No- vember, 1867, one week after the death of Mr. Hartsuff, and had lived and practiced here during the entire time since he first settled, a period of thirty years.

James Livermore settled in February, 1836, north of Unadilla village, near the present resi- dence of his son, John J. Livermore. He was from Tioga Co., N. Y. His brother-in-law, John Watson, from the same locality, settled in town in the fall of 1843, staying through the winter with Mr. Livermore. He was accompanied by his father, John Watson, Sr. The son now resides in the village of Unadilla.

In August, 1837, Philander Gregory removed to this township from Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., and located on section 21, where he still resides. His wife and infant son, the latter only three months old, were with him. From Detroit to Unadilla the journey was made in a lumber-wagon. The son, Halsted Gregory (recently county clerk of Livingston), lives with his father on the old farm, which is among the best improved in the township or county.

The first white child born in what is now Una- dilla township was Minerva Briggs, daughter of Garry Briggs, her birth occurring May 8, 1836. She is now living in Dansville, Ingham Co. Her father came to the township with Amos Williams, and assisted the latter in building his saw-mill at Williamsville. Mr. Briggs, in the summer of 1879, was living at Dexter, Washtenaw Co.

Royal C. Barnum settled as early as 1836-37, in this township, on a farm near the Gregory place. He subsequently sold out and went to Ohio and engaged in milling operations, but finally came back and purchased Robert Glenn's property, at Unadilla village. His death occurred a number of years since. Before coming to this town he had traveled extensively, and followed the sea for some years. In his contact with the world he acquired all the polish of a perfect gentleman, and his mind became stored with much that was useful. His son, Royal Barnum, at present lives in the village.

Samuel G. Ives, who settled west of Williams- ville, in April, 1835, is now living in Chelsea, Washtenaw Co. He was one of the most promi- nent and influential citizens of Unadilla, and served as member of the State Legislature before remov- ing from the township.

Elnathan Noble, from Geneva, Ontario Co., N. Y., removed to Michigan in the spring of 1832, and located at Dexter, Washtenaw Co. In the spring probably of 1834 he came into Unadilla, purchased land, built a log house, and moved into

it. The house was a large double structure of logs, and was used by Mr. Noble both as a dwelling and a tavern. Mr. Noble had the honor of being the second settler in the township, as no other house had then been built except Williams', at Williams- ville. Mr. Noble was accompanied by his son, Sylvester G. Noble, now of Unadilla village. When night first overtook them after their arrival in the township, they sought and found shelter in Williams' log house, sleeping on the floor. Either that season or the next, Stephen Winans built a house on the opposite side of the road from and west of Mr. Noble's. Help was so scarce at that period that "raisings" were successfully completed only by the aid of horses and stout ropes,-the logs being lifted into position literally by "brute force."

Mr. Noble was one of the first associate judges for Livingston County. Before the county was organized he was appointed a Territorial justice of the peace by Governor Stevens T. Mason. He was concerned in the matter of choosing a name for the county, and to him is also given the credit of naming the township in which he settled, giving it the name of Unadilla, after a township in Otsego Co., N. Y.

It is stated that the first wheat cradled in Una- dilla was cut by S. G. Ives and Stephen Haven, but when, or on whose farm, is not made clear. Mr. Haven now lives on the west line of Iosco township.

David S. Denton, from Tompkins Co., N. Y., settled in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1836. In the fall of 1837 he was followed by his father, Daniel Denton, and the family moved to Henrietta, Jack- son Co., where they remained until February, 1838. While there three of the brothers of D. S. Denton died within two or three months after they had settled, having contracted the " ship fever" on the way. D. S. Denton was then unmarried. At the last named date (February, 1838) the family re- moved to the township of Lyndon, Washtenaw Co., and finally, in the spring of 1842, to the farm in Unadilla upon which David S. Denton now resides. The latter place was originally entered by Mary Winans, a widow, who settled upon it with her family and built a log house. One of her sons, John Winans, now resides in Chelsea, Wash- tenaw Co. A family named Rockwell afterwards occupied the place before Mr. Denton moved upon it. From the south side of the old house, timbers projected for the purpose of building a portico upon. The family clothes-line was fastened, one end to a timber, and the other to a tree. An ox belonging to Mr. Rockwell became entangled in the line one night, and in his efforts to escape pulled the beam partly out, so that one end

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

dropped upon the floor. The family had retired for the night, but the noise and shock aroused them as effectually as an earthquake would have done. In fact, they were frightened into the belief, for a short time, that no smaller calamity could have happened, and flitting forms in nightly robes ran out in the darkness in a frenzy of terror. The cause of the disturbance was soon discovered, however, and they once more sought their beds, but the amount of sleep which fell to their lot during the remainder of the night is not vouch- safed, and their dreams, if dreams they had, were probably filled with wild visions and strange ad- ventures.

Mr. Rockwell was subsequently so unfortunate as to lose his reason, yet he lived to the age of eighty-four years. His death occurred in Water- loo, Jackson Co. He occupied the house where Mr. Denton now lives only until he could build one on his own place, across the line in Washtenaw County.

Stephen Cornell, a Quaker, settled early near the Gregory farm, and died there. He was a politician of some note, and strove usually to secure for himself the best places. About 1848 he was successful in procuring the appointment of postmaster, and the office was removed to his place from Unadilla. The neighborhood, however, was not sufficiently strong to retain it, and it was sub- sequently moved back to the village.

Hatil Sharp settled two miles west of Williams- ville as early as 1834-35, and has sons now living in the township.

Orla J. Backus, from Washington Co., N. Y., settled where he now lives in 1837. His brother, Gordon Backus, came in May of the following year, and purchased land of the former, lying on section 21. He lived upon it five years, and finally removed to the place he now occupies on sec- tion 20.

Gilbert J. Daniels, another early settler, came here from Orange Co., N. Y., and is still a resident of the town.

John and Richard Taylor settled in Unadilla in 1840. The former's wife was the widow of James Tettley and sister of Robert Brearley. Mr. Tettley located in 1836 on the farm now owned by his son-in-law. George Taylor, the father of Richard, Zachariah, and Christopher Taylor, settled in July, 1841, on property now owned by his son, Chris- topher, opposite the residence of the latter. Robert Brearley came with George Taylor, and is now living at Williamsville. Abram Taylor, not re- lated to the others of that name who came to the township, settled in 1843. The Taylors, Robert Brearley, and John Asquith all came from the

same neighborhood in Yorkshire, England. As- quith, who settled in 1845, is now deceased. Wm. Barrett, who married one of his daughters, lives on the old place. George, Christopher, and Zach- ariah Taylor came in 1841, and the three brothers, Richard, Christopher, and Zachariah, with John and Abram, yet reside in the township. George Taylor died in the fall of 1863. The land upon which these people settled was all wild except the eighty purchased by George Taylor, and that had been slightly improved by a man named Danser, who built a small shanty upon it. He and his brother, John Danser, both lived in this town a short period; the former removed to the south- west part of the State, and the latter to Waterloo, Jackson Co.

John Jackson, now of Pinckney, settled west of the Taylor places, before the latter families came. His son, James Jackson, now occupies the old farm.

Francis Lincoln settled early near the centre of the township, and owned a large amount of land. He moved from here to Dexter, Washtenaw Co., and is yet living somewhere in the State, at an advanced age. With him Mr. Dunn, the first settler at Plainfield, stayed while building his house at the latter place.

The forests of this region abounded plentifully with wolves, whose chorus of yells resounded nightly, furnishing music, remarkable more for its volume and variety than for its sweetness and har- mony. Half a dozen wolves would emit such a mixture of yells, howls, whines, barks and scratches, that it would seem as though the woods were alive with them. They were perfect ventriloquists, too, and even if a mile away in one direction the listener was always willing to aver that he was closely sur- rounded by them. Clothes left hanging in door- yards were often torn in pieces by these disturbers of the night, and pig-pens were never considered entirely wolf-proof.

C. B. Westfall, a native of Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in 1838, and located at Plymouth, Wayne Co., where he resided two years. His father, George Westfall, had come previously from the State of New York, and pur- chased the farm in Unadilla upon which the son now lives. The elder Westfall never lived in this township; his death occurred at Plymouth. His three sons, Levi, C. B., and Reuben, all settled in Unadilla,-the first named in 1839 and the other two in 1840. Reuben was then unmarried, and lived with his brother, C. B. Westfall, nearly two years. He finally removed to the farm now oc- cupied by John Jackson, where he died. Levi, josted by who lived three-fourths of a mile southwest of

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UNADILLA TOWNSHIP.

Plainfield, where his son, Aaron Westfall, now resides, moved finally to Stockbridge, Ingham Co., where he died. He built a tavern at that place, and kept it a number of years. C. B. West- fall and his younger brother, Albert,-the latter of Plainfield,-are the only representatives of their father's family now living in the township. Albert did not move from Plymouth until some years after the others had settled in Unadilla.

John Shields, a native of Ireland, emigrated to New York in 1832, and in May, 1836, removed to Michigan from Watertown, Jefferson Co., in the first-named State. For two or three years he lived at Dearborn, west of Detroit, and in 1840 came to Unadilla, and settled north of the place he now occupies. His present farm, on section 14, was first settled and improved by a man named Chip- man, who sold out to Henry Hartsuff. Mr. Shields purchased of the latter.

Charles Bullis was one of the earlier settlers in the eastern part of town. His son, Charles E. Bullis, at present resides on section 13.

John Winans, from Albany Co., N. Y., removed with his family to Michigan in 1834, settling in the township of Scio, Washtenaw Co. In April or May, 1836, he came to Unadilla, and took up his residence on land previously owned by George Bennett .* Mr. Winans, who engaged exclusively in farming during his life in this town, resided on this farm until his death, which occurred late in the fall of 1843. In 1845 his widow and son, Edwin B. Winans, moved into the township of Hamburg, and in the latter, on the south shore of Pleasant Lake, the son now lives. They located at Petteys- ville, where Mrs. Winans died in July, 1852. E. B. Winans worked four years in the carding-mill at the village, owned by S. A. Petteys. He has since become one of the foremost citizens of the county, as he long has been of the township in which he lives. In the fall of 1875 he was elected judge of probate for Livingston County, and entered upon the duties of the office in January, 1876.

So rapidly did settlers locate in this township that in 1837 it had a population of 642, and bore the appearance of a much older settled commu- nity. Its villages were flourishing, and its forests were rapidly giving place to cultivated farms, The smoke from the chimneys of the log cabins as- cended from many localities over the territory then included in the township, which embraced what are now Unadilla and Iosco, Previous to the formation of the county, a part of Lyndon, Washtenaw Co., was also included.

The following were residents in what now com- prises the township of Unadilla in the year 1844:

Abbott, Abram. Jackson, John.

Abbott, Cyrenus.

Kirtland, Joshua.

Angel, V. R. T.

Keenan, Patrick.

Angel, Henry.

Lincoln, Francis.

Backus, O. J.

Lyman, Clark.

Backus, Gordon.

Livermore, James.

Birney, Timothy.

Lewis, Artemas.

Bird, William S.

Beale, Emery. Morgan, Peter.

Bullis, William.

Mead, William S.

Bullis, Charles.

Marshall, Archibald.

Bullis, Robert H.

Montague, Lucas.

Bennett, George.

Marsh, Zenas.

Bird, David.

McConachie, John.

Bullock, Rebecca.

McAlser, Sarah.

Bullock, Hezekiah.

McIntyre, James D.

Cool, John.

McCabe, Patrick.

Cool, William S.

McCabe, Edward.

Cool, C. G.

Noble, Albert C.

Carpenter, William.

Noble, George.

Clawson, Levi,

Noble, Sylvester G.

Chipman, Luther.

Pardee, Wheeler.

Chalker, Gideon.

Pyper, Alexander.

Cobb, William S.

Richmond, George W.

Coy, John S.

Rodgers, Charles.

Craig, William.

Riggs, Clinton.

Craig, James.

Stevens, Henry.

Chipman, Samuel S.

Sutton, Hiram.

Chipman, Lemuel F.

Schenck, William L.

Crafts, Edward.

Shield, John.

Carson, William.

Stiles, Henry.

Caskey, William S,

Sutherland, Solomon.

Sutherland, Samuel.

Davis, George.

Sutherland, Edward.

Davis, William.

Sutherland, Thomas.

Davis, Robert.

Skidmore, Sarah.

Dunkin, Charles.

Sales, Stephen B.

Daniels, Gilbert.

Sharp, Hattie C.

Denton, Daniel.

Schoonover, James.

Dutton, David.

Secord, Lorenzo.

Danser, John.

Sprout, Rowley A.

Dyre, Philip.

Townsend, Samuel.

Du Bois, William.

Thompson, Elijah C.

Dunn, William H.

Tetley, Betsey.

Ewers, Tillison.

Topping, Albert G.

Foster, James S.

Topping, Alexander.

Foster, Jonathan R.

Taylor, Richard.

Filch, Sela B.

Taylor, Isaac. Taylor, John.

Fay, James.

Titus, Ebenezer.

Gregory, Philander.

Van Dorn, John B., Esq.

Goodrich, Joshua.

Vanatton, Jacob.

Green, Esac,

Vanderpool, William.

Glenn, Robert.

Wasson, Samuel.

Glenn, Charles.

Wasson, John.

Hase, Lawrence C.

Wasson, Myron H.

Hill, Dudley R.

Westfall, Levi.

Howell, John.

Westfall, Cornelius B.

Haworth, Richard.

Westfall, Reuben.

Holmes, David.

Winans, Theron.

Hopkins, Philander.

Watson, John.

Hartsuff, Henry.

Wood, Abner B.

Isham, Harry. .

Williams, William A.

Ives, Samuel G.

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Williams, Amos.

* The place was more recently owned by William Wallace, and is now the property of one of the Reasons.

Ives, Orrin.

Shear, Richard.

Chipman, Charles.

Cole, Alexander.

Falk, William,

Van Sickle, Samuel F.

Gladon, Charles.

Lyman, Hollis F.

Birney, James.

Montague, Alexander S.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

VILLAGE OF EAST UNADILLA.

Field, Junius L.

Taylor, George.

Montague, Luke.

Howell, Charles.

Cleveland, J. P.

Hartsuff, Joseph L.

Dixon, D. R.

Kirtland, Benjamin.

Tuttle, Chester J.

Cornell, Stephen.

Babcock, Moses(saw-mill).

Among other early settlers in the township, whose names appear on the records of the County Pioneer Society, were the following: Patrick Mc- Leer, native of Ireland, settled November, 1837; T. McLeer, native of Ireland, settled November, 1838; John Wasson, from New York, settled June 18, 1837; Dennis Shields, from Ireland, settled January, 1841 ; J. Cool, settled in 1836; J. Morgan, settled in 1837; J. L. Crosman, 1843 ; O. Bangs, 1848; John Marshall, 1845 ; and others, of whom mention will be found in connection with the vil- lages at or near which they located. Many who were temporary residents of the township, subse- quently seeking homes elsewhere, as the pioneer spirit prompted them, would be named here if aught could be ascertained of them definitely, but it is impossible to learn of all, as in many cases no sources of information exist.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-CIVIL LIST, ETC.

Unadilla was formed, by act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan, March 26, 1835, and, as mentioned, included what is now Iosco and a portion of Lyndon, Washtenaw Co. On the 6th of March, 1838, Iosco was set off,- the county having been previously organized, and the south part assigned to Lyndon, and Unadilla was left in its present shape, including township I north, in range 3 east.

By provision of the act erecting this township, its first election was to be held at the house of Elna- than Noble, but it was adjourned to that of Baxter Collins, and the following-named officers were elected: Supervisor, John Drake; Township Clerk, Peter N. Hard; Justice of the Peace, Elnathan Noble ;* Treasurer, James McIntyre; Highway Commissioners, Selah B. Collins, Elnathan Noble, Francis Lincoln.

The second annual township-meeting was held April 4, 1836, at the house of Elnathan Noble. At that time it was "Voted, that E. Noble, John Drake, and P. N. Hard be delegates to attend a county convention to nominate county officers."

Jan. 1, 1844, a license was granted to William S. Mead to keep a tavern in his dwelling-house at the village of Milan (now Unadilla). April 15th, in the same year, a license was granted to C. J. Tuttle "to keep a tavern and vend spirituous liquors

in the house he now occupies in the village of Milan," license to expire on the last day of April, 1845. June 18, 1869, it was decided-by a vote of 104 to I-to raise the sum of $20,000 in aid to the Michigan Air-Line Railway Company, who should extend their track across this township. The re- sult of this scheme is fully mentioned in other places in this work.t

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History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 66

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

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