USA > Michigan > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 89
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
Bennett Lake is very irregular in form, sur- rounded, generally, by a wide marsh, and extends for a considerable distance into Tyrone. Its greatest length is from east to west, a distance of a little over two miles, and its average width is only about a quarter of a mile, though in places it widens out to nearly a half mile. It contains upwards of 300 acres of open water, exclusive of all marshes. Its western extremity is marked by a bolder shore than those of any other lake in the vicinity. Its outlet is North Ore Creek. It lies on sections 2 and I in this town, and 6 in Tyroneby Google
415
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Ryan Lake lies in the northeast part of section 3, and contains about 80 acres. It is of rounded outline, and its outlet, running from its northwest side, empties into the Yellow River in Argentine. It is longest from northeast to southwest, and is surrounded by marshes. Its name was derived from John Ryan, an early settler in that vicinity.
Leonard Lake lies in the west part of sections 15 and 10, and was named after Samuel Leonard. It is three-quarters of a mile long, and a quarter of a mile in width, and contains an area of about 60 acres.
The rest of the lakes are small, and of compara- tively little note. One of them lies across the county line on section 5; another across it on section 2; one lies in section 9, near the southeast corner; one near the centre of section 36; one near the northwest corner of section 29; one south of Bennett Lake, on sections 1 and 2; two on section IO; and one, sometimes called Cranberry Lake, on the corners of sections 3, 4, 9, and 10. All of these bodies of water are marked by the same general features. They are surrounded by marshes and tamarack swamps, have muddy or sandy bot- toms, and average from 30 to 40 feet in depth. They were formerly well stocked with fish,-pick- erel, and the different species of bass preponderat- ing, but many other kinds being found in greater or less numbers. Though the fishing is not now as good as when the country was new, still there are enough fish in the lakes to make the sport interest- ing, if not profitable in a monetary sense, and, to the true sportsman, the question of pecuniary profit is ever one of the minor considerations. In addi- tion to these natural ponds there are two artificial ponds that should be mentioned. The first, and the only one wholly in this town, is the Deer Creek Pond, which overflows about 60 acres, on sections 6 and 7, forming the pond of the Deer Creek mills. The other lies on section 2, and is a portion of the Argentine Mills pond.
Having glanced thus briefly at its natural fea- tures, we naturally turn our attention to the steps taken to bring about the settlement of the town, and towards the development of its resources. From the beauty of its contour and appearance, as well as from the apparent fertility and ease of cultivation of its soil, it very naturally attracted the early attention of those who were traveling over the State in search of land on which to settle, or pur- chase for purposes of speculation. And scarcely was it thrown into the market before they eagerly seized upon the choicest of its lands, so that in a short time the whole of them had passed from the control of the government into the hands of private parties. These entries of land extended through a
period of thirty-four years, but more than seven- tenths of them were made in the one year of 1836. The first entry was made by John How, on the 27th of September, 1833, and was the only one made that year. In 1834 two entries were made, one of them by the same party, and the other by William Peel, both on the 7th of June. Then in 1835 the rush began, and continued from October, 1835, till the spring of 1837. In 1835, John How, William and Benjamin Bennett, Horace H. Not- tingham, William Hatt and his son, William Hatt, Jr., Caleb Wood, and Bishop W. Sherwood, made purchases in this town. The purchases in 1836 were 152 in number. The rest of the entries were, in 1837, 9; in 1838, 3; in 1839, 2; in 1841, 2; in 1842, I; in 1847, 3; in 1848, 5; in 1849, 5; in 1850, I; in 1851, 2; in 1852, 2; in 1853, 2; in 1854, 4; in 1855, 4; in 1861, I; and in 1866, 2. The following is a complete list of all the entries, giving the name and former residence of each pur- chaser, and the date, description of land, and number of acres of each entry, the names of those who actu- ally settled here being marked with an asterisk (*). The first part consists of those who entered land upon more than one section, and the second part of those who made entries on only one section. The list is made from the records as found in the Livingston County tract-book, and is as follows :
Joseph Weiss," Oakland Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836, 67.75 acres on section I and 71.86 acres on section 2; March 7, 1855, 40 acres on section I.
Elijah Crane, Wayne Co., Mich., March 4, 1836, 80 acres on sec- tion 36 and 80 acres on section 35; June 7, 1836, 127.67 acres on section 1 and 80 acres on section 15.
Julius K. Blackburn,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 2, 1836, 120 acres on section 12; Aug. 2, 1836, 80 acres on section 2.
James Pratt,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 9, 1836, 40 acres on section 3 and 236.26 acres on section 2.
Ebenezer J. Penniman, Wayne Co., Mich., March 4, 1836, 160 acres on section 4; March 18, 1836, 80 acres on section 4; April 20, 1836, 80 acres on section 4 and 80 acres on section 5; May 9, 1836, 40 acres on section 5; Nov. 18, 1836, 80 acres on section 4.
John How,* Westchester Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1833, 480 acres on section 7 and 160 acres on section 8; June 7, 1834, 160 acres on section 6; May 13, 1836, 100.03 acres on section 5 ; and Oct. 30, 1835, 28.42 acres on section 18.
Vespasian Adams,* Madison Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1837, 85.74 acres on section 18 and 56.48 acres on section 7.
Daniel Boutell,* Jr., Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, 61.08 acres on section 30 and 59.06 acres on section 19; Nov. 14, 1836, 58.26 acres on section 19; and March 1, 1837, 56.24 acres on section 7.
Joseph Coon, Wayne Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1836, 120 acres on sec- tion 8 and 40 acres on section 9.
Edmund Flood, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 2, 1836, 40 acres on sec- tion 8 and 40 acres on section 9.
Ira Lamb,* of this county, Sept. 7, 1847, 40 acres on section 9 ; March 4, 1848, 40 acres on section 16.
Benjamin Bennett,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 10, 1835, 320 acres on section 11, Jan. 19, 1836, 40 acres on section 10. Horace H. Nottingham,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 23, 1835
416
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
80 acres on section 12, 80 acres on section 13, and 80 acres on section 14.
William Hatt, Sr.,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 24, 1835, 80 acres on section 12 and 160 acres on section 13; May 27, 1836, 40 acres on section 12.
Charles D. Topping,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 20, 1836, 40 acres on section 12 and 80 acres on section 22 ; July 7, 1836, 40 acres on section 12.
Eliphalet S. Tooker, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 2, 1836, 80 acres on section 12; June 3, 1836, 40 acres on section 13.
Joseph Welch* and George Green,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 9, 1836, 80 acres on section 23, 80 acres on section 24, and 80 acres on section 25; March 18, 1836, 80 acres on section 35; July 12, 1836, 40 acres on section 12; Nov. 5, 1836, 40 acres on section 27.
Samuel Leonard,* Monroe Co., N. Y., April 14, 1836, 160 acres on section 14 and 80 acres on section 15.
Abram Cook, Wayne Co., N. Y., Nov. 26, 1836, 80 acres on sec- tion 17, 80 acres on section 18, and 80 acres on section 20 Benjamin B. Kercheval, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 29, 1836, 80 acres on section 18 and 120 acres on section 30.
Daniel Miller, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 28, 1836, 40 acres on section 18 and 80 acres on section 30.
Myron H. Warner, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 3, 1836, 80 acres on section 19, 80 acres on section 29, and 120 acres on sec- tion 31.
Robert Chambers,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836, 80 acres on section 20 and 80 acres on section 29.
John H. Sanford,* of this county, July 8, 1836, 80 acres on section 30; Sept. 23, 1836, 40 acres on section 30; Sept. 20, 1841, 40 acres on section 20.
Isaac N. Hedden, of this county, Sept. 24, 1836, 40 acres on sec- tion 20 and 40 acres on section 31.
Orrin Cartwright, Monroe Co., N. Y., April 1, 1836, 40 acres on section 22, 40 acres on section 23, 80 acres on section 26, and 80 acres on section 27.
Thomas C. Smith, New York, Aug. 2, 1836, 120 acres on section 22 and 40 acres on section 23.
Abram Fairchilds, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836, 80 acres on section 22 and 80 acres on section 23.
Charles Kellogg, Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 16, 1836, 80 acres on section 23 and 160 acres on section 26.
David Bangs, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 5, 1836, 160 acres on sec- tion 24 and 80 acres on section 25.
Dennis McCarthy,* Wayne Co., Mich., Feb. 29, 1836, 160 acres on section 25 and 160 acres on section 36.
Thomas Lewitt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 16, 1836, 80 acres on section 24 and 80 acres on section 36.
William Jubb,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 24, 1836, 80 acres on section 29 and 40 acres on section 30.
George Grant, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836, 80 acres on section 29 and 40 acres on section 31.
William B. Wright, of this county, June 11, 1836, 80 acres on section 30 and 80 acres on section 32.
Garrett Martin, Yates Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836, 80 acres on sec- tion 35 and 160 acres on section 36.
The remaining entries are for more convenient reference arranged by sections, as follows :
SECTION I.
Acres.
Hugh Gordon, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 16, 1836 .. ..... 187.75 Abiram Blackburn,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 21, 1836. 80
Jefferson Eddy, Genesee Co., Mich., March 9, 1837. 40
Ebenezer Sterns, Yates Co., N. Y., March 28, 1837 ..... 40
David S. Tomlinson, Allegany Co., N. Y., June 26, 1837. 80
SECTION 2.
William Bennett,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 6, 1835 .. 188.12 Asa Sprague, Wayne Co., Mich., May 4, 1836. 40
Acres.
Benjamin L. King, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 1, 1836. ...... 40
Hiram T. Blackburn,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836. 40 John Rise, of this county, Dec. 6, 1836. 40
SECTION 3.
Caleb Wood,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 1, 1835. 240
Isaac Pratt, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 9, 1836. 80 Elias Davenport, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 1, 1836 80.31 Josiah Dort, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1836. 80.34 Russell M. Ormsbee, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836. 170.79 Rebecca Cramer,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 15, 1838 .. 120
SECTION 4.
Clement Shaw, Saratoga Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. 178.72 Clark C. Boutwell, Hillsboro Co., N. H. 267.4
SECTION 5.
William Peel,* Westchester Co., N. Y., June 7, 1834 ...... 80 Bishop W. Sherwood,* Westchester Co., N. Y., Oct. I, 1835 240
Jonathan How,* of this county, May 13, 1836 .. 90.01
Sidney M. Hawley,* of this county, March 11, 1841 ... 97.51 George Fairbanks,* Genesee Co., Mich., Feb. 26, 1852. . 48.75 Levi Warner, Genesee Co., Mich., March 17, 1852 ... 50.02
Peter Crosby,* of this county, March 1, 1853 ..... 48.75
SECTION 6.
Clark C. Boutwell and Reuben Moore, of the United States, May 25, 1836. 558.37 John Myers, of Cayuga Co., N. Y., Jan. 23, 1839 .... 102.52
SECTION 8.
Lawrence Jones, Wayne Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1836 80
William Bain,* Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 21, 1848, April
18, 1854, and Aug. 8, 1855. 120
John Thompson,* of this county, July 13, 1854 .. 40
Eli Howard, of this county, Oct. 27, 1855. 40
SECTION 9.
Esick Pray, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 21, 1836 .. 320 Terence Hancock, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 2, 1836 .. 80 Jacob J. Debar,* of this county, Aug. 27, 1851. 40 Bartimeus Packard, of this county, June 3, 1836. 80
SECTION 10.
Philo Strickland,* Erie Co., N. Y., April 14, 1836. 80 Lothrop Briggs, Lenawee Co., Mich., May 7, 1836. 80 James Van Benschoten,* Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836 160 Nathan Cole,* of this county, Dec. 2, 1836. 80 Joseph Cole, of this county, Dec. 9, 1836. 40
Philo Bradley,* of this county, June 23, 1851. 40
Samuel C. B. Bradley,* of this county, Nov. 11, 1853 40 Franklin Bradley,* of this county, July 3, 1855. 40 Silas Lindley,* of this county, March 10, 1854. 40
SECTION II.
Samuel Hogg, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 18, 1836 ... 80
Lyman Purdy, Orleans Co., N. Y., April 19, 1836 .. 80
John S. Delano, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 16, 1836. 80 Daniel D. Smith, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 2, 1836 .. 40
Dwight Kellogg, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 16, 1836 ... 40
SECTION 12.
William Hatt, Jr.,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 24, 1835 .. 80 Washington D. Morton, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 17,
1836 .. 40
SECTION 13.
Anson Pettibone, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 .. ..... 240 Abram Speers,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 18, 1836. 80 Isaac L. Platt, New York City, Aug. 3, 1836 40
SECTION 14.
Jabez Lindley,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 20 and Sept. 19, 1836. 80 Reuben Pease, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836. 80 Jeriah G. Rhodes, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 ....... 80 Daniel R. Rhodes, Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 27, 1836 ...... 160
417
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP.
SECTION 15.
Acres.
Darius Lewis, * Erie Co., N. Y., May 2, 1836, and Aug. 8, 1849. 200 Leonard Lockwood, Steuben Co., N. Y., July 5, 1836 ...... 80 Phineas and John B McCrary, Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug.
3, 1836. I60
SECTION 16.
C. W. Leonard,* June 16, 1842 .. 40 Thomas Mckinley,* June 11, 1847. 40 R. Cramer, June 11, 1847 40 R. T. Young," June 13, 1848. 80
James Cameron,* Nov. 25, 1848, and March 30, 1849. 80
Hugh Anderson,* March 21, 1849, and July 1, 1861 120 L. Lampson,* Aug. 25, 1849. 40
M. Sackner,* Oct. 15, 1849 40 James H. Page,* April 16, 1866 20 A. D. Boyce,* April 16, 1866. 60
SECTION 17.
William B. Hopkins, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836 .... 80 Flavius J. B. Crane, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 13, 1837 ... 80 Joseph Sibley, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1838 .. 40 Sands Libbey,* Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 1, 1850 .. 40
Henry Robb,* Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1854. 40
SECTION 18.
Lyman Morelle,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836 .. ... 80 Edwin P. Spencer,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1836 80 Charles S. Hutchins, Madison Co., N. Y., Jan. 10, 1837 .. 80 Robert Craig, Washtenaw Co , Mich., April 4, 1838 ... .... 40
SECTION 19.
Joseph Willis, Oakland Co., Mich., June 11, 1836 .. 80 Lucius Willis, Oneida Co., N. Y. 80 Aaron Abner, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 18, 1836. 80 Lorenzo Bannister, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 1, 1836. 80 Warren M. Worden,* Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 26, 1836 ... 80
SECTION 20.
Freeborn Luce,* Oakland Co., Mich., Feb. 26, 1836, and April 14, 1836. I20 Dean Phillips,* Montgomery Co., N. Y., May 9, 1836 .. 80
Luther Houghton, of this county, July 8, 1836. 80 Ezra Sanford, of this county, July 8, 1836 ... 80 Hannah Blood,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 16, 1839 40
SECTION 21.
Matthew Shannon, Steuben Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 ... 160 Thomas Sharp,* Seneca Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836. 160 Robert Mckinley,* Steuben Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 160 Jacob Cole, Wayne.Co., Mich., June 20, 1836. 80
Job Stafford, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 13, 1836 80
SECTION 22.
James Lewis, Erie Co., N. Y., May 2, 1836 160 Alfred White, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 24, 1836. 80 Rensselaer Pomeroy, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 14, 1836 ... 80
SECTION 23.
William S. Spalding,* Cayuga Co , N. Y., June 27, 1836. 160 Hall Deland, Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1836 160
SECTION 24.
James Tyler, Tompkins Co., N. Y., June 2, 1836. 80 Sophia Smalley, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 3, 1836 40 Charles Wright, Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836. 160 Adam Bayley, of this county, May 5, 1837 40
SECTION 25.
Russell Morton, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 11, 1836. 160 Joseph Chamberlin,* Livingston Co., N. Y., May 3, 1836. 80 Philo H. Munson, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 6, 1836 ... 80
SECTION 26.
Eli H. Evans, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Feb. 29, 1836 .. .. 160 Elisha G. Mapes, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Feb. 29, 1836 ... 160 Samuel L. Walden, New York, Aug. 2, 1836 80
SECTION 27. Acres.
Joseph Gilman,* Monroe Co., N. Y., April 1, 1836. 160 James Henry, Wayne Co., Mich., June 7, 1835. . I20 Friend Burt, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 13, 1836 .. 80 Preston H. Smith, Madison Co., N. Y., June 20, 1836 80 Nelson A. Smith, Madison Co., N. Y., June 20, 1836. 80
SECTION 29.
William Pike,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836. .. 80 Austin Delano, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 3, 1836 .. 8c Robert Sowders,* Livingston Co., N. Y., June 4, 1836 .... 80 Montgomery P. Adams,* Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1836 .. 80
SECTION 30.
Margaret Cooper,* Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1836 .... 40 Dennis Murphy, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 26, 1836. 62.72
SECTION 31.
Joseph Hosley," Wayne Co., Mich., June 1, Sept. 23, and Nov. 14, 1836 .. 411.40
SECTION 32.
James Miller, Oakland Co., Mich., April 1, 1836 .......... 160
Harry H. Neff, of this county, June 11, 1836 ... 40 John Cram, Erie Co., N. Y., June 28, 1836 .... I20 Dennis J. Rockwell, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836 160 David F. Rockwell, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 27, 1836 ..
SECTION 33.
Ezel Merrill, Oakland Co., Mich., May 2, 1836 .. 40 Stephen C. Goff, Wayne Co., Mich., May 11, 1836. 160 George Faussett,* Seneca Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836. 80 Henry Faussett,* Seneca Co , N. Y., May 12, 1836. 80 Thomas Faussett,* Seneca Co., N. Y., May 12, 1836 .. 160 Benjamin Merrill,* Wayne Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1836 .. 40
Hiram Merrill,* May 3, 1837. 80
SECTION 34.
Henry Lown,* Genesee Co., N. Y., April 18, 1836. 160 Michael Bennett,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 4, 1836 .. 320 Richard H. Caniff, New York City, Aug. 4, 1836 ...... 160
SECTION 35.
William Payne,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 16, 1836 ... 80 John Van Tuyl, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 27, 1836 ... 80 Hugh Gilshenan, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 4, 1836 ... 160 Electa A. Hedden, of this county, Sept. 24, 1836 .. 80
SECTION 36.
Thales Deane,* Washtenaw Co., Mich., Jan. 11, 1836 .... 80 John Winter, Genesee Co., N. Y., May 3, 1836. 80
In the foregoing, the names of those who are known to have become actual residents of the town are distinguished by a (*). In most cases considerable time intervened between the date of entry and the date of settlement. And in some instances this space was lengthened into months and years.
As will be seen, by any one whose curiosity prompts them to carefully examine the list, there is still some land that has never been purchased from the government. This embraces what might well be termed submarine farms, as it is mostly, if
53
SECTION 28.
William P. Finch, Saratoga Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836 ... .. 240 David S. Ireland,* Monroe Co., N. Y., May 21, 1836 ..... 320 Rhoda Davis, Washtenaw Co., Mich , May 30, 1836 .. 80 Eli Ward,* Oct. 11, 1848. 40
418
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
not entirely, composed of the bottoms of the lakes, with perhaps a little strip of the bordering marshes. The total amount of land thus left unoccupied is 479 acres and a fraction, and is distributed as fol- lows : on section 1, 79.4 acres ; on section 2, 40.01 acres; on section 8, 40 acres; on section 15, 40 acres ; and on section 17, 280 acres.
SETTLEMENT.
We of the present generation are wont to pay but little heed to the generations that have pre- ceded us along the pathway of life. In the rush and whirl of active life, the past, with its people, their wants and wishes, hopes and dreams, fears and troubles, joys and sorrows, are forgotten and ignored. And yet it is always well to look back upon the pathway of the world's progress, study the events and experiences of the past, with a view to seeing their logical results, and thus to profit by what others have learned only through trial and suffering.
Turn back upon the footsteps of time but little more than one generation and mark the contrast presented by this part of our land. Here was a vast wilderness, unpeopled save by wild beasts and savages, with beautiful openings and impenetrable forests mingled together in a seemingly endless succession, with thousands of beautiful, placid lakes hid in the bosom of the forest, and smooth- gliding streams, running stealthily along, with the forest trees frowning darkly upon their own re- flected forms. And this had been the inheritance of a people rude and uncultured, but having all the attributes of the race which, by its reason and conscience, was made fit for the position assigned it by the Creator's fiat, as ruler over all the earth. These aborigines have passed away, leaving their loved hunting-grounds to become fertile and fruit- ful farms, and we scarcely give their memories a passing thought. We know that they existed, and occasionally have the fact recalled to mind by the discovery of some relic that the plow brings forth from its earthy hiding-place, but we take no pains to perpetuate their memories or preserve their his- tories. Will the future inhabitants of this conti- nent in ages to come be as careless and indifferent regarding us ?
Though Deerfield was in many respects an ex- cellent hunting-ground, and was, therefore, fre- quently visited by roving bands of Indians, it was not the site of any of their villages. The only Indian who resided here was an old chief who bore the name of Portabeek, and had a habitation, half-wigwam, half-shanty, upon the west bank of the Yellow River, near Indian Lake. There he lived with his old squaw and a widowed daughter,
who had two or three children. He was of fine appearance, unusual size, and possessing more than the usual amount of intelligence. He was of a jovial disposition, thoroughly honest and reliable, and always lived on the best of terms both with his red brethren and pale-faced neighbors. For some five or six years after the advent of the white settlers he continued to reside in his cabin, hunting, fishing, and trafficking with the pioneers, and then the family in some way became broken up, and Portabeek and his wife commenced a roving life, that lasted till the Great Spirit called them to the happy hunting-grounds. After his wife died he rambled about in his loneliness, spending most of his time in Tyrone, where he died; but the event was looked upon as of so little importance that neither the time of his death nor the place of his burial can now be learned.
The first white settler of Deerfield came to reside here in 1834, and his family was for a year or more the only family in town. This man's name was John How, and a brief sketch of his life will no doubt be of interest to the readers of this work in the present, as it must ever be to future genera- tions of the descendants of the pioneers of this vicinity. He was an Englishman by birth and education, and learned the trade of cotton manu- facturer and machinist. In 1820 he emigrated to this country, hoping to find a better market for his labor, and a field of operations that presented more hope of accumulating a competency. Soon after his arrival in New York he found a position in a cotton-factory near Yonkers, in Westchester County, and remained there for thirteen years, most of the time holding the position of agent in charge of the factory. During this time he had accumulated some property, and had been able to afford his children good school privileges; but now his sons were approaching the age when they would desire to start in life for themselves, and he thought the most feasible plan to promote his own and their interests was to push out into the undeveloped Western country, and invest his sur- plus capital in the cheap but well-reputed lands there so plentiful. He no doubt felt the itching to become a landed proprietor, which is so marked in those of our citizens who come from that country where only the wealthy and titled are privileged to hold a title to the soil. Leaving his son, John, in charge of the factory, he started for Michigan in the summer of 1833, and came by public con- veyance over the usually traveled water-courses till he landed in Detroit, where the United States land-office was situated. Hiring a guide and an Indian pony each for the guide and himself, he left Detroit on the Shiawassee trail to look up a
PHOTO. BY PHIPPS.
JOHN HOW.
JOHN HOW.
John How was born near Carlisle, England, in the village of Dalston, April 19, 1814. His father, also named John, was a machinist by occu- pation, and reared a family of six children,-four sons and two daughters,-our subject being the eldest. In 1821 the family emigrated to this country, and settled in New York City. The fol- lowing year the elder How removed to Yonkers, Westchester Co., N. Y., where he established a cotton-factory, which he operated successfully for about thirteen years. In 1833 he came to Michigan. Arriving in Detroit, he secured the services of a guide and started on a pedestrian tour in search of a home in the wilderness. At this time the government had disposed of most of its desirable lands in the southern part of the State, and it was not until they reached Deerfield that Mr. How found a suitable location. Here he entered about six hundred acres of land. He soon after returned to New York, and the following year returned with his family, which was the first in the township, their nearest neighbor being at White Lake, Oakland Co.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.