History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 90

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The elder How was a man of great industry and ability. He was the first supervisor of the town, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.

He died in Deerfield, in 1850, in the sixty-first year of his age.

At the date of the emigration of his father, John, Jr., was twenty years of age. He had ob- tained in New York a good common-school edu- cation ; this, coupled with a hardy constitution and industrious habits, were of eminent service to him in his new home.

In the entire county no single individual will be found, perhaps, who has taken such an active and prominent position in the history of his town as has Mr. How in Deerfield. He has been prom- inently identified with its political history. He represented the town upon the Board of Super- visors for many years, and of that body was con- sidered to be an able and efficient member. In 1857 he was elected to the representative branch of the Legislature, and has filled many other posi- tions of trust and responsibility.

In 1841, Mr. How was married to Miss Eunice Jones, who was born in Middlefield, Otsego Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1822. Her parents, Levi and Betsey Jones, were pioneers of Salem, Washtenaw Co. Mr. and Mrs. How have been blessed with three children, one of whom, James, is living at the old home.

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DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP.

satisfactory location. He wanted to find a locality where the soil should be light enough to cultivate easily, and yet heavy enough to bear successive cropping, and still yield a remunerative return for the labor of cultivation. The plains he considered too light, and the timbered lands, as a whole, too heavy for his purpose, but hoped to find on the timbered openings, near the edge of the timber belt, a soil that would suit him.

Not unmindful of the advantages of a healthful location, where the too prevalent chills and fevers were less common than in some parts, he sought for a situation well towards the sources of the streams, judging that there their courses would be more rapid and their waters more pure. Then, too, as he was a practical mill-wright and ma- chinist, he thought that a good water-power would be an excellent thing to own, as it would furnish motive power for saw- and grist-mills for the ac- commodation of the coming settlers, and might in the future, when the resources of the State became more fully developed, become valuable for purposes of manufacture. With all these things in view he traveled along the Shiawassee trail to Owosso, without finding a satisfactory stopping-place, and turned upon his track, determined to follow some of the streams towards their sources, and see if something suited to his mind could not be found. Arrived at Byron they left the trail and followed along the east bank of the South Branch of the Shiawassee River till they reached this town, and found a country which answered to Mr. How's pre- conceived notions. He finally decided th it he had found a spot that possessed all the desirable quali- ties and natural advantages that could be expected anywhere, and made minutes of the description of the pieces he wanted to purchase. Mounting their ponies he and the guide retraced their steps and followed the Detroit and Shiawassee or Walled Lake trail to Detroit, where Mr. How entered a section of land, embracing the east three-fourths of section 7, and the west quarter of section 8. Having thus secured his land, which was the first taken up in the town, he returned to the East to settle up his business and prepare his family for removal.

It was the Ist of May following before they were ready to begin their journey, which was made by steamboat up the Hudson to Albany, by canal to Buffalo, and steamer to Detroit. The party consisted of John How and wife, four sons,-Jon- athan, William, Thomas, and John, Jr.,-two daughters,-Susannah and Mary,-and a hired man, named William Peel, and his wife. Upon their arrival at Detroit, Mr. How hired a teamster to carry his goods to Birmingham, and purchasing

an ox-team and wagon loaded in himself and com- panions and proceeded to Birmingham. He looked about for a place to live in while he was preparing a house on his land, and finding an unoccupied house near Orchard Lake, in Bloomfield, hired it of its owner, Mr. Harris, who was also a former acquaintance, and moved there. Then with his three sons,-John, William, and Jonathan,-and Mr. Peel, he went on to his land to build a house. They succeeded in finding the place without much difficulty, and Mr. How at once recognized the land he had chosen, and pointed it out to them. John had made something of a study of the plan of the United States survey, and knew all the marks of section lines, corners, quarter-stakes, etc, and he at once informed his father that if it was the land he had selected it certainly was not the land he had entered A close examination of the plat proved this to be the case. In some way (thought to be the fault of the guide) a mistake had been made, and Mr. How's section was just a half-mile south from where he intended it to be. He was vexed, and also alarmed lest some one else had appro- priated his selection, and taking a careful descrip- tion of it he hastened back to the land-office in Detroit. He found that the plat was still unbroken, except by his former purchase, and at once entered the southeast quarter of section 6, and William Peel entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 5. These entries were made June 7, 1834. They then returned to Deerfield.

The first trip from Orchard Lake to Deerfield occupied a week's time, as they were careful to make a good road through the woods, and though following the trail to the crossings of the streams, yet succeeded in straightening it a good deal, and freed the track from logs, stones, and underbrush. It was marked throughout by "blazes" on the trees. When they reached their destination, work was immediately begun both upon the house for the family, and upon a clearing for a potato-patch. The potatoes were planted as quickly as possible, and in the fall gave a satisfactory yield.

The site decided upon for the dwelling was about eighty rods west of the southeast corner of section 6, and, while the work of putting it up was in progress, the workmen lived in a small tent they had brought with them for that purpose, and shel- tered their tools in a small bark shanty, erected immediately after their arrival. This first white man's dwelling in the town was similar in con- struction to the log cabins of the period. The logs were sawed flat on two sides, and notched at the ends to bring their unsawn sides as closely together as possible. Then, with mud and split basswood or poplar poles, the spaces between were paćes between Wer

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

securely chinked and plastered. It was provided with a stick chimney, and what was rather unusual in those days,-a board roof. The lumber for the roof, floors, door, and casings for the door and windows, was brought from Pontiac. It was the intention to finish up the house in time to get back to Pontiac to celebrate the "fourth of July." It was necessary to take two days for the return trip, stopping over one night on the road at White Lake. So, when the morning of the 3d dawned, they packed up and started for Pontiac. Before they reached White Lake, in the early evening, they began to hear the regular booming of cannon, and thought that the Pontiac boys were commen- cing their celebration a little earlier than usual. But when they reached the settlement they found to their disgust and chagrin that they had some- how lost a day in their reckoning, and would arrive in town the day after the celebration. As soon as possible the family and goods, together with three yoke of oxen, two cows with calves, and a pony, were transported to Deerfield, and the regular pio- neer life was begun.

While the house was building, ten acres were cleared and sown to wheat, being the first wheat sown in Deerfield. When harvested the next summer it yielded about 20 bushels to the acre.

The work of clearing was rather more arduous than was usually the case in this "opening" country, because the timber was heavier than on most of the surrounding sections. Of the experi- ences of their first winter we are not able to speak in detail, but imagination draws a pleasant picture of the cosy cabin, snow-shrouded, with a column of fleecy smoke rolling from its stick chimney into the azure vault, while within were the comfort, and quiet, and pleasant peace of " home." Then there were the rude but healthful labors in the clearing, and the exciting hunting scenes, as the settlers pursued the deer, or lay in wait for the turkeys, all of which added a charm to the new life on the frontier. The boys soon formed the acquaintance of old Portabeek and other Indians, and used to hunt and fish in their company, furnishing the family table with by far the greater share of its supply of meat as the result of their efforts. Suc- ceeding years passed in nearly the same way, though the family, like nearly all the pioneers, was gradually growing into better circumstances, and had to endure less and less privation with each succeeding year. They were the only residents of the town till the fall of 1835 or (as seems more probable to the writer) spring of 1836, when Wil- liam Hatt, William Hatt, Jr., and Horace H. Not- tingham moved into the eastern part of the town. Soon after the completion of his house, Mr. How

rigged up a "pit-saw," and began cutting pine- trees, numerous on his land, and sawing them up into boards. This was the first mechanical indus- try of the town.

John How was a self-made man, and possessed the virtues of honesty, energy, thoughtfulness, and good judgment to a marked degree. He was ca- pable as a manager, as well as industrious as a workman, and in his brief connection with public affairs acquitted himself with credit. Upon the organization of the town he was elected its first supervisor, and held the office for three successive terms. Appointed as the first treasurer, in 1839, he held that office seven successive terms, and then retiring from public life devoted his time to the management of his farm and mills until his death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1848, at the age of fifty-nine years, eight months, and fourteen days. His wife died two years before him, April 7, 1846, at the age of fifty-six years.

Jonathan How married Lucinda Bennett, of this town, Jan. 7, 1838, the ceremony being performed by David Dickson, Esq., and settled on a go acre farm he had bought on the northwest quarter of section 5. He died there in 1846, leaving a wife and three sons, the youngest but ten months old.

William How married Lovisa Anable, May 21, 1848, and lived on a part of the old homestead till his death, Feb. 5, 1864, in his fifty-seventh year. He left a wife and four children.

Thomas How married Sarah C. Bristol, March 7, 1848, and settled on the place where he still lives, on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 18.

John How, Jr., to whom the writer of this sketch is much indebted for invaluable assistance, was the one member of the family who has particularly dis- tinguished himself. Jan. 14, 1841, he was united in marriage with Miss Eunice Jones, and settled on 300 acres of land lying mostly on section 7. His residence was built on the east half of the north- east quarter of that section, and is still standing near the more modern residence that has sup- planted it. On the same place Mr. and Mrs. How are calmly enjoying the pleasures of later life, sur- rounded by children and friends. Mr. How en- tered early into the arena of public life, his first ap- pearance being in the role of school inspector, in 1839. He then held the office of town clerk for three years, and was elected as supervisor in 1848. He has served twelve years as supervisor at different times, and in 1856 was elected a Rep- resentative in the State Legislature. In all of these positions he discharged his duties with zeal and fidelity, winning the good opinion of his po- litical foes, as well as ofttheymembers of his own

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party. A more complete sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this work.

John How, Senior's, two daughters were mar- ried and lived in this town, and are still residents here. Susannah married Philander Sackner, who died Feb. 25, 1862, and is now living with her daughter. Mary married Ira O. Marble, and has since resided in the south part of the town.

The second company of settlers consisted of William Hatt and his son-in-law, Horace H. Not- tingham, and their respective families, who came early in the spring of 1836. William Hatt built a house near the south quarter-post of section 12, and Nottingham built his near the southwest cor- ner of the same section. Mr. Hatt lived here until he removed to Argentine, where he died a few

years since. His son, William Hatt, is now living on the homestead. Nottingham was a well edu- cated man, one of the earliest school-teachers of the region, and held the office of school inspector several years. Some twenty or twenty-five years ago he lost his wife, and soon after removed to Grass Lake, Jackson Co.

At about the same time the Bennett family made a settlement here. William and Benjamin Bennett were sons of Robinson Bennett, and were formerly from Springfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., coming early with their parents to Michigan, and settling in Salem, Washtenaw Co. After their parents' death they decided to locate new farms, and came to Deerfield, in the fall of 1835, to locate their land. In April, 1836, Benjamin came with his wife and children, and built a large, double log house near the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 10, into which they moved and where they lived for a good many years. It was at that time and for several years thereafter the largest and best house in the town. The public business was transacted there because of its size, which made it more convenient than other buildings. In a little more than a year after coming here his wife sick- ened and died, her's being the first death in the town, so far as known to the writer. He remar- ried, as is shown by the following extract from the town records, which we give entire, as being an interesting memento of the early times :

"STATE OF MICHIGAN, COUNTY OF LIVINGSTON, SS.

" I, David Dickson, Justice of the Peace, Do hereby certify that Benjamin Bennett and Catharine Wise Were Married by me on the 26th day of November, 1837, in the Township of Deerfield, David Dickson, Justice of the Peace, in and for the Township of Deerfield.

" EDWIN P. SPENCER, Town Clerk."

So far as known this was the first marriage sol- emnized in Deerfield, and the parties are both liv- ing, after forty-two years of wedded life, on their

original homestead. Their present residence is on section II, nearly opposite the site of the old log house. George Bennett, a son by his second wife, and Mrs. Matilda H. Wesley and Mrs. Christina Deitz, children by his present wife, are also at present residents of Deerfield.

William Bennett was captain of a vessel on the lakes, and followed that calling for a number of years. He came to Deerfield, with his wife and three children, a few weeks later than his brother Benjamin, and built his house on the west side of North Ore Creek, at the foot of Bennett Lake, which received its name in honor of him. There he lived for fifteen years, when he removed to Argentine, went from there to Saginaw, and finally brought up in Detroit, where he died, Dec. 25, 1876. His wife survived him, and is now living in the city of Jackson. One of his objects in pur- chasing the land at the foot of the lake was that he expected to be able to utilize its outlet for a water-power, and during his life here he tried to fulfill this expectation by building a dam prepara- tory to the erection of mills at that point. But some one at Argentine had been a little more ex- peditious in utilizing the stream, and had built a dam that sent the backflow of water to the foot of Mr. Bennett's dam, who, seeing the folly of pro- ceeding further, at once abandoned the project.

James Pratt was another settler of 1836, coming from Salem, Washtenaw Co, with his wife (nee Clarissa Thompson) and one child. He was (though as a boy) one of the early residents of Michigan, coming with his father, Dr. Pratt, from Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1826. Upon his arrival here he built a log house on the southwest corner of section 2, where, several years later, he built his first frame house,-still standing, and now occupied by his son Allen. He was quite a prominent man in the town, though never a very ardent politician, and was elected to several town offices. In the fall of 1866 he sold his place to his son, Allen, and moved to Fenton, where he has since resided. His family consisted of four sons,-John E., who lives in Tyrone; Edwin S., in Traverse City ; Jay F., in Argentine; and Allen, on the homestead.

Joseph Walsh was a native of Lancashire, Eng- land, born and reared near Blackburn, and emi- grated to this country with his wife and three children in 1828. After living a while on Long Island, N. Y., he came to Michigan, which was then a Territory, and took up some land in the towns of Lodi and Scio, in Washtenaw County. From there he kept writing back to his cousin, George Green, urging him to leave the old country, and come to America, where land was cheap and there was a good chance to do well. George's

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

brother, William, much impressed with the state- ments contained in these letters, decided to come, whether his brother did or not; and in January, 1832, he started for Liverpool to embark, his bro- ther accompanying him, though not intending, at least at that time, to leave England. But after they had got aboard the vessel, George concluded that he too would cross the ocean, and remained on board. The letter containing the directions for them to reach their destination had become badly worn, and upon their arrival in New York, the emigration officers hastily concluded that it must mean "Scio, Allegany County, N. Y.," and sent them to that place. The brothers arrived there and made inquiries for Joseph Walsh, but unsuc- cessfully, and finally learned their mistake. Being somewhat short of funds, and also determined to be independent and pay as they went, they both hired out to work for Judge Church, William as the gardener, and George as the family coachman. Mr. Walsh learned of their mishap, and came to Scio, expecting to take them back to Michigan with him, but the judge would not release them unless they forfeited their wages, which they would not consent to do. So Mr. Walsh returned to Michigan, where George followed him in the fall of 1832. William became disgusted with America, and, in June, 1832, returned to England. Walsh and Green lived together in Scio till 1836, when they came to Deerfield. They first came in March, and entered 320 acres of land on sections 23, 24, 25, and 35, and built a log house, which stood near the site of the present residence of Mr. Green. They hired Thomas Parshall, Mr. Neff, and Sam- uel and Benjamin Griswold, all of Oceola, to break up 30 acres of the land on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 35, where there was a considerable plain. In the fall of 1836 they moved the family and goods, and occupied their house. In the spring of 1837 they built the first frame barn in the town, and a year later a large frame house, about thirty rods south of the log house, which was the first frame dwelling erected in Deer- field. Both these buildings are still in existence, and the latter is occupied by John Walsh, a son of Joseph. Joseph Walsh died in February, 1848. Of his children, Mrs. Ann, wife of Frederick Gur- don, Mrs. Jane, wife of Edward Bunting, Mrs. Ellen, wife of George Green, John and James Walsh are still residents of Deerfield ; Mrs. Martha O'Connell lives in Tyrone; Mrs. Mary Cottrell in Fenton; and Joseph Walsh in Conway.

George Green married Ellen Brindle, a step- daughter of Mr. Walsh, in the summer of 1842, and continued to live with the family till 1856, all the business of both families having been transacted

in common under the firm-name of Walsh & Green till after Mr. Walsh's death. Soon after this event the property was divided, and in 1856 Mr. Green built himself a house a little north of the old log house, and went there to live. In Feb- ruary, 1872, this house was burned, and in the summer following the present residence was built. Both himself and wife are still living there in the enjoyment of peace and plenty, after many years of laborious toil to secure them. Four of their chil- dren are also residents of Deerfield. Their names are William and James, Mrs. Mary A. Hatt, and Mrs. Alice Holcomb.

Among the settlers of 1836 were the Faussetts, who were of Irish. descent, and who came here from Lodi, Seneca Co., N. Y. In the spring of 1836, Thomas and George Faussett, brothers, their brother-in-law, Henry Faussett, and their cousin, Thomas Sharp, came through Pennsylvania and Ohio to Oceola, where they hired Asa Parker to guide them through the surrounding country in search of land. On the 12th of May they entered their land, George and Henry purchasing 80 acres each, and Thomas and Sharp each taking a quarter section. They then worked on the Michigan Central Railroad until harvest time, when all but George returned East. Soon after, Thomas Sharp married Mary Faussett, a daughter of Rich- ard Faussett, of Dundee, and in September a party was made up to start for Michigan. Thomas Faus- sett and his widowed mother, Thomas Sharp and his wife, Henry Faussett with his wife and one child, and William Faussett (a brother of Henry's who settled in Clinton County) composed the party. In Oakland County they were joined by George, and all came on to Deerfield together. They had to camp in the woods while a house was being built, which required several days to accomplish. The site selected was a little north of the Yellow River and near the centre of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 33. There they all lived until the next spring, when Sharp and Henry Faussett built houses of their own, the former on the southeast corner of section 21, and the latter on the northwest corner of section 33. Mr. Sharp died on his place about twenty-one years ago. Mrs. Faussett died March 6, 1838, a little over sixty years of age. Thomas Faussett was married, Sept. 16, 1841, to Miss Mary A. Marvin, of New Hudson, Oakland Co., and con- tinued to live in the old log house till about 1846, when he built a better and larger log house near the northeast corner of section 33, on the site of his present residence, which was erected in 1861. Henry Faussett and wife, and George Faussett, who has never married, are also, among the pio- neers of the town, who are still its citizens. e

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Caleb Wood settled in 1836, on the corner of section 3, opposite James Pratt's, and lived there till about twenty years ago, when he moved to Mundy, Genesee Co., where he is now living.

One of the most prominent of the early settlers in Deerfield was Charles D. Topping, familiarly known as "Judge" Topping,-a title he obtained by having served as a side judge of the County Court. He was a native of Mentz, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and settled in Scio, Washtenaw Co., in 1832-33. He entered his land, on sections 12 and 22, June 20 and July 7, 1836. Preparations having been made for the removal of the family- then consisting of himself and wife and six chil- dren-late in the fall or early in the winter of that year, they and the household effects were loaded into three wagons, drawn by oxen, and started for their new home through a blinding snow-storm that continued nearly the whole of the three days that they spent on the road. They met with the usual experiences of the settlers, suffering some privations and having their full share of the fever and ague, but had no serious troubles. Mr. Topping was a very sedate, candid, and conscien- tious man, carefully exact in his speech, because he so greatly despised exaggeration and deception, industrious in his habits, but not over anxious to accumulate wealth, a respected citizen, and an hon- ored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During his life in this town he held several offices, was treasurer one year, supervisor three years, and justice of the peace upwards of a score of years. He accumulated a competency, and afforded his large family of nine children the best education within his means. He sold his farm here and moved to Fenton, where both he and his wife died. Of his children, Mrs. Ellen S. Gardner, Mrs. Eliza Caruthers, Mrs. Kate Barber, and Albert D. Top- ping live in Newburgh, Shiawassee Co .; John F. and Charles H. live in Deerfield, the latter on the old homestead ; James L. and Orlando live in Fen- ton ; and William W. lives in East Saginaw. James L. and William W. served in the Union army, the former as second lieutenant of the 16th Michigan Infantry, and the latter as a private in the 20th Il- linois Infantry. While the latter was sick in the hospital he was nursed back to health by the woman who, after the close of the war, became his wife, and is doing so much to make pleasant the life she was instrumental in saving.

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History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 90

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

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