USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 73
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1866 -- Moses A Giddings, President: Irving D. Hanscom, Clerk: Joseph Ayres, As- sessor; C. F. Mallary, Treasurer: John P. Smith, Marshal and Pound Master; W. S. Tur- ner, Street Commissioner: S. Eggleston, Fire Warden; Randolph S. Baneroft, Aratus Smith, Ed C. Newbury, Robert F. Selfridge, Aaron B. Rawles. William R. Owen. Trustees.
1867-Aratus Smith. President; Edwin A. Teal, Clerk; C. F. Mallary, Treasurer; Isaac Crawford, James Harvey. Albert Kennedy. Abijah Palmer. George Washer, George D. Muzzey. Trustees.
1868 -William Wilkinson. President: E. A. Teal, Clerk: C. F. Mallary, Treasurer; Amos Palmer. Edwin W. Giddings, Henry O. Smith, Elisha Calkins, Joel P. Muzzey. George Spice, Trustees.
1869 -- William Wilkinson, President; Joseph Newman, Clerk: Abijah Palmer, Sam H. Ewell, James Boden, Charles Fillmore. Albert Kennedy, George Hartung. Trustees: C. F. Mallary, Treasurer.
1870-William Wilkinson, President; Joseph Newman, Clerk: C. F. Mallary. Treas- urer: John L. Benjamin. Milton Thompson, John H. Brabb. Noah W. Gray, James Bear- don, Charles Fillmore. Trustees.
1871-David H. Rowley, President; Dwight N. Lowell, Clerk: Isaac JJ. Carpenter, Treasurer; Timothy Smith, James E. Price. James Harvey, Trustees.
1872- David H. Rowley, President: Dwight N. Lowell, Clerk; Henry O. Smith, Treas- urer: James Gray, Albert Kennedy and John L. Starkweather, Trustees.
1873-Irving D. Hanscom, President; Dwight N. Lowell, Clerk; Henry O. Smith, Treasurer; Timothy A. Smith. David H. Rowley and James E Price, Trustees.
1874-Irving D. Hanscom, President; Dwight N. Lowell. Clerk; Henry O. Smith, Treasurer; Samuel H. Ewell, Philo Tillson and Nicholas Lazalier, Trustees.
1875-Irving D. Hanseom, President; D. W. Lowell, Clerk: Henry O. Smith. Treas- urer; James Gray, Henry Rawles and Moses A. Giddings, Trustees.
1876- Irving D. Hanscom. President: Dwight N. Lowell, Clerk: Henry O. Smith, Treasurer: Isaac Crawford, Amos W. Palmer, Erastus Dav, Trustees.
1877 Irving D. Hanscom, President; Charles C. Bradley, Clerk; Samuel A. Reade. Treasurer; Ira F. Pratt, George G. Hartung, William Gray, Trustees.
1878-Irving D. Hanscom, President: Charles C. Bradley, Clerk; Samnel A. Reade, Treasurer; Thomas D. Coe, John D. Elliott and William S. Turner, Trustees.
1879-Irving D. Hanseom, President; Charles N. Coe, Clerk: Samuel A. Reade, Treasurer: Edward S. Snover, Albert Kennedy and Edwin Starkweather, Trustees.
1880- Irving D. Hanscom, President; Charles N. Coe, Clerk; S. A. Reade, Treas- urer; Samuel H. Ewell, Thomas D. Coe, Byron J. Flummerfelt, Trustees.
1881 -- Irving D. Hanscom, President; Charles C. Bradley, Clerk: Albert Kennedy, Edward C. Newbury, Edwin Starkweather, Trustees; Samuel A. Reade, Treasurer; Charles Fillmore. Marshal: O. W. Hopkins, Street Commissioner; J. R. Moreland, Fire Warden; Charles Washington. Pound Master: Joseph Ayres. Assessor.
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
1882-83 - Irving D. Hanscom, President; Charles Tillman, Street Commissioner ; Joseph Ayres, Assessor; Thomas R. Crawford, Marshal; S. A. Roade, Treasurer; Mort P. Owen. Fire Warden: Charles Washington, Pound Master: Samuel H. Ewell, James B. Harvey, Byron J. Flummerfelt, were elected Trustees. I. D. Hanscom was opposed by J. L. Starkweather, who failed to obtain a majority of votes.
FIRST SETTLERS.
It is said that a man by the name of Jeremiah Allen struck the first blow of any white man in Romeo. He came here alone in 1821, his family remaining near where Washington Village now stands. He put up a log house, but, becoming sick of his enter- prise, he sold his improvements to Asahel Bailey for $50, who then purchased the land of the Government. In January, 1822, Asahel Bailey and wife, Chauncey Bailey, his cousin, whose wife was a sister of A. Bailey, came to Romeo, and both families lived in the same house about two-years. In 1524, Chauncey Bailey settled on the farm where Nathan El- dred now lives. He soon sold his claim and took up land near Farrar's Mill. in Armada Township, and was the first settler in that township.
The Hoxie family came to Romeo eleven months after the Baileys. The first frame building was erected by the Hoxies, and was one of the many installments of what was afterward known as the Red Tavern, which stood near the south end of the block, where the First National Bank Building is now located. It has been said by many who are con- sidered worthy of credence that, soon after the war of 1812, Hoxie made his way into this wilderness and located on the Harrington farm; next moved to Utica, then to Washing- ton, and next to the eighty upon which nearly the whole south half of Romeo now stands. He was formerly a lumberman upon the St. Lawrence River, which occupation he cast aside to indulge in that life which a home in the wilderness of Michigan offered.
The first military organization was that of the Territorial militia. Gen. John Stockton, of Mt. Clemens, was the ranking General of this whole division of the State. Old William Canfield was his efficient Aid. Col. John B. Hollister commanded the regiment mustered in Northern Macomb and the adjacent counties. The first grand military review in this county was held in 1830. It was called " The Three-Days' Training." The gayly attired officers and plumed privates bivouacked in the Big Field. Tents were duly pitched, field orders came and went; there was no trouble in the camp, but there was a deal of fun. which resulted in many a story of those nights, repeated in confidence for years afterward.
The first frame building was the barn of old Mr. Finch, where many of the larger religious meetings were held for several years. The second was the first section of the old Red Tavern. Its frontage was sixteen feet, and it contained only two small rooms. This building was enlarged to thirty-two feet, and later to thirty-two feet frontage, with an upper story. and an extensive piazza was added. The first landlord was Hiram Wil- cox, who afterward built the Wilcox Mill, near Tapshire, now Almont. Keeler, Vaughan and others succeeded Wilcox.
The first sign-board was raised upon a hickory pole, six inches in diameter and ten or twelve feet high, and stood nearly in front of the tavern, beside the old well. It was a single board, twelve or fourteen inches wide, four feet long, and painted white; upon it in black were the glaring letters. "INN." To what extent people were taken in is not stated.
The third frame building was the store of N. T. Taylor, on the corner west of Mr. Bailey's. It was afterward moved a little north, and was occupied by Mr. Niles, with Henry Smith in charge, and. for a long time afterward, by Maitland and Howarth. Who of that olden time does not recall the name, " Taylor's Store, " painted on the south side of the building in large black capitals ?
Isaac Douglas, I.D.V.
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Next was built the frame residence of Mr. Taylor, diagonally across from his store. This house, still standing, was for a long time the residence of Elihu Newbury.
Nathaniel T. Taylor was the first merchant in the place. He opened his store in the fall of 1829. His clerks were John Conklin, Alexis Winchell and John W. Day. Mar- tin Buzzell added the second in 1832, perhaps in 1831.
The first regular stage line to Detroit was established in 1830, by N. T. Taylor. The first millwrights were William A. Burt and John Allen, of the Fourth town. They built the saw-mill for Capt. Chamberlin (afterward Bancroft's) in 1827. Of the building of Webster's mill, on the Branch, there is no record.
The first shoemaker was John Becraft. then living near the Leslies. The family lived later near the cemetery. He was succeeded by Azariah Prentiss, who early gave heed to the understandings of men, first by culturing heads; next, by covering feet. He was a man for extremes.
The first village tailor was Daniel Buzzell, deferring later to Winans and Jacob Smith.
The first tannery in the settlement was that of Squire Lamb, down in Washington.
The first distillery was built by Horatio Nye, in 1826. It was situated a half-mile west of the cemetery. Thither a man could carry a bushel of rye and barter for a gallon of whisky. Happily, the institution took but feeble root and was short-lived. It disap- peared with the wolves and Indians.
The first cabinet-maker was Mr. Benjamin. His shop was at Bancroft's mill. He was succeeded by Williard Guild at an early day.
Milling was done at Webster's and at Bancroft's, though the chief dependence for flour was upon the mills at Stony Creek and at Rochester.
The first of the village blacksmiths was Josiah Hamlin.
Among the earliest of the carpenters was Daniel Day, the father of Colatinus Day. He came in 1827, with Capt. Chamberlin, raised some buildings for him, and then re- turned East. The next year he came West to live. and settled in Bruce. There Colati- nus Day died.
The first wheelwright was Darius Ewell. His shop and home were where William Hulsart lived so many years.
The first cooper was George Perkins. Jacob Beekman purchased his shop and lot in later years, rebuilt the house and occupied it until the time of his sudden and lament- able death.
The first temperance pledge was circulated by Deacon Rodgers in 1830. Those who not only abstained from rum, and whisky, and brandy, but discarded wine and beer also, had a T before their names.
The first Sabbath school was organized in 1830. N. T. Taylor had been to New York to buy goods. He brought a little library, the production of the Sunday School Union. The Sabbath school was soon organized, and he was made the first Superintendent. Will- iard Guild succeeded him in that position.
Singing schools were the pride of the settlement as early as 1828. Gideon Gates had a sweet falsetto voice; it could compass any notes within mortal range, and such was its clearness as readily to be mistaken for that of a female. Asahel Bailey was a remarkably fine bass singer. Each was a ready reader of the old patent buckwheat notes. Mrs. Chamberlin and her daughters. Mrs. Hollister and Aunt Lucy Gates, were all good sing- ers. Mr. Abbott, too, was very fond of music. Many others, too, might be numbered with these, so that, when music was the order of the day, there was no lack in quantity and quality. Amos Hewitt, coming later, was one of the first to give thorough elemental instruction in music, and the singing in religious service was always creditable.
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
The first partial benefaction was the giving of his best corner lot by Asahel Bailey. This was intended for the purposes of a church, and is the same as that on which the pres- ent Congregational Church stands. The consideration was a pew in the church for the use of himself or others, as he might think proper.
The first village lot was sold by Asahel Bailey to N. T. Taylor for $12. On the same lot was the store of Newbury Bros. in 1882.
Dr. Hollister, a former resident of Romeo, in his historical address entitled "The Beginnings of Romeo," says: You know with what interest and scrupulous care the citi- zens and historical societies of the old New England towns are already gathering up the minutest details which pertained to their oldest inhabitants; to the first plantings of their churches, their schools and their social institutions. Already they begin to summon home their absent sons and daughters to grand reunions, as their bi-centennial and semi-centen- nial come around. The time is not far distant when Romeo may celebrate her fiftieth birthday. All along since the time when our clustering residences assumed the dignity of an incorporated village there have dwelt those among us who better than I can write the history of this dear old town. And were it not that its first beginnings and oldest history might be lost. I should not presume to place npon the records these memories. which span the period of forty years and more. Indeed, there still remain a few whose recollections may serve them better than mine have done, and who. if they would. could better do this work. But they are not many. for nearly all of that old time have passed on before us to return no more. And lest these remaining negleet the task, I venture to refer to such events and persons as I think it would most interest the people of to-day and the future to know about. Yet how can I do all justice after these long years? Some who should stand in the center and foreground of my picture may be. perhaps, unmen- tioned, because now, for the moment. forgotten, or else to me unknown. Neither time nor opportunity permit me to consult authorities and thus to verify my dates. Nor can I certify impressions by conference with old friends; hence, here and there. a name and date will doubtless need correction, as I must trust alone to memory.
The dusky sons of the forest were not ummindful of the worth as well as beauty of the plateau upon which our village rests. The uplands of the West and the timbered forests of the East were wedded at our feet. There was a wealth of soil by the union. which neither alone possessed. Grand old forest trees here and there reared their great forms, indicative of the fertile plains, and here and there were beautiful prairie spots, where little toil removed the slender shrubs, and gave to the Indian his coveted field for eorn. Along our western slopes the antlered stag led the timid doe by night to graze upon the first green foliage in the early spring-time, seeking again the tangled dells and groves just east of you for more secure retreat as the day drew on. His ways were beaten paths, and hither the hunter was lured by reason of abundant game, and here beside their pathway he pitched his tent and made his winter home. Here. too, along our eastern border was that grand belt of lofty maples. Their wealth of sweets gave pleasing answer to his toils and lured him hither till the bursting buds told that the sugar days were passed. Then came the planting-time, and all along on either side of the beautiful ridge upon which our Main street runs, the Indian corn-hills were visible for a long time after the white man's invasion-in fact. until his plowshare upturned and laid most of them in the cultured earth. Like the white man, the Indian. too, had faith that harvest should be born of plantings, and so with patient toil each year he piled afresh those little mounds of earth, and in the summit of each mound dropped the corn-seeds, counting the days of sunshine, of early and later rains, till, returning from the summer's hunting. he should gather for his winter's store the ripening ears.
The planting season past and summer drawing on, the Indians were wont to strike
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
their t nts. gather upon their patient burden-bearing wives and ponies the wealth of their encampments and plunge deeper into the forests, in quest of more abundant game, or along the banks of streams and shores of lakes, to add their treasures to their slender store. Thus wending their way by old frequented trails, to cherished haunts they made their annual rounds. Happy the years when no wampum helt was sent from lodge to lodge to summon the warriors to council, and from council. perhaps, to bloody battles. Happy the years when only friendly greetings were in store and pipes of peace were smoked in formal round; when as the annual greeting of the bands came round, for days, whole tribes were joined in gladsome. festive and religious rites. Those joyous meetings and those greetings passed, Inither these wanderers came, for now the corn harvests were at hand. and now the home thanksgiving feasts began.
The Indian's Manitou, like ours, was worshiped for the harvest gifts. The younger pitch their lodges beside their fathers' or the elder brothers' tents. Feasting. dancing. joyous sports and sacred rites found each a place, and this one feature marked it best of all. The fortunate and famished were alike fed. While the feast lasted, whosoever would might eat his fill. The richest ones could do no more, and thus for once each had enough and more. Come back, then, ye lovers of good thanksgiving dinners. learn from these forest sons that it is not enough that your tables groan beneath their weight of tempting viands, but that for one day in the year, at least, whenever the good old customs shall prevail, there shall be such sending of portions to the poor that hunger for the time shall be nuknown.
Hither again the Chippewas were accustomed to return from their summer wander- ings, and, on the very spot where Romeo stands, tradition tells of many a winter home, curling among the branches of stately trees, since destroyed. the smoke from hundreds of camp-fires was lost in the blue above: so that, when first the white man looked in upon the great scene, he gave it the name which our first post office bore --- the name of Indian Village.
The peace of 1816 had been secured. The plottings of the brilliant aad brave Pon- tiac had failed. The disgrace of Hull and the surrender of Detroit had been atoned for by the victory of Tippecanoe and the fall of Tecumseh. The batteaux of the voyageurs were giving place to the sailing vessels on the lakes; the first of the steamers had ent the crystal waters of the Huron, and the old pioneer steamboat, Walk-in-the Water, was ply- ing its regular trips away to the far Northwest-away to Mackinac. I have now in my possession one of her shipping receipts, dated August, 1820, in which is promised the safe delivery of 480 bales of furs and pelts to parties at Black Rock (for Buffalo had not then the precedence). on account of the American Fur Company, the providence of God and the danger of the sea excepted, and not impeding. The commerce of the lakes was multiplying every year. Detroit and Mackinaw were wakening with new life and vigor. Around the latter grouped a swarm of adventurous travelers and traders. From the for- mer spread Westward trains of earnest workers, who, settling with their families, counted the cost and set themselves to the task of replacing the forests with fruitful fields. With this tide of travel came increased facilities for their transit. The Walk-in the- Water was no longer the only Erie steamer, but the old Superior, the old United States, the Con- stitution and others with them were soon busy in the carrying trade of the Western immi- gration. Slowly the t de was turned northward also. Resting places for worn and hungry pioneers, often rude huts, dignified with the name of tavern, marked the site where Royal Oak now stands, were scattered along the old Paint Creek road or along the trail from Piety Hill (Birmingham) on to Pontiac, Flint and Saginaw. As early as 1820, the towns of Troy, Pontiac, Rochester, Stony Creek were sparsely settled and were the nuelei of a very limited trade. furnishing to the incoming people the all-important items of flouring-mills.
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Far older than any of those was the French settlement at Mount Clemens. It had the impress of an old French town, boasting much of age, but giving very indifferent evi- clence of thrift or enterprise. By position, as well as age, it should have been the life and soul of our county; but, despite the efforts of a few, she patiently enjoyed the prog- ress suited to her French progenitors; while wealth and enterprise were turned to other points and she was fossilized.
The most important events connected with our early history, previous to our christen- ing, center in the years 1824 to 1831, both inclusive. It was during this period that habi- tations came to be within hailing distances, and the region round about to assume the ap- pearance of a sparsely settled neighborhood. During this time, many of those families settled here, which contributed largely to the character our village was destined to assume. During this period, our first school was established, our first churches were planted, onr first mechanics came to supply the various public wants and society generally to take on its first rude forms of organization. Not more to the Romans were Romulus and Remus than were those pioneer families to us.
THE OLD INHABITANTS.
Dr. Hollister states, that the pioneer of this settlement was old Mr. Hoxie, who died in 1827, and was buried beside the road in the Big Field, on the way to Capt. Sterling's. The traces of his grave have long since been obliterated. His son, Job Hoxie, remined on the homestead but a short time and then settled near Utica in the south part of the county. Not pleasurable, but quite probable, are the stories of this man's bloody adventures in his earlier years, and this then remote retreat was to him a welcome home, to share which he deemed a dire calamity, a clear invasion of his rights. Not a few were the marvels recited of this old man, and to us who gazed upon his features in life, there never was a wish by one of us that he should re-appear, especially when we were passing by his resting place after night. Hoxie must have settled here sometime between 1818 and 1822. Two young men visited him here in 1823. They were Samuel Chamberlin, of Lima, N. Y., and Edward Brew- ster, of Riga, N. Y. They came West by way of the lakes, landed at Detroit, came to Mount Clemens, procured ponies and came on to Hoxie's, returning to Detroit through the present town of Troy. When Farmer issued his sectional map of Michigan, in 1828, he marked the present site of Romeo as Hoxie's Settlement, but the postoffice," established in 1826, bore the name of Indian Village. It is understood distinctly that Asahel Bailey was the pioneer.
Gideon Gates, who had formerly served in the postoffice department at Washington, was appointed the first Postmaster, with Jonas Cutler, the mail carrier, between this point and Mount Clemens.
In the year 1823, or earlier, Asahel Bailey located his farm, which is now a large part of our village. As section lines would have it, the village corners should have been upon the hills west of us; but the ridge afforded such a natural highway that the estab- lished road was made to follow the old Indian trail, and so the corners were established near the middle of his eighty, which, lying north of St. Clair street, was afterward in- cluded in the town of Bruce, so that two of the four village corners in the olden time be- longed to him.
If I should call the roll of early settlers, few would now give answer, but as I remem- ber them located, say in 1827, their names would appear by families something as follows: The Hoxie family disappeared in 1827, and. therefore, can hardly be counted in.
Asahel Bailey had settled on the Corners on the same spot he occupied so many years.
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Albert Finch had locatel his eighty, I think. as early as 1823. and had erected the first frame barn on the site, occupied for a long time afterward by Samuel Ewell. Part of his family were grown and married. Ezra, the oldest, had married Miss Becraft: John married Miss Hopkins: Martha married Burchard Throop, and lived down in the Fourth Town. The younger sons were George, Alpheus, Addison and Alanson, the little boy who was lost.
Squire Gates had located his farm -the same he occupied for many years. His wife was a Miss Biinn, and here were born to them Jane, Wilbur, Martha, John, Lucy. Ann, Hubert and Barton.
Capt. Gad Chamberlin had this year (1827) arrived at the head of a large family. which, with accompanying neighbors and friends, formed a colony of some sixty souls. He bought out Ebenezer Kittredge and settled on the farm next north of Asahel Bailey. His oldest daughter was the wife of Col. John B. Hollister, who was one of the younger and moving spirits in the settlement till his death, in 1831. A son, Stephen Platt Cham- berlin, was married to a Miss Parkhurst, and they numbered one of the colony founders. Addison Chamberlin married Miss Leach, and they formed another of the group. The younger children of Capt. Chamberlin were Electa, afterward Mrs. Snow. Julia. who married Rev. Luther Shaw; the brothers, Harvey, Joseph, Nelson and James, are names all familiar to the okl settlers.
Erastus Day, with his family, came West in company with Capt. Chamberlin. Mr. Day located just east of the Leslie farm. His sons were Erastus, Russell, John, Daniel, Levi and an only daughter, Lucinda.
The Leslies located where they lived and died. The father's name was James. The sons were James and Benjamin, and the daughter, Roxanna. The latter married James Starkweather and subsequently lived on her husband's farm over west. This was the first marriage in the settlement.
Another newly-married couple at that date was Freedom Monroe and Miss Mary Cooper, who worked in the family of Capt. Chamberlin. Monroe located at that time on the farm where he has sinee lived.
Next north of him lived Suel Hovey. His sons were George and Albert; his daugh - ter's name. Betsey. They ocenpy the old homestead yet. On the road south of James Starkweather, and a mile west of Romeo, lived Horatio Nve. His children were Eliza. Ann. George and several younger ones.
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