USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 74
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 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121
On the hill opposite the cemetery lived Ro-well Webster. His wife was a Goodwin. His children were Charles, Cyrem- Wheeler, Lucius, Marietta and Emily.
William Abbott lived one-half nule west of the Corners. His first wife was Miss Bur- bank. His children by this wife were Franklin, Norman, Isaac, Jane, Elizabeth and Mary.
Dr. Richards, the first physician, located east of Abbott. His children were Mary Jane, (ny and others whose names I cannot recall. East of these were the families of Thompson, Bennett. Radway. Reuben R. Smith. Benjamin and John Proctor and Noah Webster, who built in that direction the first saw-mill, and subsequently, the first flouring- mill. Mrs. Webster was afterward married to Dr Gray, who improved that property and there amassed a fortune.
South of the Corners, there were no houses until you came to Mr. Foot's. He parted with his farm to Azariah Sterling about 1830, when his family removed to Troy. He had several children, the oldest of whom was Jane. Capt. Sterling came later to occupy this place. His wife was a Miss Leah, elder sister of Mrs. Addison Chamberlin. Mr. Sterling was from a large and influential family in Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y. His children were Julia, Charlotte. Caroline. Esther. Lydia, Harriet and one son.
622
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Gurdon Hovey, who died in 1870, lived west of Mr. Sterling's. His children were Samuel, Augustus, Emeline and Alonzo.
South of this lived Alexander Tackels, formerly of Cayuga County, N. Y., and of whom, in connection with old John Sonles, who lives over west, I have a story to tell when I get time. Beyond these were other denizens of the Fourth Town, among whom were the Prices, Myers, Ducings, John Holland, Squire Andrus, Dr. Cooley, Elder War- ren, Judge Thurston, and, over west, the Thorntons, Soules, and, a little later, Marvel Shaw, with others, whose names, perhaps, I ought to insert with the above.
On the hill west of Squire Gates', Deacon Rogers lived. His wife was a Taft. They were from Lima, N. Y. Their children were Charles, Andrew, William, Roxford and Mary Jane.
North and west of Indian Village lived at this time James and Samnel De Nean, and, a little later, the Bristols, the Hinx families, Renif, Elderkin, George Throop, Mark Win- chell, Bancroft, the Trembles, or Trombleys (a French family who built a saw-mill), Ben- jamin, Hopkins families, Rufus Hall and others.
By the year 1831, so numerous had been the additions that time nor space will per- mit me more than to name the families. Now Judge Prentiss had arrived, N. T. Taylor and others laid out Romeo, and he was active in merchandise. The Buzzells were here. Daniel was knight of the shears, and Martin was getting his store ready and paying at- tentions to Miss Clarissa Winchell. the sister of Mrs. N. T. Taylor. Now John Taylor was opening up his farm. Possibly this was in 1832. The Scotch settlement was being made, as the Wileys, Grays, Crawfords and other Scotch families settled in the northern part of the Fifth Town, now Bruce. About this time came to this vicinity, besides Rev. John Taylor and his son, the Parmelees, Collins, Bishops, Thurstons, Donaldsons, Ira Phillips, the mighty hunter; Bushnell, who kept the Three-Mile House; Luke Fisher, Porter, Rufus Prentiss, the Standish family, Daniel and Collatinus Day, and, on the branch, were located M. T. Lane, Asa Holman, Charles Farrar, Willard Guild and fami- lies, and, beyond them, the Aldrich settlement.
Now, too, the volume of village population was rapidly augmented. Dr. Cyrus Baldwin and family and many others came. The arrival of Lyman W. and Lems S. Gil- bert was a matter of moment. If I should span on to or beyond 1836, with the coming of Rix and Kidder, Dexter and Joel Mussey, Nathan Dickenson and before them of Major Aaron B. Rawles, John W. Dyar, D. C. Walker, Calvin G. Shaw, Asa B. and Jerry Ayers, Beckman, Dr. Sabin and brother, Dr. Whitney, the Southwells, the Ewells, the Palmers, Scranton, the Skillmans, Jacob Smith, there would still be left such a multitude that no man could number them. I go back, then, to 1829.
Roads were being opened and improved; sunshine and showers gladdened many a little household, and fruitful farms were just coming to the light. Men aspired to the ownership of horses as well as farms, and women not only to tidy homes, but to many a cherished little keepsake of boughten goods. People multiplied on every hand. Society was fast taking on its permanent forms of organization, modern improvements were being introduced, the Indians were fast disappearing. It was the Indian Village no longer. What should the new name be ?
CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS.
Before passing away from the first part of this review. it is well to notice that Dr. Hollister omitted a few important items in his brilliant paper, which are given or amend- ed in the following:
Among the families missed, who were living here previous to 1833, there were living half a mile south Nelson Lowell and his wife, and, a little farther west and north, Ste-
623
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
phen Goetchius, a widower, and his sons. William, Henry D., Irving, James, Thomas and his daughters, Mrs. Race, Mrs. Taylor and a young girl. Phobe.
On the east and northeast were the families of Col. Perry, Mr. Hamblin, Albert Ed- gett, Job Howell and Iddo Warner. Roswell Webster had three daughters not mentioned -- Mrs. Sylvester Finch, Mrs. Jonas Cutler and Mrs. Henry Vancleet; in the Leslie family Mrs. Burt and Mrs. Alverson; in Suell Hovey's family, Chauncey, Perry and Susan; in Gurdon Hovey's family. Hiram, the oldest, who died in Texas, and the Widow Scott. In the Finch family, Sylvester. Hoxie was not buried in what has been known as the "Big Field," on the west side of the road, but on the east side of the road, very near where Stephen Bailey's house now stands; and the family disappeared from the place in 1829 instead of 1827.
The first physician was not Dr. Richards, but a Dr. Green, who lived near the dwell- ing house now owned by John McGill, in the northeast part of the village. Rumor at this late day gives him the name of hurrying two of the early settlers over the silent river. The two persons were Mr. Healy and Mr. Webster. Mr. Healy was the first white man that died in this vicinity. He was buried a little over one mile south of Romeo, on a knoll, on the west side of the road, on Benjamin's farm.
THE FIRST POST OFFICE.
The first post office was named Indian Village, up to 1826, although letters addressed to Hoxie's settlement were just as sure of their destination. The first Postmaster was Gid. eon Gates. For many years, he distributed the mail at his house, a half mile north from the Corners. He usually wore, except in midsummer, a large bell-crowned hat, and wrapped in a red bandana handkerchief, in that hat he was wont to carry undistributed letters belonging to the settlement. If by chance you met the Squire, you came upon the post office too, and he had only to summon his memory, or perchance turn the parcel to determine who had letters and who had not. Of course, he was a man much sought after. and, fortunately, he was easy to find. A special event was the arrival of the weekly mail. The old red chest, upon which the contents of the pouch were cast was often sur- rounded then, as such a one might be now, with palpitating hearts, waiting to be glad or sad, as something or nothing was in store for them. There were lovers then as now, and, to them as these, the mails were slow coaches. There were politicians, too. panting for the latest news-all alive to learn whether Adams or Jackson was the vietor.
And then there were those lonely hearts who had left the dear old homes far away to the eastward, who never ceased to dwell upon the memories of their childhood and to think of dear ones left behind. At eventide in more than one little hamlet, when the tinkling of the cow-bell and the song of the whip-poor-will were just beside the door, and the cricket sang his hearth song, dew drops were falling outside and tear-drops within.
Usually a visit afterward to the old homestead was a panacea for all these ills, and most returned from the Eastern visit weaned from the old home and ever after happy in the new.
Letters in such days as these, how precious they were; read and reread; worn out by reading: worn into the memory. Letters then were of joyful import, and then, as now, letters breathing saddest sorrows, telling them as only stricken hearts can sometimes write when griefs are too great for other utteranee. Then as now these were anxiously sought after, and that bell-erowned hat was a eentral idea to more hearts than one.
The names of the Postmasters since Gates' time have been: Philoman Cook, Orin Southwell, Azariah Prentiss, 1844: Charles F. Mallary, 1846: A. E. Leete, 1849; George Chandler, Philo Tilson, D. Green, William Hulsart, Henry Howgate, William Wilkinson, Milton Thompson and James Gray.
624
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
PIONEER PHYSICIANS.
The pioneer among them was Dr. Cooley-a man of fine form, good mind. well in- formed. and. withal, a little eccentric in his habits. He resided until his death in the south part of Washington. His home was here as early as 1826; perhaps earlier. His services were in requisition for long distances in all this region of country; few names were better known here. The Doctor was specially fond of the study of botany, and his herbarium was one of the most extensive and best classified that ever was gathered in the Territory of Michigan. His eccentricities of dress, his flowing unshorn eurls, luxuriant and beautiful as a woman's. gave partial evidence. He was a good physician and rendered invaluable service to the early settlers. He died where he so long lived, widely known and much respected.
Dr. Carpenter came in 1828. He boarded for a time in the house of Capt. Chamber- lin. A little later, he married Miss Freeman, a sister of Asahel Bailey. He built a neat little residence on the west side of Main street, a little north of N. T. Taylor's store, and engaged in the general practice of medicine. He succeeded well, but removed from the village at an early day. An exploit of his adventurous rooster used to be well told. The Doctor was accustomed to prepare his own medicines. He placed a lot on a board outside the door to dry. At length he heard a gentle tapping. Was it a child? Was it some timid patient who songht his aid with only half resolve? The Doctor went forth to see, when. to his horror, he found the rooster just in the act of eating the last pill. and walk- ing proudly away. It was indeed a fowl proceeding; but the incensed doctor could only wish their full effect upon the thievish bird. The rooster lived long, esteemed it a good joke and only crew the louder. And, after all it gained a credit for the Doctor as being a safe preseriber. It surely might be safe to take the medicine which could not kill a chieken.
Dr. Cyrus Baldwin came in 1830, bringing his family with him, and dwelt here for many years. Baldwin was advanced in years, but was a man of sterling value and an ardent supporter of all that was for the public good. After several years of successful practice. he removed to Grand Blane, and there died at a very advanced age.
Dr. Webster, son-in-law of Baldwin, located at Utica in 1830. There he became ill, was brought to Romeo, and died after a short time. He was a young man of rare pro- fessional attainment, and, had he lived, would be widely known and prized. He died the first year after his arrival, and was buried in the village grounds, near Mr. Finch's house.
Drs. Sabin, Whitney, Powers. Andrews and Teed were among the old settlers of Romeo; others may be mentioned in this work, but the men just named form the rank and file of the pioneer doctors of Romeo.
REMINISCENCES OF EARLY TIMES.
The occurrence of religious worship was a stated means of friendly meeting, so that most of the settlers were in the habit of attending, although they were not all professors of religion. To enjoy such meetings many came long distances. Nor were they so deli- cate nor so daintily dressed that a threatening cloud kept them at home. Perhaps it was on funeral occasions that social sympathy found most conspicuous expression. Few of the settlers were absent at such times. There was no officiating sexton, no pall. no hearse then. The people met at the house of the bereaved, then formed in double file and slowly wended their way to the schoolhouse, where services were held. In procession, the able- bodied men went first as bearers, and, by successive changes, carried on their shoulders the rude bier on which rested the coffin. The services over, the processionists resumed their march, and, with silent tread, proceeded to the open grave. Here thanks were given
625
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
to the attendants by the clergy in behalf of mourning friends. Then followed timely ad- monition and the fervent prayer. the filling of the grave by the same strong hands. then the benediction and then the wending of ways to the sad homes of those who mourned and of those who mnost sincerely sympathized.
The burial of the first Mrs. Abbott was such a scene. She was a woman of talent and culture, the sister of Deacon Burbank, of Rochester. She had lived here but a little while; yet her death was a sad loss. not only to her young family, but also to the whole settlement.
The funeral of Clarissa Williams, an orphan girl of eighteen summers, was another of those old-time meetings. This girl lived with the Finch family. She fell upon the ice and injured her head, which resulted in her death. Eller Warren presided over the funeral services.
The death and burial of old Mr. Finch and the decease of his wife immediately after caused deep mourning.
The death of Dr. Webster and that of the second wife of William Abbott drew forth demonstrations of sympathy which can never be forgotten by the participants.
Again the death of N. T Taylor's child, and her burial in the garden close by the Taylor dwelling, were events which excited the sympathies of those warm-hearted early residents. After the body was placed in the coffin. a white dove flew into the house and alighted on the coffin.
The sudden death of Col. Hollister and the accidental killing of Jacob Beekman, formed subjects for most impresssve demonstrations of sympathy and sorrow.
LEISURE HOURS.
About 1532. the settlement was all astir by the arrival of the first menagerie. The canvas was about fifty feet in diameter and had no awning. The animals comprised an elephant. a young lion. a camel. a few guinea pigs, some Shetland ponies and a monkey. This was a great show indeed! The orchestra comprised a fiddle, a bag-pipe and a clar. ionet. The occasion was so important that one of the most respected citizens-Martin Buzzell-was asked to play the last-named instrument.
The three days' training farce was another periodical amusement. The boys con- tinned to meet until they laughed themselves to death, and so their meetings ceased. The old Whigs of the settlement were commanded by Gideon Gates, Capt. Chamberlin and N. T. Taylor. The powerful Jackson Democrats were often marshaled under Col. Hollis- ter and Gien. John Stockton.
A FEW WELL-REMEMBERED SETTLERS.
Jonas Kenter. who owned the lot now owned by Earl Hamlin, was killed in 1825 by a limb falling upon him in the woods. As he was in the habit of spending his Sabbath away from his boarding-house, no search was made for him until Monday, when he was found beneath the limb. To all appearances, he was killed instantly by the branch falling from the tree he was chopping.
Julius Millard carried the first mail to and from Detroit by way of Stony Creek. David Froat carried the mail from Romeo to St. Clair: made the trip down and back in a day. One Cutler afterward performed the same feat.
In 1822. one Jennings lived in a little hut near where the Sterling House now stands. His pretended wife was a squaw. and his time was devoted to inflation of currency, and so proficient was he in the business that his money passed at par at the land office. He soon passed to other regions and his departure was not regretted. This Jennings is re- ferred to in the Bailey reminiscences. He was blacksmith, trap-maker, bee-hunter, gun- smith. He caught the first bear in Washington Township, in a tamarack swamp on
626
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Marcus Nye's land. It appears that Jennings just found a swarm of bees out in the swamp in an old hollow tamarack tree near the ground. At the same time, a bear found the swarm and carried it off before the hunter could appropriate it. Jennings contented him- self with setting a trap that night, which resulted in trapping the bear on the following day.
Old Unele Wilson, a lone, taciturn. well-read, intelligent Scotchman, settled in Wash- ington in 1824. He appeared to be an exile on account of religious or political intoler- ance in his own land, but never offered a word of explanation regarding his reason for coming here. When John Bates, with his mother and sisters, were coming to Macomb, in 1832. they met the old man traveling toward Detroit, since which time his career is wrapped in mystery.
Lyman Squires and Daniel Smith moved to Romeo in 1824, built a small log house near the middle of the Platt Chamberlin lot, and made a commencement about half a mile north of the fair grounds and set out a few fruit trees, some of which are still standing. Squires sold to James Leslie and moved to Dryden, where his descendants now reside. Smith owned the Chamberlin lot, also a lot southwest of the village a few years, and also moved to Dryden.
Capt. Buell came to Romeo from Vermont in 1825, was a bachelor and lived with the Kittredge family; afterward with Col. Perry. He was killed at the creek one morning, as he was washing his face, by a stone thrown by some person who wished to startle him. His was the first grave made in the Proctor Graveyard.
ROMEO IN 1836-37.
In 1836, the streets were cumbered with stumps, and the traveler was brought to a stand-still on dark nights too suddenly to enjoy any pleasure in the arrangement. The only back streets at the time was one running from the American House west to Holman & Farrar's shop; thence north to St. Clair; and one running south from Amos Palmer's shop to the brick wagon-shop; thence west to Main street. The first plank was not then laid for a sidewalk. The road then north of the steam mill was a mere lane, so narrow and full of knolls it was difficult to pass through with an empty wagon. In the summer of 1836, sheep were killed by wolves within a few rods of the site of G. H. Holman's present residence, and the boys killed coons in the corn-fields within forty rods of where Isaac Brabb's house now stands. A buggy or a carriage was among the unknown luxuries of those early days. At that time, the hardware store of A. B. Rawles was the best and almost the only good house in town. Stage-coaches were only seen in the dim future, while plank roads seemed so far down the river of time that the eye of faith could not reach them, and but fow expected to live long enough to see the day dawn on that era.
In June, 1826, the whole number of frame dwelling houses was thirty; log houses, three; frame barns, twenty-one; log barns, one; small Congregational Church, visited once in two weeks by Rev. Mr. Taylor, father of John Taylor, and Rev. Mr. Hollister, of the Episcopal Church, once in two weeks Revs. Shaw and Richard, of the Methodist Church, preached once every four weeks in 1837, or about that time; one small school- house; an academy was opened in the church in 1836 or 1837, by Ornan Archer; the Romeo Exchange, kept by Keeler; the American Hotel was built in 1840, by Aaron B. Rawles, and opened, July 1. by A. Streeter: physicians, Sabin and Tead, in 1836, and Whitney in 1838; three dry goods stores, kept by A. B. Rawles, Rux, Kidder & Co. and N. T. Taylor: Shaw & Dyar, A. B. Ayers and Dickenson & Mussey commenced in 1837, and Dickenson & Giddings in 1835; Pratt & Price, in 1839; Dickenson, Giddings & Newbury, in 1840; Mallary & Stephens, in 1843; Amos Palner and W. &. B. Barrows, wagon-shops: J. P. Smith, tailor shop; Cuyler's tinshop; Noyes' tannery and shoeshop; Isaac Skillman,
627
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
furnace foundry; Henry Van Atter and B. L. Perkins, cooper-shops; L. Sage and C. Chamberlin's carpenter-shops; Emory & Wilcox, chair factory; Gideon Gates was Post- master and Justice of the Peace; there was a mail every two weeks; H. A. Jennison com- menced the joiner's business in the fall of 1836, and William Hulsart opened a shoeshop in 1837.
E. W. Giddings & Sons, proprietors of the house established in 1838 or 1839 by Dickenson, Giddings & Newbury.
C. F. Mallary & Co., successors to Stephens & Mallary, who established their hard- ware house in May, 1843.
Loud & Newbury, successors to C. B. Newbury, who established the house in 1848.
Giddings, Rowley & Co., successors to the business established in October, 1856, by H. O. Smith and M. A. Giddings.
Holland & Reade, owners of the drug store established in 1855 by B. T. Castle.
T. A. Smith inaugurated his general store May 23, 1863.
Price & Flumerfelt's general store was established by J. E. Price September 15, 1862.
Phelps, Newman & Co. commenced business in April, 1857.
George Washer combined the business of auctioneer and harness-maker, establishing himself here as early as 1850.
W. R. Owen succeeded to the business established in 1852 by A. B. Ayers, in 1861.
H. P. Piper commenced the jewelry business November 1, 1869.
I. M. Wilkinson & Co. established a news agency and book store here August 1, 1869.
Durand & Mussey succeeded Chester & Durand in the drug trade April 11, 1867. Daniel McCoy, grain dealer. succeeded J. F. Jackman, April, 1868.
I. P. Muzzy, successor to Muzzy & Bro., opened a flour and feed store in 1869.
James H. Boden opened a carriage and wagon shop in July, 1866.
Caleb Nye and H. A. Jennison inaugurated the crockery and glassware business in March. 1868.
Price & Smith opened a crockery and grocery store in 1868 or 1869.
C. E. Sutherland, dealer in musical instruments and sewing-machines, was here in 1869.
J. G. Tremaine, produce buyer, opened his store December 15, 1869.
C. W. Edson succeeded L. B. Gray in the livery business December 5, 1868.
E. Coykendal succeeded John Cawker as proprietor of the American House February 1, 1865.
A. B. Ellithorpe opened the Peninsular House July 1, 1869.
John B. Dyar succeeded to his father's dry goods business in 1868. John W. Dyar established the house in 1839.
Ayers & Sibbet commenced the business of machinists in 1852. Holman & Carrar purchased their interests in 1860, who sold to Anson Hamblin in 1864, and he in turn to Hamblin & Bates, January 2, 1869.
The First National Bank was presided over by E. W. Giddings in 1869.
Dr. J. Douglass commenced the practice of dentistry in March, 1852.
Dr. R. S. Bancroft opened a dentist's office in May, 1852.
Dr. Hayward was the homeopathic physician here from 1866.
C. M. C. Snover made a plat of Romeo in 1S69-70. This he loaned to Mr. Lowell; who loaned it to one of the men connected with the Atlas in 1875. A copy of this plat appeared in the Atlas, which was signed by O. F. Waegon, C. E., when it should bear the name of the original draftsman.
6
628
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
The First National Bank was organized March 30, 1864, with Neil Gray as President. He held the office until his death. December 14, 1868. L. C. McIntyre was first Cashier, which office he resigned April 3. 1865. Henry O. Smith succeeded him in 1865. E. W. Giddings was elected President January 7. 1869. The Directors then elected were E. W. Giddings, Hugh Gray. Alvin B. Ayer. M. A. Giddings, E. F. Mead. Andrew M. Grover. John Smith, Jr., John H. Brabb, Noah W. Gray and H. O. Smith.
ROMEO IN 1881.
How far superior Romeo of to-day is to the village of 1853 may be learned from the following list of Romeo taxpayers who are down on the books for $97 and upward: John W. Dyar, $240.63; Hugh Gray, $395.69: E. W. Giddings, $455.59: Charles Burr, $158 .- 88: A. B. Ayer, $104.60: Alden Giddings. 8227.11; James Gray, $120.50; M. A. Gid. dings. $122.95; H. C. Gray, $253.03: William Gray, $105.60; Watson Loud. $210. 17; Newbury Bros .. $283.46: E. S. Snover. $192.45: A. J. Sykes, $176.39: Romeo Carriage Company, $124.53: Jerome Benjamin. 8203.73; A. B. Maynard. 8357.30; Newbury Es- tate. $119.84: James Thompson. $168.18: Harvey Eldred. $116.29; G. G. Hartung. $110.61: H. A. Shaw. $129.53: J. L. Benjamin. $153.26; J. H. Brabb, $120.95; J. M. Thorington. $192. 17: Hiram Eldred. $109.29; Cynthia Bailey, $98.78: Andrew Winter- mute. $97.87; Snover Crissman, $245.17.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Gideon Gates was the first Justice of the Peace, the first Postmaster, and also the first schoolmaster. In many respects, he was well fitted in his younger years for that po- sition. He was a man of more than ordinary attainment for those times; was of quick discernment and lively turn of manner, which fitted him far better than others to be the country schoolmaster.
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.