USA > Michigan > Mason County > History of Mason County, Michigan > Part 37
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GEORGE LAMMON, farmer, Section 8, was born in January, 1827, near Rochester, N. Y., and removed with his parents to this state in 1832. As evidence of his patriotism, it may be mentioned that he eagerly desired to enlist in the late war, and was four times refused on account of physical disability. In November, 1864, he came to the then wilds of Crystal, and as, when he landed at Pentwater, he had but $3 in his pocket, it may be imagined that he had a hard struggle. The first year he worked for Mr. Gay at blacksmithing, but paying twenty-five cents a pound for pork, $14 a barrel for flour, and other provisions in proportion, he found, in the Spring, notwith- standing steady and continuous labor, he was $27 in debt, and since he had come he had bought for his family nothing but provisions. This circumstance will give settlers of the present day some idea of the early hardships. Mr. Lammon married, January 26, 1847, Emily Willett, of Chesterfield, Ohio, who died July 16, 1879, and their children are: Clarinda, (Mrs. G. Vorhees), Charles Augustus, Alfred Clare, and Mary Anne, (Mrs. E. Chadwick). He was mar- ried again, October 6, 1880, to Charry Watkins. He has a good farm, with an orchard of five acres in apples, and three acres in peaches. He has been justice of the peace for years; also town ' clerk and highway commissioner.
CHARLES WILLET was born in Seneca County, N. Y., July 11, 1826. Moved to Fulton County, Ohio, in 1839; visited California in 1858, remaining about two years. Settled in Crystal, Mich., in 1865, on Section 23. Owned and operated a mill till 1880, when, by accident, it was destroyed. Has been supervisor two years. Married, October 15, 1852, to Mary Ann Aldrich, who died February 1855; second marriage, August 17, 1856, to Lucy J. Aldrich, born in Fulton County, Ohio, July 2, 1838, and died February 18, 1880, leaving two children, Edgar C. and Ella R.
WARREN B. WILLET, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., August 20, 1836; moved to Fulton County, Ohio, in 1839. He early learned the trade of machinist, which he followed till 1874, when he engaged in farming on Section 22, Crystal Township, Oceana Co. Mr. Willet has been twice married: first, November 17, 1859, to Aurelia Mattison, who died December 12, 1865; second marriage, May 11, 1870, to Jennie E. Jipson, born in Kent County, Mich., in 1843.
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TOWNSHIP OF COLFAX.
The township was organized in 1869, the first election being held April 5, 1869.
The following is the list of supervisors, clerks and treasurers: SUPERVISORS .- G. C. Benton, 1869-'70; C. Woodworth, 1871- '72-3-'82; Fayette Walker, 1874-'75-6-7-8-9-'80-1.
CLERKS .- A. S. Perring, 1869; James B. Winans, 1870-'75; Stephen A. Blanchard, 1871-'76-'82; Alfonso C. Gowell, 1872-'73- '74; Andrew J. Cole, 1877-'78-9-'80-1.
TREASURERS. - Anson Freeman, 1869-'77-8-9-'80; Fayette Walker, 1870-'71-2-3-4; Albert Draggoo, 1875-'76-'81-2.
The first settler was Anson Freeman, who came into the town and took up land, homesteading 160 acres, and erecting a house in October, 1863, being the first house in the township. He took his family in Jannary, 1864, when he had to cut a road eight miles
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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.
through the woods, and build a bridge across a good-sized creek, in order to get his family on their new place.
He was followed by Calvin Woodworth, in 1864, L. M. Keyes, and R. Jewell, in 1866, Albert and William R. Draggoo, and Moses Bolton, in 1867; Stephen A. Blanchard came in 1870. Among other early settlers were William A. Hoskiss, G. C. Benton, A. S. Perring, S. Rackliff, J. B. Winans, and Fayette Walker.
About the first public move that was made was the erection of a hastily-constructed schoolhouse, in which, as soon as the roof was on, and before a floor was laid, a school was commenced, Miss Axie Jewell (Mrs. A. H. Freeman) being the first teacher. There are now two good frame schoolhouses in the town, in which schools are taught during the Summer and Winter terms.
In Colfax over half the town is unorganized, as far as schools are concerned. In No. 1 there are seven pupils of school age; in No. 3, fifty-four of school age. F. Walker is chairman of inspect- ors, H. Draggoo, inspector.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
STEPHEN A. BLANCHARD, farmer, Section 25, was born May 27, 1840, in Holyoke, Mass., and resided in Florence, Easthampton, Hadley Falls, and Springfield. At the last mentioned place he worked in the armory three years during the war. He removed to Iowa, in 1868, remaining there until 1870, at which date he came into this state, and purchased his land from the railroad company. During his boyhood he had but limited educational advantages, being able to attend school only in Winters, and that only until he was sixteen years of age. He married, February 22, 1861, Wealthy J. Bolton, at South Hadley Falls, Mass. They have three surviving children, George G., Enlys E., and Merwin O. They lost one son, George G., who died in 1862.
MOSES BOLTON, farmer and fruit grower, Section 24, was born in North Wilbraham, Mass., June 1, 1828, and at the age of fifteen went to South Hadley Falls, where he remained eight years, remov- ing to Springfield, where he resided till the Fall of 1867, when he came to Colfax and homesteaded 160 acres, where he still resides. He has made large improvements in his farm, and has devoted much care to the cultivation of fruit, making a specialty of plums, having a very large orchard of this fruit, the trees being very thrifty and hardy, with an excellent quality of fruit, remarkable for their keeping qualities, bearing transportation well. He married, in 1851, Augusta Vinton, and Mary Wells, his present wife, May 3, 1878. He has three children, Herman J., Nellie and Minnie Edna.
WILLIAM R. DRAGGOO, farmer, Section 26, was born in Rich- land, Ashland Co., Ohio, whence he removed to Indiana, coming to this state in 1867, homesteading seventy-five acres in Colfax, upon which he built a log dwelling, and moved his family March 16, 1867, and has now good improvements on a well tilled farm, with a good variety of fruit. He married, July 19, 1860, Hannah Morr, of De Kalb County, Ind., and they have a fine, healthy family of intelligent children, nine daughters and one son-Mary Jane, Sarah C., Laura E., Emilia, Ida B., Cora E., Gertha A., Blanche M., Maude L. and Samuel R.
RUFUS JEWELL, farmer, Section 34, was born in Chenango County, N. Y., November 1, 1820; came into this state in October, 1865, remaining in Newaygo until March 20, 1866, at which time he came into Colfax and homesteaded 120 acres. He located his land April 20, 1866, at the same time purchasing eighty acres in addition. He erected a dwelling and moved his family into it, April 14, 1867, and has resided there ever since. He married, June 22, 1842, Miss Rachel M. Bosworth, of New Hudson, Alleghany Co., N. Y., and they have two surviving children, Maggie and Axie (Mrs. A. H. Freeman).
TOWNSHIP OF LEAVITT.
This town was originally a part of Elbridge, from which it was set apart in 1866. First township election was held at the residence of R. R. Sorter, on the first Monday of April, 1867, at which the following officers were elected:
Vincent E. Clark, supervisor; Valentine Carpenter, clerk; Rufus J. Carpenter, treasurer; Hazen Leavitt and D. M. Croff (holding over from the township of Elbridge) justices; also a full ticket of officers from the other residents of the township. The treasurer failing to file his bonds with the county treasurer in sea- son, the sheriff (E. J. Reed) collected the taxes of ensuing Winter.
The supervisors have been: V. E. Clark, 1866-'67; Hiram Goodrich, 1868-'69; A. C. Gowdy, 1870-'71-2-3; David Scott, 1874, 1875-'76-7-8; W. F. Palmiter, 1879; James Bogue, 1881-'82.
The clerk in 1882 is G. G. Scott, and the treasurer is William Vaughn, in place of C. W. Sackrider, deceased.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in Leavitt was the venerable Hazen Leavitt, whose portrait adorns this work, who is now in his seventy seventh year, and who at the ripe age of sixty became a picneer in the town which now bears his name. He is still hale, and a man of power- ful physique, indicating his original ancestry. He is an intelligent and well-informed advocate of Greenbackism. He came in April 21, 1863, settling one year in Hart, when he looked up land in Leavitt, building a log house in the Winter of 1863-'64, being monarch of all he surveyed, in a vast forest of pine and hardwood. He was born in the town of Percy, New Hampshire, June 22, 1805, and when he went into Leavitt, was accompanied by his son, Charles W., then a boy of fourteen, and who is now the largest and most successful farmer in the town, raising about 250 tons of hay annually. He took up a homestead of 160 acres on Section 6, and Mr. Leavitt worked out the first year to supply provisions for his family, chopped six acres for burning, and burned the same year, sowing two and three quarter acres in wheat with a barrel of wheat, and raising 102 bushels, realizing, after he turned it into flour the equivalent of three dollars a bushel. Then followed, in the Winter, his son Lester W. Although Mr. Leavitt went in almost penniless, such was his perseverance, aided by the fertility of his farm, that he became wealthy and purchased extensively of other lands. In the second year, one and three quarter acres of new land produced 1060 bushels of rutabagas, and when on the farm five years he had seventy acres under culture, and had money ahead. The farm now belongs to C. W. Leavitt, is 450 acres in extent, 240 cleared, barn room for 300 tons of hay, pressed on the place, and it is claimed to be perhaps the best farm in the three counties. So much as $7,000 worth of produce has been taken off in one season.
The first birth was that of Homer Gilbert, born in 1866, and died young.
The first marriage was that of Levi Vaughn, to Mary Carpen- ter, ceremony by H. Leavitt, in Spring of 1867. The second mar- riage was that of Lewis Bragg, to Nancy Evans, also by Squire Leavitt.
The first death was that of Mary, daughter of P. D. Gilbert. The first teacher was probably Murat Hall; the first school- house was a frame one, on Section 5, near Sections 6, 7 and 8. The first preacher was Elder John Bliss, M. E .; James Reason, colored, who still lives in the town, preached in very early times.
The first suicide was by a German, named Smith, about 1872; cause, domestic trouble.
The first road was on the section line, one mile from the north line of the town. Louis Genereau, Indian, was the road com- missioner.
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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.
The first settler was Hazen Leavitt, who laid out the first farm, chopped the first tree, built the first house, and planted the first orchard.
SOIL.
The largest stock and grain farm is C. W. Leavitt's, L. L. Taylor coming next, on Section 7. H. Goodrich and D. M. Croff go largely into fruit, on Section 31.
There are three small general stores-that of R. J. Carpenter, on Section 8; Alvin Stetson, Section 3; and Albert C. Gowdy, on Section 2.
There are two postoffices: Bird postoffice, established 1875, of which R. J. Carpenter has always been postmaster, and Cob-moo- sa postoffice, of which the postmaster was first D. M. Croff, and now his son has charge. The mail was first got at Pentwater, and then at Hart, until 1875, when Bird postoffice was established.
Of the other early settlers were David Lampson, in February, 1865; Jolm Henning, in May; I. Van Tassel, James Brown, H. and C. Sackrider, John Beach, P. D. Gilbert, and Levi Vaughn, who were all in the north part of the town, on March, 1866, when A. C. Gowdy settled on Section 2.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JAMES BOGUE was born in Erie County, Penn., November 19, 1844, and continued to reside there until he was twenty-three years old. He married, in July, 1864, In 1867, Mr. Bogue removed to Oceana County, Mich., and took up a homestead on Section 3, of Leavitt Township, where he has since resided. By perseverance and hard work he has made an attractive and comfortable home. He has held the office of supervisor for three successive years, and has been justice of the peace for fourteen years.
SAMUEL D. GAULT, one of the oldest residents of Leavitt Town- ship, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1818. He lived in Madison County until he was about thirty years old. In 1845 he married Miss Lomira Harrington, who was born in the state of New York, in 1825. In 1848 Mr. Gault moved to Sheboygan County, Wis., and bought land there. He lived there about eighteen years, and then sold his farm, and in 1866 took a home- stead in Section 4, of Leavitt Township, Oceana Co., Mich., where he now resides. In moving from Wisconsin, he chartered a boat for $50, to bring him across, and arrived in Pentwater in the Fall. He paid $36 for hauling three loads of goods from Pentwater to his farm. Arrived there, he constructed a temporary shelter, by cut- ting down a hemlock tree, placing his possessions at its side, and covering them with bark. After building a house, he engaged in making hoops, which he sold. The next Winter he worked for Reuben Jacobs, near Pentwater, and while in his service received an injury. He had to carry all his provisions from Hart or Pent- water, on his back, and endured his share of the pioneer's privations.
ALBERT C. GOWDY was born the 25th of May, 1836, in the town of Martinsburgh, Lewis Co., N. Y. In 1842 his parents moved to Morristown, St. Lawrence County, and in 1846 to Hillsdale County, Mich. They lived there until 1850, and then returned to Lewis County, N. Y. In the Fall of 1856, Mr. Gowdy returned to Hills- dale County, Mich., and after a short stay removed to Berrien County. Once again he returned to New York; but in the Fall of 1859 came back to Michigan. February 18, 1864, Mr. Gowdy en- listed to serve his country against the South. After serving eighteen months, during which he was in many battles, including the siege of Mobile, he was discharged, August 18, 1865. On January 1, 1866, Mr. Gowdy married Achsah A. Giddings, of Wheatland, Hillsdale Co., Mich, who was born in that place, July 26, 1841. In
the Spring of 1866, Mr. Gowdy went to Oceana County, and took up land in Section 2, of Leavitt Township, where he now resides. In the beginning he had to find his way to his farm by the aid of marked trees, as there were no roads opened. Mrs. Gowdy, on her first return to Hillsdale, had to ride seventy-five miles in a lumber- wagon, before reaching the railroad, and on her return rode fifty-five miles in a sled, drawn by a team of oxen. Mrs. Gowdy displayed great energy in helping to make the farm. On one occasion, a brush fence was accidentally burned during her husband's absence, and she replaced it with a better one. She also taught school one Winter.
SETH HOLT was born in the town of Hanover, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., on May 4, 1825. When he was seven years old, his parents went to Erie County, Pa., and lived there ten years. At the age of seventeen, he left home, and went to Mentor, Ohio, where he lived about twenty-three years. December 30, 1846, he married Miss C. Connant, of Mentor, Ohio, who was born in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1828. Twelve children were born to them, nine of whom are living. In 1869 Mr. Holt came to Oceana County, and bought 160 acres of wild land, in Section 9, Leavitt Township, from the F. & P. M. R. R. Co., paying $5 per acre for it. Three days after arriv- ing at the farm, two of their children were taken sick. There was no physician to be had, but by careful nursing they recovered. Two of the smaller boys at one time started through the woods, twenty- two miles, for Pentwater, expecting to return the next day. The snow was deep, however, and they did not return for three days. By patient industry, Mr. Holt has subdued the forest, and now has a very fine farm.
G. G. Scorr was born in Columbia County, Pa., May 5, 1844. Settled in Macomb County, Mich., in 1856. Enlisted from there, in 1862, in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry; served three years. Was in twenty-six engagements, and wounded in front of Washington, July 11, 1864. Settled in Oceana County, Mich., in 1872, and lives on Section 10, Leavitt Township. Is the present township clerk. Married, December 22, 1870, to Sarah Mears. Two children-Mar- garette, and Isaiah H.
ALVIN C. STETSON was born in Montville, Geauga Co., Ohio, in 1850. In 1873 he came to Oceana County, Mich., and pur- chased a farm in Section 4, Leavitt Township. After remaining here two years, he returned to his native place, but in the Spring of 1881, returned to Oceana County. In January, 1882, he commenced business as a general merchant, and is doing a flourishing business.
WILLIAM M. WICKS was born in Washington Township, Erie Co., Pa., September 2, 1845. In August, 1864, he enlisted in the naval service of the North, and served eighteen months. He was at Fort Fisher, during the siege of that place, but was not called into action. He was discharged in 1865, but remained some time longer in the service, when he returned to his native place, and remained until 1872. In that year he came to Oceana County, Mich., and bought wild land in Leavitt Township, Section 4. Mr. Wicks went to work with a will, and soon built a house, and commenced clearing his farm. April 24, 1880, he married Viola Jordan, who was born in Orwell, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. They have one child.
TOWNSHIP OF ELBRIDGE. ORGANIZATION.
The first annual election, with fifteen voters, in all, was held at the house of S. G. Rollins, April 5, 1858; Ira Jenks and H. H. Fuller, inspectors of election, and H. H. Fuller and E. G. Farmer, clerks of election. The election resulted as follows: Supervisor, S. G. Rollins; treasurer, Ira Jenks; clerk, H. H. Fuller; justices
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of the peace, H. H. Fuller, Ira Jenks, Victory Satterlee and S. G. Rollins; highway commissioners, V. Satterlee and Nelson Glover; school inspectors, Robert McAllister and Ira Jenks; directors of the poor, Alex. Black and Ira Jenks; overseers of highway, S. G. Rol- lins and C. E. Green; constables, Caleb E. Green and Daniel M. Wentworth.
The following is a list of the supervisors, clerks and treasurers :
SUPERVISORS .-- S. G. Rollins, 1858; Seth T. Robinson, 1859; Josiah Russell, 1859-'60-'61: John Bean, 1862; William H. Leach, 1863; H. S. Sayles, 1864-65-6-7-8: D. W. Crosby, 1869-'70- '81-'82; W. J. Tennant, 1871-'72-3; T. G. Houk, 1874-75-6- '77-8-9-'80.
CLERKS .- H. H. Fuller, 1858; Thomas W. Farrell, 1859; Henry B. Burrell, 1860; A. V. Peck, 1861; W. H. Leach, 1862; Ariel Crosby, 1863; Hazen Leavitt, 1864; D). W. Crosby, 1865-'66- '74-5-6-7-8-9; Olney Bishop, 1867; C. C. Cochran, 1868-'69; W. J. Tennant, 1870; James N. McCreary, 1871; Jeremiah R. Thompson, 1872-'73; James H. Wyman, 1880-'81; Jesse Weirich, 1882.
TREASURERS .- Ira Jenks, 1858; James R. Mooney, 1859; Charles B. Wilson, 1860-'61; Joseph Babahmuseb, 1862; H. S. Sayles, 1863-'76-7-9-'80; Seth T. 'Robinson, 1864-'65-6; Joseph Pa-ba-ma, 1867-'68-9-'70; Charles E. Hickey, 1871-'72-3; Louis Genereau, 1874-'75; James H. Wyman, 1878; William N. Sayles, 1881; Adam C. Shepherdson, 1882.
In April, 1862, Hart and Golden petitioned to be set off, which was accordingly done, leaving the township without officers, as all the officers were living in the township of Hart. So, soon after, the first township meeting was held, and John Bean, Jr., was chosen supervisor, and William H. Leach, clerk, with a full corps of officers, part of whom were Indians, who performed their part well.
In the year 1867 the township of Leavitt was set off, leaving the township with the name of Elbridge, and it being one of the towns belonging to the Indian Reservation, there were very few white men in the town.
Hervey S. Sayles is among the first permanent white settlers, coming here about the year 1862, and Daniel W. Crosby in the year 1864, both parties coming here as school teachers among the In- dians who had settled in the township in the year 1858, being sent here by the government on to the Indian Reservation. Among the first Indians to settle in the town were, Joseph Elliott, Pa-ba-ma, Peter Hunter and To-ne-bah. The first log house was the one built by Louis Genereau, and now standing on his farm. He also built the first frame barn in the township.
The first Sunday-school in Elbridge was commenced in 1870, in the cedar schoolhouse, by the American Sunday-school Union. W. J. Tennant was the first superintendent, and has continued in office until the present, with exception of two years, when V. E. Kerr held the position. The children were nearly all Indians, there being four white families at that time in the town-Sayles, Crosby, Cochran and Tennant. Among the pleasant reminiscences of the organization, might be mentioned the one of the Indians attending the school. Indian children, having heard that there was going to be a Sabbath-school, came from all parts of the town to see what kind of an institution it was. They came marching into the school- house, with their bows and arrows, and accompanied by their dogs. They were instructed as well as could be done, to leave their bows and arrows at home, so the next time they came with nothing but their dogs. During the exercises, one of the dogs looked in at the door and growled, which caused nearly all in the house to laugh. One of the Indian boys did not like such actions, and as soon as he got out of doors he gave the dog a kick, but no sooner had he done that, than the owner of the dog fell to kicking him, and by the time
the superintendent got out of doors to stop it, they were having a regular knock-down fight.
The first public school, erected in 1870, was the cedar school, Ida Fluker first teacher.
EARLY HISTORY.
The first death of a white person was that of Fay, son of Daniel W. Crosby, who was born September, 1864, and died October, 1866.
The first white preacher was Rev. Charles Powers, Methodist Episcopal.
The first white settler was H. S. Sayles; D. W. Crosby, second; then Jerome Cochran (deceased) came in, and bought land for himself and for C. C. Cochran, who came next year after. Alder Bishop, of St. Joseph County, came in 1866, and sold to J. R. Thompson, in 1871; next came George Tate, then W. J. Tennant. Seth D. Robinson came in 1857 or 1858, and was interpreter to the Indians, but is now a resident of Lowell, in this state. There are now 165 white voters and 63 Indian. The latter readily enlisted in the war, though exempt from draft; twenty-eight enlisted in Mich- igan Sharpshooters, on July 4, 1869.
The first sawmill was on Section 31, by Dr. Charles J. Powers, in 1871, which is now removed to Section 11, and operated by B. Hartwell. The next mill was built by H. C. Crossman, of Coopers- ville, in 1880, but now removed to East Golden. B. Moore, of Hart, in August, 1882, moved his mill from Mears, to saw over 3,000,000 feet of lumber, for the Staunton Lumber County, on Sections 5 and 6, on the Rice tract; and lastly, a gentleman from La Grange, Ind., is about to erect a custom steam sawmill, on Section 16.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHARLES C. CHOCHRAN was born in Tioga County, Pa., in 1829. In 1856 he married Miss Maria A. Ferry, and removed to Berrien County, Mich. He remained there until 1865, and, with his bro- thers, cleared up a farm of eighty acres. In that year he sold his farm, and with an ox team moved to Oceana County, Mich. On his journey, he could not buy a pound of meat until he reached Muske- gon, and the meal his wife cooked for him at this place was the best he ever had. On this journey, also, he lost a cow, and an unprincipled man charged him $10 to help in finding her. Arriv- ing in Oceana County, he bought 160 acres, in Section 16, town of Elbridge, the land being in a wild state. He built a house, and also, with his neighbors, a schoolhouse, and started a school. The building has also served for a church, for any denomination that desired to occupy it. Mr. Cochran has been successful, but has had some hard times among the Indians in Elbridge Township, and under similar circumstances would not again care to attempt to make it his home.
MILO E. CRANE was born in Calhoun County, Mich., in 1846. In 1872 he went to Newaygo, remaining there one year. He next lived two years in the town of Sparta. In April, 1873, he married Miss Jane Light, of Kent County, Mich. In 1875 he moved to Oceana County, and bought land in Section 8 of the Township of Elbridge, which he afterwards sold, buying more land in Section 17 of the same township. Mrs. Crane is a daughter of G. W. Light, of Kent County, who was one of the first settlers in Oceana County. He came in 1856, and settled in what is now Hart Township. The first schoolhouse was built on his farm, one having been built pre- viously, in the village of Hart. The preacher in those days was an Indian, who tried to lead the erring to the path of light. Mr. Light built the first frame house in that part of the county. His home was always open to those that were in need, and many of the new settlers found with him a shelter until their own houses were ready to receive them.
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