History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 37

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 553

USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 37

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In politics, Mr. Terry is a Democrat, and one of the most convincing proofs of his ability and integrity, and the high esteem in which he is held by his towns- men, is the fact that for fourteen years continuously, from 1862 to 1876, he has been chosen to fill the office of supervisor of his township, though the people are largely opposed to him in political sentiment, the township being Republican during the entire period.

Mrs. Terry bore to him seven children, and died in 1859.

In 1860, Mr. Terry brought to his home another companion, Miss Lucina Richardson, daughter of Isaac Richardson, formerly of Pontiac. She was born in August, 1837, in the town of Howard, Kent county, province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada.

By steady and persevering industry, correct habits, and straightforward up- rightness, Mr. Terry has gained a competency, which he is now enjoying in his old age, cheered and pleased by the richly-merited regard of his neighbors and fellow-citizens. We present to our readers a view of the old homestead of Mr. Terry, and also the portraits of himself and his worthy helpmeet, on another page of our work.

BRANDON TOWNSHIP.

THE township of Brandon occupies the centre of the northern tier of towns. It is known in official records as town 5 north, range 9 east. Its surface presents a varied aspect. It is generally hilly, with an occasional plain of some consider- able extent. Most of the land surface was originally timbered, some of it with dense forests of oaks. There are yet vast bodies of this timber in the township, especially in the southwestern part. Small belts of pine and cedar abound, but little of the timber is large enough for building purposes. Brandon has its quota of lakes, but they are, with few exceptions, small and unimportant, being bor- dered by marsh surface. Cranberry lake, situated principally in the southwestern corner of section 11, is noted for the presence of this fruit. Bald Eagle is the largest lake in the township. It is located on sections 19 and 30, and is a fine sheet of water. It derived its name from the presence of a family of eagles, which used to build their nest on an island in this lake. Formerly, fish were very abun- dant here, and this lake was a great resort for the Indians, who used to encamp there for months at a time. Seymour lake, on section 34, named after John B. Seymour, an early settler in its vicinity, ranks second in size. Its area is about

one hundred acres. The shores of the lake are low, but form a sandy beach. Its waters afford fine fishing.

The only stream of any size is the Kearsley creek. This rises in section 15, flows south and west to the east line of section 16, thence north to Truax lake ; from this it has a westerly direction to section 18, when it changes to the north- west, flowing through sections 7 and 6 into Groveland. It affords a water-power on section 7, which has been improved. There is also a small branch of the Paint creek in the southeastern part of the township, rising in section 25, and flowing southeast through section 36. Aside from the channels of these streams there are a number of hollows and depressions which afford drainage. Some fine springs are found in the township. Several of the most noted flow from the side of Cedar hill, over a hundred feet above the village of Ortonville, situated at its base. The soil of Brandon is generally fertile, although rather light in some localities, pro- .ducing in abundance the products common to this part of the State. The hills are especially adapted to grazing, and considerable attention has been paid to stock-raising and wool-growing. Wool is one of the principal articles of shipment.

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

EARLY LAND PURCHASES.

Compared with the purchases in some of the surrounding towns, those made in Brandon do not rank as early ones, none dating back prior to 1831. In June of that year, Elijah B. Clark, Asa Owen, and Jesse Decker, citizens of Orion township, made purchases on section 25. It is probable that these lands were bought for speculative purposes, as none of these men ever became residents of the town- ship. The next purchases of which there is any record were made in 1833, by John G. Perry, Alexander G. Huff, and Mary Quick. At least two of these became residents a few years later. In 1835, among those who secured real estate were G. M. Giddings, Henry Forster, Daniel Hunt, and George P. Thurs- ton. About this time

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS

were made. John G. Perry, a native of New Jersey, but who had lived for some years in Oakland township, moved on to the land he purchased in 1833 (in sec- tion 35), some time in the spring of 1835. He erected a log house and made a clearing on the plains. The summer of 1835 proved a sickly season, and as no settlements followed soon, the family was in a disgusted frame of mind. In the fall of 1835, George P. Thurston, of Rochester, New York, located land on sec- tions 28 and 29. Leaving his family at Pontiac, he took a load of his household effects and went to this land for the purpose of building a log house. After he had completed it he returned to Pontiac. Late in October he took the remainder of his goods, and with his wife and child, in company with Vine Kingsley and family, and a man named Munson Elliott, who had engaged to work for him, pro- ceeded to their new home. They arrived at what they supposed was the locality, but could see no sign of their house. A prolonged search revealed the unpleasant fact that it had been destroyed by fire in Mr. Thurston's absence, presumably by the Indians, as many little articles, such as razors and hatchets, were missing. Not at all discouraged, they took their families to Mr. Perry's, four miles distant, and, leaving their wives and children there, proceeded to Orion for boards to build a shanty. This they hastily constructed,-twelve feet square,-and lived in it all winter, there being eight inmates in all. That winter they built a log house for Mr. Kingsley on his place on section 33, and early in the spring of 1836 began work on a frame house for Mr. Thurston. This was so far completed that he was enabled to move into it in May. It was a fair-sized building, and was used for a dwelling about ten years. It was then changed into a corn-house.

Early in February, 1836, David Lawrence and James T. Rhodes, New York- ers, moved their families to the lands purchased by them some time before. Law- rence settled on section 33, and Rhodes on section 28. Lawrence contented himself to live in a shanty, with fourteen-feet boards for a roof, but cleared con- siderable ground that season. In the fall he sowed seventeen acres of wheat, and was rewarded with a bountiful crop. Rhodes made more substantial improve- ments, among them a log house, which is still used as a dwelling by Robert Bailey, Jr.

Later in 1836, a large number of settlers came to Brandon, among the first being John B. Seymour, a New Yorker, who located on section 34, on the south shore of a fine lake. This received his name, which it still bears. He lived in a shanty for a short time, but that summer built a fine two-story block-house, which was regarded in those days as a place of aristocratic pretensions. Mr. Seymour was a man of great energy, and could not content himself to live in the country. Some years after he removed to Pontiac, where he engaged in journalism, and thence to California. Subsequently he returned to New York, and afterwards moved to a southwestern State, where he died.

Joseph W. Shurter, from Saratoga county, New York, came to this neighbor- hood in the fall of 1836. He purchased a piece of land of Lawrence, located on section 34, where he built a log house, eighteen by twenty-six feet, which was used until 1861.

Isaac B. Shurter, Joseph's brother, settled on section 33 about the same time; and, a few years later, John Shurter followed them, settling in the same locality.

Alexander G. Huff, from Chili, Monroe county, New York, settled on his land on section 12 in the summer of 1836. He built a log house, with two windows, but the house was not chinked, and had no chimney. The smoke was allowed to find its way out of the building the best way it could through an opening in the roof. They did all their cooking in an old-fashioned fire-place. Mr. Huff died some years ago, but Mrs. Huff survives him, and lives at present at Oak wood.

Thomas N. Lomis, Madison county, New York, cast his lot in this settlement in May of this year. He received a patent from the government for four hun- dred and twenty acres of land, principally in section 12. His log house was somewhat better than those of his neighbors, because it had a Dutch chimney, and was chinked. The same season brought George Giddings, Orson Griffin, Lyman Parker, and William Weed, all from the State of New York, as settlers on section 1.

Both Alexander Huff and George Giddings had sown some wheat the year before they moved, in the fall of 1835, and reaped a fair crop the first summer they lived there.

Addison Cowden, a native of Livingston county, New York, settled a little west of these, making purchases on sections 3, 12, 13, and 14, in May, 1836. Some months later in that year, Jacob Lomis and Caleb Stanley, also from New York, settled on section 12.

Another settlement was made in 1836, on sections 4 and 9, by the Drapers and Truaxes. Oliver Draper located on section 4, Seymour Torrance on section 9, and Isaac Truax on section 16. These settlers made the usual improvements, and endured many hardships on account of the scarcity of roads rendering communi- cation very difficult. In this part of the township game was very plenty, espe- cially deer, and venison was the principal meat of the settlers. It was customary to carry along the rifle, even to religious meetings. One Sunday, as Mr. Truax was passing through the woods, he started a large deer, which he pursued directly by the door of the place where he wanted to attend meeting. The baying of the hounds brought the woman of the house, who was very pious, to the door to ascertain the cause of the commotion. Seeing her neighbor with his gun in his hands, running in the direction of the dogs, she was inclined to reprove him for breaking the Sabbath. But when he assured her that he had wounded the deer, and needed but pursue in order to capture him, she urged him to use all dili- gence, as they had the meeting at their house, and needed the meat for dinner.

The Perry settlement also received a share of the immigrants. Henry Houser, of Tompkins county, New York, located on section 35. Among the first work he did was the digging of a well, as he was determined not to use surface water. This was probably the first well in the township. Then followed a log house, fur- nished in a novel manner. The furniture was made of tamarack poles, and yet they enjoyed it right royally. He now resides in a two-story brick house, the only one in the township.

William King settled on section 27 about the same time. He was appointed the first postmaster some years after.

William H. Osmun located on section 35, near Houser's, about the same time, in 1836.

In the mean time the southwest part of the township was attracting a portion of the settlers. Among the first to make a beginning in that locality was Isaiah Rathbun, a New Yorker. His first house, erected in the summer of 1836, on section 29, was indeed a primitive affair. Two forked sticks, supporting a cross- piece, were leaned against a tree. Upon these he placed boards, making a shed- roof. This served as a dwelling until he could erect a log house. His brother, Harry Rathbun, was a Methodist preacher, but opened a place in this locality about this time.

James Arnold, a Mohawk Dutchman, and a soldier of 1812, located this year on section 31. His son-in-law, Jonathan Ball, also from New York, came at the same time and located on the same section. Other settlers in that region were N. D. Bingham, of Onondaga county, New York, on section 31; James Cassaday, on section 32; and Asahel Kent, who settled on section 30, in 1837.

Peter A. Smith, a native of New Jersey, came to Brandon in 1837, locating on section 27. He received a patent from the government for one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved, and still lives upon.

Robert Bailey settled on the same section a short time after, and built a house, which is still standing. Thomas Streater, of Monroe county, New York, joined this settlement the next year.

A. B. Travis, from Dutchess county, New York, located on section 25, in 1837. He built a good log house, eighteen by twenty feet, and sowed twenty-six acres of grain that fall. South of him, on section 36, Ethel F. Benedict, Stephen Scott, Frederick Schurtz, and John Hammond located in 1838. About this time, or soon after, the Hummers and Summers families settled in the central part of the township. George Middaugh soon came to the same locality, and Schuyler D. Johnson, Jacob Price, Heman D. Calkins, and Thomas J. Kellicutt, with many others, became citizens of Brandon prior to 1840.

THE INDIANS.

When the first settlers came to Brandon there were a great many Indians within its bounds. With few exceptions these were orderly and peaceable, although naturally inclined to pilfer. Bald Eagle lake was a favorite camping-ground for the "dusky sons of the forest" when they passed through the country, and hither came a tribe yearly, for some time after the country was settled, to hunt and fish. Their chief was able to speak English with some fluency, and was the soul of honor. While hunting on the lake it chanced that his gun fell overboard, sinking to the bottom. He came to Mr. Shurter and asked him for the loan of his rifle, offering, as a pledge for its return, his tomahawk and other articles precious to an Indian. He further covenanted that he would bring Mr. Shurter a quarter of every deer

154

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

he should kill. This promise Mr. Shurter thinks he faithfully kept, judging from the venison he brought him every few days. When he left the country he re- turned the rifle in good order.

Not so honorable were the whites in their dealings with the " simple children of the wilds ;" they imposed upon them in various ways, and often cheated them outright, which a little incident well illustrates. While roaming through the woods, an Indian found a bee-tree. Not having an axe with him, he borrowed one from a settler living some distance from the tree, agreeing to divide the honey for the use of the implement. Proceeding to the tree, the white permitted the Indian to chop down the tree alone, but when the honey was laid bare, in the shape of a tube, better filled, of course, at the lower part, the white came to his assistance, dividing it so as to take his share from the lower end, and giving the Indian's portion from the upper.

EARLY ROADS.

In 1838 roads were located on the town-lines east and south of Brandon, and other roads in the interior of the township, on section-lines, where the nature of the country would permit. Previous to this the Indian trail was followed in its course from one lake to another, and often proved a valuable guide to the settlers when lost in the woods. On one occasion the father of Alfred Van Wagoner, who was then living in Oxford, but who became a resident of Brandon in 1842, while hunting his cattle lost his bearings and wandered around a day, completely bewil- dered. He passed the night in a hollow tree, and the next day came to John B. Seymour's cabin. In the mean time search had been instituted, and after a long hunt he was found at Seymour's by following one of these trails. But Mr. Van Wagoner was so completely bewildered that he failed to recognize his own sons, and when he was brought home insisted that he did not live there. It was only after some time and much persuasion that he was induced to believe that he was found, and had really reached his home.

ORCHARDS.

The success attending the cultivation of fruit in the other townships induced the early settlers to plant orchards at once. Among those first set out was one by Orson Griffin, in 1837 ; Stephen Perry, the same year; Jonathan Ball, in 1837 and 1838 ; and by A. B. Travis, who carried the trees on his back all the way from Troy, in 1838. Nearly all of these trees are yet in a flourishing condi- tion ; and there are now orchards in Brandon containing thousands of trees.

THE FIRST FRAME BARN.

The first structure of this nature in the township was erected by George P. Thurston, in the summer of 1837. It was a good frame, twenty-six by thirty- six feet, and was raised without liquor. This fact having been announced, and the men appearing so heartily in response to the invitation, speaks well for the tem- perance sentiment which then existed, while this raising was unquestionably the first temperance meeting held in the township.

IMPROVED STOCK.

At a very early day sheep proved remunerative, the hills of Brandon being especially adapted for grazing, and much attention was paid by the farmers to the improvement of their flocks. In 1845, Thomas Lomis introduced the Spanish merino. This had the effect of stimulating still greater attention to this branch of industry, and further importations followed, with good results.

In 1865, Henry Houser brought a full-blood Durham cow to Brandon. It was the first of this breed, and from her have descended nearly all the grades of this blood in the southern part of the town.

FARM MACHINERY.

The use of improved farm machinery became quite general at an early day, although it cannot be determined to whom the honor of its introduction belongs. Nor have the citizens of Brandon been satisfied with the use of machinery made abroad. Some of her own people have exercised their inventive talents. Nota- bly among these is Mr. A. B. Travis. Believing that wheat might be made more productive if cultivated like other crops, he turned his attention to the construction of a tool for this purpose, and in 1875 invented a wheat-hoer, which is remarkable for its simplicity and the ease with which it can be operated. He exhibited it at the International Exhibition at Philadelphia, where it re- ceived the warmest commendations, attracting the especial attention of British agriculturists, who have been using machines of this nature with much benefit. Mr. Travis has given his machine a practical test, and finds that its use adds largely to the yield of his wheat crop. It will, no doubt, soon be generally used where fall wheat is grown.

PIONEER BLACKSMITHS.

Jonathan Seldon, a good workman, opened a shop in 1840, on section 16. He carried on his trade there for several years.

In 1842, Ezra Auten built a shop on section 22, where he has conducted his business ever since. Years ago he was an excellent horse-shoer. About 1852 he . shod a horse for Jacob Hummer, who went to California overland. The shoes wore all the way to Salt Lake City, without re-setting, being then but slightly worn. Other workmen opened shops at Oakwood and Ortonville, which will be noticed in that connection.

COUNTRY STORES.

A small store was kept. on section 13 by John Thomas, an Englishman, in 1842. He continued in business only about two years.

In 1847, A. B. Travis, living on section 25, put a stock of goods in an old log house, where he kept store three years. He then built a frame store-room, where he continued to carry on the business until 1864. These two were the only trading-points outside of the villages.

COUNTRY POST-OFFICES AND MAIL-ROUTES.

The first post-office in Brandon was located on section 27. It was established about 1845, and William King was appointed postmaster. The mail-route was from Lakeville, and the carrier was D. M. Arnold, noted now as one of the principal booksellers of Detroit. In 1848 it was removed to Mr. Travis' store, where it remained until he went out of business in 1864. It was then moved to section 30, with a mail-route from Pontiac.

EARLY MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS.

The first wedding of which there is any account extant was that of Calvin Fos- dick and Salinda Draper, daughter of Oliver Draper, November 8, 1838. All the neighbors were bidden to the feast, and a grand time was anticipated. As the appointed minister did not come, Addison Cowden, then a newly-elected justice of the peace, performed the ceremony, with much trepidation and many misgivings of his ability to carry it out. However, he succeeded, and the guests expressed their approbation by calling upon Seymour Torrance, a drummer, who was pres- ent, to serenade them. This he did, making the occasion one long to be remem- bered by the pioneers, who still delight to recur to Salinda Draper's wedding. In 1840, Joseph W. Pelton married Mary F. Cowden ; and many others were soon driven by the " little god" into the folds of matrimony.

Among those first born was a daughter in the family of Thomas Lomis, in 1837. Little Emily grew to womanhood in the township, and married one of her schoolmates, Marshal Frost, who is now a merchant at Oakwood.

Catherine Mary Houser was born in June, 1837. She grew to womanhood, and then died, September 22, 1855.

But before this the stern death-angel had claimed his own in the township of Brandon. He came to one first who was just about to realize the promise of life brought by manhood. Among the first deaths was that of James Schurtz, in 1839. He was interred in the town of Independence. The name of Mrs. Vine Kingsley was added to the long roll the same year. She found her last resting- place on section 34, where half an acre of ground had been set apart sacred to the dead. This was one of

THE CEMETERIES

provided by the town. It is still in use, and is generally spoken of as the Shurter grave-yard. Another burying-ground is on section 5. But the principal ceme- teries of the township are the following :

The Seymour Lake cemetery, located on section 35. Five acres of ground, finely situated and with good natural drainage, were secured for this purpose in 1875. It is now neatly fenced and well kept, being controlled by an association formed for this purpose. The present officials are : President, Henry Houser ; Secretary, E. E. Sherwood; Sexton, W. J. Sherwood.

Rural cemetery, comprising several acres in the town of Groveland, just oppo- site Ortonville, was established in 1869. It is used mostly by the people of Brandon, and is controlled by an association composed of her citizens, of which Charles Seaman is now president and John D. McIntire secretary.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES.

In 1837 a little log school-house was erected on section 33, and, as no lumber could be had for a floor, Aaron Thurston and Joseph Shurter hewed one out of trees and logs. In this the first school was taught, in the summer of 1838. A Miss Halstead, of Oakland township, was the first teacher of the thirteen pupils, who went many miles to enjoy this privilege. Another school was taught in the Cowden neighborhood about the same time, or shortly after. Here Julia Pelton held sway over Jacob, Frank, and Mary Lomis, William, Fred, and Nancy Stan- ley, Eliza Cowden, Oliver A., Mary, and Rebecca Perry, and William and Sarah Beardsley. The school-house was destroyed by fire the year following, when Fred. Kellicutt taught. It was rebuilt the next year, and Miss Pelton again became the teacher.

J. M

155

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

The Seymour lake school-house was built about 1839. The teacher's office was held by Sarah Ann Baldwin, Aurilla Streator, and Norville Norton. Among the early pupils were William and Betsey King, Gideon and Ann Hummer, Eliza Streator, Eliza Seymour, and Sophronia Thompson.

In the Rathbun neighborhood the principles of education were first imparted about 1842. A log house was dedicated to this purpose, and here, in 1844, Hiram Ball taught the first winter school. Among his pupils were nine children from one family-Rathbun's. Subsequently, a portion of this district was annexed to Ortonville. The township made early provision for the education of its children. It is now well supplied with good school-houses, some of them being very fine. The Oak Hill school-house challenges the admiration of every one who sees it. It was erected in 1876, and is an appropriate memento of not only the centennial year, but of the citizens of the district who take so warm an interest in the educa- tion of their children.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

In 1827, Brandon became a part of Pontiac township. This relation was sus- tained until 1837, when it became a separate township. The first town-meeting was held at the house of John B. Seymour on the 3d day of April, 1837, and was organized by choosing Oliver Draper moderator, and Enos Gage clerk. The election resulted in the choice of the following list of officers :

Supervisor, George P. Thurston ; Clerk, Schuyler D. Johnson ; Assessors, Isaiah Rathbun, Orson Griffin, Barret Draper; Commissioners of Highways, Vine Kingsley, Seymour Torrance, Caleb Stanley ; Justices of the Peace, George P. Thurston, Oliver Draper, Addison Cowden, John B. Seymour; Overseers of the Poor, Thomas N. Lomis, Isaiah Rathbun; Collector, Caleb Stanley ; Constables, Isaac Shurter, Caleb Stanley ; Fence-Viewers, Jas. P. Rhodes, Geo. Giddings.

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History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 37

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 553

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 553