USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 84
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Allium Smith
813
CHESANING TOWNSHIP.
This brief account of a terrible tragedy is one of a number that pertains to this county and one, too, that cannot be passed over with a formal notice: therefore this reference to that band of murderers.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Following are sketches of some of the pioneers and representative citizens of Chesaning village and township:
Charles Bailey, school-teacher; P. O., Chesaning; was born in Province of Ontario, Canada, July 27, 1838; parents were Charles and Lucinda Bailey; former died May 24, 1859, and the latter in January, 1880; subject of sketch was reared in Canada; received education in St. Thomas Academy; taught school eight years in native land and New York; came to Saginaw county in 1870; was married April 19, 1869, to Johanna Burson, daughter of Abner and Agnes Burson, natives of Virginia and Ohio; wife was born at Kalamazoo, Mich., Jan. 26, 1839; 1 child-Alice E., born at Port Burrow, Canada, July 25, 1870; subject is member of I. O. G. T. and P. of HI; owns farm of 70 acres on secs. 22 and 27.
George W. Bentley, farmer, sec. 6; P. O., Chesaning; was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 18, 1840. His parents are Robert and Eliza Bentley, also natives of New York. In October, 1862, Mr. Bentley enlisted in Co. D, 23d Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., and during his two years' service, participated in over 20 engagements. He was honorably discharged in September, 1864. He settled on his present farm of 80 acres in 1880. He was married Aug. 6, 1861, to Charlotte, daughter of Hiram and Lucy Anthony. Mrs. Bentley was born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1848. They have 2 children ---- Eva, wife of George Summers, of Bay City, and George M. Mr. Bentley votes with the Republican party.
HI. J. Bentley, merchant, Chesaning, was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., March 19, 1821. His parents, Thomas and Sallie (James) Bentley, were natives of Saratoga Co., N. Y. Mr. Bentley was reared to manhood on a farm, receiving a common-school education. In November, 1856, he came to Chesaning, and opened the second store in that place. In 1861 he removed to Saginaw City, but soon returned to Chesaning, where he has since resided. Mr. Bentley has been engaged at various times in the salt, lumber and hotel business. He was married in June, 1847, to Jane A. Wen- dell, who was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., April 3, 1824. . Her parents are John A. and Elizabeth (Parrott) Wendell. Three children have been given to this union-Effie A., wife of Willianı H. Hayne, was born Jan. 22, 1849; Alice E., deceased wife of W. H. H. Chapman, was born Aug. 19, 1851, and died Sept. 2, 1874; Marion D., who died at the age of six monthis. Mr. Bentley was once Deputy Postmaster of Chesaning, and at present is a member of the R. A. M. and I. O. O.F. societies, and Democratic in politics.
49
814
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
Mr. Bentley has sold goods in Chesaning village for the past 22 years, and is now carrying on a general store. The average stock carried is about $5,000, and consists of dry-goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes and jewelry. His sales average about $10,000, per annum.
Henry R. Blakeslee, farmer, sec. 24, was born in Stenben Co., N. Y., Sept. 3, 1840; parents were Dr. E. L. and Irene W. Blakes- lee, natives of Massachusetts and Long Island .. Subject of sketch was reared in New York; edncation received at district schools; on Aug. 25, 1862, enlisted in Co. D, 136th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf .: was wounded in shoulder at Resaca, and discharged May 25, 1865; came to Michigan in October, 1867, lived at Chesaning two years, then purchased present farm of 80 acres; was married Oct. 10, 1860, to Clarissa Walker, daughter of Jacob and Clarissa Walker; wife born in Wyoming Co., N. Y., March 21, 1839; have 4 children- Fred. H., Jerome R., Elmer A., and Cynthia J: subject is Republican.
Arthur S. Burrows, grocer, Chesaning, is the first son of Walter and Mary Burrows, and was born in Chiesaning, June 13, 1857. His parents were of Englishi ancestors. His father died when he was seven years of age. He attended school in Chesaning till 17, and until 19 on a farm, when he obtained employment as clerk in the store of J. W. Manning; with him he remained one and a half years, then opened a grocery store for himself and is doing a good business. He carries a stock of $2,000. Annual sales amount to $20,000. Jan. 1, 1880, he was married to Cora Wagner, daughter of V. and Mary (Seeley) Wagner, born in York State, Feb. 17. 1859. In politics he is an advocate of Democracy.
Samuel S. Carson was born in Hamilton Co., O., June 26, 1834; son of Samuel and Elizabeth Carson, the former of whom served in the war of 1812 and was son of a Revolutionary soldier; subject of sketch was raised in Seneca Co., O., and educated at the Republi- can Academy; in September, 1862, enlisted in Co. I, 123d Reg. O. Vol. Inf., serving until lie was honorably discharged, March, 1863; sense of hearing was somewhat injured during war. In October, 1864. came to this county; owns 160 acres of land on sec. 7; previous to war was a school-teacher for many years; is Republican in politics ; was married March 19, 1861, to Sabria Miller, who was born in Ohio, Sept. 23, 1842, a daughter of John and Sarah A. Miller; of 7 children given them, 6 are living-Roselia, wife of George W. Bennett, William S., Hattie. Ettie, Samuel II. and Ethel.
George Washington Chapman was, without doubt, descended from Ralph Chapman, born in England in 1615, and who at the age of 20 years, being then a resident of the Parisli of St. Saviors, Southwark, County Surrey, cmigrated to America, as will appear from consulting the list of passengers who passed from the port of London for the year ending at Christmas, 1635. Upon his arrival in America he probably settled at Duxbury, Mass., although no mention is made of him until 1640. Ten years afterward lie be-
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CHESANING TOWNSHIP.
came a resident of Marshfield, Mass., and lived there until tlie time of his death, which occurred in the autumn of 1671. He had a daughter Mary, who married, in 1666, William Troop. This name, though variously spelled, occurs in the family of George W. Chapman many times. His Great-grandfather Throop, when he was a boy, he well remembered seeing. This ancestor, at the age of 91, rode on horseback from Reedsborongh, Vt., to Belcher- town, Mass., to visit his relatives. George, although very young at the time of this visit, took much pleasure and interest in the old gentleman, and years afterward related to his children many amns- ing incidents of the early life of his ancient progenitor. Throop Chapman had a number of children, among them William, who in turn, had among others, Daniel, the father of George, who was born Dec. 23, 1782, and died at Canton, Mass., April 12, 1867. He married May 25, 1809, Nancy Smith, who was born in Walpole, Mass., Jan. 9. 1790, and died March 9, 183S. Their second son, George, the subject of this memoir, was born at Belchertown, Hampshire Co., Mass., Nov. 15, 1812.
Mr. Chapman passed his youth in his native town, where, at a very early age, he learned from his father the trade of wheelwright, and soon became a skillful workman, obtaining that practical in- formation which enabled him in after years to apply his naturally mechanical mind so successfully, and devise and invent many improvements in the implements and machinery which he employed in his chosen vocation. In early manhood he engaged in the construction of railroads, and a greater portion of his ever active and busy life was passed in this manner, sometimes as a superintendent. sometimes as a contractor, and, indeed, alinost every position required in building railroads has, at one time or another, been filled by him. Nearly every State east of the Mis- sissippi and north of the Potomac bear the imprints of his handi- work. His first experience in building railroads was during the year 1835, when he was at work on the Boston & Providence road, near Canton, Mass. In the year 1836 he went to Philadel- phia, Penn., where, at this time, his consin, Mr. William Otis, invented the steam excavator (since so generally and successfully used for the construction of railroads and canals, and in deepen- ing rivers and harbors, one or more having been used on the Sag- inaw river, for years). Mr. Chapman superintended the entire construction of the first excavator, and with his own hands built the wood-work. The first attempt to work it was between Balti- more and Washington, on what is now part of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Several weeks were spent in a vain attempt to make the excavator work. At lengthi Mr. Chapman per- suaded his cousin to permit him to attach what has since been known as "the arms; " the first trial was satisfactory, and from that time the excavator was a success. While engaged in the construction of the Washington & Baltimore branch of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, he made a brief visit to his native State, and was married Nov. 3, 1836, to Miss Abigail J. Whipple, who was born in Pel-
816
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
ham, Mass., Jan. 26, 1815. She was the daughter of Mr. Joseph Whipple, a well-to-do farmer, and a near relative of Commodore Abraham Whipple, of Revolutionary fame. Early in 1837 Mr. Chapman was employed at New Worcester, Mass .; subsequently he took contracts on the Eastern railroad at Chelsea, near Lynn, Mass. His next employment was upon the Boston & Albany rail- road, at Richmond, near Pittsfield, and at the Summit cut in Waslı- ington tp., Berkshire Co., Mass.
In the autumn of 1841, in company with his younger brother, Wellington, he traveled through Ohio and Michigan, and while stopping at Owosso, Mich., the brothers were induced by A. L. and B. O. Williams to visit the "Big Rock Reservation," riding on horseback through the forest along the banks of the beautiful Shiawassee river; they at lengthi came npon the cleared fields of the Indian reservation, and were so charmed with the location that
they both concluded to purchase lands here. George chose the northern portion of sec. 21, on the east side of the river, and his brother directly opposite; this was the first sale of land by the Government in the tp. of Chesaning, then constituting a part of the tp. of Taymonth, which included all the south- ern portion of Saginaw county. Mr. Chapman's farm was a favor- ite resort of the aborigines. Nearly all the flats or bottom lands had for years been planted with corn by the Indians, and on the dry, sandy upland may still be seen some of the holes where they buried their winter store. On the upper side of the flats, and near the river bank, was a large burying-ground, and near by a thrifty orchard of apple-trees, supposed at date of purchase to be about 80 years old. Tradition relates that these trees were planted by an old sqnaw, who mnade holes in the ground and then threw in the entire cores of the apples containing the seeds; the trees grew in clusters, thus confirming the tradition. The second year Mr. Chapman lived on his farin these trees bore over 300 bushels of apples, 62} bushels being harvested from a single tree.
In October, 1842, Mr. Chapman moved his family hither, occu- pying the house (still standing) the first night without either door or windows, and a roof only partly covered. The family were lulled.to sleep by the hooting of owls and the howling of wolves. The succeeding winter was what has since been known as the "hard winter in Michigan," and in common with all the new set- tlers, he "browsed " his cattle, as neither hay nor fodder of any kind could be obtained; his horse ran with the Indian ponies, and subsisted by pawing away the snow with his feet and eating the long, dry grass of the flats. During the next year or two several families settled in the neighborhood, and a new tp. was organized, and christened Northampton by Mr. Chapman. About this time Mr. Chapman and Rufus P. Mason erected and presented to the settlers the first school-house built in Chesaning. After a residence of nearly five years in Michigan, Mr. Chapman became weary of a life in the wilderness, and seeing his children
817
CHESANING TOWNSHIP.
growing up without the advantages of an education, returned in August, 1847, to the New England States. Soon thereafter we find him at work with a steam excavator at West Claremont and Cornish, N. H., and subsequently on the Vermont Central at " Slip Hill," near Montpelier. In January, 1850, he moved his family to Wells River, Vt., and during that year was engaged on the Passumpsic railroad, in company with A. P. Balch. In company with his brother Oliver he had contracts on the New Jersey Cen- tral railroad at Bray's Hill and at Bloomsbury. In the fall of 1852 he went to Canada and was engaged with Balch, Zimmerman and others on the Great Western railroad, between Suspension Bridge and St. Catherines, employing two steam excavators, near the " Red House." His family resided in the village of Thorold, On- tario. Subsequently, with Sidney Dillon, he had a contract on the Philadelphia & Erie railroad near Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Pa. While residing here the dwelling-house was burned to the ground, destroying a large portion of the furniture and nearly all the family wearing apparel. Mrs. Chapman's aged mother nar- rowly escaped from perishing in the flames.
In the spring of 1859 Mr. Chapman returned to Michigan, and since then the family have continued to reside on the farm pur- chased on his first visit to Chesaning. Mr. Chapman's last rail- road contract was on the Marietta & Cincinnati line, where, as one of the firm of Dodge, Balch & Co., he had work amounting to more than $2,000,000, building an extension of 16 miles from Loveland to Ludlow Grove-the latter a suburb of Cincinnati- and between Chillicothe and Parkersburg, West Virginia. Many heavy grades were cut down, deep ravines filled up and tunnels made through Pilcher and Vanderwalker hills.
Mrs. Chapman's health having failed, and he being somewhat advanced in years, abandoned railroads about 15 years before his death, and nearly all the remainder of his life was passed on his farm-making frequent visits to his relatives in the Eastern States. During the years 1866-'S, in company with his son-in-law, George W. Hipple, he was interested in the lumber business, owning a steam saw-inill and quite an extensive tract of pine land in the tp. of Albee, Saginaw Co.
Mr. Chapman was of a sanguine temperament, and happy dispo- sition, fond of jokes and an adept at repartee, and woe to the victim who sought to bandy words with him, for Mr. Chapman invariably " turned the tables " upon his adversary and came out victorious.
In politics he was an earnest, uncompromising Republican, and in days prior to the organizing of that party an avowed Abolitionist of the Garrisonian school, having been a reader of the Liberator from nearly the first to the last number printed, and never hesi- tating to advocate the cause of the slave; and in later years, after the emancipation, it was his pride and glory that he had ever been an Abolitionist.
He died suddenly on the morning of Feb. 17, 1881. in the 69th year of his age.
818
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
The following is a list of Mr. Chapman's children : George Lyman, born at Lynn, Mass., July 29, 1837; married Serena C. Vincent, of Washington Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1866; his children are Serena May, born May 30, 1869, and Florence A., Oct. 11, 1871. Helen Abigail, born at Richmond, Mass., June 8, 1839; married George W. Hipple of Lock Haven, Penn., Dec. 2, 1858. William H. H., born at Washington, Mass., Nov. 9, 1841; married Alice E. Bentley, of Chesaning, April 14, 1870, who died Sept. 2, 1874, and his children are George Henry, born April 6, 1871, and Estella Mand, Dec. 28, 1872; he married Helen A. Judd, of Pontiac, Mich., Dec. 23, 1875. Nancy Cordelia, born at Chesaning, Mich., May 1, 1845; married Albert B. Clough, of Dansville, Mich .. Sept. 12, 1867; her children are Mary Lizzie, born Nov. 2, 1868; Helen, born June 14, 1873. James W., born at Claremont, N. H., Sept. 22, 1847; married Josephine Granger, of Oakland Co., Mich., Aug. 10, 1872; his child is Mand M., born April 24, 1873. Elizabeth A., born at Thorold, Ontario, Sept. 19, 1853, died in in- fancy. Oliver D., born at Jersey Shore, Penn .. Jan 9, 1859.
A portrait of Mr. Chapman appears in this volume, on page 397.
Wellington Chapman. This gentleman's portrait appears on page 431. As will be seen in the history of Chesaning village and tp., he was early identified with its settlement, dating back to the antnmn of 1841. He is a native of Hampshire Co., Mass., and was born on Sept. 20, 1814. His ancestry is given above, in the. sketch of his brother. He learned the trade of a wheelwright fron his father, whom he assisted until 20 years of age, when he went to Worcester, Mass., where he worked at car-building; and in 1835, with his cousin " Otis," worked on the construction and finishing of the Boston & Albany R. R. Subsequently Mr. Chap- man was largely interested in car-building, and in the construction of railroads throughout the Middle, Eastern and Western States- at times as superintendent for other parties, at other times as con- tractor. Among those railroads were the Providence & Stonington R. R., at Kingston and East Greenwich, Rhode Island, then in the construction of the Delaware & Schuylkill canal, which work was finally abandoned; the Philadelphia & Norristown R. R., and the Valley R. R. He was also engaged on the Worcester & Springfield, in Massachusetts. This road was afterward merged into the Boston & Albany. In all the above Mr. Chapman was acting for other parties as superintendent or " boss " of construc- tion at different places.
He next took a contract at Charlestown, Mass., to build 100 rail- road cars; after finishing about one-half of them, he sub-let his contract to other parties, and took a contract for excavating a por- tion of the railroad; after working on his contract one year, the railroad company temporarily suspended operations, when he went to East Boston, Mass., and superintended work on excavations for other parties for one year, and then resumed work on his former
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CHIESANING TOWNSHIP.
contract on the Boston & Albany R. R., which he completed. Then he took and completed contracts on the Taunton & New Bed- ford R. R., and then assisted his brother, O. S. Chapman, in com- pleting contracts on the Boston & Albany R. R., at Washington. At the end of this year, 1841, he came to Chesaning (in com- pany with his brother, George Washington Chapman) and entered land on what was then called " the Big Rock Indian reservation."
Mr. Chapman remained in Chesaning until 1847, and assisted in the organization of the tp. The year above named he returned with his family to New England and resumed railroading, being . one of the firm of Boody, Dillon & Co. They took contracts on the excavations to be made on the Hartford & Fishkill R. R., Mr. Chapman having entire management of the work. They had one contract on this road that was stipulated to be finished in 15 months from the time work commenced. It consisted of ±5,000 square yards of rock, some 10,000 yards of which lay under one foot of water. The deepest cut was 60 feet. The contract was completed in just 15 months, and is said to be the largest amount of rock ever taken from one solid cut, in the same length of time, in the United States. Subsequently he had contracts on the Ashnelat R. R., and Danbury & Norwalk R. R. He then went to Ohio, and contracted and completed 10 miles of the Marietta & Cincin- nati R. R., including the east approach to the Pelcher tunnel, and 10 miles therefrom toward Marietta, including all open exca- vations and stone work for bridges. This took five years to complete.
He then went to Worcester, Mass., and lived two years, at the end of which time he returned to Chesaning with his family. Since then he has been interested at different times in construction of the following railroads: the Newark & New York, at Bergen Heights, N. J., and the Hartford & Fishkill R. R. in Putnam Co., N. Y. In company with his two brothers, Oliver S. and E. Chapman, he built the eastern approach to the Omaha bridge on the U. P. R. R., at Council Bluffs, Iowa, since which time he has lived a comparatively quiet life on his farin, which consists of 340 acres on secs. 9 and 10 in Chesaning.
Mr. Wellington Chapman was married in 1838 or '39 to Sarah Gray, who bore him 2 children. She died in 1848, and in 1849 he was again married, to his present wife, Sarah Ann Dickman. By this union there were also 2 children.
In politics Mr. Chapman is a Republican.
Mr. Chapman's children are-Albert W., born Aug. 28, 1842; Eliza, deceased; Julietta Eliza, born March 12, 1849; and Charles E., deceased. Albert W. married Lucy Case, and had 2 children, Sarab A., born May 20, 186 -; and Albert W., jr., Nov. 1, 1870, and died Sept. 21, 1877; Julietta married Edward C. Walden, and has 2 children. Charles W. C., born Dec. 17, 1879; and Edward C., March 12, 1881.
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.
Calvin Chase, a pioneer of Chesaning tp., was born in Chitten- den Co., Vt., May 18, 1805. His parents, Jonathan and Mehita- bel Chase, werc natives of Worcester Co., Mass. Mr. Chase passed his early life in agricultural pursuits, receiving only a lim- ited education. In the spring of 1859 he came to Saginaw county and located land on sec. 14, Chesaning tp. Hewas married, in September, 1845, to Huldah Lacy, by whom he had + children. Only 1 is living-Harriet, wife of I. O. Thompson. Mrs. Chase died, and Mr. Chase then married Amanda, daughter of Henry and Nancy McLean, natives of Dutchess Co., N. Y., where Mrs. Chase was born in 1826. Of their 7 children, 5 are living-Calvin O., who married Susannah J. Darling ; Orville D., married to Alice A. Patterson ; IIelen A., wife of Leonard Zintel ; Orlando A., husband of Eliza Kent ; and Diantha C., wife of Conrad Swantz. Mr. Chase is a member of the Baptist Church and the Democratic party.
Calvin O. Chase, with whom he now resides, was married May 12, 1872, to Susannah J. Darling ; they have a family of 3 children -Carrie A., born Jan. 25, 1876 ; Frank O., born Feb., 2, 1878 ; Cora E., born Aug. 8, 1880. Nellie May was born May 9, 1874, and died Jan. 15, 1881. Mr. C. O. Chase is a Democrat in politics. He resides on sec. 14, Chesaning tp., where he owns a farm of 120 acres of land.
Amasa C. Christian, grocer, Chesaning, Mich., was born in Lake Co., Ohio, July 18, 1854, and is a son of Samuel C. and Laura Christian, the former a native of London, Eng., and the latter of Chautauqua Co., N. Y. When Amasa was six years of age, his parents removed to Hillsdale Co., Mich., and a year later to Hazelton, Shiawassee Co., where he grew to maturer years, receiving a common-school education. In 1879 Mr. Christian opened a grocery store at Chesaning, where he continues to do a fair business. On Dec. 20, 1880, he was married to Mary A. Kellogg, a school-teacher, who was born at Wheatfield, Ingham Co., Mich., Feb. 13, 1853. Mrs. Christian is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. C. votes with the Republican party.
Mr. Christian carries a stock of staple and fancy groceries, and averages sales amounting from $6,000 to $8,000 per annum. Also a wholesale dealer in barrel hoops, handling $4,000 worth a year.
James S. Colby, retired farmer, Owosso, Mich., was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., March 14, 1824, and is a son of Daniel D. and Elizabeth Colby, natives of Onondaga and Van Rensselaer counties, N. Y. Mr. Colby was reared on his father's farm, receiving as good an education as the district school afforded. In 1844, when 20 years of age, he came to Livingston Co., Mich., and opened a cooper shop at Pinkney, which he operated for seven years. In 1853 he was landlord of the Pinkney Hotel, and in 1854 purchased 240 acres of land in Shiawassee county, and a subsequent purchase increased the tract to 320 acres. In 1875, he retired from active life, and located at Owosso. He married Eliza
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CHIESANING TOWNSHIP.
Nelson, and of the 6 children given them, 5 are living-Gaylord F., Clarence D., Rudolph J., Lilian L. and Nellie. William is deceased. Mr. Colby's father resides at Oswego, N. Y., aged 82 years. His mother died in August, 1874, aged 74 years.
Ralph D. Curtis, was born at Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 19, 1808, son of Comfort and Catherine Curtis, natives of New York ; subject was reared on a farm ; educated at Gaines' Academy, Orleans Co., N. Y .; also took lessons in portrait painting ; grad- uated in 1828 ; went to Oswego, N. Y, and worked at painting for eight years ; in 1844 went to Flint, Mich., lived there until 1865, then went to Upper Canada and disposed of a farm he owned ; subsequently came to Chiesaning, where he still resides ; was married Oct. 1, 1834, to Alice Ann Wood, a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y .; 2 children given to this marriage-Ralph Edwin, born at Oswego, N. Y., July 15, 1838, was a soldier in the late war, received wounds at Richmond, Va., July 9, 1864, and died at City Point ; Mary Louisa, born May 1, 18-, and died Oct. 1, 1841 ; wife died in November, 1850, aged 30 years ; subject is a member of Republican party. Mr. Curtis lias followed the business of portrait painting since the age of 19 years, nearly continuously, though at times has followed farming, and has owned in this tp., three farms.
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