History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 92

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962

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The population in June, 1880, was only 80; this number increased during the subsequent year to 120, and there is a prospect of an annual increase for years to come. The first settlement met with in the township going west from St. Charles, is the Kernahan. So far the roads were very fair in June, 1881; but beyond that point the nominal highways were mere rivers of mud. The township is watered by the sources of Bad river, Great and Little Potato creeks and num- erous streamlets. The land is rich in all the constituents of soil, heavily timbered withi hard wood, and wrapped, as it were, in a dense underwood. A new road is to be cut through to Chapin this year, and other improvements effected.

Perhaps there is no more extended records spread on the books of the county than that which points out the organization of Marion township. During the session of the board, Jan. 14, 1880, the application from the people of the western portion of Brant, was read, and referred to the committee on township organization. This committee reported as follows:

Gentlemen-Your committee, to whom was referred the application of Daniel Paul and 15 freeholders of the township of Brant, praying that fractional town 10 north, of range one east, be detached from the town of Brant, and that said town north, of range one east, be erected into a township to be known as the township of Marion-after due consideration would report in favor of granting the prayer of the applicants, and recommended the adoption of the following preamble and resolution, to wit :

WHEREAS, It satisfactorily appears by affidavit thereto attached, that notice of such application has been posted up in five of the most public places in stid township of Brant for four weeks next preceding said application, and that the same has been duly published in the Business, a newspaper published in said county, for the period of four weeks immediately preceding the present ses- sion of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Saginaw, as required by law; now therefore be it

Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of the county of Saginaw, that town 10 north, of range one east, be, and is hereby erected in a township to Le called and known by the name of Marion.

Resolved, That the first township meeting, of said township of Marion, shall be holden on the first Monday of April, 1880, at the house of Loren A. Panl, and that Daniel Paul, Daniel Welsh and Malcolm McInnis, be, and they are hereby appointed inspectors of said township meeting ; whose duty it shall be to preside at such meeting, appoint a clerk, open and keep the polls, and exercise the same powers as the inspectors of elections at any township meeting. That Daniel Paul be, and is hereby appointed to post up three notices, according to law, of the time and place of holding the first township meeting in said new township of Marion; that Daniel Paul post notices of registration, required by law, in three conspicu- ons places in said new township of Marion, and that the said Daniel Paul, Daniel We Islı and Malcolm McInnis be, and they are hereby appointed the Board of

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

Registration, and are required to take the constitutional oath before entering upon the duties of Board of Registration, and upon the election of the officers of said township; the said oath so taken shall be filed with the Township Clerk of Marion.

This report was unanimously adopted.

THE FIRST TOWNSHIP MEETING

was held April 5, 1880, at the house of Daniel Paul, section 1, with Daniel Panl, Moderator; Thomas Kernohan, Clerk, aud Donald Welsh and Finlay McInnis, Inspectors of election.

The following officers were elected : Daniel Paul, Supervisor; Thomas Kernohan, Clerk; Finlay McInnis, Treasurer; Win. Crittes, Wm. Irwin, and Donald Welsh, Justices of Peace; John B. Stewart, Road Commissioner; Isaac Hodson, Drain Commis- sioner; Cyrus Fauble, School Superintendent; John B. Stewart, School Inspector; Van Patten, Albert Northrop, Lorin Paul, Con- stables.

The second annual meeting was held at the house of William Crittes, April 3, 1881; Mr. Panl presided. Thomas Kernohan was Clerk, and Henry Tolgate and Wmn. Crittes were Inspectors of election. Daniel Paul was elected Supervisor; Henry Tolgate, Clerk; Thomas Kernohan, Treasurer; Dr. Gray, Justice of Peace; Gilbert Rhodes, Drain Commissioner; Van Patten, Road Con- missioner; William Crittes, School Superintendent; Charles Rector, Inspector; Rnfus Himbley and Lorin A. Paul, Constables.

There is only one school-house in the township. The school is taught by Miss Jenny Fauble. This school was started Nov. 22, 1880, in a log lumber shanty on the sontheast quarter of section 26. The people purpose erecting a large frame building for school purposes on the northeast quarter of section 35. The children attending school at the beginning of 1881 were: Molly Fanble, John Fauble, Minnie Fauble, Edith and James Stewart, George, John, and Arthur Crittes, Frederick Kernohan, Mary, Charles, Eva and Bertie Irwin, Cora Hodson, Joseph and Ira Osborne, Miss Rector, Rolland Schneider, and Martha Snyder. The total number en- rolled was 26.

The principal manufacturing industry was projected in 1879, by John B. Stewart, as a steam saw-mill. The concern is now operated by Messrs. Barnmin and Whitmore. It is located on section 24. There is also a portable saw-inill operated by Daniel Paul.

There are no churches, nor is there an immediate prospect of erecting a building specially for worship; the new school-house will probably be ntilized as a house of worship.

The settlers of Marion, still perpetuate in a great measure the manners and customs of pioneer days. Their motto is evidently, " Each for each, and all for all." They live in an atmosphere of contentment and happiness, leading the thinker to conclude that these enviable boons are conferred only on the white meu of the wilderness, the builders of the public good.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

This district of the county gives promise of equaling in its physi- cal and social characteristics many of the older settled townships. The population in 1880 was estimated at 700, but within the year which has since elapsed this number has met with many additions. Large clearances have been made, new homes erected, and the period of its greatest advancement entered upon. June 7, 1881, was the steam saw-mill of Smith & McMann's started at "Hem- lock City." It is the intention of the proprietors to add flouring- mill machinery at an early date. These, with kindred industries, which may spring up in the near future, will add to the prosperity of the township, and tend to liasten its development. The village known as Hemlock City is located in the western center of section 2S. At present there are a postoffice, two stores, a commodious hotel, a steam saw-mill, and 25 dwelling-houses in the village. With the development of its agricultural resources Hem- lock City will grow in importance, and perhaps form one of the leading municipalities in the county.

The township of Richland was organized under authority given by the Board of Supervisors Jan. 8, 1862. At that period it em- braced the following territory: Town 12 northi, of range 1 east, and town 12 north, of range 2 east. The order was "that this territory is hereby erected into a township to be called and known by the name of the township of Richland; the first annual township meeting thereof shall be lield at the school-house in district number 5, in section 22, town 12 north, of range 2 east, on the first Monday in April, 1862; and at said meeting Thomas A. Porter, Lemuel Cone and William McBratnie, three electors of said township, shall be the persons whose dnty it shall be to preside at such meeting."

The first township election was held April 7, 1862, in the school- house of district number 5, section 22. T. A. Porter, L. Cone and Wm. McBratnie were Inspectors of election. The last-named was Moderator; James A. Wiltsie, Clerk, and Frederick Field, Con- stable. William McBratnie was elected Supervisor; T. A. Porter, Clerk; Geo. Brown, Treasurer; D. L. Cole and Frederick Field, Justices of the Peace. The Treasurer elect failed to file his county bond within the allotted time, when Andrew McBratnie was ap- pointed to that position. The total amount of taxes for 1862 was $1,409.60, and of expenditures $1,399.80. The list of township officers from organization to the present time is as follows:

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

SUPERVISORS.

Win. McBratnie. 1862-'3

Henry D. Smith 1872

Thomas A. Porter. 1864

T. A. Porter.

1873

E C. Curtis .. 1864

John McMullen. 1874

H. D. Smith. 1865

Joseph Porter.

1875-'6

T. A. Porter. . 1866-'9

Geo. W. Carson 1877-'8

Joseph Porter. 1870

J. B. Johnson

1879

Joseph Lewis.

1871

Geo. W. Carson

1880

CLERKS.

T. A. Porter. .1862

J. D. Brown. 1873

John McMullen

1863-'9

Jedd Bennett. 1874-'6

Jacob King .. 1870-'1

Wm. McBratnie. 1877-'9

James Henry 1872

L. Rienehart . .

1880

TREASURERS.

George Brown .1862

Fred. Fitting. 1863-'6

Andrew McBratnie. 1867

H. D. Smith .. 1868-'9

Edmund A. Reeve.

1870-'1

Levi G. Whitney

1878-'80

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

D. L. Cole, Fred. Field. 1862

E. C. Curtis, Gilbert Smith 1863

Mahlon M. Bounting, D. S. Cole. . 1864

Andrew McBratnie. 1866

Gilbert Smith. 1867

James M. Frost, David Stratton, J. B. Johnson .. 1868

Patrick O'Connor 1870

D. S. Cole, A. T. Cooper 1871

Jacob King. 1872

Patrick O'Connor. . 1873

James Henry, T. A. Porter. 1874

Patrick O'Connor ... 1875

Jacob King, H. L. Johnson 1876

Walter D. Pettit ..

1877

August. C. Fitting, Civilian Phelps, Argalus T. Cooper. .1878

August C. Fitting

1830

The present officers are Geo. W. Carson, Supervisor; Joseph H. Whitney, Clerk; Jedd Bennett, Treasurer; Winfield S. Cone, Highway Commissioner; A. L. Carver, School Superintendent; Jas. B. Johnson, School Inspector; Walter D. Pettit, Henry Beamish, Alonzo T. Hodges, Justices of the Peace; G. W. Pettit and Isaac Williams, Constables.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

There are one fractional and six full school districts in the town- ship, each in possession of a frame school-building. The school census gives 252 children, 164 of whom attended school during the vear 1880. The school property is valued at $3,300. The num- ber of teachers employed is nine. The expenditure for 1880 was $1,569.38.

The people generally profess Christianity. However varied in form these professions may be, all have studied to live together in peace and banish from their midst the demon of bigotry. The German Lutherans possess one church building-the only duly

A. C. Fitting. .1872-'3

Winfield S. Cone. 1874

Aug. C. Fitting 1875

James Henry. .

1876-'7

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RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

dedicated house of worship in the township. 'The land upon which the church stands was presented to the Lutheran Society by Fred- erick Fitting.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

In the following personal sketches, the principal settlers of this section of the county are noticed:

Henry Bemish, was born at Rochester, N. Y., in 1830; is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Conklin) Bemish; natives of Ireland, who came to Roeliester about 1819, and went into the grocery business, which they continued for several years. His mother died there in 1834, and his father came to Michigan in 1838 and settled where East Saginaw now stands. He died at Pine Run and was buried there. The subject of this sketch came to Michigan in 1838 and settled at Saginaw, with his father, and remained there several years, and made occasional trips back to New York. In 1855 he settled in Thomastown, and there followed farming and lumbering, being 13 years with one firm. He came to Riehland in 1878 and bought the hotel which he now occupies. He was married in Saginaw City, Nov. 27, 1853, to Delia Irish, a native of Oak- land eounty. They had 5 children in all, 4 of whom are living- Norman T., who married Nellie E. Lewis, and resides at Hemlock: Win. F., Henry, Edward (deceased) and Edwin. While in Thomastown he was Commissioner five years, Justice of the Peace two years, Road-master about seven years, and since being in Richland was Commissioner and Constable three years, which office he holds at the present time. Mr. Bemish is an old settler and prominent man, keeping the only hotel in Hemlock City, situated on the business street, and forms a prominent feature of the city.

Geo. W. Carson was born in Ohio in 1826, a son of Samuel and Elizabetlı (Willoughby) Carson, of Irish and Welsh deseent. They both died in Seneea Co, Ohio. Mr. Carson was brought up there and received his education. While living there he followed farming and also worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner eight years; was also a dealer in stock for five years. Arriving in Mich- igan, Jan. 17, 1866, he settled in Saginaw county, tp. of Brady. and bought a farm of 160 acres, but now consisting of 80 acres. He also owns village property at Chesaning. He was first married Feb. 3. 1852, in Ohio to Martha C. Moore, a native of that State. who died May 3, 1873, in Brady tp. She left 4 children-John F., Rosa E., who married Legrand Sanderson, residing in this tp .; Geo. B. and Martha. He was married again, November, 1875, at Chesaning, to Mrs. Catharine A. Crane, a native of Canada. They have 1 child-Effie. Mr. Carson was Supervisor in Brady two years, and four years in this tp. During the war he enlisted in Co. (, 14th Ohio Regiment. Home Guards, and was stationed at Washington Heights, and at Johnson Island; served in all about

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

120 days. He has been an active member of the Free-Will Bap. tist Church 20 years, and is preaching at present at Hemlock City. During his life he has been Republican in his political views.

Lemuel Cone is a native of Vermont, where he was born in 1800. His father and mother, Lemuel and Dolly (Parker) Cone, are natives of Scotland and came to America the year before the Revo- lution, and died in New York State. During the war of 1812 he enlisted, at the age of 13 years, and served till the close of the

war. .. He was also in the Black Hawk war in 1832, and served till its close. Being wounded there, he has carried a ball in his body ever since. After the war he went to Ohio and was farming there for 15 to 20 years, when he came to Michigan and first settled in Monroe county, and then in Shiawassee county, after which he canie to Saginaw county and settled in what was then called Sag- inaw tp., but afterward had the honor of naming it Rich- land tp. In 1854 he bought 160 acres of land of the Gov- ernment, but did not settle till 1857, when, with his brother, Mar- tin Cone, who also took 160 acres, he began the first clearing in that tp.

Mr. Cone was married four times. His first wife was Elizabeth Tyler, a native of Ohio, by whom he had + children, only 1 of whom is living-Malinda, who married Barnett Putnam, a resident of Shiawassee county. His second marriage was to Sarah Rice. Five children were born of this marriage, but only 2 are living- William, the oldest, who married Rebecca Cole; and Winfield, who resides in the place. Since he has been in the tp. he has most of the time held some office, one of the positions being that of Highway Commissioner. Mr. Cone has done well by each of his children, giving them a good start in life. During the Mex- ican war, where he served three years, he was a Lieutenant, and at one time had charge of a company. He was in the battle of Mexico under Generals Scott and Taylor.

George Dungey was born in England, March 5, 1826, a son of George and Maria (Kerwin) Dungey. His father died there in 1864, and his mother in Upper Canada in 1872. He was brought up in England and lived there until he was 19 years of age, when he went to Canada, where he remained about 25 years, engaged in farming. In 1869 he came to Michigan and settled at Hemlock City, and was there six years, working in a saw-mill and on plank roads. In 1875 he bought his present farm, consisting of 80 acres, with 50 improved. On April 7, 1851, he was married in Canada to Mary Glewa, a native of Quebec, and they have 9 children-James, Hannah, William, Maria, George, Walter, Mary J., Jemima and Freeman. Hannah is the wife of Eli Wells, of Vestaburg, Mich., and Maria is the wife of Emmet Parks, of this county.

Friedrich Fiting was born in Germany in 1819. His father and mother, Christian and Louisa (Drahger) Fiting, died there. He was brought up and received his education in the father-land. Learning the trade of wagon-maker, he worked at it 20 years,

891

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

when, in 1856, he came with his family to America and landed in New York city, and from there he went to Buffalo, where he remained two months; then he came to Saginaw Co., Mich., and located in Thomastown for three years. While there he bought his present farm before moving upon it, then consisting of 240 acres. Mr. Fiting was one of the oldest settlers here, and made all the improvements himself, together with his sons. In 1842 lic was married to Regine Zafel, and they have 3 children-Wil- helmina, who married Fritz Simon, a resident of Saginaw City; August C. and Chas. H. The 2 latter sons are living on the place, together with their families. AAngust C. married Christine Kastorf, a native of Germany, and there are 4 children in his family-Anna, Louisa, Fritz and Lydia, all being at home. Charles was married to Antonie Bunterbart, a resident of this tp. They have 2 children, John and Charles, also living at home. They are a prominent family of the tp. The old gentleman was Treasurer for six years and School Assessor 20 years. August has been Justice of the Peace three years, and is now elected for another term; also was Treasurer and School Director-the former four years and the latter 12 years. Charles, the youngest son, is now holding the office of Moderator. One remarkable fact is that the entire family live and act as one, all owning land together, and have now increased it to 500 acres, 200 of which is improved. August has a residence directly across from the homestead, and with his family is working for home interest. They were the principal operators in the erection of a German church, which is located in sec. 14, near at hand, the only one west of Saginaw in this county.

O. B. Hale, M. D., is a native of Mansfield, Ohio, where he was born in 1840. His parents are A. B. and Eliza (Conklin) Hale, natives of Livingston Co., N. Y. They came to Ohio in 1831, and settled at Mansfield. Mr. Hale resided there until 1854, then went to Cuyahoga Co., where he received his education at Berea, graduating there. His medical education he received in Cincin- nati, at the Eclectic Medical College, where he graduated with honors, beginning his regular practice at Cincinnati in 1864. From there he went to Dayton, where he practiced five years. Mr. Hale has traveled a great deal over different parts of the country, practic- ing his profession part of the time, visiting Mitz, Indiana, Otsego, Fremont, Ohio, and finally coming to Lenawee county, this State, and then to Saginaw county. During his stay here he served three years as a Methodist minister; has also served as a minister at dif- ferent places in connection with his practice. He settled at Hem- lock City in August, 1880, and has a large practice. He was mar- ried in 1863, in Huron Co., Ohio, to Jennie Venable, a native of New York State, who died Feb. 2, 1881, and was buried at Hem- lock. She leaves 4 children-Alton B., John P., Ord and Lena. During the war Mr. Hale enlisted at Norwalk, Ohio, where he raised a company and received a Captain's commission from Gov ..

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY,

Todd. of Ohio; was at the close of the battle of Shiloh; at the bat- tie of Cheat Mountain and the siege of Corinth.

Joseph B. Johnson was born in Lockport, Niagara Co. N. Y., in 1836. He is a son of Albert G. and Lucy T. (Nelson) Johnson. His father is now living in Niagara connty, and his mother died in 1845 at that place. He received his education there, following farming till he was 23 years of age. Leaving New York in April, 1859, he located in East Saginaw, where he remained about three years, following the carpenter and joiner's occupation, also rnn- ning engines in varions saw-inills. In 1861 he began boring for salt wells, which he followed at different times for a number of years. At Bloomington, Ill., he put down a coal well in 1863, and in 1865 put down oil wells in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and in 1870 an artesian well at Chicago. His present place he bought in 1860, but did not move upon it till the fall of 1863. He built his honse himself. His farm contains 140 acres. He was married at Sonth Bay City in 1862 to Lucinda A. Bennett, of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. They have 2 children living-Orson B. and Arthur D. Mr. Johnson at present holds the office of School Inspector, Di- rector and Overseer of Highways; was also Justice of the Peace eight years.

Daniel Kennelly was born in Ireland in 1826. His father and inother were Jeremiah Kennelly and Julia, nee Hickey. They left Ireland in Jnne, 1847, and settled in Canada, where they remained 16 years, following farming. They then came to Michigan in 1865, and remained at East Saginaw one year, when they went to Swan Creek, and bonght each of their 3 children 80 acres of land. His mother died in Canada, and his father at Swan Creek. They had 10 children, 8 of whom are living-Daniel, Timothy, Dennis, Johanna, Mary, James, Jeremiah and Julia. Daniel, the subject of this sketch, was married in Canada, February, 1854, to Eliza O'Brien, a native of Ireland. They have 8 children living -- Julia, Catharina, Timothy, Jeremiah, Johanna, Saralı, Dennis and Mary. Julia was married to Alleck McLavish a resident of Saginaw City, and Catharina to William O. Grady, residing in Thomastown. Mr. Kennelly has held the office of School Moderator for the last three terms.

Joseph Lewis was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1826; son of Oliver Lewis and Lncy Avery, natives of Vermont. His father died Feb. 17, 1861, in Newfane, Niagara Co., and his mother died in Jnne, 1862, at the same place. Receiving his education there, where he was brought up, he engaged in farming till he was 41 years old, when, in 1867, he came to Michigan, and located in Rich- land tp., this county, where, buying his present farm, he has resided ever since. At the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in the 12th Independent Battery, at Lockport, Niagara Co., November, 1861, serving three years and a half, till the close of the war. He was in the battle of the Wilderness, siege of Petersburg, and smaller engagements. In October, 1849, he was married to Julia A.

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RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

Brown, before coming to Michigan, and they have 2 children liv- ing-Nettie E., wlio married Norman Bemish, a resident of Hem- lock City, and Carrie A., residing at home. Mr. Lewis has been a inember of the M. E. Church 32 years, and is one of the most snb- stantial citizens of the tp.

Peter Lunney was born in Halton Co., Canada. in 1852, a son of IIongh Lnnney and Ann, nee Noble. At 17 years of age, he moved to Saginaw county, and settled at Hemlock City. His mother is now living at Vestabnrg, Montcalm Co., where she owns a honse and lot. He was in the employ of Henry & Co., manufacturing shingles, for eight years. Then he moved to his present place, con- taining 80 acres of land, 30 improved. Mr. Lnnney was mar- ried in 1874, at Hemlock City, to Emma J. Perkins, a resident of this tp. They have 3 children-Nelly, James and Gertie. For one year Mr. Lunney was Tp. Treasurer. He is at present School Director, which office lie has held three years. Has also been a school-teacher for two terms in this district, and he is one of the prominent men in Richland tp. His farm is situated in one of the most desirable parts of the tp., which now presents a fine appearance.

Wm. McBratnie is a native of Scotland, where he was born in 1834; is a son of John McBratnie and Ann Christison, natives also of Scotland. Mr. McBratnie came to America in 1851, and located in Saginaw Co., at Thomastown. In 1859 he came to Richland and remained five years, and then was in Thomastown again nine years, and then resided in Saginaw City nearly two years. While there, he was sick a great deal of the time. In 1874 he came to Hemlock City, and opened his present business on the main street, and has a full line of dry-goods, groceries, etc., in fact, a general store; and by industry and strict attention to business he has gained for him- self the trade of the surrounding country. His store, having the postoffice of Hemlock City, makes it very convenient for all. Since Mr. McBratnie began in business, it has been steady, and increasing yearly. In 1877 he received the appointment from the Govern- ment as Postmaster, which office he retains at the present time. He was the first Supervisor in the tp. in 1862-'3; was also Treasurer of Thomastown three years, Supervisor four years at different times, and Clerk two years, being at present Notary Public of this tp., and lias been for the past four years; also Justice of the Peace and School Director.

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 92

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 962

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962