USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 111
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 111
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125
John Pinkney
2 J. T. Ilewitt. 12
0. Briggs
Joseph Haynes
W. L. Haynes.
Russell Commons,
Joseph F. Lathrop ..
William Wamsley, section S.
Russell Phillips, section 21
LEBANON TOWNSHIP.
474
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Sec.
Sec.
W. L. Tabor. 18
L. Il. Peet 25, 26
Herman Green ..
19
O. Burt
19
Elenczer West .. 27
11. K. Cotant. 27 llenry Sitner. 19
William Albro. 19
W. H1. Rudd. 28
W. 11. Stone.
19, 21
N. P. Johnson 28
Uriah Fritts.
28
Samuel Brooks
19,29
W. S. Lattimer 28
Chester Winans 29
Theo. Delong.
Avery Delong 29
Edgar Loomis
20
Thomas MeBride 29
Emmet Vance .. 20
Leonard Clark 29
Benjamin Caldwell 21
Philip Mills, 30
Alfred Benjamin. 21
John Vance. 30.31
B. T. Reeves, 21,20
21
Phineas Millard
31
Calvin Benjamin
Paris Corey.
31
Ledra Phillips
22
Chester Wood 32
Richard Evans 22
Chauncey B. Vance 32
.1. W. Russell.
J. F. Bignal's heirs 32
Ezra J. Glass. 23
Betsey Fifield 32
E. Perry
23 M. Bird 3.4
C. J. Warner 23
Calvin Coon ... 35
N. J. Williams. 25
Stephen Hammond. 35
Charles Piggott
25
Joel Wagar. 36
Joseph Clark
35
Much could be written concerning the doings of the In- dian chief Makitoquet* and his large band of followers, among whom were Wintagowish, their speaker, Aiken the half-breed with his two wives, Lemorandiere, and others. Several of these purchased of the general government, in 1837, lands situated on sections 12 and 14. They had a village on the latter section, also once upon 19. As many sugar-maples grew in this township. early settlers relate that during the sugar-making seasou the woods were full of Indians. Supplies of whisky were obtained at Campau's trading-post, and in consequence shouting, singing, drinking, and fighting were indulged in all through the night. Other- wise they were generally well behaved, and were of much service in assisting to rid the country of noxious wild ani- mals. But as much space is directed to the aborigines in the general chapters of this work, further remarks here are deemed unnecessary.
EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS.
According to the recollections of Mr. John Vance, the first school taught in the township was held in the build- ing built and formerly occupied by Daniel Barker. Soon after the removal of Mrs. Barker and family the house was fitted for school purposes, and a school opened. Miss Ma- tilda Sessions, sister of Charle's Sessions, presided as teacher, and taught two or three successive terms in it.
On the 14th of May, 1841, Alonzo D. Brewster and John A. Millard, school inspectors of Lebanon, and W. Z. Blanchard and Luke II. Parsons, school inspectors of' Lyons, ordered the formation of the first school district-of which official data has been obtained-that embraced any por- tion of this township. The district was denominated Frac- tional School District No. 3, of the townships of Lyons and Lebanon. Its boundaries were deseribed as follows :
" Beginning at the southeast corner of section 32 in township 8 north, of range 4 west, thence north on sec- tion-line to Maple River ; thence down said river to the see- tion-line between townships 8 and 7 north, of range 5 west ; thence east to the place of beginning." John A. Millard
was required to notify each person liable to pay a school district tax in said district of the proceedings of the joint board of inspectors, and the first school mecting was ordered to be held at the house of Moses Dean, in the township of Lyons, on Saturday, May 22, 1841, at six o'clock P.M.
In 1844 the first building designed for schools was erected in this township. It was situated upon the northeast corner of section 31, and in it De Witt C. Chapin delivered the first politieal speech ( Whig) the same year. This dis- trict was then denominated No. 1, that in the Tabor neighborhood No. 2, and the Sessions district No. 3. In the latter district it is believed that Miss Caroline Stevens taught the first school about thirty-five years ago.
During years intervening since 1845 many changes have occurred in the numbers and boundaries of school districts, and doubtless educational matters have been as well attended to here as in agricultural regions generally. The following statistics, gathered from the school inspectors' annual report for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, shows the present condi- tion of school interests :
Number of districts (whole, 7; fractional, 2) ....
children of school age in the town-
ship ... 340
children attending schools during
the year ... 302
= children non-residents attending
schools during the year .. 31
school-houses (brick, 1 ; frame, 8) ... sittings
466
Value of school property .
$6650
Number of teachers employed ( male, 10; female, 13) 23
Paid teachers (male. $912 ; female, $534). 81446
Total resources Inr the year.
$2401.23
RELIGIOUS.
The Methodists were the pioneers in religious matters herc. In subsequent years other denominations have fol- lowed, yet none of them seem to have flourished to the extent of making necessary the building of church cdifices, and serviecs thus far have been held in the distriet school- houses. Those who believe in the doctrines of the United Brethren Church now predominate.
In November, 1858, Nelson P. Johnson, Stephen Ham- mond, William Sessions, Herman Sprague, and Jolin Stur- gess were elected trustecs, and empowered to hold in trust all the church property of the Matherton Mission, the church of the " United Brethren in Christ."
CIVIL HISTORY.
By an act of the State Legislature, approved March 6, 1838, " All that part of Clinton County designated by the United States surveys as townships Nos. 7 and 8 north, of range Nos. 3 and 4 west, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Wandaugon, t and the first township-
+ The people generally were net pleased with the Indian name of Wandaugon, meaning in the Chippewa dialect " salt springs," and soon after an attempt was made to have it changed. This resulted in the passage of an act, approved April 2, 1838, which provided that " That portion of townships 7 and S north, of ranges Nos. 3 and 4 west, according to the United States survey, be and the same is hereby set off and organized by the name of Lebanon, and the first township-meeting shall be held at the house of James Sowle, Jr." The State law-makers intended doubtless to enact that " That portion
* " Makey," as he was termed by the whites, was part French. llis son also married a Frenchwoman.
David C. Goukl.
A. W. Williams 27,28
19 Nathan Evans.
Harvey Gratton
19
A. Mathers 19
George D. Barker. 20
29
Calvin Merwin.
20
John A. Millard 31
Nathan Benjamin
475
LEBANON TOWNSHIP.
meeting therein shall be held at the house of George Cam- pau, in said township."
According to the foregoing act, the inhabitants of the territory described assembled at the trading-post of George Campau early in April, 1838, and elected township officers. Complete records of this meeting and of other township proceedings during the year 1838 have not been preserved. We learn, however, from various sources that Hiram Bene- diet was elected Supervisor ; Timothy 11. Pettit, Township Clerk ; Nelson Benedict, Collector; Cortland Hill, High- way Commissioner, Assessor, and School Inspector; and Chauncey M. Stebbins, Highway Commissioner. The other officers are unknown. At that time Clinton County was attached to Shiawassee for judicial purposes, and the town- ships then organized in the former were De Witt, Water- town, and Wandaugon. That the township officials of Wandaugon were lax in the performance of their duties in more ways than one the following paragraph will show.
When the county canvassers met at the clerk's office in Shiawassee County, Nov. 13, 1838, to count the votes polled at the last general election, there were present proper representatives from the townships of Antrim, Ben- nington, Burns, Owosso, Shiawassee, and Woodhull, in Shiawassee County, and from De Witt and Watertown, in Clinton. Wandaugon was not represented, whereupon, the record says, " The elerk dispatched a special messenger to procure a Statement of the votes polled in said town, and the Board adjourned to the hour of two o'clock next day. And it appearing that the returns had not then come in for said town of Wandaugon, the Board voted to hold open meeting until twelve o'clock of the next day, in case said returns should not come in previous to that time." It seems that "twelve o'clock of the next day" arrived, but no returns from Wandaugon, and the board then resolved to proceed without them. Whatever became of the "spe- cial messenger" written history fails to inform us.
On Monday, the Ist day of April, 1839, the second township-meeting was held at the house of George Campau. Thirty-two votes were polled, and the officers elected were Iliram Benedict, Supervisor ; Timothy II. Pettit, Township Clerk ; Alonzo D. Brewster, Treasurer ; Cortland Ilill, Hiram Benedict, Chauncey M. Stebbins, Assessors; Nel- son Benedict, Collector ; James Sowle, Jr., Cortland Hill, Alonzo Vaughn, School Inspectors ; George Campau, Ly- man Webster, Directors of the Poor; James Sowle, Jr., Cortland Hill, John A. Millard, Highway Commissioners ; Cortland Hill, Timothy H. Pettit, John A. Millard, Chaun- cey M. Stebbins, Justices of the Peace; Nelson Benedict, Charles Sessions, Uriah Drake, Robert Ilolines, Consta- bles.
of the county of Clinton embraced in townships 7 and 8 nerth," etc. It seems that the omission was fatal to the net : that it became in- operative, and the change ef name was postponed until, by an act of the Legislature, approved March 22, 1839, the name of Wandau- gon was dropped and that of Lebanon substituted. In working so determinedly for the change it is possible that the citizens of Wan- daugon were actuated mere by a spirit of disgust at the failure of Parks & Co., their salt company, and the operations of their Clinton Connty Salt-Works (wildeat) Bank, than dislike for a name so eu- phonious.
The overseers of highways, elected by voice, were Hiram Benedict, for district No. 1; Lyman Webster, for district No. 2; John A. Millard, for district No. 3; Andrew Vance, for district No. 4; William Merrill, for district No. 5; Cortland Hill, for district No. 6; and Uriah Drake, for district No. 7. Hiram Benedict, Timothy H. Pettit, James Sowle, Jr., Cortland Hill, and Dauphin W. Osgood served as inspectors of this election.
It was further resolved that a bounty of four dollars should be paid for each wolf killed in the township; that one hundred dollars be raised for contingent expenses, and twenty-five dollars for the support of the poor; that all hogs over forty pounds in weight be free commoners ; that no pound be built the present year, and that the next town- ship-meeting be held at the house of John A. Millard.
At a special township-meeting, held at the house of George Campau, April 29, 1839, Alonzo Vaughn, the candidate for the office of justice of the peace to fill vacancy, received cleven votes, the whole number polled.
During the year ending April 1, 1840, Alonzo D. Brewster, for killing two wolves; Stephen Willits, for kill- ing one wolf; Alonzo Vanghn, for killing four wolves ; Ash-ka-be, for killing one wolf; No-wob-a-no, for killing one wolf; and Lo-Jon-da, for killing one wolf, were allowed the township bounty of four dollars for each scalp.
Following is a copy of the certificate usually granted him who slew the wolf :
" We, Alonzo Vaughn, a justice of the peace for the township of Lebanon, in the county of Clinton, and John A. Millard, a commissioner of highways of said township, having been associated together for the purpose of examin- ing Ash-ka-be touching his claim for bounty on a certain wolf's head, by him presented to us, we do therefore certify that the said Ash-ka be is in our judgment entitled to the township bounty on said wolf's head, and, further, we did burn the said wolf's sealp and ears, according to law.
" ALONZO VAUGHN, J. P. " JOHN A. MILLARD, Com. of Highways. " LEBANON, May 31, 1839."
Bengal, including the present township of Essex, was set off from Lebanon by an act approved March 19, 1840, and Dallas by an act approved March 19, 1845.
The voters of Lebanon at the fall election of 1840 were Smith Parks, Alexander Frazier, John Vance, Vincent Parks, George F. Dutton, Amacy Dorn, Willis Parks, Alonzo D. Brewster, William Merrill, John A. Millard, Charles Sessions, Benjamin Welch, Nelson Delong, Nathan Bigelow, Daniel T. Locke, Harvey Waterman, Silas Win- ters, Martin Zetter, Joseph Rowley, and Thomas Tripp.
Those who availed themselves of the election franchise one year later were George F. Dutton, Richard Willing, Smith Parks, Tompkins Parks, Orrin Parks, Ira Pinckney, William Hayes, Nathan Bigelow, William Parks, Alonzo D. Brewster, Constant Shaw, David Parks, Samuel Parks, Andrew R. Vance, John Vance, John A. Millard, Martin Zetter, Minor %. Beckwith, Charles Sessions, Norton HI. Beckwith, Harvey Waterman, William Vance, and Charles Millard.
For a few years prior to 1855 the present townships of
476
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
North Shade and New Haven, in Gratiot County, were at- taclied to this for judicial purposes,
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The following tables embrace the names of the principal township officers elected annually from 1840 to 1880, in- clusive. Vacancies, appointments, and resignations are not shown :
SUPERVISORS.
1840-41. Alonzo D. Brewster.
1860. John Vance.
1842. John Vance.
1861-62. Charles Sessions.
1843. William J. Bancroft.
1863. Nelson P. Johnson.
1844. James W. Tabor.
1864. Charles Sessions.
1845-47. Jebn Vance.
1865. Roderick D. Tnbor.
1848-50. James W. Taher.
1866-69. Charles Sessions.
1851. Jobn Vance.
1870-74. Loren G. Burch.
1852. Albert G. Russell.
1875-77. Jacob E. Ludwiek.
1853-57. Jehn Vance.
1878, Loreo G. Burch.
1858. Benjamin Caldwell.
1879-80. Emerson Vaoce.
1859. Ileury Lane.
CLERKS.
1840. Norton II. Beckwith.
1861. Warren Il. Stone.
1841. John Vance.
1842-47. John A. Millard.
1869-70. Henry G. Cooley.
1848. Themas Bellows.
1871. Frank Abbott.
1849. John A. Millard.
1872. Jlenry G. Cooley.
1850. No record.
1873-74. Frank Abbott.
1875-76. Pliny Moore.
1852. John A. Millard.
1877. Emerson Vancc.
1853. James W. Tu bor.
1878. Jay Sessions.
1854-58. Nelson P. Jolinsoc.
1859-60. Pliny Moore.
TREASURERS.
1840-41. Alonze D. Brewster.
1863. David R. Cory.
1842. George F. Dutton.
1864. Joseph F. Owen.
1843-46. 1saae Sherman.
1865. Charles Sessions.
1847. Lucius HI. Pect.
1866-68. Benjamin S. Patrick.
1848. Dennis Merwin.
1869. Nathan II. Evans.
1849. John Vance.
1870-76. David P. Weeks.
1850. No record.
1877. D. 11. Kirkpatrick.
1851. Charles Sessions.
1878. David P. Wecks.
1852-53. George E. Walker.
1879. Benjamin S. Patrick.
1854-58. Charles Sessions.
1880. Loren G. Burch.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1840. Norton II. Beckwith. 1850. No record.
Benjamin Welsh.
1851. Albert G. Russell.
Charles Sessions.
1852. Charles Sessions.
Harvey Waterioan.
1853. George E. Gifford. Charles Sessions.
1841. Vincent Parks. 1854. Hiram Burgess.
Charles Sessions.
1855. James W. Tabor.
William Merrill. 1856. Ezra J. Glass.
George F. Dutton.
1857. Moses N. Wade.
1842. Davis Parks.
1858. Henry Lane.
1859. Jonathan F. Albro.
1879. Pliny Moore.
1860. Benjamin Caldwell.
1SS0. Ray Sessions.
DRAIN COMMISSIONERS.
1872-74. Charles Sessions.
1877-79. No record.
1875. Loren G. Barch. 1880. Frank Abbott.
1876. R. D. Tabor.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
1875-76. William Il. Owco.
1878-79. Charles J. Graham.
Charles Sessions.
1849. James W. Tabor.
1866. A. T. Cross.
Lucius HI. Peet.
1867. llarrison Colby. 1874. L. D. Burch.
1868. Joseph F. Owen.
1875. Samuel A. Brooks.
1869. William C. Frank. Daniel McGraw.
1870. Harrison Colby. Henry W. Brown.
1876. Joseph F. Owen. Milo Grove.
1871. Lucius II. Peet.
1877. Charles Sessions.
Guilford A. Smith. 1878. Guilford A. Smith.
Nelson P. Jobason.
1879. Samuel A. Brooks.
1872. Joseph F. Owen.
1880. A. S. llarris.
L. D. Burch. Charles J. Grabam.
1873. Guilford A. Smith.
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS.
1840. John Vance, Norton H. 1857. Jobn A. Millard, Joel Wager. 1858. Robert Frank.
1841. John A. Millard, Benjamin
1859. Lyman Daniels.
Welsh, Vincent Parks.
1860. John A. Millard.
1842. George F. Dutton, Charles Sessions, Davis Parks.
1861. Ilerman Sprague. 1862. Lewis L. Wamsley.
1863-64. Nathan Il. Evans.
1843. Andrew R. Vanee, Palmer D. Bancroft, John Vanec.
1865. Jobn B. Stone. 1866. Joseph F. Owen.
1844. William Bartow, Walter
Halstead, Ledra Phillips. 1845. Walter Halstead, Anson B. llathaway.
1868. Nelson P. Johnson. 1869. James MeVeigh.
1846. No record.
1847. Ledra Phillips, Ezekiel
Halstead.
1848. Ledra Phillips.
1849. Lucius II. Peet.
1850. No record.
1851. Paris Cory.
1874. Nelson P. Johnson.
1875-76. George M. Jones.
1853. Albert G. Russell.
1877. L. D. Burch.
1854. John A. Millard.
1878. Emerson Vance.
1855-56. Albert G. Russell.
1879-80. Sidney Gess.
SCI100L INSPECTORS.
1840-41. William Merrill, Alonzo
1861. George D. Barker, Joon-
D. Brewster, John A. tban F. Albre.
Millard. 1862. Wilson Colby.
1842. Andrew R. Vance, Themas
1863. Albert II. Burch.
Tripp, William Bartow.
1864. David R. Cory.
1843. Constnot Shaw, Isaac 1865. Benjamin S. Patrick, AI- bert H. Berch.
Sherman. 1844. Themas Bellows.
1866. Henry G. Cooley.
1845. William II. Pratt. 1867. Benjamin S. Patrick.
1846-48. No record. 1868. Frank Abbott.
1849. William McAllister. 1869. Pliny Moore.
1850. No record. 1870. Frank Abbott.
1851. Lucius HI. Pect.
1871. Henry G. Cooley.
1852. Benjamin Caldwell. 1872. Frank Abbott.
1853. Henry Lane. 1873. Pliny Meorc.
1854. Lucius H. Pect.
1874. Emerson Vance.
1855. J. C. Jloward.
1875. Charles J. Graham.
1856. Lucius H. Peet.
1876. Samuel J. Horr.
1857. Pliny Moore.
1877. Jay Sessions.
1858. Henry Lane.
1878. Samuel J. Horr.
James W. Tabor.
1813. Miner Y. Beckwith.
1859. Ilenry S. Barker. Calvin Benjamin.
Constant Shaw. 1860. Ezra P. Glass.
1814. Charles Sessions.
George D. Barker.
1845. James W. Taber.
1861. Warren II. Stonc.
1846. No record.
1862. George D. Darker.
1847. James W. Tabor.
1863. Jobn (. Roberts.
Miuer Y. Beckwith.
1848. William Wamsley.
Miner Y. Beckwith.
1864. J. F. Albro.
Avery Delong.
1865. Warren HI. Stone. Pliny Moore.
Dennis Merwin.
L. D. Burch. Joseph F. Owen.
1852. Richard Evans.
1870. George HI. Newton.
1871. Nelson P. Johnson.
1872. Lucius II. Peet, A. S. Har- ris. 1873. William C. Frank, Joseph F. Owen.
1851. James W. Tabor.
1879-80. Martin L. Peck.
1859-62. Moses N. Wade.
George F. Dutton.
1862-68. Pliny Moore.
Beckwith, Daniel Kel- logg.
1867. Nathan II. Evaos.
1877. No record. 1880. James Troop.
477
LEBANON TOWNSHIP.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
MRS. CHARLES SESSIONS.
CHARLES SESSIONS.
CHARLES SESSIONS.
This gentleman, well known to the citizens of Clinton and Ionia Counties for the past forty-three years, was born in the town of Mareellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Dec. 20, 1817, being the eldest in a family of seventeen children, of whom fourteen survived to an adult age.
The Sessionses are descended from a sturdy Welshman, who was an early settler in New England. Nathaniel Ses- sions, the father of Charles, was born in the State of Con- necticut, Aug. 20, 1789. He served in the American army during the war of 1812, and in the year 1814 re- moved to Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y. Here on the 4th day of November, 1816, he married Miss Chloe Thompson, a lady who was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Sept. 26, 1798. In 1822 he again removed to llarmony, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., becoming one of the first settlers in that region. Ile remained a resident of Chautauqua County until the spring of 1837, when, judging wisely that the new State of Michigan offered superior advantages to one blessed with so large a family, a third removal was made, and a final settlement effeeted in the present town- ship of North Plains, lonia Co. He was an indulgent father, a striet temperance man, and an earnest Christian. Early in life he had joined the Baptists, but before settling in Michigan had adopted the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal faith, and in the latter church served as steward, class-leader, and Sunday-school superintendent for many years. He was also prominent in civil life, and most creditably served his townsmen as supervisor, justice of the peace, and in other capacities, and whether as a Whig, Abolitionist, or Republican, stood firm as the rocks of his native State, believing in principles rather than expedieney. Full of years, sincerely mourned by ten surviving children, he died, March 15, 1880. The worthy partner of his joys
-
and sorrows, who during the later years of her life was affectionately termed Mother Sessions, died Nov. 14, 1879. She was an active, carnest Christian, an exemplary wife and mother, and rejoiced to see the principles inculcated by her practiced by her children.
Charles Sessions grew up a farmer. His educational advantages were limited to such as could be obtained by attending the district schools in winter. After assisting his father in the many difficulties and hardships attendant upon the removal from New York State to Michigan, he remained under the paternal roof until the fall of 1838, meanwhile assisting to clear forty acres of land. He then built a small cabin near his present residence in Lebanon, upon one hundred and twenty acres of land purchased the year previously of the general government. His location was in the midst of a dense wilderness, his nearest neigh- bors being John Vance and James Sowle. IIere in his lonely cabin, the possessor of his lands, strong arms, a stout heart, an axe, and twenty dollars in cash, Charles Sessions began his work. Surrounded by Indians, who were then more numerous than the present white inhabi- tants, the forest teeming with bears and wolves, he lived alone until Aug. 27, 1840, when he married Miss Miriam Cooley, of Portland, lonia Co., who was born in New York State in 1822. As time passed and the township gradu- ally inereased in population, although not an office-seeker, he very naturally became prominent among his townsmen, and successively held the offices of collector, justice of the peace, assessor, treasurer, supervisor, and drain commis- sioner. Ilis original purchase, by industry and good man- agement, has been added to until he is now the proud owner of eleven hundred and seventy-one broad acres.
By his first marriage were born two children, viz.,
478
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Cynthia (wife of Frank Abbott), July 8, 1842, and Nathan C., Feb. 1, 1844, who, while serving in the Union army, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., during the war of the Rebellion. Ilis first wife, Mrs. Miriam Sessions, died Feb. 1,1844.
On the 14th of April, 1846, he was again married to Mrs. Mary Ryan, a widow lady, the mother of two chil- dren, named Elmore D., who died at New Orleans, La., while a member of Michigan's volunteer force during the war, and Alice, now Mrs. N. H. Evans, of Montcalm County. The children born of the second marriage were Amelia (now Mrs. Horace Winans), Feb. 4, 1847 ; Emily (wife of H. N. Blakeslee), May 26, 1849; May, March 12, 1852; Jay, Aug. 5, 1854; Ray, April 2, 1859; and Belle, Nov. 23, 1863. After but one week's illness, his second wife, who was born in 1819, at Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y., died at her home, April 21, 1880.
Mr. Sessions has been most liberal and indulgent in the care and education of his children. His sons are gradu- ates of the State Agricultural College, while his daughters, having had superior advantages, are equally as accom- plished. A Whig, while that party existed, he is now a Republican. Conservative in his religious opinions, as well as in other matters of everyday life, Charles Sessions, as a pioneer and present citizen of Lebanon township, is esteemed by all who know him.
CHAPTER LXI.
OVID TOWNSHIP.
Natural Features-Indian Mounds-Settlement of the Township- The Dark Day of 1856-Resident Tax-payers in 1840-Township Organization and Civil List-llighway Rocords-Schools-Ovid Village-Post-Office-Physicians - Churches-Village Incorpora- tion and List of Officers-Manufacturing Industries-The Press of Ovid-Ovid Union School-Secret Orders-Ovid Fire Department -Village of Shepardsville.
THE six miles square of territory designated in the United States survey as town 7 north, in range 1 west, and known as Ovid township, is one of the four towns lying on the eastern border of Clinton County. It has Duplain on the north, Victor on the south, the Shiawassee County line on the east, and Bingham township on the west.
Ovid is not only agriculturally prosperous, but contains moreover two villages, at one of which, Ovid, there are im- portant manufacturing interests. The surface of the country, like that of neighboring towns, is generally level, the soil is productive, and the members of the farming community are, as a rule, a prosperous people.
The supervisors' report for 1879 gives the number of acres of wheat harvested during that year as 2964, the number of bushels yielded as 65,764. May 1, 1880, there were on the ground 3231 acres of wheat. Eleven hundred acres of corn harvested in 1879 yielded 50,986 bushels. Twenty-five hundred and fifty-seven sheep were sheared,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.