History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 114

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co.
Number of Pages: 716

USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 114
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 114

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).

The Clinton and Shiawassee Union, a quarto sheet of Republican politics, was founded by J. W. Fitzgerald and J. W. Walsh. The first issue was dated June 28, 1879. Fitzgerald became the sole publisher April 3, 1880, and still conducts it.

BANKING.

Ovid's first bank was the private corporation founded in 1868 by J. C. Darragh & Co., including J. C. Darragh, formerly of Monroe, Mich., aud S. S. Walker and Charles Kipp, of St. Johns. This firm was succeeded in 1873 by Sowers & White, who still maintain the private character of the bank, but carry on a general banking business.

OVID UNION SCHOOL.

Justly the Union School of Ovid village is an object of local pride, and it may be added, moreover, that the school building is architecturally a conspicuous and engaging feature of local landscape. Although the subject of ereet- ing the present handsome edifice was agitated in 1867, and $12,000 voted therefor in September of that year, the house was not completed until 1870. The building is of brick, three stories in height, and occupies a command- ing elevation at the head of Gratiot Street.

The following is an extract from the annual report of Pro- fessor W. S. Webster, the principal, presented March 26, 1880 :

Whole number of days taught :

High school

Grammar department

Second intermediate 60

First intermediate. 60

Second primary 60

First primary

Total 360

Whole number enrolledl, by departments :

Iligh school

Grammar department. 38

Sceond intermediate .. 52

First intermediate 62

Second primary 74

First primary. 54

Total 322

Ilighest number belonging at any time, by departments :

High school.

Grammar department. 38

Second intermediate. 52

First intermediate. 60

Second primary. 71

First primary.

Highest number belonging at any ono time, in entire school. 310

Number of days' attendance, by departments :

High school. 2,184

Grammar department 1,922

Second intermediate .. 2,738.5

First intermediate.

3,094

Second primary. 3,44

First primary.

2,322

Total. 15,704.5

Average attendance, by departments :

High school. 36.4

Grammar department. 32

Second intermediate. 45.6

First intermediate. 51.5

Second primary. 57.4

First primary 38.7

Average in entire school. 261.6

Days lost hy absence, hy departments :

High school. 138

Grammar department. 239

Second intermediate .. 296.5

First intermediate.

392

Second primary. 641

First primary .. 409

Total number of days lost by absence .. 2115.5

The time lost by absenec is 14.47 per cent. of entire attendance.

Non-resident pupils :

Itigh school ...

Grammar department.

Total. 2t

SECRET ORDERS.

OVID LODGE, No. 127, F. AND A. M.,

was organized Feb. 27, 1860, in the I'ark House. A. B.

Wood, Jr., was W. M .; J. B. Park, S. W .; William E. Sickles, J. W .; J. M. Fitch, Secretary ; C. D. Rose, Treas- urer ; J. A. Potter, S. D .; A. F. Van Voorhies, J. D .; A. D. Smith, Tiler. Since the organization the Masters have been A. B. Wood, Jr., J. A. Potter, W. II. Faxon, L. T. Southworth, S. C. King, Charles Case, Abram Schenck, E. C. White, and M. R. Royce. The officers now are M. R. Royce, W. M. ; Ansel Barnes, S. W .; P. A. Winfield, J. W .; E. Mallonce, Sceretary ; John Sowers, Treasurer ; Charles Cowan, S. D .; Riley Watkins, J. D. ; John Link, Tiler. The lodge has an active membership of seventy- eight, and occupies handsomely-appointed quarters in l'otter Bloek.

OVID LODGE, No. 97, I. O. O. F.,

was organized March 14, 1866, and chartered Jan. 14, 1867. The charter members were John Gillam, Charles Gillam, H. C. Maine, F. S. Cushman; F. L. T. Hassee, M. Nichols. The present offieers are B. M. Merrill, N. G. ; Charles Pengra, V. G. ; J. A. P'otter, Secretary ; M. Gil- bert, P. S. ; P. H. Shannon, Treasurer. The lodge mem- bership is seventy-five, and of these forty are active par- ticipants in lodge affairs. Meetings are held in Marvin Block, where there is a commodious and handsomely- furnished lodge-room.

488

IIISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

OVID LODGE, No. 29, A. O. U. W.,

was organized Dec. 22, 1877, with twelve members. The first official list was C. W. Pengra, P. M. W. ; L. C. Mead, M. W .; J. H. Terrill, G. F .; F. W. Lamphere, R .; E. C. White, F .; S. C. King, Receiver. The lodge has a mem- bership of sixty-five, and meets in Masonic HIall. The officers serving in 1880 are L. C. Mead, P. M. W .; E. C. White, M. W .; A. Atherton, G. F .; S. W. Rose, O .; F. W. Lamphere, Recorder ; E. Armstrong, F .; N. J. Clark, Receiver; G. W. Wortman, Guide; Amos Covert, I. W .; W. A. Ross, O. W.

OVID LODGE, No. 103, GOOD TEMPLARS,

was organized July, 1879, in the Baptist church, with seventeen members. That number has now advaneed to seventy. The officers for 1880 are R. G. Watkins, W. C. T .; Mrs. F. G. Ilills, W. V. T .; Miss Cora Gray, Treas- urer; E. Reed, Recording Secretary ; David Flanagan, Financial Secretary ; William Berry, Marshal; Ed. Beebe, O. G .; Carrie Smith, I. G.

COURT WORKINGMAN'S PRIDE, A. O. F.,

was chartered March 31, 1879. The charter members were Edward S. Smith, Wmu. S. MeGeary, T. F. Smith, Daniel Thomas, David Flanagan, J. B. Valiet, W. A. Ross, W. S. Tidswell, B. M. Besley. The membership is now thirty. The officers are Daniel Thomas, C. R .; B. M. Besley, S. C. R .; J. B. Valiet, Sec .; W. A. Ross, A. S .; D. Flanagan, Treas ; W. S. McGeary, S. W .; W. S. Tids- well, J. W .; Morris Holmes, S. B .; D. Fish, J. B .; E. S. Smith, P. C. R.

OVID LODGE, No. 15, ROYAL TEMPLARS OF TEM- PERANCE,

was organized Nov. 14, 1879, with fourteen members, and includes now twenty-four. The officers for 1880 are A. Atherton, S. C .; Charles House, V. C .; P. Wilbur, P. C .; H. M. Pack, Sec. ; R. Watkins, F. Sec. ; D. A. Haight, Treas .; N. W. Jenkins, Herald ; Mrs. D. A. Haight, Deputy Herald ; Mrs. P. Hills, Chaplain ; J. A. Ilubbell, Guard.

OVID FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Ovid has had its share of fires, but they have proved visitations of value, since in the stead of the unsightly wooden structures destroyed have risen imposing business blocks of briek. The " bucket brigade" did fire dnty for the town until 1875, when a hook-and-ladder company was added to the fire fighting force. The company was chris- tened Washington, No. 1, and started with twenty-two members. S. W. Rose was chosen foreman, William Stevenson first assistant, and Henry McCarty second as- sistant. E. P. Corbisher, who was elected chief engineer of the department, remained in that office until 1880, when he was succeeded by William Stevenson. S. W. Rose, the present foreman of the company, has served continuously as such sinee 1875, except during 1877, when William Stevenson was the incumbent. A serviceable hook-and- ladder truck was built in the village in 1875, and that ap- paratus is still in use. Washington, No. 1, has about forty

members, and is considered as a spirited and valuable or- ganization.

A TRIPLE TRAGEDY.

Aug. 26, 1870, Ovid was called upon to mourn over a terrible calamity, in which the lives of three valuable citi- zens were suddenly sacrificed. The three men-named Sanford House, J. C. Brewster, and - Higgins-were on the day in question standing in front of Harrison & Harrington's steam saw-mill when, without warning, the boiler of the mill exploded with terrific foree, and the fly- ing fragments, passing in the path occupied by the three unfortunates, killed them instantly.

SHEPARDSVILLE.

Shepardsville, a station on the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad three miles west of Ovid village, was laid out in 1856 by William Shepard, who in that year started a store at that point. The village made feeble headway at first, bnt about 1867 pushed ahead vigorously. In that year Mr. Shepard put up a grist-mill with two run of stones, and a saw-mill, which he directly converted into a stave-factory. The grist-mill had, however, been but two days in operation when the boiler exploded, killing Dorn, the millwright, and seriously wounding six other men. This example of ill luck inflicted when the town was just emerging into some- thing like prosperity was but the forerunner to several dis- asters which followed hard upon and ultimately relegated Shepardsville to a state of masterly inactivity. In 1871 the stave-mill was burned, a business block of three stores and several shops sncenubed to fire during 1872 and 1873, while upon other occasions other conflagratiens put back the work of enterprise as rapidly as it betrayed its pres- enec.

At its best, Shepardsville contained five stores, a hotel (built by II. Longeor in 1864), and milling industries which served altogether to make the place a busy one. That the untoward circumstances of its early history fol- lowed it persistently in later years finds illustration in the relation that a cheese-factory started in 1878 by a Mr. Craddock stood bnt two years before it was burned.

A post-office was established at the town in 1867 and named Ovid Centre, but in a brief time a change of name was made to Shepardsville, consequent upon a similarity of the first name to Ovid, the next office eastward. Wil- liam Shepard was the first postmaster, J. L. Button the second, S. L. Brass the third, and L. O. Ludlum, now in the office, the fourth. Dr. L. O. Ludlum, the postmaster, located in the village in 1868 and entered upon medical practice. He is the only resident physician Shepardsville has had.

SHEPARDSVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CLASS,

worshiping in the building put up by William Shepard as a store in 1856, was organized in [869 by Rev. A. Wood, of the Duplain Cireuit, with a membership of thirty. William Shepard, who was then chosen class-leader, has continued until this time to fill that place. The class is now on the Duplain Cireuit, has forty-five members, and has preaching once a fortnight, Rev. C. A. Jacokes being the pastor. The trustees are William Shepard, P. A. Winfield, and J. L.

EZEKIEL DE CAMP.

MAS EZEKIEL DE CAMP.

TREIAAL

RESIDENCE OF EZEKIEL DE CAMP. OVID, MICH.

489

OVID TOWNSHIP.

Button. William Shepard is superintendent of the Sun- day-school, which has an average attendance of fifty and employs eight teachers.

BAPTIST CHURCH OF SHEPARDSVILLE.

April 15, 1876, a meeting was held at Shepardsville for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. Among those present were P. C. Bassett, John D. Gleason, Jacob W. Welter, P. A. Winfield, Thomas Sturges, I. E. Hobart, Edward P. Castner, D. F. Aldrich, John Miller, II. II. Faragar, William Castner, Isaiah Castner, and Edward Potter. The persons named subscribed to the following : " We who do hereby subscribe our names, anxious to do something in an organized form to promote the Christian religion, and to maintain the permanent worship of God and the institutions of the Gospel in this vicinity, do or- ganize ourselves into a society known as The Baptist Church and Society of Shepardsville." Samuel B. Spink, Edward Potter, John Miller, I. E. Hobart, and Thomas Sturges were chosen trustees and Edward Potter clerk.

The Methodist Episcopal church edifice was used for public worship until the fall of 1879, when the society's new church was occupied. Elder P. C. Bassett, the first pastor, was succeeded by Rev. E. V. Ney, and after the latter came Rev. A. Waxman, who is now in charge, preaching once each week at Ovid and Shepardsville. There is in connection with the church a Sabbath-school, which enjoys much prosperity. .

SOUTH OVID UNITED BRETHREN CLASS.

About 1858, Eggleston and Lee, missionaries in .the United Brethren Church, visited the region known as South Ovid and organized the South Ovid United Breth- ren class in the Wilson school-house. There services were afterwards held until 1869, when a change of location was made to the Baker school-house, which was used until the completion of the United Brethren church in 1879, upon December 7th of which year it was dedicated. The class, having now a flourishing membership of upwards of one hundred, is on the Ovid Circuit, in charge of Rev. M. Il. Sly, and including points in Ovid, Victor, Duplain, and Greenbush. Preaching is supplied at South Ovid once each fortnight. The class-leader is George Cox, the class- steward John M. Kosht, and the trustees Christian Baker, George Cox, I. N. Yarger, J. M. Kosht, and L. II. Allen. Cyrus Sherman is the superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has an average attendance of fifty scholars and eight teachers.

SOUTH OVID FREE METHODIST CLASS.

This class was formed June, 1871, by Rev. John Ellison (in charge of the St. Johns Circuit) in a grove upon Seba Squires' farm. The organizing members numbered nine, uf whom Jeremiah Cox was class-leader. Since that time regular services have been held in South Ovid. School- houses and residences of class-members were used until 1879, when a house of worship was built, and in July of that year dedicated. There is preaching onee in two weeks by Rev. G. H. Joslyn, in charge of St. Johns Circuit, and prayer-meeting on alternate Sundays. Seba Squires is the

leader of the class, which has a membership now of twenty. Seba Squires is likewise superintendent of the Sabbath- school, which enjoys a flourishing existence.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EZEKIEL DE CAMP.

On the occasion of Gen. Lafayette's presence in the United States as the champion of freedom, he was ac- companied by the paternal grandfather of Mr. De Camp (Ezekiel), who also shared with him the dangers of battle in the cause of the Republic. He served under Gen. Knox, and participated in both the battles of Monmouth and Long Island. Ilis maternal grandfather, Stephen Austin, was present, and assisted in disposing of the mem- orable cargo of tea in Bostou harbor, and died in Orleans Co., N. Y. The father, Enoch De Camp, was born in Somerset Co., N. J., in 1784, and at the age of thirty years engaged actively in the war of 1812 under Gen. Winfield Scott, and participated in the battle of Lundy's Lane, as well as other important engagements. His death occurred at Ovid at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His wife, Mrs. Eliza De Camp, who survived him less than two years, died at the age of seventy-nine.

Ezekiel De Camp, the brief sketch of whose life is here given, was a native of Tyronc, Steuben Co., N. Y., having been the tenth and youngest child of his parents, who four years subsequent to his birth removed to Reading, in the same county. He was at an early age thrown upon his own resources, and until twenty-two years of age followed farming pursuits, varied by such advantages as the primi- tive schools of the day afforded. Hle then repaired to Michigan and purchased a farm in Victor, and the follow- ing year an unimproved farm in Ovid. The township then displayed very few evidences of the settler's presence. There were no roads on his arrival, and the market for wheat was reached only after a tedious ride of one hundred miles to Detroit. On the 8th of February, 1857, Mr. De Camp was married to Miss Polly E., daughter of John L. and Lois Cross, who were among the early pioneers to Ovid. They have had three children,-C. C., A. P., and Autha.

Mr. De Camp has held many important village and township offices, among them those of township clerk, highway commissioner, president of the village, and mem- ber of the board of education, in which last position he has served the public for eight years. In politics he is an ardent Republican. He is the senior member of the exten- sive firm of De Camp & Stickney. He was also the founder of the firm of Potter, Beattie & Co., and has been during his business career one of the most reliable and popular of the mercantile representatives of the village. Ile has made many improvements in the township and village.

490

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

B. M. SHEPARD.

MRS. ELIZABETHI SHEPARD.

MRS. MATILDA SHEPARD, (DEC'D.).

B. M. SHEPARD.

Samuel and Eunice Duke Shepard were the parents of two children, William and B. M., the latter of whom was born in Saratoga County, Nov. 24, 1816. When six years old the family removed to Yates Co., N. Y., and at the early age of nine years he met with an irreparable loss in the death of his mother. He pursued his studies until twenty years of age, and at the age of twenty-two was mar- ried to Miss Matilda Stilwell, of Erie Co., Pa. Eight children were born to them. Mr. Shepard removed to Ohio and remained ten years, after which he repaired to Pennsylvania. In 1861, at the solicitation of his brother, he came to Ovid Centre and began the improvement of a

farm of sixty acres, for which he had previously effected an exchange. He later engaged in the purchase and ship- ment of live stock, his neighbors trusting him for the first investment made in the enterprise. He was also a large speenlator in grain, and as the result of his various ven- tures became the owner of three hundred and twenty aeres of land, which he later disposed of and retired from active business pursuits. In politics Mr. Shepard is a Democrat, though liberal in his opinions. Having been afflicted in 1874 by the loss of his wife, he in 1878 was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Gates, daughter of William and Rachel Green, who is of English extraction, and came to Clinton

491

OLIVE TOWNSHIP.

County in 1846. Mr. Shepard is still a resident of Shep- ardville, and his children all reside in Michigan. During this time Mr. Shepard has resided on his farm, which he has successfully managed.

DR. SOLON C. KING.

The father of the subject of this brief biography, Mager King, was born in Sodus, Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1804, and later married Miss Caroline Graves, of Willoughby, Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, Solon having

SOLON C. KING.

been the third in order of birth. Austinburg, Ohio, was the place of his nativity, and the date June 12, 1830. He was a pupil at the school of the district of his residence until twelve years of age, when he entered the Grand River Institute in Austinburg, and remained four years, after which he repaired to the home of his grandfather in Vernon, Shiawassee Co., for a brief period, and there assisted his father in farm labor. Later he became clerk for John Owens & Co., of Detroit, where he remained four years, when the study of medicine occupied his atten- tion. Ile first repaired to Vernon, and later finished his course at the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, where he graduated after a career involving three years. In 1860 he established himself in the practice of his profession at Ovid, which was then but a mere hamlet. In 1871 he formed a copartnership with Samuel S. Moore in the business of drugs and medicines, and two years later purchased the interest of his partner, having since con- ducted the business alone. IIe had enjoyed prior to his business venture an extended practice, which was aban- doned for the less arduous labors of the store. In 1861 Dr. King was married to Mrs. L. J. Longcor, who had two children by a previous marriage. Addie is now Mrs. Charles Cowan, and Frances is Mrs. F. W. Lamphire. Dr.

King is an ardent Democrat in his political convictions, and was during the year 1877 the successful candidate for the office of county clerk.

CHAPTER LXIL.

OLIVE TOWNSHIP .*

General Description-Early Settlements and Settlers-Resident Tax- payers in Olive in 1841-Voters in the Township in 1844-Town- ship Organization -Civil List of Olive-Highways-Schools- Religious History-Olive Grange, Patrons of Itushandry.

THE six miles square of territory known as Olive town- ship is designated in the governmental survey as town 6 north, range 2 west. Its boundaries are Bingham on the north, De Witt on the south, Vietor on the east, and Riley on the west. The surface of the town is generally level, and although marked in numerous places with tracts of swamp-land, presents a remarkable improvement in that respect over the condition of things prevalent twenty or more years ago, when swamps were much larger and much more plentiful than now.

The producing capacity of the soil is something beyond the common, and in respect to the growth of wheat Olive ranks high. The town contains no manufacturing in- dustry, has but one church building, no village, nor yet a post-office. There is, however, a large amount of wealth in the community, and affairs are generally in a prosperous condition.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS.

During the month of October, 1836, Peter Merrihew and his sons, Adam and John W., were looking through Michigan for land-locations, and coming to De Witt met one Mr. Webb, who piloted them into the town now called Olive. So well pleased were they with the country there that they selected eleven eighty-acre lots upon sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. They returned then to Livingston County, and awaited the coming of their families from Ulster Co., N. Y. In November came their families, and the family of Ephraim Merrihew, who was also a son to Peter. The first to push on to Olive was Ephraim, who, with his wife and children, entered the town in January, 1837, and made a commencement upon section 5. On the same day came also to the town Orange Ferguson and his family, and occupied a place ou section 18, near Muskrat Lake. Eph- raim Merrihew's father came with him and gave assistance in putting up a cabin, Ephraim's family abiding meanwhile at De Witt. Continuing the record of the Merrihew settle- ment, which was an important and numerous one, mention is next of the coming of John W. Merrihew and his family in June, 1837, to seetion 5. Where he built his first cabin Mr. Merrihew has lived ever since, the oldest living settler to-day in Olive. In July, 1837, the elder Merrihew, who had been living in Wayne County, made also a settlement in Olive, in company with his son Adam. Adam made his stand

* By David Schwartz.

492

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

upon section 7, while his father began his elearing on sec- tion 5. In 1838 yet another son, Benjamin, came on with a family and joined the pioneer band on seetion 7, where he set up the pioneer blacksmith-shop in the town. Nehe- miah, the fifth son, unmarried when he came to the town with his father, married in due season and settled on sec- tion 8.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the Merrihew families were sufficiently numerous to give the town a good start, for they numbered at least six voters, nearly as many as some of Clinton County's towns started their township organizations with. Of those here mentioned the elder Merrihew died on his Olive farm in 1860 at the age of eighty-four. John W. and Benjamin are still living in the town. Ephraim lives in Wayne County, Nehemiah in Bingham township, and Adam in Maple Rapids.

Peter Merrihew was a man of some means for that day. He not only brought a few thousand dollars west with him, but he made a lucky speculation on some Wayne County land, which he bought for a pair of horses and sold soon after for two thousand dollars, so that when he en- gaged in his western pioneering he was well provided against the privations and hardships that beset the average pioneer. He is believed to have brought to the town the first horse-team seen therein, and to have built the first framed barn. Benjamin Merrihew, who set out to accom- modate the settlers with a smithy, did so to good purpose, as far as they were concerned, but there were not people enough in the community to encourage his enterprise satis- factorily, and so after a brief experience he abandoned it. Ile did considerable business in the way of hauling in sup- plies from Detroit and other places, and used to go to mill to Northville for all hands frequently. In 1838 he was called upon to go to Northville to buy twelve barrels of flour, but the roads were so bad he declared it to be absurd to think of making the trip with an ox-team. He volun- teered, however, to foot it to Northville, and hire some one else to bring the flour baek. So foot it he did, a distance of upwards of eighty miles, bought twelve barrels of flour at twelve dollars a barrel, and bargained to pay two dollars a barrel additional for their transportation to De Witt, whenee he hauled them to Olive with his own team.

Referring to the matter of roads, the town of Olive was quite badly off in that respeet when the Merrihews made their settlement. When Benjamin was moving in he was mired when within a few miles of his destination, and after several ineffectual attempts to extricate his team, he and his wife went forward afoot to the settlement for assistance. At that, with all the assistance he could get, Merrihew was a good while getting his oxen out of their predicament. At this time the road on which the Merrihews located had been worked some as a State road, but beyond some under- brushing no effective labor had been expended. When John came in he found the traveling terribly tedious, and between passing around marshes and miring in apparently safe spots the miles were long and the work hard. John started for the Colony mill one day, and had not gone far when he found himself fast in the mire. Seeing a man hard by thrashing wheat with a pair of oxen,-the feet of oxen were in those days the thrashers and the earth the

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History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 114

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co.
Number of Pages: 716