USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 116
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 116
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After the organization preaching was held in the Fer- guson school-house once a month by Revs. Jackson, Mount, and others. Presently, as the class membership increased, services were held once each fortnight. From the first, services have been regularly held, although the place of worship has been changed more than once. To 1864 school-houses were used. In that year the Olive church was built, and since that time the organization has been known as the Olive Centre Class. The first board of church trustees was composed of Alonzo Wood, Charles Rockwell, Jolin Le Baron, William Hickox, and J. W. Merriman. The present trustees are J. W. Merriman, Henry Me- Wethey, Charles Rockwell, and J. M. Merrihew. Earlier the class was attached to the De Witt Circuit. Now it is on the Victor Circuit, in charge of Rev. Mr. Gray. Although having at one time as many as seventy members, the class has now but about twenty, Anson L. Me Wethey being the leader. He is also the superintendent of the Sunday- school, which has an average attendance of fifty scholars.
The United Brethren Class, of which L. D. Chadwick is leader, has been having periodical worship at the Rheu- bottam school-house for the past ten or fifteen years, and now has public services once each fortnight.
OLIVE GRANGE, No. 358, P. OF Il.
This grange was organized by Deputy Richard Moore, of St. Johns, Clinton Co., on the 27th of March, 1874. The meeting for the purpose of organization was held at the Muskrat school-house, near the bank of the Muskrat Lake. and notwithstanding the roads were very bad the attendanee was good, and the efforts of Mr. Moore resulted in the organization of Olive Grange, with a charter mem- bership of thirty-nine members, twenty-one of whom were males and eighteen females, and were offieered as follows : Master, Isaac Vought; Overseer, Thomas W. Baldwin ; Secretary, William H. H. Knapp. Great credit is due
RESIDENCE OF AUGUSTUS GILLETT, OLIVE, MICH.
-
VIEW FROM THE EAST.
JOHN W. OUTCALT.
WM OUTCALT.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN W. OUTCALT, OLIVE, MICH.
197
RILEY TOWNSHIP.
Cornelius Walters for his labor and time spent in bringing about the organization, and also eredit is due William A. Merchant, Johu Blass, and others for their liberality in openiug their houses for meetings of the grange until a hall was built for their accommodation. In the year 1875 the members of the order succeeded in building a hall twenty-two by forty feet and two stories high, the upper room calculated for the grange meeting, the lower part for a dining-hall, sitting room, and a small grocery, which has been in successful operation since that time up to the pres- ent, and is now carried on by Cornelius Walters. In the spring of 1878 an addition of twenty-two feet was built on the south eud to accommodate the increase in numbers. The site was donated to the society by Charles Ferguson, being sufficient ground for the hall and sheds to accommo- date the teams of the patrons. The institution has been a success, and has exerted a lasting influence on the surround- ing country. Cases of dispute and misunderstandings have been adjusted satisfactorily by arbitration in the grange, which otherwise would have led to litigation and cost in the courts. The office of Master was held by Isaac Vought one year, George Smith one year, and three years by Thomas W. Baldwin, who is the present incumbeut. The membership has reached the number of one hundred and twenty, and the present membership is one hundred and fourteen. The society has the confidence of its members and the respect of those outside, and ean no doubt be counted on as a permanent institution of the township.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
AUGUSTUS GILLETT.
Linus and Roxy (Cody) Gillett were natives of Con- nectieut and New York respectively. Linus made his home with relatives in New York during his younger days, where he became acquainted with Miss Cody, whom he subsequently married. They removed to Upper Canada soon afterwards, and settled near London, where Augustus, the subject of our sketch, and Phebe Jane were born, Augustus in 1826. In 1829 the family removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., and in 1830 to Jackson County, where another daughter, Lucy Ann, was born. Mrs. Gillett was the first white woman to reside where the city of Jackson now is.
In 1840 the family again changed their abiding-place, effecting a permanent settlement in Olive, where they now live.
In 1846, Augustus married Miss Louisa Ann Arm- strong, and to them were born Francis M., Laura J., R. K., Isadora, and Ezra A., all of whom are living with the exception of the last named, who died when about a year old.
Mrs. Gillett died in August, 1863, and in 1864 Mr. Gillett was united in marriage with Loretta L. Foote, daughter of Zelona and Betsy Elizabeth Foote, residents of De Witt.
Mr. Gillett began his earcer a poor man, and his life has been an carnest effort for and crowned with success ; and in his advancing years he is enjoying the fruits of his labor. Ilc has been officially identified with Olive town- ship in different capacities, is honored and respected by those who know him, and a worthy representative of the pioneers of Clinton County.
JOHN W. OUTCALT.
William Outealt was a native of Portage Co., Ohio, where he was born April 10, 1815, and continued to re- side until Jan. 3, 1839, when he married Mary Ann Richards, of Stark County, same State, and immediately removed to La Grange Co., Ind., where they resided until 1854. Here John W., Melissa, and Naney were born. Then Mrs. Outealt returned to Stark County, where she died Nov. 25, 1851.
In 1854, John W. and his father removed to Olive township. Here he remained until 1866, when he was united in marriage to Miss Betsey M. Gage, and removed to Shiawassee County, where they remained three years- then returned to their old home in Olive, where they still live, and where his father died May 18, 1869.
Politically, Mr. Outealt is a Republican, aiming to sus- tain with his ballot what he fought with his musket to preserve, having been a member of Company I, 'Twenty- seventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and wounded and disabled on Wellen Road, near Petersburg, Va. He has occupied several official positions in his township, and is, though young in years, much respected and possessed of a competency acquired by industry and economy.
We present upon another page a view of his residence, together with portraits of himself and estimable wife.
CHAPTER LXIII.
RILEY TOWNSHIP .*
Topography-Original Land-Entries-Settlement of the Township- The First Highways-Organization and List of Officers-Religions Ifistory-Schools -- Post-Offices-Patrons of Husbandry-Statistics of Agriculture and Population.
This township was set off from Watertown and organ- ized as Riley in March, 1841. It is not definitely known how the name originated. Its northeast corner is at the centre of Clinton County. It is designated on the govern- ment survey of the State as township 6 north, of range 3 west. A survey of the township was made in 1826 by Lucius Lyon ; the subdivision lines were made by Hervey Parke, and certified Feb. 12, 1827. It has the following surroundings : Bengal on the north, Olive on the east, Watertown on the south, and Westphalia on the west. The township contains within its limits twenty-two thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven and eighty-one one hun-
& By Chartes A. Chapin.
63
498
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
dredths acres of land. The soil of the entire township is remarkably fertile, being a rich clay loam intermixed with sand and sandy loam, and is well adapted for the successful cultivation of the cereals, corn, fruit, ete. Its water-courses are nnimportant. Bad Creck, rising in section 34, runs west into 33, thence northeasterly into 34 again, and taking a northeasterly course it drains sections 34, 27, 22, 15, 14, and 11, and runs into 2, passing through 2 in a northerly and westerly direction, through the northeast corner of see- tion 3 into Bengal, and thence into Stony Creek. A branch of Bad Creek rises in seetion 35, and flows into it on sec- tion 27. Muskrat Creek rises on the west line of section 19, runs northeasterly through 19 and 18 into 17, where it receives a branch, thence through sections 8 and 6 into Bengal, where it empties into Stony Creek.
ORIGINAL LAND-ENTRIES.
The following names will show who made entries for land in this township, with residence, date of entry, and descrip- tion. Very few were aetnal settlers; they were mostly non-residents and speculators.
SECTION 1.
Sherman Page, Feb. 19, 1836, north half of northeast quarter.
James J. Godfrey, Monroo Cv., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, south half of northeast quarter.
Mortimer Buell, Ontario Co., N. Y., April 3, 1837, southwest quarter.
SECTION 2.
Allen A. Rahincan, Monroe Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, south half.
SECTION 3.
James K. Guernsey, Monroe Co., N. Y., Dec. 10, 1836, north frac- tional half.
Jeremiah Jacobs, Onondaga Co., N. Y., April 17, 1837, south half. SECTION 4.
Robert Armitage, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 10, 1836, northwest frac- tional quarter.
B. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836, northeast fractional quarter.
Seba Murphy, Monroc Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 1836, southwest quarter.
SECTION 5.
Thomas W. Merrill, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1836, north half. Abby Mapes, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, south half.
SECTION 6.
Thomas Osborn, May 12, 1836, southwest quarter and west half of southeast quarter.
Richard I'. Hart, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836, north half and cast half of southeast quarter.
SECTION 7.
Phebe Boughton, Wayno Co., Mich., Nov. 2, 1836, northeast quarter. Ira A. Reynolds, lonia Co., Mich., Nov. 3, 1836, northwest fractional quarter.
B. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, southeast quarter; Dec. 10, 1836, southwest fractional quarter.
SECTION 8.
Philip P. Peck," Lenawce Co., Mich., Sept. 22, 1836, northwest quar- ter.
B. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Dec. 10, 1836, sontheast quarter. Seha Murphy, Monroe Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 1836, cast half of northeast quarter.
William T. Gibson, Seneca Co., N. Y., Dec. 13, 1836, west half of northeast quarter.
SECTION 9.
Uzziel Kanouse, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, cast half.
SECTION 10.
David G. Mouat, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, west half.
SECTION 11.
Franklin D. Markham, Wayne Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, southeast quarter.
Richard Van Lew, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1836, northeast quarter. Juhu C. Blanchard, Ionia, Mich., July 1, 1837, northwest quarter of nurthwest quarter.
SECTION 12.
Franklin D. Markham, Nov. 4, 1836, southwest quarter.
Samuel B. Dewey, Monroe Co., N. Y., April 3, 1837, northwest quar- tor.
SECTION 13.
John Crysler, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1836, west half of north- west quarter.
John Dennis, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1836, southwest quarter and west half of southeast quarter.
Peter Fralick, Plymouth, Mich., April 22, 1837, cast half of uortheast quarter.
SECTION 14.
John Crysler, Nov. 4, 1836, east half of northeast quarter.
Phehe Rogers, Genesee Co., N. Y., Dce. 9, 1836, cast half of northwest quarter and west half of northeast quarter.
Peter Fralick, April 22, 1837.
SECTION 15.
Warren Fay, Genesee Co., N. Y., Jan. 31, 1837, northeast quarter.
SECTION 16.
School lauds.
SECTION 17.
David S. Hodgman, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1836, east half of northeast quarter and northeast quarter of southeast quarter. Elisha Ilodgoian, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1836, west half of northeast quarter.
James V. Ryau, Ionia Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, west half.
SECTION 18.
Peter Misuer, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1836, northeast quarter. David Entrican, Oakland Co., Mich., April 25, 1837, west half of southwest quarter.
SECTION 19.
William W. Arnold, May 13. 1851, east half of northeast quarter and northwest quarter of northeast quarter.
James Burns, Nov. 20, 1851, east half of suntheast quarter.
SECTION 20.
B. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, northeast quarter. William Thumpsou, Seneca Co., N. Y., Dee. 14, 1836, west half.
SECTION 2t.
Alexander F. Bell, Iouia Co., Mich., April 5, 1837, north half. Augustus L. Gould, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 28, 1838, cast half of southeast quarter.
SECTION 22.
Harry Boardman, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 1, 1836, northeast quarter. Ralph C. Markham, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1836, southeast quarter. Joshua G. Knight, Genesce Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1836, west half.
@ Actual settlers.
499
RILEY TOWNSHIP.
SECTION 23.
John Paul, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1836, southwest quarter and west half of southeast quarter.
Luke Wood, Tecumseh, Mich., Nov. 15, 1851, northwest quarter.
SECTION 21.
Oliver Miller, Lenawee Co., Mich., Dee. 13, 1836, northwest quarter. Jeremiah Naftzgar, Wayue Cu., Mich., Oct. 10, 1848, south half of northeast quarter.
SECTION 25.
* Atwell Simmons, July 20, 1836, southeast quarter.
Samuel D. McDowell, Washtenaw Co., Mich., west half of southwest quarter.
SECTION 26.
Philo Hungerford, July 19, 1836, southwest quartor.
Ilerman V. Prentice, July 19, 1836, southeast quarter.
SECTION 27.
Samuel Hungerford, July 19, 1836, southeast quarter.
Luther Ingrahamn, July 19, 1836, southwest quarter.
Augustus L. Gould, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 28, 1838, west half of northwest quarter.
*Jaech Miller, Jan. 16, 1854, southwest quarter of northeast quarter. Henry Jones, Oct. 19, 1854, southeast quarter of northwest quarter.
SECTION 28.
Luther Ingraham, July 19, 1836, east half of southeast quarter.
Thomas R. Godley, July 19, 1836, west half of southeast quarter.
Geo. W. Knapp, Oakland Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, northeast quarter.
SECTION 29.
Seth M. Root, Lorain Co., Ohio, Oct. 7, 1851, west half of northwest quarter and west half of southwest quarter.
William Drake, Rochester, N. Y., April 19, 1852, northeast quarter.
SECTION 30.
Edwin Lawrence, Ann Arbor, Mich., July 6, 1837, northeast quarter.
SECTION 31.
Denoni Adams, Lorain Co., Ohio, Oct. 4, 1851, southwest quarter of southeast quarter.
Amrod Moore, Brighton, Mich., June 27, 1853, cast half of north- east quarter.
#Adam 11. Kinenid, Oct. 31, 1854, northeast quarter of southeast quarter.
SECTION 32.
Setlı M. Root, Pittsfield, Lorain Co., Ohio, Oct. 7, 1851, southwest quarter.
William Deits, Dee. 12, 1853, southwest quarter of northwest quarter and southeast quarter of northwest quarter.
#Adam 11. Kincaid, Oct. 9, 854, northwest fractional quarter of northwest fractional quarter.
*John Shilling, Jr., Stark Co., Ohio, Oct, 21, 1851, cast half of north- east quartor.
SECTION 33.
Theodorie T. Phillips, July 19, 1836, southeast quarter.
*Thomas Ferris, Clinton County, Dee. 3, 1838, suutheast quarter of northwest quarter.
*Francis Cisco, Clinton County, Jan. 26, 1839, southeast quarter of southwest quarter.
SECTION 34.
*Charles M. Thornton, July 19, 1836, southeast quarter.
Leland Green, July 19, 1836, northwest quarter.
William Taft, July 19, 1836, west half of southwest quarter.
# Lyman Hungerford, July 19, 1836, northeast quarter.
Nathan Case, Oakland County, Sept. 23, 1836, cust half of southwest quarter.
SECTION 35.
William F. Shaw, July 19, 1836, northwest quarter.
Sarah Thornton, July 19, 1836, southwest quarter.
James Parks, Lenawee County, Sept. 22, 1836, cast half of southeast quarter.
SECTION 36.
David Scott, Clinton County, Sept. 22, 1836, northwest quarter of southwest quarter.
Stephen P. Morehouse, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1836, southeast quarter.
John Gould, Ann Arbor, Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, west half of northwest quarter.
Sylvester Scott, Clinton County, Nov. 4, 1836, southwest quarter of southwest quarter.
SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP.
Atwell Simmons, a native of Ontario Co., N. Y., with his wife emigrated to Salem, Washtenaw Co., in 1832. In 1836 he sold his land there and concluded to go farther into the wilderness. On July 7th of that year he was ex- ploring the country, and selected the land which he pur- chased, July 20th, at the Kalamazoo Land-Office. In No- vember, 1836, they started for their new home by wagon, drawn by oxen, and were six days making the journey ; the roads were in a terrible condition and the oxen were often mired. They stopped with a family named Webb, living in De Witt township, until a log cabin could be built; this cabin was fourteen by sixteen feet, and stood in front of the present house and near the maple-tree in the front yard.
That winter he chopped and cleared about seven aeres, and in the spring put in a erop of oats and rutabagas. - In the fall of 1837 he sowed three and one-half acres with wheat, which was cut the next summer with a sickle and thrashed out with oxen ; the yield was thirty-six bushels per aere. The first orchard in the township was planted in 1842, with trees brought from Plymouth, Wayne Co., and included all kinds of fruit. About six years after the erection of the cabin a block-house of logs was built. The logs were hewed on both sides, and put up so as to make a two-story house; this house stood just back of the present frame house. Mrs. Simmons spun and wove the first flax. Their children are pleasantly settled on adjoining farmns,- George R., living just over the line in Olive, and Mrs. Am- ariah B. Cook, living about a half-mile west of her father's. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons are still living.
Some time during the month of November, 1836, Morris Boughton, of Elmira, N. Y., accompanied by his brother- in-law, Benjamin Welch, came into Clinton County. Mr. Welch settled in Dallas and Mr. Boughton settled on the northeast quarter of section 7, town 6 north, range 3 west, afterwards called by its present name, Riley. That winter was spent in chopping on his farm; he boarded at Mr. Cortland llill's, who had moved into Bengal only a few months before. After putting up a log cabin on his land he kept bachelor's hall, and his only cooking utensil was a kettle, which served for baking, boiling, and frying. A large clean chip took the place of a plate. Two years after settling in Riley his sister, Mrs. William Hayes, and her husband moved in and occupied his house, thus relieving the lonely hours of his hermit life. Ilis log cabin stood on the southeast corner of his farm ; but choosing a more de- sirable site he erected a second cabin, thus leaving the first
# Actual settlers.
500
IIISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
one to be ocenpied snecessively by the settlers moving into the town. He was frequently employed to look up and loeate land for speculators. When not thus engaged he was at work elearing up and improving his farm ; as soon as a piece of land was cleared seed was sown, and the yield was abundant. More than once he drew his wheat to Detroit with an ox-team and sold it for fifty cents per bushel. The nearest grist-mill at first was at Ionia, twenty- two miles distant. Going to mill often took from three to six days. In chopping and clearing out the roads the carly settlers expended a vast amount of labor.
Mr. Boughton, having eleared the greater portion of his farm and erected comfortable buildings of all kinds, set out for the State of New York, and on the 10th of December, 1843, was united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Culver. They immediately departed for their home in Michigan. During his long residence of nearly forty years in Riley he was closely identified with the history, development, and growth of this section of Clinton County. He possessed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, and repeatedly filled the highest offices of the town. He died Feb. 16, 1876, at the age of sixty-four years, leaving a wife and eight children to mourn his loss .*
In May, 1841, Philip P. Peck, his wife, and three chil- dren, with Mrs. Peek's father, John Gunn, moved from Tecumseh (where they had lived four years) to Riley. After a tedious journey over bad roads, they found the road ended at Gordon Treat's clearing. After that the path or trail was by marked trees to Morris Boughton's elearing. When they came out on the clearing near where the school- house stands, Mr. Boughton was at work logging. When he saw the emigrants his joy was great, and he invited them to his house and set before them the best it afforded. Having an unoccupied cabin standing near Mr. Peck's land, he said, " There's a house for you, and there's your land." For the first year Mr. Peck worked some of Mr. Bough- ton's land on shares, and thus got along finely until he could clear some of his own land. That summer he put up a log house, size sixteen by twenty feet, covered with a shake roof, the floor of split timber hewed smooth, fireplace with clay baek and elay hearth, the chimney built of sticks plastered with elay. This small house afforded a home and shelter to many emigrant families until such time as they could provide a eabin for themselves. The Indians shared their hospitality and became firm friends. This house stood a few feet west of their present residence. In the winter of 1844, Mr. Peck made ready to build a frame barn by drawing his lumber on sleighs from a saw-mill located at Muskrat Lake. The path was marked by blazed trees. A man named Chubb, from Lyons, was the master carpenter who framed and superintended it; his pay was twelve pounds of maple-sugar for each day's work. In April all was ready for the raising. Assistance to raise the barn came from ten miles around. Everything was in good order, help was plenty, and the frame went up with- out any delay. Some seventy people, men and women, partook of the banquet which was served up after the raising ; all enjoyed the occasion and had a good time. This
barn is still standing. The front part of their present resi- dence was built in February, 1860, the back part sinee that time. Of the three children who came with their father and mother, two are living. William lives on a farm about half a mile cast ; Emma J. (Mrs. Henry Jones) died in 1861; Amanda (Mrs. David P. Bliss) lives with her hus- band on the homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Peck are yet living, and have reached a ripe old age.
Elkanah Peck, a brother of Philip P., with his family, moved from Tecumseh in October, 1841. They occupied the Boughton cabin until the next summer, when he built a log cabin on his land, which adjoined his brother on the east. Mr. Peek died in 1874, and his family moved to Kansas.
Charles M. Thornton, wife, and family arrived in this town from Novi, Oakland Co., in 1838, and settled on see- tion 34. His first house was a log cabin, but he proceeded to ereet a frame house, which was the first in the town. After living here a few years he traded farms with his brother, then living in Novi, and removed there.
Ezra Thornton moved in with his family about the year 1844, stayed here a few years, and moved back to Oakland County.
In 1839, Gordon Treat eame to Riley and chopped five acres of land for Charles M. Thornton, and in the following year, in December, with his family, he moved in and took up their permanent residence on the farm-on seetion 28- now owned by Mrs. Josiah E. Smith. Their first cabin was of logs; the roof of logs hollowed out; the roof was tight enough to keep out a wildcat, but admitted plenty of air, and was not snow-proof. This cabin stood near where the barn now stands. Its size was sixteen by eighteen feet. They lived in it six years, and then built a log house, size eighteen by twenty-four feet. It stood back of their present residence, which was built in 1863. Mr. Treat died in 1859, leaving a wife and three children. Mrs. Owen, a daughter, died in 1877; L. H. Treat, now living in Gratiot County, was in the Twenty-third Regiment during the war ; Luey O. (Mrs. Gage) is living on the homestead with her mother, Mrs. Smith.
Gabriel Cronkhite and wife, from Oakland County, settled on section 34 previous to 1841. Their sons, Watson, Jackson J., and Washington, with their families, moved about the same time. Their married daughters, Mrs. C. M. Thornton, Mrs. Nathan Reed, and Mrs. Edwin Butt, lived near by. None of these families are in the township.
Francis Franciseo moved in from De Witt about 1841, and settled on section 34; afterwards moved to Olive, and died there. Robert McFall was here about 1841, stayed two or three years, and moved away. Elison Campbell and family settled on section 35 about 1841 ; afterwards moved to Eagle in 1843. One son is living in Wacousta, and one in Eagle. Lloyd Worth, with his wife and four children, moved from Commerce, Oakland Co., about 1841, and bought land on sections 27 and 28. After staying six or seven years, moved back to their old home.
Other settlers about the years 1840-41 were Charles Kellogg and family, from Ypsilanti, who settled on section 14. Mr. Kellogg having to go back to Ypsilanti, left his family alone. The Indians became so lawless and trouble-
* Contributed by his son, Georgo E. Boughton.
501
RILEY TOWNSIIIP.
some that Mrs. Kellogg took her children and went to the nearest neighbor for protection and safety. After living here a few years they moved to Berry County and settled on the Thornapple River.
Parley and Robert B. Gardner became settlers on seetion 3 about 1841. They stayed a short time, and moved away.
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