History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 37

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 37
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 37

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Its beautiful and healthful location, great natural advan- tages, together with its superior railroad facilities, render it one of the most desirable dwelling-places in Central Michi- gan. Lying mainly within the township of Owosso, its corporate limits extend eastward iuto that of Caledonia, em- bracing a total area of four square miles. The Shiawassee enters the city from the east, thenee flowing over its rocky bed rapidly to the northward, until the west line of section 13 is crossed, it then turns sharply to the north and cou- tiuues in that direction beyond the northern limits.

* Including Rush.

t By John S. Schenek.

# According to Mr. B. O. Williams, this name was derived from that of " Wasso," the principal chief of the Shiawassee band of Chippewas, who, prior to the first occupation of the county by the whites, and for several years subsequently, lived near Shiawasseetown. Upon the organization of the township, in 1837, the letter O was prefixed to the chief's name, and the same adopted as the name of the new town- ship. The hamlet in its midst, as yet without a cognomen other than that of " The Rapids," or the "village of Shiawassee Rapids," also, very naturally, assumed the same name. Originally the word was spelled Owasso, but, by common-perhaps improper-usage, it has in recent years obtained its present orthographical style.

¿ Chippewa term for "straight running river."

Owosso of to-day contains about three thousand inhabi- tants, and with its river and race, the substantial iron bridges spanning them, the mineral springs, the inequalities of the surface, adorned with elegant residences and well- kept lawns, the regularly laid out residence-streets, shaded with luxuriant native forest-trees, the streets of traffic, lined with imposing brick structures, the whirr of wheels in the manufactories, the whistling of locomotives and the rumble of freighted trains, the dome of a handsome school building, and the spires of numerous church edifices surmounting all, combine to form a picture at once satisfac- tory and pleasing, to make the little city appear-what it really is-busy and beautiful, the home of many citizens of thrift and culture.

EARLY HISTORY, SETTLEMENTS, ETC.

The reader will observe by referring to the history of Owosso township that during the year 1823 Deputy United States Surveyors Joseph Wampler and William Brookfield, working separately and accompanied by their respective as- sistants, ran out the township and sectional lines prevailing at the present time, and that from their meagre field-notes we obtain the earliest authentie information concerning the oc- eupancy of this immediate vicinity by the English-speaking whites. Meanwhile, ten years had elapsed since the original survey. No settler's rude cabin or stumpy fields as yet de- faced nature's landscape, and, save occasional visits from the half-breed French and Indian coureurs-de-bois (forest-run- ners), Wasso's band of Chippewas and the wild beasts of the forest were the only occupants of this portion of the Shia- wassee Valley.

The time last mentioned brings us to the spring or early summer of 1833,-a time when Benjamin O. Williams, in pursuing his journey to Saginaw, via the broad Indian trail which followed the course of the Shiawassee, passed this way iu company with the Chippewa chief, Esh-ton-e-quet,| or " Little Bear." Mr. Williams and his guide journeyed on Indian ponies, aud as they came out on the open plain which skirted the right bank of the river at the Che-boc-wa- ting, or " Big Rapids," the sight unfolded to them was most pleasing. A halt was made on the high ground near the present school-building, where a better and more extended view was obtained. They saw here magnificent water- power privileges, beautiful rose-willow plains extending to a considerable distance back from the east bank of the river, while on the opposite side was a wooded tract of dense, heavy timber,-the place, in fact, described by William Brookfield in 1823, in these words : " Plains or oak-openings. Land first-rate. Good soil. No large timber. It was long ago burnt off. Undergrowth white and prickly ash, poplar, thorns, and briars ; all in abundance."

Alter surveying the beauties of nature for a few moments, Mr. Williams turned to his companion and remarked, " What a fine farm could be made here !"

" Yes," replied the chief; and then, giving further ex- pression to his thoughts and the knowledge that the white men were steadily encroaching upon the hunting-grounds of his people, continued, " Not many more moons will pass

[ lle was also known by the French as Moncousin, or " My Cousin."

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CITY OF OWOSSO.

over my white brother's head ere the pale-faces will have mills, a town, and cultivated fields here."

Fully determined to possess himself' of a portion, at least, of this fair domain, the journey was resumed towards Sagi- naw. Upon his return to their trading-post, "The Ex- change," Mr. Williams acquainted his brother, Alfred L. Williams, of his discovery, and urged that they purchase, with what available cash they had, lands at the " Big Rap- ids." Deferring to his elder brother's judgment, and accom- panied by him, B. O. Williams again visited this region the same summer, when the brothers concluded to locate lands here, recognizing its value for mill-sites, and strongly sus- pecting that it would be a central point in a new county. Acting upon this determination, Alfred L. Williams pro- ceeded to Detroit, and on the 2d of August, 1833, the first land in the surveyed township transferred to individual own- ership was entered in the names of Alfred L. and Benjamin O. Williams, being a portion of section 24. Their means of obtaining ready cash at that time were very limited, and their purchase did not cover as much territory as they de- sired. Therefore, when more money was obtained, addi- tional lots were purchased on section 13, November 13th of the same year, in all about two hundred aeres.

From the date last mentioned until the summer of 1835 no other purchases were made in this vicinity or township. The Messrs. Williams had made no improvements, and " land-lookers" had not penetrated the wilderness thus far. However, in June, 1835, Elias Comstock and Lewis Find- ley, from Oakland Co., Mich., entered lands situated upon section 13 (the former upon section 24 also). In July, 1835, the Messrs. Williams entered additional land upon the same section, and in October of the same year Abel Millington, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., Trumbull Cary, of Genesee Co., N. Y., Peter A. Coudrey, of New York City, and Elias Comstock and Seth Beach, of Oakland Co., Mich., entered lands situated upon sections 13, 14, 23, and 24, all within or near the present corporate limits of the city of Owosso.

Early in July, 1835, the first, settlement in the northern half of Shiawassee County was commenced at the " Big Rapids of the Shiawassee," the locality now known as the eity of Owosso, by people from Oakland County. The movement was inaugurated by Elias Comstock, Lewis Find- ley, and Kilburn Bedell (a son-in-law of Findley), who having purchased lands here in June of the same year, were desirous of beginning immediate improvements upon them. Therefore a party, consisting of Elias Comstock, Lewis Findley, Kilburn Bedell and wife, John D. Overton, his wife and one child, and David Van Wormer, with his wife and one child, left Pontiac in the first days of July, 1835, and began their journey to this point. Their house- hold effects and their women and children were mounted upon two wagons, drawn by two ox-teams; two or three cows were also brought along. July 1th was celebrated by cutting out roads. An Indian trail was followed mainly, but frequently it was diverged from and a route of their own cut out, in the endeavor to keep upon dry ground and the most direet course.

Upon their arrival, Mr. Findley immediately built a log cabin and settled on the east part of the northwest frac-

tional quarter of section 13. His son-in-law, Mr. Bedell, located a short distance north, on section 12, while the Messrs. Overton and Van Wormer, who were in the employ of Mr. Comstock, erected and occupied a double log house, which stood near the river (the lot now owned and occupied by Ilon. Jerome W. Turner), the latter being the first build- ing erected within the limits of the city proper. After his tenants were comfortably housed and cared for, Mr. Com- stock returned to Pontiac, where he passed the succeeding winter.

During the fall of 1835 another settler arrived at "The Rapids," in the person of Henry S. Smith. He was a blacksmith by trade, the second settler in the county (John I. Tinkelpaugh having been the first), and first lo- cated just below Shiawasseetown in the fall of 1832, where, associated with a Mr. Cooley, and possessing a few goods and a barrel of whisky, he endeavored to establish an Indian trading-post. Ilis wife, a delicate, nervous woman, and five children joined him in 1833. The ven- ture at Shiawasseetown did not succeed very well, however, and in the fall of 1835 he was induced by Alfred L. Wil- liams to remove and take up his residence at the " Big Rapids of the Shiawassee." . A log cabin was ereeted on land now known as block 24, east side of the race, and when occupied by himself and family he became the first settler on the site of the original village plat. The early settlers remember him as a genial, liberal, and good fellow, who had the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He brought the first plow into the county. He was elected as the first collector, and also one of the highway commis- sioners in 1837; was re-elected to the same offices in 1838, and in 1839 or '40 removed with Daniel Ball to Chesaning, thence to Grand Rapids, where it is believed he still resides.

Of the settlers before mentioned we will here add that Lewis Findley opened the first farm in the township. 1Ie became the first supervisor of Owosso in 1837, and again filled the same position in IS41. After continuing as a resident of this township for a number of years, he finally removed to Six-Mile Creek. Ilis son-in-law, Kilburn Be- dell, was the first one in the settlement to depart from the cares and troubles of this life. Apparently in perfect health, early in March, 1836, he procceded to visit the " Exchange" for the purpose of transacting some business. Returning, he arrived at a point near the Byerly farm, when he became seriously ill. People at the Van Wormer and Overton cabin were notified of his condition. They at once hastened to his assistance, placed him upon a hand-sled, and brought him to the cabin, where all the appliances and remedies at hand were used for his restoration. But they were of no avail. IIe died the same evening, and on the following day was buried on his own land, near the banks of the Shiawassee. Mr. Comstock, who was then present in the settlement, made the coffin from cherry lumber which Mr. Bedell had brought in to manufacture into tables. Messrs. Van Wormer and Overton continued as residents here but two or three years.

fon. Elias Comstock, who has been prominently identi- fied with the history of this community since 1835, was born at New London, Conn., Dec. 18, 1799. IHis father, Rev. Elkanah Comstock, was a Baptist clergyman, and re-

1-16

HISTORY OF SIHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

moving from Connecticut to Albany Co., N. Y., about 1802, was pastor of the Baptist Church in the town of Berne until 1807. Hle then removed to Cayuga Co., N. Y., serving as pastor of churches in the towns of Scipio and Owosco, N. Y., until the fall of 1824, when, with his family, he emigrated to Michigan. He settled at Pontiac, and became the first pastor of the first Baptist Church in the Territory. 11is son, Elias Comstock, received the ad- vantages afforded in the common schools of New York State, and finally completed his studies under the tuition of Mr. Ellis, at Skaneateles, N. Y. From his eighteenth year until his removal to Michigan, May, 1823, he was occupied as a teacher in Cayuga Co., N. Y. Soon after his arrival he engaged in teaching in Detroit as assistant to John Farmer, then principal of the Detroit Academy. He next taught school in Pontiac, which then contained less than a dozen families. In 1824 he engaged in mercantile business at Stony Creek, Oakland Co. The following year he returned to Pontiac, where he became the suc- cessor of John J. Jermain, the first merchant of that place. Ile was appointed clerk of Oakland County by Governor Cass in 1827, and soon after, by the same authority, became justice of the peace, continuing to hold both offices for eight years. While filling the positions of clerk and justice he also found time to clear and cultivate a farm of eighty acres, which is now wholly within the limits of the city of Pontiac.

llaving sold his possessions in Pontiac in 1835, he then located land* on the Shiawassee River, now a part of the city of Owosso. Like others, he located his land with the idea that Owosso was to be the county-seat ; but the inter- ests of Detroit land-owners prevailed, and Corunna was established. By the settlement of Messrs. Overton and Van Wormer many improvements had been made upon his purchase. A dwelling-house had been erected for him by Henry S. Smith, and in pursuance of his plans, on the 15th of May, 1836, he settled his family at " The Rapids," completing the journey from the " Exchange" in a canoe. Holding an appointment as justice of the peace of Oakland County, and as this region was then attached to that county for all judicial purposes, he became the first resident justice, and the succeeding year (1837) was elected to the same position in the new township of Owosso. During the years 1838, '39, and '40 he served as supervisor. In subsequent years he has served as judge of probate, county judge, asso- ciate judge of the Circuit Court, and in 1852, 1856, and 1858 he was chosen county clerk on the Republican ticket. Although more than fourscore years of age, yet in apparent good health and honored by all who know him, Judge Comstock still resides in the beautiful little city he assisted to found forty-five years ago.

In the autumn of 1835 and the winter succeeding, Messrs. A. L. and B. O. Williams became active in the pre- liminary work necessary for the establishment of a village on their purchase. The veteran surveyor Hervey Parke, of Pontiac, came up and platted the village of Shiawassee Rapids, ; on lands resting on the right bank of the river.

A petition praying for the right to dam the Shiawassee River received favorable consideration at the hands of the Territorial legislative body then in session, and by an aet approved March 28, 1836, Alfred L. and Benjamin O. Williams, their heirs and assigns, were authorized to build a dam across the Shiawassee River four feet in height, at a place known and described as " The Rapids," on section 24, in township No. 7 north, of range No. 2 east. The act further specified, " They shall also build a good and sufficient lock, not less than seventy-five feet in length and sixteen feet in width, for the passage of boats, canoes, rafts, aud other water-craft."

Early in 1836 a bargain was completed between the Messrs. Williams and Daniel Ball & Co., whereby the latter became the owners of one-third of the village plat, besides the water-power and the land lying between the proposed mill-race and river. Silas and Daniel Ball also purchased of the general government in March, 1836, lands situated upon sections 24, 25, and 36. Daniel Ball was a practical millwright, an energetic business man, and, in pur- suance of his project to establish mills and to assist in building up a village, arrived here from Rochester, N. Y., early in the autumn of 1836, with a number of families, people frequently spoken of as " Ball's colonists." Among them were Rufus Collier, Simon Howell, John B. Griswold, William B. Hopkins, Henry Crooks, Daniel Fletcher, Mr. Sweet, John Lute, Mr. Hilton, Mr. Siegel,¿ who had served with the First Napoleon, and perhaps others whose names are not remembered.

Machinery for Ball's saw-mill, and the greater portion of the goods belonging to this party of settlers, had been shipped to Saginaw, from whence it was proposed to bring them up the Shiawassee on canoes, rafts, etc. But on the 6th of October a heavy and unseasonable snow-storm came on, which, falling upon trees yet clothed in their summer verdure, caused many of them to bend and fall into the stream, thus rendering navigation impossible until cleared away. In the long delay which ensued before getting their household articles considerable privation and hardship was experienced. Cabins were first erected, and after the various families were comfortably quartered therein, work was commeneed on the mill-race. The latter, the dam, and a saw-mill were completed some time during the year 1837. Mr. Ball occupied the log cabin built by Henry S. Smith in 1835 for a store, and it is believed became the first postmaster at about the same time.

During the spring of 1837, Alfred L. Williams moved from the "Exchange" to the village and established the store known at that time as " Williams' trading-post." Ilis brother, B. O. Williams, did not permanently settle here until the following year. The log dwelling-house first occupied by A. L. Williams stood just in front of Dr. Barnes' present residence. Mr. B. O. Williams relates that the mosquitoes and gnats were terribly annoying dur- ing those days. Smudges of rotten wood were kindled each night, and pans of the same smoking material carried into the rooms. One night, when the Williams brothers and

# Ilis wife received the credit of having given birth to the first chill (John Siegel) born in the township.

* See list of land-entries, history of Owosso township.

1 Maps of this plat have not been preserved.

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CITY OF OWOSSO.

two or three workmen were occupying the building, the busy insects were more than usually on the alert; the " smudge" seemed to have no effect on them whatever. In sheer desperation, Alfred L. Williams arose and threw a handful of red pepper in the fire. Nearly suffocated, the inmates ran to open air for their lives. The mosquitoes, however, were quieted for that night.

The year 1837 throughout was an eventful one in the history of Owosso. It witnessed the formation of the towu- ship; the completion of the race; an increased number of settlers, in the persons of Daniel Gould, who became the first county surveyor, Austin Griffis, Ebenezer Gould, an early merchant and lawyer, and afterwards known to fame as colonel of the " Fighting Fifth" Michigan Cavalry, Anson B., William, and Isaac M. Chipman, Sanford M. Green, George Parkill, and others; and the survey and location of the Northern Railroad,* which, in passing from Port Ilu- ron, through Lapeer, Flint, Corunna, Owosso, Lyons, Ionia, and Grand Rapids to Lake Michigan, was to become one of the most important internal improvements ever adopted by any State.

At this time, too (1837), the citizens of Owosso began looking about them for some means of conveying goods to and from their settlement other than by the miserable, deep-rutted wagon-roads leading to Pontiac, Detroit, and Ann Arbor, and by an act of the State Legislature, ap- proved March 21, 1837, the Owosso and Saginaw Naviga- tion Companyt was incorporated, and Daniel Ball, Alfred L. Williams, Benjamin O. Williams, Lewis Findley, Wil- liam Gage, Gardner D. Williams, Norman Little, Samuel G. Watson, Ephraim S. Williams, Elias Comstock, Alex- ander Hilton, and Perry G. Gardener were named as cor- porators. Their purpose was to make navigable the waters of the Shiawassee River between the two points named in the title of the act. The capital stock was to be one hun- dred thousand dollars, divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each. Besides those mentioned, other inhabitants of Owosso aided in finding means for pushing the work, -- notably Ebenezer Gould and David D. Fish.

This company went forward and expended several thou- sand dollars and worked for two years in removing ob- structions of drift-wood and fallen timber, principally be- tween Chesaning aud Bad River. Tow-paths, stone dams, and the many other expedients necessary to render the river navigable to Saginaw were adopted. Messrs. Daniel Ball and Sanford M. Green worked in the water beside their men from daylight till dark, meanwhile tormented by mos- quitoes continuously. One of their foremen, Johu B.

Griswold, also greatly aided their efforts. At that time, to fail in this work was thought fatal to the success of set- tling the country, as the expense of hauling over the terri- ble wagon-roads was ruinous to business men. The eou- pany finally succeeded in rendering the river navigable for flat-bottomed boats, and one Durham boat was built by Ebenezer Gould and others, which was capable of carrying and did carry over two hundred barrels of flour at one cargo from Owosso to Saginaw. Mr. B. O. Williams, from whose published pioneer recollections we have gathered the information concerning the navigation of the Shiawassee, says that several scows were first built, with foot- or run- ning-boards at each side for the boatmen to pole the boat up the river. From Chesaning a horse was used for tow- ing, occasionally jumping the horse upon the bow of the boat to cross him over the river when the opposite bank afforded better facilities.

In 1838, Messrs. Ebenezer Gould and David D. Fish established themselves as merchants in the village. They were really the first, if we except the small stock kept by Daniel Ball for the accommodation mainly of his workmen, and the goods brought here by A. L. Williams from his trading-post, " The Exchange."

On the 13th of October, 1838, the land now known as the original platt of the village of Owosso was surveyed and mapped by Daniel Gould, surveyor, at the instance of Alfred L. and B. O. Williams, proprietors. An explana- tory note of the surveyor says, " This plat includes the fol- lowing parcels of land : the northeast fraction of the northeast fractional quarter of fractional section 24; the southeast fractional quarter of fractional section No. 13, in township 7 north, range 2 east; and the west part of the southwest fractional quarter of section No. 18, in township No. 7 north, of range No. 3 east."

Grounds set aside for publie uses were " Fayette Square" and the "burying-ground." The streets, as shown by the original map, ran north and south, east and west. Those running east and west are North, Oliver, Williams, Mason, Exchange, Maiu, and Coustoek. Those running north and south, Mulberry, Pine, Adams, Water, Ball, Washington, Park, Saginaw, and Hickory. All are four rods wide ex- cept Washington and Main Streets, and Exchange Street as far west as Water, which are six rods iu width.

Dr. S. W. Pattison, the first practicing physician to re- side in the county, came from Feutonville, Genesce Co., and settled in Owosso in 1839. Dr. Joseph P. Roberts had previously settled in the territory now known as Perry township, but he devoted all his energies to farming. Hle was one of the carliest settlers there, and possessed a well- cultivated mind. Before Dr. Pattison came to Owosso, the carly settlers, in cases of dire emergency, sent to Fenton- ville, to Grand Blane, and to Flint for physicians. For the treatment of ordinary cases of fevers, fever and ague, etc.,

# Ia IS38-39 much of this proposed line was elenred and grubbed out, and considerable grading was done at various points uloug the line. But the scheme was abandoned in the latter year, and except where it has since been used as the "Northern Wagon-Road" the money thus expended by the State was thrown away.

+ Another company under the same name was empowered by an act of the Legislainre, approved May 15, 1816, to continue the work in the endeavor to render navigable the Sbiawassee. Those named in the act as commissioners were Amos Gould, Alfred L. Williams, Ben- jamin O. Williams, Elias Comstock, Ebenezer C. Kimberly, Lemuel Castle, Isaac Gale, George W. Sloemmb, Edward L. Ament, Anson B. Chipman, and John B. Barnes. But after some further expenditure of time and material the project was abandoned.

# Additions to the original plat have been made by Louisa A. Gould's subdivision of out. lots 1 and 4. June 30, 1856; S. K. Barnes, July, 1856; Alfred 1. Williams, Oct. 22, 1856; Luey L. Comstoek, Ang. 15, 1857 ; Louisa Merell, Aug. 18, 1857; Williams & Lyon, October, 1857; Charles L. Goodhne, Jan. 9, 1860; A. L. and B. O. Williams' snbdi- vision of out-lots 6 and 7, June 30, 1864; Jennett II. Kelly, Sept. 3, 1866; Erastus Barnes, Juno 4 and 5, 1868; Mary A. Chipman, May 25, 1869; A. 1 .. and B. O. Williams, Sept. 13, 1872.

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HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

many of the pioneers were provided with lancets and common medicines, and in their use became quite expert. Particu- larly was this the case with Mr. B. O. Williams, who during the early years preceding the settlement of physicians treated many patients successfully.

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History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 37

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