USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 45
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 45
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1848 .- Supervisor, E. Gould ; Clerk, Timothy M. Fuller ; Treasurer, John Near; Justices, Peter Cook, William H. Eddy ; Highway Commissioner, Harvey G. Thomas; Constables, William H. Blake, Ely Stone, George S. Lamb.
1849 .- Supervisor, Mortimer B. Martin ; Clerk, John W. Wright; Treasurer, Johu Near; Justice, E. Gould; Commissioners of Highways, Stephen V. Sherlock, Timothy R. Bennett ; Constables, Augustus M. Grosvenor, T. Mouger, William Rust.
1850 .- Supervisor, Peter Cook ; Clerk, Timothy M. Ful- ler ; Treasurer, John Near; Justices, Stephen V. Sherlock, Evan Roberts; Commissioner of Highways, John Ward; Constables, Thomas Carlton, Francis McCormick, Otis B. Fuller.
1851 .- Supervisor, I. S. A. Wright ; Clerk, T. M. Fuller ; Treasurer, John Near; Justice, Horace Flint ; Highway Commissioner, Peter Cook ; Constables, Andrew Shields, Benjamin Eddy, H. F. Sher- lock, Ely Stone.
1852 .- Supervisor, M. Martin ; Clerk, I. S. A. Wright ; Treasurer, H. B. Flint ; Justices, D. Summers, A. Rust ; Highway Commissioners, T. R. Ben- nett, R. Carr ; Constables, Calvin Flint, William Blake.
1853 .- Supervisor, L. M. Martin ; Clerk, I. S. A. Wright ; Treasurer, H. B. Flint ; Justices, Asahel Rust, D. Summers; Highway Commissioners, T. R.
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HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Bennett, Robert Carr; Constables, William Blake, Calvin Flint, B. Colborn, John Dippy. 1854 .- Supervisor, M. B. Martin ; Clerk, Timothy M. Fuller ; Treasurer, John Near ; Justices, Eman- uel M. Young, Stephen V. Sherlock ; Ilighway Commissioners, David Waters, Robert Carr ; Constables, John Near, William B. Wells, Solo- mon II. Hoard.
1855 .- Supervisor, Mortimer B. Martin ; Clerk, T. M. Fuller ; Treasurer, John Near; Justice, I. S. A. Wright; Commissioners of Highways, Wil- liam B. Wills, Warren C. Harris; Constables, John Near, Guy Lyons, Alanson Alling, Wil- liam B. Welch.
1856 .- Supervisor, M. B. Martin ; Clerk, Timothy M. Fuller; Treasurer, Jolin Near; Justices, Calvin Howard, Allen Beard ; Commissioner of High- ways, Solouion II. Hoard; Coustables, William Il. Blake, Stephen V. Sherlock, Worthington Iloward, John Walters.
1857 .- Supervisor, M. B. Martin ; Clerk, Timothy M. Fuller ; Treasurer, John Near; Justice, Liberty Lymau ; Highway Commissioner, Ransom More- house ; Constables, James T. Morgan, Byron Beard, William Alling.
1858 .- Supervisor, M. B. Martin ; Clerk, Timothy M. Fuller; Treasurer, Jolin Near; Justices, Evan Roberts, James E. Carr; Highway Commis- sioner, John Ward ; Constables, John Moody, Charles Tilson, Byron Beard, Samuel W. Carr. 1859 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold ; Clerk, T. N. Ful- ler ; Treasurer, John Near ; Justices, Peter Cook, Guy Lyons; Commissioners, Anson Red- son, James Case; Constables, John Moody, Samuel W. Carr, David Waters, John Dippy. 1860 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold; Clerk, W. II. Eddy ; Treasurer, William F. Miller ; Justices, Walter Wright, David Parker ; Commissioners of High- ways, Elias Haggerty, Byron Beard; Constables, Gilbert Hemingway, James Peck, A. H. Fuller, Byron Beard.
1861 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold; Clerk, Worthington Howard ; Treasurer, William F. Miller ; Justice, Guy Lyons ; Commissioner of Highways, James Case ; Constables, James W. Fuller, James H. Hood, William W. Morgan, Gilbert Heming- way.
1862 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold ; Clerk, Calvin How- ard; Treasurer, William F. Miller; Justice, Horace Simpson ; Commissioners of Highways, E. Burlingame, J. II. Ilood ; Constables, George Dippy, J. H. Hood, P. M. Shelp, James Fuller.
1863 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold; Clerk, William H. Eddy ; Treasurer, William F. Miller; Justices, David Parker, Jesse J. Bennett ; Highway Com- missioner, Jacob T. Miller ; Constables, J. C. Adams, P. M. Cook, C. M. Fuller, George Bliss.
1864 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold ; Clerk, T. F. Burt-
nett; Treasurer, William F. Miller; Justice, Walter Wright; Commissioners of Highways, J. T. Morgan, J. C. Adams ; Constables, J. C. Adams, Stewart Krisler, A. M. Lyons, P. M. Shelp.
1865 .- Supervisor, P. Parker; Clerk, T. F. Burtuett; Treasurer, William F. Miller; Justice, Guy Lyons ; Commissioner of Highways, Jacob Ileath ; Constable, J. C. Adams.
1866 .- Supervisor, David Parker ; Clerk, Thomas F. Burt- nett ; Treasurer, William F. Miller; Justice, Ransom Morehouse; Commissioner of High- ways, Calvin Howard; Constables, John Dippy, George A. Parker, A. R. Carr, W. S. Scribner ; School Inspector, W. H. Adams.
1867 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold; Clerk, T. F. Burt- nett ; Treasurer, William F. Miller ; School In- spector, William H. Fleming; Justices, Alfred P. Sutterby, Evan Roberts ; Commissioners of Highways, Byron Beard, Andrew Love; Con- stables, John Dippy, M. Lyons, William Saul, Jr., Austin Trowbridge.
1868 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold ; Clerk, Joseph Blin- ston ; Treasurer, John Williamson ; Justices, Allen Beard, W. Wright, P. N. Cook ; School Inspector, John B. Howe; Commissioner of Highways, Thomas Gallagher ; Constables, Sam- uel Morey, Morton Bennett, Lewis Decker, David L. Edsall.
1869 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold ; Clerk, Joseph Blin- ston ; Treasurer, James T. Morgan ; Justices, Mortimer B. Martin, John B. Howe; School Inspector, Lewis Decker ; Commissioner of High- ways, Lewis M. Baldwin ; Constables, Stephen Ward, Delos Williamsou, George Bliss, Parley M. Shelp.
1870 .- Supervisor, Lafayette Arnold; Clerk, Thomas Burtnett ; Treasurer, James T. Morgan ; Jus- tices, John Dippy, Chauncey Case; School In- spector, Alpha A. Carr; Commissioner of High- ways, George G. Harris ; Coustables, Parley M. Shelp, Lucius Slocum, Milo Hovey, Edgar Dur- fee.
1871 .- Supervisor, P. H. Gallagher ; Clerk, T. F. Burt- nett ; Treasurer, J. T. Morgan ; Justices, A. P. Sutterby, Andrew J. Rounds, John B. Howe ; School Inspectors, T. N. Blinston, W. S. Hunt- ington ; Commissioner of Highways, Thomas Gallagher; Constables, Hiram Skinner, P. M. Shelp, George Bliss, Morton Bennett.
1872 .- Supervisor, John Q. A. Cook; Clerk, T. F. Burt- nett ; Treasurer, James T. Morgan ; Justice, S. H. Hoard ; Commissioner of Highways, Isaac Shotwell ; School Inspector, Eben Bliss ; Constables, Alpha A. Carr, Voluey Allen, Whit- ney S. Jacobs, Lafayette MeDivit; Drain Com- missioner, George Graham.
1873 .- Supervisor, John Q. A. Cook ; Clerk, Thomas F. Burtnett ; Treasurer, W. H. Adams; Justices, Thomas A. Lawrie, Evan Roberts; Commissioner
PIONEER HOME.
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RESIDENCE OF C. M. FULLER. ANTRIM. SHIAWASSEE Co. MICH .
181
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP.
of Highways, Frank MeDivit; Drain Commis- sioner, George Graham ; School Inspectors, J. C. Adams, J. E. Wright; Constables, Joseph Ag- new, Volney Alling, Corydon M. Miller, L. C. Dorn.
1874 .- Supervisor, J. Q. A. Cook ; Clerk, T. F. Burtnett ; Treasurer, W. H. Adams; Justice, J. C. Adams; Commissioners of Highways, William Buff, Jacob T. Miller ; Drain Commissioner, William F. Miller ; Constables, Volney Alling, Jerome B. Trim, Jonathan Wood. Joseph Agnew.
1875 .- Supervisor, J. Q. A. Cook; Clerk, T. F. Burtnett ; Treasurer, W. II. Adams; Justices, Walter Wright, Moses W. Fuller; Commissioner of Highways, I. Shotwell; Superintendent of Schools, J. E. Wright ; School Inspector, J. T. Morgan ; Drain Commissioner, J. C. Adams ; Constables, Andrew Love, Richard Harding, John Dippy, Stephen D. Tasket.
1876 .- Supervisor, J. Q. A. Cook ; Clerk, T. F. Burtnett ; Treasurer, W. H. Adams ; Justice, Evan Rob- erts ; Commissioner of Highways, Mills L. Parker; Superintendent of Schools, J. E. Wright ; Drain Commissioner, John C. Adams ; School Inspector, James T. Morgan ; Constables, Joseph Agnew, Heman Hagerty, E. O. Brown, John Dippy.
1877 .- Supervisor, James L. Jared ; Clerk, T. F. Burt- nett; Treasurer, W. II. Adams; Justice, Thos. A. Lawrie; Superintendent of Schools, J. E. Wright ; School Inspector, J. T. Morgan ; Com- missioner of Ilighways, Wells B. Fox; Consta- bles, Lafayette McDivit, Volney Alling, Willis Ellsworth, Stephen D. Tasket.
1878 .- Supervisor, J. Q. A. Cook ; Clerk, T. F. Burtnett ; Treasurer, W. H. Adams; Justice, Austin Trowbridge ; Superintendent of Schools, Moses W. Fuller ; Commissioner of Highways, J. T. Morgan ; School Inspector, Alonzo Dippy ; Drain Commissioner, Lewis J. Grant; Consta- bles, Albert B. Miller, Volney Alling, Wilder Main, Lafayette MeDivit.
1879 .- Supervisor, Isaac Shotwell ; Clerk, John C. Adams; Treasurer, W. H. Adams; Justices, Walter Wright, Volney Alling; Superintendent of Schools, J. E. Wright; School Inspector, Ro- manzo T. Stone ; Highway Commissioner, James J. Atherton ; Drain Commissioner, Alonzo Dip- py; Constables, Albert B. Miller, Smith D. Morgan, Francis Wright, Ilenry Alling.
1880 .- Supervisor, Isaae Shotwell; Clerk, J. C. Adams; Treasurer, Walter Wright ; Justices, William S. lhuntington ; Commissioner of Highways, George W. Harris; Drain Commissioner, Alonzo Dippy ; Superintendent of Schools, J. E. Wright ; School Inspector, Albert B. Miller ; Constables, Smith D. Morgan, Stephen D. Tasket, Henry Alling, Calvin M. Fuller.
SCHOOLS OF ANTRIM.
On the 14th of November, 1837, when town 5 north, range 3 east, now Antrim, was yet attached to Shiawassee township, the school inspectors of that town met and divided it into sehool distriets.
Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, to form distriet No. 1.
Sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, to form dis- triet No. 2.
Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, to form district No. 3. Sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, to form district No. 4.
But it appears that the school districts were not organ- ized until the fall of 1839, as will be shown hereafter.
The history of the schools of Antrim commences prop- erly in the late fall of 1838. In the latter part of the summer of that year, John Stiles, a young man from New Jersey, came to Antrim to visit his uncle, John Ward, who, as has been said, reached the township the year previous. The young man having signified his willingness to remain, an informal meeting was called, and it was determined to employ him to teach a three months' school in the log cabin built by Horace B. Flint, Mr. Flint, in the mean time, hav- ing built another log house, and a rather commodious one for those days.
The attendance in this school, though somewhat irregular, owing to the great distance many had to come, was from ten to twelve. Among the number were Levi and Lyman Kel- logg, from Bennington. Mr. Stiles received thirty-six dol- lars for his three months' services.
The first meeting of the school-board of Antrim took place on the 6th day of April, 1839, at which time John Culver was chosen moderator and Thomas Locke clerk. On the 19th of the same month the board again met and divided the township into four equal school districts. The northeast quarter of the township was set off as district No. 1, the northwest quarter as No. 2, the southwest quarter as No. 3, and the southeast quarter as No. 4.
A notice of a school-meeting in distriet No. 2 was given, and the meeting was held on the evening of the 29th of April, 1839. This was probably the first regularly organ- ized school-meeting held in the township. Horace B. Flint was chosen moderator, John Ward director, Charles Locke assessor. It was decided by vote to select a site and raise two hundred dollars for a school building. The site deter- mined upon was in the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 18, being the same site now occupied by the school-house in district No. 3.
On May 29, 1839, Alanson Alling, " in consideration of twenty-five cents, duly paid," leased one-half an acre of the above-described land to the district. A log school-house was soon after erected, and Miss Polly A. Harmon was employed as teacher at one dollar per week. Intellect seems to have been at a discount and muscle at a premium in those days. The next school was taught by Miss Lucretia Purdy. In a few years the school-house was moved one-half mile south. It was subsequently destroyed by fire, since which time two school-houses have been built on the old site se- leeted at the first school-meeting in the district.
The next school district organized was in the Durfee
182
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
neighborhood, or in what was originally distriet No. 4. But the division of the township into four districts was not of long duration. The boundary-lines of school dis- triets, always more or less unstable, have been especially so in Autrim, and to trace out the various changes would fill a volume.
School district No. 1 was formed with nearly its present boundaries in 1848. The first meeting was called at the house of Stephen Sherlock. That gentleman, John Near, and W. II. Eddy were chosen officers for the district. Mr. Eddy took the contract for building the school-house, which was completed in the spring of 1849. It stood where the Methodist church now stands. In the spring of 1850 it was removed to a different site by the combined power of eighteen yokes of oxen. It was used a number of years, hut finally took fire and was destroyed. The one now in use was built ou the same site in 1861. It cost four hun- dred and fifty dollars. W. H. Eddy taught the first school in the old building. Philander Munger was the first teacher in the new house.
On the 3d day of September, 1853, the school inspectors formed district No. 2. The warrant calling the first school- meeting was directed to G. R. Bennett, notifying him to call a meeting of the electors of his district at his house on the 26th day of September, 1853. At this meeting T. R. Bennett was chosen moderator, J. A. Guthrie director, and Daniel Waite assessor. It was then resolved to build a log school-house in time to have a three months' term of school that winter. The building was erected at a cost of seventy- five dollars. In 1863 the log sehool-house was burned, and another was built on the same site at a cost of six hundred dollars, which was used until 1880. The oue now building will cost one thousand dollars. Ruth R. Converse taught the first school in the district, and received thirteen dollars for the thirteen weeks' term. The attendance was eight.
School district No. 3 has already been noticed ; it is the oldest district in the township, aud was formerly No. 2.
CHURCHES.
TIIE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI OF ANTRIM was organized while David Burns was presiding elder of this circuit, about the year 1850. David Thomas was the minister in charge. Mr. and Mrs. David D. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Howard, and Walter Wright formed the class, and David D. Adams was chosen leader. The meet- ings of the society were held in the school-house, which stood on the site now occupied by their church building.
On Nov. 14, 1874, at a meeting of the Quarterly Con- ference, held at the school-house in distriet No. 1, W. E. Biglow being the presiding elder and George Stowe preacher in charge, it was resolved to appoint a board of trustees. The persons appointed were as follows : Walter Wright, D. D. Adams, J. T. Miller, Andrew Love, I. S. A. Wright, J. C. Adams, Calvin Howard, W. H. Adams, James T. Morgan. On November 17th the same year, at a meeting of the trustees, George Stowe was elected chair- man of the board, J. C. Adams secretary, and Andrew Love treasurer. The board resolved to take active meas- ures to build a church. It was decided that the edifice should be thirty-six by fifty-four feet, with a vestibule, a
belfry twelve feet square, and a spire eighty-five feet in height. The site was also selected. The programme made out in this meeting was carried out in every particular. The site determined upon was the northeast corner of the west half of the southwest quarter of section 21. At the next meeting a building committee was appointed as fol- lows : Walter Wright, Andrew Love, and James Morgan. The church was constructed as specified above, and when completed cost two thousand seven hundred dollars. It is worthy of remark that the members of the board of trustees paid seventeen hundred dollars of that sum. The church was dedicated while George Stowe was pastor, Feb. 20, 1876, by Rev. G. B. Joslyn. The membership at the present time is fifty-six.
CEMETERY.
The cemetery near the centre of section 19 was pur- chased of Allen Beard iu the summer of 1842. On the 4th of June of that year the town board authorized HFor- ace B. Flint to purchase a half-acre and pay fifteen dollars for the same, which was done soon after. The first inter- ment within it was that of a Mr. Lake, who was killed while helping to raise a building for Lewis Ward, in Perry. There was at that time no cemetery iu the township of Perry.
WAR RECORD.
Antrim sent six men to the Mexican war, of whom but two returned. For the war of the Rebellion this township furnished, as near as can be ascertained, one hundred and twenty-five soldiers. Many of these were credited to the State at large or to other townships. Their record, there- fore, cannot be fully given. Their names are found on the rolls of a majority of the regiments from the State. Some were killed in battle, some were wounded; many died of disease and the hardships incident to soldiers' life, and some died miserably in rebel prisons. Among those who were killed in battle were Charles F. Beard, John L. Dippy, Jacob N. Decker, William Shaw, and Alliug Herrington. The first one wounded from the township was J. C. Adams, who received a shot in the face, by which he lost an eye, the hearing of one ear, and was otherwise badly mutilated. Leander Brown also lost an eye, and his brother Willis lost au arm. There were many others wounded less severely.
SOCIETIES.
GLASS RIVER LODGE, No. 223, I. O. O. F.,
was instituted by P. G. M. B. W. Dennis, April 9, 1874, with the following charter members : Amos Colborn, T. A. Lawrie, James V. Avery, James E. Wright, George Graham, John Dippy, James F. Colboru, James T. Mor- gan, P. P. Booth, V. C. Bawlic.
The officers elected at the first meeting were T. A. Law- rie, N. G .; John Dippy, V. G .; J. E. Wright, R. S .; James F. Colborn, P. S .; Amos Colborn, Treasurer ; James V. Avery, W.
After organizing, the lodge proceeded to initiate sixteen new members, whose names were added to the roll, as fol- lows: J. Blinston, Walter M. Wright, Alonzo Dippy, George Bliss, J. C. Adams, P. P. Chambers, Andrew Love, Jona- than Wood, I. S. A. Wright, Chauncey Case, J. A. Fish,
NATHANIEL DURFEE.
MRS NATHANIEL DURFEE.
VIEW OF SOUTH RESIDENCE.
RESIDENCE OF NATHANIEL DURFEE, ANTRIM TP. SHIAWASSEE CO. MICH.
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP.
183
L. M. Baldwin, T. Jarad, Charles Avery, S. D. Tasket, William Gallup.
In the month of March next preceding the organization of this lodge the persons who afterwards became its charter members met and resolved to build a hall in anticipation of the organization. Under this resolution a building was
erected at a cost of five hundred dollars. The lower part of the building is finished as a store-room, but at present is not occupied as such. The upper story is fitted up in neat style for the use of the lodge, which holds its meetings in it. The present membership of the Glass River Lodge is fifty- seven.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
MR. JOHN C. ADAMS.
MRS. JOHN C. ADAMS.
JOHN C. ADAMS.
The parents of the subject of this sketch were natives of the State of New York, where also he was born, in Canadice, Ontario Co., Sept. 13, 1837. Ilis father, David D. Adams, was born in Johnstown, Montgomery Co., Aug. 23, 1806. His mother, Angeline (Iloward) Adams, was born in Livonia, Livingston Co., March 24, 1814.
They were married Dee. 11, 1833. David D. Adams followed the trade of a stone-mason. Ile had visited Michigan in 1842, and purchased the land upon which he has lived since making this State his home. A log house was completed in due time, and he, with his family, moved into it Jan. 28, 1848. The death of his wife, the mother of John C. Adams, occurred Oct. 21, 1856.
John C. remained at home, working for his father until his twenty-first year, when he contracted to work for him by the year for a term of two years, at ten dollars per month. He then attended school nine months at Lodi Academy. On Aug. 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company 11,
Fifth Michigan Infantry, and was discharged July 22, 1862, having received a severe gun-shot wound.on the 5th of May, 1862, at the battle of Williamsburg, Va., to which reference is made in the township history of Antrim. After returning home and recovering somewhat from his injury, he worked the old farm for a share of the prodnets. On the 28th of March, 1865, be married Miss Anna M. Hutchinson, the daughter of George Hutchinson, of Cuy- ahoga Co., Ohio. She died Feb. 4, 1866. On the 22d of December, 1870, he married Mrs. Mary (Krupp) Dodge, widow of Henry F. Dodge, who had died May 28, 1867. Mrs. Adams was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., March 12, 1837.
Mr. Adams is a Republican in politics. He has been township elerk for several successive terms, and has also been elected to minor offices from time to time, all of which he has filled with ability and eredit to himself and to the township of Antrim.
184
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
MR. I. S. A. WRIGHT.
MRS. I. S. A. WRIGHT.
I. S. A. WRIGIIT.
I. S. A. Wright claims for his birthplace one of the most romantic counties of the Empire State,-Greene County,-one-half of the territory of which is a plain, nearly level with the sea, and the other half mountains, rising up from the lower seetion of the county like a wall, with their summits among the clouds. Here Mr. Wright was born, April 18, 1822, and was the fifth in a family of twelve children. His parents were both natives of Con- neetieut. He remained with them, working at the cooper trade after he had attained sufficient age, until about the time of his marriage, which oeeurred on the 10th of Oc- tober, 1848, marrying Miss Betsey Bliss, also a native of New York, where she was born March 19, 1828. Her father was one of Michigan's early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Wright were the parents of eight children, viz. : James E., born Aug. 9, 1850 ; Mary E., born June 26, 1852 ; Cyn- thia K., born April 24, 1854, died June 24th of the same
year ; Francis, born Feb. 14, 1856; Wilbur C., born Jan. 23, 1859; John S., born May 24, 1861 ; Hattie, born Oct. 9, 1863 ; and Clark B., born Jan. 4, 1866, died Nov. 6, 1866. These children were nearly all natives of this township, as Mr. Wright moved here, with his wife, in 1852, purchasing from his brother a one-half interest in his milling property, which he still retains. Mrs. Wright died on the 12th of January, 1866, and on the 16th of June, 1869, Mr. Wright married Miss Josephine Blinshaw, a native of Erie Co., N. Y., born Sept. 25, 1848. To this marriage there have been given three children,-Maggie, born July 21, 1871 ; Graeie, born Dec. 25, 1878 ; and one between these whose name we have been unable to obtain.
Mr. Wright, besides his milling, has large landed inter- ests in Antrim, owning a farm of one hundred and ninety acres. Politically he is a Republican, and has frequently been called upon to fill some of the various township offices.
WALTER WRIGHT.
Walter Wright was born in Greene Co., N. Y., Sept. 4, 1824, and was the sixth in a family of twelve children. His father, James Wright, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1787 ; died September, 1871. His mother, Cynthia (Clark) Wright, was born in Conneetieut, May 12, 1794; died September, 1851. The family moved to On- ondaga County when Walter was but one year old. Pre- vious to their coming to Livingston Co., Mich., in 1836, Walter worked at farming and at the cooper trade. After continuing at this trade two years he bought a piece of land in Livingston County, which he held one year, and then came to Antrim with his brother and bought the mill
property. They carried on the lumber business in An- trim until 1856. About 1851 Walter went to California, where he remained four years. During this time he en- gaged in mining, with the exception of eighteen months, when he carried on the lumber business extensively. This proved financially very sueeessful, but through misplaced confidence he lost all, having scarcely enough left to pay the expense of returning to Antrim in 1855. Upon reaching home the interests in the milling property were divided, Walter taking one hundred and forty acres of land and his brother retaining the mill and power. In July, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah E. Miller, who was born in Oakland County, April 17, 1835. Her father eame to this county in 1856. The children of Mr. and
WALTER WRIGHT.
MRS WALTER WRICHT.
RESIDENCE OF WALTER WRIGHT ANTRIM. SHIAWASSEE CO. MICH.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
ALLEN BEARD
MRS A. BEARD
RESIDENCE OF ALLEN BEARD . ANTRIM . SHIAWASSEE, CO.MICH.
185
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP.
Mrs. Walter Wright are five in number, viz. : Alice and Ella, born Oet. 16, 1859; Myron, born July 21, 1867 ; John L., born May 11, 1870; Millie, born July 14, 1878. Ella lived but five months. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Antrim, and are among its most influential and respected members.
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