USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 46
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 46
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CALVIN M. FULLER.
Timothy M. Fuller, the father of Calvin M. Fuller, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y .. Dec. 17, 1797, and his mother, Alvira (Blake) Fuller, was born in Vermont in 1809. The family came to Oakland Co., Mich., in 1836, and lived there until 1842, when they came to Antrim township and bought an unimproved farm on section 23. Mrs. Alvira Fuller died March 22, 1867, and her husband, Timothy M. Fuller, died June 18, 1870. Mr. Fuller was a Repub- liean in polities, and universally esteemed as a neighbor and a citizen.
He was an efficient clerk of the township, having been elected to fill that position nine years, as is shown by the records of the township. His son, Calvin M. Fuller, from whom we obtained the dates above given and who has caused the insertion of this brief mention of his parents, was born in Oakland Co., Mich., April 28, 1840. He was the fourth in a family of six children.
On the 27th of May, 1863, he married Miss Sarah A. Howard, who was born in New York, May 27, 1843, and came to this county in 1848, as the sketch of her father's family inserted in this work will show.
To Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Fuller have been born four children : Cary A., born June 4, 1865; Minnie E., born Feb. 25, 1868; Mary, born Marel 28, 1873; Wealthy, born Jan. 25, 1878, and died Sept. 25, 1879.
C. M. Fuller bought the farm of his father in 1867; he has since sold forty acres and erected new buildings.
NATHANIEL DURFEE.
Stephen Durfee was born in Rhode Island, April 4, 1776, and his wife Mary (Allen) Durfee in Dover, Dutchess Co., N. Y., in June, 1778. They were members of the Society of Friends, and were among the earliest and most respected settlers and farmers of Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., where Nathaniel was born Jan. 19, 1811. Here he passed his childhood and youth, and on the 9th of Novem- ber, 1837, married Miss Martha Carr, also a native of Pal- myra, born July 16, 1817. Her father, David Carr, was a native of New Jersey, born July 2, 1793, and her mother, Rebecca (Evans) Carr, of Pennsylvania, born Feb. 12, 1794.
After his marriage, Nathaniel rented his father's farm and worked it for three years, at the expiration of which time he came to Michigan, reaching Antrim Jan. 11, 1841. Hle had been to this township three years previously, and located the farm upon which he settled and where he has since continued to reside.
To Mr. and Mrs. Durfee no children have been born, but they have brought up two, adopting one at the age of three years and the other when but five weeks old
Mr. Durfee's parents never came to Michigan, but Mrs. Durfee's parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Carr, came and lived with them until their deaths, which took place as follows, viz .: David Carr in July, 1860; Rebecca Carr, Sept. 6, 1867.
Politically, Mr. Durfee affiliates with the Republican party, of which he has often been a successful candidate for minor offices.
Mr. and Mrs. Durfee have been industrious and frugal citizens, and after years of toil enjoy a well-earned com- petency and the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
ALLEN BEARD.
Allen Beard was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Jan. 11, 1810. llis father, Jesse Beard, was a native of Maryland, born Feb. 8, 1787, and his death occurred March 21, 1864. His mother, Martha (Blake) Beard, was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1790. Allen remained with his pa- rents until he was twenty-one years of age, when he mar- ried, March 10, 1831, Miss Hannah Arnet, who was born Sept. 2, 1810.
Mr. Beard, the first year after his marriage, worked land " on shares." At the expiration of that time he sold his interest or bargain, and had remaining three hundred dol- lars. It was just at the time when the tide of' emigration westward had set in. He, with a team and wagon bear- ing his family, came to Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Here he remained eighteen months and worked a farm, but not being successful, came on to Michigan, reaching Lodi, Washtenaw Co., April 25, 1836, and on May 28th came to the farm where he still resides. He was accompanied to the township by his brother-in-law, Lyman Melvin, who located a farm adjoining the one entered by Mr. Beard. Having previously traded his horses for three yoke of oxen, Mr. Beard sold one yoke, in order to pay for his first eighty acres of land, but found that he still lacked four dollars of the necessary amount. He then hauled a load of goods from Detroit to Romeo, for which he received sixteen dol- lars, and another to Ann Arbor, receiving for this twenty- four dollars. After this he removed to his land in Antrim township. During the winter of 1836-37 he built a house, and moved into it in April, 1837, previous to that time having resided in a house built by his brother-in-law and himself. On Ang. 26, 1843, his wife, Mrs. Hannah Beard, died. They were the parents of the following chil- dren : Martha B., born April 1, 1832; Byron, born Dec. 1, 1835; Charles F., born Sept. 21, 1838; Marietta A., born April 23, 1841. Charles F. was killed in battle at Campbell's Station, Tenn., Nov. 12, 1863.
After a lapse of five years from the death of his first wife Mr. Beard married Miss Charlotte Thompson, who was born April 13, 1828. To this marriage were born eight children, as follows, viz. : Allen, born Nov. 13, 1848 ; died Dee. 13, 1855. Joshua, born April 14, 1850; died
24
186
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Dee. 5, 1855. Walter, born Sept. 10, 1851 ; died Sept. 13, 1858. Alvira, born Jan. 12, 1854; died Oct. 21, 1858. John C. Abraham L., born April 16, 1860. Sarah Etta, born Feb. 8, 1864. George W., born Nov. 28, 1867.
Mr. Beard was formerly a Whig in politics, subsequently became a Republican, but is now a Democrat. He has added to the eighty acres which he first purchased until he is now the possessor of one of the largest and finest farms in the township, consisting of five hundred and eighty-five aeres.
BENJAMIN F. HOWARD.
The grandfather of the subject of our sketch was the first settler in Livingston Co., N. Y., where Calvin Howard, the father of Benjamin F., was born Nov. 25, 1804. Ben- jamin F. was also a native of the same county, born Nov. 17, 1839. His mother, Sarah (Cory) Howard, was a na- tive of Rhode Island, where she was born in 1811. In 1848 they removed to Michigan, living the first winter with the family of D. D. Adams. The following year Mr. Howard bought forty aeres of land on seetion 22, upon which there was a small log cabin and a little clearing. This now belongs to Benjamin F. He afterwards bought eighty acres across the road, where Calvin I. Howard now lives. Benjamin worked for his father until the death of the latter, which occurred in April, 1863. His wife, Mrs. Sarah Howard, survived him four years, or until March, 1867, when her death occurred. Benjamin F. Howard followed school-teaching successfully for several years, but is now a farmer. Jan. 17, 1869, he married Mrs. Sarah E. (Williston) Marcy, the widow of James H. Marcy, who with their little son was drowned in the river at Grand Haven, Nov. 9, 1867. Mrs. Howard's parents were both of New England birth,-her father a native of. Springfield, Mass., where he was born Oct. 17, 1808, and her mother of Rhode Island, born ou May 10th of the same year. The death of each occurred in 1863,-Mrs. Williston on the 20th of November, and Mr. Williston ou the 9th of December. Mrs. Howard was born May 18, 1841.
To Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Howard have been born two children : Lida E., born Jan. 20, 1874, and Nina, born Feb. 23, 1879.
Mr. Howard has added to the original forty acres until he now owns one hundred and sixty aeres, one hundred of which is under a good state of cultivation.
In polities he is an earnest Republican, as was also his father, Calvin Howard.
In religion both himself and wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and although young in years they have a large circle of acquaintances, and are highly esteemed by the community in which they live.
CHAPTER XXX.
BENNINGTON TOWNSHIP .*
Description, Surveys, and Land-Entries-Early Settlements-Resi- dent Tax-payers of 1844-Civil and Political - Educational- Religions.
DESCRIPTION, SURVEYS, AND LAND-ENTRIES.
BENNINGTON is one of the interior divisions of Shiawassee County, situated southwest of its geographical centre. In the field-notes of the original survey it was designated township No. 6 north, of range No. 2 east. Owosso town- ship joins it on the north, Shiawassee on the east, Perry on the south, and Seiota ou the west.
It has a beautiful undulating surface, and all the varieties of soil common to Michigan townships, viz., alternate belts or strips of clay and sand loam and alluvial deposits,-a . soil that is particularly well adapted to grazing and the culture of corn, fruits, and the cereals.
Originally, timbered openings, about one mile in width, extended from east to west through its centre. To the north and south of these openings were heavy forests of beech, maple, oak, ash, elm, aud other varieties of' deciduous trees.
The township has no lake surface. It is drained by the Maple and Looking-Glass Rivers. The former intersects sections 1, 2, and 3. The latter in its flow to the westward crosses the southern part. Both are sluggish streams, afford no mill-privileges, and are bordered by many aeres of swamp-lands.
The people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in the amount of lands under cultivation, farm products, and live stock, Bennington stands in the front rank among Shiawassee County townships.
Railway, express, and mail facilities are afforded at Ben- nington, a station on the line of the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad, which erosses diagonally the northwest corner of the township. Pittsburg and Hartwellville are also post-office stations.
ORIGINAL SURVEYS.
The first surveying-party to enter the trackless and as yet unknown wilds of the present township of Bennington was led by Joseph Wampler, a deputy United States sur- veyor, who, in accordance with instructions, ran out the northern, western, and southern boundary-lines in February, 1823. The eastern line was blazed by John Mullett, July 16th and 17th of the same year.
The task of subdividing the territory designated as towu- ship No. 6 north, of range No. 2 east, was commenced by Joseph Wampler, April 22, 1826, and completed on the 30th of the same month. Numerous surveying-parties were then engaged mapping the lands in the Detroit land district, pursuant to contraets and instructions received from Edward Tiffin, surveyor-general of the United States.
The surveyors were directed to enter upon their field- books remarks concerning the nature of the surface, soil, timber, etc.,-instructions which were so fully carried out
* By John S. Schenck.
IS7
BENNINGTON TOWNSHIP.
by some of his subordinates that Gen. Tiffin supposed the lands in the Detroit distriet almost worthless for agricultural purposes, and was induced to make the unfavorable report concerning them which he did.
In his haste, however, to perform his work as rapidly as possible,-in eight or nine days, during which time he must have traveled at least one hundred and forty miles,-Mr. Wampler did not wait to append voluminous remarks re- garding the township's natural features ; barely enough to in- dicate it as a rolling, generally heavily-timbered, fertile tract ; and therefore, at its birth, the township escaped the condemnation laid upon others equally as good, yet where the deputy surveyors were occasionally mired in swamps and morasses.
FIRST AND OTHER EARLY LAND-ENTRIES.
On the 25th of June, 1835, Samuel Nichols, of Chautau- qua Co., N. Y., Israel Parsons and Benjamin L. Powers, of Ontario Co., N. Y., made the first purchase of public lands in the township, and all located upon section 24. Du- ring October of the same year, Trumbull Cary, of Genesee Co., N. Y., and Abel Millington, of Washtenaw Co., Mich., entered many tracts situated upon various sections. The Castles and Davises, from Oakland Co., Mich., also made some purchases in this township in 1835, but it was not until the year 1836, and the two or three years immediately succeeding, that anything like a general transfer was made from the general government to individuals.
Although a few of the original purchasers became actual settlers, a large majority were speculators, men who are en- titled to no credit whatever in what relates to the develop- ment and subsequent history of the township. Be that as it may, the following list embraces the names and other data of those who purchased from the general government, lands situated in the present township of Bennington.
SECTION 1.
George W. Williams, Oakland Co., Mich., January, 1836. Daniel Goodwin, Wayne Co., Mich., February, 1836. George W. Williams, Oakland Co., Mich., February, 1836. Benjamin B. Morris, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836.
SECTION 2.
Daniel Goodwin, Wayne Co., Mich., February, 1836. George W. Williams, Oakland Co., Mich., February, 1836. William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. Nelson Waugh, Oakland Co., Mich., October, 1836.
SECTION 3.
Lemuel Castle, Oakland Co., Mich., November, 1835. Morey Castle, Oakland Co., Mich., November, 1835. Lemuel Castle, Oakland Co., Mich., December, 1835. Ira C. Alger, Wayne Co., Mich., June, 1836.
SECTION 4.
Betsy Davis, Oakland Co., Mich., November, 1835. William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. Abuer Davis, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. John N. Watson, Oakland Co., Mich., July, 1836. Rodolphus Dewey, Oakland Co., Mich., November, 1836. David Johnson, Oakland Co., Mich., November, 1836. Benjamin Davis, Oakland Co., Mich., November, 1836.
SECTION 5.
Silas A. Yerkes, Shiawassee Co., Mich., January, 1855. William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. David Johnson, Oakland Co., Mich., October, 1836.
Isano S. Taylor, Oakland Co., Mich., November, 1836. George W. Williams, Oakland Co., Mich., March, 1837. Lemuel Castle, Shiawassee Co., Mich., November, 1837. lliram Davis, Shiawassee Co., Mich., November, 1838. Joseph Peters, Washtenaw Co., Mich., January, 1843. William Yerkes, Oakland Co., Mich., December, 1849. Willard M. Norris, Shiawassee Co., Mich., March, 1854.
SECTION 6.
Daniel Goodwin. Wayne Co., Mich., February, 1836. Delos W. Gould, Genesee Co., N. Y., November, 1836. Abner W. Blackman, Genesee Co., N. Y., Novembor, 1836. Milo Harington, Shiawassee Co., Mich., March, 1839. Albert Fitch, Shiawassee Co., Mich., March, 1839. David Alger, Shiawasseo Co., Mich., February, 1840. Charles B. Haight, Shiawassee Co., Mich., November, 1851.
SECTION 7.
William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. Dauiel Fuller, Orleans Co., N. Y., Jone, 1836. John Pitts, Shiawassee Co., Mich., March, 1839. Hiram S. Goodwin, land-warrant, January, 1853. Willard M. Norris, Shiawassee Co., Mich., January, 1851. John Cleaver, Shiawassee Co., Mich., November, 1854.
SECTION 8.
William Thompson, Sencea Co., N. Y., April, 1836. Daoiel Fuller, Orleans Co., N. Y., June, 1836. William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 9.
John L. Eastman. Seneca Co .. N. Y., April, 1836. William Yerkes, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. Eliphalet Lewis, Orleans Co., N. Y., May, 1836.
SECTION 10.
William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. Albert Clark, Shiawassee Co., Mich., November, 1836. Isaac Hemmingway, Madison Co., N. Y., Juac, 1836. Joseph Peters, Washtenaw Co., Mich., January, 1813. Abner Colf, Shiawassee Co., Mich., August, 1850.
SECTION 11.
William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., Aprit, 1836.
SECTION 12. Halsey Sanford, Sencca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. Archibald Purdy, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May, 1836. William Thompson, Sengea Co., N. Y., April, 1836.
SECTION 13.
Trumbull Cary, Genesce Co., N. Y., October, 1835. John L. Eastman, Seneca Co., N. Y., April, 1836. Ebenezer Conklin, Seneca Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 14.
Abel Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich., October, 1835. Satterlee & West, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. David Perry and Philip Worth, Rutland Co., Vt., May, 1836. Remembrance Root, Ilampshire Co., Mass., June, 1836. lliram A. Caswell, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 15.
Joseph Purdy, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May, 1836. Ebenezer Conklin, Seneca Co., N. Y., June, 1836. John Champion, Genesee Co., N. Y., June, 1836. William Colf, Monroe Co., N. Y., June, 1836. Ebenezer Conklin, Seneca Co., N. Y., June, 1836 Ira Merell, Livingston Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 16.
School lauds.
SECTION 17.
L. Bates, Orleans Co., N. Y., May, 1836. William Thompson, Seneca Co., N. Y., June, 1836. Abner Rice, Huron Co., Ohio, Septetuber, 1836.
188
HHISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
David Perry, Huron Co., Ohio, September, 1836. Henry Beardslee, Sussex Co., N. J., November, 1838.
SECTION 18.
William Burritt, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. Lyman Bates, Orleans Co., N. Y., Mny, 1836. Daniel Phelps, Shiawassee Co., Mich., January, 1810 William W. Burgess, land warrant, January, 1853. George .I. W. Hill, Genosce Co., Mich., February, 1855.
SECTION 19.
Daniel Fuller, Orleans Co., N. Y., June, 1836. James Scott, Chenango Co., N. Y., September, 1836. David Perry, Hurou Co., Ohio, September, 1836. Harrison S. Bugbee, Onttaraugus Co., N. Y., June. 1837. Andrew Marlatt, Monroe Co., N. Y., October, 1837. Alexander MeKinney, Wayne Co., Mich., March, 1853.
SECTION 20.
Israel Parshall, Livingston Co., Mich., September, 1836, Joseph Skinner, Oakland Co., Mich., September, 1836. Abraham Hickey, Genesee to., N. Y., September. 1836. Luther James, Hampshire Co., Mass., October, 1836. Lemuel Cono, Shinwassee Co., Mich., October, 1836. Lemnel Cono, Shiawassco Co., Mich., May, 1811.
SECTION 21.
Harriet W. Strong, Ontario Co., N. Y., March, 1836. Nelson Reynolds, Conosce Co., N. Y., May, 1836. Aaron Hutchings, Shiawassee Co., Mich., September, 1836. Amasa Bugbee, Shiawassee Co., Mich., September, 1836. Major Rice, Huron C'o., Ohio, September, 1836. E. Toby, Oakland C'o., Mich., October, 1836. Joseph Skinner, Shinwassee Co., Mich., June, 1837. John Rico, Shiawassee Co., Mich., January, 1839. Civilian Morse, Shiawassee Co., Mich., Soptember, 1817. Asa Castle, land-warrant, September, 1851. Aden Mitchell, Shiawassee Co., Mich., December, 1853. Lanson B. Stevens, Shiawassee Co., Mich., March, 1855.
SECTION 22.
Trumbull Cury, Genesee Co., N. Y., October, 1835. Harriet W. Strong, Ontario Co., N. Y., March, 1836. Seymour Norton, Gruesse Co., N. Y., May, 1836. John Champion. Gonesce Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 23.
Trumbull Cary, Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1835. Abel Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oet. 20, 1835. Abel Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April, 1836. Abel Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich , May, 1836. Theodore Champion, Geneser Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 24.
Samuel Nichols, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June 25, 1835. Israel l'arsons, Ontario Co., N. Y., Juno 25, 1835. Benjamin L. Powers, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 25, 1833. Trumbull Cary, Genesee Cu , N. Y., Oct. 20, 1835. Abel Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 20, 1835.
SECTION 25.
Abol Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Det. 20, 1835. William Howard, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June, 1836. William Stevens, Washtenaw Co., Mich., October, 1836.
SECTION 26.
Abel Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Oct. 20, 1835. Abel Millington, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 28,# 1835. Marcus Culver, Oakland C'o., Mich., April, 1837. Samuel B. Bugbee, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., June, 1837. Reuben Place, Shiawassee Co., Mich., January, 1855.
* So says the record, but it is probably a mistake.
SECTION 27.
Trumbull Cary, Genesce Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1835. William L. Strong, Ontario Co., N. Y., March, 1836. Samuel Pitts, Jr., Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. William Pago, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May, 1836. John Champion, Genesce Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 28.
William L. Strong, Ontario Co., N. Y., March, 1836. Moses Pitts, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. Jordan Holcomb, Niagara Co., N. Y., May, 1836. Henry Hutchings, Niagara Co., N. Y., May, 1836. C. C. Hutchings, Niagara Co., N. Y., May, 1836. Aaron Hutchings, Niagara Co., N. Y., May, 1536. Ebenezer Reynolds, Oakland Co., Mich., September, 1836.
SECTION 29.
Albert R. and Amos Dow, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., May, 1836. Friend Burt, Gonesee Co., N. Y., June, 1836. Charles W. Middick.
Section 30
John Dickinson, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June, 1836. Theodore Champion, Geneseo Co., N. Y., June, 1836.
SECTION 31.
John Dickinson, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June, 1836. Theodore Champion, Genesee Co., N. Y., June, 1836. Henry Beardslee, Sussex Co., N. J., November, 1838. Jobn Terrobury, Shiawassee Co., Mich., January, 1838.
SECTION 32.
Elon Farnsworth, Wayne Co., Mich., July, 1836.
SECTION 33.
Moses Pitts, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. C. Hutchings, Ningara Co., N. Y., May, 1836. Jobu Terrebury, Washtenaw Co., Mich , November, 1836. Lyman Stevens, Wayne Co., Mich., November, 1836. Samuel Pitts, Jr., Oakland Co., Mich .. April, 1837. Alfred Culver, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1837. Abner Reid, Shiawassee Co., Mich., October, 1837. John Pitts, Shiawassee Co., Mich., October, 1837. Safford Pitts, land-warrant, April, 1853.
SECTION 34.
Samuel Pitts, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1836. Linus M. Miner, Monroc Co., N. Y., May, 1836. John Terrebury, Washtenaw Co., Mich., November, 1836. Jarvis Leonard, Washtenaw Co., Mich., January, 1837. Marcus Culver, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1837.
SECTION 35.
Mathew C. Patterson, New York City, July, 1836. George R. Albro, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July, 1836. Morrison Boardslee, Oakland Co., Mich., April, 1837.
SECTION 36.
Samuel Kellogg, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June, 1836. William Howard, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June, 1836. George R. Albro, Washtenaw Co., Mich., July, 1836.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
It is conceded by those best couversant with the facts that Sammuel Nichols was the first settler in that part of Shiawassee township now known as Bennington. Chautau- qua Co., N. Y., was his former place of residence, and on the 25th day of June, 1835, by the purchase of the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, he became the first individual owner of lands in the wilderness township.
J. M. HARTWELL.
MRS J. M. HARTWELL.
RESIDENCE OF J. M. HARTWELL , BENNINGTON, MICH.
189
BENNINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Messrs. Parsons and Powers, of Ontario Co., N. Y., also purchased lands upon the same section the same day. Whether they visited the Territory together, or but one of them and he bought for the others, is now unknown, in the absence of either mentioned.
However that may be, we find that early in the spring of 1836, accompanied by his family and his unmarried brother James, Samuel Nichols effected a settlement upon his purchase. His dwelling was an unpretentious log eabin, and being situated near what afterwards became the well-known Grand River road, he kept an open house or tavern, furnishing such entertainment for man and beast as was usually to be found in Michigan country hostelries from thirty-five to forty-five years ago. His house also gained prominence as the place where was hekt the first township-meeting. Otherwise Mr. Nichols was an ordinary sort of person, and does not seem to have been conspicuous in the further history of the township.
His brother James, by his marriage* to the rather elderly maiden, Miss Thankful Y. Copeland (a ceremony which was performed by Samuel Pitts, Jr., J. P., Jan. 26, 1839), created considerable fund for gossip and amusement, but doubtless he was afterwards thankful, for the chron- icler of " ye olden time" saith that she made a most excel- lent wife and housekeeper.
In May, 1836, Aaron Hutchings and Jordan Holcomb, ; from Niagara Co., N. Y., bought lands situated upou sec- tion 28, and, removing here, occupied the same early in the fall of that year. Soon after his settlement, Mr. Hutchings purchased more land upon section 21. A quiet, unosteu- tatious citizen, he still resides in the township.
During the year 1837 quite a number of families set- tled. They were from Vermont and New York States principally, yet several had first settled in the counties of Oakland and Washtenaw before coming here. Among them were James Bugbee, from Monroe Co., N. Y., who settled in Oakland County in 1836, and from theuce re- moved to the premises now owned by Erastus Burnett in the spring of 1837, where he resided for a number of years ; Joseph Skinner, from Oakland County, who purchased land situated upon section 20 in September, 1846, and upon section 21 in June, 1837 ; Samuel Kellogg, the first blacksmith, who came in from Washtenaw County and settled upon section 36; the Ilowards, Ira B., Smith, Jerry, William, and John A., who also came from Washtenaw and settled on section 36; and Samuel Pitts, Jr., from Oakland County, who located land upon sec- tions 27 and 33 in April, 1836. Samuel Moses and John Pitts also purchased land in the same vicinity at about the same time, and from this family the little vil- lage of Pittsburg derives its name. David Johnson, who located lands upon sections 4 and 5 in June, 1836, also came here from Oakland County in 1837.
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