USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 56
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 56
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C. S. Gillet, another early pioncer, came in 1853 (having formerly been a resident of New York State), and purchased eighty acres of uncleared land on section 9. Upon this he erected the customary log house and began the improvement of the land, having four sons who came with him and assisted in the labor of clearing. Mr. Gillet was among the early township officers and held many official positions of responsibility. Hle later removed to and is still a resi- dent of Flushing, his sons having also gone from the township.
John Bowman emigrated from Germany in 1850, and in 1855 became a pioneer in Hazelton. Section 26 afforded him an eligible location, upon which he purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres. Henry St. John, then a resident of section 35, extended him a welcome on his arrival. Mr. Bowman accomplished but little in the way of improvement, his time having been principally devoted to lumbering. The timber for his first residence was drawn from Flushing, two hundred feet being regarded as a fair load on account of the exceedingly bad roads. The family supplies were car- ried from the latter village upon his back on Saturday even- ing. He has now reached a condition when these depriva- tions are but recollections of the past. His present spacious residence, built in 1876, bears witness to the success which has been the reward of his industry.
Jacob C. Brown came from Livingstou Co., Mich., iu
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HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1855. Ile purchased one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 23. to which he afterwards added eighty acres on see- tion 24, formerly owned by John Willis and partially im- proved by him, after he had removed from his first purchase. His brother, James Brown, had preceded him and located upon section 24, where he for years resided, but ultimately removed to Grand Blane, having sold to William Eames. The former erected a house of logs, while the yard was partially inclosed by a maple-tree which was felled aeross the front, and with a gate at the end did duty as a fence. Mr. Brown began the labor of chopping and converted much of the land into productive acres. He filled many town- ship offices and was prominent as one of its most energetic citizens. In 1877 he purchased a farm of fifty-four acres within the limits of the city of Corunna, upon which he uow resides.
Amos Lewis came from Flint in 1856 and purchased a tract of forty aeres on scetion 29, which was uncleared on his arrival. John Decker, a near neighbor, formerly of Genesee County, offered him shelter while building a house. Soon after his arrival Mr. Lewis was a victim to fever and ague, which rendered labor impossible. For that reason little progress was made during the time immediately suc- ceeding his arrival. He remained upon this farm uutil 1870, when the township of Rush offered superior attrac- tions, but later years found him again a resident of Hazelton on section 33.
Elijah Coons, a pioneer of the same year, located upon one hundred acres on section 32, formerly the home of John Phipps, who had made some inroads upon the forest and built a cabin, to which Mr. Coons removed. He was also a victim to the prevailing malady of the day-ague-and made little progress at first. He is still a resident of the township.
George Jacobs, a former resident of the Green Mountain State, settled in 1857, upon sixty-five acres ou section 7, which on his arrival was little else than an unbroken wilder- ness. Eli H. Day, who was a pioneer upon the same sec- tion, had preceded him and was his nearest neighbor. With him Mr. Jacobs found a temporary home while erect- ing a log house, to which settlers from various parts of Hazel- ton and adjoining townships came to the raising. This house was occupied without waiting for the modern conveniences of doors and windows. R. J. Hohues became a resident of the sarue section soon after. Deer were abundant and afforded a considerable addition to the family supplies. Mr. Jacobs was a skillful marksman, and many of these fleet-footed ani- mals fell vietims to his unerring aim. He was an early highway commissioner, and assisted in laying out mauy of the carly roads in the northwest portion of the township. Hle still resides upon his original purchase, which he has made into a highly-productive farm.
B. Dutcher preceded Mr. Jacobs by two years, having come from Livingston County and located upon one hun- dred aud sixty acres on section 6. On coming from his former home he met many obstacles to progress, and for some distauce was obliged to underbrush the road as he came. J. A. Clough, a near neighbor iu New Haven, ex- tended his hospitality while erecting a log cabin, after which he proceetled to the labor of clearing, and improved cigh-
teen acres during the first year. Mr. Dutcher was for many years somewhat isolated, but few settlers having chosen the northwest portion of the towuship as a resi- dence. At the close of the war, however, the land was rapidly developed. Corunna attracted Mr. Dutcher in 1877, and he now resides therc.
Levi Morse, formerly of Genesee Co., N. Y., came to Hazelton in 1858, and located upon eighty acres on section 30, which afforded a good field for development. Ilis neighbor at the time was Reubeu Chapin, who then resided on the same section, whither he had removed from Canada. Later he moved to the West, but returned again to Chesaning, in Saginaw County. Mr. Morse enjoyed Mr. Chapin's hospitality while erecting a home. The first year five acres were cleared, and from that time on much improvement was the result of his labor, until the farm he - early purchased is now under a high state of cultivation.
Emery Lewis was a pioneer of 1859, from Inghaw County, though originally from the Empire State. IIis first purchase was eighty acres on section 29, which has since been increased to one hundred and sixty, with an additional forty upon section 31. This site was originally the home of John Decker, who had effected a partial clearing and built a house upon it. Mr. Lewis continued these improvements, and ultimately converted the land into a fruitful farm, upon which he uow resides. His present house was built nine years since.
F. F. Brewer located upon the land formerly secured by Salmon McIntire, and described as the east half of the southwest quarter of section 15, which he purchased in 1860, and has greatly enhanced in value. Mr. Brewer is a citizen of much public spirit, and has been frequently elected to important township offices.
L. H. Barrett, a former resident of Oakland County, located in 1863 upon forty acres on section 28, on which he still resides.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND LIST OF OFFICERS.
The survey of the township of Hazelton was made by Joseph Wampler, who was employed by the government in the capacity of deputy surveyor, and performed much labor throughout the county. Hazelton was formerly a portion of the township of New Haven, and was erected as an in- dependent township by the act of the Legislature (approved March 25, 1850) which provided " That town No. 8 north, of range No. 4 east, in the county of Shiawassee, be and the same is hereby set off from the township of New Ha- ven and organized into a separate township by the name of Hazelton, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house of Stanton S. Latham, in said township.', Under the provisions of this act the electors of the town- ship of Hazelton met at the house of Stanton S. Latham, on the 30th day of April, 1850, for the purpose of choosing township officers. Orrin Smith was appointed moderator, and E. D. Lord and John Willis inspectors of election.
The following officers were elected for the year : Super- visor, Orrin Smith; Towuship Clerk, J. L. Richardsou ; Treasurer, E. D. Lord ; Highway Commissioners, Stantou S. Latham, J. L. Richardson, Otis Burpee ; Justices of
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HAZELTON TOWNSHIP.
the Peace, Abram Pearson, S. D. Latham, John Willis, J. L. Richardson ; School Inspectors, E. D. Lord, Otis Bur- pee ; Directors of Poor, Abram Pearson, E. E. Fowls ; Constable, E. E. Fowls.
The township officers of Hazelton elected in suecccding years from that time until the present have been as follows, viz. :
1851 .- Supervisor, Orrin Smith ; Township Clerk, J. L. Richardson ; Highway Commissioners, J. C. Smith, E. D. Lord ; Justice, D. H. Patterson ; School Inspectors, O. Smith, E. D. Lord; Direc- tors of Poor, J. C. Smith, E. D. Lord; Con- stable, E. E. Fowles.
1852 .- Supervisor, O. W. Smith ; Township Clerk, J. L. Richardson ; Treasurer, John Willis; Justices, J. L. Richardson, J. C. Smith ; Highway Com- missioners, S. McIntire, E. E. Fowles ; School Inspector, Abram Pearsons ; Directors of Poor, S. McIntire, J. C. Smith ; Constable, Ransom Rhodes.
1853 .- Supervisor, H. S. Allen ; Township Clerk, J. L. Richardson ; Ilighway Commissioner, S. McIn- tire ; School Inspector, Abram Pearsons; Treas- urer, John Willis.
1854 .- Supervisor, John Willis; Township Clerk, W. W. Warner; Treasurer, J. L. Richardson ; High- way Commissioners, W. W. Warner, A. Cum- mings ; School Inspector, A. W. Rhodes; Di- rector of Poor, A. B. Woodcock ; Justice, John Willis ; Constable. A. B. Woodcock.
1855 .- Supervisor, John Willis; Township Clerk, W. W. Warner ; Treasurer, A. W. Gillet ; Justice, John Phipps ; Directors of Poor, E. Flemmings, J. L. Richardson ; Highway Commissioner, A. W. Rhodes ; Constable, F. H. Conklin.
1856 .- Supervisor, J. Willis; Township Clerk, F. H. Conklin ; Treasurer, A. W. Gillet ; School In- spector, W. B. Gillet; Justice, W. C. Day ; Directors of Poor, E. H. Sherwood, A. W. Rhodes ; Highway Commissioner, G. Bennett ; Constables, E. II. Sherwood, G. Bennett.
1857 .- Supervisor, A. Pearsons ; Township Clerk, F. H. Conklin ; Treasurer, J. D. Newell ; Justices, W. W. Warner, B. Dutcher; Highway Commis- sioner, J. Ferris ; Constables, L. Bentley, W. L. Emery, A. Cummins, P. Frazier.
1858 .- Supervisor, John Willis ; Treasurer, J. B. Hol- comb ; Justices, A. Pearsons, John Willis ; Highway Commissioner, Otis Burpee ; Consta- ble, S. S. Gillett.
1859 .- Supervisor, Daniel Torrey ; Township Clerk, J. L. Richardson ; Treasurer, D. B. Holcomb ; Jus- tices, Daniel Torrey, W. W. Warner; School Inspector, George Jacobs; Highway Commis- sioners, George Jacobs, J. C. Brown; Directors of Poor, J. W. Riekly, John Judd ; Constables, Cyrus Brigham, H. E. Burges, M. A. Pixley, William Emery.
1860 .- Supervisor, D. Torrey ; Township Clerk, F. F. Brewer ; Treasurer, J. L. Richardson ; Justices,
Jacob Ferris, W. C. Day, M. E. Rhodes ; High- way Commissioner, L. Colby, Jr. ; Constables, C. P. Day, Nathan Colby, Amos Lewis, W. W. Emery.
1861 .- Supervisor, J. C. Brown ; Township Clerk, F. F. Brewer; Treasurer, J. H. Brown; Justices, W. W. Warner, D. B. Holcomb, William Piper ; Highway Commissioner, Emery Lewis ; School Inspectors, James King, L. L. Houghton ; Con- stables, W. Emery, C. P. Day, Alex. Kellas, J. Featherby.
1862 .- Supervisor, F. F. Brewer ; Township Clerk, D. B. Holcomb ; Justice, J. C. Brown ; Treasurer, F. H. Conklin ; Highway Commissioners, J. Aus- tin, Nathan Colby ; School Inspector, Benjamin Dunlap ; Constables, W. Eames, W. W. Emery, Wm. Nobles, W. Amidon.
1863 .- Supervisor, F. F. Brewer; Township Clerk, Stephen D. Warren ; Treasurer, L. Benchley ; Justice, A. W. Gillet ; Highway Commissioner, C. S. Gillet ; School Inspector, C. P. Day ; Constables, W. W. Emery, S. D. Warren, L. Benchley, S. S. Gillet. 1864 .- Supervisor, F. F. Brewer ; Township Clerk, S. D. Warren ; Treasurer, Loren Benchley ; Justiees, W. C. Day, Henry Lewis; Highway Commis- sioners, D. C. Pierce, C. W. Smith ; School Inspector, L. L. Houghton ; Constables, L. Brigham, C. W. Smith, S. D. Warren, William Lyon.
1865 .- Supervisor, W. W. Warner ; Township Clerk, Isaac Sutton ; Treasurer, F. Benchley ; Highway Com- missioners, E. Coons, John King, Jr., D. W. Gillet ; School Inspectors, Daniel Torrey, L. L. Iloughton ; Constable, L. Benchley.
1866 .- Supervisor, F. F. Brewer ; Township Clerk, L. H. Barrett; Treasurer, L. Benchley ; Justices, J. C. Brown, D. W. Eames ; Highway Commis- sioner, S. S. Puffer ; School Inspectors, Wm. Eames, A. Kell; Constables, W. W. Emery, C. W. Smith.
1867 .- Supervisor, S. S. Bush ; Township Clerk, L. H. Barrett ; Treasurer, Wm. Eames ; Justices, O. Hathaway, L. H. Barrett ; Highway Commis- sioner, J. Austin ; Constables, O. Butterfield, Sullivan Fay, HI. Frazier, A. Featherby.
1868 .- Supervisor, F. F. Brewer ; Township Clerk, L. II. Barrett ; Treasurer, Wmn. Eames; Highway Commissioner, Gilbert Heminway ; Justices, George Jacobs, Philip Holland, John Feath- erby ; School Inspectors, Wm. Eames, E. M. Judd; Constables, William Emery, Jackson Barrett.
1869 .- Supervisor, F. H. Brewer; Township Clerk, Cal- vin Rich ; Treasurer, Wm. Eames ; Justices, D. B. Holcomb, Wilson West; Highway Com- missioners, C. W. Smith, E. S. Jones ; School Inspector, Wm. Eames ; Constables, L. H. Bar- rett, F. F. Brewer, L. Brigham, Patrick Murphy. 1870 .- Supervisor, W. W. Warner; Township Clerk, L. H. Barrett ; Treasurer, John King; Justices,
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HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
W. W. Warner, Almon Brown ; Highway Com- missioner, E. H. Jones ; Constables, O. Carpen- ter, F. F. Brewer, B. F. Austin.
1871 .- Supervisor, F. F. Brewer ; Township Clerk, A. C. Brown; Treasurer, John King; Justice, A. Houghton ; School Inspector, William Eames ; Highway Commissioner, Levi Morse; Constables, A. J. Featherby, Charles Lowrie, O. Carpenter, Wm. Emery.
1872 .- Supervisor, W. W. Warner; Township Clerk, B. F. Dunlap; Treasurer, John King; Justice, J. C. Brown ; Highway Commissioners, C. C. Law- son, George Cronk ; Drain Commissioner, Eras- tus Call ; Constables, Thomas Lawton, W. W. Emery, R. J. Holmes, George Welsh.
1873 .- Supervisor, W. W. Waruer; Township Clerk, B. F. Dunlap ; Treasurer, John King; Justice, Caleb Lawson ; Highway Commissioner, George Cronk ; Drain Commissioner, Erastus Call ; Constables, L. Brigham, A. Dutcher, W. W. Emery, R. Davis.
1874 .- Supervisor, L. H. Barrett ; Township Clerk, Wm. Stage ; Treasurer, John King; Justices, W. W. Warner, H. A. Fenner; Highway Commis- sioner, Levi Morse ; Drain Commissioner, Daniel Cameron ; School Inspector, F. F. Brewer; Constables, W. W. Emery, S. Lyons, Isaac Lewis, J. L. Delbridge.
1875 .- Supervisor, L. II. Barrett ; Township Clerk, F. I. Richardson ; Treasurer, William Eames ; Su- perintendent of Schools, H. A. Fenner; School Inspector, F. F. Brewer; Highway Commis- sioner, Nathan Colby ; Justice, Wm. Emery ; Drain Commissioner, Hiram Monroe ; Consta- bles, Samuel Lyons, A. O. Bush, C. W. Thorp. 1876 .- Supervisor, L. H. Barrett ; Township Clerk, F. I. Richardson ; Treasurer, Wm. Eames ; Superin- tendent of Schools, H. A. Fenner ; School In- spector, F. F. Brewer ; Highway Commissioner, N. Colby ; Justice, Carlos Burbanks; Consta- bles, A. O. Bush, William Emery, O. Brown, Wallace Purse.
1877 .- Supervisor, L. H. Barrett ; Township Clerk, F. I. Richardson ; Treasurer, F. F. Brewer ; Superin- tendent of Schools, HI. A. Fenner; School In- spector, F. F. Brewer ; Highway Commissioner, W. H. Lyons ; Justices, W. Decatur, John Far- rar ; Constables, F. Featherby, W. W. Emery, C. M. Braddock, Peter Brown.
1878 .- Supervisor, L. H. Barrett ; Township Clerk, F. I. Richardson ; Treasurer, F. F. Brewer ; Justices, C. K. Runnells, Alanson Kimble; Highway Commissioner, Erastus Call ; Superintendent of Schools, H. C. Fenner ; School Inspector, F. F. Brewer ; Drain Commissioner, James Garrison ; Constables, F. Featherby, Aaron Hartshorn, Peter Jones, E. R. Munson.
1879 .- Supervisor, F. I. Richardson ; Towuship Clerk, H. P. Niles ; Treasurer, C. K. Runnells; School Inspector, L. H. Barrett; Superintendent of
Schools, H. A. Fenner ; Drain Commissioner, James Fee ; Highway Commissioner, E. Call ; Constables, J. S. Thompson, A. M. Brown, E. D. Babcock, Robert Easton.
1880 .- Supervisor, F. I. Richardson ; Township Clerk, II. l'. Niles ; Treasurer, C. K. Runnells ; Highway Commissioner, Ambrose Austin ; Superintendent of Schools, O. W. Tock ; Drain Commissioner, James Fce; Justice, J. R. Farr; School In- spector, W. E. Jacobs ; Constables, John Sharp, A. Brown, Aaron Hartshorn.
THE EARLIEST HIGHWAYS.
For some years after the first settlement of the township very few highways had been surveyed, and the earliest set- tlers met with many obstacles to necessary travel. The. first recorded road was surveyed when Hazelton was still a part of New Haven. As no date is given it is impossible to give the time of survey, though the commissioners who directed the work were Walter R. Seymour, Richard Free- man, and Cyrenus Clark. It is described as " beginning at the northwest corner of section 8, township 8 north, of range 4 east, and running thence north eighty-seven and three-quarter degrees east on section-line eighty chains and fifty links; thence north eighty-seven and three-quarter degrees east on section-line seventy-eight chains thirteen links to the northeast corner of section 9; thence north eighty-seven and three-quarter degrees east two hundred and thirty-eight chains fifty links to the northeast corner of section 12, on the county-line."
Another road began at the northeast corner of section 9, and ran thence by a great number of recorded courses and distances to the northeast corner of section 34, in township 8 north, of range 4 cast.
Later roads were surveyed as settlers became more numer- ous. Excellent highways, which are maintained at a con- siderable cost to the township, now traverse every portion of its territory.
SCHOOLS.
The township was, soon after its organization, divided into districts, whose boundaries were enlarged or diminished as circumstances demanded. The carliest school in Hazel- ton was taught in the year 1851, by Mrs. Daniel L. Pat- terson, in a log cabin standing upon the farm of her husband, on section 22, which was built by John Willis. It was embraced within the boundaries of district No. 1, and the succeeding teacher was Miss Mary Gillet, now Mrs. Nathan Colby. The earliest school in the Judd neighborhood was taught by Miss Jane Judd, now Mrs. John Bowman, in 1854, in a log school-house built the same year on sec- tion 34.
The present territory of Hazelton is divided into seven whole, and two fractional, districts. The board of directors is composed of the following gentlemen : John A. Fitch, L. H. Barrett, G. Garner, Enoch Wing, Batus Snyder, F. J. Richardson, I. S. Jones, D. Beatty, J. C. Bronson.
The number of children receiving instruction is four hundred and forty-eight, of whom twenty-eight are non- residents. They are under the direction of eight male and nine female teachers. The value of school property in
OLD HOME.
0.4
€7
2 2
RESIDENCE OF JOHN BOMAN, HAZELTON, MICH.
.
233
IIAZELTON TOWNSHIP.
Hazelton is four thousand eight hundred dollars, which in- cludes one log and eight frame school-houses.
CHURCH HISTORY.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first class of this denomination was organized Feb. 21, 1858, under the direction of Rev. S. W. Wooster, it having been at that time a part of the Owosso district. Its members were John Judd, Loren Bensley, Matilda Judd, Jane Bensley, Mary Kellogg, Julius Kellogg, John Bowman, Elisha Coons, ITepsah Coons, Jane Bowman, Moses A. Pixley, John Judd, Jr., Edward Judd, Lorenzo Brigham, John Mecker, Betsey Mecker. The Rev. S. W. Wooster, after having organized the class, left it in charge of Rev. Jesse Bradford, now of Grand Rapids, who was the active pastor for a period of five years, Loren Bensley having been the first class-leader. In 1859 it was reorgan- ized and became a part of the Corunna Circuit. Rev. L. H. York succeeded to the pastorate in 1859, and D. W. Hammond acted as supply. Since that time the elergymen in succession have been as follows: 1860, Rev. Samuel Wilkinson ; 1861, Rev. J. H. Cornalia; 1863, Rev. Thomas Wakelin; from 1864 to 1867, supplies; 1867, Rev. A. A. Allen ; 1869, Rev. Joel B. Goss; 1872, Rev. A. Whitcomb; 1873, Rev. Thomas Wakelin ; 1875, Rev. D. M. Van Deusen ; 1878, Rev. D. M. Ward; 1879, Rev. Edward Steer.
The present commodious church edifice was erected in 1871, and dedicated in October, 1874. Its debt of sixteen hundred dollars is entirely liquidated, and a parsonage has also been purchased by the society. A Sabbath-school numbering sixty scholars is connected with the church, of which the pastor is superintendent.
PROTESTANT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Very few faets regarding this church are at command. The class was organized many years since and religious serviees held at the Gillet school-house. An effort was made to erect a house of worship, which was so far suc- cessful that in 1879 ground was chosen at Lothrop, and the building proceeded toward completion, when some unfor- tunate circumstances caused a temporary suspension of the work. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Snyder. The trustees are Aaron Hoxie, Isaac Wood, and Leonard Hoff- ner.
The building committee is composed of John Frame, Isaac Wood, Robert Craig.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.
The society of this denomination was organized in 1873, under the direction of Elders Van Ilorn and Lane, meetings having at first been held in Flushing, and later in the school-house on section 34, in Hazelton. Various preachers have since that time supplied the pulpit. The society, which has grown more flourishing as it advanced in years, is now erecting a house of worship on the southeast corner of section 26.
HAZELTON GRANGE, No. 606.
This grange was organized in 1875, with thirty-three members, the following having been its first officers : Daniel
Cameron, M .; L. II. Barrett, Secretary ; John Bowman, Treasurer; F. I. Richardson, Lecturer; Edward Judd, Chaplain. The present officers are L. II. Barrett, M .; Frank Twitchell, Secretary ; John Towle, Treasurer ; A. O. Bush, Lecturer; Edward Judd, Chaplain. A spacious hall is owned by the organization, which also has a flourish- ing supply department, of which Edward Judd is pur- chasing-agent. Fifty names are enrolled upon its member- ship list.
LOTHROP VILLAGE.
The following description of the plat of the village of Lothrop is recorded : "Commencing at a point on the section-line between sections two and eleven, township eight north, of range four cast, said point being eight hundred and twenty-nine feet east of the corner of sections two, three, ten, and eleven, thence north parallel with the west line of section two four hundred and thirty-three feet, thence west fifty-five feet, thenee north parallel with said section-line three hundred and ninety-six feet, thence west parallel with the sonth line of section two seven hundred and seventy-four feet, thence west parallel with the south line of seetion three eight hundred and twenty-nine feet, thence south parallel with the east line of section three eight hundred and twenty-nine feet, thence south parallel with the east line of section ten eight hundred and twenty- nine feet, thence east parallel with the north line of section ten eight hundred and twenty-nine feet, thence east parallel with the north line of section eleven eight hundred and twenty-nine feet, thence north parallel with the west line of section eleven eight hundred and twenty-nine feet, to the place of beginning. Blocks 3, 4, 5, and 6 belong to N. Colby ; blocks 9, 10, 15, and 16, to Gideon Silverthorne ; błoeks 1 and 2 are reserved for Messrs. Runnells and Craig; and the remainder of the blocks and lots belong to F. Berry. Surveyed October 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, by Lyman Mason, C. E."
A traet of one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon a portion of which the village of Lothrop is built, was en- tered in 1836 by James Butler, of New York. This included eighty acres each on sections 3 and 10, the latter of which was purchased in 1855 by A. W. Gillet and a man named Luce. In 1858, Nathan and Levi Colby set- tled upon section 10, and the former brother, in 1865, purchased the east half of the southeast quarter of seetion 3, upon which he built a residence. Gideon Silverthorne came in 1871, and also erected a dwelling. The same year Alexander Bailey came from Oakland County and built a store, in which he placed a small stock of goods and began his career as the pioneer merchant. Franeis Berry arrived in 1875, and purchased the Gillet property, which he im- proved in various ways. He also established himself as a merchant, but later sold to C. K. Runnells and resumed his former calling, that of a clergyman. Mr. Runnells also- in connection with his partner-built the grist-mill, and Mr. Colby constructed a blacksmith-shop, which was leased to N. Fenner. Mr. Berry, in 1878, erected a spacious store, which is now occupied by Messrs. Niles & Co., who conduct an extensive business in general merchandising. In 1879, Mr. Colby built a hotel of considerable propor-
30
234
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tions, and Andrew Krebs a harness-shop, and later a second shop.
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