USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 77
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 77
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Philander T. Maine, a surveyor, came to the township during this year, and was married to Miss Viana Wood- hull. This was the first marriage in the township. She died in a few years, after which Mr. Maine went to Jackson County, where he died. In the fall several families located across the line, in Sciota township, on seetion 32, Henry Buel and Oliver B. Westcott being among the number. The latter was the first town elerk and also the first school- teacher in Woodhull. In the fall of 1837 (about the Ist of September), Josephus Woodhull sowed the first wheat sown in the township. The seed was purchased of Job Cranston, who lived near Brighton, Livingston Co.
In the spring of 1838, Francis F. Mann, John and Samuel Graham, and Perry Parshall, with their families, arrived. Mr. Mann first came to the township in October, 1837, at which time he located the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 10, and purchased the south- east quarter of section 9. In the following month of
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HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
December, Mr. Mann having business in Ypsilanti, started with a yoke of oxen and a grist of buckwheat to go to that village. On the way he left his grain at a mill in Ham- burg, Livingston Co., expecting it to be ready for him on his return. In the mean time the mill was blocked with ice, and he started for the mills in Shiawasseetown, where he waited two nights and one day for his grist. He reached home in the evening, having been absent eight days. Jo- sephus Woodhull relates a similar circumstance, in which he, accompanied by his sister, with two yoke of oxen and a wagon-load of provisions, was nine days in coming from . Nankin, Wayne Co., to his home in Woodhull. Mr. and Mrs. Mann are the only couple now living in the township that came in in the spring of 1838. They have never moved from the place of their first settlement farther than from the cabin into the house which they now occupy. Their daughter, Mary O., was one of the first children born in the township. John Graham, who had been to Wood- hull in the summer of 1837, and eut hay, and later had built a house, returned again when Mr. Mann came, in February, 1838. He located six eighty-acre lots, half of which was for his brother Samuel, to whom he gave the privilege of selecting that part which he preferred. He selected the land lying near the lakes, now known as Gra- ham Lakes, on section 10, while John took the north part of section 15, except the east one-half of the northeast quarter. John Graham died in 1875. Ilis wife had died in 1847. The daughter who came with them married Holden MeFarlan ; she died in 1870.
Samuel Graham came to New York from Ireland, and after traveling considerably through the United States set- tled in Michigan. He located, as before stated, two hun- dred and forty acres of section 10. He was a carpenter, and built the first framed building in the township for Jo- sephus Woodhull. Mr. Graham served in the war of the Rebellion. His wife died in 1866, and the next year he moved to Lansing, where he still resides.
Perry Parshall settled on section 4 in March of 1838. Ile died in 1868. Ilis wife had died many years before. Ilis son Harrison, who was about twenty-two years of age when he came to the township, lived on the old homestead till his death.
Patrick Corcoran, with his wife and children,-John, Barney, Owen, Bartlett, Henry, Fannie, and Ann, from Ireland,-came to Woodhull in the fall of 1838. He lo- cated a large traet of land on sections 32 and 33. The pa- rents, Bartlett, and Fannie are dead. The homestead is still occupied by the family.
William Hammond and Reuben Place also deserve men- tion among the pioneers of Woodhull. The former reached the township about the year '1840. His family consisted of a wife and one child. Ile settled the west half of the southwest quarter of section 12. He remained some years, but his wife having died, he sold his property and went to the northwest part of Michigan. Reuben Place had con- siderable skill in wood-work. Ile supplied the early set- thers with chairs, more remarkable for their solidity than beauty. He subsequently removed to Bennington. E. Tooker settled on the west half of the southeast quarter of section 29, and S. Moon located on seetion 21.
A large portion of land was held by speculators for a number of years, which retarded the settlement of the township considerably. The most of this eame into market at a later day, and now there is comparatively little non- resident land. Among those who owned considerable tracts are the names of Bliss and Godfrey.
The most serious inconvenience known to the early set- tlers was the distance they were compelled to travel for their groceries and provisions. A market for produce, after the home demand had been supplied, was almost out of the question. If trading to any amount was to be done, a trip was made, with cattle, to Ann Arbor or Detroit, usually ocenpying from ten to fifteen days, according to the eondi- tion of the roads. Of their condition at this late day no adequate idea ean be given. They were at times almost impassable, and frequently the wagon, and sometimes even the oxen, would have to be raised from the mud or sink- holes, which were not uncommon, especially in the spring of the year. A serious want was a blacksmith-shop. The iron implements so necessary in elearing and subduing a new country were constantly broken and otherwise rendered unfit for use. The hook of a chain or the point of a plow would alike have to be carried eight or ten miles, a half- day spent, or a long tramp made through the woods late at night, in order to secure the necessary repairs. But in the spring of 1839, Josephus Woodhull purchased a good bel- lows and kit of tools, and opened a blacksmith-shop in a little log cabin on his farm. From this time until other shops were established in the villages near Woodhull, this shop did good service to the settlers.
Several Indian trails crossed the township ; the one mostly used by the Indians led east and west through Antrim, Perry, and Woodhull townships to Laingsburg. The first road established in the town passed between sections 9 and 16 and 10 and 15. Another was then established leading also to Laingsburg. The next one led south through the western part of the township. These roads were established in the summer of 1838.
In the latter part of July, 1840, the " sickly season" (as the period was known for many years) commeneed, and by the middle of August a majority of the people in the settle- ment were siek with bilious fever. Ralph Williams, who lived in what is now Sciota township, was the only man in the entire settlement who was able to go from house to house and attend the sick. Ile was an excellent man in this regard, and did all in his power to alleviate the suffer- ings of those around him.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND LIST OF OFFICERS.
Woodhull was set off from the old township of Shia- wassee, and erected a separate township, by act of the Legislature approved April 2, 1838. By this act it was provided and declared that townships 5 and 6 north of range 1 east be organized as a separate township named Woodhull, and that the first township-meeting should be held at the house of Peter Laing. In acenrdance with the terms of this aet the first town-meeting was held at
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WOODHULL TOWNSHIP.
the place designated, April 30, 1838. Henry Leach was chosen moderator; Oliver B. Westcott, elerk ; Benjamin Hewitt, assistant clerk ; Josephus and John Woodhull, Walter Laing, and John Graham, inspectors of election. The entire vote cast numbered twenty-two. The names of the voters were as follows :
Henry Buell.
Cornelius Putnam.
Joseph Woodhull.
Perry Parshall.
Josephus Woodhull.
Lewis Shippee.
John Woodhull. Harris Parshall.
Joseph Hildreth.
Alvin S. McDowell.
Samuel Graham.
John Hill, Jr. Jolın Brindle.
Henry Leach.
William P. Laing.
Francis F. Mann.
Abraham Schermerhorn.
Samuel Millard.
John Graham. Oliver B. Westcott. Walter Laing.
The township officers elected at this and subsequent annual meetings until the present time have been as named in the following list, viz. :
1838 .- Supervisor, John Woodhull; Clerk, Oliver B. Westcott ; Assessors, William P. Laing, Cor- nelius Putnam ; Collector, Walter Laing; School Inspectors, Oliver B. Westcott, Benjamin Le- witt, John Graham; Directors of the Poor, Milton Phelps, Alvin S. McDowell ; Ilighway Commissioners, William P. Laing, Henry Buell, Henry Leach ; Justices, Josephus Woodhull, Peter Laing, Henry Leach, John Graham ; Con- stables, Walter Laing, Gideon M. Cross.
1839 .- Supervisor, John Woodhull; Clerk, Oliver B. Westcott ; Assessors, Francis F. Mann, Philan- der T. Maine, Walter Laing; Highway Com- missioners, Mason Phelps, Samuel Graham, Josephus Woodhull ; School Inspectors, Oliver B. Westcott, Josephus Woodhull, Philander T. Maine; Constables, W. P. Laing, Gideon M. Cross; Collector, W. P. Laing; Justice, Jo- sephus Woodhull ; Treasurer, John Woodhull ; Poormasters, Samuel Graham, John Graham.
1840 .- Supervisor, John Woodhull; Clerk, Oliver B. Westcott ; Treasurer, John Woodhull; As- sessors, F. F. Mann, Philander T. Maine, Cor- nelius Putnam ; School Inspectors, Oliver B. Westcott, Josephus Woodhull, P. T. Maine; Directors of the Poor, Oliver B. Westcott, Peter Laing; Highway Commissioners, Josephus Woodhull, M. Phelps, Allen Smith ; Justice, Allen Smith ; Collector, W. P. Laing; Con- stables, W. P. Laing, R. Williams.
1841 .- Supervisor, E. P. Tooker; Clerk, P. T. Maine ; Treasurer, S. B. Fuller ; Justice, John Graham ; Assessors, Franklin Childs, Cornelius Putnam, Francis F. Mann; Highway Commissioners, Mason Phelps, Henry Leach, Henry Buell ; School Inspectors, Charles Place, Franklin Childs, P. T. Maine; Directors of the Poor, Peter Laing, G. M. Cross; Constables, W. P.
Laing, Owen Corcoran, F. F. Mann, Smith Tooker ; Collector, W. P. Laing.
1842 .- Supervisor, John Woodhull; Clerk, Owen Cor- coran ; Treasurer, Josephus Woodhull ; Justices, Joseph Hildreth, John Corcoran ; Assessors, Joseph Hildreth, Edward Bragg; Ilighway Commissioners, Josephus Woodhull, Owen Cor- coran, Smuith Tooker; School Inspectors, Jo- sephus Woodhull, Owen Corcoran, Philander T. Maine; Constables, Smith Tooker, F. F. Mann.
1843 .- Supervisor, P. T. Maine; Clerk, Owen Corcoran; Treasurer, Eliphalet Tooker; Justice, Josephus Woodhull; Highway Commissioners, John Woodhull, Barney Corcoran, F. F. Mann; School Inspectors, P. T. Maine, Edward Bray ; Assessors, William Hammond, John Corcoran ; Constables, Smith Tooker, Stephen Finch.
1844 .- Supervisor, E. S. Tooker; Clerk, Owen Corcoran ; Treasurer, G. W. Hossler ; Justices, John Cor- coran, William Hammond ; Highway Commis- sioners, Nathan Hawley, F. F. Mann, G. W. Hossler; School Inspectors, G. N. Stoddard, Edward Bray; Constable, Stephen Finch.
1845 .- Supervisor, S. B. Warner; Clerk, P. T. Maine; Treasurer, Josephus Woodhull ; Highway Com- missioners, James Warfle, N. Stoddard, John Graham ; Constables, Stephen Finch, O. G. Tooker, A. M. Chadwick, E. Howell ; School Inspector, Josephus Woodhull.
1846 .- Supervisor, S. B. Warner; Clerk, P. T. Maine ; Treasurer, Josephus Woodhull ; Highway Com- missioners, Nathan Hawley, John Graham, R. Place ; School Inspector, Sylvanus Bachelor ; Justice, G. N. Stoddard ; Constables, Peter Shaft, A. M. Chadwick, James E. Bunnel.
1847 .- Supervisor, E. F. Tooker; Clerk, Owen Corcorau ; Treasurer, Josephus Woodhull ; Justice, John Thompson ; Highway Commissioners, W. G. Kent, John Graham, Joshua Marsh ; School Inspector, Henry Frederick ; Constables, J. V. Shaft, Henry Frederick, Daniel S. Sparks, O. G. Tooker.
1848 .- Supervisor, John Thompson ; Clerk, Owen Cor- coran ; Treasurer, John Woodhull ; Justices, John Corcoran, Nicholas Flanagan; Highway Commissioner, William G. Kent; School In- spectors, Zetus Woodhull, Francis F. Mann ; Coustables, Charles Marsh, Zetus Woodhull, G. HI. Corcoran, S. C. Goodhue.
1849 .- Supervisor, John Thompson; Clerk, Owen Cor- coran ; Treasurer, David Tooker; Highway Commissioner, Andrew Van Riper ; School In- spector, W. G. Kent; Constables, Jacob V. Shaft, Daniel D. Searles, Richard Warfer, F. F. Mann.
1850 .- Supervisor, John Thompson ; Clerk, Owen Cor- coran ; Treasurer, David G. Tower; Justices, David G. Tower, Josephus Woodhull; High- way Commissioner, John Woodhull; School
Benjamin Lewitt.
32G
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Inspector, F. F. Mann ; Constables, J. V. Shaft, Hugh Oaks, James S. Harper, George H. Cor- coran.
1851 .- Supervisor, Josephus Woodhull ; Clerk, Owen Cor- coran ; 'Treasurer, W. G. Kent; Justice, John Thompson ; Commissioner of Highways, Isaae Thompson ; School Inspector, Zetus S. Wood- hull ; Constables, Hugh Oaks, R. Shaw.
1852 .- Supervisor, Josephus Woodhull ; Clerk, Owen Cor- coran ; Treasurer, W. G. Kent ; Justiees, Lewis T. Bennett, John Coreoran ; Highway Commis- sioner, Andrew Van Riper; School Inspector, Lewis T. Bennett; Constables, John W. Van Wormer, Roswell Shaw, B. E. Crandel, Alex- ander Place.
1853 .- Supervisor, John Thompson ; Clerk, John G. Marsh ; Treasurer, W. G. Kent; Justice, Isaac E. Everts; Highway Commissioner, Christopher Mowers; School Inspector, Jonathan Burke ; Constables, Bartley Siegle, John W. Van Wormer, Benjamin J. Crandal, James S. Harper. 1854 .- Supervisor, Josephus Woodhull; Clerk, Joshua G. Marsh ; Treasurer, Andrew Van Riper ; Jus- tice, Ira Burlingame ; Highway Commissioner, Hugh Oaks ; School Inspectors, Truman Willits, Lewis Bennett ; Constables, P. Chalker, Charles Gould, William Chancarty, Solomon Burlingame. 1855 .- Supervisor, John Thompson ; Clerk, J. G. Marsh ; Treasurer, Andrew Van Riper ; Justice, Thomas Stevens ; Highway Commissioner, John W. Van Wormer; School Inspector, James H. Burlin- game; Constables, Bartley Siegle, Jacob V. Shaft, Ilenry Stevens, James H. Burlingame.
1856 .- Supervisor, John Thompson ; Clerk, J. G. Marsh ; Treasurer, Andrew Van Riper; Justices, John Thompson, John Corcoran ; Ilighway Commis- sioner, Solomon Burlingame; Sehool Inspector, Francis F. Mann ; Constables, Henry Stevens, Charles Gould, James Burlingame, Philip Chalker.
1857 .- Supervisor, John Thompson ; Clerk, E. F. Kay ; Treasurer, F. F. Mann ; Justice, James Graham ; Ilighway Commissioner, Philo C. Leavenworth ; School Inspector, Sidney H. Munger; Constables, George Colby, Charles Rohrabacher, Moses P. Marsh, Isaac E. Everts.
1858 .- Supervisor, John Thompson ; Clerk, E. F. Kay ; Treasurer, F. F. Manu ; Justice, William Hurd; Highway Commissioner, G. M. Colby ; School Inspector, H. H. Ilawley ; Constables, Philip Chalker, Russell Dyer, Henry Stevens, James Harper.
1859 .- Supervisor, J. G. Marsh ; Clerk, E. F. H. Kay ; Treasurer, F. F. Mann; Justice, Thomas Ste- vens ; School Inspeetors, Owen Corcoran, S. H. Munger ; Highway Commissioners, Hugh Oaks, Henry Stevens; Constables, James Harper, Henry Stevens, George M. Colby, Charles Rohra- bacher.
1860,-Supervisor, J. G. Marsh ; Clerk, John Thompson ;
Treasurer, F. F. Mann ; Justice, John Thomp- son ; Highway Commissioner, Andrew Rohra- bacher ; Sehool Inspector, Sidney II. Munger ; Constables, Henry Stevens, George M. Colby, Ira Burlingame, Charles Marsh.
1861 .- Supervisor, J. G. Marsh ; Clerk, Owen Corcoran ; Treasurer, F. F. Mann ; Justice, Sidney H. Mun- ger ; Highway Commissioner, William Colby ; School Inspector, Lewis Bennett; Constables, Patrick MeDowell, Isaac Rohrabacher, Israel Parshall.
1862 .- Supervisor, J. G. Marsh ; Clerk, Owen Corcoran ; 'Treasurer, W. G. Kent ; Justices, Hugh Oaks, Henry Stevens, John J. Ginteling; Highway Commissioner, John W. Van Wormer; School Inspector, S. H. Manzer ; Constables, G. M. Colby, Patriek MeDowell. Jerome Wright, Isaac Rohrabacher.
1863 .- Supervisor, J. G. Marsh ; Clerk, S. H. Manzer ; Treasurer, William Kent; Justices, John Cor- coran, William H. Force ; School Inspector, J. V. D. Wyckoff; Highway Commissioner, Pat- riek McKeon; Constables, George M. Colby, Patrick McDowell, John S. Green, Abraham H. Everts.
1864 .- Supervisor, J. G. Marsh ; Clerk, S. H. Manzer ; Treasurer, William G. Kent; Justice, D. J. Tower; Highway Commissioners, John S. Green, Andrew Rohrabacher ; School Inspector, Joshua G. Marsh ; Constables, G. M. Colby, Jerome Wright, George Smith, John Siegle.
1865 .- Supervisor, S. H. Manzer ; Clerk, Owen Corcoran ; Treasurer, William G. Kent; Justiees, Henry Stevens, Lawson W. Beardslee ; Highway Com- missioner, Bernard Bray ; School Inspector, S. HI. Manzer ; Constables, J. M. Shaft, George M. Colby, George Acker, Isaac E. Everts.
1866 .- Supervisor, Josephus Woodhull; Clerk, Zetus S. Woodhull ; Treasurer, W. G. Kent; Justices, Josephus Woodhull, James S. Harper ; School Inspector, Joshua G. Ward; Highway Commis- sioner, Bartley Siegle ; Constables, S. S. Green, John M. Shaft, John Siegle, James Bray.
1867 .- Supervisor, Joshna G. Marsh ; Clerk, Zetus S. Woodhull ; Treasurer, James S. Harper ; Jus- tiees, John Coreoran, George M. Colby, Charles Walker; Highway Commissioner, William Col- by; School Inspector, Arthur H. Bigg; Consta- bles, John M. Shaft, Ovid Whipple, Isaac Rohra- bacher, William Bailey.
1868 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh ; Clerk, Arthur H. Bigg ; Treasurer, Francis F. Mann; Justices, Hugh Oaks, Charles Arnold ; Highway Commis- sioners, James M. Clement, Bernard Bray ; School Inspector, James S. Harper; Constables, John M. Shaft, David Whipple, Oliver P. Everts, Alford S. Wright.
1869 .- Supervisor, Joshna G. Marsh ; Clerk, Smith F. Warner ; Treasurer, John M. Shaft; Justices, David Tower, Henry Stevens; Highway Com-
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WOODIIULL TOWNSHIP.
missioner, S. S. Green ; School Inspector, Henry Tallmadge; Constables, B. D. Corcoran, Oliver P. Everts, Alfred L. Wright, Andrew J. Harper. 1870 .- Supervisor, J. G. Marsh ; Clerk, Smith F. War- ner ; Treasurer, John M. Shaft ; Justices, Henry Stevens, Samuel Pope; Highway Commissioner, A. Simpkins ; School Inspector, James S. Har - per ; Constables, Oliver P. Everts, Alphonso Ilarkness, George Acker, Charles S. Place. 1871 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh ; Clerk, Smith F. Warner ; Treasurer, Isaac Rohrabacher ; Justice, John Corcoran ; Highway Commissioner, John L. Tyler ; School Inspector, Henry Tallmadge ; Constables, John H. Corcoran, Sidney Simpson, Alphonso Harkness, John H. Parshall.
1872 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh ; Clerk, Smith F. Warner ; Treasurer, Isaac Rohrabacher ; Justice, Hugh Oaks; Highway Commissioner, Sidney S. Green ; Drain Commissioner, Owen Corcoran ; School Inspectors, James S. Harper, Michael Flanagan ; Constables, Oliver P. Everts, Andrew J. Harper, Bartley Siegle, Israel E. Saddler. 1873 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh ; Clerk, Richard F. Kay; Treasurer, Isaac Rohrabacher ; Justice, George W. Clements ; Highway Commissioners, Sarsfield Corcoran, Almond N. Stevens ; Drain Commissioner, Owen Corcoran ; School Inspec- tor, James S. Harper ; Constables, Oliver P. Everts, Alfred L. Wright, William H. Robison, Bartley Siegłe.
1874 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh; Clerk, Richard F. Kay ; Treasurer, John M. Shaft ; Justice, Henry Stevens; Highway Commissioner, Zetus S. Wood- hull ; School Inspector, John Tyler ; Drain Com- missioner, Chauncey Rohrabacher; Constables, William Robinson, Parley Laing, Smith F. War- ner, Rodolphus E. Tower.
1875 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh ; Clerk, Smith F. Warner; Treasurer, John M. Shaft; Justice, John Corcoran ; Highway Commissioner, Michael Flanagan ; School Superintendent, Charles M. Smith ; School Inspector, James S. Harper ; Drain Commissioner, Chauncey Rohrabacher; Constables, Oliver P. Everts, Paisley Laing, R. E. Hower, Bartley Siegle.
1876 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh ; Clerk, Charles M. Smith ; Treasurer, John M. Shaft ; Justice, Hugh Oaks; Highway Commissioner, Michael Flana- gan ; School Superintendent, Richard F. Kay ; School Inspector, James S. Ilarper ; Drain Com- missioner, Isaac Rohrabacher ; Constables, Oliver I'. Everts, Bartley Siegle, John L. Tyler, John Dunn.
1877 .- Supervisor, Joshua G. Marsh ; Clerk, Smith F. Warner ; Treasurer, Daniel R. Tuthill ; Justice, James S. IIarper ; Commissioner of llighways, Edward Crawford ; School Superintendent, Dan- iel O. Beardslee ; School Inspector, Hugh Oaks ; Constables, J. D. Southwell, Bartley Siegle, F. M. Powell, J. F. Hunt.
1878 .- Supervisor, Smith F. Warner ; Clerk, Joseph V. D. Wyckoff ; Treasurer, John Aikens ; Justices, Henry Stevens, G. W. Chrouch ; School Super- intendent, Daniel O. Beardslee ; School Inspec- tor, James S. Harper ; Highway Commissioner, William G. Kent ; Drain Commissioner, Joshua G. Marsh ; Constables, F. M. Powell, J. D. Southwell, Bartley Sicgle, D. Marsh.
1879 .- Supervisor, S. F. Warner; Clerk, Joseph V. D. Wyckoff; Treasurer, Joshua G. Marsh; Jus- tice, John Corcoran; Highway Commissioner, William G. Kent; School Superintendent, George W. Chrouch ; School Inspector, James S. Harper ; Drain Commissioner, Joshua G. Marsh ; Constables, Francis M. Powell, Mark Marlatt, Newton Shaft, Jediah Southwell.
1880 .- Supervisor, Smith F. Warner; Clerk, Joseph V. D. Wyckoff; Treasurer, Joshua G. Marks ; Jus- tice, Hugh Oakes ; Highway Commissioner, Wil- liam Kent ; School Superintendent, George W. Chrouch ; Drain Commissioner, George W. Colby ; School Inspector, James S. Harper ; Constables, Alfred F. Tyler, Alphonso Harkness, Oliver P. Everts, Horace R. Stevens.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
On Nov. 14, 1837, the school commissioners of Shia- wassee township (which at that time embraced the territory comprised in Shiawassee, Antrim, Bennington, Perry, Wood- lıull, and Sciota) met at the Shiawassee Exchange, and divided the township into school districts. Woodhull was divided as follows :
District No. 1 included sections 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
District No. 2 .- Sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36.
District No. 3 .- Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18. District No. 4 .- Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33.
In the fall of 1838 the inhabitants of Woodhull and the neighboring towns of Bath and Victor in Clinton County met at the house of Josephus Woodhull for the transaction of school business. Of this meeting Mr. Woodhull was chosen moderator, and the usual school officers were elected. It was then decided to have a bee and build a school house. Nearly all the settlers in the vicinity accordingly assembled at a specified place a few days afterwards, and, working with alacrity, soon completed a log school-house. This building stood near the county-line, on section 5. It was the first school house built in Woodhull township, and in it was taught the first school by Oliver B. Westcott. IIe received ten dollars per month and boarded himself. The attendance was from ten to sixteen, and among the number were children from territory now comprised in four town- ships.
As no money had thus far been collected by taxation for school purposes it was necessary to raise this amount by subscription, or by assessing the parents of those who at- tended school a certain per cent. The money was accord- ingly raised in this way.
328
HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The next school district was formed in 1842, in the locality containing the northern Methodist Episcopal church. The inhabitants met at the house of John Gra- ham and elected the necessary district officers, but the minutes of the meeting are not to be found. A site was selected, being the one now occupied by the school-house in district No. 2. A framed school-house was then built, being the first in the township, in which Martha Spicer taught the first school. Elizabeth Woodhull and Mary Jane Ilill taught in the same district soon after.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The carly settlers of Woodhull would compare favorably in character and education with those of any other town- ship in the county. They had scarcely placed themselves in a position to provide for the bare wants of life when they began to agitate measures for the establishment of schools and churches. All the principal denominations of the Protestant Church have been organized and encouraged from time to time. Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Congregational societies have been established. But the changes and vicissitudes of more than forty years have worked the dissolution of nearly all the societies formed in an carly day. In the church, as in the school-room, the field, and the household, the men and women who, in the strength and vigor of youth, put their shoulders to the wheel have surrendered the task, unfinished, to another generation.
In the year 1839 a Methodist class was formed in the log school-house on section 5. A Mr. Finch, of Bath, was the first class-leader. This class subsequently disbanded, and others of the same denomination have since been formed. The class now in existence in the northern part of Woodhull was formed in September, 1855, in the Antrim Circuit, and at that time was known as West Perry charge.
James S. Ilarper was chosen class-leader. The meeting- house of the society was erected in 1879, at a cost of one thousand and fifty dollars. The ground for the cemetery at this church was donated to the township by F. F. Mann and Samuel Graham. It contains one and one-half acres.
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