USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 92
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 92
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The first license to keep a tavern was granted to James M. Blood. A few days after, the following one was granted to Samuel Chappel, in the following words :
" COUNTY OF CLINTON, )
STATE OF MICHIGAN. S SS.
" At a meeting of the town board [of the township of Ossowa], at the house of James M. Blood, for the purpose of granting permits to tavern-keepers and common vietual- sellers, on the 11th day of April, 1840, Samuel Chappel was allowed to keep a tavern in all its various branches, ex- eepting the privilege to retail ardent and spirituous lickours, which privilege the board do not grant or permit ; said license to take effect on the 1st day of May of the present year, and to expire on the last day of April, 1841, in his house, formerly belonging to Chaneey Davis, on section 27, town 6 north, range 1 W., and no other.
" JAMES M. BLOOD, - Town Board."
II. HAGERTY, JESSE JAMESON, JOHN COLLISTER,
As has been stated, Ossowa was divided in 1843 and the township of Bath was organized. The first election held in Bath as a distinct township was at the house of Silas W. Rose, on the 18th day of April, 1843, on which occa- sion the whole number of votes cast was twenty-five.
The township officers of Ossowa and Bath annually eleeted from 1839 to 1880, inclusive, have been as named in the following list, viz. :
OSSOWA.
1839 .- Supervisor, Silas W. Rose ; Clerk, C. Davis *; Com- missioners of Highways, James Smith, Hosea Root, Jesse Jameson ; Assessors, Hugh Hagerty, A. Coddington, Philemon Newman ; School In- spectors, Silas W. Rose, W. J. Partelo, A. Cod- dington ; Justices, Hugh Hagerty, Jesse Jame- son, P. Newman, S. W. Rose; Collector, Jona- than Burke; Constables, Jonathan Burke, Peter Finke, Chauncey Davis, J. Canklin ; Directors of the Poor, Robert Finch, James Smith ; Treas- urer, Jesse Jameson.
1840. - Supervisor, James Blood ; Treasurer, Jesse Jame- son ; Assessors, A. Coddington, D. H. Blood, Hugh Hagerty ; Collector, P. Finch ; School Inspectors, W. J. Partelo, R. Collister, Jr., Jonathan Burke; Directors of the Poor, Robert Collister, W. E. Young ; Commissioners, Robert Finch, Joseph Parsons, James M. Blood ; Jus- tices, W. J. Partelo ; Constables, Peter Finch, Stephen Finch, Samuel Chappel, W. Calkins. 1841 .- Supervisor, W. W. Upton ; Clerk, Silas W. Rose ; Treasurer, O. A. Phelps; Assessors, Hugh Hagerty, Henry Goodrich, Jesse Burke; Col- leetor, John Crist ; School Inspectors, Walter Laing, John G. Brindle, W. W. Upton ; Com- missioners, Edwin L. Phelps, C. Potter, Went- worth Calkins ; Justice, Walter Laing; Consta- bles, John Crist, William Culver, W. Calkins ; Directors of the Poor, James Smith, Jesse Jame- son.
1842 .- Supervisor, W. W. Upton ; Clerk, D. H. Blood ; Treasurer, Ainsworth Reed; Assessors, John Groom, Walter Laing; Commissioners, Howe Covert, John Collister, Joshua Priest ; Justice, Stephen Smith ; School Inspectors, John Brin- gle, John Groom, W. W. Upton ; Directors of the Poor, David B. Cranson, D. S. Coates ; Con- stables, William Finch, C. S. Swegles, A. Groom ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, James Calkins.
BATH.
1843 .- Supervisor, O. A. Phelps; Clerk, S. W. Rose; Treasurer, E. L. Phelps ; Assessors, R. J. Burt, H. Culver ; School Inspectors, R. J. Burt, A. Priest ; Directors of the Poor, Jacob Conklin, S. W. Rose ; Commissioners, P. Newman, Wil- liam Cass, James Smith ; Justices, S. Call, Wil- liam Cass, J. Burke ; Constables, R. J. Burt, H. Stevens, J. Persons, M. W. Newman.
1844 .- Supervisor, O. A. Phelps; Clerk, S. W. Rose ; Treasurer, E. L. Phelps ; Assessor, A. Eldrich ; School Inspector, R. J. Burt. The minutes of the meeting of this year are incomplete and in- definite.
# At a special elcetion called on May 11, 1839, for the purpose of filling vacancies, the following-named persons were chosen : Clerk, John Collister; Assessor, Jesse Burke; School Inspector, William E. Young.
389
BATH TOWNSHIP.
1845 .- Supervisor, S. Cole; Clerk, W. H. II. Culver ; Treasurer, --; Assessors, John Covert, I. B. Towner ; Commissioner, J. Calkins ; Sehool Inspector, S. B. Smith ; Directors of the Poor, J. Smith, I. Fletcher ; Justiee, R. Burt ; Con- stables, T. Newman, L. Priest.
1846 .- Supervisor, Samuel Cole ; Clerk, Israel R. Trem- bley ; Treasurer, Jesse Burke; Commissioners, Edwin L. Phelps, Stephen Gregory, Montgomery Burt ; School Inspectors, D. L. Elert, Samuel B. Smith ; Justices, Ezias A. Phelps, Isaae Fletcher ; Directors of the Poor, Isaae B. Towner, Isaae Fleteher ; Constables, Montgom- ery Burt, Harrison Levanway, Hamilton Stevens, William H. Culver.
1847 .- Supervisor, D. Levanway ; Clerk, John Crist ; Treasurer, Jesse Burke ; Commissioners, George Smith, William Coss, E. L. Phelps ; School In- spector, Richard Burt; Justices, Samuel Cole, John Tyler ; Direetors of the Poor, Jacob Conk- lin, Harrisou Levanway ; Constables, Hamilton Stevens, Alexis Tyler.
1848 .- Supervisor, Dorus Levanway ; Clerk, Sylvanus Baehelder ; Justice, Isaae Fleteher ; Treasurer, Jesse Burke; Sehoel Inspector, Dorus Levan- way ; Commissioner, A. Tyler ; Assessors, Joseph Piersons, Isaae B. Towner; Directors of the Poor, J. Conklin, James Smith ; Constables, A. Stevens, S. Tyler, P. Conklin, W. H. Culver. 1849 .- Supervisor, R. Burt ; Clerk, S. Baehelder ; Justice, R. Burt ; Treasurer, J. Burke; Sehool Inspee- tors, W. H. Culver, J. Marsden ; Commission- ers, J. Tyler, S. Cole ; Assessors, R. Collister, J. B. Towner ; Directors of the Poor, J. Smith, J. Conklin ; Constables, L. Tyler, M. Cushman, T. Newman.
1850 .- Supervisor, S. B. Smith ; Clerk, S. Baehelder ; Treasurer, A. Tyler ; Justice, Thomas Peacock ; School Inspector, J. R. Trembley ; Commissioner, James Smith ; Assessors, E. L. Phelps, W. H. Culver ; Direetors of the Poor, James Smith, Jacob Conklin ; Constables, Stephen Tyler, James Smith, Peter Conklin, Morris Cushman. 1851 .- Supervisor, S. B. Smith ; Clerk, S. Bachelder ; Treasurer, J. Burke; Justice, S. Cole ; School Inspector, R. Burt ; Commissioner, D. P. Dryer ; Assessors, J. Piersons, T. Peacock ; Directors of the Poor, J. Smith, J. Tyler ; Constables, A. Sweet, P. Rose, L. Tyler, S. Cole.
1852 .- Supervisor, S. Bachelder ; Clerk, S. Fletcher ; Treasurer, A. Cole ; Justice, S. R. Trembley ; School Inspector, S. Bachelder ; Commissioner, J. Tyler ; Directors of the Poor, R. Burt, D. P. Dryer ; Constables, A. Crane, A. Sweet.
1853 .- Supervisor, S. Bachelder; Clerk, I. Fletcher ; Treasurer, S. Cole; Justice, E. L. Phelps ; School Inspector, A. Crane; Commissioner, Joseph Pierson ; Directors of the Poor, S. Cole, A. Sweet ; Constables, A. Crane, W. Peacock, R. Rose, James Smith.
1854 .- Supervisor, S. Bachelder ; Clerk, I. Fletcher, Jr .; Treasurer, S. Cole; Justice, D. P. Dryer ; School Inspector, S. Baehelder ; Commissioner, E. Trumble; Directors of the Poor, S. Cole, E. L. Phelps; Constables, S. Hunt, R. Rose, L. Tyler, S. Tyler.
1855 .- Supervisor, S. Baehelder ; Clerk, I. Fletcher, Jr .; Treasurer, I. Cole; School Inspector, W. R. Norton ; Commissioner, A. Smith ; Directors of the Poor, R. Collister, Jr., E. R. Phelps ; Con- stables,' J. Burke, J. Spangler, W. Stevens, S. R. Tyler.
1856 .- Supervisor, James H. Cayvett; Clerk, Jacob Spang- ler ; Treasurer, D. P. Dryer ; School Inspector, James II. Cayvett ; Justice, John Watlin ; Com- missioner, Benjamin Martin; Directors of the Poor, A. K. Shay, Henry Goodrich ; Constables, L. Potter, N. P. Gallup, D. Marr, Wm. Stevens. 1857 .- Supervisor, John M. Easton ; Clerk, Samuel Cole ; Treasurer, 1. Fletcher, Jr .; Justice, A. Crane ; School Inspectors, John G. Brindle, P. R. S. Crage ; Commissioners, Walter Love, Oney Davis ; Directors of the Poor, E. L. Phelps, Henry Goodrich ; Constables, William Stevens, Walter Coss, Jared Debar, Robert Rose.
1858 .- Supervisor, Thomas Woodman ; Clerk, W. M. Van Leuven ; Treasurer, Isaae Fleteher, Jr .; Jus- tices, E. L. Phelps, Samuel Bender ; School Inspector, Jacob Spangler ; Commissioners, A. Debar, Silas W. Rose; Directors of the Poor, Joseph Piersons, Henry Goodrich ; Constables, A. Debar, E. Smith, W. Love, M. Cushman.
1859 .- Supervisor, Thomas J. Woodman; Clerk, W. M. Van Leuven ; Treasurer, Isaae Fleteher ; School Inspectors, John M. Easton, John G. Brindle ; Justices, Walter Love, Isaae M. Dryer ; Diree- tors of the Poor, E. L. Phelps, Albert Smith; Constables, James Culver, R. C. Comstoek, Abraham Smith, P. N. Galliger.
1860 .- Supervisor, John M. Easton; Clerk, William M. Van Leuven ; Treasurer, Isaae Fletcher ; School Inspector, Hiram Rathburn; Justiees, Samuel Cole, John G. Brindle ; Commissioner, Silas W. Rose ; Constables, Alexander MeKibbin, R. C. Comstock, James L. Culver.
1861 .- Supervisor, John M. Easton ; Clerk, W. M. Van Leuven ; Treasurer, Isaae Fleteher ; Justice, T. J. Woodman; School Inspectors, John M. Easton, W. R. Norton ; Commissioner, James L. Culver ; Constables, William P. Trembly, Lyman S. Potter, Ransford C. Comstoek, Silas W. Rose. 1862 .- Supervisor, Thomas J. Woodman ; Clerk, Wash- ington Yonry ; Treasurer, Isaac Fletcher ; Jus- tice, Marion Smith ; Commissioner, Daniel Sober; School Inspectors, Jacob Spangler, John Seely ; Constables, Albert P. Smith, Charles Cushman, George Il. Spangler, Wilber Thompson.
1863 .- Supervisor, Thomas J. Woodman ; Clerk, Washing- ton Youry ; Treasurer, Stepheu B. Roby ; Jus- tices, Samuel Hunt, Elisha Abel ; Commissioner,
390
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Milo Mead ; School Inspector, Isaae M. Dryer ; Constables, John L. Tyler, Albert P. Smith, Milo Mead, John Thompson.
1864 .- Supervisor, John M. Easton; Clerk, David M. Knox ; Treasurer, Isaac Fletcher; Justice, D. M. Knox ; Commissioner, Silas W. Rose ; School Inspector, John M. Easton ; Constables, Charles W. Smith, George W. Fletcher, Daniel Peacock, P. N. Gallup.
1865 .- Supervisor, T. J. Woodman ; Clerk, Washington Youry ; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Justices, T. J. Woodman, David P. Dryer, Albert Smith ; School Inspector, Albert Watson ; Commissioners, I. M. Dryer, Stephen B. Roby; Constables, Milo Cushman, Robert Rose, George Spangler, Stephen B. Roby.
1866 .- Supervisor, John M. Easton ; Clerk, Hiram L. Tooker; Treasurer, Albert Watson; School In- spector, J. N. Smith ; Commissioner, G. S. Cul- ver; Justices, James Conkright, Levi Randall ; Constables, F. M. Randall, W. II. Rose, George W. Fletcher.
1867 .- Supervisor, John M. Easton ; Clerk, Hiram L. Tooker; Treasurer, Leon Benson; School In- spector, W. W. Bowdish ; Commissioner, Silas W. Rose; Justices, Levi Randall, John Read ; Constables, Lawrence Price, Francis M. Randall, Edward F. Riggs, William Rose.
1868 .- Supervisor, Washington Youry ; Clerk, Iliram Tooker; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Justices, T. J. Woodman, Richard Trumbull; School In- spectors, R. C. Robinson, A. Watson ; Commis- sioners, Henry Ousterhout, L. W. Knapp ; Con- stables, Lyman Douglas, Isaac Chapman, Warner Coston, A. M. Towner.
1869 .- Supervisor, John M. Easton; Clerk, Hiram Tooker ; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Commissiouer, Peter W. Sleight ; Justice, David Donaldson ; School Inspector, Henry Ousterhout; Constables, Ly- man Douglas, William Goodrich, William Sleight, Jared De Bar.
1870 .- Supervisor, Sylvanus Bachelder; Clerk, Willard A. Corn ; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Justices, Nathaniel J. De Bar, W. W. Bowdish ; School Inspector, Newell A. Dryer; Commissioner, Silas W. Rose ; Constables, Jared De Bar, David Wherry, Edward Southworth, Charles B. Colc. 1871 .- Supervisor, John Read; Clerk, A. B. Gregory ; Treasurer, A. Watson; Justices, Stephen B. Rowley, II. H. Hawley ; School Inspector, C. B. Church ; Commissioner, W. Il. Famill; Con- stables, A. Sheffield, Daniel Peacock, C. W. Smith, P. N. Gallup.
1872 .- Supervisor, John Read; Clerk, Hiram Tooker; Treasurer, Elijah M. Hawley ; Justices, W. W. Bowdish, A. H. Clark ; School Inspector, N. A. Dryer ; Commissioner, Oscar T. Place ; Drain Commissioner, Hiram Tooker ; Constables, Hel- mer Gardner, David Wherry, Ira O. Fletcher, A. W. Sheffield.
1873 .- Supervisor, Isaac M. Dryer ; Clerk, Hiram Tooker ; Treasurer, Elijah M. Hawley ; Justice, Hauford 11. Hawley ; School Inspector, O. S. Trumbull ; Highway Commissioner, G. W. Fletcher; Drain Commissioner, Silas W. Rose; Constables, W. HI. Sweeny, C. W. Austin, Isaac Chapman, Amos Phelps.
1874 .- Supervisor, Isaac M. Dryer ; Clerk, Hiram Tooker ; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Justice, T. J. Wood- man ; Highway Commissioner, L. W. Knapp ; Drain Commissioner, Milo Mead; School In- spector, Washington Youry ; Constables, Charles W. Austin, Mitchell Hlyler, Alfred Sprague, Al- bert Hyler.
1875 .- Supervisor, Isaac M. Dryer ; Clerk, Hiram Tooker ; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Justice, Ross Brown ; School Inspector, Washington Youry ; School Superintendent, T. A. Stephens; Highway Com- missioner, George W. Fletcher; Drain Commis- sioner, Sylvanus Bachelder; Constables, Charles W. Austin, William Mitchell, Bradley T. Whit- ney, Charles R. Cushman.
1876 .- Supervisor, Isaac M. Dryer; Clerk, A. W. Johnson ; Treasurer, A. Watson ; Justice, T. K. Makley ; School Inspector, Washington Youry ; School Superintendent, T. A. Stephens; Highway Com- missioner, Job Sleight ; Drain Commissioner, T. J. Woodman ; Constables, T. B. Whitney, James Terry, T. M. Goodhue.
1877 .- Supervisor, Ross Brown; Clerk, A. W. Johnson ; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Justices, Sylvanus Bachelder, Isaac Fletcher, Edwin Clark ; School Inspector, Danicl Peacock ; School Superintend- ent, T. A. Stephens; Highway Commissioner, F. H. Mackley ; Constables, John G. Smith, Warren Trumbull, C. B. Gillingham, C. J. Martin.
1878 .- Supervisor, Isaac M. Dryer; Clerk, H. L. Tooker ; Treasurer, Albert Watson ; Justices, A. H. Clark, Silas W. Rose, E. M. Hawley ; School Inspector, Henry Talmage ; School Superintend- ent, Edward Barber; Highway Commissioner, James Sweeny; Drain Commissioner, T. J. Wood- man ; Constables, Edward Everett, Nelson W. Torrey, Denis Robey, George Van Scoy.
1879 .- Supervisor, Isaac M. Dryer ; Clerk, Albert Watson ; Treasurer, W. Il. Rose ; Justice, T. J. Wood- man ; School Superintendent, T. A. Stephens; School Inspector, George H. Carl; Highway Commissioner, James Sweeny ; Constables, Ed- ward Everett, Rolin Crandall, Samuel Cushman, John Woodman.
1880 .- Supervisor, Ross Brown; Clerk, Abel W. John- son ; Treasurer, William II. Rose ; Justice, Silas W. Rose; School Superintendent, T. A. Ste- phens ; School Inspector, George W. Fletcher ; Highway Commissioner, C. B. Church ; Drain Commissioner, James N. Smith ; Constables, Nathaniel J. De Bar, Charles E. Phelps, Charles W. Austin, Tunis Cronkite.
391
BATII TOWNSHIP.
SCHOOLS.
The schools of Bath had their beginning in a little log cabin, built by Peter Finch, on the farm now owned by William Peacock. But the exact time in which this be- ginning was made it is now impossible to say with certainty. It was probably in the summer of 1840. Mrs. Finch, who had taught before she came to the township, commenced a school, and several days had glided peacefully away, with from seven to ten scholars in attendance, when a minister of the Christian Church came to the house of Silas W. Rose, and signified his intention to hold publie worship, and this school-house was selected as the place in which it was to be held.
Several boys in the neighborhood, thinking to give him a warm reception, built a rousing fire in the fireplace, which was made of stones, sticks, and mud, and the result was that the building took fire and was destroyed. This ter- minated the school until another log school-house was built in this district. This second one stood where the one now in use stands. It was the first frame school-house built in the township., A school had been taught as early as 1839, in the northwest part of the township of Woodhull, and this continued in active operation for a number of years, and to it the settlers in the adjoining part of Bath sent their children. A school was also opened in Ingham County, near the southeastern part of' Bath. The second school in the township was in a diminutive cabin, built by Joshua Priest, on the farm of Jacob Wesner, during the summer of 1844. This, as well as several succeeding terms (taught in another cabin built by Stephen Gregory, on the farm now owned by Isaac Fletcher), was conducted by Miss Mary Ann Young. In the log school-house which was built subsequently, Miss Celestine Freeman taught the first term ; and Miss Kate Hardy taught the first term in the frame school-house built in this district by Silas W. Rose and James L. Culver.
The following table gives the number of scholars in each school district (whole and fractional) in the township, and the total amounts of moneys raised for various school pur- poses for the year 1879 :
District.
Scholars.
Amount.
No. 1 (whole).
33
$179.70
"
2
33
214.14
3
638.92
1
125
403.14
5
43
181.65
10
45
193.45
6 (fractional).
39
250.99
"
7
19
142.35
S
214.76
4 4
9
113.82
12
55
133.11
CHURCHES.
As has already been stated, a minister of the Christian Church came to the house of Silas W. Rose about the year 1840. Ilis efforts resulted in the organization of a society of that denomination, the original members of which were five in number, as follows : Mr. and Mrs. Silas M. Rose, Cornelius Potter and wife, and William Culver.
The society prospered for some years, and at one time became quite strong, but as some of its best members died, and others moved away, it declined and was at last dis- continued.
The next society organized was that of the United Breth- ren, but it was discontinued in a short time.
The Methodists also made several attempts to establish their society in the township in an early day, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
FIRST FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCHI.
This church was organized by S. Courier and William R. Norton, in April, 1855. A series of revival-meetings had been conducted with gratifying success, and at the first meeting called for the purpose fifteen names were enrolled. In 1872 the society built a meeting-house, which cost about two thousand five hundred dollars. The present membership is ninety.
CLOSE-COMMUNION BAPTIST CHURCHI OF BATII.
Ou the 16th day of March, 1868, the friends of this society met, in compliance with the recommendation of Rev. A. H. Parsons. At this meeting a vote to organize was unanimously adopted, and the following-named per- sons became the constituent members of the church : Charles, Samuel, and Samantha Vandeventer, Sarah Chency, Abiram Riggs, Amanda Cronkite, Lucina Ellsworth.
These were admitted by letter from other Baptist socie- ties to which they had belonged. There were also a num- ber admitted on probation.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BATH.
This society owes its organization to Rev. A. A. Ralph, who, in the winter of 1869, conducted a series of revival- meetings with notable success. These meetings were con- tinued about four weeks, during which time a large number of converts were made, and the class which, prior to this time had belonged to the Okemos charge, received many additions and became a distinet organization and the centre of the circuit. Rev. A. A. Ralph was succeeded by B. S. Pratt. The society is now under the charge of Rev. J. Hills. It has a membership of eighty-one. A class of the same society, numbering fourteen members, meets at school-house No. 10, but it is not a chartered society. The Methodist Episcopal Society at Pine Lake was organ- ized about the same time as the one mentioned above. In 1879, while Rev. MeEwing was in charge, it built the " Pine Lake Meeting-House," which cost fifteen hundred dollars.
VILLAGE OF BATII.
The village of Bath is situated upon land which was entered and settled by Dustin Marr, a soldier of the Mexi- can war. He received a land-warrant from the government, and came to Bath and located on the southeast quarter of section 17. Hle subsequently sold it to Charles Tomp- kins.
When the railroad was completed into the township, the people, desirons to secure a depot, offered the company various inducements to that end. A sum of money was raised by subscription, and in addition Mr. Tompkins offered the undivided one-half of forty acres, favorably located, for depot and yard purposes. The proposition was accepted and a depot immediately built. It was the first house built in the village, which was platted soon after. A lot was
392
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
soon sold to Israel Van Ostran, who built a small tavern. This was remodeled and a large addition built to it in 1879 by John Reade.
The first store in the village was opened by F. Kelly and John Steffee, in the house now occupied by John Smith. Charles Farrer opened a blacksmith-shop, and after some years sold it to Walter Snell. The first post- master in Bath was H. H. Culver. Artemas H. Clark, the present postmaster, was appointed in 1873. About the year 1864 a saw-mill was built by Mr. Lee, which did good service. Since then several have been built and two have been destroyed by fire. The one now standing was built by Watson & Evcretts. On the 20th day of January, 1880, the Bath Flouring-Mill, built by Leach, Ray & Company, commenced operations. It has one run of stones for flour, and one for coarser grinding, with room for another run. It has a forty-five horse-power engine. It was a valuable addition to the business interests of the village.
There are now in the village four general stores, one drug-store, one shoe-store, a carriage- and wagon-shop, etc., in addition to the business places already mentioned. The population of the village is three hundred and fifty.
Dr. Newell A. Dryer and Dr. Albert Hicks are practicing physicians of Bath.
BATH LODGE, No. 124, I. O. O. F.
This lodge was organized Dec. 1, 1868, with N. A. Dryer, I. M. Dryer, W. S. Hall, Martin Neichswander, C. J. Hyler as its charter members. The lodge is now in a prosperous condition, having seventy members. The founda- tion of a hall, twenty-four by fifty-five feet, is completed, and the building will be at once creeted and furnished for the use of the lodge.
The present officers are N. Watson, N. G. ; J. Sweeney, V. G .; A. H. Clark, Recording Secretary ; A. Webster, P. Sceretary ; Thomas Witchel, Treasurer.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
JAMES N. SMITHI.
This gentleman, one of the leading agriculturists of Clinton County, was born in the town of Hector, Tompkins Co., N. Y., April 20, 1830, and was the eldest in the family of Jonas and Mary (Gilmore) Smith, which consisted of six. The elder Smith was a farmer, and was born in Tompkins County in 1807, and was married in February of 1829. In 1833 he removed with his family to San- dusky Co., Ohio, where he resided until his death. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was one of the prominent citizens of the county. He held various positions of trust and responsibility, notably among the
number that of sheriff and county commissioner; the latter position he filled acceptably for six years. He held the office of justice of the peace for eighteen years. He was an energetic and successful farmer, and acquired a competeney. James received a common-school education, and remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age. He studied civil engineering and surveying, and for several years was engaged as a teacher. In 1854 he met his destiny in the person of Miss Rachel Short, whom he married in that year. Shortly after his marriage he pur- chased a farm, which he carried on in connection with that
393
BENGAL TOWNSHIP.
of his father. He took an active interest in political mat- ters, and in 1858 was elected county elerk. At the ex- piration of his term of office he was re-elected. IFe dis- charged his duties with fidelity to the trust reposed in him, and with eredit to himself.
In 1864, Mr. Smith disposed of his property in Ohio and came to Bath, where he purchased seven hundred acres of land, which is a part of his present estate of twelve hundred aeres, a large portion of which is under a high state of cultivation. Since coming to Michigan Mr. Smith has eschewed polities, and has devoted himself to farming and stock-growing. He has a large herd of Galloway eattle, of which he is said to be the largest breeder in the United States.
Mr. Smith has devoted much time and study to the subject of draining, and is considered to be standard au- thority on anything pertaining thereto. He is county drain commissioner, and in this capacity his services are of immense value to the farming community. As a farm en- gineer he is undoubtedly one of the most proficient in this part of the State, and his services are in great demand. He is one of the organizers and charter members of the Central Michigan Agricultural Society, and has probably done more to advance its interests than any other member of the organization. The society was born under adverse eirenustances, and has had to contend with many difficul- ties and embarrassments, and its success is largely attributa- ble to the untiring efforts of its present superintendent, James N. Smith. The exhibition of the centennial year was highly successful, and the officers of the society, -- business men of the city of Lansing,-knowing that it was due largely to the efforts of Mr. Smith, and to show their esteem and appreciation of his services, presented him with an elegant cane suitably engraved.
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