USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 93
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 93
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Altogether, Mr. Smith is one of those leading spirits whose identification with any community is always produc- tive of good.
CHAPTER LIEL.
BENGAL TOWNSHIP .*
Description-Original Land-Entries-Early Settlements and Settlers -Organization and Civil List-Religious History-Burial-Grounds -Agricultural Statistics-Bengal Grange-Population.
This is an interior township, its southeast corner being the centre of the county. It is designated by the United States survey as township No. 7 north, of range No. 3 west. The southern boundary was surveyed in 1826 by Lucins Lyon ; the cast, north, and west boundaries were surveyed in 1831 by Robert Clark, Jr. The subdivision was made by Joel Wright and certified to June 28, 1831. Essex, which was formerly included in this township, lies on the north ; Bingham township, with the village of St. Johns, the county-seat, is on the east; Riley lies south, and Dallas is ou the west. The area of the township is
23,3001 8 7 107 " aeres. The surface is gently undulating, the elevations being about fifty feet above the general level. From these elevations some beautiful views of the surround- ing country are had. The soil is remarkably fertile, pro- ducing large erops of grain, fruit, and vegetables. Origi- nally the township was heavily timbered with ash, basswood, beech, cherry, elm, maple, oak, and walnut. Robert Clark, Jr., deputy surveyor, in his field-notes, Feb. 10, 1831, speaking of Stony Creek, says, " I have ascertained that this stream is called by the French traders La Rivière aux Roche, or Stony Creek." This stream runs through the southern portion of the town from east to west, entering the town on section 25, receiving a branch from section 24, and running thenee through sections 26 and 27 aud in see- tion 34, receiving Bad Creek ; thence through section 33 and in section 31, mingling its waters with those of the Muskrat, it passes out of the township into Dallas.
The northerly portion of the town is drained by Ilay- worth Creek and a branch, being principally on sections 2 and 3. The Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Rail- way runs through this town from east to west, having a side- track and station at Lyon's Mills. Bengal has no water- power; it is entirely an agricultural town, and is justly entitled to its fame of being one of the best townships in the county. Its farmers are well to do, and their well- tilled aeres are second to none.
Its first pioneer (Judge Cortland Hill) says, " Bengal was heavily timbered, and the early pioncers had but little inducement to stay in such a wilderness, to fight wolves and work their way up to civilized society. Several of the first settlers who could get away left for other parts, but those who remained acquired a competeuce, and some an independent fortune. The wild beasts of the forests, the deadly foes to floeks and herds, have been utterly destroyed ; the forest has melted away before the hand of industry, and orchards and fruitful fields now fill its place. The log cabins that sheltered the early settlers from the storm have rotted down, and elegant mansions stand in their stead. In forty years Bengal has constructed two hundred and eighty dwellings, sixty miles of good wagon-roads, and spanned the crossing on every stream with a good, substan- tial bridge. Fron 1837 to 1850 Bengal was considered the most worthless town in the county,-away back in the woods, outside the boundaries of civilization. Land was of no value, for no one would buy it; grain was not worth raising, for it could not be shipped ; cattle would not pay, for it was too far to drive them to market ; sheep could not be raised, for the wolves would eat them up ; yet amidst all these difficulties her progress has been steadily onward, until she stands the peer of any of her sister towns in the county."
ORIGINAL LAND ENTRIES.
The following list shows the names of those who bought land of the general government in this township, and also gives their residence, date of entry, and description :
SECTION 1.
Ezra J. Mundy, Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, northeast frac- tional quarter.
James S. Wadsworth, Geneseo, N. Y., April 5, 1837, southwest quarter and south half of northwest quarter.
* By Charles A. Chapin.
50
394
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
William D. Robinson, Wayne Co., Mieh., Aug. 21, 1837, southeast quarter.
SECTION 2.
James S. Wadsworth, Geneseo, N. Y., April 5, 1837, south half of northwest quarter and south half of northeast quarter.
Poter Larkings, Washtenaw Co., Mich., May 12, 1837, southwest quarter.
Anna Denton, Seneca Co., N. Y., May 12, 1837, southeast quarter. William D. Robinson, Wayne Co., Mich., Aug. 21, 1837, north half of northwest quarter.
SECTION 3.
James S. Wadsworth, Geneseo, N. Y., April 5, 1837, south half of northwest quarter and south half of northeast quarter.
Hannah Green, Wayne Co., Mich., May 12, 1837, southeast quarter and southeast quarter of southwest quarter.
William D. Rohinsuo, Wayno Co., Mich., Aug. 21, 1837, north half of northeast quarter.
SECTION 4.
Seymour H. Sutton, Ionia Co., Mich., Dee. 13, 1836, south part of east fractional quarter.
James S. Wadsworth, Geneseo, N. Y., April 5, 1837, southwest quarter and west half of southeast quarter, and south half of northwest quarter.
SECTION 5.
James S. Wadsworth, Geneseo, N. Y., April 5, 1837, south half and south half of northeast quarter.
SECTION 6.
Mortimer C. Rice, June 9, 1852, southeast quarter of southeast quarter.
SECTION 7.
Ahel Densmore, Calhoun Co., Mich., Nov. 7, 1836, east half.
James K. Guernsey, Monroo Co., N. Y., Dec. 13, 1836, southwest fractional quarter.
SECTION 8.
John Easton, Trumhull Co., Ohio, Nov. 7, 1836, southwest quarter and west half of southeast qoarter; Dec. 12, 1836, northeast quarter and northwest quarter.
SECTION 9.
Bush and Bailey, Lansing, Mich., Aug. 6, 1853, whole scetion.
SECTION 10.
Sarah 11. Porter, Lancaster Co., Pa., Nov. 5, 1836, east half. Wheaton Eldrich, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1836, southwest quarter. llazen Jaquish, Elton, N. Y., June 19, 1852, northwest quarter.
SECTION 11.
Sarah II. Porter, Lancaster Co., Pa., Nov. 5, 1836, northwest quarter. William B. Waldo, Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, northeast quarter and cast half of southeast quarter.
Jeremiah Groat, Montgomery Cu., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, southwest quarter and west half of southeast quarter.
SECTION 12.
Daniel Starr, July 18, 1836, northwest quarter and west half of south- west quarter.
James K. Guernsey, Monroo Co., N. Y., July 18, 1836, northeast quarter and east half of southwest quarter.
SECTION 13.
William B. Waldo, Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, west half of south- west quarter.
William Farley, Calhoun Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, west half of north- enst quarter.
Daniel Z. Ostrim, Orleans Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, east half of north- cast quarter.
SECTION 14.
William B. Waldo, Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, east half. Austin R. Gordon, Savannah, Ga., Nov. 5, 1836, west half.
SECTION 15.
B. Bartow, Ionia Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, southwest quarter.
Caleb Ticknor and George M. Ilickok, New York City, Nov. 5, 1836, northwest quarter.
Nathan Smith, Allegany Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, west half of north- east quarter.
SECTION 16.
School lands.
SECTION 17.
Charles Osgood, Monroe Co., Mich., Dec. 12, 1836, west half.
SECTION 18.
B. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Nov. 7, 1836, west half of southwest fractional quarter.
B. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Dec. 13, 1836, northwest fractional quarter and cast part of southwest fractional quarter.
Charles Osgood, Monroe Co., Mich., Dee. 12, 1836, east half.
SECTION 19.
Abram 11. Stevens, Outario Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, east half of southeast quarter.
HI. S. Vanderbilt, Ontariu Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, west half of south- east quarter and east half of southwest quarter.
William Case, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 7, 1836, northwest frae- tional quarter.
Lucinda Perkins, Allegany Co., N. Y., Nov. 8, 1836, west part of southwest fractional quarter.
SECTION 20.
Ahner Perkins, Allegany Co., N. Y., Nov. 8, 1836, southwest quarter and west half of northwest quarter.
George M. Iliekok, Salisbury, Conn., Nov. 8, 1836, east half of north- west quarter.
SECTION 21.
Wheaton Eldrich, Genesce Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1836, northeast quarter. N. and D. F. Ilorton, Jackson, Mich., Nov. 8, 1836, south half.
Rubert D. Swagart, Broome Co., N. Y., April 18, 1851, west half of northwest quarter.
SECTION 22.
B. Bartow, Ionia Co., Mich., Nov. 4, 1836, northwest quarter and west half of northeast quarter.
Wheaton Eldrich, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1836, southwest quarter. Luther Ticknor, Salisbury, Conn., Nov. 8, 1836, southeast quarter.
SECTION 23.
B. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, southeast quarter.
S. V. R. Trowbridge, Oakland Cv., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, northeast quarter.
William Reynolds, Portage Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1836, northwest quarter. Luther Ticknor, Salisbury, Coun., Nov. S, 1836, southwest quarter.
SECTION 24.
Sherman Page, Feb. 19, 1836, east half of northeast quarter. Andrew T. Judson, April 27, 1836, east half of southeast quarter. Stephen L. Gage, Oakland Co , Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, northwest quar- ter and west half of uortheast quarter.
SECTION 25.
A. Montgomery, Lenawee Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836, southwest quarter.
David Blakely, Jr., Otsego Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1836, west half of northwest quarter.
Aldrich Knapp, Oakland Co., Mich., May 12, 1837, east half of north- east quarter.
Ezra Thornton, Oakland Co., Mich., May 12, 1837, west half of north- cast quarter and east half of northwest quarter.
SECTION 26.
Mary Cronkhite, Lenawee Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836, south half. George Lewis, Essex Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, west half of northwest quarter.
395
BENGAL TOWNSHIP.
David F. Farley, Oakland Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, northeast quarter and east half of northwest quarter.
SECTION 27.
F. A. Kennedy, Lenawee Co., Mich., Sept. 21, 1836, south half. Geurgo Lewis, Essex Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, northeast quarter and east half of northwest quarter.
Sanford Lacey, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, west half of northwest quarter.
SECTION 28.
Sanford Lacey, Nov. 5, 1836, east half of northeast quarter.
Enos Dutton, Calhoun Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, west half and west half of northeast quarter, and west half of southeast quarter.
D. Lacey, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1836, east half of southeast quarter.
SECTION 29.
Hiram Godfrey, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, east half of northwest quarter.
Lemuel Dwelle, Jr., Oakland Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, west half of northwest quarter.
Lemuel Brown, lonia Co., Mich., Nov. 8, 1836, southwest quarter.
Walter W. Deane, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 18, 1837, southeast quarter.
SECTION 30.
Ebenezer Sprague, Allegany Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1836, east half of northwest quarter, and east half of southwest quartor.
D. B. Kercheval, Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, west part of northwest fractional quarter and west part of southwest quarter.
Lemuel Dwelle, Jr., Oakland Co., Mich., Nov. 5, 1836, east half.
SECTION 31.
Henry M. Moore, Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1836, east half of northwest fractional quarter and cast hulf of southwest fractionnl quarter.
James Grant, Oakland Co., Mich., Sept. 23, 1836, west half of north- east quarter and west half of southeast quarter.
Thomas Palmer, lonia Co., Mich., Sept. 28, 1836, west half of south- west fractiunal quarter, and southwest quarter of northwest frac- tional quarter.
Walter W. Deano, Wayne Co., Mich., Jan. 18, 1837, cast half of southeast quarter.
Daniel Merrill, Hancock Co., Me., Sept. 23, 1837, east half of north- east quarter.
SECTION 32.
Daniel Merrill, Sept. 23, 1836, south half.
Walter W. Deane, Jan. 18, 1837, north half.
SECTION 33.
Arunah Soper, Hartford, Conu., Sept. 28, 1836, south half.
SECTION 34.
Elijah L. Walter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 28, 1837, west half of southwest quarter.
IFuldab Curtis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., April 28, 1837, northwest quarter.
Laura R. Curtis, Washtenaw Co., Mich., June 27, 1837, cast half of southwest quarter. '
SECTION 35.
Miles E. Chapman, Medina Co., Ohio, June 12, 1819, northwest quar- ter of northeast quarter.
Henry T. Truman, June 12, 1849, northwest quarter.
Stephen F. Hammond, Medina Co., Ohio, July 17, 1852, sonth half of northeast quarter and southwest quarter of uortheast quarter.
SECTION 36.
Sherman Page, Feb. 19, 1836, cast half of southeast quarter.
Andrew T. Judson, April 27, 1836, cast half of northeast quarter.
Benjamin Stanton, Medina Cu., Ohiu, June 16, 1852, northwest quarter of northeast quarter.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS.
Cortland Hill and Lucinda, his wife, having just been married, and having concluded to seek a new home in the 1
far West, packed up their goods and left their home in Cortland Co., N. Y. Proceeding to Syracuse they took a canal-boat for Buffalo, and at that port took passage ou a steamboat for Detroit, which they reached in about four days. In Detroit Mr. Hill hired two teams for one hun- dred dollars to take them and their household goods through to Scott's (now De Witt). On arriving there they met H. M. Moore and James Grant, who had just come in from Ionia, where they had each entered one hun- dred and sixty acres of land on section 31. Mr. Hill bought this land of them at two dollars per acre, and then hired a man to go on before him and put up a log cabin. Mr. Hill hired from Capt. Scott two wagons drawn by oxen to convey his goods to their location in the unbroken wil- derness. The road which they traveled was the State road and Dexter trail, which had been underbrushed aud made passable for wagons. On the 26th day of September, 1837, they arrived at their new home, and found a log cabin ready for occupancy. This cabin stood a few feet west of their present residence. Its size was fourteen by eighteen, with shanty roof covered with shakes. The floor was of white- ash split thin ; the opening for a window was filled with sash and glass, which they brought with them. The door was made from the boards of their packing-boxes. The fireplace was omitted, for they brought a cook-stove. Two years later another and better log house was erected in front of their first cabin. In 1856 the frame house which they now occupy was built. Mr. and Mrs. Ilill have had one son and five daughters born to them, but they have been called upon to mourn the loss of their daughters, who were cut down in the flower of their youth.
Clinton J. Hill was born on the homestead in 1838, and is married and still living on it with his parents. Judge Hill has been supervisor of Bengal fifteen years, and at times has filled all the minor offices. IIe was the first justice of the peace, having been elected while the town was a part of Lebanon. In the county he has been judge of probate, serving from 1850 to 1856. Ile has been postmaster for thirty years, and still enjoys the position and its emoluments, though the latter are but nominal.
In the fall of 1838 the second family moved into the township; they were William Drake and wife, with three sons, two married and one single. They settled on the east half of the northwest and southwest quarter of section 30, which was divided among the sous,-C. R. taking the south part containing fifty-five acres, Uriah the mid-portion of fifty acres, aud Levi the uorth part of fifty-five acres. The widows of C. R. and Uriah are still living on their homesteads. Levi moved into Dallas, where he now lives.
The next pioneer was Adam Laughlin, a native of Ash- tabula Co., Ohio, who in 1836, a young and single man, settled in Oakland County. The next year, 1837, he bought from David F. Farley the cast half of the northeast quarter of section 26, and in the beginning of winter came in to chop and clear ten acres for Farley, to make a payment on his purchase. His first work on the section was to cut down a large beech-tree which stood on the corner of his land, northeast of his present residence; this tree served as a back-log for his camp-fire, in front of which he camped three nights; during the day he was occupied in putting
396
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
up a log cabin on the land he was to clear. After clearing the ten aeres he went back to Oakland County, where he married, and in January, 1840, with his family, moved in and occupied the cabin which he built three years before. In the spring he built a log house near his present resi- dence, which he built in 1866. Of six children four are now living,-Charles is married and lives on the homestead ; Lydia (Mrs. Gibson) lives in Bingham ; Jane (Mrs. Clark) lives in Danby, Ionia Co .; Mary (Mrs. Prudy) lives in De Witt.
.
Charles Grant, of Wyoming Co., N. Y., having lost his second wife, took their two children (boys) and came to this State in October, 1836. Stopping in Ann Arbor, he left his children with their grandparents and then went to Mason, Ingham Co., where he built a saw-mill, which was the first erected there. Proceeding to Lyons, Ionia Co., he helped build the first bridge which spanned the Grand River at that place. Ile then went back to New York and married Emeline Gillett, of Gainesville, Wyoming Co. Returning to Lyons in the winter of 1838, he lived there working at his trade until the spring of 1840, when he moved to Bengal and settled on the south half of the north- east quarter of section 4. Being a carpenter he built a frame house, which was the first in the town. Ile lived on this place till 1849, when he moved to the south half of the northwest quarter of section 3. His house, which was in an unfinished condition, was taken down and trans- ferred, and now forms a portion of his present residence. When they moved into the town there were no roads, and their only way out aud in was by a trail marked by blazed trees.
Mr. Grant is a veteran of the war of 1812, and served his country at Sacket's Harbor. Charles W. Grant, a son by his first wife, lives at East Saginaw ; Elihu lives at Fall River, Mass .; Eugene, a son by his second wife, lives in Minnesota. The children by the third wife are Julia D. (Mrs. B. F. Young), lives west of and adjoining the school- house ; Sylvia lives west of her sister Julia; Eliza lives in Erie, Pa. ; Isaac lives in Lake Co., Mich. ; Phoebe J. lives in Ovid; Loring is married and lives on the homestead.
Mr. Grant is now eighty-seven years of age, and, in the full possession of his faculties, has lived to see the township rise from an unbroken forest to one of the principal agri- cultural towns in the county.
William C. Gardner was farming in Hamburg, Living- ston Co., Mich., but in the beginning of 1840 he traded his farm with E. J. Mundy for the northeast fractional quarter of section I, and in February of same year settled upon the land, and is still residing on it. He claims to have set ont the second orchard in the township.
Joshua Frink and family, from Williamstown, Mass., emigrated to Farmington, Oakland Co., Mich., and in 1838 from the latter place moved to Essex (then a part of Ben- gal) and settled on section 34.
Miner R. Frink, a young man and unmarried, came with his father into the wilderness. He married Lucinda Nich- ols, and in the spring of 1841 settled on section 3 of Ben- gal. They began the journey of life together by living in a cabin built of split logs and covered over with a board roof. Their next dwelling was of logs, but in the usual
style, with gables, and was more commodious. The neat and tasteful frame house which they now occupy was erected in 1861.
Their son, Murrett, married a daughter of B. F. Knee- land, and is living on the west half of the northwest quar- ter of section 11. Amelia, their daughter, married H. B. Kneeland, and lives in the neighborhood.
Jonathan Young emigrated from Yorkshire, England, about 1834, and settled first in Northville, Wayne Co., Mich., and while liviog there married Mrs. Hannah Green. She had on May 12, 1837, entered two hundred aeres of land on section 3. In the fall of 1841 they moved in and settled on this land. Their first habitation was of logs, in the cabin style, covered with bark. In this humble log cabin they lived about three years, and then built a log house larger and better suited to their needs. This stood on the hill, about seventy rods back from the road, and near the barn. Benjamin F., a son, is owner and occupant of the homestead on which he was born. He married Oct. 7, 1867, Julia, daughter of Charles Grant ; they have four children. Their cottage was erected in 1867.
The following list comprises the names of the resident tax-payers of the township of Bengal in 1840, with addi- tional names to 1846, inclusive, together with the sections upon which they paid taxes :
Charles Grant, 1840, section 4.
Cornelius R. Drake, 1840, section 30.
Uriah Drake, 1840, section 30.
Levi Drake, 1840, section 30.
Cortland Hill, 1840, section 31.
Miner R. Frink, 1841, section 3.
Benjamin Thompson, 1843, section 19.
Jonathan Young, 1844, section 3.
Benjamin F. Kneeland, 1844, section 3.
Willard Knowles, 1844, section 13.
Samuel N. Bentley, 1844, section 13; sold and moved away.
David Storms, 1844, section 13.
Amasa Johnson, 1844, section 13.
Ira S. Thornton, 1844, sections 24, 25.
Adam Laughlin, 1844, section 26.
Justus Vaughn, 1844, section 27.
Lyman Swagart, 1844, section 28.
Ilerod Morton, 1845, section 13.
R. B. Crowner, 1846, section 1; in 1848 moved to see- tion 26.
Levi Jones, 1846, section 27.
Harrison Sutton, 1846, section 29.
John N. Plowman, 1846, section 26.
Some of the above names should have appeared earlier on the rolls, but their taxes were assessed to non-residents.
In October, 1842, Ira S. Thornton, wife, and three ehil- dren moved from Oakland County into the town and settled on sections 24 and 25. A log cabin was erected on section 25; the roof was made of hollow logs split in two pieces, the floor was of black-ash puncheons, the door made from boards, and in the windows greased paper took the place of glass. The frame house situated on seetion 24 was built in 1857. Of eight children, six are now living. Whipple A., the eldest son, died while in the army; Sarah, the
-
397
BENGAL TOWNSHIP.
eldest daughter, died in April, 1880; Mrs. Acker lives on a farm in the neighborhood; Mrs. Plowman lives in Water- town ; Napoleon is married and lives on the homestead ; Mrs. Cronkhite lives iu St. Johns; Mrs. Keller lives in Gratiot County ; Douglas lives at home.
Lyman Swagart, from Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y., came to Michigan and settled in Calhoun County. Here he married, and in 1842 moved to Bengal and settled on seetion 28, on land bought of Enos Dutton. His log cabin stood in front of where his barn now stands. William Swagart, a son, now lives on the homestead. George lives on a farm ou section 20, and a half mile uorth. Mrs. Sturges lives about a half-mile east.
Benjamin F. Kneeland and wife in the fall of 1843 set out from Geneseo, N. Y., and eame to Michigan to settle in the township of Bengal, having previously purchased land on seetion 3. On arriving here they stopped with Miner R. Frink in his log cabin until they could build a log house. The house stood on the south bank of a small stream which runs through his farm. It was built of hewed logs, with a shingle roof, matched floors, brick ehim- neys, panel doors, etc. The house when finished was the envy of all who saw it.
Mr. Kneeland built the first steam saw-mill in the town. It was put in running order in the spring of 1856, and was situated on the south side of the brook. After being in operation nine years it was taken down and moved to Maple Rapids. The frame house in which they now live was erected in 1861. Their five children living are Edwin, on a farm on section 13; Mrs. Waleott lives in Essex ; Mrs. Frink lives about one mile south ; Horaee B. on a farm cast of the school-house; Mrs. Whitlock in Greenbush.
IJarrison Sutton came from Oakland County about thirty- four years ago (1846) to Bengal, and here married Emeline Niehols and settled on seetion 29, upon which farm he has built two log houses, the last one in 1855, which is still standing and occupied as a home. Their children are : Celia (Mrs. Sutton) lives in the neighborhood; Louisa (Mrs. Kimball) lives on a farm adjoining on the east ; Miner is married and lives on the homestead ; Milo and Byron are living in Gratiot County ; Harrison, Jr., is at home.
Andrew Weller and family moved from Geneseo, N. Y., in October, 1847, and settled on the north half of the northwest quarter of section 2. Their first house was of hewed logs, in which they lived until they built their frame house, which they now occupy. Of four children, three are living. Frank, the eldest son, is married and lives in St. Johns. The other sons are studying medicine at Ann Arbor.
Among those who moved into Bengal in 1852 were Russell Harper and William F. Clark and families, from Ashtabula Co., Ohio. They settled on section 26. Mr. Harper had been in four years before and purchased his land and cleared five acres, which he put into wlreat. He sold the crop on the ground, and went back to Ohio. David, a son of William F. Clark, lives in Montcalm County. The children of Russell llarper are George A., living on a farm two miles west; William N. lives in Gratiot County ; Edwin F. lives at home ; Kitty and Etta, twin daughters, live at home.
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