USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 94
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 94
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Edward Jones, wife, and family came from Tompkins County, N. Y., in July, 1850, and settled on section 27, on a farm now owned by Silas Chapman. Luther, the eldest son, came in April, and began working on the land. He mar- ried in 1852 Sarah E. Plowman ; they moved to their pres- ent location on section 23 in 1861. Edward Jones lives at this time on section 24. Names of children as follows : Isaac V. died while in the army ; Eliza (Mrs. L. M. Lyon) lives on seetion 22 ; George M. lives in Carson City ; Hiram P. enlisted in the army and died in the service.
Dorr K. Stowell, son of Dr. Hiram Stowell, one of the pioneer physicians of De Witt, married Louisa Nichols, Oct. 10, 1862; settled on the east half of northeast quarter of seetion 15, and began housekeeping in a log house which is still standing. Of six children three are now living,- Clark, Fred, and Emma. In 1864 he bought eighty aeres across the road, for which he paid ten dollars and fifty cents per acre. His present substantial dwelling, built in 1874, stands upon this land, and is opposite the log house. Mr. Stowell has been supervisor and treasurer of his town, hold- ing each office three years. Mrs. Stowell's father, Samuel D. Nichols, moved from Genesee Co., N. Y., to Farmington, Oakland Co., Mich., in 1825, and in April, 1854, came to Bengal, settling upon the northeast quarter of northeast quarter of seetion 22. Mr. Nichols was a veteran of the war of 1812, and was at Buffalo when it was burned by the British. He died in September, 1860. Mrs. Nichols lives on the farm with her son Allen.
Emmons Blakeslee, from Medina Co., Ohio, came into Michigan in April, 1852, looking for a suitable location for a farm. In August of that year he was in Bengal, and selected land on seetion 23. In October of same year he chopped and cleared two acres, and built a small frame house. May, 1853, saw him with his wife and four chil- dren moving from the old home to the new one in the woods. Mrs. Blakeslee died in June, 1874. The children are : Eliakim R. lives on the farm next north ; Charles E. lives on southwest corner of seetion 13; Henry N. lives in Lebanon ; Cornelia (Mrs. Charles Travis) lives on the homestead ; Mabel A. (Mrs. Harper) lives on scetion 23, south side.
October, 1853, saw another family moving from Medina Co., Ohio, into the forests of Bengal. R. C. Lyon, wife, and five children settled on a farm purchased from Luther Jones, now owned by 1. M. Bray. In 1857 they moved to the northwest corner of section 26. Mr. Lyon died in 1873. Mrs. Lyon still resides on the homestead. They had six children,-Willard lives on a farm about a half-mile west ; Sarah married Charles W. Lyon, and is living at Lyon's Mills ; Dow lives on a farm across the road, west of homestead; Delight married Clinton Hill, she died in May, 1875; Virginia E. died in 1871 ; Emma (Mrs. Charles Pope) lives near the United Brethren church.
Alonzo E. Jaquish located on the northwest quarter of section 10 in 1852, and went back to Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. In 1854 with his wife they came on to occupy the prom- ised land in the wilderness. They lived at first in a board shanty, but next year built a part of their present dwelling.
John Travis, with his wife and a part of his family, came from Shelby, Orleans Co., N. Y., in the fall of 1856,
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and settled where he now lives. Two sons preceded them in 1855,-James settled in St. Johns and Isaac in Bengal (died in 1879) ; Mrs. Dane now lives in Riley ; Parker is living on the homestead ; Leonard moved back to New York ; Franees (Mrs. Blakeslee) lives in the vicinity ; Charles Travis is married and living on the Blakeslee homestead.
Many other persons who have lived in the town and been connected with its early history deserve mention ; but as it is difficult to obtain facts and data of their early settlement, they must necessarily be omitted.
The first death in the township was that of a child of Judge S. W. Dexter. Mr. B. O. Williams, of Owosso, says : " At that point (Muskrat Creek) a son of Mr. and Mrs. Dexter, a ehild about two years old, died of scarlet fever. We buried the child by torch and candle-light in a box im- provised by the party. Never shall I forget that seene. The whole family, and most if not all others, in tears; the gray-haired sire, after inviting the heads of other families to lead the exercises of the mournful occasion, with tears streaming down his cheeks, read a burial service, amid the sobs that nearly drowned his voice in that deep, dark, gloomy forest, the gloomiest spot of the whole route." The grave was made and is still seen on the farm of Judge Hill, on the bank of Muskrat Creek.
The first child born in Bengal was Clinton J. Hill, son of Judge Cortland and Lucinda Ilill, who was born on the homestead in 1838, and named Clinton from the name of the county.
Judge Ilill, in his official capacity as justice of the peace, officiated at the first wedding, by uniting in the holy bonds of matrimony Miss Julia Ann Avery and Nelson Delong.
The first post-office in Bengal was established in 1850, with Cortland Hill postmaster. The post-office at Lyon's Mills was established a few years sinee, and Charles W. Lyon appointed postmaster.
The first highway through the town was the De Witt and Lyons road, occupying the same ground taken by the Dex- ter trail in 1833, coming into the township on seetion 31, and passing through it in a northwesterly course into the township of Dallas.
The first blacksmith in the town was Jerry Waldron, who had a shop on seetion 31, on the corner west of Cortland Hill's.
There have been two physicians in the town,-Dr. Bates, who moved to another field of practice, and Dr. Messenger, who moved to Grand Ledge.
ORGANIZATION AND CIVIL LIST.
Before the organization of this township namnes were se- leeted and sent to Ilon. Lemuel Castle, of Shiawassee, then representing both counties in the Legislature ; he was re- quested to have the newly-organized town called after one of these names ; but of those sent none seem to have favor- ably impressed the mind of the legislator, and, at the sng- gestion of some member who had a faney for Oriental names, that of Bengal was substituted and adopted.
Act No. 58 of the Legislature, approved March 19, 1840, is as follows :
"See. 10. All that part of the county of Clinton desig- nated in the United States survey as townships 7 and 8 north, of range 3 west, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a township by the name of Bengal, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held at the house of James Sowle, Jr., in said township."
In accordance with the above aet, the first township-meet- ing was held at the house of James Sowle, Jr., on the 18th of April, 1840, and the following officers were elected : Su- pervisor, Hiram Benedict ; Town Clerk, Timothy H. Pettit ; Treasurer, Charles Grant ; Assessors, Cortland IIill, Sylves- ter Stephens, Hiram Benedict; Commissioners of Iligh ways, Hiram Benedict, Lyman Webster ; Colleetor, Nelson Ben- ediet ; School Inspectors, Cortland Hill, James Sowle, Jr. ; Directors of the Poor, Joshua Frink, Daniel Kellogg ; Jus- tices of the Peace, Timothy H. Pettit, Cortland Hill, Ly- man Webster ; Constables, Nelson Benediet, Miner Frink, Julius Bishop, Sylvester Stephens ; Overseers of Highways, Hiram Benedict, Sylvester Stephens, Lyman Webster, Charles Grant, Cortland Hill; Poundmaster, Cortland Hill, James Sowle, Jr.
It was voted to pay two dollars for each and every wolf that shall be killed in the town. It was also voted to raise two hundred and fifty dollars for the contingent expenses of said town. It was voted that the next township-meet- ing should be held at the house of Sylvester Stephens. The oath of office was then administered to the officers elect, and the organization of the township of Bengal was complete.
The following men were selected for jurymen for the year 1840 : Uriah Drake, Lucene Eldridge, Orlow W. IIolmes, James Sowle, Jr., Marcus Rowley, Joshua Frink.
The following is a list of all the legal voters in Bengal township at its organization (all but three of these, how- ever, were resident in what is now the township of Essex) : Cortland Hill, Charles Grant, Uriah Drake, James Sowle, Jr., Hiram Benedict, Timothy I1. Pettit, Joshna Frink, Sylvester Stephens, Chauncey M. Stebbins, Lyman Web- ster, Daniel Kellogg, Alonzo Vaughn, Nelson Benediet, Julius Bishop, Joshua Coomer, Lucene Eldridge, Orlow W. Holmes, Marcus Riley, Miner Frink.
The second township-meeting was held at the house of Sylvester Stephens, April 23, 1841. The whole number of votes cast at this election averaged twenty-four. The officers elected were as follows : Supervisor, Iliram Benediet, Jr. ; Clerk, lleury M. Starks; Treasurer, Henry M. Starks; Assessors, Hiram Benediet, Jr., Chauncey M. Stebbins, Miner R. Frink ; Directors of the Poor, James Sowle, Jr., Nelson Benediet ; llighway Commissioners, Hiram Benediet, Jr., Joshua Coomer, Cortland Hill ; Con- stables, Nelson Benedict, Uriah Drake, Miner R. Frink, James Sowle, Jr. ; Inspectors of Schools, Miner R. Frink, Lyman Webster, Cortland Hill ; Collector, Nelson Benediet.
At this meeting it was voted that two cents a head be paid for every blackbird killed in the town up to the 1st day of November. The wolf-bounty of two dollars per head was renewed, and one hundred and fifty dollars was voted for contingent expenses of the town. Voted that the next township-meeting be held at the house of Chauncey M. Stebbins. The following names were returned as jurors for the year 1841 : grand jury, Lucene Eldridge, Chaun-
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BENGAL TOWNSHIP.
cey M. Stebbins, Nelson Delong ; petit jury, Joshua Coomer, Joshua Frink, Lyman Webster.
The third township-mecting was held at the house of C. M. Stebbins. The average number of votes was twenty- three. The officers elected werc : Supervisor, Chauncey M. Stebbins; Clerk, Lyman Webster; Treasurer, Daniel Kel- logg ; Justice of the Peace for four years, Samuel M. Bent- ley ; Commissioners of Highways, Samuel N. Bentley, Uriah Drake, William L. Delbridge. The wolf-bounty was increased to five dollars per head.
The next township-meeting was appointed at the barn of James Sowle, Jr., April 3, 1843. The third township- meeting was held, and the following persons were elected : Supervisor, Hiram Benedict, Jr. ; Clerk, James Sowle, Jr. ; Treasurer, Daniel Kellogg; School Inspectors, Cortland IIill, Samuel N. Bentley ; Assessors, William Bentley, Lyman Webster ; Justices of the Peace (four years), Solomon Moss (three years), Samuel N. Bentley ; Highway Commissioners, Nelson Benediet, Sylvester Stephens ; Overseers of the Poor, Timothy H. Pettit, Cortland Ilill ; Constables, David Scott, John W. Armstrong, Uriah Drake, Ira S. Thornton. This election, however, was set aside, for the reason that the north half of Bengal (in which most of the elected offi- cers resided) had been set off and erected as the township of Essex by an aet of the Legislature approved March 9, 1843. A special election was then ordered in each town- ship. That in Essex was held April 21st, and in Bengal April 26th, at the house of William Bentley, at which time the following persons were elected (whole number of votes, twelve) : Supervisor, Cortland Hill; Clerk, William Bentley ; Treasurer, Charles Grant; Commissioners of Highways, Samuel N. Bentley, Willard Knowles, Lyman Swagart ; School Inspectors, Charles Grant, Benjamin C. Thompson ; Constables, Ira S. Thornton, Willard Knowles, Uriah Drake, Levi Drake ; Directors of the Poor, Cortland Hill, Charles Grant ; Overseers of the Poor, Charles Grant, Miner R. Frink, B. C. Thompson, S. N. Bentley, William Bentley. A bounty of twenty dollars was voted on every full-grown wolf, and eight dollars on each bear killed in the town. The next township-meeting was appointed at the house of Lyman Swagart.
Sept. 22, 1843, the township board met and ordered the general election (in November) to be held at the house of Cortland Hill, November 6th, and at the house of Samuel N. Bentley, November 7th.
Below is given a list of persons who have held the offices of supervisor, town elerk, treasurer, justice of the peace, and school inspector from 1844 to 1880, inclusive :
1844 .- Supervisor, Cortland Hill; Clerk, Lyman Swagart ; Treasurer, Uriah Drake* ; Justices of the Peace, Cortland Hill, Fra S. Thornton, Lyman Swa- gart, School Inspectors, Cortland Hill, Herod Morton.
1845 .- Supervisor, Cortland Hill; Clerk, Benjamin F. Knecland ; Treasurer, Ira S. Thornton ; JJustices of the Peace, IIcrod Morton (four years), Cort- land Hill (three years, vacancy), Adam Laugh- lin (one year) ; School Inspector, Herod Morton.
1846 .- Supervisor, Lyman Swagart ; Clerk, Benjamin F. Kneeland ; Treasurer, Ira S. Thornton ; Justice of the Peace, L. Swagart (four years), Herod Morton (vacancy), Levi Jones (vacancy).
1847 .- Supervisor, Benjamin F. Knecland; Clerk, Levi Jones ; Treasurer, Harrison Sutton ; School In- spector, M. R. Frink.
1848 .- Supervisor, Benjamin F. Kneeland; Clerk, Levi Jones ; Treasurer, Harrison Sutton ; Justice of the Peace, Ira S. Thornton ; School Inspector, Uriah Drake.
1849 .- Supervisor, Benjamin F. Kneeland; Clerk, Levi Jones ; Treasurer, Harrison Sutton ; Justice of the Peace, Ileman Lake; School Inspector, Cortland Ilill.
1850 .- Supervisor, Cortland Hill ; Clerk, Ira S. Thornton ; Treasurer, Lyman Swagart; Justices of the Peace, Cortland Hill, Peter Strickland (va- cancy ); School Inspector, Alanson Giledet.
1851 .- Supervisor, Benjamin F. Kneeland; Clerk, John N. Plowman ; Treasurer, Andrew Weller ; Jus- tiees of the Peace, Andrew Weller (four years), Seth Morton (three years), Lyman Swagart (two years) ; School Inspector, Cortland Hill.
1852 .- Supervisor, Benjamin F. Kneeland ; Clerk, John N. Plowman ; Treasurer, Andrew Weller; Jus- tices of the Peace, Ira S. Thornton (four years), John C. Irons (vacancy), James L. Hamer (va- cancy ) ; School Inspector, Cortland Hill.
1853 .- Supervisor, Cortland ITill; Clerk, Edward Jones; Treasurer, Lyman Swagart; Justice of the Peace, William Bartholomew (four years) ; School Inspectors, Dorr K. Stewell (two years), Stephen F. Hammond (one year).
1854 .- Supervisor, Ira S. Thornton ; Clerk, Emmons Blakeslee ; Treasurer, Samuel II. Griffith ; Jus- tice of the Peace, Uriah Drake.
1855 .- Supervisor, Cortland Ilill ; Clerk, Emmons Blakes- lce ; Treasurer, Nathan A. Elliott; Justices of the Peace, John C. Irons, Edward Jones, Stephen Hammond.
1856 .- Supervisor, Ira S. Thornton; Clerk, Edward Jones ; Treasurer, Nathan A. Elliott; Justices of the Peace, Miner R. Frink, Levi Jones (va- eaney) ; School Inspector, Dorr K. Stowell.
1857 .- Supervisor, Benjamin F. Knecland ; Clerk, Edward Jones; Treasurer, Durr K. Stowell ; Justices of the Peace, Levi Jones, Alonzo Jagnish ; School Inspectors, Alfred H. Lyon, D. D. T. Smith.
1858 .- Supervisor, Benjamin F. Kneeland ; Clerk, Edward Jones ; Treasurer, Dorr K. Stowell ; JJustice of the Peace, John Travis ; School Inspecter, An- drew Breakins.
1859 .- Supervisor, Cortland Ilill; Clerk, Emmons Blakes- lee ; Treasurer, Dorr K. Stowell; Justices of the Peace, John C. Irons, Stephen F. Hammond (vacaney) ; School Inspectors, James II. Bush, Alfred II. Lyon, Cortland Ilill.
1860 .- Supervisor, Israel M. Bray ; Clerk, Leonard Travis; Treasurer, Willard Lyon ; Justice of the Peace,
# Resigned; I. S. Thornton appointed to filt vacancy.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
Emmons Blakeslee ; School Inspector, Alfred B. Bloomer.
1861 .- Supervisor, Dorr K. Stowell; Clerk, Leonard Travis ; Treasurer, Benjamin I. Sheldon ; Jus- tices of the Peace, D. D. T. Smith, Levi Jones, Alonzo Jaquish ; School Inspector, Israel M. Bray.
1862 .- Supervisor, Dorr K. Stowell ; Clerk, Isaac C. Jones ; Treasurer, Willard Lyon ; Justices of the Peace, Alonzo Jaquish, Miner R. Frink ; School In- spectors, Willard Lyon, Dorr K. Stowell.
1863 .- Supervisor, Leonard Travis; Clerk, Lyman Swagart; Treasurer, Willard Lyon ; Justice of the Peace, Cortland Hill ; School Inspector, Leonard Travis. 1864 .- Supervisor, Cortland Hill ; Clerk, Willard Lyon ; Treasurer, Israel M. Bray ; Justices, James L. Hamer, Edward Jones (vacancy); School In- spector, Charles E. Blakeslee.
1865 .- Supervisor, Dorr K. Stowell; Clerk, Leonard Travis ; Treasurer, E. G. Wellington ; Justice, William Sutton; School Inspectors, Willard Lyon, I. M. Bray (vacancy).
1866 .- Supervisor, B. F. Kneeland; Clerk, William W. Humaston ; Treasurer, Leonard Travis ; Justices, Israel M. Bray, John C. Sewell (vacancy) ; School Inspectors, Charles Travis, Edward Brown (va- caney ).
1867 .- Supervisor, Richard S. Coshun ; Clerk, Eliakim R. Blakeslee; Treasurer, John Brown; Justices, Edward Mack, Stephen F. Hammond, John N. Van Duyn ; School Inspector, Edward Brown. 1868 .- Supervisor, Cortland Hill ; Clerk, Charles H. Palmer ; Treasurer, Joshua Brown ; Justices, Ebenezer W. Buck, Ira S. Thornton ; School Inspector, James H. Bush.
1869 .- Supervisor, Cortland Hill; Clerk, Edward Brown ; Treasurer, Harrison Sutton ; Justices, Miner R. Frink, Cortland Hill (vacancy); School Inspec- tor, Stephen F. Hammond.
1870 .- Supervisor, Joshua Brown; Clerk, Dorr K. Stowell; Treasurer, Edward Brown; Justices, Charles Rider, John N. Van Duyn ; School Inspector, Willard Steward.
1871 .- Supervisor, Joshua Brown; Clerk, Charles HI. Palmer ; Treasurer, Edward Brown ; Justices, Cortland Hill, R. Coshun, William Hammond ; School Inspector, S. F. Hammond.
1872 .- Supervisor, Cortland Hill; Clerk, Charles H. Palmer ; Treasurer, Joshua Brown ; Justices, Parker Travis, William I. Sutton ; School In- speetor, Warren Jennings.
1873 .- Supervisor, Charles II. Palmer; Clerk, D. K. Stowell ; Treasurer, John Brown ; Justices, Ebenezer Buck, Newton Baker ; School Inspec- tor, L. Grant.
1874 .- Supervisor, Edward Brown ; Clerk, Oliver Wright ; Treasurer, John Brown; Justices, George Brown, William W. Humaston, Ebenezer W. Buck ; School Inspector, Warren Jennings.
1875 .- Supervisor, Edward Brown; Clerk, II. S. Frisbie ;
Treasurer, John Brown ; Justice, Ormel Whit- taker; School Inspector, Loren Grant; School Superintendent, Eliakim R. Blakeslee.
1876 .- Supervisor, Newton Baker ; Clerk, Oliver Wright ; Treasurer, Isaac Travis ; Justice, David Weather- wax ; School Inspector, George Browu ; School Superintendent, Charles Travis.
1877 .- Supervisor, Edward Brown ; Clerk, Warren Hal- sey ; Treasurer, Isaac Travis ; Justice, Dorr K. Stowell ; School Inspector, P. W. Buck.
1878 .- Supervisor, Edward Brown; Clerk, Warren Hal- sey ; Treasurer, Isaac Travis ; Justice, Ebenezer W. Buck, George Brown (vacancy) ; School In- spector, Peter Frisbie; School Superintendent, Charles Travis.
1879 .- Supervisor, Charles H. Palmer; Clerk, Warren Halsey ; Treasurer, Edward Brown; Justices, Riley Rice, A. Y. Boak (vacancy) ; School In- spector, John Love, Jr. ; School Superintendent, Alva II. Corwin.
1880 .- Supervisor, Edward Brown ; Clerk, Alva H. Cor- win ; Treasurer, Edward II. Lyon ; Justice, O. C. Whittaker; School Inspector, Frederick Stowell ; School Superintendent, Abram R. Brown.
SCHOOLS.
The first school district organized in the township was what is still known as district No. 1, commonly called the Sutton School. Herod Morton, Uriah Drake, and Ben- jamin F. Kneeland, school inspectors, met May 2, 1846, at the house of Lyman Swagart, and organized the district, which comprised the southwest quarter of the township. The first school-house was built of logs and stood west of the present frame building, which was erected about 1858. Mr. Dorr K. Stowell was the first teacher in the log school- house. The school report for 1878-79 gives the follow- ing: Children in district, 73; attending school, 73; one frame school-house, value $500; teachers employed, 1 male (wages $112), 2 female (wages $76); resources for the year, $323.75.
District No. 2 was organized Dec. 29, 1859, and coru- prised sections 16 and 17, the south half of sections 14 and 15, and the west half of section 9. The first school- house, a small frame structure, stood on the same ground now occupied by a neat and substantial brick building, and the only one in the township. It is in the centre of the town, on the southeast corner of section 16. The school report for 1878-79 is as follows : Number of children, 59; attending school, 47; one brick school-house, seats 68, value $1100 ; 1 male teacher, pay $80; 1 female teacher, pay $48; resources for the year, $654.52.
District No. 3 was laid out April 24, 1847, and embraced all the sections in the southeast quarter of the town. The first meeting was held at the house of Adam Laughlin, and very soon after its organization a school-house of logs was built on land given by John N. Plowman, and across the road from the present site. The first frame school-house was erected on the present site. The building was poorly built, and was not satisfactory to the inspectors or to the inhabitants of the district. It was never occupied for school
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BENGAL TOWNSHIP.
401
purposes. The school, meanwhile, was taught in a log building which stood opposite the house of Luther Jones, and was used as a church by the United Brethren. The structure in dispute finally gave place to the present neat edifice, which was built in the year 1870. The school re- port for 1878-79 gives the following : Number of children, 73; attending school, 63; frame school-house, will seat 60 pupils, value $700; 1 male teacher, pay $144; 1 female teacher, pay $56 ; resources for the year, $347.99.
District No. 4 (commonly called the Frink School) com- prised when organized sections 2, 3, 10, and II, and was organized April 14, 1851, at a meeting held at the house of B. F. Kneeland. The first school building was of logs, and was situated about forty rods north of Miner R. Frink's house, on the west side of the road. The first teacber was Mary L. Nichols, now Mrs. D. K. Stowell. Succeeding teachers were Esther Hammond, Eunice Randolph, Martha Avery, Mary J. Corwin, Nancy Sewell. The new school- house was built in the spring of 1858. The first teacher was Jennie Kneeland. She taught the summer term and Abel Wightman taught the winter term. Robert Lyon taught the winter term of 1859-60. The report of the district for 1878-79 is as follows: Children, 63; attending school, 55; one frame school-house, value $100, seats 36 ; male teacher, pay $96; female teacher received $56; re- sources for the year, $230.44.
District No. 5 has a frame school-house, situated on the northeast quarter of section 7. The district was organized Aug. 10, 1872, and at that time comprised sections 5, 6, 7, 8, and 18 (except southeast quarter on southeast corner). The school-house will seat 40 pupils, its value is $400; scholars in district, 69; in school, 60; pay of male teacher, $120; female, $54; resources for the year, $240.68.
Fractional school district No. 1 (Bengal and Riley ) was formed by the inspectors Nov. 18, 1850, at a meeting held at the house of Cortland IIill. The district at that time was composed of sections 31, 32, 33, and the west half of section 34 in Bengal, and the north half of sections 4, 5, 6, and the northwest quarter of section 3 in Riley. The first school-house in this district was a log structure, which stood on the southeast corner of Mr. Hill's farm. The first teacher was Maria T. Dryer. The next school-house was located about a half-mile farther east. It is a frame build- ing, and was crected about 1864. Children in the district, 52; attending school, 44; value of school-house, $600, will seat 46; 1 female teacher received for services, $188.60; resources, $227.32.
Fractional district No. 2 (Bengal and Riley) was organ- ized at a meeting held at the house of John M. Jones June 26, 1852. The district then embraced sections 3-1, 35, and 36 in Bengal, and sections 1 and 2 and east half of' section 3 in Riley. The school-house is a frame build- ing, valued at $300; the district contains 67 children, and all attend school; the seating capacity of school-house is 50; the male teacher was paid $130 ; female teacher, $60.
The following are the names of teachers who taught school in this township from 1846 to 1860: Dorr K. Sto- well, Mary L. Nichols, Esther Hammond, Mary F. Pratt, Elizabeth Pratt, A. Benedict, Martha Lowell, Huldah Taft, Utensia Gee, Martha Avery, H. M. Sage, Mary Jane Cor-
win, Jane Bartholomew, Charlotte Thomas, Sarah J. Ten Eyck, Ann E. Shoemaker, Nancy E. Sewell, B. S. Pratt, B. C. Macomber, Charles J. Eno, Lovisa A. Densmore, Margaret A. Davenport, Harriet Hall, Pembroke S. Buck, Ellen Cronin, Ellen M. Face, Sarah Thompson, Jane Kneeland, Robert Lyon, Betsey M. Parker, Mary A. IIal- sey, Jane Walker, Emerett E. IIill, Leonard Travis.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
The Methodist Episcopal society or class was organized about 1844, at the house of John N. Plowman. Among the early members were John N. and Sarah Plowman, Mrs. Sarah Swagart, David and Agnes Houghtaling, and Mr. Day and wife. The meetings were held in the dwel- ling-house of J. N. Plowman until the log sehool-house was built. The loss of the class-book makes a gap in the history of the class until 1856, wheu a new book was sub- stituted and the record is as follows :
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