USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 95
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 95
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The additional members were Juliana Plowman, Edward Jones, Lois Jones, George Jones, Joseph G. Plowman, Francis Lyon, Dow Lyon, L. M. Lyon, William Houghtaling, Eliza A. Shoemaker, and Charlotte Ames. The pastors have been J. Harder, T. J. Hill, N. L. Brockway, J. W. Caw- thorne, J. Fowler, D. O. Fox, S. Steele, L. Hutt, William McKnight, F. I. Bell, H. II. Hulbert, B. S. Pratt, C. A. Jacokes, S. G. Blanchard, J. S. Harder, Hiram B. Nichols, and S. Snyder. This class has been merged with the Bengal Centre, formerly the West Bengal class, and trans- ferred to Bengal Centre, and now worship in the brick school-house. Present membership, twenty-four, under the pastoral charge of Rev. L. M. Garlick.
The North Bengal class was organized in the fall of 1867, by Rev. F. I. Bell, at the Frink school-house. The members then were John N. and Angeline Van Duyn, Andrew and Charlotte Weller, Emeline Grant, and Julia D. Young. The pastors include some of those named above. While in charge of Rev. William McKnight a revival oe- curred, which added some twenty-five to the class. Pres- ent membership, twenty-six. Present pastor Rev. L. M. Garlick.
The only church edifice in the township of Bengal is that of the United Brethren in Christ .* The society was organized Oct. 1, 1855, by Rev. William L. Kennard, cir- cuit preacher of P'ine Lake Mission, Michigan Conference. The first members were Emmons and Sarah L. Blakeslee, Abraham and Lydia Ten Eyck, and Betsey Lyons. For church officers Emmons Blakeslee was elected class-leader, and Abraham Ten Eyck steward.
During the next winter a revival was had, which added some thirty to the church. In the summer of 1856 a log church, size thirty by thirty feet, was built, located on sec- tion 26, on land opposite the present residence of Luther Jones
Their new frame church edifice was erected in 1877, at a cost of about twenty-eight hundred dollars ; size thirty-six by fifty, with a vestibule eleven by sixteen ; the tower and spire rises ninety-six feet high. The inside is neatly fin- ished and furnished. It was dedicated by Bishop J. Weaver.
# Contributed by Emmons Blakeslee.
51
402
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The present class numbers twenty-three. The pastor is Rev. B. H. Mowers; class-leader, John Brown. The so- ciety has a good parsonage for their minister. The Sunday- school was organized in 1854, with thirty scholars; the present school numbers seventy in all. John Brown is superintendent. The school is in a very prosperous condi- tion. The church society, though few in numbers, is doing very well.
BURIAL-GROUNDS.
The Bengal Cemetery Association was organized in 1863, John Travis, President ; Israel M. Bray, Secretary and Sexton ; Dorr K. Stowell, Treasurer. This society owns a half-acre of land adjoining the Bray farm. It is neatly laid out and fenced.
There is another burying-ground in the northern part of the town, in the Frink neighborhood.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
In 1879 there were sown 5337 acres of wheat, against 4985 in 1878 and 2829 acres in 1874; and there were 1375 acres of corn planted in 1879, against 945 in 1874.
The crop of 1874 yielded 41,674 bushels of wheat, 58,963 bushels of corn, and 6721 bushels of potatoes. The crop of 1879 yielded 141,064 bushels of wheat, 105,722 bushels of corn, and 12,656 bushels of potatoes, 62,909 bushels of oats, 1395 bushels of elover-seed, 2227 tons of hay, 15,191 pounds of wool from 3050 sheep.
The yield of maple-sugar in 1854 was 6582 pounds ; 1860, 20,095 pounds ; in 1874, 11,778 pounds.
The amount of butter made in 1854 was 8485 pounds ; in 1864, 20,700 pounds ; in 1874, 67,381 pounds.
In 1860 there were 80 horses, 249 milch cows, 134 oxen, and 794 swine in the town. The year 1879 shows the in- crease to 662 horses, 644 milch cows, and 1075 swine.
The following is a list of names of farmers in the town- ship who produced one thousand bushels of wheat or over during the year 1879 :
Philip Sturgis, 33 acres, 1000 bushels ; Corwin Sturgis, 34 acres, 1000 bushels; H. B. Kneeland, 36 acres, 1170 bushels ; George Seifert, 36 acres, 1015 bushels ; James Strong, 40 acres, 1056 bushels; Mrs. Isaac Travis, 40 acres, 1260 bushels; Harrison Sutton, 42 acres, 1300 bushels ; Henry Sheldon, 42 acres, 1064 bushels ; George Brown, 42 acres, 1420 bushels ; John Brown, 43 acres, 1343 bushels; C. W. Lyon, 48 acres, 1720 bushels; B. F. Young, 50 acres, 1404 bushels ; William Swagart, 50 acres, 1480 bushels; Hiram Nestle, 50 acres, 1100 bushels ; Loren Grant, 58 acres, 1560 bushels ; William Byrne, 54 acres, 2500 bushels; M. Ryan, 56 acres, 2300 bushels ; M. R. Georgia, 58 acres, 1586 bushels ; William Polhemus, 60 acres, 1764 bushels; Miner R. Friuk, 60 acres, 1800 bushels ; Dorr K. Stowell, 63 acres, 1920 bushels ; E. Plow- man, 63 acres, 2400 bushels ; William Mack, 65 acres, 1597 bushels ; J. S. Sturgis, 70 acres, 2262 bushels ; J. N. Parker, 75 acres, 2550 bushels; A. Rosenkrans, 75 acres, 1848 bushels ; James L. Hamer, 80 acres, 2200 bushels ; B. F. Kneeland, 80 acres, 2700 bushels.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Bengal Grange, No. 225, was organized Dec. 28, 1878. The officers for 1880 are, Master, Warren Halsey ; Over- seer, Dorr K. Stowell; Lecturer, Mrs. Willard Steward ; Steward, Darius Peetil; Asst. Steward, Frederick Stowell ; Lady Asst. Steward, Mrs. Riley Rice; Chaplain, Willard Steward ; Treasurer, Hiram Tubbs; Secretary, Dow Lyon ; Gatekeeper, L. Hammond ; Ceres, Mrs. W. Jennings ; Pomona, Mrs. Emma Chapman ; Flora, Miss Flora Plow- man. The grange has a hall situated on section 23, about one mile east of the town-house.
POPULATION.
In 1847 the inhabitants of the township numbered 49. In 1854 they had increased to 350, and in 1860 to 638. In 129 families there were 148 dwelling-houses ; 99 farms were occupied. The State census for 1864 gave 706. The United States census, 1870, showed 1086, which was in- creased in 1874 to 1200; and the census of 1880 shows 1295, a gain of 95 in six years.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
B. F. YOUNG.
Jonathan Young, father of B. F. Young, was a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1778. He was about sixty years of age when he came to America. First settled in Wayne Co., Mich., and married Mrs. Hannah Green, a native of Massachusetts. From Wayne County they removed in 1841 to Bengal township, where Mrs. Young had en- tered a piece of government land, upon which they settled. Here their three children were born : B. F. Young, born in 1844, being the youngest and only surviving child, the others dying when infants. Here Jonathan and his wife resided until their deaths, which occurred in 1856,-his January 14th, hers November 1st.
Benjamin F. continued to reside on the old homestead after the death of his parents, and in 1867 married Miss Julia D., daughter of Charles Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of four children,-Viola A., Myron, Charles L., and Ida M.
Mr. Young at the age of twenty enlisted in the army for the suppression of the Rebellion. He was a member of Company A, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and his term of service was from March 23, 1864, to June 10, 1866. Ile participated in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Nashville, Franklin, and Fort Anderson.
Mr. Young's farm now consists of two hundred aeres, one hundred and twenty of which he inherited from his mother, which were purchased with her earnings, eighty having been added by Mr. Young. In politics he is Re- publicau ; in religion, both himself and wife are members of North Bengal Methodist Episcopal Church.
RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN F, YOUNG, BENGAL TR. CLINTON CO. MICH.
403
DE WITT TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER LIV.
DE WITT TOWNSHIP .*
Boundaries, Soil, and Streams-Land-Entries-Early Villages in De Witt Township-Settlement and Progress-Early Highways- Township Organization and Civil List-Schools-Religions Organ- izations-De Witt Grange.
THE township of De Witt, the scene of the early labors of the first pioneer to the south half of the county, as also of the earliest session of the county court, may be geo- graphically described as bounded on the north by the town- ship of Olive, south by Ingham County, east by Bath, and west by Watertown. It is designated by the United States survey as township 5 north, of range 2 west.
The township is watered by numerous streams of greater or less magnitude, the most important being the Looking- Glass River, which enters it from the north at section 1, and flowing southwest through sections 2, 3, and 4, di- verges to the west, passing through the village of De Witt, and again to the south at section 7, making its exit into Watertown at section 18. This stream, which affords a considerable water-power, is fed by Prairie Creek, which rises in a marsh in the southeast portion of the township, and flowing north and west while pursuing a tortuous course, enters the main waters at the village of De Witt on sec- tion 8.
The soil of the township embraces sand, gravel, and clay, the former prevailing to a greater extent on the south- erly børder, while clay is found in the north and north- west. Gravel in limited amount is distributed generally throughout the township. The southwest abounds in ex- tensive marshes and swamps of tamarack, though an elabo- rate system of drainage has greatly improved much of this land. The surface of De Witt is somewhat rolling iu character and offers a pleasing variation to the eye. The landscape from all points is attractive, and in many places impressive in its beauty, vying in this regard with the most beautiful portions of the county. The soil is well adapted to grains of all kinds, wheat and corn being es- pecially prolific in their yield. The average harvest of wheat in localities is twenty-five bushels to the aere, though this is exceptional. The various fruits find here a congenial soil, and orchards producing the choicest grafted fruit abound in all parts. Peaches are being cultivated with much success, and the smaller fruits are abundant in their yield. Most of the woods peculiar to the State flourish in De Witt, oak, maple, ash, and walnut being very thrifty in their growth. The marshes produce the usual growth of tamarack, which prevails principally in the south and south- west. The township is not unlike other portions of the county in its destitution of pine-lands, a single tree of that kind being almost a curiosity in De Witt.
LAND-ENTRIES.
The following-named persons were the original purchasers from the government of the land in township 5 north, of range 2 west :
* By E. O. Wagner.
SECTION I.
Acres.
John Lowery, 1835 65.28
Dewitt Parshall, 1836. 320
Samuel Sherman, 1836 89.28
John Dodge, 1836. 148.69
SECTION 2.
Cynthia M. Collins, 1834 112.70
John Lowery, 1835, 1836. 295.48
SECTION 3.
llenry Miller, 1835. 81.62
Erastus S. Ingersoll, 1835 80
II. II. Leroy, 1835 129.96
Elias Daniels, 1836 81.70
D. E. Matthews, 1836 39.14
Platt Smith, 1836
206.97
SECTION 4.
S. Beckwith, 1835, 1836. 160
Leah Packard, 1836 So
S. Beckwith, 1836. 232.03
D. E. Matthews, 1836 78.61
Daniel Moore, 1836 78.45
SECTION 5.
David Scott, 1833 240
Sylvester Scott, 1833. 80
Randolph Manning, 1836. 80
J. R. Langdoo, 1836. 158.16
D. E. Matthews, 1836 77.40
SECTION 6.
C. S. Ferguson, 1834 160
William II. Webb, 1835. 169.44
Alanson Goodrich, 1836. 84.73
J. R. Langdon, 1836. 157.20
E. II. Utley, 1836. 82.11
SECTION 7.
C. S. Fergusen, 1834 9.13
Calvin Marbin, 1835. 55.52
E. II. Utley, 1835. 203.04
Franklin Oliver, 1835 204.16
Alanson Goodrich, 1836 166.27
SECTION S.
David Scott, 1833. 82.81
Hiramu F. Sheldon, 1833 107.80
George Pearsall, 1835 50
William A. Ilewitt, 1835 40
I. R. Bolles, 1835 197.54
J. R. Langdon, 1836. 120
SECTION 9.
S. Beckwith, 1835 34.47
William Utley, 1835. 234.17
George Pearsall, 1836. 40
David Scott, IS36
Platt Smith, 1836.
Fitzalan Gardner, 1836 160
SECTION 10.
Philip French, 1836. 160
John Groves, 1836 160
Fitzalan Gardner, 1836.
Salam F. King, 1836 240
SECTION II.
William S. Warner, 1836 160
Edward Townley, 1836. 160
Platt Smith, 1836. 320
SECTION 12.
Stephen P. Morehouse, 1836 160
William M. Lowell, 1836 320
Levi A. Mills, 1836. 160
SECTION 13.
S. S. Bullock, 1836.
SO
William Packard, 1836. SO
William G. Smith, 1836. 10
E. L. Smith, 1836 160
John Taylor, 1836. 80
404
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Acres.
Lewis Boyd, 1836 ... SO
Russel Cushman, 1846 80
Ellen Cushinan, 1852. 40
Iliram Rathburn, 1854 40
SECTION 14.
Elihu Jamison, 1835 160
William Moore, 1836 40
S. S. Bullock, 1836 80
S. P. Morehouse, 1836. 240
Philip French, 1836.
Harvey C. Boyd, 1836
SECTION 15.
William Hunt, 1836. 40
L. D. Jennison, 1836 40
William Roose, 1836. 80
Harvey C. Boyd, 1836. 120
Joshua Cushman, 1836.
80
David Scott, 1837 ..
40
L. D. Jennison, 1837. 40
Thomas Robbins, 1843. 40
Elvira Robbins, 1847. 40
Samuel Smith, 1851.
80
Thomas Robbins, 1854 40
SECTION 16.
School section.
SECTION 17.
J. R. Pearsall, 1835
J. R. Langdon, 1836. 80
David Scott, 1836. 160
John Gould, 1836.
160
Elisha Lester, 1836
360
SECTION 18.
Ephraim Il. Utley, 1835 20.96
Daniel Ferguson. 1836 80
11. N. Andrus, 1836. 92.08
James Gay, 1836. 80
John Gould, 1836.
160
Philip Burnett, 1836.
160
James Dean, 1836. 66.76
SECTION 19.
Samuel Crowell, 1836. 346.68
J. D. Child, 1836 160
Amos Waterhouse, 1837. 80
Dexter White, 1837.
80
SECTION 20.
Dexter White, 1836. 80
James Perkins, 1836. 100
J. S. llollister, 1837. 320
Lucinda Colburn, 1838.
80
SECTION 21.
Lewis Boyd, 1836. SO
Frederie Perkins, 1836. 80
Barnabas Bassett, 1836. 80
Thompson S. llolfister, 1837 240
William 11. Ilockenbury, 1849 40
Samuel Steele, 1850.
10
Margaret Steele, 1851
40
SECTION 22.
II. C. Boyd, 1836, 160
Joshna Cushman, 1836. 80
Sizar L. Stoddard, 1836. 80
Samuel lliggins, 1836. 80
Daniel Gunderman, 1848. 40
E. A. Gunderman, 1850. 40
William Vail, 1850.
40
SECTION 23.
Francis Moore, 1836. 80
William Moore, 1836. 240
Ruth A. Gunnison, 1843 , 40
Stephen W. Downer, 1850. 280
SECTION 24.
William Moore, 1836. 80
J. B. Ackley, 1836. 160
Gilbert Cushman, 1837 SO
S. W. Downer, 1850, 1851 80
Acres.
Morris Cushman, 1854. 40
Joseph C. Bailey, 1854.
A. M. Crawford, 1854. 40
SECTION 25.
J. B. Bennett, 1852.
40
SECTION 26.
Allen Ilutehins, 1836 160
Charles M. Mckenzie, 1846 80
Anson Simmons, 1847.
40
Nathan Weldon, 1850.
10
S. W. Downer, 1851
40
Ira Durand, 1852.
40
J. B. Bennett, 1852. 120
SECTION 27.
M. M. Boyd, 1836 80
G. W. Boyd, 1836. 80
W. D. Ilurd, 1836 80
0. 1T. Lyon, 1842
SO
Nelson 11. King, 1847
SO
Donnell Melntire, 1847
80
William Moon, 1847
80
G. R. Culver, 1848
10
11. 11. Smith, 1854 40
SECTION 28.
0. 11. Lyon, 1842 ..
40
Stephen F. Dexter, 1847
160
John Gunderman, 1848 80
R. R. Quigley, 1848. 160
William C. Brangwin, 1848 160
SECTION 29.
llenry Moon, 1837. 160
Richard Muon, 1838.
80
L. A. Ayers, 1838. 40
J. R. Jewett, 1847 80
N. 11. Wing, 1847
120
J. R. Jewett, 1847
40
James Siekles, 1851 80
SECTION 30.
William Congdon, 1836 174.68
R. S. Van Scoy, 1847 10
Orville Bacon, 1849, 1850
James Sickles, 1851
80
llenry Gibbs, 1852.
47.53
SECTION 31.
M. L. Stanley, 1837. 240
D. S. Ingersull, 1837. 95,52
E. F. Sweet, 1850. 47.74
E. Richardson, 1851.
80
Andrew Shaddnek, 1852.
40
Allen Goodridge, 1852
40
George J. Parson and F. M. Cowles, 1854. 40
SECTION 32.
James Cram, 1836 320
Samuel and Elias Bliss, 1836 .. 160
Matthew Dearin, 1847 40
Robert Dearin, 1847. 40
David Westcott, 1852
40
John F. Welsh, 1854.
40
SECTION 33.
Allen Ilutehins, 1836. 160
Jonathan Birdsall, 1836 80
Nelson II. Wing, 1847 160
David Sturgis, 1847 40
Calvin Wuodward, 1849 160
SECTION 34.
Samuel lliggins, 1836 .. 320
Warner D. llurd, 1836. 80
Stephen A. Smith, 1839. 160
William Moon, 1847
80
SECTION 35.
William Birge, 1836. 160
Samuel Iliggins, 1836. 160
B. P. Kereheval, 1836. 160
Samuel Cutler, 1848 160
405
DE WITT TOWNSHIP.
SECTION 36.
Acres.
Eliza Jane Bennett, 1852 40
Jacob B. Bennett, 1852
80
Robert West, 1853.
40
EARLY VILLAGES IN DE WITT TOWNSHIP.
.
The lands lying along both sides of the Looking-Glass River, at and opposite the mouth of Prairie Creek, were, about the year 1836, selected as locations for a cluster of (prospective) villages. The old Indian trail which after- wards became the Pontiac and Grand River road, passed along the north bank of the river at this point, and in that year, as for many years later, it was the principal thorough- fare through this portion of country.
The first of these embryo villages was Middletown or Middleton. The land on which it was laid out was entered from the United States by Sebastian Beckwith, in 1835, but at the time it was platted the proprietors were Sebastian Beekwith, Joel Wicks, and George J. Goodhue. It was situated on the north side of the river east of the present village of De Witt, and was the north fraction of the north- west quarter of section 9 and the southwest quarter of see- tion 4. It was surveyed on the 25th of January, 1836, and the original map filed in Kalamazoo County, February 6th of that year. The plat shows the village to have been di- vided into eighty-six blocks, each block containing one and three-fifths aeres. Block No. 36 was reserved for a publie square. Each block was subdivided into eight lots, caeli of which was four by eight rods. The streets were laid out four rods wide, except Clinton and Detroit, which were six rods in width. From the north to the south the streets were named as follows: Huron, Superior, Ontario, Detroit, Erie, Michigan, Mason, St. Joseph, Mill, and Ionia. From east to west, Quay, Toledo, Chicago, Main, Clinton, Monroe, Jefferson, and Washington.
This pretentious array of streets, however, did not cause the village to thrive, as on the 12th day of October, 1842, the lots of the village were sold for unpaid taxes to Milo H. Turner, David Sturgis, Hiram Stowell, W. H. Case, and W. A. Hewitt.
NEW ALBANY.
The land on which this village was laid ont was entered by Iliram F. Sheldon, of Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1833, and by him the village was laid out and mapped. This map was not recorded and is lost. On the 1st day of Oe- tober, 1836, he sold the land on which the village was sit- uated to George F. Clark, of Albany, N. Y., it being de- seribed as the south fraction of the northeast quarter of seetion 8, containing 107-80% acres, " saving and reserving certain village lots as laid down on a map made for said Sheldon" (eighteen lots in different blocks). Milo II. Turner, of Rochester, N. Y., was the agent for Mr. Clark, and managed the sale of the property. The village was divided into twenty-nine blocks; many lots were sold, but the anticipations of the proprietors soon came to naught, and in 1840 the lots were advertised to be sold for unpaid taxes. The prices paid ranged from a dollar and six cents to a dollar and seventy-four cents per lot, and were pur- chased as follows : Milo 11. Turner, fifty-five lets ; David Sturgis, five; Seth P. Marvin, two; J. F. Turner, two ;
William E. Turner, one; George F. Clark, one. They were not all sold, however, in 1840, for the sale continued for several years, the last being sold in 1848.
OLD DE WITT.
On the second day of January, 1837, there was offered for record at the county of Washtenaw a map of the plat of De Witt, Clinton Co., Mich. Frederick A. Bolles ap- peared before James Kingsley, notary publie, of that county, on the 23d day of December, 1836, and acknowledged the execution of the plat and map to be his act and deed for the purposes therein expressed, and to answer the require- ments of the statute in such cases provided. Frederick A. Bolles entered the land from the United States on which this village was platted, and on the 12th day of December, 1836, it was surveyed by William Finley, Jr., laid out on a scale of thirty-two rods to an inch, and platted by Dr. Bennett and J. M. Wilcox. The map contains the follow- ing remarks : " All lots are (4) rods wide and eight rods deep, except on block five, six and seven, which are four rods by five deep, and the water-lots and other fractions are variable in depth. This plat contains according to original surveys one hundred and ninety-seven -54 10 % aeres. All streets in plat are (4) rods wide, and intended as publie highways, and the Timber in the same at the proprietor's service, if required ; if not, the buyers of lots are to have it. Lots No. 3, 4 in Block No. 51, and Lots No. 3, 4 in Block No. 54 are given for the firm established church in said Plat, and also said named Publick Square for publiek purposes, and all other lots in the proprietor's name for his own use. " FREDERICK A. BOLLES, " Proprietor."
This village was situated . east of and adjoining New Albany. The streets were named as follows : From the east to the west, Newton, Wayne, Main (these three streets ran from the river south to the section-line), Park, Hall, Lyon, and Lynn. From the river and parallel with it, River, Wall, Spring, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Brighton, Church, Summer, Green, St. Ann's, Catharine, St. Mary's, and Frederick.
In the sales-book of Clinton County in the treasurer's office is an account of the " Village of De Witt, south of the Looking-Glass River," advertised for unpaid taxes of 1842. Seventy-eight bloeks are described with the lets, numbering eight lots to each block. The taxes due on each block are given, ranging from ninety-five cents to one dollar and twenty-four cents. It does not appear that these lots were sold, as no account is made of sale. The follow- ing statement is appended to the description :
" The entire descriptions of the above village of De Witt, south side of the Looking-Glass River, was passed to the State of Michigan at the sales in account of 1844 for the tax of 1842."
DE WITT.
The land on which the present village of De Witt is located was entered by Capt. David Seott in 1833, and platted by him on the 26th of October, 1841. It is situ- ated on the north side of Looking-Glass River, on sections 5 and 8, and was the county-site of Clinton County until
406
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1857, when, by a vote of the various townships of the county, the seat was removed to St. Johns, the recorded vote of De Witt having been two hundred and thirty- three against and three in favor of the measure.
The settlement of De Witt, as of the south half of the county, began with the coming of Capt. David Scott, who left Ann Arbor with his wife and two sons, David and Charles, in September of 1833. They began their pilgrimage in wagons drawn by ox-teams and laden with their household goods, their objective point being the land he entered in Clinton County, embracing altogether fourteen hundred aod twenty-six acres in various portions of the township. They forded rivers, drove into lakes, were frequently mired in dismal marshes, and pitched their tents where night overtook them, until their arrival at the present De Witt village on Oct. 4, 1833. Capt. Scott obtained the consent of the Indians to occupy one of their wigwams for several weeks, when their own cabin was completed, to which they then removed. This Indian house was constructed of bark, with bunks on the sides, and a fire was built in the centre, the smoke of which escaped through a hole or remained in the room. While dwelling in this rude habitation a party of English travelers on their way to Grand River, now Port- land, tarried and sought shelter for the night. One of the party, overcome with fatigue, died soon after, and was buried in a coffin of bark taken from the wigwam. The funeral was attended by Capt. Scott's family, the only in- habitants of the county, except the people at the trading- post on Maple River, the physician from an adjoining county, and the hired companion of the captain. The log cabin of Capt. Scott, twenty feet square, was begun the 5th of October and occupied soon after with demonstra- tions of great joy. Seventeen head of eattle and one horse were brought by them into the wilderness, whose broad pasture-land was the whole of Clinton and portions of Ionia, Eaton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties. There being no fodder for winter, trees were felled, upon which they browsed, the sound of the axe being the only eall needed. They were all attracted by the falling of a tree. Ground was broken for wheat in July, 1834, twenty acres was sown, and harvested the following year during the same month, yielding thirty-two bushels to the acre. A piece of ground was leveled, logs laid round it, when a flooring of wheat was placed over it, and thrashed by four yoke of oxen.
The earliest settlers made journeys to Pontiae to have their grain ground until 1837, when a grist-mill was com- pleted at Wacousta.
Capt. Seott built in 1839 a frame building for a store- room and grocery, and the point having been established the following year as the county-seat the early sessions of the court were there held, Judge Hubbard presiding.
In 1840 a school-house was built on the preseut school- house site, which was at that period the most spacious and convenient of the buildings yet erected in the embryo vil- lage. Here court was held at a later date, and the Board of Supervisors also convened within its walls. In 1842 a spacious and well-appointed hotel was erected by Capt. Scott, the hall of which for years afforded a place of meet- ing for the county court, small buildings having been
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