History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 99

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co.
Number of Pages: 716

USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 99
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 99

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After thus struggling for the space of ten years the vil- lage found itself in 1867 no farther along in dignity or growth than it had progressed during the first year of its life. Recognizing, therefore, that if they were ever to own a village worthy the name it must be fixed at some other spot, citizens of Dallas township, as well as others near by, began to agitate the matter of a new location, and in this project they were materially aided and encouraged by J. N. Fowler, of Detroit, who owned considerable land in the vicinity. The upshot of the matter was that the railway company was induced in 1867, by the donation of seven hundred and fifty dollars, to transfer their depot buildings and station to a point three-quarters of a mile west, where there was a better outlook for a village. Fowler, who owned the land ocenpying the proposed site, surveyed and platted a village on the north side of the railway, on sections 11 and 12, in September, 1867, and called it Isabella, after the county of Isabella, where he had large landed interests. Isabella was likewise the name chosen for the station, and simultaneously with the move of the railway-station from Dallas there ensued a transfer of the business population and every other feature that had contributed in any way to lift the town from the atmosphere of rural felicity into the domain of village life. Dallas was therefore relegated to obscurity, where for many a day had been domiciled the sanguine hopes born in the breasts of Wales and Higham when they first set Dallas on its legs, so to speak, and awaited the coming of its future greatness.

The hotel building put up at Dallas by Wales was moved bodily to Isabella, and upon the spot where it then landed still invites the attention of travelers as the Fowler House. James Lance was storekeeper and postmaster at Dallas when the change was made, and moving his establishment westward set it up again just south of Isabella village, upon land he owned, where he subsequently laid out an addition to the village of Fowler. The store he then

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

started occupied the building now known as the Dallas Ilouse, and was the pioneer trading-post at Isabella, al- though, strictly speaking, it was not in Isabella. The second store was opened by Jacob Sehraft in a log house just west of where the Fowler Ilouse stands. At this time Fowler moved the tavern from Dallas and leased it to Shemer & Gruler, who carried on in the building a store as well as hotel business. Willey & Peterson kept the hotel after- wards, and after them a Mr. Stiles and Mathias Petsch were respectively the landlords.

FOWLER VILLAGE.

As the name of Isabella was not exactly to the liking of the villagers, Fowler agreed to change it, and, upon request, called it by his own name when, in May, 1869, he cansed an addition to be platted on section 14, south of the rail- way. At that time, too, the name of the station was changed, as was the name of the post-office, which had thus far retained the name of Dallas. The plat of the village of Fowler, recorded Feb. 1, 1870, certifies that " the village is located on the line of the Detroit and Milwaukee Rail- road, on seetions 11, 12, and 14." James Lance's addition was recorded May 31, 1873, and is deseribed as " beginning at the northwest corner of section 13, running thence east on section-line sixty-six rods and six feet ; thence south parallel with the west section-line sixty-eight rods and six feet ; thence west parallel with the north line sixty-six rods and six feet to said west line; and thence north on the sec- tion-line sixty-eight rods and six feet to the place of begin- ning."

Of those who set the wheels of trade in motion when Isabella village was founded Messrs. Constantine Gruler, Frederick Shemer, and Jacob Schraft are now merchants in Fowler. Constantine Gruler is, moreover, a dealer in grain to a very large extent, and almost since his first appearance as a merchant in the town has been a heavy wheat-buyer. He has a commodious wheat-house at the station, and near there, too, P. L. Vanconsant, of St. Johns, has a wheat- house. Fowler is esteemed an excellent point for wheat shipment, and the business carried on by Messrs. Gruler and Vancousant in that department is of valuable importance to the town.

The first post-office established in Dallas township was ereated in 1855 and called Dallas. Alanson Parks, living on the State road, was appointed postmaster, and upon the location of Dallas Station he transferred the office to that point. In 1859, James Lance succeeded to the office, and retiring for a brief period in favor of David Richards, he renewed his possession, and was the incumbent when the railway-station and village were moved westward. Fred- erick Shemer was postmaster for a short time after Lance's retirement, and in 1869 Jacob Shraft eame in. During his occupaney the name of the office was changed from Dallas to Fowler. In 1874, Shraft was succeeded by William M. Youngs, and he, in 1877, by John Hicks, the present incumbent.

Dr. L. A. Laurason, now a physician and druggist in Fowler, made his home upon the site of the village in 1866, and, fresh frour the State University, there began his medi-

cal career. Gustavus Miller had been practicing medicine in the township, but in the village Dr. Laurason was the pioneer physician. Other doctors followed the flow of pop- ulation, among them being Drs. Schmitten, Cole, Miller, and Spears, but neither tarried long enough to leave a mark upon the face of passing time, and may therefore be dis- missed with but casual notice. Drs. W. H. Mckenzie and George E. Bliss, now in village practice, have been located some little time, and with Dr. Laurason divide the business of doctoring the people of the immediate and adjacent ter- ritories. John G. Patterson, engaged in the practice of law in Fowler, is the only person resident who ever ventured upon the enterprise of expounding the mysteries of Coke and Blackstone for the benefit of the villagers and towns- people.

Fowler is a growing village of about three hundred and fifty people,-the entire township including seventeen hun- dred and thirty-two,-and enjoys mneh business prosperity. It supports two hotels and includes in its marts of trade the general stores of Constantine Gruler and Frederick Shemer, the hardware-store of Jacob Schraft, the hardware- and grocery-store of Baldwin & Gary, the boot- and shoe-store of Gillam & Doolittle, the groceries of N. II. Geller and J. T. Connell, the drug-stores of L. A. Laurason and S. G. Mclaughlin, and the furniture-store of Charles Bengal. There are also wagon-shops and minor village industries of a promiscuous character.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. UNITED BRETHREN CIIURCII.

One of the earliest religious organizations of Dallas was a United Brethren class, which was formed in the Sargent neighborhood and flourished apace for several years. As the members of the organization lived here, there, and everywhere, the place of worship was frequently changed as convenience demanded, and eventually settled at what was called the " Bell School-House" in 1868, where it remained until 1875, when a house of worship was built at Fowler. The class has now a membership of forty-four and is on the Bengal Cirenit, in charge of Rev. Benjamin Mowers, who preaches at Fowler onee a fortnight. The leader is W. B. Garrison, the trustees A. Compton, Miron Sargent, and Eli Grimes, and the Sunday-school superintendent Mrs. A. Compton. The school has an average attendance of thirty.

METItODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, FOWLER CLASS.

Two Methodist Episcopal classes were organized after 1860, one at the Bell school-house and one at the Nowland school-house. The former failed to prosper beyond a weakly condition of being, and after persistent but fruitless efforts to reach a healthful atmosphere dissolved, and its members thereafter joined the class at Nowland's, which had got on excellently well from the outset. Class-meet- ings were also held at the village, as well as at Nowland's, until 1880, when the church at Fowler was built, and then all joined in common worship at that place. The class has now abont fifteen members, and is attached to the Fowler Circuit, upon which Rev. Mr. Garlick is employed. Since 1868 the pastors on the charge have been Revs. MeKnight, IIulburt, Pratt, Jacokes, Harder, Nichols, Snider, and

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DALLAS TOWNSHIP.

Garlick. Calvin Coon, the present class-leader, has been leader since 1870. The church trustees are Calvin Coon, George Clark, and - Hanford. The Sunday-school is in charge of G. W. Gillan and a corps of five teachers.

GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF FOWLER.

This church organization was formed in 1869 by mem- bers of a similar denomination in the southern portion of the township. The church at that point was at a tiresome distance for those of the faith who lived towards the north, and, as a matter of more convenience, they formed a second society in 1879, and in that year built a church. Rev. Mr. Wittey, who preaches for the church in the south, preaches also at Fowler three times each month. About twenty-five families are represented in the membership.

GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF DALLAS.

The German Lutherans of Dallas organized a church about 1869, under the direction of Rev. Mr. Fuer, of Owosso, and the same year built a neat house of worship on section 36. Besides Mr. Fuer, the pastors have in- cluded Revs. Smith and Wittey, the latter of whom is now in charge, preaching three times each month. The mem- bership comprises uow about thirty-five families, and that of the Sunday-school, which is in charge of the pastor,

about sixty scholars. The trustees are William Rossow August Sehroeder, and Frederick Speerbreeker.

SOCIETIES. FOWLER LODGE, No. 19, A. O. U. W.

This lodge was organized at Fowler in November, 1878, with ten members. It has now a membership of twenty- seven. Regular sessions are held weekly. The officers for 1880 are S. G. Mclaughlin, M. W .; Edwin Baldwin, G. F .; R. L. Bunting, O .; Joseph Austin, F .; L. W. Bald- win, Receiver; J. F. Gary, Recorder ; John Bullard, Guide ; Philo Parks, I. W .; H. D. Welling, O. W .; Jacob Schraft, P. M. W. The Master Workmen of the lodge since its organization have been L. W. Baldwin, Jacob Sehraft, and S. G. MeLaughlin.

DALLAS GRANGE, No. 505, P. OF H.,

was organized September, 1874, in the Bell school-house, Winchester Riee being then chosen Master. The officers for 1880 are II. D. Wellings, M ; E. W. Buek, O .; George E. Bliss, L .; F. S. Brooks, Sec .; Maurice Drake, Treas. ; J. H. Bush, Chaplain ; Frederick Myers, Steward. Meetings are held at Fowler weekly. The membership is fifty-seven.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE. F. DUTTON.

MRS. GEORGE F. DUTTON.

GEORGE F. DUTTON.

George F. Dutton was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., April 27, 1814. His parents, Robert and Sarah (Fowler) Dutton, were of English extraction ; lived to raise a family of seven children. After the death of the elder Dutton, George with his mother moved to Detroit, where he be- eame acquainted with and married Miss Sarah Horner. In the spring of 1835 they removed to Ionia County. Five years later exchanged for one hundred and sixty acres of wild land on seetion 22, the present home. The town had not yet received a name, aud Mr. Dutton being elected

supervisor seeured the name Dallas, in admiration of the candidate for national honors by that name. Mr. George F. Dutton died May 15, 1863, lamented by all. He had filled many places of publie trust, and in departing this life left a name and reputation worthy the life of honor and integrity he had lived. He left a widow and five children,-Mrs. Julie A. Belden ; James; Adaline, died at six years of age; Richard; Mrs. Charlotta Myers; and George, born Oet. 9, 1851, grew to manhood upon the farm, and soon after his father's death assumed the man-

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

agement of affairs. April 8, 1872, he married Miss Nancy J., daughter of Thomas and Christa (Hutchinson) Rudgers, who were among the earliest settlers in Ionia County, having located in the town of Lyons in 1834. Mrs. Rudgers taught the first school in the town of Dallas.

George and Nancy are the happy parents of one child, James, who was born on the 27th of December, 1876. Mrs. George Dutton still continues at the old homestead, beloved by her children and respected by a large circle of friends.

21:5

DANIEL DUTTON.

MRS. DANIEL DUTTON.

DANIEL DUTTON.

Daniel Dutton is one of the family of Robert and Sarah (Fowler) Dutton, a sketch of whose life we give in connec- tion with that of George F. Dutton in another place. Daniel was the youngest son and child; his birth occurred at Co- lumbus, Chenango Co., N. Y., March 7, 1825. At the age of thirteen he came with an elder sister to Clinton Co., Mich., and lived with George F. three years; then one season with William F. Dutton in Westphalia. Then lived with Rob- ert Dutton, Portland, Ionia Co., until past twenty. Then went to Cass County, obtained a few tools, and set himself up as a carpenter and joiner, commencing business for himself ; remained four years ; returned to Clinton County, and in 1850 purchased forty acres in the town of West- phalia. Jan. 1, 1852, he married Mary R., daughter of

Richard and Lucette (Wheeler) Farman, who emigrated from Oswego County in 1838. He continued at his trade and farming until 1864, when he exchanged for eighty acres on same section. Considerable clearing had been pre- viously made, but only a log house erected. He immedi- ately set about erecting a suitable building, and a few years sufficed to render it one of the pleasantest locations in town. Their large family of children were early taught that steady application to their calling, with economy, was the true way to success, as exemplificd by them. Their children number ten, as follows : Alfred E., born Jan. 12, 1853; Hattie L., Oct. 3, 1854; Ida S., June 24, 1857 ; Judson II., Nov. 2, 1858 ; Dora A., July 22, 1860 ; Emma I., Dec. 26, 1861 ; Charles R., July 2, 1863 ; Elmer E., Jan. 17, 1865 ; Laura A., Nov. 2, 1868; Ellen N., Jan. 3, 1876.

In politics he affiliates with the Republican party ; has

held several local offices, but has never sought or desired them, preferring the peace and comfort of home-life to the anxiety experienced by office-seekers.

CHAPTER LVI.

DUPLAIN TOWNSHIP .*

Location and Natural Features-Early Settlement of Duplain-Vil- lage of Mapleton- Early Religions Meetings-Town Roads- Schools-Township Organization and Civil List-Craven's Mills- Village of Elsie-Societies and Orders.

DUPLAIN is town S north, in range 1 west, and occupies the northeastern corner of Clinton County, with the Gratiot County line as the northern boundary, Ovid township on the south, Shiawassee County on the east, and Greenbush town- ship on the west. There was originally much heavily tim- bered land in the town, and there was west of the river until 1870 a good deal of swampy region, but that quarter is now almost entirely free from waste lands, although the period of its reclamation was a late one, and settlements there were put back as a consequence. The Maple River, known early by the French name of Rivière Du Plain, pur- sues a winding course from south to north, and has since the foundation of the town been a mill-stream of more or less valuc.

There is upon the northeastern corner of the town the

* By David Schwartz.

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DUPLAIN TOWNSHIP.

graded bed of what was once proposed to become the Owosso and Big Rapids Railway, but the enterprise stopped, as a failure, short of actual operation. The town voted Oct. 16, 1869, by a vote of two hundred and eighteen to one hundred and one, to appropriate ten thousand dollars towards the expenses of the road, only, however, upon the completion thereof, and therefore escaped a sacrifice. Du- plain contains two villages, ealled respectively Mapleton and Elsie. The former, laid out in 1837, has declined to feeble proportions. Elsie is a small but active hamlet, and is by those who reside within its limits esteemed a place of much promise.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF DUPLAIN.

THE ROCHESTER COLONY.

The pioneer settlements in Duplain were made during the summer of 1836 by members of a community styled the Rochester Colony, so called because they lived previous to that in or near Rochester, in the State of New York. A discussion by a few persons living in that neighborhood touching advantages of a colony emigration to some point in the far West led to the formation in the city of Roches- ter of the Rochester Colony. The organization was effected at a meeting held Feb. 29, 1836, upon which occasion ar- tieles of association were subscribed to in substanee as follows :

Article one provided that the association should be called and known as " The Rochester Colony." The articles provided for the raising of a fund with which to purchase lands, and authorized any person to become a member and be entitled to a vote by subscribing for one share of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and paying five dollars down and the balance on call.

Article five provided that " Deeds for any purchase of lands may be executed to the agents as grantees, but ex- pressed to be to them as joint tenants in common, in order that there may be a survivorship on the death of either. The lands, although conveyed thus absolutely for the sake of convenience, shall be considered as purchased and held in trust for the subscribers who contribute to the funds."

It was also provided that the lands purchased should be surveyed and laid out into farm lots of eighty acres cach and village lots, and that one farm lot and one or more vil- lage lots should constitute a share, and that a drawing should be held in the city of Rochester, and that cach shareholder should be entitled to draw one farm lot and one or more village lots, and that after the drawing the agents should give to each subscriber an article or contract for his portion of the land so drawn ; and as soon as any sub- seriber had actually settled with his family on his portion, and made affidavit of his bona fide intention to remain a settler, or, in lieu of settling, had made improvements on his portion to the value of one-fourth of the cost thereof, the agents should give him a deed in fee simple for his share.

It was further provided that the balance of the land should be sold at auction, and the proceeds divided between the shareholders. And it was further provided that if any subscriber did not settle or make the requisite improve- ments on his land within eighteen months after the draw-

ing he forfeit all his interest in the lands and property of the colony, and that the same should be sold at auction, and the proceeds, not exceeding the original cost, without interest, after deducting all taxes, charges, and assessments, should be paid to such delinquent subscriber, and the balance divided among the shareholders. It was also pro- vided that the agents should not purchase any land con- tiguous to that purchased for the company until after the purchase for the company was completed and the agents had returned to their homes in Rochester, N. Y.

The names of those subscribing to the articles embraced the following : E. R. Everest, W. G. Russell, Joseph Sever, W. P. Stanton, Jacob Martin, Oliver Bebce, Benjamin Car- penter, Joseph Atwood, Calvin Brainard, William Chyn- worth, Samuel Barker, M. T. Croade, Francis Faxon, Samuel Graves, John Ferdon, Electus Boardman, E. W. Collins, Samuel Brass, Henry Wilson, Rufus Collier, Jr., Martha Osborn, V. R. Cook, P. A. Ford, Rowley & Brit- ton, and E. Rowley. At the next meeting, held April 2, 1836, the association appointed W. G. Russell, Joseph Sever, and E. R. Everest to act as agents in the selection and purchase of lands, and being instructed to attend to the matter in hand without delay, Russell and Sever set out April 12, 1836, upon the tour of exploration.

They were directed to proceed first to Ohio, and go up the Wabash and Eric Canal to Fort Defiance, examining the country in that section, and also to look at Perrysburg, on the Maumec. Thence they were to go to Fort Wayne, Ind., "and examine the country north and west of there, especially along the Eel River and all the northern coun- ties of Indiana." Then go to Michigan and " examine the Grand River and its tributary streams with great attention." They were told that " the head-waters of the Huron and the Grand are not far distant from each other, and it is con- jectured with strong probability that a canal will soon inter- scet those two streams; look between those two points. The Grand River is said to embrace water privileges which must soon be of great value. Look well to the village of Grand Rapids and the country south of it, for that place must be of importance. We have heard that a railroad has been laid out from that place to Monroe village. The counties of Clinton, Ingham, Eaton, and Barry should not be passed unnoticed. You may be suited on the Thorn- apple River. We learn that there is a valuable tract of land near the centre of Barry County. If you should con- elude to go to Grand Rapids and examine as far north as Clinton County and the Maple River, you must not fail to go into Saginaw County. Dr. Fitzhugh thinks the Saginaw flats are equal to the Genesee flats. This is also the opinion of Dr. Town, who lives at Ypsilanti, and his partner, who have all purchased there largely. Daniel Ball and his brother are now on a tour to that section."

Within a month after their departure from Rochester Russell and Sever completed their land purchases, having scleeted a tract lying chiefly in what is now Duplain town- ship. Their purchase embraced sections 28, 29, 31, 32, and 33, and the southwest quarter of section 30, in town 8 north, range 1 west, and the north halves of sections 5 and 6 in town 7 north, range 1 west, aggregating 4003 6

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

acres. The stipulated price of $1.25 per acre gave the sum total of the purchase money as $5003.82.

The story of Russell and Sever's land search, as told by. Russell in a letter to Everest, is comprehensive and inter- esting, and is given, as follows :

" BRONSON, Mich., May 11, 1836.

" E. R. EVEREST : Sir,-We arrived in Detroit Friday, 22d of April, making ten days from Rochester; found the roads bad. The Ball horse tired and we had to put him off. We exchanged him for a pony and paid $35. We stayed in Detroit until the Monday following ; got what information we could from Messrs. Alcott, Ketchum, Strong, and others that we thought advisable to inquire, and started on the Pontiac turnpike leading through the northwest part of the Territory. We stopped and explored different sections of the country. We found all the important points taken, ex- cepting one which lies on the Maple River. We spent some four days in that part. We think that the water privileges are good and the land first best. Sever and my- self are much pleased with it, although it is timbered land. The timber is beech, maple, hickory, oak, bass, butternut, and black-walnut, and as handsome as you ever saw, and well watered with beautiful springs. There is a contem- plated canal to connect the Maple and Shiawassee together near this place, which, if that takes place, will cause a great drift of business through this section of the country, as it will save something like one thousand miles of water-car- riage around the lakes. We thought best to look further, and went to Barry County. We went, but soon returned. Got satisfied that it was too heavy timbered and rough, broken land for us. We then made up our minds that the Maple River must be the place. We started off for Bronson that night ; rode until eleven o'clock, evening ; put up at a tavern, and got permission to sleep on the floor. Started in the morning ; fell in company with a speculator ; was sat- isfied that he was after our land. Feeling determined not to give it up, I changed horses with Sever, the other man being ahead a mile or two. I set out, determined not to lose the prize if I lost the horse. After we got within four- teen miles of Bronson I had a fresh horse to contend with. For four or five miles 1 let him go ahead, until we got on the last ten miles to the office. I passed him within a few miles of the office, and got my application in a few minutes before him, after coming ten miles in forty minutes. The country around this place is new, and if any family should leave Rochester for this they had better bring everything they want for family use. There is no house near. If any one should set off before we get home you must direct them from Detroit to take the road leading northwest fifty miles to Grand Blane ; then take a west course to Mr. Williams', on the Shiawassee River, where they will get all the infor- mation necessary. We applied on Friday last, and are to have our duplicates at nine o'clock this morning. We are to leave this place for the Maple to-day, with Mr. Ilill, to make the survey and lay the lots. We feel glad to get away. It is like town-meeting here every day (Sundays excepted). We shall be in Rochester about the middle of June, proba- bly.

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History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 99

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co.
Number of Pages: 716