USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph county, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 71
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shape. The remaining ones are smaller in area, and are named according to the suggestion of peculiar natural causes.
THE SOIL
is a sandy loam and clay, and susceptible of a high state of cultivation, to which state the greater portion thereof is brought at the present date. Its productions are similar to those of other parts of the county.
FRANCIS FLANDERS, SENR. - FAWN RIVER. -
MRS. ELIZABETH S. FLANDERS. - FAWN RIVER. -
MAJOR FRANCIS FLANDERS. JUN? - FAWN RIVER. -
D. L. I. FLANDERS, M. D. - FAWN RIVER. -
J.W. FLANDERS, ESQ. - STURGIS. -
.
209
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
THE AREA
of the township includes twenty thousand nine hundred and forty-eight acres of land and twenty-one hundred acres of water surface, the latter being the most extensive of any other township in the county.
THE SURFACE
is broken and diversified by prairie, timber, level plains, rolling and hilly land, and, with its numerous lakes, presents a picturesque prospect. Its timber consists of beech, maple, oak, walnut, elm and other varieties of wood, oak predominating. "Johnny-cake" prairie, so-called from its size and shape, lies in the eastern part of the township in the immediate vicinity of Three Rivers. The balance of the township was originally covered with timber ("oak openings"), and was heavily wooded.
THE FIRST LAND-ENTRIES
were made in the township in the year 1829, and were as follows: The south- east quarter and northeast quarter of section thirteen, by Jacob McInterfer, of Wayne county, Ohio, June 25, and the east half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-five, by William Meek, November 2. There were three entries only made in 1830.
In 1876 there were twenty thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine acres assessed for taxation, valued by Henry Stotz, the supervisor of the township, at two hundred and twenty thousand and fifty dollars, about one-third of its actual valuation.
THE FIRST PERMANENT SETTLERS
in Fabius were Garrett Sickles, who came in together with his family, in the year 1830. They were followed about a year afterwards by Thiam Harwood, Heman Harvey and Samuel Newell, all of whom were also accompanied by their respective families. Of these original pioneers not one now remains to recount the story of their early trials and the hardships incident to the form- ation of a new settlement.
On the 6th of October, 1832, William F. Arnold, in company with his father's family, arrived and settled on the west half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, which had been entered by them in June the preced- ing year. At the time of their arrival there were only four families within the present limits of the township,-those whose names are given above. The mode of travel in vogue in those days was slow and tedious. Those coming in from the State of New York made the journey to Buffalo by the Erie canal, and then to Detroit by the lake, and from that point to their destina- tion by ox or horse teams by the Chicago and Detroit road,-the journey generally occupying three weeks .. There were no bridges in those days, so that all the streams on the line of travel had to be forded.
Those who came in from Ohio came with teams, and had to come through Black swamp, in the vicinity of the Maumee river, and the hardships en- dured by the adventurous pioneer were of the most trying character. The facilities for travel were miserable, while the miasmatic nature of the region through which they had to pass usually caused a serious sickness. And the region where they proposed making their permanent residence was cursed in those days with malarial diseases of a painful type.
These and other similar hardships they had to contend with, but, with a determination that has been pregnant with good results in the development of the township, they braved sickness and disease, and by dint of sheer deter- mination, succeeded in bringing it from a vast forest to a fertile and pros- perous settlement.
Those of the earlier settlers still remaining recall with painful vividness the sickly season of 1838. In that year the fever and ague and other ma- larial ailments were so general that it partook much of the the nature of an epidemic. In many families nearly all the members were stricken down, so that it was of frequent occurence that there were more sick than there were well ones to take care of them.
A few years subsequent to the arrival of the old settlers above named, Deacon William Churchill and his sons Adna and Randall came into the township and settled on the west half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, now owned by Barak O. White. Cotemporaneous with them were : Mr. J. W. Coffinberry, Andrew Burritt, Benjamin Smith, Charles Rice (the latter dying at the advanced age of ninety-three), Alonzo R. Hunt, Mishael Beadle, Alfred Poe, Solomon Hartman and B. M. King. Jacob McInterfer entered a large tract of land, partly in what is now Fabius, but he never settled in the township, dying in 1831.
THE FIRST FARM OPENED
and improved in Fabius township was that of Garrett Sickles, located on section thirteen,-on what is now known as "Johnny-Cake prairie." The farm is now occupied by John G. Sickles, a son of the original owner.
THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE
was erected by James Valentine, in the spring of 1836. The lumber used in its construction was sawed at the mill of Mishael Beadle. It stood for than a quarter of a century, when it was torn down,-thus effacing a land-mark which might have attained a venerable antiquity. It stood on the farm now owned by William Hartman.
THE FIRST BRICK HOUSE
in the township was erected by Stephen A. Rice, in 1849. It was built originally as an addition to his former residence, which was a frame build- ing. The house yet stands on the site of the old Rice homestead, on section twenty-four. Its owner is Mr. S. A. Rice.
MANUFACTURES.
The first saw-mill in Fabius township was erected near the mouth of Lake run, about one mile from Three Rivers, by Mishael Beadle, in the spring of 1835. The next one was built by Jasper and Barnabus Eddy, on the same stream, in the fall of 1837. This mill is still in operation, being car- ried on by Jasper Eddy, one of the original proprietors. The only other mill of any kind in Fabius, is the saw-mill of Sidney Johnson, which is located on the same stream. There is a mint-still operated by Charles W. Shall, at the head of Lake Four, on section five.
BRICK-YARDS.
The first brick-yard in the township was established by Abishai Hoising- ton, on the farm now occupied by John E. Cook, on section thirteen, in 1844. He continued in the business for a number of years at the old place when it was abandoned, and the site thereof put under cultivation.
There are now three brick-yards in operation, all located on section twenty-three. They are owned, respectively, by Hoisington (a son of Abishai H.) & Wells, Simeon Dunn and Hiram Malone.
A DISTILLERY
for the manufacture of high-wines was erected in the township by Chal- lenge S. Wheeler in 1855, and, after continuing in operation for about two years, it was totally destroyed by fire in 1857.
THE FIRST MOWER AND REAPER
was brought into the township by Garrett Sickles in 1842, who used to reap" the grain for those who had no improved machinery. It was an old " Kirby."
THE FIRST THOROUGH-BRED SHORT-HORNS
were introduced by Richard Illenden, about 1864. He did much towards improving the live-stock of the township, and the beneficial influence of his enterprise is now observable in the neat appearance of the cattle in the township.
There were owned in the township, in 1874, four hundred and ninety-four horses, seventeen mules, eight oxen, four hundred and ninety-five cows, four hundred and thirty-two other cattle, one thousand five hundred and thirteen hogs, and one thousand seven hundred and fifty-six sheep.
THE CROPS
of 1873 were as follows : Wheat produced on three thousand five hundred and fifty-two acres, forty-nine thousand three hundred and fifty-one bushels ; corn, on one thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven acres, fifty-four thou- sand three hundred and eighty-five bushels; other grain, ten thousand and seventy bushels ; potatoes, six thousand two hundred bushels; hay, one thousand three hundred and sixty-one tons; wool, eight thousand and six- teen pounds ; pork, one hundred and fifty thousand eight hundred and ninety-five pounds; butter, thirty-five thousand nine hundred and ninety pounds; dried fruit, four thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine pounds; cider, five hundred and eighteen barrels ; maple-sugar, two hundred pounds; apples, thirteen thousand eight hundred and forty bushels from four hun- dred and forty-seven acres, and two hundred and three bushels of other fruit,-the apples and fruit being valued at four thousand seven hundred and sixty-four dollars.
THE MANUFACTURING PRODUCT
in 1873 was as follows: Two saw-mills and three brick-yards employed twenty persons and a capital of nine thousand dollars, and their product was valued at eleven thousand nine hundred dollars.
CRANBERRIES.
Cranberries are raised extensively in the southwest corner of the township by William W. Johnson and others. An area of several hundred acres is used almost exclusively for the natural growth of this fruit. Sidney John-
210
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
son raised a large quantity of the berries by cultivation and artificial irri- gation.
EARLY BIRTHS.
Who the first white child born in the township was has not been definitely ascertained. Lydia Arnold, a daughter of William F. Arnold, was born February 28, 1835, and four days afterward a boy cousin came to keep her company, named Thomas, a son of Randall Churchill. Mr. Samuel Newell had a new baby at his house about the same time also.
THE FIRST MARRIAGE
of white persons in the township was the one solemnized between William F. Arnold and Rose Churchill, the latter a daughter of Deacon William Churchill-both bride and groom being pioneers of Fabius.
THE FIRST DEATH
that occurred among the settlers of the township was that of Mrs. Ashley Rice, but the exact date thereof we did not learn.
THE FIRST BURYING-GROUND
regularly laid out was on land donated for the purpose by William Morrison, and called to this day " Morrison burying-ground," in honor of the donor, in 1838. The first interment therein was that of Mrs. Mehitable Harvey, wife of Heman Harvey, and second daughter of Charles Rice, who died in December, 1838. Prior to this the early settlers were accustomed to bury their dead on their farms, a plat being laid off for that purpose. Several of the old deceased pioneers were thus sepultured.
THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE
in the township was built of logs in 1833, on the edge of the woods on the south line of section thirty-five, on lands now owned by Lewis K. Brodie. It was used as a meeting-house, and also for a Sunday-school. It only stood a few years, when it was destroyed by fire through the carelessness of some parties who were moving into the township, and stopped there over night and left the fire in such a way that it caught and burned the house. The next school-house was built on land of William Morrison, on section thirty-four, where the cemetery now stands. William F. Arnold (to whom we are indebted for valuable information touching the township history), taught school there in the winter of 1843-4 for the sum of fifty cents a day. The first school-teacher was Susan Tracy. John Arney also taught the first winter school therein, and Miss Arvilla Denio was an early teacher in it.
FIRST SCHOOL-DISTRICT.
The school records of Fabius do not antedate 1858. We learn on well- authenticated authority that the district was organized as early as 1838, but could find no one of the early settlers now living who could fix the date to a certainty. Joel Redway was the first school-director. The first school- house was a frame structure, and stood on the farm of Garrett Sickles, now occupied by his son, J. G. Sickles, almost thirty rods from the present build- ing. The present site was purchased of Richard Fulcher in 1858, the con- sideration being fifty dollars. The officers elected in 1859 were Frederick A. Hoisington, director, and Stephen A. Rice, assessor. The statistics of 1876 show the following exhibit of the educational standing of the township at the close of the school year, September 1st : There were in the township ten school-houses, two of brick and eight of wood, affording five hundred and sixty sittings, and valued at six thousand nine hundred dollars. Schools were in session in these buildings an average of eight months during the year; four hundred and twenty-nine pupils attending the same out of four hundred and eighty-nine children in the township of the legal school age. Seven male teachers were employed and paid seven hundred and six- teen dollars, and fourteen females received eight hundred and seven dollars and fifty cents, the total expenditures being two thousand three hundred and five dollars and fifty-five cents.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious services held in the township were, after the primitive fashion, in the houses of the old settlers. One of the first dwellings in which religious services were held was the house of Hiram Harwood, who was the first regular class-leader. The services were in accordance with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Among the first preachers were Reverends Boyd, McCool, and Stutler. These were circuit-riders, and used to come around occasionally to enlighten the settlement with the teachings of the gospel.
TRAGEDIES.
About the year 1842 the citizens of Fabius township were thrown into a state of consternation by the discovery of the dead body of Mrs. Laura
Redway hanging from a beam in an out-house. It appears that the unfor- tunate woman was subject to attacks of temporary derangement, in one of which she committed the melancholy deed. The news was first circulated by a neighbor calling at the house of Mr. Solomon Hartman just as the family were about partaking of the evening meal. The women-folks observed that there was something more than the ordinary news to be imparted, and so became curious to know what had happened. The visitor was loath to tell them, and managed to keep his secret until after supper, when he took the people of the house with him to where the suicide lay in death.
The same year a Mrs. Casper suspended herself from the limb of a plum- tree; no reason ever having been assigned for the deed, except a morbid depression of spirits to which she was subject.
INCIDENTS.
Mr. Solomon Hartman relates how he used to shelter a destitute Indian in a shanty on his place. The aborigine was honest, and used always to pay for his lodging either with money or labor. The winter previous to the one during which Mr. Hartman sheltered him, he camped out on the prairie with nothing but his blanket to save him from the inclemency of the weather.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
Fabius was originally a part of White Pigeon township, but in the winter of 1832-33 the legislative council set off what is now Fabius and Lockport into a separate township and called it Bucks, after George Buck, one of the first settlers of Lockport township.
THE FIRST ELECTION
after the formation of the township of Bucks was held at the house of Hiram Harwood, on what is now known as "Johnny-cake" prairie, in the spring of 1833, for the purpose of designating who should be appointed justice of the peace. The justices were then appointed by the governor under the terri- torial law. The candidates were Hiram Harwood, Jacob W. Coffinberry, George Buck, and Charles B. Fitch. The township was only entitled to three, and there was a lively strife between Messrs. Buck and Fitch. The first three names were successful. There was no political machinery in those days, the only question being who was the best man and the fittest for the office for which he was a candidate. There were about twenty votes polled at the election ; Charles Rice was chosen moderator, and he went around with his hat and gathered in the votes.
In 1840 the township of Bucks was divided, and township six, range eleven set off into a township called Lockport-township six, range twelve retaining the original name. In 1841 the name of the township was changed to Fabius.
FIRST TOWNSHIP-MEETING.
The first meeting for the election of township officers for the township of Fabius was held at the house of Alfred Poe, April 5, 1841, at which the following gentlemen were chosen to fill the offices opposite their respective names: Randal Churchill, Joel Redway and William Arney, assessors ; Joel Redway, John Laughlin and Thomas Ward, school inspectors ; William Arney, Joel Redway, and Garrett Sickles, road commissioners ; Charles Rice, William Morrison, school directors; Charles J. Rice, collector; Charles J. Rice and Lewis K. Brodie, constables ; Joel Redway, William Arney and Frederick Shurtz, justices of the peace.
LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Clerks-Thomas Ward (1841), William Arney (two years), William F. Arnold (two years), Valentine P. Redway (four years), Alonzo R. Hunt (eleven years), Richard Fulcher, Hiram W. Wheeler, John Anable, Joseph W. McKee, Stacy B. Naylor, John Cowling (three years), Benjamin F. Wells, James P. Brodie, present incumbent (seven years).
Supervisors-Frederick Shurtz, Joel Redway, William Arney (two years), William F. Arnold, Hezekiah Wetherbee (fourteen years), Randal Churchill, William W. Johnson (two years), John Anable (eight years), Jasper Eddy, Henry Stotz, present incumbent (five years).
Justices of the Peace-William Arney (sixteen years), William Morrison (eleven years), Orrin Hicks, Josiah Farrar, Jasper Eddy (sixteen years), J. Farrar, Richard Fulcher (eight years), John Jacquas, John W. Blodgett (eight years), H. Wetherbee, Ansel W. Goodell, John Anable, J. T. Hay (sixteen years), John White, Jonathan Reed, Stacy B. Naylor (eight years), Norman A. Cole, A. R. Hunt, George Reed, Samuel White, Charles Rice, Timothy Wyman, present incumbent.
KAISER LAKE HOUSE, CHARLES F. KAISER, PROPRIETOR. FABIUS TP., ST JOSEPH CO ., MICH.
RESIDENCE OF A. P. SHEPHERDSON, FABIUS TP., ST JOSEPH CO, MICH
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES G. VOORHEES, MENDON, ST. JOSEPH CO, MICH.
JOHN WATKINS. - FABIUS TP. --
WM. ARNEY. - FABIUS TR. -
A.R. HUNT. FABIUS TP --
Faire Beadle
Win Machine -- FABIUS TP. --
- FABIUS TP. -
211
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
TAXATION.
The first assessment of property for taxation in the township of Fabius was made in 1841, and amounted to forty-three thousand four hundred and one dollars, and the taxes levied thereon to six hundred and three dollars. In 1852 the assessment was returned at forty-four thousand nine hundred and five dollars, and the tax-levy amounted to six hundred and fifty dollars and nine cents. In 1860 the assessment was placed at two hundred and twenty-seven thousand four hundred and ninety-three dollars, and the taxes at one thousand seven hundred and seventy dollars and twenty-one cents. In 1870 the assessment was fixed at four hundred and thirty-nine thousand eight hundred and forty dollars, and the taxes at three thousand seven hun- dred and eighteen dollars and forty-four cents. In 1876 the real-estate was assessed, as equalized by the board of supervisors, at two hundred and nine- teen thousand four hundred and ten dollars, and the personal property at forty-three thousand four hundred dollars, making a total assessment of two hundred and sixty-two thousand eight hundred and ten dollars. On this amount taxes were levied as follows : For State and county purposes, one-half to each, one thousand three hundred and forty-two dollars and fifty- four cents ; township purposes, including schools, two thousand four hundred and forty-three dollars and fourteen cents. Total tax, three thousand seven hundred and eighty-five dollars and sixty-eight cents.
POPULATION.
In 1850 there were four hundred and ninety-seven persons dwelling in the township. In 1860 there were eight hundred and seventy-six, and in 1870 there were one thousand two hundred and seventy-seven, of whom six hun- dred and ninety-three were males and five hundred and eighty-four females. In 1874 the State census returned one thousand one hundred and thirty, five hundred and eighty-nine being males and five hundred and forty-one females ; one hundred and sixty-eight of the males were of the military age, between twenty-one and forty-five years, ninety-five were between forty-five and seventy-five years, and three were between seventy-five and ninety. Of the females, one hundred and fifty were of the age called the "maternity age" on the census returns, between eighteen and forty years ; ninety-eight were between forty and seventy-five years, and three were over seventy-five years. Three hundred and three boys and two hundred and ninety girls had not arrived at their respective legal majorities of twenty-one and eighteen years. The married males and females were equal, two hundred and seven each, but the single men exceeded the ladies in that condition, there being fifty-one of the former and thirty-four of the latter. The widowed were nine of the males and ten of the females.
THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOTING
in the township, since its organization as at present, has been as follows : In 1844 the Whigs cast thirty votes and the Democrats forty-six, and the Lib- erty ticket had three supporters. In 1848 the Whigs polled thirty-eight, the Democrats thirty-four, and the Free-Soilers eight votes. In 1852 the Whigs cast fifty-one ballots, the Democrats forty-nine, and the Abolitionists five. In 1856 the Republicans polled one hundred and one votes, the Demo- crats fifty-six, and there was a solitary prohibitionist in the town. In 1860 the Republican vote was one hundred and nine and the Democratic ninety- six. In 1864 the Republicans polled sixty-six and the Democrats seventy- eight votes. In 1868 the Republicans polled ninety-nine and the Democrats one hundred and thirty-five votes. In 1872 the Republican vote was ninety- four, and the Democrats polled seventy votes for Mr. Greeley and ten for Mr. O'Conor. In 1876 the Republicans cast one hundred and one votes for Mr. Hayes, and the Democrats gave Mr. Tilden ninety-nine, and the Green- back men gave Mr. Cooper fifty-six votes. This last vote would indicate a population of nearly one thousand three hundred in the township.
FABIUS, IN THE REBELLION,
won an enviable reputation. Her citizens rallied at the first tap of the drum and call of the bugle, and two of them fell at Bull Run,-their first engagement in the war. Her Hoisingtons, patriotic and brave, shouldered their muskets, and father and six sons (and sons-in-law) went to the front; a younger one was so small the officers would not take him, but left him at home with his mother, much against his inclination. Other families went, also,-the Keisers, five; Timms, three; Mckees, three; Beadles, two; Bigles, two; Burnetts, two ; Manleys, three; Eddys, three; Blodgetts, two; Reishs, two; Yagers, two; and so,
" By twos and threes, and single, Up from the quiet dingle"
of the farm, they came, and into the horrid clamor and crash and carnage of war, before whose fierce assaults and laborious sieges these brave men, by
dozens, fell to rise no more. Others, maimed and mangled by shot and shell or enfeebled by disease, returned, and bear the painful evidences of their sac- rifices about with them daily on their persons. One, David Beadle, has lost the precious legacy of sight, and now gropes in darkness unbroken by so much as a glimmer of the all-pervading sunlight, and must remain so throughout the balance of his days.
We here give a list of the men of Fabius who served their country in the hour of her extreme need, as we have gathered them from the official records :
FIRST REGIMENT MICHIGAN INFANTRY (three months' men).
Private David A. Jones, Company A ; killed at Bull Run.
Private Calvin Colgrove, Company I; killed at Bull Run.
Private James W. Carpenter, Company A ; re-enlisted in First Infantry. Private James K. Fowler, Company K.
FIRST INFANTRY (three years' men).
Private James W. Carpenter, Company A; died at Harrison's Landing, April 5, 1862.
Private Gardner Eddy, Company B; discharged for disability.
FOURTH INFANTRY.
Private Andrew J. Keiser, Company C; discharged at expiration of service.
Private A. B. Parsons, Company C; died in hospital, July 7, 1861. SIXTH INFANTRY.
Private Lucian J. Hoisington, Company C; discharged for disability.
Private Darius A. Babcock, Company C; mustered-out.
Private Sylvester Pierce, Company C; mustered-out.
Private Richard H. Walton, Company C; mustered-out.
ELEVENTH INFANTRY.
Drum-major Abishai Hoisington ; discharged.
Corporal Benjamin F. Wells, Company A; discharged at expiration of service.
Private James W. King, Company A.
Private Edward Timm, Company A ; died of wounds at Murfreesboro, January 7, 1863.
Private Lewis Timm, Company A; discharged at expiration of service. Private Frederick Timm, Company A; discharged for disability.
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