USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan > Part 116
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Phillip Winegar, of Ann Arbor, was born at Union Springs, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1827, his father was Ashabeľ and his mother Elizabeth (Carr) Winegar, natives of New York. Phillip grew to manhood in Cayuga county where he also received his preliminary education. He spent some time also at Carey Collegiate Seminary, in Genesee county, and at Auburn Academy. His father was a farmer and a woolen manufacturer, and young Phillip kept his books. From Cayuga county Phillip went to Ontario county, where in 1850 he married Miss Elizabeth A. Bentley, a daughter of Thomas Bentley. To them has been born 1 son-Frank- lin E. In 1854 Mr. Winegar came to Michigan and settled in Northfield tp., where he remained until 1863, engaged in farming and teaching school. Dur_ ing three years of this time he was Supervisor. In 1860 he was a candidate for State Senator, and though he was far ahead of his ticket, he was defeated by a small majority. In 1862 he was elected Sheriff, and in 1864 was re-elected to that office. In 1867 was elected Supervisor, and in 1880 Justice of the Peace for Ann Arbor. He has also done work in connection with the offices of Register and County Clerk. While a resident of Northfield tp. he was appointed Post- master of Gravel Run, by President Buchanan.
Daniel Wines, contractor and builder, Ann Arbor, was born in Connecticut, in January, 1812. His father, Daniel B. Wines, was a native of New York, and his mother a native of Windham county, Conn. They settled in this county in 1837, where they both passed the remainder of their lives. Daniel passed his early life in this county, necessarily witnessing many important changes that transpired
L . L. Kimmel
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ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP.
in Southern Michigan, and during his youth frequently walked to Detroit. He was married in Long Island to Anna Maria Baker, a daughter of Abraham Baker, a resident of South Hampton, Long Island. Two sons-Charles A. and Abraham, of Ypsilanti, were born to this marriage. Mrs. Wines died in 1850, and during the latter part of the same year he married Mrs. Phoebe Douglas. Two children were sent to bless this union-Levi D., a teacher in the Ann Arbor high school, and graduate of Michigan University, and Anna. Mr. Wines has erected many of the best business houses and private residences in Ann Arbor.
Austin A. Wood, retired farmer, is a native of Danbury, Ct., where he was born in 1828. He came with his parents to this county in 1836, and in 1848 was married at Port Huron, Mich., to Mary J. Glover, of Lodi tp., Washtenaw Co. Of this marriage there are no surviving children. Mrs. Wood died in 1849, and in 1854 he was united in marriage to Hannah Mitchell, of Mau- mee, Ohio, who died the same year. On Nov. 28, 1855, he married Sarah M. Phelps, of Saline tp., this county. Mr. Wood is a Deacon, and also Treasurer of the Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, and while a resident of Lodi tp. was leader of a choir in the church of that denomination.
Darius Wood, retired farmer, Ann Arbor, was born in Connecticut in 1807, and is a son of Abijah and Submit (Camp) Wood. Darius grew to manhood in his na- tive State, and in 1828 married Nancy J. Jones. They have 4 children-Saman- tha L., Melvina D., Lyman B. and Fanny. In 1829 Mr. Wood moved to Seneca Co., N. Y., where he taught school a number of years; thence to Yates Co., N. Y., and from the latter place to Michigan, in 1834. He located nine miles south of Ann Arbor, where a farm of 80 acres was purchased. He cultivated the land dur- ing the summer months, and in the winter was engaged in teaching school. Many years ago Mrs. Wood was laid at rest in Washtenaw county, and in 1868 Mr. Wood married Mrs. Deborah L. Maynard, relict of William S. Maynard, formerly Mayor of Ann Arbor, and President of Washtenaw county bank. He settled in this county in 1828, and bore a prominent part in the early history of Ann Arbor vil- lage. In 1867 Mr. Wood settled at Ann Arbor where he resides at present in very comfortable circumstances.
George S. Wood, retired farmer. was born in Danbury, Conn., in 1825. His parents, Ira and Maria Wood, settled in Lodi tp., Washtenaw county. at an early day, purchasing 40 acres of land from Government, where the former died in 1855; the latter is still surviving. In his youth and early stage of manhood George S. displayed unusual ability as an agriculturist, and was especially success- ful in sheep-raising, taking numerous prizes on his specimens at the county and State fairs. Oct. 17, 1849, Mr. Wood married Phidelia Beach, a native of New York, and daughter of William G. Beach, a native of New Jersey, who settled in this county in 1843. They have 4 children-Arthur A., William J., Georgie M. and Eda B. Ida is deceased.
P. D. Woodruff, contractor and builder, was born in Seneca county, N. Y., in 1818, and is a son of Benjamin Woodruff. Mr. W. remained a resident of the " Empire State," receiving a liberal education, until his 17th year, when he came West to Ohio, and in 1836 settled near what was then familiarly termed " Car- penter's Corners," in Washtenaw county. In 1847 he married Phoebe Wood- ruff, and 3 children were given to them, 2 of whom are living. Mr. Woodruff has officiated as an Alderman, also as city Treasurer of Ann Arbor city. In his building capacity, he has done much toward increasing the value of property by the erection of many costly and handsome business blocks and fine residences.
Isaac Wyncup, farmer, Ann Arbor, Mich.
George Zeebe, farmer, Northfield tp., sec. 35; P. O., Ann Arbor; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1835, where he was also educated. In 1853 he came to America and settled in Ann Arbor, where he lived until 1870. In that year he moved to Northfield tp., where he now lives. In 1858 he was married to Mrs. Katherine Souder. To them have been born 4 sons and 4 daughters, of whom 1 daughter has died. Mr. Zeebe is a member of the Lutheran Church.
62
SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP.
The township of Superior is particularly an agricultural district, -one-half of oak openings, unsurpassed in the fertility of its soil or the advantages of its water-courses; but Fleming's creek and Huron river are the only streams that can be utilized for milling. Ten sections are without any water-course. Frain's, or Hour-Glass lake is on section 9, and is the only important body of water in the township. The River Huron enters the township on section 31, flows north into section 30, again south through section 31, where it forms two small islands, and enters Ypsilanti at the northeast corner of section 6 of that township. Fleming's creek waters the west portion of Superior. The M. C. R. R. crosses the river at three points in this neighborhood.
Beech and maple forests yet remain in this township. "Supe- rior" is stamped upon its lands, and is said to extend itself to the people and their homes.
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
The area of Superior township is 21,774 acres, of which 14,726 acres are improved and 7,048 unimproved lands. The land is in possession of 222 occupiers. The area sown under wheat in 1879 was 2,708 acres; that planted in 1880 was 3,094 acres. In the for- mer year the product averaged 1,841 bushels per acre, or a total of 49,850. The corn-fields, extending over 1,382 acres in 1879, pro- duced 55,260 bushels; 862 acres under oats gave a yield of 35,100 bushels; 431 acres under clover gave 631 bushels of seed; 291 acres under barley produced 7,940 bushels; 93 acres under pota- toes yielded 9,608 bushels; and the meadow lands, comprised in 2,214 acres, produced 2,453 tons of hay. It will be understood, that this estimate is only an approximate, yet based upon official reports and collected by township officers.
ORGANIZATION OF SUPERIOR.
In the history of Ypsilanti it will be shown that the district now known as Superior formed a portion of that township. On June 30, 1828, the Legislative Council enacted: "That from and after the passage of this act, all that part of the township of Ypsilanti lying north, including township numbered 1 and 2 south, range number 7 east, in the county of Washtenaw, be, and the same is, hereby set off as a township, by the name of Panama, and that the first township meeting be held at the house of John McCormick;
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1063
SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP.
provided, that nothing in this act shall affect the assessment or collection of taxes heretofore assessed in the township of Ypsilanti." This new division comprised the present townships of Salem and Superior. In 1831, under authority given by act of the Legislative Council, the people of the southern part of Panama organized the township of Superior. Henry Kimmel gave it its present name.
PATENTEES OF TOWNSHIP LANDS.
The subsequent list of early purchasers of the lands in Superior township must necessarily prove of interest, and for that reason is given:
SECTION 1.
Farrand, John S., e h ne qr.
Hamilton, Thomas Jr., w h ne qr.
Murray, Archibald G., e h se qr.
Reeve, P. H., w h se qr.
Morris, Walter, nw qr.
SECTION 2.
Patterson, Jacob, e h ne qr.
Chase, Alanson, w h ne qr.
Charmard, Betsey, e h se qr.
Root, Augustus, w h se qr.
McCormick, Abraham, w h nw qr.
Page, Rufus, e h sw qr.
Payne, Samuel, w h sw qr.
SECTION 3.
Pray, Esek, e h ne qr.
Pray, Esek, w h se qr.
Wheelock, Silas, sw qr and wh nw qr.
SECTION 4.
Hammond, Dennis, e h ne qr.
Green, O., nw qr of ne qr.
Bedell, G. C., sw qr of ne qr.
Wheelock, Robert, se qr.
Douglass, Aaron, w h.
SECTION 5.
8
Wyckoff, Joseph, n h. Bot May 28.1827
Dowdel, John, e h se qr.
Cowan, Peter, w h se qr.
Doyle, John, e h sw qr.
Porter, Augustus S., w h sw qr.
SECTION 6.
Hull, Samuel T., e h ne qr.
'Thomas, Daniel, w h ne qr and e h nw qr.
Shores, Jonathan, e h se qr.
Vorhees, George, w h se qr.
Hurens, Champlain, w h nw qr.
Shaughniss, John, e h sw qr.
Howe, Joseph, w h sw qr.
SECTION 7.
Herrand, Alexander, e h ne qr.
Wells, William, w h ne qr.
Thomas, Isaac, se qr and e h sw qr. Shaughniss, John, nw qr. Dix, John, w h sw qr.
SECTION 8.
Douglass, Aaron, ne qr.
Williams, Joel, e h se qr.
McCormick Abraham, w h se qr.
Pray, Esek, e h nw qr and sw qr. SECTION 9.
Phelps, Justin, e h ne qr.
Hawkins, Olney, w h ne qr.
Durfees, Edward, e h se qr.
Perkins, Almon, w h se qr.
Hix, Berden, e h nw qr.
McCormick, G. W., w h nw qr.
Pray, Esek, e h sw qr.
Williams, Joel, w h sw qr.
SECTION 10.
Witherell, James, e h ne qr.
Phelps, Justin, w h ne qr.
Bentley, John, e h se qr.
Jayne, William, w h se qr.
Delano, Ephraim B., e h nw qr.
Phelps, Gaylord, w hnw qr.
Curtis, Moses S., eh sw qr.
Payne, Arnold, w h sw qr.
SECTION 11.
Driscoll, Joshua G., n h.
Beers, Harvey, e h se qr.
Parkhurst, Abel P., w h se qr.
Schofield, Orin, eh sw qr.
Rolens, Moses, w h sw qr.
SECTION 12.
Murray, Archibald G., e h ne qr.
Sarava, Jacob, w h ne qr. Rice, Ira, e h se qr.
Woodin, Pelis, w h se qr.
Bouck, Adam, e h nw qr.
Tafft, Job W., w h nw qr. Brewer, John, sw qr.
SECTION 13.
Rice, Ira, e h ne qr. Wilcox, Theron, w h ne qr.
1064
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Newell, Nathan, se qr. Robinson, Hiram, nw qr. Stacey, Ebenezer, sw qr. SECTION 14.
Tookes, Hiram H., ne qr. Bartell, John, e h se qr.
Barr, Robert, w h se qr. Root, Roswell, e h nw qr.
Whitney, C. K., nw qr of nw qr and sw qr of nw qr. Kimball, Henry, e h sw qr.
Cole, Peter, w h sw qr.
SECTION 15.
Gale, Roger, n h and e hsw qr and w h se qr. Cole, Peter, e h se qr.
Barren, Zolad, w h sw qr. SECTION 17.
William, Joel, e h nw qr.
McCormick, George, w h ne qr.
Pierce, Orsamus, e h se qr.
Olas, Hezekiah, w h se qr.
Berrus, Joseph, nw qr.
Cook, Bennett, sw qr.
SECTION 18.
Dix, John, n hand w h se qr and e h sw qr. Mullweland, James and John, e h se qr. Cummings, Nathaniel, w h sw qr.
SECTION 19.
Rogers, Edward L., e h ne qr.
King, Jacob W., w h ne qr.
Rogers, Edward L., e h se qr.
Forsyth, James S., w h se qr.
Osgood, Leonard W., nw qr.
Pettybone, Tolman, e h sw qr. Fall, William T., w h sw qr.
SECTION 20.
Jennings, B., ne qr of ne qr. Pettybone, G., se qr of ne qr.
Crippen, Ichabod, w h ne qr ande h nw qr. Rogers, Edward"L., s h.
Graham, W., nw qr of nw qr.
Mullweland, J., sw qr of nw qr.
SECTION 21.
Camp, Ira, e h ne qr.
Bowen, Ann, w h ne qr and e h nw qr. Lane, Marcus, e h se qr. Dyer, Daniel, w h se qr. Simpson, Gage, w h nw qr.
Swarthout, Anthony R., e h sw qr. Richards, Daniel, w h sw qr. SECTION 22.
Kimmel, H., e h ne qr and w h ne qr. Kimmel, Henry, eh se qr and w h se qr.
Cole, Peter, e h nw qr. Bowen, Z., w h nw qr. Karr, Alexander R., eh sw qr. Murray, James B., w h sw qr.
SECTION 23.
Kimmel, Henry, e h ne qr and w h ne qr. Kellogg, C. H., eh se qr.
Kimmel, H., sw qr and w h nw qr and e h nw qr.
SECTION 24.
Speer, Moor, n h and w h se qr. Seeley, G., e h se qr.
Curtis, John, sw qr.
SECTION 25.
Benedict, James, ne qr.
Sweetling, Almond, e h se qr.
Kimmel, H., w h se qr.
Smith, John M., nw qr.
Otis, David G., e h sw qr.
Mead, Ezra, w h sw qr.
SECTION 26.
Ferguson, R., e h ne qr. Kimmel, Henry, e h nw qr and w h ne qr. Mead, Ezra, se qr.
Garrison, J., w h nw qr.
Lines, Abagail, e h sw qr.
Warsey, H., w h sw qr.
SECTION 27.
Henshaw, Willard, ne qr.
Moss, Job, e h se qr.
Amisyls, Samuel S., w h se qr.
Moore, Avel, e h nw qr.
Holden, S. C. and R., w h nw qr.
Camp, E., e h sw qr.
Lakes, George, w h sw qr.
SECTION 28.
Eddy, William, e h ne qr.
Heustes, Jonathan, w hne qr and nw qr.
Hayes, John G., e h se qr ..
Cass, A , w h se qr.
Camp, Ira, e h sw qr.
Swarthout, A. R., w h sw qr.
SECTION 29.
Heustes, Jonathan, ne qr. Levick, Andrew, nw qr.
Swarthout, Anthony R., se qr and e h sw qr. Hiscock, D., w h sw qr. SECTION 30.
Hiscock, W., eh ne qr.
Moore, David, w h ne qr.
Lyon, Enniss, e frac h se qr.
Dexter, S. W., frac pt of se qr.
Dissett, A., e h nw qr.
Sackrider, Joseph, w frac h se qr and e frac h sw qr.
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SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP.
Rush, George, w h nw qr. Pullen, James, w h sw qr.
SECTION 31.
Burlingame, H., e frac pt of ne qr and e frac pt of se qr.
Christie, Hugh, frac pt ne qr. SECTION 31.
Reming, R., nw frac qr of nw qr.
Dickerson, John, s frach ne qr and w frac h se qr.
Geddes, Robert, w frac h.
SECTION 32.
Kercheval, frac pt of sw frac qr.
Phillips, John, se qr and e h nw qr.
Hiscock, James, e h se qr.
Dessett, Ira, w h se qr.
Baker, Elias, w h nw qr.
Burlingame, Henry, e frac h sw qr and w frac h sw qr.
SECTION 33.
Sines, P., e h ne qr.
Brown, I., w h ne qr.
Baker, Elias, e h se qr.
Champlain, S., jr., w h se qr.
Case, A., e h nw qr.
Haynes, J. G., w hn qr. Witherell, J., e h sw qr. Phillips, J., w h sw qr.
SECTION 24.
Sines, Rachel, w h ne qr.
Eddy, William, e h ne qr and e h nw qr.
Morton, Thomas, e h se qr.
Morton, J. G., w hse qr.
Sines, Isaac, w h nw qr.
Moss, Joseph, e h sw qr.
Avery, A., w hsw qr.
SECTION 35.
Sanford, John, ne qr.
Thompson & Merrill, e h se qr.
Merril & Pratt, w h se qr.
Eddy, J. H., e h nw qr.
Karr, James, w h nw qr.
Merrill, Ira and H. W., eh sw qr.
Hastings, E. H., w h sw qr.
SECTION 36.
Goodell, J., e h ne qr.
Fowler, Joseph. w h ne qr.
Fowler, David, se qr and e h sw qr.
Pine, Benjamin, nw qr.
Swarthout, A. A., w h sw qr.
In review of this list the following quotations from John Geddes' paper on the subject will be found comparatively accurate:
The first purchaser in Superior township was Robert Fleming, who bought the nw part of nw frac qr of sec 31, Sept. 29, 1823, 44.75 acres. The next was Abraham Avery, May 14, 1824, who bought the wh of sw qr of sec 34. John Brown bought, May 17, 1824, the w h of ne qr of sec 33. Phillip Sines bought the e h of ne qr sec 33, May 19, 1824. Isaac Sines bought the w h of nw qr of sec 34, May 19. John Dix bought the nh of sec 18, and the eh of sw qr and the w h of se qr sec 18, May 20. James Pullen bought the w h of the sw qr of sec 30, 70.44 acres, June 17. George Sarles bought the w h of sw qr sec 27, May 19. Eden Camp bought, June 16, the e h of sw qr sec. Jos. Sackrider bought the wh of the sw qr and the eh of the se qr of sec 30, 127.35 acres, June 27. Sam. W. Dexter bought that part of sec 30 s of the river, Sept. 7, 24.95 acres. Isaac Thomas, Sept. 27, bought the se qr and the e h of the sw qr of sec 7. John Dix bought the w h of the sw qr of sec 7, Sept. 28, 56.60 acres. Lawrence L. Arneigh bought the w h of se qr of sec 27, Oct. 1. Joel Wellman bought the e h of ne qr sec 17, and the e h ne qr of sec 8, and the w h of the sw qr of sec 9, Oct. 6. Hugh Christie bought the ne part of sec 31, 67.25 acres, Sept. 29. John Phillips bought, Sept. 16, the e hof the nw qr sec 32, and Oct. 4, the ne qr of sec 32. The above are all the lands bought in 1824 in the town- ship of Superior.
Robert Geddes bought the sw qr and the se part of nw frac qr of sec 31, May 19, 1825, 232.06 acres. Henry Kimmell made his first purchase July 28, 1825, of the w h of se qr of sec 22. He bought the e h of sec 22 and all of sec 23, but e h of the se qr. He bought one lot on 14, two lots on 26, and one lot on 25 -- 15 lots in all. John Brewer bought the sw qr of sec 12, April 3, 1826. Joseph Wickoff bought, May 28, 1827, the nh sec 5, 280.40 acres. Esek Pray bought the sw qr of sec 8, July 3, 1825. Sold it to John McCormick, and then bought, Nov. 24, 1825, the e h of the ne qr and the e h of the se qr of sec 3. He afterward bought the w h of the se qr and the e h of the nw qr of sec3. Ichabod Crippen bought the e h of the mw qr and w h of the ne qr, June 27, 1831. David Moore bought the w h of the ne qr of sec 30, May 18, 1830.
1
1066.
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Ichabod Crippen is the only person in the township that is now living on the land bought from the United States. Esek Pray bought, July 28, 1825, the e h of the nw qr of sec 8 and June 23, 1825, the e h of the sw qr of sec 9. There were 167 first purchasers in the township. The last piece of United States land sold was the s h of the w h of the sw qr of sec 14, to Curtis R. Whitney, Sept. 2, 1847. The next last piece was the sw corner of the sw frac qr of sec 32, .78 of an acre, B. Kerch- eval, Nov. 22, 1836. G. C. Bedell bought the sw qr of the se qr of sec 4, March 22, 1836. Eldridge Gee built the first house on the e h of the ne qr of sec 33 in Feb- ruary and March, 1823. He says he moved there Feb. 16, 1823. There were then no white persons residing in the county of Washtenaw. John Dix built next in May and June, 1824. Dix built the first frame barn in Superior township and prob . ably the first in the county. It was raised in July, 1825. I was at the raising. Dix built a saw-mill in 1826, and a grist-mill some time after, all on sec 18. John Dix was from Boston, was said to be a ship captain and was shipwrecked at sea, and it was plain to see he would fail in Washtenaw. He was the most unpopular man in the county. It may be asked why. There were probably several causes. One was, he was reared in Boston. Such appears to be the tendency of things, where people congregate in large bodies they become unfriendly and unsociable, whereas in new countries, as Washtenaw then was, the inhabitants are extra friendly. John Dix left for Texas in the fall of 1833, and died there a few years ago. He was the proprietor of the village of Dixboro. Henry Kimmell was from Somerset county, Pa., from there to the mouth of the Illinois river, and from there to Washtenaw in the summer of 1825. He preferred timber land. He left Illinois because of its un- healthfulness. Henry Kimmell died in August, 1868, aged 82 years.
Hiram H. Tooker removed from Auburn, Cayuga county, N. Y., to that part of Superior known as the Free Church neigborhood, in June of 1826. This settlement had been opened the September previous by Col. John Brewer and brother, and Hiram Robison, also from Cayuga county; but it was not until July of 1826 that they found the land office open and ready to sell and convey to them their selected lands. The name of John Q. Adams, as Pres- ident of the United States, appears on the parchment titles of con- veyance.
In this early summer a number of names were added to the list of settlers,-John Brewer, Hiram Robison H. H. Tooker, Ebenezer Stacy, John Bramble, John Newell, Moor Spears and Robert Barr. Two and one half miles south of this opening settlement. the name of Henry Kimmel was a kind watchword, to these brave men and their wives. Mr. K. had been over all that land in 1824, and on account of the unhealthfulness of Indiana, concluded to move his family and effects to Michigan in July of 1825. He owned both landed and mill property in Kaskaskia, Ind., and in selling out there, on account of scarcity of money, took large pay- ments in stock. It formed a scene worthy of an artist's sketch to view the caravan as it moved on, and into that wilderness country. First was the primitive ox-cart, the fellies of which were eight inches wide, without tire, made so as not to sink into ruts and mud- holes, drawn by four yoke of oxen, the cart principally filled with ox-yokes, and feed for the horses in the rear. Behind the cart were several yoke of oxen, driven by the swimmers, who had been en- gaged by Mr. K. to ford the streams, into which, when arrived at, they would plunge, taking a small rope between their teeth. They would soon reach the opposite bank and select a landing place, and then return and make preparations for crossing. Next in the pro-
1067
SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP.
cession was a heavy four-horse team, drawing a large wagon, with tent and other fixtures for living and cooking purposes. Conspic- uously remembered was the barrel churn, in which milk was made into butter on the road. Next came a lighter wagon, drawn by one span of horses, carrying the family, together with trunks and cooked provisions. One other wagon followed them, which the men employed as drivers of cattle called their resting place. Then fol- lowed closely behind 100 head of cattle, always having more or less numbers of young deer with them, captured by the agile men called drovers, who had the cattle in charge. They were 39 days on the road, not entering a house for living purposes during the long journey.
Mr. Kimmel purchased a one-half section of land, and the first year erected a large ashery and pearl-ash refinery, which, together . with clearing up the land in a rapid manner, employed 30 men constantly. You can easily imagine what a blessing such an entering in as that proved to the near settlement in which I was born. Soon every settler had a cow, and in the autumn of 1826 a payment became due Mr. K. in Indiana of 300 hogs, which were driven in and butchered, and sold principally to the settlers. George McKim, known to many people of Washtenaw as a worthy, energetic pioneer of those primitive days, made all the barrels to pack the pork in, and also those used in the ashery. In the short space of four years the one-half section purchased by Mr. K. was all cleared up and paid for, by the ashery, it being the rule to put up one ton of saleratus every ten days. That was taken to Detroit, passing down the Territorial road, and brought Mr. K. $120 per ton.
The wife of this settler, Mrs. Sovengire Kimmel, was one of the most useful women of pioneer times. She extracted teeth, bled the sick, fed and ministered to a family and household of 40 persons for years, besides being a tender, kind-hearted neighbor. She had a tall, commanding figure, with gentle blue eyes, and clear, pink and white complexion, everywhere commanding attention and re- spect. She died about 10 years ago, surviving her husband a few years, at the advanced age of 82 years, and she sleeps in the ceme- tery at the Free Church, surrounded by her children and neighbors whom she so loved.
When H. Tooker arrived in 1826, only about two acres had been cleared off. Col. Brewer, with his brother Abram, had come in late the September previous, accompanied by H. Robison. They came without their families, and the sickness and death of Abram drew largely upon their time and strength, so that they accomplished but little beyond getting small tenements ready for spring. The next death that occurred was that of Eben Stacy, father of Mrs. Charles Collins, of Ypsilanti, who, with his young wife, Charlotte Sutherland, of Newton, Chittenden county, Vermont, arrived also in June of 1826. Mr. Stacy, having been bred a farmer, was held in very high esteem by the other men of the colony, who, without ex-
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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
ception, had been bred to trades. He died in February, 1827; John Bramble's wife died in April following. Thus death so early was writing sadness and thoughtfulness upon the brows of those brave men and women.
Mrs. Stacy and Mr. Bramble were married the following year-their lands joining. In one and a half short years afterward, Mr. Tooker having been back East, upon his return found his house shut, and noticing that a great stillness rested upon the little neighborhood, which usually resounded with the woodman's ax, went on further south, and met a funeral procession, a litter borne by six men; on it lay Mr. Bramble, being carried to his last home! Mrs. Tooker was walking with the already twice-widowed woman, next the bier, there being as yet no horses owned in the little settlement. Can you shut out the present, and go back to that scene? The distance was nearly a mile by a woody pathway-the newly opened grave in a dense forest! All told, there were 12 or 15 neighbors in the little procession. Do you wonder that when the Methodist circuit-rider called upon that little colony, he found hearts open for his lessons of an inheritance beyond, where death never enters nor any weep- ing? Twice in that short year death visited them. In an instant J. Newell was killed by a falling tree. One almost wonders how they gathered courage to go on. The story of their sorrows, privations and hardships has told the finale. There now remains but one liv- ing of those first pioneers of that portion of Superior. The thrice- widowed woman, whose sorrows you have before looked upon, Mrs. George McTim, yet lives upon the land purchased from the Govern- ment in 1826. She is upward of 84 years of age, with mind clear, memory active, heart alive to the experiences of those first eventful years. I spent a few hours with her a short time since, glad in- deed to sit at her feet and listen to her story.
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