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 144
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Olleton C. Streetland is among the leading and enterprising men of Lodi tp. He was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1812, and is a son of Eleazer and Deborah (Chamberlain) Sweetland, natives of Orange county, Vt., where the former was born Sept. 22, 1786, and the latter, Jan. 29, 1783. In 1816 Mr. S. removed with his parents to Livingston county, N. Y., where he was reared and educated. Dec. 11, 1842, he married Sarah A. Wasson, born in Livingston county, N. Y., March 6, 1816, and a daughter of Samuel Wasson. Three children were the result of this marriage-Edgar, who was born Aug. 8, 1845, married Marilla Newell; Helen, born Jan. 22, 1864, wife of Isaac W. Allen ; and Miles, born Oct. 8, 1849, husband of Clara Smith. On Nov. 17, 1850, this union was severed by the death of Mrs. Sweetland, and April 13, 1851, Mr. S. married Mrs. Delia M. (Holden) Short, born Sept. 15, 1817. This union was blessed with 4 children-
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Frank H., born Aug. 2, 1853, married Julia A. Geddes; Louis and Lester (twins), born Oct. 22, 1855; and Carrie, who was born July 24, 1861. Mrs. S. died March 30, 1873. Mr. S. is Justice of the Peace, an office which he has filled for over 25 years, and being so situated in the tp., that all the cases have been tried before the other justices near him, so in all his official career, he never had a case tried before him. He has officiated in different positions in the county for the last 40 years. He owns 240 acres of land, located on secs. 4, 5 and 9, and valued at $80 per acre. Mr. Sweetland is Democratic in politics, and a member of the Unita- rian Church. Mr. S.'s ancestry were prominent men in their day, and pioneers in almost every section of country in which they located. A portrait of Mr. Sweetland appears in this work, on page 1153.
Royal Tower is a pioneer of this county, settling here in 1832. He was born in Addison county, Vt., March 18, 1811, and was a son of Eliphalet and Hannah Tower, natives of New Jersey. His father died in 1812, and at the age of 14 Loyal moved with his mother to New York, settling near Fort Ticonderoga, and in this section of country he was reared and educated. At the age of 21 he came to Washtenaw county. In October, 1836, he married Debbie A., daughter of Matthias and Sarah Valentine, the former settling in Pittsfield tp., this county, in 1838. This marriage was bountifully blessed with the birth of 14 children, 7 of whom, 3 sons and 4 daughters, are living-Henry, George, Frank, Julia, wife of Edward Manna; Sarah A., wife of Owen Stimpson; Angeline and -
Abraham C. Voorhies, farmer, sec. 14, Lodi tp .; P. O., Saline; was born in Wash- tenaw county Jan. 29, 1838, and is a son of A. C. and Elizabeth Voorhies. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools of this county. Aug. 9, 1862, he married Christiana Saley, born in this county Nov. 29, 1844, and daughter of Christian and Christiana Saley. One child was sent to bless this union-Ada M., born Sept. 8, 1875. On Aug. 8, 1862, Mr. Voorhies enlisted in Co. H, 20th Reg, Mich. Vol. Inf., under Col. Williams and Gen. Burnside. He participated in the battles of Knoxville, the Wilderness, Memphis, Chattanooga and Port Sanders. He served till the last gun was fired, and saw the star-spangled banner of "Free- dom and Liberty" triumphantly unfurled above the bloody battle-field of the "Sunny South." He then returned home and resumed farming, and to-day owns 260 acres, valued at $80 per acre, and situated on secs. 14 and 19.
U. C. Warner, farmer, sec. 35, Lodi tp .; P. O., Saline; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1835. His parents, Oliver L. and Mary A. Warner, emigrated to this county in 1837, where C. C. grew to mature years. He was married Dec. 29, 1859, to Armina Sheldon, born in Washtenaw county Aug. 15, 1838, and daughter of Newton and Susanna Sheldon, natives of Cayuga Co., N. Y. On May 13, 1879, Mr. W.'s barn was struck by lightning and the entire contents, consisting of 52 head of sheep, four head of cattle, with 100 bushels of wheat and 200 bushels of corn, with the building, were burned to the ground. He recovered $1,600 insur- ance money from the Washtenaw Mutual Insurance Co., which repaid him in a great measure for the loss sustained. He now owns a valuable farm of 160 acres, situated on secs. 26 and 27.
Henry R. Watson, M. D., Saline, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1828, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Watson. Mr. Watson was reared on a farm, but his father being a physician, he naturally took to that profession, and in 1848 began the study of medicine with his parent. The following year he assisted his father, except one term spent at the Cincinnati Eclectic College. In 1850 he made a trip through the Southern States and located at Vicksburg, Miss., where he prac- ticed his profession for some 10 months, at the expiration of which time he re- moved to Saline, Mich., and practiced with his father for four years. He then opened an office for himself, and has secured a lucrative practice. In 1878 he mar- ried Fidelia B. Lindsey. They have 1 child-Charles H. Mr. Watson owns a fine farm of 195 acres, located one mile north of Saline. Politically he adheres to the principles of the Democratic party.
Arthur A. Wood, breeder and dealer in thoroughbred Merino sheep, Saline, Mich., was born in Washtenaw county, July 18, 1850. His parents were Geo. S. and Fidelia Wood, the former a native of Cincinnati, and the latter of New York nativ- ity. Mr. W. was reared on a farm, and educated at Ann Arbor. January, 1870, he was married to Clara J. Rogers, a native of this county, where she was born March 14, 1848, and the daughter of Joseph and Julia Rogers, both natives of the Empire State. One child, Roscoe M., has been sent to bless this happy union. Mr. Wood owns a fine farm of 120 acres, valued at $100 per acre, and is devoted to a great ex-
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tent in breeding and raising of fine thoroughbred Merino sheep, of which he has a fine flock, numbering over 200. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the First Presby- terian Church of Saline, and politically he votes with the Republican party.
Ira Wood (deceased) was born in Danbury, Conn., Aug. 29, 1796. His parents were Daniel and Wealthy (Monroe) Wood, the latter being a second cousin of James Monroe, President of the United States. On Nov. 28, 1816, Mr. Wood mar- ried Maria Scott, and 5 children were born to them, 4 of whom are living-Lyman S. (a sketch of whom appears below), Jessup and George (twins), and Aus- tin. Jeremiah died, aged 27. Mr. Wood started with his family to Washtenaw county in October, 1836, and after many serious hardships and privations, they ar- rived at their destination. He purchased five 80-acre farms in Lodi tp., settled down and began to clear them of timber. Mrs. Wood was born in Fairfield Co., Conn., April 3, 1797, and was a daughter of Jerry and Amelia (Wakeman) Scott, (both deceased) of Scotch ancestry. Her grandfather was an officer of no mean ability in the eight-years' war fought by the 13 colonies to free themselves from the yoke of England. Mr. Wood died March 27, 1856, after a life of usefulness and benefit to the community wherein he resided. He was a member of the Congre- gational Church of Lodi tp. till it disbanded, and was a prime mover in the organ- ization of the society, and the building of the house of worship. When it was disbanded he immediately connected himself with the Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, being a member of that body at the time of his demise. "So sleep the pioneers who sink to rest, with all their country's wishes blest."
Lyman S. Wood was born in Danbury, Conn., April 9, 1819, and came with his parents to this county in October, 1836. He was reared in this county, and edu- cated at Penn Yan Academy, in Yates Co., N. Y. He taught school for a number of years, but in 1878 retired from active life with a competency sufficient for a good old age. Mr. W. is one of the original members of the Washtenaw County Agricultural Society, and holds a life membership in that association. He was President of the society in 1873-'4. In 1854 he assisted in the organization of the Republican party, and is to-day one of its firm adherents. On Oct. 6, 1841, he was married to Parmelia Ward, born Sept. 20, 1821, and daughter of Owen S. and Harriet Ward. To this union 5 children were born-Martha and Mary (twins), the former the wife of L. J. Taylor, a soldier in the civil war; Emily, Morris G. and Ira E., husband of Ada Cobb, of Saline. Mr. Wood possesses 160 acres of good farm land, on sec. 22, and valued at $80 per acre.
FREEDOM TOWNSHIP.
The date of first settlement may be set down as June, 1831, when James W. Hill located the northwest of southwest quarter of section 29, and later made a purchase in section 32, subsequently owned by John M. Allen. In the fall of 1831 Hugh Campbell, Jason Gillett, Robert Myers, Matthew Myers and Jacob Haas arrived, adding five families to the settlement.
In 1832 Roswell Preston, Roswell Preston, jr., Levi Rogers, Ly- man Williams, Reuben Williams, Eben Boyden, Anthony Rouse, Elisha Adams, M. Grawer, D. Haas, with perhaps two others, made locations here.
In 1833 immigration peopled the district, leaving a very limited number of acres to the new land prospectors. Among the immi- grants of this year were: Levi Thomas, Obadiah Force, Cyrus Pier- son, Daniel Kent, James W. Tyler, H. M. Griffin, Wm. Douglas, Archer Crane, Reuben Wellman, sr., Ed. Litchfield, Noah Smalley, Henry Smalley, Jacob Preston, Henry Smith, John Schnee- burger, James Fellows, Festus A. Fellows, Cornelius Polhemus, David C., James G. and David Raymond, Sam. S. Peekins, John Faulkner, William Ossius, Jacob Koch, John Haap, Henry and George Lindensmith, Thomas Roth, William Preston, Alexander Peekins, Geo. Hoenberger, Manasseh B. Wellman, Amos Koyken- dall, Bernard Listz, Samuel Wood, John Dowd and Alex. Daniel- son.
In 1834-'7 the tide of immigration flowed along the valley of the Washtenong, until toward the close of the latter year every acre of arable and waste land was claimed by a patentee. In the case of Freedom it may be said that immediately succeeding the date of its organization 2,000 acres of the wilderness was turned into fertile fields; throughout its length and breadth the wood- man's ax was heard, and a few more years of labor converted the country into a smiling garden.
FIRST EVENTS.
Dr. Porter traversed the township early in 1831. James W. Hill was the first settler in June, 1831.
The first school was established by Hill in his own house. He was teacher of the first district school.
Miss Gillett was the first child born in the township.
The first marriage in the township was that of Miss Angelina Rouse in 1833. The second that of Eldred Spencer and Miss Emeline Adams, in December, 1834. A marriage license was
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granted to John Lewis and Sarah Ann Miller in 1832, but the ceremony took place in an adjoining township.
Roswell Preston was appointed a Justice of the Peace March 7, 1834, by Gov. Porter. H. M. Griffin was the first Supervisor.
In 1833 the provisions of the settlement were exhausted, and a report was current that not a few of the settlers were wholly with- out food.
As late as 1834 the wolves destroyed 20 sheep belonging to James Raymond, in one night. This is only an instance of their terrible ravenousness.
The first ball was given at the house of Litchfield, in 1833.
B. F. Burnett, a Methodist exhorter, presided over the first relig- ious meeting ever held in the township, at the house of James W. Wills. Arunah Bennett was the first ordained preacher who held services in the township. The meeting was at R. Preston's house in June, 1834.
James W. Hill built the first log house, raised the first barn, and planted the first wheat field in 1831. Richard Preston raised the second barn, without the aid of whisky.
The first brick-kiln was constructed in 1833, by Douglas & Co., on the Campbell farm.
In 1834 Mrs. Barbary Bailey, then an old lady of 84 summers, arrived in the township after an uninterrupted journey from Benton, Yates Co., N. Y. She died in 1845, aged 95 years.
Of the citizens of Freedom, James W. Hill, Levi Rogers and Dr. Morgan were members of the State Legislature. Dr. Samuel was elected County Treasurer; Judah B. McLane, Register of Deeds, and Jacob Preston, Drain Commissioner.
Americans settled the township. To-day there is not one Amer- ican family occupying a home there. It is a German community, living under and enjoying the blessing of American laws.
The first death in the settlement was that of Jacob Haas, who was killed October, 1831. Haas was a young man of 20 winters, industrious, agreeable and the eldest son of one of the first settlers. He, with his father, was engaged in cutting logs, when one of the heavy oaks fell on the boy, crushing him to death. His end was as sad as it was sudden. Eldred Spencer, a citizen of Scio, and the nearest neighbor of the Haas family, was soon present on the scene. He conveyed the dead body to Schelling's house in the neighboring township, where it was prepared for burial.
A year after the death of Haas, two young men, named David Cook and William Campbell, left their homes to assist at the raising of Bingham's saw-mill in the town of Lima. Having fin- ished their labors they started en route to Hugh Campbell's dwell - ing in Freedom; but owing to the want of a blazed trail and to a bad pocket-compass, the unfortunate boys realized their worst fears -they were lost. Tired out with fatigue, disheartened, cold and hungry, Campbell sank down upon the virgin soil, while Cook pushed onward, desperately, earnestly, to seek an outlet from that
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interminable forest, and reach the home of man. He succeeded in reaching home in an exhausted condition. A search was made for Campbell; but when found, his last breath was escaping. He lay upon the brink of eternity.
ORGANIC.
The settlement of this portion of Washtenaw made such prog- ress that within a few years after James W. Hill made his loca- tion, a meeting to organize a municipal government was called. In December, 1833, 22 voters assembled at the house of Henry M. Griffin to consider the subject of organization. Alexander Peek- ins proposed that the meeting petition the Territorial Council to enact that a portion of the county known as township 3 south, in range 4 east, be a township by the name of Freedom. This proposition was seconded by Samuel Peekins, and carried. A peti- tion was drawn up and presented to the council and an act in accord- ance with the prayer of the petitioners was approved March 7, 1834. This act provided, also, that an election of township officers should be held April 7, at the dwelling-house of Henry M. Griffin. This election was duly held, and resulted in the choice of H. M. Griffin for Supervisor, with David C. Raymond as Town Clerk.
The supervisors of the township from H. M. Griffin's time to the present, comprise: Reuben Williams, Stunburg, Wm. Ossius, Elias Haire, Breining and John G. Feldkamp. Mr. Feldkamp has served in the office for two terms,-one of seven years and one of three years.
The clerks since D. C. Raymond's time to the present comprise Elias Haire, Wm. Buss, Philip Johns, Fred Vogle, Jacob Brein- ing and Jacob Knapp.
Elias Haire, Wm. Ossius, Joe. Daviter Jacob Breining and Aaron Feldkamp have served as Justices of the Peace. The pres- ent officers are: J. G. Feldkamp, Supervisor; Jacob Knapp, Clerk; Geo. Veigeding, Treasurer; Henry J. Daviter, Wm. Byerle, Jacob Johns, Justices of the Peace; Godfrey Grau, Highway Commis- sioner; John Butler, School Superintendent; and Wm. Kiebe, Mr. Grau and Theodore Ulrich, Constables.
THE CHURCHES.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Freedom was organized in 1842, with Rev. Mr. Schmid as pastor. The members comprised: Jacob Raab, Geo. Schmirring, Ernst Haarer, Geo. Fuegel, Gottlieb Scherds, Matt. Alber and Adam Spathelf. The pastors succeeding Mr. Schmid were Revs. Wertbraht, Klerniges, Hildner, G. J. Hildner, John Newman and Gottlieb Kunzler, the present pastor. The present church was built in 1858. The number of the congregation in 1881 is 106. There are two more Lutheran
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Churches in the township, of which Revs. John Bauman and Mr. Klingman are pastors.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is presided over by Rev. Ed- ward Weiss, as pastor. The congregation is large.
Catholic .- The first church of this denomination was erected two miles north of the present church, in 1839. The missionary priests were Revs. Kreutel and Bernick. The old members com- prise John Emer, John Graff, T. Mosier, Adam Kress, Martin Cash, Paul Fritz, Adam Reidle, J. Plum, Adam Kramer, Conrad Sickinger, Frank Lerch, Sapphire Lerch, Philip Franc and Joseph Weis, with their families.
The present church was erected in 1858, at a cost of $3,000, and dedicated to St. Francis de Borgia, by Bishop Lefevere the same year. The mission has been attended by Revs. Van Gennip, Van Lawe, Olgeier, Lichtner, Bruck and J. Stauss, the present pastor. The congregation at present numbers 200. The parochial house, a neat brick structure, was built in 1873, at a cost of $2,000.
Miscellaneous .- Rev. M. Sullivan, of the M. E. Church, organ- ized a class in the township in May, 1835. Rev. Fred Smith, a Wittenbergian, preached at the house of William Schultz in 1835. The Lutheran Church was subsequently organized in 1843. The Catholic congregation was organized about the same time. The Churches of the township at present comprise three Lutheran, one Catholic, and one German M. E. Church. The church buildings are among the finest in the county.
The Schools of the township are well ordered, and the morale of the children good. It is said that both the young and old form a hive of quiet industry wherein every competitor not of German nativity or extraction must fail to exist. Industry is inculcated in the schools and fostered in the home circle.
BIOGRAPHIES.
William Beuerle, Freedom tp., sec. 22, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, A. D. 1839, where he was educated, and lived until 1854, when he came to America. He remained in New York a short time and then came West by the way of Buffalo and Canada. He went to Lansing, thence to Wisconsin, and later into the Southwestern States. In 1861 he returned to the north and purchased land where he now lives. He built a log house and opened a saloon, which he has carried on to the present, at the same time doing much work as a carpenter. In 1865 he built his present commodious quarters. In politics Mr. Beuerle is a Democrat. He has held the office of Constable six years, and during that time was Deputy- Sheriff; Tp. Treasurer, two terms; Justice of the Peace over 10 years, and still holding it. He is a member of the Arbeiter-verein of Manchester. In 1863 he was married to Caroline Artz, of Lansing, a native of Wurtemberg. To them have been born 6 sons and 2 daughters.
Rev. G. Kuenzler, Pastor of the Evangelic Lutheran Bethel Church of Freedom, was born in Switzerland, Canton Thurgau, A. D. 1842. His parents were John and Anna Maria Bornlauser, his father being a farmer. There he was educated and reared. He graduated in his native land, and after coming to this country in 1873, he graduated from Mission College, at Marthasville, Mo. The same year he was ordained at Washington, Mo. His first pastorate was at Elliston, Ohio, where he remained until 1877. In that year he became pastor at Freedom. In 1874 he
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was married to Miss Anna M. Deuber, a native of Switzerland. To them have been born Gottlieb Ernest and Anna Maria.
F. Pfizenmaier, Freedom tp., sec. 3, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, A. D. 1819. His parents were Michael and Gottlieben (Kubler). There he was reared and educated, and lived until 17 years old. In 1837 he came to America and came to this State, county and town. For three years he worked by the month. In 1843 he bought 80 acres of land in the south part of Freedom, where he lived until 1850. He then purchased his present farm of 180 acres and there has since lived. In politics he is a Republican and hasheld a number of town offices. In 1873 he was appointed Postmaster of Fredonia postoffice, which office he now holds. Mr. Pfizenmaier is a Lutheran in religion. In 1846 he was married to Regina Koch, a native of Wurtemberg, who died in 1865, leaving 3 sons and 5 daughters. He married for his second wife, in 1868, Mary Spitteler, a native of Switzerland. To them have been born 2 sons and 4 daughters.
Rev. Joseph Staus, Priest of St. Francis (Roman Catholic) Church of Freedom, and St. Mary's, of Manchester, was born in the city of Bensingen, Hohenzollern, March 13, 1848, his father being a farmer in that country. At Sigmaringen he was educated, studying at the Gymnasium of Hedingen nine years, and passing from it by examination in 1872. During the next year he traveled and taught six months in his native town, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of the regular teacher. In 1873 he came to America, going at once to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he arrived Nov. 23, 1873. Dec. 15, 1873, he entered the Theological Seminary of Mount St. Mary's, at Cincinnati, and passed his examinations in 1875. March 12, 1876, he was ordained priest at Monroe, Mich., by Bishop Burgess. His first pastorate was at Pontiac, where for six months he filled the place of a priest who had gone to France. From there he went to the parishes of Wright, Ottawa Co., and Alpine, Kent Co., serving these two four years. June 13, 1880, he assumed the pastorate of St. Francis and St. Mary's parishes. In the first there are about 30 families, and in the second about 45 families. Father Staus is a man of fine education and talent. Broad-minded and intelligent, he is liberal and just to all. His kindness of heart and truly Christian charity has won for him the love and respect of all who come in contact with him, so that in both parishes not only the people of his own flock, but many others as well, feel that in him they have a true friend.
SHARON TOWNSHIP.
Sharon is a country of agriculturists. For them it forms the ideal of rustic beauty, even as it wins admiration from the passing traveler. The surface is a succession of gentle undulations, with a ridge running from northeast to southwest, known as the "Short Hills." Throughout the township, the fields and homes of a happy people may be seen scattered with a beautiful negligence as to reg- ularity of location. The forests were comparatively extensive, but are now reduced, leaving only a few acres appertaining to each hold- ing. The soil is of the most productive character, being a loam soil with a gravelly subsoil, and the water courses, comprising the Raisin river with a feeder of Mill creek, capable of supplying all the motive power required for the successful running of mill- machinery in the present or prospective time. There is no body of water deserving the name of lake in this township; however, a few ponds are found which form the receptacle for the waters of entering rivulets. The valley of the north bend of the Raisin and the high lands on each side, form a magnificent district of which any people may be proud.
THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
Sharon township comprises an area of 23,040 acres, laid off into 137 farms. The lands under cultivation in the district extend over 17,500 acres; the unimproved lands include the remainder. The area sown to wheat in 1880 was 4,267, being an increase of 267 acres over the year 1879. In the latter year 4,000 acres produced 96,723 bushels of wheat, which shows an average of 24.18 per acre. The corn crop aggregated 128,545 bushels, produced on 1,736 acres. Five hundred and twenty-one acres in oats yielded 20,830 bushels; 812 acres of clover gave a return of 1,038 bushels ; 102 acres of barley produced 2,506 bushels; 86 acres of potatoes yielded 7,747 bushels. The meadow lands, comprising 2,426 acres, produced 3,366 tons of hay.
The township is peculiarly an agricultural one. The cultivators of its rich soil leave nothing undone to excel in their vocation, and thus a salutary system of agriculture gives promise of transmitting to another generation a fertile and inexhaustible soil.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The following sketch of the early settlement of Sharon, from the pen of Col. J. H. Fellows, one of the surviving pioneers, contains
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many interesting facts, and will form a valuable addition to this history. He states:
The first land bought from the Government was in the fall of 1830, by Lewis C. Kellam, and the second purchased by M. Luce, of Livingston county, N. Y., on section 32, which was afterward bought and improved by Amasa Gillette. The next was taken by Moses Pool in the spring of 1831 for his adopted daughter, Han- nah P. Tracy, subsequently Mrs. Perry. The next was taken by David I. Sloat, on section 34, early in 1831. About that time there was much excitement about the farm lands at the north bend of the Raisin, and the woods were thronged with land-seekers. People came from all quarters; they built fires and camped out nights, and their beds were made of soft marsh hay cut with their jack-knives. After their morning meal they sped on each day with renewed strength and courage. Before that year passed the most of the land was taken. David I. Sloat built the first house. His three sons-John, Joshua R. and Cornelius, with J. H. Fel- lows, assisted in erecting this pioneer dwelling. Elm bark was used for roofing, also for the upper floor or chamber; there was no ground floor. The house was finished in a week, and the family moved into their new home in May, 1831.
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