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 152
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O. L. Torrey was born in Jackson Co., Mich., June 14, 1842; is a son of Alfred C. and Eliza (Fairchilds) Torrey, natives of Chenango Co., N. Y. They went to Jack- son county in 1842, where Mrs. Torrey died, March 24, 1863; subject of this sketch was reared on a farm; was married, Aug. 27, 1863, to Alice D. Corey, who was born in the house she occupies, Feb. 16, 1846, and a daughter of J. D. Corey, of Manchester, Mich. They have 4 children-Homer, Dennis, George and Bessie. Mr. Torrey located in this township in 1878; owns 192 acres of land in sec 2. Mrs. Torrey is a member of the M. E. Church.
G. G. Van Tuyle, farmer, sec. 36, was born in this county, March 22, 1849. His parents are Adam and Sarah (Polhemus) Van Tuyle, the former a native of New York, of German descent, and the latter a native of New Jersey, of English ancestry. Adam Van Tuyle came to this county in 1840, and settled on sec. 21, Manchester tp. G. G. owns 100 acres of good land in sec. 36, and is a Democrat. He was married in 1876, to Fannie Sones. They have 2 children- - Albert and Lillian.
John A. Van Tuyle is among the prominent farmers of Manchester tp. He was born in this county in 1847, son of Adam and Sarah (Polhemus) Van Tuyle, the former a native of New York, of German descent, and the latter of New Jersey, of English ancestry. Mr. Van Tuyle owns 175 acres of land, of which 140 is under a high state of cultivation. He is a solid and influential member of the Demo- cratic party. He was married in 1868, to Ann Eliza Vest, who has borne him 5 children-1 boy and 4 girls.
Peter C. Vreeland, Grass Lake, Mich., formerly of Lodi tp., Washtenaw county, was born at Romulus, Seneca Co., N. Y., in 1806, where he was reared and edu- cated. When a young man he learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1831 he came to Michigan and located in Lodi tp., taking up Government land. He remained there about five years, and then went to Jackson, Mich., where he worked at his trade for seven years. He removed to Grass Lake where he remained 12 years; at the end of that time he went to St. Johns, and soon after came to Manchester. He opened a blacksmith shop, which he carried on about 18 years, and then again went to Grass Lake, where he now lives in retirement. Mr. Vreeland is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and Republican in politics. Previous to coming to this State he was married to Joan Sutton, of Romulus N. Y. To them have been born 2 sons and 2 daughters, of whom 1 son has died. The remaining son, Mr. L. Vreeland, is a merchant at Manchester. The daughters live in Jackson county.
James Wueir, s.c. 1, was born in Tioga (now Chemung) county, N. Y., in 1822. His parents were John and Hannah (Beckwith) Waeir. In 1836 the family came to this State and county, locating in Bridgewater tp. In New York State and Bridgewater Mr. Waeir was reared and educated. In 1844 he purchased land in the southern part of Manchester, where he followed farming until 1850. He then purchased land on sec. 1 of this town, where he has since lived. He began life with but his own brain and muscle, and now owns 100 acres of fine land well supplied with buildings and stock. In politics he is a Republican, and has twice been elected Township Treasurer, but never qualified. That was some years ago when the offices of Constable and Treasurer were one. He is a member of the Baptist Church of Manchester, of which he is also a Deacon, and has been a Trustee. He was married in 1844 to Miss Amanda M. Clark, of Manchester, a daughter of Joseph S. Clark, who came here in 1833. To them have been born 2 daughters and 1 son-Alice, now Mrs. J. Lawrence, of Tecumseh ; Hannah, now Mrs. Wright, of Manchester, and Chester.
John Waerr, (deceased) was born at Southport, N. Y., in 1796. He was edu- cated and reared as a farmer, which business he also followed there until 1836. In that year he came to Michigan and settled in the town of Bridgewater, in this county, purchasing land on sec. 11, where now Henry Calhoun lives. There he lived until his death in 1855. In politics Mr. Waeir was a Whig until 1854, when he united with the new Republican party, and he held several township offices. While in New York he was a Mason, but after coming here was not connected with the fraternity. He was for many years a member of the Baptist Church, and both in New York and in Manchester was a Deacon in that church In 1818 he
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MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
was married to Miss Hannah Beckwith, of his native town. To them were born 8 sons and 3 daughters, of whom 7 are living, but only 1, James, in this county. Mrs. Waeir, now in her 83d year, is living with a son, Henry B., a busi- ness man of Laporte.
Charles B. Walworth was born March 15, 1824. His parents were Benjamin B. and Elizabeth (Barley) Walworth, natives of New York. They came to Michi- gan in 1828, where Charles was reared and educated. He was married Feb. 16, 1860, to Amy Gallop. They have 5 children-Joseph B., Elizabeth L., Delmer. Clarence and Amy. Mr. W. is Democratic in politics, and owns 101 acres of good land.
John Waters. farmer, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1822, where he was also reared and educated. His parents were John and Mary (Daniels) Waters. In 1852 he came to Michigan and purchased the farm where he now lives. In politics he is a Republican. He was married in 1847 to Edith Beech, who died in 1857. To them were born 5 children, 4 of whom are living. In 1858 he mar- ried to Mary J. Sutton, daughter of Rev. Richard Sutton, a native of Michigan. To them have been born 3 children, all of whom are living. Mr. Waters resides on sec. 19.
Samuel M. Wells (deceased) was born in Vermont, June 4, 1815, and is a son of David and Sally (Best) Wells, natives of Massachusetts, and of Welsh descent. He came to this county in 1837, and once served as a Justice of the Peace. He was married Jan. 3, 1836, to Nancy Crozier, a native of New York, and of French descent. Both were members of the M. E. Church, in which body Mr. Wells was Trustee, Class leader and Steward for several years. He was a Repub- lican in politics, and at the time of his death owned 100 acres of land. He died March 25, 1872.
James Williams (deceased) or " Uncle Jim," as he was familiarly called, was born in 1803, and came to Ypsilanti, Mich., in 1825. He was a single man, and resided for 27 years with Mr. and Mrs. Wells. He was a strong Republican, and a worthy member of the M. E. Church. He died in 1879.
Joseph S. Wood was born in the town of Lynn, New London Co., Conn., in 1816. His parents were Caleb and Betsey (Fargo) Wood, natives of Connecticut, the former being of Irish and the latter of French descent. When in his ninth year the family removed to Livingston county, N. Y., where he was reared and edu- cated. In Wyoming county, he learned the trade of wagon-maker. In 1837 he started for Michigan. He then engaged in farming near Saline for his brother-in- law, Joshua Forbes, for many years well-known in this county. He remained here four and one-half years and returned to New York on account of being troubled with the ague. He lived in New York until 1854, when he came to this State, which has since been his home. He settled in Saline tp. on a farm owned by Mr. Forbes. He remained there two, years and having recovered his health, engaged in the wagon business, which he followed two years in that town; then removed to Clinton, Mich., where he followed the wagon business until Sep- tember, 1870, when he came into Manchester tp., where he has since followed farming, on sec. 28. In politics he has been a Whig; since Taylor's nomination for Presidency, he has been a Free-Soiler; since 1854 he has been a Republican. Has always been a temperance man and worker. Was married in April, 1848, to Miss Mary Gilbert, of Warsaw, N. Y., a native of Pike , N. Y .; Mrs. Wood died in 1859, leaving 1 son and 1 daughter, both of whom are living. For his second wife he married in May, 1864, Mrs. Loretta (Sterrin) Messenger, of Clinton.
John Wuerthner, proprietor restaurant, Manchester, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1849. His father was a watchmaker and organ builder. John was reared and educated in his native country, and there learned the trade of tailor. In 1871 he came to America and worked at his trade at Adrian, Mich., and Man- chester. In 1878 he opened his present billiard hall and restaurant. In politics Mr. W. is a Greenbacker, but has held no official positions. In 1872 he married Caroline Yentler, of Adrian, Mich., a native of Wurtemberg. To them have been born 2 sons and 3 daughters, 2 of whom are living; 1 daughter is deceased.
John C. Ziegler was born in Germany, and is a son of Phillip and Barbara (Meir) Ziegler. He learned the weaver's trade in his native land, and in 1854 immigrated to America, coming to this county the same year. He has been a farmer during his residence in Washtenaw Co., and owns 80 acres of fine land on sec. 13. He was married in 1859 to Mary Kinldinger, a native of Germany. They have 2 children-Eliza and Philip. Mr. Ziegler is a Democrat, and him elf and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
1
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.
Bridgewater is a country of gentle undulations, valuable forest lands, beautiful rivers and streams, picturesque lakes, and an in- dustrious, enterprising and contented people.
Joslin lake in sections 11 and 12, with its feeding creek ; Columbus lake, with its satellites in the shape of a trio of ponds, in section 3; the expansion of the Raisin in section 20, the county drain, forming almost the boundary of the notheast quarter of the township, the Raisin river and Iron creek,-all present their ad- vantages. The Raisin enters the township in section 7, and after a tortuous course, generally south, makes its exit in section 32. In this section is the confluent of Iron creek. The L. S. & M. S. railroad is built, principally through the Raisin valley, and for a great part of its length runs parallel with the river. The D., H. & S. W. R. R. passes over the plains of the northern sections. The soil is clay with loam in many places, rich in all its constituents. The mineral resources as now known consist only of marl and peat iron. The forests and orchards are both extensive and valuable. From the following reference to its agricultural resources, the rich character of the soil will be better understood.
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
The township of Bridgewater contains an area of improved and unimproved lands equal to 21,677 acres, laid off into 196 farms, averaging 110.55 acres each. The improved lands extend over 15,- 230, and the unimproved, over 6,437 acres.
In 1879 no less than 3,956 acres were sown in wheat, yielding 86,041 bushels, or an average of 21.75 to the acre. In May, 1880, the area reported as sown under that cereal exceeded 4,382. The corn-fields of the township produced in 1879, 100,593 bushels, harvested from 1,578 acres, and 44,063 bushels of oats from 1,022 acres. 698 acres of clover gave a yield of 1,226 bushels of seed ; 148 acres of barley produced 3,470 bushels ; 109 acres, devoted to potato culture, yielded up 9,663 bushels, and 2,466 acres of meadow lands produced 3,054 tons of hay. In reviewing these statistics, it may be truthfully observed that a reasonable average was not ob- tained in 1879. The soil is capable of doing much more for the industrious husbandman.
ORGANIC.
Bridgewater formed a part of the township of Dexter until 1832, when its inhabitants with those of Manchester resolved to organize
(1354)
1355
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.
a township under the name of Hixon. The Legislative Council passed an act, which was approved June 26, 1832, -" that all that part of the township of Dexter, in the county of Washtenaw, com- prised in surveyed townships number four south, in ranges 3 and 4 east, shall be a township by the name of Hixon, and that the first township meeting shall be holden at the house of Daniel S. Brooks, in said township. A meeting of the voters of Hixon township was held April 1, 1833, at the house of Brooks, over which Grove Barker presided as Moderator ; Lyman Downs, Clerk, and Howell B. Norton, Justice of the Peace. The election resulted in the choice of the following named town officers : Geo. Howe, Supervisor ; Robert H. Heggie, Clerk ; Harvey Gilbert, Collector and Constable ; Oramel D. Skinner, James Stephens, and Wm. B. Peir, Assessors; Eli R. Sayles and John Lockerby, Commissioners of Schools ; Thomas Gilbert, Overseer of the Poor ; Levi P. Pratt, Jacob Gilbert, and Shove Minor, Commissioners of Highways.
Subsequently that portion of Hixon comprised in township 4 south, of range 4 east, was organized into a separate township by the name of "Bridgewater," and the remainder of Hixon tp. organized in 1836 under the name of Manchester. George Howe gave the name to the township. The first election held in Bridge- water resulted in the choice of George Howe as Supervisor ; R. H. Heggie, Town Clerk ; Norman L. Conklin, Treasurer, and B. H. Norton, Justice of the Peace. Among the succeeding township clerks was D. W. Palmer, who held the office over 30 years. Justice Malcolm McDougal held his judicial position for 35 consecutive years.
A special meeting was held May 2, 1833, for the town of Bridge- water, for the purpose of electing town treasurer, school commis- sioners and overseers of highways. It was at this meeting that Norman L. Conklin was elected Treasurer, he being the first who held that office. Reuben Downs and Eli R. Sayles were elected School Commissioners; Alex. Sargeant, Thomas Gilbert, Isa Ward, Philip Poucher, D. Soules and Eli R. Sayles, Overseers of High- ways. Shove Minor was Moderator and R. H. Heggie, Clerk of the meeting.
The first annual township meeting held was April 7, 1834, at the house of John Valentine, where N. L. Conklin's residence now stands. Emanuel Case was Moderator, with Norman L. Conklin, Clerk, and Howell P. Norton, Justice of the Peace. The election resulted in the choice of Geo. Howe, Supervisor; Norman L. Conklin, Clerk; Thomas Gilbert, Treasurer; James Stephens, Jacob Gilbert and Lyman Downs, Assessors ; Ambrose Ely, Levi B. Pratt and Andrew Harris, Commissioners of Highways ; Eman- uel Case and H. B. Norton, School Committee ; Reuben Downs, Elijah G. Carr, Odle H. Stone, Constables ; James Stephens and Stephen Walter, Directors of the Poor ; Robert Powell, George Calhoun, Norman L. Conklin, J. W. P. Groves, Elijah Carr, School Inspectors. The overseers of highways and fence-viewers elected
78
1356
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
were :- Robbins Douglas, L. B. Pratt, Joseph Noyes, James Crampton, L. Downs, Joshua L. Smith, James Valentine, Levi Cole, Jeremiah Kenecut, Robert Powell, T. Gilbert, Geo. Howe, Miner Mallet, Andrew Harris, N. L. Conklin, Dennis Lancaster, Moses Bivins and John Haynes. At a special meeting held at the same house May 1, 1834, over which Jacob Gilbert presided as Moderator, Emanuel Case was elected Supervisor , Wm. Brayton, Commissioner of Highways ; Elias Durby, M. Mallet, Wm. Auls and J. Haynes, Overseers of Highways. At the time this meeting was held Manchester formed a portion of Bridgewater.
TOWNSHIP OF BRIDGEWATER 1833 To 1880.
YEAR
SUPERVISORS.
CLERKS.
TREASURERS.
JUSTICES.
1835.
N. L. Conklin.
1836. .
66
66
H. B. Norton Platt Gilbert John Valentine
Reuben Downs I. H. Ketcham Geo. Lazell
1838. 1839.
Jacob Hovey
1840. .
Roswell Randall
1841 ..
Thomas Havens
1842.
Geo. Lazell
Roswell Randall Benjamin Felton Otis Richmond
1845.
66
"
66
David W. Palmer
Justus Watson
1849. 1850 1851
N. L. Conklin
Wm. H. Auls
David W. Palmer
1852 1853
Geo. Lazell
1854. .
Dan Le Baron
66
66
1857. .
Dan Le Baron
1858. 1859 1860.
Dan Le Baron
66
1861 ..
66
1862.
66
"
Emmett Palmer D. W. Palmer. .6
1864. . . 1865 .. 1866. . 1867 .. 1868. 1869 .. 1870. 1871. . 1872.
N. L. Conklin
Dan Le Baron
66
Geo. Lazell
=
Dan Le Baron
James M. Kress
Geo. Calhoun
1873 .. 1874 1875. . 1876.
Dan Le Baron
Elbert Bradnor D. W. Palmer
1877.
1878. .
"
1879 ..
66
1880. . James M. Kress
Geo. Calhoun
Newcomb Brown Isaac Ayers F. M. Palmer Barton Lazell Day Conklin W. H. Stoner Lee Conklin Henry Poucher Wm. Haynes F. D. Lancaster Jacob Blum Geo. Calhoun Leroy George Slade Lazell Judson Linden F. M. Palmer George Becker William Gadd Jacob Raab Joseph Linden Henry Ryer Christian Saley Jacob Fleeman Henry R. Palmer Erastus Walter Henry Blum
Isaac Ayers Morris Frost Lyman Downs Wm. H. Aulls D. W. Palmer Wm. H Aulls D. W. Palmer Daniel Hickson Thomas Havens Wm. H. Auls D. W. Palmer M. McDougal C. D. Crane W. H. Aulls C. Parkhurst M. McDougall Adam Riddle W. H. Auls Z. Jinkins M. McDougall David Woodard Junius Short James Benham M. McDougall Newcomb Brown Jacob Blum James Benham M. McDougall D. W. Palmer Adam Riddle W. W. Judd M. McDougall W. W. Judd Wm. Hankee Denis Lancaster M. McDougall James Kress Geo. Calhoun Wm. Hankee M. McDougall Adam Riddle James Benham, jr. N. L. Conklin M. McDougall Adam Riddle W. W. Judd
1837
66
Henry A. Katner John Valentine M. McDougal . 66
Isaac Ayers
1843.
1844.
1846. 1847. 1848.
N. L. Conklin George Lazell .
Isaac Magoon
George Lazell Dan Le Baron "
66 66
Ben Laockerby Jacob Blum
1855. 1856 N. L. Conklin
Isaac Magoon
¥
1863. .
66
1357
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.
The officers for 1880-'81 comprise the last named, together with D. C. Walter, Commissioner of Highways ; Henry R. Palmer, Commissioner of Schools ; F. M. Palmer, School Inspector ; Junius Short, Drain Commissioner ; James Quick, Charles Uhl, Charles Koering and Jacob Armbuster, Constables.
NAMING OF BRIDGEWATER.
As has been said, the name of this district after it was laid off as a separate township from Dexter, was Hixon. In 1833 the peo- ple desired to organize a separate township, but subsequently they, at the solicitation of Geo. Howe, accepted the name of Bridge- water, in honor of the village of the same name in Oneida county, N. Y. A petition to the Legislative Council praying for such a change of name and boundary, was presented early in 1833, and an act passed to that effect in the summer of the same year.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler of that portion of Washtenaw, known as Bridge- water, was Col. Daniel Hixon, who in coming here tarried in Len- awee county when Tecumseh contained only two log-cabins. George Lazelle, T. Lazelle and E. Wheelock came in 1829, a few days after Dan. Hixon. B. H. Felton, Jacob Gilbert, James Crampton and Thomas Pickett settled in May, 1830. C. W. Ser- geant, B. Way, Harvey, Ephraim and Esther Platt, Thomas, Eliza- beth and Anna Gilbert, and Daniel Porter arrived in 1831. John Haynes, John Valentine, Norman L. Conklin, Daniel Brooks, John Scott, H. A. Katner, M. Dewey, Stephen and Lawrence Walters, Geo. Howe, Shove Minor, Lewis Ingersoll, M. Mitchell, Jonathan Mitchell, Bennager and Benjamin Lockerby, M. Darby, John Lynch, Russell M. Randall, Wm. Ruckman, Lyman and Reuben Downs, Geo. L. Calhoun, John Milson, Washington Hew- itt, W. H. Arells, W. W. Plummer, Henry Bird, Jacob Dubois, E. Graves, M. Evans, Chas. Brush arrived in the fall of 1832 and spring of 1833; J. T. Calhoun in 1834. Norman Calhoun arrived in 1836.
1358
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
AGED CITIZENS OF BRIDGEWATER.
The following list contains the names of the old people of the township who were living at the beginning of 1881. Many of them claim the honors of early settlement:
Geo. Lazelle. 82 | Mrs. L. Hibner. . . . .81
John Fellenberger .71
D. W. Palmer 74
Wm. C. Rogers ...
Thomas Flynn. 76
M. L. Conklin .73 Sheldon Whitcomb.
Charles Fisher .71
R. H. Heggie 77 Mrs. Clarissa Walter. . .74
Gotlob Gruner 82
Mrs. Heggie. 75
Mrs S. Whitcomb.
Mrs. Parmelia Halliday . 76
Thomas Piquet. 97-103
Mrs. Becker.
Mrs. B'heba Heggie. 74
Joshua Babcock. .70
Andrew Schillinger .84
Miss Nellie June. 87
James Benham, sr 73
Mrs. Mary Schillinger. .73
Mrs. Martha Judd. 83
Mrs. M. H. Hixon .81
Mr. Maine Babcock. .72
Mrs. Mary Kotts. 78
Henry A. Katner. .71
Mrs. Lucy Conklin. .72
John Lehn .. 71
Hiram Walsh .77
Egedius Raser. 73
Joseph Rawson. .74
Mrs. Emily Mitchell. .73
Uriah Every . 72
Mrs. Elizabeth Raab. .84
Simon F .. Nisle ... .83
Mrs. M. Rawson .71
Mrs. Renanna Every .71
Leonard Fleeman. .80
Mrs. Regina Brown. .74
Mrs. Sally Poucher .72
Joseph Bauer. 71
Mrs. Rachel Van Gieson . 79
Frederick Egler 71
Mrs. Esther Jenkins .74
Marvin Burke. 78
Emanuel Glimps ..
Christina Bætner. 90
THE TOWN HALL.
The first annual township meeting held in the town hall was that of April 6, 1857. The question of erecting a town hall was brought before the Township Board April 2, 1855, when a build- ing committee was appointed, comprising Daniel Le Baron, D. W. Palmer, Norman Calhoun and W. H. Aulls. This committee reported June 22, 1855, and was discharged. Another committee was appointed April 7, 1856, composed of Norman Calhoun, Lewis Potts, Junius Short and Ransom Bradley. Those gentlemen were authorized to locate the town hall within one and one-fourth miles of the geographical center of the township, and instructed to have it completed by November, 1856, if possible, so that the next town meeting might be held therein. To enable them to accomplish this, a sum of $250 was ordered to be raised and added to the sum of $300 already voted for that purpose. The hall was formally opened in September, 1856. On April 6, 1857, the following act was passed by the Board: " Voted, that the town hall be opened for moral and scientiffic lectures, and for funerals." It would appear strange now-a-days to have such a hall devoted to funeral purposes.
FIRST TOWNSHIP BY-LAWS.
The adoption of the following "By-laws for Bridgewater" char- acterized the second meeting of the township government in 1834. " Voted, that thirty dollars be raised for the support of the poor; voted, that four dollars be a bounty on every full grown wolf;
Jos. Rawson (died 1881).74 Mrs. Veronigha Reiser .. 72 Mrs. Adeline Spencer. .. 75 Mrs. Sarah Taylor. . . ... 72
James Halliday .83
Mrs. Eva Mann. 74
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BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.
voted, that all hogs weighing upwards of forty pounds shall be free commoners, under forty not free unless with a good sufficient yoke; voted, that a lawful fence shall be four feet and a half high, and the cracks in the fence two feet up shall not exceed four inches; voted, that there shall be one poundmaster in each surveyed town- ship-Ephraim Gilbert Poundmaster for the east, Frederick Val- entine for the west; voted, that each pathmaster be fence-viewer; voted, that the next township meeting be held at the house of Ste- phen Walters." Such by-laws were adopted by the township Board, to be in force until the next annual meeting.
MARKING THE CATTLE.
In olden times it was the custom to mark cattle and horses, as it was also the duty of the owner to register the mark so used. On the records of Bridgewater this practice was carried out so exten- sively that many pages of the small record books of early days are devoted to descriptions of such cattle, horses, etc. An entry of this kind may be given thus:
By request of Levi B. Pratt, of Bridgewater, a mark for his horses, cattle, sheep and hogs is to be a square crop on the end and two slits on the underside of the left ear of s'd animals.
A notice should be served on one or other of the township offi- cials when a stray animal would come into the possession of a citi- zen, in this manner:
Mr. R. Higgie Sir I have one stray steer that came in with my kattle about the first of July last he is red and white mostly white with a half crop of the underside of the left ear and to all appearances a small three-year-old maybe four, long slim horns, one a little topt. NATHAN MARTIN.
Bridgewater Nov'r the 27th 1833.
ROBERT H. HEGGIE
Town Clerk.
Another notice is given to Mr. Conklin in this way:
Mr. Conklin Sir I have one stray bull which came to my house about the middle of Nov two years old small size brindle a white spot in his forehead about two thirds of his tail white and both hind feet with a slit in his right ear.
Dec. 18th 1834. WM. BALDWIN.
When animals were not sought after within a certain period, the finder or other party might demand that such animal should be appraised, and purchased at such appraised value. The valuation was made and recorded as follows:
Washtenaw County & s. s.
I, M. McDougal, Justice of the Peace in and for the said county do certify that on this 26 day of November 1850 did appraise a certain stray pony colt of a Bay color supposed to be three years old taken up by Dennis Lancaster of the township of Bridgewater at the sum of twenty-five dollars.
Dated Bridgewater November 26 1850
M. MCDOUGAL, Justice of the Peace.
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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Notwithstanding this fair appraisal, the parties interested brought the matter into the courts and paid heavily for so doing.
It is unnecessary to enter more fully into this subject. That such marks were in existence, and such records made, cannot be doubted, neither can they be ridiculed. To-day the cavalry horses of the European armies are branded distinctively ; and certainly, if the animals of uniformed villainy of this century require to be marked, the absolute necessity of marking the horses and cattle of the honest early settlers of the western woods cannot be questioned.
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