History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 153

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457

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 153

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

OLD TRAILS AND INDIAN VISITORS.

The Pottowatomies and Sacs had each a trail, the Sacs along the west bank and the other tribe along the east bank of the Raisin. In 1832 a band of Indians visited the Bridgewater district. This was during the Sac war excitement, so that the settlers watched the movements of the dusky warriors. This watchful- ness on the part of the settlers resulted in the capture of a squaw by Simeon Spencer; while Levi D. Smith and other officers from Clinton arrested the warriors, and brought them to Clinton. Here the Indians, harmless in themselves, began to suspect the whites of treachery, and accordingly loaded their muskets to commence a fight, when a Chicago man, who understood the Indian language, reasoned with the braves and quelled what would have proved a ter- rible calamity to the settlement.

INDIANS RETURNING.

In 1843, when the Indians were returning from Malden, they camped on the land now forming the farm of Zerah Jenkins, and there indulged in their barbarous festival, maddened by drink, tobacco and sugar purchased at Malden and Detroit. John T. Calhoun, Jacob Platt, Harvey Gilbert and Geo. L. Calhoun walked down to visit them, when a squaw walked up deliberately to J. T. Calhoun, asked for whisky, and meeting with a refusal, the red woman struck him a terrible blow, stunning him and laying him prostrate. This was the first and last blow struck at this pioneer.

GOING TO MILL.

Mrs. B. H. Felton, in her paper read before the Washtenaw County Pioneer Society by R. Randall, of Clinton, says:

" In those early days we had to get our grinding done at Brownsville. I recollect in 1831 Mr. Carpenter took his ox team, went out to Lodi or that vicinity, purchased a grist of wheat, got as far as Clinton, staid over night and early in the morning went to Brownsville, dug potatoes to pay for his breakfast, had his grind- ing done, and reached home the second night. There was no more wheat to be had on any conditions, so we cut small patches of the

1361

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.

green wheat, dried it until it could be threshed, then boiled it. In this manner we sustained ourselves until harvest. Jacob Gil- bert ground corn in a coffee-mill to supply his family until the harvest gave them better fare. We had no road on which to travel in those days, but went by Indian trails and by marked trees. We might have adopted the language of Alexander Selkirk, and with the greatest truthfulness exclaimed :

"The sound of the church-going bell These valleys and woods never heard, Nor sighed at the sound of a knell, Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared."

THE RESULT OF SUNDAY TRAVELING.

In the fall of 1830 Jacob Gilbert and James Crampton started out on the Pottawatomie trail on Sunday morning, to see what they could discover, taking their fire-arms along. The sight of game lured them from the trail, and so they lost their way. After wandering about until nearly midnight they came upon a small cabin where a man was living alone. They stayed one night with this man, took breakfast, left their game with their host, and started out, confident of reaching home in an hour or so ; but to their sur- prise night found them at the same cabin again. Next morning they went forth with fresh zeal, traveled all day, and when night came they were an unknown distance from any known point. They built a fire, cooked some game, and slept by the side of a friendly log, with Heaven's dome over them. The following day being Wednesday, they still started afresh. The fortunes of the day were similar to the previous days, and night found them in the trackless wilderness. They cooked game and lay cown to " meditate on the . uncertainty of human events." Thursday morning Mrs. Crampton solicited one or two neighbors to go in search of the wanderers. These neighbors promised to search for the fugitives if they did not return by noon, but just before 12 M. the heart of Mrs. Cramp- ton was made glad by the safe arrival of her husband and his companion. Such were a few of the perils attendant on early settlement.

WOLF-SLAYERS.

John Haynes, a celebrated hunter of the district in early years, went out one Sunday, when he saw what appeared to him to be five foxes. He took aim and sent one bullet through the bodies of the whelps. On going down he found that he had killed five wolves. About the same time the Gilbert brothers and Geo. Haight dis- covered a hole on the east bank of the Raisin, wherein were seven young wolves. These animals were smoked out, and their captors received $91 State and township bonnty for the scalps. In 1835 the township paid out to Witherell and H. W. Sessions, $16; to John

1362

HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

B. Crane, $4, and to Joseph Aulls, $4, as bounty on wolves killed during that year.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first birth was that of Henrietta Hixon, who in later years married Rev. D. Kedzie, of Three Rivers. The first marriage was that of Dennis Lancaster and Harriet Frederick. The ceremony was performed by Howell B. Norton. The first death was that of Mrs. Thomas Bolton, who was buried on the bank of the Raisin in section 21. The first settler was Daniel Hixon. The first log cabin was built by Daniel Hixon. The first frame house was built by Daniel Brooks. The first frame barn was built in 1834 by Rev. Robert Powell. The first district school-house was built on section 28 in 1834; and the school was taught by Norman L. Conklin. The first saw-mill was erected on the " East Bend " of the Raisin by Jacob Gilbert, in 1834. The first grist-mill was built by Wm. W. Aunin in 1857. The first church was erected on section one in 1855 by the German Lutherans, with Rev. Mr. Foltz as pastor.

INDUSTRIES.

The cider-mill of Wm. Hankee is on the N. E. quarter of sec- tion 20. This was built about 1870.

The Hankee saw-mill is situated where the old saw-mill was built by Wm. Hankee in 1870.

The Taylor and the Morris saw-mills existed up to 1870, when a fire destroyed both. A shoddy mill was established here; but ow- ing to the difficulty of obtaining rags, it was discontinued.

The Southern Washtenaw Farmers' Mutual Fire Ins. Co. has its office in Bridgewater. Junius Short is president and D. W. Pal- mer, secretary. This company has a membership of 225, with a capital stock of $542,935. Owing to its local character the income of the society for the year ending Dec. 31, 1880, was $142.79, and the expenditure $119.65. The business of the company is carried on in a most satisfactory manner, and the benefits conferred upon the district much appreciated.

SCHOOLS OF BRIDGEWATER.

There are nine school-districts in the township, numbered re- spectively from 1 to 9. The names of the directors for the year to the end of September, 1881, were Jacob Blum, Jacob Luckhardt, Christian Saley, James Taylor, Alexander Seymour, E. M. LeBaron, Peter S. Knight, Henry C. Calhoun and Geo. Calhoun.

Of the nine school buildings, eight are constituted of timber and one of brick. The number of children between the ages of five and twenty years in the township is set down at 390, and the number attendant on school during the year ending Sept., 1880, 275. The

1363

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.

school property is valued at $3,035. The number of teachers em- ployed in 1880 was 19, teaching in the aggregate 662 months, or about 106 days each, for which they received in toto the sum $1,- 129.75 or $59.46 each. The total expenditure for the year 1880 was $1,859.92, leaving $229.93 on hand at the close of that year. The one-mill school tax for the year amounted to $543.90.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Brief personal sketches of old settlers and other citizens follow here, as an essential part of the history of Bridgewater township.

William F. Allen was born July 19, 1813, in New York State, and now resides near Clinton, this State, where he owns 180 acres of land. His early days were spent upon a farm, although he worked to some extent as a cooper. He after- ward bought his present farm in Bridgewater tp., now consisting of 220 acres. Receiving little education in life, except a practical one, he has through industry accumulated the property before mentioned. He was married March 13, 1845, at Clinton, to Miss Louisa Lincoln, of New York State. They have 4 children liv- ing, and 1 deceased-Eva, who died in 1854. Emmet, the eldest, was born on the homestead, in 1846; Frank, born in 1848, married Miss Lydia Van Gieson; George, born in 1852, married Miss Emma Warner.

H. C. Blaisdell, miller at River Raisin, was born in this township June 26, 1838, and is a son of James and Isabella (Smith) Blaisdell, natives of Virginia and of Scotch descent. Commencing at the age of 19, he worked five years in a mill at Manchester. In 1860 he married Sarah Jane Gray, also a native of this county, and they have 1 child-Edgar S., born in 1876. Mr. B. has a home in Manchester worth $1,000.

Christopher Bower, farmer, sec. 19; P. O., River Raisin; was born in Germany in 1837, the son of Jacob and Christina (Gumper) Bower; came to this country at the age of 14, settling in Freedom tp .; worked two years by the month to get a start, the first year receiving but $4 a month, but he has been a successful farmer, now owning 256 acres of land, worth $65 an acre. In 1861 he married Mrs. Koern- ing, nee Mary Ann Kern, who, at the time of this marriage, had 5 children, and since then 3 more have been born in the family. Mr. B. is a Democrat, and both he and his wife are Lutherans.

George Calhoun, present Supervisor of Bridgewater tp., was born Feb. 21, 1834, son of George L. and Angeline (Porter) Calhoun, who settled in this county as early as 1832. During the winter of 1831-'2 the family lived at Tecumseh, one mile south of the present Center town hall; in 1833 he bought a farm in this tp., familiarly known to the residents in this section as the "Normal Calhoun property," so called owing to its purchase by Normal Calhoun in 1836. Removing to Jackson county, George L. Calhoun there passed the remainder of life in 1850; his wife, who is still living, resides in Pennsylvania. George, jr., was reared to agricultural pursuits, and early gave promise of being the successful farmer that he is to-day. In 1839 he was married to Otilla, daughter of N. L. Conklin. Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun have 1 child-Henry, 1 having died in infancy. In 1875 occurred the death of Mrs. Calhoun, and in 1876 Mr. C. was united in marriage with Cleantha, daughter of C. H. Randall. Mr. Calhoun has filled many of the local offices of Bridgewater tp. with rare credit, officiating as Town Clerk in 1874-'5. In 1880 he was re-elected Town Clerk, and elected the present year Supervisor. Formerly he beld the position of Town Treasurer; was six years in office as Highway Commissioner; was nominated as Justice of the Peace, but refused to qualify.

Normal L. Conklin was born in New York in 1808, the son of Abram and Thankful (Dennis) Conklin, natives of the Eastern States, and of Dutch ancestry. Mr. C. received a good education in the district school and at an academy. At the age of 18 he commenced teaching school, and continued in the profession 16 years; during the intervals he followed farming. He now owns 160 acres of good land on sec. 17. He came here in early pioneer times, with only $2 in money, worked hard and economized closely. In 1831 he married Lucy Lazell, a native

1364

HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

of Massachusetts, and of Dutch descent, and they have had 8 children, 7 of whom are living, 6 boys and 1 girl; all of these are married and doing well. March 30, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. C. celebrated their golden wedding, at which their children and all but one of their 13 grandchildren, were present. Politically, Mr. C. is a Democrat, and he has been Tp. Clerk, Supervisor, School Inspector and Overseer of the Poor. He is also a promirent member of the Pioneer Society.

Charles T. Crane, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1814, son of Archer and Vilitia Crane, natives of Connecticut, who moved to N.Y. State in pioneer times. In 1834 Archer Crane with his family came to Washte- naw county and first settled in Freedom tp., bought 80 acres of land, and soon after sold, and purchased other property in Lenawee county. Charles Crane was reared in Washtenaw county. In 1837 he purchased land in Livingston county, which he retained possession of two and one-half years, when he bought where he now lives, 100 acres, and where he has been an honored resident for the past 15 years. In 1837 he was married to Amaryllis, a daughter of Ozias and Martha Judd, natives of Onondaga county, N. Y. There are 6 children-Celeste, who married Calvin Lazell; Edith, who married Erastus Walter; Clarence, Ida, Archie and Lyle reside at the homestead.

Charles Dickerson, farmer, sec. 8; P. O., Manchester; was born in New York in 1817, the son of Peter and Hannah (Easton) Dickerson, of Holland descent. The subject of this sketch was at first a blacksmith, but he has spent the most of his life as a farmer, now owning 142 acres of land. He came to this county in 1838, settling near Ypsilanti, but since 1840 he has lived in Bridgewater tp. He is a Republican, and has been School Director a number of years. In 1854 he married Helen Woodruff, and their children are-Alfred C., Alta M., Charles O. Carrie E., Amariah E., and Grace M.

M. S. Every, farmer, sec 22; P. O., River Raisin; was born in New York State in 1833, the son of Uriah Every, who was born in 1809, and whose parents were Reuben and Elizabeth (Whiteman) Every, of English ancestry. Uriah was mar- ried in 1831, to Rosanna Sanford, and they had 5 children, all of whom are mar- ried and doing well. M. S., the subject of this notice, occupies a farm adjoining that of his father. They have been residents of this State since 1834, most of the time in Jackson and Washtenaw counties. In 1851 M. S. was married to Mary Hildreth; they had 1 son -- Willie, and Mrs. E. died in 1871; the same year Mr. E. married Emma Culver, and they have 1 child, Flora M. He is a Republican, and a Deacon in the Baptist Church, of which he and his wife are members.

Benjamin B. Fisk, (deceased), was born in Connecticut about 1800, where he married Lydia Aldrich; moved to New York State, where he followed black- smithing for some years ; came West in May, 1830, and settled at Clinton, Lenawee Co., where he was the pioneer blacksmith. He died in 1832, and was the first early settler interred at Clinton. Mrs. Fisk died in 1878. There are 4 children- Leander, a resident of Oakland, married Fanny Ellis, daughter of Dr. Ellis; Wel- come V. married Miss Amanda Vaughn, and some years after the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Mary Fulton; Henry A. was born in this county, where he married Miss Jane Brown, a daughter of Kinner N. Brown, who is the owner of 96 acres in Bridgewater, a shrewd business man and successful farmer; Clinton B., a prominent banker of New York, married Jennette Crippen, a daugh- ter of L. D. Cotton, of Coldwater.

Charles Gadd, who ranks among the most substantial farmers of this tp. is a native of Somersetshire, England, where he was born in 1821. He followed farming there until March, 1842, when he married Elizabeth Gregory, and with his wife sailed for America. Mr. Gadd settled in Salina tp., where he _ bought 40 acres of land, and afterward owned 120 acres; residing there until 1851, he bought 140 acres of land in this tp. and erected a substantial residence in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Gadd have 6 children living-William, Sarah, Florence, Angie, George and Charles. John is deceased.

Emanuel and Ezra Glimps, who take a leading position as agriculturists in this county, are natives of New Jersey, but accompanied their parents to Ontario county, N. Y., where they passed their youth; in June 1838, they settled on sec. 23 in this tp., where they each invested in 80 acres of land apiece; they now own jointly 250 acres; in 1878 purchasing the Elder Powell farm, consisting of 90 acres, on which they have erected, in all probability, the best farm residence in Bridgewater tp. Emanuel married Eleanor Jacobs, a daughter of Wm. Jacobs, of New York State.

1365

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.

John Immer, farmer, sec. 3; P. O., Manchester; was born in Germany in 1813, son of John Immer, sr .; learned the cooper trade in the old country; came to America in 1837, settled in Freedom tp., this county, since which time he has followed farming, with success, now owning 150 acres of land on sec. 9, which he has had since 1849. In 1843 he married Mary Graff, and they now have 5 sons and 3 daughters, namely : Mary A., Joseph, Elizabeth, John, Frank A., George, Louis and Caroline H. Politically, Mr. Immer is a Democrat.

Henry H. Katner was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1803, and is a son of Peter and Abigail Katner, who were residents of that county during the pioneer period ; and in this county young Henry grew to manhood. In 1833 he settled in Bridge- water tp., on an 80-acre tract of land, bought from Government. Returning to New York State that year, he married Miss Lydia H., daughter of Sylvanus and Polly (Knapp) Starr, and soon thereafter settled again in this tp., where he has since resided, and accordingly among the few now living who are residing upon land obtained from the Government. He is among the more worthy citizens of Bridgewater, where through the efforts of himself and pioneer wife he has ob- tained possession of 125 acres of valuable land. Many years ago Mr. Katner was Assessor of Bridgewater tp. Mr. and Mrs. K. have 4 children-Sarah A, who married first John Bradley and subsequently Hiram Wells; Katy A., a resident of Manchester, married Chauncey S. Fox; Mary E., married W. O. Westfall, a prominent attorney of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Wm. H., who resides on the home- stead, married Miss Julia Lathrop.

Charles Koerning was born in Germany in 1842, the son of Henry and Augusta Koerning; learned the trade of miller, which was also the occupation of his father; came to America in 1867; was married in 1870 to Mary Marquet, also a native of Germany, and they have 6 children; since 1874 he has kept a saloon or restaurant at the River Raisin. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is now serving his fourth term as Constable.

Martin Kress (deceased) was born in Pennsylvania in 1804; his youth was spent in Eastern Ohio, and in an early day he moved to New York State, where he was married to Miss Polly Early, a daughter of James Early, of Pennsylvania. In 1839 Martin Kress, accompanied by his family, settled in this tp., but purchased land in Ingham county; he died shortly afterward in this county. James, the eldest son, was born in New York State in 1828, and from boyhood has followed agricultural pursuits. In 1854 he was married to Ruth Aulls, a daughter of Wm. H. Aulls, a pioneer of Washtenaw county, and they had 1 child - Francis. Mrs. Kress died in 1868, and in 1869 he married Mary C., daughter of Hiram Welch, whose sketch appears elsewhere. One child blessed this union-Frances. Mr. K. owns 128 acres and a costly frame residence in Jackson county, where he lived four years. He was Supervisor there, and also creditably filled the same position in this county. He is extensively engaged in the breeding of fine- wooled sheep, and is unusually successful as a farmer.

George Lazell was born in Massachusetts May 13, 1799, the son of Alvin and Sarah (Stocking) Lazell, natives of the same State and of French ancestry; re- ceived his education in a log school-house; from the age of 21 to 30 he taught school during the winter; taught the first school in Clinton, Washtenaw Co., in 1830; he has lived in this county for over half a century, and reared a family of 5 children. He was in the Black Hawk war. In 1832 he married Deborah, daughter of Joseph Gillett, but she died in February of the next year, and in 1835 he married Eliza Slade, a native of New York, and they had 3 sons and 2 daughters. Mrs. L.'s mother is still living, in New York, and is over 100 years old. The children are : Barton, H. M., Eliza Jane, Betsey and Slade. Mr. L. is a Democrat, and has been Supervisor in this county 20 years, and has held other offices. He owns 120 acres of good land on sec. 28. He obtained his start in the world by working by the month.

Daniel Le Baron was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1817, son of Francis and Sabra Le Baron, natives of Connecticut and Vermont respectively. Daniel received his education in district and select schools. In 1842 he married Jane Farley, and in 1848 came West and first settled in York tp., this county; in 1852 he moved to this tp., where he purchased 80 acres, which he recently sold to E. S. Tate, of Clinton. Mrs. Le Baron died in 1872. Of the 4 children, 3 are living -Mrs. Annette Lazell, Clarence, a resident of Flint, Mich., and Edith, a resident of Lockport. In 1875 Mr. L. was married to Mrs. Martha Gray, relict of Thomas Gray, and daughter of Isaac and Elsie Ayres. There was born of this second

1366

HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

marriage 1 child-Burt. In 1854 Mr. Le Baron was elected Supervisor, and for a period of over 22 years he ably filled this position of local responsibility. Mr. L. contemplates removing to Tuscola ('o., Mich., where he has invested his means in the purchase of 120 acres of land. Many in this community will miss him from their midst, and kindly cherish the memory of a good neighbor.

Malcolm McDougall was born in New York May 11, 1814, the son of Samuel and Catherine (McFarlane) McDougall, natives also of the Empire State, of Scotch- Irish ancestry ; followed farming and received his education mostly in New Jersey ; came to Washtenaw county in 1838, settling in Bridgewater tp., where he now owns 160 acres of good land and resides on sec. 29, in a neat and substantial res- idence. In 1843 he married Monimia McFarlane, and they had 2 children; she died in 1879. He is a Democrat, and has been Tp. Clerk and Justice of the Peace for nine successive years.

D. W. Palmer .- There is a tradition that three brothers named Palmer came from England, two of them settling in Connecticut, and one in Rhode Island, and that of the former had a son named Joseph, who became a celebrated physician ; the latter had 2 sons, one of whom, Joseph (2d) married Susan Kinney, and had 7 sons and 4 daughters-Stephen, born June 14, 1771; Joseph (3d) was born Nov. 18, 1778, and married Abigail Wheeler, May 12, 1805, daughter of David and Pru- dence Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler died when Abigail was an infant, and Stephen Palmer married the widow, thus becoming father-in-law to his brother. To Joseph (3d) and Abigail were born, June 5, 1807, David W., the subject of this biography ; Abigail, Sept. 7, 1809; Harry M., Nov. 22, 1813; and Russell D., Dec. 25, 1818.

David W. Palmer married Flora L. Randall March 19, 1829, and Dec. 30 fol- lowing, a son, Francis Marion, was born. Mrs. P. died Oct. 2, 1833, and Mr. Palmer Dec. 21, 1837, married Fidelia D. Randall, and to them have been born- Flora C., Nov. 21, 1838; Emmett N., June 9, 1840; Albert F., May 24, 1847; Henry R., Feb. 12. 1849; Abbie S .. July 24, 1853; and Ara H., Oct. 4, 1856. David W. was born in Poluntown, Windham Co., Ct., and in 1810 the family moved to Madison county, N. Y., settling in Lenox tp., where he went to school and worked in pioneer woods. The winters of 1824-'5-'6 he hauled pine logs from the pinery of the noted statesman, Gerrit Smith, of Peterboro, five miles distant, preparatory to building a dwelling-house. Preparing to teach school he, having no assistance from living instructors, experienced the hard work and tasted the sweets of self- education. For a number of years he taught school during the winter and fol- lowed the farm during the summer. He was married March 19, 1829, but his wife died some time afterward, and then he entered the Academy at Munnsville, Oneida Co., under the superintendence of the celebrated mathematician, Tobias Ostrander, who soon after offered him the position of teaching his large grammar class, and to reward him with special instruction in higher mathematics. A va- cancy occurring, Mr. Palmer took the place of assistant in the chemical depart- ment of Hamilton College; next, taught a select school near home; then, in the spring of 1836, in order to invigorate his health, he commenced traveling for a book firm in New York, to sell books by subscription. He traveled through many of the western counties of New York and Northern Pennsylvania; but failing to receive his pay, he emigrated to this State in October (1836) in company with an uncle, coming by way of the Erie canal on a line boat, and by steamer on Lake Erie, on which they were tossed about by wind three days and nights. The Maumee being too low for them to make Toledo, the passengers were left at the mouth of the River Raisin, five miles distant, on the wreck of another vessel. A small steamer soon came to their relief and landed them in Monroe. This was Friday afternoon. They went to the stage office to secure passage out into the country, and the clerk, looking over his books and seeing that the men were all stout enough to carry a rail, said they could go by the following Tuesday, and that he should charge them $7 each, to ride to Tecumseh! But these independ- ent yeomanry soon found a teamster who would take their trunks at $2 each, while they would foot it.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 153

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1457

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457