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 61
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Peres Walker.
Orson Packard. 1846
Thomas Bussey
Ira Rider. 1842
Calvin Wheeler. 1837
Same officers 1843
Michael Thompson 1844
David Lapham.
611
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
appearance, constructed of unhewn logs scarcely six feet from floor to ceiling, having a small six-light window on each of three sides, furnished with slab seats set on pins, with a desk on three sides of the house; heated by a small box-stove, which was considered an improved and new method of heating, as very many school-houses at this time were warmed by a huge fire-place in one end of the house, on which was piled large logs of wood from four to eight feet in length. It was in structures of this kind that very many of the men who have built up this great commonwealth and given it character, received their early education.
There are now five full and six fractional school districts in Sa- lem township. The school-houses are: One stone building, valued at $700, and four frame buildings, at $600 to $700 each in the full districts; and in the fractional districts, one handsome brick house, one stone house (on the Northfield and Salem line), and four frame buildings. There are 11 teachers, and an average attendance of 30 pupils at the schools. The attendance is regular, and a fair elementary education is offered.
THE CHURCHES.
The First Baptist Church was organized within the house of Wheaton Bullock, Jan. 17. 1833, with J. L. Twiss, moderator, and Thomas Harper, clerk. Elder Eben Carpenter preached the first sermon to the society, on the day of organization; Elder Moses Clark was the first pastor of the Church; L. C. Goodale, the first clerk, John Bennett and Eliphalet Lewis, first trustees; with Alexis Packard and John Bennett, deacons. Elder Clark served as min- ister for a short time after organization; when Elder Carpenter was appointed pastor. Elder Noyes was called to the pastorate about 1837. The pulpit has been filled by many preachers since that period.
Mrs. Almira Wheeler was the first member who received bap- tism. Rev. J. L. Twiss officiated at this ceremony, which took place in May, 1833. The church was erected in 1852, at a cost of $900. It was moved from its first location to the depot in 1877, at a cost of $300. Since its organization the society has advanced steadily, so that it now claims a membership of 100 persons.
The First Free Will Baptist Church of Salem was organized July 7, 1839, in the northeast part of the township of Salem. The Rev. C. P. Goodrich was pastor; Manley Smith, clerk; Michael Thompson, and Deacon James Filer, trustees. In 1850 the society erected a church edifice, which was dedicated in November of that year.
Congregational Church .- Several settlers of Salem township, who had previously worshiped with the Presbyterian Church, decided to form a society to be known as the Congregational Church, and a meeting was therefore called on March 27, 1839. The following persons gave their names as members of said society :
612
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Isaac Hamilton, Charles Pratt, Ethiel Hubbard, Orange Green, Hiram Rhodes, Enoch C. Hamilton, Harvey Hubbard, Edwin Hub- bard, Reuben Peebles, J. H. Peebles, Parley Crowell, Cola Ben- nett, Zebedee Waldron, S. G. Haywood, Sebra Perkins, George N. Stoddard, Seth Thompson, J. W. Hamilton, John Peebles, Lorin Pratt and Adam Spence. Zebedee Waldron, Adam Spence, S. G. Haywood, Parley Crowell, Harvey Hubbard and Joseph H. Pee- bles were the first trustees. Zebedee Waldron was the first secre- tary, and Harvey Hubbard the first treasurer. A call was extended to Hiram S. Hamilton to become the first pastor. A house of worship was commenced in 1848, and dedicated as " Zion Church," on Aug. 8, 1849. The cost of the building was about $900. The organization has been very prosperous, and has for its present pas- tor the Rev. Mr. Gilson.
The Presbyterian Church .--- The Presbyterian Church was or- ganized in the township of Salem in 1833. The first deacons were Isaac Hamilton and Nathaniel Terry. Subsequent to this organi- zation, several Congregationalists settled in the district, who were not content with the society as it was found existing. A meeting was called and the society organized as a Presbyterian Church and Congregational Society. This society erected a house of worship about 1850, at a cost of $1,000. The names of the pastors since the organization are as follows: James Morton, 1852; J. D. Pierce, 1856; C. H. Eaton, 1858; Samuel Phillips, 1860; R. J. Williams, 1863; O. C. Thompson, 1867; E. F. Strickland. 1869; J. W. Was- tell, 1870; Robert Hoverden, 1871; M. B. Wilsey, 1874; Armon Spence, 1875; T. O. Childs, 1877; James Vinson, 1880. The present roll of members shows 40 names of males and 65 names of females. Of the aggregate number, 105, there are 26 absent mem- bers. The Sabbath-school, in connection with the Church, was or- ganized in 1841 with a class of 15 members. The school has in- creased to 35.
The First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Salem was organ- ized in a school-house on section 33, in 1841, with David Norton as class-leader, and Joseph Lapham, first steward. The first annual conference was held in that school-house, where also was formed the first Church discipline. Marcus Swift, Samuel Bibbins and Orin Doolittle were the first preachers. The first house of wor- ship was built in 1851, at a cost of $840, near Lapham's Cor- ners, or Brookville. The pastors have been as follows: B. F. Pritchard, J. G. Spaulding, J. H. Castor, A. W. Wilson, II. No- ble, S. Clements and B. F. Hedger. the present pastor. The first Sunday-school was established in 1844 or 1845, with 20 members present. The average attendance now is about 50.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- In 1864 the M. E. church, in Salem, was dedicated, and the Church organization was perfected, with a membership of about 25. J. B. Van Atta and William Hol- lingshead were made stewards, and A. M. Farley and L. D. Per- kins, class-leaders. Previous to that time there had been a tempo-
613
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
rary Church organization and preaching at different points in the township by the M. E. ministers. The perfection of this Church organization was brought about by the earnest efforts of Elder Anderson, who was then preaching on this charge. The dedicatory services were performed by Elder J. M. Castor, who succeeded EI- der Anderson. Since that period the membership of the Church has been largely increased until it numbers about 60. At the pres- ent time B. F. Hedger is the preacher in charge.
SALEM GRANGE.
Salem Grange was organized July 6, 1874, at Salem Station, by the State Deputy, C. L. Whitney, of Muskegon, with 30 charter members. Names as follows : John B. Waterman, Eleanor P. Waterman, Myron E. Root, Priscilla Root, Charles P. Waterman, Belle Fairchilds, Henry C. Dennis, Martha L. Dennis. Dwelle E. Smith, Rosa A. Smith, Daniel E. Smith, Kate Smith, David Rob- erts, Susan Roberts, William S. Whipple, Charlotte Whipple, Al- fred S. Waterman, Lydia Waterman, Hiram B. Thayer. Almira J. Thayer, Rufus Babbitt, Ellen L. Babbitt, William Tousey, Jane Tousey, Eliakim T. Walker, Isadore Walker, George S. Vansickle, Jane A. Vansickle, Daniel W. Wheeler, Jane Wheeler.
The first officers of the grange were as follows : Rufus Babbitt, Master; Eliakim T. Walker, Overseer; John B. Waterman, Lect- urer; Daniel W. Wheeler, Steward; David Roberts, Asst. Steward; Henry C. Dennis, Chaplain; Daniel E. Smith, Treasurer; Hiram B. Thayer, Secretary; George S. Vansickle, Gate-Keeper.
The following have served as masters of the grange since its organization: Rufus Babbitt, J. B. Waterman and Dan. E. Smith. The officers at present are as follows: John B. Waterman, Master; Harvey C. Packard, Overseer; Susan Smith, Lecturer; James H. C. Mosher, Steward; George M. Thompson, Asst. Steward; John B. Smith, Chaplain; Daniel E. Smith, Treasurer; Darwin D. Cook, Secretary; Simeon Root, Gate-Keeper; Kate Cook, Pomona; Louise Bidwell, Flora; Irene Roberts, Ceres; Priscilla Root, Lady Asst. Steward.
Of the 30 charter members seven have withdrawn by demit, six have been suspended for non-payment of dues, one removed by death, and 16 are still members. Of the 87 admitted since organi- zation, 32 have been suspended for the non-payment of dues, eight have withdrawn by demit, three removed by death, 44 retain their membership, which added to the 16 charter members makes a total membership of 60, with a fair prospect of an increase in members during the present year.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Salem has been represented in the Territorial and State Legislat- ures 14 terms, and in Constitutional Convention as follows : George
614
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Rennick served six terms, two in the Territorial and four in the State Legislature. Robert Pindy, one term as member of the Con- stitutional Convention that framed the first constitution of the State ; two terms in the State Legislature. Ira Rider, one term in Legislature; Henry T. Walker, two terms; Calvin Wheeler, one term; Thomas D. Lane, two terms, one in the House and one in the Senate.
Salem has been noted for the number of the physicians it has furnished to the world, having sent out 20 men, all of whom were graduates of some medical college of good repute, besides many others who have never sought or obtained the coveted diploma.
In the law and theological departments she has not been so pro- lific, having furnished but four lawyers and one minister. She has furnished one county clerk, Leonard Goodale; one county treasurer, J. W. Babbitt, and one county superintendent of schools, Geo. S. Wheeler.
FIRST PURCHASERS OF LAND.
The following are the names of the first purchasers of lands in Salem township :
SECTION 1.
Thomas Thomas, e hf of se qr.
Joseph Phillips, e hf of ne qr.
Lewis W. Warner, w hf of ne qr.
Abram Kelly, e hf of nw qr.
Elijah Fitch, w hf of nw qr.
Peter Larkings, e hf of sw qr.
Samuel Carpenter, w hf of sw qr. SECTION 2.
Elijah Fitch, ne qr.
Rot ert Purdy, e hf of ne qr.
Austin Pease, e hf of se qr.
Alpheus Barrett, w hf of se qr.
Sterry Lyon, sw qr.
SECTION 3.
George Fassett, e hf of ne qr.
Michael Thompson, w hf of ne qr and e hf of nw qr.
Leonard C. Goodale, e hf of se qr.
Stephen Ayres, w hf of se qr.
Wm. Blackmar, w hf of sw qr and whf of nw qr.
SECTION 4.
Rhoda Walker, e hf of se qr. Eliakim Walker, w hf of se qr.
Daniel Smith, e hf of sw qr.
Harvey S. Bradley, nw qr of sw qr and nw qr of nw qr. Philena Cook, sw qr of sw qr.
Wm. Blackmar, e hf of ne qr.
Wm Hay, w hf of ne qr and e hf of ne qr.
Geo. Baker Woolle, sw qr of nw qr
SECTION 5
Eliakim Walker, w ht of se qr.
Edward W. Cook, se qr of se qr and se qr of sw qr.
Eurotas P. Hastings, w hf of ne qr.
Daniel Hurd, e hf of ne qr.
Otis M. Walker, ne qr of sw qr
John Rodger, nw qr of sw qr.
Madison Cook, se qr of sw qr.
David Houghtaling, se qr of nw qr.
Lewis Clark, ne qr of nw qr.
John Sanford, sw qr of nw qr.
Timothy Lane, sw qr of sw qr. Ira M. Olds, nw qr of nw qr.
SECTION 6
Isaac R. Sutton, w hf ofsw qr.
Joseph Samain, e hf of sw qr
Alpheus Barrett, w hf of nw qr.
Jacob Countryman, e hf of nw qr.
Benjamin Hungerford, ne qr of ne qr.
Daniel Countryman, w hf of ne qr.
John Sanford, se qr of ne qr.
Patrick O'Hern, nw qr of ne qr.
Benj. V. Kercheval, sw qr of se qr.
Jacob L Lane, se qr of se qr.
SECTION T.
Isaac R. Sutton, sw grand w hf of nw qr.
Eli II. Evans, e hf of se qr
Salter S Mason, w hf se qr and sw qr of ne qr.
Roderick Spencer, e hf of nw qr.
Geo. N. Stoddard, e hf of ne qr.
Peter (. Lane, nw qr of ne qr.
.
615
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
SECTION 8.
Daniel Smith, e hf of ne qr. Otis K. Walker, nw qr of ne qr. Elijah Herrick, sw qr of ne qr and nw qr of sw qr. Timothy Lyon, e hf of se qr. Lemuel Parker, w hf of se qr. Thomas J. Wheeler, e hf of sw qr and e hf of nw qr. Jeremiah Scott, sw qr of sw qr.
Geo. N. Stoddard, w hf of nw qr.
SECTION 9.
Daniel Smith, w hf of nw qr. Otis Walker, e hf of nw qr and w hf of sw qr.
Perez Walker, e hf of sw qr and w hf of ne qr. Attwell Simmons, se qr.
Horace Manhall, se qr of ne qr.
James M. Blake, ne qr of ne qr.
SECTION 10.
Osman Smith, e hf of se qr. Eliphalet Lewis, w hf of se qr and e hf of sw qr. John Crandal, nw qr. John Bennett, w hf of sw qr. Andrew Cook, w hf of ne qr.
Wm. Slocum, se qr of ne qr. Leonard C. Goodale, ne qr of ne qr.
SECTION 11.
Jehiel Krigger, e hf of ne qr. Calvin Wheeler, w hf ne qr and e hf of nw qr. Charles Lewis, e hf of se qr. Eli Smith, w hf of se qr. James Sage, e hf of sw qr. Osman Smith, w hf of sw qr. Rhoda Walker, w hf of nw qr.
SECTION 12.
John Dickerson, e hf of se qr. Jeremiah Taylor, w hf of se qr. Samuel Forman, e hf of sw qr. Osman Smith, w hf of sw qr. Jehiel Krigger, w hf of nw qr. John Kellogg, e hf of nw qr. Asa Parker, e hf of ne qr. John Lewis, w hf of ne qr.
SECTION 13.
Rufus Thayer, jr., e hf of ne qr. Jeremiah Taylor, w hf of ne qr. D. M. Schovill, se qr and e hf of sw qr. John Dickerson, e hf of nw qr. John Spinning, w hf of sw qr.
SECTION 14.
John Dickerson, e hf of ne qr. Jas. Pratt, w hf of ne and w hf of se qr. John Spinning, e hf of se qr.
John O. Mather, nw qr. Alexis Packard, e hf of sw qr. Rufus Thayer, w hf of sw qr.
SECTION 15.
Constant Woodworth, e hf of se qr. Joseph Peters, w hf of se qr. Philemon C. Murray, sw qr. Stephen G. Hayward, ne qr. John Miller, nw qr.
SECTION 17.
Roodphus Grandy, e hf of se qr. Crandal M. Howard, w hf of se qr. Isaac Hamilton, w hf of sw qr. G. W. and H. Floisington, e hf of sw qr. Asher Cook, nw qr and w hf of ne qr. Ezekiel Cook, e hf of ne qr.
SECTION 18.
Samuel Williams. w hf of se qr. Seth Thompson, e hf of se qr. David Peebles, sw fractional qr.
Owen Webster, e ht of ne qr. Hiram Rhodes, w hf of ne qr and nw gr-
SECTION 19.
George King, se qr. David Peebles, nw qr and w hf of ne qr. Seth Thompson, e hf of ne qr. Eurotas P. Hastings sw qr.
SECTION 20.
John Van Leuven, w hf of ne qr. James Sober, e hf of ne qr.
Wm. Starkweather, e hf of nw qr.
Seth Thompson, w hf of nw qr. Belgrave Pryer, e hf of se qr. Benj. Pryer, w hf of se qr.
John and Benj. Pryer, e hf of sw qr. John Pryer, w hf of sw qr.
SECTION 21.
Henry Yanson, e hf of se qr. J. Harle, w hf of se qr and ehf of sw qr. Joseph Sperry, e hf of ne qr. J. Allen, w hf of ne qr and e hf of nw qr and w hf of sw qr. James Sober, w hf of nw qr. SECTION 22.
Elkanah Pratt, w hf of se qr. Orson Packard, e hf of se qr. Levi S. Smith, e hf of ne qr. Joseph Peters, w hf of ne qr. Eli H. Evans, w hf of sw qr. John Dickerson, e hf of sw qr. Alvin Benjamin, e hf of nw qr. Ira Rider, w hf of nw qr. SECTION 23.
Samuel Mapes; se qr. Elkana Pratt, w hf of sw qr. Joseph Lapham, e hf of sw qr.
616
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
Norris Bullock, w hf of nw qr. Samuel H. West, e hf of nw qr. Thomas Pickney, w hf of ne qr. John Ducher, e hf of ne qr. Joseph A. Pinkney, w hf of n -- qr.
SECTION 24.
Royal Wheelock, jr., sw qr. Joseph Sterling, ne qr. Lyman Corbin, se qr. Lawson Isham, nw qr.
SECTION 25.
Royal Wheelock, jr. nw qr. Zeri Phelps, e hf of se qr.
John Forsher, w hf of se qr. Reuben Davis, ne qr.
Manning Hathaway, w hf of sw qr. Wm. Starkweather, e hf of sw qr.
SECTION 26.
Elkanah Pratt, w hf of w hf.
Thos. Bussey, e hf of se and sw qrs.
Zenas Wood, e hf of ne qr.
Waterman Ames w hf of ne qr.
Joseph Lapham, e hf of nw qr.
Elisha G. Mapes, w hf of nw qr.
SECTION 27.
Elkana Pratt, e hf of e hf
Wm. D. Robinson, w hf of ne qr.
Enoch and Enos Shippey, w hf of se qr. John Renwick, w hf of nw qr. Wm. D and A. B. Robinson, e hf of nw qr. J. E. and Ellis Bullock, w hf of sw qr. A. B. Gardiner, e hf of sw and nw qrs.
SECTION 28.
Merritt P. Weasey, e hf of sw qr. Wm. Deits, w hf of sw qr. Welcome J. Partelo, e hf of se qr. Benj. Sutton, w hf of se qr. Wm. Root, jr., w hf of nw qr.
Wm. Hoagland, e hf of nw qr.
John Renwick, e hf of ne qr. Wm. Bennett, w hf of ne qr.
SECTION 29.
Wm. Jackson, e hf of se qr. Wm. Branden, w hf of se qr. Alfred D. Isham, e hf of sw qr. Daniel S. Birch, w hf of sw qr. Wheeler Smith, e hf of ne qr. George Renwick, w hf of ne qr. Ebenezer Rush, w hf of nw qr. John Renwick, e hf of nw qr.
SECTION 30.
Jacob E. Bullock, e hf of se qr. Lucius H. Peet, w hf of se qr. John Dickerson, e hf of ne qr. Philander Green, w hf of ne qr. Jesse Comstock, sw qr.
Adam Spence, w hf of sw qr. Hiram S. Hamilton, e hf of nw qr.
SECTION 31.
Daniel Thomas, w hf of se qr.
Joseph Wood, e hf of se qr.
Dudson Webster, w hf of ne qr.
M. T. C. Webster, e hf of ne qr. Henry Church, w hf.
SECTION 32.
Jos. Wickoff, se qr and e hf of sw qr. John Simons, w hf of sw qr.
Luther Graham and P. Crowl, ne qr.
Caleb Bartlett, w hf of nw qr.
Charles M. Flemming, e hf of nw qr.
SECTION 33.
Erastus Truesdell, w hf of sw qr.
John P. Howard, e hf of sw qr.
John McCormick. e hf of ne and se qrs.
Robt. T. Wheelock, w hf of s e qr.
John L. Shear, e hf of n w qr.
Wm. Moore. w hf of nw qr. Avery Thomas, w hf of ne qr. SECTION 34.
Robt. McCormick, w hf of nw and sw qrs. Jas. Bryant, ne qr and e hf of nw qr. Elisha Marshal, se qr.
Esek Pray, e hf of sw qr.
SECTION 35.
Abraham Laraway, e hf of se qr.
Harvey DeLong, w hf of se qr.
Wm. McCormick, w hf of sw qr. Jacob Friant, se qr of sw qr. Alanson Chase, ne qr of sw qr. Lewis Britton, e hf of ne qr.
James Patterson, sw qr of ne qr.
Joseph Lapham, nw qr of ne qr. Calvin Burey, ne qr of nw qr.
David Lapham, nw qr of nw qr. James H. Woods, s hf of nw qr. SECTION 36.
Aaron Blood, se qr and e hf of sw qr. Sarah Teeple, e hf of ne qr. James Walworth, w hf of ne qr. David Laraway, w hf of sw qr. Joseph C. Tyler, w hf of nw qr. Joshua Chase, e hf of nw qr.
617
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Below we give brief personal sketches of some of the leading res- idents of Salem township:
David Botsford was born in New Haven county, Conn., May 10, 1804, and is a son of Aaron and Comfort Botsford. When David was six years of age, his parents removed to the " Genesee country," in New York, where he was reared and educated. His father was born in Connecticut Feb. 29, 1763. At the age of 16 he entered the Continental army, and served till the close of the war. He died June 17, 1842, aged nearly 80 years. David came to Washtenaw county in October, 1829, and located on 160 acres of land in Ann Arbor tp., which he had entered of Government. In 1848 he removed to Superior tp., and in 1860, to Salem tp., where he has since resided. He was married March 12, 1829, to Thank- ful Levisee, born in Saratoga county, N. Y., July 15, 1803, and daughter of Aaron and Anna (Lamb) Levisee. Of their 7 chil- dren, 3 are living-Eunice, wife of William Graham; Sarah A., wife of William Wycoff, of Kansas; and Rosaltha, wife of Thomas Geer, a resident of Ann Arbor. Burnett, Burgill, Burton and Allen are deceased. Politically, Mr. Botsford is a Republican. He owns a farm of 117 acres on sec. 32.
Asahel Carey, a leading farmer of Salem tp., was a native of Sen- eca Co., N. Y., and was born May 4, 1834. His father, Matthew Carey, was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., June 26, 1807. His mother, Amanda Carey, was born in Pennsylvania in 1810. Asahel was reared in the country, and educated in the district schools. He was married Dec. 21, 1859, to Miss Jane E. Crager, daughter of Adam and Martha (Girard) Crager, who were natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Carey was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1836. To this union 1 child was born, Mattie E., born May 18, 1862. Mr. Carey removed to Salem tp., this county, in 1869. He owns a very valuable farm of 134 acres on secs. 23 and 26, all of which is under a fair state of cultivation. In 1880 Mr. C. erected a magnificent residence at a cost of $3,300. Politically, Mr. C. is a Republican. He is one of the enterprising and devoted men of Salem.
John Dickerson, the first white settler in Salem tp., was born in Morris county, N. J., Sept. 12, 1795. His parents, Charles and Huldah (Chamberlain) Dickerson, removed to Seneca county, N. Y., in 1798, where John passed his early life. He received but a lim- ited education, the first summer school he attended being held in a barn. In the autumn of 1825 Mr. Dickerson, in company with his cousin, Joseph Dickerson, emigrated to Michigan. They came direct to Salem tp., when Mr. Dickerson entered three tracts of land, on secs. 12, 13 and 14. Healso entered 80 acres in Wayne county. He returned to New York, and in July, 1826, came once more to his Western home. He built a log cabin, the first one in the tp., and then went to work to clear his land. The land was almost a
618
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
wilderness, and the Indians during the day. the wild beasts during the night, were his only companions for many a long and weari- some day. Mr. Dickerson has prospered in the race through life, and has accumulated considerable property. He owns 270 acres of finely improved land adjoining Salem Station. He is a man of enterprise and unsurpassed generosity.
Stephen Ellis, farmer, sec. 20, Salem tp .; P. O., Ann Arbor; was born in Ontario county, N. Y., April 4, 1831. His parents were Benjamin and Mary Ellis, natives of Ontario and Herkimer counties, N. Y. They came to Oakland Co., Mich., in 1835, and Mr. Ellis entered 160 acres of land in Lyon tp., where he resided till death. Stephen was reared on a farm and educated in the com- mon schools. Feb. 1, 1855, he married Betsey J. Prior, born in Salem tp. Sept. 11, 1831, and daughter of John Prior, born in England Oct. 30, 1802, who emigrated to America with his parents in 1805. He passed his early life in New York State. In 1831, with his brother Benjamin, he came to Salem tp., Washtenaw county, and entered 240 acres of land, which had not been correctly surveyed, and subsequently turned out to be only 140 acres. Mr. Prior was married Sept. 19, 1834, to Sybil Bardwell, and 2 chil- dren were born to them-Betsey J. (the wife of the subject of this sketch) and Ann L. Mrs. Prior died July 23, 1853. In politics Mr. Prior is Democratic. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis had 5 children sent to them, 3 of whom are living-Wellington H., born Dec. 30, 1858; Frank H., born Aug. 28. 1865, and John J., born Nov. 14, 1867.
Dewitt Freeman was born in this county in 1835, and is a son of S. J. and Hannah (Lacy ) Freeman, the former a native of New York and of English descent, and the latter of the Mohawk Valley, in New York, and of German ancestry. Mr. Freeman received a liberal education, and has been a tiller of the soil the greater part of his life. He was married Jan. 25, 1860, to Augusta Finton. They have 4 children-Elizabeth, Hattie, Asa Burton and Clara. Mrs. Freeman is a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Free- man is Republican in politics, and has been a School Moderator for nine years.
Thomas B. Gorton, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 3; P. O., Salem; was born in Livingston county, Mich., July 19, 1812, and is a son of Thomas and Hannah Gorton, natives of Rhode Island. The former was born Aug. 27, 1777, and the latter March 3, 1780. They were married in 1798 and had 13 children; 6 of these are living- Isabella, Hannah, Thos. B., Samantha, Lydia and Major D. Mr. G.'s parents removed and settled in Wayne county, in September, 1836, where Mr. Gorton purchased a tract of 368 acres. He died March 22, 1852. Mrs. G. died May 27, 1846. Thomas was reared and educated in Wayne county. In 1867 he came and settled in Salem on sec. 3, where he owns 200 acres, part of which lies in Oakland county. March 13, 1834, he married Ruby Burr, and had 4 children; of these 2 are living-Lancaster, married Susan Robin- son, and Mary E. (now Mrs. Seley Bennett). Mrs. Gorton departed
Farmers Branch
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SALEM TOWNSHIP.
this life Dec. 12, 1860, and Aug. 15, 1861, Mr. G. married Esther A. Doane, a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., who was born Sept. 5, 1828, and they have had 1 child, Warren D., born Sept. 29, 1863. In politics Mr. G. is a stout Republican.
W. R. Hamilton, farmer, Salem tp., was born in Washtenaw county July 23, 1846. His parents were Warren and Anna Hamil- ton, the former a native of Madison Co., Mass., where he was born June 18, 1816, and the latter a native of Seneca Co., N. Y., born September, 1815. His father came to the county in 1833, and be- ing in rather limited circumstances was employed as a day laborer for some three years. He then bought 80 acres of land, and subse- quent additions increased it to 160. In 1868 he removed to Ann Arbor, where he died May 18, 1877. He assisted in the organiza- tion of the Congregational Church of Salem tp., and was a member of that denomination at the time of his death. W. R. Hamilton received a good education at the Ann Arbor High School. He was married Nov. 5, 1868, to Mary Manning, born in this county Dec. 18, 1847, and daughterof William E. and Emeline Manning, natives of New York. They have 3 children-Gertrude F., Reuben W. and Theresa. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the Con- gregational Church. Politically Mr. H. is Republican. He is a member of the executive committee of the Agricultural Society of Washtenaw County, and owns 300 acres of land, situated on secs. 17 and 20.
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