History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 62

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 62

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George Herrick was born in Salem tp. Dec. 16, 1845. His parents were Daniel and Mary Ann Herrick, the former born in New York August, 1793, and the latter a native of Connecticut, where she was born Dec. 28, 1800. They emigrated to Michigan in 1836, purchasing three tracts of land in Salem tp., where the for- mer died Sept. 26, 1855, aged 62 years. Mrs. Herrick departed this life March 6, 1878, aged 78 years. George was educated in the Ypsilanti Seminary. He was married Sept. 9, 1868, to Carrie Brit- ten, born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 18, 1846, and daughter of Richard and Eliza (Stewart) Britten. They have 4 children-Fred, Edward, Lavergne and Minnie. Mr. Herrick is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, and owns a valuable farm of 144 acres on sec. 3. His father served three months as a private in the war of 1812.

Thomas D. Lane, a prominent man in Salem, was born in Vic- tor, Ontario Co., N. Y., June 26, 1820. He came with his parents, Peter C. and Malana Lane, to this county in 1836. His father was born Jan. 6, 1793, and served in the war of 1812. He was drafted into the British service and served three months, and was again drafted, but deserted and forced his way through the lines and en- listed in the American service, and devoted his time and labors to it till the close of the war. He died Jan. 5, 1852. Mrs. Lane died July 11, 1877. Thomas was reared on a farm and received his edu- cation in the rudest sort of log cabins. He remarks that most of his education was obtained by the light from burning " tamarack

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

knots." Mr. Lane has held various offices of prominence, both in the county and State. He was inspector of common schools for 15 years, and was elected Justice of the Peace twice, but declined serving. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors four terms. In 1858 he was elected a member of the Legislature, and served acceptably one term. In 1860 he was chosen State Senator, and served one term, consisting of one regular and two special sessions. His father was a man quite prominent in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and held various offices of trust. The early life of Mr. Lane was spent in school-teaching, having taught for some 17 years. He is a self-acquired man, and has attained unto considerable eminence. He was married May 12, 1857, to Olive V. Webster, a native of Ma- comb Co., Mich., and was born Jan. 2, 1836. They have had 3 children; of these 2 are living, viz .: Webster P. (married Alice M. McFarland), and Chas. S. J. S. is deceased. Mrs. Lane's parents, Eli H. and Lucy A. Webster, were natives of Ontario and Monroe counties, N. Y.

Nathaniel Martin was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1808, and is a son of John and Dorcas Martin, who were natives of Washington county, N. Y. Mr. Martin's father when a boy 13 or 14 years old, some time during the war of the Revolution, was on his way home from mill in company with another boy, and was captured by Indians who delivered him into the hands of the Brit- ish after they had kept him some six weeks. His father procured a pass from the British General and finally, after a diligent search, found him. Nathaniel is the youngest of a family of 13 children, 10 of whom lived to the years of maturity. He and his brother John are the only ones of this family who survive. John is the oldest Baptist minister in the State of Michigan. Mr. Martin was married Oct. 7, 1828, to Almeda Canfield, by whom he has had 5 children; of these 3 are living, viz .: Joann (now Mrs. Levi Dake), Edward S. and Marjette. Mrs. Martin departed this life on March 8, 1879. Her birth dates back to Jan. 9, 1802. Mr. Martin came to Oakland county, Mich., and entered in Southfield tp., where he lived till 1854, when he located in Salem, this county. He owns a farm of 90 acres on sec. 11. In politics he advocates Republican- ism.

George W. McCormick, farmer, sec. 33; P. O., Salem Station; was born in New York, in 1829, and is a son of John and Rachel (Buck) McCormick, natives of New York and of Irish and Scotch descent. He received his education in the Ypsilanti schools, but has been a farmer through life, in which business he has been more than ordinarily successful. He owns 280 acres of fertile land. Ile was married Jan. 10, 1855, to Polly Jane Rhorabacher. They have 1 child-Flora, wife of A. C. Curtis, who was born February, 1856. Mr. McCormick is a prominent farmer of Salem tp., and the county at large.

Philemon C. Murray, one of the very earliest settlers of Salem tp., was born in Northumberland tp., Saratoga county, N. Y., July 14,

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SALEM TOWNSHIP.

1805, and was a son of Philemon H. and Lucy Murray, who removed to the " Black river country," when Mr. Murray was quite young, and subsequently to Auburn, in town of Owasco, Cayuga county, where he passed his early life. Mr. Murray's grandfathers were soldiers in the Continental army, and Mr. Murray well remembers seeing the soldiers during the war of 1812 passing by his father's house on their way to Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Murray's father died when he was 12 years of age, and he was forced from that time on to do for himself. Soon after this bereavement his mother married Rev. Mr. Clark, and in 1824 they removed to Washtenaw county, locat- ing on a tract of land previously purchased by Mr. Clark. Phile- mon remained in this county only four months, and during that time attended the first 4th of July celebration ever held in the county. In 1826 he came again to Michigan, and spent most of the summer in this State, in the meantime making a prospecting trip to White Pigeon prairie. He did not see a white man from the time he left Saline until he arrived at his destination. He en- camped several nights with the Indians, one night at their village, named Notta-wa-sipa. He was absent about three weeks, and then returned to New York. In 1828 he made his last and final trip to this State, and in December entered 80 acres on sec. 15, Sa- lem tp., and two years later 80 acres more on the same section. He still owns the land. Mr. Murray was present at the organization of Salem tp., and was chosen its first Highway Commissioner. He was Township Clerk for about 10 years. Mr. Murray was married Dec. 29, 1830, to Hannah E. Johnson, born in Newburgh, N. Y., May 1, 1813, and daughter of Michael and Eliza Johnson. Her uncle, John R. Bell, was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy, and served as a Colonel in the war of 1812. He was appointed and served as the first Military Governor of Florida after its purchase; he was promoted to Major and died at Henrietta, N. Y., still being in the service, and was buried with military honors. Ten chil- dren were born to this union, 7 of whom are living-George, who married Mary J. Knapp; Lucy A., wife of L. D. Cook; Eliza B., wife of D. D. Cook; Julia A., wife of Dr. M. M. Rorabacher; Philemon H., who married Louisa J. Rich; Mary A., wife of Newell A. Withee; and James H., who married Sophia Johnson. Marshall M., John W. and Sarah M. are deceased. Mr. Murray's portrait will be found in this volume.

A. C. Northrop, farmer, sec. 10, Salem tp .; P. O., Salem Station; was born in Pittsfield Co., Conn., Oct. 7, 1828. His father, Anson Northrop, served in the war of 1812. A. C. was raised a " farmer's boy," and received a common-school education. He emigrated to this county in 1869, and Nov. 17, 1870, married Mrs. Sarah Everett, widow of John Everett (deceased), who died Nov. 12, 1868, at the age of 56 years. Mrs. Northrop is a daughter of Lewis and Martha Webber, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of New York, and was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., Oct. 7, 1835. Her first husband, Mr. Everett, was a pioneer of Wayne Co., Mich., having

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

accompanied his parents there at an early day. Mrs. Northrop was a resident of Detroit for several years. Her great-great-grandfather came to America with the little band of Puritans in the Mayflower, and landed on Plymouth Rock. Mr. Northrop is Democratic in politics, and owns 146 acres of good land on sec. 10.

Orson Packard, one of Salem's early and respected pioneers, was born in Ontario county (now Wayne county), N. Y., Jan. 23, 1806. His parents, John F. and Amity B. Packard, were natives of Mas- sachusetts. Mr. Packard, as most boys, was reared on a farm and received only a common district schooling. April 3, 1828, he was married to Miss Rhoda Raymore, daughter of John and Sarah Ray- more. Mrs. P., a native of Windham county, Vt., was born Aug. 27, 1806. They have had 4 children, viz .- Mary A. (now the wife of Levi C. Quackenbush), John F. (married Chloe M. Wheelock), Cynthia A. (now wife of Theron Wyckoff), and Harvey C. (married Louisa Bignall). In May, 1830, Mr. Packard removed to Washte- naw county. He entered 80 acres from " Uncle Sam" in Saiem tp., where he settled down. Although deprived of many things, yet sub- ject to the hardships of a frontier life they passed their first Michi- gan life. A log cabin was their place of shelter from the raging rain and snow-storms, the hungry wolf and the grizzly bears. All these animals infested the wood, and less numerous were the wild hunters, the Indians. Mr. Packard took a prominent part in the building

of school-houses and churches. He was one of the organizers of the Wesleyan Methodist Society in that tp., which was the first of that denomination in this, our fair America, a land of Churches of all orders. He was present when the discipline of that Church was formed. Surely the name of Orson Packard will live in the history of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America, as if engraven on a page of adamantine rock, upon which future ages will look as they pass along one by one. Mr. and Mrs. Packard still retain their con- nections with that Church. In politics he is a Republican, but was formerly a Whig. He owns a farm of 64 acres on sec. 22.

George N. B. Renwick, a prominent farmer of Salem tp., was born in Seneca county, N. Y., June 4, 1827. His parents were George and Phoebe Renwick. His father was a native of England, and came to America when a young man. His mother was born in Seneca county, N. Y. In the fall of 1828 they removed to Michigan, and located three tracts of land on sec. 28, Salem tp., or what was then called "Panama " tp. Mr. Renwick aided in organizing the town of Salem, and was one of the framers of the constitution of the State. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature for four years, and for 10 years after it became a State. Ile was Supervisor of Salem for many years, and a Justice of the Peace, also. In politics, he was an "old time" Whig. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in Salem tp. He has followed agricultural pursuits through life, and at present owns a farm of 304 acres of secs. 27 and 28. In politics he was formerly Whig, but is now Independent. He is at present holding the office of Justice of the Peace.

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SALEM TOWNSHIP.

John W. Renwick, farmer, secs. 28 and 29, Salem tp., is a son of George Renwick, and was born in Monroe county, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1825. His parents removed to Washtenaw county in October, 1828, and John W. grew to manhood among the busy and stirring scenes of pioneer life. His father being away from home the greater part of the time, the superintendence of the farm fell into the hands of John, who was the oldest child, and this hard labor in early life deprived him of those educational advantages which he was so earnestly striving for. He was married, April 5, 1849, to Amity B. Packard, born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1828, and daughter of Alexis and Prudence Packard. Eight children have been given them, 7 of whom are living-Ernest E., Alexis P., George D., Martha D., Mary, Jane and John. George is deceased. Mr. Renwick is a Republican, and owns 350 acres of land. Mrs. Renwick possesses 180 acres of land, situated on section 14.

John S. Rider, an early pioneer of Wayne county, was born in Wayne county, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1820. His parents, David and Polly Rider, were natives of New York and England. His parents came to Wayne county, Mich., in the wild days of 1827 and settled in Livonia tp., where he entered land from the Government and lived till his death, which occurred in 1862, at the advanced age of 79 years. He served in the war of 1812. John was reared on a farm and received his education in the common country schools. He was married Jan. 8, 1846, to Adarima Eldridge, daughter of Nathaniel and Diana Eldridge, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Rider was born in Wayne county, Mich., Mar. 29, 1828. They had 6 children, 5 of whom are living, viz .: Nathaniel, born July 25, 1848, and mar- ried Rosetta Hollis; Adalaide, born June 25, 1857; Franklin, born Sept. 26, 1853, and married Emma Kingsley; Dayton, born July 26, 1856, and married Dora Smith, and Mary, born Jan. 20, 1859, and now wife of Almond Smith. Mr. R. is a Republican in politics. He owns a farm of 152 acres on secs. 11 and 12.

Andrew Rodger was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1813. His parents removed to Madison county, N. Y., when he was five years old, where he was reared and educated. In 1839 he came to this county and entered 40 acres on sec. 6, Salem tp. Nov. 8, 1842, he was married to Jane N. Bardwell, daughter of Jonathan and Betsey M. Bardwell, natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. Rodger was born in Madison county, N. Y., May 23, 1821. They have 1 child, William Clark, born April 15, 1849. Jonathan Bardwell, Mrs. R.'s father, was born April 23, 1779, and Mrs. B. was born Jan. 22, 1784. They settled in New York in 1796, where they lived until 1833, when they emigrated to Washtenaw county. and settled in Northfield tp., where he entered 120 acres of land. He died Ang. 17, 1848, and his wife, Mrs. Bardwell, died July 20, 1841. Mrs. Rodger was a pioneer school-teacher in Northfield and Salem tps. Her sister, Sybil Bardwell, was also among the first teachers of Northfield. Mr. and Mrs. Rodger were members of the

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

Presbyterian Church. Their farm contains 160 acres, situated on secs. 5 and 6.

Robert Shankland, a veteran soldier in the war of 1812, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., Nov. 3, 1791. His parents were William and Margaret Shankland, the former a native of Otsego county, N. Y., born Aug. 15, 1762, and the latter of Scotland, born Oct. 15, 1770. Her parents emigrated to America at a very early day. Mr. Shankland, the father of our subject, served as a private through the Revolutionary war. He died April 17, 1850, aged nearly 88 years, and Mrs. Shankland Nov. 10, 1850. Robert passed his early life on a farm, and received a common-school education. He enlisted in the war of 1812, July of that year, in Capt. Blakes- ley's company. During his first term of service he was stationed at Oswego, N. Y., as guard. October, 1814, he re-enlisted, this time in Capt. Draper's company. He remained at Sacket's Har- bor during his last military service, and participated in the con- flict in capturing the three British boats at Henderson's Harbor, under command of Major Apling. Mr. Shankland served in all about 14 months, and now draws a pension. In August, 1830, he came to this county and entered 80 acres on sec. 35, Ann Arbor tp., and built a log cabin, and Nov. 16, he took his abode within its massive log walls. He lived there until 1837, when he pur- chased his present home. He was married Aug. 11, 1824, to Miss Arabella Bennett, a native of Worcester county, Mass., born Oct. 7, 1799. This union resulted in 8 children, 5 of whom are now living-Thomas E., Caroline (now Mrs. Ira Root), Andrew J. Veeder L., and Margaret (now Mrs. Hart). William H., James and Arabella are deceased. Mrs. S. died May 13, 1855, aged nearly 56. Mr. S. owns a farm of 126 acres on sec. 32. In politics he is a Democrat.

Eli O. Smith, an honored pioneer of Washtenaw Co., was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., June 27, 1810. He lived on a farm until of age. In 1830, he emigrated to Michigan, and entered 80 acres of land in Salem tp., on which Salem Station now stands. This land patent was signed by John Q. Adams. He returned to New York, when he disposed of his property, and in 1836, came again to Michigan. IIe built a log cabin and commenced life in a very humble manner. He was a carpenter by trade, and worked at that business for over 10 years, in the meantime devoting his spare moments to clearing his farm. He has passed the remain- der of life in agricultural pursuits. Oct. 23, 1838, he married Isabel Harley, born in the German valley, N. J., Feb. 22, 1814, and daughter of Menard and Mary Harley, the former a native of Germantown, N. J., and the latter of Philadelphia, Pa. Of their 3 children, 1 survives-Dewelle E., who was born June 15, 1846. He married Rosa Van Atta, and they have 1 child, Floyd U .; Mary L. (deceased) died Jan. 20, 1860, at the early age of 20 years. She was remarkably intelligent, and a devoted Christian. Sarah C. is also deceased. Mr. Smith is Republican in politics.

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SALEM TOWNSHIP.

Mrs. Smith has been an active and earnest member of the M. E. Church for over 40 years.

James M. Smith, farmer, Salem tp .; P. O., Salem Station; was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Oct. 10, 1809, and was a son of Nathan and Anna Smith. James was educated at the Fairfield Academy; and Jan. 13, 1835, he was married to Maria Hulsey, who was born in New York July 1, 1811. Four children were born to this union, 3 of whom survive-Martha A., Emily N. and Archibald. One son, Nathan J. (deceased), at the response of the President's call for 75,000 men in 1862, enlisted in Co. C, 151st Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and participated in the engagement at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, when he received a fatal wound. Mr. Smith removed to Ann Arbor in 1854, and nine years later to Salem tp., where he has since resided, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He owns 120 acres of well-improved land on sec. 7, and is Republican in politics. His Grandfather Smith was a Colonel in the Revolutionary war.

James Sober, one of Salem's veteran soldiers in the war of 1812, was born in New Jersey April 25, 1793. When he was two years of age his father removed to Bennington county, Vt., where he was reared until 12 years old, when he went to Otsego county, N. Y., and learned the brick-making trade. In 1810 he went to Phelps, Ontario county, N. Y., and was engaged as a foreman in a brick manufactory during the summer months, and during the winter months he worked in a mill. Mr. Sober enlisted in the war of 1812, September, 1813, in Capt. Clark's company. He served one term (three months), then re-enlisted under Capt. Elias Cass and served another three months, at the expiration of which time he enlisted in Capt. A. J. Graham's company and served till the close of that memorable war. He participated in the conflict at Fort George. A portion of his military service was under Gen. Winfield Scott. He was also the life guard of Col. Philetas Swift for a time. Mr. Sober possessed a spirit of moral and undaunted courage seldom equaled in man. He volunteered one night to stand on guard at a picket post where three men had been killed in succession the three previous nights by an Indian chief, but Mr. Indian failed to put in an appearance, and Mr. S. was not favored with the oppor- tunity of displaying his expertness with his rifle. In 1831 he came to Salem tp., this county, and entered land from "Uncle Sam." He then returned to New York, and the next year re- moved his family to his Michigan home. The first seven years of his life in Michigan he bought and sold land, but since that has pur- sued the avocation of farming. Wild animals were very numerous, and Mr. Sober would frequently dispatch a deer or turkey that would frequent his cabin-home yard. May 11, 1817, he married Clarissa Allen, by whom he had 11 children, 5 of whom are living -Jerome B., Wilbur E. H., Sylvester C., Emily M. (now wife of Heman Barnard,) and Hester A. (now wife of Charles Walker). Mrs. Sober is a daughter of John and Amy Allen, and was born in Farmington county, Conn., April 21, 1795. Mr. and Mrs. Sober

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

are the oldest and longest married couple now living in Salem tp., and are members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican. Mr. S. draws a pension for his services in the war of 1812.

Sylvester C. Sober, son of James and Clarissa Sober, was born in Salem tp., Washtenaw county, Nov. 11, 1834. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. He was married, April 19, 1860, to Lydia Dennis, born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 5, 1840, and daughter of F. A. and Lydia Dennis. Of their 5 children 3 are living-Carrie E., Lizzie and Fred S. Mr. and Mrs. Sober are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Sober is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. IIe is also connected with the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Sober owns 195 acres of land on secs. 16 and 21, also 80 acres on sec. 1, Pitts- field tp.

A. F. Van Atta, merchant, Salem Station, was born in this county Feb. 25, 1842. His parents, Aaron B. and Ellen R. Van Atta were early pioneers of Washtenaw county. Mr. Van Atta was reared on a farm and completed his educational training at the, Ann Arbor High School. He followed farming until the spring of 1876, when he opened a " general store " at Salem, where he has since been engaged. He was married May 20, 1862, to Maria Walker, and 4 children have been sent to bless this union-Tid. I., Dora A., LeRoy W. and Jane M. Politically Mr. Van Atta is a mem- ber of the Greenback party. He is a successful farmer and owns 120 acres of land on secs. 12 and 13, in Northfield tp., besides 120 acres in Salem tp.

James B. Van Atta .- This gentleman is one of the pioneers of Michigan, settling in the town of Independence, Oakland Co., Mich., in 1836. He is a native of the township of what is now known as Washington, Warren Co., N. J., and was born the 9th of March. 1812, making him nearly 70 years of age; his parents' names were Samuel and Margaret ( Bryant ) Van Atta, the first of German origin. The ancestors of each were very early settlers of New Jersey. Aaron Van Atta, grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the army of General Washington during the war of Independence, and during the latter part of his life followed farming. He was a devout member and a Deacon in the Presby- terian Church, and died at the age of 72, in New Jersey, and at the house of his grandson, whose name appears at the head of this sketch.

The father of our subject died when J. B. was but 10 years of age, leaving a family of 11 children, and but a small property to support them.

When the subject of this sketch was 16 years of age he hired out to a wealthy slave-owner, James Dusenbery, as a waiter. at $3 per month, remaining some three months; this was the first money he ever earned and was given to his mother; the next year he hired to John Garrison to work on his farm for one year for $50 and a pair of coarse boots; at the end of the year. the $50 he presented to

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SALEM TOWNSHIP.

his mother, which enabled her to pay off the last claim against her farm of 70 acres. The paying of this money, he is wont to say, gave him more pleasure at the time than anything he had ever done. After this he farmed his mother's place until he was 23 years of age, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wise, a daughter of John Wise. The ceremony was performed in Feburary, 1835. The young couple immediately moved to Belvidere, N. J., where he followed teaming and contracting for hauling sand for the bridge across the Delaware river at Belvidere: he contracted and hauled all the sand used in making this bridge. The fall of this year he came to Michigan to view the country, taking some eight weeks for the trip, and on the 28th of April, 1836, he and his wife with 1 child, left NewJersey, taking their household goods, which were hauled by a team of horses for the West. This was their conveyance as far as Cleveland, when they crossed the lake by steamer and landed in Detroit the 23d of May, 1836; from Detroit they drove to Pontiac, where they remained only a short time. Very soon Mr. Van Atta bought 120 acres of land in Oakland county; it was a complete wil- derness and unimproved. He immediately erected a log house, into which he moved his family. He lived on this farm four years, during which time he improved 60 acres.

During the first fall he lived here, 500 Indians encamped about one mile from his house. The Indians were very much excited and made threats of massacre, on account of some of their number being killed in the vicinity the year previous; some 30 or 40 of the neighbors collected at a Mr. Petty's house for safety, barricading the same, organizing in military manner. Jacob W. Petty, now of Law- rence Kansas, was elected Captain, 'and Mr. Van Atta was elected Lientenant. The siege lasted only one night, but it was a terrible one to the inmates of that log house, determined though they were to defend their families and their lives to the last extremity, still expecting to be overpowered and murdered by the savages.

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History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 62

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