History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 63

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 63

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).

During Mr. Van Atta's residence at this place he was elected Con- stable, which was no sinecure office in those days, as the country was infested with counterfeiters, horse thieves and other desperadoes- men who had given notice they could not be taken alive, so that it required a man of courage and nerve to attempt to bring them to justice. Mr. Van Atta filled this office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the community, and on one occasion arrested unas- sisted one of the worst of the desperadoes. The aid or assistant he had along deserted him at the last moment, but he landed his pris- oner safely in jail.

In 1839 he sold his farm and moved to Washtenaw county, where he has lived ever since. He first lived in Northfield town- ship, where he bought a farm. In this township he lived four years, during which time he served one year as the Assessor and one year as Treasurer of the town. In 1843 he had sold out all his landed estate in the county and bought a farm near Chicago, Ill., but sold it the following fall at a profit, when he bought the farm in Salem tp.,

630

HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

where he now resides, then consisting of 160 acres, and now consists of 320 acres, all joining. The homestead is one of the finest im- proved in the county, the house costing $4,000, with fine grounds surrounding, the out-buildings costing nearly $3,000.

Mr. Van Atta and wife have had a family of 11 children: Abigail, who married S. Marion Smith; Margaret, who married Amos Lewis; she is now a widow; Hamilton, who married Caroline Smith; he is now deceased; Sarah M., who married Perry Austin; George S., married Adda Wells; Caroline A., who married Frank Oven- shire; James A., who married Jane Murray; Ann Eliza, who married David Farley; Mary C., who married David Perkins; Einma J. who married Erastus Perkins; John W., who married Phoebe Mur- ray. Of this large family Mr. Van Atta may well be proud, all being comfortably and nicely settled. Mr. Van Atta may be said to be a self-made man, having on his arrival in Michigan only about $300 in property, but with plenty of pluck and energy to push his fortunes. He has served in many positions, among which in an early day was as member and Treasurer of the Vigilance Commit- tee. During the war of the great Rebellion probably no man in Salem was as prominent in securing recruits for, and raising war funds in aid of, the Union cause. He was appointed by the town- ship, in public assembly, to attend the State Legislature and further a bill legalizing bounties voted, and giving power to tax for war purposes by the township board, which was faithfully and well ac- complished.

Mr. Van Atta is a Democrat and has served his township in various offices, among which are Constable and Treasurer two years, Justice of Peace for short term, when he resigned, etc., etc. During the war Mr. Van Atta paid $1,700 in cash for war purposes and put in two substitutes.

Mr. V. has been a worthy and faithful member of the M. E. Church since 1842, and was a Steward of that body for 21 years. Mrs. V. is also a member of the same organization.

Mr. Van Atta's portrait is given in this volume.

John W. Vansickle is an old and honored citizen of Salem tp. He was born in Hunterdon, Mass., Sept. 15, 1787. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, a private in the New York militia, serving one term, passing most of the time as guard along the banks of the Niagara river. He now draws a pension for his hon- orable services. He came to Michigan and located land within the limits of the now Salem, tp., in 1831; also entered land in Plym- outh tp., Wayne Co., but never located there. June 3, 1818, he married Mary Bogart, and 3 children were born to them, 2 of whom are living-Martin B. and Leah A., widow of Hiram B. Towsey, who died Jan. 11, 1874, aged 31 years. Mrs. Vansickle died in March, 1826. Mr. V. again married, Dec., 1828, to Susan Dickerson. Four children were born to this union, 2 of whom are living-George S., born Sept. 11, 1843, and Dec. 4, 1872, mar- ried Jennie A. Thayer, who was born in Wayne Co., Mich., Dec.

631

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

16, 1843. They have 1 child, Harry G., born Sept. 1, 1876. Will- iam D. is a resident of Wayne Co., Mich .; Charles and John are deceased. Mrs. Vansickle died July 20, 1853. Mr. Van- sickle has been a member of the Northville Presbyterian Church for over half a century. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Vansickle has attained to his 93d year. The vicissitudes of nearly a century, intermingled with the labors and trying scenes of pioneer life, have weighted down his shoulders and whitened his venerable locks, and soon he will be numbered with those who have passed to the other side.

.1. L. Walker, M. D., Salem. was born in Salem tp., Washte- naw Co., Aug. 7, 1839. ITis parents were Eliakim and Nancy Walker, who came to this county in 1834. Dr. Walker was reared on a farm and educated at the Ypsilanti Seminary. In 1864 he began reading medicine with Dr. Albertson, of Detroit, where he remained one year. Ile then attended a course of lectures in the medical department of the University of Michigan, and was subse- quently a student at the Cleveland Homoeopathic Medical College, from which he graduated Feb. 14, 1869. The same year he returned to Salem tp., and began the practice of his profession. Dr. Walker is a member of the Township Board of Health, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. Politically he is a Republican. October 27, 1867, he was married to Jane A. Walker. They have 3 children-Nina U., Otis II. and Tisdale S. Mrs. Walker was born in this county July 29, 1844. Her parents, Otis H. and Sarah Walker, were natives of New York. Dr. Walker owns a good farm of 74 acres in sec. 13.

Eliakim Walker (deceased), one of Washtenaw's early pioneers, was born in Taunton, Mass., Feb. 6, 1801. He removed to Ontario county, N. Y., with his parents, in 1805, where he was reared and educated. He was married Sept. 18, 1823, to Nancy Wheeler, a na- tive of Ontario county, N. Y., born June 14, 1802. To them were born 9 children, 3 of whom are now living, and all lived to maturity. Their names are as follows: Nancy J., born Aug. 22, 1824, and married to Benjamin Hicks; she died April 18, 1847; Chloe E., born April 22, 1826, and married William Thurber; she died Oct. 20, 1870: Emily C. J., born Dec. 29, 1827, and married George Renwick; she died April 17, 1874; E. T., whose biography is on the next page; Amy A., born Oct. 17, 1831, and married James Harmon; she died Oct. 7, 1856; George W., born Feb. 2, 1834, and died April 3, 1864; Mary J. N., born May 10, 1837, and died Feb. 26, 1862; Maria A., born Sept. 7, 1842, and married A. F. Van Atta, whose sketch is given on page 628. This family were very noted singers; George W., Mary J. and Amy A. were members of the renowned " Walker Family Concert Troupe " who traveled through Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Canada, occupying about six years in all. Mr. Walker and family removed to Michigan in 1835

632

HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

and settled in Salem tp., where he lived till his death, April 30, 1865.

E. T. Walker, one of the prominent and active men of Salem township, was born in Ontario county, N. Y., Aug. 13, 1829. His parents were Eliakim and Nancy Walker, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Ontario county, N. Y. His parents removed to Salem, Washtenaw Co., in 1834, and located on sec. 16. His father died in April, 1865. His mother is still living. Mr. Walker passed his early life in the primeval forests of Salem, at- tending only the common schools, which then were not noted for their excellence. Mr. Walker was engaged in grain and produce dealing at Salem Station for about five years, and six years as dry- goods merchant. He is now the director of the grange store at Salem Station, which does a good cash business. He is one of the prominent leaders in the grange enterprise of that place. Mr. Walker is the owner of a farm of 160 acres on sec. 17, all finely improved. Mr. Walker was married Oct. 17, 1853 to Miss Isadore Hamm, daughter of Ida and Mary A. Hamm, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. Mrs. Walker is a native of Salem, born March 25, 1835. Mr. Walker held the office of Justice of the Peace one term. In politics he is a Democrat. He is one of the thorough business men of Salem, and is President of the Washtenaw County Agricultural Society.

S. A. Waterman, an enterprising farmer of Salem, was born July 25, 1846. His parents, John and Harriet Waterman, were natives of Surryshire, England. His father was born June 4, 1805, and his mother, Sept. 25, 1804. They married in England July 24, 1827, and emigrated to America in 1832, and settled in Hudson, N. Y ., where they lived some two years; then came to Wayne county, Mich., and after three years' residence there they came to Salem, where they settled and purchased a farm on sec. 3, on which they lived until 1872, when they removed to Northville, where they still reside. July 4, 1877, they celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Waterman, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. Dec. 27, 1871, he was married to Miss Lydia Stanbro, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Stanbro, natives of New York. Mrs. Waterman was born in Salem June 12, 1847. This union was blessed with 1 child, Dawn Ethel, born Jan. 9, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Waterman are members of the Congregational Church. In politics Mr. W. is a true Republican. He owns a farm of 80 acres on sec. 3, a part of the original homestead.

Levi Westfull (deceased) was born Jan. 18, 1813, and was married to Mary A. Smith, daughter of Peter and Betsey Smith. She was born in Seneca county, N. Y., July 24, 1814. They had 2 children, Jane E., born April 21, 184-, and now wife of Geo. E. Northrop; Lewis C. is deceased. Mr. Westfall and family removed to Wayne county, Mich., in 1831, and in 1839 he came into Salem tp., where he lived six years, then returned to Wayne

633

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

county, where he lived till 1855, when he purchased land in Salem tp., and moved on to it, where he lived till his death, June 8, 1866. He was a member of the Masonic order for many years. He left a farm of 147 acres on sec. 9. & Mrs. Westfall's parents were among the early pioneers of Wayne county, Mich. Her father was born in May, 1780.

Hon. Calvin Wheeler, of Salem tp., was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Jan. 28, 1806. He is a son of Aaron and Sarah (Roberts) Wheeler, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Pennsylvania. . Mr. Wheeler died in 1833, at the age of 63, and his wife followed him in 1863, at the advanced age of 84 years. Calvin was educated in his native State, and in 1830 came to Washtenaw county, located land on sections 10 and 11, of Salem tp., where he has since resided. Mr. Wheeler was married in New York in 1829, to Almira Smith, who was born at Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., March 10, 1808, and daughter of Daniel and Diadama Smith. In 1831 Mr. Wheeler removed his family to this State. At the time of the Toledo war, he raised a company of about 50 men, and was elected their Captain. They came as far as Ann Arbor, where Mr. Wheeler left them on account of illness in his family. They were soon after disbanded. Mr. Wheeler was one of the first Assessors of Salem tp., after its organization, and has held every township office, except constable. In 1851 he was elected to represent Washtenaw county in the Michigan Legislature. During the ses- sion of which he was a member, the laws conformatory to the new Constitution were passed. In 1872 Mr. W.was appointed Postmaster of Salem Station, which office he still fills. For eight years he was station agent of the D., L. & N. R. R., at the same place. Seven children were born to Mr. Wheeler, five of whom are living- George S., a prominent politician and merchant at Salem Station ; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Ryder; she is now a widow since Sept., 1878; Almira, wife of Hiram B. Thayer, of Wayne Co., Mich .; Stephen C., a farmer of Salem tp .; Daniel Webster, a farmer of Sa- lem tp .; Aaron C. died at the age of four years; and Mary C., after passing one year upon this earth. Mrs. Wheeler died March 16, 1872, and October 10, 1872, Mr. Wheeler married Hannah Wheeler, daughter of Benjamin Wheeler (deceased).

George S. Wheeler, a prominent merchant of Salem, was born in Livingston county, N. Y., April 22, 1830, and came to this county with his father's family (Calvin Wheeler), in the fall of 1831. He passed his early years on his father's farm, receiving during this time the advantages for acquiring an education afforded by the common schools of his neighborhood. At the age of 18 years he attended Cochran's Academy at Northfield for about two years, the following year the Ypsilanti Academy, when he entered Greg- ory's Commercial College at Detroit, where he graduated in the spring of 1851, then being 21 years of age. At this time he adopted teaching as a profession, taking charge of a select school at Eu- gene, Ind., for one year, during the same year reading law as a stu-

634

HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

dent in the office of Judge Soles; returning to this county he taught school for about two years, during which time he was married to Miss Maria P. Thayer on Dec. 27, 1854. She was born in Wayne county, Mich., July 6, 1829. The spring following he with his wife moved on to a farm at Green Oak, Livingston county, Mich; here he lived eight years, serving three years of the time as Supervisor of the tp. Aug. 27, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 5th Mich. Cavalry, to serve in the war of the Rebellion for three years, and was chosen 1st. Lieutenant. He served in that capacity until April, 1863, when he received an honorable discharge. He then re- turned home and engaged in the boot and shoe business at Ann Ar- bor for three years. In 1866 he was appointed Deputy County Treasurer, serving two years, in the meantime attending one course of lectures in the law department of Michigan University. In the spring of 1868 he was elected Superintendent of Schools for Washtenaw county, in which capacity he served six years During his incumbency of above office in 1873 he established his present business as a general merchant at Salem in company with Warren E. Pray, and in Dec., 1879, bought out Mr. Pray's interest, since which time he has operated the business alone. Mr. Wheeler is a Republican in politics and has served Salem township in various local offices, among which are Superintendent of Schools and Supervisor for years; was also a candidate on the Republican ticket for State Senator in 1876, but was defeated. Mr. Wheeler is very pleasantly situated at Salem. They have had a family of 2 children, Fred C., born Nov. 2, 1868, and Charles T. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Congregational Church.

Stephen C. Wheeler, son of Calvin and Almira Wheeler, was born in Salem tp., Sept. 24, 1835. He was reared to manhood on a farm, and Aug. 21, 1862, enlisted in Co. D., 5th Michigan Cavalry, under Captain Simon and Gen. Sheridan. He participated in sev- eral serions engagements, and during the winter of 1864 in a field hospital. He was honorably discharged June 22, 1865, and after returning home, engaged in farming, which business he has since followed with fine success. He was married Dec. 27, 1866, to Mary C. Kingsley, born in Wayne county, Mich., Dec. 29, 1843, and daughter of Stephen Kingsley, an old pioneer of Wayne county. Mr. Kingsley served as a soldier in the Mich. Vol. Inf., and died in the Soldier's Hospital at Louisville, Ky., Aug. 20, 1864. Mrs. Kingsley has since married D. B. Rathburn. They have 1 child, Arthur C., born Nov. 23, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are earnest members of the regular Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Wheeler is Republican. He owns a farm of 80 acres on section 13.

Royal Wheelock. The subject of this sketch was born in West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., on the 15th of April, 1801. He came to Michigan in the fall of the year 1825, and located a farm on secs. 24 and 25, Salem tp., on what has since been known as " Wheelock's Plains." This location was one of the very first in this township. He did not, however, settle on his land till in the

635

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

year 1827. On that farm he lived from that time till his death. In 1829 he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Washtenaw county, by Lewis Cass, then Governor of Michigan Territory. This office he held for many consecutive terms. Aug. 5, 1832, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Pinckney, daughter of Joseph and Mary Pinckney, of New York. Mrs. Wheelock is a native of Sulli- van county, N. Y., and was born July 25, 1814. To this union 5 chil- dren were born, viz .: Louisa M., born May 3, 1833, now wife of Geo. Root; Sarah A., born July 26, 1836, and now wife of Tunis Carson; Mary M., born April 7, 1835, and now wife of Wm. Mur- ray; Lydia E. (deceased); Chas. P., born Sept. 29, 1841, and April 12, 1870, married Sarah Sheldon, a native of Wayne county, Mich., born June 6, 1849.

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Washtenaw county offers subjects to the historian at once exten- ' sive and interesting. Perhaps in all the municipal divisions there is not one that excels Northfield in its connection with the history of the county. Here, in years gone by, old Okemos held his bar- barous court and received his chivalrous and erratic neighbor, Pee- wy-tum. In the dim past the aboriginal hunters assembled to clear a portion of their hunting-grounds, and gave a large tract of their primeval forest to the flames, so that the plain thus formed might be the future meeting ground of the tribal braves. In after years, at a time within the recollection of the first settlers, the In- dians assembled periodically here to carry out the ceremonies at- tendant on the observance of the White Dog Feast, and perhaps to sacrifice a dastard brave or sinning squaw on the altar of hon- or's god.

In 1823 Benjamin Sutton arrived on this beautiful Indian camp- ing-ground, and in May, 1824, located the southwest quarter of section 35, and the east half of the southeast quarter of section 34, in what is now known as the township of Northfield. Toward the fall of the year a log cabin was erected by him, and the first steps were taken to convert that portion of the lovely wilderness into fertile fields. He was the pioneer.

In April, 1828, the first house destined for the purposes of edu- cation was erected there, but was not tenanted until May, 1829, when Miss Miranda Leland was appointed teacher. In September, 1829, a spelling and debating school was projected, and the follow- ing year a Sunday-school was organized by Mr. Murrell and pre- sided over by Miss Parmelia Leland.

The first drove of cattle brought into the township was that pur- chased in Ohio, by Benjamin Sutton, in 1831. The second drove was purchased by him in Illinois, in 1832. This enterprise was attended with signal success. It conferred great benefits upon the new settlers, who then began to gather round the log house of the Sutton family, yielded some profit to the originator, and won for him the honor of being the first business man, as well as the pio- neer of Northfield.

THE FATHER OF THE FIRST BRIDE.

Isaac Secord, in 1828, came to this township from Pontiac. He had a large family of small children. His wife was younger than himself and seemed more of a religious turn of mind.

(636)

17 Pears

639

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP.

About 1832 or 1833, after the Mormons had undertaken to evan- gelize the world, they sent some apostles to this neighborhood, and by their preaching poor Mrs. Secord's eyes were opened, and she saw the necessity of believing; and one cold winter day, near where now stands the Methodist Church, a hole was cut through the ice in a small pond or bayou, and the poor woman was immersed, be- lieving from the " bottom of her soul " that the Mormon doctrine was the sure way to heaven.

Mr. Secord was a hunter. His trusty rifle was his constant com- panion. When hunting he was always alone, and guarded well his footsteps. Not a quiver of a leaf or motion of grass could escape his notice. An Indian he regarded as a thing of the woods. An adventure is told of him which serves to illustrate his character. Some time during the last war with England, Secord and his fam- ily resided in Canada. He was marching as a soldier in company with whites and Indians. On their way they passed by a thick clump of bushes. Secord took occasion to stop a moment, and as soon as he thought he could do it safely, made his way to the States.

Feeling lonely, he undertook the task of getting his family, and also acted as a spy from this side of the line. He acted with great caution, but was soon discovered. To escape was impossible, and to secrete himself was risky. He withdrew in true soldier-like order to an eminence in the open country, and there laid on his arms for two days in the grass. From this position he could see the soldiers and Indians hunting for him. As soon as they disap- peared, he returned to the States, leaving his family to their fate. He had not been here long before they attempted to come. They were followed by soldiers with the expectation of falling in with him. On their way, in crossing the river Thames, a little daugh- ter was born. She was named Joanna. They settled near Pontiac and remained there until they came here. From the circumstances which surrounded Joanna, her education could not be properly at- tended to. She grew to be a young woman and was married to William Jackson, at her father's house, in the month of June, 1830, by Judge Wilcoxen, of Ann Arbor. This was the first marriage in this town.

SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.

The story of the settlement and organization of this township has been often told by the first settler, Mr. Benj. Sutton, nor has his brother, Hon. Geo. Sutton, allowed the interesting history of his township to lie hidden. Throughout a long and useful life, he has not neglected his duty in this respect, and this historical sketch of Northfield is taken mainly from his paper, bearing evidence of great research on the part of Mr. Sutton. He states that in June, 1830, in company with his father and mother, brother Isaac and his wife, sister Nixon and her husband, and their two daughters, they ar-

640

HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

rived at the house of Benjamin Sutton, in the town of Northfield. At this time Northfield and other townships north of range 84 east, belonged to Ann Arbor for municipal purposes. The sun was set- ting in the west with its golden tinged canopy. The cattle and horses came up to be yarded for the night; the mosquitoes were holding a carnival in the open air to the annoyance of the poor bovines, and sheep had to be put in folds for safety from wolves. Benjamin Sutton bought his farm from the general Government in the year 1824, and had lived here about 6 years. His family con- sisted of wife and 6 children, one or two of whom had been born here. The eldest was about 18 or 19 years old. He lived in a double log house one and a half stories high. The logs were hewn inside and ont, and there was only one chimney, and that was built of sticks, and mortar made of clay. The fire place was very large. It was then and for several years thereafter the custom to cook biscuit in bake kettles. The flour or meal was mixed with saleratus and buttermilk, then molded out in rolls and put in an iron bake-kettle. The kettle was put between hot coals and the bread or biscuit baked, and then served on the table with wild honey and fried deer steak. This was the first supper in Northfield.

THE FIRST NEWSPAPER

was the Emigrant, a paper published in Ann Arbor by Samuel W. Dexter, of Dexter village. It was Anti-Masonic in principle, - and was the only county paper in circulation here for many years. It supported Hon. William Wirt for president.

ORGANIC.

The fall or winter of 1832, the people of Northfield, and the ad- joining town north, in their wisdom thought they had been associ- ated long enough in muncipal government, and felt anxious to separate. Accordingly a meeting was called at Mr. Sutton's house, and measures of secession were agreed upon. A petition was drawn up and signed, asking the Legislative Council to pass an enabling act for self-government. The act was passed during the following winter, and they were authorized to form a government of their own, to be called Northfield. The next spring township officers were chosen. A call was made for a nominating caucus, to be held at the house of Harry Seymour, at Whitmore lake. The meeting was called to order and a chairman and secretary selected. The first man nominated for Supervisor was Rufus Matthews. Steven Lee being president, appeared to be very much excited at the name of Mr. Matthews. He jumped up on a large stump standing in the yard, and offered a resolution, that all the Anti- Ma- sons should withdraw, and make out a ticket to be supported at the coming election. A good many went with Mr. Lee, and an Anti-Masonic ticket was presented for the suffrage of the people

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 63

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