USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 24
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PAST AND PRESENT OF
by common usage, it early obtained its pres- ent orthographical form.
Owosso of to-day contains about eleven thousand inhabitants. With its great man- ufactories ; its railroads ; its river, spanned by five graceful iron bridges; its streets of traf- fic, paved with asphalt and lined with im- posing blocks of brick and stone; its resi- dence streets, adorned with elegant and taste- ful structures and shaded by luxuriant native forest trees ; its fine modern school buildings and the spires of numerous churches sur- mounting all, it is the busy, beautiful, and prosperous home of citizens of thrift and culture.
Its great natural advantages and beautiful and healthful location, together with its st1- perior railroad facilities, render it one of the most desirable dwelling places in central Michigan. Four railroads have a junction here, all being important divisions of great trunk lines. They are the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee division of the Grand Trunk system; the Toledo, Saginaw & Mus- kegon division of the Grand Trunk ; the Sag- inaw division of the Michigan Central; and the Ann Arbor, a part of the great Erie sys- tem. From the junction of these roads it is seventy-nine miles to Detroit, seventy-eight to Grand Rapids, thirty-seven to Saginaw, twenty-seven to Lansing, and three miles to Corunna, the county seat.
EARLY HISTORY
During the year 1823 Deputy United States Surveyors Joseph Wampler and William Brookfield, working separately and accom- panied by their respective assistants, ran out the township and sectional lines prevailing at the present time and from their meager
field notes we obtain the earliest authentic information concerning the occupancy of this immediate vicinity by the English-speak- ing whites. Ten years elapsed after the orig- inal survey and yet no rude settler's cabin or stumpy fields defaced nature's landscape, and, save occasional visits from the half- breed French and Indian courieurs-de-bois (forest runners), Wasso's band of Chippewas and the wild beasts of the forest were the only occupants of this portion of the Shia- wassee valley. Then, on a spring or early summer day of the year 1833, Benjamin O. Williams, in pursuing a journey from his trading post to Saginaw, by way of the broad Indian trail which followed the course of the Shiawassee, passed this way in company with the Chippewa chief, Esh-ton-e-quet, or "Little Bear," also known by the French as "Moncousin."
Mr. Williams and his guide journeyed on Indian ponies, and as they came out on the open plain which skirted the right bank of the river at the Chi-bac-wa-ting, or "Big Rapids," the sight unfolded to them was most pleasing. A halt was made on the high ground near the present high-school building, where a better and more extended view was obtained. They saw here possibilities for mag- nificent water-power privileges, and viewed the beautiful rose-willow plains extending to a considerable distance back from the east bank of the river,-the place, in fact, de- scribed by William Brookfield in 1823, in these words: "Plains or oak openings. Land first-rate. Good soil. No large timber. It was long ago burnt off. Undergrowth white and prickly ash, poplar, thorns and briars ; all in abundance." On the opposite or west side of the river was a wooded tract of
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SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
dense, heavy timber. After surveying the beau- ties of nature for a few moments, Mr. Will- iams turned to his companion and remarked, "What a fine farm could be made here!"
"Yes," replied the chief, and then, giving further expression to his thoughts and the knowledge that the white men were steadily encroaching upon the hunting grounds of his people, continued, "Not many more moons will pass over my white brother's head ere the pale faces will 'have mills, a town and cultivated fields here." Fully determined to possess himself of a portion, at least, of this fair domain, Mr. Williams resumed his jour- ney toward Saginaw. Upon his return to the trading post he acquainted his brother, Al- fred L. Williams, with his discovery and urged that they purchase, with what available cash they had, lands at the "Big Rapids."
Deferring to his elder brother's judgment, and accompanied by him, B. O. Williams again visited this region the same summer, when the brothers concluded to locate lands- here, recognizing its value for mill-sites, and strongly suspecting that it would be a central point in a new county. Acting upon this de- termination, Alfred L. Williams proceeded to Detroit, and on August 2, 1833, the first land in the surveyed township transferred to individual ownership was entered in the names of Alfred L. and Benjamin O. Wil- liams, being a portion of section 24. Their means of obtaining ready cash at that time were very limited, and their purchase did not cover as much territory as they desired. Therefore, when more money was obtained, additional lots were purchased, on section 13, November 13th of the same year,-in all about two hundred acres.
From the date last mentioned until the
summer of 1835, no other purchases were inade in this vicinity or township. The Messrs. Williams had made no improvements, and "land-lookers" had not penetrated the wilderness thus far. However, in June, 1835, Elias Comstock and Lewis Findley, from Oakland county, entered lands situated upon section 13 (the former upon section 24 also). In July, 1835, the Messrs. Williams entered additional lands upon the same section, and in October of that year Abel Millington, of Washtenaw county; Elias Comstock and Seth Beach, of Oakland county; Peter A. Condrey, of New. York city; and Trumbull Cary, of Genesee county, New York, entered lands situated on sections 13, 14, 23, and 24, all within or near the present corporate limits of the city of Owosso.
Early in July, 1835, the first settlement in the northern half of Shiawassee county was commenced at the "Big Rapids" by people from Oakland county, some of whom, having purchased lands here in June of the same year, were desirous of beginning immediate improvements upon them. Their party, con- sisting of Elias Comstock, Lewis Findley, Kilburn Bedell and his wife, a daughter of Findley, John D. Overton, his wife and one child, and David Van Wormer, with his wife and one child, left Pontiac for this point, in the first days of July. The women and chil- dren, and their household effects, were mounted upon two wagons, drawn by two ox teams ; two or three cows were also brought along. July 4th was celebrated by cutting out roads. An Indian trail was followed mainly, but frequently it was diverged from and a route of their own cut out, in the en- deavor to keep on dry ground and in the most direct course.
CORUNNA JOURNAL
FIRST HOUSE IN OWOSSO
FROM A PAINTING BY MRS. J. SHOUT, OF CORUNNA
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SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
Upon their arrival Mr. Findley immedi- ately built a log cabin and settled on the east part of the northwest , fractional quarter of section 13. His son-in-law, Mr. Bedell, lo- cated a short distance north, on section 12, while the Messrs. Overton and Van Wormer, who were in the employ of Mr. Comstock, erected and occupied a double log house near the river, which was the first building erected within the limits of the city proper. After the tenants were comfortably housed and cared for, Mr. Comstock returned to Pontiac, where he passed the succeeding winter.
During the fall of 1835 another settler ar- rived, in the person of Henry S. Smith. He was a blacksmith by trade and first located, in the fall of 1832, just below Shiawassee- town, where, associated with a Mr. Cooley, and possessing a few goods and a barrel of whiskey, he endeavored to establish a trading post. His wife, a delicate, nervous woman, and five children joined him there in 1833. The venture at Shiawasseetown did not suc- ceed very well, however, and in the fall of 1835 he was induced by Alfred L. Williams to take up his residence at the "Big Rapids" of the Shiawassee. A log cabin was erected on what is now known as block 24, east side of the race, and when occupied by himself and family, they became the first settlers on the site of the original village plat. He was remembered as a genial, liberal and good fellow, who had the confidence and es- teem of all who knew him. He was elected as the first collector and also one of the high- way commissioners, in 1837; was re-elected to the same offices in 1838. About 1840 he removed with Daniel Ball to Chesaning, and later went to Grand Rapids.
Of the settlers before mentioned we will
here add that Lewis Findley opened the first farm in the township. He became the first supervisor of Owosso, in 1837, and again filled the same position in 1841. After con- tinuing as a resident of this township for a number of years, he removed to Six Mile creek.
The first person in the settlement to depart from the cares and troubles of this life was Kilburn Bedell, the son-in-law of Lewis Findley. Apparently in perfect health, in March, 1836, he proceeded to visit the Wil- liams trading post for the purpose of trans- acting some business. Returning, he arrived at a point near the Methodist church, on Co- runna road, when he became seriously ill. People at the Van Wormer and Overton cabin were notified of his condition. They at once hastened to his assistance, placed him upon a handsled and brought him to the cabin. The remedies at hand were of no avail and he died the same evening. The next day his remains were taken to his cabin in the woods, where, after a prayer by Elias Comstock, he was buried on his own land, near the bank of the Shiawassee river. Mr. Comstock also made the coffin, from cherry lumber which Mr. Bedell had brought in to manufacture into tables.
Honorable Elias Comstock, who was so prominently identified with the early history of this community, came to Michigan from New York state in 1823. He first engaged in teaching at Detroit, as assistant to the principal of the Detroit Academy. He next taught school in Pontiac, which then con- tained less than a dozen families. He re- mained a resident of Oakland county several years, holding a number of public offices and also clearing and cultivating a farm of eighty acres, where Pontiac now stands.
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Having sold his possessions in Pontiac in 1835, he then located land on the Shiawassee river, now a part of the city of Owosso. Like others, he located his land with the idea that Owosso was. to be the county .seat ; but the interests of Detroit land-owners pre- vailed and Corunna was established. By the settlement of Overton and Van Wormer many improvements had been made upon his purchase; a dwelling house had been erected, and in pursuance of his plans, he settled his family at "The Rapids," May 15, 1836, completing the journey from the "Exchange" in a canoe.
Holding an appointment as justice of the peace of Oakland county, and as this region was then attached to that county for all judicial purposes, he became the first resident justice, and the succeeding year (1837) was elected to the same position in the new town- ship of Owosso. During the years 1838, 1839, and 1840, he served as supervisor. In subsequent years he served as judge of pro- bate, county judge of the circuit court, and in 1852, 1856, and 1858 he was chosen county clerk on the Republican ticket. Judge Com- stock resided in the beautiful little city he had assisted to found until the day of his death, honored by all who knew him.
Messrs. Van Wormer and Overton con- tinued as residents here only two or three years. In the autumn of 1835 and the win- ter succeeding, Messrs. A. L. and B. O. Williams became active in the preliminary work necessary for the establishment of a village on their purchase. The veteran sur- veyor, Hervey Parke, of Pontiac, came up and platted the village of Shiawassee Rapids, on lands resting on the right bank of the river. The right to build a dam, four feet in
height, across the river, on section 24, was granted by the territorial government, March 28, 1836, to the Williams brothers. The act further specified, "They shall also build a good and sufficient lock, not less than seven- ty-five feet in length and sixteen feet in width, for the passage of boats, canoes, rafts, and other watercraft."
Early in 1836 a bargain was completed be- tween the Messrs. Williams and Daniel Ball & Company, whereby the latter became the owners of one-third of the village plat, be- sides the water power and the land lying between the proposed mill-race and river. Silas and Daniel Ball also purchased of the general government, in March, 1836, lands situated on sections 24, 25, and 36: Daniel Ball was a practical millwright, an cnergetic business man, and in pursuance of his project to establish mills and to assist in building up a village, arrived here from Rochester, New York, early in the autumn of 1836, with a number of families who were frequently spoken of as "Ball's colonists." Among them were Rufus Collier, Simon Howell, John B. Griswold, William B. Hopkins, Henry Crooks, Daniel Fletcher, a Mr. Siegel, who had served with Napoleon, and others whose names are not remembered.
Machinery for Ball's saw mill, and the greater portion of the goods belonging to this party of settlers, had been shipped to Saginaw, whence it was proposed to bring them up the Shiawassee on canoes, rafts, etc. But on the 6th of October came a heavy snow storm, which falling upon trees yet clothed in their summer verdure, caused many of them to bend and fall into the stream, thus rendering navigation impossible until the obstructions were cleared away. In the
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long delay which ensued before getting their household articles considerable privation and hardship was experienced by these pioneers. Cabins were first erected and then work began on the mill-race. The race, the dam and the saw mill were completed some time during the year 1837. Mr. Ball occupied a log cabin built by Henry S. Smith for a , store, and it is believed he became the first postmaster, about the same time.
In the spring of 1837 Alfred L. Williams moved from the "Exchange" to the village and established a store. His brother, B. O. Williams, did not permanently settle here until the following year. The year 1837 was an eventful one in the history of Owosso. It witnessed the formation of the township; the completion of the mill race; an increased number of settlers, Among these settlers were Daniel Gould, who became the first county surveyor; Austin Griffis; Ebenezer Gould, an early merchant and lawyer and afterward known to fame as colonel of the "Fighting Fifth" Michigan Cavalry; Anson B. William, and Isaac M. Chipman, Sanford M. Green, George Parkill, and others. This year also witnessed the survey and location of the Northern Railroad, which was to be- come one of the most important internal im- provements ever yet adopted by any state. It was planned to run from Port Huron, through Owosso and Grand Rapids to Lake Michigan. In 1838-9 much of this proposed line was cleared and grubbed out and grad- ing done at various points along the route. But the scheme was abandoned in the latter year, and except where it was afterward used as the "Northern Wagon Road," the money expended by the state was thrown away.
At this time the Owosso & Saginaw Nav-
igation Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dol- lars. The purpose was to make navigable the waters of the Shiawassee river between the two points named in the title of the act. The work performed in the attempt to carry out this plan has been reviewed in preceding pages, in connection with an account of the projected navigation of the several rivers in the county.
In 1838 Messrs. Ebenezer Gould and David D. Fish established themselves as merchants in the village. They were really the first, if we except the small stock kept by Daniel Ball for the accommodation mainly of his workmen, and the goods brought here by A. L. Williams from his trading post.
On the 13th of October, 1838, the land now known as the original plat of the village of Owosso was surveyed and mapped by Daniel Gould, surveyor, at the instance of A. L. and B. O. Williams, proprietors. An ex- planatory note of the surveyor says, "This plat includes the following parcels of land : the northeast fraction of the northeast frac- tional quarter of fractional section 24; the southeast fractional quarter of fractional section number 13, in township ? north, range 2 east; and the west part of the southwest fractional quarter of section number 18, in township ? north, of range number 3 east."
Grounds set aside for public use were "Fayette Square" and the "burying ground." The streets, as shown by the original map. ran north and south, east and west. Those running east and west are North, Oliver, Williams, Mason Exchange, Main and Com- stock: those running north and south are Mulberry, Pine, Adans, Water, Ball. Wash- ington, Park, Saginaw, and Hickory. All
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PAST AND PRESENT OF
are four rod wide except Washington and Main streets and Exchange street as far west as Water, these being six rods in width.
Dr. S. W. Pattison, who was among the first practicing physicians to reside in the county, came from Fentonville, Genesee county, and settled in Owosso in 1839. Be- fore he came to Owosso, the early settlers, in cases of due emergency, sent to Fenton- ville, to Grand Blanc and to Flint for physi- cians. For the treatment of ordinary cases of fevers, fever and ague, etc., many of the pioneers were provided with lancets and com- mon medicines, and in their use became quite expert. Particularly was this the case with Mr. B. O. Williams, who treated many patients successfully.
In the year 1839 the township voted two hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of building a bridge across the river at the Washington street crossing, and during the same year Messrs. Ball, Green & Company erected the first grist mill. This was a great acquisition to this portion of the country, as previously no grist mills were nearer than the "Thread Mill," in Flint. Other business en- terprises, such as wool-carding and cloth- dressing mills, an iron-furnace and various small mechanical shops soon followed, and the village slowly yet steadily gained in im- portance and population.
In 1844, the tax paying residents of the village of Owosso were:
Ament, Edward L., newspaper publisher.
Ament, Winfield S., blacksmith.
Barnes, John B., physician.
Barnes, Erastus.
Becker, H. W.
Comstock, Elias.
Comstock & Pattison, merchants.
Comstock, Luther. Collier, Rufus. Collier, Orrin.
Carr, William A., cabinet shop.
Chipman, Anson B.
Chipman, I. M.
Chipman, William.
Crooks, Henry.
Casper, Felix, wool-carding.
Conrad, Justus.
Fletcher, Daniel, wagon-maker.
Foot, Philip.
Goodhull, Charles L., merchant.
Goodhue, J. M.
Griffis, Austin, saw mill.
Griffis & Whitcomb.
Griffis, Alanson, cooper.
Graham, J. N., physician.
Gould, Daniel, surveyor.
Gould, Daniel & Company, furnace.
Gould, Amos, attorney and owner of grist- mill.
Gould, Amos, and others, water-power, and all the land between the mill race and river, about fifteen acres.
George, Oscar.
Hardy, Seth, clergyman.
Howell, Simon.
Moses, Charles M.
McGilvra, Daniel.
Morton, Benoni.
Pattison, Samuel, physician.
Perkins, Sprague, brickmaker,
Parkill, George, carpenter.
Phillips, John G. Parkill, Charles P., teacher.
Roberts, J. P.
Smith, L. V., carpenter.
Simons, Williams.
Tyler, David F., blacksmith.
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SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
Tillotson, Matthew N., merchant. Williams, Alfred L. Williams, Benjamin O. Whitcomb, Samuel H. Whitlock, Joseph.
It would be a matter of impossibility at this time to follow in close chronological order the further history of Owosso, so far as relates to names of inhabitants, the pre- cise date of their settlement, and the gradual development of business interests.
CITY INCORPORATION, ETC.
By the completion of a portion of the lines of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad in 1856, and the Amboy, Lansing, & Traverse Bay road in 1862, and the activity created in con- sequence of Owosso becoming a railroad junction, the people concluded that for their better government a city charter was neces- sary. The village then contained about one thousand inhabitants, and in accordance with their wishes, by an act of the state legis- lature approved February 15, 1859, the city of Owosso was created.
Extracts from that act describe its bound- aries, etc. as follows: "That so much of tlre townships of Owosso and Caledonia, in the county of Shiawassee, as are included in the following territory, to wit: Sections 13 and 24 in township 7 north, of range 2 cast, and also the west half of sections 18 and 19 in township 7 north, of range 3 east, being in the county of Shiawassee, be and the same is hereby set off from the said township of Owosso and Caledonia and declared to be a city, by the name of 'The City of Owosso,' by which name it shall hereafter be known." The city was divided into four wards whose boundaries were defined as follows : The
first ward to include that portion lying north of the centre of Main street and west of the centre of Washington street. The second ward all that portion lying north of the cen- tre of Main street and east of the centre of Washington street. The third ward all that portion lying south of the centre of Main street and east of the centre of Washington street, while the fourth ward embraced all that portion lying south of the centre of Main street and west of the centre of Wash- ington street.
After arranging for the election and ap- pointment of officers, designating their duties, and the enactment of various laws for the government of the city, it was further ordered that the first election under the char- ter should be held on the first Monday of April, 1859. The polling places designated were "In the first ward, at the inn kept by Jacob Aberle; in the second ward, at the inn kept by Alfred Stewart; in the third ward, at the store now kept by William Goff; in the fourth ward, at the inn kept by S. J. Harding."
FIRST CHARTER ELECTION
Pursuant to the provisions of the foregoing act, the electors assembled at their respective polling places on Monday, April 4, 1839, for the purpose of electing city officers, and as a result the following named officers were de- clared elected : Amos Gould, mayor; John N. Ingersoll, clerk; Daniel Lyon, treasurer ; E. W. Barnes, supervisor of the first district ; Elisha Leach, supervisor of the second dis- trict; Charles M. Moses, Charles L. Good- - hue, alderman of the first ward; Daniel L. Thorpe, Thomas D. Dewey, alderman of the second ward; John Gutekunst, George R.
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Black, aldermen of the third ward; Stillman J. Harding, Eli D. Gregory, aldermen of the fourth ward; Ira Merill, justice of the peace for the second district; George K. New- combe, Amos M. Kellogg, school inspectors ; Daniel Wait, M. W. Quackenbush, direc- tors of the poor; Robert Hodgkins, of the first district, and Ephriam Gould, of the sec- ond district, constables.
In June, 1859, the first assessment was made on the people residing within the city's corporate limits. There were one hundred and sixty-three names on the roll. The total amount of tax levied in that year was $3,- 984.11, applied to the following purposes :
State
$ 257.99
County
382.12
City
990.00
School district 2,148.25
School library 25.00
Howard street grading 95.00
Highways
5.67
Collectors' commissions
80.08
$3,984.11
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WATER SUPPLY
For several years after its organization the city possessed no fire apparatus of any de- scription, although the common council voted upon the matter frequently. Finally, late in the '60s, fifty leather fire buckets and some eight or ten ladders were procured. In the spring of 1870 a hook-and-ladder truck and eight Babcock fire extinguishers were pur- chased. A fire company, of which Frederick Wildermuth was foreman, was organized about the same time. But the real organiza- tion of Owosso's fire department did not take place until 1876.
In February of that year a Silsby steam fire-engine was purchased, and in April fol-
lowing city fire department officers were elected. An engine company, two hose com- panies, and a hook and ladder company were regularly organized during the same year. At that time the department's water supply was derived from the river and mill race, and from two capacious cisterns where a large quantity was stored. Water for drink- ing and culinary uses was obtained from wells.
During all the years a splendid volunteer organization has been maintained and the members have won for themselves great credit by their readiness to respond to calls at all times of the day or night and their intelligence in fighting the fire demon. The present organization is as follows: Frank House, chief; Fred Edwards, first assistant ; M. F. Blair, secretary-treasurer ; Charles Black, foreman hose cart; Will Ross, Nelson Pencer, Ernest Cummings, Edward Wright, firemen ; James Brown, foreman hook-and- ladder ; William Beresford, D. Priest, Orville Angell, G. Osmer, firemen; Ed Martin and William Robertson, drivers.
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