USA > Michigan > Midland County > Portrait and biographical album of Midland County, Mich. containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 39
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uel Gaskill, Judge of Probate, and George Turner, Surveyor.
The first term of Circuit Court was held in the old school-house which stands at the corner of Ashman and Ellsworth Streets. The members of the Bar at that time consisted of Henry C. Ashman, Wilbur F. Woodworth and G. F. Hemmingway.
Midland Township was organized in 1853, and the first election was held at the house of Joseph Town- send, Sr .; the Inspectors of this Election were Thomas T. Townsend, Charles Fitzhugh and John A. Whitman.
Below the mouth of Tobacco River about five miles, is the farm located by the venerable Abraham Egbert, in the year 1851. He was a Canadian, and a shrewd although eccentric man. He took great pride in the distinction of being the first pioneer of the township which bore his name, and never lost an opportunity of making reference to the fact. This township consisted of Congressional townships 16 north, I west and 1 and 2 east, and 15 north, I west.
This territory now comprises the towns of Hope, Edenville, Warren and Jerome. When, by an act of the Legislature, the name was changed to Jerome, it nearly broke the old man's heart. We maintain that this was a grievous wrong, and as an impartial his- torian we desire to enter our protest against such in- justice even at this late date.
There were many incidents connected with pio- neer life with which every reader is familiar, and for the present a few incidents relating to the first things of importance in the county are noted.
John A. Whitman was the first Justice of the Peace, being elected in 1853. He performed the first marriage ceremony in Ingersoll Township, while officiating in a legal capacity, the parties being Mr. John Armon and Miss Margaret McGregor, who were married at his house in 1854.
The first lawsuit in the county was brought before him, but the case was settled before coming to trial. The plaintiff, a Mr. Hall, suing a man named Chap- man for wages due.
The wolves were quite numerous, and to rid the country of the noxious animals, the county paid a bounty of $S for every wolf scalp which was present- ed to the County Clerk with a certified statement that the wolf was killed in Midland County. The first claims of this character were paid Jan. 15, 1856
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to Alvin Marsh, Charles Simmons, Sha-gwon-a-bee, J. Ock, Muk-cud-da-kew, Ah-me-me-quong and Naw- ge-zick. The county from that date to January, 1870, paid bounties on 296 scalps, amounting to $2,368.
Nearly all the meat used consisted of venison and bear flesh, while the streams abounded in fine fish and the forests in wild fowl.
While the early settlers were not in easy circum- stances, yet they fared better than many people who lived in adjoining counties remote from a navigable stream. There were no wagon roads, it is true, for a number of years, but the wheat raised was trans- ported to Saginaw in canoes, and flour, groceries and dry goods brought home on the return journey. Dan Osborne, one of the old veterans now living near the village of Midland, was one of the first to run a " pole" boat between Midland and Saginaw. He worked for a man nearly a year who was running a " pole " boat, but, getting no pay, concluded to build and run one of his own. He made three trips weekly, to and from Saginaw, having two men only to help him. He did his own piloting, running his boat down stream at night while his men slept, thus sav- ing a 12-hours run during the day. His scow car- ried seven tons, and he had all the work he could do. Dan would undoubtedly have become a mill- ionaire, had not John Larkin and Capt. Philo Sumner built a boat. This was a steamer of 25 tons burden, which made three trips each week to Saginaw; but it proved too heavy for the river at low water. The name of this steamer was " Midland City," with Philo Sumner, Captain and Dan Osborn, pilot. She was a " side-wheeler," and not a very fast boat. The owners sold her, and purchased, at Cleveland, a new boat named " Belle Seymour," which was of very light draught, drawing when empty only 18 inches of water. Trade was excellent, and this boat made regular trips from the time of her purchase in 1860 until the completion of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad.
The first steamer that ever came as far up the 'Tittabawassee as Midland, was the " Buena Vista," a stern wheeler, which carried the household goods and family of Charles Fitzhugh to the junction of the Chippewa with that river. The waters in the spring of that year were very high, and large boats could navigate almost any of the streams. Fitzhugh came in 1838, and did some lumbering near the river. He
is now a resident of Bay City, but is entitled to the honor of being the first lumberman in Midland County. Of course this was done on a small scale compared with the manner in which it is conducted to-day.
The first meeting-house erected in Midland County was built one mile south of Midland City, by the Methodist fraternity, who were then doing missionary work among the Indians that lived on the south bank of the river opposite the village of Midland. This building is still standing, but is occupied by a family who are tenants on the farm of G. F. Ball, Esq. The minister spoke in the English language through an interpreter, and his labors were very successful, nearly all of the Chippewa and Blackbird Indians living in this county at that time being devout Christians and an honest, happy people. James Kent and wife, who live at this time on the river bank opposite where the aforesaid church stood, re- marked that no kinder or better neighbors ever lived than the Indians who were residents of this county at an early day. If any of the family were sick the Indian women were always ready to wait upon them. Did the men folk need an extra hand to help in clearing or other work, the Indians always lent a hand. Was a fine buck killed by an Indian, or a large fish caught, Mr. Kent's family were sure to share in the choicest bits. The minister whose labors were crowned with great success, was famil- iarly known as "Elder Johnson," and to him is ac- corded the honor of being the first man in Midland County to preach salvation to either the white man or the Indian.
Captain Philo Sumner and - Snyder built the first saw-mill in the county, on Snake Creek, about three miles north of Midland. This was erected in 1858, but, not being very remunerative, Snyder became discouraged and sold his interest to John Larkin. who moved it to Midland, where it, or at least a part of it, is doing duty in the extensive mills of Larkin & Patrick.
Dr. Edwin P. Jennings was the first physician that settled in the county. His services were sought for by the pioneers for many miles around, there being no physician nearer than Saginaw. Dr. Jennings was also the first county physician, being employed in 1856 to do the county business, at the handsome salary of $25 per annum. This was not a princely
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sum, yet it must be remembered that very few per- sons were living in the county, and most of these were able to care for themselves.
The first school-house in the county was built on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section IS, in Midland Township. In this, Henry C. Ashman taught the first school. He was one of the earliest settlers, and without doubt was one of the most in- telligent men that ever lived in the county. He was serupulously honest, and enjoyed the greatest esteem and confidence of the people. He was the first Supervisor of Midland County, also the first Prosecuting Attorney. It is related that when teach- ing school during his younger days, he carried his rifle with him and frequently would kill one or two deer before school hours in the morning. His father, Judge Samuel Ashman, was stolen, when a child, by the Indians living in the Lake Superior re- gion. He lived among them for many years, and married a squaw, by whom he had several children. Henry Ashman was the only one of them that came to this county. He was first married according to the Indian custom, but when his wife died, was mar- ried to the Chief Pay-mos-e-gay's daughter, whose Indian name was "Me-gon-ga-wan," signifying red head, she having bright red hair. Mrs. Ashman was only a half-breed, and was very intelligent. One of her sons is now a resident of Isabella County, and is numbered among her best men.
Joseph Townsend, the drayman at Midland City, is one of the oldest residents of the county. He is perfectly conversant with its early history, and to him the historian is indebted for many valuable facts. In this connection our thanks are tendered John A. Whitman, the oldest living resident of the county.
Midland Township was the first one organized. Henry Ashman was its first Supervisor, and in loca- ting the county seat he showed considerable shrewd- ness. Visiting Lansing while the Legislature was in session, he succeeded in manipulating that body un- til an act was passed authorizing the Board of Super- visors and Prosecuting Attorney of Midland County to designate the location and drive the stake which fixed the county seat beyond question. This gave him absolute power in the matter, he being both Supervisor and Prosecuting Attorney. A fellow living in Bay City offered him $4,000 to drive it on his lands, but Ashman said Nay. Being a resident
of Midland, and having some land near the place, he, together with a number of chums, Billy Vance, Thomas and Joseph C. Townsend, Charles Fitzhugh, E. G. Buttles and H. M. Ellsworth, of this county, Timothy Jerome and Dan Davis, with other friends from Saginaw, were present, and a grand time was enjoyed. The Saginaw party came up on a steamer, and brought along a basket of champagne, which was freely disposed of, and the stake was driven upon the site now occupied by the court-house. The whole party became gloriously full without ex- ception, and the stake was baptized with a generous portion of the precious grape juice, Billy Vance be- ing the first to break a bottle of champagne upon it. The location and certified designation of the county seat was filed Oet. 13, 1856, and no effort was ever made to remove it from Midland until March 6, 1872, when Supervisor L. F. Smith, of Lincoln Township, offered a resolution to the Board of Supervisors praying that the county seat be re- moved to Averill Station in the township of Lincoln. The resolution was tabled, and to this day has not been taken up. Mr. Smith did what he could for his constituency, but the people of the county are not yet ready to take the county seat from Midland and drop it in any of the neighboring villages.
Midland County was attached to Saginaw County for municipal and judicial purposes until its organiza- tion in 1850. At that date only one township (Mid- land) was organized, but others were soon erected. Egbert Township was the second, Ingersoll the third, which was followed by the organization of Coe and Chippewa Townships, both of which are now a part of Isabella County. The territory embraced in Eg- bert has been previously mentioned. The first elec- tion was held Oct. 20, 1855, at the house of Abra- ham Egbert, in honor of whom it was named. The judges of that election were Abraham Egbert, Jacob Hagar and Daniel Bowman. David Burton was the first Supervisor, followed by Daniel Davis, who served in 1856-7 and until its re-organization in 1858.
The aggregate valuation of the county, both real and personal, in 1855. was $574,292.04, and the sal- aries of county officers amounted, all told, to $600 : $250 supplied the wants of the poor, and the cur- rent expenses of the county were defrayed by the ex- penditure of $1,721.
John Larkin's house was used by the county officers, there being no court-house. The Super-
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visors' record shows that in 1856 $6,000 in county bonds were voted to be negotiated, and money there- by procured to erect a suitable building for county purposes. Henry C. Ashman was Deputy County Treasurer at that time, and was appointed a com- mittee of one to attend to the matter.
Plans and specifications presented by Timothy Jerome were adopted, but no definite contract was made until the spring of 1857, when Jerome took the $6,000 in bonds, drawing 10 per cent., payable in ro years, and commenced the erection of the present building. This when completed was objected to by the Board of Supervisors, and Jerome was obliged to make some alterations before they would accept it.
There being but few roads and no bridges, the county was asked by her people to make a ferry across the Tittabawassee, and the Board of Super- visors appropriated $150, in October, 1857, for the purpose of building a ferry scow.
The line of crossing was to be the State road lead- ing from Midland through Isabella County. Charles Cronkright built the boat, and Leonard Wilkinson was appointed to attend the same. Rates were also fixed at that meeting for ferriage. Footmen were charged three cents ; single teams, six cents ; double teams, ten cents ; cattle, sheep and swine, ten cents. This rate was to last from April 20 to Nov. 20, after which double the above rates were to be charged. The ferry was made free in 1858, but for years it was a source of annoyance to the Board of Supervisors, it being a hard matter to get a good man to attend it. The penuriousness of the Board in the expenditures for this ferry is surprising, they always appropriating only money enough to pay about half the wages that would have secured a fit man for the place.
The first county election was held in Midland July 3, 1855, at the house of Dr. Edwin Jennings. Less than two dozen votes were cast. Dr. Jennings' house was a small log cabin, which stood near the upper bridge. The unpretentious structure has long since been torn down to make room for more modern improvements.
In 1856, the names of Dan Davis and Charles Perkins both appear on the pay-roll of the Supervisors' . journal as Supervisors of Egbert Township. As neither of them is living it cannot be decided which was entitled to the honor.
After the court-house was completed, a spasm of
public improvement came over the Board of Super- visors, and they were determined to have things fixed up in grand style about the county capitol. They passed the following resolution :
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to ac- cept of the ferry and scow, and they also have power to procure the neccessary rope to stretch across the river upon as advantageous terms as possible. Also that they have power to cause the rubbish around the court-house square to be cleared off, and all unnec- cessary trees, etc., and to cause the rubbish to be carried off the square.
D. M. R. WILSON, Clerk.
Coe Township, in Isabella County, had been for several years under the jurisdiction of this county previous to the organization of Chippewa Township, which was done Oct. 12, 1858. It was a part of Coe and within the limits of Midland. The first election held in this township was at the house of William F. Payne, who, with Langdon Bently and John Fraser, were Judges of Election.
Jan. 4, 1860, a settlement was made between the counties of Midland and Isabella, the latter county having been organized by an act of the Legislature. Midland agreed to account to the State for all State tax liable to be paid by Isabella in 1859 and 1860. Charles D. Searrin, Sylvester Erway and Samuel D. Gaskill appended their names as members of the committee from Midland, and P. H. Estee and N. C. Payne, from Isabella. After this settlement, Isabella County recovered $10,408 from Midland County, which at the date of settlement neither county had ever dreamed of. This money built the present court-house in Isabella.
The territory now embraced in Clare, Gladwin and Roscommon Counties was formerly attached to Mid- land County for judicial and municipal purposes, and was detached at the date of their organization as counties.
Previous to March 16, 1863, the then unorganized county of Clare was attached to the county of Isa- bella for judicial and municipal purposes. At the same date, the east half of the then unorganized county of Gladwin, and the east half of Clare County, was organized and named the township of Gladwin. This township was attached to Midland County for governmental purposes. This town was continued for two years, when the east half of Clare was divided into two townships, called Grant and Sheridan. Clare was formally organized as a county by an act of the
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Legislature March 16, 1871, at which time the towns of Grant and Sheridan were detached from Midland. For the two years which these towns remained at- tached to this county, she had to pay a total of $7,- 134 32. This was rather an expensive luxury. Ros- common was detached from Midland County entirely in 1874, since which time lawsuits and other costs have accrued between the counties, they being un- able to compromise upon the amounts due Roscom - mon. In the fall of 1883, the committee appointed to settle the matter compromised, Midland County greeing to pay $6,000 in full of all demands to date.
The disbursements of the county for 1855 was $1,721, which included every cent of expense attach- ing to official salary, etc.
In 1883, the increase shown by the clerks' record foots up the handsome sum of $55,925.70, which amount only pays current expenses. Yet this in- crease is not out of proportion to the rise in real estate and the need of expenditures as the county becomes more densely populated. Indeed, Midland County is managed by her officials in the most econ- omical manner, as proven by her records.
TOWNSHIPS.
NE of the most interesting features of this work is a brief but concise history of each Township, from the date of its organization, together with the coming of its first settlers, so far as can be ascertained. Perhaps errors may exist in some unimportant particulars, but in such cases nothing more definite can be procured. All the Supervisors' names appear attached to the townships in which they have served, which, with the number of terms, make it especially interesting. Midland being first organized, heads the list, followed by Ingersoll and the others in the order of their numbers and range.
Midland Township.
IDLAND Township is numbered 14 south and 2 east, and is bounded on the north by Larkin Township, on the east by Bay County, on the south by Ingersoll Township and on the west by Homer Township. The Pine, Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers unite inside its boundaries, and millions of feet of pine logs are annually floated down these streams, where, uniting with the Tittabawassee, a jam of logs is formed extending to Saginaw. From Midland City, which is the only village in this township, the river flows in a southerly direction through Ingersoll Town- ship, at the southeast corner of which it enters Sag- inaw County. In Midland Township are several fine farms, but Hope and Edenville Townships are
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more largely devoted to agriculture than even this township, lying in such close proximity to the county seat.
All cereals grow well in Midland, and better soil for the production of vegetables cannot be found in the county. It being the first town organized in the county, and the first settled, it naturally follows that Midland Township should take a front rank.
The first settlers are mentioned elsewhere, and all of them were men of sterling worth. Of all the people who have lived in the county from its organ- ization, none perhaps has done so much to push her business enterprises as John Larkin. He has always been first to favor any measure looking toward the advancement of mercantile or social interests, and has always aided with time and money everything which benefited or added to the growth of the village.
The gentlemen who have ably represented Mid- land on the Board of Supervisors, together with their terms of service, are mentioned below :
SUPERVISORS.
Henry C. Ashman 1855-6
E. G. Buttles. . 857
Charles D. Searrin 1858-60
N. T. Carr. 1861-2
Asa Bacon. . 1863-4
Sherman Olmstead. 1865
Asa Bacon ... 1 866
Henry D. Rogers. 1867-8
Sherman Olmstead 1869
E. P. Jennings 1870
Lyman Church. 1871
Henry Hart. 1872-3
E. P. Jennings 1874-5
J. W. Cochrane. 1876
D. W. Chase. 1877-80
George Patrick 1881
R. W. Clason . 1882
John Larkin
1883
Ira Fales .. 1884
Ingersoll Township.
NGERSOLL Township lies in the south- eastern corner of Midland County. It is numbered 13 north and 2 east, and is bounded on the north by Midland Township, on the east and south by Saginaw County and on the west by Mt. Haley Township.
The northeastern part of this township is crossed
by the Tittabawassee River, which flows south, then east into Saginaw County. Ingersoll is reckoned as one of the best agricultural townships in the county, the east half being an especially fine farming district. Ingersoll contains no towns; it being so short a dis- tance from Midland City, that point is made its chief market. Smith's Crossing, on the boundary line be- tween the two townships as well as between Midland, Saginaw and Bay Counties, is a stopping place for all passenger trains, making it convenient for the farmers going to and from Midland City.
At one time Pay-mos-e-gay, the chief of the Black- bird Indians, made his headquarters on the banks of the Tittabawassee, opposite the farm of John Whit- man. The Indians lived there for at least 30 years in undisturbed peace. The bottoms along this river afforded them abundant pasturage for their ponies and abounded with game of all kinds. These lands were accounted their choicest hunting-grounds, and hundreds of deer, bear and smaller game have been captured in its precincts.
John Whitman was the first settler in the township. He located here in 1844, and his daughter, Jane Whitman, now Mrs. Jos. Barton, of Homer Town- ship, was the first white child born in Ingersoll Township. This event occurred in 1844. John Annabel settled here in 1867. Among other comers were Geo. Davis, Eli Bailey, L. P'. Bailey and Joseph Lane.
The township was organized Oct. 1, 1855. The first election was held at the house of David Cramp- ton, Oct. 20, 1855. Charles S. Blodgett, Martin P. Crampton and Esial Chamberlin were the Inspectors.
The history of the lumber interest in Ingersoll is but a repetition of that of the other townships in Midland County. Hundreds of acres of dead pine still cover the ground in some localities, which will in due time be manufactured into fencing and build- ing material.
The Supervisors of this township have all been good and intelligent men, and many of them have served a number of terms. Their names and terms served are annexed :
SUPERVISORS.
Martin P. Crampton 1855
Wm. A. Copeland
. 1856
S. D. Gaskill. 1857
Charles S. Blodgett
1858
S. D. Gaskill
859-60
MIDLAND COUNTY.
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Augustus Crownover 1861
S. D. Gaskill . 1862-4
Win. P. Phetteplace. 1865-71
S. D. Gaskill. 1872
Wm. Atchison 1873
S. D. Gaskill . 1874-5
Wm. P. Phetteplace 1876
C. J. Winslow
1877
A. R. McMillan .1878-9
Joseph J. Winslow 1880
A. R. McMillan .. 1881
Joseph J. Winslow 1882
Stoel E. Dean . 1883
A. R. McMillan
1884
Jerome Township.
EROME Township is located near the cen- ter of the county of Midland, being num- bered 15 north and I west. It is bounded on the north by Edenville, east by Lincoln and Homer Townships, on the south by Lee Town- ship, on the west by Geneva Township.
The Tittabawassee River flows into Jerome from Edenville Township on the north. The stream takes a southerly and then easterly course, and leaves this township at the point where the line separates Lin- coln from Homer. The Salt River rises in Isabella County, flows east and enters Jerome near the north- eastern corner of the township, whence it takes a southeasterly direction and empties into the Titta- bawassee.
The productions of Jerome are lumber, grain, vegetables and game, such as bear and deer, the former valuable for its flesh, which is used as food, and for its skin, of which robes are made ; also, bear oil in large quantities are obtained from this animal. From the deer, venison is procured, and the hides are used for making gloves, moccasins, etc.
Jerome contains the village of Sanford, situated in the eastern part of the township, on the Tittabawas- see River, and at a place where this stream is crossed by the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, thus giving to this town the advantages of both river and railroad traffic. Communication is kept up between this
point and the village of Edenville several miles north by means of the stage, which carries all mail both to the latter place and Wright's post-office. Sanford was platted in the summer of 1870, by Charles S. Sanford. Wells, Stone & Co. erected the first store in the village; Geo. Higgins was the first blacksmith; the first physician was A. E. Rockwell; the first ser- mon was preached by Rev. Cogsall, of the Metho- dist denomination, in the school-house. Jacob Se- guin opened the first hotel, and Charles S. Sanford built one soon afterward, which was destroyed by fire May 15, 1884. The Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad was completed as far as Sanford in the spring of 1871. The first postmaster was Phineas Hamilton.
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