Eaton Co., Michigan - USGenWeb Archives - Biographies
Submitted by Cindy Bryant 
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Capt. Samuel Aulls

..held a prominent place among the pioneers of Eaton County, and
was an important agent  in the development of its agriculture
while he lived.  By a lifetime of industry and devotion to his
business, seconded by sound judgment and good financial talent,
he improved a large and valuable farm in Eaton township, of
which he was one of the principal farmers for many years.  Capt.
Aulls was a native of the state of New York and was born April
12, 1802.  He was the son of Thomas and Ruth Aulls, and received
his early education  in the schools of his native state, which
did not offer many advantages for the pupils of that day to
advance far in learning, so that in reality he was mainly 
self-educated, as he was fond of reading, was a close observer,
and always kept well informed on all topics of general interest.



	In the month of November, the Captain took and important step
in life that materially added to his happiness and after
welfare, as he was then united in marriage to Miss Mina Andrews,
who as long as he lived, devoted herself unselfishly and
unwearingly to his interests and to the care of the children
that came to them.  The venerable widow of our subject is still
living in the pleasant home  that she so ably assisted her
husband to build, and here, as life's shadows are lengthening
towards sunset, she is securely passing her declining years,
surrounded by her children and many friends whom she has
gathered around her during the half century that she has been a
resident of this county, and by whom she is well  beloved for
those fine qualities of head and heart that mark her a true
woman.  Mrs. Aulls comes of good old Revolutionary and New
England stock, and was born amid the beautiful scenes of
Pennington County, VT., May 21, 1811.  Her parents, William and
Azuba (Howe) Andrews, were also New Englanders by birth and were
genuine Yankees.  Mrs. Aulls was reared to womanhood in her
native state and was educated in its common schools.  Both her
paternal and maternal grandfathers are said to have fought in
the Revolution.  Six of the eight children born to our subject
and his wife are living, namely: Harriet, William; Jenna, wife
of Samuel Pollock, the present sheriff of Eaton County; Thomas,
Fannie. wife of Henry Force, and Charles.



	For a number of years after his marriage the Captain resided in
New York State.  In 1840 he came to Eaton County with his wife
and the four children that had been born to them in their old
home, performing the journey by boat to Detroit, whence they
came to this section with a team.  Our subject bought 80 acres
of land from the Government, paying $1.25 a acre for it, making
this purchase several years before he removed hither with his
family, when he had come here on a prospecting tour. He located
in the woods on section 20, Eaton township, and the old
homestead is still occupied by his family.  He first built a log
cabin during the winter time, making it large enough to shelter
his family comfortably, and in after years he replaced it with
the present commodious residence, which is said to have been the
first frame house erected in this neighborhood.  He did much
hard pioneer work in his day, and as a result he improved a very
valuable farm and at the time of his death had an estate of
three hundred acres of fine land, being one of the moneyed men
of the township which he aided in upbuilding.



	November 28, 1879, this good man rested from his labors and
closed his eyes in that sleep that knows no waking.  His death
was mourned far beyond his beloved home circle, and his township
and county lost one of their best citizens, who was always
earnestly interested in the public good, and was known far and
wide as a man of unanswering probity, whose word was never
doubted and whose relations with his fellow-men were always of
the most kindly nature, so that though more than a decade has
gone by since he passed away, his memory is still cherished in
the hearts of those who honored and revered him while he was
living.  While a resident of New York our subject was Captain of
a regiment of State militia.  He was a firm Democrat in his
politics.  He held a number of offices in Eaton Township and
proved to be a civic official of true public spirit, who always
did his whole duty in whatever position he was placed.



Taken from: Portrait Biographical Album of Barry and Eaton
Counties, MI. Chicago: Chapman Bros 1891. Pages 338-339