Jonathan Dean Sr’s biography, Kalamo Township, Eaton County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the 
USGenWeb Archives.  


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A HISTORY OF KALAMO TOWNSHIP
KALAMO TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY-1989

Jonathan Dean Sr. a native of Orange County, New York, and a veteran of 
the war of 1812, came to Michigan in 1837. (He had been here earlier with 
his oldest son, William B.) Jonathan Dean, Sr. located on 160 acres of 
government land in Section 12.

The Deans drove through to Kalamo with 13 head of cattle and hogs, coming 
by way of Marshall and Bellevue. They went to the home of Louis Stebbins, 
where they boarded while building a shanty on their land.

The roadway, such as it was, followed the "hard" land, winding along 
through the forest. Where there were bad places, poles and brush were 
thrown down. There were plenty of wolves and Indians then. Fifty to 100 
Indians camped at the northeast corner of the township every winter, 
leaving in the spring to do their planting.

When Jonathan Dean, Sr. settled here the nearest gristmill was at 
Marshall. One day at an Indian camp he noticed a squaw pounding corn in 
the end of a hollowed-out log. He said he knew how he could pound up corn 
and not have to go to the mill. Dean hollowed out a pair of ash blocks, 
bound them together with iron hoops and rigged up a large pestle, to 
create his "corn cracker." It was the wonder of the settlement! The 
settlers give it the name "Pestle Mill."

Mr Dean's horses were allowed to run at large, acquiring the habit of 
mixing with Indian ponies. One time when the Indians left camp, a valuable 
mere of Mr. Dean's followed. The horse was afterward ridden into Marshall 
by an Indian selling huckleberries. A man who recognized the mare said, 
"You have the white man's horse." The noble red man did not remain to sell 
his berries. Mr Dean received $25 from the government as payment for the 
animal.

The first sheep in the township were brought in by Mr. Dean, but their 
stay was of short duration, for in less than three days they were devoured 
by wolves.