Pioneers of Bean Creek Country, Lenawee Co, Michigan; James J. Hagaoam; published by Jas. M. Scarritt, Hudson, MI, 1876 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Teeter ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Page 101 Piper, William T. B. Schermerhorn, Benjamin Wright, Allen J. Skutt, Perry Shumway (two terms), Henry G. Frank, John K. Boies, John Weed, Hiram Mann, John V. Munger, Gamaliel I. Thompson, William C. Merrell (two terms) , William R. Weaver, Chester C. Pease, Lawrence Van Epps, Stephen T. Dawes, Charles H. Putnam, Lawrence E. Halran, John Spaulding, William G. Donaldson (two terms), Marion F. Isbell, C. H. Hubbard, John T. Mann and John R. Wirts. The only persons who have held the second office (Vice Grand) and failed of election to the presiding officer's chair because of removal or other causes are the following: Charles E. Niles, James Lowe, John V. Goodrich, Dr. Thomas B. Minchin, Samuel H. Perkins, William Smith and John Butts. About ten years ago an Encampment was organized, called Wood Encampment, to confer the higher degrees of the order. It has been successful. The Hudson Lodge has furnished one Grand Master of Odd Fellows of the State of Michigan--Mr. Dexter Gray. FREE MASONRY.--In 1848 Morning Star Lodge F. & A. M., commenced work under a dispensation, Jesse Max son, Worshipful Master. The Lodge was chartered at the next session of the Grand Lodge and numbered 26, and continued to work until 1859. It had Worshipful Masters as follows: 1848, Ô49 and '50, Jesse Maxson; 1851, Robert B. Piper; 1852 and Ô53, Jesse Maxson; 1854 to 1856, Dr. David P. Chamberlin; 1857 until it suspended, November 7, 1859, Hamilton W. Grennell. On the 21st day of November, 1859, Maxson Lodge F. & A. M. commenced work under dispensation, Jesse Maxson, Worshipful Master. The lodge was chartered in January, 1860, and given the old number of Morning Star Lodge (26), and it has continued in working order since. It has had Worshipful Masters as follows: 1859, Jesse Maxson; 1860 and Ô61, Dr. D. P. Chamberlin; 1862 to '64, David R. Stroud; 1865, Francis D. Beach; 1866, David R. Stroud; 1867, Ô68 and '69, Allen J. Skutt; 1870, Jas. J. Hogaboam; 1871, Allen J. Skutt; 1872, '73 and Ô74, Francis D. Beach; 1875 and Ô76, David R. Stroud. On the 24th day of September, 1863, Warren Lodge F. & A. M., commenced work under dispensation, Dr. Benjamin J. Tayer, Worshipful Master. Worshipful Masters-- 1863 and '64, Benj. J. Tayer; 1865, Hamilton W. Grennell; 1866 and Ô67, Edward A. Gay; 1868 and '69, Charles Lowe; 1870, Robert Worden; 1871, Charles Lowe; 1872 to Ô76, Lawrence E. Halran. In January, 1863, Hudson Chapter Royal Arch Masons was chartered and numbered 28, and continued to work until the fall of 1873. High Priests--1863, '64 and '65, Enos Canniff; 1866, Jas. J. Hogaboam; 1867, Allen J. Skutt; 1868 and Ô69, Hamilton W. Grennell; 1870, Jas. J. Hogaboam; 1871, Allen J. Skutt; 1872 to suspension, David R. Stroud. In the summer of 1876 Phoenix Chapter R. A. M. commenced work under dispensation; John M. Osborn, High Priest. A council of Royal and Select Masters commenced work in 1865, and continued until the suspension of the Chapter in 1873 deprived it of material. Presiding officers--1865, U.D., Jas. B. Pratt; 1865 (after charter), Enos Canniff; 1866, Allen J. Skutt; 1867 and '68, Chas. H. Putnam; 1869, Joseph D. Darling; 1870, Allen J. Skutt; 1871, Myron M. Maxson; 1872, Jas. J. Hogaboam. OFFICIAL REGISTER--LEGISLATORS. Senators--Henry M. Boies, William Baker and John K. Boies. Representatives, John W. Turner, Augustus W. Childs and John K. Boies. County officers--Benj. Page 102 Turner, register of deeds; Andrew C. Mercer, Clement C. Weaver and Seth Bean, prosecuting attorneys; Jas. J. Hogaboam and Perry Shumway, circuit court commisisioners. Supervisors: 1836, Simeon Van Akin; 1837 and Ô38, Augustus Finney; 1839 and Ô40, Henry Tibbetts; 1841, Hiram Kidder; 1842, L. Hutchins; 1843, Simeon Van Akin; 1844, Lemuel P. Whitney; 1845, Daniel R. Daniels; 1846, Simeon Van Akin; 1847, Oliver S. Colwell; 1848 and Ô49, Silas Eaton; 1850, Oliver S. Colwell; 1851, Benjamin Turner; 1852, Augustus W. Childs; 1853, Lorenzo Palmer; 1854, Enos Canniff; 1855, John Bean; 1856, Lorenzo Palmer; 1857, John H. Carleton; 1858 and Ô59, Lorenzo L. Brown; 1860 to 1863, inclusive, Lorenzo Palmer; 1864, Titus Babcock; 1865 to 1872, inclusive, Lorenzo Palmer; 1873 to 1876, inclusive, Ira Swaney. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. About the year 1859, the Hillsdale and Lenawee Union Agricultural Society was organized. It held fairs until 1864. That year it had a rainy season for the fair, and could not pay its premiums. It died. THE VILLAGE OF HUDSON. PLATS--Bowlsby's.--Levi N. Bowlsby, proprietor; acknowledged June 7th, 1842. Gibbon's Survey.--Platted by Isaac A. Colvin, Dudley Worden, W. H. Johnson, Hiram Osborn, Harrison Lindenbower, E. Conant, Stephen M. Wirts, Erastus Lane, J. C. Benedict, E. D. Larned, Chas. Parrish, Roswell Rose, M. S. Lathrop, W.H.H. Van Akin, W. L. Larned and B. H. Lane, January 23d, 1843. ADDITIONS--Van Akin's South.--Platted March 25th, 1850, by W.H.H. Van Akin, W. H. Johnson, Aaron Loomis and Thomas Daniels. Laird's--Platted June 2d, 1855, by Robert Laird. Wirts'--Old survey, platted September 3d, 1855, by Dr. Stephen M. Wirts. Church's--Platted November 14th, 1855, by Rev. Volney Church. Goodrich's--Platted November 28th, 1855, by Heman R. Goodrich. Johnson's--Platted April 5th, 1856, by W. H. Johnson, Wm. B. Ames, Ann B. Cobb, Edward Cobb and Harvey J. Cobb. Johnson and Conger's--Platted May 5th, 1858, by W. H. Johnson and John Conger. Power's--Platted June 8th, 1858, by Dr. Jas. S. Power. Van Akin's, East--Platted by W.H.H. Van Akin, November 5th, 1858. Wirts'--New survey, platted November 21st, 1859, by Dr. Stephen M. Wirts. Cobb's--Platted July 3d, 1860, by Ann B. Cobb, Edward Cobb, Jas. H. Cobb and Susan B. Whitney. H. N. Johnson's--Platted August 9th, 1860, by Silas Eaton. Wilcox's--Platted April 5th, 1864, by Welcome Aldrich. The village was incorporated in 1853. The following named persons have filled the office of President: Caleb C. Cooley, Henry M. Boies, David P. Chamberlin. Stephen A. Eaton, Wm. Baker, Hamilton W. Grennell, Samuel DeGolyer, John J. Beck, Beriah H. Lane, Warren A. Jones, Levi R. Pierson, John K. Boies, Luther C. French, Russell M. Gi llett, William A. Whitney, I ra Swaney, Augustus Kent and John Bean. CLAYTON. Platted by Chauncey and Reuben E. Bird, October l0th, 1843. ADDITIONS.--Waterman's--Platted May 5th, 1864. Page 103 Graves and Reed's--Platted May 1st, 1865, by Burrit W. Graves and Jacob Reed. Waterman's Extension--Platted by D. R. Waterman, February 19th, 1867. Graves'--Platted June l0th, 1871, by Burrit W. and Albert H. Graves. Bird's--Platted by Reuben E. Bird, April 14th, 1872. The village was incorporated about 1869. Cobb--Harvey, May 15th, 1842, aged 46 years; Ann B., wife of Harvey, July 24th, 1864, aged 52 years; Carroll C., son, Oct. 27th, 1854, aged 24 years; Susan B. Whitney, daughter, July 15th, 1863, aged 26 years; James H., son, Sept. 17th, 1869, aged 35 years. Finney--Augustus, July 19th, 1857, aged 61 years; Huldah Foot, wife, August, 1843, aged 55 years; Alfred A., son, Sept. 8th, 1871, aged 52 years; Harriet C. Kidder, wife of Alfred A., Sept. 5th, 1857, aged 33 years. Wirts--Dr. Stephen M., Nov. 1st, 1871, aged 64 years; Mary, wife, April l0th 1860, aged 46 years. Pratt--Rev. David, March 26th, 1845, aged 56 years; Sarah Smith, daughter, March, 1856, aged 36 years; Elizabeth A., daughter, Jan. 16th, 1853, aged 19 years; Mary D., daughter, June 11th, 1869, aged 34 years; James B., son, Dec. 13th, 1875, aged 51 years; Dolly R., wife of James B., Jan. 8th, 1865. Van Akin--Lydia, wife of Simeon, July 5th, 1868, aged 63 years; Sarah Amelia Boies, daughter of Lydia Van Akin, formerly Spear, and wife of Hon. John K. Boies, Jan. 2d, 1871, aged 39 years. Carleton--John H., February, 1872, aged 70 years; Mary Ann Kidder, daughter, April 16th, 1861, aged 27 years; Henry, son, died April, 1865. Osborn--John, April 28th, 1867, aged 78 years; Mercy, wife, July 15th, 1865, aged 72 years. Eaton--Silas, Aug. 20th, 1876, aged 81 years; Constantine C. S., son, Nov. 11th, 1848, aged 21 years; Hervey U., son, April 21st, 1852, aged 22 years. Johnson--Capt. W. H., Sept. 16th, 1865, aged 48 years; Celinda S. Hathaway, wife, June 2d, 1846, aged 25 years. Cady--Lydia, wife of Nelson O., June 7th, 1851, aged 37 years; Levina, daughter, Aug. 12th, 1851, aged 16 years; Kleber W. died in the army. Griswold--John, April 17th, 1874, aged 86 years; Sabra, wife, April 8th, 1872. Kidder--Hiram, May 11th, 1849, aged 49 years; Julia G., daughter, Nov. 8th, 1856, aged 18 years; Maria J., daughter, Jan. 5th, 1857, aged 26 years. Lane--Nathaniel, father of B. H. Lane, esq., March 16th, 1844, aged 73 years; Mary, first wife, Sept 17th, 1839, aged 68 years; Martha, second wife, March 2d, 1871, aged 85 years; Phebe, wife of Beriah H., May 22d, 1839, aged 35 years; Anna Maria, daughter of B. H. Lane, March 9th, 1851, aged 23 years. Palmer--Lorenzo, Oct. 17th, 1874, aged 71 years; Ruth Wells, wife, Feb. 25th, 1853, aged 50 years. Treadwell--William C., Dec. 27th, 1856, aged 42 years; Eliza, wife, March 22d, 1849, aged 29 years. Wells--Thomas, Aug. 17th, 1847, aged 42 years; Helen, daughter, Sept. l0th, 1847. Trask--Deacon Salmon, April 22d, 1851, aged 50 years; Zeruiah, wife, Nov. 15th, 1842, aged 35 years; Susan A., daughter, Sept. 28th, 1850, aged 20 years. Worden--Dudley, March 28th, 1859, aged 54 years; Phebe, wife, Jan. 30th, 1851, aged 34 years. Straw--Thomas, Dec. 25th, 1855, aged 59 years; Rhoda, wife, Oct. 29th, 1851, aged 55 years. Orcutt--Silas, Feb. 19th, 1856, aged 45 years; Clarinda, wife, March 6th, 1855, aged 41 years. Treadwell--Alzina P., wife of Urias Treadwell, Jan. 30th, 1863, aged 42 years. Colwell--John, April 30th, 1860, aged 57 years. Taylor--John L., Nov. 9th, 1862, aged 60 years. Hall--Nancy K. Wells, wife of Dr. Leonard G. Hall, Oct. 12th, 1853, aged 33 years. Baldwin--Samuel D., Feb. l0th, 1873, aged 62 years. Brownell--John S., Dec. 26th, 1856, aged 37 years. Page 104 Page 104 Rose--lra, May 7th, 1875, aged 75 years. Beasom--Philip, Sept. 9th, 1874, aged 68 years; Mary B., wife, Feb. 28th, 1876, aged 74 years; Milton, son, died July 12th, 1862, aged 32 years; Francis B., son, Jan. 22d, 1876, aged 43 years; Marcia, wife of Francis B., Jan. 31, 1876, aged 40 years. Bush--Eli, Oct. 5th, 1872, aged 66 years. Jones--Dr. Bela B., March 5th, 1865. Wheeler--Rev. Judson, July 9th, 1855, aged 51 years. Palmer--Hannah, wife of Wray T., April 9th, 1875; Laura M. Turner, daughter, and wife of Benjamin.Turner: July, 1860, aged 32 years. Leisenring--David, April 18th, 1872, aged 76 years; Sally, wife, Aug. 21st, 1854, 61 years; Mary, daughter, July, 1852, aged 24 years; Eliza Gibson, daughter, November, 1852, aged 26 years; Jesse B., son, July l0th, 1854, aged 22 years; Wm. H. H., son, Nov. 19th, 1869, aged 29 years. Mills--Randall, May 6th, 1870, aged 52 years. Baker--William, June 5th, 1870, aged 52 years. Fenton--Horace, April 9th, 1876, aged 71 years. Perkins--Stephen, June 29th, 1874, aged 76 years. Close--Samuel R., Feb. 8th, 1865, aged 65 years. Hume--Moses, June 16th, 1864, aged 77 years; Sarah, wife, Nov. 26th, 1868, aged 84 years; Geo. P., son, April 8th, 1865, aged 38 years. Hulburd--Col. Edwin M., burned to death in Milburn Wagon Works, Toledo, 0., Sept. 29th, 1876. Kent--Augustus, Oct. 4th, 1876, aged 56 years. v. ROLLIN. The second township meeting of the township of Rollin, the first under State authority, was held at the house of Jacob Foster, on the 4th day of April, 1836. The several offices were filled by the election of the following named persons, viz: Matthew Bennett, supervisor; William Beal, township clerk; Daniel Rhodes, Joseph Steer and Lester C. Bennett, assessors; Elijah C. Bennett, collector; John T. Comstock and David Steere, overseers of the poor; John T. Comstock, Joseph C. Beal and Asa R. Bacon, highway commissioners; Matthew Bennett, Bray ton Brown, Orson Green and Leonard G. Hall, justices of the peace; William Hathaway, Ephraim Sloan, Elijah C. Bennett and Joseph S. Allen, constables. There were no school inspectors elected, as appears from the records of that meeting. The electors voted to pay three dollars for bear, and two dollars for wolf scalps. At the election held September 12th, 1836, to elect delegates to the convention to meet at Ann Arbor on the 26th day of that month, to consider the boundary question proposed by Congress, there were only eleven votes cast. The township took no part in the second or party convention which did assent to the boundary proposition. During the winter of 1835 and '36, material had been prepared for the proposed grist-mill, and in the spring the work was pushed forward. Wi l1iam Beal returned to his farm, Azel Hooker opened a store in Mr. Beal's vacated house, and placed it under the management of a man named Allen. Samuel Comstock was appointed postmaster, and to Ephraim Sloan was awarded the contract to carry the mail. In the spring of 1836 the first religious society was organized at the house of Matthew Bennett. It was a Baptist church, and in its organization Mr. Bennett was the prime mover, and he held the office of deacon. Of this good man, one of Page 105 his neighbors, Mr. Page, writes as follows: "Deacon Bennett was peculiarly well fitted to settle in a new country. Possessing a strong religious temperament and a keen sense of moral right, he used his influence for the best interests of the community in which he lived; never meeting his friends or neighbors without giving the friendly hand-shake and kind, cheering words. Like the good Samaritan, he never passed by the poor and the needy without relieving their distress as far as was within his means. Though some time gone to his final rest, (a rest of which he so much delighted to talk,) he still holds a warm place in the hearts of those he left behind." In the winter of 1836 and Ô37, the grist-mill was put in motion. It was the second in the Valley, the Talbot mill at Peru having commenced to grind in August : of 1836, but as its capacity was insufficient for the needs of even the northeast part of the Valley, this new mill was hailed as a harbinger of approaching civilization. It would indeed be pleasant to follow, in description, the rapid development , of the township, in population and in wealth, until it has come to be one of the : finest and most wealthy townships in the county, inhabited as it is by an intelligent and enterprising class of people, but the limits prescribed for this little volume will not permit; that must be deferred to some other time, and perhaps the task will fall to other hands. With brief mention of some of her representative men, we must close this sketch. The Hon. Orson Green has lived in the township since l834, and during his sojourn there, has been frequently called upon to fill offices of trust and honor. He has twice represented his district in the Legislature of the State. He was elected to that office in l858, and again in l870. He was a Whig, and now is a Republican in politics. Having an innate sense of justice, he is a Republican because he believes equal rights to be one of the cardinal principles of the party, and that the country will be safer under its control. Mr. Green is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church of his township, having enjoyed the privileges of its communion for forty years. His house was the home of the early circuit riders, who were always satisfied when lodged under his roof. The Rev. William Rhodes settled in the township in l834. He married his wife in Massachusetts, at the age of nineteen, before coming to Michigan. He was a Methodist from early childhood, and tells of going with his wife forty miles to attend a quarterly meeting. Mrs. Rhodes rode a horse, but Mr. Rhodes traveled the whole distance on foot. Upon his invitation, the Rev. Mr. Jackson, the Junior preacher on the Tecumseh circuit, visited the Bean Creek country and preached in its several settlements. He was accompanied by Allen Staples, then a local preacher, residing at Adrian. The services in the township of Rollin were held at the house of Daniel Rhodes and Dobson Page. William Rhodes is said to have taught the first public school in the township of Rollin, in the winter of l836 and 137, at his own house. There are some, however, who think Lucretia Beal taught a school at the house of William Beal in the summer of l836. Mr. Rhodes was licensed to preach in early life, and afterwards was received into the itinerancy and ordained to the ministry. After traveling a few years, he located and returned to his farm in Rollin. In subsequent years he was engaged in business in New York city, and then in Hudson. He is now living in the city of Detroit, engaged in the insurance business. Daniel Rhodes, the father of William, was also one of the earliest settlers of Rollin. He lived on his farm in Rollin until about the year l860, when becoming too old to labor, the farm was sold, and Daniel and his wife, Abigail, moved to Hudson, where they lived until their decease. Page 106 John T. Comstock, also, was one of the earliest settlers of Rollin, and has resided on his farm ever since his settlement in 1834. Mr. Comstock belongs to the Society of Friends, and has won considerable reputation as a poet. Several years ago his wife--the companion of his youth, and the joy of his heart in pioneer days--departed this life, and he subsequently married Mrs. Elizabeth Wright, a preacher among the Friends. Mrs. Comstock is a woman of great excellence, distinguished for simplicity of manners, a fervid eloquence, and an untiring zeal in the prosecution of her mission. She has traveled largely, is extensively known, and everywhere welcomed--alike among the Friends or other religious bodies, as a true disciple of their common Master. There are many other worthy pioneers of the township, some of whom have served their township faithfully in minor capacities, and others of them have adorned the paths of private life. The following named gentlemen have represented the township on the Board of Supervisors: Matthew Bennett, 1835 to '37; Elijah Brownell, 1838; David Steere, 1839; Daniel Rhodes, 1840; William Beal , 1841; Thomas Kealey, 1842 and Ô43; William Beal, 1844; Orson Green, 1845 and '46; Jas. Patrick, 1847; Orson Green, 1848 to Ô52, both inclusive; WiIliam Beal, 1853; A. H. Raymond, 1854 and '55; Felix A. Wilcox, 1856 and Ô57; James Patrick, 1858; Orson Green, 1859; H. Rawson, 1860; Porter Beal, 1861 and '62; Orson Green, 1863; Felix A. Wilcox, 1864 to '67, both inclusive; Avery A. Dolbear, 1868 to Ô75, both inclusive; Orson Green, 1876. The township of Rollin is a handsome faced country, has rich soil, and is well watered. It produces bountiful crops of all the important farm products. Its dairy interest is large, and its fruit among the finest in the country. The people have not been inattentive to the claims of education or religion. It has a sufficient number of neat and commodious school houses, and its district schools are of a high order. It has four churches within its borders--one each in the villages of Rollin and Addison, one at the centre of the town, and a Friends' meeting-house on section sixteen. VI. WOODSTOCK. The first township meeting of the township of Woodstock was held at the house of Jesse Osborn on the fourth day of April, 1836. The officers elected were: Nahum Lamb, supervisor; Thomas McCourtie, township clerk; David Terrell, Samuel Dunn and Joseph Younglove, justices of the peace; Israel Titus, Ezekiel W. Sanford, and William Joslin, assessors; Jesse Osborn and John Binns, directors of the poor; Charles McKenzie and Jedediah P. Osborn, constables; Nelson Terrell, Michael Chool and Isaac Titus, commissioners of highways; William Western, Joseph Younglove and Mitchel Gue, commissioners of schools; Alonzo Smith, William Babcock and Wardell W. Sanford, school inspectors; Ezekiel W. Sanford, pound master; Benson Hulin, sealer of weights and measures. In December, 1835, John Talbot commenced preparations for building a mill on Bean Creek, near the outlet of Devil's Lake. The mill was finished in August, 1836. The mill is said to have been situated near the southwest corner of section thirty- three. This was the pioneer grist mill of the Valley, and proved a great accommodation to the settlers. It was a small affair, however, and when run to its full capacity it was unable to do the grinding for even the northern portion of the Valley. In a short time there was quite a collection of houses, shops, etc., around the mill, which received the name of Peru. Page 107 In the fall of l837, Mr. Talbot concluding he could obtain a better power farther down the stream, commenced a new race and mill. Although the mill property is nearly all within the limits of Woodstock, yet the mill was located just south of the township line, in the edge of Rollin, at the middle of unused flume between the present grist and saw mill. The new mill commenced operation in the month of July, l838, and very soon after, all the denizens of Peru moved to and settled around the new mill. During the political campaign of l840, because nearly every voter of the burgh was a Whig, and coon skins (one of the Whig campaign emblems) were displayed at nearly every door, Thomas McCourtie nicknamed it "Coon Town," an appellation it has net entirely outgrown. In l847, April the eighth, it was alatted by the name of Harrison, but soon after became generally known as Addison. The village is situated in two townships; perhaps the greater part in Rollin. In l840 Jesse Osborn and David Terrell built a saw mill on Goose creek, in the northern part of the township. The mill at the village now called Addison was sold to Darius C. Jackson in l842, and about that time the saw mill was built. The present grist mill was built in the fall of l848. Woodstock, like Rollin, is wholly an agricultural township. The face of the country is considerably broken and profusely sprinkled with small lakes; there are fifteen, fourteen of them wholly within its limits. Besides these lakes, there are numerous small streams. Indeed, it may be said of it, "It is well watered everywhere." In l870 there were 11,851 acres of land under cultivation, and the valuation of its farms and live stock exceeds one million of dollars. It has some splended farms and elegant farm houses, and taking it altogether, it is one of the best of our agricultural townships. Of churches, it has not a great number. There is a Methodist Episcopal church in the village of Addison, but it stands within the borders of Rollin. A little north of the village, on the north half of section thirty-one, there is a Friends' meeting house, and on section twenty- one there is a Congregational church. The earliest settlers have all passed away, and those of the second and third years are counted among the oldest men and women of the township. Cornelius Millspaw, the first settler, moved into the township of Somerset before l837, and after a while moved on still farther west. Mrs. Rachael Osborn died in 1851. In 1857 Mr. Jesse Osborn moved to Coffee county, Kansas, where he died in 1865. The township of Woodstock has been the scene of two foul murders, or more properly, of five, for one was a quadruple murder. Mr. and Mrs. Bivins had long been residents of the township, and had won the respect and esteem of all their neighbors. They had but one child, a boy named David. He was not different from other boys, except that he was noticed to have a very revengeful disposition. At an early age he married a daughter of Ezra Sanford. She died July 5th, l862, and it was afterwards thought that David was instrumental in her "taking off." At the time of her death she was but nineteen years of age. In February following he married his second wife, a daughter of Mr. Thomas Brownell, a citizen of Rollin township. Miss Laura Brownell was a young lady of great personal attractions, and appeared to be much attached to her husband, and they lived happily for a time. David took a notion that he ought to have a deed of his fatherls farm, and to induce him to deed it, David enlisted in the army. His idea was that his parents would rather deed him their home than have their only son go into the army. In this he was mistaken. Learning his mistake, he hoped he would not receive his commission and appeared disappointed when it came. He subsequently deserted the army, and at the house of his father-in-law had an interview with his father, who besought him with tears to endeavor in some way to earn an honorable living. As Page 108 it was not safe for David to stay there, his father gave him one hundred dollars, expressing the hope that it was the last money he would ever ask of him. David went to Grafton, in the State of Ohio, and engaged in the sale of Blackman's medicines, and earned some money. While thus employed, he made the acquaintance of Miss Myra Hart, the daughter of a dry goods merchant of Grafton. He was smitten with her charms, and it is believed made some progress in gaining her affections. But there was a Woodstock lady in the way of a consummation of his wishes. He resolved to be rid of this encumbrance, and at the same time secure the property he would need to support Miss Hart. With this thought uppermost in his mind, he left Grafton for Michigan, in January, 1865. He went to his father's house and had an interview with his parents, and wife, and then to Hudson the same day. At the livery stable of Green & Johnson he applied for a saddle horse. Mr. Johnson informed him that they had none, but could furnish him a light buggy. It was winter, but the ground was bare. He gave orders to have the horse and vehicle ready on the arrival of the night train from the east. Having made these arrangements he went east on the afternoon train. He returned on the night train, took the horse and buggy, and driving to the vicinity of his father's house, hitched the horse among some bushes by the roadside. Going into the house he found that his father and mother were absent, taking care of a sick neighbor. His wife was alone. He sent her for his father, saying he must see him immediately. Mrs. Bivins accompanied her husband home. David seated him- self beside his father under pretense of private conversation, and thus held his attention while he presented a pistol to his head and fired. The old man dropped dead. His mother was next slain, and then he faced his wife. She plead with him for the sake of their unborn child to spare her life, but the image of Myra Hart was before his eyes, and the brute at once murdered his wife and their child. He then set fire to the house and retraced his steps to Hudson. He arrived there in time to take the morning train eastward. A robe dropped from the buggy, told who the murderer and incendiary was, and he was immediately arrested. He died in the Michigan State prison. The other murder was that of Rhoda Pennock, who was killed by her husband, James P. Pennock, on the 22d day of April, 1865. Mr. Pennock had formerly lived in the city of Adrian, and there owned the McKenzie farm. He removed to Woodstock about the year 1854, He was upwards of six feet in height, and in 1865 he was sixty-seven years old, and his hair was perfectly white. He owned one hundred and sixty acres of land on the shore of Devil's Lake, on section thirty-four. He was a profane man, excitable and passionate, but had never been intemperate, and although penurious, had never been deemed dishonest. On the question of domestic economy Pennock and his wife had had frequent quarrels. Their son-in-law had been living with them, and most of the household furniture belonged to him and to his wife. They had determined to live apart from the old folks, but the old man objected to a removal of the furniture. Mrs. Pennock took sides with the young folks, and the result was a series of family quarrels. On the afternoon of the 22d, just before dark, the neighbors discovered Pennock's barn to be on fire. They rushed over there and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. When this was done, the house was discovered to be on fire. This fire also was extinguished, but while they were engaged there Pennock succeeded in firing the barn so effectually that it was destroyed. When this third fire was discovered it first occurred to the neighbors that Pennock was the incendiary. Mrs. Pennock was nowhere around, and as darkness had now come on, they procured lights and went in search of her. They found her lifeless body under a bridge which spanned a small stream running into the lake. He had killed her by blows on her head with some blunt instrument. Page 109 The following named citizens have served as supervisors of the township: 1836, Nahum Lamb; 1837, Jesse Selleck; 1838, Samuel Driggs; 1839 to '47, both inclusive, Joel F. Knapp; 1848, Orsamus Lamb; 1849, Samuel Dean; 1850 to '67, both inclusive, Orsamus Lamb; 1868 to '72, both inclusive, Lewis Sanford; 1873 and '74, Manson Carpenter; 1874 to '76, both inclusive, A. M. Sickly. V I I. WHEATLAND. Harvey McGee and family settled in the township of Wheatland late in 1835, and Lyman Pease in February, 1836. Pease had lived for some years west of Adrian, in Lenawee county. At the township meeting held that year, Heman Pratt was elected supervisor, Jno. McKnight clerk, and Heman Pratt, Nelson R. Rowley, Elias Branch and Aaron VanVleet, justices of the peace. Mr. Edson Witherell had, in 1835, located 160 acres of land in Wheatland, and in 1836, in the month of July, he moved his family on to the land. They came from Adrian through Rollin, and were three days making the journey. Their place was at the end of the road; all beyond was wilderness. In 1836 occurred the first birth and death in town six south: or, as it was then organized, the south part of Wheatland. Mrs. Cook gave birth to a son, and a few weeks afterwards died. Elder Parker preached the funeral sermon. It is not perhaps known where or when the first couple were married, or who they were, but there was a marriage in 1836. It was necessary, then, to obtain a license of the township clerk before consummating the marriage contract: The township was possessed of a clerk that year who thought a record of the license of no value, but he demanded and obtained the written consent of the bride's father before granting the license, and this he recorded. In this instance it is as follows: "This my certify that I, Silas Carmichael, of the county of Hillsdale, Michigan Territory, do give my consent for Nancy Carmichael, my daughter, to marry Henry B. Smith, of Logan, Lenawee county, Michigan Territory. SILAS CARMICHAEL. In presence of Henry Carmichael, Dec. 26th, 1836. Squire Carmichael." Mark, too, this clerk was a strict constructionist; he called Michigan a territory, although it had been a defacto State for more than a year. Legally, however, it was a territory. The Nokes school house was probably bui lt in 1836. By this is not meant the present house, but its log predecessor. All agree that it was the first built in town, and the next was built in 1837. This last, the house in No.2, was built by Charles Carmichael. He took the job for $70, began it in June, and finished it July 4th. When the house was completed, he prepared to go to Adrian to buy some flour, as the bread timber was about to give out. Two of his neighbors also sent for a barrel each. When he arrived in Adrian there was only one barrel for sale in the village, and they wanted $18 for it. A man told him if he would wait until next day he would sell him three barrels of flour for $14 a barrel; he expected a car load of flour next morning; (horse cars were then used on the Erie Page 110 and Kalamazoo railroad.) Carmichael agreed to wait. Soon after, Zebulon Williams, who then lived south of Adrian, came along, and pressed Carmichael to go home with him for the night. Carmichael consented, but before going, deposited the money for the flour with the landlord, and apprised the merchant of the fact. Coming back to the village next morning, he saw the man unloading a car load of flour, but the man did not recognize him. Stepping up to him, he asked, "Have you any flour to sell?" "No," said the merchant, "I have none to spare; it is all promised." Carmichael looked blue enough, for well he knew the flour barrel at home must before then be empty. The man noticing his disconsolate looks, continued, by way of apology, "They are nearly starving out in the Bean Creek country; there is a man from there, here, and I have promised him three barrels; the money is deposited with the landlord, and it is all I can spare. My customers must have the rest." "All right," said Carmichael, "I am the man." To yoke his oxen, bring the wagon up, load the flour and start for home, was but the work of an hour, and busily he jogged along until the flour was in the houses of the hungry settlers. Mrs. Charles Carmichael went East on a visit that summer. She started June 8th, and traveled from Adrian to Toledo by horse power, but when she returned, the horses had been exchanged for steam power, and she made the trip to Adrian behind a locomotive. In 1839 Stephen Knapp raised the first frame barn in the township. It stood for several years without doors, and it began to be thought among his neighbors that he hurried it up before he was able to finish so he could say it was the first. Chas. Carmichael built his in 1842. The blacksmith who made the hinges advised him to build his doors first, as barns in Wheatland were liable to stand without doors. But Stephen Knapp was a stirring man, and kept well in advance in all farming work. He sowed the first wheat in 1835. He bought his seed wheat of Charles Ames, traveling a woods road as far as Jesse Smith's when going for his seed. The family also claim he marketed the first corn. The farmers of Wheatland complain of the hard times of 1837, Ô38 and '39, Times were very hard in that new township, and much of it was due to the want of a market. They drew wheat and oats to Adrian and sold them, the first for 47 cents, and the last for 14 cents, per bushel. Perry Knapp took a load of oats to Adrian, and driving into the hotel yard broke a man's wagon tongue. He sold his oats for 14 cents per bushel, and paid a dollar for the tongue. He thinks there was but little profit on that load of oats. When the Wheatland people use to go to Adrian to mill, it took four days to go and come; but if the Adrian mill was full, or had broken down, which was sometimes the case, and they had to go to Tecumseh, it took longer. A story has been told of old-time milling, which was in this wise: In 1834, '35 or '36--no matter which, but before money went out of fashion--a boy of the Valley went to Adrian to mill. He must needs be in a hurry because bread timber was scarce at home, but when he came to Adrian the mill was full. There was not even room to get his grist into the mill until room was made by departing teams. He went to the miller and laid his case before him. The miller shook his head; first come first served was the rule, and it could not be varied. "Can't it be ground at some odd spell?" "No, it must wait its turn." "Well," said the boy, I would like to go home in the morning," and at the same time dropped a silver dollar into the busy man's hand. When he went to the mill in the morning he saw at a glance that his grist was ground. After breakfast he drove his team around, and without asking any questions loaded his grist. The others gathered around, and the question "How is this?" was on every tongue. The miller was too busy to