Early History of Tuscola Co., MI This history was extracted from "History of Tuscola and Bay Counties, Mich. with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of their Prominent Men and Pioneers", published in Chicago by H. R. Page & Co. (1883), p. 20 - 27 This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. *********************************************************************** 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.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** COUNTY TEMPERANCE ALLIANCE. The Michigan State Temperance Alliance, on the 31st of August, 1881, appointed Rev. E. B. Sutton its county agent. On his invitation, Capt. J. C. Bauticue visited the county in January, 1882, organizing the first branch on the 9th, at Ellington, with twenty-three charter members. He visited Caro on the 10th, Watrousville the 11th, and Vassar the 12th. Some twenty township organizations were rapidly formed by him, after which a county convention was called, to meet at Caro. At this convention Rev. E. P. Clark was elected president of the County Alliance; John Staley, Jr. secretary, and Rev. E. B. Sutton, treasurer. A vice president was elected from each township in the county. The organization at present numbers some six hundred members, and is a powerful factor in temperance work through the county. SOLDIERS ASSOCIATION. May 26th, 1882, about seventy ex-soldiers met at the court-house, in the village of Caro, and arranged preliminaries for the organization of a society to be known as the Tuscola County Association of the Soldiers of the War of 1861. At a subsequent meeting, an organization was completed by the adopion of by-laws and the election of officers. The by-laws provided that any honorably discharged soldier could become a member of this association by sub-scribing the roster, giving age, rank, company, regiment, and residence, and paying to the secretary the annual due of twenty-five cents. The time for holding meetings to be the last Tuesday in April, in each year. The officers elected were a follows: President, Col. J. H. Richardson. Vice President, Capt. J. J. Wilder. Treasurer, Maj. B. W. Huston. Secretary, Sergt. N. M. Richardson. Chaplain, Private J. M. Getchel. Surgeon, Capt. D. S. Stevens. The association has a membership of about one hundred. The officers in 1883 are the same as those first elected. JUDICIAL HISTORY. BY HON. B. W. HUSTON. Tuscola County was organized in 1850, and the circuit court for Saginaw County given jurisdiction over the same. No business, however, was transacted in the circuit court under the foregoing provision. In 1851 the State was divided into eight judicial districts, the seventh being composed of Lapeer, Genesee, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Livingston, Tuscola., and Midland Counties. Hon. Sanford M. Green, now judge at Bay City, who resided at Pontiac, was the first circuit judge. At this time there was no railroad nearer to Vassar, where the courts were held, than Pontiac, the judge having to make the trip by stage and private conveyance. He usually came up from Flint, with some of the attorneys who were in the habit of attending court at Vassar. The court was held in May, the country sparsely settled, and the roads almost impassable at that time of the year. Judge Green gave great satisfaction to the people, and was, as he is now, an able and upright judge, having few peers on the bench. The first term of court held in Tuscola County was May 25, 1852, Judge Green presiding, and the business transacted is best shown by the journal entry, which is as follows: "At a special term of the circuit court for the county of Tuscola, begun and held at the court-room of the township of Vassar, in said county, on Tuesday, the twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1852; present, Hon. Sanford M. Green, circuit judge. "There being no business to be transacted, the court adjourned without day." Thus ended the first term of court for Tuscola County. Happy indeed would it have been if it could always have been thus; but there were no lawyers in Tuscola then. The second term of the circuit court was held in Vassar, in May, 1854, continuing three days. The very first business of the court was the ordering of a grand jury. It was at this time the legal profession first made its appearance here. Hon. John Moore and Hon. J. G. Sutherland, both of Saginaw City, being present. Mr. Moore became one of the leading lawyers of the State, and was very popular with the pioneers of Tuscola. He was the first prosecuting attorney, in which capacity he was then acting. Mr. Sutherland was equally as prominent as Mr. Moore, and was afterward a member of congress and a circuit judge. He held two terms for Judge Turner, in this county. He is now at Salt Lake City, and has a large practice and a national reputation. The names of the grand jury summoned were as follows: Wesley Armstrong, Lucius Preston, Frederick Bourns, Hugh Max-well, Wing R. Bartlett, Samuel North, J. G. Belknap, Matthew D. North, Alonzo W. Davis, T. M. Histed, E. W. Perry, Eben Morse, James Whaley, Nelson Hews, Albert Haner, Benjamin Gardner, Paschal Richardson, O. A. Gibbs, Lewis H. Sturges, David G. Slafter, Edward Sturges, and William H. Randall. E. W. Perry was elected foreman of the jury. Of this jury, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Slafter were afterward members of the State legislature, and Mr. Bourns county clerk for eight years. So far as known, the following members of this jury are dead, viz: Lucius Preston, Hugh Maxwell, Samuel North, J. G. Belknap, Alonzo W. Davis, E. W. Perry, James Whaley, Nelson Hews, Paschal Richardson, Lewis H. Sturges, and Edward Sturges. Mr. Preston was killed in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, in 1864, and Mr. Hews died from disease contracted in the service. They were both members of Company D, Twenty-third Michigan Volunteers Infantry. The jury found two indictments, which of course were the first indictments found in the county; one against Milton Whitney, a well-known justice of the peace at that time, and for several years after, of Arbela Township, the charge against him being "for undertaking to join in marriage William Hunter and Julia Ann Hammond, knowing of a legal impediment" to the proposed marriage. Whitney recognized for his appearance for trial at the next term of court, in the sum of $100. The other indictment was found against Mary E. McFarland, the crime charged being murder. She gave bail for her appearance for trial at the next term of court, in the sum of $1,000. The other business transacted at this term of court was one certiorari case heard and reversed, an appeal case dismissed, and two judgments by default, aggregating $257.86. One year from this time the third term of court was held at Vassar in the ball-room of the old Vassar Hotel, which was destroyed by fire some years ago, one of the early landmarks on Cass River. Judge Green presided and the court convened May 22, 1855. There was one attorney residing in the county at this time, being the writer of this sketch, who settled in Vassar in March, 1855. Harvey Joslin was admitted to practice at this term, being the first attorney admitted in Tuscola County. He remained in the county a few months, then went to East Saginaw, where he was in practice several years, removing from there to Grand Rapids, where he now resides. There was one judgment taken at this term of court by default: Mary E. McFarland was tried upon the indictment found against her at the last term of court, and acquitted. This was the first jury case in the circuit court, and the following named gentlemen composed the jury, to wit: DeWitt Norton, Milo Gates, Dennis Spooner, John D. Joslin, David G. Slafter, Alfred Holmes, Elliot Burnett, Joshua D. Smith, John Baker, Oliver A. Dickinson, Charles Anthony and David H. Andrews. John Moore was prosecuting attorney and tried the case on behalf of the people, and the writer defended. It appears by the above that the first criminal case tried in the court we are now referring to was that of murder. Hons. William Norton, now circuit judge at Flint, Levi Walker, of Flint, J. G. Sutherland, William L. Webber and some other attorneys were present. May 27, 1856, the court again convened. Judge Green was present and presided, this being the last term of court he held in the county. Old citizens will remember the intense excitement that prevailed among the people when the grand jury brought in, as it did at this term, an indictment against three of the leading citizens of the county on a charge of conspiracy. The case was tried at the next term of court and the defendants acquitted without the jury retiring from their seats. Gov. Wisner was present as counsel for the defendants. A large number of attorneys were present from Flint, Saginaw and other counties, and the little village of Vassar was full of people. The two hotels could not furnish beds, and attorneys, jurymen, sheriffs and witnesses obtained a night's rest by sleeping on the floor at the hotels or otherwise as best they could. H. P. Atwood, of Caro, appeared on record in some cases for the first time, and he has remained in practice to the present date. Jacob Allen, a well-to-do farmer of Juniata Township, was admitted to citizenship at this term of court. He was the first person admitted to citizenship in Tuscola County. It was at this term of court that a well-known attorney, in a divorce case, had his bill of complaint dismissed because some of the pages were "wrong end up." In the spring of 1857 Hon. Josiah Turner, of Howell, Livingston County, was elected circuit judge of the Seventh Judicial District, term to commence January 1, 1858. Judge Green, however, having resigned, Judge Turner was appointed to the vacancy, and held his first term in this county at Vassar, May 26, 1857. Judge Turner continued to file the position of judge of the Seventh Judicial District until the organization of the Twenty-fourth District in 1879, which consists of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties. During the' most of this time he was very popular with the people as well as the attorneys. He was an upright judge, lacking some-what in industry. Had he brought more industry to the bench he would have been the equal in ability of any judge in the State. When Judge Turner came to the bench, Bay County had been organized and attached to the Seventh District, and during his long and honorable period of service, the judicial districts were trebled, a number of new judicial districts being carved out of the Seventh. Large and flourishing cities had grown up where there were only woods, among which is the third city of the State, there being now the cities of East Saginaw, Saginaw, West Bay City and Bay City, which were mere hamlets, that in the aggregate have at this time 75,000 population. The present judicial district, composed of Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac Counties, was formed in 1879. At the annual town meetings in the spring of that year Hon. Levi L. Wixson was elected circuit judge for two years, and re-elected for six years in the spring of 1881. At the time of his election Judge Wixson resided at Lexington, in Sanilac County. He no w resides at Caro, the county seat of Tuscola County. Judge Wixson was born January 9, 1829, admitted to the bar in 1861, graduated from the law department of Michigan University in 1862, and was in practice from that time until his election as judge. He was three times elected prosecuting attorney and three times judge of probate of Sanilac County. He is an able, honest and painstaking judge. It may be well, at this point in this sketch, to refer to some of the most prominent members of the bar in this county • in the last quarter of a century. Henry P. Atwood, who commenced practice in this county in 1856 and still continues in practice, has, during all that time, been prominently before the people. He was born April 13, 1822, in Tompkins County, N. Y. He came to Ingham County in this State, in 1836. He was county clerk in Ingham County in 1848 and 1849; was a member of the house of representatives from Tuscola County in 1855. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1860, his opponent being the writer, and re-elected in 1862 and 1864 without opposition. He was in 1872 again elected prosecuting attorney, his opponent being C. P. Black, and re-elected in 1874. No man, owing to his long residence in the county, his prominence at the bar, and the public positions he has held, is better known to the people of this and surrounding counties than is Mr. Atwood. He is now and has been one of the leading lawyers of the county. C. P. Black is an able lawyer, and owing to his having been a candidate for congress several times, has a State reputation. He came to Tuscola County in 1866 and was admitted to the bar in 1867. In 1873 he went to Marquette and was elected prosecuting attorney of that county. He afterward returned to Tuscola County and now resides at Caro. He is a representative of the Second Representative District of the county in the State legislature. Mr. Black is an able lawyer, very popular with the people and justly has many warm friends. In the spring of 1868 John P. Hoyt came to Vassar and settled. He was a young attorney looking for a place to locate. He went into the law office of B. W. Huston, was elected prosecuting attorney in the fall, re-elected in 1870, and elected to the house of representatives in 1872, re-elected in 1874, and on the convening of the legislature was elected speaker. In June, 1876, he was appointed by the President, secretary of Arizona Territory and subsequently governor. He is now one of the judges of the supreme court of Washington Territory. Mr. Hoyt was only an average advocate, but as a lawyer, pure and simple, he was unquestionably the best lawyer Tuscola County has yet had, either on the bench or at the bar. One of the most promising young men that was ever admitted to the Tuscola bar was Prof. L. D. Keyes, the first principal of the Vassar Union School. He was a man of energy and pluck. On the breaking out of the rebellion he raised a company, went into the service as captain and was killed in battle in October, 1862. John L. Richardson, of Tuscola, at present a member of the bar, was in the army as lieutenant and did good service for his country. Mr. Richardson is a good lawyer, and has many friends. Also among the prominent attorneys ins the county may be mentioned R. P. Edson, B. L. Rainsford and T. C. Quinn, of Caro, E. H. Taylor, of Vassar, at present prosecuting attorney, A. B. Markham, of Mayville, and D. E. Dozer, of Unionville. There are in addition, to the foregoing the following members of the bar, some in practice and some not. D. G. Wilder, of Watrousville, Henry Dozer, of Unionville; E. B. Landon, H. Butler, of Cass City ; William N. West, Fred S. Wheat, L. H. Orr, H. H. Mark-ham, William C. Buchanan, T. W. Atwood, George F. Gilly, George W. Davis, of Caro ; D. B. Richardson and J. M. Tony, of Millington; H. S. Hadsall, George S. Sales, F. L. Fales, of Vassar. In March, 1860, Oliver L. Spaulding, now of Chicago, was admitted. His examination consisted of his singing the song, " He was a fine old Deutcher Shentleman." In 1860 the county seat case arose. The board of supervisors assumed to remove the county seat from Vassar to "Moonshine." The latter was the name given to a point near Cass City on the bank of Cass River and only three or four miles from the county line between Sanilac and Tuscola Counties. The excitement was at white heat at the special meeting of the board and the friends of removal persistent. The history of this matter is elsewhere given. The injunction case went through the courts and the injunction was sustained. Some amusing incidents occurred at the sittings of the court during the early years of the county. In 1860, Hon. A. P. Davis, of Flint, who was then State senator, was present. He was a man easily imposed upon. He was anxious to be nominated to congress by the Republicans, and during the term he and his political friends determined to hold a Republican meeting in the court-room. There was a large number of lawyers present, and among them Hons. J. G. Sutherland, Sumner Howard, William Newton and C. H. Wisner, all royal good fellows, lovers of fun and at that time nearly all Democrats. Knowing Mr. Davis' weakness the boys determined to capture the organization of the meeting, and did so by being on hand before the prominent Republicans knew what was projected. Mr. Sutherland was duly elected chairman of the meeting and made one of his witty speeches in introducing Mr. Davis as the speaker for the evening, calling the attention of the people to the great obligations they were under to Mr. Davis for his proposed amendment, in the senate, to the game law by changing the orthography of the word "woodcock." The Democrats gave Mr. Davis rounds of applause and kept him speaking more than two hours to their amusement and the disgust of Republicans. A committee of Democrats was appointed to draft resolutions which were drawn up, presented and adopted with due solemnity and to the great delight of Mr. Davis, who presented them to the Tuscola County Pioneer for publication. He also took them to Flint and had them published in the Democratic paper there, remarking that "Bartlett would not publish them in the Pioneer because they spoke of the bad roads in Tuscola County." It was at this term of court that a lover of fun sent an attorney, who had driven into Vassar to attend court for the first time, up the Vassar hill to find the hotel where the "lawyers stopped." The Vassar hill at that time of the year, on account of a spring about half way up, was impassable and in a short time lawyer and horse were floundering in the mud. We have referred to Milton Whitney the Arbela justice. A case was brought before him to recover for a horse accidentally killed. The defendant appeared with two attorneys, the plaintiff with one and the justice-the case was to be tried by jury. Before the trial began the justice took the plaintiff's attorney one side and said to him, "If there is any evidence you do not want to go to the jury, object, object strong, and it will be all right." The trial commenced; the plaintiff's counsel followed instructions, and the justice and the two attorneys for the defendant had it "hot and heavy " all night, and the justice won the case. It was the same justice who in another case decided that if a party proved one item of his account it proved the whole and the other party could not introduce any evidence against it. In 1858 Thomas Rutherford sued N. W. Perkins before A. Pennell, Esq., then proprietor of the People's House at Vassar, for damages done to his growing potatoes by Perkins' hogs. Each of the parties had his attorney present, both of whom are still practicing in the county. The plaintiff proved the trespass and the dam-ages. The defendant then proved that the plaintiff had no fence around his field as required by law at that time. To meet this position the plaintiff's attorney made a long and elaborate argument, during which he read considerable law, though none of it met the case as there was no such law, to prove the law unconstitutional that prohibited recovery in such cases without having a lawful fence. The defendant's counsel made a long and eloquent argument in reply, insisting among other things that it was "absurd" for a justice of the peace to pass upon the constitutionality of the acts of the legislature. When he closed the justice said, "I decide that law unconstitutional;" whereupon the defendant's counsel forgetting the respect due the bench, shook his clenched fist under the justice's nose and indulged in the following comment, "You d-d old fool." The plaintiff had judgment and obtained pay for the potatoes. At this time both of these attorneys resided at Vassar; one of them always brought his suits before Pennell, the other before J. G. Belknap, another justice, and it is well known that neither of them ever lost a case. On one occasion the attorney who had influence in Belknap's court "got even " with his friend who was the favorite in Pennell's court. A case was pending before Belknap that was not properly brought; the defendant's counsel moved to dismiss, read the law and referred to the authority in Tiffany's justice guide. When he had concluded his remarks the justice said, "I beg leave to differ with Mr. Tiffany," and overruled the motion. When Mr. Atwood was a candidate for representative, Mr. Belknap was at the polls, worked hard for Mr. Atwood all day, forgot to vote himself. Time and space will not permit relating any further experiences in justice court though a large volume might be filled with them. When the writer commenced practice in the spring of 1855 there were only two postoffices in the county-one at Tuscola and one at Vassar. The scattered settlers for over forty miles up the Cass River, at Sebewaing and as far as Port Austin in Huron County, received their mail at Vassar. There was no postoffice in Huron County and none between Vassar and Lexington. The roads were only Indian trails and lumber roads cut through the woods to lumber camps along the streams. There was no livery at Vassar; the writer was too poor to own a horse and frequently went in those early days to suit and legal business on foot to Sebewaing and other points thirty and forty miles distant. The attorney of to- day can have no adequate idea of the hardships and incidents of the practice in justice courts at that time. To obtain a jury it would not unfrequently be necessary to obtain every available man for miles around, even at a distance of six to ten miles, requiring a day or more of time. When engaged in justice court practice the attorney usually made his home in the primitive house of his client or in some lumber camp. In that early day the wants of the attorney were moderate and the pay the same. A trip to Sebewaing on foot, taking three days' time, a distance of thirty-two miles, was worth $15. Four dollars a day were an outside figure, and in a long case deductions were made. I refer to the above so that the curious may contrast the great change that has taken place in legal practice in the last twenty-eight years in this county, as well as in all that makes a people wealthy, happy and prosperous. A POETIC INCIDENT. It is not usual to sift the sweepings of a court room for poetry, but the following shows that such a search would sometimes be re-warded. In June, 1873, among the criminal cases being tried in the circuit court at Caro was that of a young man named Myers, charged with stealing a horse while on his way from Bay City to some point in Tuscola County. Myers claimed to have found the horse by the roadside and being weary borrowed it temporarily for a ride. He was defended by Hon. C. P. Black, of Caro. O. J. Atkinson, a lawyer from Port Huron, was trying a case and agreed with Mr. Black that if he would make the plea in his case, he, Atkinson, would write an argument for Mr. Black in his Myers' case. Mr. Black made the plea, during which Mr. Atkinson wrote a poem, which Mr. Black read to the jury, and submitted his case without anything additional. The jury acquitted the prisoner. The allusion to "Moonshine" will be understood when it is remembered that when the county seat was located at Cass City the place was called Moonshine. The poem was as follows: Myers was on his way to Moonshine, Where sage justice took her seat; When the sun poured down hot terror, Myers trod with weary feet Up the sandy road to Moonshine, Up where frogs and lizzards meet. Myers was tired; his feet were weary; Walking long his strength had tired, And seized with moral kleptomania Myers resolved to take a ride Up the sandy road to Moonshine, Up where frogs and lizzards hide. So he took a horse found grazing On the highway, near the hill, Scorning saddle, girt or bridle, Guiding only by his will Riding up the road to Moonshine, Where are frogs and lizzards still. But the people-God forgive them- By their scion of the law, Looking at this whole proceeding, Crimes and misdemeanors draw. Such a people, such a scion, None but Moonshine ever saw. HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. A brief sketch of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Tuscola County is furnished by Rev. J. O. Bancroft, a pioneer minister, as follows: "The first inhabitants of Tuscola County settled in the town of Tuscola, 1835-'36. "Rev. Mr. Whitwan, a local preacher, a brick mason by trade, then living at Flint, in 1839, preached the first sermon ever preached in the county, at the house of Dennis Harrison, of Tuscola. At this time Larmon Chatfield was presiding elder of Grand River District, in which Tuscola County was embraced. The first class was organized at Tuscola, March 3, 1849, consisting of Lovira Hart, Esther Hart, Leander W. Van Kleeck, Emily Van Kleeck and Mary Hines. It was connected with Saginaw Circuit, Grand River District, Andrew Bell being preacher in charge, and George Bradley presiding elder. In the spring of 1849 Townsend North settled in Vassar. The itinerant minister soon followed. October 14, 1851, was organized by S. P. Lee, preacher in charge, the first society in Vassar. This class, which afterward disbanded, consisted of L. W. Van Kleeck and wife, who had moved, from Tuscola, Ebenezer Morse, Elizabeth and Harriet Gibbs, wives of Sabin and Orin Gibbs. Tuscola Circuit was formed in September, 1853, with Thomas Joslin as preacher in charge. Charles Haines, appointed to Tuscola Circuit in 1854, formed a class of six members at Vassar. Out of this has grown the present church. "In 1855 Mr. Hutchins was appointed to Tuscola Circuit. He was followed in 1856 by Lewis Mitchell. In 1857 Erastus Klumph was appointed to Tuscola Circuit. As the county was fast being settled, he extended the work and took new appointments in the northern part of the county. "It being necessary to have an assistant, Daniel Miller, a local preacher of South Flint Circuit, was sent as a supply by Samuel Clement, at that time presiding elder, of Flint District. "In 1858 E. Klumph was returned with Rufus H. Crane as junior preacher. "Mr. Klumph was very successful in revival work, and during his administration formed classes at several new points. At the conference of 1859 the name of the circuit was changed to Tuscola and Watrousville. John O. Bancroft was appointed preacher in charge, and Menzo S. Leet, junior preacher. The circuit at this time embraced all the inhabitants in the county on the north side of Cass River, that part of the town of Tuscola on the south side of the river, the western part of Millington and nearly all of Arbela. The appointments were in the following towns and designated on the church records by the following names: Tuscola, Arbela, Town-line (this was what was called at the time Owlsburg school-house, on the town line between Tuscola and Arbela), Vassar, Watrousville, South Juniata, (at Belknap school-house); North Juniata, (at Allen school-house); Ellington, preaching first at the log house of J. B. McKenney, and afterward at a log school-house near there, and at the Sutton school-house; Almer, at the houses of Benjamin Haymon, Wesley Hess and Jacob Clyne, alternately, until the Clyne school-house was enclosed; North Akron, at the house of David Clark, afterward at the school-house one and a half miles south and west of Unionville; South Akron, at the log cabin of Father Waldo, until the Cook school-house was built; Fair Grove Center, in log school- house; Southwest Fair Grove, at Hinson school-house; Southeast Fair Grove, at More-land school-house; Denmark, at log house of John Nickerson, until there was a board shanty built for a school-house; East Denmark, at Baker school-house; also occasional preaching at other places. "In 1860, J. O. Bancroft was returned with John Hamilton as junior preacher. During the two years pastorate of 1859 and 1860 there were extensive revivals at Arbela, South Juniata, North Juniata, Denmark, and other places in some measure; 118 persons were received on probation in the church, and twelve Sunday-schools organized. "At this time ministers had to do much of their traveling on horseback, and Mr. Bancroft could relate many incidents of fording streams and passing through swamps, etc. He relates the following labor performed during his last round on the circuit. Leaving Tuscola, where he resided, Friday morning, he soon met a gentleman who said: "My niece desires you to perform the ceremony at her wedding, at Watrousville, Sunday evening." Mr. B. told him that his Sunday evening appointment was fourteen miles away and he could not promise to be there until 12 o'clock at night. The young lady in question was consulted, and said she had rather wait till 12 o'clock than to be married by a justice of the peace. But to return to the labor; he went from Tuscola to South Akron and preached Friday afternoon. Having an appointment for a two-days meeting at North Akron, he preached Saturday after-noon; Sunday morning held love feast, preached, took several persons into full connection in the church, administered the sacraments of baptism and Lord's Supper, rode six miles to the Almer appointment at Clyne school-house, preached at 2 o'clock, received persons into the church, administered baptism, held class meeting, rode six miles to the Sutton school-house, preached, received members into the church and held class meeting, then started on the four-teen miles ride to the wedding. On approaching the house at about half-past ten, he found the road filled with young people, looking and wondering if the minister would come. So the happy two were made one. At about 12 o'clock supper was served, after which the guests returned to their homes. He describes a congregation and scene at the Denmark appointment. The congregation consisted of twelve adults, one boy and thirteen babies. While he was preaching one child got down from its mother's lap, went to another child who was sitting in a little chair, and made as though it would kiss it, but instead, bit its nose, and what a time! Soon all was quiet, and the preaching was progressing, when the mother let the child get down again. It repeated the same performance. Also, an instance of coming to a stream which he had never crossed during high water. He dismounted, sent his horse in, and was passing over on some trees, placed into the stream for that purpose. When the horse had reached an island in the middle of the stream, he turned round and made back for the shore. A race ensued. The Reverend gentleman slipped on some poles as he reached the crossing of a bayou and dislocated his shoulder. The horse, running through the woods, scattered the Sunday-school papers as he went. Mr. B. had to walk more than a mile before he could get help to put the joint in place. At the conference of 1861 the circuit was divided, and William Birdsall was appointed to Tuscola and John Hamilton to Watrousville. In 1862 C. L. Church was sent to Tuscola and A. Herrick to Watrousville. At the conference of 1863 the name of Tuscola Circuit was changed to Vassar, and J. Horton appointed pastor. In 1864 the two circuits were joined, E. Klumph being preacher. He was succeeded in 1865 by J. B. Russel. The same year Nathan Pierce was appointed to Millington. At the conference of 1866 the Watrousville and Vassar Circuit was divided and a new circuit formed, called Dayton and Kingston. John Hamilton was appointed to Vassar but did not go. A. J. Van Fleet supplied it. J. B. Russel returned to Watrousville. J. H. McClure went to Millington, W. J. Johnson to Dayton and Kingston. In 1867 the appointments were as follows: Vassar, J. O. Bancroft; Watrousville, J. H. Caster; Dayton and Kingston, L. L. Houghton; Millington, J. H. McClure. These appointments for 1868 were unchanged except Millington, to which Mr. Miles was appointed. 1869.-Vassar, J. O. Bancroft; Watrousville and Caro, R. C. Lanning; Cass City, J. E. Withey; Unionville, A. Whitcomb; Dayton and Kingston, L. L. Houghton; Millington, Miles. At the conference in 1870 a new circuit was formed, called Mayville, so at that time seven Methodist Episcopal ministers were appointed to Tuscola County. And thus the work has progressed, new fields been opened and occupied as development has advanced, until in 1883 there are ten stations and circuits, with an equal number of ministers, and eleven church edifices. A PIONEER MINISTER. John Orlando Bancroft was born August 16, 1826, in Fowler, Trumbull County, Ohio. He was descended from John Bancroft who came over from London, Eng., on the "James," and after an eight weeks' voyage arrived at Lynn, Mass., June 12, 1632. He is of the eighth generation in this country. His father removed to the territory of Michigan in October, 1831, and settled in the town of Raisin, Lenawee County, two and a half miles from Tecumseh. In December, 1835, he removed to St. Clair County, and settled twelve miles from St. Clair village, where he remained two years, then removed to the town of Bristol, now Almont, Lapeer County. He was married in Marathon, Lapeer County, to Huldah P. Richmond, April 22, 1847. He then settled on some new land, which he had bought, two and a half miles west of Almont. Here he remained clearing up and tilling his farm, teaching school winters, until September, 1853, when he was received into the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was appointed to Lexington Circuit. In 1854 he was appointed to Armada, where he remained two years. In 1856 he went to South Flint, remaining there two years. In 1858 he was sent to Goodrich circuit. In 1859 he was appointed to Tuscola and Watrousville circuit, which then embraced all of Tuscola County on the north side of Cass River, the town of Arbela and part of Millington on the south side. The circuit then consisted of ten towns, with sixteen appointments. His next stations were Brighton two years, Pinckney two years, Holly two years. In 1867 he was returned to Tuscola County and stationed at Vassar, where he remained three years. He removed thence to Clarkston in 1870. In 1872 he was appointed to Oxford, remained there three years. In 1875 he was returned to Tuscola County and stationed at Watrousville. In 1877 he was sent to Hess Street, East Saginaw, and in 1879 to Midland City. At the conference of 1881, after twenty-eight years of labor and toil, he asked and received from the conference a superannuated relation, and settled among his old friends in the village of Vassar, where very soon after he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. During Mr. Bancroft's ministry of twenty-eight years he preached at fourteen stations and circuits, received 280 members on church certificate, 1,069 probationers and 637 into full member-ship from probation, baptized 579 persons, married 215 couples, attended 379 funerals, administered the Lord’s Supper 99 times, preached 4,667 times, and during the last twenty years made 5,168 pastoral visits. Mr. Bancroft’s family consists of himself and wife and four children. There are two sons, John R. Bancroft, a hardware merchant at Vassar, and Rev. E. B. Bancroft, a member of the Detroit annual conference, and now stationed at Tawas, Mich.; also two daughters, Sarah H., engaged with her father in the furniture business, and Nellie E., just entering the Sophomore year at the Michigan University. Two daughters have been buried. FOREST FIRES. The forest fires of the years 1871 and 1881 constituted memorable epochs in the history of Tuscola County. In both instances it was truly a baptism by fire. The first visitation was fiercest and most terrific owing to the fact that the land was more generally covered with timber, much of which was down and very dry. No language can describe the fury of the tempest as the billows of flame were hurled hither and thither along the track of destruction. The destruction of timber was enormous, and in this respect the fires of this period surpassed those of 1881. THE FIRE OF 1871. The damage done by the fires of 1871 was mainly confined to the destruction of timber. Enos Goodrich, of Watertown, gives some personal recollections of a night of fire in which are vividly portrayed scenes and experiences that were common during the fiery ordeal of that period. Mr. Goodrich says: "On Sunday, the 8th of October, 1871, though the woods and fields were very dry, no special alarm or apprehension existed among the inhabitants. Settlers on new farms had continued to fire their fallows in the customary manner, until there was scarce a farm or clearing in the county where fire did not exist; in most cases it did not run in the woods to any alarming extent, but remained quietly slumbering and smoldering in the alluvial soil, in old stumps or the trunks of decayed trees. It is almost incredible what a sudden and electric effect a change of atmosphere can exert upon these hidden fires. On Sunday afternoon the wind blew fresh from the southwest, and with a husky dryness I have scarce ever experienced in my life. Under its magic inspiration these smoldering fires sprung into life in all directions. Fires that had been supposed to be extinct for weeks sent forth first their smoke and then their flames; and whatever object they touched became ignited with the rapidity of kiln dried flax. "Between two o'clock P. M. and sunset, so rapid was the spread of fire in some localities that many persons were accused of setting fires, where such a thing had never been thought of. At just mid-night I was alarmed by Henry S. Chaplain, a neighbor of mine, who came to inform me that the fire was raging in the fences of a field on my improvement near his residence. I aroused the household, and with a force of some half dozen men, hurried to the scene of action. On our arrival we found Mrs. Chaplain, a lady of near seventy years, combating the conflagration single-handed. Hurrying to her relief, we removed fences, tore up stumps and roots, and raked leaves until, aided by the dampening influences of approaching morning, we succeeded in subduing the fire. "A scout around the fields to see where danger threatened most, and a hurried breakfast, ushered in the dawn of the eventful 9th of October, '71. Having been honored by my townsmen with a seat on the board of supervisors, and this being the day fixed by law for their annual meeting, I must prepare for a hasty departure. Admonished by the threatening aspect of affairs, I placed a faithful guard of men around my steam saw-mill and lumber yard, which was nearly surrounded by woods, with a vast amount of fallen timber and combustible matter. Fortunately, the location was flanked on the west by a pond I had raised for floating and booming logs, a circumstance to which I was doubtless indebted for the saving of the mill. "After having given full instructions to the men to remove rubbish, to plow and drench with water, I proceeded on my way to Caro, our county seat. By this time the morning had so far wasted that one hour and fifty minutes, which brought me to Hurd's Corners, a distance of sixteen miles, found it past noon. Halting here at Wright's Tavern to partake of dinner and refresh my horse, I next proceeded onward toward Wahjamega. After crossing Sucker Creek I entered the low and level hemlock woods; and though I had been surrounded by fire all the distance, here for the first time it began to be particularly annoying. I feared obstructions in the way, but learned that a force had been detached to cut out fallen timber and clear the track. As I advanced, sometimes the dense smoke, black and sodden with pitch, would meet me in the face and produce temporary suffocation, from which cause I at times had fears that my horse would fall down in the harness. Sometimes the sheeted flames would rise on both sides of the track, and close and mingle above my head. Sometimes I would pause in a gap to catch a breath of free air, and watch the flames careering across the track before me—waiting for a momentary lull—when my faithful horse would again bound like a deer through flame and smoke. Meanwhile the crash of falling timbers in all directions, and the raining down of burning limbs and bark, admonished me of the danger of the situation. "Pushing on in this way until I came to the angle in the road, near Wahjamega, I began to congratulate myself that I was about out of the woods. Near this point I met Supervisors Hurd of Dayton and Wright of Wells. These gentlemen brought the intelligence that a quorum of the board had convened, and, bringing news that the devastations of the fire were widespread and universal throughout the county, they had adjourned for two weeks, and hurried away to protect their several homes from the fearfully impending danger. "Turning my horse, I followed in the wake of these two gentlemen, and another suffocating and breathless chase found us on the borders of the improvements near Sucker Creek, with the burning woods behind us. Slowly now I wended my onward course; and as I wound my way along that elevation of land west of Hurd's Corners, the shades of evening were closing around me. All around the improvements the woods were lighted up with fire. In some places it showed itself in brilliant and evanescent gleamings above the top of the dense forests— in others, the lurid flame would unroll its long, sweeping scrolls, and, rising and sinking with the passing wind, would ignite every object within its reach. Especially to the south and east of Hurd's Corners did the fire seem to glory in its fearful revelry. While on the one hand the flame was struggling to produce the brightness of noonday, on the other hand the dense clouds of pitchy smoke seemed determined to maintain the darkness of night. Never were light and darkness mingled together with more confusion than in these burning fields and woods. "My horse, which had been in the harness since midnight of the night previous, showed no signs of faltering; but I knew he would require rest and refreshment before overcoming the sixteen miles that lay between me and my home in Watertown. I turned in at Wright's Tavern; but before going to bed I was told that several buildings in the neighborhood were burning, and many others so closely threatened that there was little hope of saving them. I went to bed, but could not rest. I was impressed with the conviction that my mill must burn. At last, hearing footsteps in the bar-room, I dressed myself hastily and emerging from my room I bid the landlord 'Good morning.' My surprise may be imagined when he told me it was only half past ten, and he was just fixing to go to bed. But I told him I could not let him off till I had my horse. He remonstrated, and thought I was crazy. 'Why,' said he, 'you can never get through. Timber is falling all the time, in all directions, and your road will be blocked up;—and that is not all,' said he, 'those big buildings of Ketchum's lumber camp, a mile south of here, are now burning, and it will be impossible to pass them.' "I replied to him, it was impossible for me to stay longer where I was, and that whether I went through or not, I certainly should go as far as I could. So the horse and buggy were soon ready, and I once more started on my fiery journey. Passing very comfortably for some distance, I soon came to where the road was enclosed on the west side by a long range of pine log heaps, and this range of heaps was in a clear blaze from one end to the other; while on the east side large masses of timber and brush were also burning in the most furious manner. It was a fiery gauntlet to think of running; and as I approached the entrance my progress was arrested by a loud voice shouting through smoke and fire and light and darkness, on my right. I halted, and answered through the gloom, but no person could be seen. “`Drive slow,' shouted a stentorian voice through the smoke. 'Can I get through?' I inquired of my invisible monitor. 'You can,' said he, 'if you can get the first forty rods.' This was interesting intelligence, but it would have been somewhat more pleasing had not that word if been interpolated. I thanked my invisible friend, and looking earnestly into the passage, into which I could see about as far as the end of my nose, I bade the horse advance. As I entered between the two walls of fire I could catch glimpses of logs in the track which had doubtless been thrown there in tearing down the burning heaps with a vain hope of arresting the fire. Had my course been arrested I could not have turned back without suffocating both myself and horse. Onward was the only way to daylight-the only road to a breath of air that could be inhaled without suffocation—and on we went until our egress was as sudden as our ingress. Here we paused for one more breath of pure air. But a short space in advance, and there were the Ketchum and Roberts lumber camps—first a capacious boarding-house and barn of vast proportions, and next a large blacksmith shop. A few hours before I had passed these buildings, overshadowing the road with their vast proportions. Now the walls had fallen and they were a furnace of fire. Seeing that the way was clear and free from obstructions, I determined on a hasty passage, and putting my horse to his utmost speed—a few instants—a few powerful bounds, and the fiery mass was behind us. "It was now not far from midnight, and fifteen miles of fire and smoke lay between me and home. Deeming that the worst was past, I now resolved to take things calmly. As I passed the farm-houses and the cabins of new settlers no signs of slumber were visible. Lamps and candles were burning, and shed their dim light out on the smoky air. Tables were set at midnight, and refreshments served for those whose day of labor knew no night of rest. Dim and ghost-like the forms of men, women and children were seen moving to and fro through the smoke, as fences, piles of lumber or shocks of corn were being removed to some place that might afford a hope of security. "As I passed onward through fire and smoke, amid the sound of falling timber, I reached a spot between Hurd's Corners and Mayville, where for a distance of some half a mile the road was over-hung by a continuous forest of dead hemlocks. These trees, from the ground to the topmast pinnacle, were a perfect mass of fire. Fiery limbs were falling in all directions, and now and then a sweeping blast would fill the air with millions of star-like particles of fire. I thought of Byron's Siege of Corinth: `When into countless meteors driven. Her earth stars melted into heaven, Whose clouds that day grew doubly dun, Impervious to the hidden sun With volumed smoke that slowly grew To one wide sky of sulphurous hue.' "I passed on without obit action until, within less than two miles of home, near Foster's camp, on the Crapo lands, my course was arrested by a huge pine that stretched its massive trunk square across the road. Here was no chance for an argument. Turning back to where I could leave my horse in trusty hands, I soon made the balance of my journey home on foot. It was three o'clock in the morning when I reached my steam mill. The ground had been cleared of rubbish, and a broad track had been plowed and harrowed around the mill and piles of lumber, which the boys had christened their race course. They had deluged this track, and the lumber piles, and the ground on which they stood, with hogsheads of water. "Gray morning, struggling through the smoke, rose slowly over the eastern woods. I called in the aid of men from Foster's camp, whose services had been kindly offered for the occasion. All dead trees from which fire might be blown to the mill were speedily cut down. A line of men with water-barrels and buckets was formed around the mill. The wind blew a gentle breeze from the southwest; the time seemed opportune; and at a signal the torch was applied to the masses of dead timber and brushwood all along outside our line of defense. A few brief moments and the whole woods frontage, from the ground to a hundred feet above the tallest trees was a livid sheet of flame. It was literally astonishing to see with what rapidity the forest melted down before the destroying element. As quickly as the blaze began to subside, the men followed it with drenching masses of water; and in a few hours all was pronounced safe. 'Just at this juncture the heavens saluted the earth with a gentle shower. Never was lain more universally welcomed than now; and that night, for the first time in many days, our frontier settlers lay down to their much-needed rest, with tranquil minds and grateful hearts. "But alas! it was not so with all. In many places, and even in our neighboring counties of Huron and Sanilac, the blackness of desolation marked the spot where, but a few hours before, stood flourishing villages and hamlets- the habitation of families then prosperous and happy, but now homeless and stricken and sorrowful-their numbers thinned by a death the most horrible that can be imagined. The sad work of gathering the corpses of their departing friends and consigning them to their last resting place, was the sequel to one of the most thrilling chapters in the history of our Peninsular State." THE FIRES OF 1881. The early fall of 1881 had been preceded by a season of unusual dryness. The thirst of nature remained unquenched through many wearisome months. A. large amount of clearing was done by farmers, and fires from turning log heaps spread over the dry underbrush and parched fields of stubble, until the country was over-run by fire. Monday, September 5th, was a day of general conflagration. The county was swept by a storm of fire. The signal service report of the great forest fires of this period contains a vivid description, as follows: "The course of all the fires, which together made the great conflagration, was mainly toward the northeast. How the fires ran racing over the four counties has been told, but the story gives no picture of the terrible fury of the storm of fire and wind that destroyed the property and lives of the farmers and settlers. "The heat of the flames was so intense that the people felt it while the fires were miles away, and sailors at Forestville felt it uncomfortably at a distance of seven miles. It withered the leaves of trees two miles from its path. Whole fields of corn, potatoes, onions, and other growing vegetables that were not touched by the flames, were roasted by the heat. It even became the cause of an unnatural growth, and peach, apple and other fruit trees burst forth in blossoms. Fish in the streams were killed by the fierce heat, and after the fires were over their dead bodies were found floating on the surface of the water. Birds, escaping from these terrible flames, were carried far out into the lake, and dazed and blinded, and finding no resting place, were drowned. Several witnesses gave an account of a curious phenomenon, illustrating the intensity of the heat. A peculiar blue white flame would some-times burst forth from ignited tree stumps, flicker a few seconds, and then the strong wind would suddenly extinguish it. It resembled a lighted candle. Sergeant Baily says: 'Oxygen and carbon will ignite at a temperature of 400 degrees centigrade, and as the old tree stumps were badly charred by the fires of 1871, they were essentially a carbonaceous substance. The air was highly charged with gases, and the temperature raised 400 degrees or over; the causes of the phenomenon can, I think, be traced to these conditions.' The phenomenon attracted attention in several places. Even the earth in some places took fire. "The speed with which the flames and wind traveled, and the tremendous powers they exerted, are almost incalculable. Some of the effects of the wind have already been given. Large bowlders were rolled along the ground as if they were pebbles. The conflagration is described as roaring like a tornado, and as giving forth loud, explosive sounds that were terrifying. As the storm advanced it uprooted great trees, blew down buildings, carried roofs through the air, lifted men and women from their feet, and threw them back violently to the ground, in some cases seriously injuring them. The flames literally raced through the country, licking up villages almost in an instant. An anonymous writer says: 'Dark and gloomy swamps, filled with pools of stagnant water, and the home for years of wild cats, bears and snakes, were struck and shriveled and burned almost in a flash. Over the parched meadows the flames rushed faster than a horse could gallop.' Horses did gallop before them, but were overtaken and left roasting on the ground. "Sometimes the flames were carried beyond buildings, and would then circle back and burn what they had at first spared. Sometimes everything for a mile would be burned, and then patches from ten feet to ten rods wide would be untouched. "Here and there lanes hardly twenty feet wide would be burned, and a half mile of fuel would be left on either side. The fire would run within three feet of a wheat stack and then glide away and burn a house. Its freaks were numerous and startling. "Before the fire came the air was thick with blinding smoke, and the darkness became almost total. Lamps were lighted at mid-day, and the lights threw shadows as electric lights do. Through the darkness flaming balls of punk fell into the villages and fields, and then the fires would burst forth on every side. The flames came rushing on, sometimes in huge revolving columns, then in detached fragments that were torn by the winds from the mass, and sent flying over the tops of trees for a quarter of a mile, to be pushed down to the earth again. Flames were seen to leap many feet higher than tall pines, and everywhere over the burning country, sheets of flame were flying in every direction. "The people of the four counties suffered as men and women have rarely suffered. Men, women and children, old and young, were burned while they were flying along the public highway. The fires burned so intensely, and with such devouring force, that household articles were snatched by the flames as their owners carried them into the air. Some of the fugitives were lifted from the ground by the strong wind and were seized by the flames as they fell. Some saved their lives by scooping holes in the earth and burying their faces to escape suffocation, the fire meanwhile, burning up their clothes and blistering their flesh. Others found refuge in wells, where they clung to the walls with fingers and toes for twenty-four hours. "The flying sand blinded people, who walked, in the gathering darkness, into fire-traps. Those who escaped were blind for weeks. During the burning of the fire, half-naked creatures made their way into village streets, often bearing the charred remains of the dead with them. Many found refuge from the fires in the lake, and even there they were suffocated by the smoke blown from the shores. The cinders falling into the water made a lye, so that it was necessary to go down several feet under the surface for drinking water. The remains of many of those who were burned were unrecognizable, so thoroughly did the fire do its work. Not only were the domestic animals killed, but wild beasts perished in the forests. They were tamed by fright and herded with cattle and horses. One man, who jumped for safety into the lake, found himself in the morning behind a bear, who was as submissive as a dog. Much sickness thus resulted from the disaster. Ordinary malarial fevers assumed a typhoid character, and serious lung and bronchial complaints were numerous for many weeks after the outbreak." The townships in Tuscola County that suffered most were Elkland, Novesta, Ellington, Vassar, Millington, Indian Fields, Juniata, Elmwood, Arbela, Almer, Wells, Gilford, Fremont, Tuscola, Koylton, Denmark and Kingston, and of these, the first three named sustained the greatest amount of damage. One account, written September 15, 1881, says: "Mr. J. C. Laing, of Cass City, estimates that 200 families have been burned out in the country tributary to that village. In Elkland Township, thirty families are left destitute. H. Depew, living south of Cass City, started a brick kiln last spring, and when the fire came the family fled to the pit from which the clay was obtained, and, taking a pail of water, sought shelter therein. Here they remained four hours, almost suffocated and scorched from the smoke and flames. The families of H. C. Doping, C. T. Bennett and John Schriber, were compelled to seek shelter in the river, where they remained in the water several hours. The intense heat killed the fish in Cass River in that locality, and they rose to the surface by the hundreds." In Elkland Township upward of thirty families were burned out and left homeless, and many others suffered losses. About the same number suffered in Novesta. In Ellington about twenty families sustained serious losses. Next in order came Vassar, Millington and Juniata. An incident is related by a gentleman who rode out into the burnt district beyond Cass City. By the roadside he met an old man, who looked as if he might be one of the sufferers. Stopping his horse, the traveler inquired of the aged settler if he had been burned out. "No," he replied, "but my son has." "Did he lose much?" "Yes; but he was well fixed," was the complacent reply. "He made a good deal out of the fires of 1871 and has done well since." The traveler expressed his astonishment at the singular announcement, and asked the old man to explain. "Well, you see, he was on the relief committee and looked out for himself." "Is he on the committee this year?" anxiously inquired the traveler. "No, but he can be if he wants to." The traveler proceeded on his journey and he pondered as he went. GENERAL STATISTICS. School Acres Acres Total Equalized Population Children Marriages Births Deaths Taxable Land Improved Land Farms Valuation 1883 750 235 1882 8981 275 763 248 504,072 8,660,277.00 1881 8597 583 344 495,460 107,185 2888 8,156,730.00 1880 25779 8007 544 197 497,087 139,946 3694 7,434,631.00 1879 575 229 496,808 86,660 2472 2,255,397.00 1878 7225 523 149 493,714 2,223,136.00 1877 490,819 2,171,353.00 1876 6569 467 141 494,583 2,156,828.00 1875 6058 460 140 2,123,214.00 1874 16998 5602 150 427 158 2,075,951.00 1873 5178 133 510 211 2,149,944.00 1872 5062 131 391 137 1,971,511.00 1871 4691 114 352 81 1,852,436.00 1870 13715 101 444,584 48,400 1643 1,795,594.00 1869 3896 75 1,829,588.00 1868 77 71 1,668,842.00 1867 3220 148 1,573,763.00 1866 2533 1,433,593.00 1865 2328 1,413,849.00 1864 6983 2301 127,728 19,785 1,255,519.00 1863 1946 47 110 1,223,178.00 1862 1730 1,133,404.82 1861 1568 930,709.42 1860 4855 1313 18,837 882 1,156,532.00 1859 1027 1,214,563.50 1858 830 27 1,101,338.00 1857 670 25 974,523.00 1856 483 27 922,094.45 1855 395 16 595,551.80 1854 1504 16 41,913 2,481 329,551.80 1853 278,158.92 1852 135,304.90 1851 123 5 1850 291 1 390 13 PRINCIPAL FARM PRODUCTS. Wheat Indian Corn Oats Potatoes Hay Wool Butter Cheese Bushels Bushels Bushels Bushels Tons Pounds Pounds Pounds 1850 470 1,076 315 1,040 77 317 1,107 150 1853 3,162 6,454 7,038 563 233 8,295 200 1859 26,435 39,332 22,308 28,190 2,790 1,972 93,483 4,090 1863 36,385 42,599 39,705 6,997 9,733 147,919 8,430 1870 116,175 82,863 84,512 118,673 15,376 41,348 367,340 4,319 1873 146,070 175,400 146,162 17,065 1879 638,860 431,473 299,411 204,960 23,670 110,982 784,961 5,558 1880 527,201 777,190 298,476 250,691 18,531 102,136 POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS. Township 1854 1860 1864 1870 1874 1880 Auchville 195 Detached from Tuscola County Akron 186 304 585 726 1367 Almer 263 343 671 745 1181 Arbela 248 527 608 870 979 1283 Columbia 94 199 424 538 1196 Dayton 129 326 660 789 1039 Denmark 148 309 368 816 880 1643 Elkland 51 124 511 726 1250 Ellington 92 203 452 465 723 Elmwood 33 100 369 565 1017 Fair Grove 267 513 928 1056 1609 Fremont 96 231 664 794 1126 Geneva 45 107 152 207 Gilford 114 186 353 512 1086 Indian Fields 100 128 249 825 1006 1871 Juniata 302 643 766 1042 1041 1302 Kingston 47 324 383 649 Koylton 60 142 422 580 869 Millington 285 400 613 949 1633 Novesta 105 171 356 Tuscola 437 954 1022 1110 1291 1301 Vassar 74 229 264 775 1298 1734 Watertown 208 322 684 804 1094 Wells 72 66 194 295 441 Wisner 93 165 190 Total 1504 4855 6983 13714 16990 25771 NOTE.-The Township of Geneva was merged into other townships in 1878. The population of Wisner is given with that of Gilford, as it was so returned by the enumerator, and cannot now be separated.