4", h" * 1 At t _ Ae 1 jik / - " — ^ ^?F"^ 'i Vp1 w"&",*1> -~ I A0 I I IO Ir Pioneer History of Springport Township A Story of the Settlement of the Township and the Pioneer Life of its People. By Ben A. Joy. P. *by the Springport Signal * * Published by the Springport Signal, Springport, Mich. 1910 BEN A. JOY The Author was born on section 34, February 18, 1847, and has since lived in that immediate vicinity. He has taken an interest in the welfare of the township in social, educational and political affairs, having held ntarly all the offices in the gift of his fellow townsmen. Preface In presenting the history of our township the objects of the author have been: First, that the recorded word herein should be true, as to facts, and as these were secured from personal interviews with several of the pioneers themselves in 1887-8, for publication in the Signal, they are as nearly correct as the memories of the pioneers, supported by corroberative evidence could make them; and second, as by the enterprize of our Signal editor this history is to be published in book form, with portraits of the old pioneers and other interesting features, the historic facts of the early settlement of our beloved township will be preserved for the use of the generations that will follow, and to this end we commend the work for a liberal support of our fellow townsmen. iept. 1910 THE AUTHOR. II uI Original Survey. Springport township, legaly known as town one south, of range three west, state of Michigan, was surveyed as a township by Depty. U. S. Surveyor Joseph Wampler, in January and February 1824. The south and west sides being finished at the north-west corner of the township, Jan. 30th, 1824. The following is an abridged copy of the original field survey -notes, now on record in the office of County Register and Clerk. B~egtrrning at the south-~east corner of Sec. 36, the corners of Springport, Parma, sandstone;~ntd Tompkins. The corner witness being a WV. (white) oak. 18 in. (diameter) north,50 deg,. east 4 1. (links); also a wxx. oak 17 in. s. 13 deg. e. 47 1, thenve w. on s. boundary Sec. 36, at 19 ch. (chains) 5 1. a B. (black I oak 16 in.; at 40 chi. set quarter sec. post. Witness b. oak 16 in. n. 73 deg e 311I., also b. oakc 15 1. n. 36 deg. w. 31 1. at 41.08 ch. w. oak 14 in., and at 63.14 bi. oak I1 in. at 80 cli. -t-t po-t (ornepr sec. 3.5-36 witnesss w. oak 9 in. ii. 48 deg. e. 41 1., als;o w. oak 14 in. n. 62 (leg. w 58 1 oiling Oak( land. West in s. boundary ~ec. 3.5. at 89 1 HIickory 9 in. 40 ch. set or. post witness w. oqk 14 in. n. 7~2 deg. w 18 1. and w. oak 15 in. n. 7512 deg. w. 40 1, at 56 80 w. oak 8 in. at 80 chi. set corner post secs. 34 and 35, -vnitness li. oak 8 in n. 69~2 deg. w. 1 chi. 9 1. Also w. oak It in n. 16 deg. e. 92 1. rolling oak land; w. on s. side sec. 34, at 9 chi. enter swamp at 13 chi. 18 1. Ash 18 in. at 33 chi 50 1. stream 12 1. wide, course northi-eaist (Springlirook) at 36 cb. leave swamp at 39 chi. poplar 3Q in. 40 cli. set qr- post, witness w. oak 20 in. n. 37 deg. e. 4t 1. also w. oak 21 in. n. 19 dev. w. 51 1. at 52 cli. 46 1. popular 32 in. at 8O cli. set post corner secs. 33 and 34, witness hickory 7 in. n. 30 deg. e. 46 1. also w. oak 9 in). n. 73. deg. w. 34 1. good timber land, w. on s. side sec. 33 at 33 chi. w. oak 18 in. 40 cli. set qr. post witiness hickory 5 in. n. 58~2 deg. e. 9 1. als3o hickory 7 in n. 43~2 deg. w. 16 1. at 45 cli. 14 1. b. oak 7 in at 56 cli. enter marsh, 65 ch. ieave marsh 78 cli 14 1 w. oak 13 in. at 80 chi. set corner post secs. 32 and 33 witness w. oak 12 in. n. 8 deg. w. 20 1. and b. oak 9 in. nI. 74 deg. w. 2. cli. 48 1. land rolling oak land hickory, w. on s. side sec. 32 at 18 cli. enter marsh, 35 chi. leave marsh 40 cli. set qr. post witnes., b. oak 16 in. n. l0 deg. w. 3 cli. 9 1. also w oak 36 in. n. 250 w 3 chi. 8 1. at 44 cli. 23 1. b oak 7 in. at 50 cli. enter prarie (marsh) 77) I-ave prarie 77 cli. 88 1. b oak 15 in. 80 eli. set post corner secs. 31-32 witness w oak 11 in. n. 320 e 45 1. also w oa~k 17 in. n. 88V~0 w. 52 I. level oak anid prarie land. West on s sil~e sec 31 at 5 cli. 34 1. b oak 14 in 36 cli. 60 1. w oak 12 in. 40 cli. set qr. post, witness b (ink 7 in. ij. 2101 w 1 cli. 95 1. also b oak 4 in. n. 710 w. 1 cli. 611I. at 79 cli 86 1 intersect range line (County line) 1 cli. 56 1. s of post set corner towns 1 and 2, south range 3 and 4 w, witness b. oak 13 in. n 460 w 42 1. also w oak 14 in. s 340 w 73 1. rolling oak land. West boundary variation 40 40 min. n on w side sec. 31, at 17 cli. 29 1. wv oak 8 in 30 cli enter prarie 40 chi. set qr. post in swamp iio \\itness trees. At 58 cli. 76 1. creek 8 1. wide course n-e- 60 cli. lea ve prarie at 64 cli. 76 1 path (Irifliaii trail) course e and w at 80 chi. set corner post secs. 30-3i witness w oak 16 in. in 11~/20 w 3 cih. 68 1. a nd w oak 20 ini. s 490 w I cli. 59 1., lanrd mostly prarie, No th on w side sec. 30 at 2 cli. 78 1 w oak 11 in, at 6 chi. enter prarie at 14 chi. 28 1. creek 15 1. wide course n-w, Rice Creek, 40 cli. set qr. lost in prarir-. witnies-s w oak 14 hin. a) 160 79, nio other nea r) at 56c 79 1. ok 1in. o witnesss, at 19 cli. leave prarie 10 cli. set post corner secs. 19 and 30, witness w oak 18 in. s 8,~0 w 17 1. also wv onk 16 lii. n.550 w 57 1. land mostly prarie. North on w side sec. 19 at 4 cli. entin Jirarie at 18 cit. 50 1. 1l-ave prarie 19 ch. w rink 18 in 40 eCii. set qi. p05t witnes-; w oak 14 in. a 700 w 35 1. al-.o w ' k hin n 550 iv 65 1. at 5i'4 cli. 17 1. b oak 9 in. art 80 cli. set cora~-r post secs. 18-19, witness w oa~k 9 ini. s 830'w 86 1. -and w oak 11 in. u 44i020 w 2 cli 41 1. rolling oak land. Ntrth on w side see. i8. at 1 chi. 50 1. enter prarie 15cli. leave prarie 16 cli. 901. w oak 18 in. at 17 cli. 80 1. creek 2 1. wide course w at 40 cli. set qr. post witn ess b oak 20 in. n 36~20 w 97 1. also li oak 21 in. s 5,5o w 64~/9 1. at 60 cli. 15 1 w oak II in. at 61 cli. enter tamarack swamp 80 chi. set post corner secs. 7 and 18 in marsh witness w oak 14 in. n 8./oO w3 chi. 84 1. also w oak 17 in. n 28~20 w 4 ci. 76 1. lauld rolling oak and marsh. North on w side seo. 7 at 8 cli. learve prarie at 18 chi. 13 1. b oak 17.20 chi. enter prarie 40 cli. set qr. post, witness w oa'k 32 in. ia 10 w 9 (li. 7 1. no other witness. At 50 cli. leave prarie 55 cli. 76 1. elm 16 in. 60 cli. enter prarie 79 cli. leave prarie 80 cli. set corner post sr-cs. 6-7 witlness b oak 9 in. s 71V20 w 34 1 also b (onk 11 in. n ~19 w 47 1. mostly prarre. North on w side sec 6 at 9 chi. 73 1. w oak 17 in. at 32 ilh 541. w oak 9 in. 40 cli set qr. post witness w. oak 14 in. s 330 w 221. w oak 51 2. in. n 39~ w 251/ 1 at 40 ch. 50 1 w. oak 9 in. at 77 ch. 80 1. intersect base line at towns corners_ Returning to the starting point ---e corner sec. 36 the e boundary variation 4~ 35 min_ east_ North on e side sec. 36 at 18 ch. 76 1. b. oak 19 in. 40 ch. set qr. post witness b oak 20 in. n 74~ w 15 1- also b. oak 11 in_ s 36 deg_ w 28 1. at 47 ch. 89 1. b. oak 11.80 ch- set post corner sees- 25 and 36 witness b. oak 26 in_ s 811/2 deg w 68 1 also b. oak 11 in. n 25 deg. w. 38 1. rolling oak land. North on e side sec. 25 at 10 ch. 80 1. w oak 12 in. 33 ch. 50 1 enter prarie 36 ch. leave prarie 40 ch. set qr. post witness w oak 7 in. s 32 deg. w 88 1. and w oak 18 in. n 22 deg. w 22 1. 61 ch. 40 1. path Indian trail, course n-e and s-w 67 oh. 80 1. w oak 18 in. 70 ch. enter prarie 80 ch. set post corner sees. 24-25 witness b oak 26 in. s 47 deg. w 3 ch 82 1. also w oak 12 in. n 87 deg. w 47 ch. 81 1. land rolling oak. North on e side sec. 24 at 6 ch. 50 1. leave prarie 40 ch. set qr. post witness w oak 14 in. s 51 der. w 101. and w. oak 30 in. n 141/ deg. w 31 1 at 56 ch 7 1. b. oak 16 in. 80 ch. set corner post sees. 13 and 24 witness b oak I1 in. s 19 dee. w 1 ch. 2 1. and w oak 14 n 42 %/2 deg w 73 1. land roiling oak. North on e side sef.. 13 at 1 ch. 89 1. w. oak 36 in. 40 ch. set qr. post, witness b. oak 30 in. s 26 deg. w 30 1. and b oak 21 in. n 60 deg. w 441 1. at 53 oh. 23 1. b. oak 10 irl. 80 ch set corner post sees 12-13, witness b. oak 18 in. n 39 deg. w 301. aud b. oak 6 in. s. 78 deg. w. 59 1. land rolling oak. North on e side sec 12 at 3 ch. 221. w oak 11, at 18 ch. enter prarie, 33 ch. leave prarie 40 ch set cr. post, witflnss b. oak 32 in. s 29 deg. w. 94 1. an- oak 20 in. n. 3 deg. w 1 oh. 70 1. at 54 ch. 87 1, hickory 11 in. 55 ch. 50 1. enter prarie 79 ch. 80 1. leave praire 80 ch. set post corner sees. 1 and 12 witness w oak 18 in s 70 de-. w 1 ch. 27 1 and b oak 11 in. n 411/ deg_ w 2 ch. 151_ land rolling oak_ North ort e side sec. 1 at 8 oh. 60 1 path, Indian trail, course e and w at 18 ch. 50 1. w oak 8 In 40 ch. set qr_ post witness tam 9 in s 28 deg w 5 1 and b oak 11 in n 40% deg w 36 ch 50 1;tt 42 ch 44 1 ash 16 in and enter tam. swamp at 53 vlh 23 1 tam. 14 in at 66 ch leave swamp 77 ch 55 1 iutlerseet corner at base line, laud rolling oak and tamarack swamp n boundary on base line variation 4 deg 35 min t. West on n side sec 1 at 6 (h 50 1 enter marsh, 14 ch leave marsh, at 40 oh. set qr post. At 68 ch. enter pr-.ire, 70 ch. creek, 8 1. wide, course n, 80 ch. set cor post sec 1-2, level oak land. W. on n. side eec. 2, at 1 ch. leave prairie, 40 ch. set qr post, 80 ch. set post cor. sec, 2-3. Rolling oak land, W. on n, side sec 3 at 40 ch set qr post. At 44 ch Indian trail, course n-w and s-e. At 50 ch 70 1, creek 30 links wide, Springbrook, course n-w at 76 ch enter prairie, 80 ch set post cor sec 3-4. This survey made Feb. 1st 1824-W. on n side sec 4 at 20 ch leave prairie, at 40 ch set qr post, at 66 ch enter prairie, at 68 ch 50 1, creek 35 1 wide, outlet of Cooper lake, course n. At 80 ch set (or post sec 4-5, land rolling oak and marsh. West on n. side see 5 at 1 ch 50 1 leave prairie, at 40 ch set qr post, 71 ch 50 1 enter tamarack swamp, 80 ch set cor sec 5-6, land oak and swamp. 40 ch set qr post, 41 ch leave prairie. At 73 ch 501 path, course n and s, at 80 ch set cer post towns 1 u. and 1 s. range 3 w. Land rolling oak. This survey was probably finished Feb. 2nd, 1824, and the following winter, 1825, the sectional lines were run by Depty. U. S. Surveyor Lucius Lyons, who with John Norvell in 1837, became the first United States Senators from Michigan. The survey began at the south-east corner of the township, and finished at the north-west corner-Jan. 19, 1825-The plan of survey being, to run one mile west on the south line, thence north one mile, thence a random line to the east town line finding the original section corner stake, returning and correcting the line west, one mile, thence one mile north, and again the random line east and return and thus with each section, to the north or base line of the township. Then returning to the south town line and pursuing the same plan with each course of sections, finishing at the north-west corner. The following is a copy of the Surveyor's certificate: "In pursuance of a contractlwith, and instructions from Edward Tiffin, Surveyor General, of the United States, and conformable to the laws of tie United States, I have surveyed and subdivided into sections, township No. one south of range No. three west in Detroit district, Michigan Territory, and I certify that the foregoing are correct field notes of the survey of.St d township. Certified April 21st, 1825. LUCIUS LYON, Dept Surveyor." In the sectional survey the Indian trails were noted and will be described later in the work. It will be noticed that the surveys were made n mid-winter, when the lakes and low lands were frozen, and the lines could then be better directed and marked. We cannot too highly commend the fortitude of the surveying parties, who braved the rigors of the season. With Detroit as the nearest point of white settlement, surrounded by the wild beasts and wild men, their courage must have been many times put to a severe test, but they did a work that yet stands, though nearly all their witness landm irks have fallen in decay. 3. The "Old State Road" The attention of the Michigan Territorial Council, (then consisting of thirteen members only,) was called to the importance of Jacksonburgh, by Horace Blackman, who had erected a house on Grand river there, in 1829. An act approved Oct. 29th, 1829, by Gov. Lewis Cass, provided that so much of the country included south of the base-line, and north of the line between townships four and five, south of the base-line and west of the line between ranges two and three, east of the meridian, and east of the line between ranges three and four west of the meridian, be set off into a separate county, and the name thereof shall be "Jackson," presumably in honor of Andrew Jackson, then President of the United States. marshes and streams then frozen over and the chaining would be more accurately done. At Ann Arbor they were joined by a party of eight persons, who volunteered to accompany them to Grand river. The first night from Ann Arbqr they lodged at Mr. Clement's house on Mill creek, then the remotest point of settlement, and the end of "white man's path;" beyond was a vast wilderness. That was eighty years ago; to-day the west end of the road is where the waves of the Pacific wash the strand. After fourteen day's work Grand river was reached, where the party remained two nights in the log house erected the fall before by Mr. Blackman. The last night of their stay here they organized a meeting by electing Hon. H. Rumsey as president. He was provided with a log for a chair, which At the same session of the Council favor he acknowledged in an approprianother very important act was the ate speech. A committee consisting of laying out of the territorial, or state Messrs. Stratton and White was aproad, running through the new country, pointed to report a suitable name. thus opening a new route for the em- While the committee were out (on the igrant north of and parallel with the smoky side of the log heap,.) the presiChicago road. This road was to com- dent enjoined the meeting to observe mence near the Sheldon's Corners, in due respect, as citizens, and as soon as Wayne county, running in a westerly the committee returned and reported direction, terminating at the mouth of the name of the village to be built there, the St. Joseph river; along the routeof one should move that the adoption be the great Indian trail, called the De- received with nine cheers; hoping that troit and St. Joe trail. The survey and their noise would not disturb the neighopening of this new road, opened a bors. The committee soon returned wide field for settlement along the and reported "Jacksonburgh" as their whole route on the rich and fertile lands choice of names, which was adopted, of the new counties through which it and "three times three," given with a ran. The commissioners appointed to will by the fifteen hearty men then locate the road were Col. Orrin White, present. Jonathan F. Stratton and Seeley Neale, of Washtenaw county; Stratton was County Organization. appointed surveyor. They commenced their s ork Jan. 4th, '1830, on the farm On the 30th of July, 1830, an act was of T. Sheldon, in Wayne county, right- passed by the Legislative Council, inly judging that the winter season corporating the township of Jacksonwould be most favorable in crossing opolis, under which name it was known 4. until Feb. 18th, 1831, when the Legislature renamed it Jacksonburgh, including township and county as well. On June 26th, 1832, the act of the Council organizing the county of Jackson was approved, and ordered to take effect the first day of August following. In 1833 the county was divided into four townships,-Jacksonburgh, Spring Arbor, Napoleon and Grass Lake. In October, 1836, the number of towns were increased to ten,-Jacksonburgh, Concord, Grass Lake, Hanover, Leoni, E. Portage, W. Portage, Spring Arbor, Napoleon and Sandstone. In January, 1837, the village name lost its last syllable, and became Jackson; while Parma, Rives and Liberty were added as townships. In April, 1838, Pulaski, Springport and Tompkins were added, and Jacksonburgh was divided into Blackman and'Summit. Naming the Township. The honor of furnishing the name was claimed by Mr. Augustus Ferris, who came here with his brother, Edmund, in 1837, and made several visits here, afterward the name was suggested, from that of a town of the same name on the east shore of Cayuga lake in the state of New York, also from the many springs which gush forth their sparkling waters within its borders. The township of Sprihgport is what would be called an oak opening; just rolling enough to carry off all surplus water. The soil is varied, being composed of many different kinds, all productive for the different kinds of grain, vegetables, and fruits. The timber is burr, white and black or yellow oak, beech, maple basswood, and hickory. In the early days it was covered with heavy timber, with little or no underbrush, and natural grass grew in abun dance, making a splendid pasture for stock to graze upon. The soil was filled with grass roots and very tough, so that it required from four to six yoke of oxen to break it up, and some made it a business to go from place to place with their breaking teams and plow, plowing for settlers for their first crop. There were numerous streams and marshes which was a great drawback for the first settlers, causing much sickness, mostly fever and ague, usually termed "Michigan Ague," or "Shaking Ague," and when the shaking ague once got hold of a man he would fairly shake the building, and it took a pretty nervy man to remain and defy it. For more than seventy-five years the sun has spread its rays upon the beautiful and productive farms. For seventyfive years the rain has fallen on the just and the unjust. since the first white man set his foot upon the soil of the now, beautiful and productive township of Springport. Three-fourths of a century has passed since the woodman's ax was first raised against the sturdy oak, of this, at that time dense wilderness, and little did he think, that he was opening up a coun.rv, whoso resourses would far surpass the productiveness of any country, inhabitanted by man. His thoughts did not seom to wander in that direction. His only idea was to make him a home, v-her. he could produce sufficient for his (iilv wants and that of his fanily,;nd where he could breath? the free -ir and gaze upon his broad act, s, untrampled alfit with the dignity ou a king. His only neighbors were the untutored Indian, and his only fear was the wolves, whosb savage howls greeted his ears as he threw himself upon his rude couch for a few hours' rest from his daily toils. Soon others ven 5. tured upon the scene and captivated by the prospect of a home, that they too could cull their own, followed in his wake and commenced to fell the trees and build their homes. Slow but sure was the progress, hardships without numberr were encountered and overcome, until to-day we are numbered as one of the best in the state. Roads were opened up, mills and schoolhouses built, railroads constructed and a village grew to large proportions, until to-doy the business surpasses anything that they, in their early anticipations, could have possibly hoped to see. The First Blow. bor war Capt. Dean, who lived in Sandstone, four miles north of Parma village. Mr. Harrison came next to me, and held meetings in his own house before we had a school house built. I remember this from one remark made by one Mr. Wilson, whom I had hired with his two yoke of oxen to help me break ten acres in the south-west corner of section 27, in the fall of 1835. He came from Concord to help me, When Sunday came Wilson said to me, "Oil and water won't mix." I had said to him, "Why go so far to meeting when we have one near by at Mr. Harrison's?" This was in the summer or early fall of 1835, breaking for my The honor of the first blow struck wheat crop. undoubtedly belongs to John S. Con- By means of a recommendtaion of stock, who died at this place Feb. 14, Caleb M. Chapel, (my brother-in-law,) 1890. Mr. Comstock gave his state- who had been to Springbrook on a hunt ment in a letter as follows: "I have for wild game, he thought it a good not attained an earthly glory or fame place for a location, the place was then in this town or elsewhere, but if any called by the people of Sandstone, credit is due to a pioneer, I am the "Spring Brook" either that name or very first who made a location here. Springfield would have been my choice In the fall of 1830 I helped in building as more applicable. the first bridge in the township, since I was not only the first land owner in known as Lima Center. Gen. Asa this town, but the only man who raised Williams was the first, and I the y township in any garden or crop in this township in second, who located in that town. the summer of 1835. I had hired DeaAbout March 10, 1835, I hired Judge con Townly and one of his sons, Valentine of Sandstone, to come with (Richard,) early in the spring of 1835, me to Springbrook to help me look out to break two acres north of my house a place, for he was the man most used for a garden. If anyone would know the to tracing the (Survey) lines where no troubles of pioneer life, let them en settlement or land had yet been taken quire of me. The next world will unup. went down to the land office atfold it. Therefore I think to rob me Monroe, Mich.,' with the numbers of of the honor which is du him who first two eighties and a forty, (w J of s w opens the door, is not just. i of sec. 27 and e J and n w i of s e j, I am the only man who raised any sec. 28, now owned by Geo. W. Mvers.) garden or crop in this township in the The land agent said I had a whole town- summer of 1835. The place was then ship to select from for no one had made called by the people of Sandstone a location before me in this township." "Springbrook." Either that name or My nearest neighbor was Deacon Springfield would have been my choice Townly, in Tompkins. My next neigh-' as more applicable. I was not only the 6. first land-holder in this town, but the first of all my acquaintances who made a home in Michigan. I found my brother, Fitch B. Comstock, in Brockport, N. Y, and persuaded hirn to come with me to Michigan. He left his business and came oft; stopped a little while with me, then went back to Buffalo, N. Y., and married; returned and lived with me one year, and then bought a farm in Sandstone, joining C. M. Chappell's. Rev. Wm. Crane, a non-sectarian minister, came to my place in the summer of 1835, while we lived in the shanty, and preached at private houses until the school house was built, then he preached there. Some time after he settled on a farm near Eaton Rapids, and died at Pentwater, Mich." In a county history published in 1881, others are credited with having made the first settlement in the township to which Mr. Comstock verly justly took exceptions. The Deland history published in 1903 is no better in matter of facts of our early settlers than that of 1881. the autumn following Mr. Comstock built a log house near where Geo. Myers' house now stands. In the winter of '36-7 he built the first barn, letting the job to Rev. M. Harrison. The payment was forty acres of land on north-west one-fourth section 35. Mr. Comstock continued his residence and labors here until the spring of 1855, when he sold his place and removed to Beaver Island, Mich., returning in the spring of 1856, and with the exception of short intervals resided as an honored and respected citizen until his death. In the auturn of 1835 more commodious dwellings were erected, Mr. Comstock's near the present farm residence of Geo. W. Myers, and Mr. Preston's i mile east, just back of the tenant house of Mr. Joy. We introduce here a letter from John Preston, of Ft. Atkinson, Wis., son of the above James A. Preston, which contains considerable information on this subject: The first of April following, Mr. FT. ATKINSON, WIS., Dec. 25, '87. Comstock, accompanied by James A. BEN A. JOY, Preston and family, moved onto Mr. Dear Sir:-Your favor of the 16th Comstock's lands, locating near a spring inst., at hand, asking information, about i mile north-west of the Landon which is of course interesting to all school house, where they erected two concerned. You directed your letter to rude shanties. Their lodging was made my brother, J. L., but he asked me to by placing one end of large pieces of answer you in his behalf, as, he is to bark on a fallen tree, underneath which leave here in the rhorning to be gone they slept while the shanties were in some time. We talked it over to-day course of building, (Mrs. Comstock and many of your questions I can and her children remained with Mr. answer alone, and what transpired beFitch Comstock, in Sandstone, until the fore I can remember James informed latter part of the following June. Mrs. me of. Margaret Preston being the first white I was 53 years old last February, beWoman to enter the township ) ing born in Lima, Washtenaw Co., 1834. Early in April, 1835, Mr. Comstock, I was one year old in February, and the accompanied by Jas. Preston and fami- following April my people came to, ly, located near a spring on section 28, now Springport, then Sandstone, as where they erected two shanties. In they were in one township, including 7. Parma and Tompkins. This of course must have been in April, 1835. My mother was the first and only white woman in Springport, for three months nearly, as Mrs. Ruth Comstock stopped at his (Comstock's) brother's, Fitch Comstock, and stayed until the latter part of June, 1835. J. S Comstock and my father and family came on to Springport and they built two shanties down by the swamp, by what was called Comstock's spring, about one-half mile north-west of the Landon school house, (Dist. No. 1,) on now, I suppose, Geo. Myers' place. My father built the log house, which you must remember stood back of the new one, and moved into it in the fall of 1835. This was before my recollection, but James remembers it well. In 1836 Jonathan Hammond and Archibald Dixon came in. Dixon built the tamarack house down by the creek; lived there only a year, then moved down to the place in the Whitman district. And in 1838 or '39 Charlotte Whitman, (Sibley, if now living,) taught school in the old Dixon house by the Creek, and I went to school with Mary Ann, and wore my dresses. This I can remember well, as before school closed mother made me a waist and pants, of factory colored with oak bark, and I remember Miss Whitman gave me a sound whipping the first day with my new pants on. You ask by whom, when and where was the first saw mill. It was on Springbrook, one-half mile below the bridge where it crosses the creek east of your place, and was built and owned by Priest Harrison in 1836. In 1837 it was sold to M. S. Brown, who run it until 1842, when the pond caused so much sickness that Comfort Joy, S. H. Ludlow, Herman Landon and others waited upon Mr. Brown, asking him to remove said dam, which he naturally refused to do, and on the evening of the 9th day of April, 1842, David and Alonzo Joy, in company with James L. Preston, took it upon themselves to wait upon the "dam until the water could pass through," and the dam was not rebuilt. Jacob Hoffman, (Levi's brother,) was the first and last sawyer. J. S. Comstock built the first barn in 1836-7. on his own place. The first sermon preached in the Landon school house was by elder Bement, a Presbyterian. Soger Inman killed the first bear near the Deyoe place, in the fall of 1836. Indians and gray wolves were the only neighbors my people had at first. Thomas Cranson, aunt Betsey Landon's brother, lived in Tompkins, seven miles from our people. The Pottawatamie Indians were the only tribe there, and old Wam-pe-zeek was the chief, and they camped down by what was called Wolfe spring, near the town line of Parma. And when they left they took a kettle of mother's, and the only gun that my father ever owned with them, which they kept. The people in 1836-7 began to move in very rapidly, and in 1840 the first general election was held, in the Landon school house. I remember General Harrison was elected over VanBuren as president. Father went to Sandstone at first to vote, and he had to go to Dexter to mill. Herman Landon brought some cart wheels and he made an axletree and body, which he used, to lend to the neighbors. Mr. Landon's cart had to stand the racket for all. There never was a better neighbor than Herman Landon, and one who did all he could for the poor. I have here given you, to the best of our recollection, the true history of the founders of Springport. Yours very truly JOHN C. PRESTON. The First Deed The following is a copy of the deed issued to Mr. Comstock, the first one given for land in Springport township: Certificate THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. No. 5013 To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: WHEREAS, John S. Comstock, of Washtenaw County, Michigan Territory, has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Monroe, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said John S. Comsdock, according to the provisions of the Act ol Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An Act making furthur provision for the sale of the Public Lands," for the east half of the south-east quarter and the north-west quarter of the south-east quarter of section twenty-eight, in township one, south of range three west, in the district of lands subject to sale at Monroe, Michigan Territory. containing one hundred and twenty acres, according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the general land office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has b en purchased by the said John S. Comstock, NOW KNOW YE, That the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conlormity with the several acts of Congress, in su, h case made and provided, Have Given And Granted, and by these presents Do Give And Grant, unto the said John S. Comstock, and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To Have and To Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said John S. Comstock, and to his heirs and assigns forever. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, Martin VanBuren, President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be here' unto affixed. i ---- Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the eighteenth day of March, in the SEAL > Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven and of the Independence of the United States the sixty-first. BY THE PRFSIDENT: Martin VanBuren, lint. Garland, Recorder of the General Land Office. By A. VanBarber, Sec, 9...*J The Three Johns. JOHN BARTON JOHN OYER JOHN COMSTOCK Happening to meet on the street some twenty-five years ago, and answering the suggestion of a friend, they entered the gallery and had the above taken. Their biographies appear below. 10. Volney, Oswego county, N. Y., where Biographical Sketches he married, and early in the thirties came to Michigan, locating at Lima, Washtenaw county. He resided here John S. Comstock. until the spring of 185, when with his John Scott Comstock, wAs born in family he accompanied Mr. J. S. Corrthe town of Montville, New London stock to the then unbroken wilderness county, Conn,, Feb. 20, 1801, where of Springport. Mr. Preston made his his boyhood was passed, and until the location on a part of the Comstock spring 1819, when he went to Newport, tract, one-fourth mile east of the LbnN. LH., and attended a term of school. 'on school house. In the fall orf 1835 He taught the winter term of 1821 22 he built a log house, in which he lived at Leminister, N. H., and afterward until about the year 1857, when he went to New Haven, Corn., where he built the frame house yetstanding. In resided two and one-half years; thence October, 1864, he sold his place and reremoving to Philadelphia. where he sided with his children until his death, worked at comb-making. In March which occurred at the home of his son, 1826, he returned to Salem, Conn., and James, at Ft. Atkinson, Wis., Nov. 19, taught school the following winter. In 1876. Mr. Preston assisted in the the spring of 1827 he went to Andover, organization of the township, and was Conn., where he worked at farming honored with several of her places of summers and taught school winters un- trust, all of which he efficiently filled. til 1830, with the exception of the short He was a man of sterling integrity, time he acted as traveling book agent whose word was as good as his bond. in the states of Connecticut and Massa- He also insisted (and in several cases ahusetts. In the fall of 1830 he came quite potently) that his fellow man t) Michigan, settling in Lima township should keep faith and word in their Washtenaw county. He taught the dealings with him. His wife Miss winter term of 1831-32 at Barry. In Margaret Trim, was born in Utica, N. November, 1833. he married Miss Ruth Y., April, 1796, where it is presumable Eastman, who then resided in Lima. she lived most of her single life. Of Four children were born to them; Rhoda, the children born to them, Cornelia, now Mrs. 0. V. Hammond, Maria J., (Mrs. A. P. Bucklin), of Ypsilanti, now Mrs. J. Whitman; and two boys James, L., of Ft. Atkinson, Wis., who died young. Mrs. Comstock died. Louisa, Edward and Mary Ann (Mrs. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Crossfield, of St. Paul, Minn.) were Hammond, Dec. 26, 1886, full of years born at Volney, N. Y.; John C., at and much respected by all who new Lima, Mich., and their youngest, Maher. Mr. Comstock died at the resi- tilda, now of Minneapolis, was born dence of his daughter, Mrs. O. V. here in 1837. Mrs. Preston, or "MothHammond, Feb. 16, 1891. er Preston," as she was familiarly called, was a representative of that Christian type who carry their reliJames A. Preston. gious principles into every-day deeds of The secondsettler of Springport, was love and kindness. She early united born in Poultney, Rutland county, Vt., with the Methodist church, and bore June 9, 1790 In early life he moved to with true Christian fortitude the many 11. tria's and deprivations incident to pioner life, and richly won the many encomiums h'r neighbors and friends txtended. She died, as she had prrd;cted, in the harness, suddenly, at her old hornp, Oct. 18, 1864. Her kind words and good deeds will ever be remembered by a'l who knew her. Ebenezer Brown. The third settler of Springport, was bnrn in the town of Drvden, Tompkins rnuntv, N. Y, in 1788. He lived near Ithaca and at Ludlowville, where he worked at hi; trade-hlacksmithing. He came to Springport in the summer of 1835, locating the east onehalf of the north-east one-fourth of section 33, and the west one-half of the north-wpst ono-fourth of section 34, and built a shanty near the farm residence of Mr. B. G. Brown, section 34, where he lived about six months, and then sold his lands to Hermon Landon. He then located other farms in the townships of Parma and Sandstone, soon returning to Tompkins county, where he lived until 1848. He then came again to Michigan, settling on section 2, Parma. He soon after removed to Spring Arbor, where with the exception of short intervals, he resided until his death, which occured Aug. 16, 1853. He married Miss Elizabeth Goodin, who died in 1836. Their family were Amos H., Lewis, who died at Parma, Oct. 1876, Geo. D., who died at Jackson, and Wm. G., of Parma, who died Dec. 5, 1899. Rev. Marcus Harrison, Was born in connecticat, in 1795. Was a graduate of Yale and Andover Theological Seminary: He filled severa' pulpits in New England. Coming tc Michigan in 1830, was the fourth tc locate here. In the late summer or early autumn of 1835, he selected lands on sections 26 ard 27, built a log house in the road just in front of the present house of Ward S. Brown on section 27. In the fall and winter of 1836-7 he built a saw mill on Springbrook, which did a thriving (though slow) business in furnishing lumber for the first buildings erected in the township. In the spring of 1837 he exchanged farms with Bostwick and Michael S. Brown, he moving to the one exchanged for, one mile east of the Wright school house in Parma township. Soon after he moved to Jackson, purchasing a farm on Moody hill, upon which he built a house and cultivated; taking an active part in church work, being an eloquent and aggressive preacher of the Presbyterian faith. He suffered many petty persecutions for his fearless dennounciations of intemperance and other evils. At the close of his work in Jackson he moved to Decatur, Van Buren county, where he died of consumption, in 1874, being 79 years of age. Herman Landon, The fifth settler here, was born in the state of Connecuticut, Jan. 23, 1799. While a child his parents moved to the town of Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood. Having acquired his education he taught several terms of school, also working at the carpenter's trade. In September, 1835, he came to Springport, and purchased the farms of Ebenezer Brown, sections 33 and 34, to which he added a considerable tract. Mr. Landon was a man of sterling qualities and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He bore a prominent part in the I organization of the township, and held ) one or more of the offices most continu) ly until his death, which occured Sept. 12. 14, 1852. March 20, 1828, he married Miss Betsy Cranson, who was born Aug. 22, 1808, in Madison county N. Y. While young her parents moved to Cayuga county, N. Y. Mrs. Landon lived on the farm, where she settled in September 1835, until her death, a consistent Christian, with a kind word for all whom she met. She early joined the Methodist church, with which she communed until 1863, when she united with the Seventh-Day Adventists. She died at the old home Jan. 5, 1901. The childred of Mr. and Mrs. Landon-Lucindia, Mrs. Wm. G. Brown, born Feb. 20, 1829; George, born April, 1830, died June 9, 1885; William, bornJan. 5,1832, died Sept. 25, 1833; John, born Nov. 9, 1833, died March 13, 1871. Of Springport's many citizens, living or dead, for good examples of life, public spirit and enterprise, none have been more esteemed than George and John Landon, whose untimely deaths were most generally mourned. The township could ill spare such as they. Jonathan A. Hammond Was born in Providence, R. I., Aug. 14, 1800, where he lived until he moved to Allegany county N. Y., remaining there until the spring of 1835, when he came to Washtenaw county, Mich., and in the autumn following came to Springport, locating lands on sections 32 and 33. He built the first frame house in that vicinity. During the time of building his first residence he resided with a Mr. Smith, who had a residence on section 31, near the White school house. Mr. Hammond married Miss Esther Turtblott. who was born in Providence, May 3, 1799. She was a great-granddaughter of the renowned Roger Williams. Folr children were born to mira, Mrs. Henry Towsley. Stillman and Almira died many years since. Mr. Hammond cleared and improved the farm he had taken up, and to which he added another a mile south on section 33, where he died Sept. 3, 1867. His wife died Sept. 8, 1881. Simon Barrett Came to Springport from Summit county, Ohio, in the fall of 1835. Located on section 25, where he built a Shanty, and shortly after a log house, remnant of which is yet standing. His family consisted of his wife, four girls and three boys. Mr. Barrett died in 1837, after which his family moved to Ohio. James M. Jameson Came from the state of New York. Arrived in Springport Dec. 31, 1835, and soon after located the east half of section 13. In the spring of 1836 he erected a log house, which was occupied by John E. Barton and family the first summer. Mr. Jameson taught school during the winter seasons until 1841, in the spring of which year he married Miss Loretta Townley,, of Tompkins, moving immediately on his farm, which he continued to improve, making it one of the best in Springport. Mr. Jameson was early identified with the political affairs of the township, and held several important offices until the year 1865, when he removed to Jackson, where he resided about five years and then returned to his farm, remaining until the spring of 1877, when he again removed to Jackson, where he died Sept. 13, 1886. Augustus F. Gaylord I Was born in Aurora, Cayuga county, them: William, Stillman, Elizabeth, N. Y., June 11, 1806, where he resided now Mrs. Mr4. I evi Huffman, and Al- until 1830, when he moved to Five 13. west part of the city, where he owned a nursery farm. Mr. Gaylord was an enthustast as a horticulturist, and for many years was an active member of the State Horticultural Society. Mr. Gaylord was one of the voters at the first town meeting held here-spring of 1838. The first religious meetings within the village boundary were held at his house weekly, in 1836-7. He assisted in erecting the first school house in this district, about one mile south of the corners, also the old red school building that stood near where the Oyer house now stands. Mr. Gaylord was a man of integrity and purity of character. His death occured at his home in Eaton Rapids, July 14, 1888. Wm. Jennings Came to Springport Feb. 1, 1836, locating the south one-half of the southeast one-fourth of section 2., which he improved, and where he resided until Fobruary, 1870, when he removed to Kansas. Mr. Jennings is remembered as an honorable Christian gentleman, and one of the founders and pillars of the Presbyterian church of Tompkins and Springport. He died at his home in Kansas in 1883. Archibald Dixon Was born near Bennington, Vt., July, 1786 When about ten years old his parents moved to Chenango county, N. Y., where he resided until his 23rd year, when he removed to Courtlandville, Courtland county, N. Y., and in the spring or early summer of 1836 came to Springport, locating on the south-west corner of the north-west one-fourth of section 27, wh re he built a house (known after as the tamarack house) and there resided one year. He then moved to section 9, building a log house near where his son, Joseph W., latter resided. Mr. Dixon was a consistent Christian and member of the Baptist church. He died Ang. 10, 1847. John E. Barton Was born in Putnam county, N. Y., June 14, 1813. In 1828 his father reiroved to Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., where he passed the next seven years. In the fall of 1835 he married Miss Elizabeth Barton, and in May following they started for Michigan, with a view of making themselves a home in the west. They came by canal and steamboat to Detroit, and from there by wagon to Springport, living until December following in the new log house of Jas. M. Jameson, Mr. Barton working by the month for Dayid Adams, of Tompkins. In December he erected a dwelling near where his present residence now stands, section 13. Mr. Barton has a fine farm of 320 acres, most of which is under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Barton died Feb. 12, 1890. Edmund Ferris Was born in Genoa, N. Y. Dec. 23, 1805. Came to Springport in 1836, settling on section 20, built a log house on the ground on which Mrs. Janette FitzGearld's home now stands. He soon after exchanged the lands now lying on the south side of Main street, for the farm on the north-east one-fourth of section 20 now owned by L. D. Markle, built the house and improved the large and valuable farm, which he owned at the time of his death. He assisted in the organization of the township and held nearly all the offices in the township goverment. He died at the old home Oct. 10, 1885. John Oyer John Oyer was born in the city of Easton, Pa., Jan. 9, 1819. While a 14. child his parents removed to the town of Genoa, Cayuga county, N. Y., where he lived until the autumn of 1836, when he came to Springport, where he resided until his death, Jan. 20, 1889. He was one who helped to organize the township government, being one of the voters at the first township meeting. The greater part of the present improvements of this village are due to the public spirit and enterprise of Mr. Oyer. Samuel Inman Purchased the place of Andrew Smith on north-east one-fourth Sec. 31, when he soon after started an iron foundry using charcoal for the heat purpose utilized by a large bellows run by hand power, a superior article of castings are said to have been produced by this crude furnace. Nathaniel Hicks a late resident here was the helper in the foundry. Josiah Whitman Was a Canadian by birth, which oc cured Nov. 1777. With his two sons, Clark R., John M. and Josiah Jr., came to Springport in 1837, living with his son, Clark R., land on Section 9, which they improved and made comfortable homes, and upon which Mr. Whitman lived to the age of 94 years, until he died Dec. 25th, 1871. He was instrumental in organizing our township government, being elected the first supervisor in April 1838. He was a member of the fraternal order of Masons for many years. David D. Gillett Was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., August 1793, where he spent his early years. He later engaged in a woolen mill, which being on a stream was twice destroyed by freshets, not rebuilding after the second experience, and soon after moving to Michigan, settling on Section 33, Springport, where he engaged in farming. At one time he made a specialty (.f raising peppermint, erecting a still for extracting the oil, on the present farm of Mrs. Geo. Bois and juot east of the residence of Arthur L. Landon. About the year 1845 Mr. Gillett sold and moved to Section 24, where he cleared a farm which he owned at the time of his death which occured while on a visit to friends in Leoni, Oct. 23rd, 1868. Josiah Whitman Jr. Located a valuable farm on Section 29 in 1837. He was born in Ontario, Canada, July 17, 1807. Married Miss Keziah Drake, March 1st, 1829. Mr. Whitman was a man of fine character, and did well his part in the work of township organization, holding many important offices during his life. He died at his old home Nov. 3, 1859, his wife surviving him many years, passing away May 1st, 1896. John E. Dey who located on Section 28, assisted in building the first frame structures in the township, afterward moving to Parma township, his wife, Mrs. Maria Dcy, teaching the first school in this town, 1838. Henry and Rhoda Pope Came to Michigan from Wayne Co., N. S. in 1838. Settled on Section 24, on a part of the farm now owned by Mrs. J. S. Pope, later their son, Christopher, came and located lands adjoining that of his father. They had the hard experiences of the early pioneers, but by industry and firm quality, made a comfortable home. They were among the charter members of the church of their name just across in Tompkins and V 15. were leaders of the church work there until their death. The mother, Rhoda, passing away May 2nd 1847, aged 62 years. Mr. Pope following Jan. 23, 1853, aged 69 years. _ Daniel Griffith '1 he ancestor of this family erigrated from Wales at an early period of our Colonial history, and settled in Rhode Island. Later members of the family moved to Danby, Vermont, where Daniel Griffith was born in 1803, in 1837 he decided to cast his lot with the people of the then-new state of Michigan, coming overland to Buffalo, then by steam boat to Detroit, thence by team and wagon to section 2, Springport, where he located a fine large farm, which he proceeded to improve under the difficulties incident to pioneer life. Mr. Griffith transported his first wheat crop to Anh Arbor, 60 miles from his farm. He was a man of upright character, one of the founders and a life long member of the Methodist church that bears his name, near the old home. In politics Mr. Griffith was a Whig and after the dissolution of that party became one of the charter members of the Republican party. His five sons, Hosia W., George T., Phing W., Marshall and Henry D., were all substantial citizens, who lived and died honored and respected in the vicinity of their father's homestead. Mr. Griffith died March 1878. Luther Landon Was born in Conn., in 1798, married Miss Clarissa Tracy, of Scipio, N. Y., about 1830. Came to Springport in the spring of 1837, locating the farm at present owned by Lewis E. Landon, on section 19, built a log house just west of the horse barn now on the farm, and began clearing and otherwise improv ing the large and valuable farm now owned by Mr. L. E. Landon. Mr. Landon waq prominent in the orginazation of the township government, and held several of the offices of the town. His family consisted of his wife and three children-Sarah, Ezekiel A., and Martha. The latter being the only surviver of the family. Mr. Landon died in August 1855, his wife following Aug. 9, 1878. Stephen H. Ludlow Stephen H. Ludlow located on sections 26 and 27 in the autumn of 1837. Mr. Ludlow was prominent in township affairs, holding offices nearly the whole time to his death, April 19, 1886. Joseph Dennis In the year 1838, Joseph Dennis with his brother, Corneilus, and family came to Springport, locating the north-east one-fourth and the east one-half of the west one-half of section one. Together they built a log house, clearing and cultivating the soil for crops. In 1840 Corneilus located land on the northeast one-fourth of section 12, now owned by E. 0. Price. Joseph Dennis was a millright, working at his trade in Jackson, Homer and neighboring villages. In the spring of 1840, he returned to the farm, and kept batchelors hall till the following fall, when he married Miss Mary Evans, with whom he had become acquainted, while working at Homer, and whose parents were English, and came to this state in 1838, with her sister, Mrs. Warren Sheldon, who located on section 5, in Parma. Mrs. Dennis used often to relate in after years, their experiencewith bears and wolves while living in Parma. Mr. Dennis died in 1847, during an epidemic of erysipelas. Sickness was no uncommon thing those days, but the ear i6. ly settlers were generous and kind, the sick being provided with an abundance of kind hearted and sympathetic attendance. Besides his wife, Mr. Dennis left two little daughters toG mourn his loss.' Lydia,} born in 1843, and Sarah Amanda, born in 1845 Lydia yet surviving. Sarah having died in 1859. Five years after her first husband's death, Mrs. Dennis married Francis Bodine. In the following summer they built the upright and wing of the present home of Elmer D. Fuller Section one. Mr. Bodine died Sept. 24, 1857, the widow and daughters letting the farm to be tilled, but continuing their residence there till the fall of 1865, when Lydia married Mr. Warren Fuller, the mother then went to live with her sister, Mrs. Sheldon, in Parma. In 1874 she retunred and built the house just west of Otter Creek, where she lived until her death Jan. 24, 1879, her remains lie beside her first husband Ih the adjoining burial ground, the land for which was set off by Joseph Dennis and Daniel Griffith. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller yet reside on the old homestead, where they are enjoying the afternoon of their active lives, surrounded by all the conveniences of modern times which their labors have justly earned. Their son, Elmer D., having charge of the well improved and productive farm. Stephen B. Crawford Stephen B. Crawford located lands on section 4 in the fall of 1836, where he partly completed a dwelling. Winter closing in he went to Adrian, again returning in the spring of 1837 to find his dwelling in ashes. He rebuilt the following year and began house keeping Feb. 14, 1839. Mr. Crawford was one of Springport's prominent citizens and did much in the development of her resou ces. He died at the old farm in 1891. Comfort Joy The second son of Daniel Joy, who was a Revolutionary soldier under Gen. Washington, was born in Guilford, Vt., April 23rd, 1787, with his father's family moved to F4bius, Onondaga Co., N. Y., in Feb. 1800. Dec. 27th, 1810 he married Mary Breiner, of Westonburgh, Bucks county, Pa. He lived at Ridgeway, Yates and Evans N. Y., at which places he worked as a miller, moving to Springport from the latter place in June 1839, with his family and settling on the east one-half of the north-east one-fourth of section 34, having made a visit here the preceeding April accompanied by his son, David C., and daughter, Harriet, and her husband, Luthur H. Ludlow. His wife died March 28, 1844, being the first to be burried in the Presbyterian cemetery in Tompkins. The year following he married Mrs. Cynthia Thorndike and lived on her farm near Galesburgh, Kalamazoo county until his death, Aug. 9, 1869. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church being one of the founders of the old church of that faith, in Tompkins township. Luther H. Ludlow Was born in the village of Ludlowville, Tompkins county, N. Y., July 10, 1814. His grand father, Thomas Ludlow, after whom the village was named, settled there in 1793. John and Rebecca Townley-Ludlow, were his parents. The first 18 years of his life were spent in his native town, where he attented school. He learned the saddle and harnessmaking trade, which he pursued in Evans, N. Y., from 1835 to 1838. On Dec. 6 of 1838, he married Miss Harriet D. Joy, and the following April 1839, with his wife, father-in-law and brother-in-law, D. C. Joy, came to Springport, settling on the north-west 17. on^-fourth of the rorth-east one fourth Y., until late in the fall of 1832, when of section 34, which he improved and they moved to Ohio, going on the canal made his home until his removal to boat to Buffalo. In the fall of 1835 Jackson, Jan. 1st, 1861 to assume the Jermiah FitzGerald and his oldest son, duties of county register, to which Harrison. started on foot from Burling office he had been elected in November Heights, Ohio, passing through Perryspreceeding, on the ticket headed by burg, Tecumseh, Manchester, NapoAbraham Lincoln as president. He leon and Jackson to Spring Arbor, taught the winter term of 1839-40 of where they rested a day or two, then school district No. 1, the Landon, hav- with others resumed their journey to about 70 pupils,, all those within a the north-west corner of Jackson counradius of several milos, receiving the ty, Michigan, now known as Springprincly sum of $16.00 per month and port. After looking about for some boarding himself. He held the office of days they decided to take up 80 acres Justice and supervisor for several years in section 29. The farm now owned by prior to moving from the township. In Jacob Heiter, south-east of the village the election of 1868 he was chosen of Springport, paying $1.25 per acre. county treasurer, in 1872 county clerk Mr. FitzGerald bought 160 acres for and in 1876 to the state legislature. In $2.50 per acre on section 17, where the session of the legislature of 1881, Jermiah FitzGerald lived for 35 years. he served as postmaster at the Capitol, and soon after the close of the session was appointed postmaster of Parma. He was al early member of Parma Lodge, No. 183 F. & A. M, Jackson Chapter No. 3 and Jackson Commandry No. 9 Mr. and Mrs. Ludlow were parents to two sons, Theodore F., who died of consumption, in east Lansing, N. Y., July 4, 1853, aged 12 years, and Charles D., who accidently shot himself on the Landon farm, Aug. 24, 1860, aged 16 years. Mr. Ludlow died at his home in Parma village Dec. 29, 1888, his wife fcllowing May. 2, 1902. Jermiah FitzGerald Was born in Orange county, N. Y., July 4, 1789. He received a common school education, such as was offered to farmer's sons in those days. At the age of 21 he joined the New York Volunteers and served as an officer during the war of 1812 at Sacket Harbor. He was united in marriage to Sylvia Strickland, of Pittsford, Vt., Dec. 1, 1812, living on a farm near Jordon, N. The east 80 acres is now owned by "Grandma" Wiselogel. The west 80 belongs to the L. Ferris estate. Returning to Ohio, Mr. FitzGerald began the preperations for moving his family, consisting of a wife, six sons and two daughters, to their new home. They started in mid winter so that they could cross the Maume Swamp and river, bringing three yoke of oxen and three covered wagons, filled with the family, household goods, and provisions. It may be of interest to know the price of provision at that time. The man who supplied Mr. FitzGerald with a years provision said his prices were as follows and he would not throw Off a cent: Large cabbage heads one cent each, potatoes six cents per bushel, cider 50 cents per barrel, apples for the picking and wild pork one dollar a hundred. The wages paid to a good strong man, per day (from daylight to dark) 18 cents They erected a house of logs with "shake" fLr roofing, and began their life in the new country with new hopes and new aspirations. In this little log house was held the first 18. wedding in Springport. The oldest daughter, Matilda FitzGearld, to Lewis Pike, Nov. 1, 1838. During the first year of their residence in this house, wolves came so close to the door that they tipped over a jar of soft soap and tracked it all over the door step. About 1840 the log house that is still standing on the Wiselogel farm was built. In this house Mrs. FitzGearld died, Feb. 7, 1861, and May 20, 1870, Jeremiah FitzGearld died, having shared life's joys and sorrows together for 49 years. To them were born eight children, six sons and two daughters. Lydia A., the only survivor of this family has always made her home in Springport, teaching school from the time she was 15 years old until her marriage with Edward Saxton, March 25, 1863. They lived on the FitzGerald homestead for some years, finally selling it to Mr. Sawyer and moving to the village of Springport, where they have lived for 30 years. In the few years following the township settled up quite rapidly and here they lived, and nearly all of them have been laid to rest beneath the soil which has yielded so abundantly to their labors. i LUTHER H. LUDLOW IL - 1 --- —~-11--~ JOSIAH WIIITMAN 19. The Indians and Their Trails The Pottawattomies were located in this vicin ty when the first settlers came. The chief of the tribe was Whap-ca-zeek, "the fast runner," whose home was at Spring Arbor. He with others of his tribe, fought the Whites at the battles of the Thames and Tippecanoe. Il the latter Whap-cazeek lost his left leg, while leading his braves iL a charge on the troops of Gen. Harrison. He lay where he fell until the indians were driven off, when the white soldiers found him, took him to a hospital, amputated his shattered leg and cared for him until he was well. When, instead of killing him (as he expected) they gave him a crutch and a pony and sent him home. He was ever after a friend of the he-mo-ko-mans (Whitemen.) He was very athletic and with his crutch, was equal to the best of his tribe in the chase or on the march. Whamp-ka zeek, a semi chief of the Pottawattomies, was very friendly toward the early settlers. And only on one occasion did he show the ugly spirit, when he came to the home of Mr. Preston full of scoota-wa-bne (whiskey), Mrs. Preston was alone with her children, and when the baby began to cry Whamp-Ka-Zeek ordered her to make it stop or he would put it on the fire. Mrs. Preston was much frightned, but managed by signs to one of the older chi dren to go to Mr. Comstock's for Mr. Preston, who was soon on the scene armed with a sledstake. He left the door open and commanded, "quickmarch-ce," which the indian, though intoxicated, knew, mpnt go at once, which he did, but returned a few days later, bringing a peace offering in a big fat wild turkey, which he presented with the words "Indian sorry, Indian drunk fool" and with these brief and pointed remarks turned and left, but returned many times after bringing venison and other game which were great helps of the family larder. The following was related to the writer by Richard Townley whose family were the first settlers in the township of Tompkins, and near their residence the main indian trail passed. He had noticed an unusual large number of indians pass. and to gratify his curiosity, followed them to the west and south to their camp on the east side of Springbrook just south of where it crosses the road from section 35 to section 26, where he saw a large company having a jolly time, their enjoyment hightened by the aid of the contents of a keg, which two indians had carried by early in the day. Having satisified his curiosity he returned home, and next morning made a second visit, not concealing his presence as the day before. Not an indian was in sight, only the squaws were present, and they much disturbed at his presence. Upon a near approach he found the braves all sleeping off the effects of the fire-water they had so freely imbibed in celebrating the wedding that had taken place the day be fore. In 1839 and 1840 the government removed most of the Pottowattomies to reservation near Green Bay, Wis. Some of the old settlers related to the writer how the 4th U. S. Infantry and 2nd U. S Cavalry, under command of Brig. General Hugh Brady came through the country getting up the various bands and driving them, as a flock of sheep, to the headquarters camp at Jackson, from which point they were driven to Detroit and, embarked on boats to Green Bay. their removal was generally satisfactory to the early settlers, as they were great beggers, and somewhat inclined to be 20. thievish. A band escaped the roundup of the troops and secreted themselves in the thickets of the town of Lee, in Calhoun county, and in the fummer seasons just preceeding the war, some of them would make trips to this township, peddling baskets, which, they transported on ponies, the animals being nearly covered with. wares of various sizes and shapes. Camping at a.school house corner, they would leave their main supply in charge of a brave, while the squaws would radiate out in each direction peddling their wares. We well remember the fright their presence caused the school children, and lady teachers as well. We were all much pleased when they departed. Their trails as noted by the surveyors were as follows: The main trail from Jackson, north had a stopping point at the spring on the Townley farm, near the section line between sections 19 and 30 in Tompkins township, thence toward the west, entering Springport about 40 rods south of section line of sections 24 and 25, near which point two trails seperated, one in a south-west course, crossing from s ction 25 to section 36, near the Salesburg school house, and continuing a south-west course, leaving the town near the south quarter post of section 35. The other in a more westerly course, left section 25 about 60 rods south of the west quarter post. Crossing Springbrook about 60 rods north of the highway, on south side of section 26, passing to section 27, about 50 rods north of the south-east corner, in a south-west course, leaving section 27 at 20 rods west of the south quarter post then in a more south course across the corner of section 34, leaving tlat section 50 rods south of the north-west corner, and continuing in a nearly straight course across sections 33, 32 and 31, leaving the town and county 100 rods north of the west quarter post of section 31. The trail running north from the Townley spring, entered Springport about 35 rods north of the south-east corner of section 1, west to the Bockoven spring, another stopping po;nt, thence horth-west rly across sections 1 and 2, leaving the town and county near where Springbrook is, at the north quarter poet of section 3. Another trail entered the township about 40 rods east of the north-west corner of the town, ran nearly south across sections 6 and 7, leaving section 7 about 100 ruds north of the southwest corner of the section andprobably intersecting the main trail to Marshall at some point in Alavence township. Several camps of the redman have been located in the township usually near some lake or stream. One near the Cooper lake on the farm of Benj P. Burgess, on section 5, another on section 26, on the farm of the Myron Gillett Est. Mr. Gillett informed is of remembering the encampment "hich was not far from Springbrook. The tepee polls were left standing a number of years after the indians had been removed. Many arrow heads have been found on or near each encampment. We well remember the peculiar grass or weed, called Indian grass, of a yellow hue that grew in the old trail that crossed 'his father's farm. Nothing like it has been seen here since the plow of the pioneer turned it under. Another camp was located on the present farm of John W. Robbins, section 23, near the south shore of East Montague lake. g JAMES AND MARGARET PRESTON Mrs. Preston being the first white woman in Springport AUGUSTUS F. GAYLORD First Village Resident and Postmaster JOHN E. DEY First Contractor and Builder z2. The Churches A deep interest in christian religion manifested itself among ths pioneers of Springport; nearly all of whom were professed followers of some particular sect or church. The Presbyterians, Baptists, Protestant and Episcopal Methodists being early and well represented in this "vineyard," in the early days of the township. Rev. Marcus Harrison, Presbyterian, preached the first sermon, in the' fall of 1835 or early in 1836, in his own residence-a 30 feet square log house that stood in the road in front of the present residence of W. S. Brown. fIe also preached the first funeral sermon-fall of 1835,-being that of Mr. Adams, who died at his residence near where Mr. John Haite now lives, and was buried on the opposite side of the road near N. W. corner of S. E. i section 9. Rev. R B. Bement, Presbyterion, preached at the Landon school house in 1839 and 1840 The first sermon by the Baptist denomination was by Rev. Mr. Taylor, (probably in 1838) at the residence of Josiah Whitman, section 9, followed by Rev. Mr. Post, who preached at the Landon school house and in the woods south of the village. The first Baptist church was erected at the village in the summer of 1877, Mr. David Judson being the builder. It was dedicated Nov. 29, 1877, by Rev. C. H. Beal. assisted by Rev. P. VanWinkle. First regular minister, Rev. Lyman Trumball, who has been succeeded by Revs. R. J. Stevenson, A. W. Gower, E. N. Selleck, and for a few years there was no preaching services. When it was started again, Elder Conant had charge, followed by Revs. Miller, Lloyd, Eldridge, Miller (returned for two years), Stevens and supplies from Hillsdale college. State Missionary, Rev. Hudson, filled the pulpit for some time and Rev. Goodman is now hero. Membership in 1878 was 60, now about 20. The names of several Methodist ministers have been suggested as being the first to preach here, but it seems very probable that the Protestant Methodists formed a class at the Landon school house early in the forties; and public meetings by this denomination were held at the residence of Mr. Augusta F. Gaylord at the village. About the same time Revs. Jaquas, Davidson, Pratt, Sullivan and Castle, advocated their faith until the classes were disbanded. The Episcopal Methodists were first represented at the Landon school house by Rev. Noah Fassett and Lyman Gee. About 1848 Rcv. Mr. Blowers was first appointed to this charge by the M. E. conference. Revs. J. Ellis, Samuel Fassett and Lewis Griffin filled the appointments until the first M. E. church was built, which was in the fall of 1863. by Daniel H. Pierson. Dedicated Jan. 27th, 1864, Rev. H. M. Eddy, of Chicago, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the building was $1,850.00. The following constituted the first board of trustees D. H. Pierson, John Oyer, Noah Carpenter, P C. Goodyear, E. A. Landon, A. Sanburn, Wm. Wellington, Nicholas Gray, M. S. Brown. The first regular minister was Rev. A. L. Hoag to Sept. 1864; Rev. Hugh Colwell, Sept. 1865; W. W. Johnson, 1867; Samuel Fassett, 1868; B. F. Wright, 1869; A. J. Lyman, 1870-1; A. J. Russell, 1872; G. W. Hoag, 1873-4; C. G. Thomas, 1875-6; S. M. Merritt, 1877; L. P. Ferguson, 1878-9; A. L, Crittendon, 1880-1; Noah Fassett, 1882-3; J. H. Tanner, 1884; J. W. Steffee, 1885; H. P. Henderson, 1886; J. W. Arney, 1887; J. Clubine, 1887-89; R. R. Whitman, 1889-90; A. M. Griffith, 1890-92; W. W. Divine, 1882-93; W. F. Cook, 1893-94; G. L. Mount, 1894-96; J. A. Sprague, 1896-98, O. H Perry, 1898-99; F. N. Corbett Sept. 1899-June 1900; J. J. Martin, June 1900-Sept. 1900; A. A. Geiger, 1900-04; G. R. Millard, 1904-06; W J. Hathaway, 1906-08; D. E. Steffe, 1908 -10, and Rev. Yost is the present pastor. The present membership is 75. 28. ing held on the first and third Saturdays Society History of eah nth On the evening of August 31, 1869, In society matters the people of several members of the Masonic fraSpringport take a great interest, there ternity met and informally organized a having been no less than eleven lodge, electing Ben A. Joy, W. M.; having been no less than eleven so- Fay H. Ludlow, S. W. Edward Saxton, -cieties formed duringithe past 46 years,. W.; Oscar F. Smith, Sec.; Lewis E. neraly all of which are well supported Scoby, Treas.. Wmn Bullen, S. D.; at the present time. The first was W. H. Saxton, J. D.; Theron D. Fe organized during 1863, and known as lows, y. D; Thenson w. Felthe Union League. The object of Tyler. A dispensation was rewhich was to give support to the ceived June 6, 1870, and on the 12th of hich as of tgive Uni ted States dur-January, 1871, a charter was granted government of he United States dur- from the Grand Lodge of the state. ang the trying period of the war, and to Fay H. Ludlow being the first W. M.; spot traitors in the rear, of which there Benj P Burgess, S. W.; Edward Saxwere a few in our midst. The officers tonJ. W.; O. F Smith Sec The were: President John Landon; secre- p..esnt membe. F. Sith, S tary, S. Ross Higgings. The places of present membership is 10. meeting were by special appointment Springport Charter No. 144 was orbeing generally at the residence of ganized about eight years ago with some member. At the close of the John H. Doak as H. P. and N. G. Dean war, having outlived its usefulness, it as Recorder. About 45 members are disbanded. now in good standing. Arthur Punches On April 14, 1869, Lodge No. 131, of present H. P. and A. Crawford Jr. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was Recorder. chartered by the Grand Lodge of that Eastern Star Lodge, No. 26, received order of the state. The first N. G. was its charter October 14, 1880. Mrs. Ross Charles R. Doak; first secretary John Lamb was the first Worthy Matron, Oyer. This lodge has continued in a and E. Comstock the first Secretary. flourishing condition, at present own- The records of the lodge show 124 ing their hall and numbering 140 mem- members enrolled. Worthy Matron, bers in good standing. Kittie McClellan; Sec., Florence Yager. Encampment Lodge No. 70, I. O. 0 Mystic Workers of the World, FriendF., was organized and chartered Feb- ship Lodge No. 373, organized Nov. 23, ruary IIth, 1876. George W. Bortles 1900. Eighteen members. C. W. was the first Chief Patriarch and Dr. Crathwell, Prefect; W. O. Dodd, Sec. E. R. Def'oe the first Scribe. Present Now membership 110. Cratie Jewell, membership 40. Regular meetings Prefec; Claude Towns, Sec. held on the first and third Thursdays of Springport Lodge No. 87, Ancient each month. Order of United Workmen, was chartered June 16th, 1885. H. H. Allen Rebecca Lodge No. 89, I. 0. 0. F. was elpcted first Master Workman and was organized and chartered July 14th, j. p. Hicks first Secretary. This or1869. The names of the first officers der being a mutual life insurance comr are unknown, being unable to find the pany, whose beneficient favors have first ricords. The present member- been known in our midst, was in a very ship is 131. Regular meetings are held prosperous condition, but has now on the firts and third Wednesdays of pcesed to exist. each month. The Order of Maccabees Millard tent The Order of Patrons of Husbandry was organized in Springport Feb. 27, No. 45, was organized and chartered 1892 with R. Jack Comstoek as first August 6, 1873. Allen Crawford was Comander and Geo. McCall firstRecord elected first W. M., and George Lan- Keeper. Under the new charter Sam don the first Secretary. The order was Mctl'ltllan was first Commander and a flourishing organization for a few Charles VanBlack Record Keeper. years, but of late has been on the wane. About ton members have died from this The present membership is 30. At one tent The present membership is 54. time it was the only live Grange in Wm. J. Def oe present Commander and Jackson county. Rtgular meetings be- James E. Hammond Record Keeper. 24. t r r t t 1 c i E 4 MARIA DEY Who taught the first district school in Springport in the summer of 1838...... I,y. They employef me to teach the Ichool ih our own house, on the Boughon place, until the school house was readv, which was the old Porter (tama-,ack) house. My term was six weeks,;hen Charlotte Whitman was employed hrough the rest of the summer. Miss larriet Dixon taught in the summer )f 1839. The school inspectors were Herman Landon and Wm. V. Morrison. " [n the summer of 1838 the first frame school house was erected, under the direction of a building committee, consisting of Herman Landon, John S. Comstock, David D. Gillett, M. S. Brown and James A. Preston. It was located just south of the Landon school house-size 18x24 ft., and 8ft. posts. John E. Dey, James L. Preston, Arad Starr and Herman Landon were the builders. Miss Harriet Dixon taught the first school therein, winter of 1838-9 also the following summer. In the winter of 1839-40, Luther H. Lidlow was persuaded to teach the school. The attendance was obout 70, being all the pupils of sufficient age and size within a radius of three miles. For his service Mr. Ludlow received theprincely sum of $16 per month and boarded himself. The present structure superceded the old one in 1855, Isaac P. Clawson being the builder. This district claims no less than 30 successful teachers from the pupils who have been regular attendants at her schools. The present census is 18. DISTRICT NUMBER TWO. District No. 2 was set off and organized Feb. 23rd, 1839. Josiah Whitman was the first director. A log shanty was erected near the s. e. corner of sec. 19, (near Geo. Wellington's residence) by a (committee of the whole district) bee, and in the summer of 1840 or '41, Miss Catherine Joy taught the first The Schools SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER ONE. The cause of education has, received an unflagging interest from the first settlement of our township. As a result we believe our home educated citizens compare favorably. The pioneer in this important work was Mrs. Maria Dey, Who taught the first term of school in her own home, an 18x20 ft. square log house that stood one-fourth mile west of the Landon school house, -now removed. Of this Mrs. Dey wrote: "In the spring of 1838 the first school meeting was held at a private house,I think my father's, on the old Ford place, where A. L. Landon now resides. It was found that school must begin right away to get the legal time, in order to draw the public mon Wa "F"V ua"%, within a radius of three miles. For his service Mr. Ludlow received theprincely sum of $16 per month )and boarded himself. The present structure superseded the old one in 1855, Isaac P. Clawson being the builder. This district claims no less than 30 successful teachers from the pupils who have been regular attendants at her schools. The present census is 19. DISTRICT NUMBER TWO. District No. 2 was set off and organized Feb. 23rd, 1839. Josiah Whitman was the first director. A log shanty was erected near the s. e. corner of see. 19, (near Geo. Wellington's residence) by a (committee of the whole district) bee, and in the summer of 1840 or '41, 25. school, receiving for her services $1.50 per week and boarded around. Shortly after the south part of the district was set off and became No. 4 A small frame school house was built nearly where the Oyer House now stands, sometime in the fifties, and this gave place for a commodious building, located where F. D. Scherer's store now is, and this was burned in April, 1878. In 1872-3 the present fine structure was erected by Messrs. Caster & Hoag, at a cost of about $5,000. The building is located in a very desirable part of the village, on Grand street, and finely laid out grounds give the structure a pleasant appearance. The rooms-four in number-are well heated by steam, the apparatus costing about $500. The seating capacity is about 50 to each room. The present census is 147. The school rs now constituted was partially graded by Prof. Dennis Dunn, a very efficient instructor, who served one year and part of the second with two departments, the third department being added during the last term of his second year. The arrangement for grading was completed in 1881, by Prof. Fred M. Harlow, assisted by Mcsdames Laura Z. Adams-Towns, and Hattie Hall-Winslow. The former was it April '83, superseded bty Florence McCall, who taught five years in the intermediate department, followed by Clara Richardson-Johnson, Alma HicksSibley, Adelia Hoag-Houseman, Katherine Webster, Nellie Carpenter, Sylvia Noviss-Chappell and Laura Hard who is now the teacher. Hattie Hall-Winslow, in Sept., 1884, in the Primary was superseded by Josephine Jandell, who taught but one year, and was followed by Emma Hayes, May SaxtonClawson, Phoeba Hayes, Bessie Hyde, Ch-rlotte Cook and Florence Yager. The Grammar room was started in 1892, May Merrill being the first teacher, followcd by Mary Hyndman, A. J. Crittenden, Lucy Burgess, Jennie Kay-. Bly, Laura Hard and Elizabeth Carety. The names of the several instructors in the High room are Fred M HIrlnw, 1881-'97; W. H. Pearce, 1897-1902; H. A. Schall, 1902-'04; C. R. Murphy, 1904 -'08 and D. L. Clark who is here at this time. They have been assisted by Mary Hyndman, 1889-1900; Della Hale, 1900-1905; Lucy Burgess, 1905-'06; Miss Heald, 1906-'08 and Catherine Barber who is now teaching her second year. The entire work of the school comprises thirteen grades, covering as many years work, and divided as follows: the Primary takes three, Intermeciate three, Grammar three and High room four. The intention of the school is to give an elementary education, at once practical and sufficient to secure admittance to any of the many noted schools of our state, or any of the three certificates to teach in the district schools, or what is of more importance, by its thorough drill and work, to give its students an experience which will make them practical business men and women. The school board has always maintained a liberal position in all respects, opening the advantages to foreign pupils, at extremely low tuition, and have left no opportuity to suppors their teachers in every effort, both in discipline and instruction. The work of organization, from the first was impeded by lack of apparatus and efficient library. Prof. Dunn was instrumental in placing an excellent list of text books, and two Webster's Unabridged dictionaries in the school. To this, much of the success of the school is attributable. By an exhibition, during the winter of '81, the school purchased thirty volumes of standard authors in history, science and fiction. To this nucleus, additions were 26. made until '86, when the library was Hicks and Darwin FitzGerald doing presented to the district, and by judic- the work. The present school census ious expenditure of library money, has numbers 28. ~, n,,- d-.ntld 1, 1- 3 _ 1__ _ _____ LnuW l-ttU1teu veruai uuiiureu vuluiillb. I In apparatus, a small beginning was made. A popular movement by patron and pupil in '80, placed an organ in the High room. From time to time the board have generously supplied other helps, among which are some valuable Reading Charts, a Tellurian, Anatomical Study, Globes, Laboratory and supplies and many other auxiliaries which is intended with careful use to secure the student an independence in research and habits of self reliance, so valuable in practical life work. Improvements are being made each year. In April 1900, the basement was arranged as a recitation room and library, making five rooms in all. In 1904 a new furnace was installed and in 1906 the fire escape was added, besides many other things that the various school boards have supplied. MIPI'"' _ _ -[__, I _ 1.. - - __.. ___ _i _A - '1 DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR. District No. 4 was set off from No. 2, and organized Feb, 15, 1840. Josiah Whitman was the first director. The first school was taught by Miss Harriet FitzGerald, in a small dwelling that stood near the present site. This soon gave place to the first school house, which was built on a contract by Alonzo Haire, Harvey Wheeler, of Willow Creek, Eaton county, doing the work. In 1875 the present structure was erected, Caster & Hoag being the builders. The present census is 34. DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE. District No. 5 was organized about the year 1850, the present building being erected soon after. N. H. Hayden was the first director and also taught the first school. In 1884 the old building was remodeled and otherwise improved. The present census is 24. i ne nrst class regularly graauaeu DISTRICT NUMBER SIX from this school was that of '83, co- organized Sept prising Messrs. Wmn. Flanders, de- District No. 6 was organized Sept. pceased, Perry. Burgess, Rober 19, 1853, Elmer Sheldon being the first ceased, erry L. Burgess, Robert M- director. The first school was taught Clellon, deceased and Jesse I Conklin. in a log shanty that stood near Thomas Few lines of business can be named Cam's residence. The present buildwhich cannot be found names onceed in the summer of 1855. answered to in our schools. ing was erected in the summer of 1855. answered to in our schools. Miss Adelia Ferris taught the first SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER THREE. school. The present census is 24. District No. 3 was set off and organ- DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN ized in 1842, during which year a log District No. 7 was organized April building was erected about fifteen rods 15, 1854, David Calkins being the first north-east of the west quarter post of director. The first school was taught section 9. Levi Spaulding was the in a dwelling house (the Childs house) builder. James Burgess was the first that stood one-fourth mile north of the director and Josiah Whitman, Jr., present site. Miss Lucinda Nelson taught the first term of school during taught the first school. The present the winter of 1842-3. In the year 1854 building was erected in the summer of the site was changed to its present lo- 1855, John Oy r being the contractor, cation, and the present building erect- and Martin L. Bridenstine, Samuel ed, Clark R. Whitman being the con- Heiser and Jacob Beck were the buildtractor, and Levi Spaulding, David L. ers. The present census is 15. 27. DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT. District No. 8, fractional with Hamlin, was organized Nov. 10, 1838, in a shanty near the present residence of W. W. Wilson. Miss Locina Emmerson taught the first school. The first school house was erected in 1839, and in 1845 a new one was erected about 30 rods north of the present site, Samuel Sherman being the builder. In 1866 the present edifice was erected, Geo. T. Griffith being, the contractor, and Amer Jefferies being the builder. The present census is 25. DISTRICT NUMBER ONE. (FRACTIONAL). District No. 1, fractional with Tompkins, was organized June 4, 1853, Daniel S. Gillett being the first director. The present building was soon after erected by A. M. Harris. Harriet Benedict was the first teacher. The present census is 34. --- - -- -— L --- —----- -- - -- The Landon school house. First school house in Springport, built in 1838. Drawn from memory by the author. Copied by Miss Kate Ludlow. 28. EDMUND FERRIS COMFORT JOY STEPHEN H. LUDLOW DAVID D. GILLETT 29. Township Officers. By act of the legislature of 1837-8, that territory now known as Springport was set off from the township of Spring Arbor. The act making the change took effect April 2, 1838 The first election was held that day at the house of Isaac B. Gates, now owned by J. R. Whitman Jr., on section 29. First Town Meeting. The following is a copy of the original record of the meeting held that day: Annual Township Meeting, April 2, 1838. At a meeting of the citizens of the township of Springport, in the county of Jackson, and state of Michigan. Held at the house of Isaac B. Gates in said township, (according to the directions of the Legislature of the state) held on the second day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, for the purpose of electing the necessary officers required by Law, in said township. On the meeting coming to ordei Josiah Whitman was chosen as Mode, rator of the day and Wm. P. Morrisor as clerk. They both having the oatl administered to fulfill the duties ac cording to law (which disolve npoi them as inspectors of said meeting.) On counting the votes it was foun< that Josiah Whitman was chosen a supervisor for the ensuing yar. I was then found that Simon Montagu, w;as chosen as township Clerk. Josiah Whitman, Isaac B. Gates Daniel Mallory and James M. Jame son were chosen for Justice of th Peace for said township. Edmund Ferris, Lpvi Huffman, Wi] iam Gennings were elected as asses sors for said township. D. C Hammond, J. FitzGerald an( J. A. Preston were chosen as Commissioners of Highways. L. Landon, H. Landon Wm. V. Morrison were chosen as inspectors of primary schools. D. Mallory and D. C. Hammond were chosen as overseers of the poor. Milton Barrett, Augustus Ferris and Clark R. Whitman were chosen as collectors and constables. Herman Landon, Luther Landon and J. A. Preston fence viewers. J. S. Comstock was chosen as Pound Master. It was then voted that the town clerk obtain from the records of the township of Sandstone all records that may be necessary to have recorded in this town. And that there be a tax raised for the purpose of obtaining all necessary books for records, and that the same be to the amount of ten dollars. It was then voted that a tax of twentyfive dollars for the sustenance of the poor. 3 It was then voted that horses, cattle and hogs be free commoners, and that a lawful fence should be five feet in r heighth. It was then voted that a bounty of two dollars be paid by the township to any citizen of said township that may present the scalps of wolves that he n has killed in said township, and that be be paid for any wolf or wolves that he d may kill, and also that any person who s sets a trap for that purpose shall build t a lawful fence around the same. e The meeting was then adjourned until the next annual township meeting,, which is to be held at the home of Si- mon Montague in said towhship. e JOSIAH WHITMAN, Moderator, WM. MORRISON, Clerk. I- Springport, April 2nd, 1838. SUPERVISORS. d The office of supervisor has been 30 thel filled from 1839 to the present, by following persons; 1839.-James M. Jameson. 1840.-Edmund Ferris. 1841.-Augustus F. Gaylord. 1842-6.-Stephen B Crawford. 1847-51.-James M. Jamesori. 1852-3.-E. W. Comstock. 1854-60. — Luther H. Ludlow. 1861-63.-John Landon. 1864. -John R. Pool. 1965.-E. W. Comstock. 1866-7.-George Landon. 1868-9.-S. Ross Higgings. 1870.-John Landon. 1871. -George Landon. 1872.-Samuel Chappell. 1873-6.-Allen Crawford. 1877.-Thomas H. Allen. 1878.-Ben A. Joy. 1879.-David L. Hicks. 1880-2.-Merton L. Dey. 1883.-Henry Smith. 1884-6.-Merton L. Dey. 1887 -Byron C. Godfrey. 1888-92.-F. E. Powers. 1993-a.-A. L. Landon. 1895-1904.-James W. Dey. 1905.-A. L. Landon. 1906. -James W. Dey. 1907-10.-Sam McClellan. TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1883-9.-Stephen H. Ludlow. 1840.-Stephen B. Crawford. 1841-3.-Stephen H. Ludlow. 1844.-Edmund Ferris. 1845-7.-Stephen H. Ludlow. 1848-9.-Wm. G. Brown. 1850-6.-Stephen H. Ludlow. 1857-8. — George Landon. 1859 -Amos Crosby. 1860-5.-George Landon. 1866. -Amos Crosby. 1867.-Stephen H Ludlow. 1868. -Chas. 0. Goodyear. 1869-70-Harvey Crosby. 1871-2.-Ben A. Joy. 1873.-Dallas Caster. 1874-5.-Eben C. Comstock. 1876.-James M. Crosby. 1877.-Dallas Caster. 1878.-Frank E. Powers. 1879.-Dallas Caster. 1880.-James M. Crosby. 1881-2.-Frank E. Pnwers. 1883.-Henry L. Gardner. 1884 -Chas. H. Weldon. 1885-7.-Frank E. Powers. 1892.-Chandler D. Caster. 1893-5.-H. J. Courtright. 1896-9.-W. H. West. 1900-8 -J. E. Zupp. 1909-10.-E. L. Dale. TOWNSHIP TREASURERS. 1879-80. —Edward Saxton. 1881 -Jacob Colestock 1883-3.-David L. Hicks. 1884-5.-Edward Saxton. 1886 7.-C. D. Caster 1887-8.-David L. Hicks. 1889-90 -Sames Ja Smith. 1891.-Byron Caster. 1892.-Byron M. Caster. 1893-4.-Frank Robbins. 1895-6.-Emery D. Craver. 1897-8. -Geo. Linn. 1899-1900.-Wm. H Inman. 1901-2.-Ethan B. Allen. 1903-4.-tHenry P Foglesang. 1905-6.-Sam McClellan. 1907-8 -Peter P. Orrison. 1909-10.-Claude Towns The first treasurer of the township of which any record can be found, was one Degolia, and the amount of taxes that he was required to collect from one man, who owned 160 acres of land, in the year of 1837, was $1.76. C. R. Whitman was the treasurer for the year 1838, and he collected from the same man $2.48. In 1842 Stephen B. Crawford held that position; then came Edmund Ferris for several years, then E. W. Comstock from 1846-9; John Oyer from 1854-8. John Landon held that position in 1859 and collected from the above 160 acres, $15.95. Then came H. Doak and G. D. Crossfield for 1860-1-2. In 1863 David L. Hicks was elected to the office, and held it from year to year until about 1878 or 9, and in 1864 collected on the first named 160 acres, $92.54. This from the small sum of $1,76, the taxes increased to $92.54, and from the one man who struck the first blow the population has increased to its present number. The only means to find one's way in and out was by the marks put upon the trees to mark the pathway of the pio 31. neer. Then it was a seven days' jour- the almost lifeless "Rams Horn," this rey to mill; to-day only a matter of a time with better success. In the fall few hours. of 1871, it was again revived and finally completed to Lansing from Jonesville, The Rilr and operated under the name and management of the Lake Shore & For years the little burg of Oyer's Michigan Southern Railroad, and desigCorners plodded along without hope of nated the Lansing Division, which name ever being able to get away from home it still retains. The first locomotive only by teams, until about 1858 or 1859, steamed into Springport township, when a project was put on foot to build June 14th, 1872. The regular trains a railroad from Jonesville to Iansing, commenced running in August or Septhe capitol of the state. Subscriptions tember following. The first agent in were solicited and the first survey of Springport was S. J. Powell, October the road was made in the fall of 1859, 10, 1872, and was succeeded by C. A. and the work of grading was com- Slauson, June 14, 1873; G. W. Bortles menced in the following spring, and was appointed agent February 23,1874; continued until the spring of '61, when J. H. Morris, November 23, 1880; J. P. it was discontinued, presumably on ac- Hicks, August 17, 1883; E. C. Gilman, count of the breaking out of the war, July 2, 1885, who has been succeeded and, perhaps, want of sufficient funds. by H. A. Leismer; M. E. Burgess and The following story is told by a boy I. W. Kirkwood, who still retains that who hauled them some wood: "I remember that I was sent over with a load of wood for one of the company's foreman, and after it was unloaded he wrote me an order on the paymaster, or cashier. As he was a full-blood Irishman I could not make out what the order meant or what I was to do with it, and asked him to read and t-xplain it to me. He did so, and I don't think I shall ever forget how he accomplished the feat. It sounded so funny to me that it made a lasting impression. I succeeded in getting the money, however, without any trouble " The people gave up all hopes and concluded that they were doomed to live and die without ever having a glimpse of the "iron horse," or hearing the so,und of the locomotive whistle only as they heard it from the distant Michigan Central, on its east and western course as it crossed the lands of their more fortunate neighbors. After the war closed andl peace was restored, people's attention was again turned to position. Since the completion of the railroad the village has continued to grow and thrive, and to-day our sky is clear and we are a happy, contented and thriving little village. First Buildings. John Oyer was the original pioneer so far as the village is concerned, and did much toward bringing it up to its present condition He built the first store, and in 1860 he saw the necessity of a custom grist mill, and so set himself at work to build one. In 1861 he Iadded a saw-mill, and while it was being raised, after the fashion of ye ancient times, "He-O-he, and up she goes! one at a time and all together!" one of the timbers turned over on the skids, and down it came, crushing David L. Hicks' leg, and severely injuring some others. This brought them to their senses and the building was completed without further mishap. / Mr. Oyer owned a large portion of the 32. land surrounding the village. He built an opera house 48x80 feet, with fine several brick stores and the large hotel scenery and a seating capacity of about which now stand as monuments of his 600. enterprise and industry., AI The Gold Fever. In 1850 the California gold fever struck Springport. Two or three companies left here overland for California, with any thing they could secure as an outfit, with barely enough to last them until they reached the land of the shining dust. The following are the names of those who took the gold fever and made the trip to California: B. P. Burgess, Thos Burgess, Wm. Troop, Phil. and Hiram Oyer, Frank, Wm. and Orton Porter, Edward and Wm. Saxton, Henry Bass, Nelson Champlin, Frank HazinessN Chas. R. Doak, Nathaniel Hicks, John Whitman, Chas. Crossfield, James Preston, Frank Gurley, Frank Hall, W. W. Spaulding. Some of those boys were very successful and became rich, whether they dug it up from the earth in shining nuggets or in the shape of wheat, corn and other products of the farm, is more than we can say. However, since they returned, some of them have proven to be good farmers. Incorpation of Village The First Newspaper. The first paper was published by F. A. Paine, in 1875, but was only issued once or twice. In 1876 W. O. Oyer and F. A. Paine founded thp Springport Signal which has passed through all the trials and tribulations of a country newspaper, and to-day it is enjoying liberal patronage, both advertising and job work. It has a circulation of about 800. Within the last two years the addition of new type and presses puts The Signal among the best of country offices. In the year 1882, J. F. Cook built a planing mill and in 1883, he sold to C. H. Weldon, who in company with R. B. Hoag enlarged and added sash, doors and blinds, a cider mill and jelly works. Their business amounts to many thousand dollars per year. Their successors Hoag & Houseman, still operate the plant. The writer hereof cannot give as full details of the early history of the township as he would like, not having sufficient data to enable him to do so accurately. Many incidents relative to the experiences of the early settlers no doubt would be of interest to those who will persue this, could we give them to you with the accuracy with which they were witnessed by the actors of the bygone drama. Many was the time when the white man was wending his way home from some distant neighbor, by the light of the silvery moon, that he would come In the year of 1882 Springport was incorporated with a population of 600 people, and C. J. Comstock was selected as its president. The Trustees first elected were John Oyer, Myron Gillett, H. L Gardner, A. W. Soule, Jared Parker and R. B. Hoag. F. E Powers was elected clerk, and Edward Saxton treasurer. W. S. Porter was elected marshal by the council. The village contains several large brick stores, and some handsome dwellings, upon a tribe of Indians around their camp-fire listening to a speech from their chief, and we presume he would change his course and go some ways 33. out of his way to avoid intruding himself into their dusky company, for the Indians were numerous then, and we should guess did not feel over pleased to have their white neighbors closing in upon them to destroy their hunting grounds and compell them to move further on. Perhaps it was upon this very subject that the chief was talking to his tribe, and no doubt his ideas were fully as sound as those of our present rulers. No doubt but that they were full believers in protection, and if they could have had their way would have made it so strong that not a white man could have crossed their line. The boys in those days were full of their pranks as they are at the present day, and the traveler along some lonely road has been chased by what seemed tn hpa hnrt f. lporodl hnlt vPrv Inner pelled to buy and sell at home in order to keep up with their more successfu neighbors, who, by their foresight, had been all along doing their entire business in Springport, and at a greater advantage both in buying and selling. Here they can have their wants supplied in all that is neccessary to make home comfortable and life happy at a very small per cent. above the actual cost of production; the expense of carrying on a business in Springport is very small. The stocks are so large that some of them requires a room 48x80 feet to contain them, and as they are usually bought for spot cash makes them capable of being sold very low. War Reminiscences Owing to the election of Abraham bodied animals, which upon a closer wing to the election of Abraham observation would have been found to Lincoln to the Presidency and the asbe only roguish boys, wrapped in cendency to power of that despised sheets. Sometimes imitating bears people, (styled by the southern firethey would cause some settler's dog to eaters) the "Black Abolition Party," bark and growl until the old pioneer came the sound of the booming cannon. would call together his force of boys War, terrible war! had begun. The and proceed to drive the beast away,firing upon Fort Sumpter on the 12th and would usually wind up by the sup-day of April, 1861 caused a shudder to posed bear driving the old man, boys, pass over the people of the Northern states. While they did not believe that dog and all into the house, there to re-states. While th did not beeve that main until daylight came, when theya war of such magnitude, or of such would emerge from their quarters tolong duration, as it wa afterwards sec how many pigs hqd been carried proven, could possibly be upon us, yet away by the "varmit.' they drended the possibility of having to participate in a bloody war, no As a business point, considering the matr sm. Sl was railroad facilities, Springport is un- quiet determination to stand by the old surpassed for an inland town. Scres flag, and to preserve the constitution. of carloads of farm produce ana live President Lincoln made a call for stock being shipped from here annualy. seventy-five thousand troops, for three The retail trade of the village has months' service, which was thought by grown to a large proportion and the many to be a sufficient time to quell the people who once believed it was their rebellion and maintain the goverment. duty to do their trading in other and Three months to quell a rebellion, with larger towns now find themselves cor- seventy-five thousand men, which took 34. four years, and thousands ands of human lives, and on millions of dollars! upon thousmillions up This call for seventy-five thousand troops was promptly responded to by three Springport boys, Warren E. Brezett, William Bell and Edward Hammond, who enlisted in Co. E. 1st Mich. Regiment. We had no railroad to Springport at that time, and the boys went overland to Jackson to enlist. When they reached there they found the company had left for Washington, and they immediately followed after. The news of the firing on Fort Sumptor was first brought to Springport by a man named Rogers, who came down from Parma on foot. It reminded one of the story of how the news of the old war reached Farmer, afterwards General Putman. The three boys above referred to, were among the first to enter the enemy's country, and took part in the battle of Bull Run. No doubt but that they did some tall running along with the rest of the boys. They were not quite able to keep up with the Washington gentry who went to witness the fun, and see the Johnnys driven clean into Richmond. But they didn't do it just the same. After their time had expired they re-enlisted for three years, or during the war. Edward Hammond re-enlisted in the 12th Regulars, and lost his life at Malvirn Hill, July 20th, 1862, and was buried beneath the soil of the sunny south. Warren E. Brezett and Wm. Bell came all through the war and were honorably discharged at its close. The former is now living at Albion, Mich., and the latter in Iowa. When the call came for three hundred thousand men for three years, Springport's quota was promptly filled, as was every subsequent call. CO. I, 6TH, REG. MICH. VOLUNTEERS was composed of the following Spring- e port boys: Wm. H. McNeil, enlisted Aug., 1861, killed at Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 5, '62. Wm. J. Burgess, enlisted Aug. 3, '61 Mustered Aug. 20, '61. Corporal Nov. 1, '62. Sergent Jan. 1, '64. Re-enlisted Feb. 1, '64, at Port Hudson, La. Mustered Feb. 22, '64, First Sergent, Nov. 2, '64. Discharged to accept promotion Jan. 19, '65. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Aug. 12, '64. Mustered Jan. 20, '65. Mustered out at New Orleans, Ia., Aug. 20, '65. James F. Deyoe, enlisted Aug. '61, as Private. Promoted to Corporal Oct. '63. Re-enlisted Feb. '64. Promoted to duty Sergent June '65. Discharged Aug. 20, '65, at close of war. Died March 17, 1900, at Candy, Oregon. Barnett Swope, enlisted Aug. '61, wounded at Port Hudson, La., May 27, '63, was discharged Sept. 18, '63, for disability. Residence Wheeler, Gratiot county, Mich. S. D. Curtis, enlisted Aug. '61, discharged Aug. 20, '64, time of service expired. A resident of Springport until recently, when he removed to the Soldiers Home at Grand Rapids, where he now lives Geo. E. Harris, enlisted Aug. '61, discharged Aug. 20' '64, time of service expired. Is now a resident of Springport. John Street, enlisted Aug. 8, 1861. Mustered Aug. 20, 1861. Re-enlisted Feb. 1, 1864, at Port Hudson, La. Mustered Feb. 22, 1864. Wagoner Aug. 20,1864. Deserted at Fort Gaines, Ala., July 9, 1865. AlvahS Dodd, enlisted Aug. 1861, died at Port Hudson, La., Aug. 14, '63. James E. Doak, enlisted Aug. 1861, returned home and has since died. Nelson R. Stevens, enlisted Aug. 13, 35. 1861, Mustered Aug. 20, 1861. Corpor- and the Sargeant of the regiment drew al July 30, 1863. Re-enlisted Feb. 1, his revolver and ordered him to make 1864, at Port Hudson, La. Mustered it fast, and he immediately complied Feb. 22, 1864. Sergeant Aug. 20, 1862. with the order. And the Sixth MichiMustered out at New Orleans, Ls., gan was the first to enter the city. Aug 20, 1865. The regiment was engaged in the folGeorge Coldstrean, enlisted Aug. '61, lowing battles and skirmishes: died in Marine hospital, New Orleans, Seville Point, Va., March 5, 1862 La., Nov. 7, 1862. Port Jackson, La., April 25, 1826. John Steel, enlisted March 1864. Vicksburg, Miss., May 20, 1862. Was a resident of Charlesworth for a Grand Gulf, Miss., May 27, 1862. number of years. Died in the Soldiers Arnite River, Miss., June 20, 1862. Home at Grand Rapids, March 1910 Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 5-17, 1862. R. H. Deyoe, enlisted March 1854. This was one of the hardest fought Was a resident of Fairmont, North Was a resident of Fairmont, North little battles of the war, and where the Dakota, until his death in 1900. first Springport boy lost his life, and Ruben Stevens, enlisted March 1864. lies buried near the spot where he fell, Died at Natchiz, Miss., Sept. 5, 1864. mourned by many people of SpringHenry Childs, enlisted March 1844, p died at New Orleans, La. died at New n La. \ -^-4. Bayon Teache, La., Jan. 14, 1863. The 6th Regiment had its head- Bayon Teache, La., Jan 14, 1863 Penchetoola, La., May, 16, 1863. quarters at Kalamazoo, Mich., and on Pencetoo, L, M, a, 13 Seige, of Port Hudson, May 23 to Aug. 30, 1862, it was ordered south ee, of and went to Baltimore, Md., where it une 3, o6.. Tunica Bayod, La., Nov. 8, 1863. remained during the winter of 1861-2,, L,, 1 Ashton, /Ark., June 24, 1864. at a place called Camp Makin, on Ashton, Ark., June 24, 1864. Makin Hill, Baltimore, Md. On the Fort Morgan, Al., Aug. 30, 1864. Spanish Fort, Ala., April 1865. 22d day of Feb, 1862 the regiment left nh t, a., prl 1865. Baltimore for Newport News, Va.,,, 86 and from there to Ship Island, sailing aaaia, A l, 1863. around the coast of Florida nd, and Fort Blareached Ship Island on the 4th day of ey Aa, and s Fort Hunger, Fort Tracy, and siege March, 1862, where it remained until March, 1862 where it remained untiof Mobile, Ala., March 20, to April 12, April 14th, '62, when they embarked 1865. on the sailing vessel, Great Republic, enrollment of the ixth ior the mouth of the Mississippi river, n ntry ws at which place they lay until the Forts, R egiment Mich. Infantry was 1,957, Jackson, and St. Philops, surrendered of i fcers and men e en 4 to Admiral Porter. They were then killed in active service; 21 died from taken on Lighters and carried up the wond received, and six officers and wounds received, and six officers and river, and on the 2d day of May entered 4 m 470 men died from disease, being a the city of New Orleans, and took pos- total of 542 men and officers. session of the United States Mint at that place. When the boat swung into By the flow of the inland river, shore a rope was thrownh and a man on Wheave the fleets of iron have fled, e a rWhere the blades of grove grass shore ordered to make it fast, but in- quiver. stead of doing so he threw it into the Asleep are the ranks of the dead. water. A second time it was thrown -Michigan in the War. 36. July 9th, 1865, this regiment took the steamer at New Orleans, with orders to report to Maj. Gen. Sheridan where it arrived on the 11th and encamped at Greenville. There it was furnished with new camp equipage and wagon train and put in condition for service in Texas, but on the 5th of August orders were received for its muster out, which was accomplished on the 20th, and on the 23d the regiment started for Michigan, proceeding by steamer to Cario, where it arrived on the 28th, and thence by rail to Jackson, Mich, arriving there on the 30th, and on the 5th of Sept. 1865, they were paid off and discharged. COMPANY E. TWENTIETH REGIMENT MICH. INFANTRY Was largely composed of,pringort boys. Mr. Frank Porter took active part in raising this company and went out with them as 2d Lieutenant, was made 1st Lieutenant, and returned with the shoulder straps of a Major. Francis Porter. Parma. First Lt. 20th Inf'y, July 29, 1862. Capt. Jan. 9, 1863. Wounded in action at Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 21, 1863. Wounded in action near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. Maj., Dec. 20, 1864. Lt. Col., Mar. 11, 1865. Mustered out as Maj., May 30, 1865, and honorably discharged. The following is copied from the Signal of May 17. 1903: Maj. Frank Porter, one of the gallant officers of the old Twentieth Regi ment, Michigan Infantry, was found dead in his bed at his home, 408 Brooklyn Ave., Detroit, Sunday morning. When he retired Saturday evening he was in his usual good health and spirits. and death claimed him as he slept. He was 79 years of age and the greater part of his life had been spent in the service of his country. Maj. Porter lived in Jackson previous to the civil war. He went there with his father who was one of the contractors engaged in the construction of the state prison, at an early date in Jackson's history. His father subsequently purchased a farm in Springport, where the family lived many years. Maj. Porter was working on the farm when he responded to the call of President Lincoln and joined the army. He was a member of Fairbanks Post, G. A, R. Besides his widow he leaves two children. Dr. Phil Porter and Mrs. James. The remains were brought here for burial Tuesday afternon, being met at the train by a large number of relatives, friends and members of the G. A. R. Post. The boys from Springport were: Frank Porter Lewis Scoby Charles Scoby George Dodd Charles E. Pickett Henry MeConkey *Dan'l Bartershaw Ed. Briminstool D. Carson Thomas Whipple J. McAllister Henry Livingston John Ballen Chas. Henderson Henry Henderson M. L. Bridinstine Adam Austin Samuel Austin Theo. Carpenter Wm. Beck T. J. Saxton George Markle John Seavy William Shaft-r Lewis Wood Mark Benson Wm. Bockoven 'Alonzo Hayden Albert C. Miner Wm. Bridenstine John Bennett James Bennett This regiment was quartered at Jackson until the quoto was filled and then moved to Washington, D. C., from there to Alaxandra, VA., from there, to Ft. Dodge, north of Washington. It was while there th:t they had their *Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va. 37. first experience in getting ready for what they supposed was going to be a fight, which did not come off, however, some of the boys thought their time had come. The regiment marched from here to Fredericksburgh, Va., and took part in that famous battle of Dec. 12, 13 and 14, 1862, was also engaged in siege of Knoxville, Tenn., and lay penned in for thirty days on short rations, until Sherman came up and let them out of a hot box. Also in the fight at Spottsylvania, C. H., Va., Cold Harbor, Vickshurg, Tenn., and Jackson, Miss., also was at the final battle and winding up of the rebellion at Petersburgh, Va. Charles E. Pickett received a gunshot wound in his left arm, and Charles Scoby was killed while engaged in tying up Pickett's arm to keep him from bleeding to death. Adam Austin was taken prisoner and lay in Libby and Andersonville for a long time, and was finally exchanged and returned home. This regiment crossed the Rappahannock Dec. 13, 1862, being in the reserve at the battle of Fredericksburgh. Its loss was only 11 wounded, and most of them only slightly. After the return to camp near Falmouth the regiment suffered much from sickness. Embarking at Aquia Creek, Feb. 19, 1863, for Newport News, it was favorably located at that point, the health and spirits of the men rapidly improved. Leaving Newport News March 19, 1863, it proceeded via Baltimore, Parksburgh and Cincinnati for Kentucky. On the 19th day of May a detachment of 100 men having been dispatched to break up a party of gorillas, and were attacked on their return by the advance guards of the Rebel forces under Gen. John H. Morgan, and were obliged to fall back with a heavy loss. They were attacked the following morning by Morgan's entire force at the nar rows of the Horse Shoe Bend, on the Columbian river. The fight lasted all day, and Morgan finally retiring with a loss of some 800 to 400 men. The loss of the 20th was only 29, of whom 5 were killed, 19 wounded and 5 missing. The regiment then fell back to Columbia, and on the 3rd of June received orders to proceed to Vicksburg, together with the balance of 9th Corps, to reinforce Gen. U. S. Grant. It aided fortifying Haynes Bluff and Oak Ridge, and on the surrender of Vicksburgh the regiment moved with the army to Jackson, Miss. July 10 and 11, 1863, it was engaged in skirmishing before that place, with a loss of three wounded. After the evacuation of Jackson, Miss., the 20th was sent to Madison Station to destroy the railroad. July 24 it again reached Hayne's Bluff. In this campaign the heat was terrible and many gave out on the march, which lasted twenty days. While in Mississippi the regiment lost by death from disease eighteen men and two officers, and at times nearly one-half of the regiment was sick. Embarking Aug. 3d, they proceeded to Kentucky, and on the 10th of September took part in the movement on Knoxville, Tenn., going by way of Cumberland Gap. They took part in the engagement of Blue Springs, Oct. 10. 1863, with a loss of one killed, and two wounded. From Nov. 1 to 27 they were encamped on Peeble's farm, just south-east of Petersburgh, Va., and was engaged on picket duty and building fortifycations. On the 28th of November it moved to the extreme right of the line east of Petersburgh, and took its position in the trenches during the night, occupying battery 9, near the Appomattox river. The enemy had its sharp shooters posted in convenient positions, who kept up a continuous fire through the night, kill 38. ing several men belonging to this regiment. During the winter the regiment continued in that position, within range of the enemy's fire from mortor batteries in front, and also on the right flank from batteries across the Appomaotox river, mounted with Whiteworth and sixty-tour pound rifle guns. The picket trenches being only about two hundred yards apart at that point from those of the enemy, consequently much annoyance and danger was experienced from the fire of the pickets. Owing to the insufficiency of shelter and scarcity of fuel, the men in the trenches suffered much hardship. About March 1st the enemy was observed strengthening their works in front as if they expected an assault. On the 13th the regiment was under arms, anticipating an attack. On the 15th it had orders to be ready to move at a minuet's notice. The sick was sent to City Point, and the men ordered to sleep on their arms every night. On the morning of the 25th of March, at about four o'clock, they were arroused by a cry of "A charge!" and the men were immediacely ordered to the works. As it was still dark no one seemed to understand the nature or extent of the attack. There was firing heard on the left and it was soon learned that the enemy had captured Fort Stedman, and that they were swinging around to the right in the rear with the purpose of capturing all on the right of the captured Fort, and nothing but -the vigilance and bravery of the 20th regiment, together with the 2d Mich., which occupied the line between battery 9 and Fort Stedman, prevented the success of this movement. All the rebel batteries in front of the position was opened up on the 20th and tured Fort, while the rebels were pouring in at the breech, and at the same time preparing for a charge in front. The 17th Mich. advancing from division headquarte s charged rapidly on the advance in frontbut was driven back, reforming, it again charged, the 20th and 2nd Midh. charging gallantly on the right. Covered by the guns of Fort McGilvery the enemy seeing that success was impossible, became utterly demoralized and retreated hastily and in disorder to their works. During this attack the 20th regiment lost nine and three were mortally wounded. SEVENTH CAVALRY Had with them the following boys, who were credited to Springport, although they did not live in Springport at that time, they enlisted and were credited from here: Harmon D. Yoxhimer, Enlisted in company E., Seventh Cavalry, Sept 1, 1864, at Springport, for one year, age 20. Mustered Sept. 1, 1864. Discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., July 17, 1865. Present residence Springport, Mich. Alfred D. Colestock, Enlisted in company E., Seventh Cavalry, Sept. 1, 1864, at Springport, for one year, age 28. Mustered Sept. 1, 1864. Discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., July 17, 1865. Died in this viilage Feb. 26, 1906. 1l EIGHTH CAVALRY Noah Town, another Springport boy, was a member of the eighth Cavalry which participated in a number of important battles of the war in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn, Sept. 22, 1865, returning to Jackson, Mich,. on the 28th. where the regiment was disbanded. Mr. Town was a resident of Springport until his death, which 2nd Mich., also the guns of the cap- occured Nov. 13, 1906. 39. NINTH CAVALRY Had with them the following Springport boys: Edward Ferris, George Orrison and George Battershaw. All were taken prisoners at Bean's Station, Tenin., Dec. 16, 1863, and Ferris and Orrison died in Libby Prison. The forimer Mar. 23, 1864. Battershaw returned to this place where he lived a number of years. Then moving to Concord township. His present residence is unknown. ELEVENTH CAVALRY The members of this regiment from this township were Joel M. Hicks, Richard Carpenter and Henry Henderson. The regiment was organized at Kalamazoo, Mich., Dec. 10, 1863. Soon after being ordered to Lexington, Ky., where Joel Hicks died. The regiment saw severe service in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Carpenter and Henderson returned to this town-.... ' 1_ __ a1,_1_ _ _a_ ___ share. The regiment soon moved to Nashville, Tenn., where it was mustered out July 1st 1865. Springport's Firsts. As recently published in these columns, John S. Comestock and James A. Preston and family were the first settlers in this town. Mr. Comstock erected the first residence in the spring of 1835,' and shortly after built the first barn and dug the first well (yet in use on Geo. Myers' farm.) Mr. C. was first to bring domestic animals here. The first frame structure.was an addition built on the log house of John Ford, section 33, John E. Dey doing the carpenter work. Mr. Dey soon after built the first frame house, for Wm. Ludlow, section 25. The honor of being the first child born in this township probably belongs to Caius C. Brown, of Albion, Mich., who was I ship where they lived a number or born on section 26, Aug 8, 1837, as the years, Carpenter moving to the north- first boy, and Mariah J. Comstock was ern part of the state where he now the first girl, born Jan. 4, 1838. lives. Henderson moved to Iowa where The first wedding was a Mr. and Mrs. he died a number of years ago. Smith, in 1836, at the Jameson house FOURTH CAVALRY on section 13. The first death was a Was organized in the city of Detroit, Mr. Adams, who lived on section 9, September 1862. The only representa- and died late in the year 1836. The tive of the regiment now living in this first accident resulting in death was township is Dr. James B. Judson, who that of Lucius Dixon, March 12, 1850, enlisted in Co. D. on Aug. 8, 1862, and killed by a falling tree. The first suiserved through the many battles and cide, Mr. Hiram Ismond, (of Parma,) skirmishes through which the regiment who hung himself near Springport, passed in the nearly three years, in- east of the Ludlow old barn, section 26, eluding the very important campaign in the year 1852 or 3. AThe first reresulting in the capture of Jeff. Davis ligious meeting was conducted by Rev. near Irwinsville, Ga., May 10, 1865. Marcus Harrison. The first school, by Dr. Judson was one of the detail of Mrs. Maria Dey. The first plowing 128 men and five officers from the 4th took place on the farm of J. S. ConMichigan that made the capture of the stock, section 28, by N. Townly, asnoted Confederate Chief, and was one sisted by his son, Richard, of Tompkins. of those to receive prize money for his The first grain drill was operated by capture, getting about $300 for his Darius Carson for John Landon, fall of 40. 1868. The first grain thresher, by ox 1862 or 63. The horse hay fork was power, was introduced by Lyman and first used in 1863. The first windmill Jarvis Cady, in 1838 or 9; the first for pumping water was erected by E. thresher and separator, by a Mr. Bab- A. Landon in the winter of 1868-69. cock, in J. S. Comstock's barn in 1841, The first sewing machine was used by being a great marvel to the farmers in Mrs. E. Ferris, in 1858. The first that vicinity. Steam as a threshing brick residence was James M. Jamemotor was first used by D. C. Peters in son's on section 13. The first saw mill 1877. The first mowing machine-a in the village was built by Nathaniel Wheeler-was brought from Jackson Hicks, in the spring of 1854, he soon and exhibited by a Mr. Fisher on the added a grist mill on the north end of Oren Gillett farm, nearly a half mile the saw mill, in the winter of 1856 he east of the Landon school house, in the traded the mill with John C. Mott for season of 1855, Geo. Landon being the his farm now owned by Albert Smith, operator. In the year 1858 Edmund south of the village. During the next Ferris purchased the first mower and summer the mill burned and Mr. Mott hand rake reaper-a Kirby; the first erected a saw mill a few rods east of self rake reaper-a Wood-by Nathan- where this one stood, on the same side iel Hicks, section 33, in the harvest of of the road, he then sold this mill to 1863; the first self binder-the Osborn Mr. Bolles, who moved it away about wire-by Geo. Landon, harvest of 1876. three miles north-west of here. In Several twine binders were first used in 1860 Andrew Goodyear built the present the harvest of 1881. In the lot where grist mill and also the house west of the first mowing machine was used, on the mill where he lived for some time. the Gillett place, the first horse rake He soon sold the mill to John Oyer, rewas started in 1851 or 52, the machine serving the use of the basement, where being similar to the wheel-rake of to- he manufactured hubs for the Michiday, with the exception of there being gan State Prison a number of years. no wheels, the operator walking be- John Oyer built the present saw mill, hind; when a sufficient quantity had this 'being the third saw mill in this been gathered for the windrow it was village. lifted bodily over by the convenient The first planing machine, was used handles, the raising process of course in building the present house of Mr. making the dump. On this occasion B. G. Brown, section 34, by Harvey Jarvis Henderson was the operator, Wheeler, in 1852 or 1853 This was using a spirited horse, which, being un- run by horse power. The first planing used to such a device, soon became un- mill run by steam was started by R. H. manageable. As Mr. H. expressed it Deyoe and Dewitt C. Huffman, in the afterward, he "hung on, bore and for- building next north of the Ladies' bore, until forbearance ceased to be a Library on Mechanic Street, in 1871. virtue, when he let the * * horse go, In addition to dressing lumber; mouldrake and all." It went, and soon re- ings and shingles were manufactured. duced the rake to kindlings, which While working there our esteemed ended the horse rake experiment, until townsman, Edward Saxton, had the 1855, when the revolving rake ap- misfortune to loose a part of one arm. peared as one of the greatest farm The first lumber yard was established labor saving machines of the age. The in this village in 1873, by Chas. L. sulky rake appeared about the year Wiley; sash, door and'blind factory in 41. 1877, by James F. Cook and Henry Weldon. Soon after R. B. Hoag joined the company till 1877, when Cook sold to others, who run it until Weldon sold to Hoag. In 1895 he sold one-half interest to Lester Hoag, and in 1908 his remaining interest to Houseman Brothers. The first blacksmith shop was located near Doak's corners, section 30, in 1838, by Isaac B. Gates The first lawsuit was the Landon district vs. John Ford, in 1840. THE FIRST POSTOFFICE Established in the township of Springport, was at Oyer's Corners, early in January, 1838. Augustus F. Gaylord was the first postmaster, holding that office until he moved away in 1853. A weekly mail to and from Albion, via. Hickory Grove, (Quakertown) was carried by Francis Hall. The route was shortly after changed to Marshall, via. Duck Lake and Rice Creek church, Hickory Grove being supplied by the Cayuga carrier. Cayuga post-office was established in the spring of 1838. M. S. Brown was postmaster during its twenty years continuence, with the exception of about four years, which Luther H. Ludlow held ---1849-53. A weekly mail was carried to and from Smithfield, (D. C. Vickery's residence) via. Hickory Grove. Myron Gillett carried the first mail on foot, in a small tin box that he borrowed from Mrs. Brown for that purpose. The office was discontinued in 1858, the people in that vicinity being accommodated by the Parma village office until the railroad to Springport in 1872, turned the tide iri mail matters as well as many others. Rural delivery out of Springport village was established June 4, 1900, with Wm. McNiel as first carrier, soon after J. S. Geiger was appointed as I carrier No. 2. The present force: Fred McQuown, Ard Ludlow, Perry L. Burgess and Lonnie Bennett serve the patrons on the four routes at present established. Otter Creek post office was established in 1839, Daniel Griffith being the first postmaster. A weekly mail was carried to and from Onondaga, via. Tompkins Center. George French was the first mail carrier. Pioneers of Springport Oh, river of time, in your onward flow, Pause a moment to-day ere you further go, And back through the vista of fifty years We will cast a glance at our pioneers. Our fathers and mothers, that noble band Of brave men and women who came to this land When 'twas but a forest, covered all o'er With the rank growth of centuries long gone before. How dense were the forests, how dark was the shade, How pois'nous the waters of woodland and glade, Sending pestilence out on the air, Filling with terror this land, now so fair. Do you think it was nothing to come here and live? The homes of their youth for their new ones to give? To sever old ties and come forth alone, And create when they came a home of their own? The privations they suffered we never can tell, But we know they endured them both nobly and well. There was seed-time and harvest, each in its turn, But first, trees to cut down and logheaps to burn. There were clearings to plow ere the seed could be planted or sown, And cabins to build, with chimneys of mud, sticks and stone; There were roots to dig out ere the crops were got in; It is strange that they knew when, or where to begin. How many troubles or trials they met on their way, Or how often they wearied, we never can say. There was hunger and cold, there was sorrow and tears, There was sickness and death for the brave pioneers. No postman to bring the news day by day, Scarce a letter to cheer them from friends far away; And if one was received in that early day, Not two, but twenty-five cents, was the postage to pay. Not often a stranger's foot pressed on their floor; The red man alone came as guest to their door. Yet they had their amusements, such pleasures as theseChoppings, loggings and raisings and all kinds of "bees;" There was hunting and trapping the wild beasts of prey, And fish were more plently, no doubt, in that day. Yet, mingled, with all, the good and the bad, Were the heartsick home-longings that most of them had. How great the forebodings of women and men, The stoutest of hearts must have had now and then. But they stood at their posts, each did nobly his share; If one fell by the wayside another was there To take up the burden his brother laid down, To clear up the forests and build up the town. Ah, prithee! The change which we see at a glance, Do you think it was wrought by mere magic or chance? Ah, no, 'twas not magic, it took years of toil To mow down the forest and mellow the soil. The world called them foolish-those who gave their best days To the pioneer's labors-but now sings their praise. Do you smile at the change? Its cause can you guess? Ah! there's nothing succeeds quite so well as success. Half a century only since their work was begun, Can we measure the time by the deeds they have done? Let us see at the end of the first decade What progress our fathers and mothers have made. They have built their log cabins and cleared off the ground, So that neighboring cabins are seen all around. Churches and school houses dot the scene here and there; Young orchards are planted and beginning to bear. Over the streams they have bridges made, Towns are laid out and farms surveyed, Roads are cut through where were only trails, They have fenced their clearings with oaken rails. There are fields of corn, there are fields of wheat, And with cradles the golden grain they reap; There are fields of clover with blossoms red; The meadows are waving where the Indian once tread. In each cabin the hum of the wheel is heard, Making music sweeter than any bird; Of peace and prosperity to them it sings, Wealth and contentment to them it brings. Soothed are their sorrows and anxious fears; All the World goes well with the pioneers, And thus at another ten years' close We see the "wilderness bloom as the rose." Another ten years pass swiftly away, Which brings us down to the fatal day When the shot at Fort Sumpter is heard in the land, 43* And there rushed to the conflict an But the old pioneers are fast passing eager band. away; But peace once restored, what changes Few are now left whoom we meet with are made to-day. And we follow the years of the next With the log cabin and land-marks of decade! other years, The cradle now to the reaper gives We will soon say farewell to the old place; pioneers. Now the reaper by the binder loses The few that are left time has robbed the race. of their bloom, On their brows he has set the seal of The flail which our fathers used to the tomb; thresh out their grain They have done their work here — Was displaced by the horse-power done it nobly and wellthreshing machine; Better than tongue or pen can tell. But the horse-power long ago had its sway, They have conquered the forest and reAnd steam is the power that threshes deemed the land, to-day. They laid the foundation on which we All the work that we do is done by They toiled and suffered, they sowed machine, the seed The world is on wheels and 'tis going For the harvest we reap —a golden by steam. d The ox team and stage coach, with meed. their slow, lumbering gait, But their steps have grown feeble, Were the best means of transfer in their locks turned gray; this virgin state. God bless and keep them, and at last, Now e'v stambats nd ailays we pray, Now we've steamboats and railways Take them where time and love ento quicken our pace, dears. We've telephone wires, and can beat There may we meet our brave pioneers. time and space; Postoffices scattered all over the land And newspapers plenty at our com- The following was written by Louisa mand.. Sheldon Hess, a daughter of Elmer and We've music and books, we've science Rachel Sheldon, who came to Springand art, There's a smile on our cheeks, and a port in the spring of 1844, from the joy in each heart; state of New York, to the then far But one cloud alone dims our vision "west." They first settled at QuakerWe have —ditches to dig and taxes to town and about three years after lopay. cated in a newer part of the township, The log cabins long since disappeared two miles north of the village, where from our view; they lived many years, clean and inWe have in their place brick and dustrious lives gaining a competance: frame, nice and new We boast of our churches, our schools are our pride, And fashion and culture are seen side Final. by side. Seventy-five years are now of the Yet, often we hear the pioneers sigh past For the "good old times," forever Since the first log house was begun; gone by, And we, the descendants, almost stand When friendship and honor, content- agast ment and health, At the battles our parents have won. Were considered far greater than Each year as it passed brought cons fashion and wealth. veniences more 44, To increasing inhabitants here; While now we can boast our surroundings compare With the "East" which will always seem dear. The state has come fbrward to help with "good roads," The women for franchise rights, The country at large has convenient abodes, And the village, electric lights. Our "Uncle Sam" comes to the door each day And delivers the farmer's mail, And automobiles go whizzing away Without trolley-wire or rail. The flying machines, of whatever name, Go careening through the air, And the wireless message "just the same," Before it has started, "gets there." Electricity does so much for us, In so many different ways; And does it without any ~bustle or fuss The livelong nights and days That we will not stop to enumerate Another single thing; But pass it all on as up-to-date, While hoping our lives may ring As true as the finest steel can ring Without any flaw or fears, Emulating the lives of whom we sing Those loved Old Pioneers. A CARD. ---At closing our work compiling a history of Springport we wish to return our thanks to all who have aided us in these labors, which have assumed much larger proportions than we anticipated at the beginning. However, we feel in a measure well repaid, believing that our labors in this work are appreciated, arid will be more so by coming generations of those who may be so fortunate as to be born in our township. Further, our labors were begun none too soon. The pioneers have nearly all passed away. The whitened head and bended form of these veterans constitute but a small proportion of our early pilgrims. We had interviewed them and obtained what facts we could, but an accurate history, with the long interval of time since the events transpired, is very difficult to write. Yet, while some that we have accepted may be erroneous, we believe that in the main it will be found correct. At least, this is the desire of THE AUTHOR. I I I ~jI ,w JA BOUND JUN13 1947 UNIV. OFp MIGH, rbHAKY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN III3 9015 04076 12261111111 3 9015 04076 1226 i, i~~ r!ll h/I' \L~ nY;il $i:: "::t^ h la: B, ~u,