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Hillsdale County Michigan |
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Unincorporated Community Hillsdale Co MI Transcribed by "Jancell" from Crisfield Johnson, Everts & Abbott,
The township of Amboy, which is situated in the centre, on the south border of the county, embraces a territory 12 miles in length from east to west, with an average width of about 24 miles. It is bounded on the north by Woodbridge and Ransom townships, east by the township of Wright, west by Camden township, and south by the State of Ohio. Its surface is a rolling upland of the character so commonly found in this portion of Southern Michigan, and was covered, originally, with dense forests of the finest quality of beech, maple, oak, walnut, linn, ash, and whitewood. The principal water-courses are St. Joseph's River in the west part, Silver Creek in the centre, Ransom Creek and St. Joseph's fork of the Maumee in the cast. These streams all enter Amboy from the north, and flow to the southward, affording in their passage through the township many fine water-power privileges. Goforth and Hagaman's Lakes, small bodies of water, are found in the west part. The soil is of that changeable quality usually found in all drift formations, and consists of a sandy, gravelly loam alternating with clay loam. It is very productive, however, and well adapted to grazing and the cultivation of the cereals. The people are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. The farms are under a good state of cultivation. Neat farm-houses and substantial outbuildings abound, and the citizens are in a seemingly prosperous condition. The township contains a total area of 19,221 acres, of which about one-third are improved, and in 1874 had a population of 1232 inhabitants. When, in February, 1838, James H. Fullerton, who was originally from Washington Co., N. Y., came from the vicinity of Adrian, Lenawee Co., Mich., and settled upon section 33, township 8 south, range 3 west,-then Fayette township,-he became the first settler in the territory now known as Amboy township. He had bought 80 acres of government land and erected a log cabin upon his lot in the fall of 1837. The journey from Adrian to his new home was accomplished in two days. His family-which consisted of himself, wife, and an infant son, Daniel-and a few household goods were transported by means of an ox-team and sled. Mrs. Fullerton relates that at the time of their settlement here, their nearest neighbor on the west was 'Squire Fowle, nine miles distant. To Canandaigua, on Bean Creek, where resided their nearest neighbors on the east, it was about twenty miles. William Saxton and Jacob Clark, who lived some eight or nine miles northeast of them, were the only residents in that part of Fayette now known as Woodbridge township, while to the south of them was an unbroken wilderness for many miles. The next settler in Amboy was Amos S. Drake, who came from Wayne Co., N. Y., and settled upon section 6, township 9 south, 'range 2 west,-then Florida township,- in December, 1838. He was accompanied by his wife, sons, Sidney, John, and William, and three daughters. The journey from Buffalo to Toledo was accomplished by steamboat, and from the latter city to Amboy by horseteam, his being the first span of horses owned in the township. During his lifetime Mr. Drake was one of the leading citizens of the township. Although he kept no tavern, his door was always open to the many travelers passing upon the "Territorial Road." He was the first postmaster, receiving his appointment about 1841. The office was then known as Bird. He erected the first framed barn, in 1845, and owned the first "Cayuga Chief,"-a combined mower and reaper,-which he purchased in 1853. His son, Sidney Drake, built the first framed house in the township, in 1845. Another son, Hon. William Drake, besides serving his town in many responsible positions for a long period of years, has represented Hillsdale County in the State Legislature. William D. Stout, the first practicing physician, came from New York State, and settled near Mr. Drake, in 1839. He afterwards became a Baptist preacher. Nathaniel S. Dewey, from Williams Co., Ohio, became a resident in 1841. He built an ashery, and opened the first store in 1846. He also served as the first supervisor of the town of Amboy in 1850. John King came from Lima, Ontario Co., N. Y., and settled in Ypsilanti in the winter of 1837-38, where he remained until January, 1841, when he removed to Amboy, locating in the central part. His sons, Gideon G. and Walter, came with him. Mr. King was one of the first justices of the peace, and a prominent citizen. His son, Gideon G. King, was also a gentleman of prominence and ability. He represented Hillsdale County in the State Legislature, and served his townsmen in various capacities as a township officer. He died at the early age of thirty nine years. Joseph Webb, from New York, settled in the west part in 1841. In 1842, William Gay came in from Genesee Co., N. Y., and settled on section 5, township 9 south, range 2 west. He built the first saw-mill, soon after, and erected the first grist-mill, prior to 1847. Among others who came the same year (1842), some of whom settled upon land owned by Mr. Gay, were Willard Gay, a brother, Stetson, Barney Whetstone, Jeremiah Sperry, Charles Baker, John Goforth, Dewitt C. Lewis, and Thomas W. Ashworth. Charles Clark, from St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., became a resident in 1845. Also George W. Alfred, from Wayne Co., of the same State. Other settlers here prior to 1850 were Asa Brown, John B. Covey. Joel Cowgill, Joseph Cowgill, Ideomer Church, Joel L. Chatfield, Nathan Edinger, Samuel Fowler, Charles Farlee, Cyrus Gordon, Hosea Gillett, William Gillett, Debait Heckel, George Heckel, John Kuhns, Rodney King, Israel Loomis, Robert L. McCollum, Paden Marshall, Scott Marshall, William Marshall, Harris W. Odell, Niles J. Parrish, Joseph Philbrick, Jr., Henry Prestage, John W. Robbins, Joseph B. Rowland, David C. Rowland, James Smith, Allen Stanley, Lemuel Stanley, Joseph Stanley, Littleberry Stanley, John Shupp, Francis A. Squires, James Snow, Milo Scovill, James Sloan, Levi B. Spafford, and Henry Zuver. In 1851-52 a large number of families emigrated from Stark Co., Ohio, and its vicinity, and settled in Amboy. Among them were William Elliott, Mayhew Elliott, Benjamin Elliott, Timothy Elliott, Cyrus Elliott, Isaac Hagaman, Ellis W. Cope, and John Reader. Henry Loutsenhizer, a prominent citizen at the present time, erected the first brick dwelling, about 1872. The first death was that of Sarah, a daughter of Amos S. Drake, who died in March, 1839. Samuel Carll and Miss Jane Drake were married by Squire Fowle in 1840, and theirs is believed to have been the first marriage celebrated in the township. Names of those who bought land of the United States Government prior to April 27,1838, and whose lands were situated within the present boundaries of Amboy : Township 8 South, Range 2 West.-Section 31, Norman C. Baldwin, Wm. P. Green & Co., Wm. P. Green, G. L. Perkins. Section 32, Theron Skeels, Colby Chew, David Short, William P. Green. Township 9- South, Range 2 West.-Section 7, Joseph R. Williams, Robert McClelland, Stiles Staunton, Calvin Camp. Section 8, Jonathan E. Fletcher, Silas Phinney, Andrew F. Oliver, Peter Decker. Section 9, Andrew F. Oliver, Joseph R. Williams. Section 10, Joseph R. Williams. Section 11, Austin E. Wing, David R. Carrier, Joseph R. Williams. Section 12, Austin E. Wing, Charles H. Carroll. Township 8 South, Range 3 West.-Section 31, Joseph R. Williams, John M. Pease, Charles Butler, S. A. Faulkner. Section 32, E. S. Jones, Parker Handy, Joseph R. Williams, John P. Bray ton, B. Mallite, Isaac H. Gibbs. Section 33, James H. Fullerton, Joseph Webb, W. O. Wood, C. P. and C. S. G. and P. B. and Wm. G. Grant, Philip C. Bucket. Section 34, W. 0. Wood, Jacob Vanderheyden, C. P. and C. S. G. and P. B. and Wm. G. Grant, Philip C. Bucket, Charles Noble. Section 35, Green, Hubbard & Lester, Irwin Camp, Green & Co. Section 36, Green, Hubbard & Lester, Stiles Stanton, John Joseph Charround. Township 9 South, Range 3 West.-Section 1, John Merchant, Jr., Joseph R. Williams, Norman C. Baldwin, W. B. & C. H. Harvey, Stiles Stanton, John Makison. Section 2, Peter Martin, Harvey P. Sartwell, Joseph R. Williams, E. A. Reed, Irwin Camp, John Joseph Charround. Section 3, Peter Martin, N. Silsbee, Joseph R. Williams, John I. Wright, E. A. Reed, W. B. & C. H. Harvey. Section 4, Joseph R. Williams, E. L. Baker, W. P. Green, W. B. & H. Harvey. Section 5, Porter, Tolford & White, I. H. Collard and S. Stiles, Joseph R. Williams. Section 6, Porter, Tolford & White, Theron Morgan, David S. Sanford, I. S. Stoddard. Section 7, Porter, Tolford & White. Russell Forsyth, David White, Abram Jessup, Joseph R. Williams. Section 8, Porter, Tolford & White, Russell Forsyth, David White, Abram Jessup, Theron Morgan, J. R. Williams. Section 9, Jared Green, Theron Morgan. David C. Stuart, Joseph R. Williams, Gustavus Grinald. Section 10, George Landon, James C. Brayton, Robert McClelland, Green, Hubbard & Lester, William P. Green, I. Ward. Section 11, A. F. Oliver, Ira R. Grosvenor, Joseph R. Williams, James C. Brayton, Orlando Brown. John R. Dean, Green, Hubbard & Lester. Section 12, Joseph R. Williams, Alfred Willis, Edward Willis, Orlando Brown, Curtis Cogswel , and James W. Pease. Of all those named in the foregoing, James H. Fullerton and Joseph Webb seem to have been the only ones who became actual settlers and permanent residents. The remainder were speculators. These lands were purchased of the government for $1.25 per acre, and the list embraces the names of the men in whom was vested the ownership of the major portion of the present town of Amboy in April, 1838.
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